South Africa: SA's mRNA vaccine hub makes way for self-reliance

Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, believes that COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of investments in science, technology and innovation as the country races to manufacture its lifesaving vaccine.

Therefore, preparing for future pandemics is key and so the WHO mRNA global hub is a critical building block to ensure that South Africa and the whole continent has the production capacity that is essential for equitable vaccine rollout, Nzimande added.

Nzimande, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, Belgium Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy, Meryame Kitir, are currently visiting public and private sector partners that are collaborating to develop and build WHOs global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub locally.

The mRNA technology is not only for COVID-19, we hope it can be adapted to help us in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, which is why were investing heavily, alongside international partners, in this initiative, Nzimande said.

The pandemic shone the spotlight on the limited global vaccine supply, leading to disparities in COVID-19 vaccine access, leaving billions of people  especially in low- and middle-income countries vulnerable to serious disease and death.

According to DSI, low levels of vaccine coverage also provided the ideal conditions for new variants to develop.

While supply has now increased, the department is concerned that access to any new formulations of COVID-19 vaccines  tailored specifically to new variants  would likely also be inequitable.

The department believes that this is due to manufacturing capacity that remains limited to a handful of companies and countries.

South Africa and France have also joined hands in accelerating vaccine production in Africa.

Meanwhile, a consortium including the Medicines Patent Pool, Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, DSI, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are driving the initiative.

Phaahla has warned that the country is not out of the woods yet in the fight against COVID-19.

We are likely to be hit by new COVID-19 variants and a fifth wave that coincides with our winter season, which would compound our flu and cold season. However, we can reduce the impact by ensuring most people are vaccinated, especially the most vulnerable groups," he stressed.

The new hub is not just for South Africa, said the Minister but provides a one-stop shop for low- and middle-income countries across the world to benefit and end vaccine inequity.

Last week, Afrigen, which is part of WHOs mRNA consortium, announced it developed its version of an mRNA shot, using Moderna COVID-19 vaccine data.

This virus shows how interconnected we all are and I am proud that Belgium  and other European Union countries  are now collaborating to build vaccine capacity everywhere, said Kitir.

Going forward we need more sharing of licenses, technology transfer and know-how so that in this pandemic and future ones as we can roll vaccines out quickly and equitably to the whole global population.

The pandemic, according to Ghebreyesus, has highlighted the need for increased local production of vaccines globally, especially in poor countries.

"The WHO mRNA global hub is a major step in that direction, by sharing technology and building on the capacity and scientific expertise that already exists in South Africa.

The global hubs will also act as training facilities where technology is established at an industrial scale and clinical development performed.

WHO will complement this activity and assist African countries and other low- and middle-income countries to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity as well as regulatory capacity.

WHOs Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said: The mRNA hubs provide an unprecedented opportunity for capacity development, putting Africa on the path to self-reliance.

We are opening the door to better health and wellbeing for our people.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
International tourism forecast to recover strongly in Vietnam in 2022

The number of international searches on Vietnam tourism is increasing, which is considered a positive sign for the industry in efforts to revive and regain growth momentum.













Foreigners take a photo at the Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival in HCM City, which opened during the 2022 Lunar New Year.



Analytical data from Google Destination Insights shows that searches began rising from early December and skyrocketed later the same month and in early January.



From the beginning of last month, the volume of international searches for Vietnams aviation remained high. The increase rate hit 425 per cent on January 21, and 374 per cent on February 3 against the same period in 2021.



The search volume for accommodation also started to increase from the beginning of December.



People from such countries as the US, Australia, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, the UK and Canada made the most searches for information about tourism in Vietnam.



The 10 destinations in Vietnam that draw the most interest of foreigners are Hanoi, HCM City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, Phan Thiet, a Nang, Hoi An, a Lat, Quy Nhon, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.



Experts attributed the upward trend to Vietnams launch of a pilot vaccine passport programme to welcome foreign tourists back to Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa Province), Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, and a Nang City, and a communications campaign named Live fully in Vietnam.



The country is set to fully reopen to international tourism after March 2022, once the country has completed its COVID-19 booster shot campaign, about two years after Vietnam closed its border to most foreign arrivals.
The Idaho House of Representatives has handed large property owners and managers a significant victory that will come back to bite many hard-pressed residential renters. House Bill 442, which passed on a 54-14 vote on February 7, will allow landlords and property management companies to impose additional financial burdens on renters in cities where affordable rental properties are scarce and competition to secure them is fierce. The bill would prohibit cities from regulating rental application fees and security deposits.

The City of Boise has a $30 cap on fees for rental applications, which was brought about by property managers often charging excessive fees, just for applying for a rental. In a rental market like Boise, where property values and rents have risen dramatically and affordable units are hard to find, these fees work an extreme hardship on people of modest means. Where many are competing for the same rental, each paying an excessive fee with no assurance of success, it can be a considerable source of revenue for a property manager. On the other hand, if renters need to apply for several units at the same time in order to have a chance of getting a place to live, and have to pay a sizable application fee for each, it can leave many out in the cold.

Testimony in the House Business Committee had been strongly against the bill. According to veteran reporter Betsy Russell: Opponents, ranging from the City of Boise to the Association of Idaho Cities to citizens, renters, housing advocates and a major apartment-building owner, decried the proposal, saying Boises 2019 ordinance was aimed at large, out-of-state owners who were unnecessarily exploiting renters in an exceedingly tight housing market, charging as much as $190 per rental application even when considering numerous applicants for the same apartment.

Security deposits are another problem area. Local governments should have the ability to address abusive practices in their jurisdictions. Some Boise property managers look at security deposits as a profit center a means to pay for normal wear and tear to a vacated rental unit, even though Idaho Code section 6-321 specifically prohibits the practice. This is a much-too-common occurrence.

After retiring from the court, I worked with several refugee families who suffered this type of abuse. In one case, the property manager sued the family for $4,054.82 in alleged damage to the property, after applying the full $300 security deposit. The property manager obtained a default judgment, but we were able to get the entire award set aside in court proceedings. The attorney fee incurred for the litigation would have been well into the thousands, had my clients been paying for the representation. Legal redress for security deposit abuses is out of the question for most renters because of costly attorney fees.

Other types of abuses can occur with security depositsexcessive fees, failure to safeguard fee deposits, using excessive fees to discriminate against certain groups. Municipalities across the state should have the ability to address those abuses that happen within their respective jurisdictions. Im not aware that cities have overreached in regulating security deposit issues, which raises the question as to the necessity of disabling their ability to adopt reasonable protections for renters.

Over the years, I have heard legislators complain about the heavy hand of the federal government. They assert that the best government is that which is closest to the people. Yet, the Legislatures practice of overruling local governments in Idaho has grown over the years. Monied interests prefer to have the Idaho Legislature step in to prevent local governments from addressing abusive activities within their respective jurisdictions, rather than trying to work things out locally. We should allow the governmental units closest to the people to address issues like rental fees, deposits and the like based on the particular conditions in those jurisdictions, rather than imposing the States heavy hand, as House Bill 442 is designed to do.

House Bill 442 should be stopped in the Senate or, failing that, on the Governors desk.

Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He is currently a regular contributor to The Hill online news. He blogs at JJCommonTater.

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About 1,000 nominees serving on dozens of government boards could lose their seats by Saturday, leaving unfilled key roles amid a scuffle between Republicans and Democrats in the legislature.

Then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat named the nominees to sit on boards that deal with industry regulations, universities and trade agreements. The appointees are serving on a temporary basis awaiting confirmation from the legislature.

On Friday, Democrats in the House and Senate said they had been told by House GOP leaders that they did not intend to confirm the nominees by the midnight deadline.

Once the clock strikes, the nominees are effectively removed from their jobs, leaving their positions open for the new governor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, to fill. While the new governor may benefit from power over the roles, a spokeswoman for Youngkin did not respond to a request for comment about whether the governor was ready to immediately fill the whooping number of seats.

The House Republican caucus, through a spokesman, declined to comment on the fate of the appointments and accusations of ill-willed politicking from Senate leaders.

On the House floor, House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, criticized Democrats over their efforts to block the confirmation of Youngkins Natural Resources Secretary Andrew Wheeler, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump.

Let em be a brick wall, Kilgore said. A spokeswoman for Kilgore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democrats in the legislature heavily criticized the move. Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke of Hampton said House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, made clear in a conversation Friday that he did not intend to act on the appointments. She said that during the exchange, the bravado and arrogance of House Republicans and Governor Youngkin were laid bare.

They are putting partisan politics ahead of good governance, Locke said in a statement.

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said the move by the GOP would bring parts of our government to a screeching halt. Ebbin said Senate Democrats were prepared to fight fire with fire by declining to confirm Youngkins own appointments.

The roles on the line include the boards of visitors of colleges and universities, and the boards that help set rules for regulated professions like dentistry. They also include boards for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Go Virginia and the Virginia Port Authority, which vet economic development projects and appoint high-powered CEOs.

Many have been serving in their roles for months or a year.

Two high-ranking Northam administration officials who declined to be named because they are no longer working in government said many of the roles are not political, and that the people who have been working in them represent people sought out by the former administration for their expertise.

Some of the boards involved in the scuffle could be left without enough members to operate, either now or when they face regular resignations down the line.

House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, went as far as to say the move by the GOP could trigger a partial government shutdown.

This is another hard right turn away from his pledge to disagree without being disagreeable,  Filler-Corn said of Youngkin.
A Five-Alarm Fire for American Democracy

The warning signs of serious decline for many democracies worldwide are flashing red. In the U.S., we may be on the verge of the greatest political and constitutional crisis since the Civil War and quite possibly the suspension of American democracy as we have known it, in the words of Robert Kagan.

I want to focus my discussion on two of these related threats: misinformation/disinformation and efforts to subvert our electoral system.

The U.S. is in what many have called a post-truth age. For millions of Americans, feelings are becoming more important than facts and people are increasingly comfortable bending reality to their beliefsinstead of adjusting beliefs to match the evidence. The very notions of facts and expertise are being rejected by large numbers of Americans.

At first glance this may seem incongruent with the fact that Americans have easier access to factual information, and more of it, than ever before.

Imagine traveling back in time and asking a person that you met there to take you to their best library. Now imagine, once arriving in the building, pulling your smartphone from your pocket and explaining, This tiny device gives me access to exponentially more information than this entire library. You would leave him or her speechless.

With all of this high-quality information at our fingertips, why do so many of us fall for misinformation and disinformation? A good portion of the blame can go to the internet, the decline of traditional news outlets and rise of partisan ones (including cable news, talk radio, and partisan websites), and the rise of social media.

Despite easy access to more high-quality information than ever before, we also have easy (and often easier) access to more low-quality information than ever before. Millions of Americans do not know the difference between credible journalism and biased partisanship, lock themselves in ideological silos which continuously feed them messages and information that supposedly confirm their beliefs, and become addicted to low-quality information. There are valuable tools that can help, but many Americans are either unaware of or unwilling to use them.

Imagine sitting at a table in a restaurant. Along comes your server with a plate of healthy food and places it on your table. At this point, 100 percent of the food in front of you is healthy. But before you can take a bite, another server places three more plates on the table containing unhealthy food. Now only 25 percent of the food on the table is good for you.

If you desire to eat healthy during this meal, have these additional plates made your goal less attainable? Only if (a) you are unable to identify which plate contains the healthy food and/or (b) you are unable to resist the temptation to eat off of the other plates. This is a good metaphor for the current news media landscape.

Our human brains are hard-wired to look for information that makes us feel good, avoid information which does not, and interpret information in a manner that makes it consistent with what we already believe and maintains our highest sense of self. This is true for everyone regardless of their political orientation. Most of us try to avoid information that might destabilize our view of the world and/or threaten our core beliefs, identities, and deeply held opinions. As social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains, When the facts conflict with. . . sacred values, almost everyone finds a way to stick with their values and reject the evidence.

When we only have a few sources of mostly high-quality information available to us, our cognitive biases are kept somewhat under control. But when there are seemingly endless sources of information available to us, and we have difficulty differentiating what is credible from what is not, our cognitive biases are unleashed to do their worst.

Think back to the movie Jurassic Park. In that film, the dinosaurs do not pose much of a threat to park patrons when the security systems are working. But once Dennis Nedry deactivates them? Well, hold on to your buttsat that point, the dinosaurs eat people. Partisan news outlets, the internet, and social media have deactivated the security systems that kept our cognitive biases somewhat at bay. Now misinformation and disinformation help diseases once thought to be a thing of the past to rear their ugly heads again. They destabilize democracies. This is not some minor problem.

Lee McIntyre explains that, The cognitive bias has always been there. The internet was the accelerant which democratized all of the disinformation and misinformation and diminished the experts. Democratization has led to the abandonment of standards for testing beliefs. It leads people to think they are just as good at reasoning about something as anybody else. But theyre not. At the doctors office, I dont ask for the data and reason through it myself and decide on the course of treatment. It takes expertise and experience to make that judgement. Just like I cant fly my own plane. There is a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where he is in the room with all of these goblets and chalices and doesnt know which one is the Holy Grail. Thats where we are right now. We have the truth right in front of us, but we dont know which one it is.

Tom Nichols writes that, These are dangerous times. Never have so many people had so much access to so much knowledge and yet have been so resistant to learn anything. In the United States and other developed nations, otherwise intelligent people denigrate intellectual achievement and reject the advice of experts. Not only do increasing numbers of laypeople lack basic knowledge, they reject fundamental rules of evidence and refuse to learn how to make a logical argument. In doing so, they risk throwing away centuries of accumulated knowledge and undermining the practices and habits that allow us to develop new knowledge. This is more than a natural skepticism toward experts. I fear we are witnessing the death of the ideal of expertise itself, a Google-fueled, Wikipedia-based, blog-sodden collapse of any division between professionals and laypeople, students and teachers, knowers and wonderersin other words, between those of any achievement in an area and those with none at all.

Or as Yevgeny Simkin writes: Lets take a short walk down memory lane. Its 1995. A man stands on a busy street corner yelling vaguely incoherent things at the passersby. Hes holding a placard that says THE END IS NIGH. REPENT. You come upon this guy while out getting the paper. . . No reasonable person would think of convincing this man that his point of view is incorrect. This isnt an opportunity for an engaging debate. . . Now fast forward to 2020. In terms of who this guy is and who you are absolutely nothing has changed. And yet here you arearguing with him on Twitter or Facebook. And you, yourself, are being brought to the brink of insanity. . . [Social media is] responsible for the tearing apart of our social fabric. . . An insidious malware slowly corrupting our society in ways that are extremely difficult to quantify, but the effects of which are evident all around us. Anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, QAnon, cancel-culture, Alex Jones, flat-Earthers, racists, anti-racists, anti-anti-racists, and of course the Twitter stylings of our Dear Leader.

A prime example of the threat that misinformation and disinformation pose to American democracy is the ongoing campaignwhat has become known as the Big Lieto delegitimize and overturn the free and fair election of President Biden.

As Will Saletan writes in the Bulwark, Americans like to think our country is immune to authoritarianism. We have a culture of freedom, a tradition of elected government, and a Bill of Rights. Were not like those European countries that fell into fascism. Wed never willingly abandon democracy, liberty, or the rule of law. But thats not how authoritarianism would come to America. In fact, its not how authoritarianism has come to America. The movement to dismantle our democracy is thriving and growing, even after the failure of the Jan. 6th coup attempt, because it isnt spreading through overt rejection of our system of government. Its spreading through lies.

Saletan notes that:

In the last four Economist/YouGov polls, most White Americans without a college degree said President Biden did not legitimately win the presidency.

Three-quarters of Republicans in a January/February 2022 Economist/YouGov poll said they believe that Biden did not legitimately win the election.

An October 2021 Quinnipiac survey found that 94 percent of Democrats said former President Trump is undermining democracy, while 85 percent of Republicans said he is protecting it.

In a December 2021 survey from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 61 percent of Republicans said Biden is illegitimate because fraudulent ballots supporting him were counted by election officials. Forty-six percent said ballots supporting Trump were destroyed by election officials. Forty-one percent said voting machines were re-programmed by election officials to count extra ballots for Biden.



In a Politico/Morning Consult poll from January 2022, more than 60 percent of Republicans said that in terms of violating the Constitution, the election was at least as bad as the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Two-thirds of these people (or 43 percent of all Republicans) said the election was worse.



An overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrates that these ideas are false, and yet their support is widespread.

Saletan closes by saying, Were in a battle to save democracy, but the battleground isnt values. Its facts. Were up against a party that spreads, condones, excuses, tolerates, and exploits lieslies about our political process, and lies about an attempt to overthrow our governmentin order to make Americans think that the party of authoritarianism is the party of democracy. And were in serious danger of losing.

Misinformation and disinformation have been powerful weapons that leading political figures in America have used recently to further their authoritarian efforts to subvert democracy.

Recent examples of election subversion include former President Trump admitting to wanting former Vice President Pence to overturn the election at the electoral vote counting stage. Kimberly Wehle, a law professor at the University of Baltimore, argues that we desperately need to fix the Electoral Count Act (ECA) for this very reason. Even though the ECA was not intended to give the Vice President the power to single-handedly overturn an election for no good reason, it is vague enough that somebody might be able to abuse it to that end.

Wehle explains that, There are massive holes in the Electoral Count Act. It is stunning that there is nothing requiring states to count the popular vote. Arizona is proposing legislation to ignore the popular vote and allow the state legislature to pick the electors. That is not democracy. If this is not addressed, state legislatures and/or Congress can steal the next election. The future of our republic is at stake.

Other alarming examples of recent election subversion efforts in the U.S. include (but are not limited to):

Trump prodding and threatening Georgias secretary of state to find enough votes to flip his state from Biden to Trump (NBC News).

Eighty-four GOP officials across seven states (including local GOP leaders, current office holders, and current candidates for public office) sending fraudulent documents to the National Archives in the hopes that these fake alternative slates of electors would be taken seriously and play a role in overturning the election (the New York Times, the Bulwark).

Trump bringing leaders of the Michigan legislature to the White House to try to convince them to incorrectly certify that their state went for Trump when in fact it went for Biden (Politico).

Partisan state election audits (Brennan Center).

Trump wanting to seize voting machines and records (Politico, the Bulwark).

Trump calling governors and local election officials to try to pressure them to fabricate voter fraud (USA Today).

The January 6, 2021 insurrection (New York Times).

Trump floating pardons for those who stormed the capital on January 6 (Politico).

Trump wanting to install Jeffrey Clark at the DOJ to carry out his election subversion schemes (the Bulwark).

American democracy is under serious threat. As Michael Gerson laments, recent developments in the U.S. are revealing the frightening fragility of the American experiment. And as Jonathan Last warns, America faces an authoritarian peril.

This is a five-alarm fire for American democracy, and we are all going to have to do our part to put it outand there is little time to wait.

Joining us on this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss all of this is Jim Swift, senior editor at the Bulwark. Swift worked at The Weekly Standard from 2012 to 2018, where his last post was as deputy online editor. His writing has also appeared in the Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and elsewhere. Before TWS, he worked for five years for members of the House and Senate as a tax staffer, working for Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) on Ways and Means Committee matters and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on Finance Committee matters. In 2004, he worked as a field staffer for President Bushs re-election campaign.

For a good example of the consequences of misinformation and disinformation, check out Jim Swifts piece in the Bulwark about what happened recently in Maitland, Florida.

Also take a look at this cant miss piece from Anne Applebaum in the Atlantic about what Vladimir Putins objective is in threatening Ukraine.

Further reading:
Emirates Airlines has reinstituted services to Morocco following the reopening of the North African countrys airspace on February 7, after a two-month closure.

The UAEs flagship carrier is now flying to Casablanca on a daily basis.

In anticipation of the reopening of Moroccos border last week, Emirates announced that it would resume its Dubai to Casablanca route as of February 8.

Emirates African operations have started the year 2022 on a positive note. The airline has restored service to more than one destination on the continent in the first months of the year. The company also recently resumed service to Nigeria.

Additionally, Emirates African network saw significant route restoration in January. On January 16, Simple Flying announced its return to five countries following a temporary suspension caused by the Omicron variant. Another five nations were added 12 days later, resulting in seven additional reopened routes.

They have all contributed to restoring an African network to its full potential. Emirates stated: The return of Casablanca in Morocco marks a full restoration of Emirates pre-pandemic African network including 21 cities spread across the continent. Customers flying to and from Casablanca can safely travel on Emirates to Dubai, and enjoy an array of onward connections to Europe, the Middle East and GCC, the Americas, and West Asia.
At least four elements linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group were neutralized on Thursday as they were preparing to attack armed forces in the eastern Iraqi governorate of Diyala, Diyala Police First Lieutenant Shaalan Al-Kameli announced.

Army forces managed to locate the terrorist group that was planning to target military personnel near Al-Azim dam, 65 km northwest of Baquba, the center of Diyala province, he said.

Clashes took place between army forces and IS elements, Al-Kameli said, noting that four individuals were neutralized with the support of Iraqi military helicopters.

The terrorist group has recently intensified its attacks against military and civilian targets in northern and eastern Iraq.

For their part, Iraqi forces frequently conduct military campaigns and operations to hunt down elements of the terrorist group throughout the country.

In Indonesia, police also announced on Thursday that they have arrested three suspected terrorists affiliated with the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group, linked to the Islamic State, in Bengkulu province.

National police spokesman Ahmad Ramadhan said the three suspects arrested Wednesday by the Densus 88 anti-terrorism unit are believed to be affiliated with JI networks in North Sumatra, Riau and South Sumatra provinces.

They have pledged allegiance to the JI since 1999, he told reporters in Jakarta. According to the same official, the suspects played a role in raising funds and helping suspects on the police wanted list.

The JI is an organization that has long been accused of being behind a series of bombings in Indonesia, the deadliest of which was the bombing of two nightclubs in Bali on October 12, 2002, which killed 202 people.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Belgium will ease a slew of COVID-19 measures from next week, with restaurants and bars allowed to open for full hours and children under 12 no longer forced to use face masks, as authorities anticipate a further decline in infections.

The government announced Friday that the nation of 11 million will go from code red, the toughest for virus measures, to code orange as of Feb. 19.

"We can start easing several measures. There will be no closing time in bars and restaurants anymore and no more limits on how many people can sit together at a table," said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Beyond the full expansion of bar and restaurant opening hours, that means that customers will no longer have to wear masks. Nightclubs and dancing venues will also be allowed to reopen.

Outside activities, including concerts, will be able to operate under far more relaxed measures again.

Infections in the week ending Feb 7 fell by 44% compared to the previous week and stood at 23.239 cases. New hospitalizations and intensive care cases also started to decline.

"Never forget that the past months were extremely difficult" De Croo said. "But we got through this."

Other European countries are also relaxing their pandemic measures, as more and more governments design protocols to co-exist with the coronavirus.

Explore further Belgium reimposes restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Following surgery, patients with breast cancer are faced with the question of whether additional chemotherapy is necessary and really effective. It is important that these women do not receive too much treatmentbut not too little treatment either. Physicists from Leipzig University modeled the gene expression tests and examined their usefulness on the basis of these models.

Professor Josef Kas from Leipzig University led these investigations in collaboration with the head of the Institute of Pathology Hamburg-West, Professor Axel Niendorf, and the independent statistical consultant Bernhard Ulm. They have just published their findings in PLOS ONE.

Gene expression tests examine how active certain genes are in tumor cells. Often, these genes are related to characteristic features of cancer, such as tumor growth or invasion of surrounding tissue by tumor cells. A gene expression test therefore represents a method of quantifying the activities of several genes, i.e. a gene list, and thus calculating the probability of whether and when the patient will develop metastases.

The results of these studies show, on the one hand, the limits of the certainty of the predictions achieved with such gene lists and further indicate that the examination of different combinations of gene lists does not differ significantly in terms of outcome. Interestingly, the researchers have shown that even random genes can be prognostic: that means even those genes that seem unrelated to the characteristic features of cancer.

Here, using a classical statistical analysis and a new approach in machine learning, the physicists showed that such gene lists are in fact prognostic in a sufficiently large collective and show high correspondences between prognosis and the actual course of the disease.

Contrary to the common recommendation in clinical practice to perform only one test, these gene lists showed that the certainty regarding a chemotherapy recommendation is much higher if more than one test is performed.

"The fact that the tests are very successful in a collective and tend to be less successful on the individual patient seems at first to be a contradiction," said Professor Kas, "but these tests are based on gene lists and make mistakes at different points, so to speak. This could be exploited by combining several tests and thus increasing the probability of finding the patients who definitely will not benefit from chemotherapy."

With ongoing debates about whether gene expression tests are useful, this is an important contribution to the decision-making process and will have great impact in terms of how clinicians use such tools. For individual patients in particular, these results imply that circumspection is required in the use of gene expression tests.

A limitation from a methodological point of view is that the researchers did not perform commercially available tests; the analyses are based on gene expression values recorded in public breast cancer databases.

More information: Dimitrij Tschodu et al, Comparative analysis of molecular signatures reveals a hybrid approach in breast cancer: Combining the Nottingham Prognostic Index with gene expressions into a hybrid signature, PLOS ONE (2022). Journal information: PLoS ONE Dimitrij Tschodu et al, Comparative analysis of molecular signatures reveals a hybrid approach in breast cancer: Combining the Nottingham Prognostic Index with gene expressions into a hybrid signature,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261035
PNNL is expanding the library of data on known fentanyl variants, keeping first responders such as hazardous materials workers safe in the field. Credit: Gorodenkoff | Shutterstock.com

While COVID has ruled the headlines for two years running, a different epidemic is claiming the lives of more than 100,000 Americans every year.

At the core of the opioid epidemic is fentanyl, the synthetic substance originally designed as a painkiller but which has been transformed into a lucrative, deadly street drug.

Beyond the thousands of lives each epidemic claims every month, the two share an important trait: the ability to changeor to be changedinto something unexpected, a challenge difficult to counter.

The first step to protect ourselves is simply knowing that a threat exists.

Fentanyl variants: The threat

COVID has produced variants like omicron, adept at dodging the body's defenses.

Scientists estimate that there are hundreds of millions of possible chemical variants, or analogs, of fentanyl. PNNL scientists are tracking measurements of the forms already developed and predicting data for others that might be created. Credit: Sonis Photography | Shutterstock.com

Fentanyl has variants, toochemical structures that have a bigger effect on the body, more deadly and addictive. Enterprising chemists around the world are busy experimenting in makeshift laboratories, generating new and illegal forms of the painkillerestimated to be 100 times more powerful in its basic form than morphinein a bid to evade detection, sidestep the law and make more money.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory estimate that fentanyl has hundreds of millions of possible chemical variants, known as analogs. Every variant that becomes real at the hands of an enterprising chemist spells risk.

"New forms of drugs are appearing constantly," said PNNL scientist Richard Ozanich, an analytical chemist who is addressing the fentanyl crisis with funding from the Department of Homeland Security. "That means that sometimes, we don't know exactly what we're looking for; a new form may not yet be on the radar of law enforcement."

Fentanyl library saves lives

First responders rely on databases, commonly known as libraries, of chemical structures of known fentanyl variants. It's like a set of chemical fingerprints of harmful drugs and other hazardous substances. Keeping the fentanyl library up to date is hugely important. Drug dealers and unscrupulous chemists are constantly modifying compounds in small but consequential waysenough to create substances that evade detection, allow dealers to evade prosecution and still pack a deadly punch.

Scientists are exploring millions of possible fentanyl structures, measuring their chemical properties to determine which are most likely to appear and what their data look liketo go beyond known threats and to detect unknown threats early and quickly. Credit: Sara Levine | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Many of the illicit substances that make their way to the United States originate in Mexico and China. Their creators work on analogs that are more addictive or are easier to make. Or they create forms that can be diluted or "cut" more efficiently, boosting profits, or used to augment counterfeit pills and other illicit substances.

Every variant that goes unlisted gives criminals a loopholean opportunity to skirt the law.

"Even if a compound isn't on the list yet, it can kill you," said Ozanich, who noted that some forms are so potent that an amount no larger than a grain of salt can be deadly.

Ozanich leads a project funded by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to help close the gap. His team is updating the libraries that police, hazardous materials teams and other first responders use to identify and understand hazardous substances they encounter. Police, firefighters and others typically carry portable instruments that tap into these databases, giving officials instant insight into what they have encountered.

PNNL has added about 50 chemical structures to the libraries, which also include information on drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

A bigger library lessens the chance that a police officer, firefighter, paramedic or others will face a dangerous unknown substance they can't identify.

"Law enforcement and other officials need to make decisions quickly in dangerous situations. Do we need to cordon off the area? Are we safe? Is there a danger to others? Improving the information to make those decisions quickly is the focus of our efforts," Ozanich said.

"Knowing what hazard you're up against in the field allows you to take appropriate action to protect yourself and the public," he added.

Going beyond the library

Other PNNL scientists are using powerful computers and novel computational chemistry techniques to predict possible fentanyl analogs that haven't even been created yetpossible additions to the library even before they hit the street. The research is part of an effort that aims, eventually, to reduce reliance on a library built using results from the analysis of physical samples.

Instead, PNNL scientists are exploring ways to predict and rank possible chemical structures that may be present in a sample based on an understanding of the fundamental scientific principles at play. This would allow detection of threats from other forms of fentanyl or other sources earlier on, without relying exclusively on what is already known.

The fentanyl research fits squarely into PNNL's wheelhouse to search for, detect and measure substances or phenomena of interest. These include explosive residues, rare gases produced in nuclear explosions, dark matter, traces of other illicit drugs, hints of radiation, and dangerous chemicals like ricin and sarin. Researchers actively pursue new ways to detect orideallyto predict and prevent such threats before they exist.

"What this capability comes down to is proactive situational awarenessthat is, the possibility to get ahead of the threat in time to help law enforcement and first responders mitigate it effectively," said Kabrena Rodda, a senior scientist at PNNL who leads a number of projects to counter chemical threats.

"As this capability matures, we're excited about the potential to go beyond mere recognition of a threat to applying it in novel applications to keep people safe," Rodda added.

Assuring accuracy, safety in the field

The library update is part of a broader two-year project Ozanich is heading to assess the performance of detection equipment used by emergency responders around the nation. PNNL has brought together 14 manufacturers of 21 key instruments that first responders and others use to detect and measure fentanyl. Those instruments cover nearly all the forms of fentanyl found on the streets today.

Through the effort, the current work by Ozanich and colleagues will filter down to nearly every fentanyl incident confronted by police and others anywhere in the nation.

The project dovetails with another DHS-funded project that Ozanich has led, focusing on fentanyl standards. He brought together more than 100 scientists, first responders, drug enforcement officials, equipment manufacturers and others under the auspices of ASTM International to develop three new laboratory standards. Without proper standards, police and paramedics would be at more risk as they do their jobs.

Two standards address the performance of equipment and methods to test for fentanyl and related compounds in the field. A third standard is designed as a guide for first responders encountering fentanyl in the field. That standard benefitted from considerable input from first responders, with whom PNNL has a strong relationship, in part through the Northwest Regional Technology Center.

One law enforcement official who has worked with Ozanich is Detective Sergeant Pakorn Patimetha of the Hazardous Materials Response Unit of the New Jersey State Police.

"Every day, we see different varieties of fentanyl being mixed into all types of drugs and illicit pills," said Patimetha, who majored in biochemistry in college before going into teaching and then law enforcement. Patimetha estimates that in the last five years, the percentage of narcotics samples sent to the state's crime laboratory that contain fentanyl has skyrocketed from five to more than 90 percent.

"A crime scene can be chaotic. We need to identify fentanyl quickly and accurately in the field to make sure that everyone stays safe and hazardous evidence is properly secured," added Patimetha. "It's important to keep first responders involved, because we can explain what it's like in the field, in real-world conditions. Rich gets first responders involved. We give our input directly to make sure that the methods are valid and that they work like we need them to work."

Explore further Common 'Core': Using molecular fragments to detect deadly opioids
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Dr. Heather Walden, an assistant professor at UFs College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses her recent discovery of the rat lungworm parasite in Cuban treefrogs with Dr. Steve Johnson, an associate professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and a research collaborator, in her laboratory on Jan. 24, 2022. Credit: University of Florida

University of Florida researchers report that the rat lungworm parasite, which can cause deadly disease in humans and in animals, has been found in a new host in Florida with its discovery in Cuban treefrogs, an invasive species.

The finding represents the first time an anurana frog or toad amphibianhas been identified as a host for the parasitic nematode in the state, although it has previously been identified in a variety of other hosts in Florida.

The frogs were found in Volusia County, where the rat lungworm had not previously been detected, the researchers said in a study published online Jan. 31 in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases.

"These frogs are going through the state, disrupting our native populations," said Heather Walden, Ph.D., an assistant professor of parasitology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the study's lead author. "They are eating native species, such as green treefrogs, and consuming not just the frogs and other food sources, but the parasites they carry with them."

Walden's laboratory examined 16 Cuban treefrogs from Volusia County for parasite species and confirmed the results by PCR. Her team recovered larvae from the rat lungworm, also known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, from the frogs' hind leg muscles.

Other studies Walden's team has been involved in have documented the rat lungworm's presence in Florida in gastropodssnails and slugsas intermediate hosts and in rats as definitive hosts, as well as in non-human primates. The parasite has previously been found in Miami-Dade, Orange, Hillsborough, Alachua, St. Johns and Leon counties.

"The Cuban treefrog is extremely abundant in residential areas in peninsular Florida, often seeking shelter around homes that put them in close contact with humans," Walden said. "If infected with parasites, this species' association with humans indicates they have great potential to serve as agents of zoonotic transmission and may also threaten pets that consume them."

Dogs, especially puppies, are by nature curious about their surroundings and explore the world through their mouths, Walden said.

Credit: University of Florida

"Although rare and not yet reported in Florida, dogs have become infected with rat lungworm by swallowing a snail or slug that carries infected larvae," she said. "It's very possible that a dog could eat a Cuban treefrog, or any other potential anuran host, and become infected as a result."

In humans, infection with rat lungworm can cause meningitis, brain damage and blindness. In dogs, symptoms can include rear limb weakness and hind leg paralysis.

The Cuban treefrogs' position in the food webs of Florida makes them well suited for the life cycle of a variety of parasites. They are known to eat a variety of snails, insects and even lizards and frogs. In addition, the close association of these anurans with humans can result in human-aided dispersal events capable of spreading their parasites to new geographic locations, the researchers said.

"The parasite itself is definitely a concern to humans and animals," Walden said. "You have to ask: What would eat the Cuban treefrog, and how would the parasite affect that particular host? And if it does spread to other frogs, it's the same question. What would eat those frogs?"

Native frogs might be more readily ingested, whether by humans or other animals, she added. The skin of the Cuban treefrog can be irritating to mucus membranes and not appetizing for many.

"Humans do eat frog legs," Walden said. "While humans are not likely eating Cuban treefrogs, what other Florida frog species are infected with rat lungworm, and how are they affected? What we've found is just touching the surface."

She added that while the Cuban treefrog's role in the rat lungworm's life cycle remains unknown, the findings are cause for concern, primarily due to its rapidly expanding geographical range.

"This finding highlights the necessity for increased awareness of emerging parasites and the role invasive species play in their survival and distribution," Walden said.

Explore further Parasite infecting Florida snails poses health danger

More information: Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in the Invasive Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Central Florida, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00140 Journal information: Journal of Wildlife Diseases Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in the Invasive Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Central Florida, USA.
One person has died in Britain from Lassa fever, health authorities said on Friday, as they announced the first three cases of the disease in the country since 2009.

The patient died at a hospital in Bedfordshire, north of London. All three people infected were from the same family in eastern England and recently travelled to West Africa.

Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, belongs to the same family as the Ebola and Marburg viruses but is much less deadly.

It takes its name from the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria where it was first identified in 1969.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a public health body, said close contacts of the patients were being traced with a view to "appropriate assessment, support and advice".

"The risk to the general public remains very low," it added.

The UKHSA confirmed on Wednesday that two other people had been diagnosed with the disease.

One of the confirmed cases recovered, while the second was receiving specialist treatment at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in the north of the British capital.

The hospital has a secure unit which specialises in the treatment of viral haemorrhagic fevers.

The patient who died was initially being treated as a suspected case at the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust north of London.

The hospital confirmed the patient had the disease in a statement.

Last month, the Nigerian authorities said they were battling rising cases of the disease that claimed dozens of lives.

Infection numbers typically climb at the start of the year in a phenomenon linked to the dry season.

Humans usually become infected with the virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rats, or infected bodily fluids.

It is endemic in a number of West African countries.

The UKHSA said most people with Lassa fever make a full recovery although some of those infected suffer severe illness.

There have been eight cases of Lassa fever imported to Britain since 1980. The last two cases were in 2009.

Explore further Nigeria moves to contain rising Lassa fever cases

 2022 AFP
Customers at the fish market in Torvehallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. Starting Tuesday, it is no longer mandatory to wear protection mask anywhere in public in Denmark. The Danish Government decided that COVID-19 is no longer categorized as a socially critical disease after 31 January 2022, and has lifted COVID restrictions. Bit by bit, many countries that have been especially hard-hit by the coronavirus are easing their tough, and often unpopular, restrictive measures to fight COVID-19 even as the omicron variantdeemed less severehas caused cases to skyrocket. Credit: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP

Health authorities in Denmark said Friday that they were considering "winding down" the country's coronavirus vaccination program in the spring and see no reason now to administer a booster dose to children or a fourth shot to anymore residents at risk of severe COVID-19.

The Danish Health Authority said in a statement outlining its reasoning that the third infection wave in the European nation was waning "due to the large population immunity."

"The very high vaccine coverage in Denmark, especially with the third shot, means that we can cope with increasing infection without getting serious illness," the government agency said in a statement.

Last month, the Danish government said it was offering a fourth vaccine dose to older adults and other vulnerable citizens because the pandemic situation had worsened amid the rapid spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

But a Health Authority assessment concluded that three shots had provided good protection to nursing home residents and people over age 85, and the agency decided it was unnecessary to provide them with additional shots right now.

Bolette Sborg, a unit manager and chief physician with the authority, said the approaching end of winter, when time spent indoors makes it easier for the virus to spread, is another reason to hold off on fourth doses.

Only a handful of countries worldwide have started offering fourth shots or announced plans to do so.

Denmark expanded its vaccination program to children ages 5-11 in November, when the delta variant was dominant and there was a fear youngsters could infect older generations. Health authorities said Friday that they were "now starting to plan to round off the current vaccination program for all target groups, including the program for children aged 5-11."

More than 80% of the population has received two shots while 61.3% have had a booster, according to official figures.

The agency said it was looking at "winding down the entire general vaccination program later in the spring."

"We will of course follow the epidemic closely, and we are ready to change our decision if, contrary to expectations, there is a fourth spring wave or new worrying variants this spring," the agency statement said.

Denmark scrapped most pandemic restrictions this month after officials said they no longer considered COVID-19 "a socially critical disease." Officials said that while omicron is surging in the Scandinavian country, the variant was not placing a heavy burden on the health system.

This week, the country reported a slight drop in new weekly cases.

Explore further Denmark to offer 4th COVID vaccine shots to special groups

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Gastrointestinal cancers are some of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and they continue to be associated with poor survival outcomes. The drug adagrasib specifically targets the KRASG12C gene mutation that is common in gastrointestinal cancers and inhibits gastrointestinal function.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, M.D., an investigator from Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, has conducted research on adagrasib that has demonstrated promising clinical activity in patients with gastrointestinal cancers that harbor KRAS G12C mutations, including pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancer and other upper gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Bekaii-Saab recently presented the results of this research as part of the KRYSTAL-1 clinical trial (NCT03785249) at the American Society of Clinic Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

"The prognosis for patients whose cancer harbors a KRAS gene mutation is particularly poor, and researchers' attempts to target KRAS G12C, which represents less than 5% of all KRAS mutations in this group of cancers, have failed until only recently," says Dr. Bekaii-Saab.

"Our data recently presented at ASCO GI (the symposium) showed that adagrasib not only inhibits cancers with a KRASG12C mutation effectively, but also showed promising clinical activity in patients with gastrointestinal cancers."

Dr. Bekaii-Saab says the gastrointestinal cancers for all patients treated in this phase 2 cohort were controlled, with close to half showing evidence of significant and durable tumor shrinkage.

"These results were very impressive in treating a group of diseases that tend to have a particularly poor outcome," says Dr. Bekaii-Saab. "We were pleasantly surprised by these findings, given that our previous experience with another similar agent was disappointing in this particular group of patients."

He says research with adagrasib is ongoing. If these trends continue, the drug may eventually prove to be a new option for patients with pancreatic, biliary tract and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Explore further Scientists uncover mutations that make cancer resistant to therapies targeting KRAS
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A new, Yale-led analysis suggests that the Coca-Cola Company and a number of other corporations are the real thing when it comes to publicly reporting the environmental impact of their operationssomething the American health care industry would do well to replicate.

Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst, Dr. Jodi Sherman, an associate professor of anesthesiology and epidemiology at Yale, Todd Cort, a lecturer at the Yale School of Management, and their colleagues said U.S. health care organizationsand the publicwould greatly benefit from providing regular, comprehensive data on their sustainability efforts.

Some 2,000 major companies, including 90 percent of S&P 500 companies, annually produce such sustainability reports. The vast majority of U.S. health care organizations do not.

"The health care sector, which is responsible for 18 percent of the U.S. economy, should be leading the rest of industry in its environmental performance. Instead, health care organizations are lagging far behind," said Sherman, whose research focuses on sustainability and supply chain issues in the U.S. healthcare industry.

"We're in the midst of a climate change crisis, and the health care industry is contributing to the problem," she added. "We need data, not anecdotes."

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, the University of Texas, and the World Bank co-authored the analysis.

In the study, the authors cited a number of essential sustainability data points that U.S. health care organizations should include in regular reports, starting with their efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions across their entire operations and supply chain. Likewise, the authors said, health care firms should report on fuel that is burned on-site, electricity that has been purchased, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with all goods and services that support their operationsessential data for accountability and strategic management.

These disclosures are commonly termed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, the authors said. Companies create these reports using frameworks such as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) to collect, track, and organize sustainability information. CSR and ESG are based on the Triple Bottom LinePeople, Planet, Profitaccounting concept that seeks to quantitatively measure the environmental and social costs, in addition to the financial costs, of business operations.

"Roughly 80 percent of emissions in the health care industry come from the supply chain," Sherman said, "and it cannot be ignored."

Providing sustainability data would also benefit U.S. health care companies financially, Cort noteda fact that continues to emerge in the broader business community.

Sustainability reporting and transparency often bring new market opportunities from clients and customers who are concerned about climate change. Similarly, Cort said, investors and lenders alike are paying greater attention to sustainability and the risks posed by companies that do not address their own environmental impact in a meaningful way.

There is also increased social pressure from consumers, regulators, lawmakers, and employees to see companies address any policies or practices that contribute to climate change, biodiversity loss, or damage to ecosystems, he said.

"There are tangible financial benefits attached to reporting on sustainability," Cort said. "That's why Coca-Cola and others do this."

The authors highlighted one non-U.S. health care systemthe National Health Service in Englandas being a world leader in providing environmental data that meet international standards for scientific accountability. They also noted that a governmental mandate would likely be required for U.S. health care companies to report sufficient, rigorous, verifiable environmental data.

First author Emily Senay, an assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, added that health care companies' sustainability reports should also include those efforts to sustain the well-being of the human beings that are part of a company's operations.

Many large companies, Senay said, disclose data on their work to create equitable, safe, and healthy workplaces and communities. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core features of ESG reporting, for example.

"If Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart can tell people what they're doing to protect their human capital, and the planet, then why shouldn't hospitals?" Senay said.

Explore further Climate change disclosures driving awareness and action among companies and investors
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At the February 11, 2022 opening of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infection, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine presented data that suggests a new HIV outbreak in Tijuana, Mexico, driven in part by "drug tourism," remains unabated by the closure of the international border due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, researchers found that the HIV incidence rate among people who use drugs (PWID) in Tijuana had risen to an unprecedented 11 per 100 person-years (P-Y), a statistical time measure that roughly translates to 11 percent per year. The HIV incidence rate for PWID in San Diego who cross the border to purchase drugs was found to be lower at 2.77 per 100 P-Y, but still high compared to the HIV incidence rate among San Diego PWID who do not cross the border, for whom the HIV incidence rate was zero.

"These rising rates occurred during a period when the U.S.-Mexico border was closed to non-essential travel (March 2020-November 2021)," said Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D., associate dean of global health sciences and Harold Simon Professor in the Department of Medicine, who has been monitoring binational public health issues for more than a decade.

"They are fueled by undiminished drug tourismpeople in the United States traveling to Mexico, often for extended periods, to buy and use cheaper, more accessible drugs. Obviously, viruses don't require passports to spread and walls don't keep out infectious disease. We need to bolster HIV prevention efforts on both sides of the border."

Migration and mobility have long been key contributors to HIV transmission, particularly among PWID who are vulnerable to HIV. The San Ysidro Port of Entry, which separates San Diego from Tijuana, is considered the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, processing approximately 10 million pedestrians and 15 million vehicles carrying 25 million passengers annually. It is the fourth busiest in the world.

For years, HIV incidence in Tijuana had been stable or declining, in part due to a multi-million dollar effort by the Global Fund for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria to support safe need and syringe exchange programs in the country and other public health measures; but that funding ended in 2013. Some of Mexican government funding to community-based organizations providing HIV services to marginalized populations was reduced in 2019. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 diverted more resources away from HIV prevention and treatment efforts, making an already vulnerable population even more vulnerable. According to Gudelia Rangel, Ph.D., co-director of this study and researcher at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and US-Mexico Border Health Commission, "It's important to understand that public health issues like this are binational in nature. Viruses don't stay in one place, and we need to work closely with partners on both sides of the border to find adequate resources."

The research team includes Britt Skaathun, Ph.D., assistant professor; Antoine Chaillon, MD, Ph.D., associate professor; Annick Borquez, Ph.D., assistant adjunct professor; Tetyana Vasylyev, Ph.D., assistant professor; Irina Artamanova; Alicia Harvey-Vera, Ph.D.; Carlos F. Vera and Brendon Woodworth, all at UC San Diego, with Caroline Ignacio, Ph.D., Columbia University.

The researchers said the findings underscore the urgency of restoring and expanding efforts such as mobile needle exchange programs and greater access to tailored health services providing antiviral therapies and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medications that significantly reduce the chances of HIV infection for persons at high risk.

Explore further HIV and a tale of a few cities
(HealthDay)For patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy procedures, a physician-led Anesthesia Care Team model reduces in-room to scope-in (IRSI) time, according to a study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists ADVANCE 2022: The Anesthesiology Business Event, held from Jan. 28 to 30 in Dallas.

Andrew Mariotti, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, and colleagues examined the differences in operational outcomes of monitored anesthesia care with propofol under physician supervision (MAC) and nurse-administered sedation with fentanyl, midazolam, and diphenhydramine (NAS) after implementation of new sedation protocols in the luminal GI suite. Outcomes were compared for patients who underwent sedation and procedures with MAC protocols (Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 2021) versus NAS protocols (Jan. 1 to June 30, 2021). Data were included for 5,641 cases.

The researchers found that for combined, upper GI, and lower GI cases, there were significant decreases in mean IRSI time of 20.3, 19.5, and 21.5 minutes per case, respectively. When using MAC protocols, the investigators observed significant decreases of 3.7 and 20.5 minutes for mean postanesthesia care unit length of stay and total case length, respectively, across all procedure types.

"The Anesthesia Care Team model allows us to optimize patient flow and utilize faster-acting medications, resulting in shorter total case lengths and reduced postanesthesia care unit length of stay," a coauthor said in a statement. "This allows for scheduling more patients in fewer rooms in the GI suite per day and increases patient access to care."

Explore further Wyomingites overwhelmingly want physicians to supervise nurse anesthetists and respond to anesthesia emergencies

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SARS-CoV-2 (shown here in an electron microscopy image). Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

The World Health Organization said Friday that it had prequalified the arthritis treatment tocilizumab for use in patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19, in a bid to increase access to the pricey drug.

The monoclonal antibody, used in anti-inflammatory drugs made by Swiss pharma giant Roche, has been shown to reduce the risk of death and also hospitalisation time in certain patients suffering from severe COVID.

WHO has, like the United States and the European Union, already recommended its use to treat severe COVID in hospital settings.

But it remains in short supply and is very expensivea single dose reportedly goes for up to $600 in lower-income countries, WHO said, adding though that its prequalification should help make it more accessible.

The UN health agency said it had added three different compositions of the monoclonal antibody to its list of prequalified treatments for the pandemic disease, in a move aimed to spur more the production of more cheaper generic versions.

"The listings should pave the way for more companies coming forward to seek WHO prequalification, thereby increasing the number of quality-assured products and creating competition leading to potentially lower prices," WHO said in a statement.

"The prequalification of these products will also facilitate low- and middle-income countries' authorisation of them as COVID treatments," it said.

WHO told AFP its prequalification process was primarily aimed at ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products procured to developing countries.

A prequalification provides assurances to countries that they are purchasing quality health products.

Prior to tocilizumab, the WHO has prequalified three different compositions for the steroid dexamethasone for treating COVID, as well as Gilead's antiviral remdesivir, although that prequalification has since been suspended.

Tocilizumab has previously been authorised mostly for the treatment of arthritis in about 120 countries.

But during the pandemic, it has also been shown to suppress a dangerous "cytokine storm"the over-reaction of the immune system to the coronavirus.

WHO pointed out that the patent for tocilizumab had expired for most uses.

This, it said, "means there should be no intellectual property barriers," although it warned there was "low global availability for quality-assured biosimilars of the product".

WHO said it was currently discussing with Roche how to lower prices and improve access in low- and middle-income countries.

But it stressed to AFP that while Friday's prequalification was specifically for Roche products, "many generic companies are already producing tocilizumab, some of which have also applied for prequalification".

"If they are found to comply with WHO standard... they can enter international markets."

"In a sense, prequalification is also indirectly promoting quality local production, and ultimately greater supply and more competitive prices."

Explore further WHO moves step closer to cheaper breast cancer treatment

 2022 AFP
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new blood-clotting test that uses only a single drop of blood and a smartphone vibration motor and camera. The system includes a plastic attachment that holds a tiny cup of blood beneath the phone's camera (shown here). Note: This photo simulates how this system works, and the "blood" shown here is not real. Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington

Blood clots form naturally as a way to stop bleeding when someone is injured. But blood clots in patients with medical issues, such as mechanical heart valves or other heart conditions, can lead to a stroke or heart attack. That's why millions of Americans take blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, that make it harder for their blood to clot.

Warfarin isn't perfect, however, and requires patients to be tested frequently to make sure their blood is in the correct rangeblood that clots too easily could still lead to a stroke or a heart attack while blood that doesn't clot can lead to extended bleeding after an injury. To be tested, patients either have to go to a clinic laboratory or use a costly at-home testing system.

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new blood-clotting test that uses only a single drop of blood and a smartphone vibration motor and camera. The system includes a plastic attachment that holds a tiny cup beneath the phone's camera.

A person adds a drop of blood to the cup, which contains a small copper particle and a chemical that starts the blood-clotting process. Then the phone's vibration motor shakes the cup while the camera monitors the movement of the particle, which slows down and then stops moving as the clot forms. The researchers showed that this method falls within the accuracy range of the standard instruments of the field.

The team published these findings Feb. 11 in Nature Communications.

"Back in the day, doctors used to manually rock tubes of blood back and forth to monitor how long it took a clot to form. This, however, requires a lot of blood, making it infeasible to use in home settings," said senior author Shyam Gollakota, UW professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. "The creative leap we make here is that we're showing that by using the vibration motor on a smartphone, our algorithms can do the same thing, except with a single drop of blood. And we get accuracy similar to the best commercially available techniques."

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new blood-clotting test that uses only a single drop of blood and a smartphone vibration motor and camera. The system includes a plastic attachment that holds a tiny cup of blood beneath the phone's camera. A person adds blood to the cup, which contains a chemical that starts the blood clotting process and a small copper particle (shown here as the oblong blue shape in the top right of the red circle). Note: This photo simulates how this system works, and the "blood" shown here is not real. Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington

Doctors can rank blood-clotting ability using two numbers:

the time it takes for the clot to form, what's known as the "prothrombin time" or PT

a ratio calculated from the PT that allows doctors to more easily compare results between different tests or laboratories, called the "international normalized ratio" or INR

"Most people taking this medication are taking it for life. But this is not a set-and-forget type of thingin the U.S., most people are only in what we call the 'desirable range' of PT/INR levels about 64% of the time," said co-author Dr. Kelly Michaelsen, assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine in the UW School of Medicine. "This number is even loweronly about 40% of the timein countries such as India or Uganda where there is less frequent testing. How can we make this better? We need to make it easier for people to test more frequently and take ownership of their health care."

Patients who can monitor their PT/INR levels from home would only need to go to see a clinician if the test suggested they were outside of that desirable range, Michaelsen said.

The researchers wanted an inexpensive device that could work similarly to how at-home blood sugar monitors work for people with diabetes: A person can prick their finger and test a drop of blood.

"We started by vibrating a single drop of blood and trying to monitor waves on the surface," said lead author Justin Chan, a UW doctoral student in the Allen School. "But that was really challenging with such a small amount of blood."

The team added a small copper particle because its motion was so much more reliable to track.

"As the blood clots, it forms a network that tightens. And in that process, the particle goes from happily bouncing around to no longer moving," Michaelsen said.

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new blood-clotting test that uses only a single drop of blood and a smartphone vibration motor and camera. Shown here are lead author Justin Chan (left, holding the device), a UW doctoral student in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, and co-author Dr. Kelly Michaelsen (right), assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine in the UW School of Medicine. Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington

To calculate PT and INR, the phone collects two time stamps: first when the user inserts the blood and second when the particle stops moving.

"For the first time stamp, we're looking for when the user inserts a capillary tube containing the sample in the frame," Chan said. "For the end of the measurement, we look directly at the interior of the cup so that the only movement within those frames is the copper particle. The particle stops moving abruptly because blood clots very quickly, and you can observe that difference between frames. From there we can calculate the PT, and this can be mapped to INR."

The researchers tested this method on three different types of blood samples. As a proof of concept, the team started with plasma, a component of blood that is transparent and therefore easier to test. The researchers tested plasma from 140 anonymized patients at the University of Washington Medical Center. The team also examined plasma from 79 patients with known blood-clotting issues. For both these conditions, the test had results that were similar to commercially available tests.

To mimic what a patient at home would experience, the team then tested whole blood from 80 anonymized patients at both Harborview and the University of Washington medical centers. This test also yielded results that were in the accuracy range of commercial tests.

This device is still in a proof-of-concept stage. The researchers have publicly released the code and are exploring commercialization opportunities as well as further testing. For example, currently all these tests have been done in the lab. The next step is to work with patients to test this system at home. The researchers also want to see how the system fares in more resource-limited areas and countries.

"Almost every smartphone from the past decade has a vibration motor and a camera. This means that almost everyone who has a phone can use this. All you need is a simple plastic attachment, no additional electronics of any kind," Gollakota said. "This is the best of all worldsit's basically the holy grail of PT/INR testing. It makes it frugal and accessible to millions of people, even where resources are very limited."

Additional co-authors on this paper are Joanne Estergreen, clinical laboratory supervisor in the UW School of Medicine's laboratory medicine and pathology department, and Dr. Daniel Sabath, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine.

More information: Micro-mechanical blood clot testing using smartphones, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Micro-mechanical blood clot testing using smartphones,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28499-y
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When South African scientists announced in November that they had identified a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, they also reported two worrying details: one, that this new variant's genome was strikingly different from that of any previous variant, containing dozens of mutations compared with the original virus that emerged in 2019; and two, that the new variantdubbed omicronwas spreading like wildfire.

The world needed to know quickly how well COVID-19 immunityeither from vaccination or prior infectionand therapies would hold up against this new variant.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, led by Michael S. Diamond, MD, Ph.D., the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine, immediately started investigating the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Within a few weeks, they had data showing that omicron was a mixed bag: It could resist most antibody-based therapeutics, but it was less able to cause severe lung disease, at least in mice and hamsters.

"What omicron demonstrates is that a virus's intrinsic pathogenicityits ability to cause diseaseis just one factor you have to consider in the context of a pandemic," said Diamond, also a professor of molecular microbiology and of pathology & immunology. "The omicron variant is less pathogenic, but it's not not pathogenic. It can still cause severe disease, and it still kills people. When you have huge numbers of people getting infected in a short period of time, even if only a small fraction get seriously ill, it can still be enough to overwhelm the health-care system. Add that to the fact that many of our antibody therapies have lost effectiveness, and you get the crisis we've seen this winter."

Diamond worked with Jacco Boon, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine, of molecular microbiology, and of pathology & immunology, and colleagues at the SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) Program to investigate omicron's capacity to cause severe disease. The SAVE Program was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to rapidly characterize emerging variants and monitor their potential impact on COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

The omicron wave peaked first in South Africa. Early reports from the country indicated that the huge wave of infections was followed by a surprisingly small wave of hospitalizations and deaths. This encouraging news suggested that omicron might cause milder disease than previous variants. But the South African and U.S. populations are very different. South Africa is much younger, and has a lower vaccination rate but a higher rate of prior infection, and a different pattern of high-risk health conditions. It was unclear whether the U.S. would follow the same path as South Africa.

To separate the role of the virus itself from population factors such as average age and pre-existing immunity, Boon, Diamond and colleagues studied animals infected with the variant. The group tested omicron variants from three people in four strains of mice and two strains of hamsters. For comparison, they infected separate groups of animals with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 or the beta variant, which emerged in South Africa in fall 2020. Beta caused a large wave of infections in South Africa in 2020 before spreading globally. People infected with beta were more likely to become severely ill and require hospitalization than those infected with other variants.

Compared with animals infected with the original strain or with the beta variant, animals infected with omicron lost less weight, had less virus in their noses and lungs, had lower levels of inflammation, and lost less respiratory function.

"Omicron virus is milder in every rodent model of COVID-19 disease that we tested," Boon said. "This suggests that it may also be less capable of causing severe disease in people, although we can't say for certain because people, obviously, are very different from mice and hamsters. But just because it might be milder doesn't mean it's harmless. People are still being hospitalized and dying every day, so it's important to continue taking precautions against infection."

The disease-severity study was published in Nature, with co-corresponding authors Boon, Diamond and Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, Ph.D., a professor of virology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Meanwhile, Diamond also began investigating omicron's ability to resist antibody-based therapeutics. The virus that causes COVID-19 uses its spike protein to get inside cells. Because of the critical importance of spike to the virus, all COVID-19 vaccines and antibody-based therapies used in the U.S. target the protein. Omicron has 30 mutations in its spike gene, enough to make scientists worry that some anti-spike antibodies might fail against omicron's very different spike protein.

Diamond, along with staff scientist and first author Laura VanBlargan, Ph.D., and colleagues tested all antibodies then authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to treat or prevent COVID-19including antibodies made by AstraZeneca, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Regeneron and Vir Biotechnologyfor their ability to prevent the omicron variant from infecting cells. The antibodies were tested individually and in the combinations they were authorized to be used.

Most of the antibodies were much less potent against omicron than against the original virus. Many failed completely. Only Vir's antibody, known as sotrovimab, retained the power to neutralize the omicron variant. These data, published in Nature Medicine in January, contributed to a growing stack of evidence that many antibody-based COVID-19 therapies fail to help people sick with omicron. As omicron became the dominant variant in January, accounting for nearly all COVID-19 cases in the U.S., the FDA withdrew authorization for all antibody-based COVID-19 therapeutics except sotrovimab.

More information: Peter J. Halfmann et al, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus causes attenuated disease in mice and hamsters, Nature (2022). Peter J. Halfmann et al, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus causes attenuated disease in mice and hamsters,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04441-6 Laura A. VanBlargan et al, An infectious SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron virus escapes neutralization by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, Nature Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01678-y Journal information: Nature , Nature Medicine
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In a review of more than 3 million pregnancies, University of Florida researchers found 1 in 16 women were exposed to harmful teratogenic drugsmedications that can cause pregnancy loss, birth defects and other health problems for the unborn child.

The study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology highlights the need for women and their providers to carefully examine medications taken during pregnancy.

"If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or sexually active you must understand the risks involved with taking teratogenic drugs," said Almut Winterstein, Ph.D., R.Ph., an author of the study and distinguished professor and chair of the department of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy in the UF College of Pharmacy, part of UF Health.

"Talk with your provider about your medications and review drug labels to ensure the medications you are taking are not putting your unborn child at risk," added Winterstein, who also directs the UF Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety.

A teratogen is a substance that interferes with the normal development of a fetus. Hundreds of such drugs have been identified, including medications to treat seizures, migraines, obesity, acne, hypertension, bipolar disease and cancer.

UF researchers investigated more than 200 teratogenic drugs and evaluated their exposure among 3.4 million pregnancies identified in a national private insurance database from 2006 to 2017. Prenatal exposure was defined by the mother taking at least one teratogenic drug during pregnancy.

Using teratology drug databases, the medications were separated into two classes based upon their known teratogenic effect. About 140 drugs were known to have definite teratogenic effects, and another 65 were identified as having potential teratogenic effects. The proportion of pregnancies with exposure to definite teratogens decreased slightly over the 12-year study period from 1.9 percent to 1.2 percent, while exposures for potential teratogens increased from 3.4 percent to 5.3 percent.

"While declining exposure rates among teratogenic drugs with definite risk are encouraging, the rising prenatal exposure to drugs with potential risk calls for more assessment," Winterstein said. "To have 1 in 16 women and their unborn baby exposed to a teratogenic medication is simply too high, and we must identify strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes."

The study also examined age and risk for prenatal exposure to teratogenic drugs and found teenagers and women in their 40s had the greatest risk. Winterstein said both of these groups are known to have more unintended pregnancies and the drug exposure may have been accidental, which points to the need for more information about effective birth control and family planning when using teratogenic drugs.

UF researchers were particularly interested in prenatal exposure during more recent years, following the enactment of the FDA Amendment Act of 2007. That legislation allowed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require drug manufacturers to implement a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for certain medications with serious safety concerns. Those mitigation strategies are designed to reinforce safe medication-use behaviors, such as a pregnancy test before a teratogenic drug is started, and only a few medications require this extra safety precaution.

The 12 drugs with mitigation protocols in the study were found to be used infrequently and contributed to only a small portion of prenatal exposures. The study's authors concluded more research and regulatory action are needed to optimize the use of medications during pregnancy.

"There is much to do to address the evidence available regarding the risk-benefit of many drugs during pregnancy, and the availability of adequate risk-mitigation programs that ensure pregnancies are not unnecessarily exposed to teratogenic drugs," Winterstein said. "In the meantime, women and their providers must rely on the written information that is provided about the teratogenic risk for drugs during pregnancy."

The study "Prenatal Exposure to Teratogenic Medications in the Era of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)," was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Explore further Study highlights failure to recognise risks of epilepsy drug in pregnancy

More information: Amir Sarayani et al, Prenatal Exposure to Teratogenic Medications in the Era of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2022). Journal information: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Amir Sarayani et al, Prenatal Exposure to Teratogenic Medications in the Era of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS),(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.01.004
FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent use of common, over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and Tylenol isn't risk-free, with new research suggesting it may increase your risk of tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears."

A study of more than 69,000 women found that, in addition to aspirin and Tylenol (acetaminophen), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) also raised the risk of tinnitus.

"Our findings suggest that analgesic [painkiller] users may be at higher risk for developing tinnitus and may provide insight into the precipitants of this challenging disorder," said study lead author Dr. Sharon Curhan of Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston.

"Even though these analgesics are widely available without a prescription, these are still medications, and there are potential side effects. For anyone who is considering taking these types of medications regularly, it is advisable to consult with a health care professional to discuss the risks and benefits, and to explore whether there are alternatives to using medication," Curhan said in a hospital news release.

Tinnitus is the perception of sounds such as whistling, buzzing, hissing, swooshing and clicking when there is no actual external noise. Tinnitus can be a temporary or a long-term condition.

For the study, the researchers examined data from the Nurses' Health Study II. Participants were followed for 20 years after enrolling between the ages of 31 and 48.

The analysis showed that frequent use (six to seven days a week) of moderate-dose aspirin was associated with a 16% higher risk of tinnitus among women younger than 60 but not among older women.

Frequent use of low-dose aspirin was not associated with an increased risk of tinnitus. However, frequent use of other NSAIDs or acetaminophen was associated with an almost 20% higher risk of developing tinnitus, and the risk rose with use.

The researchers also found that regular use (two or more days a week) of prescription COX-2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex (celecoxib), was associated with a 20% higher risk of tinnitus. COX-2 inhibitors share similar properties with other NSAIDs but cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

The study was published Feb. 9 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

In the United States, about 20 million people have chronic tinnitus, and about 3 million are severely disabled by the condition, according to Curhan.

In most cases, the cause of tinnitus is unknown and treatments provide limited relief.

The study findings show that it "is important to take these medications mindfully and to limit their use as much as possible, and to discuss any change in medication use, whether prescription or non-prescription, with your health care provider," Curhan said.

More information

For more on tinnitus, go to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

SOURCE: Brigham and Women's Hospital, news release, Feb. 9, 2022

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with spinal cord injuries have a high risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues -- and chronic pain is a major factor, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed private insurance claims from more than 9,000 U.S. adults with a traumatic spinal cord injury and more than 1 million people without injuries.

Their study found that mental health disorders had been diagnosed in 59% of adults with spinal cord injuries, compared with 31% of those in the general population.

"Improved clinical efforts are needed to facilitate screening of, and early treatment for, both chronic pain and psychological health in this higher-risk population," said study lead author Mark Peterson, an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Michigan Medicine-University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The findings echo previous research linking spinal cord injuries to mental health conditions.

The researchers also found that chronic pain was strongly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders and other mental health conditions.

In most cases, chronic pain had a greater influence on mental health problems than living with the spinal cord injury itself, according to the findings.

They show that doctors should monitor for spinal cord patients for mental health conditions and refer them for treatment if necessary, researchers said.

They said a lack of insurance coverage and limited available services are barriers to stepped-up screening and earlier mental health treatment.

"Stakeholders need to work together to lobby for more federal research funding and special policy amendments to ensure adequate and long-term insurance coverage for both physical and mental health to meet the needs of folks living with spinal cord injuries," Peterson said in a university news release.

The study was published recently in the journal Spinal Cord.

More information

For more on spinal cord injury, see the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Feb. 7, 2022

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday gave the nod for a new monoclonal antibody treatment that works against the Omicron variant.

The emergency use authorization for bebtelovimab is for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients at least 12 years of age who are at high risk for severe disease. Eli Lilly and Co. produces the treatment. On Thursday, Lilly announced that the United States would purchase 600,000 doses of the drug in a $720 million deal.

The emergency use authorization comes as good news for people at high risk for severe COVID. The mutations of Omicron had rendered ineffective some of the previously available monoclonal antibody treatments, leaving doctors with fewer treatment options.

"Today's action makes available another monoclonal antibody that shows activity against Omicron, at a time when we are seeking to further increase supply," Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. "This authorization is an important step in meeting the need for more tools to treat patients as new variants of the virus continue to emerge."

Bebtelovimab works by binding to the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19, similar to other monoclonal antibodies that have been authorized for the treatment of high-risk patients, the FDA said.

The agency based its decision on a series of clinical trials involving more than 700 COVID patients. The rates of hospitalization and death seen in those who received bebtelovimab alone or with other monoclonal antibodies were generally lower than those of a group that received a placebo, the FDA said.

"Lilly has worked hard to fight this pandemic. Early in 2021, prior to the identification of the Omicron variant, Lilly scientists were already working to develop bebtelovimab as a broadly neutralizing antibody that could be used to fight a highly mutated variant, should one emerge," Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific and medical officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, said in a company statement.

"With the emergence of variants such as Omicron, treatment options remain limited. Lilly is pleased to provide another treatment option to help address the ongoing needs of patients and health care providers who continue to battle this pandemic," Skovronsky said.

Possible side effects of bebtelovimab include itching, rash, infusion-related reactions, nausea and vomiting.

More information

Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more on COVID treatments.

SOURCES: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Feb. 11, 2022; Eli Lilly and Co., news release, Feb. 11, 2022

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A new lung cancer drug that has only been tested in China was soundly rejected by an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.

Known as sintilimab, the treatment is a type of immunotherapy that unleashes the immune system to attack tumors. It was developed and tested in China by Innovent Biologics, which entered into an agreement with Eli Lilly that would have allowed Lilly to seek approval to market the drug in the United States, The New York Times reported. It was to be used alongside chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

"We had hoped that sintilimab could have played a positive role for patients and the U.S. healthcare system through an aggressive pricing strategy," Lilly said in a statement released Thursday. "Along with Innovent, we will continue to work with the FDA as it completes its review of the sintilimab application."

Dr. Richard Pazdur, who heads the FDAs oncology unit, explained on Thursday why he had backtracked from a far more welcoming attitude in 2019, when he said the agency might consider a drug tested solely in China.

Over the past two or three years, this country has experienced tremendous social change, he said during the meeting, the Times reported, and diversity in clinical trial participants has become a critical issue.

A drug tested only in China is a step backward, he said.

More troubling was the results of an FDA staff analysis that skewered the methodological grounds of the Chinese trial, the Times reported. It cited a failure to provide patients in the control group with an approved therapy that is standard of care; questioned the competence and experiecne of some of the investigators; noted a patient population that was younger, had more men, and had fewer smokers than typical U.S. lung cancer patients; and criticized use of an endpoint that isn't always reliable.

Lilly had promoted its FDA application by saying that it wanted to use sintilimab as a wedge to break the sky high prices of many cancer immunotherapies.

Already on the market are several other similar dugs, which make cancers vulnerable by blocking a protein that tumors use as sort of an invisible shield. These immunotherapy drugs treat such cancers as colon, breast, liver and lung, and carry list prices that are nearly identical  about $150,000 a year per patient.

Lilly said it would charge 40 percent less if its drug were approved. Sintilimab costs $6,000 a year in China.

Breaking the price lock on such drugs is a big deal, Brad Loncar, a biotechnology industry investor, told the Times.

Im not aware of any precedent of a company, especially of Lillys size and credibility, announcing that a discounted price like this is how they planned to innovate, Loncar noted.

Now, he added, the near certainty that the drug application would be rejected by the full agency means that a real option for substantially lower drug prices is being closed in the U.S.

But Dr. Scott Ramsey, a health economist and cancer specialist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, was among those who were skeptical of Lillys motives. Yeah, right, he told the Times.

Are they talking about the stranglehold on prices that their current drugs contribute to? Ramsey asked. Maybe they could start by knocking 40 percent off their price for Cyramza  a stomach cancer drug with a list price of $13,400.32 to $15,075.36 per month  and Verzenio, a breast cancer drug with a similar price tag.

I dont buy it, Ramsey said.

More information

Visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute for more on lung cancer treatments.

SOURCE: The New York Times

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it will postpone an advisory panel meeting that was slated for next week to weigh Pfizer's COVID vaccine for use in young children.

The FDA took the step after Pfizer notified the agency that it would like to wait until data is available on a three-dose regimen for children aged 6 months to 4 years old, Pfizer said in a statement.

The FDA had planned to review a two-dose regimen at a Feb. 15 meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting. This committee provides crucial review of the data behind vaccine applications.

The application now "will wait for the three-dose data as Pfizer and BioNTech continue to believe it may provide a higher level of protection in this age group," Pfizer said.

"This is also supported by recent observations of three-dose booster data in several other age groups that seems to meaningfully augment neutralizing antibody levels and real-world vaccine protection for Omicron compared to the two-dose regimen," the company added.

During a media briefing on the postponement, FDA officials explained their change in strategy.

"Given the recent Omicron surge and the notable increase in hospitalizations in the youngest children to their highest levels during the pandemic so far, we felt it was our responsibility as a public health agency to act with urgency and consider all available options, including requesting that the company Pfizer provide us with initial data on two doses from its ongoing study," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

"The goal was to understand if two doses would provide sufficient protection to move forward with authorizing the use of the vaccine in this age group. The [new] data that we saw made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose in the ongoing trial in order to make a determination that we could proceed with doing an authorization," he said.

Marks also noted that the speed with which Omicron spread also speeded up the collection of trial data.

"Think about what's happened in the past month. I don't know whether anyone could have really predicted what happened real well. We had days when we were getting above three quarters of a million cases a day of Omicron, and we started to see a tremendous number of children affected by Omicron," Marks said. "You could imagine that if a clinical trial were going on, any clinical trial, not necessarily this one, where someone was looking at outcomes, one might see information coming in very quickly."

Pfizer first announced in December that a two-dose regimen didn't generate a strong enough immune response in some children.

"The decision to evaluate a third dose  for children 6 months to under 5 years of age reflects the companies' commitment to carefully select the right dose to maximize the risk-benefit profile," Pfizer said at the time.

The FDA had planned to go forward with a review of the two-dose series out of a sense of urgency, but the postponement should also reassure parents, Marks added.

"We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we're parents as well. In looking over these data, I think parents can feel reassured that we have set a standard by which we feel that if something does not meet that standard, we cant proceed forward," Marks said.

"Rather than having any issue of causing anyone to question the process, I hope this reassures people that the process has a standard, that the process is one that we follow, and we follow the science in making sure that anything we authorize has the safety and efficacy that people have come to expect from our regulatory review of medical products," he said.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on COVID vaccines and kids.

SOURCES: U.S. Food and Drug Administration media briefing with Dr. Peter Marks, director, FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; Pfizer Inc., news release, Feb. 11, 2022

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccinated travelers will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests when they enter Britain, officials announced Friday.

British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine now only need to fill out a passenger locator form before arrival, the Associated Press reported.

Unvaccinated people will still be required to take tests before and after arrival but will no longer have to self-isolate until they get a negative result.

After nearly two years of severely restricted travel, airlines and others in the travel industry welcomed the announcement, the AP reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government lifted most domestic rules last month. Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor spaces in England, and vaccine passports for gaining entry to nightclubs and large-scale events have been scrapped, according to the AP.

Johnson said he hopes to lift the final restriction -- mandatory self-isolation for people who test positive -- by month's end as part of a plan to live long-term with COVID, the AP reported.

Other countries should follow Britain's "pragmatic approach," according to British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle.

One of two terminals at London's Gatwick Airport has been closed since June 2020, but the airport said it plans to reopen it next month.

Andrew Flintham, managing director of the travel group TUI UK, hailed the move, telling the AP that there has been a "huge pent-up demand for international travel." He said people were scrambling to book getaways for this month's school break and April's Easter holiday.

The testing requirement for travelers was one of the last restrictions imposed in Britain during the past two years in response to the COVID pandemic.

While other European countries have eased COVID restrictions, the AP reported that some experts were surprised at Britain's scrapping of the traveler testing rule.

Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King's College London, described it as "more a political type of statement rather than a scientific one."

"There is some rationale to this and other countries are doing things similar, but it's clearly a race for the government to say that 'Britain is first, Britain is the first to come out of this, Britain has conquered Omicron, our booster program is world beating etc., etc.,'" Spector told Times Radio, according to the AP.

Among European nations, Britain's coronavirus toll is second only to Russia, with more than 159,000 officially recorded deaths, according to the AP. It reported that the country has seen a drop in both new infections and COVID patients admitted to hospitals since Omicron peaked in early January.

In all, 84.6% of Brits ages 12 and older have had two COVID vaccine shots and almost two-thirds have had a booster, the AP reported.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information for Americans about international travel.

SOURCE: Associated Press, Feb. 11, 2022

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Everyone has had a case of the squirms at some point in their life, fighting the need to urinate as a full bladder presses them to let it all go.

But for some, that need occurs far too often. Or, even worse, they go accidentally when they sneeze or laugh.

"Incontinence has been shown in multiple validated studies to severely affect someone's quality of life," said Dr. Konstantin Walmsley, a urologist at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center, in Montclair, N.J. "These patients often avoid social gatherings, have a higher likelihood of urinary tract infections and genital skin irritation, and have a higher likelihood of clinical depression."

There are two main types of urinary incontinence, Walmsley said  urgency incontinence and stress incontinence.

Urgency incontinence involves an overactive bladder. Sufferers tend to go more than eight times a day, and often wake at night to relieve themselves.

"About two-thirds of men with an enlarged prostate will have symptoms of overactive bladder and occasionally will have urgency urinary incontinence," Walmsley said.

He added that the problem "is also seen in patients with underlying neurological disorders such as stroke or Parkinson's disease. However, the vast majority of patients with urgency urinary incontinence have no identifiable, underlying cause for their condition."

Urgency incontinence also can be caused by constipation or obesity, but these cases can be reversed if treated effectively, Walmsley said.

Stress urinary incontinence is leakage caused by sneezing or laughing. The muscles that hold in your urine grow so weak they can't handle any added pressure.

"When found in women, it is most commonly seen in the context of childbirth," Walmsley said. "With men, the most common cause of stress urinary incontinence are complications from prostate surgery."

There are drugs that can help treat urgency incontinence, Walmsley said, but nothing has yet been approved for stress incontinence.

"The therapies most often used first are behavioral modifications and pelvic floor physical therapy," Walmsley said. "Pelvic floor physical therapy involves strengthening the Kegel muscles with the assistance of a specially trained physical therapist."

Behavioral modifications include:

Avoiding bladder irritants like caffeine, carbonated beverages, alcohol, and spicy or acidic foods.

Timing your urination.

Limiting fluids in the evening before bedtime.

Urgency incontinence also can be addressed with Botox injections that help bladder muscles relax, giving sufferers more time to get to the toilet, Walmsley said.

Another option is neuromodulation, in which a device or implant sends electrical signals to the location where bladder nerves receive signals from the brain. The electrical stimulation can relax a nervous bladder, causing significant decreases in urinary urgency and frequency, as well as waking up to go to the bathroom, Walmsley said.

Surgery also can be used, with doctors implanting slings or bulking agents that give people more control over their urination, Walmsley said.

"I take an individualized approach to each patient, but tend to favor starting therapy with conservative approaches such as pelvic floor physical therapy and behavioral therapies," Walmsley said.

He has a final piece of advice  don't suffer in silence.

"Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. You are not alone," he said. "There are millions of people unnecessarily suffering in silence with incontinence. The diaper and incontinence pad industry is a multibillion dollar per year business, which reflects how common this problem is."

So, talk to your doctor, Walmsley urged.

"There are so many different solutions to this problem. Help is just around the corner," he said.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about urinary incontinence.

SOURCE: Konstantin Walmsley, MD, urologist, Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, N.J.

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The 2022 Wilderness Speaker Series brings timely and interesting wilderness topics to the public to raise awareness and inspire community discussion. These events takes place on the second Thursday in February, March and April in the large community room in FVCCs Arts & Technology Building.

The series is presented by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Wild Montana Flathead-Kootenai Chapter, Northwest Montana Fire Lookout Association, and the Natural Resources Conservation Management Program at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC).

All events will take place in the Large Community Room (Room 139) in the Arts & Technology Building at FVCC.

Given the elevated rate of transmission of COVID-19 and its variants in our community, Flathead Valley Community College is recommending that all individuals  vaccinated or not  wear face masks or coverings indoors on campus. This recommendation aligns with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encourages face masks indoors in places with substantial or high transmission rates, such as Flathead County. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available at the door.

Doug Chadwick, Wildlife Biologist

When: Thursday, Feb. 10, 7-8:15 p.m.

Topic: "Four-Fifths a Grizzly"

Doug Chadwick has carried out research on mountain goat ecology and social behavior atop the Rockies for years, and has assisted other scientists studying harlequin ducks, wolverines, grizzly bears and whales. He is also a natural history journalist who has produced 15 popular books and hundreds of magazine stories including many features in National Geographic. Join Doug to explore themes from his newest book, "Four-Fifths a Grizzly," with a fresh look at the humans place in the natural world. Through DNA, scientific studies and his own personal stories, Chadwick challenges anyone to consider whether they are separate from or part of nature. Hosted by the Northwest Montana Lookout Association.

Terry Kennedy, Author

When: Thursday, March 10, 7-8:15 p.m.

Topic: "In Search of the Mount Cleveland Five"

The Mount Cleveland tragedy will remain one of the most enigmatic mountaineering accidents in the United States, when five young mountain climbers disappeared while attempting to be the first to climb the north face of Mount Cleveland in Glacier National Park. Its tragedy inspired Terry Kennedy to teach himself to climb at the age of 15. Join Terry as he tells the stories of his climbing endeavors that followed, with colorful Montana climbers and their close calls, antics and tears  and the grief and inspiration of the Mount Cleveland avalanche always present. Hosted by the Flathead-Kootenai Chapter of Wild Montana.

Kallie Moore, the Fossil Librarian

When: Thursday, April 14, 7-8:15 p.m.

Topic: A Deep Time Tour Through Montana's Wilderness Areas

Kallie Moore has managed the University of Montana Paleontology Collection since 2008. In 2017, Kallie became a host and content consultant for PBS Eons, a YouTube Channel dedicated to the history of life on Earth. In this presentation we will journey through the ancient past of some of Montana's wilderness areas. Kallies talk will focus mainly on the geological and paleontological history of these areas. Come find out what kind of life was roaming around the Bob Marshall Wilderness around 500 million of years ago. Hosted by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.

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Mushrooms harvested on public lands in Montana and throughout the American West have become premium global exports, destined for countries such as China, Italy, Romania and Lithuania. Various fungi are plucked from the remotest forests of Big Sky Country and then crated and packed and shipped to satisfy personal demand or to supply the restaurants of Japan, Europe, and North America.

In the documentary Up on the Mountain co-directors and co-producers Olivier Matthon and Michael Reis portray the ragtag groups of commercial mushroom pickers drawn for myriad reasons to the freedom and finance of the harvest.

Screening at Big Sky Documentary Film Fest Up on the Mountain screens as part of the 19th Big Sky Documentary Film Festival at the Wilma, Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. and at the ZACC, Sunday, Feb. 27, at 11:45 a.m. Virtual screenings are available in a limited window after the Wilma showing. Go to bigskyfilmfest.org for more information.

An eclectic batch of migrants, misfits, outcasts and sometimes even real troublemakers, such pickers have long harbored a chip on their shoulders, believing that they are being shunned as an unwanted, less desirable user group. From the Laotians fleeing the harsh suffering of Communism, to the Mexicans in search of a safer, better future for their families in the U.S., to the free-spirited, boisterously independent native-born pickers, mushroom harvesters are an undeniably curious lot.

Mushroom pickers need a lot of flexibility to be able to travel around and move locations fast, Matthon said. Mushroom pickers are their own bosses. Even, like, compared with commercial fishing, you need a way less initial investment to be a mushroom picker, because you don't need to buy any kind of expensive boat or expensive fishing license. So, that's why it's more accessible for all these people that cannot get access, you know, to loans and stuff like that. Mushroom picking is accessible for people that don't have large access to large capital.

Olivier and Michael, who first worked together as commercial agricultural workers in Alaska in 2014 and later again harvested side by side in Oregon, decided to pair up in a totally new capacity, depicting the unique faces of mushroom pickers in the American West, including Montana. (The Montana-based components of the film were shot in the Kootenai National Forest and Lolo National Forest a couple years ago.)

I've been a commercial mushroom picker for 10 years now, said Matthon, who is French Canadian and has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2006. I've worked as a seasonal worker in different jobs, like commercial fishing and farming, and then started picking mushrooms. And at some point, we (Michael and I) thought we wanted to make a documentary about it.

I have a background in seasonal work, seasonal labor, fishing, farming, shell fishing, and also mushroom picking, said Reis, a San Francisco native who resides on coastal Oregon. Olivier and I were both picking together and just sort of saw some of these things play out. And I think we wanted to kind of document a period in time.

Some of the main characters  a Laotian couple, a Mexican immigrant, and a handful of rowdy itinerants who were born and bred in Idaho  are subjects that Matthon and Reis initially met while out toiling in the soil. Pickers are drawn to mushrooms because it generally provides more revenue for them and less oversight from others when compared to most other agricultural options.

In the '80s, there were several waves of Southeast Asian refugees coming in the U.S. So, in the '90s, the majority of the pickers were from Cambodia and Laos, and some other ethnic groups. But the main groups that used to be the majority of the pickers got older, and they're like in their 60s and 70s. Their kids were raised in the U.S., so they have other options for jobs that are more appealing. The new demographic is mostly young immigrants coming from Mexico and Guatemala, and, like any other field of agriculture and forestry in the U.S., all this work is being done by a demographic of people who are fleeing economic or other conflict.

Matthon said that one point that he wanted to punctuate in the film was the vital knowledge of environment and landscape  the ability to locate their bounty through the exacting identification of elevation, latitude, drainages, tree species, soil types, and mountain sloping  that mushroom pickers need to develop.

If you are in southern Oregon, explained Matthon, or central Idaho, or Alaska, it's going to be a different tree species thats associated with the different mushrooms. So these mushroom pickers have to know the variation, what kind of shrubs are around the mushrooms, and what kind of soil they are in.

No matter how much you try scientifically to understand a forest, it still takes time and a process to just be in it, Reis said. When picking you can be walking around for miles on end and hours on end. Sometimes it just comes down to a feeling (for where the mushrooms are), you just kind of move in that direction.

Matthon said that mushrooms' existence is predicated on the interconnection of nature, and that overall mushrooms are a wild industry that cant be a suitably reproduced mass-quantity inside of a warehouse.

That has to do with that symbiotic relationship mushrooms have with the trees, Matthon said. You would have to re-create the whole relationship.

Since mushrooms cannot be domesticated, in Matthon's words, the only way to find them is in wild forests and on public lands, a necessary interaction that has led to confusion and at times anger from the mushroom pickers.

Indeed, the film establishes an atmosphere of chaos and conflict and cant seem to let go of it. The strengths (the characters) and weaknesses (the pitiless attempt to stir up sympathy and strife) of the 100-minute film are so jumbled together theyre practically one and the same. And theres something too soft at the center of Up to the Mountain that keeps it from inspiring enthusiasm.

Disdainful of Forest Service policies, we watch mushroom pickers poach and illicitly scavenge and cockily evade law enforcement officials, who, in the eyes of some of them, are needlessly preoccupied bullies and oppressors. The mushroom pickers say that the U.S. Forest Service is singling them out for marginalization, if not complete exclusion. Yet, much of the yowling resonates as ill-conceived and off-the-mark sermonizing: immigrant pickers, who state that their lives are not easy in the U.S. (while conceding that their present existences are exponentially better and more hopeful), heatedly berate Uncle Sam for attempting to regulate the utilization of public land.

Through and through, the mushroom pickers in the film express that they have been disproportionately and unfairly targeted with fees and fines lacking sound context or reasonable justification. One possible reason for the standoffish relationship between the U.S. Forest Service and commercial mushroom pickers could be because the U.S. Forest Service has a long history of only dealing with bigger, more consequential industries, such as mining and timber, and because these larger entities are now so strongly established. Mushroom pickers, on the other hand, are, by and large, wholly unorganized and unfamiliar.

There's a culture gap between the managers of the Forest Service and the mushroom pickers, Matthon said. They manage hunters and loggers and miners, those are people they know, family, their friends and neighbors. They probably dont know anybody who is a mushroom picker: Mexicans or Laotians, living in their tents a few months out of the year. What we wanted to show in the film was that the Forest Service is denying access to public lands to mushroom pickers for no good reason. Studies show that over-harvesting is not an issue. Because the science shows that, like, the commercial harvest is not destructive to the environment. For example, like, one of their big concerns is trash ... you ban the commercial harvest, so then people are forced to go. If its not endangering the mushrooms, so people go anyway.

Nonetheless, the filmmakers said that they respect the parameters of the established laws, no matter how arbitrarily applied theyve interpreted them, and they hope that the film serves as the opening salvo of a spirited discussion about the place of commercial mushroom picking on public lands.

Montana and Idaho are known for being unfriendly to mushroom harvesters, said Olivier. Many years, there is no commercial mushroom harvest even allowed. There have been total bans on mushroom pickers for different reasons.

Brian DAmbrosio is a journalist and licensed private investigator. His next book, Montana Eccentrics, will be released in the spring. He may be reached at dambrosiobrian@hotmail.com

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University of Montana student Mark Spring is a volunteer who gets things done.

His commitment was recognized recently when he became one of 14 college students to receive the Montana Student Volunteer Award from the Office of the Governor and the Campus Compact board. College students across Montana invest time, energy and passion in their communities, and the award recognizes those civic contributions.

After a 35-year career in hotel management, Spring retired and took an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (MOLLI) course at UMs Davidson Honors College, studying ethical wills. This sparked an interest to enroll at UM to study gerontology. He is now a junior in the honors college, working toward a bachelors in multidisciplinary studies and minors in gerontology and nonprofit administration.

I knew I wanted to be of service to people of my own generation, Spring said. As I started looking around at what was getting done and not getting done in the senior community, I realized what a vital role nonprofits play.

Passionate about the social side of gerontology, Spring signed up for the nonprofit administration minor program in UMs Department of Public Administration and Policy to find ways to pursue meaningful work in that area.

Whether I go to work for a nonprofit or identify a need in the senior community that is not being met by a nonprofit organization or the government, I want the ability to be able to set up a nonprofit, serve that need and be effective, Spring said. When I leave school, I want to hit the ground running. Nonprofit administration, I believe, will make it possible for me to fulfill those goals I have in gerontology.

Spring completed an internship with the YWCA Pathways Program for his nonprofit administration minor, dedicating himself to this position over three months.

During his internship for the nonprofit administration minor, Marks work was intense, said Ben Hamman, DPAP public education manager. He committed himself to his position, attending every training and counseling session the YWCA offered. Mark exemplifies the value of serving the public interest, and he understands the power inherent in service and uses his passion and voice to improve the lives of others.

During his internship at the YWCA, Spring discovered the organization had received a grant for an elder abuse office in Missoula but had not had time to set it up. Spring and a nonprofit administration classmate were able to establish the office while also fulfilling the service-learning portion of a nonprofit course.

Mark Spring is an exceptional student, said Dr. Sara Rinfret, acting dean in UMs Blewett School of Law and head of DPAP. He goes above and beyond helping others. We are incredibly proud of his work, and this is a well-deserved award for his commitment to public service.

Spring recently accepted a part-time elder abuse advocacy position with the YWCA that will run for the next two years. He also volunteers for the UM Basic Needs Committee, the UM Food Pantry, the Missoula Senior Center and the YWCA Abuse in Later Life program. In addition, he is president and a new board member for the UM Gerontology Society.

Spring encourages his fellow students to identify something they love, give four hours a week to it as a volunteer and see where that takes them.

It doesnt matter what it is, theres always opportunity to help, said Spring.

For more information visit the Campus Compact website at mtcompact.org/.

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The 30-year-old Iowa snowmobiler who was killed in an avalanche on Sunday had taken all of the right precautions.

An expert rider, Bradie Becker was wearing a chest protector and helmet, according to a Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center report on the fatality. He carried an avalanche airbag to keep him atop the snow should a slide occur. Along with his three fellow riders, Becker had attended avalanche education courses, and they all carried rescue gear and beacons. At the time the group was riding west of West Yellowstone on Ski Hill, the avalanche danger was rated low. The group was familiar with the area, having ridden there for a dozen or more winters.

Yet while motoring alone up a slope, Beckers sled triggered a small avalanche that broke 4 to 11 inches deep across 75 feet, sweeping him downhill into a tree where he was buried and died of asphyxiation. His fellow riders didnt witness the accident, so Becker wasnt dug out for an estimated 15 to 25 minutes. Despite CPR, Becker could not be revived.

What was working against him was the fact he was above a terrain trap, said Doug Chabot, director of the GNFAC. Even though it was a small hill, the consequences were high.

A similar situation occurred outside of Cooke City on Sawtooth Mountain on Feb. 2, Chabot noted. A skier triggered an avalanche on a steep, rocky, south-facing slope and was swept almost 600 feet downhill, partially burying him. Luckily, his partner was able to dig him out in less than two minutes.

Thats somewhat similar because the terrain has big consequences, Chabot said. You cant make a mistake.

Similar terrain traps are creek drainages with steep yet small slopes, he noted.

Becker is the third snowmobiler to die in Montana this winter. Two other riders were killed in December near Cooke City. A fourth snowmobiler was killed in Big Sky when he crashed into a tree. Nationally, four snowmobilers have died in avalanches this winter along with five other avalanche fatalities in states across the West. Last winter set a record for 37 avalanche deaths, topping the 36 killed in the 2009-10 season.

The slide in the Lionhead Mountains occurred at an elevation of 8,125 feet in an area known to avalanche. In 2012 a large slide on the slope broke off trees, according to the GNFAC. After 7 to 8 feet of snow piled up in the region in December, snowfall had been minimal for the past month, with only 14 inches falling.

Weve got in this zone of low danger, but sprinkled in the mountains are these little spots of instability, Chabot said. Low danger doesnt mean no danger. There are a few places that can catch you off-guard. Its unfortunate.

More snow would help, Chabot said, although that would bury the top 18 inches of current snow that has several weak layers within it.

Once it starts to snow, we start to load it and will have widespread avalanches, he said.

On the other hand, As we go longer without snow, people go farther and wider to look for untracked snow, Chabot said, leading them to places like the Ski Hill terrain trap.

Last February had record-breaking snowfall, but the 14 day outlook is for normal to below normal precipitation and above average temperatures. On Friday, however, the Beartooth Front between Red Lodge and Nye and the east side of the Bighorn Mountains were under a winter weather advisory with 2 to 4 inches of snow forecast.

Nowhere has a lot of snow, but were still getting some, Chabot said.

That attracts riders and skiers from the region, as well as from across the United States, to popular snowmobiling areas like the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, Cooke City and West Yellowstone regions.

A funeral mass will be held for Becker at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, Becker's family has requested that memorials be directed to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bradie's name.

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So a guy walks into a newspaper 

Nah, thats not right.

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Have you heard the one about the newspaper guy who 

Nope.

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Yeesh, I cant for the life of me figure out how to start this column. Youd think after all these years it would come easy, but it never does. And this one? This ones a doozy.

Ill cut to the chase: Im leaving. After 19 years, this is my last column at the Chicago Tribune, and as excited as I am about what lies ahead, I type this sentence through eyes clogged with tears.

In many ways, I grew up here. I came in newly married and Im walking out with two kids taller than me and a brain full of memories tied to every nook and cranny of this city and to people and places and moments across the country and around the world.

My God, what a time. What a gift. What a ride.

To clear the air, know this: The decision to leave is mine entirely. Later this month, Ill become a columnist at USA Today. It was time for a new challenge, and Im looking forward to writing for a national and international audience and receiving fresh hate mail from different locales. (Not that I havent appreciated the hate mail I received here. More on that in a minute.)

I feel lucky beyond measure to be leaving the Tribune on excellent terms, and Im grateful to the folks in charge for giving me a chance to wind things down easy and say a proper farewell.

Rex Huppke in 2003. (Bonnie Trafelet/Chicago Tribune)

I leave behind one hell of a newsroom, filled with journalists who care about this city and about the critical job of watching over it. You need them, just as they need you, and I implore you to keep supporting the Tribune, as I will. This is a vital civic institution, and my friends here will always have the citys back. Bank on that.

I suppose a goodbye column wouldnt be complete without a montage of memories, and no montage is good unless accompanied by music. So I refer you to an old Neil Young song, Sail Away, which contains these lines: See the losers in the best bars/ Meet the winners in the dives/ Where the people are the real stars/ All the rest of their lives.

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Ive met rock stars and big-time politicians and professional athletes. But the people who stick with me, the people whose story threads were woven into my life, are just people. Amazing regular people.

Karen Moloney, the owner of a Naperville Dairy Queen who rallied her community to raise awareness of youth suicide and raise money for prevention, all while battling cancer.

Evans Robinson and Antonio Pickett  known as Chip and Lil Tony  two reformed West Side gang members who devoted themselves to helping young men make better choices.

Dolores Castaneda, the angel of Little Village, one of the most unassuming people Ive ever met, but a tireless activist for her community with the heart of a lion and boundless compassion.

Brother Jim Fogarty, a man who over and over again stood between warring gangs while they were shooting at each other, offering his life up to keep them from taking another.

These, and so many others, are heroes. They are a part of me, and Im so much better off for having the honor of sharing their stories.

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Now to another song lyric, this from the Indigo Girls: I have no need for anger with intimate strangers.

Some of you dont like me. I understand that. It has never been a columnists job to be liked by everyone.

But Id actually like to thank those who have eloquently and often graphically expressed their disdain. You have given me fodder for a long series of Reader Fan Mail columns, and your barbs have often given me a good laugh. On Thursday, right after I announced that Im leaving, I saw a Facebook comment that read: The average IQ of the Tribune staff just jumped 20%.

Thats both objectively funny and painfully accurate.

The point is, I harbor no anger toward anyone who has loved to hate me. You kept me on my toes. And as a gesture of goodwill, I will quickly confirm all your conspiracy theories:

1. Yes, I did receive daily talking points from the Democratic National Committee. They were written by Barack Obama and delivered by a carrier pigeon with socialist leanings.

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2. Yes, I did know where all the bodies are buried, and thats why the Tribune kept me around so long.

3. Yes, I am fake news, an idiot, a marketer of evil, a commie, a Marxist, a loser, a looser, a shill for the DEMONrats, a weakling, a coward, a (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) and a hack.

Feels good to get that off my chest.

As for the rest of you, the kind, misguided souls who liked my writing: Thank you.

Thank you for taking time out of your lives to read my words, for letting me into your brains, for sending thoughtful notes I never had time to respond to and for making me believe that sanity, in this strange and often unhinged world of ours, will surely prevail.

Ill lean again on a song, and these words from The Grateful Dead: Its a far gone lullaby/ Sung many years ago/ Mama, mama, many worlds Ive come/ Since I first left home.

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A long chapter ends, a new one begins.

I wish you all nothing but peace, health and happiness.

Take good care.

rexhuppke@gmail.com
Matt Flanders was working for actor Brad Pitts Plan B production company when a script came across his desk that had a familiar ring to it.

I read it, the former Helena resident and 1990 Capital High School graduate said. While Plan B passed on the film, Flanders, who had left the company, pursued it.

On Feb. 18, TED K, a two-hour movie about "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski, Lincolns most notorious resident, will make its premiere in select cities and by video on demand.

It will be shown at The Myrna Loy in Helena from March 4-17.

Flanders, who produced the film, had just graduated from college in 1996, when authorities arrested Kaczynski on his property outside of Lincoln.

I completely remembered it, Flanders said. It was just surreal that this person everybody has been looking for is so close to where I grew up.

The $2 million film, directed by Tony Stone, was shot almost entirely in and around Lincoln, where the actual events took place and where Kaczynski had lived since 1971. Flanders said most of the cast are Montana actors, including residents of Lincoln.

The Unabomber sparked terror for nearly 18 years by mailing bombs that killed three people and injured nearly two dozen others. Kaczynski was a destructive recluse who had a genius IQ of 167 and was captured as a result of a search in what was the largest manhunt in FBI history that cost nearly $50 million. An FBI-led task force that included the ATF and U.S. Postal Inspection Service was formed in 1979 to investigate the UNABOM case, code-named for the UNiversity and Airline BOMbing targets involved. The task force would grow to more than 150 full-time investigators and others, the FBI states on a website on the Unabomber.

Kaczynski was arrested April 3, 1996, in his self-made 10-by-12-foot cabin (some say the cabin was 10 by 14 feet) five miles south of town on Humbug Contour Road. The cabin, which had a wood stove but no electricity or plumbing, was filled with explosives and bomb-making books. He had also compiled 40,000 handwritten journal pages that included bomb-making experiments and descriptions of Unabomber crimes -- and one live bomb that was ready for mailing, the FBI states.

He pleaded guilty in 1998 and is serving eight life sentences without the possibility of parole. He was also ordered to pay $15 million in restitution to his victims.

It was reported that the now 79-year-old Kaczynski was transferred on Dec. 14 from the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, to FMC Butner, a federal medical center in North Carolina. Officials did not disclose why.

Flanders said efforts were made to contact Kaczynski for this movie, but he did not respond.

"TED K" features Sharlto Copley as Kaczynski. Copley is a South African actor who was in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated film District 9.

Flanders said the story looks at Kaczynskis life in Lincoln. It recounts some of his acts of terror against neighbors, vandalism and the other things he was doing.

It sort of interested me to explore that, Flanders said.

Viewers will not see his brother, David, or his mother. But there are scenes where he talks on the phone to them.

Flanders said previous films about Kaczynski focus on efforts by the FBI and others to find him. And while there are glimpses of the Unabomber, he remains a mystery.

This is really his story and the story of what happens when you dont have strong human interaction and connection, he said. This about what happens when you isolate yourself and not connect with others.

Flanders, who now lives in New York, also said he wanted to work in Montana and to bring film work here, noting the landscape is so spectacular he knew it would add to production values.

"I am a proud Montanan, and thats why it was so important to me to film and premiere there," he said in an email.

He said they also a received a Big Sky Film Grant from the Montana Film Office, which made production easier.

Flanders said 80% of "TED K" was shot in or around Lincoln. Other scenes were shot in San Francisco and upstate New York.

Casting sessions were held in Helena, Missoula and Lincoln, not just for extras who mill around in the background, but for speaking roles as well, Flanders said. He said there is an FBI sequence which needed 70 agents charging out of the woods. Flanders said four cast members were brought in and 25 Montana actors were hired.

And it wasnt just people that the film crew sought out. Flanders said they needed early 1990s cars, and a lot of people cast in the movie brought their own.

He said when they would see an older vehicle in Lincoln, they would often leave a note asking if they could use it for the movie.

He said the film strove for accuracy. A replica was rebuilt on the exact spot of the cabin where Kaczynski lived, made bombs and wrote his lengthy thesis before he was captured. Kaczynski's cabin was moved to be used as evidence in his trial and is now on display at the FBI Experience museum in Washington, D.C.

He said the cement footings were still there and they could see the outline where the cabins was. He said the root cellar and another sheltered structure are still there.

And, a lot of his trash is still there.

He said the cabin site is somewhat eerie, especially when you are up there by yourself.

"TED K" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2021 and will be released in theaters and by video on demand on Feb. 18. It will have an invitation-only premiere in Missoula on Feb. 15.

Flanders, Stone and Copley produced the film that was written by Stone, Gaddy Davis and John Rosenthal.

Flanders said he hopes Lincoln residents like the film. He said the production company went to restaurants and stayed in homes, and he believes the community appreciated the business they were bringing to the town.

"We employed people and made some good friends," he said.

Brandy Thomas, a waitress at the Pit Stop, moved to Lincoln about the time the movie was being filmed. She said her husband can be seen in the background in a scene.

"We plan to see it," she said. "I have seen the preview already and we liked it.

Thomas was asked how residents felt about Lincoln being associated with the Unabomber and how the film would be received.

"There are some who are eager to see it and there some who dont like the mention of his name, she said.

Laurie Welty, president of the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce, said residents have mixed feelings about anything to do with Kaczynski.

But, she said, the movie could make people aware of Lincoln and prompt them to take a first, second, third and fourth glance, and see all the benefits the community has to offer. She said there could be some good in that.

Flanders said he has moved on to his next project, which will be about the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. It was built from 1946 to 1951 and is seen as a masterpiece of the International Style of architecture and has National Historic Landmark status.

I always have 10 things in the planning stages, he said.

For more on the movie or to order, go to: https://tedkmovie.com/.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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TALLAHASSEE  Even layups seemed difficult for Florida State to convert.

A lousy shooting performance from the Seminoles (13-10, 6-7 ACC) resulted in their 56-51 loss to Pittsburgh (9-16, 4-10) at the Tucker Civic Center on Wednesday. They shot 16 of 56 (28.6%) and finished 7 of 24 (29.2%) from beyond the arc.

FSU played without three significant contributors in guard Anthony Polite (wrist), forward Malik Osborne (foot) and Naheem McLeod (hand). All three of them are out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on their injuries.

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In their absence, the Seminoles struggled to generate opportunities. When they needed a bucket, no one could create much offense. And when the rare opportunity presented itself, they often failed to take advantage. They missed nine layups on 13 attempts and only dunked twice. There were also far too many airballs.

We had several point-blank layups that we just didnt finish, FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton said. That has been a problem. Answering that makes it seem like an excuse. But the bottom line is, weve got to make them. I can say inexperience. I can say first-year players. But the bottom line is, thats part of the development process.

Guards Caleb Mills (19) and Matthew Cleveland (12) reached double figures, but they combined for 10 of 29 shooting. Sophomore forward CamRon Fletcher added nine points. All other Seminole players shot a combined 3 of 20 (15%) from the field. None of them recorded more than four points.

The Panthers dont exactly boast a stingy defense. They entered the game ranked No. 164 nationally in KenPom.com defensive efficiency and tied for No. 119 in scoring defense (67 points allowed per game). And this time last week, Pittsburgh yielded 91 points in a loss at Wake Forest.

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Offensively, I thought in the first half we were a little impatient until about the 10-minute mark, Hamilton said. I thought we executed a lot better (after that point). We got great shots when we moved the ball. We couldnt make any of them.

In the second half, I thought that we made some inexperienced mistakes. We took an ill-advised shot or two. Misread each other. Turned the ball over. In a close game like that, the team that plays with the most savvy down the stretch will probably win.

Falling to Pittsburgh should be considered a season low for FSU. Even with the win, the Panthers still have the worst overall winning percentage (0.36) among ACC teams. And though they were short handed, the Seminoles were still favored by double-digits.

They are now on a five-game losing streak for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

We cant get any consistency on the offensive end, Hamilton said. Our guys are giving decent effort. Obviously we could play a little bit harder and with more of what we call juice. But when you are executing and cant make those shots, sometimes it has a tendency to take the enthusiasm away. That is what happens when you are less experienced.

Older, more mature guys, they turn it up when they face adversity. This is part of what we are. Weve got to grow into being more resilient.

That when things are not going well, we turn it up on the defensive end and on the rebounding end. It overcompensates what you might lack sometimes in your execution and experience on the offensive end.

Ithiel Hortons hot night

Both teams were desperate to find answers offensively in the first half, which ended with Pittsburgh leading 21-20.

The Panthers eventually found their solution: Ithiel Horton. The University of Delaware transfer guard connected on five three-pointers in the second half. He finished with a game-high 25 points on 8 of 16 shooting.

Horton had only played in five other games this season and averaged just 6.4 points from that span. He matched his season total of three-pointers against FSU with seven on 13 attempts.

Hamilton said FSU prioritized stopping forward John Hugley inside. He came into the game leading Pittsburgh in points (14.2) and rebounds (8.1) per game.

They isolated in the second half, Hamilton said. They went to all isolation and one-on-one dribbles. They were forcing us to help and kicking it to Horton. And he made shots. They would move the ball, set some screens and wait to get to the matchup that they wanted and drive. It forced us to have to get some help.

So you have to pick your poison. Do you give them help to stop their leading scorer inside? That made it very hard for us to get to Horton on the perimeter.

The Seminoles switching to a zone late in the second half slowed the Panther offense. After Pittsburgh tallied two points across a seven-minute stretch, FSU tied the game at 41. But the Panthers then found another hot shooter: Jamarius Burton. Pittsburghs last four buckets, including one three-pointer, all came from Burton.

When excluding Horton and Burton, the Panthers shot 3 of 29 from the field and 0-10 from deep. But their production was enough with how much the Seminoles sputtered offensively.

The one thing they did when you look at their overall shooting percentage, they went to the one guy who they thought could consistently make baskets. Our defense did pretty well on everyone else with the exception of the one guy. And they were smart enough to make sure to get the ball to the guy they felt could make the shots.

Box score from Florida State's 56-51 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Up Next

FSU will travel to play North Carolina (17-7, 9-4) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels.

No one covers the Noles like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State basketball's poor shooting leads to loss to Pittsburgh
FOND DU LAC  A Fond du Lac prosecutor running for Wisconsin attorney general charged five people with felonies Thursday for registering to vote from postal boxes instead of street addresses.

Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney brought the charges based on a tip from Peter Bernegger, a convicted felon who has spent the last year working with others to conduct a wide-ranging review of the 2020 election. Bernegger told state lawmakers on Wednesday that he had recently provided 450 tips to prosecutors.

Toney charged five people  Jamie Wells, Lawrence Klug, Sam Wells, Jeffrey TeStroete and Markeis Carter  with election fraud because they listed the address of a UPS Store on their voter registrations. Voters are required to list their actual addresses to make sure they vote in the correct districts.

"One of the issues we see at times if somebody doesnt have a stable address, they may assume that they just list a P.O. box or something else, which the law doesnt allow for," Toney said at a news conference.

He had previously charged two other people in the county with felony election fraud after they were accused of voting while on probation.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney

Toney is seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general and faces former Rep. Adam Jarchow in the August primary. The winner will take on Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

The five people who were charged this week registered to vote using mail boxes at the UPS Store on South Main Street in Fond du Lac instead of a home. Toney said municipal clerks didn't know the addresses were a UPS site because they included street addresses and suite numbers.

Klug and the Wellses voted in the 2020 presidential election. The other two did not, according to the criminal complaints.

Jamie Wells told police that she and her husband, Steve, traveled the country in a trailer and do not have a fixed address other than the UPS Store. In the last two years they have parked their trailer in New London, which is outside of Fond du Lac County, she told police.

Story continues

While she is facing allegations of voter fraud, she told police they need to look into the election because she believes there was cheating.

"They took it away from Trump," she said.

More: Fond du Lac man charged with illegally voting while on probation

More: Second Fond du Lac County man charged with illegally voting while on probation

More: In Wisconsin and five other key states, AP review finds far too little vote fraud to tip 2020 presidential election to Donald Trump

A similar issue over addresses recently came to light in La Crosse. The district attorney there decided not to charge anyone because the voters did not know they could not use the addresses for voter registration.

Toney took a different stance on the issue.

"Ignorance isn't a defense of the law," Toney said in an interview. "And on top of that, when people are registering to vote it's where you live, not where you get your mail."

Toney said his run for attorney general has nothing to do with his decision to charge the voters, noting one of them indicated he was a supporter of former President Donald Trump.

"We defend the integrity of our elections without regard to political pressure," he said. "We're simply following the facts and the law."

Toney said he learned the five people might be registered at improper addresses in November, when Bernegger contacted him and the police. He emphasized that law enforcement conducted its own investigation before he charged anyone.

Toney said he wasn't familiar with Bernegger's past and emphasized that police had done their own investigation before charging the five people.

Bernegger was convicted of bank fraud and mail fraud in 2009 for deceiving investors in startup companies. A federal judge in Mississippi sentenced him to 70 months in prison. He was released in 2014.

Bernegger has spent the last year focused on the 2020 election and told the Assembly Elections Committee he was asking prosecutors to bring charges. He has sued three county clerks and accused Milwaukee election officials of being part of a "sect" that threw the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

Toney said at the news conference one challenge is in municipal clerks getting little guidance on voting practices, even from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, or getting guidance that contradicts Wisconsin statute.

That puts our clerks in incredibly difficult positions where theyre trying to do the best they can and theyre not getting all the support they need from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, he said.

The commission consists of three Democrats and three Republicans. They dispute such claims, saying they are committed to following state law and give clerks clear guidance.

Toney also noted it can take months for the state Elections Commission to refer criminal charges to local district attorneys, and often the investigation responsibility is placed onto local law enforcement, which was the case in the most recent allegations. He proposed that the states statutes on elections should be similar to its ethics code and statutes on public meetings and open records law.

If we are going to trust our local DAs to enforce our open meetings and our state ethics code, we should also trust district attorneys to enforce our election laws, he said.

That way, he said, people could submit verified complaints directly to their district attorney or the attorney general, which would require evidence that those officials could then investigate.

Toney has now charged seven people with election fraud in the past six months.

In September, he charged Donald Holz, 63, with illegally voting as a disqualified person. Holz was on parole for a felony conviction at the time of the 2020 election.

Two months later in November, Toney filed the felony charge of illegally voting as a disqualified person against 40-year-old Anthony Van Egtern of Campbellsport, who was was on probation for a second-offense conviction of possessing marijuana at the time of the elction.

Holz is scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing in April. Van Egterns preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 18.

They were at the time the fourth and fifth people charged in Wisconsin with election fraud out of about 3 million voters in the 2020 presidential election.

Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac DA, GOP attorney general candidate charges voter fraud
Officials at the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College are "extremely disappointed" that Gov. Tom Wolf zeroed out the state-funded school in his proposed budget.

The NPRC, which serves a nine-county footprint that includes Erie and Crawford counties, received $7 million in the current fiscal year. But Wolf's proposal, released Tuesday, provides no state funding for the two-year college, which serves a largely rural area through an education model that connects students in one or more classrooms virtually to teachers in another location.

"I was, I guess, shocked is probably the best word," NPRC President Susan R. Snelick said. "We were very disappointed and surprised for sure."

Hands-on: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College unveils hands-on training center in Fairview Township

Susan Snelick, president of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College

Wolf's office explained the decision Thursday afternoon:

"NPRC was appropriated $7 million each in 2020-21 and 2021-22, but hasnt drawn down any money in those last two appropriations, so they currently have $14 million in budget reserves and that is why there is no appropriation currently," Press Secretary Emily Rementer said.

Snelick hadn't received an explanation as to why Wolf blanked NPRC's budget as of Thursday morning, but said she will be reaching out to legislators over the coming week to make the case for funding. Snelick said the college "didn't put in an ask" for funding, but was anticipating level funding at $7 million for the coming fiscal year.

"I'll try to find our champions to tell our story, so I definitely have my work cut out," she said. "There's nothing substantial to explain why that happened, especially despite the fact that most other post-secondary higher education institutions saw an increase in his budget."

Sold: Mercyhurst North East campus sold to Baltimore-based owner of S.P.I.R.E. Institute

Gov. Tom Wolf, left, and Erie schools Superintendent Brian Polito discuss state funding for education Wednesday at Erie's Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School.

The Democratic governor, who is in the final year of his second and last term, was in Erie Wednesday to tout his 2022-23 budget proposal and the $1.25 billion increase it includes for basic funding for public schools, plus millions more for special education, early childhood education and state-owned universities.

Story continues

Wolf visit: In Erie visit, Wolf touts 'generational investment' in education. Here's what local schools would get

The proposal includes a $75 million increase for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and $200 million for a scholarship program for students at state-owned universities and community colleges.

The Northern Pennsylvania Regional College does not fall under Pennsylvania's community college system. Instead, it is deemed a "regional college" by the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education established the college in May 2017. After partnering with Gannon University, which provided curriculum in the early years of the college, the NPRC in January 2020 began operating as an independent institution, which means it's authorized to grant degrees and certificates.

Snelick said the NPRC's operating budget is roughly $7 million  about what it receives from the state. However, it does also include some capital expenses related to workforce development courses.

"We understand that this is the first of many steps in the annual Commonwealth budgeting process," NPRC spokeswoman Abigail Petrosky said.

That's why Snelick feels confident that state lawmakers will resolve the funding issue during budgeting talks.

Still, Wolf's proposal to exclude the NPRC "sends the wrong message," she said.

"In my heart, I know we're doing the right thing," Snelick said. "We're providing affordable, accessible education to a nine-county region that hasn't had that opportunity. We have institutions that are doing a great job, but not at the community college price and also not in their communities where students don't have to move away from home to experience post-secondary education. We're a great model, too, because we're not investing in infrastructure. We're not building buildings. Our model is sustainable over the long haul."

Without the funding, Snelick said it would be "tough" for the NPRC to make it through the upcoming fiscal year on tuition, fees and donations.

"Once you've become a zero, it's really hard to fight back to get back in that budget," she said. "So you don't ever want to be taken out of it, but we'll fight the fight that we have to, to make sure people understand our model better. I just think if you're not living in our nine counties, you might not understand what we are because we're not an online school. So it's just about answering the questions that people outside of our region aren't asking."

Contact Matthew Rink at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gov. Tom Wolf excludes NPRC from budget proposal. School seeks answers
The QAnon movement pushes a baseless conspiracy theory that former President Donald Trump is fighting a deep-state cabal of human traffickers and pedophiles. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Troy Burke, 45, admitted to killing his wife last year by shooting her three times in the head.

Burke told prosecutors QAnon members convinced him his wife was a CIA-linked child sex trafficker.

Burke was charged with murder, but a judge handed down a not-guilty verdict by reason of insanity.

Prosecutors say a man in Michigan killed his wife after receiving messages from QAnon members that she was a child sex trafficker working for the CIA.

Troy Burke, 45, admitted to shooting and killing his wife, Jessica Burke, 29, on January 27, 2021. Burke was found not guilty of one charge of homicide and one felony weapons charge by reason of insanity on February 7, according to court records obtained from the Gratiot County Circuit Court.

Burke underwent two psychiatric evaluations, both of which determined he was not competent for trial, reported ABC affiliate ABC-12 News. He will be sent to the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry for more testing and may spend the rest of his life in a mental institution, according to the outlet.

Burke was convinced he was getting messages from people in QAnon circle telling him to eliminate his wife, according to court records seen by NBC-25 News. Prosecutors said that Burke believed his wife was a transgender offspring of President Joe Biden and that she was a CIA-linked child sex trafficker. He also told authorities that a neuro-link had been inserted into his brain that allowed people to access his thoughts.

Gratiot County prosecutor Keith Kushion also told the court that Burke had a documented history of hospitalizations for mental health issues, per NBC-25 News.

"They may sound illogical to us," Burke's attorney Sarah Huyser said in court, ABC-12 News reported. "They may, when we hear them, we are thinking that's crazy, for the lack of a better way to say that, but imagine being in the mindset where all of that is very real and very scary."

The QAnon movement pushes a baseless conspiracy theory that former President Donald Trump is leading a fight against a deep-state cabal of pedophiles and child sex traffickers, but adherents of the movement have been embroiled in serious crimes.

Story continues

In December 2020, Nashville bomber Anthony Warner injured three people and killed himself after detonating explosives inside his RV. Before the incident, Warner had espoused the QAnon-linked fringe belief that reptilian humanoids control the world.

Last June, Anthony Beckett, a QAnon believer in the UK, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempted murder after attacking his pregnant partner in January 2021. Beckett was convinced that he needed to kill his family ahead of the "great revelation" on January 20, 2021  Biden's inauguration day.

And in August 2021, California surf instructor and QAnon follower Matthew Taylor Coleman was indicted in the deaths of his children  a 2-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl  with a spearfishing gun. Coleman told authorities the children had DNA from "lizard people" and would become monsters.

Read the original article on Insider
Mr Grumpuss was left stranded in Bahrain (Paws of War)

A US Navy officer is hoping to be reunited with her cat, who is stranded in Bahrain where she rescued it while on assignment, with the help of an NGO.

Dawn Patterson, a master-at-arms in the Navy, had rescued Mr Grumpuss and nursed it back to health during her fourth deployment overseas.

Ms Patterson, who has been in service for 17 years, was told at the last minute before returning home to Virginia that she would not be able to take her pet due to unavoidable logistical complications.

The officer reached out to Paws of War, a non-profit organisation that assists military personnel and their pets, to ask for help facilitating the cats return.

One of its members rushed to get the cat, and it now is being looked after by foster carers.

Ms Patterson said she would not feel at peace until Mr Grumpuss, named for its grumpy-looking face, was back with her.

His little grumpy face is always looking up at me when I walk in the door after a hard day at work. His Grumpy face always makes me smile. He is my security blanket, the officer said.

She added: I will be so appreciative if Paws of War can help bring him back to me. My baby must be lonely and confused, so I know he will be just as thrilled to see me.

The organisation is raising funds to bring the cat to the United States and handle the logistics.

Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, called the situation a nightmare that nobody who has pets would want to experience.

We were lucky to have someone to foster the cat while we work to raise the funds and make the arrangements to safely get Mr Grumpuss home and reunited with his Navy officer, he added.

More than 1,300 supporters have so far donated to help bring the cat back home.
The North Carolina Supreme Courts Democratic majority handed down a win for democracy Feb. 4 when it struck down maps gerrymandered by Republicans.

But Chief Justice Paul Newby, joined by his fellow Republican justices, handed down what amounted to a judicial tantrum.

Newby respectfully dissented to the ruling by repeating an argument circulated widely by Republicans lately: that the courts Democratic justices are guided by politics, not jurisprudence.

A majority of this Court, however, tosses judicial restraint aside, seizing the opportunity to advance its agenda, Newby wrote in his dissent. Newby also accused the courts majority of seeking to hide its partisan bias.

The legal basis for Newbys dissent is ludicrous in itself. Newby argues that since electoral maps are drawn by members of the General Assembly, who are chosen by voters, any judicial intervention in the redistricting process usurps the will of the people. Thats a head-scratching argument when the primary issue is that the maps drawn by Republicans all but guarantee that the legislature does not, in fact, represent the will of the people.

But Newby didnt just dispute the merits of the majority ruling, as a judge appropriately does in a dissenting opinion. He went a step further by questioning the merits of his colleagues and the court itself. It was behavior unbecoming of a justice, let alone the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

North Carolina Republicans, of course, will be North Carolina Republicans. As with previous rulings that didnt go their way, they lambasted the courts Democratic majority Friday, christening the justices bought and paid for partisan hacks and even suggesting they ought to be impeached.

Thats unfortunate, and it should be out of bounds for lawmakers of either party. But for that narrative to be repeated by a chief justice, in his written dissent, is an altogether different and troubling development. Its hard to imagine U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts accusing his colleagues of bias or calling their ethics into question. Despite the many issues on which they vehemently disagree, justices on the U.S. Supreme Court have generally strived to maintain a minimum level of respect for one another, at least in the public eye.

Its not the first time that Newby has publicly maligned his colleagues. In 2019, Newby, who at the time was the lone Republican on the court, criticized his fellow justices in a campaign speech, calling them AOCs and accusing them of judicial activism.

But perhaps thats just what you get when you elect justices to the states highest court through partisan elections and allow campaigns to be funded by private dollars rather than by public financing. It is, after all, nearly impossible to keep politics out of a court that isnt designed to be apolitical. The result was apparent Feb. 4: a state Supreme Court soiled by the same toxic partisanship that poisons other branches of government, eroding public trust in the court and every justice who sits on it.

It is, in many ways, emblematic of another political dispute that has paralleled North Carolinas redistricting battle: a fight over the legitimacy of the state Supreme Court itself. In recent months, the high court has been weighed down by accusations of partisanship, threats of impeachment and demands for recusal  not just in the redistricting case, but in others as well. We fear thats led North Carolinians to be skeptical of the courts and their ability to decide cases fairly. With public confidence in our institutions dwindling, a chief justice should focus on restoring that trust, not work to accelerate its decline.

Unfortunately, that wasnt the case here. Newby sounded a lot more like a Trump-era politician than a Supreme Court justice. And in doing so, he revealed that its he whos seeing things through a partisan, political lens. It is the very thing that Republicans have accused the courts Democratic justices of all along.

The editorial published Feb. 5 in the Charlotte Observer.
HELENA  The Montana Department of Commerce awarded $100,000 in grant funding to be shared by eight Montana communities, including Anaconda, to revitalize Main Street businesses and downtowns. The funding is provided by Commerces Montana Main Street Program.

Part of the foundation of our state and communities is the success of Montanas main street businesses and downtowns, Commerce Director Scott Osterman said. These Main Street grants are community investments that will empower communities to grow stronger and create more opportunities for Montanans while preserving the unique histories of the places they call home, Osterman added.

The Montana Main Street Program helps member communities strengthen and preserve their historic downtown commercial districts by focusing on economic development, urban revitalization, and historic preservation through long-range planning, organization, design, and promotion.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County will receive $15,000 to create a Preliminary Architectural Report/Preliminary Engineering Report for the Copper Village Art Center and Museum.

Other grant funding recipients are Baker, $8,000; Ekalaka, $20,000; Glasgow, $10,000; Glendive, $15,000; Red Lodge, $10,000; Roundup, $15,000 and Shelby, $7,000.

Montana Main Street funding can be used for planning or brick-and-mortar projects that support downtown revitalization efforts and require a $1 match from the local community for every $5 received. The program currently serves 35 member communities across Montana.

For more information about the Montana Main Street Program, visit COMDEV.MT.GOV.

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Probation violations

During an investigation at 5 a.m. Friday at the Tripp & Dragstedt Apartments, 436 S. Main St., officers came upon Christian Kaitlin Dumaine, 32, of Butte. Dumaine had a criminal contempt warrant out of Butte Justice Court. He was also taken to jail for felony probation violation.

Shane Warren Albracht, 28, of Butte was arrested by Anaconda police for a felony probation violation out of Butte-Silver Bow. He was transported to the Butte jail Thursday afternoon.

MHP arrest

At about 8 p.m. Thursday, Michelle Elizabeth Davis, 36, of Butte was arrested on Interstate 90 by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper.

She was jailed for felony possession of dangerous drugs and the misdemeanor offenses of driving under the influence (refusal), possession of drug paraphernalia, no liability insurance in effect, and driving while privilege to do so has been suspended or revoked.

Off to jail

On Thursday morning, Aspen Dawn Cleland, 20, of Deer Lodge was arrested during a traffic stop near the intersection of 6th and Clark.

She was taken to jail for the felony offenses of criminal contempt, probation violation and possession of dangerous drugs.

Word of warning

Reportedly, Alex Daniel Osier, 24, of Butte had already been told more than once that he was not wanted at the Town Pump, 531 S. Montana St.

On Thursday morning, Osier decided to ignore that order, which led him to being arrested for misdemeanor criminal trespass to property.

Truck taken

It was reported at 10:30 a.m. Thursday that a tan 2002 Ford F-150 had been stolen from a residence in the 400 block of South Main Street.

Angry man

At about noon Thursday, a man standing in the 700 block of South Utah Street was yelling at passersby and trying to start fights, but he soon tired of it and left.

Casino theft

A woman accidentally left her cell phone and wallet atop a keno machine Thursday afternoon at the Quality Inns bar and casino, 2100 Cornell Ave. When she returned, both were gone. The items were later recovered, but $300 was missing from the wallet.

Not yet returned

A call came in at about 4:15 p.m. Thursday that a blue 2020 Hyundai Elantra had yet to be returned to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 3825 Harrison Ave.

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Matt Flanders was working for actor Brad Pitts Plan B production company when a script came across his desk that had a familiar ring to it.

I read it, the former Helena resident and 1990 Capital High School graduate said. While Plan B passed on the film, Flanders, who had left the company, pursued it.

On Feb. 18, TED K, a two-hour movie about "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski, Lincolns most notorious resident, will make its premiere in select cities and by video on demand.

It will be shown at The Myrna Loy in Helena from March 4-17.

Flanders, who produced the film, had just graduated from college in 1996, when authorities arrested Kaczynski on his property outside of Lincoln.

I completely remembered it, Flanders said. It was just surreal that this person everybody has been looking for is so close to where I grew up.

The $2 million film, directed by Tony Stone, was shot almost entirely in and around Lincoln, where the actual events took place and where Kaczynski had lived since 1971. Flanders said most of the cast are Montana actors, including residents of Lincoln.

The Unabomber sparked terror for nearly 18 years by mailing bombs that killed three people and injured nearly two dozen others. Kaczynski was a destructive recluse who had a genius IQ of 167 and was captured as a result of a search in what was the largest manhunt in FBI history that cost nearly $50 million. An FBI-led task force that included the ATF and U.S. Postal Inspection Service was formed in 1979 to investigate the UNABOM case, code-named for the UNiversity and Airline BOMbing targets involved. The task force would grow to more than 150 full-time investigators and others, the FBI states on a website on the Unabomber.

Kaczynski was arrested April 3, 1996, in his self-made 10-by-12-foot cabin (some say the cabin was 10 by 14 feet) five miles south of town on Humbug Contour Road. The cabin, which had a wood stove but no electricity or plumbing, was filled with explosives and bomb-making books. He had also compiled 40,000 handwritten journal pages that included bomb-making experiments and descriptions of Unabomber crimes -- and one live bomb that was ready for mailing, the FBI states.

He pleaded guilty in 1998 and is serving eight life sentences without the possibility of parole. He was also ordered to pay $15 million in restitution to his victims.

It was reported that the now 79-year-old Kaczynski was transferred on Dec. 14 from the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, to FMC Butner, a federal medical center in North Carolina. Officials did not disclose why.

Flanders said efforts were made to contact Kaczynski for this movie, but he did not respond.

"TED K" features Sharlto Copley as Kaczynski. Copley is a South African actor who was in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated film District 9.

Flanders said the story looks at Kaczynskis life in Lincoln. It recounts some of his acts of terror against neighbors, vandalism and the other things he was doing.

It sort of interested me to explore that, Flanders said.

Viewers will not see his brother, David, or his mother. But there are scenes where he talks on the phone to them.

Flanders said previous films about Kaczynski focus on efforts by the FBI and others to find him. And while there are glimpses of the Unabomber, he remains a mystery.

This is really his story and the story of what happens when you dont have strong human interaction and connection, he said. This about what happens when you isolate yourself and not connect with others.

Flanders, who now lives in New York, also said he wanted to work in Montana and to bring film work here, noting the landscape is so spectacular he knew it would add to production values.

"I am a proud Montanan, and thats why it was so important to me to film and premiere there," he said in an email.

He said they also a received a Big Sky Film Grant from the Montana Film Office, which made production easier.

Flanders said 80% of "TED K" was shot in or around Lincoln. Other scenes were shot in San Francisco and upstate New York.

Casting sessions were held in Helena, Missoula and Lincoln, not just for extras who mill around in the background, but for speaking roles as well, Flanders said. He said there is an FBI sequence which needed 70 agents charging out of the woods. Flanders said four cast members were brought in and 25 Montana actors were hired.

And it wasnt just people that the film crew sought out. Flanders said they needed early 1990s cars, and a lot of people cast in the movie brought their own.

He said when they would see an older vehicle in Lincoln, they would often leave a note asking if they could use it for the movie.

He said the film strove for accuracy. A replica was rebuilt on the exact spot of the cabin where Kaczynski lived, made bombs and wrote his lengthy thesis before he was captured. Kaczynski's cabin was moved to be used as evidence in his trial and is now on display at the FBI Experience museum in Washington, D.C.

He said the cement footings were still there and they could see the outline where the cabins was. He said the root cellar and another sheltered structure are still there.

And, a lot of his trash is still there.

He said the cabin site is somewhat eerie, especially when you are up there by yourself.

"TED K" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2021 and will be released in theaters and by video on demand on Feb. 18. It will have an invitation-only premiere in Missoula on Feb. 15.

Flanders, Stone and Copley produced the film that was written by Stone, Gaddy Davis and John Rosenthal.

Flanders said he hopes Lincoln residents like the film. He said the production company went to restaurants and stayed in homes, and he believes the community appreciated the business they were bringing to the town.

"We employed people and made some good friends," he said.

Brandy Thomas, a waitress at the Pit Stop, moved to Lincoln about the time the movie was being filmed. She said her husband can be seen in the background in a scene.

"We plan to see it," she said. "I have seen the preview already and we liked it.

Thomas was asked how residents felt about Lincoln being associated with the Unabomber and how the film would be received.

"There are some who are eager to see it and there some who dont like the mention of his name, she said.

Laurie Welty, president of the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce, said residents have mixed feelings about anything to do with Kaczynski.

But, she said, the movie could make people aware of Lincoln and prompt them to take a first, second, third and fourth glance, and see all the benefits the community has to offer. She said there could be some good in that.

Flanders said he has moved on to his next project, which will be about the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. It was built from 1946 to 1951 and is seen as a masterpiece of the International Style of architecture and has National Historic Landmark status.

I always have 10 things in the planning stages, he said.

For more on the movie or to order, go to: https://tedkmovie.com/.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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The scene: 1980s London. A gentleman named Dick Bradsell is tending bar when a young patron grabs a seat and requests a drink that will wake her up. Bradsell shakes together vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso and serves it originally as the Vodka Espresso.

That was the birth of the espresso martini, a melding of bitter, sweet and big energy that continued to rise in popularity for what felt like decades. But even the best of caffeine buzzes fade, and soon enough, the coffee concoction went out of fashion  until, that is, the past few months.

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Osteria Langhe beverage director Ashley Akers can remember precisely when she saw the uptick in orders. We used to see a total of maybe four or five espresso martini orders a month, and all of a sudden I was making 32 of them on a Friday night, she noted, recalling a table of 13 requesting  you got it  13 of the caffeine-laced libations. I was like, Well, here we go!

The espresso martini at Osteria Langhe is served with Caffe Umbria Cream Espresso and Monarch Amaretto, Feb. 9, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Akers finds the popularity of the espresso martini especially surprising in a small establishment such as Osteria Langhe (2824 W. Armitage Ave., osterialanghe.com), whose version of the drink  one with Caffe Umbria Cream Espresso and Monarch Amaretto  is an off-menu specialty. It suggests patrons have either done their homework on the trend (thanks to TikTok and its increasingly prevalent documentation of the dram) or have a real, all-of-a-sudden hankering for all things espresso and booze.

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Petros Papatheofanis of The Press Room (1134 W. Washington Blvd., pressroomchicago.com), who has also seen a major increase in the drink order, said he thinks its the latter.

Weve all been cooped up for so long with the pandemic, and now that were able to go back out, I think weve realized we arent able to hang like before  our going out endurance has suffered a bit, he said. The espresso martini is a great solution because it offers that pick-me-up while continuing the fun of the evening  its the best of both worlds.

Lately, the trend can be found throughout Chicagoland  on the North Side at Kit Kat Lounge (3700 N. Halsted St., kitkatchicago.com), where its served with Espresso Three Olives Vodka, cold-press coffee liqueur and a splash of cream; or in Hyde Park at Sophy Hotels Mesler Kitchen (1411 E. 53rd St., sophyhotel.com), where the Dorchester is a coming together of Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka and espresso, plus a sidecar of Godiva Chocolate (for good measure).

At The Dearborn (145 N. Dearborn St., thedearborntavern.com), beverage director Sarah Clark garnishes hers with espresso grounds, and at The Robeys Up Room (2018 W. North Ave., therobey.com) the team adds walnut bitters for a layer of nutty complexity.

Papatheofanis has noticed the drink is quick to catch on. I was serving a table of four where three guests had selected drinks, and then the last person ordered an espresso martini  only to lead those three others to change their orders, he said. Its definitely a drink that has cachet to it.

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Akers and Papatheofanis have witnessed the same order swap when guests actually see the drink hit the table, opting for an espresso martini for the second round over, say, the originally requested Old-Fashioned or chardonnay. And its easy to see why. Between the long, elegant coupe, frothy finish and espresso bean garnish, the drink is alluring  and the instant buzz factor is promising.

Unlike caffeine-booze trends fueled by the Red Bull-and-vodkas of the world, the espresso martini, perhaps, pays a bit more respect to the after-hours outings we now count as particularly precious.

The espresso martini is a step away from the days of Four Loko, as were taking very classic ingredients and drinking them in a setting that is hopefully more refined than your friends house party, Akers said.

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Papatheofanis agreed.

The people we see enjoying these are the ones who finish dinner around 8 or 9 p.m. and realize they want to continue the night  and that they can, he said. Were all just hoping to enjoy that extra hour or two of the evening that we havent been able to for so long, and this is one great way to do that.

Nicole Schnitzler is a freelance writer.

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WAPELLO  Louisa County Levee District No. 11 is facing some significant needed repairs, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department officials acknowledged during a second trip to southeast Iowa. Finding a way to help the drainage trustees complete those repairs will likely involve a cooperative effort.

Mark Newall and Larry Gioffredi said their trip was part of a 10-county levee study, which included Louisa, Des Moines, Muscatine and Lee counties in southeast Iowa; as well as six western counties along the Missouri River.

While the two spent portions of both Wednesday and Thursday in the county and visited several local levee districts, during a Thursday morning meeting with the Louisa County Board of Supervisors, county engineer Adam Shutt and Levee District 11 Trustees Bert Eddy and Jeff Henke, much of the discussion centered on District 11.

Newhall said part of the levee study involved researching the districts in the counties to determine if there were any errors in some of the databases used by federal and state agencies.

Referring to District 11, Newhall said his and Gioffredis research had uncovered a mistake in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) National Levee Database.

If you look at the national database, (it) says Louisa District Eleven was built in 2010, but your records tell us it was built in 1910, so there is some discrepancies there, he said.

He then acknowledged levee districts were facing challenges and asked the group what they were seeing as those challenges.

Supervisor Chris Ball quickly pointed to federal buyouts of flooded ground following devastating floods over the last 30 years.

So many of our levee districts have got depopulated, he said, adding much of the purchased ground has been converted into conservation areas that are either difficult to manage for the county or are managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and have reverted to willows and other undesirable vegetation.

He indicated both developments have led to a reduction in revenue for the surviving districts.

Eddy and Henke repeated concerns they made to Newhall when he and other state officials visited the county last November. They agreed with Ball that generating revenue was a key issue, especially because of the repairs that were needed in their district.

Those repairs included fixing several levee breaks at the districts south end; and restoring an abandoned levee south of LD 11. The two trustees said that portion could function as a wing dam and protect LD 11s levee.

Henke said the districts levees, which extend both north and south of County Highway 99 and east of Wapello, are still in the USACE certification program, but most of the southern part is no longer eligible for repair assistance because of a low benefit to cost ratio.

Supervisor Brad Quigley said that was a major concern because the District 11 levees protect Highway 99 and the $9.4 million bridge that was completed in 2020.

The two state officials said they would continue to research the issues and suggested possible grant programs the district could use to apply for repair assistance. They also indicated they possibly would use Levee District 11 as a case example in their study.

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MUSCATINE  Last year, West Liberty author Chuy Renteria shared both his perspective and his recently-released book with local students. Next week, Renteria will return to Muscatine once again to answer questions and share his story.

From 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, Muscatine Community College, in coordination with Muscatine LULAC, will feature Renteria in an event at the MCC Student Center, 152 Colorado St.

In November 2021, Renterias memoir, We Heard It When We Were Young, was released. Published by University of Iowa Press, this book tells Renterias story of his life as a young, first-generation Mexican American boy who is torn between the culture that he and his parents immigrated from and the new Midwestern culture he finds himself in.

As Renteria was sharing his book with local high school classes, MCC President Naomi DeWinter said she and some members of Muscatine LULAC heard about it. Thinking it would be nice to have him come speak at the MCC campus, DeWinter then reached out to Renteria.

(Renteria) hasnt really had a chance to highlight his book publicly in our community due to the pandemic, so were excited to be able to share his story and were happy to support local authors, especially the voice of underrepresented people in our community, DeWinter said.

The event will consist of a brief Q&A session, hosted by two MCC students. DeWinter said this was done in order to give an opportunity for students to have leadership positions. Along with a book signing following the Q&A, the event will also feature a performance by the West Liberty Los Cometas Mariachi Band.

(Renteria) went to West Liberty High School, and we thought that would be a good tie-in in that the mariachi band received a grant from the Community Foundation, which is one of our co-sponsors. We also thought that it would be a good chance for the mariachi band to shine, as well, DeWinter said.

DeWinter believes people will appreciate hearing Renterias personal story. I think there are pieces to his story that everyone can relate to, she said.

She also hoped that for others both this event and reading Renterias book would lead to personal reflection and the motivation to share their own similar stories, while also inspiring them to support other local authors.

Renterias book will be available for purchase in the MCCs bookstore prior to and after the event.

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South Africas government is in talks with potential investors for green hydrogen projects, with Germany having identified the country as a key source of the fuel, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced that the government has plans that support the development of a pipeline of green-hydrogen projects worth about R270 billion ($17.8 billion) over the next decade.

South Africa is joining as many as 26 other countries, which have come up with plans to harness green hydrogen  made from water and electricity generated from renewable sources  in a bid to meet emissions reduction goals and help consumers and key industries such as steel transition to lower-carbon fuels.

The number of countries with a hydrogen strategy doubled last year to 26, and expected plans from the US, Brazil, India and China could reshape the global market, according to BloombergNEF.

Green hydrogen has been recognized by the president as a big win for South Africa, Patel said in a phone interview.

We are in discussions with a number of private companies about this and also, what is very positive, is that Germany has identified South Africa as a primary source of green hydrogen.

A panel appointed by Ramaphosa had its recommendations for the worlds 12th-biggest producer of greenhouse gases to adopt more ambitious plans to reduce its emissions of climate warming gases and commit to generating zero emissions on a net basis by 2050 adopted by the government.

The government plans to develop a domestic market for hydrogen, with the excess to be exported, the minister said.

We are hoping that the market for hydrogen will go further than just Germany, he said.

A key challenge will be to produce it at an affordable cost. Green hydrogen produced by renewables is far from competitive compared to other fuels, costing nearly double the price using coal, South Africas main source of electricity generation.

Still, Africas most-industrialized nation is a key source of metals that are needed to produce electrolyzers, the kit that produces hydrogen from water and electricity, which may help in reducing costs.

South Africa has the potential to be a world leader in the production of green hydrogen because we are a major producer of platinum group metals, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said by phone from Cape Town.

We already have some pilot projects on the go and there is a strong possibility that several more significant ones will be launched in the coming year.

In October, Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will work with Namibia to develop the so-called Boegoebaai export hub for hydrogen and ammonia in the Northern Cape province.

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding to lead a feasibility study of the project, which has the potential to produce as much as 400 kilotons of hydrogen a year and require 900 gigawatts of renewable energy  about 20% of South Africas current installed capacity.

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Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April

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After youve shrugged off your coat in the greenhouse warmth of the Garfield Park Conservatory, perhaps on your way to witness Guien the agave, you may find an experiential coffee escape.

Monday Coffee Co. is an experiential coffee company based in Chicago, said Felton Kizer. He co-founded the Black-owned business with Amanda Christine Harth. It means that we are interested in the exploration of coffee, but also coffee culture, and redefining what that even means.

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At the conservatory, that means a pop-up coffee oasis with signature cold brew drinks as well as espresso and drip plus baked goods in Horticultural Hall, Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the end of February.

The Monday Coffee Co. cold brew drink Refresh at a pop-up in the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)

Its not a prelude to a shop though.

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We do not plan, nor have any interest in being, a coffee shop or moving the way that coffee shops do, Kizer said. We love coffee. We love storytelling. We love being in community with folks. We just really want to continue to tell the story of coffee in as many different ways as possible.

One afternoon last week, about a half-dozen people waited patiently as he worked alone with the quiet, quick rhythm.

We also have a wonderful partnership with Soho House Chicago, Kizer said during an interlude. They operate the coffee bar there in the lobby, open to the public now, daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

When asked about their recent residency at acclaimed multihyphenate artist Theaster Gates coffee shop, the barista raised his hands in joyful praise.

Monday Coffee Co. cold brew drinks Refresh and Good Day are held by customer Adam Roker at a pop-up in Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)

Its just so beautiful to share space with artists, Kizer said. And being able to navigate with coffee in a creative environment like the Retreat at Currency Exchange cafe was amazing.

It was an extraordinary first residency for a somewhat accidental company.

I knew at some point in my career that I was going to work in coffee, Kizer said. But I didnt know that it was going to look like this.

His background is in portrait photography, but the pandemic literally changed his career path. Hed only planned to visit his friend in Chicago on his way to New York City.

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Monday Coffee Co. cappuccino and Dan the Baker milk chocolate chip cookies are held by customer Yesenia Aguinaga at the pop-up in the Garfield Park Conservatory. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)

Amanda and I have been best friends for about seven years now, Kizer said. Then we were really trying to figure out how to connect with people, especially during the times when connecting with people was not allowed for health reasons.

They had also noticed their creative community drinking Red Bull and wanted to provide an alternative.

And we thought Why not cold brew? Kizer said. The first week of our launch, we sold out completely.

Their beans are roasted in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but they make their cold brew in Chicago. Signature coffee drinks include the Refresh ($5).

The Refresh is a really easy build, Kizer said. Its 2 ounces of cold brew concentrate topped with sparkling water and vanilla.

Ive always known of the espresso tonic, but that never settled right with me, he said. The thing about cold brew that a lot of folks dont understand is that its about 69% less acidic than drip coffee and espresso.

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They try to share their understanding with the communities they serve.

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We have to speak to the demographic around us, Kizer said. So if you hang out at any Monday Coffee spots, you would know that our menus are slightly different. But thats only because the communities are different. The communities need different things. And we really thought long and hard about that.

When asked how much theyve had to shift gears to serve the communities in the West Loop, South Side and West Side, he laughed.

Monday Coffee Co. co-founder Felton Kizer hands cold brew drinks Refresh and Good Day to customer Adam Roker at a pop-up in the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)

I feel as if Im driving a manual car these days, Kizer said. But thats needed, because the communities are really different.

And I am truly interested in serving our communities, he added. If Im not serving the communities, then why am I here? I can stay home.

So we listen. We ask questions. You know, were just trying to figure out like, What does this community need?

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Monday Coffee Co.; Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.; Soho House Chicago, 113-125 N. Green St.; mondaycoffee.co

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YEREVAN.  Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: The [opposition] "Armenia" Faction () of the NA [(National Assembly)] has put into circulation a draft statement whereby it proposes to condemn the "Shushi Declaration" adopted by Azerbaijan and Turkey, which was signed by the presidents [of the two countries] on June 15, 2021, and then ratified in the Turkish parliament. This is a Turkish-Azerbaijani military-political alliance within the framework of the "One Nation, Two States" concept, Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and a demand is made that the issue of the Armenian Genocide be removed from the RA foreign policy agenda and become a topic of discussion for historians.

"The wording regarding the Zangezur Corridor in the declaration shows that Turkey and Azerbaijan are reaching a public agreement to implement joint expansionist plans," says the draft, and it is noted that it contradicts the November 9, 2020 statement, whereby by the parties have been obligated to ease tension, operate [regional] communications.

It is noteworthy that the declaration was ratified after the beginning of the so called Armenian-Turkish "era of peace" without preconditions. The oppositionists [of Armenia] believe that Yerevan's silence is a sign of agreement, and the [aforesaid draft] statement will be a message to the Armenians that the RA will not back away from the red lines.

The draft has left the [ruling] CC [i.e., the Civil Contract party of Armenia] facing a tough dilemma: how to "water down" this delicate topic so that they are not accused of treason and sweet-talk the neighbors.

Apparently, they [i.e., the Armenian authorities] will repeat the experience in connection with the [Armenia-Azerbaijan border] delimitation plan, which was not adopted on the agenda, as it contained an "opposition lexicon," distrust of the legitimate RA authorities, and weakened the position of the Armenian side in the negotiations.
Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister David Babayan paid a working visit to Brussels from Monday to Thursday.

"During the visit, the friendship group with Artsakh was reorganized in the European Parliament (EP)with the participation of a broad range of MPs from the main political factions. The MEPs were briefed in detail on the situation and challenges in Artsakh after the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020, as well as Azerbaijan's aggressive policy, notes the statement released by the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

Also, Babayan had meetings with the member senators of the Armenia and Georgia friendship group in the Belgian Federal Parliament, the members of Belgiums French-speaking friendship circle with Artsakh, as well as the members of the Flemish Parliaments friendship group with Artsakh.

In addition, the Artsakh FM delivered a lecture on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the current situation, to several dozen students of a leading German law university who were on a visit to Brussels.

The visit was summed up with a meeting with members of the representative bodies of the Armenian community of Belgium.

The Azerbaijani policy aimed at the elimination of the Armenian cultural heritage in the Azerbaijani-occupied territories and falsification of history, as well as the need to fight against it, was among the key topics of all the meetings.
Tarzan has been dusted off, his abs polished and his vocabulary spruced up in David Yates' handsome but altogether pointless "The Legend of Tarzan," a chest-thumping resurrection of the Ape Man that fails to find any reason for the iconic character's continued evolution.

On the one hand, it's easy to see why Tarzan has yet again swung back into our lives: Tarzan and Hollywood were born almost simultaneously, like conjoined twins of a new pop-culture machine. The first "Tarzan" silent came just a few years after Edgar Rice Burroughs' initial novel.

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More than 50 films have followed. But as time has gone on, Tarzan has ceded his mass-market turf to a new set of brawny, questionably attired do-gooders, who swing not from vines but webs and grappling hooks. Monkey Men are out; Batmen are in.

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Tarzan's relevance has also drifted. He was originally conceived as a pulpy fable for a society feeling nostalgic for nature as it watched Model Ts roll off assembly lines. Burroughs' tale coincided with the National Parks movement and the creation of the Boy Scouts.

So if properly outfitted for today's back-to-the-land trends, Tarzan probably should be a thinner, bearded man who can brew a hoppy IPA and lives off-the-grid in Brooklyn coffee shops.

Can such a vestige of imperial-era imaginations  one dreamed up by a man who never set foot in Africa  be updated to today? "The Legend of Tarzan" suggests not, and the film's main source of suspense is watching it twist and contort a century-old property into something meaningful.

Craig Brewer and Adam Cozad's script sets the tale a decade after the discovery of Tarzan in West Africa; seen only in flashback is Tarzan's origin story, including a more violent version of his famously loquacious introduction to Jane. Tarzan or John Clayton III (Alexander Skarsgard) is living in London with his wife, Jane (Margot Robbie). The jungle is far behind him: he's a Lord, polished and serious but still with ape-like hands that would impress even Donald Trump.

Alexander Skarsgard and Margot Robbie in "The Legend of Tarzan" (Warner Bros.)

He's coaxed back to Africa by George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), an American and veteran of the Civil War who seeks to uncover what he believes is Belgium's introduction of slavery to the Congo. The character, loosely based on a real historical figure, is the most intriguing if awkward addition. A better, more realistic movie could have been made about him.

In the Congo is Belgium's envoy, Capt. Leon Rom, a linen-suited hunter of diamonds to fill Leopold's coffers. For this symbol of refinement and menace, the filmmakers naturally turn to Christoph Waltz.

The simplistic historical backdrop of late 19th century Congo here is more cartoonish than even Tarzan, himself. But the atmosphere is richly exotic, full of majestic vistas and vivid close-ups. Filming largely on sound stages, Yates, veteran of later "Harry Potter" films, has firm control of the film's lushly romantic imagery. You feel that Bogie and Bacall could drift down the river at any moment.

But the film, searching for a purpose and some drama, doesn't deserve the grandeur Yates gives it. Tarzan, played with sufficient muscle and smarts by Skarsgard, leads an uprising through his ability to communicate with animals and the (largely faceless) natives. He's a Jungle Jesus returned to fight colonial incursion, and among the more ridiculous white saviors you're likely to see.

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The wildlife is also comically overstimulated. The CGI gorillas appear like Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons on steroids. Effort has been made to make Jane more than a damsel in distress, which she literally denies being at one point. The scene-stealing Robbie breaks though the role's stereotypes even while still being mired in them.

Agility is the prime trait of Tarzan, but "Legend" has little of it. The film strains to juggle the character's baggage instead of embracing the tale's innate silliness and spirit of adventure. (Over the years Tarzan fought dinosaurs and Roman gladiators.)

That this is merely another naked attempt to profit from a well-known property is visible even in the film's title. There, not even hidden by a loin cloth, is a little trademark symbol next to "Tarzan": King of the Franchise.

"The Legend of Tarzan"  2 stars

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for sequences of action and violence, some sensuality and brief rude dialogue)

Running time: 1:42

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Opens: Friday

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At around 5:50am on Friday, shots were fired in the direction of the monitored houses from the Azerbaijani positions located near Karmir Shuka and Taghavard villages of the Martuni region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Artsakh Republic (AR) Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Gegham Stepanyan wrote about this on Facebook. He added as follows, in particular:

"It is noteworthy that the described incident was another manifestation of the regular intensified terrorist acts by the Azerbaijani armed forces in recent days.

The AR Human Rights Defender reiterates that the Azerbaijani armed bases located near the peaceful settlements of Artsakh and the Armenophobic and terrorist acts being carried out through them are a direct and indisputable threat to the rights of the population of Artsakhin particular, to the right to life.

I reaffirm the assertion that the criminal acts being carried out by Azerbaijan are of a regular and systematic nature, which is aimed at creating a climate of fear, despair in Artsakh.

Azerbaijan will continue its criminal attempts directed against the people of Artsakh until the international community unanimously condemns the blatant Azerbaijani illegalities directed against humanity."
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia sent congratulatory messages to Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi of Iran on the 43rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Pashinyans message addressed to the Supreme Leader of Iran reads as follows, in particular:

The smooth development of relations based on mutual trust and warmth with the neighboring and friendly Islamic Republic of Iran is of particular importance for the Republic of Armenia.

We can state with satisfaction that this year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the course of which has registered a steady path of development.

I am confident that the warm and neighborly Armenian-Iranian relations, firmly based on mutual respect and trust, will reach new horizons for the benefit of the development of our countries and the welfare of the peoples."

And the Armenian PMs congratulatory message addressed to President of Iran notes as follows, in part:

In the Republic of Armenia, we highly appreciate the normal development of warm and neighborly Armenian-Iranian relations, which are based on centuries-old history and mutual respect.

We should record with satisfaction that this year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the course of which has been marked by achievements in various fields and the expansion of cooperation prospects.

Highlighting the determination of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Iran to strengthen peace and stability in the region, I reaffirm the official invitation to you to visit Armenia to discuss the issues on the bilateral agenda.

I am convinced that due to joint efforts we will be committed to the deepening of high-level Armenian-Iranian interstate relations, and the multifaceted agenda of our cooperation will be further expanded for the benefit of our peoples and countries."
The EU may include Russia in a so-called grey list of tax havens, EUobserver reported, citing a draft document.

The grey list usually includes countries with "harmful" tax regimes. In the case of Russia, the EU was displeased with the special administrative areas (SAR, the so-called "Russian offshore").

Israel, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and others could also be added to the grey list. In total, the number of countries in the list should increase from 15 to 25. Transactions with them will be subject to special monitoring, Kommersant writes.

The EU considers that such states are not fully compliant with international tax standards, but are willing to cooperate and have made sufficient commitments on further reforms. EU ministers are due to decide on the extension of the grey list on 24 February.

The Russian government is discussing the possible consequences of this decision, anonymous sources told Vedomosti.

Vedomosti cites a source close to the government and two people familiar with the discussions in the government's financial and economic bloc. The paper writes that the European Council will include Russia in the second group of the list of "non-cooperative jurisdictions". The second group - Annex II - is the so-called grey list. The first, Annex I, would involve blacklisting. Blacklisted residents are subject to stricter tax controls. If a country meets its obligations to the EU, it is removed from the list.

The EU Council called Russian SARs (Special Administrative Regions) "harmful tax regime" in its June 2021 report. The EU believes that "Russian offshore" creates unfair tax competition. The EU has voiced two demands: to oblige companies to open offices with employees when moving to SARs, as well as to make the regime accessible to Russian holdings. Russia must amend the legislation by 31 December 2022, a Vedomosti source said.

Last year, Deputy Finance Minister Aleksei Sazanov said that it was planned to reach a compromise with the EU in the first quarter of 2022. The deputy minister said that the Finance Ministry agreed with the EU's first requirement and started negotiations on the second: the ministry is working on the possibility of admitting Russian companies to the SARs.

Initially, "Russian offshore" was created for foreign companies with Russian roots, this measure was aimed at bringing them back into the Russian jurisdiction. In July 2021, the Ministry of Economy prepared a package of draft laws to make SAR more attractive. According to the amendments, young companies registered no later than the beginning of 2020 (currently - 2018) will also be able to move to the SARs. In addition, international personal funds of foreign nationals with assets of at least RUB 5bn will also be allowed to move to these areas. Investors, however, saw risks in "relocating" Russian companies.
The French president's visit to Russia this week prompted a chorus of cautiously optimistic comments about preventing an invasion of Ukraine, but the United States remains suspiciously reticent about the diplomatic mission, AFP reported.

Ever since Emmanuel Macron met with President Vladimir Putin to try to defuse the crisis, US officials have either remained silent or even skeptical of what European countries are calling progress in preventing war.

US officials have openly expressed doubt that Macron said he received assurances from Putin that there would be no further escalation from Russia.

"Certainly, if there was diplomatic progress, we would welcome that but we will believe it when we see it with our own eyes at the border," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday while major US news outlets highlighted statements from the Kremlin that could temper France's upbeat tone.

The day after Macron's trip, as if downplaying any promise Russia might have made to France, the Pentagon said Russia was continuing to build up its forces on the border.

On Thursday, Moscow sent its tanks around Belarus for exercises, prompting an ominous warning from NATO. Russia has also sent six warships across the Bosphorus to conduct routine naval exercises in the Black and neighboring Seas of Azov.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told MSNBC on Thursday that the major military maneuvers launched in Belarus represent, "in our view, an escalation, not a de-escalation."

Washington initially avoided even commenting on Macron's visit, saying it wanted information directly from the French president.

The White House communique simply noted that the two leaders spoke of Macron's meetings in Russia as well as Ukraine.

The State Department did not even allude to the Macron visit. It referred more broadly in a statement to "joint efforts by NATO Allies, EU partners, G7 members, and other partners to address Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders."

Yet the United States is pushing for unprecedented coordination with its allies in this crisis, and French and other European diplomats readily agree: Biden and Macron spoke on the phone three times in eight days.

"The United States welcomes these initiatives because they allow for sending more messages to Moscow, insofar as they are coordinated beforehand and there will be no dissonance among allies," said Pierre Morcos, a French researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Western countries are united in the threat of tough economic sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine, although, according to Morcos, "Paris is trying to use the diplomatic route and is putting everything it can into it."

"For now, the United States has cautiously supported Macron's effort at diplomacy. But skepticism runs high, as Washington believes Putin is determined to invade either way," wrote Celia Belin, a French researcher at the US think tank Brookings Institution.

In an article published by Foreign Affairs, Belin writes that unlike the United States and other Western powers, Macron suggested that Russia is 'legitimate' in saying that its security needs should be discussed.

She said it reflected France's desire to reopen dialogue with Russia and retool the European security architecture to rely less on the United States.

But Macron, Belin said, "must tread lightly in order not to appear to be opening a rift among allies at a time when unity is the best deterrence against Russia.
The opposition "Armenia" and "With Honor" Factions of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia have decided not to participate in the work of the NA committeeset up by the authoritiesof inquiry into the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the fall of 2020. These two factions have released a respective joint statement, which reads as follows, in particular:

"It is known that the [Armenian] authorities have set up a [parliamentary] committee of inquiry into the matters of the 44-day war.

It should be noted that in the conditions of the parliamentary system of government, the setting up of inquiry committees of the National Assembly is one of the main tools of the opposition forces. This is, among other things, based on the fact that the authorities cannot objectively examine their own actions. ()

It is clear that the [aforesaid] committee of inquiry will be engaged in staging the 'innocence' of the authorities.

Taking into account these and a number of other circumstances, the opposition Armenia and With Honor Factions [of the NA] have made a decision not to participate in the work of the [aforementioned] inquiry committee set up by the authorities.

At the same time, we inform that the uncovering of the culprits of the results of the 44-day catastrophic war remains one of the main priorities of the Armenia and With Honor Factions."
Deb Clapp, the executive director of the League of Chicago Theatres for the past 14 years, is leaving her position, effective at the end of June.

The League is a member service, advocacy and marketing organization that represents the bulk of Chicagos large and diverse theater scene, and also is the operator of the Hot Tix discount-ticket program. It will conduct a national search for a replacement.

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Deb Clapp, executive director for the League of Chicago Theatres. (League of Chicago Theatres photo / HANDOUT)

League of Chicago Theatres board chair Heidi Thompson Saunders praised Clapps tenure in a statement. We are fortunate to have had her leadership through the pandemic, Thompson Saunders said, and thank her for her sustaining advocacy on behalf of the field.

Clapp, 62, an East Coast native, said she would be moving to Massachusetts where she plans to explore new opportunities.

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Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com
Russia has sent additional forces to the border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time, including during the Winter Olympics, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Reuters reported.

According to him, Washington continues to reduce the persons of its embassy in Ukraine, and repeated the State Department's call for American citizens in Ukraine to immediately leave the country.

"Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Blinken said at a press conference in the Australian city of Melbourne.

The US State Department urged Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately amid what it called increased threats of Russian military action, and Blinken said Washington would continue to close its embassy. "We will continue that process and we've also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now," Blinken added.

Russia has repeatedly denied plans to invade Ukraine, which the West insists on.
The opposition "Armenia" Faction of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia has put into circulation a draft proposing to condemn the "Shushi Declaration," which the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey had signed on June 15, 2021, and a few days later their parliaments had ratified this document.

"The [aforesaid] draft proposes to give an assessment to the [abovementioned] declaration because it is completely directed against Armenia and Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)]. If during the 44-day [Artsakh] war [in the fall of 2020] Turkey unofficially took part in the battle, now they can easily intervene in case of any provocation because they already have a military-political alliance [with Azerbaijan]. The declaration also shows the expansionist aspirations of those [two] countries towards the Zangezur corridor [of Armenia], and the issue of the Armenian Genocide will be removed from the foreign policy of Armenia and will become a topic of discussion solely for historians. The [Armenian] authorities are obligated to respond to all thisalthough they have said noting [about it] to this day," Andranik Tevanyan, an MP of the "Armenia" Faction and the rapporteur of the aforementioned draft, told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to Tevanyan, the "Shushi Declaration" proves that the current Armenian-Turkish talks cannot be held without preconditions.

As per the lawmaker, with the adoption of this draft, the Armenian state will express its official position on the "Shushi Declaration."

"In this way, we will show that we have security 'red lines' which we will not give up. If Turkey and Azerbaijan have ratified a declaration that is clearly against Armenia and Artsakh, how can we not respond?" Tevanyan added, in particular.
NATO will consider a long-term presence in south-eastern Europe in the coming months, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

His remarks came during a speech at the Mihail Kogalniceanu military base in Romania.

"We continue to reinforce our eastern flank," Stoltenberg said, stressing that NATO's actions were defensive.

He said the presence of US troops in Romania demonstrated the United States' commitment to the security of Europe.

Along the eastern flank, from the Black Sea to the Baltics, NATO allies have deployed additional forces and equipment. Stoltenberg explained that it was a necessary defensive response to the Russian troop build-up on the border with Ukraine.

The total number of US troops in Romania is nearly 2,000.

Next week, NATO defense ministers will meet to discuss possibilities to strengthen presence on the eastern flank, including with new battlegroups.
France will deploy thousands of police officers in and around Paris and will set up checkpoints on major roads leading into the capital to keep out Freedom Convoy motorists, Reuters reported.

Despite orders not to enter Paris, motorists protesting against COVID-19-related restrictions have been gathering in the French capital from various French cities, inspired by the demonstrations taking place in Canada.

But the French Freedom Convoy protests show signs of uniting a disparate group against President Emmanuel Macron two months before the presidential election in April, with remnants of the 2018/2019 anti-government Yellow Vests movement and some far-right politicians.

"We've been going around in circles for three years," said pensioner Jean-Marie Azais, part of a "Convoie de Liberte" headed to the capital from the southwest, in reference to France's anti-COVID strategy. "We saw the Canadians and said to ourselves, 'It's awesome, what they're doing.' In eight days, boom, something was sparked," he said.

The motorists' protest follows waves of demonstrations against vaccination certificates in France, which require people to show proof of COVID vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, cinemas and other public places.

Various convoys are expected to arrive in Paris later on Friday. Their number is unclear.

The police deployment will include rapid response officers on motorbikes and heavy equipment to dismantle any makeshift roadblocks erected by protesters.
The Russian threat to invade Ukraine, where Turkey is the largest foreign investor, could create more tensions between Moscow and Ankara  especially as the Turkish president has economic and personal interests in Ukraine, wrote analyst Zvi Barel to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Given Erdogans web of economic and personal interests with Ukraine and Russias strategic interests, he may soon have to make a fateful decision. If Russia decides to invade its neighbor, will Turkey stand with the West? Or will it maintain neutrality that will, financially, cost it dearly? the article reads.

Turkey has close ties with both Russia and Ukraine. In 2019, Turkey received S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, which led to the imposition of US sanctions. Turkey and Russia have close economic cooperation, especially in the energy sector.

Ukraine and Turkey have improved their relations through trade, investment and military cooperation over the past few years. Turkey sold Ukraine Bayraktar TB2 drones, which drew sharp criticism from Moscow. Turkey also has an extensive investment portfolio in Ukraine worth millions of dollars.

Turkey quickly offered to play the role of mediator between Moscow and Kyiv. In January, Erdogan repeated his call for mediation and invited Russian and Ukrainian leaders to Turkey. The Kremlin said the Russian president would visit Turkey at Erdogan's invitation, but no date had yet been announced.

Turkey opposed Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, but did not support Western sanctions against Moscow. Similarly, Ankara argues that sanctions against Russia still do not address current tensions. The United States and European Union states have threatened Moscow with "massive" economic sanctions if it continues to attack Ukraine.

The Russian threat to invade Ukraine now creates another possible front for a clash between Moscow and Ankara, as the two countries have nearly completed two gas pipelines from Russia to Turkey.

Both of these pipelines are now under threat of US sanctions. If these sanctions are implemented, they would impose serious fines on the companies and investors involved in the development of the pipelines, as well as on the firms that provide services to the contractors of these projects.

Once again, Erdogan finds himself at a tricky crossroads, the newspaper said.
A man charged with possessing guns in connection with a fatal daylight shootout in the Austin neighborhood last year was ordered held without bond Friday.

DNA evidence linked Thomas Dean, 20, to two Glocks that were modified to fire as automatic weapons, Cook County prosecutors said in court. The guns were found in a car that was observed in the shootout, which left a man named Devalin Addison dead and at least two others injured, including Dean.

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According to prosecutors, Dean tested positive for gunshot residue after the attack, but he is not charged with firing any weapons or hurting anyone. Still, possessing an automatic weapon in a vehicle is a high-level felony carrying six to 30 years upon conviction.

In ordering Dean held in custody to await trial, Cook County Associate Judge Mary Marubio noted the chaotic and violent nature of the October 2021 shootout.

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This is the middle of the day on a weekday, 70 shots fired on a public street, you cant get much more dangerous than that, she said in ordering him held in custody.

Deans defense attorney noted that there were multiple possible contributors to the DNA found on each gun, indicating that Dean was not the only person who could be forensically linked to the Glocks. And multiple people appeared to be involved in the attack, she noted.

The charges against Dean were announced Thursday at a joint news conference with States Attorney Kim Foxx, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and police Superintendent David Brown. The three notably thanked each other for their work on the shootout case, which had provoked a public fight between Foxx and Lightfoot in the fall. The mayor had aggressively criticized Foxx for not immediately bringing charges in the shootout; Foxxs office maintained the evidence was not yet sufficient.

At the news conference Thursday, Foxx said that the DNA evidence  which was not immediately available after the shooting  played a role in the decision to approved charges

In court Friday, prosecutors described a chaotic daylight shootout that left the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue littered with some 70 shell casings.

Video footage from Oct. 1 shows two Dodge Chargers, one black and one blue, stopped outside a residence in that block, where someone was hanging out of a second-floor window. Two people got out of the blue Charger and opened fire at the building; the passenger door of the black Charger was opened and movement was observed, prosecutors said. Dean was allegedly in the black Charger.

Two people in the house returned fire, and one of the shooters from the blue Charger was shot multiple times and was ultimately pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, prosecutors said. The other got back into the car, and both Chargers left the scene, prosecutors said.

One person left the house seeking medical attention for injuries including a gunshot wound to the leg, prosecutors said. Two others locked themselves inside and refused to come out for some time after a SWAT team arrived; they eventually left the house and were taken into custody, prosecutors said.

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Meanwhile, the black Charger went to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where the driver dropped off Dean, who had been shot in the chest, prosecutors said. The black Charger was later found crashed, and three guns were found inside, according to prosecutors: two Glocks that had been modified to function as automatic weapons and a mini Draco rifle, which is similar to an AK-47.

Shell casings recovered from inside the black Charger and outside on Mason Avenue had been fired from one of the Glocks, prosecutors said Friday. Authorities swabbed the guns for DNA and found that some of the DNA on the Glocks  though not on the Draco  linked back to Dean, prosecutors said. Dean tested positive for gunshot residue and told investigators he had traveled in a black Charger to the area of the attack, had been shot in the shoulder, and left his gun in the car after being dropped off at the hospital, prosecutors said.

At Thursdays news conference, officials said Dean faced three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon; however, prosecutors on Friday proceeded on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one for each Glock.

An arrest warrant has been issued charging the alleged driver of the black Charger with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Cook County court records show. The blue Charger was found on fire, prosecutors said; no guns were found inside after the blaze had been extinguished.

Deans attorney said he is a high school graduate who works at a warehouse and lives with his grandmother and sister. No witnesses identified Dean as having been involved, and he is not alleged to have been the driver of the Charger, she pointed out.

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In October, Foxxs office initially declined to press charges in the case for lack of sufficient evidence. That led to a series of dueling news conferences between City Hall and the countys top prosecutor, which started after Lightfoot said she was concerned by a decision by Foxxs office not to bring charges.

Lightfoot ripped Foxxs office over the decision, saying there was enough evidence to bring a case and that the decision not to charge the men involved would lead to chaos.

In response, Foxx called a rare news conference to rebut Lightfoot. At one point, Foxx said Lightfoots comments were a stunt akin to former Mayor Jane Byrnes 1981 decision to move into the Cabrini-Green housing project.

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Foxx acknowledged Thursday that oftentimes the speed in which we are able to bring justice feels painful, but that the charges announced Thursday were an example of what can happen when the system works through collaboration.

Sometimes the difficulty of this job is the information isnt as fast as you need it, Foxx said, acknowledging that she understood the mayors passion when she learned prosecutors had not filed charges immediately but she is obligated only to bring charges when the evidence supports them.

I recognize the sexiness of a conversation about leaders combating one another (but) there was nothing sexy about what happened here, Foxx said. People live in neighborhoods that have been devastated by violence and the last thing people want to hear about is their leaders fighting.

Foxx said more charges could be filed in connection with the shootout; a search warrant was approved for another suspect.

We are going to look at all the evidence and bring charges where appropriate, she said. Again, its an ongoing collaborative effort.

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I can only imagine the trauma to the hearts and minds of residents up and down the block that day as they took cover in their own homes. Our homes are supposed to be safe places. Places of refugee, peace, not fear and violence, Brown said. There was no rhyme or reason for a gunfight in broad daylight, and every resident deserves better.

Lightfoot praised the police investigation and said she stands with the states attorney in our shared mission to make all of our neighborhoods safe.

I think the simple message today is accountability, Lightfoot said. To the criminals who think they can shoot up neighborhoods ... we will be relentless in holding you accountable.

Cook County court records show that arrest warrants were issued this week for Dean and another man, also 20, but neither warrant accuses them of shooting a handgun or being involved in a fatality.

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Records also show that Dean was arrested and charged with gun possession in December; he allegedly dropped a loaded Glock while running from police who approached him. His arrest report in that case notes that he was identified as someone who had participated in Addisons fatal shooting but any charges besides the gun possession would be marked as a continuing investigation by a felony review prosecutor. He was given a $100,000 bond and paid the necessary $10,000 to bail out of jail pretrial, records show.

The other man, meanwhile, is accused of driving a stolen 2015 Dodge Charger that crashed near the time and location of the shootout. He allegedly got out and ran, and later told police in a video-recorded interview that he drove the Charger and caused the crash, according to court records.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry considers the responses of NATO and the EU on understanding and putting into practice the principle of the indivisibility of security as a manifestation of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect, said official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell sent what they present as a response to the message of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov dated January 28 of this year. on the implementation by Western countries in practice of the principle of equal and indivisible security. There is no substantive reaction to the directly posed question in the received documents, Zakharova added.

"The OSCE and Russia-NATO documents, which set forth the principle of the indivisibility of security, bear the signatures of the heads of state and government of the respective countries. States participate in the OSCE in their national capacity, and it is in this capacity that they have pledged not to enhance their security at the expense of the security of others," she added.

"Therefore, we cannot accept a "collective" response, reminiscent of "mutual responsibility". We look forward to a detailed response to our question from each addressee. Dodging an answer means that the West does not want to recognize the commitments it has taken through the OSCE and Russia-NATO and is trying to take care of its security at our expense.

"The 1999 Charter for European Security and the 2010 Astana Declaration, adopted at the highest level in the OSCE, clearly and unambiguously state that "no state, group of states or organization can be given primary responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the OSCE region". And NATO and the EU insist on their leading role in ensuring security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Such an approach is categorically unacceptable for us.

"As well as the fact that we are, in fact, being offered a new round of discussions on the issue of the indivisibility of European security. This principle is enshrined in the fundamental documents of the OSCE and Russia-NATO adopted at the highest level. There is nothing to discuss here," she added.
Appetite comes with food - this is how we can characterize the behavior of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his more or less aggressive statements.

In an interview with the Azerbaijani state news agency AZERTAG, Aliyev announced his intention to build a transmission line through Armenia. "We have energy links with all four neighboring countries, and now we are working on a new project. Now we are planning to build a new line through the Zangezur corridor from Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and from there to Turkey and Iran," the Azerbaijani leader said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's statements, despite all the drama of what is happening, are reminding of the famous satirical number about rabbits. "As I have previously stated, Zangezur corridor is not only for railways, roads and air transport", Ilham Aliyev said.

In his opinion, the Zangezur corridor will play a role in the export of energy resources. " We will have a new line to supply electricity to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan, and from there to foreign markets, and then to Europe after Turkey. One line passes through Georgia and Turkey, the second line should pass there (Zengezur Corridor). We are working on this. Our increasing exports will increase our geopolitical importance and bring us additional foreign currency. We will earn money not only from oil and natural gas, but also from electricity, and our country will be more will live prosperously, Aliyev said.

The official Yerevan has repeatedly reiterated that there can be no corridors; the opening of communications implies national jurisdiction.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of top news as of 11.02.22:

Referring to the normalization of relations with Armenia, the newspaper added that after the bilateral meeting scheduled in Vienna on February 24, talks will be held in Yerevan and Istanbul in the spring.

At around 5:50am Friday, shots were fired near the Karmir Shuka and Taghavard villages of the Martuni region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan noted that the described incident was another 'manifestation of the regular intensified terrorist acts by the Azerbaijani armed forces in recent days."

The two factions have released a respective joint statement noting that the committee of inquiry will be engaged in staging the 'innocence' of the authorities.

US President Joe Biden issued a warning Thursday to any Americans who remain in Ukraine as Russia continues to threaten an invasion, NBC News reported.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden told NBC News anchor Lester Holt.

Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia poses a direct challenge not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of the world, including Australia.

"Russia could launch an invasion at any time, including during the Winter Olympics," he noted.

A total of 62 California legislators have been listed as co-authors of this resolution, which declares Californias solidarity with Syunik, the southernmost province in Armenia, and will facilitate mutually beneficial educational, economic, and cultural exchanges.

Kamila Valieva, the 15-year-old Russian figure skating star who helped her team win the Winter Olympic gold in Beijing, failed a drugs test collected in St Petersburg in December last year.

But the positive result was only reported on Tuesday - the day after she helped to win team gold before the medal ceremony had taken place.

Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, which is used in the prevention of angina attacks.

This case will now be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to make a final ruling.

Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Travis Tygart, told Reuters on Friday that the US could prosecute Russians in the Valieva doping case.

This followed the news that the country's media watchdog warned three international media outlets it would block their content unless they obtained a national publishing license.

International outlets, including the Turkish-language websites of VOA, Deutsche Welle, and Euronews, have 72 hours to apply for a national license or their content will be blocked.

Known as the Enigma, the natural-colored fancy black diamond, weighing 555.55 carats, was on display in London from February 2 to 9, according to Sotheby's.
Vietnams foreign minister meets RoKs parliament speaker, Deputy PM

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Park Byeong-seug and the RoKs Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki in Seoul on February 11.













Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and Speaker of the RoK's National Assembly Park Byeong-seug at their meeting in Seoul on February 11 (Photo: VNA)

Speaker Park expressed his delight at the countries flourishing relations over the past years and highly valued Vietnams role and stature in Southeast Asia.



He affirmed that the Korean parliament will support and create conditions for unceasingly develop and deepen the Vietnam - RoK strategic cooperative partnership in all aspects.



The RoK National Assembly is ready to cooperate and share legislative and supervisory experience with its Vietnamese counterpart, while continuing to give more attention and take practical measures to support the Vietnamese community in the RoK, he noted.



Minister Son, who was on an official visit to the Northeast Asian nation from February 9 to 11, stated the RoK is one of the leading partners of Vietnam and the two countries parliaments have held an important role in promoting the strategic cooperative partnership in the recent past.



Noting with satisfaction the increasingly strengthened ties between the two parliaments, he described 2022 as an important year as it will open up a new development stage for the countries relations since the establishment of their diplomatic links 30 years ago.



He said he hopes Vietnam and the RoK will fruitfully make use of the cooperation and dialogue mechanisms on diplomacy, security - defence, and economy - trade - investment; export more Vietnamese goods to the RoK; promote the RoKs investment in Vietnam; boost technology transfer and labour cooperation; and step up research and development collaboration in health care, with Vietnam receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and drug production technology from the RoK.



The Foreign Minister added Vietnam wishes to keep the close coordination and mutual support with the RoK at multilateral forums and mechanisms. He asked for continued advocacy of the ASEAN stance on the East Sea issue, affirming that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will keep helping to reinforce cooperation between the two parliaments.





Both host and guest agreed to increase delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels, especially the high level, in order to enhance the political trust and cooperation between their countries parliaments, governments and people.









Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (front, left) meets with Deputy PM and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki in Seoul on February 11 (Photo: VNA)





At the meeting with Deputy PM and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, Son and his host discussed measures for developing bilateral relations more strongly and comprehensively in the coming time.



They agreed to effectively carry out the Vietnam - RoK Free Trade Agreement to raise bilateral trade to 100 billion USD by 2023 and 150 billion USD by 2030; boost cooperation in health care, culture, education, tourism, labour, and people-to-people exchange; and maintain coordination at multilateral forums and in regional and international issues of shared concern.



Deputy PM Hong held that the countries have become priority partners of each other, adding Korean investors wish to further engage in major infrastructure projects in Vietnam.



He asked both sides to sustain and develop the sound partnerships in culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange while actively assisting and ensuring safety and legitimate interests for each others citizens.



He also expressed his hope to visit Vietnam in the near future to co-chair the second dialogue on economic cooperation at the Deputy PM level.



The same day, the minister met with representatives of associations of Vietnamese people in the RoK./.
Nancy Rish, who was originally serving a life sentence for the 1987 kidnapping and murder of Stephen Small, a Kankakee businessman who suffocated after being buried alive, walked free Thursday after she won a sentencing appeal last July, according to one of her attorneys.

Of course shes very happy to be released from prison after 12,580 days, said attorney Margaret Byrne. But you know she has always asserted her innocence so it is bittersweet.

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Rish, 60, left the Logan Correctional Center at 10:30 a.m. Thursday on parole after being imprisoned since Dec. 27, 1988, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections and Byrne.

She walked to the car with a correctional officer who assisted her with a brown box containing all of her worldly possessions, said Byrne, who picked her up.

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It was a great moment.

After meeting Rishs sister and other friends, they went to lunch in Bloomington, where Rish ordered soup.

Nancy Rish, left, and her sister Lori Guimond embrace after Rish was released from prison on parole on Feb. 10, 2022. (Margaret Byrne/HANDOUT)

Her release comes after a Kankakee County judge earlier this month reduced her life sentence to 70 years with the possibility of parole.

Of course, its better to be released after nearly 35 years than to die in prison, Byrne said.

She was arrested when she was 26. The decision came down only hours before her release.

We realized today that shed be getting out, Byrne said. We hoped but we were not sure.

In January a law came into effect that took into consideration her educational achievements while in prison, according to Byrne.

Rish earned her GED and an associates degree, said Byrne. The department of corrections awarded her credit, Byrne said.

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For the next month, Rish has to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet but she will be completely finished with her sentence after three years, Byrne said.

Overall, an innocent woman was convicted, said Byrne, who added that Rish is very aware of the ongoing pain and suffering of Stephen Smalls family.

The crime was horrific. Small suffered unimaginably buried in a box and suffocating, Byrne said.

In December 2017, Rish filed a petition that asked for a resentencing hearing to allow the court to consider evidence of domestic violence.

Byrne and her other attorney, Steven Becker, said she was coerced by ex-boyfriend Daniel Edwards into driving him and that she was unaware of his kidnapping plan. In July, the appellate court ruled in Rishs favor, asking for a new judge who had not ruled over Rishs case previously if the state tries to appeal the ruling.

Byrne told the Tribune last year that it was the first time in 33 years that shes gotten a ruling that may result in her sentence being reduced from natural life.

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Rish was convicted of helping with the plot hatched by Edwards, a small-time Kankakee drug dealer, to kidnap Small, the 40-year-old heir to a local media fortune. Edwards took him to a rural area and buried him in a 6-by-3-foot wooden box outfitted with an air pipe, but Small suffocated. Edwards made calls from pay phones to demand money, and police used call-tracing devices and surveillance to nab Edwards and Rish days after the kidnapping.

Rish was sentenced to life in prison after a jury trial in 1988.

Edwards was convicted and sentenced to death, though his punishment was commuted to a life term by then-Gov. George Ryan  Smalls neighbor  as Illinois moved toward ending the death penalty.

Rish had maintained her innocence through more than three decades of legal losses.

In the 2017 petition, Rishs attorneys argued that Edwards had threatened to kill her and her son if she didnt help him. The petition also detailed that Rish grew up in a domestic abuse household, where her father was an alcoholic and physically and mentally abused Rishs mother.

Nancy Rish is interviewed at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois, on April 28, 2014. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)

The attorneys argued that Rishs case is like those that Illinois legislators had in mind when they changed the law in 2015 to give abuse victims a break on their prison sentences. Then-state Sen. Kwame Raoul, who is now Illinois attorney general, co-sponsored the measure. Raouls office opposes her bid for freedom.

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The opinion released last July stated that the state maintained the trial courts sentence rested on the horrific nature of the crime in which (defendant) played an integral part and that the evidence of domestic violence could not overcome the seriousness of the crime.

Byrne snapped an emotional photo of Rish and her sister, who embraced and cried as they waited for a table for lunch. Their mother died about a month ago. Rish ordered soup, as she wasnt feeling great as the day had been overwhelming, Byrne said.

Her plans may include a job she learned while in prison for the past 20 years: training service dogs for people with disabilities. She also learned how to groom the pups, a task she hopes to pursue.

She wants to open a dog grooming business, Byrne said.

pfry@chicagotribune.com

rsobol@chicagotribune.com
Maya Caron wants to be a doctor.

Ben Damon wants to impact policy.

Rosseirys De La Rosa wants to support her family.

Anna Lindquist wants to teach people the power of words.

Every student comes to college with a dream. At Emory University, financial aid programs help make these dreams a reality. Through Emorys need-based aid  using scholarships, grants and the newly expanded Emory Advantage program  students can make the most of their time on campus.

For Emory to fulfill our mission of serving humanity in all that we do, we are continuing to invest in making an Emory education affordable to talented students of all financial backgrounds, says President Gregory L. Fenves. By eliminating need-based loans for undergraduates, our students have the opportunity to earn their Emory degrees with less debt as they embark on their extraordinary journeys after graduation.

For students such as Rosseirys De La Rosa, financial aid makes college possible. The senior from Lynn, Massachusetts, is majoring in anthropology and human biology with a minor in African American studies. Through a combination of the Emory University Grant (awarded to students with demonstrated need) and the Emory Advantage Loan Replacement Grant, along with federal aid, De La Rosa has been able to maximize her experience. Her sophomore year, she conducted research on the DNA of Indigenous peoples in Uruguay, inspiring her to want to pursue a PhD after graduation.

She is also the president of the Association of Caribbean Students and Educators, vice president of Black and Latinx in STEM and a mentor through the M.O.R.E. and 1915 Scholars programs.

Not having to worry about using my job to pay off loans, buy books and groceries  there is no way I could have healthily done that, get good grades and still be an active member of the Emory community without financial aid, says De La Rosa. I am forever grateful because not having to worry about my financials at school allowed me to do all these amazing things that have given me a well-rounded education at Emory.

For Maya Caron, a junior from Deltona, Florida, 1915 Scholars has been a boon to her education. The program provides mentorship for first-generation college students, who often receive need-based aid, to help them get from admission to Commencement.

Caron says she had never heard of Emory before a high school counselor suggested she apply. With ambitions of being a doctor, Caron says she knew she didnt want a lot of undergraduate debt because of the cost of medical school. Caron receives need-based scholarships and grants from Emory, as well as federal grants to help fund her education.

Without financial aid, I would not have been able to attend Emory, says Caron, who is a business major. Then Id have to take out loans for med school. That would be a big stressor.

Being at Emory has allowed Caron a myriad of hands-on learning opportunities, most notably conducting research through the Emory College SIRE program. Under the tutelage of Miranda Moore, an assistant professor focusing on health care delivery in Emory School of Medicine, Caron researched patient perceptions of different primary care models.

She also worked as a certified medical assistant at a hospital during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and shadowed a physicians assistant. She is currently studying for the MCAT and taking prerequisite courses for medical school. With her business education, she plans to open an internal medicine practice.

Programs such as 1915 Scholars provide a network, so students dont feel alone. Emorys Mariposa Scholars Program for DACA recipients provides similar support for eligible students.

In addition, Emorys prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr.-Woodruff Scholarship, which is both merit- and need-based, provides financial aid and mentorship to an incoming student graduating from a public high school in Atlanta.

Eliminating loans

The university recently announced the expansion of Emory Advantage to eliminate need-based loans as part of undergraduate students financial aid packages. The loans will be replaced with institutional grants and scholarships beginning this fall for the 2022-23 academic year.

Because Emory meets full financial need for our undergraduate students, we provide a pathway to help our students and their families make an Emory education affordable, says John Leach, associate vice provost for enrollment and university financial aid. Emory joins a handful of elite institutions in replacing need-based loans with grants  thus giving our undergraduate students the opportunity to graduate debt free.

Students such as Ben Damon, a first-year student from Austin, Texas, benefit from this investment. Damon took a gap year before coming to Oxford College. He was drawn to Oxford for the strong liberal arts curriculum and close-knit community. A combination of Emory grants and scholarships, Emory Advantage loan replacement grant, and federal aid made it possible.

The college application process was stressful, but Emory was appealing to me because Id heard good things about Atlanta and the academic profile fit what I was looking for, says Damon. I was looking for a collaborative environment and a strong foundation in liberal arts, so I didnt have to make a decision about my major right away.

Damon is on the philosophy, politics and law track, and is considering law school or business school. In the meantime, he is keeping busy as a first-year Student Government Association senator on the budget and health and wellness committees, treasurer of chess club and events coordinator for Oxfords ballroom dance organization.

Student flourishing

Nearly 42% of Emorys undergraduate student body receives need-based financial aid. Investing in more need-based aid reflects one of the tenets of the 2O36 campaign: student flourishing. As part of the campaign, the university is hoping to raise $750 million for student scholarships.

Through the student flourishing initiative, we are making further investments to nurture the whole student and ensure both their professional and personal success, says Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. We realize that students financial well-being can impact their Emory experience, which is why we are making scholarships such a central and critical part of our 2O36 campaign. We are fulfilling our promise to make Emory more accessible for all families, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

When students have their demonstrated financial need fully met, they perform better in the classroom. They also gain greater freedom to participate in extracurricular activities, research, service-learning and internship/externship opportunities that give them an edge upon graduation. It helps students discover their passions and figure out where they can make a positive difference in the world.

Anna Lindquist, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, says Emorys creative writing program has allowed her to dream big as a storyteller. Lindquist started at Oxford with the help of Emory grants and scholarships, as well as federal aid and loans. She says sitting in her first creative writing workshop and sharing her poetry and fiction with the class made her know she was in the right place. Emory is also where she says she found Shakespeare.

Shakespeare with professor Sarah Higinbotham was one of my favorite classes, says Lindquist, who is graduating from Emory College this spring with degrees in English and creative writing with a minor in ethics. I didnt think I would like it because of the [Elizabethan English], but her passion and the way she taught the class made me love it.

At Oxford, outside of the classroom, Lindquist got involved with the photography club and the theatre department. Now as an editor of Alloy, Emorys annual literary magazine, she is working on a redesign of the publication.

Lindquist says she is simply thankful, because her financial aid has allowed me a lot of freedom to do the things I always wanted to do.
A recent in-depth review published in the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet, in part using Gallup World Poll data, demonstrated a significant correlation between trust in government and COVID-19 infections. The review looked at COVID-related outcomes, trust in government and interpersonal trust (along with many other variables) across 177 countries. The analysis and results were complex, with the usual caveats and statistical cautions -- but in the end, the authors concluded that "higher levels of trust (government and interpersonal) had large, statistically significant associations with fewer infections for the entire study period."

Thomas J. Bollyky, the study's lead author, and his colleagues summarized the findings in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, "Especially in free societies, whether a country succeeds or fails in mobilizing public trust -- between its citizens and their government but also among citizens themselves -- may help to explain its success or failure in limiting infections and death from COVID-19." And, in The BMJ, Bollyky said, "Trust is an area where governments can move the needle, and the fact that it outweighs traditional measures of healthcare capacity and pandemic preparedness should be a wakeup call for all of us as we face the ongoing pandemic and the threat of future disease outbreaks."

Americans' Trust in Government Leaves Much Room for Improvement

These results certainly give reason for us to focus our attention on Americans' levels of trust in their federal government. Here, as has been well-established, we find significant room for improvement -- assuming our goal is, as the Lancet authors suggest, moving Americans' government trust needle.

In 2021, 39% of Americans had a great deal or fair amount of trust in the federal government to handle either domestic or international affairs. The international trust number is the lowest in Gallup's history of asking the question. The domestic trust number is among the lowest. Similarly, Pew Research reports that 24% of Americans say they can trust the government to do what is right "just about always" or "most of the time," near that organization's historic lows.

Plus, Gallup's January update of the most important problem facing the nation shows that 23% of Americans name some aspect of government as the country's top problem, with another 7% mentioning the need to unify the country. That's higher than the percentage mentioning COVID (20%) and the percentage naming some aspect of the economy (22%).

These low levels of confidence in government, coupled with the broad conclusions from the Lancet study, suggest that increased trust in government could have mitigated the impact of COVID in the U.S. -- and, in theory, could do so in the future.

There is at least one caveat attached to this conclusion, however -- the so-called ecological fallacy. This relates to problems associated with efforts to draw individual-level inferences from group-level relationships.

MSNBC headlined its report on the Lancet analysis as follows: "Study shows trust in government helps fight the pandemic." This implies causality at the individual level -- that is, if individuals' trust in government were higher, there would be fewer COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths. But data showing correlations at the country-by-country level don't support this type of causal inference at the individual level.

The famous sociologist Emile Durkheim many years ago noted that European localities with dominant Protestant populations had higher suicide rates than localities with dominant Catholic populations. But as scholars have pointed out, this doesn't necessarily mean that at the individual level Protestants were more likely to commit suicide. Religious identity and suicide rates in each country could have been high or low for reasons that had nothing to do with one causing the other. Another oft-quoted example was given by William S. Robinson in the 1950s. He noted that literacy was higher in U.S. states where there were more immigrants. This didn't mean, he pointed out, that immigrants were more literate. In fact, the data he analyzed showed that on an individual level, immigrants were actually less literate than others. It just so happened that immigrants had settled in states that had higher levels of literacy.

The authors of the Lancet study take note of this caution in their conclusions: "Finally, this is an ecological analysis and was not designed to provide information about the causes of COVID-19 variation. Although we hope these results will spur discussion about the drivers of COVID-19 outcomes, a causal analysis would require more data and a different study design." In other words, the correlation between trust in government and lower COVID incidence does not necessarily mean that the first of these causes the second. But the data certainly, as they suggest, spur discussion and lead us to look at other individual-level data that speak to the posited relationships.

A poll conducted by CNBC last fall concluded that unvaccinated Americans' reasons for not getting the vaccine included low trust in the federal government. Census Bureau data from December show that lack of trust in the vaccine and lack of trust in the government are among the top reasons chosen by the unvaccinated to explain their vaccine decision-making. And a 2021 poll conducted by Axios/Ipsos showed that Americans' trust in information from the government is much lower among the unvaccinated than among the vaccinated.

None of these studies employs the double-blinded experimental methodology used in medical science to demonstrate direct causality between a treatment or drug and improved health outcomes. I do think, however, it is plausible to assume that Americans' trust in government is at least partially related to their willingness to adhere to government vaccine recommendations. In turn, adherence to government recommendations that Americans get vaccinated and boosted is directly related to lower levels of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.

Trust in Government Has to Be Earned

We are now witnessing an interesting (and important) situation in regard to masks in schools that is less straightforward in providing support for the conclusion that trust in government leads to better COVID outcomes. The federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still officially recommends that students wear masks in schools. But an increasing number of states, including many large states, are dropping the requirement -- that is, going against the advice of the federal government. Significantly, these announcements are coming from Democratic governors in contravention of the recommendations emanating from a Democratic administration. This signifies a direct lack of confidence and trust in what the federal government is saying about masks.

In this situation, unlike the vaccine issue, the actual science -- that is, the physical and social health impact of states (and individual school districts) removing mask mandates in public schools -- is not straightforward. States and the CDC are looking at the same data, presumably, and arriving at different conclusions. It is unclear whether in this instance higher levels of trust in the federal government and its recommendations would lead to more positive health outcomes.

Bottom Line

One might assume it is an accepted public good if the citizens of a country have confidence in their federal government. If so, there is certainly room for improvement. Pew Research found a few years ago, for example, that when asked why the public's confidence in government is lower than it was in the past, the No. 1 category of responses given by Americans dealt with the perceptions of poor government performance. Government, in short, must earn its citizens' trust by exhibiting high levels of competence, efficiency and effectiveness in executing its responsibilities.

All of this has not gone unnoticed. President Joe Biden in December signed an executive order, "Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government," which addresses these issues head-on. As Biden noted in his announcement, "We have to prove democracy still works, that our government still works and can deliver for our people." This would appear to be a quite reasonable objective.
Flight bans for eight countries extended to March 4

The government is banning inbound flights from several countries until early March. Image: Shutterstock

The government has extended pandemic flight bans for eight countries by two weeks and added Nepal to the list, prohibiting inbound flights from these places until March 4.



There have been no flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States since early January.



"In order to prevent imported cases from posing additional pressure on the healthcare system at this crucial juncture of curbing the local epidemic situation, the government will extend the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for two weeks," the government said in a statement.



It added that starting from Saturday, the ban will also cover Nepal because of many imported cases from the country.



The government said it understands that the flight bans are an extremely stringent measure, but this is necessary to quell the local epidemic situation quickly.



It said it will look at whether the bans should be lifted in due course, after considering the developments of the pandemic.
Revenue CAGR ~60 percent 2017-2021

Targeted revenue growth of 4045 percent in FY2022

Funding for M&A, organic growth

Targeted mid-term operational EBITDA margin 15-20 percent

Michael Halbherr appointed Chairman

ZURICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ABB E-mobility will host its virtual Capital Markets Day today, February 10, 2022, starting at 2pm CET. Frank Muhlon, CEO, and Alex Hall, CFO of ABBs E-mobility division, as well as other members of the executive team, will give an insight into its product offering, including electric vehicle charging products, digital services and advanced energy and fleet management solutions, as well as its growth strategy.

We are a leader in building a zero-emission future, with smart and reliable electric vehicle charging solutions. We are perfectly aligned to the current E-mobility trends and see massive market opportunities driven by the global electrification and digitalization agendas of countries, corporations and individuals, said Muhlon.

According to external estimates1, roughly 130 million new electric vehicles are expected on roads in key markets2 from 2021 to 2030, while some $590 billion in investment in EV charging infrastructure is required from 2021 to 2040 to meet global emission targets.

ABB entered the EV-charging market in 2010 and today is a world leader in EV charging solutions having sold more than 680,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 85 markets: over 30,000 DC fast chargers and 650,000 AC chargers. It has a portfolio of EV charging hardware for cars through to public transport and heavy-duty vehicles, software and services with a variety of B2B and B2C networked solutions and fleet management platforms.

Over the last four years, ABBs E-mobility division achieved a compound annual growth (CAGR) rate in its revenues of about 60 percent, driven by accelerating order growth across all customer segments and strategic acquisitions across targeted geographies. So far this year, ABB has announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in InCharge Energy, a North American electric vehicle (EV) commercial charging infrastructure solutions company, and increased its existing controlling stake in Chargedot, a leading Chinese e-mobility solution provider.

The business is targeting revenue growth of 40-45 percent in 2022 after achieving $323 million in revenues in 2021, backed by a significant order intake and resulting order backlog. In the mid-term, ABB expects revenues to outperform the market by growing 25-30 percent per year. To support its ongoing growth story, the company has a funding need of approximately $750 million to finance acquisitions and organic growth investments.

In terms of profitability, the division is expecting an operational EBITDA margin around break-even in 2022 as the focus remains on investing heavily in growth. In the mid-term, an operational EBITDA margin of 15-20 percent is targeted driven by operating leverage, as well as a different portfolio mix as the companys software solutions and digital services offering grow.

ABB E-mobility aims to migrate from a hardware-focused business towards a balance with software and digital services, offering customers access to fully integrated end-to-end platforms, with the aim of securing higher gross margins and recurring revenues.

Digital solutions enable customers to efficiently maintain and manage a charging network. Meanwhile, advanced energy and fleet management offerings help customers to optimize the performance of both chargers and their EVs, while enabling lower cost of ownership. Last year, ABBs digital e-mobility venture, PANION, together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the test phase of their first jointly developed, cloud-based solution, designed for the real-time management of electric vehicle (EV) fleets and charging infrastructure.

ABB has been one of the first movers to bring innovations to the EV charging market, including the liquid cooling applied to cables for high-power chargers, bi-directional charging with frequency containment reserve that means EV drivers can export surplus power back to the grid, as well as the launch of the Terra 360 kW  the worlds fastest EV charger.

Since 2017, ABB has invested $256 million in the E-mobility business. A culture of innovation is driven by over 350 R&D experts, who are part of a total workforce of approximately 1,000. Its five production hubs are in the US, China, Poland, Hungary and Italy  its largest plant, which will be fully operational in mid-2022. In addition, it has eight R&D sites worldwide and has more than 350 patents granted.

Two exciting projects in development include supporting the electrification of long-range trucks by developing a new standard megawatt charging system (MCS), which will support up to 3MW. The first systems have already been sold to leading truck OEMs. Furthermore, ABB is developing a dedicated liquid cooled charger for the Chinese market with dynamic load allocation and up to four dispensers, enabling a charging speed of up to 200 km of range in five minutes.

As part of the strategy to fund future growth, a separate legal entity for this business - ABB E-mobility Holding AG - has been created, to which, Michael Halbherr (57) has been appointed Chairman. Swiss national Halbherr started his career at Boston Consulting Group and has been CEO of mobile maps and navigation pioneer gate5, which was acquired by Nokia. He then became part of Nokias leadership team, running their Services business unit and then HERE Technologies as a CEO, which was sold later to a consortium of German automotive companies to serve as the foundation for the autonomous driving revolution. He is currently a founder, investor and board member of several start-up technology companies, as well as a Board Member of Zurich Insurance Group and Vontobel Holding of Switzerland.

Note to editors: A link to the Capital Markets Day presentation can be accessed on the ABB Investor Relations website from 2:00pm CET.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABBs success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

Important notice about forward-looking information

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect our future performance, including the economic conditions of the regions and industries that are major markets for ABB. These expectations, estimates and projections are generally identifiable by statements containing words such as anticipates, expects, believes, estimates, plans, targets, aims or similar expressions. However, there are many risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information and statements made in this press release and which could affect our ability to achieve any or all of our stated targets or anticipated transactions. Some important factors that could cause such differences include, among others, business risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the volatile global economic environment and political conditions, costs associated with compliance activities, market acceptance of new products and services, changes in governmental regulations and currency exchange rates and such other factors as may be discussed from time to time in ABB Ltds filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 20-F. Although ABB Ltd believes that its expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statement are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and undue reliance should not be placed upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made.

Important notice about financial information

Certain financial information of ABB E-mobility for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 presented herein has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, is in draft form, and remains subject to completion and amendment. Such financial information has been prepared on a combined carve-out basis from the consolidated financial statements of ABB Ltd. and therefore may not necessarily be representative of past results. Certain financial data included in this press release consist of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, nor should they be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any non-U.S. GAAP financial measures and ratios included herein. In addition, the financial information contained herein has not been audited, confirmed or otherwise covered by a report by independent accountants and, as such, actual data could vary, possibly significantly, from the data set forth herein.

1 Roland Berger and Bloomberg New Energy Outlook (BNEF)

2 18 ABB E-mobility core countries (Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, UK, US)
New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI/PRNewswire): HarperCollins is proud to announce the release of the first collection of translations from Harper Perennial's new series, Telugu: The Best Stories of Our Times. This series showcases the finest stories translated from the languages of the Indian Subcontinent. About the book: Harper Perennial is India's very first dedicated imprint for translations, showcasing the finest and most compelling narratives from the languages of the Indian subcontinent. This new series presents some of the best contemporary short stories, selected by an eminent writer or translator working in the language. The first collection TELUGU, edited by Volga, offers to readers a kaleidoscopic vision of the current literary landscape by bringing together the sharpest practitioners writing today. The stories highlight the numerous histories and identities that the writers have been celebrating or challenging in the last three decades. Appearing in English for the first time, these landmark stories provide an exhilarating glimpse into contemporary Telugu literature. About the editor: Short story writer, critic, translator and poet, Volga, has been a forerunner in introducing a feminist perspective into the literary-political discourse in Telugu Literature right from her very first volume of short stories, Rajakeeya Kathalu (Politicial Stories), her first novel Sweccha (Freedom), and her volume of feminist thought Maaku Godalu Levu (We Have No Walls). Volga has edited an anthology of feminist poems, Neeli Meghalu (Dark Clouds) and co-authored 'Mahilavaranam/Womanscape', a volume on women who created history. She has received the Sahitya Akademi Award for her short story volume, Vimukta (The Liberation of Sita). She has also been the recipient of the Best Writer Award from the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, the Ramineni Foundation Award, the Malathi Chandur Award, the Kandukuri Veerasalingam Literary Award, the South Asia Ladli Media and Advertising Award, and has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Sri Padmavati Women's University. She has written screenplays for films and lyrics for dance ballets. She has represented India in women's conferences in China and the United States. About the translators: Alladi Uma taught and supervised research in the areas of American, African-American and Indian literatures. She has been collaboratively translating from Telugu to English with M. Sridhar for thirty years. She is involved in the activities of The Alladi Memorial Trust that takes care of the legal, medical and educational needs of the disadvantaged. M. Sridhar's areas of research interest moved from Literary Criticism and Theory to Indian literatures in translation. He writes poetry in Telugu and English. After retirement from the University of Hyderabad where he taught and supervised research, he too works for The Alladi Memorial Trust. Featuring stories by: Akkineni Kutumbarao; Attada Appalnayudu; B.S. Ramulu; G.R. Maharshi; Joopaka Subhadra; K.N. Malleswari; K. Varalakshmi; Karuna; Ketu Viswanathareddy; Kolakaluri Enoch; Kotla Vanajata; Kuppili Padma; M.S.K. Krishnajyothi; Mallipuram Jagadeesh; Manasa Yendluri; Mohammed Khadeer Babu; P. Sathyavathi; V. Pratima' Peddinti Ashok Kumar; Sannapureddy Venkataramireddy; Satish Chandar; Shajahana; V. Chandrasekhar Rao; Vadrewu Veeralakshmidevi Vinodini; Volga Forthcoming from this Harper Perennial series: Tamil: The Best Stories of Our Times edited by Perundevi Srinivasan| Malayalam: The Best Stories of Our Times edited by Benyamin Urdu: The Best Stories of Our Times edited by Rakhshanda Jalil and more... Fiction/Short Stories | Rs 499 | PB HarperCollins Publishers India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers. HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian Subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Prabha Khaitan Woman's Voice Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and the Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India has been awarded the Publisher of the Year Award three times: at Publishing Next in 2015, and at Tata Literature Live! in 2016 and 2018.HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Egmont, Oneworld, Harvard University Press, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI/Digpu): India is on economic revival after the tumultuous two years. With every sector bouncing back, technology has been a key player during the lockdown and post lockdown phase. The technology that was once good to have is now a must-have. As a result, the reception of digital channels has increased from 29% for small businesses before Covid to 47% in November 2020, as per Crisil overview. Hemanth, a customized gift shop owner in Chennai, could not sell for months during the pandemic. People were under lockdown and could not meet others to celebrate various occasions. Though there was a demand for customized gifts to send to each other, he was clueless about making people aware of his shop and services. Another business owner, Ruban, who sells organic food items, found it difficult to connect with his customers during the pandemic. With a niche customer base and everything under lockdown, he struggled to market his products or reach his regular customers. Many small and medium-sized business owners will relate to these stories as everyone faced the unexpected events that unfolded in the past two years. However, the economy is regaining slowly and steadily, and technology played a vital role in helping many sails through the storm. Started by Rajesh Subramanian in 2020, Ghoshak enables business owners to efficiently conduct their day-to-day operations with plug-and-play technology. The app that costs less than having a monthly tea is built to empower MSMEs digitally. From creating an online store, booking appointments, digital payments, inventory management to offering discounts, a shop owner can sell from anywhere and everywhere. Today, more than 30 corner shops are using Ghoshak in 60% of pin codes in Chennai itself. The pandemic led to the rise of many homegrown businesses like home bakeries, fashion businesses, thrift businesses and many more. Many young entrepreneurs and women operate independently, and most of them require a non-complex website. With Ghoshak, one can get their brand online in just three simple steps through a no-coding required website. Rajesh saw the opportunity and gap in this vast but unorganized sector. No player in the market provides end-to-end retail technology, a front-end app, and a website. Ghoshak's POS (Point Of Sale) is fully integrated with omnichannel retail solutions. This cloud-based POS can improve business efficiency through features like paperless invoices, inventory management, online bills and orders, reports, loyalty programs to attract customers, and more. 6.3 croresis the number of MSMEs we have in India, as per the MSME Ministry. However, there are only a few players for small businesses in a country that has established tech services for relatively large corporations. With his rich experience working with global tech companies, Rajesh wanted to start an enterprise software company in India to cater to small business owners. He observed a great opportunity where small businesses are equipped with the right technology to compete with large e-commerce companies and retail chains. Ghoshak has more than 15,000 active subscribers and more than 50,000 app downloads. Currently available on Google Play, businesses like restaurants, meat shops, organic products, mobile & accessory shops, parlours, boutiques, tailors are using Ghoshak's intuitive UI with a seamless experience. This story is provided by Digpu. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Digpu)
New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI/ATK): Unified Brainz celebrated the 3rd anniversary of its international magazine brand - Passion Vista with most eminent Indians in its anniversary edition "The Most Admired Global Indians 2021" which was launched virtually on 25th January 2022. The spectacular event witnessed not only powerful personalities but also leading visioners from different walks of life who craft, curate and conceptualize all the industries across the globe. "Don't downgrade your dream just to fit your reality, upgrade your conviction to match your destiny" says Sujata Dutta on receiving the award and felicitation. The Senior Vice President at Vodafone _VOIS has always been passionate about the technical field. Sujata is someone who believes in continual learning wherein she managed to transform Customer-Employee-Experience which contributed to the exponential growth of the team by 450+% in 4.5 years. Sujata has been actively contributing to technology and social communities like the WIT (Women in Tech) forum, an inclusive initiative in the workplaces for ensuring equal opportunity and safe space. Having faced all the obstacles of gender biases, she has been acting as a mentor, speaker, and panelist to eliminate any further discrimination for others. And her efforts have made it visible as the diversity has shifted from 10% to 40%. As a Senior Vice President and Head of Testing of _VOIS Sujata's contribution is tremendous. Technical cognoscenti, she has served in Strategic Leadership Management Role influencing senior stakeholders across the globe. She has managed to bring together the industry's most compelling vision, strategy, solutions, partnerships, and expertise into a single integrated powerhouse. An alumnus of Kolkata University, she pursued her Master of Technology (MTech) from the Indian Institute of Science and went on to pursue her career thereafter. With international and multi-faceted leadership experience, Sujata has played critical roles across multiple domains, generated multiple Repeat/ Referral Businesses, being a 'Change Agent' and bringing transformation to maximize Customer NPS and Revenue by delivering Higher Quality and building and improving Organizational Capability (from inception) for Customer & Employee Experience. The multiple award-winning leader Sujata knew right from the start that one day she will take on the responsibility of a leader to set up new businesses. Speaking about how she stands out in terms of business Strategy Sujata says, "With 23+ years of extensive IT experience, I am focused on bringing the highest Quality Engineering, IT solutions for various business verticals. I have achieved Cost Optimization through Delivery & Operational Excellence, Digital Transformation, Analytics, Innovation, and Next-Generation Automation which has brought the Practice to the top quartile of industry benchmarking KPIs with 13+% Y-Y improvements. Our contribution was recognized in renowned Global Industry forums where my team had multiple Industry wins. Personally, I received multiple prestigious awards internally and externally." Before getting into the S/W Testing field, Sujata was working in the development and industry automation field. She relentlessly explored various domains, portfolios, played different roles, and took the opportunity to change the type of IT Industry where she could learn how various organization works. Wherein transposing opportunities took a lot of courage to work in complex opportunities with uncertainty. As Sujata says, "You get in life what you have the courage to ask for and I truly believe and live by it." She went on chasing her dreams and received multiple coveted awards for being an inspirational leader and bringing huge transformation. In addition to the contemporary approach and aftermath of a pandemic, Sujata says, "The coronavirus has impacted economies and lives around the world. Onboarding the 'New Normal' was to empower teams and improve network flexibility. With agility and acceleration of automation to enable faster delivery, we achieved so much together. Behind all these, one of the most critical pillars is people. We worked on Role rationalization, Skill up-gradation to remain relevant with the latest strategy. All these resulted in high team engagement." Sujata's commitment towards the professional development of others makes her stand out in the crowd, has been an inspiration for others to dream more and it wouldn't be wrong to state her as a kingpin of success and determination. She summarizes her mantra for success as being persistent, stubborn to your vision. Do not compare with others, create your own journey. To know about Sujata Dutta, check www.passionvista.com or to nominate for upcoming projects email at info@passionvista.com This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI/ATK): Unified Brainz celebrated the 3rd anniversary of its international magazine brand - Passion Vista - with most eminent Indians in its anniversary edition "The Most Admired Global Indians 2021" which was launched virtually on 25th January 2022. The spectacular event witnessed not only powerful personalities but also leading visionaries from different walks of life who craft, curate and conceptualize all the industries across the globe. Armed with her decade long medical experience, Dr Gauri marked her presence during the event to celebrate the joy and victory. Throughout the pandemic, Dr Gauri utilised the time to delve deep into the intricacies of the parent-child relationship to come up with her venture - Brain-Based Connection, which empowers parents to implement connected conscious parenting using empirical and science backed insights. Gauri says the concept of Brain-Based Connection has been within her for as long as she can remember. "The parent-child connection has always intrigued me - for its life-long impact on how we view ourselves and the world around us. The business itself was born after the pandemic impacted my ability to work in clinical psychiatry, due to commitments to my own children. Being a mother, I found myself leaning on many of the scientific principles from psychiatry, and decided to package my knowledge and expertise to support other parents and families with emotional connection," she says. She goes on to add that her Indian heritage also played a part: "I'm grateful to my parents and proud of my Indian culture, where warm and emotionally sensitive parenting can be the norm." Born in the UK to Indian parents, Gauri grew up with her two brothers. Her father worked as a consultant psychiatrist and together with his wife, was the kids' main emotional rock and support. There were very few people of colour in mid-Wales and Shropshire where Gauri went to school. And thus it was a proud moment for the family when she was elected head girl of her school aged 17. Gauri followed in her father's footsteps and pursued clinical psychiatry. Having worked as a clinical doctor in adult mental health, as well as in medical psychotherapy, she saw first-hand the impact our early relational dynamics can have on our thinking style, emotions, and behaviour. As an executive parent and family wellness expert, Gauri helps parents enhance family wellbeing for sustainable emotional wellbeing in children. She explains: "Consciously connected parenting promotes a parent-child dynamic where children feel heard, understood, and are better able to express their feelings and needs. Connected parenting is the bedrock to foster lifelong resilience and self-esteem, which are key for sustainable long-term mental wellbeing." An important aspect here is the parents' own well-being. 'Children around the world need support from their parents right now. And parents need support from their employers' - read UNICEF's Covid 19 statement. Gauri's programme promotes employee happiness too. Happy colleagues are 13% more productive, empathic, and better placed to optimise their potential. Gauri believes that organisations who offer employees family wellness support, will positively support talent retention and diversity of thought by retaining working parents. As a reputed authority in her field, ask Gauri what she considers her biggest achievement, and she's quick to say, "Finding the perfect person to share my life with, my husband, a consultant surgeon in the UK, and being blessed with three children." Gauri was awarded competitive clinical training posts funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) for her medical training. She has also presented award-winning and original research at national and international conferences, and her findings in online family therapy have been disseminated by the World Health Organisation. Today, Gauri's sole focus is towards making a transgenerational impact on how we see the parent-child connection for sustainable emotional wellbeing. "Mental wellness starts in the early years. Given that parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done, we must support parents as this has the potential to support future generations! I want the business to grow world-wide, as connection is universal and transcends cultural and social barriers," sums up Gauri. To know more about Dr Gauri Seth, check www.passionvista.com or to nominate for upcoming projects email us at info@passionvista.com This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], February 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): Naga Vara Aparna Akula, (Principal Scientist, CSIR-CSIO) was awarded the Young Women Engineer of 2021 by The Institution of Engineering and Technology as part of the first edition of the IET India Awards 2021. She has contributed significantly to the design, development and commissioning of intelligent sensing and alert systems using Infrared Imaging and seismic sensing. Novel techniques developed by her for target detection and recognition have resulted in successful implementations as well as several academic publications and patents. Most importantly, her work has also found application in wildlife monitoring, border-security intelligence and radiometric image analysis software for the defence sector and even an Earthquake warning system (EqWS) for the Delhi Metro. IET India's Young Woman Engineer Award aims to celebrate and spotlight young women engineers in India, under the age of 35 who have made a positive impact on the Indian engineering ecosystem, with the ability and influence to further the engineering discipline in academic, corporate, research and development settings. The felicitation was done by Professor Danielle George, former president of the IET and second female IET President in 150 years. With increasing attention being drawn to India's potential to become the world's next technology innovation hub, the past years have seen remarkable feats and achievements by home-grown companies and individuals that have served to contribute greatly to national development. As part of the IET's 150-year celebrations, the IET India Awards aims to highlight this growth and recognise the individuals that have contributed to the same. In doing so, it also hopes to inspire India's extensive and fast-growing engineering talent to use emerging technologies to solve global problems. Today, India has placed itself on the global technology map and this journey is on a sharp growth trajectory - as we see increasing interest from global companies and investors, in India as a strategic engineering hub. "The best way to celebrate our 150 years is to recognise the country's change-agents, difference-makers and engineering champions who have truly transformed the scope of technology and used it to solve some of India's most pressing problems. We hope that the IET India awards serve to inspire even more people to channel this exciting age of innovation and new technologies towards creative solutions that create widespread impact not just in India, but globally," says Shekhar Sanyal, Country Head & Director, IET India. "The #WomenInTech revolution has reached new heights in India and we look forward to felicitating young women engineers like Akula, who have the potential to contribute tremendously to the nation's development through engineering innovation. We hope that this first edition inspires young women engineers across the country and encourages even more women engineers to apply to the IET India Awards such that we can impact gender diversity in the engineering space," Ujani Ghosh, Thought Leadership & Policy, IET India adds. The IET India Young Woman Engineer Award was judged by an expert jury, consisting of Sukla Chandra, Senior Managing Director GE Licensing Inclusion & Diversity Leader GE South Asia, Madhura DasGupta Sinha, Founder & CEO - Aspire For Her, Arnab Thakur, India Director of Strategy and Growth - Prosus Fintech and Anandi Iyer, Director & Head - Fraunhofer India. The IET India Awards 2021 extend across 7 categories, with entries open to industry, academia and not-for-profit organisations. The announcement of the next edition is expected in a few months and the application details will be online, by May 2022. The IET is one of the world's largest engineering institutions with over 168,000 members in 150 countries. It is also the most multidisciplinary - to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians and all those who are touched by or touch the work of engineers. Institution of Engineering and Technology - India The IET office started operations in India in 2006, in Bangalore. Today, it has over 13,000 members and has the largest membership base for the IET outside of the UK. Given the increasing global importance of India as an engineering hub their aim is to make an impact that has relevance both locally and internationally. The strategy is to make a meaningful impact on the overall competency and skill levels within the Indian engineering community and play an influencing role with industry in relation to technology innovation and solving problems of public importance. IET does this by working in partnership with industry, academia and government, focusing on the application of practical skills within both learning & career lifecycles, driving innovation and thought leadership through high impact sectors. For more information, please visit india.theiet.org. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
A dozen current and former employees of Phil McGraw's talk show 'Dr. Phil' have made allegations of having experienced toxic work conditions, including verbal abuse, intimidation, racism and inappropriate interactions with guests. According to Deadline, the expose was released by an American media outlet in a report. None of the dozen employees that spoke to the outlet witnessed McGraw participate in any of the alleged behaviour, nor is there any evidence that he saw any of the abuse himself. Series executive producer Carla Penington and other senior staff have been accused of "screaming and berating" employees. A spokesperson for Dr Phil and McGraw denied all allegations. Terming the expose as a "click-bait story", the spokesperson told Deadline that it contained "verifiably and objectively false characterizations and reporting of the publicly available contradictory results of these legal cases [including dismissal with prejudice due to a lack of merit, not even being a party and other factual errors]." They added that this "raises significant doubts about the credibility of the other unsubstantiated, anonymous claims relating to the show and its staff, which are not true." "Dr. Phil and our hard-working, diverse team of more than 200 proud staff, many of whom have been here for two decades, have sincerely and respectfully worked with thousands of appreciative guests. From the beginning, show executives have strived to create a collaborative, safe, and open environment for Dr. Phil McGraw and all staff and guests. We are grateful for the overwhelming number of proud, dedicated colleagues who have helped achieve our sustained success through 20 seasons of the program with many more to come," the spokesperson continued. Seven of the employees had said they were "encouraged to perpetuate racist stereotypes onscreen" in addition to two others who said they faced racism behind the scenes. There are also allegations from a former employee who says they were instructed to tamper with a guest's prescribed medication before cameras begin "because they wanted her to look unstable and quote-unquote, 'crazy,' for lack of a better term," the report noted. As per Deadline, a spokesperson for ViacomCBS also released a statement. It read, "Creating safe and inclusive working environments is a top priority at ViacomCBS. We provide multiple avenues through which employees can report complaints to the company both on the record and anonymously. We encourage any employee who believes that they or others within the company have been treated unfairly to report it without fear of retaliation. We take seriously all such reports." (ANI)
Officers work the scene where a 16-year-old was shot on the 6200 block of South Greenwood Avenue in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

A judge Friday ordered a 19-year-old man held without bond after he allegedly gunned down his 16-year-old neighbor in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side.

Mario Ford was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Uriel Rodger-Knox, which happened Tuesday in the 6200 block of South Greenwood Avenue, police said.

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Ford and Rodger-Knox lived across the street from each other with family members, Assistant States Attorney Andrea Williams said at the bond hearing, overseen by Judge Mary Marubio.

Williams, who did not discuss a possible motive in the killing, said it unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. as Rodger-Knox and three witnesses approached Fords home without weapons, following an earlier argument between Fords mother and one of the witnesses, who was also the mother of Fords child.

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Officers work the scene where a 16-year-old was shot on the 6200 block of South Greenwood Avenue in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood on Feb. 8, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Rodger-Knox lived with the three witnesses, at least two of whom were sisters, according to the prosecutor.

Just before the shooting, the households also had another argument, during which Fords sister sprayed mace toward Rodger-Knox and the witnesses, Williams said.

Ford then allegedly exited the apartment building and shot at Rodger-Knox twice with a revolver, striking him once in the head. He also pointed the gun at one of the witnesses, who had bent down to help the 16-year-old after he fell to the ground, Williams said.

The witness who prosecutors said had a child with Ford was watching nearby, holding the child, Williams said. The 1-year-old is Fords only child, his attorney said at the hearing.

Rodger-Knox was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center at 5:55 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

The three initial witnesses spoke to police at the scene and identified Ford as the shooter, but a fourth witness did not identify him.

Police recovered a black puffer jacket inside Fords home, that witnesses said Ford wore during the shooting. Additionally, surveillance video shows a person who appeared to be Ford, wearing the same jacket behind the same apartment building at the time of the shooting, according to Williams.

Police didnt recover any weapons at the scene and found Ford tested positive for gunshot residue on his hands, Williams said.

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Ford, who is unemployed, has never been arrested, according to his attorney, who said he attended Perspectives High School in Chicago.

The attack happened an hour after an apparently unrelated fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Bronzeville boy in the 3500 block of South Prairie Avenue.

Ford is due back in court Feb. 18.

oolander@chicagotribune.com
In protest of Israeli native star Gal Gadot, Lebanon and Kuwait have banned her upcoming mystery-crime flick 'Death on the Nile'. According to Deadline, Gadot, as her native country mandates, has served in the Israeli military for two years prior to becoming a model and actor. Given her connection to the IDF, Lebanon previously blocked her movie 'Wonder Woman' from release in May 2017. At the time, the country was reportedly prompted to do so by the group Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon. 'Wonder Woman' was also banned in Qatar. 'Wonder Woman 1984' was later banned in Lebanon as well, however, at the time Kuwait theaters were closed at that point in time during the pandemic. 'Death of the Nile' is being released in the rest of the Middle East as of this weekend. The news outlet, which reported the news about 'Death on the Nile's' ban in Kuwait, cited a local newspaper saying that country caved into a ban of the Kenneth Branagh directed Agatha Christie adaptation due to protests on social media. The newspaper also quoted a country official source saying that they would not book a movie starring a former soldier in the Zionist occupying army. In May 2021, Gadot disabled Twitter comments over a tweet about the Israel-Hamas rocket attacks conflict. What was meant as a message of unity by the actor was perceived by critics as propaganda for Israel. Meanwhile, 'Death on the Nile' is one of the few U.S. movies to receive a release in China after several notable Hollywood movies went undated last year, as per Variety. (ANI)
As per The Hollywood Reporter, set in 1940s Australia, 'The New Boy', according to the film's description, depicts the mesmeric story of a 9-year-old aboriginal orphan boy who arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery run by a renegade nun (Blanchett).

The new boy's presence disturbs the delicately balanced world in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival."

Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair will also star alongside Blanchett in the film, which is set to begin filming in October, in Australia.

Blanchett, Andrew Upton and Georgie Pym will be producing via their Dirty Films banner, along with Kath Shelper for Scarlett Pictures, who worked with Thornton on his Cannes-winning feature 'Samson and Delilah' and the documentary 'The Darkside'.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Roadshow Films will be distributing the movie in Australia and New Zealand.

CAA Media Finance and UTA will be handling sales for North America, with The Veterans managing sales for the remainder of the globe. (ANI)
The final season of Bob Odenkirk-starrer 'Better Call Saul' finally has a premiere date. As per Variety, AMC's acclaimed 'Breaking Bad' spin-off prequel featuring Odenkirk as slippery lawyer Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman will return for its sixth and final season on April 18, almost two years to the day since the show unveiled its season 5 finale. The sixth season will consist of 13 episodes, which is three more than the usual order. That will bring the episode count to 62, one more than 'Breaking Bad'. However, you won't be getting them all in a row. AMC confirmed that it will air season 6 in two parts, with the first part containing seven episodes, kicked off with a two-episode premiere. The remaining six episodes will begin to air on July 11. This is the same type of split that AMC did with 'Breaking Bad' in its final season, and should allow the show's sixth season to compete for Emmys in two different years. In addition, AMC announced that three short-form digital series in the Saul universe will premiere in the spring. The six-part animated series 'Slippin' Jimmy' chronicles the exploits of Jimmy McGill in his youth. The six-episode 'Cooper's Bar' -- which features Seehorn as "an awful Hollywood executive" -- centres on character actor Cooper (Mike & Molly's Lou Mustillo) and the patrons of his L.A. neighbourhood bar. The 'Better Call Saul Employee Training Video' series also returns with new installments. 'Better Call Saul' was supposed to start production on season 6 last spring, but, as was the case with many shows, filming was delayed by the spread of COVID-19. In late July, Odenkirk collapsed on set and suffered a heart attack, but he was back on set filming in early September. 'Better Call Saul', which Peter Gould created with 'Breaking Bad' overlord Vince Gilligan, also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks, Michael Mando, and Patrick Fabian. The series, which has earned 39 Emmy nominations, is executive produced by Gould, Gilligan, Mark Johnson, Melissa Bernstein and Thomas Schnauz. (ANI)
As per E! News, this season, which premieres on March 11, Raven (Raven-Symone) is heading home to San Francisco to take care of her father.

The one-minute-long trailer shows that while she's happy to be back in the Bay Area, she's in for a big surprise: her archnemesis Alana Rivera (Adrienne Bailon-Houghton) is now the principal of Bayside High. That matters to Raven because it's the same school that her son Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) is enrolled in.

"Haven't seen you since high school," Alana says to Raven in the trailer.

"And yet, it still feels too soon," Raven snarks back.

The news first broke that Adrienne would be joining forces with Raven back in November.

"How genius of the writers of this show to create that dynamic where the school bully becomes the principal," Adrienne said in an interview at the time. "It's funny and ironic, and I'm loving being the authority figure."

Raven's Home Season 5 premieres on March 11 on Disney Channel. (ANI)
Alongside the images, he dropped a motivational caption.

"Own your morning, own your day, own your life," Sidharth wrote, adding the hashtags #beawesome, #behumble, and #bekind.

In one of the images, Sidharth can be seen flexing his muscles against the backdrop of green fields. However, it's Vicky Kaushal's comment that caught more attention than Sidharth's poses.

Unleashing his Punjabi side, Vicky Kaushal commented, "Baajre da sitta."

For the unversed, 'Bajre da sitta' is also the title of a popular Punjabi folk song.

Vicky's comment has garnered several likes and comments.

A section of social media users even expressed their desire to see two "Punjabi mundes" Vicky and Sidharth together in some film soon.

Meanwhile, Vicky has recently wrapped up Laxman Utekar's film. On the other hand, Sidharth is currently shooting for 'Yodha'. (ANI)
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's remark 'Rahul doesn't listen' meant that the former does not succumb to the pressure of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Addressing a public rally in Uttarakhand's Manglaur, the Wayanad MP said, "In an interview yesterday, Modi Ji said, 'Rahul doesn't listen'. Did you understand what he meant? It meant that ED, CBI pressure doesn't work on Rahul, and he does not back down. Why should I listen to him?" In an interview with ANI, the Prime Minister had targeted the former Congress chief and dubbed him as a "person who does not listen and does not sit in the House." Union Minister Anurag Thakur also took a dig at Rahul on Thursday saying that he is "hardly seen in the Parliament." "When PM was speaking in parliament on reply to President's speech, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not present in there, not only that he is hardly seen in the parliament. He is a person who says whatever he wants and then vanishes from parliament," the Union Minister told media persons. (ANI)
Qureshi, who is Congress' candidate from Moradabad, held a door-to-door campaign in the constituency along with the party's General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday. However, as per the police, the campaign looked like a roadshow.

"Congress candidate Rizwan had taken permission for a door-to-door campaign but it was seen that a roadshow-like situation had emerged with people atop of the car with him. As per Sector Magistrate's complaint, a case has been registered," Moradabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Akhilesh Bhadoria told media persons.

Speaking to ANI, Rizwan questioned why an FIR was not registered against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders during their campaigning in the state.

"Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma held a door-to-door meeting a few days ago. In Meerut, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held door-to-door campaigns, why no FIR against them? Not our fault if people welcome us with unconditional love during the door-to-door campaigns. BJP is scared, which is why this politics is happening," he stated.

The seven phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10.

The second phase of polling for the state assembly is scheduled for February 14.

Altogether 55 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in the second phase covering nine districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Budaun and Shahjahanpur. (ANI)
A young and ambitious sand artist from Srinagar is aiming to promote Kashmiri culture across the world through his art. Sahil Manzoor, a B Tech student and son of a carpenter, says that sand art is "poetry in motion." He believes that through sand art, he can convey a whole story and connect people. Speaking to ANI, the young artist said that the concept of sand art is still not very popular in the valley and he himself assembled raw materials to make the equipment used for sand art. Sand art, which is a practice of modelling sand into an artistic form, requires a glass surface with light beneath. "I started practising sand art in 2017. Now, I am known as a sand artist in Kashmir," he said. Recalling his initial days, Sahil said that he had watched an online video of a Persian sand artist in 2010 which inspired him to take this up. Seeking aid from the government, the young artist said, "I wish to promote Kashmir and its culture globally. Kashmir, which has a lot of artists, should get a platform to showcase their art forms." He further said that he gets projects from abroad, mostly Gulf countries. "I do not practice sand art to earn a living out of it. It is for promoting Kashmir," Sahil said. He has also taken up the task to teach children this art. "I want to make my team, who will showcase Kashmir throughout the world," he said. Sahil's younger brother Imad Ahmad said that he wishes to see his brother excel. "Our parents have always supported Sahil. I feel very proud when people call my brother a sand artist. He is good at making sketches as well," he said. Citing the example of his brother, Ahmad urged people to not let go of their dreams and keep working in the direction to fulfil them. (ANI)
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit out at the Central government for not seeking the resignation of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Notably, Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to Ajay Mishra's son, Ashish Mishra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that took place last year on October 3, in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed. "A Prime Minister has a moral responsibility towards the nation and it is his dharma to fulfil this responsibility. This dharma is above every dharma. Whichever politician, Prime Minister or government fails to do this, must be ignored," Priyanka said while addressing a rally in Bilaspur city of Rampur district. "Today, that man has got bail and soon, he would be roaming around openly, the man who mowed you down. But whom did the government save? Did it save the farmers? Where were the police and the administration when farmers were killed," she asked. The Congress leader alleged the police was nowhere to be seen at the time of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. However, they were present to prevent the Congress members who tried to visit the families, she added. On October 3, eight people, including four protesting farmers, died after being mowed down by an SUV allegedly belonging to Ashish Mishra. Later in the day, Priyanka Gandhi also held a door-to-door campaign with Congress leader Rizwan Qureshi in Moradabad. (ANI)
"I shall be campaigning in Uttarakhand today ...shall address election meetings in Ghansali, Karnaprayag and Narendranagar Assembly constituencies. Look forward to it," Singh said in a tweet on Friday morning.

Defence Minister has been addressing public gatherings in different constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for the past few days.

Earlier on February 9, Singh, while addressing at a public gathering at Janeshwar, took a swipe at Congress, stating that the Opposition party has been wiped out from the entire country.

The Defence Minister also stated that Congress is only "lurking in the mountains".

"Congress has been wiped out from the whole country. It is only lurking in the mountains," he said.

The Union Minister lauded Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for exemplary developmental works in the state in a very short span of time and mentioned that the BJP government has spent over Rs 1 lakh crore for the development works in just one year.

Singh had also appealed to people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP and to choose Dhami as their Chief Minister, promising "we will take all steps to make the state prosperous".

The senior BJP leader said that nearly 78 lakh voters will write the fate of Uttarakhand in this Assembly election which is slated to poll on February 14. (ANI)
Sometimes the smallest sign can suggest something is wrong  like a missing Wordle score.

When 80-year-old grandmother Denyse Holt failed to text her daily score for Wordle, her two daughters thought it was strange, since she always shared her results from the popular online puzzle in which players try to guess a five-letter word.

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When Holt failed to respond or even read their texts or answer the phone, the daughters, who live on the West Coast, got worried. When they had a neighbor check her house in Lincolnwood and her car was there but she didnt answer, they knew something was wrong.

From left, Jennier Holt, Denyse Holt and Meredith Holt-Caldwell in an undated photo. (Family photo)

Police were called and found a broken window with blood on the scene, suggesting a break-in. Using the neighbors key, they entered, asking, Is anybody home?

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Im here, Holt called, from inside a basement bathroom where shed been barricaded by a naked intruder threatening her with scissors. Police rescued her and arrested James H. Davis III, of Chicago, the man who they say held her hostage and in fear for her life for nearly 21 hours. Her daughter said it was her mothers calm during the crisis that may have kept her alive.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, police said, a naked man broke through a window to enter Holts home in the 4600 block of Morse Avenue, got into bed with her and threatened her with scissors.

He took away Holts phones, then forced her to stay in the basement bathroom, barricading her inside with a chair, police said.

All the while, according to Holts daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, Holt was trying to stay calm, avoiding any emotional outburst or sudden movement that could escalate the situation.

At one point, Holt even assured her captor, Youre the captain. Im on your team.

Shes amazing, Holt-Caldwell said. She doesnt really know how she was able to remain that calm. She just kind of played along and made him feel as though he was in charge.

When the man threatened her, Holt, a former middle school teacher, told him it scared her, which prompted him to throw away the scissors and declare he wouldnt hurt her.

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But when she was forced to wait for hours in the bathroom, she feared that the longer the ordeal went on, the more she was in danger.

After police rescued her, Holt stayed at a friends house, and her daughter arrived on an overnight flight to be with her. Through her daughter, she emphasized her gratitude to police.

Lincolnwood police were so wonderful, they made her feel so safe, Holt-Caldwell said. They did such an incredible job. Theyre part of the reason shes here today.

After Holt was taken out of the house, police said, they found Davis in an upstairs bedroom, armed with knives and refusing to surrender. They tried unsuccessfully to disable him with an electric Taser shock, then called in a SWAT team through the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, or NIPAS, which was able to Taser Davis and arrest him, Parrott said.

Davis, 32, whose last known address was in the 700 block of North Dearborn Avenue, was charged with home invasion with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; and two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer, a class 4 felony.

Davis, who police believed was going through a mental health crisis, was ordered held without bond in Cook County Jail.

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Holt-Caldwell said the family is still in shock, and the daughters want to give their mother a fresh start after being traumatized in their childhood home, where every room was left bloodstained by the ordeal.

We want this to be a message, to reach out to your loved ones when theyre far away, Holt-Caldwell said. Dont be lackadaisical. You can do something from 3,500 miles away. You can save lives and make a difference. Have a plan in place. If theres weird behavior that doesnt match, do some investigating.

If something seems not right, please call us and let us investigate, Lincolnwood police Chief Jay Parrott said. People may be reluctant to bother police, he said, but he added, Please bother us.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Sufiyan is responsible for the violence that broke out after the Assembly elections in West Bengal last year. Speaking to ANI, the BJP leader said that the TMC has created a 'gas chamber for democracy' like situation in West Bengal to "manipulate" civic polls. "We met the State Election Commission (SEC) in view of the post-poll violence orchestrated by the TMC, which has created a 'gas chamber for democracy' like situation in West Bengal. We advised the SEC to deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the state," he said on his meeting with the SEC. Adhikari further alleged that over one lakh Hindus have left the state due to the post-poll violence and the situation in West Bengal is worse than Jammu and Kashmir. "TMC's Sheikh Sufiyan is responsible for the post-poll violence, including atrocities committed against women. The situation in Bengal is worse than Jammu and Kashmir. Hindus are in danger. Over 1 lakh Hindus have left the state due to the post-poll violence. Intruders have entered, attempting to change the state's demography," he added. Several incidents of violence were reported at various places in West Bengal ahead of the state Assembly poll results on May 2 last year. The CBI is probing the killing of a BJP worker in the Nandigram constituency which took place during the post-poll violence in West Bengal after the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won the state Assembly polls in May 2021. The Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI probe into various incidents of killings and sexual assaults in the state, which the BJP has been alleging to have been committed at the behest of the ruling party. (ANI)
The NIA court has awarded Mia seven years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 16,000.

Mia (26), hailing from Bangladesh's Sylhet, was convicted under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Foreigners Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, stated the court in its order.

The case was initially registered by a 'Special Task Force' in Kolkata on November 21, 2017 after the arrest of five members of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) in the city. Four of the arrested members were Bangladeshi nationals and one was Indian. ABT is a proscribed terrorist organization in Bangladesh, the court order noted.

The NIA had taken over the investigation of the case on March 1, 2018, and established that Bangladeshi members of ABT had entered India in 2016 in pursuance of the conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in India.

The accused persons had travelled and stayed in Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai, disguised as labourers, and tried to procure chemicals from a shop in Patna. They had also tried to procure arms and ammunition in Kolkata and established hideouts in Ranchi.

The NIA charge-sheeted all the accused after investigation. Earlier three of the accused had been convicted by the Special NIA Court, Kolkata.

Further trials against the remaining one charge-sheeted accused will continue. (ANI)
A Delhi court has acquitted a Lt. Commander serving in Indian Navy in a rape case and noted that at three different stages, three different versions were given by the prosecutrix. Additional Sessions Judge Ankur Jain, Tis Hazari court, in a judgement passed last week said, the benefit of the doubt has to go to the accused and he is acquitted for the offence charged with. The defence counsel Ravi Drall for the accused argued that the relationship between the complainant and the accused were consensual in nature and no alleged crime was committed by his client. Ravi Drall further argued that the version of the prosecutrix keeps changing and improving her version at different stages which ultimately makes her statements unreliable. Court also noted several discrepancies and said it appears that the present complaint was made to pressurize the accused to enter into a matrimonial alliance, succumbing to the pressure at the time of hearing of the bail application, accused had married the prosecutrix which is reflected from the bail order and the photographs so placed on record. The alliance did not survive and ultimately both of them took divorce, the court added. Court also noted that it is also quite unnatural that the victim did not tell anything to her mother just after the incident or even thereafter and waited for about two days till the time marriage was called off by the mother of the accused. Court further noted that the prosecutrix has given three different versions regarding the presence of her brother. In her initial complaint brother was not in the picture, despite the fact that there was a delay of about three days in making the complaint. According to complainant, she got engaged to the accused in 2015 with the permission of family members and they used to talk on mobile phone regularly. As per the complainant, the accused and his family members were invited toa religious function at her uncles' house where she was raped later on by the accused and thereafter the FIR was lodged at Janakpuri police station under section 376 IPC. (ANI)
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegations that Goa had to remain under the imperial rule for years as former PM Nehru was maintaining his global image, State Congress General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar on Thursday said that PM Modi should refresh his memory and read history properly as it was due to the efforts of Congress party and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Goa was liberated. In his reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Congress did not liberate the state for almost 15 years after Independence. The Prime Minister in his statement added that the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not send armed forces to the state which was under Portuguese rule at that time. "PM Narendra Modi should refresh his memory and read history properly, it was Congress party and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru under whose leadership Goa was liberated. Congress gave Statehood to Goa. "What did BJP gave to us except false promises? Today when PM Modi has nothing to showcase about his own government or that of his local BJP government, he is indulging in a false narrative and propaganda which he is best known for to misguide the people," he added. On PM Modi's statement on 'Congress Mukt Bharat', he said, "PM Narendra Modi should introspect and see the condition of his own party, today, BJP has 90 per cent former Congress leaders which shows BJPs failed to create leaders and people rejected their original leaders and there is no cadre what BJP always claims." "Whether Modi comes or Amit Shah comes, we will form the next government in the state as people of Goa has decided to vote decisively and give a clear mandate to Congress party so much so that BJP will not cross single digit, " he added while talking about upcoming assembly elections in Goa. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked Congress in poll-bound Goa and said it was here that spoke of "Congress-mukt Bharat" which has now become a commitment of many citizens of the country. Goa will go to the Assembly polls on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Parts of Tamil Nadu had witnessed heavy rainfall last year, leading to floods in parts of the state.

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)
An Indian Council for Medical Research - National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) study suggests that there is a need for active human and entomological surveillance of the Zika virus across the country to mitigate future outbreaks. The first report of the Zika virus spread in Kerala was released by ICMR NIV Pune. The report stated that the Zika virus cases in Kerala last year had no travel history and were linked to its circulation in the community. "The cases had no travel history within the last one month. Apparently, none of the family members of the cases had a similar clinical presentation. The cases which were sporadically reported during this period probably suggest circulation of the ZIKV in the community as well." The study also suggests the need for active human and entomological surveillance of Zika in other parts of the country as well. "The finding of the study suggests the inclusion of arboviral disease in testing algorithms. In conclusion, the findings of the investigation demonstrate the need for active human and entomological surveillance of Zika across the country to mitigate future outbreaks," it said These cases of the Zika virus were reported in Kerala during the COVID-19 second surge and added an extra burden on the public health system of the state. "The circulation and detection of flavivirus and SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in flavivirus endemic areas.7, 8 The recent third serosurvey of COVID-19 by the Indian Council of Medical Research, India demonstrated high seroprevalence in Kerala state (11.6 per cent) compared to the national average of 21.9 per cent. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of robust surveillance adopted by the state. Similarly, the preparedness and active surveillance of the public health system of Kerala state has helped to timely identify the Zika cases among the healthcare workers," the study further said. Last year India reported Zika virus cases in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Zika virus (ZIKV) disease (ZVD) is considered to be one of the significant public health diseases of concern post-2016 outbreak in Brazil. A mosquito-borne flavivirus had been reported to be associated with the increased incidence of microcephaly, congenital Zika syndrome, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Since its discovery from the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947, several outbreaks of ZVD have been reported from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Besides this, numerous travel-associated cases of Zika have been also reported from various countries. India has reported the first case of ZVD from Gujarat. (ANI)
New Delhi, February 11 (ANI) The Rajya Sabha was on Friday adjourned to resume its second part of the Budget Session on March 14 after a recess of one month. Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the House after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the House on Union Budget 2022-2023 and concluded the discussion on the issue. Soon after the Finance Minister completed her address, the Deputy Speaker took some special mentions and then announced the adjournment of the first part of Budget Session, saying "the House stands adjourned till March 14". Earlier, papers were laid on the table when the Upper House assembled for the day at 10 am followed by BJP Member of the House L Murugan made a statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Twenty-seventh Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Demands for Grants (2021-22) pertaining to the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The Eighth Session of Seventeenth Lok Sabha commenced on January 31 with the President addressing both Houses of Parliament assembled together. The Union Budget was presented on February 1. With the announcement of an adjournment of the House on Friday, there will be a recess from February 12 to March 13 during which the standing committees will examine the budgetary allocations for various ministries and departments and prepare reports. Subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session is likely to conclude on April 8 after the House will assemble for the second part of Budget Session on March 14. (ANI)
The intrusion of Pakistani fishing boats and fishermen was detected on Thursday in Harami Nalla, Gujarat, the BSF further said.

Following this, Gujarat Frontier, BSF immediately launched a massive search operation in the area spread across 300 sq km. (ANI)
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh on Friday chaired a virtual meeting with states, Union Territories to discuss India's energy transition goals. The meeting includes the officers of the Ministry of Power and MNRE, Additional Chief Secretaries, and Principal Secretaries of Power/Energy Departments of States and UTs. The union minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to ramp up India's fight against climate change and global warming, emphasised the need for collaboration between the centre and states to ensure energy transition in all potential sectors of the economy. This meeting was organised in line with Modi's commitment at COP26, towards reducing the carbon intensity of our country. The objective of this meeting was to ensure the state's participation in fulfilling India's climate commitments and each State and UT can be assigned energy saving targets. Addressing the meeting, Singh stressed the need for collaborative efforts between the Central and state governments towards the large-scale deployment of energy efficiency measures in potential sectors of the economy. He emphasised the need to have a state-specific agency dedicated to energy efficiency and conservation. The union minister also urged that the states should develop an action plan to achieve the assigned targets. He further said that "We are working for a new and modern India, which cannot happen without modern power systems, and we look forward to working with all states and UTs to achieve this." India will replace diesel with renewables to achieve the target of zero diesel use in the agricultural sector by 2024, Singh stressed. The Minister during the meeting highlighted that the commercial buildings should follow ECBS and the domestic buildings should follow ECO NIVAS and this should be part of the building by-law. He said that all the power demand will be met by non-fossil fuel methods with the help of energy storage. At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, Prime Minister announced India's 'Panchamrit' to combat climate change effects. The five nectar elements are India will reach its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. India will meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030. India will also reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now onwards till 2030. By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 per cent and by the year 2070, India will achieve the target of Net-Zero. (ANI)
Sitharaman's comment came during her concluding remarks in the Rajya Sabha on the discussion of Union Budget 2022-2023 in response to a taunt by an MP on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government that "it is not Amrit Kaal, it is Rahu Kaal". Referring to the big scams during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, Sitharaman termed it as "Rahu Kaal for the country". Speaking on the Budget, Sitharaman mentioned how an MP targeted the government and said "it is Rahu Kaal for the country since 2014". "Rahu Kaal is when a sitting PM was about to meet the US President and a bill he cleared was torn up....But I want to tell that Rahu Kaal is that which is called G-23. Our Amrit Kaal is his Rahu Kaal. Senior party leaders are leaving the party and exiting, this is Rahu Kaal. No wonder the Congress party which is facing Rahu Kaal is getting 44 seats and it is not able to come out from it," said the Finance Minister. "In States where Congress is in rule, Rahu kaal is there, where they say, "I am a girl, can fight"... but in Rajasthan girls are not able to fight. Every day some scandal is happening there," Sitharaman said while attacking Congress. She also responded in detail about many schemes brought by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. The Finance Minister also mentioned that the "coming 25 years are going to be important for India". "No wonder we are calling it Amrit Kaal. If we don't have a vision for India at 100, we will suffer similarly as first 70 years, when 65 yrs were with Congress that had no vision except supporting, building and benefitting one family," Sitharaman said. (ANI)
China on Thursday urged the United States to remove additional tariffs, sanctions, and other suppressive measures against it at an early date.

China has worked hard to promote the joint implementation of its phase-one economic and trade agreement with the United States since the deal came into force. It overcame multiple negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global economic recession, and disrupted supply chains, Gao Feng, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference.

Gao called for action from the United States to create a conducive atmosphere and sound conditions for the two sides to expand trade cooperation. He added that the economic and trade teams of the two sides are in regular communication.

China and the United States signed the agreement in January 2020 after nearly two years of negotiations. The United States pledged to cancel some of its additional tariffs on Chinese products.

The agreement ranges from expanding bilateral trade in such sectors as agricultural products, manufactured goods, energy, and service, further broadening market access, to enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights.

Gao stressed the deal benefits both sides and the world.

When answering media questions, Gao also disputed a claim that China's economic success mainly relies on government interference.

China has fulfilled its commitments since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and completely abolished prohibitive subsidies under the subsidies and countervailing measures agreement of the WTO, Gao said. He added China's subsidies are in line with WTO rules.

As proved over the past four decades, China's economic successes come from its reform and opening-up and effectively combining the roles of the market and the government, Gao said.

The country's reform and opening-up has not only propelled its development but contributed to the world's economic prosperity, Gao added.
United States Navy delegation led by Rear Admiral Leonard C 'Butch' Dollaga, Commander Submarine Group 7, visited Western Naval Command Headquarters (HQWNC), Mumbai, on Wednesday to further hold discussions on maritime security. Dollaga discussed matters of relevance in the maritime domain with Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. During the discussion, special emphasis was given to the growing cooperation between the Navies of both countries, said the Indian Navy in an official statement. Dollaga was accompanied by David J Ranz, Consul General, US Consulate. This visit was part of follow-up activities linked to the "Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)" and earlier discussions were held in October 2020 wherein a consensus was reached to explore cooperation in the field of "Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA)" with a formal agreement between the two sides. The US Navy delegation presented various avenues for further consultation between the two sides to enhance cooperation in the niche field of UDA and also strengthen Indo-US comprehensive global strategic partnership, said the official statement, which also added that the discussion was led by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Staff, HQWNC, from the Indian side, wherein various facets of mutual cooperation in the field of UDA were discussed. India was accorded "Major Defence Partner Status" by the USA during PM Modi's visit to the US in June 2016. Defence trade and technology was institutionalized with India at par with closest allies and partners of the US. Major agreements signed between India and the US since 2014 include the Defence Framework Agreement (DFA), BECA, General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Communication Compatibility and Security Arrangements (COMCASA) and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), said the official statement.(ANI)
In the city of temples locals believe that whoever wins in Kasganj forms the government in Lucknow even while the constituency has never been a stronghold of any political party. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had won Kasganj seat in 2007 when the party formed the government in the state. In 2007 the BSP's Hasrat Ullah Sherwani had won the seat, but Samajwadi Party (SP) wrested the constituency in 2012 when the party came to power in the state. Sherwani had lost to SP's Manpal Singh in 2012. In 2017 when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government the party's candidate Devendra Singh Rajput won by a margin of over 49,000 votes against SP's Manpal Singh. Kasganj, a city and the district headquarters of Kasganj district, lies in the 'Braj region'. Braj, was known as 'Khasganj' during the Mughal and British periods. Prominent farmer's leader Kuldeep Pandey will be seen contesting for congress against BJP's sitting MLA Devendra Singh Rajput from the key battleground in UP. Former MLA Manpal Singh has got tickets from SP whereas party worker Prabhudayal Verma is the nominee of the BSP. Since the 1977 elections in Uttar Pradesh, BJP won four times and Samajwadi Party two times from the Kasganj constituency. There are 715 villages, 10 municipal corporations in Kasganj. According to the last Census, the population is 14,36,719 and has a 61 per cent literacy rate. The seven phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. The rest six phases for the state assembly are scheduled for February 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
After Islamic evangelist and preacher Zakir Naik showed an inability to go to the Indian Embassy in Malaysia for authentication of his credentials for Vakalatnama, the UAPA Tribunal said, "He is bound to file a vakalatnama in proper format with proper authentication or he may remain physically present on the next date of hearing". The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Tribunal noted, "Despite the order passed by this Tribunal on the last date of hearing, vakalatnama in proper format, with proper authentication of Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik has not been filed." "The Counsel who is appearing for the other Trustee of IRF has shown his inability to authenticate the credentials of Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik on his vakalatnama. Advocate S. Hari Haran further submitted that Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik has shown his inability to go to the Indian Embassy at Malaysia for authentication of his credentials," the Tribunal noted. The Tribunal during the detailed hearing on February 10, 2022 said, on the next date, it shall hear the matter physically and no hybrid or virtual hearing will be allowed during cross-examination so as to ensure the physical presence of the witnesses. It is made clear that the matter shall be taken up on a day-to-day basis from the next date onwards, the Tribunal said. The list of witnesses has been filed on behalf of the Union of India which includes witnesses from the State of Maharashtra and Directorate Enforcement. On and from the next date of hearing, the witnesses, whose affidavits have been filed and are to be filed as their examination-in-chief, shall be made available for their cross-examination, the Tribunal said. Earlier, the Tribunal had sought the response of Zakir Naik and IRF organization in the plea to confirm the Centre's decision to declare Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's organization Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently set up a tribunal headed by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D N Patel under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to adjudicate over Islamic Research Organisation (IRF) ban. The MHA recently had extended the ban imposed on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO headed by Islamic evangelist and India-born preacher Zakir Naik for a further five years. In its notification issued, the Ministry mentioned if the activities of the "unlawful association" were not curbed, it would continue its subversive activities and reorganize its absconding activists to create communal disharmony, propagate anti-national sentiments and support militancy. The Ministry in its notification had said that Islamic preacher Naik's speeches and statements were meant to inspire youths of a particular religion in India and abroad to commit terrorist acts. Naik's statements and speeches are objectionable, subversive that promote enmity, hatred among religious groups, the Home Ministry said on extending the ban on IRF. The Centre had declared the IRF an unlawful organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) on November 17, 2016 for a period of five years. The Union Home Ministry in its notification said that the IRF "has been indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the country and have the potential of disturbing the peace and communal harmony and disrupting the secular fabric of the country." Naik's IRF has been "encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities and groups which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country", the notification said. According to the Ministry, Naik makes radical statements and speeches which are viewed by crores of people worldwide. The Ministry said that these statements by Naik can also "disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, propagate anti-national sentiments, escalate secessionism by supporting militancy and some people may undertake activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country". Naik runs two television stations, namely Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu. Both the channels are banned in many countries. It is banned in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Canada and the United Kingdom. The IRF head fled to Malaysia in 2016, just before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started a probe against the Islamic preacher. (ANI)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday hit out at Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary, saying the Opposition leader did not cast his vote in the first phase of polling for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Thakur said that Chaudhary's skipping voting shows "his opinion on democracy". Speaking to ANI, the union minister said, "A few dynasty politicians, including the RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, don't cast their votes. Their thoughts about democracy become clear by such actions. Such parties have lost earlier also, and will lose in future too." Thakur is campaigning for the candidates of his party in Varanasi ahead of the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections. While attacking the Opposition, Thakur said that the people will not accept the Congress irrespective of what issues it raises. "After every election post-2014, a few Opposition parties always try to do something in which even international links also emerge. Be it Rafale, CAA or any other issue, the public never accepts such accusations and trusts Prime Minister Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," he said. He also took a jibe at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and said he will also lose his seat in the UP polls. "They (Congress) talk about bikini/Hijab, CAA/Rafale, but public never accepts them because they never talk about the welfare of the poor. They only know how to gather votes with politics of appeasement...You can write down, Akhilesh (SP chief) will lose from his seat," Thakur asserted. The seven phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. The second phase of polling for the state Assembly is scheduled for February 14. Altogether 55 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in the second phase covering nine districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Budaun and Shahjahanpur. (ANI)
"First of all, it isn't allowed to protest anywhere, and if someone does, it should be held peacefully. I appeal to political parties not to instigate, and everyone should work to maintain peace," Walse added.

The Hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes.

During the protests, some students were allegedly denied entry to the college for wearing Hijab earlier this month. (ANI)
Lunglei Battalion of the Assam Rifles on Thursday conducted a lecture on skill development and farming technique at Zorinpui village in Mizoram on Thursday to impart best practices in agriculture to farmers with aims to help them improve their income. The lecture was organised under the aegis of the Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East). As many as 23 locals attended the lecture conducted by the Lunglei Battalion, on improving the quality of agricultural produce and adopting modern technologies. They were told about the benefits of modern technology machinery and how to efficiently use the same. This would further help the local farmers in their income boost as well as their overall development, said the battalion in a statement. During the lecture, guidelines were also given to the farmers on ways to access the outside market to get a better price for agricultural produce. The locals of Zorinpui village expressed their gratitude for the selfless initiative taken by Assam Rifles, for the benefit of the locals. (ANI)
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the new Darbar Hall at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. The event began with speeches by Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The Governor spoke about his achievements in the past two and a half years. He also expressed his happiness at the construction of the Darbar Hall. He said, "I always wished to change the Raj Bhavan to a place where people can come and express their problems to the government." He further spoke about the workers who worked hard during the lockdown. He said, "In these years, many social workers have dedicated their life towards saving other lives, during the lockdown. And after lockdown, many people came forward and ask me to felicitate such people." He also spoke about different schemes started during his reign like Defence Centre Excellence.Later, President Kovind Nath came to the podium and said that he has come to the state 12 times in the past four and a half years. He also praised Maharashtra. He said, "If someone asks the meaning of Maharashtra, you don't need to think much. This is a State which is Mahan state of The Rashtra. Maharashtra is a Mahan state. I am at a loss of words to express the superiority of Maharashtra. Even if we start calling out the name of Maharashtrian leaders, we could know the superiority of Maharashtra like Shivaji Maharaj, Sant Eknath, Sant Gyaneshwar, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sant Tukaram, Jyotibai Phule, and Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar. And their main intention is to reach another height of humanity." "In this Maharashtra tour, I am experiencing a vacuum here as we lost Lata Mangeshkar last week. Artistes like her are born once in centuries. I was especially blessed by her so it's a huge loss for me. Songs of Lata Didi are immortal and spellbound all music lovers. Her simplicity and peaceful nature will remain on our minds. Her passing away is a personal loss for me," President Kovind said. He also stated that this hall may have a history with British colonialism but its present and future are with the prosperity of Maharashtra. Over the construction of Darbar hall, he said, "I see the inaugural ceremony of this hall as a function of freedom and the democratic values of the country. Darbar is something which is a royal word but in a new context. This Darbar hall we can feel its connection with the common people. Darbar hall is transparent, where there is nothing to hide and helps to connect the government with the locals." President also expressed his happiness over being chosen as the personal secretary of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai during his reign. He said Morarji Desai had a close association with this Darbar Hall. The President also said that this Raj Bhavan will always be a witness to the prosperity of Maharashtra. Tomorrow, the President is scheduled to pay a visit to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar's village Ambadawe, Ratnagiri district. (ANI)
At least five security personnel were injured after terrorists attacked a joint party of security forces in Jammu Kashmir's Bandipora area on Friday. "Terrorists attack a joint party of security forces in Bandipora, 5 persons injured," Jammu and Kashmir Police informed. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
India's apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has suggested that the centuries-old tradition of Greek origin, the Hippocratic oath be replaced with 'Charak Shapath' during the graduation ceremony of doctors in medical colleges starting from February 14. There is mixed reaction over this decision by representatives of various medical colleges. According to Dr. MC Misra, Former Director of AIIMS, "I would go for Charak Shapath and should be followed by all. AIIMS also follows Charak Shapath." The Minutes of NMC discussion with all Medical colleges of India has mentioned, "No Hippocratic Oath, during white coat ceremony (with parents), the oath will be "Maharshi Charak Shapath". Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) spoke to ANI and said, "IMA will be holding a meeting on February 19-20 on this as it will create a controversy amongst doctors." Executive Committee Member of Dental Council of India said that Charak Shapath will reflect our old ancient culture. "Hippocratic oath being replaced by Charak Shapath will reflect our old ancient culture. But Charak was Aurvedacharaya.. whereas, in terms of modern medicine, we follow allopathy which reflects predominantly English culture. In my view, Hippocratic oath and Charak Shapath both should be practiced....during white coat ceremony," said Dr. Anil Kumar Chandna, Executive member DCI to ANI. Another senior resident doctor at AIIMS highlighted that Charak Shapath is very similar to the Hippocratic Oath in terms of basic medical ethics. "Charak Shapath is very similar to Hippocratic oath in terms of basic medical ethics. Both are a way to introduce newly joined medical students to medical ethics. The Hippocratic oath is can be considered as a concise version, while Charak Shapath is a detailed version," said Dr. Amit Malviya, a senior resident doctor at AIIMS. "Ultimately it's the work and dedication towards the patients which is going to matter," added Dr. Manish, President, Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) (ANI)
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Friday issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking registration of FIR and arrests in the case where a girl was brutally beaten in the city's Paschim Vihar. The Commission was approached by the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) and some residents of the locality who alleged that the girl was being held captive and tortured by the accused who they stated as a drug addict. The residents also provided the Commission with CCTV footage which clearly showed a man chasing the girl and brutally beating her in public. It can be seen that the girl is trying to run away from the man who is attacking her with sticks and shoes. The locals said that girl's life was in danger and informed that the merciless beatings were a common occurrence. Seeing the severity of the matter and for ensuring the safety of the girl, the Commission has issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking FIR and arrest of the accused in the matter. The Commission has asked the Delhi Police to investigate the matter and furnish details of arrests. They have also been asked to ensure the victim's safety after her rescue. The Delhi Police has been given 48 hours to provide a detailed action taken report in the matter to the Commission. DCW Chief Swati Maliwal said, "I am very agitated after seeing the CCTV footage as the man can be seen mercilessly beating the girl. I thank the RWA representatives and residents of the locality who brought the matter to our notice. Delhi Police must register an FIR and ensure safety for the girl. The Commission shall try and get to the root of the matter and help the girl in all possible ways." (ANI)
In recent years, Beijing's Haidian District has been at the forefront of self-driving technology, evidenced by a demonstration zone in the northern area of Zhongguancun Science City, also known as China's Silicon Valley.

The demonstration zone, covering 100 square kilometers, has opened 52 roads stretching 215.3 kilometers for autonomous vehicle testing. As of Jan. 5, more than 4,880 self-driving road tests had been conducted totaling over 38,900 hours in the zone.

Organized by the 2022 Beijing Media Center, 56 journalists from 37 Chinese and foreign media outlets visited the demonstration zone on Tuesday to experience autonomous driving.

White cars with a "Pony.ai" logo emblazoned on the doors are frequently seen cruising roads in the zone. The Chinese self-driving start-up is thriving thanks to a convenient development environment.



A ride in the company's level four autonomous driving vehicle proved to be a stable and comfortable journey. There was still a human driver sitting at the steering wheel, but he would only step in under specific conditions.

The self-driving vehicle adheres to all traffic rules: using turn signals at intersections, stopping for pedestrians, slowing down and braking three seconds before a green light turns to yellow, etc.

The safe operation is supported by efficient integration of multiple sensors in the vehicles, according to a staff member of the technology unicorn company.

The performance of an autonomous minibus launched by another self-driving start-up, QCraft, also impressed visitors. The six-meter-long vehicle is equipped with four laser sensors, four cameras and one millimeter-wave radar unit at the front. In addition, one 64-line lidar sensor and one millimeter-wave radar unit are installed in the rear.



From a screen inside the vehicle dubbed "Longzhou ONE," passengers can see real-time traffic conditions captured by the sensors. The nine-seat self-driving minibus, if applied extensively, will help promote urban traffic micro-circulation and solve the "last mile" problem for commuters.
Attacking the Congress over the hijab controversy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said "political Islam" is sponsored by Congress as Jinnah's soul has entered into the grand old party and appeasement is in its DNA. The Chief Minister Sarma was been in Uttarkhand on Friday to hold election campaigns for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the assembly polls. Speaking to ANI, Sarma said, "Sometimes they say that India is not a nation but a union of states. Sometimes I feel that Jinnah's soul has entered into Congress. Congress has entered politics of polarisation. They say it is right to open madrasas and Muslim universities. They also say it is right to wear a hijab. I think it (Congress) will end to a large extent after elections in the five states." Earlier, the Assam Chief Minister addressed an election rally in Kichha where he said appeasement politics is in the "DNA" of Congress. He said Congress is backing madrassas and hijab to push the minority community towards backwardness. "Appeasement is in Congress' DNA. It has worked relentlessly to appease the Muslims for getting their votes. But instead of working for their advancement, the party wants the Muslims to remain backward and hence is promoting madrassas and hijab. Modi Ji is talking about making India a world leader but others are talking about hijab," Sarma said. He further alleged that Congress always make effort to humiliate the country by questioning its achievements. Mentioning India's first Chief of Defence Staff late General Bipin Rawat, he said, "The party insulted the son of Uttarakhand and the first-ever CDS late Gen Bipin Rawat by questioning Indian Army's surgical strike. Congress even questioned the efficacy of the made-in-India COVID vaccine." Referring to the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, the Assam Chief Minister said, "The country is struggling with the Karnataka incident. How would a teacher know if a student is understanding (the lessons) or not, if they are wearing a hijab? The Muslim community needs education, not hijab. Political Islam is Congress sponsored." "Rahul Gandhi is here to do appeasement politics, not here for the country. PM Modi lives for the country. The way Congress is trying to divide the country is worrisome. it is representing 'tukde tukde' gang. They have only one goal, to repeat the situation as it was before 1947," added Sharma. The Hijab protests began on February 4 at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka when some students alleged that they had been barred from attending classes.During the protests, some students were allegedly denied entry to the college for wearing Hijab earlier this month. The Uttarakhand election will be held in a single phase on February 14. The votes will be counted on March 10. (ANI)
"As per information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian prisoners, including undertrials, in jails of Gulf countries are UAE (1663), Saudi Arabia (1363), Qatar (466), Kuwait (460), Bahrain (63), Oman (45)," Muraleedharan said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He added, "The government attaches the highest priority to the safety, security, and well-being of Indians in foreign countries, including those in the foreign jails."

Minister of State for External Affairs further said that Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of Indian nationals detained/jailed.

"Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of Indian nationals detained/jailed. Apart from extending them all possible consular assistance, Indian Missions and Posts also assist in providing legal aid wherever needed," MoS MEA said. "Missions and Posts also maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers," the reply informed today.

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)
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur while addressing a workers' convention at Kanpur's Govind Nagar on Friday took a swipe at Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav saying that on March 10, the day when the election results will be declared, Akhilesh would say that the EVM machine was unfaithful to him. Anurag Thakur said, "We have just finished the first phase of election in Uttar Pradesh and Akhilesh Yadav is already raising questions on ballot papers. Chhote Chaudhary Jayant ji was so nervous that he did not even go to cast his vote yesterday. I think by the time the results come out on March 10, Akhilesh Yadav will say that the EVM turned out to be very unfaithful." Anurag Thakur observed 2 minutes silence for the Unnao Dalit girl whose body was found on Thursday. He said, "It is the goonda raj of the Samajwadi Party that a mother who had gone to Akhilesh Yadav to seek justice for her daughter didn't even know that this would happen to her daughter." While speaking about Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Thakur said, "We recently saw the West Bengal election, Congress couldn't open its 'khata' there. Now Priyanka ji has come to Uttar Pradesh with her five sisters, out of which two left the Congress party." The seven phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. The second phase of polling for the state assembly is scheduled for February 14. (ANI)
Appraising of the same, Chief Electoral Officer Dr. S Karuna Raju said that Hobby Dhaliwal has recently announced to join the Political Party, following which his appointment as District Election Icon Patiala has been withdrawn as per the rules of the Election Commission of India.

This comes after the actor joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.

Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The police, in its official statement said that as per the preliminary investigations, terrorists hurled a grenade upon the Naka party near Nishat Park in Bandipora in which five police/BSF personnel received splinter injuries and were evacuated to hospital.

"However, among the injured police personnel Zubair Ahmad succumbed to his injuries, while the condition of other injured personnel is stable," they said.

The police have registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law. The area has been cordoned and a search operation in the area is underway.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Launching a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for demanding proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday asked whether the BJP had ever demanded proof of him being the "son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi" and added that the Wayanad MP had no right to demand proof from the Army. Addressing a public meeting here, Sarma said, "Look at the mentality of these people. General Bipin Rawat was the pride of the country. India conducted the Surgical Strike in Pakistan under his leadership. Rahul Gandhi demanded proof of the strike. Did we ever ask you for proof of whether you are Rajiv Gandhi's son or not? What right do you have to demand proof from my Army?" Hitting out further, the Assam Chief Minister said that once the Army said that the strike was conducted then there is no dispute on its legitimacy. "If our Army said that they conducted the strike in Pakistan, that means they have done it. Where is the dispute in this? Do you not trust General Bipin Rawat? If he said that the Army conducted the strike, that means it's done. Why do you want proof of it? Do not disrespect the soldiers. People die for the country. People do not live for others but for the country," Sarma said while addressing a public meeting in the poll-bound state of Uttarakhand. Notably, the Indian Army had conducted a Surgical strike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in September 2016 after 19 of the Indian Army soldiers were killed in the base camp in Uri. The Indian Airforce had carried out an Airstrike in February 2019 following a suicide bomber attack on the convoy of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on February 14. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda on Friday said that the Congress party gave an unstable government to Goa as the state had seen 11 chief ministers in 10 years while the BJP has given a stable government to the state in the last five years and will continue to do so. Addressing a public meeting in Goa's Marcel, Nadda said, "There was Congress government before 2012. They only made their MLAs do a parade in front of the Raj Bhawan every day and fought for the Chief Ministerial post. There was a new chief minister every other day. Goa saw 11 chief ministers in 10 years. This is Congress' record." Nadda further said that the BJP is fighting the elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. "Congress is contesting the election. Every MLA is trying to be a chief minister. Every MLA is trying to defeat the other. It is our party where everyone is taken along and there is no dispute between us. We are fighting under the leadership of Pramod Sawant," he said. Taking a swipe at Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress which is contesting in Goa for the first time, the BJP national president said that the number of crimes against women and human trafficking is the highest in Bengal. "Some new parties are coming like TMC. The most number of human trafficking is taking place in West Bengal. The most number of crimes against women is also happening in Bengal. The party that has made such condition of Bengal would the people of Goa want to bring them here?" he said. "The other party is Aam Aadmi Party that has left no stone unturned in spoiling Delhi. They are seeking votes here now. But it is only the BJP that has done development as well as given stability in the state and will continue to do so,' Nadda added appealing to the people to vote for the BJP in the Assembly elections scheduled on February 14. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up the issue of liberation of Goa on Thursday during his rally in (Mapusa) North Goa, Nadda followed the suit and hit out at former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and said that the Congress leaders did not have the willpower to make Goa independent. "You got delayed independence because of Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru. The leaders then did not have the willpower to make you independent. You fought gained independence through your struggle," he said. "Congress government didn't liberate Goa for 15 years after Independence. People of Goa kept fighting but the Congress government didn't help. From the ramparts of Red Fort, India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said that he won't send forces for the liberation of Goa," the Prime Minister had said yesterday. Goa will go to the Assembly polls on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
In a big political development in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) state general secretary Kunal Ghosh on Friday demanded the arrest of party colleague Mukul Roy in the Saradha and Narada case while calling him a "BJP leader". Taking to Twitter, the TMC spokesperson said, "CBI and ED should arrest BJP leader Mukul Roy in Saradha and Narada case. I have already sent them a letter praying for joint interrogation with him. He is an influential conspirator. He has used different parties only for his personal protection. Mukul Roy should not be spared." A fresh row has sparked in TMC over Mukul Roy, who left the BJP and joined the party in June last year following TMC's landslide victory in West Bengal Assembly polls. West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Friday made it clear that Mukul Roy who joined TMC in June last year is still a BJP MLA in official records. Following this, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh demanded Roy's arrest, calling him a BJP leader. Mukul Roy is an MLA from the Krishnanagar North and had contested the polls on a BJP ticket. After he joined TMC, BJP demanded the cancellation of Roy's membership from the Assembly. BJP also moved to court. The case is pending in the Supreme Court. On Friday, Speaker Biman Banerjee said that the application of the dismissal of Mukul Roy's MLA post under the anti-defection law was rejected due to a lack of enough evidence. So technically, Mukul Roy is currently in the BJP as his legislature is not being dismissed. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee will hold an emergency meeting with senior leaders of her party on Saturday. (ANI)
A day after the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections concluded, Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party would be wiped out. "SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has lost sleep after the first phase of polling concluded in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. In the first phase of western Uttar Pradesh, the SP-BSP is going to be wiped out from power. BJP has already done the work of laying the foundation of 300 seats in the first phase," Shah said at a public event here. Shah lauded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the law and order situation in the state. "In Uttar Pradesh, dacoity decreased by 72 per cent, rape decreased by 50 per cent, robbery decreased by 62 per cent, murder by 31 per cent and kidnapping by 29 per cent in the last five years Yogi Adityanath's government," he said. The senior BJP leader slammed Samajwadi Party for "promoting dynastic politics". "Can the youth get a chance in a party which runs on the basis of dynastic rule? After Netaji came Akhilesh ji.....someone else would come after him. The rest remain the rest. BJP is such a party where dynastic rule has no place," he said. Assembly elections are being held in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to March 7, 2022 in seven phases to elect all 403 members of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on March 10. (ANI)
Taking a jibe at Congress ahead of Uttarkhand Assembly polls, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the grand old party fears factionalism which is the reason behind the party's decision not to announce its chief ministerial candidate. Addressing an election rally in Narendranagar, the Defence Minister said, "We do not do politics by lying to the public. We have done what we have said whether it is article 370 or Ram Temple. We not only work for development but also to keep our cultural heritage alive. There is no allegation of corruption against us." "Congress people say what will happen by constructing the temple. What they probably do not know is that we want to preserve India's heritage. The one who is cut off from his roots and heritage becomes like a cut kite and gets no place anywhere." He said Congress has already accepted its defeat in the Uttarakhand Assembly polls. The Defence Minister alleged that the Congress government at the Centre had removed the special category status to Uttarakhand and it is the BJP that resumed the status back. "Congress is yet to announce its chief ministerial candidate in Uttarakhand as it has already accepted its defeat. Congress leaders are fighting among themselves for the chief minister's post, whereas BJP is a disciplined party. Congress is scared that if the chief ministerial candidate is announced, the party will be left into particles," Singh said. Attacking Congress further, he said, "I want to tell Rahulji that you should do politics but politics should not be done in the name of the security of the country. The whole country should be seen standing united." The Uttarakhand Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 14. The votes will be counted on March 10. (ANI)
Two male passengers have been arrested in connection with the case who had arrived from Dubai and Colombo.

The seized gold was found stitched in the undergarments in the form of Gold paste. (ANI)
Attacking BJP and Congress ahead of the Goa Assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the two parties have an agreement to fill their coffers in alternate terms. Kejriwal has been on a two-day visit to Goa for the election campaign of his party. He addressed rallies in Shiroda, Benaulim, Navelim, Cortalim and Velim. "The Congress governed for 27 years, while the BJP ruled for 15 years. If people give them five more years, nothing will change. There are two types of politics -- on the one hand, you have the politics of the Congress and the BJP, who run businesses and fill their coffers with the tax money paid by the people. On the other hand, you have the politics of AAP, which is spending the tax money paid by the people for development purposes. Give AAP one chance," Kejriwal said at an election rally. Kejriwal said if AAP fails to perform, people can vote it out the next time. He alleged that BJP and Congress have an agreement to loot Goa in alternate terms. Furthermore, he said voting for Congress means voting for the BJP. "Both of them have an agreement that one of them stays in power for five years and the other one for the next five years. Both have an agreement that one party gets to loot people for once and the other party to do the same the next time. Delhi had given a chance to AAP. I want Goa to give us a chance. You will forget about other parties," he added. Delhi Chief Minister said that BJP and Congress have no agenda for Goa's development or for the uplift of Goans. He said BJP government's ministers have been tainted by accusations of job scam, power scam, labour scam, ventilator scam and sex scandals. "Do not let votes get divided this time. Trust us and give a chance to AAP. When the AAP government is formed every family will get a clear benefit of Rs 10 lakh in five years. AAP Government will provide free electricity, water, free healthcare, free pilgrimage, unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to every woman above 18," he said Kejriwal said, "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." Goa will go to the Assembly polls on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Targeting Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said "parivarvadis" have given tickets to criminals and urged people to vote for BJP in a united manner to not let them succeed. Addressing a public meeting here, PM Modi lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath and said even his opponents have not been able to level any corruption allegations against him. "The 'ghor parivaarwadis' have fielded the criminals in the elections who are against you. To defeat these goons and mafia you have to unitedly vote for BJP candidates. You have to vote unitedly for the BJP candidates to defeat these criminals and goons, Do not allow the criminals to take revenge on you," he said. Lauding Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his administration and 'corruption-free image', PM Modi said that even the opponents could not accuse him of corruption. "Today, you have such a Chief Minister whom even opponents have never tried to accuse of corruption. The people of Uttar Pradesh know very well what kind of allegations were levelled against him," PM Modi said. Referring to first-time voters, he said their future is also connected to the better future of the state. "I do not want a situation where the people have to leave Uttar Pradesh. We have to make Uttar Pradesh such a state that the people of the country want to come here," he said. The seven-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. The second phase of polling for the state assembly is scheduled for February 14. The second phase will see polling on 55 constituencies covering nine districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Budaun and Shahjahanpur. (ANI)
BJP State Vice President KS Radhakrishnan on Friday came out in support of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remark during a political rally and slammed the Kerala government saying that the per capita consumption of liquor and the crime rate in the state is highest among others. Adityanath, in his appeal to voters, has said, "Be alert. If you miss this time, the five-year effort will be washed away. And it will take no time for UP to become Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal. This vote will be your guarantee to a life without fear." Radhakrishnan, while talking with ANI, said, "I don't find any wrong with the statement of Yogi Adithyanath. What he said means the UP electorate should use their franchise right to vote intelligently to avoid the presence of certain groups destroying Bengal. You know what happens in Kashmir and you know what happened in Bengal, and what is happening now under the regime of the great lady, Mamta Banerjee." "The issue is that both the CM Pinarayi Vijayan and LoP Rahul Gandhi presume that Kerala is one of the best; its model should be presented before the whole world. I fully disagree with that opinion. The so-called Kerala Model is applauded for its contributions in education, health, and social welfare, but what exactly is the contribution of these political organizations? It has been started from the beginning by the erstwhile Kings. They have given their contribution for the enhancement of the system of education in Kerala," he said furthering his support to the remark. Further bashing the Kerala Model, the BJP state VP said, "What is the present state of affairs of the higher education in Kerala? Can it be treated as a model? No sensible person will say that the system of higher education is a model to the whole state. In many respects, we are far behind even Bihar." "Kerala is number one in per capita liquor consumption. Kerala is number one in torturing women in the name of dowry. Kerala is number one in the recorded crime rates. Our contribution to the industry is zero. We are not enhancing agriculture production. Our presence in agriculture is not commendable. It is an economy that is depending on the money order system. Can it be treated as a model state?" he alleged. He then questioned about what happened to the industrialization in Kerala, and why is the state not getting a sufficient number of industries. "What is the reason? The reason is that Kerala has been ruled by the CPIM and they generated an idea that income generators are sinners. That mindset has not changed," he said. "We don't have a sufficient number of hospitals to care health needs of the people of Kerala," Radhakrishnan said while adding that the only improvement in the health sector is due to the presence of the private entrepreneurs. Slamming Gandhi for coming out in support of the Kerala Model, he said, "The unfortunate fact is that Rahul Gandhi does not know the history of India, the culture of India. He is to the core euro-centric and moreover by taste and will, he is an Italian. But unfortunately born here. So he is a citizen of India. But by the spirit and by taste, he shares the Italian fraternity. Such a man is incapable to know what exactly the Indian culture is." "There is strength in our Union. Our Union of Cultures. Our Union of Diversity. Our Union of Languages. Our Union of People. Our Union of States," Gandhi had tweeted. "From Kashmir to Kerala. From Gujarat to West Bengal. India is beautiful in all its colors. Don't insult the spirit of India," he said while reacting to Adityanath's comment. (ANI)
Central government has no plan to reintroduce the three repealed farm laws in future, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The Minister's assurance came in a written reply when asked whether the government has any plan of reintroducing the three repealed farm laws in future. "No Sir," replied Tomar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 last year announced the withdrawal of the three farm laws while addressing the nation, saying the government could not convince protesting farmers about the benefits of the agriculture sector reforms. Responding to another question regarding compensation to deceased farmers, the Minister said, "the subject of compensation etc to the families of the deceased farmers in the farmers movement is with the concerned state government." "As on February 8, 2022, more than 11.78 crore beneficiaries have been given the financial benefits of approximately Rs 1.82 lakh crore under the scheme through various installments," said the Minister while replying to a separate query on PM-KISAN scheme. "Out of them, 48.04 lakh were found to be ineligible. Therefore, effectively, there are approximately 11.30 crore eligible beneficiaries under the scheme," the Minister said. The Minister also highlighted that the value of India's agri-exports of principal agri commodities group was Rs 2,52,297 crore during 2019-20, which was 1.2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices. "Despite Covid-19 pandemic, there has been 22.8 per cent growth in agri exports at Rs 3,09,939 crore with a share of 1.6 per cent to GDP during 2020-21," added Tomar. However, the Minister said there is no such proposal to provide additional income support under PM-KISAN scheme. (ANI)
Astronomers have found evidence of another planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System. This candidate planet is the third detected in the system and the lightest yet discovered orbiting this star. At just a quarter of Earth's mass, the planet is also one of the lightest exoplanets ever found. The findings of the research were published in the journal 'Astronomy and Astrophysics'. A team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) in Chile have found evidence of another planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System. "The discovery shows that our closest stellar neighbour seems to be packed with interesting new worlds, within reach of further study and future exploration," explained Joao Faria, a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco, Portugal and lead author of the study. Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun, lying just over four light-years away. The newly discovered planet, named Proxima d, orbits Proxima Centauri at a distance of about four million kilometres, less than a tenth of Mercury's distance from the Sun. It orbits between the star and the habitable zone -- the area around a star where liquid water can exist at the surface of a planet -- and takes just five days to complete one orbit around Proxima Centauri. The star is already known to host two other planets: Proxima b, a planet with a mass comparable to that of Earth that orbits the star every 11 days and is within the habitable zone, and candidate Proxima c, which is on a longer five-year orbit around the star. Proxima b was discovered a few years ago using the HARPS instrument on ESO's 3.6-metre telescope. The discovery was confirmed in 2020 when scientists observed the Proxima system with a new instrument on ESO's VLT that had greater precision, the Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO). It was during these more recent VLT observations that astronomers spotted the first hints of a signal corresponding to an object with a five-day orbit. As the signal was so weak, the team had to conduct follow-up observations with ESPRESSO to confirm that it was due to a planet, and not simply a result of changes in the star itself. "After obtaining new observations, we were able to confirm this signal as a new planet candidate," Faria said. "I was excited by the challenge of detecting such a small signal and, by doing so, discovering an exoplanet so close to Earth." At just a quarter of the mass of Earth, Proxima d is the lightest exoplanet ever measured using the radial velocity technique, surpassing a planet recently discovered in the L 98-59 planetary system. The technique works by picking up tiny wobbles in the motion of a star created by an orbiting planet's gravitational pull. The effect of Proxima d's gravity is so small that it only causes Proxima Centauri to move back and forth at around 40 centimetres per second (1.44 kilometres per hour). "This achievement is extremely important," said Pedro Figueira, ESPRESSO instrument scientist at ESO in Chile. "It shows that the radial velocity technique has the potential to unveil a population of light planets, like our own, that are expected to be the most abundant in our galaxy and that can potentially host life as we know it." "This result clearly shows what ESPRESSO is capable of and makes me wonder about what it will be able to find in the future," Faria added. ESPRESSO's search for other worlds will be complemented by ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in the Atacama Desert, which will be crucial to discovering and studying many more planets around nearby stars. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden warned Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately amid tensions between Moscow and Kiev, saying that sending US troops for an evacuation would mean "world war". "American citizens should leave now," Biden said during an interview with NBC News. "It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly," he said, according to NBC News. Asked about what scenario would require US troops to enter Ukraine to evacuate Americans, Biden responded: "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another." Meanwhile, the US State Department has issued a new advisory urging Americans in Ukraine to leave the country at the earliest possibility, strengthening earlier warnings that urged its citizens to "consider" such action. "Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19; those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action. Some areas have increased risk," the advisory said on Thursday (local time). On January 23, the State Department authorized the evacuation of US diplomats' family members and of direct-hire employees. The State Department also recommended that US citizens who were present in Ukraine should consider departing right away due to the unpredictable security situation. Meanwhile, the first group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Poland on February 5 following Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby's announcement about 1,700 additional troops from the United States to be sent to the country, Polish media reported. Earlier, Kirby said that the US will temporarily deploy additional forces to Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia. The deployment includes 1,700 soldiers to be sent to Poland and 1,000 US personnel based in Germany will be relocated to Romania and another 8,500 troops will "remain ready to move if called for the NATO response force," Kirby had said. (ANI)
The United States on Thursday welcomed the issuance of a report by a committee of the International Labor Organization (ILO) calling on the Chinese government to review its laws and practices of employment discrimination against racial and religious minorities in Xinjiang. This comes as several countries rights groups and members of the international community continue to raise a concern about the human rights conditions in Muslim dominated northwest China. "This report, produced by the ILO's Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, expresses deep concern regarding the PRC's policies and calls on the PRC government to take specific steps toward eliminating racial and religious discrimination in employment and occupation, and to amend national and regional policies utilizing vocational training and rehabilitation centers for 'political re-education' based on administrative detention," the US State Departement said in a statement. The United States has called on China to take the steps requested by the Committee of Experts. "We also reiterate our call for the PRC to end its genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, as well as its use of these groups for forced labour in Xinjiang and beyond," the statement added. It further said that the US is committed to working with our international partners and allies to end forced labour and strengthen international action against the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. Earlier this month, French Parliament slammed China's "genocide" of its Uyghur Muslim people on Thursday, in a resolution that could sour relations between Paris and Beijing only two weeks before the Winter Olympics. Last year, similar resolutions were passed by parliaments in Britain, Canada, and the Netherlands last year, and the US government has also condemned what it deems genocide in Xinjiang. (ANI)
The Hazaras around the world including the United States annually commemorate victims of two terrorist attacks in Pakistan, said a Canada-based think tank. The month of January is unlucky for Pakistan's Hazaras as the first terrorist attack happened in January 2013, where 130 were killed in bomb attacks in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. The second terrorist attack took place last year where eleven miners were slaughtered, according to International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS). The Hazaras of Pakistan are a Shia minority that radical Sunni regard as non-Islamic and have persecuted for decades. That is why Hazaras in Pakistan and around the world in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia annually commemorate the victims of the attacks. However, the past alone does not drive the community's activities and they recently used the occasion to call on the Pakistani government to protect them from slander, discrimination, beatings, and killings, IFFRAS reported. Earlier, on January 14 this year, a protest was organised by several minority communities in front of the Punjab Assembly in Lahore demanding a fair and democratic electoral process to fill up reserved seats for minorities in Parliament and the National Assembly. Protestors claimed the current system allowed political parties to select handpicked persons to represent the minorities without their consent which was undemocratic. According to a Canada-based think tank, the Hazara (both in Afghanistan and Pakistan) today face enormous difficulties in exercising their fundamental human rights, i.e., right to life, freedom of movement, right to higher education, and the like. They also have limited social opportunities due to fear of violence. One Hazara student told the Pakistan National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) that, "A Hazara cannot visit the whole city of Quetta without inviting danger to his life". That speaks volumes of the level of violence they undergo! The Hazaras are also fearful to go to shopping centres and earn a livelihood in Quetta as their movement is limited to a few safe areas of Quetta, IFFRAS reported. It further reported that the living conditions of the Hazaras in modern-day Pakistan has been described by the NCHR in a 2018 report. It states that the greatest burden of sectarianism is borne by the Shia Hazara community of Balochistan. The total population of Hazaras is estimated to be approximately between 0.4 to 0.5 million people. The report notes that Hazaras have consistently been targeted by terrorists and religious fanatics since 1999, through suicide bombings and targeted killings, with more than 2,000 having reportedly been killed in the last 14 years. The existing situation of the Hazara community is precarious. The Hazaras are a community at risk; recall that they constitute only one of the numerous ethnic minorities in Pakistan, IFFRAS reported. (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called for an end to blockades caused by the "Freedom Convoy 2022" protest as he briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation prevailing in the country. The protests began at the end of January as a rally of truckers against the vaccine mandate for Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the United States. "Finally, I briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation and the latest developments. I stressed how important it is for all Members of Parliament, from every party, to denounce these illegal acts - and to call for an end to these blockades," Trudeau tweeted. Trudeau said that he convened an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers to end these blockades. "First, I convened an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers and officials. We'll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need," he said. The Canadian Prime Minister also informed that he held talks with the Mayor of Windsor, about the illegal blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which poses a challenge to the economies of both Canada and the United States. Convoy protesters have blocked off the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge, which is a critical trade route for goods going into and out of the United States. "I also spoke with @DrewDilkens, the Mayor of Windsor, about the illegal blockade of the Ambassador Bridge. We're committed to helping the Mayor and the province get the situation under control - because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border," he added. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Police Service said Thursday that police have arrested 25 people and issued 1,775 tickets to put an end to the unlawful demonstrations in the downtown areas. Ottawa police said in a statement that police have responded to nearly 1,000 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began and continue to prevent people from supplying fuel and other material supports to demonstrators. (ANI)
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The United States shirks its responsibility and diverts attention with the so-called "emergency collision criteria," which is not a responsible attitude that a space power should have, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a related query that the United States denied China's notion that Starlink satellites endangered the China space station twice in a note sent to the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs in Vienna and dated Jan. 28.

"Because the activities did not meet the threshold of established emergency collision criteria, emergency notifications were not warranted in either case," according to the note.

China was fulfilling the international obligation stipulated by Article V of the Outer Space Treaty by informing the UN of the Starlink satellites' dangerous approach to the Chinese space station that threatened in-orbit Chinese astronauts, Zhao said.

In the relevant collision avoidance events, the U.S. Starlink satellites are in a continuous orbit maneuvering state, and their maneuvering strategies and intentions are unknown, Zhao said, adding Chinese astronauts in orbit are facing real and urgent safety threats and China was forced to implement preventive collision avoidance control.

After the incidents, the Chinese authorities tried multiple times to reach the U.S. side via e-mail, but received no reply, the spokesperson said.

Now the U.S. attempts to use the so-called threshold of emergency collision criteria to shift responsibilities and distract attention. It is not showing a responsible attitude as a space power, not to mention it is in no position to unilaterally set a threshold of emergency collision criteria, he said.

Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty stipulates that in the exploration and use of outer space, States Parties to the Treaty shall be guided by the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance and shall conduct all their activities in outer space with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other States Parties to the Treaty, Zhao noted.

He said the Chinese side has submitted registration of its space station to the UN and released its orbital elements on website.

"To safeguard the safety of Chinese astronauts and the space station, China is ready to establish a long-term communication mechanism with the U.S. side and hopes that the U.S. side will take concrete measures to prevent such incidents from recurring," Zhao said.

China also hopes that all countries will jointly respect the international system of outer space based on international law and work together to safeguard the safety of in-orbit astronauts and the safe and stable operation of space facilities, the spokesperson added.
With few weeks left for the arrival of Shivaratri, the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal's capital Kathmandu from Friday has again opened its doors for devotees. Closed since January 18 in wake of the third wave of COVID-19 infection, the temple again welcomed devotees adhering to safety protocols and permission from Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO). According to the statement issued by Pashupati Area Development Trust earlier this week, the decision to open the temple comes following the order of the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, on February 7. The DAO stated that "worship, meditation or prayer can be done in places like monasteries, temples, mosques, monasteries and churches by observing public health standards." "I am very happy and delighted to come and worship here. Previously I was here at the temple twice but the temple was shut but this time got to go inside the temple and am feeling very fortunate of myself. I could go inside the temple and offer prayers," Jeetan Katuwal, one of the devotees told ANI. Earlier, the Pashupatinath temple was closed for visitors from January 18 due to the increase in the infection of the Omicron virus. With the temple reopening after the third-wave devotees from far-flung areas of Nepal thronged the religious site from Friday morning. "My name is Birat Kumar Nigotiya, I came from Biratnagar to worship at the temple. I am very much excited and happy that I really got to get inside the temple and worship which has been a great pleasure for me," a devotee said. The reopening of the temple comes ahead of the Shivaratri festival dedicated to Lord Shiva which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the month of Falgun, as per the lunar calendar which is also known as Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi is devoted to Lord Shiva. This year Shivaratri will be observed on March 1. According to Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Brahma took the form of Shiva in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Falgun. So this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visits to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life. (ANI)
Extending support to Lithuania amid China's tensions, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said that the country is seeking to work with as many like-minded nations. Morrison made these remarks in the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. "Just this week, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and I met with the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. And we stand with them. They understand what's going on, like those sitting around here today understand what's going on. And it's incredibly important that our plan as a government, as a country has been to seek to work with as many like-minded nations as we possibly can," Morrison said. He continued saying that "like-mindedness doesn't always necessarily relate to how our' systems govern. "But like-mindedness, an open independent Indo Pacific, like-mindedness about free trade, and the opportunity to have human rights observed in our region, and to address the global challenges of COVID and climate." "This like-mindedness that unites the four of us is a like-minded is built on doing the most successful liberal democracies," Morrison added. Last week, during Landsbergis's visit to Canberra from February 8 to 10, both countries agreed to strengthen the bilateral relationship, encourage more trade and investment and advance shared strategic interests. In a statement, Australia FM said, Landsbergis opened Lithuania's first embassy in Canberra in a historic moment in our bilateral relationship that will facilitate broader and deeper cooperation.Australia and Lithuania agreed to work together to finalise the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement. Last month, the European Union had launched a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China over its discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania, which it says are also hitting other exports from the EU's Single Market. The 27 member bloc in a statement said that these actions are harming exporters both in Lithuania and elsewhere in the EU, as they also target products with Lithuanian content exported from other EU countries. Meanwhile, the tensions between China and the Baltic nation have erupted when in November last year Lithuania angered China by allowing Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius, equivalent to an embassy. It escalated in recent times after Lithuania took steps to strengthen ties with Taiwan. The representative office opened with the name "Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania", thereby implicitly implying recognition of a legal entity separate from the mainland. Beijing attacked Lithuania by lowering its diplomatic relations with them. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades. (ANI)
Amongst the dead, four are below 15 years, police confirmed to ANI.

According to DSP Shyamu Aryal of the Area Police Office, Tulsipur, all five people died of suffocation.

"The bodies of a female and four male have been recovered and taken to a hospital. The fire incident started at around 2 in the morning, we were able to retrieve the bodies only at around half-past-seven. 3 bodies were recovered from the second floor and 2 from the fourth floor," Aryal told ANI over the phone.

The police have identified the deceased as 13-year-old Sajita Khatun, 14-year-old Hassan Baksh, 15-year-old Masin Baksh, 40-year-old Najardin Ali and 5-year-old Abiddin Ali.

Fire brigades of Tulsipur sub-metropolitan municipality, Ghorahi sub-metropolitan municipality, district police, armed police, Nepal Army and locals were mobilized to control the fire.

Police suspect a short circuit to be the reason for the blaze. (ANI)
A UK government spokesperson said British representatives returned to Afghanistan on Thursday for talks on how to respond to the country's deepening humanitarian crisis.

Nick Dyer, the UK's Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs, Hugo Shorter, Charge d'Affaires ad Interim of the UK Mission to Afghanistan and Hester Waddams, Deputy Head of Mission and Political Counsellor, UK Mission to Afghanistan met senior Taliban officials including Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Abdul Haq Wasiq.

"As well as discussing the dire humanitarian situation, officials made clear to the Taliban the UK's serious concerns about human rights, including those of women, girls and minorities, and the treatment of women's rights activists," the UK spokesperson added.

Separately, in a Twitter post, Hugo Shorter said both sides discussed the humanitarian crisis, terrorism, and the UK's serious concerns on the human rights situation in the country, including those of women, girls and minorities.

"We underlined that the negative trend, including the lengthy detention of female activists, reprisals and extra-judicial killings is deeply concerning. We stressed that all girls should return to school in the spring," he added.

Conflict last year had forced more than 700,000 Afghans to leave their homes and added to the 5.5 million people already displaced over past years, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday.

"The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is intensifying humanitarian needs and increasing displacement risks both inside the country, as well as across borders to countries in the region", according to a statement issued by Ugochi Daniels, the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Deputy Director-General for Operations.

Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing increasing vulnerabilities and protection risks, the UN agency said. (ANI)
Berlin [Germany], February 11 (ANI/Sputnik): The European Commission has the right to consult with Ukraine on the certification of Nord Stream 2, but the final decision is up to Germany, Russian Ambassador in Berlin Sergey Nechaev said in an interview with Sputnik. "The European Commission has the right to consult with parties whose interests it considers affected. The final decision on certification is made by the Federal Network Agency of Germany," Nechaev said when asked if he sees potential risks for delaying approvals in the fact that the European Commission announced its intention to consult with Ukraine on the certification of Nord Stream 2. Late last month, the European Commission's spokesperson told Sputnik that the EU body intended to find out Ukraine's opinion on Nord Stream 2 in the process of this project's certification. (ANI/Sputnik)
Concerned over the strategic competition in Indo-Pacific, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday said the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) partners are working together to both amplify and coordinate responses to the most pressing issues that concern the nations across the region. While speaking at the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the Australian Foreign Minister said, "Quad is a partnership committed to openness, transparency, practical cooperation, to support regional recovery in face of COVID19 and regional security. It's that what the four democracies can bring to support the priorities of Indo-Pacific partners." She also highlighted that for Australia, India-Japan-US are the closest partners. "For Australia, India-Japan-US are the closest partners. In response to strategic competition in Indo-Pacific, we're working together to both amplify and coordinate responses to the most pressing issues that concern the nations across our region," she said. "Our objective is to give our region strategic choices and build the resilience of all states," Payne stated. As the world enters into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian FM said, "...We are on track to support the production of an additional 1 billion vaccine doses in India: Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne at the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers'." During an earlier meet between QUAD ministers today, Australian FM said they have to discuss the region's maritime security addressing critical technologies issues, counter-terrorism and efforts to work together on climate in the region and importantly vaccine delivery. "We can now affirm that the Quad as a grouping has delivered over 500 million vaccines over our commitment in the region. Across Indo-Pacific, those partnerships are very, very important," she added. Australia is hosting India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday and the top diplomats are seeking to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, COVID-19 pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
"The country's leading politicians, including Chancellor [Olaf Scholz] and German Foreign Minister [Annalena Baerbock], share the understanding that it is unacceptable to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, given that it would in no way facilitate either the settlement process or the constructive development of Russian-German relations," Nechaev said.

In recent weeks, Kiev has repeatedly criticized Berlin over its refusal to provide direct military assistance to Ukraine as well as hindering arms deliveries by NATO allies.

Scholz dismissed the criticism on Monday, saying that Germany would not allow weapons export to crisis regions, noting that Berlin seeks to support Ukraine economically, rather than militarily.

Russia firmly denies having any intention to escalate the situation in Ukraine and has repeatedly stated that rising fears of Russia's alleged incursion into Ukraine are used as a pretext for advancing NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow does not incite tensions around Ukraine, with the turmoil being deliberately promoted by the West to cover Kiev's line to sabotage the Minsk agreements on Donbas. (ANI/Sputnik)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government is holding a demonstration experiment of "E-Ride Tokyo" with an aim to popularize electric bikes. EV bikes are electronic bikes that are very quiet and do not emit fume. Users can change the battery for free. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is promoting a zero-emission project. It aims to decrease CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. To realize it, EV bikes play an important role. Chikako Ikeda, Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government said, "Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working towards realizing zero-emission Tokyo, an environmentally advanced city that does not emit CO2 by 2050. We are advocating 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas in Tokyo by 2030, and planning to de-gasoline 100 per cent of new motorcycles sold by 2035." EV bike users use a special application on their phones to find a battery replacement box. The map shows the battery replacement boxes. It also has navigation functions. The rider reads the QR code on the replacement box, opens the door, replaces it with a newly charged battery, and stores the discharged battery in a box to recharge it. Bike rider said, "I replaced the battery using the app on my phone. I was able to change the battery easily from the beginning, so I think it's easy to change the battery even for the first time person." E-bike Tokyo demonstration experiments include convenience stores and gas station companies. Convenience stores are located in downtown and residential areas so they find it easy to replace batteries. Bike rider further said, "I work in door-to-door nurse. EV bikes are very quiet. This area is a residential area, so I don't mind the sound at all, so I think it's good." Chikako Ikeda said, "If we have to fight against global warming, the treatment needs to at the global level. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also planning to accelerate its efforts in all areas to overcome global warming." After successfully organizing the Olympic Games, Tokyo is seen as the most progressed city in the world. The city's response to zero-emission is appreciated by many countries and leaders around the world. (ANI)
The Taliban in Afghanistan has called on university professors, who fled the country after the outfit seized power last August, to return to Afghanistan. In an official statement published in national media on Friday, the outfit sought help in rebuilding the country and contributing to scientific development. "Afghanistan is the common home of all ethnic groups and we are responsible for their development. In the absence of prosperity, the country's education system is incomplete. Accordingly, the Ministry of Higher Education invites all professors who have left the country, " the statement cited by Ariana News said. The statement claimed that the government in Afghanistan focuses on education as part of its policy to foster the country's development, with the funding allocated to hire new academic staff. "We ask the cadres who have left the homeland to return and continue their sacred profession and contribute to the scientific progress of the country. The Ministry of Higher Education undertakes to pay all the spiritual and economic benefits of these professors," the statement added. The Taliban took power in Afghanistan last August last year. A month later, they formed an interim government that is yet to get recognition from the international community. The number of registered Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan exceeded 1.4 million, with Iran alone sheltering over 780,000 registered Afghans and 2.25 million illegal refugees, according to the UN refugee agency. (ANI)
"A fruitful roundtable this afternoon with Australia based CEOs. So encouraging to hear their experiences of India's improved ease of doing business. Discussed why the post-Covid world must be resilient, trusted & transparent. Thank Australia India Chamber of Commerce for organizing," Jaishankar tweeted.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar also met with Alex Hawke, the Australian Immigration Minister.

"Nice to meet Immigration Minister @AlexHawkeMP. A useful discussion on talent, mobility and globalization," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Earlier today, Jaishankar held Quad Foreign Ministers meeting along with the counterparts from Australia, Japan and the United States. (ANI)
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Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Thursday the start of the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military exercises, which will be carried out by Russia's Eastern Military District and the Belarusian armed forces.

"The joint exercise began today at the combined arms training grounds in Belarus," the defense ministry said in a statement.

These drills mark the second stage of the exercises, which test the response forces of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

The military exercises will be aimed at "countering terrorism and protecting the interests of the Union State," and forces will also train to "suppress and repel external aggression," according to the ministry.

Lasting until Feb. 20, the drills will take place at five training grounds and other exercise areas in Belarus.

Troops will practice "strengthening the protection of the state border to prevent the penetration of armed groups of militants," "blocking channels for the delivery of weapons and ammunition," and "destroying illegal armed formations and sabotage and reconnaissance groups of a mock enemy."
Quad countries during the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Australia reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Indo Pacific countries' efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific - a region which is inclusive and resilient, and in which states strive to protect the interests of their people, free from coercion. The Quad reiterated that it opposes coercive economic policies and recognizes international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. "Our meeting advanced the Quad's positive and ambitious agenda. We are focused on working closely with Indo-Pacific partners to address the region's most important challenges. Working together as the Quad, we are more effective in delivering practical support to the region," said the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States in a joint statement after the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. "The Quad recognizes that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. The Quad is supporting regional neighbors to build resilience and counter disinformation," said the statement. The Ministers of the Quad countries also affirmed their support for coordinated efforts to assist partners across the Indo-Pacific to address the growing threat of ransomware, by strengthening capacity building to ensure resilient cyber security and to counter cybercrime. "We are committed to promoting international peace and stability in cyberspace, and to helping build the capacity of regional countries to implement the UN Voluntary Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace," the statement read. Ministers further stated that Quad partners champion the free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, rooted in international law, that protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries. "We reaffirm our commitment to upholding and strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core. We oppose coercive economic policies and practices that run counter to this system and will work collectively to foster global economic resilience against such actions," said the Ministers. The Quad countries also expressed their commitments to strengthen our diplomatic efforts so that the vision for technologies, guided by the Quad Principles on Technology Design, Development, Governance, and Use, will be further shared by all like-minded nations. "As unwavering supporters of ASEAN unity and centrality, and the ASEAN-led architecture, we continue to support ASEAN partners to advance the practical implementation of ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Outlook's principles are fundamental to regional stability and prosperity and will be key to guiding the region's economic and political future. We acknowledge the importance of sub-regional mechanisms and institutions, including in the Mekong sub-region. We will continue to support Cambodia in its important role as 2022 ASEAN Chair," said the ministers in the joint statement. Australia hosted India, Japan, and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday, where top diplomats sought to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, COVID-19 pandemic, and free and open Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Friday reiterated the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue's (Quad) commitment to realize a common vision of free and open Indo-Pacific. Speaking after the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne, Yoshimasa highlighted the situation in the Indo-Pacific and urged Quad members (Australia, Japan, India, and the US) that "This is the moment where the power of diplomacy is tested". "In Indo-Pacific region, there are nuclear and missile activities by North Korea, unilateral attempts to change status quo in East and South China Seas and the situation in Myanmar and other numerous pressing matters. This is the moment where the power of diplomacy is tested," said the Japanese Foreign Minister. North Korea tested seven missiles in the first four weeks of 2022. Those seven missile tests are believed to be a hypersonic glide vehicle -- potentially one of the most powerful weapons on the planet -- to an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), Pyongyang's longest-range missile tested since 2017 -- to cruise missiles, arms that powers like the US have had in their inventory for decades. Meanwhile, China has been asserting itself in the East and South China Seas that is strongly opposed by Japan for any unilateral and forcible change of the status quo and intimidation through economic means. Further, in Myanmar more than 1,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar security forces with thousands of others arrested, since February 1, 2021, when the Myanmar military seized control of the country in a coup, prompting nationwide protests. Amid the above-mentioned factors, he reiterated Quad's commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific. "But just because it is a time like this, our four countries meeting in person, having reconfirmed our solid commitment to realize our common vision of free, open Indo-Pacific," said Yoshimasa after the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. "Having agreed to further advance practical cooperations, I think are very timely and meaningful achievements," added Yoshimasa. (ANI)
Tibetan Buddhist, Ling Rinpoche, identified as the reincarnation of the teacher of Dalai Lama, at a press conference in Sri Lanka, criticized China for destroying Buddhism in order to destroy the identity of the Tibetans. He said that China has been meting out "inhuman and bestial atrocities" on Tibetans for the last so many decades. Furthermore, he rebuked China for "the destruction of their literature, Buddhist identity, including the destruction of the Dalai Lama's palace, a huge number of monasteries and Buddha statues of historical and religious value and the systematic reduction of the Tibetans to a state of destitution in their own country." Rinpoche, during the press conference further, said, "out of five thousand monasteries only five are in existence, they too fake, and the rest having been destroyed by the Chinese army of invasion." "Hundreds of thousands of Tibetan peasants, farmers and other civilians have not only been gunned down but also starved to death in prisons, concentration camps, workplaces and their own homes. Tibetan identity is Buddhism and their culture too is Buddhism and the Chinese are destroying Buddhism in order to destroy the identity of the Tibetans", he added. Additionally, Mahanayake Thero at the press conference, said that Tibet was an independent country, the only country ruled by a Buddhist monk who was both a national leader and spiritual leader of the people of that country. He appreciated India and pointed out that India gave asylum to the Dalai Lama and 80,000 of his followers, the monks. Chiding China, he further said that the Chinese Communists deserve unreserved condemnation for destroying Buddhism and the Buddhist community. The possibility and need for holding an International Buddhist Conference on Abhidhamma in Sri Lanka was also discussed. Their higher-level discussions were focused on Vinaya and the dhamma. Notably, he was warmly welcomed to Sri Lanka's Colombo International Airport VIP Lounge by Sri Lankan delegation on January 26. (ANI)
A blast occurred this afternoon at the gate of a mosque in Qala-e-Naw, capital of Badghis province, local officials said.

The head of the Badghis health department, Asif Qanat, said one person was killed and 15 others were wounded in a blast this afternoon in the provincial capital. Three children are among the wounded, tweeted Tolo News.

According to initial reports, 8 worshippers were wounded. The blast occurred while worshippers were coming out of the mosque. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday exchanged pleasantries before the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne. Both leaders complemented each other for a "grateful partnership" between the US and India during the COVID-19 pandemic and said that Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is an "opportunity and the excuse to be able to compare notes directly on the many challenges both countries are dealing together." "Very good to see you again. As always, I am glad that Quad meetings have brought us together but also given us the opportunity and the excuse to be able to compare notes directly on the many the challenges we are dealing with together, the United States and India," said Blinken. "I am just grateful for our partnership, especially at a time of so much challenge. I am grateful for India's leadership on so many issues, including the thing that is literally plaguing the world, and that's COVID-19. We will have an opportunity to talk about that as well as many both shared concerns, and also some opportunities in this region as a whole," added Blinken. The US State Secretary further said that the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne is an "opportunity for us to see each other and looking forward to getting together with our colleagues as well in a couple of hours." Responding to the comments, Jaishankar laid stress on the strong bilateral relationships between the two countries. "Good to see you, and good to see you all. I agree with you. I think the Quad has been .... and much of that is due to the fact that we all devoted a lot of time, energy, attention to that. We have made it into concrete actionable propositions. At the same time, a big part of that is because we have such strong bilateral relationships. And certainly for us in this century, the changing India-US relationship has been very defining," said Jaishankar. "A review of our bilateral cooperation with @SecBlinken. The readout on progress in different domains was positive. Our strategic partnership has deepened so visibly," Jaishankar tweeted. "Good meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to discuss efforts to strengthen #IndoPacific cooperation bilaterally and through the Quad. I look forward to working together on issues that affect our two countries," Blinken tweeted. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a partnership of four nations (Australia, India, Japan and the US) each of whom share a commitment to openness, transparency and challenges coming out of the current global order. This is the first time Quad Foreign Ministers are meeting since the two Quad Summits last year. (ANI)
The checks are done under International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBS Code). The primary aim of IMSBS code is to facilitate the safe storage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes by providing information on the dangers associated with the shipment and China is not exercising these prescribed safety precautions.

The Chinese companies are hiding the correct and specific nature of the product that they are exporting. They avoid putting their remarks on explosive hazards.

The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) issued by the Chinese companies at the time of export lack these data. In one such incident, New China Chemicals Company Ltd, based in Tianjin, China loaded its consignment on July 22, 2021, and it reached Port of Durban, South Africa by September 2021.

The vessel started emitting toxic brown fumes that created chaos at the Port, reported The HK Post. China described the goods exported as Sodium Metabisulphite; however, the description was incorrect.

The actual consignment contained 6 different items, sent as fertilizers i.e Sodium Metabisulphite, Calcium Nitrate Granular, Magnesium Nitrate, Mono Ammonium Phosphate, Zinc Sulphate and Mono Potassium Phosphate.

A chemical analysis report indicates that except for Mono potassium phosphate, all the other five chemicals onboard the vessel have explosive properties, reported The HK Post. (ANI)
Hambantota Port is a contentious issue between Sri Lanka and China and the future leadership in Sri Lanka could cancel all corrupt Chinese projects and deals. As per International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), Dr Wijaydasa Rajapakshe, counsel to the President and MP has warned the Chinese President Xi Jinping that a future leadership in Sri Lanka could cancel all corrupt Chinese projects and deals. In his letter (January 3, 2022) addressed directly to the Chinese President, Dr Wijaydasa termed the Hambantota Port project offered to China as the "most corrupt transaction of a very high magnitude that has ever occurred in the history of Sri Lanka". Dr Rajapakshe is one of the few courageous politicians who has spoken out against China's debt-trap diplomacy and has had the audacity to write to Chinese President Xi Jinping about 'enhancing mutual cooperation and rebuilding reciprocal trust and confidence between the two countries.' His six-page letter revealed China's eagerness to trap Sri Lanka with projects that have not produced the expected results but were financed by unsolicited commissions paid to local politicians, reported IFFRAS. Dr Wijaydasa warned that the next national election, whether presidential or parliamentary, would be combined with a referendum to seek a mandate from the people to restructure or cancel all agreements/contracts that are harmful or disadvantageous to Sri Lanka. It would also apply to transactions secured by China through corruption, he said, adding that Sri Lanka would not be obligated to repay any loans obtained through such contracts, reported IFFRAS. Dr Wijaydasa asserted that "In the event of any restructuring, under no circumstances the period of any agreement will be permitted to exceed a period of 15 years from the date of the inception of such contracts." He stated that any agreement China had made with Selendiva (a private company that leases land to China in Colombo) to take over lands in Colombo would be declared null and void ab initio, with no compensation or payment of damages, reported IFFRAS. Moreover, he launched a scathing attack on both President Gotabaya and his brother, Basil Rajapakse (currently, Finance Minister) over the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. The project was launched in September 2014, when the Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Colombo to fulfil the dream of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It is widely known that the Rajapaksa brothers, Prime Minister Mahinda, and President Gotabaya, have had a special relationship with China for more than a decade particularly after Beijing helped Sri Lanka with arms and ammunition during the civil conflict that ended in 2009. The Chinese model of debt-trap diplomacy is well recognized and international financial bodies and research organizations have detailed the aspects of lending by China across the globe. Earlier, a number of international groups and NGOs had given graphic details of how China had debt trapped Sri Lanka on Hambantota. (ANI)
In a veiled dig at China, the Quad countries on Friday emphasised adherence to international law, including that reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas. In a joint statement after their meeting here, Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States said Quad recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. The Quad countries also said that they are committed to promote the safety and security of sea lines of communication and to work with regional partners to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight. "We are determined to deepen engagement with regional partners, including through capacity-building and technical assistance, to strengthen maritime domain awareness; protect their ability to develop offshore resources consistent with UNCLOS; ensure freedom of navigation and overflight; combat challenges, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and promote the safety and security of sea lines of communication," the statement said. "We reiterate the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas," it added. An international tribunal formed under UNCLOS had in July 2016 ruled that China's claims to historic and economic rights in most of the South China Sea have no legal basis. The tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said China couldn't claim historic rights in all the waters within a "nine-dash" line used by it to delineate its claims. China had rejected the tribunal's ruling saying its "territorial sovereignty and marine rights" in the seas would not be affected by the ruling. The ruling pertained to China's claims vis-a-vis Philippines in the South China Sea. The statement also said that Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism. "We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them." Reflecting Quad leaders' commitment to cooperate to establish responsible and resilient clean-energy supply chains, the meeting welcomed Australia's proposal to host an Indo-Pacific Clean Energy Supply Chain Forum in mid-2022. "We reaffirm our belief that our people-to-people ties are among the Quad's greatest strengths and welcomed the United States' new exchange programs in the fields of cyber security, maritime security, countering disinformation, and promoting transparency in governance. We are exploring a track 1.5 dialogue between our respective strategic thinkers," the statement read. The Ministers also welcomed other ongoing work in delivering Quad Leaders' ambitious initiatives in key areas, such as the Quad Vaccine Partnership, climate change, cyber security, infrastructure, and the peaceful use of outer space, education, and critical and emerging technologies. It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since Quad Summit held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said even as the US continues to work relentlessly to resolve the Ukraine crisis, its participation in the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne underscores Washington's commitment to stay in focus on the Indo-Pacific. "Even as we continue to work relentlessly to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine brought about by Russian aggression and to do that through diplomacy and deterrence.. but being here now even in the midst of that, I think only underscores our commitment to stay in focus on the Indo-Pacific," said Blinken after the meeting. "One of the reasons we are working so intensely to defend Quad principles threatened by Russian aggression towards Ukraine is because those very same principles are crucial to enjoying stability in this region and every other part of the world," he added. The Secretary of State further talked about the shared meaning of Indo-Pacific for Quad and said, "Free Indo Pacific will mean that people will be free in their daily lives and live in open societies. It means that countries will be able to choose their own path and their own partners. It means that goods, ideas, individuals flow freely in the region and the problems will be dealt with openly." He encouraged Quad and said that India, Japan, Australia and US are "democracies united in advancing a very affirmative vision for the future." Talking about his speech in Jakarta, Indonesia, in December Blinken recalled, "When I was in Jakarta I set out US vision for free and open Indo-Pacific which more than any other region will shape the trajectory of the 21st century." "As Indo-Pacific countries, as democracies and as nations we understand how important it is to uphold the international rules that provided the foundation for decades of shared security and prosperity. It is in our interest to do more together," he said during the press conference. He also shared that collaboration is enhanced on disaster response and Humanitarian assistance as in the case of the Tonga volcano eruption. Furthermore, touching upon the Maritime security issue, Blinken said, "we are strengthening our cooperation on Maritime security both to combat like illegal unregulated unreported fishing and to ensure freedom to navigation across the region including in the South and East China seas." He assured that "Quad has been and always will be an affirmative partnership" and said that it addresses the challenges that real people face in their lives and help them seize the opportunity they want. (ANI)
The Quad has said that it is pleased with the vaccine partnership's rapid progress in expanding vaccine production at the Biological E Ltd facility in India which aims to deliver at least 1 billion COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022. "As we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Quad partners have collectively provided more than 500 million vaccine doses. Together, we have pledged to donate more than 1.3 billion vaccine doses globally," said the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States in a joint statement after the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne on Friday. "We are pleased with the Quad Vaccine Partnership's rapid progress in expanding vaccine production at the Biological E Ltd facility in India, which aims to deliver at least 1 billion vaccines by the end of 2022," the statement added. The foreign ministers of Quad countries also said that they look forward to the delivery of the first batch of Quad-supported vaccines in the first half of this year. "We are assisting to train healthcare workers, combat vaccine hesitancy and augment infrastructure, especially cold chain systems, for 'last mile' vaccine delivery," said the ministers. Stressing that the Quad is working to identify and address vaccine gaps and barriers exacerbated by gender, disability and social inequities, the Ministers ensured safe, effective, affordable and quality-assured vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach areas. "We welcome the timely initiative for coordinating the response to combat the COVID pandemic under a Global Action Plan for Enhanced Engagement," the statement added. (ANI)
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Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), met on Thursday with visiting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over Russia-Ukraine tensions.

Speaking of Russia's military build-up around Ukraine, Stoltenberg said in a press release that "this is a dangerous moment for European security." He underlined that while NATO is prepared for the worst, it is still committed to finding a political solution.

Stoltenberg revealed that he had written to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterating his invitation to continue the dialogue in a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council "to find a diplomatic way forward."

He welcomed Johnson's recent contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the visit of British Foreign Secretary Truss to Moscow. He also welcomed Britain's offer of more troops, ships and planes to NATO.

"This is probably the most dangerous moment. I would say that in the course of the next few days, in what is the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades; we've got to get it right," Johnson told journalists, adding that he doesn't think a decision has yet been taken for "an invasion."

Several Western countries have accused Moscow of having amassed troops near the Ukrainian border, stoking fears of a Russian "invasion."

Moscow denied the accusation, saying that Russia has the right to mobilize troops within its borders to defend its territory as NATO's activities constitute a threat to Russia's border security.

Also on Thursday, Johnson visited Warsaw to discuss military cooperation and the Ukraine issue with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

During a joint press conference, Morawiecki and Johnson reiterated that both countries affirm their close ties, including in military matters.

On the day of Johnson's visit, 350 British troops landed in Poland to be deployed there as part of an effort to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. They joined the 150 British military engineers who were sent to the country late last year.
The humongous difference between China and Pakistan's economies and the Sino-Pak ties equip the Chinese to explore and capture the Pakistani market at the cost of the local enterprises. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran khan's recent visit to China and the display of political resolve by the Chinese to push the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is seen as "intrusive and exploitative", reported Islam Khabar. Pakistan's economy is stagnant and the Imran Khan government is eyeing to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in every way possible. His recent China visit has raised several questions on whether China has provided the much-needed funds that Pakistan needs. However, both the governments are tight-lipped on this and one commentator observed that Khan had gone "seeking a loan, not a medal" to China. Balochistan remains unstable with growing resistance by the locals since China entered the region and started construction of a port at Gwadar. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is opposed to Chinese investment including at the port of Gwadar, which it sees as in league with the Pakistan army in colonizing and exploiting the region's rich mineral and energy resources. BLA continues to carry out terrorist attacks in the province, with recent attacks on security posts in Pakistan that resulted in the death of seven Pakistani soldiers and 13 terrorists. Chinese investors, on the other hand, are also wary of the Chinese workers in Pakistan as several casualties have happened in the past. These investors, despite the recent promises done between Pakistan and China for a further push to CPEC, have safety concerns while investing in Pakistan which has seen many terrorist attacks on civilians. The recent terror attacks can be interpreted by the Chinese as the Pakistani government's failure to neutralize such threats, reported Islam Khabar. A former President of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) shared his anxieties over the resurgence of increasingly lethal 'nationalist' outfits in Balochistan who discourage CPEC. "We have never been proficient in handling commercial affairs with our partners, but the ruling party has breached all records. It has alienated everyone, resulting in costlier deals. We can deal with American hostility as we know what to expect. China is a different ball game. We only know it as a friend. I sincerely hope that we are not exposed to what it means otherwise.", a senior corporate lawyer said, reported the newspaper. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is working together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues. Addressing a press conference at the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Jaishankar said that the interactions among Quad partners (Australia, India, Japan and the US) made it evident that robust bilateral relations between the respective countries, strategic convergences, and shared democratic values have all combined to make the group a vibrant and substantial framework. "We are building an agenda which seeks to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We are keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues," said Jaishankar. He also gave an insight into the works done by the Quad and discussed strategies for shared democratic values that have all combined to make the partnership a vibrant and substantial framework. "In this context, we will continue to support our ASEAN partners in their efforts to uphold peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Their centrality is important to recognize and reiterate," said the EAM. "We reviewed the Quad's ongoing efforts to combat the Covid pandemic and agreed to expedite delivery of safe and affordable vaccines, support capacity building and augment infrastructure for last-mile delivery," he added. "Quad's discussions and efforts to build resilient supply chains, enhance the availability of trusted critical technologies, counter disinformation and uphold rules-based multilateral trading system will contribute to fostering global economic resilience," he added. He further welcomed the Quad's shared desire to address common global threats such as terrorism, strengthen maritime domain awareness, provide timely HADR assistance, and assist countries in the Indo-Pacific in the area of cybersecurity. Jaishankar further reiterated to take forward Quad's positive agenda which our endorsed by the leaders last year. "We will take steps to strengthen our existing people-to-people linkages through education programs and think tank dialogues as we conclude this very timely and valuable interaction. We will work together to give shape and substance to the Quad's positive agenda to make it in the words of my Prime Minister, Narendra Modi - 'a force for global good'," said Jaishankar. He also thanked Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne for holding a productive meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers'. "Once again I thank the Government of Australia and in particular, my friend Marise Payne for the warmth, hospitality and excellent arrangement for our visits and meetings," said Jaishankar. The EAM also said that they had the opportunity earlier in the day to meet collectively with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in an insightful, useful discussion before our own deliberations. It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since the Quad Summit was held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka said, "9th Army to Army Staff Talks between #IndianArmy and #SriLanka Army in #Pune !!! A five-member delegation from #SriLanka Army is attending the Talks. The focus is on further enhancement of bilateral defence cooperation."

Earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris concluded his two-day official visit to India from February 6 to 8, where both sides discussed the fishermen's issue and India provided financial assistance of 2.4 billion USD to Sri Lanka.

This was the first visit of the Foreign Minister to New Delhi after assuming office as the Foreign Minister in August last year.

Jaishankar assured long-standing friendship between the two countries will always be a source of support to Sri Lanka.

The bilateral talks focussed on a wide range of matters of mutual interest, which included economic cooperation, power and energy cooperation, connectivity, people to people contact among others.

India and Sri Lanka have a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic interaction and the relationship between the two countries are more than 2500 years old, MEA said in a statement.

Trade and investment have grown between the two countries and there is cooperation in the fields of development, education, culture and defence. (ANI)
Reaffirming their condemnation of terrorist attacks in India including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, Quad countries on Friday denounced the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urged countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens, disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them. A joint statement issued after a meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers here called upon all countries to ensure that territory under their control "is not used to launch terror attacks" and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks. The statement reflected concerns of India which has been a victim of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. The meeting, attended by Foreign Ministers India, Australia and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States, said the Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism. "We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them, and halt the cross-border movement of terrorists," the statement said. "In this context, we call on all countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks," it added. Seven security personnel were killed in a terror attack at Pathankot air force base in January 2016. The terror attack in Mumbai by Pakistan-trained terrorists on November 26, 2008 killed 166 people including foreign nationals. The Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts, "with such ungoverned spaces being a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific". The foreign ministers welcomed progress on the practical cooperation to address regional challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), maritime security, counter-terrorism, countering disinformation and cyber security. The statement said Quad is supporting regional neighbours to build resilience and counter disinformation. "We will also coordinate efforts to assist partners across the Indo-Pacific to address the growing threat of ransomware, by strengthening capacity building to ensure resilient cyber security and to counter cybercrime. We are committed to promoting international peace and stability in cyberspace, and to helping build the capacity of regional countries to implement the UN Voluntary Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace," it said. The statement said Quad partners champion the free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, rooted in international law, that protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries. "We reaffirm our commitment to upholding and strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core. We oppose coercive economic policies and practices that run counter to this system and will work collectively to foster global economic resilience against such actions," it said. "We express our commitment to strengthen our diplomatic efforts so that the vision for technologies, guided by the Quad Principles on Technology Design, Development, Governance, and Use, will be further shared by all like-minded nations," the statement added. It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since the Quad Summit held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI)
Notwithstanding dominance of Chinese banks in the global banking listing, they are failing to comply with the regulations of host countries as well as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), especially anti-money laundering (AML) controls as they venture abroad. As per US-based news organization, Financial Post, their weak regulatory standards and failure in compliance are suspected to be misused by criminals and terror outfits for money laundering. In its report, the Paris-based watchdog, FATF has pointed out several weaknesses in China's anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regulatory systems. The FATF report noted that both financial and non-financial institutions in China had an incomplete understanding of the risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing, which undermined the effectiveness of the country's AML and CTF arrangements. The report characterized China's targeted financial sanctions related to both terrorist financing and proliferation financing as poor. China had four banks among the top 10 banks (asset wise) in 2020, namely the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and Bank of China. Apart from these, some other Chinese banks also figured in the top 50 banks of the world, namely the Postal Savings Bank of China, China Merchant Bank, China Minsheng Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China CTIC Bank and China Everbright Bank. Recently, ICBC, China's biggest state-controlled bank was fined by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) of Canada for alleged violation of Canada's Crime and Terrorist Financing Act, reported Financial Post. Earlier, in 2016 New York's banking regulator imposed a fine of USD 215 million on the ABC, due to violations of anti-money-laundering regulations and attempts to "mask" suspicious transactions. In yet another such instance, the Bank of China in Milan in June 2015, was accused of laundering more than Euro 2 billion through its branch during 2007-2010 for Chinese criminals and sending the funds back to China via millions of small transfers. In a similar case, the US Federal Reserve ordered (2016), the China Construction Bank's New York branch to enhance AML controls, reported Financial Post. Moreover, Chinese banks are an integral part of Beijing's strategy for global outreach through Belt and Road initiative and other investments across the globe for building infrastructure. BRI's CPEC is also being viewed with suspicion regarding lax and poor regulatory systems as far as the financing of the projects by the Chinese banks is concerned. Chinese financial institutions are vulnerable to being used as conduits to channel funds for the disruptive agenda of the Pakistan deep state. Also, the possibility of Pak-based terrorist groups using these Chinese banks, which have a global presence for their nefarious designs cannot be ruled out. As Pakistan is under the pressure of FATF's greylisting, it has no option but to explore new ways and routes to transfer money for its covert activities. (ANI)
Chinese authorities have arrested numerous Uyghurs in Xinjiang as well as Uyghurs who lived abroad, including those involved in Uyghur-language research in Japan. In one such incident, Abduhelil Abdurehim, Uyghur involved in Uyghur-language research in Japan, was detained by the Chinese police after returning home in late 2021, reported Radio Free Asia. Abduhelil returned to Xinjiang in 2010 from Japan and settled in China's Urumqi region. He worked for several computer companies in the following years. At the time of his arrest, he was working at the Uyghur restaurant chain Herembagh where he updated information on the company's website. His brother, Abdusemi Abdurehim who lives in Japan lost contact with Abduhelil in November 2021. He became even more suspicious when he noticed that his brother's information was no longer being updated on the website of the company where he worked. In addition to that, Abduhelil also stopped communicating via his WeChat messaging app, reported RFA. "He said he was fine and working," said Abdusemi. "On June 26, when we sent him a WeChat message, he didn't respond." "I also found out that Herembagh stopped putting new information on its website since Dec. 10 of last year," he said. "I then suspected that something happened to my brother." Additionally, ethnic Uyghurs from Turkey who went to study in China's Xinjiang's Province have also recalled physical and mental torment during their stay there. Two ethnically Uyghur children say that their heads were shaved and that the class monitor and teachers frequently hit them, locked them up in dark rooms and forced them to hold stress positions as punishment for perceived transgressions, according to National Public Radio. By the time they were able to return home to Turkey in December 2019, they had become malnourished and traumatized. They had also forgotten how to speak their mother tongues, Uyghur and Turkish. The children were being raised in Turkey but were forcibly sent to boarding schools during a family visit to China, as noted by National Public Radio. (ANI)
Noting that India has always been a maritime civilisation and its Indo-Pacific Ocean initiative contains marine resources as a key pillar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said New Delhi supports the French initiative of 'high-ambition coalition on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction'. Addressing the high-level segment of 'One Ocean Summit' through a video message, the Prime Minister said India is committed to eliminating single-use plastic. One Ocean Summit is being organised by France from February 9 to 11 in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank. The objective of the summit is to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems. The Prime Minister congratulated France President Emmanuel Macron on the "important global initiative for oceans". "India has always been a maritime civilisation. Our ancient scriptures and literature talk about the gifts of the Oceans including marine life. Today, our security and prosperity are linked to oceans," the Prime Minister said. "India's Indo-Pacific Ocean initiative contains marine resources as a key pillar. India supports the French initiative of a high ambition coalition on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. We hope for a legally binding international treaty this year," he added. The Prime Minister said India recently undertook a nationwide awareness campaign to clean plastic and other wastes from coastal areas. He said India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single used plastic "Three hundred thousand young people collected almost 30 tons of plastic waste. I have also directed our navy to contribute hundred ship days this year to clean plastic waste from the seas. India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single used plastic," he said. PM Modi had launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) at the East Asia Summit in November 2019. IPOI seeks to ensure the security and stability of the regional maritime domain. It is an open, non-treaty based initiative for countries to work together for cooperative and collaborative solutions to common challenges in the region. (ANI)
One of China's highest-ranking officials in the finance sector was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes and abusing his power, according to a statement published by China's Supreme People's Procuratorate on Thursday. Cai Esheng, a former senior government official at China's banking regulatory commission (CBRC), has been arrested by Supreme People's Procuratorate on corruption charges. Earlier in January, he was also expelled from the Communist Party of China, reported The Global Times. Cai was the vice-chairman of the CBRC from 2005 to 2013 and he is being charged with corruption after 8 years of his retirement. Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), a discipline regulator said that Cai has breached the law and violated the party disciplines. After suspicion rose, CCDI started an investigation into the matter. In the results of the investigation, CCDI has used very harsh language. The results reveal that Cai has abused his financial regulatory power, disrupted financial market order and seriously corrupted the political ecosystem of the financial sector, reported The Global Times. Notably, China is cracking down on people involved in such crimes and this is a key development as this time the arrest involves the name of a very high ranking official. The country is determined to combat corruption involved in the finance sector. Furthermore, a number of senior financial government officials have been investigated and expelled from the party recently. According to The Global Times, the list includes the former deputy head of China Development Bank's branch in Hainan, Xu Weihua, and the former deputy head of the People's Bank of China's branch in Fujian, Lin Chuanwei. (ANI)
A social media campaign to free Aafia Siddiqui spiked before Malik Akram attacked the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Michael Tuiz, writing in Fox News said that the researchers uncovered a coordinated spike in Twitter activity sympathetic to the convicted terrorist "Lady Al Qaeda" Aafia Siddiqui. In the five months ahead of the synagogue attack, pro-Siddiqui tweets surged, according to new research released by the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) and conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). They were attributed to both "bot-like activity and a network of influencers amplifying anti-Semitic content." NCRI's report, based on publicly available Twitter data, spotted a blip of activity sympathetic to Siddiqui in September and then a massive spike in January. Many of the accounts, including the 20 most active ones, self-identified as Pakistani, according to the researchers. Twitter said Wednesday morning that it was investigating the information uncovered in the report, reported Tuiz. "The well-coordinated online and offline solidarity campaign for Aafia Siddiqui, a raving anti-Semite herself, indulged in anti-Semitic tropes and predictably inflamed supporters," Elan Carr, a former US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and member of CAM's advisory council, said in a statement first provided to Fox News. The data, which NCRI said it collected from publicly available information, shows "the cause Akram identified as a key motive for his attack had been promoted by a US-based nonprofit organization and self-identified Pakistani Twitter accounts in the months before the attack," the report read. While there was some evidence of bot activity, the researchers noted that the campaign included real people and also preceded a real-world demonstration calling for Siddiqui's release -- a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) rally outside the prison, said Tuiz. At the rally, a speaker railed against "Zionist judges" and another CAIR leader lambasted "Zionist synagogues" in November. Siddiqui is serving an 86-year prison sentence for shooting at US service members. She had been arrested in connection with an alleged Al Qaeda plot before she grabbed a soldier's M4 and opened fire on her interrogators. She missed. David Grantham, a law enforcement professional with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office and author of "Consequences: An Intelligence Officer's War," said that police can also learn lessons from the case to improve their ability to thwart future attacks. "If we see these trends in the future, anything like this, we need to consider that there could be violent action associated with this organized online activity," he told Fox News Digital. "So that's the most basic fundamental thing that law enforcement will look at from this report." (ANI)
Prime Minister Imran Khan had distributed certificates among his best-performing Ministries and as Foreign Minister was ranked low at the 11th position, Qureshi was not handed over the certificate, reported ARY News.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also criticized the Imran Khan government for not handing over the certificate to Qureshi.

Not only the opposition, but even the allies of the ruling PTI government in the centre have expressed their disappointment when their ministries were not named among the top performers, reported the news channel.

Notably, Mahmood Qureshi remained surrounded with a lot of controversies during his foreign ministerial ship, especially his comments regarding Saudi Arabia that made Pakistan to pay back USD 1 billion to Saudi Arabia.

On August 5, during the first anniversary of India's revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Qureshi had slammed Saudi Arabia in a TV interview for not obliging Pakistan to 'organise' a meeting of the Council of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir in early February.

Saudi Arabia has helped Pakistan many times including helping in paying for the Asian country's first batch of F-16 fighter aircraft in the 1980s.

The country also provided USD 6 billion loans that helped Islamabad tide over its balance of payments crisis however Pakistan had to do damage control a lot of times because of Qureshi's remarks on Saudi Arabia.

FM Qureshi, in his letter to PM's aide on the establishment, discouraged the ranking and questioned its criteria.

Qureshi was also slammed by Pakistani citizens on social media over the "disrespectful" position" during his meeting with Saudi Arabia Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. (ANI)
Calibrating on a series of meetings towards finalizing an interim free trade agreement (FTA), India and Australia finally announced significant progress leading to the drawing up of the limited trade deal in March 2022. Addressing a joint press conference on Friday with his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry called the convergence of ideas and accommodation of sensitive issues of both partners towards bringing to fruition the interim deal as a watershed moment in the India Australia relationship. "I had very fruitful discussions with the Australian Minister and significant progress has been made in advancing the FTA between the two nations," Goyal said. As a build-up to the interim deal, the two sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote tourism -- which has mutually suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic -- and further strengthen economic ties. "Our partnership has been unique, nurtured by the personal relationship between the Prime Ministers of both countries. We had discussions with openness and concern," added Goyal. The early harvest agreement is expected to cover goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs procedures, and legal and institutional issues. Importantly, the India-Australia interim deal takes care of sensitivities on both sides, according to Goyal. An early harvest pact is generally aimed at liberalizing the trade of certain goods between two countries before a comprehensive one. In this case, both have much at stake in granting increased market access to Australian wines as well as helping enhance mobility for professionals and students for India. What the FTA will do for both, said the Australian Minister, is boost the bilateral trade of USD 20 bn in a quantum way. "We will see more Australians coming to see the landmarks sights in India," said Tehan. The Minister exhorted that India and Australia are linked by the great Indian Ocean; connected by history, shared inheritances, and deeply interlinked destinies. Both Ministers agreed on the need for a balanced trade agreement that encourages expanded trade and investment flows to the benefit of both of the economies and to expeditiously resolve tax-related issues faced by Indian software firms in Australia. Tehan also announced that on February 21, Australia would be open to travelers from all over the world and extended his invitation to Indians to visit Australia. The Minister opined that as a result of the MoU, the education relationship between the two nations would also flourish. "We are looking at mutual recognition of qualifications in Australia so that students can now study in both nations," he said. Tehan expressed confidence that the interim agreement would be a significant milestone in the relationship between our two countries. He said that the warmth of the relationship between the two nations and the honesty and transparency with which the negotiations happened would certainly help build very strong and robust economic ties. (ANI)
India has always been a maritime civilization and its ancient scriptures and literature talk about the gifts of the oceans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday and emphasised that the security and prosperity of countries is linked to oceans. In his remarks at the 'One Ocean Summit', the Prime Minister said India is committed to eliminating single-use plastic and will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single-use plastics. "India has always been a maritime civilisation. Our ancient scriptures and literature talk about the gifts of the Oceans including marine life. Today, our security and prosperity are linked to Oceans," PM Modi said in a video message. "India supports the French initiative of a High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction. We hope for a legally binding international treaty this year," he added. The Prime Minister said that India's Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative contains marine resources as a key pillar. "India is committed to eliminating single-use plastic. India recently undertook a nationwide awareness campaign to clean plastic and other waste from coastal areas. Three hundred thousand young people collected almost 13 tons of plastic waste," he said. "I have also directed our Navy to contribute100 ship-days this year to cleaning plastic waste from the seas. India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single-use plastics," he added. One Ocean Summit is being organised by France from February 9 to 11 in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank. The objective of the Summit is to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems. (ANI)
After the Taliban prevented the girls from attending school in many areas, an Afghan woman in Kabul is providing literacy and vocational training for nearly six hundred women and girls and that too without any charge. Along with education, Zainab Mohammadi, the founder of the Pen and Book Foundation also imparts vocational training like tailoring, hand-knitting and weaving, reported Tolo News. Mohammadi started home-based courses for girls over sixth grade who have been prevented from attending school. She also funds the school whose students come from Kabul and Parwan provinces. "I have established this centre with my own budget-- none of the organizations have assisted us so far," said Zainab Mohammadi. "At first we had the budget to provide materials--like materials for weaving--but right now, the students are bringing the most of the time," said Diba, a teacher. The girls who learn and work at the centre said they are optimistic about their future, but call on the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls' schools across the country as soon as possible, reported Tolo News. "We ask the government to reopen our schools and we ask the international supporters to help such centres," said Mursal, a student. In the six months since the fall of the previous government, girls above the sixth grade were prevented from attending school in many areas. In the meantime, women have also complained of broader restrictions in society, reported Tolo News. Earlier, World Bank findings showed that women made up 21 per cent of Afghanistan's labour force, but recent developments have significantly reduced the number of women working in Afghanistan. (ANI)
China has termed the US 'master of coercion' after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Beijing's trade sanctions on Australia have backfired on it and that the communist regime lost more than Canberra in its efforts to squeeze Australia economically. "The label of "economic coercion" cannot be pinned on China. All attempts to gang up with others to misrepresent facts and resort to malicious hype-up are bound to fail," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, on Friday during a regular press conference. It came after Blinken recently in an interview with Australian media outlets said that China's trade sanctions on Australia have backfired and by standing up to Beijing, Australia "set an incredibly powerful example" for the world. "I think China has lost more than Australia has in its efforts to squeeze Australia economically," he said, adding that Beijing would be "thinking twice about this in the future" Zhao on Friday said that with regard to coercion, no one has a better claim to the title of master of coercion than the US. "Speaking of coercion, the US government forced the military government of Haiti to step down in 1994, and referred to that as a textbook example of coercive diplomacy," said Zhao. The spokesperson also said that in 2003, the US explicitly characterized USD 30.3 billion additional military expenses for "coercive diplomacy" as incurred expenses. "The US government went all out to hobble competitors like Huawei of China, Alstom of France and Toshiba of Japan and used coercion to force the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), Samsung and other companies to provide chip supply chain data. These are textbook examples of economic coercion," he added. "I would like to reiterate that China always proceeds from the lawful rights and interests of domestic industries and the safety of consumers," said Zhao, adding, " Beijing adopts appropriate measures on imported products in strict compliance with Chinese laws and regulations as well as WTO rules. This is fully justified, lawful and beyond reproach." (ANI)
He said that the Taliban do not want to replace the Afghan ambassador to Moscow but are willing to send diplomats to the embassy, reported The Khaama Press.

Kabulov said that the rest is up to the Afghans as this is Afghanistan's internal issue.

The move comes amid Russia's dire conflict with the US over Ukraine.

This is the first time that the Taliban asked a country to accept their diplomats as no country has yet recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. (ANI)
The Quad is a tool for containing and besieging Beijing to maintain US hegemony and the mechanism aims to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity, said China on Friday after Foreign Ministers of Quad countries held a meeting in Australia, stressing adherence to international law to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order in the South and East China Seas. "I want to stress that as the Cold War is long over, the attempt to forge a so-called alliance to contain China wins no support and leads nowhere," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry. "Relevant countries should abandon the antiquated Cold War mentality, correct the wrong approach of bloc confrontation and geopolitical games, and contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific," Zhao added. The spokesperson further informed that China believes that the so-called Quad group cobbled together by the US, Japan, India and Australia is essentially a tool for containing and besieging China to maintain US hegemony. "It aims to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and cooperation." It came after Quad countries on Friday during the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Australia reiterated the importance of adherence to international law to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order in the South and East China Seas. "The Quad recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific," said the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States in a joint statement after the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne on Friday. "We reiterate the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas," the statement added. Australia hosted India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday, where top diplomats sought to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, COVID-19 pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. China firmly opposes official interaction in any form between countries having diplomatic ties with China and Taiwan," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry on Friday during the regular press conference.

"We solemnly urge certain Japanese politicians not to harm China's sovereignty in any way and not to send wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces in any way," Zhao added.

The Chinese official also warned Taipei against its attempts to gather foreign support to advance its agenda.

"We also have this solemn warning to Taiwan authorities: all attempts to advance its agenda by soliciting foreign support are doomed to fail," said Zhao.

It came after Taiwan recently confirmed that Tsai Ing-wen and Shinzo Abe had a phone conversation in January, during which she thanked Abe and the Japanese government for their support to Taiwan.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war. (ANI)
The United Nations is encouraged by the US decision to split USD 7 billion of the frozen Afghan assets fund between humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, media reported quoting spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday (local time). "We have said on several occasions and we've called many times for the release of Afghanistan's frozen assets, and I think we're encouraged by the step taken today in this regard," Sputnik News Agency reported quoting Dujarric. Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden moved USD 7 billion of the frozen Afghan assets to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Charlie Savage, Washington-based national security and legal policy correspondent, writing in The New York Times (NYT) said that Biden issued an executive order invoking emergency powers to consolidate and freeze all USD 7 billion of the total assets the Afghan central bank kept in New York and ask a judge for permission to move the other USD 3.5 billion to a trust fund to pay for immediate humanitarian relief efforts and other needs in Afghanistan. When the Afghan government dissolved in August -- with top officials, including its president and the acting governor of its central bank, fleeing the country -- it left behind slightly more than USD 7 billion in central bank assets on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. Because it was no longer clear who -- if anyone -- had legal authority to gain access to that account, the Fed made the funds unavailable for withdrawal. The highly unusual set of moves is meant to address a tangled knot of legal, political, foreign policy and humanitarian problems stemming from the attacks and the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, reported NYT. The Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, immediately claimed a right to the money. But a group of relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks, one of several sets who had won default judgments against the group in once seemingly quixotic lawsuits years ago, sought to seize it to pay off that debt. Meanwhile, the economy in Afghanistan has been collapsing, leading to mass starvation that is, in turn, creating an enormous and destabilizing new wave of refugees -- and raising a clear need for extensive spending on humanitarian relief. (ANI)
Washington [USA], February 12 (ANI/Sputnik): A woman and nine police officers have been injured in a shooting at a barricaded house in Phoenix, Arizona, early on Friday morning, the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) said. The incident took place as an officer responded to a shooting at 54th Avenue and Elwood Street in south Phoenix, but was fired upon when arriving on the scene. "The Phoenix Police Department received a 911 call saying that an adult female has been shot. When an officer approached to help, he actually was invited by the suspect, an adult male. As he approached the door, the suspect ambushed him and shot several times," a PPD spokesperson said. The officer was able to get to safety and called for reinforcement. An unidentified resident then placed a baby outside of a nearby home and when the officers attempted to take the baby to safety, the suspect opened fire again. The baby was not hit but one woman whom the police call "the initial shooting victim" was injured and remains in critical condition. "The suspect opened fire again striking four officers and striking four other officers. Four directly with gunfire and four with ricocheting or shrapnel," the PPD spokesperson said. When the officers eventually entered the suspect's home, they saw that he was dead. "There is no threat to the public. The area will be restricted while investigators are on scene," the PPD spokesperson said, adding that an investigation into the motives for the incident is ongoing. (ANI/Sputnik)
Taliban have detained at least nine foreigners in Kabul, including one American and several British citizens, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing relatives of the detainees and sources familiar with the matter. Two of those detained, both journalists, were released late Friday after spending more than four days in custody. They are a British freelance reporter, Andrew North, and an Irish photographer. They were in Kabul on assignment for the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, and were detained with an Afghan journalist and an Afghan driver with whom they were working. All four were released, according to the newspaper. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed the detentions on Friday after news of them began to leak on social media. They come as concerns grow over reports of arbitrary arrests since the Taliban recaptured power in August. "Two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul," the Geneva-based UNHCR tweeted. "We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, in coordination with others." The agency added that it would make no further comment given the nature of the situation. In February, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns over an apparent "pattern of arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as torture and ill treatment" in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, according to Nikkie Asia. (ANI)
Sick family receive over VND400 million in donations

A family with three sick members in Thanh Hoa Province have received over VND400 million (USD 17,391) after their story was shared on Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper.















Dantri reporters and some local officials visit the family of Bui Van Chien in Hoang Hoa District on February 9 and transfer VND 293.23 million to the family



Dantri reporters and some local officials visited the family of Bui Van Chien in Hoang Hoa District on February 9 and transferred VND 293.23 million that readers sent to the newspaper's charity fund to support the family during the first and second weeks of January.





The public also sent donations of VND43.65 million to support Chien's family through the Vietnam Fund for Study Promotion. Chien also received VND50 million sent to his bank account, VND14 million raised by Hoang Xuan Commune Youth Union, and VND5 million from a local firm.





Chien also received VND50 million sent to his bank account, VND14 million raised by Hoang Xuan Commune Youth Union, and VND5 million from a local firm.





Chien, 23, recently told Dantri/DTInews that he had decided to suspend his university studies a year ago after his mother, Luong Thi Dung, was hospitalised for heart surgery. His father has mental problems, so the young man had to take various jobs to support the family.



Chien worked as a construction worker and a taxi driver while taking care of his mother at hospital. After his mother was discharged from hospital, the young man applied for a more stable job at a local company.



However, Chien's family faced another challenge after he was seriously injured in a traffic accident while on the way to work in late 2021. He had to undergo a brain surgery to save his life.



An uncle who took care of Chien during the time at hospital said that Chien's family still owed lots of money following his mother's treatment and he had to borrow more to cover Chien's hospital fees.



The young man has just been discharged from hospital to await another operation.



Receiving the donations, Chien's mother said that they were so happy to have received such valuable support from the community.



"Its like a dream for us," she said in tears. "I want to send my sincere thanks to the kind donors for their great support that has helped save my son."
"India signs the MoU with UN World Food Program to distribute food grains inside Afghanistan," Embassy of India Rome, Italy said in a tweet on Friday.

India has supplied three tonnes of medicines to Afghanistan as part of its fourth batch of medical assistance under humanitarian aid to the war-torn country, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on January 29.

"As part of our ongoing humanitarian assistance, India supplied the fourth batch of medical assistance consisting of 3 tonnes of essential life-saving medicines to Afghanistan. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul," the MEA said in a statement on Saturday.

The Ministry further stated that India stands committed to continuing its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and providing humanitarian assistance.

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

The Ministry had also informed that in the coming weeks India would be supplying more batches of humanitarian assistance consisting of medicines and foodgrains for the people of Afghanistan. (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised US President Joe Biden that he will take quick action to enforce the law in response to anti-COVID vaccine mandate protests by truckers, White House said in a statement on Friday (local time). "The Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) promised quick action in enforcing the law, and the President thanked him for the steps he and other Canadian authorities are taking to restore the open passage of bridges to the United States," the White House said. Biden discussed with Justin Trudeau, the ongoing blockade of key bridges and crossings between the United States and Canada, including Detroit/Windsor, Sweetwater/Coutts, and Pembina/Emerson. "The two leaders agreed that the actions of the individuals who are obstructing travel and commerce between our two countries are having significant direct impacts on citizens' lives and livelihoods. The President expressed his concern that US companies and workers are experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours, and plant closures," the White House statement read. Trudeau thanked Biden and his administration, the Governor of Michigan, and US officials for all of the assistance that the United States is providing to resolve this disruption, according to the statement. It added that the two leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the days ahead to ensure that the free flow of traffic is restored at these vital transit points. (ANI)
A 10-year-old Naples girl died from injuries sustained in a crash on U.S. 41 near Everglades City on Sunday that also seriously injured a 6-year-old boy and three others, Florida Highway Patrol reports.

Birthday crash: East Naples girl dies from injuries suffered in hit-and-run crash that occurred on her birthday

Deputy injured: Collier deputy seriously injured, Naples man arrested after DUI crash at Collier and Davis Blvd.

A 10-year-old Naples girl died from her injuries sustained in a head-on crash on U.S. 41 near Everglades City on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021.

A car driven by a 59-year-old Naples woman was headed east on Tamiami Trail near State Road 29 about 3:20 p.m., troopers said. She crossed the centerline, hitting a car headed west carrying the children, the 52-year-old male driver and a 47-year-old woman, also both from Naples.

The adults in both cars sustained serious injuries, troopers said.

All victims were taken to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, where officials pronounced the girl dead.

Troopers continue to investigate the crash.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: 10-year-old Naples girl dies in crash on U.S. 41 near Everglades City
A Bell 412EPX helicopter shown over Los Angeles. Ventura County supervisors have approved purchase of one of the $14.5 million copters for the county's aviation unit, which supports sheriff and fire department operations.

The Ventura County Air Unit is adding a new bird to the flock.

County officials approved the $14.5 million acquisition of a Bell 412EPX helicopter to be used for search-and-rescue missions by the aviation unit as well as for general law enforcement operations. The decision was passed unanimously during a Board of Supervisors meeting last week.

The new helicopter will replace one of the unit's current search-and-rescue aircraft, a 1969 Bell UH-1 Iroquois, better known as a Huey. The new copter is currently scheduled to arrive in October.

"It's like buying a 2022 Chevy instead of a 1955 Chevy," said Capt. Randy Downard, a Ventura County Sheriff's deputy who currently oversees the air unit, which jointly serves the sheriff's agency and the county fire department.

Since the old and new helicopters are made by the same manufacturer, the unit can reuse approximately $2 million worth of equipment and parts. The two helicopters also have similar dimensions and weight, allowing pilots to use the same remote landing areas and rescue procedures already in place.

For subscribers: Judge upholds Ventura County law protecting wildlife corridors

County officials said funding will be provided by $9.5 million from general fund reserves and $5 million from Proposition 172 public safety funds, a half-cent state sales tax approved by voters in 1993. Both pots draw from separate funds than the county's rainy day reserve, officials said. Air Unit personnel also plan to sell one of the Huey helicopters once the 412EPX is in service.

Copter 6, one of the Ventura County Air Unit's older Bell helicopters, on a medical aid call in the Lockwood Valley area in January, 2022.

Downard said the new helicopter's modern upgrades will enhance all aspects of search-and-rescue efforts, which have included 502 rescue and medical evacuation missions over the past two years.

"For safety reasons, budget reasons and flat-out performance and ability, this is going to be a tremendous help," Downard said.

The Bell 412EPX can carry up to 12,500 pounds, 14 passengers and 375 gallons of water. Another upgrade from the Huey is its dual-engine redundancy, Downard said, allowing the helicopter to keep operating even if there is a total failure of one of the engines.

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Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath said the incoming Bell will be brand new and state-of-the-art. The two Sikorsky Firehawks refurbished by the air unit last year are former military copters, he said. The Firehawks served a different function by greatly expanding the county's aerial firefighting capacity.

The new Bell will specialize in law enforcement and search-and-rescue duties, McGrath said, but will also be able to drop water.

McGrath described the Bell as a "medium" helicopter, while the Firehawks are "heavies."

"Sometimes medium helicopters are the most appropriate for the mission at hand," he said. Medium helicopters are also less expensive to operate, he said.

The diversified equipment will make Ventura County's fleet "a very robust" aerial unit, McGrath said.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: $14.5 million helicopter will boost search and rescue operations
BALTIMORE  Two Catonsville High School students face criminal charges in connection with Tuesdays shooting at a parking lot of Catonsville High School, which left a 16-year-old boy wounded.

Sean Potter, 18, of Catonsville, faces charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault, in addition to other firearms charges, according to charging documents filed in Baltimore County District Court.

A second student, a juvenile, was also arrested, Baltimore County police said in a news release. His or her charges were not specified. Both are being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center, police spokeswoman Joy Stewart said in a news release.

Its not clear in the charging documents whether Potter, who is identified as a student at Catonsville High School, is accused of shooting the 16-year-old boy. Police say he was the driver of a vehicle from which the shooter(s) emerged, and that he should therefore be charged with the attempted murder.

The charging documents also describe a second shooting victim, who had a gunshot wound to the back of his head and was dropped off at a hospital at about 3:45 p.m., roughly 45 minutes after the first incident was reported.

A Baltimore County police spokesman declined to confirm there was a second victim Wednesday evening in response to a Baltimore Sun reporters question. Spokesman Trae Corbin said in an email that police could only confirm that one individual was injured during this incident.

But Stewart confirmed the second shooting in a Thursday news release, writing that detectives are looking into whether the person was injured during this shooting or an unrelated incident.

Baltimore County Police said Wednesday that several individuals were in custody following Tuesday afternoons shooting.

In charging documents, police say they interviewed the 16-year-old boy who was shot, who told them he was walking with a friend when he saw a Volvo SUV and two people in the vehicle displayed handguns to him. There was a struggle and the boy was shot in the arm, according to the boy.

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Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and saw a physical confrontation between the SUVs occupants and others in a Toyota Corolla. At one point, a group of students practicing lacrosse nearby could be seen running, as if shots had been fired, according to police.

The Volvo fled the crime scene. It later dropped off the second gunshot victim at St. Agnes Hospital, police wrote in charging documents.

Police identified Potter through the SUVs registration and through a witness interviewed at police headquarters.

Police have described the incident as a targeted shooting that began with an argument earlier in the day off school property.

The 16-year-old boy who was shot was taken Tuesday to an area trauma center with injuries not expected to be life-threatening.

Darryl L. Williams, the superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, said in a statement the school system was committed to doing whatever it takes to keep students, staff and schools safe. The system will continue to provide resources for Catonsville High School for as long as needed, Williams added.

Gun violence, other violent acts and dangerous behaviors in or around our schools are unacceptable, Williams said. These acts jeopardize the sense of safety and security that school buildings and communities provide for our more than 111,000 students. Anyone who threatens the safety of our school community will be dealt with swiftly.


A Hagerstown man was ordered to serve 20 years in prison Tuesday for the 2018 stabbing death of a close friend he called a brother.

Brandon Alexander Lewis was sentenced to the maximum 40 years in prison for second-degree murder with 20 years suspended. However, he could be eligible for parole in about seven years because he would reach eligibility after serving half his time and has credit for the more than three years he has already spent in custody.

After the sentencing proceeding ended, the family of the victim, 23-year-old Justin Darnell Green, expressed disappointment and Washington County States Attorney Gina Cirincion was visibly angry.

Justins life is worth more than 20 years, Cirincion said. We dont think it reflects the severity and brutality of the crime.

Greens stepfather, Alfonzo Walton, said he respects the justice system, but feels that the sentence was a great injustice."

I hope (Lewis) will man up, Walton said. Dont appeal.

As a family, we have to move forward, said Rebekah Robinson, Greens aunt.

Greens mother, Jesynah Green, was present for the sentencing but did not address the court.

Afterward, she expressed her disappointment in the sentence and acknowledged that the family cant change it.

The trial: Trial starts in 2018 stabbing death on George Street

The verdict: 'Self-proclaimed brother' of fatal stabbing victim faces 43 years in prison following verdict

More: Hagerstown girl killed in 2020 homicide leaves lasting memory in education, community

Lewis, 32, was found guilty Aug. 27 of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to injure following a jury trial in Washington County Circuit court.

At the sentencing, the prosecution and defense agreed that some details were hazy regarding the fight that led to Green's Dec. 27, 2018, death at the duplex the men shared on George Street. They differed, however, on whether Green's death was premeditated.

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Lewis said it was an accident fueled by alcohol and drugs.

"I'm not a monster," he said to Green's family seated in the courtroom. "I'm the same guy who came to your house every day."

Lewis said he loved them, and that causing the death of a friend he loved "is an impossible burden to bear."

"I will still lay my apology at your feet," he said.

Noting that Lewis accepted responsibility, defense attorney Mikhaila Miriam McNichols asked Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson to impose a sentence within guidelines that called for 15 to 25 years in prison, based on Lewis' relatively minor criminal record.

"The hardest thing for Brandon will be that even if he becomes physically free, he will not get freedom from what he has done," McNichols said.

Cirincion asked Wilkinson to go above the guidelines and impose the maximum 40 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge.

She said Green sustained six stab wounds, and that it was "ludicrous to say that this was an accident."

"This was a brutal attack," Cirincion said.

Green's family also asked Wilkinson to impose the maximum penalty.

"Whenever I see Justin's kids, it's a punch in the gut," Walton said. "They speak of their dad and know he is in Heaven, but they miss their dad.

"We try to be strong on our face, but on the inside we have a lot of sleepless nights."

Robinson addressed Lewis directly and said that although he has apologized, he pleaded not guilty and put the Green family through the trauma of a trial.

"We learned that it wasn't a simple accident like you explained to me, but a calculated act to take his life," she said.

Lewis' mother, Sarah Lewis, asked for "mercy and forgiveness." She spoke of him being raised in the church by two parents and taught to love others.

She said he was in gifted and talented programs in school, received scholarships and was engaged in activities such as band, sports, crossing guards and an NAACP youth group.

"Brandon had a productive life," she said. "It's unfortunate what happened."

Wilkinson noted that trial testimony portrayed a violent attack that included a stab wound to Green's heart that would have caused his death in seconds.

He said he had given the case a lot of thought and imposed the maximum 40 years on the second-degree murder charge with 20 years suspended because Green's death was not an accident. The remaining charges merged for sentencing.

He also placed Lewis on five years supervised probation upon his release and ordered him to have no contact with the Green family or two women who testified at his trial.

Wilkinson said he chose the penalty because judges are charged with crafting sentences that protect the public, promote rehabilitation, act as a deterrent and impose punishment.

"I'm not sure the punishment through sentencing will ever be greater than the punishment you put on yourself," he told Lewis.

Lewis spoke again to the Green family as he was led from the courtroom.

"I love you guys," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown man ordered to serve 20 years in friend's stabbing death
Academy Bus LLC, accused of charging NJ Transit millions of dollars for no-show buses, settled the historic case with the Office of the Attorney General for $20.5 million, according to an announcement Friday.

This marks the state's largest settlement outside the health care sector, according to the press release announcing the award from Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck.

This settlement sends a clear message: defrauding the state doesnt pay, Bruck said in the release. We are not only requiring the corporate defendants to pay more than the amount of their alleged fraud. We also are holding individual defendants financially responsible and requiring Academy Bus to adopt corrective measures designed to prevent similar misconduct in the future.

The Academy Bus headquarters in Hoboken on Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Academy and the other defendants in the case did not admit wrongdoing or liability, according to the agreement. Despite the size and scale of the fraud allegations, no criminal charges have been filed in this case. The Attorney General's office declined to comment on that matter.

"Academy, the nations largest privately owned motor coach company, is glad to have worked cooperatively with the State of New Jersey to resolve this litigation," said Ben Martin, an Academy spokesman. "Additional internal protocols, checks and balances eliminate the possibility for similar issues to arise in the future, and Academy looks forward to restoring service to pre-COVID levels and reliably transporting its loyal customers around New Jersey."

In November 2020, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced it intervened in a case, accusing Academy and its subsidiaries of defrauding NJ Transit out of more than $15 million from April 2012 to December 2018.

As part of its contract to run seven bus routes in Hudson County, NJ Transit required Academy to provide reports indicating bus trips that are taken each month, buses that arrived late and missed trips. These reports provide the basis for payment to Academy and where deductions should be made if there are missed or unreported missed trips.

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Academy knowingly misreported its numbers to NJ Transit almost daily for more than six years, according to the complaint. In one instance, an employee proposed lowering the number of missed trips in September 2018 from more than 1,800 to 700, according to text exchanges between Academy employees.

It all started with a whistleblower

This case began in 2017 after a whistleblower, fired Academy employee Hector Peralta, filed a False Claims Act lawsuit. This lawsuit was sealed at the time so no one, not even the defendants, were made aware of the case in 2017. Once the lawsuit was filed, the government then decides whether it wants to take on the case, or intervene, which is why this case went public in 2020.

Peralta, who will receive $3.9 million of the settlement, was represented by Neil Mullin, of Smith Mullin P.C. and Paula Dillon, of Goldman Davis Krumholz & Dillon.

"My heart goes out to all the commuters who stood out in ice and snow and stood out in heat while Academy Bus missed them, left them standing, and concealed all those missed trips from the state of New Jersey," Mullin said. "This is a great day for the commuters above all and its a great day for Mr. Peralta who lost his job because he blew the whistle on this corruption."

Peralta also has a separate case against Academy that has not yet been settled.

Commuters wait in below freezing temperatures at a bus stop on Main Ave in Passaic, N.J. on Tuesday Jan. 11, 2022.

While the scope of the Attorney General's complaint was from April 2012 to December 2018, documents obtained by NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network New Jersey revealed that issues with Academy date back to at least 2006. Internal auditors at the agency raised red flags about the Hoboken-based company, specifically problems with no-show buses, inadequate monitoring of private carriers and poor record keeping, yet the company kept securing multi-million dollar contracts at NJ Transit.

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In February 2020, agency officials dismissed a recommendation from auditors that could have reduced the risk of fraud in the private carrier affairs department, which oversees Academy.

In November 2020, the board approved a three-year, $32.6 million contract for Academy to run bus routes in Middlesex County. That same day, the Attorney General filed a notice to intervene in the Academy case. Gov. Phil Murphy later terminated the contract and it was awarded to another private bus company.

What's next for Academy

Several Academy employees named as defendants in the case are also subject to fines, according to the settlement, in addition to Academy and several of its affiliate companies.

Thomas Scullin, vice president and chief operating officer, must pay $150,000; Edward Rosario, a general manager, will owe $50,000; and Antonio Luna, an assistant manager, will pay $50,000, according to the settlement. Frank DiPalma, the company's controller, who was also named as a defendant, does not have to pay any money, according to the agreement.

All are still employed by Academy.

Luna left Academy in 2019, as the case was under investigation by the Attorney General's Office, and went to work for NJ Transit. He was fired from the agency last February, two months after NorthJersey.com reported he was employed by NJ Transit despite being named a defendant in this case. He returned to Academy as a part-time dispatcher.

While not named as an individual defendant in the case  though his involvement in the alleged fraud is discussed in the Attorney General's complaint  Academy CEO Francis Tedesco is the signature on the settlement agreement for his four companies involved and as the guarantor for the money owed.

In the last year, NJ Transit increased its oversight of contracts with private carriers by updating its tracking software so it generates a report for each late or missed bus trip and hired more staff to monitor buses on the ground and ensure the software stays updated and accurate.

Academy no longer holds any contracts with NJ Transit, but if they are awarded one in the future, the settlement agreement requires the company to meet the following standards:

Submit with each invoice to NJ Transit a personal certification from a senior vice-president, chief financial officer or such persons designee that attests to the accuracy of the submission, as well as to the accuracy of the supporting daily and monthly reports of operation.

Retain an independent Integrity Oversight Monitor -- approved by NJ Transit and paid by Academy -- to oversee the accuracy of its internal documentation of bus trip operations, as well as the accuracy of invoices and missed trip and miles and hours reporting, for three years.

Implement new policies and procedures to ensure accurate reporting of missed trips and hours and miles driven. The new policies and procedures must include staff training on accurate reporting, the maintenance of adequate records and databases, and adequate document retention.

Create bus operator training policies that ensure the proper use of all provided equipment, including proper use of clever devices and other telematics, as well as the proper reporting of equipment malfunctions.

Create procedures that Academy road supervisors must employ to ensure conformity to contracted bus service regulations, as well as driver adherence to specific bus routes and accident reporting

Colleen Wilson covers the Port Authority and NJ Transit for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering the regions transportation systems and how they affect your commute, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cwilson2@gannettnj.com

Twitter: @colleenallreds

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Transit fraud: Academy Bus fined historic $20.5M to settle, AG says
The Appoquinimink School District has approved new school start times for the 2022-2023 school year.

The new schedule was created to address a shortage of bus drivers. The district is 16 bus drivers short and has had 10 drivers resign since the school year started.

About 3,900 students do not currently have a bus, and some students arrive at school 90 minutes early and do not leave until two hours after school lets out, according to the transportation committee.

Initial proposal: Appoquinimink School District looking to change school start times to fix bus problems

The initial proposal had elementary school students starting earlier in the day, and middle and high school students starting later.

Although it would have allowed older students to get more sleep, many parents were concerned about younger children waiting alone in the dark for buses or needing older children to get them on and off the bus.

Other parent concerns included having longer days for students needing after-care, middle school sports and activities taking place too late in the day and their work schedules not lining up with the needs of their children.

After taking this feedback into consideration, the board opted to have middle schoolers start earlier.

For the 2022-2023 school year, school days will look like this:

9:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. for pre-K

9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. for K-5

7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. for grades 6-8

8:20 a.m. to 3 p.m. for grades 9-12

Middle school students line up to board the bus on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019.

In a unanimous vote, the board passed the revised schedule at its Feb. 8 meeting.

The approved schedule would provide a shorter travel time for students, allow hundreds of students on early and late bus routes to return to a normal schedule and ensure older students are getting the recommended amount of rest advised by sleep studies on teenagers, according to a presentation at the board meeting.

A look inside the district: Appoquinimink School District continues to grow. Several new and renovated schools underway.

The proposal would also give bus drivers the opportunity to earn additional money.

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With the new schedule, parents will be able to utilize an after-care support option for younger students who are unable to stay home alone.

Staff members would supervise younger children and be assisted by Teacher Academy Pathway students, who would gain hours toward their graduation requirements.

Moving forward, the transportation committee will continue to update the Board of Education on the districts transportation status and analyze the costs associated with district-owned school buses.

Teacher fatigue: Delaware teachers feel they are 'drowning.' Staffing shortages clash with quality education

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The Appo school district voted in favor of new school start times
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  An Alabama school system's disconcerting response to complaints from a Jewish student that a teacher had classmates perform a Nazi salute shows a lack of commitment to diversity, an organization that promotes civil and human rights said Friday.

While Mountain Brooks Schools issued a statement saying it was deeply apologetic for the pain" caused by a lesson that lacked sensitivity, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute questioned actions by the system, which previously ditched a diversity program produced by an organization that combats antisemitism.

It is in this light that we find a more recent incident involving the Nazi salute displayed by students in a Mountain Brook classroom particularly disconcerting, as it shows a conspicuous lack of preparation on the part of administrators to discuss, teach and lead in this area, the city-owned educational institute said in a statement.

A spokesman for the school system, located in a nearly all-white, wealthy suburb of Birmingham, did not immediately return an email message seeking comment.

In a story first reported by the Birmingham-based Southern Jewish Life, a Jewish student said he was shocked last month when a history teacher at Mountain Brook High School had classmates stand and give a stiff-armed Nazi salute during a lesson on the way symbols change.

The student, Ephraim Tytell, said school officials reprimanded him and told him to apologize to the teacher after he shared a video and photos of the incident on social media. The student said he refused.

The lesson was meant to show how symbols change by demonstrating that something very similar to whats now widely known as a Nazi salute was used before World War II to salute the U.S. flag, . Called the Bellamy Salute," it was ditched in 1942 for the right-hand-over-the-heart gesture following the United States entry into the war.

On Tuesday, the school system issued a statement saying the video and photos shared online are not representative of the lesson and no one tried to teach students how to do a Nazi salute.

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With blowback continuing, the system issued a more conciliatory statement on Thursday, that said in part: There are more effective ways to teach this subject without recreating painful, emotional responses to historys atrocities.

To improve our instructional strategies, we will continue to work with the Alabama Holocaust Education Center to advance training for our teachers surrounding Antisemitism, the Holocaust, and its symbols, said the statement. The system said it stands absolutely and unequivocally against antisemitism.

The Birmingham Jewish Federation said the system's follow-up statement was a direct result of conversations it had with leaders of the school system. School officials fully recognize and understand the insensitivity of the instruction in the classroom that day and the absence of a safe space for learning for the students, said the Jewish organization.

William Galloway, a spokesman for Mountain Brooks Schools, said it was against system policy to comment on whether the teacher remained in the classroom.

Last year, Mountain Brooks school system responded to community complaints about a diversity program produced by the Anti-Defamation League by dropping the lessons. Schools had begun using the material after antisemitic events, including a video of a student with a swastika drawn on his body

Opponents claimed the lessons focused too much on race and gender and criticized the ADL as being too political.
STAUNTON  It's been nearly a month since former city manager Steve Rosenberg was forced out, and council still hasn't secured a path to choosing its next manager, but it came close Thursday.

Jonathan Venn, Stauntons director of human resources, presented council with two search firm options that nearby municipalities have used in the past. Baker Tilly, which cost Harrisonburg $24,500 for its city manager search and The Berkley Group, which cost Alleghany County $30,000 for a county administrator search.

These two firms were selected because they have existing contracts that have "cooperative language" and wouldn't require the city to get a request for proposal (RFP) or request for quotation (RFQ).

More: Resignation of Staunton City Manager Steve Rosenberg: Councilor Mead's remarks

More: Staunton citizens rally to support City Manager Steve Rosenberg

If city council didnt want to pursue a firm, it could delegate the task of finding the next city manager to its human resources staff, Venn said at Thursdays meeting.

Youre pretty busy, one council member responded.

Both of the firms Venn suggested to council have served local governments of all sizes. Baker Tilly is based out of state and The Berkley Group is located in Bridgewater.

Council members Carolyn Dull and Brenda Mead didnt waste time expressing their concerns about the timeline of hiring a new city manager.

Both agreed that pursuing an RFP or RFQ would create unnecessary delays with hiring of the new city manager.

At one point Mayor Oakes asked if Venn was looking for council to decide at Thursdays meeting. He recommended council should make its decision within the next two meetings to get the ball rolling.

Council member Amy Darby asked if council could work with a search firm and the city's human resources department on the search, Venn explained that HR could help during the beginning phases of the search, but once a firm is selected all responsibilities would be handed to them.

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"Well, you know, I see the reason why you could say we don't have the reach. So a search firm would be beneficial in that respect," Darby said. The idea to use both HR and a firm wasn't discussed further.

Dull said she wouldn't be opposed to "taking action now," insinuating that council should decide on Baker Tilly during the meeting.

They've got good reviews, and we don't have to RFP and they're  the price seems reasonable to me. I wouldn't be opposed to considering that, she said. I dont see any reason, any compelling reason to, like, delay it any further because we are short-staffed.

John Blair, Staunton City's attorney, explained to council that it could piggyback off one or the other contracts by having a closed meeting to interview both groups through Zoom.

Two council members immediately responded positively to this idea. Then Mead shared her thoughts.

Last time we had this discussion, we kicked the can down the road because Terry wasn't here, she said. But I just don't want to continue to kick the can down.

Council members agreed to speak with each firm for 15 minutes, totaling 30 minutes with the hope of this happening Feb. 24. Venn said he would try to make that work, but it would ultimately depend on the availability of the representatives.

More: 'Don't pick someone because they are Black': Handful oppose diversity board in Staunton survey

More: Augusta County approves new precinct lines with vote after residents shared concerns

 Katelyn Waltemyer (she/her) is the government watchdog reporter for The News Leader. Have a news tip on local government? Or a good feature? You can reach Katelyn at kwaltemyer@newsleader.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Waltemyer.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton postpones decision city manager search with interview requests
The Amarillo Police Department released information about an arrest made in regard to a shooting late last month.

According to a news release, on Wednesday, APD Homicide Detectives obtained a murder warrant for 20-year-old Jaicelyn Morgan Anzualdua.

She was located by APD SWAT members in the 3600 block of Rio Grande and arrested for her warrant. Anzualdua was booked into the Potter County Detention Center. The case remains under investigation.

More: Amarillo Police: Man found dead in Williams Street residence; Homicide Unit investigating

Her arrest is connected to a Jan. 25 fatal shooting in which officers were dispatched at 9:35 p.m. to a 911 hang-up call in the 900 block of South Buchanan Street. A woman at that location said her boyfriend had been shot, but she didn't know the address. Officers followed her to the 700 block of North Williams Street, where they found Jeremie Ray Gomez, 36, dead from a gunshot wound inside a residence.

Amarillo Police Department

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit at (806) 378-9468 or Amarillo Crime Stoppers at (806) 374-4400. Tips can also be given anonymously at www.amapolice.org or on the Amarillo Crime Stoppers P3 mobile app.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo police woman arrested Jan. 25 shooting murder charge
An Amazon driver carrying packages. Patrick T. FALLON / AFP

Amazon sent a memo to staff Thursday introducing changes to its COVID-19 policies.

Staff who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be eligible for paid leave if they catch it.

Masks will also no longer be mandatory for fully-vaccinated warehouse staff.

Amazon workers who catch COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated against the virus will not be eligible for paid leave after March 18, according to a staff memo shared with Insider by Amazon.

Thursday's memo also told workers they will no longer have to wear masks inside warehouses from Friday if they have been fully vaccinated and local regulations allow.

"There has been a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past weeks. Along with increasing vaccination rates across the country, this is a positive sign we can return to the path to normal operations," the memo said.

Data from Johns Hopkins University showed this week that cases and hospitalizations have seen a sharp decline, the Journal reported.

Amazon's memo also came after several Democrat-governed US states announced they would be rolling back mask mandates. This is despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continuing to recommend masking indoors in much of the country.

Amazon re-introduced mask mandates inside its warehouses in December following a surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant.

The e-commerce giant told staff in January it was reducing the amount of time workers can take off for COVID-19 from ten to seven days following revised guidance from the CDC.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge will now have to move, one way or another, as Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz granted an injunction Friday evening.

It went into effect at 7 p.m. Friday, about two hours after the court's decision, to give protesters the "opportunity and the time to clear the area," Morawetz said.

But as police gathered at the bridge to enforce the recent ruling, the protesters showed no signs of leaving  or fear. In a unanimous, yet unofficial vote, they decided to stay.

Protesters dance and chant freedom during an anti-mandate protest on Huron Church Road in Windsor, ON, on Friday, Feb.11, 2022.

Rather than packing up, they played Smash Mouth, waved flags, and cheered. Intermittent yells of "freedom" echoed through the crowd.

When 7 p.m. rolled around, demonstrators lit up the sky with blue fireworks. The police had not yet made a move. Around 8 p.m., authorities handed out notices advising protesters that they should clear the area by midnight or face fines or jail time.

Authorities in Windsor began handing these notices to protestors around 8 p.m. on Friday.

While the crowd thinned considerably by midnight, police showed no intention of removing the remaining protesters as they cheered along with the Canadian national anthem.

Truckers calling themselves the Freedom Convoy are opposing a Canadian mandate requiring drivers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements.

For five days, Windsor police and protesters have been locked in a battle of wills with the rest of the world watching. When the protest started Monday, it shut down the bridge both ways.

The next day, the bridge opened into the United States, but was still closed to traffic into Canada. By Thursday, business industry leaders and top officials in the U.S. and Canada had had enough and were demanding that the bridge be fully reopened.

After Morawetz granted the injunction, the Windsor Police released a statement to notify the protesters that blocking the streets is a criminal offense. Those who fail to stop may face charges and their vehicles may be seized.

"The unlawful act of blocking streets at and near the Ambassador Bridge is resulting in people being denied the lawful use, enjoyment and operation of their property and causing businesses to close down," the statement reads. "Charges and/or convictions related to the unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the USA border."

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Tensions rise

Early Friday, demonstrators in Windsor began moving trucks to open a single lane on the bridge.

But after it was cleared, a protester zipped his truck in to block it, then got out and told other protesters to "Hold the line," adding to the protest confusion and uncertainty about what would come next.

The blockade in Windsor has created a backup and delay at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron and Sarnia, forcing some truckers to go all the way to Sault Ste. Marie and then crossing in New York.

On top of that, the protest became a model for similar protests around the globe.

Peter Klassen, owner of PNA Klassen Trucking based in Wallenstein, Ontario, told the Free Press on Friday he had a few trucks as part of the blockade near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.

The company, he said, hauls general freight, primarily in Ontario, Canada.

"The reason why were here is just to get our freedom back," he said. "All mandates should be dropped."

Dick Neufeld, the owner of Blytheswood Auto based in Leamington, Ontario, said his partner was at the blockade site with a company car.

Theyre for freedom, said Neufeld, who didnt have much more to add.

A trucker moves out of the far left lane of Huron Church Road to open a lane up from the exit of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, ON, on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.

Windsor officials had been saying for days they hoped the protest was resolved soon but, if necessary, they have the police reinforcements to end it.

"It is our goal to ensure public/road safety and to keep the peace," Windsor Police tweeted early Friday.

By about 10 a.m. Friday, there appeared to be an increased police presence in Windsor as protesters erected shelters and held Tim Hortons coffee cups in their hands.

At about 10:15 a.m., a truck rolled through and opened up one lane, sounding loud horns to cheers from other protesters.

Several protesters, dressed in camouflaged winter gear, swept the streets clean with big brooms around a few beat-up couches placed in the street where the convoy is set up.

Jason Carswell, 51, of Windsor, who has been at the protest every day, said he is not a trucker but called Canadas vaccine mandates "malarkey," an expression associated with President Joe Biden.

"Science," he said, "is about questioning."

Police may want to keep the peace, but tensions are rising as the blockade continues into the evening on its fifth day.

Chris Reid, a Windsor resident riding his bike in a blue windbreaker, stood out against the protesters with their red and white Canadian flags.

He stopped mid-ride to argue with Matt, a protester holding a Canadian flag on a hockey stick.

Jackie Viola hugs her daughter Sophie, 6, both of Windsor, during an anti-mandate protest on Huron Church Road in Windsor, ON, on Friday, Feb.11, 2022.

Reid said the demonstrators are hypocritical  they're protesting for freedom, but restricting it by blocking the border.

"I'm angry that people on both sides of this border are being harmed by this," Reid said. "There are ways to voice your opinion ... stand on the sidewalk and put your signs up and do whatever you want, don't shut down our border and damage the economy."

Carswell, with a long white beard, donned a Santa hat for the protests. He walked around on Friday morning snapping photos with a digital camera.

In the middle of the street, three men bundled up for winter looked on at the protests. One of the men said he is OK with what the protesters are doing. The two other men standing with him said they were trying to "educate him" into protesting more.

Meanwhile, outside the protest, the drumbeat to end it grew louder.

Opposing parties agree

Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, leader of Canada's liberal party, and Doug Ford, premier of Ontario and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, said on Friday the bridge must reopen.

In Ottawa, Trudeau held a news conference, vowing that police and other law enforcement will use increasing measures against protesters if needed  including measures that could hurt them financially  if they dont leave.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters during a news conference on Parliament Hill on Feb. 11, 2022, in Ottawa, Canada. Canadian leader Justin Trudeau faced mounting pressure from Washington Friday to bring an end to snowballing trucker-led blockades over Covid rules, as the protest epicenter of Ontario province declared a state of emergency.

Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed, he said. Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end and it will end.

Trudeau said the use of military force is not something being contemplated at this point and did not describe the actions law enforcement might take to break up the protests. But he said there are concerns that protesters could become violent if forced to move and that he expects police to seek a peaceful resolution first to ending the blockade and take a predictable, progressive approach to their actions.

Best case scenario, Trudeau said, the protesters leave before they bring harm  economic or otherwise  to themselves or their families.

Trudeau and Biden spoke earlier in the day as well, with Biden agreeing that the blockade is having significant direct impacts on citizens lives and livelihoods.

Anti-mandate protest on Huron Church Road in Windsor, ON on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.

Friday, not long after the one lane was cleared, Ford made an announcement of his own, asking the group to end the protest and "please go home."

He declared a state of emergency and said he plans to convene cabinet and use legal authorities to urgently enact orders that will protect border crossings and impose fines of up to $100,000 and a year imprisonment.

Michigan ready to help

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hit the airways early Friday and reiterated her concerns about the protest. She told WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) that "we've been burning up the phone lines" talking to federal and Canadian officials.

It's up to the Canadian government to end or move the protest, she said.

But Michigan, she added, stands ready to assist.

She also spoke to CNN, and later released a statement adding: "We cannot let another minute go by unnecessarily because this border is too important to our economy, to our homeland security, and as we grow our economy."

Police estimate that there are about 100 protesters and between 50-75 vehicles, including tractor-trailers.

It was unclear whether the demonstrators would disperse on their own, although snow, rain, and temperatures in the 30s going down into the teens was forecast for Friday, which could dampen some resolve.

Anti-mandate protest on Huron Church Road in Windsor, ON, on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.

Throughout the week, the group has been blocking the way off the bridge and are walking around the area, waving Canadian  and American  flags and interacting with police over barricades.

They are encamped in an area that has allowed them to get food and other necessities.

Mayor Drew Dilkens has said the police are reluctant to push out protesters because there could be violence. Some protesters, he added, were reportedly armed with tire irons, and some said they'll die for their cause.

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and Business Roundtable said the disruptions at Ambassador Bridge and at other crossings are adding to the supply chain strains on manufacturers and other businesses.

"The business community is rolling up its sleeves to find workarounds and keep facilities up and running," they said in a joint statement. "But we are already seeing some production cuts, shift reductions, and temporary plant closures."

$51 million lost auto wages

Still, Windsor resident Don Gelinas warmed up Thursday evening over a charcoal grill. He said he joined the demonstration for several reasons.

Among them: He said his wife lost her job over the vaccine mandate, his daughter is unable to participate in extracurricular activities like gymnastics, he was not allowed to see his mother before she died in a long-term care facility and he has to quarantine every time he comes into the United States to get supplies for his fencing business.

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, in Windsor, Ont. on Feb. 10, 2022.

One of North American's biggest commercial gateways, the Ambassador Bridge shutdown was widely condemned by Canadian and U.S. officials Thursday, with calls for it to end immediately.

In addition, members of congress, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged the Canadian government to resolve the border standoff.

A long-haul truck driver demonstration that began late last month in Ottawa to protest vaccine-related border mandates imposed by the Canadian government has turned into an international affair.

Similar protests are spreading via social media to other countries, including Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, France and the United States.

Protesters prepare to leave for a convoy in Lyon, central France on Feb.11, 2022. Authorities in France and Belgium have banned road blockades threatened by groups organizing online against COVID-19 restrictions. The events are in part inspired by protesters in Canada. Citing "risks of trouble to public order," the Paris police department banned protests aimed at "blocking the capital" from Friday through Monday.

In Paris, the protesters  which are supported by the right-wing presidential candidate there  are using the name Convoi de la Liberte, a French translation of what Canadian truckers are calling themselves, the Freedom Convoy.

By one estimate, more than $51 million in direct lost auto-industry wages has been lost in Michigan as a result of the protest. The East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group released its conclusion Thursday.

But it noted, that the figure does not include losses in other industries.

Free Press staff writers Phoebe Wall Howard, Todd Spangler, Emma Stein, Jamie L. LaReau and Eric D. Lawrence contributed.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge grants injunction to end Ambassador Bridge blockade
Lovina Eicher's Amish Kitchen logo

We ended up with 1012 inches of snow in this area last week. Now the temperature is above freezing this morning.

This forenoon, my plans are to go with daughters Verena and Susan and grandchildren Jennifer and Ryan to have a coffee break with Martha. Martha is a widow with five children in this community. Her oldest child was nine yesterday. Susan and Martha have become friends since both losing their husbands. Martha and her children are moving back to her home community closer to her parents. Susan wanted to go visit her before she moves. Daughter Lovina might also go along.

Tomorrow morning, some of our church ladies are going to go for a coffee break at neighbor Susies in honor of her fortieth birthday. Her birthday was last week, but due to the weather, it was postponed. That might be the reason Im not getting much accomplished this week with two coffee breaks. Sometimes you have to just let the work go and take one day at a time. This week, I am glad to rest my right shoulder and arm. Somehow when I turned around, something started hurting my shoulder, and the pain ran down my right arm. I have numbness in my arm and fingers, so I am thinking its a pinched nerve. I am rotating cold packs and heat to loosen it up. I sure am looking forward to the pain leaving.

Sunday was baptismal services in our church with four young souls accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Among the four were nephew Benjamin and his special friend Crystal. Jacob (sister Emmas husband) would have been so happy to see everyone that came to support the baptism. It is now five months since he passed away. Emma has many lonely days without her dear husband. Brother Albert and Sarah Irene and some of their family and sister Liz and Levi and some of their family attended the baptismal services. It was so good to visit with them. Sister Verena went home with sister Liz and Levi and returned to Michigan last night. After being here a week, she went to stay with sister Emma again. Our family and some of Crystals family and Emmas married children had a delicious supper at sister Emmas house Sunday night. Crystals mother brought supper in for us all. There was tater tot casserole, meatballs, lettuce salad and desserts.

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Saturday, Feb. 5, daughter Susan and granddaughter Jennifer attended baptismal services for Moses two youngest siblings. Little grandson Ryan stayed here with us. He looked so cute following Grandpa Joe around outside. He told me he is helping Grandpa do the chores. Daughter Verena also spent some time here Saturday. Its always so good to have her home again. Moses birthday would have been Saturday, and Ryan heard Susan and Verena talking about Moses birthday, so he started singing Happy Birthday to Mose Daddy in the bathtub. Precious!

Sunday, Feb. 6, was son Josephs special friend Graces birthday. Joseph bought a cake and made supper on the grill Saturday night in her honor.

It is already 6 a.m., and I want to prepare something to take along to the coffee break. I will probably slice summer sausage and cheese and take crackers to eat with that. Susan and Verena are taking some goodies too.

Ill sign off wishing you all Gods blessings as we travel into the unknown future.

A reader shared this recipe for honey-peanut butter cookies with me.

Honey-Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup honey

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine shortening, peanut butter, honey, eggs, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Roll into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in flour. Bake for 810 minutes.

Lovinas Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Amish Kitchen: Taking time for coffee breaks with family
CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper is now a father of two. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

CNN journalist Anderson Cooper is now a father of two and will be taking time off from his show next week to focus on his growing family.

The "Anderson Cooper 360 host announced the arrival of his second child, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, during his news program on Thursday, stoically delivering the happy news in the same way he would read the latest headlines.

"I wanted to start off with some good news, which also happens to be very personal news," Cooper said, looking back on how he announced the arrival of his first son, Wyatt, in April 2020 during the "early dark days of the pandemic."

"These are the pictures I showed of Wyatt then, taken just days after he was born. This is Wyatt today. He is nearly 22 months old. He is sweet, funny and the greatest joy of my life. If he looks particularly happy in this picture, it's because he now has a baby brother," Cooper said, pausing for a quick chuckle about the reveal.

"His name is Sebastian, and I would like you to meet him," Cooper said, looping pictures and a video of the tiny tot. "This is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. He was 6.8 pounds at birth, and he is healthy and happy. Even his occasional hiccups are, to me, adorable. He mostly just sleeps and eats and certainly poops, but he already seems like a wise and thoughtful little chap."

Cooper, 54, said that he and his "best friend and former partner" Benjamin Maisani will be raising the boys together and that Maisani will be adopting Wyatt.

"We're co-parents. Wyatt calls me 'daddy' and Benjamin 'papa.' We're a family," Cooper said. "Benjamin is also in the process of adopting Wyatt, whose last name will be changed to Maisani-Cooper as well."

The cable news anchor, son of late heiress and fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt and actor-screenwriter Wyatt Cooper, also thanked his doctors and Sebastian's surrogate for "all the sacrifices" that she and her entire family made. He also praised her and all surrogates "who help bring new life and new love into the world."

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"When I announced Wyatt's birth, I said that I like to imagine my mom and dad and brother  all of whom are no longer alive  with their arms around each other, smiling and joyful at his birth. Well, these past 22 months I have felt them watching over us very strongly. I already feel their love for Sebastian," he continued.

"The family I was born into may be gone, but I feel them alive in the family we've created. New love and new life," he said, concluding the segment by quoting his father: "I wish you all love and laughter, good thoughts and happy days."

The father of two then turned the remainder of the show over to fill-in host John Berman, who was nearly in tears after Cooper's reveal.

"I don't know how you got through that," Berman said. "I didn't get through that. That was so lovely."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is preparing his team to face France (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire)

Andy Farrell wants Ireland to lay down markers every time they play and has urged his players to bravely stick to their principles against the physicality and flair of France.

Saturday evenings crunch clash in Paris is likely to have a major bearing on the destination of the Guinness Six Nations title.

Pre-tournament favourites France possess an imposing forward pack, backed up by the world-class talents of scrum-half star Antoine Dupont while the in-form Irish are seeking a 10th consecutive Test win.

Ireland head coach Farrell says his side must focus on sustaining recent impressive performances and not become preoccupied with attempting to mitigate the strengths of Fabien Galthies formidable hosts.

Weve got to play our own game, thats the way were thinking, he said.

Weve fallen into that trap before against big, physical sides and weve not been composed enough to be able to play our game, so weve learnt some lessons along the way with that.

Weve got to be brave enough to play the game how we want to play it and not get distracted with thoughts like that.

We want to lay down markers everywhere we go.

A big part of international rugby or any big sporting event is youve got to be mentally strong to be able to stay in the moment and theres no doubt that France are going to have a purple patch, its an absolute given.

How we get back down to neutral and get back on task is going to be key, theres no doubt.

Ireland began their campaign by brushing aside defending champions Wales in Dublin, while Les Bleus were also bonus-point victors on the opening weekend, beating Italy 37-10.

Speaking specifically of world player of the year Dupont, Farrell said: The reason he is such a great player is because of the dents his forwards tend to make pretty close to the ruck.

The shape that he brings off nine and the rucking that follows always gives a nine room and space to be able to play how he wants to play.

Obviously hes a running nine and a serious threat because of his speed and strength. Its something that were certainly aware of.

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Headline news from Farrells team announcement was the loss of influential captain Johnny Sexton to a hamstring issue.

Munster fly-half Joey Carbery, who has endured an injury nightmare in recent years, will deputise to make his maiden Six Nations start, with Jack Carty acting as understudy.

Farrell has backed Carbery to make the most of the unexpected opportunity.

(PA Wire)

Hes a man of many talents and hes one hell of a player, Farrell said of the 26-year-old.

I want to see him be himself, be super confident that hes going to bring his own game to the party, and hes in a great place.

Hes been involved in some big games for us over the years and hes had some downs with the injuries, but hes had a good solid two-and-a-half weeks training with us. He knows exactly how we want to play as a team and were expecting him to deliver that like everyone else.

I think his experiences make him more hungry to get back on this type of stage and to perform and be the player that he knows he is and wants to be.
(Getty Images)

Valentines Day is fast approaching, but one couple who arent feeling the pressure are Annette Bening and Warren Beatty.

Annette Bening shared during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show how her husband likes to celebrate Valentines Day. "Valentines is pretty low-key, the actor told host Kelly Clarkson. He will generally make me a little valentine with just a little red felt pen and make a little heart.

She added, Hes very economical in his message. Bening said that finding gifts for Beatty is difficult because theres nothing to buy for him that he likes. Its usually something small, its a note, its a flower. The couple will be celebrating 30 years of marriage in March.

Actor and director Kenneth Branagh joined Bening on the show to promote their film Death on the Nile. The Belfast director shared that he and his wife, Lindsay Brunnock, have been married for 18 years and his Valentines Day tradition is performing bad poetry for his wife. Offering up an example, he said, Roses are red, violets are blue, you need the bathroom but I use the loo.

Bening and Beatty share four children together. In 2020, the Oscar nominee opened up to The Daily Beast about her experience parenting her transgender son Stephen, saying he "taught me a lot about what it means to be a human being, and be responsive to your own development, and your own notions of self.

"These are evolving issues for a lot of people, and thats why some people dont come out until theyre older  or they come out and as they come out, they might shift and change the way they express their sexuality or their gender," she said.
NEW YORK  A group of anti-vaccine municipal workers in New York City launched a last-minute effort to avoid getting fired Friday as Mayor Eric Adams said other vaccine-resistant employees were finally getting the jab.

Claiming that the rules violate their fundamental religious and constitutional rights, the vaccine opponents asked a Brooklyn federal judge to temporarily bar the city from firing workers who havent been vaccinated. Similar lawsuits filed by city workers against the vaccine mandate have flopped in court.

As plaintiffs including a NYPD officer, a FDNY rescue medic and employees of other agencies sought to make their case in court, Adams stuck by the mandate, which was created by his predecessor Bill de Blasio.

Its not about termination. Its about vaccination, he told reporters. We want people to be vaccinated. I dont want to see the city close down again. And all we can do is continue to encourage people to get vaccinated and hopefully people get the booster shot.

Late last month, the city sent termination warnings to nearly 4,000 employees. Adams on Friday suggested some of those workers have since gotten vaccinated, but said the exact number likely wouldnt be known until the weekend.

What we do know is that we have had an amazing response of from city workers and we are truly encouraged by those numbers, he said.

Municipal workers had to show theyd gotten at least two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Friday.

The anti-vaccine suit, led by a group called New Yorkers for Religious Liberty Inc., argues that the mandate contains unconstitutional conditions on employment.

These are the heroes on the front lines for the last two years, and all of a sudden, now theyre being told they cant come to work if they want to follow their faith and practice their religion, the group's lawyer Sujata Gibson told the Daily News.

Echoing a number of cops, plaintiffs including NYPD officer Dean Paolillo cited concerns over the use of fetal cell lines during COVID vaccine research.

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I ... could never take any medications or vaccines that have a connection to abortion in their development and/or testing as it would be a grave sin against the Lord, Paolillo said in a sworn declaration. I cannot use products that use aborted cell lines in either developing or testing.

Aborted fetal cell lines, or cloned copies of cells, are commonly used in medical research.

The suit makes iffy claims about the vaccines, arguing that that they blunt the severity of infection  a widely accepted fact  but dont stop transmission to others.

Infections with the delta variant in vaccinated persons potentially have reduced transmissibility than infections in unvaccinated persons, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated last year, noting more research was needed.

The suit faces long odds. Late Thursday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge rejected a union coalitions effort to block the firings. And last fall, a Staten Island judge denied a request from the citys largest police union to prevent the mandate from going into effect.


Crime

Willcox native 37-year-old Joshua William Scheu was sentenced on Tuesday to 210 months in prison in a 15-year-old rape case.

Scheu had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor for a crime he committed in November 2004, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Arizona.

Scheu was driving on Gila River Indian Nation land when he pulled over on the side of the road. There he found a minor who was waiting for some friends. Scheu exited his vehicle then chased the child before sexually assaulting them in a cornfield, the release stated.

The case remained unsolved for 15 years until DNA evidence confirmed Scheu as the attacker.

The FBI field office in Sierra Vista investigated the case, while the assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Julie A. Sottosanti in Tucson handled the prosecution.

After he is released from prison, Scheu will be placed on supervised release for life with "stringent sex offender conditions." He will also be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program, the release stated.

According to FBI Phoenix special agent Sean Kaul, the sentencing was a "clear message" to those who "sexually harm innocent children in the community."

"The FBI is committed to preventing violent crimes against children and to bring those who harm them to justice, no matter how long it takes," Kaul said in the release. "Thanks to the dedicated work from our agents and our law enforcement partners who aggressively pursue these heinous criminals, this individual will finally be held accountable for his actions."

This case is another great example of the meaningful role that DNA testing has had in solving cold cases. We are grateful for the tenacity of our law enforcement partners in continuing to pursue cases until the offenders are brought to justice," U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino said in the release.

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Reach breaking news reporter Amaris Encinas at amaris.encinas@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @amarisencinas.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joshua William Scheu sentenced to 210 months in rape cold case
The Recount

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) sounded off during a press conference about Trevor Noahs jabs at him and the state of Florida during the White House Correspondents dinner on Saturday. The Florida governor and possible 2024 presidential candidate who did not attend the dinner said he never would have and had no interest in it. During his monologue, Noah roasted politicians from both parties.
COTONOU, Benin (AP)  Attacks by suspected Islamic extremists in northern Benin have killed at least eight people, including army soldiers, park rangers and a French instructor, the government has confirmed.

Six people were killed and a dozen injured in an ambush Tuesday which included explosions from improvised land mines on a patrol of park rangers in the north of the W National Park near the borders of neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, Benin government spokesman Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said.

Five rangers and their French instructor were killed in that attack, he said.

The rangers were part of an anti-poaching patrol working with African Parks, an international organization that manages several parks on the continent including the W National Park. The W park is shaped like the letter in the alphabet as it follows the bends in the Niger River as it straddles Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Reinforcements from the Benin Armed Forces have been deployed to the area and African Parks is working with the government to secure its staff and the surrounding civilian communities, the spokesman said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic extremist groups with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have spread violence across West Africa, including to coastal countries, like Benin.

The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors office says it has opened an investigation into the killings, adding that the French instructor involved was 50 years old.

A second attack occurred on Thursday in which a parks patrol hit an improvised landmine and then was assaulted. A civilian and a parks agent died in that incident, he said.

There have been multiple attacks against Benins armed forces since December, according to an internal security report seen by The Associated Press. In December two Benin soldiers were killed by jihadis near the border with Burkina Faso.

The government has warned that security is critical because of the presence of extremists near an area called the triple point where the park borders all three countries.

The latest attacks in Benin raise concerns about the potential spread of militant violence spilling over from the Sahel region, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory. The risk would be a potential security crisis, particularly in the north of the country, which would overwhelm the security apparatus there, something that should be prevented early on.
Although your favorite restaurant might look busy, many have not completely recovered to pre-pandemic sales levels.

Nearly 70% of Indiana restaurant operators say business conditions in January were worse than they were three months before, with the ripple effects of the omicron surge forcing them to raise prices and shorten hours.

More than half are now closed on days they'd normally be open, according to the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association. The figures came from a Jan. 6-18 national survey by the National Restaurant Association.

Database: More than 250 Indy-area restaurants got $70M in COVID relief. See who got how much.

With 81% of restaurants experiencing a decline in customer demand for indoor on-premises dining in recent weeks, 52% of Indiana restaurants reduced the number of days they operated and 37% cut the number of hours operated. And 33% reduced seating capacity.

Its a case of going from bad to worse in the industry as the nation approaches the second anniversary of the pandemic, with 54% of Indiana operators reporting accumulation of additional debt since the beginning of the outbreak in March 2020, and 50% having fallen behind on expenses since that time.

Any sales growth in 2021 was driven by higher menu prices, as operators offset rising costs. About 81% said their total costs were higher in December 2021 than they were in December 2020.

Fresh seafood: Caplinger's is 'super stoked' to offer its farm-grown catfish

The industry  which accounted for 10% of Hoosier jobs pre-pandemic  is using the numbers to illustrate the dire circumstances in which restaurants find themselves as it calls for Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Restaurants missed funding

The fund was part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act that was signed into law in March 2021 and authorized the U.S. Small Business Administration to award $28.6 billion in funds. The program provided grants for 101,000 restaurants nationwide  about one-third of the eligible applications received.

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Fifty-seven percent of Indiana restaurant operators that applied for an RRF grant but did not receive funding said it is unlikely that they will be able to stay in business beyond the pandemic without a grant, according to the IRLA.

Indylicious: Sign up for local dining news

While about 250 Indianapolis restaurants and catering companies received $70 million in relief, others haven't yet seen the full amounts for which they were approved.

They were operations such as the resilient Sahm Hospitality Group, which includes 13 restaurants, among them Half Liter BBQ, 5301 Winthrop Ave., where CEO Ed Sahm and Eddie Sahm, chief operating officer, on Thursday talked about the need for Congress to replenish the fund.

Eddie Sahm, co-owner of Liter House, an eatery and brewhouse in the So Bro neighborhood of Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Customers will not be allowed access to the place, but will be able to order food made in-house, as well as low-cost groceries that they can pick up. Liter House will also do deliveries for folks who don't want to leave their houses.

The company is owed $3.3 million from the fund, Ed Sahm said, adding the figure is about 75% of the amount for which it was approved in 2021.

Since the beginning, we continued to work to adapt to the reality of the situation; the mandates, and maintain our vision in our industry, he said, noting the company has invested millions in various properties, helping to spur neighborhood development.

Operating on a promise

The Sahms took leadership in the the local restaurant community early in the pandemic, facilitating meal programs and meeting with other restaurants to provide tips and information for navigating the crisis.

Without the grants, Sahm Hospitality will have to make drastic changes in operations where it has continued to employee people, paying higher wages and following though on projects to which it committed prior to the pandemic, Eddie Sahm said.

Most romantic: Westfield's The Italian House among OpenTable's list of places for amore

So it's not like our operation has taken out foot off the gas, he said. But all of that was expected in RRF. We've taken personal investments of our own to keep this thing floating, thinking that was going to come in.

It's not extra cash. It's not us asking for a handout. It was promised. We made business decisions to stay open based on the promise.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter: @cherylvjackson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis restaurants felt omicron pain, to look for federal relief
Jabari Banks takes over from Will Smith's famous 1990s role in new reboot series 'Bel-Air'. (Peacock/Sky)

Bel-Air star Jabari Banks has opened up on the daunting task of taking over from his idol Will Smith in a reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The new Peacock series is a dramatic take on the classic sitcom that launched Smith's career and sees Banks take on the lead role as a disadvantaged teen from West Philadelphia moving in with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air for a fresh start.

Banks, who is from West Philadelphia himself, has told how he looks up to Smith and what a huge task it was to be cast as Will.

He said: "Im definitely filling some big shoes but Im ready to take on the challenge. Im ready to be there for the kids who felt like me, who didnt really have that outlet, and who come from places like me. Im ready to represent and Im ready to open up doors for them in the same way Will has opened the doors for me."

Read more: See the 2022 Oscars nominations

Jabari Banks says he has always looked up to Will Smith. (Peacock)

Read more: Will Smith teases potential political career

Talking about Hollywood star Smith, he added: "Its because of his motivational words, the way that he carries himself and goes about his life, and his dedication to his craft.

"Its something that I really admire and Ive definitely applied that to my life. All of his work has been culturally relevant and poignant."

Showrunner Rasheed Newson admitted it was a huge responsibility to find the right person for the role.

He said: "I think that casting this role was the most stressful thing that either (co-showrunner) T.J. (Brady) or I have ever done in show business. You just cant get it wrong and youve got to find somebody that everybody agrees is the one - all the way up to the real Will Smith.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's cast. (NBC)

Read more: Will Smith pays emotional tribute to Uncle Phil Fresh Prince actor

"This person was going to be playing the role that put Will on the map. So we felt that the mandate was if youve got to impress just one person its got to be Will Smith, and Jabari did that with flying colours.

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Brady added: "It was incredibly powerful to watch the video of Will Smith telling Jabari that he got the role as we witnessed the passing of the proverbial crown."

Newson has also hinted that fans of the original show can look out for plot developments mined from its famous theme tune which was performed by Smith.

He said: "If you listen to the words of the old original theme song, that could be a roadmap of Easter Eggs to look for. There are some mentions here and there and if you listen to the full song on Spotify or iTunes, there are some extra verses in there that we may even have pulled some things out of."

Bel-Air begins streaming on Peacock on Monday 14 February on Sky and NOW.

Watch: Bel-Air's first trailer




Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops be sent to Poland as fears over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine rise.

The extra forces, sent at the direction of President Biden, increase the number of U.S. forces deployed to and repositioned to Eastern Europe to 6,000.

The troops, who will come from the 82nd Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., will depart over the next couple days and are expected to be in place by early next week, according to a senior Defense official.

The order comes as the White House on Friday warned a Russian invasion of Ukraine could involve a military assault on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital.

"We've been clear that it could take a range of different forms, but I want to be equally clear that one of those forms is a rapid assault on the city of Kyiv," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing.

Russia has placed well over 100,000 Kremlin troops at its border with Ukraine and in Belarus, with Western nations concerned that a full-scale invasion could come in a matter of weeks.

Sullivan said officials have not determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade, but intelligence indicates Moscow has accumulated enough forces at the Ukrainian border that an invasion could happen before the Winter Olympics end on Feb. 20.

The new level of urgency about the imminent threat of a Russian attack has prompted Biden and other officials to urge Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately. Biden has also given the Pentagon approval for U.S. forces in Poland to potentially help Americans evacuate Ukraine.

The additional American troops ordered Friday will join the 1,700 airborne soldiers sent to Poland on Feb. 2, nearly two-thirds of which have already arrived, according to the Pentagon.

Those 1,700 are commanded by Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue and are part of roughly 3,000 troops ordered to Eastern Europe last week.

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Another 300 members of the 18th Airborne Corps headquarters element were sent to and have arrived in Germany. And an additional 1,000 troops were repositioned from Germany to Romania.

All 6,000 will report to U.S. European Command head Gen. Tod Wolters and "reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO's eastern flank, train with host-nation forces, and contribute to a wide range of contingencies," according to the senior official.

The official added that the additional deployments are temporary and "meant to supplement for a brief time the more than 80,000 U.S. troops already in Europe on rotational and permanent orders."
President Joe Biden. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to Americans who remain in Ukraine on Thursday.

In an NBC interview, he urged them to leave the country, which faces a possible Russian invasion.

Biden said he won't send US troops into Ukraine to help fleeing Americans if Russia attacks.

President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Americans that are still in Ukraine to immediately depart the country as it faces the looming threat of a possible Russian invasion.

In a sit-down interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt, the president issued a weighty warning, saying the United States would not send troops to rescue remaining American citizens in Ukraine if Russia attacks.

"It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world," Biden said. "It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

The president told NBC there is no scenario in which he would send US troops in to rescue fleeing Americans if Russia launches a military offensive against Ukraine, noting the risk of US and Russian military personnel being pulled into conflict.

"That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another," he said. "We're in a very different world than we've ever been."

Biden's message Thursday was decidedly more urgent than similar statements he made earlier this week, when he said it would be "wise" for American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country.

"I'd hate see them get caught in a crossfire if in fact they did invade," Biden said during a Monday press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House.

The State Department on Thursday issued a separate advisory warning the US "will not be able to evacuate US citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine." The statement also said that normal consulate services, which typically includes aid to American citizens attempting to leave the country, would be "severely impacted."

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On Sunday, The Washington Post reported that Russia had almost completed preparations for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine that could result in 50,000 civilian casualties.

The report warned that such an attack could also devastate the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and potentially trigger a humanitarian refugee crisis.

US military intelligence suggests Putin intends to attack in the coming weeks, though the size and scale of such an offensive are unclear. US officials believe the Kremlin may be preparing to launch an assault on Kyiv, an invasion that could be the largest military offensive in Europe since World War II, according to The Post.

Biden told NBC on Thursday that even if Putin is "foolish enough to go in," he believes the Russian leader is "smart enough not to, in fact, do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens."

Biden confirmed to Holt that he has warned Putin of the consequences that would result if Americans are negatively affected by a Russian incursion into Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Biden plans to sign an executive order Friday that would split the $7 billion in Afghan government funds held in the United States, dividing the funds into money that some families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks can access through legal means and the other half for programs providing humanitarian relief and help with other basic needs for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has over $9 billion in reserves  including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest are largely in U.K., Germany, Switzerland, and the UAE. Most of the assets that are in the U.S. come from assistance that the U.S. and international donors have provided to the Afghan government over the past two decades.

The Biden administration announced the move Friday after spending months trying to sort out how to free up some of the assets to support the needs of the Afghan people without allowing the Taliban to access the funds, while also considering ongoing litigation by U.S. terrorism victims.

The executive order Mr. Biden will be signing will transfer the funds into a consolidated account held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The U.S. aims to allow $3.5 billion of the assets to be used for programs to benefit the Afghan people.

Many U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of victims who died in the 9/11attacks, have been suing the Taliban and trying to access the assets in federal courts. The executive order will allow courts to decide whether U.S. claimants are able to access any or all of the remaining $3.5 billion.

Funds will not be transferred until the courts rule to do so, and the transfer of the funds for Afghanistan aid efforts is expected to be a multi-step process. Terrorism victims have already obtained writs against the Afghan reserves, and an administration official said the funds were likely to be tied up in courts for years while the families' lawsuits are adjudicated.

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The Biden administration believes Friday's executive action offers the best chance of "more quickly freeing up a large portion" of the reserves to help the Afghan people.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan only made the country's deeply troubled economy worse. Afghanistan is plagued by corruption, a long drought and high poverty rates exceeding 50%. International donors were already footing the bill for 75% of the country's public expenditures. Since the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan's economy has been contracting further. Top financial officials fled during the takeover, so the Taliban has been struggling with the financial management of the country.

The U.S. provides more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan than any other country, announcing a new contribution of $308 million in January, on top of the $516 million that it has given since August. Since September, the Treasury Department has been providing authorizations that facilitate the efforts of non-governmental organizations, the U.S. and international organizations to give aid to the Afghan people.

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Update: Norman Arnold was safely returned to his home, police said Friday afternoon.

The Blue Springs Police Department is seeking assistance from the public to find an 82-year-old resident reported missing late Friday morning.

Norman Arnold, a Blue Springs resident, was reported missing around 11 a.m. Friday by his wife, Jennifer Brady, a department spokeswoman, said in a statement. Arnold, who suffers from dementia, was last seen at his residence in the 2400 block of N.W. 11th Street.

The police department said Arnold was in contact by phone with his wife on Friday morning, but he could not say where he was exactly. A phone locator showed him to be in Lane, Kansas  roughly 75 miles from his home  before the cell phone apparently turned off.

Arnold may be driving a white 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with a Missouri plate: GU15U.

Police are asking anyone with information concerning Arnolds whereabouts to contact the Blue Springs police dispatch unit at 816-228-0151.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), at the Capitol on Dec. 15, has been reticent to truly stand up to former President Trump. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

It took her three days, but Sen. Susan Collins finally criticized the Republican National Committee for its shameful resolution last week calling the insurrectionists of Jan. 6, 2021, ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.

Thats absurd, she said Monday.

Thems fighting words from the Maine Republican, who typically says shes simply very concerned about one Trumpian outrage or another. Its a routine that has justifiably turned Collins into a meme for feeble protest, and a figure of mockery on Saturday Night Live.

But why pick on Collins? Most Republicans remained silent about the RNC resolution, which, to Donald Trumps delight, censured Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their anti-Trump but pro-democracy work on the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol as Congress certified Joe Bidens victory.

Others, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, likewise waited days to react, until the controversy threatened to erode the partys edge in the midterm elections. And many supported the RNC action, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, though he ran from an inquiring reporter rather than literally stand his ground.

So why pick on Collins? Because she promised more, and still purports to reflect a better politics. If the Collinses of the Republican Party wont lead in trying to break the grip of a self-aggrandizing, lying authoritarian, a healthier democracy is a pipe dream.

For 25 years in the Senate, Collins has held herself out as a force for reason, moderation, bipartisanship and norms. Yet for five years she has mostly been a sheep in Trumps flock, effectively enabling him and occasionally providing political cover for Republican men. She poses as the protege of Maines famed former Sen. Margaret Chase Smith. Yet shes never gone to the Senate floor to deliver a Declaration of Conscience, as Smith did in 1950  at some political price  against that earlier Republican demagogue, Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

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In one of the earliest challenges to McCarthys anticommunist witch hunt, Smith warned against a Republican regime embracing a philosophy that lacks political integrity or intellectual honesty. Sound familiar? While 1950 also was a midterm election year, Smith insisted, I do not want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny: Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.

Compare that with Collins wobbly stand this week. She objected to the RNC resolution not on principle but on politics: Every moment Republicans spend debating the 2020 election and the rioters behavior, she said, moves us further away from the goal of victory this fall.

Worse, last week Collins wouldnt rule out backing Trumps election in 2024 when she was pressed twice in a nationally televised interview  this after Trump, at a rally the night before, told cheering Texans that, if elected, he might pardon those charged in the Capitol siege.

But let me say this, Collins assured ABC News George Stephanopoulos, I do not think the president should have made  that pledge to do pardons.

Thats telling ol Trump, senator. By the way, hes the former president.

Her profile in cowardice was especially jarring given Collins vote a year ago to convict Trump for inciting the Capitol mob. Had he been convicted after that second impeachment, he would have been barred from seeking office again.

Collins has seesawed before. When Trump ran for president in 2016, she announced in a Washington Post op-ed that she would vote against him based on his unapologetic cruelty and bigotry. Regrettably, she wrote, his essential character appears to be fixed, and he seems incapable of change or growth.

Yet four years later, Collins decided Trump could change, despite all his abuses in office. She justified her vote to acquit him after his first impeachment  for extorting a foreign leader to find dirt on Biden  by saying he had learned his lesson: I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future. He quickly proved her wrong.

That episode recalled her previous insistence that Brett M. Kavanaugh, as a Supreme Court justice, would respect court precedents and treat abortion rights as settled law  hed told her so! She was either embarrassingly credulous or willfully misleading as she sought to justify her vote for him. He, too, is proving her wrong.

Unlike in 2016, before the 2020 presidential election Collins declined to say if shed vote for Trump, telling a Maine newspaper, Im just not going to engage in political discussions at this point.

What had changed? Trump had solidified control of their party like no president before him. In 2020, Collins was fighting for reelection herself, and was unwilling to alienate Maines MAGA voters.

It turns out that Collins is little different from most politicians: She shies from stands that might threaten her career or political opportunities. Associates say shes rationalized her wimpy opportunism, confident that she represents her state and region well, and certainly better than some right-wing Republican or liberal Democrat who might replace her if she were voted out.

If Republicans win a majority in November, Collins is in line to be chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a career capstone that would let her bag billions more for Maine, maybe even get her name on some buildings. For that, however, she needs Republican senators support. And as Cheney illustrates, one risks retribution by prominently renouncing Trump.

Yet as Cheney has said: History is watching. Our children are watching. Collins (and other Republicans, too) should take heed, and think beyond the politics of the moment.

After all, we wouldnt even remember her predecessor had Margaret Chase Smith not acted seven decades ago in the nations interest, rather than her own.

@jackiekcalmes

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A restaurant in Canada released an apology after telling a group of unwanted South Asian university students to leave its premises on Saturday.



On TikTok, user @jasmeenab posted a video of the group of students speaking to RCMP officers outside the establishment after having been asked to leave.



Disgusting behaviour from cactus club to call the police on 12 young men just trying to enjoy a birthday dinner, read the caption for the now-viral clip.



@jasmeenab Disgusting behaviour from cactus club to call the police on 12 young men just trying to enjoy a birthday dinner.  abcdefu - GAYLE







In a separate video, one of the students can be heard complaining about how they were thrown out of the restaurant without anyone confirming their identities first just for being brown.









According to the Coquitlam Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the restaurant called to request assistance with handling 12 unwanted guests.



The students were reportedly told to leave after being mistakenly connected with a separate incident that purportedly happened at the upscale restaurant chains Langley location.



On Wednesday, Cactus Club in Coquitlam offered their unreserved apology to the customers who were forced to leave after the police were called, reported the Daily Hive.



In a statement, the restaurant later said calling the officers was a mistake and noted that the students should not have been asked to leave, reported The Voice.



Last Saturday night, a group came into our Coquitlam location. Our security personnel believed that a few members of the party were connected to a serious incident that occurred at another one of our restaurants, and the RCMP was called, Cactus Club said.



We recognize how upsetting this experience was for the guests involved. We deeply regret what occurred and offer our unreserved apology, added the restaurant.



Featured Image via @jasmeenab

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NICE, France (AP)  Two years after the pandemic shut down the Carnival in the French Riviera city of Nice, artists, florists, actors, technicians and drivers are putting the final touches on their costumes, lavish flower arrangements and giant floats set to roll down the city's famed boulevards and squares on Friday.

It will be a loud, rich and crowded chain of events over the next two weeks. The Carnivals 149th edition is led by the King of Animals, celebrating nature, light, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings.

Its rejuvenation, said Nicole Bravi, the director of the florist association, La Nouvelle Vague, that has been designing flower arrangements for the Carnival floats for 20 years. Flowers are a prominent part of the Nice Carnival and feature in their own parade known as the Battle of Flowers. Traditionally, people throw flowers at the spectators but this year they decided to hand them out to people.

Its to express our desire to reconnect with people, Bravi said. There has been so much grief and nostalgia and melancholy that we just want to give people some beauty back.

The Nice Carnival is part of a European medieval carnival tradition, and the city's two-week festival of excess in costumes, food and music is one of the world biggest, after those in Venice, Rio de Janeiro and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Public celebrations in the city on the French Mediterranean coast started in the early 19th century to honor visiting nobility. There were street battles in which people pelted one another with flour and eggs. By the late 1800s a modern version of the Carnival emerged after the local painter, Alexis Mossa designed grotesque characters and put them on floats.

The Carnival is a rare event in the French republic that offers a chance for royalty to return. In line with this years theme, the king and queen have human faces perched on animal bodies  and giant crowns, of course. They will be overseeing their subjects in the citys main Massena Square until the end of the month when they will be burned and buried.

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French political leaders need not feel shunned. Candidates for April's presidential election are featured as well. Their giant faces are perched on the bodies of crabs.

They are in a basket of crabs, said Pierre Povigna, a fourth generation carnivalier from Nice, whose family has designed the royal floats for decades. "Its a famous dish, le panier des crabes, a crab basket, Povigna explained. But before serving it, crabs are put in a basket and they turn on one another, they go after one another with their claws, he said.

The city will be divided into carnival zones for the next two weeks and while Nice celebrates a return to life, according to Povigna, residents and tourists will only be allowed to access the festivities with a vaccination pass in line with national health regulations. Masks are recommended, but not mandatory outdoors.

However, city officials are expected to announces new rules at the opening ceremony Friday evening.

In a sign that Nice, like the rest of France, is ready to turn the page and its back to the pandemic, a journalist reporting from the decorated and illuminated Massena Square for BFM television ended her report by taking off her surgical mask and covering her eyes with a Venetian mask instead. I urge you to do the same, she said.
Feb. 11LAWRENCE  Laura Perez Concepcion can see the city's post office from her home. Yet, she said she cannot get her mail delivered in a timely fashion to her box at 105 Lowell St.

"We are so behind ... When we get our bills they come two to three weeks late," said Concepcion, 28, who works for a non-profit organization and has a four-year-old child.

Residents at addresses throughout the city are complaining about delivery  or lack thereof  of their mail to their respective mailboxes.

Some have posted their complaints about the issue to social media and soon found they weren't alone.

Important pieces of mail  bills, pension checks, tax documents and more  are reportedly arriving at a snail's pace. In addition to headaches and frustration, the hold ups are resulting in late payment fees at times, residents said.

"We go weeks without getting mail ... We haven't received our mortgage statements, our tax information," said Yahaira Rosa, who lives on Prospect Hill.

Concepcion and Rosa said they've both complained at the Lawrence Post Office and were told staff shortages and COVID-19 illnesses are affecting delivery. Concepcion said she was told to consider going paperless and having her bills delivered via email.

"I want to keep my receipts," Concepcion said.

Management at the Lawrence Post Office referred questions on the delays to USPS public relations.

There, a spokesperson said some "short term delays" were recently caused "due to inaccessibility of mailboxes while customers cleaned out" from a snowstorm.

"Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present unprecedented challenges and occasionally impact employee availability," wrote Stephen Doherty, United States Postal Service Strategic Communications Specialist for the Atlantic Area  Northeast Region, in an email to The Eagle-Tribune.

On Oct. 1, the postal service announced "new service standards" for First-Class Mail and periodical delivery.

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They said they'd be making better use of "trucks and existing surface network to move the mail, relying less on costly air transportation." The changes were expected to cut costs but not impact delivery times, according to USPS statements at that time.

Doherty, in his recent email, said USPS is taking "specific actions to continue service to our valued customers, which includes continuing to fully authorize overtime to allow employees to work the time necessary to deliver mail, expanding mail deliveries to earlier in the morning, later in the evening, and on Sundays to ensure customers receive mail at the earliest date possible, using additional carriers from nearby offices, when necessary, to maintain mail deliveries by assessing daily needs and repositioning employees to where the mail volume is daily and hiring additional personnel."

Doherty also said despite the "restraints imposed by the pandemic, the Postal Service is coming off of a very successful holiday season."

"With recent investments in new machines, new facilities, people and new technologies included in the Postmaster General's Delivering for America Plan we're poised to have an equally successful 2022," he wrote.

"As we move past these short term employee availability issues, we will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to assure that our Lawrence customers get the kind of First Class service that they've come to expect and deserve," Doherty said.

He said customers experiencing delays should contact our Customer Service Center at (800) 275-8777.

And claims for reimbursement of late fees should be filed with the companies assessing those fees, Doherty said.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.
Vivian McLaughlin, left, with her nephew Adrian Ponder on McLaughlin's 99th birthday.

On the evening of Jan. 19, two days after Adrian Ponder had done his part to ensure his great aunt Vivian McLaughlin had a proper funeral service and burial during a pandemic, he was preparing to go to work at Wayne State Universitys Integrative Biosciences Center as a security monitor.

The fact that Ponder had found the internal strength to work  on the midnight shift no less  at this stage of his lifes journey is a continuing tribute to McLaughlin, who lived to be 105 years old.

At 73, Ponder is a mere babe in comparison to his aunts longevity. Nonetheless, he has been connected to some unforgettable moments and periods in the citys history, and some of those connections have left lasting scars. Such was the case on July 26, 1967  the fourth morning of widespread violence in the city  when three teenagers from Ponders Virginia Park neighborhood: Aubrey Pollard, Fred Temple and Carl Cooper were killed not far from Ponders boyhood home on Allendale, following a raid by Detroit Police, the National Guard, Michigan State Police and private security at the Algiers Motel, which once stood at 8301 Woodward.

A smiling Vivian McLaughlin cuts a cake on Nov. 6, 2021, as she celebrated her 105th birthday.

Roughly 45 years before the words Black Lives Matter would be attached to a social justice movement, and also long before the infamous activity at the Algiers Motel would be dramatized in a 2017 film titled Detroit, a 17-year-old Ponder attempted to make sense of the loss of his real-life friends, whom a medical examiner later declared lay in non-aggressive postures when they were killed. Especially difficult for Ponder to stomach was Pollards death because he, too, was 17 and lived just two blocks away on Oregon between Beechwood and Firwood. So when he could, Ponder turned to McLaughlin for comfort, a practice he would continue until virtually her last breath on Jan. 6.

Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak, looks for the switch to turn on his late Aunt Vivan McLaughlin's sewing machine at her home in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

You could talk to her for hours and she would talk to me all the time about how important life was, Ponder said of McLaughlin, whose professional credentials included being a businesswoman, educator and an accomplished photographer who took photos of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Detroit before Ponder was even born.

In 1972, Ponder informed McLaughlin and other family members that he had become a member of the Detroit Police Department. Far more than an opportunity to earn a steady paycheck, Ponder viewed joining the force as an opportunity to be a part of a new era in Detroit; an era in which he believed could become known for improved relations between the police department and the citys Black community. The following year, Coleman Alexander Young would declare his candidacy for mayor of the city of Detroit and Youngs subsequent victory would be a catalyst for more Blacks to join the police department in significant numbers. And out of that came a brotherhood, which Ponder still speaks of fondly to this day.

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When I was on the force  at least for the Black officers  we were all close, said Ponder, who became a Detroit police officer six years after graduating from Northwestern, which was his neighborhood high school. All of us went to school together, we grew up together and we all lived in the city. Thats why it hurt more when we had a loss.

The words hurt and loss have an intensified meaning when they are spoken by Ponder, because on Oct. 6, 1986, he absorbed an enduring gut punch when he saw one of his partners on the police force, Freddie Jackson, slumped over with a hole in his chest from a shotgun blast while the two were on plainclothes, special operations duty near a beverage warehouse in the 15000 block of Idaho in the 12th (Palmer Park) Precinct. The wound would be fatal for Jackson, who was Ponders dear friend before the two even joined the police force. The two men were so close that Jackson had been a pallbearer at Ponders mothers funeral, and also was the godfather of Ponders granddaughter.

So close were all of the horrific circumstances connected to Jacksons death, which happened to be the second time one of his police partners had been shot, that Ponder had to do what he believed was unthinkable when he joined the department  retire at age 38 due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not surprisingly, Ponder tenderly says he was in a dark place at the time despite the efforts of the psychiatrists and therapists he was seeing. But even during that moment of darkness, Ponder recalls McLaughlin being a source of light.

A photo taken on June 17, 2019, shows a memorial located at the corner of Midland and Idaho in northwest Detroit, which honors the life of former Detroit Police Officer Freddie Jackson. On Oct. 6, 1986, Jackson was killed near the location while on duty with his partner Adrian Ponder.

She consoled me and told me that life goes on, Ponder said of McLaughlin. My aunt said to take it one day at a time, and she helped me make a decision about retiring (from the police department), she said Go with your gut. 

Ponder also described how McLaughlin helped him to deal with the public during a most sensitive period of his life, which included appearing in court and being questioned by a well-known defense attorney named Kenneth Cockrel Sr., during the murder trial of Amer Dabish, who was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Jackson.

Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak, right, holds up Detroit City Council proclamation for his late Aunt Vivan McLaughlin, sitting in her rocking chair next to her grandson Jonathan McLaughlin, who took care of her for 15 years, at her home in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

I remember her saying Breathe easy, Be calm.' And she told me that if I didnt understand anything to ask him to repeat the question, Ponder said, recalling the detailed instructions he received from McLaughlin prior to questioning from Cockrel in court, where Dabish was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak. looks through his late Aunt Vivan McLaughlin's things, like this Department of Adult Education Achievement Award at her home with her grandson Jonathan McLaughlin in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

Ponder said the advice he received from McLaughlin demonstrated her ability to navigate challenges posed by the world. A testimonial resolution honoring McLaughlins life, which was presented by the Detroit City Council in January strongly supports Ponders sentiments about his aunt. The resolution states that McLaughlin, a 95-year resident of Detroit, managed multiple businesses in the city, including a photography studio and two dry cleaners. In addition, the resolution reveals that McLaughlin was an expert at needlework, quilting and sewing; a skill set she shared with the community as a teacher at Detroit schools and recreation centers. And in a portion of the resolution where McLaughlin is described as a walking history book full of experiences that are written in school textbooks, the document cites that McLaughlin accompanied fellow members of the Flicker Camera Club to document Martin Luther King Jrs speech to more than 125,000 people in Detroit during the 1963 Walk To Freedom march. And that some years later, McLaughlin was photographed with Rosa Parks. A conversation about any of McLaughlins achievements listed in the City Council resolution brings out a sense of pride in the voice of the usually pensive and soft-spoken Ponder.

However, Ponder said there was a dimension to McLaughlin that cannot be adequately captured in a written document. And he explained that this side of his aunt was particularly helpful to him during the years after he retired from the police department.

Jonathan McLaughlin, 52, of Detroit, left, helps hold up a quilt his grandmother Vivan McLaughlin made for her nephew Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak, right, out of his old T-shirts at her home in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

She was a mother figure to me and she would always give me advice, Ponder said. Afterward, he began to list places, inside and outside of the city, that were favorites of McLaughlin, who was a frequent travel buddy for Ponder because his aunt liked to go. Those destinations included Belle Isle, Detroit casinos, Franklin Cider Mill, Blocks Farm Market (for fresh corn), Honey Bee Market in Mexicantown (for homemade hot tamales), and treks east along Jefferson Avenue to Grosse Pointe Park. When the pair was not traveling together, Ponder said there were recipe exchanges. And to guarantee that the dishes from the recipes were cooked perfectly, McLaughlin gave Ponder a couple of cast-iron skillets that are older than her nephew.

While Ponder freely acknowledges McLaughlins importance in helping him to heal through the years, as evidenced by his current security monitor position which he accepted in September 2021, he prefers not to engage in conversation about his own ability to overcome personal hardship. Instead, Ponder calls attention to his cousin and Vivian McLaughlins grandson, Jonathan McLaughlin, who spent the past 15 years taking care of Vivian McLaughlin on a daily basis.

Im proud of him and proud that he did what he did at his age, Ponder said about his cousin, Jonathan McLaughlin, 52. You cant get someone his age to take care of somebody for that long, and to not get a whole lot of help. He did the cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, washing clothes  I appreciate everything he did to take care of his grandmother and my aunt.

Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak, looks through his late Aunt Vivan McLaughlin's things at her home with her grandson Jonathan McLaughlin in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

Of the home duties performed by Jonathan McLaughlin, none carried more pressure than cooking, given the importance Vivian McLaughlin placed on home-cooked meals made from scratch, which she always served on real china. It was a responsibility that Jonathan McLaughlin did not have to take on until about Vivian McLaughlins 103rd birthday. But when the time came, he gave it his all.

She taught me, so I just did exactly what she told me to do, so that she would be pleased with what I cooked, Jonathan McLaughlin, who was raised in large part by his grandmother when he was a little boy, said. I cooked baked chicken  she really liked that  and I cooked chicken liver, beef roast, ox tails, corned beef, and then every now and then, I cooked some desserts  carrot cake, banana pudding. And with all the food, she wanted the whole layout, so you had to have greens, or corn bread, or macaroni and cheese  something like that  almost on a daily basis.

On the morning of Feb. 8, while sitting at a table on the ground level of the house Vivian McLaughlin lived in for 73 years on Atkinson Street, between Byron and the John C. Lodge Service Drive, Ponder and Jonathan McLaughlin shared stories about the former owner of the home. As morning rolled into afternoon, it became apparent that there were still many things the two did not know about a woman they hold in the highest regard; such as how she met Edward Jacob McLaughlin, her husband of 26 years before his death in 1969, who was her partner in business, a talented musician and an accomplished photographer in his own right.

Adrian Ponder, 73, of Royal Oak, left, looks through his late Aunt Vivan McLaughlin's things, like this vintage cinema camera, at her home with her grandson Jonathan McLaughlin in Detroit on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Ponder retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1986 after witnessing his partner being shot and killed on duty. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ponder's relationship through the years with McLaughlin has helped him to heal to the point where he can perform his security job today at Wayne State University.

Ponder said in the coming weeks and months that he will help Jonathan McLaughlin go through the many photos and memorabilia left behind by Vivian McLaughlin at the home on Atkinson. More answers about her history and the familys history will no doubt be uncovered during that process. But a statement made by Ponder seemed to indicate that no matter what other things he learns about his aunt in the future, that nothing can top what he already knows about her humanity and character. And he says that is why he still tries to do things just the way she did.

She didnt boast, thats why a lot of stuff isnt known about her, said Ponder, who shared a story about taking a class at Wayne County Community College taught by former Free Press photographer and Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame inductee Hugh Grannum, who had been mentored by his aunt. My aunt just got out and did it  she lived her life. She had a card for everyones birthday and paid her respects at everyones funeral. When I was young, she was strict and you couldnt pull anything over on her, but I never saw her angry. She was just an all-around kind person.

Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and lifelong lover of Detroit culture in all of its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at: stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A centenarian's 'great' example helped former DPD officer rise again
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The cases against two Quaker City residents charged with child endangering after their 6-year-old son suffered severe frostbite have been bound over to the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court.

Darrick R. Looney, 41, and Kendra M. Stump, 34, each face one count of felony child endangering filed in the Cambridge Municipal Court on Feb. 1 following their arrest by Guernsey County sheriff's deputies.

Judge John Mark Nicholson found probable cause Looney committed the crime during a preliminary hearing Thursday and bound the case over to the common pleas court.

More: Parents face felony endangering charges after boy, 6, suffers frostbite injury

An evidence hearing for an alleged probation violation associated with the case was scheduled for Feb. 24 during Looney's appearance in court Thursday.

Looney was previously convicted of a misdemeanor charge for receiving stolen property and sentenced to probation.

Bond for Looney in the child endangering case was continued at $15,000 with no 10% allowed, but the court ordered he be held in the Guernsey County Jail without bond for the alleged probation violation after being convicted in December.

He remains incarcerated in the county jail.

Meanwhile, Stump waived her right to a preliminary plea earlier after requesting the hearing during an arraignment hearing the day after charges were filed. Her case was then bound over to the common pleas court.

A personal recognizance bond with special conditions was continued for Stump, according to online court records.

According to reports at the sheriff's office, deputies were dispatched to a Smith Avenue home in Quaker City at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 to conduct a well-being check on the young boy.

Barnesville Hospital staff reported the boy's mother brought him to the facility with severe injuries believed to be frostbite on his hands.

Sheriff Jeff Paden said once the medical staff informed the mother of the severity of the injuries and that he would need to be immediately transported to Nationwide Childrens Hospital by ambulance, she took the boy and left the hospital.

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Deputies reportedly located the boy, his mother and father, and an 11-year-old sibling at the Smith Avenue residence.

During the well-being check and preliminary investigation, deputies viewed the boys hands and summoned United Ambulance to transport him to Southeastern Med in Cambridge.

The boy was later transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where he was admitted for treatment.

Authorities declined to release further information regarding the boy's injuries or condition citing HIPPA regulations.

A search warrant was executed at the residence at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 and evidence was collected by detectives. The report did not say what items were seized.

Detectives met with Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Angler on Jan. 30 prior to charges being filed by her office.

The investigation by the sheriff's office continues.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Child endangerment cases bound over
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)  Truckers angry over the the alleged slaying of a driver at the hands of undocumented migrants blocked major highways in northern Chile on Friday, prompting the cancellation of flights to closed-off airports.

Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado said protesters had blocked highways in five places and he demanded they open them.

The protests erupted after reports that a trucker was killed during an altercation with several migrants on Thursday in the town of Mejillones, some 1400 kilometers (870 miles) north of the capital, Santiago.

Police Gen. Gonzalo Castro said three migrants had been detained in the death of a young driver who reportedly fell from an overpass during a scuffle. Officials had given few details of the circumstances.

Santiago's main international airport posted a statement on Twitter saying some flights to the northern city of Iquique had been cancelled because access to the airport there was blocked.

Residents of the region have staged several demonstrations against migrants, many of them people from crisis-wracked Venezuela who entered Chile from Bolivia and whom they blame for rising crime in the desert region.

Impromptu camps of migrants have sprung up around the region, sometimes with hundreds of people arriving daily.

The government of the country of 19 million people estimates it holds some 1.5 million migrants,
By Farah Master

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong reported a record number of new daily COVID-19 infections on Friday and China said it would fully support the city with its "dynamic zero" coronavirus strategy, as local authorities struggle to control a deepening outbreak.

Hong Kong's chief secretary John Lee, Health Secretary Sophia Chan and Security Chief Chris Tang will meet Chinese officials in neighbouring Shenzhen on Saturday to discuss support measures, the government said in a statement.

The meeting comes as Hong Kong's pursuit of zero COVID infections has stretched hospital and quarantine facilities nearly to their limit, raising the near-term prospect of changes to admissions and isolation policies.

New daily infections rose to at least 1,325 on Friday, health authorities said.

"Our healthcare system is overloaded, its really beyond capacity," said Chuang Shuk-kwan, a senior health official.

She said there were separately at least 1,500 preliminary positive cases.

Hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in the global financial hub are already at 90% occupancy, data from the city's Hospital Authority showed, while isolation facilities were also nearing their maximum.

China's central government is "highly concerned" about the safety and health of residents as well as the economy and people's livelihoods, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), which comes under China's State Council or cabinet, said in a statement.

It said it would help support Hong Kong's fight against the disease.

"As long as Hong Kong asks, the motherland will surely respond ... Hand in hand, we will surely be able to overcome the epidemic soon," it said.

The Chinese government will help improve Hong Kong's testing capability and set up another quarantine facility, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a Beijing-based source.

Beijing is also preparing to send thousands of medical and lab workers and millions of test kits to Hong Kong, with the daily coronavirus screening capacity to be increased from 100,000 tests to 300,000 tests.

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Hong Kong has seen a 10-fold rise in cases since Feb. 1 and medical experts warn the city could see 28,000 daily infections by the end of March, with the unvaccinated elderly a particular worry.

RISING FATALITIES

Five elderly people infected with COVID-19 died this week, after no COVID-linked fatalities since September last year. In total the city has recorded around 20,000 infections and 218 deaths, still far lower than other similar major cities.

Despite only a handful of COVID-19 patients being in critical condition, some hospitals are already full, mostly with people suffering little more than a sore throat.

Medical experts are also worried about an expected surge of infections that could dramatically increase severe infections, especially among the largely-unvaccinated elderly.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to test every day, including elderly and children, queuing for hours in tightly packed lines outside testing centres and raising the risk of infection.

Following mainland China, Hong Kong is trying to curb outbreaks as soon as possible, in contrast with many other places that are trying to "live with COVID", relying on high vaccination rates to bring protection while easing restrictions.

The city's stringent restrictions have turned it into one of the world's most isolated major cities. With flights down 90%, and hardly anyone allowed to transit, Hong Kong on Friday extended a ban on flights from eight countries, including the United States and Britain, and added Nepal to the list.

The HKMAO said it was also coordinating with the Guangdong provincial government to ensure the supply of vegetables, fresh food and other necessities into Hong Kong.

The former British colony saw a run on vegetables this week after several cross-border truck drivers, who bring in goods from the mainland, tested positive for coronavirus.

China previously assisted the city in 2020 with a mass coronavirus testing scheme when it sent 600 people to operate lab facilities and tested nearly 2 million of the city's 7.5 million residents.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said this week said she was deeply sorry and anxious for the long waits residents faced to get tested or enter isolation facilities.

(Additional reporting by Twinnie Siu, Jessie Pang, Marius Zaharia and Joyce Zhou; Editing by Stephen Coates, Lincoln Feast and Kim Coghill)
ChristianaCare announced Friday it intends to acquire Crozer Health, which would dramatically increase the reach of Delaware's largest health system in the Philadelphia region.

The health system and Crozer Health's owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, announced that the two organizations have signed a letter of intent. The sale, which is not yet a done deal, includes the following hospitals:

Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania

Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Pennsylvania

Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania

If the sale goes through, Crozer Health would become a nonprofit like ChristianaCare, hospital officials said. Crozer Health has about 4,000 employees.

ChristianaCare employs about 14,000 and is the largest private business in Delaware.

Nurses work the floor at ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.

Hospital officials did not disclose specific terms of the agreement. But it would include the hospitals related businesses, real estate assets, Crozer Health Medical Group and the associated assets, ambulatory centers, medical office buildings, physician clinics and ancillary outpatient services, according to a news release.

Crozer Health has struggled financially for years. In 2016, as a nonprofit, it was bought by Prospect, a Los Angeles-based for-profit company that has a reputation of buying financially weak hospitals, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

COVID-19 IN DELAWARE: Delaware hospitals are enticing nurses with luxury vacations and $25k. Will it get them to stay?

This occurred after Crozer Health's board tried and failed to find to a local buyer. In October 2021, Prospect put the health system up for sale.

Earlier this month, Prospect replaced Crozer Health's CEO, as the health system was hit hard by staff shortages, the Inquirer reported. It also recently closed the maternity unit at Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

ChristianaCare officials said in the announcement that they aim for the deal to be finalized in "the second quarter 2022 with the potential for closing to occur in the second half of 2022."

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In January 2020, ChristianaCare acquired Union Hospital in Cecil County, Maryland, a health system that also had been struggling financially.

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: ChristianaCare looks to buy Crozer Health, expanding its reach in the Philadelphia region
Feb. 11ANDERSON  The Anderson Community Coalition presented a detailed proposal for spending the $23.1 million American Rescue Plan funding.

Lindsay Brown made the presentation Thursday to members of Anderson City Council.

Mayor Thomas J. Broderick has scheduled two public meetings to receive community input, at 6 p.m. both Feb. 22 and Feb. 24.

Councilman Jon Bell said the council should consider its own meeting to get input about the ARP funding for either March 2 or March 9.

Brown said the major difference with the mayor's proposal is its spending of $9 million for infrastructure improvements and $3.6 million for bonuses for city employees as a result of the pandemic.

He said there are other state and federal funds available for the infrastructure project.

Brown suggested the city use a portion of the $17 million budget surplus for the employee bonus.

He said the ARP funds are intended for use to benefit the entire community.

Brown said during a December community meeting that local residents listed as priorities to invest in social services and rent and mortgage assistance.

Other concerns at the meeting included a grocery on the west side and to combat homelessness.

The coalition recommended spending $5.5 million to help with home repair, shelter for the homeless and development of affordable housing in Anderson.

It's recommending $5 million for nonprofits to include $1.5 million for youth programming, $1 million each for the food desert, black nonprofits in the city and housing assistance.

Other recommendations included: $1.2 million to pay off utility bills, $1.4 million for workforce development, $2 million for small business development, $3.5 million for infrastructure work and $1 million for mental health programs.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
By Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian right-wing presidential candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga said renewed peace talks with leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels could be possible in his administration, but they cannot take place in erstwhile host Cuba.

"I'm willing to have a negotiation, but a negotiation with conditions. The first is it cannot be in Cuba," Zuluaga, who will represent President Ivan Duque's Democratic Center party in May's elections, told Reuters on Thursday.

Zuluaga, 63, who served as finance minister under former President Alvaro Uribe, also said he would also slash government spending and propose the elimination of pension subsidies for high-earners if elected, to boost the competitiveness of South America's third-largest economy.

May's election could mark a turning point in Colombia's political history if leftist Gustavo Petro, who leads in opinion polls with around 20% of intended votes, secures victory. Petro, who lost in the second round in 2018 to Duque, is the only leftist to come close to winning the presidency since 1948, when the assassination of a populist candidate plunged Colombia into decades of political violence.

Though Zuluaga's Democratic Center party wields significant power in Congress and in several important regions, his support remains in the single digits.

Zuluaga said he would be willing to make alliances with other candidates after the first round, but much rests on the outcome of legislative elections next month. A host of parties are expected to use their regional power bases to win representation in congress, opening a round of coalition-building to see who will have the power to govern.

"Colombia's political outlook will began to get clearer after the results of the March 13 elections," he said. "This is just the beginning."

The former minister, like Uribe, opposed a 2016 deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels. The deal did not involved the smaller ELN.

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Peace talks began in 2017 between the ELN and Colombia's government. But they were put on ice by Duque after a rebel bombing killed 22 police cadets in 2019.

Besides battling the government, the ELN fights crime gangs and ex-FARC combatants for control of drug producing areas and trafficking routes, especially near the border with Venezuela. Last month, it took responsibility for a bomb attack on police.

Leaders from the ELN - which is estimated to have some 2,350 combatants and was founded in 1964 by extremist Catholic priests - remain in Cuba despite repeated demands by Duque that the Communist-run Caribbean country extradite them.

Ideally, peace talks would take place somewhere in Colombia, Zuluaga said.

"There must be minimum conditions: they must free all hostages; they must free all the minors they have forcibly recruited," Zuluaga said. "They must be willing to relinquish drug trafficking routes and hand over assets to compensate victims."

But he closed the door on possible negotiations with criminal gangs and with FARC dissidents.

"FARC dissidents, criminal groups: I think the only way is to surrender and turn themselves in," Zuluaga said from his office in Bogota. "FARC dissidents had an opportunity and they fooled the country."

ELECTIONS IN VENEZUELA

Zuluaga also said the international community must keep up pressure for free elections and a democratic transition in neighboring Venezuela.

Millions of Venezuelans have fled their homeland, many to Colombia, in recent years, denouncing political repression and widespread shortages amid a dire economic downturn.

The Colombian government has long accused socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of harboring armed groups. Caracas has repeatedly denied that.

Zuluaga said his government would slash unnecessary bureaucratic spending, generating savings of 1.5% of GDP. He pledged to reduce the tax burden for businesses to 27% from 35%, while eliminating exemptions.

A long overdue pension reform, needed to help stabilize the finances of the creaking system, must cancel a subsidy for high-earners, Zuluaga said.

"That subsidy, for some 150,000 pensioners, costs us 1.5% of GDP," he said. "That can't be sustained and would give the country lots of relief in the medium- and long-term."

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta, additional reporting by Carlos Vargas; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Rosalba O'Brien)
HENDERSON, Ky. -- Senior Conner Lander became the first Henderson County wrestler since the program was reinstated in 2018 to earn a scholarship to wrestle in college when he signed with Lindsey Wilson College on Thursday.

Lander, who has a 30-9 record this season, is ranked 20th in the state in the heavyweight class heading into Saturday's First Region Tournament at Caldwell County.

Conner Lander

Lander joined the Henderson County wrestling team during his freshman year after coach Jermaine Poynter visited football practice to talk to football players about the benefits of joining the wrestling program.

By the end of his sophomore season, Lander had qualified for state by finishing fourth in the region meet. It was then that he began thinking that he could wrestle on the college level.

"I had been thinking about college, but I didn't know who or where," he said.

Lander met Lindsey Wilson coach Jameel Bryant during a camp that Henderson County hosted in July 2021.

"He worked a lot with me. We talked at the end of the camp," said Lander, who later toured campus and spent time working out with Lindsey Wilson's wrestling team.

"It felt like home. They had what I needed," said Lander, who wants to become a high school math teacher.

Lander, who has been ranked as high as 12th in the state this season, enters the regional tournament as one of seven First Region wrestlers ranked in the top 20 so the competition will be tough to earn one of the four qualifying positions for the first round of the state tournament Feb. 18-19 at Union County.

"I think I have a shot to go back," Lander said.

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson County's Conner Lander will wrestle for Lindsey Wilson
Students walk through Lake Superior State University during a move-in day for students at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Michigan public universities didn't have to pay refunds to students after forcing them into remote learning during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Court of Appeals said Thursday in a ruling upholding the Michigan Court of Claims.

"The tuition contracts assessed fees as the result of registration, not as the result of receiving services," the court said in its decision upholding lower courts that dismissed lawsuits filed in the court of claims asking for compensation. "We find no error in the trial courts conclusion that unambiguous terms of the tuition contract rendered students liable for paying tuition once they registered for classes.

"In all cases consolidated on appeal, The University plaintiffs claim the University defendants breached their agreements by failing to provide live, in-person instruction. The University plaintiffs, however, have pointed to no contractual language in which the University defendants promised such method of instruction."

The decision was made by a three-judge panel. Judges Kirsten Frank Kelly and James Robert Redford wrote the main decision. Judge Brock Swartzle wrote a separate opinion agreeing with part of the decision and disagreeing with other parts.

More: Schlissel dragged feet on independent oversight of sexual misconduct at U-M, sources say

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The ruling consolidated three cases filed against Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University and Lake Superior State University. In all the cases, a student argued that he or she should have gotten refunds when their classes went virtual and students were sent home from campus.

Swartzle had a different take on tuition, writing he believed the students should be allowed to continue their suit.

"In the end, there is a growing body of evidence, including evidence in this record, that students of all ages suffered significant educational setbacks during the winter/spring 2020 semester, and possibly beyond," he wrote. "It adds insult to injury for a university student to have to pay full price for emergency remote teaching when that student allegedly bargained for much different educational services. As I review the record, there remains a genuine issue of material fact on plaintiffs tuition claims. The parties should have the opportunity for full discovery, followed by a trial if a question of fact remains."

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The court also sided with the universities when it came to housing refunds.

It said at each university, the housing contract had specific clauses in it that allowed for the university to not give refunds. For example, at Lake Superior State, the housing contract said the contract could be voided for an "act of nature" or an "act of God."

"In other words, these contracts expressly contemplated circumstances under which it is necessary to remove students from housing for reasons of health, safety, and welfare."

In March 2020, all public universities sent students home as COVID-19 spread. Classes continued, but online only instead of in-person. No public universities gave refunds for tuition. Some gave refunds for meal plans or housing contracts that were unused.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Court: Michigan universities don't have to give refunds
[Editors note: This article contains spoilers for Kenneth Branaghs Death on the Nile.]

When actor Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual harassment and assault by a dozen men in October 2017, the reckoning forced an unexpected professional outcome: He was snipped wholesale from Ridley Scotts All the Money in the World, a film that had already wrapped production by the time Spacey was hit by the myriad allegations. It was the stuff of instant legend: Director Ridley Scott made the choice to cut Spacey and replace him with Christopher Plummer within days of the accusations hitting the wire, had cameras rolling in weeks, and had the entire thing sewn up for it already-planned December release date.

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The reaction was lauded, as was Plummers performance (he earned an Oscar nod for it), and suddenly, there seemed to be a plausible way to deal with problematic stars whose scandals might prove to be a liability for their professional projects. But while Scott and his cast and crew paved the way for such replacements, other projects have not followed suit, likely due to the combination of big money (Scotts reshoots reportedly cost $10 million, quintupling the films budget) and the complexity of cutting performers out of projects not as conducive to such snips (most of Spaceys scenes only featured him, though a single wide shot with the actor still remains in the film, as it was too complicated to reshoot with Plummer).

Enter: Death on the Nile. Kenneth Branaghs followup to his immensely popular 2017 Agatha Christie adaptation Murder on the Orient Express seemed like a slam dunk when it was announced just days after the premiere of Murder. As Branagh added more and more big stars to the cast  Gal Gadot and Annette Bening and Russell Brand, to name a few  it appeared primed for success similar to its predecessor. In 2018, when Branagh cast Armie Hammer, hot off his breakthrough role in Call Me by Your Name, it was yet another feather in the films cap.

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And then. In 2021, after weeks of social media rumors about Hammers sexual proclivities, the actor was accused of rape by a woman identified only as Effie. In March 2021, the woman alleged that the sexual assault took place in April 2017 and that, during an encounter, Hammer violently raped her and repeatedly banged her head against a wall. The actress also said that Hammer committed other violent acts against her without her consent. (The actor has denied that any of their interactions were not consensual.)

Soon, Hammer was dropped from a slew of projects  Shotgun Wedding, Billion Dollar Spy, Next Goal Wins, The Offer, and the Broadway production of The Minutes  though none had yet to begin production.

Already in the can: Death on the Nile, which had been set for a December 20, 2019 release, before being pushed to October 9, 2020, owing to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was again moved, first to October 23, 2020, then December 18, 2020, followed by a push to September 17, 2021. In March 2021, following the Hammer allegations, it was moved to its eventual date: February 11, 2022.

More than two years after the film wrapped production, Branaghs film is finally seeing the light of day, but without any obvious snips to Hammers character, newlywed Simon Doyle. What happened on All the Money in the World, though instructive, is clearly still something of an outlier, and many of the same elements that made it possible for Scott to recast and reshoot the part (again, money and mostly unfussy scenes) with Plummer werent possible for Branaghs film, particularly in the age of COVID.

Like its predecessor, the Agatha Christie whodunit murder mystery hinges on a starry ensemble cast  if there is any single star in the film, its Branagh himself, as legendary detective Hercule Poirot  often mixing and mingling with each other. Our first introduction to Simon: a complicated dance sequence in a bustling nightclub, complete with turns round the floor with both his current fiancee Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) and his eventual wife Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot). As the film unfolds, the central mystery revolves around Simon and Linnet, leading to sequence after sequence of the pair with both each other and the rest of the big cast.

In short: the Plummer solution was a no-go here, but at least Branagh made a film in which no single person (including Hammer) can rightly be said to be stealing the spotlight from him. Branagh and Disney got (relatively) lucky here, because the same reasons Hammer could likely not be cut (too many scenes, too complicated) are the same ones that allow him to kind of be forgotten (also of note: many of his other co-stars, including Gadot and Letitia Wright, have made their own missteps in recent months, a uniquely cursed cast indeed).

Hammer is present in the films marketing materials, though often slightly obscured. (Funnily enough, at the AMC Lincoln Square, where this writer saw the film, a boxed-in display of two of the films costumes and a giant poster of the films cast offered a tiny bit of Hammer erasure: Someone had set up a mannequin to stand in front of Hammers image.) The film kicks off without any opening credits, so theres no ARMIE HAMMER splashed on the big screen. (Hell, the film kicks off with a prologue about the origin of a mustache.)

And, the capper  and a major spoiler to boot, for both Branaghs film and the classic novel that inspired it  is that Hammer is ultimately cast here as the films villain (well, one of two). And while his presence might make some audience members uncomfortable or upset, theres a bit of a payoff by the films end, as Simon is outed as a bad guy, sweatily tries to slink off, and is killed by his compatriot and lover. And, scene! It may not be as final as Spaceys cutting, but its surely something to see a slack-jawed, bloodied Hammer laid out by the films end.

It may also be Hammers curtain call. After the accusation, Hammer was dropped by WME, completed a long stint in rehab, and was the subject of a nine-month LAPD investigation that wrapped up in December. As of this writing, he has not made any media appearances in support of Branaghs film and has yet to line up any new projects. Its no mystery as to why.

20th Century Studios will release Death on the Nile in theaters on Friday, February 11.

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He wears an orange prison uniform and a collar that supports his neck.

In a video call from an immigration detention center in Texas, Ricardo Villasmil, 23, says he suffers from severe cervical neck pain as a result of the mistreatment he received from Venezuelan authorities when he was deported from the United States in October 2021.

I told them to please help me, that I couldnt get up, but they just looked at me and said: 'Dont you come from the United States? Ask Biden for help now!' he recounted about his arrival in Venezuela. In the midst of so much harassment, I simply lost consciousness.

Ricardo Villasmil (Noticias Telemundo )

Villasmil was one of dozens deported to Venezuela through the Dominican Republic. Without diplomatic relations with the Maduro regime, U.S. immigration authorities are using third countries, such as the Caribbean island or Colombia, to expel Venezuelan migrants, as revealed by Noticias Telemundo Investiga. This practice, established during the Trump administration, has been condemned by pro-immigrant organizations. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a recent statement that it's is extremely disturbing and can lead to harsh consequences for Venezuelans who are sent back.

Noticias Telemundo Investiga spoke with three deportees who reported that, upon arrival in Venezuela, they were interrogated and subjected to violence and persecution by Venezuelan officials. They said that at all times they were treated like this because they were deported from the U.S.

They all clandestinely left the country again and are now looking for a new opportunity to convince the U.S. of why they should be given asylum.

The Venezuelan government did not respond to requests for comment from Noticias Telemundo Investiga.

'They said I was an infiltrator from the United States'

Villasmil, who was deported via two commercial flights in October 2021, says his ordeal started all over again upon arrival at the Maiquetia Airport, which serves Caracas, when officials questioned him.

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They said that I was being an infiltrator to pass information from the Maduro government to the United States, that the United States was financing my stay in Venezuela to pass information to him, he recounts three months later with a collar protecting his cervical vertebrae.

The young man says that they made him place his head between his knees. I was in that position for more than seven hours. They poured cold water on me  it was like not leaving marks. They hit me in the head, they choked me," he said.

At one point, he said, he fell to the ground and the jokes began: You cant stand anything, you were detained for four months in the United States, hold on and You dont come from the United States? Ask Biden for help now, he said.

Venezuelan Ricardo Villasmil (Obtained by Noticias Telemundo)

We welcome you with the same thing that happened to you

The two other Venezuelans who are not being identified by Noticias Telemundo Investiga for fear of reprisals described similar situations when they arrived after being deported from the U.S.

One of them explained that he was persecuted for days, mistreated and still has injuries months later. The other deportee said that the first thing officials told him is he'd be welcomed with the same type of beating that left him badly wounded years ago when he was detained for political reasons.

Villasmil said he lost count of the hours while he was under arrest until he lost consciousness: I couldnt take it anymore and I fainted. He woke up in a public hospital, apparently freed, and some time later, a doctor diagnosed him with cervical neuritis due to that abuse.

He was reunited with his partner in Venezuela, Daniela Viloria. According to the couple, groups organized and financed by the government, also known as collectives, had been looking for them for weeks. They threatened him and Daniela, already pregnant, at gunpoint in the middle of the street, Villasmil said.

He pointed a gun at me and they asked Daniela how she feels (knowing) that her son is going to grow up without a father," he said tearfully. "From there I thought: I cant allow my son to be in the same way I grew up  without my dad."

Villasmil said he fled Venezuela in 2008 after his father was murdered and the rest of the family was persecuted due to their opposition to the government of the late president, Hugo Chavez. His mother, his stepfather and the rest of his siblings did manage to start their asylum process in the U.S. and are now free.

Venezuelan immigrant Carolina Estrada shows a photo of her son Ricardo, 22, the only member of the family to be deported by ICE after requesting asylum. (Damia Bonmati / Telemundo)

Due to recent direct threats, Villasmil left the country again and once again sought asylum in the U.S. This time, along with his pregnant wife, they crossed the Mexico-U.S. border and were stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol, which separated them.

I said: I am pregnant, this is my husband. And the voice of the Border Patrol said, I dont care, I dont care, it doesnt matter, you enter as single adults, his wife, Daniela Viloria, 24, told Noticias Telemundo Investiga.

Viloria was released by the immigration authorities to continue her asylum process in freedom. Villasmil remains in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the hope that, this time, officials will consider the political persecution he says he suffers in Venezuela to be true.

In his video call, Villasmil recounted the fear that he experienced when he was deported to his country, with details that he avoided giving when he was still in Venezuelan territory and spoke for the first time with Noticias Telemundo Investiga in December last year.

'I was willing to spend as long as it was in detention'

Villasmil is not the only Venezuelan deportee looking for a new opportunity in the U.S. They all have in common that they were deported on commercial flights unbeknownst to other passengers, dressed in civilian clothes with ICE agents without visible identification  and through the Dominican Republic.

The boarding pass of a deportee to the Dominican Republic and a later flight to Venezuela. (Roberto Mardini)

During the last fiscal year, ICE deported, on average, a Venezuelan every two days, according to figures that the agency provided to Noticias Telemundo Investiga.

In an interview at the end of December 2021, immigration attorney Elio Vazquez said that Venezuelans who have been previously deported can still fight for a cancellation of deportation" and the possibility of U.S. asylum because their life is in danger.

Michael Linares, a 35-year-old Venezuelan who left his country for political reasons, was also previously deported and like Villasmil, crossed the border again in search of a second chance.

Linares said that the Border Patrol agents were surprised when he said that he was deported through the Dominican Republic, as if they were unaware that this was happening. He spent five days in an ICE detention center, then released, and now he's in the process of seeking asylum.

I was willing to spend whatever time it was in detention, really. Because the fear I have of returning to my country is terrible. And now I feel happy to be with my wife, with my daughter, with my family, Linares said, reunited with his family after more than half a year apart.

Venezuelan Michael Linares is reunited with his family after seven months. (Obtained by Noticias Telemundo)

'We ask that these cases be reopened'

The Venezuelan American community is mobilizing to help deportees who are trying again to seek U.S. asylum.

We do not want a Venezuelan brother to die because this country mistakenly deported him to Venezuela without taking into account the highly risky situations for Venezuelans' lives," community organizer Edison Calderon said.

He stressed that the U.S. is among the dozens of nations that don't recognize the Maduro government as legitimate. We ask that these cases be reopened, taken into account, studied very meticulously, Calderon, who obtained U.S. asylum, said.

They return to the U.S. because we have no other option to protect our lives," he said of the deportees.

The State Department considers Venezuela to be an illegitimate and authoritarian regime whose authorities commit crimes against humanity.

For this reason, deportations through third countries have raised criticism.

Under Maduros cruel regime, Venezuelans who are deported face a bleak future and in many cases suffer harsh consequences for seeking political asylum in the United States, Menendez said in his recent statement.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden condemned the practice of deporting Venezuelans through third-party countries. Noticias Telemundo Investiga contacted the Biden White House regarding the deportation of Venezuelans but did not receive a response.

An earlier version of this article was first published on Noticias Telemundo.

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TALLAHASSEE  Its boom times for auto dealers, with used car sales leading to record profits across the nation.

For hundreds of Florida customers, however, the boom has been a bust: After buying their car, theyve had to wait months for the dealership to fork over the title. Without the title, they havent been able to register or drive their new purchase.

Thats because dealers have been reselling used vehicles without first possessing the title, a longtime practice in an industry that emphasizes selling vehicles as quickly as possible.

The solution some lawmakers came up with is to give dealers more time to transfer titles to owners, extending it from 30 days to 60 days.

That has both state tax collectors, who register vehicles, and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles warning the legislation could harm consumers.

They think theyre fixing it, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano said. Theyre only going to make it worse.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has levied tens of thousands of dollars in fines for making customers wait for their titles in the last few years. One Floridian waited 209 days  nearly seven months  last year for the online dealer Vroom to turn over the title to the 2017 Tesla the customer purchased, according to a complaint filed against the company.

Possessing a car, but not its title, can make it illegal to drive after the 30-day temporary tag expires. A reporter from WFLA-Ch. 8 in Tampa documented a paramedic who had to rent a car to get to work because the online dealer Carvana still hadnt forked over the title to the Nissan Sentra she bought eight months earlier.

Both Vroom and Carvana have hired lobbyists to advocate for House Bill 1517, co-sponsored by state Rep. David Smith, R-Winter Springs, and Rep. Andrew Learned, D-Brandon. (Smith said Vroom and Carvana had nothing to do with his drafting of the bill, and he hasnt spoken with their lobbyists or representatives. He noted the companies are fully responsible and accountable for any past misdeeds.)

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The bill, which passed its first committee unanimously on Tuesday, would give dealers 60 days to turn over the title and extend a temporary tag to 60 days to match. They plan to amend the bill to have it expire on July 1, 2025.

The intent, Smith told lawmakers, was just giving a little bit of flexibilities to these dealers that have been, through no fault of their own, negatively impacted by COVID.

Smith said 90 percent of the titles are transferred within 30 days in Florida, but dealers are having problems with their finance companies.

Heres what dealers say is happening:

Someone will sell or trade in their car to a dealership or online dealer, such as Carvana or Vroom. If the seller doesnt have a title  say, because they still owe money on the car  the dealer has to pay off the loan with the finance company to obtain the title. The dealer will then list the car for sale while waiting for the finance company to send them the title, often through the mail. In the red-hot car market, those cars may sell before the dealer receives the title from the finance company. (Not all dealers do this.)

The problem, which started in 2018, has been exacerbated because finance companies have been short-staffed during the pandemic and are taking longer and longer to send the titles, said Ted Smith, president of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association, which represents about 850 new-car dealers in Florida.

Dealers dont wait to receive the title before reselling the car for a simple reason: Customers dont want to wait around that long, he said.

We want to put people in cars. We want to get people titled right there at the desk if we can do that, Smith said. Theres no reason at all for a dealer not to hand over the title and registration as quickly as possible.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has been reluctant to allow dealers more time to transfer a title. It said an earlier version of the House Bill 1517 would erode much-needed consumer protections.

The department still has concerns about the current form of the bill. The most common complaint Floridians have about dealers is when they dont turn over titles within the required 30 days, said Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles spokesperson Aaron Keller.

Last week, the department hit Vroom, an online-only used car dealership, with a $47,000 fine for not forking over titles within 30 days.

A spokesperson for Vroom said they were committed to continuing to work with customers and the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles to solve any issues Florida residents might have at any point in that process.

The state also took action last year against Carvana, a competing online-only used car dealership, which had nearly 400 titles not filed within 30 days. The action was dropped after the company reduced that number to 29, with 11 of those customers given buy-out offers. (The remaining 18 were not responsive or failed to provide paperwork.)

The department believes Carvanas change in customer service delivery and business practices, including no longer selling vehicles until the vehicles title is in your possession, will reduce similar issues moving forward, the departments director wrote to the companys director of governmental affairs on Feb. 1.

Fasano, the Pasco tax collector, said other companies should also not sell vehicles until they have the title. Giving dealers more time to transfer the title will give them another deadline to miss, and could complicate the situation for customers.

Its just baffling to me that anyone is selling a vehicle you dont have the title to, Fasano said. You cant do that in a private sale. Youd get arrested if you did that. Its called fraud.

The sponsor of the Senate bill, Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, rejected that idea.

So then they have that inventory sitting, Wright said of the dealers. Why not require the lenders to release the lien on time? Thats the problem.

  

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PARIS (Reuters) - Western foreign ministers will hold crunch talks on their countries' future presence fighting Islamist militants in Mali on Monday, four European sources said, with three saying regional and international leaders will also meet on Wednesday.

The diplomatic flurry precedes an EU-Africa summit on Feb. 17-18 and three weeks of consultations amid deterioration in relations between Mali and France, the main foreign military power in Mali.

"Decisions should be made next week, but it's not clear where troops would be deployed and what appetite there will be from European countries to stay in the region," said one European source.

The source added that France wanted to assess what support could be given to countries in the Gulf of Guinea, notably Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Ghana, where there are concerns militancy is spreading through porous borders.

France is considering withdrawing its troops from Mali, but adapting its strategy to prevent Islamist militancy spreading south may prove complex and contribute to uncertainty in the region.

A French drawdown would mean the European special forces Takuba task force would also leave with diplomats saying that the political, operational and legal conditions to remain becoming increasingly difficult.

Ties have worsened since the military junta went back on an agreement to organise elections in February and proposed holding power until 2025. It has also deployed Russian private military contractors, which some European countries have said is incompatible with their mission.

Defence ministers from European nations involved in Takuba as well as Britain, Canada, the United States and countries involved in U.N. peacekeeping and European training missions in Mali held a call on Friday.

Their foreign ministers will press ahead on Monday to fine tune plans as well as discuss the impact of a potential withdrawal on U.N. forces and EU missions in Mali.

Three European diplomatic sources said the French presidency had called for a summit on Feb. 16 of regional and international partners engaged in the Sahel to discuss the crisis.

(Reporting by John Irish; editing by Grant McCool)
The Education Department has dismissed a complaint against Brigham Young University after a monthslong investigation into the private religious schools treatment of LGBTQ students. The complaint stemmed from the universitys ban on same-sex romantic relationships.

The departments Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to BYUs president Tuesday saying that while the Utah institution is subject to Title IX  a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal funding  it is also entitled to a number of exemptions because of its religious affiliation.

The letter then listed 15 regulatory provisions from which BYU, which is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is exempt, stating that the provisions would conflict with the religious tenets of the Universitys controlling religious organization that pertain to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Because the University is exempt from the above-referenced regulatory provisions of Title IX, the letter says, OCR lacks jurisdiction to address the complaints allegations. Accordingly, OCR is dismissing this complaint.

The university issued a statement Thursday acknowledging the dismissal and stating that it had anticipated the outcome because OCR has repeatedly recognized BYUs religious exemption for Title IX requirements.

The statement ended by quoting a letter BYU President Kevin J. Worthen had sent to the OCR in November, saying that we simultaneously stand firm in our religious beliefs and reiterate our love and respect for each member of the campus community.

Not all members of the campus community, however, are feeling that love and respect.

Madi Hawes, a sophomore and one of the leaders of the universitys unofficial LGBTQ group, was in class Thursday afternoon when she found out the complaint had been dismissed.

Im almost compelled to say that I was heartbroken, but I honestly wasnt, because as much as I wanted something to happen, I didnt expect anything to happen, Hawes said. While I was hopeful, there wasnt much faith backing up that hope. It was blind hope that I could even recognize as blind hope."

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An aspect she described as painful, however, was the speed at which the complaint was dismissed. The Office of Civil Rights sent a letter in October notifying BYU that it was opening an investigation, and the dismissal notice came less than four months later.

It felt as if the office wasnt valuing our safety and our rights as much, she said, adding that it almost feels more painful than if the investigation had gone on a long time and nothing happened.

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An Elbert County sheriffs deputy was charged with DUI on Wednesday morning after he rear-ended a car in Athens, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

The deputy, 62-year-old Charles Nolan Dooley, was also charged with following too closely. Dooley was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail about noon and released on a $2,000 bond about four hours later.

The wreck occurred about 8:20 a.m. on Prince Avenue at the intersection of Sunset Drive and the Athens Perimeter entrance ramp, according to the crash report.

A 46-year-old Athens woman told a trooper she was stopped for a red light in the left turn lane when her Nissan Altima was struck forcefully in the rear.

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Another motorist reported he was behind the deputys patrol unit as they traveled through three intersections and observed the car nearly run a red light and fail to maintain a lane prior to the crash.

That witness also told the trooper that the deputys unit, a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria, never braked prior to crashing into the rear of the Nissan.

Dooley was also questioned at the scene and said he never saw brake lights on the Nissan and misjudged the speed at which the car was traveling.

Dooley nor the Nissan driver reported injuries. However, a 14-year-old girl in the Nissan was possibly injured, according to the report.

Elbert County Sheriff Melvin Andrews was not working Friday due to an illness, according to his office, and Chief Deputy Darren Scarborough did not return a call seeking comment.

However, Scarborough told The Elberton Star that Dooley, who lives in Jefferson, was driving to work that morning.

Dooley has worked for the sheriffs office for about two years, including at the jail and for courthouse security, Scarborough told The Star.

No information was available from the sheriff's office about any administrative action that might be taken due to the charges.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Elbert County sheriff's deputy charged with DUI after crash in Athens
Electric Last Mile Solutions or ELMS produces small electric utility vans at the former Hummer H2 plant.

MISHAWAKA  Electric Last Mile Solutions, a new electric van maker located in the former Hummer H2 factory, saw its stock plummet recently after a leadership shake up.

Last week, ELMS announced that company CEO James Taylor and Chairman Jason Luo had resigned following an investigation by a special committee of the board that determined some executives had inappropriately purchased equity in the company before ELMS announced an agreement to go public in December 2020.

The company said Shauna McIntyre, a member of the companys board of directors, had been appointed to take Taylors place and that Brian Krzanich has been appointed non-executive board chairman, replacing Luo, and that its financial statements would be restated as they could no longer be relied upon.

New life for Hummer plant: Facility could be used to make electric vans

As a result, the companys stock plunged more than 30% in one day and is yet to show any signs of recovery. A number of law firms are pursuing class action lawsuits for investors who might have lost money.

The company didnt respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. But McIntyre, a long-time auto industry veteran, said in a video that ELMS remains committed to producing electric vans for the commercial market.

I want to assure you in no uncertain terms of our continued focus and dedication to the companys ongoing business, McIntyre said in the video.

Watch: Shauna McIntyre takes the helm at Mishawaka van production company

ELMS took possession of the former Hummer H2 plant last summer with the intent of producing small electric utility vans with a range of 150 miles that might be used by service or delivery businesses.

The exterior of the former Seres and former AM General plant Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in Mishawaka. ELMS took over the plant in 2021.

Electric car company moving ahead despite setback

Bill Schalliol, St. Joseph Countys executive director of economic development, said ELMS, which is headquartered in Troy, Mich., had just over 60 employees when he visited the Mishawaka plant around the end of the year.

Weve heard theyre going to continue moving forward, despite this setback, Schalliol said. Theyve put in a lot of hard work to get this far, and they have a lot of determined people who want to see it work.

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The county has no package of incentives riding on the survival of the business. Indiana has offered tax credits to the company, but those are based on actual job creation.

Jeff Rea, president and CEO of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he was surprised by the news last week and is worried it could hurt the company.

Anything that creates doubt can be problematic for a company, especially if theyre trying to get out of the gate, Rea said. But even so, hes hoping the swift action by the board and the companys business plan will be enough to overcome the setback.

Everyone wants to see them succeed, Rea said.

ELMS has said it could employ as many as 900 at the plant by 2025 after it ramps up production of two electric vans it plans to build.

Regardless of the outcome, the county still has a state-of-the-art auto manufacturing plant that has received more than $20 million in upgrades over the past few years and a workforce with experience in the auto industry, Rea said.

Those are the things that attracted ELMS to the area to begin with, Rea said.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New electric car company hopes to keep production plant in Mishawaka
Midwives today offer a personal, patient-centric experience for pregnant and new mothers and families, spending more time with patients to get to know them and their preferences.

Midwives on the Seacoast have been part of the local health care professional force for at least half a century. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover is marking the 50th anniversary of having midwives on staff. Judy Edwards led the way as the first midwife at the hospital in 1972.

Today there are certified midwives who will do home births and other midwives who work within a hospital system and do in-hospital births. Both maintain working relationships with local doctors for consultations and help if an unexpected situation arises during labor or delivery. They often provide a mother and family with a more personal birth experience and maintain a relationship with a mother from before they become pregnant in some cases right through the post-partum period and help them adapt to new motherhood.

Molly Steele

Molly Steele works currently as a certified nurse midwife at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. She said things have changed a lot.

"The Avis Goodwin Center was created in 1959, with a goal of providing prenatal care to women who were just showing up at the hospital when they were ready to deliver," Steele said. "Midwifery soon followed as the next step and the practice has grown from there."

Steele said when she came to Wentworth-Douglass in 2005, there were about a half dozen midwives, with an average of 800 babies born there yearly.

"Now, we have 18 midwives, and we deliver 1.200 babies a year," she said.

Caroline Lasewicz

Satisfaction in delivering generations of babies

Caroline Lasewicz is a nurse midwife for Core Physicians. She has been practicing for over 22 years, and has reached a point where the babies she helped deliver are returning to have her deliver their own babies.

"Having the privilege of being here 22 years, I see the new generations of babies and in many cases I still have relationships with the original moms. I live locally and see many of them out in the community," Lasewicz said. "I find great joy in educating teens, in helping women become pregnant, through prenatal care, labor care and of course the birth and what comes after. I will sit with women as they grieve. It is not always happy, but it is always a beautiful thing to me, and I consider it a privilege to be part of it."

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A long history of midwifery

In colonial America, midwives were responsible for assisting with most births. They were usually women who had given birth themselves and were considered the "experts" on delivering babies. In most cases, doctors were not readily available and many were not well-versed in childbirth.

With the incredible advances in medicine today, why are women still choosing midwifery? Well, because they have also advanced, are good at what they do and one of their goals is to provide a total, all-inclusive personal experience.

Emily Bearse

"I think part of the reason people are drawn to midwifery is because of its model," Steele saide. "There is more time spent with the woman and her family. It is true patient-centered care."

Personal attention at center of midwives' work

Emily Bearse is the director of midwifery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the new director, for about one month now. She is not new to the practice of midwifery.

"I have been practicing for over eight years, in various settings including Boston Medical," said Bearse. "I spent two and half years working in Africa. What is special about midwifery is we still view labor and birth as a normal process, part of a woman's life, so much more than a medical incident. We are higher touch, lower intervention. We work with the woman and with her whole family."

Personal attention is a big component of midwifery.

"We generally have more time in our schedules to spend with the women we work with," said Lasewicz. "We follow them all the way through, from when they first discover they are pregnant, through well baby and mom care, offer education, be there through the birth experience and postpartum care. People think of a midwife only in terms of the birth, but we do much more. We will sit with you through labor and be the extra hands and support you need."

Nurse midwives have prescribing authority.

"Some women are hesitant thinking they will be required to have a birth free of medication," said Lasewicz. "That can be the case if that's what you want. But it does not need to be. You can have a midwife and an epidural, too. It's your choice."

Midwives work seamlessly with doctors, hospitals

Making choices is the biggest part of the process, said Bearse. She said it is birth your way and that's what many women want their experience to be.

"We have 11 midwives here at DH," said Bearse. "All prenatal, postnatal, postpartum visits are done here in our offices. All the births we attend are at the hospital. What differs is that we want what you want, if at all possible. We tend to spend more time with you. We get to know you and your family. Just by the nature of our training, we focus a lot on education. Families choose us because they are looking for that trusting relationship and that's what they will find with us. We are open to questions and we want to tailor your birth to fit your life. Where do you envision giving birth? What is your medical history? Tell us about your home life. We want to know all we can learn about you."

Lasewicz has a working relationship with other Core physicians and her deliveries most often take place at Exeter Hospital.

"There are conditions where we would do an automatic consultation and my women know that is for their, and their baby's safety," she said. "Other times, we will do consults, if there is anything I might have even the slightest concerns about. As a nurse practitioner, I can address most situations, but it is nice to know there is a second set of eyes if needed."

Bearse said conditions like severe preeclampsia, an underlying medical condition or the sudden need for a C-section are triggers to get the doctors involved. She said they will not hesitate to meet that need if it arises.

"As certified nurse midwives, we will be there even if a doctor or surgery is needed," said Steele. "We will assist with the process and remain there with our patient."

Steele said the midwives at Wentworth-Douglass have a good relationship with the team of doctors they work with, and also with midwives who do home births in the area. Women who come to the practice see most, if not all of the midwives, so when it comes time to deliver, they will be comfortable with who is on call.

Lasewicz also assists the doctors. She did her interview with us as she was preparing to assist with a Caesarean birth.

Lasewicz said she went to a small women's college where empowering women was a big part of the philosophy of her education.

"I got my nursing degree and in my senior year I took on a project about midwifery," she said. "I got a chance to see my first live birth. It was during this project that I decided on the trajectory of my life. I wanted to advocate for women in one of the most special times of their life."

"The beautiful thing is we can meet the patient where they are," said Bearse. "We want your birth to be empowering for you. We can be a fabulous team."

For more information, the American Colleges of Nurse-Midwives (midwife.org) provides certification for midwives and the Midwives Alliance of North America (mana.org) offers education, research, advocacy and community support.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Midwives empower mothers through a patient-centric birth experience
Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Gilead Sciences

Gina Brown has been living with HIV for 27 years and introduces herself as a social worker by training, but an activist by birth. As the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement at the Southern AIDS Coalition, shes working to fight against challenges that she has personally experienced such as homelessness, addiction and abuse, as well as stigma, racism, sexism and ageism.

Everything that you could think of when it comes to HIV, Ive experienced, she says. When I'm sitting at the table, I'm not just talking with an employee hat on. I'm talking from a community standpoint as a person on the same journey.

Stigma killsStigma can be a significant barrier to receiving HIV care or medical treatment. A 2021 survey by GLAAD and Gilead shows that the U.S. South not only has the highest rates of HIV diagnosis, but its also a region that is generally uncomfortable with HIV. Positive test results, in turn, are too often accompanied by secrecy and isolation.

Stigma kills. I know that sounds like a cliche, but its the truth, Gina says. It keeps people out of care. It keeps people from taking their medication. It keeps people from disclosing their status. It keeps people from being happy.

Stigma impacts people everywhere with HIV, but Gina believes in the Southern United States its more than just external stigma. We internalize what people say and think about us. We get caught up in it and actually think those things about ourselves too.

The Southern AIDS Coalition, a Gilead grantee, focuses on stigma reduction and culturally appropriate care. Education and public health advocacy are core to the organizations goals of preventing new transmissions and building a better life for people living with HIV.

Using deliberate language to discuss HIV is one important tool the coalition uses to help dismantle stigma, Gina says.

You go in the room, and you might have somebody who will stand up and say, I'm HIV. And I say, No, youre living with HIV. Thats the first thing, getting people to understand that we are living, were not dying, were not sick, were not all of those things, she says.

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Power of Community: Sharing HIV ExperiencesGina also helps facilitate a program called Out of the Shadows, with the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies. The group works to provides a safe space for women in the New Orleans community to share their HIV experiences, improve access to services and overcome feelings of isolation. She says it was her own experience with the community that was critical to helping her regain her confidence after being diagnosed.

What you see now is not always who I was in this fight. It was people who truly carried me and gave me tools to empower myself. People saw things in me that I never saw in myself, she says.

Gina now wants to serve as that type of person for those she works with, and she always strives to meet them where they are in their journeys. If you need to crawl, I will crawl with you. When you start walking, I will walk with you.

But Gina says with a laugh, When you start running, youre on your own because I'm too old to run. Ill do everything else with you, but I'm not running.

Ending the HIV EpidemicEfforts by the Southern AIDS Coalition and other organizations to reduce stigma and discrimination have been highlighted by the United Nations as critical to ending the epidemic. Gina looks with optimism toward the end of the epidemic and the UNAIDS goal to get every community and country on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Stigma is an onion with many layers, Gina says. We can really do this  we really can, but we have to address the layers that drive HIV.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gilead Sciences on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/ending-hiv-related-stigma-in-the-southern-united-states-ginas-story-369221941
(Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency's safety committee said on Friday it was reviewing reports of heavy menstrual bleeding and absence of menstruation from women who had received COVID vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

The assessment was in view of reports of menstrual disorders after receiving either of the two vaccines, both based on messenger RNA technology, and it was not yet clear whether there was a causal link, the agency said.

It was not yet clear whether there was a causal link between the vaccines and the reports, the agency said.

Menstrual disorders can occur due to a range of underlying medical conditions as well as from stress and tiredness, the EMA said, adding that cases of such disorders had also been reported following COVID-19 infection.

Vaccination against COVID-19 was linked with a small, temporary change in menstrual cycle length, according to a recent study https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-science-idCNL1N2TQ1PB funded by the National Institutes of Health, which collected data from nearly 4,000 users of a smartphone app that tracks menstrual cycles.

But the EMA said in December it had not established a link between changes in menstrual cycles and COVID-19 vaccines, after a study in Norway suggested some women had heavier periods after being inoculated.

After reviewing the available evidence, the EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) said it decided to request an evaluation of all available data, including reports from patients and healthcare professionals, clinical trials and the published literature.

The agency on Friday added that there was also no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines affected fertility.

(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M., Alex Richardson and Nick Macfie)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic and British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said on Friday their officials would continue "intensive" discussions over Northern Ireland in the coming days after their third in-person meeting.

"They agreed on the need for progress in their talks in the interest of people in Northern Ireland, to stay in close touch and that officials will continue intensive discussions in the coming days", the two said in a joint statement.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States will send 3,000 additional troops to Poland, Poland's Defence Minister said late on Friday, confirming an earlier Reuters report, as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea following the buildup of its forces near Ukraine.

The additional troops will be sent to Poland in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday.

The deployment comes as Washington steps up warnings that Russia could be poised to invade Ukraine. Russia denies it plans to invade, saying it is defending its own security against aggression by NATO allies.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter late on Friday that Poland is ready to welcome the U.S. troops anytime.

"The U.S. administration will send additional 3,000 troops to Poland due to the tense situation in Ukraine. I spoke today about this issue with (U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd) Austin," he said. "We are ready at any time to welcome U.S. soldiers to Poland."

The officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. troop deployment will come from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and not from within U.S. forces in Europe.

They are expected to be in Poland by next week, they said.

One of the officials described it as a significant deployment.

Another official said the deployment order was signed by Austin at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The soldiers are in addition to the 8,500 troops already on alert to be ready to deploy to Europe if needed and the nearly 3,000 American troops the administration said earlier this month it would deploy to Poland and Romania.

A spokesperson for Poland's Defence Ministry did not confirm any additional details about timing or where the troops would be coming from.

Russia has already massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, and this week it launched joint military exercises in neighboring Belarus and naval drills in the Black Sea.

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While it denies plans to invade Ukraine, Moscow has said it could take unspecified "military-technical" action unless a series of demands are met, including promises from NATO never to admit Ukraine and to withdraw forces from Eastern Europe.

The United States and Britain have both warned an invasion could come within days.

The Biden administration has urged American citizens to leave Ukraine now, stressing it will not send U.S. troops into Ukraine to help them flee the country if there is a Russian invasion.

While the United States does not have any ships in the Black Sea currently, the U.S. Navy has sent four additional destroyers to Europe in recent weeks.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil StewartAdditional reporting by Alicja Ptak and Joanna Plucinska in WarsawEditing by Rosalba O'Brien and Frances Kerry)
Kayleigh McEnany: President Trump sanctioned Russia. President Biden gave them a pipeline.

PolitiFact's ruling: Mostly False

Here's why: Russias threat of a Ukraine invasion has brought heightened attention to a big infrastructure project: the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.

The roughly 750-mile undersea pipeline would carry Russian natural gas to Germany, which is phasing out its use of coal and nuclear energy. The pipeline was completed in September 2021 but is not yet operational, pending German regulatory approval.

Many of Germanys allies in the West, including the United States and the United Kingdom, expressed concerns about the pipelines construction when it was announced in 2015, warning that it could hand Russia geopolitical leverage over Germany and other European nations.

Fact-check: Was Texas veteran denied mail-in ballot because of 1950s registration number?

Those concerns have continued amid the current Russian troop buildup on Ukraines borders. The United States and members of the European Union have pressured German leaders to say they will block use of the pipeline if Russia invades.

The fight over Nord Stream 2 has spilled over into U.S. partisan politics. In a Feb. 8 Facebook post, Kayleigh McEnany, a former press secretary for then-President Donald Trump, applauded Trumps efforts to block the pipeline while he was in office and accused his successor, President Joe Biden, of handing the pipeline over to Russia.

"President Trump sanctioned Russia. President Biden gave them a pipeline. And here we are," McEnany said in the post.

McEnanys dichotomy is exaggerated, experts told PolitiFact. The first part of her statement has some validity but ignores that both presidents have sanctioned Russia, without stopping the project. The second part is flat wrong.

Trumps Russia policies

McEnany has a point that Trump did continue existing sanctions against Russia, in addition to imposing some new ones.

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Trump continued many of the policies toward Russia that had begun under his predecessor, President Barack Obama, particularly after Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014.

For instance, Trump kept in place the Magnitsky Act, which targeted high-ranking Russians with sanctions. His administration also put new sanctions on five Russians and Chechens over human rights abuses, and it approved lethal arms sales to Ukraine, which Obama had not.

Fact-check: Are hundreds of unauthorized immigrants staying at Florida hotel?

Trump also signed a bill in August 2017 that targeted Russias energy and defense sectors with sanctions.

However, experts said the 2017 legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in part due to widespread concerns that Trump was too cozy with Russia and Vladimir Putin.

"Trumps early fawning of Putin sent strong signals that the U.S. would not be pursuing a tough policy towards Russia," said Susanne Wengle, a University of Notre Dame political scientist.

Congress felt it had to get involved because both parties feared Trump could not be trusted with Russia, and they didnt want to leave him the unilateral power to end sanctions via executive order, said Yoshiko M. Herrera, a University Wisconsin-Madison political scientist.

When it came time to sign the bill, Trump did so grudgingly and called it "seriously flawed."

McEnany, through a spokesperson at Fox News, where she is a commentator, also pointed to a 2019 law signed by Trump authorizing new sanctions on Russia related to Nord Stream 2. The sanctions were imposed on any company helping Russia finish the pipeline construction.

Fact-check: Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say she doesn't need truckers?

These sanctions convinced a Swiss company involved in the construction to exit the project with about 6% of the pipeline unbuilt. A Russian company finished the remainder of the work in late 2020 and early 2021.

How do Bidens Russia policies compare with Trumps?

For the most part, Biden has continued the sanctions imposed by his predecessors and added new ones.

For instance, Biden issued an order in April 2021 that prohibited U.S. financial institutions from trading ruble-denominated bonds linked to a variety of Russian entities, and sanctioned six technology companies with links to Russian intelligence.

And in May 2021, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russian shipping and other entities involved in the pipeline project.

However, in the course of pursuing U.S. diplomatic goals, the Biden administration has sought some flexibility. In May 2021, for instance, the administration waived sanctions on the company spearheading Nord Stream 2 as well as its CEO, arguing that a waiver was in the U.S. national interest.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited Bidens "pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe," a position widely seen as an effort to nudge Germany to curtail the pipeline without alienating the United States longtime ally.

"The Biden administration claimed this compromise was needed to repair relations with Germany," said Peter D. Feaver, a Duke University political scientist.

McEnany added that congressional Republicans have sought to stiffen sanctions related to Nord Stream 2 over the opposition of the Biden administration.

The issue came to a head in January 2022, when the Senate failed to reach the required 60 votes to advance legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would have accelerated sanctions related to Nord Stream 2.

Cruzs legislation was backed by every Senate Republican except for Rand Paul of Kentucky, and won the support of a half-dozen Democrats. But every other Democrat opposed it, following the lead of the administration, which argued that the bill would have complicated U.S. diplomacy.

Biden couldnt give pipeline to Russia

Trump was president through January 2021, so the vast majority of its construction occurred while he was president. A tiny portion was completed on Bidens watch.

It is "absolutely wrong to say that any president gave Russia a pipeline," Wengle said.

Nord Stream 2 is a bilateral project between Germany and Russia, so the U.S. can only stop it using indirect leverage.

"It has been mainly Germanys decision, so I dont see how one can interpret Nord Stream 2 as a gift from Biden," Herrera said. "All we can do is pressure Germany to not allow it to become operational."

Trumps ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, urged Germany to stop construction of Nord Stream 2, but his urging went unheeded. It didnt help that Trump had frayed relations with Germany and the rest of Europe, leaving the U.S. with "virtually no leverage," Wengle said.

Biden prioritized improving relations with Germany but has faced obstacles in convincing Germany to forgo the pipeline, said Harley Balzer, an emeritus professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University.

The administration might be making some headway. Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Feb. 7 and said Germany was committed to "acting together" and taking "necessary steps." This was considered the strongest statement about what Germany might do with Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades.

Our ruling

McEnany said, "President Trump sanctioned Russia. President Biden gave them a pipeline."

This sets up a dubious dichotomy between what Trump and Biden have done to oppose the pipeline. Both presidents maneuvered with difficulty to oppose a project in which they had no official role and could only use indirect leverage.

Trump did sanction Russia, although his friendliness to Putin sent contrary signals. Biden continued and extended sanctions, but he has also sought flexibility with sanctions as part of diplomatic negotiations.

Only a tiny percentage of the pipeline remained to be finished by the time Biden took office; most of it was built on Trumps watch.

We rate the statement Mostly False.

Sources

Kayleigh McEnany, Facebook post, Feb. 8, 2022

White House, "Imposing Costs for Harmful Foreign Activities by the Russian Government," April 15, 2021

CNN, "Trump signs bill approving new sanctions against Russia," Aug. 3, 2017

CNN, "What is Nord Stream 2 and can Biden kill it?" Feb. 8, 2022

CNN, "Senate votes down Cruz's bill to impose sanctions over Nord Stream pipeline," Jan. 13, 2022

CNN, "Biden readying sanctions against Putin's inner circle ahead of this week's key call," Dec. 6, 2021

Reuters, "U.S. waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2 as Biden seeks to mend Europe ties," May 19, 2021

BBC, "Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline," Dec. 21, 2019

Deusche-Welle, "Biden promises no Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine," Feb. 7, 2022

Foreign Policy, "Biden Aims to Quash Nord Stream 2 Sanctions in Defense Bill," Nov. 24, 2021

The Hill, "Biden administration resists tougher Russia sanctions in Congress," Nov. 27, 2021

Fortune, "Trump has long wanted to kill a Russia-Germany natural gas pipeline. Navalnys poisoning could do it for him," Sept. 8, 2020

CBS News, "Transcript: Robert O'Brien on 'Face the Nation,'" Aug. 9, 2020

Argus Media, "US details sanctions against Nord Stream 2 ships," May 21, 2021

PolitiFact, "Has Donald Trump 'been much tougher on Russia' than Barack Obama?" Feb. 20, 2018

Email interview with Harley Balzer, emeritus professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University, Feb. 8, 2022

Email interview with Steven Pifer, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Feb. 8, 2022

Email interview with Peter D. Feaver, Duke University political scientist, Feb. 8, 2022

Email interview with Susanne Wengle, political scientist at the University of Notre Dame, Feb. 8, 2022

Email interview with Yoshiko M. Herrera, University Wisconsin-Madison political scientist, Feb. 8, 2022

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fact-check: Did Trump, Biden sanction Russia?
A family-owned Vietnamese restaurant that has served the local community in San Franciscos Financial District for nearly four decades is at risk of losing its space.



SHVO, the company that owns the building, told the owners of Sais Vietnamese restaurant last week that the lease for their spot on Washington St. will no longer be renewed, reported KRON4.



The owners have until Feb. 28 to find a new location or a way to save their existing lease for the business, which has been serving its local clientele for 37 years.



According to Sais Vietnamese owner Inmy Chi, while their lease is set to expire on Feb. 28, they received an email about a renewal just days before they were told they would need to vacate their spot.



They emailed us on Jan. 5 and asked if we wanted to renew the lease, Chi told SFGATE. We emailed them back on Jan. 20, but we didnt hear from them. We called and called and on Jan. 25, they answered and said they wanted us to leave. I still have to process this. I think it unethical.



Chis uncle and aunt opened the restaurant in the 1980s, and Chi took over as owner in 2017, reported SFGATE. Now, Chi is concerned for her employees, some of whom she says have worked at the establishment for 30 years and whom she describes as part of the family.



Two of my staff cried when I broke the news, another is talking about where to go from here, Chi was quoted as saying. Many have been here for 30 years and from this moment on, I just have to move everything out and relocate my employees.



So far, their request for an extension has been denied. This is reportedly due to a planned redevelopment work on the property, according to a spokesperson for SHVO.



SHVO has been proud to work with Sais Restaurant throughout the pandemic to help the restaurant remain open, amending the familys lease and forgiving rent on multiple occasions, SHVOs statement read. While the lease is expiring and cannot be renewed for the long-term due to redevelopment work on the property, they were never evicted."



In 2020, an application to redevelop 545 Sansome St. was filed to San Francisco Planning and is currently still under review, reported SFGATE. If approved, the project would result in the destruction of the first level of 501-505 Washington St., where the Vietnamese restaurant is located.



The family has launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help them relocate to another building nearby.



The funds will be used directly for the costs of purchasing/building another restaurant as well as relocation expenses and purchasing new equipment, read the campaign. In addition, the funds will go towards retaining our employees which will allow us to continue to serve the SF community.







Featured Image via KRON 4





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A New Jersey company violated labor laws by not paying staff for the full hours they worked, the DOL said.

The firm also failed to keep accurate records of staff hours and wages, the DOL said in a lawsuit.

A federal court ordered the company and its co-managers to pay staff $712,000 in back wages and damages.

A federal court ordered a New Jersey company and its co-managers to pay $712,000 in back wages and damages after a Department of Labor investigation found it had deliberately denied overtime pay.

FTR Electrical & HVAC Services violated labor laws by capping staff pay at eight hours a day, no matter how long they actually worked, the Department of Labor (DOL) said in a lawsuit first filed in May 2020.

Employees regularly worked between 45 and 54 hours a week, but the company didn't pay staff extra for overtime, the DOL said.

The Union, NJ-based company, which provides electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services, also required staff to "work off the clock," and didn't keep accurate records of working hours and wage payments, the DOL said.

The company paid staff in cash for overtime hours and told them not to clock out "to conceal the fact that employees worked more than forty hours a week," per the lawsuit. In this way, the company and its co-mangers had "willfully violated the FLSA," the DOL said.

FTR Electrical & HVAC Services said that it had violated some sections of the Fair Labor Standards Act, including not paying staff for all the hours they worked, not paying staff a premium for overtime hours, and not keeping full records of hours and wages, per legal filings viewed by Insider.

The US District Court for the District of New Jersey ordered the company, a part-owner, and a vice-president to pay $355,846.92 in back wages for unpaid overtime and another $355,846.92 in liquidated damages to the 89 affected workers, per a February 3 legal filing. The company and co-managers also had to pay almost $3,000 in interest alongside a $16,450 fine.

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The defendants had agreed to make the payments, per the filing by US Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel.

The company didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

"The company and its co-managers intentionally denied overtime wages to employees and deprived them of their basic right to the wages they earned for the hard work they provided," Paula Ruffin, district director of the DOL's Wage and Hour Division in Mountainside, New Jersey, said in a statement Tuesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Josh Duggar speaks during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 28, 2015 in National Harbor, Maryland. Kris Connor/Getty Images

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by four of Josh Duggar's sisters against Arkansas officials.

The sisters sued Arkansas officials, alleging they improperly released police documents from the 2006 Josh Duggar molestation investigation.

Josh Duggar was convicted of child-pornography possession in December, and the old molestation allegations were discussed at trial.

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by four Duggar sisters, who had accused police in Arkansas of improperly sharing documents from their investigation into molestation allegations against their brother Josh Duggar.

The siblings, formerly of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," underwent a major scandal in 2015 when InTouch published a 2006 police report alleging that Josh Duggar had molested four of his sisters.

Duggar, who was convicted in December of child-pornography possession, was never criminally charged with molesting or abusing his sisters. In 2017, his sisters sued the city of Springdale, Washington County, and a number of specific city and county officials, including the former Springdale police chief and a former official from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

The sisters contended that law enforcement officials in the city and county broke privacy laws by improperly sharing official documents detailing the alleged abuse they experienced from their brother. An attorney representing the sisters did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Two of those sisters, Jill Duggar Dillard and Jessa Duggar Seewald, have previously condemned the media's handling of the molestation allegations. They told Fox News in 2015 that they had long since forgiven their brother, and that the media had participated in a "revictimization that's even a thousand times worse" than their brother's actions.

Josh Duggar previously apologized for his conduct toward his sisters, saying he "acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret."

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The Duggar family visits "Extra" at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square on March 11, 2014 in New York City. D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

Those molestation allegations against Josh Duggar resurfaced during his 2021 child pornography trial, when prosecutors portrayed him as a habitual child predator. A family friend of the Duggars testified that Josh Duggar had confessed on multiple occasions to touching young girls both over and under their clothing.

Duggar has not yet been sentenced, but faces up to 20 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines.

In a 20-page ruling filed on Wednesday, Judge Timothy Brooks  who also oversaw the recent child-pornography trial  said the Arkansas officials who handled the Josh Duggar molestation investigation documents were "seemingly ignorant of the privacy rights Arkansas affords to sexual assault victims."

Brooks said the Duggar sisters were correct that Arkansas officials wrongly released several documents related to the molestation investigation. But he said the Duggar sisters failed to prove that Arkansas officials knew their conduct was illegal when they released the documents.

Rather, Brooks explained, the Arkansas officials "were profoundly wrong about the law," but "motivated by a belief that they were legally obligated to release these reports, and to do so quickly."

Notably, Brooks' ruling also included a number of damning details about the molestation allegations and how the Duggar family handled them. Brooks wrote that Josh Duggar sexually abused his sisters between 2002 and 2003, when he was 15 years old, and when his sisters ranged in age from 5 to 11 years old.

"Their parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, discovered the abuse but did not report it to the police or any state agency. Instead, they decided to keep it a secret and discipline Joshua privately," Brooks wrote.

Brooks added that the family secret spread "by word of mouth" over the years before it ultimately reached the Arkansas Department of Human Services, which reported the allegations to the Springdale Police Department.

Though authorities interviewed the Duggar family, Brooks noted that "no criminal charges were ever brought against Joshua, nor were his sisters removed from the family home."

Read the original article on Insider
FedEx has been accused of asking a Black delivery driver to complete his route despite being attacked by two white men while at work last month.

The 24-year-old driver, DMonterrio Gibson, told reporters he was confronted by two white men who shot at him on 24 January for being suspicious. He was delivering packages in Brookhaven, a town about 55 miles south of Jackson, Mississippi.

DMonterrio Gibson and his attorney Rodney Diggs (NowThis)

He said his FedEx bosses told him to return to the companys facility with his bullet-riddled van and that they would file a police report the next morning.

Mr Gibson told the Mississippi Free Press however that he filed his own report straight away and explained the situation, telling police the two white men told him he was acting suspicious.

He said he was not, and was in fact working and wearing his FedEx uniform at the time.

On Thursday, an attorney for Mr Gibson told reporters the 24-year-old had in fact complained to his bosses about the incident and said the company didnt show any concern.

In fact, what they wanted Mr Gibson to do was complete his route, complete his route  after he just almost lost his life, said attorney Rodney Diggs. You have bullet fragments in the truck and in the car.

Clearly, someone that young that has dealt with this sort of shooting as it happened in the Ahmaud Arbery style is suffering from stress, and for sure, PTSD, said Mr Diggs in the video shared by Now This.

Mississippi FedEx driver DMonterrio Gibson, who says he was chased & shot at by two white men while on the job, was told by superiors to complete his route after the incident, according to his attorney pic.twitter.com/pV85TYKLKZ  NowThis (@nowthisnews) February 11, 2022

You shouldnt require a young, Black male who just experienced racism at its highest height in 2022 to continue to do work, the attorney added, after making a reference to the killing of a Black man in Georgia in 2020.

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While no legal action has yet been taken against FedEx, Mr Diggs said his law firm was exploring all legal options available to Mr Gibson on Friday, in remarks reported by Insider.

Father and son Gregory and Brandon case (Brookhaven Police Department via CNN)

The delivery driver said in an interview last week that he felt disrespected by the response from Brookhaven Police Department, after investigators allegedly told him the town was unracist.

Mr Gibson also told CNN he experienced anxiety attacks and was placed on unpaid leave on 2 February after FedEx put him on the same route the following day.

The company has so far appeared to deny the claims and said it takes situations of this nature very seriously, in a statement to news outlets.

Police have since charged two men, Gregory and Brandon Case, with aggravated assault after the father and son turned themselves in on 1 February, the Mississippi Free Press reported.

The Independent has approached FedEx and the police department for comment.
Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor North America continue to see production disruptions at various factories caused by the trucker protest at the Ambassador Bridge.

But General Motors and Stellantis were running plants on normal operations as of early afternoon Friday. Though both were monitoring the situation after experiencing some production stoppages earlier in the week.

The auto industry struggled to get parts over the U.S.-Canada border as the protest by truck drivers at the bridge entered its fifth day.

A Jeep Wrangler comes off the final production line at the Toledo North Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.

The difficulty couldn't come at a worse time for carmakers and car buyers.

"The blockade comes at a terrible time as the auto industry already has been shutting down plants due to the chip shortage. This exacerbates the situation," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. "For consumers, this will cause continued shortages in inventory, continued high prices as a result and long delays in getting a vehicle, perhaps that they ordered."

More: As GM drops Chevy Spark, here are the most affordable vehicles from Detroit 3

Possible relief?

A scheduled hearing to ask the Ontario Superior Court chief judge to order an end to the weeklong protest Friday prompted demonstrators to begin moving trucks to open a single lane on the Ambassador Bridge before noon. The bridge remained closed to all traffic, however.

Friday evening, a judge granted an injunction allowing police to forcibly remove the demonstrators, but the bridge remained blocked.

The drivers oppose a vaccine mandate to enter Canada, among other things. The protest blockade is shutting down all traffic on the bridge and backing it up on Michigan's other border crossing, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

A small line of tractor-trailers line up along northbound Interstate 75 in Detroit as the Ambassador Bridge entrance is blocked off for travel to Canada on Feb. 8, 2022.

The Ambassador Bridge is a major international gateway where about $356 million in goods travel between Detroit and Windsor every day, according to Politico.

For 2021, Edmunds estimates 7.3% of U.S. vehicle sales resulted from Canadian-built vehicles. It is also a key link for the automotive industry to ship parts to factories.

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More: Automakers work to bypass trucker protest at Ambassador Bridge as plants cancel shifts

Ford and Toyota

Ford continued to be hit hard by the bridge protest activity earlier Friday.

The automaker said its Ohio Assembly Plant is down due to a parts shortage related to the bridge blockade. The Ohio Assembly Plant builds Super Duty Chassis cabs, medium-duty trucks and E-series vans.

Ford's plant in Oakville, Ontario, and its Windsor engine plant continue to work at reduced capacity due to the bridge blockade for a second-day in a row, Kelli Felker, Ford global manufacturing and labor communications manager, told the Detroit Free Press on Friday.

Ford makes its Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs at the Oakville plant. It makes two engines at its Windsor plant: One goes into the F-150 pickup and Mustang muscle car. The other goes into the Super Duty pickup and Econoline van, Felker said.

All of Fords North American plants will run the week of Feb. 14, except Ohio Assembly Plant and Kansas City Assembly Transit production, Felker said.

She said some plants will operate with fewer shifts while still building vehicles. They include the Kentucky Truck and Chicago Assembly plants, both of which will operate on two crews, and Dearborn Truck, which will run on one crew. Each of those plants normally runs three crews.

A 2022 Ford F-150 Tremor rolls down the assembly line at Dearborn Truck Plant on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. It was the 40 millionth F-Series vehicle built since 1947.

This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, autoworkers, suppliers, communities and companies on both sides of the border that are already two years into parts shortages resulting from the global semiconductor issue, COVID and more, Felker said. We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have widespread impact on all automakers in the U.S. and Canada."

At Toyota Motor North America, four factories have been affected by the protest, said Toyota spokesperson Kelly Stefanich.

"Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia have recently been impacted by issues related to the Ambassador Bridge blockade," Stefanich said, without providing specific detail on the production disruption at those plants.

But Stefanich said the company expects more disruption through the weekend, and it will "continue to make adjustments as needed. While the situation is fluid and changes frequently, we do not anticipate any impact to employment at this time.

Toyota has been hit with a number of supply-chain, weather- and COVID-19-related challenges that have affected production at its North American plants, Stefanich said.

"Our teams are closely monitoring the situation and working diligently to minimize the impact on production," Stefanich said.

GM and Stellantis

Most of GM's U.S. assembly plants were running scheduled production Friday, said GM spokesman Dan Flores.

By Friday evening, Flores declined to comment on the injunction saying, Our focus remains working with our suppliers on mitigating any issues they have. Obviously, the situation remains fluid, the focus is to keep the parts flowing to our assembly plants to keep production going.

That includes its Fort Wayne Assembly in Indiana, where GM builds its full-size light duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. On Thursday, GM flew parts from Canada to Fort Wayne to keep the plant running. The plant was down for some time late Thursday. It resumed regular production Friday morning.

At GMs Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky, production of the Corvette continued uninterrupted. A plant leader said the plant has enough parts in inventory to get through Monday.

Flores, however, said that GM's CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, where it makes the Chevrolet Equinox SUV, had to cut first shift short Friday.

At Flint Assembly, where GM builds its heavy-duty versions of the pickups, Friday's first shift also was cut short, due to lack of parts because of the blockade. Flint resumed regular production on its second and third shifts. GM shortened a shift there Thursday due to a lack of parts.

A 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD in dynamic vehicle testing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 at General Motors Flint Assembly in Flint, Michigan.

On Friday, a worker at Flint told the Free Press, "One manager said well run all day. Another said that we might run out of parts." The worker asked to not be named because the worker is not authorized to speak to the media.

At GM's Arlington Assembly plant in Texas where it makes its fat-profit full-size SUVs, all three shifts were running on Friday after the plant experienced several periods of production disruptions last week due to parts shortages and weather-related issues, said a plant worker and verified by communication between plant leaders and workers obtained by the Free Press.

Stellantis North America plants all started Friday morning, but "this remains an incredibly fluid situation," said spokesperson Jodi Tinson. "We continue to work closely with our carriers to get parts into the plants to mitigate further disruptions."

On Thursday, Stellantis had to cut the first shift off early at Windsor Assembly plant, where it builds the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, due to the parts shortage. Windsor Assembly Plant has been one of the Stellantis plants that has been most affected by the ongoing global chip shortage as well. It faced considerable downtime over the past year as the automaker prioritized production of its most profitable trucks and SUVs.

Toledo North Assembly Complex also cut short its first shift Thursday. Toledo is where the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are built.

Free Press staff writers Phoebe Wall Howard and Eric D. Lawrence contributed to this report.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford, Toyota see more production disruption amid bridge protest
Jerry Harris, a former star in Netflix's "Cheer," plead guilty in his child pornography case. Harris has been held without bond since his arrest in September 2020 for allegedly eliciting minors for sex at cheerleading competitions.
Feb. 11A former member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who allegedly accepted cash bribes on at least seven separate occasions in exchange for supporting and sidelining legislation on behalf of a Honolulu cesspool and wastewater company will plead guilty as part of a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Former state Rep. Ty J.K. Cullen will be arraigned and enter a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway at 11 a.m. Feb. 15. Retired Senate Majority Leader Jamie Kalani English is scheduled to be arraigned and enter a guilty plea as part of his arrangement with the justice department before Mollway on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

DOJ officials declined to discuss the details of English and Cullen's plea deal until they are entered into the record Feb. 15. It is not clear how or if English and Cullen are cooperating with the ongoing DOJ probe that is focused on allegations of public corruption in Hawaii that date to at least 2014.

Both are charged with "honest services wire fraud " for failing to report the alleged bribes on their electronic legislative gift disclosure reports. Lawmakers are required to disclose gifts exceeding $200, in total or aggregate.

On Tuesday Cullen, former vice chairman of the House Committee on Finance and English in New Orleans in exchange for introducing measures, killing legislation and relaying intelligence to a Hawaii industrial services company and its principal from about 2014 through 2021, according to documents filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

They remain free pending their initial appearance Feb. 15.

Cullen also most recently served on the House Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Committee and the Government Reform Committee. He represented Royal Kunia, Waipahu and Makakilo. English represented Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

Cullen is accused of taking $23, 000 in bribes from 2019 to 2020 from "Person A " to work on legislation to benefit Person A's wastewater and sewage treatment company.

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English solicited money, dinners and lodging from Person A in exchange for his work on Person A's behalf, according to court documents. He did not disclose hotel rooms allegedly provided to him in June 2019 at a cost of $1, 805, the $500 in cash he accepted in June 2019, $1, 000 in cash provided to him in February 2020 or $10, 000 he took in March 2020, according to the felony information.

Person A is cooperating with DOJ's ongoing investigation and owns and operates a wastewater management business that has done work for every county, the state and federal government.

Cullen resigned Tuesday shortly before U.S. Attorney Clare Connors announced the filing of felony information charging documents against Cullen and English. to deal with the impact of long haul COVID-19, he said at the time.

English's attorney released a statement Tuesday saying his client was remorseful, will accept a plea deal and take responsibility for his actions.
NEWARK  A former inmate at FCI Fort Dix has received a 19-month prison term for his role in a smuggling scheme at the federal prison.

Johansel Moronta, 29, of Linden, participated in multiple drone drops between October 2018 and June 2019, when he was incarcerated at the prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey.

Moronta took possession of smuggled item and helped sell them to inmates for a profit, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.

FCI Fort Dix

At a previous court hearing, Moronta admitted he retrieved tobacco, cellphone chargers and charging cables from a bag dropped by a drone onto the roof of a housing unit at the prison.

Authorities allege prison officers in October 2018 saw a drone with a fishing line hovering above the rooftop, then found Morona leaving a bathroom in the area.

He also admitted to possessing a contraband cellphone that he had used to coordinate the drone drop.

The phone held numerous text messages and phone calls between Moronta and other alleged participants in the smuggling ring, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Moronta was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court.

He previously pleaded guilty to possessing and obtaining contraband while in prison, and to violating terms of his supervised release from federal custody.

Another former inmate, Jason Arteaga-Loayza, has also admitted his role in the scheme, as well as to distributing narcotics. He received a 43-month prison term in September 2021.

Two other men  Adrian Goolcharran, 37, of Jersey City and Nicolo Denichilo, 40, of Union City  pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Federal prosecutors have identified Goolcharran as the drone pilot and Denichilo as his assistant.

Goolcharran allegedly flew the drone under cover of darkness from wooded areas near the prison.

Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Burlington County Times: Johansel Moronta admitted role in drone smuggling scheme FCI Fort Dix
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Google on Friday was targeted in an antitrust complaint by the European Publishers Council over its digital advertising business, potentially strengthening EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's investigation into the issue.

Alphabet Inc's Google made $147 billion in revenue from online ads in 2020, more than any other company in the world, with ads including search, YouTube and Gmail accounting for the bulk of its overall sales and profits.

About 16% of its revenue came from the company's display or network business, in which other media companies use Google technology to sell ads on their website and apps.

The European Commission opened an investigation in June into whether Google favours its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of rivals, advertisers and online publishers.

The publishers' trade body, whose members include Axel Springer, News UK, Conde Nast, Bonnier News and Editorial Prensa Iberica, took its grievance to the European Commission, alleging Google has an adtech stranglehold over press publishers.

"It is high time for the European Commission to impose measures on Google that actually change, not just challenge, its behaviour," EPC Chairman Christian Van Thillo said in a statement.

"Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100% in segments of the ad tech chain," he said.

Vestager, who has fined Google more than 8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) in recent years for anti-competitive practices in three cases, last year launched the investigation into Google's digital advertising business.

Google said publishers benefit from its adtech services.

"When publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue and every year we pay out billions of dollars directly to the publishing partners in our ad network," a Google spokesperson said.

($1 = 0.8714 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee. Editing by Jane Merriman and David Evans)
TALLAHASSEE  The Florida House would strip $200 million from a dozen counties, including Volusia, where school boards defied Gov. Ron DeSantis by requiring students and staff to wear masks  another punishing strike in a clash that consumed much of last fall.

The move came from state Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, the House education budget-writer.

Rep. Randy Fine looks to steer $200 million away from 12 counties that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis by issuing mask mandates for schools.

The Volusia County School District could lose nearly $3.2 million in funding for imposing a mask mandate for seven days in 2021. The district approved the mandate in a 3-2 vote on Sept. 1 after a judge on Aug. 27 threw out DeSantis' executive order banning mask mandates in schools.

The Volusia Schools mandate didn't take effect until Sept. 7. It also included a three-day grace period for families who wanted to get medical exemptions, so staff did not enforce the policy until Sept. 13.

The 1st District Court of Appeal placed a stay on the ruling to throw out the executive order on Sept. 10, putting DeSantis' executive order back in play. The district removed its mask mandate altogether on Sept. 15.

All told, the district only enforced the mask mandate for three school days.

State: Don't say salad? How vegetarian school lunches got pulled into 'Don't Say Gay' debate

School Board member Linda Cuthbert, who voted in favor of a district-wide mask mandate, said any loss of funding would be catastrophic for the district.

Superintendent Scott Fritz said that because the district's mask mandate was put in place while the executive order was not in effect and then quickly obliterated once the order was overturned, the state should not penalize the district.

"Our contention is the mandate was made when it was legal," Fritz said. "It's our belief that in Volusia County, we did comply with the law at the time."

Cuthbert agreed and said the district shouldn't be punished.

"It's an ongoing issue and we're looking forward to coming to a resolution that is best for all of us," she said.

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The district is currently working with a lobbyist to be removed from the list of districts in violation so it don't lost any funding, according to Fritz.

"Obviously, thats not pocket change, it would be a big hit, but I dont think were not going to try to fix that either," Fritz said.

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Here's why it's happening

Fine played a central role in promoting claims last fall by parents of a Brevard County student with Down syndrome who said their child was abused by teachers when a mask was tied to her face.

The claim coursed through conservative media, was seized on by a DeSantis spokeswoman, and the girls father repeated the story on Fox News Tucker Carlson Show. Law enforcement investigators later dismissed the case  concluding it was built around staged photos and false statements.

Now, with Floridas school mask fight receding into history and as states including New York, Connecticut and California, scale back far stricter policies, Fine on Wednesday fired another shot.

The $200 million is taken from the states biggest, urban counties where COVID-19 cases were high and school mask-wearing required at least for several months last year. The money would be scattered to other counties that didnt challenge DeSantis.

Since all Florida districts would see overall increases in the $105.3 billion state budget advanced Wednesday by the House Appropriations Committee, the mask penalty wont be that harmful, Fine said.

It is intended to reward the 55 school districts, the overwhelming majority of which followed our state law and respected the rights of parents over the past year, Fine said of what he called the Putting Parents First Adjustment Deduct.

The Senate doesnt include the policy in its $108.6 billion state budget proposal. The budgets were approved by committees Wednesday in the House and Senate, but its unclear whether Fines idea will survive work between the two sides on reaching a consensus spending plan for 2022-23 before the Legislatures scheduled March 11 finish.

INVESTIGATION: They thought their children would be safe. A teacher's sex abuse went unreported for years.

Richard Corcoran, Florida Education Commissioner and former Speaker of the Florida House, responds to questions asked by the Florida State Presidential Search Committee on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Move echoes student mask wars of last summer

DeSantis last summer issued an executive order allowing only parents to decide whether their children would wear masks in schools. Rules enacted later by the Education Department and Health Department affirmed this parent-based standard and led to the withholding of pay from school board members in eight of the districts that continued to require masks.

The Biden administration also got into the clash, backing defiant school districts. In December, paychecks withheld from school board members were returned by the Florida Education Department.

The ban on school mask mandates was finally cemented into state law in November, during a special legislative session. The measure signed by DeSantis prohibits vaccine and mask requirements in schools.

The counties penalized under Fines Putting Parents First proposal are Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia.

In Miami-Dade, the largest county affected, schools would lose almost $72 million; Indian River, the smallest, is tapped for $1.3 million. Fine included in the House budget a line that the deduction will not reduce funding for any direct educational service or resource that impacts the education of kindergarten through grade 12 students.

Instead, he said the money will be taken from state funds directed toward administrators making more than $100,000 annually. These are bureaucrats, not people in the classrooms, Fine said, in response to questions from Democrats.

Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, pointed out that plenty of staff in the Republican-led Legislature earn more than the $100,000 threshold targeted.

And Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, also asked Fine if he was simply looking to punish districts that offended him.

We have the power of paper ... but we also have the power of the purse, Fine said, adding that its about holding people accountable.

Nikki Ross, who covers K-12 education, health and COVID-19 for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, contributed to this report. She can be reached at nikki.ross@news-jrnl.com or follow her on Twitter @nikkiinreallife.

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 The Daytona Beach News-Journal: School districts that defied DeSantis on masks may lose state funding
A Republican legislator in Rhode Island has introduced a bill that would require Asian American history be taught in public elementary and high schools starting next fall.



State Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who represents District 15, says she wants students to learn about the achievements of Asian Americans, as well as the struggles they have faced as a community throughout history.



Asian Americans are a group of people whose story has historically not been told, she told the Boston Globe. If you talk to people, they want their history to be part of the great American story.





Mayors past, present & the State Rep who had to organize them  #WomenRunTheWorld  pic.twitter.com/AXcLIcqjtx

 BA Fenton-Fung, MSPT, MSMM (@BarbaraAnnRI) December 5, 2021







The bill, introduced on Feb. 2, would require all public schools to provide at least one unit of instruction in Asian American history, which can be taught online. The curriculum would cover the history of Asian Americans in Rhode Island and the Northeast as well as the contributions of Asian Americans toward civil rights advancement, government, sciences, humanities, the arts, and the countrys economic, cultural, social and political development.



Fenton-Fung, who assumed office in January 2021, first mentioned her proposal during a debate in which she supported a similar bill for African American history last May, according to the Boston Globe. At the time, she floated the idea of introducing an equivalent for Asian American history.



Prior to assuming office, Fenton-Fung, who is also the wife of Rhode Islands first Chinese American mayor Allan Fung, also drew attention to the language barriers faced by Asian Americans amidst ongoing vaccination efforts. In an op-ed for the Providence Journal, she stressed the importance of having multilingual channels to reach struggling communities.



Very few and far between are the official government communications based in Khmer script for our Southeast Asian residents, or Chinese pictographs, or Arabic for our neighbors from the Middle East, Fenton-Fung wrote. My own mother-in-law's native language is Cantonese, and I can remember her not quite understanding the full scope of what COVID was or why there was such a big deal when it hit our state. Once my husband laid it out in her native language, she became the biggest promoter of guidance from our public health leaders.



In order to have better outcomes, we need to go the extra mile in different languages via digital video communications, mailers and multilingual media entities to reach those we didn't metaphorically capture last time around.



The bill is expected to be heard before the House Education Committee next Wednesday.



Featured Image via WPRI

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Gov. Mike Parsons budget recommendations do not include any funding for a state commission dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust.

The Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission is seeking $32,000 for fiscal year 2023, with the funds to be used for workshops, an updated website and an annual remembrance event, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

Parsons budget recommendations do not include any funding for the commission, whose funding goes through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The education department handles funding requests for several commissions and the Holocaust commission is the only one that Parson recommended receive no money.

A spokeswoman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The governor only makes recommendations for funding. Only the Legislature has the authority to allocate state money.

Parson recommended $2.05 million and one new worker for the Missouri Charter Public Schools Commission. which asked for $2.2 million and three full-time workers.

He is also recommending $32,000 to fund the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

In total, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is asking for $10.4 billion for fiscal year 2023; Parsons requests total $10.5 billion.
Feb. 10Gov. Janet Mills has proposed a $20 million plan to pay for up to two years of community college for qualified students who were part of high school graduating classes from 2020 through 2023.

The proposal was described to the Press Herald Thursday afternoon by a state official with direct knowledge of the governor's plan and it was mentioned by Mills in her State of the State address Thursday evening to a joint session of the Legislature. The plan is expected to be included in Mills' supplemental budget, which will outline her plans for an estimated $822 million surplus projected through mid-2023. It would need to be approved by the Legislature and would be funded through a one-time transfer to the Maine Community College System.

It comes after First Lady Jill Biden announced that a proposal to provide free college tuition at community colleges nationwide was being stripped from the Build Back Better bill. That plan would have provided $45.5 billion to states to fund two years of community college for a five-year period.

In her first in-person speech before a joint session since the pandemic began, Mills pitched the idea as a way to help students affected by the pandemic and as a workforce development program, allowing students to earn an associate degree or one-year certificate without being burdened by debt. The program would allow graduates to enter the workforce with specialized skills and earn higher wages at a time when workers are desperately needed, the state official said.

"Governor Mills knows that community college is a powerful tool, delivering a high-quality education that prepares Maine students for the jobs of today and tomorrow and providing our employers with the workforce our state desperately needs to continue moving our economic recovery forward," the official said. "With her proposal, she is saying directly to Maine's students: I know the pandemic has been hard, but the future is yours and we want to help you embrace it."

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About a third of U.S. states, including Tennessee, Oregon, Nevada and Washington, offer some form of free community college tuition, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Each program is different, with some targeting specific fields, or certain students, such as those from low- or middle-income families.

Under Mills' proposal, in-state students in high school graduating classes from 2020 through 2023 who enroll in community college full time could be eligible for the program. The state official estimated that 8,000 students could qualify.

Students who graduated in 2020, 2021 and 2022 would need to enroll by this fall and those graduating next year would need to enroll by the fall of 2023.

To qualify, students must enroll full time and earn 30 credits per year; pursue an associate degree or one-year certificate; qualify for in-state tuition or commit to living and working in Maine; and accept all federal and state grants, scholarships, and any other funding sources.

Both new and existing students would be eligible, and students studying part-time can become eligible by enrolling as a full-time student or by applying for admission into a community college, the official said.

Funds will remain in place until the students complete their associate or certificate programs, as long as they remain enrolled full time. Students who qualify will receive funding to cover both tuition and mandatory fees.

The proposal would be the latest investment in higher education for Mills, who previously allocated about $90 million in federal funding to the American Rescue Plan Act to community colleges, universities and technical education centers.

Through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Act approved by the Legislature last year, Mills allocated $35 million to the Maine Community College System, $35 million to the University Maine System and $20 million to Maine's Career and Technical Education Centers.

In her address Thursday night, Mills was expected to describe other proposals of her supplemental budget, including how she plans to return some of the projected surplus to taxpayers struggling to afford the rising costs of food, fuel and other necessities.

Last year, one-time checks issued to people who worked during the pandemic received bipartisan support, but some Republicans are looking for tax breaks, while others have expressed interest in another round of payments.

Political observers view Mills' speech as the informal kickoff to her re-election campaign, which is expected to be a two-way race against former Gov. Paul LePage, though legislative leaders have urged the governor to remain focused on issues and policies before the Legislature.

This story will be updated.
Twelve teepees have been raised at the Great Falls Public Schools Administration Building.

The Great Falls Public Schools Foundation  which works to enhance learning opportunities for students  received a $20,000 donation from Sisters United, a local nonprofit that supports Native women and girls, to support Indigenous education programs.

The donation will support a variety of projects to promote thoughtful learning and inspire pride in Indigenous identity, including:

Students will plant sweetgrass in raised planters and learn about plant science and the Native tradition of smudging.

High school students will take a field trip this spring to a ranch near Choteau for a bison hunt. They will learn traditional ways of harvesting the animal and about its historical significance to Indigenous people. Meat from the hunt will be processed and used in ceremonies and culinary classes.

Native American club members will work with the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to create signs of Indigenous plants at Giant Springs State Park.

Tribal elders will participate in a lecture series for students and community members.

Traditional Native dancing will be incorporated into physical education classes.

Candice English, owner of The Farmer's Daughter Fibers, hand dyes and ships yarn around the world from her store in Great Falls.

Dugan Coburn, director of Indian Education at Great Falls Public Schools, said the donation helps the department immediately implement ideas that "we probably wouldn't be able to get to for three or four years."

Great Falls Public Schools serves students across 51 tribes, and Coburn said connecting urban Native students with their culture can be challenging.

"Now, we'll have the opportunity to have buffalo hunts and smudging ceremonies  it's a way to connect kids in urban settings to their ancestral base," he said.

Coburn said he hopes the programs help give "kids a head start on learning about their own culture."

"In the Blackfeet culture, for example, we believe that every plant has a life source, so when you pick it, you need to acknowledge and be respectful of what it gives you. So, students will learn about this kind of thing with our planters, and my hope is that when elders come visit, students will be able to ask them the right questions, rather than being quiet," he said.

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Outstanding Indigenous Woman:: Candice English provides opportunities for Native girls

Candice English, founder and president of Sisters United, grew up in Whitefish and Missoula and said educational opportunities like these weren't available when she was younger.

"I don't remember learning any sort of Indigenous education, let alone programs about embracing Native identity," she said. "When I toured Paris Gibson Education Center, I saw they had toothpaste and deodorant for students and they had freezers full of meat. Just offering those things for students, it's so tied to your self-worth. When you're a teen, I don't think people realize how much those little things matter and how they affect the choices teens make in life."

English founded Sisters United to support Indigenous women and girls and to combat the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic, which plagues Montana. Indigenous people comprise about 6.7% of Montana's population and account for, on average, 26% of the state's missing persons population. In the last year, two cases, in particular, have devastated the Blackfeet community. Arden Pepion, 3, and Leo Wagner, 26, both went missing from the Blackfeet Reservation last April in separate incidents.

"When I started thinking about missing and murdered Indigenous women, I thought about what can we do to prevent this from happening? How can we get kids more engaged in their community and culture to alleviate some of these issues? I hope these programs help support our kids, and not just Indigenous kids but other kids too. I hope it allows them to be more immersed in Native culture and have a more integrated experience," she said.

English owns The Farmer's Daughter Fibers, a yarn shop in Great Falls, where she incorporates elements of Native culture in her work.

Her yarn colors are rich and muted, which she describes as "classic Montana colors." And English names some yarns in the Blackfoot language. Her cream-colored yarn, for example, is called Napi, who is a trickster in Blackfeet legends. As business boomed, English created Sister's United, a foundation that supports Indigenous women and children through a scholarship opportunity and violence prevention.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls Public Schools gets donation for Indigenous education
PROVIDENCE, RI  A Christian Rock group with ties to a controversial church is coming to Rhode Island in May. Hillsong Worship is coming to the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The group is under the umbrella of the Hillsong Church, an Australian-based megachurch known in the United States for its high-profile celebrity members. The organization has faced numerous controversies, from reports of sexual abuse by its founder Frank Houston to recent allegations of COVID-19 safety violations.

The church gained some notoriety when actor Eliot Page called out Chris Pratt for his associations with the organization, saying it was not supportive of the LGTBQ community. Pratt denied the claims, saying the church "opens its door to absolutely everyone."

The Hillsong Worship group is touring across North America with Casting Crowns and We The Kingdom. The tour is scheduled to stop in Providence May 13, with tickets going on sale for presale Feb. 17, and general sale the following day.

This article originally appeared on the Cranston Patch
The investiture ceremony for Judge Joan Anthony and Judge Alicia R. Washington at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.

Two Black women donned judicial robes during a ceremony in honor of their service as the first Black female circuit judges for the 7th Circuit, blazing a trail for other minorities seeking to follow in their footsteps.

Circuit Judges Joan Anthony and Alicia Washington have been presiding over cases for 14 months, but their investiture, their formal recognition as judges, was delayed due to the pandemic.

They were finally honored on Feb. 4 during a ceremony at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Anthony graduated from the university.

Both woman preside over unified family court divisions; Anthony in St. Augustine and Washington in Palatka. Washington was the first Black judge in Putnam County and Anthony was the first Black judge on full-time assignment in St. Johns County.

Previous coverage: For Palm Coast attorney Alicia Washington, persistence earns her a judgeship

More: Daytona Beach attorney Joan Anthony elected circuit judge

Bethune-Cookman University Interim President Hiram Powell noted the historic occasion, according to a webcast of the investiture on wildcast.info.

I am so pleased to welcome you to what is a historical moment indeed: Watching the formal robing of the first African-American women to sit as circuit court judges in the seventh judicial circuit, Powell said.

The circuit, which covers Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam counties, has had Black women serve as county judges before, but not on the circuit bench where cases include felonies, family law and civil disputes involving more substantial amounts of money.

And the two women are the only Black judges in a circuit with 27 judges and 17 county judges. The circuit has one Hispanic judge, Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano in Daytona Beach.

University of Miami School of Law Professor Charlton Copeland said in a phone interview studies have shown that citizens who engage with the court system care less about outcomes than they care about process and the perception of fairness and openness.

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And I do think that a judiciary that reflects the diversity of the wider community is at least one component of its perceptual fairness, Copeland said.

Also, a diverse pool of judges in lower courts will provide future candidates for upper courts, Copeland added.

Besides wearing the robes, Anthony and Washington were presented bibles, gavels and nameplates as family, friends, judges and attorneys looked on.

Judge Joan Anthony takes the oath of office during the investiture ceremony at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.

The Honorable Joan Anthony

Each woman talked about their parents' humble beginnings, courage and perseverance and how those qualities were passed on to them.

Anthony, 64, was born in Jamaica and recounted how she would remain on the island with her mother, Vilma Porter, while her father Wycliffe Porter, traveled to Belle Glade in Palm Beach County to cut sugar cane. She said the family moved to the United States in 1971.

After graduating from Glades Central High School in Palm Beach County, Anthony enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University with plans to become a nurse, but later decided to change her major.

She said as she was deciding what new major to follow she remembered the words of Mary McLeod Bethune inscribed on the wall of the science building: Enter to learn, depart to serve.

"I wanted to make my parents proud of me and to do something that would help others, Anthony said. I decided that a career in law would be the best way for me to serve and so I switched my major to criminal justice.

After graduating from B-CU in 1981, she earned her law degree at Howard University School of Law.

She then returned to Daytona Beach and worked at J.C. Penney while studying for the bar. She took the bar exam and failed by a single point.

That only made me more determined to succeed, Anthony said.

She went on to pass the Florida Bar exam. She opened her private practice and she would face other challenges and setbacks, including pleading guilty to federal tax evasion in 1999, which resulted in her suspension from practicing law. But she did not give up and continued to fight. She was reinstated to the Florida Bar in 2003 after a number of attorneys and community members wrote letters of support.

Both her parents have since died but they lived long enough to see her graduate from college and law school and become an attorney.

My dad, wherever he went, he made sure to say My daughters an attorney. My daughter's an attorney, Anthony said.

Anthony thanked the many people who had helped her in her career and finished her speech with words of encouragement.

I leave you with my daily affirmation that I say every day. I am alive and well. I have received new mercies from the Lord. Today presents unlimited potential and possibilities to accomplish, to achieve, to excel and to make life better for others, Anthony said. I will not waste today, but rather I will keep my heart and mind open fully expecting the power of God that lives in me to propel me forward to his plan and purpose for my today.

Judge Alicia R. Washington gets enrobed by her family during the investiture ceremony at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.

The Honorable Alicia Washington

Like Anthony, Washington also talked of her family, her faith and her determination. Washington applied for an appointment to the bench 10 times but each time she was denied. She opted to run for election and succeeded.

I dreamed about this moment for so long and while many people may be surprised to see me here, I always knew I would be here. I knew I would be here because of the plan God made for me, Washington said.

Washington also talked about her family history. Washington said her father, Charles Richardson, was from Opelousas, Louisiana, where in 1868, a race riot left many Blacks and some whites dead.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of Black people, white people were killed in an attempt to stop Black people from voting, Washington said. But yet we stand here as elected judges. Elected judges.

She said her father served two tours in Vietnam in a military career that took him to Korea where he met his wife, TongSun Richardson. She moved to the United States with him.

And one of the most proudest moments I remember as a child, is we traveled to New Orleans for my mom to get sworn in as an American citizen, Washington said.

Washington said her mother saved her money and opened a business which started in a flea market booth and moved on to storefronts. She started selling jewelry and accessories then added clothing and later beauty supplies and hair care.

Washington said her mother had shown her what courage and determination was, like by moving from Korea to the United States.

She said it was good to see other Black judges in the circuit like Hubert Grimes, Dawn Fields and Shirley Green. Fields and Green served as county judges, not circuit judges, and have since retired. Grimes served as both county and circuit judge and is also retired.

But she said other people of all colors and backgrounds had also helped her.

It was so comforting to see people who look like us, Washington said. I just can't even express to you how much it meant. But those aren't the only people that impacted us. It doesn't take people that look like you to make a difference in your life.

She credited her husband, Alfred Washington Jr., who is the president of the Flagler County Bar Association, for his support.

Washington also closed with words of encouragement.

If there's even one person out there that feels discouraged, that feels like they will never achieve their dreams, I assure you that a dream deferred is not a dream denied, Washington said. Stay vigilant and undeterred, trust in God because He has dreams for you that are bigger than you can ever imagine. Work hard. Never give up even when everything around you seems like you are destined for failure, because it's no accident that Judge Anthony and I are here on this first Friday in Black History Month at the prestigious Bethune-Cookman University with the spirit of the great Dr. Bethune enveloped in this room.

Honorable Peggy A. Quince Florida Supreme Court Justice (retired) speaks during the investiture ceremony at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.

Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy A. Quince, who was the first Black woman to serve as a chief justice of the state Supreme Court, also spoke at the investiture, saying that Anthony and Washington had shown their determination and resilience by running for judgeship and putting themselves and their families in the public eye for scrutiny.

Quince told the two that as attorneys and now judges they take oaths to uphold the constitutions of the United States and of Florida. Quince told them to put aside any biases and to uphold the words "justice for all."

"People come to your court looking for that elusive quality of equal justice under the law," Quince said. "And it's up to you Judge Anthony and Judge Washington to be a part of making sure that our court system really dispenses equal justice."

The investiture ceremony for Judge Joan Anthony and Judge Alicia R. Washington at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.

'You are one of us. You are one of them.'

Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano, who is the circuits lone Hispanic judge and a former chief judge, praised Joan Anthony and Alicia Washington and told them they were now part of a judicial family but they also were part of a larger family.

Zambrano is from Panama but became a naturalized American citizen on July 4, 2002.

"I'm an immigrant by birth. I'm an American by choice," he said.

He said he often visits family in Panama and on one visit he extended his U.S. Passport to the customs official at the airport.

"She said to me 'brown face, brown skin.' I don't need to see your passport. You're one of us," Zambrano said.

Zambrano then said he used to work at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell where an elderly Hispanic woman worked nightly cleaning the courthouse.

One day, I could tell that she was troubled and she finally summoned enough courage to speak to me and she said We're so proud of you. You're one of us.

Alicia, Joan, you are one of us. You are one of them, Zambrano said, indicating the judges and the audience. You know as (Retired) Justice (Peggy) Quince says, live up to the promise, you know why, because people will look up to you.

Another speaker was retired Circuit Judge Grimes, who served as Volusia County's first Black judge when he was elected in 1988. Grimes became the circuit's first Black judge in 1999 when he was appointed a circuit judge. Grimes is a former interim president of B-CU.

Grimes, who managed Anthony's campaign, praised the women and offered advice. He said he remembered a strip of paper a county judge had taped on his bench which reminded him of Micah 6:8 in the Old Testament.

It always reminded me of our assignment. Do justice, to treat the people who come in front of me and of course in front of you with fairness and respect, Grimes said. Love mercy. Never be afraid to extend mercy, where mercy is warranted, and to walk humbly with your God. Don't think too highly of yourself. But carry yourself with dignity, respect, and never be afraid to laugh at yourself when it's deserved. Dont take yourself too seriously. You didnt get where you are by yourself. Show up on time. Let your staff do the job they were hired to do. Treat them with respect. Dont freak out and get baited by the people in front of you, lawyers included who might want to make you lose your cool. If you make a mistake never be afraid to correct it while its in your power to do so.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Joan Anthony, Alicia Washington honored as area's first circuit judges
Citing improving conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan announced the first amended order which requires masks to be worn in school settings will be lifted in one week, with rescission effective at 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17.

GAYLORD  The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is ending its school mask requirement for students.

Citing improving conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the department said its order issued last Aug. 27 will be lifted at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 17.

The order from the health department required students, staff and visitors to wear masks in school buildings and came amid concerns about the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant. In the lead-up to the mandate, cases of COVID-19 within the health departments four-county jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties had increased 425%, from 102 cases in July to 536 in August.

"Starting on the morning of Feb. 18, Gaylord Community Schools will follow our COVID-19 mitigation plan which states that K-12 masking is optional and K-6 masked classrooms are available for parents that have selected that option," said Gaylord Community Schools Superintendent Brian Pearson.

"Delivering face-to-face instruction is a top priority for Gaylord Community Schools. We are confident that this change from requiring to recommending masking will allow us to keep school open and students in class," added Pearson.

Matthew Saunders, principal of the Vanderbilt School, said "We agree with the health department's decision to lift the mask mandate in schools."

"While we did see a spike in positivity rate at the school recently, our observations are that student-to-student transfer is low and the reported cases are quickly dropping off and returning to normal levels," he said. "When the mandate is lifted we will return to the guidelines in the COVID preparedness plan that our school board implemented last August. Masks will be optional but all other mitigation procedures will stay implemented, such as social distancing and mid-day cleaning."

Due to the changing conditions of the pandemic, the public health response across local, state, and national agencies is shifting its focus from mandates and restrictions to individual personal protection responsibilities, the health department said in a statement.

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Dr. Josh Meyerson, medical director for the health department, emphasized that the lifting of the order is not intended to indicate that masking is no longer important.

Masking indoors and in crowded settings continues to be recommended by major health authorities and schools are urged to maintain masking policies especially when transmission levels remain high, Meyerson said. The CDC offers key messages on properly wearing and choosing an appropriate mask. Masking on buses and other forms of public transportation continues to be a federal requirement."

Parents and students protest last September an order from the Health Department of Northwest Michigan requiring masks in school. The department intends to ease the mandate on Feb. 17.

The initial order from the health department, issued late on a Friday afternoon right before classes were set to resume in many districts, was denounced by some parents and prompted demonstrations. In Gaylord, the mask mandate inspired a walkout by some students and a protest near the high school building and the health department offices on Livingston Boulevard.

More: Health department issues order requiring masks in schools

More: Despite opposition, health department's mask order for schools remains

Some of the county commissioners in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties who served on the health department's board of health issued a letter shortly after the health departments ruling requesting it to rescind the mask order. The order has remained a contentious topic across the health department's region throughout the school year.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Health department to end school mask mandate on Feb. 17
HOBOKEN, NJ  Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson said Thursday that she will "communicate a position with all families tomorrow" (Friday) regarding the mask mandate in the Hoboken public schools.

Not surprisingly, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's announcement on Monday that the state's mask mandate for schools will be lifted in March  leaving it up to individual districts to make a decision  has resulted in debates and strange behavior at school board meetings, including mask protestors ordering pizzas in the middle of a Westfield meeting this week.

As of now, New Jersey students will still have to mask up on school buses even after March 7.

In Hoboken, Johnson sent out a survey to parents early in the week asking whether they believe the mask mandate should be lifted, or continue through the rest of the school year. The form also asked for comments.



Around North Jersey, districts have given varied responses, but several, like Jersey City and Maplewood, said they want to keep an eye on the data before making a decision.

On one hand, children are less likely to get seriously ill with COVID than adults. On the other hand, the CDC has called children losing a parent to COVID a "hidden pandemic." Some parents and children have experienced long COVID, as one Hoboken mom shared last year.

The state of New Jersey is urging parents to talk to their own pediatrician about the right safety measures for their child.

Children under 5 cannot yet get vaccinated for the virus.

Hospitalizations And Ventilator Use

In New Jersey as of Thursday, the state's 71 hospitals said they were treating 1,708 patients for COVID, 212 of those requiring breathing help from ventilators. A week ago, on Friday, Feb. 4, the state's hospitals were treating 2,409 patients who tested positive for COVID. Of those patients, 294 were on ventilators.



Those numbers were nearly half of what was reported two weeks earlier. On Friday, Jan. 21, the state's 71 hospitals reported that they were treating 4,826 COVID positive patients. At the time, 511 patients were getting breathing help from a ventilator.

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For comparison's sake, back in September 2021, 124 people were on ventilators in New Jersey hospitals.

In New Jersey in January, before case numbers started coming down, hospitals saw their highest rates of kids hospitalized with COVID since the pandemic began, officials said. Four New Jersey kids have died of COVID since Christmas.

In Hoboken

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Hoboken schools were able to remain open full-time with safety measures, while most districts were all remote or used a hybrid schedule.



As of this past Monday, 99 percent of Hoboken residents 30 and over, 97 percent of residents 12 and over, and 85 percent of residents overall, had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine.



See this week's Hoboken COVID case statistics here.



For a local COVID test or vaccine, go to www.hobokennj.gov/vaccine or www.hobokennj.gov/testing.

Sign up for a free 6 a.m. Patch email newsletter for Hoboken here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Sign up for a daily 6 a.m. newsletter with news in Hoboken, or for breaking news alerts: https://patch.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch
Tyson Fury has launched a new energy drink (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

Tyson Fury has admitted the prospect of walking out at a sold-out Wembley Stadium would be special after he confirmed his next fight will be in Britain.

The world heavyweight champion is in line to face WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte in April after his UK-based promotor Frank Warren won a purse bid to stage the bout last month.

Whyte has until 21 February to sign a contract but is expected to put pen to paper on a fight with his fellow Briton which would give Fury the chance of an overdue homecoming.

Each of the Gypsy Kings last five contests have been in the United States since comeback victories in Manchester and Belfast in 2018.

(PA Wire)

If it was Wembley Stadium, it would be a very special moment for me, very special, Fury told the PA news agency at the announcement of his new Furocity energy drink in London.

I am told it will be somewhere in Britain. Dillian Whyte is the chosen opponent, he is the mandatory, so he has to sign the contract and then we will get it on.

It has been a while. I have been busy cracking America and taking over out there. I have been successful but now it is time to come home and give the fans a well-deserved fight at home.

A bout in Britain would also allow dad John to be in attendance with Fury senior unable to travel to the US due to previous criminal convictions.

He added: My dad has missed all the America fights because he cant get in obviously, so it will be good for my dad to be there and be part of the camps as well.

Move over @redbull and @MonsterEnergy! We are packing some furious punches here at #Furocity - my NEW energy drink is already undefeated, its a feeling you cant bottle so Ive put it in a can. Its about hitting your day harder and making the moment count    pic.twitter.com/EFKcHprAg4  TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) February 11, 2022

The pair were at Park Plaza Hotel in Waterloo on Friday to launch Furocity energy drinks, which will go on sale on Wednesday and comes in four different flavours.

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Fury is expected to return to the capital in April for his bout with Brixton-based Whyte, who has been vocal in the past about his upcoming opponent but provided radio silence in the weeks since an official announcement about the fight was revealed.

I am not too concerned about why Dillian is not talking, that is not my business and not my concern but I suppose he knows what is coming, the 33-year-old from Wythenshawe insisted.

He has got to deal with a ferocious thunderstorm and he is a little shack who will get tiptoed over along the way but he is a tough opponent.

I am looking forward to it and will not underestimate the guy. I will give him all the respect he deserves and at the end of the day he is mandatory, ranked number one by the WBC for a reason and I will do my best to get in there and do what I do.

I am told it will be somewhere in Britain. Dillian Whyte is the chosen opponent, he is the mandatory, so he has to sign the contract and then we will get it on

Tyson Fury on his next fight

At the end of 2019, Fury said in an interview with PA that he could retire after three more fights and this meeting with Whyte will be his third following two dramatic victories over Deontay Wilder.

Yet the coronavirus pandemic forced him out of the ring for 17 months and he still has plenty of motivation left.

Fury admitted: I feel like I have been preserved with the two years that we had off. I didnt have any fights so it has prolonged my career again.

I will take it one fight at a time and see how I feel after the fight. I have had plenty of time to recover from the last Wilder fight but I am feeling good.

Hopes of a potential undisputed clash with Anthony Joshua in 2021 were rocked after the latter suffered defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September with the Ukrainian now holder of the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts.

(PA Wire)

Fury expects Joshua to lose an anticipated summer rematch with Usyk, which would further damage any pursuit of a future Battle of Britain.

Anthony Joshua is a washed up bum these days, he said.

He has lost two fights and when he fights Usyk again, he will lose a third fight and then he is finished and done for.

It is sad it has happened like this but at the end of the day he had to hold up his side of the bargain which was beating whoever they put in front of him.

I did my end of the bargain, they didnt so it is unfortunate for them that they are not good enough at world level and fortunate for me that I am.
Photograph: Orlando Sierra/AFP/Getty Images

The Honduran supreme court has ordered the release of six anti-mining protesters, ruling that they should never have been put on trial.

The environmentalists, who have been held on remand for two and half years for trying to protect a river in a national park, faced up to 14 years in prison after being convicted on Wednesday of criminal damage and illegal detention. Two others were absolved of the same charges.

Wednesdays verdict, which cemented Honduras ranking as the most dangerous country in the world for environmentalists and land rights defenders, was condemned as appalling by the UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders.

Amnesty International described the verdict as outrageous and said the Guapinol activists were prisoners of conscience.

Related: UN rapporteur appalled by convictions for Honduran environmentalists who opposed open-pit mine

But in a dramatic move, the supreme court accepted an appeal filed months earlier that challenged the constitutionality of the charges and the refusal to grant bail.

The court found that the case should never have gone to trial because the judge who sanctioned the indictment against the defenders  and later ordered pre-trial detention  was not authorised to do so. The charges must be annulled and the men freed, as the judge violated due process by presiding on cases outside her jurisdiction.

The eight men, from a poor, semi-rural community called Guapinol, have been held in an overcrowded prison throughout the pandemic as a result of bail being denied  yet the conditions requiring pre-trial detention were never met, according to Thursdays supreme court decision.

The rulings confirm that the case should never have proceeded and that the pre-trial detention was illegal, said defence lawyer Edy Tabora. The Guapinol defenders were arbitrarily detained.

The case stems from a huge open-pit mine in Tocoa, owned by one of the countrys most powerful couples, which was sanctioned inside a protected national park without community consultation in a process mired by irregularities, according to international experts.

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The Guapinol community set up a peaceful protest camp after the mine polluted rivers relied upon by thousands of people. Security forces violently evicted the encampment and dozens of arrest warrants were issued against the protesters.

International legal and human rights experts widely condemned the criminalization of the activists and the subsequent militarization of the community, which has forced several people to flee and seek asylum in the US.

After a trial mired my delays, irregularities and accusations of judicial bias and falsified evidence, the criminal court ruled on Wednesday that Jose Marquez, Kelvin Romero Martinez, Jose Abelino Cedillo, Porfirio Sorto Cedillo, Orbin Nahum Hernandez, and Ewer Alexander Cedillo Cruz were guilty of criminal damage of the mining companys property and illegal detention of its private security chief.

Arnold Aleman and Jeremias Martinez were absolved of the same charges and allowed to return home.

As a result of the supreme court rulings, defence lawyers will today petition the court to immediately release the six imprisoned men.

Juana Zuniga, partner of Jose Albino Cedillo, who was among the six found guilty, said: We the families are in shock, but full of joy. We hope that our companions will be freed as soon as possible and allowed to return home as the defenders that they are and have always been.

Our struggle will continue until the national park is free from mining and environmental destruction.
The chief of Hungarys national bank said he supports banning crypto trading and mining in the European Union (EU) on the grounds that it could service illegal activities and tend to build up financial pyramids.

Following Chinas move making all crypto activities illegal in September and Russias central bank recently proposing to do the same, Gyorgy Matolcsy wrote in a statement that I perfectly agree with the proposal and also support the senior EU financial regulators point that the EU should ban the mining method used to produce most new bitcoin.

The Russian national bank recently switched its position to supporting the regulation of crypto rather than outright banning it.

It is clear-cut that cryptocurrencies could service illegal activities and tend to build up financial pyramids, Matolcsy wrote. The EU should act together in order to preempt the building up of new financial pyramids and financial bubbles.

Matolcsy proposed instead that EU citizens and companies would be allowed to own cryptocurrencies outside the EU and regulators would track their holdings.
Winter weather continues to support hardwater fishing throughout the region. However, eager steelhead anglers are looking for a warm-up to rid the Erie County tributaries of ice.

Chris at Elk Creek Sports said a few more anglers have resorted to drilling holes on frozen pools on the lower stream sections and at the Walnut Creek Marina in order to catch a steelhead, but thats not the way the majority of steelheaders want to fish for them. We need temperatures above 40 degrees with several days of rain to blow the ice out of the streams.

There may be a little slice of open water here and there in a tributary, but not enough to fish effectively because of edge ice extending out from the bank, explained Bill at Tudor Hook-N-Nook. But there is plenty of panfish action at Presque Isle Bay. However, anglers must sort through a lot of small perch to get a few keepers. Other anglers are targeting the huge smelt schools that are currently in the Bay.

Anglers, from left, Evan Carll, Jay Carmichael and Henry Yoder look for a fishing spot on Jan. 25 at Presque Isle State Park's Misery Bay. The bay is a hotspot for Erie ice fishing.

Brittany at Poor Richard's Bait & Tackle recommended Misery Bay and Horseshoe Pond for anglers seeking crappies and bluegills. One of the hotspots for perch is off the 3rd parking lot on the Peninsula  but keepers are few.

Its that time when anglers are looking for the initial movement of jumbo perch into Presque Isle Bay  but its not happening yet, said Kirk at East End Angler. There are lots of small perch plus few decent size ones being caught. If you are only catching small ones, you should keep relocating to find keeper perch. Ive heard about crappies off the Yacht Club in 22 to 24 feet of water and in the Stink Hole. Anglers have also reported pike, crappies and walleyes at Eaton as well as trout and perch at Lake Pleasant.

At Pymatuning, Richters Tackle reported anglers on the South End are catching increasing numbers of legal walleyes, plus a lot of white bass.

Ken Smith continues to make regular trips to Pymatuning for big bluegills that he catches on a 4mm tungsten jig tipped with small white plastic body in 20 feet of water. Although anglers on Shenango Lake have been catching crappies in the Golden Run area, Smith has been avoiding Shenango Lake due to the drawdown of 8.8 feet that has caused ice to shift and likely weaken.

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On Lake Wilhelm, Bo at B.C. Baits reported decent catches of 8-inch perch in the old creek channel off Launch 1. Crappies have been hit and miss. Here one day on cover, then gone the next.

Gus Glasgow, director of the Western PA Hardwater Tournament Series, stated this winters ice fishing for panfish, particularly crappies, has been unusual. Normally we find panfish shallower and relating to cover on most of the lakes our circuit fishes. However, what we are discovering are large, compact schools of panfish hanging in the basin areas of lakes  typically 17 to 21 feet  and they are constantly moving.

Contributors:

East End Angler, 4702 East Lake Road; 814-898-3474

FishUSA Pro Shop, 6960 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview; 800-922-1219

Poor Richards Bait & Tackle, 6821 West Lake Road, Lake City; 814-474-5623

Elk Creek Sports, 10543 Old Lake Road, Lake City; 814-774-8755

Tudor Hook-N-Nook, 10079 Cross Station Ext., Girard; 814-323-5886

Richters Bait & Tackle, 2936 Williamsfield Road, Jamestown, PA; 724-932-5372

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Northwestern Pennsylvania weekend fishing report, Feb. 11-13
An investigation was underway Friday by an independent group into the allegations filed in a federal lawsuit earlier this week against Tarrant County College and Chancellor Eugene Giovannini.

Tarrant County College officials announced the investigation on Friday, saying the independent investigation began just after the lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court.

The lawsuit, which names Tarrant County College District as the defendant, alleges the college violated several policies in its firing of Dr. Kristen Bennett.

Bennett was fired on Jan. 31, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.

The former fundraising executive at Tarrant County College alleges in the lawsuit that she was improperly disciplined by the institutions chancellor when she began to intervene in conflicts with a subordinate who had a personal relationship with Giovannini.

The Tarrant County College District does not normally comment on pending litigation or personnel matters. However, due to the serious nature of the allegations made in the recently filed lawsuit, TCCD believes that it is important to convey that it immediately hired an independent third party to investigate the allegations when they were first brought to TCCDs attention, according to a statement released Friday by Tarrant County College Board of Trustees President Teresa Ayala. That investigation is ongoing, and TCCD is committed to determining the truth in a manner that is fair to all parties involved.

Ayala said at the appropriate time, TCCD would respond to the lawsuit in a court of law.

As the investigation is underway, Ayala also noted that TCCD would continue to focus on serving its students, employees and Tarrant County taxpayers.

Officials at TCCD did not release information on who was conducting the investigation or the cost.

Bennett is seeking reinstatement to her position and damages including lost income.

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She didnt do anything wrong, said attorney Frank Hill of Arlington, who is representing Bennett, in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this week. She just got cut to pieces.

Hill said that TCC has a history of wrongfully firing employees.

Bennett began her job as executive vice president for advancement on Oct. 1, 2020, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Eastern Kentucky University, an MBA from Midway University and a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and information studies from the University of Kentucky.

Bennett is a 22-year fundraising veteran who in 2020 won the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE-Washington, D.C.) Educational Fundraising award, according to the lawsuit.

From Oct. 1, 2020, to July 13, 2021, Bennett says, she received nothing but praise from Giovannini.

According to the lawsuit, all that changed in late July 2021 when a female employee, who was a subordinate to Bennett, fell into a conflict with a fellow employee who complained to Bennett. The lawsuit does not identify the woman.

Bennett talked to her subordinate, but the woman continued to cause problems with her team, according to the suit. The lawsuit states the woman was Giovanninis girlfriend.

Giovannini then harassed, abused and retaliated against Bennett for speaking to the female subordinate for corrective action, according to the lawsuit.

Bennett alleges that the college then violated numerous policies as the district failed to give her written notice of her non-renewal; retaliated for her filing a grievance, placed her on leave, barred her from campus; and denied her right of due process.
12 teepees

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It's no secret that the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women plagues Montana.

Indigenous people comprise 6.7% of the state's population and account for, on average, 26% of Montana's missing persons population. In response to the growing crisis, communities have organized volunteer search parties, organizations have donated funds to support searches, people use social media to help find missing loved ones, and Montana's Legislature established a missing Indigenous persons task force.

While these solutions are useful to many, they typically offer support after a loved one has gone missing, rather than preventing a disappearance.

When Candice English, a Blackfeet woman, founded Sisters United, an organization dedicated to helping Indigenous women and girls, she knew she wanted to help combat the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis. But Candice also wanted to be thoughtful in her support.

Candice English, owner of The Farmer's Daughter Fibers, hand dyes and ships yarn around the world from her store in Great Falls.

"What can we do to prevent this from happening?" she wondered.

This idea ultimately inspired Candice, through Sisters United, to donate to the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation.

The $20,000 donation will support Indigenous educational programs, including a buffalo hunt, the incorporation of Indigenous plants in schools and a lecture series with elders, among other things.

Candice hopes the programs help Native and non-Native students engage in their community and connect with Indigenous culture. And Dugan Coburn, director of Indian Education for the school district, said the donation will help students "get a head start on learning about their own culture."

Read the full story here.

This week in the news ...

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Nora Mabie

Indigenous Communities Reporter, nmabie@greatfallstribune.com

If you'd like to see this sort of thing in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to this newsletter! You can also support my work by sharing this newsletter with friends or by subscribing to the Great Falls Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Investing in community
Republican lawmakers pushed forward legislation Thursday that would allow parents to sue districts over books they believe are obscene.

In doing so, they said certain literature in schools could be used by teachers as "grooming materials" to prey on students and that a trove of books for young adults by mostly Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ authors are the result of a "toxic, cancerous ideology that makes cultures decline."

But Democrats and public school advocates said the bill and some of Republicans' comments on the issue are an attack on teachers and students, and that schools already have systems in place to address book challenges and parental concerns.

The bill would allow parents to sue schools over 'obscene' books

Senate President Jake Chapman, R-Adel, has proposed the measure to allow parents to sue schools for distributing obscene material or hardcore pornography to students. It would also specify that penalties for the distribution of those materials apply to teachers and school administrators, although it wouldn't change the definition of such materials in Iowa law.

Chapman introduced the proposal, Senate File 2198, as parents have approached school boards across the state and country with concerns about the content of certain books available in school libraries and classrooms. Some parents don't believe the process is working, he said, and he wants to give them an additional avenue to challenge books.

"Parents are cut completely out of this process, and so this bill allows parents to go to a court to have that determination made," Chapman said.

Despite the challenges, several Iowa school districts have decided to keep some of those books in their libraries after review. Many librarians say that students can be trusted to make decisions for themselves and that, in some cases, the material has proved critical to students' understanding of who they are.

Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, condemned the bill and the comments of some Republicans on the issue, calling the bill "an attack on our kids."

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"This bill is part of an orchestrated attack on Iowa's public education system," she added.

Where is the bill in the Iowa Legislature?

The proposal advanced through a Senate subcommittee Thursday morning with a 2-1 vote, with Republican Sens. Brad Zaun of Urbandale and Jason Schultz of Schleswig voting in favor and Petersen voting against. Chapman did not serve on the panel but spoke as the bill's sponsor.

Further changes could be coming to the bill, Chapman said. He said he plans to introduce an amendment that would raise the penalties teachers could face in the bill to an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense and a class D felony on the second offense, aligning the penalties with those in Iowa code for the rental or sale of hardcore pornography.

What are parents' concerns around books in schools?

Several parents attended Thursday's subcommittee, and some said they had challenged books at their school level but felt that the process wasn't working properly.

"We have educators that want to remove Dr. Seuss from our schools because that's inappropriate," Johnston parent Mandy Gilbert said. "The scenes of a young boy having his penis touched by an adult  this is not obscene? Where did we lose common sense?"

Testimony also included accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior in school settings, which some commenters connected to the literature.

Opponents say some books are taken out of context

But opponents of the bill disputed the idea that the books are obscene. Taken as a whole, they said, the books have literary value and those scenes handle matters that affect youth in the age group that reads them.

Keenan Crow, director of policy and advocacy for One Iowa, an LGBTQ rights group, also read a passage from the book of Genesis in the Bible that depicts sexual relations between a man and his daughters to illustrate their point about context.

"I don't think that just because this story is in the Bible that the Bible is about rape, incest or any of those other things," Crow said. "That's why we have the test to take the work as a whole and examine it for literary, scientific or other types of value. So I don't believe that there is pornography in our schools today."

President of the Iowa Senate Jake Chapman, R-Adel, speaks before Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 11, 2022, at the Capitol in Des Moines.

Melissa Peterson, a lobbyist with the Iowa State Education Association, said there appear to be "conflicting definitions" of what constitutes obscenity in the debate, and she and other public school advocates said schools already have a process in place to weigh challenges.

The legislation could face an uphill battle. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, said last month that he doesn't agree with the idea of charging teachers with felonies. House Republican leaders have indicated they favor measures that would increase transparency in schools but are reluctant to impose penalties on school staff.

The Register's Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this report.

Ian Richardson covers the Iowa Statehouse for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa 'obscene' books bill could allow parents to sue school districts
ROME (Reuters) - The Italian government appointed a special commissioner on Friday to coordinate measures aimed at eliminating an outbreak of African swine fever, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Friday.

"The plan aims at eradicating African swine fever in wild boars on national territory and to prevent its spread among farmed pigs, in order to ensure the protection of animal health, the national production system and exports," the statement said.

The government gave regions 30 days to draw up their own schemes to tackle the deadly hog disease, which was discovered in northeast Italy at the start of the year.

African swine fever is harmless to humans but often fatal to pigs, leading to financial losses for farmers. It originated in Africa before spreading to Europe and Asia, and has killed hundreds of millions of pigs worldwide.

China's agriculture ministry announced last month that it was suspending pork imports from Italy because of the outbreak.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Jerry Harris, the former star of Netflix's "Cheer" docuseries, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to one count of receiving child pornography and one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed to CBS Chicago. The 22-year-old has been held in a federal detention facility without bond since he was arrested in September 2020.

Harris pleaded guilty to persuading a 17-year-old to send him sexually explicit photographs for money and the other stemming from a trip he took to Florida for the purpose of "engaging in illicit sexual conduct" with a 15-year-old, the Associated Press reports. A plea agreement led prosecutors to drop the remaining five federal counts brought against Harris.

"We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney and the FBI investigated this case, located additional victims and took action," victims' attorney Sarah Klein said in a statement to CBS News. "Now, Jerry Harris' guilt has been firmly established. This was made possible because our clients' mother, Kristen initially had the courage to report Harris to the FBI and provided evidentiary proof of the manipulation, sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation that her sons had suffered."

In the same statement, Klein asked authorities to open an investigation into the U.S. All Star Federation, Varsity Spirit and Cheer Athletics to see if there are others who could have prevented Harris' alleged conduct.

Born Jeremiah Harris, he rose to fame when he and his teammates were featured in the Emmy-award winning docuseries "Cheer," which follows the lives of the Navarro cheer squad. Harris even attended the Academy Awards as a personality for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Oprah Winfrey speaks with the stars of Netflix's Cheers, (L-R) Monica Aldama, Jerry Harris, Gaby Butter, Lexi Brumback, TT Baker and Dillion Brandt during Oprah's 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour presented by WW / Credit: Suzanne Corderio/AFP via Getty Images

However, following a lengthy FBI investigation, he was arrested in September 2020 and charged with one count of producing child pornography.

The federal complaint alleged Harris contacted a minor in 2018 and requested "face" and "booty" pictures, even after the minor told him he was 13 years old. In the complaint, the minor said he sent Harris dozens of photos over more than a year. The minor also told investigators that Harris cornered him in a bathroom at a cheerleading competition and tried to solicit him for oral sex.

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The minor refused, even after Harris allegedly made the same request at another competition three months later. In February 2020, one month after "Cheer" was released on Netflix, Harris allegedly blocked the minor on Snapchat and sent him a message saying, "I'm sorry for what I've done in the past. I don't think it's a good idea that we be friends on snap."

A second minor, and Minor 1's twin, also accused Harris of requesting nude photos.

In the complaint, investigators said Harris admitted to multiple allegations, including asking for nude photos, trying to solicit oral sex at cheerleading events and receiving child pornography from 10 to 15 other children he knew were underage.

In December 2020, Harris was indicted on seven additional counts that allege he solicited sex from minors at cheerleading competitions and worked to get young boys to send him photographs and videos.

In the latest season of "Cheer," the two minors listed in the first federal complaint revealed themselves as twin cheerleaders Charlie and Sam. Both twins described being hesitant to speak out against Harris because of his growing popularity, but Charlie, who identified himself as Minor 1, said that after watching him speak with then-presidential candidate Joe Biden in a June 2020 interview, he "lost it" and knew he had to do something.

"I want to show to the world, give people a face to, when they think of Jerry Harris, what he did," Charlie said.

"This was not just a handful of times that this happened," Kristen, Charlie and Sam's mother, told CBS Chicago. "He was an incredibly persistent predator that forced himself into the center of my son's lives for over a year."

Harris' next hearing is currently scheduled for June 28, where a judge will announce his sentence. Harris now faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

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Maggie Haberman Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for New York Magazine

New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman is pushing back against claims her latest scoop about former President Donald Trump was saved for an upcoming book.

Earlier this week, Axios revealed that Haberman in her forthcoming book about Trump titled Confidence Man reveals that while he was in office, White House staffers "periodically discovered wads of printed paper clogging a toilet  and believed the president had flushed pieces of paper." The report quickly gained widespread attention, but it also sparked claims that Haberman sat on the piece of information for inclusion in the book rather than report it at the time. Activist and author Amy Siskind, for example, accused Haberman of "knowing Trump was *actually* destroying information" and "hiding that story before he ran for re-election" in order to "[profit] off a book deal."

On CNN's Inside Politics, Haberman addressed these claims, saying she only learned the details while doing additional reporting for her book after Trump left office.

"I did not know this was happening while he was president," she said. "I'm not known for sitting on scoops if I have information, number one. Number two, I found this out in the course of reporting for the book, well after Trump had left the White House."

Haberman pointed out that her book doesn't come out for eight months, and she said she was "trying to get this information out as fast as possible," adding, "I would not want someone thinking that I knew this in real time because I didn't." Other journalists defended Haberman: CNN anchor John King slammed the "not true" claims about her reporting process, saying, "This is an example here of you following your reporting instincts and making public what you do know at a time that this could be a piece of relevant information, not what some have suggested."

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KABUL (Reuters) -Two detained journalists in Afghanistan who had been working with the United Nations were released on Friday along with several Afghan workers, the U.N. refugee agency said.

Earlier in the day, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had reported the detentions and said it was seeking to ensure the journalists and workers were set free.

"We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them," the agency said in a statement.

"We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan."

The Taliban said they had released foreign nationals without specifying who or how many.

"Those foreign nationals who identified themselves with an international institution were detained because they did not have the necessary identity cards, licences and documents," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

U.N. agencies employ journalists to report on their work around the world.

Since the Taliban took over the country in August, concerns have grown over a crackdown on dissent. The United Nations has repeatedly raised concerns over women's rights activists who have gone missing in recent weeks.

Foreign nations have refused to recognise the Taliban-led administration but have ramped up engagement as they try to avert a massive humanitarian crisis stemming from an economy stalled by sanctions and a halt in development funding since the group took over.

A Taliban delegation visited Geneva this week for talks with aid agencies and meetings with Swiss officials. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it planned to call on the Taliban to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

(Reporting by Kabul and Islamabad newsroomsWriting by Charlotte GreenfieldEditing by Frances Kerry and Gareth Jones)
Windows are boarded up at the Phi Gamma Delta chapter at the University of Iowa on Sept. 1, after a night of protests over an alleged sexual assault that occurred there.

A disputed subpoena of University of Iowa records has the potential to reveal relevant evidence in a sexual assault lawsuit related to the 'Fiji' fraternity, according to a judge's statements made in court Friday.

But Judge Kevin McKeever also said the subpoena appears to request more information than would be necessary for the case. During a hearing  necessary after defendants made requests to void the subpoena  McKeever said he would give lawyers one week to contact him or narrow the scope of the subpoena before he will move forward with a ruling.

The subpoena brought by plaintiff Makena Solberg seeks any records of complaints or discipline against the Phi Gamma Delta 'Fiji' fraternity, where she says she was sexually assaulted in September 2020. It also seeks records of "student misconduct," which includes any sexual misconduct, against defendants Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan, should those records at UI exist.

Both men deny allegations of sexual assault made in the lawsuit filed last fall. Steffen filed counter-claims to the lawsuit saying he has been defamed by the accusations and should receive damages. Neither man has been criminally charged with sexual assault.

The case received widespread attention last summer when hundreds of University of Iowa students protested a perceived lack of police action.

The subpoena seeks 10 categories of information. Among them are documents created over the past five years, such as emails or meeting minutes, that could include mention of discipline against the fraternity. Also included are training materials and policy documents used by fraternities and sororities at the university.

More: University of Iowa student speaks publicly about sexual assault claim against former Fiji fraternity members

Meloan and Steffen separately filed motions to quash the subpoena soon after it was filed in December. The University of Iowa has not attempted to challenge it.

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Steffen's lawyer, Leon Spies, argued in the motion to quash that allowing the subpoena to move forward could "disclose personally identifiable information" and violate privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. He also said the request was overly broad.

"In seeking disclosure of Carson Steffen student records, (Solberg's legal team) is required to demonstrate a genuine need for the information that outweighs Carson Steffen's privacy interests," reads the motion to quash.

Spies said that standard wasn't met.

Meloan, who is representing himself in court, also filed a motion to quash the subpoena making similar arguments and citing FERPA. He "included all the grounds" in Steffen's motion to quash, substituting his name for Steffen's.

Not long after, Solberg's lawyer argued back.

Because the subpoena is made out to the University of Iowa, objections to it by Meloan and Steffen are "not theirs to make," Eashaan Vajpeyi, replied in court documents. He reiterated that the records should be disclosed due to the nature of the privacy laws.

"If neither Steffen nor Meloan have been accused of sexual or other student misconduct, which they would know, there will be no offending documents to produce. If there are, however, then it further highlights (Solberg's) need for the documents to prove her case," the response reads.

The case is scheduled for trial in July 2023.

Cleo Krejci covers education for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. You can reach her at ckrejci@press-citizen.com.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Judge considers subpoena filed in University of Iowa 'Fiji' lawsuit
A man faces more than 20 felony charges for allegedly conducting chop shop activity at his secluded Cleveland County home.

According to investigators, Jeffrey Lee Causby actively sought out vehicles to steal, alter and sell.

The investigation began with an unrelated traffic stop in Kings Mountain during which a car was towed. When the owners came to pick it up, they mentioned the vehicle identification number may have been altered.

The isolated incident kicked off an investigation which led to Jeffrey Lee Causby, according to Capt. Bryan Gordon with the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office.

The 39-year-old lives at the end of Gage Road, a small access-type road near I-85 in Kings Mountain.

When investigators visited his property, they found a trove of stolen property, Gordon said.

According to investigators, they recovered:

Nine vehicles, which included cars and trucks

Two trailers

One travel camper

Approximately $4,500 of safety equipment including the Jaws of Life taken from a local fire department

Gordon estimated Causby had at least $120,000 worth of stolen property.

Currently on probation for misdemeanor larceny convictions, Causby was arrested Wednesday and charged with 26 felonies including multiple counts of chop shop activity, possession of stolen motor vehicle and altering serial numbers.

There's still a lot of investigating to be done, he said.

Causby could have been selling vehicles to individuals or to scrap yards, according to detectives.

In North Carolina, vehicles under 10 years old require certain documentation to sell, including vehicle identification numbers which is why someone might alter them if theyre stolen, said Gordon.

Most of the recovered vehicles are from Cleveland and Gaston counties with one from Charlotte.

Gordon credited the Department of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Division for helping them track the vehicles.

They have been a really good partner in this investigation, he said.

Gordon went on to say that hes seen cases where someone committed a crime of opportunity when they saw an abandoned car along the side of the road. But finding the amount of property allegedly recovered at Causbys house is rare, and telling.

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To have this many (vehicles) at this location shows that he was really prevalent. He was actively looking for cars to steal, Gordon said.

After his arrest, Causby was taken to Cleveland County jail and later posted a $50,000 bond.

Diane Turbyfill can be reached at 704-669-3334 and dturbyfill@shelbystar.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Kings Mountain NC man faces 26 charges for alleged chop shop activity
(Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Canada and New Zealand protests continue, French convoy heads to Paris

As protests against Canada's pandemic measures enter their third week on Friday, police say they are dealing with sophisticated demonstrators blocking vital U.S.-Canada border crossings.

The "Freedom Convoy" by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, mirrored by the U.S. government, began with the occupation of the Canadian capital, Ottawa. The truckers then blocked the key Ambassador Bridge earlier this week, and shut down two other smaller border crossings.

More people arrived outside New Zealand's parliament on Friday, as protesters calling for an end to a vaccine mandate and tough COVID-19 restrictions refused to end their demonstrations despite arrests by the police.

France will deploy thousands of police in and around Paris on Friday and over the weekend and set up checkpoints at toll stations on major roads leading into the capital to keep "Freedom Convoy" motorists out, the city's police force said.

Despite an order not to enter Paris, motorists protesting against COVID-19 restrictions are converging on the French capitals from multiple cities across France.

Novavax says COVID shot 80% effective in adolescent study

Novavax said on Thursday its two-dose vaccine was 80% effective against COVID-19 in a late-stage trial testing the shot in teens aged 12 to 17.

The trial involved 2,247 adolescents and took place between May and September last year when the Delta variant was the dominant strain in the United States. The vaccine was 82% effective against the variant.

Biden sees mask requirements for children easing

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said mask requirements for children were likely to start to fall away given federal plans to begin vaccinating children under the age of 5, but said it was probably premature to drop mask requirements entirely.

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Biden told NBC News in an interview that Omicron and other COVID-19 variants had had a "profound impact on the psyche of the American people" and conceded that changing guidelines for the wearing of masks were "confusing."

Record Hong Kong COVID infections strain hospitals

Hong Kong reported a record number of new daily COVID-19 infections on Friday and China said it would fully support the city with its "dynamic zero" coronavirus strategy, as local authorities struggle to control a growing outbreak.

Hong Kong's chief secretary John Lee, Health Secretary Sophia Chan and Security Chief Chris Tang will meet Chinese officials in neighbouring Shenzhen on Saturday to discuss support measures, the government said in a statement.

Australians told to get boosters to be considered fully vaccinated

Australian residents will need to receive booster shots to be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19, although authorities said foreign travellers will continue to need only two shots to enter the country.

Australia's national cabinet late on Thursday endorsed the revised guidance from the country's vaccination advisory group to classify "up-to-date" inoculations as including boosters.

German court rejects petitions against targeted vaccine mandate

Germany's top court said on Friday it had rejected emergency petitions filed against a targeted vaccine mandate obliging healthcare staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Compulsory vaccination for staff in hospitals and care facilities is due to come into force in Germany on March 15. Numerous people who will be affected had filed the emergency petitions with the constitutional court in Karlsruhe.

(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Scholarships offered to Nguyen Du bilingual school students in Laos

The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos in coordination with the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Vientiane on February 11 presented scholarships of Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City to 10 students of Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese Bilingual School.









Tran Dai Thang, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, (first, on the left) presents scholarships of Ton Duc Thang University to students of Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese Bilingual School. (Photo: VNA)



This is the second time Ton Duc Thang University has awarded scholarships to Lao and Vietnamese students at the school to enable them to study at the university.



The recipients are students who made good academic performance in 2020-2021 school year. With the scholarships, the students are scheduled to start learning at Ton Duc Thang university in May.



Addressing the event, Sivanheuang Phengkhammay, acting principal of Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese Bilingual School and Khammui Keomany, chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Vientiane expressed their gratitude to the Parties and States of Vietnam and Laos for always paying attention to the cause of education and training, especially for young generations. They also thanked Ton Duc Thang University for granting scholarships to the students.



Established in 2007, Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese Bilingual School currently has more than 1,000 students from kindergarten to the 12th grade.



According to the Vietnam-Laos joint committee, there are around 14,000 Lao students in Vietnam, with 20 now studying at Ton Duc Thang University.
A woman receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 11, 2022. Thailand on Thursday reported 14,822 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily case tally since early September 2021, according to official data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Thursday reported 14,822 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily case tally since early September 2021, according to official data.

It more than doubled a daily average of some 7,000 new cases registered in January, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the country's COVID-19 task force.

The capital Bangkok recorded 2,635 new cases in the last 24 hours, topping the list by region, according to the CCSA. The total number of COVID-19 infections has risen to more than 2.54 million in the Southeast Asian country.

The CCSA also reported 20 more fatalities on Thursday, raising the country's cumulative fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic to 22,364.

As of Wednesday, some 70.5 percent of the country's nearly 70 million population had been fully vaccinated, while 24.2 percent had received their booster shot, according to the CCSA. 

People wait to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 11, 2022. Thailand on Thursday reported 14,822 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily case tally since early September 2021, according to official data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A woman receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 11, 2022. Thailand on Thursday reported 14,822 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily case tally since early September 2021, according to official data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
INDIANAPOLIS  Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has at least two annoying habits.

One is picking senseless fights.

The other is wasting taxpayer money.

Our money.

Both these character flaws are on display in Rokitas dispute with conservative commentator, radio talk show host and gadfly Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. Their quarrel now has grown into a lawsuit.

Lets be clear about something. This is a stupid, stupid, stupid fight  and the stupidity is all on Rokitas side.

The squabble began last October when Abdul  in media circles, he goes almost exclusively by his first name  tried to attend a Rokita press conference. Rokitas staff barred him from entering.

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The attorney generals stated reason for doing so was both absurd and bizarre. Rokita said he locked Abdul out because Abdul was not credentialed media. The attorney general also argued he needed to protect his staff because Abdul had said, half in jest, that he traded in rumors, gossip and blatant innuendo.

There are at least two problems with Rokitas position.

The first is that Abdul is credentialed media. Hes had a state-issued media credential for years. Just about every journalist covering Indiana state government and politics has one.

Rokitas argument then is that his judgment  or, rather, his inflated but tender ego  should overrule the states credentialing system, the needs of Abduls readers and listeners and any elected officials duty to be answerable to the public. (More on the attorney generals sensitive feelings in a moment.)

The second problem is that it is a rare journalistic enterprise that doesnt peddle some rumor or gossip.

For years, two of the most heavily read parts of most newspapers were Dear Abby and the comics page, neither of which is fact-based journalism. And when TV newscasts do deep dives into the nature of Ben Afflecks and Jennifer Lopezs relationship or whether Prince Harry and Prince William still are speaking regularly, theyre not exactly doing hard-hitting reporting.

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One suspects, though, that Rokitas stated rationale for barring Abdul isnt his real reason for doing so.

If it were, the attorney general would be banning other news outlets that stretch the definitions of fact-gathering.

Instead, hes focusing on Abdul because Abdul  who, until this dispute, rarely found reason to question or criticize a Republican  didnt lavish unqualified praise on Rokita during Rokitas ill-fated campaign to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

The attorney general has a craving for subservience. Google Todd Rokita and staff memo if you doubt me on that.

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So, what we have here is a case of a high-ranking state official with skin thinner and more fragile than the dust on a butterflys wings having a meltdown.

At our expense.

Before we go further, I need to make a disclosure, both because its the right thing to do and because my experience bears on what follows.

Years ago, I was executive director of what is now the ACLU of Indiana, the organization representing Abdul in this suit.

I worked with the ACLUs legal director, Ken Falk, who is now Abduls lawyer. Falk is one of the best constitutional lawyers in the United States and exceedingly scrupulous. He doesnt take a case unless he is sure that he is on firm ground and has more than a reasonable certainty that the government has violated the Constitution.

When the state loses a case on constitutional grounds, it is obligated to pay the legal fees of the organization or person who filed the suit. If the litigation goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the bill can run to six figures.

In this case, that means that if Rokita loses  as I strongly suspect he will  we taxpayers will pick up the tab for his foolish, foolish fight.

We will have to sacrifice funds that otherwise could have gone into roads, schools or healthcare  or even just back into our pockets  simply because our attorney general has the emotional resilience of a preschooler who missed nap time.

Todd Rokita has made it clear he plans to run for governor two years from now.

When he does, he doubtless will argue that hes going to be a ferocious watchdog when it comes to guarding taxpayer dollars.

Our money.

Dont believe him.

John Krull is director of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Columnist: Indiana AG picks senseless fight with Shabazz
This article has been updated to reflect the need for Metro Council approval before the Historic Landmark Overlay District goes into effect.

In a yearlong saga surrounding the fate of a building that houses one of Nashville's longest-standing music venues, the Exit/In, the property is one step closer to becoming a historical landmark.

The Metro Planning Commission approved on consent a Historic Landmark Overlay District for a portion of the property located at 2208 Elliston Place, at the northern corner of Elliston Place and Louise Avenue.

The zoning overlay must pass through three readings at Metro Council before going into effect.

A Historical Landmark Overlay designation would make redevelopment of the venue more difficult, as any modifications would have to adhere to national guidelines.

"The situation with Exit/In is an example of how we are losing a critical aspect of our culture in this city," said Councilmember Jeff Syracuse in support of the historic overlay at the planning commission on Thursday. "And increasingly becoming a victim of our own successes in this city."

AJ Capital Partners, a local development firm that relocated from Chicago in 2020 and known for its line of Graduate Hotels, purchased the venue last spring. In November, the firm filed the request to deem the iconic music venue a historic landmark, giving it added protections.

Exit/In: Property owners AJ Capital asks Metro to deem the music club a historical landmark

The request came after fans of the venue expressed concern for the building's future.

Last April longtime operators of the Exit/In, Chris and Telisha Cobb attempted to raise enough money to outbuy the development firm. While the Cobbs raised more than $200,000 through a GoFundMe site, AJ Capital closed on the property for $6.45 million.

"My fear is that corner, that neighborhood, it's currently being transitioned from a local neighborhood to just another spot for tourists," Chris Cobb said.

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AJ Capital's founder Ben Weprin said the company's intent was never to turn the Exit/In into a hotel, or into any other use.

"Those conversations are also driving our first action as owners: to add the EXIT/IN to the National Register of Historic Places, so that nobody can ever alter or change the space, as it belongs to Music City," Weprin said in a statement last spring.

The 50 year-old venue on Elliston Place hosted early performances by Billy Joel, The Ramones, B.B King and Jimmy Buffett, bringing rising stars to Nashville and cemented a place for the city's rock scene.

Arcelia Martin covers growth and development for the Tennessean, a part of The USA TODAY Network. Reach Arcelia at amartin1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @arcelitamartin.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville music venue Exit/In closer to historic landmark designation
Patrick Sleater, the 2020-21 All-WNC Swimmer of the Year, has racked up state championship wins in his first three years as a Blue.

Whichever events Patrick Sleater swims at the NCISAA 2A state championship Tuesday, they won't be his specialty.

He'll win them anyway.

Sleater, whose Asheville School career concludes next week, has won eight races (four relays) and three team titles at his first three state championships, all without truly getting to show off the skillset that's earned him a scholarship to UNC.

One of the top long-distance swimmers in the 2022 class, Sleater's accomplishments competing for Asheville School only scratch the surface of his potential. Still, he's been instrumental to the Blues' sustained success, and will be called upon to contribute as many points as possible to their attempt at a fourth consecutive team championship next week.

"It's priceless. It's every coach's dream to have someone like him on the team," Asheville School coach Sarah Bednar said. "He's always been a great swimmer, but he has just flourished over the last four years."

Awards: The 2020-21 All-WNC swim team, led by Sleater

Sleater initially took to the pool in elementary school as a social activity, but his natural competitiveness quickly turned the desire to spend time with his friends into a drive to beat them.

He was soon doing so quite handily and discovered he was particularly well-suited for the longest races available.

"I liked going hard and racing my friends and being competitive," Sleater said. "When I started training really hard, I realized I had a very big aerobic capacity and strong endurance. In longer sets, I maintained a pretty fast pace."

Around the time he entered high school at Asheville School, Sleater began to focus on getting the opportunity to swim at the next level. To do so, he committed to his training, increasing his practice time to ensure he was prepared for races.

Bednar described his competitiveness and work ethic as the "perfect recipe" for fast swimmers, but added that the longer races "aren't for everybody."

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"They're physically very tough, but it's also a lot of mental toughness," Sleater said. "When I do those [long] events, you have to have confidence from your practices, putting in those long hours in practice and doing those long sets. ... With the training that we do, you can be confident and prepared."

His times kept dropping, and the college opportunities came accordingly.

Once he heard from UNC, Sleater's decision became much easier.

Sleater signed with UNC, his "dream school," on Nov. 10, 2021.

"It's one of the best public schools in the nation, with rigorous academics and exceptional athletics," said Sleater, who committed to the Tar Heels in 2020 and signed last year. "UNC's kind of been my dream college since the beginning, and to be able to swim there, Division I, was one of my biggest goals in life."

Last December, in his most recent 1,650-meter freestyle race, Sleater set a personal best 15:24, a top-25 time for any high schooler in the nation this season.

That time is faster than any Tar Heel has posted this season and would have scored points at last year's ACC Championship meet, something Sleater pays attention to as he continues to set his sights higher.

"With swimmers like him, there's a year-long plan and even a multi-year plan," Bednar said. "The dual meets tend not to be a huge focus for him. He's going to do well no matter what."

The events where Sleater stands out, races of 1,000 meters or more, aren't competed at high school races, only at the club level. So, as he worked toward his long-term, long-distance goals, the state championships in shorter races were just a bonus.

Because swimmers can only compete in two individual events at any meet, Bednar emphasizes getting her top athletes in as many different races as possible throughout the regular season, earning postseason qualifying times that give her lineup flexibility to win state championships as a team.

"What's nice about the high school meets is I don't necessarily have to do my best events. I can go around and be versatile, do the backstroke, the sprint free, it gives me a lot of experience in different events," Sleater said. "It's a lot of fun being there with my teammates, being able to race them in our off events."

In his first three state championship meets, Sleater has earned points in seven different events, including the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, both of which he set NCISAA Div. 2 records in last year.

Sleater poses with a state championship trophy after the 2019-20 NCISAA Division II state championship meet.

"His favorite line is, 'Whatever you need me to do,'" Bednar said. "We might put him up against someone across that state that, it might be that person's best event and not his best event, but he's ready to go. He loves to compete. ... He really is ready to swim just about anything."

He's in line for a third consecutive 200 freestyle championship Tuesday and will look to add a 200 backstroke crown to his list, in addition to competing in a pair of relays.

"At our conference meet last week, the [Asheville School] pool we swam at I've been swimming at since I was 8," Sleater said. "That was my last meet at our pool, and it was very emotional and brought out some of my best swimming I've done at a high school meet ever. I think I'll [replicate] that next Tuesday."

The Blues' margin of victories the past three seasons have been quite comfortable, but Tuesday's meet projects to be a tight finish with Forsyth Country Day.

Sleater will go down as one of the most decorated Asheville School swimmers in school history regardless, with a slew of school, pool and state records to his name and a college career that should feature further achievements in events more tailored to his skillset.

But before he shifts from being a Blue to donning Carolina blue, he wants to complete his set of rings.

"We're all extremely motivated to get this fourth one,: Sleater said. "We're always looking forward to getting in there, being competitive and, especially for the seniors, giving it the last hurrah.

"Some of my best memories throughout high school were at [state meets] with my best friends, having the time of my life. That's going to push me a lot when it comes to racing."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Patrick Sleater (UNC swimming) wants one more Asheville School title
Feb. 11SANTA FE  Lawmakers have repeatedly narrowed the focus of a voting bill working its way through the Senate. But the proposal survived an attempt Thursday to slim it down even further.

A proposed amendment that sought to remove a provision sending $20 million into a state election fund failed on a tie vote, leaving the bill intact, at least for now.

The legislation, Senate Bill 8, narrowly made it out of the committee on a 6-5 vote  with Sen. Roberto "Bobby" Gonzales, D-Ranchos de Taos, arriving in time to cast what proved to be the decisive vote.

The bill now heads to the full Senate with less than a week left in the session.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and county clerks pleaded with the committee to leave intact the $20 million proposed for the election account.

The money, they said, would ensure adequate funding is available to replace voting equipment when necessary, pay poll workers and complete cybersecurity projects.

Money from the fund would generally go to county clerks for carrying out statewide elections.

"We never get the funding we need," Toulouse Oliver said. "We are always operating from a deprivation mentality for elections."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman George Munoz, D-Gallup, proposed removing the $20 million.

The funding, he said, would come from the same revenue stream that otherwise supports a new early childhood trust fund. Under Senate Bill 8, before the money flows to the trust fund, some of it would be diverted instead to ensure the election fund always has a balance of $20 million.

Munoz suggested it would set a bad precedent to intercept money on the way to the early childhood trust fund. Supporters of other initiatives are likely to propose their own diversions, he said, and it's better for lawmakers to actively decide each year how much to put in the fund.

He joined four Republican lawmakers in favor of the amendment, but it failed on a 5-5 vote, with opposition from the remaining Democrats.

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Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, said it was essential to ensure elections are adequately funded.

The Senate Finance Committee, she said, has already heard presentations on the unexpectedly rapid growth of the early childhood trust fund, which is projected to hit $4.3 billion in 2025.

The fund was designed to support state funding on home visiting, prekindergarten, child care assistance and other early childhood programs.

"Without sufficient funding," Rodriguez said, "we can't run adequate fair elections."

The proposed voting bill has undergone extensive changes as it works its way through Senate committees. It no longer calls for automating some voter registration or allowing 16-year-olds to vote in school and city elections.

As it stands now, the proposal would:

Establish a permanent absentee voter list, giving voters the option of signing up once to receive absentee ballots in the mail for future elections.

Restore the voting rights of felons when they leave custody rather than after they complete probation or parole.

Create a Native American voting rights act.

Require counties to have two secure, monitored drop boxes for ballots.

"This is a big deal," Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said. "This is about access to voting rights."

Republicans said the proposal fails to provide safeguards for fair, accurate elections.

County clerks, they said, shouldn't be forced to provide ballot drop boxes.

Opponents also said that requiring voters to present a photo identification to vote  an idea not contained in the bill  would be a commonsense way to prevent fraud.

"This is yet another instance of short sighted policy for political gain and we urge the body to reject this bill when it comes to the Senate Floor," Republican Sens. William Sharer of Farmington, William Burt of Alamogordo, Crystal Diamond of Elephant Butte and Pat Woods of Broadview said in a joint statement.
BOSTON  Local legislators support Gov. Charlie Bakers proposals to increase funding for the Student Opportunity Act and to fund certain social programs, as they work with local officials for specific requests at the start of the fiscal 2023 state budget cycle.

State Reps. Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlborough, and Jack Lewis, D-Framingham, said Bakers $48.5 billion proposed budget is the first step in the process, but the Legislature will offer amendments and suggestions throughout this years session, potentially changing the initial proposal significantly.

Lewis

Once it comes time to solve the differences between the House and Senate budget, the governors budget has pretty much been laid aside at that point, Gregoire explained.

Lewis expressed concern over $700 million in tax reductions that Baker proposed and which favor high-income earners, specifically through proposed cuts for capital gains and estate taxes. Lewis also said the budget does not indicate whether certain programs would need to be cut if there's a loss in revenue resulting from tax cuts.

Gregoire

I would be concerned about such dramatic tax cuts to high-income earners at a time when our commonwealth needs great and bold adjustments in everything from public education to infrastructure, he said.

The Legislature will do its best to ensure crucial social programs  specifically rental assistance programs like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and Rental Assistance for Families in Transition Program, which are vital to our constituents, according to Lewis  will be fully funded in the final budget, he said.

State Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow, said in a statement that she certainly supports providing tax relief, especially to those who would benefit most from it, and to continue to incentivize recovery and growth for the Massachusetts economy.

The budget process for the House began Tuesday, when the House and Senate Ways and Means committees started joint hearings on the proposal, according to Hogan.

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Gregoire and Lewis support increased funding for the Student Opportunity Act. The education funding law is going to be a total game changer for the way Massachusetts students are educated, and the Legislature knew it would take a tremendous investment to change things at the level that need to be changed, Gregoire said.

While its still early in the process, representatives plan to discuss with local leadership their specific funding needs and priorities.

For example, Marlborough and Northborough are interested in investing in new fire stations, Gregoire said, noting there are also other local projects that will be discussed in coming months.

Each year when the budget rolls around, Gregoire reaches out to her municipal colleagues to see what she can tick off their list.

We always reach out to the municipal partners to ensure these are the things that are priorities of the municipalities, she said

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham MA Rep. Lewis concerned over tax cuts in state budget
Editor, Register-Mail: Trump, in the final days of his presidency, tried to get Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and DOJ Attorney General Barr to seize voting machines. Trump asked secretaries of state, in several states, to have local law enforcement officials seize voting equipment to bolster the big lie, and to ultimately change election results in his favor. Trump played a role in proposing & pressuring people to overturn the 2020 election, famously calling on Brad Raffensperger to find him 11,780 votes in Georgia.

More: LETTER: Republicans are hypocrites on infrastructure bill

The Jan. 6 Investigative Commission has received a trove of documents and have so far interviewed hundreds of people that were "in the know"' and have issued subpoenas to many more. Michael T. Flynn pushed for rerunning the election, based on their bogus claims of Dominion voting machines having been hacked causing voter fraud. Mike Flynn and Sidney Powell met with Trump in the White House on Dec. 18, 2020, advising him to sign their paperwork to call for national security emergency powers, and for U.S. Marshals or National Guard, under the auspices of Pentagon, to recount votes in six states before Dec. 25, 2020, and to rerun the elections. In the hours during the Jan 6 attack on our Capitol, Michael's brother, Charles A. Flynn, deputy chief of the Army, participated in phone calls from D.C. government and Capitol Police officials begging for help, and the Pentagon basically stalled efforts to amass the National Guard for the purpose of quelling violence at our Capitol.

More: LETTER: Mask mandates, lockdowns have to go

Another explosive finding is that fake electors in seven states forged government certificates of ascertainment, declaring Trump the winner of their state's votes, and they sent the forged documents to the National Archives in order to muddy the waters so that VP Mike Pence could more easily refuse to certify the vote count on Jan 6, 2021. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive," lamented Sir Walter Scott. Swing-state Trumpers forged electoral letters to overturn Biden's win in: AZ, GA, MI, NM, NV, PN, WI, in a deceitful and disgracefully illegal ploy to keep Trump in power. Jeffrey Clark, at DOJ, in 2020, had sent a letter to Georgia lawmakers, asking them to decertify Georgia's votes. Trump lost his bid with SCOTUS, to disallow the Jan. 6 Commission from obtaining his presidential correspondences, and the commission is working hard to bring criminals to justice, and to ensure an "attempted-coup fiasco" like this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN!  Trish Forsyth Voss, Galesburg

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: LETTER: Jan. 6 Commission has trove of documents
CONNECTICUT  Not everyone will live a long life, but a new federal report showing wide regional disparities in life expectancy says your chances are greatest in Hawaii.

The average U.S. life expectancy at birth in 2019 was 78.8 years, up 0.1 percent from 2018, according to death records in U.S. states analyzed by the National Center for Health Statistics, an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People living in Hawaii lived an average of 80.9 years  83.9 years for women and 78 years for men. Even so, the life expectancy in the Aloha State went down by about a month from 2018, the report found.



Connecticut ranks just five places below Hawaii, coming in 6th place. Before you start feeling too smug, that's a full three slots below neighboring New York (3) and one below neighboring Massachusetts (5). California (2) and Minnesota (4) fill out the top six. The life expectancy list places New Jersey 7th, and Vermont comes in at number 10.

Unfortunately, life expectancy in Connecticut has been trending in the wrong direction, shorter on the average by 0.1 year from 2018 to 2019. On the other hand, in nearby Vermont, our neighbors cheated Death by a half-year over the same time period.

In Mississippi, ranked 51st among states and the District of Columbia, the average life expectancy was 74.4 years  77.6 years for women and 71.2 years for men.









Importantly, the report released Thursday does not reflect COVID-19 mortality rates, which CDC officials said in December cut life expectancy by nearly two years, the largest one-year drop since World War II.



States with the lowest life expectancy at birth are mostly Southern states, and states with the highest life expectancy at birth are predominantly Western and Northeastern states, the report said.

The report didnt address the disparities, but report author Dr. Elizabeth Arias, the director of U.S. Life Tables at the National Center for Health Statistics, offered some theories in an interview with ABC News.

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Well, we do know that mortality from the leading causes of death like heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, tends to be higher in the states in the South and the Southeast than in New England, for instance, and the Western states, she said. Smoking prevalence is also higher in the Southern states. I believe there are also higher rates of poverty throughout [the South].

Other states in the bottom ranking were West Virginia (50), Alabama (49), Kentucky (48) and Tennessee (47).



Nationally, women live 5.1 years longer than men. The disparity is greater in Mississippi than anywhere else in the United States at 6.4 years, and the shortest is in Utah at 3.5 years. Women outlive men in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

California, which ranks No. 2 in life expectancy overall, ranked first for males, with a life expectancy of 78.4 years.

On the average, Connecticut women will live 5.1 years longer than men, according to the report.



West Virginia ranked 51st among females, with a life expectancy at birth of 77.3 years.

The report didnt address the disparities in life expectancies between men and women. However, Arias told ABC News smoking is likely the primary reason.

Historical data shows the disparity between the sexes was as high as 7.8 years in 1978, Arias said.

So, males took up smoking a lot earlier than females did and with much higher prevalence, she said. But then, over the decades, females began to smoke close to levels that men smoked. And, as men have been quitting, women have followed but not at the same pace."

Researchers also looked at life expectancy after age 65. In Hawaii, people who are 65 years old can expect to live another 21.2 years on average. In Mississippi, they can expect to live another 17.5 years.

Once Connecticut residents reach 65, the CDC stats show them living another 20.2 years on the average, so... hang in there.



Other findings from the report:

Life expectancy declined in 14 states between 2018 and 2019, ranging from one month to six months. Those states were South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Arkansas, Maine, Montana, Iowa, Mississippi, Connecticut, Oregon, Hawaii and Minnesota.

Five states had no change in life expectancy, and 31 states and the District of Columbia saw increases in life expectancy between one and six months.

The preliminary 2020 mortality data released early last year showed COVID-19 cut life expectancy by 1.8 years in 2020, and that people of color were disproportionately affected.

We normally dont see declines of life expectancy of this magnitude, Bob Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the National Center for Health Statistics, told NBC News in December. Usually when we see fluctuations in life expectancy, its only for a couple months of the year, so this is quite significant.

Overall, the life expectancy at birth was 77 years in 2020  74.2 years for males and 79.9 for females, according to the December report.

Dr. Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, told NBC at the time one of the most jolting things in the report is the racial disparities.

Death rates for Black and Hispanic Americans increased precipitously in 2020  43 percent and 32 percent for Hispanic males and females, respectively, and 28 percent and 25 percent for Black males and females, respectively.

That compares with an increase in death rates of 13 percent for white males and 12 percent for white females.

That just shouldnt be happening, Woolf told NBC News. There is this deeply embedded health consequence of systemic racism.

This article originally appeared on the Brookfield Patch
Tax season is underway, and if youre looking for help to get your return filed in and around Lexington, weve compiled some options.

What is the 2022 tax deadline? And other basics

The IRS began accepting 2021 returns Jan. 24. The tax season continues through April 18, the deadline to file.

If you are a victim of the devastating Dec. 10 tornadoes, winds and flooding in Kentucky, you may have a longer to file. The IRS extended the deadline to May 16 for storm victims who live or own a business in 23 eligible counties.

The federal agency has indicated some delays are possible this year, citing challenges from the pandemic and changes to tax law.

We urge people to carefully review their taxes for accuracy before filing. And they should file electronically with direct deposit if at all possible; filing a paper tax return this year means an extended refund delay, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said, in part, in a Jan. 24 release.

If you need more time, you can request a six-month extension by filing a Form 4868.

If you successfully file electronically and opt for direct deposit, you should receive your refund within 21 days. The IRS reports last year, the average refund was $2,800.

You can also check the status of your refund, beginning 24 hours after you file, using the agencys Wheres My Refund? portal.

Free federal options for tax filing

The IRS offers guided prep Free File for those who make $73,000 or less. Free File is done in partnership with major tax companies, and the IRS cautions you must start your Free File at IRS.gov to access the no-cost service.

The agency also offers Free File Fillable Forms, which are not income restricted, but require you to complete your return yourself.

Lexington-area tax assistance options

For those looking for in-person assistance, many organizations offer grant-funded Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) assistance. The program primarily serves low- to moderate-income individuals. Trained volunteers can determine if you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and help with the 2021 Child Tax Credit.

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Several county public library systems, including Lexington, Woodford and Jessamine, are host to AARP Foundation Tax Aide volunteers at their branches by appointment. Find a participating site with AARPs locator tool.

The United Way of Bluegrass offers tax help, including assistance for those who made less than $56,000 in 2021 through the CKEEP program. It also offers MyFreeTaxes, an online tax preparation service for those who made less than $66,000. You can call 211 for more information on United Way options.

Other offerings in the central part of the state include the University of Kentuckys J. David Rosenberg College of Law Tax Clinic, which has in-person, virtual and drop-off assistance options.

Transylvania University is offering tax assistance for those who made $58,000 or less. You can sign up online, and will be required to wear a mask during your appointment. The program has an intake form officials recommend you fill out in advance.

The Urban League of Lexington, featured on the IRS help locator, is offering tax help into April. Call 866-362-6211 to schedule an appointment.

For Kentucky individual income tax returns, the state offers a free service, KYFile, which is not subject to income restrictions.

What should I bring to a tax appointment?

If youre meeting with a preparer, make sure to bring:

A copy of last years return.

A photo ID for each adult in your household.

Social Security cards, individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) for you, your spouse and your dependent or a Social Security verification letter.

Birth dates for all parties.

Wage and earnings statements Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers for the year.

Identity Protection Pin (IP Pin), if applicable.

Interest and dividend statements from your bank, Form 1099, 1098-T or those received from the IRS indicating it is for tax purposes.

Savings or checking account routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, like a blank check.

Total paid to any daycare provider, if applicable, the business name, Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number and address.

If you are self-employed, completed proof of income and expenses.

If you are missing documents or information, you can call the IRS hotline at 800-829-1040.
TEHRAN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Friday that Iran never pins its hopes on the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement, noting its reliance on its people and domestic potentials.

"Counting on foreigners to do something for us has caused problems. With the efforts of our people and the service of government, great steps will be taken toward economic independence," Raisi said in a televised speech commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in the capital Tehran.

"Looking to the West has made the country unbalanced," he said, adding his administration is seeking a "balanced" policy in its foreign relations and "must pay attention to all countries, especially our neighbors."

Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran accepted some restrictions on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the Western sanctions. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal unilaterally in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, which retaliated by dropping some of its commitments.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in Austria's capital Vienna between Iran and remaining parties to the deal, with the United States indirectly involved, in a bid to restore the landmark nuclear deal. 
McKenzie Lange/The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel via AP

On Thursday morning, Tina Peters, the embattled clerk pushing Donald Trumps false election claims, turned herself in to police and walked free on a $500 bond. By Thursday evening, she was onstage at a far-right event where another speaker had just endorsed hangings for people involved in election fraud.

Peters, a clerk from Mesa County, Colorado, has become a microcelebrity in far-right circles after the solidly red district in which she works became the focus of an election-fraud panic last summer when its voter data leaked to conservative conspiracy theorists like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. She is now the subject of an ongoing investigation into the data breach. However, that has not stopped her from hitting the public speaking circuit while she and her colleagues face charges in a spiraling criminal case.

Peters Thursday night speech, first reported by Colorado Newslines Chase Woodruff, took place at an event hosted by FEC United, a far-right group whose president has called for mass executions of politicians he believes to be traitors. The Thursday event continued in similar vein, with a speaker who accused Colorados Democratic secretary of state, Jena Griswold, of election fraud. I think if you're involved in election fraud, then you deserve to hang, he told the crowd to applause.

Peters delivered a speech soon thereafter, referencing her arrest that morning on charges of obstructing a police officer and obstructing government operations.

Im still dressed in what they booked me in this morning, Peters began. How many of you know that I actually had to turn myself in to be fingerprinted and mugshot today?

Peters did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment.

In fringe circles, Peters is touted as a persecuted hero at war with Griswold. In reality, Peters Thursday morning arrest stems from a bagel restaurant incident and a cascading legal fiasco in the Mesa County Clerks office.

Peters troubles predate the 2020 presidential election. Beginning in 2019, her first year as clerk, Peters office came under scrutiny for election slip-ups, like leaving nearly 600 ballots uncounted in an outdoor box for months, and for staffing issues, like the departure of most of her employees.

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But her path to the national stage began on May 25, 2021. Thats when someone in the clerks office is accused of turning off security cameras that monitored the countys voting equipment. During the blackout, someone using the name Gerard Wood accessed the machines and copied voter data, which was soon leaked to conspiracy theorist (and current longshot congressional candidate) Ron Watkins. Although the stolen data showed no election malfeasance, Peters branded herself a whistleblower of local election fraud. She rode Lindells private jet to his Cyber Symposium on election conspiracy theories in August, where she gave a speech about supposed discrepancies in Mesa County data. Peters, who had also used taxpayer money to buy a plane ticket to the event, soon went into hiding in Lindells safe house, finally emerging this fall.

During Peters absence, her deputy clerk Belinda Knisley was charged with second-degree burglary and cybercrime, in relation to possible harassment of employees in her office that relate to ongoing investigations into other possible state and federal criminal matters, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported at the time. Knisley is accused of using Peters office computer and login to access and print county documents this summer. Knisley was not allowed in the office at the time, because she had been placed on suspension following multiple accusations of inappropriate workplace behavior. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

By the time she returned from hiding this fall, Peters was facing an investigation by Griswolds office, which accused her and Knisley of allowing Gerard Wood to access and copy Mesa County voter data in May. Griswolds office also accused another Peters staffer of abetting the breach: a charge Peters legal team has denied. The staffer was fired by county officials in November.

But it was a recent court hearing for Knisley that sparked Peters latest legal woes. Peters is accused of using an iPad to record Knisleys hearing on Monday, despite a judges warning and courtroom signs announcing that recordings were prohibited. When questioned during the hearing, Peters denied that shed been recording court proceedings. According to an arrest affidavit, police served a search warrant on the iPad on Tuesday.

They found Peters at a Grand Junction bagel shop, where she allegedly resisted the search. Footage appeared to show Peters lashing out at officers. Do not kick, one officer shouted as Peters swung what appeared to be a brown suede boot in his direction.

The incident resulted in a charge of obstructing a peace officer, in addition to her previous charge of obstructing a government proceeding (by allegedly recording the court hearing).

Peters turned herself in to police on Thursday morning, paid a $500 bond, and turned her story into a tale of martyrdom at her speech that evening, where she received a standing ovation.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A 35-year-old man is facing a felony charge of child kidnapping after a mother told police that he disappeared with her 4-year-old daughter, prompting a law enforcement response Wednesday night that included helicopter surveillance and the assembly of the Independence SWAT team.

Juan C. Lopez, of Independence, was charged Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court following his arrest the night before outside of a QuikTrip gas station in the suburb. The 4-year-old was taken temporarily into child-protective custody and later released to her family, according to court records.

According to a probable cause statement written by an Independence detective, the mother called the police department late Wednesday afternoon to report that Lopez and her daughter had been gone roughly 18 hours. She told them she had known Lopez for the past 6 months, and thought they were going to a gas station for ice roughly one mile away.

She awoke the following morning to discover they were still out. When she contacted Lopez, court records state, she either heard vague excuses or nothing at all.

Police attempted to track Lopezs cellphone but were unable to immediately pinpoint its location because it was likely turned off or out of range.

As the mother was being interviewed by an Independence detective Wednesday night, she received a phone call from Lopez where he again allegedly refused to disclose where they had gone. But that phone call allowed police to begin pinpointing his location, court records state.

As Lopez was traveling south on U.S. Route 169, a Kansas City police helicopter was called in for surveillance assistance. Police detectives and the SWAT team discreetly followed the car as well until Lopez stopped at the QuikTrip by Sterling Avenue and U.S. 40, according to charging documents.

Lopez was arrested there and taken to Independence police departments detention unit.

During an interview with police, Lopez allegedly provided vague answers when questioned about where he and the girl had gone or what they were doing exactly. He told them at one point that he had taken her to a motel and also to Walmart for a toy.

He also told them he had experienced trouble with a flat tire. When asked why he failed to answer several calls and text messages, he blamed the 4-year-old girl for hiding his phone.
BROCKTON  A man was fatally shot in Brockton late Thursday night, the city's second homicide within five days and the second of the year.

The Plymouth County district attorney's said Friday morning that Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the DA's office and Brockton police are investigating the deadly shooting of a man outside 102 Ash St., which occurred around 11 p.m. Thursday.

The victim has not yet been identified.

The DA's office didn't immediately release any further details surrounding the shooting and Brockton police referred inquiries to the DA's office.

Police focus on a vehicle in the driveway of 102 Ash St. in Brockton after a man was fatally shot on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Investigators at the scene appeared to be focused on a vehicle parked in the driveway of the home.

The homicide comes just five days after another man, 51-year-old Harry Williams, was killed in a shooting on Auna Drive last Saturday, Feb. 5. A 26-year-old man, Kevin Jordan Gomes, has been charged in Williams' murder.

More: Brockton man, 26, arrested in connection with deadly weekend shooting of 51-year-old

No arrests have been made in connection with Thursday's shooting on Ash Street.

Enterprise senior reporter Cody Shepard can be reached by email at cshepard@enterprisenews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @cshepard_ENT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Man fatally shot on Ash Street in Brockton; 2nd homicide this week
Closeup of gavel in court room

BEDFORD  Lawrence Superior Court II Judge Bob Cline sentenced an offender with a lengthy criminal history to 11 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for three separate crimes, including a bank robbery, a hatchet attack and robbery of an Amish woman who was selling produce in Mitchell.

Jeffrey A. Waggoner, 55, pleaded guilty in all three cases as a part of a negotiated plea agreement with the state of Indiana.

As a part of the plea agreement, Waggoner pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony, in which he received a nine-year prison sentence. He also admitted his guilt in a robbery of JCB, a Level 5 felony, for which he received an additional two years in prison. For the robbery of the Amish woman, a Level 5 felony, he received two years of supervised probation. (The victim in this case did not wish to participate in the prosecution of the offender.)

In these cases, for an offender who has proven time and again that he does not plan to follow the law, prison is the appropriate sentence, said Lawrence County Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Weddle. The safety of our community here in Lawrence County is something we take very seriously. We will continue to tirelessly seek justice in all of our cases, and especially so when we can successfully get criminals, such as the defendant in this case, off our streets.

Waggoner was arrested in October 2019 after he battered a man at a homeless camp in Bedford in September. Waggoner used a hatchet on the victim, causing the man to have to seek treatment at an Indianapolis hospital, where he was transported by helicopter.

After that arrest, DNA from Waggoner was used to tie him to an attempted robbery at JCB on 16th Street in Bedford in October 2017 as well as the August 2017 robbery of an Amish woman who was selling produce at the Four Points in Mitchell.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Man pleads guilty to battery, bank robbery in Lawrence County court
Feb. 10FARMINGTON  A man from Strong pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of terrorizing for communicating threats to kill three staff members and causing a lockdown at the Strong Elementary School on Jan. 7, 2021.

Christian Richards, 28, entered the pleas with his attorney, Maurice Porter, at his side at Franklin County Unified Court.

If the case had gone to trial, there would have been testimony that Richards went to the school and demanded his daughter be released, Deputy District Attorney James Andrews said.

He pounded on the windows and was yelling and threatening the secretary, principal and nurse. Franklin County deputies were called and the school doors were locked and windows secured, Andrews said.

Detective Stephen Charles talked to Richards and deescalated the situation.

Judge Brent Davis accepted the pleas and agreed to defer sentencing for two years under an agreement that Richards must complete in the next two years. He needs to continue counseling and take his medication, Davis said.

If successful, he will be able to withdraw his plea to the felony charge and it will be dismissed. He will plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and be sentenced to 364 days, all suspended, and one year probation.

That means he will be under supervision for three years, Andrews said.

If he doesn't complete the agreement, he faces an open sentencing on both charges. A conviction for felony terrorizing is punishable by up to five years in prison. A conviction on the lockdown charge is punishable by up to 364 days in prison.

Richards remained employed while the case was waiting to be resolved, received counseling and went on medicine, Andrews said.

He will be on personal recognizance bail during the next two years. He is not allowed to contact the three staff members at the school and cannot return to the school.

He is to appear in court Feb. 26, 2024.
Carrboro police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened last month near The Villages apartments on Smith Level Road.

Taeveon Michael Jaquenti Young, 23, of Durham, was shot while driving a car, according to police, who do not think the killing was random.

Police initially got a call just after 11 p.m. on Jan. 31 about gunshots near the BPW Club Road entrance to the apartment complex, Chief Chris Atack told The News & Observer in a phone interview Thursday.

Officers responded to the area, checked it, didnt see anything, didnt find anything, Atack said. About 15, 20 minutes later, somebody showed up at UNC at the ER with a gunshot wound, was dropped off, and that person ultimately died of their injury.

Police did not have enough time to talk with Young, he said, but later they found evidence that pinpointed the location of the shooting. The victims vehicle was found and has been impounded as evidence, spokesman Capt. Anthony Westbrook said Friday in an email.

There have been no arrests in the case as of Friday afternoon.

The department did not release information earlier, as is typical when someone is shot, Atack said, because they are short-staff and were busy, but also because they werent 100% sure where it happened for a number of days.

The department recently hired two new officers but still has nine of 39 positions vacant, he said.

Drive-bys, break-ins, shots fired

Carrboro had an extremely rare series of six gun-related crimes from August to December last year, Westbrook said.

 Aug. 3: Someone in a passing car fired shots at a car in the parking lot of the Wendys restaurant in downtown Carrboro. Three people were injured when a driver fleeing the gunfire flipped over in the restaurants driveway. The gunmans target also was injured and treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Police charged four teenagers  one 17-year-old and three 16-year-olds  with that crime. The names of the juvenile suspects have not been released.

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 Aug. 5: A resident of Oakwood Apartments, at 605 Oak Ave., came home to find break-in suspects in his apartment. One suspect fired a single gunshot at the resident as the group fledx. A 16-year-old and 18-year-old Tayquan Tylee Kenshon Pierre were arrested in connection with the shooting.

 Aug. 22: A man was shot and a teenager, whose name has not been released, was arrested following an argument at Salon Monterrey, an event venue at the Carrboro Plaza shopping center.

 Oct. 22: One man was killed and another taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a shooting at the Berkshire 54 apartments, located at 112 N.C. 54. Brandon Lee Freeman, 27, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

 Dec. 4: A man was shot in the Carrboro Plaza parking lot after getting into an argument with a man who pulled a gun. As the suspect fled, another person with the victim fired multiple shots at the fleeing car, hitting another car in the parking lot. The victim was taken to UNC Hospitals with a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

 Dec. 5: The victims told police they were exiting N.C. 54 at Jones Ferry Road when a speeding car overtook them and stopped in front of them on the exit ramp. The suspect got out of the car and fired shots into the front of the car, police said, before getting back in their car and speeding away. No one was hurt in the shooting, they said.

No arrests have been made in the December shootings, Westbrook said.

Atack, who was asked about possible gang or gang member involvement, said theres not enough evidence to link any of the shootings.

Weve tried to find a pattern since our August events have started, and it seems to be primarily people engaged in activities that would put you at a greater risk for injury, he said, declining to speculate about whether the Jan. 31 shooting fits that pattern.

Police seeing more guns, violence

The town averages about 15 gun-related incidents a year, from discharging a firearm in the town limits and carrying a concealed weapon, to violent crimes, including assault by pointing a gun, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and murder.

Last year, there were 23 incidents involving a firearm  the most in a single year since 2015, Westbrook said. Five incidents have been reported since Jan. 1.

One person was killed in 2021, he said.

That suspect has a Carrboro address, but Atack said Carrboro residents are generally not involved in violent crimes. The names and addresses of several juvenile suspects have not been made public.

However, Atack said, he is seeing more powerful weapons in Carrboro, including rifles, higher-caliber handguns and higher-capacity ammunition magazines. The COVID-19 pandemic also is adding to the dysfunction in greater society, he said, including spikes in violence, mental health issues and drug overdoses locally and nationwide.

Carrboro has always had violent crime, but its never been at the frequency or magnitude as we see in other places, and its still not comparatively to Durham and all that, Atack said. But I can tell you people seem a whole lot more inclined to shoot at somebody.

The Orange Report

Calling Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough readers! We've launched The Orange Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Orange County published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Orange-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat."
STAFFORD COUNTY, VA  Masks will become optional at Stafford County Public Schools on Feb. 22. The Stafford County School Board decided to end the mask mandate through a 5-2 vote at their meeting on Thursday.

The vote was held at a special meeting of the school board on Thursday night, and about 30 Stafford residents attended and spoke during public comment.

Last month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order that intended to make masks optional in public schools across the state. The executive order was the subject of scrutiny, as many school districts kept their mask mandates.

In February, a bill passed through the Virginia Senate that would make mask wearing optional in schools. The bill will now head to Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

Not everyone is ready to end mask mandates though. Dr. Amanda Chase, who represents the Falmouth District on the Stafford County School Board, said she thought it may be too soon to remove mask mandates.

"I'm concerned that the 22nd is a little too soon," Chase said at Thursday's board meeting. "I would be happy to wait for the General Assembly and the governor to go through the correct process."

Maureen Sigmeund represents the Garrisonville district on the school board. The board room erupted with applause when she asked if they "had to wait until the 22nd" to remove the mask mandate. The board ultimately decided to wait until Feb. 22 to drop their mask mandate.

"We know that for some, this news causes concern," Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a letter to families on Friday. "We will provide all staff and students with KN95 or N95 masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) upon request. Further, we will continue to keep to three feet of social distancing."

Students will still need to wear masks on buses, due to federal mandates under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. Students will also have to wear masks when they return from isolation or quarantine after exposure to COVID or a positive COVID test.

More details about Stafford County schools' new mask policy is available online.



This article originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch
Matthew McConaughey had us fooled for a second.

His new commercial for Salesforce, which he co-created and premiered during the Olympics, opens with the Oscar winner in an astronauts suit, making the spot look like it could be a trailer for a sequel to his 2014 film Interstellar.

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I wanted this misdirect at the beginning, McConaughey told me ahead of the ad playing during Super Bowl LVI on Sunday. I wanted it to open and look very serious and in space because were about to pull the rug out from under you. Some people are going to think this is going to be the trailer for Interstellar 2.

Instead, McConaughey is floating among the stars in a hot air balloon before waxing philosophically, Its not time to escape. Its time to engage. Its time to plant more trees. Its time to build more trust. Its time to make more space for all of us. So while the others look to the metaverse and Mars, lets stay here and restore ours. Yeah, its time to blaze our trail. Cause the new frontier? It aint rocket science. Its right here.

In short, McConaughey hopes the New Frontier spot will have consumers as well as corporate giants thinking about their value systems. I hope they go, Look, what McConaughey and Salesforce is saying, is there is a problem in society today. Our relationship with each other, our relationship with the environment is fragile, man. We got a lack of trust, we got a lack of fairness. We got a lack of sustainable innovations. We have a lack of values.

And you know what, a lot of us are looking to escape and get the hell out of here or maybe look the other way, he continued. You know what? Theyre right! But we can look around at our earthly challenges and look those in the eye and say, Lets handle this and restore what we got going here. Were not ready to quit. Hopefully businesses will see this and are urged and nudged to make a commitment to making life here on Earth more fair, equal and sustainable.

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Lets talk about that line about the metaverse and Mars. Have you heard from Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg?

[Laughs] No, but I would love to sit down with the four of us and have a roundtable fun discussion. Look, we did that line on purpose. Its a wink and nudge. But our campaign is not anti-technology. Its not anti-pioneering space. Its saying, Hey, we have to not be so ready to quit on our home team; our home planet. We got a home field advantage, lets take care of it. If and when we do get to space  or if the day comes when there is a great migration or immigration or travel to space  I bet Elon, Mark and Jeff would like to export a more valuable society there with people that didnt take all the problems and angst and fear that we got right now.

Im sure youve gotten offers for a lot of money to endorse different companies and products that you didnt take. When did you first start looking at companies to make sure their values lined up with yours before agreeing to any deals?

Ive been approached by quite a few  I wont give any names  where I was offered a wallop of money. But they were in sectors that I know didnt reinforce my values, but would just siphon off of my celebrity. Im looking for restorative companies and products that can help rebuild America and mankind. Especially in the last eight years, I would say I turned away quite a few that maybe 15 years ago I would have done.

I have to ask, whats the most money you turned down?

You could ask. [Laughs]. Lets just say Ive turned away more than Im making. Its not like everyone has to be with the Bible of McConaughey, but I want it to align with my values.

Youre talking about values, sustainability and saving the Earth. It sounds like its the start of a political platform. (McConaughey announced in November that he would not run for Texas governor after saying he was considering a campaign.)

These traits and their values can be acquired, and I think they should be by politicians, but values go beyond politics. This is not about the left or the right. This is more important than that. These values are an aspiration that we as humans got a capacity to do and we as America has a capacity to achieve.

You sound like you could be one of the good guys in Washington.

Maybe! Maybe! But I also dont know. There are great constraints. Its a certain amount of handcuffs that you got to have up there, constituencies, obligations, people fighting solely to preserve their party. Any decision you make, you inherently have 50% that like it and 50% that dont. Its constant negotiation. Im a salesman more than Im a negotiator.

This interview was edited and condensed.

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BEIRUT, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati launched on Friday a master plan for the reconstruction of the Beirut port which was devastated by two explosions in August of 2020.

The rebuilding of the Beirut port remains a national and economic priority for Lebanon, especially since the port is the most vital artery in the Mediterranean, Mikati said during a ceremony attended by World Bank representatives in the capital Beirut, according to a statement by the Council of Ministers.

Mikati said the government is preparing a new law for the development of the ports, including the Beirut port, in a bid to attract companies hoping to invest in them.

The new legal framework, which is under preparation in cooperation with the World Bank, aims at activating investment in all public facilities, said Ali Hamieh, the Lebanese minister of Public Works and Transportation.

World Bank Regional Director Saroj Kumar Jha said the new law sets the rules of governance for the reconstruction of the Beirut port.

The Beirut port was rocked by two huge explosions on Aug. 4, 2020, causing heavy damage to its facilities and killing more than 200 people. 
Priti Patel, Sadiq Khan and Dame Cressida Dick - Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Priti Patel has demanded that the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner must demonstrate strong and decisive leadership to root out sexism and racism, as well as cut crime.

Launching the search for a replacement for Dame Cressida Dick, the Home Secretary said that the first task of her successor would be to restore public confidence after a series of scandals over misogyny and racism among Met Police officers.

Above all, however, she said that the next Commissioner would be expected to achieve the basics of reducing violent crime, combating abuse of women and girls, removing drugs and weapons from the streets, and protecting the public from harm.

Ms Patel set out her agenda for the new boss of Britains largest police force in an article in Londons Evening Standard newspaper less than 24 hours after Dame Cressida quit her post on Thursday after Sadiq Khan, the citys mayor, withdrew his support for her.

The day before, Mr Khan had put her on notice, saying she had days and weeks to come up with a plan to root out the sexism and racism that had been brought into graphic focus last week by the behaviour of police officers at Charing Cross police station.

Selecting the right leader

In her article, Ms Patel assured Londoners that she was committed to selecting the right leader for the largest police force in the UK, a comment underlining that the Home Secretary appoints the Commissioner but has to have due regard for the views of Mr Khan.

This is the biggest leadership role in policing. However, at this time, the challenges facing the new Commissioner are stark, said the Home Secretary.

Following a series of appalling incidents and too many historical cases involving serving Met Police officers, it is clear that strong and decisive new leadership will be required to restore public confidence in our largest police force.

The public in London and across the entire country must once again have confidence in the integrity and professionalism of the police officers who serve them.

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Protecting our citizens is paramount

She added: Policing culture and conduct have rightly come under scrutiny. Be in no doubt that a new leader must tackle these institutional issues. I will appoint a Commissioner who will deliver results for the public that our police serve and represent.

Beating crime, preventing crime, protecting our citizens, our streets and communities at a time when this Government is investing record sums into the police, is paramount.

And above all thats what I  and the public across the country  will want from the countrys most senior police officer: someone focused on the basics of reducing violence in the city, tackling the abuse of women and girls, ridding our streets of drugs, knives and weapons, saving lives and protecting the public from those who wish to do them harm.

Dame Cressida said that she had been left with no choice but to resign after Mr Khan told her he had no confidence in her leadership. She has agreed to stay for a short period to ensure the stability of the Met, which is understood to be a few weeks.
Facebook said it would be different this time.

Announcing the companys rebranding to Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised that the virtual worlds it believes to be the future of the internet would be protected from the malignancies that have plagued Facebook. Privacy and safety need to be built into the metaverse from Day 1, he said. This is about designing for safety and privacy and inclusion before the products even exist.

In some respects, it will be different this time because virtual reality is a radically different medium from Facebook or Instagram. But although the companys virtual worlds are already available for users to create and explore, Meta has kept secret much of how it plans to enforce its safety protocols in VR, declining to answer detailed questions about them. (Disclosure: In a previous life, I held policy positions at Facebook and Spotify.)

Transparency around these rules is important because Meta has long struggled with how to moderate content on Facebook and Instagram. It has invested billions in machine learning tools to moderate content at scale, and it has confronted hard problems about what speech should be allowed. But content moderation will likely be more challenging in VR than on social platforms, not least because the tools for those older platforms do not easily transfer over into a medium that requires a real-time understanding not only of content but also how people behave. There is also a trade-off between privacy and safety at stake: even if the company could track every conversation and interaction we had in VR, would we want it to?

Meta has said it recognizes this trade-off and has pledged to be transparent about its decision-making. So, to better understand how it is approaching VR moderation, BuzzFeed News sent Meta a list of 19 detailed questions about how it protects people from child abuse, harassment, misinformation, and other harms in virtual reality. The company declined to answer any of them. Instead, Meta spokesperson Johanna Peace provided BuzzFeed News a short statement: Were focused on giving people more control over their VR experiences through safety tools like the ability to report and block others. Were also providing developers with further tools to moderate the experiences they create, and were still exploring the best use of AI for moderation in VR. We remain guided by our Responsible Innovation Principles to ensure privacy, security and safety are built into these experiences from the start.

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The very first entry in "Responsible Innovation Principles" enshrines the value of transparency: We communicate clearly and candidly so people can understand the tradeoffs we considered, and make informed decisions about whether and how to use our products.

We went back and asked again for Meta to consider our questions. The company declined.

So, to find out what we could on our own, we strapped on some Oculus headsets, opened Horizon Worlds, and ran a rudimentary experiment.

Time and time again, Meta has removed and taken action on pages and groups, even private ones, that use these phrases.

In a matter of hours, we built a private Horizon World festooned with massive misinformation slogans: Stop the Steal! Stop the Plandemic! Trump won the 2020 election! We called the world The Qniverse, and we gave it a soundtrack: an endless loop of Infowars founder Alex Jones calling Joe Biden a pedophile and claiming the election was rigged by reptilian overlords. We filled the skies with words and phrases that Meta has explicitly promised to remove from Facebook and Instagram  vaccines cause autism, COVID is a hoax, and the QAnon slogan where we go one we go all. Time and time again, Meta has removed and taken action on pages and groups, even private ones, that use these phrases.

We did not release this toxic material to the larger public. Only a handful of BuzzFeed News reporters were given access to the Qniverse, which was created using an account in the real name of a BuzzFeed News reporter and linked to her Facebook account. We kept the world unpublished  i.e., invitation only  to prevent unsuspecting users from happening upon it, and to mimic the way some Meta users seeking to share misinformation might actually do so: in private, invitation-only spaces.

The purpose of our test was to assess whether the content moderation systems that operate on Facebook and Instagram also operate on Horizon. At least in our case, it appears they did not.

A screen recording from inside an experimental virtual world intended to test Facebooks moderation policies. Emily Baker-White / BuzzFeed News

After over 36 hours, the Qniverse appeared to go undetected by Horizon, perhaps because the world was private, had only four people allowed to enter it, and got almost no engagement  all factors that would likely make it a low priority for content moderators.

Using Horizons user reporting function, a BuzzFeed News employee with access to the world used his own name and a linked Facebook account to flag the world to Meta. After more than 48 hours and no action, the employee reported the world again, followed quickly by another report from a different BuzzFeed News user with access to the world who also used her real name, which was linked to her Facebook and Oculus profiles.

Our trained safety specialist reviewed your report and determined that the content in the Qniverse doesnt violate our Content in VR Policy.

Roughly four hours after the third report was filed, the employee who submitted it received a response from Meta: Our trained safety specialist reviewed your report and determined that the content in the Qniverse doesnt violate our Content in VR Policy. Six hours after that, the original reporter received the same message. Perhaps the moderators left the Qniverse up because the world contained only violative content, and not violating behavior. Beyond the act of creating the misinformation slogans, we did not speak or otherwise interact with the content in the world. Without that context, maybe content moderators took it to be a parody.

We went to Metas comms department, a channel not available to ordinary people. We asked about its content moderators decisions: How could a world that shares misinformation that Meta has removed from its other platforms, under the same Community Guidelines, not violate Horizons policies?

The following afternoon, the experimental world disappeared. The company had reversed its original ruling.

After further review, we have removed this from Horizon Worlds, spokesperson Joe Osborne said. He declined to answer further questions about the decision.

Meta faces a task that is daunting, maybe even impossible.

Any news consumer over the past several years has seen this before: journalists calling out content on social platforms, especially those owned by Meta. Thats partly because, at times, things got really bad. Facebook evolved from a place where you poked your old high school friend to a place where your old high school friend could add you to a private group that grew to thousands of other people who talked about shooting protesters or overthrowing the democratically elected government. Horizon is a medium that is still very new. As Meta builds it, the company has promised to tackle again a complex conundrum that it and every other social media company have struggled with: balancing the competing interests of keeping its platform safe while allowing for free expression. Given the unique challenges of this new medium, Meta faces a task that is daunting, maybe even impossible.

Today, Meta appears to rely mainly on user blocks, mutes, and reports to notify it of Community Standards violations in VR. Andrew Bosworth, Metas chief technology officer, explained the reason why in a November 2021 blog post: We cant record everything that happens in VR indefinitely  it would be a violation of peoples privacy. He then explained that Oculus devices do record (and then record over) users most recent experiences in VR, but that those recordings are only sent to Meta if a user files an abuse report.

This approach departs sharply from the one Meta has taken on Facebook and Instagram. Callum Hood, head of research for the Center for Countering Digital Hate, worries that without some proactive moderation system in place, users could form toxic communities around harmful content like racism and child abuse that would never be reported. Weve seen this before with Facebook Groups, he said.

Weve seen this before with Facebook Groups, he said.

But the alternative raises concerns, too. Rory Mir, a grassroots advocacy organizer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, cautioned that if Meta does use machine learning models to police its VR users behavior, it might censor more people than its going to protect, because it will require far more intimate forms of surveillance: not just what youre writing, but how youre behaving.

Since Horizon Worlds launched in December, Meta has yet to run into large-scale moderation problems like it has on Facebook, perhaps in part because Horizon has a tiny fraction of the users. But there have been problems: Women and people of color in Horizon have reported being harassed, abused, and targeted with hate speech  something VR has struggled with for its entire history. Horizon has a safe zone option that allows users to quickly exit a virtual space and block other users, and it just launched personal boundaries as another mechanism against harassment. Still, a reporter at the Washington Post recently encountered numerous apparent children in Horizon, which officially requires that users be at least 18, raising concerns that children could be targeted by predators in the app.

Many of Facebook and Instagrams biggest content policy issues have been about how Metas algorithms promote and amplify content. Meta does promote public worlds in Horizon, and it promotes apps and other experiences for Oculus users  but its not clear how it does so and whether its algorithms can propel worlds in the same way as they boosted groups, some of which advocated extremism or violence. Meta declined to answer questions about whether its Recommendations Guidelines and Content Distribution Guidelines apply in VR.

Metas pivot to VR comes at a difficult time for the company. Last week, Facebook reported its first-ever decline in daily active users, sending Meta stock into a nosedive that lost the company approximately 25% of its worth in a day. The drop ramps up the pressure on VR to be the next big growth driver for a company that has pursued expansion at almost any cost. (In 2016, Bosworth, then the vice president of augmented and virtual reality, argued that Facebook should prioritize growth over curbing real-world harms like terrorist attacks because anything that allows us to connect more people more often is *de facto* good. He said later he was being provocative to force a debate and that the company never held that policy.)

According to Brittan Heller, an expert in virtual reality and human rights, technology to adequately moderate in VR doesnt exist yet: Companies cannot reliably transcribe and assess users speech in real time, nor can they reliably recognize gestures. One can imagine an alternate Qniverse  one without words scrawled on its walls, but where users nonetheless congregate to share harmful misinformation. Without recording everything users say in VR, how can Meta know whether such a situation is happening? But recording everything users say and do, even in private groups, raises stark privacy questions.

Another new challenge is the complexity added by perspective: An action (or an object) will look different from every viewpoint. Whose angle, Heller asks, should receive the most weight in a moderation dispute?

Meta declined to answer far more basic questions, including whether VR content is subject to fact-checking, whether the company is capable of detecting praise and support of terrorist organizations in Horizon, and whether the company can prevent users in Horizon from consuming white supremacist content or porn. Meta also refused to say whether the machine learning models that do the vast majority of content moderation on Facebook and Instagram also play a role in moderating content on Horizon. Meta declined to tell us whether files uploaded to Horizon  like those uploaded to the companys social platforms  are checked for child exploitation and terrorist material against hashed image banks maintained by organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

If were trying to make a metaverse for all people, wed better be ready for all people.

Metas failure to detect our experiment troubled some experts. Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, noted that people are always looking for new ways to share content while evading detection. Opportunistic users will always find and exploit the platforms weakest points of enforcement, he said, and the company ha[s] a responsibility to figure out beforehand how this new service could be misused.

The risks posed by Metas VR moderation will ultimately depend on how many people use the companys VR products. The Oculus app, meant for use with Metas VR headsets, was downloaded roughly 2 million times in the two weeks after this past Christmas. But unlike Facebook and Instagram, which billions of people worldwide use free of charge, Horizon requires users to spend hundreds of dollars on a headset and strap it to their face  hardly something that can be done in a grocery store checkout line or between tasks at work. According to Emerson Brooking, an expert on the weaponization of social media, the pool of users in Horizon may be small enough, for now, that Meta can effectively moderate it by having human employees monitor everything that users flag. But Heller nonetheless worried about extremists in VR, cautioning: If were trying to make a metaverse for all people, wed better be ready for all people. 

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Michael Flynn and his family, including Valerie, during a Fourth of July barbecue in Newport County, Rhode Island. This screenshot was provided in Valerie Flynn's complaint. CNN

Michael Flynn's sister-in-law filed a $100 million lawsuit against CNN on Wednesday.

Valerie Flynn accused CNN of defaming her "untarnished" name by linking her to QAnon.

She said CNN made it look like she was reciting a QAnon chant when she was pledging an oath to the Constitution.

The sister-in-law of former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn sued CNN for $100 million, accusing the network of falsely linking her to the QAnon conspiracy theory, court documents show.

In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday at the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Valerie Flynn focused on a segment that aired last February and featured the CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan attending a QAnon meeting in Arizona.

During the segment, CNN cut to a separate video of the Flynn family  including Valerie  at a Fourth of July barbecue in Newport County, Rhode Island, the lawsuit said.

The CNN segment showed the family with their hands raised as Michael Flynn is heard saying the popular QAnon chant, "Where we go one, we go all," the lawsuit said.

But according to the suit, the original video showed members of the Flynn family, including Valerie, individually taking an oath to the Constitution, before Flynn said the QAnon phrase.

"Each family member repeated the phrase, as they had repeated each line of the oath to the US Constitution," the lawsuit said. "The entire family then exclaimed, 'God Bless America.'"

The suit claimed that CNN "selectively edited and altered" the segment so it did not include the oath to the Constitution nor "God Bless America"  "fraudulently making it appear and insinuating that Valerie pledged an oath of allegiance to QAnon."

The filing said that Valerie was personally not a QAnon follower and that CNN's video "subjected her to "hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt, and disgrace" in her community.

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"Until she was egregiously defamed by CNN, Valerie enjoyed an untarnished reputation," the lawsuit said.

CNN did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Flynn, a retired three-star general who once led former President Donald Trump's Defence Intelligence Agency, appeared at a QAnon conference in May last year, the Independent reported.

But in November, Flynn told disgraced attorney Lin Wood in a recorded phone call that QAnon was "total nonsense" and said he believed it was a "disinformation campaign" sponsored by the CIA.

QAnon is a right-wing conspiracy theory that alleges Trump is fighting a "deep state" cabal of human traffickers.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The largest church in Minnesota wants to build its 10th metro area campus in Minnetonka, despite the opposition of residents who don't want a megachurch in their neighborhood.

Eagle Brook Church leaders are proposing a 60,000-square-foot church on the site of a vacant retirement home near a wetland off Wayzata Boulevard, west of Interstate 494. The 19-acre development would include a 1,200-seat auditorium and a two-story, 550-space parking structure.

An online petition opposing the church's plans drew nearly 400 signatures in less than 24 hours, following a virtual meeting hosted this week by church leaders and attended by dozens of concerned residents including Kristen Gildemeister.

"It's not about the church," she said. "It's the size and volume of traffic and displacement of wildlife."

Gildemeister and neighbors Greg and Ginni Greffin, who have lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years, worry the proposal is moving too fast for residents who just learned of the project last weekend through the mail.

"People live out here because they like the wildlife, and it's quiet," Ginni Greffin said. "We hope it doesn't go too far with the city. We were shocked to find out about this."

Gildemeister, who has lived in the neighborhood for a decade, said deer and herons frequent the area. If Eagle Brook wants to grow, she said, "More power to them"  but her neighborhood isn't the appropriate location.

The redevelopment proposal and concept plan, about which the church first notified city officials in November, will go before the Minnetonka Planning Commission on Feb. 17.

City Council Member Brad Schaeppi, a real estate broker and attorney who represents the area on the council, said Eagle Brook needs "to first hear what the community thinks about the church's proposal." He said the church hasn't yet made formal application.

The primary access to the Minnetonka location would be off Clare Lane, a residential horseshoe street. According to the church's proposal, it would provide people to direct traffic during peak time periods. The two-story parking garage is needed "to accommodate capacity as determined from historic data."

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"We're worried about the traffic," Ginni Greffin said. "It's not meant for that. It's a small road with a dozen neighbors... This isn't the right location for a huge structure. This is a tiny, tiny street."

When Eagle Brook made a similar proposal in 2020 to establish a campus in Corcoran, residents pushed back with 1,200 signing a petition opposing the project. Corcoran Mayor Tom McKee said the City Council rejected the proposal after "quite a big outpouring of people wanting to voice their concerns."

"The big concerns were the size and scope and location and how it fit in," McKee said.

The roots of the evangelical church are in White Bear Lake, where a small congregation called First Baptist Church began in 1948, according to Eagle Brook's website. The congregation built a second location in Lino Lakes in 2005, followed by another in Spring Lake Park in 2007.

Five more locations since have been added in the metro area  Anoka, Blaine, Ham Lake, Lakeville and Woodbury  and the church expanded to Rochester in 2019. It's adding another location later this year at the former Menard's in Apple Valley.

The church is not only the largest in Minnesota, but one of the largest in the nation. By the end of 2019, it was reporting an average weekend attendance of 22,000 across all locations and online attendance of 13,000.

Eagle Brook delivers a live video service from its Lino Lake campus to its satellite campuses on Saturday evenings and Sundays mornings. The church currently holds mobile Sunday services at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, which Eagle Brook spokeswoman Karianne Langfield said will close once a permanent west metro location is established.

"We're thankful we could hear the concerns of the residents ... so we know how to proceed with due diligence in determining how we can make a site like this work," Langfield said.

"We'll continue to look for a location in the west metro and if this isn't it, we're OK with that," she said. "We will continue looking for a space that is."
Feb. 11STARKVILLE  Mississippi State women's basketball fell short Thursday night against No. 19 Florida, losing by a final score of 73-64.

The game was back and forth throughout the evening with State trailing by two going into the fourth quarter. But a fatigued, shorthanded roster couldn't keep up with Florida late  allowing UF to close out the game on an 8-2 run. '

Here are three takeaways from Mississippi State's loss:

Playing with one post player

Mississippi State, as has been the case throughout the season, was shorthanded Thursday night with just seven players available.

Backup center Raven Farley was out due to "health-related reasons" and was not on the team bench. Without Farley, MSU's Charlotte Kohl was the lone frontcourt player available.

Kohl's role has increased since starter Denae Carter tore her ACL in a win against Texas A&M on Jan. 30. Kohl played 13 minutes in that game following the injury and 20 minutes in State's win a week ago at Auburn.

She started her fourth game of the season against Florida and played 31 minutes. Her previous season-high was 15 in a Jan. 23 loss at Arkansas.

Kohl became a fan favorite Thursday night as the crowd noticed the increased role she was handed. She scored three points to go along with four rebounds.

"So proud of her," interim head coach Doug Novak said. "Not shying away. Not nervous. Not backing away from the challenge."

The minutes Kohl did sit, Mississippi State had to play with five guards. The lineup creating some difficulties for Florida as it gave State five players who could spread the floor.

Defensively, it allowed State to switch freely without any matchup being different than the other.

Anastasia Hayes backs up the talk

Mississippi State guard Anastasia Hayes entered the contest third in the SEC with 18.7 points per game. She was second in the league with 21.9 points per game in SEC games.

However, Hayes was left off the midseason team for 2022 Naismith Women's Player of the Year. Seven SEC players were named ahead of her.

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Heading into Thursday's contest, Novak was asked if he felt Hayes was snubbed and his response was clear.

"I wouldn't keep her off any list," he said. "She has meant so much to us down the stretch... It's not just about her and her points. She's making everybody else better."

Hayes backed up her coach's praise against Florida by scoring another 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

A look at MSU's resume

Mississippi State entered the night as the safest of the last four in, according to Charlie Creme's latest ESPN bracketology.

As one of the more surprising teams in the field, MSU took on a team in a similar boat. Florida is playing under interim head coach Kelly Rae Finley and lost one of its top players in Lavender Briggs midseason.

The Gators, like the Bulldogs, have played through just fine. UF has now won eight of nine games and remains firmly in the AP top 25.

However, Florida entered Thursday just one spot (No. 49) above Mississippi State in the NET rankings. That puts this as a Quadrant 2 loss for State.

Novak said the team doesn't talk about the future because of the constant obstacles it faces in the present. However, guard Myah Taylor expressed the NCAA tournament still remains the goal.

"It's just hope," she said. "We all are still hopeful."

MSU will have a chance to boost its resume when it takes the court Sunday.

State will look to avenge an embarrassing loss earlier this season against Ole Miss  this time inside Humphrey Coliseum.

Ole Miss is No. 26 in the NET rankings  a potential Quadrant 1 win for MSU  and was receiving votes in the latest AP poll.

STEFAN KRAJISNIK is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at stefan.krajisnik@djournal.com.
A Canadian judge has ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end a five-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries.

The order from Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court went into effect at 7 p.m. EST Friday, several hours after demonstrators began moving trucks to open a single lane after officials in the Canadian city of Windsor said they hoped to peacefully resolve the standoff over the country's COVID-19 restrictions.

The news was met with defiance by protesters.

At the bridge, an unidentified person grabbed a microphone and addressed them, asking if they wanted to stay or leave. By a show of applause, it was agreed they would stay.

OK, the man said. Lets stand tall. The protesters responded by singing the Canadian national anthem.

The crowd later grew in size and intensity, with flag-waving and frequent chants of Freedom! More patrol cars moved in around the site, and police handed out leaflets warning that a state of emergency would come into effect at midnight.

Looming is the threat of a similar protest reaching the Super Bowl this weekend in Los Angeles and, later, President Joe Bidens State of the Union address next month in Washington, according to an internal Homeland Security memo issued to local and state law enforcement.

The convoy formed in Ottawa late last month to protest vaccine-related border mandates. Throughout the week, the group has been blocking the way off the bridge and are walking around the area, waving Canadian  and American  flags and interacting with police over barricades.

The Anderson Economic Group in Lansing calculated an initial estimate for lost direct wages in the Michigan auto industry at more than $51 million as a result of the protest beginning Monday.

Also in the news:

 Expectant mothers who contract the coronavirus are at risk of stillborn deliveries because COVID-19 can lead to placental failure, according to a new study that supports the CDC's conclusion that the virus enhances the chances of adverse perinatal outcomes.

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 California would mandate that all businesses require their employees and independent contractors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine under legislation announced Friday by Democratic state lawmakers that was immediately criticized by Republicans as government overreach.

 French President Emmanuel Macron refused to take a Russian COVID-19 test when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over fears the country would take his DNA, Reuters reported.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 77.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 918,100 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 408 million cases and over 5.8 million deaths. More than 213 million Americans  64.3%  are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 What we're reading: USA TODAY asked a dozen public health and infectious disease experts whether it makes sense for people to continue to wear masks and under what conditions. The answer, they say, depends on how much someone wants to avoid infection, the rate of COVID-19 where they live and who else is around them.

Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY's free Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group.

Truckers and supporters block access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking the United States and Canada, on Friday during an ongoing protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in Windsor, Ontario.

Immunocompromised can get boosters sooner, another J&J shot

Immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and then a second shot can now get a third two months later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The agency also changed its guidance on the timing of a fourth dose for people with compromised immune systems, such as after a transplant or during cancer treatment. Immunocompromised adults can now get a fourth shot just three months after their initial vaccinations, rather than five months later.

For the immunocompromised, the first two doses of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine are considered the primary vaccine doses and a fourth dose is a booster. The new CDC guidance also specifies that if someone received two J&J shots and then a Moderna or two Moderna shots after a single J&J, one of their Moderna shots should be the 100-microgram dose, rather than the half-dose generally provided as a booster.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is given at the same dose for all adults and can be used as a second and/or third shot for the immunocompromised who initially received J&J, the CDC said.

FDA authorizes new Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody treatment

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted emergency use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody from pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, a day after the Biden administration purchased 600,000 doses to address diminished COVID-19 treatment options.

The new monoclonal antibody, called bebtelovimab, will be shipped out to states free of charge, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. We are going to try to be there to meet the demand, he said.

The government's move comes after two leading monoclonal antibody treatments turned out to be ineffective against the omicron variant, which now accounts for nearly all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Data indicate that the Lilly drug works against omicron, including the new BA.2 mutation.

Pfizer-BioNTech hit pause on COVID vaccine for children under 5

Pfizer and BioNTech pushed the pause button Friday on the process of authorizing its COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest children.

The companies said in a press release that they want to wait until data becomes available on a third vaccine dose for children under 5, likely in early April.

They had originally said such data would become available in late March or early April and they would ask for vaccine authorization then. But under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration, the companies submitted their data and requested authorization for the first two doses, saying they could add a third in the future.

An FDA advisory committee was planned for Tuesday to consider the request, but has been canceled. No new date has been set.

Early results from the trial suggested that the vaccine was effective in the youngest children, but not in those ages 2 to 4, and the companies had said late last year that they expected a third dose of the 3-microgram vaccine would be needed to provide sufficient effectiveness to justify FDA authorization.

Boosters' effectiveness wanes after 4 months but stays strong, study says

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that the effectives of booster shots wanes after four months but protection against hospitalization and severe disease still remains strong.

The study, released Friday, includes data from the latest omicron surge of the virus and provides an early but limited look at booster shots' performance over time.

Boosters provided better protection against visits to the ER and hospitalization than only two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the study found. But the effectiveness against hospitalization in people who had received their booster two months earlier was 91% compared to 78% for those who had received it four months earlier. Effectiveness against an outpatient visit was 87% at two months and 66% at four months, the study found.

The study's population of people who had been boosted for at least four months was fewer than 200 patients, and it's possible those people had underlying conditions that made them more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Contributing: Steve Kiggins and Josh Meyer, USA TODAY; Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Windsor mayor seeks injunction to clear COVID truck protest at border
Nick Pfosi/Reuters

The mother of a 5-year-old and the mothers boyfriend were arrested Thursday after the child died from what authorities deemed injuries sustained during prolonged and extreme physical abuse. Jose Angel Ruiz, 25, and Katrina Mendoza, 22, were each charged with one count of felony injury to a child.

Mendoza brought her unresponsive daughter to Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio on Feb. 7. Police called to the scene noted extensive and horrific evidence of torture on the victims body in an affidavit, writing that the childs injuries likely arose from continuous physical abuse over a period of time, according to local station Fox 29. The exact cause of death has not been released.

Mendoza described a litany of abuse allegedly perpetrated by Ruiz. Mendoza said she had called her boyfriend for help disciplining the 5-year-old. She told police that the punishment began to escalate into abuse roughly three weeks before her daughters death. Mendoza, the victim, and Mendozas 6-year-old daughter had moved in with her boyfriend around the same time.

She said she saw Ruiz shovel dog feces into the victims mouth as he yelled at the child. He did the same thing with a sock soaked in urine, she said. He yanked the sock from the childs mouth so hard that he pulled out two of her teeth, Mendoza added. Mendoza also said that Ruiz hit the child, sometimes with a belt and sometimes with hands that bore several rings, which inflicted cuts. The 6-year-old child corroborated Mendozas story, according to the affidavit.

The child was missing large patches of hair from her head and had suffered severe bruising and swelling all over her body, along with cuts and scratches. Her hands, in particular, were bruised and swollen from defensive wounds, police said. Several of her toenails were gone. The affidavit reads, The victims legs were covered with bruises, some of which appeared to be patterned, which is what is commonly seen when belts or other objects are used to inflict injury.

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For his part, Ruiz told police that he only slapped her on the ass and put the child in a corner. He claimed the victims mother had carried out the greater portion of the abuse and that her 6-year-old sister had pulled out the hair.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Photograph: Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images

A union organizing drive among workers at corporate run Starbucks stores, the largest coffeehouse chain in the world, has surged in recent weeks throughout the US, organizers and workers say.

The development comes in the wake of union election victories at two of three stores in the Buffalo, New York, area that held union votes with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in December.

Related: Starbucks fires workers involved in union push as US movement gains momentum

It also comes amid allegations that seven Starbucks workers in Memphis were fired in retaliation for union organizing.

More than 70 stores in at least 20 US states have now filed for union elections since those wins, representing more than 1,300 workers at Starbucks, which previously had no union representation among its corporate-run locations in the US.

We were inspired by the partners in Buffalo that managed to do something many of us have dreamed of for a long time. Its something we didnt think was possible, but they really pushed through and showed the rest of us across the nation that we could use our voices and actually unionize, said Hannah McCown, a Starbucks barista in Overland, Kansas, whose store has recently filed to hold a union election.

McCown said their district manager had held aggressive conversations with workers since the organizing campaign went public and that the store was hiring new employees rather than fix the scheduling issues and short staffing that workers have been experiencing.

We are just looking to have our voices heard at a company that we really put everything into, added McCown. We are the backbone of this company and while we do believe this is a great company to work for, we do believe things could be done better.

Starbucks employees alter a campaign sign during a press conference in Buffalo, New York, in December. Photograph: Joshua Bessex/AP

Maddie Levans, a barista for over four years at one of the first Starbucks stores in Philadelphia to file for a union election, explained the union victories in Buffalo inspired her and her co-workers to start the unionizing campaign with Starbucks Workers United. She said her co-workers had already been discussing issues they were having with Covid regulations, accountability for management that needed attention and the disconnect between baristas and corporate.

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Its so reassuring to see so many stores across the country do this and to be part of that wave as one of the first two stores in Philadelphia, let alone Pennsylvania, was phenomenal, said Levans. Its time for Starbucks to actually treat us like partners. They call us partners, but when were concerned about different business practices and different problems with how Starbucks is run, we get shut down.

Workers at Starbucks in Buffalo and around the US have criticized Starbucks for aggressively opposing the unionization efforts at their stores. Alleged actions include reports of union avoidance meetings with workers, texts encouraging workers to vote no to the union, an influx of corporate management at stores holding union elections, allegations of unfair labor practice charges made by workers with the National Labor Relations Board and the Memphis firings.

Starbucks has retained at least 30 different attorneys with the union avoidance firm Littler Mendelson to represent the company through NLRB proceedings.

This is a national movement that partners across the US are joining and getting involved in. Its organic in the way its grown and it will continue its trajectory to be massive in the coming weeks, said Richard A Minter, director of organizing and vice-president of Workers United.

Minter criticized Starbucks response to the union organizing efforts, as the company has continued to encourage workers to vote against unionizing.

Its something that Starbucks needs to reconsider and immediately stop the anti-union behavior, stop this anti-union rhetoric, allow these partners to be true partners and allow their voices to be heard, Minter said, rather than tell them we hear you, yet they dont see them or hear them. So a reckoning is coming.

Its time for Starbucks to actually treat us like partners Maddie Levans

Cathy Creighton, director of Cornell University Institute Industrial Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab, explained vast wealth and racial inequality worsened by the pandemic has driven young workers at Starbucks to unionize. Starbucks reported $4.2bn in net earnings in 2021 and the CEO, Kevin Johnson, received more than $20m in compensation in 2021, up 39% from 2020 and 6% from 2019.

Starbucks employees are front-facing the public and took their life in their hands by going to work and did not see the same largesse come their way, said Creighton.

She said that labor law in the US was outdated and strongly favored employers, as only 6.1% of the private US workforce is unionized, yet a strong majority of the population supports unions.

That is not happenstance. Its an intentional national labor policy which allows employers to crush worker movements and not agree to first contracts with employees, said Creighton. Despite the deck being stacked against them, workers are fed up and are taking matters into their own hands by seeking a voice in their workplace and a seat at the table.

A spokesperson for Starbucks denied all allegations of union busting and retaliation, citing labor shortages around the US have created short staffing at stores in some markets, with new hiring needed at some stores. The spokesperson also argued meetings with partners are to educate workers on the union election process and are within the companys legal rights.

In regards to firings of workers in Memphis, Starbucks disputed allegations of retaliation and characterized the firings as responses to safety and security violations, though workers have argued those violations were selectively enforced and refer to a TV news interview they did in the store after hours about the union drive.

The spokesperson deferred comment to two letters written in December 2021 by Johnson before the union election in Buffalo and the executive vice-president of North America, Rossann Williams, after the election.

From the beginning, weve been clear in our belief that we do not want a union between us as partners, and that conviction has not changed. However, we have also said that we respect the legal process, wrote Williams.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch government has advised Dutch citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible due to the security situation, the Dutch radio broadcaster BNR said on Friday, citing the Dutch ambassador in Ukraine.

The Netherlands will move its diplomatic post from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, BNR said.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
RAMALLAH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 165 Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank, said medics and eyewitnesses.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said the fierce clashes broke out near the villages of Beita, Beit Dajan, Burqin, and Huwara south and east of Nablus city, respectively, and near the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qaqilya city.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said in a statement that at least 125 demonstrators were injured, including two who have been shot by live ammunition and 25 by rubber bullets fired by Israeli soldiers.

The others suffered from inhaling the teargas, the medics added.

Murad Ishteiwi, the Palestinian coordinator of the popular resistance in Qalqilya, told Xinhua that a ten-year-old boy was among the injured.

The eyewitnesses said dozens of anti-settlement demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the outskirts of the villages and burned tires.

Israeli authorities have yet to give any comment on the incidents.

Beita and Beit Dajan have seen at least weekly protests against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the two villages and clashes with the Israeli soldiers.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians want to establish their independent Palestinian state on these territories.

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in 2014 due to deep disputes. 
SOUTH BRUNSWICK  A North Brunswick man working for an adult day care center has been arrested in connection with a series of crashes on Route 130 Thursday that left a township police officer and a cyclist injured.

The officer and the cyclist have been released from the hospital, police said.

We were very lucky today. When you see the police vehicle and hear from witnesses who saw the bicyclist run over, you realize it is a miracle, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said in a statement.

Ankur Khajuriwala, 41, was charged with endangering an injured victim, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and several other vehicle offenses.

A 40-year-old East Brunswick man was riding a bicycle on Route 522, crossing over Route 130 to Fresh Ponds Road, about 1:29 p.m. Thursday when a 2017 Ford passenger van driven by Khajuriwala made a left turn from Route 522 onto Route 130 northbound and ran over the cyclist, according to police. The van never stopped, and headed northbound on Route 130, police said.

The South Brunswick police vehicle damaged in the Route 130 crash on Thursday.

South Brunswick patrolman Joseph Marrero was across the highway and saw the crash. Marrero headed on Route 130 northbound attempting to locate the van when his vehicle left the roadway and hit a berm, sending the vehicle airborne, police said. The vehicle then struck a sign and a utility pole, before coming to rest in a parking lot, police said.

Marrero and the cyclist were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and released Thursday night, police said.

The cyclist provided officers with a partial license plate of the van, and police dispatchers were able to determine it belonged to Rainbow Home Adult Day Care in the Somerset section of Franklin, police said.

The bicyclist had amazing composure even after being struck to remember the majority of the license plate number. I am thankful that everyone was released from the hospital, but aggravated at the conduct of the driver who started everything, Hayducka said.

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Police allege Khajuriwala knew he struck something and continued to drive northbound before he realized he was headed in the wrong direction, and traveled southbound on Route 130 passing both the crash involving the officer and the cyclist he struck.

The Rainbow Home Adult Day Care was cited for having an unregistered vehicle and improperly licensed driver, police said.

Anyone with information about the crashes is asked to contact South Brunswick Police Sgt. William Merkler at 732-329-4646.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: North Brunswick NJ man charged in Route 130 crashes
An Akron-area man's alleged attempt to disrupt police services in Canada's capital city on Monday may result in a felony charge of making a false alarm after he mistakenly called Putnam County 911 dispatch in Ottawa, Ohio.

The phone calls coincide with mass demonstrations in Canada protesting COVID-19 measures.

"He called in and reported that he was going to set off a bomb in Ottawa," said Putnam County Sheriff's Capt. Brad Brubaker.

Brubaker said the dispatcher kept the man on the phone for 10 minutes or more. Dispatchers were confused when the caller said he was at a KFC restaurant, when there is none in the village of 4,500 residents about 50 miles southwest of Toledo.

State of emergency in Canada: Ottawa declares state of emergency over trucker convoy COVID-19 protests

A police officer stands in front of trucks blocking downtown streets as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.

"We had him on the phone and with the locations that he was giving us, we started Googling them and it was in Canada, so we contacted them and let them know what we had going on," Brubaker said.

Following the initial bomb threat, the man called the recorded dispatch line again to report he had been shot.

"He said I'm at this street and that street, so the dispatcher took his information, like he would any other person ... and after he gained all the information that he needed, he said, 'I will contact Ottawa, Canada for you because you're calling Ottawa, Ohio.'

"He said 'Wait; you're in Ohio? ... Oh, I'm not shot, I'm just trying to waste their resources," Brubaker said.

"The dispatcher's like, 'Well, you called us a little bit ago with a bomb threat,'" Brubaker said.

"He admitted it was all false ... He said he was mad about their mask mandates and vaccination requirements," Brubaker added.

Trucks parked on Wellington street as demonstrators continue to protest the vaccine mandates implemented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on February 9, 2022 in Ottawa, Canada.

More protests in Detroit area: Trucker protest at US-Canada bridge over COVID vaccine mandates enters third day

He said police were able to trace the calls to the Akron area, and eventually identified the caller through cell phone records.

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"He must not watch cop shows," Brubaker said. "The prosecutor is reviewing it to see for what he wants to charge him with."

The Putnam County Prosecutor's Office said Friday it is still investigating the case.

Brubaker said the most serious charge could be a third-degree felony count of making a false alarm, as bombs are considered weapons of mass destruction. A misdemeanor charge of making a false report could stem from the second call.

North of the border, the Ottawa Police Services said Thursday it has issued nearly 1,800 tickets related to the protests. The city has also declared the protests an "occupation," barricaded roads, made arrests and seized and towed vehicles and property.

The police services office also said it had "worked with Ohio police authorities on menacing charges and an arrest in relation to swatting activity."

The services office did not immediately return phone calls seeking further comment.

Eric Marotta can be reached at 330-541-9433, or emarotta@recordpub.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-area man calls Ottawa, Ohio, to make bomb threat in Canada
A key school choice bill that would pay for students to attend private schools or homeschool could be dead in its tracks, despite open support from the governor.

House Speaker Charles McCall said on Thursday that Senate Bill 1647  called the Oklahoma Empowerment Act  won't get a hearing in his chamber, potentially killing the bill before its arrival.

McCall, R-Atoka, said the bill isn't a priority among House members.

"I don't plan to hear that bill this year," McCall told reporters Thursday.

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, the author of the bill, said he is "more determined than ever to charge that hill."

"Nothing will stop me from persisting until all parents regardless of their race, zip code, or income, are able to find the right fit for their child," Treat said in a statement after McCall voiced opposition to SB 1647.

Rural lawmakers are particularly concerned with the legislation, McCall said.

More: Epic Charter Schools considering massive merger

The bill would allow any student to use state funds to cover private-school or homeschool costs. However, far fewer private schools exist in rural Oklahoma, which McCall said is a "geographical issue."

While speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Treat, R-Oklahoma City, called it a "false narrative" to say no school choice options exist in rural areas. He said the legislation could prompt new private schools to open.

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat speaks at a news conference to announce a Fiscal Year 2021 budget agreement at the Oklahoma state Capitol on May 4, 2020. Treat said Thursday he is "more determined than ever" to pursue school choice legislation following opposition from House Speaker Charles McCall, left, to private-school voucher expansion.

McCall cast doubt on private-school vouchers being a help to rural students.

"The obvious question for a person that lives in Atoka, Oklahoma, population 3,000 people, 12,000 in the county, (is) what does a kid with a voucher do?" McCall said. "What do they do with that? The population is so sparse that are there going to be options that really pop up? So, yeah, that definitely would be the rural concern for the members I serve with, including myself."

Oklahoma's school choice bill called 'killer' of rural schools

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The bill is among Treat's principal pieces of legislation this year. Gov. Kevin Stitt touted it in his State of the State speech on Monday while pledging to support any legislation that would expand school options for families.

The bill would allow parents to set aside state funds in an account and spend the money on costs related with their children's education, as long as the students don't attend public schools.

Five states have enacted laws to create education savings accounts. The bill is similar to model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative think tank.

However, some states, including Florida and Tennessee, limited their programs to apply only to students with disabilities. Oklahoma already has a state-funded initiative, known as the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, that pays private-school tuition for students with disabilities.

More: Oklahoma City area school board races send 8 candidates to runoffs, 1 wins outright

A spokesperson for the governor responded to McCall's comments by saying Stitt and 86% of Oklahoma parents support education savings accounts, referencing a poll from a school choice organization.

Concern has grown over the bill's potential impact on public-school funding.

State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister called it a "killer" for rural schools that draw most of their budget from state funding.

Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister speaks June 24, 2021, during the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting.

The current version of the legislation would remove dollars from the education funding formula, the principal source of state funds for public schools.

"Ultimately, what you will see is fewer dollars for those in Oklahoma public schools, those neighborhood schools within our communities that are going to serve every child that walks in the door," said Hofmeister, who is running for governor as a Democrat.

Concerns about transparency and oversight surround Oklahoma private school voucher bill

Treat pledged the bill won't decimate public school funding, despite it allowing families to take public dollars elsewhere. He did not provide details on how the state would hold its education funding steady.

More: Oklahoma school board member slams gender identities, implies parents should kill themselves

A total of $9,399 is dedicated per student to fund Oklahoma public schools, but state appropriations contribute between $3,500 and $5,200 per student, depending on the child's grade level, said Carolyn Thompson, chief of government affairs for the state Education Department.

Now is the wrong time to divert funds away from public schools, said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

"That's redirecting money that we finally started to make up ground (on) and get our teachers to a more competitive pay structure, redirecting money away from Oklahoma students to fund private school students or homeschool students where there's no accountability, no transparency," Hime said.

Members of the Oklahoma House applaud House Speaker Charles McCall at the state Capitol.

Private schools that receive taxpayer funds wouldn't have to report how they use the money, under the current version of the bill.

They also wouldn't have to submit test results for the state to track academic progress. Any student, even those already homeschooling or in private schools, could tap into the funds.

Treat said the Senate doesn't have universal agreement on the bill but there is "a lot of support" among Republican senators.

"When you're disrupting the status quo and you're trying to make real reform, you're never going to have (a) unanimous decision on something like that," Treat said.

Senate Democrats oppose sending taxpayer funds to private schools, said Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.

The issue is a non-starter for House Democrats, as well, said Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman.

"In the Democratic caucus, we are not willing to negotiate on any sort of public dollars going to private schools," Virgin said.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma school choice bill halted by House Speaker Charles McCall
Sarah Palin arrives at US District Court in Manhattan on 11 February. (AP)

An attorney for Sarah Palin has dismissed arguments and explanations from The New York Times and its legal team in a high-profile defamation case as indicative of an arrogance and a sense of power within the newspaper.

In closing arguments at the trial in US District Court in Manhattan, attorney Ken Turkel argued that the case before the jury remained the former Alaska governors only remedy following a 2017 editorial at the centre of the trial.

The editorial, corrected within 12 hours after it was published, falsely linked Ms Palins political action committees map  featuring crosshairs over Democratic-leaning congressional districts  to a 2011 shooting in Arizona that killed six people and injured then US Rep Gabby Giffords.

Jurors must determine whether the newspaper knowingly published false information against her.

This case is about Governor Palin drawing a line in her life as to when enough is enough, Mr Turkel said. Shes got thick skin. This one crossed the line.

Throughout the trial, Ms Palins legal team focused largely around then-editorial page editor James Bennet, who has admitted to mistakenly including false claims into the editorial written by another staffer.

On Thursday, Judge Jed Rakoff said that he will not not allow punitive damages against the newspaper, saying that no reasonable juror would conclude that Mr Bennet sought to injure Ms Palin, and that the evidence frankly that Mr Bennet harboured ill will toward Ms Palin is quite modest indeed.

Ms Palins attorney must prove to the jury that his actions must rise above a lapse in judgment.

Mr Turkel also pointed to a larger atmosphere within the news media of indifference and arrogance, as well as animus towards Ms Palin, in the years leading up to and surrounding the editorial that contributed to the errors.

All they had to do  was care a little bit, he said. All they had to do was dislike her a little less, and were not sitting here today.

This is a developing story. More follows...
President Joe Biden





One-fifth of Americans believe that President Biden will be a successful president in the long run, according to new poll results released on Thursday.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center, found that 20 percent of participants believe that Biden will be a successful president in the long run, compared to 43 percent who believe he will be an unsuccessful president and 37 percent of Americans who said it was too early to tell.

The poll, which was conducted between Jan. 10 and Jan. 17, indicated a drop in how Americans viewed the president last year around this time.

At this time last year, 29 percent of people thought Biden would be a successful president in the long run, compared to 26 percent who said he would be unsuccessful. The poll noted at the time that 44 percent felt it was too early to tell.

The poll found that the president's approval rating was currently at 41 percent, a slight drop from his approval rating (44 percent) the last time Pew conducted its survey, which was in mid-September, 2021.

Pew also noted that Biden's approval rating fell among two groups that have been loyal to the Democratic Party - religiously unaffiliated groups and Black Protestants. Among religiously unaffiliated Americans, 47 percent approved of Biden's job performance compared to 71 percent last April.

Separately, Pew noted that while 92 percent of Black Protestants approved of his job in March 2021, that support slipped to 65 percent in their latest poll.

The polling comes as Biden juggles several domestic and international challenges, including tackling the coronavirus pandemic, tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Democratic gridlock in passing key priorities and the lingering aftermath following the chaotic evacuation of U.S. forces in Afghanistan last August.

The Pew poll was conducted with a survey sample of 5,128 people. The margin of error was two percentage points.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the government will take urgent action against the truckers protesting COVID-19 protocols along the U.S.-Canadian border. The weeks-long demonstrations have blocked a busy bridge between the two countries, sparking concern from international leaders about economic impacts and the potential of similar protests emerging elsewhere.

"Let me be as clear as I can: There will be consequences for these actions," Ford said Friday at a press briefing. "And they will be severe."

Ford declared a state of emergency in Ontario due to the occupation, which he called a "siege of the city." He said protestors could be subject to noncompliance fines of up to $100,000, a year in prison and loss of personal and commercial drivers licenses.

"We have every intention to bring new legislation forward that will make these measures permanent in law," he said.

Funds for the demonstrations, staged by the so-called "Freedom Truck Convoy," are frozen by the government, Ford said, and additional resources have been provided to Ottawa police.

Also Friday, a Canadian judge ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge, which spans the U.S.-Canadian border and carries 25% of all trade between the two countries, to end their 5-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods, the Associated Press reports.

The judge said the order would go into effect at 7 p.m. local time, and local police immediately warned that anyone blocking the streets could be subject to arrest and their vehicles may be seized. The news was met with defiance by protesters, according to the AP.

This is a pivotal moment for our province.The right to protest does not outweigh the right to get food, fuel and goods across our border.Thats why we are ensuring our police have the tools and powers to resolve this situation and restore order. pic.twitter.com/nzmAo2iIQb

 Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 11, 2022

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For nearly two weeks, demonstrators in Ottawa have parked hundreds of trucks near parts of the Canadian capital. The truckers said that they will not leave until all vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions in Canada are lifted.

The demonstrations also prompted Ford Motor Company and General Motors to shut down operations at certain facilities near the border. The car company warned that the "interruption" could "have widespread impact on all automakers in the U.S. and Canada."

"This is no longer a protest," Ontario's premier said. "With a protest, you peacefully make your point and go home."

Ford said the demonstrators have held the city "hostage" and pleaded with them to leave.

"Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the right of hundreds of thousands of workers to earn their living," he said. "It does not outweigh our right to get food across our borders. Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the rights of a million people in Ottawa to live peacefully, free of harassment and chaos in their own homes."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also weighed in on Twitter Friday, writing "The border cannot, and will not, remain closed. Every option is on the table. So, if you're participating in these illegal blockades that are taking our neighbourhoods and our economy hostage, it's time to go home - especially if you have your kids with you."

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to the "siege" and "illegal occupation" of Ottawa, and in Windsor.

I call it a siege because that's what it is, its an illegal occupation.Ontario Premier Doug Ford

The Ontario premier will convene cabinet to enact orders that will make it "crystal clear" that is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure. This includes protecting international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways, in addition to the movement of ambulances, medical services, public transit, and movement on municipal and provincial roadways and pedestrian walkways.

Fines for noncompliance will be a maximum financial penalty of $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment. The province will also provide additional authority to consider taking personal and commercial licenses away from those who do not comply.

"My message to those still in Ottawa, to those at our border crossings, please go home," Ford said. "To those of you who brought your children, please take them home."

Kids as human shields in Windsor. Right now... pic.twitter.com/bRUdXK9qzK  Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) February 10, 2022

"I urge you, its time to leave, and its time to do so peacefully."

The premier stressed that people blocking the Ambassador Bridge need to leave "immediately" for the sake of workers and families who "depend on a paycheque, going into these factories, going into these auto plants, making sure food gets distributed up here."

Some people took to social media to respond to Ford's latest statement on the occupations in Ottawa and Windsor.

The biggie! Taking away licenses of truckers Doug Ford pic.twitter.com/Di9E4eNrY7  Michael B Murphy QC (@monctonSJlawyer) February 11, 2022

If this action is illegal and punishable, why did Doug Ford wait for 5 days to declare the State of Emergency? Knowing the effect blocking the borders would have, why didnt he nip it in the bud? #onpoli #VoteFordOut  Leslie Maggie (@LeslieMaggie) February 11, 2022

God help me but Doug Ford is talking sense. And doing so impressively. Wish it had been said days ago by all levels of government. Rule of law over mob rule. #onpoli  Scott Reid (@_scottreid) February 11, 2022

Canadians have also been taking to social media, including Kim's Convenience star Jean Yoon, to call on the demonstrators to "go home" and supporting individuals, including truckers, who have done their part to get vaccinated.

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I am Canadian and I am triple vaxxed. For my family, my neighbours, my co-workers, our healthcare workers, for my country. I will not be bullied. #IAMCANADIAN #IamVaxxed #convoygohome pic.twitter.com/cAq62cAM7n  Jean Yoon (   or ) (@jean_yoon) February 11, 2022

Following @jean_yoon 



We are Canadian and Both triple vaxxed. Kids are double vaxxed! For our family, our neighbours, our co-workers, our healthcare workers  Sab, for our country. Theres four of us and we will not be bullied. #IAMCANADIAN #IamVaxxed #convoygohome pic.twitter.com/5fFWOgI3qg  Lanrick Bennett Jr. (@LanrickBennett) February 11, 2022

#IAMCANADIAN #Clownvoy #GoHomeTruckers #FluTruxKlanGoHome I am Canadian. I am triple vaxxed, wear a mask and care about my fellow Canadians, especially those vulnerable around me. pic.twitter.com/ED5dfQ43ZQ  s (@NBeesax) February 11, 2022

I am Canadian. I am a Raging Grannie. I am 3x vaxxed for my family, my friends, my co-workers, our health care workers, for MY country. I will not be bullied. #IAMCANADIAN #IamVaxxed #ConvoyGoHome https://t.co/BK4v7b2iyX pic.twitter.com/H1JDlNCLjD  raging_grannie (@raging_grannie) February 11, 2022

For the rest of the world watching protests in Canada. Please know that 90% of Canadians think these protesters are complete morons. They do not speak for the majority of this country.  Michele (@MicheleinNZ) February 10, 2022
Seven years ago, a group of U.S. government officials and I were sitting in the White House Situation Room, debating how health emergencies end.

For months, we had worked in West Africa and the West Wing, as Ebola took thousands of lives abroad and spurred deep fears and nasty politics at home.

All along, our team  led by President Barack Obama alongside local partners, international experts and 3,000 American troops on the ground  was driven by science and data: who was infected and how many were dying.

By January 2015, the data had shifted. While Ebola still persisted, case and mortality counts had dropped. The question before us was whether it was a lull or something more permanent. Many scientists, including well-respected government epidemiologists, voiced caution and warned that viruses change often. Though I and many others shared that concern, we believed Africans could ward off another surge with reasonable sanitary practices and other precautions that had become commonplace. By mid-February, Obama announced a withdrawal of U.S. forces and a transition to an ongoing response.

Its time for a similar shift on Covid-19.

With Omicrons astonishing surge and so many still dying tragically each day, Americans may feel like such a transition is a long way off. But with a less lethal and now receding variant and a better vaccinated and protected population, its clear the pandemics emergency stage is ending in the United States. As with Ebola, we must use the coming lull to transition from an emergency response to the management of an ongoing, persistent public health challenge.

That will require breaking the crisis politics and governing that have become ingrained habits over the last two years. At a polarized time, that move may cause worry, but it is the only way to manage an era with regular health crises. It also offers a path toward some semblance of the return to normalcy that so many crave, while giving us the opportunity to prepare for and prevent the next emergency.

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This transition will begin not with a bang but with a whimper. In the coming weeks, Omicron will likely present far fewer deaths due to a lower mortality rate and far fewer infections because the variant has vastly increased the number of unvaccinated people now protected from Covid-19. Soon enough, people will stop seeing maps turn crimson with cases, their phones exposure alerts will grow quieter, and children and their parents will face fewer school interruptions. This lull will be bolstered by President Joe Bidens recent decisions and other initiatives, which will ensure Americans have access to all the vaccines, masks, tests and treatments they need.

Yet Americas ability to pivot away from an emergency response is constrained by politics, which proved a bigger driver of how we tackled Covid-19 than the virus itself in the pandemics first two years. In many red communities, people sought to live their lives, minimizing social and economic costs while accepting higher case and death counts. Although this approach, endorsed by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis and others, was irresponsible during earlier, deadlier variants, it has proven a more reasonable fit with the less lethal Omicron. Meanwhile, in many blue areas, low risk tolerance saved lives earlier. But those who pushed for reflexive closures  such as the leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union  appeared to over-estimate Omicrons health risks and under-emphasize the social and economic costs of more drastic measures.

In recent days, its become clear that many of our elected officials are ready to change course. A number of governors around the country, including in New York and New Jersey, are seizing on the changing Covid-19 data to drop mask mandates. Although these decisions reflect an admirable inclination to respond based on evolving risks, officials in red and blue states alike should decide mask policies as part of comprehensive strategies that seek to make this lull permanent and prevent another emergency.

Such an ongoing strategy must start with the science. The goal must be to make and keep Covid-19 endemic, akin to the flu, with no dramatic swings in severity. Our worry must shift from the number of cases to the potential for fatalities, as measured by any new variants predicted mortality compared to a populations existing immunity. But that strategy should also consider the social, economic and educational needs of Americans. This is doable. After all, political leaders make complicated decisions every day related to similarly multidimensional threats like violent storms, salmonella outbreaks, and more.

There are three main pieces to consider.

First, help people protect themselves. Every American, save the immunocompromised, disabled and young children, can now make choices that all but eradicate the possibility of serious illness and death. We must continue providing people  especially the most vulnerable  with the necessary tests, vaccines, masks and treatments. Providing every tool needed for Covid-19 will empower people to make their own risk calculations.

Relatedly, governments should also use regulations and investments to improve physical infrastructure. Personal protection and masks should only be required where sufficient improvements are impossible  for example, on subways, buses, airport terminals, arenas and other places where ventilation cannot be improved, and people cannot distance from one another. With better ventilation and spacing and other measures, masking in schools does not have to be, and should not be, an ongoing practice.

Second, prevent the next variant from going global. Yes, another variant is likely to break out  a rho, pi, and so on are all but certain. But tools and initiatives can make these outbreaks less likely and less deadly. By doing far more to provide vaccines, treatments and tests to the world, the United States could limit the likelihood of new mutations. And by helping improve global surveillance and warning systems to find new outbreaks, we stand a better chance of containing them before they cross borders.

Third, prepare for the next emergency. Federal, state and local government officials should also support genomic surveillance at home, including monitoring of wastewater and air, and develop ways to signal acute severity, like storm warnings, of a new Covid-19 variant. If an emergency develops, we must be ready to respond with overwhelming force to significant changes in predicted mortality  surging financial, logistical and other resources to the hospitals, schools and infrastructure in vulnerable communities and hotspots.

In a pandemic, a lull is a terrible thing to waste. Seven years ago, we knew there were risks to moving away from the emergency response on Ebola, just as there are risks today. That we have had this debate twice in less than a decade is emblematic of the new era we live in. Covid-19 will still take some unexpected turns. It and other health threats will be a part of life for years to come. We can only survive them, and thrive despite them, by avoiding partisan bickering, seeing the risks for what they are, and developing sustainable ways to manage them.
People for the American Way President Ben Jealous (third from left) and Black Voters Matter Executive Director Cliff Albright (fifth from left) join a voting rights protest Nov. 17 in front of the White House. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

America is trying to make Black people quit.

If you have to ask what aspect of America is doing this, its the racist part  the kind that shouts and the kind that whispers. And if you have to ask quit what, thats a good question. Because one could argue America has been trying to get Black people to quit all sorts of things  from learning their history to existing. But for todays latest in America is trying to make Black people quit, were talking about voting.

On Monday, the Supreme Court restored the highly contested and racist redrawing of an Alabama map that would serve Republicans looking to regain control of Congress in the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The high courts decision halts a lower court finding that the new map would likely discriminate against Black voters.

A panel of three federal judges on Jan. 24 ruled that the map unlawfully deprived Black voters of an additional House district in which they could be a majority or close to it, likely violating the Voting Rights Act, a landmark 1965 federal law that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, Reuters reported.

This is gerrymandering at its finest. About every 10 years, whichever party is in power often gets to redraw district lines to help ensure victory or hurt those running against them. Its completely legal and has been since 1842. Its basically a legitimate way for politicians to move the goalposts whenever they see fit, unless, of course, its racist. The Supreme Court found in 1995 that racial gerrymandering is against the law. Still, the law didnt consider that the Supreme Court would have a problem determining whether or not the newly drawn map is, in fact, racist. And that is the beauty and the subtlety of racism: Even when its obvious, it can still be hard to prove.

So lets say, hypothetically, you are a Republican in a state like Alabama. You know that Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery have the highest populations of Black people. You can redraw the map so that all four cities are in the same district and therefore cancel out the Black vote. You know that you will lose this new powerhouse Black district, but you can gain everywhere else. There is even a term for it  its called packing.

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Because America doesnt want Black people to vote. And it never has. In 1870, the 15th Amendment gave voting rights to all men. This included Black men, but they couldnt actually vote because of all kinds of bureaucratic red tape, like poll taxes and literacy tests. And for those who could scrape together enough money to pay a poll tax and learn to read under the unforgiving flicker of candlelight, there were armed white men at the polling stations to scare those with the courage to try to vote. Today, America uses limits on who can vote by mail and increased criminal penalties for those who misunderstand election laws. For the past 20 years, America has worked tirelessly to keep people of color from the voting booth. According to the Brennan Center at New York University, this country has used all kinds of evil tactics, including imposing strict voter ID laws, cutting voting times, restricting registration, and purging voter rolls.

In 2016, pummeled by voter suppression in more than 30 states, the black voter turnout plummeted by seven percentage points, Carol Anderson, author of One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy, told The Guardian. For the GOP, that was an effective kill rate. For America, it was a lethal assault on democracy.

And states continue to adjust the voting laws every year based on Black voter turnout. In 2020  during the pandemic, I might add  Black voters showed up in record numbers. Because there were several questions about voting integrity (blame Donald Trump and his Custers Last Stand of election lies), many Black people didnt believe in the security of mail-in voting and wanted to cast their vote in person. Voting rights groups organized transportation to get voters to the polls, and someone  guess who  didnt like that. Michigan lawmakers made the practice of giving rides to voters to the polls illegal for anyone who can walk.

America likes to pride itself as a democracy; it isnt. For Black people, its an authoritarian state that continues to suppress the Black vote and unjustly punish those who dont understand all of the confusing laws before them.

America has the lowest voter turnout rate among any of the developed countries, and thats not by accident. America wants it this way. Lower turnout almost always affects Democrats. So no matter how ridiculous the laws are in your state, learn them. Find out if your state offers automatic voter registration (19 states plus the District of Columbia do) and do that. Find out exactly what is needed to vote in person so you dont have to go home and return later to vote. Have a plan on voting day so that you know when and where you can vote. Arrive early and bring your own water. If you are Black and have been convicted of a felony and are working to get your voting rights back, make sure everything is in place before you register because America is unkind to Black people who make mistakes.

Take Pamela Moses, a Black Memphis activist who was convicted in November 2021 for registering to vote as a person whod had a felony conviction. The whole thing was a misunderstanding. A judge initially told Moses that she wouldnt be able to vote because she was still on probation. Believing that the judge was wrong, Moses contacted her parole officer and explained her position. The officer agreed with her and even signed documentation stating that Moses was no longer on probation. Moses believed that this allowed her the right to vote, and considering that the court never notified voting officials to remove Moses name from their list of registered voters, she believed she was fine. But, get this, Moses didnt get to actually vote; she merely registered to vote.

I did not falsify anything. All I did was try to get my rights to vote back the way the people at the election commission told me and the way the clerk did, she said during her Jan. 26 sentencing, WREG-TV Memphis reported.

The judge didnt believe her. To the judge, Moses was trying to game the system, and for that he sentenced her to six years in prison.

Six years in prison for merely attempting to vote. Think about that number six  six years, the same amount of time someone could get for involuntary manslaughter in most states  and add your age to it, and then try to tell anyone how this makes sense. Tell them how purposefully eliminating voting polls in Black neighborhoods, knowing it will increase waiting times while also effectively banning the handing out of water, is not draconian. Tell them how gerrymandering  a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that the ruling class can merely recalibrate its way to more power  to cancel the Black vote isnt putting a thumb on the scale. Tell them how America is a democracy for some and a failed state for everyone else. Tell them how if you can legislate away the Black vote, why would anyone think it would just stop there? Why not make it harder for everyone? Why not make it impossible? Why even vote at all?

And thats what is meant by American trying to make Black people quit. Perhaps our nations democratic legacy is more mythology than reality, considering even the law doesnt seem to uphold it.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Friday that it has decided to evacuate Israeli diplomats and embassy employees from Kyiv amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Israel has issued a travel warning and Israeli visitors to Ukraine are advised to leave the country.

The ministry also recommended Israelis who are considering traveling to Ukraine to postpone their plans for the time being.

"In the wake of the worsening situation in Ukraine, Israeli nationals who are currently in Ukraine are advised to reconsider their stay in the country," the statement read, urging Israelis "to avoid approaching flashpoint areas in any case."

Following the issue of the travel warning, the ministry said it has "decided to evacuate the families of Israeli diplomats and employees at the embassy."

Earlier on Friday, United States President Joe Biden reiterated his call for U.S. citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of military action. 




Welcome to Thursday's Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

Today we're looking at a federal court reversing a Trump-era move to get rid of protections for gray wolves, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) keeping climate action on the table in a recent interview and the Biden administration's latest move in its push for an electric vehicle charging network.

For The Hill, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Write to us with tips: rfrazin@thehill.com and zbudryk@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @RachelFrazin and @BudrykZack.

Let's jump in.

Court restores gray wolf protections axed by Trump

A federal court in California on Thursday restored endangered species protections for the gray wolf that were rolled back during the Trump administration.

Judge Jeffrey White, a George W. Bush appointee, determined that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn't adequately consider threats to the wolves outside of two major populations.

The decision listed other reasons that White was tossing the Trump-era move, including his assessment that a decision to analyze West Coast wolves with Northern Rocky Mountain together instead of separately was arbitrary and capricious.

The Trump administration in 2020 removed endangered species protections for the wolves that had been in place for more than 45 years, saying they had exceeded recovery goals.

Many environmental and animal advocacy groups disagreed, saying they still need protections.

The Biden administration last February defended its predecessor's decision, saying it was made "using the best scientific and commercial data available."

But, it later signaled a possible reversal, saying in September that it would review the wolf's endangered species status.

It's not clear whether the Biden administration will appeal the Thursday ruling. When asked whether it would, Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Vanessa Kauffman said via email, "we are reviewing the decision."

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Thursday's ruling does not apply to wolves in a few states such as Montana and Idaho, where they were already delisted before the Trump action.

Read more about the court decision here.

MANCHIN KEEPS CLIMATE ACTION ON THE TABLE

Though he has said that the Build Back Better bill representing President Biden's climate and spending agenda is "dead," Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) kept climate action on the table in a new interview.

In an interview with a local news outlet, he said he wanted a "tax bill that puts us on a path to financial solvency."

Specifically, he said he wanted a 25 percent corporate tax rate.

At a later point in the interview, he also said he was open to taking on climate change, but didn't appear to offer specifics.

"I'm willing to do a lot of good things on climate, too. We can all get together; we just can't throw caution to the wind."

Biden seeks equity in EV network push

New guidance from the Biden administration as it prepares to disburse funds to states to build out an electric vehicle charging network asks them to do so with equity in mind.

The guidance document issued on Thursday says that state plans submitted to the federal government to gain access to funds for the charging network "should explain how the State will deliver projects ... [that] target at least 40 percent of the benefits towards disadvantaged communities."

This would put them in line with a White House Initiative called Justice40, which seeks to give at least 40 percent of the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities.

The report notes that the equity push doesn't necessarily mean that 40 percent of the chargers need to be located in disadvantaged communities if they can benefit in other ways.

The guidance comes as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which the Biden administration has touted as its signature Build Back Better climate and spending bill remains stalled in Congress.

Wednesday's rollout deals with the bill's $5 billion program for states to build out a nationwide electric vehicle charging network. Funds for the program which will be dispersed to states over a five-year period.

Read more about the push here.

REPUBLICANS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT BIDEN SCIENCE ADVISER

In a new letter, House Republicans are raising concerns about a top White House climate science adviser after a paper she edited was retracted last year.

The letter from Reps. Frank Lucas (Okla.), Stephanie Bice (Okla.) and Jay Obernolte (Calif.) asks President Biden to "consider whether Dr. [Jane] Lubchenco's leading role in the administration's scientific integrity efforts undermines public confidence in future policy decisions."

"We also encourage you to consider if Dr. Lubchenco should continue to be involved in developing a framework for the improvement of agency scientific integrity policies and practices," they added. "If the executive branch cannot or will not uphold the practices of scientific integrity, then Congress will have to assume a greater role in oversight of these matters."

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Editor in Chief May Berenbaum said in the retraction that Lubchenco "recently published a related paper with the article's authors and has a personal relationship with one of the authors, both of which are disallowed by PNAS editorial policies."

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) declined to comment on the Republican letter specifically.

Instead, it directed The Hill to a prior statement from an official, which said that "Jane agreed there was a conflict and the paper should be retracted, told OSTP, and it was a matter of public record at the time," referring to the time when The Scientific Integrity Task Force report came out in January.

WHAT WE'RE READING

White House regs shop delayed air pollution reg for months (E&E News)

How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming (The New York Times)

Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy (The BBC)

Gina McCarthy pledges to run 'faster and faster' to address climate change (Politico)

That's it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill's energy & environment page for the latest news and coverage. We'll see you Friday.
Former Vice President Mike Pence during the 2021 Free Iran Summit in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 28, 2021.





Former Vice President Mike Pence will be giving the commencement address at a Christian university in South Carolina in April, the school announced on Friday.

Columbia International University, which touts education that incorporates "a biblical worldview," announced on Friday that Pence would be giving the spring commencement address at the school on April 30.

The university noted previous remarks Pence has made in which he has referred to himself as a "born-again" Christian, and the school added that he has been "known for a strong stance on biblical and family issues."

Though it is unclear exactly what Pence may touch upon in his commencement to students at the Christian university, its president, Mark Smith, said in an interview with The Associated Press that he asked the former vice president to "come and share ideas about how his life has been shaped by his faith" and for the speech not to be political.

The news outlet noted that Pence and Smith have known each other for over 10 years.

The announcement comes as Pence last week gave a speech at a Federalist Society event in Florida in which he appeared to deliver his strongest comments yet breaking away from former President Trump over his decision to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

"There are those in our party who believe that as the presiding officer over the joint session of Congress, I possessed unilateral authority to reject Electoral College votes. And I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to 'overturn the election,'" Pence said.

"President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election," he continued. "The presidency belongs to the American people, and the American people alone. Frankly, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president."

The former president issued a statement later that evening pushing back against Pence's comments, though the criticism was measured in tone while still continuing to spread baseless allegations of voter fraud.

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"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 said in a statement through his Save America PAC. "Well, the Vice President's position is not an automatic conveyor if obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities exist."

Pence's brother, Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), was asked earlier this week if he agreed with his brother's comments at the Federalist Society event.

"I'll stand by my brother now and forever. I love my brother. I'll stand by him," the congressman told CNN's Manu Raju.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for the former vice president and university for comment.




The Biden administration is under fire for refusing to allow journalists to embed with U.S. forces outside Ukraine as the threat of a Russian invasion looms.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby was grilled multiple times this week by reporters in the Pentagon's briefing room and on television over the decision, which he claimed was to make room for diplomacy between Western and Russian officials, an effort that has so far faltered.

"There's a lot of factors that go into deciding how we handle media access. Some of these decisions are very difficult to make. We take it very seriously, and right now we're trying to balance a lot of factors in terms of the time and space for diplomacy," Kirby told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" late Wednesday.

But with more than 100,000 Kremlin troops already placed at Ukraine's border, including roughly 2,000 more added in the past 24 hours, a full-scale invasion could come in a matter of weeks, according to U.S. officials.

With such an impending threat, journalists argue, it's imperative to have reporters placed alongside the 3,000 U.S. troops being sent to Eastern Europe to ensure full transparency.

"U.S. journalists, Pentagon reporters have been embedded with military troops ... during all these recent conflicts in recent years. I don't understand why you don't want some transparency," Blitzer said to Kirby.

Blitzer is not the only journalist to press the issue.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pentagon Press Association sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and national security adviser Jake Sullivan asking that reporters be allowed to embed with U.S. troops sent across the Atlantic, a move that is especially important for those Americans whose loved ones serve, they argued.

"The public in a democratic society deserves independent media coverage of their sons and daughters in uniform, and that cannot be provided today without first-hand, on-the-ground reporting of troop activities in Europe," the association's board of directors wrote.

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The same day, The National Press Club and multiple outlets - including The New York Times, ABC News, Time, Stars and Stripes and the Military Times - also pressed the Defense Department "to permit access for journalists so that they can rightfully keep the American public and families of our troops informed."

The Military Reporters and Editors Association made a similar, formal request to Austin last week.

"By allowing reporters and photographers to show what life is like for U.S. troops on the ground, in the air, and at sea, the Pentagon will allow the American public to understand the responsibilities and sacrifices that both service members and their families make," the group wrote.

The Biden administration earlier this month announced that some 3,000 U.S. troops would be sent to Poland, Romania and Germany to bolster NATO's eastern flank as the Kremlin amasses well over 100,000 of its forces on Ukraine's borders with Russia and Belarus.

Western nations fear Russia's continuous military buildup - along with joint wargames with Belarus that began this month - signals an invasion into Ukraine in the coming weeks, similar to its move into the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

With American troops heading into the region and several thousand more on heightened alert for potential deployments, White House and Pentagon reporters are seeking specific reasons for the embed block.

Asked on Wednesday why the Pentagon has yet to commit to media embeds, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she would "have to dig into this a little bit further" but that it has "been our overarching approach" to support allowing journalists to embed with U.S. forces, generally speaking.

At the Pentagon the same day, Kirby - the official charged with the decision to allow such embeds - deflected multiple questions as to why he has not given the go ahead to place reporters alongside troops.

"Any decision to provide media access to our troops ... is a decision that we take seriously," Kirby said. "There's lots of factors that go into that. ... But we're still working our way through what sort of coverage is best suited for this particular mission."

"I'm having a hard time understanding how less transparency reflects the national security interests of a nation that promotes freedom of press worldwide," Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Nancy Youssef said to Kirby later in the briefing.

Asked Thursday whether the Pentagon has made any changes to its stance, a Pentagon spokesman told The Hill they could not offer "anything more at this time aside from what Mr. Kirby said."

American journalists have traveled alongside U.S. forces into conflict since at least World War II, but the level of access has varied greatly over the years.

During the Vietnam War, reporters got considerable access to deployed troops and their operations until some officials began to think the coverage - which showed the true, unending nature of the battles - was undermining the conflict.

Then in the 1990s, the modern embed program, created under the George H.W. Bush administration, assembled reporters in press pools but usually kept them away from action.

In the lead-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, however, as many as 775 journalists were traveling with units that would see action, an effort to help sway public opinion in support of the war.

On Wednesday, when journalists pointed out that war correspondents were sent alongside troops prior to the Iraq invasion - a conflict before which diplomacy was also emphasized - Kirby said it was not a fair comparison.

"This is a modest number of forces that are ... relocating to provide reassurance to allies," he said of the current situation.
Vaccines for children under 5, the last age group still ineligible for coronavirus shots, will not be available in the coming weeks as previously anticipated.

On Friday, Pfizer-BioNTech announced that they will postpone their request that the Food and Drug Administration authorize their vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years old, saying they will wait for the data on a three-dose series.

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Three doses may provide a higher level of protection in this age group, the companies wrote.

In early February, Pfizer and BioNTech sent a rolling submission to the FDA for authorization of a two-dose round of shots, hoping to jumpstart the process of vaccines for little ones as early as the end of the month, while continuing to monitor whether a third dose may eventually be needed. But that timeline will now be halted until after researchers examine data from the three-dose regimen.

Related: Pfizer Requests FDA Authorize COVID Shots for Kids Under 5

The FDA, in turn, pushed back its scheduled Feb. 15 advisory committee meeting to review the companies submission.

We will provide an update on timing for the advisory committee meeting once we receive additional data on a third dose, said the federal agency in a statement.

Pfizer and BioNTech expect to have numbers on the efficacy of a third shot by early April, the companies said.

Younger children bear the lowest COVID risk out of all age groups and, even when unvaccinated, are less likely to fall seriously ill from the virus than vaccinated adults. But whiplash from the Friday announcement may frustrate many parents who were counting on the arrival of shots for some long-awaited relief after the Omicron surge brought on spikes in pediatric hospitalizations and widespread day care center closures.

Health experts, too, expressed frustration with the sudden change in plans, worrying that it could undermine faith in the shots.

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This rollercoaster that parents under 5 (including me) are forced to ride is an absolute, unacceptable disaster, Katelyn Jetelina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health, wrote on Twitter. Pfizer and the FDA need to get it together so the public knows what the (heck) is going on (and why) so we can continue to be confident in this process.

Brown Universitys Ashish Jha, on the other hand, wrote: This is good science in action. If we dont yet have clear evidence of effectiveness, postponing a decision is the right thing to do. He did, however, acknowledge I know this will so disappoint parents of kids under 5.

Pfizer-BioNTech shots for kids 6 months to 4 years old contain three micrograms of the vaccine, while the shots for teens and adults contain 10 micrograms and 30 micrograms, respectively.

Related: Youth Ages 16 & 17 Now Eligible for Pfizer Booster Dose, FDA Says

Just under a quarter of children aged 5 to 11 and 56 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter
Pfizer-BioNTech is postponing its rolling application to the Food and Drug Administration to expand the use of its two-dose Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years.

The move means that vaccines for this age group will not be available in the coming weeks, a setback for parents eager to vaccinate their young children.

Pfizer said on Friday that it will wait for its data on a three-dose series of the vaccine, because it believes three doses "may provide a higher level of protection in this age group." Data on the third dose is expected in early April, the company said.

Pfizer said in December that two doses didnt generate a strong enough immune response in its trial of children ages 2 to 4. For young children, Pfizers vaccine has a dosage of 3 micrograms. For children ages 5 to 11, the dosage is higher, at 10 micrograms.

Still, the company asked the FDA this month to authorize these first two doses, with a plan to submit additional data in the coming weeks on a third dose. The full vaccination series would be three doses.

The FDA was expected to publish an analysis of the Pfizer data Friday, ahead of an advisory committee meeting next week. The FDA said Friday the meeting has been postponed.

Two people familiar with the FDAs plans said there had already been a lot of pushback on the agency from outside experts who had concerns that Pfizers data wasnt sufficient. The experts felt, one of the people said, that their concerns were falling on deaf ears within the agency.

Federal regulators had initially wanted to begin reviewing the data on two doses of the vaccine while Pfizer continued to gather data on a three-dose regimen.

Regulators believed two doses would provide enough  though less than ideal  protection against the omicron variant of the coronavirus as pediatric cases surged.

However, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said Friday that after regulators reviewed the companys two-dose data, they decided they needed to see the three-dose data before considering authorization.

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Parents should be "reassured," Marks said, adding the agency takes its "responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we're parents as well," he said.

On Tuesday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC the chances are very high the FDA would authorize the vaccine for young children.

I think that they will be pleased with the data and they will approve, Bourla told CNBCs Meg Tirrell, while noting that the regulatory process still has to play out.

Pfizer's request for authorization for two doses was an unusual request, given that the first two shots didn't work and there is no guarantee that adding a third dose will be sufficient.

John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, said Pfizer had to make a decision about which dose to study in the clinical trials.

"They have to make the best guess about what dosage to use in young children and they got it wrong, they underdosed," he said.

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MANILA (Reuters) - Petitioners seeking to bar Ferdinand Marcos Jr from the Philippines presidency said on Friday they were bent on keeping "autocratic figures" from power and would use all legal channels to stop the election frontrunner, including the Supreme Court.

Complainants failed to convince the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to disqualify Marcos, 64, the son and namesake of the late Philippines dictator, on the grounds of his decades-old conviction for tax violations. Commissioners on Thursday said the petitions lacked merit.

Loretta Ann Rosales, a petitioner and one of thousands of victims of state brutality under the 1970s-1980s martial law of the elder Marcos, said opponents were ready to appeal to the highest court.

"All measures must be used to stop autocratic figures from winning in the polls that would contribute to the destruction of democratic rule," she said.

Opponents of political veteran Marcos see the prospect of his family returning to the presidential palace decades after it was overthrown in a people's revolt as unpalatable.

Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson for Marcos, said the petitioners should respect courts and quasi-judicial bodies "by not elevating lies that they have peddled".

The Supreme Court was required to rule on a high-profile case before the last election in 2016, involving then presidential frontrunner, Grace Poe.

It reversed COMELEC's decision The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a senator who spent much of her life in the United States is eligible to run for president, reversing a decision by the election commission and putting her in line to reclaim her position as frontrunner to disqualify Poe over questions about her citizenship. Poe finished third overall.

Howard Calleja, a lawyer for one of the petitioners, will next week file a motion asking the full bench of COMELEC to overturn the ruling of its first division.

He said the decision "does not put the disqualification to a close, but further cast doubt not only on the case but on the COMELEC as well."

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty)
PHILADELPHIA  The infamous Philly Fighting COVID group and its leader have reached an agreement with state authorities to destroy all data and stop any work in Pennsylvania for the next decade.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro Friday filed a civil complaint against Andre Doroshin, Director and CEO of Philly Fighting COVID, Inc., for violating Pennsylvania consumer protection, charitable solicitation, and nonprofit corporation laws. A consent decree has been submitted to the court and awaits approval.

The AG's office said Doroshin has settled with the state and agreed to the terms.

Under the terms of the agreement, Doroshin and his associates are prevented for 10 years from governing, controlling, administering, or possessing charitable assets or soliciting charitable donations of any kind in Pennsylvania.

Doroshin is also prevented from deriving any financial benefit from any insurance company, government agency, or third party through the database of consumer health information obtained through COVIDReadi and the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, and must immediately destroy all personal health information gathered through the course of Philly Fighting COVIDs COVIDReadi pre-registration service.

The Office of Attorney General will confirm the destruction via an affidavit and a certification of compliance.

"Mr. Doroshin put peoples privacy at risk under the guise of serving as a nonprofit, and he is now being held accountable for those actions," Shapiro said. "Under the terms of this settlement, Doroshin must destroy all of the private data gathered through Philly Fighting COVIDs pre-registration services, and is banned from doing any work of this kind in Pennsylvania for the next decade. If Doroshin or any of his associates from Philly Fighting COVID violate this order, my office will not hesitate to act."

Doroshin must also dissolve Philly Fighting COVID, Inc., within 90 days of the courts approval and is incentivized to pay the $30,000 in restitution by Monday, Sept. 5, to avoid an additional $30,000 in costs and penalties.

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All the restitution will be paid to the Office of Attorney General for distribution to one or more charitable organizations to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccination services to disadvantaged communities in Philadelphia.

Should Doroshin, Philly Fighting COVID, Inc., or Vax Populi, Inc., violate the terms of the settlement, they are jointly liable to Pennsylvania for more than $700,000 in penalties and costs.

The issues with Philly Fighting COVID arose in January 2021 as the coronavirus vaccines were being rolled out nationwide.

Philadelphia ended its relationship with the group, largely comprised of untrained college-age students  after the group changed its corporate status from nonprofit to for-profit.

Philly Fighting COVID partnered with the city to offer testing and was providing vaccinations at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Doroshin admitted on national television to not being medically trained, yet he administered vaccines to his younger friends as public health officials worked to vaccinated high risk populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised.



The group also had a vaccination interest survey, which the city recommended residents eager to get the vaccine complete.

However, with the change to for profit status came a change in the group's privacy policy.

This led Mayor Jim Kenney's administration to call on the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to take "corrective steps" regarding the situation.

In March 2021, the Philadelphia Inspector General issued a report identifying "structural and process weaknesses" that led to the partnership between the health department and Philly Fighting COVID and also laid out recommendations to address issues that led to the partnership.

"I want to thank Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his staff for their investigation and work to hold Mr. Dorsohin accountable," Kenney said. "As we've said previously, working with Mr. Doroshin and Philly Fighting COVID was a mistake. Over the past 13 months, I'm proud that Philadelphia has become one of the most vaccinated cities in the country. That is thanks in no small part to the Department of Public Health's tireless efforts and our incredible healthcare partnerswith more than 80 percent of adults, or nearly one million people, now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 90 percent of residents 12 and older having received at least one dose. Our administration remains committed to seeing our great city through the pandemic, to improving the racial and economic equity of vaccinations, and continuing the level of transparency that the public deserves."

This article originally appeared on the Philadelphia Patch
A gunman has been killed after he fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and wounded nine officers in a shootout in Phoenix, Arizona, where police were lured into the path of gunfire trying to rescue the former couples baby girl.

Phoenix Police said the male shooter, who has not been identified, shot five officers and the woman as he barricaded himself inside a home near the area of 54th Avenue and Elwood Street in South Phoenix in the early hours of Friday morning.

There were three separate shootings during the five hours-long standoff situation before the suspect was found dead inside the home.

His ex-girlfriend - the mother of the infant - was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died from her injuries later.

Nine officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being ambushed by the gunman in two separate incidents, with five suffering gunshot wounds and four struck by shrapnel.

Dramatic footage, captured by OnScene TV, shows the moment the suspect ambushed officers for a second time as they tried to take the baby to safety.

The video shows a man emerging from the front door of the home with a baby and placing the child in a pink carrier outside.

He is then seen raising his hands in the air, turning around and backing toward the officers, who arrest him and place him inside a police car.

At that point, shooting breaks out as the suspect opens fire on the officers from inside the home as they try to retrieve the infant from the front steps.

Phoenix Police Sergeant Andy Williams said in a late morning press conference that the incident unfolded at around 2:15am when officers responded to a 911 call to say that a woman had been shot.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, the suspected gunman invited him inside the home.

The suspect then ambushed the officer, shooting him multiple times just outside the front door, he said.

The officer managed to escape to safety and was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Sgt. Williams said.

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Several other officers arrived on the scene where the suspect barricaded himself inside the home.

At one point, another man brought the baby outside the home and placed her in a carrier on the front steps so she could be taken to safety by police.

However, when officers went to retrieve the infant, the suspect allegedly opened fire again.

Four officers were shot during that ambush, while four others were injured by bullet shrapnel.

Two other officers returned fire at the suspect at that time.

All injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment and are expected to survive. Police said the baby was unharmed.

After crisis negotiators tried to contact the suspect, officers entered the home to find the suspect dead and the woman at the centre of the initial 911 call critically injured with a gunshot wound.

Police tape cordoning off the scene of the shootout in Phoenix (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Phoenix Police confirmed at around 7am local time (9am ET) that the standoff situation was resolved and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

It is not clear at this time if the suspect was killed by officer gunfire or by a self-inflicted wound.

Sgt. Williams said the woman used to be in a relationship with the suspect and that the couple shared a child together - believed to be the baby girl.

He said the babys mother is in an extremely critical condition in hospital. Police later said the woman had died from her injuries.

It is not clear what connection the man seen with the baby may have to the suspected gunman but police said there is no indication at present to suggest he was involved in the ambush of officers.

Neither the suspect nor the female victims identities have been released.

Phoenix Police first tweeted at around 3am that it was working a critical incident in the area of 54th Avenue and Elwood Street and told people to stay away from the active scene for your safety.

The department tweeted again at around 4.30am that the situation remained active.

The barricade situation has been resolved. There is no threat to the public. The area will be restricted while investigators are on scene. https://t.co/Q1A79jD7FO  Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) February 11, 2022

Phoenix PD is working on a situation involving a barricaded subject inside a house. 1 person and several officers have been injured, the department tweeted.

The standoff went on for around five hours in total, with Chief Jeri Williams saying in a press conference at 6am local time (8am ET) that the situation was still active at that time and that the suspect continued to be barricaded inside the home.

The shooting comes just two months after Phoenix Police Officer Tyler Moldovan was shot eight times including suffering one gunshot wound to the head while in the line of duty back in December.

Officer Moldovan spent a month in hospital before he was finally able to return home in January.

Chief Williams referred to the dangers her officers are facing every single day in Fridays press briefing, saying: If I seem upset, its because I am. Its senseless and it continues to happen over and over again.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey asked for prayers for the injured officers.

Please continue to pray for the five @PhoenixPolice officers injured this morning. Our men and women in blue work day and nightno matter the circumstancesto protect our state from danger, he tweeted.

Their unwavering courage & sacrifice helps to keep us safe. Arizona is deeply grateful.
Photographer Gaelle Girbes went inside the Ukrainian frontlines to photograph the lives of soldiers.

Ukraine has been engaged in an eight-year-long conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region.

Experts say the conflict could turn into a full-blown war.

While news that Russia is mobilizing 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border brought a recent wave of attention to the brewing war between the two nations, conflict in Ukraine's Donbas region has been ongoing for eight years.

Ukrainian army press officer Alena, 32, looks over the ruins of the town school on February 9, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

The conflict began in 2014 when armed men in military uniforms, who are said to be pro-Russian rebels, captured the Security Service of Ukraine headquarters in Sloviansk and the Interior Ministry in Donetsk.

The conflict in Donbas has left 13,000 people dead, including combatants in the trenches.

An estimated 75,000 soldiers are currently living in the trenches, which are located in what the BBC termed the "winter white wasteland" of Donbas region in southeastern Ukraine.

The region has strong cultural ties to Russia, as many Ukrainians living there are of Russian descent. But animosity between the two groups continues to grow.

"They are no longer our brothers," a Ukrainian soldier who lost his son to the conflict two years ago told Foreign Policy.

The mounting threat at the border has led to fears of a possible Russian invasion.

French photographer Gaelle Girbes recently headed to Donbas for a photo assignment. When Insider contacted her for comment on this story, she said she didn't have time for a phone call because she was about to head back into the trenches for more photo work.

A soldier trains in a gym built by soldiers in ruins on a military position around the town of Avdiyivka on February 8, 2022 in Avdiyivka, Ukraine. Servicemen of the 25th Airborne brigade of the Ukrainian army stationed in the trenches around the city of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, Donbass. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

In a series of Facebook messages with Insider, Girbes talked about the brutal living conditions in the trenches, which she described as "endless bowels of Earth."

"I've been working [in Ukraine] for five years," said Girbes. "What troubles me most is the number of young men fighting since they were [young]," she added.

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"The living conditions are very harsh and unhealthy," Girbes said of the trenches. "[Life] is really hard. No one can come mentally intact from a 10-month rotation there," she added.

Denys, 39 years-old, soldier in the 25th Airborne Brigade of Ukrainian army, cooks a bortsch inside a bunker on February 8, 2022 in Avdiyivka, Ukraine. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

Despite the looming possibility of war, soldiers have described the situation in Donbas as "normal," according to Foreign Policy. In their free time, soldiers view TikTok videos and eat meals like hot stew and salo, which is cured slabs of pork.

One of Girbes' photos (above) shows a 39-year-old Ukrainian soldier cooking borscht inside a bunker on February 8.

But even as combatants in the region try to instill a sense of normalcy into their everyday lives, they face "enormous military odds" in their battle against Russia.

Russia's military far outnumbers Ukraine's armed forces, with 900,000 and 209,000 personnel respectively, per Al Jazeera.

Despite efforts to increase the size of the Ukrainian active military by mobilizing 100,000 civilians, the number of Russian reservists still dwarfs every European nation, including Ukraine, with two million personnel, per AFP.

Girbes offered a bleak outlook on what she saw, describing the city of Pisky as a "ruinous field." "Everything is destroyed, and it's full of mines," she added.

Vitaly, 25, takes coffee in a trench and talks about daily life on February 9, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

In Pisky, soldiers who are married live together in a "marital bunker," per Foreign Policy  but none of these bunkers offer protection from the constant threat of snipers.

Deaths from the snipers' bullets and bombardment of shells occur frequently, per the Los Angeles Times. Soldiers dig trenches by hand and line them with corrugated steel sheets.

"Pisky is a ghost town, inhabited by soldiers who stay there for very long rotations, and they end up being part of the [trenches'] walls," Girbes said.

One of Girbes' photos from her time in Donbas shows children's drawings lining the tunnels and trench walls.

Alena, 32, a press officer in the Ukrainian army, takes a break in the soldiers lunch room on February 9, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

An estimated 430,000 children in Donbas suffer from psychological trauma because of the ongoing conflict, according to UNICEF. Some of these children draw to cope with their experience growing up amid the hostilities of conflict. Soldiers, in turn, say these drawings help them to strengthen their resolve.

"These come from different schools, as a thank you," a Ukrainian soldier told the BBC about the artwork. "It helps to boost our morale."

"[The situation there] is very strange yet very human," Girbes said. "There is love, friendship, and a family, and at the same time a very dark and hard life."

The trenches are shelled almost every night, but soldiers have adjusted to this reality, per Foreign Policy.

Ukrainian soldiers live mainly in basements and ruins when not in bunkers dug in the mud of the trenches on February 9, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine. Gaelle Girbes/Stringer/Getty Images

Soldiers in Donbas say they are ready for the possibility of "all-out war," per Foreign Policy.

"We have had a lot of training," a 25-year-old Ukrainian soldier told the BBC. "I understand that it won't be like a training exercise, it will be hard for everyone. But our morale is high and we are standing our ground," she added.

As the rebellion within Donbas reaches a stalemate, Russia has begun joint military exercises with Belarus. Russia's recent deployment to Belarus is the largest since the Cold War, according to NATO.

Read the original article on Insider
LAGOS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian government forces have detained four suspects caught trying to smuggle ivory tusks and pangolin scales worth nearly 7.4 million U.S. dollars, local authorities said on Thursday.

The smuggling attempt was thwarted by the special forces of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Feb. 2 in the Lekki area of Lagos, the country's economic hub, the NCS said in a statement.

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission which is fighting transnational organized wildlife crime, the NCS said.

The interception followed credible intelligence by the special forces who raided a vehicle carrying 145 kg of ivory tusks packed in four sacks and 839.4 kg of pangolin scales packed in 15 sacks, the NCS said.

The seizure was the fourth major interception of pangolin scales, ivory and other assorted wildlife parts in Nigeria within the last 13 months. 
An early morning wind-driven fire burns in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Fire crews battled an unusual winter brush fire near Laguna Beach on Thursday.

The blaze threatened multimillion dollar homes in two affluent Southern California communities.

Photos shows helicopters and tankers dropping water on the flames.

A rare winter brush fire fueled by unseasonable heat and blustering winds erupted near Laguna Beach on Thursday morning, prompting hasty evacuations as firefighters worked to mitigate the flames.

The Emerald Fire first emerged early Thursday morning between Laguna Beach and Emerald Bay along the Coast Highway. The blaze forced members of two affluent Orange County communities to desert their homes in a rush.

Around 4:00 a.m., several Orange County sheriff's deputies hastily woke sleeping residents in nearby neighborhoods to alert them to the fire, according to The Los Angeles Times.

As of Thursday afternoon, the fire had swept through 145 acres, but the Orange County Fire Authority said the blaze appeared to be manageable by mid-afternoon, USA Today reported.

A winter heatwave aided by the Santa Ana winds helped fuel the fire in a flurry.

A firefighting hand crew makes their way across a burned slope just behind homes after an early morning wind-driven fire burned in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Firefighters attacked the flames from both the ground and air, dropping water from helicopters and tankers.

A Los Angeles County Fire helicopter makes a water drop on an early morning wind-driven fire burning near homes in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

An ongoing drought persists in much of Southern California where parts of Orange County haven't seen rain since late December.

Firefighters watch as a helicopter drops water on a smoldering hillside in Laguna Beach, California on February 10, 2022 after the Emerald Fire took off before dawn. Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

The flames threatened several multimillion dollar homes along the coast.

A helicopter drops water on a smoldering hillside overlooking homes in Laguna Beach, California on February 10, 2022 after the Emerald Fire took off before dawn. Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Mitigation efforts were focused on protecting Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove which boast some of the most expensive homes in the country.

Emerald fire hot spot above Irvine Cove on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 in Laguna Beach, CA. Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Earlier in the day, the flames temporarily closed a section of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Firefighting apparatus stands-by along Pacific Coast Highway as an early morning wind-driven fire burns in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Scientists fear Thursday's blaze is indicative of an ever-lengthening fire season in California, which typically begins in late summer.

Smoke fills the air just after sunrise along Pacific Coast Highway as an early morning wind-driven fire burns in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire and did not know when residents would be able to return to their homes, The Los Angeles Times reported.

A helicopter makes a water drop on an early morning wind-driven fire burning near homes in the hills above Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Read the original article on Insider
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  A police operation in a poor community in Rio de Janeiro on Friday left eight people dead, according to the state's military police.

The raid in the Vila Cruzeiro favela was coordinated between Brazil's highway police and the military police. Officers seized automatic weapons, pistols, grenades and kilos of drugs, according to a statement from the military police.

Local media reported that more than a dozen schools and some family health clinics closed because of the gunfire.

One body was laid out on the street under a tarp, and a group of residents gathered nearby waiting to see if belonged to a relative or friend. Some protested against the operation, demanding to see the bodies of those who were killed.

Friday's raid targeted criminals planning attacks against security forces occupying the Jacarezinho favela, and one person was detained, according to the statement. Jacarezinho is where the state has launched its so-called Integrated City initiative that seeks to reclaim territory controlled by gangs  and also the site of a raid last year that left more than two dozen people dead.

Earlier this month, Brazil's Supreme Court issued a ruling that forces Rio's state government to institute measures aimed at reducing police killings and violations of human rights, including the development of a plan within 90 days.

The court also ruled that lethal force should only be used only in situations in which all other means have been exhausted and when necessary to protect life, and that police have 180 days to install devices to record audio and video on their uniforms and vehicles.
There may be an offer to buy the property on which the Lake Hall Schoolhouse sits, a shaky first step in the realization of a dream to preserve and tell the story of the freed slaves who lived and learned there.

A day after the Leon County Commission explored ways to obtain the property Tuesday night, advocates looking to preserve the Reconstruction-era school and an owner of the property are working through the early stages of a possible agreement that could bring it into the public realm.

Commissioners shied away from a suggestion by Commissioner Brian Welch that the county could use eminent domain to acquire the property, tabling the issue for another meeting.

Back story:

Commissioners took turns Tuesday hailing efforts to preserve the historic structure off Thomasville Road, but didn't see a clear path forward without the owners' blessing to sell or release the property.

The Lake Hall Schoolhouse, a Reconstruction-era wooden building constructed by freed slaves along the path that used to be Thomasville Road. Efforts by preservationists to purchase the schoolhouse and an adjoining house may make its use as a public park a reality.

"Theres always going to be reasons to say no. I want to be sure we have examined every possibility to say yes," Welch told commissioners. "It is unquestionably important to our community, and we owe it to the community and the people that occupied that building a thorough vetting as a county commission."

In the hours after the meeting, the Tallahassee Democrat spoke to Geraldine Seay, who has spearheaded the Friends of Lake Hall School organization, and a representative of the property owner. That prompted a discussion between the two parties, who hadn't communicated in months, in which they landed on a price.

But, exactly where the $325,000 to buy Sheryl Oslowskis property will come from remains unclear. Seay said there were a number of funding options, including grants.

More: Local group looking for Tallahassee's help in preserving historically Black schoolhouse

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Wednesday night, Oslowski refuted claims by Seay that she was uncooperative in the process and how she was portrayed as standing in the way.

Seay, a retired Florida A&M University faculty member and local historian, earlier this week said Oslowski had not been responsive to efforts to preserve the schoolhouse, calling her an obstructionist.

Ive never stopped anything, Oslowski said standing in front of the 1870s wooden structure. Ive cooperated in every aspect."

The Lake Hall Schoolhouse, a Reconstruction-era wooden building constructed by freed slaves along the path that used to be Thomasville Road.

As a potential sale agreement surfaced Wednesday afternoon along with a push by Seay to finalize the deal within roughly a month, Oslowski expressed some hesitation.

Im freaking out. I havent thought about it, she said. Ive got to find somewhere else to live. Its fresh, so Ive got to work through this in my head.

Property lines at the location off an unpaved, private road  Handsome Quarters  split the schoolhouse. There have been efforts by the county to redraw property boundaries to bring it into one parcel, but to do so requires the agreement of all of the owners.

Oslowskis neighbor Andy Bailey expressed hesitation about the move because there seemed to be few details on a plan to turn it into a park and public amenity.

Bailey and his wife built their house a year ago and he said he was not in favor of the park-like concept envisioned next door. His portion of the schoolhouse is only about a corner of the building.

A student at FAMU's School of Architecture put together this map of what a Lake Hall schoolhouse park could include.

Its a cool thing and I think it is history, Bailey said. Id be glad for them to take it and rebuild it.

The schoolhouse sits through a stand of pine trees on his property.

Its too close, Bailey said. Youre going to bring a bunch of people into our private neighborhood.

County officials have said the schoolhouses condition means it would likely not survive being moved and would have to be dismantled and reconstructed somewhere else.

At Tuesdays meeting, other concerns about acquiring the property, or more importantly what comes afterward, surfaced.

The privately-maintained road it sits on is a single track, meaning it would need to be upgraded and built out to state standards to accommodate public traffic if an easement couldn't be acquired from a Thomasville Road landowner.

Geraldine Seay

County Administrator Vince Long estimated it would run close to $1 million to complete the vision, which includes preservation of the schoolhouse, creating public access and amenities and road work.

Seay said she has signed the contract to purchase the property. When asked where the money to buy the property would come from, Seay said: Well figure it out.

Theres a couple of grants out there, she continued. We have to do what seems possible then move to the next step.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Offer to buy Lake Hall Schoolhouse property on the table
Feb. 11The New Mexico Corrections Department's central office and the Penitentiary of New Mexico on N.M. 14 south of Santa Fe were locked down for about three hours Thursday morning while police investigated a bomb threat.

The agency asked New Mexico State Police to investigate after a call came in around 8:30 a.m. Thursday warning of a bomb  not at the facility but at a guard shack on the property, spokesman Eric Harrison said.

Police did not find anything, Harrison said, but will continue to investigate the source of the threat.

Harrison said he didn't have any other details about the threat.

Traffic in and out of the facilities resumed around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, he added.
Citing a lack of evidence, prosecutors have dropped the case against a former John A. Ferguson Senior High School history teacher who was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office has closed the case against Aaron Hamid, 27, saying it couldnt prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, court records show.

Based on the lack of physical evidence, the victims refusal to cooperate and provide a sworn statement, lack of digital evidence with any hearsay exceptions, and no statements from the defendant the State would not be able to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, Assistant State Attorney Kelly Hartman wrote in a memorandum dated Thursday.

The investigation into Hamid began on Oct. 22, when the students best friend told school officials and police about the sexual relationship. The student confirmed the relationship to police, and in November, Hamid turned himself in to police and was arrested, according to his arrest affidavit.

He was charged with three felony counts, including offenses against students by authority figures, unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor and engaging in a sexual act with a familial child.

Hartmans memorandum notes the student, during a sworn statement, declined to answer questions about the sexual nature of her relationship with the defendant.

The victim made it clear that she had no intention of participating in prosecuting this defendant and would not provide any information, Hartman wrote. The victims phone was forensically examined in an attempt to retrieve evidence, according to the memorandum.

While conversations referencing the relationship were found, no inappropriate direct conversations between the victim and the defendant could be viewed, the memorandum states. Hartman notes it appeared numerous conversations were deleted but examiners were unable to retrieve them.

Hamid had been employed four years by Miami-Dades public school district and had no prior disciplinary history. He was reassigned from the school during the investigation, and when he was arrested, the school district said it planned to terminate his employment and prevent him from seeking future work with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

The district on Friday afternoon told the Miami Herald in an email that while Hamids criminal case was closed, the districts investigation is still open.
For the first time since 2020  save for a mask-optional stint during summer school  most students and staff in Poudre School District will not be required to mask up indoors when they go to school Monday.

The announcement that PSD would end its mask mandate came from Superintendent Brian Kingsley on Friday, just days after Larimer County announced it would end its countywide mask mandate, also on Feb. 12.

County health officials cited declining case rates and hospitalizations, a high level of community immunity and increased access to rapid at-home tests, high-quality masks and treatment as factors in their decision to end the mandate, which had been in effect since Oct. 20. PSD has required masks since the start of the school year.

In his announcement, Kingsley said that while he cannot unify the PSD community on the topic of masking and COVID-19 protocols, he hopes that families will have grace for each other moving forward.

Regardless of whether somebody chooses to take their mask off or keep their mask on, let's show each other grace and kindness and respect," he said in a video sent to families.

More on Larimer County's mask decision: Larimer County to end mask mandate Feb. 12. Here's why.

He told the community at Tuesday's school board meeting that moving forward, PSD will be a "mask-friendly" district, meaning at no point should anyone be asked to unmask or be judged for choosing to wear a mask.

Though masks will be optional, PSD is recommending students and staff wear masks indoors.

Before students return to the classroom next week, the Coloradoan gathered community questions, talked to PSD leadership and listened to district and county presentations on the topic to answer what we could about how the decision was made and what impacts it might have.

Why remove the mask mandate now, and how was the decision made?

Put simply, the data indicated that now is the right time to make a change.

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Public Health Director Tom Gonzales and Larimer County epidemiologist Jared Olson presented to the PSD Board of Education on Tuesday night to show how they arrived at the decision to remove the county mask mandate, and it largely revolved around declining case and positivity rates.

Case rates have been declining both in the county and within PSD. Just two weeks ago, PSD had a seven-day case rate around 2,000; as of Thursday, the seven-day case rate in the district was 466.

PSDs COVID-19 dashboard, which may have delayed data due to recent surges, shows the district appeared to hit a peak in mid-January. The first month of the year regularly saw days in which more than 100 cases were reported in PSD. Case numbers have been quickly declining, though; just 39 cases were reported on Feb. 1 compared with 197 on Jan. 18.

Another important factor was the understanding that omicron was different from previous surges, nullifying some of the metrics the county had planned to use to determine when to lift its mask mandate. Omicron is causing fewer hospitalizations, less of a strain on the hospital system.

Intrinsically, this variant is less severe, Olson said. So while we had benchmarked some of our metrics to what we thought our community and our hospital system could handle as far as cases and positivity during the delta wave, the omicron wave makes some of those no longer relevant.

PSD isn't alone in this decision, either. Thompson School District also removed its mask requirement after the county health department announced it would let its mandate expire.

Where will masks still be required?

As of Tuesday evening, there are just three situations in which masks will still be required of PSD students and staff.

Per federal mandates, masking is required on buses and in early childhood classrooms that receive federal money.

The mask requirement for early childhood classrooms will also apply to all staff who work with students in early childhood classes. Head Start-funded programs have had to comply with federal requirements throughout the pandemic; some PSD employees are required to be vaccinated under the federal mandate because of their involvement with students in early childhood.

Students and staff who return to school or work after isolating with COVID-19 or quarantining are also required to mask up.

More: Colorado State University to keep mask mandate in place after Larimer County's ends

For days six through 10 after isolation or quarantine, PSD is allowing students or staff to return to school only if they mask. If they are not willing to mask, they are expected to stay home until after their isolation or quarantine period ends.

PSD spokesperson Alex Ballou said the district will communicate this expectation to families, and PSD teachers will not be expected to monitor which students must wear masks upon return. She reiterated that if a student is unwilling or unable to wear a mask, they may not be in school per public health guidance.

The district is still reviewing additional school safety guidance it received from the health department Friday, but Ballou said there will not be more situations in which masks will be required unless new county guidance is released.

Kinard Core Middle School students collect their belongs at their lockers before classes start in October.

In community comment at Tuesday's board meeting, there were questions around how medically vulnerable students and staff would be protected and if there would be situations in which masks would be required for accommodations.

Ballou did not directly answer this question when asked by the Coloradoan but said processes are in place for students or staff members to request an accommodation through the district; examples of what these accommodations would look like were not provided. Student requests would be handled at the school level, and the district will provide support as needed, she said.

Whats been the reaction to the announcement?

The districts decision to mask students this school year has led to heated community comment sessions at district school board meetings throughout the year and a protest at the start of the school year. Some parents and residents have been upset about the decision to mask students, while other parents and teachers have thanked the board, citing a commitment to safety.

At Tuesdays board meeting, the first following the announcement that PSD was lifting the requirement, there was a tone of gratitude in community comment but still an air of concern among parents that students  those who choose to mask or not  would be bullied for their choices.

Ballou said the district has and will continue to communicate that bullying is not tolerated in the district. She added that staff are paying close attention to how this change is being received in our communities, but that as of now there are no concrete programs to enforce the mask-friendly attitude PSD is pushing.

More: How are schools making it work amid staffing shortages? Lots of helping hands

More than 200 parents, children and community members rallied outside of the Poudre School District board of education meeting on Aug. 10, 2021, to protest the district's mask mandate.

Among teachers in the district, there seems to be a mixed reaction to the announcement.

John Robinson, president of PSD's teachers union, told the Coloradoan that for every email he got from a teacher concerned about the decision, he received one from an excited teacher.

With more than 1,300 members, our membership runs the entire spectrum of the mask concern, Robinson said. I feel that we don't have consensus on the issue.

He added that he believes Kingsley and the board made the decision based on the countys updated data and science, emphasizing that it wasnt political and the districts primary focus of keeping children in classrooms and receiving a quality education has not changed.

Will masks be required in a COVID-19 outbreak?

Prior to the county's mask mandate going into effect in October 2021, when a school reached outbreak status  five or more cases in an activity or group  the county health department required schools in outbreak status to implement additional mitigation strategies, including masking, in order to get spread under control.

That rule never particularly impacted PSD schools because they already required masks.

District spokesperson Madeline Noblett told the community Tuesday night that moving forward, masks will not be automatically required in schools or classrooms that have been placed in outbreak status.

Rather, outbreaks will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by county health officials and PSD to determine what mitigation strategies will need to be implemented; this could involve masking, but its no longer a given. Ballou said the district has not yet determined what other outbreak mitigation strategies may be.

As of Thursday, the district had 18 schools in outbreak status.

Would the district ever reinstate a mask mandate?

Though Gonzales directly addressed this on a county level to the school board Tuesday night, saying that he would implement another countywide mandate if something happened that required that level of response, the district wasn't as sure.

It is difficult to say with certainty, given the ever-changing conditions, Ballou told the Coloradoan.

That said, Kingsley asked the community to understand that things can  and likely will  change.

I just, again, want for us to be able to forecast that while this is a change that there are more changes on the horizon, Kingsley said to the board and community. As a result of the changing dynamics, we should anticipate (change) continuing to be the reality for the near future.

He added that he didnt want to inject fear into the community by saying more change is likely but wanted to be realistic as the community has been so patient with the district.

This isnt the end, he said. I dont want to say its the beginning, either, but I think the reality of us continuing to evolve and be strong and realize that we can do hard things is a part of life.

Ballou said the district and the county health department will continue to monitor data and look for the impacts of the districts change. Data theyll look at include positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, community immunity rates and the seven-day case rate.

PSDs priority is in-person learning. How does this decision help keep kids in person?

The district is optimistic that quarantines wont drastically rise once masks become optional, Ballou said, meaning more kids and staff will stay in-person.

We are encouraged by the decreasing case rates and increased community immunity in Larimer County, she said. PSD has already seen significantly lesser quarantines this school year compared to last school year.

On Wednesday, more than 99% of students and staff were in-person learning, and Ballou said Larimer County data gives them confidence theyll keep a high percentage in the classroom.

The current rate of community immunity, achieved through vaccinations and natural immunity through infection, is about 80%, she said, adding that individuals who have been boosted or tested positive within 90 days are exempt from quarantine if identified as a close contact.

Ballou said that because of the high level of immunity, they suspect that a significant number of staff and students would be exempted from quarantine.

Why not wait until children under 5 can be vaccinated?

Ballou told the Coloradoan that when making the decision, PSD considered the fact that early childhood programs would have the additional layer of masking in place thats required by federal guidance.

Early childhood employees are also required to be vaccinated or participate in weekly testing if they were granted a vaccine exemption, which she said is another protective layer the district considered before making the decision.

Molly Bohannon covers education for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: PSD mask mandate is ending: Here's what to know about exceptions
ABUJA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 30,000 terrorists comprising members of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) groups have so far surrendered to troops in Nigeria's northeast region, a senior official said here on Thursday.

Relative peace has begun to return as the security agencies have continued to take measures aimed at checking the activities of terrorists, Babagana Zulum, governor of the northeastern state of Borno, told reporters after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari about the goings-on in the region.

Zulum, however, declined to state when exactly the terrorists' surrender began.

"This insurgency in the northeast will soon be a thing of the past," Zulum said, describing it as a "welcome development."

The senior official said the state government had been able to engage the terrorists through constant dialogue and mediation which, according to him, yielded fruitful results.

He dismissed the speculation that the repentant insurgents were assured of any promissory notes before they surrendered, saying those who surrendered willingly would be treated differently from those captured by the Nigerian troops on the battlefields.

"The way we are going, with the support of the federal government with good management, Boko Haram will be over very soon," he added.

ISWAP has been collaborating with its sister group Boko Haram to establish an Islamist state in northeast Nigeria. The terror groups have also extended their attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. 
Jim Lamon, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during the Turning Point Action event at the Arizona Federal Theatre in Phoenix on July 24, 2021.

Republican Senate candidate Jim Lamon dresses like an Old West lawman in a new ad in which he engages in a gunfight with actors representing President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, whose wife was gravely injured in a 2011 mass shooting near Tucson that left six dead and a dozen others injured.

The ad shows Lamon, with spurs jangling, coming to the rescue of a town from actors resembling Biden, Pelosi and Kelly, D-Ariz., dubbed in the video as the D.C. gang. The ad introduces Biden as Old Joe, Kelly as Shifty Kelly, and Pelosi as Crazyface Pelosi.

Across the towns desert landscape, Lamon steps on camera, wearing a sheriffs badge and Western wear.

Well, if it isnt Big Jim Lamon, the man resembling Biden says.

Behind Lamon, townspeople shout complaints about open borders and fuel prices.

The good people of Arizona have had enough of you, Lamon said. Its time for a showdown.

The actors playing Kelly and Biden draw guns; Pelosi draws a blade. Lamon draws a gun and shoots the weapons out of their hands, forcing the Democrats to flee.

Sarah Guggenheimer, a spokesperson for Kellys campaign, declined to comment Thursday, but the ad drew immediate blowback on social media and criticism from two of Lamons Republican Senate rivals, Blake Masters, a venture capitalist, and Michael "Mick" McGuire, the retired adjutant general of the Arizona National Guard.

Absurd and desperate, Masters said in a statement to The Arizona Republic. Fits his campaign.

McGuire said he thinks the ad will help fill Kellys financial coffers. He said the ad demonstrated poor judgment by Lamon.

Real violence and use of deadly force is no laughing matter, McGuire said. Violence in America is real and it isnt funny. This ad shows poor judgment and isn't reflective of the values of the Second Amendment. This ad will do more to boost Mark Kelly's fundraising than help Republicans.

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Stephanie Grisham, a onetime White House press secretary for former President Donald Trump who has ties to Arizona, blasted the ad as incendiary.

"When you dont have substance, I guess this is what you resort to," she wrote on Twitter. "Its petty & dangerous & its beneath Arizona voters who deserve so much more."

When you dont have substance, I guess this is what you resort to. Its petty & dangerous & its beneath Arizona voters who deserve so much more. https://t.co/9P9xD272Uh  Stephanie Grisham (@OMGrisham) February 10, 2022

The ad comes as Lamon, the founder of a solar company making his first run for public office, seeks to raise his profile in a crowded GOP primary race whose winner will go up against Kelly in November.

The race for the U.S. Senate seat could tip the balance of power in the chamber, which Democrats narrowly control. The contest is deemed a toss-up by election analysts in a midterm cycle expected to favor Republicans.

Lamons campaign defended his strategy and accused Kelly of doing whatever Joe Biden tells him to do. Kelly has overwhelmingly voted in line with Bidens position during the 117th Congress.

Unlike Kelly, Jim Lamon will shoot straight with Arizonans and take the fight to Biden  and he damn sure wont let the left bully him into backing down, Lamon's campaign said.

The ad comes on the heels of another controversial ad Lamon released last month that invoked Lets go Brandon, a conservative rallying cry that means (expletive) Joe Biden.

Lamon focuses his new ad on guns and the Second Amendment, an issue deeply ingrained in the Western conservative psyche and one that could motivate Republicans to show up to the polls this election cycle.

A 30-second version of the one-of-a-kind campaign ad is scheduled to run in the Tucson television market during Sundays Super Bowl game, according to Lamons campaign. One version of the ad is posted online and a longer version is expected to be released.

Kelly, a gun owner who founded a national gun-control organization with his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., after the 2011 mass shooting, faced questions during his first Senate bid in 2020. Back then, he was running against then-Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who cast him as a longtime political operative from a "radical political organization."

That same cycle, Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward sent out a fundraising email that asked people to support the state GOP and help "stop gun-grabber Mark Kelly dead in his tracks."

Giffords played a significant role in Kelly's 2020 Senate campaign, where she made public appearances to testify about his character and rallied volunteers to mobilize support for him and Biden. At the close of the 2020 race, Giffords was featured in a one-minute ad that centered on his commitment to his marriage throughout her ongoing rehabilitation.

Have news to share about Arizona politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Republican Senate candidate Jim Lamon assailed for gunslinging ad
A friend and I stumbled upon Altoque after learning that a nearby restaurant we were heading to had closed for the evening  and what a happy discovery! Im no stranger to this ethnic swath of San Jose Boulevard that includes an array of global flavors: Thai, Indian, Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, Middle Eastern French, and now, I have found, Colombian.

We scanned a small QR code on our table to pull up the menu. It is lengthy and the fonts are small, so be advised it may take a few minutes to fully navigate and comprehend the many offerings.

My friend and I secured an arepa order ($7.95 + $1 for avocado) to start, plus a trio of empanadas ($7). The arepa, akin to a Colombian sandwich pocket (and fashioned from ground corn), is served warm, and filled with mozzarella cheese, shredded beef and avocado. A creamy cilantro sauce on the table gave it an additional boost of flavor. We loved the empanadas and I would venture to say theyre some of the best Ive had locally.

Restaurant Review: The G.O.A.T. Tapas & Bar brings global flavors to Jacksonville Beach

Dining Notes: Sign up for our new weekly restaurant newslette

The bandeja paisa offers an assortment of Colombian ingredients and flavors.

Our traditional bandeja paisa platter ($16.95) was ideal for sharing. It touted a hearty helping of white rice, red beans, crispy pork chicharron, jammy yolk fried egg, sweet plantains, Colombian sausage link, grilled steak, arepa wedge and third of an avocado. A semi-hot sauce on the table added just the right amount of spice. After we divvied up the platter, not a morsel remained. The variety cant be beat.

Altoque comes up big with a unique dessert

Eager to try one of Altoques desserts, and assuming the Colombian snow cone would not be ideal to share, we asked our waitress her go-to choice. She led us toward the seemingly simplistic obleas con crema y queso ($5). Two oversized, ultrathin crisp wafers (think flattened waffle cone meets airy cake cone) are slathered inside with a pair of homemade sauces. One was an arequipe caramel and the second was a slightly salty, creamy dairy-based sauce. It was messy, but finger-licking satisfying.

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Altoque is tucked in the corner of the shopping plaza, so know to look for it. The space can accommodate groups, as we saw a family of six and another with five. Despite it being a weeknight around 6:30, only one server was working. Our meal was not hurried, and we gave our waitress full patience as we understand current staffing issues.

Caron Streibich is an avid food-lover who reviews restaurants every other week in the Life section. Follow her dining adventures at facebook.com/caroneats and #caroneats on Instagram.

Do not miss the simple yet highly satisfying obleas con crema y queso for dessert. This sandwich wafer is filled with two sweet homemade sauces.

Altoque Colombian Food

9825 San Jose Blvd.

(904) 518-4575

Side of town: Mandarin.

Type of cuisine: Colombian.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Prices: appetizers: $6-$11.95; arepas, $6.25-$9.99; hamburgers, $12.99-$16.99; kebabs, $9.95; hot dogs, $9.75-$10.96; soup, $10.95; salads, 10.95-$11.95; steaks/platters/family platters, $16.95-$69.95; desserts, $5-$12.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Dining review: Jacksonville's Colombian restaurant Altoque worth a hunt
Priscilla Yother

Retired Etowah County and Gadsden City educator Priscilla Yother is seeking the District 6 seat on the Alabama State Board of Education.

District 6 includes public schools in Etowah, Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega, Blount, Cullman, Marshall, and Cherokee counties.

After earning a degree from Auburn University, Yother began teaching in 1976 and later entered into administration in 2001.

Most of her career was spent at Eura Brown Elementary School, where she served as principal from 2001 until her retirement in 2017. Afterward, she taught in London, UK, for four months in 2018, and also held pandemic school in her home and church during 2020.

Education has always been a driving passion for me," Yother said. "I live and breathe it for myself and others. This has led me to want to assist other systems and schools in giving every student the opportunity to an education that leads to a career, whether it is in the vocational technical skills area or requires a college degree.

"I feel my extensive experience, not only with thousands of students through the years, but in raising a daughter and son and being engaged in their academic pursuits gives me insight into the total K-12 educational system and beyond.

Yother said there has been a disconnect between Alabama state board members and their districts. She plans to visit all 172 schools in the district once a year. Quality educators need to be nurtured and recruited. I want to ensure that every teacher has what is needed in the classroom and is teaching and learning with their students in a healthy environment. Parents need to know that they are partnering with the teacher and the school to achieve academic success within the students capabilities.

Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden educator Yother seeks seat on the state board of education
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under pressure over loan fraud committed during COVID. Photo:UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via Reuters

The UK Treasury expects to write off about 4bn of COVID loans that ended up in the hands of fraudsters, with MPs saying that the "ignorance" displayed by HMRC makes it look soft.

The Public Accounts Committee criticised HMRCs unambitious plans for recovering a total of 6bn it estimates was paid incorrectly in COVID support loans. According to the committees report, chancellor Rishi Sunak risks writing off at least 4bn of taxpayers money.

Losses are likely to surpass the 2bn reported as HMRC is yet to publish its estimates of error and fraud in 2021-22. The current figures only account for 2020-21.

Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: The level of fraud and error in furlough that employers will get away with is a real concern. What signal does it send when HMRC rolls over on billions of pounds of fraud and error directly related to COVID support packages? With the current parlous state of the public finances we can ill-afford to be so cavalier over so much of taxpayers money.

Read more: COVID puts more than one million workers on universal credit

The Bounce Back Loan scheme was set up in April 2020 with the aim of keeping small businesses afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 1.5 million loans worth 47bn were issued through the initiative.

To streamline the process, paperwork for the scheme was minimal, with self-certified applications and no credit checks.

Now, HMRC says 8.7% of furlough payments were made either to fraudsters or by mistake.

In 8.5% of payments to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which was set up to help reopened restaurants in the summer of 2020, and 2.5% of cash handed to freelancers and entrepreneurs as part of its self-employed income support payments, the money was stolen by workers or businesses claiming money they were not entitled to.

The ringleader of an organised crime gang, with 48 convictions to his name, managed to secure 50,000 from the scheme.

Story continues

Read more: NFT market swells to $44bn as money laundering schemes rise

A Conservative minister in the House of Lords has already resigned attacking the government's handling of fraudulent COVID business loans.

Lord Agnew accused the Treasury of having "little interest in the consequences of fraud to our society".

Every taxpayers pound lost to a fraudster will lead to honest ordinary people feeling the post-pandemic pinch harder and harder, Hillier said.

The committee said that the HMRCs failure to fulfil its basic remit of collecting tax owed risks rewarding the unscrupulous and sending a message that HMRC is soft on fraud.

MPs are recommending that HMRC takes a number of actions to reassure parliament and the public that it is serious about tackling error and fraud from the COVID support schemes and is taking all recovery action where it is cost effective to do so.

Watch: What is the Bounce Back Loan scheme?
The state Department of Transportation has announced new details for its I-43 north-south reconstruction and expansion project.

Preparatory work started in August for the 14-mile project between Silver Spring Drive in Glendale and Highway 60 in Grafton. Construction is scheduled for completion by mid-2025.

According to the state Department of Transportation:

In 2019, Gov. Tony Evers approved $500 million to fund the project, which will expand I-43 from four to six lanes  adding one lane in each direction  and reconstruct five existing interchanges, at Good Hope Road, Brown Deer Road, County Line Road, Mequon Road and Pioneer Road.

WisDOT has maintained these interchanges, bridges, and pavement for over 50 years, said a news release from the Department of Transportation. The structures and pavement are at the end of their useful life cycle.

The project will also construct a new interchange at Highland Road, replace the Union Pacific railroad bridge over I-43 in Glendale and expand Port Washington Road in Glendale from two lanes to four between Bender Road and Daphne Lane.

Construction this year will focus on expanding and improving the North End and County Line/Port Washington Road interchange segments.

2022 construction plans

This rendering shows the completion of the I-43 and Highland Road interchange.

Starting Feb. 21, a stretch of Highland Road, between Port Washington Road and Lake Shore Drive in Mequon, will be closed until fall.

In early spring, Highland Road, east of Lake Shore Drive, will be reconstructed; completion is expected this fall. Bidirectional traffic will be maintained. All lanes will be shifted to the west at Port Washington and Highland roads.

The DOT suggests travelers use Lake Drive and Port Washington and Pioneer Roads as a detour route.

The departments 2022 construction outlook details additional work slated for this year.

Upcoming closures for the County Line/Port Washington Road segment include:

Lakefield Road, under I-43, will close in summer for overhead temporary bridge construction.

Falls Road, over I-43, will close mid-March through fall for bridge reconstruction.

Pioneer Road, east of I-43 and Lake Shore Drive, will be closed early fall through late winter for reconstruction.

The County Line Road entrance ramp to I-43 south and I-43 north exit to Port Washington Road will remain closed through mid-2023.

Port Washington Road, between Port Washington Lane and County Line Road in Bayside, will close early March through fall for bridge, roadway and ramp construction. Port Washington road will be accessible to Katherine Drive until late summer.

Donges Bay Road, between Port Washington Road and Lake Shore Drive in Mequon, is scheduled to close early 2022 through late summer during bridge reconstruction over I-43.

Katherine Drive between Zedler Lane and Port Washington Road will close late summer through fall for box culvert, roadway and ramp construction.

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The interstate is scheduled to remain open to two lanes in each direction during peak travel times while maintaining access to businesses and residences.

Eddie Morales can be reached at 414-223-5366 or eddie.morales@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @emoralesnews.

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

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin DOT announces 2022 road closures as I-43 expansion continues
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg paid an official visit to Romania on Friday, where he joined the countrys president at a military air base that will host some of the 1,000 U.S. troops deployed to the country as the alliance bolsters its forces on the eastern flank amid soaring tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Stoltenberg, who met with Romanias President Klaus Iohannis and other officials at the southeast Mihail Kogalniceanu air base near the Black Sea, said that there is a risk of armed conflict in Europe.

We have no certainty about what will happen. That is why we call on Russia to de-escalate, Stoltenberg told the media. That is why we are vigilant and prepared, that is why the presence of NATO troops in Romania is so important.

The NATO chiefs visit came on the same day that the first U.S. military convoys carrying armored personnel vehicles rolled into the Romanian base, after traversing the country since arriving Wednesday night. It is part of a U.S. move relocating 1,000 U.S. troops from Vilseck, Germany, to Romania as U.S. officials fear Russia will soon invade Ukraine. NATO troops have also been deployed to Poland.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraines borders and performed military maneuvers in the region but says it has no plans to invade. Stoltenberg and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis held official talks Friday and will meet with troops deployed at the base.

Iohannis on Friday expressed his gratitude to U.S. President Joe Biden for sending the troops to his country and said it is proof of the allied solidarity. He called the current situation a crucial moment for Euro-Atlantic security.

We are just 200 miles away from the illegally annexed Crimea," Iohannis said. We also share part of our northern and eastern borders with Ukraine  we perceive the current security threat in a clear manner.

The troops will add to around 900 U.S. service members that were already stationed in Romania, a NATO member since 2004. Romania shares more than 600 kilometers of border with Ukraine, to the north. France has also pledged to send troops to Romania.

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Romania hosts a NATO missile defense system at the Deveselu military base, in the south, that Moscow has long considered a threat, arguing that the site could fire cruise missiles instead of interceptors. Washington has denied these claims.

Stoltenbergs official visit to Romania comes ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels next week. Stoltenberg, whose tenure at NATO ends later this year after serving in the post since 2014, said Friday that NATO ministers will discuss strengthening the presence of NATO in southeast Europe.

NATOs troop movements are aimed at defending members of the military alliance. NATO will not send troops into Ukraine should Russia invade.

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Follow all AP stories on the crisis over Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his British counterpart Ben Wallace that his ministry was ready to consider resuming cooperation with Britain on military issues, RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing a defence ministry statement.

The statement was issued after talks between the ministers held in Moscow.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and Watford boss Roy Hodgson

There is a full weekend of Premier League action to look forward to for the first time in three weeks.

Fresh from an exciting midweek round, the PA news agency looks at five of the main talking points in gameweek 25.

Will Saints exact revenge against stuttering United?

Southampton endured a torrid night at Old Trafford last February (Laurence Griffiths/PA) (PA Archive)

This time last year Southampton were reeling from their latest 9-0 defeat as Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side ran amok at an empty Old Trafford. Saints felt hard done by some decision-making as they were reduced to nine men and they return to Manchester Uniteds home for the first time since then with a spring in their step. Ralph Hasenhuttls men are in fine form and secured a thrilling 3-2 victory at Tottenham on Wednesday evening. United, by contrast, limped to a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Burnley the previous night and now desperately need to give their top-four hopes a shot in the arm. Ralf Rangnick will also be hoping to get one over his former RB Leipzig colleague.

Hodgson hunts first Watford win

Having fired Xisco Munoz in September and given Claudio Ranieri the bullet in January, the Hornets have put their trust in experienced Roy Hodgson to lead them to safety. The 74-year-olds reign began with a hard-fought 0-0 draw in dreadful conditions at Burnley and Jarrod Bowens goal was the only difference in the midweek trip to West Ham. Now comes Hodgsons first home match as Watford attempt to kick-start their survival hopes. Brighton have stuttered a little lately but highly regarded manager Graham Potter is sure to make life difficult for the hosts, who have yet to score under former England boss Hodgson.

Lampard looks for first league win as Everton boss

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Frank Lampard is looking for his first Premier League win as Everton boss (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire)

Frank Lampard kicked off his time in the Goodison Park dugout with an impressive 4-1 win against Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round, but Tuesdays 3-1 loss at Newcastle brought Everton back down to earth with a bump. The Toffees are just two points off the relegation zone  albeit with two games in hand on Norwich in 18th  and desperately in need of an upturn in fortunes. Deadline-day arrivals Dele Alli and Donny Van De Beek are pushing to make their first starts as 15th-placed Leeds head to the side directly below them in the table. Marcelo Bielsas side have history with Lampard from his Derby days and will be looking to get what could be a big win in the relegation battle.

Any shock in the top v bottom encounters?

 Here the full picture after Matchweek 24 pic.twitter.com/Cry2ZeGPGD  Premier League (@premierleague) February 10, 2022

Saturdays fixtures round off at Carrow Road, where Norwich face the unenviable task of halting reigning champions Manchester Citys relentless run to another Premier League title. Southampton are the only side to stop them taking all three points since Crystal Palace won at the Etihad Stadium in late October. Few expect that unbeaten run to end on Saturday evening, just as you would have to be brave to bet against Liverpool winning at Burnley on Sunday. Jurgen Klopps men need to keep clocking up victories in the hope City stumble and Sean Dyches men face a tough ask to follow three straight league draws with a Turf Moor triumph.

Can West Ham keep up top-four fight at Foxes?

West Hams handling of the Kurt Zouma situation is in the spotlight (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)

David Moyes would have been elated if he had been told West Ham would be fourth in the Premier League come mid-February, even if those below them have games in hand. Tuesdays 1-0 home win against Watford moved them onto 40 points but it has been quite the week for the east London club. Having narrowly avoided the mother of all FA Cup exits at non-league Kidderminster, this week has been dominated by defender Kurt Zouma abusing his cat and the clubs subsequent handling of the situation. The France international surprisingly started against Watford and will still be in the eye of the storm on Sunday afternoon at Leicester. The FA Cup holders were knocked out by Nottingham Forest last weekend and are in poor Premier League form, with Thursdays 2-0 loss at Liverpool leaving Brendan Rodgers men in 12th position.
Salisbury is saying goodbye to a beloved figure in the roller skating community.

Mitchell's Martial Arts announced the death of Ervin Frisby, known to many by the nickname "Shooter, in a recent social media post.

"Mr. Shooter endured a long fight and like he always did he gave 1000%," the post stated.

Frisby had been a fixture in Salisbury's roller skating community for decades.

A 1996 feature in The Daily Times on Frisby and his wife's volunteer work with Special Olympics athletes showed he had been a skate guard at Salisbury's popular roller rink Skateland for more than two decades  a role that endeared him to generations of skaters before he retired.

Ervin "Shooter" Frisby and his wife Jeanette are featured in a front page article about volunteering to help coach Special Olympics athletes in the Aug. 30, 1996, edition of The Daily Times.

"They loved him over there  he was like a father," Jeanette Frisby said in the article of her husband's years giving tips to beginners and lending a hand to skaters who'd taken a spill.

Skateland closed its doors in 2003, and the South Division Street building was sold. Mitchell's Martial Arts took over the location, and brought back roller skating in 2009, and "Shooter" Frisby continued working there in various capacities.

A photo of Skateland from the Oct. 18, 1996, edition of The Daily Times.

"Anyone who has been roller skating in Salisbury has more than likely had the pleasure of interacting with Mr. Shooter. Ervin 'Shooter' Frisby has been on the skate floor for decades helping children and adults learn how to skate," Mitchell's Martial Arts wrote in an appeal for donations to help cover medical costs for Frisby after he suffered a stroke in 2020.

The Facebook post announcing Frisby's death received dozens of comments, with users writing, "He always made everyone smile," and, "He was an incredible human!"

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The Salisbury Rollergirls Facebook page shared the post, writing that Frisby had helped many of the group's athletes develop their early skating skills.

"He became a friend and always welcome face at the rink to many others. Thank you, Shooter, for being the skating ambassador of Salisbury. You will be missed," the Salisbury Rollergirls wrote.

Mitchell's Martial Arts said plans are in the works for a memorial.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ervin 'Shooter' Frisby, fixture of Skateland and Mitchell's, dies
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has earned 104 million U.S. dollars export revenues from Chinese-built industrial parks, an Ethiopian official said on Friday.

Henok Asrat, Director of Communications at the Ethiopia Industrial Park Development Corporation (EIPDC), said the export earnings were achieved during the first six months of the current 2021/2022 Ethiopian Fiscal Year, which started on July 8.

"The 104 million U.S. dollars export revenues earned from industrial parks during the last six months of the current fiscal year is 25 percent more than the same period last year," Asrat is reported to have said according to Ethiopia state affiliated media outlet, Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).

Asrat further said construction of the Semera industrial Park, in eastern Ethiopia which is being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is 97 percent complete.

Ethiopia aspires to build and commission more than 30 industrial parks by 2025 across the country to realize its ambition of becoming a light manufacturing hub.

The Ethiopian government has attached great importance to cooperation with Chinese firms in various fields.

These include the construction of industrial parks along with giant Chinese firms investing in various industrial hubs, the majority of which were built with Chinese expertise and finance. 
The agency that handles economic development deals in South Carolina agreed to be more transparent with the incentive agreements it makes to bring jobs to the state.

The South Carolina Department of Commerces move is part of a settlement with state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, who sued after the agency redacted information when responding to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Commerce redacted the identity of executives and lawyers involved in economic development negotiations and what the agency considered confidential and proprietary information for a company.

In October 2020, a judge ruled the Department of Commerce could not keep details of business deals secret, such as the names of the prospective companies executives and lawyers involved in deal negotiations. The agency appealed the decision.

Under the settlement agreement, the Department of Commerce updated its FOIA policy and increased how much it discloses.

In our view, its not just a big win for Harpootlian, its a win for commerce and the people of South Carolina who will now have significantly more information about the nature of these deals than before this case was filed, said Chris Kenney, an attorney in Harpootlians office.

The S.C. Court of Appeals formally dismissed the appeal on Thursday with the settlement in place.

The settlement includes the agency providing information on the average wage for jobs that are created as part of an incentive package, whether the average pay is less than $15 an hour and disclosing the names of executives involved in negotiations.

You will get a snapshot of what types of jobs are being created pursuant to these deals without being invasive as to the individual company that may be at issue, Kenney said. It will give the public more information about whether were getting the benefit for the bargain.

The Department of Commerce also agreed to have its coordinating council enforce clawback provisions when employers dont meet performance requirements under their deal. The agency also will have enhanced reporting by the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development and include available incentive data on its website.

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I am pleased to arrive at this agreement which underscores commerces commitment to providing more clarity and insight into our processes without inhibiting the states competitive position, Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said in a statement. We will continue to explore transparency that balances the public interest with our industry recruitment efforts and the competitively sensitive information of businesses operating within the state.

Harpootlians law office said the senator and Lightsey worked cooperatively on settling the lawsuit, which was filed in October in 2019 by Harpootlian when Bobby Hitt was secretary of commerce.

Negotiations to settle the matter lasted more than six months.

I want to commend Secretary Lightsey for reaching out and working cooperatively and collaboratively to resolve this in a way that provides an immense amount of transparency that wasnt there before, Harpootlian said in an interview with The State. I am heartened by his attitude and his willingness to work with me in resolving this issue. Its a sea change.
A school bus driver was shot while on duty while students were on board, Minnesota police said.

Officers found a school bus driver with a gunshot wound to the head on Feb. 9 at around 2:15 p.m. in Minneapolis, police said in a news release.

Three children under the age of 10 were on the school bus during the shooting, and none were injured, police said.

.

Police said the bus drivers injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

Officers are investigating the incident.

School bus fired upon with 12 students on board, North Carolina district says

Bus carrying Fort Bragg troops to Charlotte Hornets game collides with another car

Gunmen target school bus stops to rob students, Arizona police say
More than $230,000 of school district grant money meant to fund early childhood programs in Arkansas was used to fund a Little Rock womans personal shopping sprees, officials say.

Karen James, former director of early childhood education and elementary literacy for Little Rock School District, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on Feb. 9 after she was accused of spending $230,635.86 on fraudulent purchases, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The defense attorney representing James did not immediately respond to a request for statement from McClatchy News.

Officials say James, now 48, used Little Rock School District credit cards to shop online for herself from August 2014 until she was caught in August 2018.

The Little Rock School Districts (LRSD) own internal monitoring and auditing process resulted in the discovery of the inappropriate use of the credit card, a district spokesperson told McClatchy News.

Some of those unauthorized purchases included a $128 set of bath rugs and a $1,000 recliner from Wayfair, along with 2,462 items from Amazon totaling more than $199,000  including home goods, clothing, knitting materials, makeup, pet products and gift cards, according to her plea agreement filed in court.

James also admitted to 83 unauthorized purchases totaling over $27,000 through PayPal, according to the news release.

To hide the fraudulent, unauthorized purchases, James admitted to having the products delivered to her home, a neighbors house and to family in Missouri. She also said she submitted fabricated sales receipts and altered transaction logs that made it appear as though she was making authorized purchases.

Authorities say the two credit cards she had access to were funded by state and federal grants.

As part of her plea, James agrees to pay back the full $230,635.86 in restitution to the school district, according to the news release. Her full sentencing will be determined at a later date.

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Little Rock School District says James resigned from her position in lieu of termination after she was placed on administrative leave during the investigation. The district says it has also added an additional safeguard to prevent future fraudulent purchases.

Man stole students info to file fake tax refunds but didnt earn a dime, feds say

School worker stole 3,000 iPods meant for Native American kids in New Mexico, feds say

Woman buys $200k in goods from Costco, Hobby Lobby and more with bad checks, feds say
Months before Tuesday night's town hall where Sioux Falls-area veterans slammed the head of the Sioux Falls VA for a failure to administer the Community Care program, the South Dakota Veterans Council held a vote of no confidence against her.

In a letter drafted in October, the Council wrote they had no confidence that VA Director Lisa Simoneau could provide the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System with "quality leadership and oversight."

The Argus Leader reviewed a copy of the letter sent by the SD Veterans Council.

In it, they write about the problems faced by veterans and employees of the Community Care program, which allows veterans to go outside of the VA to local health care providers to receive medical treatment.

Senator Mike Rounds, center, listens to complains Sioux Falls veterans have about the Community Care program run through the VA.

Issues include the breakdown of the Community Care program through problems with its call center, staffing issues at the VA and a hostile work environment.

"We all believe that these problems directly stem from an inability (or unwillingness) of the Director to provide effective, competent, compassionate, and trustworthy leadership to the agency," according to the letter.

Earlier: Sioux Falls veterans say VA program isn't getting them the critical care they need

Members of the council had the chance to vote on the letter of no confidence until Nov. 19. The letter was then sent to the director of the VA Upper Midwest Network and the offices of Senators John Thune, Mike Rounds and Representative Dusty Johnson.

Rounds attended the town hall Tuesday night to listen to veterans and VA employees speak about the problems encountered with the Community Care program.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls VA Health Care director given vote of no confidence
The first publicly delivered progress report by St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard Thursday night contained a number of ongoing infrastructure projects scheduled for future funding through the issuance of federal and state grants.

Before a sizeable Delta Grand crowd in Opelousas, Bellard outlined the details included in his 2021 progress report, providing a glimpse of proposed road, drainage and parish jail improvements that he hopes will continue this year.

While Bellard touted the progress of his administration for cleaning of ditches, installing culverts and patching and overlaying roads, he admitted that there is still much work remaining at the parish jail and airport, as well as ridding St. Landry of property that is blighted and abandoned due to unpaid property taxes.

Despite the increasing list of projects that await completion, Bellard said he welcomes the challenge.

This is what I love to do. Despite what you might read in the newspapers, we (council and parish administration) work well together, Bellard added. Do we fuss and fight? Of course we do. But its going to take a team to move things forward and we have that. Thats what we are going to do.

Broadband, drainage and jail improvements top priorities

The main focus for the infrastructure initiative is funded through federal revenues.

More: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy: 'First fruits' of $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill flowing to Louisiana

Bellard said St. Landry has qualified with three other parishes for $50 million in a national telecommunications grant that will be used to spread more broadband access to areas that now have connectivity issues.

We are way ahead of other parishes in getting different companies to lay down cable, Bellard said. When the grant money in this first grant is completed, we will think we will qualify for another grant that will in three or four years, provide a cable system in all the areas of our parish.

Bellard said flood and drainage relief is another issue that he wants to address.

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More federal money allocated to state officials, Bellard said, will provide a comprehensive study that will be used to create a drainage study program that reduces flooding in St. Landry and parishes south of Interstate 10.

More: Funding for faster internet, airport renovations top priority for St. Landry's D.C. visit

Expanding and refurbishing the parish jail is an ongoing issue that can be at least partially solved through ongoing American Rescue Act revenues funneled into St. Landry, Bellard added.

Right now the parish jail is our biggest problem. At present we have 121 inmates housed in facilities (outside St. Landry), said Bellard. That is costing parish government $111,000 a month for the care they receive elsewhere. If we didnt get the ARA money we get now to do this, I really dont know what we would do.

Bellard said he is working on a $5 million project that primarily uses the ARA funding to increase the parish jail capacity. About another $200,000 Bellard said, will be used to repair the roof of the current jail facility.

Other problems: St. Landry Sheriff says staffing department has become a serious problem

Other projects on the horizon

Parish government is also trying to sell about 1,000 properties that are on the market due to unpaid taxes, Bellard said. The parish is also spending money to demolish buildings and residences that are abandoned.

The parish airport is being addressed with a federal grant aimed at providing more hangar space. Additional aircraft parked at the airport will assist in creating more aviation fuel sales, said Bellard.

Related: Landlords are collecting rent on properties owned by St. Landry Parish

One woman who spoke at the event and did not identify herself, questioned Bellard about the need for a parish-wide library.

Bellard explained that parish voters had already rejected spending money for a library and there are no plans for the administration to fund a parish government-funded library.

Residents weigh in on Bellard's presentation

Several individuals interviewed after the event gave Bellard high marks for the presentation.

I thought (Bellard) showed that he has a good plan and he is well-prepared to provide some upgrades for the parish, said Andre Herpin.

Opelousas attorney James Lopez said Bellards plans for the parish seem very thorough."

"I thought he did a good job of reviewing what he has done and what he plans to do, Lopez added.

Marlin Jones said he appreciated Bellards attempt to generally inform residents about his administration.

I think its the first time we saw anything like this put before the people. He did a good job of keeping us informed, Jones said.

This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: St. Landry Parish projects update: President gives public address
A Ferguson Township felon was indicted Thursday on a federal weapons charge that accused him of possessing nearly 500 rounds of ammunition and two rifle parts treated as firearms.

Ronald Hertzog, 59, was accused of possessing five different types of ammunition and two rifle lower receivers, the primary structural component of a gun that fire control components are attached.

Corl Street Elementary School was cleared Feb. 2 while police officers executed a search warrant on Hertzogs home. The building was closed to all students and employees at the end of the school day and after all meetings concluded, Principal Kelly Mark wrote in an email to students guardians.

Ferguson Township, State College, Patton Township and Penn State police assisted federal investigators. Defense lawyer E.J. Rymsza did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

Hertzog pleaded guilty in 2002 to a federal charge that accused him of possessing four machine guns, three improvised explosive devices and a silencer.

The charges, according to court documents filed in 2005, were the result of a yearlong investigation into the Pennsylvania Citizens Militia, whose purpose was to protect their homeland against terrorists and foreign influence.

Hertzog organized and attended two field training exercises where discussions about protecting the country against the United Nations occurred, according to the document.

The former Penn State computer programmer was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison.
The State Department is asking Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, issuing a Level 4 travel advisory on Thursday. The advisory warned Americans not to travel to Ukraine and for those in Ukraine to leave "due to the increased threats of Russian military action."

"There are continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action against Ukraine," said the advisory. "The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine's borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice."

The State Department warned that the government would not be able to evacuate Americans if Russia invades and urged for Americans in the country to come up with contingency plans that do not rely on assistance from the U.S. government.

"American citizens should leave now," President Biden told NBC News on Thursday. "It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

A woman walks past the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The State Department is ordering the families of all American personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave the country and allowing non-essential staff to leave Ukraine. / Credit: Efrem Lukatsky / AP

In January, the State Department authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from the embassy in Kyiv.

The warning cited Crimea and areas of Donetsk and Luhansk as areas of increased risk .U.S. government officials are prohibited from traveling in Russia-occupied Crimea, citing that "authorities continue to abuse and arbitrarily imprison foreigners and the local population."

Tensions are high in the region with Russia amassing more than 100,00 troops surrounding the border of Ukraine. The Pentagon believes Russia now has 70% of the forces in place to mount a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If Russia invades, it would be the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.

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Russia on Thursday kicked off military exercises with Belarus along the Ukrainian border, leading to NATO increasing its own forces in the region.

CBS News has confirmed that the U.S. government has plans in place to evacuate the thousands of Americans living in Ukraine  if it needs to do so  to neighboring Poland, a NATO ally to which the U.S. has recently deployed additional troops.

David Martin and Christina Ruffini contributed to this report.

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If you ask Doris Irwin, who will turn 101 years young on Saturday, "what's the secret to living a long life," she'll tell you she has no idea how she lived this long.

Sandra Lepley

But, what she will tell you is that the secret to a good life is cherishing family and friends, enjoying every day and making sure "not to collapse and not resurface" through hard times. And, Doris has seen her fair share of hard times. Both of her children are deceased and all of her siblings and cousins are gone but she is still thankful for every day and for her grandson, Tony Sznoluch, and his wife, Paula, and their children, Selena, 14, and Kyle, 22. She lives with them in Brunswick, Maryland, and while her mind is still sharp as a tack and she gets around well and uses a walker sometimes, they help her with everyday living.

"I never dreamed I would live this long," she says. "The whole world has changed right before my very eyes. People use their phones as computers nowadays and so much has changed in how we communicate with one another."

While the former Doris Uetz was born Feb. 12, 1921, in Philadelphia, she lived in Meyersdale with her husband, Jim Irwin, from 1983 up until the past five years when she began living with her grandson Tony and his family. In his youth, Tony stayed with his grandparents at their house along High Street in Meyersdale in the 1980s and attended Meyersdale Area High School. He has many good memories of his time spent in Somerset County.

"My great Uncle Bill Irwin was a card and would tell me jokes all the time," says Tony. "It was a good time back then being with my grandparents in Meyersdale. When we were recently clearing out the house, I found a box of military photos of my grandfather Jim and that was a real treasure."

Doris met her husband Jim while he was serving in the U.S. Army at Aberdeen, Maryland. Her brother Charles, who was also in the Army, brought him for a visit to their home while the two were on leave. Jim called Doris twice and while she refused him the first time, the second time she agreed to go out on a date.

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They were married in 1943 and mostly lived in Olney, Maryland, a neighborhood of North Philly. Doris worked at a savings and loan company and Jim worked at a company that made railroad cars. In fact, they rode to Florida for their honeymoon on the Silver Meteor, a fairly-new diesel-powered Amtrak train at the time that was famous for traveling from New York City to Miami, Florida. Jim worked for the company that made that train.

They had two children: Jimmy Jr., who died at 14 years old in 1959; and Diane James (who had married Larry James of Meyersdale, now also deceased) of Newport News, Virginia, who died in 2010 at 59 years old. Diane had two sons, Tony (who has already been mentioned) and Jim Sznoluch, who lives in Chesapeake, Va., and has three children.

Doris had lived alone along High Street in Meyersdale since her husband Jim died in 1994 at the age of 76 years old. Jim was one of five siblings, who included Bill, Ken, Jack, and Thelma Bittner, now all gone as well.

While living to be 101 years old is a great achievement, Doris has seen many friends and family pass on and was sad that her last living cousin, who was in her wedding in 1943 and was 16 years old at the time, just died recently. Doris was an only daughter and had four brothers (Charles, John, Bob and George) who also have all passed on.

And, her granddaughter-in-law Paula tells the story that six years ago when she turned 95, she ended up going to the hospital afterwards and was told by doctors that she didn't have long to live. Soon after that her grandson Tony told her she was coming to his house to live. That was six years ago and she is still going strong and getting ready for her 101st birthday party on Saturday.

"Don't ask me how I did it," she laughs. "I wonder if the good Lord has more work for me to do. You never know."

Happy 101st Doris!

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Sandra Lepley column about Doris Irwin turning 101 on Saturday
GABORONE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Botswana announced that proof of full vaccination will be required for both citizens and non-citizens arriving in the country beginning Feb. 14, Minister of Health and Wellness Edwin Dikoloti said on Friday.

"We have amended the public health order, and as of February 14, those who want to enter Botswana will have to show that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, but if you are not fully vaccinated, you will have to show a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours at your own expense," Dikoloti explained.

The rule does not apply to children under the age of 12. The government has also decided to provide those who are not fully vaccinated with the opportunity to be vaccinated at points of entry or borders by providing vaccination sites.

Meanwhile, out of the 347,000 people eligible for booster jabs, about 23 percent, or 79,000, have received them. According to Dikoloti, some vaccination sites were forced to close due to a low turnout of people receiving booster doses.

The southern Africa country is now bringing vaccination sites to the people, focusing on bus stations, churches, festivals, schools, universities, malls, and ward gatherings to encourage people to get vaccinated because of the availability of vaccines. Dikoloti emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated for those who are due for booster shots in order to be fully protected. 
A 2016 opera based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," is being staged at OU's Reynolds Performing Arts Center. [Wendy Mutz Photography]

It was old-fashioned puritanical guilt versus the almost unlimited promise of the new world in an opera previewed Wednesday at the University of Oklahoma.

The 2016 opera based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," was staged at OU's Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval.

Composed by Lori Laitman, with a libretto by David Mason, it was performed on a modern, minimal set, by a mostly black-and-white clad ensemble.

Laura Romero brought a pure, sweet voice to Hester Prynne, the unwed mother heroine, refusing to name the father of her daughter. David Soto Zambrana relied on a strong voice as a young pastor, struggling with illness, nightmares, and guilt, over letting Hester take blame for their out of wedlock daughter.

Matthew Reynolds also performed very well as a doctor dabbling in alchemy, delivering possibly poison medicine, and perhaps seeking revenge as Hester's former husband.

Romero will alternate with Amanda Kosi as Hester, Zambrana with Lorenzo Butler as the pastor, and Reynolds with Matthew McKinnon as the doctor, in the opera's brief run.

Parker Millspaugh was just threatening and witchy enough as Mistress Hibbons, adding to the impact of the tortured, melodramatic romantic triangle. Grace Ann Singleterry was appealing, with just a hint of imp, as Hester's daughter, Pearl  a part she will alternate in with Amelia Woodard.

Filling crucial roles, too, were the 1600s Massachusetts Bay Colony's Boston townspeople, their black and white clothes complementing Hester's gray-white garb, and red "A."

Armed with long rifles, staves, wooden rakes, and rude farm implements, they functioned as a kind of chorus  one that could sit in judgement or turn into a mob, at the drop of a black hat.

Guest stage directed by Beth Greenberg, with an austere set by Jon Young suggesting both city and forest, the opera was backed by a superb pit orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Shames.

The OU music school offering is highly recommended in its run at 8 p.m. Feb.11-12, and at 3 p.m. Feb. 13. Masks were worn by all performers in the Feb. 9 preview, and are strongly encouraged for spectators. For ticket information, call 405-325-4101 or go to http://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/d-i0CL91K8fNVpp1VhBsxeV?domain=theatre.ou.edu.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Strong voices lift 'The Scarlet Letter' opera at OU
As our nation struggles with record labor shortages, education officials should be looking for ways to help and not hinder veteran transition from military service to the workforce.

Our nations veterans, who patriotically served, have the well-deserved reputation for being smart, responsible and hard-working employees when they move to the civilian workforce, and rightly so.

Unfortunately, higher education policies currently being considered by the Department of Education will restrict veteran access to schools of their choice. If implemented, they will slow the pipeline of a well-trained and educated labor force at a time of historic need while also disrespecting veterans by diminishing benefits they earned through their service to this country.

Half a million veterans re-entered the workforce in January

As an Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Air Force veteran, single mother, and CEO of a non-profit organization founded to help veterans transition from service to civilian life, this is not an abstract policy issue to me, it is my daily reality and has deep profound impacts on my community.

When I transitioned from active duty, I learned very quickly that in order to be successful in the civilian sector I had to meet the black and white credentials written on a job description. I understood that in order to be relevant, and to continue to be a servant leader  serving my community  I must not only meet the job requirements, but exceed them. I believe that we, the military community, raised our right hand to serve, defend, and protect, and in doing so we should fully utilize our earned benefits so that we may be able to be productive and continue serving. Though our uniforms change, our desire to serve doesnt.

My own experience in the civilian workforce made me much more attune to the struggles many of my fellow servicemen and women face. Disheartened by the sheer number of my peers who struggled to make a successful transition to civilian life, my family and I formed the Centurion Military Alliance, or CMA, to help prepare service members for personal and financial success after their service is complete. A key aspect of our program is assisting veterans as they make informed decisions about their education  whether they choose to go to a public university, college, or career school.

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Many of these men and women are spouses, parents, and/or breadwinners who depend on a college that offers them the flexibility to advance their education and future potential while still earning a necessary paycheck. They are not the traditional students seeking to attend a traditional four-year college.

White House pushing to get more veterans into the trucking industry

Access to a menu of college choices is something that should be celebrated, not hindered by Department of Education officials who havent had to experience the challenges my members experience on a daily basis. Yet, somehow, the debate is still stuck in dusty disagreements over traditional versus non-traditional college. Some policymakers dont understand  or want to understand  how these schools work outside of the traditional campus confines, and want to prevent veterans from enrolling in them. How? By using the fine print of the GI bill to restrict how they can use the education benefits they earned through their service.

Im proud that I earned my bachelor and masters degrees, as well as my doctorate, through online colleges. I chose this path because I was working full time and a single mother. As a result, I now have the opportunity to connect veterans with some of our nations leading employers, who choose to work with us to access talented, trustworthy and dedicated veterans, many of whom, in fact, earned their education and training at these non-traditional colleges.

Veterans, by virtue of their sacrifice and service, have earned the right to utilize their educational choices they deem to be in their best interest. Their desire and options to advance their employment and earning potential should be commended, not constricted.

As our nation struggles with record labor shortages, education officials should be looking for ways to help and not hinder veteran transition from military service to the workforce.

Dr. Chaunte Hall is a retired Air Force veteran and CEO of the Centurion Military Alliance, a non-profit organization that helps service members and veterans transition their military skills into a civilian career.

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The Taliban has detained journalists working for the United Nations in Afghanistan.

"Two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul. We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, in coordination with others," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees tweeted on Friday.

"Several foreign nationals" were charged with working for Western intelligence agencies and arrested, a Taliban intelligence member told The Washington Post.

Further details from either side were not given in a country that has been accused of numerous human rights violations since Taliban's takeover.

Journalists in Afghanistan have been under heavy scrutiny by the Taliban since they took power, making it difficult for them to report. Women have also found it more difficult to work under the U.S.-labeled terrorist group.

The country is currently on the brink of collapse as nations try to circumvent the Taliban and get humanitarian aid directly to Afghan citizens.

The news comes as other journalists are having trouble in hot spots around the world.

Media companies in the U.S. are urging the Pentagon to let reporters embed with U.S. forces around Ukraine.

As the U.S. sends troops to Europe amid concerns Russia could invade Ukraine, the Pentagon has denied access to reporters despite journalists previously embedding with troops during hostile situations.

"There's a lot of factors that go into deciding how we handle media access. Some of these decisions are very difficult to make. We take it very seriously and right now we're trying to balance a lot of factors in terms of the time and space for diplomacy," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
A Lexington teenager charged with shooting a cop last weekend has been accused of violating his bond conditions multiple times in another case, according to court records and WKYT, the Herald-Leaders reporting partner.

The 16 year old, charged with assault and attempted murder of a police officer after he allegedly shot a Lexington cop Saturday, was charged in 2020 with robbery, assault and wanton endangerment, according to court records.

He was released in November 2020 on a conditional bond and ordered to not commit any additional crimes, according to court records.

In January, he violated his release conditions by committing assault, terroristic threatening and strangulation, according to an affidavit.

He was detained again but released into home incarceration on Jan. 21, according to court records. He had an ankle monitor which tracked his location, but he cut off the monitor on Jan. 22, according to an affidavit filed the same day.

Court records accessed by the Herald-Leader Thursday evening didnt indicate where the teenager was between the date he cut the ankle monitor and the date of the shooting.

The teenagers court record is publicly available in Fayette Circuit Court. The Herald-Leader is not naming the teenager because he is a minor. Lexington police didnt release the teenagers name after he was charged in the shooting, but WKYT reported the teenager was involved in both cases.

Shooting incident

The 16 year olds full charges stemming from Saturdays shooting include assault of a police officer, three counts of attempted murder of a police officer, five counts of wanton endangerment, possessing a handgun as a minor, carrying a concealed weapon, criminal mischief, trafficking a controlled substance with a gun, trafficking marijuana with a gun, and receiving a stolen gun, police said.

He was one of three teenagers charged in the altercation, which occurred Sunday when police approached four teenagers who they believed may have been involved in an earlier shooting, Lexington police said. The 16 year old fired at the cops, striking one officer who was protected by his ballistic vest, police said. Another officer shot back, but no one else was injured, police said.

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Two 17 year olds were each charged with possessing a handgun as a minor, trafficking a controlled substance with a gun, trafficking marijuana with a gun and receiving a stolen gun.

The teenagers were taken to a juvenile detention center, police said.

The officer who got shot was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, police said. Police Chief Lawrence Weathers previously said the officer was in good spirits. The Lexington Police Department said Thursday it didnt have an update to provide on the officers condition.

Kentucky State Polices Critical Incident Response Team launched an investigation into the shooting. Its common for the Critical Incident Response Team to investigate shootings across the state which involve law enforcement officers.

Lexington officer shot but was protected by bulletproof vest. Police return fire.

Teenager charged with attempted murder of an officer after shooting at Lexington cops
Two teenage boys were arrested this week after a probe determined they made bomb threats to seven mostly Black Washington, D.C. schools.

Two teenage boys were arrested this week after an investigation determined they called in bomb threats to seven predominately Black schools in Washington, D.C.

Four public high schools and three charter schools were evacuated after the threats this week, including Dunbar High School, which was threatened Tuesday during a visit by Douglas Emhoff, the Second Gentleman, who was at Americas first Black public high school for a Black History Month event, according to NBC News.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia conduct an investigation of a security threat at Dunbar High School Tuesday in Washington, D.C., where Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, was attending an event in commemoration of Black History Month. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Emhoff was escorted out of the school after the threat was received.

In addition to Dunbar High School, the threats targeted Theodore Roosevelt and Ron Brown high schools, as well as KIPP DC College Preparatory, IDEA Public Charter School, Seed Public Charter School, McKinley Tech High School and Friendship Public Charter School, according to the D.C. Police Department Twitter.

The department wrote early Thursday that a 16-year old juvenile male, of Southeast, DC, has been arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats in connection to multiple bomb threats yesterday. MPD continues to investigate these incidents with our federal partners.

A second afternoon tweet said another 16-year old juvenile male, of Northwest, DC, has been arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats in connection to a bomb threat at Kipp DC College Preparatory on Weds 2/9. MPD continues to investigate these incidents with our federal partners.

All of the schools were eventually cleared with no hazardous material found, according to police.

The Washington D.C. high school threats come after bomb threats this month at nearly a dozen HBCUs, including Howard University and, most recently, Spelman College. Six tech-savvy juveniles were identified as persons of interest in those threats last week by the FBI, according to NBC News. The threats appear to be racially motivated.

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The FBI is aware of the series of bomb threats around the country and we are working with our law enforcement partners to address any potential threats, the FBI said about the college threats. As always, we would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious to report it to law enforcement immediately.

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the recent threats this week on Twitter.

Americans have a right to be safe at work, in houses of worship and at school, she wrote. The FBI is investigating threats made against our historically Black colleges and universities and houses of worship. We must stand up against any threat of violence in our communities.

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The post Teens charged with calling in bomb threats to predominantly Black high schools appeared first on TheGrio.
By Elvira Pollina

MILAN (Reuters) - The board of Telecom Italia (TIM) will discuss the group's overhaul on Monday as newly appointed chief executive Pietro Labriola strives to forge an alternative to a takeover proposal by U.S. fund KKR.

The private equity group approached Italy's biggest telecom operator in late November but the process stalled while Telecom Italia changed its CEO, and Italy went through the process of reelecting its president.

Labriola, who previously ran TIM's Brazilian business, is now working on a standalone plan in response to the 10.8 billion euro ($12.30 billion) bid from KKR, which TIM's top shareholder, French media company Vivendi, has said was too low.

Under pressure for years from competition at home and after a string of profit warnings last year, debt-laden TIM is considering splitting its network assets into a separate company as part of a broader revamp of its business.

That could pave the way to a long discussed merger of TIM's infrastructure assets with those of state-owned rival Open Fiber, a move advocated by state lender CDP, TIM's second largest investor.

Italy's main telecom unions called on Friday for a general strike on Feb. 23 and further action in protest against the possible spin off, raising concerns about its potential fallout on jobs.

TIM's future is politically sensitive because the Italian government wants to use European Union funds to improve broadband access for millions of households and businesses as part of its post-pandemic recovery.

While it waits to see if KKR formalises its bid, Italy's Treasury would be prepared to allow the fund to play a role in the telecom's overhaul, two people close to the matter told Reuters. Last year, KKR already invested 1.8 billion euros in a 37.5% stake in TIM's secondary network.

MARCH MOVES

Under Labriola's plan, which the board is expected to approve on March 2, TIM would focus on its consumer business, while enhancing its offer for corporate clients and developing cloud, Internet of things and cybersecurity businesses.

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Sources have previously said it was unlikely TIM would take any firm stance on the KKR proposal before early March.

Telecoms operators across Europe are looking at ways to reinvigorate their operations, with bankers reporting talks in multiple countries as companies gear up for the roll-out of expensive new 5G services.

Britain's Vodafone said on Thursday it had rejected a preliminary approach for its Italian business from France's Iliad and Apax Partners. That combination would have challenged TIM's position as Italy's largest mobile phone company.

($1 = 0.8782 euros)

(Additional reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome; Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden said Thursday he has no plans to send troops into Ukraine to rescue U.S. citizens in the event of a Russian invasion, saying Americans and Russians shooting at each other would amount to a "world war."

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly," Biden said in an interview with NBC Nightly News' Lester Holt.

Asked if there was a scenario in which he would deploy troops to help evacuate Americans, Biden said: "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another."

The president repeated a warning for Americans still in Ukraine to leave now, adding: "Were in a very different world than weve ever been."

More than 100,000 Russian troops have massed along the Ukrainian border, stoking fears that an incursion could come at any time. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he has no plans to invade Ukraine, but his forces continue to conduct military drills along the border. NATO allies have responded by shoring up military support along the eastern flank.

Biden said he has told Putin that any action that would affect Americans would escalate the already tense stand-off.

"'I'm hoping that, if in fact he's foolish enough to go in, he's smart enough not to ... do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens," Biden said.

Asked if he's told Putin that Americans would be a red line, Biden responded: "I didn't have to tell him that. I've spoken about that. He knows that," he said.

More: Harris will head to Germany next week for talks on Ukraine crisis: What we know

More: Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Europe as tensions spike with Russia over Ukraine

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden: No plans to evacuate Americans from Ukraine if Russia invades
Tosa turkeys block traffic at the intersection of N. 70th street and W. State street in Wauwatosa on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021 during the evening rush hour. The turkeys are a regular sight in the downtown area of the city and are often seen during the evening hours making it a challenge for motorists getting off from work.

Three turkeys that have been acting aggressively in Wauwatosa were captured and killed this week.

The news comes after five turkeys have been seen roaming the streets and parking lots together near West State Street in recent months.

Turkeys have been a common sight in parts of the city for some time now as they've been seen crossing busy streets and intersections, showing up on the front steps of homes and even prancing around the Hart Park auditorium.

But some have been getting more aggressive recently, according to city staff.

Laura Stephens, Wauwatosa's health officer, said Wisconsin Wildlife Services wasn't able to relocate the turkeys in the city. After they were captured, the birds were provided to a processor and given to local food pantries.

"Removal of an animal is a last resort and only done in extreme circumstances," Stephens said. "In this case, the Health Department, other city departments, the DNR, Wildlife Services and local businesses had received dozens of calls with concerns about these turkeys and aggressive behavior."

Dan Hirchert, the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS Wildlife Services, said the situation was made worse by people feeding the turkeys.

"Citizens with good intentions often think they are helping them get through winter, but turkeys will associate the handouts with humans and then eventually approach unsuspecting passers-by," Hirchert said.

Hirchert said the agency received a permit to remove the turkeys from the city.

"The permit said the birds could be relocated within the city or taken to a processor. The city did not have an adequate location within those parameters to release these birds without possibly creating another conflict for residents," he said.

Hirchert said turkeys can get bold as well, as the birds can weigh more than 20 pounds, with sharp spurs.

"People can and have hurt themselves trying to get away from aggressive turkeys and Canada geese too," Hirchert said.

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Four turkeys are seen in the parking lot of Outpost Natural Foods in Wauwatosa in January 2022.

Stephens said the city has received one incident report from Outpost about a confirmed attack on a person. Outpost recently put a sign up to deter shoppers from feeding the turkeys.

"However, there were many residents and employees who still felt unsafe around these turkeys. When there are safety concerns, we need to address the issue by removing the animal(s)," Stephens wrote in an email.

Stephens said the hope is for the other two turkeys to continue to "coexist peacefully" in Wauwatosa. But they'll continue to monitor them.

It's important for people to not feed turkeys or other wildlife as well.

"We understand that many people in our community enjoy the local wildlife," Stephens said. "However, intentional feeding of turkeys can cause the turkeys to lose fear of humans and can result in habitation at close distances to humans where the risks of a negative interaction are highly likely."

Turkeys are seen roaming the streets of Wauwatosa in 2020.

Here's why it's important not to feed wildlife human food, according to the U.S. Department of Natural Resources:

"Human food can lead to diseases in wildlife. Most human food does not meet nutritional needs of wildlife and can cause serious health problems.

Animals have specialized diets. Because human food is nutrient deficient for wildlife, animals may become malnourished or die when fed human food.

Human food can cause damage to animals. Animals do not distinguish packaging from food, and the packaging may be consumed resulting in abrasions, sickness and even death."

The move to remove the turkeys comes days after a trapper in the city killed five coyotes following a coyote attack in December that killed a local couple's dog.

Evan Casey can be reached at 414-403-4391 or evan.casey@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @ecaseymedia.

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

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Aggressive' Wauwatosa turkeys were captured, killed, officials say
ABUJA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 10 passengers were killed while eight others sustained varying degrees of injury in a road accident involving a truck in Nigeria's northwest region early Friday, local authorities said.

The truck, overloaded with cattle and 18 passengers, lost control while on top speed in Gora village of Malumfashi local government area of the northern state of Katsina, according to Abubakar Usman, a spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps , who briefed reporters in Katsina city, the state capital.

Several cattle were also killed in the lone truck accident, Usman said, noting the vehicle was en route to Warri city in the country's Delta region.

He said the truck driver lost control at a sharp bend and crashed. Most of the passengers on board were from areas around the Nigerian border with the Niger Republic.

The official said local police had launched an investigation into the incident.

Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad road conditions, and reckless driving. 
(Getty/The Independent)

Who the f*** takes out $100,000 in loans for a man youve spent all of three days with? You deserved it.

The Tinder Swindler just shows how stupid women get when they fall in love.

Where can I find these stupid women from The Tinder Swindler that will dash me something sweet?

It was comments like these that flooded social media following the release of The Tinder Swindler last week. The Netflix documentary, which dropped on 2 February, follows a group of women who were swept up in a romance scam so intricate, so extreme that it left some of them hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Shimon Hayut, or Simon Leviev as he was known to his victims, conned women into believing they were in genuine relationships before asking them for money. The narrative of the documentary follows how the women  Cecilie Fjellhy, Pernilla Sjoholm and Ayleen Charlotte  met Hayut through Tinder and how he manipulated them into giving him their money.

Presenting himself as the son of billionaire diamond mogul, Lev Leviev, Hayut would begin each romance by showering the women with lavish gifts, flights on a private jet he apparently owned, and promises of love and commitment. But once he had secured their trust, Hayut started asking them for large amounts of money under the pretence of needing to protect his identity from his enemies.

Fjellhy, who was 29 when she met Hayut in 2019, says she was conned out of more than USD$270,626 (200,000), while Sjoholm says she gave the fraudster at least USD$45,000 (33,256). The women have since set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise enough money to pay back their debts  all while Hayut, who was sentenced to 15 months in jail but was released after just five, walks as a free man.

Now, Netflix has released a new series based on another notorious fraudster; Anna Sorokin, better known by her fake identity as German heiress, Anna Delvey. Inventing Anna follows journalist Vivian Kent  based on real-life journalist Jessica Pressler, whose 2018 The Cut article about Sorokins crimes inspired the series  as she unravels the complicated web Sorokin spun around herself as she pretended to be a socialite spending her way through New York City.

Story continues

This whole story is completely true (except for all of the parts that are *totally* made up).



From the makers of Bridgerton, and starting Julia Garner, INVENTING ANNA is now streaming.pic.twitter.com/OBxTL3S85T  Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) February 11, 2022

Not long after Sorokin was charged with grand larceny and theft in 2017, one of her victims, Rachel DeLoache Williams revealed that Sorokin had scammed her out of USD $65,000 (48,000) over the course of their friendship.

In essence, what Sorokin and Hayut did are similar. They spent months gaining their victims trust and didnt give them any reason to believe they would turn them upside down and shake their pockets dry.

However, the difference in response towards what the fraudsters did has been stark. In Hayuts case, there is an inordinate amount of focus on the women being initially attracted to him on Tinder because he portrayed himself as a billionaire, with many people harking back to the misogynistic trope of the gold-digging woman.

Romance fraud, and just about every type of fraud, involves a level of grooming and manipulation

Dr Elisabeth Carter

Much of the social media discourse surrounding The Tinder Swindler seems to dismiss the serious fraud Hayut committed and instead mocks and blames the women whose lives he messed with. Even worse, by branding them as gold-diggers, many critics have twisted the entire narrative to frame Hayuts victims as the predators instead.

In contrast, the aggrandisation of Sorokin in pop culture has cast a huge shadow over her victims, shrinking them to the point of near non-existence. As the Evening Standard notes, Inventing Anna sometimes appears to buy into this Robin Hood self-mythologisation, where Sorokin is heralded almost as a hero for scamming banks, hotels and New Yorks elite in order to live like a socialite.

Lets not forget that Sorokin is a convicted criminal, found guilty of theft of services and grand larceny. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in state prison, but was released after two years. She was then taken back into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April 2021 for overstaying her visa, and has been in ICE custody since.

Dr Elisabeth Carter, a forensic linguist, criminologist and assistant professor at Kingston University in London, tells The Independent that victims of romance scams do seem to find themselves on the receiving end of more public vitriol than other types of scams. This, she says, is fuelled by the idea that victims of fraud have some level of complicity in order for the scam to work.

They have to give the information or the money over at some point [for the scam to work]. That leaves outsiders with the narrative that youve been a part of it, therefore it is your fault, she explains.

But romance fraud, and just about every type of fraud, involves a level of grooming and manipulation. The victim is making their decisions in a reality that has been so severely distorted that they cant be blamed at all  they have been groomed and manipulated into making these decisions, much like coercive control.

Romance scams are particularly damaging because victims dont just lose money, they also lose a relationship they were led to believe was real.

Its more common than we think, too. New research from UK Finances Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and the Online Dating Association has found that 38 per cent of people who have dated someone online over the past year have been asked for money, despite never meeting in person.

Carter says: These types of scams specifically are very cruel and pervasive. They can last for a long time  one of the victims in The Tinder Swindler was in a relationship with [Hayut] for 14 months  and you cant just switch off from it, you have residual feelings.

She compares it to domestic violence and abuse, where victims often tell yourself this is okay and are trapped in abusive relationships.

The real convincing wasnt done by wealth, it was done by stealth

Dr Elisabeth Carter

In the case of romance fraud, they are designed to exploit your trust and love and honesty in a relationship for the very reason of taking your money. Its very hard to overcome. But people just look at the money lost and dont see the psychological harm involved or the massive grooming before money is ever mentioned, Carter says.

Many critics of Hayuts victims have said the women were attracted to the lavish lifestyle and wealth he portrayed on Tinder, branding them as gold-diggers or greedy.

Ahead of the shows release, Fjellhy said in an interview with ITVs Lorraine that she and the other women had been victim-blamed. She said: We kind of knew it might come, but to be called a gold-digger for giving out money, like we said, we must have been the worst gold-diggers in history.

Carter adds that dating someone with money can be a red herring and its not the reason why these women continued to have a relationship with Hayut.

She continues: It might have been the reason they started it, but on Tinder, people make fast decisions based on a photo, a short bio and glimpses into a potential matchs lifestyle all the time.

Tinder Swindler is very much triggering, not about the money scamming per se, but the way he convinced a woman how he loved her and what they had so special.



Man who uses I love you to manipulate a woman whos deeply in love with him should have a special place in hell.  Uly Siregar (@sheknowshoney) February 7, 2022

But the real convincing wasnt done by wealth, it was done by stealth. We see in fraud prevention literature all the time, Dont give money to people you dont know, but the victims werent giving money to someone they didnt know. They were lending money to their boyfriend or friend, people pass money between family, friends and partners all the time, she says.

The use of gold-digger adds a misogynistic air to the backlash as well, as its often used to refer to women with wealthy partners.

There is something about women looking for love and finding love in a wealthy man that people dont like, Carter says. It goes against the normative gender roles of who women are expected to be, which is meek and mild-mannered and not explicitly interested in money or sex. And then if it goes wrong, they blame the woman.

But in the case of Sorokin, because she was seen to be scamming the elite, much less emphasis was placed on her victims. This is despite Williams becoming so traumatised by the theft that when she testified in court against Sorokin during the trial, she said: I wish I had never met Anna. If I could go back in time, I would. I wouldnt wish this on anybody.

There is something about women looking for love and finding love in a wealthy man that people dont like

Dr Elisabeth Carter

Neither Sorokin or Hayut fit the narrow narrative we have that scammers are hooded people sitting in a dark room behind a computer, tapping away at codes. Instead they led people to believe they had all the money in the world to go on eye-wateringly expensive shopping sprees and holidays, when the truth was that neither of them had a penny to their names.

[Sorokin] didnt match that narrative, and so it was almost seen as a civil matter rather than a criminal matter, Carter says. People forget all the time that financial abuse and fraud are likely to be committed by an acquaintance, or even by family members, and its not always out of the blue by a total outsider.

A lot of people thought Delveys friends who she defrauded must have known something was wrong since they were so close. But that was part of the fraud and the grooming. When youre on the inside, youre much less likely to question it.

We never consider that itll happen to us. You think you know someone  but then, you find out its just not true.
Top feeder schools for investment Banking.

Not surprisingly, Harvard University and New York University are the top feeder schools for a career on Wall Street, according to Wall Street Oasis 2022 Investment Banking Industry Report.

There are myriad factors that go into selecting the best MBA program for any particular student. Debt-conscious students might look to schools with the best ROI. Prestige-minded students might look for high rankings or schools with a stellar brand.

Theres location, price, and schools with the highest average salaries after graduation.

For those lured by the sky-high salaries in investment banking, the 25 top schools on Wall Street Oasis 2022 Investment Banking Industry Report should be on your radar.

WSO is an online community, news site, and career center for people working and aspiring to work in finance related fields. Its Investment Banking report collects data from employees working in the field to determine which schools the 10 large Bulge Bracket Banks target in their hiring and recruiting. Not surprisingly, Harvard University and New York University are the top feeder schools for a career on Wall Street.

Patrick Curtis

Patrick Curtis

The top feeder schools for investment banking rarely move, Patrick Curtis, founder and CEO of Wall Street Oasis, tells Poets&Quants. NYU has such a broad reach into almost all of the bulge brackets, and even for just the notable boutiques and middle market funds. The location is a huge advantage for NYU kids, because theyre able to meet people face-to-face, have coffees, and just network. Being in the city, right there, is a big advantage.

REPORT METHODOLOGY

WSO has almost 900,000 registered users who report a trove of data on the companies where they work. WSOs 2022 Investment Banking Industry Report takes this user-reported data to show which colleges and universities the 10 Bulge Bracket Banks recruit from the most. These banks include Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and UBS.

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WSOs reports are constantly changing based on new information users report to the WSO Company Database. The report we are looking at today is up-to-date as of this month and includes year-to-date data as well as data for the prior two years. Because of this, some of the latest trends reported by users wont start showing up until later reports. (WSO uses Bayesian statistics to create percentiles for companies with few observations.) Read more about WSOs report methodology here.

TOP FIVE SCHOOLS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 15% OF BIG BANK HIRES

Out of 2,578 WSO reporting users within the Bulge Banks, 91 are graduates of Harvard University. NYU was just a smidge behind with 90. The next three top feeder schools were the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) at 86, Columbia University at 70, and Cornell University at 70.

When totaled together, these schools account for 15.7% of hires at the top 10 Bulge Banks.The top 12 schools on the list make more than 25% of big bank recruitment and hiring.



While Northeastern and Ivy Leagues certainly have an advantage in big bank recruitment, if you click through the chart above youll find other schools sending their graduates to Wall Street. The University of Michigan is eight on the list followed by the University of Texas at Austin. There are also several West Coast schools  UC Berkeley, University of Southern California, and UCLA  along with the University of Chicago and University of Virginia landing in the top 25. London School of Economics also makes the list.

In all, there are 99 feeder schools ranked by WSO in its 2022 report. See the full list here.

NEXT PAGE: Where graduate of top feeder schools go to work + Top feeder schools of mid-level banks

Wall Street bull

Located in New York City, NYU students are well positioned to network with top Investment Banking firms.

WHERE GRADS OF TOP FEEDER SCHOOLS GO TO WORK

NYU was the top investment banking feeder school every year between 2012 and 2020, according to WSO annual reports. Harvard University overtook it in the last two years, but NYU finished in a close second.

In the 2022 report, NYU is particularly strong at Goldman Sachs (31 graduates) and Citigroup (13). Harvard also had its highest number of graduates at Goldman (30), but also had strong showings at Morgan Stanley (14) and JP Morgan (17).

In fact, Goldman had the highest number overall of hires than any of the other banks with 497, with 28 graduates from UPenn, 16 from Colombia and 12 from Cornell.

Whats interesting is that you can go bank by bank and see which schools they really like to recruit from and see where there is an alumni pull, Curtis says.

TOP FEEDERS AT MID-LEVEL BANKS

WSOs report also measures the top feeder schools at other notable banks such as Houlihan Lokey, Evercore, Jefferies and RBS.

In this category, University of Pennsylvania comes out on top with 69 graduates across 25 mid-level banks. NYU is close behind with 68, followed by University of Michigan (54), The University of Texas at Austin (45) and Duke University (44). Harvard drops to 10th on this list with 32 graduates.

Diving deeper into the data, you can see which firms target different schools. Houlihan Lokey seems to favor graduates from New York University and the University of Southern California, with 12 grads each in this years report. Evercores recruiting suggests strong connections to University of Pennsylvania (12), NYU (11), University of Western Ontario (10), and the University of Michigan (10). And Jefferies has 17 grads from Duke University.



ADVICE FOR STUDENTS NOT AT A TOP FEEDER SCHOOL

If your heart is set on a career in investment banking, knowing which schools banks like to target for the bulk of their recruiting and hiring is valuable information. But what about for students already enrolled in a school not on those top feeder lists?

What I always say is its hard to get one of these jobs even at a target school. At a non-target school, its a little bit like swimming upstream, but it doesnt mean you cant get there, Curtis says.

Keep your GPA high, and if you are at a liberal arts college, try to make your background a little stronger in financing with some online courses. More importantly, you just have to make genuine connections with people who work in the industry, even if its just a few alumni. Reach out to them, have a phone conversation, follow up with them.

DON'T MISS: MBA SALARIES & BONUSES AT THE TOP 25 B-SCHOOLS and FOR INVESTMENT BANKERS, PAY SOARS ALONG WITH HOURS

The post The Top 25 Feeder Schools For Investment Banking appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Toyota is plowing more money into EV production in the US. Just a few months after the automaker announced a $240 million investment in its West Virginia plant, it's pumping another $73 million into the facility.

The company says this will boost hybrid transaxle production capacity to 600,000 units per year. Workers at the plant will also start making around 120,000 rear motor stators annually to bolster production of electric motors. The plant can currently roll 1 million transmissions and engines off the production line per year. Following the latest investment, Toyota will have put over $2 billion into the plant.

Meanwhile, a separate $17 million investment will enable Toyota's Tennessee plant to make approximately 300,000 more hybrid transaxle cases and housings per year (the current capacity is around 1 million). The factory's workers also manufacture around 1.8 million engine blocks a year. The company says these parts are essential for all the Toyota and Lexus EVs it assembles in North America. This brings the automaker's total investment in the plant so far to $389 million.

Toyota is on a mission to offer electrified options across its entire lineup, as well as for Lexus vehicles, by 2025 and to release 30 EV models by 2030. Investing more heavily in EV production will help it reach those goals. Increasing EV battery production is important too, and the company recently announced plans to build a $1.29 billion battery plant in North Carolina.
DONT MISS: Fridays updated story, Whatcom man arrested in area of Thursdays shooting of 2 deputies booked in Skagit County.

Two Whatcom County Sheriffs Office deputies were shot Thursday in the Peaceful Valley area of Whatcom County while reportedly trying to break up a neighborhood dispute in which two people were shooting at each other.

A sheriffs office news release Thursday night said both injured deputies were conscious, alert and in stable condition, at St. Josephs hospital in Bellingham.

The suspect in the shooting surrendered after approximately an hour and half at 6:02 p.m. and was taken into custody, according to the release, which did not include the suspects name.

As of 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, the Whatcom County Jail log did not show any bookings that would that appear to match Thursdays incident.

Deputies were called to the neighborhood dispute in the Peaceful Valley area at approximately 4:18 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, Slater reported. They arrived on scene and reportedly tried to speak with a man who had a shotgun.

As they attempted to speak from the street with the man, both deputies were shot.

The investigation remains active, according to the release, which added that the sheriffs office has requested that the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Response Team take over the investigation.

A law enforcement officer takes a position on a Peaceful Valley home Thursday, Feb. 10. Law enforcement was investigating the shooting of two Whatcom County Sheriffs Office deputies who were reportedly trying to break up a neighborhood dispute in which two people were shooting at each other.

Unconfirmed emergency radio reports at the time said the suspect was in a house in the 3000 block of Green Valley Drive.

Michael, a neighbor in the area who asked not to have his last name used, told The Herald that a deputy told him that police had been shot, to lock himself inside and not to come out. He also reported hearing five to six gunshots.

A tweet by Washington State Patrol Trooper Jacob Kennett at 6:09 p.m. said the subject has now surrendered and is in custody. It is unknown if there are other occupants in the residence. The Herald has asked the sheriffs office to confirm.

More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles from various Whatcom County agencies were seen speeding eastbound on the Mount Baker Highway.

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According to unconfirmed emergency broadcasts at the time, Mount Baker Highway was shut down for a period and law enforcement cleared intersections in Bellingham for medical units that were on their way to St. Josephs hospital in Bellingham.

Other unconfirmed radio reports stated that law enforcement had set up a perimeter in the Peaceful Valley area.

Michael reported that a house in the neighborhood, believed to be the suspects, was lit up by floodlights Thursday night and a large number of law enforcement remained in the area as of 8 p.m.

A Bellingham Police Department car is staged at the Whatcom County Fire District 14, Station 92, on Mount Baker Highway near Kendall Road Thursday, Feb. 10. Law enforcement was investigating the shooting of two Whatcom County Sheriffs Office deputies who were reportedly trying to break up a neighborhood dispute in which two people were shooting at each other in the Peaceful Valley area.

Traffic on Kendall Road was backed up about a quarter of a mile, as a heavy law enforcement presence remained in the area.

St. Josephs hospital was put on lockdown for a few minutes before being switched to restricted access as a precaution, hospital spokesperson Bev Mayhew told The Herald in an email. Restricted access means security takes greater care at the hospitals entrances and was done in response to the reported shootings.

State Sen. Simon Sefzik, who represents the 42nd District of north Whatcom County, tweeted that he led the Senate in a moment of silence, adding, We must protect our law enforcement officers from this senselessness.

Sefzik was not alone in offering thoughts to the deputies who were shot.

Our thoughts and prayers are with your deputies and those who love them! the Yakima Police Department tweeted in response to a Whatcom County Sheriffs Office tweet about the shooting.
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs and Chairman of the Goldman Sachs Foundation John F. W. Rogers will hold a roundtable discussion with small business owners from across the country.

According to a release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, today it was announced that a new partnership between Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and the U.S. Department of Commerces International Trade Administration (ITA) will partner to equip small businesses with the resources they need to sell their products and services in international markets.

Todays launch will be followed by an educational series, New Year, New Growth, New Global Sales, during which small business owners will learn from U.S. Government trade specialists and fellow small business owners and 10,000 Small Businesses graduates who are successfully exporting their products and services, according to a press release.

The three-part virtual sessions on Feb.15, Feb. 22 and Mar. 1 will include advice about entering new markets, tips for developing digital strategies and global websites and guidance on financing an export strategy. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with trade experts. Small businesses can register online.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs and Chairman of the Goldman Sachs Foundation John F. W. Rogers will announce the new small business export partnership at Morgan State University. Small business owners and guests include:

 Gina M. Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce

 John F. W. Rogers, Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs and Chairman of Goldman Sachs Foundation

 Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University

 Funlayo Alabi, Shea Radiance (Maryland Small Business Owner)

 Kwabena Osei-Sarpong, Rife International (Maryland Small Business Owner)

 Talha Faruqi, Aventure Aviation (Georgia Small Business Owner)

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 Gwen Jimmere, Naturalicious (Michigan Small Business Owner)

 Natalie Kaddas, Kaddas Enterprises (Utah Small Business Owner)

 Cathy Koch, K-Tec Systems (Michigan Small Business Owner)

 Susan Mocarski, Cleverhood (Rhode Island Small Business Owner)

 Courtney Radloff, Purveyors of Fragrance (Texas Small Business Owner)

 David Simnick, Soapbox Soaps (Virginia Small Business Owner)
By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy said on Friday it is seeking input from utilities, communities and advocates as it develops its new program to boost struggling nuclear power plants with $6 billion in credits.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed last year tasked the DOE with creating the Civil Nuclear Credit Program to distribute the credits to nuclear plants.

Nuclear power generates power virtually free of emissions blamed for climate change, but the industry has lost 12 reactors since 2013 amid competition from renewable energy and plants that burn plentiful natural gas. In addition, safety costs have soared after the 2011 tsunami at Japan's Fukushima plant.

"We're moving as fast as we can," Andrew Griffith, the DOE deputy assistant secretary for nuclear fuel cycle and supply chain said in an interview about implementation of the credit program. "But we also want to get it right." The law intends to help reactors in states with competitive power markets.

Under the program, owners or operators of U.S. reactors can bid on credits to help support their continued operations. Applications must prove that their reactors will close for economic reasons and demonstrate that closure will lead to a rise in air pollutants. Credits will be allocated to reactors that are certified by the department over four-year periods.

DOE can appropriate $1.2 billion over the next four years and the last four-year period ends in 2035. Officials hope the program can begin to help one or more plants this year.

"U.S. nuclear power plants are essential to achieving President (Joe) Bidens climate goals and DOE is committed to keeping carbon-free electricity flowing and preventing premature closures, said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The administration is also eager to preserve high-paying union jobs at the plants.

The law instructs the department to give priority to plants that use domestically-produced uranium for fuel, though it is uncertain whether the program will help boost U.S. uranium mining amid relatively cheap imports from Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia and opposition from environmentalists.

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The United States has spent billions of dollars on a program to permanently store waste from nuclear power plants at Nevada's Yucca Mountain, a decades-long project ultimately rejected amid pushback from the state.

Currently the waste is stored at power plants across the nation in spent fuel pools and in hardened casks. The Biden administration is seeking local communities willing to host nuclear waste storage sites.

Griffith said community input on the credit program will help guide decisions. "We're really looking for broad input, not just from the utilities, but from the communities as well that host these reactors because that's a really important voice."

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Nick Zieminski)
The White House on Friday delivered its sternest warning yet to American civilians in Ukraine: Get out now, because the U.S. military wont help rescue you if Russia invades.

We obviously cannot predict the future. We dont know exactly what is going to happen, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters during a press briefing on the latest tensions in the region. But the risk is now high.

There is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion  The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.

For the last two months, Ukrainian officials have been preparing for another possible military conflict with its neighbor as Russian military forces have massed along the countrys border.

Russia could again invade Ukraine during Olympics, Blinken says

U.S. and NATO officials have repeatedly warned Russian leaders that any new invasion into Ukraine would trigger severe consequences, to include economic and political sanctions. But President Joe Biden has also repeatedly vowed not to get involved in a direct military fight with Russia in Ukraine.

Sullivan said that contrary to past reports that said Russia would not consider a military advance until the end of the month, White House officials believe that an invasion could begin any day now, although he emphasized that officials are not sure if Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a decision on that action.

While the U.S. is sounding the alarm, officials in Kyiv say Russia is not yet ready to launch a massive attack, a Ukrainian military official told Military Times.

Besides increasing the number of [battalion tactical groups] around Ukraine and continuing keeping diplomatic and political pressure on, nothing has changed, said the official, speaking anonymously to provide an assessment of the situation. He cited a combination of weather not conducive to armor vehicle movements, U.S. and allied diplomacy and regional military movements and internal Russian dissent and fear of a wider conflict as reasons.

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In recent weeks, the White House has ordered about 3,000 American troops into the region in a show of force. In addition, four Navy destroyers were recently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support NATO allies.

82nd Airborne could welcome American evacuees in case of Ukraine invasion

Sullivan said on Friday that American citizens in Ukraine should not view those moves as an assurance that individuals can be safely evacuated if Russia attacks.

These are not soldiers who are being sent to go fight Russia in Ukraine, he said. They are not going to war in Ukraine. Theyre going to defend NATO territory, consistent with our obligations. They are defensive deployments, they are non-escalatory.

On Jan. 23, State Department officials ordered all family members of U.S. Embassy personnel out of Ukraine amid increasing safety concerns in the region. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that American citizens in Ukraine who are facing difficulty leaving the country now can contact the embassy for assistance.

Russian troops bolster deployments near Ukraine, new satellite images show

Sullivan said officials did not know exactly how many Americans are currently in Ukraine because individuals are not required to register their movements with U.S. government officials. But he warned that everyone in the country is at risk, regardless of their citizenship.

If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality, he said. No one would be able to count on air or rail or road departures once military action got underway.

Despite amassing more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, Putin continues to insist that he has no plans to invade Ukraine and that the military moves are designed to counter growing NATO threats on the Russian border.

Military Times senior managing editor Howard Altman contributed to this report.
Will Iran, U.S. reach consensus to salvage Iranian nuke deal as Vienna talks enter final stage?

Xinhua) 08:02, February 11, 2022

Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)

"This (Vienna nuke) session is the critical one," a senior U.S. government official says. "We are genuinely in the very final stretch."

TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations on reviving the 2015 Iranian nuclear pact resumed on Tuesday in Vienna after a 10-day break, as both Iran and the United States have recently hinted at a possible deal in the Austrian capital.

Judging by the comments of different parties, the Iranian nuclear negotiations seem to have entered the final stage despite remaining differences, pending political decisions from capitals on a potential agreement, analysts said.

"FINAL STRETCH"

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden believes it has until the end of February to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which the United States discarded four years ago under its former President Donald Trump, otherwise Washington will have to "change tack and launch aggressive efforts" to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing three U.S. government officials.

"This session is the critical one," a senior government official was quoted as saying. "We are genuinely in the very final stretch."

In his phone conversation with top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stressed Iran's resolution to "seek a good agreement within the framework of its interests and rights," expressing his country's readiness to reach such an agreement as soon as possible.

Given the "undesirable trends undermining the JCPOA, there is a need to swiftly conclude these negotiations," Enrique Mora, the European Union's coordinator in the negotiations, tweeted on Monday.

"We need spirit of compromise to take us back to full implementation," Mora said.

Liu Lanyu, an Iran expert at the Institute for International and Area Studies of China's Tsinghua University, told Xinhua that the negotiations are approaching a "balanced point," at which it is hard for the United States and Iran to persuade each other to further make major concessions and the room for bargaining is limited.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani arrives at the venue of the new round of Iranian nuclear deal talks in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS

The United States announced last week its intention to waive sanctions on Iran's civilian nuclear program, which allows international nuclear cooperation projects with the country.

The sanctions waiver "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 Iran's return to the performance of its JCPOA commitments," the U.S. State Department said in its report to Congress.

In response, Iran said the U.S. move to restore sanctions waivers was "good but not enough," calling for "realism and tangible and real actions by the West," as said by Amir Abdollahian.

"Real, effective and verifiable economic benefit for Iran is a necessary condition for the formation of an agreement" in the ongoing Vienna talks, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani tweeted recently, noting "a show of lifting sanctions is not considered constructive."

The Republic of Korea confirmed last month that with the U.S. approval, it has paid Iran's delayed membership dues, amounting to 18 million U.S. dollars, to the United Nations from the Iranian funds which have been frozen in the country because of the U.S. sanctions.

These moves can be interpreted as efforts by the United States and Iran to build confidence and show sincerity with concrete actions, Liu said, adding practical measures have been taken to push the negotiations in a sound direction.

The overall prospect of the Vienna talks is "optimistic," as both Iran and the United States have shown a positive attitude toward the negotiations, said Fan Hongda, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University in China.

Iranian students take part in a rally marking the 37th anniversary of taking over the U.S. embassy by a group of Iranian students in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Nov. 3, 2016. (Xinhua File photo)

POLITICAL DECISIONS

The negotiations had "reached a point where political leaders needed to decide whether they would agree to key elements of an accord that would essentially return" to the JCPOA, a senior U.S. State Department official was recently quoted by The New York Times as saying.

A source close to the team of Iranian negotiators in Vienna told Iran's Tasnim News Agency on Monday that unlike Washington, Tehran has made its political decision.

"The main obstacle is the lack of a political decision by the United States," the source said on condition of anonymity.

In a letter to Biden on Monday, a group of 33 Republican senators said any deal with Iran on restoring the JCPOA requires Senate approval, warning the U.S. president that they will do everything in their power to block a possible deal if he moves forward without them.

"Voices from the U.S. show that there is no coherence in the country to make political decisions in the direction of advancement in the Vienna talks," Shamkhani wrote in a tweet on Wednesday.

Still, Tehran-based foreign policy analyst Diako Hosseini told Al Jazeera that "chances of the talks being successful are more than their failure, unless the sides overstep in their final efforts to gain more concessions."

"Under current circumstances, returning to the deal and keeping the window of diplomacy open is the best realistic option," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Four workers were found dead and four others injured in a factory explosion in South Korea's southern city of Yeosu, Yonhap news agency reported Friday.

The explosion occurred at about 9:26 a.m. local time (0026 GMT) at a petrochemical factory in the port city, some 450 km south of the capital Seoul.

Of the combined eight workers who were at the scene of the explosion, four died and four were sent to a nearby hospital for minor or serious injuries.

The explosion did not lead to a fire, according to Yonhap. Police and firefighters were investigating the cause of the explosion. 
By Natalia Zinets and Pavel Polityuk

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's security and defence council on Friday imposed sanctions on the television channel linked to Yevhen Murayev, the politician named by Britain as the possible leader of a Kremlin puppet government in the event of a Russian invasion.

Russia is massing increasing numbers of troops near Ukraine and an invasion could come at any time, including during this month's Winter Olympics, Washington said on Friday.

Murayev, a Ukrainian former opposition lawmaker who has promoted views that closely align with Russian narratives on Ukraine, has called the British allegation "stupid" while Russia labelled it disinformation.

Murayev lost his seat at the 2019 parliamentary election but still wields influence through his political party Nashi, and the Nash TV channel that is officially owned by his father Volodymyr.

Apparently anticipating the sanctions, Murayev was addressing supporters at a protest in his native city of Kharkiv while the security council met.

The sanctions were adopted "without discussion, without evidence," he told supporters in a speech broadcast on Nash TV. "...We will fight for the channel, for ourselves, for you, for our country."

Murayev's spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Russia has denied planning any military offensive against Ukraine but has pressed the West for security guarantees, including a block on Kyiv joining the NATO alliance.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the security council, at a briefing did not specify the nature of the sanctions, including whether the Nash channel would be closed.

The security council meeting was also held in Kharkiv, an eastern industrial city near the Russian border which is seen as a possible target for a Russian attack.

Ukraine last year imposed sanctions on TV channels linked to pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk, angering Moscow.

Murayev on Friday claimed without evidence that Nash TV was the only channel against any war between Russia and Ukraine. "Now they are closing the Nash TV channel, which means we are on the verge of war," he told supporters.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets and Pavel Polityuk; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by John Stonestreet)
A pair of western journalists detained by Taliban forces in Kabul have been released along with the Afghan nationals working alongside them, the United Nations said Friday.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced their release in a Friday afternoon tweet, hours after saying they had been detained. The journalists were working with the organization when they were detained.

"We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them. We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan," the organization tweeted.

The status of other foreigners the Taliban have detained in Kabul, including one American, was unclear on Friday.

The two journalists detained this week were a British reporter and Irish photographer, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The New York Times reported that Andrew North, a British citizen and former BBC reporter, and ex-journalist Peter Jouvenal, who ran a guesthouse in Kabul, had been detained.

More: Biden moves to split $7B in frozen Afghan funds for 9/11 victims, humanitarian aid

The Taliban had been holding at least nine foreigners in Kabul, according to The Wall Street Journal. In addition to the two journalists detained this week, seven others have been held in the Afghan capital since December. Six of those are British, and one is American, according to the Journal.

Those detentions are believed to be the first since the U.S. completed its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in late August after a two-decade war. As U.S. forces pulled back in the country, Taliban fighters again seized control of Afghanistan, overrunning its government.

President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as Afghan forces put up little resistance against the Taliban. That forced U.S. military officials to work with the Taliban during the withdrawal.

Taliban fighters surrounded the Kabul airport where the evacuation was centered, making it difficult for Americans and others trying to flee the country to get past access points and into the airfield.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghanistan: Taliban released journalists, Afghans in Kabul, UN says
Bibb Graves Hall, seen on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. The building is named for Graves, a former Alabama governor and member of the Klu Klux Klan. A renaming committee at the university proposed renaming the building Lucy-Graves Hall honoring both the former Klansman and the first black student to enroll at the university, Autherine Lucy Foster.

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees on Friday voted to reverse a decision that would have renamed a campus building after the school's first Black student and a former governor who was an officer in the Ku Klux Klan.

The education building was set to be renamed Lucy-Graves Hall in honor of Autherine Lucy Foster, who enrolled at UA for three days in 1956 before she was expelled, and former Gov. Bibb Graves, who served as a chief officer at a Montgomery chapter of the KKK.

But the decision to retain Graves' name drew a storm of criticism from students, faculty and alumni who argued it tainted her legacy.

Trustee John England Jr. said during the meeting that the controversy had obscured their goal of honoring Lucy Foster, who endured violence after enrolling on the campus in 1956.

Now it will be called Autherine Lucy Hall, reflecting her name when she enrolled as a student.

"Weve heard enough from those whose opinions matter to us  students, faculty, staff  that we can do that in a better way than what weve done," England said.

BACKGROUND: University of Alabama honors first Black student next to former KKK leader. Many are outraged.

The University of Alabama unveiled a historic marker honoring Autherine Lucy Foster, the first black student admitted to an all-white college in Alabama Friday, September 15, 2017. Foster gets a hug from University of Alabama senior Alecea Watkins as students line up to meet her. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Lucy Foster enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Alabama in 1956. She had to be driven to classes, and after leaving one class, her car was pelted with rocks by a white mob. The school suspended her, then expelled her on a technicality.

The university rescinded Lucy Foster's expulsion in 1988. She returned to Alabama and earned a master's degree in 1992.

Graves served two terms as Alabama governor, from 1927 to 1931 and again from 1935 to 1939. As governor he championed new spending on public programs, including infrastructure and education. Some of that spending benefited Black Alabamians but did little to change the fundamental inequities of Jim Crow education.

Gov. Bibb Graves was a member of the Ku Klux Klan who undermined an attorney general's investigation into Klan violence in Crenshaw County in 1927.

The governor also served as Grand Cyclops in the Montgomery chapter of the Ku Klux Klan and lobbied against anti-Klan legislation in the Legislature. In 1927, Graves undermined an investigation of KKK violence in Crenshaw County led by then-Attorney General Charlie McCall. Graves slashed McCall's budget; refused to acknowledge complaints of witness intimidation by the Klan; and may have collaborated with a Grand Dragon to undermine the cases.

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WHO WAS BIBB GRAVES? Controversy sparks retelling of Graves' history with KKK

After the prosecution collapsed, Graves named Ira Thompson, who had been a Klan official and one of some 44 men indicted in Crenshaw, as the county's solicitor.

The board did not discuss its exact reasons for changing the name. But the Crimson White, the university's school newspaper, and several members of Alabama faculty had criticized the decision to retain Graves' name.

She was threatened and her safety was at risk, just for going to classes, recent graduate Lauren Upton previously told the USA TODAY Network. We need to think about the fact that we're putting her name next to somebody who was part of an organization that enabled the behavior that made her scared for her life.

Alabama State University, Jacksonville State University and Troy University have removed or have made plans to remove Graves' name from campus buildings in recent years. The University of Alabama has also renamed buildings that had borne the names of individuals tied to slavery or segregation.

Contributing: Christine Fernando, USA TODAY. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: University of Alabama to remove Klansman Bibb Graves' name from campus
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

BOSTON (Reuters) - US Foods Holding Corp said on Friday it has split its chief executive officer and chairman roles after coming under pressure from an activist investment firm to improve its operations.

Pietro Satriano will remain the company's CEO and have a board seat, while Robert Dutkowsky, the board's lead independent director, has been elected non-executive chair.

Satriano was appointed board chairman in December 2017 after having joined it in July 2015 when he was named CEO of the company. Before that, he was the company's chief merchandising officer.

Dutkowsky has been a director since 2017.

US Foods, the largest U.S. food distributor after Sysco Corp, has faced labor shortages and supply chain issues since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also has come under pressure from Sachem Head Capital Management LP, a New York-based firm run by hedge fund veteran Scott Ferguson and U.S. Foods' biggest investor with an 8.6% stake.

Sachem Head has argued US Foods' profitability could be improved with more focus on prices and higher-margin private label goods.

Corporations sometimes separate the key CEO and chairman roles when they are facing trouble and the move is considered a governance step that many pension funds and other large investors generally endorse.

US Foods also on Friday named two female board directors to head its compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees.

The company said "it has implemented a series of changes consistent with its commitment to best practices of corporate governance."

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Paul Simao)
By Jeff Mason and Tom Balmforth

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States and its allies urged their citizens to leave Ukraine right away to avoid a Russian invasion, including a possible air assault, that Washington said on Friday could occur anytime.

Moscow accused Western nations of spreading lies to distract from their own aggressive acts.

The United States and Europe stepped up their warnings of an imminent attack while the Kremlin, jostling for more influence in post-Cold War Europe, rejected a joint EU-NATO diplomatic response to its demands to reduce tensions as disrespectful.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border but denies it plans to invade.

U.S. officials, while pressing for diplomacy, said Russia could invade before the conclusion of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 20 and may seek to seize the capital Kyiv and other cities.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Americans could not expect military evacuation if they remained in Ukraine and should leave within 48 hours.

"We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Sullivan told reporters. "We are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time."

"If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality," he said.

Australia and New Zealand became the latest countries to urge their citizens to leave as soon as possible, joining Britain, Japan, Latvia, Norway and the Netherlands. Israel said it was evacuating relatives of embassy staff.

Russia wants guarantees from the West, including a promise of no missile deployments near its borders, no NATO membership for Ukraine, and a scaling back of the alliance's military infrastructure.

The West describes Russia's main demands as "non-starters" but is willing to talk about arms control and confidence-building steps.

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After Sullivan's briefing at the White House, Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy appeared to mock his comments:

"Some reasonable people were hoping U.S.-fanned hysteria was waning," he posted on Twitter. "Maybe they put a jinx on it, because scaremongers have clearly got second wind. Our troops are still on our territory and I wonder if the U.S. will invade Ukraine itself - someone has to, after such a panic campaign."

The EU and NATO alliance delivered a joint reply to Russia this week on behalf of their member states as diplomatic efforts continue to try to diffuse the crisis.

Russia on Friday said it expected individual answers from each country, and called the collective response "a sign of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect".

It later said that Western countries, with help from the media, were spreading false information about its intentions to try to distract attention from their own aggressive actions.

'MASSIVE CONSEQUENCES'

Washington will send 3,000 extra troops to Poland in coming days to try and help reassure NATO allies, four U.S. officials told Reuters. They are in addition to 8,500 already on alert for deployment to Europe if needed.

Earlier, commercial satellite images https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/satellite-images-show-new-russian-military-deployments-near-ukraine-2022-02-11 from a U.S. firm showed new Russian military deployments at several sites near the border.

Biden told NBC News on Thursday that things in Ukraine "could go crazy quickly," and on Friday held a call about the crisis with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Poland and Romania, as well as the heads of NATO and the EU.

The leaders agreed to make coordinated efforts to deter Russian aggression, including by being ready to impose "massive consequences and severe economic costs" if it chose military escalation, the White House said after the call.

Washington also expressed concern that Russia and China were cooperating at the highest level, with a senior administration official saying on Saturday the two were "working to undermine us."

A partnership agreement between Moscow and Beijing shows they are in "fundamental alignment" that is growing closer, and a meeting between Putin and China's President Xi Jinping shows Beijing sees Moscow's moves regarding Ukraine as "legitimate," the official told reporters accompanying Blinken on a flight from Australia to Fiji.

U.S. officials believe the crisis could be reaching a critical point, with rhetoric from Moscow hardening, six Russian warships reaching the Black Sea, and more Russian military equipment arriving in Belarus.

"We continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Stocks extended declines, with the S&P 500 index down around 1.9%. Gold and oil prices rose. The rouble fell to its lowest level against the dollar since March 2020.

Moscow has said it could take unspecified "military-technical" action if its demands are not met. This week it launched joint military exercises in neighbouring Belarus and naval drills in the Black Sea.

Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to yield results.

Four-way talks in Berlin between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on Thursday made no progress.

Russia openly mocked British foreign minister Liz Truss when she visited on Thursday and there was no breakthrough after talks between Putin and Macron earlier in the week.

"I'm not going to speculate as to (Putin's) motivations, his intentions, or, at this point, his decisions," said Sullivan. "All I will say is that we are ready either way."

(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Costas Pitas; Editing by William Maclean, Rosalba O'Brien and Daniel Wallis)
By Maria Ramirez

PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela (Reuters) - A birthday party held on a mountain sacred to indigenous Venezuelans has generated outrage over damage to the area in an episode critics see as entitled excess playing out amid Venezuela's prolonged economic collapse.

Last week, party-goers celebrating the birthday of businessman Rafael Oliveros were ferried in helicopters to a pristine flat-topped mountain known as Kusari, located in the Canaima national park in southern Venezuela's ecologically rich Amazon region, according to a statement by environmental group SOS Orinoco.

In the indigenous Pemon language, such mountains called "tepuy," are revered, including for their extremely rare and fragile plant life.

"This was a violation of Mother Earth because these are sacred, untouchable mountains that we've traditionally watched over, conserved and respected, just like our ancestors," Nazario Rosi, a 63-year-old Pemon elder, told Reuters.

"They totally cleared the local plants," Rosi said, referring to those who attended the party, adding that the area has been left as if harshly raked. He stressed the Pemon culture forbids reaching the Kusari summit.

The invitees sporting tuxedos and colorful dresses posted photos and video of the overnight bash on social media, although many deleted the posts as indignation mounted.

Oliveros' business did not respond to a request for comment, and Reuters was not able to communicate directly with him.

Venezuela's information ministry also failed to respond to messages seeking comment, but the country's attorney general wrote on Twitter on Thursday that he has ordered an investigation into damage caused by the party.

The gathering was in violation of local access rules, according to Rosi and Roberto Simon, another indigenous leader, who explained the required permission for the event was never requested, as is normally done for scientific research projects in the national park.

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More than 100 flat-topped mountains like Kusari dot southeastern Venezuela, which geologists say were formed when the African and American continents cleaved apart millions of years ago.

The chain of "tepuy" mountains in the Canaima park were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

"The grasslands there grow on extremely poor and rocky soils, which makes them very sensitive and difficult to recover once they're impacted," the SOS Orinoco group said in their statement. The group said it has also reported the damage to UNESCO officials.

The potential for irreparable harm to the Kusari summit's landscape is especially worrisome, according to Gabriel Figueroa, also a Pemon community member.

"We feel that anyone who doesn't comply with our rules puts this equilibrium at risk, and this is an insult," said Figueroa.

(Reporting by Maria Ramirez in Puerto Ordaz; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Karishma Singh)
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.  A fugitive from Virginia was taken to Berkeley Medical Center on Thursday after being apprehended following a pursuit into West Virginia, according to West Virginia State Police.

The man's condition and status as of Friday afternoon was not immediately known.

During the pursuit, the pickup truck the suspect was driving intentionally rammed the rear of a state police cruiser and struck more police cruisers while police were boxing the suspect in as he drove around in a field, according to the release and Cpl. M.D. Gillmore with the state police.

No officers were injured, Gillmore said.

State police assisted the Frederick County (Va.) Sheriff's Office with a pursuit into West Virginia on Interstate 81 around 2:18 p.m. Thursday, according to the state police news release. The 42-year-old suspect from Virginia Beach, Va., was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado, with the pursuit continuing onto W.Va. 51 into Jefferson County.

Gillmore deployed spike strips, deflating one of the pickup's front tires, the release states.

The suspect continued east on W.Va. 51, "where he intentionally rammed the rear end of a cruiser" Lt. J.D. Burkhart was driving, the release said.

Gillmore said Burkhart was not injured and continued assisting in the pursuit.

After ramming the cruiser, the pickup went off the highway into a field, where Gillmore said the suspect drove around more while police boxed in the pickup.

The Berkeley and Jefferson county sheriff's offices and the Ranson and Charles Town police departments assisted state police and Frederick County officers.

It was not immediately known what charges the man was a wanted for in Virginia.

Police said charges were to be filed for the incidents in West Virginia, but as of Friday afternoon, it wasn't clear if he had been charged locally.

More police news: One vehicle flips in Virginia Avenue crash Thursday afternoon

Court news: 2018 stabbing death of friend he called 'a brother' brings prison time for Hagerstown man

More local news: A look back at blizzards, nor'easters and other major snowstorms in Maryland

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Virginia Beach fugitive apprehended after multi-state police pursuit
The Arizona Legislature is charging forth with a plan to block competition against utilities like Arizona Public Service.

In August, a Texas company applied to the Arizona Corporation Commission for permission to compete with Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power, giving us captive customers a choice in who provides our electricity.

The states monopoly utilities were not amused.

And so, as night follows day, the Arizona Legislature is now charging forth with a plan to block the competition.

This, by repealing a state law that allows other electricity providers to give the big guys a run for their money.

It is a necessary step, the monopoly utilities assure us, to ensure that service remains reliable and affordable.

Funny, Im pretty sure Ma Bell said the same thing a half century ago. Back when phones were bolted to walls and had these strange curly wires attached to them, when you talked fast when calling long distance because of the resulting exodus from your wallet.

Law says we 'shall' have competition

For two decades, Arizona has had laws in place to allow for competition in who provides the electricity that powers our homes and businesses. In fact, the law flatly says, a competitive market shall exist.

It just never materialized, thanks to a court decision challenging the rules to implement that law and a powerful utility lobby that would just as soon not have anyone intrude on its turf, thankyouverymuch.

There was an attempt by the Arizona Corporation Commission to revisit deregulation in 2013 but it was abruptly shelved when APS frowned.

Fast forward to August, when Texas-based Green Mountain Energy applied to the commission to begin selling what they say will be100% renewable energy plans to APS and Tucson Electric customers. The company already operates in seven states, with licenses in four others, and estimates itll have 20,000 Arizona customers within five years.

Approval of this application is in the public interest, the company wrote in its application, because it will result in more options for customers and expand the availability of renewable energy in Arizona.

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I picture the executives over at APS's parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., fainting in a dead heap right there on their marble boardroom floor.

Bill could end competition as we know it

Enter House Bill 2101, which has the bipartisan support of a whopping 36 legislators. It was defeated a few weeks ago on the House floor but after a little muscle was applied, was brought back this week and passed 37-21.

The bill (and its companion, Senate Bill 1631) would not only block Green Mountain from operating in Arizona but would threaten the rooftop solar industry as well.

Thats because the law our leaders seek to repeal  the one mandating competitive markets  was recently cited by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals when it ruled that Salt River Project risks antitrust trouble if it jacks up rates to price competing services (read: rooftop solar) out of the market.

Take away the law and well, you get the picture.

Utilities and their champions at the Legislature insist their monopoly status protects consumers, keeps rates low and electricity flowing.

Reliability and affordability is really at the top of my concern, House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee Chairwoman Gail Griffin, the sponsor of this drive to end competition before it can begin, said during a recent hearing on her bill.

Without repeal, utilities warn us we may be subject to the woes of California when it had rolling blackouts two decades ago or the misery of Texas, where millions lost power during a deadly freeze last February and prices went soaring.

It's never bad to let APS know we have choice

But, as The Arizona Republics Robert Robb pointed out, Californias competitive setup contained flaws that dont exist in Arizona and Arizona law requires the Corporation Commission to set rates within a range, preventing a Texas-style price spike.

During the recent hearing on the bill, a spokesman for Green Mountain brushed aside the utilities dire warnings of doom and gloom, saying its prices would be competitive and its customers still would have to pay for upkeep of the grid as well as a fee to the native utillity to serve as a backup provider.

Reliability is being used in this bill as a fig leaf by people who simply want to close off choice to their customers and retain a monopoly, said Travis Kavulla, vice president of Regulatory Affair of NRG Energy Inc., the parent company of Green Mountain.

Count Corporation Commissioner and free-market fan Justin Olson among those who support competition. He says his study of price data from the Energy Information Administration suggests it would drive down rates.

Data is mixed on that but one thing seems clear.

It is never a bad thing for APS and other utilities to know that we have a choice.

The fact that the Legislature doesnt see that is stunning.

Somebody should pull the plug on this bad plan.

Who supports this bill?

Here are the legislators who voted for to HB 2101:

Republican Reps. Gail Griffin of Hereford, Rusty Bowers of Mesa, Brenda Barton of Payson, Leo Biasiucci of Lake Havasu City, Walter Blackman of Snowflake. Frank Carroll of Sun City West, Regina Cobb of Kingman, David Cook of Globe, Lupe Diaz of Benson, Tim Dunn of Yuma, John Fillmore of Apache Junction, Joel John of Yuma, Steve Kaiser of Phoenix, John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, Teresa Martinez of Casa Grande, Quang Nguyen of Prescott, Joanne Osborne of Goodyear, Jennifer Pawlik of Chandler, Kevin Payne of Peoria, Ben Toma of Peoria, Michelle Udall of Mesa, Jeff Weninger of Chandler Justin Wilmeth of Phoenix.

Democratic Reps. Morgan Abraham of Tucson, Richard Andrade of Phoenix, Jasmine Blackwater-Nygun of Red Mesa, Cesar Chavez of Phoenix, Andrea Dalessandro of Sahuarita, Diego Espinoza of Tolleson, Brian Fernandez of Yuma, Alma Hernandez of Tucson, Daniel Hernandez of Tucson, Chris Mathis of Tucson, Robert Meza of Phoenix, Marcelino Quinonez of Phoenix, Lorenzo Sierra of Avondale, Myron Tsosie of Chinle

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona utilities team up with legislators to block competition
Falls Township could receive $135 million in host fees from deposits of trash on an expanded landfill near the former U.S. Steel site along the Delaware River.

Waste Management on Thursday confirmed the purchase of 64 acres of land next to its existing landfill in the township. For more than 40 years, Waste Management has operated landfills in Falls and neighboring Tullytown.

The company said it paid $14 million for 64 acres of land, of which 57 acres could be used for trash deposits. Waste Management owns another 252 acres with 197 acres currently used as landfill.

"The currently permitted disposal area is about 60 percent full and has an estimated remaining operating life of about six years," said John Hambrose, company spokesman. With the new land, Waste Management said it could remain an active site for an additional four or five years.

Waterfront development: Falls OKs construction of 1M-square-foot warehouse as part of former US Steel redevelopment

More: Work to transform former U.S. Steel site into light industry hub in Falls begins soon

Company officials said the types of waste accepted would not change and the currently designated truck routes to the landfill would remain in place.

The expanded landfill would border the proposed NorthPoint project, being developed on the 1,800-acre site that formerly housed U.S. Steel in Falls. In August, the township supervisors approved plans by NorthPoint Development LLC to begin the construction of a 49-foot-high, 1-million-square-foot warehouse.

NorthPoint could eventually invest $1.6 billion in redeveloping the land, along with roughly $45 million in remediation, township officials estimate. The developer has said the industrial complex could be on the largest in the United States.

Officials in Falls Township said they welcomed the expanded landfill.

"Falls Township eagerly awaits the redevelopment of the former U.S. Steel site," said Jeffry Dence, chairman of the Falls Township supervisors.

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"In its heyday, the property employed thousands of local residents," said Dence. "As part of NorthPoint Development's reimagining, the Keystone Trade Center will create 5,000 to 10,000 new jobs. The Waste Management portion of the project is an important tenet, as it provides host community fees to Falls Township, further strengthening our township's revenue base,"

Falls collects about $16.8 million in host fees from the landfill annually and expects to collect $14.8 million from the deposits of trash in 2022, according to its township budget.

Falls last raised municipal taxes in 1992. Host community fees are incorporated into the general fund and used to help cover municipal expenses.

Contact reporter James McGinnis at jmcginnis@couriertimes.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Waste Management landfill will generate millions dollars for Falls Township
MANILA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,788 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,630,637.

The DOH said 72 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country's death toll to 54,854. Of the 72 deaths, 55 died this year, the DOH said.

The number of active patients in the country dropped to 91,147 from Thursday's 93,307. The country's positivity rate also dropped to 14.7 percent from 15.1 percent the previous day.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online briefing that the COVID-19 situation in Metro Manila is at moderate risk.

She said that the number of new COVID-19 cases across the country is steadily declining.

Except for one region in the southern Philippines, she said, all regions are at low to moderate risk while the health system's capacity remains at low risk.

"The steady decline in new cases, low-risk national health systems capacity, and overall low to moderate risk case classification can be attributed to high vaccination rates," Vergeire added.

The country has vaccinated over 60 million people.

Rajendra Prasad Yadav, acting representative of the World Health Organization in the Philippines, urged the government to "do everything in their power" to vaccinate 2.5 million elderly people "as soon as possible."

"Vaccinating older people is one of the most impactful ways to save lives during this pandemic," Yadav said at a virtual news conference, adding that senior citizens "are at high risk for developing severe disease, getting hospitalized and dying from COVID-19."

The Philippines has seen four COVID-19 waves since the pandemic began. The country reported the highest single-day tally on Jan. 15, with 39,004 new cases.

The Philippines, which has around 110 million people, has tested over 26 million people since the disease emerged. 
The Tuesday arrest of a married couple accused for laundering proceeds from the 2016 hack of Bitfinex continues to fascinate well beyond the crypto community.

Netflix has already ordered a docu-series to be made about the story of Ilya Dutch Lichtenstein and his wife Heather Morgan  also known by her rap moniker Razzlekhan  who have been accused of laundering bitcoin worth $4.5 billion dollars. American filmmaker Chris Smith (of "Tiger King" fame) has been tapped to direct the project.

A New York magistrate judge ordered Lichtenstein and Morgan released on bond Tuesday evening, but this was struck down hours later by a District Court judge who revoked bail, citing the couples means and motive to flee the United States. Documents filed yesterday added new evidence to the governments flight risk case, suggesting the two had begun preparations for life in Russia or Ukraine.

Liechtenstein is a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, and renewed his Russian passport in 2019, say prosecutors. The two also traveled to Ukraine in 2019 for a month-long trip together. While the defense says it was just a vacation, prosecutors contend the two were preparing contingency plans for a life abroad.

While the couple was in Ukraine, say prosecutors, Lichtenstein allegedly created and updated various files in his online accounts that contained information about money laundering and false identification documentation with Ukrainian connections.

Prosecutors say Lichsteinstein had a folder called personas in one of his cloud accounts that contained several subfolders of both Russian and Ukrainian biographical information and identification documents for both men and women, which the government said was purchased on a darknet marketplace.

Prosecutors also note that Lichtenstein ordered several packages from darknet vendors to be delivered to a hotel near the one where the couple was staying in Kiev. In addition, they say, the two set up Ukrainian phone numbers and other financial accounts.
Wes Welker didn't technically get his NFL start as a player with the Miami Dolphins. And neither was it the place where Welker became one of the league's great slot receivers.

But Miami represented an important step in his early development as a player, and now he's returning to Miami as an assistant coach.

New Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Welker will be joining his staff in Miami. The two were on staff together with the San Francisco 49ers for the past three years under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Former San Francisco 49ers wide receivers coach Wes Welker will be taking the same role on the staff of the Miami Dolphins. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Welker, 40, originally was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers and played one game for them in 2004 before joining the Dolphins. He played there for three seasons before being traded as a restricted free agent to the New England Patriots, three times leading the NFL in receptions. Welker also went on to later play with the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams.

After retiring in 2015, Welker spent two years Bill O'Brien's Houston Texans staffs in 2017 and 2018 before joining the 49ers. There are some in league circles who believe it's only a matter of time before Welker is considered for head-coaching vacancies.

Welker's work with the 49ers' Deebo Samuel has been highly praised, and the Dolphins have a young pupil in Jaylen Waddle who could flourish even more under Welker's guidance following a strong rookie season.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan gives an update about Ukraine





A Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin "any day," including before the end of the Winter Olympics, Biden administration officials warned Friday, sounding a greater sense of urgency about the threat of military movement by Moscow.

"It could begin any day now, and it could occur before the Olympics have ended," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters during a White House briefing. The Beijing Olympics are scheduled to conclude on Feb. 20.

"I'm not going to get into intelligence information, but if you look at the disposition of intelligence forces ... the Russians are in a position to be able to mount a major military action in Ukraine any day, and for that reason we believe that it is important for us to communicate to our allies and partners, to the Ukrainians and to the American citizens who are still there," Sullivan said.

"I want to be clear though: We are not saying a final decision has been taken by President Putin," he continued. "What we are saying is we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we have seen on the ground and what our intelligence analysts have picked up that we are sending this clear message."

"PBS Newshour" reported shortly before Sullivan briefed reporters that Western officials believe Putin has made up his mind, decided to invade Ukraine and communicated that decision to Russian military leaders.

Sullivan denied that that report was accurate when it was described to him during the briefing on Friday, saying that the U.S. government still does not believe that Putin has made his call.

Sullivan added that President Biden is likely to speak by phone with Putin but had no timing to announce as of Friday afternoon.

He also emphasized that Americans in Ukraine should seek to leave.

Sullivan's comments echoed those of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said earlier Friday "we're in a window" with the potential for an invasion.

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Biden administration officials have been sounding the alarm for weeks that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was possible as Moscow amassed troops and military equipment at the border of the two countries. They have pledged to levy severe economic sanctions against Russia should it act, and officials have projected unity with NATO allies.

Biden said earlier this week that he did not believe Putin had decided whether to launch an incursion into Ukraine. Biden held a phone call earlier Friday with U.S. allies to discuss strategy on deterring Russian action against Ukraine.

He and several other administration officials have urged Americans who are in Ukraine to leave the country, citing the risk of violence breaking out should Russia make a move.

Sullivan stressed Friday that Biden had no intention of sending U.S. troops on a rescue mission into Ukraine for Americans who are still in the country.

"The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands," he said. "If you stay, you are assuming risk with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion."

Sullivan suggested a Russian attack would likely begin with aerial bombings and missile strikes that could kill civilians indiscriminately. He did not speculate on what the goal of an invasion would be, but acknowledged "there are very real possibilities that it will involve the seizure of a significant amount of territory in Ukraine," including a major city like the capital Kyiv.

Updated at 2:36 p.m.
(Independent)

The White House on Friday urged Americans to leave Ukraine within the next 48 hours, citing intelligence which suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion of the country before the conclusion of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Speaking at the daily White House press briefing, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.

Were asking people to make the responsible choice, Mr Sullivan added.

The White House warning comes a day after Mr Biden told NBCs Lester Holt he would not put American troops in a position to exchange shots in anger with Russian soldiers in the event of an invasion.

After telling Mr Holt that US citizens in Ukraine should leave now, Mr Biden said the idea that US troops could rescue any Americans trapped in Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion was unrealistic and completely unlike scenarios some have posited which compare such a hypothetical action to rescue missions mounted in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly, Mr Biden said. Were in a very different world than weve ever been.

Mr Sullivan told reporters that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time if Russian president Vladimir Putin were to give such an order.

I will not comment on the details of our intelligence information. but I do want to be clear, it could begin during the Olympics, despite a lot of speculation that it would only happen after the Olympics, he said.

He added that the strong and distinct possibility of action in a relatively near-term timeframe is backed up by our view of what's happening on the ground and by information that we continue to acquire, day by day including over the course of the past few days.

More follows...
Marco Flores would benefit from an effort in the Legislature to eliminate juvenile strikes in California's "three strikes" law. Flores, who has a juvenile and an adult strike on his record, says he's still living daily with the implications of having a record. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Marco Flores was just 16 in 2007 when he and a group of friends attended a party in Pacoima, where an argument broke out and one of his friends shot and killed a man who was patting down guests for weapons.

Flores, who said he wasn't involved in the killing but fled the scene, was arrested with two co-defendants and charged with crimes including murder. He agreed to a plea deal with the Los Angeles County district attorneys office to avoid the harshest possible sentence and to avoid going to trial in adult court. But prosecutors can use sentence enhancements to add time, including those allowed under Californias three strikes law, which was approved by voters in a 1994 ballot measure.

Flores received 11 years for voluntary manslaughter, which was counted as a strike. His deal required him to admit to a separate crime  a robbery in which he was a suspect  that added a second, juvenile strike and doubled his sentence to 22 years. A gun enhancement added another decade. Another serious or violent felony could land Flores, now 30, in prison for the rest of his life.

I carry that I have two strikes with me, Flores said. I was just a kid. I wasn't thinking right. I take full responsibility for my choices. But I feel like I still carry that with me.

Sentences like Flores are why criminal justice activists are lobbying the California Legislature to eliminate juvenile adjudications  similar to an adult conviction for a crime  from the three-strikes law. They argue that the policy disproportionately affects youth offenders of color and fails to consider their brain maturity. Advocates also say that because juvenile adjudications arent handled in criminal court with the opportunity for a jury trial, they shouldnt be used as sentence enhancements for adult felonies.

Strikes are given for serious or violent felonies such as rape, murder, robbery and assault with a firearm. A prior strike can double the sentence of a second felony, even if it is not violent or serious, and a third strike could mean 25 years to life in prison. If a defendant who is at least 16 years old previously received an adjudication as a juvenile, that can also be considered a strike.

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Advocates saw their best hope to change California's three-strikes law fizzle last month in the state Capitol, a result of opposition from moderate Democrats and a number of legislative vacancies that left supporters short on the votes needed for passage.

Assembly Bill 1127 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) would have prohibited juvenile adjudications from being considered a strike. It would have also applied retroactively, giving those serving a three-strike sentence with a juvenile adjudication a shot at resentencing.

The bills demise offers a snapshot of the deep division among Democrats in Sacramento when it comes to proposals that would scale back Californias tough criminal justice laws, particularly in an election year when crime will be a top issue.

Its failure also challenges the ambitious agenda of the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, an independent seven-person commission that recommended a total repeal of the three-strikes law in a December report.

The panel argued that California's application of the law has deepened racial inequities without enhancing public safety. According to the report, more than 33,000 people in Californias prisons are serving three-strikes sentences, a third of the total population. Eighty percent of those sentenced under three strikes are people of color.

The committee recommended eliminating juvenile adjudications from three strikes as an alternative to total repeal of the law, acknowledging that it was a difficult goal. In 2009, the California Supreme Court ruled that juvenile adjudications can be used to enhance an adult criminal sentence. Another effort to change the law could require another ballot measure, similar to when voters in 2012 passed an initiative to limit the imposition of a third strike to a conviction for a violent or serious crime, or a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature.

Michael Romano, chairman of the committee and a Stanford Law School lecturer, said California should focus on rehabilitating youths rather than issuing strikes that can come back and really have a significant impact on a future sentence.

Miguel Garcia, 28, has earned three associate degrees, a bachelors degree in political science from UC Riverside, graduated without debt, serves on several juvenile justice committees in the state, owns a home in Fresno and is a father to two daughters. But he still cant shake a 2010 juvenile strike for attempted murder, despite his extraordinary level of rehabilitation, according to a Board of Juvenile Hearings honorable discharge order.

Garcia was 16 when he committed the crime and served three years before he was granted a discharge from a juvenile parole board. He now works as a state youth justice specialist for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a Los Angeles nonprofit that supports formerly incarcerated people and supported AB 1127.

The juvenile justice system was not meant to leave the young person worse than when they arrived, but better in hopes that they thrive in the community that they returned to, he said. The juvenile strike does not leave me better off.

Supporters of AB 1127, including the L.A. County district attorneys office, arent giving up on hopes to change the law this year. Santiago said he will introduce another bill before a mid-February deadline, though its unlikely to be as sweeping.

Justice work is hard work, and it takes time, Santiago said. Rolling back some of the heavy, hard-on-crime, lock-them-up, throw-away-the-keys [law] has taken us decades to turn around. This is part of the process. We have to change hearts, minds and souls.

Among the minds Santiago has to change is that of his colleague, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove).

The former captain in the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department said there is little appetite in the Legislature this year for bills like AB 1127, which he said fails to consider victims. Cooper is now running for sheriff, and told the Sacramento Bee that he will make youth outreach a top priority on the job.

Cooper instead favors bolstering rehabilitation programs and searching for other ways to reduce recidivism. He said Santiago's new proposal shouldnt include eliminating a juvenile strike for crimes such as rape and murder.

Some things are so reprehensible that you dont get a second chance, he said. If they want to help the most people, leave the sex stuff out, the violent stuff out. They want to have a blanket exemption for everybody. And to be honest, that's what's hurting them on these bills.

The California District Attorneys Assn. shares some of the same worries.

Greg Totten, the associations chief executive, raised concerns with the bills retroactivity, and said it would strip from judges and prosecutors the flexibility to apply or remove a strike.

If we can take a young person that is engaged in criminal misconduct in the juvenile court system, and direct them in a positive, more productive pathway, were going to do that, Totten said. But theres a balance to the scales of justice. The scale has to be balanced to reflect what happened to the victims.

Flores hopes that legislation like AB 1127 will help him start anew.

He would still be incarcerated if he hadnt written to then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018, asking for the chance to present his case to a parole board, he said. By then, he had served a little more than a third of his sentence and had participated in a number of rehabilitative programs such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, a self-help course on childhood trauma and another on criminal and gang mentality.

In September 2019, Flores was released from Ironwood State Prison in Riverside County and entered a six-month transitional housing program before returning to his native San Fernando Valley.

He enrolled in West Los Angeles College to study film, with plans to graduate this year. Hes a member of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and found an internship as a grip in a production crew, which he plans to join full time once hes in a union.

I love where Im at today, he said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(@studyvlogloz/TikTok)

A woman has revealed how a feature on her Apple Watch could have helped her detect her thyroid condition months before she was diagnosed.

In a TikTok video posted on 2 February, Lauren, who goes by @studyvlogloz, explained some of the key features on Apple Watches that have helped her keep her health in check. She then urged her followers who have Apple Watches to turn on notifications for low heart rate, high heart rate, irregular rhythm, and cardio fitness levels, as she noted that, if she had done so, she would have learned about her own condition earlier.

According to Apples website, notifications about heart rate can be enabled via the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. For alerts on cardio fitness levels, which tracks your oxygen intake, and irregular rhythms of your heartbeat, notifications can be turned on through the Health app on your iPhone.

After encouraging others to turn on the notifications, Lauren, a nursing student in Sydney, Australia, shared her regret that she hadnt had her own notifications on, as she explained: A couple of weeks ago, I got diagnosed with a thyroid condition...But I would have realised something was going on if my Apple alerted me of changes.

Instead of me waiting for the symptoms to get really bad, I could have gone to the doctor back in October, when there was this dramatic drop in a matter of days.

The drop Lauren was referring to was displayed on a graph, which showed a decrease in her oxygen consumption in October. The levels continued to go down as the months progressed.

It dramatically dropped, which means my cardiovascular system isnt working as well as it once was, she explained.

She noted that the timing correlated with the start of her symptoms including fatigue, irregular heart rate, serious sensitivity to heat, weight gain, dry skin, and irritability.

Lauren concluded the video reiterating that, while an Apple Watch isnt what she turns to for health and medical tips, it can still be quite helpful.

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Dont get me wrong, your Apple Watch is definitely not something you should follow as medical advice, she said. But it can come in handy, I guess, as a tool to prompt you to go get things investigated further.

The TikTok video has more than 351,000 views so far, with viewers in the comments agreeing with Lauren and noting how much they trust their Apple Watches.

My Apple Watch is my life-saver as someone with a cardiac condition, one viewer wrote. Literally monitors my heart all day and gives me peace of mind.

My Apple Watch helped me with getting diagnosed bc my doctors just werent taking me seriously, another TikTok user said.

Other viewers emphasised how having this data from their Apple Watch ended up benefiting them in the long run.

Yes so important! one wrote. It is such a great thing to have the chart showing your constant HR too! Especially if your HR goes up at the doctors appt. I started a new med and it was so good to show my doctor!

In a video posted on her TikTok this past December, Lauren explained that she was diagnosed with thyroid hemiagenesis, which she is being treated for.

As noted by the World Journal of Surgical Oncology, thyroid hemiagenesis (TH) is a rare disease where theres an absence of a thyroid lobe. Most patients usually do not have any clinical symptoms of it. With a more common thyroid condition, like Hashimotos thyroiditis, some of the symptoms include fatigue, dry skin, and muscle weakness, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Speaking to The Independent, Lauren emphasised how beneficial her Apple watch has been for her well-being. Its essentially kept a logbook of when everything went downhill for me, she said. That and my Snapchat saved photos - when I compare them both together, theres a very clear timeline of when my symptoms started and how theyve affected my health.

As an aspiring medical student and current nursing student Im very cautious that the abundant access to technology can catastrophise symptoms into making people assume the worst, she added. But on this occasion, I really wish that I had all the settings toggled on and noticed the changes and gone to the doctor sooner.
A federal prison employee pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he sexually abused at least two inmates at a womens prison in California, the first conviction in a wave of arrests at a lockup known to prisoners and workers as the rape club.

Ross Klinger, 36, is one of four employees, including the warden and chaplain, whove been arrested in in the past seven months for sexually abusing inmates at the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California. Several other Dublin workers are under investigation.

Klinger, who worked as a recycling technician at Dublin, pleaded guilty in federal court in Oakland to three counts of sexual abuse of a ward. He faces up to 15 years in prison, though in other similar cases the sentences have ranged from three months to two years. Klinger remains free pending sentencing. A status conference is scheduled for May 11.

Klinger was placed on administrative leave in April 2021 and remains currently employed with the Bureau of Prisons, the agency said Friday. He was previously allowed to transfer to another federal prison facility while under investigation.

Related video: University of California to pay $243 million to settle sexual abuse claims

Klinger signed a plea agreement in connection with his guilty plea, but the document was not published to the public docket. A court official said it was sealed. Because the agreement is not public, it is not clear whether it includes a clause requiring him to cooperate with authorities. In a court filing last month, prosecutors said some of their evidence pertained to both Klinger and Warden Ray J. Garcias cases.

Klinger's lawyer, John Paul Reichmuth, declined comment.

An Associated Press investigation published this week found a permissive and toxic culture at the prison, enabling years of sexual misconduct by predatory employees and cover-ups that have largely kept the abuse out of the public eye.

FCI Dublin, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) east of Oakland, was opened in 1974. It was converted in 2012 to one of six women-only facilities in the federal prison system.

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Klinger was arrested last June and accused of sexually abusing at least two inmates between March and September 2020, including inside a warehouse and in a shipping container on prison grounds while another inmate acted as a lookout.

Klinger told the women he wanted to marry them and father their children, even proposing to one of them with a diamond ring after she was discharged to a halfway house, prosecutors said.

Another prisoner aware of the abuse reported Klinger to the Bureau of Prisons in June 2020, according to the FBI. A few months later, the agency authorized his transfer to a federal jail in San Diego.

After the transfer, prosecutors said, Klinger kept contacting one of the victims through an email address he created with a phony name, sometimes sending lewd messages referencing sexual acts. He messaged the other woman on Snapchat, saying he loved her and was willing to do anything for her.

Interviewed by investigators in April 2021, Klinger denied any wrongdoing, but said that because of the allegations his life was over and that he was concerned about going to prison and being labeled as a sex offender. He was arrested two months later.

Sexual misconduct of a ward, you cant come back from that, Klinger told investigators in the interview, according to court documents.

Another Dublin prison employee, chaplain James Theodore Highhouse, is scheduled to plead guilty Feb. 23 to charges he put his penis on an inmates genitals, mouth and hand and masturbated in front of her in 2018 and 2019. Highhouse, 49, is also accused of lying to investigators when questioned about the abuse.

The now-retired warden, Garcia, was arrested in September on charges he molested an inmate and made her and another inmate strip naked as he did rounds. Pictures he took of the women were found on his government-issued cell phone, prosecutors said.

John Russell Bellhouse, a prison safety administrator, is scheduled to be arraigned this month on charges he sexually abused an inmate he called his girlfriend from February to December 2020.

The federal prison system has been plagued by myriad crises in recent years, including sexual abuse and other widespread criminal activity among employees, critically low staffing levels that have hampered responses to emergencies, the rapid spread of COVID-19, a failed response to the pandemic and dozens of escapes.

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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1 and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips
We want to take a moment to congratulate our colleagues here at channel 7.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City plans to fire roughly 3,000 municipal workers by the end of this week for failing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The move comes even as the state of New York prepares to join other U.S. states and cities in lifting many COVID-19 restrictions amid a sharp decline in infections linked to the Omicron variant.

Bill de Blasio, Adams' predecessor as mayor, in December ordered all public and private sector workers in the city to get inoculated with the vaccines. Firing those workers who do not comply is one of the harshest pandemic policies in the nation.

Employees have been given until Friday to comply, the Times reported, and some 3,000 who so far have not submitted proof of vaccination face termination on that day if they still have not.

"We have to be very clear  people must be vaccinated if they are New York City employees," Adams, a Democrat who took office in January, said at a news conference on Thursday, according to the Times.

Municipal workers staged a protest against the vaccine mandate earlier this week.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Maria Caspani; Editing by David Gregorio)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  Two men charged with fatally shooting rapper Young Dolph in a daytime ambush at a Tennessee cookie shop pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other felony charges Friday.

Lawyers for Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith entered the pleas in Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis.

Both were indicted in January in the Nov. 17 killing of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr. Police have said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Makedas Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase. Police released photos taken from surveillance video that captured the shooting.

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman told reporters outside the courtroom Friday that authorities believe they know the motive for the killing, but he would not discuss details. The case could qualify for the death penalty, but no determination has been made regarding that issue, Hagerman said.

Memphis is already past ready for justice in this case, Hagerman said.

Both Johnson and Smith have prior felony convictions for violent crimes. Johnson, 23, was traveling on a highway in Indiana on Jan. 11 when he was stopped and arrested on a murder warrant outside of Terre Haute by the U.S. Marshals Service, authorities said. Smith, 32, was arrested in December on an auto-theft warrant involving the vehicle used in Young Dolphs killing.

Both defendants were being held without bond.

Juni Ganguli, Johnsons lawyer, said he spoke with his client after the hearing.

I dont think anyones ever happy when theyre indicted for first-degree murder, so hes sad and confused," he said.

Ganguli and Smiths lawyer, Michael Scholl, are both well known in the Memphis legal world and both have worked on high-profile cases in the past. Both lawyers said it was too early to discuss details of the case.

The next step will be for prosecutors to present evidence to the defense attorneys.

The shooting stunned Memphis and shocked the entertainment world. City officials and community activists pointed to the killing as a symbol of the dangers of gun violence in Memphis, where more than 300 homicides were reported last year.

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Known for his depictions of tough street life and his independent approach to the music business, Young Dolph was admired for charitable works in Memphis. He organized Thanksgiving food giveaways, donated thousands of dollars to high schools, and paid rent and covered funeral costs for people in the Castalia Heights neighborhood where he was raised. When he was killed, the 36-year-old rapper was in Memphis to hand out Thanksgiving turkeys and visit a cancer center.

Young Dolph was born in Chicago and moved to Memphis with his parents when he was 2. He released numerous mixtapes, starting with 2008s Paper Route Campaign, and multiple studio albums, including his 2016 debut King of Memphis. He also collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others.

He had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with 2020s Rich Slave peaking at No. 4.

Judge Lee Coffee set the next hearing in the case for March 24.
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian officials and experts discussed the benefits of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during an online meeting, local media reported on Friday.

Signed on Nov. 15, 2020 and entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, RCEP is a mega trade agreement between 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its five major trade partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Sim Sokheng, secretary of state of the Ministry of Commerce, on Thursday opened the online event "Unpacking the RCEP Agreement" to discuss the Rules of Origin (ROO) that determines which goods that originate from RCEP member countries can benefit from preferential tariff treatment.

During the discussion the focus was on how the benefits from RCEP and the removal of certain tariffs between member countries could be enjoyed by as many Cambodian businesses as possible.

"The private sector is the backbone of the economy's growth," The Khmer Times quoted Sokheng as saying.

Jeremy Gross, director of capacity building at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), which organized the event, said that "sustained outreach to the private sector is essential," and referred to the 100,000 views within the first few hours after the ministry posted information about RCEP on a trade board.

"There's a real thirst for information about RCEP so ERIA is very much looking forward to continuing our cooperation with the ministry," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Deborah Elms, executive director of the Asian Trade Center in Singapore, who works with governments and companies to help decide trade policy for the region, said, "One of the most impressive things about Cambodia is the ability of the Cambodian government to be forward-looking."

"I'm pleased to say that Cambodia so far has been in front of many governments in the region in trying to get this information into the hands of businesses and making it accessible," she said.

She encouraged businesses interested in benefiting from RCEP to contact the Ministry of Commerce in learning about what tariffs are being removed and what rules need to be followed, in order to get this prized Proof of Origin Certificate (POC).

Un Chantha, director of Export-Import Department of the Ministry of Commerce, assured that the ministry is conducting "various in-house training among its officers who are in charge of the issue of origin."

RCEP covers approximately 30 percent of the world's population, accounts for about 30 percent of global gross domestic product, and represents some 28 percent of global trade.

After it took effect, more than 90 percent of merchandise trade among members that have approved the accord will eventually be subject to zero tariffs. 
In his 22 years of service with Wintergreen Fire and Rescue, Chief Curtis Sheets has never had to phase out an ambulance.

If we knew we needed to staff four ambulances, we had staff for four ambulances. But there have been several days this year when we just simply could not staff the fourth ambulance, Sheets said.

He explained when this has happened, the countys volunteer fire departments have provided drivers to help out.

But the problem with that is you run the potential of burning out the fire department volunteers. And so the fire chiefs and the county have said were happy to do this, but it really needs to be a temporary situation. This cant become a new normal.

Sheets has been adapting to the conditions of a new normal for some time. Hes updated his equipment, adopted new safety protocols and adjusted salaries and hours to retain current employees and attract trained applicants.

Wintergreen Fire and Rescue staffs three stations in Lovingston, Nellysford and at Wintergreen. The organization serves the Wintergreen resort community and also provides countywide EMS service through its Nelson EMS, or NEMS, subunit. NEMS contracts with Nelson County to support the countys volunteer fire departments. Wintergreens full-time and part-time employees are cross-trained for fire and advanced medical emergencies and are supported by volunteers who complete much of the same training as staff.

But volunteerism, like everywhere else, is down. So its been a struggle, Sheets said.

He explained one factor is the rigorous training involved.

It really is like asking somebody to do a second full-time job for free, he said.

Although volunteer ambulance drivers require the lowest level of training, Sheets said that still is some 30 hours in a classroom. EMT-Basic, which Sheets described as a next step in volunteer training, requires about a 200-hour classroom commitment plus additional training.

Wintergreen is teaching an EMT class and has been offering EMT and firefighting training for almost two years. Classes are free to Nelson County residents. Sheets says the goal is to train new firefighters and paramedics for Wintergreen.

We like hiring local folks when we can. It certainly makes a difference in the middle of the night when theyre not at work, and you need to call them back to work, he said.

Sheets says only about 15% of his employees live in Nelson County. Much of his staff commute from north of the county line in the Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft areas.

Sheets said Wintergreen is especially accessible to new firefighters because of the departments focus on training.

Some kid comes in and wants to know about something and they say, Hey, tonight, can we spend an hour working on this? Usually the answer is going to be, Oh, heck yeah, lets do it.

The department accelerated its training focus with the recent creation of a full-time training position. Sheets said when a vacancy appeared in the two staff positions below him, chief of fire operations and chief of EMS operations, the department combined the two positions, allowing Wintergreen to hire a trainer.

That was definitely transformational for the department. And really opens the doors for a lot more training inside of Nelson County for all the other agencies too. Weve got one guy whose only job is to train us, he said.

Sheets doesnt have many vacancies on his staff, but the few openings have proved difficult to fill.

Actually we have one position on the NEMS crew that has been vacant for 13 months, he said.

We are a small organization that functions with limited staff, NEMS crew supervisor Cheyenne Greene said. So any open position certainly applies additional stress to the other staff members, as they are the ones who have to absorb the extra workload.

Sheets attributes the ongoing vacancy to many effects of COVID-19.

Ive got to believe people arent really excited about getting into health care right now, he said.

He also explained the pandemic put a freeze on training programs creating an interruption in our supply of providers that were still working through.

Sheets also has had to compete with neighboring squads for trained firefighters and paramedics.

Everyone around us, and I get them too, is sending out postcards to everyone whos certified to be in an ambulance in Virginia. Theyre sending out a postcard and saying, Hey, if youll come work for us, well give you this huge sign on bonus, he said.

Its a competitive market, Sheets said, but hes implemented creative solutions.

The standard firefighter, Sheets said, works about 900 more hours a year than a full-time employee on a daylight schedule because of their 24 hours on, two days off schedule. To combat this discrepancy, all 24-hour Wintergreen employees now have six skip shifts which they can choose to take off. The six days will not affect their vacation time or pay.

We have just simply taken 144 hours off of their annual schedule. And it is our goal to continue doing that until we can get them down to an annual hour count that is much closer to what anybody else in the world would work.

Its difficult to reduce hours when the team is already short-staffed, but Sheets said he doesnt have much of a choice.

So whats the alternative? If you dont do it, and you lose people? he asked.

Sheets said the departments location between multiple regions presents a challenge: The cost of living in the Shenandoah Valley is nothing like the cost of living in the Central Virginia valley. And were sitting right on the spine.

Sheets said a firefighter in Charlottesville could commute 45 minutes to Nelson County or an hour into Northern Virginia for double the pay.

Greene said the increased pressure isnt necessarily bad if departments rise to meet the demands of the market.

Departments that become complacent are always likely to fall behind, and its important that we as a department continue to accept these staffing challenges head on.

Given the hiring incentives other departments were offering, Sheets said Wintergreen felt it necessary to conduct a mid-year salary survey ahead of the pay adjustments that typically happen in January.

Just because of the environment that we were in. You couldnt talk about a future pay raise. You need to show it right now to keep those folks engaged, Sheets said.

Results indicated that staff felt salaries were low. The department responded with a salary increase for all staff except middle and upper management.

We wanted to take as many dollars as we could and push them out to the people who are actually having to respond to these calls during COVID. And well probably have to do that again because its moving so fast that even though we made a significant adjustment, were interviewing tons of people who are all saying the same thing, which is Oh, I thought you could offer more.

Wintergreen Fire and Rescue is a department within the Wintergreen Property Owners Association and its services are funded by Wintergreen property owners. WPOA Executive Director Jay Roberts said the organization was able to eliminate inefficiencies across departments to allow for the pay raises. Property owners also picked up a portion of the cost through a 3% increase in their assessments.

The salary increase and decreased amount of hours worked has been very beneficial to morale as a whole, Greene said.

She is a full-time online student in addition to her service, and the salary and hour adjustments have made a big difference.

Knowing that I have more time off of work, without any effect on my paycheck has been very nice and stress-relieving. From all of the coworkers Ive spoken with on this issue, weve all been in agreement that this has been a great step forward on the part of Wintergreen.

Sheets has had many employees get sick with COVID, but never more than three or four at a time. He said now that the staff is 100% vaccinated, infections are more of a nuisance than anything else. But before vaccine rollouts, the department leased two COVID condos behind the mountain station to quarantine exposed employees. Meals arrived in a cooler outside the door.

It sounds like it would be a wonderful three or four days off, but nobody liked it, he said.

Roberts recognized Wintergreen Fire and Rescues dedication. He said during the pandemic Sheets team found a way to persevere.

The department pulled together and filled shifts when staff members were out with the virus because, Roberts said, you dont have a choice; you have to deliver the service.

Sheets acknowledged not all COVIDs effects on his line of work have been negative. At the start of the pandemic, the department bought ultraviolet lights to clean the back of their ambulances.

Now when you buy an ambulance, they just have UV lights integrated into the ceiling that constantly clean and filter, a tool Sheets said emergency medical services should have been using 10 years ago.

Sheets and the other volunteer agencies in the county have requested the Nelson board of supervisors make a change when its budget resets. Sheets said they hope to convert NEMSs daylight ambulance into a second 24-hour truck with county funding. The project would cost approximately $200,000.

Most of the time, 99% of the time, we can pull it off but we are just stretched way too thin, Sheets said.

Sheets described a possible scenario where in the middle of the night the sole ambulance on call for the county is on its way to the University of Virginia Medical Center but then has to respond to a call in Lovingston.

That does happen every once in a while if youre only staffing one truck per county. You can create these pockets of coverage where the turnaround time is 90 minutes and thats what we have to avoid.

Pre-pandemic, the team could pull ambulances from Wintergreen stations to use across the county when something like this happened.

But when COVID hit and you were already running at minimum staffing anyway, it just kind of exposed some of our weaknesses, Sheets said. So now were having to rethink the way we deploy our resources."

We as an organization and especially the front-line workers," said Greene, "have definitely felt the weight of the challenges that are facing our industry in current times. But we have a great crew of talented, intelligent, and compassionate firefighters and paramedics and thats what has helped to keep our organization strong.

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BEDFORD  Evidence continues to mount three days into a jury trial of an accused MS-13 gang member charged with aggravated murder and abduction in the 2017 killing of a Lynchburg teen, including testimony from a co-defendant who was present at the homicide.

Josue Moises Coreas-Ventura, 25, has pleaded not guilty to both charges in an ongoing trial in Bedford County Circuit Court. He is among a group of men who Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance has described as a death squad he said abducted Raymond Wood, 17, on his front lawn in Lynchburg, drove him to a country road in the Goode area and slaughtered him with a knife. Coreas-Ventura has pleaded guilty to one count of gang participation and awaits sentencing on that charge.

Their mission was to kill, Nance said in court.

Investigator Jon Maddox, of the Bedford County Sheriffs Office, testified he arrived at the scene of Roaring Run Road where Woods body was found at 10 p.m. March 27, 2017. Maddox explained in court injuries Wood suffered, including a large gash in the victims jawline, a major cut to the neck and multiple stab wounds in his chest and abdomen.

Jurors observed multiple photos from the crime scene, including a severed hand of the victim, a rock with a bloodstain on it and an outstretched arm with blood. Maddox testified it took six to seven hours to process the crime scene.

Nance said Wood was killed because the gang saw him as a rival in the Lynchburg drug market. After the group took turns stabbing and gashing Wood, several of the men, including Coreas-Ventura, fled into the nearby woods when a motorist came by and found the body, according to evidence presented in the trial.

Maddox testified an extensive search for the knife, which he said was more than 10 inches long and 2 inches wide, initially was unsuccessful, but new information in June 2018 led to its discovery within three miles of the crime scene. The weapon had been buried.

Cristian Sanchez-Gomez, a member of the gang, testified extensively Thursday about his role. A native of El Salvador, he testified he came to the United States illegally in 2002 and later moved to Maryland. Sanchez-Gomez testified he was one of four men who came from Maryland to Lynchburg to partake in the events that led to Woods abduction and death.

Sanchez-Gomez testified Coreas-Ventura, while in his apartment, showed the large knife used to make the soup, a phrase for carrying out a murder. He said Coreas-Ventura and Lisandro Antonio Posada-Vasquez, who previously has been convicted of murder in Woods killing, surrounded the teen and attacked him.

Wood resisted getting into the vehicle, yelled for his mother and moved quite a bit, Sanchez-Gomez testified. Coreas-Ventura, in the vehicle, was on top of Wood choking him until he was not moving anymore, Sanchez-Gomez testified.

Upon arriving on Roaring Run Road and getting Wood out of the vehicle, Coreas-Ventura and two others cut Woods body with the knife, according to his testimony. When Sanchez-Gomez said it was his turn to take part, headlights were seen and the four ran into the woods. The men walked by a river through the night, Posada-Vasquez buried the knife and they took shelter from the rain in buildings on a nearby farm, Sanchez-Gomez testified.

A local farmer testified he arrived in a barn at about 6:45 a.m. on March 28, 2017, and spotted two men there, including Sanchez-Gomez. The farmer testified he held a gun and flashlight on the two, let them warm up in his truck and allowed them to use his phone. They didnt speak English and wanted a ride, the farmer testified, adding he thought they were workers.

After they said GPS, he gave them an address, and a vehicle pulled up that they got in, the farmer testified. He refused money, and minutes later the car returned and two more men ran out of a building on the property to get in the vehicle and flee in the direction of Lynchburg, according to the farmers testimony.

The farmer gave chase in his truck because he thought they had stolen items; he called 911 and was told to stop going after them, he testified. The Bedford County Sheriffs Office later called him to a traffic stop where he recognized three of the trespassing men, he testified.

Gary Desilvey, a former Bedford County Sheriffs deputy, testified he responded to the scene of the homicide. The following morning he initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle matching the description from the trespassing incident, which had three occupants, DeSilvey testified. He identified in court Coreas-Ventura as one of the occupants and testified he found two pairs of gloves on him during a search.

One of the gloves had Woods blood on it, according to prosecutors evidence and testimony from a forensic scientist.

Lee Willis, a special agent with the Virginia State Police, testified he interviewed Coreas-Ventura at the Bedford County Sheriffs Office after he was taken into custody. A video played during the trial showed the defendant, while left alone in an interviewing room, display several signs with his hands the officer said were gang signs.

Sanchez-Gomez got a ride out of the area the day after the homicide, went back to Maryland and was arrested months later.

A total of seven alleged and confirmed members of MS-13 have been implicated in Woods death.

A higher-up in the Sailors clique within MS-13, Michael Eduardo Contreras, testified Wednesday on details of the gangs culture, drug distribution activities and communication. Contreras testified he sent four gang members from Maryland to Virginia to take part in Woods killing, though he said in court he did not personally know the teen.

Contreras, who is in federal custody, was charged in a federal gang case that accused him of arranging for gang members to travel to Lynchburg to kill Wood. He pleaded guilty in October 2019 to gang membership and a drug charge  unrelated to Woods killing  and has not yet been sentenced.

Chris Kowalczuk, an attorney for Coreas-Ventura, heavily questioned Contreras and Sanchez-Gomez and during their cross-examination said they cooperated with the government in testifying against Coreas-Ventura for leniency and hopes of a lighter sentence.

Kowalczuk asked Contreras if he could corroborate his statements of how cocaine and marijuana was sent from Maryland to Coreas-Ventura in Lynchburg. When Contreras said he couldnt, Kowalczuk replied, I didnt think so.

When questioned by the defense, Sanchez-Gomez testified he initially wasnt truthful during the investigation but later told the truth. Kowalczuk said during questioning Sanchez-Gomez gave a self-serving story and minimized his involvement in his version of the events, which the attorney added has not been corroborated, to save your skin because he had taken part in a brutal murder and was not an innocent bystander as he described.

Kevin Poindexter, a former Lynchburg Police Department detective, also testified about cellphone correspondence between Wood and the defendant seized as evidence. The evidence included screenshots of a video of Coreas-Ventura smoking marijuana in his apartment with the same knife used in the killing on the floor where he was sitting.

Coreas-Ventura also faces another count of aggravated murder, alleging the killing of two persons within three years, but that charge has been separated and will be tried at a later date. In 2017, the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department announced Coreas-Ventura was arrested and charged with murder, along with four other people, in connection with a 2016 homicide.

Sanchez-Gomez, who has testified in three previous trials, also faces a count each of murder and abduction in connection with Woods death, along with two other felonies. He is scheduled for a March 8 jury trial in Bedford County Circuit Court.

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A Lynchburg man was found guilty Thursday of four felony charges after pleading no contest in connection with a December 2019 robbery and homicide case.

The court found the evidence was sufficient to convict Dakota Daquan Scott, 27, of Lynchburg, of robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit robbery, and attempted receipt of a stolen firearm.

Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison said the Lynchburg Police Department responded to a call at about 8 p.m. Dec. 28, 2019, reporting a robbery and shooting.

Police arrived to find Devon Corleogne Bailey, 15, of Lynchburg, in the middle of the intersection at Maple and Hazel streets; he had suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was accompanied to the hospital, where officers received a cellphone belonging to him.

At the scene, officers discovered a blood trail that started where Bailey was found and led back to a duplex in the 600 block of Gum Street. In the apartment, officers found Darius Saunders Jr., 31, dead from a gunshot wound to the chest with several cellphones and a bag of marijuana lying near him.

Bailey is charged with murder in connection with Saunders death, as well as robbery, conspiring to commit robbery and three firearms charges. He is set for a jury trial March 10 in Lynchburg Circuit Court.

Back near the blood trail, officers found a gray parka that had red stains consistent with blood stains and had two holes that matched where Bailey was shot in his arm, which Harrison said were the entrance and exit holes from the bullet.

In line with the blood trail, officers found a Smith & Wesson .38 Special in the 700 block of Franklin Street with two intact bullets and two spent shell casings, according to Harrison.

Officers executed a search warrant on the phone recovered from the teen and found Facebook Messenger conversations between two users  one of whom Scott later admitted was him, and another who prosecutors believe was the teenager  setting up an opportunity for Scott to purchase a gun that would be delivered by the other users little bro ... wearing a gray jacket, Harrison said.

After police arrested Bailey that night, police executed a search warrant on Scotts home, where he was at the time. They brought him to the department for an interview, where Scott denied knowing the teen.

Scott said he had been in discussions about purchasing a firearm and he planned to sell the gun in New York. When the 15-year-old arrived with the gun, Scott planned to give him fake cocaine but Bailey said he wanted marijuana instead, which Scott did not have, according to Harrisons evidence. The teen said he would hit a lick for the marijuana, which an officer testified is slang for robbery.

According to Harrison, Scott knew Saunders sold marijuana and lived up the street, which prompted Scott to text Saunders asking if he was home and had any marijuana on him.

Scott told officers Bailey threw the gun Scott was to purchase into some bushes around his house and they walked down Hazel Street to where Scott could point out Saunders residence. Scott heard a loud bang after Bailey entered the residence, according to Harrison.

Scott told officers he ran to his home on Maple Street, where he saw Bailey return roughly 15 minutes later and discovered the teenager had been shot in the arm.

Harrison said during Scotts interview at the police station he said knowing Saunders, he thinks Saunders shot Bailey. Scott then said he believes the teen shot back at Saunders.

He also said he did not know Bailey had another firearm on him.

According to Harrison, the projectiles found in Saunders body, as well as the projectile found in his apartment both were consistent of a bullet from a Smith & Wesson .38.

Scott will be sentenced June 22 in Lynchburg Circuit Court.

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A gift from a Missouri Valley couple will help get a career academy humming in that community.

Larry and Bunny Buss announced a $300,000 donation to Iowa Western Community College for the academy during a ceremony Wednesday at the building that will house it, according to the college.

The new facility will be called the Larry and Bunny Buss Regional Academy when it opens this fall, Iowa Western President Dan Kinney said.

The generosity of Larry and Bunny Buss will enable the college to offer quality programs for students across the region, he said. This facility will be a game changer for students that want to pursue careers and remain in our local communities.

The academy, which will serve students from Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center and West Harrison Community School Districts, will be created in part of the Trivium Life Services building at 115 S. Harrison St. in Missouri Valley, which formerly housed Crossroads of Western Iowa. The colleges Board of Trustees approved the purchase of part of the building at a cost of $285,000 during its Nov. 15, 2021 meeting. Remodeling of the space is expected to start this spring.

The Buss donation was a key factor in the college applying for and receiving state funding to establish a new academy, Kinney said. The college received $1 million from the Career Academy Incentive Fund, which was created through the reauthorization of the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education sales tax in 2019. It provides targeted grants to support partnerships between school districts and community colleges that expand access to career academy programs, with a focus on programming delivered through regional centers.

Iowa Western intends to focus on agriculture, construction, electrical and welding when it opens the door to the new regional center, the press release stated. School superintendents from Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center and West Harrison/West Monona were on hand for the donation announcement and praised the establishment of the new academy.

We sincerely appreciate the partnerships that have developed between our four area school districts, Iowa Western and the Buss family, said Missouri Valley Superintendent Dr. Brenton Hoesing. Without Bunny and Larrys generosity, we would not be where we are today.

This partnership, and the Busss commitment to giving back to our communities, is all about doing what is right for our students, Hoesing said. This center will provide opportunities for students above and beyond what we thought was possible a year ago. The courses provided at the center will provide the tools they need to succeed in a variety of careers.

The Busses are longtime supporters of education at all levels, according to a press release from the college. Larry has a bachelors degree in agricultural engineering from Iowa State University and a masters degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska. Bunny was a music major at Morningside College. Larry used his education to pursue highly successful careers in both engineering and farming. Bunny used her education in farming and music careers.

The couple said they have realized in their own lives the high degree of importance education has had and the opportunities education makes available, the press release stated. For these reasons, they are in strong support of the regional education center in Missouri Valley that will provide education support for Iowa Western and to the school districts of Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center, West Harrison and possibly more districts in the future.

This center will greatly enhance the education opportunities that are available to all persons in this region, the couple said. We are extremely happy that we can provide funding to make this regional education center happen.

In Harlan, Iowa Western, which already owns half of the Shelby County Center building, is purchasing the other half from the City of Harlan to convert into another career academy. The college plans to offer electromechanical training for local companies and automotive/diesel, industrial technology, health care and trades instruction for students in that facility.

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DES MOINES  A bill prohibiting Iowa businesses, schools and governments from dismissing employees based on their medical treatment status  such as whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccination  got a hearing Thursday that was, for the most part, about anything other than the proposal.

Some physicians questioned the judgment of the medical establishment and three-letter government agencies that restrict the use of anti-parasite drug ivermectin and malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, for instance. Others said physicians and pharmacists are being forced to follow federal government dictates. Some said theyve been threatened by medical societies for their comments and practices.

However, House Study Bill 647 doesnt address any of that. In fact, it doesnt mention COVID-19. But the virus was, however, the impetus for his bill, according to Rep. Jon Jacobsen, R-Council Bluffs.

In general, the bill would ban face mask requirements as well as prohibit businesses and government entities from offering incentives to be vaccinated. There would be penalties for policies resulting in forced medical treatment.

Lobbyists for some medical groups were registered to oppose the bill  including the Iowa Hospital Association.

Consistent throughout the three hours of testimony Thursday was the philosophy expressed by Lee Merritt, a Logan physician, that government is not to make us safer, but to make us freer.

But the opposite happened over the past two years, according to Jason Crawford of Ames, who said he was terminated from his job after posting on social media his views on vaccination requirements.

During these past few years, people I once trusted slowly began taking our freedoms in the name of safety, he said. At first, it was just two weeks to stop the spread, then it was just a mask, then I was just working from home for a year, then it was just working home for a second year.

Even as federal health policy continues to fail, and fail and fail and fail and fail, Eric Rosenthal of Cedar Rapids told the panel of Republicans Jacobsen and Rep. Brooke Boden of Indianola and Democratic Rep. Bruce Hunter of Des Moines, that in the current environment the political science trumps the legitimate peer review process of real fact-based science.

He noted that there have been no laws passed mandating vaccinations and vaccine passports, or sanctions on those who refuse vaccination or other treatment protocols.

No law has been needed in this new environment where the will of the federal government is relentlessly enforced through protocols and payoffs, Rosenthal said.

Whether in law or not, vaccination requirements are in conflict with privacy standards, Kevin Barry, a New York human rights and civil rights lawyer, said. And the state, in almost all cases, should stop at my skin.

The militarization of public health in the past two years should be of concern to every American who values life and liberty, Barry said. Coercion to get a COVID-19 shot went from get the vaccine, have a free doughnut to you better get your third dose or youre fired to were setting up quarantine cans for those who do not comply, which is a pending bill in New York right now.

The New York bill, first introduced in 2015, has been withdrawn and will not be voted on and is not pending.

Barry hoped Iowa HSB 647 would be a model for other states to enact.

The proposal now goes to the House State Government Committee. However, its not clear whether House leadership, which has supported a variety of bills resisting COVID-19 mask and vaccination requirements, will advance the bill.
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Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan addresses the One Ocean Summit via video link, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

PARIS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron held a high-level summit aimed at protecting the world's oceans on Friday, with representatives of more than 100 countries.

The One Ocean Summit in Brest brought together heads of state and government, leaders of multilateral institutions, shipping companies and civil society policymakers to unite in supporting the "Brest Commitments for the Oceans."

During the summit, panels were held on various commitments to marine protection and tackling climate change.

The Vice President of the People's Republic of China, Wang Qishan, addressed the summit via video-link.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the summit's goal of "making commitments to bring forward useful actions and an essential international agenda for 2022."

Countries participating in the summit said they would respect the 13 Brest Commitments for Oceans, which include protecting biodiversity and ocean resources.

Some 84 countries are aiming to ensure protection of 30 percent of the world's land and sea biodiversity by 2030.

More countries joined the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People," and "the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction." They also ratified agreements to fight against illegal fishing.

Leaders of shipping companies committed to the new Green Marine Europe label, but called on politicians consider the cost of renewable energy.

In order to reduce pollution, Mediterranean countries and the EU have committed to asking the International Marine Organization to create a low sulphur emissions zone across the Mediterranean, starting on Jan. 1, 2025.

France and Colombia also launched a global coalition to finance the restoration of marine ecosystems that capture and store "blue (marine) carbon," and called on other countries to join.

The third commitment is to end plastic pollution of the oceans, with financial support from various banks to the tune of 4 billion euros by 2025. During the summit, the "New Plastics Economy Global Commitment" was joined by Greece, Italy, Colombia, the Republic of Korea, the city of Paris and Central Greece, as well as 250 companies.

Commitments from the One Ocean Summit will be discussed again at the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal in June, and during the COP27 in Egypt in the autumn. 
The Algerian authorities have been practicing arbitrary measures against dozens of prisoners of conscience, who went on strike to protest the extension of their detention, without legal justifications, or intent to try them on terrorism-related and other charges, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said in a statement.

Over 40 Hirak detainees in El Harrash prison announced an open hunger strike on January 28, the Geneva-based NGO pointed out.

The human rights watchdog which expressed grave concern over the situation of these prisoners said some of them have been detained for years or months for expressing an opinion and for peaceful assembly.

It is feared that the striking detainees health would deteriorate if the authorities continue to refuse to negotiate with them. Detainees relatives told Euro-Med Monitor that some of those striking inmates have been beaten, showed clear signs of fatigue, and experienced severe weight loss.

A member of the Detainee Defense Committee, a group of lawyers defending the detainees, lawyer Abdelghani Badi, told Euro-Med Monitor that the prison administration has begun dispersing the hunger strikers to detention centers inside and outside the capital, Algiers.

The administration held the remaining strikers in El Harrach prison in solitary confinement cells as a punitive step and to double the psychological and physical pressure on them to stop the hunger strike, the lawyer said.

He added that dozens of other detainees joined the hunger strike, but the exact number is unknown because of the difficulty of communicating with them inside prisons due to the Algerian authorities procedures.

The Algerian judiciary bears part of the responsibility for the extension of the detention of detainees for months and years without trial, the NGO pointed out, adding that since detention centers are under judicial oversight, the judiciary is responsible for the degrading detention conditions of the inmates, and that these conditions violate the Algerian Prison Organization Code.

The Algerian government should immediately and unconditionally release all those detained in connection with freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly and stop its policy of arbitrary detention to silence and intimidate opposition activists, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor underlined.

The Public Prosecution and the Algerian prison administration should respect detainees exercise of the legitimate right of protesting the detention conditions and not punish detainees with physical assault, deportation to penal centers, and isolation in solitary confinement, the NGO added.
The United Nations Thursday rejected the appointment of former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as the countrys new Premier in replacement of the incumbent Abdul Hamid Dbeibah by the parliament, Al Wasat news outlet reports.

The state legislature headquartered in Tobruk according to its spokesman Abdullah Belhaq voted unanimously to appoint Bashagha and granted him confidence.

The former Interior Minister who served in the previous administration known as Government of National Accord (GNA), also according to the Speaker of the house, Aqila Saleh, received support from the High Council of State, the upper house.

The self-style Libya National Army headed by rebel commander and the countrys eastern region strongman Khalifa Haftar also welcomed Bashaghas appointment.

Both Haftar and Bashagha met in December during a meeting believed to have paved the way for the Thursday appointment.

In reaction to the appointment UN Chiefs spokesperson Stephane Dujarric indicated that the global body does not recognize the vote and continues to work with Dbeibah.

We have seen the reports of the appointment of another prime minister, he said.

Our position remained unchanged.

The Secretary-General is following closely the situation in Libya and calls on all parties and institutions to continue to ensure that such critical decisions are taken in a transparent and consensual manner, the spokesperson said.

The Secretary-General further calls on all parties to continue to preserve stability in Libya as a top priority. He reminds all institutions of the primary goal of holding national elections as soon possible in order to ensure that the political will of the 2.8 million Libyan citizens who registered to vote is respected.

Dbeibah himself has condemned his removal arguing that the move violates the political roadmap agreed and backed by the UN with elections in December as climax.

The goal of the political agreement and the road map is to reach the elections and the approved road map stipulates that the government ends by reaching elections.

The Presidential Council is the one who has the right to change the government according to the road map in Geneva, he added. The Libya parliament argues that Dbeibahs mandate came to an end on Dec. 24; the date of failed presidential elections.
Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

When President  sorry, Senator  Joe Manchin put the kibosh on Build Back Better back in December, he may have done serious damage to the climate and deprived millions of lower-income Americans the chance at quality health care. But he has also inadvertently given Democrats a precious opportunity to replace the execrable name that has been attached to their domestic agenda. As the party tries to tug Manchin toward a more focused and cheaper version of their scuttled bill, they shouldnt just ditch some of the measures that so offended the West Virginian, like giving poor kids too much money. They should also view this interregnum as a much-needed rebranding opportunity.

With Manchin having made it clear about 47 times that Build Back Better is well and truly dead, it looks like Democrats are starting to move in the right direction, moniker-wise. Last month, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she of sound political instincts, said, We may have to rename it. Hawaii senator Brian Schatz went farther a couple of weeks later, telling NBC News, That old name needs to go in the trash can. This week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House would be fine with discarding it.

The sooner the better. As a name, Build Back Better has one thing and one thing only to recommend it: alliteration. Thanks to the three Bs that were surely integral to its selection, it is, to get linguistically technical, kind of fun to say. But the appeal stops there. Build Back Better is otherwise a dud  an anodyne, mealy-mouthed, focus-grouped feeling dud.

Build Back Better commits the cardinal sin of any political slogan: Its unclear. What does the phrase mean in this context, when you think about it? What are we building back from? Trumps reign of terror? The pandemic? The rise of impact as a verb? As horrific as COVID-19 has been, its not like were reconstructing society from the ashes with the power of musical theater, Station Elevenstyle.

The best-named ambitious pieces of legislation tell a coherent story in a few syllables. The New Deal  now that was a name you could set your watch to. It didnt require much explaining: The old deal was clearly working terribly for a huge portion of Americans. Now, FDR was clearly articulating, it was time for something completely different. LBJs the Great Society? Another winner. Yes, a little on the nebulous side, but also noble  a clarion call to Americans who wanted to live up the countrys lofty ideals. Hell, even the Affordable Care Act was pretty good, in retrospect (even if Republicans hijacked it with Obamacare).

Build Back Better doesnt recall those two worthy forebears as much as it brings to mind a technocratic nothing of a slogan like Winning the Future (2010s kids will  okay, might  remember).

The other compelling reason for Build Back Better to go: its unsavory associations with our closest ally. None other than U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson is a promoter of the very same slogan, flogging it since last year to promote his shambolic attempts at leveling up the North of England with the South. (He even released videos of himself making butter and cod-themed puns on the name.) Its a bit of a muddle as to whether BoJo or Biden began using it first, but the 46th president already has a storied history of lifting lines from British politicians, so the fact that theres even a debate about who might have copied whom should have been a red flag. Besides, BoJo, who seems to have spent at least 70 percent of the pandemic attending verboten parties, is now on the political brink. Like the original bill itself, he carries with him the stench of failure.

The phrase Build Back Better, it turns out, first gained prominence as the umbrella term for disaster-relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. And that made perfect sense. Who wouldnt want to build back better in the wake of that infrastructure-destroying catastrophe? The name experienced a revival after another natural disaster, the 2010 Haiti earthquake (though it did not meet as much success there). But adopting it for the political sphere was clearly a mistake.

So what should replace it? Manchin may or may not be yanking everyones chain, but he has indicated that he might  might!  agree to a bill that includes some climate provisions along with measures that would expand Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act, that is) and lower the cost of prescription drugs, among other things. Democrats are famously terrible at communicating concrete achievements to voters. So why not just cut right to the heart of the matter on this one? Rather than come up with some ideas myself, I turned to Twitter, that hive mind of wisdom and groupthink:

The American Jobs Plan https://t.co/rJZykVz4Zu  Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 3, 2022

Not bad. But maybe it should get even more specific?

The Climate and Kids Act https://t.co/mz7RSbIre3  Ben Ritz (@BudgetBen) January 20, 2022

We like to joke around on here  2 Build, 2 Better, American Build Back Better: The Naked Mile, The Honoring West Virginia Coal Miners Act  but I honestly think naming it The $35 a Month for Insulin Act would make a huge political difference. https://t.co/AlNrMrMXae  Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 20, 2022

Or maybe best to honor our favorite lawmakers big condition for approving any major new legislation?

Pass the Manchin Deficit Reduction Act now! https://t.co/Hp3Dr7D5HL  Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) February 10, 2022

Or just the man himself:

Build Back better --> Making America Notably Competitive However Is Necessary (MANCHIN Act) https://t.co/ZmCvINdZSA  Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 31, 2022

Theres a lot to work with here, but the point is that all of these tossed-off ideas, even the joke ones, are instantly superior to the original. Now imagine what 50 Democratic senators could do if they put their heads together actually, might be better to just stick with Twitter on this one.
ReportLinker

Major companies in the home health care and residential nursing care services market include UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, Kaiser Permanente, Encompass home health, Orpea, Genesis Healthcare, Brookdale Senior Living, Golden Living, The Ensign Group, Inc, LHC Group and Amedisys Inc.

New York, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Home Health Care And Residential Nursing Care Services Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06229150/?utm_source=GNW





The global home health care and residential nursing care services market is expected to grow from $1004.12 billion in 2021 to $1102.28 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $1517.16 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.3%.



The home health care and residential nursing care services market consists of sales of home health care and residential nursing care services and related goods by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that provide home health care and residential nursing care, including personal services, counselling services, vocational therapies, rest home services, social services, and nutritional services.



The main types of home health care and residential nursing care services are home health care providers, retirement communities, nursing care facilities, and orphanages and group homes.A nursing care facility is an in-patient rehabilitation and medical treatment institution staffed by qualified medical personnel.



The different expenditure types include public and private which are used by male and female.



Western Europe was the largest region in the home health care and residential nursing care services market in 2021.North America was the second largest region in the home health care and residential nursing care services market.



The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



Access to health care services is expected to improve in developing countries, driving the nursing care market in those geographies.Effective implementation of health plans is the core reason for the improvement in healthcare access in many developing countries such as India, China and Latin American countries.



Some country-specific health reforms which were set to improve healthcare access include Chinas Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance and New Rural Cooperative Medical Insurance schemes, Brazils Unified Health System and Mexicos Popular Health Insurance. Improvement in healthcare access is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the nursing care market.



The nursing care market is expected to be limited by a shortage of trained doctors, consultants, nurses and caregivers in both developed and developing countries.Developing countries face a high shortage of healthcare professionals as demand for nursing care rises.



For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there will be a shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030, with the majority of these personnel coming from low- and lower-middle-income countries.Developed nations are also experiencing a similar crisis.



According to a 2019 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could face a physician shortfall of between 37,800 and 124,000 by 2034 .This is mainly due to the lack of right skills, and lack of education and right work experience among the candidates.



Going forward, the shortage of healthcare personnel is likely to continue to act as a restraint on the nursing care market.



The nursing care industry is adopting big data technologies to monitor patients health and offer appropriate care.Big data is large amounts of data that can be analyzed to gain insights and drive decision-making.



Big data allows the nursing care providers to access to a significant amount of data that can be used to aid health care professionals to identify future health risks and suggest suitable remedies.Home care providers can also use this data to identify the irregularities in the treatment of patients and improve the effectiveness of the treatment.



For example, MJHS, a leading home care, palliative and hospice provider in the US has adopted eCaring, a big data technology solution, to monitor a patients health every hour and track individual patient behaviors and health outcomes.



The countries covered in the home health care and residential nursing care services market are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06229150/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




DUBLIN, February 11, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Malaysia Cards and Payments - Market Analysis and Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Malaysian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, credit transfers, card, cheques, and direct debits during the review-period (2017-21e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2021e-25f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Malaysian cards and payments industry, including -

Current and forecast values for each market in the Malaysian cards and payments industry, including debit, credit and charge cards.

Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, credit transfers, card, cheques, and direct debits . It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

Ecommerce market analysis.

Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Malaysian cards and payments industry.

Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit and charge cards.

Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards

The competitive landscape of the Malaysian cards and payments industry

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Key Topics Covered:

Market Overview

Payment Instruments

Card-Based Payments

Merchant Acquiring

Ecommerce Payments

Buy Now Pay Later

Mobile Payments

P2P Payments

Bill Payments

Alternative Payments

Payment Innovations

Job Analysis

Payment Infrastructure and Regulation

Companies Mentioned

Maybank

Bank Simpanan Nasional

CIMB

Public Bank

Hong Leong Bank

Bank Islam Malaysia

RHB Bank

United Overseas Bank

Citibank

Al Rajhi Bank

Public Bank

Citibank

HSBC

AmBank

AEON Credit Service

Bank Islam Malaysia

PayPal

Samsung Pay

Grab Pay

Click to Pay

Huawei Pay

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fvokdz

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005343/en/

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Snowfall has left mesmerizing patterns across dunes of the Sahara Desert after temperatures plummeted below zero.

The images, captured earlier this month, shows snow and ice near the town of Ain Sefra in northwest Algeria. The area has experienced snow only a handful of times in the past 40 years.

Ain Sefra is located in the Atlas Mountains, 1,000 meters above sea level and is known as the gateway to the desert. It lies in the Naama province of Algeria in the northern part of the Sahara, close to the Moroccan border.

Although temperatures vary in the worlds largest desert, snow and ice are still rare. The only other recorded incidences of snow in Ain Sefra were 1979, 2017, 2018 and last year.

The quantity of snowfall has varied greatly, ranging from a snowstorm which stopped traffic in 1979 to 40cm falling in 2018.

A rare snowfall in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria this month (karim_bouchetat/Instagram)

Ain Sefra, founded in 1881 as a French garrison town, sees average high temperatures of around 37C in summer and has seen record lows of -10.2C in winter.

Snow in the Sahara is unusual but not unheard of, a UK Met Office spokeswoman previously told The Independent.

It is difficult to determine the role that the climate crisis plays in a single weather event however the field of attribution science has taken leaps forward in recent years.

Identifying climate extremes in the Sahara region also has been hampered by a lack of data and scientific studies, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the worlds leading authority on climate science, reported in 2018.

Hotter, drier conditions, and shifting weather patterns linked to the climate crisis in Africa means that the Sahara Desert is growing in size due to increased desertification.

The climate crisis will not unfold uniformly across regions, meaning that even as temperatures climb in some places, there will also be severe cold events.

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Roman Vilfand, head of Russias Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, previously told the Russian state-controlled news agency TASS that the climate crisis could play a role in Saharan snowfall.

Such situations, including snowfalls in Sahara, a long cold spell in North America, very warm weather in the European part of Russia and sustained rains which sparked flooding in Western European countries, have been occurring more frequently, he said.

The high recurrence of these extreme (weather) conditions stems from global warming. It is not just my standpoint, but an opinion shared by members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Recommitting my life to God

After my water baptism, guests came up to me and said they would be careful about the words they used in the future. They had been impacted by the testimony I shared and some even said it served as a warning!

You see, I was raised in the church. I attended Sunday school from age five. I regularly went to the weekly service with my three siblings and mother (sometimes my father). Later, I was part of the youth group and camps. Church was central to my life.

However, after just one year at university my head faith was failing and my interest in God and Christianity at an all-time low. While I diligently studied, I also relished the freedom and opportunities of campus social life including balls and parties.

One sentence

One day a well-known campus Christian gently suggested I attend a Christian event. To this day, I still remember my reply:I am too busy having fun, I will think about God when I am old, when I am 40!

Sadly, what I had spoken in one simple, thoughtless and arrogant sentence was to come to pass. It wasnt till a personal tragedy brought me to my knees that I reached out to God again.

Thankfully, he was still there, graciously waiting with wide open arms. This time I connected to him in a real and personal way.

But the story doesnt end there! God supernaturally, through a series of divine circumstances, arranged my water baptism for the week of my 40th birthday! Yes, those words spoken 20 years earlier had played out in my life to the letter! I wonder what my life would have been like had I not uttered that fateful sentence?

Words are containers of power

Words have the power to soothe and calm, or attack and abuse.

Words have the power to seek understanding and reconciliation, or cause loss and pain.

Words give us wisdom. Words can inspire.

Words are fundamental to the communication process.

Joyce Meyer

Internationally known Christian speaker, author and teacher Joyce Meyer says, Every word can either be a brick to build or a bulldozer to destroy.

The Bible

The Bible has much to say about words including: For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned, (Matthew chapter 12, verse 37). This is a sobering thought. We will have to give account for every word we utter.

There are 100 different verses on the power of words in the Bible, including; Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. (Proverbs chapter 18, verse 21)

We are also told to see about being quick to listen and slow to speak (James chapter 1, verse 19). Its clear words are very important to God.

Writers and words

Writers know about the power of words. The power of a dramatic sentence, the right adjective. Powerful words can transport the reader to another world. The right words can soothe our souls. Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket (Proverbs chapter 25, verse 11)

Gods words are infused with power. After all, he spoke creation into being. Words are important whether written or spoken.

Counselling and words

As a counsellor I know the importance of words to affirm and build up someones self-esteem. In counselling sessions, I listen attentively, often for long periods, to peoples pain, much of it caused by words and actions.

The writer of Proverbs is so true when he pens: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. (Proverbs chapter 18, verse 21)
My husband. I hope the show won't be like.....Disneyfied.



Edited at 2022-02-10 11:08 pm (UTC)

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[ future ] hes definitely supposed to be in She Hulk and a few other shows. Plus possibly more movies.



Rumor has it Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) have a fling? Im still not sure theres going to be a show. But

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S2 promo?

I finished this before Christmas

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For Kin? Its just being released somewhere else so he had to do press for season 1.

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Ahh we are always the last to get stuff I just assumed it had been out everywhere. Cool, amc+ for the win.

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As much as this movie was spoiled before it even came out, I am annoyed by being confirmed spoiled in the time since. Not everyone can go to the movvvvvvvvies right now

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On a different note, I've rewatched season 1/2 of Daredevil the last few weeks and LORD KAREN AND THE PUNISHER FAR OUTSHINE ELECTRA AND MATT, SORRY NOT SORRY. Too bad season 2 of Punisher succcccked.

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Karen and Frank is the best ship in all the Netflix shows by far. Its so random but it works so so well. I wish they had realized what they had and just ran with it.

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I like to watch it and ffwd through the Black Sky crap.

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I was trying not to spoil. Im sorry!

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i mean i feel like it was unavoidable. it was everywhere. you basically had to get rid of your internet if you didnt want to get spoiled until digital release which is rumored to be next month.

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I had a post go through holy shit!



(I am not good at formatting these on my phone. Too tired. Too lazy.)

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Did anybody watch Kin? I liked it for the most part but it was also a bit of a chore to watch.



Sorry dude, I dont care about the MCU :(

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It was decent but slow. I would have stopped if I didnt have a long running crush on Charlie Cox.

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I liked the first season but I did watch it sped up

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"...went out to lunch in Atlanta, realized too late that was stupid, so they sat facing the wall."



Fuckin' idiots. LMAO

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I was about to say 'this is how you know they're actual friends because who else would come up with this dumbass plan'

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Yes, yes, yes. The gif is perfection

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came here because I saw a hairy, hairy man



tell me more about yourself Mr. Cox 

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What's that gif from?

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I dont think Ive ever actually seen it. Just the gif. Apparently from this: https://www.nytimes.com/video/style/tmagazine/1194837714746/t-takes-brooklyn-09-episode-1.html I dont think Ive ever actually seen it. Just the gif.

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good god that gif 

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omg i forgot abt that gif 

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Idk why but I always get him and Hugh Dancy mixed up. They both kinda have that kicked puppy face. Anyway, really hoping for more MCU Daredevil as long as they can keep the tone similar to the Netflix series.

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I like very similar things in both of them. They both can play a character who is outwardly polite and meek, but inwardly really fucked up and intense. I think Dancy goes a little more fragile and Cox goes a little more charming, but yeah. Both flavors are good.

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I'm still upset they cancelled daredevil. The 3rd season was so good

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I have some hope for the future. 

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I don't want it if it's disneyfied tbh

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Did you see news today that Disneys about to get the distribution rights back to the Netflix shows on March 1st? And they have announcements coming about where the shows are going? I kinda just gave up on the idea that they could roll into an actual season 4. But maybe not?

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Its both. Chris Brewster has a fantastic ass too but they both look good.

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Wendy Williams scored a victory in court in her battle with Wells Fargo over access to her cash.https://t.co/AYVhYeAjCP  Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 11, 2022

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I didn't see this! I will add to the post!

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Wait so whos being sketchy here? Wells Fargo or her lawyers?

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That's what I was thinking.

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As someone who works in the financial industry, Idk what's going on with Wendy but for WF to freeze her accounts that means something was seriously up. They don't just freeze accounts like this because of the legal shitstorm that can happen if the bank doesn't have cause.

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Yeah I was gonna say, if they can freeze it for a general 'worry' that doesn't seem sound. Depends what the threshold for them to do that is.

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Agreed. I work in wealth management and we would not do this unless we were very concerned and very sure we were covered with our legal department.

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Fellow banker here. Totally agree. This is not something a bank would do lightly. There has to be substantial evidence of this and not only are we trained to sniff it out, but it's considered 'willful blindness' if we don't act and can result in penalties and personal jail time. It may also involve BSA issues, so they HAVE to investigate to make sure they are not a party to illegal activity like money laundering, which happens to people all the time. Especially older people. Some girl starts a romance online with an old man and gets him to cash checks for her and he just thinks he's helping her because she doesn't have her own accounts- then he goes to jail for money laundering and she (or he which it turns out to be a lot) is in the wind.



Trust me...banks make plenty of money- they don't need to do this to scam anyone out of money. In fact, if her accounts are frozen that keeps her from depositing, too. The fact that her lawyers are fighting it is not immediately suspicious as they may simply be trying to get her enough access to be able to make basic payments like her mortgage and employees like they said. This is hugely inconvenient for a customer so I get that. But it's in her best interest, especially if they've got evidence.

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i mean wells fargo closed my checking account out of the blue a few years ago, conincedentally on the same day i was supposed to get my student loan refund. When i called them they said that they didnt have to give me a reason to close my account. Fuck them luckily i just happendd to open a checking account with bank if america 2 months prior

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Yeah I thought so because the bank has to go through compliance at the very least while her team is more unsupervised

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i honestly can't tell either!

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It's hard to tell who's trying to do the controlling here. I get that people are saying, "Let her have access to her money" but the bank may be genuinely protecting her from being defrauded. People would scream if the bank let it happen to her without acting.

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My mom has been in banking her whole life. She said wells fargo is the worst. They would force people to open up accts that clients didnt ask for and if they didnt they would be fired

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We don't know.

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Ooh thats scary

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Debt to all of them

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Omg

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nah this comment of the year 

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Its a great joke even 

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the way i screamed

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Ugh I hope shes okay she has a trash reputation obvi but seeing her like this kind of hurts.

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very strange, can't she sue the bank for this? who tf are they to try and freeze her assets like this???

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She is suing them, and the bank can freeze your stuff if they think there is fraud or that you are being exploited. It actually happens with older/disabled people all the time. People take advantage of vulnerable people all the time.

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But then they should also make some policy or way that you can pay your bills or they handle that at the bank and that you can get food for the rest of the time being.

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she did sue them and court ordered WF to unfreeze her accounts.

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Also how dare they mention Wells Fargo, that's money directly away from the Morgan family

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you wanna talk about wells fargo???!!1 its not my family!!!

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i think this was the episode where i stopped watching RHONY and was like yeah this ain't it anymore.

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I dont understand.

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Oh wow I hope everything is fine with her.



I heard she approved of Sherri Shepard being a temporary host of her show.

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This sounds like they've been noticing payments going from her account to unsavory folks; maybe a love scam? She wouldn't be the first woman taken in. Either that or this bank majorly overstepped because you can't just freeze someone's account based on some said-so..

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Hmmm...she fires advisor because of reasons, advisor claims that she's being taken advantage of and gets her accounts frozen. This sounds like bullshit and I hope she sues.

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Beyond all of this, its so weird knowing where a celeb banks?

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I know Nicki is over at the SunTrust tho. 

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double bags every time i go to SunTrust

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Whos a BofA queen?

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That's scary af. I guess one of the perks of being poor is that when I'm older no one will be claiming that I'm mentally incapacitated so they can take all my money and put me in a nursing home.

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nursing homes are expensive. they're not going there

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Isnt she known to be mentally deteriorating for a while now?

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The financial advisor suggested she seemed "of unsound mind". Does this stuff happen often? Like for the bank to see something so suspicious they freeze the account and how different would it have to be for them to react that way?

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It happens often because we have millions of customers but the bar is pretty high to freeze accounts. There would have to be a lot of evidence in my experience. I deal in Canada though and we have more oversight and governing bodies than the US banks do, but WF is a pretty large organization and Id assume they are also very cautious about who they do this to.

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Yeah that's kind of what I'm thinking. If they were confident to come to this decision, I unfortunately think they have some proof.

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There is recourse, but it can be time consuming and expensive to unpick which is why solicitors, medical people and banking people are on the lookout for this kind of thing but of the unscrupulous person is even halfway competent it can take a long ass time for it to be spotted by which point there might not be much left.



This reddit story illustrates it quite well, if the parent hadn't contacted their estranged child and if the child hadn't taken the time to pursue it, it might never had been properly discovered.



https://www.reddit.com/r/ProRevenge/comments/qvov5v/hell_hath_no_fury_like_me_scorned_also_posted_on/



Edited at 2022-02-12 06:32 am (UTC) It's a thing. And it can be fairly easy, an unscrupulous relative can get something like power of attorney over someone on their way out and take money/assets for themselves or otherwise pressure a not quite all there family member to change names on paperwork and/or otherwise take money for their benefit and leave other family members with nothing but dust.There is recourse, but it can be time consuming and expensive to unpick which is why solicitors, medical people and banking people are on the lookout for this kind of thing but of the unscrupulous person is even halfway competent it can take a long ass time for it to be spotted by which point there might not be much left.This reddit story illustrates it quite well, if the parent hadn't contacted their estranged child and if the child hadn't taken the time to pursue it, it might never had been properly discovered.

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Im a manager of a bank and the threshold to freezing assets is incredibly high. You have to have a lot of evidence of fraud or be alerted by someone like a financial advisor. It comes across my desk on a weekly basis situations of kids/grandkids stealing from their elderly grandparents or romance exams. Based on my experience Im going to assume WF has a lot of evidence of impropriety and are trying to protect Wendy.

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Can I borrow a ? 

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 no lol

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situations of kids/grandkids stealing from their elderly grandparents or romance exams



Family members exploiting vulnerable relatives or fighting over a dead relative's money... it's all very unsavory. Sad to hear it's that rampant.

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is it that, or is it because she has several million with them and they're concerned about their profits off her money??



Edited at 2022-02-11 11:20 pm (UTC)

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Romance exams?

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Canadian oil producers are exporting crude to the U.S. at record rates, Reuters has reported, adding that demand for the heavy, sour crude that Canada is producing is surging.

Whats more, a growing amount of this crude is not staying at Gulf Coast refineries but is being exported to international markets. Kpler data cited by Reuters shows that the rate of Canadian heavy crude exports from the Gulf Coast topped 180,000 bpd last year, up from about 70,000 bpd in 2019 and 2020.

In December, export rates from the Gulf Coast reached 300,000 bpd. Most of this crude is going to India, China, and South Korea, replacing lost Venezuelan barrels.

Canadas oil sands production is also at record levels of 3.5 million bpd, according to the Reuters report. According to a Capital Economics expert, however, Canadas oil production is suffering from pipeline constraints.

The oil sector is not the driver of GDP growth that it once was, Stephen Brown said in a note quoted by Bloomberg this week. Due to pipeline capacity constraints, there is little supply response to rising prices, with oil production still stuck near 2018 levels. With export capacity out of their hands, producers have been using their income to pay down debt rather than invest.

As there is little scope for an immediate supply response and it takes time for higher oil export earnings to feed through to the rest of the economy, for example, in the form of higher wages in the oil patch, there is a risk that higher oil prices initially have a modest negative impact on Canadian economic activity, by eating into consumers real spending power, the economist also said.

The Canadian oil industry has been hard hit by canceled pipeline projects, but, as Reuters reports, Enbridge managed to expand the capacity of the Line 3 pipeline twofold last year. At the same time, the Capline Pipeline, which normally transports crude from Louisiana to Illinois, reversed flows last year to move more Canadian crude to the Gulf.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
News of an 'imminent' nuclear deal with Iran sent oil prices lower this week, but the reality of OPEC underproduction soon shifted sentiment and sent prices higher on Friday.

Friday, February 11th, 2022

Wherever you looked this week, it seemed that Iran was at the center of all oil market news. The prospect of a breakthrough in the nuclear deal, a breakthrough that was assumed to be imminent by several participants, drove oil prices lower over the week after last weeks bull run to mid $90s. The fact that Irans crude would take several months to reach markets if a deal were agreed upon shows that this was largely driven by sentiment. On the fundamental front, OPEC+ underperformance is potentially flirting with 1 million b/d in February, news that led even the IEA to get involved in pushing for more oil. The IEA joined the ranks of India and other major importers, all calling upon Middle Eastern exporters to bring more crude into the markets.

IEA Calls Out Saudi Arabia and UAE. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that Saudi Arabia and the UAE could use their spare capacity to compensate for the ever-worsening underperformance of OPEC+, with the missing volumes totaling some 800,000 b/d since the start of 2021.

Global Shortage Spreads to Diesel. Global shortages of diesel have become the new talk of the town as inventories in Northwest Europe fell to their lowest level since at least 2008, whilst Singapore gasoil stocks also dropped to multi-year lows of 8.2 million barrels.

Libya Gets Closer to the Brink, Again. The prospects of oil production in Libya were hampered after the eastern-based parliament in Tobruk named Fathi Bashagha the countrys new prime minister, unbeknownst to the other government in Tripoli, ratcheting up risks of further infighting.

Canadian Exports From USGC Keep on Soaring. Thanks to improvements in pipeline connectivity, Canadian oil producers exported record volumes of crude from terminals in the US Gulf Coast, reaching 300,000 b/d in December-January, roughly double what they were a year ago.

Qatar Is No Longer in the EUs Crosshairs. With spot gas prices in Europe still trading above 70/MWh ($27/mmBtu) and Brussels seeking alternative sources of supply, the European Commission dropped its 2018 investigation into QPs gas contract pricing (linking delivered prices to oil).

EU Admits Carbon Price Spike Might Be Too Quick. Peter Liese, the European Parliaments lead negotiator tasked with an overhaul of Europes carbon market, said he was considering changes that would allow policymakers to intervene in carbon markets if prices rise too fast  just as the Dec 22 contract trades within reach of 100/mt.

China Wants to Harness Desert Wind and Sun. China intends to bring total wind and solar capacity to 1,200 GW by 2030, almost double what it is right now, in a bid to become carbon-neutral by 2060, with major investments going into generation and grid upgrade projects in remote regions like the Gobi Desert.

Pressure Mounts Against Mexico Power Reform. Several top-ranking US energy officials have reached out to Mexico in a bid to halt the adoption of a power sector reform that would give the state-owned utility CFE a priority over other providers, jeopardizing Mexicos renewable energy prospects.

Iran Ramps Up Crude Exports Amid Talks Progress. Iranian crude exports have risen to their highest since early 2019 as negotiations on the revival of the Iranian nuclear deal enter their final stage - both December and January saw outflows around 800,000 b/d, almost a quarter up year-on-year.

TotalEnergies Doubles Down on US Solar. French oil major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) bought the commercial and industrial solutions business of US solar company SunPower (SPWR) for $250 million as it seeks to extend its generation business to the United States.

Europes Shipper Warn of High Freight Costs in 2022. Europes leading shippers, amongst them container shipping firm Maersk (COP:MAERSK), have warned that freight costs are likely to remain high throughout 2022 as COVID-related disruption and a surge in consumer demand keep vessel availability limited.

Chinese Coal Prices Fall on Government Interference. Having gone up 24% on the year, Chinas thermal coal futures fell this week to 835 per metric tonne ($130/mt) after Chinas economic planning body stated it would crack down on companies inflating coal prices and vowed to do its utmost to stabilize prices.

France Bets on Nuclear as its Long-Term Power Champion. The French government confirmed its plans to build six new nuclear reactors worth some $60 billion in the decades to come, with President Macron stating that the first of the batch would come online by 2035 and might be followed by a further eight plants if required.

US Jet Fuel Prices Soar to Highest Since 2014. Boosted by a global tightness in middle distillates and record diesel demand, US jet fuel prices have risen to $2.75 per gallon, the highest they have been since September 2014, despite domestic production of roughly 1.5 million b/d surpassing consumption by almost 100,000 b/d.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

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After becoming the worlds largest importer of liquefied natural gas, China is now looking to become a factor in global LNG trade, analysts tell Reuters.

China was the single biggest contributor to the rise in global LNG demand in 2021, after a lackluster 2020, due to the pandemic slump in global energy demand.

With its LNG demand bolstered by clear policy support and strong gas market fundamentals, Chinas top spot looks assured for years to come, Gavin Thompson, Vice Chairman, Energy  Asia Pacific at Wood Mackenzie, said last year, commenting on Chinas status of no.1 LNG importer.

Now Chinese firms that are major LNG importers are building trading teams in London, Singapore, and other markets, according to Reuters. The Chinese traders will have to compete with supermajors Shell and TotalEnergies, as well as the worlds largest independent oil trader, Vitol.

China has recently signed major long-term supply deals with U.S. LNG exporters, which will boost LNG imports into China further.

Chinese firms have signed long-term supply deals for U.S. LNG, including a Cheniere agreement with Sinochem Group, and one between Venture Global LNG and Sinopec, which, Venture Global says, will be the largest single LNG supply deal ever signed by a US company and will double imports of US LNG to China.

Chinese LNG importers are back on the market for long-term deals with American exporters after the year-long hiatus of zero Chinese imports of American gas at the height of the trade war in 2019 and early 2020.

The United States has returned to exporting LNG to China after a year without U.S. LNG shipments to China between March 2019 and February 2020. American exports to China started rising toward the end of 2020 to reach a record high in August 2021, the latest available EIA data shows.

According to a trader based in Beijing who spoke to Reuters, the volumes in the contracts recently signed with U.S. LNG developers and exporters are expected to bring large amounts to Chinese traders to trade on the global market, once domestic demand has been met.

China could have success if it owns a terminal in Europe, secure enough vessels, and manage price risks, analysts told Reuters.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The European Union and the UK have seen their dependence on natural gas imports jump to 80 percent in 2020 from 65 percent in 2010, as regional production plunged, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Friday.

The high dependence on gas imports and the low levels of gas in storage have played the main role leading up to the gas and power crisis in Europe, where energy costs have soared over the past few months.

In 2020, pipeline natural gas imports into the EU plus the UK region accounted for 74 percent of all natural gas imports, and LNG accounted for the remaining 26 percent of imports, according to EIA data.

The largest pipeline gas supplier is Russia, with over one-third of all the gas the UK and the 27 member states of the EU consume.

Despite the construction of new pipelines, imports from Norway  not an EU member  averaged around 9 Bcf/d between 2010 and 2020, as the development of new fields in the Barents Sea of the Norwegian Continental Shelf was insufficient to offset declines from mature fields in the North Sea, the EIA noted.

The UK, a major European natural gas producer alongside Norway, could see gas production plunge by 75 percent by 2030 unless new offshore fields are approved and developed, the offshore industry body OGUK says.

Without new investment in new gas fields in the North Sea, the UK will be left more vulnerable to crises, such as the current one between Russia and Ukraine, the industry association noted.

According to Fitch Ratings, low inventories, reduced deliveries from Russian giant Gazprom, and increased geopolitical tensions have contributed to the already tight European gas market and prompted the search for additional supplies.

While Europe will remain reliant on Russian gas supplies in the near term, in the longer term this may lead to a more diversified supplier base and faster energy transition, Fitch said in an analysis this week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil exports from Iran have topped 1 million bpd for the first time since 2019, Reuters has reported, citing data from cargo tracking providers.

Unsurprisingly, the buyer of most of the oil is China. In fact, some cargo trackers have been saying for years that Iran was exporting a lot more than official figures suggested using various tactics to mask the origin of the crude.

A further increase in oil exports could be on the way of the current round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States end with a deal. This is the final stage of negotiations and, according to U.S. official sources, they would either end with a deal or with a "nuclear crisis".

"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.

Nothing is certain, but the very prospect of a deal already weighs on prices. With high fuel prices worrying the White House, there could be additional motivation on the U.S. side to reach a deal with the Iranian side. If a deal is reached, Iran's oil exports could at some point rebound to the pre-sanction level of 2.5 million bpd.

"The U.S. government is attempting to tame oil prices by urgently negotiating a new nuclear agreement with Iran," Rystad Energy senior oil market analyst Louise Dickson told Reuters earlier this week. If a deal is struck, Iran could ramp up "crude and condensate production within four to six months, or even quicker as Iran is thought to have robust oil-on-water storage."

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Some of the biggest historical monuments and tourist attractions in thousands of Italian cities had their lights shut off for half an hour in the evenings this week as mayors and local authorities call for government relief over soaring energy bills for municipalities.

Landmarks in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Naples, and thousands of other big cities and small towns were not illuminated for up to an hour in the evenings as part of a campaign organized by the association of Italian municipalities, ANCI, to draw the attention of the government to the soaring energy costs.

The gas and power crisis in Europe is raising the energy costs for consumers and industries across the continent, including in Italy. The municipalities are also seeing surging costs for heating of schools and street lighting, so mayors from all parties are calling on the government for help.

According to ANCI, due to the high energy costs, Italian municipalities will have to pay a total of $627 million (550 million euro) more on energy.

The government has moved to support households and businesses, but it hasnt addressed yet the soaring costs of the municipalities, the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, told RaiNews 24.

Cities will run into difficulties in paying for the municipal energy costs if the government doesnt support or compensate municipalities, Gualtieri said.

For Rome, the soaring energy costs would weigh with an additional $45-57 million (40-50 million euro) on its spending, the citys mayor said.

Venice has set aside $4.5 million (4 million euro) for the additional energy costs, but it may not be enough, the mayor of the city, Luigi Brugnaro, said.

Meanwhile, the Italian government is preparing a new support package for households and businesses to the tune of up to $8 billion (7 billion euro) to guarantee adequate support for the second quarter of 2022.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Omaha Farmers Market is returning to its old stomping grounds.

This year, the Saturday market will be on the streets of the Old Market near 11th and Jackson Streets.

The Sunday market will be in Aksarben Village near 67th and Center Streets.

To allow social distancing amid the pandemic, the events have been in the City Parking Garage across from the Old Market and Baxter Arena Lot 26 for the last two years.

The 2022 markets will be held every weekend from May 7 through Oct. 15. Saturdays is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sundays is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Applications for vendors are now available. A Zoom meeting for potential vendors will be at 7 p.m. Thursday. You can find a link for it at omahafarmersmarket.com

Vendors are eligible if they have locally produced products and live within a 150-mile radius of the markets.

Products sold include vegetables, fruits, herbs, bedding plants, flowers, meats, baked goods, jams and jellies, condiments, organic food, ethnic food, crafts and more.

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The Millard school board voted unanimously Thursday night to name John Schwartz as the district's next superintendent.

The decision came after public interviews with three finalists, who were asked to weigh in on critical race theory, Nebraska's controversy over health education standards and other key issues.

"This was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life," board President Stacy Jolley said after the board emerged from a two-hour closed session.

Jolley said the board "agonized" over the decision because of the strength of the finalists.

The board voted to extend an offer to Schwartz, superintendent of the Norris Public Schools, who will take over for the retiring Jim Sutfin after this school year.

Contract details were not made public.

Schwartz has experience in the Omaha area, having previously worked in the Bellevue and Papillion La Vista school systems. The Norris Public Schools are 12 miles south of Lincoln and have almost 2,500 students.

During his public interview, Schwartz told the board that he was drawn to Millard because it has high expectations for student achievement.

Schwartz said he embraces the challenge of maintaining and increasing that achievement.

"One of the many things that makes Millard special is the culture and climate you have here," he said. "People are really, really proud to be associated with Millard Public Schools."

Board members were showing the emotion of the moment and the difficulty of the decision during their comments before the vote.

Linda Poole said she had the pleasure of spending time with all three finalists.

"It hurts my heart to know somebody won't get their dream fulfilled tonight," she said.

Dave Anderson said, "The tough thing about this is we had a phenomenal pool."

Amanda McGill Johnson said it's very exciting "to think about where we can go and what we'll be able to do."

Mike Kennedy said the decision was a hard one.

"Thanks to the search firm," he said. "They brought us what we asked for."

Kennedy said that he didn't like some answers from the finalists but that the district was "blessed" with three good candidates capable of leading the district.

Board member Mike Pate called it a "tough" decision but said that with three really good candidates, "we can't go wrong."

The other finalists were Josh Fields, superintendent of the Seward Public Schools, and Jami Jo Thompson, superintendent of the Norfolk Public Schools.

During interviews, Pate asked each finalist their thoughts on local control for schools, their opinion of critical race theory and the proposed health standards that ignited controversy last year.

Schwartz said the Nebraska Department of Education has the ability to create non-core standards as "guidance documents."

He said it's a long-standing practice at Norris, and of his, to not take a position on non-core standards.

"The reason is, I don't have time," Schwartz said. "They're not required."

Norris, like Millard, has its own curriculum development process, he said.

He said that Norris doesn't teach critical race theory and that it's not in state standards.

"We teach accurate American history," he said, and the district incorporates multiculturalism in its curriculum.

Pate followed up, asking how Schwartz would handle a teacher who brought CRT into the classroom.

"If it's something that is in conflict with their guaranteed viable curriculum, that's probably an issue" for the district's curriculum department to address with the teacher, he said.

In her response, Thompson said most decisions should be made at the local level.

She said the Norfolk district decided that it would not implement the proposed health standards if they were approved by the Nebraska State Board of Education.

She said the school board "did not feel that they were in line with all of the values within our community and that some of those topics should be taught by the parents, within the realm of family values rather than by the school."

Thompson said she doesn't know of a public school that teaches critical race theory. She said it's an academic concept taught at the post-secondary level.

The approach in Norfolk schools, she said, is to provide a welcoming environment "where everybody feels valued and accepted regardless of their race, religion, income, gender or any other personal characteristic."

Fields said the state should stick to writing standards for core academic subjects like math, reading, language arts and social studies.

"Those core areas, in my opinion, are the only things that (the Nebraska Department of Education) should be dictating that needs to be done," he said.

He said critical race theory should not be a part of the district's curriculum and is not part of the curriculum in Millard or Seward.

Pate asked him how he would handle a situation if a teacher was trying to infuse their beliefs on critical race theory into the classroom.

Fields said a teacher may have personal beliefs but the teacher is still a part of the district's education system and has to follow the curriculum.

"No one's bigger than the system," he said.

The finalists were also asked how they would build consensus when issues are dividing communities.

Thompson said it starts with being accessible to people and having conversations with them and inviting people to serve on strategic planning and ad hoc committees.

"Once you've built relationships and there's that trust between different people, then it becomes easier to build consensus," she said.

Fields said bringing about consensus starts with listening. It's important to bring people in and understand their perspective and build relationships.

"Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and thought processes, and so it's about trying to understand their perspective on things," he said.

Schwartz said those situations are an opportunity to engage people. He said he tries to stay calm and "presume positive intent even with those individuals I don't necessarily agree with."

Schwartz said he tries to model the behavior that he hopes from others. He said he tries to treat people with dignity and respect, to follow district policies, and to be transparent in his communications.

Beyond those issues, the board asked how the finalists would handle staffing shortages that are straining schools, keep employee morale up, and ensure academic excellence in Nebraska's third-largest school district.

The finalists were also asked how they would prioritize spending.

Thompson said "student learning has to be your No. 1 priority and protecting the classroom as much as possible, that if you've got to make cuts you're looking outside of that."

That could mean such steps as deferred maintenance or staff attrition or even cuts to the central office, she said.

The district's spending should have a multiyear focus and be based on the strategic plan, she said.

Fields, likewise, said he would do everything he could to keep any cuts away from the classroom.

Schwartz also said you have to avoid classroom cuts, if you're able.

"Sometimes, it's unavoidable when you have budget realignment to do," he said. "And I know when Millard went through selective abandonment process, there were some programs that needed to go away."

Schwartz received his doctorate in education from Doane University in 2018.

From 2015 to 2019, he was assistant superintendent for curriculum in the Papillion La Vista Community Schools.

Before that, he was a high school principal in the Seward Public Schools and an assistant principal at Papillion-La Vista High School.

From 2008 to 2010, he was director of secondary education in the Bellevue Public Schools, and prior to that was dean of students at Bellevue East High School.

He taught social studies at Bellevue West High School from 2003 to 2007.

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The Bennington Public Schools will open two new schools in August, with a new high school potentially on the horizon for the fast-growing district.

The district is building Stratford Elementary and Bennington South Middle School together at the southwest corner of 168th Street and Military Road. The school board approved the schools names in December, saying the new facilities will provide strength and stability to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Officials also also exploring possible sites for the districts second high school, said Superintendent Terry Haack.

The new schools are needed due to rising enrollment as more people move to the community on the northwest edge of Omaha.

In March 2020, enrollment was around 3,200. Since then, it has grown more than 20% to about 3,900 students.

Our projections suggest we are going to be over capacity in the (current) high school in the next three to five years, Haack said. We know it takes three to four years to build a high school, so we are undergoing a study right now for the design and development of a second high school.

Haack said Stratford and Bennington South are on schedule to be complete in June or July, almost two years after construction started. The structures are enclosed, and work will focus on mechanical and electrical systems, plus interior finishes.

If you looked at the buildings today, youre not going to see pretty sidewalks and grass, a playground or track, he said. But if you would go in them with your hard hat on, you would see all the rooms, windows and doors to an extent.

Stratford Elementary will have a capacity of 480 to 520 students. The facility is 67,752 square feet and has a price tag of $19.2 million.

Stratfords design was based on Benningtons recently constructed elementary schools: Heritage, Pine Creek and Anchor Pointe. It will have a building theme of constellations, Haack said.

Most of Stratfords students will be pulled from the current attendance area of Anchor Pointe Elementary.

Bennington Elementary principal Molly OConnor will become the principal of Stratford.

Bennington South Middle School is 131,500 square feet, with a capacity of 750. It will cost the district about $35.7 million.

The building was designed to look like the districts only current middle school, Bennington Middle School, 11201 N. 168th St. While people might start calling the old middle school Bennington North to distinguish between it and Bennington South, the name will not change, Haack said.

Shawn Hoppes is the principal for Bennington South after serving as the principal of Bennington Middle School.

Facilities will include a new track and small stadium. Haack said the building was designed for increasing enrollment.

We will have a bigger commons area for a lunchroom, maybe a little wider hallways, because of future expansion, he said.

The schools are being funded by a $72.2 million bond issue approved by voters in 2020, which includes $4 million for the expansion of 171st Street, near where the schools will be located. The stretch of road hasnt been created yet.

The bond issue also will buy land for the districts second high school. Several possible locations are under consideration.

Haack said he and other district officials have traveled to Kansas City, Sioux Falls and around the Omaha metro area to visit recently built schools while considering the new high schools design.

A panel of 30 to 40 community members, teachers and administrators is helping in the development of the high school. Haack said the district has a goal of proposing a bond issue for the second high school by this fall.

Bennington isnt the only Omaha-area district building new schools.

The Omaha school district is opening five new schools starting in August. Four schools, including two elementaries and two high schools, are on track to open their doors to students this fall. A middle school is scheduled to open in August 2023.

One of the new high schools, Westview High School, will be near the Bennington school district at 156th and Ida Streets. The other high school, Buena Vista, will be at 60th and L Streets.

The schools are being funded by a $409.9 million bond measure approved by voters in 2018.

The Gretna school district is building a second high school that is slated to open in 2023. The building will cost $139.5 million, funded from a bond issue approved by voters in 2020.

Springfield Platteview Community Schools will open a new elementary school this August, which is funded by a $28.5 million bond issue voters approved in 2020.

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Attorneys for Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry argued Friday that a California-based federal judge should dismiss the case against the congressman.

In the next breath, attorney John Littrell argued that if the judge didnt dismiss it, he should transfer the case to Nebraska.

That gave the judge pause.

Maybe give me a serious answer, U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. admonished Littrell.

That is a serious response, Littrell said. I can tell the court is offended by that.

Im not offended; Im surprised, Blumenfeld said. It seems so blatantly self-serving.

Littrell explained that he was advocating for his client  which drew further response from the judge about arguments based on law vs. passion. Indeed, the defense is pulling out all the stops as the congressman who represents Lincoln and parts of eastern Nebraska attempts to clear his name and get reelected to his 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fortenberry stands accused of three felonies  seeking to conceal the existence of conduit contributions that originated from a Paris-based Nigerian billionaire and two counts of lying to federal agents about the source of those funds. Fortenberrys attorneys say that he was the victim of a setup by federal officials and that he may have been confused but he never lied to authorities.

He had been set to go to trial next week, but a surge in COVID cases suspended jury trials through next week in Los Angeles, where the case was filed. A new date has not been set. Previous filings indicate that Fortenberry, who appeared in the Los Angeles courtroom for the first time Friday, could go to trial as soon as March 15.

Among many motions, Fortenberry has requested that the case be moved to Nebraska, because that is where the congressman is based, it is where one of the alleged crimes took place and it is where a handful of Fortenberry witnesses live. Another reason the defense gave for the move: Fortenberry wants a trial quickly so he can clear his name before this years election. Fortenberry faces a Republican challenger, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, in the May 10 primary. The GOP primary winner will take on the Democratic winner, from a field that so far includes State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks and Jazari Kual, both of Lincoln.

But during a pretrial hearing Friday, Judge Blumenfeld questioned whether the defense had evidence that Nebraska could hold a trial any faster than he could. Blumenfeld noted that it would take another judge time to get up to speed on all of the issues and motions in the case.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office in California have objected to a transfer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Har said Nebraskas federal court schedules jury trials eight deep  meaning seven other cases could be in line along with Fortenberrys. She also dismissed Fortenberrys argument that the case should be moved for the convenience of Fortenberrys witnesses  arguing that shes not sure whether those witnesses will actually be called and whether their testimony will be relevant.

One of Fortenberrys proposed witnesses: an expert on memory who would testify that peoples memories get spottier as they age  an attempt to show that Fortenberry may have been confused rather than lying to federal agents. Prosecutors have objected to the defenses desire to call that expert, saying he adds nothing more than common sense.

Friday, the judge sharply questioned how defense attorneys could call the expert to speak to Fortenberrys mindset without first calling Fortenberry to testify.

The judge didnt rule on any of the motions. But he seemed skeptical about  and abruptly ended arguments over  whether the defense should be allowed to delve into campaign contributions by the prosecutors in this case. Evidence of those contributions was sealed, but Fortenberrys defense team described them left-leaning. Blumenfeld characterized them as minor and noted that even the defense has acknowledged that the prosecutors have unquestioned professional integrity.

Littrell said the jury should be able to hear about the contributions and give them whatever weight they want.

Following the defenses logic, Blumenfeld asked whether the defense teams or the judges political party should be aired, as well. Blumenfeld, a longtime California judge, was appointed to the federal bench by then-President Donald Trump.

Blumenfeld didnt allow Littrell to finish his argument, perhaps signaling how he feels about the jury hearing about political leanings.

Alright, were done with this issue, Blumenfeld said.

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LINCOLN  A state lawmaker on Thursday called for changes in the process that selected a troubled Kansas-based nonprofit to oversee care of abused and neglected children in the Omaha area and led to other major contract failures.

St. Francis Ministries won a five-year, $197 million contract in July 2019, based on bidding 40% less than the previous contractor. But the agencys tenure was troubled from the start, and in December, state officials announced an early termination of the contract.

The announcement came almost one year after Nebraska had been forced to sign a new, emergency contract with St. Francis to keep the agency operating. The 25-month, $147.3 million contract erased the original 40% cost difference.

Meanwhile, the agency never met caseload standards set by state law and continually fell short on other contract requirements. Child welfare advocates said the situation put children at risk.

At a Thursday public hearing, State Sen. John Arch of La Vista said this was not the first time that Nebraskas procurement process led to the selection of a low-cost bidder that ended up failing to do the job.

He said a legislative investigation into the St. Francis contract found a history of what he called procurement failures. He said the problems spanned multiple administrations, involved multiple people in key roles and cost the state millions of dollars.

It became apparent we have a system issue, said Arch, who led the investigative committee. We did the process and checked all the boxes, and it led to a poor outcome.

In its December report, the investigative committee recommended a thorough evaluation of the states procurement process and practices to address areas of potential improvement. Legislative Bill 1037, which Arch introduced, was the result.

The bill would require the Department of Administrative Services, which handles procurement for the state, to hire a consultant to do the recommended evaluation. The consultants report would be due by Nov. 15, giving lawmakers time to craft legislation for the 2023 session.

On Thursday, Arch told members of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee that the evaluation offers an opportunity to improve state government. He said the potential $400,000 cost of the consultant would be a good investment.

This is an opportunity to correct things, he said. Yes, we want to save the taxpayer money, but we want to get the outcome we paid for.

Administrative Services Director Jason Jackson testified in favor of the bill, saying it fits within Gov. Pete Ricketts interest in process improvement in state government. He said that state procurement laws have not been significantly altered in 20 years and that having clear guiding principles for the process would be helpful.

But he also defended the decision to contract with St. Francis, a decision in which his department worked with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The contract was made in good faith by child welfare experts and procurement professionals, doing what they believed the law and procedure obligated them to do, he said.

HHS case managers are taking back responsibility for child welfare cases in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The transition began in January and is slated to be completed by the end of June. HHS workers already handle cases in the other 91 counties.

Other notable procurement failures predated Jackson and Ricketts. They include the states 2007 contract to develop a major Medicaid claims processing and information system and a 2014 contract for a new Medicaid eligibility and enrollment system.

In the first case, state officials signed a $45 million contract with FourThought Group, based in Arizona. HHS officials terminated the contract in July 2009, after only 15 months, saying the company did not have the capacity to deliver the system they proposed.

Kerry Winterer, the former CEO of HHS, told the investigative committee that the company had never implemented such a contract and that many of their representations as to having products available to apply to the project were simply not true. The company appeared to be poorly capitalized and understaffed.

By then, the state had paid FourThought more than $6.8 million in state and federal money. Later in 2009, the state reached a settlement to pay another $4.75 million.

In the second case, state officials signed an $80 million contract with Wipro, based in India. Four years later, HHS officials ordered a review of the project after Wipro requested a fifth amendment to its contract, which the state said would have delayed completion of the project by two years and added $28 million to the project total.

Officials concluded that there was no evidence that Wipro had completed any part of the project, despite the company reporting it had put 200,000 hours into the project. HHS terminated the contract in December 2018, after having paid Wipro $58.6 million.

The company filed a lawsuit alleging that Nebraska had failed to pay $15.5 million for work completed. The case is still pending.

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The creation of a reservoir between Omaha and Lincoln the size of Lake Okoboji could require an investment north of $1 billion, most of which would come from private investments.

Thats according to State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, speaker of the Legislature, who testified on the proposed 4,000-acre lake Thursday before the Legislatures Natural Resources Committee.

Announced in January, the lake is one of a handful of water-related projects that emerged from the Legislatures Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STAR WARS) special committee, created in 2021.

The lake would be dredged near the Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln. It is intended to stimulate economic development, improve quality of life and potentially provide some flood mitigation.

Hilgers, chair of the STAR WARS committee, acknowledged the magnitude of the proposal. He said the initial project could be more than $1 billion, with 90% or more coming from sources other than Nebraska taxpayers. The committee, he added, is not proposing that the state bankroll and build the lake on its own.

Many of the details surrounding the project have yet to be determined, Hilgers said. That includes the exact location of the lake.

Contrary to some reports, Hilgers said, the committee has not landed on a final location. It has looked at some properties, but additional studies are needed before moving forward with land acquisition, he said.

We need to answer those questions before we go do a project of this magnitude, Hilgers said.

Multiple landowners and representatives of public utilities in Omaha and Lincoln  both of which rely on the Platte for a portion of their water  urged senators to do just that.

Rick Kubat of the Omaha-based Metropolitan Utilities District said the state needed to support a deep dive into any possible consequences the lake could have on public water supply. He recommended that the state set aside money for Omaha and Lincoln to engage a third party to study the potential impacts on water supply and quality.

We want to look closely just to make sure that were able to tell our growing communities on the eastern side of the state that were going to be able to serve your businesses and that were going to be able to continue to serve the public with their water, Kubat said.

Several area landowners raised questions based on a rendering released when the project was first announced.

Dan Bundy, who farms almost 1,500 acres in the area, said that if the lake ultimately proceeded in the area depicted in the rendering, as much as half of his land could be underwater. He questioned whether the state would pursue eminent domain in order to acquire the property needed for the lake.

There is no doubt that the project could provide a huge economic boon for the state and some property owners, Bundy said.

Would we  benefit in the mass increase in property value, or would our familys legacy be erased in the name of development? he asked.

Philip Young, the corporate secretary for a company that has 29 homes and cabins along the Platte River north of U.S. Highway 6, raised questions about how the lake could affect safety, particularly in the event of a flood. If it were constructed in the area depicted in the initial rendering, Young said those homes and cabins would fall between the river and the new lake.

Hilgers stressed that the STAR WARS committee has not landed on a specific site.

You have to do all the study and design before you go to acquisition because you dont want to do it the other way around, he said. You dont want to go acquire land and then say, Oh no, we cant do this. 

Senators are pursuing a two-track approach for the project. The bill before the committee Thursday, Legislative Bill 1023, would lay the groundwork for a potential public-private partnership that would be necessary to build the lake.

Separately, Gov. Pete Ricketts has submitted a $200 million budget request that would pay for the initial studies and provide funding for other water-related projects, including construction of a marina at Lake McConaughy, expansion of the marina at Lewis and Clark Lake and construction of an event center and lodge at Niobrara State Park.

The committee heard a flood of support Thursday from community leaders and residents in those parts of the state.

Opinions toward the proposed lake between Omaha and Lincoln were more tepid.

But Hilgers, who acknowledged that there are many more steps in the process, said the project could be transformational.

Construction alone could generate $500 million in economic impact, followed by a nine-figure annual economic impact, Hilgers said.

Coupled with the other proposed projects from the STAR WARS committee, Hilgers said the Legislature has the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the state and its residents.

This is an opportunity to do a big swing for the state of Nebraska that will have a material, transformative impact both economically and for countless Nebraskans across the state, he said.

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Charles Van Doren is best known as the contestant in the 1959 rigged game show, Twenty-One. In his book, A History of Knowledge, he explores the roots of Western Civilization. Like the Iraq war, Van Doren argues the world wars were actually one war with a brief interlude. While the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand sparked WWI, the author suggests we really dont understand the underlying causes.

As depicted in the popular BBC series Downton Abbey, Europeans got swept up in the euphoria of nationalism, patriotism and visions of heroism fighting for national honor. But as mustard gas drifted across no mans land, those in the trenches realized, as General Patton suggested 25 years later, its best to let the other fellow die for his country.

Today, we see similar passions driving public behavior.

Love is but a song we sing. Fears the way we die  The Youngbloods

For the most part, participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege were unaffiliated members of the general public. While the Republican National Committee describes the event that resulted in five deaths, more than 750 arrests, $30 million in damages to the structure that embodies our national ideals and the erection of gallows on Capitol grounds, as a legitimate political discourse, one wonders how things got so broken.

Time and again, those arrested, ordinary folks, testify remorsefully they cannot believe their own actions. Their testimony reminded me of the commercial, I cant believe I ate the whole thing.

You ate it, Ralph.

You can make the mountains ring. Or make the angels cry.

After the Holocaust, we needed to understand why 90 million Germans turned a blind eye toward the industrialization of mass murder. Stanley Milgrams controversial Obedience Experiment (1961) found that 65% of us would obey a perceived authority figure to the point of committing murder. Phillip Zimbardos Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) affirmed the behaviors of Milgrams subjects. Hannah Arendt coined this the banality of evil.

Though the bird is on the wing, and you may not know why.

Oxford University scholars find a primary cause of widespread violence is when society breaks into factions. After fractionalization, grievance or a sense of victimization causes individuals to congregate and dehumanize the target of their grievances. In 2007, Jeffrey Kluger noted, In most cases  you have a moral entrepreneur who exploits tribalism for evil purposes. You see, when we join the crowd, history documents that normal people; churchgoers, social justice warriors, teachers, police officers, students and stay-at-home moms, are capable of acts they would never consider individually. When we get swept up in the moment, one can be easily led astray.

A COVID States Project survey this year found that 1 in 4 Americans believes that violence against our government is definitely or probably justifiable. Similar findings appear in other polls.

We know that violent crime against Asian-Americans went up as authority figures used the term Chinese Flu. Whether its an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina (nine died), a synagogue in Pittsburgh (11 died, six injured), or a country music concert in Las Vegas (58 died, 800 injured), dehumanizing others, especially within defined groups, unintentionally can give others permission to commit heinous acts of violence.

We are but a moments sunlight. Fading in the grass

I doubt anyone envisions themselves in events that lead to violence. Certainly a large number of those arrested for the Jan. 6 insurrection could not. And yet the violence continues to occur.

Suppose for a moment that youre among Milgrams 35% who can resist authority. Then according to the most recent U.S. Census, that leaves 216.5 million Americans who cannot. Hyperbolic? Hopefully. But words and deeds matter.

Its time to weigh our own behavior while not turning a blind eye toward irresponsible actors. Those using inflammatory rhetoric must be challenged or shunned in the pursuit of domestic tranquility over political tribalism.

Come on, people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another right now.

Rick Galusha, Ph.D., teaches political science at Bellevue University. Hes hosted a blues radio show for 30 years and was president of Homers Music. Galusha was active in the creation of the Old Market Business Association. His opinions do not represent those of Bellevue University.
Governor transfer

Since we now have the transfer portal, why dont we make contact with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to gauge his interest in becoming Nebraskas next governor?

He is an admired Republican who has done an admirable job in guiding his politically divided state through the COVID-19 pandemic while successfully navigating through the bureaucracy of two ideologically opposite administrations while supporting his states medical professionals throughout the pandemic. What a pleasant change a little diplomatic leadership would be.

Craig Christiansen, Omaha

Supreme Court

President Biden made a campaign promise, and now with the announcement of Justice Breyers retirement, has reaffirmed he will nominate a Black woman to the high court. No Black man, White man or woman, or any man or woman of any other race will be considered.

I am sure there are many Black women qualified to sit on the Supreme Court and the preliminary list of those who could be considered confirms this. However, by eliminating  without consideration  a large percentage of all qualified candidates one wonders if the most qualified candidate will be nominated. Is President Biden saying the research was done and a Black woman is definitely the most qualified to sit on the Supreme Court?

This move is 100% political to garner votes from both Black people and women. It is affirmative action to the extreme and is discriminatory by both race and gender, two of the six provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which was enacted to end this type of discrimination.

Jeff Miller, Omaha

Candidate options

Nebraskas most pressing problem is a labor shortage. Drawing companies here with corporate tax credits isnt going to mean much if there isnt a talent pool from which to hire. Meaning, we need to retain the young professionals we have as well as give people a reason to move to Nebraska. Yet here we have Jim Pillen and Charles Herbster arguing whether or not having children makes one a better governor. Im a lifelong Republican, but Ill be voting for Carol Blood to give her a four-year chance and then see what candidates the GOP decides to put forth the next round. A guy who makes ads holding a rifle and implying that having kids is some sort of executive bona fide, and another guy who is a Trump sycophant that has cows in his billboards. Can anyone say with a straight face that either of them are the solution to retaining talented people as well as drawing more people to Nebraska?

Michael Zack, Omaha

Alzheimers treatment

The draft decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services effectively denies access to all current and future FDA-approved treatments targeting amyloid in those living with Alzheimers disease. Only the privileged few  those with access to research institutions for clinical trials or those who can afford to pay out of pocket  will receive coverage, further exacerbating and creating health inequities.

As the director of programs with the Alzheimers Association Nebraska Chapter, I have talked to, met with and provided support to local families who are on an incredibly difficult journey with this disease. Theyve heard time and again that there is nothing that can be done to slow down or change the path theyre on.

However, recently, they were given a glimmer of hope by the prospect of disease modifying drugs. While not a cure, these currently approved and emerging therapies could combat and slow the progression of Alzheimers.

In short, these drugs could provide another path for these families  one that could give them more time with their loved ones. And if youve ever loved someone living with this disease, every moment you have where they still recognize you is a blessing.

This decision is disheartening and it feels like disease discrimination. This doesnt happen for cancer. This doesnt happen for HIV/AIDS. Treating people living with Alzheimers differently than those with other diseases is simply unacceptable. I stand with the Alzheimers Association in calling on CMS to change this draft decision.

Julie Chytil, Omaha
BLOOMINGTON  After two and a half years, Illinois Wesleyan University opera performers will bring back audiences this weekend with their staging of Ballymore. The students have had a chance the past week to work with the composer and an internationally known conductor.

Composer and librettist Richard Wargo and conductor Kirk Trevor are visiting campus to work with the performers. This is the first production of Ballymore accompanied by an orchestra in years, Wargo said. He is excited to see it come back to the stage in this way and is impressed at the preparation the musicians have put in.

Seeing it staged again takes Wargo back to when he was writing the piece and encourages him to promote it.

The students too are excited at the opportunity to get to work with Wargo and Trevor. It has been a big undertaking for the cast, Music Director Eva Ferguson said. It is not really a typical level of piece for undergraduate performers.

Everybody just shocked me by their devotion, their persistence, their hard work, she said.

The students knew it going it, but it was really the opera itself which drew them in, said Cameron Kidd, a senior at IWU.

We know going into this that it would be a huge undertaking, she said. I think I speak for the cast when I say weve fallen in low with the work.

Vocal performance major Aidan Morris said that it said that it was wonderful to have the opportunity to work with a living composer as well, since many of the repertoire classics for vocal performance are older works by long dead composers.

Working with students is a nice change of pace, Trevor said. While they only have a week with the students, for professional operas, conductors often only get one or two full rehearsals before the performances start. Having the extra time gives the musicians time to develop and explore the characters in greater depth.

The composer had created some gray in there, which are usually things you miss (in the shorter time), Trevor said.

One of the difficulties for the students doing the opera is that their characters are often 20 or 30, or even 50, years older than the performers.

Ballymore, set in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, is based on a play by Irish playwright Brian Freihln called Lovers. IWU is putting on the second act, titled Losers, which tells of the relationship difficulties between a middle aged couple. They are joined by the wifes mother and two neighbors who are mother and daughter.

The neighbor daughter is an addition for the opera, Wargo said. He wanted to create a vision of what the wife and her mother could have been.

Each role is double cast, with each cast performing on different days. Ferguson found it interesting to see the different approaches the students took to the characters as they practiced. Adding in Trevor and Wargo just added to that mix of approaches in a compelling way, she said.

Its just beautiful to watch the fusion of emotions, Ferguson said.

This is the first time some of the students, including Morris and freshman Alex Honkamp, have worked with a live orchestra. It takes a different kind of attention to the music to work with the orchestra than with a piano, Morris said.

Its much more fluid, you have to have a very good baseline understanding of the music, he said.

The opera brings in not just inspiration from classical opera but also vaudeville and American musical theater, Trevor and Wargo said. Stage Director Robert Mangialardi, students and IWU staff have even put together a full set on the Westbrook Auditorium stage.

The composers of classic operas, like Mozart, were the pop composers of their time, Trevor said. It makes sense, then, to bring in elements of other styles and traditions. Pigeon holing music does it a disservice.

Theres only two types of music: good music and bad music, he said.

Good music tends to persist, while bad music generally fades away, Trevor said.

The public has a chance to see Ballymore at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Performances are free and are in Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall. IWU requires masks in its buildings.

The students said that they feel honored to have had the chance to work with Trevor and Wargo and will miss working on the music when the show is over.

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far, Honkamp said.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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BLOOMINGTON  A 64-year-old U.S. military veteran and former Normal police employee was appointed to the McLean County Board Thursday night.

Beverly Bell, a Democrat, becomes the only Black county board member and will fill the district 6 vacancy through at least the next nine months until the 2022 election.

She replaces Laurie Wollrab, who resigned from the board Dec. 31 after serving from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2016 through 2021.

District 6 covers a large portion of central Normal, including the ISU campus and part of uptown.

McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre recommended Bell to fill the role at Thursdays county board meeting. The board unanimously voted to accept his recommendation.

Bell has said that mental health issues, particularly in the county jail, and the safety of ISU students has topped some the initiatives she would like to focus on.

Theres a lot of issues. Were going to have to learn how to regroup and get along with each other because the body was not meant to live under stress for long periods of time, and so we need to get back to good mental health, relaxation, get back to being normal," Bell told The Pantagraph.

McIntyre said Bell's experience in government and her familiarity with the community stood out.

Ms. Bell has been a long-time member of this community. She has been very invested in this community," McIntyre told The Pantagraph. "She has been a leader. She has a military background, as well. She understands, I think, the operations of a legislative system like this board is and so I think most of the members here agreed.

Derek Lough, a 35-year-old doctoral student at Illinois State University was the other candidate for the district 6 seat.

Bell spent 22 years serving in Germany with her husband for the Department of Defense. She worked 25 years at the Normal Police Department, with the majority of that time as a police service representative at the front desk.

Bell also served about seven years on the Bloomington Planning Commission under Mayor Judy Markowitz.

The McLean County Board has all 20 members for the first time this year, however, it drops back to 19 members Friday when Benjamin Webb resigns from district 4.

Webb is resigning because he is moving outside the district 4 boundaries, but he noted in his resignation letter to the board chairman and county administrator that he looks forward to the opportunity to serve the county in an official capacity in the future.

There will be at least two openings on the board in the November election, as Republican member Josh Barnett recently said he will not seek re-election to district 10 and Democratic member Sharon Chung is leaving the boards district 7 for a run at the 91st Illinois House district.

The district 4 replacement also must be of the same political affiliation as Webb, who is a Democrat.

Applications for the district 4 seat are due at noon March 3. Executive committee members will interview candidates at its March 7 meeting and a replacement is expected to be appointed during the March 10 county board meeting.

McIntyre also announced at the end of Thursday's meeting a few special meetings scheduled for next to address bids for the county's insurance.

The finance committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and the executive committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. that day. The full county board will convene immediately following the executive committee meeting.

In other business Thursday, the McLean County Board approved:

A nearly $7.9 million contract with Bloomington-based Rowe Construction to fully reconstruct County Highway 23 between the Turkey Creek bridge in Lexington and U.S. Route 24 near Chenoa. The project will be paid through the Rebuild Illinois program funds, Truck Access Route program funds, Motor Fuel Tax funds and McLean County Highway funds.

A resolution reclassifying a deputy county clerk position to program administrator to provide additional coverage and flexibility to meet the demands within the department due to an additional workload due to changes in election and vote by mail processes. The job includes hiring and training election judges, coordinating vote-by-mail teams and other election-related assignments.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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SPRINGFIELD  Driven by the tragic death of Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day, a state lawmaker has proposed legislation he says will streamline the investigative process in missing person cases.

Senate Bill 3932, sponsored by state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, would amend the Missing Person Identification Act by requiring a coroner or medical examiner with custody of human remains that are not identified within 72 hours of discovery to notify the FBI for assistance.

The goal is to address underreported and unsolved missing persons cases, especially those involving people of color.

"Most know that the first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical, Sims said. Should the identification process go beyond that, families should feel confident in knowing our law enforcement professionals are doing all they can to bring missing loved ones home safely.

The proposal comes nearly six months after Day, a 25-year-old Danville native and ISU student, was reported missing in late August. His body was discovered a week-and-a-half later near the south bank of the Illinois River, east of the Illinois Route 251 bridge in Peru. But it wasn't identified by the LaSalle County coroner for nearly three weeks.

The cause of death was later determined to be drowning with the coroner finding no evidence of trauma, though Day's family continues to insist that he was murdered and did not go into the river by choice.

It felt like from the time the student was reported missing, there was no drive to find or identify his remains, said Sims. I stand with families in frustration, and especially families of color, who have struggled to get fair attention on their cases."

Day's family met with police officials in Bloomington on Thursday, according to the "Justice for Jelani Day" Facebook page, where friends and family have been posting updates.

"This meeting took months to make happen, but were here today, ready to fight harder for Jelani!" the post said.

The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information in connection to the case.

The legislation passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee on a 5-3 roll, with all Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition.

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It is a hallmark of an advanced society that we rarely speak ill of the deceased.

Major public figures can be an exception and all of our lives eventually recede into the historical record where more frank evaluations can and should occur. But in the immediate aftermath of a loss, we rightly pay deference to the feelings of a bereaved family and friends. We dont dwell on the mistakes we all make in life but instead concentrate on the good. This is especially true when someone dies young and in very distressing circumstances.

Those conditions would apply to the Chicago police Officer Ella French, who was fatally shot in the line of duty in August when a man she and her partner had pulled over in West Englewood opened fire. All decent Chicagoans mourned her loss.

Many months before that horrendous incident, French had been involved in the botched 2019 Police Department raid on the apartment of Anjanette Young, an incident that resulted in the city paying Young a settlement of $2.9 million last December. The month before, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) had issued a report on the raid. Among its recommendations was a three-day suspension for French. Her mistake? Failing to wear a body camera during the raid.

Frenchs family and fellow officers were understandably outraged by the report. Even Young, who said she was treated with extraordinary harshness by the officers rampaging through her apartment, said that French had been the one police officer that night to show her the dignity all citizens deserve.

At the time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the report tone deaf, and she was of course right. Yet more to the point was the reality that any such suspension was, in fact, moot, given that Officer French had been killed months before its release.

In its defense at the time, COPA said that, while they regretted any pain caused, they had no legal authority to make redactions from a report completed before French was killed. And some observers argued that the report was the report: Transparency and accountability in police operations required a full and fair appraisal of what went on that night. The moment public officials feel empowered to go into completed reports and remove names and incidents, this thinking went, those very things inherently are compromised.

In this particular case, the reason for the omission or redaction might be unimpeachable, but precedent still would be set for a situation where the moral authority was, at minimum, much less clear. And thats incontrovertibly true.

This is a painful matter and reasonable people can agree that the family and the law enforcement community in general should have been prepared better for the contents of the report. For this, she has apologized and that apology should be accepted.

But another way to look at this is that French stood for Chicago policing at its best.

Anyone who takes the trouble to educate themselves on what happened in Youngs apartment can quickly see that she was one of the good cops that night, notwithstanding the mistake with the body camera. Chicagoans can weigh all these facts, regret the loss of French in a separate incident, feel deeply for her family and friends, appreciate all she did for the city and still see the benefits of not messing after the fact with finished public reports about policing errors.

Given the crucial context, her presence in that report should not be seen as a blight on Frenchs memory. We should all still be able to appreciate what she did for the city and the price she paid.

Its also worth adding that had that error not happened, none of this debate over Frenchs memory would be taking place. But the clock cannot be turned back.

This report is not a reason to prevent the confirmation of Kersten, who surely has learned a helpful lesson in how much published findings can impact families and loved ones, no matter what their role in an incident. And we hope she now knows it is better to get ahead of these issues and put them in context in advance.

Chicagoans should understand anew that policing is not just a fraught business but often a matter of life and death for the officers doing their sworn duty, as it can be for citizens who rely on the police for their protection.

The memory of Officer French demands no less.

Chicago Tribune

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Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, has named Flora Jika as its new Managing Director.



Flora has been with the Coke business for 14 years and began her career in the coal mining industry, being the first female mining engineering graduate at Anglo Coal. She joined the Coca-Cola business in 2008 with her first role being a depot manager. Having risen through the ranks, her knowledge and expertise cut across engineering, supply chain, logistics and marketing.



Until recently, Flora was the Logistics Director at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, South Africa.



In a brief address, Ms. Jika said: I am delighted to join Voltic at this time and I look forward to building a success story with the team.



Flora Jika replaces Simon Everest as MD of Voltic. She is a member of WUMEA (Wits University Mining Engineers Association) and SAIMM (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy). She holds an undergraduate and a post graduate degree in Mining Engineering and Industrial Engineering fields respectively, from Wits University.



Commenting on the new appointment, MD, CCBA Central Africa, Conrad van Niekerk said: We are delighted to welcome Flora to the Voltic family and wish her the best as she steers the business into sustainable growth and profitability.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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France has thousands of troops operating across the Sahel region as part of a mission to combat violence by Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.



But it is considering withdrawing troops from Mali, where relations between Paris and the junta in Bamako have deteriorated.



The death of four civilians in Burkina comes at a bad time with anti-French sentiment especially strong in Mali and it beginning to spillover into Burkina after a coup in January.



Unfortunately, despite all the measures taken by the Barkhane (French) force and by the unit engaged on the ground, four civilians, present in the terrorist camp, lost their lives during the exchange of fire, the French army said in a statement.



It said 10 Ansarul Islam militants were killed after violent clashes during the night of Feb. 7-8, close to the town of Ouahigouya, near the border with Mali.



The French military said the group had been behind attacks that killed 53 Burkinabe policemen in November and a recent attack that saw two Burkinabe soldiers killed.

Source: REUTERS









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The House of Representatives, based in Libyas east, unanimously approved Fathi Bashagha to head the government, the parliaments spokesman Abdullah Bliheg said in a tweet.



On Thursday evening Bashagha flew to Tripoli from the eastern city of Tobruk, promising to open a new chapter and reach out to everyone.



Thanking Dbeibah for his work, the former fighter pilot said on his arrival at Mitiga airport that he was confident that the government would respect democratic principles and hand over power.



The move threatened to deepen the struggle for control between the assembly and the Tripoli-based administration of Dbeibah, while experts warned of potential violence in the capital in western Libya.



It came hours after Libyan media carried unconfirmed reports that Dbeibahs car was targeted by gunfire overnight, without specifying whether he was inside the vehicle at the time.



Dbeibah, a construction tycoon appointed a year ago as part of United Nations-led peace efforts, has vowed he would accept no new transitional phase or parallel authority and would only hand over power to an elected government.



His administration had a mandate to lead the country to elections last December 24, but the polls were cancelled amid bitter divisions over their legal basis and the candidacies of several controversial figures.



Parliament speaker Aguila Saleh, who like Dbeibah and Bashagha had been a presidential candidate, has since spearheaded efforts to replace the unity government.



The assembly had considered seven candidates to lead the administration. But shortly before Thursdays confirmation vote, Saleh had announced that Bashaghas only remaining challenger, former interior ministry official Khaled al-Bibass, had withdrawn from the race.



The live television feed cut just before the vote took place.



Later Thursday, the UN said it continued to support and recognise Dbeibah as head of Libyas unity government. "The short answer is yes," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said after the controversial vote by the country's parliament.



"We have seen the reports of the appointment of another prime minister," he said. "Our position remained unchanged."



Groundhog Day

Experts warned that Thursdays vote threatens a repeat of a 2014 schism which saw two parallel governments emerge.



Libya has two prime ministers. Again. Groundhog Day, Anas El Gomati of Libyan think tank the Sadeq Institute wrote in a tweet.



In a televised address on Tuesday, Dbeibah had vowed he would accept no new transitional phase or parallel authority and declared he would only hand over power to an elected government.



Bashagha and Dbeibah, both from the powerful port city of Misrata, have the support of rival armed groups in the Libyan capital and the surroundings.



Dbeibah is refusing to step down, so there is potential for some kind of conflict in Tripoli and beyond, and it could get ugly really fast, Amanda Kadlec, a former member of the UN Panel of Experts on Libya, told AFP.



Bashagha and Dbeibah both have deep connections across western Libya, and the militias will move with whomever they see as having power.



The Tripoli militias might also take a wait-and-see approach, she added. Alliance-hopping is part of the playbook in Libya.



The UN, western powers and even some members of parliament have called for Dbeibah to stay in his role until elections, for which a new date has not yet been set.



Peter Millett, a former UK ambassador to Libya, said the main division now was between the Libyan peoplewho want electionsand the political elite, who dont.



The motivation of many MPs is to hang on to jobs and privileges rather than allow for a smooth process leading to elections, he told AFP.



This seems like a decision taken to deprive the people of the right to vote by delaying elections even further and causing potential instability in Tripoli.

Source: France 24









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An Accra Circuit Court has on Wednesday denied bail to the alleged two kingpins of the Nima Gutter Riot which led to the injuries of several people.



Ali Awudu alias, Bombom and Zakari Mohammed alias, Miller, who were on the run when their accomplices were arraigned, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit crime, wielding offensive weapons and causing harm.



They will, together with the others, come back to the Court on February 15, 2022.



Meanwhile, eight out of the 12 people arraigned earlier had been granted GHC80,000.00 bail with two sureties each.



They are: Abdul Gafaru Mahama, Ibrahim Moro, Atarouwa Bassam, Abdul Mumuni Gariba, Mohammed Saabi Barinu, alias, Namer, Bashiru Ganiru, Illiasu Salim and Issah Seidu.



The Court presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Torsu ordered them to sign a bond to be of good behaviour while trial continued.



They are also to report to the Nima Divisional Police Command twice a week.



Aziz Suleiman, alias Rambo and Farouk Dauda, who were arraigned with the eight others, were also denied bail.



They have all denied conspiring to commit crime, wielding offensive weapons and causing harm.



Chief Inspector Dennis Terpertey told the Court that on January 18, 2022, at about 1500 hours, Police received information that there was an ongoing riot at Nima Gutter involving the usage of arms and other offensive weapons.



The prosecution said a team of armed Police was quickly dispatched to the location where a very large crowd of people were met.



It said Ali Awudu, alias Bombom and Ibrahim Husain alias Kumodzi were mentioned as the leaders of two groups responsible for the riot.



The prosecution said they had escaped when the Police arrived, stating that Awudu was arrested after he was identified as one of the perpetrators.



The prosecution said a total of twelve (12) shells spent were retrieved at the scene and that a barbering shop located a few metres was vandalized by the rioters.



A search in the vandalised shop led to the discovery of three (3) AAA live ammunition, one empty pistol magazine, one live pistol bullet, one knife and one machete.



The Court heard that a victim, Frimpong, 53, who was about to move his car from the scene was hit by a bullet on his left shoulder and responding to treatment at the Emergency ward of the 37 Military Hospital.



It said Suleiman and Moro, alias, Gato, who had gone to seek treatment at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital Ridge were picked up.



The prosecution said investigations led to the arrest of Bassam, Gariba, Barinu and Ganiru at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital/Ridge after they were identified.



It said intelligence leading to the arrest of Salim and Seidu at Ashalajah.



The prosecution said a search conducted in the room of Salim and Seidu led to the discovery and retrieval of a Military Uniform and pump-action gun.



On January 23, 2022, intelligence led to the arrest of Dauda Omoni from his hideout at Polo Park near Kotoka International Airport and when a viral video of the incident was shown to him, he admitted that he was the one seen wielding a machete at the scene of the crime.



It said investigation had revealed that Awudu and Husain at large, and Suleiman and Dauda were directly linked to the crime.



Chief Inspector Terpertey said investigation was underway to uncover the roles played by Mahama, Moro, Bassam, Gariba, Barinu, Ganiru, Salim and Seidu.

Source: GNA









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The Abena Dokua Educational Foundation (ADEF), a non-profit organization has refurbished the Junior High School block of the Kyebi Basic School in the East Akim Municipal District of the Eastern Region.



The renovation became necessary because, for some years now, the four-unit JHS block has not gone through any major renovation. This, through an appeal by the school authorities drew the attention of ADEF, which in turn made significant donations towards giving the school a facelift.



It forms part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the passing of Madam Abena Dokua, whose foundation is embarking on a humanitarian exercise as a means of giving back to society in honor of her.



Addressing the pupils and teachers at the premises of the school in a brief ceremony, President and Founder of ADEF, Kwaku Boateng said there is nothing as important as giving back to society than investing sustainably in the future of children through education.



This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the passing of our beloved mother, Abena Dokua. So we decided to do a memorial celebration for her. As part of the memorial celebrations, we have among other things refurbished a four-classroom block for the Kyebi Presby JHS by changing all their blackboards into whiteboards.



We also painted the classroom block and donated exercise books, teaching aides and other materials that the teachers will use to teach the students. So as part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations, the foundation made sure that it is not just a celebration but also an occasion that we can use to impact the lives of others, he added.



He appealed to management of the school to take proper care of the renovated classroom block to extend its life span and enable it to serve its intended purpose.



He also encouraged the pupils to study hard to enable them to achieve their dreams and become responsible citizens of the country in the future.



The Foundation earlier this week also donated money in the sum of GHS 5,000 to the Mampong Childrens Home in the Ashanti Region. Further, it donated GHS 15,000 towards the construction of Kyebi Presbyterian Churchs Mission House all as part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the late Madam Abena Dokua.



ADEF was established 10 years ago in honor of the late Madam Abena Dokua. Over the years, they have succeeded in helping numerous young individuals to realize their dreams and assisted various schools with aide. The goal of ADEF is to champion the quality of education through the provision of basic logistics and educational supplies for the needy in different parts of Ghana. For more information, visit their website at www.adefghana.org

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered $5 million out of the total $6 million fine imposed on MAXAM Ghana Limited to be paid into the coffers of the Appiatse Support Fund.



The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor on Monday announced the imposition of a $1 million administrative fine and an additional $5 against MAXAM.



This was after a committee of inquiry found MAXAM guilty of breaches in the incident of January 20, 2022, in which the transportation of some mining explosives from MAXAMs plant at Iduapriem to Chirano Gold Mines resulted in a blast at Appiatse in the Western Region.



In the latest release dated Thursday, January 10, 2022, the lands minister said the President has ordered the $5 million fine to be paid into the account of a fund set up to support the victims of the accident which led to 13 deaths.



The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has directed that Five Million United States Dollars (US$5,000,000.00), out of the total of Six Million United States Dollars (US$6,000,000.00), to be paid by Maxam Ghana Limited to Government, be donated to the Appiatse Support Fund, established by Government to, among others, support the victims of the Appiatse incident and reconstruct the community, the statement said.



Meanwhile, the minister in his initial release stated that while the administrative fine of $1 million is to be paid outright by MAXAM, the government has agreed with the company for the payment of the $5 million in monthly instalments over a period of 18 months.



By law, the One Million Dollars (US$1,000,000.00), which constitutes the administrative fine, forms part of the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) of the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the sector. The President has, therefore, directed that the additional Five Million Dollars (US$5,000,000.00), to be paid by Maxam to Government, be donated to the Appiatse Support Fund to support the reconstruction of the community. Accordingly, I have directed the Minerals Commission to ensure that the said Five Million Dollars (US$5,000,000.00) is paid to the Appiatse Support Fund, in accordance with the agreed terms of payment, the minister said.



On Thursday, January 20, 2022, a truck transporting explosive material- Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (ANFO) - from MAXAM Ghana Limited's explosives plant, located at Iduapriem, Tarkwa in the Western Region, to Chirano Gold lines Limited's site in the Western North Region, exploded, causing extensive damage to life and property.



Some thirteen (13) persons are reported to have died from the incident, with some one hundred (100) people injured, with several others rendered homeless due to the impact of the explosion which brought down, or structurally weakened, almost all houses in the Appiatse community.





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Source: Ghanaweb.com









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A former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Alhaji Said Sinare has been cited by the Auditor General for effecting some alleged fictitious payments to a consultancy firm, Glinco Construction and Engineering Company Limited, the amount of $60,000.00 for no work done.



The said amount was paid to the company for consultancy service to construct a permanent residency at Ghana's Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for ambassadors.



The Auditor general in its 2018 report uncovered that an amount of $60,000.00 was paid to the said construction company but was later realised there was no work done.



The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of parliament, Hon James Avardzi Klutse, directed the Foreign Affairs ministry who appeared before it during its sittings to verify the authenticity of the company involved and get in touch with the former ambassador, Alhaji Said Sinare and report back to the committee in a week period.



In an interview with William Gentu, the former Ambassador, Alhaji Said Sinare, under whose watch these payments were made has stated that he is ever ready to avail himself for any enquiry either by the Public Accounts Committee or the Foreign Affairs Ministry to defend himself any.



He indicated that the allegations levelled against him is mischievous and is ready to appear before any committee with all the necessary documentation to clear his name.



Alhaji Said Sinare also added that he did not issue the amount involved ($60.000.00) and has nothing to do with it since everything was handled by the finance ministry and the then Foreign Affairs ministry.



The firm, Glinco Construction Engineering Limited was said to have allegedly been paid the said amount by the then Ghanas Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Said Sinare, and a former Head of Chancery, Mr Martin Adu Ago, on January 3, 2017.



At the committee's sitting at Parliament House in Accra, the issue of when Glinco Construction was registered with the Registrar-Generals Department became a bone of contention.



While the Auditor-Generals (A-Gs) report of 2018 said the company was incorporated on January 7, 2017, three days after the said amount had been paid, a memo written by the ministry and shown to the auditors at the sitting indicated that the company was registered in 2013, hence the directive by the Chairman of the committee, Dr James Klutse Avedzi.



He gave the directive when the ministry appeared before the committee to respond to some infractions cited against it in the 2018 A-Gs report.



The acting Chief Director of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr Ramses Joseph Cleland, later told the media that once his outfit had been directed to verify the issue, he could not comment on the matter.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Executive Director of anti-graft civil society organisation, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson has been granted bail in the sum of GHc50, 000.



This was after he pleaded not guilty to two charges to wit; Publication of false news and offensive conduct Conducive to the breach of peace.



Mr. Thompson who arrived in a taxi and was handcuffed as part of the bail conditions is to produce two sureties and also report to the case investigator twice a week.



The prosecutor Inspector Teye Okufo had wanted the accused to be remanded for two weeks for further investigation.



His counsel, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu contended that the accused had retracted and apologized immediately he realized his source had misled him.



The court presided by Oheneba Kuffour adjourned the case to March 14, 2022.

















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The Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, who was arrested in connection with a Facebook publication, which alleged that family members of President Akufo-Addo traveled on the presidential jet to the United Kingdom (UK) for shopping during the Christmas holidays has been granted bail by the Kaneshie District Court.



Thompson has been charged with the publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace.



He was arraigned at the Kaneshie District Court presided over by Mr Oheneba Kufuor on Thursday (February 10, 2022).



He pleaded not guilty.



The prosecution, led by Inspector Teye Okuffo had prayed the court to remand the accused person for one week to assist with police investigations.



But the court granted bail in the sum of GH50,000 with two sureties following an oral bail application by his lawyer, Mr Victor Kojoga Adawudu who told the court that his client was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigations.



As part of the bail condition, he is to report to the police twice every week.



The case has been adjourned to March 15, 2022.



Prosecutions facts



The facts as presented by the prosecutor were that on January 14, 2022, the Ghana Police Service received a complaint from the Military command that Thompson with a Facebook Account named "Mensah Thompson" published that between December 20 and 30, 2021, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos children used Ghana's Presidential jet, Falcon EX on a trip to the UK just for Christmas shopping.



He said investigations disclosed that Thompson also challenged the Ministry of National Security, the Ghana Air Force and the Civil Aviation to provide answers to Ghanaians on why the presidential jet under their care was used for such purposes.



Retraction



He added that on January 9, 2022 at about 11:01 am, the ASEPA boss on his Facebook Account, mentioned that he has had a conversation with the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces and said out of respect, he retracts the earlier statement he made in his earlier Facebook post.



Inspector Okuffo said investigations also revealed that the publication made by the accused person on his Facebook account was false and had the tendency of breaching public peace.



Consequently, on January 14, he said the accused person was contacted on his mobile phone to report at Teshie Rasta Police Post to assist with investigations.



Failed apprehension



He promised to report on January 17, 2022 but he failed and all effort to apprehend him proved futile.



On January 30, 2022, the prosecutor said a warrant of arrest was secured from the Kaneshie District Magistrate Court for his arrest.



He added that on February 9, 2022, the accused person reported at the station in the company of his counsel.



During interrogation, he said the accused person decided to remain silent.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Kasapreko Company Limited, producers of Awake Purified Drinking Water have donated a whopping sum of GH150,000 to the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.



The Kasapreko company, through its "One4Life" charity-driven project, had over the years provided hope and supported patients with heart conditions, especially children who could not pay for the surgery bills.



Mrs Linda Amartei, Brands Manager at Kasapreko Company said the company since 2016, had donated GH75,000 quarterly to the Centre as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.



She said the recent presentation was for two quarters of 2021, emphasizing that an amount of GHC 1,000, 000 was raised from 2016 to 2019, urging Ghanaians to support them by patronizing the Awake Purified Drinking Water to save lives.



Dr Lawrence Sereboe, the Executive Director, Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle-Bu Hospital who received the cheque disclosed that the support of the Kasapreko Company from 2016 to 2019 to the Centre has saved 53 lives through corrective surgery.







Dr Sereboe said over 10,000 children were born with one form of a whole in heart condition every day, stressing that contributions from such corporate organisations like Kasapreko Company, under its Awake Purified Drinking Water life saving initiative has helped to conduct corrective surgery to save lives.



He advised the public to avoid excessive drinking of alcohol, smoking, and conduct regular check-ups to know their blood pressures and cholesterol level and sugar level for prompt attention.



Ghanaian Gospel Musician and reigning VGMA Artiste of the Year, Diana Hamilton who is also the Brand Ambassador for Awake Purified Drinking Water expressed excitement to partner with Kasapreko Company to undertake such an impactful initiative to put smiles on the faces of patients with heart conditions.



She pledged her unflinching support to the project in ensuring that Ghanaians become healthy and contribute productively to the growth of the country.



The "One4Life" campaign which is a life-saving initiative, sets aside 10p from the purchase of every 500ml of Awake Purified water to the National Cardiothoracic Centre.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Alphabet unit Google (GOOGL.O) on Friday became the target of an antitrust complaint by the European Publishers Council over its digital advertising business, which could potentially strengthen EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's investigation into the issue.



Google made $147 billion in revenue from online ads in 2020, more than any other company in the world, with ads including search, YouTube and Gmail accounting for the bulk of its overall sales and profits. read more



About 16% of its revenue came from the company's display or network business, in which other media companies use Google technology to sell ads on their website and apps.



The European Commission opened an investigation in June into whether Google favours its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of rivals, advertisers and online publishers. read more



The publishers' trade body, whose members include Axel Springer (SPRGn.S), News UK, Conde Nast, Bonnier News and Editorial Prensa Iberica, took its grievance to the European Commission, alleging Google has an adtech stranglehold over press publishers.



"It is high time for the European Commission to impose measures on Google that actually change, not just challenge, its behaviour," EPC Chairman Christian Van Thillo said in a statement.



"Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100% in segments of the ad tech chain," he said.



Vestager, who has fined Google more than 8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) in recent years for anti-competitive practices in three cases, last year launched the investigation into Google's digital advertising business.



Google has said it would engage constructively with the Commission.









Source: REUTERS









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the international community to support the sanctions placed by ECOWAS on Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso where the militaries have seized power.



That measure, he noted, would help in the efforts to curtail worrying political developments and stem democratic decline across the West African region.



Speaking at this years presentation of New Year Greetings to members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region, the President noted that the recent military take-overs in those three countries were grave setbacks to democracy for the citizens of these countries and indeed for the entire ECOWAS community.



He said even though several readings, including those related to the economy and security have been proffered by the new military rulers to justify these Coup dEtats, No reason is good enough to dispense with the freely expressed will of the people.



President Akufo-Addo emphasized that was replete with clear examples to show that military intervention have never addressed the challenges that necessitated forceful takeover of governments.



Our Collective history has taught us these military interventions are never a panacea for addressing whatever challenges that a nation may be confronted withDecisive steps need to be taken to preserve democracy and freedom in the region as well as to overcome the additional security challenges posed through terrorist activity.



And as I stressed during the recent extraordinary Summit in Accra, West Africa will remain unsafe until drastic measures are instituted to consolidate and entrench democratic tenants, which are necessary for economic development and the protection of freedom.



In this regard, I urge you and your respective countries and organizations to lend your wholehearted support for these sanctions to ensure their effectiveness, the President told the diplomats.



The regional bloc, which is grappling with terrorist attacks, insurgency and the COVID-19 pandemic, has experienced four military take-overs in the past 19 months, two in Mali and one each in Burkina Faso and Guinea, due to widespread frustration about corruption and the inability of those governments to fight jihadists who continue to make the Sahel insecure.



ECOWAS has sternly condemned the coup, and asked the coup makers to return the country to constitutional rule. The Bloc has made it clear to the military rulers in the three countries that the sanctions will be progressively lifted when they present acceptable timetables for the restoration of democratic rule.



The ball is firmly in their court, President Akufo-Addo told the diplomatic Corps.





Source: GNA









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The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has asked the ruling government to find practical ways of reducing the hardship Ghanaians are facing.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt said: "talk of GDP, KWZ... but the majority of Ghanaians are used to the economics of former President Kufuor; he says all the calculations are in your pocket and if we look inside our pocket, the situation is very bad. For those of us who enjoy kenkey; within two months a ghc1.50 kenkey is now ghc3...so international conditions, global conditions, world economy, and so on (doesn't help)...we are even tired of hearing such jargon"



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the formation of a legal team to assist all journalists and persons who feel intimated in their line of duty.



Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo made this announcement while speaking to journalists at the Greater Accra Regional Police command when he visited Accra FMs Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of the Citizen Show who was arrested for the alleged publication of false news last night Thursday, February 10, 2022.



Our team of lawyers are at the disposal of all journalists as well as persons who feel intimidated by the government in the wake of the protest against the controversial E-levy, he said.



As a party we have seen all sorts of machinations ongoing in the past 72-hours all in an attempt to intimidate the front runners in the agitation against the E-levy. This cannot actually intimidate us in the fight against E-levy, he added.



Meanwhile, Kwabena Bobie Ansah has been whisked to the Kaneshie Circuit Court to face trial. The journalist was arrested in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.



Bobie Ansah was arrested by security operatives Thursday night after he ended his show at about 10:00pm.

He was picked up and taken to the Nima Police Station and later transferred to the striking force.



He becomes the third journalist to be arrested in the past month.



This follows Captain Smart of Onua TV who was also arrested for some utterances he had made on TV and is currently facing trial for alleged extortion, and Power FMs Oheneba Boamah Bennie, who is in jail for two weeks and fined GHS3,000 for contempt of court, in a case in which he allegedly made false claims against President Akufo-Addo and the justices of the Supreme Court in relation to the 2020 election petition





Source: classfmonline.com









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Former Deputy Minister for Information under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress government, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, has called out Second Lady of the State, Hajia Samira Bawumia following the arrest of Accra FM journalist, Bobie Ansah.



Bobie Ansah was arrested and detained on Thursday night and according to the police, it had investigated claims by the journalist that the first and second ladies of Ghana had appropriated some state lands to themselves. The claims, following investigations were established as untrue.



He was thus arraigned before the Kaneshie Magistrate Court on Friday on charges of publication of false news and offensive conduct.



But reacting to the development in a Twitter, Kwakye-Ofosu accused the second lady of having double standards and being a hypocrite.



Mr. Ofosu shared a 2016 publication by GhanaWeb, in which the second lady during a campaign event, tagged then President John Dramani Mahama as corrupt.



The former deputy minister pointed out the similarity between the 2016 statement by the second lady and that made by the embattled journalist.



In 2016, Samira Bawumia launched this senseless attack on Prez Mahama. She was neither arrested nor put on trial. Bobie Ansah is on trial for saying something about her, Kwakye-Ofosu tweeted.



In a statement on Friday morning, the police said Bobie Ansah "on January 11, 2022, while hosting the Citizen Show on Accra FM, together with three others, allegedly made several statements against some individuals."



According to the police, while its investigations into the said allegations made by Bobie Ansah and his guests established same to be false, several attempts to get the journalist and his guests to honour an invitation to assist in investigations failed, hence his arrest.



A video of the January 11, 2022 show hosted by Bobie Ansah as sighted by GhanaWeb indicates the said allegations by the journalist and his guests were made against the first lady of the Republic, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.



Bobie Ansah, during the show, accused the first lady of appropriating state lands to herself for the use of her private foundation.



"Do you know that Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira have appropriated for themselves the aviation lands?" he questioned in a short video of the programme obtained by GhanaWeb.



"As I speak to you today, there are Chinese nationals working on the aviation lands that were acquired by Kwame Nkrumah for the state for the expansion of the aviation sector for its growth. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has had the guts to apportion the state land to herself and is putting up a project in the name of her foundation  an NGO," he added.



While raving about the allegations, Bobie Ansah, who is known to be an ardent critic of President Akufo-Addo, further accused the first lady of joining the president in what he described as thievery and corruption.



"I used to think it was Akufo-Addo and his family members alone who were doing evil to the nation, but the woman has also joined. Per documents I have received... the bad and evil she wants to do to the nation.. the thing is Rebecca is a thief," his rant was interrupted by one of the guests on the show who was prompting him to exercise restraint in his comment.



While Bobie Ansah was being prompted by one of the guests, the remaining two of the three guests urged him on.



The show then continued with the host showing a video of the supposed project site of the alleged Rebecca Foundation construction.



Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has described the journalist's arrest as a confirmation of a growing criminalization of speech and journalism under the current government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



According to Mr Mahama, he deems the situation under the current administration as appalling.



The former president made this known in an open letter addressed to his successor on Friday, February 11, 2022, following the journalist's arrest.



Meanwhile the journalist appearing before the Kaneshie Court on Friday was granted a GHC50,000 bail and has been asked to reappear on Monday, February 14, 2022.

In 2016,Samira Bawumia launched this senseless attack on Prez Mahama.She was neither arrested nor put on trial.Bobie Ansah is on trial for saying something about her.https://t.co/gs42b3nNLV  Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) February 11, 2022

Source: ghanaweb.con









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Founder of Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere-Darko has said that Ghanaians are unaware of the projects government is undertaking with taxpayers money to better their welfare.



In a tweet on February 11, Mr. Otchere-Darko noted that government has not been transparent enough on how domestic revenue generated is spent in the country.



According to him, citizens want to see greater transparency in how their taxes are spent. Greater evidence in seeing that, indeed, Government is cutting down spending and reducing waste. More transparency that our revenues are being managed better.



We want to see our taxes working for us, he said.



His comments come at a time when the Minority in Parliament and some members of the public have opposed the introduction of the Electronic Transaction Levy (e-Levy) by government.



They have argued that the implementation of the levy will destroy several businesses that thrive on electronic transactions and worsen the plight of Ghanaians. The critics of the levy have also contended that government has not been able to account for taxes that are already being paid.



Government, on the other hand, has said the e-levy will ensure that there is enough revenue to invest in entrepreneurship, youth employment, security, digital and road infrastructure. It has also considered reducing the rate from 1.75% to 1.5%



But the Minority says it wants the government to withdraw the e-levy entirely.





On Thursday, February 10, the Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) hit the streets of Accra to protest the passage of the E-levy Bill.



The group was joined by aged citizens, head porters also known as Kayayei, Coalition of Concerned University Students (CoCUS) among others.



Clad in black and red, they marched while holding placards with inscriptions such as Sika no w) he oo! ak)kora b)ne! and E-levy is a no brainer to economic recovery and we insist that Yentua!



Meanwhile, government is leveraging town hall meetings to educate the populace on the need to support the implementation of the levy.





Through the Information Ministry, government held the third meeting at Tamale in the Northern Region on Thursday.

What Ghanaians want to see is greater transparency in how their taxes are spent. Greater evidence in seeing that, indeed, Government is cutting down spending and reducing waste. More transparency that our revenues are being managed better. We want to see our taxes working for us.  Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) February 11, 2022

Source: twitter/myjoyonline.com









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The editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has described the arrest of broadcaster Kwabena Bobie Ansah as misguided.



He said this is a wrong approach to address the alleged false publication leveled against him.



According to the maverick journalist, the aggrieved persons can proceed to the court to cure any mischief and malice.



In a Facebook post, the veteran journalist said the arrest of the broadcaster is unsustainable.



The states action or reaction is unsustainable and wrong-headed in the context of this particular case. Let those whose integrity and reputation might have been damaged by the commission and omission of the journalist, proceed on the civil libel wavelength to cure the mischief and malice, Kweku Baako said.



The polices charge sheet noted that the broadcaster on January 1, 2022, accused the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia of fraudulently granting themselves state lands at AU Village, around the Kotoka International Airport for the construction of [the] Rebecca Foundation, a non-governmental project.



The charges sheet added that the polices subsequent investigations into the alleged publication revealed that the accusations by Bobie Ansah were false. According to the Police, the accused person failed to honour several invitations from the police to assist with investigations.



Bobie Ansah was picked up at the entrance of Class Media Group on Thursday night just after he had ended his how, The Citizen Show.



But Kweku Baako believes the police investigations into the matter are uncalled for.



No need for criminal investigation or prosecution. Unless of course, theres evidence of fraud, extortion and criminality! No journalist(s) and/or media practitioner(s) or media house(s) has/have immunity/indemnity if and when it comes to issues of extortion, fraud and criminality, the Facebook post added.



Meanwhile, the Kaneshie District Court has granted the presenter a GH50,000 bail with two sureties.



He has been charged with the publication of false news and offensive conduct after he was picked up by the Police on Thursday night.









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President Akufo-Addo reportedly on Thursday went on his 5-nation visit to France, Guyana, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom aboard his widely criticized chartered luxury jet.



The North Tongu lawmaker, a lone crusader known for his campaigns against the Presidents usage of the US14,000 an hour ultra-luxury executive jet disclosed on Friday that Mr. Akufo-Addo opted to fly on the Boeing 737-97Y(ER)(BBJ3), registered LX-DIO abandoning Ghanas Presidential Jet for the umpteenth time.





Yesterday, February 10, 2022  Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo demonstrated beyond any shred of doubt that his blatant contempt, gross insensitivity and utter disdain for the Ghanaian people who made him President have no boundaries, whatsoever.



On the very same day and literally during the Yentua March by thousands of Ghanaians from all walks of life who took to the streets of Accra to register their revulsion in the strongest of terms against the obnoxious E-Levy and governments profligate dissipation of current taxes, loans and other resources which have led to a downgraded economy now in the ICU; President Akufo-Addo, in the most heartless, scornful and outrightly insulting conduct yet, opted for the umpteenth time to abandon Ghanas Presidential Jet and fly out of the country aboard his chartered US14,000 an hour ultra-luxury executive jet  the Boeing 737-97Y(ER)(BBJ3), registered LX-DIO.



Akufo-Addos Trip



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana, on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to begin a ten-day working visit to France, Guyana, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.



President Akufo-Addos first port of call will be Brest, France, where, at the invitation of H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, he will participate in the One Ocean Summit, to be held on Friday, 11th February, 2022. Up to 40 world leaders are due to make ambitious and concrete commitments towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution at what is billed as the first high-level summit dedicated to the ocean.





Thereafter, the President will, at the invitation of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, travel to Georgetown, Guyana, participate as a keynote speaker at the maiden International Energy Conference and Expo by Guyana to be held from 15th to 18th February, 2022. Ghana and Guyana are developing close working relations in the oil and gas sector.



Following the visit to Guyana, he will travel to Marburg, Germany, at the invitation of KENUP Foundation, to participate, together with Presidents Macky Sall and Paul Kagame of the Republics of Senegal and Rwanda respectively, at the presentation of the BioNtech modular production facility for MRNA vaccines on Wednesday, 16th February, 2022, towards a pan-African Project for the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa.



President Akufo-Addo will then travel to Paris, France, to meet with President Emmanuel Macron, together with other African Heads of State, on the security situation in the Sahel and Africa, in general, in the evening of 16th February, 2022. He will also participate in a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and some Heads of State from the ECOWAS Region in the morning of 17th February 2022, to discuss the security situation in ECOWAS.





After this meeting, he will travel to Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the Africa Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit to be held from 17th to 18th February, 2022, and then travel to the United Kingdom for a private visit.



The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah; the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Kwaku Afriyie; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.



President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Sunday, 20th February, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.



Ablakwas Write-up



In a grotesque imagery of a President who couldnt be bothered or give a toss about the mass agitations of his employers  President Akufo-Addo took off from the Kotoka International Airport at exactly 13:00 GMT  obviously at the same time angry protesters were approaching Parliament to present their petition.



The Presidents reckless indiscretion is likely to make it to the Guinness Book of Records as the most provocative, thoughtless and hard-hearted misconduct by any democratically elected leader.



One wonders if the President still felt no remorse when he saw from mid-air, the protestors, some of them older than him and others struggling mothers worried about grim prospects for their children.



From our unimpeachable tracking, President Akufo-Addo touched down last night in France at 20:50 CET.



Our comprehensive computation of the Presidents flying time for his 10-day tour looks as follows: 6 hours and 50min from Accra to France; 8hours and 30min from France to Guyana; 9hours and 5min from Guyana to Germany; 1hour and 10min from Germany to France; approximately 1hour from France to Belgium; another 1hour from Belgium to UK; 6hours and 30min from UK back to Ghana. This works out to some 34hours of air travel  at US14,000 an hour, an initial bill of US$476,000 arises.



In addition, we estimate incidentals such as: landing fees, ramp fees, segment fees, federal excise tax, 7-member crew oversight fees, 7-member crew per diem fees, wait time fees, short leg fees, de-icing fees, reposition fees, international fees and one-way fees to amount to a conservative figure of US$300,000.



In sum, for abandoning Ghanas Presidential Jet and obstinately choosing an extravagant and sybaritic option, the Ghanaian taxpayer should expect to cough up a staggering US$776,000 or the Cedi equivalent of GHS4,979,328.16 by the time President Akufo-Addo returns.



Ironically, the cost is much higher than the GHS4.6million government has been unable to release to the Students Loan Trust since last year, making it impossible for the SLT to cater for the needs of thousands of tertiary students for more than a year, as it emerged in Parliament this week when I demanded answers from the Education Minister.



What should further embarrass all well-meaning Ghanaians is the fact that our real-time tracking reveals that none of the African Presidents joining President Akufo-Addo for these meetings are engaged in such unconscionable hedonistic misconduct. They are all making good use of their national presidential jets.



For a President running away from accountability as his Ministers unjustifiably and unconstitutionally hide behind the cloak of national security not to disclose the full cost of his lavish skybath travels to us in Parliament, one would have expected that the President will reconsider his ways, particularly considering the now collapsed economy and how the Ghanaian populace have flatly refused to accept the E-Levy largely because of the Presidents penchant for obscene opulence and impunity of not accounting to the people who fund his aristocratic tastes.



What a terrible own-goal at a time President Akufo-Addo is contemptuously defying practically everyone and moving mountains to force the passage of the dreaded E-Levy.

Source: Facebook/kasapafmonline.com









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Featured Video
The Host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, has been picked up by policemen from the Cantonments Police Station after closed of work, a Police has confirmed.



He was arrested yesterday, February 10, 2022, by the Accra Regional Police Command in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.



The police said his arrest became necessary after he turned down several invitations from the Police and others involved in the case to assist with investigation.



Information available to DGN Online indicates that he was arrested in connection with a post he made on his Facebook timeline, in which he claimed that the current judiciary is corrupt and made up of crooks and criminals led by a corrupt Chief Justice whos struggling to purge himself of a $5 million thievery allegation.



Bobbie Ansah a staff of the radio station, which is a subsidiary of the Class Media Group (CMG) was picked up at the entrance of the station shortly after 10pm on Thursday, just when his programme which airs daily had ended.



The police personnel purportedly laid ambush around the premises of the station for the host to end his programme and rounded him up.



Shortly after the arrest, the Producer of the show, Kwame Kwakye, came on air to announce that Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, the Host of The Citizen Show and also a staff of CMG, specifically Accra FM, has just been arrested by unknown policemen. We do not know where theyre stationed, neither do we know where theyre taking Bobbie Ansah. We dont know what his crime is and which police station hes been sent to. He was picked up right after The Citizen Show. He was arrested with a National Security car that had police officers in it without identity.



He becomes the third journalist to have been arrested in recent times over what is said to be disparaging remarks.







Source: Daily Guide









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A foreign passenger wearing a face mask as a protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 10, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

By Annalisa Burgos

The Philippines reopened to international tourists on February 10, almost two years after the government shut down the country and the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the economy.

Fully-vaccinated citizens of more than 150 countries with visa-free entry to the Philippines  including the United States, Canada, UK, Japan and Australia  no longer have to quarantine at a designated facility if they show negative RT-PCR results within 48 hours of arrival and proof of vaccination.

They also need a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket to their country of origin no later than 30 days from arrival, and travel insurance worth $35,000 for COVID-19 treatment.

Before this latest change, only Filipino nationals and their dependents, former Filipino nationals with an old passport or birth certificate, and foreign nationals with a valid visa could enter.

Its welcome news for foreign tourists, as well as millions of Filipinos and their families who live outside of their motherland and have been unable to travel home to see relatives or do business.

Travelers who are not fully vaccinated or fail to present valid proof of vaccination are subject to the quarantine process and post-arrival COVID test swabbing. Parents of unvaccinated minors between 12 and 17 years old must stay with their children in a quarantine hotel for five days and until negative test results are released.

As with any international travel during the pandemic, always research the latest protocols before you book a trip. Many countries still require travelers from the Philippines to quarantine when they return, so plan for that. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines requires passengers to present all documentation before boarding, so plan ahead or you will not be allowed on the plane.

Prior to arrival, register on the governments One Health Pass website with your personal details, test result information and vaccination status. After registering, youll receive a confirmation email with a QR code to show the airport screeners.

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This system allows the Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Transportation to track compliance. Its unclear how the government is enforcing the quarantine or catching violators. Many governments use an honor system, so its left up to the individual to follow protocols to ensure public health and safety.

Upon landing in the Philippines, government authorities explain the verification process, which involves showing your One Health Pass QR code, passport, negative test results and vaccine card. Remember to continue to keep good hygiene, wear face masks and limit close contact with strangers when traveling.

Annalisa Burgos is a freelance journalist with 20 years of experience covering Asia and the United States. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram at @annalisaburgos and on Facebook: facebook.com/annalisaburgosnews. The views expressed are her own.

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The 7-11 outlet at 58 Seng Poh Road. (PHOTO: Google Street View)

SINGAPORE  Over three months, a man kept stealing newspapers from a 7-Eleven outlet, stuffing them into his pants and covering them with his shirt.

By the time he was caught, he had stolen more than 24 sets of newspapers and sold them to a rag-and-bone man. When police officers arrived to arrest him, they saw him stuffing 10 sets of newspapers into his pants.

Albert Pang Tze Kaan, 50, was jail for nine weeks on Thursday (10 February) after he pleaded guilty to an amalgamated charge of theft.

Stole 4 sets of newspaper each time

On 10 November last year, Pang entered the 7-Eleven outlet at Seng Poh Road after 8.30pm. He took from the store shelf four sets of Lianhe Wanbao newspapers, valued at $1 each, and left without making payment.

The cashier witnessed his actions and and approached him outside the store to confront him, but Pang scolded him and left.

Pang returned five more times over December and January, stealing four sets of newspapers each time. He would enter the store between 8pm and 10pm to commit the theft.

CCTV cameras caught Pang stealing on five occasions: 26, 28, 30, and 31 December, as well as 3 January. Each time, Pang would stuff the newspapers in his pants and cover them with his shirt.

The cashier on duty did not dare to confront Pang as she was afraid of him, but informed her colleague.

On 17 January, the colleague was in the store when he spotted Pang, and called the police. When police officers arrived, they observed Pang from outside the store and spotted him taking 10 sets of newspaper, slipping them into his pants and covering the loot with his shirt.

Pang then headed to the cashier to pay for only one set of newspapers. Upon seeing the police officers, he left and disposed all the newspapers in a shopping basket. He was then placed under arrest, and all 10 sets of newspapers were recovered.

Sold newspapers to rag-and-bone man

Pang confessed that he had sold the newspapers to a rag-and-bone man for an unknown amount of money and did not make restitution. He had stolen 34 sets of newspapers worth $33.20 on seven occasions.

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The prosecution sought 10 weeks jail for Pang, whom it said had committed the current offences just about six months after his last conviction, also for stealing newspapers.

In mitigation, Pang said in person that he wished to plead guilty and pass through this process as soon as possible. He told the court that he was on financial assistance.

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Philip Smith's excavation notes contain sketches, including one showing the bones of a triple burial, that of a child and two teenagers. The arrangement of the bodies suggests that they were buried in one burial pit, but at different times and possibly according to different rites. "One of the bodies is curled up while the other two are lying down and, by comparing the arrangement of these bodies with burials observed in other archaeological sites in the region, we hope to be able to reconstruct the burial practices of people at that time and establish their diversity," says Julien Riel-Salvatore. Credit: University of Montreal

Faced with the constraints created by the pandemic, Julien Riel-Salvatore got creative. Unable to visit the Italian archaeological sites he specializes in, the professor in the University of Montreal's Anthropology Department set to work studying part of an orphaned collection of artifacts originally assembled by Canadian archaeologist Philip Smith.

Smith was a UdeM professor who excavated Ganj Dareh in Iran between 1965 and 1974. Ganj Dareh, which means "Treasure Valley," is an important Neolithic archaeological site that has yielded some of the earliest evidence of human sedentism, agricultural development and goat domestication.

Drawing on Smith's archives, Riel-Salvatore produced three-dimensional digital maps of the sedimentary strata Smith excavated. The 3D mapping, which shows walls of houses, wells, hearths and burial places, is the subject of a recent article in the journal PLOS ONE.

Evidence of human sedentarization

Ganj Dareh is a mound site seven meters high and forty meters in diameter located in Iran's Kermanshah province. It is believed to have been occupied by humans roughly 10,200 years ago for a period of 300 to 600 years. "It is a short period of time in archaeological terms but it was very rich in technological development," explained Riel-Salvatore. "Among other things, clay objects, sun-baked bricks and carved stone tools have been found at the site."

Smith, one of the first archaeologists in UdeM's Anthropology department, first visited the site in 1965 to begin excavating it. He returned to Ganj Dareh four more times and excavated 20 percent of the site's five levels.

"After 1974, the digs were suspended, but Smith was able to bring back a good deal of material, including animal and human bones, plant remains, sediment samples and various artifacts," said Riel-Salvatore.

That material is now conserved at three institutions: the human remains at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, the animal remains at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, and an extensive collection containing sedimentary, architectural and charcoal samples, bone, stone and clay tools, and Smith's excavation notes at UdeM.

Recently, an analysis of collagen samples extracted from some of the animal bones yielded evidence of goat domestication at the site and, by extension, human sedentarization. Dating of the plant remains has revealed evidence of domesticated barley and lentils. "Ganj Dareh has been a focal point for research on prehistory and the transition to agriculture," said Riel-Salvatore.

Using Philip Smith's archives from his 1965-1974 excavations, Julien Riel-Salvatore reconstructed three-dimensional digital maps of sediment strata at the Ganj Dareh site. Credit: University of Montreal

Orphaned archives find foster parents

Riel-Salvatore and two doctoral students began working on the collection, which had been languishing in the department's archives, and set about developing a three-dimensional model of a portion of Ganj Dareh's West Trench, which had been excavated by Smith.

The model is based on a small, 8-square-meter section of the site, about 10 percent of the area explored by Smith. It shows the stratification of the site and makes it possible to study the evolution of human behavior through the sedimentary layers.

"The paper published in PLOS ONE is a first step," said Riel-Salvatore. "It's a proof of concept of our approach that will allow us to pursue our research."

Sanaz Shirvani, a Ph.D. student of Iranian origin, and three master's students in archaeology are now tackling the entire collection. "Sanaz is one of five recipients of a prestigious fellowship awarded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, which supports students from countries where archaeological training and research remain to be developed," noted Riel-Salvatore.

And much remains to be done at UdeM's Anthropocene archaeology lab, which Riel-Salvatore directs: the Ganj Dareh collection contains some 100,000 objects and samples!

His long-term plan is to create a virtual repository comprising 3D models of key "Treasure Valley" artifacts in order to establish a permanent digital archive of all the analog material for the benefit of the international archaeological community.

"Ultimately, our goal is to make a slice of the history of Iran and the history of humanity accessible," said Riel-Salvatore. "It's important to make these archives accessible to the scientific community and to the people who live in the region, because they are part of Iranian heritage. So the project's results will soon be posted on a website and translated into French, English and Farsi, with the support of the University of Montreal's International Affairs Office."

Explore further Broken pebbles offer clues to Paleolithic funeral rituals

More information: Julien Riel-Salvatore et al, New insights into the spatial organization, stratigraphy and human occupations of the Aceramic Neolithic at Ganj Dareh, Iran, PLOS ONE (2021). Journal information: PLoS ONE Julien Riel-Salvatore et al, New insights into the spatial organization, stratigraphy and human occupations of the Aceramic Neolithic at Ganj Dareh, Iran,(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251318
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Lurking beneath overhanging foliage, archerfish have one thing on their mind: taking a well-aimed pot-shot at the next insect that settles within range. Squirting a ballistic jet of water, these tenacious assassins precisely target their victims, ready to dine.

"Object recognition is critical for animal survival," says Ronen Segev from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, explaining that distinguishing dinner from non-edible objects is an essential life skill.

But how do archerfish differentiate a tasty treat from an unpalatable plant?

"It's a complex task," says Segev, who was curious to find out which visual features archerfish depend on when identifying a potential meal.

He and his colleagues published their discovery that archerfish are capable of recognizing that an unfamiliar insect is an animal while detailing the features that archerfish use to distinguish plants from animals in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Fortunately, the fish were quite content to squirt at images on a computer screen, so Segev and Svetlana Volotsky (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) first encouraged the archerfish to take fire at a square on a screen, in return for a food pellet reward. Then, Volotsky trained the snipers to aim at images of one specific spider viewed from a range of angles while trying to distract them with an image of a piece of vegetation.

Once the fish were reliably spitting at the spider images, Volotsky tested whether they were capable of recognizing the spider from any random direction by offering the fish a completely new view of the spider beside an image of a piece of vegetation or another spider. If the fish had really learned to recognize their spider, they would still take a shot at it, even if they were seeing it from an unfamiliar angle.

Impressively, the archerfish were still able to select their target spider, regardless of the direction of view, showcasing their ability to recognize individual objects.

But could the fish learn from experience to categorize an insect that they had never seen before as an animal?

To investigate, Volotsky trained the fish to spit at images of insects, ranging from ants and beetles to flies and spiders, while trying to distract them with images of plants. Once the fish were dependably taking shots at the insects, she tried outwitting them by presenting them with images of unfamiliar insects to find out whether the fish could recognize that any insect is an animal.

The fish still targeted the insect images, even though they had never seen those creatures before. "Archerfish can generalize from examples to make object recognition of natural object classes," says Segev.

But how were the fish able to learn to distinguish plants from animals?

To answer this question, Volotsky and Segev along with Ohad Ben-Shahar and Opher Donchin, also from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, teamed up to break down images of insects, flowers and leaves into 18 different features.

Then, they built a computer program (known as a support-vector machine) that reproduced the fish's decision-making process to find out which features were necessary for archerfish to distinguish between animals and plants.

The fish only needed six essential features, including the loose perimeter encircling the object, how jagged or smooth the shape is, and the texture of its surface, to distinguish animals from plants, with the first two factors being the most significant.

As humans, we use a similar, albeit slightly more elaborate, strategy to recognize each other's faces, so the team hopes to apply the lessons they have learned from archerfish to understand visual recognition in other animals and design man-made object recognition systems.

Explore further Experiments suggests archerfish can differentiate between numbers

More information: Svetlana Volotsky et al, Recognition of natural objects in the archerfish, Journal of Experimental Biology (2022). Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology Svetlana Volotsky et al, Recognition of natural objects in the archerfish,(2022). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243237
Credit: Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science

Researchers have developed a technique that allows them to look simultaneously at a spatial level and at a genome-wide level at epigenetic mechanisms underlying tissue development, a breakthrough with multiple scientific and medical applications.

While current technologies allow scientists to examine epigenetic information in the bulk of a tissue, and recent breakthroughs further extend to an individual cell level, it's currently not possible to visualize them directly in a tissue with cellular resolution. This is a critical obstacle, since there's a strong connection between how cells are organized in tissue and how they function. In a new study published in Science, a team of researchers have developed a technique to enable for the first time the spatial mapping of epigenetic regulations connected to development and disease. Led by Rong Fan, professor of biomedical engineering at Yale University and of pathology at Yale School of Medicine, the study was done in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

We all start with the same genetic material in a single cell, but that cell quickly multiplies into trillions of different cells. Each cell has the same genome, but the difference lies in which genes have been activated or repressed. Different chemical epigenetic modifications in the embryo steer the developmentswitching certain genes on and other ones offand allow for the formation of different organs. Epigenetics is what regulates the expression of those genes. For their study, the researchers focused on one of the most significant epigenetic changes, known as histone modifications.

"What underlying mechanisms control the cell types and tissue development?" Fan said. "That's what we're able to 'see' now with this new technologyspatial-CUT&Tag. "This is the first time we can look at which histone modifications control genome-wide gene expression directly in the tissue, and how they do itit adds a whole new dimension to this emerging field of spatial biology."

Other technologies allow for the profiling of epigenetic modifications in individual cells, but not within their tissue. Being able to track them in their full context provides invaluable insight about cell organization, tissue development and disease. Co-author Goncalo Castelo-Branco, professor of glial cell biology at Karolinska Institutet, noted that the technology provides information about which genes in a tissue section are switched on and off.

"That gives a lot of additional informationfor instance, why is a nerve cell a nerve cell?" he said. "Before, you could check cell by cell, but then you would lose all the information of where the cells were and how they might have been interacting with each other. With this technology, we have now also the spatial location. Moreover, you can determine in that location all this epigenomic information, which is one of the really amazing aspects of the technology."

Specifically, the researchers looked at modifications to chromatin, the material that enwraps the DNA of every cell and controls access to it, in the embryonic and postnatal brains of mice. It had been shown that specific histone modifications can control different cortical layers of the brain in the embryonic stage, but it was unclear if they would have the same function after birth.

"So now this is the first time we can see those epigenetic features directly in a postnatal brain," Fan said. "We can say, "Wow, actually those epigenetic features are organized in stripes, which correspond to the cortical layers of the mouse brain." That means they might be controlling or maintaining the formation of these layers."

The researchers created their technique by designing microfluidic devices with multiple microchannels that are used to deliver DNA barcodes to the genome DNA where the epigenetic modifications are present. The study's lead author, Yanxiang Deng, a postdoctoral associate in Rong Fan's lab, said the researchers can then retrieve the genome DNA and reconstruct the spatial location by computational methods. If there is a histone modification on a genome DNA, a tagged DNA barcode is associated with that histone modification, allowing the researchers to locate in the tissue the epigenetic information.

The spatial-CUT&Tag technique adds an extra dimension to the CUT&Tag technique developed in recent years, allowing researchers to get extremely precise information, pixel by pixel. The technology enables researchers to place an identifierlike a GPS coordinateon each cell in the tissue section.

"With that, you can reconstruct the map of the tissue," Castelo-Branco said. "It is the ability to put a coordinate for every single pixel in that tissue section and then you can go back and say "OK, this is where this histone modification is present, in this specific gene, in this specific cell or group of cells.'"

In the long run, the research team hopes that the technology will be used to better understand the development of disease.

"Epigenetic drugs are something that's emerging now, so potentially we can develop drugs to target those epigenetic mechanisms," Fan said. "Having the tools to understand the epigenetic origin of different disease states could open up a whole new avenue of therapeutics."

The researchers emphasized that the technology has a broad range of applications.

"This is a starting point, and it will allow a lot of other findings similar to this on different tissues," Castelo-Branco said.

Explore further Technique allows mapping of epigenetic information in single cells at scale

More information: Yanxiang Deng et al, Spatial-CUT&Tag: Spatially resolved chromatin modification profiling at the cellular level, Science (2022). Journal information: Science Yanxiang Deng et al, Spatial-CUT&Tag: Spatially resolved chromatin modification profiling at the cellular level,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abg7216
China urges U.S. to scrap additional tariffs, sanctions

Xinhua) 08:08, February 11, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United States to remove additional tariffs, sanctions, and other suppressive measures against it at an early date.

China has worked hard to promote the joint implementation of its phase-one economic and trade agreement with the United States since the deal came into force. It overcame multiple negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global economic recession, and disrupted supply chains, Gao Feng, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference.

Gao called for action from the United States to create a conducive atmosphere and sound conditions for the two sides to expand trade cooperation. He added that the economic and trade teams of the two sides are in regular communication.

China and the United States signed the agreement in January 2020 after nearly two years of negotiations. The United States pledged to cancel some of its additional tariffs on Chinese products.

The agreement ranges from expanding bilateral trade in such sectors as agricultural products, manufactured goods, energy, and service, further broadening market access, to enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights.

Gao stressed the deal benefits both sides and the world.

When answering media questions, Gao also disputed a claim that China's economic success mainly relies on government interference.

China has fulfilled its commitments since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and completely abolished prohibitive subsidies under the subsidies and countervailing measures agreement of the WTO, Gao said. He added China's subsidies are in line with WTO rules.

As proved over the past four decades, China's economic successes come from its reform and opening-up and effectively combining the roles of the market and the government, Gao said.

The country's reform and opening-up has not only propelled its development but contributed to the world's economic prosperity, Gao added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Join Edith Salas of Salas Properties & host Jenn Barlow as they visit the Coronado Shores community. The towers have amazing views including the world famous Hotel del Coronado, downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, the City of Coronado, Point Loma, and the Pacific Ocean.
Mountain gorillas in Rwandas Volcanoes National Park have experienced better respiratory health since the COVID-19 pandemic began, due in part to protective health measures in the park. Credit: Gorilla Doctors

Respiratory illness outbreaks among wild mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park have declined since the start of COVID-19, according to a Correspondence report in the journal Nature from Gorilla Doctors and the Rwanda Development Board.

Mountain gorillas are susceptible to human-transmitted respiratory pathogens. Respiratory illness is the second leading cause of death in wild, human-habituated populations.

In the five years prior to March 2020, the Volcanoes National Park population averaged 5.4 respiratory illness outbreaks in gorilla family groups annually. In contrast, from March 2020 through December 2021, the population averaged 1.6 respiratory illness outbreaks in the family groups each year. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in samples collected from mountain gorillas with respiratory illness.

The decline in respiratory illness outbreaks in mountain gorillas during the COVID-19 pandemic correlates with an overall reduction in the number of people coming into close proximity of the gorillas, and with additional health protection measures taken to reduce the risk of disease transmission from humans to gorillas.

"Respiratory illness outbreaks are common in wild, human-habituated mountain gorillas, and considering that gorillas are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, this preliminary analysis is such a welcome finding," said co-author Kirsten Gilardi, executive director and chief veterinary officer for Gorilla Doctors, and the director of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "It is a testament to the early and decisive action of park authorities to help protect mountain gorillas and humans."

The additional safety measures are in accordance with the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines for Health Monitoring and Disease Control in Great Apes, which state: " disease prevention should be regarded as a top priority  programs should be centered on monitoring health parameters, and modifying human activities accordingly, in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission to great apes."

Gorilla ecotourism was temporarily suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rwanda Development Board mandated mask-wearing at all times when in close proximity of gorillas and increased the minimum distance to 10 meters, or nearly 33 feet.

Jean Bosco Noheri, a Gorilla Doctors field veterinarian who compiled the data for this comparison cites other potential correlating factors to consider as additional lines of inquiry.

"Variation in pathogenicity of viruses, gorilla group dynamics, climate conditions and a variety of other factors may also be impacting the decrease in respiratory illness outbreaks we have seen," Noheri said.

This bar graph shows numbers of mountain gorilla groups experiencing respiratory illness outbreaks in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda between 2015 and 2021, showing steep declines after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Credit: Gorilla Doctors

These findings illustrate the imperative for best practice measures that minimize human disease transmission to great apes. Particularly in light of the omicron variant surge and the return of gorilla tourism, Gorilla Doctors and the Rwanda Development Board recommend these measures be made permanent.

Explore further COVID-19: Disease may pose threat to wild mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

More information: Kirsten Gilardi et al, Keep mountain gorillas free from pandemic virus, Nature (2022). Journal information: Nature Kirsten Gilardi et al, Keep mountain gorillas free from pandemic virus,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-00331-z
At the center of spiral galaxiesthose near to us but also those billions of light-years awaythere is a vast spherical region made up of dark matter particles. This region has two defining characteristics: a density that is constant out to a certain radius that amazingly expands over time, while the density decreases. Credit: Gauri Sharma

At the center of spiral galaxiesthose near to us but also those billions of light-years awaythere is a vast spherical region made up of dark matter particles. This region has two defining characteristics: a density that is constant out to a certain radius that amazingly expands over time, while the density decreases. This suggests the existence of a direct interaction between the elementary particles that make up the dark matter halo and those that make up ordinary matterprotons, electrons, neutrons, and photons. We anticipate that this hypothesis is in direct conflict with the current prevailing theory used to describe the universeknown as Lambda-Cold Dark Matterwhich posits that particles of cold dark matter are inert and do not interact with any other particle except gravitationally.

These important findings have been reported in a new study, recently published in the Astronomy and Astrophysics journal, that studied a large number of distant galaxies, some seven billion light-years away. The study, conducted by Gauri Sharma and Paolo Salucci from SISSA, together with Glen Van de Ven from the University of Vienna, took a new look at one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics. According to the authors, this new research represents a step forward in our understanding of dark matter, the elusive element in our universe which has been theorized based on its demonstrable effects on heavenly bodies, but which is yet to be directly proven. This is despite any number of targeted astrophysical observations and experiments set up for the purpose in dedicated underground laboratories.

Studying dark matter in distant galaxies

Dark matter makes up approximately 84% of the mass in the cosmos: "Its dominant presence throughout the galaxies arises from the fact that the stars and hydrogen gas are moving as if governed by an invisible element" explains Gauri Sharma. Up until now, attempts to study it have focused on galaxies near to our own: "In this study, however," she explains, "for the first time, we were seeking to observe and determine the distribution of the mass of spiral galaxies with the same morphology of those nearby, but much further away and therefore earlier by some seven billion years. The idea is essentially that these progenitors of spiral galaxies like our own could offer fundamental clues into the nature of the particle at the heart of the mystery of dark matter." Paolo Salucci adds that "by studying the movement of stars in approximately 300 distant galaxies, we discovered that these objects also had a halo of dark matter, and that, by starting out from the center of a galaxy, this halo effectively has a region in which its density is constant." This trait had already been observed in studies examining nearby galaxies, some of which were also the work of SISSA.

The new research has revealed, however, that this central region had something that was wholly unexpected within the context of the so-called "standard model of cosmology." Sharma says that "as a result of the contrast between the properties of nearby and distant spiral galaxiesthat is, between today's galaxies and their forebears from seven billion years earlier, we could see that not only is there an unexplained region with a constant density of dark matter, but also that its dimensions increase over time as if being subjected to a process of ongoing expansion and dilution." This evidence is very difficult to be explained if the dark matter particles did not interact, as posited in the Lambda-CDM model. "In the research we recently published," says Sharma, "we offer evidence of direct interaction between dark matter and ordinary matter, that over time slowly builds up a region of consistent density from the center of the galaxy outwards." But there's more.

A new SISSA study suggests that at the center of spiral galaxies there is a vast spherical region made up of dark matter particles where a direct interaction between the elementary particles that make up the dark matter halo and those that make up ordinary matter occurs. Credit: Buddy_Nath on Pixabay

A slow yet inexorable process

"Amazingly, the above region with constant density expands over time. It's a very slow process, but one that is inexorable" states Salucci. One possible explanation? "The simplest is that, in the beginning, when the galaxy was formed, the distribution of dark matter in the spherical halo was as predicted by the Lambda-CDM theory, with a density peak in the center. Later on, the galactic disc that characterizes spiral galaxies is formed, surrounded by a halo of extremely dense dark matter particles. As time passed, the effect of the interaction that we have posited meant that the particles were captured by the stars or expelled into the outer reaches of the galaxy." This process would create a spherical region of consistent density within the dark matter halo, with dimensions that increase proportionately over time and finally reach those of the galactic stellar disc, as described in the article in Astronomy and Astrophysics. "The results of the study pose important questions for alternative scenarios that describe dark matter particles (aside from Lambda-CDM), such as Warm Dark Matter, Self-Interacting Dark Matter and Ultra Light Dark Matter" says Sharma.

"These models must also account for the clear time evolution registered of the above region. The properties of very distant galaxies in space and time offer cosmologists a genuine gateway to understanding the mysteries of dark matter." It is interesting to note, "that, in line with Nietzsche's philosophy, the truth of this mystery may be revealed not by detailing the most beautiful scenariothe one that is mathematically most elegant, simple and anticipated as an expansion of long-verified theoriesbut rather through an "ugly" scenario determined by an inelegant and complicated observational phenomenology, from a neglected physical theory that is completely unrelated to that which is familiar to us," says Salucci.

Explore further The smallest galaxies in our universe bring more about dark matter to light

More information: G. Sharma et al, Observational evidence of evolving dark matter profiles since z 1, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2022). Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics G. Sharma et al, Observational evidence of evolving dark matter profiles since z 1,(2022). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202141822
Scientists say it is unhelpful to call extreme weather events natural disasters as it turns attention away from the human factors behind them.

As a pioneer in so-called attribution scienceestablishing a link between extreme weather and climate changeFriederike Otto is adamant that the rising toll of heatwaves and hurricanes cannot be explained by global warming alone.

AFP spoke to Otto, a physicist at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, ahead of the release of a major UN climate report on climate change impacts and how humanity can adapt to them.

Q. Is 'natural disaster' a contradiction in terms?

To talk about natural disasters the way that we usually do is not very helpful because it turns the attention away from the agency that we have as humans.

You have to search very hard to find climate disasters that are purely natural. Even without climate change, if humans are involved, such disasters occur for the most part when vulnerability and exposure meet extreme weather events. Global warming just makes it worse.

Q. Can you give an example?

Last year there were major floods in western Germany which led to lots of lost lives, damaged property.

Yes, climate change made the rainfall more intense. But even without global warming there would have been a huge, heavy rainfall event. And it would have landed in a densely populated geography where the rivers flood very easily and the water has nowhere to go.

Q. Has attribution science led to blaming disasters just on climate change?

When we started to do attribution, everyone - we, the media - were excited to finally have an answer to the question: what is the role of climate change in these disasters? It was a breakthrough to be able to say an individual event was made, say, 10 times more likely.

But if we ignore vulnerability, then we also ignore to a large degree what we can actually do to cope with and protect ourselves from climate change.

Q. How do we assess responsibility for a natural disaster?

The goal... is not so much to pinpoint fault or blame, but to understand the causes. The next step is to ask: what do we need to change? Who has the agency to do that? Then you can ask about responsibility.

We know now that building mansions on the beach or cliffs of Malibu is probably a stupid idea. It is deliberately exposing oneself to risk.

A 1,000-year-old city built on what has now become a flood plain is different. But we still have to adapt: educate people not to build there anymore, build in a way - on stilts, for examplethat can withstand floods. We also need better flood forecasting.

Q. Is it also an equity issue?

It's the vulnerable in society who suffer the greatest loss and damages. They live in houses that can't withstand natural hazards; they live in floodplains; they can't afford insurance. And it's not just Global North vs Global South. Who's still suffering today from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, that devastated New Orleans in 2005? It's not the rich and white. It's the poor, and people of colour.

Q. What is 'maladaptation', and where does that fit in?

Just blaming climate for disasters can lead to maladaptation. If you think of climate disasters purely as a physical problem, you're likely to favour a technical solution, like building a dam. That may result in less flooding in a small part of a city but have bad consequences along the rest of the river.

If the measure you put in place to adapt makes things worse in the long run or for the majority of people, that's maladaptation. Adaptation also means education, governance, and so on. But investing in those things is harder, and it can take decades to see results.

Q. Have disasters been incorrectly blamed on climate change?

The drought and famine in Madagascar. Climate change is really not playing a role there. The population is extremely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, but the rains are just naturally not terribly reliable.

And there's a very high rate of poverty. Outside disaster assistance has been very short-term. Lots of things that have gone really wrong on the vulnerability side. But climate change is not really a driver.

Q. The UN identified Madagascar at the world's first climate-driven famine

Even without doing an attribution study, just from everything that we knew before from IPCC reports, it should have been clear that climate change is not the only, and not even a major driver of the drought in southern Madagascar.

I can see why they do that - to raise funds and so on. But it's just not helpful to say, "everything is tickety-boo and then the big, bad climate change monster comes and eats us all". That's not how it works.

 2022 AFP
White Teatfish sea cucumber in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Steve Purcell

Researchers are calling for better protection of tropical sea cucumbers in the Great Barrier Reef whose numbers are dwindling due to persistent and increasing overharvesting.

New research reveals that overharvesting has put the Great Barrier Reef's tropical sea cucumber populations in peril, with strong demand for this delicacy from East and Southeast Asia.

Several kinds of sea cucumber are harvested, mainly for Chinese consumption. The global market for sea cucumbers is estimated to be worth over USD$200 million annually.

Published in Biological Conservation, the research was led by a team from the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland.

"Known as the earthworms or vacuums of the sea, sea cucumbers are critical for reef health, helping keep the seafloor clean and productive," said Dr. Maria Byrne, Professor of Marine Biology from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney.

"Abundant sea cucumber populations on unfished reefs process tons of lagoon sediments annually through their bodythey are the clean sand solution.

"These animals are in peril globally and their harvest on the Great Barrier Reef is of great concern.

"Fishery data collected along Australia's primary sea cucumber fishing ground on the Reef has shown the need for caution and regulatory changes.

"The Great Barrier Reef is home to 10 of the world's 16 endangered or vulnerable sea cucumber species. The data shows populations of some of the highest-valued species have been dwindling due to increasing and persistent global overharvest.

Teatfish in particular peril

One fast-disappearing group of tropical sea cucumbers, known as teatfish, is of particular concern.

Teatfish are listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which provides a strong basis to restrict their harvest and export. Yet two of these species, the white teatfish and black teatfish, represented more than 20 percent of the Queensland fishery's recent total catch.

Populations of teatfish are most at risk because of their high market value and poor reproduction. The individuals that remain on the reef fail to find a mate due to fishery removal.

"Black teatfish numbers have not recovered since their fishery was closed in 1999 due to overharvestalthough the fishery reopened in 2019," said Dr. Kenny Wolfe from the University of Queensland.

"In December 2021 we saw a ray of hope, when the federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley supported the CITES listing, and in recognition of their perilous state determined that black teatfish harvest would not be permitted.

"It's a great win for one of our 10 endangered or vulnerable sea cucumbers, but further policy interventions are needed to ensure other sea cucumber populations don't start teetering toward extinction," he said.

Greater government protection needed

Professor Byrne said effective statutory regulation was essential for protecting sea cucumbers.

"The Great Barrier Reef sea cucumber fishery has long been operating under what's known as a non-regulatoryand therefore a non-bindingPerformance Measurement System.

"This system recommended regular assessment of sea cucumber stocks, but these weren't done, so industry has been operating for decades without any real idea of the impact of their harvests on stock sustainability.

"Going forward it will be essential to have a statutory regulated and enforced policy framework for regular fishery independent stock assessments for all tropical sea cucumber species harvested on the Great Barrier Reef.

"Only then would we be able to assess what is a sustainable harvest and identify species-specific interventions, hopefully avoiding local extinction of these ecologically important sea cucumber species on the Great Barrier Reef.

"This is essential for the health of the reef and provides an important contribution to meeting the Australian and Queensland Governments' Reef 2050 plan, ensuring the UNESCO "at-risk" status of the Great Barrier Reef is avoided, and for Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to meet its latest Sustainable Fisheries Strategy."

Explore further Fish help control crown-of-thorns starfish numbers on Great Barrier Reef

More information: Kennedy Wolfe et al, Overview of the Great Barrier Reef sea cucumber fishery with focus on vulnerable and endangered species, Biological Conservation (2022). Journal information: Biological Conservation Kennedy Wolfe et al, Overview of the Great Barrier Reef sea cucumber fishery with focus on vulnerable and endangered species,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109451
This March 21, 2019, aerial file photo provided by the National Park Service shows the Junction Butte wolf pack in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. Park officials say 23 wolves have been killed by hunters and trappers after roaming out of the park in recent months. Credit: National Park Service via AP, File

A judge restored federal protections for gray wolves across much of the U.S. on Thursday, after their removal in the waning days of the Trump administration exposed the predators to hunting that critics said would undermine their rebound from widespread extermination early last century.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act. The service also didn't adequately consider threats to wolves outside those core areas, White said.

Wildlife advocates had sued the agency last year. The ruling does not directly impact wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and portions of several adjacent states. Those animals remain under state jurisdiction after federal protections in that region were lifted by Congress last decade.

Attorneys for the Biden administration defended the Trump rule that removed protections, arguing wolves were resilient enough to bounce back even if their numbers dropped sharply due to intensive hunting.

At stake is the future of a species whose recovery from near-extinction has been heralded as a historic conservation success. That recovery has brought bitter blowback from hunters and farmers angered over wolf attacks on big game herds and livestock. They contend protections are no longer warranted.

Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz said the agency was reviewing Thursday's decision and offered no further comment.

Wildlife advocacy groups said the judge's order would most immediately put a stop to hunting in the Great Lakes region, where Wisconsin officials had come under criticism after a wolf hunt last year blew past the state's quotas, killing 218 wolves in four days.

"Wolves in the Great Lakes region have a stay of execution," said John Horning with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Wolf attacks on livestock are uncommon but can cause significant economic damage to farmers when their cows or sheep are killed.

And wolves in some places have reduced the size of elk and deer herds, their natural prey. That has stirred anger among hunters who target the big game animals.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Rifle Association and other industry groups had urged the judge not to restore federal protection, keeping the wolves under the control of state officials who allow wolf hunting.

Zippy Duvall, president of the Farm Bureau, said he was "extremely disappointed" with the ruling and that it ignored wolves' recovery beyond government population goals.

This Nov. 7, 2017, file photo, provided by the National Park Service shows a gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. A judge on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, has ordered federal protections for gray wolves across much of the U.S. after they were removed in the waning days of the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said in his ruling that the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to show wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species ActCredit: Jacob W. Frank/National Park Service via AP, File

"It's really frustrating and outrageous that some judge thousands of miles away is suddenly telling us that our own scientific management of the species can't be trusted," said Ed McBroom, a Republican state senator from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. "They're simply forcing citizens to take matters into their own hands."

None of the Great Lakes states with established wolf populationsMichigan, Minnesota and Wisconsinhad scheduled additional wolf hunts prior to the judge's ruling. All three were updating their wolf management programs and officials said that work would continue.

A state judge in Wisconsin in October had blocked a hunt two weeks before it was to begin, responding to a lawsuit that claimed it was illegally scheduled.

In Michigan, where the wolf population numbers about 700, Republican legislators introduced pro-hunting resolutions but no formal proposal was before the wildlife commission that sets hunting seasons.

Before hunting is considered, Michigan officials want their legal status more permanently settled "given the long history of legal challenges to delisting decisions and the resulting shifting status of wolves," said Ed Golder with the state Department of Natural Resources.

The status of northern Rockies wolves was not challenged in the lawsuit decided Thursday. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in September began a separate review of whether protections should be restored for the region's wolves, after Republican state lawmakers in Montana and Idaho passed laws last year intended to drive down wolf numbers by making it easier to kill them.

Under the loosened rules, hunters and trappers primarily in Montana have killed a record 23 wolves that wandered outside Yellowstone National Park this winter. That's sparked public outrage due to the popularity of Yellowstone's wolf packs among tourists who visit from around the world.

Following the killings, Interior Sec. Deb Haaland published an op-ed this week saying federal officials could give northern Rockies wolves emergency protection if the species is put at significant risk.

"Recent laws passed in some Western states undermine state wildlife managers by promoting precipitous reductions in wolf populations, such as removing bag limits, baiting, snaring, night hunting and pursuit by dogsthe same kind of practices that nearly wiped out wolves during the last century," Haaland wrote.

Wolves once ranged most of the U.S. but were wiped out in most places by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns.

A remnant population in the western Great Lakes region has since expanded to some 4,400 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. And more than 2,000 wolves occupy six states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

Yet wolves remain absent across most of their historical range. Wildlife advocates argue that continued protections are needed so they can continue to expand in California, Colorado, Oregon and other states.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike, going back to former President George W. Bush, have sought to remove or scale back federal wolf protections first enacted in 1974.

Explore further Fight over US wolf protections goes before federal judge

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Tonga eruption visible from satellite. Credit: NOAA

The explosion of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Haapai on January 15, released a blast "sound" wave that reverberated through Earth's atmosphere and was recorded around the world by monitoring stationsand smartphones. The devastating eruption produced the most powerful air blast since the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia.

Monitoring systems at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that continuously listen for infrasounddeep, inaudible atmospheric sound produced by extreme natural events, such as volcanoes, asteroid impacts and intense explosionsrecorded the Tonga eruption on traditional infrasound and pressure sensors, as well as with a network of smartphone sensors, showing that smartphones can record large blasts from thousands of miles away.

Monitoring technology advancement

The Infrasound Laboratory, based in the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), is led by Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology researcher Milton Garces who has spent more than 25 years developing technology to monitor these deep sounds.

Until the event in Tonga, the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor over Russia was the largest atmospheric blast recorded in the digital era. The blast intensity of meteor impacts and volcanic eruptions is commonly reported relative to the energy from an equivalent trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosion. At an estimated yield of 500 kilotons of TNT, the Russian meteor blast wave was recorded by conventional geophysical monitoring systems all over Earth. After reviewing the emerging smartphone technology of the time, Garces postulated that on-board microphones and barometer sensors could also record such signals.

"Both smartphone and traditional networks captured unique and extraordinary infrasound measurements in Hawaii from the Tonga eruption," said Garces. "Not only did the smartphones pick up the direct arrival, but also the multiple circumglobal transits of the air wave. Nine years after the Russian meteor, the Tonga blast demonstrated that on-board smartphone sensors can record large blasts thousands of miles away."

Infrasound Laboratory captured signal from Tonga eruption on smartphones via the RedVox App. Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Free RedVox app expands network

In 2014, the U.S. Department of State supported Garces' development of the RedVox Recorder smartphone application to detect infrasound from atmospheric blasts. More recently, in support of the nation's nuclear nonproliferation goals, research funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration has enabled Garces to expand his smartphone technology and enhance capabilities to measure diverse sound and vibration signatures near Earth's surface, as well as in the upper atmosphere and the ocean.

Screenshot of RedVox App recording infrasound from Tonga eruption. Credit: UH ISLA

Teams of scientists, engineers, programmers, students and citizens have contributed to mature the technology and make it available to the public. The free RedVox Infrasound Recorder app is available in the Apple App and Android Play stores, and runs on most modern smartphones.

"Ubiquitous sensors, such as smartphones, can take our infrasound monitoring potential to the next level," said Garces. "For example, from calculations based on pressure data collected via the app and traditional sensors, we can estimate the Tonga blast was larger than Tsar Bomba's, which at 50 megatons was the most powerful nuclear weapon ever tested. It is likely to be closer to the 1883 Krakatoa blast, which weighed in at 200 megatons. That something as evanescent and intangible as infrasound can last for days is remarkable; and we have a free smartphone app that can record these primal signals in the deep end of sound. This was not possible 10 years ago."

Explore further Stratospheric balloons listen in on ground activity
Schematic figure for the superconducting diode effect. The rightward electric current flows without resistance (red arrows), where the electrons flow as Cooper pairs. On the other hand, the leftward electric current flows with resistance (black arrows), where the electrons flow individually. Credit: Daido, Ikeda & Yanase.

In 2020, Prof. Teruo Ono and his colleagues at Kyoto University reported the very first observation of a magnetically controllable, superconducting diode effect in an artificial superlattice. Their findings, published in Nature, paved the way for other studies aimed at moving towards the fabrication of non-dissipative electronic circuits.

Working in collaboration with Prof. Ono, another research team at Kyoto University in Japan recently carried out a study aimed at better understanding the mechanisms underlying the interesting effect observed two years ago. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, hypothesizes the existence of an intrinsic mechanism that could underpin the superconducting diode effect reported in their previous work.

"Our group works in collaboration with Prof. Ono, whose research group performed the pioneering experiment of the bulk superconducting diode effect," Akito Daido, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "The goal of our recent work was to clarify its mechanism, which was unknown before our study."

The superconducting diode effect is a phenomenon that produces a unique and special type of diode. The characterizing feature of this diode is that, inside it, electric resistance vanishes in one direction and remains finite in the other. This feature is referred to as the 'nonreciprocity of the critical current."

"We suggest that a possible mechanism that could cause the superconducting diode effect is the intrinsic superconducting diode effect, where the breaking of Cooper pairs plays an important role," Daido explained. "Our work builds a foundation of the theoretical understanding of the superconducting diode effect."

In their paper, Daido and his colleagues clarified the temperature dependence of the nonreciprocal de-pairing current near the critical temperature in superconducting diodes. They also highlight the significant enhancement of this effect at low temperatures and show that the sign of the nonreciprocal critical current can be reversed when greater magnetic fields are applied to a material.

The researchers finally explore the idea that the intrinsic superconducting diode effect underpins the rich phase diagram and functionalities of noncentrosymmetric superconductors. Ultimately, their study could thus improve the physical understanding of some types of superconducting materials.

"Our work revealed that the superconducting diode effect captures a signature of the exotic superconducting phases and can be used as the promising probe for their detection," Daido said. "This means that the superconducting diode effect is an interesting phenomenon not only from an engineering standpoint, but also from the viewpoint of fundamental physics."

In the future, the recent paper by Daido and his colleagues could inspire other teams to investigate the intrinsic mechanism they proposed. This could ultimately shed more light on the physical underpinnings of the unique effect observed by Prof. Ono and his colleagues.

In their next studies, the researchers plan to examine the effect proposed in their paper further, to further delineate its physics and dynamics. In addition, they would like to try to identify other mechanisms that could underlie the superconducting diode effect.

 2022 Science X Network
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

School segregation has remained a hot-button political issue since Brown vs. Board of Education, a landmark 1954 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the justices ruled that state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. New research from a Penn State College of Education professor sheds light on how school district leaders' use of diversity-focused student assignment policies could disrupt the link between residential and school segregation.

"Yes, it can be harder in places that have high residential segregation (to desegregate schools) but there can be different strategies you can use to try to design policy to decouple the link between residential and school desegregation," said Erica Frankenberg, professor of education (educational leadership and demography) and director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights, which seeks to promote research-based actions that address the complicated nature of racial and ethnic inequality in the 21st century.

In a new article, "Student Assignment Policies and Racial and Income Segregation of Schools, School Attendance Zones and Neighborhoods," Frankenberg and lead author Kendra Taylor, an independent researcher who received a doctorate from the College of Education's Department of Education Policy Studies, examine the relationship between educational and residential segregation in three school districts that each has its own unique approach to student assignment. Using a relatively recently released federal data set, the School Attendance Boundary Survey, along with Census and Common Core of Data, their study examines racial and income segregation at the neighborhood, school zone and school levels in the districts to explore the relationship between districts' diversity policies and school, attendance zone and residential segregation.

"If we saw more integrated schools than the neighborhoods would suggest, we wanted to understand why," said Frankenberg. "We can try to look at the 'why' in ways that I think will hopefully inform for other districts what they might do if they wanted to create more integrated schools."

According to Frankenberg and Taylor, school attendance zones are utilized by virtually every district that has more than one school for each grade level; and districts are mostly responsible for designing school boundaries. Historically, the most common paradigm has been the neighborhood school model, with students attending the school zoned for their neighborhood.

"School attendance zones therefore gain powerful social meaning and can themselves spur residential stratification that furthers both residential and school segregation," Taylor and Frankenberg wrote.

To conduct their study, the researchers selected three large countywide school districts in the southern United States that are currently or have a history of pursuing racial or socioeconomic diversity: Jefferson County, Kentucky, race-conscious diversity policy; Wake County, North Carolina, socioeconomic diversity policy; and Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, no current diversity policy (but formerly pursued racial diversity). All three counties have a predominant racial composition of Black/white students, Frankenberg said, with a growing share of students of color who are not Black in each.

According to the researchers, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has integrated socioeconomic factors into its race-conscious student assignment policy. Charlotte-Mecklenburg in 2009-10 largely assigned students to school by proximity, while at the time of data collection, Wake County drew attendance boundaries to minimize concentration of low-income students and had previously implemented racial desegregation policies.

In 2009-10, according to Frankenberg and Taylor, JCPS implemented a new student assignment policy to address concentration of JCPS's large low-income population. The policy was a new iteration of its longtime integration-focused controlled choice policy, which allowed students to submit school preferences, and the district granted students' choices according to their policy. The method that JCPS employed, Frankenberg said, was drawing six clusters designed to be racially and economically diverse in the entire county. The clusters consisted of subsets of elementary schools and a family got preference if they chose a school within the cluster. If the district had more people apply for a particular cluster than they had room for, the decision on whether to admit the student would be based on racial and socioeconomic characteristics of the student's small neighborhood in order to achieve the district's diversity goals without using the child's racial status as a determining factorwhich, as part of the district's previous plan, had been ruled unconstitutional.

Like JCPS, Wake County also operated a race-based student assignment policy at one time, Frankenberg and Taylor wrote in their paper. At the time in which the researchers collected their data, Wake County Public School System, a countywide district including Raleigh, "operated one of the largest socioeconomic diversity policies in the country." Due to growing concern about the legality of race-conscious assignment policies and because of research indicating the benefits of economically diverse schools, the district had switched to an assignment policy using boundary lines to de-concentrate low-income students in 2000.

"(The district) drew boundaries around schools including some that were noncontiguous to create attendance zones so that they didn't have too many children from low-income families in the same school because of challenges that can mean for schools in terms of having higher achievement," said Frankenberg. "As Wake County's population boomed, this policy required a fair amount of redrawing boundaries to redistribute kids relatively equally in the district."

Unlike the other two districts in the study, Charlotte-Mecklenburg had no diversity policy in place at the time of data collection, having ended its desegregation plan due to a court ruling in 2002. In 200910, the policy was essentially neighborhood school assignment through the use of attendance zones.

After analyzing the data, Frankenberg and Taylor found that in the context of similar residential segregation, educational segregation varies. In JCPS and Wake County Public School System, the two districts with diversity policies, educational segregation was lower than Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which had no diversity policy in place. Even though Charlotte-Mecklenburg is less segregated residentially than the other two districts, Frankenberg said, it still had more segregated schools. Additionally, the link between attendance zone and school segregation was weakest in JCPS, the district operating a race-conscious controlled choice policy.

"This highlights that there can be a complex relationship between the different types of segregation that exist within a school district, including neighborhood, catchment and school, and that comparing segregation at these multiple scales can help us understand the dynamics of segregation in school districts and best target potential solutions," the researchers wrote.

According to Frankenberg, the results of the study suggest that districts have different ways of forming equitable school attendance policies. One option is focusing on catchmentthe area from which schools draw students. School boards typically determine catchments, she added, and Wake County, which drew catchments designed to be less segregated, had lower segregation in its school enrollment.

On the other hand, Frankenberg said, the school choice policy that JCPS implemented also demonstrated success. The district had high levels of segregation in its catchments but lower segregation in school enrollment due to the way students selected into schools.

One surprising result from the study, said Frankenberg, was the success that Wake County had in lowering racial segregation even though the district switched in 2000 from considering race to income in its desegregation plan.

"We were surprised that the way in which they drew catchments in regard to income also were effective with race," she said.

One of the key takeaways of the study, Frankenberg said, is the importance of accurate data on school boundaries and attendance zones, especially since the federal government stopped collecting attendance zone data around 2015. The paper she wrote with Taylor "fueled a current National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to collect attendance zone boundaries so that we can have more information on these boundaries and can look at them over time to see how changing catchment zones may affect some of these relationships."

In support of that effort, CECR has launched the Longitudinal School Attendance Boundaries Study (LSABS), a novel data collection effort that aims to collect longitudinal data on school attendance zone boundaries from as many school districts as possible across the country. Co-led by principal investigator Christopher Fowler, an associate professor of geography at Penn State, and Frankenberg, the project will lead to a database of attendance zone boundaries from 1990 to 2020, which will be made available to the public for research. The project has received funding from the NSF and Penn State.

"We need to support the development of tools like (LSABS) to support districts around the country that are trying to grapple with what they can do to desegregate schools," said Frankenberg. "Federal and state governments and foundations like NSF can help support the collection of data on school attendance zone boundaries so districts can try to learn from each other."

Explore further School choice policies may impact segregation and diversity of public schools

More information: Kendra Taylor et al, Student Assignment Policies and Racial and Income Segregation of Schools, School Attendance Zones, and Neighborhoods, Educational Administration Quarterly (2021). Kendra Taylor et al, Student Assignment Policies and Racial and Income Segregation of Schools, School Attendance Zones, and Neighborhoods,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/0013161X211024720
Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus). Credit: Max Tibby- Snake Catchers Adelaide

New research led by the University of Adelaide has found the first tangible evidence that the ancestors of some of Australia's most venomous snakes arrived by sea rather than by landthe dispersal route of most other Australian reptiles.

In a paper published in Genes, the researchers analyzed the genomes of two Australian elapids (front fanged snakes), a tiger and a brown snake, and compared them to marine and semi-marine elapid sea snakes and Asian elapids.

They inferred that the ancestor of all Australian elapids had accumulated self-replicating and self-mobilizing genes (jumping genes) that were not present in their land relatives but came from another source altogether.

Corresponding author Professor David Adelson from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences says, "While we know all marine and semi-marine sea snakes descended from a common Australian land-based ancestor, the origin of Australian elapids has been debated for some time.

"Some believe their ancestors traveled by land, whereas others hold the more contentious view that a marine or semi-marine ancestor swam here.

"In our research we found a number of genes that were present in the ancestor of all Australian elapids but could not be traced to a snake ancestor; instead they could be traced to similar transposable gene sequences found in marine life, including fish, sea squirts, sea urchins, bivalves and turtles.

"This indicates the marine environment transferred the new genetic material into the snakes and offers new support to the argument that the first Australian elapids swam to our shores. They must have previously acquired the new genetic material during an ancestral period when they were adapted to marine life."

The researchers identified 14 distinct transfer events of the new genetic material from other marine organisms, with eight genes uniquely present in the marine and semi-marine sea snake genomes. In the case of the semi-marine snake genome, the acquired genes accounted for as much as 812 percent of the total genome sequence.

"This meant that we could unambiguously determine the major genetic differences between land and marine/semi-marine snakes were a consequence of migration into a marine environment," said Professor Adelson.

"This is the first time that jumping genes have been used to confirm the evolutionary history of any animal species, and this research definitively proved that the common ancestor of all Australian elapids adapted to a marine environment.

"It may also have made it easier for the subsequent land to marine transition of sea snakes."

Explore further Sea snakes have been adapting to see underwater for 15 million years

More information: James D. Galbraith et al, Horizontal Transposon Transfer and Its Implications for the Ancestral Ecology of Hydrophiine Snakes, Genes (2022). James D. Galbraith et al, Horizontal Transposon Transfer and Its Implications for the Ancestral Ecology of Hydrophiine Snakes,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/genes13020217
Land tenure categories across Australia. Circle size represents the percentage covered by each land tenure. The figure inside or next to each circle is the number of threatened species with over 5% of their distribution overlapping with that land tenure.

Over the last decade, the area protected for nature in Australia has shot up by almost half. Our national reserve system now covers 20% of the country.

That's a positive step for the thousands of species teetering on the edge of extinction. But it's only a step.

What we desperately need to help these species fully recover is to protect them across their range. And that means we have to get better at protecting them on private land.

Our recent research shows this clearly. We found almost half (48%) of all of our threatened species' distributions occur on private freehold land, even though only 29% of Australia is owned in this way.

By contrast, leasehold landlargely inland cattle grazing propertiescovers a whopping 38% of the continent but overlaps with only 6% of threatened species' distributions. And in our protected reserves? An average of 35% of species' distribution.

Why do we need more? Aren't our protected areas enough?

When most of us think of saving species, we think of national parks and other safe refuges.

This is the best known strategy, and efforts to expand our network are laudable. New additions include the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park in northwest New South Wales, Dryandra Woodland National Park in Western Australia, and several Indigenous Protected Areas around Australia, which will ensure greater protection for some species.

But relying on reserves is simply not enough. From the air, Australia is a patchwork quilt of farms, suburbs and fragmented forests. For many species, it has become difficult to find food sources and mates.

Since European colonization began, we have lost at least 100 species, including three species since 2009.

Almost 2,000 plant and animal species are threatened with extinction, with dozens of reptile, frog, butterfly, fish and bird and mammal species set to be lost forever without a step change in resourcing and conservation effort.

What we do on our properties matters to nature

Freehold land is home to almost half our threatened species. Species like the pygmy blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) and giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis) occur almost entirely on privately owned lands.

By contrast, leasehold land overlaps with only 6% of species' distributions. Though that might sound low, species like the highly photogenic Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) rely entirely on leased land.

What about the 1.4% of Australia set aside for logging in state forests? These, too, provide the main habitat for threatened species such as Simson's stag beetle (Hoplogonus simsoni), which has over two-thirds of its distribution in state forests in Tasmania's northwest. Similarly, the Colquhoun Grevillea (Grevillea celata) is known only from a state forest in Victoria's Gippsland region.

Even defense landscovering less than 1% of Australiaare the only home some species have. Take the Cape Range remipede (Kumonga exleyi), known only from an air force bombing range near Exmouth, Western Australia, or the Byfield Matchstick shrub (Comesperma oblongatum), which survives in Queensland's highly biodiverse Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area.

The Indigenous estate across Australia intersects with almost all of these tenure types, and also has critical importance for half of Australian threatened species distributions as shown by previous research.

We need all hands on deck to keep our threatened species persisting

It is late in the day to save Australia's threatened species, as climate change multiplies the challenges they face. If we are to have any real chance at turning the tide, we must do much more.

To staunch the heartbreaking flow of species into extinction means we have to actively manage multiple threats to their existence across many different types of land tenure.

Logging of native forest and some methods of intensive farming continue to endanger many threatened species, particularly those which rely on these land types for their survival.

Over 380 threatened species have part of their range in land set aside for logging. It should be no surprise that logging is a key threat for 64 of these endangered species.

How can we achieve better conservation outside protected areas?

Many landholders are acutely aware of the species they share the land with, and are already taking action to protect them. One key method is the use of land partnerships, in which landowners and custodians work with conservationists.

Take Sue and Tom Shephard, who run a large cattle property on Cape York. Their station is home to some of the last remaining golden-shouldered parrots (Psephotus chrysopterygius). The Shephards are working to bring the species back from the brink through careful management of grazing, fire and feral animals.

Similarly, the work of hundreds of rice growers is helping save the endangered Australian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus). Every year, up to a third of the remaining population descends on New South Wales rice fields to breed. Rice farmers are accommodating these birds by ensuring there is early permanent water, reducing predator numbers and boosting their habitat.

We're seeing successes even on defense force land. The Yampi Sound Training Area in the Kimberley is a biodiversity hotspot. A partnership between the Department of Defense and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy is helping protect these species alongside defense force use. This model could be rolled out across other areas of defense land.

What's stopping more people taking action?

While many landowners may want to help, financial constraints, a lack of knowledge or concerns over implications for resale of the land can be barriers.

If we want to encourage more landowners to directly conserve species on their land, we must begin by understanding what they want. Only then can we design initiatives to help these species, as well as benefit and engage landowners.

What does this look like? Picture financial incentives to join conservation programs. Or workshops where landowners can see the very real benefit to their own land by reducing erosion, keeping rabbit numbers under control, protecting waterways from silt or water-sucking introduced trees, or reducing wind and dust through setting aside land for trees.

If a farmer or landowner can clearly see the benefit for wildlife and for their own use, they are much more likely to take part.

Incentives don't have to be financially based, either. If landowners understand what works and feel capable of action after training, and have technical support and assistance to draw on, they're more likely to start down the path of making their land more friendly to threatened species.

If we really want to protect our species, we must do more to bring in Australia's farmers, landowners and other custodians of land. We cannot rely on protected areas alone. We need to make the land safer for our species most at risk, wherever they occur.

Explore further Protected areas alone won't save all threatened species

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Paris Climate Agreement goal to limit global warming this century to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) over pre-industrial temperatures is still within reach, while apocalyptic, worst-case scenarios are no longer plausible, suggests a new CU Boulder analysis.

Out today in Environmental Research Letters, the new study finds that a subset of climate scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) most in line with recent data and International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts to 2050 project between 3.6 and 5.4 degrees F (2 and 3 C) of warming by 2100, with a median of 3.96 F (2.2 C) degrees. In comparison, some implausible, worst-case scenarios have projected as much as 7.2 or 9 F (4 or 5 C) degrees of warming by the end of the century.

"This is cautiously optimistic good news with respect to where the world is today, compared to where we thought we might be," said lead author Roger Pielke Jr., professor of environmental studies. "The two-degree target from Paris remains within reach."

In order to explore and plan for possible futures, the climate research community uses scenarios: forecasts of how the future might evolve based on factors such as projected greenhouse gas emissions and different possible climate policies.

The most commonly used scenarios, called the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), were developed by the IPCC starting in 2005. The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) that followed, starting in 2010, were meant as an update. Together, the two sets of scenarios inform the IPCC's Fifth and forthcoming Sixth Assessment Reports.

For their study, Pielke Jr. and his co-authors started with a total of 1,311 climate scenarios from which the climate research community selected the 11 RCPs and SSPs. Pielke and colleagues compared the scenarios to the projected 2005-2050 fossil fuel and industry carbon dioxide emissions growth rates most consistent with real-life observations from 2005-2020, and IEA projections to 2050. The number of scenarios which most closely matched up to data from the past 15 years and subsequent emissions projections ranged from less than 100 to almost 500, depending upon the method applied. These scenarios represent what futures are plausible if current trends continue and countries adopt the climate policies they have already announced to reduce carbon emissions.

Additional, more optimistic or pessimistic futures could also exist, the authors said.

"Because we haven't updated our [IPCC] scenarios [for many years], there are also some futures which are plausible but haven't yet been envisioned," said Pielke Jr.

Pathways and plausibility

The analysis joins a growing consensus of independent groups around the world whose work finds that the most extreme climate scenarios are unlikely to occur this century, and mid-range scenarios are more likely. A report from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) released in 2021 also notes that the likelihood of high emissions scenarios is considered low.

Why are these worst-case scenarios now less plausible? Mainly, they were all developed more than a decade ago, and a lot has happened since.

For example, renewable energy has become more affordable and, thus, more common faster than expected, said Matthew Burgess, co-author and fellow in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder.

These fast-moving changes are captured in the scenarios drafted by the IEA, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization, which provides updates each year.

Climate scenarios also tend to overestimate economic growth, especially in poorer countries, according to Burgess, assistant professor of environmental studies.

In addition, while the 2010 scenarios were supposed to serve as updates to the socio-economic assumptions of the initial RCPs, the RCPs have continued to be used heavily by scientists. And the commonly used "worst-case" scenario, RCP8.5 (named for 8.5 watts per meter squared, a measure of solar irradiance) projects an increase of 7.2 to 9 F (4 to 5 C) by 2100.

"It's hard to overstate how much the [climate] research has focused on the four- and five- degree scenarios, RCP 8.5 being one of them. And those are looking less and less plausible by the year," said Burgess.

Relying on not only outdated scenarios, but scenarios which are no longer plausible, for research and policy has big implications for how we think about, act and spend money on climate change issues, the authors said.

"There's a need for these scenarios to be updated more frequently. Researchers may be using a 2005 scenario, but we need a 2022 perspective," said Pielke Jr. "You're going to have better policies if you have a more accurate understanding of the problem, whatever the political implications are for one side or the other."

The authors stress that 3.6 degrees F (2 C) of warming will still take a dramatic toll on the planet, and this is no time for complacency.

"We're getting close to our two-degree target, but we definitely have a lot more work to do if we're going to get to 1.5," said Burgess.

Justin Ritchie at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia is a co-author on this publication.

More information: Roger Pielke Jr et al, Plausible 20052050 emissions scenarios project between 2 C and 3 C of warming by 2100, Environmental Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Roger Pielke Jr et al, Plausible 20052050 emissions scenarios project between 2 C and 3 C of warming by 2100,(2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac4ebf
A rocket startup's big Florida launch debut ended with all four mini satellites destroyed Thursday.

California-based Astra sent its rocket soaring from Cape Canaveral after multiple delays, including a last-second engine shutdown Monday. The 43-foot (13-meter) rocket arced through a clear afternoon sky out over the Atlantic, carrying small research satellites sponsored by NASA.

But shortly after the first-stage booster dropped away, onboard cameras showed the second stage igniting and appearing to tumble. The video cameras went dark less than four minutes into the flight and the airwaves grew silent.

A launch commentator finally confirmed that the payloads failed to reach orbit. Three of the CubeSats were built by universities in Alabama, New Mexico and California, while the fourth was from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. All ended up crashing into the ocean.

Astra CEO and founder Chris Kemp apologized for the loss in a tweet: "I'm with the team looking at data, and we will provide more info as soon as we can."

NASA mission manager Hamilton Fernandez reiterated the space agency's support following the accident.

"Missions like these are critical for developing new launch vehicles in this growing commercial sector," Fernandez said in a statement.

Astra was among three companies picked by NASA in 2020 to launch small satellites. The company received $3.9 million.

Astra was attempting its first launch from Cape Canaveral, following its first successful orbital launch last November from Alaska's Kodiak Island. That test flightcontracted by the U.S. Space Forcefeatured a dummy payload on the second stage.

The company was founded in 2016 in Alameda, California.

Explore further Astra Space scrubs attempt for 1st Cape Canaveral launch

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
University of Chicago researchers discovered how to create and manipulate a quantum phenomenon known as a "domain wall" - shown in this image as the lighter line between two groups of atoms. (Image adapted and color added from experiment data.). Credit: Kai-Xuan Yao

University of Chicago scientists have been able to create a new kind of quantum object at will in the laboratory: "domain walls."

The discovery can help researchers better understand exotic quantum particlesand could suggest avenues for new technology in the future, such as quantum electronics or quantum memory.

Published Feb. 2 in the journal Nature, the research was conducted in Prof. Cheng Chin's lab, which studies novel quantum systems and the physics that underlie them. In one of their experiments, the UChicago scientists noticed an intriguing occurrence in atoms at extremely low temperatures. Under the right conditions, groups of atoms can segregate into domains, and a "wall" forms at the junction where they met. This domain wall behaved like an independent quantum object.

"It's kind of like a sand dune in the desertit's made up of sand, but the dune acts like an object that behaves differently from individual grains of sand," said Ph.D. student Kai-Xuan Yao, the first author of the study.

Scientists had glimpsed these domain walls in quantum materials, but previously, they couldn't reliably generate and analyze them. Once the UChicago physicists created the recipe to make and closely study the walls, they observed surprising behaviors.

"We have a lot of experience in controlling atoms," said Chin, who is appointed in the Department of Physics, the James Franck Institute and the Enrico Fermi Institute. "We know if you push atoms to the right, they will move right. But here, if you push the domain wall to the right, it moves left."

These domain walls are part of a class known as "emergent" phenomena, which means that they appear to follow new laws of physics as a result of many particles acting together as a collective.

Chin's lab studies these emergent phenomena, believing they can shed light on a set of laws called dynamical gauge theory, which describes other emerging phenomena in materials as well as in the early universe; the same phenomena likely held together the first particles as they clumped together to form galaxies, stars, and planets.

Breakthroughs in this field could also enable new quantum technology. Scientists are interested in cataloging these behaviors in part because they can become the basis of future technologyfor example, the basis of modern GPS stems from scientists in the 1950s trying to test Einstein's theory of relativity.

"There may be applications for this phenomenon in terms of making programmable quantum material or quantum information processorit can be used to create a more robust way to store quantum information or enable new functions in materials," said Chin. "But before we can find that out, the first step is to understand how to control them."

Explore further The best of both worlds: Combining classical and quantum systems to meet supercomputing demands

More information: Kai-Xuan Yao et al, Domain-wall dynamics in BoseEinstein condensates with synthetic gauge fields, Nature (2022). Journal information: Nature Kai-Xuan Yao et al, Domain-wall dynamics in BoseEinstein condensates with synthetic gauge fields,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04250-3
Artistic rendition of isolated spins on hexagonal boron nitride under an optical microscope Credit: Qiushi Gu

Researchers have identified a two-dimensional material that could be used to store quantum information at room temperature.

Quantum memory is a major building block to be addressed in the building of a quantum internet, where quantum information is securely stored and sent via photons, or particles of light.

Researchers from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with colleagues from UT Sydney in Australia, have identified a two-dimensional material, hexagonal boron nitride, that can emit single photons from atomic-scale defects in its structure at room temperature.

The researchers discovered that the light emitted from these isolated defects gives information about a quantum property that can be used to store quantum information, called spin, meaning the material could be useful for quantum applications. Importantly, the quantum spin can be accessed via light and at room temperature.

The finding could eventually support scalable quantum networks built from two-dimensional materials that can operate at room temperature. The results are reported in the journal Nature Communications.

Future communication networks will use single photons to send messages around the world, which will lead to more secure global communication technologies.

Computers and networks built on the principles of quantum mechanics would be both far more powerful and more secure than current technologies. However, in order to make such networks possible, researchers need to develop reliable methods of generating single, indistinguishable photons as carriers of information across quantum networks.

"We can send information from one place to another using photons, but if we're going to build real quantum networks, we need to send information, store it and send it somewhere else," said Dr. Hannah Stern from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, the study's co-first author, along with Qiushi Gu and Dr. John Jarman. "We need materials that can hold onto quantum information for a certain amount of time at room temperature, but most current material platforms we've got are challenging to make and only work well at low temperatures."

Hexagonal boron nitride is a two-dimensional material that is grown by chemical vapor deposition in large reactors. It's cheap and scalable. Recent efforts have revealed the presence of single photon emitters and the presence of a dense ensemble of optically accessible spins, but not individually isolated spin-photon interfaces operating under ambient conditions.

"Usually, it's a pretty boring material that's normally used as an insulator," said Stern, who is a Junior Research Fellow at Trinity College. "But we found that there are defects in this material that can emit single photons, which means it could be used in quantum systems. If we can get it to store quantum information in spin, then it's a scalable platform."

Stern and her colleagues set up a hexagon boron nitride sample near a tiny gold antenna and a magnet of set strength. By firing a laser at the sample at room temperature, they were able to observe lots of different magnetic field-dependent responses on the light being emitted from the material.

The researchers found that when they shone the laser on the material, they were able to manipulate the spin, or inherent angular momentum, of the defects, and use the defects as a way of storing quantum information.

"Typically, the signal is always the same in these systems, but in this case, the signal changes depending on the particular defect we're studying, and not all defects show a signal, so there is a lot to still discover," said co-first author Qiushi Gu. "There's a lot of variation across the material, like a blanket draped over a moving surfaceyou see lots of ripples, and they're all different."

Professor Mete Atature, who supervised the work, adds "now that we have identified optically accessible isolated spins at room temperature in this material, the next steps will be to understand their photophysics in detail and explore the operation regimes for possible applications including information storage and quantum sensing. There will be a stream of fun physics following this work."

Explore further Physicists describe photons' characteristics to protect future quantum computing

More information: Hannah L. Stern et al, Room-temperature optically detected magnetic resonance of single defects in hexagonal boron nitride, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Hannah L. Stern et al, Room-temperature optically detected magnetic resonance of single defects in hexagonal boron nitride,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28169-z
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Consider the Biden administration's central climate goal: cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions 50%-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, then zero out emissions by 2050.

The first part of that goal comes due in just eight years. But the starting point was 17 years ago. In fact, 2005 was also the baseline for the Obama administration's goal of cutting those climate-changing emissions 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

Why not use 2020? The simplified answer is, well, simple. The U.S. government can place its climate goals within closer reach if it bases its target on what happened in 2005 rather than subsequent years.

Although climate models often report data in five-year increments and the U.S. baseline of 2005 has roots in climate legislation that Congress considered in 2009, the year is a useful tool in climate messaging, empowering politicians to highlight America's recent emissions drop. It's also useful to politicians who would delay climate steps and criticize China's carbon output.

This is all possible because U.S. emissions peaked in 2005, the year before China's emissions exceeded America's.

By picking 2005 as the baseline for its climate goal, the Biden administration made its climate target more reachable than if it started with a different year when emissions were lower. A year with lower emissions would require deeper cuts to meet the same percentage goal.

"The math works in favor of the U.S. target," Rachel Cleetus, policy director of the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said by phone.

"2005 is typically the reference for not only the U.S. but other countries because it was a high emissions year across the board," said Columbia University researcher Harrison Fell. "That was the period where you started to have pretty high natural gas prices, and that means more coal generation."

After hydraulic fracturing expanded domestically in the 2000s, utilities turned to gas. "Big coal to gas switching in our electricity sector. That's the major driver of those post-2005 emissions reductions," Fell said.

Republicans and industry representatives often point to 2005 and the downward emissions slide as evidence that federal climate steps are unnecessary, despite contrary scientific findings.

On the House floor in June, Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, said he opposed methane rules because emissions were trending lower. "If the argument is about addressing climate change, then we really need to acknowledge the fact that the United States has been a global leader in emissions reduction since 2005."

'Shale revolution'

After U.N. climate talks in November, Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, made similar comments. "We are told that we must dismantle the American oil and gas production to save the planet, but in 2019, U.S. harmful emissions were 13% less than they were in 2005," Pfluger said. "No other country has cut their footprint more in that short amount of time. And what is responsible for this?" Pfluger asked. "It's the American shale revolution."

Democrats use the line too. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa., touted gas during a 2020 floor debate.

"Some have opposed the continuation of natural gas drilling simply because it is a fossil fuel, and I ask them: Who gets credit for the reduced carbon emissions over the last 15 years?" he asked. "Natural gas has made a bigger difference than anything."

It's true that phasing out coal for gas lowered emissions and bought time to tackle the climate crisis. It's also true that natural gas includes methane, which is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and the gas-supplants-coal argument point of view distorts the broader picture.

Although America's annual emissions overall have gently declined since 2005, its emissions increased more than 6% last year after a pandemic-driven dip in 2020, Congress does not appear close to passing significant climate legislation and the U.S. is responsible for about 25% of all the carbon dioxide emitted since the 1700s, according to figures from Our World in Data, a project of Global Change Data Lab, a British charity.

Depending on the type, greenhouse gasses can take months, years, decades, centuries or millennia to leave the atmosphere, making the accumulation of heat-trapping gasses around Earth, not year-to-year swings, the key metric to follow.

"CO 2 is a stock pollutant. So when that stuff goes up, it stays up," Fell said.

The greater the emissionsatmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide linger at 416 parts per million, the highest concentration in at least 800,000 yearsthe closer to irretrievable climate damage the world lurches. Meeting climate targets set out in a 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change means deep cuts soon.

"We have to be on a trajectory to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. When you get to zero, the base year you compare it to doesn't matter anymore," Dan Lashof, director of the World Resources Institute, United States, said by phone.

Cleetus said the world will miss its global goal unless big emitters such as Australia, China, Japan and the United States hit their targets.

'Vast gulf'

"It's pretty clear from things like the U.N. Emissions Gap Report," Cleetus said, citing a study on climate pledges, "that there's still a vast gulf between what countries are offering and what is going to be needed."

American politicians are not alone in setting baselines that place their nation's climate goals more easily within reach.

The EU's climate target names its baseline as 1990, when emissions from the bloc peaked. Japan (2013), Russia (1990) and South Korea (2018) also use their base years as the same years domestic emissions peaked.

Some countries don't use baselines. China's goal aims for carbon neutrality "before 2060." South Africa's plan describes a target range to reach by 2030. Thailand operates under a "business as usual" baseline, with a vague goal of lowering emissions from historical levels.

"Having good benchmarks against which you're looking at what shift you're making is really important," Surabi Menon, a climate scientist at ClimateWorks Foundation, said in an interview. Menon, who worked on the IPCC report that won its authors the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, said firm dates provide clarity.

"At least we know we can compare. You can normalize everything," she said. "You can look at that shift of which countries are ambitious, which are not."

Experts wrestle over how to measure climate legacy and ambition.

National emissions. Global emissions. Per capita emissions. Carbon prices. Baselines. They're all useful yet flawed metrics.

"At some level, what you really want to do is sit there and ask, 'Well, how hard is the country trying?'" said Billy Pizer, a researcher at the nonpartisan Resources for the Future. "I think of effort as cost, and that's really what you would like to see."

Kate Larsen, a U.S. negotiator during the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, said baselines are important to mark when a nation gets serious on climate.

Still, they're flimsy unless governments make deep cuts, Larsen said. "We know that so much of this needs to happen within national governments, and however they can make that happen is what's important," she said. "I care a lot less about these base years."

2022 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The second weekend of the monthlong Lake George Winter Carnival will host a number of outdoor events. But if you prefer to stay indoors, the Park Theater, Strand Theatre and Fort Salem Theater are all hosting staged musical performances this weekend. Its also Valentines Day weekend, so head to the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls to find a last-minute gift for your sweetheart.

Winter Carnival Weekend 2

LAKE GEORGE  The second weekend of the monthlong Lake George Winter Carnival will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday with an ATV Poker Run. Other events throughout the day include a barbecue cook-off, an ice-diving demonstration, smores and fireworks. Sundays festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with sanctioned car races on the lake. The Sunday Warm-Up Keg Toss will take place at 2 p.m.

Both Saturday and Sunday will feature bonfires on the beach, cornhole games, wood-carving demonstrations, childrens activities, pony rides and the LG Dogs Got Talent Contest. A Polar Plunge will take place at 3 p.m. both days.

All events are weather and ice permitting and subject to change. Attendees should adhere to all current COVID-19 guidelines.

Buy pre-sale tickets for food-related events at https://lgwintercarnival.ticketleap.com/. For a full schedule of carnival events, go to www.facebook.com/LGWinterCarnival/.

Winter Birding Walk

CAMBRIDGE  Join Sue Van Hook from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday for a Winter Birding Walk at the Cambridge Community Forest, 15 Rockside Drive. Binoculars are highly recommended. There is a suggested donation of $5 to Agricultural Stewardship Association for this program to benefit the Fund for the Forest.

Parking is available in designated lots only. Do not park on the street near the forest entrance.

Candlelight Snowshoe & Ski

GRANVILLE  Bring a date for a candlelit snowshoe and ski adventure at Hicks Orchard from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at 18 Hicks Road. Follow a trail with more than 200 luminaries in the orchard at night, then order food and drinks from the heated barn and historic 1932 tasting room. Bring a blanket and enjoy all-you-can-drink hot cider on the porch. Small groups are welcome.

Tickets cost $7.50 and are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-weekend-candlelight-snowshoe-ski-at-hicks-orchard-tickets-255497960277.

Gettin Over That Rainbow

SALEM  Janelle Farias Sando stars in Getting Over That Rainbow, a cabaret for Valentines Day, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fort Salem Theater, 11 Broadway. The New York City-based Janelle Farias Sandos vocals and storytelling skills have taken her across the country, starring in intimate cabarets, large-scale musicals and world-premiere works.

A table of four costs $140. Buy tickets at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35567/production/1101450?performanceId=10977686. Masks are required and proof of vaccination for guests age 5 and older.

Damn Tall Buildings

GLENS FALLS  The Park Theater will host bluegrass group Damn Tall Buildings at 8 p.m. Saturday at 14 Park St. The four members of Damn Tall Buildings  guitarist/lead vocalist Max Capistran, bassist/lead vocalist Sasha Dubyk, fiddler/vocalist Avery Ballotta and banjoist/vocalist Jordan Alleman  blend elements of bluegrass, blues, roots-rock and vintage swing to create a high-energy sound. Since their busking days, theyve made three albums: 2014s Cure-All, 2015s self-titled, and their forthcoming third album, Dont Look Down.

Tickets cost $20-$22. Tickets can be purchased at www.parktheatergf.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Valentines Day One Stop Shop

GLENS FALLS  The Shirt Factory is hosting a Valentines Day One Stop Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 71 Lawrence St. Purchase flowers, gifts, jewelry, chocolates and more from guest vendors and shops.

The Day the Music Died

HUDSON FALLS  The Strand Theatre will host The Day the Music Died, a tribute to Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, with the Bob Bates Band at 3 p.m. Sunday at 210 Main St. The three great rock n roll pioneers were lost 63 years ago in a plane crash.

The Bob Bates Band will host the show with all of the great songs of the stars. On stage will be Bates, Mike Craner, Sten Isachsen, and Sal Viola with guests Joann Sifo and Dakota Bates.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission; $10 for seniors; $5 for students. For more information, go to www.mystrandtheater.org.

Gretta Hochsprung writes features and hometown news. She can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com.

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ATLANTIC CITY  The city is pursuing a deal to bring a $2.7 billion auto-centric development to Bader Field, its largest undeveloped tract of land at about 141 acres, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Friday.

Under my tenure, Bader Field will get done, Small said at the Metropolitan Business and Citizens Associations annual winter luncheon at Caesars Atlantic City.

Called Renaissance at Bader Field and proposed by DEEM Enterprises, the project would include hundreds of condominiums along the intracoastal waterway.

It also would include a high-rise hotel/event space, retail space along Albany Avenue, educational facilities to teach people to become mechanics and a Formula One track winding through the middle where those who own high-performance vehicles can drive them at race speed, according to illustrations shown in a slide show.

In his hour-and-a-half-long State of the City speech, Small said there is no signed deal yet, but in all his years of looking at ideas for the historic site, this one excites him most.

Bader Field was one of the nations first airports. It closed in 2006, after 86 years of operation.

Atlantic City's Mayor Langford starts sharing plans for Bader Field Editor's Note: How would you re-develop Atlantic City's Bader Field? Casinos, condos, recrea

Its the most credible project and proposal this city has seen for Bader Field, Small said. We are vetting this project and others with the state of New Jersey.

The idea was first broached to City Council in March 2021.

Last year, Small announced a trucking school would lease Bader Field on a short-term basis as a site to teach people to qualify for commercial driving licenses, but it has yet to start. Small said he expects it to begin in the summer.

DEEM filled four tables at the luncheon with people involved with the project, including Erick Feitshans, of Los Angeles, and Michael Binder, who said he was based in Pennsylvania.

Feitshans said there are four major investors involved. Of the two not in attendance, one is from Los Angeles and the other is from the Atlantic City area, he said.

Its a redevelopment project, so it involves cleanup, Feitshans said. We are dealing with the city and state. Its a long-term thing.

Bader Field development deadline passes without any bids made From Press staff reports

Bader Field needs to be raised about 6 feet to meet flood regulations, city officials have said.

Feitshans said the group has not yet negotiated a price for the land with the city.

During Smalls address, the audience seemed impressed with the Bader Field suggestion but saved its biggest applause for a promise made earlier in his speech to synchronize the traffic lights on Atlantic and Pacific avenues.

Currently, drivers can get caught repeatedly by red lights, and sometimes in frustration drivers speed through them.

Small also got strong applause when he announced a clean and safe zero tolerance policy to eliminate vagrancy and panhandling on Atlantic and Pacific avenues, and particularly around Renaissance Plaza on Atlantic Avenue.

We are going to hire civilians to assist the Police Department, Small said, to clear the way so all the residents who want to go there can do so in peace.

Helicopter operators want Atlantic City landing site ATLANTIC CITY  Paul Dudley would fly his helicopter here at the behest of high-rolling clie

He did not describe how the civilian corps would clear the area.

In a video Small showed during his presentation on the Bader Field proposal, he calls the city a destination for the auto enthusiast, with retail and dining, a Boardwalk and structures built for resiliency to minimize the strain on the natural environment.

Small also said the taxes it would pay would significantly lower the citys overall property tax rate.

He described a variety of new developments coming in 2022, including an enlarged Kelseys restaurant near the current location on Pacific Avenue and the redevelopment of the former John Brooks Recovery Center into 53 residential units on Pacific Avenue, with 23 apartments and 7,000 square feet of retail in a new building on site.

There were a variety of plans for more market-rate housing in the Orange Loop district, and coming up soonest is the opening in May of an indoor go-kart facility at the Showboat hotel, Small said.

The city also plans to renovate the City Hall courtyard with a fountain and new atrium entry, Small said.

This is the best spot weve been in in a long time fiscally and development-wise, Small said. Were not done yet. We cant be an international destination until we get our house in order.

The MBCA is celebrating its 30th year as a community and business organization, said community outreach representative Gary Hill.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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OCEAN CITY  Members of City Council on Thursday gave an enthusiastic endorsement to a proposal to create a chaplain position for the Police Department.

The position would not be paid, and would serve under the command of the chief of police. They would have no rank in the department.

Council members unanimously introduced an ordinance establishing the position. The ordinance allows for one or more chaplains to be appointed by the mayor, with the recommendation of the chief. Terms are for three years, but chaplains could be reappointed or dismissed at the recommendation of the chief.

Council members said the proposal could offer officers much needed support.

I am really for moving this forward, said Council member Karen Bergman.

Given the climate today, I think its a great idea, said Council member Keith Hartzell.

Ocean City police chief eyes restructured department OCEAN CITY  The Ocean City Police Department hires more seasonal officers each summer than 

The ordinance came at the recommendation of police Chief Jay Prettyman, who said he is excited about its potential.

Its not new to policing, he said, but it is new to Ocean City.

The state Attorney Generals Office has mandated resiliency training for law enforcement officers throughout New Jersey, requiring departments offer emotional and psychological support for the unique stresses of police work. Its the first such requirement in the nation.

Part of that is giving police officers opportunities and options of counseling and outreach support. As I approach the resiliency program, one spoke of the wheel is faith-based support groups, Prettyman said Friday morning.

He does not have anyone in mind for appointment, he said. Once the ordinance gets a final vote at an upcoming meeting, Prettyman said, the department can get to work on specifics of the program.

The ordinance indicates the chaplain could be called upon for incident debriefings, accompanying officers to death notifications and any other duties.

Ocean City to offer Citizens' Police Academy OCEAN CITY  Residents are being offered an inside look at police operations via a Citizens

Im not really certain what this program is going to grow into. I want to allow it to take on a mind of its own and let it grow as needed, Prettyman said. Baby steps first. First we have to get the program developed.

Chaplains can help officers and their families deal with stress management, assist with community policing or just be there when someone wants to talk, according to Gary Holden, who helped found The Police Chaplain Program.

Its not really a religious thing at all, even though chaplains are clergy, Holden said Friday. Its more crisis intervention.

He said police chaplains are primarily there for the officers and their loved ones, but are also involved in the communities the departments serve. In most cases, he said, the chaplains are already involved in the communities through their ministries.

What I always say is if youre helping the department, youre helping the community, and if youre helping the community, youre helping the department, Holden said.

He volunteered as a chaplain in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, spending two days a week near the wreckage of the World Trade Center for months. He was involved in youth ministry and served as pastor of the non-denominational Trinity Baptist Church in Vineland.

Lower Township Police Announce New Police Chaplains Program The Lower Township Police Department recently formalized and improved its previous Police Ch

Later, he reached out to the Vineland Police Department about creating a chaplain program there, he said. Since then, police departments in Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Pleasantville and several other departments have created chaplain programs.

This is growing so rapidly. Were all over the country, Holden said.

Lower Township announced a chaplain program in 2021, swearing in four chaplains in August.

In 2020, Egg Harbor Township swore in seven chaplains, while Atlantic City has a robust chaplain program, led by the Rev. Eric McCoy. Holden said the Chaplain Program encourages departments to have more than one chaplain.

The program presented chaplain training in Cape May County last summer, he said.

Usually, the chaplain is provided with a uniform shirt.

Northfield commemorates 20th anniversary of 9/11 with dedication NORTHFIELD  The peaceful, sunny morning was not lost on the more than 100 that gathered in 

We encourage chaplains to go in generic. We say dont wear any clerical garb, he said. The program is nondenominational, he said, and has trained chaplains from a variety of Christian denominations as well as Jewish and Muslim chaplains.

It really boils down to who wants to serve, Holden said. Theres no discrimination at all.

The Ocean City ordinance requires that chaplains be trained and have police chaplain credentials, and be a member in good standing of the New Jersey State Chaplains Association.

The ordinance still faces a public hearing and final vote at an upcoming meeting before taking effect.

Its the right time, and we have the ability to do this, Prettyman said. It should be a great addition to the support were bringing to each of our officers.

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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Principal Dr. Heidi Bergener with artist Rebekah Kobs in front of the recently completed mural at Village Elementary School. Kobs donated her time, and the PTO donated the materials. Kobs will begin work on a second mural this spring.
WILDWOOD CREST  With the local Zoning Board set to hear plans to transform a beachfront motel into condominiums, several people have organized to try to save a portion of the building.

The Oceanview Motel at 7201 Ocean Ave. sits across Rambler Road from the boroughs three-block Sunrise Park along the beachfront. It is the latest of the mid-century motels on Five Mile Beach set to be transformed.

Zoning officials say it likely will be discussed at the March board meeting.

Local preservationists say they have no issue with transforming the building into condos. They just want to save the distinctive front of the building on Rambler Road.

Those groups believe the lobby of the building is significant and worthy of preservation. The organizations plan to make their case to the Zoning Board at its meeting Tuesday, set for 5 p.m. at the Crest Pier, 5800 Ocean Ave.

The loss of the lobby would be a major loss of Wildwood Crests identity. It is one of the last remaining examples of this architecture in the state, reads a statement from the organizations, which include the Wildwood Historical Society, the Doo Wop Preservation League and Wildwood Video Archive.

Montreal in Cape May sold to new LLC CAPE MAY  An incredible family story continues in this Victorian seaside city, but for the 

The building needs work before it can reopen to customers.

The existing building has several outstanding code violations, according to Richard Allen, the boroughs construction code official. It operated last summer, he said, but even then, several rooms were ordered closed because a walkway was deemed unsafe for pedestrians. That means the rooms did not have access to the required emergency exit route.

Things appear to have deteriorated since then. This winter, a portion of the lobby roof collapsed in the heavy snow, Allen said. There are other structural issues, as well as health and safety violations, he said, and he is concerned about the steel support beams holding up the lobby. He said there appears to be some rust and other problems.

Aside from the damaged section of the lobby, there are other issues with the building that are visible from the outside, from peeling paint to rusted support beams. Lounge chairs remain by the pool, which does not appear to be covered, and rusted steel and a section of collapsed wall can be seen near the beach.

Allen said he would want a complete engineers report and structural improvements made to the building before he would allow it to operate this summer.

If the Zoning Board approves the application, the proposed project would address those issues, Allen said.

The motel is owned by the Patitucci family, according to borough officials. The application was submitted by Ocean Seven Farragut Condo, led by James Mikula.

Attempts to contact Mikula for comment were unsuccessful. According to Allen, Mikula has been involved in several projects in the Wildwoods, including the renovations of former motels.

Plans call for the Oceanview to be converted into 55 condominium units, with a portion of the building reconstructed and a portion demolished and replaced with new construction. According to plans on file at Borough Hall, the retro-futuristic lobby is among the sections to be demolished, with four stories of condos to take its place.

The plans also call for the reconstruction of the pool deck.

The property was built in 1963 as the Admiral Motel, with several architectural elements of the time that are now described as doo-wop.

It featured a blast-off roof which borrowed heavily from the futuristic airport terminal designs popular at the time, reads the statement from the preservation groups. The lobby is a rare survivor on the island once filled with similar mid-century motels (the Satellite, the Fantasy, etc.) that have since met the wrecking ball.

Bathhouses once covered the Jersey Shore. Now there are just a few left. NORTH WILDWOOD  It was a typical June Sunday at the Jersey Shore, and as the sun began to s

Joey Contino of the website Wildwood Video Archive and the Doo Wop Preservation League maintains the lobby is a significant piece of architectural history. He said the organizations would help secure grants to repair and preserve the iconic lobby.

Theres a way we could all win on this, he said. We want the developer to make their money. Theyre making the island look great. We dont want to punish them.

The proposal would include construction of condominiums on an adjacent lot.

The 1960s were booming in the Wildwoods, with rock n roll in the packed nightclubs and a surge in modern-looking new motels. Close to 60 years later, those buildings can now be considered historic, eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The New Jersey Comprehensive Statewide Historic Preservation Plan lists the doo-wop motels of the Wildwoods as an example of new historic sites, along with the U.S. Army Nike missile sites from the Cold War.

The architectural style has gotten notice, with features in The Smithsonian Magazine and elsewhere highlighting the Wildwoods as its natural habitat.

Wildwood motels at limping Jersey Shore first to welcome guests WILDWOOD CREST  Pat Visalli paced the patio near the pool of his Fleur de Lis Beach Resort 

But local preservationists say the style is going fast. They say Wildwood Crest has the largest collection of that style of motel on the East Coast, but said 90 of the mid-century motels have been demolished since 2004.

The Oceanview Motel is a rarity in Wildwood these days. There used to be motels all over the place with huge, asymmetrical, glass-enclosed lobbies, said Jackson Betz of the Wildwood Historical Society.

He cited several examples that have been demolished, saying the Oceanview is a rare survivor.

We owe it to posterity to keep the Oceanview Motels lobby standing, even if the building isnt used as a motel anymore, he said.

The area around the lobby is blocked by a chain link fence with plywood covering the glass where the roof section collapsed. Extensive renovations are underway at several neighboring properties this winter.

The buildings a mess. We get a lot of concerns about the structure, Mayor Don Cabrera said. He did not comment on the plans, or the preservation efforts, but seemed happy to see the lobby removed.

Nothings built to last forever, Cabrera said.

He said the borough has been investing big into that neighborhood, with a new childrens playground, a spray park in operation in the summer and more plans for improvements.

From my standpoint, we are investing a lot of money in this hub, Cabrera said. We want a really nice structure there. Right now, it doesnt match what were trying to accomplish there.

A recent real estate listing had the property for sale at $12.9 million but indicated it was no longer on the market.

It is the best location possible in Wildwood Crest, the listing reads.

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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Members of Quad Cities Interfaith held signs at Wednesday's Davenport City Council meeting with messages stating "No more stalling" and "We need relief now."

The group of roughly 10 immigrant workers urged Davenport aldermen to provide pandemic relief funds for undocumented workers excluded from federal stimulus checks. The group made a similar request last week of the Scott County Board of Supervisors to assist low-wage essential workers excluded from previous relief programs.

While millions of Americans received stimulus checks during the pandemic, thousands of immigrant workers in Iowa did not, according to the group.

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data, Quad Cities Interfaith estimates at least 1,700 essential workers within Davenport were excluded from stimulus checks, child care payments, hazard pay and unemployment insurance.

"As essential workers, we risk our health and safety every day to keep society running and to make sure everyone receives the things they need to survive  like food, shelter, education, transportation and health care," the group wrote in a letter delivered to the Davenport City Council. "But in the last two years, too many value-producing front-line workers have been excluded from" federal assistance, slowing down economic recovery.

Among those front-line workers excluded from stimulus checks is Davenport resident Gilberto Torres. Torres, who works in construction, contracted COVID-19 but was told to keep going to work.

"For four weeks I was sick to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed," he said during the meeting, speaking in Spanish with an interpreter. "Even though my health was compromised, I still managed to make it out."

Laura Monica Castel of Davenport works as a house cleaner. She said she got COVID-19 and had to be hospitalized. Once out of the hospital, while not still fully recovered, she went back to work in order to pay rent and bills.

Emil Santiago, who lives in Rock Island and works in Bettendorf, stressed many people working jobs deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic have varying immigration statuses. And while they may not be U.S. citizens, they still suffer financially, emotionally and physically from the pandemic.

"I pay taxes like any American citizen ... but was excluded and not eligible to receive the federal pandemic relief stimulus checks," despite working in person throughout the entire pandemic, Santiago said in Spanish through an interpreter.

The group requested Davenport aldermen allocate $11 million in COVID-19 relief money to provide assistance to workers who were ineligible for previous relief programs, including undocumented workers.

Of those funds, the groups requested $5.5 million in direct cash assistance in the form of stimulus checks in the amount of $3,200 for every low-wage worker in Davenport excluded from previous rounds of pandemic relief. The group also requested $5.5 million in funding to local businesses to provide premium pay to essential workers making less than $75,000 per individual.

Quad Cities Interfaith claims the $11 million investment would produce $13.2 million in economic stimulus to the local economy, plus $704,000 in sales tax revenue, based on analysis by the Economic Policy Institute and Common Good Iowa.

Since last year, essential and excluded immigrant workers have been organizing into core teams at their Hispanic Catholic parishes in Iowa City, West Liberty, Muscatine, Columbus Junction and Washington. The teams formed a new regional organization called Escucha Mi Voz, a spin-off of the Iowa City Catholic Worker. LULAC and Catholic Worker House of Iowa City, a nonprofit that houses undocumented immigrants, are two of the 16 groups that lobbied for the Excluded Workers Fund.

Iowa City and Johnson County have contributed $1.5 million to $2 million to such a fund. And other states, like California and New York, have passed similar measures that allow workers excluded from federal funds to receive direct payments from the state and municipalities.

No decision on the group's request has been made by either Davenport aldermen or the Scott County Board of Supervisors.

The Davenport City Council adopted a spending plan in July of last year outlining strategic projects and priorities to be funded by the nearly $41 million in ARPA funds awarded to the city. The plan includes funding for transitional housing, neighborhood revitalization, youth and family support, flood mitigation, violence intervention and prevention, sewer connectivity, and library and park enhancements.

"I listened and certainly understand the issue, but from a standpoint from the city's perspective last summer we sat down and compiled a list of 58 different options and projects," Alderwoman Marion Meginnis, Ward 3, said after the meeting.

"We ranked those and picked what we thought were the most important ones. And I don't see us changing that at this point," said Meginnis, whose ward includes some of the poorest areas of the city. "This council voted for project-based things, and I don't see that changing."

Meginnis said she was "pleased with the list of the people" who would benefit from the list of city projects funded by federal COVID-19 rescue dollars, noting much of the investment would be targeted to low- to moderate-income census tracts.

Davenport Mayor Mike Matson thanked the group after the meeting for sharing their comments with city officials.

Matson did not immediately return a message Thursday morning seeking further comment on the group's request.

-- Dave Hotle of the Muscatine Journal contributed to this article

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The city of Princetons long-term goal of putting in a bike trail through the city is getting a leg up with a grant that would pay for most of the engineering costs.

The $187,674 grant, from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program that stems from federal monies, area leaders hope will keep plans rolling for a Mississippi River Trail segment through Princeton.

The Mississippi River Trail is a designated bike and pedestrian path along the shores of the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana. In the Quad-Cities, the trail is connected through most of Davenport and Bettendorf with another section in Buffalo on the Iowa side. In Illinois the MRT connects Cordova through Rock Island.

In Scott County, the trail ends at 62nd and State Street in Bettendorf. For more than a decade, it has been a priority of the Bi-State Regional Commission and local governments to connect the Mississippi River Trail through Scott County.

Princeton's was one of two projects awarded funding by the Quad Cities MPO Transportation Police Committee. This is the first time the committee awarded money for just engineering.

They (the committee members) know how hard it is for any city to pay for engineering expenses, but specifically for small towns like Princeton, said Christina McDonough, Princeton Recreation Trails president and Princeton City Council member So, they were willing to make an exception for us, and it's given us the momentum that we need to propel everything forward.

The grant covers 80% of the cost of engineering services, and the nonprofit organization started in 2019, Princeton Recreation Trails, is fundraising to cover remaining costs not covered by the grant or the city. Then, the engineering must be done within five years, McDonough said. The nonprofit is hosting its annual Princeton Dog Scamper April 8 to raise funds for the city's portion of the trail engineering.

In 2020, Princeton trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service and Iowa State University to collect input from about 300 Princeton residents and Virgil Grissom Elementary School students on concept designs for the trail.

Results showed residents wanted an off-road path along Highway 67 with a loop along Princetons riverfront and connectors to the trail throughout the city, McDonough said.

The long-term goals for the region are to connect the Mississippi River Trail from Clinton County through Scott County. Each locale the trail goes through would be responsible for building its portion of the trail: unincorporated Scott County, LeClaire and Princeton.

The Princeton Mississippi River Trail project has been something that a variety of residents over the course of 10-plus years has really been interested in bringing the Mississippi River Trail through our town, McDonough said. With the overall goal of that one day, trail users will be able to travel all the way from the Davenport, Bettendorf MRT down to the Camanche and Clinton and that Princeton would have a segment in that.

In general, trails like these are often big multi-year or even multi-decade projects to undertake, said Bryan Schmid, a trails planner with the Bi-State Regional Commission, which serves to be a facilitator between governments and interested parties in the project as well as offer grant-writing services.

Schmid said in addition to engineering, locales must get right-of-ways where the trail is planned to go in order to do construction. Needed bridges can also slow down the project or tack on costs, and surveying for environmental or archeological impacts can change the trails course, and adhering to Americans with Disability Act requirements for elements such as the steepness of a trail.

The Mississippi River is really a unique asset, and the MRT is a great way to really promote that and get people connected with the river in some regard, Schmid said. Some of the smaller communities like Princeton and LeClaire were a regional priority for our transportation technical and policy committees who reviewed the application from Princeton. So there's acknowledgement that engineering alone is it can be cost prohibitive for smaller communities.

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The Iowa Senate Ethics Committee unanimously dismissed an ethics complaint alleging Sen. Dan Zumbach used his position to pressure state employees to approve a cattle feedlot owned by his son-in-law.

Committee members agreed the 20-page complaint, filed by the Committee to Save Bloody Run Creek, did not prove Zumbach got preferential treatment after talking with state officials.

Did Sen. Zumbach meet with DNR? Yeah, said Sen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City. Hes perfectly within his rights to meet with the DNR. What we have before us (in the complaint) is because the DNR made the decision they did, somehow Sen. Zumbach must have done something improper. This is not a door we want to open.

The complaint, filed last month, alleged Zumbach, a Ryan Republican who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, met with Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials at least twice about the proposed feedlot between 2017 and 2020, despite neither the feedlot nor the owners being in his district.

ALLEGATIONS

According to the complaint, Zumbach weighed in with the DNR before critical decisions about the project. These included:

 The DNRs 2017 decision to allow an earthen manure storage basin to be classified as an industrial wastewater treatment lagoon. Earthen basins are not allowed in the porous, karst terrain of northeast Iowa.

 When the DNR in 2017 was considering issuance of a federal stormwater permit for construction at the site near Monona. Feedlot owners got the permit after two face-to-face meetings including Zumbach and DNR staff, the complaint states.

 The DNR legal staff argued in 2018 stormwater permit violations at the feedlot should be handled the Iowa Attorney Generals Office, which may pursue higher penalties. The state Environmental Protection Commission in July 2018 failed to vote on the recommendation, leaving the matter with the DNR.

 The DNRs 2020 decision to approve a nutrient management plan for the feedlot.

ZUMBACH RESPONSE

Zumbach told The Gazette last spring he had a phone conversation with DNR Director Kayla Lyon on Oct. 2, 2020, about Supreme Beef, owned by Mike Walz, Dean Walz and Jared Walz. Jared Walz is the husband of Zumbachs daughter, Chelsea, and father of Zumbachs grandchildren.

Since I sit on the Natural Resources Committee, Im in communication with the DNR, and I simply asked Kayla to get the right folks in contact with Supreme Beef so they could continue working through the permitting process, Zumbach told The Gazette last year.

I dont know the players at all, he said. Thats not part of my concern or my responsibility. I simply asked the director if she could help this constituent get to the right folks.

A few days after that Oct. 2, 2020, meeting, the DNR approved Supreme Beef having 2,750 cows. A revised nutrient management plan, approved by the DNR on April 2, bumped up the operation to 11,600 head of cattle.

DEMOCRATIC CONCERN

Two Democrats on the committee said some of the allegations against Zumbach caused them concern, but those allegations are too old to be considered under the Senates three-year statute of limitations.

Ive read through this 20-page complaint and several times my eyebrows raised, and I felt a little unnerved myself about conversations that occurred before 2020, said Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque.

She and Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, encouraged the complainants to file a new complaint if there were other more recent contacts Zumbach had with the DNR.

The complaint charged that Zumbach broke the Senate Code of Ethics, which says members should strive to avoid both unethical and illegal conduct and the appearance of unethical and illegal conduct.

Further, the code says:

Whenever a senator appears before a governmental agency or board, the senator shall carefully avoid all conduct which might in any way lead members of the general public to conclude that the senator is using the senators official position to further the senators professional success or personal financial interest.

NO FINANCIAL STAKE

The complaint did not allege Zumbach had any financial stake in the feedlot, a point Zumbach reiterated in a response to The Gazette last month.

Im really saddened by this organizations thoughts they need to personally attack legislators, he said in a voicemail. I have no ability to influence the DNR, and I have no financial interest in that facility.

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It's no secret that our world is full of truly horrible garbage nightmare people. Racist, sexist, and just plain awful folks live and walk amongst us every day. They always have. But in today's world, if you're a terrible person doing terrible things in public, there's a good chance someone's pointing a camera phone in your direction and your terribleness could live on the internet and haunt you FOREVER.

That's what the cancel-culture creators do. They post videos of awful people being awful, attempt to identify the offenders, and then sit back whilst the internet ruins those people's lives by any means necessary. They'll deluge the offender with calls and messages. They'll find that person's employer and deluge THEM with messages. They often won't stop until the offending party has lost their job, their reputation, and their livelihood.

It just makes me feel gross about humanity in general.

A couple weeks ago, video came out of a terrible person being terrible to the young staff of a smoothie shop. The irate customer yells and screams at the clerks, throws a glass violently, and at one point unsuccessfully tries to gain access to an staff area while the frightened clerks call 911. Then he calls one of the employees a "dumb immigrant" before the video cuts off. It's a hard watch.

There's absolutely no excuse for such behavior. Content creators pushed the video viral, and in no time at all uncovered the identity of the jerk and put his name on the internet for all to see. Not only was the guy found and arrested, but he was also fired from his lucrative finance job at Merrill Lynch.

Kind of a feel-good story, right? But then a few days later, more information came out.

It turns out the guy was having a meltdown because hours prior, he had been in the shop and ordered a smoothie for his son. Due to miscommunication, he was given a smoothie that contained peanuts. His son is deathly allergic, suffered a bad reaction, and had to be ambulanced to a hospital.

Does that give him the right to hurl racial epithets and glassware at the employees there? Absolutely not. But should any consideration be given to the circumstances? There's no justification for racism or violence EVER, not even on your worst day. This guy DEFINITELY needed to learn a lesson, but did he deserve his life and his family's income to be irreparably destroyed?

What gives any of us the right to cast final judgement? I'm certainly not qualified for the job. Are you? There are people out there qualified to judge. They're called judges. As much as I seethe when I see anyone treated with disrespect or pointless hatred, I also don't want to find myself succumbing to the same hatred by casting judgement from miles away behind a keyboard. When smoothie guy got fired, the TikTok creators who made it go viral then posted videos of themselves gleefully dancing jigs for destroying this guy's life.

My fear is that some of these proud cancel-lors are less motivated by social justice and more by a desire to become the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioners of the court of public opinion. If they were only in it for social justice, they wouldn't have merch stores where you can buy their faces on t-shirts and coffee mugs.

I've been worried about the repercussions of cancel culture for a while, but it might be fixing itself. Last month, someone uncovered evidence that one of the internet's leading cancel-culture crusaders had himself made some pretty questionable posts a decade ago. Now other creators are trying to cancel HIM, and the whole of TikTok's #canceltok is turning on itself. May the strongest survive, I guess.

I'll just sit back, watch with concern, and maybe enjoy a smoothie. I plan on tipping my server well.

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WHAT WE KNOW: A judge in Sangamon County recently issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting mask requirements for students in several school districts in Illinois.

WHAT'S NEW: To the cheers of some 200 people in attendance at the board meeting, the Geneseo school board voted on Thursday to lift the mask mandate effective immediately. Ten parents spoke, requesting the board do away with the mandate. The vote also did away with the exclusion policy for asymptomatic individuals for students who have had close contacts as well as testing requirements for school personnel.

Board President Heather DeBrock said the past two years had been difficult and noted extra police patrols had been instituted past her house because of threats.

"I hope we can do mask-optional," she said before the vote.

Board member Karen Urick also voted to do away with the mandate, saying although she wears a mask in public and has attended four COVID-19-related funerals in the past four weeks "it's obvious that the parents want to have a choice."

Board member Kyle Ganson, the lone abstention in the vote, said he had serious reservations about eliminating the mandate.

"Removing the mask mandate tomorrow, I think that's too quick," he said. "If we remove the mask mandate you start risking getting to the point where we have to close schools sometime in the future."

Board member Bill Menendez pointed out that Thursday's motion had the proviso that should things change with the virus, the board could amend the policy.

WHAT'S NEXT: The board also approved going out for bids for the district's new vocational education center. Building construction consultant Pete Perez and architect Scott Johnson reported on progress, noting supply-chain and workforce issues are causing the anticipated completion date to be pushed to July of 2023 rather than the spring of 2023. Bids will be due March 10 with the contract to be awarded at a special March 24 meeting. "We can't wait much longer than that," Perez said.

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A battle is brewing over a federal grant awarded to Rock Island to be used toward establishing a Black history trail in the city.

The $33,500 grant, called the African American Civil Rights Grant, was awarded last year by the National Park Service and the U.S. Historic Preservation Fund to help the city create 10 sites of historic or cultural significance.

But the grant applicants and Black residents in the community are at odds with how the grant was obtained and how to move forward. The grant was written and applied for through the city by Natalie Linville-Mass, owner of QC PastPort and Media Link, a Quad-City advertising agency, and Charles Pearson, owner of Pearson Consulting, a heritage management consulting firm.

When Rock Island residents Gaye Burnett and Shellie Moore Guy heard about the grant, they felt excluded in the process of telling of their own Black history and formed the Rock Island Coalition of African American Stakeholders with other Black residents to give their community a stronger voice when situations like these arise.

The coalition is asking the city to return the grant, saying it is simply "a means to expand their economic development plan."

City council members will vote Monday night on three options regarding the grant: Proceed with the history project as originally planned and consider a consulting agreement with Pearson Consulting and Media Link; discard Pearson Consulting and Media Link as consultants and consider other contractors; or return the grant to the National Park Service and not proceed with the project at all.

Pearson, who is Black, has done work on the African American Story Trail in Iowa.

"Anybody who is African-American in Rock Island and wants to contribute to the planning process, the door is wide open," Pearson said Friday. "But the problem is, I still haven't been paid to take those steps."

Pearson said Rock Island did not have any historic African-American properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and furthermore, the city's historic preservation commission has no Black members.

"Without having an African-American like myself, that is an expert in certified local government programming, it's impossible for Shelli (Moore Guy) and the coalition to assist a preservation initiative," he said. "The city owns the properties; the city has to come up with an alliance with that coalition. The city is the overseer of the project. The confusion is that when it comes to storytelling, the city and QC Pastport is doing the story telling."

Pearson said his part would be in helping the city to nominate 10 properties to the National Historic Registry.

"We feel that the city has acted with total disrespect for the Black community," members of the coalition said in a press release Thursday. "To us, the Black Community, this is more than a marker on a tourism trail; it is the stories of our lives, the stories of our ancestors' past and the stories of our children's futures. Because knowing their past will make children stronger, more resilient and build better citizens for the future."

The coalition members are asking that skillful historians, archivists and musicologists document and preserve their memories and experiences.

"It is also important that they capture the wisdom of our personal and firsthand accounts of pivotal events of our familys rich history and contributions to the city of Rock Island," they wrote.

The coalition is asking for credentialed professors from Augustana College or other professionals with expertise to assist in the telling of Black history or "community members that have been and are currently documenting and curating the local Black history of Rock Island."

Pearson agreed that the Black community was disrespected.

"When it comes to the African-American community and local history, you definitely want someone who is African-American to take the lead or have a position in the group or organization you are serving," he said.

"You don't want the end of Black History month having a sour note when we can fix it by just understanding what the situation really is, which is the Black community trying to figure out where they fit in with QC Pastport and the city of Rock Island."

He said Friday that he and Linville-Mass would move forward with the project anyway, regardless of a grant or contract with the city.

"The project that we felt would be marketable is 'Black life along the Mississippi River,'" he said. "I don't even care about the grant that much anymore. This is one of the first times for the African-American community when the city will take city property and list it on the National Register (of Historic Places). It is unheard of."

Rock Island city council will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at City Hall, 1528 Third Ave., Rock Island.

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The city of Princetons long-term goal of putting in a bike trail through the city is getting a leg up with a grant that would pay for most of the engineering costs.

The $187,674 grant, from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program that stems from federal monies, area leaders hope will keep plans rolling for a Mississippi River Trail segment through Princeton.

The Mississippi River Trail is a designated bike and pedestrian path along the shores of the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana. In the Quad-Cities, the trail is connected through most of Davenport and Bettendorf with another section in Buffalo on the Iowa side. In Illinois the MRT connects Cordova through Rock Island.

In Scott County, the trail ends at 62nd and State Street in Bettendorf. For more than a decade, it has been a priority of the Bi-State Regional Commission and local governments to connect the Mississippi River Trail through Scott County.

Princeton's was one of two projects awarded funding by the Quad Cities MPO Transportation Police Committee. This is the first time the committee awarded money for just engineering.

They (the committee members) know how hard it is for any city to pay for engineering expenses, but specifically for small towns like Princeton, said Christina McDonough, Princeton Recreation Trails president and Princeton City Council member So, they were willing to make an exception for us, and it's given us the momentum that we need to propel everything forward.

The grant covers 80% of the cost of engineering services, and the nonprofit organization started in 2019, Princeton Recreation Trails, is fundraising to cover remaining costs not covered by the grant or the city. Then, the engineering must be done within five years, McDonough said. The nonprofit is hosting its annual Princeton Dog Scamper April 8 to raise funds for the city's portion of the trail engineering.

In 2020, Princeton trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service and Iowa State University to collect input from about 300 Princeton residents and Virgil Grissom Elementary School students on concept designs for the trail.

Results showed residents wanted an off-road path along Highway 67 with a loop along Princetons riverfront and connectors to the trail throughout the city, McDonough said.

The long-term goals for the region are to connect the Mississippi River Trail from Clinton County through Scott County. Each locale the trail goes through would be responsible for building its portion of the trail: unincorporated Scott County, LeClaire and Princeton.

The Princeton Mississippi River Trail project has been something that a variety of residents over the course of 10-plus years has really been interested in bringing the Mississippi River Trail through our town, McDonough said. With the overall goal of that one day, trail users will be able to travel all the way from the Davenport, Bettendorf MRT down to the Camanche and Clinton and that Princeton would have a segment in that.

In general, trails like these are often big multi-year or even multi-decade projects to undertake, said Bryan Schmid, a trails planner with the Bi-State Regional Commission, which serves to be a facilitator between governments and interested parties in the project as well as offer grant-writing services.

Schmid said in addition to engineering, locales must get right-of-ways where the trail is planned to go in order to do construction. Needed bridges can also slow down the project or tack on costs, and surveying for environmental or archeological impacts can change the trails course, and adhering to Americans with Disability Act requirements for elements such as the steepness of a trail.

The Mississippi River is really a unique asset, and the MRT is a great way to really promote that and get people connected with the river in some regard, Schmid said. Some of the smaller communities like Princeton and LeClaire were a regional priority for our transportation technical and policy committees who reviewed the application from Princeton. So there's acknowledgement that engineering alone is it can be cost prohibitive for smaller communities.

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Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill into law Thursday that makes Juneteenth a legal state holiday in South Dakota.

South Dakota was the last holdout to name the nineteenth day of June a state holiday, with North Dakota approving legislation on April 13, 2021 and Hawaii declaring the holiday with legislation on June 16, 2021.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., when three months after the Civil War ended and two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, word of freedom was spread to enslaved Black people in Texas.

Some historians say word of liberation was deliberately withheld from the enslaved people so slave owners could complete a cotton harvest.

While Noem proclaimed Juneteenth holidays in 2020 and 2021, there was a push in the 2021 legislative session and again this year for South Dakota to finally declare it as an annual, official state holiday.

In 2021, Black residents told the Argus Leader that the holiday for them symbolized freedom, the end of slavery and "a weight off our shoulders."

If Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, the Monday following will be an observed legal holiday; if it falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday will be an observed legal holiday.

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As a new resident, I am often asked, Why did you move to Rapid City? Each time I am asked this question, my answer is simple: Freedom and Opportunity.

Those two words have great meaning to me and my family. Those words represent the desire of all Americans and what Rapid City represents to us. Several years ago, we visited Rapid City and the Black Hills to explore its beauty and experience a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore. We yearned to be in a place where patriotic Americans freely professed their love of our great nation and celebrated its birthday. Once here, we knew we had found a new home. We had long wished for a community with strong moral values. A place where our family could lay down its roots. A place where we could raise our son to be a strong and thoughtful man. We found that home in Rapid City.

I recently retired from the United States Border Patrol. For 24 years, I patrolled the southern border and the coastline of the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California. I watched the fabric of a once-great city and state change into a place that I didnt recognize anymore. A beautiful city and region, attracting people from all over the world, quickly turned into a place to avoid.

While preparing for our move, our family prayed about this new chapter in our lives. Our decision had to be made wisely. We desired a forever home. With thoughtful and consistent prayer, we chose Rapid City. We sought freedom and opportunity. Weve found it here.

The people of Rapid City are fiercely independent and display a strong belief in responsibility and self-reliance. The strength of those qualities and beliefs are shared by my family. The residents of this region are welcoming, kind and possess genuine goodness in their spirit. The people here are forthright, straightforward, and thoughtful. The awe-inspiring beauty of the Black Hills is surpassed only by the character of its people.

I moved my family to Rapid City last year, accepting a position with Rapid City Area Schools. I have met so many passionate, intelligent, and honorable people in my new position both inside and outside of the school district. As I meet business owners, educators, contractors, and long-time residents of Rapid City; I am reassured that our decision to relocate was the right one. I can honestly say that, since moving here, our family has not questioned our decision to become South Dakotans and to build our lives in Rapid City. Many times, in our family prayers, we thank God for His guidance because we felt drawn here for a purpose and for exciting opportunities. Each day, we feel more joy and confidence in our choice to become citizens in a city that offers its residents a future  and hope.

When we moved to Rapid City my family had three goals. The first goal was to settle into our new home and become a part of our neighborhood and community. Secondly, we aspired to be excellent neighbors, residents, and citizens of this great state. As a third, and most important goal, we wanted to grow roots in a community that shares our values. We feel welcomed by everyone. In just a short time, we truly feel we have become South Dakotans. Granted, its taken numerous trips to local stores to acquire the proper gear for our first South Dakota winter. Weve had to ditch our year-round summer wardrobes. But now, at least we look the part!

Rapid City is a special place. We are so grateful for our new home. We look to the future with anticipation and excitement. Here, we can feel the thrill of freedom and opportunity every day.

The Director of College and Career Readiness leads the RCAS Academy and Pathways model that is focused on graduating students who are career and college ready. The Director engages with community leaders and businesses in order to create lasting relationships that provide a multitude of opportunities for RCAS students to explore a variety of career options during high school. The Director, in collaboration with others, is instrumental in the development, implementation, and success of the RCAS Academies.

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The Daly Mansion is hosting its adults-only Roaring 20s Gatsby Gala on Feb. 26.

Events Coordinator Courtney Hartelius said the interactive event will be the best yet.

Its one of the favorite fundraising events we hold for the mansion, Hartelius said. It appeals to different ages, demographics and gives us all a reason to dress up.

She said the mansion will create an atmosphere of Gatsby glamour with 1920s elegance. Joan Zen Jazz is the featured musician and there will be a dance lesson, a dance contest, a cork pull, a new casino area and plenty of games and prizes.

In previous years we only had one race-horse game, but because of its popularity, weve built another one, Haretelius said.

She called the Cork-Pull a fun, no-risk adventure.

We have wine bottles ranging in value from $10 to $50 that will be covered in bags, Hartelius said. Everyone will get to pull a cork and whatever number is on the cork that is the bottle they get. No matter what, you get your moneys worth.

The appetizers will be provided by chef Bobby Coza and the no-host bar service will be provided by the Rainbow Bar.

The last Roaring 20s event held at the mansion was March of 2020, right before the lockdown due to the coronavirus.

That was the best one wed had yet, we werent able to host one in 2021 but that gave us more time to up the ante even more, Hartelius said. The committee and I have been working really hard to make the 2022 event a gala to remember.

The committee is Judy Folz, Pauline Gary, Lori Meyer, Gail Schulz and Hartelius.

Were hoping to have our tarot card reader back, Hartelius said. It is a unique type of fundraiser in that instead of auctions or raffles, we raise funds by selling tickets to participate in games. We have a lot of generous sponsors and that is one of the reasons why we can make this Roaring 20s even more special for our guests that are attending.

Sponsors for the 2022 Roaring 20s event include Exit Realty Montana (casino area sponsor), Big Sky Eye Care, Catalyst Physical Therapy, Grizzly Broadband, St. Francis' Pet Hospital, Ravalli Republic and Bitterroot Community Federal Credit Union.

Hartelius noted that the casino area is a fundraising area, not actually gambling. In that area, there will be three different styles of poker games  Texas hold em, let it ride, and three-card draw or three-card poker.

The mansion will have 20 volunteers including someone to provide a shuttle service from the parking lot to the mansion.

Were worried about the cold weather, or if it is slippery or windy, we dont want people to have to walk through that in their high heels, Hartelius said. Upon entry, everybody gets a glass of bubbly, thats a perk we like to gift to our attendees. Plus, Ill be emailing the password.

She said the Daly Mansion Roaring 20s event is unique because it appeals to all ages.

It is one of my favorite events, it appeals to a variety of ages and interests, she said. Ive seen people here from age 21 to age 85 and everyone has a good time.

The Daly Mansion Roaring 20s Gatsby Gala will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26, doors open at 7 p.m. and the event ends at 11 p.m., 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton. Tickets cost $55 single or $100 for two, reserve tickets by calling 406-363-6004 or visit dalymansion.org.

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Hunting wolves from aircraft is legal under state law in Montana, wildlife officials said in state District Court Thursday, asserting that a previous prohibition included in hunting regulations was an error.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission are facing a lawsuit from two wildlife advocacy groups over discrepancies in the wolf regulations. On Thursday the groups, Wolves of the Rockies and Trap Free Montana, requested Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Michael McMahon issue a preliminary injunction halting the allowance of hunting wolves with aircraft as well as artificial light, night vision or other nighttime technologies.

The groups allege they were denied the right to participate under Montana law after a previous prohibition on hunting wolves from aircraft was removed without notice from this years regulations. The groups further allege that when the commission adopted regulations allowing hunting wolves on private land at night, that the notice and commission action never spoke to the use of specific technologies. But when regulations were published, artificial light, night vision, infrared and thermal technologies were added by the agency.

McMahon earlier denied the groups request for a temporary restraining order, writing that hunting regulations were specifically exempted from the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, which they alleged was violated. Robert Farris-Olsen, the attorney for the groups, told the judge Thursday that while hunting regulations were exempt from MAPA, the states public participation laws establish clear requirements for notice and a right to comment on the agencys actions.

Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies, testified Thursday that he and others would have submitted public comment on the topics of aerial hunting and nighttime technologies if they had been aware.

Its devastating to us, to me personally and people in my organization, Cooke said of the impact of the regulations.

Cooke and others have been outspoken opponents of new wolf hunting and trapping laws and regulations designed to reduce the states wolf population including extensive testimony at both the Legislature and commission.

Jeff Reed, who operates a lodging and farming business in the Paradise Valley, similarly testified that he would have commented on aerial hunting and the nighttime technologies if they had been included during the commissions adoption of regulations.

Aimee Hawkaluk, an attorney formerly with FWP, testified that exclusion of the regulations previous prohibition against aerial hunting of wolves was based on the recommendation of an internal regulation review committee formed in 2018. The committee, formed under former Director Martha Williams, was charged with reviewing regulations for alignment with state law.

While animals such as elk or mountain lions are legally classified as big game, and bobcats and beavers are classified as furbearers, wolves are classified as a species in need of management by the state of Montana.

When wolf regulations were reviewed, the committee found that state law specifically prohibits aerial hunting, thermal and infrared technologies for hunting big game and furbearers, but wolves were not included because of their legal classification.

Staff and the public are used to dealing with game animals, game birds, furbearers, those sorts of classifications of animals, and wolves are an outlier, Hawkaluk said. So many of the laws that apply to other sets of hunting regulations quite simply dont apply to wolves.

According to FWPs court filing, the use of artificial light and night vision scopes was impliedly allowed by legislation passed last year, and that not allowing those technologies poses a safety risk.

Hawkaluk further testified that because the Legislature had weighed in on aerial hunting of other species but not wolves, the agencys legal conclusion was that the commission could not add additional species to the prohibition list. Reviewers could find no record of the commission adopting such a prohibition, calling its inclusion in the regulations for more than a decade an error.

Hawkaluk said the review committee found a similar issue with trail camera regulations and statute, which was also changed without a formal commission decision.

FWP chief of staff Quentin Kujala detailed the states management strategy for wolves which has garnered national interest due to the new laws and regulations. The department maintains a near real-time dashboard of how, when and where wolves are killed, which is used to maintain regional and statewide quotas, he said.

Hunting outside of Yellowstone National Park has drawn considerable interest including backlash from area businesses, park officials and wildlife advocates after the commission lifted a quota for two hunting districts on the parks northern border. Nearly 20 wolves have been killed in the relatively small area this season.

Overall wolf numbers in Yellowstone remain within normal ranges since delisting, according counts from the National Park Service.

Kujala testified that on a regional level, fewer wolves will be killed this year in southwest Montana and officials believe that despite expanded methods of take, fewer wolves will be killed statewide compared to a record high last year.

Of the more than 200 wolves taken by hunters and trappers this year, 11-13 were believed to have been killed at night, he said.

FWP does not track whether an airplane or helicopter was used as part of its mandatory reporting questions, an agency spokesman said.

In closing, Farris-Olsen told the judge that the law was clear in vesting authority to change regulations with the commission and that FWP has no authority to do so unilaterally. If someone is charged with a regulation violation, he or she would have the ability to go to court and argue that the law and regulation are in conflict, he said.

(FWP) needs to follow the process and it wasnt followed here, he said.

Zach Zipfel, an attorney for FWP, countered that if the commission has no authority to add a regulation, it stands to reason they also would not have the authority to drop it. Zipfel acknowledged poor communication with the public but said that did not amount to a legal violation of the process.

The department would freely concede it should have done a better job explaining the rationale for these changes. That was not made clear and were always looking for ways to better communicate with the public and sometimes we still mess up, he said.  And if were right on that law, maybe we didnt communicate the process properly, but were right about the law and there is not procedural violation.

The groups have until March 1 to file a response to FWP and the commission. McMahon said he would render judgement on the preliminary injunction soon after.

On Thursday a federal judge also overturned a Trump administration rule delisting gray wolves in the Lower 48, returning the animals to Endangered Species Act protections. That ruling did not affect the status of state management of wolves in the Northern Rockies, including Montana.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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The legislative auditor's office this week said it has met increasing resistance from agencies obligated to open their books, while agencies have described federal and constitutional privacy protections at play.

The notice emerged during a planning conversation between scheduled hearings with the Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday. The committee is made up of state lawmakers who examine the reports issued by the Legislative Audit Division, the office charged with probing the state government's books, accounts, activities and records to ensure the Legislature's directives have been carried out.

"Recently, we've had increasing challenges in novel ways that agencies have either sought to deny our access or to delay the information requests that we are making," Deborah Butler, legal counsel for the legislative auditor's office, told the committee.

The resistance has been such that Butler has been exploring ways to ensure compliance from the agencies in the executive branch; currently, the Legislative Audit Act in state law gives the division no teeth to enforce its duties.

Angus Maciver, who heads up the auditor's office, told lawmakers Tuesday the resistance has sometimes come with good intentions, like protecting personal data.

"But, increasingly we also suspect some less-than-pure motives," Maciver told the committee.

Maciver declined in a phone interview to share further information about how and when agencies may have improperly withheld information from the auditor, but said the issue has been rising to a boil for some time, predating the current administration.

"We anticipate it will continue," he told the Montana State News Bureau.

One example came when the auditor's office was directed by the Legislature to complete a performance audit of the effectiveness of community corrections programs in reducing recidivism. Maciver said the auditor's office had sought inmate screening files that had led to a determination of which treatment programs to send the inmate. The Montana Department of Corrections delayed the auditor's access for months before eventually withholding the information as confidential, Maciver said.

"In the end it was pretty much a refusal," he said.

To route the issue, the auditor's office got creative and instead went to the contracted treatment providers, which furnished most of the information.

"They understood they had legal and contractual obligations to provide that information," Maciver said.

The Montana Department of Corrections on Wednesday said in an email it had determined the information sought fell under privacy protections.

"The department appreciates the work of the Legislative Audit Division, and also takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the confidential medical information of individuals under its care," department spokesperson Carolynn Bright said in an email. "In the course of this particular performance audit, the auditors office requested offenders confidential behavioral health information which is protected by federal law and the privacy guarantee of the Montana Constitution."

Bright also said the auditor's office never identified any legal authority that gives the Department of Corrections the right or responsibility to disclose an individual's confidential private medical information to the legislative auditor's office. In an effort to reach a compromise, Bright said the department staff offered to request releases from individuals in its custody that would allow auditors to read their confidential treatment information, and also offered redacted information.

"The auditor's office declined these proposed solutions," Bright said.

For the auditor's part, Maciver said federal laws protecting health care information have exemptions for audits.

"We don't see a good legal argument for refusing access" in state or federal law, Maciver said. "That's our opinion, of course. Agencies may have an alternate view on that."

The audit office has been in more public disputes with state agencies before. A 2020 financial compliance audit found Montana faced a risk of the federal government clawing back at least $84 million in fraudulent Medicaid payments, but the Department of Public Health and Human Services claimed the auditors made a series of mistakes or improper calculations to overstate the problem. The issue in that case arose in the process of gathering information for that report, when auditors reportedly found the DPHHS internal controls produced too many errors, so it developed its own tests to check for Medicaid eligibility through state income tax records. DPHHS officials said this and overestimations by auditors greatly inflated the figures received by Medicaid recipients.

The Governor's Office, which has appointed all the current state agency directors, said Wednesday this was the first time the issue had been raised; Gov. Greg Gianforte took office in early 2021.

"Furthermore, of course the governor directs agencies to follow the law, regardless of the practices of previous administrations," spokesperson Brooke Stroyke said.

During Tuesday's meeting, lawmakers and the audit staff sought to better understand how other states handle such conflicts. Butler, the auditor's legal counsel, said other states have enacted misdemeanors and felonies for intentionally refusing auditors access to information.

Any changes would have to be made during the Legislative session next year. Both Republicans and Democrats on the committee have expressed interest in potential changes to the law. Sen. Tom McGillvray, a Billings Republican, and House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, a Helena Democrat, said in separate interviews Thursday the matter is one of transparency and accountability in government.

"If the audit division is auditing an agency the agency should comply with what they want," McGillvray said.

Abbot said she's only aware of one disagreement on information being turned over to audit staff based on a different interpretation of law.

"I don't think criminal penalties are necessary but having cordial relationships with agency leadership and staff is incredibly important for the (audit) division to do its job," Abbott said.

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Coughing, trouble breathing and fever may sound like familiar symptoms in this age of covid infections, but a Malta paleontologist and his colleagues think theyve identified signs of a respiratory infection in 150-million-year-old dinosaur bones.

Cary Woodruff, director of paleontology at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, is the lead author of the research paper, published in the recent issue of the Scientific Reports journal.

Woodruff and his co-authors, which included veterinarians and anatomists, drew their conclusions after examining fossilized neck bones from a young (15 to 20 years old) Diplodocus nicknamed Dolly. The dinosaurs bones were first excavated from the Paradise Valley in 1990, with later additions following 2013-15 field seasons.

After the fossils were cleaned, Woodruff spotted an abnormality. There were bony protrusions in the normally smooth pockets in the dinosaurs vertebrae.

Imagine you took a broccoli floret and fossilized it, its this weird, abnormal, lumpy bit of bone, Woodruff said.

The abnormalities were similar to those caused by a common fungal affliction in modern birds known as aspergillosis.

If the most common respiratory infection in birds today is fungal derived, and birds are dinosaurs, it evolutionarily had to come from somewhere, Woodruff said. Therefore, a dinosaur in the past was probably susceptible to a very similar type of fungal infection.

Dinos

Diplodocus was a long-necked dinosaur, with an equally long tail, that roamed the Earth during the Late Jurassic period  between 155 million to 145 million years ago. Back then, the Paradise Valley was part of the Sundance Sea, extending from the Arctic Ocean across Canada to the Black Hills. At that time the valleys climate would have been tropical.

When Montanans think dinosaur bones, they're more likely to envision Eastern Montanas prairie badlands which have yielded legendary fossil finds. Yet Woodruff said the Paradise Valley has the bulk of Montanas geologic history represented. Thanks to the mountain building process  that thin layer of Mesozoic rock [was] exposed.

The fossils collected in several layers along an ancient and large river floodplain. One of the sauropod dinosaurs found in the Paradise Valley greeted visitors to the Museum of the Rockies when its Siebel Dinosaur Complex was completed in 2007, Woodruff noted.

The same dig site in southwest Montana also uncovered other largely complete diplodocid specimens, an infant Camarasurus, the states first stegosaur-like Hesperosaurus, beaked Camptosaurus, carnivorous Allosaurus and a smaller iguana-like reptile known as sphenodontid.

When fully grown, the plant-eating Diplodocus dinosaurs like Dolly were huge  adults living 30 years grew to 80 to 100 feet long and weighed an estimated 16 tons. Since Dolly wasnt fully grown, shes estimated to have stretched to only about 60 feet long, almost the length of two school buses parked end to end.

Breathe

Sauropods are ancient ancestors of modern birds. Like birds and some reptiles, dinosaurs had complicated respiratory systems that included air sacs in their neck vertebrae, hips, back and tail. Woodruff said the sacs could have been a way to provide more efficient respiration, or they may have evolved to help the animals lighten their heavy loads.

An infection in these air sacs is believed to have caused the bony growths Woodruff and collaborators describe in their research.

To make their diagnosis, the team looked at it from an evolutionary perspective, Woodruff said.

Even though we dont have any of this preserved respiratory tissue in these groups of dinosaurs with these features, we have these sockets in the bone; so we figure similar respiratory tissue had to connect to them, Woodruff explained.

Narrowing

By looking at similar infections in crocodilians and birds the team narrowed the diagnosis down further. Since crocodilians dont have these air sacs in their bones, they examined only bird-related illnesses. Thats when they concluded that an infection in the air sacs caused a secondary bone infection derived from a fungus that is still common in birds today.

We didnt find a perfect 100% match, and we werent expecting to because, again, were literally comparing cases that are separated by 150 million years, Woodruff said. But we found very similar results  a respiratory infection that caused a secondary bone infection.

If the diagnosis holds up to scrutiny, it will be the first time an avian-style respiratory disorder has been described in a non-avian dinosaur. However, as the authors note throughout the paper, the lack of tissues/structures that elucidate origination means that we cannot pinpoint a causation at this time.

John Scannella, the John R. Horner Curator of Paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies, said, The discovery of an avian-style respiratory infection in this sauropod provides another window into what dinosaurs were like as living, breathing animals. Even the largest animals to ever walk the Earth were not immune to disease; dinosaurs had to face many of the same challenges that life faces today."

Help

The diagnosis was aided by the Phillips County Hospitals radiology department, which scanned the fossils for Woodruff, along with Advanced Medical Imaging at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

Phillips County has had a CT scanner for some time, but until recently not one that was powerful enough to scan dinosaur bones, according to Donny Bagley, who manages the lab and X-ray department.

Its quite different from a person because of the thickness and density of the dinosaur bones," he said. "Theyre much larger. We had to lay them out on a table and scanned them from different angles, and then used reconstruction software to put all the images together, to produce as much information as possible.

Bagley and a second technician, Tammy Hebany, were excited to help the local museum with its 150-million-year-old patient.

The research was personal for Woodruff because his yellow Labrador, Hatcher, contracted respiratory problems and died. Thus, he dedicated the work to his pup who passed far too soon.

The research team included paleopathologist/veterinarian Ewan Wolff, of the University of New Mexico; veterinarian Sophie Dennison, of TeleVet Imaging Solutions in Virginia; and paleontologists and medical anatomists Mathew Wedel, of Western University of Health Sciences in California, and Lawrence Witmer, of Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Woodruff said the human interest angle to the teams dinosaur research makes it more relatable.

We know that birds that have respiratory disease today; they show symptoms that are consistent with flu and pneumonia, he said. So sneezing, coughing, headaches, fever, diarrhea, weight loss, etc., these are all of the exact same symptoms we have all felt when weve had respiratory issues. So the fact is, you can hold that 150-million-year-old dinosaur bone from Dolly and you literally can sympathize with this animal. You know exactly how crummy that animal felt when it was sick, because its the exact same way you felt.

 Chris Jorgensen contributed to this story.

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Richmond was featured in The New York Times on Wednesday as one of five cities going all out to celebrate Black History Month.

The article features Virginias capital, Philadelphia, Cleveland, San Antonio and Portland, Ore., as places that have made it a point not to overlook the trauma and triumphs of Black history during the monthlong celebration in February.

Although the city still has a ways to go to overcome years of overlooked history, Richmond is taking incremental steps to address its sordid history and embrace its legacy of Black culture, the Times reported.

As the former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond is a city that is taking steps to both reckon with the racism of its past and share the rich legacy of Black history, and culture that has often been overlooked, wrote Shayla Martin of the Times.

This past September, Martin continued, after more than a year of protests supporting the removal of Confederate monuments, the city made headlines when a statue of the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was removed from Monument Avenue. ... While the new home of the statue is still unknown, the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, a site that explores the Black experience in Virginia from enslavement to the present day, will work with other area institutions to decide where it will land.

Mending Walls RVA, Hamilton Glass public art project that strives to bring artists and people of diverse cultures together, is featured prominently as one of the reasons to visit Richmond during Black History Month.

Glass said its great to see the world recognize that Richmond is trying to write a new name for itself and for Mending Walls to be brought into the spotlight.

Its amazing to see the project growing and getting outside of Richmond, he said.

Behind the scenes, Glass says Mending Walls has gone out and spoken at events out of state to organizations and cities trying to adapt some of its values. He said hes most excited to see how Richmonds influence will have a ripple effect all over the country.

Hopefully when people see that article and go and research the project, they understand that Richmond is changing, Glass said. Were at a pivotal moment, trying to find this new identity for ourselves and not just been known as the former Confederate capitol.

The Times article shows a mural created by Noah Scalin and Alfonso Perez. Scalin said he found out about the news while scanning LinkedIn.

Sometimes my work gets shared, and I say, Oh look thats cool, Scalin said. But when I saw this, I think I said, Wait, this is a big deal.

Scalin is well-known for his Webby award-winning Skull-A-Day blog. Hes also exhibited installations in Times Square, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Mutter Museum and internationally.

The mural titled Together We Rise was a collaborative effort between Scalin and Perez, an artist born in Colombia who moved to Richmond in 2015.

Perez has worked as the art program director with the Sacred Heart Center and as co-director of the RVA Thrives Art, Reconciliation and Civic Advocacy, connecting African American and Latin American youth with public art.

Scalin says the work depicts two people, back-to-back, supporting each other up to overcome the trauma of the past, present and future. He and Perez talked about the opportunity to represent their two cultures; Scalin, whos from Richmond, and Perez, a Spanish-speaking immigrant.

Since neither of us are Black, we felt like there was a big responsibility and opportunity for us to ask ourselves what our views are, how we can be allies, how we can further the conversation, Scalin said.

Together We Rise is really about how two people of different cultures and backgrounds and collaborate, connect and support each other, Scalin said. Growing up in the shadow of the statues, Scalin said hes glad Richmond is stepping out of its past and celebrating its diverse culture and community.

To have things written about this city and what is now, because often times we talk about the shadows of the past, but what Richmond really is, is a really diverse community that has a lot to say, Scalin said. It just makes me really proud.

The Times article features a host of activities happening in Richmond this month.

For instance, BLK RVA, the Black History Museum and The Valentine museum are offering guided tours of historical sites in the city. The Times also mentions some of Richmonds Black-owned businesses and institutions to visit during the monthlong celebration.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney responded to the article saying this is yet another way Richmonds artists are elevating the citys culture.

This acknowledgement highlights the rich history and rich culture thats still alive and well in the city of Richmond, Stoney said in a statement. And its made possible thanks to the artists, artisans and advocates who call Richmond home and elevate that culture and history 365 days a year.
Back in school, when I thought I might want to do this sort of work for a living, naturally I started paying attention to the people who already did: how they went about their job, how they interviewed people, how they hunched over their typewriters at the end of a game punching up their stories.

I was a sportswriter in my dreams and in my first few years, which were a long time ago  the mention of typewriters proving my point.

I also noticed something else back then: Many of the reporters carried little mustard-colored, pint-sized notebooks that fit in their pockets. I thought they were the coolest things; I guess I had a very low bar for cool. The spirals were on the top, not the side like the notebooks I was familiar with, and you just flipped over the pages as you wrote. So functional. So handy. They also said Reporters Note Book right there on the front cover, which sort of announced who you were and what you did.

They were perfect.

Might sound silly  I mean, its a . notebook, for goodness sake  but when I started using them as a young reporter, I really felt like I had made it and that I belonged.

Its a tool of our craft, said Nic Garcia, politics editor for the Des Moines Register. Any reporter knows having your notebook in hand is an invitation to talk to anybody about anything.

Garcia held his first reporters notebook when he was in fourth grade and somehow convinced the editors at his hometown newspaper in Colorado to let him contribute to a monthly student supplement. Garcia, 36, loves those notebooks.

To paraphrase an old joke: Ive got notebooks older than Garcia, as Ive been using them for well over 40 years.

On those notepads, Ive scribbled the words of people who are famous and those youve never heard of, and jotted notes about all sorts of stories from all sorts of places: ballgames and boring meetings; strangers living rooms and helicopters; hospitals and prisons; the 1996 Olympic Games and a 2000 family cross-country vacation; a news conference in Havana and space shuttle launches and disasters  my notebook and I were on the ground at Kennedy Space Center when Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986.

Over the years, Ive filled thousands of these things.

I didnt always have a fancy credit card with a catchy slogan, but I never left home without my reporters notebook. (And a pen. Dont forget the pen, which Ive done on occasion.)

I spoke with Garcia the other day because, besides being an editor, he has a new side gig: producing and selling reporters notebooks.

The reason? His longtime supplier (and friend) in Richmond is no longer with us, so Garcias filling a need and paying homage to Tom Edwards all at once. Or, as he put it, I want every reporter to have the same feeling I got when I got Toms notebook.

Edwards was the owner of Stationers Inc., a long-established Richmond office supply store started in 1945 by his father, Landon B. Edwards Jr., who developed its Reporters Note Book soon after opening. The shop became known nationwide among journalists and the notebooks familiar to an even wider audience when they showed up in places like the film, All the Presidents Men, which is how Garcia came to know Stationers and Tom Edwards.

In 2013, the notebook made its Broadway debut in Nora Ephrons Lucky Guy, which starred Tom Hanks, who played Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Mike McAlary. Hanks heard Stationers notebooks were the tool of the trade, according to the companys old website, and placed an order. He also autographed a few and sent them back to the store.

So, Garcia was distressed when he called Stationers to place an order in 2021 and learned Tom Edwards had died and the store was closing.

He soon began working on the idea of starting his own notebook business early last year and in October launched First Draft Notebooks, which bear a resemblance to the Stationers notebooks. Full disclosure, The Times-Dispatch placed an order in January.

Tom always said something that made him proud was if journalism was the first draft of history .. then history starts in a reporters notebook, Garcia said. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.

Stationers notebooks werent the only brand of notebooks reporters used, but they became popular, in part, because of their spirals at the top, the good quality paper and their sturdy covers  better for writing on as you stand and talk to someone and scrawl notes with one hand while holding the notebook with the other.

Tom Edwards father came up with the idea for the slender notebooks for reporters, according to a 1989 story in The Times-Dispatch, after buying a narrow, soft-cover World War II-era British notepad that he found in an Army surplus lot he bought from Fort Lee. A reporter for one of the Richmond newspapers  he didnt recall who  saw the British notepad and asked Landon Edwards if he could cut a stenographers notebook lengthwise to create something similar. Landon Edwards said that wouldnt work because the metal spirals would ruin the cutting device he would have to use. He gave the reporter the British notepad instead.

The same day, a purchasing agent for the newspapers called to ask Edwards if he could make notebooks the same size as the British notepad but with a stiffer cover. Edwards began producing the notebooks for the Richmond papers and anyone else who wanted to buy them.

About six months later, Tom Edwards said in the 1989 story, Winston Churchill visited Williamsburg and attracted reporters from national publications and broadcast outlets who saw the notebooks the Richmond reporters were using and wanted them.

After that, he started getting orders from far-flung places, Tom Edwards said. It became an industry standard.

The Stationers notebooks werent so ubiquitous that every reporter knew about them  though they knew they needed something like them.

Reporters covering the civil rights movement fashioned their own reporters notebooks for not just practical reasons but for their safety.

In their Pulitzer-winning book The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation, authors Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff wrote about how, when caught covering dangerous situations, reporters would cut standard stenographers notebook in half  as the Richmond reporter had requested of Landon Edwards  and stash them in their pockets to avoid being targets.

You put one of the sawed-in-two steno pads into the inside breast pocket of your suit coat, and it could not be spotted by the mobs, the authors wrote. You put two into your breast pocket, and it bulged liked a shoulder holster. Then mobs would mistake you for an FBI agent and think twice before attacking.

The makeshift notebook was referred to as the Claude Sitton notebook, a nod to the Southern correspondent for the New York Times whose coverage of the civil rights movement earned him praise and respect. Sitton and fellow reporter Karl Fleming fashioned the notebooks.

Sitton later found a Richmond company that printed the narrow notebook, according to the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss., in a 2015 obituary about Sitton. The story quoted Roberts, saying, Claude ordered a case and then kept on ordering them.

The Richmond company presumably was Stationers.

Garcia was in the 6th grade when he watched All the Presidents Men and saws Tom Edwards mustard-yellow notebooks in the hands of Redford and Hoffman, as they played Woodward and Bernstein. (He noticed that? Being a budding journalist, I just loved office supplies generally, he says.)

He started calling around to different newspapers  remember: he was in the sixth grade, which, I guess, proves he really was a budding reporter  and asked about the kind of notebooks they used. All roads led to Stationers, and his grandmother mail-ordered his first two dozen Stationers notebooks, which he found to be as high-quality as they appeared on the big screen.

Ive been using them ever since, he said.

Over the years, he got to know Tom Edwards when he placed orders over the phone or by email. He met him in person one time, when he was in Washington for a conference and drove to Richmond to see where all the notebook magic happened.

Tom Edwards was a gentleman, Garcia said. Just so hospitable. He took me and a friend to lunch. Showed me around.

Edwards even took Garcia to the back of the store where he showed him what must have been hundreds of custom covers from the companys various news organization customers. (Stationers also sold the same size notebooks, but marketed them as notebooks for police, firefighters, sheriffs and even game wardens.)

Garcia acknowledges hes not likely to strike it rich with reporters notebooks, particularly in a digital age when the tools of our trade have expanded to include easy-to-carry recorders and smart-phone apps that can transcribe conversations as they happen. But notebooks still have their place in reporting, and, you know, theres something tactilely satisfying  maybe even reassuring  about putting pen to paper and scribbling notes as you gather information for a story. Even if sometimes I practically need an interpreter to translate my handwriting.

But thats another story.
A New Zealand man who traveled halfway around the world to meet a 14-year-old Goochland County girl with whom he had engaged in sexually explicit conduct online was sentenced Friday in federal court in Richmond to 21 years in prison for using the girl to create pornographic videos he surreptitiously recorded.

When the girl eventually broke off contact, Troy George Skinner, 28, flew to the U.S. from Auckland, N.Z., and then traveled to the girls home, where he was shot by the girls mother on June 22, 2018, after throwing a paving stone through a glass door window as he tried to get inside. In his backpack, police found pepper spray, a pocketknife and duct tape that he had purchased earlier that day at the Walmart Supercenter in western Henrico County.

U.S. District Court Judge M. Hannah Lauck sentenced Skinner, who has a long history of psychiatric care in New Zealand that has included hospitalization, to 252 months in prison. The punishment is in the mid-range of federal sentencing guidelines calculated for Skinner, which called for a sentence of between 235 and 293 months of incarceration. The mandatory minimum is 15 years.

While acknowledging Skinners mental health problems and the trauma he suffered as a child, federal prosecutors said those issues fall short of negating the serious nature of his crimes, and they required a tough sentence.

To the governments knowledge, this is the only case involving a defendant who flew halfway around the globe for the purpose of confronting a 14-year-old girl who broke off their online relationship, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hood in a sentencing memorandum filed in U.S. District Court.

From Jan. 11, 2018, through Feb. 9, 2018, Skinner created 49 videos that memorialized the victims sexual acts that Skinner induced her to perform online, according to evidence.

Like undoubtedly thousands, or tens of thousands, of other individuals prosecuted over the years in the United States, the defendant began an online relationship with a minor, Hood wrote. Initially their relationship was, at a minimum, age inappropriate. As things quickly evolved and crossed over into the emotional and sexual realm, it became illegal. Also like other defendants caught in Skinners spot, his criminal conduct involved the secret production of child pornography that the victim was unaware of at the time.

Hood also noted the horror the victims family felt after Skinner suddenly arrived on their doorstep and tried to force his way into their home and they first learned that the defendant was someone their 14-year-old daughter had met online.

The fact that the mother was able to successfully prevent the defendants forcible entry by shooting him in the neck did not diminish the horror then and does not diminish the horror now, Hood said.

Skinner first met the girl in an online game launcher called Steam, and they began chatting on Steam before transitioning to a different online platform called Discord, an application designed for the online gaming community that can be downloaded and accessed through both cellphones and desktop computers.

Skinners actions led to an 11-count federal indictment in 2019 charging him with nine counts of producing child pornography and one count of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping of a minor, and one count of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping of an adult.

But under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors offered Skinner a chance to plead guilty to a single count of producing child pornography, and he did so in July. The remaining 10 counts were dismissed against him on Friday, in accordance with the agreement.

Defense attorneys Robert Wagner and Laura Koenig said in a sentencing memorandum that Skinner had a tortured and tragic childhood which resulted in serious mental health consequences for him.

He was physically and emotionally abused until the age of 12 by a mentally ill mother who suddenly disappeared and wasnt heard from again. Skinner then moved in with his father, who was emotionally absent and inattentive as a parent and who failed to meet his sons basic needs, according to court documents.

His attorneys said he had no intent to exploit a child because he reasonably believed the Goochland girl was of the age of consent, which is 16 in New Zealand. They also noted that Skinner had no criminal history and was not planning to hurt anyone but himself when he came to the U.S.

Further, the attorneys said that as Skinners relationship with the girl progressed, he fell deeply in love for the first time in his life, but his issues with attachment probably resulted in Mr. Skinner placing too much emotional capital into the relationship.

Mr. Skinner did not believe he was doing anything illegal, they wrote.

He was devastated when the girl broke off their online relationship, the attorneys said, because this was the end of Mr. Skinners only serious romantic relationship he had experienced. He suffered from abandonment issues involving his mother, as well as other significant mental health concerns. He was diagnosed in 2018 as suffering from dependent personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Although he was confused and tormented, he meant no harm to [the victim] or her family, the attorneys said. Once he was denied entry to [the victims] house, his thoughts of killing himself came full circle. Confronted with [the victims] mother pointing a gun at him only several feet away, and threatening to kill him several times, he did not turn and run. He stood there and allowed her to shoot him from close range.

Prosecutors, however, said such assertions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt.

His actions and demeanor on June 22, 2018 ... strongly indicated fury and not sadness, Hood wrote. It was wild-eyed rage that the victim and her mom recalled seeing in the defendants face when he was denied entry into the house.

According to the mothers account, Skinner did not simply stand there and allow himself to be shot.

Rather, he was pushing his body through the opening he had created by smashing a window, and was wildly flailing his arm in an apparent attempt to open the door from the inside when she fired her gun, Hood said.

During his three years in federal detention as his case played out in court, Skinner worked to improve himself and others, obtaining a GED with high scores, becoming a jail trustee and developing a workout program for himself and other inmates, his attorneys wrote. The superintendent of the Northern Neck Regional Jail, where Skinner was held, submitted a letter on his behalf, calling him a model inmate and an example to his peers who exhibited an outstanding attitude and demeanor.
The life of Abraham Peyton Skipwith, a hidden figure in Virginia history, embodies the possibilities of Black people in America from the 18th century through today.

As a man in bondage in Williamsburg, Skipwith had powerful people willing to vouch for him in his 1785 legislative petition for freedom, including Benjamin Harrison V, a former colonial Virginia governor and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Jacquelin Ambler, a member of the Council of State under then-Virginia Gov. Thomas Jefferson.

Skipwith states in his petition that he was rather regarded as a Clerk and assistant than in the unfortunate character of a slave by his late owner, Thomas Bentley.

Skipwith ultimately purchased his own freedom and manumitted his wife, Cloe, and granddaughter, Maria Skipwith. In February 1793, he became the first known Black property owner in what would become Jackson Ward. He built a gambrel-roofed cottage at 400 W. Duval St., owned a silver watch and silver knee buckles, and likely carried supplies in his horse-driven cart.

And before his death, he performed an act that was rare if not unheard of for a Black man of his times in Richmond: He executed a will to keep his property in his familys hands forever.

This history is being uncovered through the research of The JXN Project, a reparative historic preservation nonprofit. At the heart of Skipwiths life and legacy lay the blueprint for the very complicated notion of the Black American dream, says Sesha Joi Moon, co-creator of The JXN Project with her sister, Enjoli Moon.

The Skipwith-Roper family retained ownership of the cottage until 1905. The dwelling, in the path of what would become Interstate 95, was condemned in the late 1950s and slated for demolition. A co-founder of the Historic Richmond Foundation moved the cottage to Goochland County, and today it sits on the site of a former plantation. Its renovation stripped the house of its historical integrity in the estimation of the Moon sisters, who originally hoped to bring it back to Richmond.

Instead, they are seeking to become the architects of a homecoming to make certain that Skipwith can rest in peaceful power.

A week ago, The JXN Project launched a $5.68 million capital campaign to build a replica Skipwith cottage in Jackson Ward as an interpretative historic space not unlike the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Jackson Ward.

Meanwhile, the Richmond Land Bank of the Maggie L. Walker Community Land Trust has committed to transfer 10 of its parcels in Jackson Ward to The JXN Project to create a cultural heritage site that would include the rebuilt Skipwith-Roper cottage, office space and a green space for outdoor community programs.

The next steps are to work with The JXN Project to develop a site plan, continue speaking with neighbors and residents in the area, and to finalize development agreements for the site at North Third and Preston streets, says Julia MacNelly, program director for the land trust.

Jackson Ward was established in 1871 by former Confederates to counter African American political gains during Reconstruction. But this attempt to gerrymander Richmonds Black residents into political impotence had an unintended effect: It created a powerful incubator of Black entrepreneurship.

Jackson Ward became home to the nations first chartered black financial institution, established by William Washington Browne and his Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers in 1888. And in 1903, Maggie L. Walker opened St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, the first chartered financial institution founded by a Black woman.

Construction on what was then the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike decimated Jackson Ward, which fell into decay and decline. Today, Jackson Ward is a gentrifying community struggling to maintain connections to its past glory as a Black Wall Street and Harlem of the South.

Census numbers reflect a changing neighborhood; Jackson Ward was 80% Black in 1970; by 2020, it was 30% Black.

The Moon sisters regard Skipwith as the Founding Father of Jackson Ward, and say his home deserves to be held with the same reverence that is bestowed upon this countrys more traditionally recognized forefathers.

Skipwith presents an opportunity to shift the national gaze from the citys dismantled [Monument] avenue to the alley on which [Skipwith] built a monument in his own right as Jackson Wards first known Black homeowner in 1793.

As part of that objective, Sesha Joi Moon briefed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during his tour of Jackson Ward in December on the intent to pay homage to Skipwith. Her message: Any effort to reconnect neighborhoods like Jackson Ward must begin with acknowledging and atoning for historic injustice.

***

In 2019, the Maggie L. Walker Community Land Trust was established to use vacant and tax-delinquent parcels to develop and steward permanently affordable housing opportunities to foster racially equitable communities. A stated mission of the Land Trust is to repurpose its properties into assets that address community needs and desires.

The Land Trust conducted a survey of neighborhood residents and stakeholders, and one of the things that really came up in that study was preserving and uplifting history, MacNelly said.

The reason that the tracts that would be conveyed to The JXN Project have been vacant for so long is pretty directly related to racist practices that were common throughout the United States, she said, adding that its particularly important for the future of those lots, to kind of draw upon that in a healing way. And I think The JXN Project absolutely does that.

MacNelly called Skipwith a really important figure whose legacy can help bridge the racial equity gap in homeownership.

Beyond systemic barriers stemming from credit, lending and income, One thing that we hear a lot ... is that a lot of households of color arent even given the narrative of homeownership as something thats available to them, she said.

Too often, Black families dont believe that homeownership is within their reach.

And so I think that this project is really important for that reason  because it shows that Black households in particular and households of color have been homeowners in Richmond even against all odds, for centuries, MacNelly said. So I think its really inspiring on that level as well.

The Moon sisters find inspiration in the life of Skipwith, whom they say challenges the one-dimensional enslaved narratives weve been told our entire lives.

Gregg Kimball, director of public services and outreach at the Library of Virginia, sees Skipwith as an example of the perseverance of the human spirit. I cant even imagine someone doing this in his time frame, and yet he does.

People like him who were emancipated and then became free people of color in the slave society, in this netherworld between freedom and enslavement, and the trials and things they go through reflect that, said Kimball, noting that Skipwith aspires to free enslaved relatives in his will. This line between freedom and enslavement is so thin. And being connected to these really powerful white people is a way a lot of people got emancipated.

He sees the influence of Ambler, a former state treasurer, in the way Skipwith attempts to use his knowledge of how money works to lift up his still-enslaved relatives. He saw how these things worked, up close and personal.

And from these seeds sprang Black entrepreneurship. People in these really extreme circumstances learned how to do these things and support themselves. I think theres a continuum between Maggie Walker and people who do that today.

***

The Jackson Ward story is not a singular one.

African American prosperity in the aftermath of the Civil War came under violent physical assault in such cities as Wilmington, N.C., where a biracial government was overthrown by an 1898 coup by white supremacists, and the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Okla., site of a 1921 race massacre.

In mid-20th-century Richmond, the weapon of choice against Jackson Ward was not armed insurrection or bombs from above, but public policy that placed a historic neighborhood in the crosshairs of highway construction.

When you think of the amount of economic value that was destroyed in real time by that one aspect of public policy, you begin to understand what we mean by the lack of access to capital, said Marland Buckner, interim director of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.

The JXN Project on Skipwith represents an expansion of the aperture in particular regarding ways we think about the arc of capital formation in Black Richmond and the Black community  the way that process has been interrupted largely by public policy including but not limited to bulldozing and other forms of destruction, Buckner said.

Whats really exciting right now is framing these conversations in a forward-looking, optimistic context where we are using this hidden history to inform our public policy conversations today, he said. Not for the sake of retribution, but so we can more clearly understand how much social and economic value has been destroyed, so we can capture the upside moving forward.

The Moon sisters plan to complete the project by 2026, in time for this nations 250th anniversary. For them, the cottage would be a homecoming not just for Skipwith, but for the multitudes of Black Americans who can trace their American roots to Virginia.

Its important to excavate, elevate and educate others on a hidden figure like Skipwith, they say, because his fortified shoulders helped to define what it means to be Black and American.
Democrats are questioning the objectivity of an ongoing investigation by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares after one of his assistants wrote that he wants a plum assignment if the AG looks good when the investigation ends.

Miyares is investigating sexual assault cases in Loudoun County schools.

According to public records released by the attorney generals office, Carlton Davis, a special assistant to Miyares for investigations, wrote to Klarke Kilgore, the attorney generals chief of external affairs and policy, on Jan. 23.

Davis praised Miyares decision to fire Tim Heaphy as general counsel at the University of Virginia, saying its pretty clear where his loyalties lie.

Also, when the Loudoun County investigation wraps up in a few months, assuming it is done well and the AG looks good (as is the hope/expectation on my end), as mentioned a couple of times, Id be very interested in working in the University Counsels office ...

Kilgore replied that theyd keep him in mind.

Democrats said the exchange raises a question about whether or not Miyares objectively wants to get the facts in the investigation.

Del. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, said Friday that hes concerned Miyares wants to politicize the investigation to make himself look good, rather than actually do anything to help protect kids in our schools and give parents peace of mind.

Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, asked how the public could trust the outcome of the investigation when their work is clearly rife with personal, political motivations.

On Jan. 15, the day of his inauguration, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order that authorizes Miyares to investigate Loudoun Countys public schools, where a teenage student committed sexual assaults at two schools. Youngkins directive asserts the school board and administrators withheld key details and knowingly lied to parents.

The Democrats also questioned the vetting process by Miyares for his hires following the Thursday resignation of a deputy attorney general, Monique Miles, who resigned after The Washington Post obtained social media posts in which she praised the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol rioters as patriots, falsely claimed Donald Trump won the 2020 election and espoused conspiracy theories about voter fraud.

A Miyares representative attended the news conference in the state legislative building where the Democrats spoke; the attorney generals office issued a statement saying the investigation was not partisan or political. It noted that the investigation is being led by Theo Stamos, a Democrat and former commonwealths attorney in Arlington who is a special counsel to Miyares.

The statement accused the Democrats of not wanting the truth.

The Office of the Attorney General is dedicated to discovering the truth about what happened in Loudoun County this past year, because every Virginia family deserves answers.
Gov. Glenn Youngkins goal to expand the number of publicly funded, independently run schools now hinges on a proposal to entice colleges and universities to open such schools  a proposal that has garnered support from Democrats in the Senate and key education groups.

That support, however, might be conditional: Republicans would need to find funding for the schools without touching public school dollars.

Two Democratic-controlled Senate panels on Thursday gave unanimous support to a bill introduced by Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, that would expand the number of colleges and universities that are eligible to open and operate K-12 schools, or lab schools.

The legislation is part of the Youngkin administrations broader agenda to expand school choice in Virginia, where, Youngkin has said, parents and students deserve more options outside of traditional public schools. Youngkin ran on promises to expand the number of charter schools or innovation schools in Virginia, proposing at least 20 new schools, but he also told supporters during campaign events that he hoped to see up to 200.

The Youngkin administration has intentionally strayed from making a distinction between charter schools, innovation schools or lab schools. Lab schools have proved more politically palatable to some Democrats, but the best term might depend on the legislations final form.

Legislation to expand charter schools explicitly has failed to gain necessary traction among Democrats in the legislature. The administration is now leaning on the lab schools bill to deliver on Youngkins campaign promise.

Pillions bill would rework an existing state law that allows colleges and universities with teacher preparatory programs to open lab schools, which were traditionally meant to be training grounds for future teachers, funded by the state.

No lab schools are now operating in Virginia. The administrations proposal, which has the backing of dozens of higher education leaders, would allow any higher education institution to open such a school, shifting the focus from training new teachers to what the administration describes as fostering innovation in education.

The version moving through the Democratic-led Senate, Pillion said during a hearing Thursday, is the result of negotiations with three Senate Democrats and a number of education groups, including the Virginia Education Association. The version moving through the GOP-controlled House, introduced by Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, remains much closer to what the administration pitched.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, pointed to several critical changes urged by Democrats from what was originally introduced.

For starters, private businesses and for-profit colleges and universities are not eligible to open a school.

That would have been a charter school, she said.

Hashmi said the bill also encourages colleges and universities to work with local school boards to open the schools  giving preference to applications submitted as part of a partnership between a higher education institution and one or more local school boards. The bill also says the local school board can appoint a member to the schools governing board.

(Applications from historically Black colleges and universities, and to open schools in areas with high poverty rates, would also get preference.)

A critical snag for the administrations proposal is a provision in the Senate version that says the schools will not be funded using local, state or federal per-pupil dollars.

School choice advocates, including Davis, chair of the House Education Committee, have argued that public education dollars should follow students to the schools they attend, whether they be traditional neighborhood schools, lab schools or charter schools.

In the House, Davis said during a hearing Wednesday that he was not immediately open to an amendment saying that no local funds, no state funds, no federal funds that go to school boards follows these students.

During the House hearing, Democrats on the chambers education panel roundly opposed the lab schools measure. Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, said the administration is squishing together a bunch of terms to advance a bill that would ultimately expand the number of charter schools in the state funded with public school dollars.

A lab school, its intention is to be a teacher preparatory place where youre trying new pedagogy and youre trying it out with teachers who are learning, said VanValkenburg, a teacher.

Under current law, if the governor wants to throw some money at that, we can do it and I would support that. Where I think this legislation falls short is that its not a lab school bill, its a charter school bill.

Davis bill is poised to prevail in the House. If Pillions bill clears the Senate, the bills will need to be reconciled in the coming weeks.

The Senate version has the support of the Virginia Education Association and the Virginia School Boards Association.

Shane Riddle, a lobbyist for the VEA, said the funding amendment was critical to the groups support.

We wanted to make sure that the local, state and federal funding stayed with the local school division from which the student is enrolled  that way, the school district wouldnt lose that funding for the student, he said.

During a Senate hearing Thursday night, Pillion said the state could put money in a designated fund for the schools; the schools are also allowed to accept private donations, but cannot charge tuition.

The Youngkin administration has only asked for a one-time $150 million investment to help the schools open. During an event Youngkin hosted last month to tout the proposal, Javaune Adams-Gaston, the president of Norfolk State University, a historically Black university backing the proposal, made clear funding was critical to the success of the plan.

Hashmi said: Public school funding is not following the student, so Im not clear where the funding is going to come from.
With some exceptions, GOP House leaders on Friday cleared more than 1,000 of former Gov. Ralph Northams nominees serving on dozens of government boards, backing down from a threat to leave the roles vacant in a scuffle with Democrats.

Northam named the nominees to sit on boards that deal with industry regulations, universities and trade agreements. The appointees were serving on a temporary basis awaiting confirmation from the legislature.

Earlier Friday, Democrats in the House and Senate said House GOP leaders had told them that they did not intend to confirm the nominees by Friday nights midnight deadline.

The nominees would have been effectively removed from their jobs, leaving a whopping number of technical positions open for the new governor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, to fill.

The standoff appeared to stem from Democrats opposition to Youngkins Natural Resources Secretary Andrew Wheeler, who served as the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump, and claims by Senate Democrats that they pose a brick wall to the Virginia GOP.

On Tuesday the Senate voted 21-19 along party lines to back a committee amendment removing Wheeler from a list of appointments working its way through the Senate.

Before a vote Friday evening to confirm the Northam nominees, House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, said the House GOP does not believe Senate Democrats are acting in good faith.

Neither chamber should be bragging about being a brick wall, he said.

Ultimately, the chamber approved hundreds of nominees, with 11 exceptions. Republicans in the House rejected three of Northams nominees to the state Board of Education  Stewart D. Roberson, Anthony Swann and Jamelle Smith Wilson.

Roberson and Wilson are both former Hanover County school superintendents.

They also rejected two of Northams nominees to the State Air Pollution Control Board, as well as nominees to other boards.

Democrats in the legislature heavily criticized the GOPs threats. Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke of Hampton said earlier Friday that House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, had made clear in a conversation Friday that he did not intend to act on the appointments. She said that during the exchange, the bravado and arrogance of House Republicans and Governor Youngkin were laid bare.

They are putting partisan politics ahead of good governance, Locke said in a statement.

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said the move by the GOP would have brought  parts of our government to a screeching halt. Ebbin said Senate Democrats were prepared to fight fire with fire by declining to confirm Youngkins own appointments.

The roles on the line included the boards of visitors of colleges and universities, and the boards that help set rules for regulated professions like dentistry. They also included boards for the Virginia Port Authority, as well as Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Go Virginia, which vet economic development projects and appoint high-powered CEOs.

Many have been serving in their roles for months or a year.

Two high-ranking Northam administration officials who declined to be named because they are no longer working in government said many of the roles are not political, and that the people who have been working in them represent people sought out by the former administration for their expertise.

House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, said in a statement late Friday that the GOP threat and ultimate removal of some nominees without a full hearing was reckless, plain and simple. She specifically blamed Youngkin.

This is not a win for our government, Filler-Corn said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkins ambitious tax cut package isnt what it used to be in the Virginia Senate, but the governor salvaged a portion of his proposal to repeal the sales tax on groceries two days after it had been killed and resuscitated.

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved a compromise that would repeal two parts of the grocery tax  1% that the state collects and redistributes to local school divisions based on school-age population, and 0.5% that raises money for the states transportation program.

It would not repeal the 1% local option tax that goes directly to local governments.

The bill, which also would exempt menstrual products from the sales tax, conforms to the grocery tax proposal that former Gov. Ralph Northam included in his parting two-year budget. It would use state funds to replace the money distributed to local school divisions, but would not compensate for the loss of more than $186 million in transportation funding over two years.

The 13-2 vote represented a bipartisan gesture to repeal most of a tax that Republicans and Democrats have been trying to eliminate for decades, but became more urgent after Youngkin was elected in November on promises to deliver billions of dollars in tax cuts to Virginians.

Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, and Sen. John Edwards, Roanoke, voted against the compromise. Hanger, who had dinner with the governor the previous evening, had advocated carrying over the proposal until next year to allow a new joint subcommittee to consider it as part of a study of state and local tax policy.

On another Youngkin tax cut plan, Hanger joined Democrats in voting 12-4 to kill a proposal to carry out the governors promise to reduce the state gas tax on July 1 for 12 months to compensate for the 5-cent-per gallon increase that took effect last July 1.

Senate Bill 541, proposed by Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, would have reduced fuel tax revenues by more than $275 million in the next fiscal year and $102 million the year after that, when the gas tax would have risen by a smaller amount under the consumer price index.

The committee put another dent in the governors tax package by referring a proposed one-time income tax exemption of up to $250,000 for qualifying small businesses to the joint subcommittee on tax policy. Youngkin had proposed a budget amendment of $75 million to pay for it.

Senate Finance already has asked the joint tax subcommittee to study one of Youngkins centerpiece proposals, to double the standard deduction on income tax, which would have cost the state about $2 billion over two years.

Earlier this week, the finance committee approved another major Youngkin tax proposal to give one-time refunds of $300 to individual taxpayers and $600 to married couples, which will cost the state about $1.2 billion from the $2.6 billion revenue surplus in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

On Thursday, the committee approved a reduced tax break for military retirees, which would allow them to exempt a portion of their retirement income over three years. The bill, proposed by Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, initially would have exempted up to $40,000 in annual military retirement income, phased in over three years.

Instead, the committee unanimously endorsed a compromise that would exempt up to $20,000 in retirement income, phased in over four years, with $5,000 exempt in the first year.

Youngkins tax package has fared much better in the Republican-controlled House, but faces a test there on Friday when the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to act on a slew of tax proposals almost a week before it releases its version of the state budget.

Most of the governors tax proposals have remained intact in the House Finance Committee, which earlier this week approved a version of the military retirement income tax exemption proposed by Del. John McGuire, R-Goochland. His bill would exempt up to $40,000 in retirement income by the third year.
A powerful state Senate committee killed a proposal on Thursday evening that would have allowed Petersburg residents to hold a referendum on hosting a casino in the city.

The bill from Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, also would have prevented Richmond from holding a second referendum  for five years  after voters in the city narrowly defeated a proposal for a casino last year.

I was thunderstruck as to what occurred, Morrissey said in an interview after the meeting of the Senate Finance and Appropriations committee. He said he plans to discuss the vote with the Democratic caucus and will try to revive the bill.

Morrissey has said allowing Richmond to vote again would be undemocratic and redundant.

Last year, Morrissey began exploring how Petersburg could potentially take Richmonds spot, hoping that it could help revitalize the city of approximately 33,000 people in his district.

The committees vote to defeat the bill was 9-7. The bill drew support and opposition from both Democrats who control the committee and Republicans.

Six Democrats and three Republicans voted to defeat the measure. Five Democrats and two Republicans backed the bill.

Legislation is generally sent to that committee if it has a budget impact on the state. Morrisseys proposal had no fiscal impact.
The seventh annual Uplifting Black Men Conference, to be held virtually on Saturday, Feb. 19, borrowed its theme of Lift Your Voice from a beloved source: the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing, widely considered the Black national anthem.

It is a song that reflects upon the heritage of African Americans in their story of the tension between hope and despair, said Patrick Wallace, assistant director of the Student Success Center and a conference organizer. Thats the vision of this conference: teaching people how to speak hope in despair, no matter where they are.

The Uplifting Black Men Conference debuted in 2016 to create a space of belonging and empowerment for young Black men at Virginia Tech and beyond. Between 300 and 500 students, faculty, staff, alumni, high school students and community members are expected to attend the free event. The conference is not just for Black men, said Kimberly Smith, associate vice provost of student success initiatives. Its open to any individual who wants to support the academic and social success of Black men.

This years keynote speaker will be Fred Bonner II, a professor and endowed chair in educational leadership and counseling and founding executive director of the Minority Achievement, Creativity, and High-Ability (MACH-III) Center at Prairie View A&M University, a Historically Black College and University in Prairie View, Texas. Bonner studies issues of diversity and inclusion in higher education, including the success of academically gifted African American male college students.

Breakout sessions will add to the theme of lifting ones voice personally, socially, academically and professionally, with speakers that include Sylvester A. Johnson, assistant vice provost for the humanities; Wayne A. Scales, the J. Byron Maupin Professor of Engineering in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and DeLeon Gray, CEO of Black and Belonging and an associate professor of educational psychology and equity at North Carolina State University.

For Wallace, the goal of the conference is twofold: to help Black students see their own potential, and to let them know theyre not here alone, that there is an initiative that is supporting and advocating for their academic success, advocating for their future.

Wallace, a native of Philadelphia, doesnt remember receiving that kind of support as an undergraduate at Penn State. But as the director of Virginia Techs Black Male Excellence Network (BMEN), he hopes to engage Black students academically and socially with programming like the Uplifting Black Men Conference or study sessions in the library.

For a conference that falls during Black History Month, Lift Your Voice is the perfect message, said Smith. Its meant to be empowering to the students. They have a voice of their own, and we want them to feel confident in expressing that voice.

The Uplifting Black Men Conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Register for the virtual conference at https://upliftingblackmenconference.questionpro.com/.

For questions, or to get involved in BMEN, contact Patrick Wallace at patrickw21@vt.edu.

- Submitted by Virginia Tech
RICHMOND  Gov. Glenn Youngkins goal to expand the number of publicly funded, independently run schools now hinges on a proposal to entice colleges and universities to open such schools  a proposal that has garnered support from Democrats in the Senate and key education groups.

That support, however, might be conditional: Republicans would need to find funding for the schools without touching public school dollars.

Two Democrat-controlled Senate panels on Thursday gave unanimous support to a bill introduced by Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, that would expand the number of colleges and universities that are eligible to open and operate K-12 schools, or lab schools.

The legislation is part of the Youngkin administrations broader agenda to expand school choice in Virginia, where, Youngkin has said, parents and students deserve more options outside of traditional public schools. Youngkin ran on promises to expand the number of charter schools or innovation schools in Virginia, proposing at least 20 new schools but he also told supporters during campaign events that he hoped to see up to 200.

The Youngkin administration has intentionally strayed from making a distinction between charter schools, innovation schools or lab schools. Lab schools have proved more politically palatable to some Democrats, but the best term might depend on the legislations final form.

Legislation to expand charter schools explicitly has failed to gain necessary traction among Democrats in the legislature. The administration is now leaning on the lab schools bill to deliver on Youngkins campaign promise.

Pillions bill would rework an existing state law that allows colleges and universities with teacher preparatory programs to open lab schools, which were traditionally meant to be training grounds for future teachers, funded by the state.

No lab schools are now operating in Virginia. The administrations proposal, which has the backing of dozens of higher education leaders, would allow any higher education institution to open such a school, shifting the focus from training new teachers to what the administration describes as fostering innovation in education.

The version moving through the Democrat-led Senate, Pillion said during a hearing Thursday, is the result of negotiations with three Democratic senators and a number of education groups, including the Virginia Education Association. The version moving through the GOP-controlled House, introduced by Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, remains much closer to what the administration pitched.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, pointed to several critical changes urged by Democrats from what was originally introduced.

For starters, private businesses, for-profit colleges and universities are not eligible to open a school. That would have been a charter school, she said.

Hashmi said the bill also encourages colleges and universities to work with local school boards to open the schoolsgiving preference to applications submitted as part of a partnership between a higher education institution and one or more local school boards. The bill also says the local school board can appoint a member to the schools governing board.

(Applications from historically Black colleges and universities, and to open schools in areas with high poverty rates, would also get preference.)

A critical snag for the administrations proposal is a provision in the Senate version that says the schools will not be funded using local, state or federal per-pupil dollars.

School choice advocates, including Davis, chair of the House Education Committee, have argued that public education dollars should follow students to the schools they attend, whether they be traditional neighborhood schools, lab schools or charter schools.

In the House, Davis said during a hearing Wednesday he was not immediately open to an amendment saying that no local funds, no state funds, no federal funds that go to school boards follows these students.

During the House hearing, Democrats on the chambers education panel roundly opposed the lab schools measure. Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, said the administration is squishing together a bunch of terms to advance a bill that would ultimately expand the number of charter schools in the state funded with public school dollars.

A lab school, its intention is to be a teacher preparatory place where youre trying new pedagogy and youre trying it out with teachers who are learning, said VanValkenburg, a teacher.

Under current law, if the governor wants to throw some money at that, we can do it and I would support that. Where I think this legislation falls short is that its not a lab school bill, its a charter school bill.

Davis bill is poised to prevail in the House. If Pillions bill clears the Senate, the bills will need to be reconciled in the coming weeks.

The Senate version has the support of the Virginia Education Association and the Virginia School Boards Association.

Shane Riddle, a lobbyist for the VEA, said the funding amendment was critical to the groups support. We wanted to make sure that the local, state and federal funding stayed with the local school division from which the student is enrolledthat way, the school district wouldnt lose that funding for the student, he said.

During a Senate hearing Thursday night, Pillion said the state could put money in a designated fund for the schools; the schools are also allowed to accept private donations, but cannot charge tuition.

The Youngkin administration has only asked for a one-time $150 million investment to help the schools open. During an event Youngkin hosted last month to tout the proposal, Javaune Adams-Gaston, the president of Norfolk State University, a historically Black university backing the proposal, made clear funding was critical to the success of the plan.

Hashmi said: Public school funding is not following the student, so Im not clear where the funding is going to come from.
The man accused in a fatal shooting last fall in Roanoke had fired a gun into the air weeks earlier during an argument with the victim, according to an account laid out in court by prosecutors.

John-Bayleigh Dakota Smith, 21, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Clayton Troy Williams.

Williams, 46, was shot during the early morning hours of Nov. 14 outside a home on Williamson Road where people had come together to continue socializing after surrounding bars had closed for the night.

He was struck six times, including four times in the back, authorities said this week during a bond hearing for Smith.

The shooting occurred more than a month after a witness said the two men had gotten into an argument, said assistant prosecutor Jack Patterson.

That disagreement was described as being sparked by racially offensive language. In an interview last fall, Williams sister said she was told that her brothers assailant, who was white, had referred to her brother, who was Black, as a n-----.

The dispute ended with Smith leaving while firing a gun into the air and saying something to the effect of dont mess with people from Georgia, Patterson said.

The November shooting happened when the two men ran into each other again, witnesses reported. Williams tried to make peace but was shot. He died at the scene, police said.

It did not appear the men knew each other well. Patterson said witnesses were able to describe the gunman but didnt know his name as he had been seen out by the group infrequently.

Smiths attorney, Patrick Kenney, didnt speak to the allegations other than to note the case hadnt been adjudicated in court yet.

Smith was arrested days after the shooting and held in jail. In the three months since, hes shed about 60 pounds, Kenney said, asking the court to compare a copy of his original booking photo to the angular frame he had at Wednesdays hearing.

Smith has Aspergers syndrome and an eating condition that leaves him unable to eat food unless he knows who cooked it, Kenney said. Hes essentially been living off junk food at the commissary  He is deteriorating.

The defense asked that Smith be allowed to live with his family with a curfew and other conditions in place. He has no prior criminal record, Kenney said, and its not believed that drugs or substance abuse are factors.

The defense previously requested that Smith be given a psychological evaluation. That took place this week. The report is pending, Kenney said, and other medical records are being gathered that he hoped would shed light on the case.

The prosecution, in opposing the bond motion, presented more details about the accusations and said Smith also had been seen carrying a gun in a local bar in October before the fatal shooting.

The gun was in his waistband, Patterson said. It was spotted by a police officer who was working an off-duty assignment that night. The officer stopped Smith, questioned him and confiscated the gun.

His body camera footage later helped detectives identify Smith, Patterson said.

The sequence of events described show an escalating pattern of behavior, Patterson argued. He called Smith a danger to the community that no bond restrictions could offset.

Kenney said he realized it would be unusual to grant bond in a case of this type but argued there were unique circumstances that justified it.

Judge David Carson ruled against allowing bond. Smith will remain in custody until his trial date. That is currently set for June.

Williams was the brother-in-law of Robert Jeffrey, a member of Roanoke City Council. Family members of the defendant and the deceased attended the hearing.

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Already slowed by winter weather and a courts reversal of two vital permits, construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has hit another hiatus.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said this week it will not act on Mountain Valleys pending application to cross streams and wetlands now that a federal appeals court has struck down another agencys conclusion that the pipeline would not jeopardize endangered species in its path.

Our evaluation will require review of a valid BO, or biological opinion, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Col. Jayson Putnam of the Army Corps wrote in a letter Wednesday to an attorney for pipeline opponents.

On Feb. 3, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated an opinion from the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, ruling that the agency had not adequately considered how construction of the 303-mile long natural gas pipeline would impact endangered species in its path.

After receiving the letter from Putnam, attorney Derek Teaney of Appalachian Mountain Advocates on Friday withdrew a request to the Fourth Circuit to stay the stream-crossing permitting process, which had been made before the Feb. 3 ruling.

With the Corps assurance that it will not move forward for now, there is no longer a showing of irreparable harm to the environment that would have required a stay, Teaney wrote in court documents.

The latest development means that Mountain Valley is nowhere close to obtaining three sets of federal permits it needs to complete the $6.2 billion project.

The recent letter from the Corps means MVP cant be granted an all access pass to our waterways before the pipelines effects on endangered fish are carefully studied, Caroline Hansley, a senior organizer with the Sierra Club, said in a statement Friday.

In rejecting the biological opinion, the Fourth Circuit cited concerns about the fate of two endangered species  the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter  that feed along river bottoms that are in danger of being coated by sediment washed by rainfall from pipeline construction sites.

Mountain Valley has been cited nearly 400 times with violating state regulations meant to limit erosion and sedimentation.

For the past four years, the company been granted permits from federal agencies, only to have them reversed on appeals filed by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups.

Mountain Valleys most recent plan was to have the pipeline done by this summer. Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for the joint venture of five energy companies building the pipeline, said Friday that an update on the timing will likely come Feb. 22. when Equitrans Midstream, the lead partner, is scheduled to discuss its financial earnings in a conference call.

EQT Corp., a driller of the natural gas that will be transported by the pipeline from northern West Virginia to an existing line in Pittsylvania County, said Thursday that it tentatively expects Mountain Valley to be in service by mid-2023.

During a conference call Thursday to discuss EQTs fourth-quarter earnings, company officials said the projection is a placeholder until more definitive word comes from Mountain Valley.

Original plans had called for the buried pipeline to be finished by the end of 2018.

As it has in years past, Mountain Valley suspended work for the winter. Erosion and sediment control maintenance is currently the primary activity on the pipelines 125-foot wide right-of-way, which passes through Southwest Virginia north of Blacksburg and southwest of Roanoke.

Although all but about 20 miles of the pipe is now in the ground, Mountain Valley has been unable to cross below streams and wetlands or work in the Jefferson National Forest.

In those areas, the 42-inch steel pipe has set above the ground for years, suspended on wooden platforms that are called cribbings.

One of the cribbings deteriorated to the point that a section of the pipe slipped off and slid about 40 feet down a snow-covered slope, according to an inspection report filed Friday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Jan. 19 incident happened in a section of national forest in Montgomery County, not far from where the pipeline crests Brush Mountain.

No one was injured and there was no apparent environmental harm, the report stated.

The pipe remains on national forest land and will be removed when weather conditions improve, Cox wrote in an email. She said the pipes have been stored along the right-of-way since 2018, but have yet to be buried as legal battles continue.

Situations such as this stress the importance of completing construction and placing MVP in-service, which is best for permanent, long-term environmental protection, she wrote in her email.

Earlier this week, questions about Mountain Valley came up during a meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which was interviewing nominees for positions in the Department of Interior.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia who chairs the committee, expressed frustrations about the the most recent permit denials.

It has run into court case after court case after court case, Manchin said in a recording posted to the committees website. This product needs to get to market.

The senator, whose state includes the first 200-some miles of the 303-mile pipeline, asked nominee Laura Daniel-Davis how quickly problems identified by the Fourth Circuit will be corrected to allow a new permit for the pipeline to cross through the Jefferson National Forest.

We are working closely with the Solicitors Office, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife service [to address the issue], said Daniel-Davis, who is being considered for assistant secretary of the interior for land and minerals management.

During EQTs conference call Thursday, company officials remained bullish on the project despite repeated setbacks.

Shortages of natural gas in New England and elsewhere show that there is a need for the fossil fuel that EQT has been extracting from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, according to Toby Rice, president and CEO of the company.

We really are looking forward to getting that pipeline project completed, Rice told financial analysts during the call.

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RICHMOND  Republican Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears cast her first tiebreaking vote in the state Senate on Thursday, tipping the tally against a sentencing bill proposed by Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, before the senators decided to reconsider their stalemate.

Edwards SB 137 would allow a defendant in a criminal trial the right to appeal a judges sentence. If appealed, the judge would then be required to provide written reasoning for the sentencing.

I thought we had 21 Senate votes, Edwards said during a phone call after Thursdays session. Were looking at making sure everybody understands it, and also if it needs any clarification.

The 40-member state Senate split evenly on its vote, leaving Earle-Sears to decide the fate of Edwards bill and prompting her first tiebreaker since being elected lieutenant governor.

Standing at the central podium, she paused, glanced around the room, then called for a break, having a private discussion for the next 10 minutes with Edwards and Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham.

We both tried to explain it our way, and I think he tried to make it clear to her look, you should be on the Republican side, Edwards said, recalling the conversation with Earle-Sears and Obenshain. It didnt surprise me how she came down.

With a slap of her gavel, Earle-Sears reconvened the chamber. With another bang of the gavel, she cast a deciding vote.

The chair votes no, Earle-Sears said. The bill fails.

If it wasnt for the honor of providing the session its first tiebreaker, Edwards joked that he mightve been more upset by the vote.

And so, at least for the next 20 minutes, it seemed Edwards bill was killed on the Senate floor.

But then it jolted back to life with a kick from Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, who requested the Senate reconsider its vote on SB 137, and the chamber agreed. McPike was the lone Democrat to vote against the bill.

Democrats have a narrow 21-19 advantage in the Senate. Thursdays vote on Edwards bill illustrates the razor-thin margin Senate Democrats hold.

Edwards, holding out for a better outcome on Friday, requested the bill go by for the day.

Hopefully we can get everybody in line, he said after the fact. Well find out more tomorrow.

The Senate convened for more than three hours on Thursday, in preparation to swap its bills with the House of Delegates early next week. That exchanging of bills between chambers is known as crossover, marking the halfway point of this years 60-day legislative session.

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A Richmond patrol officer has pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty stemming from an October incident in which he fatally shot his fiancees dog at a home they shared in Powhatan County.

He then fabricated a story claiming he accidentally killed the dog while trying to stop a bear attack.

Richard R. Chinappi III, 27, also pleaded guilty to giving a false report to police about how the dog, a 27-pound beagle-hound mix, was killed on Oct. 19 at his home in the 6100 block of Walnut Tree Drive. He will be sentenced on March 11.

According to a summary of evidence by Powhatan Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Rob Cerullo, the Powhatan Sheriffs Office received a call from the father of Chinappis fiancee about an alleged bear attack at the home his daughter shared with Chinappi.

Upon arrival, officers located Chinappi, who showed signs of intoxication. Inside the house, they discovered blood spatter on the kitchen island, pantry and refrigerator, along with blood smeared on the floor, which appeared to be semi-cleaned up. They also found bloody Clorox wipes and a bottle of Clorox bleach.

In a police interview, Chinappi initially reported he was in the bathroom when he heard footsteps coming from the back deck. He said that when his dog began barking and acting crazy, he soon realized a bear had entered his house. He said he grabbed a shotgun he kept in the bathroom and fired at the bear.

When asked what happened to the dog, Chinappi said the bear carried if off.

He claimed the bear wandered inside through a back door he left open while grilling steaks the prior evening.

However, deputies could find no evidence  such as footprints or markings  suggesting a bear had been inside or even near the home. They did, however, find signs a weapon had been fired inside the house.

After a police supervisor pressed Chinappi, insisting his version of events didnt add up, Chinappi changed his story, saying he accidentally shot the dog while firing at the bear. He said the one shotgun blast he fired went through the bear and struck the dog.

Chinappi said he buried the dog in the woods near his home. Deputies recovered the remains, which were sent to a veterinarian for examination. A necropsy determined the dog had been shot at close range. There was a huge hole in the dogs body along with remnants of shotgun pellets.

Mark Bong, Chinappis attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chinappi was hired by Richmond police in October 2016 and assigned to uniform patrol. He was placed on administrative leave after his arrest. He will remain on leave for the duration of his court case.

Once concluded, the department will continue with our internal administrative process, said Richmond police spokeswoman Tracy Walker.

Cerullo said Chinappis attorney has written a letter to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to notify it of his clients intention to voluntarily surrender his law enforcement certification.
Win or lose, fossil fuel expansion or renewable energy future, we must protect our democracy.

Last year, Virginias Air Pollution Control Board rejected an air quality permit for the proposed Lambert Compressor Station  designed to propel gas into North Carolina through the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP)s proposed Southgate extension  signaling a huge environmental justice victory.

A month later, the Virginia State Water Control Board approved a water permit for the MVP, signing off on state approval for the MVP to build across hundreds of Virginia waterways.

These contrasting decisions have one thing in common: they were both issued by a citizen board. In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality has three regulatory boards composed of citizens appointed by the governor based on merit, and without regard for political affiliation.

Two of these boards, the Air Pollution Control Board and State Water Control Board, are deemed responsible for overseeing Virginias environmental regulations and approving or denying permits.

They conduct hearings and take public input on controversial projects, and in the case of the MVP, frequently side with DEQ over the objections of community members.

Virginia Mercury found only four instances over the past two decades where the Air and Water Boards have gone against a permit decision recommendation by the DEQ.

The third citizen board, the Virginia Waste Management Board, oversees waste management activities and does not have permitting authority.

Citizen boards are a key element of democracy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. And just like many democratic institutions across the country, they are under threat.

During this legislative season, Sens. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, and Richard Stuart, R-King George, and Dels. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, and Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack, proposed bills to hand all power for approving permits to the DEQ Director, thus taking this ability away from the citizen boards.

The Democrat-controlled Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee sided with industry lobbyists and advanced a combined bill (Senate Bill 657). Stripping permitting authority from citizen boards would place decisions behind closed doors, further restricting meaningful public input.

Across the country, dangerous new laws exacerbate existing hurdles to voting, especially for communities of color and low wealth communities.

During municipal elections in November of 2021, voters in Georgia were 45 times more likely to have their mail-in ballots rejected, and ultimately not vote as a result.

Largely thanks to Black legislators, Virginians have unprecedented access to voting, after a long history of disenfranchisement. We must preserve the voting legislation that allows this, especially as other Southern states seek to create more restrictive voting laws.

Another threat to our democracy lies in pipeline protest laws. In the past half decade, 13 states have enacted laws that increase the penalties of trespassing, damaging, and interfering with oil refineries and pipelines. This includes our neighbor West Virginia, which heightened penalties for protests near pipelines in March 2020.

Now, similar laws are being proposed in Virginia. This is a direct and dangerous attack by fossil fuel companies, with their hands in the pockets of politicians, on our resistance to toxic and unnecessary oil and gas infrastructure, and thus, an attack on our ability to live full and healthy lives.

The threats to our democracy span up and down the ballot: from local threats to citizen boards to the attempt to steal the U.S. presidential election.

As an Army veteran and environmental justice activist, I know that participatory democracy is key to protecting the land, water, and people of this state  and of our country.

In recent years, Virginia has emerged as a leader in climate action, in a country that has long lagged behind the world in addressing the climate catastrophe. The Environmental Justice Act, which the Air Board cited in its decision on Lambert, was passed by the Virginia General Assembly under the stewardship of Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield  two leaders elected in part because of their strong social justice values. Virginia can continue to lead the country  but only if we fight hard to preserve our democracy.

Virginians must call upon their senators to oppose SB 657. Any assault on voting rights, public participation, and freedom of speech is a risk to our future. Now, more than ever, the threat to our democracy is a threat to climate and environmental progress.

Russell Chisholm is a longtime environmental justice organizer and co-chair of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition, which represents individuals and groups from Virginia and West Virginia.
To almost no ones surprise, the latest data drama concerns hyper-popular TikTok, which a new report says is the worst offender in the privacy space, collecting its users personal information and sharing it with  everyone and anyone.

A new study by mobile marketing company URL Genius says that TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, and Google-owned YouTube, collect more personal data from their users than any other popular social media network.

The study notes that YouTube primarily collects users personal data, such as search history and geographic location, for its own purposes. But TikTok is another case entirely.

The study found that TikTok allows third-party trackers to collect its user data, and from there, its difficult to know where it ends up.

In fact, it is impossible to know where users personal information is transmitted and to what end. Consumers are currently unable to see what data is shared with third-party networks, or how their data will be used, the paper said.

The study noted that third-party trackers can track activity of the users on other sites even after they leave the app.

Last year, TikTok had approximately 120.8 million active users in the United States, mostly ages 10 to 29; but not exclusively: Some 11% of the U.S. TikTok user base is over the age of 50.

TikTok has been the subject of criticism in many countries in the past over how the company collects and uses data. In 2020, then-president Donald Trump threatened to ban the app from operating in the U.S., citing national security concerns. He even ordered that Tik-Tok must either sell its U.S. operations to American companies or be barred from the country. However, he failed to get any support for it, including from federal judges.



Once taking the office, current President Joe Biden signed an executive order revoking a Trump-era order aimed at banning TikTok and ordered a review of potential security threats posed by foreign-owned apps.

However, the Biden administration is now moving to revise federal rules to address potential security risks from foreign-owned apps. The US Commerce Department is now considering a rule change that could increase restrictions on foreign-owned apps and expand federal oversight over data-sharing.

Elsewhere, early last year, India banned 59 Chinese apps permanently, with Tik-Tok included, after they failed to satisfy the governments requirements related to compliance and privacy.

Last September, the European Union launched two probes after concerns were expressed over the company's use of minors' personal information.

One investigation is looking into the question due to data transfers to China, while another is focusing on the collection and handling of the personal data of children.

Pakistan and Indonesia have banned the app for short periods of timePakistan on grounds of immoral videos, and Indonesia because the app censored content critical of China.

Meanwhile, in Russia, the government has ordered Tik-tok to remove videos critical of the government and demonstrating support for opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. Russian regulators fined Tik-Tok a symbolic $34,000 for appealing to minors urging them to join political demonstrations.
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Kris Hohag, a citizen of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, is a senior organizing representative at the Sierra Club, an educator and activist for land conservation in the region.
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FLORENCE, S.C.  Even discussing a zero-tolerance for fighting policy seems to have an effect on the level of violence in Florence One Schools.

Richard OMalley, Florence One Schools superintendent, presented information to the board Thursday evening showing that fighting in the district is down 80.92% from the 46 days before the districts board discussed the policy for the first time.

Under the policy, students can be expelled for fighting.

OMalley provided the Morning News a chart showing from Aug. 31 to Nov. 11, the date the board first discussed the policy, there were 173 fights in the districts middle and high schools and from Nov. 12 to Feb. 7, the next 46 days after the initial meeting, there were a total of 33 fights in the districts middle and high schools.

I appreciate the board taking a hard stand, saying enough is enough and moving forward, OMalley said.

The largest decreases were at Wilson High School and John W. Moore Middle School. Fights at Wilson decreased by 94.4%, from 36 fights to two. Fights at Moore decreased by 81%, from 21 fights to four. Every school in the district saw at least a decrease of 68.8% which was the decrease at West Florence High School (16 fights to five fights).

When the board discussed the policy in November, it ignited criticism directed at the board and OMalley including allegations that the policy was racist because the majority of students fighting were African American.

OMalley told the board in November that 86% of the fights in the district involved African Americans.

A community meeting to discuss the new policy was held days before the board considered final approval of the policy. Several parents and community members, including state Senate candidate Suzanne La Rochelle, spoke in opposition to the policy at the December meeting.

And on Dec. 9, the board voted 6-3 to approve the policy over shouts from those attending the meeting. The six yes votes were cast by the white members of the board: Chairman Porter Stewart, Vice Chairwoman Trisha Caudler, Secretary Bryan Chapman, Kimrey-Ann Haughn, Barry Townsend and Davy Gregg. The three no votes were cast by the African American members: Elder Alexis Pipkins Sr., the Rev. E.J. McIver and John Galloway.

We initially put the policy in place because, quite frankly, we had a problem with violence in Florence and it was beginning to creep into our schools, OMalley said. He said the 253 fights the district had in the year before the board discussed the policy would mean almost three fights in every school every day. Thats not normal. Thats not what we expect. Schools supposed to be the safest place for students and we needed to address that.

OMalley added that the district did not want to get into a position where something bad happened and people were asking why the district did not do anything or in a position where the 253 fights were the new normal.

Several people commented about the policy during the public comment portion of the meeting with most arguing that the district needed to make mental health and counseling services available and make more second chance opportunities available.

OMalley agreed the district needed to do better in these areas but added that the policy was still necessary for the safety of the students who werent fighting.

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Stop us if you have heard this before, but Amity is the new No. 1 team in the GameTimeCT Top 10 Baseball Poll. The Spartans claim the top spot after previous No. 1 Warde dropped a 2-1 decision to...
The orchestra is quiet, as winter holds the conductors baton. Still, a song comes to mind. California Dreamin  where much is brown and gray  every shade of brown and gray you can imagine. Yet, if you know where to look, youll see fluorescent green aquatic plants and British soldier lichens wearing red.

That orchestra? Amphibians, insects, and birds await springs great revival when the air will echo with reverberant song.

On a cold January day, Wambaw Bay flexes its winter beauty. Once again I have come to a bay some say is among the more beautiful. Robert Clark, Taylor Main, and I are here to shoot footage for a video feature and PBS TV program. We spend several hours in the bay taking in its winter beauty. Were happy to escape the city and its noise, confusion, and cement-asphalt abhorrence.

A day later Ive returned to civilization, and yesterdays journey seems a dream. Im reflecting on all we saw. We visited the bays limesinks, features giving rise to the bays other name, Florida Bay. Winter rains fill the limesinks. Full, too, of blue sky, they reflected the buttressed trunks of cypresses. Even in winters chill, blue corridors of sky ran through green patches of water.

We saw what some term the mother tree, a withered living cypress some 400 years old. It looked a bit surreal, ghostly, but from it many have followed.

We wandered through buttressed cypresses out into the bays savanna, which looked like a field of wheat thanks to high grasses dressed in winter gold. Here and there stood cypresses with wind-twisted tops. Naked to the sky, they revealed the intricacies of their branches. One outlier looked like a comet streaming through the tree. Below the limbs, well-worn deer paths carved alleys through grasses as if anacondas, not deer, had glided through. In warmer seasons to come perhaps therell be grass pink orchids that look like butterflies and yellow-fringed orchids.

Colonies of withered pitcher plants sleep until springs alarm will signal them to again become death traps to insects seeking nectar. Unlike spring and summer when theyre vibrant and multihued, the pitcher plants have given up the ghost. When I touch them they rattle like paper.

The whole time we were in the bay the only signs of civilization we saw were a distant fence and far more distant silver needle in the sky. An airliner flew over the Francis Marion National Forest. And thats what I love about the more secluded, pristine bays. Little signs of mans meddling save the occasional shotgun shell.

It was beautiful but we were cautious. Walking among cypress knees took some skill. Soggy earth made the feet slip. To fall upon a knee would not be a lot of fun, but seeing the bay in cold season glory was.

When the drone approached it sounded like hornets. Ive been stung here. Wasps. Thats another nice thing about winter in a bay. No ticks, wasps, or mosquitoes. And no people other than we three.

People talk about how peaceful and quiet nature is but that isnt true. Walking into a Carolina bay you will hear hawks cry, doves coo, and quails whistle. When you stand in a bays savanna, birdsong is a 360-degree experience. Chest-high broom sedge carpets the bay. Bladderworts bloom. And wildflowers flourish. Its the arena of butterflies and dragonflies. But that is in the summer.

Now it is winter. As spring approaches, the bay will awaken from its winter slumber. Spring will bring wildflowers and summer will be hotter than the devils kitchen. Now, however, its cold and windy. Winter in Wambaw Bay. It has its own charm. Its own beauty.

Visit Tom Polands website at tompoland.net. Email Tom about most anything at tompol@earthlink.net.
DUBLIN, February 10, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "NRT Smoking Cessation Aids in Singapore" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

When Singapore entered into Phase Three of the country's safe-reopening at the start of 2021, rules of social restrictions were loosened, with social gatherings being permitted to resume for groups of up to eight people. Employees started to return to offices for work when the government announced that up to 75% of staff could return from April 2021.

The publisher's NRT Smoking Cessation Aids in Singapore report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2016-2020, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. Forecasts to 2025 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage:

NRT Gum, NRT Inhalators, NRT Lozenges, NRT Patches, Other NRT.

Data coverage:

Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

Get a detailed picture of the NRT Smoking Cessation Aids market;

Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;

Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Key Topics Covered:

1. KEY DATA FINDINGS

2. 2021 DEVELOPMENTS

Loosening of social restrictions during safe re-opening to increase smoking rates

Stress, anxiety and boredom caused by uncertainty of pandemic

Tightening of smoking regulations as of 2021

3. PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Multi-pronged approach to reduce smoking by local government

Subsidised nicotine replacement therapy to increase awareness of available support

4. NRT smoking cessation aids remains consolidated competitive landscape

5. CATEGORY INDICATORS

6. CATEGORY DATA

7. CONSUMER HEALTH IN SINGAPORE

8. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Consumer health in 2021: The big picture

2021 key trends

Competitive landscape

Retailing developments

What next for consumer health?

Story continues

9. MARKET INDICATORS

10. MARKET DATA

11. APPENDIX

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ba16nu

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210005882/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Genting Hong Kong Ltd.s Crystal Cruises is shutting down its US office and letting go employees. (PHOTO: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

By K. Oanh Ha

(Bloomberg) Genting Hong Kong Ltd.s Crystal Cruises is shutting down its US office and terminating employees, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, days after two of its luxury liners were seized for unpaid bills while its parent looks to restructure with provisional liquidators.

Employees were let go Wednesday, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information hasnt been publicly announced. A video of an announcement made to crew aboard a Crystal ship detailed the news, according to a Twitter posting on Crew Center, a forum for cruise workers.

V.Ships, a vessel management company, will be the new managing firm, according to the announcement. Bloomberg News hasnt been able to independently verify the video.

Unfortunately this is the end of Crystal Cruises, crew were told on the video. We dont know whats going to happen in the future. The ships are for sale.

Crystal Cruises office in the US is closing down. V.Ships will take over as Management Company of the ships. Unfortunately, this is the end of Crystal Cruises. pic.twitter.com/7IUdp6GSd6  Crew Center (@CrewCenter) February 8, 2022

Crystal Cruises, Genting Hong Kong and V.Ships didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The closing of Crystal Cruises headquarters operation in Miami follows the ship seizures last week in the Bahamas. A fuel supplier sought the action for US$4.6 million in unpaid bills.

Genting Hong Kong, meanwhile, is working with provisional liquidators to restructure the group. Crystal became the biggest cruise operator worldwide to seek court assistance to safeguard its assets during the pandemic when it asked the Supreme Court of Bermuda on Jan. 18 to appoint the provisional liquidators after exhausting all reasonable efforts to negotiate with creditors and stakeholders.

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The company reported a record loss of US$1.7 billion in May as the pandemic ravaged the cruising industry. Its German shipbuilding subsidiary, MV Werften, has become insolvent.

READ: Genting Ex-Chairman Blames Germany for Cruise Operators Demise

Crystal Cruises said earlier it was suspending cruises through May. Its call center has been paused until further notice, and it was still processing customer refunds, according to its website.

Dream Cruises Holding Ltd., an indirect non-wholly owned unit of Genting Hong Kong, will continue to operate its fleet in Asia. New Dream Cruises bookings have been suspended until further notice, while Hong Kong sailings of the Genting Dream liner have been canceled through at least Feb. 16 due to the territorys strict social distancing regulations, the company said.

 2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Peshawar police have launched a manhunt to trace the faith healer responsible for hammering a nail in a pregnant womans head ( Twitter/ Capital City Police Peshawar)

Pakistan police have launched a manhunt for a faith healer who allegedly instructed a pregnant woman in her first trimester to hammer a nail into her head to confirm the birth of a baby boy.

The probe began on Tuesday after an x-ray image of the woman went viral on social media. The woman arrived at a hospital in Peshawar city with a 5cm nail hammered into her head and allegedly informed doctors that she carried out the act herself.

Later, the mother of three daughters revealed that a faith healer was responsible for the ghastly act. The woman's husband allegedly threatened to leave her if she gave birth to a fourth girl.

Peshawar police on Thursday said that authorities have identified the woman and her husband.

"The woman's mental health doesn't look stable and she is undergoing medical examination. The victim and her husband have decided to undergo a medical check-up by a psychiatric doctor," police said.

Her husband has also been included in the investigation.

Peshawar police chief Abbas Ahsan announced that a special team has been set up to bring the man "to justice" who "played with the life of an innocent woman".

Mr Ahsan added: "The team will also investigate why the incident was not reported to police by the treating doctor".

Special team has been made to bring to justice the fake Pir who played with the life of an innocent woman & put a nail in her head, with a false promise of a male child.



The team will also investigate why incident was not reported to police by the treating doctor.  Abbas Ahsan (@AbbasAhsan) February 8, 2022

According to the staff at the hospital, the woman was bleeding and was given first aid before being taken to the operation theatre.

Dr Haider Suleman, the resident neurosurgeon, told Dawn, that the nail had penetrated deep within the woman's skull and the family had made attempts to remove the nail at home but failed.

Story continues

"She said that a woman in her locality did the same [hammered a nail] and gave birth to a boy even though the ultrasound had shown her unborn child to be a girl," the doctor said.

The woman, fearing her husband, allegedly went to the faith healer who allegedly gave her a taweez (amulet), things to recite, and the nail.

"The victim then returned home and hammered the nail in her head. She was discovered by family members after she screamed in pain and was shifted to the hospital," staff said.
Vehicles along the central expressway in Singapore on 14 June 2021 (PHOTO: AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates will increase by $1 at 10 gantries along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and Central Expressway (CTE) at certain time slots from Monday (14 February).

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said traffic speeds have been generally optimal on all arterial roads, including those within the Central Business District. As such, there will be no ERP charges at these locations until the next review, LTA said.

However, with the easing of workplace restrictions from 1 January, where 50 per cent of those who can work from home are allowed to return to the office, traffic has built up at certain stretches on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and Central Expressway (CTE).

Adjustments in the ERP rates along AYE and CTE from 14 February 2022. (TABLE: Land Transport Authority)

After the adjustment, the majority of ERP gantries remain unpriced and ERP will be charged at only seven locations, compared to 29 locations before the COVID-19 pandemic, LTA said.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
An Italian F35 aircraft is seen on the runway during "Blue Flag", an aerial exercise hosted by Israel with the participation of foreign air force crews, at Ovda military air base, southern Israel

By Anne Kauranen, Essi Lehto and Mike Stone

HELSINKI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Finland has sealed a deal to buy dozens of F-35 stealth warplanes from the United States, in a sign of its military's close ties with NATO at a time of high tension between the West and Russia in Europe.

The northern European nation - which borders Russia and was historically neutral during the Cold War - signed the $9.4 billion agreement on Friday to buy 64 radar-evading Lockheed Martin jets.

While the planes will not enter service for several years - non-NATO Finland has previously said 2027 - the agreement reflects the country's deepening cooperation with the Western military alliance and how its defence forces materiel policy is based on all new equipment being NATO-compatible.

Finland's government said the decision to buy the U.S. jets, announced in December https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheed-f-35-jet-wins-finnish-fighter-competition-source-2021-12-10, was part of long-term plans to boost the country's defences, not a response to the current confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

"It is part of our long-term planning and has nothing to do with the current situation as such," said Mikko Hautala, Finland's ambassador to the United States.

Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops near its frontiers with Ukraine, and Western countries fear it is planning an attack. Moscow denies plans for an invasion but says it could take unspecified "military-technical" action unless demands are met, including a promise to admit no new countries to NATO and to withdraw Western forces from Eastern Europe.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finlands-pm-says-nato-membership-is-very-unlikely-her-watch-2022-01-19 in January the country had no plans at present to apply to join NATO, but added that his nation retained the right to join.

MISSILES TOO

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The contract with the U.S. government and planemaker Lockheed Martin includes maintenance equipment, spare parts and training services, Finland's Defence Forces said.

"The aim is to ensure that Finland's F-35 system has the best possible performance going into the 2030s," it added.

On top of the F-35s, Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen decided on Friday that Finland would buy surface-to-surface missiles from Lockheed for 75 million euros to improve the performance and extend the range of it's heavy rocket launcher system, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The munition deliveries are estimated to begin in 2025, it added. The surface-to-surface missiles have a range of over 135 kilometres and could be used offensively or as a deterrent to land invasion.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington and Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto in HelsinkiEditing by Peter Graff, Frances Kerry, Louise Heavens and Pravin Char)
Photo credit: SIMON DAWSON - Getty Images

Meghan Markle might be better known as the Duchess of Sussex these days, but it sounds like she might be making waves as a blogger once again.

Prior to her relationship with Prince Harry, who she married in Windsor in 2018, the then Suits star ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. Following in the footsteps of fellow actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Markle offered tips, advice and ideas on her blog on everything ranging from food and travel to lifestyle and beauty.

In April 2017 the mother-of-two shut down The Tig, months before she and Prince Harry announced their engagement. Sharing a message on the homepage, addressed to her 'Tig friends', Markle wrote:

After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it's time to say goodbye to The Tig. What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity. You've made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being "the change you wish to see in the world".

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

Above all, don't ever forget your worthas I've told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough. Thank you for everything.

In January 2022 the Daily Mail reported that Markle had reapplied to reactivate 'The Tig' trademark name, which has led some royal fans to speculate that she might be considering relaunching her defunct blog.

The publication reported that publicly available records in the US show that Los Angeles-based lawyer Marjorie Witter Norman filed a new application to trademark the name last July.

At the time, the Daily Mail reported Markle's representative said: 'The lasting trademark is to prevent false branding, to avoid others purporting to be the Duchess or affiliated with her.'

While it's yet to be seen whether Markle does intent to relaunch the blog, here's everything you need to know about The Tig:

Story continues

1.Meghan Markle's blog's name was inspired by a brand of wine

Markle previously admitted she felt inspired to launch her blog with the quirky monicker after tasting a wine called Tignanello - nicknamed 'Tig' - which she credits with helping her understand what wine experts meant when talking of 'the body, legs, structure of wine'.

'It was an ah-ha moment at its finest. For me, it became a 'Tig' moment  a moment of getting it,' she wrote on her blog.

Photo credit: .

As a result, the Suits actor launched her bespoke website, sharing her love of eating, traveling off the beaten path travel, style and tips on how to enjoy more of life, inspired by her favourite 'Tig' moments.

2. Meghan Markle wasn't afraid to discuss politics

In a post from 2015, Markle penned an emotional piece titled 'Champions of change' about the segregation her family suffered during a road trip from Ohio to California when her mother was seven-years-old.

Recounting the story her grandfather told her as a child, she described the scene when her family stopped off at Kentucky Fried Chicken and had to go to the back of the restaurant and eat chicken in the parking lot.

Markle recalled: 'It reminds me of how young our country is. How far we've come and how far we still have to come. It makes me think of the countless black jokes people have shared in front of me, not realizing I am mixed, unaware that I am the ethnically ambiguous fly on the wall.'

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

She also took the opportunity to thank those who she calls 'champions of change'  Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk, Gloria Steinem, Cesar Chavez and her parents for choosing each other not for the 'colour of their skin but the content of their character'.

3. Meghan Markle loves red wine  with hot chocolate

From sweet potato and white bean soup to smoked salmon dill dip, The Tig boasted an impressive array of recipes for keen chefs.

Describing her favourite winter-warmer, that combines our favourite hot drink with alcohol, Markle wrote: 'Combining two of every lady's classic loves, wine and chocolate, this remarkably easy yet decadent dessert has been the talk of the town this season.'

4. Meghan Markle was a professional when it came to traveling

As anyone knows, every royal needs a profound knowledge of foreign policy and etiquette. On the blog Markle would regularly consult experts from around the world for advice on how to travel to the world's most far off locations.

Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images

The Tig included a plethora of 'Insider Guides' to some of Markle's favourite cities, including Bordeaux, New York, Madrid and Athens.

5. Meghan Markle gave advice on self-love before meeting Prince Harry

Back in 2015, when Markle was single, she shared words of wisdom around loving oneself on Valentine's Day, per Hello!.

Ahead of becoming a royal, the Duchess  who will celebrate her fourth wedding anniversary with Prince Harry in May 2022  addressed followers of her blog, writing: 'I think you need to be your own Valentine.

'I think you need to cook that beautiful dinner even when it's just you, wear your favourite outfit, buy yourself some flowers, and celebrate the self love that often gets muddled when we focus on what we don't have.'

Sharing her plans for the romantic day that year, she said she would be with friends 'running amok through the streets of New York', and mentioned that she would be drinking pink cocktails and waking around the icy streets in her new shoes.

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

The royal didn't stop there either, as she even gave details about the shoes in question.

'Those shoes, by the way, were my gift to myself. Because Ive worked hard, because I'm not going to wait for someone to buy me the things I covet (nor do I want to), and because I want to treat myself as well as I treat those dearest to me. Because I am my own funny Valentine,' she explained.

She concluded her post re-emphasising the importance of loving yourself, writing: 'Whether you have a special someone, youll be with friends, or youll be flying solo this Saturday (or any other day for that matter), be good to yourself.

'Love yourself, treat yourself, honour yourself and celebrate you. Be your own beautiful, darling, cherished and funny Valentine. You deserve it.'

6. Meghan Markle spent a month in Italy after reading 'Eat Pray Love'

Inspired to, in Meghan's words 'eat everything, pray (and meditate) often, and simply love my life, every ounce of it', she revealed on her blog that she spent one summer traveling Italy while taking a break from filming Suits.

But, don't go thinking Markle was splurging out on fancy hotels and five-star restaurants.

'It wasn't long ago (cough  about ten years ago  cough) that I only had $40 in my bank account, that I could barely book an audition, and that my circle of friends was even smaller. But even then, without all the pomp and circumstance, I made time to celebrate my life,' she wrote in one post.

'Maybe it was a pizza and bottle of two buck chuck from Trader Joe's with a couple girlfriends, tucked in for the night sitting on my living room floor. Or maybe it was a dance party in my tiny apartment or a sobbing session to purge all of those feels with my nearest and dearest. This is all part of the eat, pray, love journey. Being present. Being vulnerable. The act of celebrating and really truly enjoying your life.'

Posting pictures of her stay in Italy, Markle could be seen enjoying local pizzas, drinks at sunset with her closest friends and walking around the local sights in her trainers.

7. Hot sauce is Meghan Markle's vice

In a post titled 'Tig Talk With Meghan Markle', the Duchess revealed some home truths about her life in Toronto, where she lived with her dogs before moving to the UK in 2017, and it sounded pretty darn normal compared to most A-listers'.

Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images

Here's what we learnt:

Her nicknames are Meg, MM, M&M and Flower.

She takes time to snuggle with her dogs in bed in the morning.

She can't live without her passport.

She'd love to go off the grid with her friends for a week.

She'd give her last $10 to 'someone who needs it more' that she does.

She loves adding 'a kick' of hot sauce to her food.

8. Meghan Markle loves pop music

The actress regularly uploaded her favourite playlists for The Tig readers that she called 'little euphonious pick-me-ups to enliven your day'.

Listening to everything from Sophie Ellis-Bexton and Christine And The Queens to Steely Dan, it's clear Meghan has an eclectic music taste we wouldn't mind listening to in the ELLE UK office.

9. Exercising your right to vote is seriously important to Meghan Markle

'Hey, beautiful socially conscious friend  you need to vote,' wrote Meghan in a post titled 'Because You Must' detailing the importance of voting for women.

Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images

Written before the US presidential election in 2016, Markle explained why women should vote, historical context of the vote and a timeline from the State Department of what voting rights in the US have looked like over the years.

'The right to vote is something for which blood, sweat, and tears have been shed; the struggle was endless for us to have this liberty,' she noted. Informative and inspirational.

10. Meghan Markle loves a facial

With a passion for yoga, it comes as no surprise that Markle is partial to the odd facial.

Revealing her list of favourite facialists around the world, the actress claims Nichola Joss' London-based facial to be her favourite, while others in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles top the list.

11. Meghan Markle thinks we should all go to the cinema alone at least once

Markle credited her self-love and passion for life down to her joy of being independent and enjoying her own company. After watching the film Forces of Nature in a cinema on her own at the age of 20, the royal learned the importance of being able to 'laugh loudly and unapologetically alone while in public. To simple be'.

Here's what she suggests you do to fulfil your self-care bucket list:

1. See a movie alone

2. Take yourself out to dinner

3. Buy yourself flowers.

4. Take yourself on vacation.

Wise words, Markle.

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The Connecticut Supreme Court has summoned a Superior Court judge to explain why she has been absent from the bench for more than two years while collecting more than $350,000 in salary.

Superior Court Judge Alice Bruno is to appear before the states high court on April 5 to show cause why this Court should not commence proceedings to either suspend or remove Judge Bruno from her judicial office for potential violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct, the courts chief clerk wrote in an order dated Thursday.

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[ Kevin Rennie: A Superior Court judge has collected more than $350,000 in salary without showing up for work. Does anybody care? ]

Bruno, who has not been to work since November 2019, will have to show why her failure to perform judicial functions for at least the last two years does not violate conduct rules that include promoting confidence in the judiciary and competence, diligence and cooperation, the order says.

Courant columnist Kevin Rennie wrote about Bruno in two columns late last year, describing her years-long chronic absence from the bench through a series of emails obtained through FOI.

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[ Kevin Rennie: Superior Court Judge Alice Bruno has not shown up for work in two years ]

Two months after Bruno stopped showing up for work at Waterbury court, Deputy Chief Court Administrator Judge Elizabeth A. Bozzuto told her in an email, It has come to the attention of this office that you have failed to render decisions in a number of cases that you presided over in Bridgeport and Hartford  Your failure to track these cases and render decisions on them is unfair to the bar, the litigants and your colleagues on the bench.

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

Brunos lawyer, Jacques J. Parenteau, has said that following emergency hospitalization for a cardiac procedure in November 2019, Judge Bruno has been on a leave of absence to address several health issues.

Parenteau wrote in an email Friday that he could not comment on the show cause order, but I can say that the issue of Judge Brunos absence was misrepresented in press reports by Kevin Rennies article when he failed, or refused to publish, that I told him Judge Bruno has been seeking an accommodation supported by medical reports since October 2020.

Rennie did write in his December column, Brunos lawyer wrote last month that his client is seeking an accommodation for her undisclosed health condition.

I can say, Parenteau continued, that Judge Bruno filed a 120-paragraph disability discrimination complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities in December 2021 because the Judicial Branch refused to accommodate her disability.

Judge Bruno further claims that she has been retaliated against for seeking a reasonable accommodation, he wrote, and continues to seek an accommodation that would allow her to return to work.

Rennie noted in his column that Bruno was a lawyer in private practice before becoming in 2012 the first woman to serve as the executive director of the Connecticut Bar Association. She left the CBA the following year. She then assisted in her familys New Britain restaurant. In 2014, she worked as Special Counsel to Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
The Workers' Party leaders Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap testifying in December 2021 before the Committee of Privileges tasked with investigating former WP Sengkang MP Raeesah Khan's lies in Parliament. (SCREENSHOTS: Gov.sg/YouTube)

SINGAPORE  The Workers' Party (WP) on Friday (11 February) said it views the call for a criminal probe into its party leaders by the Committee of Privileges (COP) in its Raeesah Khan report with 'grave concern'.

In a media release, the party said Leader of the Opposition and WP secretary-general Pritam Singh and fellow Aljunied GRC MP and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap "will also co-operate with the Public Prosecutor and defend themselves in court in the event that charges are brought".

The WP also noted that the last time criminal charges were brought against an elected Opposition MP relating to political work was in the 1980s.

The committee had recommended in its report that former WP Member of Parliament (MP) Raeesah be fined $35,000 for lying to the House multiple times and abusing her parliamentary privilege.

It also recommended that Singh and Faisal be referred to the public prosecutor to "consider if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted", due to Singh's conduct and Faisal's refusal to answer relevant questions during investigations.

A well-wishing postcard posted by Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh on his Facebook page, following the release of the Committee of Privileges report on Raeesah Khan. (PHOTO: Facebook/Pritam Singh)

In its media release on Friday, the WP said Singh, Faisal and WP chair and fellow Aljunied GRC MP Sylvia Lim will be expressing their views on the COP report in Parliament when it is put up for debate. The government has filed a motion to debate the report in the House next week.

The WP also said all its elected MPs will continue to serve their constituents while the partys work in other constituencies continues.

"Most Singaporeans value an elected Opposition in Parliament that holds the government to account, proposes alternative policies and looks after the interests of constituents. WP MPs and leaders will continue to apply themselves to these priorities in the weeks and months ahead," the party said.

"Since its founding in 1957, the Workers Party has been through many trials and tribulations. We thank all Singaporeans who have supported us through the decades. We are confident that we will persevere and continue our mission of contributing to the building of our democratic society," it added.

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Friends of the PM are letting it be known that, even if he does receive a fine for breaking the law, he will still not resign (PA Wire)

Before Liz Trusss visit to Moscow, the question had been asked, several times, what exactly would be the point of it? The answer to that question was very quickly made clear, when a picture of the foreign secretary wearing a traditional Russian fur hat in front of St Basils Cathedral appeared on her Instagram page.

Of Trusss predecessor, Dominic Raab, the standard complaint made by staff was that the full hour of gym time he insisted be built into his daily schedule on already rushed foreign trips often made them somewhat pointless. It has been suggested that his trips around the world sometimes involved little more than going to a hotel gym somewhere, then flying home again.

This is not the case with Truss, however, who approaches the job of foreign secretary in a very different style, which is that of a travel influencer, and in one regard, thats just as well. Theyre not cheap these foreign trips, so they might as well have some influence on someone, even if it is only the 24,200 followers the foreign secretary has managed to accumulate on Instagram.

Trusss Instagram account has been struggling for some time now to get beyond the 25,000 follower mark which, on the Love Island index, is at least 75,000 short of what tends to be required to be the public face of a new line of car air fresheners.

At the end of their meeting, Truss and her Russian counterpart swept out to their lecterns in Moscow. (Truss emerged first, her purposeful stride captured and posted on Instagram before her full six steps to the podium had even been completed.) The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, whos 71 years old now, and in many ways an even grander menace than his boss, did his now-familiar and wearisome schtick. Lavrov lies with impunity. He seeks to intimidate. He spoke of how the meeting had been like talking to a deaf person. A full-throated attack, but partly undermined by the meeting having gone on for well over an hour, which is somewhat longer than youd bother with if it was as pointless as hes pretending.

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He repeated previous greatest hits, like there being no evidence that the Skripal or Litvinenko poisonings had been carried out by Russia. No one believes that. Not even him, when he says so. But during the long years in which hes been coming out with this stuff, something has changed. This time, the British foreign secretary has little moral high ground to claim.

Truss, also, is a representative of a preposterous liar, her boss. And it was somewhat unfortunate timing that as she stood there, trying to find the suitable mask of disdain to wear for her vanity photographer in the crowd, in London, Sir John Major was giving a little speech of his own.

Its not surprising that it was a ruthless and brutal attack on Boris Johnson. No one expected anything different, but it was no less diminished by expectation. It is quite something, for a former prime minister to accuse the current one, who is also Conservative, of being, among other things, politically corrupt.

And it was not all about the neverending Downing Street party saga either, though he didnt pull his punches there. "Brazen excuses were dreamed up, he said. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible  making themselves look gullible or foolish.

So damaging, so corrosive, have Johnsons long months of very obvious lies been that it is easy to forget that this was merely the latest in a long line of similar behaviour. There was the rather large incident with the Supreme Court, which completely rejected the governments rationale for seeking to shut down parliament for five weeks at a time when it was politically convenient to do so.

Then there were the attempts to overturn the standards commissioner in order to protect a colleague, Owen Paterson. There was the ignoring of a report from a different adviser on standards, who found the home secretary to have breached the ministerial code, but Johnson decided he didnt care.

All of these, individually Major said, may have their legitimate causes, but when taken together a clear picture emerges. It certainly does. It is the picture of a liar, a chancer, and someone straightforwardly unfit for the office he holds, as large numbers of his own party have concluded.

Johnson himself was in Nato, giving a joint press conference with its secretary general. He read out what would pass for a mildly interesting newspaper column on the subject then refused to answer questions about his own corruption. Nothing he says is worth the keystrokes these days.

As yet more coincidence would have it, while Major was saying the words  ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible  making themselves look gullible or foolish  the attorney general, Suella Braverman, was on her feet in the House of Commons.

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Friends of Johnson are currently letting it be known that, even if he does receive a fine for breaking the law, he will still not resign, which would break every convention on which the functioning of the UK government tends to rely. This question was put directly to Braverman  if people are found to have broken the law, will there be resignations?  and she replied with: I would say that fundamental to the rule of law is also democracy  and Im very proud to be supporting this prime minister, a prime minister whos honoured democracy by delivering Brexit.

There is no alternative way of reading these words than what they mean, which is that the prime minister shouldnt have to resign if hes broken the law, because the people voted for him. Its worth remembering that this deranged garbage is not the mutterings of some quarter-witted backbencher, or a man being vox popped in the street by the news channels, but the attorney general, whose constitutional role is to provide legal advice to the government.

And here she was, arguing that its fine for the prime minister to break the law, because thats how democracy works. It isnt how democracy works, of course. When Richard Nixon made this exact point to David Frost, he detonated the last unexploded remnants of his reputation.

For quite some time now, it has only been the very dimmest ministers who are willing to come to Johnsons aid, principally because they are just about self aware enough to know that, should he resign, no other prime minister would ever have them in the cabinet. But doubly unfortunately for Johnson, they are not capable of helping.

In the long list of absurd interventions, democracy is above the law is by some margin the most execrable, not least as it leaves Johnson in an even more unfortunate position than before. There are no noble paths forward. His supporters are accidentally torching them all. The only defences left for his actions are more malignant than the actions themselves.

The claim made by Major, that Johnson had shredded the UKs reputation abroad, was put to Johnson on his foreign trip. He described it as demonstrably untrue. He hopes that, through Ukraine, he can fall back on serious times to save him, but he is the least serious person ever to hold his office. There is no credible way ahead, only further humiliation.
SIOUX CENTER -- In the last weekend of February, Siouxland music lovers will have the chance to catch not one but two concerts on the Dordt University campus.

At 1 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 26, more than 100 honor student musicians, from seven states, will perform. According to a press release from the university, Dordts director of instrumental ensembles, Dr. Onsby C. Rose, will conduct the wind symphony while Dordts assistant director of instrumental ensembles, Dr. Allegra Fisher, will lead the symphonic band. The students, who come from as far away as Washington, were recommended by their own band directors and sent in video auditions.

To finish the night, Dordt's music department is featuring a jazz concert in the B.J. Haan Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. "Come for a relaxed evening of big band standards, pop tune covers, and newer works," the press release said. Those who can't make the jazz concert can stream it via Dordt.edu/livestream.

Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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DES MOINES -- Legislation to remove county names from Iowa license plates was scaled back Wednesday by the House Transportation Committee, which voted to approve generic plates only when cars are registered in a county other than the residence of the vehicle owner.

House File 618, which is similar to Senate Study Bill 3045, originally called for doing away with county names on license plates.

On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced similar legislation that would allow for the option for license plates without county names, but would not eliminate names on plates altogether.

A survey of sheriffs and deputies found that 77 percent supported keeping county names on license plates, but their lobbyist said it is a lower priority than requiring plates on the front and back of vehicles.

The DOT estimates removing county names could save $242,000 over a 10-year cycle because universal plates would allow the DOT to send plates where needed when there are supply chain issues.

As amended, county names would be continued, Rep. Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City, said.

However, if a vehicle was registered in a county other than the owners residence, the owner could opt for a generic plate rather than one with the name of that county.

When dealers provide titling and registration as a service, the plates carry the name of the county where the vehicle was purchased rather than where the owner lives.

Im old-school. I want the (county) numbers on the plate, but I dont think Im going to get that, Rep. Steve Hansen, D-Sioux City, said while encouraging support for the bill.

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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty of offering a 14-year-old girl $600 to come to his apartment.

Danny Beard, 66, entered his written plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of enticing away a minor, a Class D felony.

According to court documents, Beard approached the girl on Nov. 14 outside her grandmother's apartment building and asked, "You want to come with me?" The girl believed Beard wanted to have sex with her and said no. Beard then said, "I'll give you 500 (dollars).

Beard parked his pickup and approached the girl again as she was struggling to enter the code to unlock the security door and enter the apartment building. Beard again offered the girl $500 to come up to his apartment, then raised his offer to $600. The girl did not respond, but Beard unlocked the door and they entered the building. The girl went to her grandmother's apartment, and her grandmother filed a police report.

Beard told an investigator he thought the girl was someone else he knew on the streets. Beard denied that his offer of money was for sex, but said it was for cleaning his apartment, court documents said.

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SIOUX CITY -- A man whose actions triggered an armed standoff with Sioux City police Thursday faces two gun charges.

At an initial appearance Friday morning, District Associate Judge Todd Hensley set Emanuel Pleitez' bond at $75,000 and appointed the public defender's office to represent him.

Pleitez, 36, of Sioux City, was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Thursday night on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon to injure or provoke fear, a Class C felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony. The charges carry prison sentences of 10 and five years, respectively.

Pleitez' preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 21 in Woodbury County District Court.

He was arrested at the conclusion of a standoff with police near 12th Street and Grandview Boulevard that began just after noon, when, police say, Pleitez, who was handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle, told the officer who was driving that he had a gun and threatened to harm himself and the officer.

The officer pulled over, requested backup assistance and exited the vehicle. After another officer arrived on the scene, they observed Pleitez, who was still handcuffed behind his back, armed with a subcompact-style handgun. The officers backed away and established a perimeter while more officers arrived and surrounded the car.

Negotiators spent nearly an hour trying to convince Pleitez to drop the weapon, but he grew more agitated, they said, eventually firing a shot that struck the interior of the vehicle behind the rear passenger door and a second shot that hit the rear passenger window before trying to climb out of the car. Police fired a gas irritant similar to a pepper spray into the car, and Pleitez surrendered.

No officers fired their weapons during the standoff.

Pleitez was initially in custody as a suspect in connection with a Jan. 30 robbery in Sioux City. That robbery remains under investigation.

Community policing Sgt. Jeremy McClure said Thursday that officers had patted Pleitez down after handcuffing him and before placing him inside the vehicle. Police will review camera footage to determine where Pleitez had concealed the gun and how he was able to handle it while handcuffed.

At a Thursday press conference, police Chief Rex Mueller was asked about the thoroughness of the search for weapons.

"Our search protocols have always been very thorough," Mueller said.

The standoff led to a lockdown at the nearby Bishop Heelan High School campus, where U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra was touring at the time.

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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of waiting in a convenience store bathroom until the store closed and then and stealing 30 packs of cigarillos.

According to court documents, Luhr, who was listed as a transient, waited inside the bathroom of Kum & Go, 1005 Gordon Drive, until the store was closed to the public for cleaning. Luhr then exited the bathroom, took 18 packs of black Swisher Sweet cigarillos and 12 packs of White Owl strawberry cigarillos. An employee confronted Luhr, who ran from the store. Police located him shortly after with the stolen cigarillos, valued at $47.70, in his backpack.
SIOUX CITY -- A blue hat rack was bolted to the sidewalk outside Sioux City Hall on Thursday.

"Hang Your Hat 4" replaces "Hang Your Hat 3," an example of ready-made art from Ken Peterson. "Hang Your Hat 4," a yellow hat rack and part of Sculpt Siouxland's collection, was removed in the fall due to rust and one of its hooks breaking off.

The rack matches donors of winter coats and other clothing with local residents living on the street.

"It was really interesting to see the response from people in the city how important it was. It's nice to have it back," Art Center Director Todd Behrens said.

Behrens said Shannon Sargent, exhibitions and collections coordinator, found the replacement hat rack at Morningside University. Behrens snapped a photo of it, which he then sent to Peterson, who lives in Oregon.

"The artist said, 'Yeah, that's good,'" Behrens recalled. "We worked with Knoepfler (Chevrolet) to put the paint job on it. The artist said, 'Well, I would like it the same blue color as the John Henry sculpture."

John Henry's 1977 sculpture "Sioux City," which sits outside of the Art Center, was colloquially known as the "French Fries" for years. A few years ago, the bright yellow sculpture was repainted blue at the request of voters.

Peterson was living in Sioux City in 2008 when he went to Pier One, bought a hat rack and bolted it to the sidewalk where an earlier Sculpt Siouxland work of his had sat.

From the start, Peterson said he envisioned the rack as sort of a thrift store, operating outside the parameters of a traditional brick-and-mortar store. He said the informal exchange quickly became a hit with those living on the fringes of society, who are uncomfortable entering a store or seeking social services.

This first version of the rack, which Peterson placed in front of the former Little Chicago Deli at 525 Fourth St., didn't last long. Vandals snapped it in half at one point, and at another point tied it to a tree. The rack was replaced with a second version, which was later moved to its present-day spot near City Hall, and, then, a third version, "Hang Your Hat 3."

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LINCOLN, Neb. -- A prominent opponent of expanded gambling and a leader in the petition drive that legalized casinos in Nebraska wound up are backing the same bill.

Pat Loontjer, executive director of Gambling with the Good Life, and Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, both supported a measure introduced last month limiting the number of casinos in the state.

Legislative Bill 876 would set requirements for the approval of new horse racetracks in the state, which would, in turn, restrict the number of casinos.

Voters approved a trio of ballot measures in 2020 that allow casino gambling at licensed horse racetracks. At the time of the vote, Nebraska had six tracks, in South Sioux City, Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings and Columbus, which meant the potential for six casinos.

Plans for seven new tracks, with accompanying casinos, have emerged in the months since. The seven would be in Norfolk, Bellevue, York, North Platte, Ogallala, Gering and Kimball.

State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, chairman of the General Affairs Committee, said he introduced LB 876 because he believes that Nebraska voters want a well-regulated, financially sound casino industry.

I dont think the public wants to see a casino at every exit on Interstate 80, he said at a hearing on the bill.

As introduced, LB 876 would require that a new track be at least 50 miles from other tracks and would require tracks to offer at least five racing days a year, up from one currently.

Briese also offered an amendment that would require tracks to be at least 75 miles apart, except in counties of 100,000 or more people. Nebraska has three counties meeting that threshold  Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy. The amendment would also require tracks to have at least 15 days of racing.

Morgan testified in favor of the distance restrictions and the increased race days but against the exemption for large counties, which he said would hurt the casino planned for Horsemens Park in Omaha.

WarHorse Gaming, a new division of Ho-Chunk, has contracts to develop a casino there, as well as at the Lincoln Race Course and Atokad in South Sioux City.

Morgan said the Omaha casino would face stiff competition from existing casinos in Council Bluffs and Carter Lake, Iowa. The exemption would allow for the proposed Bellevue track and casino, hurting the Omaha facilitys ability to attract gambling dollars back to Nebraska and provide tax revenue to the state, he said.

Our goal is to create a powerhouse to compete with the facilities in Iowa, Morgan said. You shouldnt tie the hands of the Omaha facility before we even get started.

Loontjer also backed the proposed restrictions, saying they are needed to protect the horse racing industry from closing like Iowas dog racetracks and to minimize the damage that gambling causes to the community.

The casinos goal is to prey upon our citizens, and your job is to protect us, she told the General Affairs Committee.

But John Hassett, who proposed a quarter horse track and casino called Belle Vue Downs, and Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike opposed the distance restrictions. Hassett said market studies show that the metro area can support two casinos, which would boost horse racing and increase revenue for the state, while Hike argued that the Legislature should not pick winners and losers.

Please dont leave us at the post; give us a chance, Hassett said.

Tom Sage, executive director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, took no position on the specifics of the bill. But he urged lawmakers to provide some guidance to the commission about what to consider when approving or denying new racetrack proposals. The commission has taken no action on the plans submitted so far.

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Glastonbury police arrested a local school board member and another man on charges connected to a fight over the high schools original Native American mascot at a board meeting in December.

Board member Monte Ray McFall, 57, and Mark Finocchiaro, 53, both of Glastonbury, were each charged with second-degree breach of peace after turning themselves in on arrest warrants, police said Friday. Both men were released without having to post bail.

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McFall and Finocchiaro went face to face during a break in the board of educations Dec. 14 meeting. The meetings focus was whether Glastonbury High Schools Tomahawks mascot, which had been retired in 2020, should be brought back.

Footage published by NBC Connecticut shows the two men exchanging words. The video shows McFall pushing Finocchiaro away and Finocchiaro quickly punching McFall in the face, causing him to fall to the floor. No serious injuries were reported.

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The investigation took several weeks, police spokesman Lt. Corey Davis said, because police conducted many interviews and had to wait while the states attorney reviewed and revised the warrant application before signing it.

Asked why the breach of peace charges were filed instead of assault, especially for Finocchiaro, Davis would not comment. Second-degree breach of peace is a Class B misdemeanor carrying a maximum jail time of six months. The statute says, in part, that a person is guilty of the offense when, with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior in a public place; or (2) assaults or strikes another.

McFall is set to appear in Manchester Superior Court on March 10; Finocchiaro is to appear on March 11.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
SIOUX CITY -- While handcuffed in the back seat of a police car Thursday, an armed robbery suspect grabbed a gun and threatened to harm himself and the officer who was driving.

The unidentified officer, who was transporting Emanuel Pleitez of Sioux City to the police station to be interviewed, immediately pulled over near the intersection of 12th Street and Grandview Boulevard, exited the vehicle and took cover.

After the officer called for backup, more law enforcement officers arrived and surrounded the car. Negotiators then spent nearly an hour trying to convince Pleitez to drop the weapon. Sgt. Jeremy McClure, a department spokesman, said police even reached out to family members of Pleitez for help.

But the 36-year-old grew more agitated, police said. He eventually fired several shots, broke a window and attempted to climb out of the vehicle. Police responded by unleashing a gas irritant, similar to a pepper spray. Pleitez was detained shortly afterward and taken to a local hospital for observation.

Police Chief Rex Mueller said some officers received minor injuries, including exposure to the gas.

This was a successful resolutionAnd thats not any small effort," Mueller told reporters at an afternoon press conference.

McClure said police are waiting to review camera footage to determine where Pleitez had concealed the gun and how he got a hold of it while his hands were cuffed behind his back.

"In 22 years, thats the first time weve had someone secured in the back of a vehicle produce a gun," McClure told the Journal.

At the press conference, Mueller was asked whether a more thorough search method could have detected the gun and prevented the ensuing standoff.

"Our search protocols have always been very thorough," the police chief responded.

Pletez, a suspect in an armed robbery more than a week ago, is now facing additional criminal charges. Mueller said a number of options are on the table.

The standoff, which began just after noon Thursday, took place right next to the Bishop Heelan High School campus as U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra was touring the Catholic school.

After hearing the report of a gunman in the vicinity, Heelan officials immediately locked down the school. Feenstra initially remained inside with the students and staff, but eventually was able to leave the building, district spokeswoman Janet Flanagan said.

Some students ate lunch in the school's Fieldhouse away from the windows, Flanagan said.

"What was amazing is that everything was very orderly inside the high school," she said.

Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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SIOUX CITY -- Following a nearly hour-long standoff, police detained a man with a handgun walled inside a law enforcement vehicle parked next to the Bishop Heelan Catholic High School campus.

The standoff came as U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra was touring the Sioux City Catholic school.

According to Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller, officers were in the process of transporting 36-year-old Sioux City resident Emanuel Pleitez to be interviewed and during that Pleitez, who was in custody in the back of the car, indicated he had a firearm. From there, the officers backed up and began negotiating with the suspect who was threatening to do harm to himself.

Then, negotiators responded to the scene.

Sioux City Police Sgt. Jeremy McClure said negotiators spent a lot of time talking to Pleitez, trying to bring him down and get him to cooperate and drop the micro-compact weapon. Per McClure, police even went so far as to reach out to family members of Pleitez for help.

However, those approaches didn't work and the suspect only became more agitated according to McClure.

At about 1:05 p.m. police responded by using a gas irritant, similar to a pepper spray after Mueller said Pleitez let off several shots and then broke a window and attempted to climb out. Pleitez, a suspect in an armed robbery from more than a week prior, according to police, was detained shortly afterwards and taken to an area hospital to be examined. According to Mueller: Some officers did receive minor injuries including exposure to the gas.

This was a successful resolutionAnd thats not any small effort," Mueller said during a 3 p.m. press conference about the incident.

When asked whether or not more thorough search methods could have found the gun and prevented a standoff, Mueller said: "Our search protocols have always been very thorough." Mueller couldn't say where the gun was hidden on Pleitez and would not confirm the specific model of micro-compact handgun.

As for charges, Mueller told reporters a number of options were on the table.

Heelan officials immediately locked down the school just after noon when multiple law enforcement officers responded to a report of an armed individual in the vicinity of the Heelan campus at 1231 Grandview Blvd.

Feenstra, a first-term Republican from Hull, was scheduled to tour the school from 11:30-12:30 p.m. Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools Director of Communications Janet Flanagan said he was not initially able to leave the building and that some students ate lunch in the fieldhouse away from the windows.

"What was amazing is that everything was very orderly inside the high school," Flanagan said.

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It was a tough murder case, made tougher by the fact that the witnesses at the shooting scene were less candid on the stand than they had been with police.

With less descriptive testimony  and no discovery of a murder weapon  a Douglas County jury deliberated eight hours Tuesday and Wednesday before acquitting Prentis Reddick of second-degree murder in the cousin-to-the-rescue, two-men-flexing, standoff death of Loyal Brown, 30, on Nov. 15, 2020.

The acquittal means Reddick is cleared in Browns death, but it doesnt mean hes out of the woods. Prosecutors are reviewing whether Reddick  who was among 28 gang members convicted of federal gun charges in a 2015 sweep  violated a federal law that prohibits felons from possessing ammunition. An Omaha police search of Reddicks bedroom found several 9 mm bullets and two spent casings after the shooting.

When it comes to Browns death, prosecutors had accused Reddick, 33, of shooting Brown after coming to the aid of cousin Shaquia Pettiford, Browns girlfriend. Brown had become belligerent and had kicked down the front door of Pettifords mothers home, near 39th and Grant Streets.

Brown had been in a tumultuous relationship with Pettiford for five years. At one point, Brown had broken every window in Pettifords home, an Omaha detective testified.

That night, he had threatened to break Pettifords jaw and had kicked down the door of mother Thea Pettifords home. He began arguing with Thea Pettiford, who then started calling her daughter. Shaquia Pettiford drove to pick up Reddick, who was known to be able to calm Brown, and headed to her mothers home.

Reddick arrived and got Brown to go outside, along with Shaquia Pettiford. The three stood outside, Reddick and Brown arguing. Within a half hour, Brown was dead.

Immediately after the killing, Shaquia Pettiford told police that she heard the confrontation between Brown and Reddick. She claimed she didnt see a gun in Reddicks hand but described Brown saying, If youre gonna pop me, bro, then just do it, blood. She said she walked away to take a phone call when she heard a gunshot.

But come Reddicks second-degree murder trial over the past week, Shaquia Pettiford said she didnt hear either man say anything  let alone hear her boyfriend challenge her cousin. She also claimed she didnt see Reddick shoot anyone. Shaquia Pettiford said she was on the phone with someone when she heard a single gunshot. She then saw Brown on the ground, bleeding, and started performing CPR.

Prosecutors Ann Miller and Dara Delehant told jurors that Reddick was the shooter. They pointed out that he had blood spatter on his clothing  and tests revealed those blood spots matched Browns DNA. They questioned how likely it was that a random gunman just happened to be passing by at 3 a.m. and fired at Brown, killing him. And how likely, they asked, was it that Reddick would respond to a purportedly random shooting of Brown by fleeing the scene?

But prosecutors had to deal with another hurdle: They couldnt find the gun used in the shooting.

Shaquia Pettiford, her sister and her mother had told police that Reddick had walked into Adams Park near 30th Street and Bedford Avenue after the shooting.

However, multiple police searches of the park, the lagoon and the tall weeds at the lagoons edge turned up no weapon. Miller said such an outcome is hardly rare: A detective estimated that police do not find the murder weapon in 70% of homicide cases.

Reddicks attorney, Mary Dvorak, noted that not only did police not find the weapon; none of the Pettiford women placed a gun in Reddicks hands. Dvorak and fellow assistant public defender Travis Wampler told jurors that prosecutors are relying on jurors to fill in blanks that the investigation didnt turn up.

Miller had pointed out that Reddick fled the scene, then returned after police arrived. Miller alleged it was because he wanted to see whether the shot he fired had actually killed Brown. Officers body-cam footage showed him asking if he could go check the house.

Within hours, police had Reddick in custody. Miller suggested Reddick was evasive with law enforcement and noted that he didnt even ask lead detective Ryan Hinsley who was killed. Miller said there was a reason he didnt ask: He knew.

But Dvorak noted that not one of the Pettifords described Reddick shooting Brown.

In a situation where everyone lied to law enforcement, you cant draw any conclusions that untruthfulness equals guilt, Dvorak told jurors. This is not a process of elimination. Mr. Reddick cannot be found guilty of murder by default.

Shaquia Pettiford, 27, and Thea Pettiford, 47, each were charged with being accessories to Reddick. Judge Michael Coffey placed Shaquia on a year of probation. Thea Pettifords case is pending.

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I lived and worked in Miami for four years before coming to Atlanta to join CNN. I've visited the Wall of Wind on the Florida International University (FIU) campus many times.

It is a wall of enormous fans inside a big warehouse-type building that can blow air up to 160 mph, which would be a Category 5 hurricane, to test infrastructure and research the power of wind.

However, in our changing climate, 160 mph isn't strong enough. So, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded a $12.8 million grant to FIU's Extreme Events Institute for the design of a full-scale testing facility capable of producing winds of 200 mph, along with a water basin to simulate storm surge and wave action in extreme winds.

FIU will be able to build a house under the current building codes, start up the fans and see if it can withstand 200 mph winds. Will the roof detach? Will the house still be standing at all?

The water basin will look like an enormous pool. It will also be able to simulate different coastlines. Storm surge tends to be worse when the coastlines are more shallow like along the Florida Panhandle. The facility will be able to simulate all of it.

"If you think about trying to future-proof a changing hazard environment, a hazard scape, the U.S. hazard scape with climate change, the past is not much of a guide. In fact, it can be deceiving," said Dr. Richard Olson, director of the Extreme Events Institute at FIU. "So, if we're going to future-proof, we need to be able to research and test what future hazard events will look like. You can't future-proof in a changing environment if you're looking backwards."

Tropical cyclones getting stronger

It's true. Climate change is showing us storms are getting stronger, moving slower and holding more water than ever before. They are also rapidly intensifying, meaning the winds are increasing at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period. In 2021, five hurricanes in the Atlantic rapidly intensified. And in 2020, 10 Atlantic hurricanes rapidly intensified. Dorian was one of those storms.

"Dorian in 2019 is the one that totally got my attention," said Dr. Olson. "It hit 185 mph over the Bahamas, and until the last day and a half, it was heading straight up Eighth Street in Miami."

Dorian ended up causing mass destruction across Abaco and Grand Bahama.

"The scientific consensus is that we're going to see more intense storms, so we have to research and test for more intense storms," said Dr. Olson. "Otherwise, nature's going to keep hitting us with harder stuff than we're ready for."

The facility will be the first of its kind in the world to combine wind speeds of greater magnitude along with a water component. Eventually the facility will be able to test how different types of infrastructure, roads and bridges will all respond with a Category 6 storm.

"We can start putting all of these components together to get a much better picture of what nature is going to be hitting us with," says Dr. Olson.

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Connecticut has seen a recent increase in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a condition that can develop several weeks after a COVID-19 infection, hospital officials say.

Last week alone we saw 10 admissions for MIS-C, said Alex Hogan, a hospitalist at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center who treats patients with the condition. Double the most the hospital had ever had.

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First detected in the spring of 2020, MIS-C is a condition in which vital organs can become inflamed, often causing severe illness and hospitalization. The syndrome can be deadly, though most patients eventually recover.

[ Daily coronavirus updates: Connecticut records 136 more COVID-19 deaths; 529 patients hospitalized ]

Physicians at local hospitals say they had been seeing MIS-C at relatively low levels until about late December, when patients began to show up in greater numbers.

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The explanation for the uptick is this, Hogan said: MIS-C follows COVID-19. After a winter in which tens of thousands of Connecticut children tested positive for COVID-19, it was natural that MIS-C would show up at unprecedented levels.

MIS-C waves happen two-to-six weeks after a huge spike in cases, Hogan said. Its almost inevitable that if theres a big spike in cases theres going to be a big spike in MIS-C.

MIS-C remains extremely rare, with about 110 cases recorded in Connecticut since the start of the pandemic, according to the Department of Public Health.

But in the wake of the omicron surge, the state has been seeing more cases in recent weeks that any other time since the condition was discovered.

At Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital, doctors saw only 19 cases of MIS-C from July through December, followed by 13 in January alone and four so far in February.

In about six weeks weve seen about as many kids as we did for the previous six months, Dr. Tom Murray, the hospitals associate medical director for infection prevention said.

Though no MIS-C patients at Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital have died, Murray said, about 30% have required intensive care.

There arent many infections that cause post-infectious complications like this that have the potential of putting you in the intensive care unit, Murray said. So 13 [in January] is a very large number.

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Dr. Juan Salazar, physician-in-chief at Connecticut Childrens, said there was initially some question whether the omicron variant would lead to MIS-C but that the answer was unequivocally yes.

Some of those kids have been pretty sick, said Salazar, who is conducting research on MIS-C. Some of them have been in the ICU.

Connecticut Childrens has also not seen any children die of MIS-C, Salazar said.

The good news, experts say, is that MIS-C almost never occurs in vaccinated children. At Connecticut Childrens, Salazar estimates that 98% of cases have come among children either too young to be vaccinated or whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate them.

Some of them are slightly older kids who should have vaccinated months ago, Salazar said. Vaccines prevent this stuff, so its still frustrating that so many have not been vaccinated.

Not only do vaccines make children less likely to get COVID-19, and therefore less likely to get MIS-C, they also block MIS-C specifically, Salazar said.

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The vaccinated kids who may still have breakthrough COVID dont get MIS-C, or very rarely get MIS-C, Salazar said.

Though all children age 5 and older have been eligible for vaccination since November, only 45% of Connecticut residents 5-11 had received at least one dose as of Thursday, by far the lowest of any age group according to state numbers.

No predictions

Beyond vaccination, Hogan says, the best way to prevent outbreaks of MIS-C is to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among children.

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

We should be doing everything we can to stop kids from getting COVID, he said. Because you dont know which of the thousand kids who get COVID in the school are going to end up with MIS-C and which of those are going to end up in the ICU.

Symptoms of MIS-C can vary case-by-case, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises parents to look for prolonged fever plus some combination of stomach pain, bloodshot eyes, diarrhea, dizziness or lightheadedness, skin rash and vomiting. Hogan said rashes in particular are present in at least 70% of cases he sees.

Physicians say it can be difficult to predict which kids will develop MIS-C, which often occurs in patients who had relatively mild cases of COVID-19.

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If you have a child whos got a persistent fever and abdominal pain or belly pain and a rash, they really should call their pediatrician and be evaluated, Murray said.

Hospital officials say they expect to continue seeing MIS-C cases for several more weeks to come. With Connecticut now past the worst of its omicron-fueled surge, though, Salazar says hes hopeful MIS-C will fade before long.

I think well still see patients over the next two weeks and then it will begin to go down he said, and hopefully this time go away.

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.
Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Athena and Elizabeth here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

This feels shameful to write, but I am very concerned about the financial obligations I have towards paying for my stepkids college. I married their dad when they were young teens and preteens. At the time, they lived with their mother the next state over, and my contact with them was very limited. My husband traveled alone to visit them, and I only saw them several times a year when they came for extended visits on school breaks.

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Then the pandemic turned their moms life upside down and the kids came to live with us full-time. Immediately before this, my marriage was rocky and my husband and I had a trial separation. (During the separation I did not directly communicate with my stepkids, and I dont know if they knew their dad and I werent together.) We were trying to patch things up when the kids suddenly needed to come live here.

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I did step up to help the kids once they got here, getting them through virtual schooling, arranging activities, and trying to create a stable home life. But now that they are living with us, my husband is the custodial parent and my income will be a factor in their college financial aid (this is for FAFSA schools, which is what the oldest is considering). This was something my husband and I never discussed because the kids were living with their mom and then we were on the cusp of divorcing. I admit I didnt really understand a lot about this before I started helping the oldest with the applications. I do know theres no substantial money saved for any of the kids, though they each have a small 529.

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To tell the truth, I still dont know what will happen with my marriage. We are in therapy but have put big decisions on hold while we try to navigate the pandemic with the kids here. I dont want to screw over my stepkids, but one is applying now and another will apply next year. I make a lot more than their father, have some assets that are only in my name, and pay for nearly all the expenses of the household.

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I am balking at the idea of making serious contributions to their college, when I may be divorced from their father after I finish paying and would be left in a bad financial situation myself. The amount that feels comfortable to contribute is nowhere near what the EFC [expected family contribution] is with my income included. The kids plans were all predicated on the moms relatively low income being factored as the custodial parent. What should I/we do?

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In An Odd Position, Here

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Dear Odd Position,

I spoke to Ronald Ramsdell, a college financial aid consultant, about your situation, and without knowing some specifics about which academic years the kids are applying for and which colleges theyre considering, its hard to be precise, but there are a few broad options that are available to you.

First, Ramsdell suggested talking to the financial aid offices directly, because some schools will customize packages to take into account that you are not the custodial parent, even if youre part of the custodial household. What this means is that they may agree to leave your income out of the calculation entirely. Its how you communicate and negotiate with the schools, Ramsdell told me.

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If youre separated or divorced, the schools will not expect to include your income anyway. The implication is that if you happen to get divorced before the children apply, its a non-issue. Only their dads income will be included in the FAFSA. Ramsdell says hes had unmarried clients with children who were concerned that their combined income would make the kids eligible for less financial aid, and he advised them to wait till the third year of their childrens education to get married, if they could.

I dont believe you have an ethical obligation to pay for your stepkids schooling, but if you choose to make a contribution, you will likely have to speak the schools financial aid offices directly to determine whether theyll assess your income as part of the household.

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Theres no shame in being concerned about this, or needing to take care of yourself under the circumstances.

Dear Pay Dirt,

My wonderful fiance and I are in the very beginning stages of planning a wedding, with big dreams of a modern, black-tie-optional downtown wedding in the city where we currently live, and we are experiencing serious sticker shock. We should have realized the very expensive city we live in would also be one of the most expensive cities to get married in, but we thought that with the generous budget we have been given by my parents (around $65K) the wedding were picturing would be no problem. Were very quickly realizing thats not the case, and to get the wedding were envisioning we could end up spending $35K over budget.

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To make things more complicated, my parents have some non-negotiables that are keeping this affair expensive: wedding should take place in a central location within walking distance to hotels and restaurants, must have a seated dinner and full open bar, and all members of my large family must be invited, so not much flex on guest count (even though many of them probably wont come).

I am ready to high-tail our wedding to another city where we can stretch our budget even further, but then we have the added headache of planning from afar, and extra travel to get to that other city throughout the process. (All guests will be flying in from out of state no matter where the wedding is, so nothing would change for them.) Should we stay in our current expensive city, and almost certainly go way over budget, or pick a different city that will allow us to stay in budget, but will require some logistical headaches during the planning process?

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I Cant Believe These Prices

Dear I Cant Believe These Prices,

There are ways to cut costs without ruining your wedding, but before we get into them, I want to address the issue of your parents non-negotiables. They may be paying for the wedding, but it is not their wedding. It is your wedding. The only people who should have non-negotiable mandates for your wedding are you and your fiance. There are some ways to accommodate what they want if you want to do it, but first you need to set some boundaries with them. If its important to you to please them, or you feel obligated because theyre paying for the wedding, then at least make it clear to them that some of the things theyre requesting are precisely the things that will drive the wedding over budget. A seated dinner, in particular, can be incredibly expensive, and you will likely pay per person, so every time you add a guest (plus any significant others), your cost will go up.

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Im not going to advise you to go to City Hall and have canapes in your backyard because thats not what you want, and if having a fancy glamorous affair is important to you and your fiance, lets work with that. First, what needs to be expensive, and what doesnt? You dont mention which expensive city you live in, but you want the wedding to be downtown, wherever that is. I assume its trendy and pricey. Consider other parts of your city that might not be right in the center of things, but do check some other box: nearby hotels and restaurants, etc. Once youre in the venue, what part of town youre in wont matter. Food and drink can easily end up being the most expensive part of your wedding. So consider what seated dinner means, if thats important to you. A buffet option might not feel as grand as a five-course dinner with wait service, but it is still a seated dinner.

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Consider, generally, whats important to you. As youve probably already heard from your married friends, you wont remember most of what you cared about in the planning process after the big day. When my husband and I got married (also in a big expensive city, but mostly because ninety percent of our guests live here) we decided that we cared about making it accessible to our friends financially (not everybody can afford to travel), having good food, and hiring a very specific Bulgarian DJ who normally sneers at weddings, but very nicely made an exception, this one time, but only this one time. Prioritizing allowed us to figure out what we didnt need to spend money on: insanely expensive floral arrangements, separate venues for the wedding and reception, random decorative objects that everyone would forget.

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We got married outdoors, next to the building that housed the reception, and hired a music school student to play the guitar as we walked down the aisle. I dont remember what he played and I dont care, because none of my memories are about those kind of details. I remember that I danced with my dad to a Hank Williams Sr song and he was laughing and tearing up at the same time. I remember that everyone had fun, and that the people I cared about were there. Everything else was icing on the wedding cake, so to speak. Decide what your two or three most important things are, and budget for that. Consider everything else nice to have.

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Think about the big-ticket items in particular and how much they matter. I bought my wedding dress on eBay for a quarter of the price of the absolute cheapest wedding dress I found in the bridal boutiques I visited. It was a lightly worn vintage Versace gown and it was awesome. And it was red. You do not have to follow a script here: pick things you like, that will mean something to you, not just what matches up with the vision in your head of what a modern wedding is supposed to look like.

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Most importantly of all, do not go into debt to fund your wedding. There is no add-on or extra expense over your parents budget that will make the difference between great wedding and terrible wedding. After a point, theres a diminishing return to spending more money just to get one more little detail perfect.

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Get the Pay Dirt Newsletter Money advice from Athena and Elizabeth, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Dear Pay Dirt,

I am a mid-30s single woman with no kids, and because of my credit scorelow 500sI feel like I am invisible. I dont qualify for a credit card, I cant rent a car, I cant get an apartment without my parents co-signing. I have modest student loans$38,000that because of the CARES Act have finally come out of collections, but nothing on my credit score has changed.

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I dont know where to begin to resolve this, and I feel like Im failing at life. Im even embarrassed to seriously date anyone because of my financial status. I work in the restaurant industry in an expensive city, and so even though I make decent money, when it comes down to it Im still living paycheck to paycheck. How do I get out of this?

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I Dont Exist

Dear I Dont Exist,

You are not alone. Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and not because theyre irresponsible or have done anything wrong. There are probably many people you know who are struggling with similar issues, and youre unaware of it because people are embarrassed to talk about financial struggles. We live in a country where people equate money with success and hard work, even though financial security is often determined by other factors, and there are plenty of people who work incredibly hard and still have trouble making ends meet.

There are also trade-offs we choose to make that mean forgoing options that might be financially more secure. If you work in the restaurant industry in an expensive city, I imagine youre in a competitive job and that to some extent you enjoy it and the things that come with the expensive city, or youd consider a move. Its worth thinking about what these trade offs are, and how you value themgood and bad.

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But also know that your situation is not unusual and try to be kinder to yourself. First, you should consider talking to a credit counselor. There are non-profits that specialize in helping people repair credit and get on track financially. I know it probably creates some anxiety for you to talk about these things, but having a plan will reduce your anxiety about it longer-term, and taking that first step will make you feel a lot better. When you have debt and no concrete plan for getting out of it, its easy to feel overwhelmed and that the situation is insurmountable. Talking to a professional will help you envision and figure out a path out of it.

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Lastly, you shouldnt be embarrassed to date because you have debt. Lots of people have debt, and a date is not a lifelong commitment to combine assets. Just be upfront about your situation to anyone it seems like you might be developing feelings forand not just as a matter of disclosure, but because its important to you and shapes how youre making decisions in your life right now. There plenty of people out there who are potential partners who can sympathize with your situation, and anyone who cant probably isnt for you anyway.

Dear Pay Dirt,

My elderly mother has been living with us since late 2019. She has congestive heart failure and worsening mobility issues. Shes fortunately able to handle some key daily self-care needs herself. I, however, handle meals, cleaning, and laundry. Additionally, I manage all aspects of her lifemedical, financial, etc.

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Living with us was not a planned event but rather a sudden no-other-options scenario. She came down from my hometown, where my siblings also live, for what was supposed to be a one-month visit. But soon after she arrived my husband received a surprise cancer diagnosis, and her return home was subsequently delayed. Then COVID hit, and at the same time it became clear that she should no longer live alone. Shes been with us ever since.

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I love my mom dearly, but this has all been quite a strain. Last fall I told my sister that I need her or my brother to take a turn for a while. My sister is a bit of a mess, and this went over about as well as expected. She collapsed into a figurative heap, with many tears about how she just couldnt handle it. She called my brother, who barely involves himself in our side of the family to begin with (my sister had seemed the better of two bad places to start), and told him what I was asking. He gave a hard NO and said shed have to go to assisted living.

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The thing is, my mom has little money, enough for maybe two years of care. It seems incredibly unwise to spend what little she has when her needs are comparatively low, potentially then having nothing when her high-need days arrive. And so, at this point, Ive begrudgingly accepted that shes with us for the duration.

My moms will directs that whatever assets remain after her death are to be divided evenly among her three children. Im wondering, though, if theres a way, after she dies, for me to be compensated for all Ill have done. A claim against her estate? Or some other mechanism? She doesnt qualify for SSDI, so theres been no help there. Im her executor, so Ill get a small commission from that. She also currently contributes a little money each month to help cover food and utilities. Even so, these combined are still a pittance vs. what the care I provide would actually cost. Do I have any recourse?

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Feeling Put Out Here

Dear Put Out,

You need to talk to your mom about this. You wont be able to just invoice the estate for your expenses after she dies; you will be obligated, as the executor, to distribute her assets as she dictates in the will. If you dont do that, your siblings could have you removed as executor for failing to fulfill your fiduciary duty. However, if your mother agrees that you should be compensated for caretaking, she can build mechanisms into her will right now, or go ahead and distribute some of her assets, whatever they are. But you will have to discuss it with her.

You are in an incredibly difficult position and Im sorry your siblings are no help. Depending on what your mothers finances look like, you may be eligible for services that can help subsidize her caregiving. (Here, your brother should at least be able to help you research options, especially if hes insisting that she go into assisted living. Someone would have to pay for that if you agreed to it; is he willing?)

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There are also federal, state, and local organizations that offer financial assistance for elder care, and a few that will compensate family members for acting as caregivers if she qualifies for Medicaid. Without knowing more about the specifics of your situation, I dont know what youre eligible for, but there are umbrella organizations like the AARP that provide state-based resources to help you navigate that.

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I would also recommend joining a local caregiver support group. There are plenty of people who are in your exact situation, or have been through it before, who have already had to navigate some of what youll need to deal with in the future. They can make the process easier by sharing what theyve already learned and offer you some emotional support youre not getting from your siblings. You dont need to start from scratch, and you dont need to do this alone.

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Its a good idea to go ahead and do these things, even if your mother does not need full-time services right now. At some point she may, and you may not be able to personally provide them. You should have a discussion with her about how to proceed that takes this into account. Emphasize to your siblings that at some point, you may not be able to care for your mother, and that you all need some plan for if or when that happens.

Elizabeth

More Advice from Slate

I plan to be married soon. My fiance and I dont want a big to-do but would like to mark the occasion with a small ceremony and invite immediate family and a few close friends. This is a second marriage for both of us. My ex-husband and I remained civil to one another for the sake of our children. My fiance and my ex get along well, and we occasionally socialize with him and his significant other. My ex is a judge and as such is able to perform weddings. My fiance and I talked it over and would like to ask him to marry us. Problem is when I mentioned our plan to my sisters, they had a fit. They said it would be tacky and would make other family members uncomfortable to have my ex marry us. Are our plans just too out there?
Last Friday, the Harvard Crimson reported that 38 faculty members, many distinguished and tenured, had signed an open letter in defense of the anthropologist John Comaroff, a Harvard professor sanctioned for violating universitywide policies on sexual harassment and professional conduct. The letter signers, including heavy hitters like the historian Jill Lepore and the Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt, excoriated Harvard officials for running two investigations (a formal Title IX process as well as a separate inquiry run by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences), as well as for punishing Comaroff at all. As the faculty signatories understood it, what Comaroff stood accused ofwarning a female graduate student that she would likely be raped when traveling in Africaseemed like reasonable advice for advisers to give vulnerable students. They worried about their own exposure. They called Comaroff an excellent colleague, advisor and committed university citizen.

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The letters aftermath has been astonishing and severe. Claudine Gay, dean of Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, warned the alarmed faculty members that they didnt have all the facts about the case. On Twitter, other scholarsat Harvard and elsewheremet the news of the letters publication with shock and dismay. That confusion exploded into rage when, on Tuesday, the New York Times reported that three female graduate students had filed a lawsuit detailing claims about years of sexual harassment by Comaroff, as well as Harvards ongoing negligence. (The complaint is grim reading; one nightmarish passage alleges that the university obtained one female students private therapy records without her consent before sharing them with Comaroff.) Late on Tuesday, 73 different Harvard professors published an open counter-letter, pointing out that their colleagues, by happily accepting the story spun by Comaroffs defense lawyers, were siding against students and implying that their complaints of abuse had been fabricated. As of this writing, 34 of the original 38 signatories have retracted their names from the letter that began it all.

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Dueling open letters among colleagues are rare, and the retraction of names is even rarer. But open letters, the modern origins of which are usually attributed to the French novelist Emile Zola (and his famous 1898 letter JAccuse!), have become one of the simplest and most common forms of public action for todays scholars and intellectuals. Some are, indeed, about closing ranks behind powerful friends. But most of them are more generous and well-intentioned, a sort of earnest civic reflex. There are too many recent examples to count.

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Yet not all of them are made equal. Some open letters vanish without a trace. Others land dramatically, and we end up talking about them for months. The difference, of course, has to do with power: how clearly its understood and how effectively its wielded. That first Harvard letter made an awful splash, but not because it worked so beautifullyrather, the reverse. In this, despite its cramped focus on the fate of a single anthropologist, it has much in common with academic open letters more broadly. Meant to demonstrate authority and influence, this centurys grandest open letters more frequently reveal their absence. The emperors clothes are long gone.

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It feels as though we have been awash in open letters since 2016 or so, when Trump and the Brexiteers won, and democracy began to seem fragile. Many of these letters have been authored by scholars and intellectuals in a noble attempt to call attention to the dire state of our civic institutions. These days, open letters are typically warnings. Historians and political scientists have been especially prolific, adding their names to missives about the filibuster, impeachment, European values, American democracy, and the danger of a new authoritarianism. Open letters like these, addressing national and global audiences, arrive with good intentions and are written with both urgency and care. Theyre often circulated among colleagues on Twitter and appear in friendly outlets like the New York Times, the New Republic, or the Guardian. These are honest attempts to bring expert knowledge to bear on our current situation.

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They have also largely failed. The expertise has gone unheeded. Trump wasnt convicted, the filibuster lives, the fascist right gets scarier, and voters keep voting for Republicans. I dont mean to be unkind, to suggest that it isnt worth speaking up together with others, or that clear statements of principle arent worth making. It is, and they are. But open letters have such a dismal 21st-century track record that its useful to understand why they often amount to so little, even as we continue to write them.

Consider a different letter. In July 2020, to considerable commotion, Harpers published A Letter on Justice and Open Debate, in which an ideologically mixed group of writers and academics defended liberal freedoms and denounced cultural censoriousness. Its not hard to see that the Harpers letter worked. Although this may not have been what all its signatories intended (perhaps only the organizers), the letter refocused media attention on supposed left-wing excesses and supercharged an overdone national debate about cancel culture. It reinforced a journalistic frame in which what college students do online or on their privileged campuses matters more than the actions of a president, helping tug public discourse further to the right.

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Open letters are a more curious and taxing genre than they first appear. Theyre not mere vehicles for the ideas they explain or endorse. If that were true, letter authors might write an op-ed instead: just as nimble, just as public. But theyre not entirely about strength in numbers, eitherthat describes a petition, and produces sprawling hybrid things like the Great Barrington Declaration, a statement against tough COVID-19 mitigation measures that boasts more than 925,000 signatures from a small roster of public health experts and many more ordinary citizens. No, the open letter is a form of public writing thats all about elite power, not democratic authority: collecting the right set of names, the names that matter, and putting their intellectual or institutional or personal clout to work.

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It would be easy to argue that many academic open letters now fail because the American public sphere has atrophied and intellectual authority is collapsing. Or that they are relics from a time when expert opinion actually mattered. Or that they are better suited for other societies where thinkers and artists possess real public heft, where Habermas or Foucault are household names. Maybe these things are true.

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A salvo like the Harpers letter, however, suggests that open letters can still work. They just require their authors to be clear-eyed about how power functions and what they are trying to achieve. We might even say that there are three kinds of clarity that distinguish the most effective open letters from the ones that disappoint. First, the signatories have a realistic understanding of their own authority and how the power they wield is perceived in the world. Second, these letters are motivated by a specific desired outcome as well as the knowledge that it can be achieved by writing together in public. Third, the best open letters have a precise sense of their audience, of who will actually be doing the reading.

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One paradox, I think, is that these three clarities are hardest to achieve when it comes to our thorniest problems, diffuse national or global challenges like democratic stability or the rule of law or climate change. But these are also the problems that make us feel most helpless as citizens and thus keen to do something, anythingeven if its just signing an open letter. Many intellectuals and academics have come to see open letters as tools for intervening in major political debates. But it seems to me that theyre much better suited for local dilemmas within small communities and closed institutions, where names really do matter and real pressure can be exerted. Places like Harvard.

This weeks competing open letters at Harvard are quite unusual because they are, in fact, terrifically local. We know the names because theyre Harvard professors, but both letters are crafted to bring the authority of those names to bear on narrow Harvard problems: the deans decisions, the universitys policies, and the sanctions imposed upon one professor. Published in the Crimson, they are crafted to influence the universitys byzantine politics and its carousel of powerful personalities. (Youve likely not read so much about another open letter written in support of Comaroff, signed by many less prominent scholars from beyond Harvards walls; or the one with more than 1,600 names, including many junior scholars and graduate students, that condemns the original letter from Lepore and others.)

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Why did the first Harvard letter result in such a spectacular collective face-plant? Its not, as the critics of cancel culture might have it, because any talk of due process inevitably runs into the buzz saw of vindictive left-wing Twitter mob justice. Its because it failed as an open letter. Most critically, its signatories did not see their own authority very clearly. They misunderstood how their support of Comaroff, and their status as senior scholars, would be perceived by their own students. But they appear to have been no less oblivious to how this vastly privileged wagon circling and endowed chair brandishing would be seen by academia in general, at a time when all the jobs have disappeared, and younger scholars deeply resent the senior faculty who fail to see the emergency for what it is. Its also far from clear what the signatories hoped to achieve. Clarity from the dean about the process? A reversal of Comaroffs (extremely mild) punishment? Explanations from the now-apologetic signatories make it somewhat hard to tell. Finally, Comaroffs defenders entirely misread their audience. It wasnt just Dean Claudine Gay and Title IX administrators who were reading their complaint. It was their own students, to say nothing of a wider world of peers, colleagues, and collaboratorsmost of whom have recoiled in horror.

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On power, prestige, and buy in to company thinking in higher ed: the 38 Harvard profs who defended colleague and uni in their open letter all signed with their ranks and full titles of their endowed chairs. The 73 who wrote in opposition listed only their department affiliation.  J P Daughton (@daughton_p) February 10, 2022

The counter-letter, evidently organized by several Harvard historians, is less splashy, but a much better model for what a good open letter can do, clear in all the ways the first one wasnt. These signatories better understand how they are perceived by their own students as members of the Harvard faculty, and their collective goals are crystal-clear: to reassure undergraduates and early-career scholars that they will be taken seriously, and to do some serious damage control, in Cambridge and beyond. Even more, these shrewder professors recognized who would likely be reading their words. Their public statement, focused and deliberate, is doing what it was intended to do.

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Certainly, its the second letter that worked and the first one that backfired. But its the original, the vociferous public defense of Comaroff, that turns out to be most revealing. Yes, it illuminates the personal networks and relationships on which entrenched power rests, and tells us some unpleasant things about Harvard. Yet in its carelessness, it also suggests something else: about just how casual and reflexive open letters have become, and what can follow when theyre treated as easy gestures or unalloyed goods. Without clarity and purpose, you might regret signing one. Thirty-four Harvard professors already have.
A New York Times headline from November of last yearearly in the decennial House redistricting processreinforced what many perpetually sad-on-their-luck Democrats had come to expect: Republicans Gain Heavy House Edge in 2022 as Gerrymandered Maps Emerge.

Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth!

Republicans, with their dominant control of state legislatures across the country, had worked quickly to cement their incumbents and freeze out Democratic expansion in many states. A certain pessimistic conventional wisdom informed by the previous redistricting cycle took hold: Ruthless Republicans would staunch out the possibility of a majority for do-gooder Democrats for much of the next decade.

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But for those leading Democratic redistricting efforts from central command in D.C., the Times piece was premature.

They had a plan for this.

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In the months since, the popular narrative that Republicans would smother Democrats for a decade has fizzled out. Democrats, through a series of aggressive gerrymanders of their own (and victories in court), are on the cusp of completing a national gerrymandering process that doesnt exactly tilt in their favor, but is much more competitive for them than the current maps.

While 11 states still havent completed their mapsand there are some puzzle pieces remainingnational Democrats believe theyve achieved their goal of avoiding the redistricting nightmare of 10 years ago.

With 39 congressional maps encompassing 337 congressional districts complete as of this week, former Attorney General Eric Holder, the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, told reporters Thursday, its becoming quite clear that there will be enough fair and competitive districts around the country for the House to be in play, not only for this cycle but for the rest of the decade.

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, made a similar declaration earlier this week.

What changed in the last few months to turn Democrats frown upside down?

Republicans made some early moves in states over which they have total control. In Iowa, a state where just one Congress ago Democrats controlled three out of the four seats, Republicans tilted those three seats a titch to the right. Utah Republicans cracked a competitive Salt Lake City district into four districts, securing four very safe Republican seats. Montana Republicans gifted themselves the states new, second seat; Republicans in Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oklahoma shored up lone, quasi-competitive districts.

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In Texas, a state which saw a massive influx of Democratic voters over the last decade, Republicans gerrymandered creatively to protect their incumbents and maintain a roughly 2-1 advantage in a state where Donald Trump got only 52 percent of the vote in 2020. In Georgia, a state Trump lost and which presently has two Democratic senators, Republicans took out one Democratic incumbents district and produced a 9-5 advantage for themselves. Both Georgias and Texas maps are in court.

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Since Democrats had total control over redistricting in far fewer states than Republicans did, there was pressure from the national Democratic party on those few states to push their gains. And so they went about it.

In Illinois, Democrats gerrymandered their way from the states 13-5 Democratic delegation to a 14-3 Democratic advantage. New Mexico converted its lone Republican-leaning district to a Democratic-leaning one. Maryland Democrats flinched from wiping out the states sole Republican district, but did make it more competitive. The show-stopper in Democrats plans, though, was in New York.

For the first redistricting cycle in a long time, Democrats had unified control of and supermajorities in Albany. Following a perfunctory effort to create a map through a bipartisan commission, the legislature took over, and created a map where Democrats have the advantage in 22 districts to Republicans 4. The current delegation is 19 Democrats to 8 Republicans. New Yorks new map, alone, flipped the Cook Political Reports overall redistricting scorecard in Democrats favor for the first time.

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Democrats, including those in Holders group, also prepared litigation strategies in states where they suspected Republicans might not be able to help themselves from overreaching.

Consider Ohio, a state whose voters in the last decade approved a constitutional amendment forbidding partisan gerrymandering. Republicans in charge of the state essentially ignored this, and approved a map giving Republicans a 13-2 advantagein a state that Trump won with only 53 percent of the vote.

National Democrats felt that if Republicans had been a touch less aggressivesay, by adopting an 11-to-4 mapit could have passed muster with the state Supreme Court. The one Ohio passed, instead, was struck down by the state Supreme Court, and now Democrats feel theres a chance Ohio could produce a 10-to-5 map when all is said and done. Its a similar story in North Carolina, where congressional maps are rarely not in litigation. Trump won the state with 50.1 percent of the vote in 2020, and Republicans produced a map with 10 Republican districts, 3 Democratic districts, and 1 swing district. The state Supreme Court struck that down last week, and Democrats could find themselves with a couple of more seats at the end of the process.

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The process is not over, and Republicans, after seeing the aggression with which Democrats are pushing the cycle, have gotten a second wind. Tennessee recently blew one of its two Democratic districts to smithereens. Kansas Republicans this week overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto on a map that endangers the states sole Democrat (the NDRC is planning a suit, Holder told reporters Thursday.) Hard-right Missouri Republicans are having a weeklong fit trying to block a map that keeps a Democratic Kansas City district intact.

But the most important state to watch right now is Florida. The state senate had, on a near-unanimous vote, approved a map maintaining roughly the status quo split between Democrats and Republicans. That wasnt good enough for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who proposed his own, aggressive map that, if passed, would be a direct affront to both state and federal law. He may not be able to go as far as he wants, but look for Republicans in Florida to try to make up at least some of the ground theyve lost elsewhere.

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The gains they have made, though, have often been characterized as surprising in pieces observing the trend this year. Thats in large part due a psychological affliction among Democrats, who view their party as innately incapable of competing with Republicans in power politics, and whove never seen a rabbit hole of despair they havent gone down.

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The 2010 maps were so gerrymandered in Republicans favor that many Democrats simply assumed that would happen again. But sometimes rock bottom really is rock bottom, and Democrats had more opportunities this cycle than they had a decade ago.

The outcome has not been surprising to the national Democratic strategists working on redistricting with whom I spoke, some of whom said what were seeing more or less matches their projections heading into this cycle. Democrats had a plan, and built the infrastructure, to maximize their gains in states where they had unified control, litigate where Republicans overreached, pass ballot initiatives against gerrymandering, and raise more public awareness of redistricting before the cycle began.

I think what folks have been characterizing as a surprise,  Kelly Burton, the president of the NDRC, told reporters Thursday, is really the implementation and the result of an intentional strategy.
This week, the National Sheriffs Association held their Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. The meeting is held in the nations capital every year, but this year a new event was added to the agenda: a Hill Day,in which the NSA arranged meetings between county sheriffs and their congressional representatives to discuss issues that are meaningful to Sheriffs, ranging from policing issues to medical care.

Since the summer of 2020, when the nation erupted into protest over police violence, police unions have been hard at work using their immense political power to thwart reform efforts. While police unions generally operate locally, there are state-wide and nation-wide organizations that purport to represent the interests of various law enforcement groups: police chiefs, police captains, and sheriffs. Sheriffs, in particular, have displayed immense resistance to efforts to change policing. Yet the national association that ostensibly represents their interests, and lobbies Congress on their behalf, remains under-examined and under-studied.

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Last fall, for example, after every major national law enforcement lobbying group agreed to a set of modest, bipartisan policing reforms hashed out by Sens. Tim Scott and Corey Booker, the sheriffs refused to budge from their hardline position, especially when it came to reforming qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that makes it near-impossible to hold rogue and criminal law enforcement officers liable in civil suits.

Since then, sheriffs, under the leadership of the National Sheriffs Association (NSA), have gone on the warpath, pushing false narratives about a war on cops and whipping up unsubstantiated panic about increasing crime. In one instance, Louisiana Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, the President of the NSA, went on a local news station to call for federal support in arresting alleged shoplifters because they were terrorizing their communities. His request was backed up by a general NSA call for an action by the Biden administration on retail theft (which isnt a federal crime).

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The next day, Executive Director and CEO of the NSA Jonathan Thompson  who is a paid employee of the organization and not an elected sheriff  went on Fox News to complain about the NFLs discretionary donations to groups engaged in criminal system reform through the Inspire Change initiative. Thompson topped his complaints with a veiled threat that players should spend one night in a cruiser or a jail to see the horrendous effects of runaway crime.

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The sheriffs even went so far as to slam a leaked draft executive order, purportedly from the Biden administration, that appeared to address a variety of federal law enforcement reforms and provide additional funding for certain programs. (Biden seems to be walking back this plan based on recent meetings with law enforcement.)

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How did the sheriffs come to be such a unified front against policing reform? Through the work of the National Sheriffs Association, a big-tent organization that nominally represents the interests of county sheriffs. Part of that representation requires the creation and reiteration of a mythology about sheriffs that serves to secure their place in the American pantheon of law enforcement organizations. This objective is even written into their constitutional charter. They mean it. When the county commissioners of Loudoun County, Virginia, considered reducing the role of the county sheriff by creating a police force (that would be under the control of the mostly Democrat county government), the NSA was there to argue forcefully against it. They claimed that sheriffs were more cost-efficient and better at patrol and policing than county-run police forces, and called the county government political hacks.

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While the NSA claims to be nonpartisan, its leadership has proven to be less so, with the most recent slate of leaders leaning further to the right than past leadership. At least one member of the Executive Committee  Sheriff Chris West of Oklahoma  was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. At least three others are members of Protect America Now, a far-right sheriffs organization, or the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a group that believes sheriffs are the ultimate arbiters of the constitution. The current chair of the Government Affairs Committee is Collin County, Texas, Sheriff Jim Skinner, who was responsible for the high-profile jail death of Marvin Scott III, whom deputies killed by restraining him, placing a hood over his head, and dousing him with pepper spray. As part of the committee, Skinner is tasked with developing the NSAs policy positions on law enforcement and homeland security in addition to representing the Association before Congress and the White House. The NSA has also consistently lobbied in favor of civil asset forfeiture, which, despite bipartisan opposition, remains the law in Texas.

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These political affiliations have only become more tangled with the rise of the constitutional sheriffs movement. The NSA has yet to disavow the growing number of sheriffs who have refused to enforce vaccination orders, expressed anti-government rhetoric, or spread disinformation about election fraud. In fact, spokesperson for the NSA praised Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who formed a far-right sheriffs group and has ties to Donald Trump and Michael Flynn, the ex-government official who we now know was pushing a plan for the military to seize voting machines to overturn the 2020 election. The spokesperson praised Lamb as a unicorn during an interview in October of 2021, adding that Lamb was simply standing up for the office of the sheriff.

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While the NSA officially disavows connections between corporate sponsors and their policies, the degree of corporate funding is shadowy and belies their alleged neutrality. The Association is a 501(c)(4) organization, which is not required to disclose its donor and lobbying expenditures publicly. What we do know is that the NSA manages to raise in the neighborhood of $8 million in dark money every year. (A spokesperson from the NSA says the money is a mix of member dues, government grants, and corporate sponsorships). The available public information about funding indicates that the NSA is beholden to the corporations that have built the prison industrial complex and produce billions of dollars in profits off the backs of people in cages. Such for-profit industries, which include telecommunications companies like Verizon, GTL, PayTel and correctional health care companies as well as more anodyne corporations like Airbnb and The Home Depot can purchase access to sheriffs. For top donors their purchase includes a reception with NSA leadership as well as a Private Dinner with Members of NSAs Executive Committee and Headquarters Leadership.

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These sponsorships are really the tip of the iceberg of the many troubling alliances that betray the nominally nonpartisan spirit of the NSA.

For example, this year, ex-police officer named Matthew Griffin, who wrote a book about mental health for law enforcement, gave the keynote speech and was made an honorary sheriff. Griffin, who has never been a sheriff, served as a police officer in New Hampshire, but left after he was added not once, but twice, to a statewide list of officers who committed misconduct. According to one news source, Griffin at one point claimed to be a reserve officer for an unincorporated New Hampshire town and worked as a police trainer. His speech was sponsored by Axon, the company that makes body cameras and Tasers. And, according to a 2021 Washington Post article, Griffin also serves as a police trainer .

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There is further evidence that the NSA courts corporate sponsorship in exchange for sheriff sponsorship. In 2016, the NSA took $350,000 from Purdue Pharma, which it used to distribute naloxone overdose kits and train deputies to reverse overdoses. The Association also took an undisclosed amount from Alkermes, Inc, the manufacturer of Vivitrol, an overdose prevention drug, to raise awareness among law enforcement of the alarming opioid epidemic. (ProPublica reported that Alkermes has heavily marketed Vivitrol to law enforcement and judges because, while less effective than methadone and Suboxone, the shot blocks the ability of people to feel the pleasurable high of opiates.) The NSA also spent over $500,000 to air televisions ads featuring sheriffs voicing their opposition to imported prescription drugs, which was the subject of a bipartisan proposal to bring down the costs of medicines in the U.S.

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In the past few years, the NSA has pushed surveillance technology by channeling federal grants and promoting private industry, making them a major player in the public-private partnerships that have promoted surveillance cameras and AI-driven technologies. One such push is eye scanning technology from a corporation called B12 Technologies that has been implemented in some jails with federal funding. Another includes a partnership with Clearview AI, a corporation that markets facial recognition technology used by law enforcement, which has increased its contracts under the Biden administration.

A final plank of the NSAs political strategy involves the filing of numerous amicus briefs in various cases across the country in which they take troubling positions that oppose the Constitutional rights of individuals. Many in the public are already familiar with the entanglement between the National Rifle Association and sheriffs; the NSA has joined other gun organizations in amici that argue in favor of invalidating gun restrictions. In 2015, the NSA filed a brief opposing DACA alongside FAIR and Center for Immigration Studies, another Tanton group. The NSA has also filed amici briefs supporting the seizure of hotel guests lists without a warrant, qualified immunity in a case where sheriffs deputies killed a suspect during arrest while city officers watched, warrantless searches even where there has been an error on the part of law enforcement, and application of a negligence standards for liability in jail deaths.

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But the troubling fusion of private industry money, lobbying activities, and mass surveillance makes the public comments and inaction of the NSA more suspect when considering the overall landscape for police reform. Its true that the structure of the NSA is legal and one used by groups on the left and the right. But, communities have a right to know about the corporate (and individual) funders who profit from additional policing, especially organizations that appear to tolerate wrong-doing. The NSA should be seen as part of the network of dark money groups who are influencing legislation and grants rather than a nonpartisan general interest group.

Another path is possible. In California, district attorneys have split away from the state prosecutors association because of its retrograde positions, which is a first step towards disentangling dark money, corporate interests, and an industry that has profited from caging people. Its time for sheriffs to do the same.
On Wednesday, family members of Black men who have been killed by local police, including Philando Castile, George Floyd, and Daunte Wright, joined protests demanding justice over the killing of Amir Locke during a raid by Minneapolis police that involved a so-called no-knock warrant.

A Minneapolis SWAT team killed Locke last Wednesday as he awoke from sleeping on his couch with a legally purchased gun in his hand pointed at the floor. The team burst through the door of Lockes apartment without apparently first announcing themselves and shot the 22-year-old within nine seconds of entering. The police were executing a search warrant against Lockes 17-year-old cousin, Mekhi Speed, who is accused of killing 38-year-old Otis Elder last month. Speed was not at the home when police fatally shot Locke, who was not a suspect in the investigation. Speed was arrested later in a town 100 miles southeast of where his cousin was killed.

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The shooting has once again raised concerns over law enforcements use of no-knock, or quick-knock, warrants, which rose to notoriety after the police killing of 26-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, resident Breonna Taylor two years ago. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey had promised to ban the use of no-knock warrants in all but exigent circumstances after the protests for racial justice following officer Derek Chauvins murder of Floyd. But the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported last week that no-knock warrants in the city continued at an alarming rate even after Freys promised ban, with police conducting at least 13 no-knock searches in January, a greater number of no-knock searches than standard warrant searches that month. Even after Freys ban, officers were still executing almost 10 no-knock warrants per month as of last November. The 40-year-old mayor has again said hes banning no-knock warrants in all but the most extreme circumstances, but for real this time. He has brought in DeRay McKesson and Pete Kraskawho helped craft Breonnas Law to eliminate no-knock warrants in Louisville following Taylors killingto reshape the citys warrant policies.

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All of which raise the questions: Why was the city serving so many no-knock warrants in the first place? Is this normal? And what would actually qualify as a legitimate exigent circumstance for law enforcement officers to use a tool that has shown itself to be dangerous to both bystanders and officers?

That number of warrants does not meet the eye test, said Thaddeus Johnson, a former ranking law enforcement officer in Memphis who teaches criminology at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and is a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice. I cant expect personally for the number of no-knock warrants to outpace the number of traditional warrants, Johnson told me. Generally, the majority of total warrants of all kinds would be served for offenses that are not the most extreme cases, such as homicides or sexual assaults, and thus not the most exigent circumstances, he noted. If those are the majority of the crimes, if those are the majority of the people that were arresting, it doesnt seem congruent with that pattern for us to have more no-knock warrants than traditional warrants, he said.

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Like with most every other flaw of the criminal justice system, race appears to be an overriding factor when looking at the dangers of no-knock warrants. According to one ACLU study, a hugely disproportionate number of SWAT team searches, 42 percent, are deployed at homes of Black people. I dont think that we can divorce race from the equation. Police officers tend to have a lot of anxiety around Black men especially, and a lot of police officers, like a lot of other people in the United States, have stereotypes about Black men as being violent and dangerous, said Paul Butler, a former federal prosecutor who is now a professor of law at Georgetown Law School. So that, I think, leads police officers to want to rely on the element of surprise, because they think it makes their task  easier.

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While there is limited research on the relative dangers and effectiveness of no-knock or quick-knock warrants, research by the Council on Criminal Justice aligns with Butlers analysis when it comes to drug searches. A public records review of 818 SWAT deployments conducted by 20 local law enforcement agencies across 11 states between 2010 and 2013 found that 62 percent were for drug searches; of those, forced entry was employed in 60 percent of the deployments, the council reports.

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Again, while research is limited, the few studies available have shown that these types of searches are not particularly good at recovering evidence or deterring violent crime. One ACLU study, the Council on Criminal Justice report noted, showed that weapons were recovered in just 1 in 3 SWAT searches, and no evidence was recovered in 65 percent of SWAT searches involving suspected drug crimes. Other studies, in Buffalo, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri, found no statistically significant impact on violent crime by the use of forcible police raids.

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The dangers of these raids, meanwhile, are apparent even beyond the high-profile cases, such as the killings of Locke and Taylor. An investigation by the New York Times showed 81 civilians and 13 police officers died in such raids between 2010 and 2016, with officers making up 10 percent of casualties when standard searches resulted in deadly violence and 20 percent of casualties when no-knock searches resulted in deadly violence. (This could obviously be because no-knock searches may involve more dangerous suspects, but it could also be because they may be more likely to go awry.) Another study found that 10 percent of New York Police Department raids in 2003 occurred at the wrong location, a situation that seems to have repeated itself in the tragic death of Locke.

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If these no-knock searches are so dangerous and havent been shown to produce evidence at high rates, why are they still in such wide use? Butler suspects that the politics of criminal justice, and the deference magistrate judges who issue such warrants have toward police requests, play a large role. The fact is that magistrates are supposed to be neutral and detached and supposed to offer an independent judgment, Butler said. But the reality is, and the experience of most police officers is, that typically magistrates just go along with whatever the police officer requests. Robert Weisberg, co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center and a former consulting attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the California Appellate Project on death penalty cases, agrees with Butler that deference to police is playing a large role in the issuance of no-knock warrants. You could have judges who just dont even ask these questions and just take a conclusory statement from the police that knocking here would be counterproductive, Weisberg said. Thats got to be the major reason for it.

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Johnson, the former ranking officer, disagrees slightly with this frame, arguing that magistrate judges get a bad rap. In Johnsons experience, the approval process is different from judge to judge, with some judges who are super attentive and are super experienced running warrant requests through the wringer and others on the total [reverse] end of the spectrum. He blames lack of resources and experience in cases where judges sign off too readily on no-knock warrants, rather than excessive deference to police. Where Johnson does feel the blame lies in cases where no-knock warrants are used excessively is among leadership within law enforcement organizations. The more that department supervisors or commanders push warrior-style policing, you can see that maybe due diligence is sacrificed in those instances, Johnson said.

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He continued to describe how the decisions to use these warrants tend to play out among police leadership:

Ive seen some where they were very cautious, and Ive seen some where they were like, go, go, go. Theres really no uniformity in it. Its really guided by the policies, and even the laws in the state, but particularly the policies of the department and just the type of people you have in those positions.

While reforming the culture in police departments is critical, changes to law and policy seem far easier to adopt on a quicker timeline. Only three states have any type of ban on no-knock warrants in place, however, even as such bans are being adopted by individual jurisdictions across the country thanks to the work of people like McKesson and Kraska.

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Everyone I spoke with said that if they are used, no-knock warrants should truly be reserved for the most exigent of circumstances. Weisberg framed it this way:

Is this search so necessary under these circumstances that this risk is worth taking? Is it a search to find a kidnapped person? It is a search to find an explosive or a weapon which is about to cause horrible harm? Or is it a pretty generic search for generic evidence?

The new policy Frey is adopting in Minneapolis would seem to meet that framework. Under the moratorium announced last week after Lockes killing, the city said that police would only be able to conduct no-knock searches if there were an imminent threat of harm to an individual or the public and then the warrant must be approved by the Chief.

Its impossible not to wonder, though, if such a policy had been in place when Frey promised his previous ban, would Amir Locke still be alive today?
As Vladimir Putin steps up his military pressure on the Ukrainian border, there are signs that some members of Russias officer corps oppose his actions.

The most eyebrow-raising of these dissents is an open letter by retired Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov posted on the website of the All-Russian Officers Assembly, which he chairs. In it, he rejects Putins claim that NATO poses a threat to Russias vital interests, warns that invading Ukraine will forever make Russians and Ukrainians mortal enemies, and calls on Putin to step down. He concludes, We, Russias officers, demand that the President of the Russian Federation reject the criminal policy of provoking a war in which Russia would find itself alone against the united forces of the West.

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Ivashov is no pacifist. Alexander Golts, a longtime reporter for the Russian military newspaper Red Star, now an editor at Daily Journal, described him in a recent column as deeply rooted in the Russian establishment. As an active-duty officer in the 1990s (his rank corresponds to the U.S. Armys three-star general), Ivashov led the attempt to block NATO troops from entering Kosovo. A hardcore Russian nationalist, he was in charge of Moscows military relations with the former Soviet republics in the years following the breakup of the USSR.

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Golts, who has known Ivashov for 25 years, wrote that when he first read the open letter, he thought it must be some kind of fake. Only this past Tuesday, when Ivashov was interviewed for 36 minutes on Echo of Moscow, an independent radio station, did he realize it was authentic.

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Golts was also struck that, unlike most criticisms of Putin, even from less venerated sources, Ivashovs appealwhich was posted on Jan. 31hasnt been taken down. Nor has anyone issued a rebuttal. Nor has any member of Ivashovs organization dissociated himself from the denunciation.

Anders Aslund, a Swedish economist and longtime Russia watcher who is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said that, despite its grand title, the All-Russian Officers Assembly is small. The important thing, Aslund told me, is that Ivashov is allowed to do this. The fact that Putin hasnt taken the post down suggests to Aslund that there is some opposition to Putins policy from within the hardcore military, perhaps from within the Security Council, which consists of senior officials in the ministry of defense, ministry of interior, foreign intelligence service, and other agencies. If someone powerful wasnt protecting Ivashov, Aslund said, Putin would have quashed his letter by now.

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Some other Russia experts dispute Aslunds inference, saying its at least as likely, if not more so, that Putin regards Ivashov as too trivial to whack. The two have despised each other since 2001, when Putin retired the colonel general as part of his moves to consolidate power inside the Kremlin. Ivashovs letter is also not the first time he has called Putin a criminal or called for his resignation.

Whether or not Aslunds theory is correct, Ivashovs post is significant in what it represents about todays Russian politics. In a recent column in the English-language Moscow Times, Mark Galeottia senior associate fellow at Great Britains Royal United Services Institute and author of We Need to Talk About Putinconcludes:

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The fact of [Ivashovs] public appeal is significant, in that it speaks to the frustration and concern felt within a fraction of the Russian political scene that tends to remain behind the scenes, yet which has perhaps more traction than any other within the security forces, which are also the ultimate guarantors of Putins authority.

Ivashovs letter also highlights a point overlooked by many Western media analysesthat, as Galeotti puts it, Russian political opposition to the Kremlin comes not only from the liberal intelligentsia but also [from] nationalists, for whom Putin is not a patriot but an opportunist.

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Another example of internal dissentless dramatic, but in some ways more intriguing and possibly more significantis an article by retired Col. Mikhail Khodarenok. As the former head of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff and the editor of an influential military journal, Khodarenok has strong ties with active-duty senior officers.

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In last weeks issue of the widely read Independent Military Review, Khodarenok derides the notion, held by many senior political officials in Moscow, that Russia could conquer Ukraine in short order. This view, he writes, reflects complete ignorance of the military-political situation and the mood of the broad masses in Ukraine. It ignores the factof which he says there should be no doubtthat Western nations would send Ukraine massive quantities of arms similar to the U.S. Lend-Lease Act that helped the Allied armies in World War II. He reminds readers that Josef Stalins spies and soldiers fought the nationalist underground in Western Ukraine for more than 10 yearsand that the resistance fighters in todays Ukraine would be fiercer still. Finally, Khodarenok concludes, the most important thing: An armed conflict with Ukraine is currently fundamentally not in Russias national interest.

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In his Moscow Times piece, Mark Galeotti notes, We are nowhere near the point where we can meaningfully talk of active opposition to Putins reign or to his military orders. However, posts like Ivashovsand, by extension, Khodarenoksform a useful reminder that Russian politics are more complicated than often assumed and that Putins belligerent nationalist rhetoric certainly doesnt convince everyone.

We dont know how widespread the views of Khodarenok and Ivashov are. Most media in Putins Russia are state-owned propaganda machines (Echo of Moscow radio is one of the few that arent). But longtime observers of Russia suspect they reflect deep rumblings within the military. If so, and an invasion of Ukraine bogs down as troops are sent home in body bags, the grounds will have already been laid for serious, perhaps fatal opposition not only to Putins war, but possibly to his rule.
In the space of a few short months, weve gone from a panic about teachers communicating critical race theory in K12 schools (without even fully identifying what that idea means or whether its actually being taught in schools), to a proposal for a full-on surveillance regime to monitor such teachers, to a slate of new laws about punishing and even recovering money damages from them. If you blinked, you missed it. A year ago, we were fighting about how race, gender, and history were discussed in the classroom. Today, in states across the country, teachers are being threatened with tip lines, video cameras, and personal monetary liability and damages. From bitching to snitching in under a year.

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Welcome, then, to the new normal: close parental supervision of educators to ensure loyalty and obedience. A New Hampshire bill was introduced this winter to regulate, by its own title, teacher loyalty. The text of the bill provides that no teacher shall advocate any doctrine or theory promoting a negative account or representation of the founding and history of the United States of America in New Hampshire public schools which does not include the worldwide context of now outdated and discouraged practices. It continues: Such prohibition includes but is not limited to teaching that the United States was founded on racism. Texas state Rep. Matt Krause famously produced a list in October of the 850 books he said might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled support for a bill advancing in the Florida Legislature that would restrict classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate. The bill defines neither of those two terms.

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All this in addition to books being pulled out of school curricula.

And apart, again, from the book burning.

A Texas-style bounty bill recently proposed in Oklahoma would allow parents to directly sue teachers whenever a public school promotes positions in opposition to closely held religious beliefs of the student. A PEN America report documents how many new proposals would give parents such a right of action. In Iowa, a newly proposed bill would allow parents to watch live footage of their children in public school classrooms. Its proponent, Republican state Rep. Norlin Mommsen, justified the Orwellian surveillance with the argument that similar to a body camera on a policeman, a camera takes away the he said, she said or he said, he said, type argument and lets them know hey, we are doing a good job. It takes that argument away. An Indiana bill now being debated in the state Senate prevents teaching that any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individuals sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin or political affiliation. Schools must allow parents to enroll their kids in alternative education if they feel content in the classroom is inappropriate.

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The Washington Posts Greg Sargent tracked this subtle move from bans on subject matter to snitch lines and the possible recovery of money damages. A new GOP proposal in West Virginia would establish a tip line to report teachers caught teaching critical race theory; its of course modeled on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins tip line so that parents can report any teachers or school administrators who might be teaching divisive subjects like critical race theory. The tip lines are part of a long history, Sargent notes. Calls for maximal parental choice and control in schools have been used by the right for decades as a smoke screen to sow fears and doubts about public education at its ideological foundations.

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All of this has less to do, as my colleague Lili Loofbourow pointed out, with book bans per se, or even the moral panic over the teaching of critical race theory (which is a term that means precisely whatever one wants it to mean at this juncture). It has more to do with the creeping encroachment of surveillance and snitching, and the attendant self-help that follows as solutions to perceived government failings. And of course, it also has everything to do with the GOPs interest in slowly strangling public education. Having hounded good people out of local public health and local elections jobs, its now time to terrorize the teachers, principals, and school officials into living in constant fear of reprisal, including personal liability and sanctions. Most of these bills are so poorly crafted that an educator wont know shes run afoul of them until a parent complains. And no teacher can possibly know what subjectively causes any one student or parent to feel uncomfortable. Best to just let the kids color.

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Teachers are already on the ropes for so many reasons. Now terror, second-guessing, and personal financial liability have been added to their pile. As NBC News reported, these threats are pushing some educators to leave the profession. One Texas school librarian whos retiring early said, I got out because I was afraid to stand up to the attacks. I didnt want to get caught in somebodys snare. Who wants to be called a pornographer? Who wants to be accused of being a pedophile or reported to the police for putting a book in a kids hand? People who enter fields like health care and education did so because fundamentally they wanted to help people, for pay that is not commensurate with their efforts. To be told that your workplace is a war zone and that you are hostage to potential discomfort on every side is not simply to be devalued, but also to become instrumental.

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Theres one other element at work that must be factored in. As Margaret Renkl argues, the real goal in Tennessee wasnt just to ban a book here or there, or to traumatize teachers into mass exodus. The real goal is a state-sanctioned push for privatized sectarian education. In this program, the current Supreme Court is also a primary driver. The effort to erode the line of funding between secular and religious schools will be one of the first triumphs of the 63 supermajority this term.

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It is surely the case that the months of lockdown brought home to parents the nuts and bolts of school instruction and curricula in ways that were once merely hypothetical. I know far more about what my sons read for school, what was discussed in class, and how it affected them now than I did in the years before COVID, where if it wasnt a problem, I didnt hear much about it. As Jessica Grose smartly observes, after two years of pandemic uncertainty and chaos, were in a moment where some parents want to exert control over something, anything for their kids, and I do have some empathy for that feeling, if not for the expression of it.

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Particularly because the early quarantines, when virtual schooling was happening everywhere, brought curricula and teachers into our homes in much more intimate ways. In that moment, teenagers were at home instead of starting to grow away from their families, which is what theyre supposed to do. While parents always have some sway over their kids, this period of enforced togetherness possibly gave some parents the illusion that they still had full authority over their adolescents intellectual lives.

But this phenomenon alone doesnt explain the current assault on educators. The pandemic affected all parents and their children. Now, a faction has returned to school to demand compliance and reprisals. The problem Grose identifiesthat some parents, who by all accounts are overwhelmingly white, have become a bit too enmeshed with their kids growth and development, and a bit too horrified at their childrens inevitable encounters with material that includes gay characters, Holocaust victims, and white slaveownersis only part of the current controversy. Its not just that these parents increasingly want to paint a world for their kids in which none of those things ever existed; its that they want to suggest that all those other ways of looking at the world are other, are dangerous, are insidious or bad. The nuanced retelling of history and the centering of previously marginalized groups in public education are now tagged as subversive efforts to indoctrinate, as opposed to the bargains diverse people make in democratic life.

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There is a bizarre irony at work here: Some of the very same parents who most zealously opposed lockdowns, school closings, and mask mandates, are pushing the hardest to vault their lonely children back into public life without wanting them to actually engage with public discourse at all. They want all the benefits of COVID lockdownan intellectual monopoly over every idea to which their child is exposedbut with all the social and emotional benefits of public education. That isnt actually public schooling. Its cultural indoctrination, taxpayer-funded babysitting in which children learn only the ideas their parents endorse.

This isnt merely an unwillingness to allow kids to do that which is developmentally appropriate and necessaryto learn ideas that differ from the orthodoxies of their own community. Its a desperately revanchist claim that anywhere you move in the country is your home, and that youre entitled to a path through life in which anything foreign or disturbing is hidden away and suppressed because it doesnt match the window treatments. That isnt really democracy, it certainly isnt really public education, and it isnt really even parenting. Its colonization, and ironically thats the very original sin these parents dont want their children to learn about in the first place.

For more legal analysis and commentary from Dahlia Lithwick, listen to the latest episode of the Amicus podcast.
One night this week I was, briefly, in a crowded bar, where nearly everyone was maskless. Not a soul had a six-foot radius of space. People were eating and drinking. I had to push past some of them to get to the bathroom. This was not in red America, nor in rural Michigan, nor in Florida, but in Brooklyn, New York. The place that sounded like sirens in the early pandemic, the place where people religiously masked outside for more than a year and, to some extent, are still doing so even now.

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Yes, pandemic restrictions are still present here. You have to wear a mask when you step into a shared hallway from your apartment, or risk neighbors shooting imaginary anger bolts at you, (Until recently I was that neighbor.) Offices tend to be either closed or have optional attendance. But you can go to IRL yoga. You can gather in groups. You can drink like its 2019.

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And yet these specific liberties do not seem to be quite enough for some members of the pundit class. The New York Times The Daily podcast recently ran a two part-series titled We Need to Talk About COVID. In the first, Times journalist David Leonhardt made the case for vaccinated people returning to pre-pandemic normal life; in the second, Anthony Fauci held the line that it wasnt time to loosen up yet, even as host Michael Barbaro kept pressing him on when and how and if it might be. In the Atlantic this week, Yascha Mounk argued that we should Open Everything, by which he mostly meant that public health officials should encourage us to resume playdates and dinner parties without guilt. Going to bars, this vibe goes, shouldnt just be a possibility, as it is now. It should be recognizedencouraged?as a fine thing to do by, I guess, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an institution that takes a precautionary stance against tasting raw cookie dough (which, yes, has risks).

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This performance-y ask for permission played out in a more explicit form on a recent episode of Bari Weiss Honestly podcast, in an episode titled, Bringing Sanity to the Omicron Chaos: Three Doctors Weigh In. In it, the former Times opinion-section editor described a New Years Eve celebration in which she gathered with her sister, who was actively COVID positive. They sat at a distance and with windows open and air purifiers running. A friends mom read about this gathering on Weisss Substack, and was upset at her. Should I be reprimanded?, Weiss asked a panel of health experts. These doctors appear to have been booked for their loudly chill views on risk-taking in a public-health crisis (trust me, I interview, and edit, a lot of public health experts), so she got the answer she was looking for. But she didnt actually need to ask it at all: We live in a society that has far fewer restrictions right now than Weisss hand-wringing on the episode implied, particularly when it comes to deciding who to host in your own home. What is harder to escape, especially if you publicly share tidbits from your life and then tune into the responses, as Weiss does, is a sense of shame. This dissonance between the actual rules and the perceived ones was very well-crystalized in a tweet from NBC reporter Ben Collins about Mounks piece: I am begging you, from the bottom of my heart, to tell me what you think is closed. Things are not really that closed right now; Fauci, who is not your mom, will just not say that you can attend them.

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Though I, influenced by public health consensus, lean more cautious than the open-everything set, I understand this position of we should all be graced with explicit permission to do more things on a visceral level, and to some extent a logical one. In Spring 2021, I wrote a piece arguing for an end to outdoor mask mandates, outlining the strong evidence in favor of this being very, very safe. I understood that I could choose to defy the mandate, walk down my Brooklyn street bare-faced, and probably get away with it just fine. But what I wanted, on top of the particular feeling of easy breathing while I took a stroll, was the broader community to come to a science-based consensus that the risk in doing so was exceedingly minimal. I felt a deep desire to be part of the collective in collective action, which at the time in my area had settled on outdoor masking. Frankly, I also did not want to look like an asshole for not wearing a mask outside. I felt so strongly about this that, before the CDCs own advice shifted, I mostly pulled my mask up when anyone walked past.

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After getting a case of (probably) omicron (and being, therefore, probably very, very well protected from a repeat infection of the virus), I went to Florida, where attitudes toward the pandemic are far laxer than New York, beginning with face masks. I ate inside, I marveled at peoples mouths in Walmart. (I do not recommend getting omicron in order to feel OK doing these things, but this is what happened nonetheless.) I felt a deep sense of relief slipping into a world where the constant, constant, constant reminders of the virus just didnt exist, where the virus circulated without much public fanfare, and the resulting horrors2,000-some deaths a day, nationallywere kept tucked away in hospitals, the tragedy of the virus taking place in private and away from my senses. Returning to New York with all its masks felt stifling.

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But what is also true about being back here is this: I am still allowed to make my own risk calculations, to do things according to the logic and needs of the people in my household. And there is plenty, plenty to do here. This fact is bizarre, if not outright disturbing: Were still coming off of a wave of the virus that experts have noted again and again is a huge problem for hospitals, a wave that will be over relatively soon in the scheme of things. It would have made a lot of sense, for example, for states to implement some manner of mini-lockdowns during omicron to get things under control, as some experts proposed. But that didnt happen, and it wont happen. Vulnerable people will continue to suffer because of it. Instead of a cohesive plan to protect each other, we are left to our own calculations of personal risk and responsibility. We are now, we will be in the future, and whatever health advice officials like Fauci dispense will, by and large, not become rules of collective behavior, but simply remain factors in our own calculations. You and Iwe are allowed to go to a bar.
We all agree we need to keep Americas kids safe online. This has become all the more apparent as policymakers have discussed Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens allegations, amending the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, and more.

But there are big disagreements about how to protect kids from child predators online. Two years ago, we saw a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, aimed at tackling child sexual abuse material.

Although well intentioned, it threatened encryption and privacy features and would actually have put Americans privacyparticularly kids privacyat risk. It also gutted Section 230 in ways that caused over 50 civil rights groups to pen a letter describing potential consequences like censorship, chilled speech, and the destruction of encryption. So when the legislation failed to advance, digital liberties advocates, sex workers, and civil rights organizations breathed a sigh of relief.

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Now in 2022, the EARN IT Act is back, and worse than it ever was before. Like the 2020 version, the proposal would still give child predators a get-out-of-jail-free card and would still undermine the fight against child predation online. Nevertheless, on Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up and approved it.

The EARN IT Act aims to tackle the horrific criminal activity related to child sexual abuse material by making Section 230 protections contingent on the prevention and response to such material. Section 230 shields online services, like commonly used social media, from liability for most user-generated content. Under the EARN IT Act, Section 230 would be amended to enable civil claims and state criminal prosecution related to child abuse material against online platforms. As a result, online services could be subject to endless litigation under potentially more than 50 different legal regimes for child sexual abuse material.

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Although well-intentioned, the bill would undermine our childrens safetyand actively put them at riskby disrupting the delicate constitutional balance that allows online platforms to voluntarily search for illicit and illegal material and report it to authorities without violating the Fourth Amendmentwhich protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Simply put, this would end up giving criminals a way to challenge their convictions for child sexual abuse material. And to be extremely clearits already a criminal offense to produce or distribute child sexual abuse content.

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As it stands, most companies that host online content voluntarily turn over huge amounts of potential evidence of child abuse to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Because private companies search for this evidence voluntarily, courts have held that the searches are not subject to the Fourth Amendment. But the EARN IT Act threatens to disrupt this relationship by using the threat of endless litigation and criminal prosecution to strongly pressure private companies to proactively search for illegal material. Thanks to how the EARN IT Act amends Section 230, companies are more exposed to civil and criminal liability if they dont follow the governments or else threat and search for child sexual abuse material.

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Currently, tech platforms have an obligation to report but not search for suspected instances of child sexual abuse material. Thats why searches today are constitutionaltheyre conducted voluntarily. By encouraging and pressuring private sector searches, the EARN IT Act casts doubt on every searchtheyd no longer be voluntary. Thus, the Fourth Amendment would apply, and evidence collected without a warrantall child sexual abuse material in this case, since private parties cant get a warrantwould be at risk of exclusion from trial.

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The Supreme Court has long held that when the government encourages private parties to search for evidence, those private parties become government agents subject to the Fourth Amendment and its warrant requirement. That means any evidence these companies collect could be ruled inadmissible in criminal trials against child predators because the evidence was procured unconstitutionally.

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Put simply, thanks to the EARN IT Act, under the Exclusionary Rule, defense attorneys could argue that evidence was collected in violation of the Fourth Amendment and should be excluded from trial. As a result, the bill could lead to fewer convictions of child predators, not more.

This isnt theoretical. Defense attorneys in online child abuse cases already make that argument, but courts have largely held that the Fourth Amendment isnt implicated precisely because the government has notyetencouraged companies to search for child sexual abuse material. Bottom line, as long as the searches are completely voluntary, the Fourth Amendment isnt at issue.

That all changes if the EARN IT Act becomes law. Courts would likely see the EARN IT Act for what it is: a federal scheme to pressure private companies into conducting searches on behalf of law enforcement. Not only would EARN IT jeopardize all future evidence collected by these companies, but it would also kill the current constitutionally sound practice of voluntarily turning over evidence.

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Tech companies submission of child predation evidence would no longer be considered voluntary, so law enforcement would need to obtain a warrant to use evidence submitted by tech companies in court. Child predators could be let off the hook, allowing them to escape justice.

The EARN IT Act sponsors want to tackle child exploitation online, but their bills effects are more important than its intent. Instead of making it harder to protect their kids online, Congress can and should focus on solutions that will keep Americas kids out of harms way. An alternative proposal led by Section 230 co-author Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, could do just that: ensure the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has the resources it needs to best fight child predators while avoiding the civil rights, privacy, and child safety problems the 2020 and 2022 versions of the EARN IT Acts have.

Rather than putting victims of child predators and slam-dunk convictions at risk, Congress has the option to make critical evidence all the more effective in the fight to protect our kids online.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Global warming is being blamed for the growing number of wild pigs.

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While recent videos of wild boars wandering the streets of Bratislava have gone viral, the borough of Karlova Ves, supported by others districts, is not amused  and has turned to the state to solve the problem.

Given the emergency situation, Karlova Ves has prepared an official request for an urgent solution, which it is sending to the environment minister and the agriculture minister, said Branislav Heldes, spokesperson of Karlova Ves, as quoted by the TASR newswire. It is essential that state institutions finally begin to pay proper attention to this phenomenon.

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Karlova Ves borders the forests of the Small Carpathians on its western side, so wild boars are quite often seen wandering its streets. Night-shift employees at the borough office in Karlova Ves recently spotted a herd of 50 boars in the very heart of the borough. And earlier this week a wild boar was filmed running past the new building of the Slovak National Theatre, in the centre of the city.

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Dana Cahojova, the mayor of Karlova Ves, raised the topic of wild boars at a meeting of Bratislava City Council on Thursday, February 10, where she received support from representatives of the city and other Bratislava boroughs. She noted that the borough does not have the legal authority or means to cull wild boars on its territory. However, it regularly applies to the district office for special hunting permits for state or city forest hunters.

The hunters interventions so far are clearly insufficient, said Heldes.

Karlova Ves sees two main reasons behind wild boars' appearance in its streets: their overpopulation, and the increased movement of people in suburban forests.

The chairman of the Devinska Kobyla hunting association, Jan Martinovic, believes that the increased number of wild boars in and around the capital is a sign of global warming.

While many years ago the female had a maximum of five offspring a year, because the living conditions were more demanding in the past, today, she litters five cubs in the spring and in the autumn, said Martinovic, adding that wild boars are no longer affected by severe winters or food shortages.

The municipal forest company Mestske Lesy v Bratislave (MLBA) attributes the significantly higher number of wild boars to the availability of food and the absence of a natural predator, such wolves.

A few days ago, the Environment Ministry pointed out that the proliferation of wild boars in the capital is a long-term problem, but said it does not have the power to solve it. The ministry said that it has allowed hunting of hoofed game in natural reserves in Bratislava to avoid such situations, but noted that matters related to hunting fall under the Agriculture Ministry.
Feature: Greek musicians touched by children's choir at Beijing 2022 opening ceremony

Xinhua) 08:34, February 11, 2022

ATHENS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games have been held for seven days now and are still ongoing. Musicians here in Greece still cannot forget the Olympic Anthem sung in Greek by a choir of Chinese school children, enthralled by their clear and heavenly voices.

The image of 44 Chinese children signing the anthem was in particularly moving and also a great honor for Greece, said Evangelos Kokkoris, artistic director of the Philippos Nakas Conservatory, one of the best-known conservatories in Greece.

"Undoubtedly the host country had taken care of even the smallest detail. It was expected, after all. However, what surprised me was the performance of the Olympic Anthem. What was impressive was that a choir of young Chinese, with great stability in their voices, sang it in Greek and with clarity of speech," Kokkoris told Xinhua in Athens on Wednesday.

Kokkoris, a fan of winter sports, watched the opening ceremony held at the iconic "Bird's Nest" stadium in Beijing, China on Feb. 4 on TV, which included a singing of the Olympic Anthem by children from Malan Primary School in Fuping County, China's Hebei Province.

"The performance of the Olympic Anthem by the young Chinese was amazing. Many congratulations to China for the achievement of these children to learn this anthem within three months. It was not easy at all," he said.

Based on his experiences with Chinese artists and students at the conservatory in recent years, Kokkoris was not surprised with the result.

He said he admires the determination and persistence of the Chinese people and as a Greek he feels a special connection with the representatives of another ancient civilization.

Foteini Baxevani studies piano at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory. She watched the choir's performance on the Internet. "It was a very nice gesture and it definitely moves people. They sang it very clearly, so beautifully," she said.

She was in particularly touched when hearing that these children live in a mountainous, disadvantaged region and managed to perform so well once given the opportunity to show their capabilities through music.

"It is really very moving, because as we learned these children are not members of a (seasoned) choir, but they were united through their voices and through the Greek language, through these words that hide power, that hide emotion, that actually give this meaning, the meaning and the idea of the team," Aggeliki Toubanaki, a vocalist and vocal educator at the conservatory, told Xinhua.

"They really were like angels. They were like stars. It was as if all these voices were joined together and the heavens opened," she said.

For Toubanaki, the performance of the Chinese children's choir highlighted what she tells parents, that children should be encouraged to embrace music and sports, in order to build a strong axis in their personalities regarding discipline, organization of thought and evolution of their imagination.

The three Greek artists sent their best wishes to Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Games.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Gov. Ned Lamont faces a federal investigation into his administrations handling of the states school construction grant program and the New London state pier project. (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

Town officials in Tolland knew they faced a problem when they learned in 2018 that the Birch Grove Primary School had been built with concrete that contained pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes cement to deteriorate and crumble. They turned to the state for assistance and, according to Tolland Superintendent of Schools Walter Willett, became the target of what sounds like high-level state thuggery. Town officials became unwitting victims for an alleged scheme that has attracted the attention of federal criminal authorities.

After reviewing documents related to town officials early attempts to plan and build a replacement school, I asked town officials why they had chosen a construction company that had never built a school to lead the $48 million project.

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On Thursday, Willett provided a written response. He alleges the then head of the states school construction program, former top governors office adviser Konstantinos Diamantis, told town officials that if they did not use companies Diamantis recommended, construction could be delayed and the states financing could be affected. Tolland was a town filled with apparent financial hostages.

In meetings with State officials, I was introduced to consultants for the State, including DAmato Construction, JCJ Architects, and Antoinette DiBenedetto from Construction Advocacy Professionals (CAP). As the reimbursement rates were established and Tolland had a successful referendum supporting the project, the bidding process was waived by both the State and the Town Willett wrote.

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While Tolland had some input into the selection of JCJ, the architect, representatives of the Town and the Board felt they had no real choice as to CAP and DAmato because Mr. Diamantis routinely emphasized there would be detrimental effects to the project if Tolland chose contractors or consultants other than CAP or DAmato. For example, he stressed that if we did not use DAmato or CAP it would be unlikely that the project would finish on time and there could be other related financial implications to the project.

CAP is a construction consulting firm owned by Antoinette DiBenedetto. She has admitted that she hired Diamantiss daughter, Anastasia Diamantis, to work for her company, though the younger Diamantis also had a full-time job at the Division of Criminal Justice. Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo resigned Wednesday in the aftermath of the exposure of his hiring of Anastasia Diamantis while seeking the elder Diamantiss help in an unsuccessful efforts to obtain a raise for himself and 15 colleagues.

Mr. Diamantis was allowed to keep his school construction portfolio when he was tapped by Lamont budget director Melissa McCaw to serve as her deputy in November 2019. He has since retired.

DAmato, DiBenedetto and Diamantis share deep ties to Bristol.

Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page >

What matters most  is trust  in government. I will hold anyone in my administration who breaches that trust accountable. I have zero tolerance for any ethical malfeasance, Gov. Ned Lamont declared in his budget address Wednesday. We hold ourselves to the highest standard. If you see something, say something. And if you dont get the response you deserve, give me a call.

Lamont faces a humiliating federal investigation into his administrations handling of the states school construction grant program and the New London state pier project. A federal subpoena served last fall names both of those programs, seeks documents from the state and in search terms provided to the state name both Konstantinos and Anastasia Diamantis, DiBenedetto, and the Birch Grove project.

The federal documents do not name JCJ.

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Former Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Josh Geballe supervised Diamantis until November 2019, when the program was transferred to McCaws budget agency. They must explain why they failed to intervene.

Tolland's superintendent of schools alleges the then head of the states school construction program, former top governors office adviser Konstantinos Diamantis, above, told town officials that if they did not use companies Diamantis recommended, construction could be delayed and the states financing could be affected. (Courant file photo)

Lamont was warned. On July 22, 2020, construction industry trade association representatives met with him. They were alarmed at the abandonment of long established safeguards against abuses in construction projects. A memorandum by the association Ive seen will prove a helpful map for investigators. It included warnings of what was happening in Tolland.

The ordeal of Tolland is over. The crucible facing Gov. Lamont has begun.
https://sputniknews.com/20220210/ottawa-sees-significant-reductions-in-number-of-freedom-convoy-protesters---police-chief-1092923398.html

Ottawa Sees 'Significant Reductions' in Number of Freedom Convoy Protesters - Police Chief

Ottawa Sees 'Significant Reductions' in Number of Freedom Convoy Protesters - Police Chief

TORONTO (Sputnik) - The anti-vaccine trucker protest taking place in Canada's capital is being cleared significantly every weekend, Ottawa Police Service Chief... 10.02.2022, Sputnik International

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"Day by day we are removing trucks through negotiation and towing enforcement from the footprints in the red zone and around in the surrounding neighborhoods," Sloly said during a press briefing on Thursday. "Weekend over weekend we are seeing significant reductions in the range of 50 to 65 percent of total trucks and total demonstrators."Sloly said the authorities also continue to go after funding, fuel and other logistic support enabling the protest to continue.The demonstration had more than 3,000 trucks when it kicked off but recently saw the number of trucks reduced to about 400, Sloly said.Ottawa police have arrested 25 people and issued more than 1,700 tickets related to the protests against vaccine mandates in Canadas capital, the municipal police chief also revealed. "There have been over 1,700 tickets issued. There have been a total of 25 arrests, to date, including criminal charges for mischief and menacing behavior," Sloly noted. Additionally, there are 126 active criminal investigations ongoing and 400 allegations of hate crimes have been reported to the OPS hotline since the start of the protests.Among the investigations is one in which threats were made against a local towing company that was contracted to clear the peaceful anti-vaccine mandate protest in Canada's capital."At least one of the major tow trucks [company] that would have been able to supply us with the logistics to tow illegal vehicles and to significant degree reduce the size of the demonstration has been threatened themselves...there is a full criminal investigation going into those threats," Sloly said during the Thursday briefing. Sloly added that the threats against the business has come through sophisticated online activities and direct threats to its employees.The wave of protests across Canada began in January, with tens of thousands of truckers, farmers and other Canadians converging on Ottawa to express strong opposition to vaccine mandates.The protest has since evolved into an anti-government demonstration, with various groups uniting in opposition to the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.On Monday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency for the city due to the ongoing protests.

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canada, ottawa, truckers, protest, arrests
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/at-least-1-person-killed-15-injured-in-explosion-near-afghanistans-mosque-reports-say-1092939139.html

At Least 1 Person Killed, 15 Injured in Explosion Near Afghanistan's Mosque, Reports Say

At Least 1 Person Killed, 15 Injured in Explosion Near Afghanistan's Mosque, Reports Say

KABUL (Sputnik) - An explosion that erupted at a mosque in the Afghan city of Qala-e-Naw in north-western province Badghis killed at least one person and... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T12:38+0000

2022-02-11T12:38+0000

2022-02-11T12:38+0000

afghanistan

daesh

mosque

blast

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The explosive device, planted near the entrance to the mosque, detonated when visitors were coming out of the building.Since taking power in the country, the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism) has been battling the local chapter of Daesh*, which is believed to be behind the majority of terrorist attacks and bomb explosions in Afghanistan. According to the Taliban, the Daesh* presence in the country is small and the movement has been working to eradicate the group.*Daesh (IS/ISIS/ISIL) is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia.

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afghanistan, daesh, mosque, blast
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/australia-officially-declares-koalas-an-endangered-species--1092950430.html

Australia Officially Declares Koalas an Endangered Species

Australia Officially Declares Koalas an Endangered Species

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government announced in January that it would commit some $50 million toward long-term protection and recovery... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T20:58+0000

2022-02-11T20:58+0000

2022-02-11T20:56+0000

koala

australia

endangered species

vulnerable

conservation

environment

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Australia has moved to list koalas as 'endangered,' boosting their level of protection from the previous designation of 'vulnerable,' according to a Friday memo issued by Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley. The move covers koalas in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Queensland. The environment minister attributed the animals endangerment to drought, bushfires, deforestation, urbanization, and disease, including a chlamydia epidemic running rampant among Australia's koalas. Of that $74 million earmarked for koala conservation, $47 million will go toward protecting and restoring koala habitat. Around $8.7 million will support koala health, genetic research, and medical support. Another $12 million has been committed for the National Koala Monitoring Program, which is tasked with assessing and responding to changes in koala population size, among other factors. Canberra's Friday decision came at the joint recommendation of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, and Humane Society International. The April 2020 nomination cited two scientific reports that revealed the koala populations in Queensland and NSW have, respectively, plummeted by at least 50% and up to 62%, since 2001.

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Evan Craighead

koala, australia, endangered species, vulnerable, conservation, environment
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/boris-johnson-thinks-russias-going-to-invade-poland-next-1092941527.html

Boris Johnson Thinks Russias Going to Invade Poland Next

Boris Johnson Thinks Russias Going to Invade Poland Next

When Poland is threatened then the UK stands ready to help, declared the British prime minister on a staged visit to Warsaw this week sounding as if he were... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T13:46+0000

2022-02-11T13:46+0000

2022-02-11T13:46+0000

columnists

us

poland

boris johnson

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/07/1092819001_0:99:3072:1827_1920x0_80_0_0_bd29e3a9f5f64ed77cb3c1878b2cd238.jpg

As Boris Johnson arrived, hundreds of more British troops were being deployed in the Eastern European country as well as in neighboring Baltic states.The plucky message: Britain is defending Europe from those nasty Russian hordes. This plays on the overblown notion that Britain won the Second World War against Nazi Germany, even though the Third Reich was in fact built up by British ruling circles and capitalists during the 1930s.Johnson went on to accuse Russia of being a bully and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate military tensions.This week Russian forces are conducting scheduled military exercises in Belarus which neighbors Poland to the East.From his remarks, it seems like the British leader thinks that Russian troops are now going to invade Poland. For weeks now, Johnsons government has been amping up the Biden administrations claims that Russia was going to imminently invade Ukraine. Those claims have failed to materialize which is consistent with repeated denials by Moscow of having any plans to attack Ukraine.Russia and the United Nations have condemned the war hysteria being drummed up by Washington and London through baseless speculation about imminent aggression against Ukraine.The United States and Britain have both withdrawn their embassy staff from Ukraine. President Joe Biden this week advised any American citizens in the country to get out now.The scaremongering by the Americans and British seems to be aimed at creating a conflict with Russia, with Ukraine as a proxy.Rudenko said the Anglo-American-led NATO alliance was using tensions over Ukraine as a way to contain Russia by undermining its defense and economic capabilities.Despite their best malevolent efforts, Washington and London have so far failed to precipitate a full-blown war in Ukraine involving Russia. American and British officials have said they envisage Ukraine becoming another Afghanistan quagmire for Russia. But in spite of the goading, Moscow is not taking the bait. It remains steadfast in its position that it has no intention to escalate militarily over Ukraine. Thats what Putin again told French President Emmanuel Macron this week.This is why British and American lecturing to Russia about the need to de-escalate and choose the path of diplomacy sounds ridiculous. This lecturing was reiterated by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss when she was in Moscow this week. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lampooned such arrogant ultimatums as a dead-end street.Moscow is being admonished to de-escalate troops within its borders while British and American troops are massing near Russian territory, from the Baltic to the Black Sea and in between. British special forces are reportedly being deployed in Ukraine to train militia in techniques of sabotage, assassination and other forms of terrorism. British and Polish mercenaries are reportedly working together.It is not Russia that needs to choose the path of diplomacy; it is Washington and London. The Americans and British are deliberately winding up the provocations in Ukraine and Eastern Europe in order to militarize relations with Russia beyond diplomatic repair. This is part of their containment strategy.Rather than proper diplomatic negotiations between Moscow and the US-led NATO bloc on creating a mutual security treaty for Europe, the Anglo-American axis is cynically stoking tensions to preclude any reasonable dialogue. Peace and normal relations with Russia are anathemas because there is no profit for their warmongering industries that are so essential to the functioning of Anglo-American capitalism.Having failed to predict a Russian invasion of Ukraine, it seems now that Washington and London have decided to double down by casting a shadow of fear over all of Eastern Europe. And the Russophobic regimes in Poland and Baltic states are all too willing to indulge this criminal grandstanding of hostilities.Boris Johnson flying unexpectedly to Warsaw this week along with hundreds of British troops is all part of the despicable drama and psyops. The British premier avowedly models himself on Britains wartime hero Winston Churchill. He is also a proven liar and political con artist. While Johnson desperately struggles to stave off being sacked by his own party over non-stop scandals in Downing Street, he is prancing around Eastern Europe acting like a noble defender against Russian invasion.

https://sputniknews.com/20220202/warsaw-says-us-will-deploy-additional-2500-troops-to-poland-1092676425.html

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columnists, us, poland, boris johnson
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/canadians-have-friendly-attitude-toward-russia-despite-west-fomenting-fears-envoy-says-1092947001.html

Canadians Have Friendly Attitude Toward Russia Despite West Fomenting Fears, Envoy Says

Canadians Have Friendly Attitude Toward Russia Despite West Fomenting Fears, Envoy Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Despite the fears fomented against Russia by the Canadian government and the Western countries, the attitude of the Canadian people is... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T16:47+0000

2022-02-11T16:47+0000

2022-02-11T16:52+0000

canada

russia

envoy

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Despite the fears fomented in the West - and, unfortunately, Canada is also having a hand in this - the attitude of the people toward us is friendly, Stepanov said. The situation around the Embassy and our Consulates General in Toronto and Montreal remains generally calm.Stepanov pointed out that the Russian diplomats have not experienced any limitations in carrying out their duties except for those necessitated by the epidemiological situation with respect to COVID-19.We have not yet observed restrictions for our work in Canada, with the exception of sanitary and epidemiological ones, he said. Channels of communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, official bodies, the academic community and the press are functioning normally.The ambassador went on to say that from time to me they see some protest activities near the premises of the diplomatic mission.Commenting on the current situation around Ukraine and how it affects the ties between Russia and Canada, Stepanov said: The Canadian political establishment and the media are trying to create an unfavourable background around Russia." According to the envoy, Canadians are scaring their country with almost a third world war by pushing this fictitious Russian "aggression" against Ukraine.According to the envoy, the dialogue between the diplomats and their counterparts is professional.Canada has a talented diplomatic service, with its own school and traditions. The dialogue is professional and mutually respectful...We have the opportunity to express our point of view, to listen to the Canadian one. Even when there are obvious political differences between our governments, diplomats must communicate," Stepanov said. He emphasized that Russia does not look at Canada through the optics of geopolitical rivalry.And besides, we are Arctic neighbours. It's always good when the neighbourhood turns out to be good, isn't it? he said. Here I would like to note the current Russian chairmanship of the Arctic Council, where we work with Canadians pragmatically and without politicisation on topical issues of the northern agenda.Russia has submitted an official request to increase its consular presence in Canada, but so far has not received a clear response, Stepanov added. According to him, Russia needs a wider consular presence in Canada and is going to work with the Canadian authorities to explore the possibility of opening a diplomatic mission in Vancouver.The Russian-Canadian trade relations are gradually reaching the pre-pandemic level, the envoy went on to say. In 11 months of 2021, our bilateral trade turnover exceeded $2 billion - according to the results of 2020 - a little more than 1.2 billion. At the same time, Russian exports increased significantly, he explained.The envoy said Canadian businesses have a serious interest in Russia and stressed that Russia is open to mutually advantageous cooperation.Oleg Stepanov was appointed to assume his current post in March 2021. Prior to that, he had been leading the Russian Foreign Ministrys Foreign Policy Planning Department since 2016. Stepanov joined the Foreign Ministry in 1994 and has since served in several roles, including as political and military counsellor for the Russian Embassy in the United States.

https://sputniknews.com/20220201/canadas-non-lethal-military-equipment-begins-arriving-in-ukraine-1092664673.html

canada

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canada, russia, envoy
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/democratic-govs-look-to-take-credit-for-ending-pandemic-1092917375.html

Democratic Govs. Look to Take Credit for Ending Pandemic

Democratic Govs. Look to Take Credit for Ending Pandemic

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about German leader Olaf Scholzs mousy demeanor at his presser with Biden, a... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T10:12+0000

2022-02-11T10:12+0000

2022-02-11T10:12+0000

us

fault lines

ukraine

mitch mcconnell

covid-19

radio

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Democratic Govs. Look to Take Credit for Ending Pandemic On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about German leader Olaf Scholzs mousy demeanor at his presser with Biden, a fossilized Mitch McConnell breaking with his party over Jan. 6th, and Democratic governors attempting to take credit for ending the pandemic.

Guests:Mark Sleboda - International Security Analyst | Olaf Scholz Slammed for Appearing Weak on RussiaTyler Nixon - Counselor-at-Law | A Fossilized Mitch McConnell Needs to Move OverMichael Goodwin - Columnist for NYPost | Democratic Govs. Look to Take Credit for Ending PandemicIn the first hour, Mark Sleboda joined the show to talk about German leader Olaf Scholzs mousy demeanor at his presser with Biden and the consequences Russia warns of if NATO continues to ignore its security demands. We also talked about Bidens broken promise to end the war in Yemen as violence continues to escalate.In the second hour, Fault Lines was joined by Tyler Nixon for a discussion on Mitch McConnell rebuking his own party on Jan. 6th, calling the day a violent insurrection and if its a sign that the GOP has outgrown the senator with 37 years in office under his belt.In the third hour, Michael Goodwin joined the conversation to talk about Chris Cuomo suing his former employer for $60 million as brother Andrew reportedly gears up for a doomed political comeback. We also talked about Democratic governors lifting mask mandates as a response to public backlash rather than a change in science.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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us, fault lines, ukraine, mitch mcconnell, covid-19, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/eu-asks-norway-for-more-gas-but-oslo-has-none-to-spare-1092927189.html

EU Asks Norway for More Gas, But Oslo Has None to Spare

EU Asks Norway for More Gas, But Oslo Has None to Spare

Despite the EU's continual requests, Norway, like the rest of Europe, is struggling with sky-high electricity prices and has no more gas to give. In response... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T06:59+0000

2022-02-11T06:59+0000

2022-02-11T06:59+0000

scandinavia

news

europe

oil and gas

norway

eu

energy

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The EU has long been asking Norway for more gas, but the Nordic country has so far refused to boost its deliveries, citing stretched resources and logistics.In continuation of the discussion, Norway's Minister of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) Marte Mjs Persen is slated to travel to Brussels to meet the EUs Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson later in February to smooth out the differences.Ahead of the meeting, Mjs Persen stressed that it is part of the well-established, bilateral energy dialogue between Norway and the EU. However, the situation on the energy market will be a key theme, she added.To alleviate the current gas pinch, the European Commission has thus turned its attention to Norway, the second-largest gas supplier to Europe after Russia, with which it maintains tensions over Ukraine amid artificially inflated fears of Russian invasion Moscow has long denied. We are talking to other gas suppliers, such as Norway, about increasing deliveries to Europe, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this week.However, Norway is, like the rest of Europe, struggling with sky-high electricity prices and has no more gas to give. This has been stressed by State Secretary Amund Vik of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. According to the MPE, it had communicated to the EU Commission at the official level that Norwegian companies were making full use of the available production and delivery capacity.Mjs Persen repeated the same message.The Melkya plant outside Hammerfest, referred to by the minister, produces liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Snhvit field but has been closed following a fire in 2020. It is expected to be back in operation in late spring this year.Meanwhile, the high oil and gas prices have been a boon for Norway's state energy company Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, which announced record operating results earlier this week. Over the course of 2021, the company increased its production of oil and gas by 3.2 percent.Equinor has focused on safe and stable operation as a reliable energy supplier. Together with partners and the authorities, we facilitated a significant increase in gas production to Europe, its CEO Anders Opedal said.While the extraction and use of fossil fuels has been an increasingly controversial issue in Norwegian politics, with several parties lobbying for a complete stop in exploration, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy increased production permits for gas in the Oseberg and Troll fields.With a population of 5.3 million, Norway remains one of the world's leading exporters of energy resources, covering about 2 percent of global oil demand and 3 percent of the natural gas demand. The oil and gas revenues have laid the basis for the gargantuan Petroleum Fund, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, currently at $1.38 trillion.

scandinavia

norway

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2022

Igor Kuznetsov

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scandinavia, news, europe, oil and gas, norway, eu, energy
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/india-russia-can-use-digital-currencies-to-avoid-possible-us-sanctions-over-ukraine-says-expert-1092711088.html

India, Russia Can Use Digital Currencies to Avoid Possible US Sanctions Over Ukraine, Says Expert

India, Russia Can Use Digital Currencies to Avoid Possible US Sanctions Over Ukraine, Says Expert

For the past several months, the US, the UK, and some European countries have been accusing Russia of planning an "invasion" of Ukraine by amassing troops near... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T16:13+0000

2022-02-11T16:13+0000

2022-02-11T16:13+0000

india

russia

ukraine

ukraine crisis

nato

us

caatsa

sanctions

us sanctions

europe

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India is on thin ice regarding the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, having abstained from voting on the US-led move at the UN Security Council on 31 January, and asserting that the "legitimate security interests of all countries" should be considered. New Delhi also urged the countries involved to de-escalate tensions through peaceful dialogue.So far, the US and UK have taken a hawkish stand on the crisis, whereas countries such as France and Turkey have rushed to mediate to ease the tensions.India's trade and strategic interests are highly dependent on the US and European nations although two-thirds of the Indian Army's arms and weapons are of Soviet origin, making it heavily reliant on Russia and Ukraine as well.New Delhi may face problems in making payments related to trade and defence-equipment purchase as the US is threatening Russia with "the mother of all sanctions" if it invades Ukraine, something Moscow has long said is not going to happen.Sputnik spoke with Aditya Pareek, a research analyst at the Takshashila Institution, a Bengaluru-based independent think-tank and public-policy school, about how the ongoing tensions will affect India's interests in general.Sputnik: What kind of difficulties may India face if tensions escalate, considering New Delhi has a massive military equipment dependency on Russia as well as Ukraine?Aditya Pareek: In the case of a conflict involving Russia and Ukraine, India would have to balance its ties with both countries. India really doesn't want to alienate Ukraine, as much of its military equipment of Soviet/Russian origin also depends on components sourced from Ukraine.The reliance extends to gas turbines installed in many Indian Navy warships, AN-32 transport aircraft, which need Ukrainian facilities, and components and expertise for their maintenance and overhaul. India's Russian-origin Mi 17 and Mi 35 helicopter fleets also depend on Ukrainian engines.With Ukrainian collaboration, India has also developed a semi-cryogenic engine for its space programme.It is hard to predict how much of this military-technical capability Ukraine will retain for its own use, should there be conflict between it and Russia.Sputnik: Will this issue also pose challenges of strategic balancing between Russia and the US for New Delhi?Aditya Pareek: India will probably be pressured by the US not to make any more defence deals with Russia. India's present approach to selecting defence systems that fit its technical requirements best at the right price may cause the US to regard India as an unreliable ally. The US has yet to confirm whether India will get a waiver on the S-400 deal with Russia. If a narrative painting India as a potential enabler of Russia is spun in the US with filibusters and mass media dissemination, there is a chance that public opinion could turn against India receiving a CAATSA waiver.Sputnik: How similar is the present scenario for India to 2014 when Crimea's reunification with Russia happened?Aditya Pareek: It is uncertain whether India would continue to recognise Russian interests, or whether there would be a limit past which India would no longer be able to negotiate a balance between supporting Russia without alienating Ukraine. China's response to Crimea coming under Russian control has been more neutral than India's position of implicit support for Russia. In the event of any more territory changing hands, Russia may find itself internationally isolated. India could use the opportunity to drive a wedge between its ally Russia and its strategic adversary China, thus securing its own national interest.Sputnik: In the event of additional sanctions on Russia, what are the options before New Delhi in making payments for trade/defence transactions?Aditya Pareek: India and Russia have made arrangements to get around US sanctions, such as settling their transactions in their national currencies. This can be taken one step further in the digital era, as India and Russia have both made plans to introduce digital currencies, which could facilitate international trade without using the US dollar. Some Indian banks can also be persuaded to set up specially designated branches in Russia to handle transactions. But the fear of counter-sanctions by the US on these banks may stymie this option. In the unlikely scenario that Russia is cut off from SWIFT, some Indian banks may also be able to accommodate fund transfers from Russia by signing up for Russia's own SPFS.Sputnik: Could India play the role of mediator?Aditya Pareek: It is likely that India could emerge as mediator as New Delhi's own pragmatic energy security, military-technical and economic interests are spread out across former Soviet states. India will probably be able to persuade Moscow and Kiev - as well as Washington and its allies - to negotiate the security situation in Europe, looking at the bigger picture.Sputnik: There is also a lingering border stand-off between India and China. In case of conflict between the US-led NATO and Russia, is there anything to worry about for India along the northern border?Aditya Pareek: Although the chance of a full-fledged war between India and China is low, if there were to be a conflict between NATO and Russia, it could result in the US de-prioritising China and the Indo-Pacific. This could, in turn, embolden China which could be tempted to perpetrate an incident on the Line of Actual Control to test Indian forces. It might not shift the centre of gravity in Ladakh but will raise tensions extraordinarily.Sputnik: What implications will the US engagement in the Ukrainian crisis have on the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US and its allies?Aditya Pareek: There is a chance that the US' attention can be drawn to Europe and away from Asia, which might embolden China into acting more assertively in Taiwan straits, in the South China Sea or Indo-Pacific, while the US and its western allies in NATO concentrate on Russia in Europe.Japan has seen increased activity around its northern frontier in the form of joint military drills and bomber flights by Russian and Chinese forces. But it is unlikely a co-ordinated kinetic offensive would be launched by Russia and China, and any prospective military moves will be strategic signalling for Japan to treat with restraint.

https://sputniknews.com/20220202/india-gives-crypto-green-light-with-central-bank-digital-currency-tax-on-income-says-wazirx-boss-1092656261.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220127/china-warns-any-third-party-against-interfering-in-border-dispute-with-india-1092558830.html

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india, russia, ukraine, ukraine crisis, nato, us, caatsa, sanctions, us sanctions, europe, military, s-400
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/iran-requires-guarantee-of-no-sanctions-after-changes-in-us-government-iranian-ambassador-says-1092940863.html

Iran Requires Guarantee of No Sanctions After Changes in US Government, Iranian Ambassador Says

Iran Requires Guarantee of No Sanctions After Changes in US Government, Iranian Ambassador Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - If the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is renewed, Iran will need a guarantee that sanctions will not return with changes to the... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T13:34+0000

2022-02-11T13:34+0000

2022-02-11T13:34+0000

joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa)

world

iran

us

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"We have a poor experience with the Western approach to the JCPOA: the Americans have changed government and they have violated their obligations under the JCPOA. Therefore, the people of Iran have a right to know about future guarantees so that sanctions will not be imposed again," Jalali said.He went on to say that sanctions were essentially a form of oppression against the Iranian people, which is why such guarantees are necessary.The JCPOA was signed in 2015 by the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Germany, the US, France, the European Union, and Iran, imposing restrictions on the advancement of the Iran nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. In 2018, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The Iranian government responded with a gradual retreat from JCPOA obligations.Since April 2021, Vienna has been hosting talks to restore the deal. The seventh round of talks on bringing Iran back to the nuclear deal and lifting US sanctions ended on December 17. The parties agreed on two drafts of the deal, which included provisions covering Iranian interests.The eighth round of the talks resumed on Tuesday in Vienna, but a meeting of the joint commission has not yet been held.

https://sputniknews.com/20211230/head-of-iranian-delegation-says-progress-made-in-jcpoa-talks-in-vienna-1091923420.html

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joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa), world, iran, us
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/jan-6-investigators-reportedly-uncover-gaps-in-trumps-white-house-call-logs--1092923874.html

Jan. 6 Investigators Reportedly Uncover Gaps in Trump's White House Call Logs

Jan. 6 Investigators Reportedly Uncover Gaps in Trump's White House Call Logs

Reports of holes in former US President Donald Trump's White House call logs come as the 9-member panel probing the deadly storming of the US Capitol await... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T00:05+0000

2022-02-11T00:05+0000

2022-02-11T00:03+0000

us house select committee

donald trump

phone

telecommunications

plot to attack u.s. capitol

us

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The US House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol has encountered another roadblock, after discovering a number of gaps in then-President Donald Trump's White House call log for January 6, 2021, according to a New York Times report. Per the report, only a few of the records from those hours in which the panel knows Trump was sometimes on the phone have been recovered. The committee does not, however, yet have evidence leading them to believe the Trump-era White House logs were tampered with or deleted, the report detailed. Trump was known to use his personal cell phone to speak with people, including routine conversations with aides, allies in Congress, and other confidants. The panel is expecting the delivery of personal phone records belonging to the likes of Eric Trump and former adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is engaged to Donald Trump, Jr. As investigators await call logs from subpoenaed telecommunications companies and the National Archives, the group has been left with scant information and no records from the several hours after he gave an inflammatory speech, according to a CNN report, citing two sources who are both familiar with the probe and have reviewed the presidential diary from January 6, 2021. Within recent weeks, it has been reported that Trump at the time mistakenly contacted Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on January 6, 2021, confusing him with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). Lee reportedly handed the phone over to Tuberville, who spent less than 10 minutes on the phone with Trump amid the US Capitol chaos. This call was not listed in the records currently held by the January 6 panel. The US House Oversight committee has additionally announced an investigation into White House records that were not turned in to officials at the end of Trump's single term. Officials believe Trump may have improperly transferred at least 15 boxes of White House records from Washington DC to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "Former President Trump and his senior advisors must also be held accountable for any violations of the law," she noted.

https://sputniknews.com/20220202/us-national-archives-readying-release-of-former-vp-pences-records-to-jan-6-panel--1092699806.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/us-house-oversight-panel-launches-probe-into-trumps-wh-records-obtained-from-his-florida-estate-1092912216.html

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Evan Craighead

us house select committee, donald trump, phone, telecommunications, plot to attack u.s. capitol, us
Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible.
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/louisiana-senate-candidate-burns-confederate-flag-in-political-advertisement--1092951124.html

Louisiana Senate Candidate Burns Confederate Flag in Political Advertisement

Louisiana Senate Candidate Burns Confederate Flag in Political Advertisement

Gary Chambers is running for US Senate in Louisiana, and his message is clear: Black Americans are still suffering under what remains of and imitates... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T21:30+0000

2022-02-11T21:30+0000

2022-02-11T21:28+0000

louisiana

advertisement

campaign ad

confederate flag

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A Wednesday-released campaign ad from the Chambers camp saw the political candidate strategically shaking out a Confederate flag, carefully pinning it to a clothesline, dousing it in gasoline, and lighting it on fire - all while denouncing restrictive voting laws.The Confederate flag, which was first designed amidst the Civil War, is seen by many as a symbol of racism and white supremacy. Photos from the insurrection on January 6 show many of these same flags, as well as QAnon and Neo-Nazi symbols and slogans, which were toted on clothing attire and flags.The attacks against Black people, our right to vote, and participate in this democracy are methodical, he says in the advertisements voiceover. Our system isnt broken, its designed to do exactly what its doing, which is producing measurable inequity.This isnt the first time an ad from Chambers campaign has sparked interest on social media. Chambers advertisement, in which he smoked a rolled blunt of marijuana while his voiceover listed statistics associated with laws on the drug, generated 6.7 million views since it was posted on January 18.Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people, says Chambers in his January political ad.Chambers, 36, is a community activist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is currently running as the Democratic opponent to Republican Senator John Neely Kennedy, 70, who has held the position since 2017. Kennedy was first elected to the Senate with 61% of the vote in his state, and received former President Donald Trumps endorsement when he announced his reelection bid last year.Kennedy has also voiced views on President Joe Bidens promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, saying he wants Biden to put forward a Supreme Court nominee whos not going to try to rewrite the Constitution every other Thursday to try to advance a woke agenda.Chambers is facing a daunting race against Kennedy. He says that while there is a perception that Louisiana is mostly conservative, he believes there is still a key demographic who want issues surrounding racial inequality in the state to be addressed. The demographics of this state say that we can do exactly what Georgia has done, said Chambers.We have a Democrat as our governor right now, which is something that is often lost: the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, he added. This is a winnable state. Louisianas population of Black Americans is around 33%.Erick Sanchez, Chambers senior adviser, said that the campaign was pleased with the reception of their advertisements. Our ads are representative of Garys passion to raise awareness for the issues that leave the often forgotten communities in this country behind, he said. While the imagery might be deemed controversial by some, the harsh realities that are highlighted in these ads should be infuriating to all.Chambers involvement in the political race is not a new endeavor, he previously ran for a US House seat but was unable to clinch the win in the Bayou State.

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louisiana, advertisement, campaign ad, confederate flag
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/nato-mulling-deployment-of-new-battle-groups-in-black-sea-nations-besides-romania-stoltenberg-says-1092935053.html

Stoltenberg: NATO Mulling Deployment of New Battle Groups to Black Sea Nations

Stoltenberg: NATO Mulling Deployment of New Battle Groups to Black Sea Nations

The alliance has recently used the pretext of the alleged Russian threat against Ukraine to justify beefing up its presence in Eastern Europe. Moscow has... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T10:48+0000

2022-02-11T10:48+0000

2022-02-11T12:16+0000

jens stoltenberg

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The recent deployment of additional US troops to Romania sends "a very strong message" regarding Washington's commitment to European security, and NATO may stand up additional battle groups in other Black Sea-adjacent nations, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg has said."We have the defence ministerial meeting next week and I expect that ministers will agree to further start the planning and to address the scale and the scope and the details about how to deploy a battle group. And then I expect that the final decision will be taken in the spring," Stoltenberg said at a briefing alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday.Stoltenberg stressed that the alliance can deploy more forces on short notice, and claimed that the bloc's continued "reinforce[ment of] our eastern flank" was a "defensive" step.Iohannis thanked Stoltenberg and the Biden administration for its "solidarity" with Romania, and characterized the security situation today as "the worst crisis since the fall of the Iron Curtain." He went on to blast Russia over its "strategy of intimidation and unacceptable tendencies to return to the policy of force and challenge the current international order."Washington redeployed about 1,000 troops from Germany to Romania last week and sent about 2,000 more personnel stationed in the continental United States to Poland and Germany amid long-running tensions with Moscow over Ukraine, which US officials claim Russia plans to invade. An additional 8,500 troop strong force has been prepared for redeployment to Europe, with the Pentagon reportedly considering adding several thousand more troops to this rapid deployment force.Moscow and even America's Ukrainian allies have dismissed the "invasion" claims, with Kiev expressing concerns about the economic impact of war fears on its economy.In December, Russia proposed a twin package of security guarantees to the US and NATO aimed at significantly easing tensions between Moscow and the Western bloc. The US and its allies formally rejected the Russian proposals, which recommended limits on the deployment of troops, missiles, aircraft and warships in areas where they may be considered a threat to the other party, last month. Russia has urged NATO not to accept Ukraine and other post-Soviet republics into the alliance, saying such steps would undermine regional security and violate commitments made by the US and its partners in Organisation for Security Co-Operation in Europe treaties. The Western alliance has said that its 'open door' policy on membership will remain unchanged.

https://sputniknews.com/20220211/russia-strongly-condemns-transfer-of-us-and-allies-troops-to-europe-un-envoy-says-1092928643.html

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

jens stoltenberg
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/negotiations-with-taliban-planned-in-norway-turkey-soon---broadcaster-1092923578.html

Negotiations With Taliban Planned in Norway, Turkey Soon - Broadcaster

Negotiations With Taliban Planned in Norway, Turkey Soon - Broadcaster

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Norway and Turkey are expected to hold talks on Afghanistan with the Taliban* movement in the near future, Afghan broadcaster 1TV said... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T00:00+0000

2022-02-11T00:00+0000

2022-02-11T00:00+0000

taliban

norway

turkey

meeting

negotiations

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The meeting in Turkey will be held in Istanbul, according to the Taliban sources.From January 23 to January 25, 2022, the Taliban delegation headed by the foreign minister of the interim Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, paid an official visit to the Norwegian capital at the invitation of the kingdom. The delegation met with special representatives and envoys from the US, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the UK. Muttaqi described the visit as successful, and the delegation thanked the Norwegian government for its hospitality and contribution to the strengthening of trust.Qatar and Turkey are seeking a mandate to manage the Kabul airport, shattered during chaotic mass evacuations and withdrawal of foreign troops last year after the Taliban came to power. The radical movement has agreed to accept technical assistance from Qatar and Turkey but wants to be in charge of the airport's management alone. The talks have continued since August.The Taliban took control of the Afghan capital of Kabul on August 15, 2021, and established an interim government headed by Mohammad Hassan Akhund in September. Since then, international organizations have repeatedly warned of the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. While the government has not been internationally recognized, many countries have called on the movement to demonstrate respect for human rights and inclusivity.*The Taliban is a terrorist organisation outlawed in Russia and many other states

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taliban, norway, turkey, meeting, negotiations
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/queen-elizabeth-being-monitored-after-meeting-prince-charles-before-he-tested-positive-for-covid-1092926367.html

Queen Elizabeth 'Being Monitored' After Meeting Prince Charles Before He Tested Positive for Covid

Queen Elizabeth 'Being Monitored' After Meeting Prince Charles Before He Tested Positive for Covid

Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, for the second time after getting infected back in March 2020. 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T05:04+0000

2022-02-11T05:04+0000

2022-02-11T05:04+0000

uk

queen elizabeth ii

prince charles

covid-19

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Queen Elizabeth II is being monitored after coming into contact with Prince Charles, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier on Thursday, according to People magazine, citing a royal source.While the Queen is not displaying any coronavirus symptoms, she did meet her son Charles recently. Her health will continue to be monitored, but there will be no regular updates provided, the source noted.She was reported to be fully vaccinated, even though Buckingham Palace had only confirmed her first shot.Charles met the Queen on Tuesday at Windsor Castle to hand out investiture honours. Currently, he is self-isolating, after having to reshuffle his schedule due to the infection.The Prince was supposed to take part in the unveiling of the statue of Licoricia of Winchester, a Jewish businesswoman, and then meet with the members of the local Jewish community. The statue was unveiled on his behalf.This is the second time the Queen's son has contracted coronavirus, as he tested positive for COVID in the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020. At the time, he had mild symptoms and spent a week quarantined in Scotland.

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2022

Daria Bedenko

Daria Bedenko

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Daria Bedenko

uk, queen elizabeth ii, prince charles, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/senators-uncover-secret-cia-programme-collecting-americans-data-without-any-oversight-1092937188.html

Senators Uncover Secret CIA Programme Collecting Americans Data Without Any Oversight

Senators Uncover Secret CIA Programme Collecting Americans Data Without Any Oversight

Although it is ostensibly tasked with collecting intelligence overseas, the Central Intelligence Agency has been known to secretly amass information on... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T11:54+0000

2022-02-11T11:54+0000

2022-02-11T12:16+0000

central intelligence agency

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The CIA has been quietly and potentially illegally collecting bulk data on Americans and storing it in a secret repository without any oversight from the government or Congress, a pair of senators have alleged.In a letter sent to CIA Director William Burns and National Intelligence Director Avril Haines dated 13 April 2021 and released in redacted form on Thursday, Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich demanded the declassification of a review by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) on CIA counterterrorism-related data collection programmes dubbed Deep Dive I and Deep Dive II.The Deep Dive programmes became possible following the signing of Executive Order 12333, a Reagan-era security directive allowing for data to be collected en masse and shared with the CIA, ostensibly in the interests of national security.During your confirmation processes, you expressed a commitment to greater transparency and an appreciation for how secret interpretations of law undermine democratic oversight and pose risks to the long-term credibility of the Intelligence Community. The secret nature of the CIAs activities described in the PCLOB report raise these very concerns, the senators, both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote.Among the many details the public deserves to know are the nature of the CIAs relationship with its sources and the legal framework for the collection; the kinds of records collected [redacted], the amount of Americans records maintained; and the rules governing the use, storage, dissemination and queries (including US person queries) of the records, the lawmakers' appeal stressed.Along with the letter, which was published on Wydens website on Thursday, the CIA released on its site a redacted version of a letter containing six PCLOB recommendations on Deep Dive, with these encouraging the agency to implement guidelines to specifically address how the CIA classifies this collection and the retention period (or factors relevant to determining the retention period) that applies to the data that is the subject of [a] deep dive.The watchdogs report included five other seemingly mundane recommendations, such as the need for written justification for probes into US persons, to have a designated PCLOB officer design a framework to address issues related to such queries, to develop a strategy for addressing records subject to deep dives, to conduct periodic efficacy assessments and consider the adoption of automated tools to assist with the auditing, oversight, and compliance of matters or issues related to deep dives probing US nationals.A heavily-redacted PCLOB report on the CIA collection of financial information related to activities in support of ISIL*-related Counterterrorism Efforts was also declassified, and mentioned the incidental collection of data on American citizens.The CIA issued a statement alongside the releases, insisting that the agency recognises and takes very seriously our obligation to respect the privacy and civil liberties of US persons in the conduct of our vital national security mission.Wyden and Heinrch issued their own press statement, saying the documents serve to demonstratethat many of the same concerns that Americans have about their privacy and civil liberties also apply to how the CIA collects and handles information under executive order and outside the FISA law. In particular, these documents reveal serious problems associated with warrantless backdoor searches of Americans, the same issue that has generated bipartisan concern in the FISA context.The American Civil Liberties Union blasted the CIAs methods, suggesting the new information raises raise serious questions about what information of ours the CIA is vacuuming up in bulk and how the agency exploits that information to spy on Americans. This invasion of our privacy must stop.The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital civil liberties group, compared the CIAs bulk collection methods to those used by the National Security Agencys mass surveillance programmes  whose extent was revealed by Edward Snowden in 2013.While its primary mission includes the collection of foreign intelligence, as well as regime change operations, terrorist attacks and assassinations of foreign nationals, the CIA has also been implicated in domestic spying on US citizens going back to the 1950s. During the 1960s, the agency put together a computerised database on some 300,000 American persons and organisations associated with efforts to stop the Vietnam War. In 1975, a US Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations With Respect to Intelligence Activities, better known as the Church Committee, revealed that the CIA and other intelligence agencies engaged in a host of unconstitutional domestic spying activities, grotesque medical experiments, and media and cultural influence operations.* ISIL, aka ISIS, aka Islamic State aka Daesh is a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputniknews.com/20220125/us-reportedly-mulling-more-russia-sanctions-targeting-raw-materials-arms-exports-1092506966.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220125/lithuania-prepares-to-sell-former-cia-extraordinary-rendition-site-where-abu-zubaydah-was-tortured-1092494721.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220103/future-cia-chief-dulles-may-have-inspired-nazis-to-spread-myth-of-secret-fortress-historian-claims-1091999720.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

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central intelligence agency
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/thats-a-world-war-biden-tells-americans-to-leave-ukraine-shoots-down-reports-of-evacuation-1092925787.html

'That's a World War': Biden Tells Americans to Leave Ukraine, Shoots Down Reports of Evacuation

'That's a World War': Biden Tells Americans to Leave Ukraine, Shoots Down Reports of Evacuation

On Thursday, the US Department of State released a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' advisory warning Americans against venturing to Ukraine "due to the increased... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T04:02+0000

2022-02-11T04:02+0000

2022-02-11T04:00+0000

joe biden

biden administration

russia

vladimir putin

ukraine

us

sergei lavrov

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US President Joe Biden echoed the US State Department's travel advisory during a Thursday evening broadcast with NBC News anchor Lester Holt. "American citizens should leave now," Biden stressed, after asserting that there is no scenario in which he would deploy US troops to lead an evacuation of Americans from Ukraine, despite previous reports. Such a move by the Pentagon would lead to a major conflict, according to the US president. He went on to ask how troops would go about finding American citizens that are presently in Ukraine. "Things could go crazy quickly," Biden warned. Biden's comment comes as officials in Russia continue to push back against Western claims that Moscow is attempting to install a "pro-Russian" puppet government in Ukraine, or plan to stage "stage fabricated attacks by Ukrainian military." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed a recent UK claim and British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab's threats toward the Kremlin as an attempt to fuel drama and "create a tragedy that, however, looks more like a comedy." During an exclusive interview with NBC, Biden also claimed to have done a "deep dive" on "about four people" being considered to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court of the US. Biden declined to name any of the potential nominees. The US president has, however, been open about his desire to nominate a Black woman to serve on the high court. Biden's reported short list includes California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, DC Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and US District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs, of South Carolina. "I think whomever I pick will get a vote from the Republican side," Biden suggested.

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/lavrov-us-uk-may-be-up-to-something-if-they-are-evacuating-embassies-staff-from-ukraine-1092908890.html

ukraine

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Evan Craighead

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joe biden, biden administration, russia, vladimir putin, ukraine, us, sergei lavrov
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/the-biden-administration-is-lost-in-space-1092924158.html

The Biden Administration is Lost in Space

The Biden Administration is Lost in Space

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the UK introducing new anti-Russia laws, and twelve injured in a... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T10:17+0000

2022-02-11T10:17+0000

2022-02-11T10:17+0000

us

the backstory

british intelligence agencies

mossad

midterms

drugs

radio

joe biden

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The Biden Administration is Lost in Space On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the UK introducing new anti-Russia laws, and twelve injured in a drone attack on a Saudi airport.

GUESTAddy Adds - Former Teacher, Reporter, and Commentator | New Ghislaine Maxwell Trial ?, UK Involvement, and Prince AndrewJim Hoft - Founder of The Gateway Pundit | Truckers Protest in America, Kamala Harris, and 2022 CPACIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Addy Adds about the Alan Dershowitz involvement with Ghislaine Maxwell, possible juror misconduct, and the Maxwell sentencing date. Addy talked about the possibility of a new Maxwell trial and the lack of media attention on the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. Addy spoke on his upcoming book and Prince Andrew's upcoming trial.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Jim Hoft about conservative media, Wikipedia smears, and the Biden administration giving out drug paraphernalia. Jim discussed how dangerous Dr. Fauci has become and Democrats failing on immigration. Jim spoke on the 2022 midterms and his dislike of the Republican elites.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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us, the backstory, british intelligence agencies, mossad, midterms, drugs, , radio, joe biden
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/the-saviour-returns-hillary-clinton-may-speak-at-new-york-democratic-convention-1092934822.html

The 'Saviour' Returns? Hillary Clinton May Speak at New York Democratic Convention

The 'Saviour' Returns? Hillary Clinton May Speak at New York Democratic Convention

As the Democratic Party braces for the looming midterms  which, according to some experts, it may lose  speculation is rife that former Secretary of State... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T11:22+0000

2022-02-11T11:22+0000

2022-02-11T11:22+0000

us

hillary clinton

democrats

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Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is expected to be among the speakers at the New York State Democratic Party Convention, reports CNBC, citing sources familiar with the situation.Party leaders will gather at the Sheraton hotel in Times Square next week for the event. Chris Melnyczuk, the chief of staff of chair of the New York State Democratic Party Jay Jacobs, didn't deny that Clinton is set to participate  but he didn't confirm it either.Clinton, who has remained tight-lipped about her potential participation, is thought to be readying a possible presidential bid for 2024. If she is indeed planning to attend the New York party convention, her standing may be elevated by the fact that the approval ratings of Biden and his VP  Kamala Harris  have fallen off a cliff of late. The POTUS' rating is lower than 40 percent for the first time since he assumed office. Clinton noted in December that, in her opinion, it was time for the Democrats to focus on what "wins elections," and not only in light of the priorities highlighted by "the so-called progressive Democrats." She has not indicated her intention to run for the Oval Office in 2024 but some political analysts said she join the race as a "saviour" of the Democratic Party amid the unpopularity of Biden and Harris. Some have already braced themselves for a possible Trump-Clinton rematch in 2024, given how Clinton herself refers to Trump (who has not announced his plans for 2024, either) as "the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination."

https://sputniknews.com/20220114/hillary-clinton-2024-sounds-implausible-but-not-impossible-us-political-scientists-say-1092265587.html

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Daria Bedenko

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https://sputniknews.com/20220211/two-killed-as-apartment-ceiling-collapses-in-northern-india-1092928037.html

Two Killed as Apartment Ceiling Collapses in Northern India

Two Killed as Apartment Ceiling Collapses in Northern India

The initial reports revealed that the ceiling of the sixth-floor, where renovation work was going on, came crashing down to the ground floor of the 17-storey... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T12:08+0000

2022-02-11T12:08+0000

2022-02-11T12:08+0000

india

accident

collapsed roof

trapped

apartment

india

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viral

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A massive rescue operation is underway after an apartment ceiling collapsed, leading to the death of two people in Gurugram, a city in the Indian state of Haryana, on Thursday night. Several others are still feared to be trapped under the debris and a rescue operation is ongoing. Visuals of the disaster have surfaced on the internet showcasing the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams carrying out the rescue operation along with their sniffer dogs. Police have filed a case against the builder and the construction company, and have started a probe.Gurugrams Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav initially said: A total of three are [stuck inside], of which one woman from the first floor is dead. We have recovered her body. The other two women on the second floor have still not been seen. The man on the same floor is trapped." Citing reasons of negligence and poor quality construction, residents are blaming the builder and demanding strict action against him. However, the builders, in their official statement, have held that the renovation contractor is responsible. Haryana State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted that he is personally monitoring the rescue operation.

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india, accident, collapsed roof, trapped, apartment, india, disaster, disaster response, netizens, viral, viral video
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/uk-slams-russia-for-classic-propaganda-as-truss-refuses-to-recognize-russian-regions-in-geo-gaffe-1092941234.html

UK Slams Russia for Classic Propaganda as Truss Refuses to Recognise Russian Regions in Geo Gaffe

UK Slams Russia for Classic Propaganda as Truss Refuses to Recognise Russian Regions in Geo Gaffe

The UK foreign secretary was already the butt of jokes online last week after saying Britain would support our Baltic allies across the Black Sea  two... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T13:42+0000

2022-02-11T13:42+0000

2022-02-11T15:22+0000

liz truss

russia

ukraine

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A British source has dismissed the implication that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss didnt know what the heck she was talking about when she vowed not to recognise Russias sovereignty over the regions of Voronezh and Rostov during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.On Thursday, diplomatic sources told Russias Kommersant newspaper that during the course of tense negotiations in Moscow, Truss demanded that Russian troops withdraw from regions bordering Ukraine, with Lavrov reportedly interjecting to ask whether she considered Voronezh and Rostov  the regions where Russian troops are drilling, as sovereign Russian territory.The UKs embassy in Moscow appeared to confirm the veracity of the conversation as cited by Kommersant, tweeting on Thursday evening that Truss had made a mistake. During the meeting it seemed to me that Minister Lavrov was talking about a part of Ukraine. I have made clear that these regions [Rostov and Voronezh] are part of sovereign Russia, the Embassy wrote, quoting Truss.Kremlin Spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters on Friday that the gaffe showed the reality in which we have to defend our position.Lets call a gaffe a gaffe, and hope to the end that we are talking about a gaffe. But the fact that the leading actors in world diplomacy are having problems reading the very short and clear text of the Minsk Agreements package of measures is obvious, Peskov said, referring to measures aimed at putting an end to the civil war in eastern Ukraine, which Kiev and its Western backers have resisted implementing.Trusss geography gaffe at the meeting with Lavrov was the second in a week. Last Sunday, she confused the Baltic and Black Seas, vowing in an interview to support our Baltic allies across the Black Sea, prompting Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to write on Telegram that if anyone needs saving from anything, its the world, from the stupidity and ignorance of British politicians.Like its predecessor, the Rostov/Voronezh blunder sparked a series of memes on social media, with Russians poking fun at Truss, while Britons expressed deep embarrassment and shame over the hobby politicians who apparently seem to be in charge of the UKs foreign policy establishment.Madam Truss, do you recognize Russias sovereignty over the Moscow region as part of Russia? one joker wrote. Yes Ive just heard on the news: Voronezh is opening its own embassy in the UK, another quipped. Breaking News: Rostov and Voronezh have invaded Russia, a third jested.

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/uk-unveils-new-russia-sanctions-legislation-amid-ukraine-crisis-1092917837.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/lavrov-us-uk-may-be-up-to-something-if-they-are-evacuating-embassies-staff-from-ukraine-1092908890.html

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

liz truss, russia, ukraine
For four months, City Council members stopped allowing community members to give the invocation and would say it themselves, something the council also did early on in the pandemic.

Newport News is letting community members deliver the invocation before City Council meetings. But it has a key stipulation.

Those who lead the prayer must believe in a higher power.

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Newport News practice of only letting believers deliver the invocation came under review after a Humanist was allowed to deliver it before the July 13 meeting. Humanists do not believe in a god; they believe individuals have a responsibility to give meaning to their own lives and aspire to the greater good.

Humanist celebrant Matthew DeGraves invocation caused a stir among some council members, with Mayor McKinley Price saying he believed that, by definition, an invocation required a belief in a higher power. City Councilman David Jenkins disagreed.

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For four months, City Council members stopped allowing community members to give the invocation and would say it themselves, something the council also did early on in the pandemic.

The mayor said council members would give the prayer until January to allow more time to discuss with the city attorney the rules and guidelines for the invocation.

The city began letting community members deliver the invocation again in January.

Newport News does not have a written invocation policy beyond a city code requirement that calls for one as part of the order of business. But the city expects anyone who delivers the invocation to believe in a god.

This isnt a change in practice, according to city spokeswoman Kim Lee. The city has always expected that those who give the invocation will invoke a higher power, she said.

It is commonly understood that a legislative invocation asks for guidance of a higher power during the legislative proceeding, the city expects those providing the invocation to invoke a higher power, Lee said in an email.

A look at cities around the region found that Newport News is not the only one with these expectations. Several others start their council meetings with faith-based invocations.

DeGrave, the Humanist, presumably slipped through the cracks in Newport News.

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It is the City Councils decision to have prayers that invoke a god.

The city has followed a practice over the years of inviting religious clergy within the city to provide an invocation at its regular meetings, City Attorney Collins L. Owens, Jr. wrote in a February email to DeGrave.

Owens noted that recent federal court cases have upheld a governing bodys right to have prayers that invoke a higher power.

He also wrote that when the City Council revisited its stance on invocations recently, no more than one or two members favored changing those practices.

[ Previous Coverage: A religious debate in Newport News: City Council members at odds over invocations ]

DeGrave contends that the invocation doesnt need to be infused with religion and had requested the council adopt a moment of silence instead.

The invocation, to me, is a moment where we all settle down from the wrestling of the day  all of the stuff that we do  to bring it down to a centered perspective, were here to do the business of the city, he said. I dont believe that you need to call God to do that.

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The cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, like Newport News, usually begin their council meeting with an invocation led by a religious leader.

Hampton starts out with an invocation too, but its delivered by a City Council member.

At least three of those cities expect that their prayers are not specific to any one religion or religious figure.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

In Portsmouth, the City Council alternates between an invocation that can invoke a higher power and a moment of silence.

Norfolks City Council switched from an invocation to a moment of silence in spring 2020, to be more inclusive of all residents.

In Newport News effort to not focus on specific denominations, Mayor Price emailed faith leaders asking for volunteers to deliver non-sectarian prayers, which he said should not invoke Christ, Mohammad or any other religious figure. Leaders unwilling to provide prayer applicable to people of all denominations were told not to sign up.

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Religious leaders have also been instructed to direct their invocation toward the city council.

Before the council began its review, Price would introduce the person delivering the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance and then ask those in attendance to please stand for both.

In the fall, Price changed his wording to instead say it is the practice of the council to stand, and he invites those in attendance to stand if they would like to do so.

Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com
https://sputniknews.com/20220211/ukraine-crisis-didnt-make-it-to-quads-joint-statement-because-of-india-reckons-australian-expert-1092935505.html

Ukraine Crisis Didn't Make It to Quad's Joint Statement Because of India, Reckons Australian Expert

Ukraine Crisis Didn't Make It to Quad's Joint Statement Because of India, Reckons Australian Expert

The fourth edition of the Quad foreign ministers meeting (FMM) among Australia, India, Japan and the US took place in Melbourne on 11 February. The joint... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T13:40+0000

2022-02-11T13:40+0000

2022-02-11T13:40+0000

quadrilateral security dialogue (quad)

india

us

china

ukraine

russia

antony blinken

subrahmanyam jaishankar

australia

marise payne

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Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday found himself resisting calls by his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the US to call out Moscow over what they have described as the ongoing "military build-up" at the Russia-Ukraine border.At a joint press conference after the conclusion of the Quad ministerial meeting in Melbourne, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and their Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi were all united in expressing their governments support for Kiev in the dispute in eastern Europe.Blinken even went on to claim in the presence of his Quad counterparts that Moscow could invade Ukraine even during the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing, further alleging that additional Russian forces were arriving at the border.The top US diplomat raised the issue at the Quad meeting, a forum catering to the affairs of the Asia-Pacific region.In the lead-up to the meeting, both Blinken and Payne had stated that the Ukraine-Russia border dispute would be on the agenda during the event.The Indian Foreign Minister, on the other hand, stated earlier in the day that the Quad wasnt the right place to discuss the Ukraine issue.Professor Pradeep Taneja, a senior lecturer in Asian politics at the University of Melbourne and an academic fellow at Australia-India Institute (AII) caught up with Sputnik after the Quad FMM.Excerpts:Sputnik: Do you think that India has pushed back the efforts of Australia, the US and Japan in making the Ukraine-Russia tensions a major agenda item during the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting?Professor Pradeep Taneja: It seems thats the case Secretary Blinken was very vocal in expressing his concerns about the ongoing tensions (during the joint press conference after the meeting). The Australian foreign minister has been quite vocal about it too. However, the joint statement makes no mention of the Russia-Ukraine tensions.Sputnik: Is putting the Russia-Ukraine tensions on the Quads agenda counter-productive to the original intention of the grouping, which is to present an alternative to Chinas development model? Has the focus of the US under President Joe Biden shifted away from the Indo-Pacific region, unlike under his predecessor, Donald Trump?Professor Taneja: I dont think thats the case. A major power like the United States has the capability to deal with challenges on multiple fronts. I believe that the US diplomacy can take care of issues both across the Atlantic Ocean and in the Indo-Pacific region.In spite of the Ukraine-Russia issue possibly occupying most of the time of the Biden administration, the Quad foreign ministers meeting wasnt postponed. Sputnik: Until now, the Quad primarily has been focused on maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas. How can the Quad help India find a solution to its ongoing border row with China in Ladakh?Professor Taneja: The Quad doesnt have any role in the India-China border dispute, which has largely remained bilateral in nature until now. But if this partnership continues to grow, it will lead to greater intelligence sharing and increased diplomatic and moral support for India from the other Quad members.Sputnik: What would you say about the trade levels between China and the Quad countries? In spite of domestic calls to boycott Chinese imports, India last year imported goods worth nearly $100 billion from China, the highest ever on record. China is also among the largest trading partners of Australia and the US. Has the idea of de-coupling the global economy from that of China's failed?Professor Taneja: The idea of de-coupling is not a realistic agenda to be pursued, and I dont think India was ever pursuing it in real terms. What the governments of India, the US, Australia and Japan have been talking about is diversification and creating resilient supply chains.India is clearly very much reliant on Chinese imports of not only consumer goods, but also components, electronics and even pharmaceutics, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). But what is possible for India and the Quad countries is to diversify their imports.In the case of Australia, it exports the bulk of its raw material to China. But the Australian government is looking for alternatives. For example, when the Indian economy picks up, it could act as a major buyer of Australian raw material.Sputnik: The joint statement also makes a mention of Afghanistan and warns that the countrys territory must not be used to train or shelter terrorists targeting other countries. How do you expect the Quad countries to collaborate in the realm of counter-terrorism, particularly in Afghanistan and south Asia?Professor Taneja: I believe that the Quad countries understand Afghanistan quite well. After all, the US was there for quite a long time. India also has significant (people-to-people) connections and an interest in Afghanistan. The Quad nations are likely to keep discussing Afghanistan in the future as well. Then, there is also another concern about dealing with the Islamic State*. The Taliban, it seems, has so far failed to rein in ISIS (Daesh)*, despite trying to project to the world that it is they who call the shots in Afghanistan.The best-case scenario for the Quad countries would be if the Taliban is more responsible to calls from the international community. These relate to the status of women and a genuine commitment on the Talibans part to fight ISIS (Daesh).*Daesh (ISIS/Islamic State/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.*The Taliban is an organisation under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

https://sputniknews.com/20220209/australian-foreign-minister-russia-china-partnership-at-odds-with-global-vision-of-quad-nations-1092870314.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/moscow-has-no-plans-to-mediate-india-china-talks-on-ladakh-russian-ambassador-says-1092902460.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220208/no-mercy-taliban-may-finish-two-suspected-daesh-recruits-detained-near-afghan-border-last-fall-1092857016.html

india

us

china

ukraine

australia

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Dhairya Maheshwari

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https://sputniknews.com/20220211/uks-defence-chief-says-ready-to-discuss-russian-security-proposals-with-shoigu-1092943152.html

UK's Defence Chief Says Ready to Discuss Russian Security Proposals With Shoigu

UK's Defence Chief Says Ready to Discuss Russian Security Proposals With Shoigu

UK Defence Chief Ben Wallace traveled to Moscow on Friday for talks with his Russian counterpart, a day after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's negotiations with... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T14:31+0000

2022-02-11T14:31+0000

2022-02-11T15:41+0000

treaty

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Ben Wallace has announced Britain's readiness to discuss Russia's security proposals with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu."I hope that by speaking today and starting that relationship, that was at zero percent, we can resolve a number of issues that you've raised," Wallace said, speaking to Shoigu in Moscow on Friday.Shoigu asked Wallace to explain why the UK has deployed its special forces troops in Ukraine, and why the West was "gorging" Kiev with weapons deliveries.The Russian defence chief constituted the military-political situation in Europe as becoming "more and more tense," stressing that this was taking place by no fault of Moscow. "Unfortunately, the level of our cooperation is close to zero and is heading below zero; this is something we would like to avoid," Shoigu stressed."Therefore, I really hope to have the opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues with you without any escalation and raising of the temperature even higher in relations between Russia and NATO countries, and especially with the United Kingdom, taking into account our shared historical experience of cooperation and combat cooperation," Shoigu told his British counterpart.The Russian defence chief also informed British counterpart that Russia has considered how to respond to the US and NATO following their rejection of Moscow's security guarantee proposals, and said he believes "we will respond in the near future."The British defence chief further that the troops the UK has in Ukraine for training purposes would be returning home soon, and that London has "no plans" to send 600 special forces troops into the country. He suggested that the weapons systems sent to Kiev by Britain were "for protection," and also claimed that NATO is a "defensive" alliance that is "not seeking confrontation."Wallace and other UK defence officials arrived in Moscow on Friday for talks with Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov - the Chief of Russian General Staff. The visit comes following icy negotiations between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Thursday.A source told Britain's The Times newspaper earlier Friday that Wallace's visit would include threats to slap new sanctions on Russia in the event that it "invaded" Ukraine, and demands that Moscow "pull back" troops situated near the border with that country.The UK, the US and other NATO countries have spent months claiming that Russia was on the brink of invading Ukraine, citing the estimated "100,000 troops" near the frontier. Russian officials have dismissed the "invasion" claims, and accused the Western bloc of deliberately stoking tensions to justify putting more troops and offensive weaponry in Eastern Europe. The Biden administration appeared to confirm Moscow's fears earlier this month, announcing the deployment of thousands more US troops in countries near Russia in the Baltic and Black Sea regions. On Friday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance was considering the creation of new battle groups in Black Sea region countries.Russia proposed a pair of draft security treaties to the US and NATO in mid-December, calling for a mutual pullback of troops, missiles, aircraft and warships from areas where they may be considered a threat to the other side, and requesting that the Western bloc halt its attempts to expand into Ukraine and other post-Soviet republics. Washington and NATO formally rejected Moscow's proposals late last month, saying that it the Western alliance would not give up on its 'open door' policy for countries seeking to join.

https://sputniknews.com/20220211/level-of-relations-between-russia-and-uk-is-close-to-zero-defence-minister-shoigu-says-1092941994.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220211/nato-mulling-deployment-of-new-battle-groups-in-black-sea-nations-besides-romania-stoltenberg-says-1092935053.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220211/us-navy-releases-bizarre-timeline-of-american-warships-encountering-uas-swarm-off-california-1092927503.html

US Navy Releases Bizarre Timeline of American Warships Encountering 'UAS Swarm' Off California

US Navy Releases Bizarre Timeline of American Warships Encountering 'UAS Swarm' Off California

Back in summer 2019, several US Navy vessels sailing in Californias Channel Islands were pursued by groups of unidentified aircraft (supposedly "drones" or... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T07:21+0000

2022-02-11T07:21+0000

2022-02-11T07:21+0000

us

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california

military & intelligence

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Following months of uncertainty, the US Navy released a timeline of the incidents involving its warships and a swarm of what were believed to be drones or "unmanned aerial systems (UAS)".The newly-released briefing slide appears to be an unredacted version of the earlier published document that provides some new details into the series of 2019 incidents, The Drive reported.Among these details is the timeline of mysterious events that have drawn major interest since 2020, when documentary filmmaker Dave Beaty first brought them to light, triggering further investigations first by media and then within the Navy.The timeline provides a detailed look into the drone "swarm" that took place on 17 July 2019, and involved the USS Paul Hamilton. The "drone" incident began at 2:56 a.m. (GMT), or 7:56 p.m. local time, with the destroyer turning off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) location broadcast some ten minutes earlier for unspecified reasons.First, the timeline indicates that a UAS was spotted at a distance of about one nautical mile. Twenty minutes later, two "drones" were seen, with one of them falling in the water; by 8:26 p.m. local time, multiple UAS were spotted, only for the number to evolve into a UAS swarm" by 8:50 p.m. local time.The so-called "UAS swarm" appeared to have lasted for over two hours: from 7:56 p.m. local time until 10:39 p.m.Aside from the timeline (that was released after a Freedom of Information Act request), the Navy also rolled out an image with an extremely low resolution, with practically no details discernible but three blurry points. The image, taken by an unspecified forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system, was described by the officials as the only "releasable" one related to the incident.The Drive suggested that both the briefing slide with the timeline and the image were a part of a broader investigation, and requested full documents, to which the Navy informed them that an internal search found "that no responsive records exist".The reporters noted several things in the short document release "standing out". Among such things, The Drive outlined the fact that the timeline did not specify any countermeasures taken against the "drones" swarming the warships, and it also "remains unclear exactly how many contacts were detected".Additionally, the contents of the timeline do not seem to resonate with the information provided in the corresponding deck logs that were earlier obtained by The Drive during its own investigation into the matter. Particularly, the outlet pointed at the fact that the complete log records for the evening of 16 July from the USS Paul Hamilton fail to show anything out of the ordinary. In some cases, the report suggested, the deck logs may have never been created in the first place.The USS Paul Hamilton is not the only vessel that had to deal with the so-called "drone swarm". Earlier reports indicated that among the vessels present during the encounters were the USS Kidd, USS Rafael Peralta, USS Russell, USS John Finn. All of them are Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.The bizarre encounters have sowed serious concerns among the observers, who suggested that, if the "drones" were not operated by the American military, it would mean a serious security breach, particularly due to the sensitivity of the area where the incidents took place. Over the course of the years that have passed since the encounters, there were several suggestions, from the "swarm" being "some kind of covert action" to a foreign actor launching the drones to pursue the American warships.The Navy remains reticent with regard to the July 2019 incidents, with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday only saying in April 2021 that the encounters were still "being analysed", and the purported "UAVs" or "UASs" remained to be identified. There were no new findings officially confirmed by the Navy as of now.

https://sputniknews.com/20210406/armada-of-drones-sent-to-spy-on-us-warships-off-california-and-navy-still-has-no-clue-why-1082555615.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220211/who-might-head-metropolitan-police-now-that-cressida-dick-has-stepped-down-1092933356.html

Who Might Head Metropolitan Police Now That Cressida Dick Has Stepped Down?

Who Might Head Metropolitan Police Now That Cressida Dick Has Stepped Down?

Cressida Dick left her position as Metropolitan Police Commissioner late Thursday, saying that London Mayor Sadiq Khan no longer had "sufficient confidence" in... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T10:52+0000

2022-02-11T10:52+0000

2022-02-11T10:52+0000

uk

cressida dick

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The outgoing Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick was accused of failing to deal with sexism, homophobia, racism and corruption within her department. She is to remain the head of the Met for a short period of time to "ensure stability", but will soon have to hand over power to someone else.The decision as to who that might be is up to Home Secretary, currently Priti Patel, but the website of the Met police notes that she is to appoint the commissioner following consultation with the Mayor.Here is a quick look at people who could succeed Dick.Neil Basu, the assistant commissioner and former head of counter-terrorism, would become the first Met commissioner of Asian heritage should he be appointed. He is also considered to be a candidate to lead the National Crime Agency, as he enjoys popularity among police officers and is considered as capable. However, his chances might be undermined after backlash he faced over his criticism of Boris Johnson's racially insensitive comments in the past.Martin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, has joined the Met after serving in the military, and is also one of the likely candidates for Dick's position. As noted by The Guardian, he happened to have spent a lot of time with the ministers during the pandemic, "which could be a plus or a minus."Lucy D'Orsi has become the chief constable of the British Transport Police after being a senior officer at the Met. She led the police response to the Beaufort Park fire in 2006, and also was responsible for security during Chinese leader Xi Jinping's 2015 visit to the UK. If chosen to lead the Met, D'Orsi would become the second woman to assume the position.Louisa Rolfe, the Met assistant commissioner, could be another person to become the second female commissioner of Scotland Yard. She is highly regarded within policing, and has been praised for being a specialist in tackling violence against women.Simon Byrne, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and a former Met assistant commissioner, is seen as a possible "shock and awe" candidate, as it is being rumoured that he is feared by some in the rank and file and middle ranks.Mark Rowley, a former head of counter-terrorism who left the Met in 2018 after a wave of terror attacks in 2017. During the times of Dick's tenure as commissioner, Rowley criticised the Mets excessive reliance on stop and search. He is widely seen as a reformer.Matt Jukes, who is an assistant Met Police commissioner working as head of counter-terrorism, was also the chief of South Wales police - unlike Dick, who had never led her own force before the Met. Sir Stephen House is the current deputy commissioner of the Met Police, promoted to the position in 2018. He was the chief constable of Police Scotland in 2012, but faced criticism due to the criticism of his use of armed patrols and stop and search powers. Three years later, he resigned after the deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill, who laid undiscovered in a crashed car for three days despite public calls.When Will the Successor Be Appointed?The aforementioned "short period of time" for which Dick is set to remain in the Met was not specified in the official statements. After the home secretary and London's mayor determine their candidate, the Queen will be asked for her approval.The prime minister is believed to have no formal role in appointing the Met commissioner, but a call for Boris Johnson to "publicly recuse" himself from the decision has been made by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. Ordinarily, the PM would not have a say, and it is understood that Patel does not expect to involve Johnson in the appointment. The home secretary has thanked Dick for her service, as did Mayor Khan, but there were no further comments in regard to the timing of her successor's appointment.

https://sputniknews.com/20220210/london-met-police-commissioner-cressida-dick-resigns-amid-mounting-backlash-1092920519.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220211/will-europe-leave-nato-behind-canada-trucker-blockade-shuts-down-auto-plants-1092924858.html

Will Europe Leave NATO Behind? Canada Trucker Blockade Shuts Down Auto Plants

Will Europe Leave NATO Behind? Canada Trucker Blockade Shuts Down Auto Plants

A recent op-ed by Professor Sergey Karaganov argues that the current security infrastructure in Europe is unsustainable and that the EU should work with Russia... 11.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-11T10:18+0000

2022-02-11T10:18+0000

2022-02-11T10:19+0000

the critical hour

egypt

canada

truckers

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syria

sanctions

cdc

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Will Europe Leave NATO Behind? Canada Trucker Blockade Shuts Down Auto Plants A recent op-ed by Professor Sergey Karaganov argues that the current security infrastructure in Europe is unsustainable and that the EU should work with Russia to build a viable system "on the ruins of the present."

Dr. David Oualaalou, author and international security analyst, joins us to discuss the NATO crisis. A recent op-ed by Professor Sergey Karaganov argues that the current security infrastructure in Europe is unsustainable and that the EU should work with Russia to build a viable system "on the ruins of the present."Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us to discuss covid. A number of states that are controlled by Democratic Party governors and legislatures are relaxing covid measures. Also, the CDC is about to roll out 10 million doses of vaccines for young children.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch, joins us to discuss the Canada freedom convoy. The truckers' freedom convoy in Canada is starting to have real world consequences as auto plants are shutting down due to the supply chain disruption. Also, some Canadian provinces are relaxing covid measures and Ottawa tow truck owners are refusing to tow trucks participating in the protest.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, joins us to discuss the current crime wave in the US. Homicide rates are skyrocketing in US cities as some politicians see room for improvement in 2022. Also, police shootings dramatically increased in 2021 and our guest discusses the government's reliance on state-sanctioned violence.James Carey, writer, activist, and podcaster, joins us to discuss the Middle East. The US sanctions on Syria are making life unbearable for many citizens. Also, many Middle Eastern nations are turning to Russia and China to balance their international relationships.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss Ukraine. Ukrainian leadership is splitting from the Biden team on the subject of "a Russian invasion". Also, the White House is mulling more sanctions against Russia and dangerous Nazis are running amuck in Ukraine.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss drones. Some US members of Congress are discussing whether they have the need and power to address the problems associated with civilian deaths from US drone attacks.Nicholas Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss the US war budget. The US just approved a $70 million missile sale to Jordan, and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) details why he wants to kill a $2.5 billion arms sale to Egypt.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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the critical hour, egypt, canada, truckers, ukraine, nazis, syria, sanctions, cdc, mask, drones, , radio
The sun crests over the horizon on the corn field as a combine harvester reaps, threshes, gathers and winnows the grain during harvest. But a familys life quickly turns upside down when teenager Cody Rose becomes the victim of a grain entrapment accident.

Silo, a 2019 film, tells the story about the dangers people may encounter when they become entrapped inside a silo full of grain that acts like quicksand. The film is the first ever feature film about a grain entrapment and will be shown at the Historic Midwest Theater Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 7 p.m.

Nicole Berosek, organizational wellness coordinator for the Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council  a subsidiary of Panhandle Public Health District, said, its really challenging when youre dealing with grain bins and just the importance of it in the farming community, we just wanted to bring that information to the Panhandle.

The film will be shown during FFA Week, which is Feb. 19-26, with the hopes to target not only farmers and ranchers, but also youth involved in agriculture.

We are trying to target FFA, 4-H and ag. students as well as farmers and employers, Berosek said. There are many different concerns and grain entrapment is just one of them. Just ensuring that we get that education out there is one of the things were doing to bring awareness to the issue. The kids dont have that education and dont know.

Gary Stone, an associate extension educator with the Panhandle Research & Extension Center said one of the dangers people may come across when working in a silo is bridging of the grain. Bridging is a self-created arch that forms above the outlet. Wall friction holds up the arch as the grain binds to itself to create an arch but disturbing that grain can be deadly.

One thing would be the bridging of the grain in the silos and that would be the main one, Stone said. They pull grain out from the bottom of the bin  thats how a silo works  and then the corn might get hot and get a little cakey on top. When that corn gets sucked down underneath that, that bridge or that corn up above stays solid so to speak. People crawl up into the bin and they start jumping up and down or poking it with a stick to get it to break free and then they get sucked in and they get covered up.

He also hopes the younger agricultural professionals and students understand the importance of safety.

Safety is always going to be number one in anything that you do, Stone said. You have to be safe to be good at what you do. You cant cut corners.

Following the 90-minute movie there will be a panel discussion. There are four panelists currently  Aaron Yoder from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Tracy Mayer from AirLink, Brian Kaman from Kelley Bean, and Barry Melvin with Crossroads Co-op  although Berosek said they may change if schedules shift.

Berosek hopes people leave with a better understanding of what silos are and how they work. While the film focuses on a grain entrapment situation, Berosek said the evening is about how a community responds.

Its about bringing a community together to help each other out, she said. Thats a big piece that sometimes we forget to mention. Its a testament as to what communities can do when they work together.

For some people, the film may have some disturbing scenes, so Berosek encourages people to watch the films trailer ahead of the event.

After viewing the film, Stone hopes it brings awareness about the potential hazards of a silo and helps people take precautions.

If they take the appropriate precautions when they go into a bin like that, which they call a closed system, that they notify enough people where theyre going to be, make sure all of the machinery is shut off so when they are up in there poking around that theres nothing drawing corn below that would create a big cavity, Stone said.

Wearing a safety harness and notifying the family, neighbors and the local fire department are additional precautions.

Berosek said they were fortunate to work with the Historic Midwest Theater and the Nebraska Extension office to bring this film to the community. She also said it is part of the councils focus to educate the community about worksite wellness.

Often time we neglect the fact that we do need education and we do have to be safe around it, she said. We focus on the health of the individual at a worksite. When they are at a grain bin, having that knowledge is so important for their overall health, too.

Masks are strongly recommended and will be provided. The movie and panel are free and open to the public. The theaters concession stand will be open.

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Richmond  A deputy Virginia attorney general resigned Thursday after social media posts surfaced in which she praised the Capitol rioters as patriots, falsely claimed Donald Trump won the 2020 election and espoused conspiracy theories about voter fraud.

A spokeswoman for Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares confirmed Monique Miles resignation and said that her posts, first reported by The Washington Post, had been unknown to the office before Thursday morning.

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The Attorney General has been very clear  Joe Biden won the election and he has condemned the January 6th attack, spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita said in a statement to The Associated Press.

The Washington Post reported that it had obtained screenshots of the Facebook posts by Miles, authenticated them with people who interacted with Miles, and shared them with Miyares office.

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The newspaper reported that the social media comments from Miles were not publicly visible but that Miles said they had not been deleted.

Miles, who could not immediately be reached by the AP for comment, told The Post in an email that the posts were being taken out of context and were shared in a character assassination to stir up controversy.

The posts were made at a time when the news was still developing re: the facts around the election, the court cases, the Rally on the Ellipse and what happened at the capitol, Miles said in the email, The Post reported. That was before all the audits occurred. These posts have been taken out of context.

According to a screenshot of one of the Facebook posts published by The Post, Miles praised the Capitol rioters on the afternoon of Jan. 6.

News Flash: Patriots have stormed the Capitol. No surprise. The deep state has awoken the sleeping giant, Miles wrote. Patriots are not taking this lying down. We are awake, ready and will fight for our rights by any means necessary.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

Miyares announced Miles hiring in January as deputy attorney general for government operations and transactions. The role involved overseeing elections issues for the office, LaCivita confirmed Thursday.

A news release at the time of her appointment said she was the founder and managing partner of a law firm in northern Virginia.

The AP left a message seeking comment from Miles at that law office and attempted to reach her by phone.

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Miyares, a Virginia Beach Republican who was elected in November, condemned the Capitol insurrection the day it occurred, calling it a disgusting attack against the principle of law and order.

Ignoring orders and attacking law enforcement is never acceptable, under any circumstance, he tweeted on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Democratic Attorneys General Association highlighted The Posts reporting in a news release.

Jason Miyares needs to come clean: is he lying or incompetent? Geoff Burgan, the groups communications director, said in a statement.
Universal Technical Institutes campus, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), welcomed students from around the region to compete for a total of $74,000 in grants using in-demand automotive technology skills and knowledge in two separate competitions, the Top Tech Challenge and the Auto Tech Challenge.

Twenty teams from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia went head-to-head at the campus on Feb. 5 for the Top Tech Challenge, competing in both hands-on and written tests on vehicle parts, engines, diagnostics and electrical systems using NASCAR Techs state-of-the-industry facility and equipment. Each student placing on a top 10 team won a grant toward attending UTI ranging from $10,000 for first place to $1,000 for a fourth through 10th place finish.

Students on the winning team of two, Jonah Longworth and Zachary Blalock of Davie County High School in Mocksville, demonstrated know-how in all competitive areas. They can now advance their skill sets by utilizing their $10,000 UTI grant at one of 13 UTI campuses nationwide.

Ethan Jordan and Caleb Sargent of Hamilton Career and Technology Center in Westminster, South Carolina, finished second, each walking away with a $7,500 grant, and Kyler Pralle and Michael Brotherton of Lake Norman High School in Mooresville came in third, winning $5,000 grants.

It is incredibly valuable for these students to have the opportunity to develop automotive technology skills and learn about programs like ours, where they can hone those skills after high school, said Jennifer Bergeron, campus president at NASCAR Technical Institute. Our campuses have been hosting the Top Tech Challenge competition for more than a decade now, and each time were impressed by students breadth and depth of knowledge. UTI has more than 35 leading manufacturer partners and thousands of local employers who look to us to train the next generation of technicians. This is a great way to encourage and reward students interest in the transportation industry, and were proud to say 170 students whove won these grants have graduated from UTI so far.

The Auto Tech Challenge is a new addition this year, allowing academic students without a vocational education background to compete individually for grants. William Thompson, of Laurens Academy in Laurens, South Carolina, took top honors in that competition, earning a $7,000 UTI grant. Dejan Djukic, of Ledford High School in Thomasville, placed second for a $5,000 grant, and John Hern, of Page High School in Greensboro, came in third, winning a $3,000 grant.

The automotive industry needs highly trained professionals due to growth, net replacements and retirements from the trade. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 69,000 service technician and mechanic job openings annually on average through 2030.
Stakes 'very high' over Ukraine crisis, says Boris Johnson

by IANS |

Brussels, Feb 10 (IANS) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said Europe faces "the most dangerous moment" in its "biggest security crisis" for decades, amid growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.



Speaking in Brussels, Johnson said he hoped "strong deterrence" and "patient diplomacy" could find a way through the crisis but the stakes were "very high", the BBC reported.



Russia has denied that it plans to invade but has 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border.



Johnson is also visiting Poland to show support for NATO allies.



In a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the UK Prime Minister said he did not believe Russia had yet taken a decision on whether to invade Ukraine but the UK's intelligence "remains grim".



Asked whether the UK would consider going further in its support for Ukraine, including military support for an insurgency if Russia invades, Johnson said he would "consider what more we can conceivably offer".



"It's possible, I don't want to rule this out, but at the moment we think the package is the right one," he said.



As part of a surge of UK diplomatic activity, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also in Moscow to meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will travel to Russia on Friday.



During a tense joint news conference, Mr Lavrov said the talks had been "disappointing".



"It's like we're listening but not hearing each other so our very detailed explanation fell on deaf ears," he said.



He said relations between the UK and Russia "leave much to be desired" and are at the "lowest point over the past few years".



Asked if he had seen any concessions over Russia's concerns about NATO, Lavrov said he had only heard a demand to "remove Russian troops from Russian territory".



Truss later told the BBC the UK was putting its "full diplomatic effort" into deterring an invasion and de-escalating the situation.



Asked about her meetings with Lavrov, who has been Russia's foreign policy chief for 18 years, Truss said he had "been involved in a lot of the issues that have created the situation we're in now" and that "proper diplomatic talks" were needed.
Northwood High School senior Cami DeBusk will have a lot of help toward her goal of becoming a pediatrician.

DeBusk has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship from the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award program.

I am honored, DeBusk said of the award. Im really excited. I was really nervous going to the interview. I wasnt expecting to win.

Students chosen for the award must go to an interview in Richmond, and DeBusk said there were about 11 people in the room.

It was very intimidating, said the soft-spoken Saltville native. They asked questions about how I help people in the community and how I would help in the future.

DeBusk said she and a classmate started the Comfort Closet at Northwood High when they were freshmen. The program provides hygiene items to students in need. A cash donation from Utility, she said, used to stock the closet began the program.

People have recently started using it, she said. Use was limited over the past two years with students often restricted to distance learning from home. They say its really nice to have something like that when you need it.

She plans to study at Emory & Henry College and VCOM (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine) in Blacksburg and hopes to practice in Smyth County.

Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to help people and, ultimately, healthcare was what I wanted to do, DeBusk said. I really love kids and thats mostly why I decided to be a pediatrician. Kids need someone to look up to. I think they look up to doctors. Ive always looked up to my doctors.

At school, DeBusk is a member of the Beta Club, FFA, student council and the Foreign Language Club. She is studying Spanish in order to be able to communicate with her patients if needed.

The Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award is open to high school seniors who are nominated by a high school in Virginia. Students must demonstrate academic accomplishment and embody excellence of character, leadership, and good character. One winner is selected from each congressional district.

DeBusk is the second Northwood student to win the award. It was also presented to Ashleigh Danielle Waddle in 2002-03.

DeBusks interview in Richmond took place on Jan. 26. Recipients will be presented their awards at a ceremony in Richmond on March 17.

The mission of the program is to nurture public service, which is critical to the preservation of American democracy, by awarding Virginias high school seniors who demonstrate a combination of excellence of character, qualities of leadership, devotion to duty and academic accomplishment with a $20,000 award.

DeBusk said her parents, Ben and Karen DeBusk, are proud of her winning the award and excited about how it will help with her education.

Im really glad to have won, she said. This will really help with my college expenses.

Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award

In 1994, former U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. established the award program because of his deep conviction that a strong system of public education is essential to democratic government, and that cultivating leadership among young citizens advances both education and government. It was Sen. Byrds hope that this award will create a desire for excellence among students; enhance student self-assurance by the Selection Committees vote of confidence; and provide recognition and financial assistance to students with outstanding leadership qualities.

The first awards were made in the spring of 1995. Although it was Byrds hope that these young people will choose to remain in the commonwealth for their higher education, this is not a requirement, and there is no restriction on the use of the award. The University of Virginia Foundation administers the trust.

Byrd spent 36 years in elected public office  18 years in the Virginia State Senate (1948-1965) and another 18 years in the U.S. Senate (1965-1983).

At 16, Byrd entered the Virginia Military Institute and later attended the University of Virginia to study government. Born into a political family -- his father having been Governor of Virginia and a U.S. Senator --- he attended nine national political conventions, the first at 17 (Democratic 1932) and was elected to the Virginia Senate at 32.

During World War II, he served as executive officer of a patrol bombing squadron in the Central and Western Pacific as a lieutenant commander in the Navy.

In the U.S. Senate, Byrd was active as a member of the Armed Services Committee and made fact-finding trips to the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, and Vietnam. Byrd also served on the Finance Committee, which has primary authority for all legislation dealing with taxes, trade, and Social Security. Byrd was elected to office nine times, seven as a Democrat and twice as an Independent. He is the only person in the history of the U.S. Senate to be twice elected as an Independent, and, in 1970, received more votes than the combined total of his two opponents - one a Democrat and one a Republican. He retired from the U.S. Senate in 1983.In his business life, Byrd was editor and publisher of The Winchester Star, Winchester and the Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg. He was an active member of the board of directors after his retirement in 2001 from the Daily News-Record and in 2011 from The Winchester Star.

Born Dec. 20, 1914, he died at his home in Winchester, July 30, 2013.
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In-person jury trials for misdemeanor and felony cases in Cowlitz County, as well as some federal court cases in western Washington have been delayed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Officials review whether jury trials will be held in the countys lower court cases each week, while jury trials are suspended in the countys higher court cases through March 7.

The United States District Court of Western Washington also suspended scheduled in-person civil jury trials through March 7, though some civil jury trials are held online.

Superior Court announced Thursday officials will resume in-person scheduled pleas on Wednesdays starting Feb. 16. All other dockets will continue to be held on Zoom.

Online versus in-person

Superior Court holds bench trials online, where a judge decides verdicts, but not jury trials.

The court suspended in-person jury trials twice in 2022: Once on Jan. 21 through Feb. 7 and again Feb. 4 through March 7. Jury trials have been suspended at different times since 2020 depending on positive case rates in the county.

Superior Court Administrator Chad Connors said jury trials are not held online due to the areas limited internet access and the inability to prevent jurors from being influenced by outside sources.

He said it is difficult to find enough jurors with reliable internet, particularly in the rural parts of the county. He said jurors access to their phones or other technology can be managed better when they are physically at trials.

Western District of Washington Judge Marsha Pechman said collecting a diverse jury pool for the four virtual trials she conducted as of last February was easier than expected. She thought elderly or low-income people would be excluded, but found jurors who had to travel far to reach the court could more easily join online, according to uscourts.gov.

She said one trial was delayed because a wind storm knocked out a jurors connections, but compared the disruption to a juror stuck in traffic.

Access during COVID

Presiding Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor said jury pools could also be hindered during high positive COVID-19 outbreaks. He said the court must balance ensuring justice and health.

We want to do all we can to make court as safe for everyone and we feel this extended suspension promotes access and safety, he said when the suspension through March 7 was announced.

Cowlitz County Superior Court handles cases like criminal felonies and District Court handles cases like criminal misdemeanors.

One in-person jury trial has been held in Cowlitz County District Court in 2022, said Court Administrator Molly Martin. District Court Presiding Judge M. Jamie Imboden reviews county hospitalization rates and positive COVID-19 cases weekly to determine whether jury trials will be held, she added.

Other District Court operations are also suspended. Courthouse weddings have been canceled since about March 2020, she said.

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin tries his hand Thursday at piloting one of DroneUp's drones during a visit to the Virginia Beach company. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin stopped through Hampton Roads on Thursday, making his first public appearance in the region since he was inaugurated last month.

Youngkin toured Fort Monroe in Hampton in the morning before heading to a Virginia Beach school and two businesses to talk about his economic plans.

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Theres great opportunities in Hampton Roads for growth, and I look forward to continuing to support it, Youngkin said while at DroneUp, a Virginia Beach app developer and drone services provider.

Youngkin, who spent part of his youth in Virginia Beach and graduated from Norfolk Academy, paid frequent visits to Hampton Roads on the campaign trail. He called Thursdays return to the region making sure the government comes out of Richmond and into other areas of the state.

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The Republican governors visit comes after the Virginia Senate voted to pass legislation barring mask requirements in public schools  a bipartisan vote that Youngkin said Thursday encouraged him. The bill now moves to the GOP-controlled House before it hits Youngkins desk.

Youngkin touted DroneUp  which recently landed a drone delivery contract with Walmart  as an example of businesses that he wants to see proliferate with proposed legislation that would give military retirees a tax break.

Youngkin also presented DroneUp, which is veteran-owned, with a Virginia Values Veterans  or V3  certification. The companys founder and CEO Tom Walker said 25% of the 125 employees are veterans.

You couldnt do that in Silicon Valley, Walker said.

Walker hopes to grow the company to 600 employees by years end.

Earlier, Youngkin visited Seatack Elementary School. He later visited Anchor Allies Bistro in Virginia Beach to discuss his proposed tax cuts, which include a bill to eliminate a state sales tax on groceries.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
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.

Protection order  Cowlitz County deputies Wednesday arrested Terrence Omar Hawkins, 30, of Longview, on suspicion of violating a protection order.

Burglary, theft  Longview officers Wednesday arrested Cody Jay Mathers, 28, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree theft, fourth-degree assault, interfering with reporting, driving while license suspended in the first degree and violating an ignition interlock drivers license. A dispatch call log reports Mathers allegedly was stealing catalytic converters off vehicles with another man Wednesday in the 3300 block of Washington Way in Longview.

Burglary, theft  Longview officers Wednesday arrested Joshua James Newt, 26, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft.

Burglaries

200 block of Hillsdale Drive, Woodland. Wednesday. Report of storage units broken into and items taken.

900 block of Eighth Avenue, Longview. Wednesday. Report of man breaking into the storage unit of apartments.

Stolen vehicle

900 block of Eighth Avenue, Longview. Gray 1998 Honda Civic. Washington BRW9510.

Thefts

200 block of Nevada Drive, Longview. Wednesday. Report of mail stolen.

200 block of Roake Avenue, Castle Rock. Wednesday.

900 block of Mill Street, Kelso. Wednesday. Report of AirPods taken.

1700 block of Pacific Avenue, Woodland. Wednesday. Report of $300 worth of groceries shoplifted.

Vandalism/malicious mischief

100 block of Davidson Avenue, Woodland. Wednesday. Report of business window broken.

Vehicle prowl

1100 block of Whalen Road, Woodland. Wednesday. Report of two missing guns: A Winchester Wildcat .22 rifle and a Brazilian 20-gauge shotgun.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations are decreasing statewide but seem to be increasing or holding steady in Cowlitz County.

The county recorded 28 new hospitalizations per 100,000 people from Jan. 21 to Jan. 27, the most recent complete week. That rate is up from the prior week but down from the peak of about 33 per 100,000 from Jan. 7 to Jan. 13.

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center had 34 COVID-19 patients as of Thursday morning. The hospitals COVID-19 patient census has remained fairly steady recently, said Debra Carnes, PeaceHealth spokesperson. After several days in the mid-20s, the number increased to 33 Tuesday and 34 Thursday.

The hospitals COVID-19 patient count may change over the next week as Cowlitz Countys case numbers trend down, Carnes said.

The county recorded 1,068 cases per 100,000 people from Jan. 21 to Jan. 27, down after spiking to 1,233 per 100,000 from Jan. 18 to Jan. 24. The trend in the two-week rate shows cases on a more steady decline. Cowlitz County had a total of 21,087 cases and 314 deaths as of Wednesday.

Total COVID-19 case counts from the last couple weeks contain duplicates, so it is difficult to have a clear picture of disease activity right now, said Stefanie Donahue, Cowlitz County Health and Human Services communications manager. The state Department of Health is working to resolve the problem, according to its website.

We feel confident saying COVID-19 case counts in Cowlitz County likely stopped increasing around mid-January, Donahue said. We anticipate cases will follow trends seen elsewhere and begin to decline.

Statewide, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are decreasing, with Eastern Washington lagging behind.

The state recorded 26.4 new hospitalizations per 100,000 people from Jan. 21 to Jan. 27., down from its peak of about 28 per 100,000 the prior week. Hospitalization rates remain well above the peak during the delta wave in August and September of about 18 per 100,000.

COVID activity remains a threat, so please very much help your hospitals and your community by being cautious for what we hope will be just be a few more weeks of this wave, said Cassie Sauer, Washington State Hospital Association CEO, during a news briefing Tuesday.

Hospitals also are seeing a decline in staff out sick or quarantining and some are beginning to work through a backlog of delayed procedures, Sauer said.

Consistent with the governors order, PeaceHealth St. John continues to delay surgical and related procedures that require an inpatient stay to help offset our high inpatient volumes when possible, Carnes said.

On Jan. 13, Inslee ordered a four-week pause on nonemergency procedures at hospitals and announced some help from the National Guard and contracted staff.

The state Department of Social and Health Services on Thursday announced it contracted with 10 nursing homes across the state, including two in Vancouver, and is providing staffing resources to establish units for non-COVID patients who no longer need hospital care. The units will free up more than 240 beds and will operate until June 30, according to the agency.

Carnes said while PeaceHealth appreciates the state opening up more nursing home beds, it wont improve the situation in Cowlitz County. As of Thursday, St. John had 25 patients waiting for placement outside the hospital.

Our overall patient capacity remains high, our COVID census has not seen any significant drops and our ability to discharge patients that are medically able for discharge but still require an alternative level of care or guardianship has not improved, she said.

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Samsung has confirmed Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for the Galaxy S22 series in India. The Exynos 2200 is limited to the European region only.

Samsung recently announced the Galaxy S22 series as its 2022 conventional flagship and as always, it relies on different chips for various markets. In the past, the US has mostly got the Snapdragon variants while global markets, including India, had to stay content with the Exynos versions. This year though, things are different. As the rumours suggested, Samsung is including the Indian market to its list of Snapdragon-powered S22 series.

An earlier report from Android Authority confirms India along with South Korea, North America, Australia, UAE, and South Africa. Later. A Samsung India official post later confirmed on Twitter that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will indeed power the Indian variant of the Galaxy S22 series. This is a fresh development considering Samsung has always offered its Galaxy S series devices with Exynos chipsets.

Galaxy S22 series to go Snapdragon power in India

Previously, the Exynos powered Galaxy S series devices have always shown inferior performance when compared to their Snapdragon counterparts. This year though, Samsung took a huge step in developing the Exynos 2200 chip. To counter the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Exynos 2200 used a GPU based on the AMD RDNA-2 architecture, promising superior graphics performance.

That said, this wont be the first incident of Samsung using a Snapdragon chip for its high-end smartphones in recent times. The Galaxy Z foldable line-up has long relied on the Snapdragon power ever since its arrival in 2019. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 launched last year relying on the Snapdragon 888 chip.

Samsung, however, launched the Galaxy S21 FE 5G in India with the Exynos 2100 chip  it is an eager performer but not as capable as the Snapdragon 888, especially when it comes to gaming.

While the arrival of Snapdragon chips to India could be a good news for many, whats yet to come out is the price. Samsung India hasnt announced what the Galaxy S22 series in India will cost. Based on the US pricing, these phones could go head-to-head with the Apple iPhone 13 series. The Galaxy S22 Ultra could take on the iPhone 13 Pro Max this year.
If you are looking for the best wordpress plugins, then you are at the right place. Here is the list of best wordpress plugins that you should use in your blog to boost SEO, strong your security and know every aspects of your blog . Although creating a good content is one factor but there are many wordpress plugins that perform different actions and add on to your success. So let's start

1.Yoast SEO

Those users who are serious about SEO, Yoast SEO will do the work for them to reach their goals. All they need to do is select a keyword, and the plugin will then optimize your page according to the specified keyword

Yoast offers many popular SEO WordPress plugin functions. It gives you real-time page analysis to optimize your content, images, meta descriptions, titles, and kewords. Yoast also checks the length of your sentences and paragraphs, whether youre using enough transition words or subheadings, how often you use passive voice, and so on. Yoast tells Google whether or not to index a page or a set of pages too.

Let me summarize these points in bullets:

Enhance the readability of your article to reduce bounce rate

Optimize your articles with targetted keywords

Let Google know who you are and what your site is about

Improve your on-page SEO with advanced, real-time guidance and advice on keyword usage, linking, and external linking.

Keep your focus keywords consistent to help rank better on Google.

Preview how your page would appear in the search engine results page (SERP)

Crawl your site daily to ensure Google indexes it as quickly as possible.

Rate your article informing you of any mistakes you might have made so that you can fix them before publishing.

Stay up-to-date with Googles latest algorithm changes and adapt your on-page SEO as needed with smartsuggestionss from the Yoast SEO plugin. This plugin is always up-to-date.

Free Version is available

Pricing

Premium version=$89/year that comes with extra functions, allowing you to optimize your content up to five keywords, among other benefits.





2. WP Rocket

A website running WordPress can put a lot of strain on a server, which increases the chances that the website will crash and harm your business. To avoid such an unfortunate situation and ensure that all your pages load quickly, you need a caching plugin like WP Rocket.

WP Rocket plugin designed to increases your website speed. Instead of waiting for pages to be saved to cache, WP Rocket turns on desired caching settings, like page cache and gzip compression. The plugin also activates other features, such as CDN support and llazy image loadding, to enhance your site speed.

Features in bullets:

Browser Catching

Preloading the cache of pages

Reducing the number of HTTP requests allows websites to load more quickly.

Decreasing bandwidth usage with GZIP compression

Apply optimal browser caching headers (expires)

Minifying and combining JavaScript and CSS files

Remove Unused CSS

Deferred loading of images (LazyLoad)

WebP compatibility

Deferred loading of JavaScript files

Delay JavaScript Execution

Critical Path CSS generation and deferred loading of CSS files

Database optimization

WordPress Heartbeat API control

DNS prefetch

CDN integration

Cloudflare integration

Sucuri integration

Easy import/export of settings

Easy roll back to a previous version





Pricing

Single License =$49/year for one website

Plus License =$99/year for 3 websites

Infinite License =$249/year for unlimited websites





3.Wordfence Security

Wordfence Security is a WordPress firewall and security scanner that keeps your site safe from malicious hackers, spam, and other online threats. This Plugin comes with a web application firewall (WAF) called tthread Defence Feed that helps to prevents brute force attacks by ensuring you set stronger passwords and limiting login attempts. It searches for malware and compares code, theme, and plugin files with the records in the WordPress.org repository to verify their integrity and reports changes to you.

Wordfence security scanner provides you with actionable insights into your website's security status and will alert you to any potential threats, keeping it safe and secure. It also includes login security features that let you activate reCAPTCHA and two-factor authentication for your website.

Features in Bullets.

Scans your site for vulnerabilities.

Alerts you by email when new threats are detected.

Supports advanced login security measures.

IP addresses may be blocked automatically if suspicious activity is detected.

Pricing

Premium Plan= $99/Year that comes with extra security features like the real time IP backlist and country blocking option and also support from highly qualified experts.

4. Akismet

Akismet can help prevent spam from appearing on your site. Every day, it automatically checks every comment against a global database of spam to block malicious content. With Akismet, you also wont have to worry about innocent comments being caught by the filter or false positives. You can simply tell Akismet about those and it will get better over time. It also checks your contact form submissions against its global spam database and weed out unnecessary fake information.

Features in Bullets:

The program automatically checks comments and filters out spam.

Hidden or misleading links are often revealed in the comment body.

Akismet tracks the status of each comment, allowing you to see which ones were caught by Akismet and which ones were cleared by a moderator.

A spam-blocking feature that saves disk space and makes your site run faster.

Moderators can view a list of comments approved by each user.

Pricing

Free to use for personal blog

5. Contact Form 7

Contact Form 7 is a plug-in that allows you to create contact forms that make it easy for your users to send messages to your site. The plug-in was developed by Takayuki Miyoshi and lets you create multiple contact forms on the same site; it also integrates Akismet spam filtering and lets you customize the styling and fields that you want to use in the form. The plug-in provides CAPTCHA and Ajax submitting.

Features in bullets:

Create and manage multiple contact forms

Easily customize form fields

Use simple markup to alter mail content

Add Lots of third-party extensions for additional functionality

Shortcode offers a way to insert content into pages or posts.

Akismet spam filtering, Ajax-powered submitting, and CAPTCHA are all features of this plugin.

Pricing

Free to use

6. Monster Insights

When youre looking for an easy way to manage your Google Analytics-related web tracking services, Monster Insights can help. You can add, customize, and integrate Google Analytics data with ease so youll be able to see how every webpage performs, which online campaigns bring in the most traffic, and which content readers engage with the most. Its same as Google Analytics

It is a powerful tool to keep track of your traffic stats. With it, you can view stats for your active sessions, conversions, and bounce rates. Youll also be able to see your total revenue, the products you sell, and how your site is performing when it comes to referrals.

MonsterInsights offers a free plan that includes basic Google Analytics integration, data insights, and user activity metrics.

Features in bullets:

Demographics and interest reports:

Anonymize the IPs of visitor

See the results of how far visitors Scroll down

Show the insights of multiple links to the same page and show you which links get more clicks

See sessions of two related sites as a single session

Google AdSense tracking

Send you weekly analytics report of your blog you can download it as pdf

Pricing

Premium plan= $99.50/year that comes with extra features like page and post tracking, Adsense tracking, custom tracking and reports.

7. Pretty Links

Pretty Links is a powerful WordPress plugin that enables you to easily cloak affiliate links on your websiteIt even allows you to easily redirect visitors based on a specific request, including permanent 301 and temporary 302/307 redirects.

Pretty links also helps you to automatically shorten your url for your post and pages.

You can also enable auto-linking feature to automatically add affiliate links for certain keywords

Features

Create clean, easy-to-remember URLs on your website (301, 302, and 307 redirects only)

Random-generator or custom URL slugs

Track the number of clicks

Easy to understand reports

View click details including ip address, remote host, browser, operating system, and referring site

You can pass custom parameters to your scripts when using pretty permalinks, and still have full tracking capability.

Exclude IP Addresses from Stats

Cookie-based system to track your activity across clicks

Create nofollow/noindex links

Toggle tracking on / off on each link.

Pretty Link Bookmarklet

Update redirected links easily to new URLs!

Pricing

Beginner Plan=$79/year that can be used on 1 site

Marketer Plan: $99/year  that can be used on upto 2 sites

Super Affiliate Plan: $149/year  that can be use on upto 5 sites





We hope youve found this article useful. We appreciate you reading and welcome your feedback if you have it.




Credit: VALUA STUDIO/Shutterstock

The UK government has announced that its forthcoming online safety bill will require websites that publish pornography to verify users are over 18.

Sites will need to adopt a method of age verification, such as having users provide their passport information. They will likely need to employ a third-party provider to set up and maintain these systems.

This isn't the first attempt to restrict access to online pornography in this way in Britain. The government shelved plans for a similar age verification scheme in 2019.

There's no question child safety online is critically important. But if adopted, this move will be yet another piece of legislation to add to a messy patchwork of often flawed UK laws seeking to police pornography.

UK porn websites will be forced to prevent underage access by using age-verification technologies as part of the government's Online Safety Bill.https://t.co/b1CmNgwUzn  The Week UK (@TheWeekUK) February 9, 2022

I've done research on the history of pornography in Britain, and particularly its regulation. In short, this has always been a problematic area.

By the end of the 1950s, the pornography business had begun to expand. The Obscene Publications Act 1959 sought to criminalize distributors of pornography, but had the opposite effect. Its ambiguous terminology gave way to loopholes that entrepreneurs exploited, creating a thriving market for illicit goods that were sold in bookshops, via mail-order and exported to Europe in the 1960s and early 1970s.

By the end of the 1970s, there was a shift in the discourse from viewing pornography as an obscene object to questioning its impact and potential harm. A moral panic around pornography ensued, leading to a range of new laws aimed at regulating access.

For example, the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 and the Local Government (miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982 sought to regulate the growth of sex shops beyond London's Soho. Their neon-lit displays were replaced by blacked out windows.

Concerns around children's access to pornography and violent material underpinned the Video Recordings Act 1984, which was deigned to regulate the new technology of home video.

In 2000, Britain appeared to liberalize its pornography laws following a review of the British Board of Film Classification R18 certificate. Hardcore pornography could legally be sold in Britain, but under strict control.

The shift of pornography to cyberspace complicated attempts at regulation further. Concerns around access to harmful pornography online led to the possession of "extreme" pornography being criminalized under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

If European countries such as Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden have been relatively relaxed their approach to policing pornography (Denmark was the first country to fully legalize pornography in 1969) Britain's method has been to introduce a range of messy, overlapping laws. This becomes clear when you look at the Crown Prosecution Service's advice for prosecutors to consider a list of 14 laws before deciding whether to pursue an obscenity conviction.

Perspectives from the industry

Age verification for pornography was included in the Digital Economy Act 2017. Here, authority was to be given to a government-appointed regulator to impose penalties on websites refusing to adopt age verification, such as fines or ordering internet service providers to block access.

Between 2016 and 2019 I was researching the history of Britain's pornography business and attending regular meetings of the United Kingdom Adult Performers Network.

Producers and distributors expressed concern about the impact of the Digital Economy Act 2017 on their business, fearing that age verification would dissuade customers from accessing their content. Would you want to visit a porn site if you had to put in your driver's license details or your passport?

With pornography shifting from a physical to a digital commodity that is freely streamed by video aggregator sites such as Pornhub, small-scale producers viewed the measure as another threat to their dwindling profits.

Producers believed that age verification benefited large, powerful companies such as Mindgeek, which owns many of the popular streaming sites and production studios, and was offering to provide age verification services to smaller operators.

Importantly, Britain's pornography producers and distributors were not opposed to age verification in theory. Indeed, they were concerned about children accessing inappropriate material. Their worry was about how this would work in practice, and the impact it would have on their business.

In the end, in 2019, the Conservative government deemed age verification for pornography websites unworkable and dropped its plans.

Now it's back on the table

Britain's renewed commitment to age restriction follows similar moves in France and Germany.

Under the online safety bill, power would be afforded to the UK's communications regulator Ofcom, making it responsible for determining how websites are dealt with if they fail to verify users' age. Social platforms containing pornographic content, like Reddit and Twitter, may not be exempt.

Privacy concerns remain, particularly around the potential for leaked data that identifies personal sexual interests.

We will now wait and see whether the government's plans for age verification will succeed. But history shows that Britain's pornography laws have never been fit for purpose. Producers and audiences have always found loopholes to circumvent controls. Some young, tech-savvy users are likely to do the same with this law.

Explore further UK to require porn sites to verify users are 18 or older

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The study included both numerical simulations and experimental investigations. (a) The 3-D numerical model of the phase change emulsion storage tank demonstrating temperature distribution. (b) The energy effective ratio of phase change emulsion and water in the experiment and during simulations with or without baffle plates. Credit: Applied Energy, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526

Materials Scientists have shown how phase change materials can improve the energy density in thermal energy storage, although with limits relative to low charging/discharging speeds. In a new report now published in Elsevier's Applied Energy, Haobin Liang, Liu Liu and a team of scientists headed by Yixiang Gan and JianLei Niu in energy engineering and civil engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, and the University of Sydney, Australia, presented a new stratified phase change emulsion tank for cold storage. The team conducted both experimental and numerical studies to build radiant cooling applications for cold storage, which they demonstrated with a new, stratified storage tank of phase change materials (PCM) in water nano-emulsion. During the experiments, they used a 20 weight percent PCM-in-water nano-emulsion as the storage medium and heat transfer fluid to obtain increased cooling capacity by 60 percent with phase change emulsion (PCE) circulating in the loop. The numerical simulations indicated how baffle plates installed in the storage tank could reduce fluid mixing to significantly increase the effective energy storage capacity at high discharging flow rates. The newly designed stratified storage tank of PCM-in-water nano-emulsion is comparatively advantageous due to a low temperature difference between the cooling source and demand, to improve the overall efficiency of the energy system.

Building a new phase change emulsion (PCE) storage tank

The demand for renewable energy has increased due to rapid economic growth and social development to meet growing energy consumption and reduced environmental pollution criteria. Since sources of renewable energy, including solar and wind are unstable due to seasonal changes, the possibility of energy storage integration is crucial to balance energy demand and supply. For example, thermal energy storage systems can store energy received during the day, for use at night, for applications in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems or to cool electronic devices in data centers.

Primary author, Ph.D. researcher Haobin Liang, who is presently completing their doctoral research within the research team of Associate Professor Yixiang Gan at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, Australia, described their work in the field as 'an innovative thermal energy storage solution." Liang defined the dynamics of the experimental setup: "We used the phase change emulsion storage tank to circulate nano-emulsion and provide dual function to transfer and store heat in the system. This development significantly improved the storage capacity, as well as charging and discharging rates, compared to conventional storage tanks containing either water or phase change materials (PCMs)." Materials scientists have shown that while stratified storage tanks have emerged as a popular choice for thermal energy storage with broad applications, thermal energy can also be improved by submerging phase change materials into the tank structure for improved thermal efficiency. Phase change emulsions are also a storage and heat transfer media of interest, which can be achieved by dispersing droplets of phase change materials in a carrier fluid, such as water, with surfactants for a variety of applications. In this work, Liang et al. devised a new approach to combine PCM (phase change material) emulsion, as the storage media for the new thermal stratification tankwhile circulating as the heat transfer media in a cooled ceiling system.

Experimental set-up: (a) schematic diagram (RTD: resistance thermometer detector, WFS: water flowrate sensor, DAQ: data acquisition); (b) photograph of cold storage tank and chiller; (c) phase change emulsion; (d) micrograph of optical microscope. Credit: Applied Energy, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526

During cold storage applications, charging and discharging speeds are crucial, but low thermal conductivity of phase change materials can result in low heat transfer rates, with longer charging/discharging time. To overcome such limits and improve heat transfer of phase change materials, researchers employ a variety of methods including the integration of metal foams and nanoparticles. Liang et al. designed a new approach for phase change material emulsion in the stratification tank to reach a higher discharge rate, with stable effective energy capacity, by introducing baffle plates. The team tested the stratification of the PCM emulsion storage tank, followed by its effective energy efficiency, energy storage and discharge speed. They also developed a numerical model to understand the phase change process within the phase change material emulsion, as a new and promising alternative for thermal energy storage. According to Haobin Liang, the team expect "the type of PCE (phase change emulsion) storage to show great potential in energy efficient buildings to balance the energy supply and demand."

Design parameters of the storage tank. Credit: Applied Energy, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526

Discharging behavior and stratification performance of the new model.

To illustrate the dynamic discharging behavior of the phase change emulsion stratification tank, Liang et al. analyzed the results of the validated 3D numerical model. They captured the evolution of the phase change within the emulsion, based on the dynamics of phase change materials. Then characterized temperature evolution within the tank under different flow rates and deduced faster evolution of temperature under higher flow rates, where hot and cold fluid mixing was also significant. The numerical models showed the validity of the effective heat capacity method to understand the phase change effect of phase change materials in the emulsion, to improve the concept of thermal stratification with tank design. The team tested both phase change emulsion media and water as storage media to indicate slightly higher effective energy efficiency of the phase change emulsion compared to water, at higher flow rates due to higher viscosity of emulsion, which slowed temperature increase in the outlet. The results highlighted the potential of using emulsion as a new thermal energy storage medium inside the stratification tank.

Temperature profiles of phase change emulsion and water storage tanks under different flow rates in experiments: (a) 0.242 L/min; (b) 0.296 L/min; (c) 0.370 L/min; (d) 0.401 L/min. Credit: Applied Energy , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526

Temperature contours of phase change emulsion under different baffle plate sizes when t * = 0.5, flow rate = 1 L/min (unit: C): (a) dp/dt = 0, no baffle plate; (b) dp/dt = 1; (c) dp/dt = 3; (d) dp/dt = 6. Credit: Applied Energy, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526

Outlook

The team further optimized the experimental setup with baffle plates to achieve desirable and effective energy efficiency in phase change emulsion storage, to surpass the quantified dimensions of stratified water storage (SWS) tanks. In this way, Haobin Liang, Liu Liu, and colleagues further described the effective energy ratio of the PCE (phase change emulsion) tank to be greater than the SWS tank, to highlight thermal efficiency of PCM (phase change material) emulsion. Based on the experimental and numerical outcomes, Haobin Liang concludes that this technology "will have applications for emergency cooling of computing devices in rapidly developed data centers," among other practical applications of cold storage with radiant cooling panels.

Explore further Understanding phase change materials for thermal energy storage

More information: Haobin Liang et al, Towards idealized thermal stratification in a novel phase change emulsion storage tank, Applied Energy (2022). Haobin Liang et al, Towards idealized thermal stratification in a novel phase change emulsion storage tank,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118526 Jason Woods et al, Rate capability and Ragone plots for phase change thermal energy storage, Nature Energy (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00778-w Journal information: Nature Energy

 2022 Science X Network
Former Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie didnt have to wait long in line Monday to cast their ballots for the May 24 primary, which will determine who will receive the Republican nomination for the race to serve as Georgias next governor.
Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, responds to a reporter's question inside the Virginia Senate at the State Capitol in Richmond on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch/AP)

RICHMOND  Gov. Glenn Youngkin seems ready to move on to finding a new nominee after clashing with Senate Democrats over the appointment of former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler to his Cabinet, a senior state senator said Thursday.

Sen. Emmett Hanger told The Associated Press that he discussed the matter with Youngkin over dinner Wednesday night and he doesnt think the governor sees a path forward to securing Wheelers confirmation as secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

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What he indicated is ... well be looking at  probably at a future time  with a replacement. He didnt indicate any sense of urgency there, said Hanger, a moderate Republican who has represented a Shenandoah Valley-area Senate seat since 1996.

The Youngkin administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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A former coal lobbyist and U.S. Senate staffer, Wheeler ran the EPA in the latter part of former President Donald Trumps administration, overseeing rollbacks of environmental protections implemented under former President Barack Obamas time in office.

His selection for the Cabinet post provoked a backlash from Democrats, environmental groups and many career EPA employees, who in a letter characterized Wheelers leadership as extremist in its deference to corporate polluters.

Some of Wheelers former colleagues have come to his defense, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have acknowledged his knowledgeability. Yet earlier this week, the Virginia Senate voted along party lines to reject the appointment.

Macaulay Porter, a Youngkin spokeswoman, said then that the governor was disappointed. She said Wheeler would continue to serve in the role until the General Assembly adjourns and said the governor hoped the Senate would reconsider.

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Hanger said the governor also expressed his disappointment during their dinner.

Hes a very positive person, Hanger said of Youngkin. And he thought, you know, if he talked to a few people, they would understand, hey, this is a great fella, he could do the job. And that didnt happen. So I think hes ready to move on, in my personal opinion and the conversation we had.

Hanger said the governor did not name a particular replacement candidate.

Even if Youngkin submits a new nominee for the Cabinet role, Wheeler could continue to serve in the administration in other capacities that dont require legislative approval.

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Youngkins press team advised on his public calendar that he was having dinner Wednesday night with Hanger at the Executive Mansion. Hanger said they also discussed the governors tax agenda.

Youngkin campaigned on a broad slate of tax cuts, arguing that the states record revenues are due to overtaxation that should be returned to Virginians. But some of the legislation hes seeking, such as the elimination of the grocery tax, has encountered bipartisan concern from lawmakers, Hanger included.

Whether an agreement can be reached on that proposal this year remains to be seen, said Hanger, a member of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.


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As a military commander who took charge of the U.S. Special Operation Command, advised presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and is credited with developing the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, Admiral William H. McRaven knows a thing or two about making decisions in a national security environment.

The retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral and a former University of Texas System chancellor shared his knowledge as one of the opening speakers of the 67th MSC Student Conference on National Affairs hosted by MSC SCONA on Thursday at the MSC Gates Ballroom at Texas A&M. General David H. Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, spoke in the afternoon at Texas A&Ms Rudder Tower.

In his military career, McRaven served in Desert Storm and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, developed Navy Seal maritime strategies during his time at the Pentagon and advised presidents and other U.S. leaders on defense issues.

McRaven spoke in the morning about what he learned in the White House and from his senior career in national security. The first step McRaven said is to pose the question of what the United States is as a nation. McRaven said its a nation of laws, a democracy and a republic, and a believer of civil, human and universal rights.

The next question to ponder is what are the national priorities? Priority number one, McRaven said, is the safety, protection and well-being of American citizens.

That is job number one, everything else comes after that because if you dont protect American lives then life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will be through if theres no life that comes with it, McRaven said. Our priorities are to take care of the American people, make sure that they have a strong economy to educate their kids, and that their happy to some degree.

Its also important to understand what isnt a priority, he said, and question if all the facts possible have been obtained and potential options considered before a decision is made. Are those decisions moral, legal and ethical?

If you look at a national security decision, you want to find out if were better off or in a better strategic position after making this decision and of course what went wrong, he said.

Berger spoke in the afternoon on what he said was the foundational element of national security: teamwork. In his experience, he said, there is very little a single federal agency can accomplish alone especially regarding national security.

If any of you were to look across the national security enterprise, you would see the value of teamwork all the way down to two marines in the defensive up through the whole joint force, Berger said.

There are about 280,000 Marines, 170,000 on active duty, and 30,000 in reserves, Berger said. As of Thursday, Berger said there were 30,000 Marines deployed in more than 50 countries. To build relations, competencies and proficiencies among Marines, they participate in exercises with allies and partner nations.

Its better to train together beforehand than throw together a team when the crisis happens; teamwork, in other words, extends beyond national borders, according to Berger.

During the recent crisis at Kabul airport in Afghanistan, Marines were the first group to receive the call, Berger said. A ship in Middle East flew Marines to the airport where they linked up with another Marine unit to secure the airport to buy time until the Air Force and Army could deploy, Berger said.

All of that relies on teamwork. Every person has to do their job, has to trust that the Marine on their right and on their left is going to do their job, he said. This is what we call an interdependent relationship that cant work if everyone isnt working together.

Berger said that the success of a team is never determined by a single individual, however the failure of the team can be.

One person not pulling their load, one person not working as a team could bring the whole team down, Berger said. I think part of what sets the Marine Corps apart, every service relies on teamwork thats true, but Marines are so highly disciplined, were an elite force that trained extensively together all before we deploy.

When it comes to national defense, Berger said theres the state, diplomacy, treasury, commerce, homeland defense, and intelligence that are all apart of national security that are required to work together and fulfill their role through open communication.

If they dont have that among their different agencies then teamwork starts to break down. Youre not going to be as effective, Berger said. Thats what full governance is. Its all of the parts working together as a team to achieve our national security objectives.

Lieutenant General S. Clinton Hinote, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements will speak at 2 p.m. Friday in the MSC Gates Ballroom at Texas A&M.

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BEDFORD  A Bedford County jury was seated and began hearing evidence Tuesday in the case of Josue Moises Coreas-Ventura, who is accused of aggravated murder and abduction in connection with the brutal March 2017 slaying of a Lynchburg teen.

Coreas-Ventura pleaded not guilty to both counts in the opening day of a jury trial in Bedford County Circuit Court. Raymond Wood, 17, was abducted from the front lawn of his Lynchburg home and his body was found on Roaring Run Road in Bedford County by a passing driver the night of March 27, 2017.

In opening statements, Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Wood, who the prosecutor described as a loving son, great boyfriend, good brother, was killed because he sold marijuana in an area the violent street gang MS-13 wanted. Nance said Coreas-Ventura is the leader of a death squad of members in the gang who saw potential in Lynchburg as a drug market for cocaine and marijuana.

Nance said the defendant and others charged in Woods killing sought to eliminate a rival in laying their claim on the areas drug scene. A large knife with a nine-inch blade in the defendants possession the night of the killing was the murder weapon, according to Nance.

Its later used to slaughter Raymond, Nance said.

Nance said Coreas-Ventura was interrogated at the Bedford County Sheriffs Office after his arrest and when investigators left the room, which was under video surveillance, the accused made gang signs showing pride in what he had done.

Coreas-Ventura referred to himself as the only homeboy in this area and said of the victim, Im going to pluck that chicken and make a stew, Nance told jurors.

Wood, who enjoyed playing video games and wanted to go into the military, did not know he was selling marijuana to two MS-13 members in Lynchburg, Nance said. Coreas-Ventura started to see money signs in his eyes when he came to Lynchburg, Nance said.

Four co-defendants drove down from Maryland and went to Coreas-Venturas apartment, where he showed them the knife used in the killing, Nance said. The group abducted Wood from the front lawn of his home and drove him to Bedford County, where Coreas-Ventura choked the teen unconscious, according to Nance.

He made a joke: Finally, he shut up, the prosecutor said in describing the attack.

A mask found at the abduction site and admitted as evidence had the defendants DNA on it, Nance said. The group of attackers took turns stabbing the teen, who suffered a dozen wounds to his chest and stomach, Nance told the jury.

At about that time, a vehicle came by and four in the group, including the defendant, retreated in the woods, Nance said. They hid in a barn and later were taken into custody following a traffic stop by Bedford sheriffs deputies, he said.

Coreas-Ventura had two gloves in his pocket when arrested, one of which had the victims blood on it, Nance said.

Chris Kowalczuk, a defense attorney for Coreas-Ventura, did not give an opening statement.

Marjorie Stagno, Woods mother, testified her son was very outgoing, the sweetest kid you would ever meet and she was not aware he was selling drugs. With the image of her son smiling several feet away from her on a television screen used to show photos and exhibits from the commonwealth, Stagno testified about finding his phone, glasses and a dark mask in the front yard of her home.

I knew something terrible happened, Stagno said.

Sonny Daniels, a former Bedford sheriffs deputy, was in Forest that night and was told to be on the lookout for a vehicle from what was then thought to be a hit-and-run on Roaring Run Road.

Daniels testified he drove toward the area and saw a vehicle matching the description of one to be on the lookout for, which a passerby witness earlier testified she saw drive away after she discovered Raymonds body and called 911. Daniels testified he pulled that vehicle over and encountered the driver, Victor Arnoldo Rodas.

Rodas was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 55 years in February 2019 in connection with Woods killing.

Four other men have charges or convictions in Bedford County stemming from the homicide.

Kevin Josue Soto Bonilla was found guilty of capital murder and received a life sentence in December 2019. Lisandro Antonio Posada-Vasquez has pleaded guilty to capital murder and is scheduled for sentencing March 15.

Juan Martin Hernandez has pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder and was sentenced to two and a half years. Cristian Jose Sanchez Gomez, who has testified in trials, is scheduled for a March 8 jury trial in Bedford County Circuit Court on one count each of capital murder, which is expected to be amended; robbery; gang participation; and abduction for financial benefit.

Daniels testified upon searching the vehicle he found boots, the same ones Stagno earlier testified were custom-made and belonged to her son.

Coreas-Ventura, who listened to the proceedings Tuesday with the aid of two interpreters, also faces another count of aggravated murder, alleging the killing of two persons within three years, but that count has been separated and will be tried at a later date.

In 2017 the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department announced Coreas-Ventura was arrested and charged with murder, along with four other people, in connection with the 2016 homicide of 18-year-old Cristian Antonio Villagran-Morales.

Coreas-Ventura initially was charged with capital murder but with the abolition of the death penalty in Virginia, his charges were amended to aggravated murder, which carries the potential of a life sentence if he is convicted.

Nance, who described the evidence as hard to hear and brutal to see, said the commonwealth anticipates calling about 18 witnesses during the trial, which he added may last through Monday.
Just in time for Valentines Day, a new florist has opened in Westlake.

Antoninas Floral Design is owned by new Smith Mountain Lake residents Antonina and Cornel Cretu. Antonina, the floral designer, spent more than 20 years employed by a shop in central New Jersey. Since 2015, she has also provided floral services for weddings and other events on her own.

Gods directions helped the couple discover the lake, Antonina said. As nature lovers, they were looking for a new home in the country and decided on the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cornel is a boater, fisherman and hunter, and the ample opportunities for those activities guided the couple to Smith Mountain Lake.

The outdoors is very close to my heart. Gods creation is much more beautiful than mans creation, said Cornel, who spent a lot of time in the Carpathian Mountains growing up in Romania.

In July, the couple left New Jersey, purchased a home in Hardy and began renovations on it. They also began scoping out the general area for the best space to open Antoninas Floral Design. As they weighed options at a busy shopping plaza in Vinton against the peaceful and neighborly atmosphere of Westlake Towne Center, the scales tipped easily in favor of Westlake. Their shop is located at 75 Westlake Road, Unit 109, beside Verizon Wireless.

We want to be a part of our community, Cornel said. We were able to design this flower shop the way we wanted it to look, and make it part of our town. We wanted to be in our hometown, and the Lord directed us here. Were excited to meet our neighbors and be a part of the local economy.

Procrastinating lovebirds will be relieved to learn that Antoninas will be stocked for Valentines Day with flowers, teddy bears and chocolates. They can come and pick up a rose, arrangements will be waiting in the cooler, or they can be specific about what they want and I will create it for them, Antonina said.

The same policy applies throughout the year. Customers can place orders in person, by phone or online, and the flowers can be picked up in the store by the customer or delivered to a home or event location for a fee.

Antonina said she enjoys talking with people to customize flower arrangements so her designs can match specific occasions and the personal style of each individual. For those in a hurry, loose cut flowers and pre-arranged bundles await in large coolers. For those who would like longer-term greenery, potted arrangements soak up the sun along the storefronts large windows.

For large events such as weddings, Antonina sets a personal appointment with the bride or couple to begin the design process. They discuss the weddings theme, intended ambience and color scheme in order to make the floral decisions. And, of course, I need to find out what kind of flower she likes!
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.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry sat flanked by his attorneys as they squared off with prosecutors Friday in a California courtroom on motions that ranged from being able to call a memory expert to arguing at trial the case was a "political witch hunt."

A grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the Nebraska congressman in October on allegations he lied to federal agents investigating an illegal campaign contribution at a 2016 fundraiser in California.

Fortenberry has pleaded not guilty to two counts of making false statements to federal agents and one count of seeking to conceal the source of $30,000 in conduit political contributions.

His trial had been set to start next Tuesday, but last month, jury trials were suspended because of COVID-19. They now are set to resume Feb. 22.

In court Friday, defense attorney John Littrell made it clear Fortenberry's attorneys "need a trial as soon as possible," and pointed out to the judge it was the first hearing for which the Nebraska congressman had gone to California.

"It's not because he doesn't want to come. It's not because he doesn't want to participate in this case. This is very important to him," he said, arguing for the case to be moved to Nebraska.

Littrell said it's because Fortenberry has important things to do. Two previous hearings occurred the day of House of Representatives votes.

But the proposed move, which the government is fighting, was far from a given.

And Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. seemed unconvinced that it ultimately would result in a quicker trial, given that a new judge would have to get up to speed on all the motions he's already heard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Har called it "forum shopping."

"This case is going to trial and it's going to go to trial fast," she said. "It does not favor moving this entire case to a new location that has not touched it since it's been indicted."

Blumenfeld said he would let the parties know his decision by the end of the day Friday but no decision was posted by 6:30 p.m. (PST).

Blumenfeld already has rejected a number of other defense challenges to the charges, including an effort to get the indictment dismissed because it wasn't filed in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., where the statements were made, and to disqualify one of the prosecuting attorneys.

But he has yet to rule on a flurry that followed.

Among them:

* A defense motion to suppress statements Fortenberry made because he only talked to investigators after a prosecutor told his then-attorney Fortenberry wasn't considered a suspect, but rather was a subject, trending toward being considered a witness.

* A motion by the U.S. Attorney's Office to prevent the defense from calling Dr. Alan Castel, a memory expert, to testify about the fallibility of memory, especially in older adults, calling it commonsense. Defense attorney Ryan Fraser called the testimony essential to the defense. "We're here ... because the government put Congressman Fortenberry through a battery of flawed memory tests."

* And another seeking to exclude any evidence or argument attacking the prosecution or prosecution team as politically motivated.

The government says the case stems from an investigation that started in 2015 and focused on a Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, who financially supported prominent members of both political parties.

"But the defense seeks to argue that the investigators were biased toward defendant (a Nebraska Republican) and used this prosecution to defeat a Republican incumbent," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins argued.

He said Fortenberry "seemingly intends to inject politics into his trial as much as possible," though his own party was in the White House during the investigation.

Chagoury is said to have directed the donations to Fortenberry because of a shared interest in protecting Christians from persecution in the Middle East.

But it is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. political campaigns.

In the end, Blumenfeld asked the attorneys to provide anything useful to enable him to understand "what an appropriate and reasonably limited approach to this trial would be so that the defense has a fair ability to mount a defense without taking this case in a direction that the court is not likely to allow, and that the government is able to present its prosecution but not do so in the way that it wishes, which strikes the court as being unfair."

Attorneys are set to meet with the judge again Thursday.
Officers were patrolling the area in the 700 block of Macon Road around 1:58 a.m. when someone in a passing vehicle fired at their cruiser, police said. (Courtesy of the Hampton Police Division)

Hampton  Hampton police charged a 19-year-old man Wednesday with attempted capital murder  nine months after a police cruiser was struck by gunfire.

Jahjuan R. Langley, of Hampton, is accused of shooting at a marked Hampton police car on May 5, 2021. Officers were patrolling the area in the 700 block of Macon Road around 1:58 a.m. when someone in a passing vehicle fired at their cruiser, police said.

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The car was struck twice, police said. The officers involved were not injured.

Officers followed the suspects vehicle, but it got away.

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Jahjuan R. Langley, 19, is accused of shooting at a Hampton police car last year.

Langley is charged with one count each of attempting to kill a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm while attempting to commit capital murder. Hes also charged with two counts each of discharging a firearm while in a motor vehicle and maliciously shooting at a marked and occupied law enforcement vehicle.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
A single-engine plane that had been experiencing mechanical troubles in its flight from Indiana to Lincoln made an emergency crash landing in a field northeast of the city Thursday evening.

Richard Phelps, the 44-year-old pilot of the 2019 Cirrus aircraft, told the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that the plane first began showing signs of engine trouble near Plattsmouth, but the problems seemed to smooth out after reducing altitude.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said the engine issues flared up again as Phelps and a 60-year-old passenger, both Indiana men, neared Lincoln around 8:30 p.m.

"He didn't think he could make it to the Lincoln Airport," Wagner said.

The pilot circled away from the city's populated areas and dumped fuel after identifying a field near North 112th Street and Havelock Avenue, where he made the emergency landing, according to the sheriff's office.

No one was injured in the incident, which summoned to the field the sheriff's office, the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Waverly Fire and Rescue, Southeast Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department hazmat team.

Wagner said the plane was equipped with a parachute designed to aid in crash landings. He said the plane was damaged in the incident but remained in one piece.

Phelps originally planned to land in Lincoln before continuing on to Utah, Wagner said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley
KEARNEY  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted in favor of eliminating the philosophy major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The board heard public comment from UNK professors, students and alumni Friday morning imploring the regents to save the major at UNK.

In a passionate speech to the board, Dr. Thomas Martin, UNK philosophy professor, spoke about humanities requirements at UNK being reduced to only three credit hours with philosophy being one of many choices. He discussed how the major is needed to develop and nurture the intellect of students in Nebraska.

Man does not live to make a living. He wants a life that is worth living. If you take that away from them, they will have no gusto, and the workers you get will not know the virtues and vices that give you the power to be the captain of your own soul and the navigator of your own life. Because that is what an education is for, Martin said.

Chancellor Doug Kristensen and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Charlie Bicak sent letters this fall to NU Executive Vice President and Provost Jeffrey Gold recommending the discontinuation of the program because of a low number of students majoring in the field of study. The highest number of graduates from the program was five in 2010. In 2014 and 2021, there were no philosophy graduates. There are currently three students majoring in the field.

In 2019, Nebraskas Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education, which creates a comprehensive statewide plan to guide the states higher education system, gave UNK an opportunity to try to increase the number of students majoring in philosophy.

Before the board acted on the agenda item, Regent Timothy Clare proposed an amendment to send the item back to Academic Affairs to continue to study it further and bring it to the board at a later date. The motion failed.

The board voted to eliminate the major at UNK, while emphasizing that the philosophy program and classes would continue at the college.
An electrical problem triggered a fire Thursday morning in the basement of a home at 119 E. 11th St.

A driver noticed smoke emanating from the house shortly before 11 a.m. and called 911.

Firefighters arrived to find some pretty heavy smoke coming out of the back or the rear of the structure, said Grand Island Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl.

After checking to make sure no one was home, they found the fire in a concealed space in the basement.

Fighting basement fires is difficult because its hard to ventilate the area, its hard to gain access and basements are often full of stuff, Kuehl said.

In this case, some remodeling had been done and walls put up, which created more concealed spaces, he said.

The majority of the fire was put out in about 15 minutes. It took another 15 to 20 minutes to fully extinguish the fire, he said.

No one was home at the time, and no one was injured.

Two dogs were home at the time and ran outside. They were cared for by the Central Nebraska Humane Society.

GIFD firefighters believe the fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring, Kuehl said.

The blaze caused fire and smoke damage in the basement and smoke damage in the first and second stories, he said.

The house is not livable for the time being. Because it was an electrical fire, the electricity has been turned off. Water and gas have also been shut off.

According to property records, the home is owned by William Mechem.

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Burn bans, scattered brush fires and a record to near-record lack of snow have been the markers of this winters unusually dry but also windy weather.

The dry conditions have firefighters concerned about what could happen next month, when peak fire season occurs.

As a sign of how dry it has been, a routine effort on Thursday to thaw the ground for a burial at a cemetery near 60th and Center Streets led to a grass fire and a call for help from firefighters.

The fire was quickly extinguished, according to the Omaha Fire Department, and while some artificial flowers burned, no gravestones were damaged, a representative of Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park said.

A few hours later, Omaha firefighters were called to another grass fire, this one near an apartment building in midtown.

Winds on Thursday gusted to almost 30 mph.

Omaha has had only three days this winter with at least an inch of snow, and all three were in the first two weeks of January, according to the National Weather Service. Those three days generated 7 inches of snow, accounting for all but 0.8 of an inch of snow the city has received this winter.

Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Norfolk and Lincoln have accumulated their least amount of snow on record, 3.7 inches each.

Through Thursday, snowfall in Omaha has ranked 15th least on record. Ninety percent of Omaha winters have produced more snow than this year, Nicolaisen said.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 97% of Nebraska is in drought or near drought.

The portion of the state officially covered by drought doubled over the last week to about 75%, according to the Drought Monitor. Areas not in drought include north-central Nebraska and portions of east-southeast Nebraska, including the Omaha metro area.

But the metro area is considered to be abnormally dry.

The dry conditions have kept firefighters on their toes.

Red flag warnings, signaling extreme fire danger, have been issued at least once a month for four months in a row, Nicolaisen said, which is unusual for this time of year. And because of unseasonably warm and windy weather, burn bans are again in effect this week in Douglas County. Peak fire season typically occurs in March, before vegetation begins to turn green.

Im a little worried because its happening earlier than normal, and theres no relief in sight, Nicolaisen said. This could be a particularly bad fire season.

Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick said the department urges people to take care.

It has been drier this year than last, and we just encourage everyone to be vigilant of this and practice good fire safety, he said. Hopefully we get some rain or snow soon to help out with the high fire danger.
YORK -- The Four Corners Health Department serves the residents of Butler, Polk, Seward and York Counties. Recently there have been questions about the Four Corners Board of Health members; in general, who sits on the board, and what are their responsibilities. The composition of the Four Corners Board of Health was laid out by the Nebraska State Legislature in 2001 by Legislative Bill (LB) 692.

This bill became law and allowed counties to come together through interlocal agreements and form district health departments. Butler, Polk, Seward and York Counties developed an interlocal agreement and formed the Four Corners Health Department. It was designated in the interlocal agreement who would be on the Board of Health, and what their responsibilities would be. There would be 10 total members on the Board of Health:

 One member of each County Board is appointed to the Board of Health

 Each County Board appoints a Spirited Community Member to the Board of Health

 A Medical Doctor

 A Dentist

The Four Corners Board of Health meets 4-5 times per year, and is subject to the Open Meetings Act. The Board provides oversight of the Health Departments functions and services.

Margaret Brink, 2021 President of the Four Corners Board of Health, would like to address a comment she made on a Jan. 13 York County Briefing. She issues a sincere apology for causing negative attention drawn to the Director and staff of the Four Corners Health Department. A poor choice of words was used in a personal comment on the January 13 briefing. The remark was a personal choice and not a reflection of the work or mission of the Four Corners Health Department or the Board of Health. It was not meant to be judgmental or said with malice towards unvaccinated residents. It was inappropriate for a leader to use. It is hopeful that Four Corners continues to be recognized and appreciated for the valuable work done for everyone in this district.

The stated legislative intent for local public health departments includes working collaboratively in their communities to assure the full range of public health services as prescribed by the CDC. These essential elements of core public health functions are broad, and obviously go well beyond COVID response.

Essential Public Health Services:

1. Assess and monitor population health.

2. Investigate, diagnose and address health hazards and root causes.

3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate.

4. Strengthen, support and mobilize communities and partnerships.

5. Create, champion and implement policies, plans and laws.

6. Utilize legal and regulatory actions.

7. Enable equitable access.

8. Build a diverse and skilled workforce.

9. Improve and innovate through evaluation, research and quality improvement.

10. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health.

It is the commitment and mission of the Four Corners Board of Health to support the Health Department and its staff in delivering these services. The Board does this through its governance related to policy development, resource stewardship, legal authority, partner engagement, continuous improvement and oversight. More information about the governance functions of a local public health board can be found at: https://www.nalboh.org/page/GovernanceResources#:~:text=The%20Six%20Functions%20of%20Public%20Health%20Governance%20are%20policy%20development,%2C%20continuous%20improvement%2C%20and%20oversight.

For questions or more information, please contact the Four Corners Health Department at 402-362-2621 or visit the website at www.fourcorners.ne.gov.
Construction of a proposed new lake between Lincoln and Omaha bumped into questions Thursday about its potential impact on the water supply serving both cities, but Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln assured urban officials that the proposal would not proceed without completion of a study that can successfully eliminate those concerns.

The plan calls for $20 million to provide for lake planning and permitting that is designed, in part, to "answer those questions" before the state would consider construction of the lake, Hilgers said during a hearing before the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee.

The hearing on provisions of LB1023  introduced by Hilgers to lay the groundwork for a potential public-private partnership that would be necessary to complete the water development initiatives proposed by the Legislature's so-called STAR WARS Committee  centered on enthusiastic supporting testimony on behalf of $86.7 million of improvements impacting Niobrara State Park and Lewis and Clark Lake in northeastern Nebraska.

That includes $42.4 million for a lodge and event center and $41.5 million for marina improvements.

The plan also calls for improvements at Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, including $34.3 million for marina investment.

Lincoln and Omaha water supply concerns were raised by officials from both cities in neutral testimony on the bill.

Further study is needed to "assure that Lincoln's water would not be impacted negatively," Elizabeth Elliott, director of the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department, said.

At the same time, she said, the city is aware of the lake's potential to provide "significant opportunities that would benefit our community."

Lincoln acquires its water supply through underground wells near Ashland and needs to be assured that flood conditions or other factors associated with the new lake would not impact Lincoln's current and future wells, Elliott said.

Rick Kubat, speaking for Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha, said Platte River groundwater provides "just short of half of the state population's needs" in serving both Lincoln and metropolitan Omaha and the Legislature needs to "take a deep dive into any consequences (that the proposed lake might have) on water supply and infrastructure."

Hilgers agreed that "we need to answer those questions" before proceeding to construct the proposed 7-mile-long lake, which is viewed as a potential boon to recreation, economic development, tourism and enhanced lifestyle benefits.

The lake would be 4,000 acres in size, larger than Lake Okoboji in Iowa, a popular vacation and recreation destination for Nebraskans.

Once again, Hilgers emphasized that the project would not include any damming of the Platte River and would have no negative impact on Ashland.

The water projects could be "transformative" for Nebraska, he told the committee.

Speaking for the Nebraska Sierra Club, former state Sen. Al Davis testified in opposition to the package, suggesting that the proposed new lake raises "significant environmental issues" that may threaten habitat and wildlife while also posing flooding concerns.

It has the look of "a playground for wealthy Nebraskans," he said.

John Hansen of Lincoln, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, did not formally oppose the proposal, but said the lake could be "used for a lot of commercial development" and may be "environmentally suspect."

The committee is proposing $200 million in water development projects in current legislation.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon
EXETER -- Exeter residents might want to tune into Bloomberg TV next Saturday afternoon as local business Horizontal Boring and Tunneling Co. will be featured on their Worlds Greatest! television show.

The show, which according to their website, hopes to captivate audiences with quality edutainment that entertains while it educates. . .Worlds Greatest prides itself on highlighting the positive and making sure that audiences are able to connect with and understand the companies behind products people use every single day.

The producers of the show reached out to Horizontal after searching for the right company for a show on underground construction. According to Horizontals administrative coordinator Lindsey DeBoer, the producers interviewed several underground construction companies and in March of 2021 spoke with her before investigating the possibility further during discussions with Horizontal President Brent Moore and Senior Project Manager/Estimator Kenton Moore.

It wasnt the size of some of the projects the company has completed that attracted the show, according to DeBoer it was, more the company as a whole, what separates us from the competition. They were interested in our history and the adversities we had overcome.

After extensive communication with the producers, who were in Florida, the film crew out of Kansas City came to Exeter on October 6 to film and recorded footage in the office and around the Exeter area. They also interviewed several employees and toured the facilities before heading to film the company on site tunneling on the South Beltway project south of Lincoln. The Horizontal portion of the Beltway project was started in 2020 and was comprised of three different bores.

On the Lincoln South Beltway project the Horizontal crew was tunneling 242 linear feet (LF) of 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) for a drainage culvert under Highway 2, using an Akkerman 480 Tunnel Boring Machine. The tunneled for the culvert and also did some pipe jacking. Horizontal has completed their portion of the South Beltway project.

The company does horizontal boring projects all over the United States but the Beltway project was a large scale project close enough for the film crew to visit Exeter and the construction site in one day.

The Worlds Greatest!... Episode 315 featuring Horizontal Boring & Tunneling Co. is set to air on Bloomberg TV on Saturday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. Central Time. Paul Erdkamp, also an Exeter local, is seen on the show along with an interview of Kenton Moore. The show is available on DirecTV (Channel 353) and DISH Network (Channel 203).

Horizontal Boring and Tunneling Co. was incorporated in 1982 in Exeter and has remained in the community for forty years. In a recent press release Kenton Moore stated, We are honored to be selected for the show, and we look forward to many more years of providing trenchless infrastructure solutions for customers and communities.
TYNDALL  A South Dakota man has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge after his mother unknowingly served his marijuana-laced brownies to a group of seniors at the Tabor Community Center.

Michael Koranda, 46, appeared at the Bon Homme County Courthouse on Tuesday where he waived his preliminary hearing and entered the plea.

As part of a plea deal, both the prosecution and defense jointly recommended Koranda receive a suspended imposition of sentence, which would allow the judge to place him on probation for a period of time.

A report from Bon Homme County Sheriffs Office says dispatchers received several calls about possible poisonings on Jan. 4. All the calls involved seniors who had earlier been at a community center card game.

An investigation into the incident led authorities to believe the patients were all under the influence of THC, the compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation and that the THC came from a batch of brownies brought by a woman to the community center, the Yankton Press and Dakotan reported.

Seniors who ate the brownies identified the woman who brought them. She said her son had baked the brownies she brought to the card game.

The plea agreement also calls for Koranda to pay any medical bills that aren't covered by insurance for those who ate the brownies. He would also pay any fines and court costs.

Koranda is to be sentenced March 15. The drug charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The jurys decision Thursday in Hampton Circuit Court split the difference between the murder conviction sought by prosecutors and the acquittal Miquel Johnstons attorneys had wanted, contending he acted in self defense. (Peter Dujardin)

Hampton  A jury in Hampton Circuit Court found a 27-year-old man guilty of voluntary manslaughter Thursday for killing his girlfriends father nearly four years ago.

Miquel MJ Johnston shot 44-year-old Lawrence Antoine Fuller inside the apartment that Johnston and Fullers daughter shared at the Colonial Pembroke Apartments on East Pembroke Avenue.

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Fullers daughter called her father to the Buckroe apartment after several physical altercations that Saturday afternoon between her and her boyfriend.

Though the details of what happened next are in dispute, all sides agreed that Fuller got to the home about 10 minutes after the call  and soon walked down a hallway toward the bedroom where Johnston was.

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Miquel Johnston. Police say that Johnston shot and killed his girlfriend's father, Lawrence Fuller, on Saturday, May 26, 2018, in an apartment on East Pembroke Avenue in Hampton. - Original Credit: Daily Press (Daily Press/Hampton Police Division)

Fuller was at the bedroom doorway, which was slightly ajar, when Johnston fired two shots  striking Fuller once in the chest. Fuller backed away, stumbling outside and collapsing in a grassy area about 40 feet away.

He shot my dad! He shot my dad! Fullers daughter, Tytianna Staton-Fuller, screamed repeatedly to a 911 operator. Send somebody now!

The jurys decision split the difference between the murder conviction prosecutors wanted and the acquittal sought by Johnstons attorneys, contending he acted in self defense. An earlier trial in February 2019, ended in a hung jury.

At this weeks trial, Staton-Fuller testified she awoke early on May 26, 2018, to see Johnston and his sister moving her belongings into the couples apartment. The sister had been going through some issues, and Johnston agreed to let her stay for a short time.

But that didnt go over well with Staton-Fuller, given that she and the sister didnt get along, leading to a fight between the two. The disagreement also led to a series of three physical confrontations between Johnston and Staton-Fuller.

Over the course of the day, Staton-Fuller testified, Johnston hurt her wrist, choked her, punched her in the nose, threw her on a couch and struck her with a lamp. Johnston denied all that, testifying they were pushing and shoving each other but that he hit Staton-Fuller only a couple of times in the leg.

Staton-Fuller called her father to the home at about 1:24 p.m., telling him Johnston had put his hands on me.

I asked if he could come get me, and he said hes on his way, Staton-Fuller testified, saying her father told her to get your dog and get your stuff.

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A friend of Staton-Fullers was on the phone with her at the time, testifying that she overheard Staton-Fuller telling Johnston her father was coming.

Johnston replied with a profanity saying he didnt care, the friend said. He can come, he told Staton-Fuller. Im ready.

But Johnston, for his part, testified that his girlfriend told him that her father was coming over to f*** me up, and that hes got guns.

Fuller  who was unarmed  arrived about 11 minutes after the call.

Staton-Fuller said she needed to get her clothes, so she and her father went down the hallway to the bedroom. She said her father knocked on the door, telling Johnston that he wanted to talk to him.

The knocks caused the unlatched door to open, she said, and Johnston opened fire.

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But Johnston gave a different version of the events. He said he was in the bedroom packing up items to leave when he overheard Fuller enter the residence, using a profanity and aggressive voice in demanding to know where he was.

Johnston said he then heard the large-framed Fuller marching down the hallway, and barging open my bedroom door.

Lawrence Fuller, 44, was killed on Nov. 26, 2018 in Hampton (Family photo/Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney)

I was afraid, scared, Johnston said. I was worried Id get hurt, possibly die. I didnt know what to expect, the exact nature of what was coming. I fired two shots to protect myself.

He shot Fuller from a crouched position several feet from the bedroom door, and Fuller backed away after being struck. It took several moments for everyone to realize he had been hit.

Three separate 911 calls came in, from Staton-Fuller at 1:36 p.m., from Johnston at 1:37 p.m. and from Fuller at 1:39 p.m.

He threatened me, Johnston told the 911 operator, before explaining later in the call that it was his girlfriends dad and to send an ambulance.

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Fuller, on the ground outside during the call, was the calmest of the three, saying, I was shot. He gave the operator the name of the apartment complex, though didnt know the exact address. Fuller faded out as police and medics arrived.

Hampton Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Karen Rucker and Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Shukita Massey asked jurors to convict Johnston of first-degree murder, using a firearm in a murder, malicious shooting in an occupied dwelling, as well as assault and battery on Staton-Fuller.

He was not in a position of fear, but in a position of being ready, Massey said, contending that Johnston wasnt packing his clothes before Fuller arrived, but instead waiting for him in the bedroom in a cold and calculating crouching posture.

He had already made a choice  before words were exchanged, before any interaction whatsoever, Massey said. He wasnt trying to run, and he wasnt trying to hide. He wanted to shoot, and he wanted to kill.

Earlier on the day of the shooting, Johnston had signed up as a member of US LawShield, an organization that provides legal representation for people who use their guns in self-defense.

Johnstons attorneys, W. Edward Riley IV and Daniel Vinson of Richmond, asserted that Johnston was in legitimate fear for his life. He didnt want to shoot Fuller, Riley contended, but had no choice.

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Hes in his castle, and in the most private room in his castle, Riley said, terming the room Johnstons inner sanctum.

You walk into a bedroom like that, youre going to get shot, Riley told jurors. Miquel Johnston was required to defend himself in his home.

Riley also introduced evidence that Fuller pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife about 16 months before the killing, when Johnston was living with the family and heard the altercation. Riley said that incident showed that Fuller was a hot head and not a talking kind of guy.

The 12-member jury had the choice of convicting Johnston of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter  or finding him not guilty. After about three hours, they convicted him of manslaughter, as well as for using a gun in a murder, shooting in an occupied dwelling and assault and battery.

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Circuit Court Judge Christopher W. Hutton dismissed the gun charge, saying it cant go forward without the underlying murder conviction.

Theres also a thorny legal issue that Hutton and the lawyers still need to sort out: A state law says a death resulting from a shooting in an occupied dwelling is an automatic manslaughter, but its unclear that there can be two manslaughter convictions stemming from the same killing.

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Johnston, who had been out on bond, was taken custody immediately after the verdict. Let everybody know what happened, he told a relative as he was led away in handcuffs. Love yall.

Riley said he was disappointed because he thought it was a clear-cut case of self-defense that warranted total acquittal. Still, he said, manslaughter is a much better result than murder.

Manslaughter carries up to 10 years in prison, compared with up to life for first-degree murder and 40 for second-degree.

On the other hand, Fullers mother was relieved with the convictions following the hung jury two years ago. Thank God that justice was served, she said.

Peter Dujardin, 757-247-4749, pdujardin@dailypress.com
Fifth grader Chaz Boeder from Hampton Lutheran School is proof that one is never too young to start their own business. Boeder is the son of John and Maile Boeder of Aurora. In school, Boeder is known for his curious and adventurous personality. Hes always willing to try new things.

While on a summer trip to see his grandparents in Wisconsin, Boeder came up with the idea of starting his own slime business. We stopped by a farmers market one day and there was a person selling slime, said Boeder. After doing some research and looking up non-toxic slime recipes, I wanted to start my own slime business.

In Boeders first year of running his Chaz B Creatives business, Boeder put his slime up for sale at the Aurora Market on the Square and the Central City Farmers Market. He even made his own holiday themed slime for Christmas. I thank my mom and dad who have supported me. They help me make slime and help me get the right supplies.

Besides finding innovative ways of making slime, Boeder is working hard on his next project, making homemade playdough. Although, he said he still has a lot to learn about making playdough.

Boeder is not just an young entrepreneur, but he is a role model for other students to look up to at Hampton Lutheran School. Boeder said during the spring of 2020, his mother would post Facebook live videos of him reading bedtime stories to whoever wanted to tune in. It was a positive way for Boeder to connect with his family members and friends during the pandemic.

In school, Boeder enjoys his reading, art, music, and P.E. classes. His favorite subject is math because he enjoys problem solving and working with numbers. Outside of the classroom, Boeder likes to go biking with his family, running, taking naps and smoking meat with family members.

Boeders dream job is to become a mechanical engineer because he wants to work on tractors and equipment. He said the one thing he is most proud of his family history of farming. For now though, Boeder is unleashing his imagination and following his passion of creating slime.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House said Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come within the week, possibly within the next two days, even before the end of the Winter Olympics, and urged Americans to leave the country now.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he said all the pieces were in place for a major military operation that could start rapidly.

"The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now, Sullivan said.

We are not saying that a decision has been taken by President Putin, Sullivan said. What we are saying is that we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we are seeing on the ground, and what our intelligence analysts have picked up, that we are sending this clear message.

Britains defense secretary, meanwhile, is visiting Moscow in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Russia is holding massive war games in neighboring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault. Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

Read the full story:

More on the situation in Ukraine:

The chill of a Cold War hung over Eastern Europe again Friday, with Russian maneuvers and drills close to Ukraine, and NATO's chief boosting troop morale on the Black Sea.

Diplomats and government leaders, meanwhile, struggled ever more to jumpstart moribund talks to stave off full-out war.

Here's a look at what is happening where and why:
Cybersecurity Trends

Two Free Webinars for K12 Will Focus on Student Data Privacy Risks and Legal Issues

Two organizations specializing in cybersecurity practices and laws governing data privacy in the education sector will each host a webinar next week focusing on student data privacy, data security, and the inherent risks and legal issues connected to K12 schools increasing use of third-party digital solutions.

Both webinars are free and open to any K12 IT professional, district administrator, legal staff, or decision-maker interested in the evolving data security landscape, and both are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 17.

The first webinar scheduled that day, Cyber and Privacy Law for School Districts: An Overview of the Legal Issues and Risks, is presented by nationwide law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson, with expertise in cybersecurity and risk management across many sectors including education and government.

It will begin at 10 a.m. CST and last one hour. Attorneys and Hinshaw & Culbertson partners Annmarie Giblin of New York and Laura Knittle of Chicago will cover data governance best practices for schools; how to draft an effective incident response plan; data privacy issues related to remote teaching and district-issued devices; common vulnerabilities that have made schools a hot target for cybercriminals; federal laws and the current national regulatory trends addressing schools data practices.

Register to attend on Hinshaws webinar page.

The second session offered on Feb. 17, How To Protect Student Data Privacy & Security in Education Technology, is hosted by Managed Methods; it will begin at 1 p.m. CST and last one hour. The focus will be on how K12 IT departments can ensure theyre aware of the numerous ways third-party apps and vendors used in schools are accessing their student data and how to manage data privacy risk with so many parties and platforms in the mix.

The panel discussion will include Managed Methods experts as well as Wake County Public Schools Chief Technology Officer Marlo Gaddis and California IT in Education Director of Resource Programs Libbi Garrett.

Register for the session on Managed Methods webinar page.
Active COVID-19 cases in Illinois prisons have decreased dramatically in the past week.

Last week, there were a combined 3,096 COVID-19 cases among staff and inmates. This week, there are 1,025 cases. Of these, 327 are among staff and 698 are among inmates.

This compares to 200 cases reported on Dec. 6; 703 reported the week of Dec. 31; 1,623 the week of Jan. 7 and 4,189 cases within the system Jan 24.

Last week, IDOC resumed the intake of transfers from county jails after pausing this due to the rapid rise in cases in the system beginning Jan. 11.

This decrease in cases follows a state-wide trend of the fastest decline in hospitalizations due the virus since the pandemic began.

Because of this decline, Gov. JB Pritzker will partially lift the indoor mask mandate for the state. However, those in prisons, jails and congregate living facilities will still be required to wear masks.

"We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics since the pandemic began. If these trends continue  and we expect them to then on Monday, February 28th, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the State of Illinois," Pritzker said in a release. "I want to be clear: Many local jurisdictions, businesses and organizations have their own mask requirements and other mitigations that must be respected. Throughout this pandemic, we've deployed the tools available to us as needed. Our approach has saved lives and kept our economy open and growing."

Camile Lindsay, chief of staff for IDOC, said 67% of staff members are fully vaccinated and 73% have received one or more shots as of Feb 4.

In a previous statement to the Southern, DOC said 75% of inmates were vaccinated as of Dec. 28.

On Aug. 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order requiring the vaccine for all IDOC employees. These workers were required to have the vaccine no later than Oct. 4, 2021, subject to bargaining.

AFSCME, the main union supporting guards working for the Department of Corrections, has opposed any mandate for a vaccine and entered into arbitration regarding the order.

Since July 1, correctional facilities have accounted for 18.6% of COVID-19 cases statewide, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health data. The facilities were one of the highest sources of outbreaks next to daycares, factories and group homes.

Facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are placed on medical quarantine with restricted movement depending on the scope and place of the outbreak.

Case counts are updated daily Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. on IDOCs website.

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The Big Muddy District of the Boy Scouts of America introduced two new district awards to honor adult leaders who had dedicated much of their lives to scouting during its district dinner Jan. 22.

Big Muddy District made awards Jan. 22 after a delay of two years, due to the pandemic. The Life Time Achievement Award for 2022 would be presented to the inaugural winner, after whom it would be named, as well as 2020 and 2021 winners.

The requirements include: 20 years of cumulative service as an adult leader on the unit, district or council level and position-trained for their registered position. The nominee must have made significant contributions to Scouting at the unit, district or council levels. They must demonstrate Scout Spirit in their everyday life and in interactions with others. They must be a proven leader and have performed or be performing at a level above those expected of their registered position.

The inaugural winner of the award, Graham Al Morgan, far exceeded those requirements. He was a den leader in Pack 112 in 1983, Scoutmaster for Troop 114 from 1984 to 1994, and was an assistant scoutmaster for a 1989 National Jamboree Troop.

On the district level, Morgan served two years as a unit commissioner and was a member of the District Committee Camping Team starting in 1999. It was during this time that he oversaw the Pine Ridge Quartermaster Corps. From 2000 to 2018, he served as an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 114 and serves as a committee member for both Troop 66B and Troop 66G. He is a founding committee member of Troop 66G and serves as troop treasurer.

He received the Silver Beaver Award in 1990 in the Egyptian Council. He completed Wood Badge Training in 1994 and was given the Founders Award by the Anpetu We Lodge in 1995. He received Vigil Honors from the Order of the Arrow in 1991, with the name One Who Serves, a name certainly fitting for this Scouter. In 2001, he was awarded the District Award of Merit in the former Kaskaskia District.

The 2020 winners of the Graham Al Morgan Lifetime Achievement Award are Lewis and Judy Akers of Murphysboro. Over more than 30 years, they have redefined generations of Cub Scout Camps, Special Needs Scouting and Scouts BSA event within the district.

Lewis Akers has been active in Scouting for over 50 years. He has been Scoutmaster of Troop 114, Cubmaster for Pack 112 and is the committee chair for Pack 112 and an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 133.

He taught hundreds of young Scouts to handle a firearm at the Cub Scout gun range. It is also rumored that he was the designer and creator of the Pine Ridge Brand Iron that has become the symbol of Pine Ridge. He was a constant presence at every event from day camps to district hikes.

He received the District Award of Merit in 1990, the Silver Beaver Award in 1991 and completed his Wood Badge Training in 1996.

Judy is a name synonymous with Cub Scout Day Camp. No one knows exactly when she began directing the Cub Scout Day Camps in the district, but she has had the position very long time.

She also has been the driving force behind Crew 851 in Anna, a special needs Crew for residents of Choate Mental Health and Development Center. Since 1995, she has been committee chair for the unit, giving special needs Scouts opportunities unimaginable for years. She pushed and designed some of the first camps and outings for the Crew at Pine Ridge, and she bettered their lives in many ways. She has been an active member and leader in Pack 112 and Troop 114.

She received the District Award of Merit in 1996, the Silver Beaver Award in 2001 and completed her Wood Badge Training in 2002.

The 2021 Graham Al Morgan Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Steve Buhman. He started his scouting career in 1996 when his son joined Pack 4 at St. Andrews Church in Murphysboro, one of the first Tiger Cub packs in the area. When that pack folded, they moved to Pack 112, where he helped the leaders with the program activities. When his son crossed over into Troop 4 in 2001, he became a Committee Member with the troop.

In 2003, Buhman was elected to the order of the Arrow and moved over to direct contact service and became an Assistant Scoutmaster, taking on the role of Scoutmaster in 2005. He received his OA Brotherhood in 2007.

In 2010, he volunteered to staff at the 2010 National Jamboree as a photographer for the Home Town News. He also staffed National Jamborees in 2013 and 2017.

In 2014, he retired as Scoutmaster and moved from direct contact service into the administrative role of Committee Chair for Troop 7004B, a position he still holds today. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Greater St. Louis Area Council in 2018.

In 2020, Buhman became a founding member and committee chair for the new girls troop in Murphysboro, Troop 7004G. He serves the Big Muddy District as a unit commissioner, district committee member at large, and chairman of the public relations committee.

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CARBONDALE  A Unity Point student was recently caught in school distributing cards touting white privilege, prompting the administration to have a discussion on the issue with the entire Junior High student body.

The cards themselves are made to look like credit cards, the top of which read white privilege trumps everything in all capital letters. Under this, the No. 45 is repeated four times. The cardholder's name is listed as Scott Free. The card also reads member since birth and good thru death.

The No. 45 has been adopted by former President Donald Trump, who was the 45th President of the United States.

The back of the card says: This card grants its bearer happiness and success because its (sic) the color of your skin and not the choices you make that determine your ability to be successful.

These same cards were found on Ian Benjamin Rogers, 43, of Napa, California, in January 2021 when he was arrested for possessing illegal weapons and five pipe bombs. Police accused Rogers of threatening to bomb Democrats.

Mary Beth Goff, dean of students at Unity Point said Wednesday the school took swift action to address the issue with its Junior High students.

We addressed it with our junior high students, really turning it into kind of a social emotional lesson about why it was not appropriate, Goff said. And so I spoke with the entire junior high (Wednesday) and had a conversation and really turned it into a teachable moment to talk about really, the whole concept of hate and inclusion and what we are about as a school, and what we are about as a community.

To do this, Goff went to each individual Junior High class to speak with the students.

I really wanted to focus on the relationships that we have, as an administrator with my students, and be able to have that conversation in a smaller group, Goff said. I feel like it was very well received, the students engaged in the discussion about the role that hate has played in history and the consequences. And we talked about (...) the diversity of who comes to school here.

Goff said she does not believe the incident will happen again.

On Feb. 8, a mother whose son attends the school, Terri Adams, posted the cards on Facebook asking parents for their thoughts. She said her son had been given the card on Feb. 7.

Her post was shared 41 times and garnered 68 comments and 100 reactions and was sent out to the community via email by the NAACP.

After a follow up meeting with the school, Adams said she is satisfied with what they came up with.

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MARION  Officer Jason Plichta and therapy K-9 'Paw-fficer' Gary have taken to the streets and schools of Marion to assist in mental health crises.

One of the biggest misconceptions that Plichta and Marion Police Chief David Fitts have to combat is that Gary is not like a regular police K-9, Plichta said.

They do not sniff drugs, Fitts said. They arent trained to bite. They arent trained to track. They are strictly for people to play with, hold, pet, and touch, in general, to make them feel better. Thats their whole role.

Plichta and Gary, with the Marion Police Department, took their first official patrol together the first of this year to help bridge the gap between police work and mental health issues.

That's the trend of how we're going right now, Plichta said. Were actually merging with mental health being a big issue in the police world. Everybody wants to tie to it (drug use) like Oh, it's just drug use,' while really it's like the egg and the chicken, which came first? Is it the mental health led to the drug use? Did the drug use lead to the mental health?"

"I think at the crux of it, getting down to the mental health portion of it is really where we have to start focusing more unfortunately. I mean, it's bad that we have such a mental health issue in Illinois. However, being able to have a dog like Gary, in a program, like the therapy dog unit is something I think will help kind of steer things around to a more acceptable level, to make it easier for us to help those who go into mental health crises," he added.

Plichta and Gary assist in more than drug cases, he said. In the past month they have visited most of the Marion schools, VA hospitals and other first responder agencies.

They even helped with a Department of Children and Family Services case.

While DCFS was doing the investigation with the parents, Gary was able to hang out with the three kids that were there and going through something. Just watching them interact with Gary, it seemed like there was no care in the world that they had. Everything with them was just focused on Gary. That was it," he said. "...They were smiling. They were playing and laughing with him, petting him again and asking me questions about him.

First responders across Marion typically have a similar effect when they see Gary as he can help ease the trauma they see every day.

The minute you walk in, you see the smiles on their faces. You see this huge sigh. You can see the emotion just kind of come out of them like, OK. It's been rough. I've been holding a lot of stuff in. I can just let it go now.  Just watching that sigh, that deep breath out, just shows how much Gary just being there does for people.

'Paw-fficer' Gary has even traveled to schools upon being requested by students struggling mentally.

On one of their days off, they received a call from a school superintendent asking if Gary could come to the school to help a child, Plichta said.

Through the phone call, he also learned that the school was calling because the child had specifically asked to see Gary so they could make it through the day, Plichta said.

"Thats what this is about," Plichta said. "The fact that we have this small child, and it's not even an adult, it's a child, who specifically said, I know, that's going to help me get through this day, get through this event that I'm facing right now, was awesome.

Marion and surrounding communities have rallied behind the idea and have made the therapy K-9 project financially possible.

Paw-fficer Gary is a completely community-funded project, and Plichta is overjoyed with the support they have gotten for this new initiative.

So far the community response and the outreach with donations and fundraisers we've been doing is it's blows my mind how many people outside of these four walls support Gary. Its not just Marion. It's other cities. It's Herrin, Energy and Carterville. I've had people as far as North Carolina and New Hampshire. I couldn't be more proud of the community I work for, and the community that surrounds us here with all the people from different towns that have been able to, to help and work with us. And it's awesome. I mean, it really is like, thank you the biggest thing I can say.

Their current fundraiser include $10 patches. They can be ordered by reaching out to plichta@marionpolicedept.com.

Schools and others can also make requests for Gary to come visit them in non-emergency situations at the same email.

Despite the program still being early on in its inception, Plichta and Fitts are both proud of the work Gary is doing.

The program is still very new, Fitts said. We are still feeling our way through, but at this point Gary's doing fantastic. We get requests quite often. He's been a big hit at the schools. A couple children have had a couple issues, and he went to the schools and made a big difference in them children. In that respect, we're very happy. So far, it's going well.

As the program grows, Plichta is looking forward to building the bond Gary has with the community, he said.

We're forging forward and building that community bond between the police department and them because, ideally, if we can get these kids on the right track early, we don't have to see them in the world that we work in on the negative side of things. Im hoping that bringing Gary around kind of steers them towards more positive things about the positive side of police. What we can do and what we can bring to the table. That we are here to help. We are here to do whatever we can to make you guys feel better.

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The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees on Thursday endorsed a strategic plan for the university system through 2026.

The plan, months in preparation, recognizes six goal themes: Academic innovation and student success anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion; community impact; research and creative activity and partnerships; faculty and staff; and infrastructure. Each stated goal has three to five objectives as well as a number of metrics and strategies.

The strategic plan also includes a mission statement for the system: The Southern Illinois University System enriches students and diverse communities through inclusive excellence, experiential education and innovation. The system creates and shares knowledge that enables stakeholders to achieve their full potential, serves as an economic catalyst for the region and state and advances global change, opportunities and social justice.

Work on the plan began in March 2020. The SIU System includes Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

I believe we have the structures in place to ensure this is an active plan and will not sit on a shelf. This has been a very thoughtful process, said Southern Illinois University Carbondale Dean of Library Affairs John Pollitz, who co-chaired a sub-committee which refined the plan.

This is an outstanding document and all of the critical areas have been hit to move the university system forward, Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Ed Hightower said following the presentation of the plan to the full board. It has given us a footprint that we can build upon, but at the same time, given each campus the autonomy to move forward.

Hightower said the plan keeps all of the campuses moving in the same direction.

SIU System President Dan Mahony said the system had strategy plans in the past, but none as extensive as the new document.

He said more than 150 individuals involved in the creation of the plan plus several thousand who commented online during development of the strategy plan.

We want to do things at the system level to help the campuses be better and still allow them the autonomy to do their own things and this plan does that, he said.

Additionally, Mahony said a report card system is being implemented to track work toward the goals indicated in the document.

We will monitor ourselves all of the time to make sure we are making progress, Mahony added.

Officers Elected

Also as part of the Board of Trustees meeting, J. Phil Gilbert of Carbondale was re-elected as chairman of the board. Edwardsvilles Ed Hightower was re-elected as vice chair and former SIU Carbondale faculty member Subhash Sharma was elected as secretary.

New Buildings Coming to Touch of Nature

Matt Kupec, CEO of the SIU Foundation, updated the board on coming developments at the Touch of Nature Environmental Center. He reported on two pending projects: an event center funded by a gift from the SIU Credit Union and a planned wildlife habitat education center which will double as a visitor's center.

Kupec said the wildlife facility will be funded by an unnamed donor who has committed to a $3 million gift as well as a $2 million endowment for use in maintance and facility needs in the future.

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The General Assembly presented Christopher Newport President Paul Trible with a resolution Thursday after his 50 years of public service. (Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press)

Richmond  The General Assembly honored retiring Christopher Newport University President Paul Trible on Thursday with a resolution acknowledging his contributions to the university.

(F)or all of us here on the Peninsula, his life is one of meaning of service and of significance, Del. Mike Mullin said during Thursdays session.

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Trible announced his retirement in September, saying the 2022-23 year would be his last as the universitys president. He will take on a role as chancellor the following academic year to help with the transition.

The resolution highlighted the number of applicants, full-time students and average GPA increased since Trible became CNUs fifth president in 1996. Before that, Trible served in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms and the U.S. Senate for one.

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(He) envisioned the creation of a great university for America that cared about minds and hearts and that would inspire students to choose to live lives of meaning, consequence, and purposea life of significanceas it is now called at Christopher Newport University, the resolution said.

Trible said in a statement he has been extraordinarily blessed with marvelous opportunities to lead and serve, and hopes he made made a difference.

My 26 years at Christopher Newport have been the most important and rewarding years of my life and with the help of a lot of wonderful people, we have together built another great university for America, Trible said.

Sierra Jenkins, 229-462-8896, sierra.jenkins@virginiamedia.com
LINCOLNWOOD  Police rescued an 80-year-old suburban Chicago woman who was held hostage for nearly 21 hours in large part because she couldn't text one of her daughters her daily Wordle score during the ordeal.

Denyse Holt and her oldest daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, told reporters that Holt woke up about 1 a.m. Sunday to the sight of a bloody and naked man armed with scissors in her Lincolnwood home.

Holt said the man threatened her life. Ultimately, after grabbing two knives from the kitchen, Holt said the man led her to a bathroom in the basement, barricading her inside using a chair for the next 17 hours.

"I was trying to survive, that's all," Holt told WBBM-TV.

During that time, she couldn't communicate with the outside world or update her daughter as she usually does about her score on the popular online word game. And Holt-Caldwell, who lives in Seattle, became worried that her mother wasn't reading her texts or updating her about Wordle.

"I'm across the country and I noticed this," said Holt-Caldwell.

Holt-Caldwell asked Lincolnwood police to make a well-being check and they rescued her mother from the bathroom. Officers found 32-year-old James H. Davis III armed with knives in an upstairs bedroom and arrested him after a SWAT team responded and used a stun gun to subdue him, police said.

"She's amazing," Holt-Caldwell told the Chicago Tribune of her mother. "She doesn't really know how she was able to remain that calm."

Davis was taken to the Cook County Jail, where on Friday he remained in custody. The Chicago man faces felony charges of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault against a peace officer.

The state's attorney's office said Davis is represented by the public defender's office in Skokie, but there was no answer Friday at the office.

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It's been more than seven years since two masked gunmen broke into a Venice home between Christmas and New Year's and robbed, shot and killed its 41-year-old owner.

The family of the late Calvin L. Tally has been waiting for closure and justice ever since that violent night in 2014.

"I'm disgusted by how long it's taken, and it's still not over," said his sister, Tracie Bryant, 52, of St. Louis County, maintaining that the process may have moved faster if the victim hadn't been a Black resident of a poor community.

Lamarcus D. Jackson, 35, the man accused of pulling the trigger, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in October, 2018, in Madison County Circuit Court. Under his plea agreement, five other charges  including two murder counts and one count each of armed robbery, home invasion and possession/use of a firearm by a felon  were dismissed.

Judge Kyle Napp sentenced Jackson to 35 years in prison.

A second suspect, Byron J. Holton, 33, was scheduled to go to trial next week. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 1 to home invasion. Under his plea agreement, five other charges  including three murder counts and one count each of armed robbery and possession/use of a firearm by a felon  were dismissed.

Prosecutors will recommend a 27.5-year sentence to Judge Napp on a sentencing date to be determined, according to Philip Lasseigne, spokesman for State's Attorney Tom Haine's office. Bryant plans to make a victim's impact statement.

"It's torn our family apart," she said this week.

A third suspect, Undray C. Webb, 32, was charged only with home invasion due to authorities determining that he wasn't with the others when Tally was shot. He's still awaiting trial. His next hearing is set for March 7.

Bryant noted that it took less than two years for Timothy Banowetz's trial to begin in the Jan. 4, 2020, murder of prominent white Edwardsville attorney Randy Gori, even with the COVID shutdown. Banowetz pleaded guilty on the first day.

Bryant said county prosecutors have blamed delays in the Tally case primarily on the fact that the defendants were being tried in federal court for armed robberies of three Cahokia grocery stores and, after their convictions in 2016, they were sent to federal prison, making it more complicated and expensive to arrange for appearances at Madison County hearings.

The bigger problem, according to Bryant, is that the cases have been handled by at least three different assistant state's attorneys and two judges, requiring each to essentially "start from scratch."

"It's changed hands so many times, there's been no continuity to the case," Bryant said.

Democrat Tom Gibbons was the Madison County state's attorney who filed charges against Jackson, Holton and Webb in August, 2015. He assigned the cases to assistant Jennifer Mudge, who later became a statewide special prosecutor. Republican Haine took over the office in November, 2020.

Lasseigne said it's true that federal cases generally take precedence over local cases, that COVID has presented challenges in the past two years and that the Tally case has involved more than one prosecutor.

"State's Attorney Haine remains focused on bringing criminal cases to conclusion that were inherited from his predecessors in the state's attorney's office," he said.

Calvin Tally grew up in East St. Louis, the youngest of five siblings. He had been disabled since being robbed and shot in the leg as a younger man, according to his sister. He had five daughters and twin sons, who are now grown, and three grandchildren.

"My brother was the apple of my mother's eye," Bryant said. "She didn't last six months after (his murder)."

Doris Tally, 71, of Belleville, died of an aneurysm on July 5, 2015.

Bryant partially linked Calvin and Doris Tally's deaths to the depression and apparent suicide of her sister, Melanie Tally, whose body was found in her car at the bottom of a lake at Frank Holton State Recreation Area in 2017. She was 49.

Bryant described Calvin Tally as a sharp dresser who liked to wear hats, a well-liked member of his community and a father close to his seven children.

"He had what they used to call 'the gift of gab,'" his sister said.

Venice police responded to a 911 call from Tally's home in the 1200 block of Oriole Street about 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2014, and found him dead of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Two witnesses, including a 21-year-old female relative and 23-year-old male acquaintance, reportedly told police that two masked men kicked in the door to the home, forced Tally upstairs at gunpoint, shot him, stole cash and marijuana and fled the scene.

The crime remained unsolved until seven months later, when charges were filed in Madison County against Jackson, Holton and Webb, who were all in their 20s.

"The two witnesses were not harmed," according to a statement from Gibbons' office on Aug. 5, 2015. "It is unknown whether or not the victim, or the witnesses, knew the gunmen."

Jackson, Holton and Webb also were part of a group of five men facing federal charges in connection with three armed robberies at Cahokia grocery stores, one on Nov. 21, 2014, at Qmart, one on Dec. 11, 2014, at Alps Supermarket and one on Jan. 11, 2015, at Shop 'n Save.

Jackson pleaded guilty to five charges related to the Alps and Shop 'n Save robberies in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. He's serving a 44.5-year federal sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary Terre Haute in Indiana, concurrent with the 35-year sentence handed down in Madison County.

"It's almost like he really didn't get anything for the murder," Bryant said.

A federal jury convicted Holton of three charges  including conspiracy related to all three robberies and armed robbery and weapons charges related to the Shop 'n Save robbery  and acquitted him of four charges related to the other two robberies. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Webb is serving a 21-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Greenville. Like Jackson, he pleaded guilty in federal court to five charges related to the armed robberies at Alps and Shop 'n Save.

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SPRINGFIELD  Natural gas utilities in Illinois warned of job losses and possible risks to public safety if state lawmakers repeal a law allowing them to add a surcharge on customer bills that consumer advocates say is being used to gouge customers.

This provides around 500 good jobs annually and creates opportunity for diverse contractors, Eric Kozak, vice president of gas operations for Ameren Illinois, told a House committee Wednesday. And modernizing the system sets the stage for the state of Illinois to become a leader at utilizing renewable natural gas, synthetic natural gas, and even hydrogen, which can attract new businesses and retain industry.

At issue is a 2013 amendment to the Public Utilities Act that allows large natural gas utilities  those serving more than 700,000 customers  to add a surcharge onto customer bills to recover costs associated with investments in qualifying infrastructure plant, or QIP.

Those include a return on investment and depreciation allowances related to things like replacing old, leaky gas lines and meters. Those surcharges are subject to review by the Illinois Commerce Commission, but only to determine whether they qualify under the statute.

The commission also has authority to review a companys actual expenses to determine whether customers were overcharged and are owed a refund.

That law is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2023, but House Bill 3941 would move that date up one year, to Dec. 31, 2022.

Over the past decade, through formula rates and QIP, Illinois has stripped away regulatory protections, supercharging the utility incentive to spend money to make money and raise rates as fast as they can, said Abe Scarr, director of the consumer advocacy group Illinois PIRG. The utilities have responded to these incentives with billions of dollars of wasteful spending. This is not surprising. It's exactly what we should expect. The question now is how will the General Assembly respond?

As an example, Scarr pointed to the Naperville-based Nicor Gas, the states largest natural gas distribution company, which he said has raised its rates 77 percent in the last four years. That came after Nicors rates had risen only 28 percent over the previous 37 years.

Rate increases and utility profits are largely driven by capital spending, he said. Nicor's capital spending sharply increased since it began using QIP in 2015. Since then, QIP has accounted for half of Nicors capital spending, making it a major contributor to the company's massive rate hikes.

Consumer advocacy groups like Illinois PIRG have pushed for its repeal for years, to no avail. But this year, with rising natural gas prices across the board, and amid a global push to move away from fossil fuels to combat climate change, advocates think they have a better chance.

Unless the General Assembly ends this unnecessary surcharge now, ratepayers will be stuck paying for stranded assets of a gas delivery system that will eventually become obsolete and not a part of the clean energy future that this legislature envisioned when it passed the Clean Energy Jobs Act and asked ratepayers and utility companies to move away from carbon- and methane-producing energy, said Karen Lusson, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

Utility executives, however, argued that rising global prices for natural gas, not the surcharges, are the primary source of rising customer bills.

Ninety percent of the current high prices are being driven by global demand and prices, not this act, Kozak told the committee.

Patrick Evans, president of the Illinois Energy Association, recalled that the surcharges came about partially in response to a natural gas pipe explosion in San Bruno, California, in 2010 that killed eight people, left 58 injured and destroyed 38 homes.

At the time, Illinois' own (former Congressman) Ray LaHood was Secretary of Transportation, Evans said. And in response to this tragic incident, he actually issued a formal call to action, requesting that all natural gas utilities in the country begin to accelerate their pipeline replacement program to ensure that these incidents are minimized in the future.

He said that led to negotiations between the industry and lawmakers which resulted in an agreement to end what he called the regulatory lag between the time a company invests money for system improvements and the time when it recovers those investments.

That term simply means that we get to recover our investments quicker than the traditional method, which requires us to go to the (Illinois Commerce) Commission first, he said. It does not eliminate commission oversight. We will always have to prove up our investments at the commission. The standards have not been changed.

Patrick Whiteside, senior vice president of operations for Nicor Gas, said the surcharge has enabled the company to improve the safety and reliability of its entire system.

Nicor Gas' system was able to support our customers and communities through the polar vortex of 2019, the single largest delivery of energy ever recorded on our system, without interruption to service or pressure situations for our customers, he said. By replacing poorly performing materials, we are driving the rate trends down and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the overall system.

But J.C. Kibbey, a clean energy advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council, noted that his own personal gas bill from Peoples Gas in January had a $15 surcharge, more than the company had previously said it would cost in a year, and that it had more than $95 in total infrastructure charges.

These big charges are worrying and so is what they pay for, he said. They're building out a gas system to burn methane gas, fossil fuel, much of it in our homes. To be clear, this gas is no more natural than coal. Burning gas harms are health by releasing carbon monoxide and other pollutants in the air and our homes. This pollution disproportionately hurts underserved communities and people of color.

The committee did not take action on the bill, which was on the agenda for discussion only.

In a separate email, Illinois PIRGs Abe Scarr conceded that getting the bill through the General Assembly was a long shot. But he said he hopes the concerns that his group and other advocates are raising will deter lawmakers from extending the surcharge past its current 2023 expiration date.

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Sometimes the smallest sign can suggest something is wrong  like a missing Wordle score.

When 80-year-old grandmother Denyse Holt failed to text her daily score for Wordle, her two daughters thought it was strange, since she always shared her results from the popular online puzzle in which players try to guess a five-letter word.

When Holt failed to respond or even read their texts or answer the phone, the daughters, who live on the West Coast, got worried. When they had a neighbor check her house in Lincolnwood and her car was there but she didnt answer, they knew something was wrong.

Police were called and found a broken window with blood on the scene, suggesting a break-in. Using the neighbors key, they entered, asking, Is anybody home?

Im here, Holt called, from inside a basement bathroom where shed been barricaded by a naked intruder threatening her with scissors. Police rescued her and arrested James H. Davis III, of Chicago, the man who they say held her hostage and in fear for her life for nearly 21 hours. Her daughter said it was her mothers calm during the crisis that may have kept her alive.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, police said, a naked man broke through a window to enter Holts home in the 4600 block of Morse Avenue, got into bed with her and threatened her with scissors.

He took away Holts phones, then forced her to stay in the basement bathroom, barricading her inside with a chair, police said.

All the while, according to Holts daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, Holt was trying to stay calm, avoiding any emotional outburst or sudden movement that could escalate the situation.

At one point, Holt even assured her captor, Youre the captain. Im on your team.

Shes amazing, Holt-Caldwell said. She doesnt really know how she was able to remain that calm. She just kind of played along and made him feel as though he was in charge.

When the man threatened her, Holt, a former middle school teacher, told him it scared her, which prompted him to throw away the scissors and declare he wouldnt hurt her.

But when she was forced to wait for hours in the bathroom, she feared that the longer the ordeal went on, the more she was in danger.

After police rescued her, Holt stayed at a friends house, and her daughter arrived on an overnight flight to be with her. Through her daughter, she emphasized her gratitude to police.

Lincolnwood police were so wonderful, they made her feel so safe, Holt-Caldwell said. They did such an incredible job. Theyre part of the reason shes here today.

After Holt was taken out of the house, police said, they found Davis in an upstairs bedroom, armed with knives and refusing to surrender. They tried unsuccessfully to disable him with an electric Taser shock, then called in a SWAT team through the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, or NIPAS, which was able to Taser Davis and arrest him, Parrott said.

Davis, 32, whose last known address was in the 700 block of North Dearborn Avenue, was charged with home invasion with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; and two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer, a class 4 felony.

Davis, who police believed was going through a mental health crisis, was ordered held without bond in Cook County Jail.

Holt-Caldwell said the family is still in shock, and the daughters want to give their mother a fresh start after being traumatized in their childhood home, where every room was left bloodstained by the ordeal.

We want this to be a message, to reach out to your loved ones when theyre far away, Holt-Caldwell said. Dont be lackadaisical. You can do something from 3,500 miles away. You can save lives and make a difference. Have a plan in place. If theres weird behavior that doesnt match, do some investigating.

If something seems not right, please call us and let us investigate, Lincolnwood police Chief Jay Parrott said. People may be reluctant to bother police, he said, but he added, Please bother us.

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Nature sends the sweetest Valentines. She gives us heart-shaped gifts in the form of clouds, seashells, and adorable puppy spots. A universal symbol of love, hearts found in nature are positively sigh-inducing.

My son was very young when he proudly gave me a rock shaped like a heart. I imagine his face beaming at its discovery while playing outside, his tiny hand quickly stuffing it in his pocket for safe-keeping. He found supplies to decorate it, outlining the rock's shape with red poster paint and carefully painting, in blue, the word love.

It's a gift I've never forgotten, and so began my beloved collection of heart rocks. For more than 20 years, nature has freely offered them. Family and friends find them on their travels and present them to me knowing I will cherish them more than any souvenir.

When my husband and I go hiking, we frequently stop to pick up a rock that catches our eye, gleaming at the bottom of a creek bed or hiding in forested nooks and rocky crannies. We carefully examine it and hold it out for the other to approve. Only those with a certain je ne sais quoi make the cut. The others are given a parting squeeze and tossed back with a wish.

My heart rock collection fills a large glass bowl in our living room. There are more than a hundred, some the size of my palm, others as small as a dime. Their colors are a soothing palette of nature. They come from beaches and deserts, rivers and mountains, playgrounds and parking lots. I wonder the story of each one. How old is it? Where has it been? How did nature manage to tumble and turn it until it was shaped like a heart?

Photographers have captured amazing images of hearts in nature from all over the world  a heart-shaped beach in Brazil, a heart-shaped boulder in Joshua Tree National Park, a heart-shaped island in Croatia, even a heart-shaped crater on the surface of Mars.

While such phenomenon would be a thrill to see, I'm just as happy to spy a flock of birds flying in a heart pattern or a perfect heart-shaped leaf trailing from a houseplant.

Those who open their eyes in appreciation of nature's elegance are freely bestowed her gifts. William Wordsworth wrote this lovely sentiment about her undying affection, "Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.

Alicia Woodward is a retired language arts teacher and empty-nester. She and her husband recently moved back to their hometown of Mt. Vernon. She writes a weekly blog called The Simple Swan. Visit her blog at www.thesimpleswan.com. Email her at Alicia@thesimpleswan.com.

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To the Editor:

I agree with Raj Jaladis letter Malnutrition Bill Needs Senate Supporters, printed Jan. 28, 2022. He thanked Reps. Mike Bost and Rodney Davis for authorizing a USAID scale up of efforts addressing global malnutrition. Both congressmen have shown past concern for global immunization programs and HIV/AIDS funding. They can continue their support for global health by signing onto a letter urging President Biden to make an increased pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria at its 2022 Replenishment this fall.

The Global Fund played a critical role in providing emergency funding, knowledge, and resources when a pandemic swept our planet. Still, COVID-19 seriously disrupted healthcare. We are backsliding in the fight against AIDS, TB, and malaria.

The Global Fund has enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress for two decades. It is Congress responsibility to make sure the President doesnt break tradition in a time of weakened health security. I urge Reps. Bost and Davis to join my representative, Rep. Ann Wagner, in signing this urgent letter.

Cynthia Changyit Levin

Town and Country, Missouri

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Christopher Dean Wright believes murder suspect Robert Pockets Bailey had something to do with the deaths of his children.

Its just my gut feeling he did it, Wright testified on Thursday afternoon.

Four Eutawville men are accused of four counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder and first-degree burglary: Bailey, Antley Jermaine Jackie Man Scott, Luther Joseph Smith and Derrick Warren Coleman. Bailey, Scott and Smith are on trial, while Coleman is expected to testify as a state witness.

The four people theyre accused of killing are Tamara Alexia Perry, 14; Shamekia Tyjuana Sanders, 17; Krystal Hutto, 28, and Jerome Butler, 50. Perry and Sanders were Wrights daughters.

Wrights 8-year-old son, Dreamzz Nelson, was shot and injured.

Wright was engaged to Hutto and a Summerton woman.

Wright was at the Summerton fiancees home on July 15, 2015 when the four people were killed in Huttos home near Holly Hill.

Wright testified he and Hutto had been a couple for about three years. He said she didnt mind him seeing others romantically.

He once gave her an engagement ring, but she pawned it so she could buy drugs, he testified.

On June 21, 2015, Hutto gave birth to a child she had with Wright.

The newborn tested positive for drugs and was under the care of the S.C. Department of Social Services.

Neither Wright nor Hutto had custody of the newborn.

Wright also had sexual relationships with two additional women, he said. He supplied each of the women with illegal drugs on occasion, with the exception of his Summerton fiance, who didnt use drugs, he said.

Wright, who was 36 at the time of the killings, testified hed been selling drugs since he was 16.

Smiths attorney, Aimee Zmroczek, asked Wright if he was conducting a drug trafficking business then.

Yes, he answered.

Wright testified that when he first began selling cocaine, he didnt cut it, but hed started to do that the longer he sold it.

Wright also said that Hutto didnt have her own drug-selling business, but she put potential buyers in touch with him.

Wright said he didnt leave cocaine at Huttos home because she would use it, so he took the drugs with him.

He usually had two ounces of cocaine with him when he was in Huttos home, he said.

Before he left the home the day before the killings, hed already completed a couple of drug sales there that day. Wright claimed he took cocaine with him, not leaving any in the home.

Wright also noted he didnt hide cocaine in Huttos attic or in tires.

Sometimes Hutto would have people at her home and didnt always tell him about it, Wright said.

When he woke up before 7 a.m. Wednesday, he noticed that Hutto tried to call him around 1 a.m.

That was unusual. Hutto never called him in the middle of the night.

When he and a male relative of his Summerton fiance arrived at Huttos home, he noticed Butler was dead on the driveway. Wright had a white pit bull. He initially thought the dog attacked Butler.

Wrights other pit bull was tethered and hadnt broken free by the time he got there.

Wright also noticed his Mercedes was missing. He thought maybe Hutto was driving it.

Krystal cant drive. If she drove, shed wreck the car, so somebody had to take her (places), he said.

He testified that Hutto sometimes drove his BMW.

He owned five cars at the time.

Wright peered into the home when he arrived and described the interior as being ransacked.

Zmroczek showed Wright photos of the inside of the house from that fateful morning.

The dresser drawers in the master bedroom were open and clothes were strewn about.

Wright identified a white powdery substance on the kitchen floor as flour for frying chicken.

The toilet lid was off in the master bathroom, according to photographs.

There was a hole in the ceiling and insulation on the floor.

Wright said everything was intact when he left the home the day before.

The day after the killings, authorities arrested Wright on charges stemming from two controlled crack cocaine sales to a confidential informant conducted by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division in 2013.

Wright posted bail on the charges the same day, but on Aug. 6, 2015, authorities rearrested him.

This time they charged him with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, stemming from when he sold drugs out of Huttos home.

He worked out a plea agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful conduct toward a child and two counts of trafficking cocaine.

Wright also faced an obstruction of justice charge stemming from the shootings, but prosecutors dismissed that charge.

Wright said he initially lied to law enforcement about being a drug dealer.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but because it wasnt a violent crime, he didnt have to serve the entire term.

Dickson is also presiding during the trial for Bailey, Scott and Smith.

Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD

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Bulldog Battalion Cadet Marquis Smiths journey in what he hopes will be a cybersecurity career in the U.S. Army is just getting started.

But on Wednesday, the 21-year-old South Carolina State University senior received an early promise about the benefits available once he exits military service.

Smith and his fellow ROTC cadets chatted with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough as he toured the campus with S.C. State Interim President Alexander Conyers, who is a retired U.S. Army colonel.

It shows to me as a cadet that they (the VA) are taking progressive steps for me when I do become a 2nd lieutenant, Smith said after McDonoughs visit. They actually do care about me, and they are at least making the effort to let me know I will receive my benefits as long as I do what I need to do and continue to be on the right path.

McDonough made it clear on Wednesday that he wants to ensure that veterans dont have to fight for benefits earned in service to the nation. He told the cadets to visit with VA representatives as soon as possible after deciding to leave or retire from the armed forces.

We can make sure we help you know what youve earned, McDonough said. Its not on you to remember all of this. Its on us to make our service attractive enough and responsive enough to your needs.

McDonough also asked the cadets to consider post-service careers at the VA to continue serving the nation in another way.

I hope that you will give us here at the VA a little bit more of that South Carolina State shine that has worked so well and produced leaders like this great colonel, McDonough said, referring to Conyers.

The interim president, a 30-year Army veteran, said McDonoughs visit to the university was fitting given the rich history of S.C. States ROTC program and its collective contribution to the defense of the nation.

Since 1949, the program has commissioned more than 2,000 officers with more than 20 achieving the rank of general/admiral and within all branches of the military, Conyers said. In addition to our cadets currently enrolled in ROTC and who will be future veterans, we have over 200 veterans and/or dependents enrolled and utilizing VA education benefits.

This was a great opportunity for our cadets to not only learn about the benefits offered to veterans and the countrys commitment to veterans, but the secretary specifically implored them to consider career opportunities with Veterans Affairs, Conyers said.

As for Smith, he sees utilizing the VAs services as a natural transition in a life of service with other veterans.

What I hope to gain from the VA is a sense of completion  to let people know that I did serve and that I will be taken care of even after I finish my service, he said. I would definitely like to come together with other veterans because we are all part of the same fight.

We all want to accomplish the same thing, and I will be glad to work with other veterans to make sure they are taken care of just as much as I am, Smith said.

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The large-scale search effort to find missing 4-year-old Codi Bigsby is over. Hampton police have shifted focus to investigating what happened to the boy.

Though police will no longer use large teams to conduct grid searches for Codi, investigators are now meticulously going through massive amounts of evidence to gather information to locate the missing child.

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Our search efforts will now be more isolated and intelligence-focused, based on information gleaned from the investigation, Sgt. R.C. Williams said in an email Friday.

The transition came as activists and community members called this week for more transparency from police  and more involvement from Hamptons City Council members.

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Police Chief Mark Talbot met that criticism at Wednesdays council meeting. Providing an update on the case, Talbot called the investigation intense and appeared to insinuate that Codi might have met with foul play.

It was very clear to us, the evidence about what likely occurred has been very clear, Talbot said, without expounding on what investigators believe happened to the boy. There is little about this that has been mysterious.

Cory Bigsby, seen at left, and Codi Bigsby. (Hampton Police Division)

Cory Bigsby, the childs father, reported Codi missing at 9 a.m. on Jan. 31, telling police he last saw his son sleeping in his bed about seven hours earlier. But police have maintained that the fathers account doesnt match other evidence, and they dont believe the boy walked away in the middle of the night.

As Talbot addressed claims that the police failed to alert the community, activists in the crowd interrupted the chief by playing an alarm through a bullhorn and chanting activate the Codi alert before they were escorted out of the meeting.

Talbot continued, stating that the demonstration was emblematic of the sideshow his division sought to prevent, and reassuring the council that the search for Codi will go on.

We will continue to work and do everything we possibly can to figure out what happened to this child. We will leave no stone unturned, Talbot said. We have not stopped since day one. We have continued to follow the evidence.

Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot speaks about the search for 4-year-old Codi Bigsby during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Hampton, Va. (Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot)

Local activist Aubrey Japharii Jones, who runs the Black Lives Matter 757 organization, and search party volunteer Mahogany Waldon addressed the council during public comment earlier in the meeting. Jones called on police and council members to be more transparent and more active in the search. Jones also criticized law enforcement for only allowing 50 volunteers to participate in the police-led search.

Bulletins were posted telling people not to come, as if there are enough bodies to search for a missing child, Jones said.

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Jones claimed volunteers were refused access to search party briefings and maps of the search area. As a result, an independent community-led group formed Camp Codi to perform their own search.

We have not seen not one of you, Jones said to council members. We are not comfortable because he (Codi Bigsby) is not comfortable. We dont know where he is so we cant sleep.

Waldon echoed Jones, highlighting the volunteers search efforts, and asked council members Where have you been?

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

I havent seen or heard any of our elected officials make statements to encourage the search efforts, to come out and lend a hand with flyers, or to donate their time in some way, Waldon said. If you have done so, pardon me, but Im speaking on what I have seen.

Bianca Wilson  the leader of local group Building Back Black  also made pleas to the council and police for transparency.

We need more transparency. My plea to you guys today is to ask you to get involved with what we are doing, Wilson said. We desperately need your help. We desperately need funding from you all. We would also like your presence  if it is at all possible for you to come out and show up as the leaders of the citizens who voted for you to be here today.

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The Hampton police took down their search headquarters at the Buckroe Pointe Apartment Townhomes complex on Feb. 4. Cory Bigsby was arrested the day before for seven felony child neglect charges pertaining to the care of Codi and three other small children in the home.

The charges are not related to Codis disappearance.

Cory Bigsby was denied bond at a Tuesday hearing in the Hampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and a probable cause hearing on the child neglect charges has been set for April 15.

Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
(TBTCO) - Thi truong chung khoan Viet Nam co ban van giu nhip on inh trong quy au nam nay, tuy nhien, thi truong chiu ap luc ieu chinh kha manh ke tu cuoi thang 3 en nay do tac ong tu cac yeu to ngoai bien va cac vu viec sai pham mang tinh on le cua mot so ca nhan, to chuc. Theo cac chuyen gia, nhung tac ong en tam ly ngan han cua nha au tu la kho tranh khoi, nhung ay la co hoi e huong dong tien i ung huong, giup thi truong gan uc, khoi trong e phat trien ben vung.
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The 2022 guide to the 10 Best DO Schools in the U.S. as published by the Pre Med Experts website, has ranked Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine second among Americas osteopathic medical schools, trailing only the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This isnt the first time that RowanSOM has been ranked highly. Last year, the Student Doctor Network, a non-profit educational website established in 1999 and boasting of 800,000 members, also ranked RowanSOM among the nations top 10 osteopathic medical schools. And, in 2019, Kaplan Test Prep, the countrys premier provider of preparation for standardized and entrance exams for higher education and physician licensing tests also placed RowanSOM among it top 10 osteopathic medical schools.

For those who are considering medical school, choosing the right school is crucial to building a successful career as a physician, said RowanSOM Dean Dr. Thomas A. Cavalieri. We are proud to know that we offer a premier educational experience balanced with a truly supportive atmosphere that also offers a diverse and welcoming student body along with tremendous opportunities for research and community service.

In selecting RowanSOM, the Pre Med Experts website noted the unique degree programs offered by the medical school. At RowanSOM, medical students are able to enroll in dual degree programs, pairing their medical degree with a masters of Business Administration (DO/MBA), a doctorate (DO/PhD) degree in Biomedical Sciences or a law degree (DO/PhD).

The website also pointed out that RowanSOM students have the opportunity to become involved in several community-based health outreach programs, complete their pre-clerkship years in an innovative problem-based learning curriculum and to hone their practical skills in the schools new, state-of-the-art Simulation Center.

In December, the American Osteopathic Associations Commission on College Accreditation (COCA) announced that it had renewed the accreditation of RowanSOM with a ranking of Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome, the highest level of accreditation awarded by COCA. This level of accreditation includes the schools main Stratford campus and extends to RowanSOMs newly established second campus in Sewell.

In July of this year, the Sewell campus will enroll its inaugural class of 72 students. When combined with the 216 students who will enroll at the Stratford location, RowanSOMs entering class will be the largest of any medical school in New Jersey.
A Casper man died in a crash on Highway 220 west of Casper on Thursday, the highway patrol confirmed Friday.

Joshua L. Atkinson, 50, was driving west in a 1999 Honda Accord when he crossed over into the eastbound lane, a release said, and collided with a commercial dump truck.

According to highway patrol, Atkinson was not wearing a seat belt.

Friday's release said that the collision, near Bessemer Bend, closed Highway 220 between Casper and Independence Rock for several hours on Thursday.

The dump truck driver, Casper resident Thomas Hall, was not injured in the crash. Hall was wearing a seat belt at the time, according to the highway patrol.

Investigators with the highway patrol suspect driver inattention and cell phone use may have contributed to the crash.

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Critical race theory is not currently taught in Wyoming classrooms, and one lawmaker is seeking to make sure it stays that way.

Casper Rep. Chuck Gray filed a bill Friday that explicitly seeks to keep critical race theory out of Wyoming classrooms.

Broadly, the ban on teaching and training critical race theory prohibits preschool through 12th grade students from instruction that presents any form of blame or judgement on the basis of race ethnicity, sex, color or national origin.

More specifically, teachers are also not allowed to teach students that a person, because of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color or national origin, is inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color or national origin, nor are they allowed to teach students that the U.S. is fundamentally or systemically racist or sexist.

Former President Donald Trump used similar language in a 2020 executive order, in which his administration banned federal contractors from teaching that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist.

Its pivotal that we ban critical race theory in Wyoming, Gray said. Critical race theory is inconsistent with our values and we need to ban it in Wyoming.

Gray also told the Star-Tribune that he spoke to educators about the topic. He said he also spoke with new Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder, who told Gray he supports the proposed legislation.

An official with the Wyoming Education Association, which represents the states public school teachers, questioned involving politics in the states curriculum.

It is definitely a substantial concern that it seems like, again, political expediency around inflammatory rhetoric and not data driven ... education policy, said Tate Mullen, the groups director of government relations.

Critical race theory is an academic framework for examining how racism is embedded in U.S. institutions and society.

As the bill title implies, the draft also moves to prohibit state, municipal and county agencies from requiring employees to undergo training on the same topics that are prohibited in the teaching section of the bill.

The legislation would also give those who are taught or trained in a way that violates the law the power to sue over the matter. Teachers, administrators, school districts or state agencies could be fined $5,000 per violation.

At least 35 states have introduced anti-critical race theory legislation so far, according to ABC News.

This is the second bill to be filed for the upcoming budget session that is related to critical race theory.

Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, and the Senate President Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, filed a bill earlier this week that requires school districts to create an online directory listing all teaching materials and curriculum used in each school by grade level and subject.

That bill never uses the phrase critical race theory, and Driskill maintains that it does not have to do with the controversial topic.

But the former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow linked the bill to critical race theory at a press conference held on the legislation in the fall.

Nationwide, weve seen K-12 school board meetings engulfed in hostile debate about critical race theory in classrooms, Balow said. It is time that we take a stand and action in Wyoming to address this very topic.

Balow has since resigned her post to take on the same job in Virginia in Gov. Glenn Youngkins cabinet, a politician whose campaign was heavily focused on opposition to critical race theory.

These two measures will be presented to lawmakers at the upcoming budget session, at which point both bill drafts will need to clear a two-thirds vote to be introduced. Bills related to the states budgets and redistricting do not have to clear the super-majority vote.

Read Grays full bill here.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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Wyoming has a singular opportunity to connect Wyoming-based programs to deliver services to Wyomingites when and where they need them. American Rescue Plan Act funds can ensure that this free, confidential referral and information helpline and website will be available to connect people of all ages across Wyoming to the essential health and human services they need.

Wondering what 2-1-1 is and how we help?

2-1-1s are available nationwide and play a very specific role in addressing social needs. The problem is, not many people know about 2-1-1 or the role it plays. There are no national advertisements or public service announcements for 2-1-1; there is no Federal support for 2-1-1 or national health policy that directs citizens to use this free public service.

Until Wyoming 2-1-1 launched a decade ago, Wyoming had no comprehensive statewide provider of information and referrals for Wyoming. Now, 2-1-1 serves 100% of the Wyoming population. Wyoming 2-1-1 can connect individuals to nearly 2,500 programs across Wyoming.

Wyoming 2-1-1 is an independently operated nonprofit that works directly with nonprofit, government, and faith-based programs to maintain a comprehensive database of Wyoming-based programs to deliver services to Wyomingites when and where they need them.

How Does Wyoming 2-1-1 Help Wyomingites?

When someone calls 2-1-1 for help, they arent just patched through to agencies. They can connect to a real person who, from that first hello, guides the caller to the help they need. 2-1-1 specialists are trained to identify and address root causes of a clients problem and connect them with a wide range of resources that meet all their underlying needs.

In 2021, our Community Resource Specialists answered nearly 5,700 requests for help, provided over 11,900 referrals statewide, partnered with the Wyoming Quality Counts and the Preschool Development Grant team, and launched a Community Resource Center powered by the Wyoming 2-1-1 resource database.

Wyoming 2-1-1 ensures that services like shelter, food, utilities, healthcare, mental health resources, employment support services, programs for children, youth and families, support for veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities, and support for community crisis and disaster recovery can all be found in 2-1-1s database.

2-1-1 can be accessed by phone or computer. A toll-free call to 2-1-1 connects you to a community resource specialist in Wyoming who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve  and save  lives. No matter the situation, the specialists at 2-1-1 listen, identify underlying problems, and connect people in need with resources and services in their community that improve their lives.

The ultimate goal of Wyoming 2-1-1 is to improve the health and welfare of Wyomings citizens by connecting them to appropriate services. Wyoming 2-1-1 can be used directly by consumers as well as by service providers and case managers for referral information.

We are present and visible in communities, attending local meetings, diving deeply into the issues, and providing solutions for communities around the State, and they have also been at the forefront of disaster response, including the COVID crisis.

That means 2-1-1 doesnt just change lives. It also helps the social service ecosystem run more efficiently, ensuring that people in need are connected to agencies that can help them in the right way. No other program has its finger on the pulse of Wyomings greatest needs like Wyoming 2-1-1 does.

As the board of Wyoming 2-1-1, were honored that the Governor continues to recognize the importance of Wyoming 2-1-1 as the backbone of Wyomings caring infrastructure. We want to invite everyone to use this essential service.

We also want to invite you to help raise awareness about the essential mission of Wyoming 2-1-1!

If you know someone who needs services but doesnt know where to turn, tell them they can simply dial 2-1-1. Our team will connect them to the resources they need.

If you work for or volunteer with a nonprofit in Wyoming, make sure your services are included in our database.

And, if you want to celebrate us, join us at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16 for an official Proclamation Signing with Governor Gordon in the Governors Ceremonial Room.

Michele DeHoff, Board Chair; Sheila Bush, Vice Chair; Steve Hamaker, Treasurer; Jen Simon, Past Chair; John Fritz; Christi Haswell; Gigi Jasper; JoAnn M. Skeim-True; Amy Spieker

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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.
Commentary: China welcomes cooperation on space endeavor

Xinhua) 08:35, February 11, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China always welcomes cooperation on space endeavor, as it adheres to the belief that outer space is a common treasure of humanity, and that its exploration, development and peaceful use are common pursuits of all peoples.

This belief was reiterated by a blue book released Wednesday by the country's space industry flagship China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The blue book said China's space industry is always committed to strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and had implemented various projects with international partners in 2021, including cooperative research and development, facility and data sharing, and application service.

Last year saw new progress on space exploration, such as the construction of China's space station, the Tianwen-1 Mars mission, the discoveries of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, and the examination of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe.

China expects to complete the building of its space station this year, and has promised to make it a platform for extensive international cooperation, including astronaut selection and training, as well as joint flights.

The construction of a foothold in outer space that can accommodate astronauts and payloads from all over the world is just part of China's endeavor to promote international cooperation and exchanges on space exploration.

China will also work together with countries including Italy, Brazil and Pakistan on satellite engineering and technology, and will welcome international partners to participate in the research and construction of a lunar research station, according to a white paper published a few days before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Tiger.

The white paper said China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community with a shared future in outer space. The international community should share this idea and work together on it.

All of these achievements and plans are China's new journey into space in cooperation with the international community, and also important steps in mankind's exploration of the universe.

Faced with an unknown universe full of risks, we can only go further by working together.

In Chinese culture, the tiger is a symbol of courage and strength.

In the human race's exploration of the universe, we all need the courage to face the unknown and the strength to overcome challenges. And we can do that much easier if we work together.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Williamsburg  When physicians Christina and Jake Mutch opened one of the first direct primary care facilities in the Historic Triangle amidst a global pandemic, they didnt know what to expect.

After making the move back to Williamsburg, home of their alma mater William & Mary, the pair made a leap of faith and opened Defiant Direct Primary Care, joining a growing movement across the state and country in providing affordable health care catered to each individual patient.

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Now, a little after a year since its opening, the pair said they are gaining more patients, helping folks navigate through a pandemic and continuing their efforts to provide a new take on medicine.

When you have that necessary time, you can spend more time with patients and really attend to their needs as they come up, which is really helpful, Jake Mutch said. Our hope is that we can help people avoid a lot of headaches that you typically encounter in the health care system.

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Since opening their clinic, the pair has always upheld four core promises: no wait times, same-day or next-day appointments, constant communication and at least one hour-long visits.

According to Christina Mutch, all have been crucial amidst the growing pandemic and the recent surge in COVID-19 cases as a result of the omicron variant.

With U.S. Centers for Disease Controls guidelines ever-evolving, Christina Mutch said the pair became a constant source of information for their patients. As the pair encourages anytime phone calls and texts, the pair said they were able to clarify, offer insight and make recommendations.

According to Jake Mutch, several of their patients came to them concerned about vaccinations. After hearing from them, they had several come in and receive their vaccinations.

A lot of my patients felt more comfortable getting the vaccine after they were able to talk about it and really having a nonjudgmental place to ask any questions that they might have, Jake Mutch said. Thats what we love about being family doctors is that we try to build relationships where patients have somewhere to go that they can trust.

As medical facilities across the Historic Triangle and the country saw a surplus in patients as a result of the pandemic, the pair said they were able to keep their numbers minimal because of the nature of their facility.

By creating a direct line of communication between them and their patients, Christina Mutch said that they were able to provide information when other facilities could not.

Its so nice that we can just have such an easy communication with our patients and they can just text us when a lot of people I think were struggling to get ahold of their doctors because their offices were so overwhelmed, Christina Mutch said.

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When it came to COVID-19 treatments, like the monoclonal antibody IV infusions, Jake Mutch said they worked closely with their patients to determine the best treatment plan based on their medical history.

As a result, the pair said they played a part in keeping folks at home and out of emergency rooms.

According to the pair, while they see patients regularly, a big part of their practice is prevention, working closely with their patients to ensure that they stay healthy and out of hospitals longer.

From early cholesterol level screenings to print-out exercise and muscle-building activities to healthy homemade recipes posted daily on their Facebook page, Jake Multch said the goal is to provide a full scope of services that help paint a better picture for patients.

We are able to spend more time on prevention and so even when patients arent sick, we try to prevent them from getting sick, Jake Mutch said. We do a lot of different things, acute care, but really I think the secret sauce for what we do is longevity-based medicine. The idea of what can we do right now to prevent, based on your genetics, your current health and your habits, preventing diseases from happening in the future.

With the promise to be attentive and available to every patient, preventive care is crucial, Christina Mutch said.

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While the average physician sees anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 patients on average, the pair can only serve 200 to 400 people each. The limited patient population allows them to continue to offer the kind of care they promise.

It is a type of care that is slowly catching on.

According to Christina Mutch, the pair have received calls from numerous medical students and physicians looking into this new form of medicine.

Its exciting to see that and were always looking for ways to pay it forward because we had a lot of mentors help us and so wed like to help anyone that is interested in doing the same, Christina Mutch said.

In August 2020, the pair officially opened the doors to their facility after working in the West Virginia mountains where the tradition of at-home family doctors still exists.

During the early years of their careers, Christina Mutch said they noticed some of the problems modern medical centers face. Mainly, it is all based on time and access, with everything being built on a fee-for-service model.

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The incentive is to see patients as quickly as possible which often can lead to other medical problems being overlooked, Jake Mutch said. Likewise, people avoid care because of high costs.

A 2015 U.S. National Institute of Health study found that often, people avoid medical care and 58% of them reported they avoided care because of high costs or lack of insurance.

But the pair have worked out a plan to alleviate costs. Instead of charging patients each visit, the business operates similarly to a gym membership.

With a base rate of $115 a month, their patients have access to them all day by phone or text. They can schedule appointments and undergo procedures in their facility within that base rate.

By creating a system that relies on open communication, the couple said they are able to cut back on visitation times just by addressing their patients throughout the day and developing a repertoire.

If they notice that a patient has different symptoms, they are able to identify them and help them sooner. With fewer patients, they are able to take the additional time to thoroughly address problems and fix them.

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The clinic does not take insurance and, as a result, can offer patients the best rates as certain insurance companies require certain price points. So they are able to work with patients to find the best rates.

With an appreciation for the often lost-to-history doctors who make house calls, Christina Mutch said they have worked hard to make their mom-and-pop facility feel authentic and open to their patients.

Since its fruition, Christina Mutch said the community has been more gracious than they ever could have imagined. They plan to continue their outreach in the next year.

Weve been grateful for the response from the community. We didnt know what this was going to be, but its steadily grown over the pandemic, Christina Mutch said. Thats been really rewarding for us because we want to be able to be there for our patients.

For more information, visit defiantdpc.com.

Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews
Manteos World: Native American Life in Carolinas Sound Country before and after the Lost Colony (The University of North Carolina Press, 200 pgs., $19.99) (HANDOUT)

Finally, Native Americans, especially in Virginia, are getting their just due.

Two new books have been published focusing on significant Native Americans involved in Virginias early colonial history.

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When English colonists first attempted a settlement on Roanoke Island in the 1580s, they called land Virginia (now present-day North Carolina). Probably the best-known Native American of that time was Manteo of the Croatoan tribe, who befriended those colonists.

Elsewhere to the north where the kingdom of the Powhatan Indians thrived, another group of Englishmen some 20 years later landed at Jamestown Island in a land also called Virginia. Here the settlers would encounter Opechancanough, the brother of their chief Powhatan.

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The two books highlight the lives and culture of these two men, much of which is from the Native American perspective.

Historian and anthropologist Helen C. Rountree, known for her significant works on Virginias Native American people, most notably the Powhatans, has written, with Wesley D. Taukchiray, Manteos World: Native American Life in Carolinas Sound Country Before and After the Lost Colony (The University of North Carolina Press, 200 pgs., $19.99).

A Brave and Cunning Prince: The Great Chief Opechancanough and the War for America (Basic Books, 320 pgs., $30) (HANDOUT)

The newest work of historian John Horn, a chronicler of Jamestowns history, is Brave and Cunning Prince: The Great Chief Opechancanough and the War for America (Basic Books, 320 pgs., $30).

These are biographical, in a sense, that the lives of Manteo and Opechancanough are traced as best as can be determined. However, since neither one wrote anything, the only facts about their lives comes from what the English wrote or, in some cases, what those writers remembered Native Americans saying.

Rountree, professor emerita of anthropology at Old Dominion University, has developed a superb reputation for research and an uncanny ability to present anthropology in laymens terms without minimizing the significance.

Anthropology has always been a somewhat difficult venue for me to pursue. Manteos World, however, is a wonderful examination of the life of the Native Americans who lived around the Outer Banks and Pamlico and Albemarle sounds before the white man came.

It also a story of the botany of the region. She writes about all the trees, shrubs, and plants of the Carolina sounds as well as the land  its swamps, lowlands and upriver areas.

Do not consider this book as a quick read. Take your time and enjoy all the flavors Rountree provides.

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Most of the Algonquian speaking tribes around the sounds were town-dwellers for only two parts of the year: during the winter and in the late summers harvest time. In between, they moved around among widely scattered camps in order to live off the land, Rountree explained.

Regarding the lost English colonists, Rountree, in examining various tribes in the area, agrees with other recent historians who are convinced that the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island was not a victim of a mass massacre. Rather, the colonists were absorbed by several tribes and interbred with them.

This work, combined with her earlier examinations of the Eastern Woodland tribes, has created an important background from which the Native Americans of these regions can more accurately be scrutinized.

Horn, president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, explains in dramatic detail the story of a young Native American, Paquiquineo, kidnapped by Spanish explorers about 1561 and taken to Spain, where his name became Don Luis and he converted to Catholicism. Wanting to go back home, Don Luis traveled to Mexico, Cuba and Florida and after about a decade returned to eastern Virginia.

Don Luis, Horn contends, was in fact Opechancanough, the chief who later led two attacks on Virginia settlements in 1622 and 1644. (The aged chief died in 1646, possibly in his late 90s.)

In Horns story, Don Luis directed a small group of Jesuits in 1570 to a site between the James and York rivers near Diascund Creek, where they built a mission, in hopes of Christianizing the local natives. He then returned to his tribe; early the next year, he led a war party and killed the missionaries.

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Using his same style of friendship, lulling the English to a false hope of security that would lead to murder, Horn said, Opechancanough befriended the English colonists before unleashing the killing of hundreds of settlers up and down the James River on a single day, March 22, 1622. But the colony survived.

Always trying to eliminate the English from his land, Opechancanough spearheaded another similar event in 1644 with large scale attacks on settlements. It also failed.

Horns theory of Don Luis and Opechancanough being the same person is not new. It has been considered by other historians and discounted, he explained. Then he proceeded to present his rationale.

Anthropologist Rountree in her 2005 book, Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives changed by Jamestown, said there was absolutely no connection because the men were from tribes in different locations and could not have had the same mother and it is through the women that tribal power descended.

Nevertheless, Horns account does put information about the numerous Native American tribes in the Jamestown region into a better historical perspective, but does not examine some of the anthropological data that could have enhanced and enriched his story.

These two books are extremely significant in the efforts today to understand more about the Native Americans who inhabited Eastern Virginia and the Carolina Sound areas hundreds of years before the English came.

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After years and years of effort, Virginia has recognized 11 tribes and the federal government now has recognized seven tribes: the Pamunkey, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond.

Have a comment or suggestion for Kale? Contact him at Kaleonbooks95@gmail.com.
Those with authority over others often become wolves because the people under their charge 
State-regulated utilities such as Tucson Electric Power could face fines if they fire workers for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted along party lines Tuesday to notify the state-regulated utilities of the policy statement the panel adopted in December  and possible penalties  at the urging of Commissioner Jim OConnor, a Scottsdale Republican.

OConnor had proposed the original policy statement, which includes no reference to enforcement and is somewhat moot for now as federal vaccination mandates are tied up in court.

A letter to the state-regulated utilities, which also include Arizona Public Service Co., Southwest Gas and dozens of smaller companies, would also require the utilities to file information on any employees fired for not being vaccinated with the ACC and put them on notice that the commission may impose fines/penalties on any regulated utility found in violation of this policy.

The measure passed with no discussion on a 3-2 vote, with Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Anna Tovar opposing it as they had the original policy statement.

The policy statement prohibits the companies from developing, implementing and enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies as a condition of employment.

TEP and other state-regulated utilities say they have no plans of their own to mandate vaccination or testing, beyond the current workplace-safety protocols.

Like many large employers, the Arizona utilities are closely monitoring the legal status of a Biden administration workplace-safety rule requiring employees of large employers and federal contractors be vaccinated. Utilities including TEP provide service to Arizonas military bases under federal contracts.

But the federal vaccination mandates on large private employers, federal contractors and federal employees all are now held up in various courts.

Photos: Drive-through COVID testing site opens on Tucson's west side FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing FEMA Drive-through COVID-19 testing

Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 520-573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz

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For decades, residents of Tucson, Phoenix and much of Arizona have benefited from plentiful and relatively cheap power from coal-burning power plants on Navajo tribal lands in Arizona and New Mexico.

Now that those plants are closing due to public-health and climate concerns and higher costs, state regulators are deciding what  if anything  utilities including Tucson Electric Power should contribute to help tribal and nontribal communities that stand to lose hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue due to the coal-plant shutdowns.

The Arizona Corporation Commission is setting up a series of public meetings in coal-impacted communities to help gather stakeholder input on the utilities role in a just and equitable transition away from coal to cleaner energy generation sources.

Communities including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe have already lost hundreds of high-paying power plant and mining jobs and millions of dollars in revenue due to the 2019 closure of the Navajo Generating Station near Page and the Kayenta coal mine that supplied it since the 1970s.

And those communities stand to lose even more as the Four Corners and San Juan power plants in northwestern New Mexico and TEPs Springerville plant in Eastern Arizona are set for early retirements  starting with San Juan as soon as this year.

The utility owners of the Navajo Generating Station, including plant owner-operator the Salt River Project, TEP and APS, say theyve already provided significant support to the tribes and other communities affected by the plants closure.

In filings to the Corporation Commission on behalf of the NGS owners, SRP  a self-governed water and power authority not regulated by the commission  noted that the NGS owners in 2017 decided to extend the plants operation by more than two years at a cost of about $130 million and extended lease payments to the Navajo Nation, totaling some $110 million over 35 years.

The NGS owners also transferred millions of dollars in buildings and equipment to the Navajos, agreed to fund maintenance of the transmission lines for 10 years at a cost of about $5 million, funded a solid-waste landfill and give Navajo members hiring preference for decommissioning jobs at NGS and jobs at other utility plants.

Committed to an equitable approach

TEP, APS and SRP say they have been working with the Navajo tribal and local officials about ways they can support the coal-dependent communities.

APS floated a $144 million package of transition aid to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and nontribal communities in Navajo County as part of its last rate case. Besides stakes in NGS, APS owns stakes in Four Corners and the coal-fired Cholla Power Plant, which is south of the Navajo Nation near Joseph City.

But the Corporation Commission balked at that plan, instead approving $14 million in transition aid including $10 million to the Navajo Nation over three years and $1 million to the Hopi Tribe.

TEP has not pledged any new monetary aid on its own, but the company is committed to working with with other plant co-owners on future transition aid and looks forward to the ACC process to see where it can help, TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said.

We agree theres a need to address how the transition away from coal-fired power plants to cleaner generating resources will impact surrounding communities, Barrios said. We support an equitable approach that considers the interests of our customers, local community members and all plant ownership interests.

On tribal lands, TEP owns a 7.5% stake in NGS, a 7% stake in Four Corners, and a 20% stake in San Juan.

TEP also operates and owns two of four generating units of the coal-fired Springerville Generating Station near St. Johns in Apache County, with plans to ramp down those units in cooler months before retiring Unit 1 in 2027 and Unit 2 in 2032.

TEP has formed an internal team to explore job transition and increased training and education for displaced workers and says it is working closely with the other Springerville Generating Station participants to align and coordinate community transition efforts.

Economic fallout

But the Navajo Nation wants TEP to commit millions of dollars now to help with the transition as a longtime beneficiary of power from NGS, Four Corners and San Juan.

Coal-fired power plants have provided thousands of Navajos with good paying jobs and acted as a dependable source of revenue for the Nation for decades, all the while providing Phoenix and Tucson with cost-efficient electricity, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez wrote in a filing to the ACC.

The economic fallout of such a loss to the Nation from the impending closure of these plants is highly significant, and communities across Northern Arizona are going to experience similar losses as more and more coal-fired power stations are retired.

In a letter to the Corporation Commission during TEPs rate case, the Navajo Nation said TEP should pay $61.8 million in seed funding, based on its ownership and use of the plants, plus in-kind support including technical, economic and electrification assistance, and site new utility-scale solar plants on tribal lands.

Tucson Electric Power has, for decades relied on Navajo-based coal output to meet its generation and reliability needs, Nez wrote.

TEP has not responded directly to the Navajo proposal, but spokesman Barrios cited TEPs part in the transition aid already provided by the NGS owners and its long-term plan to locate significant solar farms on tribal lands.

Barrios said the company is looking forward to further discussions as part of the ACCs general coal-transition discussions and the second phase of its rate case, which was mostly decided in 2020 but kept open for further action.

As we continue to explore options, our focus remains on developing a collaborative, inclusive process during commission proceedings, Barrios said.

Uncertainty at ACC

The Corporation Commission at its open meeting last week voted to set up a policy task force made up of utilities and stakeholders, and to hold a series of town halls in communities affected by coal-plant closures, at locations suggested by stakeholders. The town halls are expected to start this month, and the policy group is to make recommendations by May 2.

Though dates for the town halls have not yet been set, planned town-hall locations include Page, Tuba City, Black Mesa and the Kayenta and LeChee Chapters on the Navajo Reservation, and Kykotsmovi Village  the seat of Hopi government  to address needs related to the closure of NGS.

Other sites include Shiprock and Farmington, New Mexico (Four Corners); Holbrook, Joseph City and Snowflake-Taylor (Cholla); and Springerville-Eagar and St. Johns (Springerville and Coronado plants).

Virtual, online town halls also are being planned.

The policy task force consists of three subgroups that will study possible funding for transition aid to coal-impacted communities, repurposing of abandoned coal facilities and benefits and impacts to ratepayers.

But whether the Corporation Commission will act on recommendations of transition aid remains to be seen.

The two Democrats on the five-member commission, Sandra Kennedy and Anna Tovar, have expressed strong support for utility-funded transition aid.

Among the Republican commissioners, Justin Olson has said he will not support any utility aid that would be borne by ratepayers.

During discussion at the open meeting last week, Olson said he supports job placement and other help the utilities can provide in the normal course of business but opposes transition costs that would tax ratepayers, contending that ordering such aid would be beyond the commissions constitutional authority.

Republican Jim OConnor voted against the policy task force and town halls, though he had supported the scaled-down aid approved in the APS rate case.

Corporation Commission Chairwoman Lea Marquez Peterson said any transition aid would have to meet several conditions to win her support, including clear plans and accountability for money spent, the support of the tribes and other stakeholders and a single entity to lead the transition programs in each community.

I need to see clear evidence demonstrating the responsibility of ratepayers as well as how the commission should quantify the amount of funds, she said, adding that any funding should be earmarked for Arizona residents only.

Several Western states and the federal government have already moved to help coal-affected communities.

In 2019, New Mexico earmarked $40 million in funding for worker retraining and economic support for power plant and mine workers associated with San Juan Generating Station, and Colorado last year established a state Office of Just Transition and appropriated $15 million aid to help coal-mining communities.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration last year formed an Interagency Working Group to help funnel federal aid to affected communities, and several bills in Congress  including one sponsored by Arizona District 1 Democrat Rep. Tom OHalleran  would earmark funding for community transition programs.

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The morning of Feb. 1 began like any other in the life of Jillian Cantor: coffee, breakfast, help get the boys off to school.

But it was hardly another everyday day for one of Tucsons most popular and successful authors. It was pub day, publication day, release day for her 11th novel, Beautiful Little Fools.

HarperCollins is betting it will be Cantors biggest seller yet. Harpers first edition in the U.S. had a press run of 100,000 copies  a big number for anyone writing popular fiction. The book released last month in Australia, and was chosen book of the month by Australian Womens Weekly.

Still, pub day came with butterflies.

I get nervous every time, Cantor said. So, I have this book Ive been working on and thinking about every day for two or three years. Then, at long last, its out in the world for everyone to read. I feel the way I did during finals in college. Ive done all this work. Now Im about to find out how I did.

There was a time when authors would start pub days at the airport, embarking on book tours that would include stops at bookstores, libraries and book festivals.

These numbing adventures were grounded by the COVID-19 outbreak two years ago, so todays book tours are digital  virtual conversations shared with readers on Zoom, Crowdcast and Facebook Live.

On Feb. 1, Cantor took part in two of these sessions. One was with a Facebook reading group. The other was staged by the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and included fellow novelist Fiona Davis.

If I have my own pub day tradition, its a glass of Champagne in the evening, Cantor said. I wasnt out on tour this time, but I did have that glass of Champagne.

In the last two weeks, Cantor has visited with 10 book groups from coast to coast. In the next week, she will speak with readers in Seattle, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

In-person and on-screen book tours both come with pluses and minuses, she said. What I miss from an in-person tour is physically being in a bookstore and surrounded by books  and real people who love them. One of the rewarding things about digital tours is being able to present with authors I love to read. Like Fiona Davis. Ive been in conversations with authors all over.

In Beautiful Little Fools, Cantor revisits East Egg, Pembroke and the events painted so vividly by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his American classic, The Great Gatsby.

Fitzgeralds book concludes with Gatsby at the bottom of his pool. Cantors book begins there, with the investigation into the homeowners murder.

The women of Gatsby quickly become suspects, so their stories  and their lives  take centerstage in Beautiful Little Fools. Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson said next to nothing in Fitzgeralds novel. It turns out they had a lot to talk about.

Cantor describes her book as part retelling, part mystery and part historical fiction. The cultural context is key. In Beautiful Little Fools, Cantor explores the role played by women in the early 20th century, an era better known for loud, brash men.

Strong-minded, underappreciated women have become Cantors calling card since she published her first historical novel, Margot, in 2013.

It featured Margot Frank, Annes sister. The Hours Count introduced us to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Half Life reimagined the career choices made by Marie Currie.

Cantors biggest seller so far was The Lost Letter, which honored World War II freedom fighters in Europe. It has been translated and published in 12 languages.

Cantor says he she found her voice, and her audience, with Margot.

Ive always been drawn to strong women, extraordinary women who do extraordinary things but have been forgotten by history, Cantor said. Margot Frank was the first one I wrote about. I loved doing it. It was pretty well-received. That kind of got me going.

Cantor was one of the early travelers down the road of historical fiction that featured little-known women. Today, it has exploded into one of the most popular subgenres in fiction. Dozens of such stories dot the bestseller lists. Particularly popular are tales of heroic women during World War II.

Beautiful Little Fools is an interesting departure. Instead of featuring real-life characters, Cantors protagonists are fictional. No one is likely to complain. Daisy Buchanan may be the most famous woman in literature, perhaps better-known today than any of the women Cantor has featured before.

Its been fun, Cantor said. Like everybody else, I read the book and saw the movies. At some point I realized we never learned much about Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle. So 

Not all of Cantors upcoming audiences will be digital. She will take part in the Tucson Festival of Books March 12-13 at the University of Arizona.

FOOTNOTES

Writer, author and graphic designer Wynne Brown will serve as the Writer in Residence this Spring at the Pima County Public Library. She has written four books and a number of deeply-researched stories for newspapers and magazines. She will offer eight, one-hour, one-on-one sessions each week to discuss your own story or book. She also will do interactive writing workshops on March 12 and April 23. For further information, visit the librarys website, library.pima.gov

Joy Williams, who divides her time between Tucson and Laramie, Wyoming, is a finalist for this years Jean Stein Award from PEN America. A Pulitzer Prize winner and finalist for the National Book Award, Williams most recently authored Harrow. The Jean Stein Award comes with a cash prize of $75,000.

Historian Annette Gordon-Reed will receive this years Founders Award from the Tucson Festival of Books. It will be presented March 11. Gordon-Reed will be here for the book festival, which will begin the following day at the University of Arizona.

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The Islamic Center of Tucson wants the college students who live in the high-rise apartment buildings across the street to stop throwing objects onto its property.

Its been a problem for years, and the most recent incident happened last month. Video footage from the mosques security system shows unidentified people dropping boxes from the balconies of the Sol Y Luna apartments, a popular private luxury student housing complex located on the outskirts of the University of Arizona campus.

A similar situation occurred last fall, when residents in the same complex threw glass bottles and cans from the apartments into the centers parking lot.

I have no idea what their objective is, said Muhammad Zaki, outreach director for the Islamic Center. Sometimes I feel like when theyre throwing these items, they have something to prove to their friends. These are college students  theyre young adults  theyre not children, so theyre well aware of their actions.

While it may seem like harmless mischief to the students throwing the objects, Zaki is worried it could lead to more serious consequences, including injuring pedestrians and patrons of the Islamic Center.

Nelson Partners owns Sol Y Luna apartments. Our team has reported this incident to local law enforcement. We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement during this ongoing investigation, Ashley Lott, a representative for Nelson, told the Star in an email Friday.

Additionally, we regularly communicate to our residents about issues related to their conduct, behavior, and their responsibilities of their guests. Our lease agreement strictly prohibits unlawful acts, as well as requiring adherence to all local ordinances and laws, Lott said. Violation of these policies have consequences that can lead up to and/or result in eviction. Upon the conclusion of the law enforcement investigation, we will move forward with taking the appropriate actions against the individual(s) identified in the investigation.

Zaki said that while he understands those apartments are not official property of the University of Arizona, the university should just go ahead and step in, because the Islamic Center has been there longer than many of these students have been alive.

The UA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The presence of the Islamic Center dates to the 1960s, when UA students founded it, according to the centers website.

Not who we are

We have a Muslim community, and a Muslim student community as well, and we dont want anyone whos coming to the center to feel its not a safe place because of everything thats being thrown, Zaki said.

It needs to be safe for the general public as well. If youre on the street and something just flies out of a doorway it could hurt somebody  it could even kill somebody.

Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik said this is a problem hes been concerned about for a long time. He said Nelson Properties has not been responsive enough to whats been happening, so hes reached out to the city attorney for further assistance.

I want to talk about the actions we can take to have this property declared a nuisance property and shut it down. Thats the only way Nelson Properties is going to respond  is if we go for the jugular, Kozachik said. Even if Nelson is willing to wait for someone to get seriously injured or killed, were not.

Kozachik noted that an estimated 450-500 refugees now live in Tucson after fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban took control of the country last August.

Theyre over here right now and a lot of them have serious psychological trauma, said Kozachik, whose office has been directly involved in gathering donations and resettling Afghans in Tucson. Incidents like this are only going to exacerbate that and make them wonder where can I go?

From his view, the vast majority of this community is completely supportive of the Afghan refugees and the Muslim community reflected by them, Kozachik said. As for the student-residents seen throwing objects into whats supposed to be a haven for Muslim community members, that behavior does not reflect who we are.

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The University of Arizonas recent announcement of its plans to absorb the UA Global Campus, an online school with a troubled past, is causing a stir among the faculty  but the deal will go forward, the university president says.

In the two weeks since the Arizona Board of Regents publicly endorsed UA President Robert Robbins plan for the UA to fold UA Global Campus, formerly known as the for-profit online school Ashford University, into its operation, the UA Faculty Senate has held two meetings about the deal.

Faculty representatives chief concerns include shared governance, costs, liability and student outcomes.

$1 billion liability

In these meetings, which top UA administrators including Robbins have also attended, some faculty have asked about the possibility of halting the merger altogether.

But thats not an option.

When we entered into this agreement over a year ago, the UA Foundation signed the temporary program participation agreement. We then indemnified the UA Foundation as the university, so if we just walked away from it and let it go then we would be on the hook for all of the money, Robbins told the Faculty Senate.

If the whole thing fell apart it would be over $1 billion in liability, he said.

The UA is still in the early stages of figuring out the details of what merging UA Global Campus 28,000 students and their faculty into the UA will look like.

Despite executing both the 2020 acquisition of Ashfords assets and this most recent merger with minimal faculty input, Robbins assured UA faculty hell consult them moving forward.

Theres no question about it. Theres mistrust, Robbins said Monday. The way I think we build the trust back is to engage and ask you to work with us on these issues. It wont be overnight, but well have to agree to work together to try to implement serving these students.

Although the UA has estimated it will take at least 18 months to refine its plan, faculty are already asking what UA Global Campus students can expect once the school is part of the UA.

At a Faculty Senate meeting two weeks ago, UA Provost Liesl Folks said this merger doesnt likely involve integrating the faculties or the student bodies because it disrupts all of the ways in which our rank and reputation measures are made.

When we look at other institutions that have been through exactly this process it is very likely that we will follow a similar path, Folks said, noting similar deals at Purdue University and the University of Maryland.

That means the UA would still have our traditional campus students, our online process for which the entry qualifications are the same for our existing degrees, and the accessible enrollment process operating for UAGC.

The UA Global Campus merger was prompted by the U.S. Department of Educations threat last November to strip UA Global Campus of its Title IV funding eligibility, which allows it to collect federal student loans and Pell Grants. The department, which has not yet recognized UA Global Campus nonprofit status, originally wanted either a consolidated audit from UA Global Campus and the UA Foundation, which is backing the schools finances, or a $103 million letter of credit.

The UA countered with a third option, which the department accepted, and the university agreed to add its signature to a temporary agreement that makes the UA jointly and severally responsible with UAF and UAGC for any Title IV liabilities.

Although that option may ultimately be a viable path forward for the UA parties to restructure their relationship, the department wrote to all three parties in late December, it said it does not consider it a viable option in the near term to cure UAGCs failure to submit the required audit.

The merger moved forward and both the UA and UA Global Campus agreed to void a condition signed in 2020, when the UA first acquired Ashfords assets, that UA Global Campus and the UA would remain two separate entities, with two separate governing bodies, for at least three years.

Zovio raising red flags

At the time of the 2020 deal, multiple UA insiders  and outsiders  blasted the deal, with faculty from the UAs Eller College of Management calling it a catastrophic mistake.

Part of that characterization stemmed from the abundance of legal trouble Ashford and its former parent company, Zovio, have faced over the years. A California judge is currently deliberating how to rule after a trial recently concluded in a lawsuit the state attorney general filed against Zovio and Ashford. It alleged the defendants misled students about the cost and quality of an Ashford education.

According to court documents filed one day after Robbins announced the merger, the state of California has asked for both a $100 million settlement as well as an injunction against Zovio and all of its officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, affiliates, assigns and successors, in connection with Zovios communications to prospective or current (UA Global Campus) students located in California and/or to communications made by Zovio employees located in California to UAGC Students.

Its not clear how quickly the California courts decision will come  it could be weeks or months. Nonetheless, Zovio, which is still in a 15-year contract to provide operations services to UA Global Campus, is central to the UA Faculty Senates misgivings about the merger.

Why are we working with this organization? Students lives were ruined because of Zovio and Ashford, Lucy Ziurys, a faculty senator and professor of chemistry, said at last weeks Faculty Senate meeting. Ziurys quoted testimony from the California trial in which a former UA Global Campus employee said Ashford and Zovios historic misconduct has not ceased under the banner of UA Global Campus.

Jon Dudas, senior vice president and secretary of the UA, dismissed that witness testimony as the hyperbole of a disgruntled former employee.

Still, Ziurys wanted to know, what is the University of Arizonas plan to correct what Zovio has been doing with the students and this institution?

It seems like with such corruption in this organization, we would have to almost wipe the slate clean and start over to make it a viable and ethical student education endeavor, Ziurys said.

Gail Burd, senior vice provost at the UA who also serves on the UA Global Campus Board of Directors, said last week that while Zovio remains a part of the deal right now, we dont need Zovio, and that its their practices were trying to change. UA Global Campus, she added, is the part we want.

I dont think you have to worry about the UA Global Campus, and theyre working very hard to eliminate Zovios practices, Burd said.

When pressed by faculty for metrics and other evidence of those changes, Burd said we just dont have it to show you right now. Dudas followed up to say that with this merger, we have the opportunity to hold UAGC and their contractor, Zovio, even more accountable.

The Arizona Daily Star submitted a public records request for an internal secret shopper investigation of Zovios recent practices, which administrators said UA Global Campus conducted, but the UA said that was under UA Global Campus purview. A public records request to the school resulted in this response Thursday: UAGC is not subject to public records requests as a private entity, and the secret shopper reports are subject to attorney-client privilege regardless.

On Monday, multiple faculty members asked if there would be any costs involved with integrating the two schools.

It depends in this case. It depends on how much money UAGC brings across in their transition into the university, Robbins said. Thats unknown right now because it hinges on how Zovio is involved in the operation  for how long and how much money Zovio transfers over to UAGC. I dont know anybody that knows the answer to that right now.

And Zovio, which saw a 39% drop in its 2021 third-quarter earnings compared to the same period in 2020, may not remain in the picture at all. Robbins said UA Global Campus would have to agree to terminate its contract with Zovio, but that I think we would all agree that would be the best course of action.

Collaborating predators?

What is known right now, however, is at least one student was so displeased with their experience at Ashford and UA Global Campus they testified about it to the U.S. Department of Education last month.

I currently have about $200,000 in PLUS and graduate PLUS loans because of Ashford and UAGC. I feel like the school is keeping me in the program just to continue charging me tuition, Jonelle Dougherty, a Navy reservist and UA Global Campus student, told the department.

Even though my school has changed names and corporate ownership twice since I started, the quality of instruction and disregard of student interests has never improved. I hope the Education Department will develop new rules to ensure that only schools with high-quality instructional practices are entitled to receive federal student aid funding.

Fears that those kinds of experiences are pervasive and ongoing under the UA Global Campus  not isolated incidences like UA administrators and Zovio defendants have claimed  are also driving faculty concerns about the merger.

What do we say to (these students)? Are we becoming collaborating predators? Theodore Downing, a professor in the Latin American Studies Department and a faculty senator, asked Robbins Monday. Would you address them directly if they were sitting in front of you with a crummy degree, lack of a job and huge student debt?

Robbins admitted there were definitely some students who were taken advantage of and they will get restitution when these lawsuits come to final settlement. But, he said, thats exactly why we should be taking these students into the University of Arizona.

It would seem Robbins is counting on that.

Hours before he attended the Faculty Senate meeting Monday, he was up in Chandler with UA Global Campus CEO and President Paul Pastorek, who also chairs the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, cutting the ribbon at the schools headquarters.

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Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, 520-496-9010.

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Lubbock, TX (79409)

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VIJAYAWADA: After the state health department issued an order to transfer regular employees who completed five years of service at one facility, by Feb. 28, huge money is changing hands either for transfer or to avoid transfer in Andhra Pradesh. Some unions are also deeply involved in the racket.

The health, medical and family welfare department issued GO-Rt-40 on January 28, with guidelines for transfer of regular employees this month. Accordingly, all transfers are to be made through online procedure for those who completed five years of service at a station across cadres.

Those who are transferred shall be relieved immediately on receipt of the transfer order. Under any circumstance, the person shall be deemed to have been relieved at the end of seven days from the date of receipt of the transfer order.

All the applications on transfer shall reach the competent authority by Feb. 15 and such applications are to be examined and processed on or before Feb. 18.

All the postings will be allocated online and transfer proceedings will be generated online. Several committees are constituted, headed by top health officials including the director of medical education, commissioner of APVVP, commissioner of family welfare, director of public health etc, to conduct counselling. After this, the competent authorities will issue transfer orders.

However, a section of doctors, health personnel, paramedics and office staff are availing every tactic either to move to their place of choice or to stay back on one pretext or another by bribing the higher-ups.

State health sources allege that several lakhs of rupees are changing hands in relation to these transfers. The quantum of the amount demanded as bribe depends upon the demand for one or another station to get posting order and also based on the cadre.

The recent memo issued by the health department to allow office-bearers of recognised service associations for six years to work at a station without any transfer has come in handy to several health staff to avoid transfer.

The memo mentioned that office-bearers like president, secretary, treasurer, associate president, vice president, joint secretary working at state, district and taluk units can avail this facility. The memo listed out 106 recognised associations in the state.

Accordingly, the health staff are running upto these associations to get letters from them stating that they are their officer-bearers and are eligible to seek exemption from transfer. The association leaders give such a certificate and take hefty amounts as bribe.

Though some associations are turning down such requests, several others are tempted to issue such letters by taking money. Such letters are then used to claim an exemption from transfer.

A senior health official said, The health department intended to hold the whole exercise of transfer through online mode in a transparent manner. But, a section of health officials and personnel are resorting to the illegal practice of bribing one or the other to get either a transfer order or evade it.

Moreover, as the timing of the transfers is said to be wrong in terms of the education of children etc. Several of the health staff are trying to avoid it by citing one excuse or the other or by paying bribes.
PHOENIX  Legislation approved Thursday by a Senate panel could result in the federal government once again suing Arizona over its laws dealing with illegal immigration.

Without comment, the Judiciary Committee voted to make it a felony to transport or harbor someone not in this country legally. Senate Bill 1379 also would impose the same penalty on those who encourage or induce someone from another country to come here in violation of law.

The proposal by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, takes an existing law  a part of the states highly controversial SB 1070  and increases the penalty.

But attorneys for the state signed a deal in 2014 with the U.S. Department of Justice agreeing not to enforce that law.

In exchange, federal attorneys said they would drop their legal challenge to the papers, please part of SB 1070, the 2010 law that sought to create new state laws to deter illegal immigration.

That deal was reduced to an order signed by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton permanently enjoining enforcement of the law.

At a hearing Thursday, Rogers said she was simply trying to provide a new tool for border sheriffs like Mark Dannels of Cochise County to use against smugglers.

Rogers never mentioned the 2014 court order  or even indicated she was aware of it  as the Republican-dominated Judiciary Committee approved the measure on a 5-3 party line vote.

Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, who voted against SB 1379, told Capitol Media Services after Thursdays hearing that the state is risking being dragged back into federal court over an issue that was settled years ago.

This was an agreement that the state of Arizona made knowing that it would have been struck down anyway, he said of the underlying law.

The fact that were amending it and now were going to ask to enforce it, were putting ourselves right back into court, Quezada said. Thats all that this is doing, nothing more than that.

Rogers did not return messages seeking comment.

She indicated during Thursdays hearing she knows the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states cannot enforce federal laws. But Rogers did not address the fact that attorneys for the state signed the agreement, after the high court ruling, not to implement any law on transporting or harboring people not here legally.

Underlying law

SB 1070 was designed to give state and local police more power to detain those who are not in U.S. legally.

Many provisions were voided in a historic 2012 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court said the state cannot prosecute those seeking work in Arizona without being in this country legally and those failing to carry federally issued registration cards. It also ruled Arizona cannot allow warrantless arrests if there is probable cause a person committed an offense that makes them removable from the country under federal law. The justices said all three provisions illegally conflict with  and are preempted  by federal law.

However, the court said there was nothing inherently wrong with SB 1070s requirement for police to check the immigration status of those they have stopped. But they warned that the law could still be found unconstitutional if there was evidence people were being unfairly stopped or detained for long periods of time.

In 2014, however, the Department of Justice agreed to dismiss the federal governments further challenges to that part of the law.

In exchange, then-Gov. Jan Brewer and then-Attorney General Tom Horne, both Republicans, agreed to a permanent injunction against the provisions of the law dealing with the transporting and harboring of those not here legally. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton signed that as a court order.

A spokesman for Brewer said at the time that the state lost nothing in refusing to defend the harboring law, noting there already was a preliminary injunction against its enforcement.

Rogers ups the stakes

The law remained on the books, though  unenforceable and largely unnoticed  until Rogers picked it up and decided to resurrect it, complete with a new penalty of a felony instead of the original misdemeanor.

It is obviously a clear violation of that agreement, Quezada said of SB 1379.

Kim Quintero, who handles publicity for Senate Republicans, noted that all measures go to the Rules Committee, which is supposed to determine if proposals are constitutional before they go to the Senate floor for debate.

But it is up to lawmakers themselves  and not the attorneys providing the advice  to decide the issue. And there is a history of legislators ignoring what the lawyers tell them.

There was no immediate response from the Department of Justice about what action, if any, it will take if the Legislature approves the measure and tries to enforce it.

Quezada said it may be that SB 1379 is all about publicity. This is a platform, he said. This is nothing more than Sen. Rogers getting up on her soap box and talking bad about aliens and immigrants. Thats all this is and nothing else.

But Rogers, during committee discussion on the measure, said she was trying to help border sheriffs who need new tools.

Arizona doesnt have any actionable laws against human smuggling, she said. That leaves law enforcement having to find some state laws that might fit, such as for traffic violations or trespassing, Rogers said.

Dannels, whom Rogers quoted during the hearing, told Capitol Media Services there is an impact from the lack of a specific state statute.

We get 900 to 1,000 cars a month coming to Cochise County to pick up the illegals, he said. The only thing we have to address that is state violations for things like speeding, reckless driving, of course the pursuits, which are off the charts.

The Republican sheriff said he was not really familiar with Rogers proposal. But he said he and other law enforcers are looking for laws that can help us deter those that are trying to get involved in the smuggling aspect of this.

Im not an immigration officer, Dannels said. But I am into the criminal aspect of it because its promoting negative consequences into our community, and those who are being exploited by the cartels.

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Tribes need more federal support to implement critical water infrastructure projects on their lands, an Arizona tribal leader told a House subcommittee this week.

Pascua Yaqui Chairman Peter Yucupicio told a House Transportation subcommittee that means more than just including infrastructure funding in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, it also means ensuring that tribes get a fair shot at the federal infrastructure program. He said tribes have had trouble utilizing the money, if they knew it was available to them at all.

The tribe was lucky to hear about the availability of funds for the EI (environmental infrastructure) program in the first place, Yucupicio said Tuesday of the Pascua Yaqui. Since the program is not formally noticed to Indian tribes, more should be done to assist tribes.

Yucupicio was one of several tribal and local witnesses outlining their water infrastructure needs to the Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment during its hearing on the biennial bill that funds everything from drinking water projects to harbor improvements across the country.

Yucupicio called for increased engagement by the Army Corps of Engineers with tribes, ensuring that tribes are notified of available funds ahead of deadlines and that the Corps counsels individual tribes interested in participating.

Its very critical all the tribes that live in the dry desert like we do  have that relationship with the Army Corps, Yucupicio said.

That was echoed by Darrell Seki Sr., chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

Congress should direct the Army Corps to hire a tribal liaison for each district to increase government-to-government consultation to ensure the tribal concerns are addressed in a timely manner, Seki said.

Critics also said the cost-share provision  which requires grant recipients to put up 25% of a projects cost to the federal governments 75%  can be too steep for tribes. Yucupicio said the requirement should be updated to either allow tribes to use other federal funding to pay their share or be eliminated entirely.

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, who asked Yucupicio to testify, agreed that the Corps needs to be as flexible as possible when negotiating payment.

In addition to water infrastructure needs, theyve got education needs, air quality needs, health care needs, just like anywhere else, Stanton said of tribal governments. So their budgets are already stretched pretty thin. We dont want water infrastructure to be put at the bottom of the priority list.

Stanton was the lead sponsor on a bipartisan bill in 2019, with four Arizona co-sponsors, that called for creation of a $150 million federal fund overseen by the Corps of Engineers and dedicated to water projects in Arizona. That bill later became part of the 2020 water resources bill.

Stanton said tribes are a vital part of the solution to the states ongoing water challenges.

Theres no more important issue to our state than protecting our water resources. So this is not an option; we need them (tribes) to be successful, he said.

Last year, the Pascua Yaqui got the first part of a $1.4 million award from the environmental infrastructure program for a pipeline to carry irrigation water to the tribe. The Army Corps is scheduled to release the second part of the grant to the tribe this year.

We will save about 16 million gallons of potable water, which can be used to supply water for 375 homes on our reservation, Yucupicio said. That means a lot to our small tribe.

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After a year and a half of off and on COVID restrictions, many of us have turned to planning our next vacation. And if youd rather pay for your next trip with points and miles instead of dollars, then this may be the right time for you to take a look at the best travel rewards cards.

Best Flexible Points Card : Chase Sapphire Preferred

: Chase Sapphire Preferred Best Airline Card : FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard

: FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard Best Hotel Card : World of Hyatt Credit Card

: World of Hyatt Credit Card Best Premium Card : Capital One Venture X

: Capital One Venture X Best No-fee Card : Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card

: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card Best Small Business Card: Chase Ink Business Preferred

Credit Repair companies can help you repair and improve your credit so you can apply for the credit card of your choice. Bad credit can weigh you down. Find out what credit repair can offer you.

Best Flexible Points Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred

This card offers Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to a participating airline or hotel partner that best meet your needs, such as United, Southwest, JetBlue and Hyatt hotels. Or, your rewards can be redeemed directly for travel reservations made through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Pros:

60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening

Earn double points for dining and travel expenses

Transfer points to airline and hotel partners, or book travel directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Cons:

$95 annual fee

1:1 transfer rate to Marriott and IHG doesnt offer much value

This card sets the standard for flexible points as its Ultimate Rewards program allows you to transfer your rewards to several high-value travel partners. This card currently offers 60,000 bonus points after you use it to spend $4,000 on purchases within first three months of account opening. Youll earn double points on all travel and dining purchases, and 1 point on all other purchases.

Best Airline Card: FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard

What if you could fly with a discount carrier, but enjoy more perks and benefits than youd receive from a legacy airline? Thats the benefit of the FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard.

Pros:

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after paying the annual fee and spending just $500 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.

Every dollar you spend earns one mile towards elite status

Earn a $100 Flight Voucher every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases during your cardmembership year

Earn 5x miles on eligible Frontier purchases, and 3x miles at restaurants

Cons:

Until you reach elite status, expect numerous fees when you fly Frontier for things other airlines often include

$89 annual fee.

Frontier is a discount carrier based in Denver, but they are one of the fastest growing airlines in the U.S. with service to over 100 destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. The Frontier Airlines Mastercard is unique among airline credit cards in that it counts every dollar spent as a mile that can be used towards elite status. The first tier of status is reached after earning 20,000 miles from flying, after spending $20,000 on your card, or after 25 flight segments annually. Benefits of this first tier of elite status include advanced seat assignment, free carry-on bag and priority boarding at participating airports, saving you plenty of money on the extra fees normally charged.

This card does have a $89 annual fee, but thats more than justified by the $100 flight voucher you earn every year (after using the card to spend $2,500 or more annually).

Best Hotel Card: World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt loyalty program is way of ahead of its competitors and this card is the best way to enjoy premium card benefits.

Pros:

Earn up to 60,000 bonus points after meeting purchase requirements

Receive a free-night-stay certificate each year, and a second after spending $15,000 in a calendar year

Receive entry level status and earn night stay credits towards higher status

4x points at Hyatt plus 2x points on transit, restaurants, flights, fitness clubs and gyms

Cons:

$95 annual fee

Hyatt has moved to a more dynamic award pricing system which will charge more points for the most desirable properties during peak travel.

The World of Hyatt card really lets you unlock more value from the popular loyalty program, as it offers plenty of bonus points, free-night-stay certificates and credits towards elite status. To start, you can earn up to 60,000 bonus points; earn the first 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within three months of account opening and another 30,000 points more by earning 2x points per dollar spent on purchases (up to $15,000) within first six months of account opening.

You also get a free-night-stay certificate each year, and a second certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year (on Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resorts). Other benefits include entry-level Discoverist status plus an annual five qualifying night credits each year, and two additional qualifying night credits when you spend $5,000 on your card. Award nights start at 5,000 points, but I find that most mid-tier properties in small and medium sized cities require 8,000  15,000 points per night, which is still reasonable. That said, Hyatt is moving to a more dynamic pricing system later this year, which will charge more points during peak seasons and fewer points during periods of low-occupancy. Theres a $95 annual fee for this card.

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Best Premium Card: Capital One Venture X Rewards

This new card offers double miles on all purchases, and comes with an excellent array of cardholder benefits.

Pros:

Earn 100,000 bonus miles, worth $1,000 in travel statement credits or 100,000 airline miles, after spending $10,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.

Earn 5x on flights and 10x on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One.

$300 annual travel credit and $200 vacation rental credit.

Miles are worth one cent each towards travel statement credits, or transfer 1:1 to over 15 airline and hotel partners.

Numerous travel benefits including Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership and access to Capital One lounges.

Free cards for additional authorized cardholders.

Cons:

$395 annual fee

The new Capital One Venture X Rewards is a great card for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards and enjoy premium benefits. You can earn 100,000 Capital One Miles after spending $10,000 within six months of account opening. This card also offers 10x points for hotel and car rentals and 5x on airfare when you purchase travel through Capital One. You also receive a $300 annual travel credit and a $200 credit towards a vacation rental.

Miles can be redeemed for one cents each as travel statement credits or can be transferred to airline and hotel partners. Benefits include a $100 credit towards the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership and access to the new Capital One airline lounges. Theres a $395 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees.

Best No-fee Card: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card

The VentureOne Rewards Card is a great travel rewards card with no annual fee that offers you travel statement credits and the ability to transfer your miles to airline and hotel programs.

Pros:

Earn 25,000 bonus miles, after spending just $500 on purchases within first three months of account opening.

Earn 1.25 miles on all purchases that can be redeemed as statement credits towards travel purchases or transferred to participating airline and hotel programs at a 1:1 ratio.

No annual fee

Cons:

You only earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent

Capital One offers this no-fee version of its flagship Venture Rewards cards with real value to those who want a travel rewards card without an annual fee. This card offers 20,000 bonus miles (worth $200 in travel statement credits) after spending $500 in new purchases within first three months of account opening.

Youll earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent, and miles are worth one cent each as statement credits towards any travel purchase you make with your card.

Alternatively, you can transfer your rewards to participating airline miles or hotel programs, giving you additional redemption options. Capital One miles transfer to most airline programs at a ratio of 2:1.5, but they recently added several new airline transfer partners with a more favorable 1:1 ratio.

Best Small Business Card: Chase Ink Business Preferred

The Ink Business Preferred card offers you plenty of opportunities to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards Points on frequent business purchases.

Pros:

Receive 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within three months of account opening

Earn 3x points on up to $150,000 spent each year on business categories such as telecommunications, shipping, advertising and travel

Rewards are earned in the Ultimate Rewards Program and can be transferred to participating airline miles or hotel points

Includes several travel insurance and purchase protection benefits

Cons:

$95 annual fee

If youre looking to leverage your small business purchases to earn travel rewards, then this is the card for you. Youll begin with the chance to earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Then youll earn 3x points on up to $150,000 spent each year in combined business categories such as internet, cable and phone, shipping, advertising (made with social media sites and search engines), and travel purchase. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed directly for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or they can be transferred to participating airline miles or hotel partners. Theres a $95 annual fee for this card.

A credit repair company could improve your chances of getting approved. Credit Repair companies, like Credit Saint, specialize in finding and helping you remove mistakes on your report to help you improve your credit.

Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards:

Q. Should I get a travel rewards card if I carry a balance? As with any rewards credit card, travel rewards cards are best used by those who avoid interest by paying their balance in full. Those who are unable to do that should focus on finding a low interest-rate credit card that doesnt offer travel rewards. The exception could be a small business owner that uses a credit card as a short term line of credit in order run his or her business.

Q. Should I start earning travel rewards now, even if I wont be traveling until later this year or next year? The best time to start earning travel rewards is long before you actually plan on using them. Thats because it will take time to receive the card, qualify for a bonus and receive the bonus points. Plus, it may take even longer to earn any additional points or miles you need for your next trip. Finally, youll likely want to book your trip several months before you plan on traveling.

Q. What happens to your airline miles or hotel points earned from your credit card if you cancel the card? Frequent flyer mile and hotel cards award points or miles in programs operated by airlines and hotel chains. Once those rewards are in your airline or hotel account, they are subject to the rules of that program, regardless of whether you keep the card. But when the rewards are with a program operated by the card issuer, then they could be forfeited if you cancel the card and dont have another card that is part of the same program.

Q. Which is best, airline miles, hotel points or flexible rewards? These travel rewards programs all have their strengths and weakness, and the right program for you will be the card that offers the most value per dollar spent on purchases. Hotel rewards tend to be the most flexible, while airline miles can still offer plenty of value if you understand how each program works. Flexible points programs can offer the best of both airline and hotel programs, but theyll lack the company-specific perks that airline and hotel cards offer.

How we chose the best travel rewards cards

To find the best travel rewards cards, we first divided the market into the six most popular types of cards. Then we looked at the travel rewards credit cards offered by all of the major card issuers. Each of their travel rewards credit card offers were examined and compared to other travel rewards cards. We focused at the initial bonus offered, bonus rewards for certain purchases and travel specific features and benefits. The winners were the cards that offered the most valuable rewards and benefits in each category.

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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.

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Valentines Day, which is traditionally one of the busiest days for restaurants, this year happens to fall on a Monday, traditionally a day when many fine dining establishments are closed.

But just as true love always triumphs in the end of romantic comedies, a number of area restaurants are determined to help the course of romance along, by offering special menus and promotions designed for two.

Most of the establishments listed below will be serving on Monday, Feb. 14  including those that are traditionally closed on the first day of the work week. Others have started early, with Valentines Day specials that can be enjoyed in advance of the holiday itself.

As is the case with dining out on any holiday, reservations are recommended to ensure scoring a table for you and your Valentine.

Prossimo Ristorante

1550 E. 15th St. 918-271-5096, prossimoristorante.com

Prossimo will serve a special Valentines Day dinner for two that will feature an Italian twist on shrimp cocktail, Tuscan kale soup, house-made pasta with white truffles, and a choice of pan-roasted duck breast, grilled rib-eye steak or seared Chilean sea bass for an entree. Dessert is a strawberry mascarpone and chocolate tart. Cost is $160 for two; suggested wine pairings for each dish is $120.

Polo Grill

2038 Utica Square

The Polo Grill is offering a special series of wine dinners each Sunday in February, in recognition of Black History Month, that feature products from Black-owned wineries, as well as recipes inspired by local African-American cooks. It also will be open regular hours on Valentines Day, serving its regular menu, which is more than worthy of special occasions.

Prospect Local Bar & Kitchen

121 S. Elgin Ave., in Hotel Indigo

Get an early start on Valentines Day with Prospect Local Bar & Kitchens Surf & Turf special, available 5 to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12. The menu includes a charcuterie board for two; choice of Caesar salad or butternut squash soup; and a grilled beef tenderloin topped with garlic-herb butter with a shrimp-and-scallop Alfredo; potato gnocchi, baby broccoli and carrots. A strawberry honey custard with lemon curd and white chocolate mousse serves as dessert. Cost is $39 per person. The Hotel Indigo is also offering special Valentines Day room packages  for more information, call 918-779-4445.

Lowood Modern Woodfire

817 E. Third St.

Lowood will have its regular menu available for Valentines Day, as well as a special tasting menu featuring such items as Georges Bank diver scallops over parsnip puree, mushroom risotto, gnocchi, and woodfire plancha lamb chops. A vegetarian, gluten-free menu, which can be made vegan upon request, is also available.

Oren

3509 S. Peoria Ave.

Oren will serve a special four-course Valentines menu Feb. 12 and Feb. 14. Diners can select from a trio of starters, including Kumomoto oysters; second courses that range from a lamb tart to chantrelle mushroom risotto; a quartet of main dishes such as roasted duck breast and Snake River wagyu strip loin steak; and desserts. Each course has vegetarian options.

Margarets German Restaurant

5107 S. Sheridan Road

Margarets has a new owner, Angella Elwell, who has taken over this Tulsa landmark from Margaret Rzepczynski, and it will help mark the transition with a special Valentines Day meal, with service beginning at 6 p.m. The menu features a charcuterie board for starters, followed by tomato soup with sour cream and chives; a salad of romaine lettuce, English cucumber, grape tomatoes, goat cheese, rye croutons and a wild honey vinaigrette. Main course is a choice of balsamic-glazed chicken breast with green beans and toasted garlic jasmine rice, or a roasted pork tenderloin with a cherry and red wine reduction, fingerling potatoes and green beans. Dessert is bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Cost is $60 per person, and reservations will be accepted through Saturday, Feb. 12.

Roka Bar & Asian Flavors

1616 S. Utica Ave.

Roka will be starting its Valentines Day celebrations early, as it will begin serving a special Valentines Day dinner for two on Thursday, Feb. 10, through Monday, Feb. 14. A couple can select from a quartet of appetizers, including lettuce wraps and potstickers, then choose from 10 entrees ranging from Firecracker Tofu and Pad Thai to Mongolian Barbecue and Rice Paper Salmon. Banana cream pie and bread pudding are dessert options. Cost is $45.

In the Raw

Various locations

Tulsas three In the Raw locations will be offering several special dishes for Valentines Day, such as the beef tenderloin crostini, a maple miso salmon with blistered tomato linguini, dessert bao buns and a candy-floss topped cocktail called the Empress of Love. But each location will also have Asian fusion recipes and cocktail preparations that are uniquely their own, such as the XO Roll at the Brookside restaurant, the Tai Sashimi at On the Hill, and the Bleeding Heart Roll at Vu.

Boston Deli

6231 E. 61st St.

The Boston Deli will serve a Valentines Day a la carte menu featuring several dishes prepared on the restaurants signature Hasty Bake charcoal ovens, such as the grilled coffee-spiced beef medallions, the Hasty Bake half-chicken with fire-roasted zucchini and squash, or the grilled vegetable stack. Starters include baked stuffed mushroom what-nots, a Caesar salad with grilled Romaine lettuce and smoked tomato bisque.

Tuccis Italian Restaurant

1344 E. 15th St.

If a romantic trip to New Yorks Little Italy is out of the question, then consider sharing Valentines Day at Tulsas own Little Italy outpost, Tuccis. Tuccis is usually closed on Mondays but will be open regular hours, 5 to 9:30 p.m., serving up classic Italian-American pasta dishes, entree-sized salads, and pizzas made to be shared by two.

White Lion Pub

6927 S. Canton Ave.

918-491-6533

The White Lion Pub will get Valentines Day off to an early start with a suitably romantic dinner special on Saturday, Feb. 12. The menu is a Caesar salad; choice of beef Wellington, chicken en croute or crab cakes for the entree; roasted potatoes and vegetables; and strawberries and cream for dessert, with a complimentary glass of champagne. Cost is $34.99 per person.

Andolinis

Multiple locations

This year, give your Valentine a piece of your heart  heart-shaped pizza, that is. Andolinis is shaping its crusts into heart shapes that can be adorned with the toppings of ones choice, available for dining in or taking home. Heart-shaped pizzas are available through Feb. 14.

New York Bagel Cafe

3723 S. Peoria Ave.; 6805 S. Yale Ave.

The New York Bagel Cafes  which until recently were known

as the Old School Bagel Cafes  are working to make Valentines Day a bit sweeter, offering two special creations: Red, White & Pink bagels, and Red, White & Pink M&M cookies. Bagels are $1.79 individually, and $18.69 for a dozen, while the cookies are $14.50 for a half dozen. The Red, White & Pink creations are available now through Feb. 14.

Stutts House of Bar-B-Q

2021 E. Apache St.

918-428-2355

One of north Tulsas finest sources of barbecue will offer two special menus for what it bills as Valentines Dinner Under the Stars, available from 5 to 10 p.m. Choices include a rib-eye steak dinner with two side dishes for $25, or a barbecue plate with three meats and two sides, for $15.99. Those who order and pay in advance will be entered in a drawing for a Super Bowl Valentines basket.

I Dont Care Bar & Grill

11015 E. 590 Road, Catoosa

The I Dont Care Bar & Grill is showing it does care about romance by offering its Valentines Day specials Friday through Monday, Feb. 11-14. The ala carte menu includes a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail, an 8-oz. rib-eye steak for two, full and half slabs of barbecue ribs, chocolate cake or turtle cheesecake for dessert.

STG Gelateria

1601 E. 15th St.; 217 S. Main St., Broken Arrow

STG Gelateria has taken one of the iconic Valentines Day treats  chocolate-covered strawberries  and turned it into a frozen confection it has titled Loverboy, a strawberry gelato drizzled with chocolate and studded with pieces of real strawberry.

Sweet Tooth Candy and Gift Co.

3541 S. Harvard Ave.

This long-lived Tulsa shop is the perfect headquarters to find the perfect sweet for ones sweet. One of the popular treats from the Christmas season, cake pop truffles, has been revived for Valentines Day, available individually or in packs of four and 16. Also available are chocolate-covered

Tipsy Truck Delivery

For those wanting to celebrate Valentine's Day, Tulsa's Tipsy Truck Delivery is here to rescue one's romantic evening.

Tipsy Truck will deliver selections of wines, local beers, chocolates, pastries, as well as a selection of baskets of treats for all ages to one's home. Delivery areas include all of Tulsa, as well as Bixby, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Glenpool, Jenks, Owasso. Sand Springs and Sapulpa.

Because Tipsy Truck Delivery works with local small businesses, it is best to order early to insure the items you want will be in stock.

V-Day means 'vegan' for Cinnaholic

Cinnaholic, the plant-based bakery chain with a Tulsa location at 7380 S. Olympia Ave., is offering special Valentine's Day-themed treats, including chocolate-covered strawberries, the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Roll, and Sweet Heart Boxes which include two chocolate-covered strawberries, two brownies, two cookies, and two rolls.

Premium chocolate-covered strawberry options include topping such as nuts, coconut, chocolate chips. sprinkles, crumbled Oreo cookies and more.

All Cinnaholic products are 100 percent vegan, and are free of eggs, dairy and cholesterol.

The special Valentine's Day offerings will be available Monday, Feb. 14, during regular hours. cinnaholictulsa.com.

Gypsy Coffee House

109 S. Seventh St., Jenks

The Gypsy Coffee House in Jenks will be open regular hours on Valentines Day with a variety of food and drink specials, including a Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Latte (a mocha latte topped with strawberry-vanilla foam), available hot or cold.

Rose Rock Microcreamery

427 S. Boston Ave.; 115 N. Main St., Broken Arrow

Rose Rock will offer a special Brownie Sundae for two on Valentines Day, made with ones choice of the shops unique range of small-batch ice cream flavors for $7. A special flavor for Valentines Day is Raspberry Chocolate.

The Melting Pot

300 Riverwalk Terrace, Jenks

The Melting Pot has a special prix fixe couples menu for Valentines Day, featuring five courses that include shrimp cocktail, a bacon-and-brie cheese fondue, salad, choice of entree and chocolate fondue for dessert. A box of chocolates to take home completes the experience. Cost is $150, and the menu will be available Feb. 12-14.

Bonefish Grill

4651 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow.

Bonefish Grill is bringing together land and sea for Valentines Day with a surf-and-turf creation that tops a 7-oz. filet mignon with scallops and shrimp in a garlic sauce. Its $32.90, and available for dine-in, takeaway and delivery through Feb. 16.

Carrabbas Italian Grill

11021 E. 71st St.

Enjoy a four-course dinner for two, made up of items from the chain restaurants regular menu, including Chicken Bryan and Salmon Saporito, for $60. Offer available Feb. 10-14. Liven up the evening with a strawberry rose margarita.

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Greasers on the run, Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade took refuge in an abandoned church when circumstances caused them to hide out in The Outsiders.

Soon, visitors will be able to hide out across the street from Ponyboys home.

Finishing touches are being added to an Outsiders-themed Greaser Hideout Airbnb at 728 N. Saint Louis Ave.

From the front porch or from a front-facing window, Greaser Hideout guests can see the Outsiders House Museum across the street at 731 N. Saint Louis Ave.

The Outsiders House Museum is a former filming site that served as the home of Ponyboy and his brothers during the making of the 1983 shot-in-Tulsa motion picture.

The Outsiders House Museum opened in 2019. Danny OConnor, a music artist and Outsiders fan supreme, transformed the home into a museum and now serves as its executive director. During a preview tour of the Greaser Hideout Airbnb, OConnor said: I thought this would be great because people have been asking me since day one if there is an opportunity to stay overnight at the Outsiders House. No is the answer to that. So why not stay across the street?

Bookings will become available beginning mid- to late February, according to OConnor.

Like the museum, the Airbnb is decorated with artifacts connected to The Outsiders.

That house over there is filled like the Grinchs sled, OConnor said, referring to the Outsiders House Museum.

OConnor has so much memorabilia related to the film (and the S.E. Hinton novel that inspired the movie) that the Airbnb is an ideal secondary spot to display selected pieces from his collection.

Its going to be like a pizza place, he said, meaning that he is going to pack the walls with as many items as possible.

Ive still got another $1,000 worth of stuff coming that hasnt arrived.

Ponyboys home had fallen on hard times and was destined for destruction before OConnor purchased the house and oversaw a guts-and-all renovation. OConnor said he purchased the home across the street just to make sure nobody else bought it and threatened possibly the serenity of the museum.

The across-the-street home could perhaps have become only a storage unit for Outsiders-related stuff, but you can credit Buck Atom for the Airbnb idea.

Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios is a Route 66 attraction at 1347 E. 11th St. An address isnt necessary to find the place. Just keep an eye out for a big roadside spaceman, Buck Atom.

Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios, converted a home behind the business into an Airbnb, Buck Atoms Crash Pad. The Crash Pad, decorated in such a way that its an extension of the shop, opened to the public in October 2020. In August of 2021, Buck Atoms Crash Pad gained acclaim when Airbnb.com included it on a list of the quirkiest roadside curiosities to inspire your next trip.

OConnor said he and Babcock are friends. The success of Buck Atoms Crash Pad made him realize he could do something similar with the home across the street from the Outsiders House Museum.

This is not a money grab as much as an opportunity for Outsiders fans who are deep cut to immerse themselves in this and also to stay a little longer in Tulsa, OConnor said. I dont know if you could have stayed here a year or two ago. I wouldnt have felt good about it. The neighborhood has really come up.

OConnor said it took about six months to re-do the Airbnb home. He said he put a lot of money into it. Fencing, a new restroom (with a Buck Atom shower curtain) and overall refurbishment were among expenses.

This room came out nice! Tulsa car dealer and comic shop owner Chris Bourget said when touring the master bedroom. This is cool.

OConnor, talking about the overall appearance of the home, said, If it doesnt look good, I dont look good and Tulsa doesnt look good.

Does OConnor think  or know  there is demand for an Outsiders-themed Airbnb?

I know theres a demand for this, he said, citing pre-debut reaction.

The Outsiders House Museum Greaser Hideout Airbnb Facebook page has more than 600 followers. Potential guests immediately began messaging OConnor, but he had to tell them to sit tight until the makeover was complete. He said rates to stay at the Greasers hideout will fluctuate.

I want to make it high enough that miscreants wont come here and do dirt, he said. And I also want to make it somewhat affordable for families. We can sleep six here comfortably. Three beds. All queens. If Im not looking, you could probably get eight people here, if you had to.

Guests can make a short commute to check out the museum if the Airbnb stay coincides with days and hours when the museum is open. For an upcharge, a visit to the museum can be arranged during off hours.

OConnor is excited about the pending opening of the Airbnb, but hes also nervous about turning over his new baby to renters. In addition to Outsiders memorabilia, the Airbnb is equipped with a television and DVD player (the shot-in-Tulsa movie Tex is a DVD option) and board games, plus a small book shelf. Among book selections is David Granns bestselling Killers of the Flower Moon. Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro came to Oklahoma in 2021 to film a Killers of the Flower Moon movie.

A wall in the kitchen has been signed by C. Thomas Howell and others with ties to The Outsiders. Why is a Jack White bobblehead among items atop the refrigerator? Theres a connection: White made a donation to help the Outsiders House Museum become reality. Now the Airbnb is almost ready to open its doors.

A whistle from a nearby train blew as OConnor was showing off the new place. Consider it part of the The Outsiders theme.

The train goes past here every half hour, if not sooner, and you will hear the train, which is also in the movie, so thats great for fans, he said, indicating that he wants to treat visitors to an authentic greaser experience.

The park (from The Outsiders) is a block away, he said. The rumble field is a block away. The museum is across the street.

Added OConnor: If you come here and you are disappointed, I dont know how to make that kind of person happy.

Asked if he was talking about the museum or Airbnb, he replied, Either.

There is really cool stuff here that they can really get immersed in, but, for me, its another reason to invite people to Oklahoma and invite them to Tulsa and show them how cool we are and show them how all the growth that is going on and show them Route 66. They are two or three miles from anything cool.

For instance: Leon Russells refurbished Church Studio, Cains Ballroom, BOK Center, Woody Guthrie Center, Gathering Place, Circle Cinema, the Admiral Twin, soon-to-open Bob Dylan Center, the under-construction Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture and other attractions.

This is what I love about being in Tulsa right now because all of these dreams are being realized.

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What the governments decision to quietly drop the restrictions means is that beginning February 1, managements of public transport, malls, shops, establishments and offices were no longer required to have strict compliance of ensuring physical distancing, frequent sanitisation of premises, and screening of people for any Covid related symptoms such as fever.  Representational image/AFP

HYDERABAD: The third wave of Covid-19 may be over officially in Telangana but there has been no change in the government-imposed mandate of wearing masks in public places.

Other than the directive related to mandatory wearing of masks while in public places, all other restrictions have been lifted in the state, according to director of public health and family welfare, Dr G. Srinivasa Rao.

It may be recalled that the state government issued on January 1, amidst fears of a severe new Covid-19 wave, a set of directives governing public behaviour including the need to maintain physical distance from one another while in a public place. These orders were extended twice during the month. The validity of the orders, with their last extension on January 21, expired on January 31.

With no further renewal of the orders, Telangana, on February 1, became the first state in India to remove all Covid-19 related restrictions. With the exception of wearing masks, Dr Srinivasa Rao told Deccan Chronicle.

It was on February 8 that Dr Srinivasa Rao announced that the third wave of Covid-19 ended in Telangana, with daily cases dipping for a week. In the next week or so, we might even see total cases limited to just a couple of hundreds, he said on that occasion.

By allowing its orders, originally issued on January 1, which were careful to say they were being issued in light of reported increase in Covid-19 cases in certain states of the country with no mention of cases rising in Telangana too at that time, the government put an end to all restrictions on public gatherings, rallies, public meetings, as well as mass gatherings of all types including religious, political, and cultural events.

What the governments decision to quietly drop the restrictions means is that beginning February 1, managements of public transport, malls, shops, establishments and offices were no longer required to have strict compliance of ensuring physical distancing, frequent sanitisation of premises, and screening of people for any Covid related symptoms such as fever.

The lifting of the restrictions also means that all educational institutions can function with full attendance of students. None of these establishments, henceforth, will also be required to provide any additional hand sanitisation measures.

The government, however, by continuing with the mask mandate, reserved the right to penalise anyone not wearing a mask while in a public space with a fine of Rs 1,000.
A tradition will resume when Tulsa music artists are showcased at the 2022 South by Southwest Conference & Festival  and this time theyll be joined by Tulsa Remote.

Abby Kurin, executive director of the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture, announced the music artists who will represent Tulsa at the music festival, known as SXSW, during a Friday morning news conference.

Among the speakers was Justin Harlan, managing director of Tulsa Remote, because Tulsa Remote will, for the first time, host a day party at SXSW. Since a 2018 launch, Tulsa Remote has lured more than 1,400 remote workers to Tulsa with $10,000 grants and other incentives.

We know that Tulsa has a lot more to offer than just $10,000, and we cant wait to share that with the SXSW audience, Harlan said.

Two years of SXSW in-person events were canceled due to the pandemic, but the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture and Tulsa Remote are spearheading Tulsas return to the 2022 mega event, scheduled for March 11-20 in Austin, Texas.

Tulsa Remotes March 15 day party at the Tulsa House (the Augustine bar at 86 Rainey St.) will feature live music, free food, drinks for those 21 and older, and information on how to qualify for the program.

Headlining a Tulsa Music/Fire in Little Africa SXSW official showcase event at the venue that evening will be John Moreland, along with featured artists Casii Stephan, Steph Simon, Cliffdiver, Suarez Republic, M.C. and Dialtone.

Its an honor to represent Tulsas music scene and the Fire in Little Africa movement on such an important stage, Simon said in a news release distributed after the news conference. Our city is filled with diverse talent, and Im excited to perform alongside some of my favorite Tulsa artists across all genres.

Tulsa music artists also will perform during a March 16 day party at the Tulsa House. The talent roster that day includes Freakjuice, Ayilla, La Mune, Tea Rush, Bandelier, K.O., CBG and the Get Ahead Band. Dr. View will perform DJ sets throughout the day.

Its our time, Tea Rush said during the news conference. Thats how I feel. Its time for people to understand that Tulsa is  its a group of people that you need to know. Its a town that you need to visit, and Im just happy to be a part of it.

Applause followed when Tea Rushs parting words were: We are going to rock out.

Said Kurin in a news release: After two years of trials and challenges facing live music and events, we are thrilled to bring Tulsa back to SXSW attendees from around the world. We have an amazing lineup and showcase with more than 50 partners in place to promote our incredible music city and its vibrant start-up scene. Teaming up these Tulsa superstars will allow us to make a huge impression.

Mark Frie, CEO of the Tulsa PAC and chair of Tulsa FMAC, said the goal is to get in front of as many people as possible, and were doing that at SXSW by being one of the only four cities represented. We want to make sure people understand that our city is the culturally rich hub with career opportunities in so many unique areas and that it is a destination they need to come and see for themselves. We could not do this without the support from our partners and without this incredible talent to showcase.

In addition to Tulsa Remote and Tulsa FMAC, partners of Tulsa at SXSW are the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Tulsa Regional Tourism, BOK Center/ASM Tulsa, Bob Dylan Center, Woody Guthrie Center, the lieutenant governor and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Meredith and Justin Lesher, Tulsa County, Nameplates Inc. and Tulsa International Airport.

Additional community support is being provided by Fire in Little Africa, Flash Flood Print Studio, Phil Clarkin Photography, Press Pause Films, Philbrook and Fansub.

The news conference was held at the BOK Center, where new general manager Bryan Crowe spoke about being a partner in Tulsas SXSW endeavor.

We at the BOK Center recognize our role in the music ecosystem here in Tulsa, Crowe said. We want to be able to give back to that and help foster and grow artists and musicians in our community.

"This incubator and this opportunity is one of many things that makes Tulsa very special.  The way Tulsa takes care of its artists and the way that you feature your own unique art and musicians is something that is second to none.

Tulsa will have a presence at the SXSW Creative Industries Trade Show March 13-16 at the Austin Convention Center to highlight opportunities available to creative and technology industry professionals and start-ups in Tulsa. The booth will feature the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Tulsa FMAC, Tulsa Remote, Tulsa Innovation Labs, Holberton School, Atento Capital, inTulsa, the Gathering Place, Build in Tulsa, 36 Degrees North, The Audio Planet, Fansub and Cadenzo.

For more information about the musicians representing Tulsa at SXSW, go to tulsamusic.com. For more information about Tulsa Remote, go to tulsaremote.com.

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THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The fossilized bones of a young dinosaur show evidence of a respiratory infection that may have caused familiar flu-like symptoms  fever, coughing and trouble breathing.

Dolly, as she's been dubbed by researchers, was an immature diplodocid  a large, long-necked plant-eating sauropod. Her remains were found in southwest Montana and date back about 150 million years to the late Jurassic period.

Close examination of three of Dolly's neck bones revealed never-before-seen protrusions with an unusual shape and texture. The abnormal growths were in an area that would have been penetrated by air-filled sacs connected to Dollys lungs.

CT imaging revealed the protrusions were made of abnormal bone that most likely formed in response to a respiratory infection.

"Given the likely symptoms this animal suffered from, holding these infected bones in your hands, you can't help but feel sorry for Dolly," said Cary Woodruff, director of paleontology at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum in Malta, Montana.

"We've all experienced these same symptoms  coughing, trouble breathing, a fever, etc.  and here's a 150-million-year-old dinosaur that likely felt as miserable as we all do when we're sick," Woodruff said in a news release from Ohio University.

The discovery, possibly the first evidence of a unique respiratory infection in a dinosaur, adds to understanding of the illnesses that occurred in dinosaurs, according to the authors of the study, which was published Feb. 10 in the journal Scientific Reports.

The researchers speculate that Dolly's illness could have been caused by a fungal infection similar to aspergillosis. It's a common respiratory disease that affects modern-day birds and reptiles. It can cause bone infections.

If untreated, aspergillosis can be fatal in birds, so it's possible that a similar infection in Dolly could have ultimately caused her death, Woodruff and his colleagues suggested.

Aspergillosis can also affect humans.

"This fossil infection in Dolly not only helps us trace the evolutionary history of respiratory-related diseases back in time, but gives us a better understanding of what kinds of diseases dinosaurs were susceptible to," Woodruff explained.

More information

There's more on aspergillosis at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Ohio University, news release, Feb. 10, 2022

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
A federal jury convicted a former volunteer youth leader of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Thomas Daniel Johnson, 48, of Sand Springs was found guilty in the federal Northern District of Oklahoma of engaging in a sexualized relationship with a minor from the time the minor was 11 years old to when he was 13.

Johnson knew the victims family and volunteered as a youth leader at a church both families attended, according to the news release. Johnson was known as a mentor to adolescent and teenage boys, so the victims family reportedly asked him to mentor their child.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Johnson hid behind that reputation when he repeatedly sent a vulnerable child sexually explicit texts and requests for nude photographs.

On Aug. 15, 2020, the victims mother discovered numerous sexually explicit texts, memes and images Johnson had sent to her child, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The mother confronted Johnson, and then the parents turned the boys phone over to law enforcement.

The examination of the phone revealed thousands of messages between Johnson and the victim dating back to March 2019.

Prosecutors argued that Johnson groomed the victim and regularly made sexual references and jokes.

The sexualization of the relationship increased over time, according to the press release.

The victim testified that at first, he felt the exchange of texts and memes were jokes, but he grew increasingly uncomfortable as the defendant began routinely making comments about the victims body, as well as implying that he was sexually attracted to the victim, according to the news release.

Johnson repeatedly asked the victim to send explicit photos of himself. He also sent a photo of an implied sexual act and asked the victim if he could handle it if Johnson performed the act, according to the news release.

The victim testified that he believed Thomas Johnson would have acted on requests had the victim complied.

Johnsons defense argued that the messages were misguided humor and did not represent grooming behavior, stating that Johnson was known for making sexual innuendos among family, friends, and other adolescents and teenagers he had mentored, according to the news release.

The defense said Johnson was trying to connect to the child by using common terminology and references used by teenage boys today.

Prosecutors said Johnson told the victim to delete their text messages, which indicated that he understood that the communications were questionable and criminal.

They said instead of simply being misguided, harmless jokes, Johnsons communications were meant to sexualize a 12-year-old child and desensitize the child to inappropriate sexual communications and material.

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A Tulsa woman faces a four-count federal indictment charging her with child neglect in the death of her infant son.

Ashton Nikoel Mattingly, 30, was arraigned Thursday in Tulsa federal court on one count of child neglect in Indian Country and three counts of tampering with evidence.

The indictment charges Mattingly, also known as Nikki Mattingly, with willfully and maliciously failing to provide her 2-month-old son, Liam Johnson, with a wide array of care ranging from adequate nurturance, food, clothing, medical care and protection from exposure to the use and possession of illegal drugs.

Her son, Liam Tyler Johnson, died Jan. 4, 2021, at a hospital after being transported from their home in the 5700 block of West Second Street, according to state medical examiner records.

Mattingly also faces three counts of evidence tampering linked to acts she is alleged to have taken in February 2021.

In one instance, prosecutors allege that Mattingly called an unidentified person on Feb. 11, 2021, and asked the person to go to Mattinglys residence and remove a white pill bottle with an orange cap so it would not be available as evidence in the investigation of the babys death.

Mattingly also asked the person to change a password on a social media account so it would be unavailable in the investigation, the indictment alleges.

Mattingly is also charged with asking another person on Feb. 16 to falsely report that her cellular phone had been stolen in an effort to make it unavailable as evidence in Johnsons death, the indictment states.

Mattingly will remain in custody until at least Thursday, when she will have a detention hearing.

Federal prosecutors have requested that Mattingly be held in jail while her case progresses.

Factors that qualify the case for pretrial custody, according to prosecutors, include the potential of a sentence of life in prison or death upon conviction.

Mattingly has been held in the Tulsa Jail since Tuesday.

She is an American Indian, and the death occurred within Indian Country, both of which are factors qualifying the case for federal prosecution under the Supreme Courts McGirt ruling.

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With the completion of an MRI, pretrial preparations appear to be on track for the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a Tulsa police officer and critically wounding another in 2020, attorneys told a Tulsa County judge on Thursday.

David Wares trial is scheduled to begin the first week of April and run throughout the month. The 34-year-old is charged with first-degree murder and shooting with intent to kill in the death of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson and the wounding of Officer Aurash Zarkeshan during a traffic stop in east Tulsa in June 2020.

Should Ware be convicted of first-degree murder, the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office intends to pursue the death penalty against him.

After receiving a briefing with the news that discovery, the process of evidence gathering and sharing between prosecution and defense, is nearly complete, District Judge William Musseman thanked Wares attorneys, Kevin Adams and co-counsel Robert Gifford, for their hustle in carrying out the complex task of achieving an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for a person in custody. The shift comes after more than a year of continuances in the case.

Adams told the court the imaging test results could indicate damage to Wares brain that would impair his decision-making functions, but such a notion would have to be confirmed in his expert witness report, which he said might be finalized in about three weeks. He has already turned over the images to the state as discovery, he said.

Adams said he also plans to file a list of witnesses under seal to circumvent their possible harassment, to which Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray said the state would not object.

Ware further faces charges of obstruction and illegal gun and drug possession stemming from his interaction with officers. He was present for the hearing in shackles and remains held without bond at the Tulsa County jail.

The case is set for a ruling on any remaining motions Feb. 25.

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Now that the states top elected leader has made hope an official priority, one of the concepts biggest advocates says he couldnt feel more, well, hopeful.

As a framework for action, its the right path for the state, and its going to help Oklahoma continue to move into a leadership role in the field of hope science, said Chan Hellman, a University of Oklahoma-Tulsa professor and founding director of the Hope Research Center.

Hellman, whos currently training employees of various state agencies in hope science, was responding to Gov. Kevin Stitts State of the State address last week, in which Stitt listed driving hope for all Oklahomans as one of his four checkpoints to achieving status as a Top 10 state.

The other three were protecting Oklahomans and our way of life, making Oklahoma the most business friendly state in the country and delivering taxpayers more for their money.

Hope is not a wish or a feeling, Stitt said in his fourth annual address. Its a proven science that can be measured and applied. More than 2,000 studies have shown that hope is the greatest predictor of success. That applies to education, work, health, mental health, social relationships, family and trauma recovery. Hope impacts everything that matters to us.

Hellman, a professor in OU-Tulsas Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, is one of the leading experts on hope science, which the universitys Hope Research Center  the first of its kind in the country  studies.

For our state leadership  the governor included  to begin to engage and see the benefits of hope is significant, he said.

Hes absolutely right: There are over 2,000 published studies that demonstrate that hope is one of the strongest predictors of well-being.

No one would know that better than Hellman, who along with center researchers has helped establish the science, defining hope and making it measurable.

Hope, as they define it, is future expectation that we can find pathways and sustain the willpower to achieve our goals, Hellman said. Hope is about taking action to pursue these goals and therefore is more than wishful thinking.

The center has developed a hope curriculum and works with nonprofits and other organizations in implementing hope science to the benefit of their clients and employees.

Its important to say: Hope is not the outcome, Hellman said. Hope is the process  a framework for taking action that leads to the positive outcomes that the governor highlighted.

The research is demonstrating, he added, that as organizations go through this training, we see significant improvements in burnout, retention, job satisfaction and other outcomes.

Hellman said the center began helping train state agencies in the science of hope about two years ago, starting with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and expanding to other state agencies last November.

We now have a robust body of science that is guiding activities within these state agencies. That is just absolutely huge, he said.

Hellman said he spoke on the subject earlier this week to the state Pardon and Parole Board, thinking about how you integrate hope when you begin to interact with an offender who has the opportunity to be released.

Word has spread about whats happening in Oklahoma, and several other states have been reaching out to learn more, he added.

California, Washington and Mississippi have contacted us about the training that is taking place with state agencies and what were learning in terms of the outcomes, Hellman said.

He said hes been doing hope work for 15 years now. Hes conducted training as far away as Belgium and Northern Ireland.

He couldnt be more excited, he said, about the future for the emerging field.

With Oklahoma helping lead the way, this science that we traditionally think of as being something very internal and individual is transitioning to being focused on communities and whole systems. To me, thats just mind-blowing.

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Featured video: Oklahoma governor touts states business initiates during State of the State address

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New Delhi: In a candid message, the Supreme Court on Friday said that it is watching the situation in Karnataka in the wake of the hijab ban, including the proceedings in the high court, and would step in at an appropriate time to protect the constitutional rights of the affected people. The Supreme Court, however, declined to give urgent listing for hearing a Special Leave Petition against Karnataka high courts direction regarding the hijab petitions.

An appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the direction of the Karnataka high court that has asked students not to wear hijab on campus till the matter is resolved. The plea filed by a student has sought a stay on the direction of the high court.

We will definitely protect the constitutional rights of everybody, definitely we will interfere, we will take up the matter at an appropriate time, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana heading a bench also comprising Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli told senior lawyer Devadatt Kamat who sought top courts intervention in the high court order asking affected students not to insist on wearing religious clothes which are not conducive.

The Karnataka high court on Friday issued an interim order restraining students from wearing hijab and saffron shawls in classrooms.

In the course of the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the hijab ban before the Karnataka high court on Thursday, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi said, We are ready to decide the issue at the earliest. We feel that peace and tranquillity should be restored. Till the decision, you should not insist on wearing these religious clothes which are not conducive.

Besides Chief Justice Awasthi, other two judges on the high court bench are Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice J.M. Khazi.

Making a mentioning for an urgent listing of the petition challenging the interim order, preferably on Monday (February 14), senior lawyer Kamat told the Supreme Court that the interim order is not limited to Muslims as it would not impact Muslims alone but also other religions minorities like Sikhs, who wear turban. He said the interim order denudes minorities rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the constitution guaranteeing freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

However, CJI Ramana asked Mr Kamat not to enlarge the issue at the national level by bringing it to the Supreme Court.

Dont spread these issues to a larger level by bringing it to the Supreme Court. We are watching. We also know what is happening in the state and in the high court. We will definitely protect the constitutional rights of affected people. Definitely we will interfere. We will take up the matter at an appropriate time, CJI Ramana said.

As solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for Karnataka's BJP government, said that the high court order has not come and there should not be any attempt to politicise the issue, CJI Ramana asked him to let Mr Kamat have his say.

The petition challenging the interim order of the Karnataka high court, asking students not to insist on wearing religious clothes, says that the interim order creates a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim female students and directly hits at secularism, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

The right to wear hijab falls under right to expression under Article 19(1)(a), right to privacy and freedom of conscience under Article 25. The same cannot be infringed upon without a valid law, the petition has contended.
At least Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., can poke fun of herself for mixing up the Nazi secret police with a chilled Spanish soup.

The right-wing firebrand laughed off comments made during an interview with One American Network (OAN) complaining House Speaker Pelosi was secretly investigating members of Congress and constituents.

"Not only do we have the D.C. jail, which is the D.C. gulag," said Rep. Greene in a now-viral video. "Now we have Nancy Pelosi's gazpacho police spying on members of Congress, spying on the legislative work that we do, spying on our staff and spying on American citizens that want to come to talk with their representatives."

After being roundly mocked for confusing the Gestapo, the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe, with gazpacho, a cold tomato soup often served with cucumbers and cilantro, Greene surfaced on social media on Thursday morning.

"No soup for those who illegally spy on Members of Congress, but they will be thrown in the goulash. #Gazpacho#Gestapo," said Greene.

But the damage was done.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., leader of the progressive Squad in Congress, said the screw-up shows Greene, who also favors banning books that expose racial injustice, needs to go back to school.

"She clearly banned all books from her house years ago," AOC tweeted.

Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., was more pointed with her reaction after watching the video.

"To every little girl out there: Don't ever think you're not smart enough to run for office," wrote Meng.

Even though Greene laughed off her own verbal slip-up, this is not her first flawed reference comparing American politics to Nazis and the Holocaust.

Last year, the conservative agitator was forced to apologize for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

"I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. "There's no comparison and there never ever will be."
OKLAHOMA CITY  Tulsa Community College is asking for $8.85 million from the states $1.9 billion American Rescue Plan Act allotment to help the school pay for an expansion of its nursing program.

TCC President Leigh Goodson and Dean of Nursing Jenny Fields told a legislative task force the cash infusion, spread over five years, would be used mostly for faculty salaries and benefits, which raised a few eyebrows but did not prevent the request from advancing to consideration by the full ARPA joint committee.

Policymakers have stressed their desire to focus the one-time ARPA funds on capital projects instead of potential continuing expenses, but the TCC officials and others at the meeting said faculty salaries are the biggest obstacle to the Legislatures and Gov. Kevin Stitts imperative of ramping up the states nursing programs.

We are paying our faculty $48,000. They are training our nurses, who are stepping out at $75,000 their first year, said Rose State College President Jeannie Webb, whose request for $9.9 million included $7.4 million for salaries and benefits.

Our No. 1 ask is around our nursing faculty, said Fields, TCCs dean of nursing. An advanced practice nurse in Tulsa makes between $85,000 to $106,000 a year. Wed like to pay our nursing faculty, probably not (that), but at least get closer to the market so we can recruit and retain faculty.

Goodson said TCC averages about 170 nursing graduates a year and could ultimately add 72 slots a year if its request is approved.

Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, asked Goodson and Webb how they plan to maintain the expanded program once the ARPA funds run out in five years.

We have experience with private donors when we started a program and then started a plan to institutionalize those funds, said Goodson, who described the $8.85 million as seed money.

We also know well have more students, so there will be increased tuition revenue, she said. We feel really confident we will not have a problem institutionalizing these funds.

Webb said the continuing expense will be built into future budgets but will also require new revenue and will likely lead eventually to higher tuition and fees for nursing students.

We believe we can get some more grant money, she said. We believe, and have faith, that budgets will raise a bit. 

And then we have to be honest with ourselves. To go to medical school costs a little more. To go to nursing school, it has to cost a little more.  We would have to increase tuition and fees some, but it would be directly for that program.

The task force recommended ARPA proposals totaling about $60 million to the full committee. Final decisions on use of the $1.9 billion allocation will be made by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  House Speaker Charles McCall said Thursday that he will not hear a controversial school voucher bill.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 1647, dubbed the Oklahoma Empowerment Act. It would create accounts that would allow parents to use their childs state education dollars to pursue a variety of educational pathways, including charter schools, home schooling and private schools.

Gov. Kevin Stitt expressed strong support for the bill in his State of the State speech opening the legislative session on Monday.

McCall said the House has not been involved in work on Treats bill over the interim.

Quite honestly, I dont believe it will be heard in the House, McCall said Thursday during a legislative summit sponsored by the Oklahoma Press Association. That is just not a priority of our membership.

He said no one in the House has introduced the bill, and he said he is not aware of any voucher bills that have been filed in the House.

I dont plan to hear that bill this year, and I have communicated that, McCall said.

McCall noted that the Legislature did a lot of work on open school transfers last year. He said he believes that is the best policy for the state and that it works in all corners of the state.

He said many rural school leaders are concerned that vouchers could hurt their districts because there are few options.

That is why I feel the open transfer is a much more equitable policy, McCall said.

The open transfer policy gives parents a choice, he said.

House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, said her caucus heard from some Republicans who were not on board with a voucher plan, adding that some of the discontent comes from rural schools and communities where the public school is the only option.

They are not seeking access to vouchers, Virgin said. They are not seeking access to school choice. So they feel that would take money away from their communities and send it to communities where there might be more options.

Virgin said public dollars should go to public schools.

I think the voucher bill in general has a pretty uphill battle in the House, she said.

Treat spoke before McCall and touted his school voucher bill.

Lawmakers have put record amounts of money into public education and will continue to do that, Treat said.

No child shall be left behind or be in a situation where they cant get their best educational attainment, Treat said. We are going to empower parents, through the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, to give the money to allow the money to follow the student wherever they go.

Treat was asked about McCalls position that the bill would not be heard in the House.

I knew that this was going to be an uphill battle  all worthwhile efforts are, Treat said. However, I am more determined than ever to charge that hill.

Our kids and the future of Oklahoma are worth it. Nothing will stop me from persisting until all parents, regardless of their race, ZIP code or income, are able to find the right fit for their child.

The legislative session must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 27.

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Imagine a scene where an ambulance arrives at a hospital and a patient is wheeled through the emergency room doors.

A doctor and some nurses examine the patient, who has been in a bad accident and is bleeding profusely. Its a busy night at the hospital, with plenty of patients needing their attention, but the patient in front of them is in bad shape. Treatment cant be postponed.

The team goes to work, using all the tools and expertise at their disposal to stop the bleeding. After a mighty effort, the bleeding is stopped. A job well done. The hospital staff then discharges the patient.

But doc, what about my leg? the patient asks, still in visible agony.

What wrong with it? the doctor asks.

Its broken! The patient points at the busted leg, bruised and bent. Somethings obviously not right.

The medical staff looks at the patient, confers, then waves the patient off.

We went through great pains to stop your bleeding. There were a lot of other patients, but we treated you. And now you want more treatment?

The patient is wheeled out of the ER and told to go home. Weeks and months go by, work is lost, and people are wondering why this patient, so expertly rescued after the accident, cant walk right and do what theyre expected to do.

Dont give us any excuses about your broken leg, the patient is told. You got the treatment you needed.

If this were a real-life story, it would be appalling. A half-treated patient who is discharged while still unwell is a job tragically half-done. Judgment in the weeks and months to follow for failures not of their own making pours salt on those festering wounds.

But that is what has happened to our states education system.

A good number of Oklahomans have known for decades how poorly funded the states school system has been. In 1990, pressure to do something about it rose so high that lawmakers passed and Gov. Henry Bellmon signed House Bill 1017, known as the Education Reform Act.

HB 1017 used tax increases to hire more teachers with the goal of shrinking classroom sizes. It also established minimum salaries, curriculum standards, early childhood programs and more.

HB 1017 was widely viewed as a revolutionary step to improve Oklahoma common education. But it was so reviled in some circles so much that one year later, an initiative petition forced a vote to repeal it.

That failed, but another state question  State Question 640  passed in 1992, making it nearly impossible to raise taxes for schools or anything else ever again.

And thus began a death struggle between tax cut advocates and educators. Over the years, a series of tax cuts passed by the Legislature and signed by governors from both parties chipped away at tax rates while forcing budget cuts to state services.

It hit Oklahoma teachers hard. Salaries lagged behind the national and regional averages, eventually sinking to near the bottom in the U.S. School funding grew so tight that teachers paid for basic classroom supplies out of their own pockets.

And any classroom size limits mandated by HB 1017 went out the window a long time ago. Whereas HB 1017 saw classroom sizes maxed out at a couple of dozen students, todays urban and suburban classrooms pack in 30 to 40 students or more.

Teachers found that they could make more money in neighboring states, so many left. Others quit the profession entirely. Emergency certifications  the practice of hiring noncertified teachers to fill holes in school faculties  rose from a few dozen a year to thousands.

Predictably, working conditions like these did not help student outcomes. Along with funding losses and teacher pay, Oklahoma lagged behind the nation in student performance, too.

This unleashed a torrent of criticisms of teachers, administrators and school boards. The most visible faces of education got the blame for running an increasingly broken machine that was being openly sabotaged by their loudest critics.

It all came to a head in 2018 during the statewide teacher walkout. Educators had enough, marched to the Capitol, and effectively shuttered schools. The pressure to reopen classes forced lawmakers to do what was unthinkable: raise taxes to fund pay raises for teachers.

Since then, state leaders who grudgingly acquiesced to teachers demands congratulated themselves for giving schools more money.

In Gov. Kevin Stitts State of the State speech last week, he lauded providing schools record funding. But a few lines later, he lamented Oklahoma schools performance.

Just 15% of Oklahoma high school graduates are ready for college in English, math, reading and science  less than 1 out of 5, Stitt said.

We can do better than 47th in the nation when it comes to our kids. Weve tiptoed around the edges for far too long. Its clear the status quo isnt working.

In some respects, I agree. The status quo isnt working. But the status quo isnt what he thinks it is.

The status quo has been continued inadequate funding for common education. The status quo includes ignoring the pleas of teachers who feel overburdened and, yes, still underpaid. The status quo includes ignoring the consequences of this perceived disrespect: record retirements, resignations and a college-to-schools educator pipeline that is rapidly drying up.

We propose and pass laws that make educators fear theyll get fired or sued if they teach the wrong subject or stock the wrong book. We pay no mind to the stresses that distance learning places on schools, or the health risks educators feel when forced back into in-person instruction with little to no help from the state in terms of COVID-19 mitigation.

The constant meddling and blame coming from the Capitol has kneecapped Oklahoma education. Any gains seen after the 2018 walkout were, at best, temporary remedies and certainly not cures.

Stitt has long touted the need to make Oklahoma more business friendly. Id argue the best way to do that is strengthen the school system we have.

We crave those high-paying, high-skill jobs that other states seem to attract, but it wont happen here if employers see our states education system limping along.

Its time we get past the narrative that we did all we could to cure our schools woes when there were so many problems left untreated. If we want to see better outcomes for our students, well need to do the hard work of repairing an institution that weve neglected for 30 years.

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The Internal Revenue Service has abandoned plans to force taxpayers to use a private facial-recognition system to access their online accounts, the agency announced this week. But critics say the now-foiled effort is part of an ongoing expansion of the frightening federal agency into more of our lives.

In a statement announcing it is dropping the program, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said, Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured. Based on the reaction, few Americans were comfortable giving the feds a face scan.

According to Emory University Professor Usha Rackliffe, taxpayers using IRS.gov to pay their taxes or check on their balance would have to upload a video of themselves, along with a government-issued photo ID. Under the original plan, that would have to be done by the summer of 2022 to access older tax returns and information regarding the federal Child Tax Credit. It would not, Rackliffe said, impact the process of filing a tax return.

Rackliffe has serious objections to the IRSs use of the technology, as do civil liberties organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the digital advocacy group Fight for the Future.

The IRSs plan to use facial recognition on people who are just trying to access their tax information online was a profound threat to everyones security and civil liberties, Fight for the Futures Caitlin Seeley George said in a statement.

Even Biden administration allies backed away from the IRS initiative. The IRS does not use facial recognition for tax filing or to receive a refund, and the agency should not require facial recognition for any of the other important services it provides taxpayers, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote in a letter to Rettig.

Interestingly, one civil rights figure who doesnt object is Rackliffes fellow Georgian, former UN Ambassador Andrew Young.

I am on the other side, Young told InsideSources. I am for anything that is going to make people more secure and more free. I think facial recognition software is already used in just about every government office.

He went on to say he is for photo (or video) ID in nearly every situation.

We could have a voter ID with a picture on it. All the president would have to do is make an executive order. You could even put fingerprints in it. It can work for other things, too. Whatever you sign up for, take a picture. It would only be a problem for those with a criminal record, but that is already a problem.

India does it. That is a country with over a billion people, Young added.

For Rackliffe, there are three areas of concern.

The first concern is the accuracy of the software. With technology always comes challenges. The facial recognition software uses biometric scanning. So, it uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to validate you are who you say you are. It sounds good in theory, but in practice, studies have shown that if you have a darker skin tone, perhaps it may not always be accurate in identifying you. With the false negatives and false positives, the rates have been higher with people of a darker skin tone.

Rackliffe is also uncomfortable with the IRS relying on an outside vendor like ID.me.

This is a third-party company that you have between yourself and the government, Rackliffe said. That always makes people nervous. This is a company the government has opted to contract with to collect and keep that information. This can make people nervous because we often hear about companies being hacked and sensitive information being compromised.

And, she notes, neither the IRS nor ID.me has laid out the nuts and bolts of their collection process or how information would be stored.

There are all these questions and concerns about who will have this information and what are they going to do with it. You could look at this as one-on-one face identification, like an iPhone. But there is a larger concern that it might be a facial recognition database.  We can all agree the use of technology to catch a bad guy is a good thing, Rackliffe said. But when does it become government overreach?

Featured video: Tulsa World Opinion: Reaction to Oklahoma Gov. Stitts State of the State address

Scott Kimbler is a veteran journalist based in Atlanta. He wrote this for InsideSources.

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Oklahoma lawmakers have proposed some pretty bad bills, but they got one thing right: voting rights and processes have been largely left alone.

I wasnt expecting that. A roundup of state legislation around voting compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice shows some states in bitter dispute about changes. Not surprisingly, most of those states are politically purple  swing states  like Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Oklahoma has about 40 bills pending regarding voting, and a few are outlandish. (Some lawmakers just cant help themselves.) But this has not been a stated priority for the states elected leadership. Oklahomans seem pretty happy with how elections here operate.

Thats also the take from the University of Tulsas Matt Hindman, associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department. Hes studied the history and trends of U.S. voting.

The stakes are higher in those swing states, and they get more attention. Thats where the GOP want more restrictions and the Democrats push back with expansions, Hindman said. While you would expect Oklahoma to propose more restrictive laws, since that is the Republican Party stance, few outcomes in Oklahoma are really in doubt.

Basically, if a state is too far left or too far right, no one really wants to muck with voter rights, access or tabulation.

Voting wasnt optional in my family. When you have family members running for local offices, every vote counts and every kin casts a ballot.

The view passed along to me was that voting is a God-given right to all Americans, and I never questioned that.

The veterans in my town spoke of fighting for that right. My county commissioner grandpa referred to it as a duty. My other grandfather likened it to patriotism.

So I was surprised at a Pew Research Center report last summer showing this absolute right isnt viewed as so absolute, with deep partisan divides. This could be one factor in the higher emotion on this issue.

The survey found that 57% of Americans say voting is a a fundamental right for every adult U.S. citizen and should not be restricted in any way. But 42% believe that voting is a privilege that comes with responsibilities and can be limited if adult U.S. citizens dont meet some requirements.

Breaking down by political affiliation: 78% of Democrats or those leaning left are in the fundamental right camp, while 67% of Republicans and those leaning right fit in the voting is a privilege category.

This divide is relatively new  say the last decade  because the environment is so polarizing, Hindman says. Its much more intense in states debating who can and who cant vote. For a large segment, voting is not just a right but an obligation. Its almost a marker of whether you are a good citizen.

For others, for a few different reasons, another segment is saying, We cant let those people vote. It could be about their side not getting what it wants and a belief that side is the true representation of the American ideal.

The last time voting took this much debate was when the 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870, Hindman said. That amendment removed race as a legal barrier to vote.

They argued about whether to implement a universal right to vote or tell states they cant restrict the right to vote on the category of race, Hindman said. They took the latter approach, with major consequences.

The U.S. didnt get a universal right to vote and allowed states to put a number of restrictions, including unconscionable Jim Crow obstacles, on voting. There remain restrictions such as a criminal past or state residency.

The question is: Where do those lines cross from reasonable into obstructive?

Election fraud has been part of Americas past, and the idea that it is rampant now is fueled by the falsehood that the last presidential election was corrupt or stolen. Political parties  rather than the government  of a different era would print their own ballots, hand them out in neighborhoods, and then put them into the ballot boxes.

Were in a place where we have poll watchers, oversight at the polls with three or four precinct workers, and people vote in private, Hindman said. There are fewer opportunities to engage in election tampering. There has been a lot of professionalism among people working at the polls.

Some so-called voting reforms focus on the election aftermath  on who collects and counts ballots and who declares the winner. These efforts often take away neutral observers or layers of protection from partisanship.

Oklahomas election process is considered one of the nations most secure, backed by a recent study by the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma. In 2020, only 59 cases of potential voter fraud were referred to district attorneys in the state. All but 19, which are in Oklahoma County, have been disposed of.

Only one resulted in a conviction. A woman sent in her deceased mothers absentee ballot and received a $10 fine and a 60-day deferred sentence. So, no widespread fraud was found.

Its strange that people are worried about election security at a time when elections are the most secure in history, Hindman said. Its hard to engage in the chicanery of 100 years ago.

Im still in the voting-is-a-right camp, not seeing that as particularly partisan. I held that position before it turned into a political litmus test, so why change now?

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Visakhapatnam city police on Thursday banned the use of drones and sub-conventional aerial platforms from February 20 to March 5 due to two international events being held in Port City. (Representational Photo:AFP)

Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam city police on Thursday banned the use of drones and sub-conventional aerial platforms from February 20 to March 5 due to two international events being held in Port City.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, city commissioner of police Manish Kumar Sinha said that Vizag will be temporarily a Red Zone for a period of 48 hours from February 20, 1 pm to February 22, 1 pm, and flying of drones is prohibited during the Presidents Fleet Review.

Similarly, Section 144 of CrPC 1973 prohibits the use of aerial platforms like paragliders, park motors, G gliders, UAVS, UASS microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons in the city for MILAN 2022 apart from the fleet review from February 19 to March 5.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance announced a sharp increase in retail fuel prices on Friday afternoon, in the context of the mass closures of many filling stations across Vietnam as a consequence of a supply shortage and their poor business.

The higher prices have been applicable from 3:00 pm the same day after the two ministries had made no price adjustments for more than 20 days.

Accordingly, the E5RON92 gasoline price spiked by VND980, from VND23,590 to VND24,570 per liter while RON95-III gasoline rates increased by VND960, from VND24,360 to VND25,320 per liter. (US$1 = VND22,682)

Oil products, meanwhile, also jumped by VND660-960 for each liter sold.

This is the third time gasoline prices in Vietnam have risen following the global trend since the beginning of this year and the implementation of a new government decree on petroleum business.

The decree, which took effect on January 2, stipulates that fuel prices are adjusted three times on the first, 11th, and 21st day every month, or on a 10-day cycle instead of 15 days like before.

As February 1 was the first day of the recent Lunar New Year holiday, no fuel price adjustments were made, with the announcement of the newest rates delayed until Friday.

Fuel businesses have blamed the production cut by Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical complex in north-central Thanh Hoa Province and their poor business for the decision to close filling stations en masse over the past few days.

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Twelve people were injured at Saudi Arabia's Abha airport by shrapnel from an explosive-laden drone intercepted by air defences on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group said.

In a statement carried by Al Arabiya TV, the coalition later warned people in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa to avoid civilian locations used for military purposes during the next 72 hours while it strikes drone launch sites,

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group hit a military target at Abha airport with a Qasef 2 drone.

Air traffic operations at Abha civilian airport returned to normal after standard safety procedures following the drone interception, the coalition said in statements carried by state media.

Shrapnel from the drone attack at midday fell inside airport grounds and some glass facades were damaged, it said.

Light injuries were sustained by two Saudi nationals and citizens of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement condemning the "terrorist attack" that Washington was committed to supporting the kingdom in the defence of its people and territory.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since early 2015, after the group ousted Yemen's internationally recognised government from power in Sanaa.

The Houthis often launch attacks on Abha airport, which lies close to the Yemeni border in Saudi Arabia's south, and other parts of the country with drones and missiles. Most attacks are intercepted but a few people have been killed and several injured.

The coalition regularly carries out air strikes on what it says are Houthi military targets in Yemen. On Thursday it said it would take measures to neutralize the source of threats to civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The United Arab Emirates, a coalition member, twice in January said its forces destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launch area in Yemen, after unprecedented drone and missile attacks on the UAE this year claimed by the Houthis.
The number of new COVID-19 infections in Ho Chi Minh City bounced back as the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday ended last week and is expected to continue rising in the coming days, the local health sector warned.

Local residents were able to enjoy a wholesome Tet holiday despite the pandemic, Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, head of the municipal Department of Healths office, said at a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on Thursday.

This was thanks to directions of the citys administration, careful preparation of departments and agencies, and citizens compliance with regulations on pandemic prevention and control, Mai continued.

The 2022 Lunar New Year fell on February 1, and the majority of employees in the country were given a nine-day break from January 29 to February 6.

Prior to the Tet break, Ho Chi Minh City recorded a three-digit jump in new COVID-19 cases every day, the health official elaborated.

The daily count decreased to a two-digit number between February 4 and 7, and dropped to a new low of only 24 on February 5.

Nonetheless, it began to rebound on February 8 and reached 242 cases on February 9.

The citys health sector believed that COVID-19 infections would continue to surge in the coming days, but the number of seriously ill patients and deaths will decline thanks to gradual improvements to the treatment capacity.

During the first phase of the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign from December 29 to February 6, more than 13,000 people in the city were provided with the vaccine.

Health authorities will carry out the second phase until the end of this month and strive to provide the third dose to 80 percent of the citys population.

The city will also focus on boosting protection for people at high risk.

The health sector will work with the education sector to make necessary preparations for the vaccination of children aged five to 11.

Mai added that the metropolis has recorded 92 Omicron infections and zero deaths related to the variant.

Ho Chi Minh City has documented more than 515,100 local COVID-19 cases since the fourth virus wave hit the county last April.

Health workers in the city of nine million have administered about 8.1 million first vaccine doses, nearly 7.3 million second shots, and nearly 4.6 million third jabs.

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Residents in Da Nang spent Thursday rushing to vaccination sites as fears over COVID-19 transmissions during last weeks Lunar New Year holiday took hold of the city.

Crowding was a common scene at several vaccination sites in Da Nang on Thursday, with queues lasting until the late afternoon and hundreds of people showing up without appointments.

Nguyen Thi Kim Na, whose vaccination appointment was confirmed for Thursday afternoon, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters on site that she had waited for more than an hour but had yet to receive a jab.

Doctors at the citys vaccination sites said that the number of people flocking to their venues on Thursday was notably higher than that before Tet as many locals had not been vaccinated during previous campaigns.

People wait to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Da Nang, Vietnam after the Lunar New Year holiday, February 10, 2022. Photo: B.D. / Tuoi Tre

They also noted that many of those who wished to get vaccinated were workers from other provinces who had returned to Da Nang to resume work after the Tet holiday.

Da Nang has been recording an average of about 1,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, increasing fears of the virus amongst the citys population.

However, the surge in demand for COVID-19 vaccine jabs led to hours-long lines on Thursday, with hundreds of people being asked to leave and return at a future date.

A health worker checks a mans medical declaration form during a COVID-19 vaccination session in Da Nang, Vietnam after the Lunar New Year holiday, February 10, 2022. Photo: B.D. / Tuoi Tre

Da Nang has reported more than 40,900 COVID-19 cases since the fourth wave of the coronavirus flared up in Vietnam on April 27, 2021, according to news site VnExpress statistics.

More than 961,800 of the citys nearly 1.2 million people have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, with more than 911,400 of them being 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.

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Police in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam are investigating a case where an eighth-grade school girl was hospitalized after being assaulted by her classmates father.

A police official in Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday that the unit had received a report on the incident from the victims family and is gathering evidence to facilitate the investigation.

Do Truong Son, head of the bureau of education and training in Thai Thuy District, confirmed the information, adding that Thuy Ninh Elementary and Middle School, where the victim is enrolled, had submitted an initial report on the case.

At around 2:30 pm on February 5, 14-year-old N.P.A., who studies in class 8B at Thuy Ninh School, and her two friends went to the house of her classmate  P.T.P.L.  to solve a conflict they had previously had on social media.

The girls had a conversation which led to violence, before A. and her friends left on their electric bicycle.

L.s father  38-year-old Pham Khac Duan  came home shortly after and discovered the incident.

He then chased after A. and her friends in his car and began attacking the girl.

According to A.s family, Duan kicked the girls off their bicycle before grabbing A.s by the hair, slapping her, and threatening her.

The attack was recorded on a CCTV camera positioned at a local residents house.

Family members later took A. to the hospital due to headache and vomiting after the assault.

Doctors diagnosed A. with traumatic brain injury and unspecified multiple injuries, said the victims older sister.

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Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have decided to disband a 1,000-bed COVID-19 Resuscitation Center, the largest in the city, as patient numbers at the facility have plummeted to almost zero.

The center, located on the second campus of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, has fulfilled its mission, Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, chief of office of the municipal Department of Health, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The dissolution was announced amidst the pandemics remarkable decline in the city, with critical patient numbers as well as fatalities having fallen sharply in recent days.

However, the exact date of the dissolution has yet to be determined, Mai said.

This hospitals second campus, where almost zero coronavirus patients are now treated, will resume its normal operations as soon as the resuscitation center is dissolved, thus allowing it to meet the increasing need for cancer examination and treatment, Mai said.

In its recent proposal to the department, Cho Ray Hospital, which manages the center, suggested future COVID-19 patients be sent to Field Hospitals No. 14 and 16 for treatment.

The department has also decided to dissolve several other field hospitals that house zero COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, all hospitals that have been converted or split to make space for COVID-19 treatment, such as Pham Ngoc Thach, Trung Vuong, and An Binh, will have their pre-pandemic operations restored and, at the same time, will establish their own COVID-19 departments, Mai said.

Despite the shutdown of its largest COVID-19 resuscitation center, the city will still have 1,000 COVID-19-dedicated beds, including 200 at Cho Ray Hospital, the same figure at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and the remainder at Field Hospitals No. 14 and 16.

The department is ready to re-activate all COVID-19 treatment facilities in the city within 24 hours if necessary, Mai asserted.

The city of nine million people has recently seen its daily COVID-19 cases and fatalities fall sharply, to 241 and four on Thursday, respectively, from 437 and 19 a month ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Health.

However, the countrys economic hub has still taken the brunt of the pandemic since it first erupted in the Southeast Asian nation in early 2020, with 516,742 and 19,915 deaths.

As of Thursday, health workers had administered 8,169,130 first COVID-19 vaccine doses and 7,515,520 second jabs to the citys adult population, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination information portal.

Additionally, more than 4.5 million third shots, including additional primary doses and boosters, have been given to the same population, local health authorities said.

The city recently launched its spring vaccination campaign, slated for January 29 to the end of February, aimed at giving a second shot to people from 12 to 17 years old and widening the third-jab coverage for people aged 18 and older.

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The Contender, Part II of Election 22: Australias Choice, reported by Sean Nicholls, goes to air on Four Corners on Monday.

This episode profiles Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and his electoral chances.

I want you to impress upon me why I should elect you and your party to lead this country into the future. Voter, seat of Gilmore, NSW

With an election due some time in the next few months, Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese is facing the biggest test of his political life. His job is to convince voters that he, and the Labor party, are ready to run the country. On Monday, in part two of this Four Corners political special, voters in key seats give their assessment of Anthony Albaneses performance so far.

When I first heard that Anthony Albanese had taken over as leader, I think my first opinion was scratching my head going, Really? Is he the best theyve got? Voter, seat of Gilmore, NSW

Mr Albanese emerged as leader from the smoking ruins of Labors 2019 election loss. Hes devoted his life to politics, with a strong personal brand in his Sydney electorate. The question is, does the rest of Australia know who he is?

Unknown, untested and untried. Voter, seat of Corangamite, VIC

As leader, Anthony Albanese jettisoned the major policies many blamed for Labors electoral loss and adopted a small target strategy. This has left some voters questioning what he, and his party, stand for.

Small target approach  Its a little bit annoying because I want to know definitely, what are you standing for? Where are you, moving forward? And what do you want to do? Voter, seat of Cowan, WA

The ability to cut through as an opposition leader is a difficult task at the best of times, made all the harder in the midst of a global pandemic. Some like the non-partisan approach Mr Albanese has taken during this national emergency.

I really liked his effortshe seemed to throw all his weight behind the government and what the government, both federally and on a state and territory basis, were trying to do, which was very impressive. Voter, seat of Gilmore, NSW

But with the election looming, these voters, who identified themselves as undecided, give their unvarnished assessments of Labors economic credentials and approach to climate change.

Its better than the Coalitions policy, but its nowhere near strong enough. I mean, you look at other areas in the world and were so far behind. Honestly, it makes me embarrassed to be Australian when I look at the two main parties and what, what their proposals are. Its, really poor. Voter, seat of Corangamite, VIC

These voters give an insight into what many in the electorate are looking for as they prepare to cast their vote, and show how big the task is for Anthony Albanese.

Is he leadership material? Havent seen that yet. Voter, seat of Chisholm, VIC

Monday 14th February at 8.30pm.
Screen Australia has released data on 2021s top Drama (ie. Scripted) and Documentary titles.

This follows a particularly challenging year in the face of the pandemic, with sudden lockdowns, COVID-safe ways of working and additional COVID-related costs.

The calibre of the local television shows hitting our screens in 2021 was outstanding, including The Newsreader which took home five AACTA Awards and Fisk which not only reached the top-viewed free-to-air drama, but was awarded Best Series in the Comedies Competition at Series Mania. Our television continues to sell and engage with international audiences; some of our top performing dramas this past year were childrens series 100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone and Kangaroo Beach and mini-series RFDS, The Newsreader and The Unusual Suspects, CEO Graeme Mason said.

Six of the top 10 Australian adult TV dramas in 2021 were broadcast on ABC, with commercial broadcasters Seven and Nine also represented in the 10 most popular shows.

Top 10 Australian Adult TV Drama Series on Free To Air

Position Title Episodes Broadcaster Ratings^ 1 Fisk * 6 ABC 1,394,000 2 RFDS * 8 Seven 1,027,000 3 Home and Away series 34 240 Seven 976,000 4 The Newsreader * 6 ABC 904,000 5 Harrow series 3 10 ABC 834,000 6 Rosehaven series 5 8 ABC 829,000 7 Jack Irish series 3 4 ABC 814,000 8 Doctor Doctor series 5 8 Nine 751,000 9 Amazing Grace * 8 Nine 704,000 10 Total Control series 2 * 6 ABC 696,000

*Screen Australia funded.

^ average audience, metro + regional 28 day.

Australian childrens television also continues to make waves around the world. First Day won an International Emmy Award, Dive Club reached the top 10 most watched list on Netflix in multiple territories, and of course we cant forget Bluey, which delighted families with its third season and remains the highest rated program in the history of ABC Kids.

Following the Bluey Series 3 premiere in November last year, it has achieved a total average audience of 5.17 million in 2021 across all broadcasts and ABC iview. After being available for just over a month, Bluey Series 3 achieved a VPM average audience of 2.34 million on ABC iview in 2021, making it the top-rated new series to launch last year.

In documentary, local series remain popular, with the bulk of content commissioned by the public broadcasters.

Were thrilled to see so many impactful documentaries over the past year, with bold and original storytelling capturing social issues, contemporary Australian culture and natural history. It was great to see the wonderful international reception to the second season of heart-warming series Love on the Spectrum. In 2021 we saw more Australian documentaries hitting streaming platforms including Unheard on Amazon Prime and Puff: The Wonders of the Reef on Netflix.

Due to complexities in the definition of documentary (Ed: ie. excluding Reality TV), only the top 10 Screen Australia-funded documentaries on free-to-air television are included below.

Position Title Episodes Broadcaster Ratings^ 1 Quoll Farm 1 ABC 935,000 2 Love on the Spectrum series 2 5 ABC 817,000 3 Nurses eps 1  7 7 Seven 718,000 4 Finding the Archibald 3 ABC 664,000 5 David Attenboroughs Life in Colour 3 Nine 544,000 6 My Name is Gulpilil 1 ABC 504,000 7 Birdsville or Bust (Part of Untold Australia) 1 SBS 494,000 8 Books that Made us 3 ABC 473,000 9 Australias Health Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley 3 SBS 458,000 10 Going Country 2 ABC 454,000

^ average audience, metro + regional 28 day.

Mason said, 2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year, both in production and also the fantastic releases across various platforms. I would encourage the sector to continue thinking about how they can take that same collaborative, resilient and adaptable spirit theyve demonstrated throughout two years of this pandemic, and bring it into the year ahead. We know its tough as we head into a third year, and we will continue to look at how we can best support the industry to deal with the various challenges.

You can read more here.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas on Friday gave a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 over Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "UP could become Kerala, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir" remarks.

Earlier on Thursday in a video, hours before the first phase of elections in the state, Adityanath had said that UP could become Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not voted back to power in the state.

"I have to say one thing from the core of my heart that a lot of unprecedented works have been done in these five years. If you miss this chance now, all the hard work of the past five years will be spoiled and UP may turn into Kashmir, Bengal and Kerala in no time," he had said.

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.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan had on Thursday launched a scathing attack against the Uttar Pradesh CM for this alleged disparaging comments against Kerala.

Hitting back at Adityanath, Vijayan, who is also a senior CPI(M) leader, said if the north Indian state develops like Kerala, people will enjoy peace and better living conditions.

If UP turns into Kerala as @myogiadityanath fears, it will enjoy the best education, health services, social welfare, living standards and have a harmonious society in which people won't be murdered in the name of religion and caste. That's what the people of UP would want, the Kerala Chief Minister said in a tweet.

The Chief Minister also tweeted the same in Hindi and tagged his UP counterpart.

Later in a statement, the CM said he was surprised by the remarks of Adityanath and reminded him that the southern state is at the forefront of India by any criteria that measures the progress of a society.

"Kerala is one of the top states in terms of living standards, education, health, hygiene, accommodation, longevity, gender equality, income and social security. This has been recognized worldwide and also by the Central Government and its various agencies. Yet Yogi Adityanath does not want Uttar Pradesh to be like Kerala," Vijayan said.

Citing the Niti Aayog's first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report which states that Kerala has registered the lowest poverty across India and are at the bottom of the index and other reports of government agencies hailing Kerala's achievement in key sectors, the Chief Minister said 98.1 per cent of households in the southern state have sanitation facilities and 97.9 per cent of women in the state are literate.

"Kerala has the lowest infant mortality rate in India", Vijayan said.

He alleged that the Sangh Parivar outfits were spreading false propaganda against Kerala as it was an inaccessible place for them and their ideology. He said Kerala is a state with a strong social base built on secularism, democracy and modern values ??where communal politics cannot thrive.

"Therefore, spreading false propaganda against Kerala is one of their main agendas," Vijayan said.
Prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak (Jonathan Brady/PA)

UK electricity and gas prices will soar this spring after regulator Ofgem revised its energy price cap.

The cap, which sets the maximum amount a utility company can charge an average customer in the UK per year, will increase dramatically by 54 per cent from 1,277 to as much as 1,971. That means a 693 per year increase for the average customer.

A response to climbing wholesale gas prices around the world, driven by increased demand and reduced imports to Europe, the review will be implemented from 1 April and potentially place as many as 22m households up against it and unable to meet their commitments.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has since announced that 150 council tax rebates would be given to homes in bands A to D and as well as plans to offer a 200 discount on bills.

A government-backed loan scheme of that order will cost around 5bn to 6bn, well below the 20bn demanded by the energy industry, which has already been criticial of the announcements trailed.

Dale Vince, the boss of Ecotricity, has already called the measures far too little, far too late.

Responding in the House of Commons, Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves likewise called Mr Sunaks plans a buy now pay later scheme that loads up costs for tomorrow.

How much are energy bills rising by?

From 1 April, households that are currently on a standard variable tariff will see their bills rise sharply by 54 per cent or 693 from 1,277 to as much as 1,971.

For around 4 million customers on prepayment meters, there will be an increase of 708 from 1,309 to 2,017.

The new cap just announced is calculated by Ofgem using a formula based on market prices and expected costs for suppliers.

What if Im not on a standard variable tariff?

People who shop around and switch deals away from standard variable tariffs were previously able to find deals for hundreds of pounds cheaper than the energy price cap. Those deals have now all been withdrawn as the cost of supplying energy has gone up.

Story continues

When fixed-term deals expire, customers will be moved to a standard variable tariff at the price cap level. The option to shop around is still available, but other deals will be more expensive, so customers are advised not to switch.

What alternative measures have been proposed?

VAT cut

Energy UK, the trade body for suppliers, previously called for VAT to be cut on household bills from 5 per cent to zero.

Businesses pay 20 per cent VAT on their energy bills and the government offers a 5 per cent rate for firms that use a limited amount of electricity. Businesses are not protected by the energy price cap.

But in Octobers budget, Mr Sunak resisted calls to cut tax on energy. Whitehall sources said at the time that the cut would be poorly targeted, helping out people who could afford to pay as well as those who will struggle.

Green levies

Suppliers also asked for levies that fund renewables investment and energy efficiency improvements to be removed from bills. The investment would instead be paid for from general taxation.

They argued that this would be more progressive because those on higher incomes would contribute proportionally more. The levy is a tax on an essential good, which takes up a significant part of the amount paid by low-income households.

E.Ons chief executive Michael Lewis meanwhile called for a polluter pays approach, which would have included an increased tax on carbon to make up for the money lost from levies on bills.

Suppliers estimate that scrapping green levies and cutting VAT to zero could reduce bills by 250 to 300 on average.

Spreading costs

Energy UK also suggested an industry-wide financing scheme to allow suppliers to spread the cost of gas-price spikes and supplier failures over several years.

Currently, the price cap mechanism means that these costs will all hit peoples bills next year.

Under the plan, lenders would provide funds to cover the immediate up-front costs of buying energy, with the money recouped over a longer period. The government would not guarantee the loans but would oversee the scheme to ensure it is not abused.

Government funding

E.On also called for a more radical approach and proposed that the government steps in to use public funds to lower bills in the short-term.

As an example, that could mean the government taking some or all of the cost rises onto its balance sheet, allowing these sudden price spikes to be paid back later and reducing the immediate burden on consumers, said Mr Lewis.

A version of this approach has now been unveiled by Mr Sunak, although, as discussed, not to the extent that suppliers were hoping for.

Dan Alchin, deputy director of retail at Energy UK, has pointed out that other countries governments have provided direct support. For example, in Ireland, households have promised 100 (84) off their first energy bill in 2022 and in Italy the government has provided loan facilities to suppliers.

Right now, nothing should be off the table. We need the UK government to engage with industry and finding a way through this that helps customers, Mr Alchin said.

They have not responded as quickly as Treasuries in other countries.

Why are energy bills going up so much?

Gas imports to Europe have been lower due to the global economic recovery, which has caused increased demand in Asia. Protracted cold spells over last winter and into spring have led to lower-than-normal amounts of gas left in storage across Europe.

The UK imports around half of its gas and is more reliant on the commodity to heat homes than many European countries, which predominantly use electric heating systems.

Continued low imports and the need to refill gas storage sites for next winter has driven gas demand and caused forward gas prices to rise further.

Russia has also been accused of limiting its supplies of gas into Europe to exert political pressure on the EU.

The Kremlin wants governments to approve the opening of Nord Stream 2, its new natural gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea and into Germany, which is built but has not been granted the necessary regulatory go-ahead, a situation now further complicated by military tensions along the Ukraine border.

Wholesale electricity prices have also been pushed up by higher gas prices and an increase in prices for carbon allowances.

Consumers will also have to cover the costs stemming from failed suppliers, some of which failed to hedge their exposure to volatile gas prices by buying enough energy in advance.
Sarah Palin says she'll 'consider' asking the Supreme Court to reevaluate defamation law if she loses her lawsuit against the New York Times

Sarah Palin, 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor, arrives with former NHL hockey player Ron Duguay during her defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, at the United States Courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., February 9, 2022. REUTERS/Stephen Yang

Sarah Palin told Insider she'll "consider" asking the Supreme Court to reevaluate defamation law if she loses her trial.

She's suing the New York Times for an editorial that linked her PAC's rhetoric to a shooting.

Two Supreme Court justices want to revisit the "actual malice" standard for defaming public figures.

After testifying at trial Wednesday for her defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin told Insider she'll "consider" seeking to have the Supreme Court revoke a landmark defamation case.

Asked if she wanted to have the high court overturn New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 case that established the legal standards for criticizing public figures, Palin told Insider she wants to take it "one step at a time" before deciding whether to make that argument in an appeal.

"We'll consider it after this case," Palin said.

The former Alaska governor said she prefers to win her trial outright rather than go through the appeals process.

Palin filed her lawsuit in 2017 over an editorial published by the Times that June titled "America's Lethal Politics." The piece followed the shooting of several Republican members of Congress by a man with a history of opposing their political positions.

The Times article, published in its opinion section, drew a link between the shooting and an earlier one, in 2011, where another man shot then-Democratic Rep. Gabriel Giffords in Arizona, wounding her and killing six others. According to the version of the editorial that was initially published, Palin incited that shooting because her political action committee posted an image on Facebook that put Giffords's district under crosshairs.

The Times corrected the article the next day, admitting that there was no established link between Palin's committee's post and the Giffords shooting. Palin filed her lawsuit two weeks later.

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James Bennet, the head of the Times's opinion operation, inserted the phrases Palin claims were defamatory while revising another writer's first draft of "America's Lethal Politics." Bennet resigned from the Times in June 2020 after running an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton calling for the deployment of US military troops to quell American civilian protests, but remains a defendant in the lawsuit.

The 1964 First Amendment case set the legal standard for defaming public figures

Since Palin is a public figure, the jury must find that Bennet and the Times acted "with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard" of the truth in order to find them culpable of defamation under the "actual malice" standard established by the Supreme Court.

Her lawsuit alleges that the Times violated that standard. But if she loses her case, she has the opportunity to appeal it to an appellate court, and then possibly up to the Supreme Court, where it may revisit that standard.

Two right-wing members of the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, have both criticized the decades-old ruling and said it should be overturned in favor of different standards.

James Bennet testifies as Sarah Palin, 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor, watches during Palin's defamation lawsuit trial against the New York Times, at the United States Courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., February 9, 2022 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Palin took the stand Wednesday afternoon and testified for about 20 minutes before US District Judge Jed Rakoff, who's overseeing the case, sent the jury home for the day.

The former governor cut a striking figure, wearing a double-breasted fuchsia blazer and black skirt, in the small, wood-paneled and green-curtained courtroom on the 24th floor of a Manhattan federal court building. She's scheduled to continue testifying Thursday morning.

Her testimony so far mostly consisted of details of her personal life in Wasilla, Alaska, and political career.

"Were you running against established, career politicians and all that stuff?" her attorney asked her.

"Always!" Palin responded with enthusiasm.

Palin followed testimony from Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist who alerted Bennet to his concerns about the draft of "America's Lethal Politics" that was initially published.

Before Douthat took the stand, Bennet finished his own testimony, which had continued from Tuesday afternoon.

He said he inserted the phrases linking Palin's PAC to the "incitement" of violence while under pressure for a looming deadline, and never imagined people would read his sentences as blaming Palin for the 2011 shooting.

"The question didn't enter my mind," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US authorities have warned that truckers could target the Super Bowl and State of the Union Address inspired by the massive blockades which are causing chaos on the US-Canada border.

Canadian truck drivers have been at the country's border protesting the requirement for people to be fully vaccinated to cross the US-Canada border.

The bumper-to-bumper demonstration by the so-called Freedom Truck Convoy has been taking place at the Ambassador Bridge crossing for the last four days.

Read more: Freedom Convoy - Why are Canadian truckers protesting?

While hundreds of demonstrators have also paralysed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks and maintained blockades at another border crossing at Coutts, Alberta.

The Super Bowl and the State of the Union Address

The protests have caused issues for the auto industry, as well as other sectors between the two countries, and now similar truck convoys could cause problems for the upcoming Super Bowl this weekend.

US authorities have braced themselves for the possibility of such copycat demonstrations across the country, with the Department of Homeland Security sending a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies warning them of disruption.

It said it has received reports that truckers are planning to "potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities".

Read more: Trudeau calls for end to trucker protests

The bulletin stated that a protest could begin in Southern California this weekend, possibly affecting traffic around the Super Bowl, before reaching Washington in March for the State of the Union Address.

However, the department said there have been no calls for violence in relation to the demonstration.

Toyota forced to suspend production

The protest taking place at the US-Canada border has already caused Toyota to shut down production at its plants in Ontario and Kentucky due to supply issues.

The largest Japanese automaker said it is "experiencing multiple dropped logistics routes across the supply base" and would be suspending work through Saturday.

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Ford also closed its Ontario plant on Wednesday but reopened it just a day later.

"This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, auto workers, suppliers, communities, and companies on both sides of the border," the carmaker said in a statement.

Read more: Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency to deal with trucking blockade

"We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have a widespread impact on all automakers in the US and Canada."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is watching the bridge blockade closely, noting the risk to the auto industry.

Protests spread to Europe

Meanwhile, authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades in a bid to prevent any disruption.

The ban, along with a threat of prison time and heavy fines, was prompted by online chat groups in France that have been calling for drivers to converge in the capital on Friday night and drive to Brussels on Monday.
Joe Biden has warned Americans in Ukraine should leave the region now.

The US President said he would not send troops on a rescue mission if Russia invades.

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organisation. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly, he told NBC.

Asked whether there were any scenarios that would prompt him to send troops to Ukraine to rescue Americans, the president said: Theres not. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

Local residents train close to Kyiv (AP)

NATO also has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the US sending troops to Poland and Romania.

A British Royal Air Force jet carrying 350 troops landed in Poland on Thursday after London sent anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to help boost its defences.

It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Ukraine crisis has grown into the most dangerous moment for Europe in decades.

We stand on the edge of a precipice and things are as dangerous as I have seen them in Europe for a very, very long time, he said, adding that its up to Putin to disengage and de-escalate.

Johnson, who later flew to Warsaw to meet with Polands prime minister, said he believes President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided what he might do with Ukraine, adding that the West must use sanctions and military resolve plus diplomacy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov set a stern tone for his talks in Moscow with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who again warned Russia that attacking its neighbour would have massive consequences and carry severe costs.

Lavrov rejected Western worries about the Russian troop buildup as sheer propaganda and noted that Moscow wont stand for lectures.

He claimed speaking to Liz Truss was like the deaf talking to the blind.

Ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere, he said
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday called on Canada to reopen a key bridge to traffic that has been snarled by large protests by truckers.

Whitmer urged Canada to take steps to restore traffic on the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor that is crucial to the flow of auto parts and other goods.

"It is imperative that Canadian local, provincial, and national governments de-escalate this economic blockade. They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic," Whitmer said, noting the protests are already impacting Michigan auto production.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)
BERLIN (Reuters) -Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russia of "serious" economic and political consequences should it ramp up military aggression toward Ukraine, while adding that Germany and its allies were ready for dialogue with Moscow and wanted peace.

With Russia holding military exercises in Belarus https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wrapup-1-russia-starts-belarus-military-drills-amid-new-diplomacy-ukraine-2022-02-10 and the Black Sea following its troop buildup near Ukraine, the stand-off has raised fears of a war in Europe, sending energy costs soaring across the continent, which relies on Russian gas supplies.

"What is at stake at the moment is nothing less than preventing a war in Europe. We want peace," Scholz told reporters at a meeting with Baltic state leaders in Berlin on Thursday, calling for Russia to de-escalate.

"Further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine would have very serious political, economic and strategic consequences for Russia," he said. "At the same time, we are ready for serious talks with Russia, for a dialogue on European security issues."

The Kremlin denies accusations by the United States and its allies that it was planning to invade its neighbour.

Scholz met Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, leaders of the Baltic States who want Germany to play a bigger role in efforts by the NATO military alliance to boost defences against Russia in Eastern Europe.

The leaders discussed "real help to Ukraine", such as economical, financial as well as "moral" support, Nauseda said in a video statement after the meeting.

"Scholz is well versed in the situation, takes seriously the threats that are emerging at the Ukrainian border and undoubtedly sees how they are linked with the security of the Baltic region," Nauseda said.

Before the meeting, Latvian Prime Minister Karins urged Germany to take "a leading role to lead the European Union and NATO through these difficult times."

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"Our focus is on supporting Ukraine," said Kallas. "De-escalation cannot come at gunpoint and at the expense of Ukraine."

Scholz is under pressure from the United States to halt a completed pipeline to bring Russian gas to Germany in case of a Russian military incursion into Ukraine.

Scholz has not mentioned the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project in the context of consequences he said Russia would face. He had previously said that all options were on the table.

(Reporting by Paul Carrel, Sarah Marsh and Thomas Escritt in Berlin and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Writing by Joseph NasrEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Jonathan Oatis)
Activists from Students Federation of India (SFI) hold placards during a demonstration against the recent hijab ban in few of Karnataka's educational institutes, in Chennai on February 10, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

Why do people care more about a headscarf worn by a woman than what is going on inside her head?

The straight answer  because the controversy over whether colleges in a part of coastal Karnataka are justified or not in banning hijabs or headscarves for female students attending classes is not just about the hijab, worn by many Muslim women in India and around the world.

It cannot be decontextualised from the raging politics of polarisation in India, brought into even sharper relief as five states, including politically critical Uttar Pradesh, gear up to vote.

The context is one in which existing societal prejudices are being inflamed nationwide. Muslim hawkers and small business owners are being economically marginalised and prominent Indian Muslim women have woken up to find they have been put up for sale in fake online auctions.

The context is also about the overall state of human development in the country.

To me, fighting for every Indian girls right to study, to pursue higher education, including girls who cover their heads, is not necessarily the same as fighting for the hijab. Let us not oversimplify issues. Let us get the sequence right.

In a country where womens status continues to be low, where female literacy is barely 70 per cent and where the female labour participation rate is one of the lowest among major economies, patriarchy needs to be fought, and not just among Muslims. It can only be fought by better equipping girls and young women who wish to study. Education is the key. Denying them education on any ground disempowers them.

The hijab row hit the headlines in December-January when six teenage Muslim girls were denied entry into classes as they were wearing a hijab alongside their uniform at a pre-university womens college in Udupi district of Karnataka. Since then, tensions have escalated. Many more educational institutions in the state have sought to prevent hijab-wearing girls from entering classrooms. The girls are protesting.

A recent Karnataka government directive seeks to validate decisions of state educational institutions prohibiting Muslim girl students from wearing the hijab. Last week, the BJP-led state government said: Clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn. It says the ban on wearing the hijab to classrooms is not a violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom guaranteed by Indias Constitution.

Hindutva warriors have been quick to jump in. Unsurprising, given their strong presence in coastal Karnataka. There have been counter-protests by some Hindu right-wing students who took to wearing saffron stoles and turbans.

On February 8, with incidents of violence reported from several college campuses, the state government closed schools and colleges for the next three days.

The matter now lies with a three-judge bench of the Karnataka high court. The next hearing is on Monday (February 14) afternoon.

The standard argument against the hijab-wearing girls who wish to get back to their classroom has been that a hijab is a marker of womens disempowerment and that weaning the girls away from head-covering hijabs will put them on the path of progress. The other argument in the same vein  colleges are entitled to enforce a dress code and if the hijab violates such a code, Muslim girls who wish to study should discard it.

As an agnostic and a feminist, I find myself in a piquant position arguing with not only Hindutva warriors but also many of my friends who I agree with most times. Much has been written on the matter already so let me stick to a few issues I see as pivotal to the ongoing controversy.

Firstly, hijab-wearing women are not a homogenous community just as women who dont wear a hijab are not all the same. Everyone saw a video clip of a lone woman with her head and body covered, riding a two-wheeler, parking the vehicle and boldly confronting a large group of men trying to heckle her at a college in Karnatakas Mandya district. She also yelled Allahu Akbar in response to the Jai Shri Ram chants of the young men. Did her body language suggest agency or disempowerment?

The reasons for wearing the hijab vary. Arguably, some Muslim women wear it as they come from conservative families where the hijab is the norm. Some Muslim students possibly feel that hijab comes before everything else. There are many others who dont think so and who wish to cover their heads and study. Many Muslim women in India and across the world wear a hijab to demonstrate their adherence to their faith. But I have also met and know of Muslim women who wear the hijab as a marker of choice to assert their identity when they feel cornered.

The headline-making girls in Karnataka did not suddenly start wearing the hijab. Local reporters told me that in all colleges in Udipi in coastal Karnataka they have been wearing it for a long time, with their regular uniform. However, the principal of the college where the row started says the authorities never allowed the hijab earlier.

Whatever be the reason or circumstances for wearing the hijab, a young womans life options, career prospects and ability to take an independent decision depends greatly on education. How will it help if they find it more difficult to access education?

Dr Aqsa Shaikh, associate professor, department of community medicine, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, and a transgender activist, covers her head with a dupatta. It makes me feel feminine, she told me. I have male pattern baldness. Can you reduce an educational institution to just its rules for uniform? Rules are created for human beings. Human beings are not created for rules; and rules evolve. Nurses in India at one time had to wear skirts as part of their uniform.

The question that leaps out  can you reduce a woman to her headscarf or an educational institution to its dress code? What is the purpose of an educational institution? Is it mainly about enforcing uniformity in appearance or is it about imparting education and fostering critical thinking among students in their formative years? If there has to be uniformity, what happens to boys who wear janeu (sacred thread), girls who wear bindis or Sikhs who wear turbans? Can Muslim identity markers alone be framed as sectarian and undesirable in public spaces?

Let us debate the hijab and other religious markers by all means. But barring hijab-wearing girls from classrooms, or segregating them by making them sit elsewhere, will not empower them.
Strong growth was highlighted in India, Brazil and China

SCOTCH whisky exports continued their recovery from the pandemic as global travel reopened and coronavirus restrictons in bars and restaurants lifted last year, but have still to return to pre-Covid levels.

The value of whisky exports surged by 19 per cent to 4.51 billion in 2021, amid strong growth from consumers across Asia Pacific and Latin America, statistics released by the Scotch Whisky Association today show.

Strong growth was highlighted by the SWA in key emerging markets such as India, Brazil and China, and there was an 8% rise in the value of exports to 790 million in the US  the industrys biggest market by value  despite a 25% import tariff on single malt Scotch whisky remaining in place for the first quarter of the year.

The value of exports to the European Union climbed by 8% to 1.36bn in the first year since the UKs exit from the bloc.

However, the value of global shipments was 8%, or 403m, lower than the level recorded in 2019, before the pandemic struck.

The number of 70cl bottles exported in 2021 was up by 21% on 2020 to the equivalent of 1.38 billion bottles. This was ahead of the volume exported in 2019, before the pandemic, by 73 million bottles.

Mark Kent, newly appointed chief executive of the SWA, said: The global footprint of the industry in 2021 is a clear sign that the Scotch whisky industry is on the road to recovery.

Value and volume are both up as consumers return to bars and restaurants, people return to travel and tourism, and we all return to a degree of normality after a period of enormous uncertainty for consumers and business.

Scotch whisky growth in global markets means more jobs and investment across Scotland and the UK supply chain. The industry has continued to invest in its production sites, tourist attractions and workforce to ensure that Scotch whisky remains at the heart of a dynamic international spirits market and attracts new consumers around the world.

But this this is no time for complacency. The industry continues to face global challenges, including ongoing trade disruption, growing supply-chain costs and inflationary pressures, and undoubtedly there is some road to run before exports return to pre-pandemic levels.

The UK and Scottish governments should do all they can to support the industrys continued recovery by making the most of global opportunities, including the ongoing UK-India trade talks, ensuring fairness in the UK duty system, and investing in a more sustainable future as the industry works to reach net-zero by 2040.
By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor, Domino's and other companies have found themselves in a diplomatic fracas after their Pakistani partners tweeted support for disputed Kashmir, irking Indians and highlighting the risks of operating in the region.

Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and arch rival Pakistan, each of which controls only parts of the Himalayan territory but makes claims to it in full.

The row erupted after several companies posted messages on social media to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, commemorated annually by Pakistan on Feb. 5 to honour the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination.

The posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram outraged Indian social media users, who demanded apologies from the companies and urged boycotts of their products.

Others caught in the furore include Japan's Toyota Motor , the world's biggest automaker, Suzuki Motor, majority owner of India's top carmaker Maruti Suzuki, Honda Motor, Isuzu Motor, South Korea's Kia Motors and Yum! Brands' KFC.

The affray highlights the risks global companies face while navigating sensitivities amid rising nationalism in South Asia, and spurred some of them to tighten their social media policies.

POSTS WERE 'UNAUTHORISED'

While issuing an apology, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia said the posts by their Pakistani partners were unauthorised and misused their brands. The carmakers also put measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Suzuki said it would advise business associates to comply strictly with its communication policy, which avoids any alignment with political or religious groups.

"In a flat world where social messages travel across borders, companies have to build in clauses and guardrails on what partners can speak about," said Amit Narayan, head of India and South Asia at risk adviser Control Risks.

Social media guidelines are usually for employees but companies will now need to set guidance and oversee how their partners represent their brand to minimise any risks, said Narayan.

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India, compared with Pakistan, is a bigger market for companies and one where losing business can be painful.

POTENTIAL LOSS TO BUSINESS

Hyundai, facing the most severe backlash, is India's No. 2 car seller. It sold nearly half a million vehicles last year and exported more than one million, making it India's largest car exporter.

Hundreds of Indian social media users sought an apology over its Kashmir posts, and dozens said they would cancel their car orders. Even though the company apologised, it led to a rare diplomatic escalation between South Korea and India.

Earlier on Wednesday, members of the youth wing of India's opposition Congress party protested outside a Hyundai showroom in the western city of Ahmedabad.

More than concerns about the government, global companies worry about how their social media communication in one country can affect their affiliate in another, said a communications manager working for a multinational in Pakistan.

If there is a protest in India or a factory closure, it is a business loss, while the government can be won back at a later stage, said the person, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

"We can afford to hurt government but cannot afford to hurt an affiliate," he said.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah, additional reporting by Amit Dave in Ahmedabad and Syed Raza Hassan in Karachi; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
bet365 and Entain the Biggest Donators To GambleAware

February 11 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

British responsible gambling charity, GambleAware, received almost 16 million in donations in the first three quarters of the current financial year, and bet365 and Entain Plc are the two largest donators.

GambleAware asks companies that profit from gambling to voluntarily donate at least 0.1% of their annual Gross Gambling Yield (GGY). Those companies with gross gambling revenue of less than 250,000 are asked to donate at least 250. The charity received pledges of 15,999,022 in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year.

bet365 made the largest donation, one weighing in at 4,214,000. The gambling giant, owned by Denise, John, and Peter Coates paid 573.0 million in tax between them.

Entain Plc, owners of partypoker among other brands, donated the second-most with a 4,000,000 payment making its way to GambleAware. William Hill, which donated 1,000,000, was the only other company to pay a seven-figure sum.

Gambling companies that are yet to make a donation but have pledged to do so, include Ladbrokes, which has promised 4,765,000 will make its way to GambleAwares coffers.

GambleAware Wants a Mandatory Levy

All donations and pledges are entirely voluntary. GambleAware wants operators to increase their donations to 1% by 2023. In addition, the charity is calling for a mandatory levy on all gambling revenue.

"Gamble Aware continues to call for a mandatory levy to address gambling harms and ensure transparency and consistency across the industry. Having such a system in place would provide the sustainable funding which is vital for the delivery of research, treatment and prevention."

All funds Gamble Aware receives go towards the charitys four commissioning objectives: awareness, inequalities, service capacity, and access. The charity helps fund the National Gambling Treatment Service, the Annual Treatment and Support Survey, and Gambling Education Hubs among 40 other workstreams.

One entity that does not receive financial help from GambleAware, despite collaborating with it, is the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS distanced itself from donations from gambling companies to avoid a conflict of interests due to its gambling research, education, and treatment programmes.
Bruno Guimaraes made his Newcastle United debut as a substitute in Tuesday's win over Everton

EDDIE HOWE admits he faces a difficult decision over whether to disrupt his current midfield mix by handing Bruno Guimaraes a first Newcastle United start in Sundays home game with Aston Villa.

Guimarares was the Magpies star January signing, with the Brazil international joining from French side Lyon for an initial fee of 35m.

The midfielder made his debut as a late substitute in Tuesdays 3-1 win over Everton, but will be hoping to start against Villa at the weekend.

However, in order to select Guimaraes, Howe would almost certainly have to drop one of Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Willock or Joelinton, a controversial call given the impressive way in which the trio have performed during Newcastles last two games.

Howe said: Bruno is ready to play. Hes fit to play. Hes certainly shown all the technical qualities we loved about him in training already.

But its a case of managing the group from my side, and making sure I make the right selections. Each game is different, but I thought the midfield balance against Everton the other day was really good, with Joelinton, Joe and Jonjo in there. I thought all three players did really well.

Bruno will play a lot of games for this football club, Ive got no doubt about that. Its great to have competition for places.

It has been suggested that Guimaraes might struggle to play alongside Shelvey, as the two players would be looking to occupy the same space, but Howe is confident his January midfield addition is versatile enough to fill a number of different positions in the central third.

He said: Bruno can play in any position in the midfield  he could play as an eight, he could play as a six, he could play as a double six next to Jonjo.

I think thats the beauty of him, and why we loved him so much, that he had the versatility in midfield. It creates a really nice pressure on everybody in the team to perform because we have very good players.

I go back to Sean Longstaff as well, and how hes played in recent weeks. Weve got a really healthy pressure and competition for places in that midfield area.
The Ambassador Bridge, that connects the U.S and Canada, is devoid of traffic on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Detroit. Canadian lawmakers expressed increasing worry Tuesday about the economic effects of disruptive demonstrations after the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada became partially blocked by truckers protesting vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions. (Max Ortiz/Detroit News via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

TORONTO (AP)  A blockade of the bridge between Canada and Detroit by protesters demanding an end to Canadas COVID-19 restrictions forced the shutdown Wednesday of a Ford plant and began to have broader implications for the North American auto industry.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, stood firm against an easing of Canada's COVID-19 restrictions in the face of mounting pressure during recent weeks by protests against the restrictions and against Trudeau himself.

The protest by people mostly in pickup trucks entered its third day at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Traffic was prevented from entering Canada, while U.S.-bound traffic was still moving.

The bridge carries 25% of all trade between the two countries, and Canadian authorities expressed increasing worry about the economic effects.

Ford said late Wednesday that parts shortages forced it to shut down its engine plant in Windsor and to run an assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, on a reduced schedule.

This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, auto workers, suppliers, communities and companies on both sides of the border, Ford said in a statement. We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have widespread impact on all automakers in the U.S. and Canada.

Shortages due to the blockade also forced General Motors to cancel the second shift of the day at its midsize-SUV factory near Lansing, Michigan. Spokesman Dan Flores said it was expected to restart Thursday and no additional impact was expected for the time being.

Later Wednesday, Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin said the company will not be able to manufacture anything at three Canadian plants for the rest of this week due to parts shortages. A statement attributed the problem to supply chain, weather and pandemic-related challenges, but the shutdowns came just days after the blockade began Monday.

Our teams are working diligently to minimize the impact on production, the company said, adding that it doesnt expect any layoffs at this time.

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Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, reported normal operations, though the company had to cut shifts short the previous day at its Windsor minivan plant.

"We are watching this very closely, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said earlier of the bridge blockade.

The blockade poses a risk to supply chains for the auto industry because the bridge is a key conduit for motor vehicles, components and parts, and delays risk disrupting auto production.

A growing number of Canadian provinces have moved to lift some of their precautions as the omicron surge levels off, but Trudeau defended the measures the federal government is responsible for, including the one that has angered many truck drivers: a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.

The reality is that vaccine mandates, and the fact that Canadians stepped up to get vaccinated to almost 90%, ensured that this pandemic didn't hit as hard here in Canada as elsewhere in the world, Trudeau said in Parliament.

About 90% of truckers in Canada are vaccinated, and trucker associations and many big-rig operators have denounced the protests. The U.S. has the same vaccination rule for truckers entering the country, so it would make little difference if Trudeau lifted the restriction.

Protesters have also been blocking the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, for a week and a half, with about 50 trucks remaining there Wednesday. And more than 400 trucks have paralyzed downtown Ottawa, Canadas capital, in a protest that began late last month.

While protesters have been calling for Trudeaus removal, most of the restrictive measures around the country have been put in place by provincial governments. Those include requirements that people show proof-of-vaccination passports to enter restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and sporting events.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia announced plans this week to roll back some or all of their precautions. Alberta, Canada's most conservative province, dropped its vaccine passport immediately and plans to get rid of mask requirements at the end of the month.

Alberta opposition leader Rachel Notley accused the province's premier, Jason Kenney, of allowing an illegal blockade to dictate public health measures.

Despite Albertas plans to scrap its measures, the protest there continued.

Weve got guys here  theyve lost everything due to these mandates, and theyre not giving up, and theyre willing to stand their ground and keep going until this is done, said protester John Vanreeuwyk, a feedlot operator from Coaldale, Alberta.

Until Trudeau moves, he said, we dont move.

As for the Ambassador Bridge blockade, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said police had not removed people for fear of inflaming the situation. But he added: We're not going to let this happen for a prolonged period of time.

The demonstration involved 50 to 74 vehicles and about 100 protesters, police said. Some of the protesters say they are willing to die for their cause, according to the mayor.

I'll be brutally honest: You are trying to have a rational conversation, and not everyone on the ground is a rational actor," Dilkens said. Police are doing what is right by taking a moderate approach, trying to sensibly work through this situation where everyone can walk away, nobody gets hurt, and the bridge can open.

To avoid the blockade and get into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a 4-hour delay leaving the U.S.

At a news conference in Ottawa that excluded mainstream news organizations, Benjamin Dichter, one of the protest organizers, said: I think the government and the media are drastically underestimating the resolve and patience of truckers.

Drop the mandates. Drop the passports," he said.

The freedom truck convoy has been promoted by Fox News personalities and attracted support from many U.S. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who called Trudeau a far left lunatic who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.

Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the U.S., but Canadians have largely supported them. Canada's COVID-19 death rate is one-third that of the U.S.

Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said in Parliament that countries around the world are removing restrictions and noted that Canadian provinces are, too. She accused Trudeau of wanting to live in a permanent pandemic.

Ontario, Canadas largest province with almost 40% of the country's population, is sticking to what it calls a very cautious stance toward the pandemic, and the deputy premier said it has no plans to drop vaccine passports or mask requirements.

______

Krisher contributed from Detroit.
dave chapelle

Jason Merritt/Getty Images Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle's town hall statement made an impact.

The town of Yellow Springs, Ohio, will not move forward with an affordable housing development after Chappelle, 48, and other locals spoke against the building plan during a meeting on Monday. The proposition would have seen Oberer Homes add low-income homes to their upcoming development instead of just single-family homes that start above $300,000, according to Dayton Daily News.

Chappelle's interest appears to stem from his Yellow Springs-based businesses, from his company Iron Table Holdings LLC to a restaurant and a comedy club he's planning to open. When Chappelle got to the mic during Monday's meeting, he threatened to take his business interests outside of Yellow Springs should the affordable housing development break ground.

"I don't know why the village council would be afraid of litigation from a $24 million-a-year company while it kicks out a $65 million-a-year company," he said. "I cannot believe you would make me audition for you."

The comedian's statement also targeted the village council directly. "You look like clowns. I am not bluffing. I will take it all off the table," he said.

While Chappelle's statement was short, he received applause from most of the village hall audience, as seen on a video posted by Yellow Springs on YouTube.

RELATED: Dave Chappelle Speaks Out in Wake of Netflix Stand-up Special Backlash: 'I Said What I Said'

The Yellow Springs village council voted 2-2, with one abstaining  a vote that officially rejected Oberer Home's affordable housing component. The development will move forward with 143 single-family homes that start above a low-income price point.

Chappelle has not yet commented on the town hall meeting on social media. His rep told TMZ, "Dave Chappelle didn't kill affordable housing. Concerned residents and a responding Village Council 'killed' a half-baked plan which never actually offered affordable housing."

The star previously attended a council meeting about the building plan in December. "I'm adamantly opposed to it. Obviously, I live behind the development or the proposed development," he said, according to a local news outlet. "I do have many business interests in town. I've invested millions of dollars in town. If you push this thing through, what I'm investing is no longer applicable."
Irish police are appealing for witnesses after a 12-year-old boy driving a car was killed in a road crash in the south-west of the country.

The boy was driving on the N21, a national primary road, in County Limerick in the early hours of the morning when the car he was the sole occupant of collided with a lorry.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash at around 2am, but the boy had suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s, was not seriously injured and did not require hospital treatment.

The boy's body was taken to the morgue at University Hospital Limerick, and the coroner has been notified.

The crash took place in the townland of Rineroe, near the well-known heritage town of Adare.

Gardai, the Irish police, are appealing to any witnesses to come forward, especially road users who may have camera or dash-cam footage and were travelling on the N21 near the Adare area at the time of the collision.

Anyone with any information on the crash is being asked to contact the Garda station at Newcastlewest.
The Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government Thursday to use its federal powers to end the truck blockade by Canadians protesting the countrys COVID-19 restrictions, as the bumper-to-bumper demonstration forced auto plants on both sides of the border to shut down or scale back production.

For the fourth straight day, scores of truckers taking part in what they dubbed the Freedom Convoy blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products between the two countries.

The White House said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff.

Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze millions of dollars in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. Ford has called the protests an occupation.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million.) GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the sites terms of service due to unlawful activity.

With political and economic pressure mounting, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced the city will seek a court injunction to end the occupation.

The economic harm is not sustainable and it must come to an end, he said.

In the U.S., authorities braced for the possibility of similar truck-borne protests inspired by the Canadians, and authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades to head off disruptions there, too.

>> Inspired by Ottawa protests, French motorists join Freedom Convoy bound for Paris

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues.

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The agency said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union address, according to a copy of Tuesdays bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.

The White House said the department is surging additional staff to the Super Bowl just in case.

The ban on road blockades in Europe and the threat of prison and heavy fines were likewise prompted by online chatter from groups calling on drivers to converge on Paris and Brussels over the next few days.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.

Ford said its Windsor engine plant reopened Thursday after being shut down on Wednesday because of a lack of parts. But the factory and the companys assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, were operating at reduced capacity, the automaker said.

On the U.S. side, General Motors canceled the second shift on Wednesday and the first and second on Thursday at its SUV factory outside Lansing, Michigan.

Toyota said three of its plants in Ontario closed for the rest of the week because of parts shortages, and production also had to be curtailed in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Workers on the morning shift at a Windsor minivan plant operated by Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, were sent home early.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged Canadian authorities to quickly resolve the standoff, saying: Its hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable.

The Teamsters denounced the blockade, saying in a statement from General President Jim Hoffa that it threatened the livelihood of working Americans and Canadians in the automotive, agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

Hundreds of demonstrators in trucks have also paralyzed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks now, and have now closed three border crossings: at Windsor; at Coutts, Alberta, opposite Montana; and at Emerson, Manitoba, across from North Dakota.

The protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions and are railing against Trudeau, even though many of Canadas precautions, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants, theaters and other places, were enacted by provincial authorities, not the federal government, and are already rapidly being lifted as the omicron surge levels off.

Trudeau continued to stand firm against lifting vaccine mandates, including a requirement that all truck drivers entering the country be fully vaccinated. But because an estimated 90% of the nations truckers are already inoculated, some conservatives have called on the prime minister to drop the mandate.

The convoy has been promoted and cheered on by many Fox News personalities and attracted support from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The Associated Press identified more than a dozen Facebook groups encompassing roughly a half-million members that are being used to drum up support for the Canadian protests or plan similar ones in the U.S. and Europe.

To get around the blockade and into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area have had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a two-hour delay leaving the U.S.

The blockade is happening at a bad time for the U.S. auto industry. Supplies of new vehicles already are low across the nation because of the global shortage of computer chips, which has forced automakers to temporarily close factories.

This is the last thing any automaker needs, any manufacturer needs, because parts are so scarce, industry analyst David Whiston said.

(AP)
Nation aims for breakthroughs in chip sector

By MA SI (China Daily) 08:37, February 11, 2022

Visitors try 5G-based intelligent driving technology at the Haval technology center of Great Wall Motor in Baoding, North China's Hebei province, July 15, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Development of high-end products to speed up amid fierce global competition

The United States' and the European Union's multibillion-dollar plans to support their semiconductor industries will fuel global competition in the strategically important sector, and China needs to double down to achieve breakthroughs in core chipmaking technologies, experts said on Thursday.

The comments came after the European Commission announced a new European Chips Act earlier this week that involves more than 43 billion euros ($49 billion) in public and private funding, with a goal of doubling the EU's share of global chip production from 9 percent to 20 percent by 2030.

Last week, the US House of Representatives also approved $52 billion of federal funding for the US semiconductor industry.

Bai Ming, deputy director of international market research at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the plans from the US and EU highlight the importance of chips to economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to future economic growth.

"Competition in the global chip sector has reached a new high," Bai said, adding that China has rolled out a string of policies, including tax reductions and funding support, to accelerate the development of its semiconductor sector.

"I believe such policies will evolve and be further strengthened," Bai said, adding that more efforts will be made to encourage Chinese companies to achieve breakthroughs in core chip technologies.

The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, for instance, said China will speed up the development of high-end chips.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's top industry regulator, said that one of its top priorities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period is to advance the modernization of industrial chains and to encourage companies to overcome crucial technical bottlenecks such as in the field of high-end semiconductor equipment.

Local governments in areas such as Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces are also moving fast, identifying integrated circuits as one of their key industries during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Roger Sheng, vice-president of research at US market research company Gartner, said that as the world's largest chip market, China's semiconductor industry has made progress in recent years.

In 2021, the sales revenue of China's integrated circuit industry exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($157.3 billion) for the first time, with year-on-year growth of 18 percent, according to estimates by the China Semiconductor Industry Association.

In comparison, global semiconductor revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate of 25.6 percent to $552.9 billion last year.

But there is still a big technical gap between Chinese chipmakers and their foreign peers, especially in high-end chipmaking equipment and fundamental chip materials, Sheng said. China, for instance, relies heavily on imports for lithography machines that play a crucial role in chip production.

To achieve breakthrough in these areas, money is not enough. "Talent and time are the keys," Sheng added.

Fang Xingdong, an independent expert who has been following the semiconductor industry for more than two decades, said the sector in China now faces increasingly fierce competition, as well as technological restrictions from the US government.

The New York Times described the legislation that includes the $52 billion chip plan, if enacted, as the most expansive attempt yet by the US to take on China. Washington has also restricted dozens of Chinese companies' access to US technologies including semiconductor equipment and software.

"Within such a context, we have to beef up support and better leverage public and private resources to support homegrown semiconductor innovation," Fang said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A former educator who sexually abused several boys while he was a Baylor University graduate student in the mid-1990s was sentenced to an additional prison term Thursday.

Shawn Douglas Risener, 50, a former dean at an Irving Independent School District magnet school, pleaded guilty Thursday to indecency with a child and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Judge Thomas West of 19th State District Court stacked that nine-year term onto an eight-year prison sentence Risener received after a jury trial in November 2019 at which he was convicted on six counts of indecency with a child by contact.

Then-Judge Ralph Strother stacked the six counts, or ordered Risener to serve the sentences consecutively, and Risener left court two years ago thinking he would serve 48 years in prison. Later, however, court officials realized the law in effect at the time Risener committed the offenses did not allow for the stacking of counts in child sexual abuse cases.

It was a technicality in the law and the law did not retroactively apply, prosecutor Sydney Tuggle said. These offenses occurred one year before the law changed that allowed the stacking of counts in child sex offense. Although the offenses warranted that type of punishment, that was not what the law would allow. The legislators have since understood the error of their ways and changed it.

The sentencing error forced court officials to amend the judgment against Risener, Tuggle said.

West ordered Risener to serve the new sentence consecutively with the 2019 sentence, stacking the terms for a total of 17 years in prison.

Riseners attorney, Josh Tetens, said Risener pleaded guilty Thursday after careful consideration of his rights and consultations with several attorneys, brining closure for all involved.

Tuggle said Risener is no longer in the shadows because of the bravery of two grown men.

Both survivors endured abuse in their younger years and carried that into adulthood when they finally were able to disclose what the defendant did to them, Tuggle said. I could not be more proud of both of these men for speaking out and standing up repeatedly for themselves, each other and for this process. They are finally free of this predator and in their words, it is not the evil in the world that we should fear, it is the indifference of good people.

Testimony from Riseners trial revealed he befriended young boys while living with relatives in McGregor and attending church and out-of-state church camps with them. Testimony showed he abused at least eight boys during that time frame who were unwilling to come forward.

One of the victims who did come forward, who was 39 at the time of Riseners trial and living in California, testified he decided to report the abuse after coming to grips with his own sexuality. He said he felt obligated to act after learning Risener was an educator at a public school with access to young boys.

He alerted officials at the Church of Christ in Irving, where Risener was a member, and demanded they confront Risener about the abuse. Church officials asked that Risener confess his sins to the congregation, which he did in 2013 in a letter the minister read aloud to about 100 church members. But they did not report the abuse to police, and Risener continued working in public schools.

We just wanted him to get right with the Lord, Bruce Bailey, an elder at the Irving church, testified at Riseners trial. It didnt have anything to do with criminality. It was more spiritual guidance.

The man said he contacted Irving school officials, who called police and initiated an investigation of their own. They suspended Risener before firing him after his arrest by McLennan County sheriffs deputies in 2017.

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In a few years, visitors arriving at the Waco Regional Airport will find a visual introduction to the city: a corridor of welcoming phrases, a backdrop for communicating Im in Waco, a reference to the Waco Mammoth National Monument and a ceiling artwork intended to make them say wow.

The inclusion of public art in the airport upgrade, urged by city council members and administrators thinking of notable airports they had visited in their travels, shows a higher visibility of public art in Waco.

The future airport art are four pieces that will be commissioned as part of the citys $3 million upgrade of the regional airport terminal. CaCo Architecture is overseeing the terminal renovation, and nonprofit arts agency Creative Waco is handling the call for artists proposals and participating in the selection process.

Creative Wacos call for proposals outlines the four works, budgeted at $168,500:

A ceiling-mounted sculpture in the main concourse and fitting in a 54-by-30-foot space that would create an instant wow factor

A wall-mounted relief in the departure lounge that would highlight Wacos distinct culture, diverse community, natural beauty and attractions, with particular attention to the Waco Mammoth National Monument

A 20-by-8-foot backdrop in the main airport lobby aimed at framing visitors first and last impressions of Waco, the iconic Im in Waco statement

A corridor populated with phrases and messages from Waco residents, encouraged in their language of origin. Those wishing to submit suggestions can upload phone images or submit texts to the Creative Waco website.

Monday is the deadline for artists proposals, and finalists will be picked by March 4 for presentation to the Aviation Advisory Board and the city council in April. Installation is expected in the fall.

The last 10 years have seen a mushrooming of public visual art in Waco, much of it located along or near the Brazos River and downtown: more than a dozen outdoor murals, the Branding the Brazos tribute to Wacos Chisholm Trail heritage, the memorial to Naval hero Doris Miller; the Waco Sculpture Zoo, kinetic sculptures recalling the Waco tornado, Chalk Walk festivals and more.

An interactive map of Waco public art available on the Creative Waco website hints at the scale of public art  art on public land, paid by public funds or widely visible to the public  in the city, with 10 sculptures, 44 murals, three fountains and 37 Waco Sculpture Zoo works listed.

To coordinate, encourage and inform public art in the future, city officials, arts organizers and consulting firm Forecast Public Art are working on a strategic arts plan, or art master plan, for Waco. A $50,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant is underwriting the work, which will call for community input this spring and a final plan for city council consideration by summers end.

Creative Waco Executive Director Fiona Bond said the development of public art along the Brazos River downtown has shown area residents the positive impact public art can have in placemaking, areas where a community is drawn together by the art or activities featured in it.

A plan would help navigate discussions on artwork location, themes, suitability and more, particularly as public art often has to work with certain limitations.

All things in public art are finite, particularly funding and real estate, and up to this point we havent really followed a strategic plan, Bond said.

City administrators contacted for comment about the citys role and interest in public art for this story did not respond by deadline. At the announcement of the arts master plan last May, Mayor Dillon Meek called the arts a vital component in city planning.

Part of creating a strategic plan will involve surveying what is already in the city, said Amanda Dyer, Creative Wacos director of public art and development. That, in turn, can help guide future development.

It will show what we have covered, what do we have a lot of and where are the gaps, Dyer said.

Not only can a strategic arts plan provide mechanisms for discussions on new pieces of public art and their location, it can also communicate what a community finds important, provide ways for neighborhoods and local artists to get involved and help expand general understanding of art, its purposes and interpretations. Public art, too, is not limited to visual art, but can include live music and theater, interactive works and performances, she said.

For longtime arts advocate Doreen Ravenscroft, public art adds much to a community, even as it is a reflection of the community. Ravenscroft, executive director of nonprofit Waco Cultural Arts, has been involved in major public art projects over the years, including the colorful fiberglass cows of the 2000 WaCows fundraiser, Waco National Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, the East Waco Library mural, natural River Vessels sculptures by artist Patrick Dougherty, the Branding the Brazos project and the Doris Miller Memorial.

Those projects not only shaped Waco residents view of themselves and their community, but their pictures were shared by visitors to town. In many cases, art inspired art: murals painted on libraries and public health clinics inspired several businesses to do the same on their buildings. Public art often invited interaction, particularly with climbing kids.

Ravenscrofts years with the Waco National Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, which put pieces of contemporary stone and metal sculptures around City Hall, the Waco Convention Center, Indian Spring Park and other city spaces, showed her not everyone agrees on public art, however.

Abstract sculptures in a prominent place, such as the Franklin Avenue side of Indian Spring Park, often drew criticism from people who saw more colorful scrap metal than artistic vision. The strongest pushback came with Texas artist Joe Barringtons Been Fishen, which imagined a 16-foot-long catfish flopping in the bed of a rusted 59 Chevy pickup truck.

What some found whimsical, others found unsightly junk and complained. The truck eventually was moved to a site across the river. Ravenscroft said a young boy who passed by the sculpture every day on his drive to school became so attached to seeing the giant catfish that he asked his mother to drive by again and again.

People may not talk about (pieces of public art), but when we take them away, they miss them, Ravenscroft said.

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While the world waits and waits to see whether Donald Trump will seek the presidency again, it is worth looking back at one of the enduring puzzles of his time in office: why he failed to achieve some of his key goals on immigration even when the opportunity to win seemed to be handed to him.

Immigration was central to his rise. During the 2016 primaries, Republican voters who said it was their top issue were among his biggest supporters. A wall on the U.S. border with Mexico was his most famous policy objective. Yet he got only 47 miles of the border walled off during his term.

Even though he was elected alongside Republican majorities in the House and Senate, he did not make funding for the wall a legislative priority. And he kicked away his best chance at a bipartisan deal to pay for it.

In February 2018, while Republicans still had a slim Senate majority, seven Democratic senators offered to provide $25 billion in funding for a wall. In return Republicans were to grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors. As Trump had also been saying he wanted them to have legal status, this idea had the makings of a double win for him. He could deliver for his base and soften his image at the same time. He had said the month before that he would sign any deal Congress sent him.

But then the president switched course. He said he would veto any bill that didnt meet four conditions. In addition to wall funding and a targeted legalization, he wanted Congress to end chain migration and the diversity lottery, two categories of legal immigration. (Chain migration refers to the process by which extended families of immigrants resettle here, and the lottery distributes visas in an effort to diversify the immigrant population.)

Trump had endorsed a bill to enact those reductions a few months earlier, but never insisted on them as conditions for a deal. Cuts to legal immigration that he hadnt even campaigned on turned out to be deal-breakers. A day after his statement, the Senate voted down those cuts 60-39, with 14 Republicans opposed. The political conditions for a deal then disappeared, never to return. (In February 2018, Democrats were just coming off a failed attempt to use a partial government shutdown to force Republicans to move ahead with legalization. They would not be so defensive again later in Trumps presidency. A few months later, Trump implemented a family-separation policy that hardened Democratic resistance to making a deal with him on immigration. And in November, Republicans lost control of the House.)

A year later, Trump backflipped again. In his State of the Union address in 2019, he said he wanted higher levels of immigration: I want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally. He didnt follow through with any concrete proposal, but he reiterated this desire on multiple occasions. The upshot: Trump had thrown away the chance to deliver on his promise to build the border wall, and he had done it in the name of immigration cuts to which he had no real commitment.

This seemingly self-defeating behavior was all a matter of public record in real time. But I hadnt seen Trumps explanation for it until I got to the last few pages of Border Wars, a book about his immigration policies that New York Times reporters Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael Shear published in late 2019.

Trump gave the reporters a 35-minute interview in June of that year. He told them the country needed more immigrants, and they brought up his earlier endorsement of major reductions in immigration. The reaction?  I disagreed with that aspect of it, Trump told us, almost as an aside.

That aspect of it? The senators who introduced the bill Trump endorsed  the one to end the diversity lottery and chain migration  had explained from the beginning that cutting immigration was the point. Their initial press release promised a 50 percent reduction from recent levels. Trumps White House included that reduction in its list of selling points for the bill  while complaining that current levels were adding more than the population of San Francisco to the country every year.

The cuts were, again, the main obstacle to a deal. Trump had said that funding a border wall and legalizing immigrants who came here illegally as minors were not enough for him; he would veto any immigration legislation that left chain migration and the diversity lottery in place. (In principle, other categories of immigration could have been increased to make up for those reductions, but Trump never called for any such thing when he endorsed those changes, as he easily could have done.)

The mystery remains. Had Trump changed his mind about legal immigration levels, and then forgotten about it or lied when he talked to the reporters? Was he actually in the dark  maybe kept in the dark by his advisers  about the meaning of the legislation he had put his administration behind? Did he not realize he was putting his own declared priorities  primarily a border wall  at risk in the name of something he didnt even favor? Did he care?

We may never know; Trump may never know either. One thing we can conclude from the former presidents immigration record: If you dont know what you want, you probably wont get it.

Ramesh Ponnuru is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the editor of National Review, a contributor to CNN and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
For Tetens

As steering committee members of Citizens for Pro-Life Action, we recently met with district attorney candidate Josh Tetens  twice, in fact.

At our second meeting, we were joined by local surgeon Dr. William Peper, who was a colleague with Tetens on the McLennan County Collaborative Abstinence Program (MCCAP) Board from 2005-2007. Peper assured us that Tetens served honorably as secretary to the board in 2005, and as interim executive director from March 2006 through the end of that year, at a greatly reduced salary from the previous executive director.

Two other MCCAP board members, Janell Gilman and Dan McReynolds, also spoke with a member of our committee. They confirmed Pepers report of Tetens honorable service to MCCAP. His opponent has accused Tetens of causing the loss of a federal grant while serving as interim director. The three MCCAP board members who served with Tetens categorically deny this.

Tetens is a committed Christian and pro-life advocate. Without hesitation, he signed a pro-life pledge to never support pro-abortion candidates for office.

We now believe that Tetens is the best fit for district attorney. Our steering committee wholeheartedly endorses him.

Tetens has served as a municipal judge, president of the Bellmead Chamber of Commerce and past treasurer for the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce.

He has fifteen years of experience in criminal law. He and his wife, Kelly, have been married for 17 years and have three children.

Most importantly, Tetens is committed to the sanctity of human life. He told us, My experience has taught me that every life has value ... and I vow to respect and represent each person with fairness and fervor as your next district attorney.

Please join Citizens for Pro-Life Action in voting for Josh Tetens as the next district attorney for McLennan County.

Lew Webb, Waco

Pardon for antifa?

You have a decision to make. Is defeated Trump crazy, ignorant or just plain stupid? After the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, Trump proclaimed that antifa (anti-fascists) were responsible. He got his cult members to believe this. The other night at his rally in Conroe he hinted that he would provide a blanket pardon for the insurrectionists. Does that mean he is willing to pardon antifa?

Trump also said that former Vice President Mike Pence really did have the power to overturn the electoral votes from states that Joe Biden won. Is that what the ignorant former president really thinks? That means that if a Republican should win the next presidential election, our current vice president, Kamala Harris, can overturn the electors in the 2024 election and keep a Democrat in office.

There are only three choices for your decision: crazy, ignorant or just plain stupid.

Perhaps all three.

Chuck Nissley, Temple
WATERLOO Terrell Flowers and Stephen Devon Phillips came to a May 2020 get-together at a relatives house as friends.

But hours later, Terrell Flowers was dying of a gunshot wound to the chest, and Phillips was fleeing the house with a pistol in his hand, according to testimony.

Phillips, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, and on Thursday jurors got a glimpse of what led up to that fatal shot as Terrell Flowers brother took the stand and described an argument and tussling that led to guns being drawn.

Terrell Flowers, 30, had moved from Chicago to Waterloo, where he had relatives, in 2014 or 2015, according to testimony. A few months before he was killed, he had relocated to Sioux City for work and on May 15, 2020, was back in Waterloo for a doctors appointment and to belatedly celebrate his birthday with friends and relatives, according to witnesses.

Phillips was related to one of Flowers brothers, and moved to Waterloo in 2017 or 2018.

On May 15, Phillips showed up at Andrew Flowers Crescent Place home with Terrell Flowers, and several other people were already there.

Andrew Flowers said that although they talked about a relative who had been injured in an unrelated shooting a few days earlier, the mood was relaxed.

Everyone was just chilling and talking, Andrew Flowers said.

At some point, Andrew Flowers left, and when he returned Phillips and Terrell Flowers were struggling on the couch as part of an apparent argument. Andrew Flowers said the broke up the altercation, and he talked to Phillips outside.

Phillips later said Im going to come back and shoot the house up, Andrew Flowers said. He said Phillips seemed serious, but he didnt think anything would happen. Even so, he locked the door after Phillips drove off.

Sometime later, Phillips returned, and Terrell Flowers let him inside. The conversation continued, and the topic turned to a friend named Steve who had died earlier.

Stephen said dont speak on Steve, Andrew Flowers testified. He said Terrell Flowers responded that he hadnt said anything about Steve.

Phillips pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Terrell Flowers, and Terrell drew a gun from his hip holster and pointed it back, the brother said. He said they continued talking, and Terrell holstered his weapon.

Another struggle followed when Phillips wouldnt put his gun away, and Terrell Flowers held Phillips against the wall and then released him.

They moved to different rooms  one in the dining room and the other in the adjacent living room  and Terrell Flowers pulled out his gun briefly and reholstered it, according to the brother.

Thats when Stephen made a threat to Terrell that he was going to shoot him, Andrew Flowers said.

What happened then? asked Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz.

Thats when Stephen shot him, Andrew Flowers responded. He shot him and then he ran out the door.

The brother said he was in shock but was able to retrieve Terrell Flowers gun and ran after Phillips, firing a shot as Phillips drove off.

Terrell Phillips was driven to UnityPoint-Health Allen Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who allegedly pointed a revolver at a womans head and fired a shot at a house in 2021 has been found guilty of federal weapons charges.

Jurors found Trivansky Tyrique Swington, 29, guilty of felon in possession of a firearm on Wednesday following three days of trial in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Prosecutors said Swington got into an argument inside a vehicle as he and others were leaving a home following a night of drinking.

Swington allegedly scratched and clawed at the woman and pulled out chunks of her hair. At some point, Swington pulled out a .38 special revolver and pointed it at the womans head. Others in the vehicle tried to wrestle the gun away from Swington.

Swington allegedly began walking away and fired off a single shot as he left, prosecutors said.

Police found Swington a few blocks away and also located the revolver.

Sentencing will be at a later date.

Authorities allege Swington is prohibited from possessing guns because of felony conviction in a 2014 robbery outside a grocery store.

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A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022:

AFFAIRS OF THE HEART: Just in time for Valentines Day, the Iowa Attorney Generals Office is warning Iowans about romance scams that totaled $547 million in losses last year  an 80% increase from 2020.

Reports of romance scams from victims ages 18 to 29 increased more than tenfold from 2017 to 2021, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Victims ages 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,000, compared to $750 for the 18 to 29 age group.

The FTC reports an increase in romance scammers luring consumers into phony cryptocurrency investment schemes, leading to $139 million in losses in 2021, more than any other payment amount. The median loss was nearly $10,000.

Despite the increase, consumers continued to most often report sending money to romance scammers by using gift cards, with about a quarter of 2021 reports citing gift cards as a payment method.

To address the problem, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller will host a free webinar, Romance Scams: Broken Hearts and Empty Pockets, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, which is Valentines Day. Register at https://www.naag.org/event/romance-scams/.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: A bill to prohibit government entities from burdening a persons free expression of religion received mostly supportive comments Thursday, but the Iowa Association of School Boards warned it could prove costly for taxpayers.

House Study Bill 677 would prohibit governmental entities from treating religious conduct more restrictively than any secular conduct of comparable risk.

I think the need for this bill became evident during the pandemic, Tom Chapman of the Iowa Catholic Conference told legislators. Although Gov. Kim Reynolds did not restrict worship gatherings, church members in other states were prohibited from gathering even as secular businesses remained open.

That wasnt right. From our perspective, this is a First Amendment issue, a very fundamental right in our Constitution, he said. Its too bad we need this bill.

Siobhan Schneider of the school board association said schools already are required to submit extensive reports on complaints of infringements on religious expression. Also, creating a private cause of action and allowing individuals to collect punitive damages would result in taxpayer dollars being spent to pay private damages.

I suppose if youre really careful about respecting religious liberty you dont have to worry about being dinged, Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, said.

Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Orange City, said Iowa didnt see the problems that worshippers faced in other states, but we also arent going to have Gov. Reynolds forever.

The bill now goes to the full Judiciary Committee.

SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS: A bill going through the Legislature would mandate counties with a population of over 60,000 to have supervisors represent districts in the county instead of the county at large.

House Study Bill 659 was approved in subcommittee Thursday morning, which recommended passage with amendment.

Counties that would be affected if the bill is adopted would be counties that have boards made up of at-large members, including Johnson, Black Hawk, Scott and Dubuque counties.

Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, introduced the bill, which would require larger counties to use plan three in electing supervisors. The plan requires supervisors be elected from single-member, equal-population districts, as is done in Linn County.

The bill says that counties with a population over 60,000 or more as of July 1, 2022, would not be required to elect supervisors under the new plan until the 2024 elections.

NEW OMBUDSMAN: The Legislative Council selected Bernardo Granwehr to be the state ombudsman. A former staffer in the Auditors Office, Granwehr now works for the Iowa Utilities Board.

Hell start his duties later this month. His appointment becomes official July 1.

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WATERLOO  A former car dealership along Franklin Street will now be eligible for remodeling tax credits after notching a local historic designation.

The Waterloo Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission gave its approval for the building at 425 Franklin St., owned by JSA Development of Waterloo, to receive a local historic designation. That distinction means JSA will be in line for state historic rehabilitation tax credits, but must comply with guidelines to preserve or restore historic features during the renovation.

JSA purchased the building in 2018 and moved its Irish Fest headquarters there, planning to eventual remodel the space.

They do plan to rehabilitate it to its original, historic character, said City Planner John Dornoff.

The Baum-McDonald Auto Company building was constructed in 1923-24 by the Central Battery and Electric Company at the northeast corner of Franklin Street and East Park Avenue, with a one-story section fronting Franklin and a two-story section fronting East Park.

Over the decades the brick building changed hands through many auto-related dealers and companies: It was Central Battery until 1929, Fowler-Warren from 1929-1937, Baum-McDonald Auto from 1937-1952, Cedar Auto from 1953-1956 and Martineau Motors from 1956-1981.

It underwent a significant remodel in 1982 and was later the site of different types of businesses, according to documentation JSA provided to the city. The property is currently vacant and used for storage by JSA.

Rehabilitation, which could begin this year if the state tax credits come through, would aid in framing Waterloos East side historic town square, Lincoln Park and tell the story of the development of downtown Waterloo, the Walnut Neighborhood and the corridor between each, according to a letter David Deeds, JSAs chief financial officer, sent to the city.

He stated the building would likely be demolished if the local designation and state tax credits did not go through.

That restoration will include restoring an arched parapet that ran along two sides of the building, including Franklin Avenue, said Alexa McDowell, a consultant working with JSA on the documentation.

The intention is to restore that arched parapet, which is central to its historic character, and also to rehabilitate the storefronts, she told the commission.

McDowell added the interior rehabilitation would be determined based on potential tenants that present themselves.

Commissioner Craig Holdiman said he remembers what the building used to look like.

Itd be nice if they could return back to the way it was when it was a car dealership, he said.

City Councilor John Chiles also spoke in support of the project.

Im glad to see our downtown continue to improve, he said.

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The Office of Spiritual and Religious Life will be offering bi-weekly Taize worship services to the WU community, beginning in March. The Taize community was founded in 1940 by Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche, mostly known as Brother Roger who was a Swiss Protestant theologian. The Taize community is located in a small village in Burgundy in France.

The ecumenical monastic order is devoted to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Brother Roger noted that his conviction that community life could be a sign that God is love and love alone made him realize that it was essential to create a community where kindness of heart and simplicity would be at the center of everything. Today Taize worship is practiced in various parts of the world within many Christian denominations as well as by those who proclaim no particular faith tradition.

Taize worship takes the form of singing songs repetitively, held together with meditative silences. Chaplain Ineda will be leading the Taize worship services biweekly on either Mondays at 5 p.m. or Fridays at 12:30 p.m. at Cone Chapel, and she welcomes all to participate regardless of faith tradition, spiritual orientation, or worldview. Please fill out the following google form to indicate your interest and your preference of day and time for the Taize service.

Related Link(s)
Ukraine  Level 4: Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19; those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.On January 23, 2022, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. direct hire employees (USDH) and ordered the departure of eligible family members (EFM) from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine, and those in Ukraine should depart now using commercial or other privately available transportation options.

Source: Travel Advisory: Ukraine  Level 4: Do Not Travel  U.S. Embassy in Ukraine

Ukraine has gotten itself into a pickle.and that pickle is being stomped upon by the USA and its cronies. Why does Ukraine not see who is stomping its head into the ground?

Russia just has to sit back and let the West finish demoralizing and stomping Ukraine. Then China and Russia will pick up the pieces later

WtR

PS:
The crisis started many years ago. NATO greedily looked forward to establishing a naval base in Crimea and having Russia removed forcefully if necessary. Russia helped Crimea avert being taken over illegally by annexing Crimea through a legal referendum by the people in Crimea

Ukraine was promised EU/NATO and yes USA love and kindness membership and a good life if they turned their backs on Russia. They turned their backs on Russia and a handful of the elite in Kiev did gather goodies, as the money flowed in to pay off the Benedict Arnolds within Ukraine, but where is that good life promised the Ukraine people, 8 years after the USA/EU overthrow of the Ukraine government?

And what are the future prospects? The Ukraine people themselves have lost almost everything that mattered to them and as always in our world, a handful of people gathered all the money and sit at the top of the pile of corpses

One thing they did get an abundance of is western propaganda, yet that was all they got

WtR
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Roses are red, violets are blue. We've handpicked the best things for you to do.

This week, Cal Academy's penguins accept warm and fuzzy Valentine's, a multi-sensory Red Envelope pop-up takes over Viridian bar in Oakland, Noise Pop brings live music back to the Bay, Nisei blesses foodies with a series of pop-up dinners, a brand new indoor roller rink brings skating to the East Bay, and the long-awaited return of the Chinese New Year Parade.

Have a good one!

Make Monday suck a little bit less with the scientifically adorable tradition of penguin Valentines. Watch in-person or virtually as Cal Academy biologists distribute heart-shaped valentines to the colony of African penguins. The male penguins typically accept the hearts and take them back to their nests to present them to their female counterparts as nest-lining material; Monday at 10:30am. // In-person at California Academy of Sciences or online live stream via the Academy's Facebook page





Celebrate Valentine's Day with a family-style, Cal-Israeli dinner atPomella. Mingle with the chef and enjoy culinary surprises and conversation on the outdoor patio; Monday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm. // Pomella, 3770 Piedmont Ave. (Oakland); reservations at store.pomellaoakland.com





Misery loves company. Broken hearts come together for "So This Sucks: A Night of Heartbreak & Disappointment," a decidedly unromantic V-Day storytelling sesh; Monday, 7:30pm to 10:30pm. // The Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson St. (Jackson Square); tickets at eventbrite.com

See 20 new heartworks atthe Ferry Building. This year's Hearts in San Francisco is on display through February 28th; the artist-designed heart will be auctioned off to benefit San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. // Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at sfghf.org





Shake up your night with a seasonal mixology class. You'll arrive cocktail-curious and leave as the ultimate host; Monday, 7pm to 9pm. // The Alembic, 1725 Haight St. (Upper Haight); tickets at eventbrite.com





Dodge the day at Heart & Dagger Saloon's anti-Valentine's party. The indoor/outdoor Oakland bar will be showing horror movies like "Bride of Chuckie" and there will be plenty of hateful tunes blasting all night long. Oh, and absolutely no kissing allowed; Monday from 8pm to 1:30am. // Heart & Dagger Saloon, 504 Lake Park Ave. (Oakland); details at eventbrite.com

Get immersed in a multi-sensory art, culture, and culinary experience to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The gorgeous Oakland cocktail bar Viridian has been transformed for a Red Envelope pop-up this month. Expect special cocktails, treats from the historic Oakland Fortune Cookie Factory, a 60-foot illuminated silk dragon, playlists representing Asian artists from around the world, and more; 5pm to late night Wednesdays through Sundays, through February 27th. // Viridian, 2216 Broadway (Oakland); details at redenvelopepopup.com





Belly up to Old Devil Moon for a Dynamo Donut and beer pairing as part of SF Beer Week; Wednesday, 5pm to 10pm. // Old Devil Moon, 3472 Mission St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com





Speaking of Beer Week, Holy Water also has it going on. Swing by the Bernal Heights bar to sample beers made with malts from Alameda's Admiral Maltings (Wednesday); imperial stouts (Saturday); and the last of Pliny the Younger (Sunday). // Holy Water opens at 3pm; 309 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), sfbeerweek.org





Clear your calendar: Noise Pop Festival kicks off this weekend, starting with an official pre-party with Kamaal Williams at California Academy of Sciences on Thursday; Carpool Tunnel and Breakup Shoes at Bottom of the Hill on Saturday; and happy hour at Zeitgeist with Zelma Stone and Mae Powell on Sunday; February 17-27.// At various venues around the Bay Area, noisepopfest.com





Singin' with the Sisters Karaoke takes over Laughing Monk for a night of zin. Sing along and LOL while sampling Laughing Monk's new wine-lager hybrid along with food from Cousins Maine Lobster; Friday, 7:30pm to 10pm. // Laughing Mong Brewing, 1439 A/B Egbert Ave. (Bayview), laughingmonkbrewing.com





Only us West Coasters would dare make our own bagels, so if you're going to do it, do it right. Let the bakers at Daily Driver teach you their ways in this hands-on bagel-making workshop, plus wine and cheese to munch on while they rise; Friday, 12:30pm to 2pm. // Daily Driver, 2535 3rd St. (Dogpatch); details at eventbrite.com

See some live painting while sipping cocktails to beats by DJ Shawn Steele. French artist Lucas Beaufort will set up in the S&R Lounge to paint three canvases that will be auctioned off at the end of the night; Friday, 6pm to 9:30pm. // Hotel Zetta, 55 5th St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com





Have a roaring good time at the return of Chinatown's Chinese New Year Paradethe largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Considered one of the best night parades in the world, the procession will include fabulous floats, ferocious lions, and firecrackers; Saturday, 5pm to 9pm. // 2nd St & Market to Kearny & Columbus;, chineseparade.com





Uncover the stories behind the Cliff House, Sutro Baths, and Sutro Heights with an intimate tour of The Museum at The Cliff. Explore souvenirs including one of Adolph Sutro's taxidermy monkeys, a collection of 4,000-year-old Egyptian artifacts, and more objects that showcase the special history of Lands End; 10am Saturday. // The Museum at The Cliff, 1090 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff); details at eventbrite.com





Do some sun salutations beneath the actual sun at a silent disco yoga sesh led by Left Coast Power Yoga.Since you're at Nido's, grab a marg and a taco afterward; Saturday, 11am. // Nido's Backyard, 104 Oak St. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com





Get to know your wine on its journey from the vine. Cuvaison's four-part Vine to Wine series begins with a tour through the dormant winter vineyard, an immersive tasting presentation, and two bottles of wine to take home; Saturday, 11am to 1pm. // Cuvaison, 1221 Duhig Rd. (Napa); tickets at tock.com





Make like Bow Wow in "Roll Bounce" at the East Bay's new Aloha Roller Rink. On Sundays, enjoy free skate from noon to 8pm and a late-night adults-only session with a DJ, 8pm to 11pm. // Aloha Roller Rink, 5625 Bay St. (Emeryville), aloharollerrink.com





Ward off the Sunday scaries with Niseichef/owner David Yoshimura and a few of his culinary friends. His fresh series of collaborative tasting menus kicks off this weekend with Hen-zhi chef Chris Yang, master of Taiwanese street food; Sunday nights through March 13th. // Nisei, 2316 Polk St. (Russian Hill); tickets at tock.com





Celebrate East Brother Beer's fifth year on the Richmond waterfront. To celebrate their b-day, they'll be pouring three new releases alongside birria tacos from La Santa Torta, live music, and lawn games. Well-behaved dogs and children welcome; Sunday, noon to 8pm. // East Brother Beer Co., 1001 Canal Blvd (Richmond), eastbrotherbeer.com
Unlike legal documents such as the more familiar living will or other advance directives, which can be completed by those in good health, POLST is for when a serious diagnosis is known to the patient. It is more likely to be recognized, read and honored by emergency responders who show up for that potential emergency, such as a heart attack, when someone calls 911.

And, POLST advocates say, its not just about saying no to interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Some POLST documents may detail that the person does not want to go back to the hospital or be put on a ventilator. Other orders might note a trial period to see whether aggressive treatments would be successful. But patients can express their treatment preferences, including for doctors to do everything medically feasible to keep them alive, if that is what they wish. Ideally, the POLST form signed by the doctor is copied to the patients electronic health record and given to close family members and the patients named surrogate decision maker for health care decisions.

Bright pink forms

Andersons doctor, Karl Steinberg, M.D., a geriatrician and hospice/palliative medicine physician in Oceanside, California, who makes home visits for Scripps Health, visited him at home to talk about POLST. When he found out that I would not want to be resuscitated, Dr. Steinberg told me about the bright pink form I could fill out and put up on my wall where it could clearly be seen, Anderson says. I didnt know there was such a form until Dr. Steinberg told me. It took some worry out of [the medical situation] for me.

Anderson says he feels he is doing well, all things considered. I know theres no cure for any of my diagnoses. Were he to die of a sudden heart attack, he says, he would want to be left in peace. In fact, Id call POLST the rest in peace form.

Steinberg told Anderson that discussing goals for medical care is a routine part of his visits with older patients. Im a big proponent of POLST in my practice, he says. But patients shouldnt be shy about bringing it up to their doctors or talking about it with their families. CPR is not what it looks like on TV, Steinberg adds. Most people with serious illness dont survive even the initial procedure, much less get back to a condition of full, active life. One analysis of over 433,000 Medicare beneficiaries 65 or older who underwent CPR in U.S. hospitals found the chances of surviving and being discharged were about 18 percent.

Honoring patients preferences

Devised in Oregon in the early 1990s by medical ethicists and clinicians who had discovered that patients preferences for care at the end of life were not being consistently honored, the typically brightly colored, letter-sized POLST form has since spread to most states (and to locations in more than 20 countries) in a variety of versions and names and stages of development.

It has become mainstream, at least among health professionals. The original name, physician orders for life-sustaining treatment, is sometimes replaced by portable medical orders or simply POLST. The National POLST office, which is leading efforts to standardize its dissemination and promote recommended national language for the states to follow, calls POLST a process and a conversation as well as a form.

POLST has a specific place in medical planning, adds Judy Thomas, CEO of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC), the home for implementing POLST in California. In recent years CCCC has worked to standardize POLST statewide, she says. We also got it established in statute, which has helped to make health care providers more comfortable with it, knowing they were complying with the law.

CCCC has also developed training for health care providers on how to have conversations about POLST with consumers and taught hundreds of people to go out and train others. POLST is becoming better known, and more people have seen it used for a loved one, Thomas says. Californias 20212022 budget included funds to develop a statewide electronic registry of POLST forms.

In Oregon, with its three decades of experience with POLST, nearly half the people who die of natural causes have a POLST form in that states electronic registry, password-protected and accessible to EMS personnel and emergency care physicians, says Susan W. Tolle, M.D., a professor of medicine and director of the Center for Ethics at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

If we could encourage people to take a deep breath and step forward and say, I really want to talk about this, it could trigger conversations in their families. COVID is one more reason why we need to talk about it now, she says.

It is a true gift if you can engage in advance care planning, which would help your loved ones feel they know what you would want in a crisis and that they are doing what you would have wanted, Tolle explains. They wont have to wake up at 2 a.m. and wonder if they did the right thing.
Lonon and Harris-McBride kept the congregation informed from a medical perspective while Mack hammered home this message: Respect the virus. He used Zoom, Facebook Live, the churchs mobile app and email blasts to reinforce the idea that the threat the virus poses should be taken seriously.

Before COVID-19 arrived in the United States, Mack saw a documentary about the 1918 Spanish flu and its impact. I watched it and watched it again and again, says Mack, who remembers thinking, Something is coming our way, and we need to be ready for it."

By mid-February 2020, before the U.S. documented a single case of COVID-19, he encouraged church members to watch the documentary and pay close attention to  how that flu hit all seven continents. He monitored statements from the World Health Organization and relied on information from Harris-McBride and Lonon to track the viruss progression. Id ask LeBrentha and Benita, What are you seeing?  Mack says.

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency. Two days later, Atlantas mayor signed an executive order banning gatherings of 250 people or more. That Sunday, Grace Place held its last meeting before going virtual. Mack delivered a sermon titled Coron-No-Know Virus, to call attention to the fact that there was little information about the quickly spreading pandemic and because we dont know what this is going to be, but we pray that it doesnt grow any bigger, Mack says. After that sermon I became very intentional about messages around the virus.

Fighting COVID misinformation

From the beginning, the pastor addressed speculation and rumors about COVID-19, treatments and, eventually, vaccinations head-on. He took stances that werent always popular, including sticking with online services to keep people safe. In fact, the church still meets virtually.

Every Zoom worship was an opportunity to talk about COVID-19 and its dangers. And Mack was able to combat misinformation he says he heard on conference calls with some local clergymen, who were reading religious significance into virus developments, continuing to hold in-person services or presiding over funerals where large groups gathered. The virus was being politicized, spiritualized and theorized, he says.

His goal, he says, was to constantly evaluate new information with the congregation. Those conversations took the form of, Lets look at this. Lets weigh this to see what merit this has.

With his own congregation, the pastor says, he tried to focus on a middle path  no extremes. I was really proud of our congregation in the way that they responded to this.

Lonon recalls having to counter disinformation that fueled vaccine hesitancy. They would always throw the conspiracy theory in your face, she says.  Remember Tuskegee? 

Lonon says she felt confident in listening and responding, providing data about the numbers of Black Americans who received vaccine doses without suffering negative effects. Theyre not being injected with anything thats harmful, she says she told parishioners who had questions.

Simply having those conversations in a respectful way often made people reconsider getting a COVID vaccine, she says.

Reaching out to the community
Just as the pilots were packing their bags to board a ship to Europe, they were told to stand down. The war in Italy was over, and the fight in the rest of the European theater was expected to wind down.

Four years later, with no war to fight, the Air Force staged its first-ever competition to find their top gun pilots.

A Top Gun victory swept under the rug 

For the competition, the Air Force chief of staff instructed each fighter group to send their three best pilots to participate in a 10-day aerial contest at the Las Vegas Air Force Base, now known as Nellis Air Force Base.

In addition to Harvey, the Tuskegee team included Capt. Alva Temple, 1st Lt. Harry Stewart Jr. and 1st Lt. Halbert Alexander, an alternate member.

We as a race of people werent expected to do anything  everything was negative. The only thing left for us to do was go out and win this meet, says Harvey.

The event consisted of a series of competitions to test the teams aerial skill and prowess. While their opponents were flying the Air Forces latest planes, the Tuskegee Airmen were stuck with older, heavier aircraft.

It didnt matter, though, Harvey says. Its the skill of the pilot that determines whats going to happen. They were there to compete, and we were there to win. 

And winning is what the 332nd did, racking up high scores that Harvey remains proud of today. When it was announced that the 332nd had won the trophy, the room was quiet. There was no applause or anything like that because we werent supposed to win it, he says. Little did I know that this was the last time the public would see the trophy for 55 years. Our victory was swept under the rug.

The trophy mysteriously disappeared.

Nonetheless, Harvey went on to become the first Black pilot to ever fly a fighter jet in combat. He piloted 126 combat missions in the Korean War and retired from the Air Force in 1965. He received numerous military awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal, which was awarded to every Tuskegee Airman in 2007.

Recognition more than a half century later

Decades passed, the airmens gunnery trophy remained lost, and the annual Air Force Almanac still listed the winners of the 1949 competition as unknown.

In 1993, Stewart, one of the Tuskegee competitors, returned to Nellis Air Force Base and found documentation of their win. He presented it to the Air Force, correcting the record. 

Ten years later, Zellie Orr, president of the Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Atlanta, made it her mission to find the actual trophy. After spending five days in the storage area of the National Museum of the Air Force in Ohio, she found it.


I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. In fact, former employees of these types of fundraisers have testified about how they used soundboard technology to play prerecorded messages as responses, in part so they could talk to several donors at once.

On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. Wow! That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause.

To find out more about these organizations, I probed the FEC website, where super PACs report their activity. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). In the first half of 2021, this organization reported donations of $4.3 million; expenditures were just under $4.2 million, the bulk of this going to overhead  fundraising, lawyers, lead lists and so on. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police.

Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. This particular super PACs treasurer is a former cop who was arrested for stealing $50,000 from the police union for which he served as president. The case has not yet been resolved.

Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. But as I learned, these callers are masters at evading any such disclosure.

Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? Just hang up. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes.
SANTA FE  A bipartisan proposal to require bill amendments and revisions proposed in House and Senate committees to be publicly posted won decisive approval Thursday in the House.

The proposed rule change, House Concurrent Resolution 1, would apply to both legislative chambers. It would also require such bill rewrites to be posted as soon as is practicable whether adopted or not.

Such a requirement is already in place for House and Senate floor sessions, but not committee meetings.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has expressed concern during this years 30-day session about some bill amendments and revisions not being posted on the Legislatures website for review before votes being taken.

Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, who is sponsoring the proposed rule change with Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, said the current system falls short.

It was a consistent problem that needed to be fixed, McQueen told the Journal.

The transparency change passed the House on a 64-0 vote and now advances to the Senate for consideration. If approved there, it could be implemented in time for next years 60-day legislative session.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

As community members and advocates expressed their frustrations at a federal court hearing on the Albuquerque Police Departments reform effort, the city and the Department of Justice affirmed their commitment to seeing the court-mandated reforms through to create lasting change.

One of the measures to achieve this goal is asking the External Force Investigation Team  an outside group contracted to assist Internal Affairs detectives with use-of-force investigations  to expand its scope of work and tackle a backlog of cases that formed through the first half of 2021. The city and the DOJ are in negotiations about the idea.

According to the latest report from the independent monitor overseeing the reforms, there were 667 cases in the backlog, 83% were older than 120 days, so officers could not be disciplined if it was discovered they had violated policies. EFIT was brought in to improve the quality of investigations and Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said the backlog has not grown since the group started work in June.

At Wednesdays hearing, the executive director of Disability Rights New Mexico asked if the city administration was still committed to bringing constitutional policing to Albuquerque and pushed back on rhetoric linking high violent crime to the reform effort.

A representative from the community policing councils  citizen groups created by the Court Approved Settlement Agreement to engage in dialogue with the police department  said they feel left out, disrespected and unappreciated, and didnt have enough resources to be effective.

The former chair of the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee criticized the citys new Community Safety department  made up of first responders tasked with handling mental health and homelessness calls  for not involving the board or asking for advice when developing policies and procedures.

And Peter Cubra, with the McClendon subclass representing incarcerated people, said he was horrified by the administrations attacks on the independent monitor and his characterization of APDs progress.

In recent times, the city of Albuquerque has done the most shocking things Ive ever seen in one of these kinds of lawsuits, Cubra said. Their horrific levels of non-compliance alone would be the basis for civil contempt.

He added that he was dismayed the Department of Justice had not taken action and urged U.S. District Judge James Browning to do so instead.

However, Paul Killebrew, an attorney who said the Albuquerque case was the first one he was assigned to when he started with the Department of Justice in 2013, pushed back, saying that the goal is not merely to get the city past the finish line, but also to foster sustainable reforms. He said all options remain on the table.

So, on an ongoing basis, were examining what is happening with compliance and what are the steps that we need to take to move compliance along to help APD reach the goals of the consent decree and to protect the people of Albuquerque from unconstitutional policing, Killebrew said.

Chief Medina, appearing in a suit and tie after testifying before the Legislature, agreed, but said part of that means pushing back on the independent monitor so as to streamline processes.

If I had an unlimited budget and unlimited resources, Id have every position hired necessary for us to go into compliance, Medina said. The simple fact of the matter is I dont. I have given every civilian position that I can to compliance, so I can get sworn people going out to enforce laws.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A judge has given federal officials the green light to shoot feral cows from helicopters in the Gila National Forest.

The U.S. Forest Service says the unbranded cattle must be removed immediately because the herds are damaging wilderness areas and are a threat to the public.

The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association on Wednesday had asked the court for a temporary restraining order on the operation along the states western border, arguing that the federal government was violating livestock laws.

NMCGA President Loren Patterson said ranchers worry the agency could inadvertently kill branded livestock that have strayed from domesticated herds.

We are opposed not to the removal of the stray cattle out of the Gila, Patterson said. We are opposed to the method of shooting them from helicopters.

But a federal district court judge denied the motion.

About 200 cows roam the Gila Wilderness, according to the Forest Service.

These are not domesticated cattle, U.S. Agriculture Department attorneys wrote in court documents. There are no active grazing allotments in the area where the cattle are found and the Forest Service has not identified any tags or brands indicating ownership.

Patricia Estrella, a New Mexico representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said the animals overgraze riverside areas and erode streambanks.

Trampling herds also harm water quality and degrade endangered species habitat.

More discussion is not needed at this point. Action is whats needed to protect the water and wildlife of the Gila River, Estrella said.

The feral cattle problem dates back to the 1970s, when a rancher went bankrupt.

The rancher who then inherited the grazing permits on the Gila, which were terminated in the late 1990s, could not gather or manage many of the cows.

The cows have been reproducing ever since.

The Forest Service notes that the animals have been known to charge hikers.

Since 1998, the agency has awarded eight contracts for cow removal in the Gila, said New Mexico Wild policy director Brittany Fallon.

There is one ongoing contract for a combination of roundup and lethal means on site, and thats in recognition that its not possible, or safe, to round up all of the cattle, she said.

Past on-the-ground roundups have directed unbranded, unclaimed livestock to a Belen sale barn.

But feral cows that never belonged to ranchers are hard to catch in the rugged wilderness.

Feral cows give all cattle producers a black eye, said Grant County Commissioner Gerald Billings.

Its a detriment to the ecosystem and to the beef industry in New Mexico, said Billings, who raises cattle on private land.

But the ranchers argue that aerial shooting should not be the solution.

Thats 150,000 pounds of wasted beef that could go into the economy, and is just going to be shot and left lie, Billings said.

U.S. Wildlife Services began aerial surveys Monday in the Gila Wilderness.

The agency first notified the New Mexico ranchers of the proposed helicopter operation as early as fall 2020.

Wildlife Services is killing the unbranded and unauthorized cows using suppressed firearms and non-toxic copper bullets.

The operation could end as soon as Friday. Its unlikely the agency could do another aerial shooting roundup until next February.

The short timeline avoids conflicts with hunting season, Mexican spotted owl nesting and peak recreational use.

State lawmakers waded into the bovine brouhaha on Thursday at a meeting of the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee.

The committee voted 5-2 to pass a memorial that would task the state Livestock Board, Agriculture Department and U.S. Forest Service to work together  to expedite the removal of the unbranded cattle.

The memorial, sponsored by Santa Clara Republican Rep. Luis Terrazas, also labels aerial shooting of cattle as cruel and dangerous.

We also think that this is a very inhumane way  weve got a helicopter up there chasing cattle all over the forest, Terrazas said.

Environmental groups countered that the agency collaboration outlined in the memorial already exists.

They pointed to the operations goal of targeting feral cows, not estray livestock from ranches.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Lawmakers have repeatedly narrowed the focus of a voting bill working its way through the Senate. But the proposal survived an attempt Thursday to slim it down even further.

A proposed amendment that sought to remove a provision sending $20 million into a state election fund failed on a tie vote, leaving the bill intact, at least for now.

The legislation, Senate Bill 8, narrowly made it out of the committee on a 6-5 vote  with Sen. Roberto Bobby Gonzales, D-Ranchos de Taos, arriving in time to cast what proved to be the decisive vote.

The bill now heads to the full Senate with less than a week left in the session.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and county clerks pleaded with the committee to leave intact the $20 million proposed for the election account.

The money, they said, would ensure adequate funding is available to replace voting equipment when necessary, pay poll workers and complete cybersecurity projects.

Money from the fund would generally go to county clerks for carrying out statewide elections.

We never get the funding we need, Toulouse Oliver said. We are always operating from a deprivation mentality for elections.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman George Munoz, D-Gallup, proposed removing the $20 million.

The funding, he said, would come from the same revenue stream that otherwise supports a new early childhood trust fund. Under Senate Bill 8, before the money flows to the trust fund, some of it would be diverted instead to ensure the election fund always has a balance of $20 million.

Munoz suggested it would set a bad precedent to intercept money on the way to the early childhood trust fund. Supporters of other initiatives are likely to propose their own diversions, he said, and its better for lawmakers to actively decide each year how much to put in the fund.

He joined four Republican lawmakers in favor of the amendment, but it failed on a 5-5 vote, with opposition from the remaining Democrats.

Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, said it was essential to ensure elections are adequately funded.

The Senate Finance Committee, she said, has already heard presentations on the unexpectedly rapid growth of the early childhood trust fund, which is projected to hit $4.3 billion in 2025.

The fund was designed to support state funding on home visiting, prekindergarten, child care assistance and other early childhood programs.

Without sufficient funding, Rodriguez said, we cant run adequate fair elections.

The proposed voting bill has undergone extensive changes as it works its way through Senate committees. It no longer calls for automating some voter registration or allowing 16-year-olds to vote in school and city elections.

As it stands now, the proposal would:

 Establish a permanent absentee voter list, giving voters the option of signing up once to receive absentee ballots in the mail for future elections.

 Restore the voting rights of felons when they leave custody rather than after they complete probation or parole.

 Create a Native American voting rights act.

 Require counties to have two secure, monitored drop boxes for ballots.

This is a big deal, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said. This is about access to voting rights.

Republicans said the proposal fails to provide safeguards for fair, accurate elections.

County clerks, they said, shouldnt be forced to provide ballot drop boxes.

Opponents also said that requiring voters to present a photo identification to vote  an idea not contained in the bill  would be a commonsense way to prevent fraud.

This is yet another instance of short sighted policy for political gain and we urge the body to reject this bill when it comes to the Senate Floor, Republican Sens. William Sharer of Farmington, William Burt of Alamogordo, Crystal Diamond of Elephant Butte and Pat Woods of Broadview said in a joint statement.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The third jab is proving to be effective in New Mexico, according to recently released data comparing outcomes for unvaccinated, vaccinated and boosted people for COVID-19.

During a recent four-week period that included the peak of the omicron variant, an unvaccinated person was eight times more likely to die of COVID compared with a vaccinated person who hadnt had a booster shot. An unvaccinated person was 29 times more likely to die than a person who was vaccinated and had a booster.

The data was released this week in a vaccination epidemiology report published on the New Mexico Department of Healths website. The weekly report for the first time compared people who had only two shots of vaccine and those who had three.

The difference was significant.

Almost all of our deaths these days from COVID are in unvaccinated or  unboosted individuals and we are getting to the point with COVID  where the vast majority of (deaths and serious illness) are preventable, Dr. David Scrase, acting state health secretary, said during a news conference this week.

From Jan. 10 to Feb. 7, there were 216 COVID-related deaths in New Mexico. Unvaccinated adults accounted for 88.9%, or 192 of the deaths. The other people who died had all been vaccinated  19 had completed only their initial vaccine series and five people had had their booster shot, according to the vaccination report.

That means vaccinated New Mexicans who had a booster accounted for 2.3% of the deaths and vaccinated adults who hadnt had the third shot accounted for 8.8% of the deaths during that four-week period, which saw record-breaking counts of over 5,000 and 6,000 daily cases at times.

A state vaccine dashboard shows 77.5% of New Mexicans 18 or older are fully vaccinated and 42.9% have had their booster shot.

Were working hard to promote, or boost, if you will, the booster shots, Scrase said.

The vaccine and booster shots are also effective at staving off hospitalization.

From Jan. 10 through Feb. 7, an unvaccinated person was four times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than someone who was vaccinated and six times more likely to be hospitalized than someone who was vaccinated and boosted.

Vaccinated and vaccinated-and-boosted individuals did make up a significant number of the new cases during the recent surge. During that four-week period, unvaccinated people made up 51.1% of total cases, vaccinated adults without a booster shot made up 32% of cases and people who had received all three COVID shots made up 16.8% of cases.

On Thursday, New Mexico reported 1,837 new cases and 32 deaths, pushing the statewide toll to 6,629. There were 534 people hospitalized with COVID in New Mexico on Thursday.

Scrase cautioned this week that although case counts are falling in the state, he expects the death count to remain high for several weeks because deaths often lag behind new cases and hospitalizations, and the state hasnt yet collected all the death certificates from people who died during the recent surge.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexicans would save money on taxable purchases and Social Security retirement income would be exempted from taxation  at least to a certain amount  under a new tax package that advanced out of a Senate committee late Thursday.

The package includes two provisions sought by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham  the tax exemption for Social Security benefits and a reduction in the state's gross receipts tax rate.

But the proposal, technically a combination of four different Senate bills, also includes safeguards such as a provision the sales tax reduction would go away if revenue levels dip by a significant amount over the next five years.

There's a lot of compromise in this bill, said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, during the hearing of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.

The panel voted 9-1 to approve the measure, which also includes an expansion of an existing solar energy tax credit, after stripping out a provision that would have prohibited New Mexico cities and counties from enacting local tax hikes over the next five years.

That came after several local government groups and lobbyists representing cities and counties voiced strong opposition to the provision.

We shouldn't tie the hands of local governments, said Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho.

Tax changes have emerged as a hot topic at the Roundhouse during this year's 30-day session, as New Mexico is awash in a revenue windfall driven by surging oil production levels and increased consumer activity.

A House-approved $8.5 billion budget plan leaves about $400 million available for tax code changes during this year's session.

The plan approved Thursday would cost an estimated $278 million during the coming year, according to the state Taxation and Revenue Department. That means other tax breaks could also be approved in separate bills, such as targeted tax rebates or credits.

Stephanie Schardin Clarke, the state's tax secretary, told lawmakers the tax package unveiled Wednesday would benefit both New Mexico residents who pay the gross receipts tax on most purchases and the state's economy.

She also said it would help businesses, since the gross receipts tax is levied on both goods and services, unlike the sales taxes that many states utilize.

This bill will help New Mexico business be able to better compete with out-of-state businesses, said Schardin Clarke, who said cutting the state's gross receipts tax rate by 0.25 percentage points would be the first such reduction in 40 years.

The tax package approved Wednesday could still face changes in the session's final week, however, as some top House Democrats argue that exempting Social Security benefits from taxation would primarily help wealthier state residents  not low-income retirees.

But the Democratic governor said this week she was optimistic both tax proposals would ultimately be approved by lawmakers.

I'm very confident those are coming together in the way they need to, Lujan Grisham told reporters.

Wirth said legislators have heard loud and clearly from their constituents in favor of exempting Social Security retirement income from taxation, but said he favors setting limits on who could qualify for the tax break.

Under the bill approved Thursday, single individuals making more than $100,000 per year would not qualify for the tax exemption on Social Security income. For married couples filing jointly, the income threshold would be set at $150,000 annually.

New Mexico's personal income tax was not levied on Social Security benefits until the early 1990s, when a provision buried in a tax bill triggered the change.

Reinstating the exemption with the proposed income caps would cost the state an estimated $84 million in foregone revenue in the coming fiscal year, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.

The tax legislation now advances to the Senate Finance Committee with less than one week remaining in this year's session.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

More than a week after the office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan announced he suffered a stroke and underwent surgery to ease swelling, his office has yet to release any new information on his condition.

No updates on the senators health have been made on Lujans social media accounts since his office disclosed Feb. 1 that the Democratic first-term senator suffered a stroke in New Mexico on Jan. 27. Adan Serna, a Lujan spokesman, didnt respond to requests for comment from the Journal on Thursday.

Carlos Sanchez, Lujans chief of staff, said on Feb. 1 that Lujan, who is 49, was expected to make a full recovery. Lujans office also originally said the senators medical team would make information public about his health in the coming days, but a medical team never released any information or provided any briefing. Serna said last week the senator was able to talk with staffers and didnt suffer any paralysis or loss of speech. An official in Lujans office said he would need about four to six weeks to recover.

A New Mexico group that advocates for government transparency has weighed in, calling for Lujans office to release more information about his health. The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government said New Mexicans have been left confused and concerned in the wake of Lujans stroke. The group urged the senators office to make a spokesperson and one of Lujans treating physicians available for regular updates.

While all of us respect the familys wishes for privacy during this stressful time, a balance must be struck between that privacy and the publics right to know, FOG said in a statement posted on its website. As every elected official can tell you, when you voluntarily step into the public sphere, you waive many of those privacy rights. Sen. Lujans absence from the Senate is an issue of great public importance, particularly with a U.S. Supreme Court appointment on the horizon.

Lujan started to feel dizzy and fatigued the morning of Jan. 27 and checked himself into Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, Sanchez said in the statement issued last week. Lujan was transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where it was determined he had a stroke in the cerebellum, which affected his balance. A decompressive surgery was performed to ease swelling, Sanchez said. The cerebellum helps coordinate muscle action and control, fine movement, coordination and balance, according to Johns Hopkins Medicines website.

The Senators health, his absence from the Senate, and his future service are issues of public importance, FOG said. The veil of privacy must be lifted so that New Mexicans know the state of Sen. Lujans health and their representation within the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers office didnt respond to questions about whether Lujans office has been communicating with them.

A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., didnt respond to a request for comment Thursday. Last week, Heinrich reportedly got defensive when reporters asked him about his colleagues health and directed media to Lujans staff.

You know, like, you guys are unbelievable. You really are, Heinrich said, according to The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based news agency that covers national politics.

Lujans absence has left his fellow Democrats in a difficult position. The Senate is evenly split between 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats, along with two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Senators are not allowed to vote by proxy, so Lujan will have to return to Washington to cast a vote. A vote on a U.S. Supreme Court nominee is among the looming priorities for Lujans party.

Lujan was elected to the Senate in 2020 and his term runs to 2027. Before that, he represented northern New Mexico for six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The state House adopted a resolution Thursday that would ask voters this fall to amend the state Constitution to allow the spending of public money to connect individual homes to internet, electricity, water and other services.

The proposal would add an exception to the Constitutions anti-donation clause, which prohibits directly appropriating state money to businesses, nonprofit groups and other private parties.

Democratic Reps. Anthony Allison of Fruitland and Christine Chandler of Los Alamos said they envision the state helping households that lack access to basic services, especially in rural areas and Native American communities.

It is time to take action to fix these inequities, Allison said. Tens of thousands of families still live without internet, water and electricity.

Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said he admired the goal of the sponsors but that the proposal could have unintended consequences. The anti-donation clause, he said, was enacted to prevent corruption and ensure public funds are spent for a public purpose, such as schools, roads and health care.

He and other opponents raised the prospect of the state spending money to build a road or water line on private property, with the road and water line then owned by the property owner, not the state.

Other Republican lawmakers also spoke against the proposal.

I see significant risk, very significant risk of politically directed capital to well-connected individuals that I dont see the state having the ability to appropriately oversee, said Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs.

Chandler said the amendment, if approved, would simply clear the way for future state legislation that would build in safeguards for the spending of state money.

Everyone deserves a right to water, electricity and, these days, internet services, she said.

The proposal won approval on a 43-23 vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.

The legislation, House Joint Resolution 1, now heads to the Senate, which is considering a more expansive measure that would allow spending beyond water, electricity and similar services.

If both chambers adopt the same proposal, it would go before voters in the Nov. 8 general election.
WINDSOR, Ontario  A judge on Friday ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end the 5-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production.

It was not immediately clear when or if law enforcement officers would be sent in to remove the demonstrators, who parked their pickups and other vehicles in a bumper-to-bumper protest against the countrys COVID-19 restrictions and an outpouring of fury toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government.

Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court said during a virtual hearing that the order would be effective at 7 p.m. to give protesters time to leave.

Windsor police immediately warned that anyone blocking the streets could be subject to arrest and their vehicles may be seized.

The news was met with defiance by protesters.

At the Ambassador Bridge, an unidentified person grabbed a microphone and addressed them, asking if they wanted to stay or leave when the deadline rolled around. By a show of applause, it was agreed they would stay. OK, the man said. Lets stand tall. The protesters responded by singing the Canadian national anthem.

The crowd later grew in size and intensity, with flag-waving and frequent chants of Freedom! More patrol cars moved in around the site, and police handed out leaflets warning that a state of emergency would come into effect at midnight.

Since Monday, drivers mostly in pickup trucks have bottled up the bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit. Hundreds more truckers have paralyzed downtown Ottawa over the past two weeks; it was a party atmosphere there Friday night, when they even set up a concert stage.

And protesters have also blocked two other border crossings, in Alberta and Manitoba.

The judges decision came after a 4 1/2-hour court hearing at which the city of Windsor and lawyers for auto parts makers argued that the blockade was causing undue economic harm for the city and region.

Supporters of the protesters, some of them truckers, argued that an order to disband would disrupt their right to peacefully protest vaccine mandates that hinder their ability to earn a living.

The ruling came in a day of fast-moving developments as federal, provincial and local officials worked simultaneously on different fronts to try to break the standoff with the so-called Freedom Convoy, whose members have been cheered on by the right in the U.S., including Fox News personalities, Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

This unlawful activity has to end and it will end, Trudeau warned just hours earlier.

We heard you. Its time to go home now, the prime minister said, cautioning that everything is on the table for ending the blockades.

Also Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency and threatened heavy penalties against those who interfere with the free flow of goods and people.

Ford said he would convene the provincial cabinet on Saturday to urgently enact measures that make it crystal clear it is illegal to block critical infrastructure. Violators will face up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000, he said.

There will be consequences for these actions, and they will be severe, Ford said. This is a pivotal, pivotal moment for our nation.

The measures will also provide additional authority to consider taking away the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesnt comply, according to the premiers office.

Trudeau called Ontarios decision responsible and necessary and said he spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden about it.

We discussed the American and indeed global influences on the protest, Trudeau said. We talked about the U.S.-based flooding of the 911 phone lines in Ottawa, the presence of U.S. citizens in the blockade and the impact of foreign money to fund this illegal activity.

Trudeau said that on some fundraising platforms, as much as 50% of the donations are coming from the U.S.

He said he and Biden agreed that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cant continue.

Trudeau said he understands the protesters are frustrated by the pandemic, but these blockades are hurting everyday families, auto assembly workers, farmers, truckers, blue-collar Canadians.

The protests have caused shortages of auto parts that have forced General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda to close plants or cancel shifts.

Before the judges ruling came down, dozens of protesters in Windsor blocked the entrance to the bridge in what felt like a block party. Demonstrators milled about, carrying signs and Canadian flags  some at the ends of hockey sticks  while music played and food was handed out. A trampoline was set up for the children.

Troy Holman, a 32-year-old Windsor resident who has protested every day this week, said he believes the government overreached with its COVID-19 restrictions, which he said hurt his wifes small business.

Unfortunately, we have to be here, because this is whats going to get the attention of the government, he said.

Signs read, Freedom Is Essential, Say No to Mandatory Vaccines and End Mandates.

We stand for freedom. We believe that it should be everyones personal decision what they inject into their bodies, said protester Karen Driedger, 40, of Leamington, Ontario. Were saying, Thats enough. We need to go back to normal and live our lives again.

Authorities at various levels of government have hesitated to forcibly remove the protesters around the country, reflecting apparently a lack of manpower by local police, Canadas reverence for free speech, and fears of violence. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens warned earlier this week that some of the truckers are willing to die.

But the political pressure to reopen the bridge appeared to be mounting along with the economic toll.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. The standoff comes at a time when the auto industry is already struggling to maintain production in the face of pandemic-induced shortages of computer chips and other supply-chain disruptions.

American legislators are freaking out, and rightfully so, said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. Pressure is now being exerted by the White House on Trudeau to act more decisively.

Amid signs that authorities might be prepared to get tough, police in Windsor and Ottawa awaited reinforcements from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the federal police force.

Ottawas mayor has asked for 1,800 additional officers, which could nearly double the manpower available to the capital citys force.

The protests have spread outside Canada as well. Demonstrators angry over pandemic restrictions drove toward Paris in scattered convoys of camper vans, cars and trucks Friday in an effort to blockade the French capital, despite a police ban.

And in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement officers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that truck protests may be in the works in the United States. The agency said the protests could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend and spread to Washington around the State of the Union address in March.

While the Canadian protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions, many of the countrys infection measures, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants and theaters, are already falling away as the omicron surge levels off.

Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the U.S., but Canadians have largely supported them. The vast majority of Canadians are vaccinated, and the COVID-19 death rate is one-third that of the United States.

___

Gillies reported from Toronto, Krisher from Detroit.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden signed an order Friday to free $7 billion in Afghan assets now frozen in the U.S., splitting the money between humanitarian aid for poverty-stricken Afghanistan and a fund for Sept. 11 victims still seeking relief for the terror attacks that killed thousands and shocked the world.

No money would immediately be released. But Bidens order calls for banks to provide $3.5 billion of the frozen amount to a trust fund for distribution through humanitarian groups for Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would stay in the U.S. to finance payments from lawsuits by U.S. victims of terrorism that are still working their way through the courts.

International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the countrys assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in August as the U.S. military withdrew.

The White House said in a statement that the order is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Taliban and malicious actors.

Bidens plan aims to resolve a complex situation in which the U.S. is sitting on billions owned by a country where there is no government it recognizes, with competing appeals for the money for the crying needs of the Afghan people and families still scarred by the 2001 attacks.

Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, died in the attack on the World Trade Center, said that though victims families support the distribution of a large portion of the funds to the Afghan people, the remaining funds should be distributed fairly among the families.

Anything short of equitable treatment for and among the 9/11 families as it relates to these frozen assets is outrageous and will be seen as a betrayal by the government, Eagleson said in a statement.

The Justice Department had signaled months ago that the administration was poised to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims and families in New York City. The deadline for that filing had been pushed back until Friday.

The families in that case won a U.S. court judgment in 2012 against the Taliban and some other entities. But other victims relatives also have ongoing lawsuits over the attacks, and a New York-based lawyer for about 500 families urged Friday that all be on equal footing for the fund.

Its going to take a lot of funds to provide monetary compensation, but well never make these people whole. Never, said attorney Jerry S. Goldman.

Afghanistans long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of the previous governments budget came from the international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

Aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. State employees, from doctors to teachers and administrative civil servants, havent been paid in months. Banks have restricted how much money account holders can withdraw.

U.S. courts where 9/11 victims have filed claims against the Taliban will have to take additional action for victims and families to be compensated from the $3.5 billion, deciding if they have a claim, according to senior administration officials who brief reporters.

The Biden administration is still working through details of setting up the trust fund, an effort the White House says will likely take months.

Because victims have ongoing legal claims on the $7 billion in the U.S. banking system, the courts would have to sign off before half the money for humanitarian assistance could be released to Afghanistan, the officials said.

The U.S. launched the war in Afghanistan more than 20 years ago after then-Taliban leader Mullah Omar refused to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Bin Laden, who was born in Saudi Arabia but had his citizenship revoked, relocated to Afghanistan after being expelled from Sudan in 1996.

Taliban political spokesman Mohammad Naeem criticized the Biden administration for not releasing all the funds to Afghanistan.

Stealing the blocked funds of Afghan nation by the United States of America and its seizure (of those funds) shows the lowest level of humanity . . . of a country and a nation, Naeem tweeted on Friday.

The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

The Biden administration pushed back against criticism that all $7 billion  largely derived from donations by the U.S. and other nations to Afghanistan  should be released to Afghanistan, arguing that the 9/11 claimants under the U.S. legal system have a right to their day in court.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of their ministries but were struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organizations say money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

In recent months, Afghans have been able to withdraw only $200 weekly and that only in Afghanis, not in U.S. currency. Afghanistans economy has teetered on the verge of collapse.

The United Nations last month issued an appeal for nearly $5 billion, its largest ever appeal for one country, estimating that nearly 90% of the countrys 38 million people were surviving below the poverty level of $1.90 a day. The U.N. also warned that upward of 1 million children risked starvation.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday night that it is encouraged by Bidens executive order.

Its also important to reiterate that humanitarian assistance alone will be insufficient to meet the tremendous needs of Afghan women and men and children over the long term, and it is critical that the Afghan economy is able to restart in order for these needs of the Afghan people to be met with a sustainable and meaningful manner, Dujarric said.

David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, on Wednesday urged release of the funds to prevent famine.

The humanitarian community did not choose the government, but that is no excuse to punish the people, and there is a middle course  to help the Afghan people without embracing the new government, Miliband said at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the matter.

___

Gannon reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed reporting.
Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies descended on the East Mountains Friday morning after a State Police officer was shot. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Officers from multiple agencies were searching for the person who shot a State Police Officer on Friday morning. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Officers from multiple agencies were searching for the person who shot a State Police Officer on Friday morning. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Officers from multiple agencies were searching for the person who shot a State Police Officer on Friday morning. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Among the agencies responding to the East Mountains after a State Police officer was shot was the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Officers from multiple agencies were searching for the person who shot a State Police Officer on Friday morning. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 6 Next

A call about a woman using drugs in a gas station bathroom Friday morning ended in a shootout with her male companion that left a New Mexico State Police supervisor injured and resulted in an intensive search of the East Mountains for the assailants.

During an afternoon news conference in Albuquerque, State Police Chief Tim Johnson said the supervisor was shot at least once and is going to be OK.

He said police believe they tracked the couple back to the city through various investigative tools and had detained them along Central around 3:15 p.m.

Until we get them back here and interview them, were not going to know for sure, Johnson said.

Around 10:30 p.m., State Police spokesman Dusty Francisco said the couple they had detained turned out to not be involved in the incident. He said the woman was questioned and released, while the man was arrested on an unrelated warrant.

Francisco said both suspects from the shooting are still on the loose, and shared a photo of the woman allegedly involved in the incident and asked the publics help in identifying her.

During the afternoon news conference, before delving into a play-by-play of the incident, Chief Johnson remarked, Here we are again, noting the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of State Police officer Darian Jarrott was less than a week ago.I feel like were here more often than we should be these days, Johnson said. So, if you sense the disgust or frustration in my voice, you would be correct.

The latest shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer began not with a traffic stop, but a routine call in the East Mountains.

Johnson said around 8:15 a.m., a clerk at Mr. Gas Mart in Edgewood reported a woman was using drugs in the bathroom. When the State Police supervisor arrived, the woman was with a man inside a Cadillac parked in front of the station.

Our supervisor called for backup; backup didnt arrive in time, Johnson said.

He said the supervisor approached the car and the man put it into reverse and rammed it into a State Police vehicle multiple times before driving off westbound on N.M. 333.

The supervisor gave chase and used a PIT maneuver to stop the Cadillac near the Sedillo Hill overpass. Police said the couple got out of the crashed car and the man opened fire on the supervisor, striking him.

Despite being injured, the supervisor was able to recover and return fire at the suspect, Francisco, the State Police spokesman, wrote in a news release. It is unknown if the suspects were struck by the supervisors gunfire.

Johnson said the suspects ran east into the rugged terrain of the East Mountains.

The incident kicked off an hourslong search by tactical officers, police dogs, helicopters and drones as almost every local and federal law enforcement agency in the area descended on the mountainous area near Sedillo Hill.

Authorities said the suspects were a heavyset man wearing a black hoodie and blue pants, and a woman with a thin build, wearing a tan shirt and black leggings.

Johnson said incidents such as this one dont help the morale of law enforcement, particularly State Police in New Mexico who have been through much turmoil in the past couple of years.

At the Roundhouse on Friday, the New Mexico Senate paused for a moment of silence in honor of the injured officer.

Sen. Gregg Schmedes, R-Tijeras, who represents the area where the incident occurred, said he saw multiple law enforcement vehicles traveling at high speed to the scene Friday morning.

Thats when I knew something really bad had happened, Schmedes said.

During a pause in the floor session of the state House, Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, said the injured officer is a friend.

Lord said she hoped authorities would soon find the despicable person that did this.

Dan Boyd and Dan McKay of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this report.

Tips: If you have any information or the whereabouts of the woman pictured above, please call the New Mexico State Police at (505) 841-9256 or dial 911.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration on Friday escalated dire warnings of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could happen at any moment, even as emergency diplomatic efforts continued. U.S. officials said the United States is preparing to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv, and Americans in Ukraine are being told to leave within the next 48 hours.

Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.

As diplomatic options for averting war in Ukraine appeared to narrow, the White House said President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss the crisis by phone on Saturday.

Biden has said the U.S. military will not enter a war in Ukraine, but he has promised severe economic sanctions against Moscow, in concert with international allies.

Timing of possible Russian military action remains a key question.

The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was, and the White House publicly underscored that the U.S. does not know with certainty whether Putin is committed to invasion.

However, U.S. officials said anew that Russias buildup of offensive air, land and sea firepower near Ukraine has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.

U.S. officials told The Associated Press late Friday that the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment.

The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans will be sent out or relocated to Ukraines far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.

Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, urged all Americans in Ukraine to leave, emphasizing that they should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.

Several NATO allies including Britain, Canada, Norway and Denmark also are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine, as is non-NATO ally New Zealand.

Sullivan said Russian military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.

Yes, it is an urgent message because we are in an urgent situation, he told reporters at the White House.

Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action, Sullivan said, adding, Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine. He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.

Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.

The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.

In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraines eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

Sullivans stark warning accelerated the projected timeframe for a potential invasion, which many analysts have believed was unlikely until after the Winter Olympics in China end on Feb. 20. Sullivan said the combination of a further Russian troop buildup on Ukraines borders and unspecified intelligence indicators have prompted the administration to warn that war could begin any time.

We cant pinpoint the day at this point, and we cant pinpoint the hour, but that is a very, very distinct possibility, Sullivan said.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conferred by phone with several of his NATO counterparts. Echoing Sullivans public remarks, Austin told them a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time, Kirby said.

Biden has said U.S. troops will not enter Ukraine to contest any Russian invasion, but he has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATOs eastern flank. On Friday the Pentagon said Biden ordered a further 3,000 soldiers to Poland, on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. Together they form an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke by phone Friday with his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov. Milleys office provided no details beyond saying the two men discussed several security-related issues of concern. Milley also had phone calls with several of his counterparts from NATO countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland and Romania.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was traveling in Australia, was the first senior U.S. official to say publicly that an invasion could come before the end of the Olympics.

Sullivan would not discuss the intelligence details behind the U.S. assessment and denied a report that American officials believe Putin has made the decision to invade. But he said U.S. officials believe there is a strong possibility of an invasion.

We believe he very well may give the final go order, Sullivan said. It may well happen soon.

Biden spoke to a number of European leaders on Friday to underscore the concerns raised by U.S. intelligence about the potential imminence of a Russian invasion. Sullivan said the Western leaders were completely united and would respond harshly to a Russian invasion with devastating economic and trade sanctions.

Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace, visited Moscow a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held frosty talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and urged him to pull back Russias troops near Ukraine. Lavrov characterized that meeting as a conversation between deaf and dumb.

Russia opened massive war games in Belarus on Thursday that are due to run through next weekend but says it has no plans to invade Ukraine.

The Russians are insisting that the West keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe  demands flatly rejected by the West.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Britains Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and its not our fault.

Shoigu said shipments of weapons to Ukraine by the U.S., Britain and other allies have contributed to the tensions and pointed to the recent deployment of British soldiers to Ukraine, asking why they were sent and how long they would stay.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Wallace said the anti-tank missiles that Britain sent to Ukraine were defensive tactical weapons that do not pose a threat to any neighbor unless it invades.

He described the talks as constructive and frank and noted his Russian counterparts assurances that Moscow has no intention to attack Ukraine. But he also emphasized that the concentration of Russian troops near Ukrainian territory is clearly beyond normal exercising.

Russias troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition. Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the Belarus border.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the deployment of additional U.S. troops as a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity.

Separately, the U.S. Agency for International Development notified Congress on Friday of a new $73 million aid package to Georgia, another former Soviet republic that has faced aggression from Moscow and fought a war with Russia in 2008. The assistance includes almost $46 million in money to help Georgia combat transnational threats and crime, notably to decrease dependence on Russia, according to the congressional notification that was obtained by the AP.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraines Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.

___

Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Associated Press writers Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor and Nomaan Merchant in Washington, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.
DENVER  On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the forced internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans at the onset of World War II, Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is getting backlash for holding up the creation of a national historic site at a former internment camp in rural Colorado.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, says he has the support of 99 of the chambers 100 senators to pass the Amache National Historic Site Act, which would make the remote southeastern Colorado landmark a national historic site eligible for additional preservation assistance.

But his bill, co-sponsored by Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper, failed to pass by unanimous consent last week due to a lone objection from Lee, who opposes adding new federal lands without adequate funding and in the past has advocated for swaps to prevent expanding federal land ownership.

Senator Lee does not object to this specific historical site. He does object to any increase in the total amount of land owned by the federal government as the federal government fails to adequately care for the land already in its vast holdings, Lees spokesman, Lee Lonsberry, told The Associated Press.

A similar House bill, sponsored by Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck and Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse, swiftly passed last year, and Bennets Senate companion may still advance for consideration.

The dispute comes amid a broader reckoning about race in U.S. history as Japanese Americans strive to spread awareness about the gross injustices committed by the U.S. government against their community during World War II.

The Amache site is less than one square mile (2.4 square kilometers), Bennetts office and the Prowers County Assessor said. It contains remnants of barracks, latrines, mess halls, military police structures and a cemetery.

Lee has been one of the Republican Partys most vocal opponents of the expansive power that federal agencies have to manage public lands in Western states.

He supported the Trump administrations 2017 decision to shrink the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, two national monuments in Utah. And last year, he opposed the Biden administrations decision to restore Bears Ears original borders. In a 2018 speech in Utah, where about two-thirds of land is managed by federal agencies, he said his long-term goal to transfer federal lands to state control.

Camp Amache is owned by the town of Granada and already listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its current designation qualifies it for preservation funds, but designating it as a National Historic Site would make available additional federal funds through the National Park Service.

Calling the Japanese American internment one of the most disgraceful chapters in our nations history fed by racist fear, Bennet said in a floor speech Feb. 3 the bill intended to honor people who never gave up on the United States of American even as it was interning them on their own soil.

Japanese Americans were held in 10 camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Arkansas and Colorado, expelled from their homes near the West Coast under an executive order by President Franklin Roosevelt issued on Feb. 19, 1942. More than 7,000 people were interned at Amache  the camps unofficial name, after a Cheyenne chiefs daughter  between 1942 and 1945.

According to the National Park Service, a cemetery, reservoir, water well and tank and trees planted by internees remain at the site, which is managed by a non-profit, the Amache Preservation Society.

Lees stance has drawn outrage from numerous organizations, including the Japanese American Citizens League and the National Parks Conservation Association, which advocates for the National Park System. The citizens league, its local Southern Colorado affiliate and other groups plan a Day of Remembrance on Feb. 19 that will, in part, demand passage of Bennets bill.

The initiative not only serves as a healing tool and an acknowledgement of wrongdoing by our government, but it allows individuals and out country to move forward to a better way of being, said Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation whose parents were interned at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in that state.

She noted that her own father, William Higuchi, went on to become chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Utah; another detainee, Raymond Uno, became Utahs first ethnic minority judge.

A lot of Japanese Americans contributed so much to Utah, and its a shame that in some quiet way they cannot be honored, Higuchi said. They have quietly contributed to our country and its unfortunate they cant be supported by someone from their own state.

Both Bennet and Lees offices said the senators have spoken about how to add the remnants of the Amache-Granada War Relocation Center to the parks system.

___

Metz reported from Salt Lake City.
SANTA FE  A proposal intended to boost the pay of educators certified to teach Native American languages and culture won approval 63-0 in the state House and heads next to the Senate.

The legislation, House Bill 60, calls for teachers with the certification  issued by individual tribes, nations and pueblos  to be paid at least as much as Level 2 teachers, expected to be $60,000 a year.

Rep. Derrick Lente, a Sandia Pueblo Democrat and sponsor of the bill, said Friday that the goal is to preserve and save Native American languages that are disappearing on a daily basis.

The languages are oral, not written down, making it all the more important, he said, to support educators who can pass the knowledge on to students.

Without language, Lente said, our culture ceases to survive.

At least eight Native languages are spoken in New Mexico, including Dine, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa and Zuni.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Legislation that would allow stiffer penalties for second-degree murder and give prosecutors more time to bring charges won House approval 66-0 on Friday as lawmakers target New Mexico's high rate of violent crime.

The bipartisan proposal, House Bill 79, heads next to the state Senate in the final five days of the session.

Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat and cosponsor of the measure, said second-degree murder is an important charge for older cases where first-degree murder is difficult to prove after the passage of time.

The proposal would eliminate what's now a six-year statute of limitations for second-degree murder, giving prosecutors more time to pursue the charge.

It would also allow an 18-year sentence for conviction, up from 15 under the current law. Penalties would also increase for attempted second-degree murder.

Maestas said the bill is a key component to our crime-fighting package.

There's no guarantee the proposal will become law. It must make it through the Senate and Senate committees by noon Thursday to reach the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Key Democrats in the Senate have long been skeptical that longer sentences have any deterrent effect on crime.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has expressed frustration with the slow progress  or outright rejection  of crime legislation this session, contending it defies explanation.

But she praised the House vote Friday.

Making dozens of unsolved homicides eligible for prosecution and resolution when they are solved will have an incredible effect on New Mexico families across the state, she said.

A high-profile proposal aimed at making it easier to hold certain criminal defendants in jail before trial was blocked by a Senate committee earlier this session and abandoned in the House amid bipartisan skepticism.

The House, however, is still weighing a proposal intended to strengthen the supervision of people accused of a felony but released while they await trial.

Earlier this week, the House also passed a bill intended to make it easier to prosecute chop shops that dismantle stolen vehicles. That measure, House Bill 69, is pending in the Senate.

As for House Bill 79, it has an array of Democratic and Republican sponsors, including Reps. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales; Maestas; Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque; and Marian Matthews, D-Albuquerque, in addition to Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque.

Public safety has been a focus of debate in the 30-day session that began last month. New Mexico has endured a persistently high violent crime rate, twice the national average over the last three years.

Homicides in Albuquerque jumped to a record-breaking 117 last year.

Maestas, an attorney, said second-degree murder is often used as a charge when prosecutors can't prove that a person planned beforehand to kill someone, or that the killing was premeditated.

Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, spoke in favor of the bill and explained that her nephew was murdered. She said it's important for prosecutors to consult with the families of victims as they pursue charges and seek plea deals.
WENN/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity

The Queen is currently being monitored after she recently met her son, the Prince of Wales, who has announced that he caught the virus for the second time.

Feb 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Prince Charles has tested positive for the second time after recently meeting his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Prince of Wales announced on Thursday morning, February 10 that he caught the virus and was unable to attend an event in the English city of Winchester scheduled for later that day.

"This morning The Prince of Wales has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating," read a statement released via Clarence House's official Twitter account. It continued to read, "HRH is deeply disappointed not to be able to attend today's events in Winchester and will look to reschedule his visit as soon as possible."

He had been due to unveil a statue of a Jewish business woman from medieval times. He has gone into self-isolation, according to his household.

Charles' COVID diagnosis has raised concern about the Queen's health as they met just two days before he tested positive. The heir to the throne visited his mother at Windsor Castle, where the Queen is currently living, to hand out investiture honors on Tuesday.

The Queen is currently being closely monitored as many question whether the 95-year-old monarch is at risk of contracting the virus. According to an official at Buckingham Palace, the Queen is not displaying any symptoms.

The Queen received a dose of coronavirus vaccine in January 2021 at Windsor Castle, along with her husband, Prince Philip. The palace has not confirmed if she received any subsequent vaccine doses.

Meanwhile, Charles has confirmed that he and his wife Camilla are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots. PA reported that the Duchess of Cornwall continued with her engagements on Thursday, visiting Paddington Haven, a sexual assault referral center in west London.

Charles first tested positive and recovered from a mild case of the virus in March 2020.
WENN/Avalon/Adriana M. Barraza Celebrity

The British supermodel is caught liking an Instagram post that criticizes the SKIMS founder's appearance on the cover of the magazine's latest issue despite it being Black History Month.

Feb 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - Naomi Campbell isn't impressed by Kim Kardashian's Vogue cover. The supermodel appears to have shaded the reality TV star for gracing the cover of the magazine's latest issue despite it being Black History Month.

The British beauty has been caught liking an Instagram post that criticized the SKIMS founder's appearance on the magazine's cover. The post featured a series of images with a caption that read, "Kim and Vogue said 'Black History Month,' " along with a handful of hashtags, including #blackfishing and #blackgirlmagic.

In the gallery of images, the account suggested that Kim copied black women's style. It compared a picture of the 41-year-old fashion designer with Naomi, Nina Simone and Beyonce Knowles, doing the same poses and styled like them in photoshoots. In four photos, she even wore a replica of Naomi's outfit.

The post generated 200,000 likes, including one from Naomi. It didn't take long for other users to take notice of Naomi's subtle shade. One follower reacted, "Not Naomi liking the post," while another said, "Helpppp Naomi liked it."

Other users agreed with the blackfishing allegation, as one wrote, "I immediately thought about Nina Simone for the second pic. The rest are spot on as well." Another similarly commented, "Literally the first thing that came to mind was Beyonce."

"This is Rachel Dolezal level of appropriation at this point," a third critic said. "Well we all know Kim has made an entire business from trying to be Black. From body, men, and so on," another claimed. "They said 'black history month but can we make it not black?" another wondered.

Some others took to Twitter to express their distastes. "Kim Kardashian and Vogue said #HappyBlackHistoryMonth here's some Blackfishing to celebrate," one person tweeted. Another added, "Kim's cover of Vogue would've been so beautiful if she wasn't blackfishing."
WENN/Derrick Salters Celebrity

In a letter sent to a judge in response to Wendy's petition to unfreeze her bank account, Wells Fargo cites Lori Schiller's claim that the TV host's friends have warned her about leeches financially exploiting the ailing star.

Feb 11, 2022

AceShowbiz - Wells Fargo is making a case for its decision to freeze Wendy Williams' assets. Following the ailing TV host's petition asking a New York court to restore her access to a bank account containing "several million dollars," Wells Fargo tells a judge they have a reason to believe that Wendy is an "incapacitated person" who needs a guardianship.

In a letter sent by Wells Fargo's lawyer David H. Pikus to Judge Arlene Bluth on Thursday, February 10, David said the bank is "concerned" about the situation regarding Wendy's finances as her former financial advisor Lori Schiller had "recently witnessed signs of exploitation, including [Wendy's] own expressed apprehensions" about the people around her.

"To summarize without divulging too much on the public record, Wells Fargo has strong reason to believe that [Wendy] is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation," the letter stated. It went on to say that the decision was made not only based on Lori's statement but due to Wendy's friends calling them up.

"Wells Fargo is relying not only on reports of the financial advisor, who has recently witnessed telltale signs of exploitation, including the petitioner's own expressed apprehensions, but also upon other independent third-parties who know [Wendy] well and share these concerns," the bank argued.

Well Fargo asked the court to set a date for a hearing to determine whether Wendy needs a professional to intervene in her affairs. "It is our hope that the Guardianship Part [of the court] will imminently appoint a temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that [Wendy's] affairs are being properly handled," they said in the letter.

Wendy's lawyer Celeste N. McCaw, however, said in a letter that Wendy "denies that she is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation." Celeste went on to say that Wendy had fired Lori as her advisor due to alleged "malfeasance" involving her accounts as well as "improper conduct in relation to their professional relationship."

Wendy filed a petition on February 4, seeking her account to be restored while she resolves her dispute with Wells Fargo via arbitration. The 57-year-old host said, "I have visited various Wells Fargo branches in the South Florida area in an effort to resolve this matter outside of the courtroom. To date, I have submitted and made over a dozen requests, regarding the financial damages resulting from Wells Fargo's decision to unlawfully deny me access to my accounts."

She went on claiming, "As a result of my inability to access my financial assets, I have defaulted and I am at risk of defaulting on several billing and financial obligations, including, but not limited to, mortgage payments and employee payroll."
To strengthen production and supply chain verticals, Indias essential fashion brand, DaMENSCH, announced the appointment of Aniket Bose as Chief Supply Chain Officer. Aniket will spearhead logistical and commercial support while playing a critical part in strategic direction as the Company soars towards its next phase of growth. Anikets appointment is in line with DaMENSCH efforts to attract world-class leadership to support the Companys mission of providing redefining long-lasting sustainable fashion choices for consumers.

Aniket comes with more than a decade of experience in enabling organizations for scale and high performance backed by reliability in various domains such as fashion, retail, technology, logistics and manufacturing. Earlier, he has helped cross-functional production teams drive highly scalable and reliable operations using his deep domain expertise. Aniket has previously been associated with companies such as Fashinza, Shuttl, One Stop Shop, The Boston Consulting Group and MAEIPL, to name a few, ensuring positive outcomes under his functions.

Welcoming Aniket to the team, Gaurav Pushkar, Co-Founder, DaMENSCH said, We will leverage Anikets expertise as DaMENSCH moves into its next phase of growth. Since the Company is expanding its supply chains and production, we have on-boarded Aniket to help in the strategic business expansion. As we scale further, Anikets in-depth understanding of retail and technology platforms will play a pivotal role in helping DaMENSCH meet more milestones. Accordingly, we are excited to have him on board.

Said Aniket Bose, Chief Supply Chain Officer, DaMENSCH, It is exciting to join DaMENSCH at a time when the Company is poised for greater growth. The next few months will be crucial as we focus on scaling operations. I see immense potential in the Companys vision of sustainable fashion and look forward to contributing towards its continued growth while driving innovation and change within the industry.
Zee English Cluster has always strived to deliver the best basis for the choice of the audiences. Catering to the diverse choices and demands of the viewers, the cluster is all set for the Indian Television Premiere of the thriller film Dont Breathe 2 starring Stephen Lang who astonished showbiz with his role in Avatar. The film that is a much more thrilling and delusional sequel to its predecessor is surely not meant for the weak hearts. Dont Breathe 2 will premiere for the audience on &flix and &PriveHD on 13th February through the properties Flix First Premiere at 12 noon and 9 pm and Club Prive Premiere at 3 pm respectively.

Norman Nordstrom has recreated the life stolen from him with the help of his beloved foster daughter, Phoenix. But when Phoenix is abducted, Norman taps into his darker instincts to save his daughter. Being a blind man, Norman depends on other senses to protect his daughter. The sequel is set in the years following the initial deadly home invasion, where Norman Nordstrom lives in quiet solace only until his past sins catch up to him. He can see what you cant- so hold your breath as your mind embraces the thrill.

Watch Dont Breathe 2 on &flix at 12 noon and 9 pm and on &PriveHD at 3 pm
Licious, Indias first D2C unicorn, announced the addition of two stalwarts of India Inc to their leadership team. Licious welcomed Vidyanand Krishnan as Chief Customer Officer and Meeta Aggarwal as Chief Financial Officer. In their respective roles, both leaders will be instrumental in furthering the ambitious growth journey that Licious has been.

A seasoned leader, Vidyanand Krishnan will lead the customer agenda and play a strategic role in driving customer retention and loyalty for Licious. With previous roles at Dunzo, Walmart, Cognizant, and Accenture, Vidyanand brings valuable experience in retail and product management to his new role. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, he was the business lead at Walmart, responsible for building express pickup and delivery for the online grocery business. After spending 6+ years at Walmart, he moved to Bengaluru in 2020 to join Dunzo where he led the customer experience functions during the company's transition into a Q-Commerce retailer.

An expert in her own rights, Meeta Aggarwal, will focus on driving profitable and sustainable growth, cost efficiencies, effective working capital management and strong governance/controls for Licious. She brings with her rich experience of 18+ yrs across financial planning, controllership, business partnering, performance management and corporate governance. Having worked across geographies and cultures, Meeta is adept in developing collaborative partnerships and delivering results on complex cross- functional projects. An ardent leader, she is also passionate about building & leading high-performance teams. Prior to joining Licious, Meeta was the Chief Financial Officer - India & Southeast Asia at Anheuser Busch-InBev India. Meeta has worked across other prestigious organisations like Telenor & HCL. Meeta is a qualified Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary and an alumnus of FORE School of Management.

Abhay Hanjura & Vivek Gupta, Co-Founders, Licious, said, Throughout our 6 years journey we have been supported by some of the best & brightest from the India Inc. Not only have they contributed immensely to the growth of the company, but also to our knowledge and understanding of the complex business ecosystem that we operate in. With Vidyanand and Meeta, we aim at taking that journey further ahead. The unprecedented growth that we have witnessed over the last 2 years is only an indication of how the future looks like at Licious. As we continue to propel ahead, we will rely on our able leadership team to aid progressive decision making, unlock newer frontiers for growth and work with all Licians to spread the love for meat! We are thrilled to welcome Vidyanand and Meeta on-board & wish them the very best

Vidyanand Krishnan, Chief Customer Officer, Licious, stated, Im excited to join the fantastic team at Licious at such a pivotal moment in this remarkable journey of delivering the best-in-class meat experience to Indian consumers. As a customer-first brand, Licious has always put the customers needs at the heart of every experience. I look forward to creating more and better ways to connect with the brands ever-growing, loyal customer base.

Speaking about her new stint, Meeta Aggarwal, Chief Financial Officer, Licious, stated, I am delighted to be part of the elite league of Licians! As someone who has been part of the growth story at matured organisations, it is fascinating to see the agility & momentum that Licious exhibits. Licious presents a unique opportunity to build for the future while working on resurrecting an age-old industry. I am excited to say the least & look forward to be part of the Licious journey.

Customer retention and loyalty continue to witness a direct impact on Licious business, consistently winning a repeat order rate of 90%. Last year, Licious got a billion-dollar valuation, making it the first D2C unicorn in the country.

Since its inception in 2015, Licious has adopted 100% traceable and sustainable sourcing practices, creating quality benchmarks for the industry. Built on the farm-to-fork business model, Licious controls the entire supply chain, powered by stringent cold chain control to maintain the quality and freshness of products from the time of procurement, processing and storage until the time it reaches the end consumer.

The Bengaluru-based brand is the first fresh animal protein brand from India to be certified with FSSC22000, one of the highest food safety certifications in the world. The brand is synonymous with a smooth, trust-worthy, and hassle-free meats and seafood experience.
Liqvd Asia has added another feather to its cap by winning the web and mainline creative media mandate of GO FIRST, Indias most trusted airline brand. Founded as GoAir, GO FIRST, which was recently rebranded from GoAir, is the aviation foray of the 285-year-old Wadia Group that comprises leading brands including 150-year-old Bombay Burmah, 140-year-old Bombay Dyeing, 102-year-old Britannia Ltd., 67-year-old National Peroxide Ltd, a nine-year-old Bombay Realty.

The business was won in a tightly contested multi-agency pitch, which saw leading agencies participate, with Liqvd Asia winning the race. Liqvd Asias aim is to enable GO FIRST to not only become relevant to its digital audience but also make it an airline of choice for regular fliers.

The agency will be responsible for managing the creative communications of the company and will focus on the young and business travellers. The aim of the partnership is to create communication that reaches out and connects with Indias value-conscious flyers who seek comfortable, on-time service at attractive airfares. It will have to balance between making the brand approachable while not losing the aspiration that India's young travellers seek. It is a task expected to challenge and stimulate creative thinking for the agency and brand, at various levels.

Speaking about the win, Mr. Arnab Mitra, Managing Director, Liqvd Asia, said, We are honored and extremely delighted to be partnering with GO FIRST. GO FIRST is one of the leading homegrown airline brands and is growing at a phenomenal pace. This is a major win for Liqvd Asia and it provides us with amazing opportunities to highlight the depth of our creative and strategic capabilities. There are lots of opportunities to communicate with target audiences via multiple touchpoints, and to really bring the brand into the digital space.

Mr. Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer, GO FIRST, on the appointment of Liqvd Asia as the brands creative agency, said, We are happy to on-board Liqvd Asia as our creative communications agency. Digital and ATL-led creative communication is a key focus area for GO FIRST. We are happy to partner with Liqvd Asia to help us drive engagement with our passengers and stakeholders across digital and other marketing media/platforms like print, OOH, radio and the like. During our detailed evaluation process, Liqvd Asia demonstrated key attributes including sharp insights and data-led approach which we believe will add value to GO FIRSTs creative communication roadmap. We are certain that the strength and experience the whole team at LiqvdAsia has at using consumer insights and category-defying creativity will help us in establishing right consumer connect. We look forward to partnering with Liqvd Asia in our efforts to provide a holistic and innovative communication experience to our passengers.
Sandeep Goyal wears many hats  media entrepreneur, businessman, author, and adman. Back at the helm at Rediffusion, Indias oldest surviving advertising agency and one of the largest independent ones, Goyal has several ambitious plans to restore the agency to its former glory  and even surpass it. As is known, Goyal bought Rediffusion and Everest in May 2021. Goyal, who was President of Rediffusion from 1997 to 2001, has taken charge as the Managing Director of the group.

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Sandeep Goyal, Managing Director, Rediffusion, speaks about his vision and plans for Rediffusion, growing the team with a mix of ad veterans and young blood, working in the domain of Metaverse, NFTs, Blockchain, AI, AR and Machine Learning, the future roadmap for Rediffusion and Everest, and more.

Single minded vision

I bought both Rediffusion and Everest in May 2021. Before that, I had kind of got into semi-retirement mode  I was just writing a lot of columns and books, doing a bit of teaching and consulting, and travelling the world. The very thought of running a large ad agency was farthest from my mind.

Then, somewhere at the end of 2020, my ex-boss and lifetime mentor Diwan Arun Nanda called me. He was keeping indifferent health, and was getting on in years. He asked me to come back and helm Rediffusion, an agency that I had been President of from 1997 to 2001. To be honest, I wasnt sure if I wanted to get back to the 24/7 grind of running a large agency. Mr Nanda and his partner, Ajit Balakrishnan, and I met a number of times over the next few weeks. Mr Nanda wanted me to lead Rediffusion back to its old days of glory. I finally agreed to take up the challenge.

My single-minded vision for Rediffusion: Create advertising that becomes famous, part of the language, the culture and the conversations of the people.

How do you revive the creative spark?

First and foremost, let us first get some basics clear. In the 1970s, print was the main medium. And clutter was fairly low. A sparkling campaign was easily visible, and recognised. Today, for the same to happen, you need a big spender client who pushes a great campaign on a medium like the IPL for its merits to be recognised. So, even if you produce great creatives today, and they dont get adequate media support, a campaign may just not be visible. Plus today, the lead medium is digital and not print any longer.

I have brought back Kamlesh Pandey to Rediffusion as Legend In Residence. And all-time greats like Adrian Mendonza now work with us on a regular basis. Led by Pramod Sharma, the team of Kaevan Umrigar, Nilesh Naik, Bappa, Niladri, Aritra, Manoj, Rajesh Makwana  are creating some fabulous new work. We have won 15 pitches in the past 10 months, mostly against the Top 5 agencies  a no mean achievement.

Plus, we are getting our act together in digital, with major strides in Metaverse, Conversational AI, NFTs, content and more. The creative spark will also come from there.

Leveraging the expertise of the ad veterans on board.

Kamlesh Pandey is a father figure. A mentor and a guide. The creative guys look up to him.

Adrian Mendonza is someone who can give writers 25 years his junior a run for their money. His copy is still one of the finest in this country.

Komal Bedi, one of the best art directors in the world (yes, world!) who has spent many years working abroad on large global brands, is now working with us on a large project.

Also, Ram Vasishta and Harish Arora are old friends I call upon for help and advice from time to time. Geeta Rao has advised me on a client I needed her kind of expertise on. Experience such as theirs is invaluable.

We are even using global resources: used an ex-dentsu Tokyo art director (Japanese) for a pitch recently. Hes an old colleague. And an art director based in Toronto.

Concurrently, we are hiring a lot of young talent. A good mix of the old and the young gives the agency a perfect balance.

Digital transformation

We just launched Rediffusion FutureTech  it is our new tech-focused outfit. Rediffusion FutureTech will work in the domain of Metaverse, NFTs, Blockchain, AI, AR, Machine Learning and extend its service repertoire to include conversational AI. We will soon be unveiling a suite of new initiatives in making content for brands cheaper and more visually powerful, through the use of world class technologies. It is time for the consumer, content and communication to converge. Rediffusion FutureTech will help clients understand, simplify and apply technology to brands.

Road map for the next 3 years

We have to regain size and stature. This financial year, we will grow at Rediffusion by about 60% in revenue. This has not been easy with Covid clouds constantly hanging over the economy. In the next three years, we will find our way back into being a Top 5 agency. May actually get there sooner.

We will be one of Indias top digital powerhouses  no ad agency will even come remotely close.

Media business is what I am actively looking at re-entering. Before the end of the current fiscal, we should have 3-4 clients in the bag. In 3 years, we will be Top 5 in media too. I have never been afraid of big ticket deals  so the strides we will take will be exponential.

Rediffusions strategic product is today without doubt the finest in the industry. Red Lab, our Consumer Insights team, produces reports that are better than the best  most of the time better than well-known strategy consultants. Our site, www.icymi.com, is unique in content and coverage of new technologies. We will soon be unveiling our strategy suite, which we have been working on for over 6 months under the leadership of Navonil Chatterjee.

Everest is starting to gather momentum  we have many new clients in finance, education, gaming and lots of start-ups talking to us. Everest 2.0 will be a cutting edge agency focused on digital.

All in all, Rediffusion is buzzing again. Winning again. I am so happy to be back!
Alton, IL (62002)

Today

Showers and thundershowers early, mainly cloudy overnight with occasional rain likely, possibly heavy at times. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers early, mainly cloudy overnight with occasional rain likely, possibly heavy at times. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
For soybean growers, a good growing season starts with the seed, and choosing the right varieties with the right traits are key for farmers as they face their own individual agronomic challenges.

Doug Little, soybean seed marketing manager for BASF, says that when it comes to selecting the right variety for your growing area, farmers need to understand the defensive characteristics of the variety.

In the northern markets, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) can be a concern, so look for soybean varieties that are more tolerant to IDC, he explained. Next, look for high-yielding varieties. Utilize local agronomic data from your ag retail seed dealer, your local Extension agent, or your local BASF seed representative. Determine your weed control needs and select a soybean seed trait package that can provide the best solution.

As far as selecting the right traits, Little suggests farmers look at Xitavo soybean seed, which BASF is an exclusive distributor of.

Xitavo is a brand from MS Technologies and includes the Enlist E3 trait, he said. This trait package gives you the flexibility to use multiple modes of action to tackle your toughest weeds and fight weed resistance. Products like Liberty, glyphosate, and 2,4-D-choline can be used over the top of the Xitavo soybean seed.

Drought was a major challenge in 2021 for many farmers around the region, but Little says the best thing farmers can do it 2022 is to try and achieve the highest yield they can get from every acre.

It comes down to selecting the right variety, utilizing a fungicide seed treatment, targeting weeds and selecting the best trait options to maximize your herbicide choices, he said. Plant your soybean seed early and plan for a pre-emerge herbicide. Start early and stay clean!

Because of last years drought, Little says farmers may be concerned about possible herbicide carryover into this years soybean acres. If thats the case, he has a suggestion.

One may want to look at BASF Credenz LLGT27 varieties, he said. These varieties do carry a tolerance to HPPD herbicides that may minimize those carryover concerns. Our agronomic services team does an excellent job testing our soybean varieties in local agronomic environments to understand the key factors that influence high yield management in soybean in local geography. Contact your local representative for guidance on specific tactics for your needs.

The Credenz seed brand carries the Liberty Link, glyphosate, and Alite 27 herbicide tolerance trait. Not all states are labeled for Alite 27 herbicide use, so always read and follow label directions.

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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.

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For years trade was a matter of long, complicated discussions to iron out often-complex technical issues. Then, under the Trump administration, the approach shifted to in-your-face trade wars and agreements that were less technical and long-term and more dollar-oriented and short term.

Now analysts are trying to get a feel for which approach the Biden administration is taking or whether it will choose a third path.

Its a never-ending cycle, says Randy Miller, a farmer from southern Iowa who has gone on trade missions with the Iowa Soybean Association and now serves as president-elect of that organization. Trade is always on the agenda.

The big issue, as always, is China, says Dave Salmonsen, senior director for congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C.

Phase I of the trade agreement with China has drawn to a close and there is no Phase II in place. China, for the most part, lived up to its Phase I obligations, buying over $30 billion of U.S. agricultural commodities. And that deal did include some technical issues that are permanent.

But, unlike previous agreements that were largely based on the technical issues such as phytosanitary standards, this one was primarily an agreement to buy a certain amount of goods. That worked, but because of that it was in many ways a short-term deal.

Most trade agreements are 1,500 pages of intricate detail, explains Chad Hart, an Extension ag economist at Iowa State University. This agreement was less than 100 pages.

Theres nothing binding here, thats the weakness of the deal, Hart says. It was unique in its structure and brevity.  Think of Phase I like a balloon that was inflated over the past two years, but nobody tied a knot in the balloon.  This deal was aspirational.

That doesnt make it wrong, Hart says. But it means there are few guarantees that China will continue to buy large quantities of U.S. agricultural products. Now, he says, the Biden administration needs to decide on an approach for the future.

One clue may come soon. The administration has said it will release a formal Indo-Pacific framework soon. That could be an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership that was negotiated during the Obama administration with a number of Pacific Rim nations but was never approved by Congress and that President Trump abandoned upon entering office.

Salmonsen says that announcement should provide some clues to what approach the Biden administration will take on trade. He says the TPP would still be a preferable approach, but analysts will be watching to see what is included in the Indo-Pacific proposal.

It is likely the Biden administration will want to include environmental or labor issues in its trade policy, Salmonsen adds. It has been stressing climate issues in its first year.

No matter what approach the Biden administration takes in the next three years, China will buy U.S. agricultural products, Salmonsen says. China imports about $165 billion in agricultural commodities a year, and the United States had over $30 billion of that. The question is whether that will remain the case or whether China will jump in and out of the U.S. market on the basis of price or some other issue.

Meanwhile, the United States will continue to try to negotiate deals with other nations.

Back on the farm, Miller says he is glad the era of trade wars with seemingly everyone is over, but he would like to see the Biden administration get more officials in place and put more of an emphasis on trade. He says while there is a chief trade negotiator, the administration has not yet appointed a chief ag negotiator or someone at USDA to lead that effort.

Salmonsen says the administration also has not yet pushed to renew trade promotion authority for the president.

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Each year high school students and their parents, along with prospective graduate and professional school students, consult university ranking lists. Most well-known is the U.S. News & World Report Ranking List. These rankings have an indisputable impact on universities and a powerful influence on prospective students.

U.S. News & World Report, the first college ranking list, made a big splash upon its launch in 1983. The influence of the list is profound. It not only attracts more applicants and increases alumni donor support to a university, but it also offers university stakeholders -- board members, faculty, staff, alumni, students, and their parents -- bragging rights and a system for top universities to maintain their recruiting dominance. In short, the higher the ratings the more attractive the university.

The U.S. News & World Report rating methodology is based on the following percentage weights assigned to each ranking factor:

Peer Assessment Survey (20%) Average Six-Year Graduation Rate (17.6%) Financial Resources Per Student (10%) Graduation Rate Performance (8%) Class Size Index (8%) Faculty Compensation (7%) Math And Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Portions of the SAT and the Composite Act Scores (5%) Average First-Year Student Retention Rate (4.4%) Percent Faculty with Terminal Degree in their Field (3%) Average Alumni Giving Rate (3%) Graduate Indebtedness Total (3%) Pell Grant Graduation Rates (2.5%) Pell Grant Graduation Rate Performance (2.5%) High School Class Standing in Top 10% (2%) Graduate Indebtedness Proportion with Debt (2%) Percent Faculty that is Full Time (1%) Student-Faculty Ratio (1%)

Dr. Jed Macosko, Professor of Physics at Wake Forest University and President at Academic Influence, perceives a weakness in the methodology:

At the top of the list is an assessment survey that goes out to university presidents, provosts, and deans of admissions around the country. This most certainly represents one way to rank quality. But its really a way to rank the kind of popularity that we humans are prone to value -- prestige. While a future employer may care about prestige, it should not be the top metric for ranking a college or university. The peer assessment survey has an echo effect, meaning that the surveys reflect the rankings from the previous year. In other words, when a president, provost, or dean is asked to list the good schools, they are no doubt influenced by the list itself. Indeed, the most heavily weighted component reinforces the U.S News own rankings.

Based on the view that the U.S. News & World Report rating system may not be the most accurate reflection of the school, Macosko, along with his colleagues at Academic Influence, offer an alternative method to ranking colleges and universities. They use big data to assess a schools influence. Macosko explains:

We use three databases. Two of the databases allow us to rank schools in two important ways: by their influence and by their Concentrated Influence. The third database tells us where students chose to go to college when they had a choice between two or more schools and gives us each schools desirability in the eyes of a typical student. So, between influence, Concentrated Influence, and desirability, we have three powerful ways to rank universities. Influence and desirability are two general ways to think about the quality of schools. Influence tells students and their parents whether people who work at the school or graduate from the school have a big impact on the world. Desirability reveals the popularity of each school and is a metric that other people have used to rank universities, though sometimes under a different name. Concentrated Influence, on the other hand, is a new way to think about university quality. It starts with calculating influence for each university, then dividing by the undergraduate population. The rationale is that, suppose you are interested in studying math and you have been accepted to two universities that both have five very influential math professors and five equally influential math alumni. One school has 1,000 undergrads while the other has 10,000. Which one should you attend if you want to have the best chance of interacting with the five amazing professors or be helped in your career by those five amazing alumni? Most likely, you would choose the smaller school so that you have a better chance of getting some time with those influencers. That is why we treat Concentrated Influence differently than the other two metrics and use it when we talk about the best colleges. We start by determining the influence of the alumni, professors, and administrators, then total them to equate the influence of the school. Influence is calculated by combining the number of times individuals are mentioned on Wikipedia with the number of times their writing is referenced at Crossref and Semantic Scholar. (Crossref and Semantic Scholar are two open-source databases that contain hundreds of millions of papers, articles, books, editorial, etc.)

In short, Macosko aspires to offer a more objective way to rank colleges and universities -- an approach centered on the universitys influence rather than its prestige. Could this be a way to improve college rankings -- providing prospective students with a tool that gives a more meaningful assessment of a universitys rank relative to other universities?

Yet, a prospective student may have other important questions about the educational quality of a university. For example, how effective are the faculty as teachers as opposed to their ability to advance their fields through research and publishing? To what degree does the university stimulate open inquiry rather than ideological indoctrination (which is the opposite of education)? The answers to these questions are not easily derived from either peer assessments or big data analysis.

No doubt, its a challenging undertaking to effectively create a system and gather data to meaningfully rank institutions of higher learning. Academic Influences approach appears to provide a significant improvement over U.S. Newss ubiquitous ranking system -- one that could over time disrupt the university marketplace. The beneficiaries could be high-performing institutions that have been overshadowed by universities deemed more prestigious. Of course, the ultimate beneficiaries of this new university-ranking list competition are the students searching for the best university to attend -- as well as their parents who typically foot the bill.

Dr. Keri D. Ingraham is a Fellow at Discovery Institute and Director of the Institutes American Center for Transforming Education.
The 2022 Winter Olympics have just begun in Beijing.

It's China's second opportunity to export its ideology since the 2008 Summer Olympics. It's happening despite Chinas harsh repression of its ethnic minorities, including the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, which has been condemned by many countries as genocide. Nevertheless, all but 14 countries (plus North Korea) appear to be responsive to the IOC's "Sports without political interference" initiative in sending delegations and athletes to Beijing. Little do they know, the Chinese government uses its hosting of the Olympics as a propaganda tool precisely to silence this criticism of its human rights record.

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is like the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Each event is being used to showcase the host country's glamour and fearful power. Although the connection between applauding Nazi Germanys Olympic glory by the whole world and the subsequent Nazi aggression that followed remains subject to debate, it seems there's little doubt that attending the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will ultimately harm the attendees, and probably endanger the world.

For the attendees, one known risk is the fact that China is a police state. It will violate personal privacy and freedom of speech even on foreign outsiders. Citizen Lab, the University of Torontos research and strategic policy unit, has just issued a warning that an application program, which is authorized by the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee and must be used by all Winter Olympics participants, contains many security traps. Personal data such as passport numbers can be accessed by third parties; contents of communications can be monitored and censored, and those are just some features. China passed an expanded national security law a year ago, and anyone deemed to have violated the law, regardless of nationality or place of residence, could be punished under the law. The danger of this law is that its vague definition of illegality makes it possible for almost anyone to be punished for certain actions, regardless of nationality or physical location.

Another known risk is the restrictions on freedom of movement under China's current COVID-19 control measures, known as the Zero Covid Policy. People living outside of China would think China has impressively controlled the pandemic if one looks at only the daily pandemic case figures released by China. But this is most likely an illusion. On the one hand, China's testing methodology has been fatally flawed with extremely low precision and accuracy, and internal personnel of testing institutions has disclosed that samples collected are often discarded without being analyzed. Another form of dishonesty that makes these data suspect comes as localities routinely set an arbitrary upper limit for positive cases.

Conversely, China's "Zero Covid Policy" means that once "sporadic" positive cases of infection are identified, the entire community, even those with little connection to the infected will be placed under a savage mandatory quarantine, which has not been seen elsewhere in the world. Recently, diplomats from the U.S. have requested to leave their posts in China over concerns that such strict measures could jeopardize the freedom and safety of themselves and their families.

In addition to these risks already well recognized, participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics also carries various unpredictable but highly probable dangers to outsiders.

One is that foreign participants might be subjecting themselves to Chinas retaliation act. China has reportedly been using COVID tests as tools for political purposes. One of China's largest nationwide COVID testing institutions, KingMed Diagnostics, for instance, has been accused of having operations suspected of speeding up the spread of the COVID-19 virus in its testing process, as income from COVID testing has been KingMed's main revenue since the pandemic outbreak. Other individuals and institutions have been accused of making individuals "test positive" as a coercive tool to benefit their own interests. Furthermore, relations between China and numerous countries are deteriorating rapidly, and the Chinese government has long been known for its practice of using foreign citizens as hostages when addressing international issues (the most recent example being China taking three Canadian hostages in retaliation for Canada, which was involved in the extradition proceedings of the notorious executive of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou). China's retaliation against attendees from countries deemed as hostile by China on the grounds of "COVID infection" is a high probability. As of Jan. 29, among the 246 Canadians who arrived at Chinas doorstep for the Winter Olympics, five were handed a positive COVID test. This positive rate is twice as high as the overall positive rate of all foreign attendees who have arrived in China, and hundreds of times higher than that for the ordinary Chinese population.

Is Canada again being punished?

The second unpredictable, but highly probable, risk is closely related to the first one. That is, any participating country could become the scapegoat for the resurgence of the COVID infection in China after the Olympics are over.

Since the first day of the outbreak, China has been pointing finger at a series of "culprits" for the pandemic around the world. These guilty ones include countries such as Italy and the U.S., creatures such as bats and seafood, and objects such as cold chain supply containers and overseas parcels. At present, while the latest variant of the coronavirus, omicron, is spreading rapidly around the world, China's astonishingly low infection numbers are most likely the result of artificially lowered numbers. The attendees from abroad will just give the Chinese government a perfect opportunity to revise its highly suspicious pandemic numbers. Once the Winter Olympics is over, China might release a new set of cases showing a striking surge in COVID infections, and blame those countries that happen to be on a pre-drawn list of retaliation for the surge. And, it is not surreal to imagine China even making legal claims for pandemic damage to those targeted countries on this ground.

There is a yet more dire scenario as these Olympics progress: A second round of the pandemic. Two years ago, when the COVID-19 was largely a mere local outbreak in China and completely unknown to the rest of the world, China released thousands of Chinese citizens abroad while tightly locking down the internal flow of people around the country, leading to the onset of the current global pandemic. China, if it wishes, could use the Winter Olympics to initiate the second round of the "world pandemic," the foreign Olympics attendees being used as voluntary carriers this time around. This is very speculative, and perhaps far-fetched, but China has shown that it is capable of anything.

So far the exact number of foreign attendees to the Beijing Winter Olympics is still unavailable. Based on the number of participants in the 2018 Winter Games and the 2022 Summer Olympics, the number of foreign participants in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics could be around 30,000. Days after the conclusion of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, while the world is so optimistic with the vision that the milder mutated virus omicron will bring an end to the current pandemic, these 30,000 individuals will land in their respective home countries, with a great danger of carrying, God forbid, outbreak elements they theoretically could have been contaminated with. What awaits the world if this scenario does materialize?

As the Beijing Winter Olympics is unveiled, the world continues facing a choice similar to that in 1936: participate or boycott. The success of the 1936 Berlin Olympics convinced the Nazi regime that no one in the world could resist the rich and powerful charm it displayed, and no one would dare to confront its upcoming (but yet to be known to the rest of the world) plans for the world, including the Holocaust of the Jews. China today is one step further along than Nazi Germany in 1936 in that it has already shown the world its complete disregard of its One-China-Two-System promise regarding Hong Kongs autonomy status which is a binding accord registered at the United Nations, as well as its ambitious claims to the South China Sea, its continued military threat to Taiwan, and its relentless repression of its Uyghur minority peoples. The world does not need to wait to see the threat materialize as with Nazi Germany, the threats are already here, in front of the world.

What the world should do, then? At the government level, extra precaution must be taken when greeting attendees back home from the Beijing Olympics, with an extended quarantine period if deemed necessary, for example. As ordinary people, several simple actions can be taken to make your voice be heard: join the Boycott-Beijing-Olympics rallies, and refuse to buy Made-in-China products with likely links to forced labor practices.

It is honorable to adhere to the Olympics core spirit of "sports without political interference." However, when this noble belief is used by evil forces as a shield to evade justice and punishment, nothing else is more justifiable than protecting the world from imminent evil, which can only be deterred with resolve and actions.

Image: Logo, via Wikipedia // fair use
Countries, like people, are born in pain. They mature, grow old, and then inevitably die. They can fall into decay, can get sick, may recover and become stronger again. The maturing process usually takes centuries, and decline and disease can last for decades, while death sometimes takes only a few days.

Today, the great and prosperous America is seriously ill. It has been ill for more than fifty years with a mental disease called "liberalism."

Like a cancer, liberalism corrodes the formerly free and creative soul of the American people. For more than two hundred years, the U.S. population had markedly distinguished itself from all others by its perseverance, hard work, uncompromising commitment to freedom, desire for personal success, and primacy of the individual over the state.

In the past, people of the United States had been known for their ingenuity, perseverance, competitiveness, and ability to overcome adversity. However, in modern times, these winning qualities not only have disappeared, but even are considered something indecent and shameful. Succeeding, getting a strong education, forging ahead in careers  these are no longer virtues, but shameful shortcomings.

Liberal philosophy doesn't value equality before the law, which would be moral and right, but instead requires the recognition of equality of people in their abilities  something contrary to the laws of nature. Such equalizing attempts were made one hundred years ago in the USSR and seventy years later led to a degradation and disintegration of the country. Sameness inevitably leads to stagnation, decay, and dying. Only in comparison is it possible to select the best; progress is nourished only by struggle and competition. Today, these obvious truths are rejected by the liberalism-infected U.S. population.

We shall search for the origins of the liberal disease at the beginning of life  in a childhood, when the psyche is formed and the moral qualities of a person are laid.

In bygone years, children absorbed the realities of life through literature and cinema, and, in recent decades, mainly through television. In 1940, the first episode of the cartoon Tom and Jerry was released, where, in the likeness of David and Goliath, the strong and aggressive cat Tom hunts for the small and weak mouse Jerry, who always wins with his ingenuity.

Several generations of American children grew up on episodes of this cartoon. Naturally, they developed sympathy and compassion for the weak mouse and contempt for the strong but inept cat. What character does a young viewer identify itself with? Of course, with this charming and resourceful mouse! This emotional reaction is absorbed into the consciousness and subconsciousness of an individual, and it inevitably it becomes a long-lasting conditioned reflex. Gradually, a stereotype arose when growing children became adults: one sympathizes with the small and weak and despises the big and strong.

Young people instinctively take the side of a weak. The same criterion worked for young people in real life, outside literature and cinema. It manifested itself in their attitude toward racial problems, feminism, the movement for the rights of sexual minorities, the homeless, and many other things. It goes as far as international relations.

It's normal and quite humane to adore Jerry and his real-life counterparts. It's morally good to treat well those who are weaker, who deserve love, sympathy, and support. But alas, not everyone deserves such sympathy! Love is often blind. Many young people are just not able to control their feelings in an "adult way," without romantic perception, to look at the object of their admiration in its true colors, and only then decide who deserves love and who does not.

In thinking adults, the reflexes acquired in childhood are adjusted and modified, filtered by a mature consciousness, verified by accumulated life experience and the absorbed "adult" culture. Yet, in the minds of many young Americans in the 1970s and 1980s, there was no reliable filter for popular culture. Their intellect did not receive the information that was available to the middle class of the previous generations. They lacked the necessary intellectual ballast of fundamental knowledge in such areas as history, economics, geography, and international politics. They had little knowledge of classical literature, art, and music.

Allan Bloom in The Closing of the American Mind and Susan Jacoby in The Age of American Unreason described the first of the "cancel culture" idea created by the American left: the abolition of the classical canon in liberal arts education, the rejection of the centuries-old heritage of culture created by the "Dead White Men." In liberal minds, the whites are the majority; thus, they are a priori wrong and guilty.

In the words of the great Orwell, "some animals are more equal than others." According to the concepts of leftist liberalism, the weak and small have more rights than the strong and skillful. Thus, the "general equality" that they proclaim turns into its opposite  a selective inequality. "Reverse" racism  really, just racism against a new group  flourishes, and discrimination is adopted against anyone who is above their low-set bar in art, science, technology, and all other areas of human endeavor.

Sometimes this comes to complete idiocy. Liberals developed an exaggerated tendency to romanticize reality, to sympathize with the disadvantaged. The infantilism of this kind of emotion usually leads to absurd decisions and demands, like to remake the Disney movie where the prince kisses the bewitched Snow White. "He kisses a sleeping girl without her consent!" the infantile idiots shout. "It's no good! Come up with a new ending!"

With the infantile liberals, weak Jerry is always right, and strong Tom is always wrong. Talk to the current students about the Middle East, about Israel  and you will immediately remember the predatory Tom chasing poor Jerry: the Jews have a state, a strong economy, a powerful army, while the Palestinians are a minority that has nothing. They are the suffering side and need our unconditional support. Yes, the weak "Jerry" has to resort to terror and kill civilians  how else to deal with the strong "Tom"?

Several years back, a filmmaker and freelance journalist named Ami Horowitz stopped students on the campus of the Portland State University (Oregon) and asked them to donate money to Hamas terrorist operations against civilian targets in Israel: cafes, schools, hospitals, and synagogues. In just one hour, he managed to raise hundreds of dollars. The humane defenders of racial minorities, true allies of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, do not hesitate to donate their own money to terrorists who are thirsty for the blood of peaceful Israeli citizens. How can one not recall the Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev, who warned about the danger of "a mixture of false sensitivity and affected compassion with cruelty and malicious vindictiveness? Sentimentality often leads to cruelty"? "This is the law of spiritual life," he said. Or remember Friedrich Nietzsche, who spoke about the same paradox in other words: "Ah, where in the world did great stupid things happen if not among the compassionate? And what in the world caused great suffering, if not the stupidity of the compassionate?"

Our leftist humanists treat America in much the same way as they treat Israel. For the same reason: resourceful, powerful, rich...and thus guilty of all the world's troubles. Anti-Americanism has become part of the ideology of the "awakened" half of the country. It is taught in the schools through two programs: the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory.

American hatred of America is a relatively new phenomenon. Such sharp and self-destructing rejection by its citizens of American history, traditions, and values has never been seen before.

Will the healthy half of America be able to cure the other half?

Jacob Fraden's website is www.fraden.com.

Image: Steve Baker via Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0.
All too frequently, when there is a police shooting involving a Black person, the mainstream media publish articles about how a police officer is more likely to kill a Black person than a White person. The Mapping Police Violence Project proclaims, "Black people have been 27% of those killed by police in 2021 despite being only 13% of the population."

It's a scary statement until you realize that the project and other similar articles are so hyper-focused on making the police look bad that they are actually showing that Black lives don't matter to them. Sure, the media proclaim they want to save Black lives by doing away with police violence while ignoring a much more significant source of Black murders: Black criminals.

The 2019 Uniformed Crime Report, the most recent one published online at the FBI website, shows that out of the 2,906 Blacks killed in the U.S. in 2019, 2,574 were killed by another Black person. That is more than 88 percent. Meanwhile, during that same year, police killed 235 Black people.

If the goal is "Black Lives Matter," why focus on the 235 rather than the other 2,671 killed? It's because the media have been irresponsible about blaming police in every shooting incident they can, inciting racial tensions. After all, it helps them make money. But it can also cost lives.

The recent Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial is an example of the media's irresponsible reporting. How many media outlets reported that the three men Rittenhouse had shot were black? (In fact, all three were white.) As a result, a case of White-on-White crime was turned into a racial matter, among other things.

This is not a one-off event. It has been happening for years. Remember the Trayvon Martin killing in 2013? His killer, George Zimmerman, was first identified as White, and the case exploded as a racial one. Then, it turned out that Zimmerman was Latino. Because this didn't create as considerable a controversy, we had media suddenly identifying Zimmerman as a "white Hispanic"  probably the first time that term was used.

If we want to get rid of the few potential bad apples in our police departments, we need to take an honest look at what is happening or risk ruining good officers' lives and losing the protection we need. It hasn't been done because it isn't profitable for the media. The media need to be held accountable for their misleading reporting, and it looks as if Rittenhouse may do that with defamation lawsuits.

It would be better if the police didn't have to kill anyone. While the raw numbers are generally correct with reports from the FBI and even the Mapping Police Violence Project, they are presented in the worst light for police. The Mapping Police Violence Project shows an implied bias, particularly with one chart that looks at the percentage of these shootings that did not result in charges being filed and the heading of "There is no accountability." The fact that charges weren't filed doesn't mean there wasn't accountability. It simply means that the incident most likely didn't rise to the level of charges needing to be filed  for instance, the perpetrator was shooting at the officer responding.

The study also exaggerates some of what its information shows. For instance, it says black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people. Yet the figures show that the precise multiple is 2.64.

Despite these problems, it appears that Black men are killed more often by police than White men relative to the population, although police kill more White men than Black men. It's a matter of looking at percentages versus actual numbers. For instance, police killed 1,021 Black men between 2017 and 2021. During that same period, police killed 1,881 White men. Alarming numbers, but even the Mapping Police Violence Project notes a downward trend with shooting deaths in both races.

Part of preserving lives means we need to look honestly at why they are lost in the first place. Then the necessary help to save more Black lives is to address Black-on-Black crime. If the police had killed no Blacks in 2019, it would have made less than a 10-percent difference in total Black murders. That is a lot of Black lives that didn't matter to the media.

Michael Letts is the CEO and founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.

Image: ArtisticOperations via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
As if the U.S. were not in bad enough shape militarily, China has a little surprise for us.

Here's the buried news item from Politico's national security newsletter, dated Jan. 11:

A "SURPRISE" IN THE PACIFIC: U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator KURT CAMPBELL says the region could be in store for a "strategic surprise"  comments that Reuters' DAVID BRUNNSTROM and KIRSTY NEEDHAM describe as "apparently referring to possible Chinese ambitions to establish Pacific-island bases." "If you look and if you ask me, where are the places where we are most likely to see certain kinds of strategic surprise  basing or certain kinds of agreements or arrangements  it may well be in the Pacific," Campbell said Monday at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event. "We have a very short amount of time, working with partners like Australia, like New Zealand, like Japan, like France, who have an interest in the Pacific, to step up our game across the board," Campbell added, revealing it was the issue he is "most concerned about" for the next couple years. As Brunnstrom and Needham note, "lawmakers from the Pacific island republic of Kiribati told Reuters last year China has drawn up plans to upgrade an airstrip and bridge" on the small island of Kanton, southwest of Hawaii. The construction "would offer China a foothold deep in territory that had been firmly aligned to the United States and its allies since World War Two."

That news is a month old, and I happened upon it by accident while researching Ukraine, yet how many people saw it? Did Joe Biden see it? Did anyone in the Biden administration who has Joe's feeble ear see it? Was there a news conference about this alarming development? It was buried down at the bottom in the Politico report, and I sure didn't see it until now. The report keys off a Reuters report, which came and went, too.

Sure, it's just an analyst at a conference. Sure, it's just a guy speculating...

But look at the content: China is building an airstrip about as close to Hawaii as it's possible to get, well closer than Hawaii is to the mainland  check the Google Maps screenshot below  and does anyone not think that China's sudden interest in constructing things in that middle-of-nowhere part of the Pacific is about anything else but menacing Hawaii? The strip is roughly 2,000 miles from Honolulu, while San Diego is 2,600 miles from Honolulu and 3,300 miles from Kiribati. Based on advanced fighter jet technology, 2,000-mile distances are doable, and the shorter distance provides some useful possibilities for China  not just in launching an attack, but in constructing more lily-pad atolls.



Image: Screen shot detail from Google Maps.

China is building an airstrip on an inhabited island or atoll (reports give different descriptions) in the island archipelago nation of Kiribati, which in 2019 moved its relations from Taiwan to China, and now China is going all in on developing an airstrip for "peaceful purposes," as it claims.

Kiribati is a longtime friendly U.S. ally with close relations dating back to World War II. All of a sudden, we seem to have lost that relationship, with the Biden administration mismanaging it. Now Kiribati has gone off and allowed China to build its airstrip, and analysts such as Campbell, cited above, consider this a likely platform for a "strategic surprise."

Campbell warned that it was the issue he is "most concerned about in the next year or two," but then, from the Reuters report, he went on to spout nonsense about putting Kiribati on a "green energy" program as a supposed solution. That's part of the problem. None of these things has anything to do with strategic superiority; pricey green energy is all part of the wokester madness that has gripped the military-industrial-consultant complex, with everything from pronouns to "green bullets" taking precedence over actual military superiority.

That's what we are stuck with as Joe Biden gets us bogged down in wokester military tripe with failed Gen. Mark Milley there to scare our enemies. He's also focused and bogged down in Ukraine, even sending Kamala Harris to get underfoot at a big conference in Europe, as the Europeans try to handle the matter.

While all that has his limited attention span in thrall, the Chicoms have gotten busy, and analysts like Campbell say they've got a surprise for us.

I have no idea how they are going to solve this, given that so much has been ignored and mismanaged in the run-up. But what we have now is the U.S. being boxed in and losing even its strategic advantage through its Hawaiian vantage point. That suggests that the surprise could be ugly, and this won't end well for us so long as we have a walking corpse unaware of anything going on beyond his porridge now padding the halls of the Oval Office.
As we approach day 673 of "14 days to slow the spread," it seems the left is finally coming around to the position that most conservatives have held for the past two years.

Following a few weeks of tentative support for less draconian mask mandates from mainstream media outlets and a massive Freedom Convoy of truck drivers in Canada who have simply had enough, blue states like New York, California, Virginia, and Massachusetts are beginning to ditch the mask mandates.

While they should be encouraged to continue ending the mask mandates (especially in schools) along with coerced vaccinations, it would be wise to note that the inspiration is not based on some new scientific discovery that the masks don't work.

They have no intention of giving up this position permanently. CNN's Wolf Blitzer spoke with the outlet's medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen, where she called for the end of mask mandates in order to "preserve the ability of public health authorities to reinstitute mandates in the future" the next time a new variant is discovered.

Health officials have irreparably damaged their reputations and positions of public trust. Just because they backpedal now does not mean that anyone should start trusting them again. They did not suddenly become political pawns during the coronavirus situation. The mask of "apolitical scientist" was just removed, revealing what they always were: unaccountable leftist partisans.

Their policies already have had an irreversible negative impact on children in schools, setting many kids back and even causing speech developmental problems in young kids. Data have always shown that children are the least at risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Actions by our governments and school administrators have always been politically motivated, and they cannot be let off the hook for that.

Homeschooling has jumped from 5.4 percent to 11.1 percent, and this is a very good start. Just as we should no longer put our full faith and trust in "the experts" in government departments of health, we should also remain skeptical of public schools and their motives. The pandemic gave parents a unique opportunity to see what schools are teaching their kids, and what they found was segregationist-style racial politics and extreme liberal sex and gender theory.

To prevent this from happening again, there are a few steps the average person can take.

First is to hold your representatives accountable. Boot out those who supported the draconian mandates. Put pressure on even those who have already relented to continue rolling back their overreach.

Second is to ask candidates running for office in 2022 and beyond tough questions about where they stand on issues like masking and coerced vaccination, and what they plan on doing about it.

In terms of our unelected officials, Dr. Fauci has been particularly egregious with his misleading of the public and murky background as the leader of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with some evidence pointing to him having a direct role in the funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Daily Wire commentator Michael Knowles recently presented a method to hold Fauci accountable: the "Michael Knowles Federal Public Health Protection Pledge"  a pledge that candidates can sign that solidifies their commitment to vote to subpoena Fauci for his role in the pandemic and vote for legislation that would reduce his salary to zero.

Any candidate who balks at the idea of holding Fauci and others accountable for the damage to this country is an unserious candidate who should be ignored in favor of another who will, whether by a pledge like described above, or other tangible results-oriented means. Words alone are not enough.

I repeat: do not forget that these people have been revealed as tyrants for the past two years. They leveraged their positions of trust to gain power and by all indications appear willing and eager to do it all again when it suits them next. The media will once again help them do it. Only "We the People" can stop it.

Linnea Lueken (llueken@heartland.org) is a research fellow at The Heartland Institute.

Image: Pixabay.
Moving into 2022, there are six words that need to be added to the dictionary to serve as a permanent reminder and warning to future generations as to the tyranny inflicted upon the citizenry in the name of quashing COVID-19.

When people think of the response to COVID-19, they think of Anthony Fauci  "Fauci" means "sickle" in Italian and makes for a good word at the root of this man-made disaster, which leads to the first word:

Faucicated: having been educated well beyond one's actual abilities while remaining oblivious to that fact.

"unfortunately, a faucicated bureaucrat has been leading the U.S. response to a pandemic"

"to avoid becoming faucicated, perhaps young Tony should choose to attend trade school over medical school"

synonyms: midwit

Fauciganda: information of a biased or wildly misleading nature, used to promote public fear and unquestioning compliance with authority during any declared health emergency.

"in order to maintain control over the public, the mainstream media, health bureaucrats, and politicians cranked up the fauciganda to level thirteen and have maintained that level for nearly two years"

"if a Karen is reciting fauciganda while walking in a forest and no one is around to see her, is she still wagging her finger and wearing a mask?"

synonyms: "COVID news" from any of the following: CNN, NPR, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, NYT, etc.

Fauciot: a "correct-thinking" stupid person who thinks he is smart and is confident that everyone else believes he is as smart as he knows he is.

"Eric Swalwell was forced to relinquish his title of fauciot poster-boy to Sonia Sotomayor when she claimed that over 100 thousand children were hospitalized with COVID-19"

"it's better for Brian Stelter to be thought a fauciot by people than to show up to work each day and prove them right"

synonyms: Fredo, Sean Penn, John F. Kerry

Faucicrisy: claiming to have moral standards or beliefs based upon "settled science" to which one's own behavior does not conform.

"AOC claims she did not engage in faucicrisy for going maskless in Florida during the 'winter of death,' and that those who say she did are only interested in dating her"

"anti-gun zealot Alec Baldwin, a known fauciot, killed a woman and seriously injured a man with a 'prop gun' on a movie set, but if he wasn't wearing a mask when he pulled the trigger, that would be blatant faucicrisy"

synonyms: Al Gore

Faucichosis: a temporary (hopefully) mental disorder in which rational thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with scientific reality.

"despite growing evidence of vaccine injury in others, Dr. Dapper says 14-year-old Johnny's heart attack was caused by 'post pandemic stress disorder' and refuses to even consider the mRNA injection as a cause, showing that Dr. Dapper may be suffering from faucichosis"

synonyms: Greta Thunberg (the religion, not the person)

Fauciopath: a person in the medical profession with a personality disorder who possesses an enduring pattern of behavior characterized by disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others, for personal gain.

"it's clear that the former team doctor for the U.S. women's gymnastics team, Larry Nassar, is a fauciopath for using his position of power to justify the rape of girls and young women as 'treatments'  in the name of science"

"you might be a fauciopath if you'd allow yourself to be graced upon the cover of In Style magazine during a pandemic you were failing to manage, while flip-flopping on the 'science,' and actively suppressing potentially effective early treatments for a virus that you had a hand in funding the creation of"

synonyms: Josef Mengele

Sadly, the crafting of these words should be totally unnecessary, as this pandemic should have been handled like every other.

Scott Free is a pseudonym that is being used for obvious reasons.

Image: Alex Brown.
A few days ago, the Kuwaiti government announced that it will ban all screenings of Death on the Nile, a cinematic adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous murder mystery.

The reason for the ban is that the film's star is Gal Gadot, the famous Israeli actress and former Miss Israel.

Kuwait's Al-Qabas newspaper claims that the ban was imposed following outrage from social media users in Kuwait, owing to Gadot's support of the Israeli army and her criticism of Hamas during the 2014 war in Gaza.

Yes, you read that correctly: the film is banned because its star is a patriot and is critical of an internationally recognized terrorist organization that has carried out thousands of deadly terror attacks in Isreal, including the indiscriminate firing of rockets that massacred, maimed, and orphaned innocent human beings since the mid-'80s.

Previously, Kuwait also banned Gadot's 2017 film Wonder Woman. Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia, and other Islamic countries in the Middle East and North Africa also banned the film.

Last year in May, Gadot faced a vitriolic online attack over her tweet about the Hamas-led rocket attacks conflict in Israel.

The following is the gist of her post:

My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long. I pray for the victims and their families. I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation, our neighbors deserve the same.

She didn't call for vengeance against any nation. She didn't name any terror organization. It was just a prayer for peace and hope for freedom, peace, and safety for Israel and all its neighbors. A reasonable statement by all means.

But Islamists and totalitarians never appreciate nuance. You either totally submit to their groupthink or else venom is mercilessly spewed.

Gadot was, among other bigoted insults, called a Zionist war criminal because of her two years of mandatory service in the Israeli defense forces.

The anti-Semites of the world are active again. They have developed ways to conceal their bigotry and claim that their opposition is only policy-driven. Since they cannot openly express hatred for Gal Gadot because she is Jewish, they call her a Zionist.

Zionism is a Jewish nationalist movement that had as its goal the creation and support of the Jewish national state of Israel. This is a movement of patriots. Every nation is founded on religious and cultural tenets. Israel has every reason to be proud of its heritage, especially since it was formed after centuries of struggle and continues to be surrounded by enemies. A nationalistic fervor also unites people and serves as a morale-booster.

Quite often, words gain a totally new meaning owing to frequent usage by bigots. The words "Zionism" and "Zionist" are now coded anti-Semitic insults that come from bigots. Instead of being blatantly anti-Semitic, these are dog whistles, which are understood perfectly among other anti-Semites who hear them.

When confronted, they say: "We aren't against Jewish people; we are against Zionism."

It is ironic that religious-nationalist dictatorship nations that govern strictly by religious laws have the audacity to condemn the nationalism of another country.

The ban on Gadot's films is an act of discrimination with anti-Semitism at its core.

According to the Times of Israel, 2021 was the worst year for anti-Semitic attacks in a decade, seeing an average of ten incidents a day, with the likelihood that many more incidents have not been reported. Reports also say anti-Semitism is on the rise in the U.S., with one in four Jewish Americans saying they have been targets of bigotry.

It is interesting to note that the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel is never applied to life-saving medical inventions, pharmaceuticals, or surgical technologies pioneered by Israeli scientists and doctors. Israeli agricultural innovations and desalination technologies that are crucial for water management in desert countries are never prohibited. Governments know that boycotts such as these would devastate their lives, so they restrict their anti-Semitism to boycotting movies and soft drinks.

So far, there has been no condemnation for the ban from either the Biden administration or Hollywood, both of which never cease to hector everyone about standing up against bigotry.

In fact, Hollywood itself has displayed a shocking trend of anti-Semitism in recent times.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which was launched late last year, excluded mention of the Jewish founders of various big Hollywood studios. The museum presented scant reference to many of Hollywood's great Jewish auteurs.

Showbiz people such as Emma Watson, Susan Sarandon, Roger Waters, Dua Lipa, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, and even Israeli-born Natalie Portman have expressed pro-Palestinian views. Recently, Whoopi Goldberg indulged in a ludicrous attempt to de-Judaize the motives behind the Holocaust.

Hollywood has also been accused of portraying rude caricatures of Jewish people in its films.

Back in 2014, around 200 Hollywood biggies including Sylvester Stallone, Seth Rogen, and Bill Maher signed petitions critical of Hamas and defensive of Israel. Hopefully, these individuals will reiterate their stand.

Washington's record on confronting anti-Semitism has also been disgraceful.

The Obama administration openly championed the Palestinian cause. Some Democrats have even used the terms such as "apartheid state" to describe Israel.

The Democrats are usually silent when Hamas fires rockets into Israel. Congresswomen such as Palestinian-American Rashida Talib and Somalian-American Ilhan Omar are rabidly anti-Semitic and loudly pro-Palestine. The AOC-led Squad opposed funding of Israel's Iron Dome that shields the embattled country from aerial terror attacks. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was raised Jewish and even lived in Israel, recently expressed support for Palestinian causes.

Hence, both Hollywood and Washington have abandoned the U.S.'s closest ally in the Middle East and the region's only pluralistic democracy.

South Africa during its Apartheid era from 1948 to 1991 was subjected to a variety of international boycotts and sanctions to protest against its institutionalized discrimination of non-white people. Historians have said these embargoes played a crucial role in ending the darkest chapter in South African history.

A similar movement is desperately needed to confront systemic anti-Semitism. Civilized countries and key individuals should break ties with counties that practice discrimination motivated by anti-Semitism and hate for the state of Israel.

In 2020, President Trump's peace deal led to the normalization of relations between Israel and Islamic nations such as the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, and Sudan.

There is no place for systemic bigotry in the modern world.

The Jewish people have relentlessly been the target of unspeakable persecution all through history.

Those choosing to remain silent have to understand that they cannot be a neutral party in this, ignoring or tolerating bigotry is the equivalent of endorsing bigotry.

Endorsing bigotry is also bigotry, so it is time for these bystanders to engage in introspection about their stand and whether they want to be on the right side of history.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons (cropped), CC BY-SA 3.0.
Located in the Thingvallavatn Lake in the Thingvellir National Park in Iceland, Silfra is part of the Atlantic rift  the dividing line between the continents of Europe and America. Its a huge crack in the earths surface, where the continental plates meet and which is slowing widening by about two centimeters per year. In the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean this crack is mainly unseen, but at Silfra, clear melt water of Icelandic glaciers make the rift visible.

The amazing visibility and accessibility makes Silfra a popular diving spot. Divers and snorkelers can float between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates and at places, can actually touch both continents at the same time. The visibility is extraordinary at nearly 100 meters. The reasons for this outstanding clarity are two-fold. First, the water is cold - 2 and 4C  and remains at this temperature all year round. The coldness keeps the water free of aquatic life. Secondly, the water itself is of the purest form. It begins as distilled water when the leading edge of the glacier melts high up on the Hofsjokull mountain, 50 km away. This water then disappears and runs underground, to emerge once again in the Thingvellir national park. On its journey it is constantly filtered by porous lava rock, until is becomes so pure that it can be drunk without any form of treatment.

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The Mid Atlantic Ridge is the longest mountain range in the world but for the most part, it is submerged deep beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The ridge includes a deep rift valley which runs along the axis of the ridge along nearly its entire length. This rift marks the actual boundary between the two tectonic plates - the Eurasian and the American. Right between the tectonic plates lava underneath the earths crust flows out into the ice cold water of the Atlantic. The lava coalgates instantly and over millions of years this process has formed the Atlantic Ridge.

Although many people have dived at Silfra, very few have ventured deep into the Silfra cave which is at least 63 meters deep. The high depth and very narrow passages pose high risk for divers. Besides, the rocks that form the cave could be loose and collapse. The cave has been mapped by a group of American cave divers, but regular earthquakes in the area and the diverging tectonic plates might have changed the geography.

Learn more about Silfra and opportunities for diving at SILFRA.org

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On the night of February 9, 1913, inhabitants of a large portion of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada witnessed a meteoric spectacle that has been described by astronomers as one without parallel.

As it was a cloudy winter night, most people were likely indoors and didnt see anything. But a few lucky individuals with clearer conditions noticed that around 9 PM, a procession of 40 to 60 bright fireballs appeared in the dark sky moving slowly with peculiar, majestic, dignified deliberation from one end of the horizon to the other, on a perfectly horizontal path until they disappeared in the distance. The procession was soundless but at least eight stations in Canada picked up rumbling noises accompanied by shaking of buildings. In many other places loud, thunder-like sounds were heard, occasionally by people who had not seen the meteors themselves.

Painting by artist Gustav Hahn who was fortunate enough to witness the event first hand.

Canadian astronomer Clarence Chant, who investigated the phenomenon the same year, noted that unlike most shooting stars that are visible for but a very short time, and the brilliant ones very generally descend rapidly towards the earth, these bodies were moving leisurely along, giving ample time for the fortunate observer to make several wishes if he were so inclined. Some of the witnesses Chant interviewed reported that just before disappearing this body burst, leaving behind it a trail of stars.

Chant continues:

Before the astonishment aroused by this first meteor had subsided, other bodies were seen coming from the north-west, emerging from precisely the same place as the first one, Onward they moved, at the same deliberate pace, in twos or threes or fours, with tails streaming behind, though not so long nor so bright as in the first case. They all traversed the same path and were headed for the same point in the south-eastern sky. Gradually the bodies became smaller, until the last ones were but red sparks, some of which were snuffed out before they reached their destination. Several report that near the middle of the great procession was a fine large star without a tail, and that a similar body brought up the rear.

The most outstanding feature of the phenomenon was the slow, majestic motion of the bodies; and almost equally remarkable was the perfect formation which they retained. Some witnesses compared the spectacle to a fleet of airships, or battleships attended by cruisers and destroyers. Others thought they resembled a brilliantly lighted passenger train.

Most naked-eye observers Chant spoke to reported varying number of meteor bodies. Some observers reported a dozen or fewer objects, while others claimed to have seen hundreds or even thousands. Only one witness, a pupil of the Trenton High School, reportedly viewed the meteors with any kind of instrument, a opera glass in this case. According to him there were about ten groups in all and each group consisted between twenty to forty meteors.

The entire procession took about 3.3 minutes to traverse the sky. Chant notes that this is an extraordinarily long time... but there is good evidence that it is not an exaggeration.

The meteor train was also visible over an unprecedented distance. Initially, Chant calculated a meteor procession stretching over more than 2,500 miles of the Earths surface, but according to leading astronomer William Frederick Denning (18481931), the height of the meteors should be somewhat higher than Chant determined, nearer to 38 miles than 26 miles, which would translate to an even longer flight path. Denning wondered whether there were sailors in the Atlantic Ocean who might have witnessed the same spectacle. His call for observation returned at least two witnesses, one of which reported seeing the meteors off the coast of Brazil, some 5,500 miles from the first sighting. A 2013 study by Don Olson of Texas State University and Steve Hutcheon of the Astronomical Association of Queensland, Australia, extending the known path of the procession by an additional thousand milesan extraordinary distance for meteors to follow the curvature of the planet without plunging to earth or skipping back into space.

The trajectory of the meteor procession. The red dots mark observed locations of the Great Meteor Procession of 1913. Image credit: Don Olson

Another great mystery is the appearance of several other bright meteors within a few hours of the great display, including another meteor procession on the same course around 5 hours later, although the Earth's rotation meant that there was no obvious mechanism to explain this. One observer, an A. W. Brown from Thamesville, Ontario, reported seeing both the initial meteor procession and a second one on the same course at 02:20 the next morning. Reports of meteor observations continued until the next day. The Toronto Daily Star for February 10 reported a curious observation:

At about 2pm on that date some of the occupants of a tall building near the lake front saw some strange objects moving out over the lake and passing to the east. They were not seen clearly enough to determine their nature, but they did not seem to be clouds, or birds, or smoke, and it was suggested at the time that, perhaps, they were airships cruising over the city. Afterwards, it was surmised that they may have been of the nature of meteors moving in much the same path as those seen the night before.

Yet another peculiarity of the meteor procession of 1913 was the absence of a radiant, that is, there was no point in the sky from which the meteors appeared to originate. For instance, the annual meteor Perseids, which peak each August, get their name because they appear to come from an area in the constellation Perseus, called the radiant. In the case of the meteor procession of 1913, this radiant was absent. The meteors did not spread in all directions from a point, but followed closely similar paths across the sky.

Charles Fort, an early-20th-century chronicler of the unexplained, suggested in his 1923 book New Lands that the procession might have been the work of an extraterrestrial intelligence rather than a rogue space rock. Fort cites descriptions of first-hand observers as reported by Chant, many of which compared them to a fleet of airships, with lights on either side and forward and aft. Others, likened them to great battleships attended by cruisers and destroyers. Still others thought they resembled a brilliantly lighted passenger train, traveling in sections and seen from a distance of several miles.

The current hypothesis is that a wandering space rock (or a number of bodies) was captured by the earths gravitational pull and put into a temporary orbit which then disintegrated shortly. The phenomenon of 1913 was repeated, in parts, on August 10, 1972 when a meteor penetrated the atmosphere over Utah, descended to a height of about 36 miles (58 km), and later escaped the atmosphere over Alberta, Canada, flying off into space. While travelling through the atmosphere it produced a bright daylight fireball. However, the flight of the 1972 fireball did not involve a procession of meteoric objects, and its trajectory was also much shorter at some 940 miles.

Meteor procession itself is a rare occurrence with only a handful of examples in history, the most famous being the Great Meteor of 1783, which we discussed earlier. The meteor procession of 1860 is another one, and is believed to have inspired Walt Whitman to write the poem Year of Meteors, 1859-60. Another procession was observed in 1876.

References:

# Clarence Chant, An Extraordinary Meteoric Display

# Horace A. Smith, The Great Meteor Procession Of February 9, 1913, PDF

# Patrick Metzger, Was the Great Meteor Procession of 1913 More Than Met the Eye?, The Torontoist
(Image source from: Thehansindia.com)

TDP MLC Ashok Babu Arrested:- Employee leader Paruchuri Ashok Babu played a crucial role during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and he fought against the separation of AP and Telangana. He later joined TDP and is the MLC for the party. The CID officials of Andhra Pradesh arrested Ashok Babu last night from his residence at 11:30 PM. Ashok Babu attended a wedding and reached his residence in the hight after which he was taken into custody. Ashok Babu has been facing allegations of producing fake graduation certificates during the time of his government job. A complaint has been filed by Madala Gopi with the Lokayukta sometime ago.

After conducting the basic investigation, the case has been referred to the CID after which the CID officials took Ashok Babu into custody. He will be produced in the court today. Cases have been filed as per IPL 477A, 465 and 420 on January 25th. As a part of the investigation, Ashok Babu was arrested. TDP officials and leaders slammed the AP government for the midnight arrests on their leaders. TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu questioned about arresting Ashok Babu in the midnight. Ashok Babu has been fighting for the rights of government officials because of which he was taken into custody, told Nara Lokesh. TDP leaders said that they would fight against the government and will support Ashok Babu.

(Video Source: ETV Andhra Pradesh)
Ravi Teja's Khiladi Total Pre-release Business:- After the super success of Krack, Ravi Teja is testing his luck once again with Khiladi, a stylish action entertainer that is packed with all the commercial ingredients. Ramesh Varma is the director and Meenakshi Chaudhary, Dimple Hayati are the heroines. Action King Arjun is the lead antagonist in Khiladi and the film is hitting the screens tomorrow. The entire theatrical and the non-theatrical rights of Khiladi are sold out and the film is made on a budget of Rs 60 crores. The non-theatrical rights of Khiladi are sold for Rs 30 crores.

The theatrical rights of Khiladi are sold for Rs 26.10 crores which is decent. The film may miss the early premiere release in USA. Devi Sri Prasad's music album is a smashing hit and is on the top of the music charts. A grand pre-release event of Khiladi was held last night. Ravi Teja will thrill the audience in a dual role. Koneru Satyanarayana is the producer. The movie is releasing in over 800 screens across the globe. Here is the detailed pre-release theatrical business of Khiladi:

Nizam: Rs 8.10 Cr

Ceeded: Rs 4 Cr

Andhra: Rs 11 Cr

Rest of India: Rs 2 Cr

Rest of World: Rs 1 Cr

Total Worldwide: Rs 26.1 Cr
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(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 10 - Italian growth will be linked to the implementation of the 200 billion euro EU-funded post-COVID multi-year National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Thursday.

On Thursday the EU said Italian growth would be 4.1% this year, lower than the 4.3% previously forecast.

It forecast a rise of 2.3% in 2023.

It said the slower growth was an EU-wide phenomenon.

"The Italian context is that of an economy that is on track towards regaining pre-pandemic growth levels perhaps faster than what was imagined some time ago," said Gentiloni, a former Italian premier.

"The positive growth forecasts are linked to the successful enactment of the NRRP, on which the Italian government is working hard.

"In al our forecast we have considered the influence of the national NRRPs on investments, as if they were all going in the right direction". (ANSA).


China offers unique lessons for Africa on poverty reduction: Zambian president

Xinhua) 08:43, February 11, 2022

LUSAKA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday said China and other countries in Asia offer Zambia and other African countries unique lessons on tackling poverty, suggesting Africa must emulate the efforts made in uplifting the living standards of people.

"We have a lot to learn as Zambia and Africa from this region. And we intend to explore this deeply and broadly," he said during the 2022 presidential greetings, an annual event where the Zambian president meets diplomats accredited to the country.

Zambia will continue to cherish its ties with Asian countries and was looking for more viable cooperation particularly in the area of clean green energy production and education assistance. Zambia will continue to collaborate with Asian countries through various mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), he said.

Africa has for a long time been perceived as a continent of corruption, instability, and poverty which need to be changed, said the Zambian president, suggesting African leaders should work to redefine the continent from the negative perception to one of opportunities, stability and security by tackling the current challenges that were prevalent on the continent.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 10 - Carlo Blangiardo, the president of national statistics agency ISTAT, told Sky Tg24 on Thursday that Italy registered "fewer than 400,000 births" in 2021.

Italy's birth rate has been on a downward trend for many years.

Blangiardo welcomed the introduction of the new 'assegno unico' benefit for parents, which goes from a minimum of 50 euros a month per household per child aged up to 21, up to a maximum of 175 euros per child, with low-earning families getting more.

"I hope there are other such initiatives (aiming to reverse the trend)," added Blangiardo. (ANSA).


Tunisian NGO decries arbitrary arrests of sub-Saharan students Concerns police may be judging solely on basis of skin color

(ANSAmed) - TUNISI, 11 FEB - The Tunisian Association for the Support of Minorities (ATSM) and the Tunisian Association of Sub-Saharan Students (AESAT) spoke out in a press conference in Tunis against "arbitrary arrests" of several young students of sub-Saharan African origins outside their university and their homes without ant justification provided.



Representatives of students and interns of sub-Saharan origins have protested against what they claim is a wave of xenophobic arrests.



They say that about 300 young Africans of sub-Saharan origins have been arrested, often beaten and detained for several hours without any apparent reason.



ATSM has been informed on many occasions of "arbitrary arrests of sub-Saharan students, despite their having shown official ID cards and stay permits to the security forces," said Raoudha Seibi calling it a "violation of the rights of African students".



Especially critical was AESAT chief Christian Kwongang on the growing number of arbitrary arrests of sub-saharan students in some regions, especially the northern governorate Ariana. "These arrests have sparked panic among African students in Tunisia," he said, and it is feared that "these arrests were made on the basis of skin color".



AESAT has since its creation in 1994 coordinated with the Tunisian higher education and scientific research ministry as well as the interior ministry to facilitate the integration of African students, Kwongang said.



These arrests are made despite the students abiding by the curfew in place and the country's health protocol.



"It is important to respect the rights of the sub-Saharan community in Tunisia, in line with international conventions," said the AESAT chief, especially as African students play a key role in revitalizing the economy when they enrol in Tunisian's private universities. (ANSAmed).




Kosovo president rules out self-ruling Serb community Against 'Bosnia effect' on country, EU pressures Belgrade

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, FEB 11 - Kosovo has once again rejected the creation of a Community of Serb Municipalities in the country.



This type of body, however, had been called for in agreements signed in 2013 in Brussels as part of EU-mediated dialogue with Belgrade.



"We cannot accept a model that could lead to a Bosnia effect on Kosovo," said president Vjosa Osmani, in reference to Republika Srpska, a Serb majority body of Bosnia-Herzegovina.



He added in statements to the local television station RTK that it is a document that is damaging to the sovereignty and functioning of Kosovo institutions, with a model that leads to the division of the country.



Reiterating charges against Belgrade on non-compliance of agreements reached thus far as part of dialogue, Osmani said that the EU does not have a balanced, equal approach with the two parties involved in the talks, treating Belgrade as a "spoiled child".



"The EU must put pressure on Serbia to induce it to comply with agreements," the president said, adding that the dialogue should end with reciprocal recognition between Serbia and Kosovo.



Replying to Osmani was Petar Petkovic, head of the Serbian government officer for Kosovo, who called Pristina's accusations "absurd" and claimed that it was instead Kosovo that was not complying with the agreements reached, leading to stalled dialogue.



The 2013 accords, which provide for a Community of Serb Municipalities, are not a menu to pick and choose from, said Petkovic. (ANSAmed).




Libya's Dbeibah 'answers only to Presidential Council' 'Parliament cannot replace me with Bashagha'

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, FEB 11 - Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who heads the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, has said that he is "still carrying out his work in line with the timeline established", a "roadmap", "approved by the forum" of political dialogue.



He said that only the Presidential Council has the right to change the executive, reported the Al Wasat website after the appointment of former interior minister Fathi Bashagha as prime minister.



In an interview with the Libyan channel Al Ahrar, the website said, Dbeibah underscored that "what happened" yesterday "at the House of Representatives is a clear violation of the jurisdiction of the Presidential Council".



As previously stated, Dbeibah reiterated that he will "hand over power to someone elected by the Libyan population", since "the aim of the political agreement and the roadmap is to hold elections". (ANSAmed).




Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is stepping down after a series of controversies.

The first woman to lead the Met, Dame Cressida said she was left with no choice but to resign after London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had no confidence in her leadership following the publication of a damning report into racism, homophobia, and misogyny at Charing Cross police station.

Despite accolades, including being made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in Theresa Mays resignation honours, her career has marred by scandal.

Prior to being made Commissioner, she was head of the operation that led to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in Stockwell in 2005.

While in her role as leader of the Met, she faced criticism over the case of Sarah Everards murder at the hands of a serving officer, and the subsequent treatment by the police of mourners at a vigil in Clapham Common.

Dame Cressida Dick makes a statement to the media outside the Old Bailey (David Parry/PA)

Two inquiries are now under way looking at the culture within the Met  one by Baroness Casey that was organised by the force itself, and a Home Office probe headed by Dame Elish Angiolini that is looking at the failures behind the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer.

 The Charing Cross report

A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed highly offensive language used on WhatsApp and in Facebook chats by officers from a now disbanded team based in Westminster, primarily at Charing Cross police station.

Last Tuesday, the watchdog took the unusual step of publishing the messages in full, despite many of them being too offensive to print as part of mainstream news coverage, because it said it was important for the public to know.

Officers made repeated jokes about rape, domestic violence, violent racism, and used homophobic language and derogatory terms for disabled people.

One officer bragged about having sex with a sex worker he met on duty.

Sadiq Khan put Dame Cressida on notice following the exposure of the messages, before eventually forcing her to resign by saying he had lost confidence in her leadership.

 Wayne Couzens

Ex-Pc Wayne Couzens was handed a whole-life term in September after kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard, 33.

Couzens abducted Ms Everard as she walked home from a friends house in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3.

The Metropolitan Police firearms officer, who had been hunting for a victim, used his warrant card and handcuffs to snatch the marketing executive off the street using Covid lockdown rules to make a false arrest.

Couzens, had been assigned to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch of the force, which protects Government buildings and the Palace of Westminster.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has since launched an inquiry into the crime.

Led by Dame Elish Angiolini QC, the inquiry will look at whether any red flags were missed earlier in his career.

 Sarah Everards vigil

Reclaim These Streets (RTS) proposed a socially-distanced vigil for Ms Everard, near to where she went missing in Clapham, south London, in March last year.

However, they were denied permission to hold the organised vigil, with police citing coronavirus regulations.

Instead a spontaneous vigil took place, which ended with police forcibly clearing women from the scene.

The force was heavily criticised for its actions, but later cleared by a police watchdog.

The report by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services concluded the police acted appropriately when dealing with the event, but also found it was a public relations disaster and described some statements made by members of the force as tone deaf.

 The death of Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan died in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987, and a string of unsuccessful investigations into his death have been mired with claims of corruption.

In June this year, an independent report accused the Met of institutional corruption over its handling of the case, saying it had concealed or denied failings to protect its reputation.

Dame Cressida apologised to Mr Morgans family, saying it was a matter of great regret that no-one has been brought to justice and that our mistakes have compounded the pain suffered by Daniels family.

Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman (Victoria Jones/PA)

 The photos of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman

Pcs Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis, formerly of the Metropolitan Police, were jailed for two years and nine months each in December for taking photographs of the bodies of sisters Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, and sharing them with friends and colleagues on WhatsApp.

Jaffer and Lewis were assigned to guard the scene after the sisters were found dead in bushes in Fryent Country Park, Wembley, north-west London.

Instead, the officers moved from their posts to take photographs of the bodies, which were then shared with colleagues and friends on WhatsApp.

One was a selfie-style image on which Lewis had superimposed his face.

The officers behaviour also included describing the victims as dead birds on WhatsApp groups.

Afterwards, the Metropolitan Police apologised to the victims family for the defendants shameful and utterly unprofessional actions.

Friends and relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes (PA)

 The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes

Brazilian man Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22 2005 by an officer who mistook him for a terrorist.

Dame Cressida came under scrutiny when she was in charge of the operation that led to his death, but was later absolved of any blame by a jury.

Appearing on Desert Island Discs in 2019, she described it as an awful time, adding: I think about it quite often.

I wish, wish, wish it hadnt happened, of course, but if anything it has made me a better leader, a better police officer and it has made me more resilient, she said.
Construction of the worlds first air hub for flying electric cars, police and delivery drones is under way, with a demonstration event planned later this year.

The facility, known as Air One, is being built in Coventry through a partnership involving South Korean car maker Hyundai.

Backers of the mini airport, known as a skyport, have said sites like it will host electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, such as air taxis and autonomous delivery drones, transporting people and cargo across cities over coming years.

West Midlands Police have also been in discussions with the company behind the Government-backed project, Urban-Air Port (UAP), about how such hubs could in future provide drone bases for policing the sky.

Construction work started on site this month (Urban-Air Port/PA)

UAP has said the build will be finished ready for an industry launch event running from April 25-27, with public demonstrations planned immediately afterwards.

The police will also be showcasing their drone operations.

Originally planned to be built next to the Coventry Building Society Arena, the skyport is now being located on a disused car park near the Central Six Retail Park and the citys railway station.

Councillor Jim OBoyle, Coventry City Council cabinet member, said the start of building work showed the city was leading the way on transport innovation.

We are right at the front of the green industrial revolution and this is a brilliant world first, he added.

Mr OBoyle said the breakthrough system could lend a productivity boost to UK towns and cities, and aid efforts to tackle climate change by taking vehicles off the roads.

The completed site will include a 46-metre diameter dome-shaped steel frame, with tensile fabric cladding.

The centre of the dome will house a platform lift, allowing cargo drones to take off and land  initially for demonstration purposes.

UAP founder and executive chairman Ricky Sandhu, who grew up in Birmingham, said he was thrilled building work was starting and said it was a unique and transformative moment, which placed the UK as the worlds leading player in advanced air mobility.

Our technology will enable Coventry and other cities around the country and the world to decarbonise by enabling safe adoption of cleaner mobility solutions, he added.

Mr Sandhu said it was a privilege to be working with West Midlands Police, who would be showcasing the site as a disaster emergency management and security hub for their demonstrations.

He added: It is a model we hope to replicate across the country as we enter a net zero age.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike OHara, of West Midlands Police, said: Urban-Air Port will allow us to explore, showcase and implement what the future holds for policing the sky.

Developers are planning up to 200 such hubs in cities across the world, within five years of proof of concept.

Last year, the project was awarded a 1.2 million Government grant by UK Research and Innovations Future Flight Challenge.
The Defence Secretary will travel to Moscow on Friday to meet his Russian counterpart in an attempt to quell the crisis on the Ukrainian border.

The trip will follow the Prime Ministers visits to Brussels and Warsaw on Thursday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to bully eastern Europe as he warned the continent faced its biggest security crisis in decades.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough being achieved following their meeting in Moscow.

It comes as the Government confirmed preparations to allow the UK to toughen and expand its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will travel to Moscow on Friday (Ian West/PA)

The Times reported that Ben Wallace will make clear to Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, that invading Ukraine would be a lose-lose situation.

The UK has put 1,000 troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis in the east if the current Russian military build-up leads to war.

It has also pledged extra help for Nato allies, with 350 Royal Marines arriving in Poland to coincide with the Prime Ministers visit on Thursday.

Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but the Nato alliance is alarmed by the build-up of more than 100,000 troops on the borders with its neighbour.

During his overseas engagements, Boris Johnson indicated further military support could be offered to Ukraine if Russia invades.

But he made it clear that Britain could not intervene militarily if Ukraine was attacked.

In a pooled clip for broadcasters at a military base in Warsaw, he said: The UK has been supplying some defensive weaponry in the form of anti-tank missiles, we have been training Ukrainian troops. That is as far as we can go at the moment.

Ukraine is not part of Nato. What we are sticking up for is the right of Ukraine like any other sovereign independent country to aspire to that.

At an earlier press conference, speaking alongside Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the alliances headquarters in Brussels, the Prime Minister called on Russia to engage in meaningful talks because it was far better to begin a discussion now than to have a catastrophe.

The UK has already supplied 2,000 anti-tank missiles, body armour, helmets and combat boots to Ukraine and Mr Johnson indicated he could go further.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets troops during a visit Warsaw (Daniel Leal/PA)

Asked if he could authorise military support to an insurgency in Ukraine in the event of an invasion, he said: We will consider what more we can conceivably offer.

The Ukrainians are well prepared, there are things weve offered that they, in fact, dont seem to need because they think they have them in enough numbers already.

Its possible, I dont want to rule this out, but at the moment we think the package is the right one.

But I want to stress it would be an absolute disaster if it was to come to that and if there was to be serious bloodshed on Ukrainian soil.

In Moscow, Ms Truss had a difficult encounter with Mr Lavrov.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He characterised the meeting as a conversation between deaf and dumb, but Ms Truss said: I was not mute in our discussions earlier, I put forward the UKs point of view on the current situation and the fact that as well as seeking to deter Russia from an invasion into Ukraine, we are also very resolute in pursuing the diplomatic path.

She added: There is still time for Russia to end its aggression towards Ukraine and pursue the path of diplomacy.

But Nato is very clear that if that path is not chosen there will be severe consequences for Russia, Ukraine and the whole of Europe.

Ms Truss called for Russia to pull its troops back from the border to ease tensions.

There is no doubt that the stationing of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border is directly put in place to threaten Ukraine, she said.

There had also been cyberattacks and other attempts to undermine the activities of a sovereign nation.

Ms Truss said: If Russia is serious about diplomacy they need to move those troops and desist from the threats.

The visit to Moscow was the first by a foreign secretary in four years, with the relationship between the UK and Russia severely strained by incidents including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In a sign of the chilly atmosphere at the talks, Mr Lavrov said ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere and accused Ms Truss of being ill-prepared for the negotiations.

Rejecting Ms Trusss call for forces to pull back, Mr Lavrov said: The demands to remove the Russian troops from the Russian territory cause regret. We dont want to threaten anyone. Its us who are facing threats.

But he indicated force levels would fall once military exercises had been completed, at which point the West will likely claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate.
BOSTON (AP)  A Massachusetts contestant on The Price Is Right was hoping to win a getaway to some tropical locale during a recent appearance on the game show.

Instead she won a trip to neighboring New Hampshire.

Catherine Graham had already won a firepit and a love seat when she was picked to go on stage and play Side By Side with host Drew Carey.

Then she found out she'd be playing for a trip to New Hampshire, just across the border from Massachusetts. She won by correctly guessing the value of the prize was $7,696 instead of $9,676.

Graham confessed she was hoping for somewhere a bit more exotic than the Live Free or Die state, which she said shes already visited a million times.

I just wish it was Tahiti or some place, or Bora Bora. A cruise around the world maybe, Graham told WBZ-TV, laughing.
Ghost village emerges in Spain as drought empties reservoir Old Spanish town re-emerges as drought dries out reservoir

By Guillermo Martinez

CONCELLO DE LOBIOS, Spain (Reuters) -A ghost village that has emerged as drought has nearly emptied a dam on the Spanish-Portuguese border is drawing crowds of tourists with its eerie, grey ruins.

With the reservoir at 15% of its capacity, details of a life frozen in 1992, when the Aceredo village in Spain's northwestern Galicia region was flooded to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir, are being revealed once more.

"It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," said 65-year-old pensioner Maximino Perez Romero, from A Coruna. "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Walking on the muddy ground cracked by the drought in some spots, visitors found partially collapsed roofs, bricks and wooden debris that once made up doors or beams, and even a drinking fountain with water still streaming from a rusty pipe.

Crates with empty beer bottles were stacked by what used to be a cafe, and a semi-destroyed old car was rusting away by a stone wall. Drone footage showed the derelict buildings.

Maria del Carmen Yanez, mayor of the larger Lobios council, of which Aceredo is part, blamed the situation on the lack of rain in recent months, particularly in January, but also on what she said was "quite aggressive exploitation" by Portugal's power utility EDP, which manages the reservoir.

On Feb. 1, Portugal's government ordered six dams, including Alto Lindoso, to nearly halt water use for electricity production and irrigation, due to the worsening drought.

Contacted by Reuters, EDP said the low reservoir levels were due to the drought, but that it was managing water resources "efficiently" and that these were above the minimum requirements, including Alto Lindoso.

Questions over the sustainability of reservoirs are not new. Last year, several Spanish villages complained about how power utilities used them after a rapid draw-down from a lake by Iberdrola in western Spain. The company said it was following the rules.

Environment Ministry data shows Spain's reservoirs are at 44% of their capacity, well below the average of about 61% over the last decade, but still above levels registered in a 2018 drought. A ministry source said drought indicators showed a potential worsening in the coming weeks, but did not yet detect a generalised problem throughout the country.

Jose Alvarez, a former construction worker from Lobios, felt a mix of nostalgia and fatalism at he remembered his working days in Aceredo.

"It's terrible, but it is what it is. That's life. Some die and others live," he said.

(Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo, Andrei Khalip and Sergio Goncalves; Writing by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Alison Williams)
Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs leaves the field during a pitching change in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 18, 2019, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images)

Eric Kays defense Thursday attempted to discredit the governments contention that Tyler Skaggs ingestion of fentanyl  and nothing else found in his system  was the reason he choked on his vomit and died in a suburban Dallas hotel room in July 2019.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Reagan Wynn asked Dr. Marc Krouse, formerly a Tarrant County medical examiner who conducted Skaggs autopsy report, if he could say Skaggs would be alive if he didnt take fentanyl. Krouse said there is a greater probability Skaggs, a 27-year-old Angels pitcher, wouldnt have died based on the evidence, but no scientist could be 100% sure.

According to the autopsy report, which ruled the death as accidental, Skaggs, had fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in his system when he was found dead in Room 469 of the Hilton Dallas/Southlake Town Square on July 1, 2019, hours before the Angels were scheduled to begin a series against the Texas Rangers.

Krouse was fired last March after an audit discovered he committed significant mistakes on other autopsies  a development Wynn resurfaced to conclude the cross-examination  but he has not been accused of errors while examining Skaggs.

Kay, a former Angels communications director, was charged with two felony counts  providing Skaggs counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that led to his death and distributing fentanyl and oxycodone since at least 2017. Kay, 47, has pleaded not guilty.

Fentanyl is a lethal synthetic drug that has inflamed the opioid epidemic in the United States in recent years. The drug, estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, was tied to 64% of drug overdose deaths in the country between May 2020 and April 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kay would face a 20-year minimum sentence if convicted of supplying Skaggs with the drugs that led to his death. The prosecution must convince the jury that not only did Kay provide Skaggs the fatal drugs, but that he gave them to Skaggs in Texas and not in California. The defense conceded Kay was an addict and consumed drugs with the pitcher, but the attorneys say there is no proof Kay gave Skaggs the drugs in Texas.

Federal prosecutors don't, however, have to prove Kay knew the drugs he was providing were laced with fentanyl.

If you distribute any controlled substance  and oxy without a prescription is a controlled substance  you dont have to know what the actual substance is, Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor with no ties to the case, said Thursday. So if Im dealing oxy and its actually fentanyl, or its a combination of both, it doesnt matter as long as I know Im distributing a controlled substance.

Skaggs phone  the data extracted on it, its chain of custody, and whether messages were deleted  also took center stage during the trial Thursday.

Southlake Police Department Cpl. Delaney Green, a detective at the time of Skaggs death, testified that Kay initially didnt tell investigators that he saw Skaggs the night he died  a point Wynn conceded during his opening statement Tuesday. Wynn called it the stupidest thing [Kay] did. He said Kay lied because he wanted to hide his secret life as a drug addict.

Green said she learned that Kay saw Skaggs only after Adam Chodzko, another Angels communications employee, told the police. Green said Kay then became a person of interest. Text messages between Skaggs and Kay found in Skaggs phone and presented Thursday indicated Skaggs invited Kay to his room and Kay agreed to go on the night of June 30.

The suggestion of messages being deleted from Skaggs phone was first raised Wednesday when Michael Molfetta, Kays other defense attorney, asked Skaggs mother, Debbie Hetman, if she knew that her stepson, Garret Ramos, had deleted text messages from the phone. It was the first such public accusation.

Hetman testified that she and her family, including Skaggs wife, Carli, went to the Southlake Police Department after Skaggs death to retrieve his belongings. While there, she said, the police asked if they could help unlock the phone. Hetman said she was able to guess the passcode. She said that Ramos then took the phone to change the passcode, but she said she wasnt aware of Ramos deleting texts.

Greens testimony corroborated that Hetman and Ramos handled the phone. She said that another officer in the room stood directly behind the family observing while they were in possession of the phone. Green said the family left without the phone, but without giving investigators consent to use it as evidence. The family eventually consented, allowing Green to search the phone.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The families of Amir Locke and Breonna Taylor  both of whom were killed by police who entered their home during raids  spoke at a press conference at the Minnesota state Capitol to demand the abolishment of no-knock police warrants. The controversial practice took center stage again after a Minneapolis police SWAT team entered a downtown apartment on the night of Feb. 2 and killed 22-year-old Locke, a Black man who was asleep at the time.

Toshira Garraway of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence opened the press conference and introduced civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who has represented both Taylor and Lockes surviving relatives. Crump called for Minnesota and all states to ban no-knock warrants, which are search warrants approved by a judge allowing law enforcement to enter a home without announcing their presence.

Amir Locke. (Family photo)

The blood of Amir Locke, the blood of Breonna Taylor, should hopefully call for a ban on no-knock warrants all over the country, President Biden, Crump said.

Locke was reportedly sleeping in his cousins apartment when police entered with a key. Bodycam footage captured them storming in, then announcing their presence and seeing Locke, who was noticeably shaken from being suddenly woken up.

He reached for a legal firearm, but kept his finger off of the trigger, as shown by a still image of the encounter, but he was shot once the gun surfaced.

Lockes parents, who previously have said their son was executed by police, both spoke at Thursdays event. We demand that they pass the law for no-knock warrants in the name of my son Amir, we demand justice and we demand that this is done properly, said Andre Locke, Amirs father.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, left, at a news conference with Andre Locke, right, and Karen Wells, center, the parents of Amir Locke, to demand the abolishment of no-knock warrants. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

His mother, Karen Wells, followed, saying: His name was Amir Rahkare Locke. He loved the youth, wanted to save the youth, and we gonna save the rest of the youth. Yall will not enter another apartment complex of a person of color and yall knew when yall was going there, there was people of color that lived there. So yall did yall research, but you didnt know who was up under them sheets.

We need you to issue a federal decree to abolish no-knock warrants being executed by any federal official in the name of Amir Locke, in the name of Breonna Taylor, Crump added, again addressing Biden. Even though such a decree would not apply to state and local law enforcement like the Minneapolis Police Department, Crump argued it would set an example. President Biden: Start at the top and the states should follow.

Thursday, a judge approved the unsealing of the search warrant details, giving more insight into what happened. It shows the Minneapolis Police Department insisted on the no-knock warrant after the St. Paul Police Department suggested a knock and announce.

The shooting occurred at a time when Minneapolis police are under scrutiny for other acts of police brutality. Three Minneapolis officers face federal trial for the death of George Floyd. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao are accused of violating his civil rights while acting under color of law for not intervening and stopping former Officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty of murder by the state for kneeling on Floyds neck for more than nine minutes.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, right, with Amir Lockes parents, Andre Locke and Karen Wells. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

Locke, Crump said, didnt have a chance when officers conducted a nighttime no-knock warrant. He continued: You just simply cant believe, during the trial of police officers who killed George Floyd, that were gonna have another Black man killed unjustly in the Twin City area. I mean what do we have to do to say stop killing us, especially while we are going through the trial of the killers of George Floyd, which you all may remember was supposed to be the turning point. You remember that?

Two days after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey halted nearly all no-knock warrants. His office said that under the moratorium, a no-knock warrant could only be used if police determine there is an imminent threat of harm, and even then the warrant must be approved by the chief. The Minneapolis City Councils Policy & Government Oversight Committee also held a hearing on no-knock warrants. Frey plans to work with the MPD and two experts who helped craft Breonnas Law, which has restricted no-knock warrants in other citiesand states, on revisions to the policy.

No matter what information comes to light, it wont change the fact that Amir Lockes life was cut short, Frey said. To ensure safety of both the public and officers until a new policy is crafted, Im issuing a moratorium on both the request and execution of such warrants in Minneapolis.

In the meantime, officers must use a knock-and-announce approach, in which a police officer executing a search warrant waits for a response before forcing their way in.

Students participate in a statewide walkout demanding justice for Amir Locke, Feb. 8, 2022. (Tim Evans/Reuters)

Minneapolis police were executing a warrant on behalf of the Saint Paul Police Department Homicide Unit when they entered the seventh-floor apartment. The incident report states officers loudly and repeatedly announced their presence, crossed the threshold of the apartment and advanced with loud announcements of their presence. Approximately nine seconds into the entry, officers encountered a male who was armed with a handgun pointed in the direction of the officers.

Then one of those officers opened fire and struck Locke. He was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died.

Police were not seeking Locke with the warrant, which was in connection to a homicide investigation, according to interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman. A suspect in that investigation, 17-year-old Mekhi Camden Speed, was arrested on Monday, according to St. Paul police. The teen has been identified as Lockes cousin. Authorities further said surveillance video helped connect them to Speed and his location at the Bolero Flats apartment building, where Locke was killed, as reported by the Associated Press.

Protesters at Central High School in St. Paul demand justice for Amir Locke, Feb. 8, 2022. (DeeCee Carter/MediaPunch/IPX)

According to AP, witnesses said Speed lived in the building with his mother in 1402, but also had a key to 701  the apartment where his brother lives and the one police raided.

Speed was booked at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center for second-degree murder for the killing of Otis Elder on Jan. 10, police said.

Jeff Storms, another attorney for the Locke family, also spoke at the press conference. The city of Minneapolis, like the rest of the world, knew about the dangers of no-knock warrants from the killing of Breonna Taylor, he said. And not only Breonna Taylor, but weve had our own no-knock examples here in Minnesota as well.
Prosecutors had no faith that Tamara Dadyan could be trusted to turn herself in.

Moments after the brash Encino real estate broker was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison for her key role in a tawdry pandemic loan scam, prosecutor Christopher Fenton asked a judge to put her in prison immediately. There was a "high, high likelihood," he said, that Dadyan would flee, just as two relatives had done after their convictions in the same case.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson disagreed. "I'm going to give her 30 days to self-surrender," he said.

Dadyan vanished on Jan. 28, dodging both her federal prison sentence and her upcoming trial on unrelated state mortgage fraud charges.

It was a crushing blow to prosecutors and investigators who uncovered the conspiracy by Dadyan and seven others to use fake companies, phony payrolls, forged tax returns and stolen driver's licenses to get $18 million in emergency loans meant to rescue small businesses ravaged by 2020 lockdowns.

The disappearance of Dadyan and the two others highlights the risks that judges take when they give convicted white-collar criminals weeks or months to get their affairs in order before voluntarily reporting to prison  a common practice in federal court.

It also underscores the extreme difficulty of capturing fugitives in financial crime cases, especially swindlers like Dadyan who have roots abroad and expertise in false identifications.

Federal law enforcement authorities believe that Dadyan, 40, and the two other fugitives may have fled to Armenia, which has no extradition treaty with the United States.

Dadyan and her brother-in-law, Richard Ayvazyan, the fugitive mastermind of the COVID-19 loan scam, were born in Armenia when it was part of the Soviet Union, immigrated to the United States as children and grew up in the San Fernando Valley.

On the eve of the family's fraud trial in June, Dadyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of her plea deal with prosecutors, she identified Ayvazyan, his wife, Marieta Terabelian, and other family members as co-conspirators.

Ayvazyan and Terabelian disappeared in August after they were convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other crimes. The couple left a note telling their three teenage children it was "not a goodbye but a brief break from each other." Wilson later sentenced Ayvazyan in absentia to 17 years in prison, and Terabelian to six years. The FBI has offered a $20,000 reward for information on their whereabouts.

The FBI continues to seek fugitives Richard Ayvazyan, 43, & Marietta Terabelian, 37, both of whom fled home detention after being convicted in a massive #Covid fraud case. Please call us at 3104776565 to claim a #reward up to $20K with info as to their whereabouts #FugitiveFridaypic.twitter.com/mzXIdkVr3v  FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) October 16, 2021

Dadyan's husband, Artur Ayvazyan, the brother of Richard, was also convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. As he did for the others, Wilson let Artur Ayvazyan remain free for months. He turned himself in on time, the day before his wife absconded.

In court papers filed a week before Dadyan fled, her attorney, Jerry Kaplan, dismissed prosecutor's warnings that she would run away as "baloney." He did not respond to requests for comment.

Artur Ayvazyan walks outside a federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on June 25, 2021, when he was being tried on charges of bank fraud, money laundering and other crimes. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

Wilson, a former prosecutor who has been a federal judge since 1985, declined to comment on how he decides whether defendants need to be taken into custody upon conviction or sentencing. He rejected prosecutors' requests to lock up both Ayvazyan brothers after the trial jury convicted them in June.

Federal judges generally must weigh whether defendants would pose a flight risk or a danger to the community if they are free on bail before a guilty plea or a trial jury's verdict. Once someone is convicted, the calculation can change, depending partly on what crimes were committed.

At Dadyan's Dec. 6 sentencing, Wilson found there was no "clear and convincing evidence" that she would flee or threaten public safety before her surrender date.

Fenton, a Justice Department trial lawyer dispatched from Washington to Los Angeles to join the prosecution team, urged Wilson to keep in mind that Dadyan had "lied to the court repeatedly," failed to cooperate with probation agents and was part of a "family enterprise" of fraud. He also mentioned the disappearance of Richard Ayvazyan and Terabelian, saying Dadyan might join them overseas and had "every incentive to flee."

Richard Ayvazyan exits a federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles during his fraud trial on June 25, 2021. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

"I don't think that I can attribute what they did to her," Wilson said. "I mean that doesn't seem fair."

Philip Gutierrez, the chief U.S. district judge for the Central District of California, said many factors can influence a judge's decision to let a convicted felon voluntarily report to prison.

The Bureau of Prisons needs time to figure out where a new inmate should be housed, he said, and a judge's concerns about flight risk can taper when a defendant has established a record of complying with conditions of release over a period of months.

"It's a balancing act, and I can't say necessarily there's a right answer or a wrong answer," he said.

Dadyan was not required to wear an ankle bracelet to track her whereabouts, but was ordered to use a facial recognition app on her phone to check in periodically with the court. Until Jan. 28, she responded as required when she was pinged, said Jeffrey S. Thomason, the court's acting chief Probation and Pretrial Services officer for the Central District of California.

Nationwide, 811 defendants in federal cases became fugitives last year while Probation and Pretrial Services was monitoring their compliance with bail conditions, including 49 in California's Central District, Thomason said.

The hunt for Dadyan, Richard Ayvazyan and Terabelian will not be easy. Scott Garriola, a retired FBI agent and veteran fugitive chaser, said the FBI squad that is dedicated to capturing criminals on the run is too small to devote much time to catching nonviolent felons.

We couldnt justify spending resources chasing white-collar-crime cases when there were murderers to catch, and rapists and carjackers  those were our marching orders, said Garriola, best known for his arrest of fugitive Boston gangster James Whitey Bulger.

If Dadyan and her in-laws made it to Armenia, presumably by driving first to Mexico to evade arrest at any U.S. airport, they would be hard to extract, particularly if they are living under false identities. Wilson expressed concern in November that the three children of Ayvazyan and Terabelian had sought passports to travel to Armenia, but did not stop them from getting them.

Following the teens' trail to their parents and aunt in Armenia, if they are there, would require cooperation of local law enforcement, and extraditions of American criminals from there are rare. The FBI's nearest outpost is on the opposite side of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Tbilisi, Georgia.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Democrats trying to ban members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks say they now have a path forward after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week said she would be open to the idea after months of resistance.

During a call with reporters Thursday, they said the effort would restore public trust in Congress at a time when over 70% of voters support curbing the practice for lawmakers and top staff who might put their own interests above the public's.

"When we get caught up and even have the ability to individually trade stock, it erodes public trust in government. And right now, whether it is media, government, or any sort of institution, we are having a crisis of public faith in many institutions that are very critical to the well-being of society," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Thursday on the call, joined also by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Joe Neguse, D-Colo.

MORE: Pelosi blames market drop on Trump's handling of US coronavirus outbreak

"When we have access to classified information, we should not be trading on that information, whether it's consciously or unconsciously, we shouldn't appear to even really advance the appearance of that," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Pelosi has been under pressure to drop her opposition from members of both parties inside Congress and from outside critics of her husband's stock trades.

There are several different proposals -- both in the House and Senate -- and while Pelosi on Wednesday didn't endorse any specific proposal, she did indicate she could now go along with the general concept -- with qualifications.

"It has to be government-wide, she said, adding that she thought the judicial branch should be included. "The Supreme Court has no disclosure. It has no reporting of stock transactions, and it makes important decisions every day."

PHOTO: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Febr. 9, 2022. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Even with that, it's a change from the hard-line she voiced two months ago.

"We're a free-market economy," Pelosi told reporters in December.

"I think that the speaker's openness on this position is really a testament to the fact that public attention and pressure can move public policy from the bottom all the way to the top, and I applaud the speaker's openness and her willingness to listen to the caucus on this issue," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Some sort of restriction appears to have support among leaders of both parties but leaders in both chambers have not shown support for any particular measure.

In the same week Pelosi expressed new openness, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he, too, backed the general idea of banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

One proposal is The Ban Conflicted Trading Act, which would explicitly bar members of Congress and their top staff members from trading stocks.

Fourteen members of Congress introduced the act in the House, including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Michael Cloud, R-Texas.

A bipartisan effort to ban congressional stock trading is the Trust in Congress Act , proposed by Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., which would stop both individual lawmakers and their immediate family from owning stocks.

But not all members of Congress support the ban.

Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., pushed back in an interview with Punchbowl News that was published on Wednesday.

"Why would you assume that members of Congress are going to be inherently bad or corrupt?" she asked.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he hadn't given the matter "serious thought" because his assets are in mutual funds, not stocks.

PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell arrives to speak to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 8, 2022. (Susan Walsh/AP)

"That's what I advise members to do because I think it prevents such suggestions that you are engaged in insider trading," he said.

Efforts to ban stock trading among members of Congress have been going on for more than 11 years, said Merkley, one of the Democrats leading the effort.

"This is the moment we need to get it. We don't need to just discuss it," he said Thursday, adding, "And we're building the momentum to make that happen."

Congress enacted the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act in 2012, requiring members to disclose their stock ownerships and rates. They often find loopholes to that law, however, triggering a number of public trading scandals, said Krishnamoorthi, who called the legislation "wholly inadequate" in addressing problems of insider trading.

"Fifty-four members of Congress violated the Stock Act in terms of not disclosing their trades, but for the hundreds who actually abided by the Stock Act and disclosed their trades, they created the appearance of insider trading," Krishnamoorthi said, referring to an analysis by Business Insider published earlier this year.

In 2017, after it was revealed that former Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., famously traded more than $300,000 of shares in medical companies while deeply involved in health care policy, pressure to tighten trading procedures increased.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., in 2020 stepped down as chair of the high-profile Senate Intelligence Committee while the Justice Department investigated stock trades he made at the dawn of the pandemic, including tens of thousands of dollars in trades made in the hospitality industry.

MORE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to backlash over 'Tax the Rich' Met Gala gown

Serious questions of conflicts of interest also arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when members of Congress came under scrutiny for purchasing stock in vaccine companies.

"Basically, people assume that when these members say, come out of a COVID hearing and start to buy Pfizer stock, that somehow they knew something about COVID when they bought the Pfizer stock that the rest of the country does not know," Krishnamoorthi said.

PHOTO: Sen. Jon Ossoff listens duirng a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 3, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Ken Cedeno/Getty Images, FILE)

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said on Thursday that stock trading during the pandemic highlighted the issue on the national stage.

"The high-profile scandals of stock trading during the COVID-19 pandemic, around confidential briefings that members were receiving, brought this issue to public consciousness," Ossoff said.

Ossoff, along with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., put forth their own proposal to to ban members and their immediate families from holding individual stocks -- the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not endorsed any specific legislation.

Pelosi open to banning congressional stock trading after months of resistance originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei and President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Armenian PMs Office said.

The message addressed to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei reads as follows,

I warmly congratulate you on the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

The smooth development of relations based on mutual trust and warmth with the neighboring and friendly Islamic Republic of Iran is of particular importance for the Republic of Armenia.

We can state with satisfaction that this year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the course of which has registered a steady path of development.

I am confident that the warm and neighborly Armenian-Iranian relations, firmly based on mutual respect and trust, will reach new horizons for the benefit of the development of our countries and the welfare of the peoples.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and lasting peace to the friendly people of Iran.



The message addressed to President of Iran Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi reads as follows,

I cordially congratulate you and the people of Iran on the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

In the Republic of Armenia, we highly appreciate the normal development of warm and neighborly Armenian-Iranian relations, which are based on centuries-old history and mutual respect.

We should record with satisfaction that this year we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the course of which has been marked by achievements in various fields and the expansion of cooperation prospects.

Highlighting the determination of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Iran to strengthen peace and stability in the region, I reaffirm the official invitation to you to visit Armenia to discuss the issues on the bilateral agenda.

I am convinced that due to joint efforts we will be committed to the deepening of high-level Armenian-Iranian interstate relations, and the multifaceted agenda of our cooperation will be further expanded for the benefit of our peoples and countries.

Taking the opportunity, I wish you prosperity and good health, and well-being and lasting peace to the friendly people of Iran.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. On February 11, at around 05:50, shots were fired from the Azerbaijani military positions located near Karmir Shuka and Taghavard communities of Artsakhs Martuni region in the direction of residential houses, Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan said in a statement on social media.

Given the distance between the settlements and the Azerbaijani positions, and the fact that the residential part of the village is directly observed from the Azerbaijani positions, it is undeniable that the Azerbaijani side has directly targeted the houses of the residents as a result of which residential houses, mainly walls, roofs, have been damaged.

The window of a house of Karmir Shuka resident was smashed during the same operations which are aimed at threatening civilians, and the bullet penetrated into the living room of the house, he said.

I reaffirm the claim that the criminal acts of Azerbaijan are of regular and systematic nature, aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear in Artsakh.

Azerbaijan will continue its criminal attempts against the people of Artsakh as long as the international community has not condemned unanimously the open Azerbaijani illegal acts against humanity, he added.
YEREVAN, 11 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan made a decision to increase the level of threat of being present in the territory of Ukraine to the maximum  the forth level, and called on its citizens to immediately leave that country, ARMENPRESS reports, citing Izvestia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced.



According to the classification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the fourth level of threat of being present in this or that country means to immediately leave the countrys territory and suspend any trip to that country.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan explained its decision by the continuing rise of tension at the Russian-Ukrainian border.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan emphasized that the further development of the situation remains unpredictable, despite the continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at the resolution of the crisis.
YEREVAN, 11 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has returned human remains to Azerbaijan through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ARMENPRESS reports citing Azerbaijani media, Eldar Samedov, Deputy Head of the Working Group of the Azerbaijan State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Elmar Samedov informed.

"The remains were removed mainly from groundwater sites, so it is very difficult to get DNA samples from those remains. In the final stage, clear information will be provided on how many bodies there are," Samedov said.
YEREVAN, 11 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The indescribable efforts made by Armenian businessmen last year have significantly contributed to the recovery of the Armenian economy following the huge economic depression of 2020, ARMENPRESS reports Coordinator of the Eurasian Expert Club, political analyst Aram Safaryan said at a press conference, presenting the results of the new research of the Eurasian Expert Club on the Armenian economy.

The Expert Club, with the help of its leading economists, has presented a new, the 7th study on the Armenia's economy in the context of Armenia's membership to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

In particular, Doctor of Economics, Professor Tatul Manaseryan found out in his research that after a severe 8% decline in 2020, the Armenian economy is showing signs of recovery.

According to the coordinator of the Club Aram Safaryan, Manaseryan singles out 4 main factors that contributed to the 5.8% economic growth in 2021. The first of them is the efforts of the Armenian businessman.

"Armenian businessmen have made indescribable efforts to rectify the situation after the 8% economic downturn in 2020, to record growth, thus providing a huge moral and financial benefit to our country. That is why we would like to express our words of praise to the representatives of the Armenian business field, who mainly produce finished goods and export them abroad. This is really a bravery,"the coordinator of the Eurasian Expert Club stressed.

The second important factor was the ban on the import of goods from Turkey in 2021, which stimulated the development of local products to replace imports.

"That one year was enough for the local producers, who replaced the import, to breathe and try to stand on their own two feet. You also noticed a lot of small and large household goods in stores, which have started to be produced in Armenia when the Armenian consumer got the opportunity to buy local products instead of those imported from Turkey," says Aram Safaryan.

The third factor contributing to economic growth, according to the economic study, is Armenia's membership to the EEU, and the fourth was the removal of many restrictions initiated by the government, which were introduced in 2020 to fight the coronavirus.
Katheryn Yvonne Horne was born January 22, 1935 on the family farm just east of Wilmot in Ashley County Arkansas. She left this life for Heavenly Paradise on March 23, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She went by her middle name Yvonne, though her sister called her Bo. She went to elem Read more
by Steve Suwannarat

Cambodia follows Indonesia's example to enhance environmental sustainability. The government's new strategy is aimed at protecting forests and achieve emissions neutrality by 2050. Local communities will benefit most of all.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews)  After Indonesia, Cambodia is the second Southeast Asian country to sell carbon credits, netting US$ 11 million between 2016 and 2020, accompanied by a policy of economic growth, greater energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Carbon credits are tradable certificates or permits for companies, communities and countries to offset excess carbon emissions as part of efforts to achieve environmental sustainability.

The carbon offsets market is projected to reach US$ 700 million by mid-decade, up from US$ 300 million in 2020 with the money raised usually ploughed back into carbon reduction.

In Cambodia, Disney, Shell and Gucci are among the international companies that bought carbon credits, basing their choice on independent assessments and the commitment of local organisations, like the Conservation Society Cambodia, to work with the authorities to achieve the same goals.

Today, Cambodia published its plan for carbon neutrality. Known officially as the Long-term strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN), it was submitted to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 30 December 2021.

The strategy is a highly significant step for Cambodia, a strong supporter of multilateral action on climate change, to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, said a joint statement by the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) and the Ministry of the Environment

This is a proactive change, aimed at guaranteeing funding for the conservation of forest areas, which have been recovering since the devastation caused during the Vietnam War and the subsequent conflict between Khmer Rouge-ruled Cambodia and Vietnam.

For decades, the exploitation of Cambodias forests and natural resources has favoured a precarious and uneven development, mostly entrusted to foreign or local interests connected to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for more than 30 years with an iron fist.

For Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra, the new strategy expresses a desire to follow a path that benefits local communities through sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and renewable resources.
by Shafique Khokhar

According to a student, Notan Lal insulted the Prophet Muhammad in 2019. For Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Pakistans blasphemy laws are poorly defined and require low standards for evidence.

Sukkur (AsiaNews)  A Pakistani court sentenced the principal of a Hindu high school to 25 years in prison for blasphemy. This followed accusations made by a student in 2019.

Notan Lal, the owner and principal of a private school in Ghotki, Sindh province, was charged under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Under this article, the Use of derogatory remarks, spoken, written, directly or indirectly, etc. [that] defiles the name of Muhammad or other Prophet(s) is deemed a criminal offence.

The principal, who according to his accuser insulted Muhammad during an Urdu class, was also fined 50,000 Pakistani rupees (US$ 285).

The accuser's father filed the first complaint, sparking sectarian violence throughout Ghotki district, resulting in attacks against and looting of Hindu shops, temples and schools.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pakistan's blasphemy legislation criminalises anyone who offends religious sentiment, imposing the death penalty or life imprisonment on those found guilty of insulting Islam or its prophet.

These laws are poorly defined and require low standards for evidence, CSW writes on its website. As a result, they are often used as a weapon of revenge against both Muslims and non-Muslims to settle personal scores or to resolve disputes over money, property or business.

In Pakistan, the resulting violence has had an impact on all minority communities. Last December, a mob of fanatics killed Priyantha Diyawadana, a Sri Lankan Buddhist, after he was accused by fellow workers of desecrating posters bearing the name of the Prophet Muhammad. It was later revealed that he was falsely accused in order to settle a personal score.

For CSW's founding president Mervyn Thomas, the harsh sentence imposed on Notan Lal is of great concern.

In a statement, he noted that the school principal is the latest victim of Pakistans unjust blasphemy laws, which are wholly incompatible with the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief and which must be reviewed urgently, with a view to their full repeal in future.

In light of this, We call for Mr Lals immediate and unconditional release, and for that of all those imprisoned or detained on similar charges.
Today's headlines : the Chinese Communist Party orders local officials to monitor and prevent abortions among young people and singles; Gulf monarchies pay homage to the Arabian leopard; possible entry of Kabul into the economic corridor between China and Pakistan; new hotbeds of tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines has ordered the reopening of borders and schools as a first step in a new policy of coexisting with Covid. Infection figures are falling and there is no threat of the virus returning. Hence the decision to allow classes for the first time in two years. The country has the second highest number of cases in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

CHINA

The Chinese Communist Party has ordered family planning officials to "intervene" to prevent abortions among very young and single women. Officials are also to promote an online campaign to "respect the social value of childbirth, support marriage and pregnancy". Measures aimed at increasing the birth rate.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper and other historic buildings in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman were decorated with symbols and images of the Arabian leopard to mark the first International Leopard Day yesterday. The feline is the region's top predator and an icon in local culture and is threatened with extinction.

AFGHANISTAN

China and Pakistan intend to open up for Afghanistan's entry into the economic corridor between the two countries (Cpec). The issue was the focus of a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to local economic experts, Kabul's entry would boost trade in the region.

THAILAND - ASIA

Thailand is a "flawed democracy" and ranks 72nd out of 167 countries, the same level as last year, according to the Economist's Democracy Index 2021. The kingdom ranked below Malaysia (39), Indonesia (52), the Philippines (54) and Singapore (66), but above Vietnam (131), Cambodia (134) and Myanmar second-to-last, better only than North Korea and followed by Afghanistan.

RUSSIA

Liberal-nationalist party leader Vladimir Zirinovsky was hospitalised and intubated in intensive care for Covid-19, the infection of which he had concealed for a fortnight so as not to encourage the no-vax crowd. Previously, he had already received eight doses of each type of vaccine produced in Russia.

ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Dzejkhun Bayramov said that mass graves had been found in Nagorno-Karabakh, where hundreds of people of unknown origin had been buried. The Armenian secret service reported that it had broken up a network of spies working for foreign services. Nineteen Armenians were arrested, including soldiers, who had sold themselves in exchange for rewards and promotions.
A low-key celebration due to restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the "red" cities, only parades aboard cars and motorbikes, while in the country the number of Omicron-related infections grows. The US is cautiously optimistic about an agreement "in sight". But Iranian President Raisi puts a damper on enthusiasm: "No hope".

Tehran (AsiaNews) - Iranians are today celebrating 43 years since the revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which led to the fall of Shah Reza Pahlevi and the founding of a republic based on Shiite Islam. This year's celebration is also a minor one because of the Covid-19 outbreaks, which have increased in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant.

In addition, the leadership's attention is focused on the negotiations underway in Vienna on the nuclear issue, which could turn around an economy sinking under international sanctions.

This morning thousands of cars and motorbikes lined the streets of Tehran to celebrate the 1979 Islamic revolution. Compared to previous years, for the second time in a row few people joined the celebrations, marching on foot in fear of being struck by the new coronavirus at a time when the pandemic is still active.

In the capital, processions started at various points, then converged as usual in Azadi Square where in the afternoon, during the Friday prayer rites, President Ebrahim Raisi will give a speech to the nation.

The anniversary comes at the same time as the new round of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue, which resumed on February 8 in Vienna after a few weeks of deadlock and around which there is moderate (and very cautious) optimism.

In recent days, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki has said that the agreement "is in sight" but at the same time has warned that "if it is not reached in the coming weeks, Teheran's nuclear progress" will make it "impossible" to sign in the future. The enthusiasm was dampened by Iranian President Raisi himself who, in a video message released today, said he had "no hope" in the talks and did not believe "in Vienna and New York".

Returning to the celebrations, protesters waved Iranian flags and chanted the usual slogans and chants, as well as placards, including "death to America" and "death to Israel", which are never lacking on these occasions. Marches and carousels affected 1,500 cities, over 3,000 villages, 60,000 mosques and 40,000 bases of the Basij militias (linked to the Pasdaran) scattered throughout the territory. In the "red" cities, due to Covid restrictions, only car and motorbike parades were held. In those in the yellow or blue category, processions were also held on foot, respecting security protocols and - as far as possible - spacing out the participants.

Health authorities say that the Omicron variant is now also prevalent in Iran and hospitals are on the alert for a possible wave of infections and hospitalisations. With more than 130,000 registered victims - but the real toll could be much higher - the Islamic Republic holds the sad record for the highest number of deaths caused by Covid in the Middle East since the start of the global health emergency. Tehran claims to have vaccinated about 80% of the population over the age of 18 with the two doses, although only 27% also received the booster.
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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
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FWD

SUV

Tucked in between the quirky Sorento and the hulkingly popular Telluride sits Kias Sorento. Right now, a 2022 model year will set American customers back a little less than $30k. Seriously now, the traditional-powered Sorento kicks off at an MSRP of $29,490 (excludes $1,175 destination, though) for the LXNaturally, given its fashionable pizzazz, as Kia even goes as far as to name theirpart of the premium category, one can also go a little higher. And even turn sustainable, with a $33,990 Sorento HEV. Still too cheap? Well, then how about a PHEV version , which has a $44,990 tag and certainly can also skip a beat above the $45k mark with higher trims. Still not bad at all, right?Then one could also think about investing a little sum into making it stand out in the right SUV crowd. And there is no shortage of aftermarket ideas, both across the real world and the virtual realm. Case in point. Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist better known as kelsonik on social media, creates such life-like transformations they now easily fool certain people.For example, some of his fans asked about the brand names of the aftermarket parts used on this blue Kia Sorento. One that is casually packing the artists Shadow Line, as well as a lowered suspension and a new set of wheels/tires. Only that, just like every other digital project from this CGI expert, it is all wishful thinking. Even better, this is not the first time we see him treating Kias Sorento to such digital transformations.Frankly, even though some might just consider the new one a simple color change, it still bodes well for SUV aficionados. And perhaps the artist has a little passion for Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis, considering the high number of apparitions ?!
With 2023 just around the corner, the Ford Explorer is due a mid-cycle refresh thats leaked out early in Chinese specification. Pictures of the Changan Ford-built model are plastered on many forums at press time, and they all feature a supersized landscape-oriented touchscreen infotainment system.Inspired by the Ford Evos , the ginormous display is complemented by two central vents under which youll find some vital buttons for things like the hazard lights. A large cubby hole is located at the very front of the center console that hides the 10R60 automatic transmission. The main difference between it and the 10R80 in the Ranger and F-150 pickups is torque capacity, as in 600 Nm (443 pound-feet) compared to 800 Nm (590 lb-ft).A rotary gear shift dial on the driver side and two cupholders on the passenger side also need to be mentioned, along with a digital instrument cluster and a two-tone steering wheel with the Ford logo taped off. That detail is particularly interesting because the infotainment systems start-up screen reads E X P L O R E R, as do the license plates and liftgate badges of two demo vehicles. Whats more, the exterior badges arent taped off.The redesigned headlamps are a bit well, iffy compared to the pre-facelift model. The upper and lower grille as well as the side vents of the bumper arent particularly charming either. As for the rear valance panel that incorporates odd exhaust finishers, thats a hard pass in my book.In the Chinese market, Changan Ford currently offers the pre-facelift Explorer with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost. No V6 option, sorry! In this part of the world, the four-cylinder turbo mill develops 203 kilowatts (272 horsepower) at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 425 Nm (313 pound-feet) at 3,500 rpm.
No arrests have been made in this incident and no other items that were stolen have been recovered.



We thank the public for reporting sightings which assisted in the recovery of the vehicle. We also thank the Orange County Sheriffs Department for locating the vehicle.  Costa Mesa Police (@CostaMesaPD) February 9, 2022

Its not that often that you hear of a happy ending with the theft of a car, but this is one of those rare cases. Being a celebrity with a huge platform helps, as also did the fact that Armstrong himself reached out to the thieves on social media, telling them that he would not press charges if they just dropped off the vehicle somewhere without damage to it.Last weekend, thieves broke into a commercial business in California, stealing a white, two-door 1962 Chevrolet II Nova, two electric guitars, and an amp that belonged to Armstrong. After reporting the theft to the police, Armstrong took to social media to ask for help from the fans. He said the car had been with him since 1993 and for much longer in his circle of friends and family, so the loss was very personal.He also offered some details about the vehicle, including that it had several engines since he got it, once was involved in a crash, but was otherwise mostly original. It had also been recently restored and was in impeccable condition.To the people that stole it, the one thing is, like, I dont want anyone to go to jail. That sucks, you know, Armstrong then said. Just drop it off. Or, you know, and if you do get caught, Ill bail you out. I just want my car back.He just got his car back. Costa Mesa Police report that the vehicle was retrieved in Orange, just 10 miles (16 km) from where it had been stolen. The fact that the guitars and the amp were not recovered could mean the thieves heard Armstrongs message and paid heed to it.Armstrong, for one, doesnt even care about the other stuff. Joy ride? Maybe... who knows. We live in desperate times, he writes on Instagram. Thank God its all in one piece. No damage. Thank you, thank you to everyone that searched for my Chevy.
President Joe Biden's plan to reduce Russian gas loss for the EU marks another roadblock to getting his reputation on track.Brussels expected a lot from the White House to get a natural gas provider if the Kremlin decides to shut the tap. Gazprom has inked deals with Hungary and eastern European EU members despite the threats of shutting the pipeline.

Joe Biden Warns To Stop Russian Gas Pipeline

Biden and his $33bn plan got yanked as there is a lack of an understanding of how the dynamics of EU needs should be addressed, reported the Express.

Washington is struggling to counter the dependence on Russian gas supplies, which the Kremlin has allegedly weaponized. Far ahead, Vladimir Putin had covered his bases before the US entered the fray.

Last Monday, the US president warned he would stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if an alleged invasion of Ukraine happened. He said there would be another option in the proclamation though it was not specified, cited CNBC.

Gazprom is under the Kremlin, who can stop supplies with a call that worries the West, who have no control over how the Russian leader will act.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarded the Russian pipeline as purposeful means to unravel Brussels and its members.

NATO thinks using the Nord Stream 2 is their best bet to deter the ex-KGB man, and they still believe they can deter the Russian leader from steamrolling Kyiv.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Outmaneuvers Joe Biden by Falling for Feints and Stratagems Weakening, Dividing the Western Alliance

But, Germany will not commit to surrendering its energy security to Washington. Gazprom has the most affordable prices than other producers and the most capacity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees the pipeline that can pump more gas as the best option; until it has entirely shifted to green energy. Other EU members are not ready to allow the US or Brussels to decide for them, noted Jaun English.

Washington To Reassess the Gas Problem

The White House prematurely announced another pipeline as an alternative to Gazprom. But, the firm Biden tapped was wracked by reports of corruption. He's forced to go back to square one while Putin is laughing his way to the bank.

Tapping a $33bn pipeline originating from Azerbaijan to the EU is supposed to be an alternative that belied up instead. BP has operations in the Caspian Sea close to Azerbaijan, which was supposed to be the first gas delivery to Turkey.

The Shah Deniz 2 operation supplies the gas pumped into the pipeline that will go as far as the southern side of Europe, but it was canceled due to corruption charges.

Reports say two Azerbaijan state firms have stolen $1.7 billion from the Shah Deniz 2 activities. Culprits had padded contracts and false charges added to the service.

This problem has pushed Washington to reassess how to solve the gas problem. Overall, Joe Biden's plan went out like smoke, while the EU and leaders in Brussels are seeing red as Putin is in control.

Related Article: Joe Biden Shellacked by Approval Rating Like Donald Trump's Prompting Indicators of a Red Wave Coming in Midterms Sweeping Democrats

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EV

The Californian agency concluded a three-year investigation into Tesla, convinced that the Americanmaker did very little to fight racism in Fremont. In the lawsuit, the Californian agency said this: In another move to avoid accountability, Tesla, during its annual shareholders meeting in October 2021, announced plans to move its headquarters from Palo Alto, California to Austin, Texas.The lawsuit also contradicts many of the accusations Tesla made against the DFEH. The EV maker said that, at a time when manufacturing jobs are leaving California, the DFEH has decided to sue Tesla instead of constructively working with us. Tesla said that was both unfair and counterproductive, especially because the allegations focus on events from years ago. The Californian agency has a very different story to tell.According to the lawsuit, DFEH attempted to resolve this matter without litigation. The Californian agency said it invited Tesla to participate in a mediation session with the departments internal dispute resolution division on January 12 and 20, 2022, but Tesla refused to attend until February 8, 2022.On February 7, 2022, Tesla announced the DFEH investigation for the first time during the three-year investigation in its Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K. On February 8, the parties were unable to resolve the administrative complaints at the mediation.On February 9, Tesla published a blog post complaining about the Californian agency, implying it could leave the state for good due to that. The DFEH lawsuit was filed on the same day. It states it happened on February 9, 2021, which was clearly a typo.The way DFEH puts it, it seems Tesla did everything it could to have a legal battle while pretending it did not want it. Considering the DFEH would not lie about a mediation session, the behavior Tesla presented in this case looks not only elusive, but also incredibly unwise, to put it in polite terms.Owen Diaz won a lawsuit against Tesla for racial harassment and discrimination. A San Francisco jury ruled he should receive $6.9 million for emotional distress and $130 million for punitive damages. Tesla is now fighting to reduce the punitive damages award in courts. Confronted with the Californian agencys lawsuit, the court may decide it was a fair value. And Tesla may have to pay even more if the Superior Court of California decides the DFEHs allegations are correct.The cases would also not be from years ago, as Tesla said. The company stated the DFEH has been asked on almost 50 occasions by individuals who believe they were discriminated against or harassed to investigate Tesla. According to the EV maker, it would have concluded all investigations without a finding of misconduct against Tesla. The DFEH denies that.In its lawsuit, it said that after approximately three years of investigation, receiving hundreds of complaints from workers and serving many to Tesla, DFEH issued a cause finding on January 3, 2022. In other words, the investigation started around 2019 and ended very recently.Summing up, were talking about hundreds of complaints, of which only some may have been served to Tesla. Thats probably why the company concluded that they were only almost 50 instead of way more than that.It is not clear why DFEH served only a few to Tesla nor why it issued only one cause finding to deal with hundreds of complaints. Perhaps a single, more general one was all it took, but wed need to confirm that with the DFEH. We have sent a few questions to the Californian agency. All we received back was a copy of the lawsuit.It shows the DFEH seems to have had enough with Teslas behavior. It states that Mr. Musk is infamous for taking positions that run counter to those of other car companies, technology companies, billionaires and workers. It also notes that Teslas brand, purportedly highlighting a socially conscious future, masks the reality of a company that profits from an army of production workers, many of whom are people of color, working under egregious conditions.A little further ahead, the lawsuit shows a pretty grim working environment in Fremont. The DFEH did not expose the identity of the workers that complained about racism there or identified the people that perpetrated the multiple racial insults. They are only identified as DOES ONE through FIFTY, meaning that the DFEH will amend this complaint to allege their true names and capacities when the same are ascertained.The DFEH does not spare the details of what African American workers go through throughout the day, every day at Fremont. Some of them claim to hear racial insults 50 to 100 times a day.They include the n-word, porch monkey, monkey toes, boy, hood rats, and horse hair. African American workers also heard insults in Spanish, such as mayate (equivalent to the n-word or to calling someone gay, depending on the context) and negrita (little black woman).They also hear racist jokes such as n-word out of the hood, from the ghetto, Tesla [was] hiring lazy coons, and go back to Africa. DFEH also says that the factory is racially segregated, which allegedly causes areas with a majority of African American workers to be referred to as porch monkey station, slaveship, or the plantation, where the management would crack the whip.The environment in Fremont is described as threatening to African Americans. They see "swastikas, KKK, the n-word, and other racist writing onto walls of restrooms, restroom stalls, lunch tables, and even factory machinery." "One Black worker observed hang N[ ] penned next to a drawing of a noose in the breakroom restroom. This worker also saw all monkeys work outside and f[ ] N[ ] on the breakroom walls."Workers with Confederate flag tattoos allegedly exhibit them proudly to try to start a fight with African Americans. If any altercation emerges, the latter are punished more severely, which can include even terminations. The same would not happen to the employees provoking the African American workers.The DFEH also accuses Tesla of employing African American people in more physically demanding posts and the lowest-level contract roles." Tesla would also pay them less and prevent them from advancement opportunities. There are reports of only Black and/or African American workers cleaning the factory floor on their hands and knees, something no other group of employees allegedly had to endure.The Californian agency even traced a racial profile of Tesla workers. According to it, Black and/or African American workers make up 0% of executives and about 3% of professionals at the Fremont plant. On the other hand, about 20% of the factory operatives, such as engine and other machine assemblers, are Black and/or African American."The issue is that the DFEH did not do its homework as it should. It also states in the lawsuit that segregation at the Fremont factory, along with the absence of Black and/or African Americans in leadership roles, has left many complaints of rampant racism unchecked for years. The Californian agency either completely forgot about Valerie Capers Workman, Teslas former vice president of people, or tried to exempt her from responsibility to reinforce the narrative that an African American executive could have prevented racism.Workman is African American and she worked for Tesla for four years. She became the companys vice president of people in July 2020. If she did not do anything about the systematic racial discrimination and harassment in her one year and seven months as the main human resources executive at the company, there are only two possible explanations for that: either Workman did not think there was anything wrong, or she could not do anything about it.When Diaz won his lawsuit against Tesla on October 4, 2021, Workmans email to employees ended up as a Tesla blog post as well. It is still online and states that she strongly believed that these facts dont justify the verdict reached by the jury in San Francisco. Workman also said Diaz was not a Tesla employee  as if what happened to him inside Fremont was less severe due to being a contract worker  and that he didnt make any complaints about the n-word until after he was not hired full-time by Tesla  and after he hired an attorney.The DFEH lawsuit presents 13 causes of action against Tesla. Summing them up, they have to do with racial harassment, racial discrimination in the work environment (leading to worse employment conditions for African Americans), retaliation against those who complained, and fail to keep records of complaints.The DFEH is asking Tesla to be judged by a jury. If convicted, the Californian agency wants the EV maker to pay:1. Compensatory and punitive damages;2. Economic damages and equitable relief (...);3. Liquidated damages and penalties, as required by law;4. Injunctive relief;5. Declaratory relief;6. Prejudgment interest, as required by law;7. Attorneys fees and costs to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing; and8. Other relief the Court deems to be just and properThat can represent a significant financial blow to Tesla, even worse than that caused by the Owen Diaz case. After all, we are now talking about hundreds of complaints with really serious reports of racial harassment and discrimination. Thats something Tesla and its investors have to worry about.For us, what is more shocking is having to imagine anyone working every day in a hostile environment such as the one described by the DFEH lawsuit. If that is really how things are there, the quality problems Tesla vehicles suffer finally have a convincing  and pretty sad  explanation.
SUV

Rapper Fat Joe is the latest celebrity to undergo a major change on his ride, which is, naturally, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan . The rapper showed a before and after look at the luxury, which used to be a two-tone blue and white, captioning it night and day. However exotic-looking Rolls-Royce is, the before look doesnt make it as elegant as it can be. Combined with the black windows and wheels, it wasnt as head-turning as celebrities would want their rides to be.But now it is. The rapper worked with car customizer Will Castro, who gave us a full look at the result. Now, the Cullinan shows a stunning combination of black and orange. He revealed he partnered up with Team Unique for the project, and wrote: Enjoy your Mandarin Edition, we did it again.The exterior is matte black, with bright orange accents, while the interior is in Mandarin edition, with orange everywhere, but in a classy way. Unlike the exterior, inside, there are only some elegant black accents. It also features the Starlight Headliner and it looks like the backseat doesnt come with a center console.Under the hood, Rolls-Royce 's first SUV, introduced in 2018, comes with the company's 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers 562 horsepower (570 ps) at 5,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) at 1,600 rpm, sending power to all wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Cullinan can reach 62 mph (100 kph) in five seconds and, similar to the rest of Rolls-Royce's lineup, has a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph (249 kph).Although his SUV has always been mighty and powerful, this time it actually looks the part, and Fat Joe seems very proud of it.
The US-Canadian automotive collective had already taken a pummeling in the months before the first whispers of a Canadian trucker strike . One focused on ending new health code-related regulations in the trucking industry drivers claim are infringing on their civil liberties. But beginning late last month, trucker protests have had ramifications that are now directly impacting the auto industry in a tremendous way.A slew of manufacturers ranging from Toyota and Lexus, Honda , GM, Ford, and Stellantis Group maintains a heavy and prominent presence in the Southern Ontario industrial sector so tantalizingly close to Detroit. Much of these manufactured automobiles rely on the famed Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, to get from one country to the other.When this bridge was closed to traffic thanks to the efforts of protestors, it put another stranglehold on the industry. Compounding the issues of the health crisis and the global chip shortage to such a high degree that has lawmakers on both the American and Canadian sides scrambling for a solution. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, brother of the late former Mayor of Toronto Rob Ford, declared a state of emergency in response to blockades in Windsor and Ottawa.Heavy fines of up to $100,000 and up to a year's imprisonment are to be implemented under these orders for protestors who do not comply with orders to leave and return peacefully to their homes. Meanwhile, five of the country's leading automakers sit in waiting, and their factories workers go without a paycheck. Check back for updates from the situation as we get them here on autoevolution.
AMG

Speaking to Motor Authority during the Chicago Auto Show, the Blue Ovals representative made it clear that 2022 is the final year of the V6-engined supercar. Multimatic, the company that manufactures the second-gen GT in Canada, should finish all of the remaining cars in December.Chassis number 1,100 just rolled off the assembly line in Markham, leaving only 250 vehicles until years end. Spokesman Jiyan Cadiz further offered a few details regarding the build numbers for the GT Heritage Edition.27 examples of the 66 were built for the 2017 model year, followed by 39 examples of the 67 for the 2018 model year. The Gulf Livery numbers 100 units in total for 2019 and 2020, while the 66 Daytona totals 50 units.Cadiz told Motor Authority that build slots for the Alan Mann Heritage Edition are still available. If you have lots of money burning through your pocket, the 64 Prototype Heritage Edition can be snapped up as well.Estimated to retail somewhere around the $500,000 mark , the GT was penned by lifelong Ford Motor Company design employee Chris Svensson. Aged 53, the Brit passed away in July 2018 after a battle with cancer. He is best known for the first-gen Ford Ka that ran from 1996 through 2008.Originally rated at 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet (746 Nm), the GT was updated in 2020 to 660 horsepower. A track-focused toy compared to the original GT, the second coming features the Getrag 7DCL750 transmission marketed under the PowerShift moniker. Shared with the Mercedes-Benz SLS, Mercedes-AMG GT, Ferrari 458 Italia, and Ferrari California, the double-clutch transaxle costs $32,324 to replace.Every GT comes with a certain string attached. More specifically, owners are prevented from reselling the car for two years after taking delivery.
VTOL

Most eVTOLs are designed to become air taxis for fast, emissions-free transportation inside cities. But Odys Aviation is developing a hybrid-electricthat could operate between cities, reducing flight time on busy travel corridors by an impressive 50%.Axel Radermacher, who is leveraging his experience at Karma Automotive, joined forces with James Dorris, former propulsion expert at Virgin Hyperloop, to establish this aviation startup (previously known as Craft Aerospace) in 2019. Together with several consultants in the industry, they are working on a VTOL for regional transportation. They believe that a new era of inter-city travel can be both eco-friendly and passenger-friendly, meaning no more time wasted at airports or on long flights.The design and technical specifications of the future aircraft are still mysterious, but the manufacturer claims it will boast an impressive range of 1,000 miles (1,609 km), flying at a top speed of 345 mph (555 kph), at an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 meters). According to Odys Aviation, the VTOLs range and speed, together with its size, are specifically meant for high-volume operations. In fact, it was designed using input from several airlines so that the final product would be tailored to their needs.The commercial version will be a nine-seater, but the company is gearing up to first test a smaller version. The plan is to demonstrate a one-passenger prototype aircraft this year, which is very fast considering the company has only been active since 2019. A recent seed funding round of $12.4 million will help get things back on track for accomplishing this goal.Of course, there will still be a long way to go, with the VTOL expected to become certified by 2026. But, when it does, it could become a real game-changer in regional travel , able to cover 65% of U.S. domestic flights.
Autoblog had the opportunity of speaking with Jeep head Jim Morrison during a media roundtable in Chicago. When asked whether he had something to share about the GME T6 engine, he didnt reply with the archetypal we dont comment on speculation about future products.The big kahuna gingerly asked Autoblog if theyre coming to New York, and thats a confirmation by most accounts. The Big Apples auto show is due this April, the first New York Auto Show in three years because the 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled over this pesky pandemic.April 2022 also fits right in our previous reports on the inline-six mill.Stellantis launched the high-output variant into production at the Saltillo Engine Plant back in November 2021. You know, the facility that makes HEMI V8s ranging from the 5.7L to the 6.4L and 6.2L supercharged Hellcat. After this little slip of the tongue became a headline on autoevolution, that information was taken down from the North American media website of Stellantis. Not really a coincidence, thats for sure!Discovered by none other than yours truly, an Excel published by Centro Ricerche Fiat lists five applications for the GME T6, starting with the Ram 1500 pickup truck. The Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer make up the rest. Later on, insider details provided to autoevolution confirmed twin turbos and ESS tech.We still dont know too much about it, though. How much will the standard-output engine crank out? Is there a hybrid on the horizon? Regardless of what you may read in the automotive media right now, Stellantis hasnt offered a single technical specification other than displacement. Because its closely related to the 2.0-liter turbo GME T4 in the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, the GME T6 clocks in at 3.0 liters.

Autoblog wisely notes the Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer are the only Jeeps in the current lineup offered with the 5.7-liter HEMI, making them the likeliest candidates for the Tornado twin-turbocharged sixer.
But these are the exact claims levied against the Hertz rental car company in a Delaware State bankruptcy court this week. A company that recently made headlines for a reported landmark deal with Tesla now finds itself under fire.All for accusations of issuing false and misleading allegations against their own customers. Claiming that some of their customers had stolen their rented vehicles. Some even threatened with time behind bars.As many as 230 different people are accusing the Hertz company of having them falsely imprisoned. After Hertz themselves accused them of stealing rented company vehicles using erroneous or possibly fabricated theft reports. Shockingly, some accusers even claim they were arrested at gunpoint. At the current moment, the exact number of lawsuits filed as well as the specific number of arrests are still sealed documents in court proceedings.The Hertz Corporation made headlines during the darkest days of the global health crisis in the Spring of 2020. With cities and towns nationwide under strict lockdown, operating profits for Hearst Corporation effectively ceased to exist.Demand for rental cars was at an all-time low during this time. Hertz only exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in July of 2021, but court proceedings outside of strictly bankruptcy-related issues continue to bedevil the century-old icon of the American auto biz.If found guilty, the still reeling Hertz Corporation could face heavy monetary penalties, as well as potential emotional damage settlements on a case by case basis, with the 200-plus strong currently taking them head-on in court. What the results of the court's findings wind up presenting remains to be seen as of mid-February 2022.
The new alert warns that the battery pack may stop working properly during the charging cycle or rolling vehicle, causing an internal short circuit. In the previous warning, Renault only said that the battery pack presented an internal short circuit and that it the condition could lead to increased risk of fire.It makes no sense to have two reports about the same issue, but the two end up complementing each other. The Portuguese alert said that the problem was related to the BT4 XLR (Extra Long Range) battery pack, which Renault commercial refers to as "E.V. 50 battery pack." It is not clear why the battery pack will stop working, but Renault mentions in the document that this interruption causes the short circuit.According to the French warning, the affected vehicles were produced between January 3, 2021, and February 22, 2021. That makes the production period ten days longer than that on the Portuguese alert, which mentioned manufacturing of the defective EVs started o January 13, 2021. The end date is the same.Renault told us that it would contact these 733 owners to fix the cars. The repair most certainly includes replacing these battery packs, but we still need to confirm that with the French automaker. When asked if the issue also affects ZOE units exported to other places, such as South America, Renault stated that only cars sold in Europe would need the repair.Repeating ourselves, much of the necessary information about these recalls should be included in the alert to European authorities. It seems that there is no demand for crucial data to be included, which leaves us with half-baked reports that we have to clarify with automakers. If the idea is to protect customers, the European Union should make sure they have immediate access to everything they should know.
A lot of people turned to RVs and campers in the past two years, trying to escape the stay-at-home restrictions. Combined with the supply chains problems, this led to skyrocketing prices that are most likely to continue in the following years. A cheaper solution is to buy a used vehicle and convert it into a camper, but this takes skills, work, and still a lot of money. What if theres a third way, that will allow you not only to live that van life but also keep your vehicle unchanged?RiverLeaf builds conversion kits that turn popular minivans like the Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Pacifica into capable campers, while also keeping their ability to carry four passengers. The Kansas-based startup offers the Arches kit for around $2,200, comprising interior dining and sleeping, and outdoor kitchen space. The best part is the whole kit can be removed and stored in the garage when not needed, the whole operation taking no more than a couple of minutes.The Arches kit looks like a two-drawer box that can be strapped in the boot of a regular minivan using the floor tie-down points. It only weighs 135 lb (61 kg), so two people have no problem lifting it. The kit features fold-out hardware that can be arranged as two rear-facing lounge seats, a front-facing sofa, or a rear dining lounge with a U-shaped bench. The removable table can also be used in the front, the rear, or outdoors, while also filling the space between the rear benches to complete the 8 x 72-in (122 x 183-cm) bed.The left and right drawers open up to create a kitchenette, with a collapsible sink basin on one side and a single-burner gas stove on the other side. A cooler box can be stowed in the space between the two. Of course, RiverLeaf can customize its kits for many minivan models in the U.S., including Honda Odyssey and other vans with the load floor sunk below the lower edge of the tailgate frame.A Badlands version of the kit is also in development. This would allow converting SUVs into mini campers, for a more all-terrain experience. Of course, RiverLeaf is not the only company that offers conversion kits for different kinds of vehicles, but theyre probably the least expensive that we know of.
More on this:

1 Renault Survived the Crisis in 2020 Only Thanks to a State Loan

2 Renault ZOE Faces Battery Recall for Fire Risk

3 This Is How the Rivian R1T Handles Ike Gauntlet, the World's Toughest Towing Test

4 Rivian Would Now Be Able to Deliver 200 EVs Per Week Despite Supply Challenges

5 Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Will Have 30 New EVs Over Five Platforms Until 2030
Clarence House confirmed that Prince Charles has been isolated after testing positive for COVID-19. According to a statement on his official Twitter account, the heir to the British throne, who is 73 years old, had to cancel his presence at an event in the English city of Winchester on Thursday.

After the news broke, a royal insider informed CNN that Prince Charles had "recently" met with the Queen. The source did not specify the date of the meeting. According to the source, Her Majesty is not showing any signs of illness, and the issue will be closely followed.

Prince Charles Tests Positive For COVID-19 Again

The prince has tested positive for the second time in his life. In late March 2020, when the pandemic was beginning to affect countries worldwide, Prince Charles became the first to test positive. Soon after, his father, Prince Philip, tested positive in 2020.

Vaccinated Prince Charles said at the time of his first infection that he was lucky only to have mild symptoms and that he'd "got away with it quite lightly." Queen Elizabeth II marked her platinum jubilee on Sunday by expressing her "sincere wish" that her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall, should become Queen Consort once he becomes King.

This comes just hours after Prince Charles spent the evening celebrating the work of the British Asian Trust, which he founded, with a slew of individuals at the British Museum.

Read Also: Omicron Found in New York Deer Raises Fears of COVID-19 Evolution

Prince Charles Met the Queen Less Than 48 Hours Prior to Diagnosis

After seeing Prince Charles just two days ago, there are worries that Queen Elizabeth II may have come into touch with COVID-19. But Buckingham Palace did not confirm or deny that the Queen had contracted COVID-19 or if she has been tested for it. They did say that she is currently manifesting no signs or symptoms, as per The Sun.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles are said to have met on Tuesday after the monarch returned from Sandringham, where she celebrated 70 years on the throne, making her the longest-reigning monarch in history. According to a Buckingham Palace official, Queen Elizabeth II is fully vaccinated.

The monarch's physicians are said to monitor her and urge her to perform daily lateral flow tests for the following week. After getting the virus for the second time, royal officials said that the Prince of Wales isn't suffering any major symptoms. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall met with visitors at the British Museum on Wednesday, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel, to celebrate the work of the British Asian Trust.

Prince Charles had been the royal patron of the National Gallery in London earlier that day. On Thursday, the Prince of Wales was scheduled to attend a civic banquet in The Great Hall before unveiling a statue of Licoricia of Winchester. His Royal Highness is "very upset" that he will not be able to attend the ceremony after testing positive for the virus, according to a representative for Clarence House.

Camilla, Prince Charles' wife, has tested negative and has continued to make public appearances as usual. In March 2020, the 73-year-old acquired and recovered from a moderate bout of coronavirus. In June 2020, Prince Charles told Sky News that the first time he acquired the illness, he "got away with it very easily."

Related Article: Prince Charles' Wife, Camilla, Gets Heartwarming Message From Queen Elizabeth II: Call Her "Queen," Not Princess Consort

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@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NHTSA

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

September 15th is when thewas informed of a crash involving a model year 2021 Elantra where the driver-side pretensioner deployed abnormally, causing metal fragments to injure an occupants leg. A law firm tipped off the, and subsequently, the watchdog requested a proper assessment of the incident.Come October, the North American Safety Decision Authority decided to conduct a safety recall although the cause of the abnormal deployment was - and still is - unknown. Hyundai continued to investigate through December, the month Hyundai became aware of a second exploding pretensioner involving a model year 2020 Accent vehicle in Puerto Rico.The company is further aware of one related injury from one crash event in the U.S. received on December 3rd. No fewer than 354 vehicles produced by Kia Motors Mexico for the 2020 and 2021 model years are called back, Accent vehicles produced between March 25th, 2020 and July 28th, 2020.The seatbelt and pretensioner assembly carries part number 88810J0600 and its produced by Samsong (not Samsung) in South Korea. Customers will be notified of the recall on February 25th. Authorized retailers have been instructed to replace the assembly free of charge, and every single pretensioner will be collected by the South Korean automaker for analysis. Hyundai says that its actively investigating the root cause at press time.In the meantime, customers of the 2020 to 2021 Accent can run the VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website to find out if their car is called back. The NHTSAs number for this recall is 21V-796.Presently listed at $16,645 excluding destination charge, the 2022 Accent makes do with 120 horsepower and up to 41 miles per gallon (5.7 liters per 100 kilometers) on the highway. Not bad for an entry-level sedan, but still, heres hope that Hyundai will stop cheaping out on parts going forward.
EV

With the world transitioning into electric vehicles, the 2022 Chicago Auto Show is strategically placed on the calendar to witnessaction. The organizers are equally prepared, and even though the show is an indoor event at McCormick Place, it will feature an indoor EV test track for expected debuts.According to Chicago Auto Show general manager David Sloan, there are a lot of electric vehicles ready to go to the marketin 2022, Chicago Tribune reported.The Chicago Auto Show marks the first major convention of the American automotive calendar. Therefore, many auto manufacturers will be looking to make a good first impression before the much anticipated Detroit Auto Show in the Summer.Many anticipated showcases will be at the event, including GM's 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck. The EV pickup is already in high demand, with about 110,000 reservations already in place. GM announced that it will begin production of the pickup truck in early 2023, and it's already starting to look like a compelling option.The auto show will offer city residents a first in-person glimpse of the promising bestseller's expectations.The Ford F-150 Lightning expected to launch in Spring will also feature at the event, and attendees will get an exclusive chance to ride shot-gun with demonstrations on the indoor track.After an unexpected demand for the EV truck, Ford is expanding the production numbers of the Ford F-150 Lightning to 150,000 units. It's a significant increment down from 80,000.Sloan added that many consumers hadn't had a chance to drive or ride an EV, and the Chicago Auto Show offers the perfect opportunity.New entrant EV truck automaker Rivian will be a no-show at the event.
Because of the rarity of the vehicles McQueen collected and the fact that they rarely emerge on the specialized market, prices for these collectibles are always very high. The same will probably apply to the 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II that McQueen added to his personal collection during the production of the Le Mans film.It will be crossing the auction block with Bonhams , at the 2022 Monaco Historic Grand Prix, on May 13. This month, the car will be unveiled to the public in Paris, France.Delivered new to Le Mans, France, where the film was shot, it immediately went into McQueens personal collection. He gave it away at the end of the production as a thank-you gift to chef Fredy Zurbrugg, with whom he was friendly and who had handled catering for the 800-strong production crew.Zurbrugg had met the movies production manager Hubert Frohlich before Le Mans, while catering for the crew of the James Bond movie On Her Majestys Service, which filmed partly in Switzerland. Frohlich wanted Zurbrugg as chef for his next project, thus bringing Zurbrugg and McQueen together. The two hit it off: Zurbrugg created the Steve Steak for McQueen, and the actor offered Zurbrugg a choice between three of his personal cars as shooting wrapped.Between a Porsche 911, a Mercedes Pagoda SL, and the Jaguar, Zurbrugg chose the Jaguar because it had just 600 miles (966 km) on the odo, and despite the fact that it was a U.S. spec (it was supposed to go back to America with McQueen) and that Zurbrugg did not have a drivers license at the time.He passed the driving test on his second try and drove the Jaguar himself across the border, back home to Switzerland. He never used the Jaguar as a daily, but it wasnt because he had an idea of its value as a collectible. He once said that for many years, [he] had no idea [he] owned something so valuable. Today, the odometer reads just 46,000 miles (74,029 km), and the car remains completely original and unrestored, down to the original paintjob.Bonhams will offer the Jaguar at no reserve, with a 250,000  350,000 ($284,400  $398,000) estimate. The sale includes the original British registration plates and photos from the film set.
kW

ABS

By purchasing it along with the bike, it means you can incorporate those costs into any finance deal, while benefiting from the same three-year warranty.So, what do you get in return for your hard-earned money? It starts with a pair of titanium Akrapovic silencers, which can save you a total of 9 lbs (4 kg) in weight, while boosting power by 2(about 2.6 hp). Theyll also enhance the bikes soundtrack (naturally) and its aesthetic, thanks to the carbon fiber tips and head shield. Youll also find laser etched Akrapovic and Hayabusa logos on them.Other highlights from this pack include billet aluminum brake and clutch levers, color-coded pillion seat cowl, an accessory seat with Hayabusa logo and red contrast stitching, plus a tank pad that also boasts the logo of this famous hypersport bike (you can choose between gold and red).Speaking of the Busa, now in its third generation, it costs 16,499 ($22,354) in the UK and comes with a heavily redesigned engine (new pistons, conrods, crankshaft, camshaft), delivering enhanced performance in the lower-to-mid rev ranges. This is the fastest-launching Hayabusa yet, which makes sense since it has more torque than its predecessor.It also comes with Suzukis most advanced suite of electronics ever, featuring 10 lean angle-sensitive traction control modes, lean angle-sensitive, three power modes, a bi-directional quickshifter, cruise control, a speed limiter, and three stages of launch control which you can select via the switchgear.Visually, the latest Hayabusa comes with a sharper and more angular design, but nothing so extreme that you wouldnt instantly recognize it for what it is.In the United States, the base-spec 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa retails from $18,599  considerably cheaper than in the UK.
EV

Tesla expanded its production in China after setting up a $187.91 million factory in Shanghai . The U.S.manufacturer experienced a rocky start with the Chinese government at the beginning of 2021 but managed to pull through.In 2020, the leading EV manufacturer said it planned to open a design station in China to produce China-focused vehicles reflective of the market and style. The automaker had plans of setting up a facility in Beijing or Shanghai. Recently, the Chinese capital disclosed a 2022 city work report that listed Tesla, Toyota, and Xiaomi Corp among the electric vehicle facilities in its jurisdiction.Details regarding the facility are slim, and Tesla has not confirmed reports about the Design Studio or the facilitys location. However, The Wall Street Journal reported that government documents point to Beijing as Teslas design center.Tesla is not the only EV manufacturer setting up shop in Beijing. Chinese tech company Xiaomi is setting up an electric vehicle plant in the city. According to reports, the tech giant will develop the plant in two stages, producing between 150,000 and 300,000 units per year.Toyota also set up a research institute in Beijing to study hydrogen and green technology . The facility, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, explores automotive tech using hydrogen power and other green technology.China is Teslas export hub for domestic Tesla and those heading for the European market. Its Shanghai plant began deliveries at the end of 2019 and is expanding to meet surging demands for its popular models.
But two full years into a global health crisis and subsequent supply line catastrophe that resulted, a handful of Canadian nationals are taking their concerns into their own hands. The implications of their blockade of the ever-important bridge between two North American superpowers have had ripple effects nearly as severe to automakers as the global microchip shortage and health crisis have in recent times.A slew of different automakers, not limited to just American companies, use the Ambassador Bridge as a vital lifeline to ferry automobiles from plants in Windsor, Ontario, and elsewhere. General Motors, Ford , Stellantis, Toyota , Honda, and others are among the clientele that frequent the currently blockaded Ambassador Bridge.The blockaders in question are primarily Canadian in origin. United in protest against Canadian federal laws regarding new regulations and mandates pertaining to the global health crisis in the trucking industry. Many of the protestors vow not to return home until new mandates are withdrawn from Canadian law.Until then, only a single lane on the 7,500 foot (2,300 m) long expanse heading in the direction of the United States has been allowed to remain open by protestors. With automakers and so many other companies hemorrhaging money, some American lawmakers are urging Canadian federal authorities to take action to quell protests and return the flow of money to and from the United States back under control.Meanwhile, with small signs of hope for a peaceful ending, like the aforementioned single lane to America re-opening, it appears the mass of the protestors isn't looking to go down without a fight. Whether violent force will be required for a return to a normalcy that the auto industry is satisfied with remains to be seen.
There are, of course, some exceptions, and the so-called Rhombus Concept by Toyota is certainly one of them. This is a strange little car, to say the least. It was first unveiled in 2019 at the Shanghai Auto Show and we havent seen or heard much about it since.It was created at Toyotas research and development base in China (also known as TMEC), and the idea was to build something to suit the values and lifestyles of drivers born after 1990, according to the carmaker.Ill just go ahead and say it  it's not the best idea Toyota has ever had. Drivers born after 1990 still appreciate everything that makes a car good by 2022 standards  comfort, quality, practicality, looks. And lets not forget that everyone loves crossovers, while the Rhombus is more of an urban-friendly pod with wheels.Aside from looking like something George Jetson would ride around in, the Rhombus also comes with a single swivel seat as opposed to typical driver and passenger seats at the front. Meanwhile, the two seats at the back make up a sort of lounge-like area, albeit a very small one, but there should be plenty of knee and legroom, given the overall shape of the vehicle.Toyota, together with Lexus , plan on introducing a total of 30 battery electric vehicles by the end of this decade, while also targeting 3.5 million units sold globally. The Japanese brand will also invest in different types of carbon-neutral models, such as FCEVs, with the ultimate goal being complete carbon neutrality (as a company) by 2035.
Back in 2001, the Cessna Skylane range was boosted with the introduction of the Turbo T182T model, a four-seater meant to cater especially to the needs of people that had to fly to and from high-altitude airfields.The model proved relatively successful, yet the Turbo variant of the Skylane was retired in 2013. But now its coming back, with Textron hoping it will prove even more appealing than before thanks to the fact it has been updated with the latest avionics suite and interiors.In the new iteration, the T182T makes use of a Lycoming engine rocking a Hartzell Engine Technologies (HET) turbocharger. In this configuration, the airplanes powerplant delivers 235 horsepower at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) and spins a constant-speed, three-blade, electric de-ice McCauley propeller.The amount of power should be enough, says Textron, for pilots flying over mountainous regions or for cruising at higher altitudes. The top speed of the plane is of 165 knots (190 mph/306 kph), and its range is estimated at 971 miles (1,563 km).The upgraded airplane packs a new avionics suite, supplied by Garmin , but also a brand new cockpit interface. The interior has been gifted with an in-cabin oxygen system for high-altitude flying, seats in Alcantara, and advanced soundproofing.The Skylane has been a great airplane for more than six decades, and especially popular with first-time owners, said in a statement Lannie OBannion, senior vice president, Textron Sales & Flight Operations.The turbocharger is easy to operate, and the combination of a proven Lycoming engine, a heated McCauley propeller and an in-cabin oxygen system, will make this aircraft a leader in the high-performance, single-engine segment.Textron says the turbocharged variant of the Skylane will be ready for deliveries in 2023. At the time of writing, no info on price has been provided.
That month, the British location became home to the first U.S. Air Force ( USAF ) unit in Europe to receive the fifth-generation aircraft, and the fighter was deployed in service with the 495th Fighter Squadron.Enough time has passed since that time for the pilots flying it, who like to call themselves Valkyries as a unit, to take the thing out for a spin on more than one occasion. And now we get to officially see the F-35 doing its thing in the skies over Europe.The photo we have here shows the F-35 on a routine training mission in support of our host nation partnership, at the beginning of February, right over the base. Its a sight Americans are used to by now, but not something the Europeans get to see that much of  unlike in the case of a number of allied nations already using the F-35, this one is fielded by an American military unit stationed there.RAF Lakenheath was chosen back in 2015 as the place where the first USAF F-35A squadrons will be deployed, based on very close ties with the RAF, existing infrastructure, and combined training opportunities. "Our coalition forces train and fight in the most dynamic theatre, requiring the most advanced platforms, said at the time when the first airplane was delivered General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.The Valkyries are leading our F-35 integration across Europe. Weve come a long way, and now were extending our reach as a coalition force and what we will accomplish together."
US President Joe Biden walks near Chevy vehicles as he arrives to deliver remarks during a visit to the General Motors Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan on November 17, 2021. (Photo : MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out a plan this week to provide nearly $5 billion over five years to states to help in developing a national electric vehicle charging network, as per Electrek. The massive investment is part of the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program established by Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The funding is part of the Biden administration's broader agenda to advance the clean energy transition to combat human-caused climate change. The current administration has long touted electric vehicles as a more affordable option for American consumers than gasoline-powered vehicles, pledging that half the cars sold in the United States by the year 2030 will either be plug-in hybrids or electric.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, February 9, senior officials of the Biden administration told reporters that the NEVI Formula Program would help states create a network of EV charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors on the Interstate Highway System.

Biden aims to lower gas emissions in the U.S.

Despite a rise in sales of electric vehicles in America in recent years, the transportation sector remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for around one-third of that amount each year.

CNBC reported that Biden wants more Americans to switch to EVs to lessen gas emissions, and building the infrastructure for charging stations across the country will make that dream closer to reality. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm echoed those sentiments in her speech in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, February 10, saying that they are not going to go electric fast enough if they "don't have the ability to eliminate range anxiety for people and to be able to have them plug in wherever they live, wherever they work, wherever they want to head."

According to President Biden, the program to create charging stations for electric vehicles could save an average driver who uses an EV up to $1,000 each year on gas. Biden announced that Tritium, an Australian firm that makes EV chargers, will soon break ground on its first manufacturing facility in the United States in Lebanon, Tennessee. The facility is expected to produce up to 30,000 chargers each year and help create 500 local jobs.

Related Article: Volvo to Build Secret New Electric SUV Codenamed V546 in America and China: US Market Targeted

Biden wants the U.S. to take the lead on electric vehicles soon

Under the new $5 billion plan, states must submit by August 1 their deployment plans for the EV infrastructure to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, reported Reuters. The Federal Highway Administration will then approve the eligible plans by September 30.

Biden made it a point of emphasis during his speech promoting American companies expanding EV infrastructure in the United States earlier this week, saying that creating a network of charging stations will help ensure that America leads the world on electric vehicles.

Biden added that China might be leading the race up to now, but that is about to change with the U.S. "building convenient, reliable, equitable national public charging networks."

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House Select Committee investigators have found that there are significant gaps in White House call logs which have severely hindered efforts of trying to piece together the events of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot.

The missing documents include records of calls that former United States President Donald Trump made with Republican lawmakers during the riot. There were several reports on that day that the Republican businessman had phone calls with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

White House Call Logs

While the situation could be a result of Trump's well-documented habit of using his own or other people's personal mobiles to communicate with allies, it could also be because of incomplete or altered White House records. A source said that they wondered whether or not all of the former president's cell phone calls were logged properly.

Amid the investigation, the House Select Committee declined to comment and Trump's spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment. The Supreme Court in January rejected the former president's attempts to block the National Archives and Records Administration from handing over hundreds of White House records to the committee, as per NBC News.

Investigators for the committee are hoping to reconstruct more of Trump's communications during the Capitol riot by making use of additional records obtained from the National Archives. The panel has also subpoenaed records from telecommunications providers for some of the Republican businessman's closest confidantes, including Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.

Read Also: Trump's Massive $122 Million 'War Chest' Could Be Used To Influence 2022 Midterm Elections

Some of the calls that the former president had during the Capitol Hill siege were reported, including one he had with Utah Sen. Mike Lee as the large, angry mob of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol. Many are criticizing Trump for evading the White House's call logging system as he has also been accused of destroying official documents.

The Independent reported that the National Archives previously turned over documents to the House Select Committee that were seemingly ripped apart and put back together using tape. Furthermore, the House Oversight Committee is now conducting an investigation of Trump called "potential serious violations" of federal record-keeping laws.

Irregular Practices

Trump is also believed to have taken more than a dozen boxes filled with presidential records from the White House when he left office. The National Archives believes that the documents include classified material.

The former president has continued to refuse to return the boxes of documents that he took from the White House. The National Archives has negotiated with Trump where the agency threatened to send a letter to Congress or the Department of Justice if the Republican businessman continued to withhold the records.

Furthermore, while Trump was in office, White House staff repeatedly discovered wads of printed paper clogging the toilets of the residence. The situation led them to believe that the former president flushed documents periodically. The Republican businessman's habits and irregular practices have made it significantly harder for officials to recreate the events that led to the unprecedented Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot and who exactly were involved, the New York Times reported.



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OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Signs are seen plastered on a fence as truck drivers and their supporters gather to block the streets of downtown Ottawa as part of a convoy of truck protesters against COVID-19 mandates in Canada on February 10, 2022 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have a major problem on their hands as truckers, and like-minded demonstrators on the Canadian side of the border continued to block access to three border crossings in Michigan, Montana, and North Dakota to protest COVID-19 related restriction, as per a CNN report. The protest has severe economic implications for the United States and Canada, with auto plants on both sides of the border forced to shut down or scale back production because of the truck blockade.

The Biden administration wants to resolve the issue fast, urging Trudeau's government to use its federal powers to end the bumper-to-bumper demonstration. Scores of truckers participating in the Freedom Convoy have blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan for the fourth straight day, affecting the flow of automotive parts and other products between the two nations.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest border crossing linking the United States and Canada, with 25 percent of all trade between the two countries transported through here. The effects of the protest were felt rapidly by businesses on both sides of the border, particularly the automakers.

Automakers shut down plants in U.S. and Canada

According to Manufacturing.net, Ford announced that its engine plant in Windsor finally reopened on Thursday, February 10, after being forced to shut down on Wednesday, February 9, because of a shortage in parts. Ford's production was still not at 100 percent, though with the company's factory and assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, operating at reduced capacity because of the blockade.

Toyota's operations in Ontario were also affected by the protest, with the Japanese carmaker closing three of its plants there for the rest of the week due to parts shortages. Stellantis' operations also took a hit in Canada, with the company sending home early its morning shift workers at the Windsor minivan plant.

General Motors canceled the second shift on the American side of the border on Wednesday and the first and second shifts on Thursday at its SUV facility just outside Lansing, Michigan, because of the parts shortage. Production was also curtailed at Toyota's plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Related Article: Tesla Heat Pump Problem Prompts Recall of Nearly 27,000 Vehicles in the U.S., Faulty Software Blamed

U.S. authorities pile pressure on Canada to end standoff

CNBC reported that the White House said that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have already spoken with their Canadian counterparts, urging them to help end the standoff. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer voiced her displeasure with the Canadian response to the blockade, saying that the standoff is "hitting paychecks and production lines, and that is unacceptable."

The protesters want vaccine mandates to be removed for truckers and the lifting of other COVID-19 restrictions such as the wearing of masks. Trudeau is not backing down, though, with the Canadian Prime Minister maintaining his firm stance against lifting vaccine mandates, including a rule that requires all truck drivers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.

With the standoff showing no signs of ending, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced that the city would look for a court injunction to end the blockade. Dilkens said that "the economic harm is not sustainable and it must come to an end."

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Tesla Inc. found itself in hot water after the state of California sued them on Wednesday, February 9, over allegations of racial discrimination and harassment of Black employees at the company's San Francisco Bay area factory. (Photo : JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Tesla Inc. found itself in hot water after the state of California sued them on Wednesday, February 9, over allegations of racial discrimination and harassment of Black employees at the company's San Francisco Bay area factory, as per a report on Manufacturing.net.

According to Kevin Kish, the head of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the lawsuit filed against Tesla in Alameda County Superior Court was sparked by hundreds of complaints from its workers.

Kish issued a statement regarding the suit, saying that his department found evidence that Tesla's factory in Fremont, California is a racially segregated workplace where Black workers are subjected to racial slurs by fellow employees and discriminated against in terms of discipline, pay, promotion, and job assignments. These factors create a hostile work environment.

Tesla strongly denies allegations in a blog post

The lawsuit's details have yet to be released, and Tesla did not immediately respond to the suit filed against them. California suing them was not a complete surprise as the world's leading electric carmaker had warned of this possibility in Tesla's annual filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission just days earlier.

Tesla did post a blog entry on its website entitled "The DFEH's Misguided Lawsuit" before the filing of the case. Tesla called California's lawsuit misguided and said that the DFEH did not raise any concern about its workplace practices in Fremont following the agency's three-year investigation.

According to the blog post, the lawsuit appears to focus on alleged misconduct by Tesla production associates at the Fremont factory between 2015 and 2019. Tesla denies the agency's accusation, saying that the company "strongly opposes all forms of discrimination and harassment and has a dedicated Employee Relations team that responds to and investigates all complaints."

The blog entry emphasizes that on every single occasion that DFEH closed an investigation regarding racial discrimination and harassment at Tesla's Fremont factory over the past five years, the agency did not find misconduct against them. Tesla said that it strains the credibility of the DFEH that the agency now alleges that systematic racial discrimination and harassment somehow existed at the company after investigating for three years.

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Jury awards $137 million in damages to former Tesla worker over racism claims

Tesla said in the posting that it "will be asking the court to pause the case and take other steps to ensure that facts and evidence will be heard" once the suit has been filed. Tesla concluded its blog entry by saying that attacking the company that has done so much good for California should not be the overriding aim of the DFEH.

The lawsuit comes just months after a San Francisco jury awarded nearly $137 million to a former Black contract worker of Tesla who said he encountered "daily racist epithets," including the "N-word," at the Fremont plant back in 2015 and 2016 before quitting his job. According to The Verge, Tesla is still appealing that verdict, with the company denying any knowledge of racist conduct that Owen Diaz said took place at the Fremont plant, which employs around 10,000 workers.

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President Biden said Thursday in an interview with NBC News that he rejects the results of an Army investigation that reportedly outlines his administration's failure to adequately prepare for and respond to the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan.

Why it matters: The investigation, which was first reported by the Washington Post and obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, found that U.S. military leaders' attempts to plan evacuations of embassy personnel and Afghan allies were met with resistance in the White House and State Department.

What he's saying: In a clip of his exclusive sitdown interview with Lester Holt, Biden replied in the negative when asked if his administration was in denial about the situation leading up to the fall of Afghanistan.

Pressed on the military officials' accounts in the Army report, Biden said, "I'm rejecting them."

"Look, there is no good time to get out, but if we had not gotten out, they acknowledged we would have had to put a hell of a lot more troops back in," Biden added.

"We would have to significantly increase the number of troops and we're back in this war of attrition," he said. "And so this is a much wiser thing to do."

The full interview is set to air on Sunday.

Worth noting: Senior Biden administration officials were still discussing and assigning basic actions involved in civilian evacuation the day before Kabul fell, according to leaked notes from a White House Situation Room meeting.
President Biden and Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett discussed nuclear talks with Iran and the Russia-Ukraine crisis during a phone call on Sunday, the two leaders' offices said.

Why it matters: The call during which Biden accepted an invitation to visit Israel later this year came as the nuclear talks have entered a crucial crunch period.

The Israeli government remains concerned about a possible deal in Vienna that it believes will be even less effective than it viewed the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Worth noting: This is the first conversation between Biden and Bennett in more than three months. The last time they spoke was during the climate summit in Glasgow when they briefly met during the leaders reception.

Driving the news: The White House said in a statement Sunday evening that the two leaders "discussed the shared security and other challenges in the Middle East region, including the threat posed by Iran and its proxies" and Biden conveyed his "unwavering support" for Israel's security.

"The President 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," per the statement.

"The President thanked the Prime Minister for his invitation to visit Israel and said he looks forward to a visit later this year. They agreed that their teams would remain in close consultation."

 White House statement

Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister's office said Bennett congratulated Biden during the call for the raid that killed top ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi last week.

"The two leaders discussed regional challenges, first and foremost the Iranian growing aggression and the steps for blocking Irans nuclear program," Bennett's office said.

What they're saying: Earlier on Sunday at the top of a cabinet meeting, Bennett said a nuclear deal with Iran, according to terms that are being discussed in Vienna, will damage Israel's ability to deal with Tehrans nuclear program.

Whoever thinks that an agreement will increase stability  is mistaken. It will temporarily delay enrichment but all of us in the region will pay a heavy, disproportionate price for it, Bennett said.

The Israeli prime minister claimed that in recent weeks, as the negotiations have continued, Iran has increased its aggression in the region. This is how you conduct negotiations, Tehran-style, Bennett said.

Bennett stressed that Israel is reinforcing its military option against Iran and will maintain freedom of action with or without an agreement between Iran and other world powers.

Behind the scenes: Bennetts national security adviser, Eyal Hulata, told the cabinet on Sunday that Israel was preparing for a scenario where there is a new nuclear deal that doesnt serve its interest and for a scenario where there is no deal and Irans nuclear program continues with no restraints, according to four ministers who attended the meeting.

Hulata told the ministers that Israel isnt against any deal but is concerned by the parameters of an agreement as they seem to be right now. He stressed Israel's need to maintain good relations with the Biden administration regardless of which scenario materializes out of the talks in Vienna.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the White House.
Russia continues to move troops and military equipment toward the Ukrainian border, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday. He warned that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, even during the Beijing Winter Olympics set to end Feb. 20.

Why it matters: Blinken said that American citizens in Ukraine should leave immediately, echoing a State Department advisory that said the U.S. will not be able to evacuate Americans from the country "in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine."

President Biden said during an NBC interview Thursday that Americans should leave Ukraine immediately.

What they're saying: "Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Blinken said during a press conference in Australia.

"And as weve said before, were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. And, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics," he added.

"Were continuing to draw down our embassy. We will continue that process. And weve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now."

The big picture: Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border but continues to deny that it has any plans to invade.

On Thursday, Russia and Belarus launched their largest joint military exercises ever, involving up to 30,000 troops and sophisticated missile systems.

Earlier this week, six Russian warships, including some that could be used in amphibious landing operations against Ukraine, entered the Black Sea from the Mediterranean for naval drills, Reuters reports.

Russia in the past has launched military offensives around the Olympics, most notably its invasion of Georgia just before the start of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

Go deeper: Ukraine's fate linked to vague accords
The rat population in New York City may be the source of the next COVID-19 as new research published in the journal Nature Communications sought to trace the origins of mysterious viral pieces discovered in Big Apple's sewage.

An unknown strain of the virus detected in the city's wastewater might be rat-born, according to a team of researchers from Texas A&M-San Antonio and Queensborough Community College in New York City. One researcher noticed that the variant includes amino-acid alterations that are similar to previous rat-born virus strains, which gave rise to their notion.

New York City Might Have Rat-Born COVID-19 Variant

The discovery of COVID-19 in wild animals is concerning because it suggests that the virus can continue to circulate undetected indefinitely and potentially return to people in a new, unrecognizable form. Virologists are on high alert because whitetail deer, for example, are thought to be easily infected with the virus.

According to Curbed, one of the researchers acquired rat excrement samples for this experiment by just strolling around dark alleys and collecting any that they could find. Rats are thought to have taken up the virus by ingesting human and other animal waste and drinking sewage water.

It's too early to say what the next COVID -19 strain will look like, but the researchers believes the city's rodents might be the source. To humans, this may seem benign because the majority of people prefer to avoid social contact with rats, but it still poses a serious hazard.

Dr. Chris Thompson, an associate professor of biology at Loyola University Maryland, every time a virus infects wild animals, it poses a higher risk to people. COVID-19 cases have been detected in whitetail deer, for example, indicating that the virus may be transmitted between species in humans. When the virus infects animals such as bats, birds, and pigs, which have been demonstrated to be capable of transmitting the virus to people, the situation becomes much more alarming.

The most widely accepted idea for the virus's genesis in Wuhan is that it began in the city's bat population before spreading to people. If COVID-19 makes its way back into the human population from the animal realm, it may have mutated to the point where the global COVID-19 knowledge library may no longer be useful, according to Daily Mail.

Read Also: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Will There Be a Vaccine Shortage?

Is This Another Threat to Humans?

John Dennehy, a virologist at Queens College who co-authored the study, described how the variation may have come from rats. "They're probably drinking sewer water, and I heard they eat feces, so if there's any clumps of material in the wastewater, I'm sure they might try to consume it," Dennehy said.

To conduct their investigation, the authors of the study got down and filthy. According to Johnson, "brave" undergraduate students isolated RNA from rat feces samples while avoiding taking a smell. Rats in the city were not found to be carriers of COVID-19, but they were identified as "possible candidates" for a future COVID-19 variation, according to the study's findings.

The initial COVID-19 strain does not infect rodents, but the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma strains do, according to Johnson. If emerged from rodents, the best-case situation would be that it exclusively infects rats and loses the capacity to infect people, and the worst-case scenario would be if it spreads to humans and becomes Pi, the new version.

Unsequenced human strains, according to some experts, are the source of the most recent coronavirus version. In 2020, behind Chicago and Los Angeles, New York City came in third place on the Orkin's list of the world's spookiest cities, Metro reported.

Related Article: Omicron Found in New York Deer Raises Fears of COVID-19 Evolution

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Pete Tittl's Dining Out column appears in The Californian on Sundays. Email him at pftittl@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter: @pftittl.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing late at night. Low 62F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing late at night. Low 62F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
A federal judge has reversed a policy made by former United States President Donald Trump and ordered on Thursday for federal protections of gray wolves in the majority of the country to be restored.

In a statement defending the order, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Jeffrey White, said that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to show that wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and some parts of the West without protection given under the Endangered Species Act.

Federal Protection of Wolves

The judge found that the agency's analysis focused on two core wolf populations when it decided to remove the animals on the list of endangered species. White said the service failed to provide a reasonable interpretation of the "significant portion of its range' standard."

White's order will put wolves back on the endangered species list after they were removed in the last months of Trump's presidency. The judge's decision will also block state-run wolf hunting and trapping seasons, JSOnline reported.

Many environmentalist groups have praised White's order but warned that states with intense hunting pressure, such as Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, still posed a threat to the gray wolves in the United States. Roughly a century ago, hunters nearly wiped out the entire population of gray wolves in the majority of the country.

Read Also: Avian Influenza That Could Kill 1000+ Birds Hits Indiana; Minnesota on Red Alert

However, federal protections have helped in reestablishing many packs in recent decades by mitigating the number of animals hunted. The president and chief executive of Defenders of Wildlife, Jamie Rappaport Clark, said that White's decision was big news to many wolves found throughout much of the Lower 48 outside of Northern Rocky Mountain states.

The Washington Post reported that during an interview, Clark said that, while he and his colleagues were thrilled about the federal judge's ruling, the issue has not yet been solved. He argued that hunting in the northern Rockies was still a prevalent problem.

Endangered Species List

Kristen Boyles, who is an attorney at Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law organization that has helped lead the legal fight, said that wolves needed federal protection. She argued that the Fish and Wildlife Service should be ashamed of the decision to delist the animals from the endangered species list.

A Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said that the agency was currently reviewing the decision. The Trump administration's decision to delist wolves was made despite concerns among scientists who performed the independent review that was required for the delisting.

White's order applies to 44 of the lower 48 states and excludes the three states mentioned previously while the fourth, New Mexico, never delisted the animals. Many states saw a sharp jump in hunting after gray wolves were removed from the endangered species list, including Wisconsin.

The state had to end its wolf hunting season early in the spring of 2021 after more than 200 wolves were reportedly killed in less than 60 hours, which far surpassed its quota of 119. Ojibwe tribes in the region expressed their frustrations of the situation and decided not to fill their tribal quota because, in their culture, wolves were sacred, as per the New York Times.



Related Article: Omicron Found in New York Deer Raises Fears of COVID-19 Evolution

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Failed Satellites Burning? Look Up on Oregon Coast, Washington Coast

Published 02/10/22 at 12:32 AM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Waldport, Oregon)  It's not like it's the first time the Oregon coast or Washington State was affected by SpaceX satellites. In fact, last year the company really made its mark in the region, so to speak. An apparent SpaceX chunk washed up on the central Oregon coast in 2021, another piece crashed in Washington, and both states saw a major fireball caused by a crashing chunk of space debris that was actually alarming to people. (Photo above courtesy Lincoln County Sheriffs: SpaceX debris found in Waldport last year)

Now, those on the Oregon coast and Washington coast probably should be looking the next few nights, as nearly 40 SpaceX satellites could be crashing to Earth in the coming days. 40 of the 49 Starlink high speed internet satellites launched last week were hit with a massive geomagnetic surge from the sun, causing them to malfunction and then reenter the atmosphere.

According to SpaceX they "will reenter or already have reentered the Earth's atmosphere" in the coming days.

Indeed, some were already spotted on February 3 above Puerto Rico and caught on video (see at bottom).

49 Starlink satellites were launched last week and they were about to enter a higher orbit when a strong burst of energy from the sun hit them. The geomagnetic storm created a nice light show with the northern lights, but it also changed the atmosphere around them, increasing drag and wrecking their chances of making the higher orbit.

Photo courtesy YouTube's kevinizooropa - a still from the video in Puerto Rico

Nine satellites were able to be saved; the other 40 will meet a fiery death in the skies. All are expected to burn up in the atmosphere and leave no debris.

SpaceX has already launched some 2,000 of the Starlink satellites into orbit. The project will bring internet connections to all places around the world, particularly remote places where internet service can't be obtained.

Back in late March, a failed Falcon X rocket put on a major show on the Oregon coast, Washington coast and inland areas when it broke up over the skies of the Pacific Northwest and California. It created a gigantic display which looked like an alien invasion to many. It was soon revealed it was a SpaceX object.

Later, a chunk of that rocket was found on a farm in eastern Washington.

Not long after that, the Lincoln County Sheriff's office received a call of a mysterious chunk of something that looked like it was from a rocket, found in the bay at Waldport.

The object looked like a fuel container piece and was severely charred, which pointed to it being part of the Falcon X rocket that fell over the skies a few weeks prior. Lincoln County sheriffs quarantined the debris for a time as they assessed any possible hazards, first contacting Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and then SpaceX.

SpaceX eventually came to retrieve the object, but has so far not admitted to it being of its own manufacture.

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Fireball last year over the NW (courtesy Andy's Auto Care Plus in Albany, Oregon)



Photo above courtesy Lincoln County Sheriffs: SpaceX debris found in Waldport last year

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Sublime Pleasures and Secret Sights of Oregon Coast After Dark

Published 02/03/22 at 5:32 AM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast)  Believe it or not, just about any beach along the Oregon coast that you can safely get to is amazing at night. Even if it is harder to see the wonders around, wandering the sands after dark can be a sublime pleasure. Some beaches, in fact, have some distinctive, remarkable qualities long after the sunsets have gone. (Above: Depoe Bay)

However, first, a bit of warning about such exploration. Some spots are better than others for walking on in the dark. Even if you're armed with a big flashlight or two, really craggy, rocky places could be a recipe for disaster for either injuring yourself or getting walloped by the tide.

So, stick to wide beaches with lots of room between you and the surf so you can keep an eye on it. Most places between Yachats and Florence - where there's a large amount of rocky structures - are pretty much a no-no, unless there's a good deal of sand between them. Yachats' rocky slab-filled shores are definitely not a good idea in the evening; they're best viewed from above. However, the 804 Trail can be pure magic and if you stick to the concrete trail or overlooks, you're just fine.

Boiler Bay - by Depoe Bay - should never be attempted at night, no matter how much lighting you have with you. Stay off the ledges of Shore Acres near Coos Bay after dark  that's also a seriously bad idea. Any place that require a good deal of ambling or with no barriers is a dumb move. Stay far from most of the Samuel H. Boardman Corridor at night as well.

All this doesn't mean, however, that you have to stick to well-lit beaches. In fact, some of the best for nocturnal exploring are pitch black at night. But you will want to find beaches that are accessed easily, without steep, tricky trails meandering down that could cause you to fall.



Yachats

Many spots in the Gleneden Beach and Lincoln Beach areas are easy to get into at night. Between Depoe Bay and Lincoln City is where you'll find these sandy stretches. In Gleneden Beach, the State Park access is prohibited after dusk, and it's a bit tricky at night anyway. So wander the neighborhood streets in back of Gleneden Beach Rd. and you'll find several accesses where you walk directly from concrete steps or small trails to fluffy, sandy entrances.

In Lincoln Beach, the vast majority of accesses are via the neighborhood streets. Once on the beach, the homes above provide some faint light, enough to prevent you from walking into the water blindly. The steep bluffs of coarse sands at the tide line make for some interesting wave action. The waves come in crashing loudly, then dissipate in power fast because of the incline here.

Most beaches in Lincoln City, Florence, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Bandon, Gearhart, Pacific City, Oceanside, Seaside and Newport are easily accessible at night. Chunks of Newport, Bandon, Port Orford, Lincoln City and Seaside are even quite well lit. Some are dimly lighted - or not at all - but still large enough to cause no worry about the tide. These are the distinctly magical spots, as long as you carry some small flashlight with you for safety reasons. Usually, you're alone out here in the black, save for the sound of the waves. And you'll want that flashlight to get a better glimpse of some of the marvels surrounding you, and how different they look at night.



Newport

In Lincoln City, head to the NW 15th St. ramp, which has a well-lit stairway and ramp going down to the beach.

Some spots in Lincoln City are trickier than others, with numerous spots sending you down long, stone walkways. These can be treacherous if not lit well or if they're rather long. But many aren't extensive - or they're flat entrance ways - and thus great for getting onto a nocturnal stretch of sand.

Manzanita's beach accesses are all very easy to crawl down, although there are some parking restrictions after 11 p.m. the closer you get to Neahkahnie Mountain. This place is especially enchanting, with part of Neahkahnie above lit up at night, looking a bit like a giant ghost hovering over the beach.

In Seaside, there's virtually no barrier to the sandy beaches of Seaside from the Promenade or the sidewalk area next to the beach on the southern side of town. Most the beaches here have playground equipment that's rather fun for goofing around on after midnight - for those adults who are kids at heart. The stony area of the cove - at the southernmost end - isn't advisable to walk around on at night, however.

If you really want to find yourself alone after dark, explore the sandy stretches of Neskowin, the areas south of Pacific City's Bob Straub State Park or the tiny town of Oceanside. Arya's Beach with its looming sea stacks is downright magical as well.

Other wonderful, nocturnal non-sandy moments can be had by loitering on the long crabbing pier on the southern side of Newport's Yaquina Bay, or the boardwalks at Coos Bay or Bandon. With the sound of the waves in the distance and the lights reflected on the water, it's unforgettable. At Depoe Bay, wander the lookouts along the seawall or above the channel. It's well lit enough so you can see the waves pounding the rocks below.

Once you get onto the beach at night, you'll find yourself mesmerized by the tides in this situation. Creating a bonfire (in areas where it's permitted) with some friends can be a remarkable experience. Wade in the midst of the breakers and experience that rush of seeing waves appear out of the darkness and head for you. Or simply wander the beach and tideline and see a different world, full of all sorts of atmosphere and mystery you can't find during the day.

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The Nederland Fire Department on Wednesday gifted an Aerial 11 ladder truck to Lamar Institute of Technologys Fire Academy.

The white, 1987 Pierce Arrow ladder truck that has served the fire department for more than three decades will now be used for vital-hands on training as the third truck for the academy, which will graduate its 100th class of firefighters in May.

LIT President Lonnie Howard was amazed by the donation, which he described as surreal as most of the firefighters in Nederland are actually graduates of the college, he said during a formal gathering for the donation at the Home Nagel Safety Complex in Nederland.

It is really meaningful because now its like the fire truck through them, vicariously, it has come full circle, Howard said.

Nederland Fire Chief Terry Morton, who started at the fire department in 1985, was a firefighter when the ladder truck rolled in brand new. He recalled quite a few memories.

It was actually a first-out truck, Morton said. We used it like a first-out pumper for the first several years that we had it. I drove it to its first fire  the first fire it ever made. It was in Port Neches on Grigsby (Avenue). There was an old mercantile over there that burned.

Morton said the area is fortunate to have a regional fire academy.

Its basically in our backyard, and most of our guys have come through that fire academy and most of our retirees have came through it. We have a long history with them. A lot of our guys here have spent many hours out there instructing at the fire academy for years and years

We are thrilled that we are able to have a truck that is still serviceable enough to send it for a instructional training, he added.

Howard said the donations timing couldnt be better for LIT, as it has experienced a surge in enrollment.

Related: Photos: Nederland FD welcomes SE Texas first compact ladder truck

Its not just about numbers, but it is really about people  our community  in terms of actually getting back to something that is a very noble profession, a public service, Howard said. Were just over the moon with this.

This is the second truck the city of Nederland has donated to the growing academy, which began in 1972.

Academy Program Director John Randall has seen a growing interest in the public safety industry.

If there is an incident like TPC, a pandemic, or theres a hurricane, and everybody else evacuates  weve still got to go to work, Randall said. You always need that person and fortunately enough we have a really good program and they all come through us. There is a big hiring pool here too with Beaumont, Lumberton, Port Neches and Groves. Theres several departments, and I bet 90% of their employees come through us.

The city of Nederland recently welcomed the fire departments newest ladder truck, Tower 11 during a Wet Down Ceremony in the 1400 Block of Boston Avenue in December.

Morton previously said Tower 11 would replace the 34-year-old white ladder truck that has a 75-foot ladder compared to the new trucks 100-foot ladder. It will be the academys first Aerial truck.

Tower 11 is the first in Southeast Texas to feature a more compact midmount ladder opposed to having a platform with the ladder on the end of the truck. While the old truck pumped about 1,500 gallons of water per minute, Tower 11 can pump 2,000 gallons per minute  giving it the potential to extinguish a fire faster, Morton said.

Lastly, the president of the college was going to take this fire truck for a joy ride  this is why he doesnt have a CDL license  through the entire community of Nederland just to express his gratitude, Howard said with a laugh as the crew chuckled too. With the siren blasting  the only thing were missing is a Dalmatian.

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/megzmagpie
Im a self-proclaimed cemetery walker. So is my husband. We're of kindred spirit when it comes to visiting cemeteries, and we get especially excited when we locate an ancestor or missing piece to our family puzzle.

My interest in genealogy began as a child when I would accompany my father to visit family cemetery plots. As we pulled weeds around headstones, my father would talk and share stories about relatives who had passed on. These times were always enjoyable, not just because of the time spent with my daddy but also because he helped me to better know my family members.

As Ive grown older, Ive continued my cemetery walks.

Find a Grave plays a major role in my ancestral journey. Find a Grave is an online website where you can search for burial sites. You can also suggest edits such as joining family members and adding pictures or an obituary. Discovering Find a Grave allowed me to expand my knowledge and locate burial sites of ancestors. The website is easy to navigate, and most cemeteries have GPS coordinates listed.

The first time I actually used the GPS coordinate feature was to visit Niblick Cemetery in Illinois. Family members from the 1700s are buried there.

My husband put the coordinates into his phone, and we hit the dirt roads. Excited and nervous, we finally came upon the small country cemetery. Crossing a small footbridge, we entered through a squeaky gate and were amazed at the manicured grounds. After all, most of the stones were from six generations before.

The search was on to find my fifth-great-grandparents headstones, and it wasnt long before they were located. Or at least, what was left.

At that moment, I felt very close to the people whose names were on the stone. I paused, looked around and realized that they had once been on the same grounds. Im sure they never thought that one day their great-great-great granddaughter would come for a visit!

The next year, my mother and I made the trek to Niblick cemetery and had the best time talking about the generations past as if we actually knew them.

There also is a Find a Grave app. Its free to download on your phone. This app is helpful when filling requests made by those unable to visit a cemetery. Using your phone camera, snapping and uploading a picture is simple. One great feature is that you can mark the GPS of the grave site using the Find a Grave app. Family sheets can also be expanded by using the information located on Find a Grave.

Documenting burial sites is an important piece of the puzzle for family history. The use of Find a Grave makes it super easy!

Become a cemetery walker and enjoy reading the stones. Look at the symbols that add to the persons history. And dont forget to count your steps! You may even walk a mile or two in your ancestors footsteps.

Patty Taylor is a freelance columnist for The Beaumont Enterprise.
Southeast Texas has been the home to so many amazing personalities, and J.P. Richardson is one of the most colorful. Also, perhaps, one of the least known. That needs to change.

The Big Bopper, as he is more often called, is far more than a one-hit wonder. As our story on Friday pointed out, his list of accomplishments is surprisingly long.

In addition to his top 1958 hit Chantilly Lace, with its signature opening, Heeelllooo, Baaaby, he also wrote No. 1 songs for George Jones, Johnny Preston and Sonny James. Richardson even wrote one of the first five songs ever recorded on music row  Beggar to a King, sung by Hank Snow.

Incredibly, he is also believed to have coined the phrase, music video decades before it became part of the vernacular. Richardson shot one of the first music videos in November 1958 just before he headed out for the Winter Dance Party Tour that came to a tragic end in Clear Lake, Iowa. That airplane crash, which also claimed the lives of rock stars Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, was immortalized by Don McLean in his classic song, American Pie, as the day the music died.

As Kevin Ray Adams, husband to The Big Boppers granddaughter Ashlyn, said, Hes the first person to create that type of (video) content. Hes the father of music videos. He was in the process of buying a TV station so he could produce music videos for other artists. He created Bopper Vision, which wouldve been like MTV 32 years before MTV.

It blows my mind this guy is not being recognized for the major music accomplishments for his time. He even mentioned a tape device you hook to your TV  long before VCRs  and watch your favorite music video by your favorite music artist. He was far ahead of us all.

In addition to all that, Richardson was a top disc jockey in Southeast Texas. He had the No. 1 country music program  where he went on air as himself  and the No. 1 rock n roll program. Richardson even set a world record (since broken) by broadcasting 122 hours and 8 minutes in 1957 from April 29 to May 4 from the lobby of Beaumonts Jefferson Theater, playing 1,821 songs.

Thats a lot for his short time on this earth, and a statue of Richardson in Beaumont would help promote his legacy  and their entire region, for that matter. His family plans to submit an official proposal to the mayors office for a statue, one that would cost about $70,000. Richardson is included in Port Arthurs impressive Museum of the Gulf Coast, but that doesnt mean that a statue also wouldnt be welcomed.

Beaumont Mayor Robin Mouton likes the idea, and she made a key point about what it could do for the city. I could see it weighing in on tourist attractions big time, she said. It would be something for our (Convention and Visitors Bureau) to get involved in.

Tourism is a bigger enterprise in Southeast Texas than many area residents realize. From our beaches to the Big Thicket, people do come here from all parts of the country  many of them traveling on one of the busiest interstate highways in the nation. Birding is a particularly strong lure, and its one of the fastest growing and most lucrative segments of tourism.

When all of these people come to Southeast Texas, we want them to enjoy our fantastic food and great climate and all our local attractions. At long last, a statue of The Big Bopper should be added to the mix. He deserves it, and it would be another gift from this tremendous artist who was taken from his fans all too soon.
With the omicron variant possibly starting to fade in Texas and much of the nation, doctors will be watching carefully to see if COVID-19 cases continue to decline  or whether another variant will drive them back up. After all, that has been the history of this pandemic  a decrease in cases producing optimism, but a surprise surge getting us all back to square one.

But whatever happens, at least more Texans will have health coverage this year. And its happening because the number of Texans enrolling in Affordable Care Act health plans has reached a record high this year, jumping more than 40 percent from 2021.

More than 1.8 million Texans now get health insurance through the federal program, an increase of 548,000 from last year. This surge is impressive enough, and it follows a 15 percent increase in 2021. Things like that happen when voters have a Congress and president that support this program instead of trying to undermine it. Nationwide, 14.5 million people are enrolled in ACA programs.

Almost all of these people would not have any coverage were it not for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it has come to be known. For most people enrolled in ACA plans, its their last-resort option because they dont work, dont work full time or dont work at a place that offers affordable health insurance  and sometimes any at all.

In other states, some people who fall into those categories are eligible for expanded Medicaid coverage. But of course Texas is one of only 12 states that have refused to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, even though the federal government would pick up nearly all of the startup costs. That name is still kryptonite to many Republican lawmakers here  even though conservative Republican legislatures in other states have looked at the numbers and realized it made no sense to walk away from a good deal.

Health insurance is vitally important for people facing the threat of a pandemic  or just the routine medical problems that all of us face in some form or another.

As Stacey Pogue, a senior policy analyst at Every Texan, an Austin think tank put it, Theres now some financial security for folks, if they end up getting sick. (Obamacare) provides peace of mind that if something bad does happen, youre not going to go bankrupt trying to pay for access to a doctor or access to health care.

Thats true, and health coverage of some kind should be a given for everyone in our state and nation. For now, Obamacare is meeting that need for more and more Texans, and its the best medical news this state has seen in a while.
Even though the pandemic hasnt disrupted public schools as much in 2021 as it did in 2020, this ordeal is still with us in a major way. Because of that, the Texas Education Agency should suspend the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test once again  or let districts give it just for comparison purposes.

The STAAR was canceled in 2020 when the pandemic struck, and last year the test was given as an informal benchmark. The idea there was to see how much progress had been lost by comparing the test results to pre-pandemic years.

That wouldnt be a bad idea again, but the TEA should not return as planned to an official test that has tremendous implications for students, teachers and campuses. STAAR results are used to measure student progress, produce the states A-F accountability scores for schools and sometimes to give performance bonuses to teachers.

All of those things are worthy, but public schools in Texas and much of the nation have simply not returned to normal. Teachers still get sick and miss class, requiring substitutes to fill in. Parents get sick, and this affects their ability to help their students with homework or school projects  or even get them to classes. Some students get sick or moved into quarantine because a classmate caught Covid.

Again, most of that was not as bad in 2021 as in the previous year, and school closures are rare now. But the burden of Covid still hangs over our schools and much of American life. Most of that is in obvious forms, but the subtle way it disrupts or changes our schedules are still there.

If STAAR were administered this year as planned, most schools would have below-average results through no fault of their own. And even though schools that receive D or F ratings will be listed as no rating to evade sanctions from the TEA, the stigma of that classification will still hang over them.

In fact, Texas public schools would need mostly normal conditions this year to provide some kind of meaningful STAAR results in 2023  and that doesnt even count getting past all the academic disruption that occurred in 2020 and 2021.

STAAR can be a valuable tool to measure how much our students are learning. It isnt perfect  no standardized test is  but its still a fairly accurate guide to how well our teachers and students are doing.

When the pandemic is finally in the rear-view mirror, STAAR tests that count should return. But were not there yet, so another postponement is in order.
Parents may also qualify for student loan forgiveness, but they have to go through a series of steps to get their debts canceled.

Parents with federal student loans, like most other types of student loan forgiveness, may be able to have their loans canceled.

Parents Can Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness

Parents who have taken out a Parent PLUS Loan to help their child attend college, may choose from an array of alternatives for getting their student loans forgiven.This includes the following:

public service loan forgiveness; and

income-driven repayment

Student loans can be forgiven if you have a Parent PLUS loan. One alternative, for example, is loan forgiveness in the public sector. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is available to parents who have Parent PLUS loans. Borrowers must work full-time for an eligible public service or non-profit employer as part of this program.

It's not your job that matters when it comes to loan forgiveness in the public sector. It's actually your boss. It's possible that working for the federal government qualifies. Working for a consulting business that works with the federal government, on the other hand, would not count.

You should sign up for a repayment plan that is based on your income. Your monthly payment is determined by your discretionary income and the size of your household. Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) are the four primary income-driven repayment schemes (ICR).

Only ICR is eligible for student loan forgiveness for Parent PLUS Loans. For further information, contact your student loan servicer. For income-driven repayment, only federal student loans are eligible. If your income and family size changes every year, you'll have to recertify your income and size.

Depending on your discretionary income, your monthly student loan payment will be equivalent to 20% of your discretionary income. If you change jobs or your employer changes, you must also submit an Employment Certification Form to the US Department of Education each year and every time, Forbes reported.

Is Student Loan Forgivable After 10-25 Years?

Student borrowers with greater debt-to-income ratios might benefit from income-driven repayment. It is designed to be cost-effective based on your family's size and income. You can seek help with your student loan payments if you go to the Federal Student Aid website.

Most federal student loans include at least one income-driven repayment option. Using the Income-Driven Repayment Plan, you may compute your monthly amount based on a percentage of your discretionary income.

According to Marca, depending on your income and family size, you may not have to pay anything at all every month. They do, however, have four well-thought-out strategies.

Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE Plan)

Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan)

Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR Plan)

Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE Plan)

Read Also: Tax Refund Delays 2022: IRS Facing 10 Million Backlogs, Takes Drastic Step To Address Issue, Complaints

Officials: It May Be Hard to Encourage People To Resume Student Loan Payments

After more than two years of COVID-19 emergency forbearance, the Department of Education will start collecting federal student loan payments in May.

According to a new analysis from the Government Accountability Office, despite attempts by the Biden administration to prepare the 42.3 million student loan borrowers, officials stated that it will be a "major difficulty" for students to avoid default when forbearance expires (GAO).

According to current polling data, about 60% of Americans want the student loan payment freeze to be prolonged until 2023. The Department of Education, on the other hand, hasn't said if it's going to prolong the grace period, as per Fox Business.

Related Article: Unclaimed Stimulus Check: Doubtful If You Get All the Money You Owed? Here's Where to See Missing Payments!

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Media persons stage a rally on the 10th anniversary of the killing of a journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, in Dhaka, Feb. 11, 2022

United Nations human rights experts expressed deep concern on Friday that no one has been charged in the brutal killings of a journalist couple in Dhaka exactly 10 years ago.

The experts also noted that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite security force which had been tasked with investigating the killing of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, had failed to meet more than 80 court deadlines to submit findings.

A decade after the killing of the two journalists, there is still no justice as a result of an appalling and pervasive culture of impunity in Bangladesh, the U.N. experts said in a statement released from Geneva.

When crimes against journalists go unpunished, they embolden the perpetrators and encourage more attacks, threats and killings with the intention of intimidating the media into silence. We see those deeply worrying signs in Bangladesh, the experts said.

Sagar, news editor of the Maasranga TV station, and Runi, a senior correspondent at TV station ATN Bangla, were found dead with stab wounds inside their fourth floor apartment in the West Rajabazar neighborhood of Dhaka on the morning of Feb. 11, 2012.

Their then-6-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh, was found unhurt.

Last month, after RABs 85th missed deadline, a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court asked the force to submit its probe report in the case by Feb. 23.

RAB, meanwhile, defended itself on Friday, saying it had recorded the statements of 160 witnesses and sent the evidence it had gathered to the United States for further examination.

The investigation officer is probing all the angles of the case with professionalism, RAB media wing director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said at a press conference.

We are informing the court from time to time and the court is giving time to our investigator based on the updated information to carry out the probe properly.  We received some information from the U.S. We are analyzing it. We hope we can finish the investigation soon.

Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government was sincere about the investigation into the killing of the journalist couple.

Investigative agencies concerned are working in this regard. I am requesting all concerned to share data with the agencies if they have any, he told BenarNews.

On Friday, meanwhile, the Bangladesh journalists community demanded that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intervene to speedily solve the case. They held a protest rally in the capital to mark 10 years of the brutal killing of Sagar and Runi.

Law enforcers in Bangladesh have cracked many clueless cases, but they have failed to complete an investigation into the journalist couples murder case, said Dhaka Union of Journalists President Quddus Afrad.

There must be some obstacle in the way of the investigation. The court must act now.

The U.N. experts said at least 15 journalists had been killed in Bangladesh in the past decade.

The incidents appear to be rarely investigated or prosecuted. In some cases, local authorities are thought to be directly implicated in the attacks, the experts statement said.

Allegations brought to the attention of the government of Bangladesh by the U.N. experts often have gone unanswered. No response was ever received from the government to a letter sent by UN experts following the murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi in 2012.

They described a grim reality for media persons in Bangladesh.

Journalism should not carry the inherent risk of being attacked, intimidated or killed with impunity but unfortunately that is the current reality for many journalists, human rights defenders and other members of civil society in Bangladesh, the experts said.

We urge the government to conduct and complete prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations and bring perpetrators to justice for the murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi and other killings of journalists and human rights defenders in Bangladesh.
The U.S. military trial of an Indonesian and two Malaysians linked to the 2002 Bali twin bombings is being held at Camp Justice, seen here on Sept. 7, 2021, in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

Nearly 20 years after three high-profile Southeast Asian terror suspects were arrested and hauled off to CIA black sites and then to the infamous U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, their progress toward a trial faces potential delays over a lack of qualified translators.

The problem not only affects due process but illustrates yet another barrier the United States must clear to shut down the facility in Cuba, seen worldwide as a stain on Americas human rights record, two decades after the first prisoners in the post-9/11 war on terror arrived at Guantanamo Bay in January 2002.

Court documents examined by BenarNews in the cases of the three Southeast Asians reveal a dearth of qualified courtroom interpreters who specialize in Malay or Bahasa Indonesia  the language spoken in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation  and who also meet stringent U.S. security requirements.

Prosecutors in the cases against the three men acknowledge this scarcity in interpreters who are qualified and cleared for such courtroom assignments at Guantanamo, but defense attorneys say this is a huge obstacle in giving their clients a fair trial.

Concerns about the quality and accuracy of courtroom interpretations came to light during an arraignment last August for Indonesian Encep Nurjaman (also known as Hambali), and Malaysians Nazir Bin Lep and Farik Bin Amin, who face U.S. charges linked to terrorist bombings in Indonesia in 2002 and 2003.

Their lawyers spent much of the first day of the two-day hearing in a Camp Justice courtroom at the U.S. naval base in Cuba arguing that the defendants could not understand what was being said about them.

On Jan. 19, military Judge Hayes Larsen ordered prosecutors with the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) to present a plan by Feb. 1 to improve the quality of translations and name additional interpreters ahead of a scheduling hearing set to begin on Feb. 28.

The defense teams all indicated they need assurances in order to be able to use their government-provided defense interpreters for attorney-client communications, he wrote.

Prosecutors met the deadline to respond, but failed to meet the judges order.

Despite OMCs efforts to identify additional interpreters to support the 28 February-4 March 2022 hearing, it has been unable to identify two additional interpreters with appropriate security clearances, the prosecutors said in a court document filed on Feb. 1.

The prosecutors said they were seeking to hire four full-time interpreters, two for each language.

Because of the uncertain timeline involved in obtaining clearances for new hires who do not have clearances, it is too speculative to estimate when fully cleared full-time interpreters will be available to assist the commission, they said.

The government recognizes that due to the scarcity of part-time Malay and Indonesian interpreters with appropriate security clearances  unlike other military commissions that employ part-time Arabic interpreters  depending on the date of a hearing, two Malay and two Indonesian interpreters may not always be available to support the commission, prosecutors said.

A Malaysian woman who asked not to be identified told BenarNews she had been approached about taking the job, but the security-clearance issue was one of the reasons she was not interested. Moreover, she said, she did not want to travel to that island.

While the interpreters were present for the August arraignment, the judges order called on prosecutors to identify interpreters who would be available to travel to the island or work remotely from a location in the National Capital Region  the Washington, D.C. area.

Referred to as alien unprivileged enemy belligerents in some court documents, Nurjaman, bin Lep and bin Amin face charges related to twin bombings that killed 202 people in Bali in October 2002  Indonesias deadliest terror attack to date  and a bombing at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta in 2003.

None entered a plea following their arraignment last year.

All three men were arrested in Thailand in 2003 and sent to secret CIA black sites before being moved to the Guantanamo Bay prison in 2006. A U.S. Senate report released in 2014 found that each was tortured during his time in the black sites.

James Hodes [AP]

Defense lawyer speak outs

Attorney James Hodes, who represents Nurjaman, blasted the prosecutors plan.

The government has had over 18 years to prepare a case against Mr. Nurjaman, including hiring qualified commission interpreters as is their duty, Hodes said in a court document filed on Feb. 4. Mr. Nurjaman objects to moving forward until the government is able to identify a second qualified Bahasa Indonesian court interpreter.

This is what you are tasked with and this is what you have failed to provide, he told BenarNews.

Hodes called the lack of qualified interpreters a huge obstacle for a fair trial, adding that other federal courts would dismiss cases if they had not been brought to trial after nearly two decades.

In Judge Larsens January order to prosecutors to find additional translators, he said the Malaysian interpreter for the scheduling hearing was the same person used in the arraignment.

As for the upcoming hearing, Hodes said he had not seen an agenda and did not know what was to be discussed during those five days. But he also expressed concern about the quality of translations for the upcoming hearing.

Concerns downplayed

Before the judges order, prosecutors sought to play down the defenses concerns about translations during the August arraignment.

[P]erhaps this is just  in the Navy we would say getting our sea legs. Were just kind of stretching things here and understanding how it will work, they said in a court document filed on Jan. 11.

[T]he arraignment portion of the proceedings was accurately interpreted.

That comment did not sit well with attorney Christine Funk, who represents bin Amin, one of the two Malaysians.

The government asserts some of the proceedings were (miraculously) interpreted accurately, and this is sufficient. However, the government does not provide context to their assertions, she wrote in a response filed one week later.

For this reason alone, the court should order a hearing with witnesses to determine the answer to the question, Was Mr. bin Amin provided with an interpreter who ensured he understood the proceedings?

Should the answer be no, then bin Amin must be provided a new arraignment, she wrote.

Funk noted that the prosecutors refusal to disclose that there were issues with the interpretation during the arraignment demonstrates that they are willing to withhold facts that are inconvenient. Moreover, this conduct makes it clear that they do not care whether Mr. bin Amin understood the proceedings.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (center) listens to an aide as she prepares to speak at a rally to mark the 22nd anniversary of the killing of four former Awami League leaders who were shot dead in the Dhaka central jail in 1975, in Dhaka, Nov. 3, 1997.

A former Bangladeshi ambassador arrested in Malaysia this week was picked up at Dhakas request because he was involved in the 1975 jailhouse killing of former ministers, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Friday.

For their part, Malaysian officials said Friday that M. Khairuzzaman, Bangladeshs ex-high commissioner to Malaysia, was arrested for overstaying his visa  despite holding a United Nations refugee card and living in the Kuala Lumpur area for more than a decade.

Yes, we requested the Malaysian government to arrest Khairuzzaman as he was involved in [the] jail killing[s], Khan, the Bangladeshi minister, told BenarNews.

We will continue our efforts to bring him back.

Khairuzzaman was acquitted in the sensational case in 2004, when Bangladesh was led by the party that is the main opposition party today. On Thursday, authorities in Dhaka said that the current Awami League government would look into reviving the case against Khairuzzaman, a former army officer, were he to be deported home from Malaysia.

A Malaysian government source said Khairuzzaman, whos being held in custody by the immigration department, had been arrested despite being the holder of a United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) card.

He was detained under Section 51(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 Act 155 and 1963 Immigration Regulation 1963 for overstaying, said the source who was speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

There was no information on whether or when the former envoy would be extradited. Malaysias home minister had said on Thursday that Khairuzzamans arrest was made according to the law.

UNHCR officials declined to confirm or deny whether Khairuzzaman or his representative had sought the agencys help.

For protection and confidentiality reasons, UNHCR is not in a position to comment on the details of individual cases, said a UNHCR spokesperson in Kuala Lumpur.

Khairuzzaman had previously been implicated in turmoil that followed a military coup in August 1975, when Bangladeshs founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, was assassinated. .

Khairuzzaman and other military personnel were accused of killing four other founding leaders of Bangladesh  Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M. Mansur Ali and A.H.M. Quamruzzaman  inside the Dhaka Central Jail in November 1975.

Twenty-nine years later, when Bangladesh was led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, a court acquitted Khairuzzaman of involvement in the 1975 killings. Back then, the prosecution did not appeal the decision.

Khairuzzaman had been serving as a diplomat in Kuala Lumpur when Hasina and the Awami League returned to power in 2009. Ordered back to Dhaka, he chose to stay in Malaysia and received a refugee card from UNHCR.

Lawyer: Govt must show reasonable grounds

On Thursday, M. Shahriar Alam, Bangladeshs state minister for foreign affairs, said that the government planned to revisit the case about Khairuzzamans alleged involvement in those killings of the Awami League senior leaders decades ago, to see if it could be resurrected.

The Home and Law ministries will jointly look into whether there is an opportunity to revive the [jail killings] case against him or what steps can be taken afterward.

But the government would have to show reasonable grounds if it wanted to appeal the trial court verdict of more than a decade ago, according to Jyotirmoy Barua, a practicing lawyer at the High Court.

According to Bangladeshi law, the appeal must be done within 30 days since publication of the trial court verdict. But the government had not appealed against the verdict acquitting Khairuzzaman, Barua told BenarNews.

If the High Court accepts the government explanation, only then the government would be able to appeal against the trial court verdict, he said.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian human rights legal group on Friday urged the government to release Khairuzzaman from custody, saying he is a political refugee and would be treated inhumanely were he to be sent back to Bangladesh.

Irrespective of the reason of arrest, which the home minister suspiciously refuses to disclose, Khairuzzamans refugee status must preclude him from being repatriated. As a political refugee, there is no doubt that Khairuzzaman would face severe consequences if he is sent back to Bangladesh, the Lawyers for Liberty group said in a statement.

It should be noted that credible international organizations have recorded unlawful killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention as well as political show trials ending in executions occurring regularly in Bangladesh, said Zaid Malek, the groups head coordinator.

He urged the home minister and Malaysian government to respect international human rights norms when dealing with this case.

Khairuzzaman must be released from custody immediately, and be accorded the protection he is entitled to as a political refugee, Zaid said.
Hong Kong: Top priority for needy ensured

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Hospital Authority is actively enhancing its capacity to handle the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, noting that the top priority is given to the needy groups.

Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Integrated Clinical Services) Dr Larry Lee explained the authority's strategies on patient placement in a press briefing this afternoon.

Talking about the strategies of how we handle a huge number of patients, actually we share the direction that we try to limit the public hospitals to handle only those needy groups, including the elderly, kids and also people with other special considerations such as patients with major medical backgrounds or maybe those who are pregnant.

For the other confirmed cases, we will consider their placements or maybe their isolation will be in the Hospital Authority Community Treatment Facility at AsiaWorld-Expo and also the community isolation facility at Pennys Bay.

Dr Lee said the authority has been preparing more rooms for patients at Pennys Bay and the AsiaWorld-Expo facilities.

We are on the way to using the second phase at Pennys Bay. There will be 1,200 rooms ready and more will be coming.

And actually we are actively preparing to use the other phases at Pennys Bay, and also the additional halls in the AsiaWorld-Expo.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Profile: Frenchman gains online popularity out of love for Chinese snacks

Xinhua) 08:51, February 11, 2022

CHONGQING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lucas Colonna, a 25-year-old Frenchman, felt a little lonely when he first arrived in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. At that time, his wife and her family were the only Chinese people he knew and the only Chinese he could speak was "Ni Hao (hello)."

He met his wife in Britain who hailed from Chongqing during an exchange program and their marriage made the French become curious about the far-flung foreign city in China. In 2017, Colonna flied to China in order to learn more about his wife's mother tongue.

After four years of dedicated study, he passed HSK 6, the highest level Chinese language test designed for non-native speakers. Even better, Colonna now has over 1.6 million followers on the short-video platform Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

He and his fans are bonded by the common interest for Chinese snacks, such as "latiao (spicy gluten)," and chicken feet with pickled peppers.

Initially, Colonna just used Douyin to share his daily life for pleasure, which didn't excite viewers' interest much until he sampled a variety of Chinese candies in one video that received an astonishing 8 million views.

"These candies were prepared for children at my home in the Chinese Spring Festival. I happened to notice them on the table, so I shot a video," said Colonna. "I feel amazed that people enjoy seeing this and recommended me to try other Chinese snacks."

For many viewers, these snacks are not just some normal commodities that can be easily found on supermarket shelves, but more as a reminder of their childhood. Colonna feels more connected to Chinese people and culture now that he understands the cultural significance of these foods.

Since then, Colonna has embarked on a culinary adventure that he never views as a money-making job, but rather as an opportunity to communicate his perspectives on Chinese and French culture.

"Exploring Chinese cuisine and culture has no end. Every time I release a new video, I get a deluge of new suggestions from the comments section. I cherish communication with my fans, therefore I devote a lot of time to responding to their comments," he explained.

To Colonna, the experience on the short-video platform is just another surprise China gives to him. Before he came to Chongqing, he never thought Chinese life could be so entertaining, convenient, and safe.

The thing that impressed him and his family most was the burgeoning nightlife in Chongqing, which includes barbecue stalls, public square dancing, bars, karaoke, and so on.

Meanwhile, Lucas felt he achieved some unfinished dreams in China. He always aspired to be an actor back in France, however, it didn't work out. While he studied in Chongqing, he had been the representative of international students to perform at the Chongqing Spring Festival Gala for three consecutive years. Now, he also has an online platform to display himself.

"I just feel I am so lucky. Just like Chongqing's nights which never sleep, China never stops surprising me and giving me new opportunities," said Colonna. "I hope I can have more opportunities to engage myself in presenting Chinese culture in the future."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
One study has suggested that the Black Death and its numerous death toll had impacted certain areas but not the whole of Europe, prompting a modern investigation into one of the largest pestilences to beset humanity.

Also called the Bubonic plague wiped out many populations in Europe, the West of Asia, and North Africa (1347 to 1352). One of the most significant pandemics took a vast death toll in this era, killing 50% of the people infected.

Mass Death Brought Reforms

From the Dark Ages, the social-political system changed and reformed to the Renaissance. Research into ancient DNA has identified Yersinia pestis as the pathogen that causes the virus also, it has been traced in its evolution over millennia.

A new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution shows the mortality was not as severe. The work by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History had examined the pollen samples from 261 places in 19 modern countries in Europe to see the changes occurring in the years of 1250 and 1450 (Common Era).

It was about a century after the Bubonic Plague happened, which claims not all regions were severely impacted, per SciTech Daily.

Data revealed a surprising conclusion via the investigation of fossil plant spores and pollen that uncovered proof of a pattern of the Black Death and how places were infected or not.

In this period, the impact of people on areas that were mainly farming or making room for habitation was determined by the workers available at that time.

Read Also: Oldest Virus Found? Neanderthals Had Common Colds Older Than Humans Itself By 500,000 Years Old

Developed a new method called Big-data paleoecology (BDP) that gathered 1,634 pollen samples all over Europe. The aim is to determine what plants were grown in any quantity, revealing where the most or less activity was. Another is whether plants will take over an area after people stop planting.

Study Results

What is determined by the scientists is that the data used to build up knowledge from the old pandemic were from urban sources; it was the worst hit in Europe, Eureka Alert reported.

One aspect was not their record-keeping but how dirty and unsanitary were the conditions in the Middle Ages. Although in the middle 1400s, when most people were alive, 75% of them lived in rural settings, not in cities.

A mortality pattern should be based on the local sources, with BDP as a method to see how much change from rural to cities occurred.

Adam Izdebski, head of the Palaeo-Science and History group at Max Planck, stated that several models are used to analyze these plague and pandemic outbreaks. There is always a pattern for infection, and it's the same with COVID-19, like the Bubonic Plague before.

He added that the Bubonic Plague's death toll was further heightened by the culture, environment, and climate that helped kill millions.

The study will use the palaeoecological data to analyze and develop a blueprint for future pandemics to follow.

The Black Death moved, and infected areas are essential to better track and understand present-day COVID-19 and the next pandemics.

Related Article: Early Variant of Bacteria that Caused Black Death Plague Preserved in 5,000-year-old Skeleton Found in Latvia

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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.
United States President Joe Biden on Thursday urged American residents who are currently in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as they can amid the so-called impending attack by Russia.

In an interview that was taped on Thursday, Biden said that U.S. citizens in Ukraine "should leave now." The Democrat was referring to Russia when he said that "things could go crazy quickly." Moscow has continued to amass thousands of troops at its border with Ukraine with Biden saying it was not a terrorist organization but one of the largest armies in the world.

Evacuating Ukraine

The U.S. president said that despite the threat to Ukraine, there was no situation that would force him to send American troops to evacuate U.S. citizens. He argued that such a move would only be done when a world war occurs and American and Russian troops start shooting at each other.

During the interview, Biden said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin was "foolish" enough to invade Ukraine, he was smart enough not to do anything that would negatively affect American citizens in the nation. White House officials have approved a plan for the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in Poland to assist Americans who could potentially try to leave Ukraine in the event that Russia invades, as per CNN.

The situation comes as Russian troops conducted live-fire drills and have caused increased fears among people in Ukraine. Tensions between U.S. and Russian officials are at their highest since the Cold War era. American authorities estimate that there are roughly 130,000 Russian troops gathered along the border between Russia and Ukraine.

Read Also: Ukraine Military To Conduct Drills in Response To Russian Army Exercises in Belarus

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that Russia's deployment of missiles, heavy armor, and machine-gun toting troops signified a "dangerous moment" for Europe. Western authorities have struggled to negotiate with Moscow. They tried to give Putin a chance to voice out his complaint regarding NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe.

Inquirer reported that furthermore, officials wanted to project their resolve in the face of what many called Russian escalation of an already tense situation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Moscow should not make the mistake of underestimating their unity and determination as a partner in the EU and as an ally in NATO.

Russia's Demands

On Thursday, Russian and Ukrainian officials announced that they had failed to reach a breakthrough after a day of talks with French and German officials. The discussion aimed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The situation also comes eight years after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula, causing the latter's military to be locked in a war with Moscow-backed rebels in eastern areas. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was hoping that officials would find strong deterrence or patient diplomacy to address the issue.

Johnson also met with NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in a joint news conference held in Brussels. The UK prime minister said that he did not believe Russia had made a decision on whether or not it was going to invade Ukraine, BBC reported.



Related Article: Vladimir Putin Pivots His Forces to the Mediterranean For a Massive Drill as Russia's Defensive Posture

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Lenox Police found this array of drugs, weapons and ammunition in a vehicle outside the Market 32 on Sunday. The driver, who was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, is facing multiple charges, including three felonies.
Reporter

Greta Jochem, a Report for America Corps member, joined the Eagle in 2021. Previously, she was a reporter at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is also a member of the investigations team.
Lanesborough Tax Collector Jodi Hollingsworth addresses the Select Board and Town Administrator Josh Lang, far right, on Wednesday about the contract given to the new administrative assistant to the town administrator. Hollingsworth said the pay and benefits far exceeded what veteran Town Hall workers are getting.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his transiting armed war vessels steaming along peacefully in the Irish Coast drew reactions of dread from Britons.

One of their fears is that these Russian ships are running an operation to attack sensitive submarine cables crucial to the information highway. The Irish forces cannot defend the submarines cables or even their coast.

Submarine Cables Vulnerable to Russian Warships

A commission stated Ireland is defenseless to any military action, pointing out the holes in the defense policy.

Commission on the Defence Forces reviewed 480 papers and discussed with 1,000 defense force members, and they revealed there are holes. The message is that improvements are needed and cannot wait long to make them, reported Express UK.

It made the fact clear that if there are no improvements to the status of the force, that will render it useless if superior might would assault the country. But Downing Street is not laughing over such a tantamount concern.

Russian planners are looking at the Irish maritime economic zone, and the Kremlin is stationing its naval force about 240-km in Ireland's southwestern coast.

According to Irish Reservist Robert Gilbey, this area is an excellent place to stand guard over a submarine. In 2021 during summer and in 2017, a cable was cut by a Russian spy ship which is supposed to sever an undersea cable.

The Yantar was in sight at the north of Mayo and Donegal, where the submarine cable was lying on the ocean.

Vladimir Putin knows these cables carry vast amounts of data online, and electronic information is needed for almost anything; shut it down, the US and Europe would be incommunicado.

Read Also: Russia Probes EU's Reaction in the Ongoing Migrant Crisis at the Poland-Belarus Border

Once the lines are cut, western corporations consisting of Facebook, Amazon, and even Google will be in a tailspin. These Irish servers are unguarded and crucial to communication worldwide, cited the BBC.

Of the cable, four connect to the UK, and four to the US. Disrupting them will make it hard to coordinate.

Russian Navy Armed With Specialist Vehicle

Some Russian vessels are equipped with a robotic arm capable of tampering or severing a cable.

Yantar has a sub onboard which is robotic or manned which is not verified, also capable of using snooping devices to tap the submarine cables, noted the Naval News.

Irish forces are reportedly incapable of monitoring the coastal waters if a foreign ship is doing anything funny.

Sinn Fein's representative, John Brady, stated that ships are inside Ireland's exclusive economic zone with impunity because nothing can be done. He added they have no way to investigate any suspicious activity happening underwater.

The Irish Commission outlined what the Defense Forces has to do 'three levels of ambition.'

One of these is enhancing capabilities like radar detection equipment, improving its maritime force, military intel, and cyber-systems as a start.

Plans to have a nine ship fleet and crews that will operate double time, but it will be very vulnerable and impotent until then.

Ireland agrees with the US statement even if the Kremlin says their massive troop number is defensive, neither will Russia invade and expose itself.

Vladimir Putin flexes his options nations against him like the US and UK are fearing the worst, experts from the same countries are not acknowledging claims of their leaders.

Related Article: Royal Navy Ships Shadow Russian Vessels That Crossed the English Channel Adding Tensions to What the Kremlin Wants

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NORTH ADAMS  It has been more than six years since Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art visionary Thomas Krens pitched a sprawling new museum focused on model railroads and architecture that would change the landscape of downtown.

Krens said the museum would be "the best of its kind in the world." An economic study later commissioned by the developers found that the project could create 1,400 permanent jobs, generate more than $125 million of economic activity annually and attract more than 1 million visitors.

And yet, that grand vision doesn't yet control the building site it envisions using. While the project has private investment, proponents have not yet conducted a needed capital campaign.

The project  it's dubbed the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum  could open by 2025, according James Pihakis, senior project manager for Global Cultural Asset Management, Krens' consulting firm, which is working on the museum project.

But, work remains.

The site where the proposed museum would be built  it's next to Western Gateway Heritage State Park at the Sons of Italy building  is owned by the city.

In 2017, Krens reached an agreement with the North Adams Redevelopment Authority on an option to purchase Western Gateway Heritage State Park on Furnace Street and the adjacent Sons of Italy building on Christopher Columbus Drive. The option, which later was extended through June 2019, expired, former Mayor Tom Bernard said last year.

"We never successfully negotiated a new option," he said at the time.

The project ran into another setback in 2017, when the state rejected a $5.4 million grant request by the museum and the city of North Adams to demolish the former Sons of Italy building and rehabilitate the two-lane bridge that connects the site to Christopher Columbus Drive.

Pihakis declined to comment on any plans that developers might have to renegotiate a deal with the city for the property.

"I don't want to comment on that for the purposes of the article," he said. "It's a very, very complicated situation."

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said she met with the museum planners this month to get to know them.

Early last year, a committee of city staff reviewing proposals for the redevelopment of the Mohawk Theater wrote in an assessment of a proposal that the model railroad and architecture museum is a delinquent tenant." A developer, Sincerity Builds LLC, had proposed leasing the theater temporarily to the museum. At the time, the museum owed the citys Redevelopment Authority more than $12,000, its assessment reads.

I have received no demand and no request for any payment from the North Adams Redevelopment Authority," Pihakis said. "The first I heard of it was from you."

Kyle Hanlon, who is listed on the city's website as chairman of the Redevelopment Authority, declined to comment. The authority has not had a public meeting in more than a year.

EMRCA Inc. was registered as a corporation with the state, but after not filing annual reports for three years with the secretary of the commonwealth's office, its status as a corporation was revoked at the end of 2021, according to Debra O'Malley, a spokesperson for that office.

Corporations need to register with the state only if they want to be a corporation, otherwise, businesses still can operate as a sole proprietorship, O'Malley said. A corporation's status can be reinstated if it files the overdue reports, she said.

"It's an oversight, and it's been addressed," Pihakis said Thursday of the overdue reports.

Funding challenges

Those behind the project still are confident that it eventually will become a reality.

"Right now, I think that it's not overly optimistic to say that a target opening would be 2025," Pihakis said.

"What we need in order to be able to open the museum is to be fully funded, and then we have two years to open."

The museum, a for-profit venture, has 32 investors, according to Pihakis. A fundraising campaign was delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

"In the coming months, we will fully launch that capital campaign," Pihakis said. "It's not overly optimistic to say that we could be fully funded this year and activate the process. But, these things take time  that's the thing that I would also want to stress to the community in general."

Pihakis declined to give figures on the project's cost and how much has been raised.

"It is a major development," he said. "It will cost millions of dollars as a major development."

The Eagle made multiple requests to speak with Krens, chairman and CEO of Global Cultural Asset Management, but he was unavailable for an interview.

The firm's Main Street offices are in the former Sleepy's mattress store. "Cultural Narratives are Infinite and Endless," a sign in the office's window declares. Behind large windows facing Main Street, people work at desks.

"The bread and butter here is the consulting work that we do all over the world," Pihakis said of firm's work. "When we are not working on that, we deploy the same team to work on the [museum] project."

Parallel to the desks is a wall that shields from view detailed plans for the museum and a vision for downtown North Adams.

"This is what we keep hidden away behind the wall," Pihakis said, referring to the models. There is a tiny replica of Big Bling, toy cars sit on the streets, and soon after the former Holiday Inn was sold and rebranded into Hotel Downstreet, the sign on the miniature building changed.

The proposed museum is a sleek silver building planned to be 870 feet long on the property where the former Sons of Italy building is and contain 50,000 square feet of exhibition space, Pihakis said.

The main gallery is planned to be one large, column-less space with 40,000 square feet of LED screen on the walls, 1,200 architectural models, including models of the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal, on display, and 107 trains will run on 10.5 miles of track around the room, Pihakis said. It all will be at a 1-to-48 scale. At that scale, the Empire State Building, for example, will be 37 feet tall.

"The idea is that we're going to treat the design of the architecture and the design of the trains as works of art in and of themselves," Pihakis said. "That's going to take all of the sophistication of an art museum and deploy it in an exhibition that has all the excitement of a theme park."

Pihakis believes that the museum will have "broad appeal" to tourists and local residents.

"We want everyone in North Adams to come here to enjoy it, to feel like it's part of the community. And to feel like it's really the future of economic and cultural development for North Adams," he said. "It does bring with it significant change. And we understand that not everyone wants that change, not everyone's ready for that change."

What the museum will do to feel like part of the community is to be determined.

"That's actually part of the conversation with Mayor Macksey as well, is how we can best accomplish that," Pihakis said.

In addition to the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum, the group has ideas for developing the city that include a distillery and museum of time based on railroad clocks at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. They also envision developing a luxury spa and hotel and creating an art museum that displays work that people have invested in.

"The idea here is that you buy into a hedge fund that is purchasing artworks for its collection," Pihakis said.

"What we've proposed is that you would build a physical exhibition space for it, and you'd have people come in, and it's on display and available to the public instead of being locked away in storage."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk delivered an update regarding his SpaceX Starship that was designed to bring people to Mars, saying that in the next two to three years, the company will be able to make it cheaper to send the ship to Earth's orbit.

However, while Musk's presentation on Thursday evening detailed his specific vision of humanity's interplanetary future, he was wary of the operational details of the spaceship. The SpaceX rocket Starship will have to overcome several technical and regulatory hurdles before it can be allowed to fly to Earth's orbit or fulfill a contract worth billions of dollars.

Starship's Cheaper Costs

But the billionaire entrepreneur said that he believed the Starship would soon be capable of establishing a self-sufficient city on Mars. He argued that the endeavor would require transporting a million tons of material from Earth to the red planet.

During his speech, Musk said that this is the first time in the Earth's 4.5-billion-year history that such a feat has become possible. The tech CEO said that humans should take the opportunity and be as quick as possible because, in his words, Civilization is a little fragile these days, as per the New York Times.

Musk said that the SpaceX Starship will be able to reach Earth's orbits for less than $10 million per flight in the next two to three years. The space company plans to launch the space vessel at SpaceX's southern Texas facility. Starship is also the biggest and most powerful rocket in the company's line of ships.

Read Also: SR-71 Blackbird: Speediest Reconnaissance Plane But Technology Problems Arise With Its Operation

SpaceX, being a private company, does not disclose its financial information, such as revenue or costs. However, Musk said that his cost estimate covered all of the space company's expenses to launch Starship. The tech CEO said that excluding fixed costs, the actual number could even lower.

As per Wall Street Journal, SpaceX said that Starship will be used for its ambitious missions and is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. It forms an important part of the space company's business and is expected to deliver hundreds of satellites to orbit at once.

Starlink Satellites

The situation comes after Musk announced that SpaceX lost up to 40 Starlink satellites that were launched into orbit last week due to a geomagnetic storm. The space company on Thursday sent 49 satellites into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket.

However, roughly 80% of those Starlink satellites were "significantly impacted" by a geomagnetic storm that occurred on Friday. The weather phenomenon is triggered by disturbances between Earth's magnetic field and charged particles that come from the sun, which is known as solar winds.

In a statement, SpaceX said that the speed and intensity of the storm caused the "atmospheric drag" affecting the satellites to increase to about 50% higher than previous launches. The situation has made it much more challenging for the satellites to reach their orbital position.

The space company said that Starlink attempted to fly the satellites in their "safe mode" in an attempt to reduce the atmospheric drag. However, it was still not enough to allow the satellites to reach their planned destination, Business Insider reported.



Related Article: Elon Musk Hit With Major Headache: 40 SpaceX Starlink Satellites Burn!

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Mostly clear. Low 36F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 36F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
BOISE - Idaho State Police Troopers seized drug paraphernalia, including a meth pipe, during a Thursday search of camps outside the Idaho Statehouse in Boise. The camps are a protest by homeless people and supporters.

On Thursday morning, Idaho State Police Troopers visited the site where multiple tents are erected near the Idaho Capitol Building. Idaho State Police say the location is state property and subject to Idaho State Code 67-1613.

Police say the purpose of the visit was to check for any prohibited items and to check on the welfare of those on-site.

During the visit, Troopers found and seized a number of prohibited items including prohibited camping items like sleeping bags, pillows, and propane tanks. Troopers also found and seized drug paraphernalia including a meth pipe. Troopers also assisted in removing garbage including bottles of urine, discarded food, and used toiletries.

Five people were given citations after they were found to be in violation of Idaho State Code that states "no person shall camp on or in any state-owned or leased property or facility including, but not limited to, the capitol mall, except those that are designated as a recreational camping ground, area or facility."

Troopers also arrested one man found with two outstanding arrest warrants. Troopers booked the man into the Ada County Jail.

State Probation and Parole Officers also took one man into custody accused of violating parole.
Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain
Zeitz Mocaa has announced the release of a commemorative publication for its Home Is Where the Art Is exhibition that closed in October 2021. The publication is titled Home Is Where the Art Is: Art Owned and Made by the People of Cape Town.

Image supplied

With no hierarchy or selection, this exhibition was an opportunity for us to find out what art means to our audience and what a museum could stand for in current times. Home Is Where the Art Is marked a transformative shift in how Zeitz Mocaa engages with audiences and foregrounds the creativity and diversity of people in and around Cape Town, says Koyo Kouoh, executive director and chief curator at Zeitz Mocaa.

Amid dire early-pandemic conditions, the museum undertook a daring project with an open call to residents of the larger Cape Town metropolitan area that resulted in a non-juried, democratic celebration of art for, belonging to and created by the people of Cape Town. Zeitz Mocaa seized the moment to celebrate the lifeblood of its existence  people and art  and in October 2020, Home Is Where the Art Is opened as South Africa emerged from the enforced isolation of its first hard-hitting lockdown in response to Covid-19.In addition to marking a pivotal moment in time for Capetonians, South Africans and the rest of the world, the exhibition was a significant signal of Zeitz Mocaa's commitment to its vision and mission of positioning the institution as a civic space and an active agent that caters to and nurtures society.This role is important for several reasons, including the promotion of narratives that are integral to the building of communities, says Storm Janse van Rensburg, Zeitz Mocaa senior curator and head of curatorial, who co-edited the book alongside independent arts writer and editor Alexandra Dodd.What could symbolise the spirit of community and the various ways in which we, as firstly Capetonians but also as South Africans, view the spaces we inhabit and how this changed during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions? This book aims to honour the emotions that underpinned the exhibition as well as record its place in the life histories of its participants and of Zeitz Mocaa as an institution.The deluxe, full-colour volume records the making of and public responses to this boldly hospitable exhibition that comprised more than 2,000 artworks by children, emerging and established artists and photographers, hobbyists and crafters, as well as masterworks from private collections. The book also features specially commissioned essays by academic, writer and cultural theorist Ashraf Jamal and culture writer Neo Maditla.Like its exhibition counterpart,, the book, has been curated into five thematic sections that give insight into the experience of lockdown: relations, the garden, outside, inside and time. Through imagery and text, each theme is explored in varied dimensions.asks what an ethics of care and future actions toward inclusion, reparation and creative democratic participation might look like when we reach beyond representation into another space of imagining, adds Renee Holleman at artthrob.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) announced that it is investing a cumulative amount of R4,28bn between 2019 and 2021 during its third instalment of the State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) address in Kyalami. The current wave of TSAM's investment drive will straddle across different divisions, including parts distribution at Atlas Warehouse in Johannesburg as well as various manufacturing projects at the Prospecton Plant in Durban.

The Lexus LS Hybrid | image credit: Naresh Maharaj

The lions share, a staggering R2,43bn, has been earmarked for the production of a new passenger-car model at Prospecton from October 2021. The new passenger model will replace the Corolla (not Quest) production line, which is due to end in 2020. TSAM is also proud to announce that this includes, for the first time on the African continent, the production of a Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicle as a variant.According to president and CEO of TSAM Andrew Kirby: With this investment, Toyota South Africa Motors is solidifying its long-term commitment to local manufacturing as well as the South African automotive industry. The investment will generate an additional R2,85bntowards the South African economy per annum and approximately 1,500 new jobs. It is of particular importance to note that this investment would not have been possible without industrial policy certainty in the form of APDP-2, and I would like to thank all the role-players involved in paving the way to practical implementation of the new policy regime in 2021.Other pockets of investment include substantial enhancements to the local production of Hiace Sesfikile (R450m ) as well as its production volume increase (R91m) from 14,000 to 18,000 units per annum (culminating in 270 new jobs), and the establishment of a packing plant to support TSAMs knockdown business of Hilux in Kenya (R20m).TSAM is also investing R365m to double the size of its Atlas Warehouse from 40,000m to 80,000m. When completed in 2021, the facility will be the largest automotive parts warehouse in the Southern Hemisphere. The organisation also has a number of ongoing projects between 2019 and 2020, including an investment into the new Corolla Quest and several facilities upgrades at the plant, that come to a total of R928m.TSAM has invested more than R12bn in the South African economy over the past 10 years in areas such as manufacturing facilities, equipment updates and dealer operations.
When Unesco proclaimed World Radio Day in 2011, it was to recognise radio's unrivalled ability to celebrate humanity in all its diversity. Today more than 10 years later, radio is still one of the most widely consumed mediums on the planet. And World Radio Day on Sunday, 13 February reminds us of the important role we as radio broadcasters continue to play.

Geraint Crwys-Williams is the chairperson of Primedia Broadcasting and Primedia Group chief business officer

A level of intimacy

Get the facts right

This year the theme for World Radio Day is "Radio and Trust". Trust is something I've been thinking a lot about lately. As fake news and misinformation spread, the impact is far-reaching, influencing the global and local discourse on a massive scale. Trust has become a currency we all need more of - in our dealings with each other, in the media, in our political landscape. So today, as we celebrate World Radio Day, we also celebrate how radio consistently shows up as a trusted medium.People often ask me why my fascination with radio. What absolutely enthrals me about this medium is its ability to touch peoples' lives and the responsibility that comes with that. We have the opportunity to help shape a much more informed and connected society and a much more prosperous country - one conversation at a time.I believe the value of radio lies in its ability to foster a two-way dialogue. Unlike the other traditional mediums, radio is unbridled, unscripted and transparent. Radio affords a certain level of intimacy as we invite presenters into our homes, our cars and our lives daily. It is this level of intimacy that can only be built on trust. This basis of trust has allowed radio to create an extended connected community, which has become a lifeline for many, especially through the pandemic and various isolation levels.The dual role of radio is to entertain and inform. It allows us to hold up a mirror to the issues challenging society, and importantly, it provides a platform to air out in public what would otherwise fester in the dark in closed groups. Freedom of speech means freedom of debate. Facilitating an on-air conversation allows both sides to really hear each other, as human beings offering different points of view.We're fortunate to have Eyewitness News in our stable as a broadcaster. Their reputation for independence and credibility has been hard-earned for over 14 years.Eyewitness News editor-in-chief, Sibusiso Ngalwa makes the point that radio's role worldwide has never been more critical: "The prevalence and spread of fake news is not a uniquely South African story. We see a worldwide trust deficit. With the advent of fake news sites, trolling, social media platforms, and individuals who spread misinformation, we need to work harder to safeguard the trust our audience places in us.Everyone is a publisher, even without credentials. We focus on truth-telling, not just news reporting as a news brand. Our job at Eyewitness News is to tell the truth, verify the news, not necessarily break it. We don't have to be first on a story, but we have to be right."In staying true to our listeners, we need checks and balances to ensure we can walk the talk for all programming, not just news. We do this through independent, verifiable research. People who work in radio often have an inherent sense of what will work or not. We're not taking the gut feel out of the equation, but in a rapidly shifting reality, we need to fact check even ourselves.Is our way of programming reflectively of what's happening in the listener's world?To answer these and our client's questions, we've launched rolling listener surveys on all our brands to fact check precisely that. We can never sit on our laurels and think we know our world. The radio landscape, and the South African consumer, are too dynamic for that and demand more than that.Radio also has an important role to play in being reflective and committed to diversity, particularly in South Africa. This is not only in terms of race and gender but also in terms of diversity of thought and opinion and respecting and celebrating differences. Developing diversity requires investment in up and coming talent.As we secure a fit-for-purpose future for our organisation, we are committed to providing the next wave of audio broadcasters with opportunities, and building a talent pipeline to support the dynamic environment in which we operate.
Leading industry organisations have joined forces to launch the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards, which will recognise the vital role played by supply chain management and honour and celebrate the outstanding achievements of organisations and individuals working in the field in Africa.

Source Taina Sohlman via 123RF

Growing recognition of the key role that supply chains play

Entries are invited in a range of categories, from innovation, sustainability and digitalisation to transport and e-commerce. Businesses and supply chain experts have until the end of February 2022 to enter.In addition to advancing and promoting supply chain management and enabling industry collaboration and knowledge sharing, this initiative has been developed to help youth in need to enter the supply chain profession. The awards programme has been set up as a not-for-profit entity and funds raised will go towards the creation of sustainable bursaries for individuals needing support to study and pursue careers in the supply chain profession.Through the Africa Supply Chain Excellence awards and the collaboration and awareness that they will generate, as well as the opportunity for industry benchmarking, the organisers aim to boost the standards of all supply chain role players. This will contribute to the development and promotion of globally competitive supply chains that will drive economic growth on the African continent.The programme also aims to drive awareness of the growing imperative to "green" supply chains and ensure that all supply chain components  from sourcing and procurement to distribution  are sustainable and environmentally responsible.The organisations that have partnered to launch the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards are the African Centre for Supply Chain, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), The Road Freight Association, the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), South African Express Parcel Association (SAEPA) and SAPICS (The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management). Excellence in Supply Chain Education and Youth Programmes Innovative Supply Chain Projects and Operations Supply Chain Sustainability (Green) Award Responsible Sourcing and Procurement Award Supply Chain Digital Transformation Excellence in Transport Award Marketing, E-Commerce and the Supply Chain Relationship Judges Spotlight AwardThe principal sponsor of the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards is the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) Graduate School. BidAir Cargo, Commerce Edge, Imperial Logistics and Unitrans are also supporting the initiative as category sponsors.A distinguished panel of judges has been appointed and the awards will culminate in a gala event to celebrate the achievements of the winners.
The Australian government announced the new conservation classification of Koalas from vulnerable to endangered due to various threats affecting their population over the years.

The federal government has updated the status of koalas in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, and the Australian Capital.

Territory (ACT) after the Threatened Species Scientific Committee advised the government to raise koala protections after a study in response to the devastating bushfires in 2019 and 2020, per Al Jazeera.

The move also tracks the consequence of extended drought, the Black Summer bushfires, disease, and habitat loss over the past 20 years on the endangered koala bears.

According to Environment Minister Sussan Ley, the Australian government implemented an "unprecedented action" to protect koalas. Per ABC, part of the efforts is the commitment to allocating around $50 million funds to conservation programs.

The federal government will seek an agreement with its counterparts in NSW, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory on a national recovery plan for the endangered koala bears that are native to Australia.

"Bittersweet" But Necessary

In 2020, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Australia, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Humane Society International proposed the changing of classification of koalas after a study revealed that the population of koalas declined by about 50 percent in Queens in 2001. In New South Wales, the population dropped 62 percent.

The new designation, according to WWF-Australia, is a "bittersweet" consequence but a necessary step in the right direction to reverse the losses.

IFAW Oceania Regional Director Rebecca Keeble describes the decision as a "double-edged" sword.

"We should never have allowed things to get to the point where we are at risk of losing a national icon. It is a dark day for our nation," she said in a statement.

Keeble added that the situation of the koala should be a wake-up call to Australia to speed up plans to protect important habitats and address the impact of climate change.

Experts believe that thousands of koalas were among the native animals that were killed during a wildfire that swept Australia's eastern and southern areas from late 2019 up to the early 2020s.

An inquiry last year in New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, warned the koala could become extinct by 2050.

Environment groups have long argued that efforts to protect the koalas should be strengthened.

Read Also: Omicron Found in New York Deer Raises Fears of COVID-19 Evolution

Stronger Laws Needed

In a report by The Guardian, WWF-Australia chief executive Dermot O'Gorman's said the koala's classification change from "no listing" to "endangered" within a decade was alarming.

"That is a shockingly fast decline for one of the world's most iconic animals. The endangered status is a grim but important decision by minister Ley."

He believes there is enough time to save the iconic animals the changing of the designation of koalas will serve as a "turning point."

"We need stronger laws and landholder incentives to protect their forest homes," he said.

Since it lowers the threshold at which development must be evaluated under national rules for potentially dire repercussions on the species, the endangered classification will further protect koalas.

The koala's main threats are identified in the recovery plan, as well as the steps that must be taken to save it from extinction.

Related Article: Rat-Born COVID-19 Variant Discovered in New York Sewage; Experts Raise Alerts That Virus May Circulate Among Wild Animals

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Goethe-Institut has announced the three finalists for the Henrike Grohs Award 2022. They are Gladys Kalichini from Zambia; Temitayo Ogunbiyi from Nigeria and Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi from Ghana.

The Henrike Grohs Art Award (HGAA) has been established to pay tribute to the outstanding artistic talent on the African continent. The three finalists of this years prize have been selected from over 260 applications. The diversity of the finalists' working methods, subject areas and disciplines are impressive and an example of the richness of the visual arts on the continent. Congratulations to: Gladys Kalichini, Temitayo Ogunbiyi and Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi. says Dr Asma Diakite: Head of Cultural Programmes for sub-Saharan AfricaThe three finalists, Gladys Kalichini (Zambia), Temitayo Ogunbiyi (Nigeria) and Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi (Ghana) have been selected by a jury consisting of Serubiri Moses, independent writer and curator based in New York); Ugochukwu-Smooth C. Nzewi (Steven and Lisa Tananbaum curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, New York), and Princess Marilyn Douala Manga Bell (director of contemporary art centre doual'art, in Douala, Cameroon).While each iteration of the award ceremony is intended to be celebrated at a different biennale or major art event on the continent, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic the 2022 iteration will once again be housed online. The final announcement will take place across the HGAA platforms on 31 March 2022.The winner will receive a cash prize of 20,000, with an additional 10,000 towards the production of a publication on the winner's work. Two artists will be selected as runners up and will be awarded a cash prize of 5,000 each.The Henrike Grohs Art Award is a roving biennial art prize conceived by the Goethe-Institut and the Grohs family in memory of the former head of Goethe-Institut in Abidjan, Henrike Grohs. The prize is awarded biennially to an artist or arts collective living and working on the African continent, and practising in the field of visual arts.To find out more about the finalists, go to www.goethe.de
On 1 February, Wavemaker South Africa's digital lead and business unit head, David Shields, started a new position at the Group M and Wavemaker Japan offices in Tokyo. The move embodies Wavemaker's prioritisation of global mobility within its business and is part of its vision of creating a truly diverse network of people across its international offices.

David Shields, digital director at Wavemaker Japan

Shields became a permanent part of Wavemaker South Africa in 2019, first as a digital strategist and later as a member of the account management, business development and business unit head teams.My growth at Wavemaker has been immense, Shields says. The executive team has taught me so much about being a team player and how to lead and mentor. Im so proud of the many first-to-markets weve achieved and Im grateful that Ive had the chance to work with clients like Netflix and Astron Energy, which has pushed my skills to new heights.Shieldss move to Tokyo, he says, was partly prompted by the pandemic. With Covid, something shifted in my and my partners minds about the kind of life we want to lead. We realised that we wanted to challenge ourselves personally and professionally and taking a new opportunity in Tokyo sounded like a great way to do it.While Shields will be missed by his South African team, they also support his move. We are sad to see David go but are pleased that he will still be part of the wider Wavemaker team, says Wavemaker CEO SSA Merissa Himraj. We have no doubt that he will be a rich asset to our colleagues in Japan.David has a great blend of platform knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit, says Michael Beecroft, Group M CEO, Japan. Injecting him into the Wavemaker Japan team will bring fresh ideas, perspective and energy.Tokyo brings with it a promotion for Shields. Hell be a digital director at Wavemaker Japan and will be responsible for a larger team with more international clients, which hell be helping to penetrate the Japanese market. While Shields is aware that learning about this new market will likely involve a steep learning curve, he believes that the media industry is about human connection. Once youve got that right, everything follows. His experience with Wavemaker Globals Provocative Planning operating system will also stand him in good stead.Ill still be drawing on inspiration and methods from different parts of the world, he says, and I have no doubt that my experience in South Africa will prove invaluable.As GroupM and Wavemaker Japan grow, we need to ensure a great balance of local knowledge, culture and connections, but also international best practice, learnings and innovation, adds Beecroft. Global mobility gives us and our people a huge opportunity to share our unique experiences and knowledge, and to provide the broadest spectrum of solutions for our clients.Shieldss work has begun remotely for now and he and his partner will move to Tokyo as soon as current Covid regulations permit it. While his new position is permanent, Shields says that South Africa will always be home. He looks forward to returning one day with new insights, experience, and skills on how advertising and media can be used to promote hope and conscious consumption the world over.
Due to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, Parliament has advised Cape Town motorists and pedestrians to expect parking restrictions and temporary road closures in and around the Cape Town City Hall until 16 February.

Source: Sandy Millar via Unsplash

There will also be full closure around the City Hall on the day of the ceremony.The 2022 SONA, which will be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa at 19:00, will be held outside of the usual seat of Parliament for the first time after the fire that ravaged the Parliamentary precinct last month.Corporation Street between Darling and Longmarket Streets will be completely closed to motorists. However, a walking path is available for pedestrians.The closure is effective from 5am to 11.59pm.Curbside fencing around the perimeter of the Cape Town City Hall has also been affected from 1 up until 16 February. The affected streets are: Darling Street Corporation Street Parade Street Longmarket StreetRoad closures as a result of rehearsals have been implemented from Monday, 7 February and will continue until Wednesday, 9 February between 5pm and 11.59pm. Darling Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets Darling Street: between Buitenkant Street and the Castle of Good Hope (Traffic Control)On the day of the SONA, Roeland Street between Buitenkant and Brandweer Streets as well as Buitenkant Street between Roeland and Darling Streets will be closed from 17:45 to 19:30. Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive), Roeland Street, City-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3) Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to Philip Kgosana Drive (De Waal Drive) (M3) N2, Settlers Way City-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre Buitenkant Street: from Glynn to Strand Streets Darling Street, Sir Lowry Road: from Buitenkant to Tennant Streets (this will include a closure of Hanover Street and Tennant Street)The closures will be from 5.45pm to 7pm.Road closures will also be imposed from 4am to 11.45pm on Commercial Street between Plein and Buitenkant Streets - becoming bi-directional as well as Plein Street between Roeland and Barrack StreetsThere will also be contingency closures on Thursday in case of an emergency from 08:00 to 23:45, that will apply to roads contained in parking restrictions. Parade, Cape Town Roeland Street: outgoing lane between Plein Street and 37 Plein Street (Bld. Next to Nieuwmeester parking) Buitenkant Street from Glynn to Darling Streets (all 3 days 16:00  20:00 and on 9 Feb. from 23:59 to completion) Plein Street: between Roeland and Darling Streets Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Streets Commercial Street: between Buitenkant and Plein Streets Parade Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets Corporation Street: between Darling and Caledon Streets Caledon Street: between Corporation and Parade StreetsThis includes 14 to 16 February. Darling Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets Longmarket Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Streets Corporation Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets Parade Street: between Caledon and Darling Streets Plein Street: between Roeland and Barrack Streets Commercial Street: between Nieuwmeester Parking and Plein Street.The SONA debate and replies will take place from 14 to 16 February 2022.
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Business magnate Elon Musk announced on Thursday that the first orbital flight of the SpaceX's massive Starship rocket could happen soon.

In his first major update on the Starship in more than two years, Musk expressed his optimism that the 390-foot rocket will reach orbit by the end of this year, which hyped the crowd at the spaceport of SpaceX in Texas per NBC News.

Musk targets to deploy a fleet of Starships to bring humans and equipment to Mars to build a colony in the red planet. However, he recognizes the complicated challenges in fulfilling that dream. He said there are possibilities of "few bumps in the road," which his team wanted to address via "satellite missions and test missions" before putting people on the space ships.

"That's the breakthrough that's fundamentally important to change the course of human civilization to become a multi-planet species," he said.

Waiting for Permission

According to Business Insider, the first stage of SpaceX's Super Heavy rocket is yet to take off. Following a succession of dazzling explosions, the futuristic, bullet-shaped steel Starship successfully launched and landed on its own last May. The rocketship flew over a distance of over 6 miles.

The launch tower at Starbase will help stack Starship and catch the Super Heavy rocket booster pic.twitter.com/xXmonamEDA  SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 11, 2022

According to Musk, SpaceX was able to bring down the cost and weight of the individual Raptor rocker engines by merging parts and modifying the design. He added that the new version of the Raptor engine has improved thrust compared to the first versions.

SpaceX has been diligently working to get Starship ready for launch, but it has only sent early prototypes on a few "hop tests" so far. Musk, per NPR, awaits approval from the Federal Aviation Administration before proceeding with Starship's next phase of going into orbit.

Musk said he expects to get the approval in March. He hopes that the rocket should be ready for launch then as well.

Since then, SpaceX has made remarkable progress. The rocket successfully soared into the sky on May 5, dropped back to Earth, and refired its engines, just in time to flip upright and gently lower itself to the Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic landing pad, after a series of six-mile-high tests flights that ended in an explosion.

However, the booster hasn't yet been included in the rocket's flight.

Read Also: Elon Musk's Plan To Colonize Mars Will Be Faced With Uncertain Survival Issues Once First Settlers Arrive

Rocket Not Failproof

The Super Heavy rocket would launch from Boca Chica and push Starship into orbit for a full orbital test mission. According to a SpaceX FCC filing from May, after circling Earth, Starship would touch down off the coast of Hawaii 90 minutes after liftoff.

Musk has earlier noted that the first orbital launch may not be a success. Musk said he wasn't convinced that Starship would fall into Earth's orbit on its first attempt during a video chat with members of the National Academy of Sciences in November, but that he anticipates SpaceX to do it in 2022.

For now, the initial flights would carry Musk's internet satellites, called Starlinks, into orbit. They have the capabilities to bring high-speed internet service even in remote places on Earth.

Related Article: Musk Delivers Update on SpaceX Starship, Expects Cheaper Costs To Reach Orbit in 2 to 3 Years

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
On the morning of the 21st of December, 1989, Romanian General Secretary Nicolae Ceausescu was in a foul mood. The Berlin Wall had fallen, and Mikhail Gorbachev and George H.W. Bush had recently announced the end of the Cold War, making the end of Ceausescus rule inevitable, though he couldnt see this yet. Worse, his security leaders had just failed to violently put down protests in the city of Timisoara, a fact that enraged his wife Elena.

You should have fired on them, and had they fallen, you should have taken them and shoved them into a cellar, she said. Werent you told that?

Long one of the worlds most vicious dictators, Ceausescus most recent plan for winning over the heartland was forcing half the countrys villagers to destroy their own homes  with pick-axes and hammers, if they couldnt afford a bulldozer  and packing them into project apartments in new agro-industrial towns, for a better future. Despite this, and his long history of murder, terror, and spying, Ceausescu to the end did not grasp that his unpopularity had an organic character. He was convinced ethnically Hungarian terrorists were behind the latest trouble.

After reaching the balcony of Bucharests Central Committee building to give a speech that December day, hes genuinely surprised when the crowd turns on him. When he tells them to be quiet, hes befuddled by their refusal, saying, What, you cant hear? Elena jumps in and yells, Silence!, to which Ceausescu, hilariously, replies, Shut up! The crowd listens to neither of them.

Paul Kenyons Children of the Night describes the morbid black comedy that ensued. The Ceausescus and a motley gang of undead apparatchiks that included the morbidly obese Prime Minister, Emil Bobu later tried to load into a single helicopter  Bobu waddled, walrus-like, to the rear Kenyon writes  but there were too many of them, and the copter barely got off the ground. Where to? asked the pilot, and nobody knew, because there was no plan, since none of them had ever considered the possibility of this happening.

The sky was full of stuff, including other helicopters, which were dropping leaflets on the crowd giving what Kenyon described as a Marie Antoinette-like order to ignore imperialist conspiracies and return home to a Christmas feast. Four days later, a firing squad put the Ceausescus against a wall and gave them their final, solid lead Christmas presents.

Ceausescus balcony will forever be a symbol of elite cluelessness. Even in the face of the gravest danger, a certain kind of ruler will never be able to see the last salvo coming, if doing so requires any self-examination. The neoliberal political establishment in most of the Western world, the subject of repeat populist revolts of rising intensity in recent years, seems to suffer from the same disability.

There may be no real-world comparison between a blood-soaked monster like Ceausescu and a bumbling ball-scratcher like Joe Biden, or an honorarium-gobbling technocrat like Hillary Clinton, or a Handsome Dan investment banker like Emmanuel Macron, or an effete pseudo-intellectual like Justin Trudeau. Still, the ongoing inability of these leaders to see the math of populist uprisings absolutely recalls that infamous scene in Bucharest. From Brexit to the election of Donald Trump to, now, the descent of thousands of Canadian truckers upon the capital city of Ottawa to confront Trudeau, a consistent theme has been the refusal to admit  not even to us, but to themselves  the numerical truth of what theyre dealing with.

Trudeau is becoming the ultimate example. Truckers last month began protesting a January 22nd rule that required the production of vaccine passports before crossing the U.S.-Canadian border. Canadian truckers are reportedly 90% vaccinated, above the countrys 78% total, a key detail thats been brazenly ignored by media in both countries determined to depict these more as anti-vax than anti-mandate protests (which seem to be about many things at once, but thats another story). When an angry convoy descended upon the capital, Trudeau dismissed them in a soliloquy that can only be described as inspired political arson:

The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadianswho know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to ensure our rights, our freedoms, our values as a country.

A near-exact repeat of the basket of deplorables episode, Trudeaus imperious description of unacceptable views instantly became a rallying cry, with people across the country lining the streets to cheer truckers while self-identifying as the small fringe minority. Everyone from high school kids to farmers and teachers and random marchers carrying jerrycans of fuel joined in as Trudeaus own words were used to massively accelerate his troubles.

First it was the truckers.

Then along came the farmers.

And then along came the cowboys.



And they are now blocking the US - Canada border.#FreedomConvoy #Freedomblockade#TruckersForFreedom2022 pic.twitter.com/w2XhQNxO3A  James Melville  (@JamesMelville) February 6, 2022

Trudeau fled the city, removing his family to what aides called a secret location for security reasons, a politically disastrous move denounced by just about everyone with a microphone or a Twitter account, including members of his own party. Liberal MP Joel Lightbound took things a step further. He ripped Trudeaus politics as divisive, saying his government needs to recognize people have legitimate concerns while adding, acidly, Not everyone can earn a living on a MacBook at a cottage. This has been a theme in the States, too, where the people most dickishly insistent on the necessity of lockdowns or mandates have tended to be Zoomer professionals spending the pandemic in pajamas.

Meanwhile, in a hilarious third-rate spoof version of American conventional wisdom  when Canadians try to imitate American pretensions, does it ever not end in a cringe-worthy self-own?  CBC announcer Nil Koksal went on air on January 28th and suggested the trucker protests were a Russian concoction. Given Canadas support of Ukraine in this current crisis with Russia, she posited, to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, there is concern that Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things as this protest grows, or perhaps even instigating it from the outside.
Eighty years ago this month, 120,000 American citizens were rounded up and indefinitely incarcerated without due process. The whole operation was completed in sixty days. It was government sponsored, popularly supported, and media-driven. Meaning it was observed, recorded, and measurable.

By many of the metrics now pushing America toward yet another government-sponsored, popularly-supported, media-hyped atrocity.

Japanese-Americans evacuated from California, 1942. Image credit: National Archives

Deja Vu All Over Again

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, under which 96% of Japanese-Americans were rounded up and sent to concentration camps for the duration of World War II.

The narrative and its vehicle are familiar. Mainstream media, in collusion with government and powerful interest groups, whipped people into a panic following Japan's devastating attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

With America's Pacific fleet demolished, our western flank was dangerously exposed. Enemy agents were everywhere, and hiding in plain sight among the Japanese minority who dominated the West Coast's agriculture and fishing industries.

Despite reassurances from the Japanese-American community, a massive public outcry fingered anyone of Japanese ancestry as the "enemy among us," "dangerous," "unassimilable," and "a threat to our democracy." Every person of Japanese descent--men, women, children, aged, infirm-- needed to be locked away "for our safetyand theirs."

We look back on the elites who hyped this atrocity as acting to solidify power, and stimulate an economy floundering under New Deal socialist diktats-- and not on evidence they willfully suppressed.

Eight decades later, the US media now amplifies the talking points of a government intent on provoking a war to replenish lost political capital, while suppressing evidence exposing the incompetence running it aground-- vaccine mandates, economic lockdowns, Green New Deal, open borders.

And with Vladimir Putin opposed to vaccine mandates, will that make American vaccine skeptics the new "enemy within"? Will it make vaccines the new loyalty oath, concentration camps the new enforcement vehicle, and wartime powers the new justification for persecuting those who dare to question authority?

Keywords Drive Behavior

Keywords are not a new concept. On the internet they are used to draw attention, signal intent, amplify message. Placement and frequency of keywords on a webpage determine search engine ranking. And this how quickly people find you, hear your message, and take action.

Keywords play a similar role in our daily interactions. Keywords are part of any escalation: from nations going to war, to people coming to blows; from companies agreeing to merge, to people falling in love.

People draw attention, signal intent, and amplify the message of what they are about to do. So to masses of people. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Words always precede deeds.

Telegraphing Atrocity

The archives of over 2,300 American newspapers in publication during World War II form a corpus---or linguistic database-- of approximately 300 million published words per month. Within this corpus, we see immediate spikes in the frequency of certain keywords in the days following the Pearl Harbor attack.

Some of the spikes are predictable. The frequency of the term WAR + JAPAN jumps 21% to 566 words per million (WPM) published artifacts. And then steadily increases to a median of 700 WPM.

Some spikes are sad: racial epithet JAP jumps 315% to 166 WPM, and medians out at 185 WPM.

And some are tragic: a raft of sub-10 WPM keywords--ENEMY ALIENS, JAPANESE PROBLEM, JAP MENACE, JAP INVASION, JAPANESE FIFTH COLUMN, JAP REMOVAL, JAP OUSTER, and JAP RELOCATION tell you what people were thinking and what was about to happen.

Why do frequencies matter? If, as psychologists believe, the average adult processes between 20,000-30,000 words daily, the odds of encountering a keyword with a frequency of 50 WPM stands at once a day. At 500 WPM, it's ten times a day. A news-literate person in 1942 was likely encountering terms signaling hostility toward Japan and Japanese between 16-18 times daily.

The unquestionable intent of these terms was to report on the war effort. But the unquestioned outcome was national and local mass atrocity,

Nationally, EO 9066 drove the evacuation of "designated persons" (i.e. Japanese-Americans) into concentration camps in remote areas of the American West. Families were allowed just one suitcase per person, denied legal relief on grounds of "military necessity," and then had their fighting age males sent to war to defend that military necessity.

Locally, a blizzard of firings, evictions, expulsions, curfews, lockdowns, de-bankings, cancellations (leases, licenses, permits, etc.) made it all but impossible for Japanese-Americans to stay in their communities. This "legalization of racism" as one Supreme Court Justice observed, was driven by a public fixated on punishing anything Japanese in America.

This fixation would culminate in the legal attempt in Regan v King to strip Japanese-Americans of US citizenship. Litigated by California's longtime attorney general, plaintiffs were turned back at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on February 19, 1943, exactly a year to the day EO 9066 was signed.

The decision was appealed, but the Supreme Court declined to take the case. The "no thanks" note arrived a few days after testimony on Capitol Hill by Lt. General John DeWitt, commanding officer over the concentration camps. during which he had stated it was impossible to determine the loyalty of Japanese Americans, because "a Jap is a Jap."

That made headlines, shocking the nation, and the Court, which took up Ex parte Mitsuye Endo instead, delivering a unanimous decision declaring mass incarceration of citizens unconstitutional, ending the American gulag, and the largest systematic incarceration of US citizens without trial or due process in our history.

Keywords Have Consequences

And keywords with catastrophic consequences have a special name--malwords.

Malwords are malware for the mind--keywords weaponized and released into society as verbal viruses for isolating, silencing and destroying a targeted population.

Understanding how malwords work helps us diagnose, predict, call out, and prevent government-sponsored atrocity, often by the same people who vowed never to forget the last one.

Because under COVID, we hear the same outcry in mainstream and social media for swift and decisive action against the unvaccinated, who present an existential threat to America and its democracy. Calls for actions range from mass quarantine, incarceration, and firings to loss of benefits, loss of custody, forced vaccination, and torture.

This fixation with punishing enemies of the state presents symptoms similar to the hysteria that landed 120,000 American citizens in prison for the crime of having the wrong ethnicity.

But is this driving a mass atrocity event?

Malwords Drive Bad Behavior

A sample of 3,600 news websites producing a corpus of 200 million words monthly reveals two primary malwords have dominated over the past year-- PANDEMIC and VACCINE-- with a second tier populated by MANDATE, OMICRON, DELTA VARIANT, UNVACCINATED, MISINFORMATION, etc-- graphing as follows:

Benchmarking against 1942 malword levels provides a couple of potential explanations why media-driven hysteria has so far not produced an immediate jackbooted government response.

First, the numbers are not holding up. Primary COVID malword frequencies start well above 1942 WPM's, but become increasingly dependent on "sugar highs" from secondaries like DELTA VARIANT (peak 176 WPM) and OMICRON (peak 482 WPM) to prop up a steadily eroding narrative around PANDEMIC and VACCINE.

Second, the malword set is not that visceral WWII vintage. PANDEMIC, UNVACCINATED, OMICRON, etc. comes from a vocabulary better suited to scrabble than to rolling people out of bed ready to track down enemies of our democracy, drag them off to concentration camps, and strip them of citizenship.

But that could be changing.

Closing the Enthusiasm Gap

Countries like Australia have become very comfortable committing atrocities under guise of COVID against their own citizens, despite running malword levels only in the 700's over the past year. The US Department of Homeland Security's latest bulletin designating those who question the government as domestic terrorists is a step in Australia's direction. But the window for doubling down may be closing, as even blue states ditch lockdowns and mandates on pandemic-weary citizens.

An end-run around weariness is wartime powers. Precedent and temptation are certainly there for Ukraine, but the malwords and the polling numbers are not. Russia and/or China would have to attack the US on its own soil to reverse this. A cyber strike against critical infrastructure is most likely, but even without a false flag, Americans will be asked to send their kids to die for a distant border when their own is walk-thru, their power is out, their heating cut off, their store shelves bare, their money worthless, and cultural Marxists in charge. It's hard to see a popular revolt not breaking out.

It already is. And the Biden regime is waging a pre-emptive, proxy war on TRUCKERS through the media. Malword density shot from years at 1.0 WPM to 16.3 WPM in a week and are trending higher. Collocated terms such as STRIKE, PROTEST, CROSS-BORDER, SUPPORTERS, FREEDOM, FARMERS, and PORT signal what our rulers are really worried about. If the truckers succeed, can farmers and longshoremen be far behind? Along with police, fire, sanitation, and nurses' unions?

That is why Trudeau has said. "This must stop!" It must stop, or the globalist order is in danger of toppling. Will mass atrocity be the only tool left to preserve that order? The answer may lie in what happens in Ottawa, and at the US northern border.

Harvey Oxenhorn is a cybersecurity consultant, and author of the upcoming book, The Atrocity Algorithm: How the Media Became the Enemy of the People. Follow him on Gettr, Gab, and MeWe @HarveyOxenhorn
NASA expressed their concern about the possibility that the orbit would become crowded after confirming SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plans to send 30,00 Starlink satellites.

NASA added that the deployment of a plethora of these Starlink satellites would increase the chances of hampering the agency's scientific observations, delay space missions, and, most concerning, increase the chance of spacecraft collision.

SpaceX Starlink Satellites

SpaceX recently filed a licensing application to the Federal Communications Commission for a new generation of satellites it desires to launch, the Starlink Gen2.

In 2018, SpaceX originally received an initial license from the FCC for its 12,000 Starlink satellites. In a series of tweets on Jan 16, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that the company has 1,469 active Starlink satellites and another 272 satellites moving to operational orbits.

He also added in the said tweet that Laser links would activate soon.

1469 Starlink satellites active

272 moving to operational orbits

Laser links activate soon  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2022

After knowing the plans of SpaceX, NASA submitted a 7-page filing to the FCC stating the risks of the 30,000 satellite network expressing concern that this will cause congestion across Earth's orbit.

NASA is deeply concerned about the possibility of a significant increase in the frequency of conjunction events and the potential impact on NASA's science and human spaceflight missions due to the increase of satellite proposals submitted to the FCC.

The space conjunction stated refers to the satellites passing by other objects in close proximity to them.

Read Also: Life on Mars? NASA Discovers Abundant Water Source In The Red Planet

Low Orbit Space Crafts and Satellites a

According to the report of Reuters, NASA noted there are currently 25,000 total objects tracked in-our orbit, and there are 6,100 tracked objects in the orbit that are below 600 km.

Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysics professor who is a member of the American Astronomical Society's panel examining the impact of satellites on astronomy, stated that the presence of a large number of satellites in space had been a growing concern lately since it interferes with astronomical observations.

Given that the number of satellites will dramatically increase, Mcdowell believes more experience is needed to safely handle tens of thousands of satellites.

SpaceX Claims Zero Risk

Furthermore, since each spacecraft has the ability to maneuver, SpaceX's claim that there is "zero risk" of a Starlink satellite colliding with a larger object in space.

NASA called into question SpaceX's claim that there is "zero risk."

Business Insider reported that due to the presence of multiple independent constellations with tens of thousands of spacecraft and the expected increase in the number of close encounters over time, NASA concluded that the assumption of zero risk from a system-level standpoint "lacks statistical substantiation."

Aside from concerns about collisions, NASA has also expressed concerns about risks to its science missions, citing the possibility that SpaceX satellites could interfere with NASA satellites and ground-based equipment.

NASA is skeptical of the company's claim, particularly given the fact that other large satellite constellations are being planned.

As reported by SEA PC, the space agency told the FCC that "the potential for multiple constellations with thousands and tens of thousands of spacecraft, it is not recommended to assume propulsion systems, ground detection systems, and software are 100% reliable, or that manual operations (if any) are 100% error-free."

Related Article: NASA's Hubble Images Captures The Dwarf Galaxy; The Galactic Oddball
SpaceX's Starlink Gen2 satellite has recently submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy 30,000 Starlink Gen2 satellites.

However, NASA sent a letter to the FCC stating that it encourages the agency to do more research and careful deployment of these satellites.

NASA added that the Hubble space telescope might be affected by the deployment of the plethora of satellites since eight percent of Hubble telescope images are impacted by satellites captured during exposures.

Starlink Gen2 Obscures Hubble Space Telescope

NASA expressed that the license Starlink seeks approval for states 10,000 satellites that are positioned in or above the orbital range of Hubble.

In this case, this would double the number of Hubble's degraded images.

NASA added that it estimates that the presence of a Starlink satellite will be spotted in every single asteroid image captured by the Hubble telescope.

The agency does not take it lightly as this would mean a difficulty of detecting asteroids that might further cause harm towards the planet, the satellites, and NASA's space missions. This might also go as far as having numerous image renders that are unusable.

As reported by Ars Technica, NASA wants "additional information including spacecraft and laser specifications including deployed dimensions, communications plan, ground segment expansion, orbital spacing, and deployment schedule."

"This will inform a thorough analysis of risks and impacts to NASA's missions and enable a mitigation strategy," the report adds.

Read Also: Life on Mars? NASA Discovers Abundant Water Source In The Red Planet

NASA's Concern For Crowded Orbit and Safety

The letter that NASA sent to the FCC does not discourage the agency from rejecting the application of SpaceX Starlink Gen2. Rather, it pushes for the meticulous overseeing of the project to guarantee safe spaceflight in future missions and a long-term sustainable space environment.

It has been reported that NASA has legally expressed its concern regarding the significant increase of space satellites that might possibly cause collisions with other crewed spacecraft missions.

Space traffic might further endanger space exploration due to a possible crowded orbit.

According to Space.com, due to the five-fold increase of satellites in space, NASA expressed its concern about whether or not SpaceX's automated collision avoidance system would be capable of handling an enormous amount of traffic.

The conjunction that may possibly happen between satellites and other space crafts will likely have an effect on both crewed and uncrewed space missions since there will be more objects in close proximity.

SpaceX Starlink Claims Zero Risk

Due to the resurfacing concern, SpaceX claims that there is zero risk in Starlink satellites colliding with other spacecraft in orbit.

As reported previously here on iTechPost, NASA told the FCC that "the assumption of zero risk from a system-level standpoint lacks statistical substantiation"

In addition, they added that with "the potential for multiple constellations with thousands and tens of thousands of spacecraft, it is not recommended to assume propulsion systems, ground detection systems, and software are 100% reliable, or that manual operations (if any) are 100% error-free."

PC Mag also reported that SpaceX's Starlink Gen2 satellites are aimed to launch as soon as next month. This leaves SpaceX hoping for the FCC to accept its proposal for deploying 30,000 satellites.

Related Article: NASA Raises Issues Over SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Plans of Sending 30,000 Starlink Satellites
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Westmans two members of Parliament issued a statement calling for the border blockades in Manitoba and elsewhere in Canada to come to an end Thursday.

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FILES Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Dan Mazier (left) and Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire (right).

Westmans two members of Parliament issued a statement calling for the border blockades in Manitoba and elsewhere in Canada to come to an end Thursday.

"I recognize all Canadians have the right to peaceful protest," Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire said in a statement. "While I will always defend this right, I must also be clear that no one has the right to block critical infrastructure. I call upon all protests to respect the right of others to move about their business freely."

His Conservative colleague representing the riding of Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa highlighted the potential danger to the countrys agriculture sector posed by the blockades.

"Farmers and ranchers can not move their products," Dan Mazier said in the release. "Livestock mortality will become a stark reality if truckers are stuck at borders for an extended period of time. We can not let this happen."

The border crossing with the United States on Highway 75 near Emerson was shut down Thursday by a combination of passenger vehicles, tractors and trucks.

This blockade, as well as those near the American border in Coutts, Alta. and Windsor, Ont. have been set up in solidarity with the protestors in Ottawa who have gathered around the national capitals downtown to call for an end to COVID-19 public health orders and vaccine mandates.

 The Brandon Sun
OTTAWA  After being overlooked for a cabinet post, Manitoba MP Jim Carr is challenging his federal Liberal team to commit to a green jobs plan for the Prairies.

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OTTAWA  After being overlooked for a cabinet post, Manitoba MP Jim Carr is challenging his federal Liberal team to commit to a green jobs plan for the Prairies.

"If we can align our interests in the Prairie (region), then were going to be able to accomplish much more through that kind of collaboration, than if were in our own little corners," said the Liberal MP for Winnipeg South Centre.

On Monday, he tabled Bill C-235, which calls for the federal industry minister to table a co-ordinated plan within 18 months to do everything from implement public transit in rural areas to putting nuclear plants in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

The idea is to put more meat on the Trudeau governments bare-bones pledge for some sort of energy transition away from fossil fuels.

The bill calls for a strategy that addresses six major themes, such as "fostering job creation and retraining in regions that rely on traditional energy industries, to enable them to build a zero-emissions green economy."

Other themes include: "Addressing the limited or non-existent transportation options in small cities and communities;" building climate-change adaptation infrastructure, such as floodways; and "integrating clean energy into fields such as agriculture."

Carr said the bill is based off the Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, a decade-long effort launched in 1981, in which all three levels of government co-operated on a $196-million plan to rejuvenate the inner city.

That project gave the three governments a requirement to meet regularly, set priorities, put up cash, and assess results. Carr calls it a guidebook for "adjusting to inevitable changes in the energy world" for the oil and gas sectors, but one that would include Indigenous governments and the private sector.

"This bill offers a template and the kind of encouragement and accountability that I think these issues need," said Carr, who served as energy and trade minister before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed him as a special adviser for Prairies issues.

In October, Trudeau removed Carr from cabinet during a post-election shuffle many Liberals took as a snub to Manitoba.

NDP MP Daniel Blaikie said he expected more detail from Carr, given how connected he is in the region.

"Its hard to fathom, and somewhat disappointing at this point, that somebody whos been around the cabinet table would believe its going to take at least another 18 months and some legislated deadline, just to get a framework from his own government," said the ElmwoodTranscona MP.

Blaikie said hed expect something like legislation proposing a Western Canadian power grid, or another concrete proposal that would boost employment.

"We need things that are more specific and concrete than whats in the bill, and I would have thought Mr. Carr would be in a position to provide some thoughts on what those things are," the Winnipeg MP said.

"This says to me the governments nowhere close to taking action in any meaningful way on climate in the Prairie provinces, for at least 18 months."

Conservative MP Dan Mazier, who leads the partys Manitoba caucus, said he hadnt reviewed the legislation but it seemed to have potential.

"I looking forward to talking with Jim about it and see if we can make it a decent bill for rural Canada," said Mazier (DauphinSwan RiverNeepawa).

"They havent had a plan so far in the last six years, so I dont know if anything would change, but well have to see."

As of Octobers cabinet shuffle, just two of Trudeaus 39 cabinet ministers come from the Prairies, where the Liberals support has cratered since they took office in 2015.

Saint BonifaceSaint Vital MP Dan Vandal kept his role as northern affairs minister, while also leading a regional economic development agency for the Prairies.

Trudeau has put Vandal and Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault in charge of overseeing a $2-billion energy-transformation pledge, which the Liberals call the "Futures Fund for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador."

Carrs proposal came in a private members bill, legislation that usually doesnt become law  but its also rare to have a recent minister table one.

"I have a lot of hope and the people with whom I have spoken have been very supportive of the spirit behind the bill," Carr said.

Western MPs said Tuesday they were interested in the bill, but needed more time to study its contents. Carr had raised the gist of his proposal with MPs, but under parliamentary rules could not discuss specifics until it was tabled.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Manitobas justice minister has called on the federal government to lower the temperature as protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions escalated with a blockade that brought cross-border trade to a halt Thursday.

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Manitobas justice minister has called on the federal government to "lower the temperature" as protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions escalated with a blockade that brought cross-border trade to a halt Thursday.

Dozens of demonstrators in semi-trucks, farm tractors and snowplows blocked Highway 75 in Emerson. They stopped international traffic in both directions and left drivers, including truckers, stranded for hours.

It was estimated more than 40 vehicles were involved in the blockade, which began at about 12 a.m. and continued throughout the day despite a winter storm. Governments and police agencies faced pressure to break up protests in Emerson and Winnipeg.

Provincial Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said he doesnt support demonstrations that prevent cross-border travel or create noise or traffic disruption for residents, but he welcomes the right to protest.

"I dont think that is the right action," he said of the blockade. "I want those lanes open."

Provincial Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said he doesnt support demonstrations that prevent cross-border travel or create noise or traffic disruption for residents, but he welcomes the right to protest. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press files)

He stopped short of telling protesters to go home, though he acknowledged the demonstrations "cant go on forever."

Shifting blame and responsibility, he appeared to suggest Ottawa should engage with the so-called "freedom convoy," which has staged nationwide demonstrations against a federal vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers.

He sidestepped a question which pointed out the Manitoba protests also take aim at his governments restrictions, and suggested the province isnt willing to take a lead role in ending the demonstrations.

Goertzen took aim at the federal government, saying it needs to "bring rhetoric down" to end "divisiveness" in Canada.

It is up to the federal government and RCMP to defuse the situation at the international border, he said.

"We all want to see the situation be deescalated, but the province has to take some action to achieve that goal."  NDP Leader Wab Kinew

NDP Leader Wab Kinew called Goertzens stance an abdication of leadership.

"We all want to see the situation be de-escalated, but the province has to take some action to achieve that goal," he said.

In Winnipeg, Goertzen said the province has encouraged "dialogue" between police and protesters whove been camped outside the Manitoba Legislative Building for a week.

"Politicians cant direct police operations," the Steinbach MLA said.

Speaking in the House of Commons, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen called on the Ottawa protest to end for the sake of the economy.

People block highway 75 and access to the Canada/US border crossing at Emerson with heavy trucks and farm equipment Thursday. The blockade was a rally against provincial and federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates and a show of support for similar protests in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Mirroring blockades at ports of entry in Coutts, Alta., and Windsor, Ont., Emerson protest organizers called for an end to the vaccine mandate for truckers and Manitobas public health orders.

RCMP officers attempted to speak to protest leaders as the demonstration shut down Manitobas main border crossing and a key North American trade route used by hundreds of trucks every day. An RCMP spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Dave Carlson, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Emerson-Franklin, said the convoy of 40 to 60 vehicles allowed livestock trucks to pass through as border stations in Emerson and Pembina, N.D., remained open. Drivers were urged to use different ports of entry.

The Canada Border Services Agency is working with law enforcement to restore normal operations, said spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy.

The blockade meant Emerson truck driver Yness Boily, who crosses the border every day, couldnt work.

As long as that highway is closed, I cant work. If I cant work, I cant support my family.  Yness Boily

Angered, Boily blocked the protests command centre because, he said, the vehicles had cut off access to a side road that leads to Emerson.

He ended his own blockade when the group agreed to move the protest to the south side of the access road, allowing southbound traffic to enter the town or turn around and head north.

Boily, who is fully vaccinated, called on the RCMP to break up the protest.

"As long as that highway is closed, I cant work. If I cant work, I cant support my family," the 42-year-old said.

Ron Koslowsky, Manitoba division vice-president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association, said border blockades, like the one at Emerson, must end because they disrupt the crucial flow of goods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Ron Koslowsky, Manitoba division vice-president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association, said border blockades must end because they disrupt the crucial flow of goods.

"You have to allow for protest, but when they become a blockage to doing the work that needs to be done, thats holding the whole country up for ransom," he said.

Boily and Carlson urged the demonstrators to keep at least one lane open in both directions.

Carlson worried the blockade would impede emergency vehicles if they had to respond to a critical incident on either side of the boundary. Emersons fire department has a mutual aid agreement with Pembina, N.D.

The truckers have said they will be there for an indeterminate time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

"Everyone has the right to protest," he said. "I know my fire chief is concerned about being able to get to calls. I just want everyone to be safe."

Simon Resch, co-owner of the Emerson Duty Free Shop, was forced to close his business near the border.

"When there is no business, I can only lock the doors and seal the building. We dont know when we will be able to reopen," he said.

Simon Resch, owner operator of the Emerson Duty Free Shop. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

The truckers have said they will be there for an indeterminate time, but Resch expects the blockade will be in place into next week.

Protesters in downtown Winnipeg said a handful of vehicles had travelled south to Emerson to take part in the border blockade.

Organizers of the Winnipeg protest said they are not involved in the border blockade.

More than 30 tractor-trailer cabs, campers and pieces of farm equipment, and a portable office trailer still occupy streets near the legislative grounds. More protesters are expected to arrive Saturday.

Following complaints from fed-up residents, city council is considered seeking a court injunction to restore "common order" around the area.

When there is no business, I can only lock the doors and seal the building. We dont know when we will be able to reopen.  Simon Resch, coowner of the Emerson Duty Free Shop

Council voted to ask the public service to recommend "significant fine increases" for "noise nuisance" offences that last more than 24 hours, as well as any offences that obstruct or impede emergency vehicles.

In a statement, protest organizers said they are complying with requests from Winnipeg police to have a "peaceful and respectful" rally.

Drivers are to limit honking to the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and honk for two minutes at the top of every hour, said the organizers, who requested a meeting with Premier Heather Stefanson.

The premier didnt speak to the media Thursday but issued a statement saying she had met virtually with Mayor Bowman and the two agreed to "keep the lines of communication open."

The two leaders called on protesters near the legislature "to remember to be respectful of the rights of others to live and work downtown in peace."

 with files from Danielle Da Silva, Kevin Rollason, Joyanne Pursaga and Dylan Robertson

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @ChrisKitching

(newsletterPrompt)
Members of the VFW came to Branson Junior High to honor winners of the Patriots Pen essay contest.
Actor Lee Seo-jin plays the role of Dr. Park Won-jang in Tving's original series, "Dr. Park's Clinic." Courtesy of Tving



Veteran actor hopes to stay relevant to younger-generation viewers



By Lee Gyu-lee



Actor Lee Seo-jin's latest character  a bald, struggling doctor  in the comedy series, "Dr. Park's Clinic," shocked many people who are familiar with his image as a gentle, sophisticated NYU Stern graduate with memorable performances in romantic series.



The actor expressed that he was ready to go all-out in creating the hilarious character for the very first comedy series of his 23-year acting career.



"As an actor, wearing special effects makeup and props is not something to be ashamed of. If I gave many people a good laugh, then my work has been successful. And I'm willing to do it again if it can entertain the audience," he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.



Based on the webtoon of the same name by doctor and creator Jang Bong-su, Tving's original series unfolds the story of Dr. Park Won-jang (Lee) opening a clinic.



He dreams of raking in cash by running his own practice. But he is soon faced with the harsh reality when the clinic barely gets any patients, struggling to manage the clinic and keep himself from drowning in debt.



Despite his concerns, the nurses show very little interest in the clinic's success, and his wife, Sa Mo-rim (Ra Mi-ran), expects an affluent life.





A poster for the comedy series, "Dr. Park's Clinic" / Courtesy of Tving



The mockumentary-style sitcom integrates different parodies of famous TV lines and internet memes, and overtly exaggerated product placement, as if it is part of the comedy, which some might describe as a little cringe-worthy at times.



Lee noted that his primary concern with the series is to make it funny, even if it means he has to dress up as a woman or wear a bald cap to portray the doctor, who is secretly bald and wears a wig.



"I tried to stick to the original webcomic and not ruin its reputation," he said. "I had to make this series funny and engaging, so I thought a lot about how I might make the scenes more hilarious  My concern was that it might only seem funny to us and would not appeal to the viewers."



He added that he put complete faith in the series' director, Seo Joon-beom, who also scripted the story.



"Since the director wrote the script and led the production, I felt I needed to fully trust him. If the director said something should be funny, it was my job to make it happen," he said.



"Before I put on the bald makeup, there was a photo-shopped picture to see the transformation. When I saw the picture, I was shocked to see it  But when I put the actual makeup on, it looked much better, which was disappointing because it wasn't as funny."





A still from the series, "Dr. Park's Clinic" / Courtesy of Tving
The Taney County 100 Club member Branson Roof Co. will be offering a new roof for a Taney County first responder.
The competition watchdogs high-stakes lawsuit over alleged criminal cartel activity to manipulate ANZ Banks share price has been entirely dropped after more than four years of litigation.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on Friday morning sent letters to the accused, including Citis John McLean and Itay Tuchman and Deutsche Banks Michael Ormaechea and Michael Richardson, informing them that all charges had been withdrawn and there would be no further action.

The ACCCs long-running and high-stakes lawsuit over an alleged banking cartel has collapsed. Credit:Louie Douvis

Justice Michael Wigney told the Federal Court on Friday he was surprised to learn of the CDPPs decision to file for a nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) against all parties.

The effect of it is, for those listening who dont know what nolle prosequi means in Latin, the prosecution is now declining to proceed on the indictment, with the result the accused will be discharged and the matter will come to an end, Justice Wigney said.
Hosting 7.30 is, according to Jonathan Holmes, former host of Media Watch and now chairman of ABC Alumni, probably the toughest, most highly scrutinised and most important job in the Australian media. The presenter is the face of the program, he adds, but they do not have as much power over its content or direction as viewers might imagine. She or he has very little say in story selection or the research, shooting and editing of stories  that is the province of the executive producer and daily producers and reporters. But, as principal interviewer, the presenter sets the tone, and has the very difficult job of interviewing highly experienced politicians who know that they only need to flannel for seven minutes. Getting them to answer the tough questions without excessive interruptions and perceived rudeness is a skill of the highest order, Holmes adds, and one that in my view Leigh Sales had in spades. The ABC claims the program averages 980,000 viewers per episode, across metro, regional, encore and iView audiences.

Its a vital program for Australia because its national, it shapes the national agenda, Alexandra Wake, journalism programs manager at RMIT, says. There are other current affairs programs, but they dont focus on politics in the same way. It has the ability to set the agenda in a way others dont. Laura Tingle, a regular on the show and recent fill-in host, is considered a frontrunner to replace Sales. Credit:ABC But recently, the downside of being so focused on national politics became abundantly evident. During the pandemic, we have badly missed the weekly state-based versions of 7.30 (previously called Stateline) because the national program cannot hold premiers, who have wielded unprecedented power in the last two years, properly to account, says Holmes. During Victorias lengthy lockdowns, Sales was accused of giving Premier Daniel Andrews a particularly hard time. Conversely, when NSW went into lockdown she was accused of sparing then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian the same sort of treatment. I dont for a moment think Leigh Sales is a closet Liberal, observes Alexandra Wake. But I do think her location in Sydney was problematic during the pandemic. Victorians in particular felt her response to the political leaders during the pandemic was unfair. Queenslanders also felt this. I dont think it was political bias as such, more locational bias.

Clearly, a thick skin is going to be important for whoever wants to get their hands on this (slightly poisoned) chalice. Luckily, plenty of journalists develop  or learn to fake  a thick hide over years in the job. So, who are the contenders? For many, Laura Tingle, a regular on the show and fill-in host, leads the pack. Baker thinks she did a fantastic job as fill-in anchor, but Wake feels shes not completely adapted to broadcast yet. Tingle has downplayed speculation, saying my day job is funner, but she must be considered a serious chance. The ABC has an abundance of internal candidates, including Stan Grant (an obvious choice if hes up for it, says Holmes), David Speers (if the ABC can cop an Anglo male in the job  Holmes again), Virginia Trioli, Sabra Lane and Sally Sara. Patricia Karvelas would also be a contender were it not for the fact that she has only recently started as morning host on Radio National; solving one problem by creating another is no solution at all.

Looking to rival networks, Tens Waleed Aly, Hamish Macdonald and Lisa Wilkinson (all on The Project) all have at least some of the attributes the host might need, though its questionable if the ABC could afford them even if they were to be tempted. Chris Uhlmann, a former co-host of the program and now chief political editor at Nine, owner of this masthead, has flagged his plan to retire after the federal election. In the unlikely event that he were to be offered the job, he says he would turn it down. That ship has sailed, he says. I almost helped sink it for a while, but gladly it recovered. Insiders host David Speers could be a contender. Credit:Justin McManus Tania Lee, lecturer in the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University and a digital content editor at SBS Chinese, would love to see a bolder choice, nominating Shalailah Medhora, political reporter for Triple Js The Hack. She was the first woman of colour to be invited on Insiders in 10 years, says Lee. I think being young, a woman, Indian, from a migrant family were all initial setbacks, but shes really made Australian politics her beat. Whoever it is, being apolitical is neither necessary nor particularly feasible, says Ricketson.
That Australia is now on the brink of losing both the Great Barrier Reef and the koala is both shameful and utterly in keeping with our stewardship of this continent and its creatures since European settlement.

Australia has the worst record of mammalian extinction on earth and the rate of habitat loss and extinctions is accelerating rather than slowing.

Koalas in a breeding program at the Australian Reptile Park.

But there is a key difference between the two looming catastrophes.

So far as a nation we have proved reluctant to lead the world in greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts that would save the reef. And even if we had cut emissions in line with that goal, we could not achieve it alone.
I was supposed to get a connecting flight but we started talking and have never stopped since. I never did manage to finish that holiday. After a year of dating we decided I would move from Cairns to where he was based in the country town of Kalbar and buy a farm. I pictured a rambling homestead, daily horse rides and endless cheese boards in front of open fires, but we basically moved into a shed with no power or running water. Our move coincided with three months of torrential rain and, since we had no money left, my main memories of this time involve Dave washing my hair outside in the rain and surviving on Sao biscuits coated in peanut butter. Every night around the campfire Id say to Dave, I love you but I dont think I can live here any more. Loading Once the floods dissipated, we entered one of the worst droughts in Australias history and then we had three bushfires sweep through the property. Financially, mentally and physically, it took a toll on both of us, but if theres a silver lining, its this: adversity brought us closer together. We leaned on each other for support and learnt, through experience, how to communicate and problem-solve effectively. It was only once we said, It doesnt matter if we lose everything as long as we have each other that things began to change for us. The idea for our business, Our Cow, was born and now we not only sell our own beef, but the meat products of more than 100 farms across NSW and Queensland.

Stress points change all the time when youre in a relationship but were a dynamic duo who play to our respective strengths. I now know that if you and your partner are committed to open communication and placing importance on supporting each other, you come out the other side a stronger couple. We got engaged after two weeks Gabrielle Olga, 44, a business owner, and her partner Andreas, 44, separated after eight years of marriage. Since reuniting a year later, they say their love is stronger than ever. After a year apart Gabrielle Olga, and Andreas decided to work through issues. The night I met Andreas, I was busy making plans to radically change my life  plans which involved quitting my job and travelling around Cuba. I was having drinks with a friend and discussing what this new life was going to look like, when I locked eyes with a handsome man across the bar. Id never seen him before but it felt like Id known him my whole life. I bought him a drink and we got talking and that was that. Ive yet to get to Cuba.

Andreas and I had only been dating for two weeks when he asked me to marry him. Wed had such an amazing time together that I had an inkling it was coming and had no hesitation in saying yes. We married in an intimate ceremony a few weeks later, had our first son one year and a day after we married, followed it up with our second son 13 months later, then a daughter 15 months after that. We were going to stop there, but we couldnt keep our hands off each other  it was almost animalistic  and we had two more babies. We soon had five kids under the age of six. Things began to fall apart eight years into our marriage, after we moved to New Zealand to realise my dream of buying acreage near a small country town. I worked two jobs and studied while Andreas, working remotely, began to feel increasingly isolated in a place where the only other person he knew was my mother. When he was offered a job in the US, he said he had to get away for his mental health but I took it as abandonment and betrayal. When I said, If you take this job, thats the end for us, he thought I was bluffing; I felt I had to follow through on my threat. He left soon afterwards. A year later, Andreas and I were living separate lives. Id moved our kids to Brisbane and begun dating a lovely guy, while Andreas was in a relationship with a new partner in the States. When he called to ask if he could spend Christmas with us, I struggled with the idea as I was still so angry with him, but once he came and I remembered how good it felt to be with him and to see him with our children, I had this moment of, What am I doing? We should be together.

Once we started talking, we made a plan for him to come back. And today, some seven years later, were happier and more in love than ever. Love, I now know, isnt about asking how much do you love me?, its how best can I show you that I love you? Andreas and I try to show each other every day. We been married for 60 years and were still going strong Nicole and Alan Evered, 82 and 88 respectively, met in England in 1960 before Alan set sail for Australia. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2021. Nicole and Alan Evered still search for activities they will both enjoy.

When I first met Alan through mutual friends, I didnt think he was anything special. Well, that was until Alan applied to come to Australia as a Ten Pound Pom and organised a farewell dinner. I was included on the list and, suffice to say, we got on so well that we spent eight of his remaining 12 days together. By the time he left in May 1960, I was incredibly disappointed. I wrote to Alan as soon as he left. And of course, thats what long-distance dating was like in those days  a multitude of letters. We continued writing to each other for a few months and then in January 1961, he arranged to make a special phone call to ask me to marry him. Unfortunately, the minute he asked, the radio circuit was cut off by an atmospheric storm so the first person to congratulate me was the telephone operator. There was no need for me to think about my response; I just knew Alan was the one for me. I came out to Australia several months later and after we married, we set up home in Geelong. Four weeks after our first son was born, we moved to Tasmania for Alans work. Like most couples, weve had our ups and downs. We survived the 1967 Tassie bushfires which were frightfully dreadful, and we were raising our children far from our families back in England. But the positive side to all of that, I suppose, is that we really only had each other to lean on for support. It was a way of being that has cemented our love and fellowship, I think, and one thats kept us in good stead over the decades. Loading After a move back to Melbourne and the arrival of our third son, Alan and I became committed to finding plenty of regular activities to do as a couple while our children grew older. Over the years, weve been heavily involved with the Scouts, assisting with jamborees in Sydney and Ballarat, and fossil fossicking, helping with Gemfest in Queensland. Showing love and kindness to one another is important, but so too is finding things we enjoy doing together. That way, youll never tire of one anothers company.
Of course, not every citizen will agree on the importance of providing some services or the best way of doing so. Take education, for example. While Australian governments spend more money per student than Finnish governments, the Finns are widely regarded as having the best schools in the world. The shape of public spending matters more than its size. Just as a teenager who skimps on car maintenance will ultimately learn an expensive lesson, governments in Australia that under-invest in our people, our infrastructure and our natural environment have been setting us up to fail, not to prosper. But because we heard so much noise about the need to reduce the amount of public spending, we have been denied a genuine democratic discussion about its ideal shape. And the cracks are beginning to show. The arrival of COVID-19 exposed the fact that some of our schools are so crowded that children arent allowed to scamper about in the playgrounds or able to wash their hands in the bathrooms. The 2020 summer bushfires showed us that we lack the resources to fight the climate-induced blazes we have fuelled. Rising tensions with China led our Prime Minister to commit to spending whatever it takes to purchase nuclear submarines that will be far more expensive than the $90 billion contract he cancelled with the French. All of this, combined with a growing population that has rising expectations of the available health, education and urban services, means that the amount of government spending, the breadth of assets owned by government, and the scope of government regulation in our lives, are set to expand in the decades ahead. The sooner we admit that, the sooner we can best shape it. Governments in Australia that under-invest in our people, our infrastructure and our natural environment have been setting us up to fail, not to prosper. While Australian public debate is full of the droning of non-economists about the economic necessity to tighten our belts and cut government spending if we are to prosper as a nation, when it comes to the size and shape of our public sector, the stakes are much higher than the wobbles of our economic indicators. Long before anyone had ever thought of  let alone measured  gross domestic product, the consumer price index or the unemployment rate, Australia established what would become one of the worlds oldest continuous democracies. But The incessant propaganda war against the efficiency and effectiveness of government services, combined with the obsession with shrinking the size and role of governments, is now helping to drive a loss of faith in democracy itself. After decades of vociferous attacks on the idea that government spending and regulation can improve peoples lives, is it any wonder that a growing number of people think democracy just doesnt work?

Why would we expect young people, those whove grown up listening to years of derision concerning the role of the state, to have much faith in the ability of their vote, or their collective actions, to solve the big problems they and their country face? Why wouldnt young people turn more to themselves and further away from democracy? Needless to say, the less faith people have in government, and the more people shun the project of democracy, the easier it is for those with power and influence to extract more cash, concessions and corrupt favours for themselves. To be crystal clear, I do not believe that governments can or should try to solve all problems. Not only do I want my freedoms, I want more freedoms than I currently have. I want the freedom to die with dignity, and the freedom to criticise my elected representatives without being sued. I want my kids to grow up in a society free from dangerous climate change, particulate pollution, homophobia, racism and sexism. Linking the small size of the public sector to the existence of freedom is like linking the number of plans, road maps and strategies a government prints to the existence of a vision for the nation. Similarly, I also think that governments, like individuals, clubs and companies, can waste money, make terrible decisions, and focus more on the spoils of victory than on the needs of those they are supposed to represent. I dont want to pay taxes and watch them being wasted on offshore detention centres we dont need or on car parks that the private sector could have built. But, like many across Europe, Id happily pay more in tax and never have to worry about private health insurance ever again. Starting young: students protest climate change inaction. Young people are looking to collective action to solve the big problems they and their country face. Credit:Louie Douvis

Democracy thrives on high expectations, and when cynicism about motives replaces scepticism about methods, then only those promising the least will thrive. Decades of disparagement of the positive role of government in our society has left many conservatives with little more to promise than to keep the levers of power from the hands of those who seek to use them for good. Despite the need to reform our entire energy system, rebuild our straining infrastructure, restructure our unaffordable housing market and redress the deep inequalities that still dominate our society, Scott Morrisons vision for the country is for government to get off peoples backs and to prevent Labor from increasing petrol prices, interest rates and taxes.

That should fix things. It is no coincidence that the democratic contest of big ideas has been replaced by debates about costings and modelling and confected culture wars. The determination of so many to eschew the use of the power of the state to solve real problems that affect so many people, means that enormous amounts of political effort and media analysis now revolve around artificial cultural storms taking place in carefully designed media teacups. Australia, despite our tiny population, comprises the 12th-largest economy globally. We spend more on defence than all of our nearest neighbours combined. We have enormous amounts of land and natural resources, and the pool of money that has accumulated thanks to compulsory superannuation  a mandated policy you never hear the banking sector complain about  is one of the biggest reservoirs of savings in the world. We can afford to do anything we want, but we cant afford to do everything we want. The big choices are all ours, including the choice of whether we can be bothered to make them. Credit:
This episode, as jaw-dropping as it was, had little to do with the Religious Discrimination Bill. It raised a tangential concern about an exemption in federal sex discrimination law, in force for nearly a decade, which allows religious schools to decide which children they are prepared to educate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. An expert panel commissioned by the federal government to conduct a review into religious freedom concluded that, while religious schools should have the right to preference students who uphold the religious convictions of their school, that right should be limited to protect the interests of the child and apply only to new enrolments, not existing students. This is the issue which triggered a mutiny inside the Liberal Party and led to a series of amendments which ultimately prompted Prime Minister Scott Morrison to kill the bill. For faith-based educators, it was never the main game. What matters to them is the broader principles behind the religious discrimination legislation. Loading Where the rubber really hits the road is our employment practises, Wells says. We have no interest in harming anyone with offensive statements or conduct. What we want to see established is our right to employ people who have a consistent worldview to ensure a consistent influence in the lives of children who are entrusted into our care. We want that to be seen as not only legal, but common sense. Freedom of religion is one of only a few rights expressly protected in the constitution. It is described by the High Court as the paradigm freedom of conscience and the essence of a free society. Australia, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is committed to preserving it. But as Australian Human Rights Commission president Rosalind Croucher noted in 2016, the common law provides little protection for it. Liberal MP Tim Wilson during his tenure as Human Rights Commissioner dubbed it the forgotten freedom.

Had the Religious Discrimination Bill found a way through the internal politics of the Liberal Party and a bitterly contested federal parliament, it would have added religion to sex, age, disability and race as attributes protected under Commonwealth law. State-based anti-discrimination laws cover religion in Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia but not in NSW and South Australia. For the first time, all people of faith would have been protected against discrimination in employment, education and provision of goods, services and access to government programs on the basis of religious belief and activity. Loading For faith-based schools, the proposed laws would have formally enshrined at a federal level their right, long exercised through carve-out provisions in anti-discrimination laws, to hire teachers and other staff who share their religious ethos. Religious school leaders believe this principle is under threat from a combination of secular law reform, most notably through recent changes to Victorias Equal Opportunity Act, and a campaign by gay and trans rights activists to challenge any rights and special privileges given to religious organisations. Australia is not alone in wrestling with this. Ahmed Shaheed is the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion. He warned four years ago, at the time Australia was embarking on its ill-fated legislative journey, that states which intervene extensively, overzealously and aggressively in the manifestation of religion or belief in an attempt to protect other rights such as gender equality or sexual orientation were at risk of breaching their commitment to the ICCPR. Michael Stead, the Anglican bishop for South Sydney, wrote in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the Religious Discrimination Bill that Australia had a long-standing live and let live social compact which allowed people of all faiths to express their beliefs without fear of discrimination or persecution.

This is now changing, and legal protections are necessary to protect people from religious discrimination, he wrote, describing as an extraordinary overreach the Victorian governments changes to its Equal Opportunity Act, which restrict religious schools right to preference employment to those circumstances where religion is an inherent requirement for the job. The Victorian law, which came into force in December, galvanised the religious freedom movement. Victorias Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the previous exemptions for religious organisations were too broad and the change would better protect LGBTIQ+ and other Victorians against discrimination. Jacinta Collins, a former Labor senator who runs the National Catholic Education Commission, says the idea of a state government or a court assessing when faith matters and doesnt matter in a religious school is a significant incursion into church affairs by the state. National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins. Credit:Rohan Thompson There is really no justification of it in a public policy sense, she tells The Age and Herald. If you have a pluralist school system where everyone has access to public education and families choose to provide a faith-based education for their children, that should be free to occur. Our biggest concern out of all this isnt the treatment of kids, its arrangements which allow activists to try to compromise our capacity to provide faith-based education. For people of other faiths, the Religious Discrimination Bill promised protections of a different kind.

Loading Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Colin Rubenstein says Jewish people rely on community organisations to provide culturally compatible education, aged and disability care and these need to be managed by people who share their faith. Jewish communities are also experiencing a rise in what Rubenstein calls the oldest hatred, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewrys annual report on anti-semitism in Australia last year recording a 35 per cent increase in incidents from the previous reporting period. To some extent, religion is under attack, Rubenstein says. Even though we have certainly had a record of religious freedom and tolerance in this country, the tide is moving in a problematic direction, and certainly for the Jewish community. There is a great concern about the resurgence of anti-semitism in recent times and the emergence of far-right extremism. One of the central concerns raised by critics of the bill was the statement of belief provision. This provision meant that a statement of religious belief, made in good faith according to the teachings of that religion, would not breach other existing anti-discrimination laws. This protection would not apply to any statement that was malicious or intended to threaten, intimidate, harass or vilify. When Bilal Rauf, a spokesman for the Australian National Imams Council, appeared last month before a parliamentary committee, he was asked whether Muslim people were concerned that Islamophobia could be spread under the protection of this provision. His response was instructive.

Loading The greatest source of concern for us is as we saw with the manifesto by [Christchurch mass murder Brenton] Tarrant, he said. Statements coming from that angle and those perspectives, which are more real, which are actually occurring and which are widespread online. Heres something on the table, we want to take it, we want the benefit of it. The minority faith communities, based on our interactions, want the benefit of it. If that goes off the table we are left again with nothing, as we started. Australian Association of Christian Schools executive officer Vanessa Cheng, whose organisation represents 120 schools across Australia, including the Chairo Christian School in Pakenham, lamented that once again religious freedom had been kicked down the road. In late 2017, as Australians were being asked by postal survey whether the legal definition of marriage should be expanded to include same-sex couples, Father Frank Brennan was approached by then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to consider an even thornier question; whether more needed to be done to protect religious freedom.

A Jesuit priest, law professor and human rights advocate who had publicly flagged he would be voting yes to gay marriage, Brennan was an obvious choice to help bring Australias piecemeal protections against religious discrimination into the post-survey era. Along with Croucher and former Federal Court judge Annabelle Bennett, he agreed to join the Religious Freedom Review chaired by long-serving Liberal MP Philip Ruddock. Father Frank Brennan was part of an expert panel commissioned by then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to review religious freedom in Australia. Credit:Elke Meitzel Brennan says there was a clear need for the Commonwealth to introduce protections against religious discrimination. What convinced us was that, if you look on paper at the coverage of discrimination law, this was the one notable deficiency at the federal level, he says. And in the public atmosphere, there seemed in the wake of the [postal survey] to be increasingly hostility and concern, particularly towards some Islamic groups and the more conservative evangelical Christian groups. The panel also recommended changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to put tighter boundaries around the exemptions that existed for religious organisations. The political problem was that, right from the start, the idea of what the proposed new law should do split the government. Where moderates supported vanilla religious discrimination legislation, conservatives wanted laws that codified a positive affirmation of religious freedom, something the expert panel had explicitly warned against. The risk inherent in such an approach was that religion might be seen to be protected at the expense of other rights. The government sought to appease both sides of this divide. Some of Australias most established church groups and charitable organisations  the Uniting Church, parts of the Anglican Church, the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Sacred Heart Mission  believed they got the balance wrong. Uniting Church general secretary Colleen Geyer feared that proposed law would have a corrosive effect on society.

We believe there are certain provisions in this bill that actually increase the likelihood of discrimination against people of minority faiths and also people from more vulnerable groups within society, she told a parliamentary inquiry. We believe it does this by privileging powerful religious voices at the expense of minority and vulnerable voices in society, which seems to be the exact opposite of its purpose, and by providing what we see as extraordinary and excessive religious exceptions. The review of existing anti-discrimination legislation, a separate but related process, was referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission. The ALRC was initially told to report by April 2020. Under the direction of then attorney-general Christian Porter this was pushed back to December 2020 and finally, to 12 months after the passage of the Religious Discrimination Act. Brennan says this was absolutely perverse. At Christmas 2018 we had them all sanctimoniously carrying on about how dare kids be put at risk? and this needs to be fixed immediately. Nothing was done and here we are in 2022 and they still havent fixed it. Brennan became so disillusioned that he refused an invitation to make submissions to the most recent parliamentary inquiries, explaining that he had lost all faith that the 46th Parliament will be able to resolve the deadlock on these issues. Why in Gods name couldnt there be a bipartisan approach with an open consultation process to get that set up? he asks. We were able to do it with racial discrimination and sex discrimination; why not with religious discrimination?
Since then, Victorian counter-terror authorities have begun assessing the video and the AFP is also understood to be making further inquiries. Assessing the threat posed by Eracleous  who is in his late 20s and no longer a Liberal Party member  and the small but loud minority of Australians who, online or at rallies, discuss hanging politicians and acquiring firearms, is now devouring huge police and intelligence resources.

According to Burgess, combatting rising radicalism should be viewed not only as a concern for security agencies but as a whole-of-society problem. As a nation, we need to reflect on why some teenagers are hanging Nazi flags and portraits of the Christchurch killer on their bedroom walls and why others are sharing beheading videos, Burgess said in his annual threat assessment speech on Wednesday night. Eracleous proclivity for extremity first emerged publicly in 2014, while he was serving as treasurer of the Melbourne University Young Liberals. He was outed by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald as one of a small group of Young Liberals posting highly offensive sexist and homophobic material. In one post, Eracleous described feminist author Germaine Greer, as a lying f---ing c-m guzzling slut  and a union member.

He left mainstream politics and disappeared from public view, spending the next few years mixing in Melbournes neo-Nazi scene. In 2019, court records reveal he hit the radar of Victoria Polices counter-terror command intelligence unit. Eracleous was charged with using a carriage service to offend, but he avoided a criminal conviction in July 2020 by admitting to his offending as part of a program aimed at redirecting first-time offenders away from the criminal justice system. We need to reflect on why some teenagers are hanging Nazi flags and portraits of the Christchurch killer on their bedroom walls. Mike Burgess, ASIO director-general The court case did not steer him away from radicalism. Rather, his online postings  using several aliases on encrypted platforms  became more extreme. After the Christchurch terror attack in March 2019, Eracleous began posting the number 51 in his messages as a sly nod to other neo-Nazis signalling his support of the attack, which left 51 people dead. Quick announcement. Its my birthday today. Lets celebrate by spamming 51, Eracleous wrote in one online post. In late 2020, his online footprints suggest Eracleous (who did not respond to repeated efforts to contact him) began mixing with the National Socialist Network. The NSN was Australias most active neo-Nazi group before two of its key leaders were arrested by police last year, around the same time its inner workings were exposed in a joint investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes.

Last March, just before these arrests and media exposure crippled the group, one of its leaders, Bradley Ingram, used an online alias to announce in an encrypted neo-Nazi forum that Eracleous was now officially under the protection of the National Socialist Network. Eracleous dealings with the NSN almost certainly placed him again on the radar of state and federal security agencies, who regard the group as a key intelligence gathering target. Yet there is no evidence Eracleous or the NSN as a whole is considered a terror threat. While three of the groups members or adherents are facing terror charges, the danger of the NSN  according to state and federal officials not authorised to speak publicly  is as an incubator for political violence. Eracleous pictured in a recent online discussion with other neo-Nazis. These sources also describe the NSN as a disorganised, amateurish outfit, riven with internal conflicts. The reason Eracleous needed the groups protection was that, according to social media posts, he had fallen out with other neo-Nazis. A high proportion of the NSNs members have also engaged in alleged criminal activity, drawing constant police attention and charges. Court records reveal that in the next month, two mid-ranking NSN members will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court over summary (less serious) criminal offences: Dean Lynch, for possessing a prohibited weapon, and another young Victorian man for family violence order breaches.

The charges point to the quiet strategy of NSW and Victorian police counter-terror commands to intensely monitor members of active neo-Nazi groups and seek to lay charges, no matter how minor, when they transgress the law. Official sources also make clear that agencies dont regard the threat posed by the neo-Nazi movement Eracleous is part of as comparable to that posed by groups such as Islamic State. Most of these NSN guys are blowhards, says one security source. Still, this doesnt discount the intense fear they can cause those they troll on video and posts, including female politicians. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess says radicalism is rising in Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In his Wednesday address to political and security leaders and the media, Burgess said that while his agencys terror case load had dropped, radicalism in Australia was rising. Some Australians believe the governments approach to vaccinations and lockdowns infringed their freedoms. And in a small number of cases, grievance turned to violence, he said. If Eracleous is your typical suburban neo-Nazi, the assortment of groups who participated in the recent protests outside the nations parliaments cover the political spectrum, with concerns ranging from lockdowns to paedophiles and other QAnon-style conspiracies.

Policing briefings about one of the most active groups, Sovereign Citizens, sighted by this masthead state its members arent considered a terror threat. The group believes the power of the state is illegitimate and has recently escalated a campaign involving attending police stations to deliver arrest warrants that name politicians. Yet the briefings also make clear that concern some members could cross over into violence requires policing vigilance. At least two Sovereign Citizens have recently been arrested, one over an alleged incitement to deprive liberty and another for firearms offensives. Loading The White Rose Society, an anti-fascist research group that engages in deep internet dives to uncover and document extremist behaviour, has recently analysed hundreds of posts and videos uploaded by key members or affiliates of the Sovereign Citizens. Along with the bizarre conspiracy theories they peddle are consistent references to acquiring guns, liaising with veterans or police with firearms experience and using violence as a means of political expression. In a Zoom chat this month, one of the groups affiliates was recorded saying that peaceful is lawful, but sometimes you need a sophisticated application of force. Another extremist influencer responded: thats what were organising ... only if everything else fails.
Less surface ozone could significantly increase wheat yield: study

Xinhua) 08:56, February 11, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have discovered that halving ozone dose could increase wheat yields by more than 20 percent, the Science and Technology Daily reported Thursday.

The climbing concentration of surface ozone pollution hinders crop growth and reduces yields, according to the report.

The researchers from the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology worked in cooperation with nine other institutions to assess the relative yield loss in rice, wheat and maize due to ozone, by combining the ozone elevation experiments across Asia and air monitoring at about 3,000 locations in China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

They found that the total ozone-induced annual loss of crop production is estimated at 63 billion U.S. dollars in East Asia, according to a recent research article published in the journal Nature Food.

More specifically, the yields of wheat, rice and maize could be improved by 21 percent, 10 percent and 4 percent respectively in China, if the ozone were reduced half with emission reduction measures.

The researchers suggested taking mitigation action for ozone emission control and adaptive agronomic measures against the rising surface ozone levels across East Asia.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
By Dong Sun-hwa







The poster for upcoming musical "Almond" / Courtesy of Live Corp.

"Almond," an award-winning novel by novelist Sohn Won-pyung, is set to be made into a musical in April, according to production company Live Corp., Thursday.







The musical will premiere at COEX Artium in Gangnam District, Seoul, from April 2 to May 1. The names of the actors joining the cast will soon be announced.







Released by Changbi Publishers in 2017, "Almond" is a coming-of-age story of a boy named Yoon-jae, who cannot feel any emotions due to a brain condition called Alexithymia. The book portrays how Yoon-jae grows up as he builds rapport with different people.







"Almond," which sold 900,000 copies in Korea, won the Changbi Publishers' Literary Award in 2016 and the Japanese Bookseller's Award in 2020. It also grabbed international attention after RM and Suga of K-pop superstar BTS were seen reading the novel in the reality show, "BTS In the Soop," in 2020. According to Changbi Publishers, the book's translation rights were sold to 12 countries, including the U.S., France, Vietnam and Mexico.







"My co-workers and I are striving to bring life to a musical that can win people's hearts for a long time to come," the musical's producer, Kang Byung-won, said. "The original work will be taken to the next level with the help of music and performance."







Novelist Sohn said, "I am so glad to hear that my work will be reborn as a theatrical show. I hope great actors, music and direction help it resonate with audiences."


Florists across the nation are closing their stores for the first time on Valentines Day because of supply issues and the rising cost of roses.

A dozen 70-centimetre imported roses currently cost florists $140, taking the price to about $250 for customers.

Some florist operators are also being investigated by the ACCC over misleading advertising. Credit:Lauren Sams

Flower Industry Australia chief executive Anna Jabour said florists had been hit hard.

One woman has been open every Valentines Day for the past 24 years but has decided not to operate this time because she cant afford it and is worried about people not wanting to pay for the price increase, she said.
Several times in their six months of dating she had been beaten and burnt by her partner.

And on January 3, 2018, after a night of drinking and arguing, she found a shotgun in her sons bedroom and shot her boyfriend dead in her Gold Coast home.

Paania Frauline Lawrence. Credit:Facebook

Paania Frauline Lawrence, now 43, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday over the death of 46-year-old Scott James Morrison.

Lawrence, who is a domestic violence and child sexual abuse survivor, was originally charged with murder, but the offence was downgraded at the start of her sentencing hearing on Friday.
He said Mr Roberts-Smiths patrol came over a short time later ... and took the two males I had placed under constraint. Person 16 assumed they were being taken away for questioning, he said. Loading Within about 15 to 20 minutes there was a call over the radio of two EKIA, Person 16 said, meaning enemy killed in action. He said the voice he heard was Mr Roberts-Smiths. Person 16 said he encountered Mr Roberts-Smith within a day or two of the mission and asked him: What happened to that young bloke that was shaking like a leaf? He said Mr Roberts-Smith replied: I shot that c--- in the head. [Person 15] told me not to kill anyone on the last job, so I pulled out my 9 mill [pistol], shot the c--- in the side of the head, blew his brains out. It was the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen.

Person 16 said the conversation left him shocked and he didnt repeat what was said. There was a code of silence within the regiment as to these things occurring, he said, and he feared retribution if he spoke up. I also think that my personal safety, I would have been in danger, by making such allegations against someone so influential. Mr Roberts-Smith has insisted the alleged killing did not happen and denied saying those words to Person 16. Bruce McClintock, SC, one of Mr Roberts-Smiths barristers, dismissed the allegation in his opening address to the court last year. Its like [actor] Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now. Its Colonel Kilgore on ice. Its insane. Its the sort of thing that would be said by an ostentatious psychopath. Hes not that, Mr McClintock said.

Arthur Moses, SC, for Mr Roberts-Smith, put it to Person 16 on Friday that he had imagined the conversation. Person 16 fired back: That is absolutely false. This conversation 100 per cent happened. This conversation shocked me to the core and thats why I remember it. He said he had a strong suspicion before asking Mr Roberts-Smith about the young Afghan man that he had been killed, and his question related to a potential war crime. Person 16 was shown a photo in court of a body that he said looks like the young Afghan male I detained from the Toyota HiLux. He was highly confident it was the same man, he said. He agreed he first saw the photo in 2018 and was pressed repeatedly by Mr Moses about whether his memory might have been influenced by you seeing that photo.

I see where youre coming from but ... the more I think about it, the more Im confident that this was the person, Person 16 said. He agreed there was always a slight possibility it was someone else. The court heard the photo showed an AK-47 style of weapon on the body of the young Afghan man. Person 16 said the man he handcuffed did not have that weapon. Person 16 said he met investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, who co-wrote the articles at the centre of the case, in Queensland in late 2018. He said McKenzie said he had heard about the HiLux job and had heard Mr Roberts-Smith made a statement that one of the deaths on that day was a beautiful thing. He said he didnt agree or disagree with what McKenzie said he had heard.

Mr Roberts-Smith received the Victoria Cross, Australias highest military honour, in 2011 for his participation in a 2010 battle in Tizak, Afghanistan. The barrister acting for the newspapers, Nicholas Owens, SC, asked Person 16 if he had any knowledge about Mr Roberts-Smiths reputation before he joined the SAS at the start of 2011. From what I can recall, he had a reputation as being a no-nonsense individual, pretty straight, hard-hitting individual who didnt suffer fools. He had a formidable reputation, Person 16 said. After he was posted to the SAS, Person 16 said, he became aware that there were two camps of thought about Mr Roberts-Smith. Those against him saw him as belligerent and a bully who would trash and tarnish other peoples reputations. Under cross-examination by Mr Moses, Person 16 agreed he was not suggesting he was in the against camp.

I actually admired some of his qualities, Person 16 said. He said he had never suggested that Ive never been treated poorly by Mr Roberts-Smith. Earlier on Friday, Justice Anthony Besanko admitted into evidence the handwritten notes of investigative journalist Chris Masters, who co-authored the articles at the centre of the case, from a 2018 meeting with a serving SAS soldier dubbed Person 14. These notes are expected to be a key document in the proceedings. Person 14 has told the court he witnessed three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2009 around a black object which was ... similar to a human before one of the soldiers fired a distinctive machine gun, known as the F89 Para Minimi. Ben Roberts-Smith at the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday. Credit:Peter Rae He said he later discovered the object was an Afghan man with a prosthetic leg, who had been shot dead.

Person 14 told the court he could not identify any of the three soldiers, but he saw who had the Minimi after the mission was completed, and it was Ben Roberts-Smith. He later admitted he was not suggesting it was the same Minimi. Mr Moses has told the court that Masters notes record that RS [Roberts-Smith] had an M14 rifle during the alleged incident in 2009, while another soldier, Person 4, had a Minimi. The notes said Person 14 understood P4 had shot an old guy with a prosthetic leg, Mr Moses said. Mr Moses put it to Person 14 on Thursday that he initially told Masters that Person 4 had shot the Afghan man. Incorrect, Person 14 said.

You are a liar, arent you? Mr Moses said. Im not, Person 14 said. Person 14 said Minimis were typically carried by a junior soldier, and he initially believed Person 4 shot the Afghan man. That was based off me assuming that the Minimi carrier was Person 4, he said. That was my initial assumption on the ground ... but I later came to learn who was carrying the Minimi. Mr Roberts-Smith is suing for defamation over a series of news reports in 2018 he says portray him as a war criminal. Person 16 is the third current or former member of the SAS to give evidence in the Federal Court in Sydney for The Age, the Herald and The Canberra Times, as the news outlets seek to establish a defence of truth.
The whole audience sniggered. They were laughing at me. They were so rude. I was absolutely mortified. I will never forget it. She left thinking: Well, they are the experts, and they must know. Loading It was Bridie who told her: Thats what we face all the time. These victims were seen as bit players in a much larger production. Walters may have seen herself as privileged, but she was no pushover. A former student of Sacre Coeur, where she was expected to rise at 5.30am to meditate at 6am, she was not someone to be pushed around.

Her lack of knowledge was her greatest asset. She didnt need to fashion the facts to support a pre-existing position. Fresh eyes often see a problem differently. A former teacher herself, she started worldwide research, contacting an American expert who had lost a child to drugs. The expert invited Walters to a US conference, saying: You will learn more here in 10 days that you will in Australia in 10 years. It was an eye-opener where experts freely accepted the dangers of marijuana and saw it as a gateway for more deadly products. Back in Melbourne, she began a campaign that often contradicted an influential group of drug experts who had been pushing for decriminalisation of cannabis.

In some ways, it was a closed shop. Many of the experts were of an age where they had used marijuana in their teens, but it was essentially a different drug. The drug of the 1970s and 80s was a crop usually grown outdoors with a relatively low percentage of the mind-altering THC. The modern product is genetically altered hydroponic Supergrass, much of which is produced in suburban grow houses. Acting on tips from police, members of the public, real estate agents, neighbours and power companies, detectives from the Drug Taskforce are hitting crop houses at a record rate. Credit:Victoria Police The image of cannabis as a soft hippy drug persists, when it is actually a major spoke in the organised crime wheel. The profits are massive and if offenders are caught, the penalties are relatively minor. A grow house can produce 100 plants every 12 weeks. At $3000 a mature plant, this equates to more than $1 million a year. Police say there are 1500 grow houses operating in Victoria producing $1.5 billion worth of cannabis.

Australia has one of the highest per-person consumption rates of cannabis (as well as ice and cocaine) in the world and consumers are prepared to pay premium prices which is why we are seen as a lucrative market by international crime syndicates. These syndicates (several controlled by Canadian criminals of Vietnamese descent) use local experts to scout and lease ideal rental properties. Electricians bypass the supply system, experts set up the hydroponics and the plants are established from grafts to ensure consistent quality. Crop sitters (often illegal immigrants paid a pittance) check the timers and nutrient supply, and harvesters collect the mature plants, dry the product, then vacuum seal and wrap for the market. As the electricians are not qualified, this process has resulted in hundreds of house fires (the latest a few days ago) and several deaths in Melbourne.

When police raid a crop house it is declared unfit for human habitation, which means innocent owners of rental properties are forced to pay huge amounts to repair and restore their investments. Credit:Victoria Police The penalties dont match the profits. A few years ago, one professional cannabis dealer who controlled several crop houses received a community-based order. Walters wanted to do more than rattle a few cages and hold the hands of broken parents; she wanted to take on the established thinking, armed with the most comprehensive bank of facts she could find. In 1988, she won a Churchill Fellowship to study marijuana, finding a body of evidence that heavy, long-term use could create permanent personality changes, mental illnesses, memory loss and malaise. When she wrote of cannabis psychosis, a condition that can strike young users, many tried to write her off as well-intentioned do-gooder. The self-appointed elite do their best to convince the Australian public that marijuana is a soft drug. But in fact, it is an exceedingly complex substance and can cause irreparable harm to the brain of developmentally immature adolescents and young adults, she wrote.

They also want to convince well-meaning, law-abiding Australians that prohibition is an infringement of their rights. But I would contend that parents rights are the ones we should be protecting. Parents devote their lives to their children and are the mediating structures in their social development. More than anyone, they are entitled to be given an honest account of the risks their children take if they use marijuana and other gateway drugs. People such as myself are often vilified as moralists who only wish to maintain prohibition because we believe that using mind-altering drugs is decadent/sinful. If someone chooses to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others, I cannot in all conscience leave the matter to chance. I believe I have an obligation to bring to your attention some facts about marijuana and other street drugs that have been deliberately misrepresented and withheld from the Australian public. Regardless of whether you agree with Walters, her views are based on dealing with victims, massive academic research and worldwide study. Her work was recognised with an Order of Australia in 2000.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt is a fan, writing: Elaine Walters, OAM, is a distinguished Australian and renowned voice on cannabis policy. For almost 40 years, she has contributed to national and international debates on the consequences of legalising cannabis. She has shone a light on the impact of the drug not just on individuals, but also on families and the broader community ... When too many Australians are struggling with their mental health, now is not the time for laws regarding recreational use to be loosened. Loading Walters says the debate has been hijacked by those who think the use of illicit drugs is normal, addiction an unfortunate byproduct and decriminalisation inevitable. In the 1960s, a handful of academics at Americas leading universities were researching the effects of marijuana, psychedelics and other mind-altering drugs as a means of assisting people suffering from various mental illnesses.

If they had maintained correct protocols and ethical standards during their research, they may have created some effective new therapies. Instead, they decided that these substances were great fun and quite harmless. Not only did these academics experiment with them for their own amusement, but they also influenced young university students to use them for non-medical or so-called recreational purposes. It eventually merged into the general population and ultimately became the genesis of a worldwide youth-oriented drug culture. Now aged 83 and having long left Toorak for a clifftop house at Mount Martha, she remains bright, bubbly, passionate and committed. She has recently decided to stop taking strong medication for a chronic lung condition, determined to remain in control of her own destiny. She is about to publish a series of essays (she has already written four books) alleging that many international drug experts have manipulated their research to legitimise the push to legalise street drugs. She says she isnt concerned that her strong views on joints may put noses out of joint. I wont be here by then, she says, without a hint of self-pity. Her decision to stop heavy medication is to make sure she enjoys her remaining days.
The crucial vote came shortly after 4am on Thursday morning when five Liberals  Katie Allen, Bridget Archer, Trent Zimmerman, Dr Martin and Mr Sharma  voted with the crossbench and Labor to amend the government bill so that protections for gay and lesbian students were extended to transgender students. Ms Archer and Mr Zimmerman were positioned to vote against the government when Ms Martin joined them, followed by Mr Sharma and then Dr Allen. The government lost by 65 to 59 votes. Most of the five rebel Liberals declined to comment on Friday when asked about the meeting and whether they had told the Prime Minister one thing and done another when the vote came. Asked if he had misled the Prime Minister, Mr Sharma said: My conscience is clear.

The furore over the vote began on Friday morning when Mr Dutton, who shares responsibility for tactics as Leader of the House, said undertakings were given to Mr Morrison and not honoured. He was frankly, I think, misled, Mr Dutton said. Mr Entsch did not identify individuals but said Mr Morrison set out a range of options to the group including an alternative approach if MPs crossed the floor, without any pressure and without any instruction to MPs on what they had to do. He was not the villain on this one, Mr Entsch said. He was courteous, he was not threatening. Take it from me, he was absolutely ambushed. I was gobsmacked, I was absolutely furious.

He just needed an honest response on what people were thinking. I really, really feel for him on this one. Others rejected that account because the negotiations over the bill extended past midnight on Wednesday night with Liberals discussing their position in one-on-one talks with Mr Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham. Loading They said Ms Martin did not speak and Mr Sharma did not make any assurance about his vote during the 10pm meeting with the Prime Minister. The meeting ended because other MPs, such as Ms Allen, could not attend. The deep concerns about the bills among moderate Liberals were widely known after months of media coverage.

Mr Zimmerman had told the Coalition party room on Tuesday that he reserved his right to cross the floor and told Parliament I could not live with myself if he did not protect transgender students. Ms Archer had indicated in public she did not support the government bill. Mr Sharma had spoken in Parliament about his concerns with the impact on transgender children as well as teachers. The government shelved the package before it went to the Senate after another Liberal with concerns, NSW Senator Andrew Bragg, told the government on Thursday morning that he was prepared to cross the floor to side with the five MPs in the lower house. Mr Entsch, who represents Leichhardt in northern Queensland and was a key advocate for marriage equality in a vote in Parliament in 2017, said Ms Archer and Mr Zimmerman were entirely honourable because they had indicated publicly they would cross the floor. He decided that a review of the treatment of the Sex Discrimination Act over the next six months would lead to a better outcome than a vote this week. Dr Martin, a psychologist before representing the seat of Reid in Sydneys inner-west, has worked with vulnerable children and told colleagues she believed transgender students needed to be protected. Dr Allen, a paediatrician who now represents the inner Melbourne seat of Higgins, had expressed concerns for months about the impact on LGBTIQ students, as had Mr Sharma, a former diplomat who represents Wentworth in eastern Sydney. I was proud to affirm no one should be discriminated against for faith, sexuality or gender identity, Dr Martin said on Thursday. As a psychologist, Ive treated kids for depression and suicidal ideation. The consequences of discrimination are real, no young person should face that because of who they are.

With MPs at odds over how the vote played out, some noted that Mr Entsch had said last year he would defend the LGBTIQ community and side with the youngsters in the party room on the issue, but his objections evaporated after Mr Morrison announced a $10 billion reinsurance scheme for cyclone and flood damage, a key issue in northern Queensland. The argument over the events of the past week revived a dispute over an assurance from the government last December to include transgender children in the protections for gay and lesbian children in its changes to the Sex Discrimination Act. The deal to prevent LGBTQI students, including transgender students, was reported on December 1 when four MPs  Angie Bell, Dr Allen, Dr Martin and Mr Sharma  released a public statement saying they could support the package because the government would support the students. Mr Morrison wrote a letter on the same day to Mr Albanese telling him of a similar undertaking. There is no place in our education system for any form of discrimination against a student on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity, he wrote. The last phrase in that sentence  or gender identity  suggested the government would include transgender students.

As recently as last week, Mr Morrison indicated it remained the governments plan to address discrimination against both gay and transgender students when he responded to media coverage of Brisbanes Citipointe Christian College and its contracts requiring students to agree to identify as the gender that corresponded to their biological sex and denounce homosexuality or face expulsion. Loading In an interview on Brisbane radio on February 3 where he opposed the schools decision, Mr Morrison said: we will have an amendment which will deal with that to ensure that the kids cannot be discriminated against on that basis. Supporters of Mr Morrison argued that the position proposed last year was never final because the government position had to be cleared with the full Coalition party room in the debate that took place this week. The Prime Ministers office said he had sought a bipartisan approach on the bills with amendments endorsed by both parliamentary committees and both sides of politics.
The Quad alliance will look to expand its remit by bringing more countries into the grouping and present a united front against authoritarian regimes, as Russia and China grow increasingly close ahead of a potential invasion of Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping  which includes Australia, the United States, India and Japan  on Friday vowed to ramp up efforts to combat misinformation from some countries, including China, North Korea and Russia.

At their meeting in Melbourne, the four foreign ministers also agreed with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisons suggestion to expand the Quad to include dialogue partners, and discussed how the alliance could better work with other multilateral organisations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Quad also agreed to expedite the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to developing nations in the region, including an additional multimillion-dollar investment from Australia.
If we fail to stick together on this it will make the mountain that is the election twice as high, Morrison told the party room, according to one Liberal who took notes. He hammered the warning in his next remark, recorded by another Liberal: You will experience opposition, a place you do not want to be. Credit:Matt Golding Leaders always call for unity in their party meetings, mostly because they get it so rarely. But those in the room on Tuesday describe Morrisons language as extraordinary because he was putting everything on the line. He was pleading with us, says one.

Loading Morrison had good reason to ask his MPs to stick together. Everything depends on his ability to run a hard, disciplined campaign against Labor leader Anthony Albanese. The campaign will be personal, negative and may very well work, just as it did in May 2019. What weakened Morrison this week was the cause he chose for his crusade. With the pandemic entering its third year, with the country focused on the virus and the economy, he used the first week of Parliament to demand such an urgent decision on his Religious Discrimination Act that he put the House of Representatives through an incredible all-night sitting and a decisive vote at 4:41am on Thursday, only to shelve the entire package when it became clear he did not have the numbers. It was a shocking indulgence, says one Liberal. He wants unity, mutters another. But it is unity on his terms.

This is not a conspiracy from the left to bring down a Liberal champion. Members of the right do not trust Morrison because they think he plays both sides of the partys broad church. In fact, the harshest judgements on Morrison are now coming from the conservative camp. Peter Dutton, get ready to lead, wrote News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt on Monday. Scott Morrison looks finished, and is making a fool of himself to get some love. Bolt, who has real influence in Liberal Party branches, gave up on the Prime Minister not only because of his hair-washing stunt at a salon in Melbourne but because he was weak. Getting into voters hair wont save him. Only fighting may yet do that, but he seems a man with the fight beaten out of him. Janet Albrechtsen, another commentator with deep support in Liberal ranks, ripped into the Prime Minister two days later by comparing him to the gold standard of John Howard, a conviction politician. I cant put my finger on a single important policy Morrison has made his own, where he has chanced his arm in the political marketplace of ideas, she wrote. Three years into the job, Morrison hasnt met the bronze level of conviction. Peta Credlin also despaired over Morrisons inability to pick a big fight on a conservative cause so voters would know the Liberals stood rock solid for lower taxes, smaller government and greater freedom. Then theres the sheer madness of trying to hold the base, who were told at the 2019 election that Labors 45 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 was economy wrecking but that the Libs net-zero emissions by 2050 would somehow create jobs, she wrote. Credlin looks in vain for consistency and conviction.

These were harsh verdicts after Barnaby Joyce admitted sending a text message that labelled Morrison a liar and a hypocrite. Will anyone speak up for this Prime Minister? After reaching the top of the political ladder, Morrison swings wildly because nobody at the bottom is holding firm. They do not care if he falls. Loading The attack line from Labor was summed up by frontbencher Jason Clare: If they dont trust each other, how can you trust them? The Liberal Party would usually dump a prime minister in this much strife. So would Labor. Neither party has kept a prime minister for a full term of Parliament since John Howard ruled. Now the Liberals find themselves slipping into the spill zone again. The leaks to Ten Network political editor Peter van Onselen in recent days, including text messages sledging Morrison and a cabinet decision that rolled the leader, are the usual signs of a move. But complaints do not make a challenge. The anger at Morrison reflects a sense of despair about the coming election more than a game plan to replace him. His authority has been weakened among many of his colleagues. The old confidence in his political judgment has been shaken. This is not enough, however, to bring on a spill.
In the Kimberley region in the north of the state, Broome recently had 564 mm of rain in two days. The kind of thing that we witnessed in Broome last week  really massive rainfall in a day  are the sort of things that really make an impact on infrastructure, on farms, on peoples houses and livelihoods, Dr Hare said. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation report predicted with high confidence that the intensity of high rainfall events would increase in the Kimberley. The number of days above 35 degrees in Broome could triple by 2090 if global warming reaches 1.8 degrees. In the remainder of WA, termed the rangelands in the report, there is high confidence that heavy rainfall events would become more intense and bushfire conditions would worsen. Dr Hare said a warming climate produced more extreme weather.

You could get declining rainfall but be suffering more flash flooding, he said. Loading This is a phenomenon that we see in the south west, that our rainfall is declining, but we are seeing some really extreme rainfall events over the last decade. The report considered four scenarios of global warming. The least severe outcome limited global warming to two degrees by the aggressive mitigation of halving emissions by 2050. Dr Hare said the DWER report should have included a more recent IPCC scenario that kept global warming to the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

He said the less severe scenario would demonstrate the benefit of limiting global warming. Another 0.4, 0.5 degrees of warming globally, you nearly double the occurrence of the most intense and infrequent heat extremes, he said. How much damage can we reduce? Thats the kind of message that needs to come through in an understandable way. The Murdoch University scientist said agricultural scientists, farmers and engineers needed to know what to plan for and the public needed to understand the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions quickly.

The most recent budget for the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services described how climate change would affect its operations. The challenges posed by a changing climate means it is likely WA will face more frequent and intense bushfires, storms, heatwaves and floods, DFES said. The magnitude of these natural hazards will significantly impact communities and increase demands placed on emergency management personnel. If we dont start now and get serious its going to be increasingly hard to reach net-zero by 2050. WA Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby A DWER spokesman said high-resolution climate projections using the latest CMIP6 models were not currently available in Australia but they would be included in a $3.1 million project expected to publish new projections in 2024.

The Climate Science Initiative will make state-wide, high-resolution climate projections available and accessible to decision-makers and the community, he said. The DWER report noted that the latest IPCC work concluded that the most serious risks can be averted with immediate, rapid and large-scale cuts to greenhouse emissions. Loading Between when DWER completed the report in September 2021 and made it public in February 2022 many actions of the WA government have been counter to the call from the IPCC to slash emissions. In October minister for state development Roger Cooks department exempted Black Mountain, which plans to explore the Kimberley for gas, from its ban on the export of onshore gas. The hope was that access to higher-priced international markets would make development more likely and the required export pipeline would, in turn, help other companies frack the remote area.

The same month Premier Mark McGowan launched Woodsides proposed gas-fuelled hydrogen plant in Kwinana with a media release headlined WA to become global clean energy powerhouse, and completely failed to mention the word gas. Weeks later the Premier signalled his government could intervene if a legal action by the Conservation Council of WA against Woodsides Scarborough LNG project was successful. In December, the mid-year budget review included $300 million towards infrastructure to support a urea plant proposed by Perdaman that would use gas from Scarborough. The McGowan government in 2019 adopted an aim for the state to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 that was criticised for no interim targets, no plan to achieve it, and no commitment beyond it being an aspiration. However, in December 2021 the government announced it would set targets for emissions reduction by 2030 - first for itself and later for the private sector.

Minister for environment and climate action Reece Whitby this week said the increasing severity and danger of bushfires in WA was linked to climate change. Loading Climate change is no longer a fringe issue as it might have been a few decades ago or even a few years ago, he said. It is a mainstream issue. Mr Whitby said emissions targets for industry sectors would be a guide and a pathway for all major players across industry. Theres a real view across government, and I think it is across society generally, this is the decade we have to act: 2020 to 2030, he said.
The Mediterranean-style property was designed by renowned architect F. Glynn Gilling for the Utz family, and later owned by newspaper men Rupert Rags Henderson and Ezra Norton, before Rupert Murdoch purchased it in 1968 for $200,000, soon after he married his second of four wives, Anna Torv. Murdoch offloaded it two years later for $225,000 to the Bishop family, and by the late 1980s it was owned by Warren Kitson, a director of then Hong Kong bank Wardley. Biotech entrepreneur Paul Hopper has set an Edgecliff record with his new $23 million home. Credit:Louie Douvis Kate and Dominic Roche, son of Nutrimetics Bill and Imelda Roche, sold it to investment banker Scott Malcolm in 2001 for $6.775 million, the latter of whom sold to medical device entrepreneur Dr Charalambos Revelas and his wife Mary in 2017 for $15.75 million. Hoppers latest biotech venture, Radiopharm Theranostics, launched on the ASX late last year, having already attracted the investment dollars of the likes of billionaire Alex Waislitz, cattleman Jack Mann, Collette Dinnigan and Shark Tanks Andrew Banks.

Manlys most expensive non-deal When a non-waterfront house in Manly sold at auction for $11.05 million last weekend it shocked property watchers, given the result was $3 million more than it sold for 18 months earlier. But what went unrecorded was that the sale looks to have finally brought an end to what was almost the areas most expensive property play. The house on Manlys Addison Road sold at auction for $11.05 million, a jump in value of $3 million in 18 months. The five-bedroom house on Addison Road last traded for $8.02 million at auction in 2020, amid rumours it was purchased by a mystery buyer to be consolidated with the designer beachfront residence next door for $26 million. At that level, the sale would have set a house price record outside of Sydneys eastern suburbs, more than doubling the $10 million that haircare industry entrepreneur Susan Starling sold it for in 2011 to venture capitalist Craig Butcher and his former partner Monika Muranyi.

But more than 18 months later, sources say the deal on the beachfront house is off, prompting the mystery buyer to return the house next door to the market. Adding to the intrigue were rumours F45 chief executive Adam Gilchrist was behind the deal to create what would have been a 1500 square metre holding, but he has denied having anything to do with either property, adding that he had been asked that question hundreds of times. The beachfront house at Manly as it was when it last traded in 2011 for $10 million. However, last weekends bullish auction has revealed an interesting paper trail behind the two properties. In mid-2020, the smaller of the two houses set on the street-front settled to a trust, Offshore 739532, of which the director is retail banking expert Jeremy Letts.

A month after Mr Lettss Offshore trust settled on the property, records show he co-founded an exercise training and equipment company called Athliv, which is solely owned by Mr Gilchrist. Meanwhile, Mr Letts also established another trust called 19 Addison, which is the address of the beachfront house at the centre of the $26 million deal. Loading Muddying revelations is a refusal to comment from both Mr Letts and the agent rumoured to have been involved, Michael Clarke, although the latter did at least confirm he secured last weekends $11 million sale figure for his mystery client. And while Manly locals are yet to see a house sale reach the lofty heights of $26 million, the suburb has at least clocked up its first house sale of more than $20 million. That honour recently went to Asian equities expert Andrew Swan, of British investment giant Man Group, who sold his knock-down-rebuild house on Fairy Bower.

Vaucluse the limit for Sky boss Sky News chief executive Paul Boris Whittaker and his wife have Kate traded up their eastern suburbs real estate, settling on a Vaucluse house with ocean views for $7.45 million. Sky News boss Paul Whittaker has bought into Vaucluse for $7.45 million. Credit:James Alcock The three-level digs, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, is a step-up the property ladder from the former Clovelly home the couple sold in October last year for $5.2 million, through PPDs Alexander Phillips. The former editor of Rupert Murdochs beloved The Australian newspaper owned the Clovelly house for four years, having purchased it for $3.35 million in 2017, when he was still running things at The Daily Telegraph.

High hopes on The Hill Developers will want to take note: Three blocks of art deco apartments on a vast 2380 square metres at Darling Point is for sale by the prominent Conley family, amid industry suggestions it could go for some $45 million. St Martins block of art deco apartments is one of three being sold by the Conley family. The site has been amalgamated by the Broken Hill Investments company since it was established in 1962 by aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley, who named the site The Hill. Conley died in 2006 and the consolidation of the three-level Burford House, neighbouring St Martins block of five apartments, and a third 1939-built block on Loftus Road, is being sold by his widow Judy Conley and their daughters, former DJ-turn-chef Annie Conley and food blogger Stephanie Conley-Buhre.

Ray White Double Bays Ashley Bierman and Craig Pontey are yet to set a guide, but have a March 23 expressions of interest campaign. Stephanie Conley-Buhre sold her Bellevue Hill home last year for $30 million. The Conleys have long done well from their eastern suburbs real estate. DJ Annies former home in Tamarama not only set a suburb high when she bought it in 2017 for $13 million from Robby Ingham, but scored $15.75 million when she sold it two years later. Little sister Stephanie did even better on her former Bellevue Hill home, paying $17.1 million in 2018 and selling after a decent renovation for $30 million last year. Fintech pays off

It looks like our fintech executives plan to continue to make their presence felt in the high-end housing market. This time its not Afterpay boss Nick Molnar snapping up another North Bondi pile, but his colleague, public policy vice-president Damian Kassabgi and his wife, fashion industry operative Courtney Miller, buying a hotly contested Byron Bay home for $13 million. The 7.4 hectare property was a hotly contested property before it sold for $13 million. Kassabgi, a former adviser to Kevin Rudd, pocketed close to $7 million last year when he traded in a large slab of his AfterPay shares, before the BNPL platform was acquired by Jack Dorseys Block. The couple already owned up the road before they bought their luxury seven-hectare retreat in Byron Bay after it was listed by Liam Annesley. But for their Sydney visits they also own a Woollahra terrace purchased in late 2020 from Daniel Labbad, who runs Queen Elizabeths property empire Crown Estate. Damian Kassabgi looks to making a permanent move to Byron Bay. Credit:LinkedIn
Bengaluru: A request by a group of high school girls to wear the hijab in class has snowballed into dulling protests between Hindu and Muslim students in India, deepening religious polarisation as regional elections approach.

Debate over the hijab in schools took off last month after students at a pre-university college in Karnataka states Udupi district began protesting against a rule barring them from wearing the Muslim head covering in classrooms.

In late January, the girls petitioned the states high court, challenging the restrictions. But protests quickly spread across the state, as more educational institutions began banning Muslim students from wearing the hijab. Hindu activists have staged counterprotests, demanding that the saffron shawl - a Hindu religious symbol - be allowed in schools.

The protests began in Karnataka but have spread across India and into Pakistan. Credit:AP

The opposing movements have deepened festering religious polarisation in the region and prompted the state to temporarily close secondary schools this week. On Tuesday, protests turned violent, with reports emerging from some cities of stone-throwing and arson, according to the BBC.
Officials from the National Forensic Service inspect the scene of an explosion at a Yeochun NCC plant in the nation's southernmost city of Yeosu, Friday. Yonhap





By Lee Min-hyung







Shares of Hanwha Solutions dropped sharply Friday after an explosion at a plant run by Yeochun NCC, a joint venture established by the Hanwha affiliate and DL Chemical. The accident left four workers dead and another four injured.







Hanwha Solutions stock price closed at 32,800 won per share, down 6.82 percent from the previous session as foreign and institutional investors went on a selling spree following the explosion.







The accident has put a damper on the recovery momentum of Hanwha Solutions' shares.







After hitting a three-month low of around 31,500 won in early February, the shares were on track for a rebound. But the deadly accident is widely expected to keep putting downward pressure on its corporate value.







The explosion took place at around 9:26 a.m. in the nation's southernmost city of Yeosu, where the plant is located. According to firefighters, a total of eight workers were conducting test operations of a heat exchanger at the plant shortly before the explosion. Four of them lost their lives at the scene, while the other four who were injured were moved to a hospital.







The explosion did not start any fire or other accidents. The National Fire Agency sent 40 relief workers and 11 ambulances in case there were other injuries. The police also launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.







Yeochun NCC is a chemical company operating a naphtha cracking plant. Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical each hold a 50-percent stake in the company. According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service, Yeochun NCC employed more than 1,000 workers as of the end of September of last year. The company's sales reached 3.94 trillion won in 2020. "NCC" refers to the naphtha cracking center it runs to produce petrochemicals.







Following the accident, shares of other chemical firms here  such as Korea Petrochemical Ind and Lotte Chemical  soared amid concerns that the temporary closure of the Yeochun NCC plant may weaken the supply of base materials for the nation's petrochemical industry.







The Ministry of Employment and Labor also started an investigation into the accident, ordering the suspension of the plant immediately after the explosion. Chances are that the co-leaders of Yeochun NCC may have to take legal responsibility for the accident according to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which makes company owners and executives, as well as the company itself, criminally liable for serious accidents.







"We express our apologies for causing the accident," an official from Yeochun NCC said in a briefing. "We will also try our best to help the victims and their family members. After figuring out the exact cause of the accident, we are going to take appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence."






Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. High 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Beauty brand RENEE Cosmetics has raised $10 million in Series A led by Mensa brands. The round also witnessed participation from the existing investors including Equanimity and 9Unicorns. The brand has raised a total of $11 million till date, including the current round.

Founded by Aashka Goradia Goble along with Beardo co-Founders duo Ashutosh Valani and Priyank Shah, RENEE Cosmetics said it is a cruelty-free beauty brand offering a wide range of eye makeup, lip colours, skin serums and highlighters.

RENEE Cosmetics plans on utilising funds majorly in strengthening the brand presence and widening offline presence. Additionally, a part of the fund will also be leveraged for catalogue expansion and marketing budgets. RENEE is selling products through all leading online channels and over 500 stores in the country.

We have achieved 400 per cent growth this quarter and have set ambitious targets for the brand going forward, said Priyank Shah, co-founder, RENEE Cosmetics commented on the fundraising. This year, we are going to focus on expanding our product catalogue, marketing and increasing our offline presence across the country.

The brand has been launching back-to-back innovative products, and today boasts a portfolio of about 30 products across 3 categories. Ashutosh Valani, and Priyank Shah previously founded male grooming brand Beardo, which was acquired by FMCG major.

Our belief is that we can create a new-age cosmetics brand for the Indian consumer powered by innovation, said Ashutosh Valani, co-founder, RENEE Cosmetics.

Aashka Goradia Goble, Co-founder, RENEE Cosmetics said this fundraise will help the firm expand its expertise into creating and formulating groundbreaking products.

The Indian Cosmetics Market was valued at about $13 billion in FY20 and expected to touch $29 billion in FY26. At present, the beauty brand claims to clock ARR (annual recurring revenue) of Rs 60 crore and is all set to reach ARR of Rs 150 Crore by the end of this fiscal year.

RENEE Cosmetics has established a unique positioning and garnered customer love in the competitive beauty market. As the colour cosmetics segment rapidly grows over the next few years, I believe that RENEE Cosmetics will emerge as a category leader owing to its innovative products and strong founding team, said Ananth Narayanan, founder and CEO of Mensa Brands.
The Friday listed for hearing on February 24 a batch of pleas concerning the ongoing legal tussle between US e-commerce major and over Future Retail Ltd's (FRL's) Rs 24,731 crore merger deal with .

Justice C Hari Shankar, who had earlier asked the parties to file a short note detailing the controversy, recorded the case history in his order while clarifying that the recital of facts was only intended for the future hearings and was not an expression on the merits of the case.

The court has not applied its mind to the case even tentatively, added the judge.

On February 1, the Supreme Court had set aside three high court orders including the attachment of properties of and its directors and the refusal to grant a stay on the final arbitral award which had restrained FRL from going ahead with its deal with Reliance while ordering fresh adjudication.

The top court had said that Future Coupons Private Ltd (FCPL) and FRL were not provided sufficient opportunities while dealing with the pleas of against the merger deal and requested the Chief Justice of the to set up a bench for speedy disposal of the case.

The Supreme Court had set aside the high court's order of February 2 last year, by which it had directed FRL to maintain the status quo concerning the merger deal.

The March 18, 2021 order of the high court, upholding the Emergency Arbitral award, imposing a cost of Rs 20 lakh on FRL as well as its directors and attaching their properties, was also been set aside by the top court which remanded the pleas of firms relating to arbitral award on the merger deal with back to the .

The 28-page judgement of the apex court had also quashed the October 29, 2021 order of the high court declining a stay on an arbitration tribunal decision refusing to interfere with the Emergency Award (EA) of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

The EA had restrained FRL from going ahead with the merger deal.

Kishore Biyani and 15 others including FRL and FCPL have been embroiled in a series of litigations with Amazon, an investor in FCPL, over the deal with Reliance. Following the EA, subsequently, a three-member arbitral tribunal was constituted to decide the issues arising from the deal.

(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 salt-to-software will see continuation of leadership as remains executive chairman for another five years. The board of directors at the holding company, Tata Sons, met on Friday to reappoint Chandrasekaran as chairman.

Group patriarch and Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata, who was present at the board meeting as a special invitee, recommended renewal of Chandrasekarans term as executive chairman of Tata Sons, according to a company statement. Tata expressed satisfaction on the progress and performance of the group under Chandrasekaran, the statement said. Tata is chairman emeritus of .

The board members-- Venu Srinivasan, Ajay Piramal , Ralf Speth, Bhaskar Bhat, Sourabh Agrawal and Harish Manwani--unanimously approved Chandrasekarans reappointment.

Tata Trusts, which is the biggest shareholder at with 66 per cent stake, may send two of its trustees as directors at board. Vice-chairman of Tata Trusts Vijay Singh is likely to be re-inducted into the Tata Sons board as Tata Trusts nominee. Singh, a former civil servant, was on the Tata Sons board as Tata Trusts nominee till August 2018, when he reached the official retirement age. Sources said the groups governance guidelines relating to age could be changed in view of the new set-up.

Apart from Chandrasekarans reappointment, Tata Sons did not comment on any other matter.

As per the companys Articles of Association, Tata Trusts can nominate a third of the directors on the board of the holding company of the conglomerate as long as it owns at least 40 per cent. At present, Srinivasan is representing Tata Trusts on the Tata Sons board.

It has been a privilege to lead the for the last five years and I am delighted at the opportunity to lead the for another five years, in its next phase," Chandrasekaran, 58, said.

The market valuation of Tata group gained an additional Rs 14.9 trillion in the last five years, data analysed by Business Standard shows. The total market capitalisation of top 29 listed entities of Tata group rose to Rs 23.46 trillion as on Friday from Rs 8.5 trillion in February 2017, when Chandrasekaran had taken over as chairman.

In a boardroom coup of sorts, Cyrus Mistry was ousted as Tata Sons chairman in October 2016. Chandrasekaran replaced him in February 2017 after a prolonged search for the top post.

The move to re-appoint Chandrasekaran did not surprise India Inc leaders or Tata insiders. "The major challenge for Chandrasekaran stems from the fact that he is heading the principal investment holding company, wherein firms like Tata Steel, Tata Motors, TCS, and Tata Powers are members, and each has a set of unique challenges and opportunities," said Himanshu Rai, Director of Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

"Chandra needs to robustly amplify the conglomerate's corporate and parental advantage to enable each firm to grow by leveraging its strengths and addressing its weaknesses. He also needs to focus on radical innovation and environment, social and governance (ESG) issues across the spectrum of Tata firms," Rai said.

The biggest challenge before Chandra will be to turn around Air India, a Tata official said. Tatas acquired Air India from the government in a Rs 18,000-crore deal recently.





Chandrasekaran's tenure in the last five years witnessed several mergers and acquisitions across steel, aviation and digital sectors. The group has exited the cellular telephony business.

One of the first tasks of Chandra, as he is popularly known, was to get rid of Tata Teleservices which lost around Rs 60,000 crore in paying back bank loans apart from paying the AGR (adjusted gross revenue) dues till date. The Tata group sold the mobile phone business to Bharti Airtel while retaining debt and other liabilities of the company.

In May 2018, in one of the biggest acquisitions till date, Tata Steel acquired Bhushan Steel for Rs 35,200 crore after the company defaulted to bank loans and was sent for the insolvency court by its lenders. Tata Steel has managed to turn around the company which has been renamed Tata Steel BSL. Tata Steel tried to sell its European business to ThyssenKrupp in the last two years but failed to close the deal after objections from several quarters including unions.

Last year, the group started a spree of acquisitions, including BigBasket, in the digital space ahead of the proposed launch of a superapp. This year could see more action in this space.
Price Company, the recently launched arm of udaan, Indias largest business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce firm, is emerging as the lowest cost player in the community grocery e-commerce (CGE).

udaan said Price Company continues to grow and within three months of operations it has emerged as the lowest cost player in the initial launch markets of Kolar, Tumkur and Mysore in Karnataka.

Price Company is benefitting immensely by riding on the massive Kirana stores, supply chain and logistics network and sourcing capabilities of udaan. Since udaan is sourcing its fresh products directly from farmers in huge volumes, the same becomes the sourcing point for Price Company too with major cost advantage. As a result, udaan said the fresh fruits and vegetables sourced by Price Company are 15-20 per cent cheaper resulting in a gross margin of 2x vis-a-vis competition. udaan competes with e-commerce giants such as Reliances JioMart, Amazon India, Flipkart, and the Tata group for a share in the grocery market which is expected to be worth $850 billion by 2025.

As we expand to more cities and towns across Bharat our intent is to further leverage udaans massive capabilities, said Ankit Agarwal, Business Head, Price Company. These include a huge Kirana network, solid supply chain and logistics backbone and deep sourcing abilities - to bring our overall operating costs to a minimum.

For instance, Price Company uses the existing supply chain and logistics network of udaan that caters to Kirana stores in over 1000 towns and cities across India carrying over 7,000-8,000 tonnes of products daily. This results in an extremely low shipping cost of less than 10 per cent of the order value for Price Company as compared to the competition where the shipping cost itself is around 40-50 per cent of the order value. Price Company is already shipping 3x the volume (tonnes) of products per day vis-a-vis competition in these markets.

The third benefit that Price Company derives is by leveraging the existing Kirana network and field-force (salespeople) of udaan for its GTM (go to market) strategy - acquisition of community leaders or Captains (retailers). As a result, udaan said the speed to scale operations across cities and appointing Captains is extremely fast for Price Company versus competition who have to create a new network in every city they launch their operations.

Going forward we will continue to work towards further optimising these costs and bringing more efficiency across our operations, said Agarwal of udaan. These steps will enable us to provide our retailer partners with better margins, and end customers will have better products at lower prices, while helping us achieve positive unit economics.

Price Company was started with a pilot launch with five cities in South Karnataka in early November last year. In the last three months Price Company has scaled and expanded operations across the States of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Post expansion the platform is witnessing around 100 per cent growth in orders week-on-week across the cities where the service is currently available. Its aim is to expand and launch across 1500 cities by December this year. It aims to onboard between 3.5-5 million retailers by that time.

udaan said Price Company will immensely benefit the micro retailers and community leaders with a potential increase in their business income. It said farmers and millers stand to benefit from enhanced procurement of fruits, vegetables, and staples from them. Customers will have wider choice and better quality due to enhanced local sourcing opportunities.

The platform comprises an innovative business model  Community Grocery e-commerce service. This is aimed to serve and offer the benefits of e-commerce scale to over 500 million customers of Bharat (tier 2 and tier 3 cities and rural India) who are yet to enjoy the benefits of e-commerce.

Community Grocery e-commerce (CGE) model works and builds on the age-old relationships of existing small kirana shops and community leaders with consumers. These kiranas and leaders procure a range of products from such as udaan and sell to their existing network of customers. Price Companys CGE model coupled with udaans robust supply chain network. This network also includes availability of a wide variety of quality products at affordable prices as a result of the strong sourcing capabilities that can bring the benefits of e-commerce to millions of Indians.

udaan is giving tough competition to various players including Reliances platform JioMart to capture the market. Nearly 45 per cent of the total 301 retailers interviewed by Kotak Institutional Equities mentioned that they selected udaan as a distribution partner versus around 33 per cent for JioMart. The report released in December last year, said udaan seems to have higher penetration (more partner stores) than JioMart. It said that udaan has had a partnership of 14.7 months with 55 surveyed retailers in Gurugram. It said udaan seems to be ahead of JioMart in this region in terms of tenure.
Realty firm on Friday reported a 51 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit at Rs 32.7 crore for the quarter ended December.

Its net profit stood at Rs 21.6 crore in the year-ago period.

Total income rose marginally to Rs 697.5 crore in the third quarter of this fiscal, from Rs 696.3 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, according to a regulatory filing.

J C Sharma, vice chairman and managing director, Sobha Ltd, said the company has reported another good quarter and achieved sustained sales volume and sale value with improved price realisation.

"Bengaluru, which is our primary market has shown outstanding sales performance during the quarter. Gurugram, Pune and GIFT CITY have also performed well during the quarter and as a result for nine months they have already crossed sales volumes achieved during FY 20-21," he said.

The Kerala region sales performance was subdued due to sustained COVID restrictions and impact of flood, he said, adding the company expects the performance to improve in the coming quarters.

"During the quarter, cash flows remained healthy which has resulted in highest ever cash inflow achievement .This has helped the company to reduce debt by Rs 1.23 billion. Our average cost of borrowing has further come down to 8.65 per cent as on December 31, 2021," Sharma added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is expected to meet next week to take a call on further relaxing COVID-19-related restrictions amid declining cases in the city, official sources said on Friday.

Demands have been raised by several quarters, including traders and political parties, for further relaxations such as lifting night curfew, permitting weekly markets in all municipal zones, and allowing visitors in religious places.

The DDMA meeting is expected to be held next week but a date for it is yet to be finalised, sources said.

Chairman of Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Brijesh Goyal has questioned the continuance of night curfew, saying it was hurting traders. He said that now the marriage season has started and people are going to face problems due to night curfew.

The DDMA in its meeting on February 4 had extended the imposition of night curfew, but slashed the timing by an hour from 11 PM to 5 AM. Non-essential shops are allowed to open till 8 PM due to the night curfew.

BJP president Adesh Gupta on Thursday wrote a letter to Lt Governor and DDMA chairman Anil Baijal, requesting him to allow visitors in temples and other religious places. Currently religious places are permitted to open without visitors.

Several restrictions like only one weekly market permitted in a municipal zone, no standing passengers allowed in buses and Metro trains, 50 per cent cap on seating capacity in restaurants, bars and cinemas and no activity except weddings in banquet halls are yet to be relaxed even though the pandemic situation has improved in .

Delhi on Friday reported 977 fresh COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths, while the positivity rate dropped to 1.73 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

The number of daily cases in Delhi has been on the decline after touching the record high of 28,867 on January 13.

(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 Friday reserved order on a plea by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira Banerjee concerning a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said he would pass the order in the petition which has challenged the Enforcement Directorate's complaint filed in the case against the petitioner and the trial court order taking cognizance of that complaint and the subsequent issuance of summons for physical appearance.

On February 4, the judge had also reserved a verdict on the petition by and Rujira Banerjee against the ED summons issued to them for appearance here in connection with the case.

In the present case, Rujira, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, has contended that the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s complaint against her is arbitrary, false, vexatious and an abuse of the process of law.

The petition was opposed by lawyer Amit Mahajan who appeared on behalf of the investigating agency.

The petition has claimed that an ED complaint has been filed to harass and cause prejudice to Rujira and her family.

A bare perusal of the Impugned Complaint confirms that the Respondent Agency (ED) falsely averred that Petitioner had not complied with its illegal summonses (issued by ED)... Owing to the fact that she is a mother of two (2) young children and a resident of Kolkata, the Petitioner has repeatedly requested that she be examined at her residence in Kolkata.

"The fact that the Petitioner was in constant dialogue with the Respondent in relation to the aforementioned summons clearly shows that there was no intention on the part of the Petitioner to disobey the same, the petition stated.

It has further argued that the trial court took cognizance and issued summons on the complaint in a mechanical manner and without application of mind.

Last year, the court had exempted her physical appearance in the matter before the trial court for the time being.

Earlier, after she had appeared virtually in relation to the complaint filed by ED, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma had directed her physical presence on October 12, 2021.

Abhishek Banerjee, the 33-year-old MP, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The ED lodged a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of a November 2020 FIR registered by the CBI that alleged a multi-crore coal pilferage scam related to Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in the state's Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.

Local coal operative Anup Majhi alias Lala is alleged to be the prime suspect in the case.

The ED had earlier claimed that was a beneficiary of funds obtained from this illegal trade. He has denied all charges.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An appeal has been filed in the challenging the direction of the High Court that has asked students not to insist on wearing any cloth on campuses of educational institutions which can instigate people, till the matter is resolved.

The plea filed by a student has sought a stay on the direction of the high court, which is hearing the issue, as well as the proceedings going on before the three judge bench.

The appeal contended that the high court has sought to curtail the fundamental right of Muslim student women by not allowing them to wear the .

The high court has posted the matter for Monday and also said educational institutions can resume classes for students.

The three-judge full bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J M Khazi and Justice Krishna S Dixit, which was formed on Wednesday, also said it wants the matter to be resolved at the earliest but till that time peace and tranquillity is to be maintained.

"Till the disposal of the matter, you people should not insist on wearing all these religious things," Awasthi had said.

"We will pass an order. Let the schools-colleges start. But till the matter is resolved, no student should insist on wearing religious dress", he had said.

On Wednesday, Justice Dixit, who was hearing the case, referred the case to Justice Awasthi's consideration with a view that a larger bench may look into the case.

The row started in December end when a few students started coming to a government pre-university college in Udupi wearing Hijab. To protest against it, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves.

The row spread to other educational institutions in different parts of the State, and the protests took a violent turn at some place earlier this week, prompting the government on Tuesday to declare three days holiday for the institutions.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
reported another record number of cases, as well as two more deaths, with the worsening outbreak straining health-care resources and ramping up pressure on the governments steadfast push for Covid Zero.

Authorities announced 1,325 infections on Friday, alongside more than 1,500 preliminary positive cases. Thats up from just 614 on Monday. The city said it would extend flight bans on eight countries including the US, UK, India and Australia to March 4, and added Nepal to the group as well.

Health officials had said there were significant number of silent chains of transmission in the community and blamed the recent Lunar New Year holiday as the source of the increase. Current numbers reflect infections from one to two weeks ago, they said Friday, warning daily numbers havent yet peaked.

We cannot simply count on contact tracing and quarantine, said Department of Health official Chuang Shuk-kwan. The key thing is social distancing: keep away from people as much as possible, dont go out and about much.

While four-digit case numbers remain small compared with global peers, Hong Kongs onerous system of tracking and isolation has pushed the health-care system to the brink. No other city has been able to quash an outbreak of this size without imposing extensive and strict lockdowns, like those deployed in mainland China, which authorities have so far indicated they wont do.

and Chinese officials will hold a meeting in Shenzhen on Saturday to discuss how the mainland can support the citys virus measures. Chief Executive Carrie Lam this week re-iterated her commitment to Covid Zero, in line with the strategy pursued by Beijing, but the approach leaves the two places isolated and subject to increasingly disruptive containment rules as they fight more transmissible variants.

The rapid uptick in cases has prompted a series of U-turns from the government.

Mild cases are now being moved out to the government-run Pennys Bay quarantine camp, and close contacts can isolate at home. Authorities this week urged people with mild Covid-like symptoms to go to a private doctor to get tested, rather than to emergency rooms in public hospitals to have their diagnosis confirmed.

Most hospitalized cases are still mild in because the dominant variant is omicron, but there is little experience of Covid in the community, with the explosion in case numbers coming after months of no local transmission. Five elderly residents -- three men and two women -- have died this week. The two fatalities announced Friday included an 86-year-old man who was vaccinated with Chinas Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Hong Kong has rolled out its toughest virus restrictions yet, including a limit on multi-family gatherings in homes and the return of a two-person limit for public gatherings. It will also expand the list of venues where entry is limited to those who are vaccinated to shopping malls, food markets and hair salons in a system that starts Feb. 24.
Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's special representative for Korean peninsula peace and security affairs, speaks to reporters after arriving at an airport in Honolulu, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap



Seoul, Washington, Tokyo unlikely to come up with effective measures against Pyongyang's saber-rattling



By Kang Seung-woo



The Moon Jae-in administration's last-ditch effort to revive its push for declaring an end to the Korean War on the occasion of upcoming trilateral foreign ministerial talks with the United States and Japan is not likely to be realized due to bad timing and the nature of the meeting, according to diplomatic observers.



Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong is scheduled to hold a meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Antony Blinken and Yoshimasa Hayashi in Hawaii, Saturday (local time), during which the top diplomats are anticipated to mainly discuss how to effectively deal with North Korea's increased saber-rattling, as illustrated by its seven rounds of missile tests, in total, in January.



However, Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's top nuclear envoy, implied before his departure for Hawaii, Wednesday, that South Korea may bring up the end-of-war issue again in the three-way talks, describing it as a "useful tool" to bring North Korea back to the dialogue. He, along with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Sung Kim and Funakoshi Takehiro, will also hold a trilateral meeting, Thursday, to discuss the agenda for the ministers' talks.



Last September, Moon proposed declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict, which ended in a cease-fire, hoping that the signing would be made before he leaves office in May, but North Korea has yet to respond to the overture.



"I'm not sure if the meeting will be an appropriate occasion for Seoul to raise the end-of-war (EOW) declaration, particularly in light of North Korea's most recent IRBM test," said Soo Kim, a policy analyst at the Rand Corporation.



Among the seven rounds of missile launches was a test-firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Jan. 30, the longest-range missile since 2017.



"Pyongyang hasn't exactly been emitting peace vibes, and with protracted concerns about the DPRK missile threat, a discussion about the EOW declaration would not seem appropriate," she added. The DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.



Along with the trilateral meeting, Chung is also scheduled to sit down with Blinken, while South Korea and Japan are in talks over a bilateral meeting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



"The end of war declaration absent a comprehensive peace and denuclearization process is just a piece of paper," said Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.



"It has been a chimera chased by the Moon administration. It may come up in the bilateral U.S.-ROK part of the consultations, but it is not high on the U.S. agenda, and Japan is not in favor of it."



The ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.



Despite negative sentiment toward the end-of-war declaration, fueled by recent North Korean provocations, South Korea still has pinned a gleam of hope on it.



In a TV interview with a local cable channel, Jan. 21, Chung said North Korea will positively respond to the South Korean proposal, adding that Seoul and Washington had been in close talks about the issue.



Given that Japan does not support the end-of-war declaration, it is unlikely that the three countries will mention the issue in a joint statement after the meeting.



"I would think that we would require some intermediate steps from North Korea before locking in an EOW declaration in a statement," Soo Kim said.



"To issue a statement including an EOW declaration would mean skipping over some critical steps to secure North Korea's commitment to the agreement. The Kim regime also has not expressed much interest in the declaration."



Amid widespread negative views on the end-of-war issue, President Moon admitted that it would be difficult to adopt the declaration during his term although South Korea and the U.S. have agreed on a draft of the declaration.



"It would be too physically demanding to reach a declaration to end the Korean War before the end of my term," Moon said in a written interview with Yonhap News Agency and seven other global newswires, released, Thursday. "However, I would at least like to make conditions ripe for an end-of-war declaration and pass that on to the next administration."



The ministerial meeting has been hurriedly arranged in the wake of the unprecedented North Korean show of force in January to seek ways to respond to the increasing threats from Pyongyang and strengthen deterrence.



"North Korean's new round of ballistic and cruise missile tests underscore the growing importance of U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral defense and intelligence cooperation, and I would expect the focus of the discussions to be on how to enhance that cooperation and other measures needed to bolster deterrence," Manning said.



However, Soo Kim was skeptical of the three parties coming up with any effective measures against North Korea's provocations due to wide differences on how to handle North Korea.



"Effective measures require coordination and the parties being on the same page. The past few years have shown rifts among the parties' policy positions. Whereas the U.S. and Japan have prioritized denuclearization, the current South Korean government has emphasized what seems to have been an unconditional emphasis on inter-Korean engagement," she said.



"The countries will also need a clearly articulated policy position on key issues pertaining to North Korea  the weapons program of course, but also Kim's human rights violations and the regime's illicit activities. Thus far, we may have given the impression to North Korea that its provocations will continue to be tolerated."






on Friday said that internet connectivity in is increasing at a fast pace and will soon surpass urban connectivity.

Responding to the debate on the General Budget 2022-23 in the Rajya Sabha, she said that as per the report of Internet and Mobile Association, the rural internet user base is growing three times faster and is likely to surpass the urban user numbers soon.

"Data consumption through Bharatnet optical fibre surpassed 13,000 terrabytes in June 2021 while the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) report in August 2021 said that the total number of internet subscribers has gone up to 82.5 crore," she said.

Sitharaman also said that, in the Budget she announced, the contracts for laying optical fibre connections in rural and remote areas will be awarded this year and will be completed by 2025.

Replying to the Opposition's comments on Bangladesh growing faster than India, she informed the House that India's economy is 10 times bigger than Bangladesh, so if Bangladesh grew at 10 per cent and India grew just at 1 per cent, the absolute number in terms of growth will be the same.

"To say Bangladesh is growing at 5.5 per cent and we are growing at 4.1 per cent is not a completely correct picture in terms of the growth rate," she said.

Responding to Congress MP Kapil Sibal's "India in Rahu Kaal since 2014" comment, she said: "Raau Kaal is when a sitting PM was about to meet the US President and a Bill he cleared was torn up.

"Rahu Kaal is what produces what is called G23, it is where the Congress party is. Ours is Amrit Kaal, senior leaders from the party are leaving their own party and getting out. That is Rahu Kaal."

On request by the Deputy Chairman, the concluded her speech while two Members laid their papers for the 'Special Mention' and the chair adjourned the House till March 14, as the first part of the was over.

--IANS

ams/sks

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External Affairs Minister on Friday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here ahead of a crucial meeting of foreign ministers and reviewed the bilateral ties, saying progress in different domains of Indo-US relations was positive.

Jaishankar, who is visiting Australia from February 10 to 13 in his first trip to the country as external affairs minister, attended the 4th Foreign Ministers' Meeting along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States.

A review of our bilateral cooperation with @SecBlinken. The readout on progress in different domains was positive. Our strategic partnership has deepened so visibly, Jaishankar said on Twitter.

In his talks with Blinken, the External Affairs Minister discussed a range of bilateral as well as global issues.

The two ministers are expected to exchange views on regional strategic issues given their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, amidst China's aggressive behaviour in the region.

Australian Foreign Minister Payne, who is hosting the foreign ministers' meeting, said that she was looking forward to welcoming her counterparts from India, the US and Japan to "discuss our positive and ambitious agenda in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific".

It will be attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa along with Jaishankar and Blinken. The meeting is expected to focus on significantly shoring up cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

It will be the third in-person meeting of Quad foreign ministers, following their meeting in Tokyo in October 2020 and the inaugural meeting in New York in September 2019.

The ministers last held talks virtually in February last year.

In March last year, US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to the US.

The Quad has been focusing cooperation in areas such as producing vaccines, connectivity projects, facilitating the mobility of students, and looking at promoting startups and technology collaboration.

The Quad vaccine partnership was announced in March last year with an aim to deliver one billion doses of vaccines to the Indo-Pacific region by the end of 2022.

It is learnt that there has been good progress under this initiative.

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As many as 2,612 persons tested positive for coronavirus, while three died of the infection in in the last 24 hours, raising the tally to 10,21,361 and toll to 10,682, an official from the state health department said on Friday.

The positivity rate in the state has dropped to 3.4 per cent from 3.67 per cent recorded on Thursday, he said.

At least 5,995 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the count of recoveries to 9,84,500, leaving the central state with 26,179 active cases, the official said.

Bhopal and Indore, the worst-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 549 and 228 cases respectively in the last 24 hours, he said.

With 74,848 samples examined during the day, the number of tests conducted in the state has reached 2,67,50,556, the official said.

As per a government release, 11,19,77,443 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 1,08,734 on Friday.

figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,21,361, new cases 2,612, death toll 10,682, recoveries 9,84,500, active cases 26,179, number of tests so far 2,67,50,556.

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: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Friday finalised its annual budget in the House, proposing no property tax hike and focussing on environment-friendly measures, including setting up of e-vehicle charging stations at over 140 locations.

The Leader of the House, Chhail Bihari Goswami of the BJP-ruled NDMC, finalised the budget, making several proposals, including no increase in property tax.

This year's budget has given a special emphasis on promoting e-vehicles. In his speech, Goswami announced a policy for the operation of e-bikes and e-cycles for pollution-free transport system.

Goswami also announced the development of an AYUSH college in Haiderpur Hospital.

"More than 140 locations have been identified to provide e-charging stations for electric vehicles and a target has been set to build more than 70 charging stations in the next six months," Goswami said.

"A policy has been started for the operation of e-bikes and e-cycles for pollution free transport system," he added.

Goswami informed that a 'Nakshatra Vatika' is being constructed in the parks of North DMC, which will increase awareness among people about the Indian Ayurvedic system.

Moreover, North DMC will also open a wellness centre for municipal employees at the Civic Centre.

He also made an announcement regarding a dog park that is being constructed in Rajendra Nagar ward. Plans are afoot to set up dog parks in other areas as well, he said.

The leader announced that space is being arranged for Aadhaar Card Registration Centres under the jurisdiction of North DMC, which will facilitate the general public.

A new scheme has been introduced to set up a mobile e-cart Food Van.

"Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Jan Aahar Yojana (E-Cart) A new scheme to set up a mobile e-cart Food Van by identifying some places under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation," Goswami informed.

He further told the House that under the plastic waste bank scheme, shops have been identified in every area where delicacies 'Chole Bhature, Naan and Thali' can be availed in exchange for 1 kg of plastic.

Mahila Haat will be used for marriage and other social functions, which will increase the income of the corporation, Goswami said.

He further announced that an exhibition named Atal Mela will be organized in Shalimar Bagh so that the economically weaker people of Delhi who set up cottage industries inside their homes, can be promoted in it.

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Terming the Quad alliance between the US, India, Australia and as a "tool" to contain China's rise, Beijing said on Friday that the grouping is a "deliberate move" to stoke confrontation and it is doomed to fail.

China, which has territorial disputes with many countries in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, has been opposing the Quad alliance since its formation.

In November 2017, the US, Australia, India and gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amid China's growing military presence in the strategic region.

believes that the Quad mechanism is only a tool to contain China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here while responding to a question that Quad foreign ministers opened their talks in Melbourne, saying that the countries need to stand up those who seek to coerce them raising the long-term issue of China's rising power.

This is a deliberate move to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and cooperation, he said.

I want to stress that the Cold War is long gone and any attempt to create an alliance as aimed containing will not be popular and such moves are doomed to fail, he said.

Relevant countries should abandon the outdated Cold War mentality to correct their wrong practices of advancing bloc confrontation and geopolitical rivalry. Instead, they should play a constative role to promote peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, he said.

Ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, Zhao said on Wednesday that rejects creating exclusive cliques and inciting bloc confrontation.

"We hope the US and other countries concerned will grasp the trend of the times, adopt a proper mind-set and discard the Cold War mentality, he said.

The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping on Friday held extensive talks in Melbourne amid escalating tension between Russia and NATO countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China's "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific region.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

Beijing is also involved in a maritime dispute with over the East China Sea.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne jointly called on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of their talks in Melbourne.

At a joint media briefing after the talks, Australian foreign minister Payne said the Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed their support to principles of openness, protection of sovereignty and observance of rules and fair play, in remarks seen as a message to China.

Jaishankar said the interactions made it evident that robust bilateral relations between the Quad countries, their strategic convergences and shared democratic values have all combined to make the Quad a vibrant and substantial framework.

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The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines under the initiative will be delivered in the first half of 2022, the foreign ministers of the coalition said on Friday, expressing satisfaction over rapid progress in expansion of the production at a facility in India.

At a meeting in Melbourne, the foreign ministers of the four members of the -- India, Australia, Japan and the US -- also agreed to expedite the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a media briefing that it was agreed to expedite the delivery of safe and affordable vaccines, support capacity building and augment infrastructure for last-mile delivery.

"Together, we have pledged to donate more than 1.3 billion vaccine doses globally. We are pleased with the Vaccine Partnership's rapid progress in expanding vaccine production at the Biological E Ltd facility in India, which aims to deliver at least 1 billion vaccines by the end of 2022," a joint statement after the meeting said.

It said the Quad partners have collectively provided more than 500 million vaccine doses.

"We look forward to the delivery of the first batch of Quad-supported vaccines in the first half of this year. We are assisting to train healthcare workers, combat vaccine hesitancy and augment infrastructure, especially cold chain systems, for 'last mile' vaccine delivery," the statement said.

It said the Quad is working to identify and address vaccine gaps and barriers exacerbated by gender, disability and social inequities, and ensure safe, effective, affordable and quality-assured vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

"We welcome the timely initiative for coordinating the response to combat the Covid pandemic under a Global Action Plan for enhanced engagement," the joint statement said.

At the joint media briefing with his counterparts, Jaishankar said India will work together with the Quad partners to give shape and substance to the grouping's positive agenda to make it a force for global good as articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Quad's discussions and efforts to build resilient supply chains, enhance the availability of trusted critical technologies, counter disinformation and uphold rules-based multilateral trading system will contribute to fostering global economic resilience," Jaishankar said.

Earlier in his remarks at the Quad foreign ministers' meeting, Jaishankar said the geopolitical and geo-economic global scenario has become more complex since they met in February last year.

"As leading democracies, we pursue our shared vision of upholding a rules-based international order, free from coercion -- one based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas and peaceful resolution of disputes," he said.

The external affairs minister said that India's engagement under the Quad framework has been very useful.

"We have adopted an ambitious and a constructive agenda which addresses many of the significant contemporary challenges of our times, especially in the Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Jaishankar also talked about the collective efforts undertaken to address the global health security.

The external affairs minister said that the Quad vaccine initiative and the collective vaccine delivery have been very crucial in the Indo-Pacific for countries to meet the challenges arising out of the pandemic.

"We are taking forward initiatives and efforts aimed at resilient supply chains and trusted critical technologies, climate action, educational linkages," he said.

"There is ample scope to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), and to work together to address global issues such as terrorism, cyber security, maritime security, and disinformation," he added.

Jaishankar said India continued to pursue an agile and multidimensional strategy towards the Indo-Pacific through bilateral frameworks, but also cooperation with regional organisations such as the ASEAN whose centrality in the region is recognised.

The Quad joint statement welcomed progress on the practical cooperation to address regional challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime security, counter-terrorism and countering disinformation.

"We are strengthening HADR cooperation in the region. Since 2004, when we collaborated in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, Quad partners have continued to respond quickly and effectively to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific," it said.

"We recognise that recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the need to build and maintain resilience against such events, and are proud to be supporting our Tongan partners in their response and recovery efforts following the January 2022 volcano eruption and tsunami," it said.

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president on Friday said that several people, including her party's youth wing leader Waheed Para, were languishing in jail on allegedly trumped up charges but a union minister's son accused of running his vehicle over farmers walks scot-free.

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir was commenting on the Allahabad High court granting bail to Ashish Mishra, son of union minister Ajay Mishra, in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

"Umar Khalid, Fahad Shah, Waheed Para & Siddique Kapan are languishing in jail on trumped up charges. But a Minister's son walks away scot-free after allegedly running over farmers. In Godhse's India, criminals roam freely & those who speak the truth are jailed," Mehbooba tweeted.

On October 3 last year, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri during violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to the area.

Ashish Mishra is one of the accused in the incident.

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N Chandrasekaran's term as chairman renewed for another 5 years

was on Friday reappointment as the chairman of - the holding company of the salt-to-software Tata Group - for a second five-year term.

His reappointment was backed by Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, the majority owners of .



Tata Sons board met on Friday to review the last five years and consider the reappointment of its Executive Chairman N Chandrasekaran, it said in a statement. Read more here

Taxing income doesn't give cryptos legitimacy: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister on Friday said the government has sovereign right to tax profit made from cryptocurrency transactions, and the decision on banning or not banning will be taken based on feedback from consultations.

Replying to the general discussion on Union Budget, the minister said, "I am not going to legalise it or ban it at this stage. Banning or not banning will come subsequently, when consultations give me input".

About the profit emanating from transactions in cryptocurrencies, she stated that "(Whether it is) legitimate or illegitimate, it is a different question, but I will tax because it is a sovereign right to tax". Read more here

Quad foreign ministers resolve to work towards free, open Indo-Pacific

The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan on Friday vowed to work vigorously to achieve the grouping's shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and collectively deal with common threats such as terrorism.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia's Marise Payn held the talks in Melbourne. Read more here

No saffron shawls, within classrooms for now: HC to students

The Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending considerations of all petitions related to the row, has requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, and any religious flag within the classroom.

The court also made it clear the order was confined to such of the institutions wherein the College Development Committees have prescribed the student dress code or uniform. Read more here
Telecom regulator on Friday issued a consultation paper on promoting networking and manufacturing in India.

The detailed consultation paper seeks to take stakeholder views on existing concerns in networking and manufacturing, and examine measures that need to be taken to meet the demand of growing market both within the country and outside, said in a statement.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will also deliberate on measures required for transforming the telecommunication manufacturing landscape and establish the country as an export hub.

" has today issued the consultation paper on promoting networking and manufacturing (NATEM) in India," the statement said.

The growing number of data users and upcoming technologies like 5G, Internet of things, machine-to-machine communications are likely to fuel the networking and telecom equipment market growth.

This, in turn, provides tremendous opportunities for manufacturers to transform into global players.

"As envisaged in Digital Communication Policy (NDCP-2018), if India's contribution to global value chains is to be maximized by focusing on domestic production, increasing exports, and reducing the import burden, then several policy initiatives will required to be taken," TRAI added.

TRAI has set March 11, 2022 as deadline for written comments, and March 25, 2022 for counter comments, if any.

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India and Australia have been fair about understanding the sensitive sectors in respective nations, indicating that the interim trade deal is likely to steer away from making such areas a part of the agreement.

The interim trade deal, or the early harvest agreement, is expected to be finalised over the next 30 days. A December 25 deadline had been set earlier, but the deal could not be finalised as both countries were not able to iron out disagreements over market access issues.

Commerce and industry minister said both countries have had fruitful discussions, made significant progress, with respect to the early harvest agreement, which will be followed by a full-fledged trade deal.

The proposed deal is likely to include lower tariff and greater market access for Indian exporters in areas such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, footwear, leather, Goyal had said.

India has been reluctant to include sensitive sectors such as dairy and some agricultural products from the early harvest agreement. Similarly, services exports is a sensitive area as far as Australia is concerned.

Discussion took place with great deal of openness, great deal of concerns for sensitivities on both sides to specific areas where Australia may have sensitivities, India may have sensitivities, we have accommodated each other, respected each others sensitivities, Goyal told reporters after meeting his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan.

Tehan is visiting Delhi to advance negotiations with respect to the trade deal. Both ministers renewed a pact on tourism cooperation. My understanding is that Australia and India are not only natural partners in terms of strong bond between our governments but we complement each other in trading, goods services in a variety of ways, Goyal told reporters here.

Tehan said the agreement between both countries will be modern and will go beyond the traditional goods and services.

Other trade deals

Goyal said India is having very good discussions regarding a trade deal the UAE, which is at an advanced stage. We hope to make some announcement soon, he said.

After a successful round of discussion with the UK last month, another round of talks will happen next month, after which both nations hope to finalise an interim agreement by June.

Discussions with Canada for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement are also progressing. Canadian minister will visit India in March and we may engage with her for an interim agreement, he said, adding that India is also in discussion with Israel and the European Union.

With reference to Indias exit from the China-backed Asian trade bloc RCEP, and Australias decision to join the agreement, Tehan said be it RCEP or any other regional agreements, Australia believes strongly that there should be set rules for trade and followed in spirit.

Now, when it comes to China, we have some current disputes, including one with regards to wine and one with regards to barley, where we are taking them to the World Trade Organization. And the reason were doing that is because we would like them to uphold the rules that theyve entered into with us in their bilateral relationship and we will see what happens with that, he said.
People wait for a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap





The government is considering placing a price ceiling on COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday, as at-home testing and treatment has become a key element of the government's response to the pandemic.





Kim made the remark during a COVID-19 response meeting in Seoul as the government tries to ensure the stable supply of self-test kits following the initiation of an enhanced at-home treatment system amid soaring virus cases.





Driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the country has repeatedly renewed its daily COVID-19 record, with the latest tally surpassing 50,000.





To better deal with the situation, the country began to focus its medical resources on high-risk patients.





"It is true there is confusion and misunderstanding after we overhauled the virus response and medical systems ... with emphasis on speed and efficiency," Kim said. "But there will never be a situation in which the government gives up helping people in pain or turns away from them."



Under the new system, only those who test positive in rapid antigen tests will be able to receive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in principle. People aged over 60 or in high-risk groups, such as those with underlying health conditions, will be prioritized for PCR tests.









To better protect people vulnerable to infections, the government also decided to distribute COVID-19 self-test kits for free to those at child care centers and elderly care facilities starting Feb. 21.





It will also ban the online sale of at-home test kits from Sunday, making the purchase of such kits available only at pharmacies and convenience stores.





Kim said the authorities are working on adjusting the subsidy amount for virus patients and quarantined people, lowering costs of diagnostic tests, and providing additional booster shot opportunities to people seeing waning immunity.





"It is also an important task to minimize economic and social damage by adjusting social distancing rules after analyzing our virus response circumstances," he said. "Once we judge that the situation can be managed to some extent while the number of serious cases and deaths are maintained at a stable level, we will make the appropriate decision." (Yonhap)


By Manoj Kumar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian and Australian negotiators are close to clinching a limited trade pact or so-called "early harvest agreement", India's commerce and industry minister said on Friday after talks with his Australian counterpart.

The negotiations should be complete within 30 days, Goyal told a joint briefing with Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan.

Goyal said the deal would cover a wide range of sectors and open opportunities for manufacturing, education and jobs in both countries.

received a push after the United States, Australia, Japan and India pledged to set up a so-called Quad group in response to China's economic and military expansion.

On Friday, foreign ministers of the four countries pledged to deepen cooperation, particularly on COVID-19, cyber threats and counter-terrorism, at a meeting in the Australian city of Melbourne.

"Quad has added to the strength of the relationship" of India and Australia, Tehan said, noting that Canberra had already signed trade pacts with the United States and Japan.

Australia and India launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement back in 2011, and in 2020 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart decided to speed up the negotiations for a trade deal while agreeing to resolve some bilateral issues.

Regarding fears among domestic industry and farmers about a bilateral trade pact with Australia, Goyal said both sides have been fair and understood the "sensitivities of each other," and the deal would be a "win-win".

Australia wants a phased reduction in tariffs for its wines, while India is seeking greater market access for its textiles, footwear, leather, and pharmaceuticals and easier entry for its professionals, industry officials said.

"We understand India's sensitivity towards dairy" and some other sectors, Tehan said.

Two-way trade in goods and services has grown in value from $13.6 billion in 2007 to $24.3 billion in 2020, according to government estimates.

(Additional reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Mark Heinrich)

(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's basmati rice exports plunged a fifth from a year ago to the lowest level in four years in 2021 as top buyer Iran slashed purchases after its rupee reserves dwindled, government and industry officials said.

The country's basmati rice exports in 2021 fell 20% from a year ago to 4 million tonnes, the lowest since 2017, according to government data.

Shipments to Iran, the biggest buyer of India's basmati rice, plunged 26% from a year ago to 834,458 tonnes, the data showed.

"Iran wasn't active in the market for a few months last year after its rupee reserves with Indian banks depleted," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading house.

Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but New Delhi stopped buying Tehran's oil in May 2019 after a U.S. sanctions waiver expired.

Tehran continued using its rupees to buy goods from India, but without crude sales, which brought down Iran's rupee reserves.

There was slowdown in exports in the middle of 2021 but in the last two-three months buying from Iran, Saudi Arabia and other key buyers have picked up, said Vijay Setia, former president, All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA).

India, the world's biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

The country total rice exports jumped nearly 46% in 2021 from a year ago to a record 21.42 million tonnes as Bangladesh, China and Vietnam increased purchases.

Basmati rice production in 2021 fell around 15% from a year ago because of lower area and untimely rainfall during harvesting season, Setia said.

"Export prices of basmati rice have gone up by 20% because of lower production, but still demand is robust for February and March shipments," Setia said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

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It has been estimated that Indias is surging ahead with over 50 per cent year-over-year growth in 2021, and is poised to be a staggering $1 trillion economy by 2030, according to a new report by consulting firm RedSeer.

This healthy expansion is being fueled by a rapidly increasing internet penetration rate, high-speed internet access, and increased online shopping and digital content consumption. Indias population is extremely heterogeneous, and the needs of one segment in the population may differ from that of the other segments. With this being the case, the report plunged into Indias digital consumer base which can be broadly segmented into below 3 cohorts.

The first is the quasi first-world of 80-100 million, who draw an annual income of over $12,000, live typically in metropolitan areas, and expect high-quality services. Several players have successfully adapted global models to serve this Indian cohort. The second cohort includes those who essentially draw an annual income of $5000 to $12,000, and are aspirational and budget-conscious. The estimated digital population of this segment is 100-200 million.

Finally, we have 400-500 million of the populace that includes the rural segment and tier-2 cities, who primarily draw an annual income of less than $5000, and is perhaps the most difficult cohort to reach, and need digital intervention to help them solve their problems. This is perhaps the most important demographic to reach in the digital space. The need of the hour here is deep vertical problem-solving.

According to RedSeers report, vernacular first-apps are increasingly solving for the third cohort, and are able to address a large TAM (total addressable market) for themselves. Additionally, omnichannel approaches and verticalized super apps are being deployed to further win over and serve the needs of this audience.

Indias new digital revolution is further enabled by the growing tech adoption in the B2B (business to business) space. The SaaS market size, which stood at about $3.5 billion in FY21, is expected to reach $8 billion by FY26, with a CAGR of 18 per cent. Tech firms are moving towards profit or are already profitable, with a $150-200 million profit by India internet in FY21.

Key internet economies, namely e-tail, eHealth, FoodTech, Online Mobility, and Billpay and Recharge experienced a downward spiral during Covid, but re-emerged much stronger and shocked us with commendable post-Covid recovery. An expanding and maturing user base that is increasingly satisfied with internet services has further propelled the growth of internet-based businesses.

Indias journey to a $1 trillion consumer has been a unique story of multiple internet sectors such as e-tailing, e-health, foodtech, online mobility, and quick commerce, coming together to create a strong foundation for a consumption-led economy, said Anil Kumar, CEO and founder of RedSeer, at a recently conducted event by the firm, Ground Zero 6.0. The ongoing journey from digital-first to digital forward was a result of multiple internet sectors having shown strong momentum post-Covid.

Another major contributor to this development is an increasingly reliable and democratized logistic backbone. Logistics used to be the domain of large, established companies with deep pockets and complex supply chains. But today, the RedSeer report said a new class of logistics providers are emerginga crop of nimble, innovative startups that are improving the way goods move across the country at an unprecedented pace and scale. Headquartered around the country, these companies use an assortment of technology and human intermediaries to provide reliable and on-demand delivery services at a fraction of the cost traditional logistics providers were charging.

The report said the investors are recognizing Indias golden opportunity without a second thought. In just 2021, more than $40 billion of funding and 42 new unicorns were birthed. This is primarily because the countrys economy is becoming more skill-based and services-oriented, so more jobs are being created for skilled workers, which in turn is a major draw for investors. Further, we expect another over 70 tech IPOs by 2025: this surge in tech IPOs is fueled by accelerated digitization, government initiatives for startups, increasing local investors with high equity, and private equity funding in tech companies, said the RedSeer report.
Electronic chips worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore were consumed in India in 2020 as per industry estimates, Parliament was informed on Friday.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to the said that the entire domestic demand was met through imports as there is no electronic chip manufacturing is present in India but the government has approved a Rs 76,000 crore to make in India self reliant in this segment.

"As per the industry estimate, the consumption in India was around Rs 1.1 lakh crore in 2020 which is being met through imports due to absence of commercial fabs in India," the minister said.

He said that due to initiatives of the government and efforts of the industry, the domestic production of electronic goods has increased to Rs 5,54,461 crore (USD 74.7 billion) in 2020-21 from Rs 2,43,263 crore (USD 37 billion) in 2015-16 growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.9 per cent.

The minister said that beside Rs 76,000 crore semicon programme, the government has also approved modernisation of Laboratory, Mohali as a brownfield Fab.

In reply to a separate question, Chandrasekhar shared that the import of electronic goods increased to Rs 87,169 crore in 2019-20 from Rs 65,779 crore in 2018-19 but reduced to Rs 82,645 crore in 2020-21.

"The export of electronic goods has increased by 25 per cent from 2018-19 to 2019-20 and decreased slightly by 5 per cent from 2019-20 to 2020-21.

"However, in this year, for the corresponding period (April to December), the export of electronic goods has already surpassed the exports of last year (Rs. 55,188 crore) and stands at Rs 81,376 crore," Chandrasekhar 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.)
At Texport Industries' factories in India's south, thousands of mostly women workers are busy converting yarn and fabrics into T-shirts, shirts, spaghetti tops and kids' clothes for U.S. customers of Tommy Hilfiger and Kohl's Corp.

After being outpaced in recent years by neighbouring Bangladesh and then hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's garment factories are now humming near full capacity - a rare labour market bright spot for Prime Minister and his ruling party as they head towards an election in 2024.

"We have been so busy," said Parashuram, the head of one of the Texport factories who goes by one name, as a batch of 60 new women recruits practiced stitching. "We are constantly looking to hire workers."

The company is scouting for land to add new factories around its main production base in Hindupur, about 100 km (60 miles) north of tech hub Bengaluru.

Sustained success for the textile and apparel (T&A) industry, the country's biggest employer after farming, is crucial if Modi is to succeed in taming unemployment.

India's jobless rate is above 7% and estimated to have exceeded the global average in five of the last six years - a massive problem for a country that must create millions of jobs each year just to keep pace with the young people joining the labour market.

HIGHER LABOUR COSTS

India is the world's fifth biggest T&A exporter with a 4% share of the $840 billion global market, while China controls more than a third of it. India's exports were on a par with closest rival Bangladesh about a decade ago but have lagged in recent years - especially on garments - partly due to higher labour costs that make Indian clothes some 20% costlier.

Indian T&A companies say they are now adding new clients, selling more to old ones and raising production capacity as foreign buyers seek to diversify their supply chains.

Other than China, only India has a big supply chain of everything from cotton to garments.

Still, some industry leaders said that unless India signed free trade agreements with Western countries - which New Delhi says it is working on - it would not be easy to outsell Bangladesh, which also enjoys preferential export terms from many buyers as a least developed country.

Indian companies such as Texport, Welspun India and Raymond - whose buyers include Western retailers Amazon, Target, Costco, Walmart Inc, Tesco and Macy's - have managed to lift sales in recent quarters.

Modi wants them to create some 1.5 million jobs in the sector over the next five years or so.

India's junior textiles minister, Darshana Jardosh, on Wednesday listed recent announcements to support the industry, such as setting up seven huge all-in-one textile parks for about $600 million to further increase employment and make it easier for foreign buyers to place orders and monitor supply chains. The government has also proposed production-linked incentives worth $1.4 billion.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) said India's ongoing and planned investments had resulted in "more companies looking at India as a potential source of growth over the coming years", without giving specifics.

Two industry sources with knowledge of the matter said both Fast Retailing's Uniqlo and Gap Inc were in talks to expand purchases from India. The companies, who source from India mainly from the country's biggest garments exporter Shahi Exports, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Shahi Exports Managing Director Harish Ahuja declined to discuss individual buyers but said demand was high from its existing customers.

CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS?

India's April-December T&A exports soared 52% to $30.5 billion from the year-ago period, and the government has set a full fiscal-year target of $44 billion, which would be a record.

While global recorded a compounded annual growth rate of 2% between 2015 and 2019, India's shrank 0.8%, according to an industry report. Both Bangladesh and Vietnam grew at 10% or more.

One factor behind the surge in sales for Indian companies to the United States and Europe in the past few quarters has been alleged rights abuses in China's main cotton growing province of Xinjiang, where the minority Muslim Uyghur community lives.

U.S. President Joe Biden in late December signed into law legislation that bans imports from Xinjiang. China has rejected accusations of forced labour or any other abuses in Xinjiang.

The China Cotton Association referred Reuters to a December statement that warned of "severe impact" on its cotton because of the U.S. move.

Raymond, an Indian exporter of men's suits, jackets and denim, said the China factor helped it recently sign up new clients that it had long pursued.

"At current capacity, we may not be able to pick up as much as the orders coming our way, as much as buyers want to ship away from China," said Narendra Goenka, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India and a founder of family owned Texport.

Goenka said his company was spending some $25 million to raise its capacity by more than a quarter over the next two years, with the addition of 8,000 jobs on top of its current workforce of more than 10,000.

For 19-year-old Lopamudra Patel, from the eastern state of Odisha, whose family struggled to survive on her father's income as a part-time driver, the industry has come as a saviour. She joined Texport a few weeks ago for a monthly wage of $100.

"It was very difficult at home," she said, standing next to whirring sewing machines in the training room. "I will now be able to send some money home."

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das in Hindupur; Additional reporting by Dominique Patton in Beijing, Rocky Swift in Tokyo and Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Editing by Alex Richardson)

(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 has finally hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its attack on him regarding nepotism and dynastic politics.

"Those who do not have families cannot understand the agony of what the migrant labourers went through during the Covid lockdown. I want to say that only those who have families can understand the pain of a family. I am proud to have a family," he said in a statement.

Akhilesh further said, "A family person will not run away with jhola (bag) and leave family behind. During the lockdown, if the chief minister had a family, he would have understood the pain of labourers walking miles to reach their home."

He said, "BJP should observe two minutes of silence for their last manifesto as they could not fulfil the promises made five years ago."

The SP chief raised concerns over the reports of EVMs not functioning properly at several booths during the first phase of polling.

"There were several reports that EVM was not functioning properly, voting was stopped for hours and people had to wait in order to cast their votes. The preparation for a fair election should have been done by the Election Commission to ensure smooth voting," he said.

About the Allahabad High Courts granting bail to Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Akhilesh said, "Government should have ensured strict punishment, but it obviously failed. The world has witnessed the incident that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri. Everyone is well aware of the fact that the BJP has been shielding the accused."

--IANS

amita/dpb

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Sharpening attack on Congress, Prime Minister on Friday said that while the government works with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas', the Opposition parties believe in the principle of 'divide everyone, loot together'.

Addressing a Vijay Sankalp Sabha' at "Simkeni Maidan" in Almora, PM Modi asserted that the voters always support parties who have good intentions to carry on the developmental works and welfare of the people.

"After first phase of polling in the Uttar Pradesh elections yesterday, it's clear that the will win with record mandate. More than us, people in this election are determined to make the win the polls. Voters never leave those who have good intentions," he said.

Prime Minister further slammed the previous government for ignoring border villages, tehsils, districts of Uttarakhand.

"In the earlier governments, the border villages, tehsils, districts of Uttarakhand were ignored. The BJP government has made a plan for the development of the border area. For these border areas, we have made a 'Vibrant Village' scheme," he said.

He said that this decade belongs to Uttarakhand and urged people to not let the opportunity slip by.

"This decade belongs to Uttarakhand; don't let this opportunity pass. Recently, projects worth Rs 17,000 crores were inaugurated in the state," he added.

He said that Uttarakhand now has moved ahead on the path of development. "The state is getting a new identity. The manifesto issued by the BJP is also full of the new energy of development," he added.

PM Modi said that the Char Dham all-weather road will benefit the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh section.

"Our government is working with the motto, 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'. But the formula of those who oppose us is - 'Divide everyone, loot together'! The policy of the Congress in the whole country has been divide and loot together," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister said that the Union Budget the government has proposed 'Parvatmala Scheme' to build ropeways for hilly areas.

"I recognise the power, good intentions, sincerity of people of Uttarakhand. In this Union Budget, we have proposed 'Parvatmala Scheme' to build ropeways for hilly areas. We'll build modern roadways and transport infrastructure in the state," he said.

Prime Minister said that Opposition also tried to create a rift between Kumaon and Garhwal but the double engine government tried to do double work for both the places because for the BJP Uttarakhand is a 'Devbhoomi'.

PM Modi assured development in the tourism sector if the BJP is voted to power again in Uttarakhand.

"After March 10, Dhami Ji's government will work aggressively to further develop the tourism sector in Uttarakhand. You (public) have to decide whether you want in power those who promote 'Paryatan' (tourism) or 'Palayan' (migration)," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the first round of polling in 58 Assembly seats of witnessing a voter turnout of over 60 per cent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders claimed on Friday that it is the start of the party's journey to electoral victory, while SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted that it is the "beginning of the washout" of the saffron party from the state.

Voters exercised their franchise in 11 western districts on Thursday.

During the 2017 state polls, a voter turnout of 63.47 per cent was recorded in these constituencies, according to a report of the Election Commission (EC).

Kairana and other parts of Shamli district saw the highest voter turnout. While Kairana, a talking point due to the problem of migration raked up by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saw 71 per cent voting, Shamli district on the whole registered a polling percentage of 69.42.

Agra recorded 60.33 per cent polling, Aligarh 60.49 per cent, Baghpat 61.35 per cent, Bulandshahr 60.52 per cent, Gautam Buddh Nagar 56.73 per cent, Ghaziabad 54.77 per cent, Hapur 60.5 per cent, Mathura 63.28 per cent, Meerut 60.91 per cent and Muzaffarnagar recorded a voter turnout of 65.34 per cent.

Crisscrossing the state to garner support for the saffron party's candidates, Modi told an election rally in Kasganj that the BJP's flag was flying high after the initial round of voting in Uttar Pradesh, while there was gloom on the faces of its rivals.

Taking a swipe at the party's opponents, he said seeing their hopes getting dashed after Thursday's voting, they have already started blaming the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

They would get a lot of time for "bad mouthing" the machines after March 10, when the election results will be declared, the prime minister added.

Addressing a rally in Shahjahanpur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "The first round of voting has laid the foundation for the BJP's target of crossing 300 seats."



Taking a dig at Yadav, he said the polling in the first round of the seven-phase election in is not allowing the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief to sleep at night.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked the voters for reposing their faith in the "double-engine" government, referring to the BJP being in power at the Centre as well as in the state.

Yadav too sounded confident of an opposition victory in the polls.

"The first round of voting has started the process of the BJP's washout from the state and it will gain momentum with every successive phase to ensure that the party is thrown out of power," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

The first phase of voting has sealed the fate of ministers Shrikant Sharma, Suresh Rana, Sandeep Singh, Kapil Dev Agarwal, Atul Garg and Chowdhury Lakshmi Narain.

In 2017, the BJP had bagged 53 of the 58 seats in the region, while the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had got two seats each and one seat had gone to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

The BSP and the Congress also expressed satisfaction over the voting on Thursday.

BSP spokesperson Dharamveer Chaudhary claimed that the polling percentage was in favour of his party.

"We are maintaining an edge over others. People have voted against the government. We had expected a better voter turnout but it seems that fear and insecurity due to COVID-19 kept the voters away," he said.

The BSP had secured 22.5 per cent votes in the last Assembly polls and the party's gains will surely be more this time, Chaudhary said, adding that an increase of only three per cent votes will add 100 seats to its kitty.

In 2017, the Mayawati-led party lost by less than 2,000 votes on 88 seats and on 119 seats, it secured the second spot, he pointed out.

Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh said according to the feedback received from the party's office-bearers and workers, "we have got people's support in the first phase of polling".

"The results will be good for us. The results will be surprising," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister and leader on Friday termed the governments formed before the came to power in Uttar Pradesh as "casteist" and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked for the welfare of all castes.

At an election meeting in Aonla of Bareilly district, Shah said that as president in 2017 he had promised his party would end "gundaa raj' in Uttar Pradesh.

The Yogi Adityanath government has kept the promise, he claimed. "Mafias are not visible in Uttar Pradesh. Azam Khan, Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari are in jail."



Training his guns at the opposition parties, Shah said, "The previous governments of Uttar Pradesh were casteists. When the SP (Samajwadi Party) came (to power), work was done for one caste. When the (Bahujan Samaj Party) was in power, then work was done for the other caste. Modi Ji did development for all and worked for all castes with the 'sabka saath, sabka vishvaas' (mantra)."



"When the SP or was in power mafia was ruling the roost in the state. Narendra Modi Ji and Yogi Ji have sent them to jail," he added.

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In front of the lush lawns of new Moti Bagh palace, the private residence of the scion of erstwhile Patiala royal family Captain Amarinder Singh, vehicles line up as the former chief minister prepares to hit the campaign trail.

Inside, Punjab Lok Congress' supporters have a quick word with him before the PLC chief sets out to address back-to-back poll meetings in Patiala's neighbouring constituencies.

Potraits of Baba Ala Singh, the city's founder and Amarinder Singh's ancestors are put up on the palace walls.

In his over 50 year-long political journey, the veteran leader's prestige may never have been at stake more than what is now.

After Singh's unceremonious exit as chief minister in September last year following a bitter tussle with Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, he floated PLC, which is jointly contesting the February 20 polls with BJP and SAD (Sanyukt).

Singh, who represented Patiala (Urban) seat in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 as a Congress candidate, is seeking re-election from the segment as PLC nominee.

In 2017, Singh won from Patiala by a huge margin of over 52,000 votes.

However, this time even though Singh may not be facing any heavy weight rivals from here, the challenge he faces is not only to ensure that PLC does well, but being a prominent leader, he also has to ensure that the alliance does well in the polls.

Many still address Singh as "Maharaja Sahab". His father Yadavindra Singh was the last ruler of Patiala.

Singh's wife Preneet Kaur is Congress MP from Patiala. Singh has also remained a two-time MP and had humbled BJP veteran late Arun Jaitley in 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar.

On a bright and sunny Thursday afternoon, Singh leaves the new Moti Bagh palace to address the first poll meeting of the day at nearby Sanaur, where he seeks votes for PLC candidate Bikramjit Singh Chahal, son of his close aide and advisor BIS Chahal.

Among the meetings, he also addresses one at Rajpura.

Singh stresses why Punjab needs a "double engine" government, pointing out that state needs Centre's support for state's economic revival, which he says PLC-BJP-SAD (Sanyukt) alliance will help achieve.

Singh points to the financial constraints that the state faces, which will remain a far cry under "false promises" of parties like Congress, AAP and SAD, "who are not willing to work in coordination with the Centre".

"If anyone thinks that they can run the government here without Centre's help that is not possible," Singh asserts.

Singh said when he decided to float his party after quitting Congress and told Union Home Minister Amit Shah that he wants to contest in alliance with them, the latter told him to speak to the prime minister, who later rang him up, saying he was very happy at his decision and assured that together they will transform Punjab for the better.

"I can guarantee you that the Modi government will repeat in 2024... and if we have a double engine government, Punjab can progress fast, " Singh tells the Sanaur gathering underscoring why voting for the alliance in Punjab was needed.

"The alliance will form the government," Singh said.

He exuded confidence later interacting with the media following his campaign trail, and dismissed projections that AAP will perform better this time, saying pollsters gave them 100 seats even last time but they ended up winning just 20.

Back in Patiala city, some voters feel that Patiala has been Amarinder's bastion and over the years and he has done a lot for his constituency, while some others claim that people this time are looking for a change.

"Capt sahab has done a lot for his constituency, people will vote him back," said Swarn Singh, a Patiala resident.

However, Bhagwant Singh, an iron smith, who has a shop on Behra road here, has a different opinion.

"This time people want to give a chance to th eAAP. Everyone wants the condition of government schools to improve so that our children get quality education at minimum cost and affordable treatment in hospitals.

"Traditional parties have ruled for 70 years now, but they have not done anything. Here you can see the condition of internal roads in Patiala?, they are in bad shape," he says.

In his poll meetings, Amarinder Singh takes on the Congress, AAP and SAD on a host of issues and also takes on Charanjit Singh Channi after ED arrested his nephew, saying Congress declared him chief ministerial candidate even after his kin was caught "with sand mafia earnings".

The former chief minister thanked the people of Patiala for the love and respect they have always given him.

Outside the Dak Ghar or post office here, 50-year-old tea seller Satender from Azamgarh, UP, who is settled in Patiala since 1990, is serving hot tea to his customers that range from office and bank employees to autowalas and some of them are engaged in an intense discussion.

The Congress has fielded former Patiala mayor Vishnu Sharma, Shiromani Akali has nominated Harpal Juneja and AAP's candidate is Ajit Pal Singh Kohli from Patiala seat.

Patiala Urban seat, an erstwhile princely state, is situated in Punjab's Malwa region, which accounts for maximum 69 seats in the 117-member Assembly.

The constituency has several heritage, buildings including Qila Mubarak, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Bagh Palace, among others.

(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.)
Workers assemble COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits at a factory in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps



By Lee Hae-rin



The rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has led to skyrocketing numbers of daily COVID-19 infections, surpassing 50,000, resulting in the panic buying of at-home test kits.



The shortage of self-test kits has boosted its prices.



As of Friday, at-home test kits are running short in pharmacies and selling online at prices two times more expensive than in offline stores here. For example, a set of rapid antigen test kits manufactured by SD Biosensor, which costs 16,000 won ($13) in pharmacies, is being sold for over 30,000 won online.





COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are sold out at a pharmacy in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
Prime Minister on Friday accused the Congress of dividing people on caste, region and religion, as he sought another mandate for the BJP, promising it will take development in to Himalayan heights.

Addressing a rally in Almora in the poll-bound state's Kumaon region, he also said that Uttarakhand's development is among the top priorities of the BJP's double engine government.

Attacking opposition Congress in the state, Modi said it has a "divisive policy" and the people of know it better than anyone else.

"You know the approach of our rivals. They believe in dividing people along caste, religion, region and linguistic lines. Their only formula is 'Sab mein dalo phoot, Mil kar karo loot' (Divide everyone and loot together)," he said.

Modi also said that development is possible only through a non-discriminatory approach.

Polling for in will be held in a single phase on February 14 for the 70-member state assembly.

The development of the state has been among the top priorities of the double engine government and will remain so over the next five years, Modi said.

"We have to take the development of Uttarakhand to Himalayan heights. Like Kedarnath, where development has been given a new impetus, the Manaskhand tourism circuit is to be developed in Kumaon on priority over the next five years," he said.

Referring to his last visit to the Kumaon region, Modi said he had laid the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 17,000 crore.

The Parvatmala, and the Vibrant Village projects have been introduced in this year's budget with Uttarakhand in mind, he said.

These will give a big boost to tourism and infrastructure development in the border villages of Uttarakhand in a big way, the prime minister said.

Under these projects roads, bridges and ropeways will be built in the state, especially in the border areas which will be of great utility not only for people in general but also for security personnel, Modi said.

Uttarakhand shares borders with China and Nepal.

The prime minister also said that work on the long-awaited Jamrani dam project will start soon.

Reiterating the BJP's motto of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas', Modi asked people to give the double engine government another mandate for their uninterrupted development.

He also attacked the Congress for talking about establishing a Muslim university in Uttarakhand.

Modi appealed to people not to miss an opportunity to re-elect a government which has big plans for the state's development and start reverse migration to its deserted villages.

"Don't waste this opportunity, don't let power go into the hands of people who will put brakes on the development of the state and perpetuate the problem of migration from its hills, he said.

He said the enthusiasm among people seen in the first phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh was an indication that the party was going to win there, breaking all past records.

"Those who have doubts about Uttarakhand can come and see for themselves the huge turnout here. People have made up their mind about re-electing the double engine government. People don't leave the side of those who are well-intentioned and serve them well," the prime minister said.

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could invade during the current so Americans should leave the Eastern European country immediately, US Secretary of State said Friday.

Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the State Department's latest security alert that calls on all American citizens to leave .

Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, Blinken said in Melbourne, Australia.

We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, Blinken added. The Olympic Games are scheduled to end on Feb 20.

has amassed over 100,000 troops near . It says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

The threat of war in Ukraine and a strengthened alliance between and China were high on the agenda of a meeting in Canberra on Friday among Blinken and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.

The four nations form the Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies created to counter China's growing regional influence.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who chaired the meeting, said the alliance between Moscow and was concerning because it doesn't... represent a global order that squares with...ambitions for freedom and openness and sovereignty and the protection of territorial integrity.

Blinken earlier said a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific was not inevitable.

We share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region and indeed potentially beyond, Blinken said.

The Quad partners are united by an affirmative vision for what the future can bring and a commitment to defend the rules-based system that we have spent tremendous time and effort building, he added.

Blinken's trip is designed to reinforce America's interests in Asia and its intent to push back against increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. He will also visit Fiji and discuss pressing concerns about North Korea with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian dismissed Quad concerns about Beijing's expanding influence among Pacific island nations.

China's support for Pacific island countries is open, transparent and inclusive, without targeting any third party, Zhao said, in an apparent reference to the US and its allies.

We hope all countries will take concrete actions to help Pacific island countries deal with their challenges and do more to contribute to regional peace, stability and development, he said at a daily briefing.

Australia has suffered trade retaliation in recent years for angering over actions that include outlawing covert foreign interference in domestic politics, banning Chinese tech giant Huawei from major infrastructure projects and urging an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The European Publishers Council has today filed an antitrust complaint against with the in a bid to break the ad tech stranglehold currently has over press publishers, and all other businesses in the ad tech ecosystem.

Specifically, the EPC calls on the to hold accountable for its anticompetitive conduct and impose remedies to restore conditions of effective competition in the ad tech value chain.

EPC Chairman Christian Van Thillo said: "It is high time for the to impose measures on Google that actually change, not just challenge, its behaviour... behaviour that has caused and continues to cause considerable harm, not just to Europe's press publishers, but to all advertisers and eventually consumers in the form of higher prices (including ad tech fees), less choice, less transparency and less innovation."

"Competition authorities across the world have found that Google has restricted competition in ad tech, yet Google has been able to get away with minor commitments which do nothing to bring about any meaningful changes to its conduct. This cannot go on. The stakes are too high, particularly for the future viability of funding a free and pluralistic press. We call on the Commission to take concrete steps right now that will actually break the stranglehold that Google has over us all," EPC Chairman said.

Since its acquisition of DoubleClick in 2008, Google has embarked on a barrage of unlawful tactics to foreclose competition in ad tech. This strategy paid off, and Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100 per cent in segments of the ad tech chain, EPC said.

Google's ad tech suite is rife with conflicts of interests, as Google represents the buyer and the seller in the same transaction, while also operating the auction house in the middle, and selling its own inventory.

Far from managing its conflicts, Google has time and again taken advantage of its position to prioritize its own self-interests at the expense of the very customers it is supposed to serve.

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President is expected to issue an executive order on Friday to move some $7 billion of the Afghan central bank's assets frozen in the US banking system to fund humanitarian relief in and compensate victims of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, according to a US official familiar with the decision.

The order will require US financial institutions to facilitate access to $3.5 billion of assets for the Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would remain in the United States and be used to fund ongoing litigation by US victims of terrorism, the official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision had not been formally announced.

funding to was suspended and billions of dollars of the country's assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August.

The country's long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of Afghanistan's previous government's budget came from the community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries.

Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

The official noted that US courts where victims have filed claims against the Taliban will also have to take action for the victims to be compensated.

The executive order is expected to be signed by Biden later on Friday.

The Taliban have called on the community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Qatar.

The Taliban are certain to oppose the split.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of its ministries but was struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organisations are saying money is needed to pay teachers.

Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

The New York Times first reported on Biden's coming order.

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and are expected to hold talks on Afghanistan with the in the near future, Sputnik News Agency reported citing Afghan media reported.

Citing sources in the Taliban, the media reported that the meeting in will be held in Istanbul.

From January 23 to January 25, this year the delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, paid an official visit to the Norwegian capital at the invitation of the kingdom, Sputnik reported.

The delegation met with special representatives and envoys from the US, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the UK.

Muttaqi described the visit as successful, and the delegation thanked the Norwegian government for its hospitality and contribution to the strengthening of trust.

Qatar and are seeking a mandate to manage the Kabul airport, shattered during chaotic mass evacuations and withdrawal of foreign troops last year after the came to power. The radical movement has agreed to accept technical assistance from Qatar and Turkey but wants to be in charge of the airport's management alone. The talks have continued since August, Sputnik reported.

Taliban took control of Kabul last year in mid-August.

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External Affairs Minister on Friday said the 4th Foreign Ministers' Meeting is an opportunity to review the progress made since a vision was laid out at the Leaders' Summit in September last year.

Jaishankar, made these remarks in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"In September, you (Australian PM), our Prime Minister (Joe Biden), President Biden, Prime Minister of Japan, collectively gave us guidance, laid out a vision for . I want to assure you that we've all been at work. I think today's meeting gives us an opportunity to review how much we've progressed on that vision that was laid out," said Jaishankar at the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne, Australia.

"A part of the reason why I think Quad has worked so well is because our bilateral relations have been very strong. Surely, I expect the progress in our bilateral relations to be there in Quad as well," he added.

In his opening remarks, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said we live in a very fragile, fragmented and contested world that is no more extenuated than here in the Indo-Pacific.

"I am reassured by our perspective, I am reassured by the understanding that is shared between us. I am reassured by the incredibly strong support that Australia has received from Quad partners. And I don't just mean in the security context but economic partnership and cooperation. I mean that in humanitarian partnership and how each of fight a world order that stands for freedom and particularly here in the free and open Indo Pacific," he added.

Morrison further said Australia also share a vision for a stronger economy and not only regional stability or security.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a partnership of four nations, each of whom shares a commitment to openness, transparency and challenges coming out of the current global order.

This is the first time Quad Foreign Ministers are meeting since the two Quad Summits last year. They will be discussing ongoing Quad cooperation in their bilateral phone calls and meetings.

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Raising concern about the increasing aggressiveness of China, US Secretary of State on Friday said grouping deserves the freedom to work together and associate with whom they choose to benefit people.

Australia is hosting India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday and the top diplomats are seeking to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, COVID-19 pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific.

Blinken made these remarks in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and External Affairs Minister .

"What's so striking to me as we get together is, that this is a group of countries brought together not by what we are against but what we are for. That quite simply is a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Blinken.

"People deserve to live freely, countries deserve to have the freedom to work together and associate with whom they choose. Together we can demonstrate that we are effective in bringing benefits to all of our people," US Secretary of State added.

Responding to a question on confrontation with China in Indo-Pacific, Blinken said that "nothing is inevitable".

"We share concerns in recent years, China has been acting more repressively, and more aggressively in the region, and, indeed, potentially, beyond. But, as I said, what brings us together what unites us is an affirmative vision for what the future can bring," Blinken said.

Talking about the group's focus, Blinken said, "But also a commitment to defend the rules-based system that we have spent tremendous time and effort building over these many years, wherever it's vital, never it's challenged. So that's what we're focused on."

He further reiterated that "what brings us together is very much about the future that we're for that we're trying to build together."

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a partnership of four nations, each of whom shares a commitment to openness, transparency and challenges coming out of the current global order.

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is massing yet more troops near and an invasion could come at any time, perhaps before the end of this month's Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State said on Friday.

Moscow, for its part, ramped up its truculent response towards a Western diplomatic push to defuse the crisis, dismissing answers sent this week by the EU and NATO to its security demands as an insult.

Commercial satellite images published by a private US company showed new Russian military deployments at several locations near .

In his starkest warning yet to Americans in to get out now, President Joe Biden said he would not send troops to rescue US citizens in the event of a Russian assault.

"Things could go crazy quickly," Biden told NBC News.

Blinken, visiting Australia, told a news conference: "We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics." The Beijing games end on February 20.

"Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Blinken said.

Ukraine rejects Russian pressure in talks, Moscow says no progress

Ukraine said on Friday it would not yield to pressure from Moscow to negotiate with Russian-backed separatist leaders, after the latest four-nation talks ended with no breakthrough on ending eight years of fighting.

Russia's envoy to the talks said there was zero progress and accused Ukraine of putting forward absurd proposals.

The failure marked a setback for efforts to defuse the wider Ukraine crisis in which has massed more than 100,000 soldiers near Ukraine's borders, raising fears of a war.

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The top nuclear negotiators of South Korea, Japan and the US met in Honolulu to discuss ways to restart dialogue with reclusive .

The talks follow a series of North Korean missile launches that included the firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the longest range ballistic missile fired by Pyongyang since late 2017, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"Right now, the conditions in the Korean Peninsula are very serious. We are especially concerned because many remarks and actions have been emanating (from North Korea) since late last year and this month," South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk told reporters before the start of a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi.

"And that is why we plan to discuss with the US and with Japan on how we may engage with at this point and focus on such steps that may allow engagement," Noh added.

Noh was later set to hold bilateral talks with his US counterpart, Sung Kim, which will be followed by a trilateral meeting with the US and Japanese nuclear envoys.

Kim declined to comment when asked what steps the countries may consider to bring back to the dialogue table, only saying he was "just looking forward to having a good meeting".

North Korea staged seven rounds of missile launches in January, marking the largest number of missile tests it conducted in a month, while ignoring US overtures for dialogue.

North Korea has avoided denuclearization talks since late 2019.

Noh said the countries have been discussing "various ways" to engage with North Korea.

"But we will now have to consider the situation. There are special circumstances at this point and so we will have to discuss which steps will be effective and whether they will work," he said.

The South Korean envoy earlier noted one of such steps may be the Seoul-proposed declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

The nuclear envoys' meeting comes as a preview of trilateral foreign ministerial talks that will also be held here later this week.

--IANS

ksk/

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The UN has provided $3.13 million cash assistance to over the past three months, the country's central bank has said.

" Bank welcomes UN humanitarian assistance to and calls for further assistance and cooperation," TOLO News reported on Thursday citing Saber Momand, spokesman of the central bank, as saying.

Meanwhile, some economists consider this aid to be important in reducing poverty in the country amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

"Afghanistan needs more aid to be able to help our infrastructure, such as our production, industry and agriculture," said Seyar Quraishi, an economist.

"The world financial assistance can help us solve the liquidity problem, improve monetary stability and control the exchange rate," said Shakir Yaqoubi, another economist.

In the meantime, the government called on the world to provide more aid to Afghanistan.

"The start of formal interaction, as well as the expansion of various interactions, especially trade and economic interactions, can save Afghanistan from the current economic crisis," said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman of the .

After the fall of the former government in August last year, nearly $10 billion of Afghan assets were frozen in US banks and aid to the country was cut off.

--IANS

ksk/

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A Ukrainian serviceman runs to deliver ammunition to an armored fighting vehicle during a live fire exercise in a Joint Forces Operation controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap



South Korea on Friday has decided to ban its nationals from traveling to all regions of Ukraine amid brewing tensions in the region.



The Level 4 travel alert, the highest in the four-tier system, is set to take effect Sunday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.






The Biden administration on Thursday approved a nearly USD14 billion arms sale to Indonesia, as the U.S. presses ahead with steps it believes will help counter China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

The State Department announced the USD13.9 billion sale of advanced fighter jets while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Australia on a visit also intended to underscore the U.S. determination not to allow China free rein in the Pacific, even as developments between Russia and Ukraine demand attention.

The sale to of up to 36 F-15 fighter jets, engines and related equipment, including munitions and communications systems, follows a mid-December trip to Jakarta by Blinken, who at the time lauded close U.S.- ties despite human rights concerns that have delayed previous arms sales to the country.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the by improving the security of an important regional partner that is a force for political stability, and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region, the department said in a statement.

It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability," it said.

The statement made no mention of China but successive U.S. administrations have sought to enlist Indonesia, the world's largest predominantly Muslim democracy, in its campaign to ward off Chinese attempts to boost its influence in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Pacific.

Indonesia hosts the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, some members of which are struggling to deal with Chinese moves into disputed areas of the South China Sea, which is a major shipping route.

U.S. military sales to Indonesia have, however, come under scrutiny and been delayed before over human rights issues. There was no mention of those issues in the State Department statement.

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The US has always used Pakistan to meet its strategic goals and when the purpose was served it abandoned and slapped sanctions on the country, while "friend" stood the test of time, has said.

Khan made the remarks during a recent interview with Eric Li, Director of the Advisory Committee of Institute of Fudan University, The News newspaper reported on Friday.

Replying to a question, Khan said there are times when his country has friendly ties with the United States. However, when the US feels that it no longer needs Pakistan, it distances itself from it.

"Whenever the US needed us, they established relations, and Pakistan became a frontline state (against Soviet), and then abandoned it and slapped sanctions on us when its purposes were served, he said, citing an example of the Pak-US ties in 80's when the erstwhile Soviet Union had deployed its troops in war-torn Afghanistan.

Later, the prime minister continued, friendly relations between the US and Pakistan were restored and Islamabad became a friend of Washington, according to the excerpt of the interview recorded during his recent visit to from February 3-6 to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics.

The US helped us at that time, but as soon as the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, the United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Khan said.

When the 9/11 terror attacks happened, US-Pakistan relations got better again. However, when the US failed in Afghanistan, Pakistan was blamed for the defeat, Khan said.

The prime minister said the relationship between Pakistan and China has not been like that of Islamabad and its all-weather ally Beijing.

"China is a friend which has always stood by Pakistan," Khan said, adding that during the last 70 years, the two countries supported each other on every forum, Khan said.

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The US government will take steps on Friday to free half of the $7 billion in frozen Afghan reserves held in the to aid the Afghan people without providing the access to the funds, sources familiar with the plan said.

A multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by US victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the 11 Sept, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said.

The moves come amid mounting pressure in Congress for the Biden administration to use the frozen Afghan reserves to address the dire economic crisis facing Afghanistan, where locals are suffering severe recession and liquidity crisis.

To move forward, President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Friday that will block property of the Afghan central bank held in the by US financial institutions, requiring the transfer of the funds into a consolidated account held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the sources said.

The US government will work to ensure access to $3.5 billion of those assets for "the benefit of the Afghan people and for Afghanistanas future," said one of the sources, without providing details.

Decisions about the remaining funds need to be made by federal courts since some of the 9/11 families have writs of execution against the frozen assets, the sources said, adding that the plaintiffs would have a full opportunity to have their claims heard in court.

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Confrontation with is not inevitable, but the United States must stand up with its allies for a rules-based system threatened by Chinese aggression, Secretary of State said Friday. Blinken was speaking shortly before a meeting with the foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan. The four nations form the so-called Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies created to counter China's regional influence.

Asked by a reporter if a confrontation with in the Indo-Pacific was inevitable, Blinken replied: Nothing is inevitable. I think we share concerns that in recent years has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region and indeed potentially beyond, Blinken said.

The partners are united by an affirmative vision for what the future can bring and a "commitment to defend the rules-based system that we have spent tremendous time and effort building, he added.

Blinken's trip is designed to reinforce America's interests in Asia and its intent to push back against increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. He will also visit Fiji and discuss pressing concerns about North Korea with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry this week accused the United States of using the to force other countries to accept the standards of American democracy.

Australia has suffered trade retaliation in recent years for angering Beijing for actions that include outlawing covert foreign interference in domestic politics, banning Chinese tech giant Huawei from major infrastructure projects and demanding an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he felt reassured by the shared commitment against coercion after meetings with Blinken, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa.

The things we discussed today are principally how we will continue to always stand up for our values ... which is what unites us most, Morrison said.

In doing so, we stand up to those who would seek to coerce us. And as I understand from our partners, none of you understand better than we do. And that is a great comfort to us that the coercion and the pressure that Australia has been placed on, we greatly appreciate your support, he added.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton told Parliament on Thursday that Australia was facing the most complex and potentially catastrophic regional security environment since World War II.

Earlier on Friday, Blinken and Hayashi held a bilateral meeting in which they expressed deep concern about Russia's beefing up of its military at the Ukrainian border, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity citing protocol.

The leaders also shared grave concern about North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile development, the official said.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who is chairing the Quad meeting, said the agenda would include COVID-19 vaccine distribution, cyber and critical technologies, countering malicious and dangerous disinformation, terrorism, maritime security and climate change.

Blinken is expected to address threats posed by a growing partnership between authoritarian Russia and China, particularly after the Sunday meeting in Beijing between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the opening of the Winter Olympics.

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The has issued a new advisory urging Americans in to leave the country at the earliest possibility, strengthening earlier warnings that urged its citizens to "consider" such action, US State Department said in a travel advisory.

"Do not travel to due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19; those in should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should take military action. Some areas have increased risk," the advisory said on Thursday (local time).

On January 23, the State Department authorized the evacuation of US diplomats' family members and of direct-hire employees. The State Department also recommended that US citizens who were present in Ukraine should consider departing right away due to the unpredictable security situation.

Meanwhile, the first group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Poland on February 5 following Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby's announcement about 1,700 additional troops from the to be sent to the country, Polish media reported.

Earlier, Kirby said that the US will temporarily deploy additional forces to Europe amid escalating tensions with . The deployment includes 1,700 soldiers to be sent to Poland and 1,000 US personnel based in Germany will be relocated to Romania and another 8,500 troops will "remain ready to move if called for the NATO response force," Kirby had said.

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Corporate India is worried over the new norms on related party transactions. Multiple companies and industry bodies have approached market regulator saying that the new rules, which take effect on April 1, will slow down business decisions and undermine competitiveness.

has particularly opposed the regulator's decision to set up a threshold of Rs 1,000 crore for related party transactions, beyond which companies will have to take approval from shareholders

The Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC) of SEBI, which advises the regulator on policy framework related to primary markets, is likely to meet on Friday to deliberate over the proposals.

In November, mandated new norms under which it revised the materiality threshold for obtaining shareholder approval to cover transactions that exceed Rs 1,000 crore or 10 per cent of the annual consolidated turnover, whichever is lower.

This means that all transactions above Rs 1,000 crore will require prior approval from minority shareholders. Companies say that determining materiality by the size of the business may lead to practical difficulties for them. Such a low transaction limit constitutes just approximately 1 percent of turnover of the NIFTY 50 companies but will be categorized as material transaction as it exceeds the absolute threshold of Rs 1,000 crore.





For instance, for FY21 in the NIFTY50 list, 47 companies had annual consolidated turnover ranging from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 5,40,000 crore. So for the large companies, the Rs 1,000 crore threshold did not constitute even 1 per cent of the turnover.

An absolute numerical threshold of Rs 1,000 Crore places two unequal companies on an equal footing and negates the very concept of materiality that it seeks to establish. A transaction of Rs 1,000 crore for company A having a turnover say INR 10,000 crore is material but not so much for company B having a turnover of Rs 1,00,000 crore," industry body FICCI said in its representation to the market regulator, which was reviewed by Business Standard.

For company A, the transaction is 10 per cent of the turnover and for Company B, it is just 1 per cent of the turnover,

A representative of a listed company which is in NIFTY 100 list said that the process of seeking shareholders approval is a long one which can reach up to 60 days. Also, minority investors who primarily look to profit in a near term horizon may not be able to see value in a transaction which is beneficial for the company in the long term.

It is not possible for all investors to possess all relevant knowledge required to make an informed decision which is beneficial for the company. If they reject such transactions, then it will hurt the companys long term strategy, he said.

Companies also pointed out that nowhere in the world, regulators have set up numerical thresholds to determine the materiality of related party transactions. We compared various jurisdictions like the UK, Singapore, and Malaysia but didnt find any international benchmark where there exists a provision of any numerical thresholds, industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said.
Shares of Solara Active Pharma Sciences, and Stove Kraft have tanked up to 35 per cent during this week after the companies reported a weak set of numbers for the quarter ended December 2021 (Q3FY22). In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.86 per cent in this time period.

The stock of Solara Active hit a fresh 52-week low of Rs 620.20, down nearly 20 per cent in Fridays intra-day trade, falling 36 per cent in the past two days on the BSE, after it reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 140 crore in December quarter (Q3FY22), due to lower revenue. The pharmaceutical company had posted a profit of Rs 65.78 crore in the year-ago quarter (Q3FY21).

Solara also announced that Bharath R Sesha has tendered his resignation as managing director & chief executive officer and director (MD & CEO) of the company to pursue interests outside the company. Rajesh Salwan, who currently is the executive vice chairman of the company, has been given the additional responsibility of MD & CEO, the company said.

In the past one week, the stock has declined 35 per cent from a level of Rs 949.25. It has corrected 67 per cent from its 52-week high level of Rs 1,859.30 touched on May 19, 2021.

In Q3FY22, the company's revenue declined 74 per cent sequentially and 76 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 105 crore. It reported operating loss of Rs 81.7 crore as against profit of Rs 88.5 crore in Q3FY21.

During the quarter, revenue from operations declined on account of continued demand softness of Ibuprofen & few other key products and delay in approval for Covld-19 products. Further, the group also accounted for provision towards sales return to execute its strategy of shifting towards sales to direct customer by significantly limiting sales through channel.

The management said besides this one-off impact Solara's Q3FY22 performance was muted mainly due to subdued regulated market demand and higher costs driven by volatile material pricing environment and increased logistics cost.

That said, the management believes that the situation has bottomed out on the demand side, and the business would start seeing normalcy from the Q4FY22.

Shares of Stove Kraft dipped 4 per cent to Rs 606.30 in intra-day trade today, tanking 30 per cent in the past one week. The home & kitchen appliances maker reported a sharp 67 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 11.1 crore in Q3FY22, due to higher operational cost. The company had posted PAT of Rs 33.50 crore in year ago quarter (Q3FY21).

In Q3FY22, the companys revenue remained flat at Rs 298 crore, while earnings before interest tax and depreciation and amortization (ebitda) margin contracted 770 bps at 7.2 per cent during the quarter.

The company said it witnessed cost pressures from raw material price increase during the quarter. However, the company did not pass on this increase to end-consumers as it was expecting this increase to reverse, which did not happen. As a result, both gross margin and EBITDA margin saw a decline when compared to last year.

A tepid growth in revenue, primarily driven by a higher base in FY21 since Diwali was in middle of November last year and consequently had a positive impact in third quarter of FY21. For this year, majority of the Diwali purchases occurred before 3rd quarter and as a result volumes were relatively muted when compared to last year.

Shares of India too hit a fresh 52-week low of Rs 172, having plunged 10 per cent in intra-day trade today. In the past one week, the stock of the power generation equipment maker has slipped 29 per cent.

It has fallen 28 per cent in the last two trading days on reporting a consolidated net loss of Rs 34.12 crore in Q3FY22. The company posted net profit of Rs 35.09 crore in Q3FY21. Total income for the quarter remained flat at Rs 798 crore from Rs 790 crore in year ago quarter.

The management said the company has booked orders worth Rs 96.1 crore including a significant mills spare parts order for the year from NTPC Rihand.

We have seen 65 per cent YoY growth in Q3 in core services and this was the highest quarterly intake in the FY. However, finalization of key orders in upgrades got postponed due to deferment of the customers outage schedule, the management said.
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Gujarat Pipavav Port fell 2.1% to Rs 93.40 after the company's consolidated net profit fell 24% to Rs 44.60 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 58.72 crore registered in the same period last year.

Consolidated revenue from operations declined 15% year on year to Rs 168.56 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 198.40 crore posted in Q3 FY21. Profit before tax came at Rs 71.57 crore in Q3 FY22, 18.8% lower than Rs 88.1 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter last year.

The company reported an exceptional gain of Rs 9.8 crore in the quarter ended December 2021 as interim claim received from insurer for the damage caused at Pipavav port by cyclone Tauktae.

Gujarat Pipavav Port is engaged in providing port handling and marine services for container cargo, bulk cargo, and LPG cargo.

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Police officials investigate a landslide site at a quarry in Yangju, Feb. 3. Labor ministry officials searched the headquarters of Sampyo Industry in central Seoul, Friday, in connection with the recent industrial accident at the quarry that left three workers dead. Yonhap





Labor ministry officials searched the headquarters of Sampyo Industry in central Seoul, Friday, in connection with a recent industrial accident in a quarry that left three workers dead.







The search came after the ministry booked Sampyo, a manufacturer of construction materials such as remicon, Wednesday as the first firm to be accused of violating a newly enacted workplace disaster law aimed at better protecting workers from industrial accidents.







Under the law, owners and CEOs of companies with five or more employees can face a minimum one-year prison sentence or a fine of up to 1 billion won (US$832,708) in the event of serious workplace disasters.







On Jan. 29, a landslide at a quarry operated by Sampyo in Yangju, north of Seoul, left three workers dead while they were drilling holes for demolition work in what is seen as the first industrial disaster after the new law went into force. (Yonhap)


Welspun Corp shed 7.62% to Rs 170.85 after the company's consolidated net profit slumped 70.21% to Rs 61.38 crore on a 6.78% decline in revenue from operations to Rs 1,298.89 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21.

Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) tumbled 67.23% to Rs 87.89 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 268.25 crore in Q3 FY21. Reported EBITDA was at Rs 180 crore. Operating EBITDA margin stood at 13.86% in Q3 FY22 as against 18.10% in Q3 FY21. Net profit margin was at 4.73% in Q3 FY22 over 14.50% in FY21.

The current global order book stood at 543 KMT valued at Rs 4,700 crore (i.e. $634 million). Gross debt stood at Rs 1,264 crore in December 2021 as against Rs 1,230 crore in September 2021 and Rs 816 crore in June 2021. Cash & cash equivalents was at Rs 2,103 crore in December 2021 as compared to Rs 2,252 crore in September 2021 and Rs 1,670 crore in June 2021.

The company has fully utilized its existing tax credits in FY21 and has switched to the new corporate tax rate of 25.17% in FY22 from 34.94% (both including surcharges) in India. During Q2 FY22, the company paid a dividend of Rs 130 crore. The dividend amount declared per share for FY21 was at 100% of fave value of Rs 5 per share.

As per the company's business outlook, "Brent crude touched a seven-year high of $93.27 due to tight global supplies. Several OPEC members have struggled to meet even current monthly targets and lack spare capacity to boost production any further. Only a handful of states, notably Saudi Arabia, have some spare capacity that could possibly increase output. Even gas prices are at unprecedented high levels driven by strong demand. Overall, the current level of elevated prices, which we believe would stay, is a big positive for WCL and is expected to drive global spending for Oil & Gas pipeline related infrastructure projects in the medium term. We are also witnessing marked corrections in Steel Prices and they are now at a more acceptable level across geographies."

Commenting on the Q3 results, B. K. Goenka, the chairman of Welspun Group, said, "1 am delighted by the successful IPO completion of EPIC, our JV company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The oversubscription numbers reflect EPIC's strong track record in exceeding customer expectations and opportunities for further growth. With the recent budgetary allocation for Oil & Gas, Water and CGD, I am also extremely hopeful of a significant growth in our India Business. Moreover, I am pleased to see that our endeavor to embed ESO into all aspects of our business has been recognized in S&P Global's DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment with a 68~ percentile in the peer group. Overall, we have built a strong foundation and are confident of executing on our Business Growth and Diversification plans."

Welspun Corp is a one-stop service provider offering end-to-end pipe solutions.

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On a consolidated basis, the food delivery company reported net loss of Rs 63.20 crore Rs 63.20 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against net loss of Rs 352.60 crore in Q3 December 2020.

Net sales rose 82.47% to Rs 1112 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020.

Pre-tax loss (before exceptional item) stood at Rs 383 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against pre-tax loss (before exceptional item) of Rs 118.40 crore in Q3 December 2020.

During the quarter, the company reported one-time exceptional profit of Rs 315.80 crore.

During the quarter ended 31 December 2021, the Zomato Group acquired the remaining 35.44% stake in Jogo Tecnologies from the remaining shareholders and sold full 100% stake in Jogo Technologies to Curefit Services and Curefit Healthcare for a total consideration of Rs 375 crore.

However, the company's adjusted revenue - on a year-on-year basis, saw a 78 per cent growth in to Rs 1,420 crore. On a sequential quarter-on-quarter basis, it was flat.

Adjusted revenue is the sum of revenue from operations (from all businesses) and customer delivery charges in our food delivery business.

Adjusted EBITDA loss reduced to Rs 270 crore ($36 million) in Q3 FY22 as compared to Rs 310 crore ($41 million) in the previous quarter (Q2 FY22) driven by rationalizing spends across various businesses and functions.

Gross Order Value ("GOV") grew by 84.5% YoY and 1.7% QoQ to Rs 5,500 crore ($733 million) in Q3 FY22. The weak QoQ growth in GOV was primarily due to reduction in customer delivery charges, in addition to a soft impact of post-covid reopening (including some shift from delivery to dining out).

Number of orders grew 93% YoY and 5% QoQ. Average order value (AOV, which includes customer delivery charges) shrunk by about 3% QoQ, mostly on account of reduction in customer delivery charges.

Contribution as a % of GOV for Zomato's food delivery business was 1.1% in Q3 FY22 as compared to 1.2% in Q2 FY22.

"Zomato continues to benefit from the changes we are helping to drive in the overall restaurant industry."

"The consumption of restaurant food has grown manifold in India on the back of higher accessibility, choice and affordability of restaurant food. The restaurant industry in India is highly fragmented with ~90% of the revenue coming from standalone restaurants and only ~10% from chains. In this ecosystem, we have played our part by helping small restaurants level the playing field for themselves and get discovered by new customers."

The company said that average monthly active food delivery restaurants have grown by 6x and average monthly transacting customers have grown by 13x on Zomato over the past 5 years.

The company plans to utilize the $1.7 billion cash on its balance sheet to focus on two key areas of investmentcore food businesses and quick commerce.

"We made cash investments worth $225 million in the past year across three companiesBlinkit (formerly Grofers), Shiprocket and Magicpinto reach our objective of building out quick e-commerce in India Of these, Blinkit is the closest to how we all know the quick commerce business today."

Zomato said it will continue making minority equity investments in businesses that will accelerate growth of its business. The company also said it is in the process of setting-up its own non-banking financial company (NBFC) which will allow it to extend short term credit to its ecosystem - its delivery partners, customers and restaurant partners.

Zomato's technology platform connects customers, restaurant partners and delivery partners, serving their multiple needs. It also operates a one-stop procurement solution, Hyperpure, which supplies high quality ingredients and kitchen products to restaurant partners.

Shares of Zomato were down 4.44% at Rs 90.30 on the BSE.

The stock entered bourses on 23 July 2021. It was listed at a price of Rs 115, a premium of 51.32% to the issue price of Rs 76 per share. The initial public offer (IPO) of online food delivery platform Zomato received bids for 2,751.27 crore shares as against 71.92 crore shares on offer. The issue was subscribed 38.25 times.

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Voting has begun for what may be the most consequential round of Assembly elections of Prime Minister Narendra Modis second term. The five states going to the polls  Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Manipur  are all clearly contested.

Opinion polling prior to the elections has been poor and scattered, and state-level polls in India are in any case of relatively poor quality. But judging by what is known in the public domain, it appears that most political observers are of the opinion that in the states of Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand the Congress party is ...
Here is the best of Business Standard's pieces for Friday

The (RBI) has postponed the next step in normalising monetary conditions. In its first meeting after the Union Budget, the RBIs Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the policy rate and stance unchanged.

While this much was on expected lines, the RBI also decided to leave the reverse repo rate untouched. It is not clear what restrained the RBI. As our lead editorial notes, in the given global and domestic economic environment, excessive monetary policy accommodation for an extended period could end up undermining prospects for higher sustainable growth. Read here

There is absolutely no basis to argue, from an analytical perspective, that an increase in public investment, at the expense of other spending, has a positive multiplier effect, argues economist Rathin Roy. Read more

The government showed courage in not heeding calls for massive fiscal spending in the wake of the pandemic and focusing instead on liquidity support, writes T T Ram Mohan. Read more
Amid the ongoing internal strife in the TMC, its supremo and Chief Minister has convened an emergency meeting of the party's top officials at her residence on Saturday evening, sources in the ruling camp said.

According to the sources, just six senior leaders national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, secretary-general Partha Chatterjee, state party president Subrata Bakshi, and ministers Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas and Chandrima Bhattacharya -- have been asked to attend the meeting.

"The meeting will be held tomorrow at 5 pm to discuss the present political situation in the party. The statements and counterstatements that are being given by some leaders have not gone down well with the party supremo. This has to stop somewhere. Our party supremo is likely to give out a message to all the leaders," a senior TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.

The sources also said that Banerjee, who is yet to form a new working committee of the party, is likely to discuss strategies for the upcoming civic polls on February 28.

The infighting in the ruling TMC escalated on Friday as leaders considered to be close to party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee took to Twitter to advocate the "one person one post" policy, according to which a member of the party should be allowed to hold just one position.

A section of old guards, including Hakim, termed the move as violation of party discipline.

The recent spat comes in the backdrop of the perceived power struggle in the party and apparent differences between the generation-next leaders and the old-timers.

Hakim, who is the state housing and transport minister as well as the city mayor, said the party does not endorse any such theory, and some leaders have given out misleading posts.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Friday attacked the Congress party for passing comments on the Central government's policies for being "remote-controlled", saying "this comes from a party where there is no party democracy and the policy was decided in 10 Janpath".

Citing the comment passed by a Congress member, Sitharaman, while participating in the General Budget discussion, said "a member said our policies are remote-controlled from somewhere, including Nagpur".

"This comes from a party where there is no party democracy and the policy was decided in 10 Janpath and announced in 7, LKM (Lok Kalyan Marg)," the Finance Minister said.

She later on reminded "one cannot forget that one general secretary tore a Bill in public".

"The respected Prime Minister Dr. was going to meet the US president after two hours... Is that remote control or what is that?" said Sitharaman.

She also hit out the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating the scheme was "infested with ghost accounts and turned out to be a source of corruption at that time".

"MGNREGA was an act because of them (UPA), but I would like to say that MGNREGA's misuse was also because of them. MGNREGA was infested with ghost accounts, its misuse was also to their credit," Sitharaman said.

The Minister said MGNREGA is a demand-driven program, meant to provide employment during the lean season of agriculture.

"It is one thing to create a scheme, it is one thing to misuse a scheme, whereas what we are doing now create and use it properly and transparently," Sitharaman said.

The attack led to an uproar from the Opposition in the Upper House.

Responding to a question that an increase in allocation of Urban Affairs is meant to support the Central Vista project, Sitharaman made it clear that the increase in the Housing ministry Budget is "not for Central Vista but for PM Awas Yojana-Urban".

On employment, the Minister said over 7 lakh crores are being spent on infrastructure to create jobs.

For 2022-23, Sitharaman said the allocation is Rs 1 lakh crore to assist the states in capitalizing overall investments in the economy for 50 years without any interest burden.

"Keeping in mind states and their difficulties, in November 2021, we ensured an advance installment of devolution is given to them to double their cash in hand," said the Minister.

On Cryptocurrency, Sithraman said: "I just want to say the act of taxing the cryptocurrencies...We have taxed the profit emanating from the transactions. I am not doing anything to legalize it or ban it or regulate it. But then would you rather have me not tax them and then tell me that I didn't take corrective action".

Legitimate or illegitimate is a different question, but I will tax as that is our sovereign right, said the Minister.

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.

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The foreign ministers of the grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan on Friday vowed to work vigorously to achieve the grouping's shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and collectively deal with common threats such as terrorism.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia's Marise Payn held the talks in Melbourne.

At a joint media briefing after the talks, Payne said the foreign ministers reaffirmed their support to principles of openness, protection of sovereignty and observance of rules and fair play, in remarks seen as a message to China.

Jaishankar said the interactions made it evident that robust bilateral relations between the countries, their strategic convergences and shared democratic values have all combined to make the Quad a vibrant and substantial framework.

"We are building an agenda which seeks to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," Jaishankar said.

"We are keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," he added.

Jaishankar said the meeting reviewed the Quad's ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to expedite delivery of safe and affordable vaccines, support capacity building and augment infrastructure for last-mile delivery.

Ahead of their talks, Jaishankar, Blinken, Hayashi and Payne jointly called on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"A long and productive day in Melbourne. Just finished the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Impressed by the progress we have made," Jaishankar said on Twitter.

In the meeting with the Quad foreign ministers, Morrison talked about the importance of the grouping in the context of current geopolitical developments.

"We live in a very fragile, fragmented and contested world, and that is no more accentuated than here in our Indo-Pacific, and the like-minded partners that we see gathered together in this Quad, I always find so incredibly reassuring," he said.

The Australian prime minister said that he was reassured by the incredible support that Australia has received by its Quad partners, and that he did not mean it only in a security context.

"I mean that in terms of our economic partnership and cooperation. I mean that in our humanitarian partnership. I mean that in terms of how each of us stands for a world order that favours freedom, and particularly here in a free and open Indo-Pacific. And I want to thank you for all of that," he said.

He said the Quad countries are working together on many shared projects and the partnership is not only about the traditional regional security issues.

"And the things we discussed today are principally how we will continue to always stand up for our values, which combined, which is what unites us most. Secondly, I think, in doing so, we stand up to those who would seek to coerce us," he said.

"And as I understand from our Quad partners, none of you know, understand better than we do, and that is a great comfort to us, that the coercion and the pressure that Australia has been placed under. We greatly appreciate your support," he added.

Australian Foreign Minister Payne said on Thursday that the fourth meeting of the Quad foreign ministers would focus on coronavirus vaccine distribution, countering terrorism and cooperation in maritime security and climate change.

Payne had also highlighted the need for ensuring that all Indo-Pacific nations are able to make their own strategic decisions, free from coercion, in remarks seen as a veiled reference to China's increasing bullying in the region.

It was the third in-person meeting of Quad foreign ministers, following their meeting in Tokyo in October 2020 and the inaugural meeting in New York in September 2019.

The ministers last held talks virtually in February last year.

In March last year, US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to the US.

The Quad has been focusing cooperation in areas such as producing vaccines, connectivity projects, facilitating the mobility of students, and looking at promoting startups and technology collaboration.

The Quad vaccine partnership was announced in March last year with an aim to deliver one billion doses of vaccines to the Indo-Pacific region by the end of 2022.

It is learnt that there has been good progress under this initiative.

The production of Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccines started at India's Biological E facility in Hyderabad in October last year with the assistance of the US Development Financial Cooperation (DFC) through a credit line of USD 50 million to augment manufacturing capacity.

India is also open to supplying safe and affordable Made in India vaccines, such as COVOVAX and CORBEVAX, under the Quad vaccine partnership.

Following the launch of the Quad working group on critical and emerging technologies in March last year, four subgroups were established, with each country leading on one group.

The Quad is pursuing work on 5G technology and vendor diversification to maintain a diverse, open and interoperable telecommunication ecosystem through collaboration with like-minded partners.

(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.)
New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI/BusinessWire India): The tender for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) or MMRCA.20 is a program that Delhi attaches utmost importance to. In 2018, the Indian government issued an RFI for the procurement of 114 fighter jets under MRFA. The new fighters are expected to replace the ageing MiG-21s, Mirage 2000s, and the Jaguars of the Indian Air Force.

The contenders for MMRCA 2.0 deal include Lockheed Martin's F-21, Boeing's Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F and F-15EX, Dassault's Rafale, Saab's Gripen JAS-39 E/F, Russian MiG-35 and SU-35, and Eurofighter Typhoon. In order to make sense of the MRFA race and the potential winner, The EurAsian Times collates the viewpoints of some of the finest defense analysts and military veterans.

An Indian-Canadian digital venture, (https://eurasiantimes.com) The EurAsian Times is a global & virtual online publication sharply focused on defense, geopolitics, and international affairs. Officially launched in 2014, EurAsian Times has been actively covering the global defense developments. Highly trained journalists, defence experts and think tank professionals contribute to the news portal.

Picking The Right Aircraft

Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd), an author and military analyst told the EurAsian Times, "We require more modern planes because the Chinese will go from MiG 19 to J-20 5th generation fighter which they will buy these jets in hundreds. Then, we also need to have numbers. We certainly need 4.5 to 5th generation planes- so MRFA is required."

"Whosoever we contract with should be able to get us critical technologies that will support our 5th generation aircraft- the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This requirement is beyond the simple technical consideration of how good or bad the aircraft is. Since it relates to national capability building, the one we select should be willing to give us the technology to support the engine and the other aspects of the AMCA."

Rafale In The Lead?

Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora (Retd), former Vice Chief of Air Staff, spoke about the Air Force having too many types of jets. "The IAF feels that it must not have too many types of eggs in its basket. If we go for something new now, we might end up in a situation where we have various types of aircraft in our inventory. The IAF may try to convince the government to perhaps get more Rafales since we already have 36 of those. This might be an issue that might come up if we now go ahead and select whatever aircraft we want."

He said the ultimate contest is again between the two aircraft that were the finalists last time (MMRCA) -- Rafale and Eurofighter -- along with the Swedish Saab Gripen which may spice up the race this time around.

Colonel Ajai Shukla (Retd), a columnist, commentator, and journalist covering military technology and India's defense economy, noted that the IAF is already operating seven different types of fighter aircraft, which leads to multiple logistical hurdles.

"These challenges relate to spares management, repair and overhaul, and operational support. Given this, acquiring yet another type of fighter is to compound an already big challenge. From that perspective, choosing the Rafale, which the IAF already operates would not create additional logistical problems," according to Shukla.

Highlighting the Navy angle, Shukla said, "Another fact that the defense ministry would consider is the simultaneous purchase by the Navy of 57 deck-borne fighters for its aircraft carriers. It would make logistical sense for the air force to choose a fighter that could also be operated off an aircraft carrier. It would also be cheaper to do that."

He noted that the French jet again scores points here due to the Rafale Marine, which is already a part of the French Navy and operates off carrier decks. "Finally, there are always politico-economic factors at play in big arms purchases and, here again, the Rafale has well-known advantages. Thus, Rafale has three very hefty advantages," Shukla added.

Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha (retired), former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff & Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and a member of the editorial board of The EurAsian Times, seems to have endorsed this view.

"With Rafale M shore-based demonstrations over, the Naval Air Staff should be satisfied that basic requirements of preparation are well on the way. Naval Test Pilots must be burning the midnight oil to draw graphs to explore the unexplored limits. They need to be ready for Super Hornet trials sometime in March. Not to be left far behind, Boeing may even be contemplating advancing their demonstration," Sinha said.

"In the end, my sense is that ease of fitment in the aircraft carrier lift and economy of scale could tilt the decision. For the government, the outgo is important whereas for the manufacturer economy of scale. It will be prudent from the buyer's point of view to choose an aircraft for IAF and IN from the same stable to keep the costs, logistics, and life cycle cost within a manageable budget. That is one in hand is better than two in the bush," he added.

Amit Gupta, Associate Professor at Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, USA, also endorsed the French jet, saying "India should go with the Rafale. It will lead to economies of scale, make logistics and maintenance easier, and give the country more aircraft that can be used as nuclear delivery systems."

Drawing upon the fact that most of the aircraft participating in MRFA are the same as the ones that contested in MMRCA, Gupta said, "if, for instance, there were a fresh choice, we would have had another option to look at. But in today's scenario, following the procedure of technical evaluation and costing, if one doesn't want to have a large number of fleets, one could just use Rafale because the IAF already has two squadrons and the infrastructure for two more squadrons. In this scenario, one would just buy the Rafales and then focus on the LCA and AMCA."

Prakash Nanda, veteran journalist, author, and the Chairman of the EurAsian Times' Editorial Board, said that India would take into account, among other factors, the nuclear weapon delivery capability of the MRFA.

"In choosing the next fighter, India will take into account not only the much talked about aspects of technology transfer, prices, and performance but also the latent factor of its reliability and usefulness as a potent platform for delivering the nuclear weapons against the enemies...It is an open secret that at the moment the best delivery platforms for nuclear weapons happen to be the French Mirages, which were modified by the Dassault (which also manufactures Rafale) in the 1990s at India's request by keeping nuclear weapons in mind."

"Other than France and Russia, no country, because of their respective domestic laws, will allow their supplied or co-produced platforms to be used by India for nuclear weapons delivery. And here, given the Mirage-experience, Rafale has an edge over even the Russian competitors like Su-35, not to speak of others."

Squadron Leader Vijainder K Thakur (Retd) also spoke of the Russian jets. "The most cost-effective choice for the IAF would be the Su-35. It features all the sensors & capability enhancements that would eventually go into the Su-30 Upgrade. Additionally, with the local manufacturers, the risk of being overly dependent on Russia would be greatly mitigated."

Nitin J Ticku, a defense analyst and co-founder-cum-Managing Editor of EurAsian Times, believes that Rafale fighters are the favorite of the Indian Air Force. "The problem is that India cannot afford 126 Rafales. If India goes ahead with more Rafales, I think it should not be more than 36 for the Air Force and 57 for the Navy. Swedish SAAB Gripen fighters are an attractive option but Sweden lacks the political clout like France. India would be keenly evaluating the development of Russian 'Checkmate' which is touted as a fifth-gen aircraft and if it meets the Indian specifications, the deal could go to the Russians."

Commenting on single-engine aircraft, Air Marshal Barbora, who was serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff during the time of evaluation of the fighter jets for the MMRCA tender said, "the [Saab] Gripen will not be at a disadvantage due to being a single-engine aircraft. This is largely because the technology has advanced to such a large extent that the reliability factor of the aircraft has improved many, many times."

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a Senior Fellow at IPCS said - "The best will always be the cheapest and lightest - ergo single-engine - the Gripen and F-21. This was always meant to be a light fighter replacement for the 400+ MiG 21s that we had. And we desperately need superlative single-engine fighters that can be thrown into combat in bulk."

Speaking about the Gripen, Shukla pointed out that it "is built primarily to operate off ground runways. But it can also be configured to operate off aircraft carriers and so also has a dual-role capability. This is a lighter, easier aircraft to maintain - and comes with fewer hassles for maintenance crews. In that regard, it would present qualities that the Indian Navy and the Air Force would find attractive."

Full Report: (https://eurasiantimes.com/indias-20b-multi-role-fighter-aircraft-mrfa-contract-junk-us-fighters)

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

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BotLab Dynamics -- a start-up incubated at IIT Delhi -- put up a 10-minute show on January 29 during the culmination of Republic Day celebrations. The humming of 1,000 drones, and their formations into shapes of globe, Make-in-India lion, the National War Memorial and Mahatma Gandhi left the audience in awe. Only the US, Russia and China have the capability to put together such a show with 1,000 drones. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh took pride in the fact that the project was developed indigenously. The show gave a glimpse of the things to come, as the government aims to make India a global hub by 2030. Just 11 days after the show, import of drones was stopped to give fillip to the domestic manufacturing. India currently imports most of its drones and components, particularly from China. Chinas DJI Technology is the worlds largest drone maker. Except for research and development and for defence and security purposes, import of drone for any other purpose will need government permission now. Import of drone components will still be allowed. This move comes after the easing of rules for registration and operation of drones in the country. And also after the announcement of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth Rs 120 crore to boost the manufacturing of drones in the country. This amount is nearly double the combined turnover of all domestic drone manufacturers in FY21.

Sectors where drones can be employed are endless. These include photography, agriculture, mining, telecom, insurance, telecom, oil & gas, construction, transport, disaster management, geo-spatial mapping, forest and wildlife, defence and law enforcement to name a few.

The relaxed Drone Rules released last August abolished several permissions and approvals. The number of forms that need to be filled was reduced from 25 to five and the types of fee brought down from 72 to 4.

No permission is required for operating drones in green zones and no remote pilot licence is necessary for non-commercial use of micro and nano drones. Payloads up to 500kg have been allowed so the drones can be used as unmanned flying taxis. Further, foreign ownership of companies operating drones has also been permitted.

In September 2021, the DGCA launched an interactive airspace map to help drone operators check for no-fly zones or where they need to undergo certain formalities before flying a drone.

The government expects the drone manufacturing industry to invest over Rs 5,000 crore over the next three years and generate 10,000 direct jobs. By FY24, it estimates the turnover of the drone manufacturing industry to grow to Rs 900 crore from Rs 60 crore now.

In the Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will encourage startups to facilitate Drone-as-a-service (draas).

Drone-as-a-service allows enterprises to avail various services from drone companies, removing the need for them to invest in drone hardware or software, pilots, and training programmes.

The drone services industry is expected to grow to over Rs 30,000 crore in next three years and generate over five lakh jobs, according to the government.

Drone-related courses for skilling will be started at select Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in all states

The Centre will also promote the use of Kisan Drones for crop assessment, digitization of land records and spraying of insecticides.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said in September last year that the Indian drone industry will have a total turnover of up to Rs 15,000 crore by 2026. At that time, Indian drone manufacturing companies had a turnover of approximately Rs 80 crore.

With a series of these measures, the government hopes to build not just drone manufacturing but has also placed an emphasis on the nascent drone services sector.

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Parents of Seoboo Elementary School in Ulsan, stage a rally in the schoolyard, Wednesday. Newsis









By Bahk Eun-ji







Last year, 391 Afghans, who had been designated by the Korean government as "special contributors," were airlifted to Korea after their country fell into the hands of the Taliban. Among them, 152 evacuees have now settled in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan to work for a subcontractor of Hyundai Heavy Industries.







Their presence has caused a stir among some residents. While many welcome their new neighbors, others voice worries for various reasons.







Among the families of special contributors settling in Ulsan, 64 are school-age children who are supposed to be assigned to nearby elementary, middle and high schools.







Afghan evacuees arrive in Ulsan, Monday. Yonhap





About 50 parents of Seoboo Elementary School in Ulsan, near the Afghans' residence, rallied against the admission of the Afghan children into the school on Wednesday.







A parent of a student attending the elementary school who took part in the protest, said on condition of anonymity that schools are already packed with students and there is no room for additional students.







"There is a large apartment complex near Seoboo Elementary School, so many more school-aged children are expected to move here soon. Some classrooms have already been overcrowded, so there is no room for the Afghan children," she said.







She noted her opposition to the Afghan students didn't come due to racist reasons, ethnic prejudice, religion or dislike of Islamic culture.







Another parent, who also wished to remain anonymous, said the city authorities had no prior consultations with the residents over the matter.







"Neither Ulsan Metropolitan City nor the Ulsan education office had asked us to meet to explain the relocation. We only learned about their presence from news articles. We are outraged because the city authorities made that decision without prior consultation with local residents," she said.







She said that the language barrier is another reason behind her opposition to the Afghan people's settlement.







"In addition, I heard that some of the children from Afghan families can't speak English as well as Korean. If so, we believe it is more appropriate for these children to be educated at foreign schools instead of ordinary schools."







A number of messages opposing the resettlement of the special contributors have been uploaded to the homepages of the district and city governments.







An online petition was filed to request that Afghan special contributors be relocated to other parts of Ulsan, garnering more than 3,000 signatures in just three days.







If a petition garners more than 30 signatures, the related department of the city government is required respond.







In response, the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (UMOE) said that it is not true that all the Afghan child evacuees are currently assigned to Seoboo Elementary School, and that the education office and the city government have formed a taskforce to discuss their placement in schools.







"Although these people are referred to with the new name of 'special contributors,' they are technically also foreigners who settle in Korea, so it is a principle to provide support for settlement in the same way as applied to these foreigners," the UMOE official told The Korea times.







"If a child from a foreign family needs to go to a domestic school, the parents' opinion is the most important. First, it is necessary to figure out which school they want to send their children to in the area where they live, and as of now, none of this has been decided yet," he said.







Civic groups including Ulsan Citizenship Coalition hold a press conference to welcome Afghan evacuees in front of Ulsan City Hall, Wednesday. Newsis





Regarding sending the Afghan children to international schools, the education official said, "Foreign schools are private educational institutions, and we are not considering such an option because we have to accept these children in the public education system."







In this regard, Dong District head Jeong Cheon-seok apologized for the failure to properly communicate with the residents.







"Local governments such as Dong District Office do not provide direct financial support to refugees, so we were also notified by the central government about the Afghan evacuees later," he said.







"There are 3,000 foreigners living in Dong District, where Hyundai's shipyard is located, and the office also have experience operating accommodation for foreign workers."







"We will make good use of our accumulated know-how to manage foreign residents so that there are no unnecessary conflicts between domestic and foreign nationals," he said.







Meanwhile, 53 civic groups including Ulsan Citizenship Coalition held a press conference in front of Ulsan City Hall on Wednesday, to support the protection of the Afghan evacuees and their settlement in Ulsan, and call on Ulsan residents to welcome them with hospitality.







"The Korean government should be responsible for protecting the special contributors, and Ulsan citizens also need to have a mature consciousness as well as attitude to embrace their suffering," the coalition said.


About three decades ago, computers were limited to government institutions and universities. They were bulky and expensive. Over the years, the advancement in technology has made them small, affordable and obviously ubiquitous. They are in billions now. And their numbers are swelling as we talk. Protocol, or IP in short, manages the huge traffic of information between these billions of devices. It attaches an electronic return address to all online requests and activity. This is called the IP address of your connection. Even the websites such as www.business-standard.com is an IP address masked behind Domain Name Service (DNS), which translates numbers into the name for users to navigate the web conveniently. In technical terms, Protocol (IP) is the network layer communications protocol for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Currently we are using the fourth version of Internet Protocol which is known as IPv4. Launched more than three decades ago, it has several limitations -- including its capacity to cater to billions of addresses. IPv4 is a 32 bit numeric address, written as four numbers separated by periods. Each group of numbers is called octet. It has a limit to accommodate 4.3 billion addresses. This number might look huge, but it is not. The Internet is quickly running out of addresses.

So the world is now adopting the sixth version of Internet protocol.

The main difference between the IP version 4 version 6 is the length of the address. The IPv4 address is a 32-bit numeric address while IPv6 is a 128-bit hexadecimal address. Hexadecimal uses both numbers and the alphabet in the address.

IPv6 can produce 340 undecillion -- which is 340 trillion trillion trillion --addresses. So you might have guessed, it is enough for the foreseeable future. The IPv6 also addresses security shortcomings of the IPv4 by enabling end-to-end encryption.

Other benefits of the new Internet Protocol include connecting with different networks simultaneously with a unique address on each network, and the ability to combine multiple enterprise networks without readdressing.

India is also upgrading to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). In November 2021, the Department of Telecom (DoT) released a circular revising the transition timeline, setting December 2022 as the deadline for internet service providers (ISPs) to make changes to their network as required by the latest internet protocol. The circular has set 30th June 2022 as the last date for government organisations to complete the transition to IPv6.

The IPv6 clearly has many advantages over the IPv4, but upgrading to the new Internet Protocol cannot be done in a hurry simply because replacing old IPv4 equipment would be expensive and disruptive. And so, IPv4 is being slowly phased out giving way to gradual adoption of IPv6.

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A new 90m fund for Irish start-ups was launched this week at Trinity College Dublins Tangent Ideas Workspace for student entrepreneurs. Investment will be targeted and prioritised in areas such as regional development, climate change and female entrepreneurship. It will focus on sectors that have experienced difficulty in attracting early stage investment including:

Lifesciences;

Healthcare & Pharma

Fintech

Technology & Digitalisation

Food & Agri-Tech

Sustainability & Climate Change

Women-Led Enterprises



By investing in several underlying venture funds, the Irish Innovation Seed Fund Programme aims to provide vital capital to innovative Irish companies at the crucial seed stage. The Irish Innovation Seed Fund Programme brings together three experienced partners in SME funding, each allocating up to 30 million - the European Investment Fund, Enterprise Ireland and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund participating as a co-investor.



The fund programme, totalling 90 million, will be made up of a 30 million contribution from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, whilst the European Investment Fund will match this investment by providing a further 30 million. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund will seek to co-invest with a further 30 million on selected investments.



Launching the Programme on Wednesday, An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar said, "This is about backing Irish entrepreneurs and their ideas at an early stage, giving them a much-needed boost from the beginning. Were looking for companies working in a number of areas weve identified as strategic opportunities for Ireland but have traditionally struggled in attracting early-stage investment, including Lifesciences, Healthcare and Pharma and those working to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."



Vice President at the European Investment Bank, Christian Kettel Thomsen added, "The new fund will allow entrepreneurial Irish companies in the life-science, digital technologies, fintech and environmental sectors to harness new opportunities and compete globally. This exciting new initiative brings together Irish and European equity and venture capital expertise and financial strengths that will accelerate innovation across Ireland."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Whats new: Another Hong Kong-traded Chinese solar company is planning to sell stock on the mainland A-shares market.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd., a mainland solar power equipment maker, initiated a feasibility study of a listing on a Chinese mainland stock exchange, the company said Wednesday in a regulatory filing. The company said no decision has been made as to whether to proceed with such a flotation, and the company has not applied to regulatory authorities in China.
Koh Boon Hwee, chairman of Sunningdale Tech Ltd., poses for a photograph in Singapore, on Friday, April 27, 2018. Photo: Bloomberg

(Bloomberg)  The venture capital firm co-founded by former Singapore Airlines Ltd. Chairman Koh Boon Hwee closed its first fund at $130 million to back startups in Southeast Asias fast-growing technology industry.

The firm, Altara Ventures, drew in investors including Singaporean and South Korean sovereign wealth funds, Razer Inc., and a Europe-based fund of funds, Dave Ng, one of the firms five general partners, said in a phone interview. It exceeded its initial target of $100 million, he said.
This photo provided by the Korea Democracy Foundation shows Paul Schneiss, right, and his wife, Kiyoko. Yonhap



Paul Schneiss, a German pastor who made the world aware of pro-democracy movements in South Korea during the 1970s and '80s, died Friday at the age of 88, the state-funded Korea Democracy Foundation said.



Schneiss is well known for requesting German journalist Jurgen Hinzpeter in 1980 to film the military's bloody crackdown on protesters in the southwestern city of Gwangju. The report was broadcast worldwide, making the landmark event in the nation's democracy known to the outside world.



"Despite many difficulties during the harsh military governments, he persistently supported Korea's democratization movement and promoted it to the world," the foundation said.



While staying in Japan as a missionary between 1975 and 1984, he actively backed South Korean activists fighting the Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan administrations.



He attended court trials involving opponents of Park's dictatorial regime to encourage the democracy fighters and show international solidarity with them.



In 1975, he arranged the publication of a series of columns on South Korea in the Japanese monthly magazine "Sekai." Written by Korean professor Ji Myung-gwan at a Tokyo university, the articles helped expose Park's human rights repression to the world.



Schneiss was barred from entering South Korea by the Park government in December 1978.



In May 1980, he was informed of the Gwangju uprising by his Japanese wife, Kiyoko, who was traveling to Seoul at the time.



People in the city rose up against the ruling junta led by Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power though a coup on Dec. 12, 1979, 1 1/2 months after Park was assassinated by his spy chief. Chun's military brutally cracked down on the protestors, killing about 200 people and injuring thousands during the 10 days of armed resistance.



Schneiss immediately shared the news with German journalists in Japan, including Hinzpeter of the broadcaster NDR.



Hinzpeter flew to Gwangju and recorded the bloodshed. His footage was delivered to Germany and broadcast worldwide.



Hinzpeter died in 2016. The story of the journalist and a taxi driver who helped him was made into a hit South Korean movie, titled "A Taxi Driver," in 2017.



Schneiss and his family continued to engage in collecting information and writing to reveal the truth of Gwangju and later donated related records to the South Korean government.



He was honored in 2011 by a civic group in Gwangju and received awards last year from the South Korean government and the May 18 Memorial Foundation for his contributions to the nation's democracy. (Yonhap)


Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) greets people near Geumchon Station in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Joint Press Corps.



Experts say Lee Jae-myung's salt and pepper hair charms people, while Yoon Suk-yeol's forehead looks dignified





By Ko Dong-hwan





From left, Ahn Mi-ryeo, chairperson of the Korea Professional Makeup Artists Career Exchange Association; Choi Min-lyoung, president of CML Beauty Design Center; and Yena Cho, president of CMK Image Korea

As Korea's March 9 presidential election nears, candidates are spending most of their time hitting the streets across the country campaigning for votes. Wherever they go and whatever they do, one thing they have in common is that they each have their own style: seen in the hairdos, choice of neckties and even unisex makeup. Their first TV debate on Feb. 3 offered viewers a chance to compare all four candidates not only in terms of the way they express their policy points verbally but also in terms of how they present themselves.



But have the candidates always been on top of their styles during the campaign? According to experts, the answer is no. In other words, the candidates' "visual communication" skills weren't always perfect. What they should do, three experts told The Korea Times, is to study the makeup and fashion styling methods that best suit each of their unique physical traits and facial features.



On the request of The Korea Times, Choi Min-lyoung, the president of beauty academy CML Beauty Design Center, Yena Cho, the president of image consulting firm CMK Image Korea, and Ahn Mi-ryeo, the chairperson of the Korea Professional Makeup Artists Career Exchange Association, reviewed and evaluated the four leading presidential candidates  Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party and Sim Sang-jung of the minor progressive Justice Party  based on the televised debate and various media appearances.



"Men want attractive women, and women grant their smiles to attractive men," Cho said, suggesting that physical attractiveness isn't limited to sexual chemistry but rather, is a crucial aspect of the candidates appealing to voters. Considering that average women find men with untidy attire unattractive and that female voters outnumber males in this election by approximately 420,000 (according to the National Election Commission), the candidates  three of whom are men  would do well to take note and check their manner of style to maximize their magnetism because presenting a riveting impression is a simple yet fundamental strategy to appeal subconsciously to voters.



Lee Jae-myung



Experts agreed that Lee's salt and pepper hair is a big part of his attractive appearance. Choi said that the natural shade keeps his image neat and looks better than if he were to dye his hair. Cho said that, while everyone's face is slightly asymmetrical  with what she calls an "open face," or one side of the face that looks more attractive than the other  Lee successfully found the better side of his face to be the right side and so highlights it by parting his hair to the right.



"By adjusting his formerly taupe-colored hair to a brighter tone, he has smoothed out his gladiator-like image," Ahn said. "I think it contained his political will to embrace the country's middle-class groups."



Ahn also commended his fashion style for being much more versatile than that of the other male candidates. She said that, while male candidates usually don't go beyond wearing dark-hued suits other than just slight changes of tone, Lee knows how to dress well depending on where he goes  from formal suits to mint-colored, beige or other pastel-toned sweaters. "It definitely allows him to frequently appeal to the public's sentiments," she said.



They agreed that Lee's choice of striped ties matches well with his longer face. However, they found his thin eyebrows problematic. Choi said that thickening the front ends of the eyebrows would make him look more determined and authoritative, while Cho recommended changing his neckties to chalk striped or thinly striped styles to strengthen them.





Yoon Suk-yeol of People Power Party greets supporters at Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Feb. 6, where the party held a regional rally. Newsis





Leading candidates clash over COVID-19 response, North Korea Candidates should not resort to populism, divisive politics Opposition party takes legal action against Lee's wife over alleged power abuse Yoon Suk-yeol



Out of Yoon's facial features, the one that drew the experts' attention most was his well-exposed forehead. Ahn said that Yoon does his hair so that it doesn't hide his forehead and that the hairstyle probably follows his physiognomy. Cho agreed that his largish, bare forehead matches perfectly with his neat hairdo. "One's forehead represents one's dignity and authority," said Cho, comparing it to "a fruit that ripens in the sunlight longer and tastes sweeter." She suggested a physiognomic interpretation for Yoon (a recommendation based on the classical theory of yin yang and the five elements): that because the forehead is associated with the element of fire and hair is associated with water, hair mustn't cover one's forehead.



Ahn also liked his tendency to wear oversized suits despite his large physique. "It reminds me of Donald Trump," she said. "Although I heard he rotates five suits to wear and doesn't have much variety in fashion, it gives people somewhat of a comfortable impression."



The three style experts said that some attention to detail is necessary to compensate for Yoon's big, clear and round facial features, like avoiding striped ties with small patterns and sharpening the ends of his sideburns to cover his cheekbones partially so as to make his face not look too big. To add a dash of dignity to the outspoken candidate's rashness, they recommended darker suits and ties in colors like navy blue or wine red and always to knot his tie at the center. "I wish he could always be holding a pen and not let the corners of his lips fall during TV debates so that he might look more attentive and less grumpy," said Cho.



Ahn Cheol-soo



Ahn Cheol-soo of People's Party during a rehearsal for the Feb. 3 TV debate involving the four leading candidates of the March 9 presidential election / Joint Press Corps. Ahn earned the most praise from the three experts because they thought he exemplified how the successful makeover of a politician can be realized. "Neat," "progressive," "vivid," "smooth" and "not bad" were some of the expressions with which the experts tagged his appearance.



"He has pulled off the most drastic change among the candidates with his hairstyle and eyebrow makeup," Choi said. "It's very encouraging to see how he managed to prove that image-making can transform a politician's look this much."



"Men's fashion starts with the 'V-zone' (referring to the shirt collar and tie area) and wraps up with the shoes," Cho said. "In the TV debate, Ahn's dark suit and thick, burgundy tie showed a vivid contrast, accomplishing a soft image. His hairstyle, in which his forehead was previously covered by a fringe, now exposes his forehead, adding brightness and confidence to his image. I saw successful visual communication coming from him."



"I think Ahn paid attention to the public opinion that he lacked charisma, so he tried to address that with his hairstyle and fashion," Ahn Mi-ryeo said. "I think it worked."



Sim Sang-jung



Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party enters KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 3, to join the TV debate of the four leading candidates of the March 9 presidential election. Joint Press Corps. If Yoon's shiny forehead drew a positive assessment from these meticulous experts, Sim did the opposite with the broad bridge of her nose and space between her eyebrows. They said that her makeup should cover it.



"Her eyebrows are too thin and straight," Ahn said, "Why didn't she put makeup on to make her small eyes look bigger? I know she is a sharp debater and well-trained public speaker, but since I am a woman, her makeup kept bothering me."



Choi agreed with Ahn, saying that fixing this problematic area by thickening the front ends of her eyebrows would make her look much sharper.



They also noted Sim's other "style-breaker" was wearing too many different colors in her outfits. They said that limiting her overall outfit color to one main color and a secondary color is effective, but Sim goes beyond that, making her look "too gauche."



"She wore a green jacket and black pants in the TV debate. Thus instead of wearing a bright ivory top, she should have worn something black to make her look more confident, dignified and sophisticated," Cho said. "Plus, the yellow sneakers were just too much."




China, U.S. to commemorate anniversary of Nixon's China visit

Xinhua) 08:59, February 11, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States will hold a series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of former U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit to China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing Thursday.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China and the signing of the Shanghai Communique.

Noting that the Shanghai Communique is the first joint communique signed by China and the United States, Zhao said it established the principles to be followed in bilateral relations development, especially the one-China principle, which became the political foundation for the normalization of China-U.S. relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties.

"As far as I know, China and the United States will hold a series of commemorative activities in the near future to review history and look into the future," said Zhao, adding that relevant information will be released in due course.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Major presidential candidates pose before their TV debate at broadcaster MBN's studio in Jung District, Seoul, Friday. From left are Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung, People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol. Joint Press Corps





By Nam Hyun-woo







Two leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), clashed over the Moon Jae-in administration's COVID-19 response, North Korea policy and other issues during a second TV debate that aired on six cable networks on Friday.







Minor opposition People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung were also invited to the four-way debate.







Lee said the Moon government's COVID-19 response has been successful.







"Though there could be shortcomings, I believe the administration has been doing well to curb the pandemic," he said.







But he admitted that the response measures have not been perfect and there is some room for change,







"It's time to make changes.  It seems that opinions from the field health workers have not been fully reflected in the policymaking process. I believe quarantine and restriction systems also need to be upgraded. Considering that the Omicron variant is highly contagious but has lower risks, it is time to be more flexible in restrictions and focus on critically ill patients," he said.







Yoon disagreed, describing the government's COVID-19 response as "clumsy" and "unscientific."







"First, the Moon government turned a deaf ear to what experts said," Yoon said. "During the early stages of the outbreak, doctors urged the government to ban Chinese from entering Korea, because the virus broke out in China's northeastern city of Wuhan, but the government ignored [the recommendation]."







Yoon went on to say that the government also failed in its management of COVID-19 data.







"With limited resources, the government was supposed to set priority in treating severely-ill patients, but it failed in managing relevant data," Yoon said. "The government's clumsy and unscientific COVID-19 responses caused huge damage to the self-employed and small shop owners."







Ahn also criticized the government's coronavirus quarantine measures, saying the government has "failed" because it did not listen to his advice.







"I said COVID-19 could be more serious than Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, but they ignored my advice. I also urged the government to ban the entry of Chinese tourists, but they didn't heed this advice, either."











Lee took aim at Yoon, reminding his rival of the allegation regarding his wife.







"I wonder if you know the rumor about your wife. Rumor has it that your wife had been involved in stock price manipulation of Deutsch Motors (a BMW car dealer in Korea)," Lee said. "Tens of thousands of victims suffered from the stock price manipulation, and what your wife did goes against fairness that you've mentioned a lot."






In what seems to be a regular occurrence at this point, Mazda has announced a product stoppage anew at their Japanese factories this May.
The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission meets Thursday in the Beaufort Hotel on Lennoxville Road in Beaufort. (Mike Shutak photo)
Carroll, IA (51401)

Today

Rain likely. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.






By Kim Hyun-bin



Concerns are growing over Samsung's plan to acquire global rivals after regulatory authorities in the U.S., Europe and other countries disapproved Nvidia's acquisition of ARM, which could have been a "mega deal" in the semiconductor industry, according to industry analysts Friday.



The high-profile acquisition fell through as major countries showed opposition citing monopoly concerns. This is expected to adversely affect Samsung Electronics' plan to expand its semiconductor business by acquiring smaller companies, the analysts said. Samsung Electronics is said to have amassed a war chest of around 106 trillion won in cash as of last December.



"The difficulties in conducting mergers and acquisitions (M&As) not only applies to Samsung, but all semiconductor industries. SK hynix was lucky to get approval last year, but now countries and companies are strongly opposed to it, so I think there will be many difficulties in conducting global M&As in the future," said Kim Yang-paeng, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade.



Last week, Taiwan Global Wafers failed in its bid for Germany's Siltronic due to opposition from the German government. In March of last year, Chinese regulatory authorities did not approve a bid by U.S. Applied Materials to acquire Japan's Kokusai Electric. SK hynix also received conditional approval from Chinese authorities after waiting over a year to acquire Intel's NAND Flash division.



Since the global supply shortage of semiconductors began, there has been growing vigilance over specific companies or countries obtaining strong dominance in the semiconductor market.



Samsung Electronics, which aims to become No. 1 in system semiconductors by 2030, is expected to continue acquiring smaller players, and there are predictions that it will bid for automotive semiconductor companies such as Germany's Infineon and the Netherlands' NXP. However, as antitrust authorities are applying strict rules and standards, there is a possibility that Samsung Electronics will hit a wall in its pursuit of these deals.



There are also concerns that M&A conditions may become stricter in the system semiconductor business, which is just about to expand, due to checks from major countries that are concerned about Samsung Electronics' excessive influence in the overall semiconductor market.



"Most countries are correlating semiconductors with national security so they are more reluctant to approve the mergers. But we are watching the global situation closely," a Samsung Electronics official said.



Many experts point out that although conducting M&As is a useful tool to gain competitiveness, it will take more for Samsung to become the world's leading semiconductor company by 2030.



"Foundries are likely to become the focus of Samsung's M&As. Because of the title of being in second place right now, however, there is a huge gap between Samsung and TSMC," Kim said. "Even with a large-scale M&A, it is difficult to catch up with TSMC as the company's market share is three times larger than Samsung, which means there is a threefold difference in production capacity. Even with the M&A, there is no factory large enough to fill the gap."


Prestige commercial studio Psyop has signed a major name from the world of Hollywood animation to its roster: Oscar-nominated director Teddy Newton.

Newton directed Pixars 2010 short Day & Night and also worked closely with Brad Bird in developing the characters and concepts of The Incredibles franchise. Key examples of his storytelling skills can be seen in the raccoon fight sequence of Incredibles 2 as well as the short Jack Jack Attack, which he conceived. Years earlier, Newton storyboarded and wrote the song Duck and Cover for Birds The Iron Giant. He is also currently designing on Birds next unannounced animated feature.

Newtons other credits include Ratatouille, Up, Wall-E, and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. At Pixar, Newton contributed to shorts like Your Friend the Rat and Presto, and independently, he co-directed the raunchy indie short Boys Night Out.
Photo: Colin Dacre file photo

The B.C. government is creating a new fund that will support meeting venues, with other money going to fund recruiters in the tourism sector.

Its Business Events and Conferences Restart Fund will provide up to $5 million in the fiscal year that ends March 31, and another $3 million next year to cities' destination management organizations, such as Destination Vancouver.

Meeting venue operators can then apply to destination management organizations to receive grants.

"B.C.'s meetings, conferences, and events sector sustains a significant network of businesses across the province and is critical to the complete rebuild of our provincial economy," said BC Hotel Association CEO Ingrid Jarrett.

Victoria is earmarking a total of $1.3 million to a different fund that will pay human resources specialists across the province this year and next. That means that in total, the province announced $9.3 million in new funding for the tourism sector today.

It has been dribbling out money in small parcels with different announcements throughout the pandemic. Last month, for example, Victoria announced that it would provide $3.7 million to Indigenous tourism operators.

Friction between the sector and the government was palpable in mid-2020, when the industry sought $680 million in government support, but the Horgan administration provided only $100 million, including $50 million for a tourism task force.

The B.C.'s Tourism Task Force then released a report in December 2020, with a long list of requests for the beleaguered sector.

The government then early in 2021 came through with an additional $55 million in support, including $5 million to support Indigenous tourism businesses.

The government said today that, since the start of the pandemic, its count is that it has invested more than $570 million in supports for the tourism sector, including the Small and Medium Size Business Grant and Circuit Breaker grant, providing funding to nearly 8,200 tourism and hospitality businesses.
Photo: The Canadian Press Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

Escalating blockades at the Canada-U.S. border are weakening one of the most fragile links in the vital North American supply chain  a link that has nothing to do with transport trucks, highways or bridges.

Rather, it's the mood in the United States, particularly when it comes to issues like globalization, international trade and making things in America, that may pose the biggest danger over the long term.

Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin complained Wednesday about a General Motors plant outside Lansing that's being starved of parts from Canada by the ongoing closure of the border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ont.

Her politically charged solution is the sort of thing that keeps Canadians up at night.

"It doesn't matter if it's an adversary or an ally  we can't be this reliant on parts coming from foreign countries," Slotkin tweeted.

"The one thing that couldn't be more clear is that we have to bring American manufacturing back home to states like Michigan. If we don't, it's American workers like the folks at Delta Township who are left holding the bag."

It's hardly a new sentiment: U.S. protectionism has been a fact of life, off and on, for decades. But even a year removed from Donald Trump's turbulent turn as president, it's very much on  thanks in large measure to Trump's successor.

"They'll use American parts, American iron, American steel," President Joe Biden gushed earlier this week as he announced Australian manufacturer Tritium's plan to build electric vehicle charging units in Tennessee.

"I made it clear from Day 1: when the federal government spends taxpayers' dollars, we're going to buy American: American products made in America, including American component parts."

Canada's not especially fussed about Biden's specific Buy American policies when it comes to federal infrastructure projects; it has negotiated carve-outs to those rules before, most recently under Barack Obama in 2009.

But experts warn that the drumbeat of protectionist rhetoric has an effect over time, particularly at the state and local level, where Canadian suppliers and contractors potentially face a more serious threat.

"We are joined together as one," said Maryscott Greenwood, CEO of the Canadian American Business Council.

"The big risk and danger of the border uncertainty is that the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is one organism  you can't say, 'Well, we don't really need the heart, because we've got the lungs.'

"We have to get back to the point where the two countries together are figuring out how to keep the patient healthy."

Whatever the ailment, the symptoms  already familiar to Americans  are about to manifest themselves south of the border once again.

The White House, growing more seized by the day with the magnitude of the crisis, is urging Ottawa to use "federal powers" to end the blockade and bracing for similar protests to materialize at Sunday's Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

On right-wing social media and chat platforms like Gab and Gettr, talk is coalescing around plans for a similar "convoy" protest that would begin in California early next month before making its way to D.C.

White House officials say they have no evidence to suggest anything nefarious or criminal is in the works, and that their principal focus for now is clearing the border blockades.

Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg have been in regular touch with their Canadian counterparts, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

Liz Sherwood Randall, the White House national security adviser, also spoke late Thursday with Jody Thomas, Justin Trudeau's national security and intelligence adviser, officials in the Prime Minister's Office confirmed.

The auto-sector ties between Windsor and the U.S. are too strong, having been forged over more than a century, to be severed by a "singular event," said Flavio Volpe, president of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

But the longer-term effects of a protracted border shutdown could be costly, Volpe told a news conference Thursday as stakeholders in Windsor sought a court injunction to end the protest.

"I do think If we don't take some action here  to clear the border, I think it may have some effect at least in the short to mid-term on whether new investments would favour Windsor over the other side of the bridge."

A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for noon Friday in Windsor.

Rakesh Naidu of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce said he's worried about the protests having a dampening effect on the city's economy.

"The concerns that we have are, what will the American customers, the American clients, think of the situation and will this lead to them rethinking the supply chain that extends into Canada," Naidu said.

"The American customers may look the other way and not want to have a concern like this come up in the future."

Matt Moroun, whose family owns the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor with Detroit, urged the federal government in Ottawa to do something to clear the blockade.

One option, he said, would be to end the requirement that's at the heart of the protests: that truckers taking shipments across the Canada-U.S. border have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so.

"The Ambassador Bridge and all international border crossings are critical to international trade. Without them, commerce and our shared economies will grind to a halt," Moroun said in a statement.

"That is exactly what is happening right now and we are all just beginning to feel the devastating impact."
Photo: Screenshot

The Canadian Armed Forces says it is investigating after one of its officers appeared in a video speaking out against vaccine mandates.

Maj. Stephen Chledowski is the latest serving member of the Canadian military to have spoken out against government-ordered mandates and restrictions intended to curb the spread and severity of COVID-19.

A video of Chledowski in uniform appeared on social media Thursday, as hundreds of anti-vaccine mandate protesters continue to occupy parts of downtown Ottawa and block border crossings in other parts of the country.

It also came as hundreds of serving military personnel face the threat of forced removal from the Armed Forces for refusing to get their shots.

Defence Department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier confirmed Friday morning that the military was aware of the video and that what he described as "appropriate action" would be taken. Le Bouthillier did not say what that appropriate action might be, including whether criminal charges could be laid.

The military last year charged another officer with mutiny after he allegedly urged other members of the Canadian Armed Forces not to help with the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Gone are the days when the New Democratic Party of Canada stood up for the rights of working-class citizens.

Now, that party keeps a corporate dictatorship alive and well, thus betraying the working class it once assisted.

The Canadian Liberal leader (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) has insulted peaceful convoy participants, falsely claiming these working-class truckers are white supremacists, racists, misogynists and insurrectionists.

Anyone who has actually watched the Youtube live footage of participants of the Ottawa Freedom rally knows those accusations are completely untrue.

Truckers and convoy participants are expressing their Charter rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. How were politicians expecting disgruntled citizens to protest?

The Convoy For Freedom participants have been bearing up to below freezing temperatures for almost two weeks and not a shot has been fired, nor a building burned. The crime rate (in the affected area in Ottawa) has dropped (during the rally).

For sure there will be hardships in the trucking industry with minimized border crossings, but nothing compared to the hardships working Canadians and world citizens have been forced to endure for the last two years. And this has all been due to government-enforced mandates, which did nothing but bankrupt and dehumanize the populace.

So, yes, the whole world is watching whether Canada comes through as a dictatorship or as a democracy that listens to its working-class citizens. We'll see if the opposition parties seize the moment and do what's right by (calling for an end) to all mandatesnot some, but all mandatesespecially the PCR rapid tests which (I believe) deliver inflated case figures.

The research in the U.K. and Israel shows that ongoing vaccine mandates fail to stop infection, yet, the prime minister's only response is, we won't get out of this unless we keep vaccinating.

This is a vaccine industry response.

The NDP and other parties, have supported a segregation passport system which denies employment to those who choose not to take a (vaccine). Does this sound like democracy to you? Police, military, nurses, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, airline employees, gov't employees, longshoremen and truckers are being forced to choose between the loss of family income and taking an unwanted medical intervention. Is that freedom of choice? Or, is that coercion and extortion?

Bill Woollam, Duncan
Photo: pixabay

The B.C. NDP government spent $47.66 million last year on the contract with Telus for the provinces vaccine booking hotline, documents obtained under freedom of information law reveal.

The hotline, plagued by initial problems, was designed to assist the first wave of those eligible for vaccines to easily book appointments at provincial clinics and sites. The documents reveal some of the early growing pains, including some challenges in tracking the hours worked by call agents.

The first invoice, for $20.4 million, was dated May 28, 2021 and reflected the initial setup of the Telus Elements call centre platform and costs for service from Feb. 28 to April 30. The actual number of hours billed was withheld under a clause in the freedom of information law that protects proprietary information, such as unit pricing.

Telus also charged $7.71 million and $8.27 million for May and June, respectively, and $4.4 million for July. The latter invoice, dated Sept. 29, included a $1.03 million correction for May and June agent hours.

"The September audit was done to ensure good housekeeping, according to a statement from the provincial branch of Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE). The provincial call centre service was organized quickly, and some errors were detected by Telus and reported to the Ministry of Health in the recording of hours by call agents in the initial months. These were subsequently corrected, resulting in the invoice reduction.

The system crashed almost as quickly as it launched on March 8, 2021. Only 369 senior citizens in the Vancouver Coastal Health region were able to get through the busy signals and hours-long waits to book appointments. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Telus let us down.

It wasnt just technical problems, there was insufficient staff, Dix said at the time.

Telus CEO Darren Entwistle issued a public apology.

We are sorry for the frustrations that British Columbians have experienced trying to connect to the call centres, Entwistle said. The provincial government and health authorities asked us to support them, as we have let them down. We can and will do better, and we will make this right.

Telus responded by nearly doubling the number of phone agents to 550.

No refund of hours worked and billed by call agents was expected or necessary, said the GCPE statement.

Government rules call for contracts worth more than $75,000 to undergo an advertised competition, except when there is an unforeseeable emergency or if a competitive process would interfere with a ministrys ability to protect life or health. The vaccine call centre contract was negotiated by the provinces five health authorities through the governments telecommunications master service agreement with Telus.

Telus, Bell, Rogers and Shaw were involved in a two-year bidding process for nine separate contracts. But the BC Liberal cabinet suddenly halted tendering in June 2011 and bundled all the work into a $1 billion, 10-year package with options to extend and gave it to Telus amid protests from the other bidders. The agreement is up for renewal in 2023.

Public accounts for the year-ended March 31, 2021 show six divisions of Telus billed the province $82.4 million during the fiscal year.




A consumer reaches for a milk carton at a retail chain store in Seoul. Korea Times file





By Lee Kyung-min







A group of dairy farmers is threatening an all-out strike followed by a refusal to supply milk for confectionery and coffee-making industries, in protest of the government's plan to lower milk prices, according to the association of dairy farmers Thursday.







The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is seeking to establish a new method of setting milk prices so as to reflect falling market demand, a years-long overhaul move opposed fiercely by dairy farmers who maintain that the current production cost-tied method remain in place.







The supplier-friendly status quo comes at the expense of consumers, many of whom have turned to cheaper imported milk. Korea's self-sufficiency ratio of raw milk fell to 48.1 percent in 2020, down from 77.3 percent in 2001. The number of dairy farms slumped to 4,929, down 61.1 percent from 12,827 over the same period. The number of livestock decreased to 410,000, down 25.2 percent from 548,000.











Korea Dairy & Beef Farmers Association said its members will hold a rally in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 16.







"The government, in the name of price stability, is suppressing dairy farmers," the group said in a statement. "This is an abuse of administrative power, enabled by collusion with the country's milk-processing businesses where former bureaucrats seek to earn money after retirement."







The statement followed an impasse over the government's plan to categorize raw milk into two options  one for consumer sales and the other as a raw material for processed products.







The ministry says the per-liter price of milk for wholesale and retail sales should be kept at 1,100 won ($0.92), whereas the figure for makers of processed milk products should be lowered to 800 won. It plans to cut the supply price further to 600 won for processed product makers after shouldering 200 won in the form of state subsidies, in a bid to reduce the burden of raw material costs and bolster the use of locally produced raw milk.







However, farmers say the plan is irresponsible, since the price cut does not guarantee an increase in raw milk demand by more processed product makers.







Another sticking point has to do with the farmers' fury over a recently approved change to the Korea Dairy Committee, an interest group representing dairy producers set up to control the market supply of milk, changing the makeup of its board to reduce the influence of farmers.







The revised rule no longer requires the attendance of two-thirds of the 15 members for the board to convene, essentially removing any possible deadlock by technicality, given that the board currently has seven farmers sitting on it.







Discussions at the board will move forward as long as the remaining eight representatives from the government, academia and consumer groups  a majority  are in attendance.







Data from the ministry shows per-capita milk consumption fell to 31.8 kilograms in 2020, down 12.9 percent from 36.5 kilograms in 2001, whereas the figure for processed dairy products including cheese, butter and ice cream rose to 83.9 kilograms, up 31.3 percent from 63.9 kilograms.


On average, Colorado backcountry search and rescue organizations respond to more than 3,600 search and rescue incidents  more than any other state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports. The agency said a new study will fundamentally change how backcountry search and rescue operations are supported by the state.
Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. E winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, with mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
David Joseph Lawson, 50, of Crandall, Ga., was convicted on Thursday by a Murray County jury of child molestation and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jim Wilbanks to serve the maximum 19 years in prison without parole followed by a year on probation.

The final year on probation is required by Georgia Law in child molestation cases.

The sentence will run consecutively with a 30-year prison sentence imposed by Superior Court Judge Cindy Morris in October after Lawson was convicted by a different jury for failure to register as a sex offender. The sentence imposed by Judge Morris was also the maximum allowed for the offense and will also have to be served without the possibility of parole.

Lawson will have to serve 49 years, less any time already served in the Murray County Jail, before he can be released from Department of Corrections custody.

Assistant District Attorney and Chief Child Abuse Prosecutor, Ben Kenemer, prosecuted both cases. Lawson was represented by Jack Donlon of the Public Defenders Office.

Lawson was indicted by a grand jury in 2019 and originally scheduled for trial in February of 2020, right at the start of the COVID pandemic. Along with many other cases, his trial was postponed for over a year due to restrictions imposed by the Governors emergency order and the Georgia Supreme Courts declaration of a judicial emergency related to COVID. Jury trials resumed across Georgia last year.

Lawson has numerous prior convictions starting with statutory rape in 1995 and 1997 involving two different underage victims. That conviction required him to register as a sex offender with the sheriff in the county where he resides, and to update his registration information annually.

Lawson had been convicted more than once over the past 20 years for failure to properly update his registration information on his birthday each year. Because of those prior convictions, the sentencing range on the new failure to register charge was actually greater than on the new child molestation charge. In order not to prejudice the defendant, the two charges were severed and tried before separate juries so that each jury would only know about the charge they were chosen to decide.

The new child molestation charge arose from a single victim who accused Lawson of touching her inappropriately while Lawson was in a relationship with the victims mother. In addition to the primary victim, the two prior victims of Lawson testified about their victimization in the late 1990s to demonstrate Lawsons propensity to commit these sorts of crimes.

The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before returning their guilty verdict Thursday afternoon. The jury was selected on Monday, but the entire trial took place Thursday. Several of the jurors remained for the sentencing hearing even though they had been excused by the judge and were free to leave.

The cases were investigated by the Murray County Sheriffs Office with assistance from the Chatsworth Police Department.




Fire authorities continue rescue efforts at a collapsed quarry operated by Sampyo Industry in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Feb.1. Korea Times file

Sampyo Industry CEO Lee Jong-shin

By Lee Kyung-min







Sampyo Industry is facing a full-scale investigation into the deaths of its workers; with company CEO Lee Jong-shin being booked for allegedly violating a new law governing industrial accidents, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Friday.







The mid-size construction arm of Sampyo Group became the first to face potential punishment under the law, which took effect Jan. 27, that imposes a minimum prison term of one year for company CEOs with regard to critical on-site industrial accidents including death.







Industry watchers are closely monitoring developments, since any penalty for Lee and the company will largely set the tone going forward concerning future violations of the much-dreaded law.







Two other construction firms have reported serious injuries of workers including death over the past few weeks.







The labor ministry is expected to look into four deaths and four injuries in an explosion at Yeocheon Naphtha Cracking Center (NCC) inside the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in South Jeolla Province, early Friday, the third critical industrial accident to date. The second one occurred at a construction site operated by Yojin Construction & Engineering, Feb. 8, when two workers died after falling off an elevator shaft under construction in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.











The ministry said Lee faces charges of failing to institute company-wide efforts to identify workplace risk factors and subsequent prevention measures, compounded further by a lack of safety manuals despite an immediate and impending threat of harm.







Three dozen ministry officials searched the firm's headquarters in Seoul, and seized physical evidence including computer hard disks related to the death of three workers in a Jan. 29 collapse of a quarry operated by the firm in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.







The ministry is expected to intensify the probe into the symbolic first case, as implied by Friday's strengthened search with digital forensic experts. That inspection came just about a week after the ministry booked an on-site supervisor at the firm's Yangju office following a search of the provincial office and offices of Sampyo's partner firms, Jan. 31.







It remains to be seen whether a court will convict Lee following further investigation by prosecutors and indictment. Sampyo Industrial has sought the counsel of Kim & Chang and Lee & Ko, two of the largest local law firms.







Meanwhile, Sampyo Industry is among 19 makers of remicon, or ready-mixed concrete, which were fined a combined 13.1 billion won ($10.9 million) for price fixing as well as collusion to control market supply between 2013 and 2021. They account for 80 percent of the market in Gyeonggi Province.







The Fair Trade Commission said Sampyo was fined 1.24 billion won, the third-largest amount after Shinsung Concrete industrial (1.9 billion won) and Eugene Corp. (1.8 billion won).


A Catoosa Grand Jury has declined to indict a man involved in a road rage altercation on Sept. 6, 2021, that resulted in the shooting death of 34-year-old Jack Chandler Pedigo.

The Catoosa County Sheriffs Office investigated the matter and handed the case to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office for review. District Attorney Chris Arnt continued the investigation and brought the case to a Grand Jury to determine if there was sufficient evidence of a crime to support criminal charges against the shooter.

The Grand Jury was tasked to determine if any Georgia criminal laws had been violated during this incident. Grand jury proceedings are confidential under Georgia law, so details of their deliberation are not public. The role of the District Attorney is to pursue justice by reviewing the facts and evidence in this and every potential criminal matter brought to its office, it was stated.

DA Arnt said, This is a tragic case for everyone involved in this matter. I have met with Mr. Pedigos family to discuss the matter, and they are heart-broken over the loss of their loved one.

"While this is a terrible situation, Georgias self-defense laws are very clear. Under the law, when someone claims self-defense in a matter like the shooter did in this case, prosecutors must have the evidence to prove two important criminal elements. Did the shooter initiate the confrontation and did he believe his life or others was in imminent danger due to the behavior of the deceased. The question of whether the shooters beliefs were reasonable is a matter to be determined by the jury.

My office presented the facts and evidence to the Grand Jury and they made their decision. Despite the limitations I have in providing more information to the public about this matter, its important for the community to know that I take each of these situations seriously and I address them without fear or favor.

Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk said Pedigo and Daniel Vaughn exchanged heated words while on Battlefield Parkway. He said Pedigo followed Vaughn and his wife to their home on Elm Avenue when there was another heated exchange of words and threats.

He said Pedigo then left Elm Avenue and went to his home off of Three Notch Road.

After Pedigo returned to 236 Elm Ave. at 9:26 p.m. and there were more heated words between the two, Vaughn then shot and killed Pedigo, Sheriff Sisk said.

The sheriff said, This appears to be a tragic event that is a result of a couple of strangers who lost control of their emotions in a war of words.
Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. James Metcalfe testified Thursday that a Soddy Daisy child died after being shaken so hard that she got blood on the brain and her optic nerve was damaged.

Dr. Metcalfe used a large doll as a prop to demonstrate to the jury in the courtroom of Judge Barry Steelman how Annie Shell, who was almost three, was killed.

Dr. Metcalfe also said there was a large bruise on the right side of the child's face.

He said her injuries did not line up with being a fall as her babysitter, Brandi Giannunzio, claimed.

The babysitter's boyfriend, Benjamin Brown, is on trial for the 2018 felony murder.

It was also testified that the child's younger sister had swelling and bruises around her nose as well as dried blood in her nostrils.

The child's father, David Shell, said she did not have any facial marks prior to being dropped off at the babysitter. He said she had never had a nose bleed.

Christy Killian, who picked up the two children from the babysitter, said she noticed the marks on the face of the younger child when she got out with her at Family Dollar.

The child was taken to the hospital on Aug. 18 and she was declared dead three days later. Doctors operated to remove a blood clot that had formed in her brain, but were not able to save her.
An officer was driving on Roanoke Avenue and Wilcox Boulevard and saw a white female in a black tank top dancing on the sidewalk and shouting at passing vehicles. The officer spoke with the female and asked her to stop dancing and distracting drivers and told her move along. She complied and moved along.

* * *

A woman at Bargain Hunt at 1301 Hickory Valley Road said before she walked into the store she remembered she had money in her back pocket. Two hours later she noticed the money was gone. While she was in line she asked multiple people if they had seen it and no one said they did. No one returned the cash either. The officer spoke with management and they will work on looking at the cameras to see when she dropped it and if they can see who picked it up.

* * *

A woman on Hixson Pike told police her daughters boyfriend had discovered nails around her daughters car and several nails had been stuck into tires on the vehicle. She said the vehicle hasnt been driven since October so she believes someone has done it on purpose. It is unclear when the nails were placed around the vehicle or when the tire had gone flat but it was sometime this week when the tire went flat, according to the woman.

* * *

A woman on North Hawthorne Street said after getting home from work, she observed damage to the rear passenger-side of the vehicle. She said that while at work, footage was reviewed and the damage did not occur at her work. She said her neighbors often pull into the driveway beside her vehicle, and she believed this could have possibly caused the damage. Police did not observe any additional damage or debris in the driveway consistent with a crash.

* * *

An employee at 2288 Gunbarrel Road told police two black females came into the store, picked up an Amazon Firestick and went into the bathroom. She said one female left with the Amazon Fire Stick in her shirt. The suspects left in a silver Kia.

* * *

Police spoke with a man on Park Drive over the phone who said someone broke the window on his Jayco trailer while it was parked in a storage unit facility. He said it appears as if they made their way into the trailer but nothing was taken.

* * *

Police spoke with the loss prevention officer of Home Depot at 7421 Commons Blvd. The employee said he observed a white male and a white female walk into the store and they grabbed a set of wrenches, and an air impact wrench worth a total of $200. The employee also claimed that he observed the two people walk out the store and pass the point of sales without paying for the items. He quickly made contact with them and he was able to recover the tools. Prior to police arriving, the suspects left the scene. The employee said that the tools were recovered from the suspects without incident.

* * *

A woman on Brainerd Road told police she was scammed on Cash app recently. She said she was supposed to get a refund from Cash app for fraudulent charges. She told police that she was instructed to buy gift cards and text the information to an individual before she could get her refund. She spent $2,000 in gift cards before realizing that they were taking her money. The woman said she did not have any suspect information other than the phone numbers she was texting.

* * *

Police were dispatched to National Tire and Battery at 5327 Hwy. 153 to check on an alarm. Officers found an open door, swept the area for any potential people inside the building, but did not locate anyone. Police closed and locked the door.

* * *



A woman who works for NOVA Medical at 5779 Brainerd Road told police someone used a rock to bust out the drivers-side rear window of the company's Ram Promaster. The suspects rummaged through the vehicle but did not take any items. The employee later called back and said upon closer inspection it was evident that the suspect cut the catalytic converter from the underside of the van. Wires were also damaged estimating a total repair cost of around $1,500.

* * *

A man on South Willow Street told police someone had taken items from his unlocked car over the weekend. He had video of the incident, but it was of such poor quality it was not helpful. A dark figure can be seen entering and exiting his vehicle just before 6 a.m. on Saturday.

* * *

A woman told police over the phone there was a charge on her bank account for $1,000. She said it was an online purchase for a watch and was shipped to Marlboro Avenue in Chattanooga. The woman said it was done through PayPal.

* * *

A woman on Hickory Valley Road told police people were hacking into her phone and taking control of the phone. While the officer was speaking to her, she said her Gmail was hacked and attempted to find it on her phone and was unable to find the Gmail icon after clicking on many things that the officer knew would not get her to Gmail. The officer then easily found Gmail on her phone. It appeared that the woman did not know how to operate her phone.
Well-known Chattanoogan Gene Hunt passed away Wednesday evening. Mr. Hunt was a long time member of St. Pauls Episcopal Church and active in Episcopal Church activities. He served as an administrative assistant to both Third District Congressmen Bill Brock and Lamar Baker and impacted so many lives.

Gene was a very successful insurance agent for years in the Hamilton County area. Mr. Hunt retired from the Naval Reserve and served on the Armed Forces Week Committee. He was an avid runner and you would see him a lot around town especially the Walnut Street Bridge. He was a faithful listener to the Hey Earl Show and enjoyed the Big Band Music. Mr. Hunt formed a support group for widows and widowers. He was very knowledgeable on military issues.

Some of his friends remember the well-known Chattanoogan.

Fellow church member Rick Govan has known Mr. Hunt for many years. He said, Mr. Hunt was a church member you could always depend on and helped a lot of people.

Jim Hall, former National Transportation Safety board chairman, called Mr. Hunt a great man.

Former News Free Press writer John Vass said Mr. Hunt was a great person and friend.

Former State Rep. Richard Floyd said, Gene Hunt was my good friend and a great American citizen."

Hamilton County Historian Linda Moss Mines wrote, Gene was a wonderful friend to Tony (her late husband) when Tony was a young boy. He was a dear man of kindness and integrity.

Former State Rep. Ken Meyer said, Very Sorry to hear, he was a good man.

Stephen Pike, Chattanooga Funeral Home vice president, Ive known the family since high school. Mr. Hunt loved our country and did the Navy proud, He will be missed.

Retired broadcaster Ben Cagle was a member of his support group, Gene was first class all the way, He will be missed, Prayers for his family.

Navy Commander and friend Alden Perry said, Captain Gene was a man for all seasons. He was a member of the Alexian Brothers live at home program and we celebrated Christmas together with a luncheon. He took care of widows with support groups. He was a mentor to me and we will surely miss his guidance, Rest in Peace Brother, we have the watch.

Richard Lee Cox, who served with Mr. Hunt on several professional boards, said, Gene Hunt was the calming voice at the table and will be missed.



This writer always enjoyed our conversations and will miss him very much. Gene Hunt was an outstanding American who loved his city.

He was 90. His arrangements are being handled by the Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Chapel and are incomplete at this time. He will be laid to rest at the Chattanooga VA National Cemetery with full military honors.

Earl Freudenberg

HeyEarl1971@epbfi.com
As HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology continues its rapid economic growth and advancements in genomics and life science research, the HudsonAlpha board of directors announced on Friday the expansion of its executive leadership team. Richard Myers, PhD, current president and science director, will serve as HudsonAlphas new chief scientific officer and president emeritus. Neil Lamb, PhD, current vice president for Educational Outreach, will serve as the new president of the Institute, effective July 1.

Momentum from growth and campus expansions have driven the need for an expanded executive team to intelligently manage the workload, maintain the vision, and prime the organization for continued success in the future. The Institute is a global leader in using advanced genomic technologies to solve challenges related to human health and modern agriculture, while simultaneously engaging and preparing tomorrows bioscience workforce. According to a recent study, HudsonAlpha has generated $3.2 billion economic impact for the state of Alabama between 2006 and 2020, with an increase of $750 million during 2019-2020. The campus is home to more than 1,100 employees and 48 associate life science companies.



Rick Myers and Neil Lamb have been critical to the success, innovation, and growth weve seen since Lonnie McMillian and I first launched HudsonAlpha, said Jim Hudson, HudsonAlpha co-founder and chairman of the board. With Neils vision and work ethic leading the organization along with the innovative research led by Rick, we are truly poised to amplify our work as HudsonAlphas reach and impact continue to grow.

Dr. Myers has been with HudsonAlpha since its doors opened in 2008, serving as president and science director, and as the M. A. Loya chair in Genomics since 2020. Dr. Myers came to HudsonAlpha from Stanfords Human Genome Center, where he led a team that was a major contributor to the Human Genome Projectthe international research effort that sequenced the entire human genome. Today at HudsonAlpha, researchers under Dr. Myers leadership apply genomic technology to uncover the causes of human diseases and accelerate discoveries in plants and agriculture. As chief scientific officer, Dr. Myers will devote his focus to scientific discovery, achievement, and momentum while providing strategic support and guidance to Dr. Lamb.

"At HudsonAlpha, our team is creating improvements for humankind every day through research-based discoveries, said Dr. Myers. As we take our organization to the next level, its critical that we have the tools, resources, and team to continue advancing our research and applying our discoveries in the real world. It is this growth that drives my passion, gives me daily purpose, and excites me for our future. I truly believe the best is yet to come for HudsonAlpha.

Dr. Lamb, a Chattanooga native, came to HudsonAlpha in 2006 with a calling to share his passion for human genetics and biotechnology with others through education. He has led HudsonAlphas educational outreach team from conception, creating innovative teacher training and toolkits, student experiences, public enrichment, and digital resources that have reshaped how science education is now delivered, said officials.

After graduating from Auburn, Dr. Lamb completed his PhD and postgraduate training at Emory University, where he served on the faculty in human genetics and was responsible for lab management, bioethics oversight and genetic education in the school of medicine until 2006. Lamb has served on the Auburn University Research Advisory Board since 2013.

"Rick Myers is not only a close friend and mentor, but the person who introduced me to Jim Hudson and co-founder Lonnie McMillian in the early days of HudsonAlpha," said Dr. Lamb. I would not be here if it weren't for Rick. He has positioned HudsonAlpha for continued growth and success, and I share his vision and excitement for the possibilities of the future. This expansion of our executive team will allow us to focus more resources on our mission and expand our local, regional, and global impact for years to come.

HudsonAlpha and resident associate companies co-located on the biotech campus in Cummings Research Park have continued to expand their footprint in multiple sectors across the biosciences including research, testing and medical labs, pharmaceuticals, agriculture feedstock and chemicals, technology development and medical devices and equipment. The HudsonAlpha campus continues to expand, with new construction underway on a 13,000 square foot agricultural space and a 96,000 square foot global headquarters for resident associate company Discovery Life Sciences.

With this executive expansion, HudsonAlpha will be seeking a new vice president for Educational Outreach. Find more information in the coming days at www.hudsonalpha.org.


When Dolly Parton sat down with Johnny Carson for a Tonight Show interview in 1992, theyd both experienced the highest heights of fame. As such, Carson wanted to know if Parton liked to do certain things for herself, or if she preferred to have people do most everyday things for her.

The country queen confessed it depended on what it was she needed to do, but there was one errand she liked to complete herself  grocery shopping. And shed wait until after shed finished watching Carson on The Tonight Show to leave the house.

So, does Dolly Parton still like to go grocery shopping after decades as a superstar? And what else has she been spotted shopping for back home in Tennessee?

(l-r) Dolly Parton and Johnny Carson | Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean went to the grocery store after The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

When Parton stopped by for her last chat with Carson on The Tonight Show in 1992, he was curious if she had people employed to do things for her by then. Well, I have people to do some of it, she shared. Somewhat surprisingly, she said she didnt like to shop for clothes.

But more specifically, Carson wondered if she shopped for her own groceries. She said she loved to cook and grocery shop, even though it was hard to do on a regular basis. I usually go late at night, she explained. She also noted how some supermarkets were open 24 hours by then and shed go out around midnight.

She said she and husband, Carl Dean, stayed up late when she was home. So, we watch you then we go to the store, she told Carson.

Dolly Parton still does her grocery shopping sometimes

Even after decades of fame, Parton revealed to the Knoxville News Sentinel in 2019 she still does her own grocery shopping sometimes. She confessed she has wonderful people who pick up anything she asks, but at times a chef needs to shop.

You know, if youre a cook,  sometimes aint nobody going to get the stuff you really want to put in certain things that you make, she said. So, she said she and Dean still go to the grocery store, though it only happens if she has the time. Also, she still only goes late at night.

The beloved songwriter told Knoxville News Sentinel she loves people and doesnt mind seeing fans as long as they dont get in the way of her shopping. And as for store preference, she mentioned she likes Publix and Walmart.

Dolly Parton also likes to shop for her own antiques

In July 2021, some antiques stores in Tennessee got a surprise when Parton showed up looking to shop with them (per WVLT 8). According to the owner of the store, called Three French Hens Antiques Boutique, she was on a quest to find them. She even went to a neighboring place and asked for directions.

Stacey Harris-Fish said the visit came as a needed surprise in a stressful time for the shop owner. Dolly doesnt understand what she gave to this shop owner that is kind of going through a stressful time right now, said Harris-Fish. To come into the store right now it has kind of given us a renewed motivation.

So, it seems like Parton still loves to shop when she gets the chance. And shes even renewing motivations while shes at it.

RELATED: Dolly Partons The Bargain Store Was Inspired by This Musician Who Made the Singer Feel Black and Blue
Reacher became one of Prime Videos most-watched series within days of its release. And a lot of that fanfare is connected to the shows compelling characters. Knowing the series is based on different Jack Reacher books, some may be wondering which, if any, characters will return for Reacher Season 2.

Reacher Season 1 is based on the book, Killing Floor

Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, and Willa Fitzgerald in Reacher Season 1 | Amazon Studios

Prime Videos Reacher is an adaptation of Lee Childs first Jack Reacher novel, Killing Floor. Like the book, the show introduces the titular hero (Alan Ritchson), a former Army major, arrested for murder within hours of arriving in a small Georgia town called Margrave.

When Reacher learns that the murder victim is his brother, he begins investigating the case, alongside Margraves Chief Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) and Officer Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald). And as they uncover the towns corruption, Reacher befriends Finlay and falls for Roscoe.

In the finale, Reacher tells his new friends hes leaving town. But he suggests hell keep in touch.

Fans may not get the same characters in Reacher Season 2

Reacher star Alan Ritchson revealed that showrunners plan to follow another Jack Reacher book next season. And because the characters from Killing Floor dont appear in Childs subsequent novels, they may not be featured in Reacher Season 2.

A real friendship summed up in one scene. pic.twitter.com/WfWF69YPvw  Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) February 9, 2022

This would be most likely a bit of anthology, Ritchson said via Collider. The first season is the first book. That may be the blueprint going forward.

The actor revealed that he fell in love with all the cast members he worked with on the first season and would love to see them return. But the only way he sees that happening is if writers stray from the source material.

Its rather tragic that theres a chance that I may not see some of them again, suggested Ritchson. They set the bar so high that wed be remiss not to see them show again. So, I hope we do. I dont know how thatll play out, but that would be one area that we deviate from the books a little bit, I think, to the benefit of audiences, if you see them pop up more.

Reacher Season 2 could follow the second Jack Reacher book

Prime Video announced a renewal for Reacher days into its release. And while showrunners have yet to reveal what the new installment entails, Ritchson revealed that they will continue to cover new Jack Reacher books each season.

ITS OFFICIAL. #ReacherOnPrime will be back for Season 2. pic.twitter.com/AZqL16yipa  Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) February 8, 2022

I dont know how much I can say, the actor told Collider. Ill say that were going to be doing a book a season. I think thats such a great way to do this.

Considering the first season covered the first book, theres a good chance Reacher Season 2 follows Childs second book, Die Trying. In the novel, the no-nonsense hero winds up in Chicago, where he meets a woman and crutches, just before the two are kidnapped and shipped cross country.

Nothing is for sure yet. But fans will likely get more updates on casting and plot as the new season starts production.

RELATED: Reacher Alan Ritchson Says Im the Small One When Compared to Tom Cruise
Almost two decades after his death, influential Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jays case is close to a resolution. In November 2021, authorities arrested two men and charged them with the DJs death. Now, Jam Master Jays alleged killers have a trial date.

Run-D.M.C. | Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Jam Master Jays suspected killers to stand trial this September

Nearly 20 years after Jam Master Jay was slain, his alleged killers will face trial. The two men could potentially spend a minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum life sentence.

Ronald Washington, 56, and Karl Jordan, Jr., 36, are the two men investigators say are responsible for the beloved Run DMC DJs death. A two-week trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 26. Jury selection is expected to take place on Sept. 22, per AllHipHop. In the event of any coronavirus (COVID-19)-related issues, the trial will be pushed back to February 2023.

Source: YouTube

RELATED: Watch: Dirk, Mavericks Channel Run DMC in New Rap Video

The defendants allegedly carried out the cold-blooded murder of Jason Mizell [Jam Master Jay], a brazen act that has finally caught up with them thanks to the dedicated detectives, agents, and prosecutors who never gave up on this case, an acting U.S. Attorney said in a news release, as reported by MadameNoire.

The shocking killing is suspected to be due to a drug deal gone south. The hip-hop icon reportedly purchased a large amount of cocaine to be sold in Maryland by Washington and Jordan, Jr., as well as others drug dealers. After Jay told Jordan Jr. that Washington would no longer be part of the deal, things took a turn. Washington reportedly had bad blood with dealers in Maryland, which is why Jay is said to have given him the ax. As a result, the two men planned the killing.

Jay was reportedly ambushed in his Hollis Queens recording studio on Oct. 30, 2002. Jordan, Jr. is accused of shooting Jam Master Jay in the head and shooting another person in the studio named Uriel Tony Rincon in the leg.

The murder was solved with the help of a television special

Several theories were floating around about Jays killing, but most of his associates were so stunned and could not come up with a reason as to why anyone would want to harm Jay. Eventually, investigators uncovered that he allegedly owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the IRS and turned to drug dealing to assist in his money troubles.

Per the investigation, Jay began drug trafficking around 1997. A 2020 ABC documentary, Set the Record Straight: The Jam Master Jay Case, spoke of his death and the investigation in great detail. The two men, as well as witnesses, were also named in the television special.

Source: YouTube

Washington and Jordan Jr. have pleaded not guilty. Jays family members say both men were close friends of Jays. The Run-DMC member reportedly saved Washington from street life and was helping him get on his feet. Jordan is said to have been like a son to Jay and was barely out of his teenage years at the time of Jays death.

The prosecution in the Jam Master Jay trial initially sought the death penalty against the two men. Since then, that decision has changed.

RELATED: How 1 of The Monkees Reacted to Run-DMCs Cover of Mary, Mary
New Oklahoma COVID-19 cases are down sharply in recent weeks
A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman of the 92nd mechanized brigade takes part in live-fire exercises near the town of Chuguev, Kharkiv region, Feb. 10. AFP-Yonhap





Russia rolled its tanks across Belarus, Thursday, for live-fire drills that drew an ominous warning from NATO and added urgency to Western efforts to avert a feared invasion of Ukraine.







NATO said Russia's deployment of missiles, heavy armor and machine-gun toting soldiers marked a "dangerous moment" for Europe some three decades after the Soviet Union's collapse.







German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russia against testing Western allies by mounting any further escalation.







"In this critical situation for all of us, Russia should not underestimate our unity and determination as a partner in the EU and as an ally in NATO," Scholz warned.







"We take the concerns of our allies very seriously," he added alongside Baltics leaders who were in Berlin for talks.







Russia's war games  set to run until February 20  followed a gradual Russian military buildup around Ukraine that some U.S. estimates say has reached 130,000 soldiers grouped in dozens of combat brigades.







Western leaders have been shuttling to Moscow in an effort to keep the lines of communication open, giving Russia a chance to air its grievances about NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet states.







British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss took a tough message to Moscow, Thursday, accusing Russia of adopting a "threatening posture" and urging the Kremlin to withdraw its forces to prove it had no plans to mount an attack.







Kyiv denounced the war games as "psychological pressure" while French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the exercises "a very violent gesture."







In a bid to "reduce chances of miscalculation" during the drills, U.S. and Belarusian defense chiefs held rare telephone talks, the Pentagon said Thursday.







Russia has also sent six warships through the Bosphorus for naval drills in the Black Sea and the neighboring Sea of Azov.







Kyiv condemned their presence as an "unprecedented" attempt to cut off Ukraine from both seas.







Moscow and Minsk have not disclosed how many troops are participating, but the United States has said around 30,000 soldiers were being dispatched to Belarus from locations including Russia's Far East.







Combat crews of an S-400 air defense system drive to take up combat positions at a training ground in the Brest region during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus, in this screen capture from a video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap





Russia's defense ministry said the exercises would center around "suppressing and repelling external aggression."







The Kremlin has insisted that the troops will go home after the exercises.







But Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said "the accumulation of forces at the border is psychological pressure from our neighbors."







Kyiv has launched its own military drills expected to mirror Russia's games, but officials have said little about them out of apparent fear of escalating tensions.







"All the (Russian) talk about some mythical threat from NATO or Ukraine is nonsense," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.







Russia wants to secure written guarantees that NATO will withdraw its presence from Eastern Europe and never expand into Ukraine.







The United States and NATO have officially rejected Russia's demands.







But Washington has floated the idea of the sides striking a new disarmament agreement for Europe  an offer viewed as useful but dramatically insufficient by Moscow.







Truss was the latest Western diplomat to travel to Moscow, where she reported receiving promises from her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the Kremlin had no plans to invade Ukraine.







"We need to see those words followed up by actions," she told reporters after the talks.







But Lavrov said he was "disappointed" by the talks, saying the military drills and the movement of troops across Russia's own territory had spurred "incomprehensible alarm and quite strong emotions from our British counterparts and other Western representatives."







German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint news conference, ahead of a Weimar Triangle meeting to discuss the ongoing Ukraine crisis, in Berlin, Feb. 8. Reuters-Yonhap









Truss's trip came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a round of shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv, and then briefed Scholz about his progress in Berlin.







The German chancellor will travel to Kyiv and Moscow next week for separate meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders  including his first in-person meeting with Putin.







His position on the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany will be under particularly close scrutiny.







In Washington this week, Scholz had been largely evasive about U.S. President Joe Biden's pledge to "bring an end" to the energy link should Russia invade Ukraine.







The chancellor later said it was a conscious decision "not to publish the entire catalogue (of sanctions) ... because we can gain a little bit of power" by remaining vague.







The flurry of diplomatic activity included a meeting between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.







"The number of Russian forces is going up. The warning time for a possible attack is going down," Stoltenberg said at a news conference with Johnson.







"Renewed Russian aggression will lead to more NATO presence, not less," he added.







Following Stoltenberg's remarks, NATO member Denmark said it was ready to allow U.S. military troops on its soil as part of a new bilateral defense agreement.







But Johnson stressed after a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda  one of Ukraine's strongest allies in Europe  that Western states must "tirelessly pursue the path of diplomacy." (AFP)


Cherokee Nation citizen Jeffrey Trussler assumed the duties of U.S. Navy director of naval intelligence, as well as deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare, in June 2020.
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John Perkins stood up at a planning meeting for a Billy Graham crusade in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1975.

The Black pastor and civil rights activist was invited to the meeting, along with a group of African American clergy from the area, because Graham himself had insisted the evangelistic event would be desegregated. Black and white Mississippians would hear the gospel together. Perkins loved Graham and his powerful gospel message, and he was excited to hear that the worlds leading evangelist was taking practical steps to end segregation in the church.

So he went to the Holiday Inn in Jackson and sat down on the Black side of the conference room, with all the Black pastors, and looked over at the white side, with all the white pastors.

Then he stood up.

He asked the white pastors whether their churches were committed to accepting new converts from the crusade into their congregations if the born-again brothers and sisters were Black.

He didnt think they were ready for that in Mississippi. And if they werent ready, he didnt know whether he was either.

I dont know whether or not I want to participate, Perkins said, in making the same kind of white Christians that weve had in the past.

He was thinking of all the white Christians who had closed the doors of their churches to Black people. And the white Christians who had supported the Mississippi Plan to stop Black people from voting so they could, as one state legislator described it at the time, establish white supremacy in the State, within the limits imposed by the Federal Constitution.

He was thinking of the white Christians whose only response to racist violence perpetrated on Black bodies was to say, Wait. And the white Christians who not only had not been moved by the injustice of Jim Crow to join the civil rights protests but also had seen Black churches in their own towns obliteratedburned and bombedand never said a thing.

And he may also have been thinking of Jonathan Edwards.

Image: Illustration by Mallory Rentsch / Source Images Courtesy of JVMPF

Shaking Christians and convicting sinners

Edwards, of course, was a Puritan theologian and pastor in New England who had died more than 200 years before. He had a marked influence on American revivalists, from Charles Finney to Billy Graham. And he deeply shaped a number of notable 20th-century preachers, including John MacArthur and John Piper, who once said that Edwardss writings were, for him, more Christ-exalting, more God-revering, more Bible-illuminating, more righteousness-beckoning, more prayer-sweetening, more missions-advancing, and more love-deepening than any other author outside the Bible.

For most of American history, Edwards was known specifically for his role in the Great Awakening. He preached an incredible sermon about hell and spiders that spurred on the fire of revival.

The sermon was so iconic, so central to what revivalistic-minded Christians in America meant when they said revival, that Billy Graham once preached the same sermon. In Los Angeles in 1949, Graham told his audience he was going to do something a little different and instead of preaching his own words, he was going to preach Jonathan Edwardss.

Its not too long, he said. Im going to read it, and extemporize part of it, but I want you to feel the grip, I want you to feel the language. Im asking tonight the same blessed Holy Ghost that moved in that day to move again tonight in 1949 and shake us out of our lethargy as Christians and convict sinners that we might come to repentance.

Perkins probably didnt know that, though he was in LA at the time. He had fled to California from Mississippi two years before, after a white sheriffs deputy killed his brother. But Perkins had not yet accepted the gospel and come to Jesus.

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It wasnt until 1957 that Perkins went to a Sunday school class with his son and heard and accepted the truth that he was loved by God. Then he went and studied how to be a preacher with John MacArthurs father, Jack, and returned to Mississippi to start a ministry with the same name as Jack MacArthurs radio program: Voice of Calvary Ministries.

So Perkins probably didnt know that Graham had once preached Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

He probably also didnt know that Edwards defended slavery and himself purchased two Black children in his lifea 14-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. Edwardss argument for owning humans with a different skin color wasnt published.

Buying humans

Edwardss biographers briefly mentioned slaves and slavery but didnt go into the details about how the minister had, at 27, personally driven more than 130 miles to pay 80 pounds for a 14-year-old girl who was named Venus by the men who stole her from Africa. When he returned home, the girls body, her work, and all her future children and their bodies and their work belonged to him by law. He had the receipt in his pocket that said she was his to Use and behoofmake use offor Ever.

Nor did the biographers mention how, at 52, Edwards bought another human, a toddler named Titus. He paid 30 pounds for the three-year-old. When the boy was five, Edwards included him in his will, in a list of animals that he owned.

But if Perkins didnt know about the famed preachers personal relationship to slavery or private defense of the practice, he did know that nothing in Edwardss great sermon about sin had convinced anyone in Mississippi that slavery, race-based segregation, or white supremacy was wrong.

He knew the white Christians could embrace revivalist Christianity, from Edwards to Graham, without ever questioning the injustice that was visited on the Black people around them.

He knew that some white Christians in Mississippi even named their children Jonathan Edwards. And some of those children grew up to be violent racists.

Perkins knew one of them himself. So when he stood up in the evangelistic planning meeting and said I dont know whether or not I want to participate in making the same kind of white Christians that weve had in the past, he may well have been thinking of that Jonathan Edwards.

Image: Illustration by Mallory Rentsch / Source Images Courtesy of JVMPF

The other Jonathan Edwards

That other EdwardsJonathan R. Edwardswas elected sheriff of Rankin County in 1962. One of the things he mentioned to voters in his campaign, besides his six years as a deputy and his deep roots in the community, was that he was a lifelong Baptist.

The month after he took office, Edwards was called to the Rankin County courthouse because three Black men were attempting to register to vote. At the time, there were 6,944 African Americans in Rankin County, but only 43 of them could vote. If these men registered, that would make it 46.

But Edwards and his deputies made sure that didnt happen. The sheriff walked up to one of the men and hit him.

I hit him and kept on hitting him, Edwards later testified in court. And if he hadnt run I would have kept on hitting him.

The Black man, who may have been trained by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, did not meet the sheriffs violence with violence. That didnt stop Edwards from hitting him more.

I slapped him down the first time, Edwards said. I knocked him down and he fell here and I got in on him, and I dont know how many times I hit him, just as many as I could.

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The judge in the case ruled that Edwards hadnt violated the mans civil rights. He said the sheriff wasnt attempting to keep anyone from voting and it was purely incidental that the beating happened in the registrars office.

Besides, the judge concluded, this was a past event and there was no reasonable justification to believe that such an incident would ever occur again.

It did happen again. That time, the sheriff with the name of the great American preacher assaulted John Perkins.

In 1970, Perkins led more than 100 demonstrators in a march protesting segregated businesses in Mississippi. They chanted, Do right, white man, do right. On their way home from the march, 20 college students were arrested and taken to the Rankin County jail. Fearing the students might be lynched, Perkins and two other boycott leaders rushed to bail them out.

They found the sheriffs deputies drinking corn whiskey. The deputies had forcibly shaved the heads of two protestors and were pouring the liquor over their raw scalps.

When Edwards saw Perkins coming into the jail, he recognized him as the leader. He said, This is the smart n. Then he started beating him.

He hit Perkins, possibly with a blackjack, a weapon made out of wood and lead wrapped in leather. Perkins went down and Edwards kicked him, brutally and repeatedly, stopping only to retuck in his shirt.

When the beating was finished, the sheriff made the minister get up and mop his own blood off the floor.

Edwards later testified that Perkins had thrown an unprovoked punch at him but missed. No one else saw it. Perkins also had a pistol in his car, though he hadnt brought it in with him and the sheriff didnt know about it until after the arrest when he went and searched the car.

Edwards told the court, nevertheless, that the violence was justified.

Sure they were roughed up, he said, but they asked for it.

What the gospel can do

Perkins almost died from his injuries. In the hospital, he thought a lot about the racism that had put him there. He thought about white peoplewhite Christianswho would name their son Jonathan Edwards and have him grow up to be a racist sheriff.

I came to the conclusion, the hard conclusion, Perkins later said, that Mississippi white folks were cruel. And they were unjust. And the system was totally bankrupt.  I stayed with the idea that it had to be overthrown.

As a Christian, Perkins believed the gospel could overthrow that system. God could reconcile sinners to himself and each other. Jesus could take hate from human hearts and replace it with love. The Holy Spirit could move people to give up power instead of defending it with violence.

Perkins would preach and protest and risk injury again because he believed in the power of the gospel.

It couldnt be a gospel, though, that produced more Jonathan Edwardses.

Which is why he stood up in 1975 and asked the people planning a Billy Graham crusade a question that still resonates in America today: Will the gospel you are preaching produce a different kind of white Christian than it has in the past?

[ This article is also available in espanol. ]
One day I was sitting in the lunchroom where I worked, thoroughly engaged in reading a novel by Kurt Vonnegut. His books have always made me laugh even as they challenged my thinking, and it must have been the snort of mirth I released that made Carl determine that this would be a good time to interrupt me.

Whatcha reading? he asked, gently closing the Bible that sat on the table in front of him as a sign he wanted to chat. Honestly, I didnt want to talk right then, as I was kind of lost in my book, but I knew the polite response would be to answer him. So, I did.

Its a really great novel by Kurt Vonnegut, I answered, holding it up so he could see the cover.

Hmmm, was his only response, and I detected a disapproving tone in it.

Yeah, Vonnegut is so creative and such a great cultural critic, I offered.

Oh.

Have you read any of his books? I asked, thinking it likely that he had at least been assigned Cats Cradle or Slaughterhouse-Five at some point.

Nope. I dont really have time for reading fiction, he explained. I mostly just want to read books that will help me in my life or help me grow closer to God. Life is too short to read about things that never really happened. I figure that if I mostly just read the Bible, I am going to learn everything I need to know. He knew that I was a Christian, so I imagine he thought I would find this convicting somehow.

As we chatted further, I learned that he also didnt go see movies unless they had a strong Christian message (or at least no swearing or dirty bits), that he rarely listened to anything other than worship music, and that, outside the Bible, ...

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Abune Antonios, a confined Eritrean Orthodox Church patriarch and the longest-serving prisoner of conscience in the Horn of Africa, died on February 9 at the age of 94.

He was still serving detention in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, after his arrest in 2006 just two years after his installation as the third patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. For 16 years, he was kept in solitary confinement under the orders of the countrys authoritarian leader, President Isaias Afwerki, for his resistance to government interference in the ancient church.

Eritrea has long been on the US State Departments list of worst religious freedom violators, and ranks No. 6 on Open Doors 2022 list of where Christian persecution is worst.

Rashad Hussain, the newly confirmed US religious freedom ambassador, said in a tweet yesterday that he was saddened by the news and that Patriarch Abune Antonios was a true leader.

It is very unfortunate that the patriarch died while in detention. There was no reason for the government of Eritrea to put him in detention, Francis Kuria, the secretary general of the African Council of Religious Leaders, told RNS. The Orthodox Church in Eritrea and elsewhere is always very supportive of the peoples development.

Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London announced the loss on social media, saying the patriarch had passed away after a long battle with illness, and an even more painful battle with injustice.

Image: mtcurado / iStock / Getty Images

Antonios was buried yesterday in Asmara at a monastery to which he belonged. A large crowd gathered at the burial site, many of whom had traveled long distances on foot, according to reports.

We pray repose for His Holiness, and comfort and support for our #EritreanOrthodox sisters and brothers in Eritrea, Britain and around the world, said Angaelos in a February 9 tweet.

The patriarchs death in detention is likely to widen the split in the Eritrean Orthodox Church, triggered by Antonios removal and mistreatment.

In 2007, with the support of the Eritrean government, Antonios was replaced as patriarch by Abune Dioskoros. However, many adherents and clergy both in Eritrea and in the diaspora continued to follow Antonios during his detention.

One of the patriarchs consistent advocates, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), explains:

Very early in his reign as Patriarch, Abune Antonios confronted state interference within his church. He resisted government requests that he excommunicate 3,000 members and protested the arrest of priests. On January 20, 2006, authorities notified Patriarch Antonios he would be removed as Patriarch and placed him under house arrest. One year later, on January 20, 2007, authorities confiscated Patriarch Antonios' personal pontifical insignia. On May 27, 2007, the Eritrean government replaced Patriarch Antonios with Bishop Dioscoros of Mendefera, forcefully removed the Patriarch from his home, and detained him at an undisclosed location. Patriarch Antonios continues to be held incommunicado and is reportedly being denied medical care despite suffering from severe diabetes. On July 16, 2017, authorities allowed Antonios to make a public appearance for the first time in over a decade. While under heavy security, Antonios attended mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Asmara, but was prevented from giving a sermon or subsequently speaking with congregants. Three days later, on July 19, the government moved Antonios to a new location, reportedly to provide better living conditions.

In 2019, bishops of the Holy Synod of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church excommunicated Antonios, accusing him of heresy. The move was condemned by the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Antonios death brought back into focus the continued persecution and lack of religious freedom in Eritrea.

Eritreas authoritarian regime, one of the most repressive in the world, often arbitrarily arrests, detains, and imprisons its people because of their faith, according to human rights and anti-persecution groups.

The US State Department estimates there are thousands of prisoners held for their faith. USCIRF includes more than 45 cases on its Victims List; Abune Antonios was listed as Prisoner #260.

At the moment, only the Roman Catholic Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Sunni Islam, and the Lutheran Church-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea are the legally permitted religious groups.

Some religious leaders from the Orthodox, Full Gospel, and Jehovahs Witness faiths have remained in imprisonment for more than 15 years, according to human rights organizations. World Watch Monitor chronicles many incidents.

We appeal to the government of Eritrea to create a conducive environment where freedom of religion and belief is fully exercised. There should be no reason to jail religious (people for their faith), said Kuria. The government should support religious leaders as partners. The action to constrain religion and religious leaders is counter productive.

According to Kuria, the problem in Eritrea is that the government clamps down on any alternative voiceseven the very mild and conservativein a desire to be the only source of authority.

Antonios was arrested after he became critical of government excesses and resisted continued interference in Orthodox Church affairs by officials.

While in detention, Antonios had been denied the right to attend church services and was not allowed any visitors, including his followers, clergy, or relatives. He was not given a chance to challenge his detention in a court of law.

Despite 16 years of unremitting pressure, mistreatment, and defamation, the patriarch never compromised, even when it would have led to his reinstatement, said Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide), in a February 10 statement. He chose instead to protect the integrity and doctrine of the church with which he had been entrusted at the cost of freedom and comfort in his twilight years.

Thomas urged the international community to honor the patriarchs courageous stand for freedom of religion by galvanizing efforts to secure the release of three Orthodox priests for whom Antonios advocated as well as thousands of others detained on account of conscience, religion, and belief.

Additional reporting by CT
Bethel's Beni Johnson having trouble breathing amid cancer battle; church launches 24/7 prayer campaign

Bethel Church in Redding, California, has launched a 24/7 prayer campaign for co-pastor Beni Johnson and her ongoing battle with cancer, specifically encouraging prayer for breathing and sleep.

As many of you already know, Beni Johnson has been on a health journey of overcoming cancer, The megachurch wrote on its Instagram page Wednesday.

Weve been praying consistently, and she has experienced a measure of breakthrough. Now we feel led by the Lord to invite you, the local and global church, to join us in contending for her full physical healing, the post stated.

The charismatic ministry, known for its spirit-filled music and their bold prayers of faith, asked supporters to join them to pray for their leaders around the clock.

Stand with us as we intentionally press in for victory for Beni, and sign up for a 15-minute prayer slot, the plea continued. Lets see prayer happen around the world24 hours a dayduring these coming weeks.

During last Sundays service, Lead Pastor Dann Farrelly and other leaders led the church in 10 minutes of prayer for Johnson. Farrelly prayed for breath that is without problem and sleep that is deep and beautiful.

This is a serious situation. Benis health is a serious situation, Farrelly said, adding that he received a text from Johnson's husband, Bill Johnson, the night earlier saying, Last night was a tough night. She didnt sleep too well. She is not breathing too well.

Listen, beloved, this is unjust that our matriarch, that Beni is being robbed of her sleep and having difficulty breathing, Farrelly added. This is not as it should be.

We ask for those two breakthroughs to happen today, he continued. We know she has been in a bit of a holding pattern. But we say no more to holding patterns.

The churchs website allows users to pick a timeslot to pray for Johnson over the next three weeks.

The Christian Post reached out to Bethel Church for further information on Johnsons status. An immediate response was not received.

Johnson first revealed that she was being treated for cancer in 2018. At the time, she said the diagnosis shocked her.

When this all began in March and I walked out of the doctors office shocked. I asked Jesus, what do I do now? I heard Jesus tell me, just love me. I said, I can do this. There has been so much peace and at times those decisions that have to be made the peace has helped me navigate through, Johnson revealed in a series of Facebook posts at the time.

Since her announcement, the church leader has held to the faith that she would be healed of cancer after having several tumors removed from one of her breasts. During that season of surgeries, it was discovered that Johnson had a mutation on her BR2 gene, which puts her at a high risk of developing breast, ovarian and other cancers.

She had received holistic treatments in Spain because many of the treatments are not allowed in the US.

The recent prayer request broke down several prayer points for those looking to support Johnson during this cancer battle. A slideshow of photos asked supporters to pray for complete total victory over cancer, that Johnson would be able to sleep daily, that she would have consistency and strength in her breathing.

The request also asked people to pray for her doctors and medical teams to have wisdom and that her DNA would align with Gods order for every cell of cancer to be eradicated from her body. Another prayer point was for grace and courage to be with the Johnson family, among other things.

Bethel reportedly has 11,000 members, including students at its School for Supernatural Ministry.

The school is said to be led by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and has also been the source of much criticism. The church is sought after for its healing rooms, which have also attracted controversy.

Testimonies of people being healed from cancer can be found on the church website. In April 2017, Johnson revealed that her encounter with Jesus in the spirit gave her access to healing power over cancer. She encouraged the crowd to grab the healing power for cancer out of Heaven.

If youre in this room and you have cancer, we declare to you, No more. Were grabbing out of Heaven the healing power, she said. Dont pray; declare. This is a time, this is an open Heaven right here and were calling down the healing power of Jesus over cancer.

Bethel made headlines in 2019 for doing something similar. Bethel Senior Pastor Bill Johnson, Beni Johnsons husband, asked the congregation to pray for the resurrection of one of their worship leaders 2-year-old daughter.

He said at the time that he and his church family believed God called them to follow the precedent that Jesus set forth by commanding His followers to raise the dead. The young girl was not resurrected, but many people were encouraged by the ministrys position to believe in God for the miraculous.
'Unsurvivable': Mother says faith kept her going after husband, son die in horrific accident

Sonya Hunter remembers the day  May 19, 2006. She had only one week left of work before she planned to leave her job to become a stay-at-home mother for her two boys.

She recalls going to work that day, as usual, but began to have a weird gut feeling that something wasnt right.

Hunter had been waiting at her job, Red River Rehab in Madill, Oklahoma, for her husband Kris  who was driving with their children to pick her up from work and take them to lunch.

The commute should have been 20 minutes. But Hunter grew worried after 30 minutes went by and her husband had not yet arrived. After she gave him a call and he didnt pick up, she became even more worried.

Eventually, two policemen arrived and told her that her husband and kids were involved in a car accident. She was told that her husband and one of her sons had been killed. The other son was rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to a Dallas hospital as he clung to life in what turned out to be a monthslong ordeal.

During the latest episode of the Cancel This Podcast, Hunter shares her story, which is also featured in her book Unsurvivable: Even in the darkest storm, always find your rainbow! She opens up about how she relied on her relationship with Jesus Christ to help her cope with the insurmountable pain surrounding her grief.

Thats the worst feeling you could ever imagine. ... We had our whole life ahead of us, she said. You almost think youre invincible to a point. ... You just dont think things happen to you like that. ... It was beyond devastating.

Immediately after hearing the news of the death of her son and husband and life-threatening injuries to her other son, Hunter said her immediate reaction was to crumble to the ground in pain. She later found out that her 6-year-old son, Adam, had passed away while her 19-month-old son, Connor, was battling spinal injuries.

It was almost like a paralyzing feeling to me. At that moment, I was wishing it would have been me in the accident.  Its just a pain that you cant explain to somebody, Hunter said to the podcasts host, Jason Sautel.

Its bad enough to lose your spouse, whos your rock and the love of your life, but then  knowing that you lost a child and not sure if your other child is even going to make it, is just a [tough] feeling.

Hunter said if it wasnt for the Lord, she doesnt know how she would have continued forward in her life.

I really dont know how people can go through such a tragedy without God in their life, Hunter said.

When Hunter first arrived at the hospital, she was told doctors didnt expect Connor to survive through the night.

I had told all my friends and family that we need the whole world praying for Connor. We need a miracle, she said. Ill never truly know on this side of Heaven how many people were honestly praying for him to survive. Clearly, he did survive.

Hunter said one of her mottos is faith over fear.

When that fear starts creeping in, you got to dig deep and respond to your faith because God is the only One who can truly help you through a time like that, she said.

At the local hospital, Hunters father broke the news to her about which of her sons had died.

It was horrible. The worst thing ever.  It almost seemed like a dream, like this couldnt be real, she described. Ill never forget walking up to my dad and asking him, which one of my babies is alive? she continued.

And when he told me it was Connor, I just saw the reality hit me because at that moment I knew Adam, my 6-year-old, my fun-loving, spiderman-loving little boy was no longer here. ... I wasnt sure how I was going to navigate this.

When Hunter entered the hospital room where Conner was, she remembers seeing the toddler laying down completely lifeless as he was given oxygen.

She said a motivation for writing the book is that Connor was in an unsurvivable wreck, and she feels her emotional pain and agony should have been unsurvivable.

What I went through was unsurvivable, she said. Without God in my life and having Christian parents that raised us up knowing and loving God and they were right by my side through it all.

My mom used to whisper prayers in my ear at the hospital every time we were getting hit with something, she added. She was making sure she was right there pushing God back into me so that I didnt give up.

Hunter said having Christian friends to be active listeners by her side during times of sorrow and grief was a huge help.

I have a great group of friends, Hunter said. They would pray over me. It was never, Oh, I know how youre feeling, or OK, its going to get better. Because at that moment, I didnt want to hear those things.

You just want someone to kind of love on you and just listen, she added.

Connor remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit for 31 days and remained in the hospital for three months. The crash caused Connor to suffer an injury where his head connects to his spine. Today, Connor is 17 but is disabled from his injuries.

I lost my whole family that day because Connors not the same Connor he was, but God has blessed me tremendously through Connor, though, Hunter explained.

I would love for Connor to be up running around, and I know God could even reach down right now and completely 100% heal him, but  its hard to explain the connection that I have with Connor, that God has given me through his disability. ... Its just unbelievable.
School district apologizes for assignment asking students to list preferred sexual activities

The leadership of a Connecticut school district has issued an apology after parents expressed outrage over an assignment that asked students about their likes and dislikes when it comes to sexual activity.

Christopher Drezek, the superintendent of Enfield Public Schools in Enfield, Connecticut, apologized to parents at a school board meeting Tuesday night after eighth-grade students were asked to complete an activity called Pizza & Consent. The first page of the assignment, obtained by the advocacy group Parents Defending Education, explains the concept of consent, noting that We can use pizza as a metaphor for sex!

According to the document, When you order pizza with your friends, everyone checks in about each others preferences, right? Some people might be vegan, some might be gluten-free. Others might love pineapple, while others prefer pepperoni. Some might not like pizza at all. If youre a vegetarian, but your friend is a meat-lover, sharing a pizza is going to bring up a lot of issues. You dont know who you can share a pizza with unless you ask!

The same goes with sex! the worksheet adds. You have to check in with your partner(s) and ask for their preferences. Your partner(s) might be comfortable with one sexual activity, but not another. Maybe your partner(s) only want to be touched a certain way, or maybe your partner(s) prefer to use certain language. Or maybe they dont like or want sex at all. Youll never know if your wants, desires, and boundaries are compatible with theirs unless you ask.

The first page of the worksheet concludes by calling on students to start a conversation, contending that Its the only way sex (and pizza) can be comfortable and enjoyable for everyone. The second page of the worksheet caused particular concern for instructing students to explore their sexual preferences.

Draw and color your favorite type of pizza. Whats your favorite style of pizza? Your favorite toppings? What are your pizza no-nos? Now mirror these preferences in relation to sex!

In an example provided, a preference for cheese was used as a metaphor for kissing, while a dislike of olives was used as a metaphor for an aversion to oral sex. The worksheet included a blank circle where students were asked to color a pizza based on their favorite types of pizza and their preferred sexual activities. Twenty-two lines were drawn on the worksheet where students were to list their likes and dislikes.

At the Feb. 8 school board meeting, Drezek described the Pizza & Consent assignment as a mistake and inappropriate. He added: I know there are some who may not believe that, I know there are some who dont necessarily maybe want that answer.

Normally, I would take responsibility and I still do when  one of our staff members [makes] an inadvertent mistake, Drezek asserted. In this particular case, I didnt even get a chance to because the person who made the mistake jumped ahead of it before I was even notified that it had happened.

After reiterating that this was simply an error and defending the staff member responsible for the mistake, Drezek assured parents that there was no hidden agenda, there was no secret cabal to indoctrinate kids on something.

Drezeks remarks come after parents addressed their concerns about the assignment at a Jan. 27 school board meeting.

Since when  has it become acceptable for a teacher to ask a student what their sexual wants, desires and boundaries are? asked one parent, identified as Amanda. She took issue with the districts previous explanation that the incorrect version of this assignment was posted in the curriculum by mistake and inadvertently used for instruction in the classroom.

Why didnt the teachers that taught this assignment catch it and question it? Do they just teach the curriculum blindly, not questioning the morality of assignments required for the unit? Why didnt our curriculum committee catch this? What is their role, if not to oversee the curriculum and make sure that these types of mistakes dont end up as homework for our children?

The apology Amanda paraphrased was written by Brie Quartin, Enfield Public Schools Health and Physical Education Coordinator, in an email to parents obtained by Parents Defending Education. I caught the error after curriculum revision in June, but failed to post the intended version. I own that, and apologize for the error, she wrote.

The outrage over the distribution of the Pizza & Consent assignment comes at a time when parents across the U.S. are confronting their local school boards to express displeasure about the inclusion of sexually explicit material in school curriculums and in school libraries. The books Gender Queer and Lawn Boy, available in high school libraries in Fairfax County, Virginia, and other school districts, have caused particular concern for parents.

As Fairfax County parent Stacy Langton explained at a school board meeting last year, Both books describe different sex acts. Additionally, she lamented, both of these books include pedophilia, [and] sex between men and boys.

One book describes a fourth-grade boy performing oral sex on an adult male. The other book has detailed illustrations of a man having sex with a boy, Langton said. She elaborated on the contents of the graphic illustrations, which include fellatio, sex toys, masturbation and violent nudity.

While the books were removed from Fairfax County Public Schools high school libraries for a brief period of time, they were reinstated after an investigation. At around the same time that Langton was raising concerns about Gender Queer and Lawn Boy, the Mayor of Hudson, Ohio, appeared at a school board meeting in his city and called on the members of the school board to resign for allowing the use of a book with sexually explicit writing prompts in a college-level English class offered at the districts high school.
COVID lockdowns proven 'ill-founded,' but media ignores

In late January, Johns Hopkins published an intensively researched and explosive study about the destructive results of COVID-19 lockdowns: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Lockdowns on COVID-19 Mortality. Researchers concluded while this meta-analysis concludes that lockdowns have had little to no public health effects, they have imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted  In consequence, lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy instrument.



The report asserted that while the lockdowns cut death rates by, at most, .2%, they indirectly caused substantial deaths associated with the lockdowns, like the increase in drug overdose deaths of 78,056. The study went so far as to conclude, Lockdowns should be rejected out of hand. This is in stark contrast to the claims by many leading health experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who have claimed the lockdowns saved millions of lives and were worth the damage it has caused to the American people and the economy. John Hopkins is arguably the top university in the world in health care-related fields, so this report is unimpeachable and demanding of full coverage.

Unfortunately, the media's stake in previously defending lockdowns while slamming lockdown critics has caused a dangerous censoring of the report. Let me explain.

As reporter Joseph A. Wulfsohn has observed the John Hopkins study received no mention on any of the five liberal networks this week. According to Gabien transcripts, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC all ignored the anti-lockdown findings after having spent much of the pandemic shaming red states with minimal restrictions and events deemed by critics as superspreaders. It wasnt just the networks avoiding the study. The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Reuters, USA Today, Axios, Politico among other outlets also turned a blind eye to the findings.

This is part of a disturbing media trend Americans have seen with other stories like the Hunter Biden laptop scandal and the censoring/downplaying of the lab leak theory of COVID origin. When information disputes the progressive talking points, the information is suppressed.

The John Hopkins researchers not only showed the indirect damage of lockdowns, but even found the lockdown policies likely helped further the spread of COVID: [Shelter-in-place orders] may isolate an infected person at home with his/her family where he/she risks infecting family members with a higher viral load, causing more severe illness ... often, lockdowns have limited peoples access to safe (outdoor) places such as beaches, parks, and zoos, or included outdoor mask mandates or strict outdoor gathering restrictions, pushing people to meet at less safe (indoor) places.



This is in addition to a survey showing around 97% of American teachers claim students experienced learning loss. Skyrocketing unemployment and the shuttering of small businesses caused further havoc. The lockdowns turned out to be worse than useless. This information is critical as we must prepare to handle further waves, or even new pandemics.

During the lockdowns, which were primarily pushed and enforced by Democratic politicians, the media was relentless in denigrating the critics. They went so far as to claim, as Dr. Anthony Fauci has, that opponents of lockdowns are actually opponents of science. The following quote from the Global News was repeated in substance by much of the mainstream media over the past two years: But defying lockdowns because youre fatigued by the pandemic is completely different than what many of these protesters are doing, which is denying the science  (their actions) seems so counter-rational that it has to be emotionally fueled.

Its time for the Center for Disease Control, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and much of the mainstream media to show a modicum of humility. They have been proven wrong about the lockdowns. At the same time, some level of accountability is demanded of those who attacked lockdown critics. Freedom of speech was attacked over and over the past two years by those screaming about the dangers of misinformation or disinformation. It continues to this day.

As with the Global News article, the Left has even questioned the psychological well-being of lockdown critics, similar to what was done in the Soviet Union to those criticizing the party line. We have seen the same treatment of those who questioned the party line about COVID coming from a wet market, and not the Wuhan Institute of Virology (which most scientists now agree was the likely origin of COVID-19).

The Progressive Left, including allies in the media, cannot be allowed to continue their monopoly on what constitutes science and suppress everyone else. Science comes from continually questioning and demanding proof. That didnt happen with lockdowns, and hundreds of millions suffered. Jesus said, You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). When it comes to determining the truth in this world, lets allow the debates and disagreements necessary to find the truth.
The Bugey nuclear power plant in Saint-Vulbas, central eastern France, is seen in this Jan. 25 file photo. One of the reactors at the plant will be shut down in the coming weeks to check suspicions of corrosion. AFP-Yonhap



French President Emmanuel Macron called Thursday for a "renaissance" in the country's nuclear industry, saying he wanted up to 14 new reactors to power the country's transition away from fossil fuels.



Acknowledging that France had hesitated on whether to continue investing in its atomic sector after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, he called for a bold new bet on the technology alongside renewables.



"We are going towards an electrification of all our tasks, our way of manufacturing, of moving around," Macron said in a speech at a turbine plant in eastern France, just two months ahead of presidential elections.



"We are going to need to produce a lot more electricity," he said.



As well as calling for new investments in solar, wind and hydrogen power, his headline announcement was a plan to order six new-generation EPR2 reactors from state-controlled giant EDF, while launching studies for eight more.



"What we have to build today is the renaissance of the French nuclear industry because it's the right moment, because it's the right thing for our nation, because everything is in place," he added.



Low-cost nuclear power has been a mainstay of the French economy since the 1970s, but recent attempts to build French-designed reactors at home, in Britain and in Finland have become mired in cost over-runs and delays.



Opponents of nuclear power, who worry about its safety and highly toxic radioactive waste, immediately criticized Macron's announcements.



"The EPRs he's promising are at best for 2040-2045," Greens presidential candidate Yannick Jadot said during a trip to southern France on Thursday, meaning France would be condemned to a "century of nuclear power."



Whether Macron's announcements amount to anything will depend on the outcome of presidential elections on April 10 and 24.



Most presidential candidates have vowed to continue investing in the industry, however, with the exception of hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and Greens contender Jadot.





An EDF coal-fired power plant in Blenod-les-Pont-a-Mousson, eastern France, is seen in this March 21, 2013, file photo. AFP-Yonhap



French-German split



The 44-year-old centrist argues that nuclear energy is required to help advanced economies transition to a low-carbon future because renewables were not yet a reliable energy source, nor able to produce the amount of electricity needed.



"Some nations made radical choices to turn their backs on nuclear," Macron said, referring to the Fukushima accident. "France did not make this choice. We resisted. But we did not invest because we had doubts."



Germany decided to phase out nuclear industry by the end of 2022 following the Fukushima disaster, but the decision has been criticized for increasing Berlin's reliance on carbon-emitting gas and raising power prices.



Calling French nuclear regulators "unequalled" in their strictness, Macron termed the decision to build new nuclear power plants a "choice of progress, a choice of confidence in science and technology."



He also announced that he would seek to extend the lives of all existing French nuclear plants where it was safe to do so, and said one billion euros in funding would be made available to develop innovative new small reactors.



The French government lobbied hard  and successfully  to have nuclear power labelled as "green" by the European Commission this month in a landmark energy review which means it can attract funding as a climate-friendly power source.





French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the GE Steam Power System main production site for its nuclear turbine systems in Belfort, eastern France, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap
North Carolina church hosts 'scream night' for people frustrated with pandemic

A church in North Carolina recently hosted a scream night," allowing people to literally scream about their frustrations, especially regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Duke Memorial United Methodist Church of Durham held the event on Saturday evening, with around a dozen people in attendance, raising their voices over a host of issues.

The Rev. Laura Barnard Crosskey, the event organizer and a licensed psychologist, told The Christian Post that the church hosted the scream night because our emotions have been building up over the last two years as many of us have been stuck at home without our normal outlets that let our emotions move through our bodies and our brains.

We wanted to provide people with a space to let it out with the intention of knowing that they were not alone in their struggles or in their efforts to heal, she added.

According to Crosskey, the observance was divided into five literal screams. The first involved a regular scream, followed by a scream in which participants were allowed to curse. Then, participants screamed statements such as, "My partner is driving me crazy!" or, "I hate COVID!" followed by a scream for those who could not make it to the event. Finally, attendees participated in a friendly competition over who could scream the longest.

Then I invited people to get quiet, to notice their bodies and their breaths. To notice how the scream resonated in our bodies, explained Crosskey to CP.

To feel the connection with others in our shared struggles and shared efforts to heal. Then I invited people to linger as they wished and go in peace as they were ready.

Participants want to do the event again, according to Crosskey, though there is a preference for scheduling at a time more convenient for parents of little kids.

Crosskey told CP that there is initial conversation into hosting future scream nights, as many expressed interest in it, both from people who identify as Christian and named that it would be spiritually helpful for them and for those who do not identify as Christian and felt welcome and safe to come and participate.

Much has been made about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns on the mental health of people in the United States and abroad.

For example, a study published by the Society for Human Resource Management in October 2020 found that as many as 35% of U.S. workers have battled depressive symptoms. However, only 7% of those suffering symptoms reached out to a mental health professional.

Saddleback Church co-founder Kay Warren delivered a speech before the 2021 Evangelical Press Association Christian Media Convention last April, in which she said that churches can play an important role in mental health.

Where do people go who are living with mental health challenges? Where do they go to find compassionate care and understanding? Where can they find hope for their dark days? stated Warren, who lost her son Matthew to suicide.

I really believe that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to be that safe, welcoming, and compassionate place for all who suffer.
Church hosts conversation on Maus after book's removal from schools

An Episcopal congregation in Tennessee hosted a community conversation about the recent decision of a local school board to remove the graphic novel Maus from its school curriculum in addition to discussing the lessons that the book and the Holocaust can teach Christians.

At a Jan. 10 meeting, the Athens-based McMinn County School Board voted unanimously to remove Maus from its middle school curriculum due to concerns over graphic adult content in the book, specifically eight curse words and a picture of a naked woman committing suicide by cutting herself with a razor blade.

The school board elaborated on the motivation behind its decision to remove the graphic novel centered on the Holocaust from the eighth-grade language arts curriculum in a Jan. 27 statement.

One of the most important roles of an elected board of education is to reflect the values of the community it serves, the school board said. The McMinn County Board of Education voted to remove the graphic novel Maus from McMinn County Schools because of its unnecessary use of profanity and nudity and its depiction of violence and nudity. Taken as a whole, the Board felt this work was simply too adult-oriented for use in our schools.

The book's removal garnered national outrage, leading many to buy the book as a form of protest and putting the graphic novel on the best-seller charts.

In the wake of this backlash, St. Pauls Episcopal Church of Athens held an online conversation last week with nearly 100 local participants about the narrative of the popular Art Spiegelman book.

The stated purpose of the discussion was to engage in a discussion about Maus, Holocaust education, visual storytelling, and how Christians might engage this text with attention to our own history, theology, and spiritual call.

Participants included Dr. Jack Seitz of Tennessee Wesleyan University, graphic novelist Nate Powell and the Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner of Duke Divinity School.

The Rev. Claire Brown, the rector of St. Pauls, told Episcopal News Service that she considered the community conversation to have been warm and curious and generous in its tone.

We really wanted to protect the space to be focused in on our local county, Brown said, adding that she wanted those involved to know that they had a safe space to share and learn together.

Throughout the event, speakers and community members made the case that Maus was a valuable tool to help students learn about the Holocaust and elaborated on the positive impact the graphic novel had on their lives.

Winner provided suggestions on how Christians should take what they learn from Maus and apply it to their lives as Christians.

What does Christianity have to say about our capacity for mass murder? she asked. One of the most fundamental damages produced by sin is a desire to dominate one another.

Since one human being cant in fact ever manage to fully dominate another human being, what human beings sometimes do in the face of frustrated desire for domination is kill, she said. We see this in Scripture, as early as the story of Cain and Abel.

Christian reflection on Maus might open up into reflection on the account that Christianity gives of human beings, from what kind of creatures human beings are and of what it is to be a human being," Winner continued.

She encouraged Christians to reflect on the role of the Church and Christianity in the Holocaust, maintaining that Christians held anti-Jewish attitudes and committed crimes against Jews in the centuries leading up to the Holocaust.

The Christian Post reached out to St. Pauls Episcopal Church for comment. The Rev. Claire Brown of St. Pauls replied that she was not available to comment.

Kyle Smith of The National Review wrote a recent column in which he was critical of the coverage the Maus removal story got, especially how many outlets called it a ban.

The book was not banned, wrote Smith. Students in McMinn Country are free to buy and read the book. It remains available in local public libraries.

If not being on a curriculum means it is banned, then so is every other book not on any schools curriculum," he added.

Smith also alleged hypocrisy on behalf of media members who criticized McMinn County Schools, as a left-leaning school board in Washington state that removed To Kill a Mockingbird due to concerns about racial sensitivity received little attention or criticism for their actions.

Needless to say, almost nobody  not CNN, not the Washington Post, not the New York Times  reported the Washington school boards actions as a ban, he added.

Instead, Smith reported, CNN media reporter Brian Stelter contended that Fox recently hyped a Washington state school districts action against To Kill a Mockingbird.

Neither Stelter nor anyone else at the CNN site can be found explaining what that action was, much less explaining why it is less notable than the Tennessee school boards move against Maus, which has inspired at least five major stories on CNN.com and has been mentioned prominently in several others," Smith alleged.

The removal of Maus from the middle school curriculum in McMinn County comes as parents across the U.S. have expressed outrage about the material their children are exposed to in school.

Stacy Langton, a parent in Fairfax County, Virginia, attended a school board meeting in her county to express outrage about the presence of two books, Gender Queer and Lawn Boy, in the school districts libraries.

Both books describe different acts, she explained. One book describes a fourth-grade boy performing oral sex on an adult male. The other book has detailed illustrations of a man having sex with a boy.

Langton likened the books to pornography and contended that the school district was promoting pornography and pedophilia by allowing the books to remain in the school district libraries. The books were removed from the school district libraries for a time but were reinstated following a review.

In addition to Langton, the mayor of Hudson, Ohio called on the school board in his city to resign for allowing a book containing sexually explicit writing prompts to be included in a college-level English class offered at the districts high school.
San Francisco Catholics march in protest of coronavirus restrictions: 'God has to be respected'

Six months into the coronavirus pandemic that prompted widespread economic shutdowns and disruptions to everyday life, Catholics in San Francisco marched in protest, decrying the worship restrictions that have prevented them from holding in-person masses as usual.

Three eucharistic processions originating at Catholic parishes throughout the city converged at city hall as protesters participated in the Free the Mass event Sunday. From there, attendees marched to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, where outdoor mass was led by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. Were very tired of being discriminated against because weve proven scientifically we can worship safely inside the church, he said.

Cordileones discrimination claim reflects the fact that coronavirus restrictions limit indoor worship services to 50 people while not placing similar limits on secular businesses such as grocery and retail stores. Cordileone and others accused local officials of violating their First Amendment rights by enacting such restrictions.

Theres no reason to keep us shut out of church. Its a natural right protected by the First Amendment, Cordileone added.

My rights as an American citizen have been trampled upon, said Guillermo Collado, a member of St. Peters Parish who attended the protest. Were equal under the law. And theyre not treating us that way. Theyre treating us as non-essential, something that can be dispensed with.

Participants in the march disagreed with the notion that church was a non-essential activity. Members of the crowd repeatedly chanted, We are essential, free the mass.

Cordileone maintained that an inability to attend church has had an impact on the people of his faith community.

People are hurting, he asserted. Our people are hurting because they cannot come to church, they cannot receive the sacraments, they cannot exercise their natural right protected by the First Amendment to worship without suffering punishment from our city.

The city continues to place unrealistic and suffocating restrictions on our  natural and constitutional right to worship, he proclaimed. God has to be respected in this society.

If theres no proper ordering with respecting God, which means the practice of religion has to be a part of the public life and we can do that with respect for all peoples religious beliefs, then we can put our society back together. But as long as we keep rejecting God, were going to keep suffering all of the  problems and the torments that weve been going through.

The discontent surrounding the worship restrictions in San Francisco and California as a whole are not unique to Catholicism. Pastors of multiple Protestant churches in the jurisdictions subject to the strictest restrictions have held indoor church services in spite of the restrictions.

Even as he faced threats of fines and arrest, California Pastor John MacArthur refused to stop holding in-person church services. We will obey God rather than men, he said.

As coronavirus restrictions prevent worshipers living in multiple California counties from gathering indoors, outdoor worship services have taken place at beaches across the state. Sean Feucht, a worship artist who has led several outdoor beach services, declared that what were seeing now is a return back to a gritty, raw Gospel, Jesus people movement caused by the fact that we cant be in our churches.

Earlier this month, the Chino Hills-based Calvary Chapel held an outdoor baptism at a southern California beach that attracted nearly 1,000 people. While Calvary Chapel has held outdoor baptisms in the past, the turnout this year was unprecedented.

California may be experiencing a spiritual revival, Calvary Chapel Church Director Gina Gleason explained.

According to Becket, a religious liberty law firm, California is one of six states where religious services are prohibited or subject to unequal treatment as compared to the coronavirus restrictions placed on other businesses. The other states are Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. Beckets tracker of worship restrictions across the 50 states was last updated on Aug. 17.
White evangelicals most likely to say they've experienced online harassment because of their religion

A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that white evangelicals are the most likely religious group to say that they have experienced harassment online for their religious views.

The survey, released Monday, was an addendum to an earlier report published on Jan. 13 that examined the state of online harassment in the United States as a whole. The new data focuses specifically on the Americans who said they have been harassed on the internet because of their religion. The survey was conducted between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13, 2020.

According to Pew, 19% of the American adults who said they had experienced online harassment attribute such harassment to their religion. Since 41% of U.S. adults claim to be victims of online harassment, the share of Americans who have experienced online harassment due to their religion amounts to 8% of the population as a whole.

Broken down by religious denomination, 29% of white evangelical Protestants said they had been targeted online for their faith, making them the most likely group to say that they experienced faith-based harassment. While 23% of Protestants as a whole experienced harassment on the internet because of their religion, mainline Protestants were significantly less likely to experience such harassment than their evangelical counterparts.

Just 11% of white non-evangelical Protestants reported faith-based harassment online. Fifteen percent of Catholics claimed to have experienced online harassment due to their faith, along with 10% of those unaffiliated with any religion.

Within the group of Americans who identify as unaffiliated, 21% of atheists, 6% of agnostics and 8% of those who claim "nothing in particular" when asked about their religion alleged that they were victims of online harassment.

Republicans were more likely than Democrats to cite their religion as the reason for their online harassment, with 22% of voters who are Republicans or lean Republican claiming to have experienced faith-based harassment compared to 16% of voters who are Democrats or lean Democratic.

Among white voters, 21% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters reported online faith-based harassment, as did 14% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters.

Twenty-one percent of men claim to have experienced harassment on the internet due to their faith, while 16% of women said the same. Eighteen percent of whites claimed that they had been harassed online because of their faith, along with 16% of blacks and 21% of Hispanics.

Additionally, the Pew survey asked Americans if they had experienced any online harassment. Harassment was broken down into two categories: Severe harassing behaviors such as stalking, physical threats, sustained harassment or sexual harassment and less severe behaviors. Although white evangelicals were the most likely group to claim that they had experienced faith-based harassment, religiously unaffiliated voters were more likely to say that they had experienced any form of harassment.

Among U.S. adults as a whole, 41% claim to be victims of online harassment. That number rose to 47% among religiously unaffiliated voters, with 53% of atheists and 52% of agnostics reporting online harassment.

By contrast, only 37% of white evangelicals said that they had experienced some form of online harassment. That figure dropped to 35% among white, non-evangelical Protestants and 33% among black Protestants, who are tied with white Catholics for the group with the lowest share of members who claim to have experienced online harassment.

Forty-six percent of Hispanic Catholics reported experiencing any form of online harassment, making them the most likely religious group besides the religiously unaffiliated to experience such harassment.

White evangelicals frequently find themselves as outliers regarding the issues facing the country. A poll conducted in September by the Public Religion Research Institute found that white evangelical Protestants had outlier opinions on every issue facing the country ahead of the 2020 presidential election, including abortion, same-sex marriage and their approval of former President Donald Trump.

White evangelicals, an important bloc in American politics, gave 76% of their support to the former president in the 2020 presidential election, according to CNN exit polling. Based on exit polling following the 2016 presidential election, which Trump won, 80% of white evangelicals supported him.
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.
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.
Bidens latest proposal would force insurers to pay for gender transition

President Joe Biden has sought to inject gender ideology into our laws since his first day in office. He might prefer a massive bill like the Equality Act that elevates the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity to status of race and sex. But that effort has stalled in the Senate. So, for now, his administration is looking for ways to insert sexual orientation and gender identity concepts into existing law.

The latest? In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule that would add sexual orientation and gender identity language to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. According to the department, these amendments will ensure that those who identify as LGBT receive medically necessary care. This includes gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapy.

In fact, the departments proposed rule circumvents the law and treats dubious treatments as essential health benefits in qualified health plans. This not only contradicts the best science and medicine, its a disaster for insurers, for medical providers, and, most of all, for those struggling with gender dysphoria.

Sex, gender and discrimination

The rule has legal problems, but we shouldnt allow that to distract us from the fact that it strikes at the heart of what it means to be human. To see this, it helps to keep a few definitions in mind.

The first is sex. Human beings are a sexually dimorphic species. With the very rare exceptions (such as those resulting from disorders of sexual development, sometimes called intersex), everyone is clearly either male or female. This is biology. Its also common sense  as revealed by the testimony of every culture in every time and place throughout history.

Many people also affirm the sexual binary of male and female on religious grounds. The book of Genesis, for instance, says that God created us male and female.

The next term is gender, which is best seen as the social and psychological correlate to sex  as sexologist Debra Soh has argued. Male and female connote sex. Masculine and feminine connote gender.

Then theres gender identity, which comes from the lexicon of gender ideology. According to one popular definition, gender identity refers to a persons understanding and experience of their own gender.

Note the circularity. Once untethered from biological sex, gender identity can mean almost anything. Hence the current taxonomy of 72 genders  subject, of course, to expansion.

This subtle shift in terms is critical. Behind gender-affirming care is the hope of aligning the recipients body with his or her gender identity. Such care, however, is at best cosmetic. It cannot achieve the impossible: to change someones sex with chemicals or scalpels.

The Department of Health and Human Services rule would, in effect, erase a key aspect of our humanity. That is, it would displace biological sex as a criterion for medical care with a fluid and illusory notion of gender identity. This, in turn, would also serve as a precedent for further policy changes elsewhere in the administrative state.

Conscience and the reality of sex

Despite the infiltration of gender ideology in government bureaucracies, many people still know  on rational, scientific, medical, and/or religious grounds  that sex is immutable. Doctors and government officials, they believe, should recognize sex as a human reality, not treat it like a fashion choice, or, still less, like a tumor that can be surgically removed.

Many insurers, medical professionals, and health insurance enrollees hold such views. And they will want nothing to do with chemical and surgical interventions for the purpose of gender transition. The new HHS rule, if approved, would force many medical professionals to violate their medical expertise and religious convictions.

While advocates of the rule claim it will comply with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993  which severely restricts government interference with religious belief  the rule deems treatments that exclude gender-affirming interventions as presumptively discriminatory. But this is bound to conflict with the religious and medical consciences of many people  and, thus, to run afoul of the law.

In any case, views based on reasonable medical, moral, and religious beliefs and the best interests of the patient are nothing like invidious discrimination. The federal government should not treat them as such.

Neither medically necessary nor helpful

But what if, as the proposed rule claims, clinical evidence supports medically necessary gender-affirming care and shows that such coverage can significantly improve the health and well-being of patients?

Proponents claim that gender-affirming care is medically necessary because the presumed alternative to hormones or surgeries is suicide. Thus, the express goal of this so-called care is to improve mental health, and so prevent suicide.

Despite activists claims, the clinical evidence shows otherwise. A 2019 study of the largest dataset of patients who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries demonstrated no advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related health care. It likewise found no benefits to chemical interventions, such as cross-sex hormones.

The most thorough follow-up study is far more troubling. It reports that those who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries are, after 10 to 15 years, 20 times more likely to commit suicide than are comparable peers.

There are also serious risks for those who receive drugs and surgery for the purpose of gender transition. Puberty blockers lead to decreased bone density and prevent the proper sex-steroid dependent organization and maturation of the adolescent brain. Those who use cross-sex hormones have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and permanent sterilization, among other things. Sex-reassignment surgeries carry even more serious risks that lead to long-term complications and worse mental health.

Misreading Bostock

Despite all these problems with this HHS rule, does the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County require it?

The Department of Health and Human Services seems to think so. It bases the proposed rule on two other directives. The first, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, is an executive order that Biden issued on the first day he took office. The second is the departments May 10, 2021, notification of enforcement of the same.

In both documents, the administration cites the Supreme Courts ruling as grounds for expanding the meaning of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This, however, is a distortion of the courts reasoning.

According to Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court proceeded on the assumption that sex signified what the employers suggest, referring only to biological distinctions between male and female.

Gorsuch underscored the narrowness of the ruling by stating that the ruling applied only to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which deals only with matters of employment. He thus anticipated and rebuffed future efforts to apply Bostock to all civil rights regulations.

Whats more, the court stressed that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act serves as a super statute. As a result, in many contexts, the act protects actions that might otherwise run afoul of a nondiscrimination rule. In appropriate cases, Gorsuch noted, the act could apply even in employment. Once again, Gorsuch sought to preempt flawed readings of the courts ruling in Bostock.

The new rule relies on just such a flawed reading. It lacks a legal basis to amend the proposed nondiscrimination provisions and contradicts the plain meaning of laws against sex discrimination.

Costly harm

From its flawed interpretation of Bostock to its faulty medical evidence, this new rule is clearly the result of gender ideology, not solid science and sound reason. If approved, the rule would further undermine evidence-based medical research and health care involving gender dysphoria.

It would force insurers, medical providers, and those enrolled in qualified health plans to pay for and/or perform harmful procedures that, for many of them, would violate their medical expertise and religious convictions. In short, the rule would violate Americans basic rights and harm the very people it seeks to help.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
German cardinal says Catholic priests should be allowed to marry: 'It would be better for their life'

A prominent Roman Catholic Church leader in Germany has said that he believes priests should be allowed to get married, opposing centuries of mandated celibacy for clergy.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the archbishop of Munich and a reformist ally of Pope Francis, told the German publication Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he supported clerical marriage as part of reforms to battle sex abuse.

For some priests, it would be better if they were married  not just for sexual reasons, but because it would be better for their life and they wouldnt be lonely, stated Marx, as reported by The Associated Press. We must hold this discussion.

While Marx stressed he is not totally opposed to celibacy, he said he believed that it would be better for everyone to create the possibility of celibate and married priests." He questioned whether it should be taken as a basic precondition for every priest.

Last month, the Munich law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl produced a 1,000-page report finding nearly 500 victims of abuse by church figures in the Munich archdiocese from 1945 to 2019.

The report garnered major attention in part because Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, then known as Joseph Ratzinger, served as archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982.

A point of outrage, according to the Catholic News Agency, was that Ratzinger was present for a meeting that sought to transfer a priest with several allegations of abuse to his diocese. The emeritus pope issued a "heartfelt request for forgiveness" in a statement issued through the Vatican this week but denied wrongdoing.

German Bishop Stefan Oster defended Ratzinger, arguing that the meeting involved referring the priest to the diocese to receive mental treatment and that Ratzinger had entrusted himself to collaborators who committed a capital error on a decisive point.

We were and are all too much a part of a system  and so was Archbishop Ratzinger at the time, explained Oster, as quoted by CNA.

And in this system, for too long, there was indeed almost no interest in the concrete fate of people affected by abuse and hardly any knowledge of their stories.

Although the Roman Catholic Church has mandated celibacy for its priests since the Medieval Era, in rare circumstances it provides exemptions. For example, married clergy from the Episcopal Church can be ordained in the Catholic Church and maintain their marital union.

In 2019, the Vatican gave serious consideration to allowing older, married men to become priests in remote areas like the Amazon region in South America in response to a clergy shortage.

However, in the February 2020 papal exhortation Querida Amazonia, which was centered on matters of the Amazon region, Pope Francis did not directly address the issue.
From ground sensors to drones, satellites to airplane flyovers, a number of companies are seeking to help Permian Basin operators detect and mitigate methane emissions.

The drawback to those technologies is they can provide only a snapshot of a point in time, said Greg Rieker, co-founder and chief technology officer at LongPath Technologies. Leaks can happen at any time, he pointed out.

Continuous monitoring provides the best data, he said, but the challenge is getting that continuous monitoring to a cost thats reasonable to the industry, he said.

I think LongPath is cracking that challenge, he told the Reporter-Telegram in a telephone interview. The Boulder, Colorado-based company is implementing a $5 million award from the US Department of Energy to use its Basin-SCAN continuous methane monitoring and mitigation technology to monitor 700 square miles of the Permian Basin. A year after winning the award, LongPath has approximately 180 square miles under continuous 24/7 monitoring and Rieker said the goal of 700 square miles could be reached by the end of this year.

The company utilizes what he called frequency comb, which Rieker said is one of five Nobel Prizes won in Colorado.

Its a really neat laser, he said. Most lasers send out a single color. This sends out hundreds of thousands of colors over distances of up to three miles. We measure the amount of absorption of the light by the gases were trying to detect.

Methane and hydrogen sulfide are the two gases LongPath is trying to detect and he explained that each gas absorbs laser lights at specific colors. LongPath personnel look at those specific colors to detect the presence of the gases. The laser is sensitive to one part per billion, which he likened to a drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Such sensitivity can help pinpoint where the leak is coming from and even whether or not the methane is coming from a neighboring facility.

The laser sits on a tower on an oil and gas pad and sends beams to scan all the facilities within a 3-mile radius to look for and quantify methane and does so multiple times a day.

We work with oil and gas companies. Were hired to install the systems and we monitor the results. We fed data to the customer and they get an alert when methane is detected. That allows them to go out and find the leaking facility quickly.

Rieker noted that the Basin-SCAN project, with the DOE award subsidizing deployment, is being conducted in conjunction with oil and gas operators. That, he said, shows their good will and commitment to detecting and mitigating methane and H2S emissions.

Basin-SCAN is testing the ability of the system to more rapidly monitor for methane and alert operators, he said.

The goal is to expand until all of the Permian Basin is part of the network. He compared the laser towers to those uses by cell phone companies and said, Were the 5G of methane detection.

LongPath is a start-up company and is busy raising capital for when the DOE award expires, which is when it reaches its 700 square mile goal. Companies are stepping up to not only offer their facilities to host the network but in investing in the company, Rieker reported.

As to the cost, he said that some companies participating in the pilot project have found they earned more from selling the gas that was saved than they paid for the system.

You pay for it, but you make money, he said.
A koala licks rainwater off a road near Moree, New South Wales, Australia, in this Jan. 16, 2020, photo obtained from social media. Reuters-Yonhap





Australia officially listed koalas across a swathe of its eastern coast as "endangered" Friday, with the marsupials fighting to survive the impact of bushfires, land-clearing, drought and disease.







Conservationists said koala populations had crashed in much of eastern Australia over the past two decades, warning that they were now sliding towards extinction.







Environment Minister Sussan Ley said she had designated koala populations as "endangered" to offer them a higher level of protection in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.







The koala, a globally recognized symbol of Australia's unique wildlife, had been listed as "vulnerable" on the eastern coast just a decade earlier.







"We are taking unprecedented action to protect the koala," the minister said, highlighting a recent government promise of Aus$50 million (US$36 million) to protect and recover koala habitats.







Environmentalists welcomed the koalas' new status but condemned Australia's failure to protect the species so far.







"Koalas have gone from no-listing to vulnerable to endangered within a decade. That is a shockingly fast decline," said WWF-Australia conservation scientist Stuart Blanch.







"Today's decision is welcome but it won't stop koalas from sliding towards extinction unless it's accompanied by stronger laws and landholder incentives to protect their forest homes."







Conservationists said it was hard to give precise figures on koala populations in the affected eastern states.







But estimates by an independent government advisory body  the Threatened Species Scientific Committee  indicated that koala numbers had slumped from 185,000 in 2001 to just 92,000 in 2021.







A dehydrated and injured koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, Australia, in this Nov. 2, 2019, file photo. AFP-Yonhap









Alexia Wellbelove of the Humane Society International said east coast koalas could be extinct by 2050 if no action was taken.







"We can't afford any more clearing," she said.







The Australian Conservation Foundation said its own research showed that the federal government had approved the clearing of more than 25,000 hectares of koala habitat since the species was declared vulnerable a decade ago.







"Australia's national environment laws are so ineffective they have done little to stem the ongoing destruction of koala habitat in Queensland and NSW since the species was supposedly protected a decade ago," said the foundation's nature campaign manager, Basha Stasak.







"The extinction of koalas does not have to happen," Stasak added.







"We must stop allowing their homes to be bulldozed for mines, new housing estates, agricultural projects and industrial logging."







Australia's koalas had been living on a "knife edge" even before the devastating "Black Summer" bushfires of 2019 and 2020, because of land-clearing, drought, disease, car strikes and dog attacks, said Josey Sharrad, the wildlife campaign manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare.







"We should never have allowed things to get to the point where we are at risk of losing a national icon," Sharrad said.







"The bushfires were the final straw. This must be a wake-up call to Australia and the government to move much faster to protect critical habitat from development and land-clearing and seriously address the impacts of climate change." (AFP)


The former Montgomery County Hospital in Conroe has officially been renamed The Landmark 301.

Officials with Kansas-based Overland Property Group is hoping the moniker increased their chances at landing tax credits to help fund the $12 million project.

After the developers first attempt last year at the credits was unsuccessful, the group again asked the city for support for the project in November in order to reapply with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Those credits provide a tax incentive to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low-income households. The tax credits subsidize the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low-and moderate-income tenants.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Developer tries again for funding to renovate old Montgomery County hospital

In January 2021, Brett Johnson, President and CEO of Kansas-based Overland Property Group, presented a plan to the Conroe City Council to redevelop the historic building which served as the first county hospital into one- and two-bedroom apartments for qualified seniors.

His plan calls for 42 to 45 senior living apartments in the space. He will again seek affordable housing tax credits from the government to complete the project. The project is estimated to cost $12 million, $10 million of which will be handled through the tax credits.

Downtown Director Frank Robinson explained that Overland Property Group was told that they didnt receive the tax credits for 2021 because they were competing with the city of Houston for tax credits and Houston being much larger had the advantage among all the considerations that went into awarding the credits.

The Montgomery County Hospital was built in 1938. The facility served the county through the 1970s when the Montgomery County Hospital District was formed for the creation of a new hospital for Conroe. A new Conroe medical complex opened in 1982 on Conroes south side and the old county hospital was abandoned.

The East Texas Dream Center, a nonprofit, faith-based charitable organization, eventually found a new home at the property. Shawn and Shannon Nelson with the Dream Center purchased the 57,000-square-foot building in 2013 for $10,000.

But a fire struck the property in May 2018 and after discovering numerous code violations the city closed the building. It has been uninhabited ever since.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
The Consumers Energy Foundation has given a $70,000 grant to Northern Michigan University, who has partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to support efforts to bring back the Arctic grayling to Michigan.

The initiative began in 2016, when the DNR partnered with the Litter River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee. The Arctic grayling is a historically important fish to the tribe and they had been interested in bringing their population back for years. This was a fortunate coincidence, as the DNR had also been concerned about the lack of the once-native fish.

The Arctic grayling was extirpated from Michigan by the late 1920s, due to changes in the stream environments partially because of logging practices in the late 1800s, according to assistant chief of fisheries division for the DNR, Todd Grischke.

"The river systems were used to transport logs in huge numbers," he explained. "That wasn't the only reason for it; there was unregulated fishing of grayling and introduction of invasive species at the time."

With this initiative, though, the DNR hoped to reintroduce the Arctic grayling to the waters of Michigan. This grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation will help with that ambition.

The Consumers Energy Foundation and Northern Michigan University are two of more than 40 partners who've joined with the DNR since the initiative began. Northern Michigan University has been conducting research on Michigan waters to test whether they'll make a good environment for the Arctic grayling eggs they want to rear in them.

The technique of rearing grayling eggs in protected incubators was borrowed from a similar effort in Montana, which the grayling was also native to before the population was similarly extirpated.

This is different than previous attempts to reintroduce the grayling; rather than using stocking initiatives, where the DNR would reintroduce the fish directly, they're hoping that by rearing these eggs, the population will grow more naturally through reproduction.

"This effort is really about learning from the past, taking a step back and starting from ground zero, to evaluate ... what are our best chances of success?" Grischke explained. "What's the best habitat for today to support Arctic grayling?"

The initiative will receive the new grayling eggs from Alaska, but the process has been a slow one.

"We're probably a few years away from the first introduction of eggs into the stream environment," Grischke said.
A Ukrainian tank moves during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap



The White House is warning the chip industry to diversify its supply chain in case Russia retaliates against threatened U.S. export curbs by blocking access to key materials, people familiar with the matter said.



The potential for retaliation has garnered more attention in recent days after Techcet, a market research group, published a report on Feb. 1 highlighting the reliance of many semiconductor manufacturers on Russian and Ukrainian-sourced materials like neon, palladium and others.



According to Techcet estimates, over 90% of U.S. semiconductor-grade neon supplies come from Ukraine, while 35% of U.S. palladium is sourced from Russia.



Peter Harrell, who sits of the White House's National Security Council, and his staff have been in touch with members of the chip industry in recent days, learning about their exposure to Russian and Ukrainian chipmaking materials and urging them to find alternative sources, the people said.



The White House declined to comment on the specifics of the conversations, but a senior official reiterated that the administration was prepared if Russia invaded Ukraine.



"Part of that is working with companies to make sure that if Russia takes actions that interfere with supply chains, companies are prepared for disruptions," the person said.



"We understand that other sources of key products are available and stand ready to work with our companies to help them identify and diversify their supplies."









Joe Pasetti, vice president of global public policy at the chip and electronics manufacturing suppliers group SEMI, sent an email to members this week gauging exposure to the vital chipmaking supplies, according to a copy obtained by Reuters.



"As discussed on today's call, please see the attached document ... regarding Russian/Ukrainian production of a number of semiconductor materials," he wrote, referencing a summary by Techcet on C4F6, Palladium, Helium, Neon and Scandium from the troubled region. "Please let me know if potential supply disruptions to any of them are a concern for your company."



Neon, critical for the lasers used to make chips, is a biproduct of Russian steel manufacturing, according to Techcet. It is then purified in Ukraine. Palladium is used in sensors and memory, among other applications.





A Ukrainian serviceman hands large caliber ammunitions to a gun operator in an armored fighting vehicle during an exercise in a Joint Forces Operation controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens during a joint press availability at the Quad meeting of foreign ministers in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 11. AP-Yonhap



Russia could invade Ukraine during the current Beijing Winter Olympics so Americans should leave the Eastern European country immediately, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday.



Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the State Department's latest security alert that calls on all American citizens to leave Ukraine.



''Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,'' Blinken said in Melbourne, Australia.



''We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,'' Blinken added. The Olympic Games are scheduled to end on Feb. 20.



Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine. It says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.



The threat of war in Ukraine and a strengthened alliance between Russia and China were high on the agenda of a meeting in Canberra on Friday among Blinken and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.



The four nations form the ''Quad,'' a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies created to counter China's growing regional influence.



Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who chaired the meeting, said the alliance between Moscow and Beijing was ''concerning because it doesn't ... represent a global order that squares with ... ambitions for freedom and openness and sovereignty and the protection of territorial integrity.''



On the question of the alliance, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, whose government is one of Russia's biggest customers for military hardware, emphasized that the Quad partnership was about shared ambitions and ''not against somebody.''



Asked by a reporter if Russia had behaved appropriately toward Ukraine, Jaishankar replied that the Quad meeting was focused on the Indo-Pacific region, not Europe.






Responding to an increasing number of students who recently moved to the United States and into the district, Beaumont ISD has launched its own "newcomer center" to specifically target difficulties these students face.

These new learners sometimes face different challenges in school than their U.S.-born classmates, such as language barriers, cultural differences and varying degrees of educational background.

These and other difficulties can lead to increased dropout rates among the demographic.

In the 2019-20 school year, ninth through 12th grade students identified as English learners had an annual dropout rate of 3.3% -- double the statewide average -- according to data from the Texas Education Agency.

Some four years ago, Beaumont ISD started seeing an influx of newcomer students, mainly from South America, said district Bilingual/English as a Second Language & Foreign Languages Director Blanca Jones.

Seeing the need to provide extra support for these students, a district committee began making plans for a center that would address the difficulties newcomer students face.

On Jan. 3, the BISD Newcomer Center opened for the first time.

RELATED: ESL students faced even more virtual learning-related challenges. These teachers are bringing them up to speed.

"A lot of these students are coming without previous schooling," Jones said. "So, it's really hard for them to get used to the environment in the United States, everything is a shock."

The center enrolls only high school newcomer students because the graduation rate for those students is concerning, Jones said.

According to the TEA, high school English learners had a four-year graduation rate of 79.3%, compared to the statewide average of 90.3%.

English-learner students are at a particular risk for dropping out for several reasons, such as discouragement, their home life and/or personal troubles, said Newcomer Center Coordinator and ESL Dropout Prevention Coordinator Maria McClelland.

"We have looked across the district at patterns, and one of the biggest patterns we noticed was that students, especially at the high school level, when they come to this country, if they don't feel successful and they feel discouraged, they don't tend to stay in (school)," she said.

RELATED: Hispanic parents voice concerns about language barrier in BISD

McClelland said students are sometimes pulled straight to the workforce so they can contribute financially to their families in their home countries. But one of the program's goals is to show students that finishing their education increases their potential income -- a boon for student and family, alike.

It's important for newcomer students to feel welcomed at school and like they are a part of the community, too, McClelland said.

"We did notice that those students who do end up dropping out are those students who just never felt accepted, the school was so challenging, they got very discouraged and then it seems easier for them to go, 'OK, well, I might as well just drop out because I feel embarrassed and I'm not learning or doing well and I'm better off just earning money,'" she said.

The center currently has 20 students enrolled -- up from six when operations began at the beginning of the year, McClelland said.

"It has been so popular and obviously it has been growing exponentially," she said. "We anticipated that we might have 40 students possibly by the end of the year based on previous analysis of spring and fall enrollment, and just within a month of opening, we're already halfway through our goal."

At full capacity, McClelland said the center could have as many as 120 students in the program.

RELATED: BISDs bilingual outreach night draws parents, district leaders, Mexican Consulate reps

Students who are eligible for the program are identified by counselors and Public Education Information Management System clerks when they first enroll in school, McClelland said.

Students must be between the ages of 14 and 21 when they're enrolling in school for the first time, have never taken the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System test and have no high school credits, she said.

"(The program is) only for ninth graders," McClelland said. "The idea is that we begin supporting them as a ninth grader -- a lot of support with English -- so that then they can continue their high school careers. And by the time they're seniors, they have a better opportunity to continue on with their education."

The center does not have its own dedicated building, yet. It is currently housed in the West Brook High School campus, but students from both high school campuses participate in the program.

Twelve students in the program attend Beaumont United High School, and the remaining eight attend West Brook.

In the morning, students from Beaumont United are bussed to West Brook, where they take their first two classes with the Newcomer Center before being taken back to their home campus for electives. West Brook students take their elective courses in the morning and newcomer program classes in the afternoon.

Jones said this method helps the Beaumont United students to identify with their campus, so when they leave the newcomer program, they are already used to their school environment.

RELATED: Beaumont ISD has filled 300 positions. They still need more.

"Our goal is to have (the students in the program) for one year," she said. "It's going to depend on how fast the student gets the skills that they need to survive in a regular environment, but it's going to be at least a year."

The center hired three teachers to work with the newcomer students. McClelland said the hiring campaign was intensive, and they were lucky to hire three bilingual teachers -- a rare find in the current teacher market.

Bilingual/ESL teachers are on TEA's list of teacher shortages for this academic year and next year.

When the center opened last month, McClelland said there were no teachers. So, she had to teach all four core subjects: English language arts, math, science and social studies.

"It was very difficult," she said. "But it just kind of happened that once we hired one person, and the word got around that it was actually a great program and they are great kids, we have been getting more and more applicants."

The center is still looking to hire a science teacher. Candidates must be ESL-certified and have experience working with students who are English learners, but the candidate does not have to be bilingual.

"I'm confident that before the end of the school year, we will be fully staffed," McClelland said. "It is extremely difficult to find ESL-certified teachers and so that's why we are focusing on intensive training. It takes a special kind of teacher to be able to do this and so we recognize that and we're giving them a lot of support and a lot of professional development."

RELATED: Two Beaumont educators get significant raise

Jones said since the program is its own entity, they have more freedom to address the needs of their students and staff, which will help to train future staff members in the district.

The center also provides support for newcomer parents.

"I wasn't raised in the United States, so when I came 13 years ago, I didn't know how to open a bank account. I didn't even know how to fill up the gas in my car because in my country, you don't do that," Jones said. "So, they might be silly, but parents don't know those things and we want to educate them, we want to make sure that they understand they can count on us."

While the program has launched, it's still a work in progress, Jones said. In a couple of years, she said she hopes the center can start to support middle school students and expand its welcoming aspect.

"From seventh grade, we start looking at the dropout (risk) in our students," she said. "Once we have our program running strong, then we can go lower and support the other grade levels."

RELATED: Texas struggled to teach students learning English before COVID-19. The pandemic made it worse.

One month into the program's establishment, McClelland said she's already seeing the results.

"The most telling flag is the student's reactions," she said. "It usually takes a couple of weeks for students to kind of feel comfortable, especially because they don't know the language, they don't know what's happening and they go through this silent period of not wanting to interact with anyone. But we have heard feedback from teachers not here at the center, telling us how they're learning weekly and they're learning much faster than previous students who did not participate in the program. The students are happy, they're working really hard and it's going to translate into data."

For more information or questions, call McClelland at 409-617-3140, or visit the Multilingual Department BISD Facebook page.

olivia.malick@hearst.com

twitter.com/OliviaMalick
WASHINGTON -- A Marine Corps mission in Jordan was abruptly halted Friday and Navy ships were hustled out of a Persian Gulf port in Bahrain after a threat against Americans was received, military officials said.

At the same time, the State Department was preparing to update a worldwide caution to Americans of security concerns abroad, a spokesman said.

The threat was linked to terrorist groups affiliated with Osama bin Laden, the notorious Saudi exile who has orchestrated attacks on Americans throughout the region, said U.S. officials who asked not to be identified.

The hurried precautions came one day after 13 Saudis and one Lebanese were indicted in the bombing of an Air Force housing facility in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, that killed 19 Americans in 1996.

A series of deadly terrorist attacks against Americans, including the suicide bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in October, which killed 17 sailors, has stretched the nerves of American officials in the region.

Since the attack on the Cole, U.S. forces in the Middle East have been placed on a high alert status a number of times, officials said. But it was deemed unusual by military experts to have training missions curtailed and Navy ships ordered out of port.

The Navy ordered about a half-dozen of its ships from the U.S. 5th Fleet to weigh anchor and head to open waters, a Navy official said Friday.

About 18 ships from the 5th Fleet are based in Bahrain, but most were already at sea.

On the other side of the Middle East in Jordan, 2,200 Marines training as an amphibious battle group were ordered to cut short their exercise and go back aboard ships in the Red Sea, a military official said.

Also Friday, the State Department updated its warning to Americans to be on "heightened security awareness" when traveling overseas, said Chuck Hunter, a department spokesman.

That update came in response to the Justice Department's announcement of an indictment Thursday against those alleged to have bombed the Khobar Towers housing facility in Saudi Arabia, and to other evidence of increased danger on which Hunter refused to elaborate.

"It is our judgment that we need to update this caution at this time," Hunter said. "There is no geographic specificity to it; it is worldwide."

The military reaction Friday was to what one official called "credible reports" that U.S. military personnel were in imminent danger of an attack.

Information gathered by U.S. intelligence agencies on the sprawling terrorist network linked to bin Laden prompted the move, an official said.

While intelligence experts had not identified the intended target, they had been able to outline what one official called a "complex, detailed" plan to attack Americans.

In late May, U.S. forces were ordered to a high state of alert, and FBI agents and Navy investigators in Yemen looking for evidence in the Cole bombing were transferred from the port of Aden, where the attack occurred, to the capital of San`a.

A recent series of developments in cases involving attacks on U.S. military personnel and government officials has raised tensions between the United States and Islamic terrorist groups.

On May 30, a federal jury in New York convicted four associates of bin Laden of the August 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that left 224 dead, including 12 Americans.

Earlier this week, the Associated Press in Kuwait reported that bin Laden's Afghanistan-based group was boasting in a recruitment videotape that the terrorists had bombed the Cole. That was seen as the strongest evidence yet linking bin Laden to that attack.

And Thursday, just days before the fifth anniversary of the Khobar Towers bombing, a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., issued a detailed indictment describing how prosecutors said Saudi members of the militant Hezbollah Islamic group and a Lebanese associate planned and executed that bombing.

That indictment said Iranian government officials aided those charged in the bombing, though no Iranian was named.

Those allegations were denied by officials in Tehran.

"The U.S. judiciary has leveled charges against Iran which have no legal and judicial basis," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi told the Islamic Republic News Agency of Iran on Friday.

But U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Thursday, "Elements of the Iranian government inspired, supported and supervised members of Saudi Hezbollah" in planning and launching the attack on the Khobar Towers.
Airport officials check documents of foreign passengers at a counter as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines, Feb. 10. AP-Yonhap





The Philippines lifted a nearly two-year ban on foreign travelers Thursday in a lifesaving boost for its tourism and related industries as an Omicron-fueled surge of COVID-19 infections eases.







Foreign travelers from 157 countries with visa-free arrangements with the Philippines who have been fully vaccinated and tested negative for the virus will be welcomed back and will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival. The government also ended a risk classification system that banned travelers from the worst-hit countries.







''We will begin the next chapter in the road to recovery,'' Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said. She added the border reopening would restore jobs and generate revenue across tourism-related enterprises and communities.







British tourist Ian Collins said at the airport arrival lobby that he flew back after two years because he ''absolutely loved'' the Philippines and wanted to reunite with Filipino friends. ''It's just a wonderful country. I'm so glad that you're open again,'' the 60-year-old Collins told The Associated Press.







Malaysian tourist Shaun James Stickney said the pandemic separated him and his Filipina partner for two years, so he took the first flight to Manila when the Philippines reopened to reunite with her and ''God willing, get married.''







The Philippines imposed one of the world's longest lockdowns and strictest police-enforced quarantine restrictions to quell a pandemic that caused its worst economic recession since the 1940s and pushed unemployment and hunger to record levels.







More than a million Filipinos lost their jobs in tourism businesses and destinations in the first year of the pandemic alone, according to government statistics. Tourism destinations, including popular beach and tropical island resorts, resembled ghost towns at the height of pandemic lockdowns, and a volcanic eruption and typhoons exacerbated losses.







The reopening had been set for Dec. 1 but was postponed as the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus spread.







Less than a thousand new cases were added daily during the Christmas holidays, when large crowds of shoppers trooped back to malls and restaurants despite constant government warnings. The subsequent surge peaked above 39,000 infections in a day in mid-January, but has since eased. Health officials reported about 3,600 infections Wednesday with 69 deaths and have declared the entire archipelago, except for one southern region, at a ''low to moderate risk.''







More than 60 million of nearly 110 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and 8.2 million have received their booster shots in a campaign that has been hampered by vaccine shortages and public hesitancy.







President Rodrigo Duterte warned Filipinos in televised remarks Monday that ''we are not over the hump'' and urged the unvaccinated to get immunized soon.







''If you're unvaccinated and you die, well, I'll tell you, 'good riddance,''' the tough-talking president said. ''You can walk around and if you get contaminated, you will be awfully very, very sorry for yourself and your family.'' (AP)


Remember that spread in the average price of gasoline in Midland and Odessa? It decreased by 75 percent.

AAA Texas reported that the average price of gas in Odessa jumped 20 cents in the last week. The average in Midland was 14 cents. Both communities were at least double the increase statewide (7 cents).

Heading into mid-February, Midland and Odessa solidified their places among the most expensive larger cities in the state to buy gas. The highest averages, according to AAA Texas, were $3.56 in El Paso, $3.34 in Abilene and Midland and $3.32 in Odessa. The price in El Paso increased 33 cents week over week and 22 cents in Abilene. Those were the two highest week-over-week increases among the largest 27 metropolitan areas.

El Paso, Abilene, Midland and Odessa were the four lone areas with averages above $3.30. The state average was $3.15. The lowest average in the state was $3.08 in Victoria, McAllen, Edinburg, Sherman and Denison.

Texas drivers are paying 97 cents more for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, on average, than they were a year ago and about $1.40 more per gallon than two years ago, said AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster in the weekly report. The trend of more expensive fuel is likely going to continue in the short term. Crude oil prices are rising amid growing geopolitical tensions and strengthening demand for crude oil products such as heating oil and motor fuel.

The weekly report showed the following averages across the West Texas region -- $3.10 in Amarillo (an increase of 13 cents week over week), $3.11 in Lubbock (an increase of 13 cents) and 3.15 in San Angelo (an increase of 12 cents).

Year over year, the average price of gas in Midland has increased by $1.01 a gallon. That increase is more than the 97 cents statewide and is tied for the fifth-largest increase across the state.

Highest gas prices

This week

El Paso $3.56

Abilene $3.34

Midland $3.34

Odessa $3.32

Texarkana $3.23

Longview $3.22

State average: $3.15

National average: $3.48

Last week

El Paso $3.23

Midland $3.20

Fort Worth-Arlington $3.18

Dallas $3.17

Texarkana $3.14

Abilene $3.12

Odessa $3.12

Longview $3.12

State average $3.08

National average $3.41
Local

Warden, three others 'no longer employed' at county detention facility

CoreCivic took 'several corrective measures' after review of inmate's death

mattbeck / Matthew Beck Chronicle Photo Editor The Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto.

An internal investigation into the November death of a Citrus County Detention Facility inmate resulted in the unemployments of the facilitys warden and three other staff members.

CoreCivic, of Tennessee, announced Thursday, Feb. 10, it took several corrective measures following its review of Valerie Susan Bogles custody from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 at the Lecanto-based detention facility it manages for the county.

The warden and three other staff members at CCDF are no longer employed by CoreCivic, company spokesman Ryan Gustin said, adding he could not say how the employments ended.

Gustin said additional employees were also disciplined and/or counseled.

CoreCivic CoreCivic

Out of respect for personal privacy considerations, names of the individuals who were subject to corrective actions are not being disclosed, he said. Additional training to reinforce policy requirements and expectations has been initiated with all staff, along with staff meetings to discuss the importance of consistently adhering to established policies and protocols.

Gustin said CoreCivics senior management team sent Jerry Wardlow, who has more than 24 years of experience in corrections, to serve as acting warden until the position can be filled permanently.

Were committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate care for every individual at CCDF, and set high standards that, along with our government partner, we expect to be met at all times, Gustin said. In the rare instance that this does not occur, we take immediate steps to correct the issue, and we believe our actions in this situation reflect that.

According to a Citrus County Sheriffs Office case report, Bogle died Nov. 2 from dehydration while the Crystal River 63-year-old was living in an insolation cell within the jails booking area, where Bogle had been housed since her Oct. 29 arrest for battery.

The decedent was alone in the cell since she was arrested, a sheriffs office detective wrote in his investigative report about Bogles death.

Warden Mike Quinn told the detective Bogle had been uncooperative with corrections officers and sheriffs office authorities, leaving her booking process unfinished.

CoreCivic QUINN

He advised that (sic) had only obtained limited information on the decedent, the detective reported, and had not completed her medical screening.

Quinn told the detective Bogle underwent a mental-health screening Nov. 1, and was placed on suicide watch with plans to be moved the next day to medical housing.

Per the doctors instructions, the detective reported, she was to be checked at 15-minute intervals.

Detention facility staff found Bogle unconscious and unresponsive soon after 10:20 a.m. Nov. 2.

When the detective responded to the detention facility for what he reported as an inmate in cardiac arrest, he found facility staff performing CPR on Bogle, who was lying naked on her back near the steel door of an isolation cell with her clothes in the corners of a bed.

A Citrus County Fire Rescue paramedic later pronounced Bogle dead at 10:43 a.m.

No signs of trauma were observed on the decedent, the detective reported, noting evidence pointed to a possible medical condition being behind Bogles death.

CoreCivic opened an investigation into the incident after an autopsy report from January listed dehydration as Bogles cause of death.

District Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Wolf also cited Crohns Disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as contributing factors, according to the sheriffs office report.

Wolf ruled Bogles manner of death as natural.

As a result of its initial review into Bogles death, CoreCivic placed Quinn on administrative leave because several operational policies and procedures were not followed while Bogle was in the facilitys care, the company announced Feb. 4.

County jail's warden placed on leave after review of inmate death Mike Quinn, warden of the Citrus County Detention Facility, was placed on administrative leave following the review of an inmate death from November.

During its probe into what happened, Gustin said Thursday, CoreCivic identified instances where employees violated policies that relate to monitoring and reporting.

These policies are fundamental to ensuring the facility operates safely and securely, and all staff are trained on these policies and expected to adhere to them at all times, Gustin said.

Authorities notified Bogles next of kin, her father, 85-year-old Roderick Bogle.

Roderick Bogle told the Chronicle on Wednesday, Feb. 9, he was a little shocked but not surprised to learn about the death of his daughter, who he knew as a full-grown drug user.

Thats what I remember best about her, he said. Her life was that way ... I figured that was coming for a long time.

Roderick Bogle, who lives in Tampa, said he and his daughter spoke almost every day on the telephone up until her arrest.

We didnt really have a good connection ... I accepted her calls and listened, he said. She would call me, and we would talk about anything.

Roderick Bogle said he wanted to know how his daughter died, and was interested to discover dehydration was the reason because he always heard Bogle sipping on something while they were on the phone.

Up until Wednesday, Roderick Bogle didnt know his daughters death prompted CoreCivics investigation.

When she passed, I thought that was the end of it ... so no point overwriting it, he said. On my end, for me, it had closed.

Citrus County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Valerie Bogle early Oct. 29 on a first-degree-misdemeanor charge of battery, alleging she grabbed a woman by her neck in anger over an impending eviction.

When a deputy went to ask her about the allegations, Bogle started screaming and making nonsensical statements, according to her arrest report.

The defendant was very uncooperative with the investigation, the deputy reported, and trying to avoid to talk to me by making statements of different prior incidents.

According to the sheriffs office report on Bogles death, the investigating detective looked at detention facility surveillance footage from Nov. 2, spanning from 9:13 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.  minutes after Bogles death.

Cameras recorded a facility section chief looking into Bogles cell window at 9:13 a.m. According to the case report, the section chief told the detective he didnt see Bogle inside her cell, adding he wasnt sure if Bogle had already been transferred.

A facility unit manager later looked into Bogles cell window at 9:54 a.m. while he was escorting other inmates into the booking area to see if the cell could be used, according to the report.

He stated he observed trash and debris scattered in the cell, the detective reported, but did not observe the decedent.

Surveillance footage showed three corrections officers enter Bogles cell starting at around 10:23 a.m.

According to the sheriffs office report, one of the officers told the detective they were tasked to dress Bogle and escort her to medical housing, but found the inmate lying unresponsive on the floor, prompting a call for assistance from other officers and an eventual medical response.

When investigating what happened the evening of Nov. 1, the detective found out one of the corrections officers went to Bogles cell at around 5:30 p.m. to place a meal on the cells open door pass.

Video shows the decedent grab the meal, the detective reported, then throw the meal back out the door onto the floor.

The Citrus County Detention Facility can house up to 760 inmates, who are either in local, federal or U.S. Virgin Island custody. Quinn was named warden of the facility in June 2017 after coming in as assistant warden in September 2015.
Florida, US (34429)

Today

Cloudy in the morning, then off and on rain showers during the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Thunder possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
FTA negotiations with China to bring growth opportunities, says Ecuadorian president

Xinhua) 13:11, February 11, 2022

QUITO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has spoken highly of the start of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Ecuador and China, saying that increasing exports to China will generate growth opportunities for his country.

Lasso, who concluded his official visit to China last week, made the remarks at a press conference here on Wednesday, where he elaborated the benefits of the negotiations for Ecuador.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Ecuadorian Minister for Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Julio Prado recently signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the start of bilateral FTA negotiations.

"The global economy is a reality," said Lasso. "I believe that sooner or later we had to reach this point with China."

The president emphasized the need to improve and diversify exports beyond top products such as pitahaya, noting, "Selling more shrimp and more bananas to China means more employment in Ecuador. These markets will be strengthened."

"I believe that a small country like Ecuador with 17.7 million inhabitants has many opportunities in that large market of 1.4 billion inhabitants. It is very positive for Ecuador," Lasso said.

While its bumpy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for a great economic leap to enhance employment, Ecuador may "find a positive path in China" towards growth through increasing trade openness, he said.

Since only three out of 10 Ecuadorians have formal jobs, one of the challenges facing the Ecuadorian government is to gear up employment, making it urgent to increase exports and attract investment.

In recent years, economic and trade cooperation between China and Ecuador has achieved remarkable results, with significant growth in bilateral trade, said China's Ministry of Commerce in a statement earlier this week.

China has been Ecuador's second-largest trading partner for two consecutive years. In 2021, bilateral trade totaled 10.95 billion U.S. dollars, up 44.5 percent year on year.

The signing of a free trade agreement will help further tap the potential of bilateral trade and promote its sustained, stable and diversified development, according to the statement.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Around the turn of the century, Autonomy Corporation was one of the darlings of the UK technology industry, specializing in knowledge management and enterprise search. It went on an acquisition spree in the early 2000s, driving up its revenue, before being swallowed itself by Hewlett-Packard in 2011, in a deal that valued it at over $10 billion.

But this rags-to-riches tale doesnt have a happy ending.

In fact, the HP acquisition of Autonomy probably ranks among the most notorious failed mergers and acquisitions.

No sooner had the acquisition closed than revenue began to flag, prompting an internal investigation in which HP uncovered signs of past creative accounting at Autonomy. Rather than selling software to customers, HP said, Autonomy had been selling them hardware at a loss, then booking the sales as software licensing revenue.

That discovery forced HP to write down the value of Autonomy by more than $5 billion, triggering a wave of shareholder lawsuits. HP in turn sued (then former) Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch, and the U.S. Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation.

Last we heard, Lynch was in the UK, facing extradition to the US.

Heres how it played out.

The 1990s: Founding myth

1990: Mike Lynch, an academic in Cambridge, England, borrowsor so the legend goes2,000 to start Cambridge Neurodynamics, going on to develop the software that would later give rise to Autonomy. However, Companies House, the UK register of commerce, has no record of such a company, and its not until 1997 that Lynch creates another company, called simply Neurodynamics.

1996: Lynch sets up Autonomy Corporation in the UK. Its Agentware internet search tools are used by enterprises including Barclays Bank and Unilever and sold as shrink-wrapped software through retail outlets.

July 1998: Autonomys IPO on EASDAQ values the company at $165 million.

The 2000s: Spending spree

September 2003: Autonomy completes its purchase of video management software vendor Virage and rebuilds the companys software on its own IDOL (Intelligent Data Operating Layer) unstructured data management platform.

March 2004: Autonomy acquires NativeMinds and Cardiff Software.

November 2005: Autonomy agrees to buy search technology developer Verity for $500 milllion, its third acquisition of the year after NCorp (in February) and etalk (in June).

May 2007: Autonomy spins off its Blinkx consumer software unit in an IPO.

July 2007: Autonomy pays $375 million for content archiving and electronic discovery specialist Zantaz.

October 2007: Autonomy acquires data management specialist Meridio for 20 million.

January 2009: Autonomy buys enterprise content management vendor Interwoven for $775 million.

June 2010: Autonomy acquires CA Technologies information governance business.

The 2010s: Autonomys unravelling

September 2010: Ex-SAP CEO Leo Apotheker is named CEO of HP.

March 2010: Apotheker says he wants to transform HP from a hardware producer to a software and services provider.

May 2011: Autonomy sneaks in one last acquisition, of online backup service Iron Mountain Digital, for $380 million.

July 2011: Apotheker and Lynch reach a deal to sell Autonomy to HP, and HP begins its due-diligence examination of Autonomys finances. Lynchs lawyers will later claim that HP executives spent just six hours in conference calls with his team.

August 2011: HP agrees to acquire Autonomy for $42.11 per share, a premium of around 60% over the market price.

September 2011: HP fires Apotheker, naming Meg Whitman CEO.

October 2011: HP buys 87.34% of Autonomy for 5.44 billion, valuing the company at $10.3 billion at 2011 exchange ratesalthough later reports will put the price as high as 8.7 billion or $11.7 billion.

May 2012: A senior member of HPs Autonomy unit raises concerns about Autonomys accounting practices. Whitman hires PricewaterhouseCoopers to investigate. Meanwhile, Whitman announces the lay-off of 27,000 HP workers to cut costs. Lynch is among them, for failure to meet agreed performance goals, including financial metrics.

November 2012: HP takes an $8.8 billion impairment charge, linking more than $5 billion of it to serious accounting improprieties, misrepresentation, and disclosure failures at Autonomy discovered by an internal investigation by HP and forensic review of Autonomys accounting practices prior to its acquisition. HP alleges that the misrepresentations included selling low-end hardware at a loss and recording the transactionssaid to account for up to 15% of Autonomys total revenueas licenses for Autonomys IDOL software.

December 2012: HP says it is cooperating with the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the UKs Serious Fraud Office in an investigation relating to Autonomy.

February 2014: HP Autonomy breaks IDOL into discrete services.

June 2014: HP agrees to settle shareholder lawsuits. The plaintiffs agree to assist HP in bringing claims against Lynch and Hussain, and HP agrees to beef up its due-diligence process for evaluating acquisitions. Claims against HP executives will be dropped.

January 2015: The UKs Serious Fraud Office calls off its investigation of Autonomy, saying it has insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. This is hardly a surprise as the SFO has a reputation for failing to secure convictions.

March 2015: With the criminal investigation over, HP begins a civil case, suing Mike Lynch for $5.1 billion in the UKs High Court alleging that Lynch inflated Autonomys revenues by $700 million.

June 2015: Hewlett-Packard Co. reaches a final settlement with PGGM Vermogensbeheer BV, the lead plaintiff in a securities class action brought over the $8.8 billion impairment charge relating to the companys acquisition of Autonomy. Hewlett-Packards insurance will pay out $100 million to those who purchased HP shares between Aug. 19, 2011, and Nov. 20, 2012, releasing HP and its executives from any Autonomy-related securities claims.

November 2015: Hewlett-Packard separates into two companies, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) selling enterprise services and servers, and HP Inc. (HPI) selling printers and PCs. HPE assumes responsibility for the Autonomy litigation, agreeing to split any damages awarded with HPI.

May 2016: HPE sells its IT services business to CSC, forming DXC Technologies. OpenText buys HP TeamSite, a customer experience management platform developed at Interwoven before its acquisition by Autonomy, renaming it OpenText TeamSite.

September 2016: HPE sells software assets including remnants of the Autonomy business to Micro Focus, IDOL among them.

November 2016: A federal grand jury returns a criminal indictment against Sushovan Hussain, Autonomys former CFO. The grand jury alleges that Hussain, together with others, conspired to engage in a fraudulent scheme to deceive purchasers and sellers of Autonomy securities and HP about the true performance of Autonomys business, financial condition, and prospects for growth. Hussain and others made false and misleading statements to, among others, regulators, and market analysts. The indictment alleges that HP relied on the accuracy and truthfulness of the statements and disclosures when considering whether to buy Autonomy and at what price.

September 2017: HPE finally sells its software business, of which Autonomy assets make up a small part, to UK-based Micro Focus International. HPE receives $2.5 billion in cash from Micro Focus, while its shareholders receive Micro Focus shares worth around $6.3 billion.

April 2018: The federal grand jury finds Hussain guilty. He appeals.

November 2018: A federal grand jury indicts Mike Lynch with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud, saying that he provided HP with materially false and misleading financial statements for Autonomy while HP was considering the acquisition.

November 2019: The federal jury adds a new charge of securities fraud, with a maximum prison sentence of 25 years, to its indictment of Mike Lynch.

December 2019: The US asks the UK to extradite Mike Lynch to face charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy.

The 2020s: Resolution

August 2020: A US appeals court upholds former Autonomy CFO Sushovan Hussains fraud conviction and five-year prison sentence on 14 counts of wire fraud and one of securities fraud for falsely inflating Autonomys revenue.

September 2020: The UKs Financial Reporting Council fines Deloitte 15 million for failings in its auditing of Autonomys accounts between January 2009 and June 2011. At issue were Autonomys sales of hardware and its sales of software licenses to value-added resellers rather than to end customers.

January 2022: The UKs High Court rules on the HP civil suit, finding that Mike Lynch had fraudulently inflated Autonomys value by misleading HP about its performance. Later the same day, the UKs home secretary approves Lynchs extradition to the US to face the grand jurys charges.
If the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an accelerant for digital transformations, Walgreens Boots Alliance was at the vanguard of that trend.

The Deerfield, Ill. -based company, which counts nearly 9,000 retail Walgreens pharmacies in the US and nearly 2,300 Boots retailers in the UK, had no option to shut down or slow down when the pandemic hit globally in March 2019.

Instead, Global CIO and Senior Vice President Francesco Tinto, who joined WBA six months prior, pushed the companys cloud-first business transformation into overdrive to ensure the pharmacy chain could better serve its customers digitally, as the need for COVID-19 scheduling, testing, and vaccinations spurred the company to build digital solutions faster than planned.

COVID really pushed us to make sure that we could really have service to customers during the lockdown, Tinto says.

To date, WBA has administered 56 million COVID-19 vaccines and 22.9 million tests in the US, thanks in some measure to a digital transformation largely based on Microsofts Azure cloud and a dizzying array of bleeding-edge technologies, including MongoDB databases, Snowflake data warehousing, and Databricks Spark-based AI platform.

Now the Walgreens Boots IT chief is leveraging this potent cocktail of advanced cloud, data analytics, and artificial intelligence technologies to deliver mass personalization services and to enhance WBAs online relationship with consumers.

Data is a core ingredient

WBAs modernization of its IT stack has entailed migrating the back-end processes that drive its online retail business, such as accounts payable, the general ledger, and inventory management, to Microsofts cloud. As part of this, WBA rebuilt its business application stack by moving to SAP S/4HANA and migrating to ServiceNows cloud-based automated operational services.

Francesco Tinto, global CIO and SVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance Walgreens Boots Alliance

The company also started consolidating its numerous data assets into a Microsoft Azure data lake, a shift that has proved pivotal to making analytics and AI magic happen, Tinto says. As part of this transformation, WBA migrated from legacy databases to advanced cloud databases and analytics, deploying Azure Synapse for relational data, Azure Cosmos for unstructured and semi-structured data, and MongoDB for document-oriented models.

The retail chain is also migrating on-premises data stored in Teradata, Netezza, and Hadoop appliances to the cloud, leveraging Snowflake for data warehousing and Databricks for AI, Tinto says.

That data foundation has proved key to establishing WBAs next-generation services, enabling developers and data scientists in WBAs 2,000-member IT staff, along with thousands of its partners programmers, to build about 100 in-house AI products to date, Tinto says.

In addition to Databricks platform, WBA uses Python tools, Spark Clusters, Jupyter Notebooks, and open-source NLP (natural language processing) capabilities to write machine learning models for inventory optimization and pricing optimization, and to create customer profiles  the core of WBAs next-generation personalization services, Tinto says.

AI for us is really the technology that were pushing a lot, he says. A big push is building an operating model where we can really leverage the data and the data scientists increase their knowledge and utilization of AI. We want to make sure that AI and machine learning is embedded in everything we do.

Next frontier: Mass personalization

In the third year of its transformation, WBAs top focus is now to build out customer profiles and offer mass personalization to its customers, advancing its online dispensing system and giving consumers more management of prescriptions online, according to Tinto.

Its really the consolidation and curation of all of our data is how we start building the customer profiles and personalization capabilities, Tinto says, adding that the company is implementing cloud services in a manner that enables the company to harmonize between global capability and local adaptation.

Tinto and CEO Rosalind Brewer both believe WBAs cloud infrastructure is essential to the companys strategy for delivering more customized, personalized services to the bulk of its consumers in the US and UK, as well as an increasing number of WBA pharmacies in Mexico, Thailand, and Ireland.

We have the set the foundation. We are no longer moving to the cloud. We are in the cloud, Tinto says, noting that the company is finalizing its online dispensing system and moving more aggressively into data analytics that are much more prescriptive and predictive.

While the company is still leveraging some applications in its data center, the next-generation data analytics and AI platform will enable WBA to get very close to its consumers  one customer at a time.

The intention is for customers to manage their prescriptions online from their Walgreens or Boots accounts and receive personal recommendations for products and solutions that address each consumers unique health issues.

AI is very important to understanding the profile of the customer. Now we can serve the best promotion, the best content, personalized offerings, says Tinto, adding that the plan also includes making the personalized services interactive using chatbots.

WBA, for instance, signed a partnership with Microsoft and Adobe 18 months ago to offer one-to-one communications with consumers and to deliver tailored prescription experiences online. Adobes Customer Experience Management (CXM) solutions, another aspect of the partnership, will offer analytics, content management, personalization, and campaign orchestration services online.

For example, we are launching a new experience for a patient who has been diagnosed with a chronic condition so we can help the customer through the journey and offer advice and suggestions that help the person minimize the impact of the disease, Tinto says.

The global CIO is pleased with the progress to date and excited about the prospects for the future.

Im on a journey that doesnt stop with a move to the cloud, he says of his effort to create a data-driven organization that can offer mass personalization. With all of the complications of the pandemic, Im in the middle of rebuilding an organization shifting from being extremely operational into an organization that is transformational.
Perfumes e Companhia is the largest perfume retailer in Portugal, with 150 brick-and-mortar sites. But todays customers demand great flexibility in how they explore and purchase products, whether in-store, at home, or on a mobile device.

So, the company embraced digital transformation in a big way. It has served them well through a global pandemic and supply chain challenges. Supporting a flawless customer journey is at the heart of everything the company does.

The goal is to create seamless experiences and make the customer feel comfortable, regardless of how they interact with us, said Diogo Caldeira Pinto, CIO of Perfumes e Companhia.

To do that, the company needed a technology foundation that was secure, scalable, and future-proof. In the online realm, for example, the company was exploring new ways to interact across social media, while contending with big traffic spikes on important shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In-store, it needed to enable seamless shifts from mobile devices to in-person experiences.

The company started with designing a new rewards app that would engage customers while also generating important customer data. For this to be operational, a secure, powerful WiFi solution was needed in-store, which would ride on a solid network infrastructure.

We already had a trusted IT partner that we could turn to: Cisco, Caldeira Pinto said. All of our essential infrastructure is based on Cisco Systems. With our ongoing focus on technology and innovation, we made a large investment in our data center. We required scalable and flexible infrastructure, and we began there.

For WiFi solutions, Perfumes e Companhia turned to Cisco Meraki, drawn to its robust security, expanded control over the customer network, and remote-management capabilities.

These Meraki solutions expanded to include a large new fulfillment warehouse.

We had a WiFi infrastructure there that could not handle the capacity we needed, he said, and there was a conflict between the access points. By installing Cisco Meraki, weve been able to stabilize the whole infrastructure.

Of course, cybersecurity is paramount in any retail environment, whether virtual or brick-and-mortar. One key to Perfumes e Companhias security was Merakis segmentation solution, which prevents a potential breach from spreading to other networks or systems.

In retail locations, segmentation is vital, Caldeira Pinto said. We begin with an open WiFi for customers WiFi-enabled devices when they enter a store. We also have several hidden networks  for our staffs usage  running throughout the store. This segmentation is important for us so we can ensure that the app traffic that comes from the clients is completely separate from the rest of the infrastructure. This segmenting also adds a layer of security to our WiFi infrastructure and operations.

As the pandemic highlighted; remote management of IT systems is more important than ever. For security, usage spikes, or any other issue that arises, Caldeira Pintos team can respond from anywhere at any time.

Its also important that we can centrally manage the infrastructure to identify potential problems and configure those resolutions remotely, he said. All of this is managed by just three IT staff members. From one dashboard, they can monitor security and performance, while remotely resolving almost any issue that arises.

With a solid foundation in place, Caldeira Pinto looks forward to new innovations that will enable the company to meet challenges and evolving customer demands.

By using technology to reconnect with the customer before they approach us in the store, Caldeira Pinto said, were being proactive and helpful, rather than reactive and unaware. Technology is helping us create our dream customer journey.

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The investigative outlet The Asheville Watchdog launched in North Carolina in early 2020 with a highly experienced staff of retired reporters. Bob Gremillion, the Watchdogs publisher, is a former Tribune executive. Reporter and editor Peter Lewis was once a senior writer, editor, and columnist at the New York Times. Sally Kestin, an investigative reporter, won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Theyre surrounded by a team of similarly illustrious colleagues. And theyre all working for free.

Eschewing a paycheck has become a surprisingly common trend in the world of local public service journalism, but it looks particularly unique at the Watchdog, where each and every reporterwhile ostensibly retireddonates his or her time. CJR spoke to Lewis, Kestin, and Gremillion about the papers unique model, its sustainability, and the future of local accountability reporting. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How did The Asheville Watchdog come to be?

Kestin: Bob and I had been here, I guess, about three years, and David Feingoldthen the general manager of Blue Ridge Public Radioconvened a group of other former media folks who had landed here. We were all commiserating about the decline of local journalism. Bob and I came from a much larger market in South Florida, where we had three major metro papers that we regularly read. I think its a little unfair to come to a small town and expect to get that level of journalism. Nonetheless, we observed lots of things that we both would comment to each other, Man, I wish we could see a story on that. So I reached out and met everybody [in local media] here in town, with, I guess, the exception of the TV station. I realized that the Citizen Times, our local paper here, had gone from roughly seventy editorial employees down to maybe ten or twelve.

So we decided we have the ability to do something about this. We launched the Watchdog in 2020, right as the pandemic hit. We did not get off the ground the way we intended to, which was to go out and meet as many people as we could in the community, introduce ourselves, tell them what we were planning to do, develop sources, introduce ourselves, ask what was on peoples minds. We were not able to do that, but weve kind of changed a little bit along the way and picked up some of these terrific folks that are now working alongside of us as they moved to town and learned about us. So Pete, thats your introduction.

Lewis: Well, I moved to Asheville in February of 2020, and I noticed that the local media ecosystem was not as robust as I thought it should be for a town this size. So I started poking around about the possibility of helping to launch a nonprofit news organization similar to some of the others Ive been involved with. I was managing editor of the Bay Citizen in San Francisco for a while, which was a nonprofit. The reason that the Bay Citizen was launched was because there was a real chance that San Francisco would be a major city without a really good newspaper. And I saw something happening here in Asheville, with the acquisition of Citizen Times by Gannett, and the shrinking of the staff. One thing Id like to say is that, from the very beginning, there was no interest at all among any of the founders of Asheville Watchdog about competing with any of the local media systems. Weve all had careers in the service of journalism, and we want to do everything we can to help support it. So our goal is to help provide the kind of coverage that other media organizations in town dont have the resources or the willingness to do. And so this little band of reporters and editors and media executives came together. And from the very start, we discovered that its a target-rich area and a lot of stories that need to be done, people havent been doing.

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When a community doesnt have a robust local reporting infrastructure, the tendency is for government agencies and private businesses and others to lose the idea of transparency, so they stop thinking about accountability. Things happen more and more behind closed doors. Thats something that were seeing here at the Watchdog today with almost every organization that we look at. We have to fight them to get information. And people are afraid to talk. Wrestling public documents, enforcing public meetings, and that sort of thing is one of the things that the Watchdog is helping to change in town, I hope.

In what ways do you see your modelboth financially and editoriallyas traditional? And in what ways do you see it as nontraditional?

Kestin: As one of us said recently, we failed at retirement. We are doing this as a public service, as volunteers. And I think that probably makes us unique, possibly the only kind of nonprofit doing journalism like this, and I think thats what sets us apart. A lot of people come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery in these mountains, but want some way to contribute to the community. People volunteer here in all kinds of ways. For us, this was a natural fit. Its a way for us to use the skills that we have and do something thats really good for the community.

Gremillion: As a publisher, Ive never had such a large budget for journalists. All of these high-pay-but-not-paid journalists on the staff. One of the next steps is to hire full-time reporters coming up in the world and train them with this staff on accountability and investigative journalism. Weve been awarded a Report for America fellow that will start in June. And thatll be our first paid journalist. And we hope to add a second paid journalist so that this becomes a paid staff eventually, although none of our volunteers will ever be paid.

But as we think about how the role of local journalism is changing, what do you see as your place in all that?

Kestin: I think in any communityand were certainly finding that herethere is always going to be a need to have reporters who are able to dig deeply and ferret out the truth that some people dont want told, to hold public officials accountable to expose wrongs, right wrongs. Thats the lasting kind of impact that I think we will have, and those are the kind of stories that we pursue. I dont know the future. Im not sure exactly what the formats gonna be, but I think the growth of nonprofit journalism like oursits really mind-bogglingthe number of these have sprouted up. To me, thats very encouraging. I think thats where its all headed. Its going to be smaller local newsgathering operations with all kinds of different models.

Lewis: We want to reach people in the way that they want to consume the newsthat may be mobile, may be podcasts, may be video. Were concentrated right now on telling the stories and then letting other people figure out how best to distribute.

Do you think this is a model that can be duplicated elsewhere?

Lewis: Asheville is a wonderful town, especially for folks who are retiring. Were just under a hundred thousand people here. But the pool of accomplished folks who are coming here who have an interest in volunteering is pretty high. Im not sure that other cities have that kind of resource. On the other hand, you know, relying on volunteers is not a sustainable business practice, especially for a news organization that hopes to have some frequency in publication. But I think any news organization really has to have a core full-time journalist to do their job, you know, on a daily basis. Im not sure what were doing here is replicable elsewhere.

Is there a particular audience you have in mind when youre writing stories?

Lewis: We made a very targeted decision to focus our reporting efforts locally, meaning in the town of Asheville. We have a tiny staff. We cant really spread ourselves too thin. And also, if you look at the biographies of people involved in The Watchdog, almost all of us come from prominent national or regional publications; were pretty closely identified with the top suspects in the mainstream media. Im not sure how receptive the outlying areas are to the idea of a mainstream media publication, even though were so small.

Gremillion: I think, too, [Sallys] first story here was something that was happening right out in public for years and years and years.

Kestin: The head of a local charity that was very prominent had been on all kinds of boards, was a commencement speaker at the the local university graduation, received an honorary degree, and it turned out he had a conviction for a sex crime with a student when he was a teacher that he had been concealing for years. So, you know, again, that was something that people knew about in this town, but just sort of overlooked.

Gremillion: That guy has been protected by a very strong good-old-boy network here for a long time. And when we opened up and started fundraising a couple of years after that happened, we were turned down by many, many people based on that story.

Kestin: When we pick the stories, it has to interest us, because we are doing this on our own, but its really just: What is a good investigative, in-depth story that needs to be told? Were not really trying to identify an audience and then go find a story that would appeal to that audience. Its kind of the oppositewere doing what we find to be just really good, necessary journalism and hoping to reach as wide of an audience as we can.

I would say that probably our most loyal readers, the ones that have signed up for email alerts on our website, are people that look just like us. Theyre older, theyre retired, they have the time to read and they give us feedback. But thats not a large number. So we get the bulk of our coverage through our media partners. The Citizen Times carries almost all of our stories in print and online. So does Blue Ridge Public Radio. Thats how we want it to be. We want this to be accessible to as many people as possible for free.

As you look to hire more staff, how do you think about what the future of journalism at this level might look like?

Lewis: As Sally said, were doing this because as a public service, we would do this under any circumstance, because we think its crucially important. But we cant count on younger people to volunteer to work the same way that we do. And so we have to raise money in order to pay them, and raising money in this rural area is not as easy as it is in larger metropolitan places. You know, we hit pretty hard at the largest employer in town, calling them out for a number of things, and so its unlikely that theyre going to support us. The second largest employer in town is the local school system. Were working on a series of stories that theyre not going to like very much. The largest foundation in town doesnt like us very much because of the stories that weve been writing. And so a lot of the sources that we might turn to for the money in order to hire new reporters are more difficult for us. It can be hard to get the attention of a lot of the big national foundations who might otherwise support local. So we have challenges here. But we dont think theyre insurmountable. And the public support from local community donations and individual contributions has been encouraging. It takes money to employ younger journalistswere going to continue doing what we do. And its just a question of whether we can build up war chests and guarantee young people a job.

The Journalism Crisis Project aims to train our focus on the present crisis, and to foster a conversation about what comes next. We hope youll join us. (Click to subscribe!)

EXPLORE THE TOW CENTERS COVID-19 CUTBACK TRACKER: Throughout 2020 and 2021, researchers at the Tow Center collected reports of a wide range of cutbacks amid the pandemic. Theres an interactive map and searchable database. You can find it here. And read a recent report here.

More on recent media trends and changes in local newsrooms:

THE PANDEMICS EFFECTS ON JOURNALISTS OF COLOR: For Poynter , Kristen Hare reported the results of a project investigating the effects of pandemic layoffs on the careers of journalists of color: she calls the findings evident but unconfirmable. After Mazin Sidahmed and Moiz Syed approached Hare about the project in the summer of 2020, they hired researcher Rima Pirakh to dig into the data. After five months, Pirakh found no clear and consistent data that could help us tell this story, Hare writes. What she did find were a few reasons why that clear and consistent data does not exist. Hare outlines the journalism industrys lack of transparency when it comes to layoffs, including a general lack of public notices, a reluctance among journalists to discuss layoffs, and a growing use of nondisclosure agreements and nondisparagement clauses. (Elsewhere, for Devex , Stephanie Beasley argues that the best way to support newsrooms led by people of color is to endow them.)

For , Kristen Hare reported the results of a project investigating the effects of pandemic layoffs on the careers of journalists of color: she calls the findings evident but unconfirmable. After Mazin Sidahmed and Moiz Syed approached Hare about the project in the summer of 2020, they hired researcher Rima Pirakh to dig into the data. After five months, Pirakh found no clear and consistent data that could help us tell this story, Hare writes. What she did find were a few reasons why that clear and consistent data does not exist. Hare outlines the journalism industrys lack of transparency when it comes to layoffs, including a general lack of public notices, a reluctance among journalists to discuss layoffs, and a growing use of nondisclosure agreements and nondisparagement clauses. (Elsewhere, for , Stephanie Beasley argues that the best way to support newsrooms led by people of color is to endow them.) LOCAL NEWSPAPERS INCREASE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Newspaper chains across the US have reported recent growth in digital subscriptions, Marc Tracy reported for the New York Times. Lee Enterprises recently reported 57 percent growth in annual digital subscriptions; Gannettthe largest newspaper chain in the countryreported 46 percent annual growth in November. Hearsts newspapers nearly doubled digital subscription revenues. While digital subscriptions are buoying diminished metro dailies, it is less clear if they can rescue news deserts, those typically less-populated areas where local news coverage has all but gone away, Tracy writes. But for an industry accustomed to doomsaying, the willingness of people to pay for digital access is giving many publishers hope.

Newspaper chains across the US have reported recent growth in digital subscriptions, Marc Tracy reported for the Lee Enterprises recently reported 57 percent growth in annual digital subscriptions; Gannettthe largest newspaper chain in the countryreported 46 percent annual growth in November. Hearsts newspapers nearly doubled digital subscription revenues. While digital subscriptions are buoying diminished metro dailies, it is less clear if they can rescue news deserts, those typically less-populated areas where local news coverage has all but gone away, Tracy writes. But for an industry accustomed to doomsaying, the willingness of people to pay for digital access is giving many publishers hope. BOULDER STARTUP BUILDS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS: In Boulder, Colorado, nonprofit newsroom startup the Boulder Reporting Lab grew its newsletter list by 60 percent after the newsrooms coverage of the Marshall Fire, Sarah Scire reported for NiemanLab . With more than 5,000 subscribers, the outlet is halfway to its goal of 10,000 subscribers by its one-year anniversary in November 2022. The small team plans to build a sustainable newsroom with a mixed-revenue business model. I think the best opportunity for success for local news startups, particularly in small markets, is to be free for all, paid for by some, cofounder Stacy Feldman told Scire. The paywall in a small market where you cant scale is just a tough sell.

In Boulder, Colorado, nonprofit newsroom startup the Boulder Reporting Lab grew its newsletter list by 60 percent after the newsrooms coverage of the Marshall Fire, Sarah Scire reported for With more than 5,000 subscribers, the outlet is halfway to its goal of 10,000 subscribers by its one-year anniversary in November 2022. The small team plans to build a sustainable newsroom with a mixed-revenue business model. I think the best opportunity for success for local news startups, particularly in small markets, is to be free for all, paid for by some, cofounder Stacy Feldman told Scire. The paywall in a small market where you cant scale is just a tough sell. NEW STUDY CONSIDERS CAREER PATHS FOR LOCAL JOURNALISTS: For NiemanLab and the RQ1 newsletter, Mark Coddington and Seth Lewis considered the career path for local journalists today by examining a recent study from the Journalism Studies journal. At least in the medium term, the typical local journalism career is likely to be more characterized by inertia or departure than advancement, especially for women and journalists of color, Coddington and Lewis write. In addition, many less experienced journalists in the studys focus area of Seattle are leaving the profession, and more experienced journalists are more likely to maintain their status than to advance.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Lauren Harris is a freelance journalist. She writes CJR's weekly newsletter for the Journalism Crisis Project. Follow her on Twitter @LHarrisWrites.
The Biden administration on Friday warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen within days, and again advised Americans to leave Ukraine now. The advice is strangely at odds with what day-to-day life feels like in the country. How do Putins and Bidens ageand Cold War experienceshape the current crisis?

Eleanor Beardsley, Paris correspondent for NPR, recently traveled to Ukraine. On this weeks Kicker, she joins Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, to discuss her recent reporting, and how different the Russian threat looks on the ground.

SHOW NOTES

French president Macron is helping facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Eleanor Beardsley, All Things Considered

Russia, Ukraine, and the front lines of information warfare, Amanda Darrach, CJR
The Tinder Swindler, on Netflix, is a gripping documentary feature about Shimon Hayut, an accused Israeli con man who, the film alleges, posed as a billionaire diamond dealers son, enticed women on the dating app across Europe, invited them to join in on his lavish lifestyle of private jets and island vacations, and eventually manipulated them into giving him a total of more than $10 million.

The film, directed by Dont Fuck with Cats producer Felicity Morris, was an instant sensation. But its backbone is shoe-leather journalism: a months-long investigation by Erlend Ofte Arntsen, Natalie Reme Hansen, and Kristoffer Kumar, published in 2019 in Verdens Gang, Norways largest newspaper.

The reporters first got the tip from Cecilie Fjellhy, one of the women who alleges Hayut defrauded her. They pored through the couples WhatsApp archives, tracked down Hayuts public records in multiple countries, and flew to Israel and Germany to verify details.

The story they produced is sharp and inventive. While social media sleuthing has become its own kind of pop culture genre, the three did the kind of work that journalists and news organizations do best. CJR spoke with the VG team to discuss their work. The following has been edited for clarity.

When you first received the tip about Simon, what did you think? What made you decide to pursue the story?

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Erlend Ofte Arntsen: The first thing that happened was that Cecilie reached out to us in June 2018. It was just a simple email, but full of pretty interesting words: private jets, luxury hotels, the son of a billionaire who scammed her. And she was able to give us two massively important troves of documents, her WhatsApp history and her credit card statements.

Natalie Reme Hansen: Yeah, the entire relationship between Cecilie and Simon was documented every day, every minute, for months. We would be able to tell the story as if it were unfolding in real timethe format and layout of the audio clips and messages along with the reportingwhich was incredible. We could make the reader really feel what Cecilie was feeling, and truly understand what happened to her and why.

Kristoffer Kumar: This was a good story we could tell through good journalism. It checked all the boxes: good story, solid documentation, lots of visual elements. And Cecilie was a great source. She was really communicative in an extremely good way.

Its always so important to cultivate trust with a source, especially for something thats intimate and sensitive. What was that process like with Cecilie and the other women?

Reme Hansen: I think it meant a lot to Cecilie that we had good control over her story. We had read the material thoroughly and had really invested time in listening to what she was telling us. Shes from Norway, so she knew about VG, which is a big newspaper. But it was important for us and her to not rush anything; we took as much time as we needed, and let her review before we published.

Ofte Arntsen: Generally speaking, working on such a sensitive story for a period of one year of course led us to have discussions about everything, whats confidential, whats not. They were all really understanding of the importance of getting all the facts straight, getting the picture right.

What about safety precautions? There were moments in the story when things could have taken a turn, like when Pernilla confronted Simon in the parking garage. How did you plan for those?

Ofte Arntsen: The night before Pernilla [Sjoholm] decided she wanted to fly to Munich to meet Simon, we were very concerned, as journalists. She was very adamant and 100 percent sure she wanted to go through with it. At that point, you dont want to make decisions for anyone else. So I was totally hands off. We decided to go with her, discussed everything with our bosses, and so on. We knew we would do everything possible to make sure we avoid unsafe situations.

Reme Hansen: I was texting with Pernilla all day, the day we were in Munich. She named me on her phone as someone else so in case Simon read it, he wouldnt understand anything. And we had a constant dialogue going throughout the day. We tracked her location. So when it was time for them to go to dinner, we followed closely and kept track.

Kumar: We were really excited, because this was the first time that wed be able to see this guy in person. And, of course, we had a lot of footage of Simon from the material we got from Cecilies phone. But it was really important for us to capture footage of him on our own, for our story. And it was also very important for us just to see how he was in real life, and whether this image matched who he was from the photos that weve seen before. So we took all the precautions that night in the parking garage, but I think I felt safe. We all were careful.

When the story broke on VG, what reaction were youand the womenhoping for? What were you expecting?

Reme Hansen: I think with a story like this, you have to try and make people understand what kind of situation these women were in. We use a lot of time talking about Simon as a nice person. We dont flatly say hes a criminal or that the women were naivewe want to make people understand how they fell for him, how they could possibly give away such a big amount of money. We told them theyd get both good and bad comments, and they were prepared.

Ofte Arntsen: It was a big point for us before publication that we specifically talk about reactions on social media. They could be called certain things. Now the story will be out there, and its always raining cats and dogs on social media. How do you prepare for something like that? How would the world react?

Reme Hansen: After we published in 2019, the story did get a lot of attention. Much more than we were used to. We chose to publish in English as well as Norwegian because we expected that there would be more victims, at least all over Europe. And we did get lots of emails and phone calls, because back then Simon was still at large. We also got a lot of calls from production companies who wanted to make this documentary. But that decision was entirely up to Cecilie and Pernilla.

And now that the Netflix documentary has blown up, its getting much more attention again, two years later. This genre of online catfish scams and internet true crime is becoming increasingly popular. Is it fair to say this story is first and foremost a journalistic endeavor?

Kumar: I think this story stood out because of how crazy it all was. It also got a lot of recognition because it was told in a way that dragged the reader into it. It happened on a mobile phone, and the viewer experiences it through the mobile phone. This could actually happen to anyone, you knowa guy that you were in love with keeps sending you these messages, voice messages, or videos, constantly. Stories about crooks are often told in black or white, in movies as well as in traditional journalism. This was a story that was different from both.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Paroma Soni is a CJR fellow.
Declaring no cover-up will be tolerated, Louisianas top GOP lawmaker announced a bipartisan legislative investigation Thursday into the deadly 2019 arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene, an inquiry that will examine the states response at all levels, from troopers to the governor.

House Speaker Rep. Clay Schexnayder said he launched the probe in response to an Associated Press report last month that showed Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards was informed within hours that troopers arresting Greene engaged in a violent, lengthy struggle, yet he kept quiet for two years as state police told a much different story to the victims family and in official reports: that Greene died from a crash after a high-speed chase.

These events have raised serious questions regarding who knew what and when, Schexnayder said in a statement. The actions taken that night and the cryptic decisions and statements made every step of the way since then have eroded public trust.

Edwards, who was in the midst of a tight reelection campaign at the time of Greenes May 2019 death near Monroe, did not speak out in detail about the case until last May, after the AP obtained and published long-withheld body-camera video showing white troopers jolting Greene with stun guns, punching him in the face and dragging him by his ankle shackles as he wailed, Im your brother! Im scared! Im scared!

Edwards did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. But at a news conference last week, he said he was unaware Greene had been mistreated until September 2020 and did not speak out about the troopers actions  even after privately watching the footage  because of an ongoing federal civil rights investigation.

Edwards news conference marked the first time he characterized the actions of the troopers involved in Greenes arrest as racist. And he denied doing anything to impede or delay justice. The implication that I knew more and tried to cover it up is simply and categorically false, he said.

Asked at the news conference about the prospect of a legislative probe, Edwards said: I cant tell you that I welcome an investigation that is an absolute witch hunt with no basis in fact. Where would that stop?

Schexnayder said a new investigative committee made up of four Democrats and four Republicans will begin public hearings in the coming weeks, with Edwards himself among the witnesses likely to be called. Lawmakers are also expected to request a range of documents, including text messages from Edwards that he has yet to release in response to a public records request by AP.

Edwards has denied Schexnayders contention in the recent AP report that the governor met with him last June and sought to discourage a legislative inquiry into the case by blaming Greenes death on a car wreck.

Page Cortez, the Republican Senate president, said he was also at the meeting and recalled the governor making the argument that nothing nefarious happened in Greenes arrest; that Greene ran into a tree after a chase; and that no criminal charges were going to be brought in the case. Cortez also backed Schexnayders account of the governor saying there was no need for lawmakers to take action.

Cortez said recent events have made clear that lawmakers  and the public  need more information. The legislature, as a whole, feels like we need to get more answers and be more transparent about what took place, he said.

The legislative action is playing out amid a more than 2-year-old federal civil rights probe into the deadly encounter and whether police brass obstructed justice to protect the troopers who arrested Greene.

An AP investigation found Greenes death was part of a pattern of state police violence shrouded in secrecy, and among at least a dozen cases over the past decade in which troopers or their bosses ignored or concealed evidence of beatings, deflected blame and impeded efforts to root out misconduct.

Greenes mother, Mona Hardin, has called for Edwards to resign.

He was able to stand aside as all this unfolded and just remain mute, she told the AP. Thats shameful.

About the photo: Mona Hardin holds the boxed ashes of her son, Ronald Greene, while sitting items bearing his likeness Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. Hardin is haunted by the body-camera images of her son Greene being punched, stunned and dragged by Louisiana State Police. After a more than two-year federal probe, still none of the officers involved has been charged. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee asked federal emergency management officials on Wednesday to help assess whether counties affected by last weeks icy winter storm can receive funds to assist with power restoration.

The Republican governor asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to work with the states emergency department on a preliminary damage assessment after a storm brought freezing rain, sleet and snow to counties in West and Middle Tennessee on Feb. 3 and 4.

On the first day of the storm, more than 140,000 homes and businesses lost power in the state. Flooding also was reported. A motorist was killed in Haywood County when he crashed his pickup truck into a tree that had fallen onto a state highway.

In Memphis, ice accumulated on city streets and trees, which sagged and dropped limbs on power lines and homes. More than 500 trees fell onto city streets, blocking traffic and taking down electrical lines. Ice also damaged electrical transmission circuits, leading to delays in power restoration.

Electrical crews, including some from other states, have worked 16-hour shifts to restore power. More than 30,000 homes and businesses remained without electrical service Wednesday in Memphis, according to the citys power company, Memphis Light, Gas & Water.

Residents who were still without electricity Wednesday had spent six days either staying with friends or family, in hotels, or huddled in their cold homes. Power company officials have said they hope to have service restored by the end of this week for customers affected by the storm.

Lees office said that joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, such as the one he requested, are used to determine if a state can qualify for a major disaster declaration and for local jurisdictions to receive federal funding.

FEMAs public assistance program reimburses governments and certain private organizations for emergency work, restoration of utility services, and repair or replacement of facilities and infrastructure damaged by disasters, officials said.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, had sent a letter to Lee asking him to seek emergency assistance from FEMA.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A river on fire with millions of gallons of spilled oil, jet fuel and gasoline. An environmental disaster ranking with the worst in America. No fuel for a state trying to recover from a major earthquake.

Scientists say Oregon faces a potential nightmare scenario unless work is done to fortify its main fuel storage facility against a major earthquake, which will come sooner or later.

More than 90% of the states liquid fuels are stored at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub, along a 6-mile (10-kilometer) stretch of the Willamette River in northwest Portland.

This week, Oregon lawmakers began taking steps to compel the owners and operators of the facilitys aging storage tanks to make them earthquake resistant.

A new report commissioned by the city of Portland and Multnomah County noted the hub is built on soils subject to liquefaction in an earthquake, meaning the water-saturated sediment would temporarily lose strength and act as a fluid.

The industrial area contains 46 large above-ground fuel tanks, a liquefied natural gas storage facility and pipelines, according to a state report. Some fuel tanks are more than 100 years old, and most were built at least 50 years ago.

The study estimated that a major earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone would result in 95 million to 194 million gallons (432 million to 882 million liters) of fuels gushing from the tanks. The spill would flow from the Willamette River into the nearby Columbia River and, unless it is contained, would reach the Pacific Ocean, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the northwest.

The predicted damage is on a par with the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history, when BPs Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in 2010, spilling at least 134 million gallons (609 million liters) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The fuel releases are likely to cause explosions and fires, the Oregon researchers wrote. If the fire spreads to other properties there are very large threats to human life, safety, physical structures and natural resources.

California is known for earthquakes, especially along the San Andreas Fault. But experts predict one of the worlds biggest earthquakes could occur any day along the Cascadia subduction zone, which runs from offshore Northern California, Oregon and Washington state to Canada. The last time a major Cascadia earthquake occurred was in 1700, with an estimated at magnitude 9.

Oregon officials recognize the threat, and have taken steps to mitigate it.

Great Oregon ShakeOut Day is held annually to encourage residents to learn how to react to an earthquake. Gov. Kate Brown frequently reminds people to maintain an emergency kit with at least two weeks worth of food, water and other necessities. Tsunami-zone warning signs dot coastal highways.

In 1995, the Legislature banned construction of certain emergency and other public facilities in tsunami inundation zones. But it repealed the measure in 2019 after coastal legislators said that without new emergency services buildings, coastal residents and businesses wont be able to get property insurance which would cause property values to fall.

Oregon joined an early warning system last year operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. It uses seismographic sensors to detect significant earthquakes quickly so alerts reach smartphones and people can seek cover. Washington state and California also use the system.

An earthquake of at least magnitude 7 has a 37% chance of occurring off the Oregon coast in the next 50 years, according to Chris Goldfinger, an earthquake expert and professor at Oregon State University. A magnitude 9 quake has a 10% to 15% chance of occurring in that period, he said. The largest quake ever recorded was magnitude 9.5, hitting southern Chile in 1960.

Were living with a ticking time bomb, state Sen. Michael Dembrow, who is from Portland and is a chief sponsor of the bill, said Monday during the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment public hearing on the measure.

Dembrow said every time he drives by the storage tanks, he has a nightmare vision that the earthquake strikes, as we know it will, and we elected officials are left having to ask ourselves: Why did we ignore the warnings?

If that occurs, how do we live with ourselves? he asked fellow lawmakers. Two dozen others have joined him in sponsoring the bill.

Leaders of the American Society of Civil Engineers Oregon branch testified that its critically important that the facility be made seismically resilient. They noted that after a major earthquake, fuel will be needed to power generators, equipment and vehicles for rescue and emergency personnel.

All of the jet fuel for Portland International Airport is stored at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. Without it, planes bringing aid to Oregon would be unable to refuel.

Mike Harryman, appointed by the governor as Oregons first state resilience officer and tasked with preparing for a Cascadia earthquake, said Oregon will feel three punches: from the quake itself, the tsunami and the disaster at the fuel hub.

To date Im unaware that any seismic mitigation has been started at the site by any of the owners and/or operators, he told the hearing.

The bill requires owners or operators of bulk oils and liquid fuels terminals to conduct and submit seismic vulnerability assessments by June 1, 2024, to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which would review and approve them. The owners and operators would then implement a seismic risk plan approved by department.

How they do the work and on what timetable isnt yet clear, Dembrow said in an email.

Jessica Spiegel, of the Western States Petroleum Association, a nonprofit that represents companies involved in the petroleum industry in five western states including Oregon, noted that the bill entails large fees but that federal funds may be available to mitigate them.

She said as fees are established, some understanding of business needs in the state should be taken into account.

About the photo: The Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub, which lies along a 6-mile (10-kilometer) stretch of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., is seen on Aug. 23, 2013. Scientists say Oregon faces a potential nightmare scenario unless work is done to fortify the hub, where more than 90% of the states liquid fuels are stored, against a major earthquake, which will come sooner or later. This week, Oregon lawmakers began taking steps to compel the owners and operators of the facilitys aging storage tanks to make them earthquake resilient. (Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian via AP)
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the MMS- Payne Funeral Home Chapel from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Grace Ann Harrison passed away on April 26, 2022 at the age of 76 years old. Grace Ann was born to Dryden and Joan Carman 
Beachwood, OH (44122)

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Thundershowers following a period of rain early. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 67F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Clinton, IA (52732)

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low around 45F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

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Colorado legislators introduced a bill that, if passed, would prohibit employers from firing or refusing to hire an employee based on the use of medical or recreational marijuana.

House Bill 1152 seeks to allow people to use marijuana outside of work without negative professional consequences, preventing employers from firing, refusing to hire, demoting, refusing to promote or harassing an employee over marijuana use. The bill would also allow card-carrying medical marijuana users to use the drug during work hours on the employers premises.

Critics, notably businesses, said the legislation would create unsafe working conditions.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, said her intention is to protect the rights of Coloradans who use medical marijuana for health conditions, such as chronic pain and seizures, calling it grossly unfair that these users lose out on employment opportunities that require drug tests.

Those using medical marijuana, which is legal in Colorado, are discriminated against, Hooton said. People are using medical marijuana to manage symptoms. Theyre not using it to get stoned. Its really unfair that people get fired or dont get hired because they use medical marijuana."

Hooton said she included off-work recreational marijuana use in the bill because she wants to make sure no gray area exists, adding there is an unfair double standard put on recreational marijuana use compared to the use of other substances, such as alcohol, outside of work.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that companies are allowed to fire employees for using marijuana outside of work. Coats v. Dish Network revolved around the satellite TV provider firing a quadriplegic employee after he failed a random drug test. The employee, 35-year-old Brandon Coats, had a state-issued medical marijuana card and used the drug at night to help him sleep and quiet his muscle spasms.

Hooton said multiple state legislators have tried to pass versions of the bill since 2018 to protect employees, such as Coats. While marijuana is illegal federally, it has been legal for medical use in Colorado since 2009 and for recreational use since 2014.

Since the bill's introduction in the Colorado House last week, several business groups, including the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Ski Country, the Colorado Restaurant Association and the Colorado Mining Association, have lined up in opposition to it.

Mining and marijuana dont mix, said Stan Dempsey Jr., president of the Colorado Mining Association. Mining is an inherently risky activity in which companies recognize and take all steps to create the safest workplace possible. That includes assuring our employees have a drug-free workplace no matter the activity or position. We can have seen the results in the form of deaths and serious injury of marijuana use by miners. Why do supporters of the bill want to make the workplace less safe?

Mollie Steinemann, government affairs manager of the Colorado Restaurant Association, raised similar concerns. Steinemann said restaurant employees under the influence of medical marijuana at work could cause safety issues because of their proximity to sharp objects and kitchen appliances.

The bill includes a list of exemptions, saying employers could restrict an employees use of marijuana if it relates to an occupational requirement, the employee's activities or responsibilities, or is necessary to avoid a conflict of interest. However, the bill specifies that the exemptions must apply to a particular employee or a particular group of employees, not to all employees of a company

Hooton said it would be up to employers to decide whether an employee  such as a heavy machinery operator  needs to be restricted from using marijuana on a case-by-case basis. The decision would be subject to confirmation by the states Marijuana Enforcement Division. The bill does not include guidelines for what penalties employers would face if they dont comply.

While safety concerns are valid, changes need to be made to the way Colorado businesses handle medical marijuana use, said Kelly Perez, cofounder and CEO of Cannabis Doing Good. Perez called the Coats v. Dish Network case a disturbing example of why the proposed bill is so important.

It makes sense for patients to use their medicine as long as it doesnt interfere with work responsibilities, Perez said. (Medical prescriptions) are used by folks on the job regularly.  Safety concerns, machine operation, transportation, etc., should all be prioritized for safety, and sobriety would be expected and required. But off-work cannabis use  especially for patient use  should be tolerated and not grounds for being fired or not being hired.

Other marijuana professionals are less supportive of the proposed bill.

Truman Bradley, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, said his group has not taken a position on the bill and has concerns regarding Colorados standards for marijuana impairment.

In Colorado, a person is considered legally impaired by marijuana if a blood test finds at least 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. However, some studies have found that THC in the bloodstream does not correlate to impairment. A 2016 study by the American Automobile Association found no evidence that any objective threshold exists that established impairment, based on THC concentrations."

The Colorado Task Force on Drunk and Impaired Driving  which Bradley is a member of  has, for the last three years, recommended that the state reexamine its standard for marijuana impairment.

Bradley said he is worried that the proposed bill would lead to employers testing employees for impairment on the job. An employee using medical marijuana during work hours or an employee who uses recreational marijuana outside of work and is no longer under the influence could be falsely labeled as impaired using Colorados current standards.

We dont have a standard for impairment, so how can employers make a good judgement? Bradley said. Its widely accepted that the standard is flawed. It has both false negatives and false positives. It does not correlate in any way to impairment. Any conversation about workplace safety needs to start with a discussion and maybe a study about finding a true standard for impairment for cannabis.

Hooton said she expects to make many changes to the bill as she continues discussing it with parties, especially the business community. Nevertheless, she feels confident they will be able to work together and eventually create a version they can agree on.

Theres a lot of discrimination and its not fair. The question is, how do you remedy that? How do you protect the rights of those who are entitled to use marijuana for legitimate reasons and employer rights? Hooton said. I hope we can come up with something to allow employers to continue to have control over their workplace while protecting the legal rights of medical marijuana users.

The bill is scheduled for its first vote by the House business committee on Feb. 24. If enacted, the bill would go into effect in August.
Danville, IL (61832)

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Vinton, IA (52349)

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Rain. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Corsicana, TX (75110)

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Following a long career of 34 years of service at the Mauritius Ports Authority, Mr. Shekur Suntah, Director-General, will proceed on pre-retirement leave with effect from 11 February 2022.

During his period of pre-retirement leave, Mrs. Aruna Bunwaree Ramsaha will be acting as Director-General.

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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
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HARTFORD  The Democratic majority in the state House of Representatives Thursday night pushed through a limited set of COVID orders first issued by Gov. Ned Lamont, over Republican claims that the pandemic has eased and parents and school children are fed up with masks.

The two pieces of legislation, tailored to help continue to fight the coronavirus while the state may perch on the cusp of normalcy, passed mostly along party lines.

Were acknowledging that despite our hopes and best intentions, we cannot guarantee this virus might not come back to bite us again, said state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chairman of the Public Health Committee. Were trying to effect an orderly transition to the endemic phase of this virus.

Some of us could say that its potentially a matter of weeks, but some parents think its already too late for their child, said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, who warned that there have been serious social and educational setbacks for children.

Maybe we were too-restrictive all this time, but well never know, because we didnt do the research that should have been done, said Candelora, who said there was no data to back up the school-mask orders. Our children deserve better than this.

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, summing up the long day, saying his three kids seem to understand better than adults about the importance of wearing masks: To keep their grandmother safe.

I think weve forgotten what it means to sacrifice for each other, for something greater than ourselves, he said. I am saddened that we have moved in the direction of just wanting to be about us and me and I.

During sometimes contentious debates, which started with several conservative Republicans ignoring requirements on wearing face masks in the House chamber, the Democratic majority first pushed across a bill that would extend the nearly two-year-long civil preparedness and public health emergencies declaraton through June 30, which is the end of the states budget year.

Before the debate started, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, of Hartford, warned that if the mask rule continued to be ignored in the chamber, debate would be called off, votes would ensue immediately and everyone would go home.

The emergency resolution would allow for the extension of federal SNAP food benefits to as much as $50 million, giving low-income state residents an extra $95 a month.

After that bill passed, the House debated the extension of a dozen Lamonts executive orders, including waiving bids on purchases of personal protective equipment, and continuing a suspension of some training requirements for nurses aides.

A waiver on the 180-day school-year requirement, which was intended to help districts that canceled classes due to COVID-related staffing shortages during the omicron surge, was deleted in the amendment. The waiver had been opposed in recent days by the Lamont administration.

Without legislative action, Lamonts emergency powers would expire Feb. 15. The Senate has scheduled a debate on the bill for Monday. If approved next week in the Senate, most of the rules would be extended through April 15.

House extends COVID emergency

After a two-hour debate, the vote on the emergency declaration was mostly along party lines, 89-56, with three Democrats opposed: Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, of Bethel; Rep. Jill Barry, of Glastonbury; and Rep. Pat Boyd, of Pomfret.

While some Republicans said during the debate they would favor the extension of food benefits, other GOP lawmakers opposed it because they felt it would send a message that the pandemic, which has killed 10,219 state residents, according to the latest death toll on Thursday, is still lingering.

Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin, said continuing the emergency declaration would be tantamount to taking federal funding under false pretenses.

This brings everyone up to the maximum they can get on their SNAP card, said Rep. Jay Case, R-Winchester, the top Republican on the legislative Human Services Committee. By voting yes on this, were not voting yes on the second vote. Still, he voted against it.

Rep. Mike DAgostino, D-Hamden, co-chairman of the legislative General Law Committee who introduced both pieces of legislation and was on his feet at his House desk most of the day, said there were reasons beyond the continuance of federal funding to extend the emergencies.

I think it is worthwhile for this body to speak on the issue, DAgostino said. I think a recognition of what our constituents are going through is important. We cannot rely on this resolution to impose or declare any further emergency powers on the governor.

He said the governor would still have the power to use state law allowing future emergency declarations, whose issues would come up in the second bill.

Republican amendments fail

Rep. Laura Devlin, R-Fairfield, said the extension of the emergencies would make sense, but she intended to vote against the bill.

I really think its so important to send a message to the people of the state that were moving on and we hear you, she said.

Rep. Catherine Abercrombie, D-Meriden, co-chairwoman of the legislative Human Services Committee, said the $95 extra per month for families eligible for the extended SNAP benefits, is important.

I am a little confused, she said. Is it just the wording, or are we in support of these families that desperately need these dollars?

After the vote on the emergency declaration, early versions of the COVID orders were then redrafted and discussed by rank-and-file lawmakers.

The order requiring nursing home visitors to provide proof of vaccination or recent negative test would be effective through March 15. DAgostino said after March 15, facilities could set their own rules. Long-term care workers and state hospital employees, who are being mandated to get a booster shot, would have until March 7 to comply, nearly a month longer than the original Feb. 11 deadline.

Rep. William Petit, R-Plainville, a physician who is the top Republican on the Public Health Committee, said the state has the tools needed, and low infection and hospitalization rates, so there is no need to extend the orders.

There could be a new variant, but well have to deal with it when that comes, Petit said. If that comes.

Its not 2020 anymore, said Devlin, who opposed the extension and offered an amendment to let parents make their own decisions on masks. Adults arent forced to mask, but we can make a choice about when maybe we should. Quite frankly, this doesnt do much. I ask that we fulfill our responsibilities and that we return our parental rights and choice.

The proposal failed mostly along party lines in a 90-54 vote with Rep. Michele Cook, of Torrington, and first-term Rep. Jennifer Leeper, of Fairfield, siding with the Republicans.

Rep. Gail Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, offered an amendment that would allow employees of health care facilities to claim religious exemptions by merely checking off a box on a form. The amendment was briefly debated and failed along party lines, 95-52.

The statewide school mask mandate would remain in effect until Feb. 28, when Lamont recommended letting local leaders set their own rules. DAgostino said that if local school officials want to continue mask requirements after Feb. 28, city and town boards of education should make plans now.

But the state Department of Education, in consultation with the state Department of Public Health, would still retain the authority to set policy on school masks until June 30, according to the order. DAgostino said the state Department of Education and the Department of Public Health could implement mandatory mask requirements if the pandemic heats up again.

By all indications weve heard and all the data collected, that wont be necessary, DAgostino said. We all fervently pray and hope that we are emerging from this.

The final amendment of the evening was on landlord relief in what has become a very slow process to reimburse property owners with pending relief applications by mid-April. If youve got your application in by April 15, you get that 30-day stay on evictions, DAgostino said. Tenants are struggling, DAgostino said. The landlords are struggling.

The final vote was 86-62 with nine Democrats joining Republicans, including Barry, Boyd, Leeper, Rep. Steve Meskers, of Greenwich, Rep. Kerrie Wood, of Rocky Hill, Rep. Michael DiGiovancarlo, of Waterbury, John Hampton, of Simsbury, and Rep. Chris Ziogas, of Bristol. Allie-Brennan voted against that legislation as well.

Administration officials have not identified which metrics would guide their decision to lift, or potentially reimpose, the school mask mandate, Allie-Brennan said in a statement after the vote. I am 100-percent supportive of measures to protect our kids and our teachers. What I dont support is the extension of mask mandates by state officials, absent any oversight or clear rationale that can be explained to educators, parents, and students.

Staff writer Julia Bergman contributed to this report.
Plainfield Police / Contributed

PLAINFIELD  An East Hartford teen was arrested this week after a rash of motor vehicle thefts in Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to police.

Malik Walker, 19, was identified by authorities in Plainfield as a suspect after his DNA was found inside a vehicle recovered in East Hartford that was stolen from Plainview Drive in Wauregan on Jan. 29, police said.
Heartbreak isnt just a metaphor for songwriters. A heart condition called stress-induced cardiomyopathy, commonly known as broken heart syndrome, is real. And since the COVID-19 pandemic, theres been a marked increase in the rare condition.

People experience an acute but reversible decline in their hearts function. Its often triggered by the loss of a loved one, a pet or a job, or a stressful life event like coping with a loved ones serious illness, a home break-in or other traumatic event, says Dr. Joseph Burdowski, a cardiologist at Nuvance Health Medical Practices in Danbury and Norwalk. Physical stressors such as a severe asthma attack, seizures or COVID-19 can also trigger stress cardiomyopathy. While the condition is far more common in women from both emotional and physical triggers, when men get it, physical stressors are more likely the cause.

Since the pandemic, the percentage of cases has quadrupled, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open in 2020. The increase has been attributed to both emotional stress and physical stress, and some patients with COVID develop the condition, according to the study by a team of Cleveland Clinic researchers. Before the pandemic, about 2 percent of patients with acute heart syndrome were diagnosed with broken heart syndrome, while 8 percent had the condition in the early months of the pandemic in 2020, the researchers reported.

Cases have been steadily increasing since 2006, and women account for 88 percent of them, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in October 2021. Women ages 50 to 74 were diagnosed more than any other demographic group. This study further validates the vital role the heart-brain connection plays in overall health, especially for women, said the studys lead author, Dr. Susan Cheng, of the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, in a story in Science Daily.

Scientists dont yet know why the condition most often affects post-menopausal women, says Dr. Supriya Tigadi, a cardiologist with UConn Health in Farmington. Anxiety sufferers are at increased risk. The exact cause of the condition is a mystery, and otherwise healthy people without heart conditions can get it. Theres some evidence diabetics may be at greater risk.

One contributing cause is emotional stress, which leads to the fight-or-flight response, weakening the heart muscle, Tigadi says. The symptoms are similar to a heart attack  chest pain, shortness of breath, throat pain, jaw pain and heartburn. People with these symptoms should call 911, she says.

When it comes to heart attack symptoms, women are not good at this. They seek medical care slower than men, she says. And once in the hospital, she advises they self-advocate for an EKG immediately. Even when women come to the hospital, they dont get an EKG quickly, she says. Even the medical profession is to blame; thats the reason women do poorly because of this delayed treatment.

Doctors treat patients who present with heartbreak syndrome as if they are having a heart attack. If the EKG comes back abnormal, Burdowski says, the findings suggest a heart attack. When doctors send the stress-induced cardiomyopathy patient to the catheterization lab, cardiologists dont see the blockage they see with heart attack patients. The heart's left ventricle isnt moving and looks like it has ballooned out, while the rest of the heart is pumping normally. Further testing with an ultrasound of the heart or cardiac MRI can provide additional information.

Patients are put on similar medications, including beta-blockers, given to patients suffering heart failure, Burdowski says. The vast majority of patients make a full recovery but they continue to be kept on the heart medications and monitored, because once theyve had one such event, he says, theyre at risk for another one.

The heightened stress from living through COVID, the loss of loved ones, the social isolation and concern for ones health and others health are leading to an increased number of stress-induced cardiomyopathy cases, both Tigadi and Burdowski say. In one December 2020 case report published in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery, a patient in her mid-80s said she was under extreme emotional distress because of social isolation.

While both cardiologists concede there werent research studies to prove it, they suggest we all practice stress management and seek help from friends and family when we need it and support others who are grieving, isolated or stressed. Especially now, living through COVID, were all locked up. Theres a lot of anxiety among all of us. We have to learn to manage that better, Tigadi says. Overall, when you see family and friends come in to help, we see the patients do much better.

Broken heart syndrome could happen to anybody, regardless of health status, Burdowski says. When people are facing a stressful situation, it helps to have someone to talk to and rely on, he says. Im not saying this is going to entirely prevent this disorder. I want to believe it can only help.

This article appears in the February 2022 issue of Connecticut Magazine. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Have a question or comment? Email editor@connecticutmag.com. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag.
In the first episode of his podcast, Alt-Right Armory, Joseph Paul Berger extolls what he said was the virtue of the self-styled survivalist who ambushed and shot two state troopers outside a Pike County barracks, killing one of them in 2014, according to court documents.

In the show, Berger fantasizes about the damage that could be done by a group of men like Eric Frein, who was sentenced to death in 2017 for the murder of Cpl. Bryon Dickson. Later, he and a co-host discuss assassinating legislators, lobbyists and left-wing billionaires with explosives, a filing in federal court says.

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They halfheartedly claim that the discussion is a prank and a playful thought, and they are not advocating for violence, but it is clear that the discussions are serious, prosecutors say, arguing that Berger should remain behind bars while he and his father await trial on charges they illegally amassed an exceedingly dangerous arsenal of machine guns and silencers in their Bethlehem Township home.

While his anti-government views arent the basis of his crimes, prosecutors said theyre a strong indication that he would be a danger to the community and a flight risk if he is allowed to remain free.

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Joseph Paul Berger, 32, and his father Joseph R. Berger, 67, were arrested this week more than a year after U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations seized three packages containing firearm silencers that were being shipped from China to the Bergers home. The silencers are required to be registered under the National Firearms Act.

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Based on the seizure of the silencers, agents obtained a search warrant for the Bergers home and discovered 13 unregistered machine guns and 12 additional silencers, which they seized along with electronic devices. Investigators sent the guns to U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testing lab where it was confirmed that the weapons had been converted from semi-automatic rifles to fully automatic rifles.

While the elder Berger was released on $25,000 bail with the condition that he not possess a firearm, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith to order Joseph Paul Berger to remain in custody. Attorneys listed for the men did not respond to requests for comment.

Prosecutors note in the detention motion that Joseph Paul Berger is a certified armorer and machinist with knowledge of working on guns from his service in the Navy. The focus of his podcast is firearms and included a discussion of using 3D printers to produce ghost guns that have no serial numbers and cannot be traced.

A 3D printer and plastic gun parts were among the weapons found in his home, prosecutors said.

The memo also argues that Joseph Paul Berger was undeterred by the federal search warrant executed at his home in January 2021, noting that he has since acquired additional guns.

The defendant has already shown that he has the capability and willingness to modify legally purchased firearms into weapons of war, prosecutors said. The only way to ensure that he does not continue to present a danger to his community is for the defendant to remain incarcerated pending trial.

If convicted, the Bergers face maximum possible sentences of 30 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $270,000 fine.
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A pair of nearly identical bills, one proposed by a Democrat and the other submitted by a group of Republicans, would end the sales tax on at-home COVID test kits and personal protective equipement.

State Rep. Gary Turco, D-Newington, said the idea for his proposed bill came from a constituent. He said for people whose jobs put them at risk of catching COVID, adding sales and use taxes to the cost of a necessary test kit is a disincentive.

Were really trying to make sure people have access to these tests, Turco said.

Many pharmaceutical items are already sold tax-free in Connecticut. The fact that COVID test kits are not was the reason the Republican version of the bill was proposed.

You can buy certain things over the counter. Some items that are similar to PPE, they are not taxable, sat Pat ONeill, spokesman for the state House Republicans.

COVID tests are being given to residents for free, he said. Gov Ned Lamonts office said last month that 3.6 million COVID test kits had been distributed for free to state residents. But ONeill said if you buy them from the store you pay a sales tax.

If you get it from the state they're not taxed, but if you go and buy these things at a drugstore, they are, he said.

Many test kits are purchased through online retailers such as Amazon, and Turco said the state might have to get creative in an attempt to exclude tax from those sales, though he believes its feasible.

When you buy something from Amazon, you pay a Connecticut sales tax on that purchase, he said. I would think it could work the other way.

The Republicans who submitted their subtly different version include House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford, Rep. Laura M. Devlin of Fairfield, Rep. Tom O'Dea of New Canaan, Rep. Jason Perillo of Shelton Shelton, Rep. Rosa Rebimbas of Naugatuck, and Rep. Lezlye Zupkus of Prospect.

The process is just beginning, and neither ONeill nor Turco were aware of the other caucus bill, though Turco said it was an opportunity for bipartisanship.

Its good when you have like-minded representatives from both parties, he said.

A bill, should it pass, would take a certain amount of money out of state coffers in the form of tax revenue from the sale of COVID test kits, though how much is not yet known. The state Office of Fiscal Analysis has not yet weighed in, and demand for test kits is waning.

Demand for test kits isn't as high at the moment and we cant predict the future, Turco said.

And, of course, the federal government has provided four free test kits for every U.S. household, and is allowing patients with health insurance to get reimbursed for purchased test kits.

I have not seen how convoluted that process is, Turco said. Not everybody has insurance, so thats not a fool proof system either.

ONeill, too, said, The idea was to make it more equitable.

Turco, though, said any money the state loses in tax revenue would be made up. Families would use the money saved, he said, on other necessities, some of which are taxed by the state.

This is actually taking money from Connecticut residents, he said. The revenue is going to be made up somewhere else that the families need.

The bills will next be taken up by at least one state House committee, most likely the finance committee, Turco said, or possibly the public health committee.

They then decide if they should take this language and incorporate it into the budget bill, he said.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  A city man has been charged after police said he took a backpack from a woman visiting her father in the hospital.

A 31-year-old woman from New York was at St. Vincents Hospital visiting her ailing father Thursday. The woman was sitting in her car on the second-floor garage around 3:30 p.m. when the suspect, 35-year-old Enrique Dorvil, opened the passenger door and wrestled the womans backpack away from her, according to Detective Jeffrey Holtz.
Pennsylvania is eligible for $25 million to build out a network of electric vehicle charging stations along major highways this fiscal year, the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy announced Thursday.

The state allocation is part of a $5 billion program in the federal infrastructure law that President Joe Biden signed in November.

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Over five years, the program is expected to send $171.5 million to Pennsylvania to install rapid charging ports, with the goal of creating a seamless, publicly accessible charging network along interstates to serve drivers taking long trips.

The buildout will complement the 122 public fast-charging stations with 512 plugs already in Pennsylvania, according to the energy departments Alternative Fuels Data Center.

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Widespread fast-charging infrastructure is a crucial hurdle in the transition to electric vehicles. While most charging of private vehicles happens at home or work, drivers need the ability to charge up relatively quickly on long-distance trips. A direct current fast charger can deliver 100-250 miles of range in a half-hour.

Pennsylvanias environment and transportation departments have been working since 2016 to establish interstates as electric vehicle ready  meaning public fast chargers are placed less than 50 miles apart and within 5 miles of highway exits.

Across the state, about 690 interstate miles are in ready status and 1,050 interstate miles are considered pending, where fast chargers are still separated by more than 50 miles, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

In guidance released Thursday, the federal transportation department said for a states electric vehicle corridors to be considered fully built out, there must be a fast charger every 50 miles along its stretches of interstate and within one mile of the highway. Each charger must have four ports so four vehicles can be charged simultaneously.

Pennsylvania will have to submit a plan for the funds by this summer and receive approval before the federal government will distribute them. The federal share will cover 80% of the costs of the projects, with a state or private match covering the other 20%.

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The infrastructure law contains other measures designed to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. Pennsylvania communities will be able to compete for a share of $2.5 billion for electric and alternative vehicle fueling through a separate grant program in the law that aims to address gaps in both highway corridor and community charging. That program has a focus on serving rural and disadvantaged communities.

The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and the second-largest in Pennsylvania.

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According to Pennsylvanias 2021 Climate Action Plan, if 70% of the states light-duty vehicle sales in 2050 are electric, it would reduce emissions by nearly 24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year compared with business as usual. That would take the state one-seventh of the way to its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.

Laura Legere: llegere@post-gazette.com.

(c)2022 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Gee, what are lawmakers going to do in Hartford without recreational marijuana, tolls or sports gambling to argue about?

A lot of issues that languished for years are finally off the table, but there are plenty of big-ticket initiatives that demand focus from legislators.

Even in a short session (12 weeks compared with 22 last year) with part-time state lawmakers, there is always the danger of hours being squandered on proposals with as much chance of passage as making pizza the state food (which passed in the House last year before perishing on the Senate calendar).

We encourage lawmakers to resist returning to Hartford two years into the pandemic and hugging every pet cause they encounter. If you need a defining issue for the session, Gov. Ned Lamont cast four votes for a worthy matter Wednesday when he repeated Mental health, mental health, mental health, mental health.

Its a deserving theme because Connecticut families are still suffering from the fallout of COVID-19, and will be for some time. So legislators should consider ways they can make lives easier, which is not always about tax relief. Here are just a few suggestions:

Stopping fentanyl: Both parties should be able to get behind efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl into the state. One strategy wont do it, so there shouldnt be a tug-of-war over whether to invest in counseling and treatment vs crime and punishment. There were a reported 1,374 drug overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2020, and all but 16 percent of them were due to this synthetic opioid. Getting the antidote Narcan into schools along with appropriate training should be prioritized, especially at a time when the funding is available from the settlement with the opioid industry.

Low-hanging fruit flavors: Connecticut has struggled to put a stop to the sale of flavored vapes due to an outcry from the tobacco industry and conservative charges of violating personal freedoms. Reducing tobacco use has taken decades, but is an American success story. Even tobacco giant Philip Morris International claimed to be striving toward a smoke-free future when it moved to Stamford last year. Lawmakers need to get this done to shield the states youth.

Its always an election year: Politicians need to argue, and no word  not taxes, crime or regulations  provokes red vs. blue quicker these days than voting. Democrats want to extend the expansion of absentee balloting that took place in 2020-21. They will get pushback that conditions have changed. But the goal should always be to lure more voters. The old process is not aging well.

Prescription drugs: Reducing prices of prescription drugs is another cause that should draw bipartisan support, and could have a positive effect on many lives. Lamont has looked beyond state borders for help, collaborating with his counterpart in Massachusetts and seeking lower prices from Canada.

There will be a lot of distractions for lawmakers over the next three months, mostly from one another. But we challenge them to embrace measures with the most important of goals: quelling the suffering of constituents.
The Defense Credit Union difference is a topic I have discussed many times in the past. I return to it again as our industry prepares to meet with Congressional leaders and regulatory officials because it is important to highlight the role our military and veteran community has played in the evolution of our industry.

I am willing to bet that virtually all credit unions in the United States have at least one military/veteran in their field of membership. Thus, serving those who serve our country is something ALL credit unions doand do very well.

These military and veteran communities shape credit union operations in many ways. Here is how:

The military as an institution is, and continues to be, a gateway toward greater reforms in various parts of our society. In terms of technology, it was mass transportation and communication via rail and telegraph during the Civil War, jet engines and digital photography during WWII and the Cold War, and many more innovations we now consider part of our everyday lives. Apart from technological breakthroughs, there were many innovations in the way human capital is managed, medical advancements, and better ways to integrate strategic design in business planning that started with the military.

This trend and practice continues todayand the financial services sector is no exception. The idea of influencing peoples financial habits, controlling their access to credit, and how to protect their savings has enormous appeal. In fact, our industry was significantly changed because of military experimentation. How we operate today is a direct result.

Sometimes the result is positive, such as the ability for credit unions to provide demand deposits and checking accounts. I am not sure how many people realize the critical role our military played in the debate. It was in 1974 when U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) suggested through channels that credit unions be allowed to compete and operate overseas. Military Bank Facilities were not performing well overseas and simple banking fees were outrageously high.

An alternative was needed. Thus, credit unions were asked if they could fully compete with banks and offer the same services at a fraction of the cost. The initial answer was not necessarily no. However, the Federal Credit Union Act would need to be amended to allow credit unions to provide demand deposits and checking accounts. Thus, DoDs involvement and support served as an important catalyst in winning the argument on Capitol Hill. As a result, the Federal Credit Union Act was amended a few years later. The experiment was a success and today all credit unions provide these types of accounts.

However, sometimes military experimentation has a mixed result. The Military Lending Act is a perfect example. While the intent behind the act is primarily to prevent predatory lending, the law has led to many unintended consequences. Despite these flaws, the Military Lending Act is now being used as a model for the rest of our society. As such, Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act mirrors the MLA and was re-introduced in the current Congress. This legislation would extend the same loan restrictions to each borrower, military-connected or not. The experiment and debate continue.

My point is thisas our industry shapes and implements its advocacy strategy in 2022, we ought to keep an eye on potential legislation or regulatory changes that focus on our military and veterans. Some are good, some not-so-much. Here is a list of bills and initiatives to watch in 2022 which are veteran focused or have a veteran impactall of which will impact the entire industry:

Currently in the 117th Congress:

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (Winning the NDAA Argument is important for all credit unions) The HASC-directed DoD Study on Access to Financial Institutions H.R. 1491  Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act S. 1368  The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2021 H.R. 5189The Member Business Loan Expansion Act S. 2508The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act



From the 116th Congress (issues that are still in the news):

H.R. 2305  Veteran Business Lending Exemption H.R. 3642  Improving Credit Reporting for All Consumers Act Postal Banking Issue (Credit Union Alternative)



National Credit Union Administration:

Changing NCUA Regulation 721.3 (b) (2) (i) through (vii) Charitable Donation Accounts  Allow donations from CDAs to veteran service organizations



Your credit unions support for military and veteran members in your community is vital for our entire industry. Plus, understanding how the military and veteran community has shaped/can shape our industry bolsters your interaction with Congressional leaders and regulatory officials. Including military and veteran communities in your message is something your entire Congressional Delegation can support.

Advocacy is a vital part of keeping our credit union industry healthy. And there are no better people to advocate for credit unions than the people who work every day to serve their members. In the end, its not about moneyits about making our lives, families, and communities stronger.

Thank you for doing this important work!

Want to learn more about the legislation and regulations mentioned above? Join us for our Defense Matters Broadcast on February 24 at 2:00 ET. Register online at www.DCUC.org/DefenseMatters2022
A woman and four children are dead after a house fire in Polk Township Friday, Feb.11,2022. (Amy Shortell / The Morning Call)

A teacher at Bethlehems East Hills Middle School died along with her four grandchildren in a house fire in Polk Township overnight.

The fire at 5107 Brook Road, a ranch-style home near Kunkletown, was reported around 11:50 p.m. Thursday. State police and firefighters searched the home and found the bodies of the 53-year-old woman, Rosemarie LaBarre, and the children, who ranged in age from 2 to 7.

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According to an online fundraiser posted to the Facebook page of House of The Rock Church near Wind Gap, they were the children of LaBarres daughter, Markie Ribera, and her husband, Carlos Ribera. The fundraiser identifies the children as Kathryn, Kaleb, Kristian, and Kasper.

All were pronounced dead at the scene by the Monroe County Coroners Office. Coroner Tom Yanac confirmed Rosemarie LaBarre was watching the children while their parents were out.

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State police said there were no indications the cause of the fire was suspicious.

Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy said the district was informed Friday morning of LaBarres death. She had been a family and consumer sciences teacher at the middle school since 2008.

Its just devastating, he said. I know our folks at East Hills are very upset. We have extra people over there for counseling.

Two of the children were elementary homeschooled students in the Pleasant Valley School District.

This loss is incomprehensible, and these deaths leave us without words to express our grief or even attempt to understand this incredible loss, Superintendent James R. Konrad said in a statement. As a school community, we extend our deepest condolences to these students loved ones.

Friday was an in-service day, so students were not in school. Konrad said counselors will be on hand at Pleasant Valley Elementary School on Monday to offer grief support to students and staff members.

LaBarre lost her husband, Clark F. LaBarre, last year.

Markie Ribera is childrens ministry director at the House on the Rock Church in Bushkill Township, said Jessica McCormic of Wind Gap, who started the GoFundMe page. McCormic said the Riberas are staying with her and her husband, Shane McCormic, who is worship pastor at the nondenominational church. The Riberas were at a farm in the Nazareth area, where Carlos Ribera works, when the fire broke out, she said.

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I am only doing this because I want them to have as much support as they can, McCormic said, adding that the church plans a special collection Sunday for the Riberas during its morning service.

In a news release, state police said the fire appeared to be an accident, with nothing suspicious being observed at the scene.

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On Friday, yellow tape surrounded the heavily damaged ranch style home. Two pickup trucks, one of which was on jacks, sat on both sides of a van in the driveway outside the attached garage.

In the backyard was a childrens play area and trampoline with several other vehicles parked on grass near two sheds. A melting snow figure stood near two grills. The house sits back from Brook Road, behind pine trees.

Drivers passing by slowed to look at the damage before continuing on. Occasionally, a vehicle turned off Brook onto a dirt road leading past the house to other homes nearby.

People have left flowers by one of the trees near the road.

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A nearby neighbor declined to comment, saying her family recently moved in and didnt know the Riberas. She said she and her family didnt witness the fire.

The Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company responded to the blaze with the Penn Forest Township Fire Company, West End Fire Company, St. Lukes and West End Ambulance and fire police.

Morning Call reporter Daniel Patrick Sheehan can be reached at 610-820-6598 or dsheehan@mcall.com
Ms. Dorothy "Dot" McCrory age 88 of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Monday, May 2, 2022 at the Regency Park Health Care Center. She was born May 15, 1933. Dot as she was known to friends, was preceded in death by her parents Elma McCrory and Boyd Hicks as well as a brother Jack Hicks. Sh
China records 200 million flexible workers

People's Daily Online) 13:35, February 11, 2022

A video blogger films at the Genting Snow Park, Chongli District, Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)

The diverse new labor forms developed by the booming platform economy and sharing economy are offering new choices for young people in China. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China had recorded 200 million flexible workers by the end of 2021, nearly three times more than there had been in 2020.

Flexible employment offering more choices for job seekers

University graduates, known for their innovative ways of thinking, make up the majority of China's flexible workers. Over 16 percent of graduating college students in the past two years opted for flexible jobs, said the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center.

"Doing flexible jobs doesn't necessarily mean that we can't find a job or that we are not being serious about employment," said Liu Zhen, who graduated from university five years ago and now runs a channel about special effects, or SFX, on a video platform.

Liu believes that flexible employment offers job seekers an opportunity to start their own businesses and helps them make a difference with their specialties. It builds a platform for people to showcase their capabilities and helps them pave a road for their future careers, she said.

Flexible employment is not only to the benefit of university graduates, but also facilitates enterprises in terms of recruitment. According to a report issued by the Renmin University of China, flexible employment was adopted by 61.14 percent of enterprises in China last year, up 5.46 percent from a year ago. The report also found that enterprises were planning to expand flexible employment.

Creating abundant opportunities for multifaceted talents

"People still know too little about volcanoes. Though we understand why they erupt, we can barely predict when. This is why we must continue our research," says video blogger Li Dongqi in a clip he uploaded after a series of violent volcanic eruptions broke out in Tonga on Jan. 4. The clip was viewed over 20,000 times.

"Short video blogging is just a side gig, and I'm a geological researcher," Li said. At first, he was just filming to share his frequent field investigations on the internet, but later he unexpectedly obtained a batch of loyal followers, and considerable extra income, too.

"So I started making science popularization videos, and I also publish relevant articles on knowledge sharing platforms. These contents offer the audience, especially students, a source where they can learn about geology," he told People's Daily Overseas Edition.

In the era of intelligentization, flexible income is building new channels for multifaceted talents like Li to work on side projects and make extra income.

Currently, more and more people are becoming multifaceted and are qualified to work for different types of enterprises. To promote flexible employment on social, knowledge sharing, as well as video and audio platforms is encouraged by a recent development plan on digital economy issued by the State Council.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Four years ago, Ed Pawlowski stood trial in the very Queen City whose executive seat he occupied.

It remains one of the most solemn privileges of my life to have represented the 12 finders of fact as jury foreperson in United States of America v. Edwin Pawlowski.

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That jury found the former mayor guilty of bribery, attempted extortion, false statements to federal officials, mail fraud and wire fraud. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

In a recent guest editorial in this paper, Alan Jennings asserts its time to release Pawlowski, highlighting timely examples of inconsistency in federal prosecution. He contends a flaw in the federal justice system leads to unfairness across punishments for different types and severities of crimes.

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Ethan Deitrich (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski greets people Oct. 23, 2018, before entering the courthouse to be sentenced. (April Gamiz)

I agree with many of his premises, but I respectfully disagree with his conclusion.

I argue that:

 Pawlowskis sentence does not represent cruel and unusual punishment.

 Pawlowskis pending appeal does not afford him an assumption of possible innocence.

 Comparisons to Trump and Capitol rioters fall short of creating implications for Pawlowskis case, but they do illustrate unfairness.

 The inconsistency does not show unfair harm to Pawlowski, rather unfair benefit to other defendants.

Jennings argues, Frankly even if Ed is guilty, he has served his time.  Fifteen years is cruel and unusual. Three is enough; set him free.

[ Your View: Why its time to release former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski ]

Federal sentencing guidelines disagree. After computing Pawlowskis position as elected executive, highest-ranking conspirator and primary beneficiary, his lack of criminal history, and the modest monetary loss of $107,749, the U.S. Sentencing Commission recommended 155 to 188 months imprisonment.

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Judge Juan R. Sanchez could have disagreed, but he found the prosecutions memorandum convincing and was disappointed by Pawlowskis inability to accept responsibility. He sentenced Pawlowski within the guideline range, at 180 months imprisonment.

Jennings writes, The federal correction system doesnt seem to care that the former mayor might be deemed innocent when he faces a new trial to hear his appeal.

Defendants enjoy the right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty. After proven guilty, as Pawlowski was upon his conviction, the presumption of innocence ends.

His appeal is now with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which will not determine whether the jury got it right, but whether the District Court made a critical error conducting his trial, and whether a new trial or sentencing should occur.

The Third Circuit is unable to deem him innocent. If the court decides no reasonable jury could have convicted Pawlowski based on the facts and the law, it may vacate his conviction, which does not declare innocence, but withdraws the verdict.

I believe Pawlowskis appeal to vacate his conviction is already sunk. For evidence, look to the treatment of each defendants motions for bail pending appeal in this case.

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Scott Allinson, Pawlowskis co-defendant, was convicted by us of two counts, and sentenced to two years imprisonment. He petitioned the Third Circuit for bail pending appeal and it was granted. That indicates the court believes, under an assumption of reasonable success on appeal, Allinsons sentence may substantially change. Allinson is awaiting his appeal outside of prison.

Pawlowski requested the same and was denied. Given the weight of his convictions, the Third Circuit apparently does not believe, even assuming reasonable success, Pawlowskis sentence will be substantially changed. Pawlowski awaits appeal while serving his sentence.

The Third Circuit declined to hear any oral argumentation about this case, deciding to review only the written briefs. This is not a sign of a court that believes it has many live questions on the case.

Finally, the party to blame for the delayed appeal is not Pawlowski or the court  it is Allinson. He requested his appeal be enjoined together with Pawlowskis and then filed many times to extend the deadline for submitting briefs.

Jennings highlights two examples of inconsistency  Donald Trumps flat-out seditious behavior going unprosecuted, and rioters at the U.S. Capitol receiving light sentences, saying Not one has been sentenced to even half of the 15 years to which our former mayor was sentenced.

I agree the Jan. 6 prosecutions seem incongruous to the crimes shocking nature. I believe the government decided, as a matter of practicality, to pursue lesser charges for ease of prosecution.

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Comparing cases of insufficient sentencing to Pawlowskis case does indeed paint a picture of unfairness. However, the unfairness is not because Pawlowski was over-prosecuted; it is because these other defendants are under-prosecuted.

The conclusion supported here is not that Pawlowski deserves a lighter sentence; it is that Pawlowskis fair sentence and appropriate consequences contrast with defendants receiving less-than-appropriate consequences.

Ethan Deitrich served as jury foreperson in the trial of Ed Pawlowski and is a Lehigh Valley native.
Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 80F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Ashland, KY (41101)

Today

Cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 72F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Many readers said Allentown needs more affordable apartments rather than the upscale units being proposed.

One asked: How about making apartments that people can afford and stopping the gentrification of Allentown?

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They were reacting to developer Nat Hyman seeking permission to convert a warehouse at 938-952 Washington St., Allentown into 50 apartments.

Some city residents expressed concern at a recent planning commission meeting that the project would add traffic and parking problems to an already densely populated neighborhood.

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Rent would range from $1,000 to $1,250.

Area needs affordable apartments

Great. More overpriced expensive apartments to help drive up the cost of living.

 Jaimie Monahan

Anyone ever curious how gentrification works? Take a look at Center City Allentown and the changes over the last 5-10 years and what is being proposed.

 Vincent Hlavinka Jr.

How about affordable housing? Help people get back on their feet. Help the homeless ... something other than luxury apartments in a city that struggles with poverty and crime.

 Colleen Louise

I think I know why affordable housing is not built (no profit) ... so how about making 10% of the units affordable (below market pricing) and let the more exorbitantly priced units subsidize them?

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 Mark Iampietro

Theyve got enough upscale apartments in Allentown. How about making apartments that people can afford and stopping the gentrification of Allentown?

 John Gill

Yes  affordable housing ... or it will be just another empty building. Its time for healing a dead city.

 CA Napue-Turner

How about restoring the area with affordable housing? Because if people can afford that upscale apartment, theyre not going to opt for 7th and Tilghman.

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 Beaner Hujasa

We need more affordable housing, not more upscale stuff.

 Tara Banninger

To tell you the truth, we need more affordable apartments.

 Sally Breslin

Just designate a percentage (30%?) to be affordable/low income housing. This happens in cities all the time  its bizarre that Allentown doesnt already require this for new developments.

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 Chris Lehman

Like we need upscale. We need affordable apartments complexes.

 Kylie Bodish

Project good example of new use for old buildings

Everyone complains about Greenfield sprawl  for good reasons. If you complain about Greenfield sprawl, this is a type of development you should be cheering for. Adaptive reuse in the city core.

The more this happens the less farmland gets developed.

 Ronald William

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Parking sure to be a problem

Where is he going to put the parking garage? This area is already struggling with parking issues.

 Gloria Mendez

Hope theyre building parking decks in there as well. Allentown is just one big sardine can  fit em all in.

 Jessica Lea

Where will they all park?

 Gail Hoover

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Questions about the building and area

Is the building structurally sound to be an apartment building?

 Gary Infante

Who in their right mind would pay to live in an upscale apartment in one of the worst neighborhoods?

 Sandra Stephen-Cope

I keep hearing upscale apartments that nobody can afford yet all these projects seem to sell or rent.

 Roger Slow
When I arrived in Ukraine three weeks ago to report on the escalating fears of war in Europe, I went initially to the city of Kharkiv sitting just 25 miles from the border where Russian forces are building up with such menace.

This prosperous industrial centre  the second biggest city in Ukraine  was formerly the countrys capital.

Eight years ago, separatists backed by the Kremlin tried to seize it with protests and the capture of civic buildings.

Their efforts were thwarted by police  unlike in two other big cities in east Ukraine where Russian intervention sparked a brutal war that led to two wrecked breakaway republics in Donetsk and Luhansk, 14,000 dead and two million people displaced from their homes.

This is the reality of Russian meddling in Ukraine, seen repeatedly under both the Communists and the current dictator  death, decay and devastation.

Yet one of the first men I met in Kharkiv spoke of his admiration for President Vladimir Putin  the only person who tells the truth  while lamenting the useless politicians in the capital Kiev failing to make his life and financial situation better.

So did he want his home city to become part of Russia? No, he said firmly in Russian, shaking his head. Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city.

This conversation is just one of many that have driven home to me again the political, territorial and emotional complexities of this part of the world  along with the phoney narrative pushed by Putin in his propaganda that it is such people, the Russian speakers in Ukraine, who need his salvation from the fascists in Kiev.

When I arrived in Ukraine three weeks ago to report on the escalating fears of war in Europe, I went initially to the city of Kharkiv sitting just 25 miles from the border where Russian forces are building up with such menace. Pictured: Ian Birrell on the frontline in Ukraine

I have met patriotic Ukrainians who struggle to speak the Ukrainian language declaring a readiness to die defending their country, along with people born in Russia but who live in Ukraine and are ready to pick up guns to fight to protect the freedoms denied in their native land

I have met patriotic Ukrainians who struggle to speak the Ukrainian language declaring a readiness to die defending their country, along with people born in Russia but who live in Ukraine and are ready to pick up guns to fight to protect the freedoms denied in their native land.

One young woman, artistic and thoughtful, told me she felt shame that Russian-born people such as herself in Ukraine were being used by Putin to justify his aggression towards her adopted country.

How is it then that in Britain we hear arguments that endorse Putins malevolent stance on the basis that millions of Russian speakers in Ukraine supposedly regard the government in Kiev as hostile?

Such claims have been made in this newspaper by my colleague Stephen Glover.

He argued that while the Russian president is a nasty piece of work, he had a point in his belligerent claims over Ukraine.

Certainly, Ukraine and Russia have firm ties over their border  embracing commerce, culture, family and history  even if Ukraine has spent much of its past pushing for independence from both Russia and a motley collection of other invaders.

But shared language among Russian speakers does not necessarily equate to the desire to switch flags and loyalties.

Russian speakers were not bullied in Ukraine.

Indeed, before Putin inflamed these issues eight years ago, people were more likely to face problems over their failure to speak good Russian since this was the sign of being a county bumpkin.

This is not an ethnic conflict despite the barrage of propaganda from Moscow.

Indeed, even people whose lives have been shattered by the continuing discord since 2014 keep stressing to me that they feel no fury towards ordinary Russians, merely sorrow for Slavic cousins trapped under Putins terrible and thieving government.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured on Monday, has more than 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border

Indeed, even people whose lives have been shattered by the continuing discord since 2014 keep stressing to me that they feel no fury towards ordinary Russians, merely sorrow for Slavic cousins trapped under Putins terrible and thieving government. Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman positions himself in a trench in Adivvka near Donetsk, Ukraine

And ask yourself this  if language is so important, would that have given the Nazis the right to grab German-speaking parts of Switzerland?

Alternatively, should we help Chechnya and Tatarstan escape Moscows clutches  as they have tried to do in their post-Soviet past  given their linguistic differences?

Nor is this crisis really about Nato.

Bear in mind that Putin once flirted about Russia joining the alliance before he began invading neighbours, using conflict to boost popularity and deflect attention from the disturbing lack of development in his resource-rich nation.

This is also a president who has lied persistently, most memorably when Russian forces  the little green men in unmarked green uniforms  arrived in Crimea in 2014.

Yet Putin denied he was invading the Ukrainian peninsula.

Those who defended the illegal seizure of Crimea on the grounds that it is overwhelmingly ethnically Russian might remember that this is because its indigenous Tatar people were deported to Siberia in horrific circumstances by Joseph Stalin.

It seems curious then that many in the West are suddenly questioning Ukraines aspiration for Nato membership  but not the membership of other frontline countries that joined the alliance such as the Baltic states and Poland where democracy has become embedded

It seems curious then that many in the West are suddenly questioning Ukraines aspiration for Nato membership  but not the membership of other frontline countries that joined the alliance such as the Baltic states and Poland where democracy has become embedded.

Or do those useful idiots echoing the Kremlin also believe, like Putin, that we should roll back Nato to its pre-1997 membership before those nations struggling to escape their dark Soviet past joined our shared defensive shield?

This crisis, this looming possible catastrophe for both Ukraine and Europe, is about one thing only  the determination of a thuggish dictator to stay at the helm of a profoundly corrupt regime that impoverishes his own country.

It reflects Putins fear of a close neighbour struggling towards democracy that might influence his own people.

We cannot sweep aside the fears of Ukrainians with their long history of Russian repression and ignore their desire to live in a fairer and freer society  possibly under the protection of Nato.

And it is hard not to wonder what we would think of those who might have marshalled similar arguments about Adolf Hitler, trying to understand his mindset instead of facing up to the challenge of preventing the expansion of his evil empire.

Putin knows Ukraine is slipping from his grasp.

Polls show the change in attitudes  just one in five Ukrainians wanted to join Nato in 2009 but now a majority want to sign up while Putins meddling has also tipped the mood firmly against his nation.

Defence systems arrive at an unknown location in Belarus on Wednesday. According to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, a joint military exercise with Russia will take place

Ukraine and Russia have firm ties over their border  embracing commerce, culture, family and history  even if Ukraine has spent much of its past pushing for independence from both Russia and a motley collection of other invaders. Pictured: Yuriy Karol, 82, stands next his house in Ukraine

Yet ultimately, these issues go far beyond even the future of Ukraine. They pose a fundamental question for our times  Do we aspire to a world based on rules where people are free and nations can determine their own futures?

Or, as one Ukrainian said, are we content to return to medieval times when muscle wins leverage and brutish bullies can steal bits of other countries without a fuss?

If Russia  having built up massive financial reserves from its gas and oil sales  can grab slabs of Ukraine with just a slap on the wrist with sanctions, what does this say to other expansionist countries, such as China eyeing up Taiwan?

Or even Argentina looking across the South Atlantic at the Falklands after its claim over the islands was recognised by Beijing?

Ukraines future should not be debated on terms set by a nationalist dictator with a bloodstained past of lying, killing opponents and repeatedly invading other nations.

Putin stole a slice of Georgia. He is slowly taking over Belarus. He has bitten chunks out of Ukraine and now he is threatening the rest of the country.

I have met no Ukrainian who expects to see our troops on their soil. Instead there is only gratitude for British support.

We must not let this be corroded by refusing to face up to unpleasant evidence unfolding before our eyes.
Households across the country are gripped in a cost-of-living vice, with the price of essentials, from food to travel, soaring. But none more so than energy costs, with the average family fuel bill rising by an incredible 54 per cent to just shy of 2,000 a year. For folks on modest and low incomes, there will be real financial hardship.

Its a global energy crunch, say our politicians. Theres not much we can do about it.

In fact, we are reaping the bitter consequences of 25 years of increasingly costly, stupid and self-defeating energy policies promoted in unison by these very same politicians  Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat alike  who now bleat theres nothing they can do about it.

ANDREW NEIL: 'We are reaping the bitter consequences of 25 years of increasingly costly, stupid and self-defeating energy policies promoted in unison by politicians  Tory , Labour and Liberal Democrat alike'

Prices have spiked and the extra cost is now showing up painfully in our domestic fuel bills

Take gas. As the world economy has sprung back from the depths of the pandemic, there is, indeed, a global shortage of gas. Prices have spiked and the extra cost is now showing up painfully in our domestic fuel bills.

The solution has been under our feet for more than a decade. Britain sits on some of the worlds richest reserves of shale gas. The Bowland Field in Lancashire harbours 37.6 trillion cubic metres of the stuff. Even if we were to extract only 10 per cent of it  through a process called fracking  wed have enough gas to be self-sufficient for 50 years.

There are plenty other places in our land brimming with shale  all of which could be mined to supply our own needs, with the surplus exported to a gas-hungry world.

In reality, we havent extracted a single cubic metre. Our politicians  left, right and centre  simply didnt have the gumption to go for it.

They were cowed into submission by the propaganda of the green lobby, which hugely exaggerated the environmental dangers and spread scare stories when exploratory drilling produced the mildest of earth tremors in the Blackpool area.

They barely registered on the Richter scale and Northern coal-mining areas have experienced worse for more than a century. But they were enough to kill off Britains nascent shale industry.

As the world economy has sprung back from the depths of the pandemic, there is, indeed, a global shortage of gas

Even thats not enough for the Green Blob.

Far from exploiting our shale reserves, the Oil and Gas Authority, a state quango which increasingly dances to the green net-zero carbon emissions tune, has ordered Cuadrilla, the drilling company, to seal forever its two shale gas wells by pouring concrete down them.

Not now to frack  and not ever. It is a policy which beggars belief. The Government should be ashamed of itself  as should all those Opposition politicians who support it. Far from developing shale gas when we most need it, the unthinking and often uninformed Westminster consensus is to make sure none of it ever sees the light of day.

As a result, massive investment in the North will not take place and 75,000 well-paid, skilled jobs in places where they are most needed  such as Lancashire  will now never be created. Remember that next time you hear a Cabinet minister wittering on about levelling up the North with the South.

Of course, were still going to need gas. Even as billions have been poured into renewables, gas is still the biggest generator of electricity  accounting for on average 40 per cent, and more than 50 per cent when the wind isnt blowing. But instead of extracting it from our own lands, well have to import it.

Already 50 per cent of the gas we need comes from abroad  mainly Norway and Qatar, with some from Russia. By the end of the decade, well be importing 70 per cent and by 2050  when were meant to hit that magical net-zero for carbon emissions  85 per cent of the gas we need will be imported.

Even as billions have been poured into renewables, gas is still the biggest generator of electricity  accounting for on average 40 per cent, and more than 50 per cent when the wind isnt blowing

Britain currently runs a balance of payments deficit equivalent to 4 per cent of our GDP and energy already accounts for a big chunk of it. In the decades ahead, imported gas is set to blow an even bigger hole in our trade deficit. A growing deficit makes it harder to run a high-growth economy without making that deficit unsustainable.

The consequences of our absurd energy policies are mind-boggling. Instead of providing well-paid employment for our own people in the North, weve decided to line the already-brimming pockets of dictators in Qatar and the Kremlin with billions more dollars.

Instead of cultivating our own shale industry, which would generate billions of pounds in tax, were spending billions to import gas.

The hypocrisy is nauseating. Our politicians dine out with virtue-signalling glee on how theyve stopped fracking in the UK. But they dont mention that we had to import shale gas from America this winter to make up for shortfalls in supply from elsewhere. America  where gas prices are 25 per cent of ours and shale has turned the country into a net energy exporter.

A prospect which beckoned for us  but on which we preferred to turn our backs, all because our political elite bowed to the power of the green lobby.

That thud you hear as your energy bills pop through the letterbox and hit the floor is the price youre paying for their political cowardice.

When Tony Blair came to power in 1997 with a landslide majority, giving him the power to do what he wanted, it was quickly apparent we needed to start planning for four new nuclear power stations to replace our ageing nuclear generators.

Our energy failures are not confined to gas. When Tony Blair came to power in 1997 with a landslide majority, giving him the power to do what he wanted, it was quickly apparent we needed to start planning for four new nuclear power stations to replace our ageing nuclear generators.

But nothing happened. As the Government dithered, the then Chancellor Gordon Brown decided it was a good idea to sell our nuclear generation capabilities  in the shape of Westinghouse Electric Company  to Japans Toshiba in 2006. Thus did Britain, which once led the world in the peaceful application of atomic power, end up with no nuclear power technology of its own.

Twenty-five years after Blair was told we needed four new nuclear generators, were building only one (at Hinkley Point). Actually, the French are building it since we dont have the know-how to do it ourselves.

France has shown nuclear is an alternative to gas. It has 56 reactors which generate more than 70 per cent of its electricity. Only 10 per cent comes from gas, which has insulated French households from the current surge in gas prices.

No surprise, then, that President Macron this week announced six new nuclear power stations as part of a 50 billion modernisation programme.

Here in dear old Blighty we failed to invest in new nuclear or shale. So our nuclear stations are fast reaching the end of their lifecycle and we grow ever more dependent on gas imports. Stupidity piled upon stupidity.

President Macron this week announced six new nuclear power stations as part of a 50 billion modernisation programme

UK energy policy used to be driven by the need for security of supply and for affordability. Today we have neither. Both have been sacrificed to the great god of decarbonisation, which has taken precedence over everything else.

Instead of trying to learn from the litany of energy errors, we just compound mistake with mistake. Smart meters, in theory, should help us to use electricity more efficiently, using power for some tasks when its off peak and cheaper.

But our energy tsars intend to use them to manage shortages of supply, surging prices when demand is strong and even siphoning off electricity from vehicles plugged into chargers. Good luck with that.

The irony of our predicament is that, even if youre a net-zero zealot, its impossible to see it being reached by 2050 unless nuclear power is there to provide carbon-free, base-load power, and relatively clean gas is used as a transition fuel until there is a step-change in battery technology which allows electricity to be stored in huge quantities (to use when the wind isnt blowing and the sun isnt shining).

But the Green Blob is irrationally averse to any use of fossil fuels even in a transition to net zero and implacably hostile to nuclear.

Most of our politicians, to their lasting shame, are in hock to them  hook, line and offshore windmill. The rest of us will be paying for their spinelessness big time for the foreseeable future.
When Dame Cressida Dick was appointed the first female head of Scotland Yard five years ago this month, I wrote in her praise. She had defied the odds to reach the summit of the macho police service, landing the biggest job in British law enforcement.

Under the headline 'Another male bastion falls', I charted with my co-writer how Dame Cressida had rebuilt her career after a calamitous Met anti-terror operation. She earnt the respect of her colleagues by showing dignity and stoicism in the face of serious errors that resulted in an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, being shot dead by her officers.

I was not alone in wishing her well. She deserved her chance and hopes were high that she would be a reforming commissioner, a breath of fresh air after the 'blunt instrument' style of her predecessor Sir Bernard, now Lord Hogan-Howe. Notoriously, he had presided over the shambolic Operation Midland VIP child sex abuse inquiry.

Dame Cressida Dick defied the odds to reach the summit of the macho police service, landing the biggest job in British law enforcement

It was just as important that Dame Cressida's promotion  which was supported by the then prime minister Theresa May  would not be perceived as mere tokenism: a ticked box on the 'gender agenda'.

A veteran officer in her own right, she had to be the best person for the job.

How sad it is, then, that the career of a police trail-blazer, who likes to be called 'Cress' even by junior officers, should have ended in such an undignified way, with her commissionership plagued by scandals, own-goals, errors of judgment and highly dubious appointments of old colleagues and allies into important positions in the Met.

She enjoyed an extended honeymoon period but in 2019, alarm bells began ringing in the Met about her hands-off, aloof style and questionable judgment.

After the conviction of VIP sex abuse liar Carl 'Nick' Beech that summer, and the Met's woeful handling of the fallout of the scandalous Operation Midland, punches could no longer be pulled.

When Dame Cressida stubbornly rejected calls by a retired High Court judge for a new inquiry into the conduct of five Midland officers, all exonerated by the lamentable police watchdog, demanding questions started being asked about her commissionership.

How sad it is the career of a police trail-blazer, who likes to be called 'Cress' even by junior officers, should have ended in such an undignified way, with her commissionership plagued by scandals, own-goals, errors of judgment and highly dubious appointments of old colleagues and allies into important positions in the Met

These doubts intensified when I learnt, belatedly, that she had sanctioned the launch of the multi-million pound Operation Midland in 2014 under the command of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse, a serial bungler. Furthermore, she had later supported Rodhouse's promotion to deputy head of the National Crime Agency. She refused to answer a series of questions from me on her crucial role in Midland before I exposed it in September 2019.

Further questions about her judgment emerged after she put the controversial Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Horne in charge of the release of a damning report into Midland in October 2019. Horne had been found guilty of bullying staff in a previous job, yet under Dame Cressida he had been made head of the professional-standards unit at the Met.

It was a breathtaking error of judgment. Dame Cressida had surrounded herself with a number of yes men and women, my sources told me, and she made the mistake of digging in her heels to protect her officers  to the detriment of the Met's reputation.

In an emergency virtual meeting last Saturday, she said the Met's task was equivalent to what the nation faced before the D-Day landings. Given the appalling ordeal of D-Day hero Lord Bramall at the hands of the Met  his home was raided at dawn in front of his dying wife and he was later interviewed under caution over blatant lies  it was a final crass comment from 'Cress'. Pictured: Troops from the 48th Royal Marines at Saint-Aubin-sur-mer on Juno Beach, Normandy, France, during the D-Day landings, June 6 1944

It was the beginning of the end  although at times it appeared she was coated in Teflon as she escaped justified criticism over a string of controversies.

Things deteriorated further in February last year when the widow of ex-home secretary Leon Brittan  falsely accused of being a child sex murderer by Beech  revealed in an explosive interview in the Mail that a 'culture of cover-up and flick-away' existed in the Met and that senior officers lacked a moral spine.

The same month, the Mail revealed that senior officers and police spin doctors had launched an extraordinary PR operation to ensure Dame Cressida was not 'pulled into' the scandal over the botched abuse probe.

Yet she was back in the news again by June last year, when she was quick to dismiss the key findings of an eight-year inquiry into the unsolved axe murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, which criticised her personally and branded the Met 'institutionally corrupt' in how it concealed or denied failings over his killing.

This report could not have been more damning of Scotland Yard and its culture. But for Dame Cressida to reject the main conclusions, without even reading it, smacked of arrogance.

For too long, Dame Cressida was protected by senior politicians, police and parts of the media. That has ended now, although her reward for failure will likely be a seat in the House of Lords where the great Lord Bramall, whose life was nearly destroyed by the Met, once sat

Finally, last September, I brought together a panel of victims of police corruption, incompetence and malpractice for a joint interview. They included Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen, and the son of D-Day hero Field Marshal Lord Bramall, falsely accused by Beech.

In an open letter to Boris Johnson, they said the disaster-prone Met commissioner should not be handed a two-year contract extension. They also demanded an overhaul of the Met's senior team, 'urgent and long overdue' reform of the police complaints system and a shake-up of the 'unfit for purpose' Independent Office for Police Conduct.

I was booked to go on Radio 4's Today programme to discuss the group's damning letter, but was pulled as a guest late the night before. Imagine my surprise when Dame Cressida's mentor and chief cheerleader Lord (Ian) Blair was instead given airtime on Today to try to trash the story, absurdly suggesting that calls for her to go may have been sexist.

It was disturbing that the BBC should have glossed over the concerns of Baroness Lawrence and others, and instead give the airwaves to a discredited ex-Met chief who was sacked by Mr Johnson when he was London mayor in 2008.

The group's pleas to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Priti Patel fell on deaf ears: Dame Cressida won a two-year extension. Yet further scandals sealed her fate, including the police-vetting row in the Sarah Everard case, the appalling failings by detectives in the case of gay serial killer Stephen Port, the damning report into the 'toxic' culture of racism and sexism at Charing Cross police station and the mishandled 'Partygate' police probe.

Whoever takes over at the Met must clear out the stables in the higher echelons of the force, including a swift departure for Dame Cressida's chief enforcer Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House. A robust independent inquiry must also be ordered into the Operation Midland scandal.

For too long, Dame Cressida was protected by senior politicians, police and parts of the media. That has ended now, although her reward for failure will likely be a seat in the House of Lords where the great Lord Bramall, whose life was nearly destroyed by the Met, once sat.

Last Friday, Dame Cressida sent an urgent email to dozens of senior officers and staff, saying the Met had to reform. 'This is serious and it is urgent enough is enough,' she wrote, signing the email: 'Cress'. And in an emergency virtual meeting of the same group last Saturday, she said the Met's task was equivalent to what the nation faced before the D-Day landings.

Given the appalling ordeal of D-Day hero Lord Bramall at the hands of the Met  his home was raided at dawn in front of his dying wife and he was later interviewed under caution over blatant lies  it was a final crass comment from 'Cress'.

Cressida's 500,000 reward for failure: That's sacked Met chief's astonishing payoff  and she'll get a 160,000-a-year pension too

BY REBECCA CAMBER AND DAVID BARRETT

Dame Cressida Dick is in line for a payout of more than 500,000 on top of a 160,000-a-year gold-plated pension, it emerged last night.

In what was described as a 'dreadful reward for failure', the ousted Scotland Yard commissioner will be entitled to a bumper package worth about 519,000 when she leaves the force in a few weeks.

It came as a row raged about London Mayor Sadiq Khan's shock move to force out the nation's top police officer.

Dame Cressida smiled and waved to the photographer, clutching a national newspaper with the story of her demise on the front as she arrived at Scotland Yard for work today

It emerged last night that her deputy Sir Stephen House is also likely to leave at the same time, leaving Britain's biggest force rudderless  with vacancies in four of the most important jobs in policing.

National Crime Agency boss Dame Lynne Owens retired on the grounds of ill health last year, and Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary Sir Tom Winsor is expected to announce his retirement shortly.

Dame Cressida said she had 'no choice' but to quit on Thursday night after a bust-up with Mr Khan, who withdrew his support after a series of scandals surrounding the misogynistic and racist conduct of her officers.

Bernard Hogan-Howe was paid a salary of 270,648 plus benefits. His pension is worth 180,000-a-year

Home Secretary Priti Patel was said to be fuming that Mr Khan did not consult her before leaving a gaping 'void' for her to fill. They were still not speaking about the situation yesterday, it is understood.

Senior police figures also questioned the 'fishy' timing of the Labour Mayor's decision amid claims of a 'stitch-up' over the Partygate scandal, in which the Prime Minister could be implicated.

Under the terms of her two-year extended contract, signed in September, Dame Cressida, 61, can expect to receive her 246,109 annual salary with 3,074 benefits for the remaining 25 months she had left to serve until April 2024.

She will also receive a bumper pension payout because it is effectively the second time that she has 'retired' from the Metropolitan Police after clocking up nearly 37 years' service.

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: 'When she has left she will receive an annual pension that amounts to two-thirds of her final salary, so it'll be around 160,000.'

A City Hall source said: 'There will be a due process and details about remuneration will be agreed in due course.' Yesterday Susan Hall, Tory chairman of the London Assembly's police and crime committee, said: 'Cressida has been treated appallingly by Sadiq. She has been thrown under a bus. Of course she is entitled to a payoff. She has been effectively dismissed by the Mayor.

'It will leave a void at the top as opposed to a properly managed handover, which is no way to run Britain's biggest police service.'

Despite his shortcomings at the Met, Bernard Hogan-Howe enjoys a 9million pension pot and owns two lavish homes. Pictured: Hogan-Howe walks his dog near his home in Dorset

Home Secretary Priti Patel was caught off guard by the decision, learning of it only when Dame Cressida rang her to say she had stood down - sparking a bitter row between City Hall and the Home Office.

But former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused during the Met's botched VIP sex abuse investigation Operation Midland, argued she should be denied the cash: 'This is a dreadful reward for failure. It's appalling that the public purse should have to foot the bill to the tune of over 500,000.'

Yesterday sources said Dame Cressida was heartbroken by the loss of her dream job and could still refuse the payoff because she is 'not motivated by money'.

A senior police source suggested the timing of her departure could be linked to Partygate.

He said: 'The pre-emptive move discredits her and the force, which gives Labour an opportunity to question the findings when the Partygate report comes out and claim it is a whitewash if Boris isn't forced to quit.' A Whitehall source added: 'There's something fishy going on. We are trying to work out what happened between Sadiq and Cressida.

'Earlier this week he'd been saying she had 'days and weeks' to come up with a reform plan, and then barely a day later he cans her. It's all very odd.'

But, referring to a report on the conduct of officers at Charing Cross police station released this month, a City Hall source said: 'It has nothing to do with the investigation into Downing Street. Sadiq was disgusted and angry that the Independent Office for Police Conduct report took him back to the dark days of policing in the 1970s and 1980s. Change had been promised. It hadn't been delivered.'
A wine critic who helps choose bottles for the Queen has shared her tips on how to buy the best supermarket wine.

Jancis Robinson, 71, tastes more than 10,000 wines a year and as a member of the Royal Household Wine Committee, which helps to select bottles served to guests at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Robinson explained there are simple rules everyone can follow if they want to consistently buy the best quality wine possible, from avoiding ones stored in sunlight to opting for 'younger' vintages on cheaper bottles.

She also said it's important to ask if a supermarket has a wine on special offer - just in case it's because the wine has gone by.

Here, ahead of the launch of a new course on BBC Maestro about wine, Ms Robinson shares her tips...

A Master of Wine who provides advice to the wine cellar of the Queen has revealed the best ways to store wine and what to look out for when picking up a bottle. Dubbed 'the world's most influential wine critic' Jancis Robinson, 71, tastes more than 10,000 wines a year.

Avoid bottles that have been stored in sunlight

'A bottle of wine that has been damaged by exposure to strong light is said to have suffered lightstrike,' Jancis explains.

'UV light negatively impacts the wine so that fresh, vibrant aromas and flavours are lost and replaced by cooked, stale ones.

If buying cheap wine, younger is better 'Not all wines get better with age and many, especially less expensive ones, are best drunk when they are first released, when the aromas and flavours are vibrant and fresh. 'Older vintages will have lost this youthful charm and can taste a little flat or tired.' Advertisement

'In extreme examples there might even be notes of cabbage or damp cardboard.

'Try and avoid buying wine bottled in clear glass bottles as these are the least effective at blocking harmful light.

'If you are a fan of rose wine (which is often bottled in clear glass to emphasise its visual appeal) then try and ensure you purchase from a reliable source and once home, store the wine away from light.

'Sparkling wine is impacted strongly by lightstrike so try not to choose bottles that have been stored in a fridge or in a brightly lit position in a shop.

If the bottle has a natural cork, it should be stored horizontally

'Corks need to be kept in contact with the wine to keep them damp and airtight so store bottles horizontally.

'If the bottle is kept upright there is a risk the cork will dry out, lose elasticity and shrink, allowing air to enter the bottle.

'This causes premature oxidation, which causes the wine to change colour, picking up brown tints and impacts negatively on the aromas and flavours.

Ask the reason why bottles are on special offer

'A retailer may have secured a parcel of wine at a particularly keen price, but always ask why a wine is on special offer.

'It may be on promotion to tie in with a celebration (pink wine for Valentine's Day for example) but if the stock was distressed then it may not be the best purchase.

'The saying 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware!) is a good phrase to keep in mind.

'There are various rules that we've all grown up with, like with meat or meaty dishes, you drink red wine' Jancis explained

Check ratings on your smartphone

'Take a photo of a wine label via your smartphone and upload it to one of the growing number of wine apps.

'Vivino is the most popular label-scanning app. Or check out CellarTracker for reviews of how fine wines are drinking.

'You'll be able to access consumer reviews and critics scores from this wine community.'

Break the rules with food and wine pairings

'There are various rules that we've all grown up with, like with meat or meaty dishes, you drink red wine.

'With fish, you drink white wine. But rules are there to be broken, aren't they?

Jancis' pick for some of the BEST food and wine pairings There are some classic combinations that have stood the test of time: Riesling and smoked fish

Chablis with oysters

Cabernet Sauvignon and roast lamb

Pinot Noir with roast duck

Goat's cheese and Sauvignon Blanc

Blue cheese and really sweet wine, such as a Sauternes Advertisement

'Rather than the blanket decree, 'white wine with fish', think about the weight and texture of the fish.

'Delicate white fish probably works best with dry, lighter-bodied whites, such as cool-climate Chardonnay, Albarino or Sauvignon Blanc.

'Meatier fish such as tuna or swordfish would work well with full-bodied whites but also dry roses or chilled reds (providing there isn't too much tannin).

'Spatburgunder, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Schiava and dry rose would all work well.

'Red wines, especially those high in tannin, taste less dry if served alongside some protein.

'Beef, lamb and venison are great matches for tannic varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. Game such as duck and pigeon can have a more delicate flavour that works best with varieties that don't carry too much tannin, such as Pinot Noir.

'Many vegetarian dishes are centred around pulses or beans and can often carry a degree of spice.

'There is a certain 'meaty' texture to pulses so youthful, juicy red wines, such as Sangiovese or Tempranillo, can make a great match.

'Desserts and puddings are probably the most difficult dishes to match. Choose a wine that is sweeter than the dessert; noble Riesling, Semillon or Moscato. Chocolate is notoriously hard to match but sweet, really strong fortified wine such as PX Sherry, Port or Malmsey Madeira, can be heavenly.

'Finally, try not to stress out. Being with friends, celebrating a success, or simply creating a meal for the family, should be about the occasion, not worrying whether the food and wine combination is perfect.

'If you feel like eating X and drinking Y, chances are that, based on your past experience, X will go with Y.'

Jancis Robinson's BBC Maestro course on An Understanding of Wine is available for 80. Find out more at bbcmaestro.com
A nurse and CrossFit fan who suffered a stroke at age 29 has opened up about her extensive recovery as she urges people to understand the signs of the disease.

Jayme Kelly, 31, from Boston, Massachusetts, woke up unable to move her right arm and leg on July 23, 2019, but it didn't occur to her that she could be having a stroke at such a young age.

Kelly, who was healthy and did CrossFit regularly, thought she had just slept 'weird' and her limbs were asleep. When she realized she couldn't speak, her roommate called 911, and she was rushed to the hospital.

'It took me two days to even realize I had a stroke. I was so shocked,' she told Today. 'It changed my life forever.'

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Jayme Kelly, 31, from Boston, Massachusetts, opened up about having a stroke at age 29, saying she was healthy regularly did CrossFit at the time

The nurse woke up unable to move the ride side of her body on July 23, 2019, and she was rushed to the hospital after she realized she couldn't speak. She is pictured before her stroke (left) and in the hospital after (right)

After spending the past two years recovering, Kelly is sharing her story as one of the American Heart Associations 2022 Go Red for Women Real Women ambassadors.

Her stroke affected the left side of her brain, which controls language and the muscles on the right side of the body, among other things.

She was unable to walk, move her right arm, or speak while she was in the hospital.

Further testing determined that she has Factor V Leiden, a genetic mutation that increases the risk of blood clots.

She was also on hormonal birth control at the time, which added to her risk of developing blood clots.

Kelly (pictured with her niece in September 2019) spent a week in the hospital before being transferred to an in-patient rehabilitation

Regaining her ability to speak, read, and move her right hand, has been a slow and arduous process, and she is still in speech therapy

'They only tested me for Factor V because I had a stroke,' she told Today. 'I was on birth control, which a lot of women are, and the hormones reacted to the Factor V Leiden.'

Kelly spent a week in the hospital before being transferred to an in-patient rehabilitation where she underwent occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

When she left rehab, she could only say, 'My name is Jayme Kelly,' 'How are you?' and 'I love you.' Regaining her ability to speak, read, and move her right hand, has been a slow and arduous process.

Kelly moved in with her parents while she continued outpatient therapy. Her speech therapist noticed she was struggling with the emotional aspects of surviving a stroke and encouraged her to see a mental health therapist.

Reliving what had happened to her seemed daunting at first, but she soon realized that the more she talked about it, the better she felt.

Kelly is sharing her story as one of the American Heart Associations 2022 Go Red for Women Real Women ambassadors

'If you would have seen me on the street, no one really knew I am a stroke survivor, but I am,' she said of her ongoing recovery

'If you would have seen me on the street, no one really knew I am a stroke survivor, but I am,' she said. 'And I didnt want anyone to know that I was depressed  I didnt want anyone to really understand how bad I was. How mad I was.'

Kelly also opened up about her stroke and recovery in a video for the American Heart Association as part of her advocacy work as an ambassador.

She said she is in speech therapy, music therapy, and a book club with other stroke survivors to help improve her speaking, reading, and writing.

'I'm not back to where I was before my stroke, but I am getting better every day,' she explained.

Kelly hasn't been able to return to her job at Boston Children's Hospital, but she is living on her own again and happy to be working as a personal nurse for a young girl with cerebral palsy.

She wants people to educate themselves about the risk factors and signs of a stroke because it can happen to anyone.

'Stroke doesnt discriminate at all,' she told Today. 'No one really knows what goes into being a stroke survivor  Its hard and I dont want anyone else to go through what I went through.'
An Australian mum has savaged her nine-year-old daughter's school for making students weigh themselves in PE class and then watching on as students compared the numbers.

The young mother, who lives in Perth, shared her outrage on Facebook, querying how a situation like the one her helpless daughter was thrust into even came about.

'My nine-year-old daughter and her class where all asked to weigh themselves at school today as part of their physical education class,' she started.

'While the teacher told them "it doesn't matter what the number is" to me the activity itself is so insanely problematic.

'My nine-year-old daughter and her class where all asked to weigh themselves at school today as part of their physical education class,' she started (stock image)

Poll Should children be weighed at school? Yes, it's fine No, absolutely not Should children be weighed at school? Yes, it's fine 36 votes

No, absolutely not 132 votes Now share your opinion





'There was comparison, commenting on each other's numbers, calling out the heaviest as fat by the kids.'

The frustrated mum has a free-flowing dialogue with her daughter about body image but she was worried about the children who would go home and worry about their weight as a result of the exercise.

'We had a long conversation about our worth as a person having absolutely nothing to do with the number on the scales, never under any circumstances commenting on someone else's body type and we always have had open communication to promote body positivity in our house and we do discuss girls and puberty but I'm furious that this happened at school,' she continued.

'I will be up late researching the stats surrounding eating disorders, mental health and weight issues to shove in the school's face in an email.

'What else can I do about this? These kids are nine, they don't need this.'

Other Australian parents were quick to express their own views on the topic.

'Contact the school. This is disgraceful. I am a teacher and it would never enter my mind that that is an acceptable thing to do,' said one woman.

'I will never forget when I experienced this 20 years ago. It was undoubtedly the beginning of a really long and difficult journey with my self esteem and body. I am really saddened to hear that it is still a common practice,' said another.

'I remember vividly doing this in Year 2 at school and being ashamed of weighing 30 kilos while my thinner classmates weighed less. I think it's horrible, particularly for children,' a third added.

'I will be up late researching the stats surrounding eating disorders, mental health and weight issues to shove in the school's face in an email,' she said (stock image)

Another said: 'This is completely WRONG. I didn't even get weighed when I was pregnant. It's not only irrelevant but it could be causing eating disorders and actual physical and mental harm with zero benefit. I would be on the phone to the school.'

One nurse said the problem was less about weighing the kids and more about the 'shame' attached to the number on the scales.

'As a health worker it is mandatory for me to measure weight and height for all kids aged two to 18 every three months. This is to normalise the discussion as the crisis of kids' health is real,' she said.
An Australian nursing student has told of how a feature on her Apple Watch could have saved her months of symptoms like fatigue and heat sensitivity - and helped to diagnose her thyroid condition much quicker.

Lauren, a 21-year-old student from Sydney, said she recently discovered she had Thyroiditis - a swelling and inflammation of the gland - and found that her watch had picked up on a drop in her oxygen consumption months prior.

In a video on TikTok, she tells told other fitness tracker users to turn all their notifications on so they can be alerted of any concerning changes to their health.

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Lauren, a 21-year-old nursing student from Sydney, told Apple Watch users to turn all their notifications on after she missed a drop in her oxygen consumption that could have saved her months of worsening symptoms and lead to a quicker diagnosis

'I would have realised something was going on had my apple watch alerted me of changes,' Lauren said in the clip.

'Instead of me waiting for the symptoms to get really bad, I could have gone to the doctor back in October when there was this dramatic drop in a matter of days and had it investigated then,' she explained pointing to a graph from the Health app on her phone.

The graph was calculated from data picked up by her watch that shows a significant dip in Lauren's oxygen consumption around the time she started to feel unwell.

'What you were looking at was my oxygen consumption and as you can see was dramatically dropped which means my cardiovascular system isn't working as well as it once was,' she said.

Lauren was diagnosed with a thyroid condition after suffering from fatigue, irregular heart rate, a 'serious' sensitivity to heat, weight gain, dry skin and irritability since October last year

The university student spent months battling with fatigue, irregular heart rate, a 'serious' sensitivity to heat, weight gain, dry skin and irritability before getting a diagnosis a couple of weeks ago.

A neck ultrasound later showed she actually had half of her thyroid missing due to a rare congenital defect called Thyroid hemiagenesis; this then caused the thyroiditis to develop.

'I literally feel nauseous if I'm out in the sun for too long,' she said.

While Lauren said being notified of her sudden 'below average' oxygen levels could have saved her from months of illness and doctors visits she warned against using a watch for medical advice.

'Don't get me wrong your Apple Watch is definitely not something you should follow as medical advice but it can come in handy as a tool to prompt you to go get things investigated further,' she said.

Her video quickly went viral and has racked up thousands of views and dozens of comments from people sharing their similar experiences

Thyroiditis: What you should know What is Thyroiditis? Thyroiditis refers to a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the thyroid. Your thyroid is the gland located in the front of your neck below your Adams apple. The thyroid makes hormones that control your metabolism and affect how your body works. Symptoms There are several types of Thyroiditis with many possible symptoms but common ones include: Weight loss Nervousness, anxiety or irritability Trouble sleeping Rapid heart rate Dry skin Depression Fatigue Muscle weakness Tremors - shaking hands and fingers Unplanned weight gain Constipation Muscle aches Treatment Treatment for thyroiditis depends on your type and what symptoms you have. If you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe a medicine called a beta blocker which helps to lower your heart rate and reduce tremors. If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, your doctor may prescribe thyroid hormone replacements which help to restore your bodys hormone levels and get your metabolism back to normal. It can take several tries to get the right dose of synthetic thyroid hormone. Your doctor may taper the dose of this drug over time as your symptoms improve. Source: familydoctor.org Advertisement

Her video quickly went viral and has racked up thousands of views and dozens of comments from people sharing their similar experiences.

'I got high heart rate notifications so I saw a doctor and he diagnosed me with Graves Disease and said my heart rate was so high I wouldve had a heart attack by the time I was 20 if I didnt have the watch!!! I'm only 17!!' one girl wrote.

'My apple watch helped me with getting diagnosed because my doctors just werent taking me seriously,' said another.

'Yes so important! It is such a great thing to have the chart showing your constant heart rate too! Especially if your heart rate goes up at the doctors appt,' commented a third.
A heartbroken mother who lost her 12-year-old son in a freak farm accident while opening a gate has uncovered his 'secret' song - and been inundated by kind strangers wanting to play it at the young boy's funeral.

Kyan Pennell, 12, was helping his father Ian on their property in Mary Valley, 169km north of Brisbane, about midday on January 31 when he was crushed.

The primary school student got out of his father's car to open the gate at the steep property entrance on Chinaman's Creek Road.

As Mr Pennell drove through the gate it partially closed, trapping Kyan between the car's trailer and the gate.

Police said Mr Pennell heard a 'bang' and a 'yell' which sent him, Kyan's little sister, his mother, and a neighbour running to help.

But sadly the young musician didn't survive his severe injuries despite the efforts of paramedics.

Kyan Pennell (pictured), 12, was helping his father Ian on their property in Mary Valley, 169km north of Brisbane , about midday on January 31 when he was crushed

On February 3 Kyan's mother Amanda Brierley shared a post to Facebook detailing how her son had been learning the piano for seven months and had seemingly half-written a classical song he had hoped to perform one day (pictured)

On February 3 Kyan's mother Amanda Brierley shared a post to Facebook detailing how her son had been learning the piano for seven months and had seemingly half-written a classical song he had hoped to perform one day.

'I found this. Kyan was composing his own classical (I could be wrong but I think he said 'modern' classical) and I never heard what he was composing,' she said, sharing a photo of his musical score.

'Is there anyone that can read music and play it and send it to us? If I remember rightly he told me about this and there were bits that repeated, and changed tempo, with light and shade, but he didn't write that down. It would mean the world to us to hear his composition.'

Amanda could only find the introduction to Kyan's song and knew he was planning on introducing a 'grand mid section' into the piece that would be played by both wind and string instruments, but he never got to finish it.

Amanda could only find the introduction to Kyan's song and knew he was planning on introducing a 'grand mid section' into the piece that would be played by both wind and string instruments, but he never got to finish it

'Piano was his calling, he was 12, and had seven months of learning, teaching himself music theory, performance and composition, and he had committed to memory multiple classical pieces and some modern pieces... but just so he could bring a crowd in, and then educate them with the beauty of classical he would say cheekily,' she said.

'He wanted to be a concert pianist and spent every waking hour on the piano he scraped and saved to buy.

'He was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD and used that superpower to become an incredibly beautiful and unique human who just wanted to learn and excel at everything he could, about everything there was.'

Incredibly Amanda received tens of videos from teenagers right across Australia playing Kyan's song and 16 members of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra plan on recording a version to play at his funeral on Sunday.

'He would have been so chuffed that all these wonderful people are now playing his music,' Amanda added.

'He did tell me that many people have to die to become famous, well my beautiful boy, here we are,' his mother wrote

'Little did he know he was actually composing his own funeral song.

'He did tell me that many people have to die to become famous, well my beautiful boy, here we are.'

The Pennell family moved to the Gympie region two years earlier with the hope of living a quiet, country life.

Mr Pennell shared a heart-breaking tribute to his lost son in a Facebook post the day after his death.

'As many may already know Amanda, Lauryn and I lost our beautiful, creative, quirky, smart, talented, funny, animal-loving son/brother Kyan yesterday in a freak accident,' he wrote.

'Just wanted to thank everyone for their heartfelt messages of love and support.

'Also special thanks to the amazing flight doctors, paramedics, police personal and our neighbours who fought for over an hour in an attempt to save him. His injuries were simply too great.'

Several friends and family members commented on the post to leave their messages of support for the family.

Police said Ian Pennell (top left) heard a 'bang' and a 'yell' which sent him, Kyan's little sister (bottom left), his mother (top right), and a neighbour running to help (Kyan bottom right)

'I'm so deeply sorry for you all. I have very fond memories of you all and making up Haikus at the lake in Greece with Kyan is a great one,' one person wrote.

'He was a remarkable young man and a pleasure to be around - mature beyond his years. Again, words can never express my deepest sympathies.'

'So many broken hearts for this wee man, made harder with closed borders still. The talent this kid had for music was unbelievable, certainly not from our side of the family, that was all Amanda. We will miss you so much Ky Xxx,' a family member wrote.

Kyan's grade five teacher from Gympie Central School Kerri Groves also shared a touching message.

'It is a beautiful family. They are just lovely people and devoted parents. They moved from Sydney to the country for Kyan. He was such a sweetie,' she said.

A study by the University of Sydney in July 2021 found 15 children under 15 die on farms each year with many more receiving serious injuries requiring hospitalisation.

Children under 14 made up 15 per cent of all farm deaths.
An undercover romance fraudster pretending to be a woman admits he is 'falling in love' with the 'kind-hearted' American man he conned out of over $10,000 in a new documentary.

The second season of National Geographic's hugely popular Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller will see the award-winning journalist unveil the inner workings of romance scams.

The unidentified Ghanaian man, who disguises his identity with a balaclava and gold mask, is accompanied by a female companion who lends her voice during phone calls to the victim in Virginia.

Despite their ruse, the man speaks candidly with the journalist - admitting he believes his victim has a 'kind heart'.

After scamming the US man out of thousands by claiming he needed cash for rent and school fees, the scammer says he 'feels' for the man, named Michael, in a platonic sense, and thinks he's 'too good to him'.

The new series, which airs Monday, will no doubt appeal to fans of Netflix's hit documentary Tinder Swindler, following a group of women who were the victims of dating app conman Shimon Hayut.

An undercover romance fraudster (pictured right)pretending to be a woman admits he is 'falling in love' with the American man he conned out of over $10,000 in National Geographic's hugely popular Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller

The first episode which premieres Monday will see the award-winning journalist unveil the inner workings of romance scams. Pictured, a masked scammer flaunting his cash in the series

In a clip shared from the programme, the 45-year-old journalist is seen meeting up with two unidentified scammers in an unknown location in Ghana.

The male fraudster admits: 'I'm pretending to be a woman, using the profile of a female.'

'This man, Michael, has no idea you are actually a man in Ghana?', asks Mariana.

The conman continues: 'Yes. I started falling in love with him. Not for intercourse or whatever it is, but I felt for him. Michael is kind-hearted, I think Michael has been too good for me.'

Each episode of the forthcoming series follows Mariana as she works her way inside a different black market or global trafficking network and meets key players inside the murky industries

Pictured, a group of masked scammers using laptops to con unsuspecting victims out of cash in the new series

Pictured, an unidentified woman and masked man filming a music video in a new documentary about romance scams

The scammer then reveals Michael has sent more than $10,000 to him, purportedly for education and rent, saying: 'Michael knows I'm at school here in Ghana'.

The series then sees Michael calling the scammer from his hometown in Virginia, with the female companion on hand, presumably ready to speak to him.

Each episode of the forthcoming series follows Mariana as she works her way inside a different black market or global trafficking network and meets key players inside the murky industries.

In the first episode, she will be seen chatting with other US victims, one of whom says she was 'like a fish, that hook was so far down in my belly' admitting she gave her scammer $2.8million.

Others dubbed their fraudsters 'evil b****ds', while admitting they sold jewellery and investments in order to send money over to their scammer.

'Filming a whole season of Trafficked during a global pandemic was extremely challenging, but there's been an explosion of black markets over the past year, and I think we all quickly realised that this series has become more relevant than ever', said van Zeller of the series.

Pictured, Mariana van Zeller and an unidentified woman holding cash in the new documentary investigating the murky world of romance scams

Pictured, a Ghanaian woman flaunting cash with a masked man in the forthcoming series investigating romance scams

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

'With this second season, we have managed to dive even deeper and gain even more access into underworld networks around the world.'

The series comes in the aftermath of the massively successful Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, directed by Felicity Morris.

It follows Cecilie Fjellhy, Ayleen Koeleman, and Pernilla Sjoholm, were fooled into thinking Hayut, 30, from Israel, was the son of a billionaire diamond merchant after meeting him on a dating app.

The convicted conman would use the money he acquired from other victims to impress single women with an expensive lifestyle and lavish gifts.

Shimon, who has been known to use pseudonyms, scammed Cecilie, Ayleen and Pernilla by claiming that he needed to borrow money because using his own funds could lead him to be traced by his enemies.

It is unclear how many other people fell for the scam but it is estimated that he conned his victims out of 7.4 million.
Queen Letizia of Spain revealed her husband King Felipe is doing 'very well' after testing positive for Covid-19.

The 49-year-old visited the Proton Therapy center of the University Hospital Quironsalud, days after it was announced Felipe had contracted the virus.

It is part of a spate of positive Covid-19 tests across European royal families, with Prince Charles and Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, 81, also struck down.

While her husband remains isolating at their home, Zarzuela Palace, Letizia seemed in high spirits and was seen waving to royal fans before visiting the new medical facility.

When journalists enquired about her husband's health, she said he was doing very well, according to Hola!

Queen Letizia of Spain was the picture of elegance in a floral gown as she stepped out alone in Madrid today

The mother-of-two perfectly complimented the ensemble with some understated gold hoop earrings and matching ring while she wore her brown tresses loose around her shoulders

Typically stylish, Letizia paired her black batwing midi-dress, decorated with a stunning floral pattern, with a pair of killer suede heels in tan as she visited the new medical facility this morning

Putting safety first, Letizia wore a plain black face mask but donned her usual glamorous make-up underneath, opting for a warm peach coloured eye and subtle highlight

Queen Letizia and the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias are pictured chatting ahead of the monarch's visit today

Queen Letizia appeared in good spirits despite her husband testing positive for Covid on Wednesday and was seen waving at royal fans ahead of the visit today

Typically stylish, Letizia paired her black batwing midi-dress, decorated with a stunning floral pattern, with a pair of killer suede heels in tan.

The mother-of-two perfectly complimented the ensemble with some understated gold hoop earrings and matching ring while she wore her brown tresses loose around her shoulders.

Putting safety first, Letizia wore a plain black face mask but donned her usual glamorous make-up underneath, opting for a warm peach coloured eye and subtle highlight.

Spain's King Felipe VI was vaccinated against the coronavirus. The 54-year-old monarch was tested for the virus after he developed 'mild symptoms' of COVID-19, his royal house said.

Letizia chatted with a family during her visit to the Proton Therapy Center of the Madrid University Hospital in Pozuelo de Alarcon

The Spanish monarch is seen playing with a group of children at the hospital during her visit today

As usual, Letizia wore a plain white face mask as she visited the centre days after her husband testing positive for Covid on Wednesday

Queen Letizia looked radiant as she visited the Proton Therapy Center at the Quironsalud Hospital this morning

While her husband remains isolating at their home, Zarzuela Palace, Letizia seemed in high spirits and was seen waving to royal fans

Letizia was animated as she met royal fans ahead of her visit to the Quironsalud Proton Therapy Centre this morning

The picture of elegance, Letizia opted for a black batwing midi-dress, decorated with a stunning floral pattern

Queen Letizia of Spain chatted with the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias outside the centre this morning

The Spanish monarch showed off her killer heels as she visited the Proton Therapy Center at the Quironsalud Hospital in Madrid today

Queen Letizia and the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, pose at the exit of the Quironsalud Proton Therapy Center alongside staff at the facility

The Spanish monarch seemed impassioned as she chatted with Minister of Health Darias outside the centre today

The Spanish royal household said King Felipe's 'overall health' was fine and he will remain in isolation for seven days, following national health protocols.

The royal house confirmed on Wednesday that Queen Letizia has not shown any symptoms of the virus.

With 90 per cent of its population over age 12 years old having received at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, Spain is starting to roll back health restrictions as the latest surge driven by the omicron variant ebbs.

The new Proton Therapy Centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology and will research improvement in cancer treatment results and the quality of life of patients, through its projects.

The Spanish monarch looked effortlessly chic in her stylish midi-dress at the event this morning

The Spanish royal opted for a warm peach coloured eye and subtle highlight and wore her brown tresses loose around her shoulders

During her visit to the centre, Letizia posed outside the centre with medics and staff of the Proton Therapy Center at the Quironsalud Hospital

During her visit to the centre, Letizia spoke with medical staff about their vital work at the centre

Letizia is pictured on a tour of the in Proton Therapy Centre at the Madrid University hospital in Pozuelo de Alarcon today

Letizia is the Honourary President of the Spanish Association Against Cancer and has been working closely with researchers and charities since King Felipe VI ascended the throne in 2014

Letizia was accompanied by Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darias as they visited the Proton Therapy Center at Madrid University Hospital

According to the centre, proton therapy is currently the safest and most advanced radiotherapy technique for treating certain kinds of cancer.

Applied in specific doses, protons can act with precision inside tissue, achieving a better anti-tumour activity and causing less damage to healthy tissue.

During her visit to the centre, Letizia spoke with medical staff about their vital work at the centre before posing for a photograph outside.

Letizia is the Honourary President of the Spanish Association Against Cancer and has been working closely with researchers and charities since King Felipe VI ascended the throne in 2014.

Letizia seemed deep in thought as she chatted with Minister of Health, Carolina Darias during this visit today

Letizia was the picture of elegance as she left her visit to the university hospital in Madrid this morning

The Spanish monarch is pictured getting into her car following her visit to the Quironsalud Hospital today

Letizia waved to royal fas as she left the Proton Therapy Center at the Quironsalud Hospital today
A pensioner whose wife is 51 years his junior left ITV viewers squirming after revealing the couple have 'no problems' in the bedroom.

Terzel Rasmus, 30, from Cape Town, South Africa, met 81-year-old Wilson Rasmus in 2016 at a local newspaper event and wed when law student Terzel was 26 and Wilson was 77.

The couple, who appeared on This Morning today, say that despite Terzel being almost 30 years younger than her stepchild, their families have been supportive of their relationship.

But viewers were left cringing after host Alison Hammond asked the couple about their sex life, with Wilson confirming: 'Everything is good. Many friends ask that question but I always say 'I won't talk about it, but I will say we have no problems'.

Terzel Rasmus, 30, from Cape Town, South Africa, met 81-year-old Wilson Rasmus in 2016 at a local newspaper event. The couple appeared on This Morning today where they opened up about their relationship

The couple say that despite Terzel being almost 30 years younger than her stepchild, their families have been supportive of their relationship

'ThisMorning ouch! I do love @AlisonHammond and @radioleary but that interview with the couple from SA was cringe worthy!', wrote one viewer.

'This Morning this is a painful interview to watch. Like root canal painful', said another.

A third wrote: 'I wish these couples wouldn't go on This Morning. The questions asked make me cringe #ThisMorning'.

'The bedroom question was one question too far #ThisMorning', agreed another viewer.

But viewers were left cringing after host Alison Hammond asked the couple about their sex life, with Wilson confirming: 'Everything is good...we have no problems'

The couple had an instant connection when they met, with Terzel describing Wilson has a 'gentleman with a cool demeanour'.

'How he walked across the dancefloor and he was very confident', she said. 'He knew what he wanted and he was a gentleman as well, he didn't try his luck with me.

Wilson went on: 'When I saw her I was sitting alone I thought, I might as well go and ask her to keep me company. When I got there, I greeted her and asked whether I could join her and she said 'You're welcome to, why not?' And that is how we started talking.

Despite their age gap, Terzel says her family never had any issues with Wilson and quickly embraced him into the family.

'My dad was quite happy and my mum as well, she said. 'Even my grandmother she says the minute she saw him, she felt he was a decent man. She didn't have any other questions, she was quite enthralled with him and my brother was like 'Okay this is the man in your life, cool'.

After her mother and late father gave their stamp of approval the lovebirds were married the following year in a small ceremony, with Wilson's 57-year-old daughter, as the witness

Terzel immediately felt at home with Wilson, who is 24 years older than her mother, and said there was a 'definite spark' between them

After her mother and late father gave their stamp of approval the lovebirds were married the following year in a small ceremony, with Wilson's 57-year-old daughter, as the witness.

While the couple are happier than ever, their 'only issue' is Wilson being unable to work Netflix, with Terzel explaining: 'I put it on his phone and I said "This is how you do it" and I realised that he doesn't even know the triangle means play.

The reaction to the couple when they are out in public has been less welcoming, however, with people often staring and mistaking them for father and daughter.

Wilson explained: 'I can start with something that happened when we were together, I heard someone say "Who is that with her? Is it her father, or is it her grandfather?"

The reaction to the couple when they are out in public has been less welcoming, however, with people often staring and mistaking them for father and daughter

'I heard him say that and thought to myself "This is our business and has nothing to do with you".

Terzel says she's never wanted children and while she has considered the face Wilson will pass away before she does, the couple try to live in the moment as much as they can.

'When we got to together we decided we didn't want to have kids, the family way is not our way.'

'We have thought about [Wilson passing away] and we have spoken about it. I just love everyday just for today and try not to look too ahead in the future. That is something our relationship has given me that sense of gratitude we live in the present day.'
Comedian Drew Carey has revealed that he and his late ex-fiancee Amie Harwick texted about meeting up just two days before she was murdered, as he opened up about his grief over her death in a candid interview.

Amie died at the age of 38 on February 15, 2020, after she was strangled and then thrown from the third floor balcony of her California home; her ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse was later charged with her murder.

The renowned Hollywood sex therapist got engaged to Drew in 2018, but the two split 18 months before she was killed.

However, the Price Is Right host, 63, has now revealed that he and Amie got back in touch just two days before she was tragically killed - when she messaged him to say she wanted to 'get together and talk', explaining that she had been thinking about 'forgiveness' a lot.

Speaking to CBS' 48 Hours, Drew explained that the former couple never got the chance to meet up - but he said that he has found 'solace' in their final interaction, knowing he was able to tell her he loved her one last time.

'Valentine's Day was a Friday. I got a text from her on Thursday,' he said.

Comedian Drew Carey has revealed that he and his late ex-fiancee Amie Harwick texted about reconciling just days before she was murdered

Amie (pictured with Drew before her death), 38, died on on February 15, 2020 - after she was allegedly thrown her from the third floor balcony of her California home

The renowned Hollywood sex therapist (pictured in 2019) got engaged to Drew in 2018, but the two split 18 months before her passing

Now, Drew revealed he and Amie got back in touch two days before she was tragically killed - when she messaged him to say she wanted to 'get together and talk'

'[She] said, "Hey, I know we haven't talked in a while, but I've been doing a lot of thinking about, you know, forgiveness, and I would love to get together with you and talk."

Drew (pictured with Amie in 2017) said they never got the chance to meet up - but he gets 'solace' from their final interaction, knowing he was able to tell her he loved her one last time

'And I said, "Yeah, I would love to do that. I love you." I was really happy, like, "Oh, it'd be great to see her again." But I never got a chance to do it.

'I'm glad that she knew I loved her. I'm glad I could get that message to her before she died. She loved me and held me in a dear place in her heart.'

Amie's ex-boyfriend Pursehouse, 41, was charged with murder, residential burglary, and lying in wait - a charge which makes him eligible for the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

An autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner indicated that Amie was found with wounds on her hands and fingers 'consistent with a combination of defense and assault type wounds, suggestive of an altercation.'

She was also found with injuries to the head and torso and had been strangled, and the cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma.

When Drew got the news, he told the outlet that he 'started crying' and 'couldn't even stand up.'

Amie's ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse (pictured), 41, was charged with murder, residential burglary, and lying in wait. He has pleaded not guilty

An autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner indicated that Amie was found with wounds on her hands and fingers 'suggestive of an altercation'

She was also found with injuries to the head and torso and had been strangled, and the cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma

Drew and Amie had met at a party where she was working at a bartender in 2017.

They then ran in to each other again at another party one week later, where she told him, 'It's my birthday, and my boyfriend stood me up.'

Drew recalled: 'I said, "Boy, you should get a better class of boyfriend." And she said, "Yeah, maybe I should."

'That was my first flirty line with her. And then, by the end of the night, I got her number. Our first date we went to Disneyland.

Right away, the actor, who was 58 at the time, said he was smitten with Amie, who was 35 at the time, and would brag about her to all his friends.

'I said, "Wow, I met this great girl. Her name's Amie. She's a Ph.D. and she's a therapist,"' he told the outlet.

'And I said, "If this keeps going the way it's going, I'm going to marry her." I just said it right out, and I'd only known her for, like, a couple weeks. I just knew that she was special.'

Unfortunately, being in a public relationship wasn't easy for them, and according to Drew, Amie didn't like the constant media attention.

When Drew got the news, he told the outlet that he 'started crying' and 'couldn't even stand up.' He and Amie are pictured together before her death

Drew and Amie had met at a party where she was working at a bartender in 2017. They split in late 2018, with the TV personality calling their breakup 'really painful'

'If we were in the paper or something, that would be a fight sometimes,' Drew explained, adding that Amie would often say, 'I wish you weren't famous. You know? This is all because I'm dating you.'

Despite trying to fix their relationship through therapy, the two ultimately called it quits in late 2018.

While speaking to 48 Hours, the TV personality called their breakup 'really painful,' admitting that it 'felt like a death' to him.

Gareth had dated Amie 10 years prior, but allegedly continued to stalk her in the years since, and it's been reported that Amie previously told friends she feared he would hurt her.

Amie (pictured in 2016) was a well known sex and family therapist, as well as a former Playboy model

Court documents reviewed by DailyMail.com last year detailed how he once pushed her out of a car on the freeway, and in another incident forced her onto the ground and viciously kicked her in the face.

She had filed two restraining orders against him but the final one had expired in 2015.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Gareth worked as a photographer, as well as a software engineer and developer. His most recent job was as lead architect at Internet Brands.

Amie was a well known sex and family therapist, as well as a former Playboy model. She received her degree in psychology from California Polytechnic University in Pomona, California.

She also earned her masters of arts in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.

Before her death, she had appeared on various TV and radio shows, and she even wrote her own book called The New Sex Bible for Women.

'I feel like a widower, you know, in a lot of ways, because I wanted to marry her, and then we had this horrible breakup. And then before I could talk to her again, somebody killed her,' concluded Drew.
Critics have rounded on the new Netflix series Inventing Anna, which tells the story of Anna Sorokin, a fraudster better known as 'fake heiress' Anna Delvey, for glorifying the $275,000 con artist, while painting her victims as 'idiots'.

Released on the streaming service today, Shonda Rhimes' latest drama reveals how Sorokin posed as a rich Russian socialite to scam New York high society, leaving friends out of pocket and a trail of unpaid hotel bills in her wake before being exposed.

The series, starring Ozark's Julia Garner as the titular character, is told through the eyes of journalist Vivian (Anna Chlumsky) and begins with Megan Thee Stallion's Rich playing over footage of articles about Anna going to press.

While the grifter is instantly portrayed as egoistical and self-obsessed - the show begins by highlighting how the scammer was turned into a cult figure on social media, with devotees hailing her 'iconic'.

Now reviewers have criticised the portrayal of Anna as a 'feminist girlboss' while her victims - the upper echelon of New York society - appear to be gullible and 'idiotic' for falling into her traps.

Shonda Rhimes' drama Inventing Anna was released on Netflix today with Ozark's Julia Garner as the titular character

Shonda Rhimes' latest drama reveals how Anna Sorokin (pictured in 2019) scammed New York society and hotels out of $275,000 before being exposed as a con artist

Sorokin, a Russian born German who moved to the US in 2013, would befriend wealthy socialites before conning them out of thousands of dollars under the promise she would transfer funds from Germany.

She was charged with grand larceny and sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for her crimes in 2019. However she was released early for good behaviour in February last year and now temporarily lives at the NoMad luxury hotel in New York.

As The Times' Ben Dowell points out, Sorokin is portrayed as 'misunderstood' while each episode of the drama 'scrutinises' each victim who was impacted by Anna's scams.

'If you think this suspect-by-suspect approach sounds in keeping with a generally moralising tone, you'd be right, but this is not finger-waggy in the way you might expect', he wrote.

Sorokin, a Russian born German who moved to the US in 2013, would befriend wealthy socialites before conning them out of thousands of dollars. Garner is pictured in the Netflix series

She was charged with grand larceny and sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for her crimes in 2019. However she was released early for good behaviour in February last year. Garner is pictured in the Netflix series

'If anything, Julia Garner's Anna ends this show as its heroine, or at least someone we suddenly find we're meant to be rooting for.'

From the beginning of the series, Anna is painted as an underdog up against the snobbish New York elite - with opening scenes showing a victim of Sorkin's dismissing the impact of her crimes by asking: 'Who else would be interested in lowly Anna Sorokin'.

Meanwhile, the I's Emily Baker agrees the show is 'undoubtedly soft on Delvey' with minimal emphasis on the real life impact of her crimes and pointing out she was paid $320,000 to sell her story to Netflix.

'Often, Vivian is impressed with her gall  in committing only white-collar crimes against those who could afford it, the scammer is given a pass', she writes.

'Delvey (both in real life and in the show) has spoken about being a hustler, a young woman making it in the big bad capitalistic world in the face of sexism. Inventing Anna turns her into the 2010s girl boss feminist she pretends to be.'

The story is told through the eyes of journalist Vivian (Anna Chlumsky) and begins with Megan Thee Stallion's Rich playing over footage of articles about Anna going to press

Garner and Chlumsky are pictured in the show speaking about the scammer's crimes in prison. One reviewer pointed out Sorokin was paid $320,000 to sell her story to Netflix

Dowell continues to point out that her victims are characterised as 'idiots' who are taken in by Sorkin and fail to realise she is Russian 'despite her absurd James Bond villainess accent.'

NME's Ralph Jones also claimed the show 'fails to humanise Delvey' and that making her seem like an 'idiot with a ridiculous accent' only serves to make viewers believe it would have been near impossible to lured in by the con artist.

Writing for Refinery 29, Maybelle Morgan agrees the drama 'certainly isn't empathetic to Delvey's victims' who are seen primarily enjoying expensive workout classes and hotel bars.

'Portrayed as shrill and almost deserving of the white collar felonies, it really homes in on the fact that there was mainly such a hurrah because of the public humiliation of being so readily deceived. After all, who dares embarrass the New York glitterati?, she writes.

'With the combination of Garner's bizarre accent and some overacting from Anna Chlumsky it feels like a lacklustre non-starter which uses the girlboss agenda  in a post-girlboss world  to rile our spirits.'
DHAKA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has reported scores of COVID-19 cases traced to the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant, which appears to be more infectious than the original BA.1 variant.

The country's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) under the Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed identification of BA.2 Omicron sub-lineage cases.

ASM Alamgir, principal scientific officer of the IEDCR, told Xinhua that BA.2 Omicron sub-variant is currently the most active variant in Bangladesh.

Out of 148 samples tested between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, he said, 118 were Omicron (80 percent) and 30 Delta (20 percent). Among all, Omicron BA.1 (39 percent) and Omicron BA.2 (41 percent) were the most prominent lineages. They have also identified Delta AY.131 (18 percent) and other Deltas (2 percent).

He said Omicron BA.2 (79 percent) became the dominant lineage in the second half of January 2022.

Also on Thursday, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka said 82 percent of those who tested COVID-19 positive in three weeks from Jan. 19 to Feb. 9 were infected with the Omicron variant.

Professor Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice chancellor of the BSMMU, shared the study findings at an event, saying "at this time sub-variants of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 have been observed more."

Quoting the World Health Organization, he said "BA.2 is highly contagious." 
A 37-year-old Indonesian man confessed to doctors that he inserted a piece of nylon string (pictured) into his urethra while watching porn

A 37-year-old Indonesian virgin, who lived with his mother, shoved a 2m-long nylon string into his penis and couldn't get it out in a masturbation game gone wrong.

The patient, who doctors didn't identify, went to a hospital in Surabaya and told medics he had suffered from abdominal pain for two hours.

The man, who escaped any permanent injury, also complained of struggling to urinate and passing blood.

He confessed to doctors that he inserted a piece of nylon string into his urethra while erect and watching porn.

Detailing the man's incident in Radiology Case Reports, medics who treated him wrote that cases of urinary bladder insertion are 'relatively rare' but have been on the rise over the last few decades.

They said people usually insert objects  such as hair clips, straws, matchsticks and pencils  into their urethra for sexual pleasure, or due to psychiatric problems or drug abuse.

Those who do it for sexual pleasure often delay seeking medical help and give inaccurate information to doctors due to embarrassment, increasing the risk of complications, such as recurrent urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sepsis.

Medics say the practice can damage sensitive tissue in the urethral pathway, which releases urine and sperm. It can also lead to a lack of bladder control and infection.

And the penis and urethra may even require surgery or implants to rebuild sensitive tissue.

The patient told doctors this was the first time he put something into his urethra, but said he masturbated and watched porn daily.

Doctors performed bladder irrigation  a procedure when a sterile fluid is flushed through a catheter into the bladder to remove blockages  in the hopes this would dislodge the string. But it didn't work.

They then performed a cystoscopy  when a camera is inserted into the bladder through a tube so doctors can see inside.

Medics saw a 'black bundle of nylon string' and were finally able to remove it using long thin tweezers.

The patient, who was kept in hospital for two days so doctors could monitor him, fully recovered.

But a psychiatrist, who he was referred to by medics, said he had obsessive-compulsive disorder and paraphilia  getting aroused by something regarded as unusual.

It comes after a separate report of a 30-year-old man in Michigan shoved six kidney beans inside his penis for sexual pleasure  but they ended up getting stuck.

Medics were eventually able to remove the beans after stretching the man's urethra open and using surgical tools to scoop them out.
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States that have DROPPED masks this week California - On February 15, vaccinated residents will no longer have to wear masks in public indoor settings. Masks will still be required in schools. Connecticut - On February 28, masks will no longer be required in schools Delaware - On February 11, a mask mandate for all indoor public places except schools will end. The mandate for schools will be lifted on March 31 Illinois - On February 28, a mask mandate for all indoor public places will be lifted. Masks will still be required in schools Massachusetts - On February 28, masks will no longer be required in schools Nevada - On February 10, the state's public and school mask mandate was lifted New Jersey - On March 7, masks will no longer be required in schools New York - On February 10, the state's mask mandate for indoor public places as lifted. Masks are still required in schools Oregon - On March 31, the state plans to allow its indoor mask mandate to expire, which includes schools Rhode Island - On February 11, the state's indoor mask mandate expires. Masks will no longer be required in schools starting March 4. Advertisement

Despite federal officials clinging to masks, more and more blue states are starting to drop face coverings as daily cases drop nationwide and the country prepares a 'return to normal'.

Masks in schools have been the most controversial of all pandemic-related policies. Parents are saying that it hurts their ability to socialize and forcing children to wear a face covering all day in class is uncomfortable. Children face little risk from the virus as well, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that minors make up less than 0.1 percent of U.S. Covid deaths.

Dr Scott Gottlieb, former chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and current board member at Pfizer, told CNBC's Squawk Box that this is the time for governors to lift controversial school mask mandates and return schools back to normal.

'I don't think it's imprudent that governors lean forward, anticipating that conditions are going to continue to improve, recognizing that people are frayed,' he said.

'We have a narrow window of opportunity to restore some sense of normalcy to the schools.'

On Wednesday, a slew of blue states in the northeast chose to drop masks in schools. Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont, whose state made the choice alongside New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts, told Squawk Box on Thursday that it was a joint decision.

We worked on this together as Governors throughout the region. We thought this is a good time,' Lamont said.

On Thursday afternoon, Nevada joined the growing list of blue states to ditch masks, with Gov Steve Sisolak lifting the mandate effective immediately.

Federal leaders have been hesitant to change guidelines, though. Earlier this week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky affirmed that her agency still supports universal masking in schools and for people to wear face coverings in indoor public settings.

'We owe it to our children to make sure that they can safely stay in school,' she told WYPR this week.

'Right now, that includes masking. We've seen outbreaks that have occurred in communities where students were not masked in schools and had to close. ... And much of our guidance is based on the amount of community transmission.'

President Joe Biden (pictured), told NBC last night that he stands by the CDC's decision to keep guidelines recommending masks is schools and in other indoor public places despite a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks

Pictured: Joe Biden wears a mask outdoors, where risk of Covid transmission is very low, and despite not being near others

President Joe Biden said Thursday night that he stands by the CDC's decision to leave mask guidance in place.

'I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC and federal people and I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call,' he told NBC's Lester Holt in a sit-down interview.

Massive case declines across the U.S. and in many states is fueling these calls to lift mask mandates and move towards a 'return to normal'.

Daily cases in the U.S. are down 40 percent over the past week, from 356,722 per day to 207,539. It is even a further fall from the 800,000 cases per day peak the country reached in mid-January. Every one of the 50 U.S. states is recording a decline in cases over the past two weeks, with 44 having cases slash in half over the last fortnight.

'This wave has run its course,' Gottlieb said of the current case trajectory.

'There's probably nothing they're going to measure that's going to change this trajectory. If people unmask a little early and start to take a little more risks, they socialize more, perhaps cases wont continue to decline as rapidly as they have been declining. But they're gonna continue to come down.'

He also notes that in some places like New York and New Jersey, cases have fallen so rapidly in recent weeks that

Deaths, which lag behind cases have flattened as well, another sign that this current Covid wave is starting to come to an end. The nation is averaging 2,547 deaths per day, up four percent over the past week and stating in the 2,400 to 2,600 range it has remained in over the past month.

Added pressure is coming from overseas as well. Last month, the UK lifted all pandemic-related restrictions as cases continue to plummet in the nation. America's greatest foreign ally often precedes the U.S. by a few weeks during the pandemic, and it is rare that the European nation has less-strict Covid guidelines than its peer across the pond.

In the UK, masks in schools, work from home orders, vaccine passports and requirements to test negative before travelling into the country have been lifted. As cases continue to fall, now under 70,000 per day after peaking at 180,000 early last month, some are even clamoring to stop daily reporting of Covid cases and deaths in the country.

Other European countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Switzerland have also either lifted restrictions or laid out plans to do so in recent weeks.

As of Friday morning, Covid cases are trending downwards in all 50 states, and have slashed in half over the past two weeks in 44 states.

Oklahoma, once one of the final states to be recording an increase in Covid cases last month, is now recording the largest decline in cases of any state in America. The Sooner state has recorded an 81 percent drop in cases over the past two weeks.

Midwestern, plains and west coast states that suffered massive spikes in cases caused by Omicron after states along the east coast are now starting to experience the same sharp declines in cases seen along the east coast as well.

Every state west of the Mississippi river - sans Alaska and Montana - is recording a drop in Covid cases of 60 percent or more over the past two weeks. Alaska and Montana are both recording sharp declines of over 40 percent as well.

Alaska remains the national leader in Covid infection rate. The state 1,600 miles from the U.S. mainland is recording 177 new daily cases per every 100,000 residents.

Only eight U.S. states are above the 100 per every 100,000 mark, and all are states with low vaccination rates in the south or great plains: Mississippi (146 cases per 100,000 residents; 50 percent vaccination rate), Montana (129; 55), West Virginia (124; 56), Tennessee (123; 53), Kentucky (106; 56), Idaho (104; 53), North Dakota (102; 54).

States with lower vaccination rates are leading the nation in mortality rate as well. All but one of the eight states recording more than one daily Covid death per every 100,000 residents.

Mississippi (1.47 daily deaths per 100,000 residents; 50 percent vaccination rate), Virginia (1.41; 71), Ohio (1.29; 57), Arizona (1.16; 59), Kansas (1.16; 59), West Virginia (1.09; 56), South Carolina (1.09; 55) and Nevada (1.05; 59).

Las Vegas elementary school children scream with JOY when they are told they can remove masks as pupils protest against face coverings in NY - but Biden STILL refuses to budge

A group of Las Vegas elementary school students screamed and jumped with joy after their teacher told them they could come to school without masks

The teacher claimed one of her students was so ecstatic by the move that he was 'about to throw his chair out the window'

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates amid plummeting COVID-19 infections

Daily cases in the U.S. are down 40 percent over the past week, from 356,722 per day to 207,539

Despite the decline in case positivity federal leaders have been hesitant to change guidelines

President Joe Biden argued Thursday it was probably 'premature' to lift indoor mask mandate

By NATASHA ANDERSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

A classroom of excited Las Vegas elementary school students were caught on camera jumping with joy after their teacher told them the mask mandate had been lifted.

'Starting tomorrow, we don't have to wear masks anymore,' the teacher said Thursday as she was met with roaring screams and applause from her young pupils.

The teacher claimed one of her students was so ecstatic by the move that he was 'about to throw his chair out the window'.

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates amid plummeting coronavirus infection levels. Daily cases in the U.S. are down 40 percent over the past week, from 356,722 per day to 207,539. Every one of the 50 U.S. states is recording a decline in cases over the past two weeks, with 44 having cases slash in half over the last fortnight.

However, despite the decline in case positivity federal leaders have been hesitant to change guidelines, with President Joe Biden arguing Thursday it was probably 'premature' to lift indoor mask mandates.

'I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and federal people and I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call,' he said during an interview with NBC News.

Masks in schools have been the most controversial of all pandemic-related policies, with parents are saying the restriction hurts their ability to socialize and forcing children to wear a face covering all day in class is uncomfortable.

Parents and students nationwide are continuing to rally against the mask mandates and urge legislators to lift restrictions. In addition to protesting, some activists have filed lawsuits against their local and state officials, deeming the mandates are illegal and harmful to children.

A classroom of excited Las Vegas elementary school students were caught on camera jumping with joy after their teacher told them the mask mandate had been lifted

'Starting tomorrow, we don't have to wear masks anymore,' the teacher said Thursday as she was met with roaring screams and applause from her young pupils. One student was so ecstatic by the move that his teacher claimed he was 'about to throw his chair out the window'

Gov. Steve Sisolak of Nevada lifted his statewide mask mandate Thursday after outlining how the number of hospitalizations had dropped from the state's peak.

'Given all of these updates, and the tools that we now have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind mask mandates effective immediately,' he told news conference conducted via Zoom. 'Masks will no longer be required in public places.'

However, he added that people would still be required to wear masks in certain places, such as healthcare facilities.

Sisolak's decision came after a slew of blue states in the northeast on Wednesday chose to drop masks in schools.

Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont, whose state made the choice alongside New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts, told Squawk Box on Thursday that it was a joint decision.

'We worked on this together as Governors throughout the region. We thought this is a good time,' Lamont said.

Meanwhile, neighboring New York - along with California and Illinois - are lifting indoor masking requirements, but extending the requirement for schools, a move that has outraged parents and students.

Hundreds of parents assembled across New York state on Friday demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul lift her 'hypocritical' mandate requiring children to be masked in schools, especially since children face little risk from the virus, with the CDC reporting that minors make up less than 0.1 percent of U.S. COVID deaths.

Dozens assembled outside City Hall in New York City, carrying signs that read 'unmask our parents' and 'our children, our choice'.

Outside the Westchester County courthouse parents and their children gathered, holding signs that demanded the governor be removed from office.

Hochul said she will review the school order - which has prompted outrage among students, parents and politicians - next month after students return to the classroom following their upcoming midwinter break.

Parents assembled in New York City Friday demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul lift her 'hypocritical' mandate requiring children to be masked in schools

Masks in schools have been the most controversial of all pandemic-related policies, with parents are saying the restriction hurts their ability to socialize and forcing children to wear a face covering all day in class is uncomfortable

Parents across the nation are frustrated by the mask mandates, demanding that officials citing they prevent the spread of COVID provide evidence of their efficacy in the school system.

'I have been following all of this very closely for the past two years,' Alyson Seden, of Pasadena, California told DailyMail.com.

'And I have yet to see a definitive study proving masks work.'

The mother - who has three children ages 21, 19 and 18 - is part of an activism group fighting to lift mask mandates in schools.

She argues that 'unelected public health directors' are holding the 'mental, academic and physical health' of America's children in their hands, but their 'only focus has been Covid case numbers.'

'We have been lied to before and flooded with mixed messaging or hand waiving its the science dismissals and the trust is gone,' Seden said.

'I dont think I can take another day knowing kids as young as two years old are covering their faces and the adults they interact with are covering theirs as well. This IS child abuse and it is heartbreaking.'

Regardless, Biden and other federal leaders are standing by their recommendation to mask kids in schools.

'When I got in office only 46 percent of schools were opened, now 98 percent of them are open and they're wearing masks,' Biden said.

'What's happening is every day that goes by children are more protected. We're now on the verge of being able to have shots for children under the age of seven and young children and and so the more protection they have, probably you're going to see less and less requirement to have the mask,' he said.

Outside the Westchester County courthouse parents and their children gathered, holding signs that demanded the governor be removed from office

Parents and children gathered at the Westchester County courthouse to protest masks still being worn in classrooms

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted at her Wednesday briefing that CDC continues to recommend masking during indoor congregate settings for areas where transmission is high  which currently includes most of the country.

'We owe it to our children to make sure that they can safely stay in school,' CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told WYPR earlier this week.

'Right now, that includes masking. We've seen outbreaks that have occurred in communities where students were not masked in schools and had to close. ... And much of our guidance is based on the amount of community transmission.'

State and local officials are driving decisions on school masking, although the American Rescue Plan has provided funds for safety improvements and testing. Some academics have weighed in with cautions about the social and developmental impacts of long-term masking.

U.S. Covid infections are dropping as the nation works its way through the omicron surge, although hospitalizations are still high, as are death rates, which stood at 2,300 based on a seven-day moving average Thursday.

The seven-day daily average of infections was about 247,000 cases per day Wednesday  down 44 percent from a week ago.
The application for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be used in children aged six months to four years old has been delayed, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

The company submitted the emergency use authorization application on February 1. It included data from the first two doses of the three-dose vaccine set to be used in younger children. A FDA advisory committee panel meeting to discuss the merits of the approval was scheduled for February 15

Data for a third shot was supposed to come in later, and the New York City based company planned to apply for authorization for the third shot at another time.

The FDA said Friday it was notified by Pfizer that the company had new data regarding the shot that was worthy of being included in the decision making process.

As a result, the February 15 meeting has been pushed back to an unknown date.

Despite the push from regulators to expand eligibility for the shots to include young children, the controversial move would make the U.S. the only nation to jab children under one years old for Covid.

Pfizer has delayed its application for its COVID-19 vaccine to be used in children aged six months to 5 years old (file photo)

'The [FDA] has been notified by Pfizer that new data have recently emerged regarding its emergency use authorization request for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age,' a statement from the agency said.

'Based on the agencys preliminary assessment, and to allow more time to evaluate additional data, we believe additional information regarding the ongoing evaluation of a third dose should be considered as part of our decision-making for potential authorization.'

A new time for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Unlike the two-dose shot used for people aged five and older, Pfizer's shot for children aged six months to five years old is three shots.

The jab is significantly smaller as well, only three micrograms, compared to a ten microgram shot for children five to 12 and a 30 microgram shot for people 12 and up.

Pfizer initially only planned to have the two smaller doses for young children, though plans had to be changed in December after children aged three and four showed little antibody response to the first two, smaller, shots.

The FDA reportedly asked Pfizer to submit its application at the start of the month, citing a rise in pediatric Covid cases during the Omicron surge.

Trials for the third shot were not yet completed yet, though, so the first application only included the first two jabs - with a third to come later.

'Given the recent omicron surge and the notable increase in hospitalizations in the youngest children to their highest levels during the pandemic so far, we felt it was our responsibility as a public health agency to act with urgency and consider all available options, including requesting that the company provide us with initial data on two doses from its ongoing study,' the agency wrote in a statement.

'The goal was to understand if two doses would provide sufficient protection to move forward with authorizing the use of the vaccine in this age group.'

Not all experts agree the shot is necessary, though.

Dr Cody Meissner, the chief of pediatrics at Tufts Children's Hospital in Boston and a member of the VRBPAC, doubted whether the vaccine is needed for group which already suffers such low risk of hospitalization or death from Covid.

'I think we're rethinking the way we looked at this question, because even though people are appropriately vaccinated they are still able to become infected and transmit the virus to susceptible people around them,' Meissner told DailyMail.com on February 1.

'So this is a little bit different than many other infectious diseases such as measles, or mumps, or rubella. If you're protected from infection with the vaccine, then you're not going to transmit it to other people.'

'But that's not the same setting with [this virus].'

He noted that deaths among young children from Covid have remained very low. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children make up less than 0.1 percent of Covid deaths in America.

A study from last year performed by researchers at the University of Utah found that 50 percent of youth Covid cases are asymptomatic - and that was before the more mild Omicron variant emerged.

The move would make the U.S. the country with the youngest minimum vaccination age.

Only two other nations, Venezuela and Cuba, jab children as young as two, and four others - Bahrain, China, Chile and the United Arab Emirates - jab kids as young as three.

None of the countries use the Pfizer vaccine on children, with all opting for either China's Sinopharm shot or the Cuban Soberena vaccine.

Meissner says he would agree with use of the vaccines in younger children if it was done the way that countries like the UK and Sweden approved the shots for the five to 11 age group.

In those countries, an average, healthy, child is not eligible for the shot. If they have a condition that puts them at serious risk from the virus, though, then they are allowed to get it as an extra level of protection.

Outside of children with serious comorbidities, he does not think there is a basis to approve the jab in the younger age group, and he especially fears green-lighting the shot will open the door for preschools and other facilities to institute vaccine mandates for young kids.

'If people are really going to follow the facts, and follow the science, which everybody claims they're doing ... they come to the opposite conclusion,' he said.

'The burden of disease in children under five years of age is so low.'

Meissner said that, more than anything, he does not want their to be any 'surprises' in how the shot can effect children - similar to how officials were blindsided by the discovery that the J&J vaccine causes blood clots in some young women.

Myocarditis, heart inflammation, has been a concern for younger, male, recipients of these mRNA vaccines like Pfizer's and Moderna's as well.

'We don't have any experience with these [mRNA] vaccines in young children ... I'm very hopeful that they will turn out to be equally safe and equally effective [as they were for adults], but we don't know that,' he said.
Feeling the heat: Sanjeev Gupta is being pursued by HMRC for some 26million in unpaid taxes

More than 2,000 steel jobs are hanging in the balance as the taxman chases scandal-hit metals magnate Sanjeev Gupta.

HM Revenue & Customs is pushing for four of the tycoon's companies to be wound up as it seeks to recover more than 26million in unpaid taxes. The documents filed in the High Court this week could push Gupta's Liberty Steel into insolvency.

The Government is understood to be watching the situation closely. Unions said HMRC's actions have dealt a 'devastating blow' to steel workers and begged it to resume talks with Gupta. Liberty is the UK's third-largest steelmaker with some 3,000 workers in total.

The four firms targeted by HMRC employ around 2,300 people in Hartlepool, Rotherham, Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire, Scunthorpe and West Bromwich.

The winding up petitions are another blow to Gupta's already shattered reputation.

Gupta was hailed as the 'saviour of UK steel' after he snapped up a plant in Newport in 2013 and later went on a spending spree that saw him take over factories in Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Stocksbridge, among others.

But his group of companies  the GFG Alliance, which includes Liberty Steel  was plunged into crisis after its main lender Greensill Capital went bust last March.

GFG is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office over 'suspected fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering' after Greensill's collapse exposed the opaque and interconnected nature of his empire's finances.

As well as running steel plants in the UK, the GFG umbrella of firms includes metalworks overseas, manufacturing facilities and power projects.

Plea: Unions said HMRC's actions have dealt a 'devastating blow' to steel workers and begged it to resume talks with Gupta

Gupta has been racing to secure new funding and last October agreed a vital restructuring package that included injecting 50million into his UK plants.

HMRC's winding up petitions target Speciality Steel UK, Liberty Pipes (Hartlepool), Liberty Performance Steels and Liberty Merchant Bar, which collectively owe 26.4million.

If the Liberty groups targeted go into liquidation, the Government will need to decide whether to appoint the official receiver to buy time while it attempts to find another buyer.

This happened in 2019 when British Steel went bust and was eventually bought by Chinese group Jingye.

Steel unions Community, Union and GMB called on GFG and the Government to 'get back round the table and hammer out a deal that provides space for the company to refinance'.

A Liberty spokesman said: 'Our priority has been to protect thousands of jobs in the UK.'
In music, it is often said that what a musician does not play is as important as what he or she does play.

In business, sometimes the acquisitions you don't make are more important than the ones you do and that could well be the case with Tavistock Investments' aborted purchase of Morgan Financial Group Holdings.

Tavistock announced last month it would pay around 3.7million for the independent financial advisory group but announced late on Thursday that the deal will no longer take place.

The shares finished the week 23 per cent higher.

K-pop band NCT Dream is one of the many playing at KPop.Flex festival in Frankfurt in May

It's been a tough couple of years for Live Company Group, the live events company, but it appears things are picking up.

The shares were up by more than a quarter this week after the company announced tickets for its KPop.Flex festival that will take place in Frankfurt on 14 May are sold out.

The event, focused on Korean pop, is a joint venture agreement with K-Pop Europa (KPE), a 50 per cent subsidiary of Live Company.

KPE will earn revenue through various streams, including 40 per cent of all sponsorship revenue, 100 per cent of the net revenue of event-related online merchandising, 75 per cent of merchandising at the event and 100 per cent of broadcast and streaming rights.

It's time for a Zulu update.

No, it's not a remake of the iconic film but the title of a news release from Premier African Minerals that sparked a share price surge.

The shares were up 65 per cent this week to 0.3775p  a year ago they were languishing at 0.05p  after the company announced encouraging drilling results from its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project.

The geological model now suggests further extensions to the northwest of the previously announced resource statement, the company told investors.

Sector peer Empire Metals received a highly favourable reaction to its decision to focus on advanced exploration opportunities at its Eclipse and Gindalbie projects in Western Australia and not proceed with its option on the Central Menzies gold project.

The shares rocketed 39 per cent higher after the company announced what Aussies probably don't call 'a Brucie bonus' in the form of favourable exchanges that will provide the company with an opportunity to carry out additional exploration activities for less expenditure than originally envisaged.

SpaceandPeople, the retail, promotional and brand experience specialist, soared 49 per cent after it said trading has continued to recover and the board is increasingly confident on the outlook for the business.

Insig AI, the machine learning specialist that listed on AIM less than a year ago, was lifted 38 per cent by news of the company's inclusion on the PwC Scale FinTech programme.

The programme is designed to give access to new commercial opportunities within PwC, the heavyweight auditing firm, as well as among its clients. After an extensive selection process, Insig AI was one of only nine companies this year chosen from more than 700 applicants.

Joules, the clothing, accessories and homeware retailer, slumped more than 40 per cent last week when it issued a trading statement and cut its full-year profit guidance.

Now it has recovered some lost ground after it announced its half-year results, showing profits up from 1.3million to 2.6million but below expectations.

It blamed supply chain issues, rising costs, Brexit-related duties and taxes which hit its EU business, and labour shortages.

The shares were up 37 per cent this week, so almost back to where they were before the profit warning.

Omega Diagnostics was the biggest faller this morning after it agreed to sell its diagnostic test kit manufacturing business and facility in Scotland for 1m

Omega Diagnostics was the biggest faller on Friday morning after it agreed to sell its diagnostic test kit manufacturing business and facility in Scotland for 1million cash and announced a discounted placing.

The sale of the manufacturing arm in Alva follows its expansion during the pandemic on the expectation of winning a large Covid test kit contract from the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

After the DHSC decided not to progress with the contract, Omega said it 'was left with insufficient demand for production volume and a manufacturing cost-base in Alva that was accordingly not sustainable'.

The shares virtually halved in value this week to 5.625p, a shattering fall from the heady days of October 2020 when they were trading as high as 107p.

ADVFN, the financial information provider, saw its shares lose around one-sixth of their value as the company took down the 'for sale' sign.

The company, the subject of some concerted stake building by Israeli investors, has concluded its strategic review of the company's options and is no longer in an offer period as defined by the Takeover Code.

The board has concluded that the company should take advantage of the available options to grow its business offering and geographic reach through business partnerships and possible joint venture arrangements or acquisitions.

It is still considering a request from a significant stakeholder, Yair Tauman, to convene a general meeting to consider proposed changes to the board.
Brooklyn College's woke president has banned campus police from carrying guns and during a recent active shooter threat the school was forced to call for help from other CUNY schools which still allow armed patrols.

Top administrator Michelle Anderson, formerly a Yale Law school professor who specialized in rape law, yanked the Glock-19 pistols from peace officers on the Flatbush-Midwood campus in early October last year after a school official said she was 'triggered' by the sight of a female campus security officer wearing a firearm.

'It is all somewhat ironic because this woman peace officer had been personally authorized to carry her Glock on school grounds by Anderson herself several years ago,' a source told DailyMail.com.

On February 3, the school issued an 'active shooter' threat and at least 10 peace officers from five other institutions were called to respond to the shooting while on-campus security were dispatched to collect their locked up guns from lockers.

While the threat was not acted on, the new edict raises questions of how the school can ensure the safety of students on campus in a city where gun crime has risen 30 percent year-on-year, according to the latest NYPD crime statistics released on Wednesday.

In Brooklyn south alone, where the college is located, gun crimes have risen a staggering 111.1 percent year-on-year.

Brooklyn College's woke president Michelle Anderson has banned campus police from carrying guns and during a recent active shooter threat the school was forced to call for help from other CUNY colleges which still allow armed patrols

On February 3, Brooklyn College issued an 'active shooter' threat and at least 10 peace officers from four other institutions were called to respond to the shooting while on-campus security were dispatched to collected their locked up guns from lockers

On February 3, Brooklyn College sent an emergency alert to other CUNY schools where they requested help of at least two armed peace officers after an active shooter threat

Crime in New York City is up 41.65% year-on-year. In Brooklyn South, where Brooklyn College is located, gun crimes have risen 111.1 percent year-on-year

At least nine institutions of the 25 under CUNY control continue to allow armed patrol guards, including City College of New York in Manhattan, Bronx Community College, Kingsborough Community College and Staten Island College.

Earlier this month, two unarmed campus cops at Virginia's private Bridgewater College were shot dead when a former track star, 27, opened fire on them.

Nine CUNY institutions allow peace officers to carry firearms on campus At least nine institutions of the 25 under CUNY control continue to allow armed patrol guards, they include: - City College of New York, Manhattan - Bronx Community College - Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn - Lehman College, The Bronx - Hostos Community College, The Bronx - Guttman Community College, Manhattan - Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn - Queensborough Community College, Queens - Staten Island College Advertisement

John Painter, 55, and J.J. Jefferson, 48, were gunned down after confronting a suspicious man stalking near Memorial Hall on the campus of the small college in the Shenandoah Valley at 1:20 p.m.

The suspected shooter was identified as Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27, who fled the scene before being hunted down at a nearby waterway about 40 minutes later. Multiple firearms allegedly belonging to Campbell were recovered, with weapons found both on and off campus, officials said.

Shortly after the October 'no gun' policy at Brooklyn College was instituted, Anderson participated in a Zoom meeting with campus administrators, faculty and students with the goal of revamping campus safety by eliminating police involvement and without armed security .

'She is all about wokeness,' a CUNY campus police supervisor, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said.

Shortly after Anderson's disarming edict was handed down, on October 21, there was a shooting just off campus in which four people were wounded.

'Please be cautious when coming to or leaving the Campus,' a text alert to students and staff said.

Although the shooting was off campus, the warning underscored the hazards of the urban campus, especially in light of the city's rising crime rate.

The union officials who represent the campus cops acknowledged that there was a 'departure' in status for their members, but offered a guarded response.

'Although it is the prerogative of the college president not to utilize the full measure of protocols within the campus security system set up by CUNY, all is well until something bad happens,' Gregory Floyd, president of Local 237 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said.

'Then, the responsibility of that decision also falls on the president  and CUNY as well, for allowing such a departure.'

Each armed peace officer earns about $50,000 annually and has undergone 50 hours of firearms training, the source said.

No Brooklyn College students were hurt in the off-campus shooting, but other colleges have not been so lucky when it comes to violent crime.

On December 11, 2019, Barnard College student, Tessa Majors, 18, died after she was stabbed by three teenagers during an armed robbery in nearby Morningside Park

More recently, in early December 2021, a Columbia University graduate student, Davide Giri, 30, a Ph.D. candidate in computer science who was attending the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was stabbed to death

Giri was stabbed to death about two blocks from his apartment building, not far from the college's Upper Manhattan campus

On December 11, 2019, Barnard College student, Tessa Majors, 18, died after she was fatally stabbed by three teenagers during an armed robbery in nearby Morningside Park.

More recently, in early December 2021, a Columbia University graduate student, Davide Giri, 30, a Ph.D. candidate in computer science who was attending the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was stabbed to death about two blocks from his apartment building, not far from the college's Upper Manhattan campus.

And this year marks the 15th anniversary of a mass shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech in which 32 students were gunned down by one of their classmates.

About 600 peace officers are employed by CUNY throughout the entire university system, but only about 100 are authorized to carry guns while patrolling those schools that permit an armed security presence. Most are in uniform, although a small number of armed campus cops do occasionally patrol in plainclothes.

Despite Floyd's statement and claims by multiple sources who spoke to DailyMail.com, a spokeswoman for Brooklyn College insisted that armed CUNY peace officer have never been allowed to patrol the campus while armed, but keep their firearms locked in a campus security office.

'The safety of the students, staff, and faculty in our campus community is of the utmost priority at Brooklyn College and our excellent public safety team ensures this every day.

'Public safety officers have never been permitted to carry a weapon while on campus patrol. Weapons are secured and brought out in emergency situations. Authorized administrators have always kept firearms on their person while in their secured offices, but they do not patrol the campus.'

One veteran CUNY security official sharply disputed the accuracy of the Brooklyn College spokesman's statement.

'It's an absolute lie that authorized Brooklyn College peace officers were previously not allowed to patrol while armed,' the official said.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and author who is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was flabbergasted by the decision to strip guns from trained law enforcement personnel for no discernible reason tied to campus security objectives.

He suggested that Anderson, Brooklyn College's president  who enjoys a chauffeured vehicle driven by a campus security peace officer, as do all senior-level CUNY executives  was advocating an indefensible policy that was not rooted in public safety.

'Once again, we see those with school-owned vehicles and private chauffeurs making security decisions for the rest of us.

'If Brooklyn College thinks their students will be safer with no cops around, go ahead. God forbid something happens. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of that lawsuit,' he noted.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and author who is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was flabbergasted by the decision to strip guns from trained law enforcement personnel for no discernible reason tied to campus security objectives. He said: 'If Brooklyn College thinks their students will be safer with no cops around, go ahead. God forbid something happens. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of that lawsuit.'

Giacalone added that 'criminals are opportunists and if they know cops are not welcome on campus, they will take advantage of it. It's only a matter of time. One would think that after two students [from Columbia and Barnard] have been murdered . . . you would make your campus more secure, not less.'

Forcing campus cops to rush for their guns during an emergency  or responding while unarmed  can pose unanticipated dangers, he insisted.

'The confusion this can cause during an emergency or police response is off the charts,' said.

On October 7, less than a week after the gun policy change, Anderson participated in a Zoom meeting 'to develop a new CUNY-wide public safety plan' attended by approximately a dozen CUNY officials and some CUNY students.

'Brooklyn College has stated that the impetus for a new strategic plan [on campus security] are the Black Lives Matter and George Floyd movements,' the source quoted Anderson saying.

'These two experiences must be incorporated into any new operational plan and any new rebranding efforts of CUNY public safety,' Anderson added, according to the source.

She sought to do so without police involvement.

'Brooklyn College has recommended that the relationship with the NYPD and CUNY public safety be eliminated and 'policing' be removed from the CUNY public safety mission, its practices and tactics,' Anderson stated, according to the source.

A source told DailyMail.com that Brooklyn College's new rule barring peace officers from carrying guns was sparked by the BLM protests after George Floyd's murder

'Brooklyn College has stated that the impetus for a new strategic plan [on campus security] are the Black Lives Matter and George Floyd movements,' the source quoted Anderson saying.

The college spokeswoman denied that there was any friction between cops and the college.

'Brooklyn College values its relationship with the NYPD and will continue to work closely with it to keep our campus community safe,' she said.

The policy change, however, seems to be a continuation of tensions between law enforcement and the administrators at the college.

In November 2017, the New York Post reported how Brooklyn College officials barred NYPD cops from walking on the campus while armed so they could use the bathroom  incidents that purportedly 'triggered' some nervous students who felt threatened by the prospect of seeing cops with guns in their midst.

Donald Wenz, a retired NYPD captain who currently serves as Brooklyn College's director of public safety, told the student newspaper, The Excelsior, that he was trying to keep New York's Finest out of sight.

Police were only allowed to use a dirty bathroom in the isolated West End Building that had a broken toilet with a stained seat and no soap or paper towels, the Post reported.

Joseph Tirella, spokesman for CUNY, did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

Wenz declined to comment. Hector Batista, CUNY's CEO and Andre Brown, the university's director of public safety  both of whom attended the recent Zoom meeting in which Anderson spoke  did not return phone calls.

Giacalone warned that the Brooklyn College president may be playing with fire.

'Any policy that limits their certified armed personnel from carrying their weapons while on the campus is only inviting trouble. When mass shootings are unfortunately common in and around educational facilities, one would think that this plan is short-sighted. Even more so, have there been complaints of misconduct or unlawful use of weapons by the staff? If not, I need to ask, why this now?' he said.
As life begins to go back to normal after the restrictions of the past few months, we've one thing to thank: Covid vaccines.

These incredible inoculations  in particular, the booster  have given us back our freedom and allowed us to enjoy ourselves once more. However, many people are still putting off having the vaccine.

From being concerned about the side effects to thinking that they don't need it, they give many reasons for their hesitation.

The vaccine-hesitant give many reasons for not having the jab, but they should have it

But they should have it. Shortly after having your booster jab, you are at least 85 per cent less likely to end up in hospital than if you are unvaccinated.

Here, some of those who were vaccine hesitant give their reasons why they changed their minds and got inoculated.

'I WAS SO SCARED, I DIDN'T SLEEP BEFORE MY FIRST JAB'

'I feel more confident around people now' Joyce Connor, 58, from Reading

Professional make-up artist Joyce Connor is so terrified of injections that she kept putting off the jab.

'I got the text early last year to say that I could book it,' says the 58-year-old from Reading. 'Then a letter. Then a text from my GP. I ignored them.

'Then I read an article that said lots of black people were dying of Covid, and it made me think I'd better have it. Also, I have a responsibility to be jabbed because I work closely with people.'

Even so, it wasn't easy. 'I didn't sleep the night before  my anxiety levels were up to 100 because I was so afraid. In my head the needle was 10in long and 3cm wide.'

But she plucked up courage and had both her first and second jabs.

'Then, in December, I was told I had to get a booster. I was not happy about it. But a friend who is a pharmacist explained that it is to give you extra protection.'

Joyce knows that she made the right decision: 'It's made me feel more confident about being around people,' she says.

'WHAT IF IT LEFT ME INFERTILE?'

Marianna Michael's worries about infertility because of the jab were laid to rest

From the moment she heard about the Covid vaccine, Marianna Michael was determined to get the shot. But then she mentioned it to a friend on the phone.

'She said, 'Have you looked into it? Have you done your own research?',' says the 28-year-old from north London. 'Then she hit me with: 'How do you know it won't make you infertile?' She said she'd heard there could be an issue.

'A small alarm bell rang in my head. Until that moment, I'd never considered that my potential actions could erase any future plans I had for a family.'

Marianna, a freelance theatre writer and producer, has always wanted children.

'I began thinking that there could be a point at which, if I tried to get pregnant and couldn't, would it be the fault of the vaccine and would I be at fault for not researching it enough?' she says.

For days she agonised about the issue. 'I began thinking about how I'd lost my gran during Covid  I couldn't see her or go to the funeral  and lost a good job at the theatre because of lockdown,' says Marianna. 'That was potentially a lot more important than what I could or could not do in the future.'

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, England's Chief Midwifery Officer says, 'There is no evidence nor any reason why the vaccine could impact fertility.'

So Marianna had her jabs. 'If I find I can't have children in the future, I won't blame the vaccine,' she says.

'I WAS TOO BUSY TO BOTHER'

'I didn't think I needed it as I was young' Callum Tokody, 18, from west London

Last year, student Callum Tokody's priorities included passing his driving test, doing well at school and enjoying nights out with his friends.

Getting the Covid vaccine was nowhere on the list.

'I didn't think that I needed to have the vaccine as only a few of my friends had had Covid, and initially coronavirus only affected older people,' the 18-year-old from west London says.

Callum was also worried it wasn't safe. 'I had heard stories of people on social media having terrible reactions to the vaccine, so at first I didn't want to get it.'

But when he became ill with Covid himself and his mother had the vaccine with no major side effects, he changed his mind.

'When I became unwell, it was a sign to get the vaccine,' he says. 'It didn't take that long to get an appointment and I felt fine after.

'I've since had all my vaccinations and my friends have as well. People need to get boosted because it protects you and everyone else, too.'

'HOW COULD SCIENTISTS KNOW IT WAS SAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN?'

'I had covid and my baby never caught it' Rhian Thompson, 32, from Hertfordshire

When the vaccine was announced late in 2020, Rhian Thompson was about to start trying for a baby.

'I felt quite nervous about it because I didn't understand how scientists would know its impact on a foetus when it couldn't possibly have been tested on someone who was pregnant,' says the 32-year-old from Hertfordshire.

When her turn to have the jab came last April, she was pregnant and worried about the long-term effect on the baby.

'The world didn't feel like a particularly scary place  cases were lower, and I felt quite confident that I could probably avoid situations and people. I thought that I could manage my risk until October, which was when the baby was due.'

But then she read that Dr Victoria Male, an immunologist who specialises in pregnancy, recommended the vaccine.

Statistics show that pregnant women who get symptomatic Covid-19 infection are two to three times more likely to give birth to their baby prematurely. And almost all pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid have not been jabbed. There is also evidence that getting vaccinated while pregnant actually offers the baby some protection against Covid.

Dr Male's advice gave Rhian, who runs the childrenswear business Bibevie, confidence to have the vaccine. Rhian gave birth to Finley in October  and she later had her second jab and the booster.

'I caught Covid in December, and wouldn't really have known if it hadn't come up on a lateral flow test. I was breastfeeding Finley and he didn't catch it. We're both fine.'

'I'D ALREADY HAD COVID  WHY DID I NEED IT?'

'Those who are already vaccinated should get the booster' Shay Ellis-Reid, 23, from east London

After going down with coronavirus last year, fashion stylist Shay Ellis-Reid didn't think that she needed to be inoculated against the disease.

'I felt that having had Covid provided enough protection,' says the 23-year-old from east London.

'I also saw a lot of misinformation all over social media from people my age and within my community, so it added to my scepticism about the vaccine.'

For months her opinion didn't change, but then she began thinking it was the responsible thing to do, not just for herself, but for other people.

So she booked an appointment.

'I didn't have many side effects from the vaccine and felt fine,' says Shay.

'I want to protect those around me, travel abroad easily and hopefully work somewhere other than England, so I had all three vaccinations.

'I believe that those who are already vaccinated should get the booster.'

'THE FEAR WAS HUGE'

'I had to think about my family and the community' Saj Fareed, 49, from Brighton

When needlephobic Saj Fareed finally plucked up courage to have her first jab months after she should have done, her teenage daughter went with her for moral support.

'I realised that I had no choice but to get vaccinated, because my daughter Shifa, 17, is asthmatic and my parents are clinically vulnerable,' says the Brighton-based owner of arts and craft company fursatbox.com.

'I had to think about the community.'

Uptake in the Asian community has often been low, but all of Saj's immediate family have had the jab.

'They didn't hesitate, even though they were nervous and scared and that would have some cultural element to it,' says the 49-year-old.

'At the beginning of Covid, there was an increase in racism, and that makes you feel more vulnerable and suspicious.

'There are so many conspiracy theories  it's like Chinese whispers  you hear one thing and it gets spread around. The fear was huge.

'They need to see people like themselves saying, 'It's OK'.'

GET BOOSTED NOW! Covid is still highly infectious, so it's vital that you protect yourself against the virus by getting vaccinated Currently there have been more than 157,000 Covid-related deaths in the UK, with a further 1.3 million people living with long Covid. And with the Omicron variant still rife, two jabs are just not enough, because protection wanes over time  you need your booster, too. This will give you the best possible defence against the virus, and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. So far, 48.5m people in the UK have had two dose of the vaccine; but many others haven't. If that's you, book an appointment via the NHS website below, or visit your local walk-in vaccination centre as soon as possible. Remember, it takes minutes to get your Covid-19 booster, but much longer to recover from the virus itself. Get your booster now by visiting nhs.uk/covidvaccination . If you live in Scotland, visit nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine . For Wales, visit gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination . For Northern Ireland, visit covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated .

 This article is part of a paid-for partnership with the UK Government
An animal rights group is calling for a tough law that sees pet owners fined $4,000 if they don't take their dog for a walk introduced across Australia.

As of March last year, pet owners in the ACT face hefty fines if their dog is cooped up inside for a whole day and not exercised within the next two hours.

The legislation recognises that animals are sentient beings who have the ability to feel their environment and experience sensations such as pain, suffering or pleasure.

Under the rules in the ACT, owners face $4,000 fines if their dog is cooped up inside for a whole day and not exercised within the next two hours (stock image)

Rebecca Linigen, National Director at FOUR PAWS Australia is now calling on other state and territory governments to act and introduce similar legislation.

'It is encouraging that the Australian Capital Territory government has also enacted this important legislation, hopefully we will see the rest of the states quickly follow suit,' she told the Daily Mail Australia.

'Providing our beloved companions with adequate care shouldnt need to be governed by law. However, if this law does create a positive impact on animal welfare, and preventing animal neglect, then its something we should all support,' she said.

She says dogs that don't get exercise and positive human interaction can develop many problems.

'Without enough exercise, they may develop behavioural problems such as barking incessantly or destroying things out of frustration, which sadly results in huge numbers of animal being surrendered to shelters every year,' she explained.

'Proper socialisation, which happens when walking your dog or taking them to a dog park, ensures they feel comfortable with other dogs and humans. A lack of socialisation is emotionally damaging as it can make a dog fearful, aggressive and hostile towards other dogs and people.'

Under the rules in the ACT, owners wouldn't be fined if their dogs were kept in a backyard where they can run around or if it needs to be kept inside for their own wellbeing.

Pet owners who don't give their animals adequate food, water and shelter will also cop a $4,000 fine.

ACT residents who are involved with dog fighting and other violent animal enterprises face fines of up to $48,000 and three years behind bars.

Linigen says Australia needs stricter laws for the protection of animals and harsher penalties for perpetrators of animal cruelty.

'Dogs need greater protection from major welfare issues such as puppy farming and overbreeding,' she said.

She also called on the government to introduce tougher legislation to prevent the breeding of dogs with exaggerated physical features and genetic disorders.

Her comments come just days after Norway banned the selective breeding of British Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, after a court ruled that the practice is cruel and results in 'man-made health problems' for the animals.
A Minneapolis police department head said that three former officers on trial for violating George Floyd's rights should have intervened to stop Derek Chauvin from kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Lieutenant Richard Zimmerman, the senior PD official of the department's homicide unit, testified to jurors on Thursday that the former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao could have done more to intervene.

'If you see another officer using too much force or doing something illegal, you need to intervene and stop it,' Zimmerman said at the trial.

He added that the duty can also mean intervening to begin first aid if another officer fails give it, and that it can mean moving an officer out of the way if necessary.

When asked what Chauvin was doing that was significant to him, he replied that it was 'the knee on the neck.'

'The officers should have intervened at that point and stopped it,' he continued. 'It can be deadly.'

The three men are accused of depriving Floyd of his civil rights by failing to give him medical aid while he was handcuffed and facedown with Chauvin's knee pressed onto his neck for nine and a half minutes in May 2020.

Kueng had knelt on Floyd's back and Lane held down his legs while Thao kept bystanders back.

Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene to stop the killing, which triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing.

Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, pointed out during Zimmerman's testimony that his client is not charged with failing to intervene.

A Minneapolis PD homicide unit head testified that the three former officers J. Alexander Kueng (left), Thomas Lane (center) and Tou Thao (right) should have intervened during George Floyd murder

Lieutenant Richard Zimmerman (pictured in April 2021) said that the officers should have attempted to give Floyd first aid after witnessing Derek Chauvin sit on his neck for nine and a half minutes in May 2020

The three officers were at the scene of the murder with Kueng kneeling on Floyd's back as Lane held down his legs while Thao kept bystanders back

Zimmerman, who joined the department in 1985, said he's been aware of the duty to intervene since he first became a law enforcement officer 41 years ago.

Zimmerman also testified in Chauvin's state trial last year that resulted in murder and manslaughter convictions where he said that keeling on Floyd's neck was 'totally unnecessary.'

The defense has pointed out that Chauvin was the most senior officer at the scene and argued that the others were trained to obey him.

Lane and Kueng were rookies, while Thao had been with the department around eight years.

But rank and seniority don't change the duty to intervene, Zimmerman said. The policy applies to every officer in the city from the chief on down.

'We all wear the same badge,' he said.

Zimmerman also discussed his interviews with the officers immediately after Floyd's killing.

Prosecutor Samantha Trepel, from the Department of Justice civil rights division, played a portion of Lane's body camera video that showed Zimmerman asking Lane and Kueng and what happened.

They recounted elements of their struggle to try to put Floyd in their squad car after they responded to a report of someone passing a counterfeit $20 bill.

'He kind of seemed like he was on something...He was fighting the whole time,' Lane says.

Zimmerman said Lane and Kueng told him nothing about having kept Floyd on the ground without rolling him over, about Chauvin keeping his knee on his neck, about their being unable to find a pulse, or about Lane performing CPR in the ambulance.

Trepel asked officers' obligation to be truthful applied to the account that Lane and Kueng gave him. Zimmerman said it did.

The first day of testimony for the trial of three officers began at the US Federal Courthouse in St Paul, Minnesota on January 24

Prosecutor Samantha Trepel (pictured in courtroom sketch) played a part of Lane's bodycam footage at the trial to ask the officers what had happened

In this courtroom sketch, from left, Thao, attorney Robert Paule, attorney Natalie Paule, attorney Tom Plunkett, Kueng, Lane and attorney Earl Gray appear for opening statements for their trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court on January 24

On cross-examination, Gray focused how Lane is seen on video calling for an ambulance and upgrading the call to lights-and-sirens as Floyd fades as well as asking if they should roll Floyd over and being rebuffed and expressing concern that Floyd might be experiencing 'excited delirium.'

Zimmerman agreed he heard Lane say 'I think he's passing out' and remembered Kueng telling Lane he couldn't find a pulse.

'They've been doing pretty much everything that they're taught, right?,' Gray asked.

Zimmerman agreed, but elaborated when Trepel later asked about that point.

George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020 during an arrest in Minneapolis by former officer Derek Chauvin

'Intervening means doing something, not suggesting,' Zimmerman said.

Under cross-examination from Kueng's attorney, Thomas Plunkett, Zimmerman acknowledged telling FBI investigators he thought poorly of Chauvin and that 'I think its pretty much known throughout the department that he's a jerk.'

Zimmerman agreed that a jerk probably shouldn't be a field training officer as Chauvin had been to Kueng.

Kueng, Lane and Thao are charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights while acting under government authority. The charges allege that the officers' actions resulted in Floyd's death.

Chauvin pleaded guilty in December 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.

This comes after toxicologist Dr. Vik Bebarta testified on Wednesday that it wasn't drug use, heart disease nor an agitated state known as 'excited delirium' that caused the death of Floyd.

Bebarta said he concluded that Floyd 'died from a lack of oxygen to his brain' and that he had suffocated because his airway had been closed off.

That was consistent with testimony Monday from a lung specialist who said Floyd could have been saved if officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily.

Bebarta said Floyd did not die from the low levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, nor from his heart disease and high blood pressure.

He said that on video from inside a convenience store before his fatal encounter with police, Floyd did not appear to be seriously intoxicated or experiencing an overdose. But he did not dispute a store clerks earlier testimony that Floyd seemed high.

'He was awake, walking, communicating, walking quickly at times,' Bebarta said.

Chauvin and the three officers were seen attempting to bring Floyd into custody after responding to a report that he had attempted to make a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill

The three officers pleaded not guilty to the charges made against them for their involvement

The footage of George Floyd gasping for air before his murder was played at the trial on January 25. Chauvin had been sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison on charges of murder and manslaughter

Both prosecutor Manda Sertich and Thao's attorney, Robert Paule, questioned the doctor about excited delirium. Medical examiners in recent decades have attributed some in-custody deaths to the disputed condition, often in cases where the person became extremely agitated after taking drugs or having a mental health episode or other health problem.

Bebarta said Floyd did not display any symptoms typically associated with the condition, such as high pain tolerance, superhuman strength and endurance. He said he's probably seen at least 1,000 such patients over the years.

'He did not die from what would be referred to as excited delirium,' Bebarta testified.

Under questioning from Paule, Bebarta acknowledged the medical community has had trouble defining the condition.

Paule suggested that a police officers ability to recognize the condition isnt as good as Bebarta's.

Previous testimony also has established that Chauvin  the most senior officer on the scene  told his fellow officers after Floyd became unresponsive, and they couldnt find a pulse, to wait for an ambulance that was on its way.

Officers kept restraining Floyd until the ambulance got there, according to testimony and video footage.

Bebarta said he believed the officers could have revived Floyd if they had started CPR when they lost his pulse  and that they would have been his best chance for survival.

'Every minute that lifesaving measures are not given, like CPR or chest compressions, they have a 10% lower chance of survival,' the doctor said, citing American Heart Association guidelines.

Under cross-examination by Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, Bebarta acknowledged that videos he reviewed show Lane was the first person to begin performing chest compressions, after offering to paramedics to go along in the ambulance.

The doctor also acknowledged that Lane expressed concern about Floyd's condition and tried to check Floyd's pulse.

Later in the day, McKenzie Anderson, a scientist with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime lab who oversaw the processing of Lane and Kueng's squad car and the Mercedes SUV that Floyd was driving, took the stand.

She testified that pills and pill fragments found in the car tested positive for methamphetamine. She said one also tested positive for Floyd's DNA.
One hundred hour weeks, few rest breaks and shattered personal relationships are just some of the allegations being made by Justin Hemmes' staff in a massive class action against the pub baron's company Merivale.

In revisited testimony released in the early stages of legal action, past and present Merivale employees detailed their long work hours and lack of breaks between 2013 to 2019.

Punishing work weeks - some which would stretch to as long as 100 hours - were allegedly the norm for employees under Merivale's now defunct WorkChoices agreement which sparked the original class action.

Canberra firm Adero Law, overseen by principal Rory Markham, sued Merivale back in December 2019 on behalf of employees seeking unpaid wages - a claim which has since reached a staggering $129million for around 14,000 claimants.

Markham told Daily Mail Australia that his firm was expecting to reach a settlement with Hemmes in the coming weeks - ideally prior to the requested mediation deadline of June 3.

Hemmes, meanwhile, has declined to comment and is believed to be holidaying in the the US ski fields.

Merivale has previously said it 'firmly believes there is no basis for any action' - and that external parties had independently assessed its compliance.

Justin Hemmes facing a possible settlement with around 14000 past and present staff

Work and play hard: The pub baron enjoys lives a luxurious playboy livestyle

Hemmes lives a different life from most of his staff with a glamorous girlfriend, a multimillion dollar property portfolio and a harbourside family mansion

The testimony of several class action claimants paints a picture of the working life experienced by Merivale employees between 2013 and 2019 - a period which also coincided with some of Hemmes' biggest commercial success.

Adero believes 80 to 90 per cent of Merivale's chefs were permanent employees paid a salary and contracted for 38 hours per week but required to work at least 50 to 55 hours on average.

Work above that level wasn't unusual, with some of the claimants alleging instances of 100-hour work weeks.

The legal testimonies echo claims from a report published by news.com.au back in 2020, with former employees giving a raw snapshot into day-to-day life as a Merivale worker, detailing long hours, little or no rest breaks, and a lack of work/life balance.

Despite the industry award stipulating any work beyond 38 hours per week be compensated with overtime payments, chefs and kitchen hands were allegedly expected to work well beyond that.

With chefs working an average of 55 hours per week, Merivale essentially got at least 17 hours of free labour weekly per person, Adero alleges.

'I used to work for them with my ex-wife  we broke up because of them,' one chef claimed in the class action.

'We used to work 11 to 13 hours per day with only a 30-minute break. My ex-wife decided to leave the country  they literally destroyed my life.'

Partytime: Merivale staff are treated with regular staff parties which include free drinks and food

Hemmes himself often makes an appearance at the company's celebrated staff parties

Another chef became so physically unwell from the long hours that his doctor ordered him to stop working, it's alleged.

Another employee said it was not uncommon to work 60- to 70-hour weeks in peak periods.

'It was not unusual during events season to be required to (work) multiple events in a day,' the worker said. 'Between set-up, running the event and then packing down, I might begin work at 7am or 8am, and not (finish) until 3am, 4am or even 5am the next day,' they said.

One former bartender, who is part of the Adero class action and asked not to be named, said the environment at Merivale was one of 'being lucky to work there'.

'There were perks like big staff parties, two or three a year, with unlimited food and drinks and there was a culture of 'well we're lucky to be working at such a cool place'.

'It was instilled that, if you don't want to work here there are plenty who will'.

'So you eventually got conditioned to sucking it up. And being satisfied with the little perks along the way.'

Contacted for comment about a potential settlement in the coming weeks, Hemmes declined to comment - with a representative saying he was 'travelling and unavailable'.

However Adero revealed this week that it was confident a settlement would soon be reached and that the case would most likely not proceed in court.

First filed in 2019, the class action is one of the biggest of its kind in Australia and a potential game changer for the hospitality industry which has come under much pressure in recent years to improve its treatment of workers, most of which are working class, students and/or travelling visa holders.

Hemmes, meanwhile, lives a vastly different life with a coterie of glamorous friends and girlfriends, a multimillion dollar property portfolio and a harbourside family mansion estimated to be worth in excess of $100million.

Old Friends: Hemmes seen recently with surprise pal Katherine Keating

The Merivale boss is believed to be holidaying abroad as his class action case rolls on

Party king: The hospitality billionaire has built a fortune worth an estimated $1.2 billion.

The heir to his late father's lucrative retail business, Hemmes initially began as an inner-city CBD publican but gradually began building his empire which is now valued at an estimated $1.2billion.

Much of that growth coincided with the period detailed in the Adero class action - between 2013 and 2019 - during which time Hemmes snapped up a batch of Sydney pubs including The Newport Arms, The Royal in Bondi and Coogee Pavillion.

The value of those pubs in the years since have soared with one industry analyst suggesting the properties have 'doubled' in price since purchase.

Meanwhile a settlement in the Merivale class action would be major step forward for the almost-14,000 applicants seeking remuneration for unpaid work.

The class action was filed to the Federal Court and also claimed that the hospitality group's WorkChoices agreement  which meant it wasn't required to pay staff overtime or full penalty rates  was never approved by regulators.

At the time the class action was filed, a Merivale spokeswoman said it 'firmly believes there is no basis for any action' and that external parties had independently assessed its compliance.
Scott Morrison is 'like a teddy bear' in the company of his wife Jenny and if the prime minister loses the upcoming election the couple happily move back to suburban Sydney life.

These are two of the observations made by Karl Stefanovic ahead of his 60 Minutes interview with the Morrisons airing on Sunday night.

Stefanovic spent a year trying to get the couple to agree to talk to him and said it was 'wonderfully vaudevillian' to watch the nation's first family relaxing at home in Kirribilli House.

'It's like a strange episode of reality TV,' Stefanovic told Daily Mail Australia.

Scott Morrison is 'like a teddy bear' in the company of his wife Jenny and if the prime minister loses the upcoming election the couple happily move back to suburban Sydney life. Mr Morrison is pictured with wife Jenny and their daughters Lily and Abbey

Interviewer Karl Stefanovic said it was clear how close the Morrisons were and would remain regardless of the election result. 'He's like a teddy bear with her,' Stefanovic said. 'Which is not what I expected at all

Stefanovic spent a year trying to get the couple to agree to talk to him and said it was 'wonderfully vaudevillian' to watch the nation's first family relaxing at home in Kirribilli House

'Through it all I think people will get a clearer sense of what makes them tick, both individually but also as a couple.'

Stefanovic said the pressures on Mr Morrison and his family were obvious.

'There's no question he is under the pump like we've never seen before and who knows if he's going to win or not but I think that's part of the story as well.'

'He's very aware that politics is politics and they may not make it but they'll be happy to go back to Cronulla if he loses.'

Stefanovic tells Mr Morrison in one scene: 'You might need more than a miracle this time. You might need the second coming.'

Mr Morrison, who said he believed in miracles after his 2019 election win, responds: 'Well I believe in that too!'

Stefanovic said it was clear how close the Morrisons were and would remain regardless of the election result.

'He's like a teddy bear with her,' Stefanovic said. 'Which is not what I expected at all.

Stefanovic asked Mrs Morrison what piece of advice she would give her 16-year-old self. The former nurse, who has been with Mr Morrison since she was 16, thinks for a moment then laughs and replies with an emphatic: 'Run!'

'They're very clearly a couple in love still after 32 years together and I think they're both feeling the pain and the torture of office.

'They're both wanting for the tenure to be extended, so they're gluttons for punishment. They seem content to try and continue on whether they win or not.'

The deeply religious couple met through a church youth group when they were 12, began dating when he was 16 and she was 17, and married at 21. He is 53 and she is three months older, having turned 54 last month.

In one scene the pair sits together on a couch as Stefanovic asks Mrs Morrison what piece of advice she would give her 16-year-old self.

The former nurse thinks for a moment then laughs and replies: 'Run!'

'She's spectacularly fun,' Stefanovic said. 'And she's spectacularly and refreshingly honest. It's like Morrisons unplugged. Or at least one of them.'

Stefanovic sipped on a 'really good' margarita made by Mrs Morrison while he watched her husband, wearing thongs, cook one of his famous curries - an eggplant masala - in Kirribilli House.

Stefanovic sipped on a 'really good' margarita made by Mrs Morrison while he watched her husband cook one of his famous curries - an eggplant masala - while wearing thongs in Kirribilli House

Scott Morrison has come out guns blazing with his 'secret weapon' Jenny (pictured together) in a desperate bid to quell rising tensions in the lead-up to the federal election

'I guarantee you you're going to see a different side to the Morrisons than you've ever seen before and that includes him playing ukulele,' he said.

While Mr Morrison cuts up ingredients for the curry on the program Stefanovic says, 'Watch out for all of the knives.'

Mr Morrison replies: 'Only from behind.'

Of the personal toll Covid deaths in aged care centres had taken on him, Mr Morrison tells Stefanovic: 'I feel it and bleed like everybody else.'

Stefanovic believed Australians would get a better idea of the prime minister by hearing what his wife has to say about her childhood sweetheart.

'I think with the prime minister there is a perception that he can lack empathy and lacks cut-through and also lacks energy in the way that he approaches fixing problems that are significant,' he said.

'And I think that she kind of explains the way that he thinks.'

Stefanovic believed Australians would get a better idea of the prime minister by hearing what his wife has to say about her childhood sweetheart

Stefanovic said Mrs Morrison was 'a reluctant participant' in major media appearances but could be her husband's 'secret weapon' in the election campaign.

'I think that she feels like she wanted to have her say about a bunch of things but mostly also to have her say on her husband,' he said.

'I think she's formidable, she's interesting, she's funny, she's engaging, and I'm surprised we haven't heard from her before now but I think that says a lot about her as well.

'Like anyone she's a very fierce defender of her family and that includes him. She's also really kind of relaxed which is strange because she's not used to the media.

'She's very open and honest about losing him to politics and how hard it was for her with the girls, basically doing a lot of the heavy lifting with parenting.'

Stefanovic said Mrs Morrison was 'a reluctant participant' in major media appearances but could be her husband's 'secret weapon' in the election campaign

Mrs Morrison tells Stefanovic of raising the couple's two girls: 'There was a time where I couldn't help, you know, feeling resentful that I was doing it alone.'

'It was something that we had both wanted and then it was only me experiencing it.

'But time is a great leveller. And as it went along, I learned to cope better and accepted it and that way the resentment could go, because that wasn't good for our relationship.'

Stefanovic said nothing was off limits in his chat with Mrs Morrison.

'She addresses Hawaii, she addresses Brittany Higgins, she addresses Grace Tame, and she addresses the texting scandal.'

'I was wondering what she'd say about those things because he's kind of referenced her a few times.

'And so I was intrigued as to how she would respond and let me tell you she doesn't hold back.'

A photo emerged from Hawaii showing Mr Morrison with two men and a woman on a beach as the sun set behind them (pictured) as bushfires raged in Australia in 2019

'She's also a fierce defender of ideals and her family and I think people are going to be either pleasantly surprised or irritated by her stance.

'But it's her and it's not the work of some PR boffin. This is a woman who speaks her mind and stands up for things and finally has her say.'

The program was shot over the past three weeks, including a Saturday night at Kirribilli House the weekend before last.

Stefanovic confirmed Mr Morrison was a dab hand in the kitchen and the curry making was not just for the cameras. He grinds his own seeds and spices.

'This is not a curry that you do from a jar,' he said. 'This is a curry that you do from scratch. He's that kind of guy.

'The way he cooks is the way he thinks. He's very methodical and thorough and he doesn't stop too much. It's like all business but that's his relaxation.'

The prime minister (pictured in August 2019) faced fierce criticism for going on the unannounced family break at a time where fires were claiming lives and homes

Stefanovic even thought he could see something in Mr Morrison's cooking that translated to politics.

'How he cooks a curry is almost the way he runs the country,' he said. 'It's methodical, it's to the book.

'There's not much flamboyance there. He's not going off script. He's not going off-recipe.'

The cameras were also rolling when political reporter Peter van Onselen read a text to the prime minister in which former premier Gladys Berejiklian called him a 'horrible, horrible person' at the National Press Club.

In another text, a federal cabinet minister allegedly branded Mr Morrison a 'complete psycho'.

Mrs Morrison addresses those texts as well as criticism her husband faced after taking a family break in Hawaii during the devastating 2019 bushfires.

A recent poll has revealed The Coalition is trailing just one point behind Labor following a nightmare week for the prime minister (pictured at the National Press Club on February 1)

At one point Stefanovic jokes about the couple making a return trip to Hawaii.

Mrs Morrison responds to Stefanovic's cheeky remark by saying, 'Karl... '. When Stefanovic asks, 'Too soon?' Mrs Morrision replies, 'Too soon' and Mr Morrison says 'Too soon' words twice.

Stefanovic said Mrs Morrison had not avoided the question at all.

'She deals with Hawaii and I think again there's nothing but real honesty and emotion there,' he said.

'She does care what's said, she does care as a family unit when they've made mistakes, she does care when he's criticised and she doesn't agree with it.

'She does care that her daughters now read those criticisms.

'So it's not an easy lot I don't think being in that situation. Of course you choose it to be with someone but you don't choose their job.

'I think a PM's fair game but the family isn't and I think to get an insight into that world and their side of things is kind of rare.'

Stefanovic said nothing was off limits in his chat with Mrs Morrison. 'She addresses Hawaii, she addresses Brittany Higgins, she addresses Grace Tame, and she addresses the texting scandal'

Promotional snippets for the program show Mr Morrison strumming a ukulele with his family while he sings Dragon's 1977 classic April Sun In Cuba.

'You don't ever expect to see a prime minister bring out the ukulele and sing "Take me to the April sun in Cuba", do you?' Stefanovic said.

'When he offered to do it, I don't know any PR in the world who would say that's a good idea.

'But you are actually getting a side of him that likes to perform a little bit and is truly bad at it. I'm not sure that there's a political angle in that. We're getting him like no one's ever seen him before really.'

Stefanovic said the ukulele playing was just another example of Mr Morrison being a 'big dag'.

'Let me tell you, he faces all kinds of criticism, some of it's deserved, but he is legitimately a dag and he legitimately cooks a good curry.

'You don't just learn that for marketing purposes. He could be Australia's daggiest dude but he's also very good at cooking a curry.'

The genesis of the program can be traced to Mr Morrison's response to former political staffer Brittany Higgins claiming she had been raped in Parliament House.

Mr Morrison had told reporters of Ms Higgins's claims: 'Jenny and I spoke last night and she said to me, "You have to think about this as a father".'

Critics have said Mr Morrison should not have had to imagine Ms Higgins was his daughter.

'When the Brittany Higgins stuff happened a year ago I thought it'd be really interesting to see what Jenny thought about all of that,' Stefanovic said.

'So I pitched it then and it literally took them a year to finally come around to say yeah, we want to do it.

'Obviously there's a big election campaign coming up but also he's under the pump and she wanted to have her say.'

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame made headlines for her grim-faced meeting with the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra where she refused to even make eye contact with him (pictured)

Mr Morrison was also slammed at a National Press Club lunch by Grace Tame, the prominent teenage rape victim and 2021 Australian of the Year.

Ms Tame made headlines for her grim-faced handshake with the prime minister at The Lodge where she refused to even make eye contact with him.

Stefanovic said the program would likely divide viewers down political lines but hoped it would provide surprises.

'I don't think there's any doubt the dude works hard,' he said. 'Criticisms are criticisms and some of them are right and some of them are a bit of a stretch but that gees with the territory doesn't it.

'People can make up their own minds.'

60 Minutes airs this Sunday at 8.40pm on Channel 9, after Married at First Sight.
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The axing of the legal requirement to self-isolate leaves businesses and staff in a difficult situation.

Whereas before they simply had to follow rules set by ministers, now it is up to individual bosses - in consultation with staff - to decide their own policies... setting up a legal and HR minefield for both.

Today, a lawyer warned the move, announced by Boris Johnson this week and likely to come into effect at the end of the month, could force companies to bring in more mask-wearing and social distancing to comply with health and safety laws.

Firms have a legal duty to protect their staff, leaving them vulnerable to legal action if they allow staff who have tested positive to come into work, or are seen as tolerating an unhealthy environment.

James Davies, partner at Lewis Silkin, told the Telegraph: 'Freedom Day may well increase the steps employers have to take in order to protect their workforce.

'If the risk goes up, the steps that an employer takes may increase in order to ensure it is complying with health and safety obligations. That could include enhanced social distancing and mask wearing.'

Bosses and workers now need to navigate a knot of confusing laws and guidance to ensure they avoid legal jeopardy. Here, employment experts consulted by MailOnline answer the key questions about the changes.

Bosses and workers now need to navigate a knot of confusing laws and guidance to ensure they avoid legal jeopardy

More than half of MPs plan to allow their staff to WFH after the Covid crisis By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor for MailOnline More than half of MPs are planning to allow their staff to work from home after the coronavirus crisis - and rules could be changed to allow them to claim expenses for trips to Parliament. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) asked MPs about working from home and 'over half of respondents told us that they had decided that in future staff will be able to work from home some, most or all of the time'. IPSA, which oversees the MPs' expenses system, is now consulting on updating its rules to reflect the increase in working from home. Currently people who WFH full-time are not allowed to claim for travel costs for work trips to Parliament. But IPSA is now recommending the rules 'should be amended to allow for staff with home-based contracts to claim for ad hoc, occasional travel to Westminster and/or the constituency office'. The Government's work from home guidance was officially dropped in January and Boris Johnson has made clear he wants workers to return to offices. Advertisement

What do I do if I've got Covid?

You should tell your boss that you cannot come into work because you have tested positive. The employer cannot force you back in if you're unwell. But if someone doesn't come in they can require within a certain number of days that the person gets a certificate from a GP saying whether they are fit to come into work.

And the employer can also require the staff member to be seen to judge whether they are fit to return to work. (Richard Fox, employment partner at Kingsley Napley)

What if one of my employees have Covid?

They should be allowed to stay at home until they are better. Forcing them to come in could raise an issue under health and safety at work legislation.

Employers are responsible for the health and safety of all their employees, and if they force someone to come and they or other staff suffer they could be liable.

What can I do if they insist on coming in? Can I force them to go home?

A number of different legal considerations apply here. If you have Covid and you are suffering from symptoms, a good employer would ask you not to come into the office.

They must have regard to the health and safety of the individual and their other staff. You can't force somebody not to come in through the door, but if an employee insisted on doing so, the employer would need to decide whether it was reasonable in the circumstances to instruct the employee to return home.

If the employee refused to comply with a reasonable instruction, this could become a disciplinary issue which could ultimately lead to dismissal. In reality, this sort of situation is self-regulating as most employees will not want to work if they are sick. (Stephen Morrall, Hunters Law LLP)

What can I do if a colleague has it?

If two secretaries came in and one was ill, the other one would not have the authority to ask her to go home, but she could ring up HR and then they would make a decision.

If the outcome was to ask the sick employee to go home that is likely to be considered a reasonable request.

Boris Johnson has revealed his intention to scrap the legal duty to self-isolate if a person tests positive for the virus later this month as he fights for his political life amid the drama of the 'Partygate' scandal

Do businesses still need to test people or ask them to wear masks?

The government's policy is to remove the legal restrictions and persuade people to act sensibly. They want it to be self-regulating, which is a very English approach.

In England the law doesn't prescribe things unless they are necessary, and things are done by consensus.

Boris pushes for the 'big bang' lifting of Covid curbs across the UK: Talks held with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about falling in line with England By Jason Groves, Political Editor for the Daily Mail Ministers are pushing for a big bang lifting of Covid restrictions across the UK this month amid fears different rules in Scotland and Wales will fuel confusion and division. Whitehall sources said talks had been opened with the devolved administrations in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast about co-ordinating the lifting of coronavirus rules. Boris Johnson announced this week the Government is on course to lift all remaining Covid restrictions a month early, with February 24 pencilled in as Covid Freedom Day. The Scottish government gave a hostile reaction to the Prime Ministers decision yesterday, with health minister Humza Yousaf describing it as an attempt to distract and deflect scrutiny over the Prime Ministers behaviour. The SNP extended Covid powers in Scotland this month for a further six months, with deputy first minister John Swinney saying it was necessary to retain the availability of these baseline measures while we review our ongoing response to Covid. A Whitehall source said the Prime Minister was keen to see measures lifted in a co-ordinated way but acknowledged Scotland and Wales may decide to drag their feet. There are discussions with the devolved administrations and ideally we would align things as much as possible, the source said. It would be frustrating if we had parts of the country continuing with restrictions for an extended period  it would be confusing and divisive for people. But we have to accept that they have always been overly cautious. They are behind us and it may take them some time to catch up. Advertisement

So once all further restrictions are removed, I will recommend people at my firm take tests periodically during the week. But it will be down to each company, and their employees, to decide for themselves.

Can a vulnerable colleague sue if they get Covid off an infected person?

It's unlikely. First of all it would be virtually impossible to prove how you've caught Covid, because if you go out of your house and come within a metre of someone you could have caught it from anybody.

If they come into work they are taking a conscious risk. It's not like falling off a ladder - which would be a workplace injury.

What if my boss tries to force me in?

Employers can give ''lawful and reasonable'' instructions to their employees, but I would question whether this would be a lawful and reasonable reason.

I suspect there will be some difficult situations to come. It's a big jump to say that people can come in whether hitherto it has been unlawful to do this.

(Richard Fox)

What are my options if I want to stay working from home?

You have the right to request flexible working, but you don't have the right to work flexibly - there's a crucial difference there.

So if you request to continue working from home, there's a regimen the employer must go through with a corresponding timescale. But you'd expect there to be dialogue in most workplaces.

The issue that employers need to be careful about is whether they are being discriminatory in how they apply the policy. So if an employee is vulnerable and has been working successfully for the last few years, the employer would need to tread carefully.

Will employers have to rip up their existing sickness rules and start again?

This is undoubtedly a big moment for employers. When the Government scraps COVID isolation rules, it means employers can no longer rely on Government regulation to provide the groundwork for a system of protection for their workers. Earlier than expected it seems employers are going to need to set the rules for themselves.

It may be prudent for these to cover new more potent strains of COVID-19 that may come along or even other infections besides COVID-19.

If they do not have appropriate policies already in place, employers may want to consider introducing 'infection policies' to set rules and standards for the entire organisation so everyone is clear. For a building contractor the rules may be different to a care home; office-based workplaces may have different rules and needs to a retailer.

It may not be wise to leave it to individual managers to take a view on isolation and vaccine requirements for members of their own departments, as that could lead to legal risk for the employer.








People who've had Covid but no jabs may have longer immunity than those who've been double-jabbed but never infected, a study suggests.

There has been fierce debate about whether natural or vaccine-induced protection is better throughout the pandemic, with research producing mixed results.

The debate has become more complicated as time has gone on because so many people have both been exposed to the virus and had their shots.

The latest study  from Israel  followed more than 500 people who had either just caught the virus or had recently received two jabs between 2020 and 2021.

Participants were tracked for up to a year and given regular blood tests measuring their antibody levels and strength of protection.

While those who were vaccinated had higher levels of antibodies initially, they dropped off much sharper than in the natural infection group.

After six months, the prior-infection group also had 'stronger' antibodies  a measure of how well they bind to Covid's spike protein when the virus enters the body.

Experts said the 'jury is still out' on which type of immunity is better, but almost all scientists agree that a combination of vaccine and natural protection is the best.

Research led by experts from the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, has shown people who have had Covid but never been vaccinated have longer lasting immunity than those who were double-jabbed but never been infected. Graph shows: Patients' antibody avidity  how well the infection-fighting proteins attach to the target virus  after natural infection (red) or a second vaccination (blue)

The study  led by the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan  only looked at antibodies, which is one part of the complex immune response to Covid.

Immunity also involves T-cells and other white blood cells that are harder to measure but can provide longer lasting protection  especially against severe outcomes.

The research was also carried out when the original Wuhan and Alpha strains were dominant in Israel, so the findings may not necessarily reflect immunity against later variants like Omicron.

But a study by Maccabi Healthcare and Tel Aviv University in Israel last August also found that natural immunity was better at preventing infection from the Delta variant  by up to 13 times.

Vaccinating five to 11-year-olds against Covid won't 'make much difference' because most have natural immunity Giving healthy primary school children Covid jabs is pointless because most have already had the mild Omicron strain and recovered, a scientist has claimed. No10's vaccine advisory panel is expected to make an announcement on jabbing five to 11-year-olds this week. Currently only children in that age group who are clinically vulnerable to the virus, or who live with a relative who is, are being offered a Covid vaccine. However, with other countries like the US and most of the EU already approving jabs for over-5s, there has been pressure on the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to follow suit. But Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert from the University of East Anglia, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was 'past the point' where jabbing children aged five to 11 would 'make much difference'. His comments were backed by an Office of National Statistics report today, which estimated nearly three-quarters of 8 to 11 year olds already had Covid antibodies as of January 10. Healthy children face a vanishingly low risk of severe illness from the virus, with only six healthy children dying of the virus in England's first year of the pandemic. And two doses of a jab offer as little as 10 per cent protection against catching the antibody-resistant Omicron variant, UK data suggests. Advertisement

In the latest study, none of those who were infected originally became re-infected during the study and those who were jabbed did not get the virus afterwards, suggesting both had high levels of immunity throughout.

The experts recruited 130 people who were infected between March and November 2020 and did not go on to get vaccinated by April 2021.

They also studied 402 people who got their second jab in late 2020 but had never had an infection.

Israel led the world with its vaccine rollout at the time.

The experts measured antibody levels in patients' blood stream immediately after infection or the vaccines, and did follow-up tests after six months.

The researchers also measured antibody avidity  how well the infection-fighting proteins attach to the target virus.

Those who were vaccinated initially saw a higher level of antibodies as well as higher avidity.

But after six months, the 'never-Covid' group saw both measures fall to lower levels than the unvaccinated cohort.

Meanwhile those who were infected saw their antibody levels fall more gradually.

Avidity actually appeared increased after six months, although the researchers cannot explain why.

The findings are due to be presented to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in April.

Writing in the study, the researchers said: 'While the number of antibodies decrease with time in both Covid recovered (but never vaccinated) patients and vaccinated (but never infected) individuals, the quality of antibodies increases following infection but not after vaccination.'

They said future research should look into whether people infected with previous variants still have greater protection against Omicron.

Dr Carmit Cohen, an epidemiologist at the Sheba Medical Center who led the report, said: 'With the omicron variant vaccinated individuals are better protected from severe disease.

'I think that the most interesting people to follow up now are those who have recovered from the earlier variants and have then been reinfected by, and recovered from, infection with the Omicron variant.

'Hypothetically, these individuals should have very high antibody performance against most variants.'

Independent experts said the 'jury is still out' on whether natural immunity offers stronger protection against the virus.

Israel led the world with its vaccine rollout at the time, jabbing 11 per cent of the population by December, when the UK had only just started rolling out first doses to the most vulnerable, reaching one per cent of the population by the end of that month. Pictured: A man receives the fourth dose of the vaccine in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 3 this year

Professor Danny Altman, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said: 'This is a study that impinges on some of the difficult unknowns were all grappling with in human immunology studies at this stage in the pandemic.

'While the view from other studies is of a better quality of response as assessed by B cell receptor breadth and affinity maturation through vaccination, this study, conversely, reports something described as improved antibody numbers through immunity after infection.

'Definitely a work in progress with consensus needed and more to be done.

'In terms of consensus on the quality, quantity and durability of protective immunity following spike exposure through infection, vaccination, or hybrid exposure, the jury is still out.'

Dr Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, said: 'Generally, natural infection generates a broader and longer-lasting set of immune responses to all the viral antigens  so this is not really surprising.

'After all, our immune systems have evolved over several million years to deal with all types of pathogens  so I would expect natural immunity to outperform any vaccine-induced immunity over the longer term.'
A judge has restored federal protections for grey wolves across most of the U.S. after the order was removed in the waning days of the Trump administration, which exposed the wild canines to hunting that critics said would undermine their rebound from widespread extermination early last century.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, said Thursday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show how wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act. The service also didn't adequately consider threats to wolves outside those core areas, White said.

Wildlife advocates had sued the agency last year. The ruling does not directly impact wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and portions of several adjacent states. Those animals remain under state jurisdiction after federal protections in that region were lifted by Congress a decade ago.

'Through this is a relief for some wolves, this ruling is only a temporary reprieve and ignores the plight of the wolves that are the most watched and most celebrated the world over,' Camilla Fox, the founder and executive director of Project Coyote, said.

Attorneys for the Biden administration defended the Trump rule that removed protections, arguing that wolves were resilient enough to bounce back even if their numbers dropped sharply due to intensive hunting.

Historically, the gray wolf population extended from the West Cost to as far east as Ohio (tan and red states). However, in recent years, the population has significantly decreased to mainly being seen in nine states (red states) across the US

At stake is the future of a species whose recovery from near-extinction has been heralded as a historic conservation success. That recovery has brought bitter blowback from hunters and farmers angered over wolf attacks on big game herds and livestock. They contend that protections are no longer warranted. However, wolf attacks on livestock are uncommon.

Despite hunters' distaste for federal protection, Wisconsin lost 30 percent of its grey wolf population in one year after the Trump Administration delisted it. Roughly 220 wolves were killed by licensed hunters and around 100 additional wolves died in different ways, including 'cryptic poaching.'

It is estimated that only around 700 to 750 wolves are left in the state, as of 2021, which is down from the 1,034 in 2020.

Researchers estimated the wolf population could recover in one or two years if there was no hunting. However, prior to federal protection being reinstated, Wisconsin law requires a wolf hunt between November and February.

The biggest population of grey wolves can be found in Alaska, with anywhere between 7,000 and 11,000 living there, although statistics haven't been updated since 2017.

US District Judge Jeffrey White ruled to relist grey wolves as endangered after they were delisted at the end of the Trump Administration in 2020

The judge ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Services could not show how wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Biden Administration argued that wolves were resilient enough to bounce back even if their numbers dropped sharply due to intensive hunting

The Western Great Lake region - including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota - has around 4,500, as of 2020, while the northern Rockies - which remain under state protection - has around 3,000.

Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz said the agency was reviewing Thursday's decision and offered no further comment.

Wildlife advocacy groups said the judge's order would most immediately put a stop to hunting in the Great Lakes region, where Wisconsin officials had come under criticism after a wolf hunt last year blew past the state's quotas, killing 218 wolves in four days.

'Wolves in the Great Lakes region have a stay of execution,' said John Horning with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Wolf attacks on livestock are uncommon but can cause significant economic damage to farmers when their cows or sheep are killed.

And wolves in some places have reduced the size of elk and deer herds, their natural prey. That has stirred anger among hunters who target the big game animals.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Rifle Association and other industry groups had urged the judge not to restore federal protection, keeping the wolves under the control of state officials who allow wolf hunting.

Zippy Duvall, president of the Farm Bureau, said he was 'extremely disappointed' with the ruling and that it ignored wolves' recovery beyond government population goals.

'It's really frustrating and outrageous that some judge thousands of miles away is suddenly telling us that our own scientific management of the species can't be trusted,' said Ed McBroom, a Republican state senator from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 'They're simply forcing citizens to take matters into their own hands.'

None of the Great Lakes states with established wolf populations - Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin -- had scheduled additional wolf hunts prior to the judge's ruling. All three were updating their wolf management programs and officials said that work would continue.

A state judge in Wisconsin in October had blocked a hunt two weeks before it was to begin, responding to a lawsuit that claimed it was illegally scheduled.

In Michigan, where the wolf population numbers about 700, Republican legislators introduced pro-hunting resolutions but no formal proposal was before the wildlife commission that sets hunting seasons.

Before hunting is considered, Michigan officials want their legal status more permanently settled 'given the long history of legal challenges to delisting decisions and the resulting shifting status of wolves,' said Ed Golder with the state Department of Natural Resources.

The status of northern Rockies wolves was not challenged in the lawsuit decided Thursday. However, the US Fish and Wildlife Service in September began a separate review of whether protections should be restored for the region's wolves, after Republican state lawmakers in Montana and Idaho passed laws last year intended to drive down wolf numbers by making it easier to kill them.

Under the loosened rules, hunters and trappers primarily in Montana have killed a record 23 wolves that wandered outside Yellowstone National Park this winter. That's sparked public outrage due to the popularity of Yellowstone's wolf packs among tourists who visit from around the world.

However, Wisconsin, however, lost 30 percent of it's wolf population one year after wolves were delisted, leaving less than 1,000 wolves in the state. The Western Great Lakes region has an estimate of 4,500 wolves, while the Rockies have an estimate of 3,000, as of around 2020. Alaska has the biggest population of around 7,000 to 11,000 wolves, but numbers have not been updated since 2017. California has only seen a total of eight wolves in the state as of February 2021. Grey wolves have significantly decreased from their historic range - which covered from Michigan to Texas to California - and are now only found in select states

Following the killings, Interior Sec. Deb Haaland published an op-ed this week saying federal officials could give northern Rockies wolves emergency protection if the species is put at significant risk.

'Recent laws passed in some Western states undermine state wildlife managers by promoting precipitous reductions in wolf populations, such as removing bag limits, baiting, snaring, night hunting and pursuit by dogs - the same kind of practices that nearly wiped out wolves during the last century,' Haaland wrote.

Wolves once ranged most of the US but were wiped out in most places by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns.

A remnant population in the western Great Lakes region has since expanded to some 4,400 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. And more than 2,000 wolves occupy six states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

Yet wolves remain absent across most of their historical range. Wildlife advocates argue that continued protections are needed so they can continue to expand in California, Colorado, Oregon and other states.

Only around eight wolves were spotted in California as of February 2021.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike, going back to former President George W. Bush, have sought to remove or scale back federal wolf protections first enacted in 1974.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Fish and Wildlife Services for a comment.
While Republicans expressed dismay about a reported plan to include crack pipes in government-funded safe smoking kits, a liberal drug policy group criticized Health and Human Services (HHS) for leaving out the pipes.

The Drug Policy Alliance said the decision to 'remove pipes from safe smoking equipment is deeply disappointing.'

'This is a missed opportunity to be preventative of more deaths due to overdose,' the group wrote on Twitter. 'Giving clean drug-using equipment such as a pipe & syringe reduces transmission of disease including Hep. C & HIV.'

'Harm reduction works to meet people where they are at, and keep people free of diseases and alive so they have a chance of recovery and healing,' the group added.

The Biden administration may not be handing out free crack pipes, but a $30 million HHS Harm Reduction Grant program will dole out materials for addicts to utilize when using to mitigate the spread of disease.

The program, which accepted applications from local nonprofits until this week, will fund 'safe smoking kits/supplies,' which White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday will include 'alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.'

HHS could not be reached for comment on a comprehensive list of allowable items, but such kits also typically include a rubber mouthpiece to prevent cuts and burns, brass screens to filter contaminants and disinfectant wipes, according to Harm Reduction International.

Jamie Favaro, executive director of NEXT Distro, one of the groups that applied for the grants, told the Washington Post that such kits typically do not include glass pipes because it is far more expensive than just offering a mouthpiece, which can be affixed to any pipe to prevent spreading infection.

Clean pipes are intended to curb the injecting drugs with needles, which is far riskier. But the HHS grant will offer clean needles, too.

In pushing for the pipes to be included, the Drug Policy Alliance said: 'The US government has prioritized a criminalization approach for 50+ years & its failing. Overdose rates are at record highs.'

Also funded under the grant are harm reduction vending machines, including stock for the machines, medication to reverse a drug overdose, medication lock boxes, infectious disease testing kits, safe sex kits, medication and needle disposal kits, vaccination services and wound care supplies.

The $30 million Harm Reduction Program grant is funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan, and therefore is 'not subject to the same syringe funding restrictions as other federal grants,' HHS says.

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.

On Monday the Washington Free Beacon reported that an HHS spokesperson told them that included in these kits these kits could be pipes for users to smoke substances like crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, or 'any illicit substance.'

The DOJ told the Associated Press it was 'evaluating' such facilities and talking to regulators about the 'appropriate guardrails'

'They were never a part of the kit,' said Psaki of crack pipes. 'It was inaccurate reporting'

NARCAN would be stocked at the facilities to reverse a drug overdose

HHS on Wednesday put out a statement contradicting its previously reported remarks. '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.'

Psaki said that the pipes were never expected to be included in the kits. 'They were never a part of the kit,' said Psaki. 'It was inaccurate reporting.'

'I would note that what we're really talking about here is steps that we're taking as a federal government to address the opioid epidemic,' Psaki added.

The press secretary denied that HHS had changed its policy on the crack pipes after the story first came out. 'We don't support federal funding, indirect or direct, for pipes.'

However, Republicans weren't buying it. 'Once again, "misinformation" just means true facts that make Democrats look bad,' Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on Twitter.

'Good news. Biden's HHS is no longer funding crack pipes. But make no mistake: yesterday's change in policy is because HHS got caught,' Cotton wrote in a subsequent tweet.

'Reminder: It was Biden admin policy to fund CRACK PIPE distribution until they were BUSTED,' Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on Twitter.

In a follow up to the Daily Beast, HHS reportedly turned over the email correspondence with the Washington Free Beacon where no pipe was mentioned. Instead, HHS only confirmed that the kits were 'intended to help users reduce risk' when smoking 'any illicit substance.'

Still, the report prompted so much backlash that 17 Republican senators signed on to a bill that would formally ban federal funding for crack pipes.

Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday announced the CRACK Act along with 16 Republican co-sponsors, even after the Biden administration's denial that it would fund pipes.

'I am glad the Biden administration acknowledges sending crack pipes to our nation's addicts is a bad idea,' Rubio said in a statement. 'It is pure insanity to think the federal government would fund crack pipe distribution. This legislation will make certain the program can never pay for crack pipes, and given the Biden administration's position I look forward to their vigorous support.'

Rubio's bill would amend the American Rescue Plan to prohibit the use of federal funds to 'supply, or distribute pipes, cylindrical objects, or other paraphernalia that can be used to smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics.'

Rubio was silent on needle exchange programs - in 2019 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that supported Florida counties to launch their own needle exchanges.

To critics who say the White House is 'encouraging drug use,' Psaki shot back: 'I think that it's important to step back and remember just to put a little more of a fine point on it that we're losing an American life every five minutes to overdose. We don't have time for political games. The presidents focused on saving lives through harm reduction programs.'

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.
Abortions in Texas fell by 60 per cent in the first month under the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. in decades, according to a new report by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The nearly 2,200 abortions reported by Texas providers in September came after a new law took effect that bans the procedure once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, and without exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

In August, there had been more than 5,400 abortions statewide, and abortion numbers were consistently above 4,250 in the first seven months of 2021. Texas state health officials said more data will be released on a monthly basis.

The law, which sparked waves of protests across the U.S., has left many Texas patients traveling hundreds of miles to clinics in neighboring states or farther, causing a backlog of appointments in those places.

Planned Parenthood issued a statement calling the numbers 'the very beginning of the devastating impact' of the law as they saw 'a 1,082 per cent increase in patients with Texas zip codes seeking abortion compared to September 2019 and 2020.'

'It is unconscionable that thousands of Texans continue to be forced to travel hundreds of miles out of state to Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and other farther states to access their fundamental right to safe, legal abortion,' the organization said.

Abortions in Texas dropped by about 60 per cent in September 2021, following the nation's most restrictive ban on the procedure

The controversial law sparked protests all across the country as people marched in support of women's reproductive rights in October and November

Protestors said the law would only make it harder for women to get save abortions in Texas. Planned Parenthood said it has seen a 1,082 per cent increase in the number of Texas patients visiting its clinics in neighboring states

The Trust Women Oklahoma City clinic reported it had seen 11 Texas patients in August, but once the ban took effect in September, the clinic saw 110 Texans in the first three weeks.

The Texas abortion numbers offer a fuller picture of the sharp drop in patients that Texas doctors have described in their clinics over the past five months, during which time courts have repeatedly allowed the restrictions to stay in place.

In December, the Supreme Court ruled to leave the ban in place as challenges were being litigated in lower courts.

The Texas law conflicts with landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy. But it was written in a way that has essentially outmaneuvered those precedents.

Under the law, any private citizen is entitled to collect $10,000 or more if they bring a successful lawsuit against someone who performed or helped a woman obtain an abortion after the limit - which opponents have condemned as a bounty.

So far, no anti-abortion supporters have filed any suits.

With few options left, Texas abortion providers have acknowledged the law is likely to stay on the books for the foreseeable future.

The Trust Women Oklahoma City clinic is one of four abortion clinics in the state. They had 11 patients from Texas in August and has seen 110 since the beginning of September

The Supreme Court (nine justices pictured) rejected a request by abortion providers to have the case sent to a district judge who had previously moved to block the Texas law

Since the Texas law took effect, similar measures have been introduced in GOP-controlled statehouses nationwide, but none have passed. Arizona Republicans this month continued moving swiftly to outlaw abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

It comes as the U.S. Supreme Court has signaled a willingness to weaken or reverse the landmark Roe v. Wade precedent in a ruling that is expected later this year.

If that happens, as many as 26 states would institute abortion-access restrictions within a year if permitted by the court, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

At least 12 states have 'trigger bans' on the books, with restrictions that would kick in automatically if the justices overturn or weaken federal protections on abortion access.
ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi died in a US Special Forces raid on February 2

The one-legged ISIS chief had rigged his house with explosives and blew himself and his family to pieces when US Special Forces arrived because his disability stopped him using a suicide vest.

US military officials believe Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi rigged the third floor of the building in preparation for an attack because the blast was much larger than one from a regular suicide vest, which often holds just five or 10 pounds of explosives.

Officials believe al-Qurayshi, who was tracked down after a drone spotted him bathing on the building's roof last year, himself detonated the explosives that killed him and his family at his home in the sleepy village of Atmeh near the Turkish border on February 2.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said US forces killed the militant and his wife in a gun battle. One was barricaded in a small room and shooting from there; another fired while coming through the door.

They also revealed officials had thought they had a good chance of taking al-Qurayshi alive because of his issues with a suicide belt and had made plans to turn him over to another government.

The one-legged ISIS chief had rigged his house (pictured) with explosives and blew himself and his family to pieces when US Special Forces arrived, officials said on Thursday

The building, in Atmeh, Syria, near the Turkish border, was destroyed when al-Qurayshi detonated explosives, killing him and his family

Debris is strewn about inside of the house in northern Syria where ISIS leader al-Qurayshi blew himself and his family up as US special forces arrived

The troops safely brought four children from the second floor out of the house. But a toddler was found dead there, and the military officials said Thursday that it is not certain how the child died.

They said no gunshot wounds were found and that the child was likely killed by the concussive effects of the third-floor explosion and not shot in the gunfight.

An ISIS member, described as a lieutenant of al-Qurayshi's, and his wife were on the second floor, with as many as five children. All are believed to have been killed in the blast.

A journalist on assignment for The Associated Press as well as several village residents said they saw body parts scattered near the site of the Syria raid, a house in the rebel-held Idlib province.

Blood could be seen on the walls and floor of the remaining structure, which contained a wrecked bedroom with a child's wooden crib.

On one damaged wall, a blue plastic children's swing was still hanging. The kitchen was blackened with fire damage.

The officials said two al-Qaida-linked militants with automatic weapons approached the house in an effort to attack the US forces and were killed. But the officials said other armed citizens in the area were not harmed because they did not pose a threat.

A doll lies among the debris inside the house. First responders told the Associated Press that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women

Pictures from inside the building show blood spattering the walls after the raid

American helicopters carrying 24 commandos arrived just after 1am. When they left two hours later ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was dead

US military officials have pushed back on reports by the Britain-based Syria Observatory for Human Rights and the opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, that at least 13 people were killed in the shelling and clashes that ensued after the commando raid. It was not clear whether those included al-Qurayshi and his family.

Officials said the blast threw 'multiple bodies' from the building and buried them in the rubble, and while they know al-Qurayshi and his family died, they cannot rule out the possibility that other bodies were hidden in the collapse and not seen by the troops.

Omar Saleh, a resident of a nearby house, said his doors and windows started to rattle to the sound of low-flying aircraft at 1:10am local time.

He then heard a man, speaking Arabic with an Iraqi or Saudi accent through a loudspeaker, urging women to surrender or leave the area.

The US military, said one official, did not see indications of other noncombatant casualties but cannot rule it out because the forces were not on the ground long enough to dig through all the rubble.

Military officials said, for the first time, that people in the house shot at the troops before the Americans started to enter the building after the explosion.

One official said the US had made plans to detain al-Qurayshi temporarily, but there were no plans for a long-term US detention. They declined to provide further details, saying they wanted to protect 'government-to-government' discussions.

US military officials also said on Thursday that there could have been more civilian casualties than initially thought in the raid that killed the top Islamic State leader in Syria last week.

But said they believe any such deaths were caused by the militant's suicide bomb and were not at the hands of American forces.

They said they chose a ground raid in order to avoid innocent deaths, despite the increased risk to the forces.

An aerial image released by the Pentagon shows the compound where ISIS emir al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi lived. He ran his terror network through a lieutenant living on the second floor

The one-legged ISIS chief had rigged his house with explosives and blew himself and his family to pieces when US Special Forces arrived because his disability stopped him using a suicide vest.

On Thursday, the military officials acknowledged they have no video of the house explosion in Syria or of the efforts to get civilians out of the house.

According to the military, a family with four children on the first floor responded to calls from the troops and interpreters and got out of the house to safety. As they left the house, the explosion tore through the third floor, sending bodies to the ground.

Explaining the lack of video of the house explosion, the officials said the team was watching the building and overhead surveillance was focused on the surrounding area to detect any potential threats to the force. They said there is also no body-cam video.

The Biden administration and the Pentagon have come under sharp criticism recently for failing to provide evidence for a number of national security claims, including proof of their efforts to avoid civilian casualties in operations such as the Syria raid and their account of a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in August.

Questions about the administration's credibility are coming at a critical moment as it is revealing intelligence about Russia's plans for Ukraine, while often not providing evidence to back up its assertions.

Al-Qurayshi took over as head of ISIS in October 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died in a US raid. Officials said planning for the new raid began last fall when the US first learned of al-Qurayshi's presence in the building.

Unlike his predecessor, al-Qurayshi was far from a household name. He was a secretive man who officials said never left the house during the months that the US watched and prepared for the raid.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of the president's national security team observe the operation from the White House Situation Room
Karl Stefanovic has questioned ongoing booster mandates in a heated interview with a top infectious disease expert.

The Today host questioned the idea of a booster mandate while speaking with professor Robert Booy on Channel Nine's breakfast program on Friday morning.

The federal government announced on Thursday that Australians will no longer be classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they have not had a booster six months after their second dose.

The Today host slammed the idea of a booster mandate while speaking with professor Robert Booy on Channel Nine's breakfast program on Friday morning

Karl Stefanovic has claimed residents should be able to choose whether or not they receive the booster vaccine in a heated debate with a top infectious disease expert

Professor Booy called on all overseas travellers to be required a booster before they enter Australia.

'We should require people coming from overseas who are more than six months after their second dose to have a third dose. It's pretty simple. Unless there's compassionate reasons, compelling reasons not to, we should have a third dose for everybody .

'We can have compassion. We can allow people who can't access that third dose to come back and get a third dose as soon as they arrive. It's not beyond the wit of man.'

But Karl quickly snapped back.

'Isn't it up to personal responsibility and personal choice to some point?' he said.

'Do we have to mandate everything? Are we going to mandate every vaccination now that is required?'.

Professor Booy quickly responded, saying: 'In terms of mandates in Australia, I wouldn't mandate a third dose any more than the aged care workers and healthcare workers. That is enough.

'I've written that only a couple of weeks ago. I think vaccines sell themselves. I got my third dose because I wanted to protect myself and my family.'

Australia's borders will finally open to international tourists on February 21 after almost two years of closure to keep out Covid-19.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has already warned residents and international arrivals who had not received their booster could be banned from visiting pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Stefanovic said residents shouldn't feel forced to receive the third dose and that it should ultimately be up to them to make the decision

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is also expected to follow suit with professor Booy arguing the extra measure would protect locals.

Professor Booy also offered a glimmer of hope that Australia was approaching the end of the pandemic with the country on its way to treating Covid like the flu.

'Omicron is most of the way there,' he said. 'Certainly for example in younger children. You're probably as much risk of flu as Omicron.'
A fighter jet crashed just a few miles from a military base outside of Phoenix during a routine exercise on Thursday, but the pilot ejected safely and no one on the ground was hurt.

The French-made Mirage F1 crashed 15 mi northwest of the Luke Air Force Base at around 11am.

The unidentified pilot was able to eject and made it out with only minor injuries before the plane crashed near Buckeye, a growing community about 30 mi west of Phoenix.

John Rupp, director of foreign military sales for Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., confirmed it was one of his company's jets that went down. The pilot was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries, he said.

'The pilot is safe and doing well,' Rupp told The Associated Press.

The plane was destroyed. The company said it will work with investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

A fighter jet operated by military contractor Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. crashed near Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on Thursday morning

The plane crashed near Buckeye, a growing community about 30 mi west of Phoenix, and the pilot was able to safely eject moments before impact

Officials at Luke Air Force Base in nearby Glendale later confirmed the crash and said it occurred late Thursday morning about 15 miles west of the base in an unpopulated area.

The plane had been operating out of Luke, the Air Force's main base for training F-35 fighter pilots.

The Air Force sent crews from the base fire department, explosives ordnance specialists and police to secure the site. The Buckeye Fire Department was also on scene.

The Buckeye Police Department, the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, 56th CES explosive ordinance disposal unit, and 56th Security Forces Squadron all responded to the scene, Luke Air Base spokesman Sean Clements told the Arizona Republic.

Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, commander of the base's 56th Fighter Wing, said in a statement that the base is committed to safety.

'Our Airmen and partners are our most important resource and we are committed to conducting our mission to train the worlds greatest fighter pilots as safely as possible,' Kreuder said in a statement.

'We are thankful for the continued outstanding support Luke receives from our community partners, especially during difficult situations like this. Finally, I'm grateful nobody was hurt on the ground and the pilot was safely recovered with only minor injuries.'

Airborne Tactical Advantage is one of a growing number of contractors that fly aircraft to help train military aviators. The company provides aggressor aircraft to help military fighter pilots learn their trade as well as other services to the military.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. The Buckeye Police Department and other agencies responded to the crash, which happened at around 11am

The Air Force sent crews from the base fire department, explosives ordnance specialists and police to secure the site

Another Mirage F1 operated by a different contractor crashed in Las Vegas last year as the pilot came in to land at nearby Nellis Air Force Base.

The pilot - Nicholas Hunter Hamilton, 43, of Las Vegas - died.

The May 24 crash happened after Hamilton had an inflight emergency, and the plane crashed into a neighborhood, bursting into flames. Hamilton ejected shortly before the plane hit the ground.

Hamilton, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, was working for military contractor Draken International.

Another crash of a military contractor aircraft happened in 2015 in southern Arizona, killing Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony T. DuBeau.

The 23-year-old from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in a pickup truck providing safety oversight for a construction crew working alongside the runway at Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma.

A National Transportation Safety Board report said the pilot of the BAE Systems Hawk jet took off at too low a speed on March 11, 2015.

The British-built jet flying on a mission for the Air Force wobbled, veered off the left side of the base runway and eventually hit the pickup.
Seattle man who punched two cops during last year's Capitol riot was handed a six-month prison term Thursday, becoming the 100th person to be sentenced in one of the largest federal investigations in American history.

Mark Leffingwell, a 52-year-old military veteran who was wounded in Iraq, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a Capitol riot-related charge stemming from one of the largest federal investigations in American history.

More than 730 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot on January 6, 2021. More than 210 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors with a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment.

Leffingwell is the fifth rioter to be sentenced for assaulting police at the Capitol. The other four received prison sentences ranging from 41 to 63 months in prison.

Of those sentenced, 79 were indicted on misdemeanors for demonstrating in a Capitol building, seven were nabbed for entering a restricted building, and another five were charged for disorderly conduct. Two others were charged for threats made via interstate communication.

Of those sentenced for felonies, four committed assault, while two others obstructed an official proceeding.

Restitution has been the most common punishment for defendants; 98 people have been ordered to pay between $500 to $2,000; 28 people were ordered to pay fines of up to $5,000.

Of those convicted, 41 people served prison time of up to 63 months.

The toughest sentence so far was handed last December to 54-year-old Robert Palmer of Florida, who was sentenced to 63 months for spraying police officers with a fire extinguisher before throwing it at them during the riot.

The first person to be sentenced was Anna Morgan Lloyd, a 49-year-old Indiana grandmother who bragged on Facebook about storming the building.

She was ordered to serve three years of probation, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution for her role in the insurrection.

Military veteran Mark Leffingwell became the 100th person to be sentenced for the Capitol riot. He's pictured inside the Capitol near the Senate Wing Doors on January 6, 2021, in Washington DC

Robert Palmer received the toughest punishment of those sentenced for the riot. He ordered jailed for 63 months after he sprayed a fire extinguisher at police officers and then threw the canister at them

The judge who sentenced Leffingwell pushed back on a recent Republican National Committee resolution that accused the congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack of leading a 'persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.'

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson also lamented that mainstream news outlets are still amplifying the lie that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate and stolen from former President Donald Trump.

'And, worse, it has become heresy for a member of the former presidents party to say otherwise,' the judge said. 'It needs to be crystal clear that it is not patriotism, it is not standing up for America, it is not legitimate political discourse and it is not justified to descend on the nations capital at the direction of a disappointed candidate and disrupt the electoral process.'

Leffingwell told Jackson that he was embarrassed and ashamed.

'It was not something I planned to do,' he said. 'Looking back on it, it was like a nightmare.'

More than 730 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot on January 6, 2021. Over 210 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors with a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment

Restitution has been the most common punishment for those sentenced for the riot; 98 people have been ordered to pay between $500 to $2,000; 28 people were ordered to pay fines of up to $5,000. Donald Trump supporters are pictured storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021

Jackson also sentenced Leffingwell to two years of supervised release and ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service.

The judge sentenced Leffingwell to a significantly shorter prison term than other rioters who assaulted police officers.

Jackson said she considered the possibility that Veterans Affairs disability compensation payments can be reduced if a veteran is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days.

Anna Morgan-Lloyd was the first rioter sentenced, but she was not given any jail time. She bragged on Facebook about storming the Capitol

The judge said it appears that Leffingwell's benefits could be restored once he is released. But she said she is willing to reconsider Leffingwell's sentence if his defense attorney demonstrates that she is wrong.

The judge told Leffingwell that he wasn't just carried along by the crowd or acting impulsively that day.

'You chose this battle, and you patted yourself on the back for your bravery,' she told him.

Leffingwell, who didn't have a criminal history before this case, pleaded guilty to an assault charge in October.

Police had been battling rioters at the Senate Wing doors for nearly two hours before Leffingwell arrived there on Jan. 6. As he stood at the front of the crowd of rioters, Leffingwell chanted 'Stop the steal!' and yelled 'Shame!' and 'Join us!' at a line of police officers near the entrance, prosecutors said.

Leffingwell admitted that he punched two Capitol officers in the head as they tried to repel him and other rioters.

Neither officer was seriously injured by Leffingwell, who was arrested before he could escape into the crowd. One of the officers assaulted by Leffingwell said the rioter apologized to him after he was apprehended.

Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of two years and three months for Leffingwell. Sentencing guidelines calculated by the court's probation department called for a prison sentence ranging from two years to two years and six months, but Jackson wasn't bound by the recommendations.

Leffingwell served in U.S. Marines before joining the U.S. Army National Guard. He was wounded on duty in Iraq in 2008, according to prosecutors.

'Leffingwell, a military veteran who once defended the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, willingly betrayed his nation and became an enemy of the United States on January 6,' prosecutors wrote.

Rioters injured more than 100 officers at the Capitol on January 6. The Justice Department says more than 225 riot defendants have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, but few have pleaded guilty.

Most of the sentenced defendants entered the Capitol but weren't accused of engaging in violent or destructive behavior. Resolving low-level cases tends to be easier and quicker for prosecutors.

Of the 100 people sentenced so far, 41 have received terms of imprisonment ranging from 10 days to 63 months. That includes two rioters who were sentenced to jail time already served. Just eight defendants have been sentenced to more than one year in prison.

Thirty-two others were sentenced to periods of home detention ranging from one to three months. At least 54 riot defendants have been ordered to perform between 40 and 250 hours of community service as a condition of probation or supervised release.

Collectively, the defendants have been ordered to pay fines totaling nearly $65,000 and nearly $58,000 in restitution. Fixing damage caused by the rioters cost nearly $1.5 million.

Dozens of defendants have trial dates. The first trial for a rioter is scheduled to start on Feb. 28.
QUITO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has spoken highly of the start of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Ecuador and China, saying that increasing exports to China will generate growth opportunities for his country.

Lasso, who concluded his official visit to China last week, made the remarks at a press conference here on Wednesday, where he elaborated the benefits of the negotiations for Ecuador.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Ecuadorian Minister for Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Julio Prado recently signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the start of bilateral FTA negotiations.

"The global economy is a reality," said Lasso. "I believe that sooner or later we had to reach this point with China."

The president emphasized the need to improve and diversify exports beyond top products such as pitahaya, noting, "Selling more shrimp and more bananas to China means more employment in Ecuador. These markets will be strengthened."

"I believe that a small country like Ecuador with 17.7 million inhabitants has many opportunities in that large market of 1.4 billion inhabitants. It is very positive for Ecuador," Lasso said.

While its bumpy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for a great economic leap to enhance employment, Ecuador may "find a positive path in China" towards growth through increasing trade openness, he said.

Since only three out of 10 Ecuadorians have formal jobs, one of the challenges facing the Ecuadorian government is to gear up employment, making it urgent to increase exports and attract investment.

In recent years, economic and trade cooperation between China and Ecuador has achieved remarkable results, with significant growth in bilateral trade, said China's Ministry of Commerce in a statement earlier this week.

China has been Ecuador's second-largest trading partner for two consecutive years. In 2021, bilateral trade totaled 10.95 billion U.S. dollars, up 44.5 percent year on year.

The signing of a free trade agreement will help further tap the potential of bilateral trade and promote its sustained, stable and diversified development, according to the statement. 
A 911 dispatcher was charged with invasion of privacy after reportedly hiding a secret camera at a urinal in a Pennsylvania precinct which captured several officers relieving themselves.

The operator John Logan, 49, allegedly planted a camera with an SD card attached to Velcro in one of the urinals at the North Versailles Police Department which was later found by an officer on December 31.

Logan was identified as the culprit following a search of his home where a camera similar to the one found in the urinal was discovered along with flash drives containing video of the officers using the restroom.

He was charged on Wednesday with evidence tampering and three counts of invasion of privacy.

Officials with the Allegheny County Police Department had received a phone call request from the North Versailles precinct following the discovery of the camera.

An officer with the precinct reported finding a 1.5 inch camera attached to Velcro on the upper left corner of the urinal containing an SD card, according to the complaint.

A 911 dispatcher has been charged with invasion of privacy after placing a hidden camera in the urinal at North Versailles Police Department in Pennsylvania

An officer at North Versailles Police Department saw the hidden camera in the urinal on December 31 which had been blended in using white paint

A criminal complaint was filed explaining that the camera had recorded several officers 'using the bathroom in varying stages of undress with exposed genitals'

The item had been found 'wrapped in a white sheath with the outer portion of the camera lens painted in white' in order to blend in with the color of the urinal.

After the discovery was made, all of the officers went to the bathroom to inspect the hidden device.

Logan then said he had to use the restroom immediately which he had occupied for around two to three minutes.

The camera was then collected from the urinal but the SD card was found to be missing.

The officer who found the camera was then asked if anyone from the station or a civilian had used the bathroom after he did to which he responded 'no.'

Logan was then interviewed by officials with the department a brief while later to which he admitted that he had 'touched and squeezed' the hidden device but objected to removing the memory card.

He was asked by officials why he tampered with the evidence without using a glove to which he responded 'stupidity.'

Logan reportedly went into the bathroom for 2-3 minutes after the discovery was made with the SD card found missing after he left

A search warrant was obtained to search Logan's house where the footage of the officers relieving themselves was later found

The dispatcher was then show pictures provided by an officer from the department of him coming and going from the bathroom at the time of the camera's removal.

When asked about the removal of the SD card, he said that it must have fallen out but still claimed he did not take it.

However, he admitted to flushing the toilet after a witness heard the sound coming from the bathroom.

A week later, detectives were granted a search warrant of Logan's residence where they took multiple storage devices including SD cards to inspect for evidence.

Detectives also took a mini camera similar in appearance to that found in the urinal.

The footage obtained from Logan's home revealed several officers 'using the bathroom in varying stages of undress in the bathroom.'

A total of three victims were found to be on the recorded footage to which they were asked if they were aware if they were on camera or not. They all stated they did not give permission to be recorded.
New York's Mayor, Eric Adams, paid an emotional tribute to the latest victim of the city's gun violence, an 18-year-old aspiring rapper, Jayquan McKenley.

McKenley who went by the name Chii Wvttz, was shot dead outside a recording studio in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood on Sunday.

Adams struggled to hold back tears as he blamed the shooting on a 'broken system that 'continually fails black and brown New Yorkers.'

Adams went on to detail what he saw as the various flaws and failures in society that ultimately lead to the teen's death.

Jayquan McKenley, an 18-year-old aspiring rapper, was killed in an ambush in Brooklyn on Sunday morning at 2:15am while sitting in his car

Mayor Eric Adams said years of bureaucratic failings had lead to the teen's death

The mayor detailed his life explaining how the city 'betrayed' him including being unable to secure stable housing from officials failing to intervene after he missed 250 days of high school.

'I didn't know Jayquan, but his death hit me hard because the more I found out about Jayquan's story, the more I saw how many times he had been failed by a system that is supposed to help boys like him,' Adams said.

McKenley grew up in the South Bronx, a neighborhood with high rates of poverty and unemployment.

Adams explained that by the time he was five, Jayquan's family was living in a homeless shelter.

McKenley who went by the name Chii Wvttz, was shot dead outside a recording studio in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood on Sunday

'He was a Drill rapper, part of a scene which involves using music as a challenge for social media posts  posts that bled out into violent real-world confrontations,' he said. 'It was right there, for all to see. Our city should have done more,' Mayor Eric Adams said

Drill is a subgenre of rap which is dominated by themes of death and violence. McKenley is pictured in one of his music videos

What is Drill rap music? Drill music is a sub-genre of hip-hop that is characterized by a dark, slow tempo, straightforward lyrics that focus on the dangers of criminal activity and an emotionless delivery. The nihilistic rap style began in Chicago in the 2010s but has since expanded across the world. The style of hip-hop has accumulated a strong following in Brooklyn and is accused to be a driving factor in the recent rise of gun violence targeting up-and-coming rappers. Advertisement

Adams told how McKenley was placed in a program for children with severe cognitive disabilities. After then moving into a mainstream program just a couple of years later, he was behind.

He was already at risk and though his mom begged for help, McKenley never got any, Adams said.

McKenley went to five different high schools and as a teenager missed hundreds of days of school.

'Now, right there, our city should have done more,' Adams said. 'Over the next four years, Jayquan's family lived in seven different shelters without stability or security.

'To Jayquan's mother and father, I want to say I'm sorry,' Adams said with tears in his eyes. He had previously spoken with Jayquans' grieving parents earlier in the week.

'The story of Jayquan breaks my heart,' Adams said. 'His story tests my spirit, and we must do better for young people like him.

'I'm sorry we betrayed him and so many others like him, but you have my word as your mayor that I will be looking out for the thousands of other Jayquans in our city because I was once a Jayquan, too.

Jayquan McKenley had been arrested several times since 2017 including once for attempted murder last year

Adams told how McKenley was placed in a program for children with severe cognitive disabilities. After then moving into a mainstream program just a couple of years later, he was already behind

'I knew what it was like to worry about losing your apartment, your stability, what it's like to live with a learning disorder, what it's like to get on the wrong side of the law,' he said. 'I've been on that path of pain, and I know there's a way out,' Adams said.

'He was a Drill rapper, part of a scene which involves using music as a challenge for social media posts  posts that bled out into violent real-world confrontations,' he said. 'It was right there, for all to see. Our city should have done more.'

Drill is a subgenre of rap which is dominated by themes of death and violence.

He had been arrested several times since 2017 including once for attempted murder, last year.

'We had all the signs you can ever have that a young man's life was in crisis, and with social media acting as an accelerant, that crisis was escalated,' Adam's said noting that red flags were ignored.

'He was not just a victim now, but a perpetrator. But he was young, there was still time for him to turn the path of violence and move away from that,' Adams said. 'Our system and justice system should have done more, more to help him, rehabilitate him.'

Growing up, McKenley went to five different high schools and programs as a teenager missed hundreds of days of school

The mayor said more needs to be done to stop more children from falling through the cracks.

'It means changing the way we educated our children. It means building housing, creating jobs, fighting inequality and confronting racism,' Adams said. 'It means taking a hard look at the way we do things and doing the harder work of system change.

'We must move heaven and earth to help all the young people who were on the same path Jayquan was on,' he said.

The mayor tasked every city agency and department 'to find new and better ways' to help at-risk children

Mayor Adams said more needs to be done to stop more children from falling through the cracks. Jayquan McKenley is pictured

'I want our Housing Department to find them homes,' he said. 'Our social services teams must help them navigate the system and give them every support they need. Our chancellor must find ways to get them in class and on track. Our police officers must find ways to keep them safe, and our justice system must work to make sure to keep them out of jail and ensure they have second chances.'

McKenley was killed in an ambush while sitting in a parked car at the corner of Greene and Lewis Avenues in Brooklyn after finishing a recording session at a studio nearby studio.

Mayor Adams grew up poor in Queens and Brooklyn and raised by a single mother.

He has spoken in the past of how at the age of 15 he was beaten by police officers who arrested him for burglary.

The ordeal stayed with him and gave him the motivation to join the NYPD with a view to stamping out some of the NYPD's racist practices.

As he paid tribute on Thursday, Adams said that his similar background made him feel kinship with the 18-year-old.

Adams didn't not go into any policy issues during his address from City Hall but suggested gun violence was symptomatic of entrenched social and economic issues.

'This isn't a speech about a policy or a single young life,' Adam's said. 'It's a case study of how a young man became a potential trigger puller. It's the anatomy of a failure  not of Jayquan's failure, but ours, as a society.'

Overall crime is up 41.6 percent compared to this time last year, with shootings up nearly 30 percent

Earlier this week, Adam's announced his plan to tackle the city's rising crime levels.

More than 600 New York City officers will get out from behind their desks and into the streets this week as the city battles a surge in violent crime, with shooting incidents up nearly 30 percent compared to this time last year.

A total of 658 cops assigned to non-patrol posts, like the department's press office, will be deployed as part of an 'enhanced deployment strategy.'

The two-part plan will move 300 officers to the 4pm to 12am shift every night, according to two memos obtained by the New York Post, including one sent by Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell on Monday. The officers will be put on 'high visibility posts' based on crime trends.

It also calls for individual precincts to move four officers into the streets every day.

Overall crime is up 41.6 percent compared to this time last year, with shootings up nearly 30 percent and transit crimes, including notable subway pushing incidents, up 74 percent, according to the latest numbers from the NYPD.

Crime has become so bad that Reverend Al Sharpton addressed Mayor Adams himself on national TV on Wednesday.

'Eric, they're locking up my toothpaste,' Sharpton said on MSNBC's Morning Joe, referring to consumer goods locked behind glass to prevent shoplifting.

On Wednesday, a South Korean diplomat, 52, was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack in Midtown Manhattan at around 8.10pm. An unidentified suspect took off on foot, and the diplomat was taken to a hospital in stable condition with complaints of pain, the NYPD told DailyMail.com.

A total of 658 officers will be moved from desk jobs to street patrol starting this week as shooting and subway crimes continue their upward trend

Crime is up 10 percent from pre-pandemic levels, driven up by a spike in vehicle thefts and shootings that skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns.

The two-part plan to get cops currently assigned to desk jobs on the street appears to be part of Adams' push to get more officers involved in crime prevention.

The Democratic mayor ran on a campaign of public safety in a city where violent incidents routinely made headlines during COVID lockdowns.

'Too many officers are performing clerical duties, and they are in units that do not directly impact public safety,' Adams said during a campaign appearance at a Manhattan subway station last May.

'These officers could be on patrol, playing a visible function of dealing with the fear that's in our subway system,' he said, according to the Post.

The new plan is part of Mayor Eric Adams' push to get more officers on the street. At a campaign stop last year, he complained about 'too many officers are performing clerical duties'

The new NYPD plan will see 300 officers from units like internal affairs and counterterrorism reassigned daily by Chief of Department Ken Corey to the 4pm to 12am shift based on crime trends.

The units will operate in teams of eight cops and one sergeant, the Post reports.

For the second part of the plan, each precinct and housing command will pull four uniformed officers and move them to patrol in the second and third tours.

Each command is supposed to have a deployment plan ready on Friday detailing who can be reassigned when the new units are deployed.

A police source told the Post that the plan has been in the works since last month.

Nearly every police precinct in New York City has seen spikes in crime this year - including five in which the rate has doubled, new data from the New York Police Department shows.
Wendy Williams is an 'incapacitated person' who cannot handle her own financial affairs, a lawyer for her bank has claimed in court.

The 57-year-old chat show host has rarely been seen in public since she stopped presenting her show in July 2021. In September she was taken to a New York hospital for psychiatric evaluation, and the future of The Wendy Williams Show hangs in the balance, with multiple famous faces stepping into her shoes to host and a 'permanent guest host' being named to replace her.

On Wednesday a lawyer for her bank, Wells Fargo, sent a letter to New York County Supreme Court Judge Arlene Bluth seeking a hearing to discuss her finances.

Williams's former financial advisor, Lori Schiller, claimed that Williams was 'of unsound mind', which led to Wells Fargo blocking the New Jersey-born presenter's access to her accounts in mid January.

Williams's lawyers disputed Schiller's claim, and on February 4 accused Wells Fargo of overstepping their authority.

Wendy Williams is seen in September 2020, ten months before she stopped hosting The Wendy Williams Show. She is currently battling Wells Fargo bank for access to her accounts, after they were frozen amid claims she is incapacitated

Williams is seen in September 2021, looking visibly frail. It is unclear whether she will return to her hosting duties

Now the bank has responded, with David H. Pikus, representing Wells Fargo, writing in court documents obtained by Page Six that they were worried about her, and wanted a professional to oversee her finances.

'We are concerned about [Williams'] situation,' Pikus wrote on Wednesday.

'It is our hope that the Guardianship Part [of the court] will imminently appoint a temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that [Williams'] affairs are being properly handled.'

Pikus told the judge that the bank 'has strong reason to believe' Williams is 'the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.' He requested to keep the case 'under seal' to 'preserve the confidential nature.'

Pikus claimed Schiller had 'recently witnessed signs of exploitation, including Williams' own expressed apprehensions' about the people around her.

Pikus did not clarify who he meant.

He wrote that 'other independent third parties who know [Williams] well  share these concerns.'

David H. Pikus, representing Wells Fargo, said in court documents that the bank was 'concerned about Williams's situation'

Williams' lawyer Celeste McCaw wrote in response to Wednesday's letter that her Emmy-winning client 'denies that she is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.'

McCaw also requested a temporary restraining order against Wells Fargo to restrain the bank 'from freezing [Williams'] accounts and interfering with her right to access her financial assets and statements.'

The trailblazing Williams launched her eponymous show in 2008, and now in its 13th season it remains one of the biggest hits in daytime TV history.

The show was built around Williams, then a popular radio host known for her no-holds-barred take on celebrity gossip.

The show has been deeply personal, charting the end of her 22-year marriage to television producer Kevin Hunter in 2019, when she discovered he had been having an affair and fathered a child with his mistress.

In February 2021 she hosted a 'Date Wendy' segment on her show and met Mike Esterman, a Maryland building contractor, who she began dating.

Wendy Williams is pictured in 2012 with her then-husband Kevin Hunter, a TV producer. They divorced in 2019 after he was found to have had an affair

Williams is seen with Mike Esterman, a building contractor from Maryland, who she met on a 'Date Wendy' section of her show. The pair dated for a couple of months, splitting in May 2021

The relationship was over by May, with Esterman saying they split due to the distance and their busy schedules.

Williams reacted angrily to him talking about the breakup, telling her viewers: 'I didn't say anything because I'm that grown. We would've had this discussion way behind the scenes.

'I am not embarrassed because I'm that grown.

'But since childish ones  Mike  well he's giving quotes!'

Esterman, angry at being labelled childish, told Page Six: 'Of course she has to have the last word, and because she is the kind of person that she is, she's the only thing that will make herself look best.'

In August, Williams 'went Instagram official' with an unknown man she referred to as her boyfriend.

'My son's 21st birthday party on the yacht in #Miami was everything he wanted! Even my boyfriend,' she captioned the photo.

In August 2021 Williams posted a photo of her with a mystery man she called her boyfriend

Williams's team have said she has been absent from her show due to an ongoing fight with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder.

She was expected to return in September, but then contracted COVID-19, and was hospitalized that month for a psychiatric evaluation. Williams was pictured being wheeled around New York City in a wheelchair, looking a shadow of her former self.

The host has reportedly spent January in Florida, to be close to her son.

On Tuesday, it emerged that Sherri Shepherd will be named as the show's 'permanent guest host.'

When Shepherd, 54, first hosted in November 2021 ratings soared to the highest it's been all season.

The actress has guest-hosted multiple times since, with others such as Jerry Springer and Fat Joe also taking hosting duties.

People magazine also reported that Williams will not be returning to her show until at least the fall - if at all.

'Wendy won't be returning to the show for the rest of this season. Her healing is going slower than everyone had hoped,' a source said.

'She continues to deal with a number of medical issues, including Graves' disease, and she and her team are taking it one day at a time.

'But reports of a stroke, drugs or addiction issues or a dementia diagnosis are all false.

'Whether Wendy can return in the fall will depend on how her healing goes over the summer. Her health is the most important thing.'

But other sources have painted a far more concerning picture.

'The spark is gone,' one insider told The Sun.

'That Wendy, who for ten years had that spark in her eyes, that cheeky grin and that little wink is not the same now.

'She's not always functioning like she used to be. She has days where she needs help eating, getting out of bed, and getting dressed.

'Sometimes she goes out in a robe and without shoes on- the old Wendy would never have allowed herself to be seen out like that.'

The source added that her memory was faltering.

'There are people who Wendy knows - who have worked closely with her - and there are days that she has no idea who they are.'
A South Korean diplomat was beaten and had his nose broken in an 'unprovoked' attack on Wednesday night as he walked down the street with a friend.

The 53-year-old victim, who has not been named, was reportedly walking with a friend at 8.10pm Wednesday night near the corner of East 35th Street and Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, when he was approached by an unidentified man.

The attacker reportedly did not say anything as he punched the South Korean diplomat, who showed the assailant his South Korean diplomatic ID before the suspect fled on foot toward Sixth Avenue, NBC News reports.

By the time police arrived, responding officers found the victim 'with pain and swelling to his face,' according to The Hill. EMS then transported the diplomat to a local hospital where he was reported in stable condition with a broken nose.

No arrests have been made in the random violent act as of Thursday night, and a motive remained unclear as police continue to investigate the incident, which occurred on the edge of Manhattan's Koreatown and about a mile southwest of the UN headquarters.

In a statement provided to The Hill, Hyun-Seung Choi, Consul and Press Attache for the South Korea Consulate General in New York said: 'We are outraged by this senseless and deplorable violence, and look forward to a swift resolution of this unfortunate incident.

'To that end, the Consulate General is closely cooperating with the New York Police Department. The department has assured that the investigation of the incident is being carried out in a prompt and thorough manner.'

Wednesday's attack comes amid a sharp increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.

According to data from the New York Police Department, the number of anti-Asian hate crimes committed in 2021 more than tripled when compared to the year before.

Overall, hate crime complaints nearly doubled last year, with 275 complaints recorded in 2020 to 538 last year.

The largest portion of complaints last year was for anti-Jewish crimes, which accounted for 38 percent of all hate crime complaints.

But anti-Asian crimes saw the largest increase in incidents from 27 to 133. It accounted for a full quarter of all hate crime last year.

A South Korean diplomat was attacked near the intersection of East 35th Street and Fifth Avenue (pictured) Wednesday night at 8.10pm

On Friday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that he is expanding the office's hate crime unit in the wake of the reported bias jumps, the New York Post reports, calling the recent spade of anti-Asian hate 'intolerable.'

'We will not stand for it,' he said. 'Our brothers and sisters have been spit upon, coughed at, told to go back home.

'In my office, we are deepening our capacity' to fight the hate, he said.

And following the attack on the diplomat on Wednesday, City Councilman Keith Powers, who represents the Manhattan neighborhood where the assault happened said: 'This unprovoked attack against the South Korean diplomat is horrific and absolutely unacceptable.

'Over the past year, we've seen rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community that is abhorrent and cannot continue.

'It is our duty to condemn these terrible incidents and take action against this continued harassment, violence and discrimination.'
ABC's beloved weatherman Graham Creed has quit his post to embrace his new life as a farmer.

Creed, who has been with the broadcaster for 14 years, made his final weather forecast for the nightly news program on Thursday.

The 55-year-old and his partner will now live in their 'off-grid hemp house' which they built near Stroud on the border of the Hunter and Mid North Coast of NSW.

The house was designed and built in a way that would protect them from changes in the weather and climate including in scorching hot conditions.

ABC's beloved weatherman Graham Creed has quit his post to embrace his new life as a farmer after 14 years at the broadcaster

Creed said he'll now be embracing life as a farmer on his property in rural NSW

Fellow ABC presenter Juanita Phillips gave Creed a heartfelt send-off on Thursday night as the team gifted him some 'treats' to take back to the farm.

'I know the viewers are going to miss you as much as your colleagues here at the ABC are going to,' she said.

'I want to thank you on behalf of all of us for your years of service, your thousands of experts weather reports and most of all for being someone our viewers really rely on and trust.'

Creed said his new venture would see him grow garlic, proteas and maintain bees.

'We're trying to plant things that are able to survive a warmer climate, we've put in some dams so we can irrigate different things,' he said.

'Fortunately we've got some microclimates so we can grow a real mix of things to make the most of the year to year weather conditions.'

Fellow ABC presenter Juanita Phillips gave Creed a heartfelt send-off on Thursday night as the team gifted him some 'treats' to take back to the farm

Luckily for many who looked forward to Creed's nightly weather updates they will still be able to hear his reports on Richard Glover's Drive program each afternoon live from the farm.

Known for wearing a constant array of snazzy ties, Creed told Glover he always hated wearing a suit.

'I find them really uncomfortable to wear so it was always if I was going to have to wear a suit, I want to choose what tie I'm going to wear,' he told the radio host.

When asked what he'd miss most about leaving his TV career behind, Creed said he simply was passionate about the weather.

'I will miss the job, I love talking about the weather,' he said.

Fans have expressed their sadness at Creed's departure having watched him deliver the forecast every night for 14 years.

'We're so going to miss you delivering every possible weather situation with such clarity and calm,' one said.

'Your no nonsense weather reporting will be missed. As a farmer myself I looked at your report every night,' tweeted another.

'It was a complete shock to hear Graham Creed announce his last weather report. He is like a friend each night visiting,' one said.

Creed's exit came on the same night 7.30 host Leigh Sales announced she too would be stepping down.

Fans have expressed their sadness at Creed's departure having watched him deliver the forecast every night for 14 years

Sales had presented the program for 11 years, striking fear into the hearts of many politicians who appeared as guests on her show.

On Thursday night, in announcing her impending departure from the program, Sales spoke about what a demanding job hosting 7.30 is, keeping her away from family and putting her under intense scrutiny.

She has previously taken aim at the 'insidious' and 'unhinged' political bullying on Twitter from 'politicians' acolytes, lackeys, fans and proxies, mostly  but not always - operating anonymously'.

'Anyone who can stomach wading into mentions of @leighsales will find that virtually hourly, I am abused for doing my job, with a stream of tweets goading me to quit, demanding the ABC sack me, telling me I'm useless, stupid, biased and incompetent,' she said.

While such attacks probably contributed to her stepping aside from 7.30, she didn't mention them on Thursday.

Instead, she gave a far more important and heartfelt reason.

'When I first started I didn't have children. And now I have two boys aged 10 and eight. And they've only ever known their mum at work four nights a week,' she said.

'They want me home with them before 8.30pm and I don't think that's too much for two little boys to ask and they're two beautiful little boys.'

Before she signed off, in a possible first for an Australian TV news presenter, she used strong language, saying she had 'tried to shut down and call out bull****, hold powerful people to account, expose lies, incompetence and exaggeration in all political parties and all issues and present facts even when they're unpopular or inconvenient'.

Despite detailing the pressures of the job, Sales did single out one memorable celebrity encounter, saying meeting Paul McCartney 'and getting a hug from him is one of the best days of my life'.
House Republicans on Thursday launched an investigation into GoFundMe's decision to pull an appeal for the 'Freedom Convoy' campaign by Canadian truckers.

And House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) demanded that Democrats hold a hearing into what they said was another example of Big Tech silencing voices it did not like.

'We write to request that you hold a hearing to examine yet another incident of Big Tech silencing certain viewpoints in potentially unlawful ways,' they said in their letter to House Democratic leadership.

'This time GoFundMe Inc. is selectively discriminating against certain people by cancelling their ability to organize funds through its crowdfunding platform.'

GoFundMe removed the fundraising page for the Freedom Convoy on Friday and gave donors two weeks to ask for a refund.

It said the remaining funds would be disbursed to charities.

Protesters have been blockading cities and border crossings across Canada as part of their COVID-19 mandate protests.

For the fourth day running truckers blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, disrupting the flow of trade between the two countries.

House Republicans on Thursday demanded that Democrats hold a hearing into why GoFundMe closed the fundraising page for the 'Freedom Convoy'

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as they continue their protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates

And an Ontario court froze funds donated to anti-vaccine protesters through the app GiveSendGo, as Republicans south of the border launched their probe.

They wrote to GoFundMe demanding to know how its decision was taken.

'We are concerned that GoFundMe is censoring individuals who are peacefully challenging the science and merits of some of these COVID mandates, while also signaling to any others who dare speak out that their voices will be silenced,' they wrote.

After removing the fundraising page, the platform said: '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.'

But that was not enough to placate critics.

Senator Ted Cruz on Sunday told Fox News he had written to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what he said were potentially 'deceptive trade practices.'

He also accused the site of removing the page because it didn't line up with Silicon Valley 'politics.'

'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.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz praised the Canada truckers as 'heroes' and accused GoFundMe of taking the crowdfunding page down for political reasons

'Those truck drivers that -- God blessed them -- they're defending Canada, but they are defending America as well.'

The protest began as an Ottawa-bound convoy of drivers demonstrating against a recent mandate requiring truckers entering Canada to either be fully vaccinated or submit to COVID testing and quarantine measures. Similar demonstrations have since been held in Toronto and Quebec City, with demands ranging from an end to all COVID mandates to the removal of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Truckers and their rigs blocked traffic in Canada's capital city and at key border crossings. Life for Ottawa residents was disrupted with persistent honking.

Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly told reporters on Friday, before hundreds more were expected to arrive over the weekend, that it was 'an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration.'

But on Sunday Cruz praised the truckers for 'standing up' to the dismay of 'big government.'

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

'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.

He went on to accuse GoFundMe of shutting down the crowdfunding page, which had raised north of $10 million, for political reasons rather than for violating its terms of use.

'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.

'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.'

Police officers walk past parked tractors, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6

People carry signs, as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 6

What began as a blockade in Ottawa and at key border checkpoints has since spread to cities and towns across Canada

He added: 'They are deceiving consumers and it is wrong.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Cruz's office to request a copy of the letter.

The FTC enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices, according to the agency's site. It makes recommendations to Congress, issues reports and is able to sue companies or individuals accused of engaging in shady business practices.

Ottawa's police department thanked GoFundMe for removing the page on Friday.

'We want to thank GoFundMe for listening to our concerns as a City and a police service,' the department wrote on Twitter.

'The decision to withhold funding for these unlawful demonstrations is an important step and we call on all crowdfunding sites to follow.'

GoFundMe issued a statement Friday night saying the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser violated its terms of service 'which prohibits the promotion of violence and harassment

Following backlash from their decision, the company said it will issue full refunds to donors

In the recent past GoFundMe removed campaigns that it claimed spread misinformation about COVID vaccine safety, on top of reserving the right to remove pages violating its explicit terms.

However, those terms of service also give it the right to prohibit 'any other activity that GoFundMe may deem, in its sole discretion, to be unacceptable.'

Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Saturday that he would open an investigation into GoFundMe shutting the Freedom Convoy's page.

It is a fraud for [GoFundMe] to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing,' DeSantis wrote on Twitter.

'I will work with [Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody] to investigate these deceptive practices  these donors should be given a refund.'
Giving pharmacists the power to diagnose and treat a wider range of conditions is not the answer to health shortages in regional Queensland, doctors say.

A trial proposed for North Queensland would allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for serious conditions and chronic illnesses, AMA Queensland says.

The 23 conditions include asthma, type 2 diabetes, heart failure and middle ear infections, and it would mean patients could access medicine without a GP consultation.

A trial proposed for North Queensland would allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for serious conditions and chronic illnesses, AMA Queensland says (stock image)

It has been proposed for 37 local government areas in North Queensland which have 'significant indigenous populations and serious doctor shortages', the AMA says.

Speaking ahead of a state parliamentary inquiry on Friday, President Chris Perry says medical association members 'overwhelmingly' oppose the proposed pilot.

'It's fundamentally flawed and will deliver second rate health care to people in North Queensland,' Professor Perry said.

While pharmacists are a vital part of health care, they do not have the training to diagnose serious health conditions, AMA Queensland Council of General Practice Chair Maria Boulton.

'GPs on average have 12 years of training under their belts before they start diagnosing and treating these conditions,' she says.

Dr Boulton is expected to speak at Friday's wide-ranging inquiry into the public health system.

The AMA has written to the Therapeutic Goods Administration seeking advice on the trial's potential impact on Australia's health system.

'For example, the trial will allow pharmacists to prescribe the oral contraceptive pill - a move expressly outlawed by the TGA late last year given the health risks for patients,' Prof Perry said.

'We are seriously concerned that this trial will lead to significant misdiagnosis of potentially serious conditions plus undermine attempts to manage antimicrobial resistance.'

The AMA initially agreed to take part in a steering committee for the pilot, but now says it fundamentally rejects the proposal.

The National Council of Primary Care Doctors has also written to Queensland and Federal health ministers recommending that the pilot be stopped.

Queensland Health has been contacted for comment.
Australia's states and territories are set to move into the final stage of the national plan to deal with Covid, which means managing the virus like the flu and removing restrictions.

After a national cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said premiers will 'progressively transition' their states back to normal life following two years of brutal restrictions.

According to the national plan released last year, 'Phase D' involves open international borders, minimising cases without ongoing lockdowns and living with Covid-19 by managing it like 'influenza or other infectious diseases.'

Tourists will be able to enter Australia from overseas from February 21. Pictured: Students arriving in Sydney late last year

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said premiers will 'progressively transmission' their states back to normal life. Pictured: Bondi Beach last month

States and territories will move at their own pace, with NSW already planning to scrap masks in two weeks while Western Australia has still not announced when it will open its state border.

Mr Morrison said the leaders made the decision to welcome Phase D after the peak of the Omicron wave passed, with 'significant falls in the number of cases, hospitalisations and ICU admissions across most states and territories.'

Covid cases are now 20 per cent below the peak in mid January and hospitalisation levels are 63 per cent down.

On Thursday there were 3,348 Aussies in hospital with Covid, down from 5,390 on January 25, according to data site Covidlive.

A statement released after the meeting said: 'The Commonwealth, states and territories will progressively transition to Phase D including further reopening of international borders and changes to domestic health settings to reduce restrictions on social and economic activities, while safely living with Covid-19.

'The Commonwealth, states and territories will make decisions over the near term on options to transition to Phase D, with further consideration by the next meeting of National Cabinet.'

What Stage D of Australia's national Covid plan involves Open international borders Quarantine for high-risk inbound travel Minimise cases in the community without ongoing lockdowns Live with Covid-19, management consistent with influenza or other infectious diseases Boosters as necessary Allow uncapped inbound arrivals for all vaccinated persons, without quarantine Allow uncapped arrivals of non-vaccinated travellers subject to pre-flight and on arrival testing (Mr Morrison is still requiring double vaccination at this stage) Advertisement

Meanwhile, aged care workers will be forced to get a third jab to keep their job after sweeping changes were made to who is 'up-to-date' - in other words fully-vaccinated - against Covid.

National Cabinet agreed staff in the aged care sector would be the only workers, so far, who need to get the third dose to stay in their jobs.

The decision came after health chiefs announced people aged 16 and over will no longer classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they have not had a booster six months after their second dose.

The Federal Government on Thursday updated its vaccine policy on the advice issued by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

But National Cabinet stopped short of mandating a third jab for other essential workers and international travellers - instead each state and territory will be able to make their own call on the issue.

EXPLAINED: The four phases of opening up Australia A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14 2021) Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed) Lockdowns 'less likely but possible'; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed) 'Highly targeted' lockdowns only; lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out D. Final phase (introduced on 10 February 2021) Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival Advertisement

Aged care workers will now need to get a third Covid shot to keep their job after National Cabinet to held talks on changing booster mandates (pictured, a woman getting the jab in Melbourne)

National Cabinet (meeting pictured with Scott Morrison) stopped short of mandating a third jab for other essential workers and international travellers - instead each state and territory will be able to make their own call on the issue

Under the new ATAGI advice anyone aged 16 and over who doesn't get a booster shot within six months of their second dose, will be classed as 'overdue'.

The government changed its policy despite the sustained drop in the number of Covid cases across the country, with boosters deemed far more effective against the Omicron variant.

There were 190,267 active cases in Australia on Thursday - the lowest number since January 2 and a drop of 77 per cent over the past 24 days.

'Under the new advice, a person is "up to date" if they have completed all the doses recommended for their age and individual health needs,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

'ATAGI recommend that everyone aged 16 years and older receive a booster dose three months after their primary course, to maintain the best protection and an 'up to date' status.

'Further, ATAGI has advised that if it has been longer than six months since a person's primary course and they haven't had a booster, they will no longer be considered 'up to date' and instead will be considered "overdue".'

National Cabinet have not mandated three jabs for overseas arrivals as many nations do not yet have a booster program in place (pictured, Sydney Airport)

Scott Morrison announced this month that Australia's international borders will reopen to double-dosed tourists on February 21, after a two-year shutdown.

ATAGI said the updated advice will not impact international holidaymakers as the changes are focused on the domestic management of the virus and not international border settings.

National Cabinet have not mandated three jabs for overseas arrivals as many nations do not yet have a booster program in place.

Instead, each state and territory will have the power to implement their own rules for international travellers.

Australia is set to received 151 million booster doses for delivery over the coming year (pictured, a woman checking in in Melbourne)

WHICH VACCINES ARE APPROVED FOR BOOSTER SHOTS? The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines recognised as the preferred vaccine for booster jabs. AstraZeneca (also known as Vaxzevria) is now available for over 18s after it was approved for use as a booster this week. Any vaccine can be used as a booster regardless of which jab was administered in prior doses. Advertisement

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has already announced overseas tourists will need to be boosted before entering the state.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon agreed with the decision to not mandate booster shots for 'travel or going to a restaurant'.

'For an individual there's a great reason to get the booster to protect yourself, but from a public health point of view it's less clear,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'All the available data is that for older people, those over 50 or 60 years old, you need a third dose to protect you from serious disease and death from Covid.

'I don't think the data is clear in 20 and 30-year-olds, and certainly there's no real data in children.'

Another key talking point at the meeting was the re-launching of Australia's cruise ship sector, crippled by the pandemic.

Leaders from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland are now set to work on a plan alongside the Australian Border Force and the Department of Health to get the lucrative industry up and running again.

There were 190,267 active cases in Australia on Thursday - the lowest number since January 2 and a drop of 77 per cent over the past 24 days. Pictured: Health workers in Melbourne

Australia recorded about 30,000 new Covid cases on Wednesday with 65 more deaths despite almost 95 per cent of the population over 16 receiving two doses.

The take-up on boosters is still lagging behind with about 46 per cent of Aussies aged 16 and over getting their third jab.

To book a booster you can use the Covid-19 Clinic Finder website to make your appointment.

Australia is set to received 151 million booster doses for delivery over the coming year.
President Joe Biden said in a new interview Thursday it was probably 'premature' to lift indoor mask mandates  as a growing list of Democratic governors are moving to do just that amid plummeting coronavirus infection levels.

Biden weighed in during an interview with NBC News, after the moves in Democratic-run states have put pressure on the White House.

'I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and federal people and I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call,' he told NBC's Lester Holt in a sit-down interview while doing an event in Virginia.

He also commented on masking in schools, a controversial topic in Virginia and other states.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted at her Wednesday briefing that CDC continues to recommend masking during indoor congregate settings for areas where transmission is high  which currently includes most of the country.

President Joe Biden spoke about lifting indoor mask mandates, telling NBC on Thursday: 'I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call'

'When I got in office only 46 percent of schools were opened, now 98 percent of them are open and they're wearing masks,' Biden said.

'What's happening is every day that goes by children are more protected. We're now on the verge of being able to have shots for children under the age of seven and young children and and so the more protection they have, probably you're going to see less and less requirement to have the mask,' he said.

State and local officials are driving decisions on school masking, although the American Rescue Plan has provided funds for safety improvements and testing. Some academics have weighed in with cautions about the social and developmental impacts of long-term masking.

U.S. covid infections are dropping as the nation works its way through the omicron surge, although hospitalizations are still high, as are death rates, which stood at 2,300 based on a seven-day moving average Thursday.

The seven-day daily average of infections was about 247,000 cases per day Wednesday  down 44 percent from a week ago.

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates on Thursday, leaving President Joe Biden increasingly isolated in insisting that tough COVID-19 restrictions stay in place.

The White House says it is following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But with cases falling 43 percent across the nation in the past week as the Omicron surge fades, it puts Biden out of step with Americans who say they are ready to try to live with the virus and with allies, such as the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Boris Johnston on Wednesday announced plans to lift all restrictions.

Gov. Steve Sisolak of Nevada became the latest to lift a statewide mask mandate after outlining how the number of hospitalizations had dropped from their peak.

'Given all of these updates, and the tools that we now have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind mask mandates effective immediately,' he told news conference conducted via Zoom.

'Masks will no longer be required in public places.'

However, he added that people would still be required to wear masks in certain places, such as healthcare facilities.

His announcement came after eight Democrat-run states in recent days either lifted their mandates or set plans to do so in the coming weeks.

'Given all of these updates, and the tools that we now have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind mask mandates effective immediately,' said Gov. Steve Sisolak during news conference conducted via Zoom

Covid cases are dropping over the past two weeks in all 50 states, and northeastern states like Connecticut and New York in particular are posting massive falls of around 70% each

Gov Ned Lamont (left) is among four northeastern governors that set dates to lift mask mandates in school this week. He said it was a joint decision among a coalition of governors. President Biden is now facing mounting pressure to roll back COVID restrictions with growing support from Americans to learn to live with the virus

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, Rhode Island and Washington. Last month, Massachusetts extended its mandate through February. It remains unclear if the mandate will be extended again. New York Gov. Hochul announced February 9 that she will reevaluate the school mask mandate in March. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced February 7 that his state's mandate will be lifted on March 7. Delaware Gov. John Carney made a similar announcement February 7, saying the states school mask mandate will lift March 31. He also said the general statewide indoor masks order will end on February 11. Connecticut is set to end its statewide mask mandate on February 28. Oregon will lift its statewide mask mandate on March 31. 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. Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 Advertisement

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont revealed on Thursday that East Coast governors had decided to act together.

'We worked on this together as governors throughout the region. We thought this is a good time,' Lamont told CNBC's Squawk Box.

The nearby states of Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey announced they were lifting mask mandates in schools at the same time Connecticut did.

Lamont noted that cases were going down in his state - down 70 percent over the past two weeks - and in the states of his peers.

Cases in nearby New Jersey, Massachusetts and Delaware also decreased 71 percent.

COVID cases are down nationwide as well, with all 50 states recording declining cases over the past two weeks. The U.S. is recording 223,417 infections daily, a 43 percent drop from 394,741 cases per day this time last week.

'Our infection rates are back to low, hospitalizations are way down,' Lamont said. 'Most importantly people have the ability to keep themselves safe now.'

He notes that vaccines and booster shots are widely available at this point, and there are little barriers to getting the shot. These northeastern states are among the most vaccinated in the country as well - with more than 70 percent of residents fully vaccinated in each.

The moves come as Johnson, in the U.K., piled on pressure by making his nation the first developed country to move towards scrapping all COVID restrictions.

'Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions  including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive  a full month early,' he said on Wednesday.

The restrictions were due to expire on March 24, suggesting they could now end entirely within two weeks.

The White House is standing firm for now.

On Wednesday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki urged Americans to follow CDC guidelines.

'There are states that have rolled back their mask guidelines, that have given more flexibility to communities  they're different, it's not uniform, what every state has done  and certainly we continue to advise and recommend abiding by public health guidelines,' she said.

And New York is a notable straggler among blue states. While Gov Kathy Hochul allowed for her state's overall mask mandate to expire on Wednesday, she notably kept the mandates in-place in schools, breaking ranks from her peers.

It's a controversial move for a governor facing her first election cycle this year, as Hochul readies to defend the seat she ascended to after the fall of disgraces ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo from a competitive crop of Democratic hopefuls.

Empire State Republicans at the US Capitol sent Hochul a letter on Tuesday urging her to drop the school mask mandate in keeping with her colleagues in the immediate area.

'We have heard from countless families throughout our districts expressing their concerns with the mandate, and how it has negatively impacted their child's experience in the classroom. The time is now to put an end to this unlawful mandate and to allow our children to get back to being just that, children.'

'In light of the announcements by the Governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware, we write today to urge you to immediately rescind the onerous and unconstitutional mask mandate in New York State's schools,' read a letter signed by eight members of the US House of Representatives from New York.

It was reported on Wednesday that the White House is meeting with a broad range of health experts both inside and outside the government to revamp the administration's virus playbook.

Biden is hoping to transition to a 'new normal' in the next phase where Covid infections are dropping but the threat of a new variant still looms while the country is fresh off the chaos caused by the Omicron strain, the New York Times reported.

But the CDC has so far been hesitant the revise guidance. The agency still recommends that all children mask in schools, and still imposes mask mandates on planes and trains.

'Our hospitalizations are still high, our death rates are still high. So, as we work toward that and as we are encouraged by the current trends, we are not there yet,' CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a White House Covid team press conference on Wednesday.

'We owe it to our children to make sure that they can safely stay in school. Right now, that includes masking. We've seen outbreaks that have occurred in communities where students were not masked in schools and had to close.'

State and county governments still have discretion when it comes to local policy, though. Blue states would usually follow CDC guidance, but the recent lifting in mask mandates in these states - which also include California, Illinois and Oregon - shows that many are starting to break ranks.

Lamont said that localities in his state are still free to set mandates at their own discretion. While small, less densely populated, areas of the state will likely lift masks when Connecticut's mandate ends on February 28. Population centers that are more vulnerable to virus transmission can still choose to keep masks in place.

While some have blamed the sudden shift in blue states to declining poll numbers ahead of this fall's midterm elections, Lamont says the decision was driven by data, not politics, and called the opinions 'nonsense.'

'With omicron the numbers have come down, the metrics are pretty clear we can get rid of these mask mandates and we can do it safely,' he said.

But it's undeniable that as cases drop, Americans' impatience with the pandemic is growing.

A recent Yahoo News/YouGov survey had 46 percent of respondents say the U.S. should 'learn to live with' the pandemic, compared to 43 percent who said 'we need to do more to vaccinate, wear masks and test.' The same survey showed 40 percent believe the worst of the pandemic is over while just 27 percent fear the worst is yet to come.

A Monmouth University survey taken at the end of January saw a steep 11-point drop in the number of people who were in favor of mask mandates from September, though it remains at 52 percent.

Seven out of every 10 American voters surveyed said 'it's time we accept Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.'

And a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows only 37 per cent of Americans name the coronavirus as one of their top five priorities in 2022. At the same time last year, 53 per cent of respondents named the COVID-19 pandemic in the open-ended question.

In total, ten states and Washington D.C. still require masks in school, but there is growing pressure for these final states to lift these mandates. Dr Kavita Patel, an MSNBC contributor who works as a primary care physician and director of policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement in the Obama administration, told Squawk Box Wednesday that experts will soon have to consider lifting them.

'If you told me there's a future where we're wearing masks in perpetuity I'd say that's ridiculous, the science doesn't support that if we see that cases are coming down,' she said.

But Republicans who have been against public health mandates -- some from the beginning of the pandemic -- were quick to mock the Democrat leaders suddenly rolling back the rules.

'It's not the science, I promise you. It's the political winds. Democrats are seeing that the American people are fed up, they've been fed up. Now they're starting to see how much damage that's going to cause them, likely, in November,' Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said in an interview with KTSA radio in San Antonio Wednesday morning.

'I'd love to see whatever internal polling went around the Democrat Party last week - it's certainly no coincidence that Democrat-run states are dropping mandates as fast as they can!,' Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., told DailyMail.com.

Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., told DailyMail.com: 'The Democrats continually follow the political science instead of the actual science. I'm thrilled many states are now dropping mask mandates, but it's too little too late. We've known for months that masking has been detrimental to our children.'

'We've known for months that masking has been detrimental to our children. The science hasn't changed in the last several months, the only change has been the overwhelming uproar over government mandates,' McClain added.

During the daily White House press briefing on Wednesday, Jen Psaki was asked why Biden has made no noise about his fellow Democrats dropping mandates after months of trading barbs with Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

The Sunshine State's governor has long been a thorn in Biden's side as one of his most vocal critics, particularly on coronavirus measures. DeSantis has resisted implementing state-wide restrictions of any kind throughout the entire pandemic and in recent months has gone on the offensive with legislation seeking to punish localities looking to impose mask or vaccine rules.

'Well, I would say there is a distinct difference between standing in the way, which Ron DeSantis did -- or Governor DeSantis; I'll give him his full title -- of teachers, school administrators, and others taking steps to protect the students in their school communities. There's a difference between standing in the way of it, threatening to pull back funding; and allowing for local school districts to make choices, which is what a number of these states are doing,' Psaki said.

Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., predicted the mandates would still cost Democrats come midterms.

'Democrats forced masks on kids for two years and now they're hoping that the rest of America will suddenly forget. The 'science' is the same as it's always been, mask mandates don't work,' he said.

'Democrats valued their political narrative more than children's wellbeing. Ironically, it will cost Democrats politically now, and they deserve it.'

Added pressure is coming from overseas as well. Last month, the UK lifted all pandemic-related restrictions as cases continue to plummet in the nation. America's greatest foreign ally often precedes the U.S. by a few weeks during the pandemic, and it is rare that the European nation has less-strict Covid guidelines than its peer across the pond.

In the UK, masks in schools, work from home orders, vaccine passports and requirements to test negative before travelling into the country have been lifted. As cases continue to fall, now under 70,000 per day after peaking at 180,000 early last month, some are even clamoring to stop daily reporting of Covid cases and deaths in the country.

Other European countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Switzerland have also either lifted restrictions or laid out plans to do so in recent weeks.

Every single state in the U.S. is recording a drop in cases over the past two weeks. The drop offs have been massive as well, with 43 states having had cases slash in half over the past two weeks - and 21 recording a 70 percent fall.

Only weeks ago, the massive falls in cases were almost exclusively on the east coast, as those states were slammed first by Omicron. Now, the case declines have finally found their way out west.

Oklahoma, which was leading the nation in Covid infection rate at one point last month, is now recording the largest two-week case decline in America. The Sooner state has logged a 79 percent drop in cases over the past 14 days.

Washington, like many other states along west coast, was one of the final states to still record an upward trend of cases during the Omicron surge. The state is now also among the leaders in case-decline, recording 75 percent drop over the past two weeks.

Every single state has now dropped below 200 daily cases per every 100,000 residents as well. Alaska is the U.S. leader in infection rate still - with 177 of every 100,000 residents testing positive daily.

Other southern states, like Mississippi (169 cases per 100,000 residents), Tennessee (136), West Virginia (131) and Kentucky (113) are among the eight state recording more than 100 as well. In the northwest, Montana (128), North Dakota (112) and Idaho (105) are also still recording high infection rates.

Virginia is now leading America in Covid deaths despite having a relatively high vaccination rate of 71 percent. The Commonwealth is recording 1.49 deaths per every 100,000 residents daily.

All of the other states recording more than one death per 100,000 residents have struggled to vaccinated its residents. Mississippi (1.37 daily deaths per 100,000 residents; 50 percent vaccination rate), Ohio (1.29; 57), Kansas (1.17; 59), South Carolina (1.13; 55), Arkansas (1.11; 53), Nevada (1.02; 59) and West Virginia (1; 56) make up the rest of the states recording high Covid mortality rate.
A presenter's live report was torpedoed by a thug shouting 'f*** the feds' Thursday night, before he returned to the journalist to apologise after his mother told him off.

In the midst of a report on the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick earlier in the day, Sky News Political Correspondent Kate McCann was cut off mid-sentence by the unidentified person.

Just as Ms McCann was asked a question by presenter Gillian Joseph from the Sky News studio about the next steps for the commissioner, a man's voice could be heard behind the correspondent, who was standing outdoors in London.

In the midst of a report on the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick earlier in the day, Sky News Political Correspondent Kate McCann (left) was cut off mid-sentence by the unidentified thug (right) on Thursday night

Despite the interruption, and a hand also being waved behind her, Ms McCann professionally persevered with her report.

'Dame Cressida Dick has said that she will stay on for the next couple of weeks...,' the correspondent began, but was then interrupted when the man went a step further, jumping between her and the camera.

On live TV, the man was shown sticking both his middle fingers up - straight down the lens of the camera - and shouting 'f*** the feds', among other expletives.

While Ms McCann tried to continue, she had no choice but to pause her report.

Looking at the back of the man's head, the exasperated reporter could be heard saying 'OK', before Sky News cut back to the studio.

'We're going to leave Kate there,' Ms Joseph said after the feed and audio was cut. 'We must apologise for anything offensive you may have seen on screen,' she added.

After the incident, Ms McCann took to twitter to apologise for the language.

Just as Ms McCann was asked a question by presenter Gillian Joseph - from the Sky News studio - about the next steps for the commissioner, a man's voice could be heard behind the correspondent, who was standing outside in London

The political correspondent began answering a question from Sky News' studio, but was then interrupted when the man appeared between her and the camera, before he jumped in front of her and began shouting down the camera

Looking at the back of the man's head, the exasperated reporter could be heard saying 'OK', before Sky News cut back to the studio, where Gillian Joseph apologised for the scenes

'So sorry if you heard some fairly choice language on air just now,' she wrote to her followers at 10:20pm.

'(A) group of (mostly really lovely) young guys on bikes were watching us set up for the live but sadly one guy decided to ruin our hit.

'His mates looked as annoyed as we felt. Its been a bit of a night,' she added.

Around five minutes later, she posted again to say that the person who had interrupted her broadcast had come over to apologise to her and the crew.

'And right on cue the guy who shouted on air just cycled back to apologise for his behaviour and shake my hand. Still sorry it happened but at least we all learnt something. His Mum called to tell him off too,' she wrote.

After the incident, Ms McCann took to twitter to apologise for the language (top), before adding that the man had later returned to apologise to her after his mother told him off

Just hours earlier, the political correspondent had also posted about being on the end of sexist abuse yelled at her from a car.

She wrote at around 7.50pm on Thursday night: 'Nice to have some sexist abuse (f**k her in the c***!) bellowed out of a car window at me as Im discussing sexism in the Met live on air. Well done chaps,' in reference to the earlier incident.

Ms McCann joined Sky in 2018 having previously worked for The Sun and The Daily Telegraph. She is also the deputy chair of the Press Gallery, and was previously its chair in 2018 - only the second woman to hold the position in 200 years.

Just hours earlier, the political correspondent had also posted about being on the end of sexist abuse yelled at her from a car

The reporter has previously been vocal about issues affecting women, particularly those involving violence at the hands of men.

In the aftermath of the death of Sarah Everard - a woman who was raped and murdered by Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March last year - Ms McCann posted a widely-shared thread on Twitter about her own experiences of feeling threatened when walking alone.

The death of Ms Everard and the Metropolitan's subsequent handling of a vigil held in her memory is one of the scandals that led to Dame Dick's Thursday resignation.

Dame Cressida quit after losing the support of London Mayor Sadiq Khan over her plan to reform the force following a string of scandals and accusations of a toxic working culture.

It is understood the beleaguered Met chief was called to a meeting with the Mayor at 4.30pm on Thursday over the reforms but declined to attend and offered her resignation instead.
This image shows a jade tiger excavated in Licheng County, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua)

TAIYUAN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- With the coming of the Year of the Tiger, a county in north China's Shanxi Province is back in the spotlight for its time-honored tiger culture.

Licheng County in east Shanxi is where the ancient Li Kingdom of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) was located. People of the ancient kingdom worshipped tigers. Despite the vicissitudes of the times, the tiger-loving tradition has been kept alive in the county of some 134,000 residents.

Kristina Radchenko, who came from Russia and now works in the nearby Changzhi City, has been curious about the tiger culture in Licheng, which prompted her to embark on a trip to the county just before the Spring Festival.

The Tiger Museum in Licheng was Radchenko's first stop. At its doorstep, she was attracted by a photo of a jade tiger with sharp claws and its mouth wide open as if hunting.

A museum staffer told Radchenko the jade tiger dates back to some 3,000 years ago. Its excavation in 2006 in the nearby area further supported the existence of the Li Kingdom and the residents' totem worship back then.

She was quickly in love with a row of hand-made cloth tigers inside the museum. These are the most famous representation of Licheng's tiger culture, integrating traditional paper-cutting, embroidery, and other art forms.

With big, round eyes, colorful patterns on the head, and a chubby body, the Lihou Tiger blends the big cat's majesty with cuteness, making it widely popular, especially among kids.

The displays in the museum unfold the evolution of Lihou Tiger craftsmanship. Radchenko noticed that their appearance has become simpler and more fashionable in modern times. The filling has also changed from sawdust to cotton.

In 1998, also a Year of the Tiger, the Lihou Tiger dominated the zodiac stamps released by China Post, giving rise to its fame in China and beyond. Ten years later, the Lihou Tiger was listed in China's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Since then, orders of this toy and related products started to pour into Licheng, prompting more folk artists and workers to join the industry.

Li Xiaomei is an inheritor of the Lihou Tiger craftsmanship. In Li's studio, Radchenko found an array of hats and shoes with tiger head patterns, and they are all made for children.

"Lihou Tigers are our mascots. We hope our children will grow as strong and brave as tigers," said Li, adding that the custom is deeply rooted in Licheng.

She showed her new Russian friend the steps to make a Lihou Tiger, including drawing the pattern, tailoring, seaming, and stuffing it with cotton before adding other parts onto the tiger's face.

Radchenko couldn't wait to make a Licheng Tiger of her own. Under the patient guidance of Li, she successfully stuck a pair of sparkling eyes and sewed eyebrows onto the face of a blue tiger.

Over the past three months, Li has received orders worth over 200,000 yuan (about 31,407 U.S. dollars). She hired more than 100 workers, mostly women, to speed up production.

"The more famous Lihou Tigers become, the more local women could make a living out of them," Li told Radchenko.

To enhance efficiency and ensure quality, many workers focus on making only one part of a Lihou Tiger, and they are free to work from home.

In Beiguihua Village of the county, 51-year-old Li Jingfen was busy making "tiger tails" in her living room. She has been involved in the production for 12 years. Apart from farming, this job gives her an income of more than 1,000 yuan per month, she said.

Guo Lei, head of the culture and tourism department of Licheng County, said more than 500 professionals currently produce Lihou Tigers. It makes it a relatively massive industry in the local rural revitalization drive.

Around 50,000 pieces of cloth tigers are made annually, earning an extra income of over 10,000 yuan per household, Guo added.

Having lived in China for five years, Radchenko has been impressed by the Chinese people's strong sense of pride in their profound culture. "Everyone is taught from childhood about the importance of preserving and respecting the long history," she noted.

A trip to a small county as Licheng further deepened her understanding. In the local kindergarten, children were singing a folk song about the Lihou Tiger, created by their teachers to pass on their unique heritage in a fun and natural way.

"Chinese culture is amazing. Nearly every single city, village, road, and house carry a memorable past of its own," said Radchenko. 

Kristina Radchenko (C), who came from Russia and now works in Changzhi City near Licheng, learns to make cloth tiger in Licheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Xuetao)

Kristina Radchenko (L), who came from Russia and now works in Changzhi City near Licheng, learns about hat with tiger head pattern in Licheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Xuetao)
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been heckled on live TV by a grieving man who was locked out of Queensland by her border rules while his father died.

The Premier was wrapping up questions from reporters at a surf club on the Gold Coast on Friday when the onlooker yelled: 'You failed me, Annastacia.

'Your government failed me when my father was dying, I did all the right things,' he said.

'Your government locked me out, I did everything right, Annastacia.

'Ill hold you accountable for that and you locked me out of my own state. Ill never forgive you.'

The man is seen yelling at the Queensland premier from outside the North Kirra Surf Club as she gave a press conference on Friday morning

Ms Palaszczuk let the man finish, offering a quiet 'ok' and 'yeah' as his venting grew louder.

'I know, its been a tough time for everybody,' she said once the man had finished.

'Its been a very tough time for everybody during this pandemic.

Queensland's Premier has again been confronted regarding her response to the state's #COVID19 pandemic.



More details @9JesseBurns, 5.30pm on #9News pic.twitter.com/2ZmjpUhMXs  9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) February 11, 2022

'A lot of people have not been able to see family and friends, and we're seeing loved ones being lost.

'I feel that just as everyone else does. It has been absolutely a very tough time and I can understand why that gentleman is very upset and very distressed.

Annastacia Palaszczuk watches on as an emotional man directed a tirade at her about being locked out of the state while his father was dying

The man's outburst forced Ms Palaszczuk to apologise to people who had not been able to see loved ones during the pandemic. Pictured: People reunite at Brisbane Airport after Queensland's border was re-opened

'All I can do is apologise to people who haven't been able to see their loved ones during the pandemic, no one asked for this pandemic and we've been trying to manage it as best as we possibly can and Queenslanders have done a great job.'

The man was referring to border restrictions in place last year which prevented people coming from Covid hot spots such as NSW, Victoria and the ACT entering the state without limited exemptions for compassionate reasons.

The policy led to the state being dubbed 'Fortress Queensland' as residents of the state who had travelled interstate found themselves locked out for a number of months.

When Ms Palaszczuk closed the Queensland border on August 8, 2021, and declared all of NSW a hotspot, hundreds of people were suddenly stuck in the border zone between NSW and Queensland.

In September last year it was revealed more than 3,000 residents and people relocating to the state were prevented from entry after the state announced it was pausing its hotel quarantine program.

The move drew condemnation at the time when NRL players wives, girlfriends, children and officials were allowed to enter the state because they were considered part of the code's Covid 'bubble'.

Ms Palaszczuk then resumed her announcement, thanking the Federal government for matching funding to rebuild Paradise Dam near Bundaberg.

Overnight the Federal government announced it would match the state's government's commitment of $600million to rebuild the dam, bringing the project total to $1.2billion.

Ms Palaszczuk was on the Gold Coast to announce a $200million investment over the next four years between the Queensland government and major airports in the state including Brisbane and the Gold Coast to attract more international visitors to the state.

The premier claimed the investment will result in more than 5.3 million airline seats per year, 24,100 jobs by 2025 and $4 billion for the Queensland visitor economy.

Tourists from Singapore, Japan, the US, Canada, Taiwan and Hong Kong will be targeted in the new investment drive.
Tory MPs last night protested after the only company to frack for shale gas in Britain was ordered to permanently plug and abandon its wells.

Energy company Cuadrilla was told by the Governments Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to seal two horizontal shale wells drilled near Blackpool.

fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release trapped gas or oil.

It has been mired in controversy since 2011 after it caused two minor earthquakes in Lancashire, prompting a temporary ban on fracking in the UK.

That was later lifted with controls put in place to prevent tremors. But many fear it can also cause water contamination, noise and traffic pollution.

Tory MPs last night protested after energy company Cuadrilla was told by the Governments Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to seal two horizontal shale wells drilled near Blackpool (pictured)

Fracking at Preston New Road in Lancashire was suspended indefinitely after a record-breaking tremor measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale in August 2019.

A few months later the Government announced a moratorium on shale-gas extraction.

Cuadrilla and Tory MPs last night hit out at the order, claiming domestic shale gas could combat the cost-of-living crisis.

Cuadrilla chief Francis Egan said the UK was spending billions of pounds annually importing gas and emissions from importing gas are far higher than those from home-produced shale gas.

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, chairman of the Conservative Net Zero Scrutiny Group, said it was utter madness to abandon the shale wells at the height of the energy crisis.

But environmentalists welcomed the decision to cut ties with fracking in the UK. Pictured: Anti-fracking protestors demonstrate outside Lancashire County Hall in 2015

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, chairman of the Conservative Net Zero Scrutiny Group, said it was utter madness to abandon the shale wells at the height of the energy crisis.

Tory former minister Steve Baker said: Were abandoning any chance we had of levelling up, solving the cost-of-living crisis and delivering on... net zero.

But environmentalists welcomed the decision.

Greenpeace UKs head of climate Kate Blagojevic said the claim that shale gas could help with the energy crisis had been made a decade ago but years later, all this industry has given us are a couple of holes in a muddy field and some minor earthquakes.

Downing Street said shale gas was not a short-term fix and its still unproven as a resource in the UK, adding: It would take years...before commercial quantities of shale gas could be produced.
Fire chiefs have raised serious safety concerns about plans to make it cheaper to run electrical appliances overnight.

They warned using dishwashers, tumble dryers and washing machines at night puts families at greater risk of being trapped by a fire while they sleep.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: We understand that a balance needs to be struck between energy use, green issues and fuel costs but in our view you cannot put a price on fire safety.

'Some kitchen appliances such as fridges and freezers are designed to run 24 hours a day but while the vast majority are manufactured to a good standard and are perfectly safe, we would not advise leaving them unattended overnight.

If a fire breaks out during the night, the risk to life is always greater as its very likely people will be asleep and have less time to react and escape the property.

Fire chiefs have warned using electrical appliances, including washing machines, at night puts families at greater risk of being trapped by a fire while they sleep

The National Fire Chiefs Council said it had not been consulted by the energy industry about the peak hours electricity plans.

A spokesman added: We are conscious of the need to reduce energy bills and supportive of help companies look to provide consumers.

But we also urge providers to ensure reduced tariffs are not limited to times when most households would be sleeping.
Up to 60 CCTV cameras paid for by UK taxpayers are to be installed along more than ten miles of French coast in a bid to stop migrants crossing the Channel.

They will cover more than ten miles of seafront on the lookout for people- smugglers driving migrants to the sea.

A dozen will line beaches at Sangatte, 14 in Wissant, seven in Ambleteuse and five in Audresselles. More sites are set to be agreed but UK authorities will not be able to access the images.

Costs for the 170,000 Terminus project will be covered by the Treaty of Sandhurst signed by the UK and France in 2018.

Up to 60 CCTV cameras paid for by UK taxpayers are to be installed along more than ten miles of French coast in a bid to stop migrants crossing the Channel (file image)

Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said: These CCTV cameras will only make a difference if the French authorities take action on what they see...

The surveillance cameras will be active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said a spokesman for the local prefecture that cover the Pas de Calais.

He added that images will be sent back in real time to police and gendarmerie operatives.

As many as 20 municipalities in the Pas-de-Calais region are understood to have come forward to benefit from British funding, according to French daily newspaper Voix du Nord.

A dozen will line beaches at Sangatte, 14 in Wissant, seven in Ambleteuse and five in Audresselles. More sites are set to be agreed but UK authorities will not be able to access the images. Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover after crossing the English Channel

The surveillance cameras will be active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said a spokesman for the local prefecture that cover the Pas de Calais. Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover after crossing the English Channel

The cameras will have four heads for 360 degree coverage and will be more advanced than the usual CCTV systems found in French towns.

French authorities said the new surveillance network will also prevent the theft of boat engines in the area and stamp out the constant littering of petrol canisters and lifejackets.

Audresselles mayor, Antoine Benoit, welcomed the system and said it should help the police and the gendarmerie to fight against human trafficking.

But he added: We will only sign the decrees when we have seen the English money arrive.

Brigitte Passebosc, mayor of Saint-Etienne-au-Mont, one of the towns involved, said there are expected to be least 60 cameras in all.

A Home Office spokesman said: We do not comment on specific security arrangements for operational reasons.

We are determined to break the business model of dangerous criminal people smugglers and prevent further loss of life in the Channel. It is right that we pursue all options to prevent illegal crossings and protect life at sea.
Britain will warn Russia that an invasion of Ukraine would be a lose-lose situation when the Defence Secretary travels to Moscow today.

Ben Wallace is planning a trip to the Russian capital to meet his counterpart Sergei Shoigu in an attempt to quell the crisis in eastern Europe.

The trip follows Boris Johnsons visits to Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to bully the region as he warned the Continent faced its biggest security crisis in decades.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough being achieved following their meeting in Moscow.

It comes as the Government confirmed preparations to allow the UK to toughen and expand its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

Ben Wallace is planning a trip to the Russian capital to meet his counterpart Sergei Shoigu in an attempt to quell the crisis in eastern Europe

The trip follows Boris Johnsons visits to Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to bully the region

The Times reported that Mr Wallace will make clear to Mr Shoigu that invading Ukraine would be a lose-lose situation.

The UK has put 1,000 troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis in the east if the current Russian military build-up leads to war. It has also pledged extra help for NATO allies, with 350 Royal Marines arriving in Poland to coincide with the Prime Ministers visit on Thursday.

Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but NATO is alarmed by the build-up of more than 100,000 troops on the borders with its neighbour.

During his overseas engagements, Mr Johnson indicated further military support could be offered to Ukraine if Russia invades. But he made it clear that Britain could not intervene militarily if Ukraine was attacked.

In a pooled clip for broadcasters at a military base in Warsaw, he said: The UK has been supplying some defensive weaponry in the form of anti-tank missiles, we have been training Ukrainian troops. That is as far as we can go at the moment.

Ukraine is not part of NATO. What we are sticking up for is the right of Ukraine like any other sovereign independent country to aspire to that.

At an earlier press conference, speaking alongside NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the alliances headquarters in Brussels, the Prime Minister called on Russia to engage in meaningful talks because it was far better to begin a discussion now than to have a catastrophe.

The UK has already supplied 2,000 anti-tank missiles, body armour, helmets and combat boots to Ukraine and Mr Johnson indicated he could go further.

Mr Johnson poses for a photograph with British troops in front of a Union flag during a visit to Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base near Warsaw

A satellite image shows a close-up of troops and equipment at Oktyabrskoye air base, Crimea

Asked if he could authorise military support to an insurgency in Ukraine in the event of an invasion, he said: We will consider what more we can conceivably offer. The Ukrainians are well prepared, there are things weve offered that they, in fact, dont seem to need because they think they have them in enough numbers already.

Its possible, I dont want to rule this out, but at the moment we think the package is the right one.

But I want to stress it would be an absolute disaster if it was to come to that and if there was to be serious bloodshed on Ukrainian soil.

In Moscow, Miss Truss had a difficult encounter with Mr Lavrov. He characterised the meeting as a conversation between deaf and dumb, but Miss Truss said: I was not mute in our discussions earlier, I put forward the UKs point of view on the current situation and the fact that as well as seeking to deter Russia from an invasion into Ukraine, we are also very resolute in pursuing the diplomatic path.

She added: There is still time for Russia to end its aggression towards Ukraine and pursue the path of diplomacy.

But in the discussions and a joint press conference Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing 'ultimatums and moralising' from the West and comparing their conversation to a 'deaf and a mute'

Ms Truss is on a two-day visit to Moscow, and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony earlier

But NATO is very clear that if that path is not chosen there will be severe consequences for Russia, Ukraine and the whole of Europe."

Miss Truss called for Russia to pull its troops back from the border to ease tensions.

There is no doubt that the stationing of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border is directly put in place to threaten Ukraine, she said. There had also been cyberattacks and other attempts to undermine the activities of a sovereign nation.

Miss Truss said: If Russia is serious about diplomacy they need to move those troops and desist from the threats.

The visit to Moscow was the first by a foreign secretary in four years, with the relationship between the UK and Russia severely strained by incidents including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In a sign of the chilly atmosphere at the talks, Mr Lavrov said ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere and accused Miss Truss of being ill-prepared for the negotiations.

Rejecting Miss Trusss call for forces to pull back, Mr Lavrov said: The demands to remove the Russian troops from the Russian territory cause regret. We dont want to threaten anyone. It's us who are facing threats.

But he indicated force levels would fall once military exercises had been completed, at which point the West will likely claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate.
A private New York City school announced on Thursday it will become the first in the Big Apple to make masks optional - even though Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the mask mandate for school children will remain in effect for the time being.

Officials at the Poly Prep Country Day School - which has two locations in Brooklyn serving about 1,000 students, and charges $57,000 a year for tuition - sent an email to parents on Thursday to inform them of the policy change, which will go into effect next week.

'In the past few weeks we have seen sharp declines in COVID cases at Poly and in NYC,' the email, which was posted online, reads. 'In addition, we have had minimal in-school transmission of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

'In light of these sharp declines in case counts, and our most up-to-date evidence, wearing masks will be optional beginning on February 14 for all students and employees,' the school's health director, Sarah Zuercher wrote.

The announcement comes just one day after Hochul announced she was ending the statewide indoor mask mandate, citing New York's 93 percent drop in COVID-19 cases and declining hospitalization rates.

She said she will review the school order - which has prompted outrage among students, parents and politicians - next month after students return to the classroom following their upcoming midwinter break.

Governors in other states, meanwhile, have already announced they would lift their school mask mandates for a return to 'normalcy,' as COVID cases continue to decline and studies are released showing they are ineffective in stopping the spread.

Parents of the nearly 1,000 students at Brooklyn's prestigious Poly Prep Country Day School received this email Thursday informing them that the school will make masks optional

With the announcement, the $57,000 a year private school became the first in the Big Apple to drop the mask mandate - despite state regulations

In its decision to lift the school's mask mandate, officials at Poly Prep said there have been no COVID-related hospitalizations or serious cases at the school, and that all documented cases have been 'mild to asymptomatic,' according to the New York Post.

Sarah Zuercher, the school's health director cited a decrease in COVID cases and studies showing that masks may hurt children's development for the school's decision

As Zuercher explained to the school's newspaper, the Polygon: 'We've seen a very sharp decline in COVID cases here at school and in the community.

'As we look at the layers of our COVID safety strategy, we don't need to keep all the layers as we always have as COVID cases go down.

'While [masking] can be very effective, with Omicron being highly contagious, we think it's one of the less effective mitigation strategies when you look at everything we're doing - testing, vaccination, boosters [and] air filtration.'

She added that studies have shown that for children, masks 'might inhibit language acquisition, social and emotional development [and] their ability to read facial cues.'

Officials also noted that the decision to lift the mandate was made in connection with the school's Health and Safety Team, which comprises physicians, researchers and clinicians.

Students, however, may continue to wear masks if they so desire under the school's new policy.

'We will support each individual's choice,' Zuercher said, 'and will follow up immediately if our mask-optional policy must change.'

On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the end of the state's indoor mask mandate, although it remains in effect at state-regulated facilities including schools

On Thursday, New York reported just over 7,422 new positive coronavirus cases, a nearly 92 percent decline from the 90,000 that tested positive about a month ago

On Wednesday, Hochul announced the end of the state's indoor mask mandate, although it remains in effect at state-regulated facilities including schools, health care facilities, adult care facilities and nursing homes, correctional facilities, childcare centers, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and on public transit.

She said in her announcement that New York was 'trending in a very, very good direction' - citing case and hospitalization rates - and is 'now approaching a new phase in this pandemic.'

'We are not where we were in early December. New Yorkers did the right thing to get through the winter surge, and we can now lift the statewide mask-or-vaccine requirement for indoor businesses starting tomorrow,' Hochul said, adding: 'Counties, cities and businesses can still choose to require masks.'

The state's mask mandate for students, however, will remain in effect state-wide.

'Masks have been a successful part of our toolkit to fight COVID, and New Yorkers must keep wearing them in certain places throughout the state,' Hochul said during Wednesday's press conference.

She said she will revisit the school mask mandate come March, but said in the meantime officials are taking steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 ahead of midwinter break.

In the meantime, all K-12 students and their families will be provided a state issued 'winter tool kit' that involves sending children home with COVID testing kits ahead of the school recess. They will then be tested again upon return from break.

Hochul said officials will use this data to make further decisions about masking in classrooms.

On Thursday, New York reported just over 7,422 new positive coronavirus cases, a nearly 92 percent decline from the 90,000 that tested positive about a month ago.

The statewide positivity rate is now 3.62 percent, a decline from the 23.2 percent peak recorded at the start of 2022.

Additionally, hospitalizations have decreased to 4,398, a 63.5 percent drop from the 12,000 reported in mid-January.

Nationwide, cases are also declining, with the United States recording 223,417 infections daily on Thursday - a 43 percent drop from 394,741 cases per day this time last week.

And every single state in the U.S. has recorded a drop in cases over the past two weeks, with 43 states having had cases slash in half over the past two weeks - and 21 recording a 70 percent fall.

The U.S. is recording 223,417 infections daily, a 43 percent drop from 394,741 cases per day this time last week.

Officials in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon have now announced plans to lift their mandates as they seek a return to 'normalcy.'

Dave Calus was forcibly dragged out of the Webster School Board Meeting on Tuesday night after he refused to wear a face mask. The security guard yanked his chair, attempting to force him out of the room

After being forced out of his seat, Calus turned to face the guard, who is pointing to the door, before sitting back down in his chair. This prompted the guard to begin another removal attempt

But when one man attended a school board meeting in upstate New York on Tuesday he was forcibly dragged out of the room by a security guard.

Dave Calus told Kimberly's Revolution he proceeded to the board room where the Webster School Board meeting was taking place, but was met by staff who told him that if he didn't wear a mask, he would be placed in isolation during the meeting.

'They were segregating masked and unmasked parents,' he explained. 'The unmasked parents were going to have to sit in a classroom with a video monitoring watching and listening to the board meeting.'

He said he was placed in the classroom and decided 'this isn't going to work for me.' Calus then walked down to the main board room and was once again instructed to wear a mask.

'I took a mask from the person who handed it to me, looped it around my ear, walked into the room, and sat down and put the mask in my pocket,' he recalled.

He said he remained seated for 15 to 20 minutes before being approached by a security guard who demanded he put the mask on.

Webster Police Department, issuing a statement on Facebook, said their officers were not involved in the incident but they are conducting an investigation. After the investigation is complete, the department will determine whether 'charges are appropriate'.

Students in New York will be required to continue to wear masks in school through at least the winter break, when Hochul says state officials will monitor the most recent COVID data. Students are seen here lining up to enter school in Jersey City, New Jersey in April

In the meantime, students in New York will receive a state-issued 'winter tool kit' that involves sending children home with COVID testing kits ahead of the school recess. A boy is seen here wearing a face mask on the first day of New York City public schools in September

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also said it continues to stand by its mask-wearing guidelines for schools, saying COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still 'too high' to consider dropping restrictions despite daily infections having declined by 47 percent over the past seven days.

'Right now our CDC guidance has not changed. We continue to endorse universal masking in schools,' CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a radio interview with WYPR on Tuesday. 'We owe it to our children to make sure that they can safely stay in school. Right now, that includes masking. We've seen outbreaks that have occurred in communities where students were not masked in schools and had to close.'

The Biden administration doubled down on wearing face masks - even though eight Democratic governors have rolled back COVID restrictions, cases and hospitalizations have plummeted and one of America's closest allies England has completely scrapped all rules.

Our guidance is consistently has consistently been this: when you are in a high transmission area, which is everywhere in the country, you should wear a mask and indoor settings, including schools, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her press briefing on Wednesday.

When asked if people should follow the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which are to wear a face covering, instead of listening to their governor, Psaki responded: Yes.

She conceded some people are tired of wearing masks but added there are many who still want to have one on.

People are tired of masks, Psaki said, adding, however, there were also a huge chunk of people who still want masks.

Landmark study says children DO find it more difficult than adults to recognize people wearing masks - and it could affect their ability to make friends: Demands mount to set our kids free as COVID levels plummet

By Natasha Anderson and Shivali Best for DailyMail.com

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.

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.'

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.

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.
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The Queen was so eager to make Camilla the next Queen Consort that she chose not to consult Boris Johnson over the decision, it has emerged.

Constitutional experts reacted with astonishment by Buckingham Palace's decision not to seek the Prime Minister's approval before this week's surprise announcement.

Downing Street was 'made aware' the monarch would use her Platinum Jubilee message to make Prince Charles' wife a Queen-in-waiting. Royal and No10 sources told The Express that Mr Johnson played no part in approving the decision.

Palace officials last night insisted the Royal Family only needed government approval if it were asking for a change in the law to ensure the Duchess of Cornwall did not become Queen.

But royal experts expressed surprise, with Dr Bob Morris of University College London telling the paper: 'We thought they would need to at least square it off with the Government.'

The Queen assured Camilla's future status in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement at the weekend, ending years of uncertainty over the issue.

Her Majesty declared it was her 'sincere wish' for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged when Charles succeeds her. The Queen issued the message, shoring up her support for her heir and his wife, as she marked a milestone 70 years on the Throne.

The statement also quashed speculation that the 95-year-old Monarch might abdicate, as she reiterated her Coronation pledge. She told her subjects 'my life will always be devoted to your service'  and that she would continue to honour that 'with all my heart'.

The Queen was so eager to make Camilla the next Queen Consort that she chose not to consult Boris Johnson over the decision, it has emerged

Constitutional experts reacted with astonishment by Buckingham Palace's decision not to seek the Prime Minister's approval before this week's surprise announcement

The first test of public opinion since the change to the coronation vows was announced reveals overwhelming support

In her message to the nation  signed 'Your Servant, Elizabeth R'  the Queen said: '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; 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.'

Camilla yesterday said she is 'very honoured and very touched' to have been endorsed by the Queen as a future Queen Consort. She was visiting Nourish Hub, a community kitchen based in Notting Hill, west London, to mark its opening and as patron of the charity that runs it, UK Harvest, when she was asked by a guest how she felt about the title.

Her comments came on the day the Prince of Wales tested positive for Covid, but Clarence House has confirmed the duchess returned a negative result on Thursday morning.

Camilla, 74, spoke with volunteers and refugees at the West London Welcome charity, who were cooking a rice-based Iranian dish called loobia polo for visitors.

A guest who gave his name as DJ, 49, asked the duchess how she felt about her new title. Camilla told him: 'I feel very honoured, very honoured and very touched.'

The duchess spoke with every guest and volunteer at the venue, and added a touch of saffron to the dish.

In an impromptu speech before she left, Camilla said: 'Before I go, I would like to congratulate everybody who is part of this, I think you've done a brilliant job.

'The minute you walk in here, you get this lovely, uplifting and cheerful feeling. What you're doing  bringing people together and getting people talking over food... many congratulations to you all and thank you very much for having me here.'

Britons enthusiastically back 'Queen Camilla'  by a margin of two to one, a poll found after the Queen assured the Duchess of Cornwall's future status in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement

The Duchess of Cornwall with the chair of the National Sexual Abuse and Assault Services Laura Currer, reality TV star Zara McDermott and Nicola, a sexual assault surviver, during a visit at the clinic Paddington Haven

The visit was among Camilla's first public royal duties since being endorsed by the Queen as a future Queen Consort.

The duchess toured Voices in Bath, a charity which supports domestic abuse survivors, on Tuesday.

Before her visit to the food kitchen on Thursday, Camilla also spoke with staff at Paddington Haven, a sexual assault referral centre in west London, and she will be appearing at Thames Valley Partnership in Aylesbury, another charity for domestic abuse survivors, in the afternoon.

It comes as Britons enthusiastically back 'Queen Camilla'  by a margin of two to one, a poll found. The first test of public opinion since the change to the coronation vows was announced reveals overwhelming support.

And a survey found 55 per cent of Britons back the move, almost double the 28 per cent opposed.However, the public still believe Princess Diana would have made the better Queen.

Overall, most of the Royal Family have seen big increases in their personal ratings since last year, with the exceptions of Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and Prince Andrew, whose popularities have all plummeted.

The poll shows people feel their views of Camilla have become more positive over the last ten years and since Diana's death in 1997. A clear majority of all age groups backed Camilla getting the new title, and about half said they had a great deal or a fair amount of respect for her.

Camilla, 74, was visiting the Nourish Hub kitchen in Notting Hill, west London, when she said she felt 'honoured' to have won the Queen's backing as future Queen Consort. Pictured, Camilla leaving the Nourish Hub kitchen

More than not thought Camilla would make a good Queen, and that Charles and Camilla would be an asset to Britain as monarchs.

But there was an age split, with the younger generation of 18-44 year olds narrowly believing that Camilla would not make a good Queen, and that she and Charles would not be an asset to Britain during their reign. Overall, the majority agreed the crown should not jump a generation to Prince William, when the Queen dies, by 51 per cent to 35 per cent.

And despite the Duchess of Cornwall winning the affections of the public, they remain united in believing Princess Diana would have made a better Queen, with 58 per cent saying so, compared with only 16 per cent choosing Camilla.

Charles and Camilla also lose out heavily to William and Kate, with 68 per cent saying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be the better king and queen.

Asked to rate the personal attributes of Diana and Camilla, the Princess of Wales won on beauty, compassion, dignity, duty, diplomacy and sense of humour  but lost out to Charles's second wife on brains.

By a huge factor, many more people blame Charles for the royal divorce than either Diana or Camilla. The popularity of the Royal Family as a whole has soared in the Queen's jubilee year.

The monarch herself enjoys a bumper personal rating of plus 75, up 11 points since the question was last asked in March last year.

Charles and Camilla are both up by 16 points. Most strikingly, the duchess was given a positive rating by 55 per cent of respondents, and a negative rating by 34 per cent, meaning her net rating is plus 21 points, well up on her score of minus 4 in 2020 when more people disliked her than liked her.

William, Kate, and Princess Anne's personal scores have also risen. But Prince Andrew  who is embroiled in sexual assault claims, which he denies, in an American court  is now at his all-time lowest score of minus 82 making him by far the least popular royal.
Boris Johnson will appoint a private lawyer which he will pay for himself rather than billing the taxpayer if he is questioned by police over partygate, it was reported last night.

The Prime Minister has already lined up a legal expert on coronavirus regulations, should he need one, according to The Times.

Mr Johnson is expected to be among more than 50 people in Number 10 and Whitehall who will get legal questionnaires from detectives working on the Metropolitan Police's Operation Hillman.

In the House of Commons and elsewhere, he has repeatedly denied that he has broken any rules.

Boris Johnson will appoint a private lawyer which he will pay for himself rather than billing the taxpayer if he is questioned by police over partygate, it was reported last night

He has also repeatedly refused to say whether he will resign if he is fined by police.

Mr Johnson's lawyer is expected to focus on the fact that Downing Street is both his home and his workplace.

At the time, the coronavirus lockdown rules made it illegal to be outside your home without a reasonable excuse.

Lawyers have already pointed out that the PM could argue that he did not breach the rules by going to parties in Number 10 because he did not leave his home when doing so.

However, this defence would not apply to claims that a party was held in the Downing Street flat.

It is alleged the bash took place to celebrate the departure of Mr Johnson's former chief adviser Dominic Cummings on November 13, 2020.

The Prime Minister has already lined up a legal expert on coronavirus regulations, should he need one. Above: The picture which emerged this week of Mr Johnson undoing his tie next to an open bottle of sparkling wine

A source told The Times: 'The prime minister will not be winging it.

'He will take private legal advice. There are relevant considerations. He is in a unique legal situation because Downing Street is both his workplace and his home.'

Mr Johnson said yesterday that he would not reveal how he will respond until the Met's investigation is finished.

'That process must be completed. I'm looking forward to it being completed and that's the time to say more,' he said.

Individuals who receive police questionnaires have seven days to respond.

Police will then decide whether or not to report them to the criminal records office ACRO. This is the body that would then issue fixed penalty notices.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, speaking hours before she was sacked last night, said: 'Clearly, some, but probably not all, of those people may very well end up with a ticket.'
1. Fashion-conscious first victim's back-to-front underwear failed to arouse suspicion with officers

It was Port himself who called 999 to report 'finding' Mr Walgate unconscious outside his flat, although he later admitted dumping his body after the pair met for sex. He killed three men by the time he was jailed in March 2015 for perverting the course of justice in the Walgate case.

Fashion-conscious Mr Walgate was found with his underpants on back to front and inside out, but police said this was 'unusual, not necessarily suspicious or sinister'.

2. Police did not background check Port, only his victim

Investigators at the scene were not told of a previous allegation of rape against Port on the police national computer from 2012, who was traced as being the person who called 999 to report the body.

In fact, police only checked the national database for Mr Walgate, not Port.

3. Police decided bruising under Mr Walgate's arms did not suggest assault and sex swabs were not sent for testing

Another officer deduced there was 'nothing to suggest the victim had been assaulted', despite bruising under Mr Walgate's arms, while sex swabs taken from his body were not submitted for DNA testing.

4. Port's laptop - stuffed with searches for drug rape videos - was not opened for ten months

Perhaps most crucially, police failed to submit a laptop belonging to Port for forensic analysis for 10 months after it was seized in the wake of Mr Walgate's death, and then missed repeated searches for drug rape videos contained on the device.

5. CPS were not told Port could have been a sex offender when making their charging decision

The Crown Prosecution Service was also not given information that Port was a suspected sex offender when they ruled out a homicide charge over Mr Walgate's death.

6. Police ignored information in Port's first interview that police had looked at him over sexual assaults before

Police soon knew that Port had lied to them from the outset, eventually charging him with perverting the course of justice. But they did not follow up information he volunteered during his initial interviews about his previous involvement with police on suspicion of sexual assault.

7. Local police requests for murder squad to take over were repeatedly turned down

Requests from the local police officers for the Met's specialist murder investigation team to take over the investigation were repeatedly dismissed, meaning inexperienced officers were in charge of the case.

8. Police were convinced Mr Walgate had died of an overdose because he was a sex worker

Two of Mr Walgate's friends were convinced his death was suspicious and aired their concerns, but said they believed police assumed he had overdosed on drugs simply because he was a gay sex worker. Sarah Sak, the victim's mother, told police she was convinced it was 'murder', but said police told her 'it was probably drugs'.

9. Police dismissed Mr Kovari's murder as non-suspicious so took no samples to analyse

Aspiring English teacher Mr Kovari was found slumped in a graveyard near Port's home. But the scene was not declared suspicious, so his body was not subjected to a forensic post-mortem examination. His clothing was not seized and so was not analysed, and no samples were taken from his body.

10. Police missed chance to speak to friend, who had evidence on his phone victim had been in Port's flat before his murder

Police did not follow up leads to trace Mr Kovari's friend, Karl Kamgdon, who Mr Kovari sent pictures to from inside Port's flat when he arrived there, and was the last person he spoke to.

11. Friends found evidence Port had killed Mr Kovari but were ignored by the police

John Pape, Mr Kovari's friend, effectively turned detective to find the victim's boyfriend in Spain, Thierry Amodio, who had been contacted by Port masquerading as another man. Both men supplied the police with information which would have led them to the serial killer, but they were repeatedly ignored.

12. Family liaison office did not contact the victim's family, which could have produced clues something was amiss

A family liaison officer assigned to the Kovari case failed to contact the victims' loved ones at all, and even referred to him as being from Lithuania rather than Slovakia.

13. Key tests that would have found Port's DNA were not carried out at scene of third murder

Detectives failed to carry out key forensic tests including on the bed sheet on which chef Mr Whitworth was found, his clothes, so-called sex swabs taken from his body, and the drugs bottle planted on him - all of which carried Port's DNA or fingerprints.

14. Police did not question the fake suicide note Port had planted at the scene to try and escape justice

Perhaps most crucially, the 'suicide note' planted by Port on Mr Whitworth's body taking responsibility for Mr Kovari's death appeared to be taken on face value by police. Only a section of its contents was sent to Mr Whitworth's family, with disputes over whether his father was able to identify the handwriting as that of his son. The note was not shown to Mr Whitworth's long-term boyfriend, Ricky Waumsley, for a year, and he said he felt cut out of the investigation entirely.

He later raised concerns about the 'really impersonal' nature of the content, that it did not mention any family members and that he could not be sure it was his partner's handwriting.

15. Police missed unwitting clue Port put in the fake note, as they thought it referred to a homeless man

The note also contained a veiled reference to Port, asking police not to 'blame the guy I was with last night' in case the investigation eventually linked the victim with the serial killer. However, police arriving on the scene thought 'the guy' was a homeless man sleeping in the graveyard where Mr Whitworth was found. It was much later that a handwriting expert concluded the script matched Port's while the notepad on which the suicide note was written was recovered from Port's address.

There was no evidence Mr Kovari and Mr Whitworth had ever met or contacted each other.

16. Note's claims that the third victim killed the second could have been disproved if police had checked phone data

Police also failed to obtain full phone data that would have shown Mr Whitworth was not in Barking on the night of Mr Kovari's death - creating an inaccuracy with the suicide note that claimed Mr Whitworth killed Mr Kovari.

Mr Walgate also showed signs of bruising under the arms consistent with being moved or carried before or after his death.

17. The same woman coincidentally found two victims, but still police did not entertain possibility they could be linked

Bizarrely, dog walker Barbara Denham, who discovered Mr Kovari's body, was also the first on the scene for Mr Whitworth's death.

She told police: 'I was the same woman that found the other body a few weeks ago ... I found another young boy.'

18. Police were told by family and coroner deaths may be connected but little was done

The final death was not linked to the previous three until a chance discovery nearly a month later - this was despite similarities that all four victims were young, gay men, with no links to the area, who were found dumped in public, within a short distance of each other. Mr Taylor's family shared with police their concerns that the death might be linked to others in the area, as did the coroner.

19. Mr Taylor's sisters clues were unheeded, along with victim's anti-drugs views

In fact, his sisters kept notes of their own investigations, establishing similarities between the four deaths, referencing GHB and identifying Port's address in Cooke Street.

The family were particularly suspicious that Mr Taylor - who wanted to become a policeman and was said to be resolutely anti-drugs - had apparently taken something on the night he died.

But their suggestions were dismissed by police who said there was 'no reason to think they are connected'.

It was only when a detective working on the Walgate investigation chanced upon a print-out of a CCTV still of Mr Taylor with a 'mystery man' on the night he was last seen alive that he recognised him as Port and made the link with Mr Walgate's death.

Another officer then linked them with the Kovari and Whitworth investigations.
Fatal police shootings rose last year to their highest level in at least seven years, with 1,055 people being shot and killed nationwide by officers.

Despite attention being focused on police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 murder, the death rate continued to climb, according to an annual survey by The Washington Post.

The paper has since 2015 maintained its own database of police shootings, tracking them through news reports and social media. The government does not collate its own record.

The least deadly year of the last seven was 2016, when 958 people were shot and killed by police.

In 2020, the figure surpassed 1,000 for the first time, with 1,021 deaths.

Protesters in Ohio demand justice for Ma'Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old girl killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, after she lunged at another girl with a knife

Criminology experts told the paper that the rise from 1,021 in 2020 to 1,055 in 2021 was statistically not of great significance, and did not show a significant spike.

Franklin Zimring, a law professor and criminologist at the University of California at Berkeley, told The Post: 'The good news is, things aren't getting an awful lot worse.

'And the very bad news is that they're not getting better, either.'

However, the number of black people being killed by police remains of real concern.

Of the 1,055 killed, 234 were white and 139 black, with 66 Hispanics dying.

Black people account for less than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but are killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans. Hispanic Americans are also killed by police at a disproportionate rate.

Men are also far more likely to die in police shootings, with 996 of the 1,055 victims male.

Women accounted for 56, and three were unknown.

Roughly 14 percent had known mental health struggles, down from about one-fifth in the two previous years and about one-fourth in 2016 and 2015.

Sixteen percent of people fatally shot last year were killed after police responded to a domestic-disturbance call. Eleven percent were fatally shot after someone called 911.

Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed in Minnesota by Officer Kim Potter in April 2021. In December, she was found guilty of manslaughter, and is awaiting sentencing this month

Almost half of those who died were aged 30-44. Seventeen were aged under 18.

They included Ma'Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old girl shot and killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, after she lunged at another girl with a knife.

Adam Toledo, 13, died in March when he ran from police in Chicago, and was shot as he turned towards the officer and raised his hands.

Toledo appears to have been holding something in his hand when he stopped running. Police have said it was a gun that they later recovered. An attorney for Toledo's family said he had dropped the gun and put up his hands before the officer fired.

One of the most high-profile police killings of 2021 was Daunte Wright, 20, who was shot and killed by Kim Potter at a traffic stop in Minnesota.

Potter in December was found guilty of manslaughter, and will be sentenced on February 18.

Police in Minnesota are seen approaching the car that Daunte Wright was driving, after Kim Potter shot and killed him

Potter, a 26-year police veteran, is seen in her April 14 mugshot after being arrested for Wright's killing

Potter cries in court on December 17 during her manslaughter trial

Protesters are seen on November 30 outside the courthouse as Potter's trial began

Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, was shot and killed by police in Ohio during a fight with other youngsters

Bryant is seen slumped against a car as a girl in pink runs away, in a still from the officer's body-camera

The remains of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant are carried from the chapel following her funeral service in Ohio on April 30

Three quarters of those killed were armed with a gun or a knife - 632 had a firearm, and 154 had a knife.

A vehicle was deemed a weapon in 57 of the shootings.

Thirty five were carrying a toy weapon when they were killed.

Only 34 were unarmed, and the status was unknown for 96 of the 1,055.

About 20 percent of the fatal police shootings were captured on body cameras  the highest portion since The Post began tracking. In 2015, the first year data was collected, body-camera video existed for roughly 8 percent of shootings.

The highest number of shootings was in California, with 141 people dying at the hands of the police, followed by Texas with 95 and Georgia with 51.

The lowest number was Rhode Island, with only one fatality.

Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire and Vermont had two, while North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming had three.

Proportionately, states with the highest rates of shootings are New Mexico, Alaska and Oklahoma.
Andrew Kongor Garang (2nd L), a 59-year-old electrician in South Sudan's Ministry of Higher Education, poses for a group photo with Chinese doctors Chen Li (1st L) and Yang Jie (1st R) at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, South Sudan, Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Denis Elamu/Xinhua)

JUBA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Andrew Kongor Garang, a 59-year-old electrician in South Sudan's Ministry of Higher Education, was in very critical condition last week with his family being told he was having malaria and typhoid at a private clinic where he had been admitted.

Despite the earlier diagnosis prescribed to Kongor, his elder son Emmanuel Garang was having none of it as his father's situation continued to deteriorate.

Garang amid being nervous and tired of the situation on Thursday headed to Juba Teaching Hospital where Bino Andrea, director of Accident and Emergency Department and two Chinese doctors of the ninth batch of the Chinese medical team examined his father and found out he had Chronic Gastritis.

"The patient came complaining of hepatitis for three days then we decided to do an endoscopy on him and the result is chronic gastritis, there is nothing else besides gastritis," Andrea told Xinhua in the capital, Juba, on Thursday.

Andrea and his two Chinese colleagues Chen Li and Yang Jie helped diagnose Kongor who had failed to get an accurate diagnosis of his ailment using an endoscopy machine donated in 2019 by the Chinese government.

It is the only endoscopy machine at the main referral hospital that is thronged daily by thousands of patients seeking treatment.

Garang narrated to Xinhua that his family is now relieved after finding out the ailment of his elderly father.

"He got sick last week on Saturday (Feb. 5) and he was admitted for almost two days in the hospital and the result was malaria, typhoid and ulcers but we later came to this hospital and he was diagnosed and found with cardiac inflammation, chronic gastritis and Duodenal diverticulum," said Garang.

"We are glad that we have seen everything clearly and hope that he will recover," added Garang who witnessed Chen and Yang do the diagnosis on his father.

Chen also said she had not anticipated an emergency case like that of Kongor since he had been rushed in due to his critical condition ahead of other patients.

She said at first her team suspected Kongor had contracted COVID-19, but they realized he was negative after he took a test before handling his case.

He was releasing blood stained stool, coughing and with a running nose, said Chen prior to treating Kongor.

Chen, who offered Chinese medicine to Kongor after diagnosing him with Chronic Gastritis, said she is hopeful of him recovering within a short time.

Chronic gastritis is a long-term condition in which the mucus lined layer of the stomach, also known as the gastric mucosa, is inflamed or irritated over a longer period of time.

However, Andrea who directs the department of accidents and emergency department said they need to also have Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to be able to handle other complicated ailments such as tissue biopsy, lung diseases and esophageal cancer.

"There are a lot of patients referred outside who need the endoscopy ultrasound to see the extent of the (stomach) cancer," said Andrea.

He added that the hospital also needs to have a colonoscopy that examines the lower half of the digestive system. 

Andrew Kongor Garang, a 59-year-old electrician in South Sudan's Ministry of Higher Education, receives medical examination at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, South Sudan, Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Denis Elamu/Xinhua)

Bino Andrea (C), director of Accident and Emergency Department, poses for a group photo with Chinese doctors Chen Li (L) and Yang Jie (R) at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, South Sudan, Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Denis Elamu/Xinhua)
The CIA has been collecting the personal information of Americans for years in a secret surveillance program that has no congressional approval, according to a newly declassified letter released by a pair of Democratic senators said late Thursday night.

Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico are branding the collection 'warrantless backdoor searches.' They sent a letter to top intelligence officials calling more details about the program to be declassified and demanded immediate action.

The program is 'entirely outside the statutory framework that Congress and the public believe govern this collection, and without any of the judicial, congressional or even executive branch oversight that comes from [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] collection,' the senators wrote.

The CIA also released parts of the still-classified programs 'Deep Dive I and Deep Dive II', which are believed to be massive data repositories  but in heavily redacted material.

The CIA has a secret, undisclosed data repository that includes information collected about Americans, two Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee said

The senators invoked Congress clear intent, expressed over many years and through multiple pieces of legislation, to limit and, in some case, prohibit the warrantless collection of Americans records, as well as the publics intense interest in an support for these legislative efforts. And yet, throughout this period, the CIA has secretly conducted its own bulk program'  with the next piece of text in their letter blacked out.

The members of the Senate Intelligence Committee sent the letter asking about the program on April 13, 2021  but it wasn't declassified until Thursday and large parts of it were redacted.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board had provided the Senate Intelligence Committee with a report on the program in March, 2021.

According to Wyden and Heinrich's letter, the CIA's bulk collection program operates outside of laws passed and reformed by Congress, but under the authority of Executive Order 12333, the document that broadly governs intelligence community activity and was first signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

They demanded the CIA inform the public, reveal what type of information had been collected, the amount that had been obtained and how often searches were conducted. 'This declassification is urgent,' the Wyden and Heinrich wrote

Neither the agency or the lawmakers disclosed specifics about the data, but the senators alleged The CIA had long hidden details about the program from the public and Congress.

It is not clear when the surveillance occurred or what type of data of was mined from Americans.

Democratic Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico sent a letter to top intelligence officials calling for more details about the program to be declassified. Large portions of it were redacted

There have long been concerns about what information the intelligence community collects domestically, driven in part by previous violations of Americans' civil liberties.

The senators wrote in response to the partial data release: ''FISA gets all the attention because of the periodic congressional reauthorizations' and release of documents.

'But what these documents demonstrate is that many of the same concerns that Americans have about their privacy and civil liberties also apply to how the CIA collects and handles information under executive order and outside the FISA law. In particular, these documents reveal serious problems associated with warrantless backdoor searches of Americans, the same issue that has generated bipartisan concern in the FISA context.'

An intelligence official told the New York Times that the Intelligence Committee knew about the CIA's classified data collection  but that it may not have been told about the report on 'repository and analysis tools for storing and querying that data after its collection.'

Campaign groups slammed intelligence agencies after the Senators' letter became public and said it was an intrusion on privacy.

The ACLU said: 'These reports raise serious questions about what information of ours the CIA is vacuuming up in bulk and how the agency exploits that information to spy on Americans. This invasion of our privacy must stop.'

The CIA and National Security Agency have a foreign mission and are generally barred from investigating Americans or U.S. businesses. But the spy agencies sprawling collection of foreign communications often snares Americans' messages and data incidentally.

Intelligence agencies are required to take steps to protect U.S. information, including redacting the names of any Americans from reports unless they are deemed relevant to an investigation. The process of removing redactions is known as 'unmasking.'

'CIA recognizes and takes very seriously our obligation to respect the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons in the conduct of our vital national security mission,' Kristi Scott, the agency's privacy and civil liberties officer, said in a statement. 'CIA is committed to transparency consistent with our obligation to protect intelligence sources and methods.'

The CIA released a series of redacted recommendations about the program issued by an oversight panel known as the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. According to the document, a pop-up box warns CIA analysts using the program that seeking any information about U.S. citizens or others covered by privacy laws requires a foreign intelligence purpose.

'However, analysts are not required to memorialize the justification for their queries,' the board said.

Both senators have long pushed for more transparency from the intelligence agencies. Nearly a decade ago, a question Wyden posed to the nation's spy chief presaged critical revelations about the NSA's mass-surveillance programs.

Heinrich (left) and Wyden (right) have said the details of the program should be made public and have called for more transparency from intelligence agencies

The CIA released a series of redacted recommendations about the program issued by an oversight panel known as the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

Both senators have long pushed for more transparency from the intelligence agencies. Nearly a decade ago, a question Wyden posed to the nation's spy chief presaged critical revelations about the NSA's mass-surveillance programs

In 2013, Wyden asked then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper if the NSA collected 'any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans.' Clapper initially responded, 'No.' He later said, 'Not wittingly.'

Former systems administrator Edward Snowden later that year revealed the NSAs access to bulk data through U.S. internet companies and hundreds of millions of call records from telecommunications providers. Those revelations sparked worldwide controversy and new legislation in Congress.

Clapper would later apologize in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee, calling his response to Wyden 'clearly erroneous.'

'It is critical that Congress not legislate without awareness of a ... CIA program, and that the American public not be misled into believe that the reforms in any reauthorization legislation fully cover the IC's collection of their records,' the senators wrote in their letter. There was a redaction in the letter before 'CIA program.'

Additional documents released by the CIA Thursday also revealed limited details about a program to collect financial data against the Islamic State. That program also has incidentally snared some records held by Americans.

Intelligence agencies are subject to guidelines on the handling and destruction of Americans data. Those guidelines and laws governing intelligence activity have evolved over time in response to previous revelations about domestic spying.

The FBI spied on the U.S. civil rights movement and secretly recorded the conversations of Dr. Martin Luther King. The CIA, in what was called Operation Chaos, investigated whether the movement opposing the Vietnam War had links to foreign countries.

'These reports raise serious questions about the kinds of information the CIA is vacuuming up in bulk and how the agency exploits that information to spy on Americans,' Patrick Toomey, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. 'The CIA conducts these sweeping surveillance activities without any court approval, and with few, if any, safeguards imposed by Congress.'
Troubled game show host Andrew O'Keefe has admitted to a single drug possession charge as he prepares to make a last-ditch bid for freedom next week.

O'Keefe faced Sydney's Central Local Court via audio-visual link from his remand cell at Silverwater prison on Friday.

The one-time Seven Network star entered a guilty plea to a single possession charge over 1.5 grams of cannabis, ahead of a last-ditch bid for bail at the NSW Supreme Court next Monday.

The Deal or No Deal host was arrested over an incident at his inner-Sydney bachelor pad on January 25 where he allegedly assaulted a female house guest.

O'Keefe will seek bail in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday, by which time he will have been in custody for 18 nights. The former Channel Seven star is due back in Central Local Court on Friday when police will make an application to keep him behind bars

The 50-year-old is accused of choking and punching a woman who allegedly had to bite him to break free during a violent struggle in his city bachelor pad. He claims he acted in self-defence.

The drug charge - possessing 1.5 grams of cannabis - relates to that incident.

O'Keefe did not apply for bail when his case was last mentioned on February 4 but will cite his need for urgent mental health treatment in seeking release on Monday.

He is in custody at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Prison at Silverwater in Sydney's west where he has been undergoing 14 days of protective quarantine.

At his first court appearance the fallen TV star - appearing in handcuffs via video link - sighed and groaned as he heard he would be kept in a cell awaiting trial.

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.

Andrew O'Keefe (pictured in this court sketch) appeared in court in handcuffs by video link on January 28 but had his bail application refused and he was kept behind bars

NSW Police allege the former White Ribbon ambassador attacked a 38-year-old woman on January 25 after meeting her at his unit on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD.

He first faced court on January 28 but his appearance was delayed so his mental health could be assessed by magistrate Robert Williams and O'Keefe's personal psychiatrist, Dr Michael Atherton.

The only way she was able to break free was to bite the arm of the accused Sergeant Chris Manning told the court

He eventually appeared on a video link from Surry Hills police station where he had been held in a cell the previous night.

Wearing glasses, with cropped, short grey hair, O'Keefe sighed loudly and repeatedly on the court video link, as he stared intently at his screen while he waited for proceedings to get underway.

When asked if he could hear the court, he answered: 'I can, Your Honour, thank you.'

The court was initially closed to the media to protect the identity of the woman allegedly assaulted as details of the case were heard.

When the hearing resumed in public, O'Keefe's lawyer Sharon Ramsden asked for her client to be released on bail to go into residential psychiatric care.

O'Keefe's lawyer Sharon Ramsden (pictured) asked for the fallen star to be released on bail to go into residential psychiatric care

She said O'Keefe had suffered injuries in the alleged incident and would be claiming self-defence when the case was heard.

But the prosecution warned O'Keefe could be facing a lengthy jail term if convicted and dismissed the claims of self-defence.

'The only way she was able to break free was to bite the arm of the accused, and that's supported by the visible injuries,' police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Manning told the court.

'The incident went on for a significant period of time.'

O'Keefe was wearing the same bright red trousers and grey zipped sweatshirt that he was seen in while thrashing about wildly in the back of a police paddy wagon the previous day.

O'Keefe was refused bail on January 28. Above, O'Keefe leaving Day St police station earlier that week in the back of a van

Although O'Keefe appeared far calmer, he groaned, whimpered and sighed repeatedly throughout the hearing, and frequently interjected as evidence was heard against him.

At one stage he pointed at his neck and blurted out: 'It was not violent - there was no choke!'

The court heard he is already facing assault charges dating back to June last year and was on bail at the time of the latest alleged offences.

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 is pictured in June 2021. He was charged over the incident on Sydney's Kent Street and bail refused ahead of a court appearance on January 28

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.

Ms Ramsden said photographic evidence of bruising and marks did not necessarily support 'significant choking or pressure'.

The prosecution said photographs of the woman showed she suffered 'significant marks to the face and legs' and said there was a text message from O'Keefe to the woman which backed up her statement to police.

With O'Keefe on bail for previous assault charges at the time of the latest incident, Sergeant Manning said the former game show host posed a risk to the public.

'There have been three offences of violence all within a short period of time,' he said, adding O'Keefe's violent behaviour appeared to be 'escalating'.

In refusing bail, Mr Williams said there was a good chance O'Keefe would be serving jail time if convicted, noting similar past accusations against him.

O'Keefe was arrested by police at 4.30am on January 27 and taken to Day Street police station

He noted O'Keefe had no previous criminal convictions after earlier domestic-violence charges were dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

Police have now also been granted a provisional apprehended violence order, which bars him from approaching, assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating the alleged victim in any way.

When O'Keefe taken away to a police cell on January 27, Daily Mail Australia captured confronting footage of the handcuffed star shouting obscenities and kicking the walls of a police van, telling officers to 'get rid of the journalists'.

'F*** you, I'm a victim of crime. I'm a victim of crime you f***wits. F*** off,' he screamed as he repeatedly kicked the windows of the vehicle's cell.

'Get rid of these journalists you stupid c***s. F*** you.'

Police will allege O'Keefe had invited the woman over to his apartment in Sydney's CBD on the afternoon of January 25 to have a business discussion before the meeting turned violent.

Andrew O'Keefe is pictured outside his unit in Paddington in Sydney's inner-city in February 2021

'A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman  grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her,' a police spokesman said.

O'Keefe then allegedly assaulted the woman a second time by punching and kicking her.

The woman then left the unit and reported the alleged assault on January 26, police said.

On the afternoon of January 27 police confirmed they had charged O'Keefe with two counts of intentionally choking a person without consent, three counts of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Over a 17-year career with Seven, O'Keefe hosted Weekend Sunrise and game shows The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal. H was axed by the network in January 2021.

When Daily Mail Australia approached O'Keefe last year and asked if his television career was over, he said: 'I'm not sure if I'm over, or if TV's over'.
After five ignominious years as Britain's top police officer, Cressida Dick has dramatically resigned as the Met Commissioner. To which the Daily Mail asks: What took her so long?

By any reasonable measure, her tenure has been a catastrophic failure. She has overseen cover-ups, displayed incompetence and has entrenched public despair and distrust.

Exiting with the crown for most benighted Scotland Yard chief in many years takes some doing after the woeful stint of her pompous predecessor Lord Hogan-Howe.

But her record has been uniquely awful. Having run the operation in which innocent Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead, then presided over the catastrophic Operation Midland VIP paedophile witch-hunt, it was incredible she won the top job.

By any reasonable measure, Cressida Dick's tenure has been a catastrophic failure

On her watch, bungling left a serving officer free to murder Sarah Everard. An inquiry into a private investigator's axe murder branded the force as 'institutionally corrupt'  and, damningly, said Dame Cressida had hampered the search for the truth.

And only last week, a scathing report found a toxic culture of sexism, racism, homophobia and bullying permeated the force. Yet instead of stopping the rot, what did Dame Cressida do? Risibly ordered detectives to investigate whether Downing Street had social gatherings during lockdown. What warped priorities!

As law and order collapsed, this was an appalling waste of resources.

With every call for her sacking dismissed as sexist, she repeatedly emerged unscathed. Until now.

Last night, Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan informed her that she no longer commanded his confidence. Yet he cannot escape the fallout. Bafflingly, he had extended her contract despite her gross failings.

Now a new commissioner must restore the Met's reputation and demonstrate that the force has turned over a new leaf.

This paper hopes it is someone of integrity and stature, in the image of Sir Robert Mark, who rebuilt the constabulary when it was broken and venal in the 1970s.

Home Secretary Priti Patel must replace her with a commissioner who will ditch the vapid management jargon, wokery and political posturing and  dare we suggest  prioritise fighting and preventing crime.

A lecture in humbug

If anyone is ill-qualified to lecture us about sleazy politicians who corrode trust in democracy it's Sir John Major.

With not a scintilla of self-awareness, the sanctimonious has-been yesterday used a speech to savage Boris Johnson over standards, accusing him of treating the public with contempt.

What a masterclass in hypocrisy! Leave aside the unremitting irony of Sir John, who cheated on his wife with Edwina Currie while a minister, admonishing his successor on propriety. The truth is, this embittered old Remainer has been the one to trample roughshod over democracy.

Showing disdain for millions of ordinary voters, he has toiled obsessively to derail Brexit and undermine its legitimacy.

Mr Johnson, by contrast, saved democracy by thwarting the arrogant Remain Establishment and honouring the referendum. While there are many reasons to feel disappointed by his premiership, in the most crucial litmus test of 'respect for the electorate' in modern times, Boris passed with flying colours.

Let's be clear, leaving the EU made Sir John  as well as the Labour Party, the BBC and the entire Europhile 'blob'  deranged with bitterness and out for revenge.

But Mr Johnson's enemies fear they cannot beat him at the ballot box. So they resort increasingly to ad hominem attacks. Ostensibly, they seek Boris's scalp over illicit cake and wine parties at Downing Street.

But that's a proxy war. By toppling him they can fulfil their one unquenchable desire  to plot a path back to Brussels.
A high school teacher who was allegedly filmed smoking marijuana from a bong while surrounded by students had no idea she was being recorded, and has been 'unfairly' portrayed as a drug dealer, friends of the woman said.

Lauren Russell, 42, was arrested at her home in Beverly Hills, in Sydney's south-west, last Friday and charged with drug supply over allegations she gave cannabis to several students at Lucas Heights Community School.

Days after her arrest, footage emerged of Ms Russell sitting on a milk crate holding a Gatorade bottle, while a teenager lights it with a barbecue gas lighter.

Through tears, Ms Russell told Daily Mail Australia she cannot comment on the charge or the footage for legal reasons, but a close friend said she is 'the greatest mum in the world' who is in an 'unfair situation'.

Lauren Russell (pictured left) was unable to hold the tears back when speaking with a neighbour (pictured right) on Friday

Friends said Ms Russell (pictured outside her home, left) has 'never sold drugs in her life'

'There's a great mum here - there's not a person in this street that wouldn't say that,' one neighbour said.

'She's feeling pretty s**t and would love for someone to actually give a s**t as to how this is affecting her life and how unfair it is.'

The friend explained that Ms Russell, who has been working at the school since 2014, had no idea she was being filmed when she allegedly smoked from the makeshift bong.

The woman also said Ms Russell believes her students told police that she supplied the cannabis to avoid getting in trouble themselves.

'Who wouldn't rat out their teacher to avoid getting their friends into trouble?' the woman asked.

The widely-circulated video appears to show Ms Russell inhaling from a makeshift bong constructed from a gatorade bottle and a piece of hose (pictured)

One neighbour described Ms Russell (pictured right, outside her home) as 'the greatest mum in the world'

She was adamant that Ms Russell 'has never sold drugs in he life'.

The woman added that Ms Russell loves her job and enjoys watching her students 'grow and becoming better versions of themselves'.

Police allege she supplied teenagers with cannabis between 3pm and 6pm on December 15 last year.

She has not been charged over the video.

Ms Russell did not appear at Sutherland Local Court for her first mention on Wednesday and her lawyer applied for a four-week adjournment.

She is yet to enter a plea.

Lauren Russell, 42, who teaches physics at Lucas Heights Community School, has three young boys

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said Ms Russell was removed from the school as soon as they were made aware of the allegations

In a newsletter welcoming her to the facility, Ms Russell was described as having 'quickly built a good rapport with her classes and her faculty'.

The 42-year-old is originally from Maryland in the United States, and was part of a sorority at Drexel University in Philadelphia where she studied biology.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said Ms Russell was removed from the school as soon as they were made aware of the allegations.

She has been banned from the school grounds and contacting students.

'We are deeply concerned by the allegations. We have high expectations of our employees,' the spokesperson said.

Ms Russell's case will return to court on March 9.
A woman convicted in the 1987 kidnapping and buried-alive death of a northern Illinois media heir as part of a botched ransom plot has been released from prison, after her life sentence was reduced to a 70-year term with the possibility of parole.

Nancy Rish, 60, was freed on Thursday, the Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed.

Businessman Stephen Small, 40, of Kankakee, suffocated to death in a plywood box he was buried in when a breathing tube running to the surface failed before a ransom could be paid.

Rish petitioned in December 2017 for a resentencing hearing so that the court could consider evidence of domestic violence.

Nancy Rish, 60 (left), walked out of Illinois prison on Thursday, after her life sentence was reduced to 70 years and she was paroled. She is pictured with her attorney Margaret Byrne

Rish was 26 years old in 1987 (left), when she was arrested for taking part in a botched plot to kidnap Illinois media heir Stephen Small (right), who ended up dying after being buried alive in a box

Her attorneys argued Rish was coerced by ex-boyfriend Daniel Edwards into driving him, and that she was unaware of his kidnapping plan even as he had her pick him up from the remote, wooded burial site and drive him between phone booths where he made ransom calls.

Edwards, 62, is serving a life sentence for luring Small to a house he was renovating, putting him in a six-by-three-foot homemade plywood box and burying him alive, for the ransom money.

Rish's attorneys argued her case is what Illinois legislators had in mind when they passed legislation in 2015 giving abuse victims who had been sentenced to prison for crimes a break on their sentences.

One of her attorneys, Margaret Byrne, said Rish has also been a model prisoner. She had been due to be released in September with good behavior credit before her sentence was further reduced with credit for getting her GED and associates degree.

Byrne said earlier this month that Rish was abused throughout her life by many people, including Edwards.

Rish's boyfriend Danny Edwards (pictured left in 1987 and more recently, right) is serving a life sentence for Small's murder

Rish, pictured after her release on Thursday, has maintained her innocence, saying that she was a victim of abuse at Edwards' hands, and that he threatened to kill her young son

Rish (left) was reunited with her sister, Lori (right), following her release from prison

'The reason she followed his order to pick him up in the middle of the night at an odd location was that he had threatened to kill her 8-year-old son,' Byrne said. 'He had a gun. She believed he would do that.'

Rish has maintained her innocence for 34 years, but at her resentencing hearing last week she apologized for what she called 'the most regrettable mistake of my life.'

Rish stressed that she did not knowingly participate in Edwards' plot, but she accepted responsibility for her actions, reported CBS Chicago.

'I hold so much grief and sorrow for his family and his loved ones to this very day, and will always,' Rish said.

A Kankakee County judge agreed to reduce Rishs life sentence to 70 years with the possibility of parole.

Small left behind a wife and their three young sons. His family did not object to Rish's resentencing, reported the Chicago Sun-Times.

Small was lured to a building he was renovating when his kidnappers called him claiming to be police officers alerting him a break in

Small was stuffed into a box equipped with a breathing tube, but died when the tube failed

The victim was found buried in three feet of sand in the forest of Kankakee, Illinois

Rish walked out of the Logan Correctional Center at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday a free woman. She was picked up by her attorney and taken to lunch with her sister and friends. Her lawyer said she ordered soup.

Byrne described her client's release to Chicago Tribune as 'bittersweet,' because she said that despite being 'overall innocent,' Rish spent decades behind bars.

'Of course, its better to be released after nearly 35 years than to die in prison,' Byrne added.

Rish will be wearing a GPS monitor for the next month, and her parole will end after three years.

Byrne said Rish hopes to open a dog grooming business.

In 1987, Edwards, who was 30 at the time, kidnapped Small, 40, in an attempt to get his affluent family to pay a $1 million ransom.

Small was the heir to a media fortune as the son of Burrell L. Small, president and chairman of the Mid America Media Group, a broadcasting company that owned 11 radio stations and two cable television stations, and a former publisher of The Daily Journal of Kankakee.

His uncle Len H. Small, also was publisher of The Daily Journal, and his great-grandfather was Len Small the governor of Illinois from 1921 to 1929.

On September 2, 1987, Small was lured by Edwards pretending to be a police officer to a building the victim was renovating.

The kidnappers then called Small's wife, Nancy Small, at around 3:30 am requesting the ransom.

The family received five calls from the kidnappers and were willing to accept the kidnappers' demands but were unable to decipher the tape-recorded message they received over the telephone directing them where to leave the ransom.

Edwards buried the businessman in three feet of sand in the forest of Kankakee, Illinois in a homemade wooden box equipped with an air pipe and provisions for water and light, but Small eventually died.

Rish, who was 26 at the time, drove Edwards around before and after Small was kidnapped.

Small's body was discovered in the buried box two days later. That same day, Edwards and Rish were arrested.

At her resentencing hearing on February 1, Rish offered a tearful apology for her actions

On May 27, 1988, a jury deliberated for less than an hour before sentencing Edwards to death.

His sentence has since been reduced to a life sentence as part of the state's move to end the death penalty.

On December 20, 1988, Rish was sentenced to life and 30 years for her role in the murder.

While Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-sponsored the change in the law that allowed Rish to petition for a resentencing when he was a state senator, his office initially opposed Rish's requests, claiming that her life sentence was based on the 'horrific nature of the crime in which [she] played an integral part.'
Ben Roberts-Smith bragged that blowing the brains out of an unarmed and terrified adolescent Afghan man was 'the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,' a special forces soldier has testified in court.

The witness, codenamed Person 16, told the Federal Court on Friday that he pulled over a Toyota Hilux with four men inside on November 5, 2012.

He distinctly remembers one of two men he pulled out to pat down because he appeared a lot younger than the rest and was 'shaking in terror,' he said.

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, for defamation - denying their reports that he committed war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012

'He appeared extremely nervous and trembling uncontrollably.'

A short time later Mr Roberts-Smith's patrol collected the two detainees, to tactically question them, Person 16 'assumed'.

Later he crossed paths with Australia's most decorated living soldier in the army barracks.

'What happened to that young fella who was shaking like a leaf?' he said he asked Mr Roberts-Smith.

'And (he said) 'I shot that c*** in the head'.'

Mr Roberts-Smith's barrister Bruce McClintock SC rubbished the 'ridiculous' claims in his opening address

'(He said) Person 15 told me not to kill anyone on the last job so I pulled out my nine millimetre and shot the c*** in the side of the head, I blew his brains out.

'It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.'

Mr Roberts-Smith's barrister Bruce McClintock SC rubbished the 'ridiculous' claims in his opening address.

'It's the kind of thing that would be said by an ostentatious psychopath,' Mr McClintock said in June 2021.

The Victoria Cross recipient is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, for defamation - denying their reports that he committed war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.

Mr Roberts-Smith has strenuously denied all accusations of wrongdoing, and says he acted within the moral and legal rules of military engagement during his six tours of Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.

Mr Roberts-Smith has strenuously denied all accusations of wrongdoing, and says he acted within the moral and legal rules of military engagement during his six tours of Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012

Person 16 on Friday said while he was 'shocked' at what Mr Roberts-Smith had said to him, he never reported it due to a 'code of silence within the regiment'.

'The fear of retribution, it would have been a career-ending move.'

He also said he was worried for his personal safety, and did not want to put himself in danger by accusing 'someone so influential'.

'So I thought I just best keep quiet and move on with life.'

The body of the Afghan was photographed with an AK-47 gun that was placed on him later, Person 16 said.

He is the third Australian witness called by the newspapers - who have mounted a truth defence - and follows another serving SAS soldier who spent nearly five full days giving evidence.

Barrister Arthur Moses (left) and Ben Roberts-Smith leave the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney

Person 14 last week said he saw Mr Roberts-Smith order an Afghan soldier through an interpreter to shoot a detainee 'or I will' towards the end of a mission in Khaz Uruzgan in 2012.

He also claimed to have witnessed the infamous shooting of an unarmed Afghan man who had a prosthetic leg outside a Taliban compound dubbed Whiskey 108.

He denied he was jealous that Mr Roberts-Smith was awarded the VC in 2011, saying this did not motivate a smear campaign against the war hero's reputation.

Mr Roberts-Smith's lawyer accused him of lying and fabricating much of the story.

The trial before Justice Anthony Besanko continues.

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Andrew Beazley, 14, was killed in a motorcycle crash last month. Bikies gathering to mourn his death have hit out after police staked out their funeral procession and hit them with fines for traffic offences

Motorcyclists gathering to mourn the death of a teenage boy have hit out at police after officers staking out the funeral started pulling them over for traffic offences.

The mourners - which included Rebels bikie members - were targeted by specialist outlaw motorcycle gang detectives as they left the funeral of Andrew Beazley, 14, in Atherton in Queensland's far north last Friday.

Police issued seven attendees with fines for wearing prohibited outlaw motorcycle gang clothing, while others were pulled over for obstructing traffic and not wearing a helmet.

One of those fined said it was 'devastating' to be targeted by police, and that he only took his helmet off briefly to help direct traffic to the funeral service.

The Red Dirt Social Motorcycle Club member Paul Cullen said police fined him for riding a short distance to the service without wearing a helmet.

'We've always rode from the crematorium to the service with no helmets  it's never been an issue in the past,' he told The Cairns Post.

One Red Dirt Social Motorcycle Club member said police fined him for riding a short distance to the service without wearing a helmet. Pictured are members of the Red Dirt SMC

'It's pretty devastating to see this done while [Andrew's loved ones] are farewelling their grandson and son.'

Andrew, who was well known in the region's motorcycle community for helping with charity rides, was killed on January 25 when his motorbike collided with a truck.

Motorcycle groups traditionally do not wear helmets as they ride between the funeral and service locations for bikie memorials.

But a Queensland Police spokeswoman said the force targeted the memorial 'in the interest of public safety and enforcing Queensland OMCG legislation'.

The force added OMCG colours including vests and belts were seized by police.

Since 2017, outlaw motorcycle club members in Queensland have been banned from wearing club colours in public.

Local state MP Shane Knuth claimed the police surveillance of the gathering was disrespectful.

'There were not only motorcycle clubs who were there to pay their respects, but also many young people from all different walks of life and backgrounds,' he said.

Police issued seven attendees with fines for wearing prohibited outlaw motorcycle gang clothing (file image)

The Queensland MP for Hill said he would be referring the operation to the state's minister for police.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for further comment.

A 43-year-old alleged Rebels member was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm in the same town the night before the funeral.

He allegedly hit another man in the head at a pub in Atherton, causing him minor injuries.

A GoFundMe fundraiser for Andrew's family said the teenager was out on his new motorbike during the school holidays when he was killed in the fatal collision.

'Linda is one of the most kind and compassionate people in this world and this tragedy is absolutely heartbreaking for her and her family,' the fundraiser said.

'The money raised from this will go directly to Linda and her family to ease the financial costs of losing Andrew.'
Strict biosecurity laws banning unvaccinated Australians from leaving the country have been extended a further two months until April 17.

The laws, which have been in place since Australia's first lockdowns on March 18, 2020, also ban cruises and require pre-departure testing for international arrivals and mask wearing on flights.

Unvaccinated Australians need an exemption to leave the country. Travel for work, healthcare or a compassionate reason is allowed but holidays are not.

Australia's top doctors recommended the extension due to the Omicron wave which has affected the east, even though the peak has passed.

Biosecurity laws banning unvaccinated Aussies from leaving the country have been extended until April 17, Greg Hunt announced on Friday

Travellers near the Overseas Passenger Terminal by the Norwegian Jewel cruise at Circular Quay in Sydney in February 2020

'Whilst the peak of the Omicron wave has largely passed, the health advice is that this is an appropriate response while the Australian Government continues to develop and implement management strategies to mitigate the impacts of Omicron,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement on Friday.

Mr Hunt said cruising could be allowed before April if health experts give the green light.

'There was an agreement at National Cabinet that the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland agreed to work with the industry to implement new protocols to enable the resumption of cruising over coming months,' he said.

'The Commonwealth can remove the restrictions on cruising as soon as it is advised that it is safe to do so and the Minister will regularly review this advice.'

What does the extension of the human biosecurity period mean?  Mandatory pre-departure testing and mask wearing for international flights  Restrictions on outbound international travel for unvaccinated Australians  Restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels into and within Australian territory  Measures to prevent price gouging on rapid antigen tests  Restrictions to protect remote communities in the Northern Territory. Advertisement

It comes after the Federal Government on Thursday updated its vaccine policy on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

If anyone aged 16 and over doesn't get a booster shot within six months of their second dose, they will be classed as 'overdue'.

The new rule means anyone with an essential role - such as teachers, health and aged care workers, airport and quarantine staff, as well as food distribution and transport workers - could need to get a third shot or face the sack.

The rules are likely to differ from state to state.

The government has changed its policy despite the sustained drop in the number of Covid cases across the country.

There were 190,267 active cases in Australia on Thursday - the lowest number since January 2 and a drop of 77 per cent over the past 24 days.

Australians will no longer be classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they haven't had a booster six months after their second dose (pictured, a woman being vaccinated in Sydney)

'Under the new advice, a person is 'up to date' if they have completed all the doses recommended for their age and individual health needs,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

'ATAGI recommend that everyone aged 16 years and older receive a booster dose three months after their primary course, to maintain the best protection and an 'up to date' status.

'Further, ATAGI has advised that if it has been longer than six months since a person's primary course and they haven't had a booster, they will no longer be considered 'up to date' and instead will be considered 'overdue'.'

Scott Morrison announced this month that Australia's international borders will reopen to double-dosed tourists on February 21, after a two-year shutdown.

ATAGI said the updated advice will not impact international holidaymakers as the changes are focused on the domestic management of the virus and not international border settings.
A Pennsylvania college student and genealogy expert helped crack the 57-year-old cold case of a young girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered while taking canned goods to a church on her way to school in 1964.

Marise Ann Chiverella, 9, was last seen at around 8.10am on the morning of March 18, 1964.

Her body was found in a strip mine pit in Hazle Township, more than two miles away from her home, at 1pm. She had been beaten and sexually assaulted, police said, and the canned goods she was walking to the church were found near her body.

The case remained unsolved until Thursday, when police announced the murderer as James Paul Forte, a bartender who died of natural causes, possibly a heart attack, in May 1980.

He had been arrested for an unrelated sexual assault in 1974, 10 years after he's thought to have killed Chiverella.

Authorities were helped by Eric Schubert, 20, a student at Elizabethtown College who reached out to police two years ago and put together a family tree that helped lead them to Forte - a very distant relative who is not thought to have known Chiverella or her family.

Marise Ann Chiverella, 9, was sexually assaulted, beaten and murdered on March 18, 1964. Her killer had gone unidentified for 57 years until Thursday

James Paul Forte was in his early 20s when is thought to have killed Chiverella. He died in May 1980 of natural causes, possibly involving a heart attack

Police were helped by Eric Schubert, a 20-year-old student at Elizabethtown College who offered police his help two years ago

'This is a very important day for our department,' said Col. Mark Baron, the lead investigator on the case, in a press conference on Thursday, according to NBC News.

'Even though it took nearly 58 years for this case to be solved, I think this should instill in the families of victims across the state and across the country a sense of hope,' he said.

Barron appeared emotional during the announcement, at one point wiping tears from his eyes with a napkin.

'And that hope is that no matter how long it may take, we as law enforcement will never give up in trying to find the perpetrators of these heinous crimes that go on. God willing, in life or in death you will be found.'

Baron believes that Chiverella's is the fourth-oldest case in the country to be solved using genetic genealogy.

Chiverella's family remembered her as a shy girl who dreamed of becoming a nun.

'We have so many precious memories of Marise,' said her sister, Carmen Marie Radtke.

'At the same time, our family will always feel the emptiness and the sorrow of her absence.'

'This is a very important day for our department,' said Col. Mark Baron, the lead investigator on the case, who became visibly emotional during a press conference Thursday

Schubert became interested in genealogy at age 10. He has since helped out in other cold cases in Chicago and the Philadelphia area

Schubert stood with state police and Luzerne County officials on Thursday.

The 20-year-old college student became interested in genetic genealogy at age 10, according to WNEP.

'I was home sick a lot when I was a kid, so I would see genealogy commercials, and I would say, "Wait a second, maybe I could do that." And I thought it would be a two-week thing, but here I am, and I'm certainly thankful I started,' Schubert said.

He's helped out in other cold cases in Chicago and the Philadelphia area. He reached out to Pennsylvania state police when he was 18, two years ago, to see if he could help.

'Just reaching out and saying, "Hey, I think I know what I'm doing. If I'm not stepping on any toes, I'd be happy to help." I didn't think that would work. But it did, and I'm very thankful for that because I knew that I could at least potentially get this case a little closer to being solved. And in the end, you know I'm happy we could pull it off,' he said.

'We have so many precious memories of Marise,' said Marise's sister, Carmen Marie Radtke

The first break in the case came in 2007, when a Pennsylvania State Police DNA lab developed a suspect profile based on a DNA sample left on Marise's jacket, NBC News reports.

The DNA was entered into a national database and checked regularly.

In 2018, another break came when the DNA sample was sent to a genealogy database, where it matched to a very distant relative.

The DNA helped create photo renderings using just the suspect's DNA, predicting what he would've looked like at age 25, 40, and 60.

Schubert came in soon after. He put together a family tree based on the DNA and helped police search through census and military records.

'I'll never forget when Cpl. Baron was telling me that we had just gotten that match because, in that moment, I knew that we were going to find the assailant. We quickly worked our way up from that match to a match that in the end was over 1,000 centimorgans,' he said, referring to a unit for measuring genetic linkage.

Police narrowed a list down to four suspects, eventually landing on Forte.

Forte was in his early 20s at the time of the murder, which police believe was a 'random' attack.

Police believe he kidnapped Chiverella off the street before he beat her, sexually assaulted her, killed her and dumped her in a strip mine pit.

He worked at a local bar in the decades after the murder and was arrested for sexual assault in 1974, later pleading to a lesser charge and getting a year of probation, according to NBC News.

He was arrested on a minor charge in 1978 but didn't serve any jail time.

Authorities don't believe he ever got married.

Forte's body was exhumed in January. His DNA matched the sample collected from Chiverella's jacket in 2007.

Schubert said this was the hardest investigation he's been a part of, but that he hopes to help in others, according to WNEP.

Chiverella's mother, Mary, died before her daughter's killer was ever identified.

'She's on my mind every day," Mary told WNEP in 2009. 'Things we do, or somebody say something, it always reminds me of her.'

The victim's brother, Ronald, said Thursday that knowing his sister's killer brings the family 'a sense of closure.'

'No full closure we'll never have that, but a sense of closure that we know the individual that did it and that the individual isn't out committing the same crime and hurting other young girls like Marise,' he said.
A lawyer for the self-proclaimed 'Crocodile of Wall Street', Heather Rhiannon Morgan, 31, and her husband Ilya 'Dutch' Lichtenstein, 34, claim neither of them are 'flight risks' because Morgan has frozen embryos in the city.

The couple's lawyer, Samson Enzer, has urged a judge to allow them to be freed on $3million and $4.5million bail respectively, saying the fact neither of them fled when given the chance upon first being alerted to the investigation, proves they would not run from the law if now freed on bail.

Prosecutors are urging caution: It is believed the couple still have vast sums of money at their disposal which is likely hidden from authorities.

Furthermore, Lichtenstein has dual citizenship with Russia giving the couple a possible safe haven from which it would be particularly difficult for U.S. authorities to secure an extradition order should the couple choose to flee.

The pair, dubbed 'Bitcoin Bonnie and Crypto Clyde' by financial newsletter Morning Brew, were both arrested on Tuesday on federal charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the United States for allegedly laundering $4.5billion in Bitcoin stolen in the 2016 Bitfinex exchange hack.

If convicted, they face up to a maximum of 25 years in prison.

A lawyer for the self-proclaimed 'Crocodile of Wall Street', Heather Rhiannon Morgan, 31, and her husband Ilya ' Dutch ' Lichtenstein, 34, right, has urged a judge to allow them to be freed on $3million and $4.5million bail respectively

Prosecutors argued that the pair, who live on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, should be denied bail, calling them flight risks who still potentially have access to vast sums of money.

Lichtenstein, is a dual US-Russian national from Illinois, while Morgan hails from California.

The couple's lawyer claims the couple want to start a family and would not run away from her fertilized eggs.

'Morgan previously froze several of her embryos at a hospital in New York in anticipation of starting a family together, as she can only conceive through in vitro fertilization because she suffers from endometriosis,' the couple's lawyer Samson Enzer wrote in a filing.

In this courtroom sketch, attorney Sam Enzer, center, sits between Heather Morgan, left, and her husband, Ilya 'Dutch' Lichtenstein, in federal court on Tuesday

'The couple would never flee from the country at the risk of losing access to their ability to have children, which they were discussing having this year until their lives were disrupted by their arrests in this case,' Enzer explained.

Federal law enforcement officials said they have recovered roughly $3.6 billon in cryptocurrency - the Justice Department's largest ever financial seizure - linked to the hack of Bitfinex, a virtual currency exchange based in Hong Kong, whose systems were breached nearly six years ago.

Enzer also attempted to explain how well behaved his clients had been since they were alerted of the investigation into them.

'Both stayed put in their residence in lower Manhattan ... even after the government's investigation targeting them in this case' several months ago.

The couple say they have no intention of fleeing because Morgan has frozen embryos stored in New York because the pair had intentions to start a family

The court filing comes just days before the couple's next scheduled bail hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Judge Beryl Howell will then make a determination on what is best for the pair while they await trial.

On Thursday, Judge Howell ordered the pair to be brought to Washington for next week's hearing.

Enzer pleaded with Judge Howell for her to stick with the agreements already made with Manhattan federal court Judge Debra Freeman.

Freeman had set bond at $5 million for Lichtenstein and $3 million for Morgan together with added conditions of home incarceration and location-monitoring devices.

But the bail ruling was ultimately blocked after Judge Freeman took notice of prosecutors believing the pair to be a flight risk, reports CNBC.

Morgan was arrested on Tuesday in Manhattan, together with her husband, on federal charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the United States

'Judge Freeman correctly decided that the government has failed to meet its burden of showing that there are no bail conditions that would reasonably assure that Ms. Morgan and Mr. Lichtenstein will appear as required for further court proceedings in this case.'

'This court should uphold Judge Freeman's well-reasoned bail rulings,' Enzer wrote.

Their lawyer also noted the couple had every chance to flee since they were alerted to the government investigation into their dealings, but chosen to remain where they were.

'The government had law enforcement agents execute a search warrant at their New York residence,' Enzer wrote.

'Although federal agents seized Mr. Morgan's and Mr. Lichtenstein's travel documents, numerous electronic devices, and other property from their home on January 5 (and left a copy of the warrant indicating that it was granted as part of an investigation into a money-laundering conspiracy and other alleged offenses), the couple took no steps to flee,' Enzer explained.

The couple's lawyer noted that they had every chance to flee since they were alerted to the government investigation into their dealings, but chosen to remain where they were

'Ms. Morgan and Mr. Lichtenstein have no reason to flee to avoid the government's allegations, as the government's complaint reveals significant holes in the government's case against them, especially as to Ms. Morgan,' Enzer detailed.

'The money-laundering accusations in the government's complaint are predicated on a series of circumstantial inferences and assumptions drawn from a complex web of convoluted blockchain-and cryptocurrency-tracing assertions,' he added.

Enzer also stressed that the couple needed to be kept out of jail in order to prepare a defense for their trial and noted how Morgan suffers from various medical conditions including surgery to remove a lump in her breast and 'pre-existing lung damage from a prior bout of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS,' which put her at increase risk for catching covid.

Bail for Ilya 'Dutch' Lichtenstein, 34, right, and his wife, Heather Rhiannon Morgan, 31, was set at $5million and $3million respectively after their arrest on Tuesday but they have not been released

Earlier this week, the Justice Department shared more information as to the progress with the investigation.

It revealed on Tuesday that more than $3.6 billion worth of bitcoin linked the 2016 hack has been seized having allegedly been in crypto wallets controlled by the couple.

When the breach occurred, 120,000 bitcoins were allegedly transferred into a crypto wallet that Lichtenstein still had access to last month.

The bitcoin that was worth $71 million when the hack happened is now worth more than $4.5 billion.

Prosecutors also stated how despite having recovered 'the majority of the stolen funds, there are at least 24 virtual current addresses linked to the hack [and believed to be in the defendants' control] for which law enforcement does not posses the private keys.

'The remaining addresses contain about 7,500 bitcoin, which is currently valued at over $328 million,' prosecutors said.

'The defendants are sophisticated cyber criminals and money launderers who present a serious risk of flight and should be detained pending trial,' they added.



Photos of self proclaimed 'Crocodile of Wall Street' Heather Morgan who was arrested in New York over an alleged Bitcoin hack. Photos of Morgan were taken in June 2020

When Morgan wasn't allegedly shifting around billions of dollars in the world of cryptocurrency, she was taking to the mic and shooting rap videos.

The would-be corporate influencer raps about entrepreneurship, designs handbags inspired by ketchup squirts, and signs off from her motivational YouTube videos with the words 'razzle-dazzle.'

In a series of cringey videos posted to YouTube, the wannabe performer can be seen walking around Wall Street while reciting lyrics such as: 'I'm many things, a rapper, an economist, a journalist, a writer, a CEO, and a dirty, dirty, dirty dirty h*'.

Morgan's music videos, including the 2019 single Versace Bedouin, were all on her YouTube page until earlier this week. The page has been made private since her arrest.

One website which decided to wade through all of the footage suggested 'Laundering billions in Bitcoin may not even be the worst crime of her life.'

'When she's not reverse-engineering black markets to think of better ways to combat fraud and cybercrime, she enjoys rapping and designing streetwear fashion,' her Forbes bio states.

Heather Morgan, 31, who calls herself the 'Crocodile of Wall Street' (hence the croc pictured in her hand) also spends time creating low-budget rap videos and posing for quirky photoshoots

Social media users did also not hold back as viewers to Morgan's rapping footage gave their verdict

Social media did also not hold back as viewers to footage gave their verdict.

'This 'rapper' with an alias of RAZZLEKHAN aka Heather Morgan was charged today in NYC, with being part of money laundering scheme that involved Billions worth of Bitcoin. I believe she should have already been in prison for life for whatever this is,' wrote one user.

'It's like Fyre Festival in human form,' declared another while another declaringL 'this is the bigger crime!'

'I wanna know who the audio engineer was, and what they went through' asked another Twitter follower.

'Bass line sounds like a fart that never ends,' wrote DJ Goldman Sachs attempting to critique the offering.

Morgan says that she experiences synesthesia when music can be heard but shapes or colors can be seen.

Her website explains that 'Just like her fearless entrepreneurial spirit and hacker mindset, Razz shamelessly explores new frontiers of art.'

During the early stages of the pandemic, Morgan took some time out for a photoshoot

Morgan's songs, which do not appear to have attracted much notice before her arrest, also include lines like 'You don't even know me/Start a company at 23.' In that track, she threatens, 'Got no clue what I'm about/Could gut you like a trout!'

In her rap songs, Morgan proclaims herself as a 'real risk taker' and a 'bad ass money maker.' But the lyrics also take some odd detours, including calling herself a 'Turkish Martha Stewart,' the 'Crocodile of Wall Street,' or a 'Versace Bedouin.' ('Got the bling that win,' she adds.)

Morgan said in one video the business-meets-hip-hop shtick was a put-on - 'a hyperbole of myself' - but she seemed committed to the act. One rap video featured her in a gold track suit pacing across the New York financial district.

Morgan's other artistic pursuits include designing 'berazzled' handbags based on condiment squirts, and rings created with prosthetic eyeballs.

She has written several articles for Mic and Forbes, including one titled, in part, 'Tips to Protect Your Business from Cybercriminals.'

Morgan says that she experiences synesthesia which happens when music can be heard but shapes or colors can be seen. She is pictured bathed in red

Reviews of her rapping don't present her in the most positive light but it is still available online.

'Her delivery is tuneless, the bars are cringe and the accompanying music video isn't much better,' declared Engadget.

In one set of lyrics, Morgan can be heard rapping about the scheme she is alleged to have carried out.

'Spearfish your password / all your funds transferred,' she says.

'Always be a GOAT, not a god damn sheep,' she states in another.

'Spirit of a revolutionary, power of a dictator / love to be contrary, but I'm fly like a gator,' the rap continues in the low-budget looking video.

They don't get much better in another riff: 'Yes that was cheesy/at least I'm not sleazy,' she proclaims as her alter-ego named Razzlekhan.

In one song, 'Moon 'n Stars,' she raps about her husband calling him a a 'weirder version of Larry David' sampling him saying, 'I love you, I support you, but I don't wanna be involved.'

A picture of Heather Morgan, also known as 'Razzlekhan,' on a phone in front of the Bitcoin logo

On her website, Morgan calls herself 'Razzlekhan' or the 'Versace Bedouin' -- 'the raunchy rapper with more pizzazz that Genghis Khan.'

'I'm a real risk taker/pirate riding the flood/I'm a badass money maker,' she raps in one video in which she refers to herself as the 'Crocodile of Wall Street.'

'Come real far but don't know where I'm headed/Blindly following rules is for fools,' she says, gyrating on Wall Street wearing sunglasses, a leopard print scarf, and shiny gold jacket.

'Her art often resembles something in between an acid trip and a delightful nightmare,' Morgan wrote about herself on her website, Razzlekhan.com. 'Definitely not for the faint of heart or easily offended.

'Razz likes to push the limits of what people are comfortable with,' she said. 'Her style has often been described as 'sexy horror comedy.''

In total, there are about a dozen songs covering all manner of topics including one where the raps about smoking weed in a cemetery and a timely rap about social distancing in 'High in the Cemetery.'

In the track 'Cutthroat Country' she raps about phishing people's passwords. 'All your funds transferred,' she states.

Other songs discuss the American healthcare system and its flaws and how fake friends suck 'like a vacuum cleaner' in the song of the same name.

She adopts a freestyle rapping in another track about investing in GameStop, Ethereum, and Bitcoin.

Reviews of her rapping don't present her in the most positive light but her library is still available online

Lichtenstein and Morgan are thus far not charged directly with perpetrating the hack, but rather with receiving and laundering the stolen funds

Morgan and her husband are accused of conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin that was stolen, after a hacker attacked Bitfinex and initiated more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions

According to Morgan's videos and Facebook postings, she grew up in California, the daughter of a biologist and a high school librarian.

She graduated from the University of California, Davis, and went to work as an economist after doing graduate work at the American University in Cairo.

Morgan said she eventually became a 'serial software entrepreneur who started multiple successful companies' including one called SalesFolk.

More discreet online, Lichtenstein described himself on LinkedIn as a 'technology entrepreneur, coder and investor' and the founder of several tech companies.

In a Facebook post, he recalled how he proposed to Morgan -- 'my best friend and the woman of my dreams!'

It involved what Lichtenstein called a 'weird, creative multi-channel marketing campaign' that saw posters of 'Razzlekhan' plastered across New York City and her face on a Times Square billboard.

In one YouTube video, Morgan said her parents 'didn't have a lot of money.'

'I've also been totally broke and homeless multiple times,' she said. 'Money comes and goes. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't.

'It's really nice when you have it but nothing in this life is certain,' she said. 'Right now I'm basically living my ideal life.'

Morgan describes herself as 'an expert in persuasion, social engineering, and game theory'

Morgan, who raps under the name Razzlekhan, (seen in front of Federal Hall on Wall Street in a music video) declared herself the 'Crocodile of Wall Street' in one of her rap songs

Lichtenstein is a citizen of both Russia and the United States and the co-founder of an online marketing firm. Morgan, a rapper and former Forbes contributor, describes herself as 'an expert in persuasion, social engineering, and game theory'.

The August 2016 Bitfinex hack itself was one of the largest crypto heists ever recorded - so massive that news of the theft knocked 20 percent off Bitcoin's value at the time.

Lichtenstein and Morgan are thus far not charged directly with perpetrating the hack, but rather with receiving and laundering the stolen funds. The case was filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C.

The couple is accused of conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin that was stolen, after a hacker attacked Bitfinex and initiated more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions.

The couple is accused of conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin that was stolen, after a hacker attacked Bitfinex and initiated more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions'

The complaint alleges, the FBI and federal prosecutors were able to trace the movement of Bitcoin from this hack,' said Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

He added that the money moved through a major darknet exchange tied to a host of crimes, as well as cryptocurrency addresses tied to child sexual abuse materials.

Lichtenstein and Morgan are facing charges of conspiring to commit money laundering, as well as to defraud the United States.

Prosecutors said on Tuesday the illegal proceeds were spent on a variety of things, from gold and non-fungible tokens to 'absolutely mundane things such as purchasing a Walmart gift card for $500.'

The August 2016 Bitfinex hack itself was one of the largest crypto heists ever recorded - so massive that news of the theft knocked 20 percent off Bitcoin's value

Bitfinex said in a statement that it was to working with the Department of Justice to 'establish our rights to a return of the stolen bitcoin.'

'We have been cooperating extensively with the DOJ since its investigation began and will continue to do so,' the company said.

Bitfinex said it intends to provide further updates on its efforts to obtain a return of the stolen bitcoin as and when those updates are available.

Tuesday's criminal complaint came more than four months after Monaco announced the department was launching a new National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, which is comprised of a mix of anti-money laundering and cybersecurity experts.

Cyber criminals who attack companies, municipalities and individuals with ransomware often demand payment in the form of cryptocurrency.

In one high-profile example last year, hackers caused a widespread gas shortage on the U.S. East Coast when by using encryption software called DarkSide to launch a cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline.

The Justice Department later recovered some $2.3 million in cryptocurrency ransom that Colonial paid to the hackers.

Cases like these demonstrate that the Justice Department 'can follow money across the blockchain, just as we have always followed it within the traditional financial system,' said Kenneth Polite, assistant attorney general of the department's Criminal Division.

Morgan is seen rapping with the New York Stock Exchange behind her to the right

Justice Department officials say that though the proliferation of cryptocurrency and virtual currency exchanges represent innovation, the trend has also been accompanied by money laundering, ransomware and other crimes

'Todays arrests, and the Department's largest financial seizure ever, show that cryptocurrency is not a safe haven for criminals,' Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.

'In a futile effort to maintain digital anonymity, the defendants laundered stolen funds through a labyrinth of cryptocurrency transactions. Thanks to the meticulous work of law enforcement, the department once again showed how it can and will follow the money, no matter the form it takes.'
Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu (L, front) and Secretary General of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis (R, front) attend a handover ceremony for China-donated supplies in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 21, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR director for Asia and the Pacific, said China's increasing support and contribution to the UNHCR and other relief efforts through both bilateral and multilateral avenues are much welcomed.

BANGKOK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The resources provided by China to Afghanistan are helping the internally displaced Afghans to weather the harsh winter and COVID-19 pandemic, while China's engagement at political levels would facilitate a long-term solution in the country, a senior official of the UN refugee agency has said.

Some 3.5 million Afghan people remain displaced by conflict, 80 percent of whom are women and children that have been dependent on life-saving humanitarian aids, said Indrika Ratwatte, director for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based in Bangkok.

"It's a very, very dire situation in terms of the humanitarian needs," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview recently.

File Photo of Indrika Ratwatte, director for Asia and the Pacific of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo credit: UNHCR)

The displaced population are facing a harsh winter in Afghanistan since November last year which is expected to last till late February or early March. "Even when the snow starts melting, temperature in some areas could go as low as minus 20 to 25 degrees Celsius," he said.

There are also challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, as only 10 percent of the Afghan population have been fully vaccinated, which means vaccines, syringes and protecting equipment donated by the Chinese government were "very helpful".

In the interview via video link, Ratwatte expressed concerns over the poor health infrastructure in the country's rural areas, making such donations fundamental to the immunizations of the population.

"As we all know, with the new variant keeps spreading around, unless everybody is inoculated, nobody is actually safe," he said, adding that China has rolled out vaccination domestically in a successful manner.

Ratwatte said the UNHCR has put in extra efforts for Afghanistan, but as the coping mechanisms are being stressed out, more assistance is needed.

In January, the UN refugee agency launched a 4.4-billion-U.S.-dollar aid appeal for Afghanistan in its largest-ever humanitarian appeal for a country, according to Ratwatte.

People receive relief assistance donated by China in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2022. (Photo by Qamaruddin Poya/Xinhua)

He said China's increasing support and contribution to the UNHCR and other relief efforts through both bilateral and multilateral avenues are much welcomed.

According to the UNHCR data, China has been one of the public sector donors contributing at least 20 percent above the 2020 levels during 2021. The country's contribution raised from 1.77 million U.S. dollars in 2020 to 5.33 million dollars in 2021.

China donated a batch of core relief supplies through the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund in cooperation with UNHCR, which arrived in Afghanistan in November last year and helped the displaced people, returnees and host communities in Afghanistan brace the harsh winter.

"We do appreciate the increase in the Chinese government's contribution to UNHCR," he said. "We would obviously welcome the Chinese government to consider its multilateral support as well for UNHCR and continuing its bilateral support."

People receive relief assistance donated by China in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2022. (Photo by Qamaruddin Poya/Xinhua)

Ratwatte also pointed out China's contribution to improving the situation in Afghanistan went beyond providing medical and humanitarian resources. "We do appreciate very much what China has done, not just in terms of resources, but also trying to engage at the political level in Afghanistan to find solutions," he said.

"While resources are very important, obviously the engagement at a political level is appreciated to find solutions for refugees because that's what we all want to have at the end of the day," he said.

Ratwatte noted that priorities remain to ensure the 38 million people in Afghanistan to get dire support so that they could have a life, dignity and resilience. He called for the international community to come together and demonstrate the political will and ability to address key issues facing the Afghan people, including the funding of public services, health care and education.

"These are also very important things to be unblocked at a political level, and require resources to be devoted," he said. 
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Shaun White bowed out of the Olympics for the last time with a tear and without a medal and kissed goodbye to the sport he had dominated for twenty years.

The All-American hero went into his bid for a fourth Olympic gold with a loving good luck message from actress girlfriend Nina Dobrev.

She posted a picture of her with the athlete to her 25 million followers with the message: 'Did I mention I already won gold with you? Show 'em how it's done you f------ stud.'

White, 35, of San Diego, CA, who describes his girlfriend as a 'Hot Mess' is expected to marry the star of The Vampire Diaries now that he is putting away his snowboard forever.

He wiped away a tear as the adoring international crowd cheered him for what everyone knew was the last time at the Olympics and was hugged by opponents.

Shaun White broke down in tears after giving an interview following the men's snowboarding halfpipe final run on February 11

The snowboarder cried as he talked about his career following his last competition

White, 35, had previously announced that the 2022 Winter Olympics would be his last

White, 35, right, was hugged by Scotty James of Australia, who won silver

Shaun White's girlfriend Nina Dobrev posted a picture of the pair in the mountains with the caption: 'did I mention I already won the gold with you? show em how its done, you f***ing stud' ahead of the snowboarding legend's final Olympic run

White talked of his raw emotion and the difficulties involved in saying farewell to a sport he has loved and dominated for two decades and how was looking forward to having a family.

He said: 'Over the last few months, its been wild. (I have been pushing to give it everything I have, but then realising I am human.

'Ive spent an entire career not being human and doing what people thought was impossible. And then to have my ankle go and then my knee, and I had surgery before the season started.

'All these things wearing and tearing, so to put it down and to even get here, I was so thrilled.

'The thought I keep having is, "I'll be here doing this specific thing".

'This is the last time Ill be at a competition, stressed out about what points Im going to get, or is today the day I might really hurt myself trying to push the envelope, you know. Its hard to wake up every day since you were a kid and go, "Wow, Im going to do something really scary today and hope Im OK?"'

White has previously secured gold in PyeongChang in 2018, in Vancouver 2010 and in Torino in 2006 and finished fourth at Sochi in 2014.

Today he went into his final run having finished fourth in the first two jumps, but stumbled at his final attempt and the bid for a fourth gold was doomed.

The winner was Japans Ayumu Hirano who had to settle for silver against White in South Korea.

Silver today went to Australias Scotty James and bronze was won by Swiss Jan Scherrer.

White finished fourth with a best score of 85.00 and the US snowboarder Taylor Gold, 28, of Steamboat, CO, was fifth with 81.75.

Chase Josey, 26, of Hailey, ID, finished in seventh place with a best of 79.5.

White was pictured in action as he glided across the air in his last run of the competition Saturday

White landed back on the slopes, kicking up tons of snow as he competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics

White finished fourth with a best score of 85.00 and the US snowboarder Taylor Gold, 28, of Steamboat, CO, was fifth with 81.75. He is seen here training before the finals on Friday

He has previously won three gold medals in snowboarding for Team USA

White's girlfriend, actress Nina Dobrev, was at the Olympics cheering him on. White is expected to propose to her now that he is done with snowboarding

The snowboarding superstar appeared to enjoy the competition and congratulated the members of the next generation who had taken his crown.

And the veteran TeamUSA halfpipe athlete even found time to pose for a selfie picture with a fan in the crowd, following his second run.

White executed a brilliant routine including his patented Double McTwist 1260 and then a frontside 1260. But it was not enough to surpass even finer acrobatic displays by Hirano and James.

Asked if he had been inspired by White, Valentini Guseli of Australia who finished sixth, said: '100%. Shaun White has been one of the biggest faces in snowboarding my whole life.

To see him dropping into his last Olympics was really awesome. To watch him one last time and when he got to the bottom I got a bit teary just to see the legacy that he's leaving behind.

'I know he'll always be with us. He'll always be there.'

White executed a brilliant routine including his patented Double McTwist 1260 and then a frontside 1260

White said he was 'having some difficulty with my back leg' during the competition

White told reporters: 'The future for me is so exciting, there's so much I want to do in my life. So much to do, so much to live for, this is just the beginning for me'

White told of his pride at representing USA but said it was now time to retire.

He said: This is it for me. I'm so thankful to be here and so proud.

'I wish I could have landed my last run, but I was having some difficulty in my back leg for some reason, it was giving out on every run, I don't know why.

'Maybe it was the pressure, maybe it was just exhaustion.

'Really challenging, but that's OK, that's it, I'm done. I'm so thankful for my career, thankful to China for having us.

'It's been a journey, I'm just so happy, and thank you all from the bottom of my heart,' he said as he choked up with tears.

'A lot of emotions are hitting me right now, the cheering from the crowd, some kind words from my fellow competitors at the bottom, I'm so happy,' he said between tears.

'Snowboarding, thank you. It's been the love of my life.

'It's been a journey. I can't wait to see where this sport goes.

I'm so happy for Ayumu, to watch him nail that run. Incredible, I'm proud to stay here and cheer him on from here. I wish him and Scotty all the best.'

The Olympic legend broke down in tears when he was asked to talk about failing to make the podium.

He said: Sorry you're going to get me ugly crying here, but I'm not upset about the result.

'I would have loved to put it down. I made it happen for two runs and I couldn't hold on for the last.

'It's hard for me not get hung up on that last run, I wanted it so badly.

'I'm proud of the runs I put down, I'm proud to be here for my last goodbye.

'Just missed the podium, I would have loved to walk out there with everyone, for one last time but you can't always get what you want, you get what you need."

White claimed that the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics had been the highlight of his career but said he was pleased to have come to Beijing 2022.

He said: I was pretty happy with my last Olympics (he won gold at PyeongChang 2018), I was going for that comeback and I wanted it so badly, one more run to go and I nailed it. That was the highlight of my career.

'To get this bonus round, to be here, see these young guys competing, it's been such an enjoyable process and truly thankful to be here and still competing and even getting fourth. I'm proud of it.

'The future for me is so exciting, there's so much I want to do in my life.

'So much to do, so much to live for, this is just the beginning for me.

He added: 'All my fellow competitors were so kind, a lot of them patted me on the back and told me that the tricks in the sport wouldn't be where it is today without my pushing and I want to thank them for having me and supported me and let me do my thing.'

Shaun White breaks down with emotion after finishing fourth on his final Olympics run on February 11

White told of his pride at representing USA but said it was now time to retire. He is pictured here overcome with emotion after his final run on February 11

White said he was experiencing problems with his leg as he competed for the gold medal.

'I dont know why, but my leg was giving out on me during this competition. I guess it was the roll of the dice.

'Maybe it was nerves maybe it was something else, but I couldnt hold my edge going through the wall, so honestly, I was thrilled to put down a couple solid runs. I thought I was almost there to bump Jan Scherrer who won bronze, but thats OK.

'Honestly, I keep saying, if I got third, I would have wanted second. And if I had gotten second, I would have wanted more. This is just the competitor in me, but I am happy.

'I am happy to come back here and ride the pipe and have some fun and be a part of this sport. I think Ive earned that.

'I knew my leg wasnt holding, but I knew I had to do something to push the score up. I hadnt landed one of those in practice and thought maybe  hey, Im pretty lucky  maybe Ill hit it during the run and put it together. I barely made the first one, and so I knew going into that one it was all willpower to make it happen.'

He said of his stumble on his third run: 'You know (I was) sliding on my back, thinking, this isnt how I wanted it to go.

'You dont always get what you want, but I have to be thankful for everything I do have and what I have gotten in my career. Ive got to be happy for these guys.'

White sobbed as he remembered snow boarding pioneer Jake Burton who died from cancer in 2019 at the age of 65.

'I wish Jake was here He would have given me a big hug and said how proud he was.

Enough is enough. Its time to pick up the powder board, bud Its time to, you know, turn the page and open the door on whats next. Ive done enough.

Shaun White of USA reacts as he is hugged by coach JJ Thomas (left) after competing in his last event before retirement

Shaun White of the United States poses for pictures with his teammates, as he retires from the sport

Speaking on the current state of snowboarding, he said: 'Oh my god. It makes me proud. It makes me pretty emotional.

' Everybody was asking me what my legacy in this sport has been, and, Im like - youre watching it. These younger riders, they have been on my heels every step of the way.

'To see them finally surpass me is, I think, deep down what I always wanted, you know - to be beaten. I can finally walk away without feeling like I could have done this or I could have;

Reminiscing about leaving his last Olympic Games run and not coming away with gold he said: 'I wanted that (surfer) Kelly Slater pull-into-the-barrel moment, I wont lie.

'But just like the best of us - Tom Brady and Mikaela Shiffrin - dont know if shes done - but its hard. I

'ts hard to step into the spotlight and own it time and again, and to be that over time and to look at my career in a span.

' I cant help but look at every moment, and to be at the top of a sport for so long, that is a true, true highlight of my career and true thing I am going to hang my hat on.

'Three out of five (golds) Ill say it feels great. Yeah, goodness, Ill have to call Tom and go, "What are you going to do now?".'

Shaun White of Team United States reacts during the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Final on day 7 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 11

Gold medalist Ayumu Hirano (L) of Team Japan is congratulated by Shaun White (R) of Team United States after the flower ceremony for the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe

Shaun White competes during the men's halfpipe finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, on Friday

He added: 'Im so thrilled to turn a page, and Id love to have a family of my own. Id love to grow this brand I started with my brother, Whitespace, and we keep talking about how incredible it would be to - I dont want to beat these guys any more. I want to sponsor them.

'Its like, I cant help but thinking ... not to sign them, but to help their career and help guide thanks to my experiences and what Ive learned.

'I would be honoured to get that phone call from whoever to support and be a part of this sport in any way thats given me so much.

'I cant believe its over. Its wild.

'Its been a mixed bag of emotions. Its like, you know, every step of the way has been so incredibly challenging, and even old tricks that Ive done before to win medals are, all of the sudden, challenging again.

'Just because one day its working doesnt mean the next day its - its like that golf swing. Its there one day, and then its gone.

'Youve got to always maintain that skill set and that ability to put down runs and do it when it counts and, gosh, qualifying felt like winning. To put down that hammer of a run when my back was against the wall. My hopes and everything for this last final performance  its been wild, and its been up and down. 'Honestly, its been great. Training in Europe and enjoying the moment from injuries to Covid to coming back from all that.

'The entire thing, all the way up to this, its been the same. Its been this revolving door of emotions, trying to suppress certain emotions to get the job done but then say, hey look, youve earned it, enjoy it, every step. Collect the pins. Run out in the Opening Ceremony.'
A Mexican crime reporter has become the fifth journalist to be murdered in the country this year after an assassin walked into his office and opened fire.

Heber Lopez, the director of the online news site Noticias Web, was shot dead in the southern state of Oaxaca on Thursday, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said that two suspects in the killing were in custody and a gun had been recovered from them.

Rodolfo Canseco Gutierrez, director of the online news site RCP Noticias and a longtime friend of Lopez's, said the journalist covered crime and police news.

Witnesses said that around 6:30pm, Lopez was in his office when a white vehicle carrying two men pulled up in front, Canseco Gutierrez said.

One man got out, walked into the office and shot Lopez, he said.

Mexican crime reporter Heber Lopez (pictured, right) has become the fifth journalist to be murdered in the country this year after an assassin walked into his office and opened fire

Lopez, the director of the online news site Noticias Web, was shot dead in his office (pictured, police outside) in the southern state of Oaxaca on Thursday

Witnesses said that around 6:30pm, Lopez was in his office when a white vehicle carrying two men pulled up in front, Canseco Gutierrez said (pictured, police at the site)

Canseco Gutierrez said he had just had breakfast with Lopez on Wednesday. He said his friend had never told him he had received threats, but he did not doubt the killing had to do with his work.

He recalled that in June of last year, journalist Gustavo Sanchez Cabrera was killed by gunmen only about 20 minutes from Salina Cruz.

Lopez's murder follows those of four journalists in January.

On January 31, Roberto Toledo, a camera operator and video editor for the online site Monitor Michoacan was shot by assailants as he prepared for an interview in Zitacuaro, Michoacan.

The Oaxaca state prosecutor's office said that two suspects in the killing were in custody and a gun had been recovered from them (pictured, police at the site)

Lopez, the director of the online news site Noticias Web, is the fifth Mexican journalist to be killed this year

In the border city of Tijuana, crime photographer Margarito Martinez was gunned down outside his home January 17.

On January 23, reporter Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was found shot to death inside her car also in Tijuana.

Reporter Jose Luis Gamboa was killed in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz in an attack January 10.

Jan-Albert Hootsen, Mexico representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said via Twitter: 'The first six weeks of 2022 have been the deadliest for the Mexican press in over a decade.'
Western Australia has reported its second Covid-related death ever as cases surge with 51 new infections.

A man in his 70s, who had some underlying medical conditions, died at Joondalup Hospital north of Perth after catching the virus in the community.

The death is the first related to the current Omicron outbreak.

Premier Mark McGowan on Friday expressed his condolences to the family of the man and urged people to get vaccinated.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan broke the grim news to the state on Friday afternoon

'I'm advised that WA Health has no record of the man receiving a COVID-19 vaccination,' the premier told reporters.

'Omicron is here and if you're not fully vaccinated, the virus can find you and it can have tragic consequences.'

Mr McGowan said the man was believed to have acquired the virus after attending an event in Perth's northern suburbs.

'I think he'd been in and out of ICU and onto the ward,' he said.

'It's obviously very difficult for him and his family.'

The tally of 51 local cases reported by WA Health on Friday is a record for the state, which also posted 48 cases related to interstate and overseas travellers.

One million West Australians have now had their third vaccine dose, representing 49 per cent of the eligible population.

Earlier this month, Mr McGowan reneged on his promise to reopen the state to the rest of Australia on February 5, saying it would be reckless to allow thousands of cases to take off there.
Outgoing ABC 7.30 anchor Leigh Sales made a touching gesture to a complete stranger who was dying of terminal cancer, an industry peer has revealed.

Journalist Shannon Molloy recalled on Friday how he was helping his friend Clare Atkinson quickly prepare for her wedding seven years ago to her partner Lewis. Clare had been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 2014, at the age of 29.

During a 'down day', Ms Atkinson - a journalist who worked at the ABC in Sydney, expressed regret she would not be able to fulfil her journalistic ambitions.

In a LinkedIn post, Mr Molloy said: 'For a gift for her wedding day I reached out to her journalism heroes to see if they might send her a note,' Mr Molloy wrote.

'I'm talking the biggest names in the business - figures she adored and admired.'

Mr Molloy said that of those he had contacted, only Sales responded to him.

Of Clare Atkinson's journalism heroes contacted by her friend, Shannon Molloy, only Leigh Sales responded

Ms Atkinson with her partner, Lewis. The pair quickly organised their wedding after Ms Atkinson was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 2014

Clare Atkinson, who died in June 2016, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer at the age of 29

'She sent not just a card but a long and heartfelt note, along with an enormous bouquet of flowers, he wrote.

'Clare was so touched that a giant of broadcast journalism - one of the best interviewers in the history of Australian news - cared about her.'

Mr Molloy shared the memory in tribute after Sales, 48, revealed on Thursday evening's program that she is stepping down as anchor of the nation's premier public affairs program.

Ms Atkinson died from her illness in June 2016 after which Mr Malloy established the Clare Atkinson Memorial Scholarship through the University of Queensland, which both he and and Ms Atkinson had attended.

The scholarship provides flights, accommodation and industry placements for students, allowing them to work alongside professional journalists.

'Leigh was one of the first to donate, to support the launch, and to volunteer to meet with participants and host them at 7.30 for visits and internships,' Mr Molloy recalled.

'She has since opened other doors at the ABC for wide-eyed kids with a dream who've benefited, in honour of someone she'd never met.

'No favour was too big.'

'Clare was so touched that a giant of broadcast journalism - one of the best interviewers in the history of Australian news - cared about her,' Mr Molloy wrote of Ms Sales responding to his request for a message to be sent to his friend, Clare Atkinson. Pictured: Leigh Sales interviewing then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian at an annual Corporate Club Australia Business Lunch in 2019

Ms Sales shocked viewers with her announcement she was quitting the anchor role after 11 years.

The reason was quite simple - her 'two beautiful little boys' wanted to see more of their mum.

She told viewers she wanted them to hear the news from her 'personally', as she explained that she wanted to finally spend evenings with her kids after more than a decade.

Ms Sales said anchoring 7.30 has been 'the most amazing job and I'll never stop being grateful for the opportunities it's given me'.

'When I first started I didn't have children. And now I have two boys aged 10 and eight. And they've only ever known their mum at work four nights a week.

'They want me home with them before 8.30pm and I don't think that's too much for two little boys to ask and they're two beautiful little boys.'

She will step down later this year after the federal election.

Ms Sales shocked viewers at the end of Thursday night's 7.30 Report by announcing she was quitting the anchor role after 11 years

'Leigh is someone who's clearly never lost sight of where she came from,' Mr Molloy signed off his post.

'Her gratitude for her hard-fought success sees her give back without question in so many ways.'

Queenslander Sales graduated in journalism from the Queensland University of Technology and joined the ABC in 1995.

She covered NSW state politics before becoming the national broadcaster's Washington correspondent from 2001 to 2005, covering the Iraq War and a presidential election.

Ms Sales then became host of former current affairs show, Lateline, before taking the 7.30 anchor role in 2011.

She has also written three books, including one on Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks and two drawing on her experiences as a reporter.
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A state of emergency has been declared in Ontario after the Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to use its federal powers to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations blockading key border crossings to protest Canada's COVID-19 restrictions.

Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday declared a 42-hour state of emergency, threatening vehicle seizures, fines of C$100,000 ($79,000), jail time of up to a year, and suspension of commercial licenses to punish protesters who do not comply with orders to disperse.

'This is a pivotal moment for our nation. The eyes of the world upon us right now, and what they are seeing is not who we are, this is not what Canada is about,' said Ford at a briefing. 'As a province, as a nation, we must collectively draw a line.'

'We cannot have people occupying cities, holding them hostage, holding millions and millions of people hostage,' he said. 'To the occupiers: please, go home.'

Following Ford's announcement, there were multiple reports that police forces from around Canada were pouring into Windsor, Ontario ahead of a possible operation to clear the blockaded Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor with Detroit.

Separately, the mayor of Windsor asked for an injunction Friday afternoon to try to break up the bridge blockade, as parts shortages caused by the protest forced General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda to close US auto plants or cancel shifts.

With pressure mounting, protesters claimed they were reopening a single lane entering Canada on the bridge, as a purported show of good faith. However, Windsor police said in a statement on Friday afternoon that the bridge remained totally blocked, adding that 'negotiations remain ongoing with the goal of a peaceful resolution.'

Meanwhile, demonstrators surrounded Canada's parliament in Ottawa for a 'Jericho March' on Friday, the 15th day of protests in the national capital. 'We are now two weeks into the siege of Ottawa,' Ford said. 'Its an illegal occupation. Its no longer a protest.'

Biden and Trudeau spoke directly on Friday during a virtual meeting with other NATO leaders on the situation in Ukraine, but it was unclear whether they also discussed the ongoing US-Canada border blockade.

The White House on Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff. Details of the discussions were not immediately available.

On Friday the blockade halting traffic at the Ambassador Bridge crossing connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit entered its fifth day, disrupting the flow products between the two countries and threatening to shut down production at several US auto plants.

The bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario with Detroit, Michigan, is North America's busiest international land border and usually carries more than $327 million of goods per day on over 8,000 trucks, accounting for 27 percent of the approximately $400 billion in annual trade between Canada and the US.

Two other crossings, one between Alberta and Montana and another between Manitoba and North Dakota, are also currently under protester blockade.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called the protest an 'illegal blockade' that is causing an 'economic crisis' in Michigan.

People attend a protest to blockade the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit in Windsor, Canada

The closed Ambassador Bridge is seen on Friday. The bridge, a vital link where 25 percent of goods between the two countries passes on an estimated 10,000 trucks each day, has been shut down by truckers protesting vaccine mandates

Blockaders man the barricades at the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, as Ontario declared a state of emergency

People debate whether or not to open one lane of traffic on Friday as truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, in protest against vaccine mandates

Truck drivers and their supporters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday as protests in the Canadian capital and several key border crossings continued in a tense standoff over vaccine mandates

Three crossings are now blockaded, with the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit the most key for trade

Biden and Trudeau are seen together in 2016. Biden's administration is urging Trudeau's government to use its federal powers to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations blockading key border crossings

Trudeau is under mounting pressure to get the situation under control, with Washington calling on its northern neighbor to use federal powers to end the blockades.

Ford, who faces elections in June, has likewise been under fire for several days over his perceived inaction to bring an end to the trucker-led disruptions.

'We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the border is reopened,' Ford said on Friday as he threatened steep fines and jail unless protesters end their 'illegal occupation.'

'To the people of Ottawa under siege, I say we will ensure you're able to resume life and business as soon as possible.'

Premiere Ford acknowledged that Canadians have the 'right to peacefully protest when they disagree with what our government is doing' to stem the pandemic, adding: 'I know these frustrations have reached a boiling point for many Canadians.'

But he warned: 'This is no longer a protest.'

Truckers have 'taken a city of one million people hostage for the past two weeks' and have been 'targeting our lifeline for food, fuel and goods across our borders' while 'trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation, and chaos.'

'We're in a critical situation worldwide economically... the last thing we need is an anchor around our neck,' he said.

Canada's federal, provincial and local authorities have hesitated to forcibly remove the Freedom Convoy, reflecting apparently a lack of manpower by local police, Canada's reverence for free speech, and fear of violence.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens warned earlier this week that some of the truckers are 'willing to die.'

But the political pressure to reopen the bridge appeared to be mounting along with the economic toll. The Biden administration has urged Trudeaus government to end the blockade, and Michigan's governor likewise called for a quick resolution to the standoff.

'American legislators are freaking out, and rightfully so,' said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. 'Pressure is now being exerted by the White House on Trudeau to act more decisively.'

Following a march, dozens of truck drivers and their supporters gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday as a convoy of truck protesters against Covid mandates in Canada continues to block large parts of downtown in Ottawa, Ontario

Demonstrators gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday on the 15th day of mass protests in downtown Ottawa. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Ford also moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze $8.6 million in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. The Christian fundraising site, based in the US, said in a statement that the Canadian court had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million).

GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens has stepped up calls for the use of force to end the blockades, telling CNN that if 'the protesters don't leave, there will have to be a path forward.'

'If that means physically removing them, that means physically removing them, and we're prepared to do that,' he said.

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capital on January 23, have since Monday blocked the Ambassador Bridge.

They are protesting Trudeau's vaccine mandate, under which truckers driving international routes must be fully vaccinated, and though 85 percent of them are, many oppose the rules.

The snowballing trucker movement has morphed over the past weeks into a broader protest against Covid-19 health restrictions and Trudeau's government -- and sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad.

Protesters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill on Ottawa on Friday. The Biblical city of Jericho, as mentioned in Joshua 6, was a city of false gods and corruption

Over 400 vehicles have now joined the convoy in Ottawa, which has forced businesses to close and unnerved residents. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Trucks sit parked on Wellington Street in Ottawa blockading Parliament Hill as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

Ottawa citizens go to work as truckers block the streets near the Parliament Hill during a protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

A supporter, Canadian veteran from Cape Breton (Nova Scotia), takes photos of the truckers in front of Parliament Hill on Friday as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa

Truckers in Ottawa continue their protest against vaccine mandates on Friday. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Ottawa on 06 February

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Royal Canadian Mounted Police reinforcements are being sent to Windsor, Ottawa and Coutts, Alberta where another border blockade is happening.

Trudeau met virtually with leaders of Canada's opposition late Thursday and said he spoke with Windsor's mayor.

Liberal US pundits call for tough crackdown on Freedom Convoy As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force. 'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem. 'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added. Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.' Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary. 'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote. 'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias. Advertisement

Trudeau's office said there is a willingness to 'respond with whatever it takes' to end the blockades.

And with political and economic pressure mounting, Windsor Mayor Dilkens announced the city will seek a court injunction to end the occupation. He said: 'The economic harm is not sustainable and it must come to an end.'

In Ottawa, the epicenter of the protests, police were waiting on Thursday for a request for provincial and federal reinforcements to be completed.

They have made 25 arrests so far. Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly expects the reinforcements to arrive in the next 48 hours, ahead of a potential rise in protesters in the city over the weekend.

'This is an entirely sophisticated level of demonstrators. They have the capability to run strong organization here provincially and nationally, and we're seeing that play out in real-time,' Sloly told reporters.

'It is a significant risk that we're trying to mitigate and overcome, and as we get more resources, we will get better results.'

As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force.

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem.

'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added.

Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.'

Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary.

'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote.

'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias.

Conservatives in the US have largely defended the truckers, with Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, saying he hopes similar protests 'clog up cities' across the US.

'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal on Thursday. 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, to you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates.'

Rep. Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, told DailyMail.com on Friday: 'Americans are fed up with government mandates and it's time for the Biden Administration to listen to the people.'

'These mandates are going to cripple our supply chain, and the Democrats can blame freedom loving truck drivers, but the real blame is on the vaccine requirements at the border,' she added.

Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity cheered the truckers on while showing four live reports from Ottawa this week. Tucker Carlson's online store is selling 'I (heart) Tucker' T-shirts edited to say 'I (heart) Truckers.'

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a Fox News appearance on Friday: 'People should not have to choose between their job and their medical freedom. These truckers were frontline workers.'

'They have kept us going through the pandemic. They have kept working day and night. And they should not be demonized like we are seeing in Canada, and we certainly don't want to see this happen in our country. But, If the Biden administration had their way [on vaccine mandates], this is exactly what we're going to see,' she added.

A counter-protestor films on their phone as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against mandates in Ottawa

Protesters clash in Ottawa on Friday as a counter-protester argues with supporters of the Freedom Convoy

A person sits in front of Parliament Hill with fuel cans as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario

A man sits in a hammock outside West Block on Parliament Hill during a protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa

A supporter yells slogans against the government in front of parliament hill as truckers continue to protest the vaccine mandates in in downtown Ottawa, Ontario on Friday

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit's carmakers, some of whom are scrambling to find alternate routes to limit economic damage.

Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles 8,000 trucks a day, representing a quarter of all cross-border trade, or about C$500 million ($392.56 million) per day.

About C$100 million worth of auto parts cross the border each day, with many shipments timed to arrive just as manufacturers need them.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp have been impacted by the blockades.

Anderson Economic Group is estimating $51 million in lost wages just this week due to the blockade, ramping up pressure on officials to take action to resolve the crisis.

While Canadian officials at the federal, provincial and municipal levels have held regular meetings, they have had limited impact on the ground.

Ottawa Police lost their enforcement opportunity when the convoy first rolled into town at the end of January, said Carleton University criminologist Jeffrey Monaghan, adding they now have no good options.

Monaghan told Reuters the police could go in aggressively and risk a violent confrontation or they could tighten the screws - a longer-term approach that will likely anger residents.

Truckers are parked near Parliament in Ottawa as they continue protest against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's vaccine mandates which were imposed last month

Protesters wearing Canadian flags walk in front of a truckers blockade in Ottawa on Thursday as they continue to demonstrate against Trudeau's vaccine mandates which would forced international truck drivers to be vaccinated

A trucker waves a Canadian flag on Thursday as they continue protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates brought in by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month

A brightly dressed protester waves two Canadian flags while wearing a third during the Freedom Convoy demonstrations against Covid-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday

Protesters walk in front of a blockade of trucks parked outside the Canadian parliament building in downtown Ottawa on Thursday during a demonstration against Covid-19 vaccine mandates ongoing since January 29

Demonstrators against Covid-19 vaccine mandates block the roadway at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing on Wednesday evening as Ontario state officials move to impose more draconian rules in a bid to end the blockades

Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford (pictured) has moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze millions of dollars in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. Ford has called the protests an occupation

Trudeau on Thursday night said that he had been in talks about how to end the protests, which began in mid January and have caused significant economic damage.

The drivers set out from British Columbia on January 23 for Ottawa, and staged a protest in the capital on January 29 before taking their demonstrations across the country.

Over 85 per cent of truck drivers, and 90 per cent of all Canadian adults, are fully vaccinated and the protest has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

'This evening, I had several meetings that were focused on the illegal blockades and occupations happening across the country,' Trudeau tweeted.

'They're harming the communities they're taking place in  and they're hurting jobs, businesses, and our country's economy.'

Trudeau said he had held an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers and officials to discuss the crisis.

'We'll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need,' he said.

He said he had spoken to the mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, to offer his support.

'We're committed to helping the Mayor and the province get the situation under control  because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border.'

And he spoke to leaders of the opposition, urging them to unite with him and call for an end to the protests.

'Finally, I briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation and the latest developments.

'I stressed how important it is for all Members of Parliament, from every party, to denounce these illegal acts  and to call for an end to these blockades.'

After the meeting, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen said she wants Trudeau to 'take action to bring this to an end peacefully and quickly.'

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capitol on January 23, have since Monday blocked the bridge in a demonstration against Trudeau's Covid-19 vaccine mandate

Trudeau on Thursday night said that he had been in talks about how to end the protests, which began in mid January and have caused significant economic damage

Protestors and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday

People erect a tent on the blocked Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario on Thursday. The protestors could now face reprisals

A protester waving a Canadian flag walks in front of a truckers blockade in Ottawa on Thursday as they continue to demonstrate against Trudeau's vaccine mandates which would forced international truck drivers to be vaccinated

Justin Trudeau is seen on Thursday addressing a question in parliament. He is battling to quell the protests against his vaccine mandate

In the US, authorities braced for the possibility of similar truck-borne protests inspired by the Canadians, and authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades to head off disruptions there, too.

The US Department of Homeland Security said in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to 'potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities' in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues.

The agency said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union address, according to a copy of Tuesday's bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.

The White House said the department is 'surging additional staff' to the Super Bowl just in case.

The ban on road blockades in Europe and the threat of prison and heavy fines were likewise prompted by online chatter from groups calling on drivers to converge on Paris and Brussels over the next few days.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest US-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.

Ford said its Windsor engine plant reopened Thursday after being shut down on Wednesday because of a lack of parts. But the factory and the company's assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, were operating at reduced capacity, the automaker said.

On the US side, GM sent the first shift home two hours early Thursday at its Flint, Michigan, heavy-duty pickup truck plant due to parts shortages.

Stellantis cut short the first shift Friday at its Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, due to parts shortages.

Also, Honda will temporarily stop production on one assembly line during the day shift Friday at its plant in Alliston, Ontario. It's because of border delays. U.S. plants are scheduled to run normally Friday.

Toyota said three of its plants in Ontario closed for the rest of the week because of parts shortages, and production also had to be curtailed in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged Canadian authorities to quickly resolve the standoff, saying: 'It's hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable.'

Appearing on CNN, Whitmer called the protest an 'illegal blockade' that is causing an 'economic crisis' in Michigan.

'This is not just about the Michigan economy, this is this is for working people all throughout the Midwest,' she said.

A DJ plays as protestors and supporters attend a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge on Thursday

Protesters are seen in Windsor, Ontario, on Thursday night blocking the bridge

Hundreds of demonstrators in trucks have also paralyzed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks now, and have now closed three border crossings: at Windsor; at Coutts, Alberta, opposite Montana; and at Emerson, Manitoba, across from North Dakota.

The protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other Covid-19 restrictions and are railing against Trudeau, even though many of Canada's precautions, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants, theaters and other places, were enacted by provincial authorities, not the federal government, and are already rapidly being lifted as the omicron surge levels off.

Trudeau continued to stand firm against lifting vaccine mandates, including a requirement that all truck drivers entering the country be fully vaccinated. But because an estimated 90 per cent of the nation's truckers are already inoculated, some conservatives have called on the prime minister to drop the mandate.

The convoy has been promoted and cheered on by many Fox News personalities and attracted support from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The Associated Press identified more than a dozen Facebook groups encompassing roughly a half-million members that are being used to drum up support for the Canadian protests or plan similar ones in the U.S. and Europe.

To get around the blockade and into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area have had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a two-hour delay leaving the US.

The blockade is happening at a bad time for the US auto industry. Supplies of new vehicles already are low across the nation because of the global shortage of computer chips, which has forced automakers to temporarily close factories.

'The disruptions we are seeing at the US-Canada border  at the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge and at other crossings  are adding to the significant supply chain strains on manufacturers and other businesses in the United States,' the US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and Business Roundtable said in a joint statement.

'We respectfully urge the Canadian government to act swiftly to address the disruption to the flow of trade and its impact on manufacturers and other businesses on both sides of the border.'

A great-grandfather was handcuffed and hauled away by two Canadian cops for honking his horn in support of Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa on Sunday

Gerry Charlebois, 78, was brought to his knees and arrested in Ottawa on Sunday for allegedly honking his horn, a day before a judge outlawed honking in the city

The Ambassador Bridge is one of at least three being blocked by the truckers - others barricaded include a crossing in Emerson, Manitoba, which sees $55 million in trade a day and a bridge in Coutts, Alberta, where $34 million in goods crosses daily - largely related to the beef and cattle industry and produce.

On Saturday, protests are planned on the Peace Bridge which connects Buffalo, New York with Fort Erie, Ontario.

Dennis Darby, head of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters lobby group, said the blockades were harmful.

'It's bad for Canada,' he said, describing them as an 'own goal.'

Ford's restrictions are just the latest attempt to control the protesters.

On Monday, a court approved a 10-day ban on the honking of horns in Ottawa, the Ontario city and Canadian capital, after residents complained of the noise.

The day before the ban, a 4ft-10 inch great grandfather was handcuffed and arrested for honking his horn in support of the protesters in Ottawa.

A bystander filmed while two officers pulled over Gerry Charlebois, 78, for beeping his horn.

'What did he do wrong?' the bystander asked.

'None of your f****** concern, man,' one officer responded.

The six-minute video shows officers shouting back and forth, with furious onlookers and Charlebois as he protests his arrest.

Eventually an officer in a blue surgical mask grabs Charlebois to restrain him, and brings the vaccinated great-grandfather down to his knees in the middle of the street before handcuffing him against his van.

Charlebois sustained injuries to his arms, hands, shoulders and knees.

He was later fined $118 for 'unnecessary noise' but has not been criminally charged.
Gladys Berejiklian has been spotted out and about after landing a new job at telco giant Optus following her shock resignation as NSW Premier.

The 51-year-old was seen driving out of her Northbridge home in Sydney's Lower North Shore on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the day it was revealed she will join Optus in the newly-created role of Managing Director of Enterprise, Business and Institutional.

'I am excited and proud to join an organisation that impacts the lives of millions of Australians every day and prides itself in providing outstanding customer service,' she said in an official Optus statement.

Ms Berejiklian was seen smiling through her car window as she left her home amid some wet weather on Friday.

Gladys Berejiklian has been spotted out and about after landing a new job at telco giant Optus following her shock resignation as NSW Premier

The 51-year-old was seen driving out of her Northbridge home in Sydney's Lower North Shore on Friday afternoon

The former NSW Premier will now join Optus in the newly-created role of Managing Director of Enterprise, Business and Institutional

Security cameras that were once fitted on a telegraph pole near the former premier's home have now noticeably been removed.

Upon taking the new gig, it's unclear how much Ms Berejiklian will be making, but it will likely rival the $200,000 a year in superannuation she is set to receive when she turns 55.

Ms Berejiklian can also take out that parliamentary super - which she earned during her time as a state MP and premier - as a $2million lump sum.

In October, she stepped down as NSW leader over an ICAC corruption probe into her doomed relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire.

The move will come as a surprise to those who tipped her to follow in the footsteps of previous premiers and start a new role at the 'millionaire factory' - Macquarie Bank.

Upon taking the new gig, it's unclear how much Ms Berejiklian (pictured in November) will be making, but it will likely rival the $200,000 a year in superannuation she is set to receive when she turns 55.

Security cameras that were once on a telegraph pole near the former premier's home have now noticeably been removed

OPTUS' STATEMENT ON HIRING GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin: 'Gladys is a proven leader who demonstrated her renowned strength, leadership, discipline, and composure in successfully guiding Australia's largest state through one of the biggest challenges in its history while earning the support and gratitude of the community for her tireless contribution. 'She also builds and fosters loyal and dedicated teams who really go above and beyond for her. 'I believe she will be a game-changer for Optus. 'In bringing our business-focused teams together under this newly created role, I truly believe that our collective energies can deliver superior customer outcomes in market segments that continue to be dominated by the incumbent.' Gladys Berejiklian: 'I am excited and proud to join an organisation that impacts the lives of millions of Australians every day and prides itself in providing outstanding customer service. 'I look forward to working with Kelly and the Executive Team of Optus who are providing inspiring inspiring and innovative leadership in the telco sector.' Advertisement

Locals in Ms Berejiklian's powerbase on Sydney's north shore had said she was ready to start a new job at Macquarie and follow the career path of previous ex-NSW premiers, Bob Carr and Mike Baird.

The decision proved to be financially lucrative for both men.

Baird moved into finance with NAB in 2017 after stepping aside as NSW premier and was paid a reported $500,000 to work in their investment division.

At the time, Baird said he was quitting politics for good to spend more time with his family.

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said Ms Berejiklian's hiring was a 'game-changer' for the telecommunications brand.

'Gladys is a proven leader who demonstrated her renowned strength, leadership, discipline, and composure in successfully guiding Australia's largest state through one of the biggest challenges in its history,' Ms Rosmarin said.

'She also builds and fosters loyal and dedicated teams who really go above and beyond for her.'

Ms Berejiklian was the NSW Premier from January of 2017 until October 1 last year, when she resigned in sensational circumstances.

Ms Berejiklian enjoys a shopping trip in Sydney on Sunday with her boyfriend Arthur Moses after her resignation in November

It followed ICAC announcing an investigation into whether Ms Berejiklian had breached public trust or encouraged corrupt behaviour during her relationship with Mr Maguire.

The findings are yet to be released, with submissions due by February 15.

Last year's inquiry heard from public servants and MPs over two weeks, with many saying Ms Berejiklian should have disclosed her relationship with Maguire to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

Ms Berejiklian, 51, pictured outside Parliament House in September. She will join Optus in the newly-created role of Managing Director of Enterprise and Business

Ms Berejiklian defended her decision to keep the relationship a secret, saying it wasn't of 'sufficient status'.

This was despite later admitting the pair loved each other, had contemplated marriage and discussed having a child.

In December, Ms Berejiklian ruled out a return to politics amid talk she was going to run for Tony Abbott's former federal seat of Warringah, despite public encouragement from the prime minister.

Last week, she was again in the spotlight after a leaked text exchange in which she allegedly branded Scott Morrison a 'horrible, horrible' person and was 'more concerned with politics than people.'

Ms Berejiklian stepped down as NSW leader over an ICAC corruption probe into her doomed relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire

In the text exchange, leaked to Ten News political editor Peter van Onselen, the mystery Cabinet minister also branded the PM a 'fraud' and a 'complete psycho'.

Ms Berejiklian later stated she had 'no recollection' of the explosive text messages.

'Let me reiterate my very strong support for Prime Minister Morrison and all he is doing for our nation during these very challenging times,' she said.

'I also strongly believe he is the best person to lead our nation for years to come.'
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has hit back at claims China would prefer him as Prime Minister over Scott Morrison.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton made the allegation in Parliament on Thursday, saying: 'They have picked this bloke as that candidate.'

He then doubled down on his comments, telling the ABC on Friday: 'There needs to be a greater awareness, frankly, particularly from the Labor Party about the engagement of people who don't have our national interest'.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese (pictured on Thursday) has hit back at claims China would prefer him as Prime Minister over Scott Morrison

In a press conference on Friday Mr Albanese dismissed Mr Dutton's claims, saying: 'Well, it's just desperate, isn't it? It's desperate.'

He said the head of Australia's counter-espionage and intelligence agency has never raised concerns with him and then accused the government of being 'desperate for distractions' after a torrid two weeks.

'I spoke with (ASIO director-general Mike) Burgess today and he has reaffirmed that he has not raised concern about any of my candidates. I cannot be clearer than that,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping opens the Beijing Winter Olympics last week

'National security is too important to engage in game playing such as what we saw on the floor of the parliament, however much the government needs a distraction.'

The opposition leader's comments came after the Sydney Morning Herald revealed a Chinese spy ring attempted to install Labor candidates in NSW to get sympathetic MPs elected to parliament.

The plot was foiled by ASIO.

Mr Dutton referred to 'open source information' ahead of the newspaper's revelation when asked for evidence to support his claim Mr Albanese was China's preferred prime minister.

'If you look at the facts in this case, I think certainly from what I see, both open source and other intelligence, that I see it's a statement of the obvious,' he said.

'We're dealing with a very different China, the Chinese government or the Communist Party now than they were five or 10 years ago.'

Labor deputy leader Richard Marles branded the remarks as shameful.

'This has been a disgraceful attempt to politicise our national security,' he told the Nine Network.

'There is no one who takes national security more seriously than Anthony Albanese, in relation to the threat that China represents for the country.'

Condemnation followed from former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who labelled the comments as a 'reds under the bed' sledge.

'I think it's really reckless, I think it undermines Australian security, it uses matters of grave national security purely for crass political advantage,' he told ABC radio.

'I'm worried (the election) is going to get uglier... (Prime Minister Scott) Morrison should try to pull Dutton back in on that, it has no basis in fact.'

Talks about China were on the agenda for discussions at Friday's Quad meeting of foreign ministers in Melbourne.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese and Indian counterparts.
The biological father of Charlise Mutten, the nine-year-old allegedly murdered and her remains then put in a barrel, is raising funds for 'a beautiful public service' and has proposed a large public monument containing her ashes be built.

Scott Hensby also says part of the money will be used for 'excellent legal representation' in a 'wrongful death suit coming in the future'.

The grieving dad started a gofundme page entitled 'Charlise Mutten Funeral and Memorial OFFICIAL' in which he thanks Australians and other around the world for their support since Charlsie's alleged murder.

He writes: 'I am Charlise Mutten's biological father, Scott Hensby. This is the official GoFundMe page for Charlise Mutten. There is no other page.

'The support given within Australia and from around the world has been massive, and rightly so.

'This is a vile tragedy which has been followed by millions of people, all hoping Charlise would be found alive and well only to be crushed by the news of her body being discovered.

Charlise Mutten's biological father has proposed a public monument containing his daughter's ashes be built to honour the life of the nine-year-old allegedly murdered

Scott Hensby (above with Charlise) says his late daughter's funeral costs are covered but he would love to have a public service for her and see a large monument built in her memory

'People have been asking if there is a GoFundMe page available to donate for a funeral and memorial . This had to be discussed between family.

'The funeral costs for the entirely private cremation service are covered.

'We would use the money for a beautiful public service with the dignity and grace Charlise deserves,' he wrote adding a sad emoji.

Mr Hensby said the monument would enable people to 'come from all over to pay respects, all are welcome' and suggested public land could be donated by a council'.

'We would like to build a monument to Charlise, to remember what has happened.

'This incident can't pass by without being the catalyst for change. This will be a memorial of impressive magnitude.

'This monument will stand tall and proud, on a plot of land donated by Tweed Heads or Coolangatta council.

Scott Hensby says money could go towards 'a beautiful public service with the dignity and grace Charlise deserves and thanked Australians and people around the world for their support

Charlise vanished while on holiday with her mother Kallista Mutten in the Blue mountains in January and her body was later found in barrel

Kallista Mutten's boyfriend Justin Stein (above) has been charegd with the nine-year-old's alleged murder

'The location will be highly visible to car and/ or foot traffic.

'It will guard Charlise's remains or ashes here on Earth and each time a citizen sees it they will remember what happened.

'They will ask if anything has changed, did her death mean anything ?

'Did the politicians take notice of this ?'

Charlise Mutten vanished from the Wildenstein luxury wedding venue at Mt Wilson between January 11 and 12 this year and her remains in a barrel were located a week later on the Colo River, 65km away.

Charlise had been holidaying with her mother Kallista Mutten at Mt Wilsons and Ms Mutten's boyfriend, Justin Stein has been charged with her alleged murder.
A teenage girl who was arrested after she was accused of making threats against students and staff at a charter school at Pembroke Pines, near Miami in Florida, was framed by another pupil at the school.

Nia Whims, who is 13 and in seventh grade was arrested by police and placed in handcuffs outside her school in November.

She was detained and placed in juvenile detention for two weeks as a result of the initial claims.

School staff at the Renaissance Charter School where the girl attended, discovered menacing messages, including a bomb threat had been made against the educational establishment, which were all posted on Instagram.

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Nia Whims, 13, a student at Renaissance Charter School in Pembroke Pines was arrested in November 2021 after threats against staff and students were made

Nia, 13, was arrested, placed in handcuffs and detained for two weeks while an investigation was carried out

Nia Whims, wipes away a tear as she tells her story to Local 10 along side her mother Lezlie Davis, right

It was then discovered a younger classmate, aged 12, in the seventh grade at Renaissance Charter School, pictured, set up false emails and social media accounts under the Nia's name

So serious were the threats, the school was placed on 'code yellow' which signifies 'there is no immediate danger within the building or on the campus but a situation has arisen requiring all students and all staff to stay in the classrooms.'

Nia's family did not cooperate with investigators initially, according to NBC so the decision went ahead to arrest her.

She was placed into the back of a police cruiser while wearing handcuffs as she sobbed.

'Due to the exigent nature of the school threats and in accordance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, it was determined that probable cause existed to arrest [the teen] due to available evidence as well as multiple witness statements,' police said in a statement defending their actions on Thursday.

'It was determined that probable cause existed to arrest [Nia] due to available evidence as well as multiple witness statements,' police said in a statement defending their actions

The details of Nia Whim's wrongful arrest are details in police documents seen here

But in the three months since the arrest was made, the girl's family began helping police with their inquiries and obtained a subpoena for the IP addresses associated with the threatening messages.

'No mom wants to see their child being taken away from them,' said Nia's mom, Lezlie Davis, to Local 10. who insisted that there be a thorough investigation into what she believes may be life-long trauma for her daughter.

'Before you place a child in cuffs, there should be a thorough investigation, and a life shouldnt be scarred,' Davis said.

It wasn't until a month after 13-year-old Nia's arrest that police finally worked out she had been framed by a fellow female 12-year-old classmate, who has not been identified publicly.

The youngster had used all of Nia's personal information to create email addresses and a number of Instagram accounts under her name.

After doing so, the 12-year-old fired off several threatening messages to students at the school including herself in order to keep up the lie.

Nia was in tears as she was led away from her school wearing handcuffs

When questioned by police, the girl then lied in order to lay the blame with Nia.

'I kept telling them "I didn't do this", but they didn't listen,' she said.

Charges against the teenager were dropped during a court hearing on January 28.

During the hearing, the judge could be heard apologizing to Nia for what she had endured.

''Your case is being dropped today,' the judge said. 'Do you have any questions for me? Good luck. I'm really sorry you went through this.'

'It's okay,' Nia replied humbly.

The 12-year-old girl believed to be behind the threats has now been charged with written threats to kill or do bodily harm, falsifying a police report, penalty for disruption of an educational institution, and criminal use of personal information.

'It was heartbreaking that everybody thought it was me,' Nia told the Florida news station. 'I wanted to hide.'

'When it comes to our CHILDREN, educational institutions and law enforcement must make sure they do their HOMEWORK before putting students in handcuffs, arresting and detaining them for two weeks,' the accused girl's lawyer, Marwan Porter, said in a statement Thursday.

'It is very clear that the Pembroke Pines Police Dept. and others involved, failed to conduct a basic investigation into the false allegations which resulted in the arrest and severe emotional damage to my client. This could have happened to any one of our babies and we can not and will not tolerate it.

'My firm is conducting an investigation to identify those responsible for this travesty and will be pursuing all options available to hold them accountable.'
A Cooper's hawk was rescued from a Bronx subway after it's thought to have chased a pigeon in - but couldn't figure a way out.

The hawk had been squatting in the Westchester Square-East Tremont Ave station where it was seen perched on a pipe for the past few days.

New York straphangers, more used to the city's rats and pigeons, alerted agents.

A gent Paul Flores then contacted the Audubon Society, noticing the bird was 'in some sort of distress and just tired of flying back and forth'.

'It needed help just getting out of the station and it would be alright after that,' Flores told ABC.

A Cooper's hawk was captured and rescued on Wednesday night after it was trapped in a Bronx subway station

The hawk was seen perched on top of a pipe at the Westchester Square-East Tremont Ave station

The Society put him in touch with a volunteer who eventually caught the hawk. Bobby Horvath, a retired firefighter with the Wildlife in Need organization, used an 18 foot net to capture the bird on Wednesday night.

'He was exhausted and he had a slight tumble, so I was able to net him on a step,' Horvath told the network.

Horvath also added that the hawk likely would not have entered the station unless it was to catch prey such as a pigeon or smaller bird.

'There's no reason for him to go back down low unless he was catching food,' he added.

The bird was later released at Pelham Bay Park on Thursday afternoon

The bird is said to be lucky to have fully recovered from the incident as approximately half of rescue animals never make back out into the wild due to the severity of their injuries.

Animal rescue volunteer Bobby Horvath used an 18-inch net to capture the hawk and set it free

It is believed that the hawk had gotten into the station after chasing a pigeon or small bird

Station agent Paul Flores made multiple calls to help free the bird after noticing its struggle

This is not the first time a bird rescue took place in a subway station after a swan was transported on a car to an animal shelter by a Good Samaritan.

In 2020, an animal rescue worker found an injured swan while at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

The worker was able to bring the animal to a clinic with the help of other NYC residents who helped to transport her and the swan to a nearby train station as she had only brought her bike.

The bird then rode on the A train from Howard Beach station to Nostrand Avenue.

It was then treated at the Wild Bird Fund and recovered with the help of the worker and her colleagues at the organization.

Horvath released the hawk at Pelham Bay Park on Thursday afternoon
TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday that dispatching a comprehensive team to the talks in Vienna on the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal shows the Islamic Republic's serious will to pursue a diplomatic solution.

Raisi made the remarks during his meeting with foreign ambassadors to Iran on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to the Iranian presidency's website.

"Everyone knows the Islamic Republic has never left the negotiating table and has always entered talks with determination and initiatives," he said.

Raisi added the current situation regarding the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is the consequence of U.S. failure to honor its promises under the agreement and certain parties' inaction to the sanctions.

The Iranian president stressed pursuing a diplomatic approach will be effective and sustainable only when all sides show commitment to it in practice.

He noted that Iran has always highlighted the importance of peaceful coexistence and the establishment of appropriate and balanced relations with other countries without any foreign interference, as well as the need to pursue dynamic and constructive diplomacy to resolve regional and international problems.

Raisi said, using weapons of mass destruction is in no way part of Iran's military plans and defense doctrine, noting that "we have always announced that our nuclear activities are solely focused on peaceful purposes and aimed at taking transparent and legal advantages from technology in energy, industry, agriculture and medical sectors." 
Police have swooped on a 19-year-old who was allegedly found with disturbing child abuse material on his phone, laptop and iPad.

Australian Federal Police officers busted down the door of the teenager's home in Peakhurst, Sydney's south, on Thursday following a tip off from INTERPOL.

The man is due to face Sutherland Local Court on Friday charged with seven serious child abuse offences including accessing, producing, publishing, and distributing child abuse material.

Police have swooped on a 19-year-old who was allegedly found with disturbing child abuse material on his phone, laptop and iPad (stock image)

Investigators from the AFP's Eastern Command Child Protection Operations team executed a search warrant on the man's home after a tip from INTERPOL about the alleged online grooming of a child in Luxembourg, a small European country.

During their search police seized an Apple iPhone, a laptop, and an iPad which they allege contained disturbing child abuse material.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Amanda Thompson said the AFP works closely with their international partners to stop child predators online.

'This is another example of how offenders use various social media platforms to groom and abuse children and target our community's most vulnerable,' she said.

'Any website that allows users to interact freely with one another is a platform that offenders can use to groom children.'

During their search of the man's home police seized an Apple iPhone, a laptop, and an iPad which they allege contained child abuse material
A desperate mother has pleaded for help finding the truck driver who ran her daughter off a bridge, sending the vehicle plummeting 10 metres into a river.

Rebecca Klinge is also asking for the public's help to find a mysterious hero who drove Paige Johnston to the hospital after she was trapped in the wreckage with chemicals burns for and hour.

The 23-year-old's red VZ commodore was clipped by a truck on Thursday, sending the car hurtling off the side of Devlins Bridge near Yea, 133km north of Melbourne, at about 1pm.

Ms Klinge who posted photographs of her daughter's car upside down in the river on social media, told Daily Mail Australia, the driver did not stop leaving Ms Johnston trapped in the wreckage.

Victoria Police said they have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash but investigations are underway.

The 23-year-old's vehicle (pictured) was clipped by a truck on Thursday, sending the car hurtling off the side of Devlins Bridge near Yea, 133km north of Melbourne, at about 1pm

Rebecca Klinge is also asking for the public's help to find a mysterious hero who drove Paige Johnston (pictured) to the hospital after she was trapped in the wreckage with chemicals burns for and hour

'She was in the water for at least an hour which gave her hypothermia,' Ms Klinge said.

'She managed to free herself from the car and get to the water's edge where she started pulling herself up the cliff using grass and rocks as her legs were like jelly.

'She heard a car coming and started screaming 'help me', lucky the driver heard her and ran to help her. He put her in his car and raced her to Yea hospital.'

Ms Johnston was then airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne where she is recovering from chemical burns after fluids from the engine leaked onto her skin.

'The burns very painful but she's extremely lucky to get out with no major breaks or head injuries,' Ms Klinge said.

Ms Johnston also had a 10-week-old puppy named Lilo in the car with her at the time which was found alive seven hours after the crash.

Ms Johnston's 10-week-old puppy named Lilo miraculously survived the crash and was rescued seven hours later (pictured)

Ms Klinge made a post on Facebook on Thursday asking for help identifying the man that helped 'save' her daughter.

'I'm trying to find the man that saved my daughter this afternoon. It's truly... a miracle she is still alive. I would really like to thank him in person,' she wrote.

Ms Klinge also called for anyone with information about the crash to come forward and contact Yea or Wallan police.

'Please if your were driving along during this time and you seen anything. We would appreciate info you may have,' she wrote.

By Friday night the post had been shared almost 400 times as users sent well wishes to the family and offered their help.

Luckily the woman was able to escape the car and flag down a passing motorist who took her to the hospital with serious injuries. Pictured: Devlins Bridge in Victoria

Commenter Adam Neeves from Drivetrain Education offered free lessons to Ms Johnston once she was well enough to drive again.

'It is likely that your daughter will have a lot of anxiety about driving again, I have a lot of experience with rehabilitation work and I would be happy to help her regain her confidence, at no cost to you. Consider it a donation!,' he wrote.

Ms Klinge said she is extremely grateful to those who have shared her post and reported information.

'To the people that have shared my post, sent well (wishes) and also have helped with different other things to do with the accident and the bridge, I really can't find the words that could ever thank them enough for helping and caring about my daughter. The support has been truly amazing and we are forever grateful,' she said.
Gatwick Airport will reopen its south terminal next month to meet expected strong demand this summer - as the nightmare of travel under Covid restrictions finally lifts.

The terminal has been dormant since June 15 2020 to reduce costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the flying transport hub will reopen on March 27, sparking more services and hopefully more customers.

It comes as changes to the UK's coronavirus travel rules started at 4am this morning which mean fully jabbed passengers no longer need to test on arrival.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: 'After an incredibly challenging two years for the airport, our partners, local communities and the entire aviation industry, we are delighted to be reopening our south terminal next month.

'Following some major announcements from our airlines about significantly increased flying schedules, and from Government on removing travel restrictions and airport slot regulations, we can now look forward to once again operating a busy Gatwick this summer and beyond.'

Heathrow reported that demand for flights in January was 'weaker than expected' and more than 56% down on pre-pandemic levels.

Gatwick's south terminal had been closed since June 15, 2020, after the Covid pandemic

Reopening decision by Gatwick has been taken ahead of expected increase in demand

More than 1.3 million passengers cancelled or did not book flights to or from the west London airport because of restrictions related to the Omicron coronavirus strain in December and January, the airport said.

Some 2.6 million passengers used Heathrow last month, which was nearly a four-fold increase on January 2021 when international leisure travel to and from the UK was banned.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: 'After a tough Christmas, Omicron has continued to bite and this has been a weak start to the year.

'As short-lived as the additional travel restrictions were, they ruined the travel plans of more than 1.3 million passengers in the last two months.

'Today's removal of restrictions for vaccinated passengers in and out of the UK offers a ray of hope, but the Omicron hangover proves demand remains fragile, and at risk to new variants of concern.'

A plane landing at Gatwick Airport who has announced it will reopen its south terminal again

The travel news comes on the same day testing for vaccinated UK arrivals is axed for good

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said testing axe shows that the UK is 'open for business'

Time to go! Travel rules from today explained - When do the changes come into effect? On Friday at 4am. - What are the new rules for fully vaccinated travellers? They do not have to take any coronavirus tests. - What was the previous situation? They were required to buy a post-arrival lateral flow test, costing around 20 each. - What about if I am unvaccinated You do not need to self-isolate after you arrive. But you must take a pre-departure lateral flow test, and a post-arrival PCR test. - How is that different to before? Travellers who are not fully vaccinated were previously required to self-isolate on arrival and take two post-arrival PCR tests. - What about the passenger locator form? All arrivals must continue to fill this in. The UK Government has pledged to simplify the form following complaints it is too complicated. - How about other countries? Many popular holiday destinations such as Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey do not require fully vaccinated UK holidaymakers to take a test before they arrive. France requires arrivals to have evidence of a negative test taken within 48 hours of departure, although there is speculation that will be dropped shortly. Advertisement

Now fully vaccinated travellers arriving no longer need to take any Covid tests.

Passengers still have to fill out a passenger locator form, confirming their vaccination status, travel history and contact details.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'The UK has eased international travel measures for COVID-19 and now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world  sending a clear message that we are open for business.

'As our travel sector rapidly recovers, and we accelerate towards a future where we want travel to remain open for good, these rule changes coming ahead of half term are good news for families, businesses and the travel sector.'

The boost coincides with hundreds of thousands of people are embarking on a half-term getaway.

Travel trade organisation Abta described the easing of restrictions as a new chapter for the industrys recovery.

Turkey, Egypt and Portugal are among the most popular short-haul destinations, while departures to the US state of Florida, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean have sold well for longer-haul holidays, according to Abta.

Ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland are also in demand.

Stansted Airport told Abta it is expecting around 200,000 passengers to depart between February 11 and 18.

Other airports to provide figures for the half-term getaway include Gatwick (186,000 passengers), Manchester (160,000 passengers), Luton (55,000 passengers), Bristol (55,000 passengers) and East Midlands (17,000 passengers).

The UKs rules for arriving travellers will be eased from 4am on Friday.

People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a post-arrival lateral flow test, which typically costs around 20 each.

The requirement for unvaccinated arrivals to self-isolate will be dropped, but they will still need to take tests.

Andrew Flintham, managing director for TUI UK, said bookings for February half-term and Easter were now comparable to 2019.

There remains a huge pent-up demand for international travel and weve seen strong and sustained booking patterns since the announcement as customers look to go abroad with ease and without the added expense of testing, he said.

Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways also welcomed the changes but added: We hope that other countries will soon catch up with the UKs pragmatic approach.

A poll of 2,000 UK consumers commissioned by Abta indicated that 64% of families with children under 16 say the limited opportunities to travel during the pandemic have made their holidays more important to them than before.

The travel associations director of communications Graeme Buck said: Todays changes to the travel rules are the start of a new chapter for the travel industrys recovery.

Testing has been one of the biggest barriers to travel, so its hugely welcome that the process of travelling abroad is now much cheaper and easier for millions of UK holidaymakers.

Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar said more than 125,000 people are booked to travel between the UK and the Continent during the school holiday.

The busiest day will be Friday, when more than 16,000 passengers are booked to travel.

Several services are sold out.

Eurostar chief commercial officer Francois Le Doze said: With travel restrictions between the UK and France lifting, we are seeing a surge in leisure traffic both in the short term and looking further ahead to spring and early summer.

We have as many passengers booked to travel in February half-term as we had across the whole of January which shows the potential for recovery and the appetite for travel between the UK and the Continent.

UK holidaymakers travelling abroad must still follow the coronavirus regulations that apply at their destination.

Spains requirement for children over 12 to be fully vaccinated led many UK families to cancel plans to visit the Mediterranean country over half-term.
Cressida Dick's No2 at Scotland Yard could face a Partygate timebomb after her dramatic resignation with a permanent replacement thought to be months away.

Deputy commissioner Steve House could be left trying to manage the fallout from the criminal investigation into Boris Johnson's Downing Street after Dame Cressida announced she will only stay on for a 'short period' to ensure 'stability'.

It is understood the process of identifying a replacement will take 'months not weeks', with Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan gearing up for a clash.

The Met has insisted that Dame Cressida's resignation will have no impact on the probe - named Operation Hillman - which is being overseen by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors.

But the organisation's leadership will inevitably need to handle the political implications of what the investigation dredges up. Sir Stephen, 65, was previously chief constable of Police Scotland before being appointed to his current role in 2018.

Meanwhile, Tory MPs have told MailOnline of growing alarm that the Partygate probe will drag on as late as April - and potentially cripple their local election campaign.

Mr Johnson was accused of trying to 'bully' police today after allies warned Scotland Yard against 'deciding who the Prime Minister is'.

Senior Tory MPs and Mr Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings were among those who urged the PM to distance himself from remarks made to the Times.

As the Metropolitan Police prepares to question up to 50 people in No10 about illicit gatherings during lockdown, a friend of the PM suggested the PM should not be fined if found to have broken the law.

'There is inevitably a degree of discretion here - do you want the Metropolitan Police deciding who the prime minister is? They have to be very certain,' they told the paper.

'If he does get one, it would be odd if the discretionary action of the police determines the future of the country.'

A Downing Street spokeswoman tried to cool the row, saying: 'This government has always backed the police and fully respects their complete independence to carry out inquiries without fear or favour.'

Deputy Met Commissioner Stephen House (right) could be in temporary charge of the force when the Partygate investigation is completed

Scotland Yard is reassessing its decision not to probe a quiz night at Christmas 2020 where he was pictured with an aide dressed in tinsel, with sparking wine on the table in front of them

The remarks were slammed by Mr Cummings, a former associate turned critic of the PM. Writing on Twitter he agreed with a senior law expert, Professor Mark Elliott, who said the 'implication that Police should think more carefully before issuing someone with a fixed penality because they're the PM is abhorrent to the rule of law'.

Tory MP Bob Neill also criticised the remarks today, saying: 'It is completely inappropriate to suggest that there should be any special treatment for anyone involved in these inquiries and any suggestion of political pressure on the police is completely reprehensible. No 10 would do well to disown it.'

Sunak squirms in TV Partygate questioning Rishi Sunak appeared to suggest that he does not expect to be asked to fill out a police questionnaire about his involvement in a No 10 event that possibly broke Covid rules. Scotland Yard has said it will be sending formal legal questionnaires by the end of the week to more than 50 individuals, from whom officers involved with Operation Hillman - the probe into so-called 'partygate' - wish to hear, regarding the 12 events they are investigating. Rishi Sunak has previously confirmed that he was at one of the events subject to Metropolitan Police inquiries - a birthday do held by Downing Street staff and the Prime Minister's wife Carrie Johnson for the Prime Minister on June 19 2020. However, the Chancellor has insisted that he had been present at the Cabinet Room on the day in question for a routine meeting to discuss the pandemic situation. On Friday, Mr Sunak told Sky News he had not received a questionnaire from the Met and, asked whether he expected to receive a form to complete, he replied: 'No... well, I don't know.' The Treasury chief also said he did not think he had broken Covid rules. When asked last week about the birthday celebration, at which one minister described the Prime Minister as being 'ambushed by cake', Mr Sunak said he went to the Cabinet Room as he had for '100, 200, God knows how many other Covid meetings'. Pressed on Friday about whether he still has confidence in Mr Johnson, the Chancellor added: 'The Prime Minister has my total support.' Advertisement

The Prime Minister has refused to to confirm that he would step down if Scotland Yard hand him a fixed penalty notice after their investigation into lockdown gatherings in Downing Street.

But a senior Tory MP today predicted that Mr Johnson will face a 'multitude' of no-confidence letters if he is fined. It takes 54 sent to 1922 committee chair Sir Graham Brady to trigger a formal vote.

'Everyone is waiting for the police investigation and the Sue Gray report to be released. At that point the facts will be available, and it is that point when Boris faces the biggest risk,' the MP said.

'My personal view is what will happen is in the event he is fined that is when this multitude of letters will go in.'

MPs who know Sir Graham well say he seems 'supremely relaxed' about how many letters are in.

'He's not even twitchy,' one friend said.

There is understood to be no prospect of a vote being called before the Commons returns from recess on February 21.

One veteran MP ridiculed speculation about how many letters had been sent.

'There are three sorts of people. There are those that say they have submitted a letter and have, those that say they have but haven't, and there are those that have submitted a letter but don't tell anyone,' they said.

There is also growing alarm about the timescales in the police investigation.

Detectives are emailing out question forms to more than 50 suspects and witnesses - potentially including the PM - as early as today.

They will have seven days to fill out the forms giving any explanation for their involvement in alleged lockdown-busting gatherings.

But there are claims that Mr Johnson and others have been seeking legal advice.

The senior MP said: 'People are going to go and think about this, carefully consider it. Apparently Boris has hired a lawyer to go through the details. People will ask, ''am I self-incriminating''.

'People will take advice on what the position is on answering these questionnaires.

'People could say 'no comment'.'

'There will be people who don't reply in time, they will do follow-ups what if people are on holiday out of the country?

'We are in recess now, it's a time people will go away skiing and the like. That is going to delay things.'

The MP suggested that police will then need weeks more to sift the evidence, and the process might still not be finalised in April.

That would be perilously close to crucial local elections - where a dire performance could spark a fresh bid to overthrow the PM.

They pointed out that civil service 'purdah' begins at the end of March, although in this case it only means controversial local government decision should not be taken and should not affect the police.

'That is the trouble,' the Tory said. 'It's what a lot of our councillors and candidates are concerned about - Will people be voting on the record of their local authority or will they be voting on how the feel about what's gone on in No10?'

Those found to have breached Covid restrictions could face fines of around 100 for attending, with Mr Johnson said to have been at events that are under investigation.

Scotland Yard is reassessing its decision not to probe a quiz night at Christmas 2020 where he was pictured with an aide dressed in tinsel, with sparking wine on the table in front of them.

A senior Tory MP told the FT 'a confidence vote would be on the cards straight away', adding: 'Johnson's position is not sustainable if he or his team are served with a fixed-penalty notice . . . it will be impossible to govern with any sort of credibility.'

It came as a junior Government aide was revealed to have told voters the PM's position was 'terminal'.

Telford MP Lucy Allan, a political private secretary to Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, made the admission in a letter last week, but has since publicly supported the Prime Minister.

She told the Politico website: 'The phrase ''terminal'' was used in one letter to one constituent. At the time of writing to that constituent the PM's position did indeed appear ''terminal'' but that is not the case today.

'The PM is building a new team and is earning back support. But of course, there may be more to come out including the outcome of a police investigation.'

The Chancellor appeared to suggest that he does not expect to be asked to fill out a police questionnaire about his involvement in an event that possibly broke coronavirus lockdown rules.

Tory fury at Boris Johnson's attempt to 'kowtow' to China Tory MPs have accused Boris Johnson of trying to 'kowtow' to China after it emerged he is seeking new trade talks with Beijing. They reacted with astonishment that he is seeking to warm relations at a time when the Communist regime faces global condemnation over human rights abuses while flexing military muscles. The Prime Minister personally instructed the Department for International Trade to restart talks that stalled in 2018, the Political website reported. It is the latest row involving China to engulf the PM, a self-confessed Sinophile. His new director of communications, Guto Harri, is a former lobbyist for telecoms firm Huawei, which has been banned from involvement in the UK's 5G network over espionage fears. Former Tory leader and minister Sir Iain Duncan-Smith told Politico: 'If this government decides that they are going to kowtow to China by going over there and begging them to trade I have to tell you that they can think again. 'I make no bones about this: I will not let it rest if we start now, amid all the evidence of genocide, brutality, crackdowns on peaceful protesters, and go traipsing along there as though nothing happened. There's no good them telling us that they're going to clean up their act  because they never do.' Last March Beijing slapped sanctions on MPs and academics critical of the Xi regime. The Government reacted with fury as nine China hawks - plus four UK institutions - were targeted by the Communist regime for speaking out on its human rights abuses. Advertisement

Rishi Sunak has confirmed he was at the surprise birthday celebration for the Prime Minister on June 19 2020 in the Cabinet room in No 10, but has said he was only there for a scheduled Government meeting.

Mr Sunak, asked by Sky News whether he had received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'No.'

Asked whether he expected to receive a form to complete, he replied: 'No... well, I don't know.'

He also said he did not think he had broken Covid rules.

Pressed on whether he has confidence in Boris Johnson still, Mr Sunak added: 'The Prime Minister has my total support.'

The remarks by the Johnson ally to the Times were slammed by Mr Cummings, a former consigliere turned critic of the PM.

Writing on Twitter he agreed with a senior law expert, Professor Mark Elliott, who said the 'implication that Police should think more carefully before issuing someone with a fixed penalty because they're the PM is abhorrent to the rule of law'.

'Over past few years of Brexit battles ''rule of law'' has often been a weasel phrase but Prof Elliott is right this time, Tory MPs are propping up a guy not just trying to fix illegal donations etc but trying to bully cops into treating him differently,' Mr Cummings said.

Tory MP Bob Neill also criticised the remarks today, saying: 'It is completely inappropriate to suggest that there should be any special treatment for anyone involved in these inquiries and any suggestion of political pressure on the police is completely reprehensible. No 10 would do well to disown it.'

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'This veiled threat by Number 10 allies is amongst very heavy competition perhaps the darkest moment of this whole sorry saga.

'It shows a fundamental belief in the heart of government that Boris Johnson should be above the law and that Number 10 will bring any institution into disrepute to save Johnson's skin.

'This is a sobering reminder of why we need a cast-iron guarantee that Boris Johnson and his team will have nothing to do with the appointment of Cressida Dick's successor.

'There was a time that the Conservatives called themselves the party of law and order; the public will laugh at that very idea for generations.'

Meanwhile a junior minister has defended the Prime Minister after he faced criticism from one of his Conservative predecessors.

Former prime minister Sir John Major used a speech on Thursday to accuse Boris Johnson and No 10 officials of breaking lockdown laws and concocting 'brazen excuses' about the partygate affair.

Transport minister Robert Courts told LBC: 'This is clearly something that has caused great public upset, and I understand that entirely.

'But the key thing is that the Prime Minister has made the right decisions at the right time throughout this pandemic.

'So things like setting up testing capacity from scratch, rolling out the vaccines -. that is the key record that the Prime Minister has, which is something that is getting the big decisions right at the right time throughout the pandemic.'

Mr Johnson will appoint a private lawyer which he will pay for himself rather than billing the taxpayer if he is questioned by police over partygate, it was reported last night.

The Prime Minister has already lined up a legal expert on coronavirus regulations, should he need one, according to The Times.

Mr Johnson is expected to be among more than 50 people in Number 10 and Whitehall who will get legal questionnaires from detectives working on the Metropolitan Police's Operation Hillman.

In the House of Commons and elsewhere, he has repeatedly denied that he has broken any rules.

Mr Johnson's lawyer is expected to focus on the fact that Downing Street is both his home and his workplace.

Telford MP Lucy Allan, a political private secretary to Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg last week told voters the PM's position was 'terminal'

At the time, the coronavirus lockdown rules made it illegal to be outside your home without a reasonable excuse.

Scotland Yard is sending formal questionnaires to more than 50 people to ask them to give an account of their involvement, with the documents due to start arriving by the end of this week.

The questionnaire will have 'formal legal status' and 'must be answered truthfully', with people given seven days to reply.

The force has said that in most cases contact is being made via email which means people will dodge a formal interview and policing sources told The Times that Mr Johnson is likely to receive a questionnaire.

Previously, experts have warned that lying on the forms could be seen as perverting the course of justice.

But speaking to BBC London yesterday - before she resigned - Dame Cressida mentioned only fixed penalty notices, likely to carry fines of around 100.
Publishers have filed a Europe-wide antitrust complaint against Google accusing it of using 'unlawful tactics' to monopolise online advertising and crush competition - giving it a stranglehold over the industry that threatens the free press.

The European Publishers Council (EPC), a group of Chairmen and CEOs of the continent's leading media groups including MailOnline's owner Daily Mail and General Trust, has today revealed it is complaining to the European Commission about the tech giant's digital advertising practices.

They say Google's advertising platform is 'rife with conflicts of interests' because it is acting as buyer and the seller in the same transaction, while also operating the auction house in the middle in a monopoly that harms publishers and consumers across Europe.

The Silicon Valley firm's position has been compared to 'Goldman or Citibank owning the New York Stock Exchange' because it controls both buy-side and sell-side advertising brokers.

Figures show that one of Google's advertising auction programs dropped publisher revenue by 40%, and there are fears changes to its cookie technology could hit revenues by up to 70%.

Meanwhile it takes advantage of its dominant position to increase its market share at the expense of customers who are locked into Google products.

The EPC's complaint is the latest in a string of antitrust lawsuits and complaints being filed against the tech giant across the world over its anti-competitive tactics.

In June the French competition authority fined Google 220 million for abusing its dominance of online advertising to unfairly favour its own services and in November Italy's antitrust watchdog fined it 11.2millon for 'aggressive methods'.

In the UK, the tech giant has been subject to an antitrust investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority investigation over the introduction of its new advertising plan the Privacy Sandbox.

Today the CMA announced Google had agreed to a set of commitments which will give the regulator oversight of how Privacy Sandbox is introduced.

And in the US Google is facing a Texas antitrust lawsuit that accuses it of rigging the online advertising market, increasing costs to advertisers while rewarding publishers who give it preferred access.

European publishers have now gone to the the European Commission with a complaint which seeks to 'break the ad tech stranglehold Google currently has over press publishers', that it says threatens the future viability of funding a free and pluralistic press across the continent.

The group claims that since its acquisition of internet advertising company DoubleClick in 2008, Google has embarked on a 'barrage of unlawful tactics to foreclose competition in ad tech'.

The European Publishers Council (EPC), a group of Chairmen and CEOs of the continent's leading media groups, has today revealed it is complaining about the tech giant's digital advertising business

What do the publishers say? - 'Since its acquisition of DoubleClick in 2008, Google has embarked on a barrage of unlawful tactics to foreclose competition in ad tech.' - 'This strategy paid off, and Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100%.' - 'Googles ad tech suite is rife with conflicts of interests, as Google represents the buyer and the seller in the same transaction.' - 'Google has taken advantage of its position to prioritize its own self-interests at the expense of customers' - 'Googles monopolistic pattern of conduct has actively depressed publisher revenue' Advertisement

The EPC said in a statement: 'This strategy paid off, and Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100% in segments of the ad tech chain.

'Google's ad tech suite is rife with conflicts of interests, as Google represents the buyer and the seller in the same transaction, while also operating the auction house in the middle, and selling its own inventory.

'Far from managing its conflicts, Google has time and again taken advantage of its position to prioritize its own two self-interests at the expense of the very customers it is supposed to serve.'

Google made 108 billion ($147 billion) in revenue from online ads in 2020, more than any other company in the world, with ads including search, YouTube and Gmail accounting for the bulk of its overall sales and profits.

About 16% of its revenue came from the company's display or network business, in which other media companies use Google technology to sell ads on their website and apps.

The publishers' trade body, whose members include Axel Springer, News UK, Conde Nast, Bonnier News and Editorial Prensa Iberica, as well as MailOnline's owner Daily Mail and General Trust, took its grievance to the European Commission, alleging Google has an ad tech stranglehold over press publishers.

'It is high time for the European Commission to impose measures on Google that actually change, not just challenge, its behaviour,' EPC Chairman Christian Van Thillo said in a statement.

'Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100% in segments of the ad tech chain,' he said.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has fined Google more than 8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) in recent years for anti-competitive practices in three cases, last year launched the investigation into Google's digital advertising business.

Google has said it would engage constructively with the Commission.

Last month it was claimed in a Texas lawsuit that Google manipulated the advertising marketplace before pocketing the money and giving it to publishers who gave the company preferred access.

The search giant was accused of running a digital advertising monopoly that increased the cost to advertisers and harmed ad industry competitors and publishers.

The group says the European Commission - which opened an investigation in June into whether Google favours its own online advertising services - is now in a 'unique position' to act because it can take into account the findings of several authorities

It was alleged that the firm began a secret program called Project Bernanke in 2013 which rigged the market by dropping the second-highest bids from publishers' advertising auctions.

It was said to have used historical data from Google adverts to adjust its clients' bids for online advertising and boost their chances of winning auctions for impressions, allegedly generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the company.

A Google spokesman told MailOnline: 'Online advertising underpins much of the content we enjoy and learn from online.

'It has enabled millions of small businesses to afford advertising for the first time, and for news publishers big and small, it's created new opportunities and substantial new revenue streams that did not exist in the print age.

'When publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue and every year we pay out billions of dollars directly to the publishing partners in our ad network.'
A New York man has launched a battle to keep his emotional support animal - an 110lb Vietnamese pot-bellied pig that has helped him cope with his divorce.

Wyverne Flatt has argued Ellie the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig is family to him, but officials in the village of Canajoharie in New York state say the pig is a farm animal being kept illegally.

A village code officer told Mr Flatt, 54, he was housing Ellie illegally in October 2019 during a visit for a building permit request.

When the officer noticed Ellie was still there six months later, Mr Flatt was formally notified he was violating the local code barring farm animals in the village.

Violation of a zoning code is a misdemeanour under state law, according to court filings - but both sides have dug in since then.

Mr Flatt said the village is picking on his pig, which he says is clean and clever. Several of his neighbours have signed affidavits saying they like Ellie. A legal fight could go to trial next month.

Wyverne Flatt has launched a battle to keep his emotional support animal - an 110lb Vietnamese pot-bellied pig called Ellie (pictured together) that has helped him cope with his divorce

Mr Flatt's battle has already caught the attention of pig partisans who believe the animals should be respected more as companions instead of just being a food source

Mr Flatt has argued Ellie the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig is family to him, but officials in the village of Canajoharie in New York state say the pig is a farm animal being kept illegally

Mr Flatt said the village is picking on his pig, which he says is clean and clever. Several of his neighbours have signed affidavits saying they like Ellie

Mr Flatt's battle has already caught the attention of pig partisans who believe the animals should be respected more as companions instead of just being a food source.

Mr Flatt said the 110lb animal helped him through a divorce and the death of his mother.

'I could never dream of giving away somebody who's part of my family,' Mr Flatt said recently, as he patted the pig in his kitchen.

'She's very smart. She's more intelligent than my dogs. I think she can kind of hone in on you when you're feeling bad because she'll want to come in and snuggle with you.'

Mr Flatt was living in South Carolina when he got the pig in 2018, when she was 'about as big as a shoe'. The pig is now knee-high and weighs around 110lbs.

She came north with Mr Flatt in 2019 when he moved to Canajoharie, a modest village on the Mohawk River dominated by the husk of the old Beech-Nut food plant.

Mr Flatt bought a fixer-upper near the business centre of the village with plans to remodel it and maybe open a restaurant on part of the ground floor. He also has two dogs and two cats.

Mr Flatt's battle has already caught the attention of pig partisans who believe the animals should be respected more as companions instead of just being a food source

Ellie's fate could hinge on federal housing guidance that says municipalities should provide a 'reasonable accommodation' when a person can demonstrate an animal provides emotional support for a disability-related need

Mr Flatt said the 110lb animal helped him through a divorce and the death of his mother. Emotional support animals have become common in recent decades

Village mayor Jeff Baker said the board has no comment while the court case is pending. But a lawyer for the village wrote in a court filing that the pig is a potential public health hazard.

She argued that if 'every citizen were to openly scoff at the Village zoning codes  we would live in a lawless society'.

Ellie's fate could hinge on federal housing guidance that says municipalities should provide a 'reasonable accommodation' when a person can demonstrate an animal provides emotional support for a disability-related need.

Mr Flatt's lawyer argues that his client meets that test, saying that Ellie allowed Mr Flatt to get off his medication and cope with his anxiety.

The village has argued in court filings it is willing to make reasonable accommodations, but that Mr Flatt never met the standard.

A trial was scheduled to start on March 22, but has been delayed. If found guilty, Mr Flatt could face jail time or have the pig taken from him, according to his lawyer.

Mr Flatt was living in South Carolina when he got the pig in 2018, when she was 'about as big as a shoe'. The pig is now knee-high and weighs around 110lbs

Canajoharie approved a new law in January clarifying its laws on keeping animals, citing a surge in violations. Farm animals are still barred under the law, which spells out rules for residents seeking a reasonable accommodation

Emotional support animals have become common in recent decades. After years of passengers bringing pigs, rabbits, birds and other animals on planes, federal transportation officials in 2020 said airlines no longer had to accommodate emotional support animals.

Mr Flatt is not the first pig owner seeking emotional support to run afoul of local housing laws.

In 2019, a family in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst were not allowed to keep a pot-bellied pig, named Pork Chop, they said was an emotional support animal for their daughter-in-law. An Indiana woman was told in 2018 to get rid of her emotional support pig for similar reasons.

Although people in the United States have been keeping smaller pigs as pets for decades, their advocates say they are still viewed by some people as little more than livestock.

Kathy Stevens, founder of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary for rescued farm animals and a supporter of Mr Flatt, said: 'There's a disconnect in most people's minds that even though these animals were imported originally as pets, they were never intended to be food. There's still a lot of people who do that equation: Pig equals food.'

Still, many municipalities around America allow residents to keep pigs as pets. Some local laws sometimes specify pet pigs must be under a specified weight. Other laws allow only pot-bellied pigs.

Canajoharie approved a new law in January clarifying its laws on keeping animals, citing a surge in violations. Farm animals are still barred under the law, which spells out rules for residents seeking a reasonable accommodation.

Mr Flatt said he has received offers from people to house Ellie outside the village, but he wants to fight to keep her.

'I'm hoping this sets a precedent that people start understanding that these are pets,' he said. 'These are not something you go home and slaughter and eat.'
High-profile racehorse owner Damion Flower has been jailed for at least 17 years for smuggling a massive amount of pure cocaine into Australia.

The former airport baggage handler played a 'significant managerial and organisational role' in the importation of 228 kilograms of the drug, Judge Sarah Huggett said on Friday.

At the time of his arrest in May 2019, Flower was a darling of racing, having risen from blue-collar roots to prominence with Group One-winning horse Snitzel.

Flower owned horses with high-profile Sydneysiders including businessman John Singleton (right), broadcaster Alan Jones and rugby league great Phil Gould (left), none of whom knew anything about his other business. Flower is pictured next to businesswoman Katie Page

Damion Flower, owner of famous racehorse Snitzel, has been sentenced to at least 17 years in jail for smuggling cocaine into South Africa

He established a prominent stable and a multi-million dollar training facility in Sydney's northwest.

As Australia's champion stallion, Snitzel commanded about $40 million a year in service fees about the time Flower was caught.

Flower, 49, and Qantas baggage handler and ramp operator, To'Oto'O Mafiti, 53, pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug between June 2016 and May 2019.

Flower also admitted dealing with money believed to be the proceeds of crime greater than $100,000 found at his Moorebank home.

Flower's partner, To'Oto'O Mafiti, was a former Qantas employee and so was able to sneak the illegal drug through airport security

When Flower was arrested at his home in Sydney's Moorebank in May 2019 police found more than $1 million cash

Mafiti admitted the same offence but the amount was greater than $1 million, after police found more than $6 million at his home and in storage.

On 12 occasions over three years, a bag containing 19 kilos of pure cocaine was checked into a Qantas flight from South Africa.

The men used covert phones to send coded texts about the arrival of the bags at Sydney airport.

Mafiti would collect them and take them out the side doors, being able to bypass security through his employee status.

In sentencing them in the NSW District Court on Friday, Judge Huggett said the offending was 'an extremely serious example' of drug importing which took place over a number of years.

She jailed Flower for 28 years with a non-parole period of 17 years.

Thoroughbred owner Damion Flower is pictured with wife Camilla

On 12 occasions over three years, a bag containing 19 kilos of pure cocaine was checked into a Qantas flight from South Africa

Mafiti was jailed for 23 years with a non-parole period of 14 years.

Flower's lawyer had submitted that his love of family and his desire to prop up flailing businesses were behind his involvement in the smuggling.

The judge noted his business acumen, finding he well understood the serious illegality of what he was doing which was for 'substantial rewards'.

He played a significant managerial and organisational role and was more heavily involved in the importation than Mafiti.

Flower's lawyer had submitted that his love of family and his desire to prop up flailing businesses were behind his involvement in the smuggling

The evidence suggested Mafiti didn't spend the money or use it to accumulate assets, Judge Huggett said.

The scheme was 'far from amateurish' although more sophisticated plots could be contemplated.

The prosecutor had submitted that 'the system worked because of the knowledge and the privileges of Mafiti being a Qantas baggage handler'.

The judge referred to the terrible harm caused by drugs.

'The whole community suffers when illegal drugs enter the community.'

She found both men were contrite and both had taken steps towards their rehabilitation.
A retired traffic warden who dubbed herself 'gangster granny' after she started dealing drugs to pay her off her debts has escaped a jail term 'by the skin of her teeth'.

Maureen Thompson, 61, stored a stash of drugs on a baking tray and in Tupperware in her kitchen and kept a debtors list on her phone to manage a drug dealing hotline.

A court heard the mother-of-one began a secret double life selling cocaine for a dealer after becoming addicted to the Class A drug herself.

She had been forced to quit her day job of 28 years after suffering a serious injury, and her life soon started to 'spiral out of control' and she found herself working for the dealer to pay for her own habit.

In a drugs bust on her apartment in Scholes, near Wigan, Greater Manchester, police found 47 wraps of cocaine, some hidden in a sock and others stuck to the underside of a drawer - as well as a white binbag full of cutting agents used to bulk up the drugs.

Maureen Thompson, 61, has escaped a prison term 'by the skin of her teeth' after admitting to selling cocaine for a dealer to pay off her own debts from a drug habit. Pictured: Thompson outside Bolton Crown Court

The mother-of-one began a secret double life selling cocaine for a dealer after becoming addicted to the Class A drug herself. She also dubbed herself 'gangster granny' in a post on Facebook

A Warren James gift bag was seized with number of plastic wraps of white powder inside and a piece of folded silver plastic of white powder was found stuck with blu tack and magnets to the underside of a kitchen drawer.

Thompson's mobile was also examined and found to contain messages relating to drug sales. The debtors 'tick list' was found in a notebook and she was also put in charge of manning a drug deal hotline. Experts valued the haul at up to 1,335.

A Facebook message on her account shows her jokingly referring to herself as 'gangster granny'.

Thompson initially denied being a drug dealer and claimed not to have known where the drugs came from. But in the police station she was found to be wearing a sock which was a match to the other which contained drugs.

In a subsequent statement she confessed: 'I was in substantial debt to a drug dealer and I could not pay those debts so I agreed to let the dealer use my account to deposit and withdraw drugs money.

In a drugs bust on her apartment in Scholes, near Wigan, Greater Manchester, police found 47 wraps of cocaine, some hidden in a sock and others stuck to the underside of a drawer - as well as a white binbag full of cutting agents used to bulk up the drugs

'My debt continued to incur interest and I agreed to store drugs and operate a drugs phone for him. I was a traffic enforcement officer for 28 years in Bolton and I had a serious accident which forced me into retirement.

'The medication pain relief I was taking made me spiral out of control and I started using Class A drugs.'

At Bolton Crown Court, Thompson admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and acquiring criminal property and was sentenced to two years jail suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to complete a 12 month drug rehabilitation programme, 30 rehabilitation days and was ordered to wear an electronic tag for four months as part of a 7pm and 7am curfew.

In mitigation defence counsel Joshua Bowker said: 'Background reports on Miss Thompson paint a very different picture of her.

'This was offending committed after a protracted period of misfortune and misery resulting in control of her own life spiralling away from her.

'Throughout her entire life there has been a significant amount of trauma with multiple incidents of significant events happening in her life which had have a great effect on her.

At Bolton Crown Court, Thompson admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and acquiring criminal property and was sentenced to two years jail suspended for two years

'There was a campaign of domestic violence she was subjected to for many years by more than one partner. She is now living with her son and that face is a more stabilising influence on her.

'She held her employment until through no fault of her own for health reasons it came to an end in the mid 2010s.

'Although there was frequent alcohol abuse connected to the domestic violence, the loss of her employment, the stability and pride that it gave, led to increasing amounts of alcohol being consumed and prolific use of cocaine.

'It led to debt and this offending occurring. This is offending out of character for her. Her use of cocaine is now on a much smaller scale but it is still happening as she's an addict.

Thompson will face a Proceeds of Crime hearing later. She will have to undergo a review in two months where the judge will check on her progress

'Her intention will be to completely wean herself off that drug use. She poses a low risk of reoffending.'

Sentencing Thompson Judge Martin Walsh told her: 'This court frequently has people appearing in front of it whose lives have been utterly devastated and destroyed by their addictions to drugs.

'Communities are blighted by the activity of those who resort to crime in order to feed their habits and those who profit out of the creation of such misery for personal financial gain can expect to receive significant prison sentences.

'But I have regard to your basis of plea and reports about you. I am just about persuaded about your circumstances to pass a suspended sentence. But I want to make it absolutely crystal clear - you have escaped going to prison by the skin of your teeth.'

Thompson will face a Proceeds of Crime hearing later. She will have to undergo a review in two months where the judge will check on her progress.
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Buckingham Palace is facing an anxious wait with fears that the Queen could find out today if she has Covid.

The Queen is being 'closely monitored' by doctors, three days after she last met with Prince Charles, who has since tested positive for the virus.

Buckingham Palace last night refused to confirm whether the 95-year-old monarch had tested positive or negative for Covid, fuelling fears for her health.

Palace sources insisted that she was not displaying symptoms, however these usually show a few days after close contact with a Covid positive person- and usually first on tests.

Current government guidelines say you have to isolate for five days after contact with a Covid positive person, with symptoms typically appearing three to five days after contact.

However, the Queen is understood to be triple vaccinated so will not need to self-isolate unless she tests positive. The head of state is thought to have received her first jab in January 2021 and her second jab that March, while sources say it is believed she got her booster in October.

This is the second time Charles, who is also triple jabbed, has tested positive for coronavirus after contracting the disease in March 2020.

Insiders insisted the 73-year-old was found to be positive during a test taken this morning as routine before any public engagements  which suggested he was experiencing no strong symptoms  but they declined to go into further details on his medical condition.

Both he and the Duchess of Cornwall have been taking regular tests before engagements and Clarence House said Camilla, 74, had a negative test on Thursday.

Under current Covid rules, although she lives with Charles, Camilla is not required to self-isolate as she is also fully vaccinated. While in the past, Covid rules would have dictated that all those who had come into contact with Charles must self-isolate, it is no longer a requirement.

Boris Johnson announced he plans to scrap all remaining virus restrictions in England by the end of the month, which would mean even those who have tested positive for the virus will not be required to self-isolate, provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister hopes the Prince of Wales will make a swift recovery after testing positive.

As well as meeting with his mother, Charles also awarded OBEs to chefs Fergus Henderson, who has Parkinsons Disease, and his wife Margot as well as an MBE to Dr Nisreen Alwan, who is known for campaigning for more awareness around long Covid.

The Queen, 95, does not have symptoms and the situation is being monitored. Pictured: The Queen on Monday

The news comes hours after Prince Charles (pictured, left, with Camilla) attended a British Asian Trust event being hosted at the British Museum last night, Wednesday, February 9. He also hosted investitures on Tuesday where he met chefs and married couple Margot and Fergus Henderson, who has Parkinsons, are made OBEs by Prince Charles on Tuesday

Pictured: The Prince of Wales speaks to Home Secretary Priti Patel at an event to celebrate the British Asian Trust last night

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating, Clarence House said. The news came hours after Charles gave a speech at a British Asian Trust event attended by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Silent dignity of the Queen: Her Majesty took Covid rules seriously when she sat alone in Prince Philip's funeral

How much of a risk does Covid pose to people in their 90s? Before the advent of Covid vaccines, Government advisers believed a quarter of all over-75s who caught the virus would die. The rate was even higher for 90-somethings, with the virus known to pose a graver threat to the elderly. But Cambridge University experts have already downgraded their projection to 3.4 per cent for the oldest cohort. This is largely thanks to the sky-high levels of immunity achieved from the country's hugely successful vaccination roll-out and previous waves. However, the team's latest estimate  published days before Christmas  does not take into account the milder nature of Omicron. Nor does it reflect the huge success of the booster vaccine roll-out, which had yet to properly kick off. It means, in theory, the rate will be even lower now, given the swathes of real-world evidence laying bare just how effective three doses are at stopping infected people from becoming seriously ill. Advertisement

The Prince of Wales has said he 'got away with it quite lightly' when he contracted coronavirus at the beginning of the UK's epidemic in March.

He spent seven days in self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland before resuming his duties.

The Queen has been active this month, holding public engagements as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There were concerns for her health late last year after she was forced to slow down by a back sprain and doctor's advice to rest in October and November last year.

Her Majesty, 95, spent a short spell in hospital and was reluctantly told to rest last October after undertaking 19 official engagements that month.

The following month, she also pulled out of Remembrance Sunday ceremonies for the first time since 1999 after spraining her back.

She resumed in-person engagements on November 17 when she received General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of Defence, at Windsor.

At the outset of the pandemic, royal staff went to great lengths to protect the monarch from contracting the virus.

In April 2020, twenty two royal staff sacrificed their home lives to stay isolated at Windsor Castle so they could serve the Queen and her late husband Prince Philip during lockdown.

The mission to protect the royals was dubbed 'HMS Bubble' after the Queen moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor in March that year where she began isolating with Philip who was flown from Sandringham to join her shortly after.

A year later, in April 2021, strict Covid regulations meant the Queen was forced to wear a mask and sit alone as she attended husband Prince Philip's funeral.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cornwall revealed Prince Charles is finding the situation 'a bit tiresome'.

Camilla, who herself has tested negative, made the remarks on a solo visit to Thames Valley Partnership in Buckinghamshire earlier today.

Speaking to Willie Hartley Russell, high sheriff for Berkshire, during a visit to Thames Valley Partnership on Thursday, she said: 'He's diagnosed now. Luckily (she's negative). I've taken it so many times.'

He added: 'It gets a bit pointless, doesn't it?' and Camilla agreed.

Afterwards, Mr Hartley Russell said: 'She said, 'Yes unfortunately he had tested positive again. I said he must be building up lots of antibodies.

'She said something like he's finding it a bit tiresome to have got it again, but she said it in a light-hearted way.'

The news comes the day after Prince Charles and wife Camilla, 74, rubbed shoulders with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Chancellor Rishi Sunak at a British Asian Trust event hosted at the British Museum last night.

Charles, who founded the trust in 2007, told more than 350 guests of the impact of Covid on the region.

Using his pet name for Camilla, the Urdu for 'darling', he said: 'It is almost two years that my Mehabooba and myself were able to be with you. Since then... there has been terrible loss of life.'

Speaking at an event Buckinghamshire today, Camilla said Charles found it 'tiresome' to have tested positive for Covid again. Pictured: Duchess of Cornwall visits the Thames Valley Partnership, which works to protect and support victims of crime

Camilla visits the Thames Valley Partnership charity, which works to protect and support victims of crime and to support offenders and their families in the Criminal Justice System, interventions which support those affected by domestic abuse

Pictured: Camilla, who tested negative today, speaks to people as she attends the opening of the charity and community Kitchen 'Nourish Hun', created to fight against social isolation and loneliness, in west London on February 10, 2022

The Prince of Wales gave the keynote speech at the event which was attended by more than 350 guests including Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

The Trust was founded by Charles in 2007 alongside British-Asian business leaders to 'support the development of a South Asia that maximises the potential of its people and that is free from inequality and injustice'.

Two-thirds of Covid cases in England during Omicron wave may have been REINFECTIONS, official data suggests Two-thirds of people in England who had Covid at the start of 2022 may have been reinfected, official data suggests. One of the country's largest surveillance studies  which randomly tested 100,000 people in the fortnight ending January 20  found 4.4 per cent had the virus. Imperial College London experts, who carried out the project, said it was the highest rate ever recorded, mirroring other swabbing surveys which showed how Omicron triggered infections to reach pandemic highs. The team also claimed England's Covid outbreak was now starting to plateau after the Omicron wave 'rapidly' dropped off on its own. Analysis of the data showed 2,315 (64.6 per cent) of the 3,582 people who tested positive and were asked about whether they had previously had Covid claimed to have been struck down before. And a further 267 (7.5 per cent) suspected they had caught Covid previously, even though their case was not confirmed with a test at the time. Advertisement

Before his speech, Charles and Camilla greeted supporters and ambassadors of the BAT in the museum's Egyptian Gallery.

They first spoke with Mr Sunak and Ms Patel before the four posed for photos.

The duchess later thanked ambassadors Neev Spencer and Ritula Shah as they congratulated her after the Queen's announcement that she would become Queen Consort.

Hitan Mehta, executive director of the trust, said that it was 'amazing' to be able to host the royal couple at the reception after it was not held last year due to the pandemic.

The development comes just days after the Queen marked her Platinum Jubilee by expressing her 'sincere wish' that the Duchess of Cornwall would be Queen Camilla at Charles's side when he is one day King.

The Duchess of Cornwall said today that she is 'very honoured and very touched' to have been endorsed by the Queen.

Camilla has been photographed carrying out her duties today after testing negative.

She first visited Paddington Haven, a sexual assault referral centre in London today. Under Covid rules, you are no longer required to self-isolate if someone from your household tests positive as long as you are fully vaccinated.

At the centre in West London, she met with staff as well as the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and spoke with former Love Island star Zara McDermott who discussed her experience of revenge porn and assault.

Camilla then visited Nourish Hub, a community kitchen based in Notting Hill, west London, to mark its opening and as patron of the charity that runs it, UK Harvest, when she was asked by a guest how she felt about the title.

Camilla, 74, spoke with volunteers and refugees at the West London Welcome charity, who were cooking a rice-based Iranian dish called loobia polo for visitors.

A guest who gave his name as DJ, 49, asked the duchess how she felt about her new title.

Camilla told him: 'I feel very honoured, very honoured and very touched.'

In December, both Prince Charles and Camilla confirmed they had received their booster jabs as they urged those who are unvaccinated to get their injections as soon as possible.

It is understood the couple received their first vaccine in February last year and had their boosters in November.

'To all those who have not yet had the vaccine  or are hesitating before getting a booster  we can only urge you to look at the evidence in our intensive care wards and listen to those who work there,' they said.

They added: 'We urge everyone to get vaccinated and to take up the booster, as we have done ourselves.'

Charles's son Prince William also contracted COVID shortly after his father in 2020, with media reports saying he had been hit pretty badly by the virus. It is believed the Duke of Cambridge kept his illness private so not to alarm the public.

Before his speech, Charles and Camilla greeted supporters and ambassadors of the BAT in the museum's Egyptian Gallery

Priti Patel, Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles pose with guests at the event

Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha made the Prince of Wales laugh when they met at last night's glitzy reception in central London

Pictured: Prince Charles chatted to Priti Patel, who was among the 350 guests invited to the bash at the British Museum

Pictured: Disappointed members of the public waiting by the statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc in Winchester which was meant to be unveiled by the Prince of Wales but who could not attend as he tested positive for Covid and is self-isolating

In place of Prince Charles, Lord-Lieutenant Hampshire Nigel Atkinson unveils the statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc

The Prince of Wales will now go into self-isolation for 10 days and has cancelled his scheduled engagements.

He had been due to unveil a statue of Licoricia of Winchester today before attending a civic reception at The Great Hall.

The announcement of the prince's positive test was made just after midday, around 12 minutes before Charles was due to arrive in Winchester on the visit to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Aides were only informed a few moments before.

More than 1,000 people were gathered behind barriers in the city's Jewry Street, waiting to see the prince unveil a new statue of Licoricia of Winchester, a prominent Jewish moneylender who was murdered in 1277 during a period of antisemitism in the reign of Edward I that culminated in the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290.

The Queen's representative in Hampshire, the Lord Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson, told the crowd, who groaned with disappointment when he relayed the news.

Standing at the microphone, the Lord Lieutenant told the crowd: 'As Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, I'm afraid I have some very disappointing news for you. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has tested positive for Covid a few minutes ago and will therefore be unable to join us today.

'However, I do send my very best wishes on behalf of Hampshire to His Royal Highness and hope that he improved soon.'

The Lord Lieutenant, in ceremonial uniform, then read out a message from the prince.

Charles's message said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, I am so sorry that I cannot be with you today. I am desperately disappointed as I was so looking forward to marking this historic occasion with you.

Camilla shakes hands with staff as she visits the clinic Paddington Haven, a sexual assault referral centre in London today

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (R) shakes hands with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (L) at the clinic Paddington Haven

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall with (from L) chair of the National Sexual Abuse and Assault Services Laura Currer, Love Island star Zara McDermott and Nicola, a sexual assault survivor, at Paddington Haven, a sexual assault referral centre today

Licorica: The Jewish moneylender who bankrolled three kings The statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc in Winchester Licoricia of Winchester was a 13th-century Jewish English businesswoman who was described by historian Robert Stacey as 'the most important Jewish woman in Medieval England'. The single mother's wealth had helped to fund the building of Westminster Abbey, as well as bankrolling three English kings. Despite the increasingly hostile and punitive treatment of Jews in the 1200s, Licoricia advanced through the use of her excellent business acumen and marriage. Her exact birth date is not known but she first appears in records around 1234 where she was referred to as a young widow with three children. In 1242, she married her second husband - David of Oxford - with whom she had her fourth child. David was known as the richest Jew in England and died two years later. Over the next 30 years, Licoricia became a highly influential business woman, financing people across Southern England. The statue, by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, shows Licoricia holding hands with her younger son. In 1277, the prominent Jewish businesswoman Licoricia of Winchester was found by her daughter, murdered, stabbed to death in her own house. Alongside Licoricia's body was that of her Christian maid, Alice. No one was ever convicted of killing her. Advertisement

'I hope very much that I will be able to visit at a future time but for today please accept my most heartfelt apologies and my very best wishes as you mark this memorable occasion for Winchester.'

Charles wanted to be there as a symbol of his commitment to religious tolerance in modern Britain. His personal record of support for religious and ethnic minorities has been cited against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's claims of racism inside the royal family.

The statue, by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, shows Licoricia holding hands with her younger son. The moneylender was murdered in 1277 but no one was ever convicted.

After the announcement, the Prince's personal security staff fanned out into the crowd to express his sorrow for having to cancel his visit at such late notice.

Later, in a public statement, the Prince said he was 'deeply disappointed' before pledging to visit the city soon.

In the wake of the Prince's sudden isolation, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson stepped into his shoes and unveiled the life-sized bronze statue. The statue was then blessed by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

There has been no immediate comment on Charles' condition.

Covid reinfections - where someone tests positive for Covid-19 more than 90 days after a previous positive result - currently represent around 10 per cent of daily cases in England.

Of the 14.8 million infection episodes in England since the start of the pandemic, some 588,114 (4.0%) are likely reinfections.

Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the PA news agency: 'Reinfections were always going to become a big feature of Covid.

'The other human coronaviruses cause reinfections throughout life and this will most likely be the case with Covid.'

A reinfection is defined as someone who tests positive for Covid-19 more than 90 days after a previous positive result.

Any positive tests within 90 days of a previous one are counted as part of the same 'infection episode'.

Covid reinfections currently represent around 10% of daily cases in England, though Prof Hunter said that 'this is likely to be a big underestimate as, if reinfections are generally mild, they are less likely to be identified'.

He went on to say: 'Sometimes reinfections occur because of the appearance of new escape variants that can bypass existing immunity to a degree and sometimes it may be just because immunity is waning.

'The recent emergence of the Omicron variant has substantially increased the chances of reinfection compared to what we saw with Delta.

'But in general we can expect reinfections to be less severe than primary infection though not always.'

Of the 14.8 million infection episodes in England since the start of the pandemic, some 588,114 (4.0%) are likely reinfections.

According to analysis by the Office for National Statistics, the risk of reinfection was 16 times higher when Omicron was the dominant strain, compared with the period when Delta was dominant.

Unvaccinated people were twice as likely to be reinfected than those who had their second vaccine dose in the previous 14 to 89 days, the study found.

Pictured: The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, helps unveil a statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc in Winchester after the Prince of Wales who was due to unveil it has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating

Pictured: The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, helps unveil a statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc in Winchester after the Prince of Wales who was due to unveil it has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating

A plaque on the statue of Licoricia of Winchester at The Arc in Winchester which was meant to be unveiled by Prince Charles

Timeline: Prince Charles' movements in February February 1st: Lunar New Year in China Town and exhibition in Mayfair The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Chinatown, London, to mark Lunar New Year and were received by Mr. Kevin Traverse-Healy (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London). Charles then visited Irina Bradley's Metamorphosis Icon Exhibition in Mayfair. . The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwal donned red scarves to celebrate Lunar New Year in Chinatown Prince Charles, 73, headed to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in central London this evening, where he visited the Iconographer Dr Irina Bradley's 'Metamorphosis' Icon exhibition February 2nd: Trip to Kent Charles and Camilla visited Sheppey Matters and were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Kent (the Lady Colgrain). The Prince of Wales then visited Elmley National Nature Reserve, Elmley, Minster on Sea, Isle of Sheppey, and was received by Mr. Philip Merricks (Deputy Lieutenant of Kent). His Royal Highness, Patron, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, afterwards visited the Historic Dockyard Chatham and the Copper Rivet Distillery. Prince Charles visits the Sheppey Matters charity at Sheerness Healthy Living Centre February 3rd: Visited Future Textiles Project with Camilla and Kate Charles was joined by The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duchess of Cambridge to visit the Future Textiles Project at Trinity Buoy Wharf. In this role as President of the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty he later received Mrs. Hilary McGrady (Director General) and Mr. Rene Olivieri upon assuming his appointment as Chairman. The same day, in his role as Patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, he received Dr. Farhan Nizami (Director). His Royal Highness afterwards received the Rt. Hon. Priti Patel, MP (Secretary of State for the Home Department). He then held a Meeting at Clarence House for the Sustainable Markets Initiative. The Duchess of Cambridge looked elegant as she joined Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall February 8th: Investiture at Windsor Castle and meeting with Keir Starmer On behalf of The Queen Charles held an Investiture at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. He then met with Sir Keir Starmer MP. Later, he received Admiral Sir Antony Radakin upon assuming his appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff. Chefs Margot and Fergus Henderson from London are made OBEs by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on February 8 The Prince of Wales, Royal Founding Patron, the Professional Teaching Institute, in the evening attended a Dinner at St. James's Palace. February 9th: Visit to National Gallery and British Asian Trust dinner at British Museum with Camilla, Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel In his role as Patron, Charles visited the National Gallery One Accommodation Hub, Trafalgar Square and was received by Mr. Kevin Traverse-Healy (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London). In the evening, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a British Asian Trust event - their first joint engagement since the announcement that the Duchess will become Queen Consort. Charles, 73, called his wife 'my Mehbooba', which means 'my beloved' or 'my darling' in Urdu, in an address to 350 guests at the British Museum including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Health Secretary Sajid Javid. He said: 'I cannot quite believe it is almost two years to the day that both my mehbooba and myself were able to be with all of you to celebrate the work of the British Asian Trust. 'Since then, across the globe, there has been terrible loss of life from this dreadful pandemic and we have especially seen the devastating impact throughout south Asia.' The black tie bash at the British Museum marked Charles and Camilla's first joint appearance since the Queen announced her desire for Camilla to be given the title Queen Consort when Prince Charles ascends the throne. Other guests included former Liverpool and Wales footballer Ian Rush, TOWIE's Jasmine Walia, DJ Naughty Boy and film director Gurinder Chadha. Prince Charles founded the British Asian Trust in 2007 to tackle widespread poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia. They were joined at the event by Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy, pictured together left, and Priti Patel Prince Charles chatted to Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy, whose father is an Indian billionaire, at the event Advertisement
Tory MPs have accused Boris Johnson of trying to 'kowtow' to China after it emerged he is seeking new trade talks with Beijing.

They reacted with astonishment that he is seeking to warm relations at a time when the Communist regime faces global condemnation over human rights abuses while flexing military muscles.

The Prime Minister personally instructed the Department for International Trade to restart talks that stalled in 2018, the Political website reported.

It is the latest row involving China to engulf the PM, a self-confessed Sinophile. His new director of communications, Guto Harri, is a former lobbyist for telecoms firm Huawei, which has been banned from involvement in the UK's 5G network amid espionage fears.

Former Tory leader and minister Sir Iain Duncan-Smith told Politico: 'If this government decides that they are going to kowtow to China by going over there and begging them to trade I have to tell you that they can think again.

The Prime Minister personally instructed the Department for International Trade to restart talks that stalled in 2018, the Political website reported.

Former Tory leader and minister Sir Iain Duncan-Smith told Politico: 'If this government decides that they are going to kowtow to China by going over there and begging them to trade I have to tell you that they can think again'

Last March Beijing slapped sanctions on MPs and academics critical of the Xi regime.

'I make no bones about this: I will not let it rest if we start now, amid all the evidence of genocide, brutality, crackdowns on peaceful protesters, and go traipsing along there as though nothing happened. There's no good them telling us that they're going to clean up their act  because they never do.'

Last March Beijing slapped sanctions on MPs and academics critical of the Xi regime.

The Government reacted with fury as nine China hawks - plus four UK institutions - were targeted by the Communist regime for speaking out on its human rights abuses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he stood 'firmly' behind them over the tit-for-tat move, which came four days after Britain, the US, Canada and the European Union placed sanctions on Chinese officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims in the country's autonomous Xinjiang.

Then foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced a package of travel bans and asset freezes against four senior officials and the state-run Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau (XPCC PSB).

He said the abuse of Uighur Muslims was 'one of the worst human rights crises of our time' and the global community 'cannot simply look the other way'.

But China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Mr Raab's move was 'based on nothing but lies and disinformation, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, and severely undermines China-UK relations'. The Ministry said it had sanctioned nine people and four British institutions 'that maliciously spread lies and disinformation'.

Tory MPs Sir Iain, Neil O'Brien, Tim Loughton, Nusrat Ghani and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat were sanctioned, along with crossbench peer Lord Alton, Labour's Baroness Kennedy, barrister Geoffrey Nice and academic Jo Smith Finley.

The two countries have also clashed over attacks on democracy in Hong Kong, the former British territory. Critics say that the 'one country, two systems' deal done before it was handed back 25 years ago has been ignored as the mainland tried to extend its political influence.

It prompted the UK to offer sanctuary to citizens fleeing the city.

And last month after MI5 accused British lawyer Christine Lee, 58, of covertly targeting British politicians for the Chinese Communist Party.

Earlier this week Mr Harri came under pressure after it was revealed he lobbied No10 for Chinese tech giant Huawei, asking which ministers he should 'nudge' to see off a ban on its technology.

The former BBC reporter, hired as part of a shake-up in Downing Street, made the request to former chief of staff Sir Eddie Lister in 2020, leaked documents show.

The communications chief was said to have been representing lobbying firm Hawthorn Advisors during the 25-minute video call including Huawei executives on June 2 that year.

But the following month, telecoms firms were ordered to strip Huawei equipment from 5G networks by 2027 over security fears.

China hawk Tory MP Bob Seely, who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, added: 'We need to deal with the world as it is, not as we would want it to be, but I don't understand why we are so keen to have high-level ministerial contacts when the Chinese government is sanctioning U.K. MPs, when it has recognized the Falklands as being Argentinian, when it is dismantling Hong Kong's democratic government.'
Mechanization brings more efficiency, income to farmers in S Chinas Guangxi

People's Daily Online) 14:21, February 11, 2022

After receiving a message that reads Now is a great time to fertilize mango trees, from an agricultural technician, Lu Yufu, a mango grower in Lianpo village, south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region went to his orchard halfway up a hill, where a logistics track network is in place, to prepare work.

A farmer picks mangoes in an orchard in Tianyang district, Baise city, Guangxi. (Photo/Peoples Daily Online)

Lu first signed his name to a document at a duty room located at the foot of the hill to use the network. Shortly after that, about 250 kilograms of chemical fertilizers and farm tools were delivered to Lus orchard with an area of 10 mu (about 0.67 hectares).

Last year, my gross income from the mango trees reached 40,000 yuan (about $6,295) thanks to high yield, Lu said, attributing it to agricultural modernization in mountainous areas.

Lu recalled that the income per mu ranged between 1,000 yuan and 3,000 yuan in the past, adding that inefficient farming methods in the mountainous village in Tianyang district of Baise city led to low economic efficiency, which caused farmers to feel increasingly reluctant to continue their agricultural work.

Tianyang district raised 386 million yuan to promote a business model that integrates companies, production bases, agricultural cooperatives, and farmers, and make the farmland in hilly areas more suitable for mechanized farming. As a result, crops are planted and cultivated by machines.

Since 2018, Guangxi has set up 34 demonstration bases for full mechanization of crop production. In core demonstration bases, Guangxi has made 8,000 mu of farmland more suitable for mechanized farming and introduced 2,185 agricultural machines, significantly improving farming conditions in hilly and mountainous areas.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
JAKARTA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Police announced Thursday that they have arrested three suspected terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State-linked terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in the Indonesian province of Bengkulu.

The National Police's spokesman Ahmad Ramadhan said the three suspects arrested by anti-terrorism unit Densus 88 on Wednesday were allegedly affiliated to the JI's networking in North Sumatra, Riau and South Sumatra provinces.

"They have pledged allegiance to the JI since 1999," he told reporters in Jakarta.

According to Ramadhan, the suspects have played roles in raising funds and helping those suspects who are on the police's wanted list.

The JI is an organization that has long been accused of being behind a series of bomb attacks in Indonesia.

The deadliest attack was the bombing of two nightclubs in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002, which killed 202 people. 
He evaded police and was detained after 10,000 comparative genetic studies

Elderly women, mostly aged 75 to 91, opened their doors and he strangled them

Tagirov posed as a social services worker or a maintenance official, it is alleged

Radik Tagirov, 39, is charged with murdering 32 elderly women between 2011-13

A Russian plumber dubbed the 'Granny Strangler' has been charged with the murder of 32 elderly women in a two-year killing spree.

Radik Tagirov, 39, terrorised victims in a wide area east of Moscow, according to law enforcement.

Eleven of the alleged murders took place in oil-rich city Kazan.

The 'serial killer', a father-of-two also nicknamed the 'Volga Maniac', posed as a social services worker or a residential maintenance official, it is alleged.

Elderly women, mostly aged 75 to 91, opened their doors to him and once inside, he attacked and strangled them with either his hands or aprons, laundry ropes or iron cords, before stealing money.

Radik Tagirov (pictured) - dubbed the 'Granny Strangler' - has been charged with the murder of 32 elderly women in a two-year killing spree between 2011 and 2013

The 'serial killer' (pictured during interrogation), a father-of-two also nicknamed the 'Volga Maniac', 'admitted' his guilt and was 'crying' after his arrest, a law enforcement source said

He told his interrogator: 'I choked them, with my hands from the back. I held on until the victim fell asleep, until she fell.'

The 32 killings all took place between 2011 and 2013, and investigations are continuing into other possible cases.

The perpetrator evaded police for years and the suspect was detained after more than 10,000 comparative genetic studies which uncovered matching genotypes in criminal databases.

'He admitted his guilt, he was crying,' said a law enforcement source.

He told investigators he 'cannot remember' how many female pensioners he killed, but law enforcement say they have forensic or other compelling evidence linking him to all 32 cases.

'I didn't count,' he said.

Earlier reports said some victims had been raped and robbed. Currently, Tagirov is charged with 32 murders but not other crimes.

Tagirov, 39, terrorised victims in an area east of Moscow, law enforcement said. Eleven of the alleged murders took place in oil-rich city Kazan. He was caught by CCTV (pictured)

Tagirov (pictured) posed as a social services worker or a residential maintenance official and elderly women, mostly aged 75 to 91, opened their doors to him, it is alleged

The perpetrator evaded police for years and the suspect was detained after more than 10,000 comparative genetic studies. Pictured: 'Volga maniac' identikit

'Analysis of biological objects found at crime scenes determined that all the wrongful acts were committed by one individual,' said Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko.

Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Colonel Irina Volk said police and FSB officers were also involved in the hunt.

'Introducing himself as a utility worker or a social worker, he freely entered their apartments,' she said.

'Having killed his victim, he stole the retired women's savings and got away.'

Kazan resident Tagirov began his killing spree after release from a jail sentence for theft in 2010, she said.

His first victim was named as Nasima Ishmuratova, 91.

The maniac was described as having 'good communication skills, and easily wins the confidence of older people'.

As well as Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, the killings were in Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Udmurtia, Mari El, Perm, Samara, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Ivanovo, Kirov and in Moscow.
A shell-shocked Iraq War veteran has been jailed for 20 years after he became an underworld armourer looking after 'bad boy artillery' for a drug gang when he struggled to adapt to civilian life.

Ex-Lance Corporal Roy Evans, 34, was arrested after police seized a Bruni Gap 8mm self-loading pistol and a Slovakian-made machine gun pistol from an airing cupboard he hid at the home he shared with his girlfriend and her four young children.

The British army veteran who saw service in war-torn Basra and Baghdad was involved in an organised crime gang which smuggled 3.4m worth of heroin from Holland into the UK.

Evans, who shares two children with his ex-wife, was also a trusted 'custodian' for a Dubai-based crimelord codenamed 'Surfin' who used Evans' knowledge of firearm to look after weapons for him.

One message sent by 'Surfin' to Evans about the Skorpion rapid fire machine gun read: 'I'm gonna get a.f..king thing dropped off you with you yeah. Just lock it off for us fam. Bad boy artillery, bad boy artillery.'

Another said: 'A machine bro, a Skorpz watch when you see it, an absolute bran spanker see through clips and all that.'

Ex-Lance Corporal Roy Evans (pictured), 34, was arrested after police seized a Bruni Gap 8mm self-loading pistol and a Slovakian-made machine gun pistol from an airing cupboard he hid at the home he shared with his girlfriend and her four children

The British army veteran who saw service in war-torn Basra and Baghdad was involved in an organised crime gang which smuggled 3.4m worth of heroin from Holland into the UK

Evans, from Hazel Grove, Stockport, Greater Manchester, later blamed his behaviour on failing to adapt well to civilian life after being discharged from the army. He said he suffered depression and PTSD.

At Manchester Crown Court he admitted importation of Class A and B drugs and unlawful possession of two firearms and ammunition.

Evans had previously been hailed a hero after serving with the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) serving in Baghdad, Basra and Um Qasar Port.

He also served in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and spent a total of 13 years in the armed forces before leaving to start work in the construction industry. According to Companies House he also became director of a handyman business known as 'Hire a Heroe (correct) Ltd.'

Police began investigating Evans in June 2020 after police raided a house in Stockport where he had been staying with Nicola Edge and four children aged between four and 15.

Drugs seized during the investigation. At Manchester Crown Court he admitted importation of Class A and B drugs and unlawful possession of two firearms and ammunition

According to Companies House Evans (left) became director of a handyman business known as 'Hire a Heroe (correct) Ltd'. Pictured with his accomplice David Astley

An accomplice arrested at the scene had his phone examined and Evans (left), was found to have called the device multiple times in the run up to the delivery. Right, Astley

Detectives later quizzed Evans in hospital where he had been admitted for an undisclosed illness but he subsequently gave a statement saying: 'I deny the firearms are anything to do with me'

One PC found a Berghaus rucksack on top of a cistern tank in the airing cupboard and discovered several wrapped plastic bags containing the guns wrapped in yellow dusters plus a loaded magazine containing five 9mm bullets. Three other 9mm bullets were found in a sock.

Jonathan Dickson prosecuting said: 'The defendant was a trusted custodian or armourer for a member of an organised crime group. There was no evidence of any intended use of the weapons but the defendant's background in firearms in the Army and his lack of hesitation to take possession of a machine gun only point to use in connection with crime.

'A loaded firearm was placed in insecure housing available to young inquisitive members of the Edge family. The airing cupboard was open to any member of the family unit.'

Detectives later quizzed Evans in hospital where he had been admitted for an undisclosed illness but he subsequently gave a statement saying: 'I deny the firearms are anything to do with me.

'I knew nothing about them. I work in construction but prior to this I have been a soldier in the British army for 13 years and I suffer with PTSD.'

The court heard officers also found 178 incriminating voice recordings left between Evans and an Asian man called 'Suf' believed to be Sufryn Butt a mob boss based in Dubai

Evans had previously been convicted of battery in 2019 and cautioned for assault in 2014

Evans had previously been hailed a hero after serving with the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) serving in Baghdad, Basra and Um Qasar Port

Police later connected Evans to the seizure of 50 blocks of heroin weighing 25kg, seven blocks of cocaine weighing 7kg and a block of cannabis weighing 95g during a raid at an industrial unit in Salford.

An accomplice arrested at the scene had his phone examined and Evans, was found to have called the device multiple times in the run up to the delivery.

The court heard officers also found 178 incriminating voice recordings left between Evans and an Asian man called 'Suf' believed to be Sufryn Butt a mob boss based in Dubai.

Evans had previously been convicted of battery in 2019 and cautioned for assault in 2014.

His lawyer Gemma Maxwell said in mitigation: 'The defendant did not have any influence on those above him in the chain, it was naivety on his behalf. He had very little awareness of the scale of the operation and there is no evidence he would benefit financially from his involvement.

'He performed a limited function under direction and he believed the guns would not be discovered by the occupants of the house.'

Police later connected Evans to the seizure of 50 blocks of heroin weighing 25kg, seven blocks of cocaine weighing 7kg and a block of cannabis weighing 95g during a raid at an industrial unit in Salford

His lawyer Gemma Maxwell said in mitigation: 'The defendant did not have any influence on those above him in the chain, it was naivety on his behalf'

She added: 'He was and has been a family man. He is married and had children while he served in the forces in Afghanistan. He had a caring responsibility for his children but separated from his wife in 2017.

'It is clear from the psychological report, he did not adapt well to civilian life after coming back from the army. He has depression and PTSD - both of which had some part to play in the choices he made. He was a result of his mental health particularly susceptible to someone like Mr Butt.'

But sentencing Evans, Judge Timothy Smith told him: 'Those who deal in drugs expect to make money from the weak and most vulnerable in society.

'It brings about misery and despair, and very often death to those who use and become addicted to drugs and spawns an ever-increasing cycle of crime.

'Those who are involved, do so knowing full well they play a real part in the dark and wicked trade.

'Guns are used to terrorise and intimidate, and that's why criminals want them and to use them. They are used with lethal force by rival gangs who like to enforce their own territory, usually driven by the drug dealing trade.

'The gravity of gun crime cannot be condemned. Many weapons are available always with devastating effects.'

After the case Det Insp Rebecca McGuigan, from Greater Manchester Police said: 'We have successfully disrupted the distribution of drugs which could have destroyed relationships and wrecked the lives of not only drug users, but those engaged in the illicit supply chains.

'Furthermore two viable firearms and ammunition have been removed from the streets, and the hands of criminals. I hope this sentence makes it absolutely clear that criminals can't act like this, and expect to get away with it. I urge anyone considering partaking in this criminality to seriously think about the consequences of doing so, because we will find you, and hold you accountable.'

David Astley, 35, of, Ashton-under-Lyne, was jailed for eight years for his part in the drugs racket.
Prosecutors are weighing up whether to charge three colleagues of Sarah Everard's murderer and rapist with sharing 'grossly offensive' messages with him on WhatsApp.

The three Met Police officers allegedly passed around racist and misogynistic messages with him before Wayne Couzens committed his appalling crimes.

Investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct had been originally probing five officers from three forces.

It was also looking at one former officer over the WhatsApps, which were sent over eight months from March 2019.

The police watchdog only became aware of the conversations after seizing one of Couzens' old phones after he was arrested over Ms Everard.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: "Our investigation into the sending and sharing of inappropriate messages by officers on WhatsApp has been completed.

Wayne Couzens in Folkestone when he worked for Kent Police before the Metropolitan force

Vile WhatsApp message distributed by police officers after the murder of Sarah Everard

"We provided a file of evidence to the CPS in December to consider potential offences against three individuals under the Communications Act 2003. We await its decision."

The Times reports the watchdog has sent evidence to the CPS relating to two serving Met officers and a former officer.

Any charge would be for an offence under the Communications Act.

The investigation had also looked at another Met officer, one from Norfolk Constabulary and another from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary where Couzens had previously worked.

Two of the officers are currently working on restricted duties, but none have been suspended.

Couzens used Covid powers to conduct a fake arrest of marketing executive Ms Everard as she walked home from a friend's house in March last year, in a crime that appalled the nation and undermined confidence in the police.

Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Couzens in March last year

Couzens abducted Sarah Everard as she walked home from a friend's house in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3, abusing his position as a police officer to force her into his car

He is now serving a whole-life order in prison, meaning he will never be released from jail.

The Met has faced a wave of criticism over missed opportunities to expose Couzens as a sexual predator before he went on to murder Miss Everard.

It emerged the 48-year-old was known as 'the rapist' by staff at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary because he made female colleagues feel so uncomfortable.

He had been accused of indecent exposure in Kent in 2015 and in London in the days before Ms Everard's murder, but was allowed to continue working.

An ongoing inquiry investigating how he was able to abduct, rape and murder Sarah Everard will look at whether any 'red flags were missed' earlier in his career.

Home Secretary Priti Patel published the terms of reference for the first phase of the Angiolini Inquiry, named after Dame Elish Angiolini QC who is leading it, which will consider the 'systemic failures' that allowed Miss Everard's killer to be employed as a police officer.

Ms Patel said: 'I am determined to understand the failings that enabled a serving officer to commit such heinous crimes - we owe an explanation to Sarah's family and loved ones, and we need to do all in our power to prevent something like this from ever happening again.'
The effectiveness of Covid vaccines can drop from 80 per cent to zero in just four months, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has warned.

The alarming decrease in effectiveness in both the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines, has triggered ATAGI to recommend booster shots after just three months, as Omicron continues to ravage Australia.

New advice from the Immunisation body shows initial protection of 36 per cent to 88 per cent is estimated to wane rapidly to 0 to 34 per cent approximately four months out from the second dose.

Updated advice from ATAGI confirms vaccine effectiveness wanes from 80 per cent to zero just four months after receiving a second does of both Pfizer or AstraZeneca (pictured, a person receives their Covid-19 vaccine at Casey Fields in Melbourne)

This means a person who has received both doses could lose up to 50 per cent protection against Covid in just 120 days.

Vaccine effectiveness against the risk of hospitalisation with Omicron was also found to drop, falling to 52 per cent.

ATAGI said a Pfizer booster shot appears to restore 'moderate levels' of effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron cases by 71 to 76 per cent.

A booster dose was also found to increase vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation to 88 per cent.

'Receipt of a primary schedule and a booster dose will provide individual protection from infection and hospitalisation with the Omicron variant, although these effects will wane,' ATAGI said in a statement.

'It is known that protection against onward transmission also wanes over several months after completing the primary series for the Delta variant. This may be similar with the Omicron variant.

A person who has received both doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer could lose up to 50 per cent protection against Covid-19 in just 120 days (pictured, Sydney-siders enjoy the hot weather in December)

'It is expected that a booster will increase protection against symptomatic infection and this should lead to a parallel increase in protection against transmission, therefore providing some indirect protection to the wider population.'

On Thursday, the Federal Government updated its vaccine policy based on new advice from the national drug regulator.

Under the new policy Australians will no longer be classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they have not had a booster six months after their second jab.

While National Cabinet stopped short of mandating a third job for those in essential roles, aged care workers will be required to get a booster dose or face the sack.

Australians will no longer be classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they have not had a booster six months after their second jab (pictured, a resident receives their Covid-19 vaccine at a Sydney clinic in September)

'Under the new advice, a person is 'up to date' if they have completed all the doses recommended for their age and individual health needs,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

'ATAGI recommend that everyone aged 16 years and older receive a booster dose three months after their primary course, to maintain the best protection and an 'up to date' status.

'Further, ATAGI has advised that if it has been longer than six months since a person's primary course and they haven't had a booster, they will no longer be considered 'up to date' and instead will be considered 'overdue'.'
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Security experts spoke out today to warn against recruiting 'woke' Neil Basu as the next Met commissioner following Dame Cressida Dick's bombshell resignation.

Britain's top police officers are vying to become the nation's most powerful cop, with candidates in the force jostling and outsiders vying to be the broom that will clean up the Met.

Confidence in the force has been shaken in recent years by a series of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by depraved cop Wayne Couzens, the disastrous probe into fake VIP child sex abuse claims, and allegations of racism, sexism and homophobia within the ranks.

Dame Cressida Dick, who became the first woman to head the Met Police in 2017, said she had 'no choice but to step aside' after losing Sadiq Khan's confidence.

Mr Basu is seen as her most likely replacement for the 230,000-a-year role. He has attracted controversy for threatening to jail journalists over the leaking of damning cables about President Trump, and blaming terrorism on social mobility.

Paul Stott, Head of Security and Extremism at Policy Exchange, warned: 'Basu has previously staked his claim for the hearts and minds of our liberal elites by encouraging discussion of whether terms like 'Islamist' and 'jihadist' should be dropped from the reporting of jihadist violence.

'There are also issues about whether Neil Basu is a supporter of a core element of liberal democracy  press freedom. In 2019 he appeared to threaten journalists with prosecution if they ran stories based on leaked government documents  it all seemed a bit big brother, and indicated a tendency to stray into political matters. His comments on taking the knee are a further example of a desire to roam free of his brief.

'What matters to the public is fighting crime, and the security of themselves, their property and their families. That requires a different focus to where Mr Basus attention appears to be.'

Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, said: 'His would be a highly political appointment. He is as much a political figure as a police one.

'His claim that right wing terrorism is the fast growing threat indicates that he has a very limited understanding of the threat posed by Islamist/jihadist terrorist. He will be very much seen as Khan appointee and very much a Labour man.'

Meanwhile Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project, added: 'I've resisted getting into personalities but what we need is someone with competence to make London safer, not a person that looks like a progressive identikit and spends his or her time servicing the ego of politicians.'

The leadership of the Metropolitan Police was thrown into chaos last night after Dame Cressida Dick's bombshell resignation as Scotland Yard boss

Other candidates put forward to replace Dame Cressida include Merseyside cop Andy Cooke, who said violent criminals were 'not inherently bad people'.

Simon Byrne, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) since 2019 is in the running. But his time as chief constable of another force - Cheshire - ended in controversy after he was accused of bullying and humiliating staff. A misconduct hearing was told he had a reputation for being like Darth Vader and treated junior officers and staff like roadkill.

While Martin Hewitt, head of the National Police Chiefs Council throughout the Covid crisis, could also get the job. His appearance at several Downing Street briefings during lockdowns means he is more recognisable than most other top cops.

Here, MailOnline goes through the list of likely candidates to succeed Dame Cressida.

Neil Basu: Anti-terror chief who called for journalists to be prosecuted after publishing leaked cables criticising Trump

Neil Basu, who has been at the Met for nearly 30 years

Neil Basu is the Met's former head of counter-terrorism and the most senior serving British officer of Asian heritage.

He also served as the assistant commissioner for specialist operations until September 2021, which included responsibilities around national security, and had originally been tipped for the top job in 2017 before losing out to Dame Cressida.

In February this year, he called for laws in the Equality Act 2010 that restrict positive discriminations to be relaxed in order to boost the number of BAME recruits. He was immediately shot down by policing minister Kit Malthouse, while Home Secretary Priti Patel was also said to be against the idea.

Mr Basu faced fresh accusations of meddling in politics in July 2019, when he threatened to prosecute journalists for publishing leaked cables from Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Davis said the intervention 'strayed well beyond his brief', and represented an attack on the free Press.

Mr Basu's comments came after Scotland Yard launched a probe to find who leaked Sir Kim's memos calling the Trump administration 'clumsy and inept'.

Mr Basu, who has spent his whole career at the Met, made another controversial intervention in August that year when suggested homegrown terrorism was fuelled by a lack of social mobility and inclusion. He said better education and opportunities for young people would do more to fight terrorism than 'the policing and state security apparatus put together'  adding that he was not trying to excuse any acts of violence.

He also said British Muslims should not be forced to 'assimilate', adding: 'Assimilation implies that I have to hide myself in order to get on. We should not be a society that accepts that.'

A 2019 profile of Basu in the Mail On Sunday described him as well-liked within the force and by intelligence officials at MI5. But he has attracted criticism for some of his operational decisions, most notably as head of Operations Weeting, Elveden and Tuleta. The three inquiries into phone hacking, computer hacking and alleged payments to police officers by newspapers cost around 19.5million and were criticised for criminalising journalists.

Mr Basu also raised eyebrows when he criticised the Prevent programme  which tries to detect and deradicalise Muslim extremists  as 'toxic'.

A Hindu, born to an Indian doctor father and a white British mother, he has said he has encountered racism over most of his life. He grew up in Stafford, where he studied at Walton High School before reading economics at Nottingham University.

He became a Met police officer in 1992, serving first as a beat bobby in Battersea, South London, then swiftly moving through the ranks as a borough commander in Barnet, North London, and a Commander of South London in 2012.

Andy Cooke: Former Merseyside chief who insists even violent criminals are 'not inherently bad people'

Andy Cooke, who now serves with the police inspectorate

While head of Merseyside Police, Andy Cooke sparked anger when he said even violent criminals are 'not inherently bad people' and he'd rather pump billions into cutting poverty than upholding the law.

The officer, marking his retirement as Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said if he was given a 5 billion budget to cut crime, he would spend 1 billion on crime and 4 billion on tackling poverty.

He now serves in the role of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Inspector of Fire and Rescue Authorities in England. He will be overseeing inspections primarily in the North of England.

Mr Cooke was chief constable for five years, during which time he has overseen the jailing of dozens of multi-millionaire drug laws, including Liverpool's most notorious drugs boss Liam 'the Lam' Cornett, who was transported to court in a huge armed convoy every day, and the jet-setting Mulhare brothers, who were caught abroad in Thailand after being informed on by a 'supergrass'.

Murderers jailed during his tenure include George Leather, 60, who brutally killed his Asda worker wife, 56, by stabbing her 300 times in an 'episode of unspeakable and barbaric savagery', and Robert Child, 37, who was jailed for life for striking his 64-year-old mother Janice with a hammer 31 times.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said of Mr Cooke's plans for the police budget: 'In that case would he be quite happy to sack 80% of the officers. Reducing poverty is not a function of the policing budget, it's the job of other agencies and government.

'I'm not convinced that this change would be welcomed by the vast majority of the UK population. They want to see the police protecting citizens and property and crime. He sounds like someone who would have taken the knee for BLM and defunded the police.'

Under Mr Cooke, Merseyside Police gained a reputation for tough policing and for being a keen user of stop-and-search powers. He was also the first commander of Merseyside's Matrix unit, set up to tackle gang crime and violence.

Simon Byrne: Top Northern Ireland cop 'with a reputation for being like Darth Vader'

Simon Byrne became chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in May 2019

Simon Byrne became chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in May 2019, arriving at the force with 36 years of policing behind him.

After holding senior roles at GMP and the Met, he became chief constable of Cheshire Police from 2014 to 2017. That role ended in controversial circumstances after he was accused of bullying and humiliating staff.

A misconduct hearing was told he had a reputation for being like Darth Vader and treated junior officers and staff like 'roadkill'.

The hearing was told he handed pictures of Dad's Army characters to officers after he became angry when flooding made him late for work.

However, he was cleared of misconduct, with the tribunal concluding that much of what was claimed was either exaggerated or most likely didn't happen.

During his time as chief constable, Mr Byrne revealed he had considered breaking the law in order to hire more officers from ethnic minorities. At that time the force only had three black officers.

He told the BBC in 2017 that the law should be changed in England 'for a certain period of time' to allow the hiring of minority candidates to speed up. This would ensure that 'for every white officer, we recruit one black officer.'

Mr Byrne said: 'I've even taken legal advice about breaking the law, which might sound crazy as a senior police officer.

'But if we're put under pressure to change, then what are the consequences, other than reputational, from breaking the law?'

Under current equality rules employers cannot employ a job applicant because of characteristics like race, sexual orientation or gender, if other candidates are better qualified.

At PSNI he attracted controversy for suggesting the children of paramilitaries could be taken into care.

He was also forced to apologise after tweeting a photo of himself with officers holding rifles outside a PSNI station on Christmas Day, the BBC reported.

Martin Hewitt: NPCC chief who backed crackdown on Covid sceptics and said officers felt 'undervalued' amid pay row

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council

As chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) throughout the Covid crisis, Martin Hewitt has made a number of high-profile interventions in politics.

Amid fury last year at officers being hit by a pay freeze, Mr Hewitt told Priti Patel that many officers believed the decision was 'unfair' and they felt 'undervalued' after their efforts during Covid.

Mr Hewitt said: 'For many it feels unfair and that their contribution is undervalued.

'And, unlike other parts of the public service, officers do not have the option of industrial action to make their case more strongly.

'As the Government makes spending decisions over coming months, we urge you to fund a settlement which properly reflects the important and complex work police officers do, and starts to address the pay shortfall.'

In January 2021, he backed a crackdown on lockdown sceptics and said officers would no longer 'waste time' trying to reason with them amid soaring death rates.

Speaking at a Downing Street press briefing, he gave examples of shocking 'irresponsible behaviour' from people not heeding warnings - even with more than 1,200 people dying every day.

They included a 30-per-head boat party in Hertfordshire with more than 40 people, a Surrey house party whose host tried to claim it was a business event and a minibus full of people from different households caught travelling from Cheltenham into Wales for a walk.

Mr Hewitt was appointed in April 2019. He began his policing career with Kent Police in 1993 and transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service in 2005.

As an Assistant Commissioner for five years, he led frontline and local policing, specialist crime and professional standards.

He led the national police response to adult sexual offences and kidnap between 2014 and 2019, and served as a Vice-Chair for the NPCC from 2015 before taking on the chairmanship.

Matt Jukes: Assistant commissioner credited with leading crackdown on Rotherham child grooming gangs

Matt Jukes: Assistant commissioner credited with leading crackdown on Rotherham child grooming gangs

Matt Jukes joined South Yorkshire police in 1995 three years after graduating with a degree in mathematics from Oxford.

He worked as a detective and rose through the ranks to represent UK police forces at G8 meetings and lead on national anti-terror strategy.

Mr Jukes is best known for tackling Rotherham grooming gangs while borough commander in the Yorkshire town from 2006 to 2010.

More than 1,000 children were exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, with local authorities, schools and police among agencies that failed to tackle the problem.

A report on the scandal by Professor Alexis Jay suggested that Mr Jukes' leadership marked a point where police became more proactive in dealing with the abuse.

After serving in South Yorkshire Police, he moved to South Wales, with the police and crime commissioner there Alun Michael backing him as an outstanding leader.

Mr Jukes worked his way up to the top post in South Wales Police, becoming Chief Constable in January 2018.

He is also chairman of Police Sport UK.

Mr Jukes moved to the Met in November 2020. He was awarded a Queens Police Medal in the New Year Honours List 2018.

Dame Lynne Owens: Head of Britain's FBI who stepped down to fight breast cancer

Widely admired and was seen as the natural successor to the Yard top job until she retired on health grounds last autumn.

Dame Lynne led the National Crime Agency - dubbed 'Britain's FBI' - from 2016 until last October.

Seen as a safe pair of hands, and known to be a favourite officer of Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Dame Lynne, 53, has bravely written on social media of her mastectomy, radiotherapy and ongoing recovery. Whether she can be tempted back to such a high-pressure job will be a purely personal choice.

The former chief constable of Surrey Police, who joined the Metropolitan Police service in 1989, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year but said she now requires more extensive surgery which would mean a longer period of time off work.

Sir Hugh Orde: 'The policeman's policeman' who 'loves the Met'

The 64-year-old retired officer was described as a 'policeman's policeman' by his team in Northern Ireland, where he was chief constable.

Orde joined the Met in 1977 and was posted to south London when he was made a sergeant in his early 20s.

In the 1990s, he developed the force's race relations training. He then developed Operation Trident, the Met's successful initiative to take guns of the streets. He then served as chief constable of Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2009.

After losing out to Sir Paul Stephenson for the Met's top job in 2009, he was appointed president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, before retiring.

Describing his affinity with Scotland Yard he said: 'I've always loved the Met. In policing, it's one of the biggest challenges in the world'.

Sir Dave Thompson: Chief constable of West Midlands Police who appears to stepping just at the right time

Just two weeks ago West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson announced he will leave his position after the Commonwealth Games - saying it is 'time to go'.

The Chief Constable, who worked in the force for 12 years, said he wanted the force to have a fresh vision.

He confirmed plans to leave after the 2022 Commonwealth Games in August.

His decision to leave Britain's second force this year, could put him in a prime position for the top job at the Met.

The West Midlands' top cop said officers and wider society must be actively anti-racist and stand against misogyny after 'shocking' messages exchanged by Metropolitan Police officers were made public.

Speaking on the day he received his knighthood, chief constable Sir David Thompson said the conduct exposed by the national police watchdog should 'terrify us all'.

He was reacting to the publication of messages exchanged by some Met officers in WhatsApp groups and a Facebook chat group, which included multiple references to rape, violence against women, racist and homophobic abuse.

Sir Mark Rowley: Britain's former top terror cop who could be tempted to return to the Met

A familiar figure after leading the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations for four years.

Although he resigned from the police in 2018, Sir Mark is still only 58 and sources believe he could be tempted back by the biggest job in British policing.

Served as chief constable of Surrey for three years to 2011, when he joined the Met as an assistant commissioner.

He's understood to be popular with Sadiq Khan, who will have a say in the next Commissioner.

Announcing his retirement in 2018, AC Rowley said: 'It was immensely sobering, but none the less the greatest honour for me, to lead the response to last year's terrible events in Manchester and London, where I witnessed the extraordinary bravery and compassion of UK policing. It is therefore no surprise to me that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services recently noted, the public's confidence in the police to protect them against terrorism has, in the toughest year in decades, increased markedly.'

He added: 'I am as proud of the police service today as I was when starting on the beat in Birmingham in 1987. Every day I continue to witness the selfless, unwavering commitment of all involved in protecting and serving the public.'

Strewth! Next Met chief could be from Down Under as Priti Patel actively looks to Australia for a new broom to clean up force

By Jason Groves, Political Editor for the Daily Mail

Priti Patel is scouring Australia for Cressida Dicks replacement.

The Home Secretary has extended the search for Britains next Metropolitan Police commissioner Down Under after concluding that an outsider may be needed to break the culture blamed for a series of scandals.

Dame Cressida was recently granted a two-year extension on her contract, despite widespread calls for her to go.

Government sources said the decision reflected a lack of suitable replacements, with one saying it was a case of better the devil you know.

However, some senior Tories believe Dame Cressida could still be forced out early if Scotland Yard is hit by another scandal.

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll (left) oversaw Australias biggest peacetime security operation at the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014. Other potential candidates include Reece Kershaw (right) who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019

By convention, the Metropolitan Police commissioner is drawn from the ranks of serving senior officers in the UK.

But Home Office officials have identified a loophole in the law which allows for the recruitment of senior officers from the United States and certain Commonwealth countries, including Canada and Australia.

Home Office sources confirmed that Miss Patel is actively looking at recruiting Britains next top police officer from Australia.

One said: The problem with senior police [here] is that they all sound the same and think the same. If you want to change the culture  and we do  you might need someone from outside.

A second source said that Australias membership of the Five Eyes security network put them in a very good place for compatibility with UK law enforcement.

They also have some very robust crime-fighting cops.

Among those who have caught the eye of British ministers is Mick Fuller, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, whose tough-talking style would chime with Miss Patels approach.

Mr Fuller has courted controversy, defending his forces policy of strip-searching suspects by saying there needs to be a little bit of fear of law enforcement.

Among those who have caught the eye of British ministers is Mick Fuller, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, (left) whose tough-talking style would chime with Miss Patels approach. Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin (right) is another whose name has been mentioned

People need to know there are consequences, especially those who are criminals or on the verge of being criminals, he said.

However, Mr Fuller has announced plans to retire next year, meaning the Home Office may have to look elsewhere unless he has a rethink.

Another likely candidate is Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll, who oversaw Australias biggest peacetime security operation at the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014.

The former drug squad detective was drafted in to overhaul the troubled Queensland Fire and Emergency Service after it was hit by sexism and bullying scandals.

Her experience is likely to be of interest to ministers who want the next chief to address allegations that the force suffers from a culture of cover-ups and misogyny.

Discussing her experience, she later said: Jumping from an organisation I knew to one I didnt know  with people who werent happy about me coming  was the toughest time of my career.

But all I could do was be honest and say, we have to take this organisation forward together.

Other potential candidates include Reece Kershaw, who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019, and Michael Outram, commissioner of the Australian Border Force who is a former detective chief inspector at the Met.

Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin is another whose name has been mentioned. He transformed the service with new technologies and has considerable experience in dealing with terrorism, including the 2002 Bali bombings.

Ministers have not ruled out a British appointment but are unimpressed with the available candidates.
China will advise single women not to have abortions under new 'education' plans, prompting concerns that they may be forced to give birth.

The China Family Planning Association (CFPA), which once enforced terminations under the one child policy, said it will 'educate' unmarried women against having abortions in a campaign which hopes to boost birth rates.

The agency said it is under orders from the State Council to promote reproductive health by reducing unexpected pregnancies and abortions carried out for 'non-medical purposes' among young adults, The Times reported.

Instead, it is believed that the family planning agency will aim to 'improve reproductive health' by prompting traditional values to try and encourage people to have more children.

It comes as China is facing a demographic crisis after its birth rate fell for the fifth consecutive year, with fewer babies born in 2021 than during the Great Famine under Chairman Mao.

The campaign has led to fears that women could be forced to have babies and have their rights restricted.

The China Family Planning Association (CFPA) said it will 'educate' unmarried women against having abortions in a campaign which hopes to boost birth rates (stock image)

But Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of the state-run newspaper Global Times, dismissed the concerns as 'unimaginable' and 'totally politically unfeasible'.

He told The Times: 'Such a policy will run contrary to the global trend for women to decide if she will have an abortion.'

It is believed that the campaign will involve a task force being set up for education projects, but there were few other details released on how the campaign will work.

In China, around 9.5million abortions are performed annually, which is almost as many as the 10.6million births that were recorded in 2021.

An article in the Chinese Journal of Practical Gynaecology and Obstetrics claimed that a high percentage of abortions involve young, unmarried women.

China has removed its controversial one-child policy, which was introduced in 1979, during the last decade - introducing a two-child policy in October 2015 before changing it to allow couples to have three children.

It comes after China's birth rate fell for the fifth consecutive year, with only 10.6million babies being born last year in the population of more than 1.413billion, down 12 per cent on the 12million born in 2020.

It is the lowest level recorded in the Communist nation since its founding in 1949.

Overall, the population increased by 480,000, the lowest since the famine of 1959 to 1961 which killed tens of millions of people.

Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, told state media the decline was caused by 'a decrease in the number of women of childbearing age, a continued decline in fertility, changes in attitudes toward childbearing and delays of marriage by young people'.

China's birth rate fell for the fifth consecutive year, with only 10.6million babies being born last year in the population of more than 1.413billion, down 12 per cent from 2020 (stock image)

The decline in birth rates could undercut the ruling party's plans to develop technology and self-sustaining economic growth based on consumer spending rather than exports and investment.

The fall in population growth has prompted warnings China, where economic output per person is below the global average, might face a 'demographic time bomb' and have too few workers to support a growing number of elderly people.

The ruling party has enforced birth limits since 1980 to restrain population growth and conserve resources.

But leaders started to worry after the working-age population peaked at 925million in 2011 and started to drop earlier than expected.

Authorities eased birth limits starting in 2015. But couples are put off by high costs, cramped housing and job discrimination against mothers.

Yi Fuxian, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told the New York Times: 'China is facing a demographic crisis that is beyond the imagination of the Chinese authorities and the international community.'

The percentage of people aged 16 to 59, the official working age population, edged down to 882.2million, or 62.5 per cent of the total, from 63.3 per cent reported in the 2020 census. That is down from 70.1 per cent a decade ago.

Demographers say the working-age share of the population might fall to half by 2050.

There were 267million people aged 60 and above, or 18.9 per cent of the total, up from 264million, or 18.7 per cent, in 2020.

China's birth rate already was falling before the one-child rule, paralleling trends in South Korea, Thailand and other Asian economies.

The average number of children per mother tumbled from above six in the 1960s to below three by 1980, according to the World Bank.

Demographers say official birth limits concealed a further fall in the potential number of children per family.

The one-child limit, enforced with threats of fines or loss of jobs, led to abuses including forced abortions.

A preference for sons led parents to kill baby girls, prompting warnings millions of men might be unable to find a wife, and fuelling social tension.
A man is set to become the first person with Down's Syndrome to be a fully qualified scaffolder - just two years after being crowned Britain's top apprentice.

Todd Scanlon, 32, was given a scaffolding apprenticeship by Martyn Coles at his company Coles Scaffolding three years ago.

Since then he has impressed both his colleagues and customers with his 'enthusiasm, politeness and professional attitude'.

He later won a public vote to be named the UK's top apprentice thanks to his 'boundless energy' and commitment.

Todd, from Swindon, Wilts., has recently been accepted onto a course to become a fully qualified scaffolder - a UK first for someone with Down's Syndrome.

Todd Scanlon (pictured), 32, was given a scaffolding apprenticeship by Martyn Coles at his company Coles Scaffolding three years ago

Todd's mother Vicky Scanlon has praised Martyn for giving Todd a chance where others wouldn't.

She said: 'You've helped Todd achieve so much, physically, mentally, passing courses and getting awards and that's all down to you.

'Unless you've been in a situation like mine, I can't explain how much this means to me. I'm very proud of Todd, as you know, but I'm also very proud of you too.

'I think Swindon should be proud of you for highlighting the issues that people with mental health and disabilities have with employment.'

She added: 'When Todd was growing up you get used to the idea he won't have the same life everybody else, but with Martyn doing this for him he's getting there.

'He's gone beyond whatever I expected, he does go out of his way, I don't know where he finds the time.'

Todd's mother Vicky Scanlon has praised Martyn for giving Todd (pictured at work) a chance where others wouldn't

Martyn said: 'He has great determination. He comes in every day and proves people wrong. Having him on the site is great, he's a good presence, all of the customers like him and he's very polite.

'When we took him on we didn't have any worries. I know his capability, but he is still proving to be better than whatever expectations we have.

'Everything you put in front of him he just does. He's just shown that you can do it with the right guidance. He's just a likeable guy.'

Speaking in 2019, Todd, said: 'At the company I mainly do a lot of fittings and carrying. I wanted to go into scaffolding because it's my favourite thing to do.'

Martyn says Todd had 'begged' him for a job for two years.

Speaking when he started in 2018, Todd said: 'I like helping Colesy, my boss. I wanted to be a scaffolder because I like to help people. I carry all the tubes [poles] - the 10-foot, the 16-foot, up to the 20-foot ones.'

Todd works with five members of the team. He is kitted up the same as everyone else, helping to assemble the scaffolding and make sure it is safe and level.

Martyn's company has adopted the slogan 'No Stigma', to show that Todd's disability should not hold him back from having the same opportunity as others.

Martyn said: 'We just want to show that he can do it. Everyone is entitled to work.

'It doesn't matter if you have a disability, or you come from a broken home, or whatever. I'm more than willing to give everyone a chance.

'If you know him, you'll know that he loves what he does. Anything you ask him to do, he'll do it.

'Todd does all the same tasks as us. He'll get the tools ready to be loaded onto the van, and he'll bring all the fittings out from the van at each site.

'He does a lot. So far, there hasn't been any limits to what he can help with.

'He'll do whatever we ask of him and he gets on really well with the other guys - and he'll also have a dance as soon as we put the radio on in the background while we work.'
Hillary Clinton is expected to speak at the New York State Democratic Party Convention in an attempt to 'galvanize the party', sources claimed, as speculation mounts that she will run again in the 2024 presidential election.

The former Democratic presidential candidate is anticipated to speak in front of the party leaders at the Sheraton hotel in New York next week, people familiar with the event told CNBC.

'She's beloved by the mainstream members of the Democratic Party and her popularity is likely higher than that of President Biden,' a source, who said Clinton is set to speak at the event, told the news outlet.

'It's good for her because it keeps her relevant and her appearance is likely meant to galvanize the party and the audience.'

Chris Melnyczuk, the chief of staff to New York State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs, said the party 'reached out to a number of people to speak and, you know, we're waiting back on confirmation from a number of people. So there are a few things in the works.'

'We've reached out to a number of folks, we're not going to say who we've reached out to,' he added regarding whether Clinton was among the speakers invited.

It comes as there is growing speculation that Clinton will run for president 2024 amid President Joe Biden's plummeting approval ratings and fears that could mean his administration loses Congress in the midterms.

Hillary Clinton is expected to speak at the New York State Democratic Party Convention in an attempt to 'galvanize the party', sources claimed, as speculation mounts that she will run again in the 2024 presidential election

It comes as there is growing speculation that Clinton will run for president 2024 amid President Joe Biden's plummeting approval ratings and fears that could mean his administration loses Congress in the midterms

Real Check Politics took an average of the most recent national surveys - 304 polls taken from January 2020 to this month - which measured Biden's standing. Their cumulative poll put the President's approval rating at 39 per cent and his disapproval at 54 per cent

Biden's approval rating dipped below 40 per cent for the first time since he took office this week, according to an average of recent national polls.

Real Check Politics took an average of the most recent national surveys - 304 polls taken from January 2020 to this month - which measured Biden's standing.

Their cumulative poll put the President's approval rating at 39 per cent and his disapproval at 54 per cent.

Clinton has said she will not run for political office again following her 2016 defeat to Donald Trump, but a former top adviser to Bill Clinton said last month there is a 'good change' she will run in the 2024 presidential election if the current administration loses Congress in the midterms.

Dick Morris claimed a Clinton-Trump rematch is likely if the Democrats don't pull the successful results in November's election, alleging the failure would cause the party to turn on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

'There's a good chance of it,' Morris told WABC radio host John Catsimatidis before applauding the former presidential nominee's campaign strategy, which could see her face-off against Trump again.

Democrats are increasingly worried that dissatisfaction with Biden's presidency could cost them their majority in Congress in the November 8 elections. If Republicans take control of either the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate, Biden's legislative agenda could be doomed and he would become a lame duck president.

Clinton has said she will not run for political office again following her 2016 defeat to Donald Trump, but a former top adviser to Bill Clinton said last month there is a 'good change' she will run in the 2024 presidential election if the current administration loses Congress in the midterms

Morris said: 'Hillary has set up a brilliant, brilliant strategy that nobody else is able to do.'

He continued: 'What she's done  at a point at which no Democrat is willing to come out and criticize Joe Biden, but all Democrats are disappointed with him and have to realize the ultimate correctness of our accusations that he was incompetent to be president  she has set up a zero-sum gain with him.

'The worse he does, the better she does because she's positioned herself as the Democratic alternative to Biden.'

Morris also claimed Clinton, 74, has portrayed herself as the opposition to the extreme left and cautioned her own party to be cognizant of the candidates they're running in what she refers to as 'purple districts'.

That appears to be an attack on 'woke' progressive policies that have been blamed for turning many centrist Dems away from the party.

The former political advisor alleged 'there is only one person capable of that level of thinking  and that's her husband, Bill.'

Although Clinton has not yet said if she intends to enter the bid for president in 2024, she has publicly taken aim at the current administration's efforts, saying they 'mean nothing if we don't have a Congress that will get things done and we don't have a White House that we can count on to be sane and sober and stable and productive'.

Morris alleged Clinton is well positioned to be the Democratic party's change candidate who can reference Biden's failures, noting that a 'left-wing took over the party and led us into disaster in the 2022 midterms'.

'The person who staked out the turf first and owns the turf in the Democratic Party is going to be Hillary. It's a brilliant, brilliant strategy,' he explained.

His comments come just weeks after Clinton warned the Democratic Party it needs to be 'clear eyed' about what wins elections - a tacit warning that its progressive wing risks handing midterm victories to the Republican Party.

She told NBC's Willie Geist in December that Democrats needed candidates who could win in purple states if it was to have a Congress that will 'get things done.'

Her comments reflect divisions in both parties, as centrists grapple with fringes that offer ideological purity and headline generating Twitter accounts.

For Democrats, that means the so-called Squad of progressives - including the likes of Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.

Morris' remarks come just weeks after Clinton, during an NBC interview (pictured), warned the Democratic Party it needs to be 'clear eyed' about what wins elections - a tacit warning that its progressive wing risks handing midterm victories to the Republican Party

Clinton said that Democrats needed candidates who could win in purple states if it was to have a Congress that will 'get things done" as opposed to the so-called Squad of progressives like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and Ilhan Omar (right)

'I think that it is a time for some careful thinking about what wins elections, and not just in deep blue districts where a democrat and a liberal Democrat or so-called progressive Democrat is going to win,' said Clinton.

'We've got to be very clear eyed about what it's going to take to hold the House and the Senate in 2022. And to win the electoral college because also Republicans are doing everything they can to create an environment in which winning the Electoral College, even narrowly the way Joe Biden did will be out of reach for Democrats,' she argued in December, just weeks after the party's defeat in Virginia's gubernatorial election.

She added that she understood why politicians would want to argue for their own priorities.

'But at the end of the day, nothing is going to get done if you don't have a Democratic majority in the House, in the Senate, and our majority comes from people who win in much more difficult districts and our majority in the Senate comes from people who can win in not just blue states and hold those wins ... but can win in more purpleish states,' she said.

'So this is going to be a very intense period, not just for the Democratic Party, but for the country.'

Morris, referencing her commentary, said: 'She was absolutely right and nobody else has the guts to say that.'

He alleged other Democrats had to keep their alliance with the extreme left because 'that's their potential base'.

'Hillary can say 'go to hell, I don't care about you guys. I'm going to be the anti-Chirst, I'm going to run against you.' Therefore, she's the only one between now and the end of the midterm elections who's prepared to say what the truth is,' Morris said.

He added: 'She staked out a ground, not on ideological issues, but on pragmatism.'

Morris' statements echo those made last month in a Wall Street Journal op-ed making a case for a Clinton 2024 run.

The authors cited Biden and Harris' poor poll numbers, alleging they could open doors for the former Secretary of State.

'She is already in an advantageous position to become the 2024 Democratic nominee,' Democratic political consultant Doug Schoen and former New York City Council president Andrew Stein wrote.

'She is an experienced national figure who is younger than Mr. Biden and can offer a different approach from the disorganized and unpopular one the party is currently taking.'

However, others argue Clinton isn't 'forward-thinking' enough to secure a bid for the 2024 race.

'Democrats have a rich history of bringing old-school politicians out of the stables for a comeback and having them get slaughtered,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Campaign Change Committee, told The Hill Sunday.

'Not just Hillary Clinton in 2016 but Senate candidates like Ted Strickland in Ohio, Russ Feingold in Wisconsin, Phil Bredesen in Tennessee and Walter Mondale in Minnesota.'

Although neither Clinton (right) nor Trump (left) have announced plans to run in 2024, political analysts have made cases for both of them (Pictured: 2016 presidential debate in New York)

'We need forward-looking leaders who stand for a new vision and not the politics of yesteryear that everybody hates,' he added.

Although Clinton has not formally stated if she plans to run for president in 2024, a source close to the former First Lady and her husband claims the couple wants to return to prominence in the Democratic Party.

'It's a perpetual itch that will never go away,' the insider told Politico. 'They know how to slowly reenter. The Clintons want to reset the board in their favor and then move the pieces.

Trump also hasn't announced if he plans to run 2024, but he has publicly said he's thinking about it.'

'I think a lot of people will be very happy, frankly, with the decision, and probably will announce that after the midterms,' he said in an interview in November.

Recent polls have shown he is favored above other potential Republican candidates.

In a Reuters survey published in December, 54 percent of Republicans said they would pick Trump as their top choice. Eleven percent indicated they favored Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Russia has sent more forces to its border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time including during the Winter Olympics, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

Blinken, who has been leading negotiations with Moscow over the troop build-up, said Washington is continuing to 'draw down' its embassy in Ukraine and urged American citizens still in the country to leave immediately.

'Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,' Blinken told a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne.

'As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics.'

Joe Biden had earlier echoed the same call for Americans to get out now, saying the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war.

A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry

A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows a Russian deployment at Zyabrovka airfield in Gomel, Belarus, less than 15 miles from the border with Ukraine

A Russian video of air defence crews taking up position during joint military exercises with Belarus that began on Thursday, further raising the stakes

Another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border

A Ukrainian service member unpacks Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the U.S. military support package for Ukraine, at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10

Putin is planning a 'NUCLEAR strategic exercise', Britain warns as Russia begins military drills with Belarus Russia is planning to hold a nuclear strategic exercise, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday, despite extreme tensions surrounding Ukraine. Wallace warned that the Kremlin's actions were heading in the wrong direction despite efforts to find a diplomatic solution, declaring intelligence suggested that Russia that Russia was engaging in plans for so-called 'false flag' operations as a pre-text for invading Ukraine, as well as carrying out cyber attacks and other destabilising activity. 'Despite the talking, the direction of travel is in the wrong way,' Wallace told BBC Radio. 'The Russians are still growing their battalion tactical groups... They are planning to start a nuclear strategic exercise soon, and indeed we see more activity elsewhere.' A Russian defence source also told news agency TASS earlier this year that the nuclear exercise, known as 'Thunder', would involve all three prongs of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, testing firing procedures from land, sea and air. Nuclear drills are held frequently in Russia, but the decision to proceed with such exercises in the face of the tension circling Ukraine will give world powers more cause for concern. Advertisement

'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world.

'That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

His comments come as another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border.

Tensions ramped up further on Thursday as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea, prompting Britain to declare it as the 'most dangerous moment.'

Ukraine also staged war games and a senior U.S. official warned that 'bodybags will come back to Moscow' if Russian troops crossed the border.

It leaves world leaders hoping diplomacy can still win the day and prompt President Vladimir Putin to back down.

A diplomatic source told DailyMail.com that the intelligence community did not believe that Putin intended to invade, but he still needed a way out that would allow him to save face.

In the interview, which will be broadcast in full before Sunday's Super Bowl, Biden said he believed that if Putin was 'foolish enough to go in, he's smart enough not to, in fact, do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens.'

He also discussed his search for a Supreme Court nominee, after Justice Stephen Breyer said last month he was retiring.

'What I've done is I've taken about four people and done the deep dive on them, meaning ... thorough background checks,' he said.

He has already promised to nominate the first black woman to the Supreme Court.

On indoor mask mandates, the other big story of the day, Biden suggested it may be too soon to lift the requirement for face coverings in federal government offices and public buildings.

He has found himself increasingly out of step with public opinion and Democratic governors in California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Nevada and Oregon who announced this week that they were easing or ending mandates.

'I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and federal people and I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call,' he said.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived at Boryspil International Airport near Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday night, with about 130 tons worth of ammunition delivered.

It is believed to be the 14th part of a $200 million shipment of American military ai that is being sent to help its ally.

The shipment included Javelin anti-tank missiles, grenades and other defensive ammunition, said the Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov.

President Joe Biden again urged Americans to leave Ukraine on Thursday, this time warning them that American troops won't come to the rescue if Russia launches an invasion

Analysts say the huge build-up of Russian troops offers Putin multiple military options

He tweeted: 'Two more birds in Kyiv! Javelins, grenades & other defensive ammunition for the Ukrainian military. The weight of military aid from our partners, which was delivered today-about 130 tons.'

The US embassy in Ukraine confirmed the news of the shipment and said that Washington has provided 1,200 tons of equipment so far.

'Tonight, the 14th flight arrived in Boryspil with American security assistance, including Javelin systems,' the embassy tweeted on Thursday night.

'The United States has provided nearly 1,200 tons of equipment approved by President Biden in January, which Ukraine needs to protect against ongoing Russian aggression.'

Meanwhile, six Russian landing ships filled with tanks and troops yesterday assembled in the Black Sea to back up the land forces, heightening concerns.

Moscow's forces are also beginning joint military exercises with ally Belarus.

An estimated 30,000 troops are taking part in the 10-day war games.

'Our intelligence, I'm afraid to say, remains grim. We're seeing the massing of huge numbers of tactical battalion groups on the border with Ukraine,' said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a joint news conference with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels

'This is probably the most dangerous moment in the course of the next few days in what is the biggest security crisis Europe has faced for decades.'

As part of U.S. efforts to 'reduce chances of miscalculation,' the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, spoke on Thursday with his Belarusian counterpart, a Pentagon spokesman said.

And U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spelled out the high stakes if Putin made the wrong choice.

If he chose war he 'should understand that body bags will come back to Moscow.., that the citizens of Russia will suffer because their economy will be completely devastated,' she told broadcaster MSNBC.

Ukrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the U.S. military support package at Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10
The UK competition watchdog today announced it has secured a legally binding commitment from Google to address antitrust concerns over its controversial 'Privacy Sandbox' system.

It follows warnings that the tech giant's plans to replace third party cookies in its Chrome browser would increase its dominance of the online advertising market and hit publishers' revenues by up to 70%.

The new technology will replace cookies, in which advertisers track individuals across the websites they visit, with a system that splits users into cohorts.

Previously the Competition and Markets Authority had warned that the changes could enhance Google's dominant position in online advertising, with third parties no longer able to track users and get an insight into their online browsing interests.

It also warned the changes could undermine the ability of online publishers to generate revenue and continue to produce valuable content in the future, reducing the public's choice of news sources.

But now the CMA said the search engine has signed up to legally binding rules designed to ensure that publishers are not squeezed when the Sandbox technology is rolled out.

After accepting the proposed changes from Google, the regulator's chief executive Andrea Coscelli said it would keep a 'close eye' on the Silicon Valley giant and 'we are under no illusions that our work is done'.

The regulators said it want to ensure the changes protect consumers both from competition and privacy and will not be put into action until a series of testing phases.

Third-party cookies will not be removed until the CMA is satisfied that its competition concerns have been addressed.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the search engine has now signed up to legally binding rules to avoid growing its market dominance even further in online advertising

The commitments, which run for six years, include the CMA and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) working with Google during the development and testing of the new Sandbox proposals.

It follows an antitrust investigation launched 13 months ago after outrcy at the plans from publishers and advertisers.

The 'Movement for an Open Web' (MOW) alliance of tech businesses, advertisers and publishers had said Google admitted that removing third-party cookies 'without an adequate replacement' would see most of the world's top 500 publishers lose more than 50 per cent of their revenue, and some over 70 per cent.

It also said the 'Privacy Sandbox' would impair independent analytics, advertising, fraud detection, data services, performance optimisation and other open web features.

Google has already delayed the rollout of the plans until 2023 and aims to roll out the new proposals globally if successfully implemented in the UK.

It has committed to be more transparent than initial proposals laid out, including the publication of test results, with the CMA allowed to intervene as required.

Third-party cookies will not be removed until the CMA is satisfied that its competition concerns have been addressed.

The CMA added it had the right to reopen its investigation, first launched in January 2021, if required.

Google will restrict the sharing of data within its own organisation to ensure it does not get an advantage over competitors when third-party cookies are removed.

The company will also commit to not give itself preference in its advertising services, while a monitoring trustee will be appointed to work alongside the CMA.

Regulators said they want to ensure the changes protect consumers both from competition and privacy and will not be put into action until a series of testing phases

Andrea Coscelli, CMA chief executive, said: 'While this is an important step, we are under no illusions that our work is done.

'We now move into a new phase where we will keep a close eye on Google as it continues to develop these proposals.

'We will engage with all market participants in this process, in order to ensure that Google is taking account of concerns and suggestions raised.'

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulator said in a statement: 'The commitments we have obtained from Google will promote competition, help to protect the ability of online publishers to raise money through advertising and safeguard users' privacy.'

Google separately said it would 'apply the commitments globally', adding 'they provide a roadmap for how to address both privacy and competition concerns in this evolving sector'.
CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) activist Netsai Marova, who is believed to have skipped the border, has requested Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to set up a virtual court trial after a Harare magistrate issued an arrest warrant for her.

Marova is jointly charged with two other CCC activists Joanna Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri for allegedly faking their abductions in 2020.

The trio was initially arrested for protesting what they saw as the authorities failure to provide social protection during COVID-19 lockdowns in Zimbabwe.

They were later arrested for faking their abductions.

Marova said she was not on the run, but wanted a virtual trial to clear her name while pursuing her academic studies.

Firstly, it should be known that I did not abscond any court. Despite charges being levelled against me, the fabric of my social life must still be maintained. The oppressive bail conditions were making it difficult and all attempts to have them relaxed to enable me to proceed with my academic pursuits failed, Marova told NewsDay Weekender from her undisclosed hideout.

The trial against me can still proceed as the law allows virtual court sittings and indeed Minister Ziyambi alludes to these. If he is sincere, he could arrange for these virtual sittings in my case and I will gladly attend.

On completion of my studies, I am determined to return home and have my name cleared and continue with my life. Regrettably, the conditions imposed by the State made it impossible for me to continue with my life while answering to their malicious charges at the same time.

Ziyambi, while presenting a statement during a United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in Geneva recently, accused Marova and her co-accused of faking their disappearance to tarnish the image of government.

But Marova said: Their express denials of the enforced disappearances and their bid to accuse me of false abduction is, in fact, one of the key features that constitute the crime of enforced disappearance. Newsday
Spain has scrapped its ban on unvaccinated children aged over 12 as hundreds of thousands of families head off on trips abroad during the half-term.

The country will drop its entry requirement applying to those from non-EU countries, such as the UK, from Monday - coinciding with the first day of the school holiday.

Many families in the UK had already cancelled plans to visit Spain and the Canary Islands next week due to the ban on teenagers who are not fully jabbed.

Turkey, Egypt and Portugal are among the most popular short-haul destinations, while departures to the US state of Florida, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean have sold well for longer-haul holidays, according to the travel trade organisation Abta.

Ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland are also in demand.

Spain's announcement came shortly after the UK significantly eased its rules for arriving travellers at 4am today.

People who are fully vaccinated no longer need to take a post-arrival lateral flow test, which typically cost about 20 each.

The requirement for unvaccinated arrivals to self-isolate has been dropped, but they still need to take tests.Spai

Spain will drop its entry requirement applying to those aged 12 and over from non-EU countries, such as the UK, from Monday - coinciding with the first day of the school holiday. Pictured: travellers at London's Heathrow Airport this morning

Many families in the UK had cancelled plans to visit Spain during half term due to its ban on teenagers who are not fully jabbed (file photo of tourists on a beach in Majorca)

Aviation minister Robert Courts said the changes were 'a long time coming'.

He told LBC radio: 'We've had a very difficult time both for the travel industry and for people who rely on travel - people who need to go on holiday, people who need to work on their businesses, people who haven't seen their friends and family for so long.

'And so this has been a long road but due to the success of the vaccination programme, I am really glad to be able to bring you this news this morning that we are taking the trouble out of travel.

'We are making it much simpler for people to be able to get about, to go on holiday and to see all those friends.'

Meanwhile, Booking.com has seen Barcelona, Beniform and Madrid securing three out of the top ten most booked locations for this summer so far.

Spain's capital Madrid has seen a 25 per cent increase in Booking.com

Ryan Pearson, Regional Manager at the company, said: 'The change in UK travel testing rules has sparked excitement and anticipation in travellers looking to experience the world again, as people jump at the opportunity to plan a long-awaited trip.

'Benidorm is back with our data revealing that Brits can't wait to get to the Spanish sun, with destinations in Spain bagging three out of the top ten most booked locations for this summer so far.

Passengers in the arrivals hall, following the end of the requirement for vaccinated travellers to take a Covid-19 test after arriving in England, at London's Heathrow Airport today

The requirement for unvaccinated arrivals in the UK to self-isolate has been dropped, but they still need to take tests. Pictured: travellers at the check-in area at Heathrow today

Holiday bookings soar by 24 per cent in a week - as hotel only reservations rise by nearly a third Holiday bookings have increased by 24 per cent in a week, show new figures. A rise of nearly a third in hotel only reservations, compared to the same time last week, was also reported by lastminute.com. A spokeswoman for the travel site told MailOnline: 'Holiday package sales vs this time last week for lastminute.com are up 24 per cent, and "hotel only" bookings vs this time last week are up 30 per cent.' The holiday provider also revealed that February half-term is currently the most booked departure week in recent months. Top destinations in terms of bookings are the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Lanzarote), Dublin, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris. Advertisement

'With a restored sense of confidence, 2022 is truly the year to get back to planning your next holiday.'

Spain's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, said from Monday that children aged 12-17 arriving from the UK will only be required to show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours of arrival.

UK adults will continue to need to be fully vaccinated to enter Spain.

The country's minister for trade, industry and tourism, Reyes Maroto, said: 'We are committed to making travel to Spain a safe and easy experience for our visitors, especially for families travelling with children.'

Commenting on the move, a spokeswoman for TUI told MailOnline: 'Todays news about the relaxing of rules for children entering Spain is another positive step towards the full resumption of travel.

'Spain has always been one of the most sought after family hotspots, so we hope that these changes, along with the relaxation of testing coming back into the UK, more families will now feel reassured of a holiday in their favourite destination this summer.'

Stansted Airport told Abta it is expecting about 200,000 passengers to depart between Friday and February 18.

Other airports to provide figures for the half-term getaway include Gatwick (186,000 passengers), Manchester (160,000 passengers), Luton (55,000 passengers), Bristol (55,000 passengers) and East Midlands (17,000 passengers).

Airline and tour operator Jet2 said bookings over the past four weeks for half-term trips were 30 per cent higher than during the same period in 2020. Pictured: Heathrow today

Airline and tour operator Jet2 said bookings over the past four weeks for half-term trips were 30 per cent higher than during the same period in 2020, which was before the pandemic hit the aviation industry.

Chief executive, Steve Heapy, said: 'We have a programme of very busy flights taking off to destinations across the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and best ski resorts in Europe, and bookings have been flying in over the past few weeks.

'Over the past two years, we have said that demand would come roaring back once travel started to return to normal, and that is very much the case.'

Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar said more than 125,000 people are booked to travel between the UK and the Continent during the school holiday.

The busiest day will be Friday, when more than 16,000 passengers are booked to travel. Several services are sold out.
A British journalist who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been released, according to reports, along with another journalist and Afghan citizens.

Former BBC South Asia correspondent Andrew North was being held along with several others by the militant group but has now been freed alongside a second unnamed journalist.

News of the release of the prisoners was announced on Friday by the UN Refugee Agency's Twitter account.

North, who has reported from Baghdad and Beirut, has been working as an independent journalist and with the UN inside the terrorist-ruled country in Kabul.

His recent articles have taken aim at Taliban leadership, saying there is 'no trust' in the new regime amid an 'impression of indecision, drift and denial' and 'festering divisions among Taliban factions'.

It was revealed today that a second British man, Peter Jouvenal, has been held in a separate group since early December while visiting Afghanistan for business and family reasons. It is currently unclear whether he has been released as well.

Former BBC journalist Andrew North has been detained by the Taliban in Kabul where he has been reporting under the new regime

In a separate case, British/German dual national Peter Jouvenal (left) has also been the subject of concern from friends and family as it was revealed he is also being held by the Taliban in Kabul

Mr Jouvenal, a Muslim man who is married to an Afghan woman, has been travelling to Afghanistan for more than 40 years as a freelance cameraman, businessman and investor. Earlier, his family released a statement pleading for his safe release.

A statement on the UN Refugee Agency Twitter page said: 'We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them.

'We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan.'

Although the UN has not named the journalists released on Friday, Press Association reported that it understood one of them to be Mr North.

Former Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh had tweeted earlier that Mr North had been 'kidnapped' along with eight others from Western countries.

His tweet said: 'Due to no media, no reporting by citizens & a suffocating atmosphere, corruption, crime & atrocities aren't well exposed.

'As an example nine citizens of western countries have been kidnapped amongst them Andrew North of BBC & Peter Juvenal owner of Gandomak Restaurant. Talibs are liars.'

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson added: 'We are providing support to the families of a number of British men who have been detained in Afghanistan.

UK officials have raised their detention with the Taliban at every opportunity, including when a delegation travelled to Kabul yesterday.'

It is thought that Mr North is working for the United Nations high commissioner for refugees in Kabul as a contractor.

Articles from his website show despatches from the country over the last few months since the Taliban launched its rapid takeover of the nation in August.

A recent piece for BBC Radio 4 by Mr North documented farmers returning to Marjah in Helmand province sowing opium poppy.

He has not posted on his Twitter feed since February 3.



North's wife Natalia Antelava said she is 'extremely concerned for his safety' as she pleaded for his release

Mr Jouvenal's friends and family said earlier that they fear he may have been detained 'in error' and released a public plea in which they said they were 'deeply concerned for his safety'.

'He is being held without charge, and with no freedom to contact his family or lawyers,' his family said in a statement.

'Peter's family and friends believe that he may have been detained in error, as he was in Afghanistan to discuss investments in Afghanistan's mining industry as well as conducting family business. Before his arrest he was working openly and had frequent meetings with senior Taliban officials.

'We urgently request that the Afghan authorities release Peter. He suffers from high blood pressure and needs medication. There is a high threat of Covid infection in the Afghan prison system.'

Meanwhile, North's wife Natalia Antelava said on Friday: 'Thank you everyone for your messages. Andrew was in Kabul working for the UNHCR & trying to help the people of Afghanistan.

'We are extremely concerned for his safety and call on anyone with influence to help secure his release.'

Ex-war correspondent Peter North, who has reported from Baghdad and Beirut , has been working as an independent journalist and with the UN inside the terrorist-ruled country

Peter Jouvenal's (pictured above) friends and family fear he may have been detained 'in error' and released a public plea in which they said they were 'deeply concerned for his safety'

Ms Antelava, who is also a journalist, added: 'Andrew was in Kabul working for UNHCR and trying to help the people of Afghanistan.'

Mr North's parents Barry, 85 and Margaret, 84, were desperately awaiting news at their home in Cobham Surrey.

Mrs North declined to comment on her son's disappearance but hit out at 'scurrilous' comments on social media.

Upsetting comments included claims Mr North should never have put himself in danger and the government will be asked to pay thousands of pounds for his release when it was 'his choice' to travel to Afghanistan

Mrs North said: 'I'm horrified about some of the scurrilous comments that have been made. It's appalling.

'There have been some pretty despicable comments. I'm sorry I don't want to say anything.'

Afghanistan's former vice president Amrullah Saleh accused the Taliban of being 'liars' and said the detention shows the 'suffocating atmosphere of corruption, crime and atrocities' in the country.

In December, North wrote an article that made references to reports of vendetta-style killings.

He wrote in New Lines: 'Continued reports of vendetta-style killings and beatings puncture a hole in the supposed amnesty that Taliban leaders offered to Afghans who worked for the former government.

'All of this has contributed to an impression of indecision, drift and denial, amid reports of festering divisions among Taliban factions.

North recently said on his personal website he had been meeting with Taliban leaders (file image)

'That came through clearly during several weeks in the fall I spent travelling around Afghanistan, meeting various Taliban figures and seeing the results in daily life.

'It all adds to a sense of malaise, with an ominous feeling of worse to come.'

The Taliban has not yet commented on the alleged detention.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed the detention of two journalists working for them in Afghanistan.

They said: 'Two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul. We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, in coordination with others.

'We will make no further comment given the nature of the situation.'

The Taliban administration's security and intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, said it had no information.

There was no indication what prompted the detention.

UN agencies employ journalists to report on their work around the world.

Since the Taliban took over the country in August, concerns have grown over a crackdown on dissent.

The UN has repeatedly raised alarm over missing women's rights activists in recent weeks.

Foreign nations have refused to recognise the Taliban-led administration but have ramped up engagement as they try to avert a massive humanitarian crisis stemming from an economy stalled by sanctions and a halt in development funding since the group took over.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also confirmed the detention of two journalists working for them in Afghanistan

Newly recruited Taliban fighters display their skills during a graduation ceremony at the Abu Dujana National Police Training centre in Kandahar on Wednesday

A Taliban delegation visited Geneva this week for talks with aid agencies and meetings with Swiss officials. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it planned to call on the Taliban to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

It comes as Joe Biden is expected to issue an executive order today to move billions of dollars to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan.

The president will move some of the Afghan central bank's assets frozen in the U.S. banking system to fund the aid and also compensate victims of 9/11, according to a U.S. official familiar with the decision.

The order will require U.S. financial institutions to facilitate access to $3.5billion of assets for the Afghan relief and basic needs.

The other $3.5billion would remain in the United States and be used to fund ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, the official said.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision had not been formally announced.

International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the country's assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August.

The country's long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover.

Taliban fighters stand guard at the courtyard of the Hazrat-e-Ali shrine or Blue Mosque, in Mazar-i-Sharif

Nearly 80 per cent of Afghanistan's previous government's budget came from the international community.

That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

The executive order is expected to be signed by Biden later on Friday.

The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

Afghanistan has more than $9billion in reserves, including just over $7billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Qatar.

The Taliban are certain to oppose the split.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of its ministries but was struggling to keep employees at work.

They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organisations are saying money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

The New York Times first reported on Biden's coming order.
Labour MP Neil Coyle today apologised after he had the whip suspended over allegations he launched a racially-charged rant at a British-Chinese journalist in a Parliamentary bar.

The Bermondsey & Old Southwark MP said he was 'very sorry' for his 'insensitive comments' and would cooperate fully with an investigation launched by the party.

Henry Dyer, a political journalist for Insider, has said Mr Coyle joked about 'Fu Manchu' and made disparaging remarks about his heritage during a conversation in Strangers' Bar at Parliament on February 1.

He is also alleged to have berated a Labour aide about Brexit in a foul-mouthed tirade at the same venue the previous evening - and has been banned from the Commons bars.

In a statement today, Mr Coyle said: 'I'm very sorry for my insensitive comments, have apologised to everyone involved and will be co-operating fully with the investigation.'

A Labour spokesman said: 'The Labour Party expects the highest standards of behaviour from all our MPs and we take allegations of this sort very seriously. Accordingly the Chief Whip has now suspended the Labour whip from Neil Coyle pending an investigation.'

Labour has suspended the whip from MP Neil Coyle (pictured) after allegations he made racist comments to a journalist at Parliament

Henry Dyer, a political journalist for Insider, has said Mr Coyle joked about 'Fu Manchu' and made disparaging remarks about his heritage during a conversation in Strangers' Bar at Parliament on February 1

The incidents are alleed alleged to have taken place in Strangers' Bar in the Commons

Mr Dyer confirmed he had been contacted by Mr Coyle and received an apology

Mr Coyle has been suspended from House of Commons bars after the claims and a separate episode the previous day when he allegedly launched a foul-mouthed anti-Brexit rant in Westminster's famous Strangers' Bar.

It is understood that after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle became aware of Mr Dyer's allegations, he convened a meeting with the Serjeant at Arms who ordered that Mr Coyle should be suspended from bars in the Commons for six months.

Authorities in the House of Lords are believed to have taken similar action.

Mr Dyer, who is British-Chinese, said he came into contact with Mr Coyle in Strangers' Bar on the evening of Tuesday February 1, after going for Chinese New Year dinner with his family.

He accused the MP of making Sinophobic remarks, which he said made him feel uncomfortable.

Mr Dyer said that Mr Coyle came to speak to him and a group of other journalists on the Tuesday, and the conversation turned to fellow Labour MP Barry Gardiner, after he it emerged he had unwittingly received funding from a Chinese spy.

Mr Coyle allegedly made a remark that Mr Gardiner had been in the pay of 'Fu Manchu'.

Mr Dyer said the comment 'struck me at the time as not right, given it had been well reported who had been giving Gardiner money, and so there was no need to refer to a 20th Century trope of a Chinese supervillain'.

In an account posted online, the journalist said that when he 'gently pushed back' Mr Coyle suggested he was being 'over-sensitive', before 'saying that he would apologise if he had said something bad and it wasn't just me being sensitive, which I believe was insincere'.

'He then said that he had relatives of Chinese descent.

'I responded by saying that I am British-Chinese, to which Coyle responded that he could tell, 'from how you look like you've been giving renminbi [the Chinese currency] to Barry Gardiner.'

Mr Dyer claimed he had also witnessed Mr Coyle 'angrily shouting at a Labour staffer' in the bar the previous evening.

The journalist said he informed the Speaker on the morning of Thursday February 3 what had happened.

'The Speaker and his staff took immediate action, in conjunction with the Serjeant at Arms and the House of Lords' authorities, to suspend Coyle from the bars on the Parliamentary estate pending an investigation by the Labour whips office into the incidents on Monday and Tuesday evening,' he said.

The House of Commons declined to comment.

In the January 31 incident, Mr Coyle was accused of bawling 'f**k you' at a Labour aide who insisted that Brexit had worked out 'fine' for the UK.

When a Tory MP tried to intervene to calm the row, Mr Coyle allegedly replied: 'F**k off and lose some weight.'

The row erupted on the very first day of the reopening of Strangers'  Westminster's famous Thames-side watering hole  for MPs and staffers after it was closed during the Covid pandemic.

Witnesses said the MP erupted after the researcher, who works for another Labour MP, suggested that Brexit had not been a disaster for Britain.

The aide is said to have added that Labour could have been spared its disastrous 2019 General Election where it argued for a second referendum  if only it had taken a different position.

Mr Coyle then allegedly startled everyone in the bar by yelling: 'F**k you! What are the benefits of Brexit?'

He was also said to have shouted: 'Are you f**king insane?'

And when a backbench Tory MP attempted to defuse the row, Mr Coyle is said to have retorted with 'f**k off' , followed by a dig at the MP's weight.

Cabinet minister Therese Coffey jibed at Neil Coyle over his conduct at a committee hearing last week after they clashed over benefit payments.

In an exchange, Mr Coyle told the Work and Pensions Secretary it was 'really disappointing that you've turned up and been unable to answer so many questions', after she asked to come back to the committee about a question on 'yellow card' sanctions for those on benefits.

Offering a defence, Ms Coffey said she either did not recall some details or was being asked about other departmental briefs.

Mr Coyle followed up by asking: 'There was a rumour the Secretary of State is going to resign. Is that the reason you can't answer any questions today, because you've got one foot out the door?'

The Cabinet minister sharply replied: 'No, don't be ridiculous Neil. If you want to bring up gossip, I could bring up other stuff that happened downstairs. I don't think that's appropriate for this select committee, thank-you.'
A teen from Tennessee has spent five days on life support and still has to use oxygen for her weakened lungs after a four year e-cigarette 'addiction'.

Julia Roberts, 18, started vaping at 14 when her school friends started using them and says she quickly became 'addicted', going through a disposable e-cigarette every two weeks.

She claims that four-and-a-half years of regular use took a huge toll on her lungs and on January 7 she was hospitalised struggling to breathe.

Roberts, from Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, claims chest x-ray revealed that years of constant vaping had damaged her lungs and this, coupled with a serious reaction to a 'fake' disposable containing a 'toxic chemical', caused her to develop pneumonia.

Concerned doctors put Roberts on life support for five days and despite a 'miraculous' recovery, she remains on oxygen 24/7.

Now recovering at home, Roberts, who has since vowed never to vape again, was told she's still at risk of having a heart attack due to the strain on her weak lungs.

Juliet Roberts, 18, has vowed never to vape again after being put on life support due to lung damage and pneumonia that she claims doctors said was caused by puffing on electric cigarettes

Roberts, from Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, was put on life support (pictured) for five days and despite a 'miraculous' recovery, she remains on oxygen 24/7

The waitress, who is on sick leave for the foreseeable future, has now shared shocking photos of herself on life support to warn people how 'dangerous' vaping is.

Roberts said: 'I woke up feeling like I had a cold and just really didn't feel good and as the days progressed I started feeling worse. Three days later, I was sitting in my room and I went to stand up and I fell back down because I couldn't breathe, I thought I was going to pass out.

'I called my boyfriend and told him I needed to go to the emergency room because I could tell something was wrong. As soon as they checked my vitals three nurses rushed in because my oxygen was so low - they couldn't believe I was walking.

'After getting all the testing done my condition started worsening very quickly and I don't remember much after that. From what I've been told they put me on a ventilator and when that wasn't enough they put me on life support.

'The doctors told me that if I hadn't made it there that night I would've lost my life. It was very scary. They told me I was basically dying, I'm so glad I went to the hospital when I did.'

Now recovering at home, Roberts was told she's still at risk of having a heart attack due to the strain on her weak lungs and remains on oxygen

Roberts was admitted to the ER department of TriStar Spring Hill, Roberts was then transferred TriStar Summit Medical Center the same day after seeking medical help when she was struggling to breathe

After being admitted to the ER department of TriStar Spring Hill, Roberts was then transferred TriStar Summit Medical Center the same day.

The teen was repeatedly tested for Covid-19, flu and strep throat to rule them out before having an ECG and PET scans to check her heart rhythm and look for cancerous cells.

But it was a chest x-ray that found the root of the problem - the years of constant vaping had damaged her lungs and led her to develop pneumonia that was making it difficult for her to breathe.

The infection made her lungs appear white on the x-ray rather than the typical black depiction of healthy soft tissue.

Roberts spent a total of 12 days in hospital recovering, including five on life support.

She said doctors believe that her weakened lungs, from the long-term use of vapes, had been overwhelmed by suffering a reaction to a chemical in a 'fake' vape.

Roberts said: 'When you get a lung x-ray it's supposed to be black and the only white you're supposed to see is your ribs.

'But my x-ray you could almost not even count some of my ribs because of how white it was. That was because of the damage from the vape and the pneumonia which I got from vaping.

'They think I maybe got hold of a fake disposable and I had a bad reaction to it because of some type of chemical that was in it and it just made my lungs want to stop working.

'They said obviously with how consistent I was with vaping it made the condition worse as well.'

Doctors kept the teen in the intensive care unit for another five days after she woke up from being on life support as she was still on too much oxygen to be moved - using 15 litres a day.

She says doctors told her she made a 'miraculous' recovery to even be off life support that quickly, as they initially predicted she would be on it for a week.

Roberts was then treated with a nebuliser machine three times a day that administered misted antibiotics to her lungs to help them recover and strengthen.

After being discharged from hospital she remains on oxygen around the clock and is still having nebuliser treatments at home twice a day with a long road to recovery ahead of her.

Doctors kept Roberts in the intensive care unit for another five days after she woke up from being on life support as she was still on too much oxygen to be moved - using 15 litres a day

Roberts has been told she will be out of work for between three to 12 months depending on when her lungs are strong enough to breathe by themselves and stop putting a strain on her heart

Roberts has been told she will be out of work for between three to 12 months depending on when her lungs are strong enough to breathe by themselves and stop putting a strain on her heart.

During this recovery she also has to be careful to avoid catching any illnesses that could further strain her weak lungs, making the ongoing Covid pandemic a big worry for her.

Roberts said: 'I got sent home on two litres of oxygen but sometimes I'll bump myself to a three if I'm going to walk up the stairs or do anything that exhausts me because my oxygen will drop on two.

'Right now my lungs are working so hard that if I overdo myself I'm at risk of a heart attack - my heart rate jumps to 150 when I go up the stairs, which is very dangerous.

'My lungs will never go back to what they were before, they will just get strong enough for me to breathe on my own again.

'They told me leaving the hospital that if I even got a common cold I'd end up right back where I was because of how weak my lungs are at the minute. My friends had to get covid tests to come and see me just to make sure it was safe.'

Roberts said doctors have warned her that because of the lasting damage done to her lungs, using a vape again could kill her.

After her traumatic experience the teen, who vows never to vape again, now hopes to encourage others to quit, insisting 'it's not worth it'.

Roberts said: 'I haven't hit one since the day I went to the hospital and I don't plan on doing it ever again. The doctor told me that it would end my life and that's all the information I need to quit for good.

'I just want people to know that it's really not worth it. I want it to be known that it is as dangerous as people say it is and it's a lot more common than people think it is.'
A clip of a Pointless contestant rudely mispronouncing Cressida Dick's name has re-emerged following her resignation.

Richard Osman took to Twitter to share the clip, which shows contestant Billy repeatedly saying 'Caressa Dick' when answering a question about the now-ex Met Police chief.

Billy says: 'Senior police officer appointed the first female commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (CD). The top one is Caressa DickI think I'll go for Caressa Dick'.

Presenter Alexander Armstrong asks him to repeat his answer, which Billy does, as Osman attempts to hide his giggles.

The answer is incorrect, with Osman joking: 'So sorry Billy. I have good news  you've just made 250 from It'll Be Alright On The Night.'

Sharing the clip today, Osman joked: 'This is the closest Pointless has ever come to being taken off air.'

Pointless contestant Billy repeatedly said 'Caressa Dick' when answering a question about the now-ex Met Police chief

Richard Osman, trying to hide his laughter during the show, took to Twitter to share the clip

It comes after Dame Cressida said yesterday that she had 'no choice' but to resign after London Mayor Sadiq Khan told her he no longer had any confidence in her.

The beleaguered Metropolitan Commissioner's tenure has been blighted by one scandal after another, including Sarah Everard's shocking murder, the Daniel Morgan inquiry, and allegations of institutional racism, sexism, homophobia and corruption within the force.

Priti Patel today came out all guns blazing and vowed to appoint a successor to Dame Cressida Dick that 'will deliver results' for London amid a furious row with Sadiq Khan after he forced out the Met Commissioner without telling the Home Secretary.

Ms Patel must have 'due regard' for the views of the Mayor of London but will make the final decision on who will replace Dame Cressida.

It came as the family of Stephen Lawrence and victims of the scandals on her watch demanded the new commissioner must purge rotten apples and begin the 'restoration of the quality and the reputation' of the Met.

And today Priti Patel immediately wrestled back control of the recruitment process from Mayor Khan, declaring: 'I will appoint a Commissioner who will deliver results for the public that our police serve and represent'.

Writing in the Evening Standard she said: 'Policing culture and conduct have rightly come under scrutiny. Be in no doubt that a new leader must tackle these institutional issues.

The head of London's Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, said she is resigning Thursday

Beleaguered Dame Cressida Dick initially looked gloomy as she arrived for work today after she finally resigned as Metropolitan Police Commissioner after presiding over a litany of controversies as Scotland Yard chief

'Above all, what I  and the public  will want from the country's most senior police officer is someone focused on the basics: reducing violence in the city, ridding our streets of drugs, knives and weapons, saving lives and protecting the public from those who wish to do them harm'.

She added: 'Beating crime, preventing crime, protecting our citizens, our streets and communities at a time when this Government is investing record sums into the police, is paramount'.

The new Commissioner of the Met must also show the force 'tough love' and change its racist, sexist and homophobic culture, her past and present colleagues declared today.

The outgoing Commissioner said she had 'no choice' but to resign after London Mayor Sadiq Khan told her he no longer had any confidence in her.

But she was all smiles when she arrived at New Scotland Yard for work today, where she will remain in post for a short period to ensure the stability of the Met'.

Her deputy Sir Stephen House is expected to step up temporarily when she is gone - and may now make the final decisions on whether to fine the Prime Minister in the Partygate investigation, led by Deputy Assistant Commissoner Jane Connors.

Priti Patel was caught off guard by the decision, learning of it only when Dame Cressida rang her to say she had stood down - sparking a bitter row between City Hall and the Home Office after Mayor Khan failed to inform the Home Secretary or the Queen that he wanted the Commissioner gone.

She had faced mounting pressure amid a series of scandals, including the murder of Sarah Everard by one of her officers, the aftermath of the Operation Midland VIP abuse inquiry and a report that branded her force 'institutionally corrupt' after the murder of Daniel Morgan.

Most recently there were the racist, misogynist and homophobic messages exchanged by officers at Charing Cross police station.

Entertainer Paul Gambaccini, who was investigated by Met Police detectives after he was wrongly accused of sex abuse, said: 'It is time to roll away the stone and shed light on what is inside the cave.

'All of those secrets that Cressida Dick kept secret for years, the truth of the cover up of the Stephen Lawrence murder, the truth of the cover up of the Daniel Morgan axe in the head murder, the full truth of Operation Midland.

'Recently the public have had even more reason to be irate against this unfortunate woman. And I think we must say that today is not the last step but the beginning, perhaps of the restoration of the quality and the reputation of the Metropolitan Police, oh could it be so.'

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was wrongly accused of child sex abuse by serial liar Carl 'Nick' Beech, said he was 'delighted' by the news. He added: 'It is now time to clean the Augean stables so that a full inquiry can be conducted on all her personal mistakes.'

Campaign group Reclaim The Streets, which is bringing a legal challenge against the force over its heavy-handed handling of a vigil for Miss Everard in Clapham Common last year, simply tweeted: 'Good Riddance.'

Describing her near five-year tenure one senior colleague said: 'She was bereft of strategy, bereft of vision and finally events have overtaken her'.

Another former colleague told the Telegraph: 'She has had multiple flesh wounds and strikes but because she is personable, resilient, presents well in the corridors of power and is liked by her frontline officers, she survived.

'There is a myth about Cressida's popularity within the Met. She is not a great communicator within the organisation. A lot of people within the Met were fed up with the lack of clarity and direction'.
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No10's scientific advisers have condemned Boris Johnson's plans start living with Covid like it is the flu by lifting all restrictions in a fortnight, warning it could create 'anxiety' and disproportionately affect poor people.

A SAGE subcommittee told the Government to consider the 'unintended consequences' before taking the unprecedented decision to scrap compulsory self-isolation, masks, mass-testing and other remaining curbs in England.

The experts claim abandoning free lateral flows  which have cost the UK taxpayer billions so far  will lead to Covid becoming hidden and mask any future outbreaks. Ditching the policy could create 'ambiguity' about the seriousness of the pandemic and make the public less likely to take personal precautions.

They argue that scrapping the compulsory isolation period without improving sick pay may force poorer people to go to work even if they are ill and risk spreading the virus to vulnerable.

The warnings were raised at a meeting of the Spi-B behavioural expert committee that feeds into SAGE on Thursday, a day after the Prime Minister revealed he intends to drop remaining curbs in England within weeks.

The PM's announcement was widely seen as a ploy to appease hardline anti-lockdown backbenchers and fend off a flurry of no-confidence letters following a spate of allegations about illegal lockdown parties in Downing Street.

A document detailing the concerns was made public tonight  despite minutes from SAGE meetings often taking weeks to be published online.

Spi-B is made up of almost 50 of the UK's top behavioural scientists, including former Communist Party member Professor Susan Michie, and Professor Stephen Reicher, a social psychologist and vocal critic of Mr Johnson.

They also called for Covid messaging to be taken from central government and given to public health and NHS agencies, in the wake of the 'partygate' scandal that has engulfed Westminster over the last few weeks.

'Cross-national studies have shown that people have higher confidence in health advice from health professionals and scientists compared to politicians,' they write, adding 'this is particularly the case when trust in government is low'

Spi-B is made up of almost 50 of the UK's top behavioural scientists, including former Communist Party member Professor Susan Michie, and Professor Stephen Reicher, a social psychologist and vocal critic of Mr Johnson

Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on variant that's a merger of Omicron and its predecessor Delta Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on a Covid variant that is a hybrid of the Omicron and Delta strains and has been spotted in the UK. The super-mutant Deltacron is thought to have evolved in a patient who caught both variants at the same time but it is not clear if it was imported or originated in Britain. UK Health Security Agency officials also don't know how infectious or severe the newly evolved virus is or whether it will impact vaccine performance. A source at the UKHSA insisted officials were 'not concerned' by the variant because case numbers are 'low'. The agency has not revealed how many times it has been spotted. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that it 'shouldn't pose too much of a threat' because the UK has huge levels of immunity against the original Delta and Omicron strains. 'So at the moment I'm not overly worried at the moment. If both Delta and Omicron are falling then, in theory, this [variant] should struggle to take off,' he said. Advertisement

Experts warned No10 not to follow Swedens lead by ditching free mass testing, urging ministers to consider unintended consequences of any changes to current provision of swabs.

Covid could become hidden without continued mass testing, they claimed, arguing the best way to keep deaths down is to maintain isolation when symptomatic.

No10 has not confirmed when or if it will get rid of free lateral flow testing despite calls from politicians and experts to ditch the multi-billion pound scheme.

But Whitehall insiders have briefed that the programme could be shelved by July or even earlier.

Spi-B said the move to lift the legal requirement to self-isolate will impact the most vulnerable in society, especially those who feel more pressure to work when unwell for financial reasons.

Sick pay should also be improved to reduce infections by encouraging people to stay at home when symptomatic, they claimed.

And they encourage the Government to up its messaging on encouraging the public to adhere to safe behaviours in the absence of rules.

They said public messaging around the return to normality should also acknowledge loss and trauma associated with the pandemic.

In a direct criticism of Government, Spi-B claimed the public trust messaging from doctors and health professionals over ministers, arguing responsibility for communications should be shifted to the NHS.

Spi-B added: 'However, it is important that Government departments remain consistent in their Covid-related communications to avoid undermining health-led messaging.'

Inconsistent messaging could confuse the public and fuel tensions that fuel the anti-vax movement, the psychologists claimed.

They said: Some far-right and anti-vax groups have successfully tapped into these tensions (across traditional political boundaries) and will continue to do so over at least the next two months.
A 68-year-old Kansas woman who died after receiving the Moderna COVID vaccine suffered an allergic reaction to the shot which caused her airway to close, her autopsy has revealed - but she also had a history of hypertension and an allergic reaction disorder which was triggered by other medicines in the past.

Jeanie Evan's, 68, died on March 24, 2021, after receiving the shot in Ozawkie, Kansas.

Around 20 minutes after getting the shot, she complained that her airway was closing up. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital at 5:21pm and died the next day at 11.55am.

Now, an autopsy obtained by The Topeka Capital Journal has revealed that she had an allergic reaction to the vaccine which caused her airway to close.

Evans' family say they intend to file a lawsuit against Moderna for wrongful death.

Jeanie Evans, 68, died on March 24, 2021, after receiving the shot in Ozawkie, Kansas

She was given an EpiPen but still died.

Evans had a history of allergic reactions - before the Moderna vaccine, she suffered an allergic reaction to Albuterol, the drug found in inhalers.

Pfizer and Moderna are the only two-shot vaccines approved in the US

Her autopsy said that she also suffered a 'reactive airway disease' but that it was not asthma - which is one of the comorbidities considered dangerous if a person also gets COVID.

She also had a history of environmental allergies, the autopsy revealed.

Anaphylaxis caused by COVID vaccines is extremely rare, according to the CDC which estimates it will affect five people in 1million.

It is unclear how many people in America or globally have suffered adverse reactions to the vaccines, of which there are two approved in America.

Johnson and Johnson's one-shot vaccine was temporarily suspended after a handful of women developed blood clots in the days after they got the shot.

One woman died in Washington State died in September 2021, a few weeks after getting the vaccine. It is now deemed safe again.

Similar reactions were reported in the UK among women who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Among those to have died from complications caused by that vaccine is the British radio presenter Lisa Shaw.
Retailers are pushing lawmakers for stricter punishments against shoplifters as a crimewave sweeps the nation, including in New York City where a Rite Aid store in midtown Manhattan has closed its doors after having $200,000 worth of product stolen in just two months.

'They come in every day, sometimes twice a day, with laundry bags and just load up on stuff,' an employee at the now-shuttered Hell's Kitchen drug store, which used to be open 24 hours, told the New York Post.

'They take whatever they want and we cant do anything about it. Its why the store is closing. They cant afford to keep it open.'

CVS has also been plagued by a 300 percent increase in retail theft since the pandemic began, the company confirmed to DailyMail.com on Friday.

In addition to petty theft, stores in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago are experiencing large numbers of brazen thefts, burglaries and looting by organized crime gangs.

Leaders in the retail industry - which was already hard hit by the impacts of the pandemic, labor shortages and supply chain interruptions - argue theft has gotten out of control and security guards have their hands tied, as they are told to 'observe and report' and not get physical with criminals.

Retailers and citizens alike are urging state attorney generals and Congress to take action by passing new legislation, stricter laws on bail reform and felony thresholds, and creating anti-shoplifting task forces.

Crime has become so rampant that even the Rev. Al Sharpton has called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to crack down on shoplifting, saying basic items such as toothpaste are now locked up at local pharmacies to try and prevent theft.

A Hell's Kitchen Rite Aid store is closing its doors after $200,000 worth of goods were stolen in December and January

CVS was has been plagued by a 300 percent increase in retail theft since the pandemic began (Pictured: Empty shelves at an Upper East Side CVS in January)

Retailers are pushing lawmakers for stricter punishments against shoplifters as a crimewave sweeps the nation, including in New York City (Pictured: Duane Reade in SoHo in October)

'It's out of control  it is just out of control,' Lisa LaBruno, SVP of operations and innovation at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, told Axios.

The CEOs of nearly two dozen retail companies have called on Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act, which would require online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay to verify sellers and allow buyers access to seller verification and contact information.

'As millions of Americans have undoubtedly seen on the news in recent weeks and months, retail establishments of all kinds have seen a significant uptick in organized crime in communities across the nation,' the store leaders wrote in a letter to Congress.

'Leading retailers are concerned about the growing impact organized retail crime is having on the communities we proudly serve, which is why we strongly support the bipartisan and bicameral Integrity, Notification and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces (INFORM) for Consumers Act.'

The CEOs claim the INFORM Acts will 'modernize consumer protection laws' and protect community members from the sale of illicit products. They are urging Congress pass the bill quickly.

Brian Dodge, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, told Axios in December that re-selling stolen goods online has become a 'low-risk crime' because thieves can sell the products to unsuspecting customers while 'hiding behind fake usernames and untraceable email addresses rather than legitimate kinds of business information that any other operating business would have to provide  like a name.'

Attorneys general in California, Arizona and New Mexico are setting up anti-shoplifting task forces in an effort to combat crime. They are also re-evaluating their bail reform laws and felony thresholds.

Retailers claim that although they 'constantly invest in people, policies, and innovative technology to deter theft, criminals are capitalizing on the anonymity of the Internet and the failure of certain marketplaces to verify their sellers.'

The store leaders allege the trend is 'hurting legitimate businesses who are forced to compete against unscrupulous sellers' and and has 'greatly increased consumer exposure to unsafe and dangerous counterfeit products'.

Thieves are targeting all types of retailers including grocers, pharmacies, department stores, jewelers, luxury automobile sellers and more (Pictured: A $20 ribeye steak chained with an electronic security tag at a Florida Walmart store)

Thieves are targeting all types of retailers including grocers, pharmacies, department stores, jewelers, luxury automobile sellers and more.

The head of the New York City's largest supermarket chain announced on Thursday that he is hiring extra security to crackdown on thieves, after a 50 percent spike in shoplifting. He blames bail reforms and the woke new policies of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg - who says he won't prosecute some crimes and will downgrade others - for the uptick in shoplifting.

John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of the Gristedes/D'Agostino's, told DailyMail.com that he has become so frustrated with the authorities doing nothing to solve the problem that he is taking it upon himself.

He says he has noticed a 50 percent spike in shoplifting across his stores in the last year, costing him 'several million' dollars.

Catsimatidis said the thieves are not hungry homeless vagrants in need of meals or basic hygiene products, but are 'professional criminals' who often travel to the city from other states where they wouldn't get away with the crimes.

'I love New York City and it has got to survive. We have got to put our foot down to make sure that it does survive. Enough is enough,' he said.

Catsimatidis will hire dozens of retired NYPD officers and security guards to stand in the doorways of his stores and sit in cars parked outside to deter thieves. He was vague on if they would become physical with anyone attempting to shoplift, and said they'll do 'whatever they have to do' to protect customers and staff.

Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis on Thursday announced that he is hiring dozens of security guards to deter shoplifters from his 30 Manhattan stores, where shoplifting has increased by 50 percent

Catsimatidis told DailyMail.com thieves will steal anything that isn't locked up and will sell it for bootleg prices at nearby bodegas

There are more than 30 Gristedes and D'Agostino grocery stores around Manhattan and Brooklyn. The CEO says the shoplifting problem is 'everywhere'

The Hell's Kitchen Rite Aid, located near West 50th Street and 8th Avenue, is one of the retailer's 63 locations that are closing across the U.S. This equates for about 2 percent of the retailer's stores nationwide.

A company spokesperson told DailyMail.com the closures represent about two percent of the retailer's total locations, adding: 'Like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business.'

'A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously, and those decisions are based on a variety of factors that retail businesses consider such as overarching business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance,' the company spokesperson said.

Rite Aid noted that every associate at Hell's Kitchen store has been provided job opportunities at nearby Rite Aid locations and customers prescriptions were 'seamlessly transferred to a nearby pharmacy.'

'We look forward to continuing to serve our communities and expanding in new ways to new markets to become a pharmacy that serves customers nationally,' the statement said.

The spokesperson did not address shoplifting concerns, but a store employee told the Post they were instructed to tell customers the Manhattan location was closing in an 'effort to cut costs.' However, the staffer claims it was a theft-driven decision.

Another Manhattan Rite Aid, located on the Upper East Side, is also scheduled to shut its doors on Tuesday.

Last month, actor Michael Rapaport filmed a thief sauntering out of the Upper East Side store with two shopping bags full of stolen goods, calling it 'pathetic' that brazen crime continues to spiral in the Big Apple because of soft-on-crime policies.

Days later, the entertainer returned to the store, showcasing the empty shelves on social media.

'Back in my Rite Aid,' Rapaport said at the time. 'And there's nothing to steal because this Rite Aid like so many other Rite Aids is closing down because everybody stole everything.' He added: 'Congratulations, losers.'

The Hell's Kitchen Rite Aid, located near West 50th Street and 8th Avenue (pictured Friday after its signs were removed), is one of the retailer's 63 locations that are closing nationwide

Actor Michael Rapaport, who posted footage on Instagram of a bold thief going for a shoplifting spree in NYC last month, said he is 'disgusted' by the brazen crime striking the city

The Rite Aid in the video, on 80th Street and 2nd Avenue, is hit with thefts of the same nature on an almost daily basis, a security guard told Rapaport. The actor returned to the store days later claiming: 'There's nothing to steal because this Rite Aid like so many other Rite Aids is closing down because everybody stole everything'

CVS, which has also reported an uptick in crime told DailyMail.com on Friday: 'We have not closed stores due to retail crime.

'We have security policies and procedures in place at all of our stores to help ensure they remain safe environments to work, shop and fill prescriptions. We do not comment on specific security measures because we do not want to undermine them.'

The Rev. Al Sharpton asked Mayor Adams this week to crack down on shoplifters after the civil rights leader saw basic items like toothpaste locked up at his local pharmacy.

'Eric, they're locking up my toothpaste,' Sharpton said on MSNBC's Morning Joe as he gave a long and hard stare into the camera.

'You go into a local pharmacies - Duane Reade or Rite Aid, any of them - and you got to get someone to help assist you. They have the little button there, you hit the buzzer, the guy comes over, and unlocks your toothpaste - we're talking about basic stuff here.'

Pharmacies like Duane Reade, CVS and Rite Aid have always locked up certain items, such as razor blades, but as more and more thieves are looting the shelves, stores have begun putting up extra protection.

Industry leaders note that the thefts are not limited to store shelves, and that thieves are also striking warehouses and cargo trucks.

They claim teams of 'boosters' will pack a location with laundry bags, grab what they can and assault workers who confront them. Some stores have even reported employee fatalities.

Reverend Al Sharpton, 67, slammed newly minted NYC Mayor Eric Adams for the extreme amounts of shoplifting in the city after his precious toothpaste gets locked up in pharmacies

Sharpton's toothpaste has been locked behind locked doors in many local pharmacies, such as CVS (pictured in Manhattan), as so many stores have been hit with recent thefts

Industry leaders claim teams of 'boosters' will pack a location with laundry bags, grab what they can and assault workers who confront them (Pictured: A suspect accused of assaulting a police officer at a NYC Duane Reade in December)

Retailers also allege the uptick in crime is tied to the ease of selling stolen goods on the internet, as well as the pandemic-fueled increase in online shopping.

On Wednesday, the New York's soft-on-crime District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that he is considering bringing harsher charges for certain types of thefts, especially for the 'opportunists.' The district attorney in Chicago is considering a similar measure.

The Big Apple has seen an incredible increase in crime, as overall crime up nearly 42 percent.

The only major crime that is down is murder, with 12 percent less homicides happening this year. However, robbery, felony assaults, and shooting victims are up considerably at 13.3, 29.7, and 35.3 per cents, respectively.

The Big Apple has since an huge spike in crime, with overall crime up almost 42 percent

Transit crimes are also up almost 75 percent and even Adams has admitted the city's subway system isn't 'safe.'

Discussions on how to handle New York City's crime has even reached the federal level as President Joe Biden, 79, visited the the City That Never Sleeps last week - their discussion mainly focusing on gun violence.

Adams met with Biden on February 3, who praised the mayor for his anti-crime agenda to bring down gun violence.

The president vowed to be Adams' 'partner' and wants to 'help every major city follow New Yorks lead.'

In a crackdown against ghost guns - where parts can be bought on the internet and would not be registered in databases - the president said the federal government will prosecute those who are caught with the weapon.

The NYPD repossessed a large number of ghost guns last year.

In addition, Adams announced earlier that part of his anti-crime plan is to increase the number of officers and bring back plainclothes cops.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday that will split some $7 billion of the Afghan central bank's assets frozen in New York between humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and for compensation of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The money will be split eveningly: $3.5 billion for the Afghan relief and the other $3.5 billion would remain in the United States to be used to fund ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism.

'This is one step forward in the United States effort to authorize the transfer of a significant portion of the funds to meet the needs of the Afghan people,' the White House said in announcing the order.

Biden will cite emergency powers as the justification for the order, which is highly unusual.

But it will help ease questions about what to do with the country's money that is locked in the U.S. banking system after the Afghan government fell in August.

The funds for Afghanistan will 'benefit the Afghan people,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call on Friday, adding that the U.S. is working with a series of international partners to set up a system to ensure that 'no benefit goes directly to the to the Taliban.'

The official didn't provide further details on how that would work.

'There's going to be appropriate controls in place over these funds to prevent diversion and illicit activity,' the official said.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including the just over $7 billion held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Qatar.

Biden announced the executive order on Friday following reports the Taliban are holding nine westerners, including one American, in custody.

When Afghanistan's government dissolved in August, it left behind about $7 billion on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York

Half of the country facing famine and selling babies to buy food: The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan under the Taliban Western countries and aid agencies have warned Afghanistan will be plunged into a humanitarian crisis in the coming months, with half the population facing famine with the Taliban in power. Families are selling babies to be able to buy food and more than 80 percent relies on contaminated water, dire reports suggest. The United Nations says 8.7 million Afghans are on the brink of starvation. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said over half the population faces 'extreme levels of hunger'. Afghanistan's aid-dependent economy was already stumbling when the Taliban seized power last August amid the chaotic departure of US and NATO troops after 20 years. The international community froze Afghanistan's assets abroad and halted economic support, unwilling to work with the Taliban, given the brutality during their 1996-2001 rule. Guterres said the World Banks reconstruction trust fund for Afghanistan transferred $280 million last month to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF and the World Food Program. He said the remaining $1.2 million should be released urgently to help Afghans survive the winter. Advertisement

Afghanistan faces a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban took over, with covid running rampant and people starving.

The remaining funds will be decided by the federal courts since some of the 9/11 families have writs of execution against the frozen assets.

'No funds are going to be transferred until the court makes a ruling,' the senior administration official said.

When Afghanistan's government dissolved in August - and President Hamid Karzai fled the country - it left behind about $7 billion on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

The funds belonging to the Afghan central bank - known as Da Afghanistan Bank - includes assets like currency, bonds and gold.

Because it was unclear who could now access those funds, the Federal Reserve froze them.

The Taliban has sought to the money but so have a group of relatives of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Afghanistan's economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban took over. Nearly 80% of Afghanistan's previous government's budget came from the international community.

That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

The Taliban are certain to oppose the split.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of its ministries but was struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organizations are saying money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis since Taliban took over - the Taliban wants the $7 billion but U.S. won't recognize its legitimacy

President Joe Biden's executive order is highly unusual but will clarify what to do with the money, which has been locked in the U.S. banking system since Afghan's government fell in August

It is highly unusual for the United States government to seize a foreign country's assets on domestic soil.

But officials came up with a two-part legal process for Biden to use, The New York Times reported:

First, he would use emergency powers under a provision of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to 'direct and compel' that a foreign country's assets in the United States be moved to a segregated account. That locks them into the U.S. banking system but Afghanistan would still own the money.

Second, officials will use a provision of the Federal Reserve Act that permits disposing of property belonging to the central bank of a foreign nation - so long as it has the blessing of someone the secretary of state has recognized as being 'the accredited representative' of that foreign country.

It's unclear what Afghan official was recognized or if that person will be name. The U.S. does not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

'It's been legally complicated road,' the senior administration official said, adding that 'hundreds of hours of legal work' went into the order.

'We feel comfortable, quite comfortable, that we have acted consistently and are acting consistently obviously with with U.S. law,' the official noted. 'This is an unprecedented situation we have $7 billion of of assets in the United States that are owned by a country where there's no government that we recognize.'

'We are acting responsibly to ensure that a portion of that money can be used to benefit the people of the country.'
Staff working from home are being overlooked for promotions, a summit for reviving Sydney's CBD has warned - with women most effected.

Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott told Friday's summit with Premier Dominic Perrottet that current restrictions on workplaces will see long-term effects on Sydney's work culture.

Ms Westacott urged businesses to encourage their staff to come back into the office when restrictions ease so they don't get 'left behind'.

Staff working from home are being overlooked for promotions, a summit for reviving Sydney's CBD has warned - with women most effected

'We've got to make sure we don't leave people behind. Many people will not get the sort of promotions and career opportunities and a lot of that will be gender-driven,' she said.

'We've got to make sure the opportunity of coming into the office is reinforced to the people who work with us, and then we've got to hold our ground, because (Covid) is going to come and go.'

Ms Westacott believes the key to reviving Sydney's CBD begins with getting the workforce back in the office and said one-off incentives won't do the trick.

'We've got to change people's habits, and one night noodle markets (or) one lunch is not going to be enough,' she said.

Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott told Friday's Sydney CBD Summit that businesses will need to encourage workers to return to the office to avoid being 'left behind'

Ms Westacott believes Sydney's large office workforce are the key to reviving the CBD while Treasurer Matt Kean believes the city should focus on residential housing

'We've got to remove the work-from-home encouragement guidance. That is confusing a lot of companies, particularly the multinational companies.

'The masks - we've got to sort them out, because people aren't going to come into the office with the masks.'

The business leader suggested improved ventilation in office buildings and company lunches as a way to entice office workers back to their desks.

However Treasurer Matt Kean believes working from home will become 'more and more normal' and said 'instead of fighting the tide we need to ride the wave'.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has not yet created a timeline for NSW workers to return to work despite pushes from the business sector

Ms Westacott suggested improved ventilation in office buildings and company lunches as a way to entice office workers back to their desks

He said investing in more residential housing in the CBD and not just focusing on office workers, may also help boost trade.

Other ideas discussed in the meeting included the creation of a free transport zone in the CBD - similar to Melbourne's - and giving travel concession cards to international students.

Restrictions enforcing masks indoors and density limits were set to ease from January 28 but have since been pushed back to February 28.

Premier Perrottet has not yet created a timeline for NSW workers to return to work despite repeated pushes from the business sector.
GOVERNMENT has practically dumped Zimbabwean students affected by a recent South African government directive which withdrew a waiver allowing students to apply for permanent residence permits.

There are strong indications that the government of Zimbabwe is not going to interfere with the directive citing that South Africa is a sovereign state whose decisions must be respected.

The directive by South Africas Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi withdrew the blanket waiver which was granted in April 2016, targeting all foreign students based in that country.

Before the directive, foreign students studying in areas of critical skills could apply for permanent residence before attaining five years post-qualification experience, or without submitting testimonials from employers.

An official at the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa told the Zimbabwe Independent that there was no need for an outcry or any form of intervention because South Africa is a sovereign country which does not owe anyone an explanation.

These directives are issued by the government of South Africa in the exercise of its sovereignty.

We cannot and must not appear to be challenging or questioning the governments authority to do so.

This is a directive that has general application.

Its not directed at Zimbabweans only and we have not received any request for assistance from any of our students in respect of this directive.

Our standing advice to all our nationals here is that they must abide by the laws of this country.

That is a fundamental requirement, the official said.

That is the advice coming from the embassy.

The embassy can make representations to the South African government where the circumstances warrant such representation and only if the aggrieved national or nationals bring their grievances to our attention, the official added.

In the past, the embassy made representations on behalf of students who would have been waiting for the issuance of their visas for a very long time.

According to a January 31, 2022 Immigration Directive No. 2 of 2022, Motsoaledi said students who wished to apply for permanent residency permits, had to comply with the countrys immigration laws.

By virtue of the power vested in me by section 31(2) of the Immigration Act, 2002, Act No 13 of 2002, I hereby withdraw the blanket waiver which was granted on April 21, 2016, which waiver allowed foreign graduates at South African tertiary institution that studied towards degrees in the area of critical skills, to apply for a permanent residency permit without the need of first acquiring five years post-qualification experience or the need to submit testimonials from employees, Motsoaledi said.

Contacted for comment, Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi said his office was still assessing the impact of Motsoaledis directive on Zimbabwean students in the neighbouring country.

I have just seen the ministers directive and it is, obviously, going to affect a lot of Zimbabweans based in South Africa.

However, I have not yet met my staff to assess the impact of the said directive. We will be convening a meeting with my colleagues so that we come up with an informed opinion on the latest development, Hamadziripi said.

The latest directive comes after Pretoria stopped renewing the Zimbabwean Special Permits (ZEPs) that expired in December last year, and opted to give the permit holders a year to move to other visa regimes or face deportation.

ZEP was introduced in 2009 by then Home Affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as a temporary solution to a growing refugee crisis related to Zimbabwe.

There are an estimated 180 000 ZEP holders in South Africa.

In December, ZEP holders filed urgent court applications to overturn the decision taken by Motsoaledi not to renew their permits.

The High Court in Pretoria struck their applications off the roll of urgent matters.

South African nationals are lobbying for Zimbabwean immigrants to leave accusing them of stealing jobs.

South Africa has to date tightened border control measures to stop illegal immigrants from entering that country. Zimbabwe Independent
Naomi Campbell's fashion charity spent 1.6million on lavish parties while only donating 205,000 directly to worthy causes, figures show.

The 51-year-old supermodel's charity Fashion for Relief laid on a luxury bash held at the British Museum in London, which attracted James Bond A-listers like Pierce Brosnan and Naomi Harris, and planned another in Doha.

Guests at the London event were treated to Casamigos tequila cocktails and 'gallons of champagne' at the gala, held to raise money for underprivileged kids while the overseas event never took place.

New accounts for FFR, which is currently under investigation by the Charities Commission, show the organisation only donated a fraction of the cost of the bash to charity in the same year.

The British Museum extravaganza took place in September 2019, but its outlay only became public courtesy of the recent publication of Fashion for Relief's delayed accounts, which also showed Naomi's right hand woman Bianka Hellmich was paid 100,000 for her services.

The figures have infuriated some who made donations for good causes - including artist Pierre Musa.

New accounts for Fashion for Relief, which is currently under investigation by the Charities Commission, show the organisation only donated a fraction of the cost of the bash to charity in the same year. (Pictured: Naomi Campbell attends launch of Fashion for Relief pop-up shop in Westfield, London, in 2019)

Naomi Campbell and Pierce Brosnan attend the Fashion For Relief London 2019 after party at The British Museum on September 14, 2019 - where guests were treated to Casamigos tequila cocktails and 'gallons of champagne'

A source close to Naomi (pictured at Fashion for Relief dinner at the British Museum in 2019) hit back at criticism, claiming the 1.6million expenses were not just solely incurred at the British Museum party but also incurred planning several other events which eventually had to be cancelled due to Covid, including a big event in Doha now rescheduled for later this year

He told MailOnline: 'The reality is that the FFR donations are a fraction of the money raised.

'Instead the money has gone on extravagant events and 'other expenses'.

'FFR gathers the richest, most influential personalities in the world to raise funds.

'I have seen the donor lists and we are talking private wealth in the dozens of billions.

'It is difficult to see any philanthropic ambition in these numbers.'

Musa added: 'I have now cut all ties with Naomi's charity and I have contacted the Charities Commission to offer to help them with their investigation.'

However, a source close to Naomi hit back at such criticism, claiming the 1.6million expenses were not just solely incurred at the British Museum party but also incurred planning several other events which eventually had to be cancelled due to Covid, including a big event in Doha now rescheduled for later this year.

The source said: 'Naomi's charity has been backed by some big sponsors who helped put on the event and make it as grand as possible.

'That's how these huge events work, none of it has come from public money.

'Without the input from sponsors, the worthy causes wouldn't have received any money at all.

The British Museum extravaganza (Ms Campbell pictured, arriving to the event) took place in September 2019, but its outlay only became public courtesy of the recent publication of Fashion for Relief's delayed accounts, which also showed Naomi's right hand woman Bianka Hellmich was paid 100,000 for her services

Naomi said in May last year her charity was a platform that enables donors to pay direct to good causes after questions were first raised about how much it donated (Pictured: British Museum)

'But the money on the accounts was due to pay for a number of parties, not just the British Museum gala.'

Naomi said in May last year her charity was a platform that enables donors to pay direct to good causes after questions were first raised about how much it gave to good causes.

In November the Charity Commission launched an ongoing statutory inquiry into FFR, which is focused on financial management, governance, late filing of accounts and payments to trustees.

This came just two months after Naomi, who is worth a reported 45m, was appointed global ambassador for the Queen's Commonwealth Trust Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Although Naomi started FFR in 2005 it only registered as a UK charity in 2015.

In November the Charity Commission launched an ongoing statutory inquiry into FFR, which is focused on financial management, governance, late filing of accounts and payments to trustees. (Pictured: Naomi at the Fashion for Relief event at the British Museum in 2019)

It has gained a global profile thanks to Campbell's profile and a succession of extravagant charity functions held in exotic locations and drenched with super models and A-List stars.

In May 2018, its Cannes fundraising gala drew Carla Bruni, Erin O'Connor and Natalia Vodianova, as well as Paris Hilton.

But last year accounts lodged with the Charities Commission for 2018-2019 showed that FFR had spent more than 1.6m on the Cannes event, yet only gave 5,000 to good causes for the same period.

Since it was registered in 2015 the charity has reported total income of 4.7m, with expenditure of 4.5m and grant awards of 494,000.

FFR says it has raised 'over $15m (10.5m)' since it started.

The charity issued a statement Friday saying: 'FFR is not solely a fundraising charity nor does it seek donations from the wider public.

'It uses its resources, the relationships and experience of its Trustees and associates, and fundraising events, to encourage donations to other charities and good causes.

'So far our efforts have resulted in 11.5m of donations to other charities.

'We have secured extensive global attention and media coverage for causes including Hurricane Katrina, Ebola, women's mental health, the Haiti earthquake, the Japanese tsunami  plus floods in the UK.

'Any suggestion of wrongdoing or misconduct on the part of the trustees is untrue and denied.

'FFR remains extremely proud of what we have achieved since starting our foundation in 2005.

'The trustees dedicate a great deal of time and energy into FFR and will continue to do so in order to improve the lives of those living in adversity.'
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace posted a video of herself on Thursday talking about her pro-Trump bona fides outside of Trump Tower a day after the ex-president endorsed her primary challenger.

'I'm in front of Trump Tower today,' the South Carolina Republican said. 'I remember in 2015 when President Trump announced his run, I was one of his earliest supporters.'

Mace talked about how she worked for his campaign in 2016 and then supported Trump again in 2020.

However in 2021, she became briefly critical of Trump on the heels of the January 6 Capitol attack, which got her labeled by the ex-president a 'terrible candidate.'

'His entire legacy was wiped out yesterday,' she told CNN a day after the MAGA mob ransacked the U.S. Capitol.

Mace's video came as Congressional Republicans drew battle lines over whether there was room for Republicans critical of Trump in the party.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace posted a video of herself on Thursday talking about her pro-Trump bona fides outside of Trump Tower a day after the ex-president endorsed her primary challenger

Mace released her video one day after former President Donald Trump endorsed the South Carolina Republican's GOP primary opponent

Trump backed Katie Arrington, who he endorsed for the seat in 2018 as well, calling Mace an 'absolutely terrible candidate' and 'very disloyal' to the Republican Party

Trump called Katie Arrington (pictured) a 'wonderful woman,' in his endorsement statement Wednesday

'I don't know how you go forward and defend the indefensible,' she continued in January 2021. 'People violently attacked the halls of Congress, our United States Capitol. I believe that every accomplishment that Republicans and the president had, and I was a big supporter of the president over the last four years ... but I believe that those accomplishments were wiped out.'

That didn't sit well with the ex-president who on Wednesday endorsed Mace's Repubican challenger, Katie Arrington for the swing coastal South Carolina district.

'Katie Arrington is running against an absolutely terrible candidate, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, whose remarks and attitude have been devastating for her community, and not at all representative of the Republican Party to which she has been very disloyal,' Trump said in a statement. 'Katie Arrington, on the other hand, is liked and respected and a true Republican.'

Trump endorsed Arrington in 2018 when she picked a primary fight against Rep. Mark Sanford, the South Carolina's former governor and vocal Trump critic.

She lost the general election race to Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham during the 2018 Democratic wave that saw the party take back the House.

Cunningham then lost to Mace in 2020.

Arrington had been in a bad car accident in the run-up to election day in 2018, limiting her ability to campaign.

'Her automobile accident a number of years ago was devastating, and made it very difficult for her to campaign after having won the primary against another terrible candidate, "Mr. Argentina,"' Trump said, using a nickname for Sanford.

As governor, Sanford said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, when instead he was visiting his mistress in Argentina.

'Katie is strong on the Military, our great Vets, Law Enforcement, the Border, and will fight very hard for our under-siege Second Amendment and Lower Taxes,' Trump said. 'Katie is a wonderful woman and has my Complete and Total Endorsement!'

Mace argued that the seat could fall into Democratic hands if South Carolina voters chose Arrington instead.

'If you want to lose this seat once again in a midterm cycle to Democrats, than my opponent is more than qualified to do that,' Mace said.

During the Trump Tower spot, she outlined her areas of agreement with the former president.

'He made America safer and he took on China directly,' she said. 'As a strong fiscal conservative, I believe in putting America First,' she added.

While Mace was critical of Trump post 1/6, she wasn't among the Republicans who backed his second impeachment.

She also voted in favor of pushing Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the House's top anti-Trump Republicans, out of House conference leadership.

Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the two Republicans serving on the January 6 committee, were censured by the Republican National Committee last Friday, which highlighted the divisions in the party.
A grieving man was arrested for littering in Alabama after leaving a handmade box of flowers on his 26-year-old fiancee's grave after his would-be-father-in-law made a complaint to police.

Winchester Hagans, 31, of Opelika, is facing littering charges after leaving a wooden flower box at Hannah Ford's grave to honor the one-year anniversary of her death. She was killed in a car accident while driving home from a wedding venue last January.

Hagans' hand-carved flower box was decorated with quotes and photos of the couple and filled with her favorite flowers.

'Someone she knew keeps trashing them,' he shared on Instagram in July 2021 noting that the flowers had been removed four times before, 'but each time he throws them away I'll plant more.'

'I just want to be able to put flowers by my fiancee's grave,' Hagans told WTVM.

Winchester Hagans, 31, was arrested for littering in Alabama after leaving a handmade flower box on his fiancee Hannah Ford's grave to honor the one-year anniversary of her death

Hannah, 26, died in a car accident in January 2021- a month after Hagans popped the question- while on her way home from visiting a local wedding venue

Hagans' hand-carved flower box was decorated with photos of the couple and filled with her favorite flowers, which was repeatedly been removed

The warrant for Hagans' arrest was signed by Hannah's father, Tom Ford. Hagans said he was not contacted by his almost-father-in-law before the arrest

Hagans spoke with the city before leaving the flower box, and officials told him the box technically violated local rules but that they would not remove the memorial unless requested to do so by the family.

When Hagans was later pulled over by police in late January for expired tags, he was shocked. 'The officer came over and said, 'Hey Mr. Hagans can you step out of the car, there is a warrant for your arrest.' I said, 'No, that's impossible, there's no way.'

'I really just thought it was going to be a clerical error,' Hagans told DailyMail.com on Friday.

He later learned that his fiancee's father, Tom Ford, had pushed for the arrest warrant, which he says was signed January 4. Hagans said he was never contacted by the man before the arrest.

Hannah, 26, died in a car accident on January 17, 2021 - a month after Hagans popped the question and a week after her birthday - while on her way home from visiting a local wedding venue.

She was driving a 2010 Honda CRV in Montgomery around 6:50 p.m. when she crashed into a 2009 Chevrolet Impala carrying four occupants, and a 2008 Toyota Sienna with three occupants a mile away from her house.

Three people in the Impala walked away with minor injuries and no one in the Sienna was injured. Hannah died instantly, according to her obituary.

Hannah, an up-and-coming political strategist, was the daughter of the Rev. Tom Ford III, a physical therapist and pastor of Grace Church in Montgomery, and Leigh Hubbard Ford. She is survived by her parents and seven younger siblings.

Hannah, an up-and-coming political strategist, was the daughter of the Rev. Tom Ford III (right), a physical therapist and pastor of Grace Church in Montgomery, and Leigh Hubbard Ford (left)

Ford was the daughter of the Rev. Tom Ford III, a physical therapist and pastor of Grace Church in Montgomery, and Leigh Hubbard Ford, and is survived by seven siblings (Pictured: The Ford family)

Hannah's (bottom left) sister Bekah (bottom right) shared this collage on what would have been her 27th birthday

Hannah was the oldest of her seven siblings and grew up in conservative Christian circles (Pictured: Hannah Ford, left, with her sister Maggie, right)

Hagans is the son of Evangelist Rick Hagans, and the couple was well-known in local Evangelist circles.

He told DailyMail.com they visited the wedding venue together before leaving in separate cars. Before they parted, she told him, 'How awesome is it that we know there are best days ahead of us? I just hate leaving you so much,' he said.

'That ended up meaning something totally different.'

Hagans remembers the last time he ever saw Hannah as one where she was giggling and wearing ponytails, and they were planning the wedding together.

'Even though she is gone I promised her I would never bring her cut flowers again. She was the love of my life the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with,' he said.

'She was the best thing that ever happened to me,' Hagans shared on Instagram shortly after her death.

Hagans manages a personal online blog where he shares his insights into Christianity and his life with and without Hannah.

'The first time I met Hannah Ford I was sitting in a coffee shop reading a book on the Canons of Dort,' he writes. Hagans goes on to tell how the two continued meeting up at the same coffee shop where they met and struggled to manage their relationship and religion.

'You said "I love you" first, but I knew I loved you first. I can still remember hearing those words a few hours after I was engaged to the woman I believed I would spend the rest of my life with,' he wrote in a post last July.

The young woman is remembered as 'a woman of faith who brought her convictions to government activism and was an important player in Alabama politics,' according to AL.com.

Hannah 'impacted lives with a kind heart, happy attitude, great wisdom and many talents,' an obituary shared by her mother noted.

Her sister Bekah shared a Facebook post on January 14 to honor Hannah's 'first birthday in Heaven,' writing: 'I keep being reminded of the relationship that she and I shared and of the sweetness and joy I had in knowing her.'

Ford's sister Maggie shared one last memory of her sister on Facebook at the time of her death.

'Last time we talked, I said something random; I said, "Hannah, I love you. You know I would die for you" and you said, "Yes, I know." The world doesn't spin like that, but I treasure the moment and a million others. I went through fire and water with you; no one else really understood those days.'

'She may have been small in stature, but she was a giant when she walked in a room,' Scott Dawson said. Hannah served as his communications coordinator on the Birmingham Evangelist's 2018 campaign for governor.

Hannah, pictured, is survived by her parents and seven siblings

Hagans is the son of Evangelist Rick Hagans, and the couple was well-known in local Evangelist circles

Dawson hired Hannah when she was 22 years old. 'She'd been involved in a couple campaigns and handled herself brilliantly,' he said.

'She could operate so effectively with so little sleep, meet deadlines, get work done,' Dawson remembered.

'She was brilliant, yet humble. She was quoting scripture, but she was so well read she knew all the latest headlines we had to discuss. She gave me hope that leaders are still out there.'

'She was someone who could win the room,' Dawson added. 'She could be fiery, never unladylike. She would not miss an opportunity to make sure her point was made. She was fast on her feet.'

Hannah even inspired Dawson's daughter to pursue a career in politics.

'She was one of the hardest working people I ever met. She was brilliant. She did everything through a biblical worldview. She was so graceful and so kind. She was like a sister. She really taught me so much. She taught me life is bigger than politics,' Hope Dawson said.

The outpouring of praise speaks to the impact Hannah made in the few years she spent working in Alabama's conservative political circles.

Bill Armistead, former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, described Hannah as 'one of the most Christ-like, loving and caring persons one could know.'

'She was a brilliant political strategist at such a young age who helped so many conservatives win election and then advise them on policy issues. Hannah leaves a huge void in the hearts of many, many people. Please remember the Ford family in your prayers,' he said.

He recalled how Hannah had just texted him expressing her excitement to marry Hagans.

'God sent a man who loves Jesus deeply, loved me tenderly, and is just the best ever!!! I cant believe I get to marry him!!! Hannah told him less than 24 hours before her deadly accident.

The Ford family had no comment and Hagans did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com.

Hagans said he was never contacted by Hannah's father before the arrest
Steve Bannon's financier has been ordered by a New York judge to pay $134 million in contempt of court fines for intentionally moving his yacht out of US waters to avoid debt collection, after Bannon was arrested on the same boat on fraud charges in 2020.

According to the ruling issued in New York Supreme Court Wednesday, Chinese billionaire and Bannon colleague Guo Wengui, currently a fugitive from the federal government with a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, hid billions in assets on the $28million superboat and purposely piloted the craft outside US jurisdiction to avoid making payments on a filched loan.

By moving the boat, named The Lady May, Guo violated a previous order that he return the craft to a US port, said Supreme Court Justice Barry Ostrager -a violation that warranted a daily fine of $500,000.

Multiple restraining orders had barred Guo, 51, who has also been exiled by his home country of China for crimes including rape and criticizing its government as corrupt, from relocating or selling the boat or any of his other assets - a stipulation he ignored by hiding it in the Bahamas, the court said.

Steve Bannon financier Guo Wengui was ordered Wednesday to pay contempt of court fines for moving his yacht out of US waters to avoid paying a debt from more than two decades ago

'Those proceedings established, among other things, that [Guo] exercised dominion and control over a yacht called the Lady May and resulted in a series of orders restraining [Guo] and/or the registered owners of the yacht called Lady May from removing the Lady May from the Court's jurisdiction,' Ostrager said.

However, '[Guo] and his cohorts made arrangement for the Lady May to sail to Florida in early October 2020 and, thereafter, to the Bahamas,' the court filing continues, adding that a subsequent judgement ordered Guo to return the yacht to US waters or face a fine of $500,000 a day.

The dispute stems from a $30 million loan Guo received from a private equity firm in 2008 and never repaid, that has since ballooned to more than $116 million in interest over the past 24 years.

According to the ruling, Chinese billionaire and Bannon colleague Guo Wengui (left), a fugitive from the federal government, hid billions in assets on the $28million superboat and purposely piloted the craft outside US jurisdiction to avoid making payments on a filched loan

Guo's lavish yacht, The Lady May, has since emerged as a key asset in the five-year-old case. Bannon was arrested on the boat in August 2020 for unrelated federal fraud charges

In 2017, an affiliate of the Hong Kong-based firm, the Pacific Alliance Group, filed suit against Guo, alleging his companies failed to repay the loans or deliver on promised property transactions. Guo's lavish yacht has since emerged as a key asset in the nearly five-year-old case.

The lawsuit is unrelated to Bannon's August 2020 arrest by federal agents, after allegedly defrauding and stealing from a nonprofit, a charge for which he was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump, in one of the head of state's last moves before leaving office.

Guo is required to pay the sum within five business days, or risk arrest, according to the court.

Bannon had been staying on the self-styled Chinese dissident's $28 million vessel, Lady May, pictured, for weeks before his arrest in August 2020 for allegedly defrauding his Mexico border wall charity of $25 million. He was then pardoned by then-President Donald Trump

'The Court has the authority to hold [Guo] in civil contempt ... and 'to punish [him], by fine and imprisonment,' the judge wrote in the ruling.

In court documents, Guo has remained adamant that he doesnt own the yacht.

Since the suit was filed, the Chinese construction magnate has been in self-imposed exile from his home in New York City, where he owns a US$82 million apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, overlooking Central Park, where he has continued to try to bring attention to corruption in the Chinese political system.

In November 2018, Guo put the apartment up for sale for $67 million.

Following Wednesday's ruling, Guo announced his plans to flee the US - where he was denied political asylum - on a livestream where he reportedly talked about relocating to Japan or possibly the UK.

Following the ruling Wednesday, Guo announced his plans to flee the US on a livestream where he reportedly talked about relocating to Japan or possibly the UK

The mogul will likely not return to China, where he is accused of an array of crimes including rape. Guo has denied the accusations, which he claims are linked to his criticism of China's Communist Party.

Bannon was arrested on the Lady May in 2020. He was then charged with fraud in relation to the 'We Build The Wall' scheme, a privately-funded campaign to construct fencing along stretches of land near the US-Mexico border.

Bannon was later pardoned by Trump, who he worked for as a chief strategist for the first six months of the then president's term.

Bannon previously served on the board of a nonprofit, the Rule of Law Society, that has ties to Guo. The New York Times reported that the pair began working together shortly after Bannon was ousted from the White House by then-chief of staff John Kelly, with the Chinese businessman funding many of Bannon's ventures.

'Those proceedings established, among other things, that [Guo] exercised dominion and control over a yacht called the Lady May and resulted in a series of orders restraining [Guo] and/or the registered owners of the yacht called Lady May from removing the Lady May from the Court's jurisdiction,' NY Supreme Court Judge Barry Ostrager wrote in Wednesday's ruling

It currently is not clear if Guo himself has any relationship with Trump - however, it was reported by the Times that Guo was once a member at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

It was reported in 2017 by The Wall Street Journal that Trump, while president, decided against extraditing Guo to China after learning of his membership at the club.

Guo, a former member of China's Communist Party, made headlines in June 2020 when he teamed up with Bannon to fly a fleet of propeller planes carrying banners congratulating the 'Federal State of New China' over New York City.

A YouTube video posted in August of that year showed Bannon with a slight sunburn, popped collar, and cigar in hand, standing next to Guo in one of the yacht's glitzy rooms, railing against the Chinese government.

Later that month Bannon was arrested aboard the boat on charges he pocketed donations to a crowd-funded US-Mexico border wall fundraiser; a scheme unrelated to his dealings with Guo.

At some point Guo had also joined Mar-a-Lago where he was photographed by DailyMail.com just after Christmas 2018.

He has divided opinions even among his fellow dissidents  some adoringly printing his slogans on t-shirts, and others claiming he is in fact a Chinese government spy.

Delaware-registered company Saraca Media Group Inc offers GNews and GTV apps in Apple's App Store. It also owns Guo Media; that hired Bannon for 'strategic consulting services' related to his investigation into the Chinese Communist Party. Under that year-long contract, Bannon received $1million from an unidentified source, WSJ reported

The enigmatic businessman is believed to have made his fortune in real estate, and says he came from humble beginnings with vivid descriptions of foraging twigs for firewood in a rural Chinese province during the country's brutal 1970s Cultural Revolution.

Guo, who now owns lavish apartments in major cities, says he made his first property deal age 25, and began building his real estate empire in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou where he constructed the city's then-tallest building, the Yuda International Trade Center.

As well as his $28 million yacht, he acquired a 9,000-square-foot apartment overlooking Central Park on the 18th-floor of the Sherry-Netherland Hotel on New York's Fifth Avenue and similarly luxurious pads in London and Hong Kong.
A Florida school bus driver was arrested this week after allegedly driving around with 40 children while four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Mark McNeil, 60, was arrested on Wednesday after deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said McNeil himself called in a medical emergency while en route, with a co-worker also having reported him to supervisors for smelling of alcohol.

He had departed from Buddy Taylor Middle School earlier that day with a bus load of middle school-aged students.

'This drunk thought it was OK to endanger 40 children and other drivers by driving a loaded school bus significantly impaired,' Sheriff Rick Staly told Fox 35.

'Thankfully, no one was hurt as a result of his actions. I commend the employee who reported him to school officials. Anyone whose careless actions endangers lives of children and other drivers deserves to be locked up, which he was.'

Mark McNeil, 60, pictured. was arrested on Wednesday after driving around with 40 children in the wrong bus while four times over the legal alcohol limit

In the 43 second clip of McNeil's arrest posted online by the sheriff's department, he could be heard yelling 'do not hit me!' to the deputies as they cuffed him

McNeil had reportedly tried to flee after being taken to a nearby hospital, however officers quickly arrested him

'Keeping his usual routine, McNeil would attempt to pick up his school bus. However, he would drive off in a bus not assigned to him and proceed to his usual pick-up location at Buddy Taylor Middle School to pick up students on his afternoon route,' the sheriff's office said.

While en route, McNeil reportedly used the bus radio onboard to alert the school district that he was having a medical emergency.

His supervisor eventually found McNeil on his route, with dozens of school children in the bus.

The supervisor told police that McNeil fell to the ground when exiting the bus while stating he could not breathe, according to the arrest report.

Pictured: Emergency vehicles, first responders arrived to the scene after McNeil called in a medical emergency

He had departed from Buddy Taylor Middle School, pictured, earlier that day, with a bus load of middle school-aged students

However, McNeil reportedly tried to flee once taken to a nearby hospital before being arrest.

In the 43 second clip of McNeil's arrest posted online by the sheriff's department, he could be heard yelling 'do not hit me!' to the deputies as they cuffed him.

McNeil was charged with driving under the influence with passengers under 18, resisting an officer without violence, as well as one charge of child neglect as of Friday.

He could face upwards of 39 more counts of child neglect, one for every child on the bus at the time of the incident.
A terror suspect today denied travelling to Syria to join the IS fighters today.

Shabbazz Suleman, 25, allegedly crossed into the war-torn country to join the militant terrorist group during a family holiday to Turkey in 2014.

Upon returning to the UK on September 29, he was arrested at Heathrow Airport and charged under the Terrorism Act.

Suleman, of High Wycombe, Bucks, faces charges of preparing for acts of terrorism, being a member of a proscribed organisation and receiving weapons training.

Shabbazz Suleman, 25, allegedly crossed into the war-torn country to join terrorist group IS

He appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison dressed in a grey suit and yellow tie and denied all charges.

Kathryn Selby, prosecuting, earlier said: The prosecutions case is that back in 2014 Mr Selby left the UK.

'He went on a family trip to Turkey which we say he crossed to travel to Syria in order to join what is know as the Islamic State.

He today appeared in court to deny he had travelled to Syria for the join-up with the terrorists

Judge Mark Lucraft said: The trial is fixed on September 12 at this court before me.

'I have made various directions at this hearing which has been a preparatory hearing and the defendant has been arraigned.

Suleman has been remanded in custody ahead of a further Old Bailey hearing on May 27.
The identity of the 'bored' security guard who vandalised a 740,000 painting in Russia has been unmasked as a war hero decorated for military courage.

Alexander Vasiliev, 63, used a pen to doodle on the eyes on the blank faces of figures in Anna Leporskaya's classic work Three Figures (1932-34), which was on display at Yekaterinburg's Boris Yeltsin Presidential Centre.

He admitted: 'I'm a fool, for what I've done.'

Vasiliev, who could face prison after police opened an investigation for vandalism, told Yekaterinburg newspaper E1 that he had been egged on by schoolgirls visiting the abstract art exhibition.

'To be honest, I didn't really like these pictures [at the exhibition],' he said.

Alexander Vasiliev (pictured), 63, used a pen to doodle on the eyes on the blank faces of figures in Anna Leporskaya's classic work Three Figures (1932-34)

ORIGINAL: Artist Anna Leporskaya's 'Three Figures' (19321934) painting

The painting was defaced by security guard Vasiliev, who added two pairs of eyes to the artwork

'They left a difficult impression. I tried to pass by without looking [at them].

'I watched how people reacted, and then I saw teenagers, 16 or 17, standing and discussing why there are no eyes, no mouth, and no beauty.

'There were girls in the group, and they asked me: "Draw on the eyes, you work here".'

Vasiliev claimed that he believed the paintings were the work of the young people.

He continued: 'I asked them: "Are these your works?" They replied: "Yes".

'They gave me a pen. I drew the eyes. I thought it was just their children's drawings.'

'I saw people passing by, smiling,' he added.

Claiming that he didn't know how much the painting was worth, he said: 'If only I knew it wasn't these kids' pictures and the paintings were brought from Moscow and they cost so much.

'What have I done?'

He claimed he asked to go home soon afterwards because his war wounds had begun to hurt.

In the Chechen War, the senior lieutenant's body was riddled with bullets and he was not expected to survive.

In 1995, he was one of only four out of 36 soldiers in his detachment who survived a ferocious gun battle. He was subsequently honoured for courage.

Vasiliev (pictured), who could face prison after police opened an investigation for vandalism, told Yekaterinburg newspaper E1 that he had been egged on by schoolgirls

His wife Yulia, a Covid nurse, said he was a 'normal man' but he could be 'naive like a child'.

She blamed his war wounds for his action.

But he has been criticised by the Interior Ministry for his 'aggressive' attitude during questioning.

'He behaves quite aggressively, demonstrating that he does not like the whole process,' said a source.

The war hero said: 'I want everyone to leave me alone. I want to live peacefully with my wife.'

After the incident, the painting was removed from the exhibition and returned to the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, where it was on loan from.

Renovations costs have been put at 2,500 and it was reported that the company where Vasiliev worked is paying for the restoration.

Previous reports said Vasiliev has since been fired by the private security firm hired by the gallery.

Police have opened an investigation for vandalism, with comes with a 395 (74.9 million Russian Rubles) fine and a one-year correctional labour sentence.

Speaking to Russian website ura.ru, exhibition curator Anna Reshetkina said that it had been the guard's first day on the job.

'His motives are still unknown but the administration believes it was some kind of a lapse in sanity,' she told the website.

She explained that the guard used a Yeltsin Center branded ballpoint pen to draw the eyes onto the painting, and penetrated a layer of paint.

According to The Art Newspaper Russia, luckily the damage did not too deep as the suspect did not apply strong enough pressure to the canvas.

Two visitors enjoying an art exhibition called 'The World as Non-Objectivity. The Birth of a New Art' at the Yeltsin Center spotted the extra details to two of the three figures on the 1930s painting on December 7 last year, reports the Art Newspaper.

The work was then sent to the Moscow gallery the next day and was inspected by an art restorer.

The painting is being restored, the damage, according to the restoration expert at State Tretyakov Gallery, can be eliminated without any long-term damage to the artwork.

Two visitors enjoying an art exhibition called 'The World as Non-Objectivity. The Birth of a New Art' at the Yeltsin Center (pictured) spotted the extra details to two of the three figures on the 1930s painting on December 7 last year, reports the Art Newspaper

The damage to the painting and cost of restoration has been estimated at 2,470 (RUB 250,000). Protective screens have now been installed over the other paintings and works on display at the gallery.

It is unclear how much the painting is worth, but it was insured with the Alfa insurance company for 740,000 (RUB 74.9 million).

Artist Leporskaya, who was born in 1900 and died aged 82 in 1982, was a student of the renowned, avant-garde Russian artist Kazimir Malevich. She also worked with other avant-garde artists, including Nikolai Suetin and Lev Yudin.

She is known primarily as a master of artistic porcelain. In addition to the Tretyakov Gallery, her works are widely represented in the collection of the Russian Museum.

The Yeltsin Center said in a statement released on Tuesday: 'We inform you that during the investigation, the person who painted the eyes on the figures in the painting by Anna Leporskaya was identified - this is an employee of a private security organization that carries out security activities of the Yeltsin Center.

'Recall that on December 7, 2021, during the demonstration of the exhibition 'The World as Non-Objectiveness. The Birth of a New Art' in the Art Gallery of the Yeltsin Center suffered a painting by Anna Leporskaya 'Three Figures' (19321934) from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery.

'The damage was done with a ballpoint pen.'

The Center added: 'The work was inspected by the restorer of the State Tretyakov Gallery the very next day and sent to Moscow. The painting is being restored, the damage, according to the expert, can be eliminated without consequences for the work of art.

'The Yeltsin Center refrained from commenting on this situation in hot pursuit, as an internal investigation of the incident and interaction with law enforcement agencies were underway.'
A Swedish school has been ordered to pay a non-binary student 12,000 in compensation after a teacher refused to refer to them using gender-neutral pronouns.

The teacher said she could not use the gender-neutral pronoun 'hen', prompting the student's guardians to tell the headteacher about the teacher's refusal and the pupil's gender identity.

Despite the headteacher of the school in central Sweden promising to speak with the teacher, the student was referred to with the wrong pronouns for at least one school term, The Local reported.

'Hen' is Sweden's gender-neutral pronoun, replacing 'hon', meaning she, or 'han', meaning he. The English equivalent is using the single-person pronoun 'they'.

A Swedish school was ordered to pay a non-binary student 12,000 damages after the teacher refused to use the Swedish gender-neutral pronoun 'hen' (stock image)

After the Equality Ombudsman (DO) investigated the case, it was ruled that the student was subject to discrimination and the school were ordered to pay 12,000 (150,000 Swedish kronor) in damages, local media said.

DO's Isabelle Arsova said in a statement that students should feel 'safe and respected' in schools, adding that teachers should 'reflect these values'.

She said: 'A situation where a teacher consciously refuses to use the pronouns a student identifies with represents a serious form of harassment and something a headteacher must put a stop to.'

The educational provider, the organisation in charge of running the school, told the DO that the student was discriminated against and said it went on for too long.

The teacher who repeatedly refused to use gender-neutral pronouns was later fired by the school, according to reports.

In Sweden, the educational provider is legally responsible for discriminatory actions carried out by staff or representatives of the school.

'Hen' is Sweden's gender-neutral pronoun, replacing 'hon', meaning she, or 'han', meaning he. The English equivalent is using the single-person pronoun 'they' (stock image)

Under Swedish rules, the provider has to investigate any incidences of alleged harassment as soon as possible and take appropriate steps to stop any reoccurrences.

Sweden added the gender neutral pronoun 'hen' to its dictionary in 2015. The pronoun is used to refer to a person without revealing their gender, for example if they are non-binary, transgender, or their gender is unknown.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed the pronoun 'hen' will officially enter dictionaries in Norway. The gender-neutral pronoun 'hen' is the same in Swedish and Norwegian.

The Language Council of Norway confirmed that the term, which is an alternative to the feminine pronoun 'hun' and the masculine pronoun 'han', would likely enter official Norwegian language within a year.
The Russian government is providing 'indirect and passive support' to neo-fascist American groups as part of an effort to aggravate division in the West, according a U.S. intelligence report.

It stops short of accusing the Kremlin of providing direct financial or material help to extremist groups, but suggests instead that Moscow it turning a blind eye to links.

The Russian government 'probably tolerates some private Russian entities support' for U.S. and European white nationalist groups 'because it aligns with Kremlin efforts to aggravate societal fissures in the West,' it concludes.

The report, prepared by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and obtained by Yahoo News, comes at a critical geo-political moment.

Russia has massed some 120,000 troops close to the border with Ukraine, triggering fears of an invasion.

An intelligence report says Moscow is indirectly supporting American neo-fascist groups by turning a blind eye to help offered by the likes of the Russian Imperial Movement. Two of its fighters are pictured in Donetsk, preparing to fight with pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels in 2015

Analysts believe Russian President Vladimir Putin uses discord as a key part of foreign policy, such as Kremlin backing for a Donald Trump victory in 2016

A picture taken on February 28, 2015 shows a member of the Russian Imperial Movement, holding a weapon simulator at a training base in Saint-Petersburg

But long-term Russia watches see the real aim as an effort to sow discord and divisions among NATO allies as they try to formulate a response.

The DNI report, prepared with input from the CIA and the FBI, describes another front in the apparent destabilization effort.

Russian extremist groups are training foreign white nationalists, it says.

It names the neo-fascist Russian Imperial Movement as one of the groups overseeing paramilitary instruction for European extremists at its camps in Russia. And it says the group has tried to recruit Americans to train.

The State Department designated the group as 'global contacts in 2020, and said it had two training facilities in St. Petersburg which are likely used for training in Urban assault, tactical weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

'RIM has provided paramilitary-style training to white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Europe and actively works to rally these types of groups into a common front against their perceived enemies,' it said at the time.

The Rusich Reconnaissance and Sabotage Group, a neo-Nazi organization, also sent members to fight in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and 2015, according to the report.

Although the report said the Kremlin's support for these groups was 'indirect and passive,' that was a meaningless distinction, according to a former CIA official.

'When you look at the number of Russian neo-Nazis that are actively infiltrating, or looking to digitally infiltrate U.S. groups,' the former official told Yahoo News, 'at some point, if its so pervasive, and the Russians arent doing anything to stop it, is that really materially different from the big stamp coming down from the sky and saying, "We approve?"'

Law enforcement sources in the US fear white supremacists could travel to Eastern Union to fight in Ukraine, on either side, if Russia invades

Connections between US groups and like minded organizations in Eastern Europe have been a matter of concern to law enforcement agents for years.

The links are taking on added importance now, amid fears that white supremacists could travel to the region to fight on one side or the other.

'Theres real concern here that this is another Syria,' said a current senior law enforcement official, using the Middle East as an example of a battleground that radicalized a generation of violent Jihadists.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia has sent more forces to its border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time including during the Winter Olympics, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

Blinken, who has been leading negotiations with Moscow over the troop build-up, said Washington is continuing to 'draw down' its embassy in Ukraine and urged American citizens still in the country to leave immediately.

'Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,' Blinken told a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne.

'As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics.'

Joe Biden had earlier echoed the same call for Americans to get out now, saying the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war.
Rikki Neave, six, was strangled and posed naked in woods near his home in Peterborough

The alleged murderer of schoolboy Rikki Neave indecently touched a five-year-old boy, tried to throttle a teenage girlfriend during sex and had a macabre interest in dead birds, a court heard today.

James Watson was aged 13 when it is claimed he strangled six-year-old Rikki and posed him naked in woods near his home in Peterborough in November 1994, the Old Bailey has heard.

More than 20 years after the incident, Watson's DNA was identified on Rikki's clothes which were dumped in a nearby bin, jurors have been told.

A string of witnesses today described Watson's behaviour as a youth.

Allegations included that he indecently touched a boy of five, was suspected of masturbating over images of young children and repeatedly put his hands round the neck of a teenage girl during sex.

Watson's former girlfriend told jurors how they met at a children's home at the age of 14.

He would take a 'survival kit', including a knife, when they went into woods for sex four or five times, jurors heard.

The woman said: 'When James got excited towards the end, at the end part, he would have his hands on my neck and leave marks on my throat, more than once.'

She said it had a 'profound effect', adding that he became 'more forceful' as time went on.

She confirmed that she had thought he was 'trying to strangle' her.

James Watson, who would have been 13 at the time, is now 40 and standing trial at the Old Bailey charged with Rikki's murder

A court artist sketch of Watson (right) appearing at the dock at the Old Bailey in London

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said Watson threw a stone at a little brown starling, killing it, on one occasion.

She went on: 'It was only a little bird. He laid it out and spread its wings on its back and plucked feathers.'

Afterwards, she said he put the dead bird in his pocket.

Previously, Watson had lived at another children's home in March, Cambridgeshire, between November 1994 and August 1995.

The then manager Jean Larkin told jurors that a pheasant carcass was found in his room which had been 'dismembered'.

Ms Larkin said: 'I genuinely believe I saw feathers still attached to a wing, not just pheasant feathers.'

In a search of his room, she found catalogue magazines under his bed, the witness said.

Ms Larkin said: 'They were magazines that were related to children and toddlers, babies, in clothing. Underwear mostly.'

Asked why she thought they were there, she said: 'I felt that there were further questions to be answered because of the type of material that was there and on previous occasions James had been overheard, and I believe overtly, masturbating, self-pleasuring.'

The body of Rikki was found after being strangled, stripped naked and left in a 'star pose'. Pictured: the distance between his home and the woodland where his body was found

Earlier, the court heard of a complaint to police about an incident involving Watson and a five-year-old friend of Rikki's, dating back to April 1993.

Reading an agreed fact, prosecutor John Price QC said that the five-year-old's mother had reported that her son had told her that Watson had touched his penis.

She provided further detail to a social worker saying that her son had touched himself while getting ready for bed and told her that Watson had done it to him.

Mr Price said: 'He also told her that James had asked him to touch his penis and James had liked it. James had told him not to tell anyone.'

The mother had said that the boy's genitals were red and a doctor confirmed there was a 'slight abrasion'.

When the boy was spoken to, he said that he and Watson had touched each other.

Interviewed in the presence of a social worker, Watson denied touching the boy, explaining that he had shown him how to 'shake' himself after urinating.

Watson was told by police that the incident 'would not be going any further although it would be held on records', the jury was told.

In a statement in 2015, the boy was interviewed again and did not recall anything about the incident.

However, he said he did 'vaguely' remember Rikki as a boy he would walk with outside school, before he was 'suddenly' not around.

Giving evidence by video link, the boy's mother told jurors about a story Watson's mother Shirley had told the day before Rikki went missing.

It involved a two-year-old child being found 'strangled' near the woods by the Welland Estate in Peterborough, she said.

Previously, jurors heard of a statement Watson's mother gave to police in 1995, detailing a phone call with her son three days before the murder.

In it, she said: 'James told me that a baby had been found over the dyke near Welland.

'He wanted me to say if what he had heard was true.

'I told him that I had not heard this before and knew nothing of what was said.'

Giving evidence earlier this week, Shirley Watson, now known as Shirley Cliffe, denied her 1995 statement was true.

Watson, now 40, of no fixed address, has denied murder.
MOZAMBICAN President Felipe Nyusi has commended Zimbabweans for managing to cope and develop even under the yoke of baneful sanctions imposed by the West.

Over the past two decades, Zimbabwe has been under illegal economic sanctions imposed as punishment for the land reform programme that corrected colonial land imbalances.

Notwithstanding the weight of the illegal sanctions, Zimbabwe  under the Second Republic  has managed to implement developmental projects that have even surprised its tormentors.

During a Press conference, following bilateral engagements with President Mnangagwa, Mr Nyusi questioned the rationale behind the sanctions considering that Zimbabwe has implemented far-reaching political, media, and economic reforms.

Sanctions on Zimbabwe must be removed. We cant have sanctions for over two decades. It is hatred or an evil spell. President Mnangagwa told me that his country had embarked on reforms that warrant the removal of sanctions. So why are the sanctions not being removed? As Sadc we are concerned about the sanctions on Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe has a lot to offer to the world market, he said

Despite the sanctions, Zimbabwe has been playing a pivotal role in the Sadc region in terms of food and security support.

Zimbabwe despite sanctions, has been self-sufficient in the agricultural sector. Today they gave us grain and are offering us security support. We are grateful for that, he said.

During the joint Press briefing, President Mnangagwa said that sanctions will not affect Zimbabwes support to Mozambique

Sanctions have been there with us for a while now but with Mozambique, we will do anything to support them, we are sister Republics. We will continue to create space in every sector be it security, agriculture, or energy, the President said.

The two leaders also vowed to end terrorism that has affected the Cabo Delgado region and some parts of Mozambique.

If we allow terrorism to spread it will affect our region. So we need to deal with it from the source, President Mnangagwa said.

On his part, the host president said the ultimate target is to annihilate all forms of terrorism in the region.

Our main target is to finish terrorism, if it means today or in six months time thats it. We will continue to fight it, President Nyusi said.

Zimbabwe has been very supportive of the fight against terrorism in Mozambique, having dispatched trainers to lead the training of Mozambican forces in combating terrorism.

A Sadc force, plus Rwanda, is also on the ground in Mozambique clamping down on terrorism with positive results. Chronicle
The mother of a baby who was raped by a 'manipulative and conniving, predatory paedophile' has said he should have been jailed for life after he offended again within months of being released from prison.

Former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Geoffrey Rooney was jailed for 14 years in 2015 for a series of sickening sexual offences against children, including babies.

Rooney, 46, was released from prison in January 2021 after serving half that sentence, but Bradford Crown Court heard how he was caught in a police sting operation later that year.

A judge described how the former senior NCO engaged in 'disgusting' online chats with two undercover police officers during which he arranged to engage in sexual activity with their fictional children and sent them vile photographs and videos of abuse.

On Friday, Judge David Hatton QC jailed Rooney for eight years with an extended licence of six years due to the danger he poses, especially to small children.

The court heard he has already been recalled to serve the full 14 years sentence for his previous offending, imposed by Plymouth Crown Court in 2015.

Former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Geoffrey Rooney (pictured) was jailed for 14 years in 2015 for a series of sickening sexual offences against children, including babies

Judge Hatton explained that legislation which imposed an automatic life sentence for a second 'listed' offence only applied if he intended to pass a sentence in excess of 10 years for the new offences.

The judge said the images sent to the officers by Rooney were 'grotesque and defy description'.

The mother of two of his original victims was in court to hear Rooney being jailed again.

Speaking outside court, she said the law should be changed to make sure repeat offenders are jailed for life and she described Friday's sentence as 'absolutely outrageous'.

The woman said: 'I'd like him to have a life sentence because he's such a danger to the public. I think he should never come out of prison again.'

She said: 'This allows him to be out at some point which I think is terrifying.'

The mother, who cannot be identified, said: 'He's not learnt anything from his time inside.

'He's not rehabilitated. He's just come out and done exactly what he wanted to do, which is to abuse other children.

'He is incredibly dangerous. He has an intrinsic compulsion to attack children. He is just an incredibly dangerous man.'

The mother of two of his original victims was in court to hear Rooney being jailed again. Speaking outside court, she said the law should be changed to make sure repeat offenders are jailed for life and she described Friday's sentence as 'absolutely outrageous'. Pictured, Rooney with a baby and a toddler

The woman said her family has been 'devastated' by what Rooney did to her children and 'the deep-rooted pain and suffering we experienced at the hands of that evil man'.

She said: 'He a manipulative and conniving predatory paedophile whose only thoughts are for himself and his sick perversions.

'Despite being assessed as safe for release on licence, he was clearly unable to control his urges and offended again with six months.

'He is a danger to all children and should be locked up for the public's safety.

'He is a devious manipulative rapist who preyed on very young children.'

Rooney, of Moore Avenue, Bradford, has previous admitted arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order as well as charges relating to sending indecent images of children.

The paedophile was once well-respected in the Navy and had postings to Whitehall in 2009 and 2010 which saw him work alongside come of Britain's top commanders.

Rooney was once a trusted Navy officer who was posted to Whitehall in 2009 and 2010 (file image)

But between late 2013 and early 2014 he carried out a series of sex attacks on children, some of which he photographed on his mobile phone.

Rooney was tracked down after a woman called police and said she had found indecent images of children which had been emailed to her husband.

Rooney's emails which contained indecent images of children also had requests for the man to allow his own children to be sexually abused.

Police found Rooney had sent pictures to another paedophile showing him abusing a sleeping child.

Rooney admitted raping a girl under 13, sexually assaulting another young girl, taking indecent photos of kids, sexually assaulting a boy and making, possessing and distributing child porn images.

Sentencing him at Plymouth Crown Court in 2015, Judge Paul Darlow described him as a 'casual, callous predatory paedophile'.

A mother whose children were just a baby and toddler at the time of the offences previously said Rooney's crimes had hugely damaged her and children's lives.

She said: 'When the police told me, I started shaking uncontrollably. They came around five days later and showed us the pictures. He told the police they were my children. But we still needed to look at the pictures to identify them.

'It was just disgusting. I felt so physically sick. I just broke down and could not carry on. The image was imprinted on my mind.'

The mother added: 'The images will stay with us for the rest of our lives. They have caused a lot of trauma. That feeling of violation is never going to go away.

'(My children) had to be taken away to be medically examined. They had to have a lot of tests. Every time I took them out they were really nervous - we had to go to a few different clinics.

'I could not face it. One of my daughters had a mental health assessment and has needed speech therapy and I have had to receive counselling.'

Rooney was arrested after an image of him abusing the woman's baby was found on his mobile phone.

The mother expressed her anger at Rooney's sentence, which means he will be freed in just six years.

The mother said that it was Rooney's seemingly normal existence that made his crimes more chilling.

She said: 'He was not your stereotype of a paedophile and that is the scariest thing. He was a respected sailor in the Navy, who would have had to go through the strongest of background checks to work in Whitehall.

'He was really sneaky, horrible and manipulative. It was scary just how confident he was. What we have been through is every mother's worst nightmare.

'If I had any advice for others it would be to always believe what your children say, go with your gut feeling and listen to what they are saying.'

After the case, investigator Det Con Pete Shotton said: '(Rooney) was utterly driven by his preoccupation with child sexual abuse. That one little phone call has uncovered one of the nastiest predatory paedophiles we've dealt with. He gloried in it.'

The defendant lived in Plymouth when his original offences were committed but moved to Bradford after he was released from prison last year.
Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on a Covid variant that is a hybrid of the Omicron and Delta strains and has been spotted in the UK.

The super-mutant Deltacron is thought to have evolved in a patient who caught both variants at the same time but it is not clear if it was imported or originated in Britain.

UK Health Security Agency officials also don't know how infectious or severe the newly evolved virus is or whether it will impact vaccine performance.

A source at the UKHSA insisted officials were 'not concerned' by the variant because case numbers are 'low'.

The agency has not revealed how many times it has been spotted.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that it 'shouldn't pose too much of a threat' because the UK has huge levels of immunity against the original Delta and Omicron strains.

'So at the moment I'm not overly worried at the moment. If both Delta and Omicron are falling then, in theory, this [variant] should struggle to take off,' he said.

The finding comes as Britain's Covid outbreak receded once more with daily cases, deaths and hospitalisations down in a week again.

Government dashboard data shows there were 58,899 new positive tests over the last 24 hours, down 29.9 per cent on last Friday's figure of 84,053. It was the tenth day in a row daily confirmed infections have fallen week-on-week, with average cases in free fall since the middle of January.

Several 'recombinant' variants have been detected in the pandemic, but they have not led to any serious outbreaks.

Scientists say it is 'rare' for these to occur, but when they do the variant is normally 'less fit' than its rivals and easily outcompeted.

It comes after reports of a Deltacron case from Cyprus last month were dismissed and put down to sample contamination.

The British medical chief at vaccine-maker Moderna warned of a hybrid in December when Omicron was surging globally and starting to outcompete Delta.

Pictured here are 3D images of the Omicron and Delta viruses. Omicron is nearly five times more mutated than Delta in terms of its spike proteins. While a crossbreeding of the two variants, called a recombination, is a technical possibility, other scientists say recent reports of Deltacron is 'almost certainly' the result of a lab contamination

Covid variants can merge  in a process scientifically known as recombination  if they infect the same cell in the same person at the same time, and then swap genes.

A UKHSA source told MailOnline: 'We monitor everything as a matter of course, but we are not particularly anxious about this variant.

'It is on that list just because we are currently looking at it.'

HOW CAN VIRUSES COMBINE? For a combined variant of the virus to emerge, one person must be infected with two strains of the coronavirus  likely from two separate sources  at the same time, and then the viruses must bump into each other inside the body. Once the viruses are inside the body, the way they spread is by forcing human cells to make more of them. The coronavirus is made up of genetic material called RNA and, to reproduce, it must force the body to read this RNA and make exact copies of it. There are inevitably errors when this happens because it happens so fast and so often and natural processes are imperfect. If two viruses are in the same place at once, both being duplicated by the same cells, there is a chance the RNA genes could be mixed up, just as there could be a mix-up if someone dropped two packs of cards at once and picked them all up. Most places have dominant variants of the virus so someone getting infected with two is unlikely to begin with. And, for healthy people, there is likely only a window of around two weeks before the body starts to develop immunity and successfully clear out the first version of the virus. This risk window could be cut to days for the majority of people who develop Covid symptoms  which takes an average of five days  and then stay at home sick. But huge, poorly controlled outbreaks like the ones in the UK and US over the winter, significantly raise the risk of the combination events simply because the number of infections is higher. Advertisement

They added that it was likely a 'very safe bet' that the recombinant strain would not be a problem in the UK.

The new variant was revealed in the UKHSA's weekly variant surveillance report.

Professor Hunter told MailOnline: 'It doesn't fill me with dread.

'The reason is because, at present, both Delta and most versions of Omicron... are falling quickly and Delta is almost extinct in this country.'

He added: 'It [Deltacron] will have shared antigens from both Delta and Omicron and we already have high levels of immunity to those.

'So in theory it should not pose too much of a threat. But nobody can predict everything with certainty, but at the moment I am not overly worried.'

At least three other hybrids have been spotted to date, scientists say, but each fizzled out without causing major outbreaks.

In one case, a hybrid involving the Alpha variant was detected in the UK in January 2021. But it quickly vanished after leading to just 44 cases.

An Alpha and Delta off-shoot (AY.29) also merged in Japan in August last year, but only led to a handful of infections before disappearing.

And in the third incident, two viruses known as B.1.634 and B.1.631 merged in the US back in August 2020. This led to 729 infections before vanishing.

Britain already checks far more of its infections than other countries for variants, making it much more likely the UK will detect a 'recombinant' virus.

Omicron remains the dominant Covid variant in the UK, official data shows, but it is being gradually outcompeted by its slightly more transmissible subvariant BA.2.

Many scientists expect Covid to gradually evolve into a much more mild and more infectious virus, as it transitions to becoming endemic.

But some have warned there is always a risk of a variant emerging that is more severe.

Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, told MailOnline however that this was unlikely once everyone is vaccinated or had the infection.

He said: 'Some variants will be intrinsically more severe than others, but once everyone has been vaccinated and/or infected multiple times, no variant can set us back to levels of covid hospitalisation and death we experienced during the pandemic.'
A second five-year-old migrant girl from Central America was discovered by U.S. Border Patrol in just two days, after she and three other children crossed the Southern border without their parents this week.

The latest border incident was registered by the agencys Del Rio Sector in Texas when officers encountered a five-year-old girl from Honduras on Thursday after she entered the country with three other children, the oldest being a 16-year-old.

The nationalities of the other three kids were not released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

On Tuesday, Del Rio Sector border agents had spotted a five-year-old girl from Guatemala walking after had crossed the Rio Grande by herself.

'This is not OK!' the sector said on a Facebook post that showed the child standing in front of a Border Patrol vehicle.

The Del Rio Sector did not indicate if any of the migrant children's parents are presently in the United States or if a family member had been contacted.

DailyMail.com reached out to CBP for comment.

The shocking but not unusual findings of migrant children being sent across the border without their parents represents many of the issues that remained unsolved at the Southern border after the administration of President Joe Biden replaced Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

A Honduran five-year-old girl was found by border patrol agents Thursday in Texas. The child was among four children who were encountered together by officers assigned to US Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector

This five-year-old girl from Guatemala told U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Del Rio Sector that she cross from Mexico to Texas on Tuesday by herself via the Rio Grande

At least 38,639 encounters with unaccompanied children have been registered during the first three months of fiscal year 2022 after 126,739 interdictions were reported in Biden's first eight months in office during fiscal year 2021.

Del Rio Sector agents, who are responsible for 53,063-square-miles of Texas in 47 counties and 245 miles along the Rio Grande, have reported 91,651 encounters with migrants stopped for unlawful border entry out of the 518,360 interdictions that have been registered in the first three months of fiscal year 2022.

During that stretch, Del Rio Sector Border Patrol officers reported 2,280 encounters with unaccompanied minors.

The Rio Grande Sector, whose 137,239 overall encounters lead CBP's stats so far in fiscal year 2022, was also top among the agency's nine border patrol sectors with 21,069 interdictions of migrant children between October 2021 and December 2022.

Agency numbers for January 2022 are due sometime over the next two weeks.

A total of 38,639 encounters with unaccompanied children have been registered during the first three months of fiscal year 2022 after 126,739 interdictions were reported in President Joe Biden's first eight months in office during fiscal year 2021

CBP reported 518,360 encounters with undocumented migrants who were stopped by U.S. Border Patrol agents for unlawful crossing of the United States-Mexico border between October 2021 and December 2021

The Biden administration announced this week a change in strategy with how it detains unlawful adult border-crossers.

A 120-day pilot program will place single adult migrants under house arrest at locations in the United States as a cheaper alternatives to immigration detention.

The plan, revealed Tuesday, indicated that 100 to 200 single adults would be sent to sites in Baltimore and Houston.

The so-called 'home curfew' pilot will cost $6-8 per day for each enrollee, far less than the $142 daily cost of immigration detention.

The enrollees will generally be required to remain at home from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m., with exceptions for job schedules for those with work authorization or extraordinary circumstances.

Current alternatives to detention, such as ankle bracelets and phone monitoring, require enrollees to notify case managers if they are leaving the state or traveling, but do not mandate home confinement, the Department of Homeland Security official said.
Jeremy Corbyn has pulled out of a rally demanding Arab states halt 'normalisation' of relations with Israel after it was revealed it is sponsored by groups with links to Hamas and other terrorist organisations.

The former Labour leader was listed as speaking at a webinar called 2022, The Year to Combat Normalization: We Will Resist the Entity and Protect the Homeland', on Saturday.

The event is organised by Anti-Zionism Coordination (AZC), which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and opposes efforts by Middle East Muslim nations to establish regular diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

Among the online rally's listed sponsors is the Boycott Campaign Palestine (BCP), which is led by Basem Naim, a former Hamas minister in Gaza.

Another is the Forum of Preachers of Palestine, which is led by Omar Foura, a senior figure in Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Both Hamas and PIJ are organisations proscribed by the UK Government.

Another sponsor is the Al-Quds International Institute, which has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the United States.

It comes as Mr Corbyn and his supporters demand he is reinstated as a Labour MP, having lost the whip in 2020 for incendiary remarks about anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.

Dr Paul Stott, head of the security and extremism unit at the Policy Exchange think tank, which uncovered Corbyn's proposed attendance, said: 'Jeremy Corbyn just won't learn. The Government has banned both wings of Hamas - the terrorist and political wings are one and the same, and the PIJ is also on the proscribed list.

'What on earth does he think he is doing, apparently happy to hang out with these people?'

When the allegations were put to Mr Corbyn by MailOnline this afternoon, a spokeswoman said: 'I can confirm that Jeremy Corbyn is not speaking at this event.

'Jeremy Corbyn receives invitations from a myriad of individuals and organisations. This invitation was declined earlier this week.'

The former Labour leader is listed as speaking at 2022, The Year to Combat Normalization: We Will Resist the Entity and Protect the Homeland', on Saturday.

The event is organised by Anti-Zionism Coordination (AZC), which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and opposes efforts by Middle East Muslim nations to establish regular diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

Among the online rally's listed sponsors is the Boycott Campaign Palestine (BCP), which is led by Basem Naim, a Hamas member and former minister in Gaza.

Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed an historic diplomatic agreement, the Abraham Accords, in 2020.

The deal, signed at the White House with then President Donald Trump, normalises relations between the Jewish state and the Arab nations.

The same year Saudi Arabia warmed relations with Tel Aviv, with then PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting Riyadh for talks with Mohammed Bin Salman, with Israeli flights permitted to use Saudi airspace.

Sudan and Morocco have also both recognised Israel as a county.

It is the second time in two days Mr Corbyn's foreign policy views have come under the spotlight.

Last night his successor as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer launched an astonishing attack, accusing him and his allies of siding with Britain's enemies.

In remarks likely to reignite a bitter factional feud within the party Sir Keir used a visit to Nato headquarters in Brussels to blast organisations including the Stop The War Coalition - a group launched in 2001 to oppose US military action following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Mr Corbyn is currently deputy leader of the hard-left group and took part last night in an online rally entitled No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion, which accuses the UK and US of 'ramping up the threat of war'.

The demo by keyboard warriors will accuse the UK and US of 'ramping up the threat of war' in eastern Europe. Russia currently has an estimated 130,000 troops massed along the border with Ukraine.

In an article for the Guardian, published after he met Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Sir Keir claimed the organisation is at best 'naive', and at worst a force bolstering those who threaten democracies.

The Labour leader also said Mr Corbyn was 'wrong' about Nato, and the party's commitment to the alliance is 'unshakeable'.

Sir Keir added: 'Nobody wants war. At first glance, some on the left may be sympathetic to those siren voices who condemn Nato.

'But to condemn Nato is to condemn the guarantee of democracy and security it brings, and which our allies in eastern and central Europe are relying on, as the sabre-rattling from Moscow grows ever louder.

'Thats why the likes of the Stop the War coalition are not benign voices for peace. At best they are naive; at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies.

'There is nothing progressive in showing solidarity with the aggressor when our allies need our solidarity and  crucially  our practical assistance, now more than ever. The kneejerk reflex, ''Britain, Canada, the United States, France  wrong; their enemies  right'' is unthinking conservatism at its worst.'
Some parents had also complained that Embla was in the same school as their children and even boycotted classes that the schoolgirl attended

He also spoke to Embla's parents about the challenges she and her family face on a daily basis after he heard she was being bullied

resident Stevo Pendarovski held hands with Embla Ademi as they walked to her school Edinstvo in the western city of Gostivar, North Macedonia

An 11-year-old girl who was being bullied has been walked to school by the President of North Macedonia after he heard she was being picked on by her classmates and their parents.

President Stevo Pendarovski held hands with Embla Ademi as they walked to her school in the western city of Gostivar.

He also spoke to Embla's parents about the challenges she and her family face on a daily basis.

Pendarovski was pictured walking hand-in-hand with Embla on Monday after he heard that she was being bullied by classmates.

Some parents had also complained that Embla was in the same school as their children and even boycotted classes that the schoolgirl attended.

President Stevo Pendarovski held hands with Embla Ademi as they walked to her school Edinstvo in the western city of Gostivar

Pendarovski was pictured walking hand-in-hand with Embla on Monday after he heard that she was being bullied by classmates

Pendarovski also spoke to Embla's parents about the challenges she and her family face on a daily basis

The parents had alleged Embla was 'aggressive' and as a result, the schoolgirl had been separated from the other students and worked in a cold school hall with a small heater by her side.

This is despite caregivers at a local centre for children with special needs concluding that Embla had not shown any aggressive tendencies, according to a report in the Rheinische Post.

At the insistence of Embla's parents, the school agreed to integrate Embla back into her class.

But outraged parents protested against the integration plans and boycotted the classes, meaning that since February 1, the 11-year-old girl has been sitting alone in a classroom.

Upon hearing of Embla's treatment, President Pendarovski made a point by visiting her family and walking her to school.

'The President said that the behaviour of those who endanger children's rights is unacceptable, especially when it comes to children with atypical development,' Pendarovski's office said in a statement.

Upon hearing of Embla's treatment, President Pendarovski made a point by visiting her family and walking her to school

Some parents had also complained that Embla was in the same school as their children and even boycotted classes that the schoolgirl attended. Pictured: Embla walks to school with her parents and the President of North Macedonia

'They should not only enjoy the rights they deserve, but also feel equal and welcome in the school desks and schoolyard.

'It is our obligation, as a state, but also as individuals, and the key element in this common mission is empathy.

'It will help children like Embla, but it will also help us learn from them how to sincerely rejoice, share and be in solidarity, the president added.'

'We are all equal in this society,' Pendarovski said. 'I came here to give my support and to raise awareness that inclusion is a basic principle.'

The Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri previously announced that Embla would be reintegrated into her classes.

He said that Embla did not feel happy about returning to school on the first day of the semester in February because he said 'in our society there are still stereotypes and prejudices about people with disabilities.'

'Embla will attend regular classes,' her father Ilir Ademi told NovaTV last week.

'Although there is still no positive reaction from the parents of the other children who petitioned for my daughter to be out of school, I still received a promise from the local government that Embla would attend regular classes in the future and that this unfortunate event would not happen again.'

President Stevo Pendarovski visited in Gostivar the family of Embla Ademi on Monday

Mr Ademi said that the problems began in November when a group of parents whose parents were studying in the same class as Embla, complained to the principle to remove Embla from the class.

'My daughter was assigned to study in shifts, and to attend classes for two weeks in three different classes,' he said.

'It was supposed to be a temporary solution, due to the petition of the parents, who complained to the principal that my daughter interfered in the teaching process.'

'Embla is constantly with the educational assistant from the beginning to the end of the classes and he would alert if that really was the case,' Mr Ademi added.

'The petition of parents against a child with Down Syndrome is the latest defeat of our society when it comes to the attitude towards the most vulnerable among us,' said the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.
One person was killed and two more were wounded after more than 30 bullets were fired outside a Brooklyn convenience store on Thursday afternoon.

One victim was shot in the chest several times during the shooting on Willmohr Street by East 98th Street in Brownsville just before 2:30pm, cops said.

Officers added they understood the man was the intended target of the attack.

At least one gunman was involved in the shooting and fired more than 30 bullets towards the two victims before fleeing the scene.

Two victims, both 40, were rushed to Brookdale University Hospital but the man who was shot in the chest could not be saved.

The other man sustained multiple shots to his leg and arm but was in a stable condition late on Thursday. A third victim walked into Mount Sinai Hospital with a hip wound.

Police evidence markers pepper the street outside a convenience store in Brooklyn after one man was killed and two were wounded in a daytime shooting on Thursday

Armed police attended the scene on on Willmohr Street by East 98th Street in Brownsville just after the 2:30pm shooting on Thursday

At least one gunman was involved in the shooting and fired more than 30 bullets towards the two victims before fleeing the scene, police (pictured at the scene) said

An NYPD spokesperson said it was not yet clear what the motive of the attack was but that an investigation had been opened.

No arrests have yet been made and police are seeking a suspect last seen wearing a black leather jacket and black gloves.

Cops added that the wounded man had refused to cooperate with the police investigating the shooting.

It is the latest in an upswing in crime, especially violent offences, in New York and across the country in the past year.

Many different factors including increased tensions between the police and public, unemployment rates, soft-on-crime politicians and bail reform have been blamed for the rise.

An NYPD spokesperson said it was not yet clear what the motive of the attack was but that an investigation had been opened (pictured evidence markers outside the convenience store)

Two victims, both 40, were rushed to Brookdale University Hospital but the man who was shot in the chest could not be saved following the shooting (pictured, armed police at the scene)

Police (pictured at the scene) said one man sustained multiple shots to his leg and arm but was in a stable condition late on Thursday and a third victim walked into Mount Sinai Hospital with a hip wound

An NYPD spokesperson said it was not yet clear what the motive of the attack was but that an investigation had been opened

Cops add that the wounded man had refused to cooperate with the police investigating the shooting (pictured, evidence markers at the scene)

Armed police were seen outside the convenience store in Brooklyn following Thursday's shooting - the latest in an upswing in crime, especially violent offences, in New York in the past year

Nearly every police precinct in the city has seen spikes in crime this year - including five in which the rate has doubled, new data from the New York Police Department has revealed

Nearly every police precinct in the city has seen spikes in crime this year - including five in which the rate has doubled, new data from the New York Police Department has revealed.

According to recently released statistics, 72 of the five boroughs' 77 precincts saw an increase in crime this year when compared to the same period in 2021, with only three recording a marginal decrease in criminal offenses.

Two precincts, including the one covering the city's scenic Central Park, recorded no change at all - a statistic that may be misleading due to the area's low crime rate when compared to areas that are actually populated.

Since Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his 'Blueprint to End Gun Violence' on January 24, at least 49 people have been shot in The City That Never Sleeps, and at least 12 have been murdered.

New York City is currently experiencing soaring crime rates and an increase in shooting incidents not seen since the mid-2000s

Violent crime in general has surged in the city over the past year, with many different factors including increased tensions between the police and public, unemployment rates, soft-on-crime politicians and bail reform being cited as potential causes.

According to the recently released crime data - which takes into account offenses occurring up until the week ending on February 6 - robberies have soared by almost 35 percent when compared to the same period in 2021.

Rape has also increased by more than 35 percent and overall crime in the Big Apple has skyrocketed by 41.65 percent, according to the data.

Murders, meanwhile, are down 13 percent at this time over last year, while shootings have increased by a startling 30 percent.

The new NYPD CompStat numbers show that five precincts saw overall crime double since the start of the year, in neighborhoods in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.

West Harlem's 26th Precinct recorded a 122 percent increase in overall crime, primarily driven by rising rates of burglaries, grand larceny, and assaults.

The Manhattan precinct has seen burglaries skyrocket to 30 so far this year compared to just seven for the same period in 2021 - an increase of more than 400 percent - while grand larcenies and felony assaults nearly doubled from 15 to 29 and eight to 15, respectively.

The neighborhood was brought to a standstill last weekend after an off-duty NYPD officer was shot and wounded in the neighborhood after attending a memorial service in the area - the seventh cop to be shot in the city so far this year.
The U.S. Army has unveiled a new climate change plan that includes an electric fleet of non-combat vehicles and a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at military bases.

The woke new plan was released amid rising tensions overseas, with President Joe Biden telling Americans to leave Ukraine immediately and warning them that they could not expect to be rescued by U.S. troops if Russia launches an invasion.

The Army's climate change strategy, published in a report Tuesday, aims to make its bases more self-efficient and to move to an electric fleet of non-combat vehicles by 2035.

The plan says the Army's 'immediate objectives' are to provide 100 percent carbon-pollution-free electricity for branch installations needs by 2030 and a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at all Army buildings by 2032.

'The time to address climate change is now. The effects of climate change have taken a toll on supply chains, damaged our infrastructure, and increased risks to Army Soldiers and families due to natural disasters and extreme weather,' Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth penned in the report.

'The Army must adapt across our entire enterprise and purposefully pursue greenhouse gas mitigation strategies to reduce climate risks. If we do not take action now, across our installations, acquisition and logistics, and training, our options to mitigate these risks will become more constrained with each passing year.'

To some Americans, the report may appear ill-timed given the fact that Russia has amassed some 120,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border, triggering fears of an invasion.

'American citizens should leave now,' Biden said in a Thursday interview with NBC News. 'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.'

The president added: 'That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We're in a very different world than we've ever been.'

The U.S. Army unveiled a new climate change plan amid rising tensions overseas resulted in President Joe Biden telling Americans to leave Ukraine immediately and warning them that they could not expect to be rescued by U.S. troops if Russia launched an invasion

To some, the report may appear ill-timed given the fact that Russia has amassed some 120,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border, triggering fears of an invasion (Pictured: Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers ride a tank during a drill on Thursday)

The Army's new plan seeks to deal with the effects of climate change that it claims 'endangers national and economic security' by making all military installations self-sufficient in terms of energy and water needs.

It also calls for a transformation to sources of clean energy, including development of electric combat vehicles by 2050. It also calls on bases to switch to an all-electric fleet of non-combat vehicles by 2035.

Wormuth said the Army is on-track to achieve its goals by the target dates.

'As the Army invests in modernization, readiness, and operations, we can create the land forces that our nation needs today while securing a sustainable, cleaner tomorrow,' she wrote in the report.

'As the Army optimizes the use of fuel, water, electricity, and other resources, we increase our resilience while saving taxpayer dollars and reducing our impact on the planet.'

'The Army will mitigate and adapt to climate change, and in doing so gain a strategic advantage, especially as we continue to outpace our near-peer competitors.'

The plan, released ahead of Biden's notice to withdraw from Russia, argues armed conflict will continue to grow globally as world temperatures continue to rise, increasing competition for resources.

The Army's new plan seeks to deal with the effects of climate change that it claims 'endangers national and economic security' by making all military installations self-sufficient in terms of energy and water needs (Pictured: Smoke from wildfires blocks out the sun in August 2020 at Fort Hunter Liggett in California)

It also calls for a transformation to sources of clean energy, including development of electric combat vehicles by 2050. It also calls on bases to switch to an all-electric fleet of non-combat vehicles by 2035

The report argues armed conflict will continue to grow globally as world temperatures continue to rise, increasing competition for resources (Pictured: US military personnel from the Allied nations attend a ceremony in Romania on Friday)

The report - citing Middle Eastern nations like Syria where drought has played a role in civil war - claims the impacts of climate change will 'compound social instability, reduce access to basic necessities, undermine fragile governments and economies, damage vital infrastructure and lower agricultural production'.

'Climate change poses unique challenges to the Army at all levels. Bold actions now will ensure the Army is ready to support our nation in competition, crisis, and conflict far into the future,' the report states.

'By implementing this strategy, the Army will be a resilient and sustainable land force able to operate in all domains with effective mitigation and adaptation measures against the key effects of climate change, consistent with Army modernization efforts.'

Experts allege the impacts of climate change will 'disrupt Army activities, displace individuals and communities, and increase the frequency of crisis deployments' for the 'foreseeable future'.

The military organization claims it must be prepared to energy and water scarcity, damage to installations and infrastructure, disruptions to supply chain operations and imperiled soldier healthy from exposure to airborne irritants like smoke and dust, disease vectors, and temperature extremes.

Experts also warn that the land on which the Army trains and operates may be altered, limited or constrained.

'The Army must act decisively and urgently to address the risks associated with all these effects,' the plan urges.

Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth (pictured left in June 2021) said the Army is on-track to achieve its goals by the target dates

The climate change plan is just the latest of the U.S. military's push towards progressiveness.

Last week, the Army announced it will 'immediately begin separating soldiers from the service' who refuse to comply with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Those who refuse to be vaccinated or don't have an approved or pending request for exemption will be discharged.

'Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation's wars,' Wormuth told NPR. 'Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness.'

Soldiers who are discharged over vaccination refusal 'will not be eligible for involuntary separation pay'. They may also have to return any unearned special or incentive pay.

The Army said in January that 96 percent. of active troops have been completely vaccinated. 3,350 soldiers had refused to get the vaccine and nearly 5,900 had received temporary exemptions.

In December, the Air Force announced it was authorizing the use of gender-neutral and gender-specific pronouns in email signature boxes.

In May, the Army released a recruitment ading shows an animated Corporal Emma Malonelord (pictured) attending a gay rights parade

The Army' recruitment ad chronicling the life of Corporal Emma Malonelord features an animated depiction of a gay rights march (pictured)

The new Army ad shows Corporal Emma Malonelord's mother's getting married after one suffered serious injuries following a car accident

The Air Force made it clear that allowing for emails to end with he/him, she/her and they/them would be allowed in a memo on December 9.

'This guidance provides approval for the use of pronouns in electronic signature blocks and expands on written communication by providing official templates posted on e-publishing website available for download,' the Air Force correspondence states.

'The use of pronouns (he/him, she/her, or they/them) in an email signature block is authorized but not required,' the memo added.

The Air Force memo came on the heels of the Army releasing a recruitment ad that features an animated lesbian wedding and an LGBTQ pride parade.

Released on May 4, the two-minute recruitment video, centers on Corporal Emma Malonelord and her upbringing as she is raised by two moms. Malonelord is an actual Army corporal; her story is illustrated in the cartoon.

The animated recruitment video chronicles Malonelord's life from her childhood up until she joins the Army as a Patriot Missile operator.

Her animated counterpart watches her two mothers get married after one recovers from a serious car accident that left her paralyzed.
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A Swedish underworld assassin who travelled to the UK to carry out a Christmas Eve hit on a drugs gang rival outside the front door of his 1.7million London townhouse was today convicted of his murder.

Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, 36, a father of two whose sister Misse Beqiri appeared in Real Housewives Of Cheshire, was blasted ten times in two seconds with a semi-automatic pistol in front of his wife and their two-year-old son.

Harrowing CCTV footage showed him arriving hand-in-hand with his wife from dinner at a Sloane Square restaurant when he was set upon by Anis Hemissi, 24, who shot him dead from behind. Deborah Krasniqi is seen screaming and cradling her son as her husband drops to the floor, having been hit by eight of the bullets.

Hemissi, a professional kickboxer, carried out a four-hour reconnaissance mission two days before the hit on Battersea Church Road disguised as a litter picker, donning a high-vis jacket and trousers, sunglasses and a full-face latex mask.

Hemissi made several errors, including using a 'ladies' design bicycle' with a basket on the front for reconnaissance. In Sweden this is considered unisex but in Britain it made him stand out.

The killer stopped using the bike, along with his hi-vis litter-picker's disguise, after he was confronted by a Battersea resident who found it suspicious that he was cleaning both a private estate and a council road.

Beqiri and Ms Krasniqi, who made a 950,000 down payment on their home and also rented a property in Dubai, had married a little over a year earlier in Cernobbio, by Lake Como, Italy, with pictures of the happy occasion published in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine.

Ms Krasniqi told the publication they 'fell deeply in love' at the wedding of his sister, when the Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri married former Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

Beqiri, who had joint Swedish and Albanian nationality, claimed to be in the music business but had been involved in the international drugs trade from Spain, through the Netherlands and into Scandinavia since 2007 and had been arrested several times in Europe. He had become increasingly worried about his security in the months before his death, and when dining out he would send his wife in first and sit facing the door.

Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, 36, a Swedish national of Albanian heritage whose sister Misse Beqiri (both pictured) appeared in Real Housewives Of Cheshire, was murdered outside his 1.7m home in Battersea, southwest London, on Christmas Eve 2019

The shooter, kickboxer Anis Hemissi, 24, had carried out a four-hour reconnaissance mission two days before the hit disguised as a litter picker, donning a high-vis jacket and trousers, sunglasses and a full-face latex mask

Hemissi made several errors, including using a 'ladies' design bicycle' with a basket on the front for reconnaissance. In Sweden this considered unisex but in Britain is mainly used by women - making him stand out

Beqiri, pictured with his wife, Debora Krasniqi, posed as a Swedish record producer but in reality was a senior figure in an international drugs gang

How police identified hitman through a plane ticket he left in a bin The Swedish hitman hired to murder drugs gang kingpin Flamur Beqiri was identified after police found a ripped-up plane ticket with part of his name on it. Anis Hemissi, 24, wore latex masks and donned disguises including a litter picker's outfit for reconnaissance and to carry out the shooting on Christmas Eve 2019. However, a rapid CCTV trawl over the following days allowed detectives to trace the shooter on foot, then by bicycle from Battersea Church Road down the Thames path to a flat in Oyster Wharf. A local team, hired to clean up, had removed a large suitcase and a rucksack on Christmas Day but police were already inside when they returned two days later to finish the job. Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Brett Skowron said: 'The defendants have underestimated quite how much CCTV there is throughout London. 'We think they would never have thought that we would actually have been able to track them as far back to that flat in the first place. 'That's because in Sweden they have much less CCTV due to the restrictions of what it can be used for.' The flat was a treasure trove for forensics investigators, who recovered gunshot residue from the Ridgeback bike used by Hemissi in his getaway. Officers also found the litter picker and black bin bags used as part of Hemissi's disguise. DNA and fingerprints from Hemissi as well as Estevan Pino-Munizaga, 35, the man who had rented the flat, were also found on items such as drinks containers, food and rubbish. Crucially for the investigation, in one of the bins was a ripped up piece of ticket stub with part of Hemissi's name on it. Officers were able to track the killer to Heathrow, from where he flew to Copenhagen, Denmark, in the early hours of Christmas Day using his own name. Bank records obtained by Swedish police showed the gunman had bought a high-vis jacket and trousers, boots and a black beanie hat he used along with a latex mask and litter picker to pose as a street cleaner. A new analysis technique was used in what is believed to be a first in an investigation to show he was using far more mobile data while he was in the flat compared to when he was outside. Senior Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Louise Attrill said the shooting was 'a professional organised killing but there were mistakes.' One of the errors was made by Pino-Munizaga when he bought a distinctive dark green 'ladies' design bicycle', with a basket on the front, to be used by the gunman in reconnaissance. Mr Skowron said the bike would 'stand out when you see a male riding it' but was the common 'stepover' design ridden by men and women in Sweden. Hemissi stopped using the bike, along with his hi-vis litter-picker's disguise, after he was confronted by a Battersea resident who found it suspicious that he was cleaning both a private estate and a council road. Dog walker Jeremy Lyons asked the hitman: 'Excuse me, who do you work for? Who do you work for?' Hemissi walked off as he was told: 'Get away from this estate please.' Advertisement

Hemissi was today found guilty of murder and possession of a firearm at Southwark Crown Court after a two-month trial.

Fellow Swedish national Estevan Pino-Munizaga, 35, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Tobias Andersson, 32, and Bawer Karaer, 23, also from Sweden, were acquitted of both charges.

Clifford Rollox, 31, from Islington, north London, and Dutch national Claude Isaac Castor, 31, from Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice after being hired locally to clean up the flat where the killers had stayed.

Beqiri - a major figure in Swedish organised crime - was the latest victim of a string of 'tit for tat' shootings as his gang battled for domination of the market for smuggling drugs into Sweden from Spain and the Netherlands.

Moments after the shooting his wife, Deborah, called her husband's associate Naief Adawi, 37, who had also moved to Battersea from Sweden, to warn him: 'Maybe someone's coming for you as well. Watch out.'

Adawi, who was jailed for eight years in Denmark in 2010 for aggravated robbery with a lethal weapon over a 7 million heist on a security firm - one of the largest heists in the country's history - had already survived one attempt on his life.

Gunmen opened fire as he left his Malmo apartment on August 26, 2019, carrying his newborn baby daughter, who was dropped but not injured as Adawi ran away.

But his partner Karolin Hakim, 31, was shot multiple times and killed.

Close friends Adawi and Beqiri were both kingpins in the Swedish drugs gang run by Daniel Petrovski, 38, who was sentenced to five years' imprisonment last June for an aggravated drugs offence.

They were locked in a bloody war with a rival organised crime group headed by Amir Mekky, 24, who was also involved in large-scale trafficking of cocaine and cannabis and arrested in Dubai in June 2020.

Violence between the two gangs, including kidnap and murder, escalated from the middle of 2018 and by the following summer both Adawi and Beqiri had become targets.

But Mekky's men were not Beqiri's only enemies - police intelligence suggests he was regularly in dispute with, or in debt to, criminal associates, including Albanian gangs.

Beqiri had installed a top-of-the-range CCTV system in his 1.7 million Battersea townhouse and when dining out he would send his wife in first and sit facing the door.

On the night he was murdered she had sat at the table in a Sloane Square restaurant, taken a photo and sent it to him before he joined her.

Beqiri was right to be cautious.

However, the CCTV camera he hoped would protect his family instead captured, with shocking clarity and sound, the moment a masked assassin shot him dead from behind with a semi-automatic handgun, firing 10 times.

Seconds earlier Beqiri had arrived home from dinner hand-in-hand with Ms Krasniqi and their two-year-old son, while their three-month-old baby and the children's three grandparents were inside.

In graphic footage, Ms Krasniqi can be heard screaming and is seen cradling the boy as her husband drops to the floor, having been hit by eight bullets.

The couple, who made a 950,000 down payment on their home and also rented a property in Dubai, had married a little over a year earlier in Cernobbio, by Lake Como, Italy, with pictures of the happy occasion published in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine.

Ms Krasniqi told the publication they 'fell deeply in love' at the wedding of his sister, when the Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri married former Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

Clifford Rollox (left), 31, from Islington, north London, and and Dutch national Claude Isaac Castor (centre), 31, from Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice after being hired locally to clean up the flat where the killers had stayed. Fellow Swedish national Estevan Pino-Munizaga (right), 35, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter

Beqiri himself was described by detectives as a major figure in Swedish organised crime, whose family lifestyle and showbiz connections masked his substantial criminal connections

Beqiri's sister, Real Housewives of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri, who recently was reported to have split from her TOWIE star fiance Jake Hall

Hemissi attracted the attention of neighbours both with his bizarre disguise and also because he litter picked on both a private and public road

Beqiri, who had joint Swedish and Albanian nationality, claimed to be in the music business but had been involved in the international drugs trade from Spain, through the Netherlands and into Scandinavia since 2007 and had been arrested several times in Europe.

In 2018, he was named as one of Sweden's most wanted men after investigators said he was part of an international drugs smuggling ring who moved 2million of cannabis into Scandinavia.

At the time, police said Beqiri fled a bust at the border in bare feet but the drugs charges were later dropped, and he was instead found guilty of illegally handling smuggled goods including cigarettes and alcohol and given a suspended sentence.

Zakaria El-Khayyati, a member of the rival Mekky gang, was murdered in July 2018 after he was arrested and released over the kidnap of Petrovski's younger brother a month earlier.

Two men linked to the murder of Adawi's partner, Tarek Bekar and Gabriel Hassoun, were involved in part of the money chain that led to the booking of accommodation in London by one of Beqiri's killers, Estevan Pino-Munizaga, 35, in July 2019.

Hassoun was later convicted of possession of a firearm but while under surveillance by Swedish police he was seen to wear a bullet proof vest and frequently change his clothes and hairstyle.

Swedish police detective inspector Kajsa Delmar-Wigstrom said Adawi has recently been arrested and charged, along with 15 other people, including Petrovski, with offences including attempted murder, preparation to commit murder, instigation to commit murder and illegal possession of firearms.

The detective said the targets, including the Mekky gang's Hassoun, and twins Frank and Liam Al Janabi, were selected because they were believed to be behind his partner's murder.

During earlier police surveillance, the Al Janabi brothers were seen trying on latex masks they had bought from a party shop.

They were similar to those used by Beqiri gunman Anis Hemissi, 24, to carry out the shooting and conduct reconnaissance, including while dressed as a litter picker, in the days before the murder.

Professional kickboxer Hemissi was earlier arrested over the February 2, 2018 murder of a man who was shot dead around the back of the Malmo home of his father, but he was never charged.

Khaled Hemissi, then 55, was one of the first on the scene and tried to save the victim's life, at first fearing it was his son who had been shot.

'My wife thought it was our son because he had a similar jacket,' he told local media.

The doorstep of Mr Beqiri's home in Battersea, southwest London, where the shooting took place on Christmas Eve 2019

A rapid CCTV trawl by police allowed detectives to trace the shooter on foot, then by bicycle from Battersea Church Road down the Thames path to a flat in Oyster Wharf

Ahmet Karaer, the elder cousin of Bawer Karaer, 23, who sourced the bicycle used by Hemissi to flee the scene of the Beqiri shooting, was said by prosecutor Mark Heywood QC to have helped with the 'planning, money movement and most probably in the giving of instructions'.

Bawer Karaer told jurors his cousin had told him he was going to London to help out with a burglary and he was found not guilty of killing Beqiri.

Ahmet Karaer's family were the victims of an extortion plot which escalated into a bombing campaign in January 2020.

The targets were the apartments of his parents and the parents of his partner, Azadeh Etesamipour.

It is not known whether the bombings were connected to the feud, but Swedish police have discovered Karaer was heavily in debt due to his gambling addiction and may have borrowed money from a notorious criminal gang called the 'Death Patrol'.

He was held in Egypt in February 2020 suspected of smuggling narcotics and according to flight records was put on a plane back to Sweden in August with a re-entry ban - but he did not arrive.

Tobias Andersson, 32, who was also acquitted of killing Beqiri, 32, was in contact with Karaer, having also travelled to Egypt for the drug deal, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Karaer's whereabouts remain unknown to British and Swedish police, and he is the subject of a European arrest warrant.

Another TOWIE link to the criminal underworld is revealed: How real-life crime is rife behind the glitz and glamour of Essex's reality TV stars - including gangland wars over drugs, murder, acid attacks and even diamond fraud

By Amie Gordon for MailOnline

When it first aired on our screens in 2010, The Only Way Is Essex introduced viewers to a glamorous new breed of reality television stars.

The show followed the lives of Brentwood's affluent residents and the minutiae of their everyday lives; from fashion faux pas to relationship woes.

What came to be known more commonly as TOWIE, the show brought us the likes of Joey Essex, Gemma Collins and Mark Wright - all of whom have gone on to carve out showbiz careers and become household names.

But beneath the glitz and glamour of TOWIE lay a shady criminal underworld - one which some of the stars found themselves embroiled in.

The arrest of Arthur Collins in 2017 - then boyfriend of star Ferne McCann - following an acid attack in a London nightclub shed a new light on the glitzy reality show.

From diamond fraud to murders and bullion heists, here MailOnline looks at Essex's criminal underbelly, dodgy dealings, shady characters and the stars who swapped the Sugar Hut for a prison cell.

Jake Hall, who starred in the show with his co-star and model girlfriend, Chloe Lewis, went on to have a five-year relationship with fellow reality figure, Misse Beqiri - the star of The Real Housewives of Cheshire (pictured together in 2019)

TOWIE star Mick Norcross was found hanged in the basement of his Essex mansion last year

Jake Hall: Dated Real Housewives of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri whose gangster brother was gunned down in front of his family by Swedish underworld assassin on Christmas Eve in tit-for-tat gang war

Jake Hall starred in the show with his co-star and model girlfriend, Chloe Lewis. He went on to have a five-year relationship with fellow reality figure, Misse Beqiri - the star of The Real Housewives of Cheshire.

They began dating in 2016 and welcomed their daughter, River, together in 2017, and announced their engagement in 2018. But last year they split after five years together, following a 'series of explosive rows and her brother Flamur's murder.'

Her brother Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, 36, a father of two, was blasted nine times in two seconds with a semi-automatic pistol in front of his wife and their two-year-old son outside his 1.7m Battersea home on Christmas Eve in 2019.

Today, Swedish underworld assassin Anis Hemissi, 24, was today convicted of his murder.

A top of the range CCTV system Beqiri had installed for security showed him arriving hand-in-hand with his wife from dinner at a Sloane Square restaurant when he was set upon by Hemissi, who shot him dead from behind.

Flamur first met his wife Debora at his sister Misse's wedding to her now ex-husband, Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

He was said to have proposed after flying their families to a chalet in Kitzbuhel, Austria, where he covered the floor in a 1,000 red rose petals. The wedding featured a lavish ceremony at a hotel on Lake Como, Italy, in October 2018.

Beqiri, who had joint Swedish and Albanian nationality, claimed to be in the music business but had been involved in the international drugs trade from Spain, through the Netherlands and into Scandinavia since 2007 and had been arrested several times in Europe.

Jake Hall starred in the show with his co-star and model girlfriend, Chloe Lewis. He went on to have a five-year relationship with fellow reality figure, Misse Beqiri - the star of The Real Housewives of Cheshire (together in Jukly 2021)

The shooter, kickboxer Anis Hemissi, 24, had carried out a four-hour reconnaissance mission two days before the hit disguised as a litter picker, donning a high-vis jacket and trousers, sunglasses and a full-face latex mask

Ferne McCann's boyfriend: Jailed for 20 years after hurling acid over revellers in an east London nightclub after 'gangland war' spiralled out of control

Arthur Collins, the ex-boyfriend of Ferne McCann, hurled acid over revellers on the dance floor at Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, after a 'gangland war' spiralled out of control in 2017.

He threw the corrosive substance indiscriminately at innocent people in what was one of Britain's worst acid attacks. Sixteen people suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded.

Collins, the father of Ms McCann's baby daughter Sunday, told his trial he did not know the bottle contained acid.

He threw the corrosive substance indiscriminately at innocent people in what was one of Britain's worst acid attacks. Sixteen people suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded. Pictured: Collins with ex Ferne McCann

Arthur Collins (pictured), the ex-boyfriend of Ferne McCann, hurled acid over revellers on the dance floor at Mangle E8 in Dalston, east London, after a 'gangland war' spiralled out of control in 2017

He claimed he believed it was a liquid date rape drug which he had snatched from two men after 'overhearing them planning to spike a girl's drink.'

He later admitted to consultant psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph that he knew the bottle contained acid.

A jury convicted him of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of actual bodily harm.

It was later revealed the thug had hired a 50,000 leading criminal barrister to help reduce his jail term.

In 2018, Collins lost a bid to reduce his 20-year jail sentence. Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London took less than ten minutes to reject Collins' appeal, arguing it 'the severe sentence was fully justified.'

After the incident, he went on the run and was not caught until several days later hiding out in a house in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.

He has previous convictions including threatening words, possession of cocaine and assault, and was still subject to a suspended sentence for punching a man at a nightclub when he carried out the acid attack.

He was then jailed for another eight months for using a smuggled mobile phone to call Ms McCann from his prison cell.

Sam and Billie Faiers' father convicted of assault

Sam and Billie Faiers' real father, Lee Faiers was convicted of assaulting his partner Fay Simmons in June 2011.

He was given a community service order and told to attend a domestic violence programme.

Sam (left) and Billie Faiers' (right) real father, Lee Faiers (middle) was convicted of assaulting his partner Fay Simmons in June 2011

David Chatwood (pictured) was jailed for four years for his part in 1.1 million bullion robbery in December 2012 - but because he had already served seven-and-a-half months on remand the career criminal was let out early

Sam and Billie Faiers' stepfather jailed for 1.1million bullion heist

In April 2013, the sisters' stepfather was released from prison after serving just four months of a four-year jail sentence.

David Chatwood was jailed for four years for his part in 1.1 million bullion robbery in December 2012 - but because he had already served seven-and-a-half months on remand the career criminal was let out early.

Chatwood was one of the ringleaders behind the staged robbery gold and silver bars in Belgium.

Known to pals as 'Chatty', he helped organised the plot which saw 29kg of gold and 160kg of silver stolen from a lorry near Antwerp. He pleaded guilty at the plea and case management hearing.

Cara Kilbey's boyfriend cleared of masterminding multi-million pound drugs empire

Cara Kilbey starred on the ITVBe show for four seasons before departing in 2012.

Her boyfriend Daniel Harris, 33, was accused of making 'vast profits' by sending drug couriers on mopeds disguised as trainee cab drivers around central London over three-and-a-half years.

He was cleared in 2017 of of two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine, but found guilty of one count of possession of criminal property. Police found a stash of some 116,000 in ill-gotten gains, hidden in his daughter's bedroom.

While he was sentenced to two years, he was released after serving almost a year on remand in Wandsworth prison.

Cara Kilbey (left) starred on the ITVBe show for four seasons before departing in 2012. Her boyfriend Daniel Harris, 33, (right) was accused of making 'vast profits' by sending drug couriers on mopeds disguised as trainee cab drivers around central London

Lauren Goodger's jailbird boyfriend serving 16-year sentence for violent drugs-related charges

Lauren Goodger was one of the original cast of TOWIE in 2010, starring alongside then-boyfriend Mark Wright.

She dated Joey Morrison, who was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in 2010 after he dressed like a postman to burgle properties in Enfield, north London.

Morrison, was found guilty with Marvin Russell Jenkins, then both 24, and when he was arrested in 2009, police found 60,000 worth of cocaine and a 90,000 Land Rover.

She was devastated when their two year romance came to an abrupt end shortly before his release date in 2018, amid claims he sent a slew of x-rated snaps to other women from his prison cell in HMP Highpoint South.

The former TOWIE star admitted she regretted their time together, especially as it did not 'look good' for her to be in a relationship with someone behind bars.

Previously speaking of the ill-fated romance in her column for new! magazine, she said: 'I regret giving two and a half years of my life to someone who was in jail only for him to come out and not be what I thought.

'I thought we were going to get a house, get married and have kids. I regret the time I've wasted.'

Lauren Goodger (left) dated Joey Morrison (right), who was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in 2010 after he dressed like a postman to burgle properties in Enfield, north London.

Goodger's ex boyfriend's brother was stabbed to death at a petrol station after car chase - with murderers still at large

Stephen Morrisson, 30, (pictured, who was the brother of TOWIE star Lauren Goodger's ex-boyfriend was stabbed to death on a petrol forecourt following a car chase in June, 2020

The brother of TOWIE star Lauren Goodger's ex-boyfriend was stabbed to death on a petrol forecourt following a car chase in June, 2020.

Stephen Morrisson, 30, was fatally wounded in Epping, Essex, and rushed to hospital where he later died.

His attackers fled the scene before the authorities arrived and in June last year, Essex police made an another appeal asking anyone with information to come forward. No arrests have been made.

Stephen was the younger brother of Joey Morrisson, 34. Stephen had also spent time behind bars in 2012, when he was jailed following a burglary in which a live-in gardener at an Essex cannabis factory died after falling through a roof.

Lauren met Joey, who was serving a 16-year sentence for possession of a firearm, kidnap, blackmail and actual bodily harm, through her sister.

Gemma Collins's ex-boyfriend jailed for GBH and burglary

Gemma Collins joined The Only Way Is Essex for the show's second series, in 2011.

Stephen Mortimer dated Collins from February 2015 to April 2016.

He had been released early from his previous two-year jail term for GBH but breached the terms of his licence by moving into Miss Collins's house in Brentwood.

In October 2016, Mortimer was handed a two-year sentence for burglary. He broke into a house in the middle of the afternoon and stole 100 in coins.

Just 11 days earlier, the 35-year-old had forced his way into another property and stolen jewellery.

Mortimer appeared via a video link from Chelmsford prison as he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Gemma Collins (left) dated Stephen Mortimer (right) from February 2015 to April 2016. He had been released early from his previous two-year jail term for GBH but breached the terms of his licence by moving into Miss Collins's house in Brentwood

Michael Hassini - jailed after being caught with high purity cocaine and MDMA

Michael 'Mike' Hassini leaves Westminster Magistrates Court, September 12, 2016

In December 2021, Michael Hassini was jailed for over six years after he was caught with 70,000 worth of cocaine.

The personal trainer, who was on the ITV show between 2015 and 2018, was caught exchanging a brick of cocaine with Gary Bear, 23, in the Hornchurch area of Havering, east London, on April 16.

Hassini, 26, was seen by police officers carrying a brown cardboard box into Bear's grey Mercedes.

When police stopped the car, they found a collection of smartphones and 'burner' phones, and a duct-tape-wrapped block of cocaine.

Police arrested Hassini in his black Smart car, where he told them he had 'around 36,000 pounds in cash, although he had not counted it yet'.

When they searched the home they found three smaller blocks of high-quality cocaine, along with boric acid, a hydraulic press, metal plates, and small amounts of loose cocaine and MDMA.

Prosecutor Sean Sullivan told the court Hassini's cocaine was between 85 per cent and 98 per cent pure.

Hassini, of Brentwood, received a sentence of 6 years 9 months imprisonment.

Bear, of Hornchurch, both Essex, received a sentence of 5 years 3 months after admitting conspiracy to supply a class A drug, and possession of criminal property.

In December 2016, then aged 22, the former reality TV star escaped jail after he was convicted of kicking a female custody officer after drunkenly crashing his Mercedes.

He was being held at Charing Cross police station when he assaulted detention officer Suzanne Werth in the early hours of August 15, 2016.

Hassini had admitted drink driving but he was convicted of assault by beating after a one day trial at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court.

He was ordered to perform 180 hours unpaid work, pay 85 in costs and an 85 victim surcharge. Hassini was also disqualified from driving for 21 months.

In December 2021, Michael Hassini (pictured left outside court in 2016) was jailed for over six years after he was caught with 70,000 worth of cocaine. The personal trainer was on the ITV show between 2015 and 2018

Lewis Bloor: 3m diamond fraud trial collapsed after 'litany' of CPS failings to disclose evidence - despite claims he 'conned 200 elderly and vulnerable victims of savings'

A 3 million diamond fraud trial involving The Only Way is Essex star Lewis Bloor (pictured) last year collapsed after a 'litany' of Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failings in the disclosure of evidence

A 3 million diamond fraud trial involving The Only Way is Essex star Lewis Bloor last year collapsed after a 'litany' of Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failings in the disclosure of evidence.

Prosecutors had claimed around 200 victims, many of whom were elderly, were conned after being convinced to buy coloured stones at a 600% mark up.

Mr Bloor, 31, who joined the ITV2 reality programme for three years from 2013, was accused of being part of the alleged cold-calling investment fraud before his television career took off.

But the case collapsed last year, some seven years after the investigation was launched in 2014 and four weeks into the Southwark Crown Court trial, for which dozens of alleged victims had provided statements or given live evidence.

Mr Bloor, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, was acquitted of conspiracy to defraud between May 7 2013 and July 1 2014 by a jury at the direction of Judge Adam Hiddleston.

The CPS abandoned the prosecution after admitting material that could have helped Mr Bloor and his co-defendants or undermined the prosecution case had not been properly disclosed to defence lawyers.

Prosecutor David Durose QC said the material was 'wrongly described', should have been given to the defence teams and that 'the inconsistencies were profound'.

Narita Bahra QC, representing Potter, called for the CPS to conduct an inquiry into the case after what she described as 'a litany of disclosure failings'.

She said the Metropolitan Police instructed expert witnesses employed by Dreweatts auctioneers and valuers, a company which had a contract with the force to auction jewellery and watches seized in raids and prosecutions.

Mr Bloor (pictured), 31, who joined the ITV2 reality programme for three years from 2013, was accused of being part of the alleged cold-calling investment fraud before his television career took off.

Mick Norcross: Ex-Sugar Hut boss was 'battling 6.5million cash crisis' before being found dead after cryptic final tweet

Mick Norcross (pictured) was found hanged in the basement of his Essex mansion in Bulphan, near Upminster, Essex on January 21, 2021

TOWIE star Mick Norcross was found hanged in the basement of his Essex mansion last year.

The popular television personality and former owner of The Sugar Hut nightclub in Brentwood was found hanged in the basement of his Essex mansion in Bulphan, near Upminster, Essex on January 21, 2021.

Friends told MailOnline how he had suffered a 'huge' financial blow before he was found dead after facing a 1.5million loss on a luxury housing project because of 'drainage problems' while owing 5.2million in bank loans on his hotel renovation project hit by the coronavirus pandemic and going 1million over budget.

In a tragic final tweet, posted just before his body was found, the 57-year-old wrote: 'At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.' He is survived by his sons Kirk, Mason, Daniel and daughter Hollie. He also has three grandchildren.

Mick had sold the Sugar Hut nightclub in 2019 and concentrated on his property businesses. Before his death he was developing the famous Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend into 18 luxury flats, which remains unfinished.

He was also building five luxury houses in Bulphan, called the Bonham Grange Estate, where the asking price for a five-bedroom property is 1.75million. But some of the properties have been on the market since November 2019 and remain unsold. Mick lived in a mansion in the same village, which he designed and built himself. He also had an antiques shop in nearby Brentwood.

But sources close to the late building developer told MailOnline Mick was set to make 5million on the Bonham Grange project but due to drainage issues and the financial cost of repairing damage, his payout was expected to be slashed to 3.5million. It is believed the financial loss was the latest in a long line of money issues Mick had suffered over the past two years, made worse by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mick (right) had sold the Sugar Hut nightclub in 2019 and concentrated on his property businesses. Before his death he was developing the famous Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend into 18 luxury flats, which remains unfinished. Pictures left: Mick's son, Kirk Norcross

Mr Norcross also owed 5.2 million in bank loans on his hotel renovation project, accounts show. The businessman's company 460 Leisure Ltd is restoring The Grand Hotel in Leigh-On-Sea in Essex.

Accounts for 460 Leisure filed in November, showed that the firm was 984,908 in the red and the books said bank loans stood at 5,216,666 for 2019  up from 2.6m the previous year. The outfit had just 3,600 in its coffers at the time the figures were compiled.

Twice-married Mick was romantically linked to a number of TOWIE stars including Maria Fowler, Chloe Sims and Gemma Collins, before finding love with his former Sugar Hut Honey, Samantha Keahey, who went on to become the nightclub brand's office. Mick and Samantha were last seen together in early December is a series of Instagram photos that appeared to be in his mansion's garden.

He previously admitted having having struggles with mental health and his tendency to erect a 'hard exterior' when the going got tough and struggling to talk to family about problems without it 'turning into a shouting match'.

For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
A newly released infrared image showed a 'swarm' of three 'Tic-Tac shaped' UFOs chase four U.S. Navy destroyers off the coast of California.

The grainy image has been released by the Navy and shows what appears to be three small dots, representing unmanned aerial systems (UAS), hovering near the USS Paul Hamilton. It was one of the many occurrences Naval ships saw over the course of weeks, as many destroyers spotted these contraptions in July 2019.

These three UAS appeared near the ship around 8pm on July 17 shortly after the USS Paul Hamilton cut location broadcasting via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Ships are not required to broadcast their location 24/7 and usually disable the transponder in situations that call for heightened security.

This decision was not reflected on the ship's deck log, but earlier in the month, logs indicate that other ships in the area also turned of AIS during UAS activity.

Additionally, the USS Paul Hamilton's log did indicate that the UAS appeared shortly after it had turned its navigation lights on.

Shortly before 8pm, one UAS was spotted one nautical mile away. Twenty minutes later, the timeline indicates that two more were seen, with one falling into the water, The Drive reported after viewing documents it received through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The ship reported seeing red, flashing lights.

Roughly 30 minutes later, the USS Paul Hamilton reported a 'UAS swarm' and by 9:11 p.m., one UAS was directly above at 2,000 feet. By 9:15, the UAS moved away from the ship at almost 70mph before returning less than 10 minutes later.

The USS Hamilton reported that the 'swarm' lasted almost three hours from 7:56 p.m. to 10:39 p.m.

An infrared image showed the three UAS off of the USS Paul Hamilton on July 17th, 2019. A 'swarm' of them hovered near the ship for several hours, in just one of the many occurrences Naval ships saw over the course of weeks

USS destroyers on patrol in July 2019 were suddenly swarmed by flashing, tic-toc shaped drones, which were able to travel long distance at high speeds

The USS Paul Hamilton (pictured) reported a 'swarm' of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) hovering near the ship on July 17th, in a series of several occurrence across many ships off the coast of California throughout the month of July 2019

The total number of UAS spotted by the Navy destroyer is unknown, due to abbreviated briefing slides, which were viewed by The Drive.

Three days earlier, the USS John Finn also spotted 'red flashing lights' off the starboard side of the ship and indicated that they had turned off their AIS system. The ship spotted two UAS at elevations of 1,000 and 1,500 feet.

One of the ships involved, the USS Omaha, released incomplete ship logs, The Drive reported.

According to The Drive, the Navy did conduct countermeasure drills later in the week and the Navy may have introduced portable counter-drone devices.

In April 2021, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday said the military had not been able to identify the aircrafts and the Department of Defense has since decline an answer thus far.

The drama began on the night of July 14, 2019. Deck logs from the USS Kidd show that just before 10pm that night, two drones were spotted.

An onboard intelligence crew responsible for documenting and investigating contact with unknown vessels - known as the Ship Nautical Or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Exploitation team, or SNOOPIE - was engaged to figure out who, or what, the mystery flying objects were.

The Navy unclassified documents, releasing to The Drive via FIOA request, the UAS movements off the USS Paul Hamilton

Within a few minutes of the sighting, reports show the USS Kidd moved into quiet mode, minimizing communications as it sought to work what the threat level was.

It contacted a nearby warship also on patrol, the USS Rafael Peralta, who also engaged their onboard photo intelligence team, or SNOOPIE.

Several other US Navy destroyers on patrol nearby began noticing strange lights.

The USS John Finn also reported UAV activity, and noticed a 'red flashing light' at 10.03pm, according to its logbook.

Just over an hour later at 11.23pm, the USS Rafael Peralta spotted a white light hovering over the flight deck.

The drone was able to remain hovering above the destroyer's helicopter landing pad while traveling at speeds of 16 knots and in low visibility.

The nearly 90-minute encounter was well beyond the capability of commercially-available drones.

The next night, the drones returned, this time as the warships were patrolling closer to the Californian mainland.

They were first spotted by the USS Rafael Peralta and the ship's SNOOPIE team was engaged at 8:39pm.

The Paul Hamilton's ship logs on July 16 do not indicate any activity from UAS

The USS John Finn noted a few days earlier that it noticed two UAS 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet above the ship that were equipped with 'red flashing lights'

At 8:56pm, logs show the USS Kidd had also come into contact with drones.

'The drones seem to have pursued the ships, even as they continued to maneuver throughout the incident,' The Drive reported.

Logbooks onboard the USS Russell show drones were swarming all over it, dipping in elevation from 1000 to 700 feet and seemingly able to move in any direction.

The USS Russell had separate contact with drones nine occasions in less than an hour.

Then at 9.20pm that night, the USS Kidd noticed 'multiple UAVs' around the ship.

The USS Rafael Peralta was also swarmed by as many as four drones. It was contacted by a passing cruise ship, the Carnival Imagination, to say they too had spotted up to six drones.

The three-hour frenzy of activity continued until close to midnight, with none of the warships able to say with certainty where the drones had come from.

The Navy's top commanders including the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and commander of the Pacific Fleet were notified.

The Los Angeles bureau of the FBI was also brought in to look at the incident.

The subsequent investigation found that just a handful of civilian ships were in the area at the time that could have been used as landing pads for the drones.

Investigators suspected the drones may have been launched from the ORV Alguita, a catamaran in the area.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday (pictured) said in April 2021 that the Navy has not been able to identify the UAS. Since then, the Department of Defense has declined to comment

And while the Alguita did have drones onboard, it was soon established its aircraft were not capable of such aeronautical feats.

Naval intelligence was brought in on the investigation and it was soon turning its glare inwards.

The area is home to a large US Naval Base on Sam Clemente Island, where sensitive training operations are often undertaken.
A majority of American say in a new poll that it isn't important for President Joe Biden to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court  as the president revealed he has narrowed his picks to a short list of four.

A 55 per cent majority says it's either not very important (19 per cent) or not at all important (36 per cent) that Biden nominate a black woman to the high court, as he has said he will do. Meanwhile, 23 per cent call it very important and 22 per cent call it somewhat important, for a total of 45 per cent.

There is a pronounced partisan split on the matter. Among the 45 per cent who say it's important for Biden to nominate a black woman, 80 per cent are Democrats, and just 16 per cent are Republicans, according to a new Yahoo News / YouGov.

Biden promised to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court for the first time in its history during his presidential campaign, and now he has the opportunity to do so with the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer.

Americans overall are split on the importance of the matter, which drew initial opposition from Senate Republicans after Biden first restated his commitment.

There is also a split on whether the pledge itself was a good idea.

A 36 per cent plurality calls it a good idea, compared to 32 per cent who calls it a bad idea and 32 per cent who call it neither good nor bad.

There is a party split here as well, with 67 per cent calling the pledge a good idea compared to 14 percent of Republicans and 27 per cent of independents.

The pollsters also ran the numbers on various potential nominees reported to be on Biden's list.

When told of Judge Ketanji Browns' resume  she graduated from Harvard Law and clerked for a Supreme Court Justice and sits on the D.C. Court of Appeals, 69 per cent call her very or somewhat qualified.

When told California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger is a Yale Law grad and former Supreme Court clerk, 65 per cent say she is qualified.

By comparison, Attorney General Merrick Garland, whose Supreme Court nomination was killed by a GOP filibuster under President Obama, is deemed qualified by 68 per cent. He went to Harvard Law and clerked for a Supreme Court justice, and was the chief judge on the D.C. Circuit.

Justice Clarence Thomas is the only African American on the high court, and there are currently three women on the bench.

The pollsters also tested Ronald Reagan's pledge in 1980 to appoint 'the most qualified woman I can possibly find' to one of the first vacancies  a pledge Biden's team used as ammunition.

That somewhat softer pledge was backed by 45 per cent this month who called it a good idea, compared to 19 per cent against who called it a bad idea and 36 who said it was neither.

President Joe Biden said he has done a deep dive on 'four people' he is considering as his first Supreme Court nominee and said he wants someone in the mode of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

'I've taken about four people and done the deep dive on them - meaning this thorough background checks, and see if there's anything in the background that would make them not qualify,' he told NBC's Lester Holt.

Holt interviewed Biden in Culpepper, Va., on Thursday afternoon when the president was there to talk about prescription drug prices. The interview is set to air on Super Bowl Sunday but NBC released some early excerpts.

Biden told NBC he thinks whomever he chooses can get the support of some Republican senators.

'I think we'll whomever I think we'll get a vote from the Republican side for the following reason - I'm not looking to make an ideological choice,' Biden said.

'I'm looking for someone that plays Judge Breyer with the same kind of capacity Judge Breyer had with an open mind, who understands it constitution interprets it in a way that is consistent with the mainstream interpretation of the Constitution.'

He didn't offer any hints of whome he may consider but has pledged to name the first black woman to the high court.

Biden is meeting with Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee at the White House on Thursday evening as he prepares to name his pick. He has vowed to do so by the end of the month.

The president has reached out to some Republicans, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Mitt Romney.

President Joe Biden said he has done a deep dive on 'four people' he is considering as his first Supreme Court nominee

Biden has given no indication of who he will name but Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (left), Leondra Kruger, a justice on Californias Supreme Court (center), and Federal Judge J. Michelle Childs (right) are all said to be possiblities

Breyer announced at the end of January he will retire at the end of the court's term, which is usually around late June.

His decision to retire after more than 27 years on the court allows Biden to appoint a successor who could serve for several decades. Biden's appointee should keep the court's current 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices.

Senate Democrats are promising a swift vote in order to get the nominee confirmed.

Biden only needs 51 votes to get his nominee confirmed. If all Democrats vote with him in the 50-50 Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris could be the tie breaker. Complicating matters slightly is the fact that Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan is out after suffering from a stroke. He's at home recovering in New Mexico and his office said he's expected back to Washington in about six weeks.

Biden is considering a 'wealth of accomplished and inspiring Black women' for his Supreme Court nominee, White House officials have reassured members of Congress.

'It's long overdue that a Black woman serve on the Supreme Court, and there is bipartisan tradition for ensuring that the richness of our country is represented in its leadership and on the highest Court,' the administration said.

Biden vowed during the presidential campaign to name a black woman to the high court and senators - who must confirm the president's nominee - said they want him to make a qualified pick.

In an update sent to Capitol Hill, and obtained by Axios, Biden said his nominee will have 'the strongest record, credentials, and abilities anyone could have for the highest court in our nation.'

Biden has said he will keep his campaign pledge to name the first black woman to the Supreme Court and said he will name his nominee by the end of the month

The White House has given no time table on when the president will begin to meet with possible picks.

'We havent set a deadline for when a vote should be. We have said we want it to happen as expeditiously as possible,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her briefing on Monday.

She declined to give any details on when the president may start meeting with black women and where he would be meeting with them.

Biden is scheduled to go to Camp David this weekend and was at his home in Wilmington, Del., last weekend - two places that don't keep visitor logs and where there is no media presence, which would allow him to meet in private.

The White House has been careful not to name any names Biden is considering.

Justice Stephen Breyer, above with President Biden at the White House, said at the end of January he will step down from the Supreme Court at the end of the current term

Some senators are encouraging him to name someone who could get bipartisan support.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has urged Biden to do just that - saying it would help unify the country.

'How are we going to unify? What is it that we need to do? Well, one of the signals that he can send is putting forth a nominee for the Supreme Court that will -- will gain a level of bipartisan support," Murkowski said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.

Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, whose support in that state's primary in the 2020 presidential election saved Biden's struggling campaign, has pushed Biden to choose Michelle Childs, a U.S district court judge in that state.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina has said Childs has his support. 'I think shes qualified by every measure,' he said of her.
Booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines are somewhat less effective against the omicron variant four months after theyre administered, a Centers for Disease Control study found.

After two months, the mRNA vaccines are 91% effective at preventing hospitalization, but after four months that effectiveness drops to 78%, according to the study published Friday.

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COVID-19 vaccine boosters remain safe and continue to be highly effective against severe disease over time, CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said.

In this Jan. 15, 2021 photo, Dr. Yomaris Pena with Somos Community Care at a COVID-19 extracts the last bit of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine out of a vial. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

The data was part of a giant study across 10 states that analyzed more than 90,000 hospitalizations between August 2021 and January 2022.

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Booster shots remain a persons best chance of preventing hospitalization, according to the CDC data. Boosted people make up about 27% of the U.S. population, but only accounted for 12% of hospitalizations in the study. Meanwhile, unvaccinated people comprise about 35% of the U.S. population but represented 43% of the hospitalizations.

The remaining 45% of people hospitalized had received two doses but not the booster shot, according to the CDC. People who have received just two doses make up about 38% of the U.S. population.

A man walks underneath the marquee of the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Calif., which bears a message urging people to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, on Jan. 24, 2022. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Dr. Anthony Fauci wouldnt rule out a fourth shot potentially being necessary in the future.

There may be the need for yet again another boost  in this case, a fourth-dose boost for an individual receiving the mRNA  that could be based on age, as well as underlying conditions, Fauci told the Washington Post.

While some other countries have started offering fourth doses to select populations, their effectiveness remains largely unproven. Denmark said Friday it would be winding down its fourth shot vaccination program.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have started clinical trials for booster shots specifically designed to target the omicron variant.

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A Milwaukee man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he drove an SUV through a suburban Christmas parade pleaded not guilty Friday to scores of criminal charges.

Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, entered the pleas to 77 charges, including six counts of homicide and multiple counts of reckless endangerment, during a court appearance that lasted less than five minutes.

Brooks' attorneys filed for a change of venue in the case on Thursday, but it's not clear when that motion will be considered. He remains jailed on $5million bail.

Last month, court Commissioner Kevin Costello said prosecutors had presented 'ample' evidence to show Brooks probably committed felonies and ordered him to stand trial.

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Waukesha parade killer Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, sported a new hairdo at his five minute court hearing where he pleaded not guilty to all 77 charges against him

He was charged with six counts of homicide for the number of people he killed when he drove his SUV into the Christmas parade, and injured dozens

During the preliminary hearing, police detective Thomas Casey testified that he and other officers yelled at Brooks to stop as he drove the SUV through the parade in downtown Waukesha on November 21.

He described how the vehicle zigzagged across the street for blocks, smashing into marchers from behind and running them over. He said Brooks injured 61 people, including the six people he killed.

Brooks is accused of killing Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; Wilhelm Hospel, 81, and Jackson Sparks, 8.

Brooks' attorney, public defender Anna Kees, said in January that he couldn't turn off the parade route because the side streets were barricaded and full of spectators.

She noted, too, that he told detectives that he didn't mean to kill anyone and couldn't bring himself to look when detectives showed him photos of the carnage.

Brooks appeared calm has he entered the courtroom on Friday before pleading not guilty

In January, the court heard how Brooks had red eyes and smelled of weed when he was arrested.

Kees made the admissions about marijuana and Brooks' inability to look at photos of the bloodbath he'd inflicted as evidence that he wasn't of sound mind, but that he had shown remorse afterward.

'It was at this time [when Brooks was in custody], he then spent a period of time with officers after being arrested and at the point one of the officers who spent time with him reported an odor of marijuana on [Brooks]?' she question Casey, who responded: 'Correct.'

'That officer reported he had red, bloodshot, glass eyes, correct? And could smell an odor of burnt marijuana on him?'

When she asked Casey if it was 'fair to say' that Brooks 'did not want to look' at the photos of the victims, he said yes.

'In fact,' she said. 'He put his head down, he'd turn his head away from the photos and the videos.'

But District Attorney Susan Opper countered that all Brooks had to do was stop the vehicle, and that even if he was high on marijuana he still committed multiple crimes.

He faces life in prison if convicted.

Brooks steered his Ford Escape for five blocks through the parade route in the Waukesha, Wisconsin, suburb of Milwaukee, on November 21, allegedly killing six people and injuring dozens more.

Authorities estimate that the SUV reached speeds of up to 25 mph and said some people landed on the hood, with Brooks carrying them along.

The criminal complaint also alleged that just before the tragedy, Brooks drove his ex-girlfriend around, steering with one hand and punching her in the face with the other because she didn't post bail for him after he was previously arrested for running her over and breaking her leg.

Brooks' ex-girlfriend told investigators that he broke her leg when he ran her over in early November.

Brooks drove his red SUV into the parade on November 21 (pictured). His lawyer revealed in January that the he was high on weed and unable to get off the parade route as the side streets were barricaded

Brooks' was last seen with long dreadlocks tied into a bun in court in January (left), simply to the hairstyle he wore when he was arrested (right)

He walked out of jail two days before the parade after his mother posted $1,000 bail.

Brooks' ex-girlfriend told investigators that on the day of the parade, she met Brooks at a Waukesha park and got into the SUV, where they argued about why she didn't bail him out of jail.

He drove her around, steering with one hand and punching her in the face with the other, a complaint said.

Minutes after she got out of the SUV, he drove drove into the parade, according to the complaint.

The ex-girlfriend added that the Escape originally belonged to Brooks' mother but that he lived in the vehicle.

Prosecutors suggested that Brooks plowed into the crowd fully aware that his actions would lead to the endangerment and possible death of multiple people.

'All of the victims who were killed and most of the people that were injured were walking right down the middle of the road in plain view,' the complaint said.

'[The street] was clearly closed to traffic, there were barricades in place and police present to direct motorists for the entire length of the parade route.'

The Christmas parade tragedy was the latest in a series of violent crimes he is tied to going back 22 years and spanning across numerous states.

Brooks is a registered sex offender and has been arrested more than 15 times in the state of Wisconsin alone for charges including possession of drugs, strangulation and suffocation, battery, illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon and resisting arrest.

Brooks in due back in court on March 11 at 9 a.m.

DailyMail.com has attempted to contact his public defender for comment.
President Biden denied the accounts found in an Army investigation claiming that the administration failed to grasp the urgency of the situation and provided a distraction with special requests.

'No, that's not that I was told,' Biden said when asked if the details of the report tracked with his account of events in an NBC interview Wednesday. 'There was no good time to get out, but if we had not gotten out, they acknowledged we would have had to put a hell of a lot more troops back in.'

Asked if he was outright rejecting the conclusions of the U.S. Army investigation, the president said: 'Yes, I am.'

'I am rejecting them,' he added.

A Post report earlier this week revealed the frustrations at the Pentagon as the White House and State Department failed to prepare the embassy for evacuations in the weeks preceding Kabul's fall.

But the Biden administration has defended its planning for the withdrawal. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week that the National Security Council had been meeting for months to discuss to assess the situation and plan for contingencies if an emergency erupted.

White House officials have insisted they had planned for all possible outcomes, but that no one had expected the Afghan armed forces to collapse so fast.

Asked if he was outright rejecting the conclusions of the U.S. Army investigation, the president said: 'Yes, I am'

Ross Wilson, the acting U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, wanted to maintain a diplomatic presence and said the U.S. could not preserve influence without an embassy, according to Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, the top U.S. commander on the ground in Kabul during the evacuations.

The Taliban was making rapid gains - taking as many as 10 districts a day, according to an unnamed official, who said: 'The embassy needed to position for withdrawal, and the ambassador didn't get it.'

Administration officials also expressed concerns that sounding the alarm would trigger panic, the rapid departure of other nations and the collapse of the government in Kabul.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Farrell J. Sullivan said dealing with the embassy was 'like pulling teeth' until early August, when the reality hit home.

And a meeting with a National Security Council official on Aug. 6 prompted him to say that, 'the NSC was not seriously planning for an evacuation.'

Once the Taliban took control of the city, U.S. troops reportedly went room to room in the embassy on Aug. 15 telling people to get ready to leave.

Vasely said in the Army investigation that the withdrawal was made more chaotic by people like First Lady Jill Biden, Pope Francis, the White House and Congress calling in for special favors to help get out certain people.

Vasely said the Pentagon was being pulled in all different directions from Biden officials, lawmakers, members of the media and even the Vatican as it carried out the largest evacuation since Vietnam ahead of the Taliban takeover.

He called the requests a 'distraction' that created competition for 'already stressed resources.'

Vasely's declassified remarks, made public by a FOIA request from the Washington Post, came during testimony for a U.S. Army investigation into the Aug. 26 suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and an estimated 170 Afghan civilians.

The Pentagon's standard priority had been to first evacuate American citizens, then lawful permanent residents, then Afghans who aided the U.S. throughout the war.

Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, the top U.S. commander in Kabul during the evacuation, said that the withdrawal was made more chaotic by people calling in special favors

Demands poured in to the U.S. operations center in Kabul through emails, text messages and phone calls in such a high volume that Vasely, a Navy SEAL, felt the need to take certain forces away from the established rescue plan to form a 'coordination cell' to work on the special requests from Washington and beyond.

'You had everyone from the White House down with a new flavor of the day for prioritization,' Vasely told Army investigators.

The 2,000 page report, which contains dozens of interviews with military officials and details the evacuation from Aug. 15-31, reveals the deep frustrations the Pentagon had with the Biden administration's handling of the crisis.

The Army's lead investigator, Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, asked Vasely whether it was true that First Lady Jill Biden and Pope Francis had called in to seek help for specific people who were in harm's way.

US President Joe Biden looks down alongside First Lady Jill Biden as they attend the dignified transfer of the remains of a fallen service member at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, Aug. 29

Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly to Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, August 17

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20

'That's accurate,' Vasely confirmed. 'I was being contacted by representatives from the Holy See to assist the Italian military contingent  in getting through groups  of special interest to the Vatican. That is just one of many examples.

'I cannot stress enough,' the admiral added, 'how these high-profile requests ate up bandwidth and created competition for already stressed resources.'

The evacuations succeeded in getting out 124,000 people before it ended midnight on Aug. 31, but the U.S. was forced to make an unusual security deal with the Taliban, even as terrorist group ISIS-K was able to carry out a deadly attack.

The Biden administration initially said that only 100 American citizens who wanted to leave had been left behind, but changed that number numerous times. Officials eventually said that 450 left after the evacuation concluded with American help.

And when it became clear that U.S. forces were swamped and some who had Taliban targets on their back would be left behind, volunteer groups stepped in to get people out on their own.

'Just about every volunteer group can tell you stories about lawmakers and other people with authority calling and saying, 'You need to get my guy out,'' said Scott Mann, founder of Task Force Pineapple, a private group that helped more than 800 escape Taliban rule.

Last week the Pentagon revealed the results of its investigation into the airport suicide bombing. It said the attack was carried out by a lone suicide bomber, and was not a complex attack - with gunmen and a bomb - as previously thought.

The attack brought a tragic conclusion to the hurried U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and has cast a long shadow over the Biden administration ever since.

Briefing reporters on their findings, investigators said the explosion sent 5mm ball bearings through a packed crowd and that the attack could not have been prevented.

But they also said British, American and Taliban representatives had discussed closing the Abbey Gate - where the blast happened - just 36 minutes before the attack.

They kept it open because there were still evacuees trying to get to the airport.

And the investigators released never before seen footage of the moment the bomb exploded and drone video of the immediate aftermath.
A person in Bedfordshire has died after catching Lassa fever, the UK Health Security Agency announced today.

The unidentified individual was the third member of a family who recently returned from West Africa to become infected with the virus.

A total of 11 cases of the rodent-borne disease have ever been detected in the UK. The three infections identified in the East of England in the last three days are the first spotted since 2009.

The disease, which has been classed as having 'pandemic potential', is thought to cause no symptoms in 80 per cent of patients and kill just one per cent of those it infects.

The UKHSA is conducting a 'robust contact tracing exercise' to reach everyone who had close contact with those infected.

But it said the risk to the general public 'remains very low'.

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria  which is currently suffering an outbreak of the virus  and several other countries on the west coast of Africa, including Liberia and Guinea.

People usually become infected after exposure to food or household items that are contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats.

But the virus, which can make trigger seizures and bleeding from the eyes, as well as make women bleed from their vagina, can also be transmitted via bodily fluids.

A person in Bedfordshire has died after catching Lassa fever (virus cell shown in diagram), the UK Health Security Agency has announced

The unidentified person aas being treated at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bedford Hospital (pictured left) and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (pictured right). Officials have not revealed which hospital the patient was being treated at

WHAT IS LASSA FEVER? Scientists first identified the virus causing Lassa fever in 1969. It belongs to the Arenaviridae family. According to the World Health Organization, 80 per cent of people who get infected won't develop any symptoms. But the virus has a case-fatality rate of around 1 per cent. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and several other countries on the west coast of Africa, including Liberia and Guinea, according to the WHO. Symptoms begin with headaches, sore throats and vomiting, but it can trigger bleeding from the mouth, nose or vagina. However, they gradually progress to shock, seizures, tremors, disorientation and comas without prompt treatment. A quarter of patients will also experience temporary deafness that will eventually return, medical literature states. Pregnant women who contract the disease late in pregnancy face an 80 per cent chance of losing their child or dying themselves. It can either be spread by rats or from person-to-person by exposure to bodily fluids of someone who is infected. Advertisement

A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We confirm the sad death of a patient at our trust, who had confirmed Lassa fever.

'We send our deepest condolences to their family at this difficult time.

'We will continue to support the patient's family and our staff and are working closely with colleagues from the UK Health Security Agency to undertake a robust contact tracing exercise.'

The UKHSA said there was no evidence of any onward transmission among any of the cases.

No details have been revealed about the family due to patient confidentiality.

Of the two other cases, one was moved to the Royal Free Hospital in London to receive specialist care, while the second has already made a full recovery.

Around 80 per cent of people who contract the disease experience no symptoms at all, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

And while most people make a full recovery, the virus can be fatal in roughly 1 per cent of cases.

Among those who do get symptoms, a quarter of patients will experience temporary deafness that will eventually return.

Other symptoms include headaches, sore throats and vomiting.

It can also trigger bleeding from the eyes, mouth and nose.

However, they can gradually progress to shock, seizures, tremors, disorientation and comas without prompt treatment.

Patients are treated with antivirals and sometimes blood pressure drugs and oxygen.

The disease is classed as having pandemic potential and the World Health Organization (WHO) has included it on its priority watchlist, alongside Ebola and dengue.

Nigerias Lassa fever outbreak has seen over 200 cases and 40 deaths.

The country's Centre for Disease Control said most cases have been identified among people in their twenties and thirties and are spread across 14 of the countrys 43 regions.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at UKHSA, said on Wednesday that Lassa fever cases 'are rare in the UK and it does not spread easily between people'.
Brexit talks between Britain and the EU limp onward after the latest round broke up today with no sign of an agreementtt

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said this afternoon officials would continue 'intensive' discussions over Northern Ireland in the coming days after their third in-person meeting.

But there was no white smoke, despite Ms Truss saying beforehand that finding a solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute was an 'absolute priority'.

'They agreed on the need for progress in their talks in the interest of people in Northern Ireland, to stay in close touch and that officials will continue intensive discussions in the coming days', the two said in a joint statement.

It comes after Northern Ireland was plunged into a fresh political upheaval last week when the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in protest at the deal.

Mr Givan said the protocol, which has created trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, had undermined a cornerstone of powersharing in the region - governance with the consent of both nationalists and unionists.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said this afternoon officials would continue 'intensive' discussions over Northern Ireland in the coming days after their third in-person meeting.

But there was no white smoke, despite Ms Truss saying beforehand that finding a solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute was an 'absolute priority'.

'They agreed on the need for progress in their talks in the interest of people in Northern Ireland, to stay in close touch and that officials will continue intensive discussions in the coming days', the two said in a joint statement.

Boris Johnson signed the protocol with the EU as a measure to stop a hard border being erected, and jeopardising the peace process, on the island of Ireland.

But his Government is trying to renegotiate the deal, arguing that it is hampering the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland and damaging community relations.

Ahead of Friday's talks, the Foreign Secretary said: 'Fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol is an absolute priority for me.

'We have a shared responsibility with the EU to work towards solutions as quickly as possible that deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.'
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday slammed the 'Freedom Convoy' for its 'illegal blockade' of the Ambassador Bridge linking the United States and Canada, saying the protesting truckers were causing an economic crisis in her state.

'We are at an economic crisis in this moment because of this illegal blockade,' Whitmer, a Democrat, told CNN.

She said the truckers have a right to protest Canada's vaccine mandate but said it should not come at the price of international commerce. She call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to resolve the situation.

'Protesters have a right to protest their government - they do not have a right to illegally block these international borders where we have so much commerce,' she said.

'So they have a right to protest they do not have a right to illegally block this this border crossing. And the Canadian government has to do whatever it takes to safely and swiftly resolve this.'

As the demonstration by truck drivers protesting Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandate enters its fifth day, Whitmer is growing more vocal about the damage it's causing to her state, arguing it's hurting the automotive industry, manufacturing, agriculture and more.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slammed the 'Freedom Convoy' for its 'illegal blockade' of the Ambassador Bridge linking the United States and Canada, telling CNN the protesting truckers were causing an economic crisis in her state

An aerial photo made with a drone shows the closed Ambassador Bridge over the Detroit River that links the US and Canada between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan

Protestors and supporters at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit

The protest is causing traffic backups in Michigan and harming commerce

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she is worried that trucker protests in Canada will turn violent as they continue to block points of entry along the U.S. border.



"The Canadian government has to do whatever it takes to safely and swiftly resolve this." pic.twitter.com/fDFd5xXKWQ  Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) February 11, 2022

Protesters blocked the Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest international land border crossing, which connects Detroit to Canada, causing traffic to back up for miles.

The demonstration has had a domino affect, causing a traffic back up for up to 10 miles at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron as people sought an alternative route.

The Biden administration and U.S. lawmakers have placed the blame squarely on Canada and are calling on Trudeau to resolve the situation immediately.

'We need to reopen the bridge now, it's as simple as that,' said Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, and she urged Canadian authorities to 'get this bridge back up and running immediately.'

But Republican Congresswoman Lisa McClain of Michigan blamed the vaccine mandates.

'Vaccine mandates are going to cripple our supply chain. The Democrats can blame freedom loving truck drivers, but the real blame is on the vaccine requirements at the border,' she wrote on Twitter on Friday.

President Joe Biden and his officials urged Canada to use federal powers to ease the disruption.

The White House told the Associated Press that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff.

American business groups and automakers have also urged Canada to end the protests.

'The disruptions we are seeing at the U.S.-Canada border - at the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge and at other crossings - are adding to the significant supply chain strains on manufacturers and other businesses in the United States,' the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and Business Roundtable said in a joint statement.

'We respectfully urge the Canadian government to act swiftly to address the disruption to the flow of trade and its impact on manufacturers and other businesses on both sides of the border.'

Trudeau said he was working with municipal leaders to end the blockade. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said federal police forces would be deployed to Windsor, near the bridge, and to Ottawa.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million). GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capital on January 23, have since Monday blocked the Ambassador Bridge. Two other crossings, in Alberta and Manitoba, are also currently under protester blockade.

They are protesting Trudeau's vaccine mandate, under which truckers driving international routes must be fully vaccinated, and though 85 percent of them are, many oppose the rules.

Protestors and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday

Protesters in front of Ambassador Bridge, they are protesting Canada's covid vaccine mandate

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge as 'Freedom Convoy' protest enters day five

Trucks heading to Canada are stuck in heavy traffic after they were diverted to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Mich.

Trudeau on Thursday night said that he had been in talks about how to end the protests, which began in mid January and have caused significant economic damage.

The drivers set out from British Columbia on January 23 for Ottawa, and staged a protest in the capital on January 29 before taking their demonstrations across the country.

Over 85 per cent of truck drivers, and 90 per cent of all Canadian adults, are fully vaccinated and the protest has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

'This evening, I had several meetings that were focused on the illegal blockades and occupations happening across the country,' Trudeau tweeted.

'They're harming the communities they're taking place in  and they're hurting jobs, businesses, and our country's economy.'

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit's carmakers, some of whom are scrambling to find alternate routes to limit economic damage.

The bridge is North America's busiest international land border and usually carries more than $327 million of goods per day on over 8,000 trucks, accounting for 27 percent of the approximately $400 billion in annual trade between Canada and the US.

Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles 8,000 trucks a day, representing a quarter of all cross-border trade, or about C$500 million ($392.56 million) per day.

About C$100 million worth of auto parts cross the border each day, with many shipments timed to arrive just as manufacturers need them.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp have been impacted by the blockades.

Anderson Economic Group is estimating $51 million in lost wages just this week due to the blockade, ramping up pressure on officials to take action to resolve the crisis.
A known sex offender who police say was the last person to speak with Delphi murder victims Liberty German and Abigail Williams has denied having any role in their killings in a jailhouse interview.

Kegan Kline, 27, is currently in jail on separate child pornography charges but he was free on February 14, 2017, when the girls were murdered.

He has recently been linked to their killings by police because he was behind a fake Instagram account that cops say the girls were communicating with.

Kline set up the anthony_shots Instagram page to solicit nude photos from underage girls which he said he would masturbate to. He used the photographs of Vince Kowlaski, a police officer and model who lives in Alaska.

In a jailhouse interview with HLN that will air on Saturday as part of its Delphi murder investigation special, Kline says police told him he was the last person to speak with the girls.

Kegan Kline, 27, is currently in jail on separate child pornography charges but he was free on February 14, 2017, when the girls were murdered

Abigail Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were murdered in February 2017 after going for a walk. No one has ever been arrested for the 14-year-old girls' murders

Kegan Kline, 27, is the real person behind anthony_shots, according to cops. He was arrested in 2017, ten days after the girls vanished, on separate child porn and child exploitation charges, but he has never before been linked to the Delphi murders. His attorney denied that he had any involvement

He bears an eerie resemblance to the man Liberty took a photo of on her phone before she was murdered, but he insists he had no role in their murders.

Kline was arrested on February 25, 2017 - ten days after Libby and Abigail's bodies were found - on charges that were not related to them.

He was living 37 miles from Delphi, in the town of Peru.

It's unclear what led to his arrest or if he was ever questioned by police investigating the Delphi murders.

Speaking from jail, Kline told HLN that he has 'no idea' why police are now linking him to the murders, but then said: 'I think it's because they said I was the last person to talk to her, is what they've told me.'

He maintained that he did not have anything to do with the killings.

'One hundred percent not,' he said when asked if he was the man Libby took a photo of on the bridge.

This is the suspect Libby filmed on her Snapchat account before she was murdered. She also recorded a man saying 'down the hill'

Kline was arrested on unrelated child porn charges ten days after the girls were murdered n 2017

Police have never disclosed how the girls died and they say they don't intent to reveal the cause of death.

On Thursday, Doug Carter, Superintendent of the Indiana State Police, said told Good Morning America that they know who the killer is.

'My resolve to catch him is as strong now as it was day one.'

'But the difference now is that we know about you. A lot about you. Today could be the day. Sleep well,' he said.

The real man in the catfish pictures is Vincent Kowlaski, a married, 25-year-old Alaska police officer and father, who says he is horrified to have his face connected to the gruesome killings.

He told DailyMail.com last year: 'I was unaware that the Indiana state police were going to use my photos prior to them releasing all that information.

In December, police revealed the girls may have been communicating with someone online using these photos. It was a fake account and the pictures belong to a model and cop who lives in Alaska. The information about the fake Instagram account led to 'a tremendous number of leads' but police still have not made any arrests

'I had to learn about the whole case overnight and am appalled to know what happened to those poor girls.

'Instagram and cat fishing has been a problem for me since the start, these social media platforms do nothing to stop that type of thing from happening unfortunately.'

The girls' families say they are desperate for the case to finally be brought to a close.

'It's probably the smallest thing but it's the one thing we are missing and that's just what we keep hoping for - that one small thing will come to light and that this will be over soon,' Abby's mother Anna Williams said.

'They'd be finishing up their freshman year of college. Hard to believe. She would have turned into a really good young lady.'

'This guy could strike again. It could be your kids. It happened to our family, I don't want it to happen to anybody else.

Libby's grandfather Mike Patty added: 'This is not something anyone should go through.'

'Something inside of me just says she was going to film that, come home and say look at this guy, he was acting really weird.'

In December, there was a flurry of excitement over the case after cops tied the fake Instagram profile of Anthony Shots to their investigation.

They didn't mention that Kline was already in custody and had admitted to using the account to lure other minors into sending him nude photographs.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter claimed on Thursday that he knew 'a lot' about the suspect in the Delphi murders and warned: 'Today could be the day. Sleep well.'

It remains unclear now if police believe someone else might have been using the account.

The person in the photos on the account is Alaska police officer and model Vince Kowlaski.

He was stunned when police issued the photos in December without his knowledge, and said he had no idea that his images might be involved.

'I was unaware that the Indiana state police were going to use my photos prior to them releasing all that information.

'I had to learn about the whole case overnight and am appalled to know what happened to those poor girls.

'Instagram and catfishing has been a problem for me since the start, these social media platforms do nothing to stop that type of thing from happening unfortunately,' the 25-year-old told DailyMail.com in December.

Kline's public defender attorney denied that he was in any way involved in the Delphi murders when police connected him to the case in December.

Until then, the only suspect was James Chadwell.

But in May last year, Libby's sister said she did not believe he was the killer.

Chadwell had been jailed for the killing of another girl nearby but has never been arrested over the Delphi murders.

Unsolved: The Delphi Murders, will air on HLN on Saturday February 12th at 8pm EST
A former Royal Marine today admitted plotting two bombs in the heart of London's legal district.

Michael Broddle, 45, placed two separate objects referred to as 'device 1' and 'device 2' at Gray's Inn, one of four Inns of Court in central London, on the 14 and 21 September last year.

His son Joshua Broddle, 20, as well as a 17-year-old, who cannot named, are also charged with two counts of conspiracy to place an article with intent in relation to the incidents.

Michael Broddle, 45, placed two separate objects referred to as 'device 1' and 'device 2' at Gray's Inn (pictured), one of four Inns of Court in central London, on the 14 and 21 September last year

Broddle, from Hounslow, west London, also faces two charges of possessing an explosive substance.

He served as a Royal Marine commando for more than 11 years between 1994 and 2005.

Michael and Joshua Broddle and Joshua appeared in court via videolink from HMP Wandsworth while the 17-year-old, who is on bail, attended in person.

Dressed in a grey T-Shirt and sporting arm tattoos, Broddle entered guilty pleas to all the charges.

His barrister, Christopher Martin, said: 'He does not accept that he conspired with these two co-defendants.'

Michael and Joshua Broddle and Joshua appeared in court via videolink from HMP Wandsworth while the 17-year-old, who is on bail, attended in person. Pictured, Central Criminal Court

The 17-year-old has denied two counts of placing an article with intent and a single count of possessing an illegal sentence.

His trial date is fixed for 25 October at the old Bailey.

Joshua Broddle, from Houslow, west London, is charged with two counts of placing an article with intent but has yet to enter pleas.

Judge Mark Lucraft bailed Joshua Broddle ahead of a further hearing on May 6.
Ben Wallace today warned Russia that an invasion of Ukraine will have 'tragic consequences' as he continued the diplomatic blitz in Moscow.

The Defence Secretary stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open as he held talks with counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

At a press conference after the meeting Mr Wallace said he had been assured that Russia has 'no intention' of invading - but pointed out that the huge military build-up on the border meant it could do so 'at any time'.

He said he was becoming less optimistic about defusing the situation, observing that the 'direction of travel' was against a diplomatic resolution.

But Mr Wallace also insisted there was 'absolutely no deafness' in his discussions, after Moscow's foreign minister swiped about his 'deaf and mute' conversation with Liz Truss yesterday.

The trip is the latest effort to turn down the temperature on the crisis and persuade Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink.

US president Joe Biden is holding a call with Mr Johnson and other Western leaders to take stock of the situation later.

The head of Norway's military intelligence service has warned Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine, and the Kremlin just needs to make the call.

Boris Johnson visited Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to 'bully' the region and warned Europe faces its biggest security crisis in decades.

Meanwhile, Ms Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, with no sign of a breakthrough.

It comes as the Government confirmed preparations to allow the UK to 'toughen and expand' its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

Ben Wallace (left) met his counterpart Sergei Shoigu (right) in an attempt to quell the crisis in eastern Europe

The UK andRussian teams having their discussion on Ukraine in Moscow today

The trip follows Boris Johnson's visits to Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin (pictured) must not be allowed to 'bully' the region

The UK has put 1,000 troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis in the east if the current Russian military build-up leads to war. It has also pledged extra help for NATO allies, with 350 Royal Marines arriving in Poland to coincide with the Prime Minister's visit on Thursday.

Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but NATO is alarmed by the build-up of more than 100,000 troops on the borders with its neighbour.

Mr Wallace told a press conference this afternoon: 'I was clear about the tragic consequences that any invasion of Ukraine could have for all people  both Ukrainian, Russian and the security of Europe.

'We listened to the assurances given by minister Shoigu that they would not invade Ukraine and we urged dialogue as a way through to address any concerns the Russian Government may have.'

But Mr Wallace said: 'The disposition of the (Russian) forces that we see, over 100,000 in both Belarus and Ukraine, obviously gives that size of force the ability to do a whole range of actions, including an invasion of a neighbouring country at any time.

'Mainly because of the readiness it is now at, it is an active, obviously, exercise, certainly in Belarus, and of course that is an option that those forces could have.

'We obviously have made it very clear in Nato that an invasion would have tragic consequences, and we are here and I'm here today, for example, to seek a way of whatever we can to de-escalate that tension.

'I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine.'

In a downbeat assessment, Mr Wallace said: 'I think the direction of travel has been against the direction of the diplomatic travel over the last few weeks.

'We've seen continued build-up of forces as we've seen a build up of diplomacy, and you would hope that, actually one goes up, one goes down  and I think that is why my optimism is not as (optimistic) as I used to be, or can be.

'And I'm hoping that the beginning today is an effort to try and see if there is a way forward to make sure we do de-escalate.

'We'll keep trying. I think the international community is trying very hard  obviously President Macron's visit, Prime Minister Johnson spoke to President Putin recently as well. And indeed, I think the new Chancellor of Germany is coming to visit next week.

'I think it is very important that we give the Russian government, give them all a chance to provide the reassurance they are seeking about the intentions of Nato, but also to give us the airtime to hear from them their assurances that they have no intention of invading Ukraine as well.'

He said there was 'absolutely no deafness or blindness' in his talks with Mr Shoigu, characterising them as 'constructive and frank' discussions which he hopes will create a better atmosphere between the two sides.

Asked about Mr Lavrov's characterisation of his meeting with Liz Truss as a conversation between 'deaf and dumb', Mr Wallace said: 'I think minister Lavrov is a master at these types of engagements and making those types of comments.

'In our discussion there was absolutely no deafness or blindness, we as defence ministers bear the responsibility of the consequences of what happens in conflict.

'We deal with the facts and we deal with the issues we have because it is in both our interests to resolve that.

'I think we have had a constructive and frank discussion and I hope it has contributed to a better atmosphere but also to de-escalation, but there is still considerable way to go between the two of us.'

Meanwhile, Norwegian vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said the Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine'.

'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he said.

During his overseas engagements, Mr Johnson indicated further military support could be offered to Ukraine if Russia invades. But he made it clear that Britain could not intervene militarily if Ukraine was attacked.

In a pooled clip for broadcasters at a military base in Warsaw, he said: 'The UK has been supplying some defensive weaponry in the form of anti-tank missiles, we have been training Ukrainian troops. That is as far as we can go at the moment.

'Ukraine is not part of NATO. What we are sticking up for is the right of Ukraine like any other sovereign independent country to aspire to that.'

At an earlier press conference, speaking alongside NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, the Prime Minister called on Russia to engage in meaningful talks because it was 'far better to begin a discussion now than to have a catastrophe'.

The UK has already supplied 2,000 anti-tank missiles, body armour, helmets and combat boots to Ukraine and Mr Johnson indicated he could go further.

Mr Johnson poses for a photograph with British troops in front of a Union flag during a visit to Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base near Warsaw

A satellite image shows a close-up of troops and equipment at Oktyabrskoye air base, Crimea

Asked if he could authorise military support to an insurgency in Ukraine in the event of an invasion, he said: 'We will consider what more we can conceivably offer. The Ukrainians are well prepared, there are things we've offered that they, in fact, don't seem to need because they think they have them in enough numbers already.

'It's possible, I don't want to rule this out, but at the moment we think the package is the right one.

But I want to stress it would be an absolute disaster if it was to come to that and if there was to be serious bloodshed on Ukrainian soil.'

In Moscow, Ms Truss had a difficult encounter with Mr Lavrov. He characterised the meeting as a 'conversation between deaf and dumb', but Miss Truss said: 'I was not mute in our discussions earlier, I put forward the UK's point of view on the current situation and the fact that as well as seeking to deter Russia from an invasion into Ukraine, we are also very resolute in pursuing the diplomatic path.'

She added: 'There is still time for Russia to end its aggression towards Ukraine and pursue the path of diplomacy.

But in the discussions and a joint press conference Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing 'ultimatums and moralising' from the West and comparing their conversation to a 'deaf and a mute'

Ms Truss is on a two-day visit to Moscow, and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony earlier

'But NATO is very clear that if that path is not chosen there will be severe consequences for Russia, Ukraine and the whole of Europe.'

Ms Truss called for Russia to pull its troops back from the border to ease tensions.

'There is no doubt that the stationing of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border is directly put in place to threaten Ukraine,' she said. There had also been 'cyberattacks and other attempts to undermine the activities of a sovereign nation'.

Ms Truss said: 'If Russia is serious about diplomacy they need to move those troops and desist from the threats.'

The visit to Moscow was the first by a foreign secretary in four years, with the relationship between the UK and Russia severely strained by incidents including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In a sign of the chilly atmosphere at the talks, Mr Lavrov said 'ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere' and accused Miss Truss of being ill-prepared for the negotiations.

Rejecting Miss Truss's call for forces to pull back, Mr Lavrov said: 'The demands to remove the Russian troops from the Russian territory cause regret. We don't want to threaten anyone. It's us who are facing threats.'

But he indicated force levels would fall once military exercises had been completed, at which point 'the West will likely claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate'.
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Britain's Covid outbreak has receded on all three fronts once again, official data showed today.

Government dashboard data shows there were 58,899 new positive tests over the last 24 hours, down 29.9 per cent on last Friday's figure of 84,053.

It was the tenth day in a row daily confirmed infections have fallen week-on-week, with cases in free fall since the middle of January.

The number of people dying with the virus also dropped to 193, down 24 per cent on the 254 recorded last week.

And hospitalisations fell to 1,395 on February 7, the latest date UK-wide data is available for. The figure was 12.6 per cent on the 1,596 recorded the week before.

The positive figures come as Whitehall sources said talks had been opened with the devolved administrations to encourage Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to follow England in dropping all remaining coronavirus rules at the end of the month.

Boris Johnson announced this week the Government is on course to lift all remaining Covid restrictions a month early, with February 24 pencilled in as Covid Freedom Day.

And in more good news for Brits today, Spain scrapped its ban on unvaccinated children aged over 12 as hundreds of thousands of families head off on trips abroad during the half-term.

Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on variant that's a merger of Omicron and its predecessor Delta Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on a variant that's a merger between Omicron and Delta. UK Health Security Agency bosses revealed the mutant strain had been detected in the UK and said it was 'currently under monitoring'. The strain evolved in someone who caught both variants at the same time, they said, allowing the two to swap genes and create 'Deltacron'. It is not clear whether it is better at evading vaccines or spreading than its rivals. But scientists say they are 'not concerned' by the strain and that case numbers 'are low'. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, added it should 'not pose too much of a threat' because of high immunity levels in the community. Advertisement

In other coronavirus developments:

Health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on a variant that's a merger between Omicron and Delta;

Europe's medicines watchdog announced it will probe reports of women suffering from menstrual changes after getting Pfizer or Moderna 's Covid jabs;

A study suggested people who've had Covid but no jabs may have longer immunity than those who've been double-jabbed but never infected;

Experts warned the axing of the legal requirement to self-isolate leaves businesses and staff in a difficult situation.

Today's figures also showed another 34,203 people were given their booster vaccine dose.

It takes the UK's total number of people fully protected against the virus up to 37.7million.

Meanwhile, another 11,614 received their first dose, meaning 52.5million have now had a jab  91.3 per cent of over-12s in the country.

The figures come as No10 attempts to bring the whole UK in line with dropping Covid restrictions at the end of the month.

The Scottish government gave a hostile reaction to the Prime Ministers decision yesterday, with health minister Humza Yousaf describing it as an attempt to distract and deflect scrutiny over the Prime Ministers behaviour.

The SNP extended Covid powers in Scotland this month for a further six months, with deputy first minister John Swinney saying it was necessary to retain the availability of these baseline measures while we review our ongoing response to Covid.

A Whitehall source said the Prime Minister was keen to see measures lifted in a co-ordinated way but acknowledged Scotland and Wales may decide to drag their feet.

'There are discussions with the devolved administrations and ideally we would align things as much as possible,' the source said.

'It would be frustrating if we had parts of the country continuing with restrictions for an extended period  it would be confusing and divisive for people.

'But we have to accept that they have always been overly cautious. They are behind us and it may take them some time to catch up.
University of Alabama trustees voted Friday to strip the name of a one-time governor who led the Ku Klux Klan from a campus building and rename it solely for the school's first black student.

The unanimous vote reversed a decision last week to add the name of Autherine Lucy Foster, who briefly attended the all-white state school in 1956, to a building honoring Bibb Graves, a progressive, pro-education governor who also ran a Montgomery KKK group a century ago.

Rather than Lucy-Graves Hall, the classroom building will be known as Autherine Lucy Hall, trustees decided.

'It's never too late to make the right decision,' said John England, a former trustee who led a committee that initially recommended the joint name and then reversed itself after criticism that Graves didn't deserve to have his name alongside that of Lucy, now 92 and living in metro Birmingham.

Autherine Lucy, 26, the first black student ever to enter the University of Alabama, was barred from attending classes after three days following a day of campus rioting

Lucy is shown walking from the plane that brought her to LaGuardia Airport after her expulsion from the University of Alabama

Pictured: Bibb Graves, a progressive, pro-education governor who also ran a Montgomery KKK group a century ago

Trustees didn't mention the topic of Graves' leadership in the notorious hate group during an online meeting, but England said some questioned why the woman's married name of 'Foster' wouldn't be on the structure.

Foster's family wanted to use her maiden name since she was known as Autherine Lucy while originally on campus, said Chancellor Finis St. Johnson.

Foster had expressed ambivalence about being honored alongside Graves, saying she didn't know much about him or seek out the recognition but would accept it.

She briefly attended classes in Graves Hall but was expelled after three days when her presence brought protests by whites and threats.

Foster was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2019 by the university, where she had returned and earned a master's degree in education in 1992.

Explaining the original reasoning for proposing Lucy-Graves Hall, England said committee members hoped that having a building named for both Graves and Foster would 'generate educational moments that can help us learn from our conflicts and rich history.'

Bibb Graves Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas A&M on September 22, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Autherine Lucy (C) leaves a crowded Federal Court hearing for lunch recess, carrying a Bible. Accompanying her are Thurgood Marshall (striped tie)

Autherine Lucy Foster Historic marker stands outside Bibb Graves Hall at the University Of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on July 5, 2018

While the main intent was meant to honor Foster, that 'sort of took the background' after the decision, he said.

'That's not what we wanted,' he said.

The student newspaper was among those complaining about the inappropriateness of retaining the name of a Klan leader on a campus building.

Several Alabama universities have removed Graves' name from buildings in recent years as the nation reconsidered its history and white supremacy.

Troy University renamed its Bibb Graves Hall for the late Rep. John Lewis, who was denied admission there in 1957 and led voting rights marchers in Selma in 1965.
When Walter White died in 1955, one obit called him a Negro by choice.

The way White saw it, it was the only choice an honorable person could make.

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The blond, blue-eyed White was, by his math, about 7/8 white. Away from those he grew up with, in segregated Georgia, he easily could have passed.

Yet White refused. Proudly embracing his Black heritage, he moved to Harlem and went to work for the NAACP. White went undercover to investigate lynchings. He dedicated his life to destroying hate.

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I am one of the two in the color of my skin, White wrote of his biracial background. I am the other in my spirit and my heart. It is only a love of both which binds the two together in me.

"White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and America's Darkest Secret," by A.J. Baime (Mariner Books)

A.J. Baime tells Whites remarkable story in White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and Americas Darkest Secret. Sure, its the biography of one man, yet its also a history of racism in America.

Born in 1893, White grew up middle-class in Atlanta. At first, life was peaceful. People in Atlanta were making too much money to have time to worry about race, Baime writes.

By the early 1900s, though, life changed. When White was 13, there were race riots. He joined his mailman father guarding the family home as white vigilantes prowled the streets. After that night, White said, I never wanted to be a white man. I knew what side I was on.

Walter F. Whites Atlanta University graduating class, circa 1916. White is on the far right. (Rose M. Palmer)

White went on to Atlanta University and took a job with the Standard Life Insurance Company. But the fight for freedom drew him.

He started a local chapter of the fledgling NAACP. He fought to keep Black schools open in Atlanta. At age 24, White took a cut in pay to join the NAACP in New York as its assistant secretary. He worked for them for the rest of his life, eventually as the head.

In February of 1918, White had his first real test.

A Black man from Estill Springs, Tenn., Jim McIlherron, had fled after killing two whites in a fight. When a posse finally found him, they shot him three times, putting out his eye. Then they dragged him back to town. They tied him to a tree, tortured and castrated him. And then they burned him alive, slowly, while policemen watched.

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No one was ever arrested.

Back in New York, White declared that if the Southern authorities wouldnt investigate, he would. He took the train down to Estill Springs and checked into the whites-only hotel. White strolled around town, finally finding a group of loafers in the general store. Introducing himself as a traveling salesman, White mentioned that he heard they had a bit of excitement recently.

That was all he needed to say. The men didnt just confess to McIlherrons murder, they boasted about it.

Walter with his wife, Gladys, and their two children, Walter Carl Darrow White and Jane White, in their Harlem apartment in the late 1930s. (Rose M. Palmer)

Returning to New York, White published his story in the NAACPs magazine, The Crisis. Reports were sent to President Wilson and Tennessees governor  and ignored. No investigation was begun. But the NAACP gained new prominence.

And White had a new purpose: Investigating lynchings.

He was reporting on one in rural Arkansas in 1919, when he heard people were asking questions about him, too. No fool, White decided to leave town early. When he arrived at the railroad station, the ticket agent shared some gossip. Folks had found out some stranger was passing for white. When they get through with him, the man bragged, he wont pass for white no more.

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White politely declined to stick around and see the fun.

In 1921, White investigated the Tulsa massacre, a hideous spree of violence that led to the firebombing of a neighborhood known as the Black Wall Street. Eager for extra help, local authorities immediately deputized White as a sheriff. Of his qualifications, my skin was apparently white, and that was enough, he wrote.

White used his new authority to do what he always did  gather information.

During the 1920s, White helped launch the Harlem Renaissance. From left to right: Poet Langston Hughes, famed Black scholar Charles S. Johnson and writer Rudolph Fisher (second from right) were among Whites close friends. (Schomberg Center, New York Public Library)

That summer, his report ran in The Nation. It brought him scores of death threats. Yet, once again, the facts failed to bring justice. And, White realized, his reports never would  as long as local authorities were racists themselves, and federal authorities refused to get involved.

So White and the NAACP began pursuing a parallel political strategy.

Although Blacks had long supported the Republican Party, White saw a political shift, particularly as Blacks moved north. The Republicans will absorb the anti- Negro south and become, through the compromises necessary to gain that end, the relatively anti-Negro party, he predicted. The Negro will find refuge in the Democratic party.

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Whites efforts to push that re-alignment took time. He looked for an ally in Al Smith, the 1928 Democratic presidential nominee. But Smith  already facing prejudice as a Catholic  shied away. Later, Franklin Delano Roosevelt also declined to help, needing the support of Southern senators for the New Deal. He wouldnt even support an anti-lynching bill.

When Harry Truman was elected, White expected even less. The new president was from segregated Missouri. His family had fought for the Confederacy. But he was devoted to the Armed Services, and when White took him a report on Isaac Woodard Jr.,  a Black veteran, blinded by a policemans beating in Batesburg, S.C.the President was stunned.

My God, Truman exclaimed. Weve got to do something.

Truman did. The next week, the Justice Department filed federal charges against the policeman. He was acquitted, but Truman pressed on. The month after the verdict, he established the Presidents Committee on Civil Rights. And in 1947, he addressed the NAACPs national convention and committed the Federal government to combat racial discrimination.

Southern Democrats were horrified. Roosevelt had promised to fight for civil rights, too. Yet realizing the difference, Sen. Strom Thurmond declared, but that SOB Truman really means it! It split the party. And when Truman won re-election anyway  losing the white South, but gaining Black votes in the north  it was the re-alignment White predicted.

But the victory wasnt something White would have much time to savor. His divorce in 1949, after 27 years of marriage, was a scandal. His immediate remarriage to a white woman sparked outrage.

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His family shunned him. Some colleagues abandoned him. Critics called it a betrayal, accusing White of only reaffirming bigoted stereotypes  Blacks couldnt help lusting after white women.

Under White, the NAACP won in the courts, thanks to Thurgood Marshall, whom White had hired in 1938. In 1954, Marshall won his greatest victory in Brown v. Board of Education. Yet for many in the organization, Whites reputation remained tarnished.

President Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt and White, the day Truman became the first American president to address the NAACP, on June 29, 1947. (Abbie Rowe, National Park Service. Harry S. Truman Library)

On March 21, 1955, he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 61.

Later that year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala. As the modern civil rights era began, Whites legacy faded into obscurity with remarkable speed, Baime writes. A blond, blue-eyed activist was simply the wrong symbol for Black power.

Yet to the end of his life, White proclaimed there was only one race  the human race.

I am white, and I am black and know there is no difference, White said. Each casts a shadow, and all shadows are dark.
The chief executive of the Human Rights and Equalities Commission slammed its critics today and said they had the 'wrong target' as LGBT groups continued to revolt against its status as an independent body.

More than 20 LGBT organisations, including Stonewall, claimed the EHRC has worked to remove legal protections for the transgender community in Britain after it said it would review plans to change the law on gender recognition in Scotland.

Writing to the United Nations, the collective have argued for the commission to be stripped of its status as an impartial body, with Stonewall going further and describing the EHRC's statement as an attack on trans equality.

But EHRC chief executive Marcial Boo shot back on Friday and defended the commissions' track record on prosecuting those who discriminate against minority groups.

He said: 'Stonewall and other critics are aiming at the wrong target. The EHRC has the power to prosecute people and companies that discriminate against trans people. We have done so.

'Instead of criticising the statutory regulator that exists to protect the rights of everyone in Britain, campaign groups should work with us to identify discrimination against LGBT people so we can take action together to stop it.'

More than 20 LGBT organisations, including Stonewall, claimed the EHRC has worked to remove legal protections for the transgender community in Britain after it said it would review plans to change the law on gender recognition in Scotland

Earlier, a spokesperson for the EHRC told the BBC it takes all decisions impartially and 'based on evidence in the UK and internationally'.

The LGBT groups criticised the EHRC's recent intervention on the Scottish Government's bid to reform the Gender Recognition Act (GRA).

The groups said: 'Their recent statements on GRA reform in Scotland, and the conversion therapy ban in England and Wales, not only reverse their long-held positions but are in stark contrast to international human rights standards.

'The EHRC's stance seeks to strip trans people of legal protections and pose a grave threat to the ability of trans people to participate in daily life with dignity and respect.'

The submission accuses the EHRC of lacking independence from the UK Government, which it says influences appointments on the body and has politicised its positions.

Without the status, organisations cannot participate at the UN Human Rights Council.

Last month, the EHRC was criticised by LGBT organisations after it said plans to change the law on gender recognition in Scotland required 'further consideration'.

EHRC chief executive Marcial Boo (above) shot back on Friday and defended the commissions' track record on prosecuting those who discriminate against minority groups.

Scottish Government ministers have tabled proposals to reform the Gender Recognition Act to make it easier for people to change their legally recognised gender, with a Bill expected at Holyrood this year.

But the EHRC said 'further consideration is needed before any change to the law should be made'.

A spokesperson for the body said 'everyone's concerns should be discussed and addressed carefully, openly and with respect to avoid further damage and division', but insisted more time is needed.

Stonewall, a leading LGBT group which is a signatory on the submission to the UN, said the EHRC's statement was an attack on trans equality and said it is 'deeply troubled' by the approach the group is taking to trans people's human rights.

Stonewall, a leading LGBT group which is a signatory on the submission to the UN, said the EHRC's statement was an attack on trans equality and said it is 'deeply troubled' by the approach the group is taking to trans people's human rights

'The EHRC is calling for further delays to legislation that our communities have been waiting on for many years,' a Stonewall spokesperson said, insisting that the Scottish Government has given 'ample opportunity for consultation'.

Stonewall claimed the EHRC's comments 'undermine the EHRC's core purpose of regulating, promoting and upholding human rights'.

The Equality Network, a prominent LGBT charity in Scotland, echoed Stonewall's comments, with director Tim Hopkins claiming the EHRC board is 'directly appointed' by the UK Government and is 'failing to stand up for equality for trans people'.

Mr Hopkins added: 'We do not need UK Government appointees telling us in Scotland how to legislate in devolved areas, and we look forward to the Scottish Government proceeding with this legislation soon.'
The blockade has disrupted the flow of products between the two nations and threatening to shut down production at several American auto plants

Protesters appeared to be ignoring a 7pm demand to clear the bridge on Friday

The protesters have since also halted traffic at the province's Ambassador Bridge, a crucial crossing that connects the country to the United States

Truckers in Ontario continue to protest mandates put in place by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau last month by blocking streets in Ottawa for the 14th straight day

'People have the freedom to protest. Governments have the responsibility to protect public safety. That was what I intended to say.'

'Earlier today, I tweeted something that has been used by others to suggest I was promoting vigilantism. I was not,' she wrote on Thursday evening

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' said Kayyem, once the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Barack Obama

The left-leaning journalist went on to offer an extreme solution to ending the blockade that included slashing truckers' tires and removing them by force

'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem said Thursday

Juliette Kayyem, 52, a former official with the Obama administration has hastily walked back her comments made on Thursday when she called for Canadian truckers participating in the protests against the Liberal government's coronavirus policies to have their tires slashed

A former official with the Obama administration has hastily walked back her comments made on Thursday when she called for Canadian truckers participating in the protests against the Liberal government's coronavirus policies to have their tires slashed.

Juliette Kayyem, 52, was the assistant secretary of homeland security for intergovernmental affairs under President Barack Obama.

She had tweeted on Thursday of her desire for the Ambassador Bridge connecting Canada to the United States to be cleared of truckers.

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' she demanded.

But just hours later, Kayyem was seeking to clarify her comments in a follow-up tweet.

CNN journalist and former Obama aide Juliette Kayyem offered an extreme solution to a blockade formed by protesting truckers at a crucial border US-Canada crossing. 'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' the journalist said Thursday

But just hours later, Kayyem was seeking to clarify her comments in a follow-up tweet.

Protestors and supporters take a vote on whether to stay or leave ahead of an impending 7PM injunction deadline at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge on Friday night, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit

As a convoy of truckers and supporters continues to occupy The Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, blockades and convoys have popped up around the country in support of the protest against Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers

'Earlier today, I tweeted something that has been used by others to suggest I was promoting vigilantism. I was not. People have the freedom to protest. Governments have the responsibility to protect public safety. That was what I intended to say,' she tweeted late on Thursday night.

She had previously advocated the slashing of tires and removal of drivers by force adding that the chaos was obstructing the country's supply chain to America.

'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem said earlier on Thursday in a post to social media, as demonstrators in Ontario continued to protest mandates put in place by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month by blocking streets in the country's capital for the fourteenth straight day.

The protesters have since halted traffic at the province's Ambassador Bridge, a crucial crossing that connects the country to the US, disrupting the flow products between the two nations and threatening to shut down production at several American auto plants.

The left-leaning journalist and senior lecturer of international security at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, offered an extreme solution to the current predicament.

'The Ambassador Bridge link constitutes 28 percent of annual trade movement between US and Canada,' Kayyem, once the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Intergovernmental Affairs for Barack Obama, explained in a post published on Twitter.

Protesters have halted traffic at the Ambassador Bridge, a crucial crossing that connects the country's Ontario province to the US, disrupting the flow products between the two nations and threatening to shut down production at several American auto plants

After receiving criticism for her comments, Kayyem doubled down on the tweet later that day.

'Trust me, I will not run out of ways to make this hurt: cancel their insurance; suspend their drivers' licenses; prohibit any future regulatory certification for truckers, etc. Have we learned nothing? These things fester when there are no consequences,' Kayyem tweeted.

Well-known journalist Matthew Yglesias seemed to echo the former bureaucrat's stance in a post published less than an hour later, with the Vox founder calling for US officials to send in American troops to clear the crossing.

'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge,' Yglesias, an avid politics writer and current Bloomberg columnist, asserted, posting screenshots of reports warning of the dire implications that the barricade - which has persisted for five days - will likely have on the US economy.

The calls for action by the American progressives come as Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday declared a 42-hour state of emergency, threatening vehicle seizures, fines of C$100,000 ($79,000), jail time of up to a year, and suspension of commercial licenses to punish protesters who do not comply with orders to disperse.

After receiving criticism for her comments, Kayyem doubled down on the tweet later that day

Lefty journalist Matthew Yglesias seemed to echo the former bureaucrat's stance in a post published less than an hour later, calling for US officials to send in troops to clear the crossing

'This is a pivotal moment for our nation. The eyes of the world upon us right now, and what they are seeing is not who we are, this is not what Canada is about,' said Ford at a briefing. 'As a province, as a nation, we must collectively draw a line.'

'We cannot have people occupying cities, holding them hostage, holding millions and millions of people hostage,' he said. 'To the occupiers: please, go home.'

The bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan, is North America's busiest international land border and usually carries more than $327 million of goods per day on over 8,000 trucks, accounting for 27 percent of the approximately $400 billion in annual trade between Canada and the US.

'We are at an economic crisis in this moment because of this illegal blockade,' Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, told CNN.

Ontario has since brought in more draconian rules to crack down on Freedom Convoy truckers - including vehicle seizures and fines - just days after honking was banned and after the US told Canada to use federal powers to end the blockade (pictured, the Ambassador Bridge blockade)

The liberal politician subsequently conceded that the truckers have a right to protest Canada's vaccine mandate, but added that it should not come at the price of international commerce. She then called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to take urgent action to resolve the situation.

'Protesters have a right to protest their government - they do not have a right to illegally block these international borders where we have so much commerce,' she said.

'So they have a right to protest they do not have a right to illegally block this this border crossing. And the Canadian government has to do whatever it takes to safely and swiftly resolve this.'

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slammed the 'Freedom Convoy' for its 'illegal blockade' of the Ambassador Bridge linking the United States and Canada, telling CNN the protesting truckers were causing an economic crisis in her state

The empty Ambassador Bridge is pictured on Thursday, looking toward Canada. Typically, 8,000 trucks cross the bridge every day

In Ottawa, the Canadian capital where the bulk of the displays have been held, a protester bangs gas cans together while yelling 'Freedom' on Thursday. Truckers are using their vehicles to block roads surrounding Parliament Hill in protest of COVID-19 mandates

Three crossings are now blockaded, with the Ambassador Bridge being the most key for trade

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens has similarly stepped up calls for the use of force to end the blockades, telling CNN that if 'the protesters don't leave, there will have to be a path forward.'

'If that means physically removing them, that means physically removing them, and we're prepared to do that,' he said.

Similar blockades have also been formed in recent weeks in both Alberta and Manitoba.

Ford, the Conservative Ontario Premier who has called the protests an 'occupation', has reportedly authorized hefty fines, vehicle seizures, and the suspension of commercial licenses as tools to crack down on the protests.

Ford also moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze $8.6 million in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. The Christian fundraising site, based in the US, said in a statement that the Canadian court had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million).

An aerial photo made with a drone shows the closed Ambassador Bridge over the Detroit River that links the US and Canada between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan

The protest is causing traffic backups in Michigan and harming commerce

GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

With pressure mounting, protesters in Windsor said Friday they were reopening a single lane on the Ambassador Bridge entering Canada as a purported show of good faith.

Biden and Trudeau are scheduled to speak directly on Friday during a virtual meeting with other NATO leaders on the situation in Ukraine, but it was unclear whether they also planned to discuss the ongoing US-Canada border blockade.

The White House on Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff. Details of the discussions were not immediately available.
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A classroom of excited Las Vegas elementary school students were caught on camera jumping with joy after their teacher told them the mask mandate had been lifted.

'Starting tomorrow, we don't have to wear masks anymore,' the teacher said Thursday as she was met with roaring screams and applause from her young pupils.

The teacher claimed one of her students was so ecstatic by the move that he was 'about to throw his chair out the window.'

In the Clark County School District, which includes Las Vegas, students have been masked since they returned to the classroom in August 2021 after an entire academic year of remote learning. The district began bringing kids back to the classroom in waves in spring 2021, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, but didn't return from full remote instruction until the fall. Online learning was still available to any student who wanted it.

Nevada became the latest blue state to drop indoor mask mandates amid plummeting coronavirus infection levels. Daily cases in the U.S. are down 40 percent over the past week, from 356,722 per day to 207,539. Every one of the 50 U.S. states is recording a decline in cases over the past two weeks, with 44 states' cases slashed in half over the last fortnight.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and current board member at Pfizer, told CNBC's Squawk Box on Friday that it's time for governors to lift controversial school mask mandates and return schools back to normal.

'I don't think it's imprudent that governors lean forward, anticipating that conditions are going to continue to improve, recognizing that people are frayed,' he said. 'We have a narrow window of opportunity to restore some sense of normalcy to the schools.'

However, despite the decline in case positivity and push from health experts, President Joe Biden continues to argue that it's probably 'premature' to lift indoor mask mandates.

'I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and federal people and I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call,' the president said during a Thursday interview with NBC News.

Masks in schools have been the most controversial of all pandemic-related policies, with parents are saying the restriction hurts kids' ability to socialize, and that forcing children to wear a face covering all day in class is uncomfortable.

Parents and students nationwide are continuing to rally against the mask mandates and urge legislators to lift restrictions, including in New York and Illinois, states that will have mandated face coverings in schools. In addition to protesting, some activists have filed lawsuits against their local and state officials, deeming the mandates are illegal and harmful to children.

NEVADA: A classroom of excited Las Vegas elementary school students were caught on camera jumping with joy after their teacher told them the mask mandate had been lifted

NEVADA: 'Starting tomorrow, we don't have to wear masks anymore,' the Las Vegas teacher said Thursday as she was met with roaring screams and applause from her young pupils. One student was so ecstatic by the move that his teacher claimed he was 'about to throw his chair out the window'

LONG ISLAND, NY: Hundreds of Protesters show up for the Mandate Freedom gathering to end the wearing of masks in schools on Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY: Children joined their parents in protests along the Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY: Anti-mask mandate protesters waved signs calling for the choice to mask their children

Parents and students nationwide are continuing to rally against the mask mandates and urge legislators to lift restrictions, including in New York, a state that will continue to have mandated face coverings in schools

BUFFALO, NY: A shirtless man protesting Governor Kathy Hochul's school mask mandate held up a sign reading: 'We don't co-parent with you, Kathy'

LONG ISLAND, NY: Protesters waved home-made placards along the Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY: Hundreds of people - including children - joined New York State-wide protests against an ongoing mask mandate in schools in the state

BUFFALO, NY: A New York State-wide protest saw people waving placards and flags in Buffalo

LONG ISLAND, NY: Hundreds of people showed up for the Mandate Freedom gathering on Long Island to protest ongoing mask mandates for schoolchildren

Governor Steve Sisolak of Nevada lifted his statewide mask mandate Thursday after outlining how the number of hospitalizations had dropped from the state's peak.

'Given all of these updates, and the tools that we now have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind mask mandates effective immediately,' he told news conference conducted via Zoom. 'Masks will no longer be required in public places.'

However, he added that people would still be required to wear masks in certain places, such as health care facilities.

Sisolak's decision came after a slew of blue states in the northeast on Wednesday chose to drop masks in schools.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, whose state made the choice alongside New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts, told Squawk Box on Thursday that it was a joint decision.

'We worked on this together as Governors throughout the region. We thought this is a good time,' Lamont said.

Daily cases in the U.S. are down 40 percent over the past week, from 356,722 per day to 207,539. Every one of the 50 U.S. states is recording a decline in cases over the past two weeks, with 44 having cases slash in half over the last fortnight

LONG ISLAND, NY: A woman in Hauppauge, New York holds a sign reading: 'COVID-19 is a lie'

ROCHESTER, NY: Lisa Merkel holds up a sign and a flag as she attends a rally to end the New York State mask mandate in schools, with her children Nathan, 10, and Isabella, 14

Meanwhile, neighboring New York - along with California and Illinois - are lifting indoor masking requirements, but extending the requirement for schools, a move that has outraged parents and students.

Hundreds of parents assembled across New York state on Friday demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul lift her 'hypocritical' mandate requiring children to be masked in schools, especially since children face little risk from the virus, with the CDC reporting that minors make up less than 0.1 percent of U.S. COVID deaths.

Dozens assembled outside City Hall in New York City, carrying signs that read 'unmask our parents' and 'our children, our choice.'

Outside the Westchester County Courthouse, parents and their children gathered, holding signs that demanded the governor be removed from office.

Hochul said she will review the school order - which has prompted outrage among students, parents and politicians - next month after students return to the classroom following their upcoming midwinter break.

MANHATTAN, NY: Parents assembled at City Hall Park in Downtown Manhattan on Friday demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul lift her 'hypocritical' mandate requiring children to be masked in schools

MANHATTAN, NY: Masks in schools have been the most controversial of all pandemic-related policies, with parents are saying the restriction hurts their ability to socialize and forcing children to wear a face covering all day in class is uncomfortable

WESTCHESTER, NY: Outside the Westchester County courthouse parents and their children gathered, holding signs that demanded the governor be removed from office

WESTCHESTER, NY: Parents and children gathered at the Westchester County courthouse to protest masks still being worn in classrooms

LONG ISLAND, NY: Protesters along Veterans Memorial Highway, in Hauppauge, New York, hold up signs at the Mandate Freedom gathering to end the wearing of masks in schools on Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY: Two women, likely moms, hold signs at a protest in Hauppauge, NY, demanding that Gov. Hochul repeal her mask mandate

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS: Will Wysoglad, 18, (2nd from left) his brother Aiden Wysoglad, 16, (second from right) and their two friends - Rocco Romita, 17, (left) and Alex Orloff, 16 (right) - led a approximately 50 unmasked students into Neuqua Valley High School Friday morning

In the Chicago suburbs, a group of teens led a maskless walk-in at their Naperville high school on Friday after they were 'unlawfully kicked out of school' on Tuesday for refusing to wear a mask.

Will Wysoglad, 18; his brother Aiden Wysoglad, 16, and their two friends - Rocco Romita, 17, and Alex Orloff, 16 - led approximately 50 unmasked students into Neuqua Valley High School Friday morning.

The teens, who are technically allowed to attend school maskless because an Illinois judge issued a temporary restraining order on Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mandate, marched into the school building as parents stood outside protesting and holding signs.

'We all walked in and there was a bunch of students calling us names,' Will Wysoglad told DailyMail.com.

He said they were permitted to attend their first period class, prompting the picketing parents to leave the premise, but then were ultimately told the leave school.

'Once all the parents left we were taken out of class by our deans and sent home once again for the fourth day in a row,' the 18-year-old said, noting they are receiving unexcused absences.

The boys, speaking with DailyMail.com earlier this week, said several nearby districts in the Chicago suburbs are mask-optional. Neighboring states also do not have mandatory mask mandates in effect.

'We don't have a problem with people wearing masks,' Will said Wednesday. 'We just want the masks to be optional and to have the freedom of choice to go to school and if we don't want to wear a mask, we don't have to wear a mask, and if we do, we can.'

ILLINOIS: Approximately 50 students walked into Neuqua Valley High School, located in the suburbs of Chicago, unmasked on Friday in an effort to protest Gov. Pritzker's 'unlawful' school mask mandate. Students in favor of the mask mandates reportedly called the protesters names

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS: As the students marched into the school, parents were seen outside protesting and holding signs. The walk-in organizer told DailyMail.com that he and his classmates were permitted to attend their first period classes before being sent home and issued an unexcused absence

LONG ISLAND, NY: Hundreds of Protesters show up for the Mandate Freedom gathering to end the wearing of masks in schools on Long Island.

BUFFALO, NY: Children held up signs reading 'free our smiles' at a rally in Upstate New York on Friday

ALBANY, NY: A student protesting at the New York State Capitol holds a sign reading: 'Let me see my friends' faces at school'

LONG ISLAND, NY: Hundreds of Protesters show up for the Mandate Freedom gathering to end the wearing of masks in schools on Long Island

States that have DROPPED masks this week California - On February 15, vaccinated residents will no longer have to wear masks in public indoor settings. Masks will still be required in schools. Connecticut - On February 28, masks will no longer be required in schools Delaware - On February 11, a mask mandate for all indoor public places except schools will end. The mandate for schools will be lifted on March 31 Illinois - On February 28, a mask mandate for all indoor public places will be lifted. Masks will still be required in schools Massachusetts - On February 28, masks will no longer be required in schools Nevada - On February 10, the state's public and school mask mandate was lifted New Jersey - On March 7, masks will no longer be required in schools New York - On February 10, the state's mask mandate for indoor public places as lifted. Masks are still required in schools Oregon - On March 31, the state plans to allow its indoor mask mandate to expire, which includes schools Rhode Island - On February 11, the state's indoor mask mandate expires. Masks will no longer be required in schools starting March 4. Advertisement

Parents across the nation are frustrated by the mask mandates, demanding that officials citing they prevent the spread of COVID provide evidence of their efficacy in the school system.

'I have been following all of this very closely for the past two years,' Alyson Seden, of Pasadena, California, told DailyMail.com.

'And I have yet to see a definitive study proving masks work.'

The mother - who has three children ages 21, 19 and 18 - is part of an activism group fighting to lift mask mandates in schools.

She argues that 'unelected public health directors' are holding the 'mental, academic and physical health' of America's children in their hands, but their 'only focus has been Covid case numbers.'

'We have been lied to before and flooded with mixed messaging or hand waiving its the science dismissals and the trust is gone,' Seden said.

'I dont think I can take another day knowing kids as young as two years old are covering their faces and the adults they interact with are covering theirs as well. This IS child abuse and it is heartbreaking.'

Bryan Nee, of Lake County, Illinois, citing concerns about his children's speech development and ability to recognize faces.

'A lot of it is speech impediment and it comes down to facial recognition,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I have seen it with my six-year-old daughter specifically - her interactions with people are not the same.'

Nee said his first-grade daughter and his fiancee's son, also six, struggle to identify masked individuals and are seemingly uncomfortable around them.

'When Im at work and my kids see me, you can see they dont know who it is,' he explained. 'They cannot make that connection.'

His concerns are echoed in a new study published by York University in the U.K. that found masks make it difficult for children to recognize faces and, in turn, could affect their ability to socialize and make friends.

Nee - who has four children - also noted how his two first-graders protested the school mask mandates this week in wake of the temporary restraining order.

'My daughter chose not to wear a mask on Monday night. Shes done it every day this week,' he explained, noting that her brother has also joined her in this decision.

Nee said on the first day, 50 other students came to school maskless, but it has since been just a few. The school has reportedly placed the unmasked in a separate room where they work independently.

He is hoping that pending litigation and the moves of other governors will encourage Pritzker to amend his 'illegal mandate'.

We just want it to be fair for our kids. Its an important step,' he said. 'From children up to adults, everybody should have a choice. People constantly say "its my body, its my choice." It should be the same with this.'

He also slammed the governor's recent decision to lift indoor mask mandates but keep them in effect in school as 'absolutely ridiculous.'

Its absurd. Why can we go to a restaurant or event and we dont need them, but children - who through this whole pandemic were least effected - cant go to school without them?' he questioned.

Jillian St. Pierre, an Illinoisan with an eight-year-old son, called the governor's move to lift indoor mask mandates 'reckless and irresponsible'.

'Illinois has made plans to lift the mandate, but not yet for schools,' she told DailyMail.com. 'Honestly, I dont feel good about it. I think it is reckless and irresponsible at this point. It keeps the kids safe.'

She added: 'The mask mandate hasnt really impacted my son, except he loves licorice so he hates that he has to take it off to have his favorite snack! The school does make concessions for kids to take their masks off when eating and drinking. Also, his new thing is that he watches a movie every single day - once his homework is done - and sometimes I see him sitting in our house with his mask on while watching a movie because he is so used to it.'

ALBANY, NY: Unmasked protesters march on the New York state capitol

LONG ISLAND, NY: A group of young girls protesting mask mandates in Hauppauge hold signs demanding the arrest of Dr. Anthony Fauci and claiming that mask and vaccine mandates are tyranny

ROCHESTER, NY: Kellin Zuhlke, 6, holds a sign during a rally to end the New York State mask mandate in schools

ROCHESTER, NY: Scott Joerger holds up a sign to traffic during a rally to end the New York State mask mandate in schools. It reads: 'I do Nazi this ending'

SURACUSE, NY: After delivering flowers to elected officials, protesters exit the Onondaga County Legislature during the #MandateFreedom rally in Syracuse

LONG ISLAND, NY: Protesters along Veterans Memorial Highway, in Hauppauge, New York, hold up signs demanding Gov. Hochul 'unmask our kids'

ALBANY, NY: A rally was held Friday at the New York State Capitol to protest mask mandates in Albany

MANHATTAN, NY: New York City workers protest vaccine mandates

LONG ISLAND, NY: Protesters in Hauppauge, New York, hold up a sign that reads: 'It is pissed off mothers that will change America!'

SYRACUSE, NY: Protesters gathered for the #MandateFreedom rally outside the Onondaga County Legislature

President Joe Biden spoke about lifting indoor mask mandates, telling NBC on Thursday: 'I think it's probably premature, but it's, you know, it's a tough call'

Meanwhile, Biden and other federal leaders are standing by their recommendation to mask kids in schools.

'When I got in office only 46 percent of schools were opened, now 98 percent of them are open and they're wearing masks,' Biden said.

'What's happening is every day that goes by children are more protected. We're now on the verge of being able to have shots for children under the age of seven and young children and and so the more protection they have, probably you're going to see less and less requirement to have the mask,' he said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted at her Wednesday briefing that CDC continues to recommend masking during indoor congregate settings for areas where transmission is high  which currently includes most of the country.

'We owe it to our children to make sure that they can safely stay in school,' CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told WYPR earlier this week.

'Right now, that includes masking. We've seen outbreaks that have occurred in communities where students were not masked in schools and had to close. ... And much of our guidance is based on the amount of community transmission.'

State and local officials are driving decisions on school masking, although the American Rescue Plan has provided funds for safety improvements and testing. Some academics have weighed in with cautions about the social and developmental impacts of long-term masking.

U.S. Covid infections are dropping as the nation works its way through the omicron surge, although hospitalizations are still high, as are death rates, which stood at 2,300 based on a seven-day moving average Thursday.

The seven-day daily average of infections was about 247,000 cases per day Wednesday  down 44 percent from a week ago.
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Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine as early as next Wednesday, according to respected German publication, Der Spiegel.

American intelligence services briefed NATO allies of a possible impending Russian invasion against its western neighbor in a series of secret briefings.

The Secret Service, CIA and the Pentagon are said to have received credible information that was passed along to the federal government, reports the German newspaper.

The data was said to be exceptionally detailed with information stating specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and what roles they might play in any conflict.

Despite the detail contained in the plans, it is impossible to know for sure whether an attack is indeed imminent.

Der Speigel suggests that one possible U.S. tactic to scupper Russian plans is to make them public, including the invasion date.

The White House has publicly underscored that the U.S. does not know with certainty whether Putin is committed to an invasion.

However, U.S. officials said anew that Russia's buildup of offensive air, land and sea firepower near Ukraine has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.

A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry

US military belonging to the Task Force Cougar detachment stand in formation for the visit of the NATO Secretary General at the military airbase of Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, near the Black Sea

A Ukrainian soldier trains during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine. Thousands of Russian troops are engaged in sweeping maneuvers in Belarus as part of a military buildup near Ukraine

President Joe Biden is due to speak to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Saturday from his Camp David presidential retreat

On Friday, the White House told Americans to leave Ukraine immediately with officials warning Russia could launch an attack at any time, beginning with air strikes followed by what they said would be an 'onslaught' on the capital Kiev.

Several NATO allies including Britain, Canada, Norway and Denmark also are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine, as is non-NATO ally New Zealand.

As diplomatic options for averting war in Ukraine appeared to narrow, the White House said President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss the crisis by phone on Saturday from his Camp David presidential retreat.

He flew out of Washington on Friday afternoon, after his officials spent the day stepping up their warnings and more troops were dispatched the region.

He did not stop to respond to shouted questions from reporters about the unfolding crisis as he left the Oval Office.

Instead he posed for photographs and selfies with staff in the unseasonably warm sunshine before boarding Marine One.

He left it to his national security adviser to deliver the administration's dire warning to Americans: Get out immediately because the U.S. will not be coming back to rescue anyone.

'If a Russian attack on Ukraine precedes it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians now with regard to their nationality,' he said.

'A subsequent ground invasion would involve the onslaught of a massive force with virtually no notice communications to arrange a departure could be severed and commercial transit halted.

'No one would be able to count on air or rail or road departures once military action got under way.'

He said the attack could come 'any day now'

The region has been on edge for months as Russia sent more than 120,000 troops to the border with Ukraine.

Moscow denies that it is planning to invade its neighbor and instead said it wants Western guarantees that NATO will not encroach closer to its territory.

The latest escalation came after Biden met with security officials in the White House situation room on Thursday evening and as more Russian troops arrived in the area.

President Joe Biden chatted to staff and posed for photos before leaving Washington for a weekend at Camp David, after officials told Americans to leave Ukraine immediately

A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows a Russian deployment at Zyabrovka airfield in Gomel, Belarus, less than 15 miles from the border with Ukraine

A Russian video of air defence crews taking up position during joint military exercises with Belarus that began on Thursday, further raising the stakes

In this photo taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, ombat crews of the S-400 air defense system drive to take up combat duty at the training ground in the Brest region during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus

Another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border

Putin is planning a 'NUCLEAR strategic exercise', Britain warns as Russia begins military drills with Belarus Russia is planning to hold a nuclear strategic exercise, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday, despite extreme tensions surrounding Ukraine. Wallace warned that the Kremlin's actions were heading in the wrong direction despite efforts to find a diplomatic solution, declaring intelligence suggested that Russia that Russia was engaging in plans for so-called 'false flag' operations as a pre-text for invading Ukraine, as well as carrying out cyber attacks and other destabilising activity. 'Despite the talking, the direction of travel is in the wrong way,' Wallace told BBC Radio. 'The Russians are still growing their battalion tactical groups... They are planning to start a nuclear strategic exercise soon, and indeed we see more activity elsewhere.' A Russian defence source also told news agency TASS earlier this year that the nuclear exercise, known as 'Thunder', would involve all three prongs of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, testing firing procedures from land, sea and air. Nuclear drills are held frequently in Russia, but the decision to proceed with such exercises in the face of the tension circling Ukraine will give world powers more cause for concern. Advertisement

On Friday the Biden administration stepped up its warnings and surged another 3,000 troops to Poland in support of NATO forces, on top of 1,700 who are on their way there.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would remain closely engaged with his national security team and foreign partners.

'The president will be at Camp David, which is fully equipped to have engagements of all sorts, including with his national security team or European counterparts,' she said.

The latest U.S. deployments follow the 8,500 troops already on alert and the nearly 3,000 American troops the administration said earlier this month it would send to Poland and Romania.

Together they form an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.

Sullivan did not mince words for those who choose to remain: 'The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.'

About 30,000 Americans are thought to be in Ukraine - although officials say the picture is complicated by the fact that many do not register with the embassy

Sullivan said that the invasion could come before the end of the Beijing Olympics, which conclude next week on February 20. But he said that the U.S. is still not sure whether Putin has put in action a plan to invade.

'We cant pinpoint the day at this point, and we can't pinpoint the hour, but that is a very, very distinct possibility,' Sullivan said.

'We believe he very well may give the final go order,' Sullivan said. 'It may well happen soon.'

Asked if Putin risks upsetting Chinese President Xi by moving during the Olympics, Sullivan said: 'Putin will obviously have to decide.'

'As we've said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time should Vladimir Putin decide to order it.'

'We are not saying that a final decision has been taken by Putin,' he added.

Sullivan said Russian military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.

'Yes, it is an urgent message because we are in an urgent situation,' he told reporters at the White House.

'Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,' Sullivan said, adding, 'Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.' He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.

Still, the national security adviser said Washington 'can't pinpoint the day, can't pinpoint the hour' when the Russians could invade Ukraine. He also said he did not know how many Americans remained in Ukraine.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conferred by phone with several of his NATO counterparts. Echoing Sullivan's public remarks, Austin told them a Russian invasion of Ukraine 'could begin at any time,' Kirby said.

Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.

'The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,' said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

'The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.'

President Joe Biden on Friday met virtually with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Britain's Boris Johnson and other world leaders on Friday morning to brief them on developments.

Soon after the meeting finished it emerged that U.S. and Western officials now think that Russia will invade next week, according to PBS reporter Nick Schifrin.

'US officials anticipate a horrific, bloody campaign that begins with two days or aerial bombardment and electronic warfare, followed by an invasion, with the possible goal of regime change,' he tweeted.

But Sullivan denied the report. 'We are not saying I think the way that you've just characterized that I have not seen this PBS report yet but as you've characterized it, that does not capture the communication that we are making to our NATO allies nor what we understand internally.'

A diplomatic source said the strategy now was to intensify efforts to spell out the cost to Putin of invasion.

'The message has to be that he cannot win,' the source told DailyMail.com.

The Ukraine crisis escalated as Biden continues to be battered by polls. The latest, for CNN, found that more than half of respondents thought his first year in office had been a failure

A Ukrainian service member unpacks Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the U.S. military support package for Ukraine, at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10

It comes as allies step up efforts to get their nationals to safety.

Britain on Friday advised citizens to leave immediately while commercial flights were available.

And the frantic activity triggered a spike in oil prices. At one point U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures hit $94.66 per barrel - its highest price since 2014, but it fell back to close at $93.10, representing a 4.58 percent rise on the day.

The developments come after a series of warnings for Americans to get out of Ukraine immediately.

Earlier the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined what he said were 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation.

'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time  and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' he said.

Biden had earlier echoed the same call for Americans to get out now, saying the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war.

'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world.

'That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

His comments come as another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's eastern and southern borders.

This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 11, 2022 shows a paratrooper during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State's Response Force, at a firing range in Belarus

The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11

Biden meets with NATO allies to discuss the issue of Ukraine on Friday

The Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war.

This week Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

Russia opened massive war games in Belarus on Thursday that are due to run through next weekend but says it has no plans to invade Ukraine.

The Russians are insisting that the West keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West.

Tensions ramped up further on Thursday as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea, prompting Britain to declare it as the 'most dangerous moment.'

Russia's troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition. Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through February 20.

Ukraine also staged war games and a senior U.S. official warned that 'bodybags will come back to Moscow' if Russian troops crossed the border.

President Joe Biden again urged Americans to leave Ukraine on Thursday, this time warning them that American troops won't come to the rescue if Russia launches an invasion

Analysts say the huge build-up of Russian troops offers Putin multiple military options

It leaves world leaders hoping diplomacy can still win the day and prompt President Vladimir Putin to back down.

However, a foreign diplomatic source told DailyMail.com it was difficult to see how Putin could now step back without losing face after assembling 130,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the latest shipment of weapons from the U.S. arrived at Boryspil International Airport near Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday night, with about 130 tons worth of ammunition delivered.

It is believed to be the 14th part of a $200 million shipment of American military aid that is being sent to help its ally.

The shipment included Javelin anti-tank missiles, grenades and other defensive ammunition, said the Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov.

He tweeted: 'Two more birds in Kyiv! Javelins, grenades & other defensive ammunition for the Ukrainian military. The weight of military aid from our partners, which was delivered today-about 130 tons.'

The US embassy in Ukraine confirmed the news of the shipment and said that Washington has provided 1,200 tons of equipment so far.

'Tonight, the 14th flight arrived in Boryspil with American security assistance, including Javelin systems,' the embassy tweeted on Thursday night.

'The United States has provided nearly 1,200 tons of equipment approved by President Biden in January, which Ukraine needs to protect against ongoing Russian aggression.'

Meanwhile, six Russian landing ships filled with tanks and troops yesterday assembled in the Black Sea to back up the land forces, heightening concerns.

Moscow's forces are also beginning joint military exercises with ally Belarus.

An estimated 30,000 troops are taking part in the 10-day war games.

'Our intelligence, I'm afraid to say, remains grim. We're seeing the massing of huge numbers of tactical battalion groups on the border with Ukraine,' said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a joint news conference with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels

'This is probably the most dangerous moment in the course of the next few days in what is the biggest security crisis Europe has faced for decades.'

As part of U.S. efforts to 'reduce chances of miscalculation,' the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, spoke on Thursday with his Belarusian counterpart, a Pentagon spokesman said.

And U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spelled out the high stakes if Putin made the wrong choice.

If he chose war he 'should understand that body bags will come back to Moscow.., that the citizens of Russia will suffer because their economy will be completely devastated,' she told broadcaster MSNBC.

Ukrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the U.S. military support package at Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10
Russia's forces are in position and ready to invade Ukraine, and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said Friday.

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said.

'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he added.

Stensones made his remarks at the presentation of the Norwegian intelligence services' annual threat assessment report.

According to him, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics.

'It's very difficult to say if (an offensive) is likely or unlikely, because it is solely up to the Russian president to make the decision', he said.

Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said Friday. Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11

Western nations believe Russia is preparing an imminent invasion of Ukraine, though Moscow has denied it despite the vast military build-up around Ukraine's east.

Conflict has been festering in eastern Ukraine since 2014 between Russian-backed separatists and Kyiv forces.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday warned again of the 'real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe', while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a Russian invasion could come 'any time'.

His warning came as Russia - continuing its military build-up - moved six amphibious assault vessels into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on Ukraine's southern coast.

Moscow has announced sweeping drills in the Black and Azov seas in the coming days and closed large areas for commercial shipping, drawing a strong protest from Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced hope that the West would react to the Russian move, saying that 'we have engaged our partners to prepare a coordinated response.'

Ukraine's military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday that the authorities plan to quickly engage 1.5 million to 2 million people in training for the army reserve.

Russia's troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition.

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', Norway's vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said on Friday

According to Stensones, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics

Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via teleconference call, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, on February 11, 2022

Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 47 miles south of the Belarus border.

U.S.-based Maxar Technologies - which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces -said satellite images taken on Wednesday and Thursday showed large new deployments of troops, vehicles and warplanes at several locations in western Russia, Belarus and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

According to the Military Times, 500 troop tents and hundreds of armoured vehicles were shown at Oktyabrskoye airfield - an abandoned airfield found north of Simferopol, the Crimean peninsula's second largest city.

Other images showed training activities, artillery deployments and a new deployment in Slavne, also in Crimea.

And north of Ukraine in Belarus, military vehicles and helicopters were also identified at an airfield near Gomel, about 15 miles from its border with its southern neighbour.

Troops are also stationed near Rechitsa in Belarus, some 28 miles from Ukraine.

The satellite images also showed additional equipment had arrived at a Kursk training area in western Russia - a new development since Maxar began releasing images of Russia's military build-up in December.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of a the tent camp and equipment at Oktyabrskoye airfield in Crimea, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows equipment and new deployments at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows atillery training at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

Servicemen of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus take part in the Union Courage 2022 joint military exercise at the Brestsky training ground in Brest Region, Belarus, in this still image taken from video released February 11, 2022

Britain's defense secretary visited Moscow on Friday in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion, which insisted that the standoff with the West wasn't 'our fault.'

Ben Wallace's trip came a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held frosty negotiations in Moscow to urge Russia to pull back over 100,000 troops near Ukraine.

Her Russian counterpart scathingly described the talks as a 'conversation between deaf and dumb.'

Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons there and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that 'the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and it's not our fault.'

He noted that shipments of weapons to Ukraine by the U.S., Britain and other allies have contributed to the tensions and pointed to the recent deployment of British soldiers to Ukraine, asking why they were sent and how long they will stay.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Wallace noted that the anti-tank missiles that Britain sent to Ukraine were defensive tactical weapons that do not pose a threat to any neighbor unless it invades.

He said British troops deployed to Ukraine to help train its military to use the British weapons and will leave 'pretty soon' after they accomplish that mission.

Wallace described the talks as 'constructive and frank' and noted his Russian counterpart's assurances that Moscow has no intention to attack Ukraine.

But he also emphasised that the concentration of Russian troops near Ukrainian territory is clearly 'beyond normal exercising,' explaining that about half of Russia's land forces are concentrated around the border with Ukraine.

He reaffirmed that a Russian invasion would have 'tragic consequences' and emphasised the need to maintain contacts between military forces to prevent incidents.

'What is incredibly important, especially at this time with over 100,000 troops at high readiness on the borders of another country, is that we do not get into a position of miscalculation or escalation,' Wallace said.

He stressed that only through 'the ability to talk to each other at times of concern can we pave the way for any de-escalation measures.'

Ben Wallace (left) met his counterpart Sergei Shoigu (right) in an attempt to quell the crisis in eastern Europe

The UK andRussian teams having their discussion on Ukraine in Moscow today

Liz Truss is on a two-day visit to Moscow, and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony earlier

In an interview Thursday with NBC News, U.S. President Joe Biden repeated his warning that any Americans still in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible.

'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly,' he said.

Biden planned to hold a call with trans-Atlantic leaders later in the day.

Asked whether there were any scenarios that would prompt him to send U.S. troops to Ukraine to rescue Americans, the president said: 'There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.'

Speaking Friday on a visit to Australia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the latest State Department's security alert urging all American citizens to leave Ukraine.

'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' Blinken added. The Olympic Games are scheduled to end Feb. 20.

Kuleba played down the U.S. advice to Americans to leave, saying that Washington has made similar calls before. He noted that the situation remains volatile.

NATO has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the U.S. sending troops to Poland and Romania.

The U.S. Navy said Thursday that it has deployed four destroyers from the United States to European waters.

A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry

US soldiers stand in silence during the official visit of General secretary of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg after they arrived in Mihail Kogalniceanu military base in Mihail Kogalniceanu commune in Romania on February 11, 2022

The Navy did not directly tie this deployment to the Ukraine crisis but said the ships provide 'additional flexibility' to the U.S. Sixth Fleet commander, whose area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean, and will operate in support of NATO allies.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the ongoing deployment of 1,000 additional U.S. troops that will nearly double their current number there. 'This is a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity,' Stoltenberg said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by noting that 'NATO keeps building up its presence near Russia's borders and exacerbates the situation around Ukraine to create a pretext for that.'

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine's Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising.

Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.
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Priti Patel is set to trawl through candidates from as far away as Australia in her bid to replace Dame Cressida Dick as head of the Met Police and purge any lingering culture that has been behind a string of recent scandals.

Top police officers from across the world are vying to become Britain's most powerful cop, with candidates from within the UK jostling for the position and outsiders vying to be the broom that will clean up the Met.

Confidence in the force has been shaken in recent years by a series of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by depraved cop Wayne Couzens, the disastrous probe into fake VIP child sex abuse claims, and allegations of racism, sexism and homophobia within the ranks.

By convention, the Metropolitan Police commissioner is drawn from the ranks of serving senior officers in the UK, but Home Office officials believe they have found a loophole within the law that would allow them to expand the search to include a more global pool of talent.

Among the shortlisted number are Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, 58, who successfully overhauled the force's troubled Fire and Emergency Services after it was hit with a string of bullying and sexism scandals.

Other potential candidates include Reece Kershaw, who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019, and Michael Outram, commissioner of the Australian Border Force who is a former detective chief inspector at the Met.

Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin is another whose name has been mentioned. He transformed the service with new technologies and has considerable experience in dealing with terrorism, including the 2002 Bali bombings.

Dame Cressida Dick, who became the first woman to head the Met Police in 2017, said she had 'no choice but to step aside' after losing Sadiq Khan's confidence.

Neil Basu is seen as her most likely replacement for the 230,000-a-year role. He has attracted controversy for threatening to jail journalists over the leaking of damning cables about President Trump, and blaming terrorism on social mobility.

Priti Patel is set to trawl through candidates from as far away as Australia in her bid to replace Dame Cressida Dick as head of the Met Police and purge any lingering culture that has been behind a string of recent scandals

Home Secretary Priti Patel is looking to Australia for Cressida Dicks replacement. Tipped as a likely candidate is Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll, (left) who oversaw Australias biggest peacetime security operation at the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014. Another is Reece Kershaw (right) who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019

Among those who have caught the eye of British ministers is Mick Fuller, (left) the commissioner of New South Wales Police, whose tough-talking style would chime with Miss Patels approach. Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin (right) (Above) is another whose name has been mentioned in the search

Paul Stott, Head of Security and Extremism at Policy Exchange, warned: 'Basu has previously staked his claim for the hearts and minds of our liberal elites by encouraging discussion of whether terms like 'Islamist' and 'jihadist' should be dropped from the reporting of jihadist violence.

'There are also issues about whether Neil Basu is a supporter of a core element of liberal democracy  press freedom. In 2019 he appeared to threaten journalists with prosecution if they ran stories based on leaked government documents  it all seemed a bit big brother, and indicated a tendency to stray into political matters. His comments on taking the knee are a further example of a desire to roam free of his brief.

'What matters to the public is fighting crime, and the security of themselves, their property and their families. That requires a different focus to where Mr Basus attention appears to be.'

Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, said: 'His would be a highly political appointment. He is as much a political figure as a police one.

'His claim that right wing terrorism is the fast growing threat indicates that he has a very limited understanding of the threat posed by Islamist/jihadist terrorist. He will be very much seen as Khan appointee and very much a Labour man.'

Meanwhile Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project, added: 'I've resisted getting into personalities but what we need is someone with competence to make London safer, not a person that looks like a progressive identikit and spends his or her time servicing the ego of politicians.'

Other candidates put forward to replace Dame Cressida include Merseyside cop Andy Cooke, who said violent criminals were 'not inherently bad people'.

Simon Byrne, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) since 2019 is in the running. But his time as chief constable of another force - Cheshire - ended in controversy after he was accused of bullying and humiliating staff. A misconduct hearing was told he had a reputation for being like Darth Vader and treated junior officers and staff like roadkill.

While Martin Hewitt, head of the National Police Chiefs Council throughout the Covid crisis, could also get the job. His appearance at several Downing Street briefings during lockdowns means he is more recognisable than most other top cops.

Here, MailOnline goes through the list of likely candidates to succeed Dame Cressida.

Neil Basu: Anti-terror chief who called for journalists to be prosecuted after publishing leaked cables criticising Trump

Neil Basu, who has been at the Met for nearly 30 years

Neil Basu is the Met's former head of counter-terrorism and the most senior serving British officer of Asian heritage.

He also served as the assistant commissioner for specialist operations until September 2021, which included responsibilities around national security, and had originally been tipped for the top job in 2017 before losing out to Dame Cressida.

In February this year, he called for laws in the Equality Act 2010 that restrict positive discriminations to be relaxed in order to boost the number of BAME recruits. He was immediately shot down by policing minister Kit Malthouse, while Home Secretary Priti Patel was also said to be against the idea.

Mr Basu faced fresh accusations of meddling in politics in July 2019, when he threatened to prosecute journalists for publishing leaked cables from Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Davis said the intervention 'strayed well beyond his brief', and represented an attack on the free Press.

Mr Basu's comments came after Scotland Yard launched a probe to find who leaked Sir Kim's memos calling the Trump administration 'clumsy and inept'.

Mr Basu, who has spent his whole career at the Met, made another controversial intervention in August that year when suggested homegrown terrorism was fuelled by a lack of social mobility and inclusion. He said better education and opportunities for young people would do more to fight terrorism than 'the policing and state security apparatus put together'  adding that he was not trying to excuse any acts of violence.

He also said British Muslims should not be forced to 'assimilate', adding: 'Assimilation implies that I have to hide myself in order to get on. We should not be a society that accepts that.'

A 2019 profile of Basu in the Mail On Sunday described him as well-liked within the force and by intelligence officials at MI5. But he has attracted criticism for some of his operational decisions, most notably as head of Operations Weeting, Elveden and Tuleta. The three inquiries into phone hacking, computer hacking and alleged payments to police officers by newspapers cost around 19.5million and were criticised for criminalising journalists.

Mr Basu also raised eyebrows when he criticised the Prevent programme  which tries to detect and deradicalise Muslim extremists  as 'toxic'.

A Hindu, born to an Indian doctor father and a white British mother, he has said he has encountered racism over most of his life. He grew up in Stafford, where he studied at Walton High School before reading economics at Nottingham University.

He became a Met police officer in 1992, serving first as a beat bobby in Battersea, South London, then swiftly moving through the ranks as a borough commander in Barnet, North London, and a Commander of South London in 2012.

Andy Cooke: Former Merseyside chief who insists even violent criminals are 'not inherently bad people'

Andy Cooke, who now serves with the police inspectorate

While head of Merseyside Police, Andy Cooke sparked anger when he said even violent criminals are 'not inherently bad people' and he'd rather pump billions into cutting poverty than upholding the law.

The officer, marking his retirement as Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said if he was given a 5 billion budget to cut crime, he would spend 1 billion on crime and 4 billion on tackling poverty.

He now serves in the role of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Inspector of Fire and Rescue Authorities in England. He will be overseeing inspections primarily in the North of England.

Mr Cooke was chief constable for five years, during which time he has overseen the jailing of dozens of multi-millionaire drug laws, including Liverpool's most notorious drugs boss Liam 'the Lam' Cornett, who was transported to court in a huge armed convoy every day, and the jet-setting Mulhare brothers, who were caught abroad in Thailand after being informed on by a 'supergrass'.

Murderers jailed during his tenure include George Leather, 60, who brutally killed his Asda worker wife, 56, by stabbing her 300 times in an 'episode of unspeakable and barbaric savagery', and Robert Child, 37, who was jailed for life for striking his 64-year-old mother Janice with a hammer 31 times.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said of Mr Cooke's plans for the police budget: 'In that case would he be quite happy to sack 80% of the officers. Reducing poverty is not a function of the policing budget, it's the job of other agencies and government.

'I'm not convinced that this change would be welcomed by the vast majority of the UK population. They want to see the police protecting citizens and property and crime. He sounds like someone who would have taken the knee for BLM and defunded the police.'

Under Mr Cooke, Merseyside Police gained a reputation for tough policing and for being a keen user of stop-and-search powers. He was also the first commander of Merseyside's Matrix unit, set up to tackle gang crime and violence.

Simon Byrne: Top Northern Ireland cop 'with a reputation for being like Darth Vader'

Simon Byrne became chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in May 2019

Simon Byrne became chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in May 2019, arriving at the force with 36 years of policing behind him.

After holding senior roles at GMP and the Met, he became chief constable of Cheshire Police from 2014 to 2017. That role ended in controversial circumstances after he was accused of bullying and humiliating staff.

A misconduct hearing was told he had a reputation for being like Darth Vader and treated junior officers and staff like 'roadkill'.

The hearing was told he handed pictures of Dad's Army characters to officers after he became angry when flooding made him late for work.

However, he was cleared of misconduct, with the tribunal concluding that much of what was claimed was either exaggerated or most likely didn't happen.

During his time as chief constable, Mr Byrne revealed he had considered breaking the law in order to hire more officers from ethnic minorities. At that time the force only had three black officers.

He told the BBC in 2017 that the law should be changed in England 'for a certain period of time' to allow the hiring of minority candidates to speed up. This would ensure that 'for every white officer, we recruit one black officer.'

Mr Byrne said: 'I've even taken legal advice about breaking the law, which might sound crazy as a senior police officer.

'But if we're put under pressure to change, then what are the consequences, other than reputational, from breaking the law?'

Under current equality rules employers cannot employ a job applicant because of characteristics like race, sexual orientation or gender, if other candidates are better qualified.

At PSNI he attracted controversy for suggesting the children of paramilitaries could be taken into care.

He was also forced to apologise after tweeting a photo of himself with officers holding rifles outside a PSNI station on Christmas Day, the BBC reported.

Martin Hewitt: NPCC chief who backed crackdown on Covid sceptics and said officers felt 'undervalued' amid pay row

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council

As chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) throughout the Covid crisis, Martin Hewitt has made a number of high-profile interventions in politics.

Amid fury last year at officers being hit by a pay freeze, Mr Hewitt told Priti Patel that many officers believed the decision was 'unfair' and they felt 'undervalued' after their efforts during Covid.

Mr Hewitt said: 'For many it feels unfair and that their contribution is undervalued.

'And, unlike other parts of the public service, officers do not have the option of industrial action to make their case more strongly.

'As the Government makes spending decisions over coming months, we urge you to fund a settlement which properly reflects the important and complex work police officers do, and starts to address the pay shortfall.'

In January 2021, he backed a crackdown on lockdown sceptics and said officers would no longer 'waste time' trying to reason with them amid soaring death rates.

Speaking at a Downing Street press briefing, he gave examples of shocking 'irresponsible behaviour' from people not heeding warnings - even with more than 1,200 people dying every day.

They included a 30-per-head boat party in Hertfordshire with more than 40 people, a Surrey house party whose host tried to claim it was a business event and a minibus full of people from different households caught travelling from Cheltenham into Wales for a walk.

Mr Hewitt was appointed in April 2019. He began his policing career with Kent Police in 1993 and transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service in 2005.

As an Assistant Commissioner for five years, he led frontline and local policing, specialist crime and professional standards.

He led the national police response to adult sexual offences and kidnap between 2014 and 2019, and served as a Vice-Chair for the NPCC from 2015 before taking on the chairmanship.

Matt Jukes: Assistant commissioner credited with leading crackdown on Rotherham child grooming gangs

Matt Jukes: Assistant commissioner credited with leading crackdown on Rotherham child grooming gangs

Matt Jukes joined South Yorkshire police in 1995 three years after graduating with a degree in mathematics from Oxford.

He worked as a detective and rose through the ranks to represent UK police forces at G8 meetings and lead on national anti-terror strategy.

Mr Jukes is best known for tackling Rotherham grooming gangs while borough commander in the Yorkshire town from 2006 to 2010.

More than 1,000 children were exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, with local authorities, schools and police among agencies that failed to tackle the problem.

A report on the scandal by Professor Alexis Jay suggested that Mr Jukes' leadership marked a point where police became more proactive in dealing with the abuse.

After serving in South Yorkshire Police, he moved to South Wales, with the police and crime commissioner there Alun Michael backing him as an outstanding leader.

Mr Jukes worked his way up to the top post in South Wales Police, becoming Chief Constable in January 2018.

He is also chairman of Police Sport UK.

Mr Jukes moved to the Met in November 2020. He was awarded a Queens Police Medal in the New Year Honours List 2018.

Dame Lynne Owens: Head of Britain's FBI who stepped down to fight breast cancer

Widely admired and was seen as the natural successor to the Yard top job until she retired on health grounds last autumn.

Dame Lynne led the National Crime Agency - dubbed 'Britain's FBI' - from 2016 until last October.

Seen as a safe pair of hands, and known to be a favourite officer of Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Dame Lynne, 53, has bravely written on social media of her mastectomy, radiotherapy and ongoing recovery. Whether she can be tempted back to such a high-pressure job will be a purely personal choice.

The former chief constable of Surrey Police, who joined the Metropolitan Police service in 1989, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year but said she now requires more extensive surgery which would mean a longer period of time off work.

Sir Hugh Orde: 'The policeman's policeman' who 'loves the Met'

The 64-year-old retired officer was described as a 'policeman's policeman' by his team in Northern Ireland, where he was chief constable.

Orde joined the Met in 1977 and was posted to south London when he was made a sergeant in his early 20s.

In the 1990s, he developed the force's race relations training. He then developed Operation Trident, the Met's successful initiative to take guns of the streets. He then served as chief constable of Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2009.

After losing out to Sir Paul Stephenson for the Met's top job in 2009, he was appointed president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, before retiring.

Describing his affinity with Scotland Yard he said: 'I've always loved the Met. In policing, it's one of the biggest challenges in the world'.

Sir Dave Thompson: Chief constable of West Midlands Police who appears to stepping just at the right time

Just two weeks ago West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson announced he will leave his position after the Commonwealth Games - saying it is 'time to go'.

The Chief Constable, who worked in the force for 12 years, said he wanted the force to have a fresh vision.

He confirmed plans to leave after the 2022 Commonwealth Games in August.

His decision to leave Britain's second force this year, could put him in a prime position for the top job at the Met.

The West Midlands' top cop said officers and wider society must be actively anti-racist and stand against misogyny after 'shocking' messages exchanged by Metropolitan Police officers were made public.

Speaking on the day he received his knighthood, chief constable Sir David Thompson said the conduct exposed by the national police watchdog should 'terrify us all'.

He was reacting to the publication of messages exchanged by some Met officers in WhatsApp groups and a Facebook chat group, which included multiple references to rape, violence against women, racist and homophobic abuse.

Sir Mark Rowley: Britain's former top terror cop who could be tempted to return to the Met

A familiar figure after leading the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations for four years.

Although he resigned from the police in 2018, Sir Mark is still only 58 and sources believe he could be tempted back by the biggest job in British policing.

Served as chief constable of Surrey for three years to 2011, when he joined the Met as an assistant commissioner.

He's understood to be popular with Sadiq Khan, who will have a say in the next Commissioner.

Announcing his retirement in 2018, AC Rowley said: 'It was immensely sobering, but none the less the greatest honour for me, to lead the response to last year's terrible events in Manchester and London, where I witnessed the extraordinary bravery and compassion of UK policing. It is therefore no surprise to me that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services recently noted, the public's confidence in the police to protect them against terrorism has, in the toughest year in decades, increased markedly.'

He added: 'I am as proud of the police service today as I was when starting on the beat in Birmingham in 1987. Every day I continue to witness the selfless, unwavering commitment of all involved in protecting and serving the public.'

Strewth! Next Met chief could be from Down Under as Priti Patel actively looks to Australia for a new broom to clean up force

By Jason Groves, Political Editor for the Daily Mail

Priti Patel is scouring Australia for Cressida Dicks replacement.

The Home Secretary has extended the search for Britains next Metropolitan Police commissioner Down Under after concluding that an outsider may be needed to break the culture blamed for a series of scandals.

Dame Cressida was recently granted a two-year extension on her contract, despite widespread calls for her to go.

Government sources said the decision reflected a lack of suitable replacements, with one saying it was a case of better the devil you know.

However, some senior Tories believe Dame Cressida could still be forced out early if Scotland Yard is hit by another scandal.

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll (left) oversaw Australias biggest peacetime security operation at the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014. Other potential candidates include Reece Kershaw (right) who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019

By convention, the Metropolitan Police commissioner is drawn from the ranks of serving senior officers in the UK.

But Home Office officials have identified a loophole in the law which allows for the recruitment of senior officers from the United States and certain Commonwealth countries, including Canada and Australia.

Home Office sources confirmed that Miss Patel is actively looking at recruiting Britains next top police officer from Australia.

One said: The problem with senior police [here] is that they all sound the same and think the same. If you want to change the culture  and we do  you might need someone from outside.

A second source said that Australias membership of the Five Eyes security network put them in a very good place for compatibility with UK law enforcement.

They also have some very robust crime-fighting cops.

Among those who have caught the eye of British ministers is Mick Fuller, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, whose tough-talking style would chime with Miss Patels approach.

Mr Fuller has courted controversy, defending his forces policy of strip-searching suspects by saying there needs to be a little bit of fear of law enforcement.

Among those who have caught the eye of British ministers is Mick Fuller, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, (left) whose tough-talking style would chime with Miss Patels approach. Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin (right) is another whose name has been mentioned

People need to know there are consequences, especially those who are criminals or on the verge of being criminals, he said.

However, Mr Fuller has announced plans to retire next year, meaning the Home Office may have to look elsewhere unless he has a rethink.

Another likely candidate is Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll, who oversaw Australias biggest peacetime security operation at the G20 summit in Brisbane in 2014.

The former drug squad detective was drafted in to overhaul the troubled Queensland Fire and Emergency Service after it was hit by sexism and bullying scandals.

Her experience is likely to be of interest to ministers who want the next chief to address allegations that the force suffers from a culture of cover-ups and misogyny.

Discussing her experience, she later said: Jumping from an organisation I knew to one I didnt know  with people who werent happy about me coming  was the toughest time of my career.

But all I could do was be honest and say, we have to take this organisation forward together.

Other potential candidates include Reece Kershaw, who worked his way up the ranks to serve as commissioner of the Australian Federal Police since 2019, and Michael Outram, commissioner of the Australian Border Force who is a former detective chief inspector at the Met.

Former Australian police commissioner Andrew Colvin is another whose name has been mentioned. He transformed the service with new technologies and has considerable experience in dealing with terrorism, including the 2002 Bali bombings.

Ministers have not ruled out a British appointment but are unimpressed with the available candidates.
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Ministers are being urged to give clear guidance to prevent a 'super spreader free-for-all' in workplaces when Covid isolation requirements end in England later this month.

Unison said the health of vulnerable people and colleagues must not be left to individual choice when so much is at stake.

The changes to official guidance announced by the Prime Minister could also lead to some employers insisting that staff work despite virus risks, or face penalties for staying away, said the union.

Whereas before they simply had to follow rules set by ministers, now it is up to individual bosses - in consultation with staff - to decide their own policies, setting up a legal and HR minefield for both.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: 'Ditching Covid rules while the virus rages suggests public health is less important to the Prime Minister than saving his job.

'Putting a match to sensible safety measures, without providing guidance to employers, is reckless and will cause confusion and alarm.

'People will take the virus into work and school, risking the health of colleagues and commuters. Anyone vulnerable will rightly feel they've been flung under the bus.

'It will be a nightmare for employers struggling ?to protect staff ?from a potential super spreader free-for-all.

'Ministers must quickly get to grips with the situation and provide clarity to employers and workers in every sector of the economy.

'A week ago health and care staff faced the sack if they weren't double jabbed. Soon they'll have the green light to work, even if they've got Covid. This means fresh anxiety for the relatives of anyone in a care home?

'Many care staff with little or no sick pay may feel compelled to go in to work, particularly as the cost of living bites. This underlines the need for a proper sick pay system that ?rewards people properly for doing the right thing.'

Today, a lawyer warned the move, announced by Boris Johnson this week, could force companies to bring in more mask-wearing and social distancing to comply with health and safety laws.

Firms have a legal duty to protect their staff, leaving them vulnerable to legal action if they allow staff who have tested positive to come into work, or are seen as tolerating an unhealthy environment.

James Davies, partner at Lewis Silkin, told the Telegraph: 'Freedom Day may well increase the steps employers have to take in order to protect their workforce.

'If the risk goes up, the steps that an employer takes may increase in order to ensure it is complying with health and safety obligations. That could include enhanced social distancing and mask wearing.'

Bosses and workers now need to navigate a knot of confusing laws and guidance to ensure they avoid legal jeopardy. Here, employment experts consulted by MailOnline answer the key questions about the changes.

Bosses and workers now need to navigate a knot of confusing laws and guidance to ensure they avoid legal jeopardy

More than half of MPs plan to allow their staff to WFH after the Covid crisis By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor for MailOnline More than half of MPs are planning to allow their staff to work from home after the coronavirus crisis - and rules could be changed to allow them to claim expenses for trips to Parliament. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) asked MPs about working from home and 'over half of respondents told us that they had decided that in future staff will be able to work from home some, most or all of the time'. IPSA, which oversees the MPs' expenses system, is now consulting on updating its rules to reflect the increase in working from home. Currently people who WFH full-time are not allowed to claim for travel costs for work trips to Parliament. But IPSA is now recommending the rules 'should be amended to allow for staff with home-based contracts to claim for ad hoc, occasional travel to Westminster and/or the constituency office'. The Government's work from home guidance was officially dropped in January and Boris Johnson has made clear he wants workers to return to offices. Advertisement

What do I do if I've got Covid?

You should tell your boss that you cannot come into work because you have tested positive. The employer cannot force you back in if you're unwell. But if someone doesn't come in they can require within a certain number of days that the person gets a certificate from a GP saying whether they are fit to come into work.

And the employer can also require the staff member to be seen to judge whether they are fit to return to work. (Richard Fox, employment partner at Kingsley Napley)

What if one of my employees have Covid?

They should be allowed to stay at home until they are better. Forcing them to come in could raise an issue under health and safety at work legislation.

Employers are responsible for the health and safety of all their employees, and if they force someone to come and they or other staff suffer they could be liable.

What can I do if they insist on coming in? Can I force them to go home?

A number of different legal considerations apply here. If you have Covid and you are suffering from symptoms, a good employer would ask you not to come into the office.

They must have regard to the health and safety of the individual and their other staff. You can't force somebody not to come in through the door, but if an employee insisted on doing so, the employer would need to decide whether it was reasonable in the circumstances to instruct the employee to return home.

If the employee refused to comply with a reasonable instruction, this could become a disciplinary issue which could ultimately lead to dismissal. In reality, this sort of situation is self-regulating as most employees will not want to work if they are sick. (Stephen Morrall, Hunters Law LLP)

What can I do if a colleague has it?

If two secretaries came in and one was ill, the other one would not have the authority to ask her to go home, but she could ring up HR and then they would make a decision.

If the outcome was to ask the sick employee to go home that is likely to be considered a reasonable request.

Boris Johnson has revealed his intention to scrap the legal duty to self-isolate if a person tests positive for the virus later this month as he fights for his political life amid the drama of the 'Partygate' scandal

Do businesses still need to test people or ask them to wear masks?

The government's policy is to remove the legal restrictions and persuade people to act sensibly. They want it to be self-regulating, which is a very English approach.

In England the law doesn't prescribe things unless they are necessary, and things are done by consensus.

Boris pushes for the 'big bang' lifting of Covid curbs across the UK: Talks held with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about falling in line with England By Jason Groves, Political Editor for the Daily Mail Ministers are pushing for a 'big bang' lifting of Covid restrictions across the UK this month amid fears different rules in Scotland and Wales will fuel 'confusion and division'. Whitehall sources said talks had been opened with the devolved administrations in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast about co-ordinating the lifting of coronavirus rules. Boris Johnson announced this week the Government is on course to lift all remaining Covid restrictions a month early, with February 24 pencilled in as 'Covid Freedom Day'. The Scottish government gave a hostile reaction to the Prime Minister's decision yesterday, with health minister Humza Yousaf describing it as 'an attempt to distract and deflect scrutiny over the Prime Minister's behaviour'. The SNP extended Covid powers in Scotland this month for a further six months, with deputy first minister John Swinney saying it was 'necessary to retain the availability of these baseline measures while we review our ongoing response to Covid'. A Whitehall source said the Prime Minister was keen to see measures lifted in a co-ordinated way but acknowledged Scotland and Wales may decide to drag their feet. 'There are discussions with the devolved administrations and ideally we would align things as much as possible,' the source said. 'It would be frustrating if we had parts of the country continuing with restrictions for an extended period  it would be confusing and divisive for people. 'But we have to accept that they have always been overly cautious. They are behind us and it may take them some time to catch up.' Advertisement

So once all further restrictions are removed, I will recommend people at my firm take tests periodically during the week. But it will be down to each company, and their employees, to decide for themselves.

Can a vulnerable colleague sue if they get Covid off an infected person?

It's unlikely. First of all it would be virtually impossible to prove how you've caught Covid, because if you go out of your house and come within a metre of someone you could have caught it from anybody.

If they come into work they are taking a conscious risk. It's not like falling off a ladder - which would be a workplace injury.

What if my boss tries to force me in?

Employers can give ''lawful and reasonable'' instructions to their employees, but I would question whether this would be a lawful and reasonable reason.

I suspect there will be some difficult situations to come. It's a big jump to say that people can come in whether hitherto it has been unlawful to do this.

(Richard Fox)

What are my options if I want to stay working from home?

You have the right to request flexible working, but you don't have the right to work flexibly - there's a crucial difference there.

So if you request to continue working from home, there's a regimen the employer must go through with a corresponding timescale. But you'd expect there to be dialogue in most workplaces.

The issue that employers need to be careful about is whether they are being discriminatory in how they apply the policy. So if an employee is vulnerable and has been working successfully for the last few years, the employer would need to tread carefully.

Will employers have to rip up their existing sickness rules and start again?

This is undoubtedly a big moment for employers. When the Government scraps COVID isolation rules, it means employers can no longer rely on Government regulation to provide the groundwork for a system of protection for their workers. Earlier than expected it seems employers are going to need to set the rules for themselves.

It may be prudent for these to cover new more potent strains of COVID-19 that may come along or even other infections besides COVID-19.

If they do not have appropriate policies already in place, employers may want to consider introducing 'infection policies' to set rules and standards for the entire organisation so everyone is clear. For a building contractor the rules may be different to a care home; office-based workplaces may have different rules and needs to a retailer.

It may not be wise to leave it to individual managers to take a view on isolation and vaccine requirements for members of their own departments, as that could lead to legal risk for the employer.








Valentine's Day could be off the cards for many couples as florists, wine-sellers and gift companies say they are struggling to import products due to post-Brexit custom rules.

The new rules, which came into force on January 1, require a new code to clear goods at customs, but some importers claim they were not told of the changes, which has resulted in disruption for UK firms.

Supply chain experts have said Valentine's Day will be the 'first proper test' of the post-Brexit supply chains.

Richard Bartlett, supply chain expert and UK director of logistics firm KlearNow said: 'Up until January 1, the full effects of trading with the EU after Brexit have been partially mitigated by a 175-day grace period for customs entries.

Supply chain experts have said Valentine's Day will be the 'first proper test' of the post-Brexit supply chains

'That safety net for importers and exporters is now gone.

'Our data [is[ showing that certain product lines have attracted higher than normal delays since January 1, which suggests to us that the new rules are causing significant friction for UK based importers.'

Wine wholesaler Daniel Lambert Wines said it experienced problems landing a major shipment from the EU this week, despite being a trusted importer registered with HMRC.

'HMRC rule changes that kicked in at the start of this year, plus new import codes coming online without sufficient notice, were the cause,' a spokesperson said.

'HMRC is not sharing information well enough and if we, as a relatively big importer who gets their paperwork in order weeks in advance, are getting caught out like this, I'm sure the problems are magnified for smaller importers and any importer that relies on 'just in time' delivery.'

Other small UK-based businesses have also reported disruption.

Wine wholesaler Daniel Lambert Wines said it experienced problems (stock image)

Maureen Glen, who runs Blossoms Florist in Lanarkshire, Scotland, said paperwork delays have held up packaging.

'One of the main issues my business has faced isn't so much the actual flowers but the availability of sundries - wrapping materials, baskets, gift boxes and ribbons,' she said.

'The stock isn't getting through as quickly and taking a long time to reach us. I believe one of the reasons is that the stock was sent back to the original source due to customs paperwork issues.'

Rosebie Morton, founder and flower farmer at Real Flowers, added: 'Valentine's Day is always tricky in terms of supply but it is especially difficult this year as there has been huge volatility in flower prices due to Brexit and massive demand for freight.

'Planes are being redirected to whichever country is paying the most and high value cargo such as computer chips are taking priority.

'As a result, around 30 per cent of Valentine's flowers may well not leave their country of origin resulting in shortages for the retail sector.'

Some retailers are now relying on left-over stock from last year

Elsewhere, Julie Pearson, owner of Cloudberry Gifts in Edinburgh, said some retailers are now relying on left-over stock from last year.

'We were all in lockdown during Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter last year so we were all wary of ordering additional stock for Spring this year, most stores had stock they had to receive and keep again to sell this year,' she said.

'Gift companies based in the UK, small independents and larger suppliers use components based in the Far East and have had huge problems receiving stock and have seen container costs rocketing.

'Other suppliers based in Europe have added freight costs on to their pricing which have added to prices in the shops in the UK.'
A British Army Gurkha was today acquitted of sexually assaulting a female colleague at Sandhurst military academy, after claiming he was so drunk he could not remember what happened, a court martial heard.

Rifleman Sujan Gurung allegedly woke the woman by banging on her bedroom door in the early hours of the morning and pretended to be another Gurkha she had had sex with a week before.

The court heard he 'took advantage' of the female soldier's confusion in the dark room before she could realise it was a different man.

She told police she could not tell whether it was a different person at first because 'they are all Gurkhas and they all look the same'.

But today Rifleman Gurung, who claimed he could not remember touching her because he was drunk on German drink Jagermeister at the time, wept as he was acquitted of three counts of sexual assault at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire.

British Army Gurkha Rifleman Sujan Gurung was today acquitted of sexually assaulting a female colleague at Sandhurst military academy, after claiming he was so drunk he could not remember what happened, a court martial heard

Judge Advocate Jane England interrupted his weeping to say: 'Rifleman Gurung, you've been acquitted. Some may say you're relatively content with that.

'But you got very drunk indeed and you really don't know what you did, do you?

'I hope that's a lesson to you. You can't get drunk and go into other people's rooms, in particular female's rooms.'

The three-day trial heard allegations Rifleman Gurung had touched her sexually and put her hand on his penis.

The court heard the female officer had saved the previous Gurkha's number in her phone as 'Gurkha 1' and while he was in her room said she would ring it, at which point 'it became clear to her he was not the same man'.

After he left, she told her friends what had happened and also called 'Gurkha 1' to see if he had come to her room that night and he told her it was not him.

The female soldier told Royal Military Police she was 'confused' and initially thought Rifleman Gurung must have been the other Gurkha she had slept with before because it was dark in her room and 'they all look the same'.

Rifleman Gurung allegedly woke the woman by banging on her bedroom door in the early hours of the morning and pretended to be another Gurkha she had had sex with a week before

She told the court she 'didn't want to kick off' after he started kissing her in case it was the same Gurkha.

But when Rifleman Gurung started impersonating the other man she said she could tell by his accent that it was a different man.

She said: 'He asked me if I remembered him from the weekend before. The way that he was talking, he was pretending to be that gentleman from before.'

Married Rifleman Gurung, who joined the British Army in 2017 and served in Afghanistan, told the court 'I'm not sure exactly how much I drank, but I had a lot'.

Assisted by a Nepalese interpreter, he said his memory became 'hazy at this point' but remembers knocking on a door and a woman answering.

The soldier, a member of support staff at the world famous Royal Military Academy, said he could remember sitting on her bed with her and talking, with one had holding a cup and the other hand gesturing as he talked.

Asked if he had kissed her or touched her inappropriately in any way, Rifleman Gurung said he had not as far as he could remember, but accepted he might have touched her breast accidentally while gesturing with his hand.

The court heard she drank some beer the next day and went to confront the Gurkhas about the incident to find out who it was.

Matthew Bolt, defending Rifleman Gurung, suggested the female soldier had been 'exaggerating' the encounter, because she was worried about getting into trouble for her actions the day after.

He said: 'In fearing the repercussions you exaggerated what happened... because you wanted to protect yourself.'

The female soldier adamantly denied this.

Rifleman Gurung, of 1 Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, was cleared of all charges following deliberations that lasted almost three hours.
Anna Delvey was either Russian or German. Maybe she was an heiress. Or her last name was Sorokin. Today, she sits in a jail cell in upstate New York, awaiting deportation. But for a while, she had everyone fooled.

Inventing Anna, premiering Friday on Netflix and the first show created by producer Shonda Rhimes since Scandal, focuses on Russian-born German convicted fraudster Anna Sorokin. While living in the U.S. from 2013 to 2017, she pretended to be a rich German heiress under the name Anna Delvey and managed to fool her wealthy acquaintances.

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Inventing Anna is only mostly true. No one quite figured out everything. Not her lawyer or the prosecutor, not journalist Jessica Pressler  Anna Chlumsky plays a reporter stand-in, Vivian Kent, in the show  whose 2018 New York magazine article untangled the messy web of elite Manhattan society and a trust fund that never was.

Arian Moayed, who plays Delveys lawyer, Todd Spodek, compared her con to Silicon Valley inventors who pitch apps, rake in checks from investors and then never materialize a product. Delvey, he said, just happened to be held accountable.

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Her con began as early as 2013, when she came to New York for Fashion Week and never left. For four years, she lived in the best Manhattan hotels, dined at the best Manhattan restaurants, shopped at the best Manhattan stores. She paid only enough to not get caught, all the while lying on loan applications as she dreamed of starting the Anna Delvey Foundation, a Soho House for artists.

Julia Garner, pictured alongside Arian Moayed, stars in Inventing Anna. (NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX/NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX)

She got caught eventually, but not before she racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars indebts, fraudulent wire transfers and a private plane she never actually paid for. In April 2019, she was found guilty on eight counts, including thetheft of $62,000 from so-called friend Rachel Williams, who put down her Vanity Fair work credit card to pay for their Morocco trip when Delveys own cards magically didnt work.

Delvey was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison and released in February 2021 on good behavior. Six weeks later, she was taken into ICE custody for overstaying her visa.

[ How Anna Delvey fooled New York, according to the cast of Inventing Anna ]

But Inventing Anna is less concerned with the details of the loan applications and the big banks than it is with the people Anna, played by Julia Garner, hurt along the way.

Among them was Neff, the wannabe film director working behind the concierge desk at 12 George (in real life, Neffatari Davis worked at the 11 Howard hotel where Delvey stayed for several months in 2017). Even after Delveys con unraveled, Neff stood by her, not just for the glamorous trip to Morocco and the meals she could never afford, but because she may have been Delveys one true friend.

Journalist Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky) becomes obsessed with solving Annas mysteries. (NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX/NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX)

Neff sees through the idea of Anna, Alexis Floyd, who plays Neff, told The News. You hear this rhetoric about her not being human or her being disconnected, and I think Neff sees and most importantly feels the reality of Anna as a human being with a beating heart and a dream and an unstoppable hunger. Thats where the loyalty lies.

Neff got her into the best restaurants and the hottest stylists, but Neff had a true friend who inspired her hopes and dreams and taught her how to hold her own in a room.

[ The Shonda Rhimes Cinematic Universe: How you know the cast of Inventing Anna ]

Celebrity trainer Kacy Duke, played by Laverne Cox, was one of the few who didnt fall under Delveys spell. For Kacy, it was all a job; she even got paid upfront for a few sessions before the money vanished. She left the infamous Morocco trip before it got out of hand and staged a failed intervention

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She has been around the world. Shes a legend in the business. Shes trained everyone from Denzel Washington to Lenny Kravitz to Eve to Dakota Johnson. Shes been in these circles for a very long time, Cox told The News. None of this is unusual for someone like Kacy.

Kacy didnt fall for it, because she knew what it looked like when it was real.

Anna grows her circle of true believers, including friends Rachel (Katie Lowes), Kacy (Laverne Cox) and Neff (Alexis Floyd). (AARON EPSTEIN/NETFLIX/AARON EPSTEIN/NETFLIX)

And then theres Rachel, the Vanity Fair photo editor who arranged with police to have Delvey arrested in Los Angeles and then wrote a book. In a way, she got the most out of her relationship with Delvey; she dreamed of being a writer and with her story of a con artist, she became one.

We dont know if shes the villain for taking down Anna Delvey, Katie Lowes, who plays Rachel, told The News. We dont know if shes the smartest person in the room because she learns from Anna Delvey, sells her story and saves her life. You really watch a girl whos growing up. A loss of innocence.

For Moayed, the most interesting question at all was a throwaway line in the script: Did Delvey believe her own lies?

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He never figured out the answer.
Five members of a family-operated, sex trafficking ring that ushered girls and young women from Mexico to the United States have been sentenced by a New York federal court.

Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas, 45, and his siblings Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas, 46, and Rosalio Melendez-Rojas, 40, were all sentenced to at least 40 years in prison, and Francisco Melendez-Rojas, 27, and Abel Romero-Melendez, 25, were sentenced to 25 years and 20 years, respectively, on Thursday.

The five defendants were found guilty by a Brooklyn jury in March 2020 of sex trafficking, sex-trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the group lured its victims between 2006 and 2017 by helping them migrate from Tenancingo, Mexico, with the promise of a better future in America.

Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas is among five members of a sex trafficking ring operated by a family who lured girls and young women from Mexico to the United States with the promise of a better life before they were subjected to prostitution and beatings. He and his three brothers were sentenced Thursday to at least 40 years in prison.

Rosalio Melendez-Rojas is among three siblings who will spend at least 40 years in prison after they were convicted by a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday. They were among five family members who were convicted in March 2020 of sex trafficking, sex-trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy

According to New York federal prosecutors, Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas was accused by one of the sex workers of physically beating and raped her when refused to perform prostitution work

The members targeted the girls and young women by promising love and marriage, cajoling into 'romantic and sexual relationships' and separated them from their loved ones by moving them into their homes in Tenancingo.

The victims were then subjected to threats and physical and sexual abuse by the defendants, who forced them into sex work across New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware.

All of the money that was generated was later laundered to hide its source of origin.

'Through false promises of a better life, the defendants ensnared young, vulnerable victims in a sordid world of sex-trafficking and used violence and cruel threats to force them into prostitution,' Peace said in a statement.

Six victims testified during the trial, revealing how they were beaten and even raped as the other defendants watched.

A victim identified as 'Diana' told the court that she was only a minor when she was smuggled across the border and obligated into prostitution.

She attempted to flee the barbaric treatment she had been exposed to, but was stopped from doing so by Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas, who attacked and sexually assaulted her as his brother Rosalio Melendez-Rojas and Romero-Melendez looked on.

A second victim, 'Delia,' said she was only 14 years old when she was forced into sex work by Melendez-Perez and his uncle Rosalio Melendez-Rojas. She would be beaten when refusing to accept prostitution work.

Francisco Melendez-Perez joined his three uncles in operating a sex trafficking ring that lured young women and girls from Mexico to the United States

Abel Romero-Melendez got a 20-year sentence for his role with the sex trafficking ring

Fabian Reyes-Rojas, 42, accepted a guilty plea in December 2019 for sex trafficking and sex-trafficking conspiracy. He has yet to be sentenced.

Two other females, 'Fabiola' and Maria Rosalba,' were met with threats, beatings and forced to undergo abortions by Rosalio Melendez-Rojas and his brother Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas.

When a victim identified as 'Veronica' said she would not go into sex work to put money into the pockets of Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas, the defendant threatened her by saying that he would 'chop [her] mother up into little pieces.'

A sixth person who was also part of the prostitution ring, Fabian Reyes-Rojas, 42, accepted a guilty plea in December 2019 for sex trafficking and sex-trafficking conspiracy. He has yet to be sentenced.

'The conviction and sentencing of these traffickers represent the culmination of an imperative investigation and could not have been possible without the cooperation and testimony of these brave victims, whose boundless courage led to justice for the heinous and reprehensible acts committed against them,' HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ricky Patel said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have launched an investigation into firearm's licensing procedures after the father of a man who shot five people dead begged officers to take away his son's shotgun license - five years before he went on a shooting spree.

Jake Davison, 22, killed his mother in her home and then four others, including a three-year-old girl, outside the property in Keyham, Plymouth, in August.

Self-described 'f***ing fat ugly virgin' and bodybuilder Davison, murdered his mother Maxine, 51, after bursting into her home in the Devon city with a pump-action shotgun.

Mark Davison (pictured with his son Jake) said he asked police to take away his son's shotgun and license in 2017

Without saying a word Davison, dressed in black, then gunned down Sophie Martyn, 3, and her father Lee, 43, who were walking up the road.

After murdering the pair, Davison walked to an adjacent area of parkland and opened fire on dogwalker Stephen Washington, 59, before killing Kate Shepherd, 66, outside of Blush hair salon.

He then turned the gun on himself, concluding his 12-minute bloody rampage that was the worst mass shooting seen in Britain since 2010.

The killings happened just weeks after Devon and Cornwall Police returned Davison's shotgun and licence to him.

Police seized them after Davison assaulted two teens in a park in 2020.

IOPC is investigating how the force could have approved his application and then returned his weapon and license to him. Devon and Cornwall Police have said they are co-operating with the investigation.

IOPC is investigating how the force could have approved his application and then returned his weapon and license to him

The killings happened just weeks after Devon and Cornwall Police returned Davison's shotgun and licence to him

Jake Davison, 22, killed his mother in her home and then four others, including a three-year-old girl, outside the property in Keyham, Plymouth, in August

His father, Mark Davison, said he told police in 2017 he didn't think his son should be allowed to own a shotgun, and that he had concerns about his mental health.

'I told them. I said I don't want him to have a shotgun,' he told the BBC.

'I said I remember him asking me for an air rifle when he was younger. I said 'I'm not buying you a point 22 air rifle son... without me there to supervise that'.

'Why did he even need one in the first place? He lived in the city.'

Mr Davison, who turned his own life around after spending time in prison, added that he is 'sorry and ashamed' of his son.

'I don't know what was going on with him,' he said. 'If I could say sorry any better than I can, if I could change it I really would. I am sorry and I am ashamed.'

Mr Davison, is allegedly a violent thug who was once jailed for assaulting a fisherman in the Shetland Islands seven years ago.

He and Maxine were divorced at the time of the shooting.

Five people were killed during the shooting spree in Plymouth in August

An IOPC spokesperson said: 'We can confirm we have spoken to Mr Davison and his statement that he made a call to Devon and Cornwall Police has been considered and reported on as part of our independent investigation.'

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Individual contacts with Jake Davison by members of his family, members of the public or agencies that are known to us, or exist within our systems, form part of that investigation,' a spokesperson said.

'The outcome of that investigation will be shared by the IOPC with the families, coroner and ourselves at a later date.

'As a result, Devon and Cornwall Police is unable to comment further on any matters that are subject to independent investigation and review.'

The National Police Chiefs' Council is also leading an inquiry into the force's firearms policies and procedures.

'This was a review commissioned by the force following events in August 2021,' the force spokesman added.

'The review is not an investigation of any potential fault by an individual or the organisation.

'It focuses on the processes within the Firearms Licensing Unit, compliance with Home Office guidelines and most importantly ensuring we have the national best practice available to us as we move forward.'
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Russia is planning to invade Ukraine on Wednesday, a credible intelligence report has claimed, as US President Joe Biden urgently arranged a telephone call with Vladimir Putin on Saturday in a bid to prevent war.

According to German newspaper Der Spiegel, the US Secret Service, CIA and the Pentagon are said to have received intel of an 'exceptionally detailed' invasion plan, scheduled for February 16.

The plans were passed on to Biden's government and discussed in a series of secret briefings with NATO allies.

They are said to contain specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and detail what roles they might play in the conflict. Der Speigel suggests the US is mulling whether to make the plans public in a bid to undermine them.

But the West's fears of a war were today branded 'alarmist' and a symptom of American 'hysteria.'

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: 'The White House's hysteria is more revealing than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At all cost.

'The provocations, disinformation and the threats are their favourite method for resolving their own problems.'

The White House confirmed that Biden and Putin would discuss the crisis by phone today - just hours after thousands of Brits and Americans were warned to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as tensions reached boiling point.

The warning came amid fears that Putin could launch an 'aerial bombardment' of Kiev, risking a high civilian death toll.

Several other countries have now told their citizens to leave the country, including Belgium, who on Saturday warned there would be 'no guarantee of evacuation' following a 'sudden deterioration', as 'communication links including internet and telephone lines could be seriously affected' and air travel hampered.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today warned that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving around Ukraine's borders.

Images released Saturday show Russian and Belarusian forces testing multiple rocket launchers mounted on snow camouflaged trucks, while a major Russian sea drill was launched in the Black Sea.

But despite the sabre-rattling drills, Russia's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told Newsweek magazine that the US warnings of an invasion were 'alarmist' and repeated that his country was 'not going to attack anyone.'

Tobias Ellwood, however, the chairman of the Defence Select Committee, branded the Ukraine crisis 'our Cuban missile crisis moment' as he called for British-led NATO divisions to be in the country.

The Conservative MP told Times Radio on Saturday: 'An invasion is imminent. Once that happens, because of the grain the comes out of Ukraine for the world, (that will) affect food prices across the world.

'Oil and gas prices will be affected as well, and European security will then be threatened further, so we have to ask ourselves, what should we do instead?

'What are the calculations, and yes, there is this looking Putin in the eye wondering what would happen.

'This is our Cuban missile crisis moment'.

He said the consequences of allowing Ukraine to fall would see a 'new era of instability with a Russia and China axis developing' while the West is 'shrinking in size' and authoritarianism is on the rise.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Saturday that the Ukraine crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving around Ukraine's borders. (Pictured: 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launchers fire during the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops on Saturday)

An intelligence report has suggest Putin wants to invade Ukraine on Wednesday (Pictured: A serviceman takes aim during the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops)

Russian troops continue to amass along Ukraine's borders as US President Joe Biden prepares to call Vladimir Putin today (Pictured: 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launchers fire during the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops)

Brits, Americans and other Europeans living in Ukraine have been told to get out while they still can amid rising tensions (Pictured: Servicemen operate 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launchers during Russian-Belarusian military drill on Saturday)

V-200 Polonez multiple launch rocket systems take part in the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops

Belgians were warned on Saturday to leave Ukraine as there was 'no guarantee of evacuation' if Russia invades (Pictured: A 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launcher takes part in the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops)

The Foreign Office this week updated its advice to tell UK nationals to 'leave now while commercial means are still available' (Pictured: A 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launcher takes part in the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops)

A 9K57 Uragan multiple rocket launcher takes part in the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills by Belarusian and Russian troops Saturday

Scottish man fears 'chaos' as he tries to flee Ukraine with his family - as former ambassador warns not all Brits will get out A Scottish man living in Ukraine has said he is concerned about 'chaos' as he tries to get his family out of the country quickly amid growing concerns that Russia could launch an invasion. Stuart McKenzie told BBC Breakfast: 'With young children in the country, I've got to take their safety as a priority so we're definitely looking at how to get them out as soon as possible. 'So many people are trying to leave at the same time and there won't be flights, the roads will be blocked, are you going to be able to get fuel for your car? Is there going to be cash in the banking machines? 'There could be so many things happening, so much chaos happening'. He added: 'Day to day, people are trying to get on with their lives, however, every day it seems that there's more and more threats and we hear as soon as next week we could have Russian troops in the country. 'These things can go out of control very fast so we've got to be on the right side of the chaos, because to think of a border with a million cars and panic happening would be disastrous'. Former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch described the efforts the remaining embassy staff in Ukraine will have to go to in order to help Britons flee. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It will overwhelm the embassy's resources, you can't assume all the Brits in the country will hear this so you have to contact them. 'You may have to arrange an emergency telephone line, you'll need to send people to the airport where, with lots of foreign nationals trying to get out, there will be chaos, there may need to be extra flights laid on so this will occupy everyone's time for 24 hours a day for the next few days and you won't get everyone out - some people will choose to stay.' Advertisement

He added that he was 'really concerned about what's going on in No 10' over the Ukraine crisis.

He criticised an absence of international leadership, saying: 'Where is the United Nations Security Council resolutions? Where is the determination not to put Nato troops around the country as we're doing at the moment, but actually inside the country as well...?

'I know this is something that the MoD (Ministry of Defence) would like to do, but they are hampered by political resolve, by a political appetite to lean into this'.

He added that it would be 'misguided' to think sanctions against Russia would work, and that: 'We haven't understood the bigger strategic picture.'

'I'm again really concerned about what's going on in No 10,' he said, 'We're playing catch-up and I'm afraid it's all too late.'

It comes after the Foreign Office this week updated its advice to tell UK nationals to 'leave now while commercial means are still available' amid mounting concerns they could get caught up in fighting - including a deadly 'aerial bombardment of Kiev' - should Putin give the go-ahead to his 130,000 troops currently massed near Ukraine's borders.

The urgent government update came less than 24 hours after the US also issued an evacuation order, as western analysts raised the alarm that Vladimir Putin was about to send in his forces.

The European Union also told non-essential staff from its diplomatic mission in Ukraine that they should leave the country, but stopped short of issuing a full evacuation order.

Meanwhile, armed forces minister James Heappey today said British troops helping with training in Ukraine will be leaving the country this weekend.

Having sent UK personnel to train Ukrainians on the anti-tank missiles supplied by Britain, Mr Heappey said: 'All of them will be withdrawn. There will be no British troops in Ukraine if there is to be a conflict there.'

He said he hoped assurances from Moscow that Russia is not planning to invade remain true but noted the country could now launch an attack 'very, very quickly'.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'That's not to say what Ben Wallace heard in Moscow yesterday may not be true. Clearly the only route to a peaceful outcome is if talks continue and I think if talks continue there has to be a willingness to believe what each side says to each other.

'But my point is not mutually exclusive to observe there are now weapons systems and combat aircraft in place that could mount an attack very, very quickly and therefore we are doing what is appropriate to allow UK citizens in Ukraine to plan for the worst.'

Mr Heappey suggested sending British troops to Ukraine would play into the Kremlin's hands, as he ruled out the prospect in event of war.

He added: 'Putin and his colleagues would very much like to be able to say what they may do is a consequence of Western aggression in Ukraine.

'So it's very important to us, to everybody frankly involved, that we're very clear we won't play an active part in Ukraine.'

Pressed if there will be no UK combat troops in Ukraine in the event of war, he said: 'It's absolutely essential that people in Moscow hear that, yes.'

Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 10, 2022. Thousands of Britons were tonight told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an imminent invasion by Russian forces that Washington spy chiefs warned could be ordered in a matter of days

Videos purportedly showing atomic canons being moved towards Ukraine sparked fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware within striking distance of major cities. The video - showing huge 2S7 Pion guns (file photo) - was captured in Vesela Lopan, Bolgorod in Western Russia and just 10 miles from the Ukrainian border

Britons have been told to leave Ukraine immediately over concerns of a possible invasion by Russian forces. Pictured: Servicemen of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus take part in joint military exercises in Belarus on Friday

Pictured: Russian tanks during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State's Response Force, at a firing range in Belarus, February 11

Russia is holding massive war games in neighbouring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault

The Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to tell UK nationals to leave Ukraine 'now while commercial means are still available' as Russia intensified its war games on its borders with Ukraine

This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 11, 2022 shows tanks during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus

Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said Friday. Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11

Pictured: Still grabs from video purportedly showing atomic canons, sparking fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware to its borders with Ukraine

US soldiers line up during the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, eastern Romania, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

Military aid in the form of missiles delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, is unloaded from a plane at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine February 11, 2022

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat said the Ukrainian military is 'increasingly capable to defend themselves' and advised that Britain training them up is better assistance than sending troops.

The chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We're enabling them to have the ability to fight themselves, and having served in combat in countries around the world I can tell you that training local forces to fight for themselves is a significantly better defensive technique than putting troops in.

'The reality is that the Ukrainians already have some 145,000 in their army, they have another - depending on how you count - 100-odd thousand border guard reserves and people like that so they have a significantly larger army even than we do and they are increasingly capable to defend themselves.'

But looking to assuage fears of World War Three, former cabinet minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he is 'sceptical' that Russia will launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He told Times Radio: 'I look at Putin not as a wild fanatic; he's not an Adolf Hitler about to launch all-out war just for the sheer nastiness of it.

'He's a cool, calculating politician who resents the fact that Ukraine is independent; he would like to regain control, either physical control or political control of that country.

'But he knows that he has to carry Russian public opinion with him, and why I'm sceptical as to a full-scale invasion.

'That would involve, even if the Russians were to win, that would involve not just immediate but ongoing, serious casualties of Russian forces as the Ukrainians fought back.'

The former Tory foreign secretary and defence secretary added that there was 'still a serious possibility' that Russian President Vladimir Putin might send troops into part of the country, which would most likely be the land bridge between Donbas and Crimea.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he would speak to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday in a last-ditch attempt to head off a possible invasion.

'We continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving around Ukraine's borders,' Blinken said in a press conference in Fiji.

'If Russia is genuinely interested in resolving this crisis of its own making through diplomacy and dialogue, we're prepared to do that,' he said.

'But it must take place in the context of de-escalation. So far, we've only seen escalation from Moscow,' he said.

'This is a pivotal moment. We're prepared for whatever should happen,' he said.

The top US diplomat reiterated that Washington and its allies will 'swiftly' impose punishing sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, which he said could now start 'at any time'.

'We don't know whether President Putin has made that decision,' he said.

'But we do know that he has put in place the capacity to act on very short notice.'

On Friday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington believes Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine any day, and issued a warning to Americans in the country: Get out immediately because the U.S. will not be coming back to rescue anyone.

'We encourage all American citizens who remain in Ukraine to depart immediately,' Sullivan said.

'We want to be crystal clear on this point.

'Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours.

'The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands.

'If you stay you are assuming risk, with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and there is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.'

Further to this, PBS reporter Nick Schifrin tweeted on Friday: 'US officials anticipate a horrific, bloody campaign that begins with two days of aerial bombardment and electronic warfare, followed by an invasion, with the possible goal of regime change.'

And late on Friday night, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urgently warned the city's citizens about the danger of a Russian attack.

The former heavyweight boxing champion's statement - the first serious warning to the city's population- was issued late last night on social media.

The mayor released a statement on Telegram about preparations underway in case of attack.

They included securing communications in case the internet or phone network went down, increasing bomb shelter capacity, stockpiling fuel & agreeing plans for evacuation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced fears 'for the security of Europe' during a call with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, whilst in a sign of the increasing tensions, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was yesterday involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who is currently in Russia, warned an invasion could come 'at any time', echoing Washington's warnings that the Kremlin has amassed enough troops at the border to call an attack.

Meanwhile, videos purportedly showing atomic canons being moved towards Ukraine sparked fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware within striking distance of major cities.

The video - showing huge 2S7 Pion guns - was captured in Vesela Lopan, Bolgorod in Western Russia and just 10 miles from the Ukrainian border, according to The Sun.

Known as the 'Soviet atomic cannon', the devastating weapon is one of the most powerful artillery cannons ever built.

It can carry up to four 203 mm nuclear shells, which have the potential to annihilate large areas.

In a chilling press conference earlier this week, Putin warned that were Ukraine to join NATO, the risk of nuclear war would increase.

Russia has demanded that the alliance completely rules out Ukraine from ever joining.

In the FCDO's updated advice, the government has said: 'British nationals in Ukraine should leave now while commercial means are still available.

'Since January 2022, the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's borders has increased the threat of military action.

'The Embassy remains open but will be unable to provide in-person consular assistance. British nationals should leave while commercial options remain.'

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority, which is why we have updated our travel advice.

'We urge British nationals in Ukraine to leave now via commercial means while they remain available.'

According to The Guardian, sources said the UK is not preparing an emergency airlift for British citizens because there are still commercial flights operating daily and the land border with Poland is open.

It is believed that the number of British citizens in Ukraine is in the low thousands, but many have strong ties to the country and are unlikely to leave.

The Foreign office's advice comes a day after US President Joe Biden urged all American citizens to leave the country.

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Latvia, Norway and the Netherlands also told their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, while Israel said it was evacuating relatives of embassy staff.

The White House said Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come within the week, possibly within the next two days, and urged Americans to leave the country now.

A call between Biden and Putin will take place on Saturday, a US official said Friday night, as top US General Mark Milley spoke by telephone with his Russian counterpart General Valery Gerasimo.

The pair 'discussed several security-related issues of concern,' an official said.

Meanwhile, a senior official said that the US is sending 3,000 more troops to Poland, as President Biden met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders on Friday to brief them on developments.

The new wave of US troops join 1,700 who already are assembling there to support NATO allies.

A Ukrainian tank moves during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 10, 2022

Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Washington warned that he has now amassed the necessary forces

Admiral Tony Radakin (L) and Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov (R) shake hands as UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace (2nd L), and Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu (2nd R), look on inside the Russian Ministry of Defence building on February 11, 2022 in Moscow

The Foreign Office's advice to Britons in Ukraine The Foreign Office said on its website on Friday: 'Since January 2022, the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's borders has increased the threat of military action. 'The Embassy remains open but will be unable to provide in-person consular assistance. British nationals should leave while commercial options remain. 'If you are in need of assistance to leave Ukraine, you should call +380 44 490 3660 or +44 (0)1908 516666 and select the option for 'consular services for British nationals'. 'Any Russian military action in Ukraine would severely affect the British Embassy Kyiv's ability to provide any consular assistance. 'British Nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances. 'If you decide to remain in Ukraine, you should remain vigilant throughout due to potential combat operations, keep your departure plans under constant review and ensure your travel documents are up to date. 'You should monitor the media and this travel advice regularly, subscribe to email and read our advice on how to deal with a crisis overseas.' Advertisement

The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week.

They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. A further 8,500 U.S. troops are already on alert.

It also emerged on Friday that U.S. and European officials are finalising an extensive package of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine that targets major Russian banks, but does not include banning Russia from the SWIFT financial system, according to U.S. and European officials.

A diplomatic source said the strategy now was to intensify efforts to spell out the cost to Putin of invasion.

'The message has to be that he cannot win,' the source told DailyMail.com.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But he said all the pieces were in place for a major military operation that could start 'rapidly'.

'The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now,' Mr Sullivan said.

'We are not saying that a decision has been taken by President Putin,' Mr Sullivan added.

'What we are saying is that we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we are seeing on the ground, and what our intelligence analysts have picked up, that we are sending this clear message.'

He added that the possibility of an invasion taking place before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 is a 'credible prospect' and a 'very, very distinct possibility'.

US and EU finalising sanctions package should Russia invade Ukraine U.S. and European officials are finalizing an extensive package of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine that targets major Russian banks, but does not include banning Russia from the SWIFT financial system, according to U.S. and European officials. The sanctions on the table also include export controls on components produced by Russia for the tech and weapons sectors, and sanctions against specific Russian oligarchs, according to three sources familiar with the discussions. One U.S. official said the Russian banks targeted with sanctions could include state-backed VTB and Sberbank, the largest financial institutions in Russia. Both institutions are already subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region that limit their ability to raise capital in the United States, but the full blocking sanctions in sight now would have far more significant consequences, said one sanctions expert. They would likely be accompanied by certain waivers and wind-down periods to limit harm to U.S. companies and those of allies. Three sources familiar with the talks said banning Russia entirely from the SWIFT financial transaction system was not under active consideration after running into major objections from European countries. European lenders have expressed concern that banning Russia from SWIFT would mean that billions of dollars of outstanding loans they have in Russia would not be repaid. Sanctions against major Russian banks would still have a significant impact on the Russian financial sector and economy, one of the sources said. VTB and Sberbank's share prices have been volatile in recent weeks, as investors worry Washington could ban Americans from holding debt or equity in the institutions. 'The goal is to design sanctions that would really hit the Russians while keeping an eye on the collateral damage to those imposing them, recognizing that sanctions would clearly hit Europe harder,' said one of the sources. U.S. officials said strong progress was made on the sanctions package during meetings with their counterparts in Germany, France and Britain this week. The U.S. and European allies have focused on sanctions that would be imposed in the event of a physical Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to U.S. and European officials. They would need to coordinate further on any sanctions response short of a full military invasion, such as big cyber attack. 'A lot of the issues have been resolved,' said one U.S. official familiar with the talks, adding, 'I wouldn't say there's 100% agreement, but most of the concerns raised' by Germany in particular have been addressed. Visiting German chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Washington Monday he was aligned with the United States on actions on Russia, but did not mention the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that the U.S. has vowed to shut of Russia invades. Reporting by Reuters Advertisement

He said new Russian forces were arriving at the border and they are in a position to 'mount a major military operation in Ukraine any day now', which could include a 'rapid assault on the city of Kyiv' or on other parts of the country.

Speaking from the White House, Mr Sullivan said Russia could choose 'in very short order to commence a major military action against Ukraine', but stressed the US does not know whether Mr Putin has made a final decision.

Mr Sullivan said the 'threat is now immediate enough' to urge Americans to leave Ukraine 'as soon as possible and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours'.

He did not mince words for those who choose to remain: 'The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.'

Sullivan spoke shortly after Biden and six European leaders, the heads of NATO and the European Union held talks on the worst crisis between the West and Russia since the end of the Cold War.

In a call lasting around 80 minutes, Downing Street said Mr Johnson urged Nato allies to make it clear to Moscow there is a 'heavy package of economic sanctions ready to go'.

'The Prime Minister told the group that he feared for the security of Europe in the current circumstances,' a No 10 spokeswoman said, in an account of the call that included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, as well as EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.

Mr Johnson warned that the penalties would be 'extremely damaging' to Russia's economy and urged that allies must reinforce Nato's eastern frontiers.

Russia is holding massive war games in neighbouring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault.

Moscow denies planning to invade Ukraine, but says it could take unspecified 'military-technical' action unless a series of demands are met, including promises from NATO never to admit Ukraine and to withdraw forces from Eastern Europe.

The West has said those main demands are non-starters. The EU and NATO alliance delivered responses this week on behalf of their member states.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it wanted individual answers from each country, and called the collective response 'a sign of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect'.

The U.S. is set to send 3,000 more troops to Poland in the coming days to try to reassure NATO allies, fource U.S. officials told Reuters news agency on Friday.

Earlier, Mr Blinken outlined what he said were 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation.

'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time  and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' he said.

Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today warned Russia that an invasion of Ukraine will have 'tragic consequences' as he continued the diplomatic blitz in Moscow.

He stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open as he held talks with counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

Officials reportedly believe that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and could launch an offensive next week. Above: A Ukrainian soldier is seen manning defensive positions in his country on Friday

A Ukrainian soldier is seen out of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on February 11, 2022

US Navy fighter jets fly during the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, eastern Romania, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

British nationals have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave Ukraine immediately 'while commercial means are still available'. Pictured: A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry

At a press conference after the meeting Mr Wallace said he had been assured that Russia has 'no intention' of invading - but pointed out that the huge military build-up on the border meant it could do so 'at any time'.

'I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine,' Wallace told reporters in Moscow. He added: 'We will judge that statement on the evidence.'

He said he was becoming less optimistic about defusing the situation, observing that the 'direction of travel' was against a diplomatic resolution.

But Mr Wallace also insisted there was 'absolutely no deafness' in his discussions, after Moscow's foreign minister swiped about his 'deaf and mute' conversation with Liz Truss yesterday.

The trip is the latest effort to turn down the temperature on the crisis and persuade Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink.

Talks in Berlin between Ukraine and Russia, joined by France and Germany, at first held hope for some progress as they lasted into Friday morning, but at the end, nothing palpable emerged.

'Unfortunately, almost nine hours of talks have ended without any significant results,' Russian deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak said. It remained unclear when and how the next attempt at a breakthrough would be made.

President Biden said the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war.

The head of Norway's military intelligence service said on Friday that Russia's forces are in position and ready to invade Ukraine.

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said.

'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he added.

Stensones made his remarks at the presentation of the Norwegian intelligence services' annual threat assessment report.

According to him, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics.

A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows a Russian deployment at Zyabrovka airfield in Gomel, Belarus, less than 15 miles from the border with Ukraine

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of a the tent camp and equipment at Oktyabrskoye airfield in Crimea, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows equipment and new deployments at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows atillery training at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

British man with wife in Ukraine feels 'worried' for her safety A British man has said he feels 'worried' for the safety of his wife in Ukraine after the Foreign Office advised UK nationals to leave the country on Friday. Gary Smith, 53, moved back to Newcastle for work in August after living in Ukraine for two years with his wife, who is a lecturer at a university there. He told the PA news agency: 'I am just hoping and praying that there isn't an invasion. If there is, a lot of lives will be lost. 'My wife said to me the other week 'I don't want to be killed.' What are you supposed to say to that? 'I moved back to the UK to make a life for us here and she was meant to join me within the next year. 'If this happens it could end up being three or four years before I can see her again.' Advertisement

'It's very difficult to say if (an offensive) is likely or unlikely, because it is solely up to the Russian president to make the decision', he said.

U.S.-based Maxar Technologies - which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces - said satellite images taken on Wednesday and Thursday showed large new deployments of troops, vehicles and warplanes at several locations in western Russia, Belarus and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

According to the Military Times, 500 troop tents and hundreds of armoured vehicles were shown at Oktyabrskoye airfield - an abandoned airfield found north of Simferopol, the Crimean peninsula's second largest city.

Other images showed training activities, artillery deployments and a new deployment in Slavne, also in Crimea.

And north of Ukraine in Belarus, military vehicles and helicopters were also identified at an airfield near Gomel, about 15 miles from its border with its southern neighbour.

Troops are also stationed near Rechitsa in Belarus, some 28 miles from Ukraine.

The satellite images also showed additional equipment had arrived at a Kursk training area in western Russia - a new development since Maxar began releasing images of Russia's military build-up in December.

Conflict has been festering in eastern Ukraine since 2014 between Russian-backed separatists and Kyiv forces.

UK envoys bring gifts before talks in Kremlin Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Admiral Tony Radakin arrived in Moscow yesterday with gifts for their counterparts ahead of a day of meetings. Sir Tony, the Chief of the General Staff, presented his opposite number General Valery Gerasimov with a piece of iron from the mast of HMS Belfast, which took part in the Arctic convoys supplying Russia in the Second World War. In 2010 Russia paid for the ship, berthed in London, to be refitted. The admiral also brought a framed print of an etching depicting General Gerasimov's home city of Kazan. Mr Wallace brought General Sergey Shoygu, the Kremlin defence minister, a Scots Guards sword and Scottish whisky. Mr Wallace served as an officer in the Scots Guards. In return, Mr Wallace was given British medals from the Crimean War, a plaque and a bottle of whisky. Sir Tony received military lamps. Advertisement

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday warned again of the 'real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe'.

Moscow has announced sweeping drills in the Black and Azov seas in the coming days and closed large areas for commercial shipping, drawing a strong protest from Ukraine on Thursday.

Russian naval forces and troops, including units brought in from all over the vast country, now surround Ukraine to the south, east and north.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced hope that the West would react to the Russian move, saying that 'we have engaged our partners to prepare a coordinated response.'

Ukraine's military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday that the authorities plan to quickly engage 1.5 million to 2 million people in training for the army reserve.

Russia's troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition.

The UK has put 1,000 troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis in the east if the current Russian military build-up leads to war.

It has also pledged extra help for NATO allies, with 350 Royal Marines arriving in Poland to coincide with the Prime Minister's visit on Thursday.

Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but NATO is alarmed by the build-up of more than 100,000 troops on the borders with its neighbour.

Mr Wallace told a press conference on Friday afternoon: 'I was clear about the tragic consequences that any invasion of Ukraine could have for all people  both Ukrainian, Russian and the security of Europe.

'We listened to the assurances given by minister Shoigu that they would not invade Ukraine and we urged dialogue as a way through to address any concerns the Russian Government may have.'

Ben Wallace (left) met his counterpart Sergei Shoigu (right) in an attempt to quell the crisis in eastern Europe

The UK and Russian teams having their discussion on Ukraine in Moscow on Friday

The trip follows Boris Johnson's visits to Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin (pictured) must not be allowed to 'bully' the region

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', Norway's vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said on Friday

According to Stensones, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics

Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11, 2022

But Mr Wallace said: 'The disposition of the (Russian) forces that we see, over 100,000 in both Belarus and Ukraine, obviously gives that size of force the ability to do a whole range of actions, including an invasion of a neighbouring country at any time.

Russia could launch invasion 'at any time', U.S. Secretary of State says Russia has sent more forces to its border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time including during the Winter Olympics, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday. Blinken, who has been leading negotiations with Moscow over the troop build-up, said Washington is continuing to 'draw down' its embassy in Ukraine and urged American citizens still in the country to leave immediately. 'Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,' Blinken told a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne. 'As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics.' The Beijing Games end on Feb. 20. Joe Biden had earlier echoed the same call for Americans to get out now, saying the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war. 'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. 'That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. His comments come as another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border. Advertisement

'Mainly because of the readiness it is now at, it is an active, obviously, exercise, certainly in Belarus, and of course that is an option that those forces could have.

'We obviously have made it very clear in Nato that an invasion would have tragic consequences, and we are here and I'm here today, for example, to seek a way of whatever we can to de-escalate that tension.

'I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine.'

In a downbeat assessment, Mr Wallace said: 'I think the direction of travel has been against the direction of the diplomatic travel over the last few weeks.

'We've seen continued build-up of forces as we've seen a build up of diplomacy, and you would hope that, actually one goes up, one goes down  and I think that is why my optimism is not as (optimistic) as I used to be, or can be.

'And I'm hoping that the beginning today is an effort to try and see if there is a way forward to make sure we do de-escalate.

'We'll keep trying. I think the international community is trying very hard  obviously President Macron's visit, Prime Minister Johnson spoke to President Putin recently as well. And indeed, I think the new Chancellor of Germany is coming to visit next week.

'I think it is very important that we give the Russian government, give them all a chance to provide the reassurance they are seeking about the intentions of Nato, but also to give us the airtime to hear from them their assurances that they have no intention of invading Ukraine as well.'

He said there was 'absolutely no deafness or blindness' in his talks with Mr Shoigu, characterising them as 'constructive and frank' discussions which he hopes will create a better atmosphere between the two sides.

Asked about Mr Lavrov's characterisation of his meeting with Liz Truss as a conversation between 'deaf and dumb', Mr Wallace said: 'I think minister Lavrov is a master at these types of engagements and making those types of comments.

'In our discussion there was absolutely no deafness or blindness, we as defence ministers bear the responsibility of the consequences of what happens in conflict.

'We deal with the facts and we deal with the issues we have because it is in both our interests to resolve that.

'I think we have had a constructive and frank discussion and I hope it has contributed to a better atmosphere but also to de-escalation, but there is still considerable way to go between the two of us.'

US President Joe Biden announced last week that he was sending 1,000 soldiers to Romania and 2,000 to Poland.

Those arriving in Romania are being transferred from a base in Germany.

Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon fighters arrived in Bulgaria on Friday as part of efforts to secure NATO's eastern flank

The aircraft with 130 Spanish personnel will be stationed at the southern Graf Ignatievo air base and 'perform enhanced air policing tasks' with the Bulgarian air force until March 31, the Bulgaria's defence ministry said in a statement

France's President Emmanuel Macron has also said he's ready to send hundreds of troops to Romania under NATO command.

Romania, a NATO member since 2004, already hosts around 900 US troops, as well as 140 Italian and 250 Polish troops.

Bulgaria, Romania's southern neighbour, said four Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon fighters arrived Friday as part of efforts to secure NATO's eastern flank.

The aircraft with 130 Spanish personnel will be stationed at the southern Graf Ignatievo air base and 'perform enhanced air policing tasks' with the Bulgarian air force until March 31, the Bulgaria's defence ministry said in a statement.

As a NATO member, Bulgaria is required to keep at least one squadron of 12 aircraft in good fighting order.

But the inability to maintain enough of its ageing fleet of Soviet-built MiG-29 fighters prompted Sofia in 2016 to authorise NATO to help protect its airspace.

Ben Wallace warns Putin's generals of 'tragic consequences' during Moscow talks as he says military build-up means Russia could invade Ukraine 'at any time' - but insists he is listening after foreign minister's 'deaf and mute' barb at Liz Truss yesterday

Ben Wallace Friday warned Russia that an invasion of Ukraine will have 'tragic consequences' as he continued the diplomatic blitz in Moscow.

The Defence Secretary stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open as he held talks with counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

At a press conference after the meeting Mr Wallace said he had been assured that Russia has 'no intention' of invading - but pointed out that the huge military build-up on the border meant it could do so 'at any time'.

He said he was becoming less optimistic about defusing the situation, observing that the 'direction of travel' was against a diplomatic resolution.

But Mr Wallace also insisted there was 'absolutely no deafness' in his discussions, after Moscow's foreign minister swiped about his 'deaf and mute' conversation with Liz Truss yesterday.

The trip is the latest effort to turn down the temperature on the crisis and persuade Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink.

US president Joe Biden is holding a call with Mr Johnson and other Western leaders to take stock of the situation later.

The head of Norway's military intelligence service has warned Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine, and the Kremlin just needs to make the call.

Boris Johnson visited Belgium and Poland yesterday, where he insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to 'bully' the region and warned Europe faces its biggest security crisis in decades.

Meanwhile, Ms Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, with no sign of a breakthrough.

It comes as the Government confirmed preparations to allow the UK to 'toughen and expand' its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

The UK andRussian teams having their discussion on Ukraine in Moscow today

The UK has put 1,000 troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis in the east if the current Russian military build-up leads to war. It has also pledged extra help for NATO allies, with 350 Royal Marines arriving in Poland to coincide with the Prime Minister's visit on Thursday.

Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but NATO is alarmed by the build-up of more than 100,000 troops on the borders with its neighbour.

Mr Wallace told a press conference this afternoon: 'I was clear about the tragic consequences that any invasion of Ukraine could have for all people  both Ukrainian, Russian and the security of Europe.

'We listened to the assurances given by minister Shoigu that they would not invade Ukraine and we urged dialogue as a way through to address any concerns the Russian Government may have.'

But Mr Wallace said: 'The disposition of the (Russian) forces that we see, over 100,000 in both Belarus and Ukraine, obviously gives that size of force the ability to do a whole range of actions, including an invasion of a neighbouring country at any time.

'Mainly because of the readiness it is now at, it is an active, obviously, exercise, certainly in Belarus, and of course that is an option that those forces could have.

'We obviously have made it very clear in Nato that an invasion would have tragic consequences, and we are here and I'm here today, for example, to seek a way of whatever we can to de-escalate that tension.

'I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine.'

In a downbeat assessment, Mr Wallace said: 'I think the direction of travel has been against the direction of the diplomatic travel over the last few weeks.

'We've seen continued build-up of forces as we've seen a build up of diplomacy, and you would hope that, actually one goes up, one goes down  and I think that is why my optimism is not as (optimistic) as I used to be, or can be.

'And I'm hoping that the beginning today is an effort to try and see if there is a way forward to make sure we do de-escalate.

'We'll keep trying. I think the international community is trying very hard  obviously President Macron's visit, Prime Minister Johnson spoke to President Putin recently as well. And indeed, I think the new Chancellor of Germany is coming to visit next week.

'I think it is very important that we give the Russian government, give them all a chance to provide the reassurance they are seeking about the intentions of Nato, but also to give us the airtime to hear from them their assurances that they have no intention of invading Ukraine as well.'

He said there was 'absolutely no deafness or blindness' in his talks with Mr Shoigu, characterising them as 'constructive and frank' discussions which he hopes will create a better atmosphere between the two sides.

Asked about Mr Lavrov's characterisation of his meeting with Liz Truss as a conversation between 'deaf and dumb', Mr Wallace said: 'I think minister Lavrov is a master at these types of engagements and making those types of comments.

'In our discussion there was absolutely no deafness or blindness, we as defence ministers bear the responsibility of the consequences of what happens in conflict.

'We deal with the facts and we deal with the issues we have because it is in both our interests to resolve that.

'I think we have had a constructive and frank discussion and I hope it has contributed to a better atmosphere but also to de-escalation, but there is still considerable way to go between the two of us.'

Meanwhile, Norwegian vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said the Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine'.

'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he said.

During his overseas engagements, Mr Johnson indicated further military support could be offered to Ukraine if Russia invades. But he made it clear that Britain could not intervene militarily if Ukraine was attacked.

In a pooled clip for broadcasters at a military base in Warsaw, he said: 'The UK has been supplying some defensive weaponry in the form of anti-tank missiles, we have been training Ukrainian troops. That is as far as we can go at the moment.

'Ukraine is not part of NATO. What we are sticking up for is the right of Ukraine like any other sovereign independent country to aspire to that.'

At an earlier press conference, speaking alongside NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, the Prime Minister called on Russia to engage in meaningful talks because it was 'far better to begin a discussion now than to have a catastrophe'.

The UK has already supplied 2,000 anti-tank missiles, body armour, helmets and combat boots to Ukraine and Mr Johnson indicated he could go further.

Mr Johnson poses for a photograph with British troops in front of a Union flag during a visit to Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base near Warsaw

A satellite image shows a close-up of troops and equipment at Oktyabrskoye air base, Crimea

Asked if he could authorise military support to an insurgency in Ukraine in the event of an invasion, he said: 'We will consider what more we can conceivably offer. The Ukrainians are well prepared, there are things we've offered that they, in fact, don't seem to need because they think they have them in enough numbers already.

'It's possible, I don't want to rule this out, but at the moment we think the package is the right one.

But I want to stress it would be an absolute disaster if it was to come to that and if there was to be serious bloodshed on Ukrainian soil.'

In Moscow, Ms Truss had a difficult encounter with Mr Lavrov. He characterised the meeting as a 'conversation between deaf and dumb', but Miss Truss said: 'I was not mute in our discussions earlier, I put forward the UK's point of view on the current situation and the fact that as well as seeking to deter Russia from an invasion into Ukraine, we are also very resolute in pursuing the diplomatic path.'

She added: 'There is still time for Russia to end its aggression towards Ukraine and pursue the path of diplomacy.

But in the discussions and a joint press conference Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing 'ultimatums and moralising' from the West and comparing their conversation to a 'deaf and a mute'

'But NATO is very clear that if that path is not chosen there will be severe consequences for Russia, Ukraine and the whole of Europe.'

Ms Truss called for Russia to pull its troops back from the border to ease tensions.

'There is no doubt that the stationing of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border is directly put in place to threaten Ukraine,' she said. There had also been 'cyberattacks and other attempts to undermine the activities of a sovereign nation'.

Ms Truss said: 'If Russia is serious about diplomacy they need to move those troops and desist from the threats.'

The visit to Moscow was the first by a foreign secretary in four years, with the relationship between the UK and Russia severely strained by incidents including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In a sign of the chilly atmosphere at the talks, Mr Lavrov said 'ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere' and accused Miss Truss of being ill-prepared for the negotiations.

Rejecting Miss Truss's call for forces to pull back, Mr Lavrov said: 'The demands to remove the Russian troops from the Russian territory cause regret. We don't want to threaten anyone. It's us who are facing threats.'

But he indicated force levels would fall once military exercises had been completed, at which point 'the West will likely claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate'.

Russia's troops are all in position and ready to invade Ukraine as soon as Putin makes the call, Norway's military intelligence chief warns

By Chris Jewers for Mail Online and AFP

Russia's forces are in position and ready to invade Ukraine, and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said Friday.

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said.

'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he added.

Stensones made his remarks at the presentation of the Norwegian intelligence services' annual threat assessment report.

According to him, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics.

'It's very difficult to say if (an offensive) is likely or unlikely, because it is solely up to the Russian president to make the decision', he said.

Western nations believe Russia is preparing an imminent invasion of Ukraine, though Moscow has denied it despite the vast military build-up around Ukraine's east.

Conflict has been festering in eastern Ukraine since 2014 between Russian-backed separatists and Kyiv forces.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday warned again of the 'real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe', while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a Russian invasion could come 'any time'.

His warning came as Russia - continuing its military build-up - moved six amphibious assault vessels into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on Ukraine's southern coast.

Moscow has announced sweeping drills in the Black and Azov seas in the coming days and closed large areas for commercial shipping, drawing a strong protest from Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced hope that the West would react to the Russian move, saying that 'we have engaged our partners to prepare a coordinated response.'

Ukraine's military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday that the authorities plan to quickly engage 1.5 million to 2 million people in training for the army reserve.

Russia's troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition.

The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', Norway's vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said on Friday

Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11, 2022

Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 47 miles south of the Belarus border.

U.S.-based Maxar Technologies - which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces -said satellite images taken on Wednesday and Thursday showed large new deployments of troops, vehicles and warplanes at several locations in western Russia, Belarus and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

According to the Military Times, 500 troop tents and hundreds of armoured vehicles were shown at Oktyabrskoye airfield - an abandoned airfield found north of Simferopol, the Crimean peninsula's second largest city.

Other images showed training activities, artillery deployments and a new deployment in Slavne, also in Crimea.

And north of Ukraine in Belarus, military vehicles and helicopters were also identified at an airfield near Gomel, about 15 miles from its border with its southern neighbour.

Troops are also stationed near Rechitsa in Belarus, some 28 miles from Ukraine.

The satellite images also showed additional equipment had arrived at a Kursk training area in western Russia - a new development since Maxar began releasing images of Russia's military build-up in December.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of a the tent camp and equipment at Oktyabrskoye airfield in Crimea, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows equipment and new deployments at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows atillery training at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022

Servicemen of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus take part in the Union Courage 2022 joint military exercise at the Brestsky training ground in Brest Region, Belarus, in this still image taken from video released February 11, 2022

Britain's defense secretary visited Moscow on Friday in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion, which insisted that the standoff with the West wasn't 'our fault.'

Ben Wallace's trip came a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held frosty negotiations in Moscow to urge Russia to pull back over 100,000 troops near Ukraine.

Her Russian counterpart scathingly described the talks as a 'conversation between deaf and dumb.'

Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons there and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that 'the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and it's not our fault.'

He noted that shipments of weapons to Ukraine by the U.S., Britain and other allies have contributed to the tensions and pointed to the recent deployment of British soldiers to Ukraine, asking why they were sent and how long they will stay.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Wallace noted that the anti-tank missiles that Britain sent to Ukraine were defensive tactical weapons that do not pose a threat to any neighbor unless it invades.

He said British troops deployed to Ukraine to help train its military to use the British weapons and will leave 'pretty soon' after they accomplish that mission.

Wallace described the talks as 'constructive and frank' and noted his Russian counterpart's assurances that Moscow has no intention to attack Ukraine.

But he also emphasised that the concentration of Russian troops near Ukrainian territory is clearly 'beyond normal exercising,' explaining that about half of Russia's land forces are concentrated around the border with Ukraine.

He reaffirmed that a Russian invasion would have 'tragic consequences' and emphasised the need to maintain contacts between military forces to prevent incidents.

'What is incredibly important, especially at this time with over 100,000 troops at high readiness on the borders of another country, is that we do not get into a position of miscalculation or escalation,' Wallace said.

He stressed that only through 'the ability to talk to each other at times of concern can we pave the way for any de-escalation measures.'

In an interview Thursday with NBC News, U.S. President Joe Biden repeated his warning that any Americans still in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible.

'It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly,' he said.

Biden planned to hold a call with trans-Atlantic leaders later in the day.

Asked whether there were any scenarios that would prompt him to send U.S. troops to Ukraine to rescue Americans, the president said: 'There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.'

Speaking Friday on a visit to Australia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the latest State Department's security alert urging all American citizens to leave Ukraine.

'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' Blinken added. The Olympic Games are scheduled to end Feb. 20.

Kuleba played down the U.S. advice to Americans to leave, saying that Washington has made similar calls before. He noted that the situation remains volatile.

NATO has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the U.S. sending troops to Poland and Romania.

The U.S. Navy said Thursday that it has deployed four destroyers from the United States to European waters.

The Navy did not directly tie this deployment to the Ukraine crisis but said the ships provide 'additional flexibility' to the U.S. Sixth Fleet commander, whose area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean, and will operate in support of NATO allies.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the ongoing deployment of 1,000 additional U.S. troops that will nearly double their current number there. 'This is a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity,' Stoltenberg said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by noting that 'NATO keeps building up its presence near Russia's borders and exacerbates the situation around Ukraine to create a pretext for that.'

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine's Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising.

Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.
A QAnon follower from Michigan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to killing his newlywed wife, whom he believed was a CIA asset - and President Joe Biden's transgender daughter - who was involved in sex trafficking.

Troy Burke, 45, of Elwell, entered the plea on Tuesday, and it was accepted by Judge Shannon Schelgel.

Burke was arrested in January 2021 on open murder and firearms charges for the shooting death of his wife of just three months, 29-year-old Jessica Burke.

The husband was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which determined that Troy Burke was not criminally responsible for his actions at the time of the killing, Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion said.

After receiving the results of the court-ordered examination, Kushion requested a second, independent evaluation, which also concluded that Burke was unfit to stand trial, reported The Morning Sun. Burke has a history of being hospitalized for mental health issues.

Troy Burke, 45, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to an open murder charge for fatally shooting his wife, Jessica, 29, in Michigan in January 2021

Burke was arrested in January 2021 on open murder and firearms charges for the shooting death of his wife of just three months, 29-year-old Jessica (pictured)

The couple had been married for just three months when Jessica Burke was found shot to death inside their home in Elwell, Michigan (pictured on their wedding day in 2020)

On the afternoon of January 2, 2021, Gariot County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Burke couple's home and found Jessica dead from three gunshot wounds.

Troy was arrested after confessing to someone that he had killed his wife.

Under questioning, the 45-year-old told detectives that he had a 'neuro-ling' implanted in his brain at a hospital, and that other people could read his thoughts, according to the prosecutor.

Burke was possibly referring to billionaire Elon Musk's Neuralink project, which involves plans to implant chips in human brains to connect them to computers. That technology is still in the development stage.

Burke reportedly told police that he was getting messages on his tablet from QAnon adherents claiming that his wife was a CIA asset who was involved in a sex-trafficking ring, and that he had to kill her.

'He also said that Joe Biden had twins, a daughter and a son, and that the son had a sex change and thats who his wife was,' Kushion said.

QAnon started on the fringe website 4chan, where a poster calling themselves Q left messages claiming to be a senior federal official and purporting to expose a 'deep state' cabal of top Democrats who engage in pedophilia and cannibalism intent on bringing down then-President Donald Trump.

Burke claimed he was told by QAnon members that Jessica was a CIA asset involved in sex trafficking, and that he had to kill her. Pictured: a protester hold a Q sign at a Trump rally in 2018

Burke also said he believed his newlywed wife was President Joe Biden's transgender daughter

Jessica Burke was survived by her parents and two siblings. She was described by her father as independent, loving and caring

QAnon followers believe that former President Trump is leading a global fight against the cabal.

Burke has a history of being hospitalized for mental health issues.

After entering his not guilty plea, Burke was ordered to undergo another round of tests at the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry.

He could spend the rest of his life in a psychiatric hospital, where he would be subjected to evaluations.

His lawyer has not ruled out the possibility that he could be released at some point.

'A lot of is going to depend on where those delusions are and where that mental illness is,' attorney Sarah Huyser told ABC12.
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Top Republicans are blasting President Joe Biden now that his administration is pushing Canada to use state power to end the 'Freedom Convoy' to open up international trade.

House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) slammed the administration as cabinet officials pressed their Canadian counterparts to 'use federal powers to resolve this situation.'

Scalise, the No. 2 GOP leader in the House, ripped the effort to shut down a peaceful protest that has drawn support on the right in the U.S. and in other nations  and referenced the racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd.

'It is deeply disturbing and outrageous that the same Biden team who helped bail violent rioters out of jail are now trying to pressure other nations to shut down peaceful protests by hard-working truckers against unwarranted vaccine mandates,' Scalise told DailyMail.com in a statement.

He was referencing Biden 2020 campaign aides who donated to a fund to bailout protesters in Minneapolis amid protests there.

House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise called it 'disturbing and outrageous' that the Biden administration would 'pressure other nations to shut down peaceful protests,' after cabinet officials urged Canadian counterparts to 'use federal powers to resolve this situation' with Freedom Convoy protesters

Truckers in Canada have been protesting COVD-19 vaccine mandates on cross-border truckers by shutting down roads and bridges, including the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Canada.

At the same time, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul backed the protests and their tactics in new comments, saying: 'I hope they clog up cities.'

His comment came after the Homeland Security Department warned the protests could be headed for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles on Sunday and the president's State of the Union speech in the Capitol March 1.

'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal on Thursday. 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, to you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates,' he said.

Paul, a libertarian who has repeatedly tangled with Dr. Anthony Fauci during hearings since the start of the pandemic, also defended truckers for resisting vaccine mandates.

'And some of this, we started,,' he said. 'We put mandates on truckers coming across the border from Canada so then they put mandates on, and the truckers are annoyed. They're riding in a cab by themselves, most of them for eight, 10-hour long hauls, and they just want to do what they want to do. It's their own business.'

'I hope they clog up cities,' said Sen. Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), as he got behind the 'Freedom Convoy' protests. 'Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates,' he told the Daily Signal

Paul also endorsed protests that could be coming to Washington, DC - suggesting it might put pressure on Demoratic governors to loosen covid restrictions.

'I hope they clog up cities,' Paul said. 'And we're seeing a break in the dam now. Several Democratic governors are finally sort of relinquishing.'

He also made a joke at the expense of thousands of federal workers who are still telecommuting amid government covid policies.

'I hope the truckers do come to America,' said Paul. 'It would be great, but the thing is, it wouldnt shut the city down because the government workers havent come to work in two years anyway,' he quipped.

'I dont know if itll affect D.C. Itd be a nice change. Wed actually have some traffic,' he said.

President Joe Biden discussed the situation on a call Friday with Transatlantic leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Biden 'expressed his concern that the United States that United States companies and workers are experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours and plant closures,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. 'The prime minister promised quick action in enforcing the law and the president thanked him for the steps he and other Canadian authorities are taking to restore the open passage of bridges to the United States.'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that 'everything is on the table' to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations blockading key border crossings to the US, hours after speaking directly with Biden.

'President Biden and I both agreed that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cannot continue,' Trudeau said at a press briefing on Friday. 'Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed.'

'Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end, and it will end,' Trudeau said, declining to offer specifics on a police action at the Ambassador Bridge, which is now widely expected after the provincial premier of Ontario declared a state of emergency.

Police are now reportedly massing in huge numbers in Windsor, Ontario on the Canadian side of the bridge, where city leaders are seeking a court injunction to clear the way for a crackdown and bridge-clearing operation.

Scalise and Paul are among a slew of Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who have defended the Freedom Convoy.

Earlier this week, Canada-born Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted: 'God bless these Canadian truck drivers. They're defending Canada, America, and they're standing up for freedom! The government doesn't have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates.'

A state of emergency has been declared in Ontario after the Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to use its federal powers to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations blockading key border crossings to protest Canada's COVID-19 restrictions.

Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday declared a 42-hour state of emergency, threatening vehicle seizures, fines of C$100,000 ($79,000), jail time of up to a year, and suspension of commercial licenses to punish protesters who do not comply with orders to disperse.

'This is a pivotal moment for our nation. The eyes of the world upon us right now, and what they are seeing is not who we are, this is not what Canada is about,' said Ford at a briefing. 'As a province, as a nation, we must collectively draw a line.'

'We cannot have people occupying cities, holding them hostage, holding millions and millions of people hostage,' he said. 'To the occupiers: please, go home.'

Following Ford's announcement, there were multiple reports that police forces from around Canada were pouring into Windsor, Ontario ahead of a possible operation to clear the blockaded Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor with Detroit.

With pressure mounting, protesters claimed they were reopening a single lane entering Canada on the bridge, as a purported show of good faith. However, Windsor police said in a statement on Friday afternoon that the bridge remained totally blocked, adding that 'negotiations remain ongoing with the goal of a peaceful resolution.'

Meanwhile, demonstrators surrounded Canada's parliament in Ottawa for a 'Jericho March' on Friday, the 15th day of protests in the national capital.

Biden and Trudeau spoke directly on Friday during a virtual meeting with other NATO leaders on the situation in Ukraine, but it was unclear whether they also discussed the ongoing US-Canada border blockade.

The White House on Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff. Details of the discussions were not immediately available.

They urged Canadian officials to use federal powers to resolve this situation, CNN reported.

On Friday the blockade halting traffic at the Ambassador Bridge crossing connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit entered its fifth day, disrupting the flow products between the two countries and threatening to shut down production at several US auto plants.

The bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario with Detroit, Michigan, is North America's busiest international land border and usually carries more than $327 million of goods per day on over 8,000 trucks, accounting for 27 percent of the approximately $400 billion in annual trade between Canada and the US.

Two other crossings, one between Alberta and Montana and another between Manitoba and North Dakota, are also currently under protester blockade.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called the protest an 'illegal blockade' that is causing an 'economic crisis' in Michigan.

People attend a protest to blockade the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit in Windsor, Canada

The closed Ambassador Bridge is seen on Friday. The bridge, a vital link where 25 percent of goods between the two countries passes on an estimated 10,000 trucks each day, has been shut down by truckers protesting vaccine mandates

Blockaders man the barricades at the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, as Ontario declared a state of emergency

People debate whether or not to open one lane of traffic on Friday as truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, in protest against vaccine mandates

Truck drivers and their supporters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday as protests in the Canadian capital and several key border crossings continued in a tense standoff over vaccine mandates

In Ottawa, the Canadian capital, a protester bangs gas cans together while yelling 'Freedom' on Thursday. Truckers are using their vehicles to block roads surrounding Parliament Hill in protest of COVID-19 mandates

Three crossings are now blockaded, with the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit the most key for trade

Biden and Trudeau are seen together in 2016. Biden's administration is urging Trudeau's government to use its federal powers to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations blockading key border crossings

Trudeau is under mounting pressure to get the situation under control, with Washington calling on its northern neighbor to use federal powers to end the blockades.

Ford, who faces elections in June, has likewise been under fire for several days over his perceived inaction to bring an end to the trucker-led disruptions.

'We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the border is reopened,' Ford said on Friday as he threatened steep fines and jail unless protesters end their 'illegal occupation.'

'To the people of Ottawa under siege, I say we will ensure you're able to resume life and business as soon as possible.'

Premiere Ford acknowledged that Canadians have the 'right to peacefully protest when they disagree with what our government is doing' to stem the pandemic, adding: 'I know these frustrations have reached a boiling point for many Canadians.'

But he warned: 'This is no longer a protest.'

Truckers have 'taken a city of one million people hostage for the past two weeks' and have been 'targeting our lifeline for food, fuel and goods across our borders' while 'trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation, and chaos.'

'We're in a critical situation worldwide economically... the last thing we need is an anchor around our neck,' he said.

Protestors and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday

Ontario has brought in more draconian rules to crack down on Freedom Convoy truckers - including vehicle seizures and fines - just days after honking was banned and after the US told Canada to use federal powers to end the blockades (pictured, the blockade on Ambassador Bridge)

Following a march, dozens of truck drivers and their supporters gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday as a convoy of truck protesters against Covid mandates in Canada continues to block large parts of downtown in Ottawa, Ontario

Demonstrators gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday on the 15th day of mass protests in downtown Ottawa. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Ford also moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze $8.6 million in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. The Christian fundraising site, based in the US, said in a statement that the Canadian court had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million).

GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens has stepped up calls for the use of force to end the blockades, telling CNN that if 'the protesters don't leave, there will have to be a path forward.'

'If that means physically removing them, that means physically removing them, and we're prepared to do that,' he said.

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capital on January 23, have since Monday blocked the Ambassador Bridge.

They are protesting Trudeau's vaccine mandate, under which truckers driving international routes must be fully vaccinated, and though 85 percent of them are, many oppose the rules.

The snowballing trucker movement has morphed over the past weeks into a broader protest against Covid-19 health restrictions and Trudeau's government -- and sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad.

Protesters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill on Ottawa on Friday. The Biblical city of Jericho, as mentioned in Joshua 6, was a city of false gods and corruption

Over 400 vehicles have now joined the convoy in Ottawa, which has forced businesses to close and unnerved residents. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Trucks sit parked on Wellington Street in Ottawa blockading Parliament Hill as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

Ottawa citizens go to work as truckers block the streets near the Parliament Hill during a protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

A supporter, Canadian veteran from Cape Breton (Quebec), takes photos of the truckers in front of Parliament Hill on Friday as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa

Truckers in Ottawa continue their protest against vaccine mandates on Friday. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Ottawa on 06 February

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Royal Canadian Mounted Police reinforcements are being sent to Windsor, Ottawa and Coutts, Alberta where another border blockade is happening.

Trudeau met virtually with leaders of Canada's opposition late Thursday and said he spoke with Windsor's mayor.

Liberal US pundits call for tough crackdown on Freedom Convoy As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force. 'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem. 'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added. Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.' Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary. 'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote. 'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias. Advertisement

Trudeau's office said there is a willingness to 'respond with whatever it takes' to end the blockades.

And with political and economic pressure mounting, Windsor Mayor Dilkens announced the city will seek a court injunction to end the occupation. He said: 'The economic harm is not sustainable and it must come to an end.'

In Ottawa, the epicenter of the protests, police were waiting on Thursday for a request for provincial and federal reinforcements to be completed.

They have made 25 arrests so far. Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly expects the reinforcements to arrive in the next 48 hours, ahead of a potential rise in protesters in the city over the weekend.

'This is an entirely sophisticated level of demonstrators. They have the capability to run strong organization here provincially and nationally, and we're seeing that play out in real-time,' Sloly told reporters.

'It is a significant risk that we're trying to mitigate and overcome, and as we get more resources, we will get better results.'

As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force.

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem.

'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added.

Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.'

Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary.

'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote.

'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias.

Conservatives in the US have largely defended the truckers, with Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, saying he hopes similar protests 'clog up cities' across the US.

'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal on Thursday. 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, to you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates.'

Rep. Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, told DailyMail.com on Friday: 'Americans are fed up with government mandates and it's time for the Biden Administration to listen to the people.'

'These mandates are going to cripple our supply chain, and the Democrats can blame freedom loving truck drivers, but the real blame is on the vaccine requirements at the border,' she added.

Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity cheered the truckers on while showing four live reports from Ottawa this week. Tucker Carlson's online store is selling 'I (heart) Tucker' T-shirts edited to say 'I (heart) Truckers.'

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a Fox News appearance on Friday: 'People should not have to choose between their job and their medical freedom. These truckers were frontline workers.'

'They have kept us going through the pandemic. They have kept working day and night. And they should not be demonized like we are seeing in Canada, and we certainly don't want to see this happen in our country. But, If the Biden administration had their way [on vaccine mandates], this is exactly what we're going to see,' she added.

A protester waves the Canadian flag in front of a revving truck on Wellington Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions continues in Ottawa, on Thursday

A woman with a mohawk hair-cut featuring the Canadian maple leaf joins hundreds of truck drivers and their supporters as they gather on Thursday to block the streets of downtown Ottawa as part of a convoy of truck protesters

People walk near Canadian Parliament buildings as hundreds of truck drivers and their supporters gather to block the streets of downtown Ottawa to protest against Trudeau's Covid-19 vaccine mandate

Truck drivers and their supporters gather to block the streets of downtown Ottawa as part of a convoy of truck protesters against Covid-19 mandates

A protester at the Freedom Convoy demonstration in Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday, holds a sign reading 'Love over hate' as they demonstrate against Covid-19 vaccine mandates

Canadian truckers blockade the roads in downtown Ottawa near the country's parliament as part of a protest against vaccine mandates that would forced drivers who do international routes to have the jabs

A protester carries a sign reading 'Let's go Trudeau. No, seriously, go' at a truckers demonstration against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for international drivers in Ottawa, Ontario on Thursday

US President Joe Biden on Thursday urged his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau to use federal powers to end the truckers blockades (pictured in Ontario on Thursday) after the bumper-to-bumper demonstrations forced auto plants on both sides of the border to shut down or scale back production

People walk near Canadian Parliament buildings as hundreds of truck drivers and their supporters gather to block the streets of downtown Ottawa to protest against Trudeau's Covid-19 vaccine mandate

A protester writes 'Freedom' on the floor as truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest international land crossing, as they demonstrate against vaccine mandates on Thursday

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit's carmakers, some of whom are scrambling to find alternate routes to limit economic damage.

Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles 8,000 trucks a day, representing a quarter of all cross-border trade, or about C$500 million ($392.56 million) per day.

About C$100 million worth of auto parts cross the border each day, with many shipments timed to arrive just as manufacturers need them.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp have been impacted by the blockades.

Anderson Economic Group is estimating $51 million in lost wages just this week due to the blockade, ramping up pressure on officials to take action to resolve the crisis.

While Canadian officials at the federal, provincial and municipal levels have held regular meetings, they have had limited impact on the ground.

Ottawa Police lost their enforcement opportunity when the convoy first rolled into town at the end of January, said Carleton University criminologist Jeffrey Monaghan, adding they now have no good options.

Monaghan told Reuters the police could go in aggressively and risk a violent confrontation or they could tighten the screws - a longer-term approach that will likely anger residents.

Truckers are parked near Parliament in Ottawa as they continue protest against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's vaccine mandates which were imposed last month

Protesters wearing Canadian flags walk in front of a truckers blockade in Ottawa on Thursday as they continue to demonstrate against Trudeau's vaccine mandates which would forced international truck drivers to be vaccinated

A trucker waves a Canadian flag on Thursday as they continue protest against Covid-19 vaccine mandates brought in by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month

A brightly dressed protester waves two Canadian flags while wearing a third during the Freedom Convoy demonstrations against Covid-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday

Protesters walk in front of a blockade of trucks parked outside the Canadian parliament building in downtown Ottawa on Thursday during a demonstration against Covid-19 vaccine mandates ongoing since January 29

Demonstrators against Covid-19 vaccine mandates block the roadway at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing on Wednesday evening as Ontario state officials move to impose more draconian rules in a bid to end the blockades

Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford (pictured) has moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze millions of dollars in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. Ford has called the protests an occupation

Trudeau on Thursday night said that he had been in talks about how to end the protests, which began in mid January and have caused significant economic damage.

The drivers set out from British Columbia on January 23 for Ottawa, and staged a protest in the capital on January 29 before taking their demonstrations across the country.

Over 85 per cent of truck drivers, and 90 per cent of all Canadian adults, are fully vaccinated and the protest has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

'This evening, I had several meetings that were focused on the illegal blockades and occupations happening across the country,' Trudeau tweeted.

'They're harming the communities they're taking place in  and they're hurting jobs, businesses, and our country's economy.'

Trudeau said he had held an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers and officials to discuss the crisis.

'We'll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need,' he said.

He said he had spoken to the mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, to offer his support.

'We're committed to helping the Mayor and the province get the situation under control  because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border.'

And he spoke to leaders of the opposition, urging them to unite with him and call for an end to the protests.

'Finally, I briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation and the latest developments.

'I stressed how important it is for all Members of Parliament, from every party, to denounce these illegal acts  and to call for an end to these blockades.'

After the meeting, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen said she wants Trudeau to 'take action to bring this to an end peacefully and quickly.'

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capitol on January 23, have since Monday blocked the bridge in a demonstration against Trudeau's Covid-19 vaccine mandate

Trudeau on Thursday night said that he had been in talks about how to end the protests, which began in mid January and have caused significant economic damage

Protestors and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday

People erect a tent on the blocked Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario on Thursday. The protestors could now face reprisals

A protester waving a Canadian flag walks in front of a truckers blockade in Ottawa on Thursday as they continue to demonstrate against Trudeau's vaccine mandates which would forced international truck drivers to be vaccinated

Justin Trudeau is seen on Thursday addressing a question in parliament. He is battling to quell the protests against his vaccine mandate

In the US, authorities braced for the possibility of similar truck-borne protests inspired by the Canadians, and authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades to head off disruptions there, too.

The US Department of Homeland Security said in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to 'potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities' in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues.

The agency said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union address, according to a copy of Tuesday's bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.

The White House said the department is 'surging additional staff' to the Super Bowl just in case.

The ban on road blockades in Europe and the threat of prison and heavy fines were likewise prompted by online chatter from groups calling on drivers to converge on Paris and Brussels over the next few days.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest US-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.

Ford said its Windsor engine plant reopened Thursday after being shut down on Wednesday because of a lack of parts. But the factory and the company's assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, were operating at reduced capacity, the automaker said.

On the US side, GM sent the first shift home two hours early Thursday at its Flint, Michigan, heavy-duty pickup truck plant due to parts shortages.

Stellantis cut short the first shift Friday at its Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, due to parts shortages.

Also, Honda will temporarily stop production on one assembly line during the day shift Friday at its plant in Alliston, Ontario. It's because of border delays. U.S. plants are scheduled to run normally Friday.

Toyota said three of its plants in Ontario closed for the rest of the week because of parts shortages, and production also had to be curtailed in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged Canadian authorities to quickly resolve the standoff, saying: 'It's hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable.'

Appearing on CNN, Whitmer called the protest an 'illegal blockade' that is causing an 'economic crisis' in Michigan.

'This is not just about the Michigan economy, this is this is for working people all throughout the Midwest,' she said.

A DJ plays as protestors and supporters attend a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge on Thursday

Protesters are seen in Windsor, Ontario, on Thursday night blocking the bridge

Hundreds of demonstrators in trucks have also paralyzed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks now, and have now closed three border crossings: at Windsor; at Coutts, Alberta, opposite Montana; and at Emerson, Manitoba, across from North Dakota.

The protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other Covid-19 restrictions and are railing against Trudeau, even though many of Canada's precautions, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants, theaters and other places, were enacted by provincial authorities, not the federal government, and are already rapidly being lifted as the omicron surge levels off.

Trudeau continued to stand firm against lifting vaccine mandates, including a requirement that all truck drivers entering the country be fully vaccinated. But because an estimated 90 per cent of the nation's truckers are already inoculated, some conservatives have called on the prime minister to drop the mandate.

The convoy has been promoted and cheered on by many Fox News personalities and attracted support from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The Associated Press identified more than a dozen Facebook groups encompassing roughly a half-million members that are being used to drum up support for the Canadian protests or plan similar ones in the U.S. and Europe.

To get around the blockade and into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area have had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a two-hour delay leaving the US.

The blockade is happening at a bad time for the US auto industry. Supplies of new vehicles already are low across the nation because of the global shortage of computer chips, which has forced automakers to temporarily close factories.

'The disruptions we are seeing at the US-Canada border  at the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge and at other crossings  are adding to the significant supply chain strains on manufacturers and other businesses in the United States,' the US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and Business Roundtable said in a joint statement.

'We respectfully urge the Canadian government to act swiftly to address the disruption to the flow of trade and its impact on manufacturers and other businesses on both sides of the border.'

A great-grandfather was handcuffed and hauled away by two Canadian cops for honking his horn in support of Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa on Sunday

Gerry Charlebois, 78, was brought to his knees and arrested in Ottawa on Sunday for allegedly honking his horn, a day before a judge outlawed honking in the city

The Ambassador Bridge is one of at least three being blocked by the truckers - others barricaded include a crossing in Emerson, Manitoba, which sees $55 million in trade a day and a bridge in Coutts, Alberta, where $34 million in goods crosses daily - largely related to the beef and cattle industry and produce.

On Saturday, protests are planned on the Peace Bridge which connects Buffalo, New York with Fort Erie, Ontario.

Dennis Darby, head of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters lobby group, said the blockades were harmful.

'It's bad for Canada,' he said, describing them as an 'own goal.'

Ford's restrictions are just the latest attempt to control the protesters.

On Monday, a court approved a 10-day ban on the honking of horns in Ottawa, the Ontario city and Canadian capital, after residents complained of the noise.

The day before the ban, a 4ft-10 inch great grandfather was handcuffed and arrested for honking his horn in support of the protesters in Ottawa.

A bystander filmed while two officers pulled over Gerry Charlebois, 78, for beeping his horn.

'What did he do wrong?' the bystander asked.

'None of your f****** concern, man,' one officer responded.

The six-minute video shows officers shouting back and forth, with furious onlookers and Charlebois as he protests his arrest.

Eventually an officer in a blue surgical mask grabs Charlebois to restrain him, and brings the vaccinated great-grandfather down to his knees in the middle of the street before handcuffing him against his van.

Charlebois sustained injuries to his arms, hands, shoulders and knees.

He was later fined $118 for 'unnecessary noise' but has not been criminally charged.
A murder investigation has been launched after a boy was stabbed to death outside a busy college.

Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit was called in after a boy was found stabbed outside Milton Keynes College, Buckinghamshire, at around 1.30pm on Friday.

Medics treated him at the scene and the teenager was rushed to Milton Keynes General Hospital where he later died.

An 18-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. Police remain at the scene at this time.

A murder investigation has been launched after a boy was stabbed to death outside Milton Keynes College, Buckinghamshire (pictured) at around 1.30pm on Friday

Police and paramedics rushed to the footpath near the College's Chaffron Way Campus on Friday afternoon.

A cordon was set up after the schoolboy was discovered with serious wounds.

The boy's next of kin have been informed and specially trained officers are supporting them.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Shearwood, of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: 'We are carrying out a thorough investigation following this incident at Milton Keynes College.

'My thoughts remain with the family of the victim at this difficult time. They continue to be supported by our officers.

'We are in the early stages of our investigation; however, we are following several significant lines of enquiry.

'We fully understand that this incident may concern members of the public, and as such they are likely to see an increased police presence while the investigation continues.

'If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to one of our officers.

'A number of people have already come forward to provide information and I am very grateful to them.

'If anyone else has any information, who hasn't yet come forward, please contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or through our online reporting quoting reference 43220064415.'
A florist who developed a debilitating condition that left her bedridden and in constant pain had to turn detective to find she had a potentially lethal parasite in her body.

Frances Maynard had countless appointments over five years as she moved between her GP, hospital doctors and specialists but none of them could work out what was wrong.

It was only when she decided to check her blood under a microscope that she made the horrifying discovery of a 'snake-like' parasite in her body.

She was given a powerful medication that has alleviated some symptoms  but while she may never fully recover, she was 'relieved' to have confirmed something was wrong.

Mrs Maynard, 57, has spoken about her experience to give strength to others suffering from 'invisible' diseases.

She said she became 'desperate to know if something was wrong because I wasn't getting better' and the doctors couldn't help. She was 'shocked but also extremely excited' to find the parasite as it 'proved this pain wasn't imagined, because there were times I doubted my own sanity.'

It was only when Frances Maynard (pictured) decided to check her blood under a microscope that she made the horrifying discovery of a 'snake-like' parasite in her body

The mother of two, who is married to antiques dealer Mark, 60, was running a flower shop which folded overnight when she first developed symptoms in the run-up to Mother's Day in 2011. Pictured: The parasite

The mother of two, who is married to antiques dealer Mark, 60, was running a flower shop which folded overnight when she first developed symptoms in the run-up to Mother's Day in 2011.

Mrs Maynard, of Weeley Heath, Essex, said: 'I felt pain in my jaw, hands and legs. Throughout the day I wasn't even sure I could get the bouquets out to customers.

'I just managed to get myself through the day... I never went back to my business.'

The acute pain that struck her left her with chronic fatigue, the loss of fine motor skills in her hands needed to make bouquets, and unable to stand.

Visits to A&E failed to reveal the cause. Weeks turned into months and years as she was referred to various hospitals and specialists including haematologists and endocrinologists.

It was only after reading about Lyme disease that she decided to revisit her childhood hobby of using a microscope. She invested 300 in a model from India with 1000x magnification and put a couple of drops of her blood on the viewing slide.

'I wasn't expecting to see anything at all. I moved the lens up and down but then saw something' Mrs Maynard said. Her GP was 'dismissive' of her discovery and refused to do more blood tests, but Mrs Maynard insisted on a referral and was sent to London's Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Mrs Maynard, 57, (pictured) has spoken about her experience to give strength to others suffering from 'invisible' diseases

There, it was confirmed as strongyloidiasis, a disease caused by a roundworm. The microscopic creatures normally enter the body through contact with soil before migrating throughout the bloodstream and organs.

It is not clear how Mrs Maynard was infected by the parasite, which causes death in 90 per cent of acute cases. It can live in the body for years without causing symptoms and she spent a year of her childhood in Bahrain with her military father. But she also believes it could have arrived in the UK on imported exotic flowers.

The self-diagnosis in February 2016 led to her being given a dose of Ivermectin, which breaks the reproductive cycle by paralysing the parasite, although Mrs Maynard, now registered disabled, said success is not guaranteed.

'Sometimes I feel I'm in some kind of remission  I have good days and bad days.' She remains 'extremely cross and upset' that doctors failed to identify the problem.
Jaklitsch is now in custody in California and faces wire-fraud charges for the ruse, feds say. The case is currently ongoing

Other bogus claims included one for a bank teller, a fitness instructor, and a museum director. All made more than $100,000 and were laid off due to COVID

Another was for an 'aqua fitness instructor,' also in Sacramento, who Jaklitsch said was making $105,000 a year until they lost their job after getting COVID

One claim filed by Jaklitsch, prosecutors say, was in the name of someone claiming to be a 'children's zoo caretaker' in Sacramento who earned $125,000

Jaklitsch allegedly attempted to steal over $2.5 million from state funds, and successfully came away with roughly $900,000

Jaklitsch, 40, was able to fool the software simply by donning an orange wig, prosecutors say

A New Jersey man allegedly exploited a government-used facial recognition system to claim nearly a million dollars in fake unemployment payments from a state more than 2,000 miles away, by posting photos of himself in ginger wigs.

Eric Jaklitsch was arrested in early December after the FBI, DHS, and California's Employment Development Department finished a year-long investigation that linked the man to 78 fraudulent UI claims in The Golden State.

Jaklitsch allegedly attempted to steal over $2.5 million from state funds, successfully coming away with roughly $900,000 after duping the software by donning a large, curly orange wig to verify fake driver's licenses from multiple states, federal prosecutors say.

New Jersey resident Eric Jaklitsch was arrested in December after the FBI, DHS, and California's Employment Development Department linked the man to 78 fraudulent UI claims that saw him receive roughly $900,000. Jaklitsch duped government-used facial recognition software to get the claims by donning a large, curly orange wig, federal prosecutors say

ATM footage shows Jaklitsch, 40, withdrawing money from the phony claims using debit cards issued in the names of identity theft victims, feds say

One claim filed by Jaklitsch, 40, with California's Employment Development Department, according to prosecutors, was in the name of someone claiming to be a 'children's zoo caretaker' in Sacramento. In the bogus claim, Jaklitsch said he earned $124,000 until he was laid off due to the pandemic, feds say.

Another was for an 'aqua fitness instructor,' also in Sacramento, who Jaklitsch said was making $105,000 a year until they lost their job after contracting COVID-19, it is alleged.

Yet another was for a Los Angeles chauffeur who also bizarrely had a background as a zoologist.

All of Jaklitsch's alleged creations had one thing in common: a mop of bright red hair - a characteristic he achieved by donning the cheap, little-orphan-Annie-esque rug.

Other bogus claim allegedly filed by Jaklitsch included one for a bank teller, a fitness instructor, and a museum director. All made more $100,000 and were laid off in some part because of the coronavirus.

Jaklitsch, whose real license is pictured here, was arrested in early December after the FBI, DHS, and California's Employment Development Department finished a year-long investigation that linked the man to 78 fraudulent UI claims in California

'During the scheme, Jaklitsch collected personal identifying information of numerous individuals - including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers - and used their identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims,' US Attorney Phillip Talbert's office said after announcing the arrest.

'The filings represented, among other things, that the claimants had recently lost employment or were unable to find employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.'

The disguises, while far from foolproof, were enough to repeatedly dupe the state's unemployment branch, the Employment Development Department (EDD), prosecutors say, who had enlisted facial recognition company ID.me to confirm claims through biometric identification - an advanced type of automated recognition that analyzed body metrics and features.

Bogus claims filed by Jaklitsch included one for a bank teller, a fitness instructor, and a museum director. All made more $100,000 and were laid off because of the coronavirus

All of Jaklitsch's fake identities had one thing in common: a mop of bright red hair - a characteristic Jaklitsch achieved by donning the cheap, little-orphan-Annie-esque rug

'In at least 78 UI claims, Jaklitsch presents himself the same way, regardless of the ID theft victim's age or sex,' an affidavit from US Labor Department Special Agent Christina Wang said of the case.

'To date, the suspected dollar loss to the state of California is more than $900,000 with an attempted loss of more than $2.5 million,' the affidavit adds. 'This estimate is based on the loss amount associated with the 78 fraudulent UI (claims) submitted to California EDD, of which approximately 68 were approved and funded.'

Agents eventually busted Jaklitsch after they tracked his movements around his home state of New Jersey as he visited ATMs to withdraw cash for the phony claims using debit cards issued in the names of identity theft victims.

Investigators were able to confirm their suspicions regarding Jaklitsch's racket after a mailman who delivered mail to the man's Elizabeth apartment told them 'that mail was delivered to that same address for multiple other people's names,' the affidavit states.

The filing adds that bank records showed at least 18 fraudulent EDD debit cards had been sent to the apartment under nine different names.

'In at least 78 UI claims, Jaklitsch presents himself the same way, regardless of the ID theft victim's age or sex,' an affidavit from US Labor Department Special Agent Christina Wang said of the case

The crimes comes as a slap in the face of the online identity company, which had been contracted by ten different federal agencies for their verification technology, and failed to catch on to Jaklitsch's alleged scheme.

In January, their facial-recognition software was dropped by the IRS.

When questioned by The Washington Post as to how Jaklitsch was allegedly able to so easily dupe their software, the company said 'the tactics of fraudsters are constantly evolving' and insisted it 'uses extensive analytics and models to prevent identity theft.'

The company added that it is 'continuously updating controls that protect against new and emerging fraudulent activity.'

The disguises, while far from foolproof, were enough to repeatedly dupe the state's unemployment branch, the Employment Development Department (EDD), prosecutors say, who had enlisted facial recognition company ID.me to confirm claims with their technology

Following reports from The Post and other outlets as well as backlash from Congress, the company announced this week that it would no longer as people to submit a 'video selfie' when conducting a facial recognition scan for basic government services.

The company last year was valued at $1.5 billion, and currently confirms the identities of Americans for at least 500 companies who use their software to verify claims for things like unemployment insurance and online tax records.

Its government contracts amount in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jaklitsch, meanwhile, is in custody in California and faces wire-fraud charges for the ruse, feds say.

The case is currently ongoing.
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Freedom Convoy truckers are still on the US-Canada Ambassador Bridge - in defiance of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 7pm and then midnight deadlines to clear the road on Friday.

Trudeau had said that 'everything is on the table' to end the protest and Ottawa police were on the scene with threats to forcibly remove the truckers who have been blocking the busy bridge for days. Officers had also handed out flyers warning those refusing to retreat that they risked CA $100,000 fines ($78,000) and the permanent loss of their commercial driving license.

But the big showdown never came as police declined to move in on the hundreds of protesters milling around on the comparatively mild 38 degrees Fahrenheit evening. Police patrol cars were parked with their lights flashing, but few officers were visible.

Earlier on Friday, a Canadian court issued the injunction to end the blockade at the key bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario with Detroit. Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz granted the injunction on Friday evening, which will last for 10 days and means that blocking the bridge is unlawful.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, said his cabinet will enact orders to make it illegal to block borders and highways and will impose CA $100,000 ($78,000) fines and prison terms for those who defy them.

Trudeau claimed that the protest is being fueled by political activists in the United States, and said that more than 50 percent of donations to campaigns to support the protesters came from the U.S., which he referred to as 'foreign financing' of the protests.

In the US, several convoys were gathering in multiple cities on Friday, ahead of a planned journey to the Canadian border in support of their fellow truckers. Fears are high that some may try to disrupt Sunday's Super Bowl, or Biden's March 1 State of the Union address.

An organization dubbed 'Convoy to Save America' said on its website that two separate vehicle convoys will converge this weekend at the Peace Bridge, a U.S.-Canadian border crossing in Buffalo, New York.

One of the convoys will leave New York City on Friday and the second from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on Saturday.

Police are distributing these flyers about the provinces State of Emergency. pic.twitter.com/D6rYC2a6zE  Katerina Georgieva (@KatGeorgieva) February 12, 2022

Truckers and their supporters wave flags and sing on Friday night as they wait for the midnight deadline to clear the bridge, which they have vowed to defy - despite the risk of a hefty fine, loss of their license and criminal record

Windsor Police statement on Friday evening 'The Windsor Police Service wants to make demonstrators clearly aware that it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property. The offence itself is known as mischief to property. The unlawful act of blocking streets at and near the Ambassador Bridge is resulting in people being denied the lawful use, enjoyment and operation of their property and causing businesses to close down. We are providing notice that anyone blocking streets or assisting others in the blocking of streets may be committing a criminal offence and must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you may face charges. You could be arrested if you are a party to the offence or assisting others in the direct or indirect commission of this offence. Vehicles or other property related to an offence may be seized. Once a vehicle is seized, it may be detained and, following a conviction, possibly forfeited. Charges and/or convictions related to the unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the USA border.' Advertisement

Pennie Fay, one of the group's founders, told Reuters that the convoys will consist of sports utility vehicles and minivans filled with supplies such as water, food, gas cards and blankets for Canadian truck drivers who arrive on the U.S. side.

'This weekend is about the Canadians, about supporting them,' said Fay, who is leaving from Nashville, 'while at the same time bringing attention to the fact that we want the mandates gone. Remove them from state to state. We want a free country.'

Another of the efforts, dubbed 'The People's Convoy,' which has 64,000 followers on Facebook, is planning a rally in Coachella Valley in Indio, California, on March 4.

Truck drivers will then convoy from California and other parts of the country to Washington, D.C., to show their disapproval over mandates.

Windsor police said in a statement that anyone blocking the streets at or near the Ambassador Bridge faced arrest, vehicle seizure and forfeiture, and 'denial in crossing the USA border.'

'President Biden and I both agreed that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cannot continue,' Trudeau said at a press briefing on Friday.

'Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed.

'Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end, and it will end.'

Trudeau did not offer specifics on a police action at the Ambassador Bridge, which is now widely expected after the provincial premier of Ontario declared a state of emergency.

Trudeau called Ontario's decision to declare a state of emergency 'responsible and necessary' and said he spoke with Biden about Americans backing the protest.

'We discussed the American and indeed global influences on the protest,' Trudeau said.

'We talked about the U.S.-based flooding of the 911 phone lines in Ottawa, the presence of U.S. citizens in the blockade and the impact of foreign money to fund this illegal activity.'

Police in Ottawa have said that a flood of 911 calls in Ottawa in recent weeks, which seemed intended to tie up and confuse police resources, came 'significantly from United States addresses.'

Police are now reportedly massing in huge numbers in Windsor, Ontario on the Canadian side of the bridge, after the court injunction appeared to cleared the way for a crackdown and bridge-clearing operation.

Protesters and supporters gather in Windsor, Ontario on Friday night - defying an order to clear the bridge between Canada and the U.S. by 7pm, and setting themselves up for a potential showdown with police

Im here at the bridge blockade minutes after the injunction kicked in.



No indication so far that protesters intend on leaving. pic.twitter.com/QmQ32IEG64  Katerina Georgieva (@KatGeorgieva) February 12, 2022

The groups massed on the bridge vowed not to leave when the 7pm deadline kicks in, meaning the police could remove them by force

Flag-waving Canadians show their support for the protest in Ottawa, as at least three bridges between Canada and the U.S. were blocked on Friday night

30 minutes before the injunction kicks in at the Ambassador Bridge blockade -

protestors vote to stay. pic.twitter.com/S9PRDBNKV2  Chris Ensing (@ChrisEnsingCBC) February 11, 2022

Several convoys were assembling in the United States on Friday evening, preparing to drive towards the Canadian border in support of the truckers in Ontario and elsewhere

Amid signs that authorities might be prepared to get tough, police in Windsor and Ottawa are awaiting reinforcements from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the federal police force.

Ottawa's mayor has asked for 1,800 additional police officers, which could nearly double the manpower available to the capital city's police force.

Trudeau said the use of military force against the civilian protesters was 'something to avoid having to do at all costs' but did not rule out the possibility as a last resort.

'There are further steps for law enforcement to take, as that happens or not, but we are a long way from ever having to call in the military -- however of course we have to be ready for any eventuality,' he said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Trudeau had promised 'quick action' on the call with Biden, and that the two leaders agreed that the blockades 'are having significant direct impacts on citizens' lives and livelihoods.'

On the call, Biden expressed concern that US workers and companies were 'experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours, and plant closures,' Psaki said.

On Friday the blockade halting traffic at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit entered its fifth day, disrupting the flow of goods between the two countries and threatening to shut down production at numerous US auto plants.

The bridge is North America's busiest international land border and usually carries more than $327 million of goods per day on over 8,000 trucks, accounting for 27 percent of the approximately $400 billion in annual trade between Canada and the US, which are each the other's largest trading partner.

Two other crossings, one between Alberta and Montana and another between Manitoba and North Dakota, are also currently under protester blockade.

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WINDSOR: Truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario in protest against vaccine mandates on Friday. The blockades have created an international incident

OTTAWA: Demonstrators protest vaccine mandates outside the Parliament in Ottawa on Friday. Canada's Ontario province Friday declared a state of emergency over the trucker-led protests in Windsor and Ottawa

'President Biden and I both agreed that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cannot continue,' Trudeau said at a press briefing on Friday. 'Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed'

The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge continues Friday as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that 'everything is on the table' to end the Freedom Convoy demonstrations

The Ambassador Bridge blockade is now in its fifth day, costing an estimated $51 million in lost wages daily and forcing General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda to close US and Canadian auto plants or cancel shifts

The closed Ambassador Bridge is seen on Friday. The bridge, a vital link where 25 percent of goods between the two countries passes daily, on an estimated 10,000 trucks, has been shut down by truckers protesting vaccine mandates

A bylaw officer gives out a parking ticket to a truck blocking a road in Ottawa as part of protests on Friday

A bylaw officer gives out a parking ticket to a trucker blocking a road in Ottawa as demonstrations blockading Parliament Hill in Canada's national capital enter their 15th day on Friday

Truck drivers and their supporters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday as protests in the Canadian capital and several key border crossings continued in a tense standoff over vaccine mandates

Three crossings are now blockaded, with the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit the most key for trade

At the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, dozens of protesters in Windsor blocked the entrance to the span in what felt like a block party.

Demonstrators milled about, carrying signs and Canadian flags  some at the ends of hockey sticks  while music played and food handed out. A trampoline was set up for the children.

Troy Holman, a 32-year-old Windsor resident who has protested every day this week, said he believes the government overreached with its COVID-19 restrictions, which he said hurt his wife's small business.

'Unfortunately, we have to be here, because this is what's going to get the attention of the government,' he said.

Signs carried by the protesters read, 'Freedom Is Essential,' 'Say No to Mandatory Vaccines' and 'End Mandates.'

'We stand for freedom. We believe that it should be everyone's personal decision what they inject into their bodies,' said protester Karen Driedger, 40, of Leamington. 'We're saying, 'That's enough.' We need to go back to normal and live our lives again.'

Earlier on Friday, Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a 42-hour state of emergency, threatening vehicle seizures, fines of C$100,000 ($79,000), jail time of up to a year, and suspension of commercial licenses to punish protesters who do not comply with orders to disperse.

'This is a pivotal moment for our nation. The eyes of the world upon us right now, and what they are seeing is not who we are, this is not what Canada is about,' said Ford at a briefing.

'As a province, as a nation, we must collectively draw a line.

'We cannot have people occupying cities, holding them hostage, holding millions and millions of people hostage,' he said. 'To the occupiers: please, go home.'

Ford said he will convene the provincial cabinet on Saturday to urgently enact measures that make it 'crystal clear' it is illegal to block critical infrastructure.

Following Ford's announcement, there were multiple reports that police forces from around Canada were pouring into Windsor, Ontario ahead of a possible operation to clear the blockaded Ambassador Bridge.

Separately, the mayor of Windsor asked for an injunction Friday afternoon to try to break up the bridge blockade, as parts shortages caused by the protest forced General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda to close US auto plants or cancel shifts.

With pressure mounting, protesters claimed they were reopening a single lane entering Canada on the bridge, as a purported show of good faith.

However, Windsor police said in a statement on Friday afternoon that the bridge remained totally blocked, adding that 'negotiations remain ongoing with the goal of a peaceful resolution.'

Thousands of truck drivers and their supporters gather to block the streets of downtown Ottawa as part of a convoy of truck protesters against COVID mandates in Canada on Friday

A bylaw officer gives out parking tickets to trucks blocking roads in Ottawa as truckers continue to protest Friday

A person yells at police members in Ottawa on Friday as truckers and their supporters continue to protest

A man waves a Canadian and American flag as truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, on Friday

A huge traffic jam formed on the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River that links the US and Canada between Port Edward, Ontario, Canada and Port Huron, Michigan as shippers sought alternate routes across the border

Meanwhile, demonstrators surrounded Canada's parliament in Ottawa for a 'Jericho March' on Friday, the 15th day of protests in the national capital.

'We are now two weeks into the siege of Ottawa,' Ford said. 'It's an illegal occupation. It's no longer a protest.'

Biden and Trudeau spoke directly on Friday during a virtual meeting with other NATO leaders on the situation in Ukraine, but it was unclear whether they also discussed the ongoing US-Canada border blockade.

The White House on Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff. Details of the discussions were not immediately available.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called the protest an 'illegal blockade' that is causing an 'economic crisis' in Michigan.

A variety of U.S.-based groups are organizing their own convoys of trucks and other vehicles for this weekend and early next month, emulating the protests against COVID-19 mandates that have roiled Canada.

On Friday, during a protest against New York's school mask mandates in Buffalo, demonstrators put money into cans that were passed around for donations for Canadian truckers.

Demonstrators also rolled around a wheelbarrow that they filled with coins and bills for the truck drivers.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned law enforcement agencies of a possible convoy of protesting truckers gathering at this weekend's Super Bowl in Los Angeles, according to several media reports.

The agency said in a statement that it is tracking reports of a potential convoy traveling to several U.S. cities, but the statement did not allude to the Super Bowl.

A variety of U.S. groups are organizing on social media platforms such as Telegram, TikTok and Facebook, aiming to tap into frustration that appears to be growing among Americans over COVID-19 mandates. In some cases, logistics for possible large convoys across the nation are part of those discussions.

'It's happening whether you like it or not, it's going to happen,' Brian Brase, one of the group's organizers, said in a TikTok post.

'It's not a right issue. It's not a left issue. It's not an anti-vax thing.

'It's about the constitution and our rights as Americans.'

People attend a protest to blockade the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit in Windsor, Canada

Blockaders man the barricades at the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, as Ontario declared a state of emergency

People debate whether or not to open one lane of traffic on Friday as truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, in protest against vaccine mandates

Trudeau is under mounting pressure to get the situation under control, with Washington calling on its northern neighbor to use federal powers to end the blockades.

Ford, who faces elections in June, has likewise been under fire for several days over his perceived inaction to bring an end to the trucker-led disruptions.

'We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the border is reopened,' Ford said on Friday as he threatened steep fines and jail unless protesters end their 'illegal occupation.'

'To the people of Ottawa under siege, I say we will ensure you're able to resume life and business as soon as possible.'

Ford acknowledged that Canadians have the 'right to peacefully protest when they disagree with what our government is doing' to stem the pandemic, adding: 'I know these frustrations have reached a boiling point for many Canadians.'

But he warned: 'This is no longer a protest.'

Truckers have 'taken a city of one million people hostage for the past two weeks' and have been 'targeting our lifeline for food, fuel and goods across our borders' while 'trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation, and chaos.'

'We're in a critical situation worldwide economically... the last thing we need is an anchor around our neck,' he said.

Canada's federal, provincial and local authorities have hesitated to forcibly remove the Freedom Convoy, reflecting apparently a lack of manpower by local police, Canada's reverence for free speech, and fear of violence.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens warned earlier this week that some of the truckers are 'willing to die.'

But the political pressure to reopen the bridge appeared to be mounting along with the economic toll. The Biden administration has urged Trudeau's government to end the blockade, and Michigan's governor likewise called for a quick resolution to the standoff.

'American legislators are freaking out, and rightfully so,' said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto.

'Pressure is now being exerted by the White House on Trudeau to act more decisively.'

Following a march, dozens of truck drivers and their supporters gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday as a convoy of truck protesters against Covid mandates in Canada continues to block large parts of downtown in Ottawa, Ontario

Demonstrators gather to pray at Parliament Hill on Friday on the 15th day of mass protests in downtown Ottawa. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Ford also moved to cut off funding for the protests by successfully asking a court to freeze $8.6 million in donations to the convoy through crowd-funding site GiveSendGo. The Christian fundraising site, based in the US, said in a statement that the Canadian court had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Canadian officials previously got GoFundMe to cut off funding after protest organizers used the site to raise about 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.8 million).

GoFundMe determined that the fundraising effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.

Dilkens has stepped up calls for the use of force to end the blockades, telling CNN that if 'the protesters don't leave, there will have to be a path forward.'

'If that means physically removing them, that means physically removing them, and we're prepared to do that,' he said.

Truck drivers, who have been in the city since the Freedom Convoy traveled to the nation's capital on January 23, have since Monday blocked the Ambassador Bridge.

They are protesting Trudeau's vaccine mandate, under which truckers driving international routes must be fully vaccinated, and though 85 percent of them are, many oppose the rules.

The snowballing trucker movement has morphed over the past weeks into a broader protest against Covid-19 health restrictions and Trudeau's government - and sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad.

Protesters participate in a 'Jericho March' around Parliament Hill on Ottawa on Friday. The Biblical city of Jericho, as mentioned in Joshua 6, was a city of false gods and corruption

Over 400 vehicles have now joined the convoy in Ottawa, which has forced businesses to close and unnerved residents. A state of emergency has been called in Ottawa as police and local officials decide on how best to bring the event to an end

Trucks sit parked on Wellington Street in Ottawa blockading Parliament Hill as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

Ottawa citizens go to work as truckers block the streets near the Parliament Hill during a protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Friday

A supporter, a Canadian veteran from Cape Breton (Quebec), takes photos of the truckers in front of Parliament Hill on Friday as truckers continue to protest against the vaccine mandates in downtown Ottawa

Truckers in Ottawa continue their protest against vaccine mandates on Friday. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Ottawa on February 6

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Royal Canadian Mounted Police reinforcements are being sent to Windsor, Ottawa and Coutts, Alberta where another border blockade is happening.

Trudeau met virtually with leaders of Canada's opposition late Thursday and said he spoke with Windsor's mayor.

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers': CNN analyst leads left-wing pundits demanding an escalation of force against Freedom Convoy CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem called for a crackdown As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force. 'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem. 'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added. Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.' Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary. 'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote. 'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias. Advertisement

Trudeau's office said there is a willingness to 'respond with whatever it takes' to end the blockades.

And with political and economic pressure mounting, Dilkens announced the city will seek a court injunction to end the occupation.

He said: 'The economic harm is not sustainable and it must come to an end.'

In Ottawa, the epicenter of the protests, police were waiting on Thursday for a request for provincial and federal reinforcements to be completed.

They have made 25 arrests so far. Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly expects the reinforcements to arrive in the next 48 hours, ahead of a potential rise in protesters in the city over the weekend.

'This is an entirely sophisticated level of demonstrators. They have the capability to run strong organization here provincially and nationally, and we're seeing that play out in real-time,' Sloly told reporters.

'It is a significant risk that we're trying to mitigate and overcome, and as we get more resources, we will get better results.'

As the standoff dragged on, some US pundits grew increasingly strident in their calls for the demonstrations to be crushed with the use of force.

'Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks,' tweeted CNN contributor Juliette Kayyem.

'The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a 'freedom protest,' is an economic and security issue now,' she added.

Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias tweeted: 'Send the Marines to Detroit and clear the bridge.'

Though he may have sounded tongue-in-cheek, Yglesias explained in other tweets why he felt it was necessary to stop the protests by any means necessary.

'It's in fact critically important that the world not allow democratic self-government to be replaced by heckler's veto by whichever faction happens to own larger vehicles,' he wrote.

'People on foot blocking traffic for short periods of time isn't great but society survives it happening because it's a fairly ineffective tactic. The truck blockade is more potent & would be a great tactic for bringing down a dictator, exactly why democracies can't tolerate it,' added Yglesias.

Conservatives in the US have largely defended the truckers, with Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, saying he hopes similar protests 'clog up cities' across the US.

'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal on Thursday.

'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, to you name it.

'Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates.'

Rep. Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, told DailyMail.com on Friday: 'Americans are fed up with government mandates and it's time for the Biden Administration to listen to the people.

'These mandates are going to cripple our supply chain, and the Democrats can blame freedom loving truck drivers, but the real blame is on the vaccine requirements at the border,' she added.

Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity cheered the truckers on while showing four live reports from Ottawa this week. Tucker Carlson's online store is selling 'I (heart) Tucker' T-shirts edited to say 'I (heart) Truckers.'

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a Fox News appearance on Friday: 'People should not have to choose between their job and their medical freedom. These truckers were frontline workers.

'They have kept us going through the pandemic. They have kept working day and night. And they should not be demonized like we are seeing in Canada, and we certainly don't want to see this happen in our country. But, If the Biden administration had their way [on vaccine mandates], this is exactly what we're going to see,' she added.

A counter-protestor films on their phone as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against mandates in Ottawa

Protesters clash in Ottawa on Friday as a counter-protester argues with supporters of the Freedom Convoy

A person sits in front of Parliament Hill with fuel cans as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario

A man sits in a hammock outside West Block on Parliament Hill during a protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa

A supporter yells slogans against the government in front of parliament hill as truckers continue to protest the vaccine mandates in in downtown Ottawa, Ontario on Friday

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit's carmakers, some of whom are scrambling to find alternate routes to limit economic damage.

Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles 8,000 trucks a day, representing a quarter of all cross-border trade, or about C$500 million ($392.56 million) per day.

About C$100 million worth of auto parts cross the border each day, with many shipments timed to arrive just as manufacturers need them.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp have been impacted by the blockades.

Anderson Economic Group is estimating $51 million in lost wages just this week due to the blockade, ramping up pressure on officials to take action to resolve the crisis.

While Canadian officials at the federal, provincial and municipal levels have held regular meetings, they have had limited impact on the ground.

Ottawa Police lost their enforcement opportunity when the convoy first rolled into town at the end of January, said Carleton University criminologist Jeffrey Monaghan, adding they now have no good options.

Monaghan told Reuters the police could go in aggressively and risk a violent confrontation or they could tighten the screws - a longer-term approach that will likely anger residents.

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Whip Scalise slams Biden's 'disturbing and outrageous' move to try and shut down Canada's Freedom Convoy: GOP tears into White House and urges American truckers to 'clog cities'

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor For Dailymail.com

Top Republicans are blasting President Joe Biden now that his administration is pushing Canada to use state power to end the 'Freedom Convoy' to open up international trade.

House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) slammed the administration as cabinet officials pressed their Canadian counterparts to 'use federal powers to resolve this situation.'

Scalise, the No. 2 GOP leader in the House, ripped the effort to shut down a peaceful protest that has drawn support on the right in the U.S. and in other nations  and referenced the racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd.

'It is deeply disturbing and outrageous that the same Biden team who helped bail violent rioters out of jail are now trying to pressure other nations to shut down peaceful protests by hard-working truckers against unwarranted vaccine mandates,' Scalise told DailyMail.com in a statement.

He was referencing Biden 2020 campaign aides who donated to a fund to bailout protesters in Minneapolis amid protests there.

House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise called it 'disturbing and outrageous' that the Biden administration would 'pressure other nations to shut down peaceful protests,' after cabinet officials urged Canadian counterparts to 'use federal powers to resolve this situation' with Freedom Convoy protesters

Truckers in Canada have been protesting COVD-19 vaccine mandates on cross-border truckers by shutting down roads and bridges, including the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Canada.

At the same time, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul backed the protests and their tactics in new comments, saying: 'I hope they clog up cities.'

His comment came after the Homeland Security Department warned the protests could be headed for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles on Sunday and the president's State of the Union speech in the Capitol March 1.

'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal on Thursday. 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, to you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates,' he said.

Paul, a libertarian who has repeatedly tangled with Dr. Anthony Fauci during hearings since the start of the pandemic, also defended truckers for resisting vaccine mandates.

'And some of this, we started,,' he said. 'We put mandates on truckers coming across the border from Canada so then they put mandates on, and the truckers are annoyed. They're riding in a cab by themselves, most of them for eight, 10-hour long hauls, and they just want to do what they want to do. It's their own business.'

'I hope they clog up cities,' said Sen. Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), as he got behind the 'Freedom Convoy' protests. 'Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates,' he told the Daily Signal

Paul also endorsed protests that could be coming to Washington, DC - suggesting it might put pressure on Demoratic governors to loosen covid restrictions.

'I hope they clog up cities,' Paul said. 'And we're seeing a break in the dam now. Several Democratic governors are finally sort of relinquishing.'

He also made a joke at the expense of thousands of federal workers who are still telecommuting amid government covid policies.

'I hope the truckers do come to America,' said Paul. 'It would be great, but the thing is, it wouldn't shut the city down because the government workers haven't come to work in two years anyway,' he quipped.

'I don't know if it'll affect D.C. It'd be a nice change. We'd actually have some traffic,' he said.
President Joe Biden is looking to start in-person interviews with possible Supreme Court nominees as soon as next week after saying he's done a 'deep dive' on four contenders.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her Friday press briefing Biden could start meeting in-person 'as early as of next week' but declined to give exact dates. The administration is also dealing with worries Russia will invade the Ukraine.

But Psaki said any action by Russian President Vladimir Putin would not affect the nomination timeline.

'We remain on track for the president to make a decision and announcement on who is going to dominate to the Supreme Court this month - in the next few weeks. That was his intention from the beginning - remains his intention now. And he will continue to read ... the materials about a range of candidates. That has not been changed by whatever decision President Putin makes,' she said.

Biden left for Camp David on Friday afternoon for the weekend. While there he is expected to read up on his contenders for the seat on the high court.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said any Russian action against the Ukraine would not interrupt the time table for President Joe Biden naming a Supreme court nominee by end of the month

Biden has given no indication of who he will name but Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson; Leondra Kruger, a justice on Californias Supreme Court; and Federal Judge J. Michelle Childs are all said to be high on the list of possiblities.

The president has said he has done a deep dive on 'four people' he is considering and that he wants someone in the mode of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

'I've taken about four people and done the deep dive on them - meaning this thorough background checks, and see if there's anything in the background that would make them not qualify,' he told NBC's Lester Holt.

Biden also said he thinks whomever he chooses can get the support of some Republican senators.

'I think we'll whomever I think we'll get a vote from the Republican side for the following reason - I'm not looking to make an ideological choice,' Biden said.

'I'm looking for someone that plays Judge Breyer with the same kind of capacity Judge Breyer had with an open mind, who understands it constitution interprets it in a way that is consistent with the mainstream interpretation of the Constitution.'

He didn't offer any hints of whome he may consider but has pledged to name the first black woman to the high court.

Biden met with Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee at the White House on Thursday evening as he prepares to name his pick. He has vowed to do so by the end of the month.

The president has reached out to some Republicans, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Mitt Romney.

President Joe Biden said he has done a deep dive on 'four people' he is considering as his first Supreme Court nominee

Biden has given no indication of who he will name but Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (left), Leondra Kruger, a justice on Californias Supreme Court (center), and Federal Judge J. Michelle Childs (right) are all said to be possiblities

Breyer announced at the end of January he will retire at the end of the court's term, which is usually around late June.

His decision to retire after more than 27 years on the court allows Biden to appoint a successor who could serve for several decades. Biden's appointee should keep the court's current 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices.

Senate Democrats are promising a swift vote in order to get the nominee confirmed.

Biden only needs 51 votes to get his nominee confirmed. If all Democrats vote with him in the 50-50 Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris could be the tie breaker. Complicating matters slightly is the fact that Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan is out after suffering from a stroke. He's at home recovering in New Mexico and his office said he's expected back to Washington in about six weeks.

Biden is considering a 'wealth of accomplished and inspiring Black women' for his Supreme Court nominee, White House officials have reassured members of Congress.

'It's long overdue that a Black woman serve on the Supreme Court, and there is bipartisan tradition for ensuring that the richness of our country is represented in its leadership and on the highest Court,' the administration said.

Biden vowed during the presidential campaign to name a black woman to the high court and senators - who must confirm the president's nominee - said they want him to make a qualified pick.

In an update sent to Capitol Hill, and obtained by Axios, Biden said his nominee will have 'the strongest record, credentials, and abilities anyone could have for the highest court in our nation.'

Biden has said he will keep his campaign pledge to name the first black woman to the Supreme Court and said he will name his nominee by the end of the month

Justice Stephen Breyer, above with President Biden at the White House, said at the end of January he will step down from the Supreme Court at the end of the current term

Some senators are encouraging him to name someone who could get bipartisan support.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has urged Biden to do just that - saying it would help unify the country.

'How are we going to unify? What is it that we need to do? Well, one of the signals that he can send is putting forth a nominee for the Supreme Court that will -- will gain a level of bipartisan support," Murkowski said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.

Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, whose support in that state's primary in the 2020 presidential election saved Biden's struggling campaign, has pushed Biden to choose Michelle Childs, a U.S district court judge in that state.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina has said Childs has his support. 'I think shes qualified by every measure,' he said of her.
The man who arranged the killing of a Brooklyn cafe owner was sentenced to 28 years in prison Thursday during an emotional proceeding that revealed the victims sister had asked him for help in the aftermath of the gruesome 2011 slaying.

Kevin Taylor is the last of three men sentenced in connection with the killing of Joshua Rubin on Oct. 31, 2011 in a pot deal gone bad. He lured Rubin to an apartment for a drug deal that ended with Rubin being fatally shot. Taylor and two accomplices dumped Rubins body in rural Pennsylvania and set it on fire.

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It took a month for authorities to identify the body. During that time, Rubins sister, Hilarie Rubin, asked Taylor for help.

Video still of the late Joshua Rubin, owner of Whisk Bakery Cafe. (Via Vimeo)

Do you remember me?, Hilarie Rubin said to Taylor in Manhattan Federal Court before he was sentenced.

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As the last person on Joshuas cell phone records, both calls and text messages, I came to see you for help a few days after he disappeared. Do you remember me? Do you recall the panic and desperation I expressed to you? Do you remember the lies you told me? Do you remember the missing posters I printed, and, along with friends and family, hung them up all over Brooklyn? Did you tear them down?

The shooter, Gary Robles, was previously sentenced to 28 years. Michael Mazur, the lookout, was already sentenced to 18 years.

Rubin ran Whisk Bakery Cafe, a popular hangout in Ditmas Park and sold weed to supplement his income. Taylor lured Rubin, 30, to a Kensington apartment under the pretense of buying pot, though the plan all along was to rob him.

When Rubin refused to surrender a pound of pot, Robles shot him in the chest. Authorities say Rubin was still alive as Taylor and Mazur stayed with his body and Robles disposed of the gun. When Rubins heart stopped beating, they bought plastic bags, latex gloves, and a trash can from Home Depot to dispose of his body, which they torched in a remote field in Lehigh County.

Taylor, 29, took Rubins wallet and credit cards before burning the body. He gave the cards to accomplices to go shopping at a mall in an apparent attempt to cover his tracks.

In 2019 and 2020, Taylor tried to buy the silence of those accomplices, offering them as much as $150,000 not to speak to law enforcement.

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Judge Jed Rakoff described Taylors witness tampering as a devastating crime and said it factored heavily in his sentence.

It goes a long way to erasing a lot of the sympathy I would otherwise feel for Mr. Taylor, the judge said. He wasnt feeling the slightest remorse at that moment.

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In somber remarks, Taylor, who was 18 when he aided in Rubins murder, apologized to his victims family and said he wished he had made better decisions and that they could someday forgive him. He previously pleaded guilty to robbery, conspiracy and witness tampering.

In letters to the court, Taylors mother and friends wrote that he grew up in an abusive home where addiction was rampant. Taylors lawyer told the court that all of the male figures in his life were incarcerated when he was growing up.

Hilarie Rubin described her brother as a gentle and loving human who moved through life with kindness and grace.

Joshua saw the world through a different lens than I. He saw beauty everywhere in everything -- music, literature, food, culture, art, nature. And most of all, people, family, friends, communities, she said.

He made this world a better place. I miss Josh so very much every day. I think my greatest sadness is that there are little boys and girls in our family and that are close to use who will never know him.
Animal rights group PETA has demanded any new owners of Britain's 'oldest pub' Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is renamed 'The Happy Hens' and has an all-vegan menu.

The 'bonkers' proposal came days after pub landlord Christo Tofalli, 53, announced he was leaving the 1,300-year-old boozer due to financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit hospitality venues hard.

The parent company of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - found in St Albans, Hertfordshire - is currently looking for a new landlord.

Now, PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - is seizing the moment to demand a '21st-century revamp' of the pub, which dates back to 793AD and once hosted Oliver Cromwell.

Activists say the pub's name 'calls to mind the violence and cruelty of a hideous blood sport that has been outlawed in the UK for more than a century'.

They have suggested Ye Olde Clever Cocks as a new name, as well as The Cheery Chooks and The Happy Hens.

Campaigners are also demanding the pub, which served classic British grub, adopt a fully plant-based menu.

Animal rights group PETA has demanded any new owners of Britain's 'oldest pub' Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (pictured, file photo) is renamed 'The Happy Hens' and has an all-vegan menu

The open letter, penned by PETA's vegan chief Dawn Carr, calls on pub company Mitchells & Butlers to 'bring the pub into the 21st century' with the changes.

But local punters have ridiculed the proposals for undermining the boozer's history.

Caroline Thain wrote on Facebook: 'As an eco aware animal loving human, there's no way they should change the name.

'Why don't they put their time, energy and other resources into helping real animal cruelty and leave history and heritage which speaks truth - light and dark - to crack on?!'

Debbie Lynn agreed: 'Not everyone wants to eat vegan food. Why change a historical pub name.'

In a simple defiant comment, Rachael Longley wrote: 'Bonkers. Why is it even any of their business.'

Other residents threatened to boycott the pub if it adopted PETA's proposals.

Steph Herbst Farley wrote: 'If it goes all vegan I'm not going.'

Rob Tillotson added: 'Bunch of idiots, pub in crisis, lets alienate it even more with a menu for what, less than a quarter of the areas population?'

Mitchells & Butlers was contacted for comment.

The 'bonkers' proposal came days after pub landlord Christo Tofalli, 53, announced he was leaving the 1,300-year-old boozer due to financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit hospitality venues hard

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

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

PETA's latest attempt at pushing for a name change is not the first time the activist group has targeted the pub.

In 2015, PETA also urged Mr Tofalli to change its name to 'celebrate chickens as the intelligent, sensitive animals they are', the group said at the time.

Its special projects manager, Dawn Carr, also then 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, Mr Tofalli said this week 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.

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

'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.

Christo Tofalli, who runs Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said last week he was 'heartbroken' and had 'tried everything' to keep it open

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

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

CAMRA's National Chairman Nik Antona said earlier this week: '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.'
Chicago Prosecutors say a 16-year-old on an electronic monitor carjacked a Lyft and then murdered 15-year-old boy walking home from school only hours after appearing before judge on weapons charge.

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Anthony Brown went on a crime spree after appearing before a judge for a December weapons charge while wearing a GPS monitoring bracelet as part of his release on a pending juvenile charge, the Cook County State's Attorney's office said.

After leaving the virtual hearing Brown ordered a Lyft and was picked up at 2:15 pm and after only being driven several blocks, he pulled a gun and held it to the Lyft driver's head, ordering him to get out of the car and to leave his two cellphones and wallet behind, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Anthony Brown got out of the car on the front passenger side and walked up to Michael Brown, 15, (pictured) and pointed his handgun at his head, shooting him

Prosecutors said although Michael immediately fell to the ground, Anthony still shot him nine more times

Security footage captured the shooting, and the shooter is seen wearing a black sweatshirt which matched clothing that Anthony Brown was wearing when he was pulled over

Prosecutors said the 16-year-old then drove off in the Lyft, all the while being tracked by his court issued electric monitoring device, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Brown then allegedly drove the stolen SUV to a block near the former Ida B. Wells public housing community where a 15-year-old boy who was later found driving the SUV lived.

Around 45 minutes later, the 16-year-old drove pass 15-year-old Michael Brown as he was walking home from The Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville and turned the vehicle around to catch up to him, prosecutors said.

Anthony Brown then allegedly got out of the car on the front passenger side and walked up to Michael and pointed his handgun at his head, shooting him.

Prosecutors said although Michael immediately fell to the ground, Anthony still shot him nine more times.

Prosecutors say Anthony Brown, 16, went on a crime spree after appearing before a judge for a December weapons charge while wearing an ankle monitor (pictured)

The attack on Brown took place on South Prairie Avenue in the Douglas neighborhood at 3.15pm on Tuesday (pictured)

The overall crime rate in Chicago has increased by 26 per cent as of February 6, compared to the same period last year

Michael Brown was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital.

Police have not announced a motive and there is currently no known connection between the two teens, who are not related.

Security footage captured the shooting, and the shooter is seen wearing a black sweatshirt with three rows of letters printed on it which matched clothing that Anthony Brown was wearing when police officers pulled over the SUV a half an hour later and the 15-year-old he picked up was driving and Brown was in the passenger seat.

Police recovered a gun in the passenger side of the car that matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting and Brown had gunshot residue on his hands, prosecutors said.

Chicago Police were able to identify 26 different Police Observation Device cameras using information from Brown's electronic monitoring bracelet, which placed Brown at each scene, prosecutors said.

Brown now faces first-degree murder and vehicular hijacking charges and has been charged as an adult.

He is currently being held without bail and and Judge Charles Beach said he was facing 'adult consequences' for his alleged crimes for which he faces life in prison.

The 15-year-old who was driving the SUV at the time of the murder was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle as a juvenile, police said.

Brown was an aspiring rapper who went by the name 757 Baby Glock, the Chicago Sun Times reported.

In an October interview uploaded to the YouTube channel 'MikeMakeMovies' Brown spoke about the violence sweeping Chicago and said he was not sure things would get better.

'S*** I don' really know because me, myself, I don't think the violence will stop,' he said.

'Mother f*****s die every day, Mother f*****s could be dying right now, anything. Everything that goin' on daily, that shit happening right now.'

Brown delivered an ironic message to fellow Chicago kids, telling them to avoid the violent lifestyle.

'It ain't at all. Because once you in this s***, ain't no getting out. And so if you got that chance to go on with your hoop dreams, whatever  if you thinking like that, take that.'

The 16-year-old was no stranger to police.

Last June was arrested and charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he was found carrying a .22-caliber Glock handgun after a foot chase, prosecutors said.

He was placed on electronic monitoring for just five days but it was taken off in favor of a curfew on June 21.

In December, Brown was arrested in armed carjacking, after a police chase officers recovered a 9-mm handgun and he picked up a second unlawful use of a weapon charge, prosecutors said.

That arrest lead to him being placed back on electronic monitoring last month and his appearance in juvenile court hearing hours before the alleged car jacking and murder.

Brown was not wearing a shirt during the live-streamed hearing and was told by the judge to return the following day 'dressed appropriately for court,' prosecutors said.

Michael Brown was gunned down less than a month after Javion Ivy and James Sweezer, both 14, were shot in separate incidents four hours apart on the West Side and East Side of the city, respectively. So far, no arrests have been made in those cases.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown called the incidents 'unacceptable.'

Lawlessness in Chicago has been spiraling out of control, with overall crime up 26 per cent compared to last year.

As of February 6, murder rates were up 2 per cent, thefts have increased by 52 per cent, burglaries jumped 23 per cent, and aggravated battery and rape rates each spiked by 9 per cent.

In the first five weeks of 2022, Chicago has seen 224 shooting incidents, down 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2021.

Chicago closed out 2021 out as the most violent year in a quarter of a century as the beleaguered city saw almost 800 homicides.
A former U.S. Air Force staff sergeant and alleged member of the 'Boogaloo Bois' extremist movement pleaded guilty on Friday for the fatal shooting of a federal security officer in the San Francisco Bay Area amid widespread 2020 protests against police brutality.

Steven Carrillo, 33, had originally pleaded not guilty in July 2020 in the killing of David Patrick Underwood, 53, who was shot on May 29, 2020, in a drive-by shooting while he stood in a guard shack in front of a federal building in Oakland.

Underwood was killed and his partner was wounded as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building as a large demonstration over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was underway nearby.

Carrillo changed the plea at a federal court in San Francisco after federal prosecutors on January 31 agreed not to seek the death penalty in the case.

Prosecutors have said Carrillo, of Santa Cruz, had ties to the 'boogaloo' movement, a concept embraced by a loose network of gun enthusiasts and militia-style extremists. The group started in alt-right culture on the internet with the belief that there is an impending U.S. civil war, according to experts.

The boogaloo movement got its name from the panned 1984 movie 'Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo' and uses the title as a code word for a second civil war, authorities say.

Authorities say they determined Carrillo's ties to the boogaloo movement based on the far-right phrases he wrote in his own blood on the hood of a car he is accused of stealing after killing the deputy and also his social media posts.

Airman and alleged Boogaloo Boi Steven Carrillo, 33, pleaded guilty on Friday for the fatal shooting of a federal Security Officer David Patrick Underwood, 53, in May 2020

The former airman (pictured in his uniform) left Travis Air Force Base that morning to pick up his friend

Underwood (pictured) was killed and his partner was wounded as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California, as a large demonstration over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was underway nearby

Many people attend Underwood's funeral (pictured) in June 2020 in California

'BOOG,' 'I became unreasonable' and 'stop the duopoly' were among the phrases written in blood on the hood, according to photo evidence included in court documents.

The group is also easy to spot with their trademark Hawaiian shirts and high-powered rifles and tactical gear. Federal authorities said they found an American flag-like patch on Carrillo's bulletproof vest that depicted an igloo and a Hawaiian-style print.

Carrillo's attorney, Jeffrey Stotter, said he doesn't have any evidence his client was in contact with anyone in the boogaloo movement, which the lawyer called a terrorist organization that uses social media to reach out 'to vulnerable and possibly susceptible individuals who may be receptive to their messages of hate and destruction.'

Carrillo 'has personally expressed to me his sadness and sympathy for everyone that has been harmed by the tragic events in his case,' Stotter said in June 2020.

Carrillo is accused of plotting to target the federal security officer a day before the May 29 attack during an online chat with Robert Alvin Justus Jr. and a third person.

Pictured: Carillo appears in court in August 2020

He escaped in a white van (pictured) after shooting Underwood in May 2020

Authorities say they determined Carrillo's ties to the boogaloo movement based on the far-right phrases he wrote in his own blood on the hood of a car he is accused of stealing after killing the deputy and also his social media posts. 'BOOG,' 'I became unreasonable' and 'stop the duopoly' (pictured) were among the phrases written in blood on the hood

Federal authorities said they found an American flag-like patch on Carrillo's bulletproof vest that depicted an igloo and a Hawaiian-style print - a trademark of the group

In their criminal complaint, federal officials described a hastily hatched plan to target federal law enforcement officials during the protest in Oakland.

Officials said Carrillo used the protest as cover for the crime and for his escape.

In a Facebook group that included his alleged accomplice, Justus, and an unidentified third person, Carrillo linked to a video showing a crowd attacking two California Highway Patrol vehicles and wrote, 'It's on our coast now, this needs to be nationwide. It's a great opportunity to target the specialty soup bois. Keep that energy going', according to the complaint.

Boogaloo adherents refer to federal law enforcement as 'soup bois' because federal agencies sometimes are referred to as 'alphabet soup' due to their varied acronyms.

Prosecutors says Justus responded with 'let's boogie.'

The third member of the chat later wrote that Oakland might be 'popping off' with police protests, according to the complaint.

The next day, Carrillo drove from Travis Air Force Base and picked up Justus. He offered him body armor and a firearm. Justus, who turned himself in after the deputy was killed, told investigators he wouldn't take the weapon and gear.

Justus said he drove Carrillo's white van, parked it near the courthouse and then did a 10-minute walk around the area.

Justus told investigators that he did not want to participate in the killing but felt he was forced to because he was trapped in the van with Carrillo.

Co-conspirator Robert Alvin Justus Jr. (pictured), who drove the van, turned himself in after the deputy was killed. He claimed Carrillo offered him a bulletproof vest and weapon, which he denied

Carrillo was arrested on June 6, 2020, and was escorted by four officers (pictured)

Federal authorities say the same homemade AR-15-style rifle was used in both two shootings

According to the complaint, authorities reminded him that he had gotten out of the van and could have left at any time. Justus claimed he was trying to think of ways to talk Carrillo out of his plan.

After he returned to the van Justus drove past the guard station where Underwood and his partner were located and Carrillo fired from an open sliding door. Justus told investigators Carrillo seemed 'thrilled' after the shooting, the complaint said.

Surveillance video showed the shooting and authorities asked for the public's help finding the van.

On June 6, a citizen spotted an abandoned white van in Santa Cruz County and reported noticing ammunition, firearms and bomb-making ingredients inside.

The vehicle identification number was traced to Carrillo's home in Ben Lomond and that's where authorities say he ambushed the officers, showering them with gunfire and explosives from a hillside on June 6, as they went to investigate.

Carrillo separately faces state charges in that second shooting that killed Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller and left four other officers wounded.

Federal authorities say the same homemade AR-15-style rifle was used in both two shootings.

Carrillo was stationed at Travis Air Force Base northeast of Oakland where he was a leader in an elite military security force and had no record of disciplinary issues.

Authorities accused Carrillo of fatally shooting Underwood after spraying a guard shack he was in with bullets from a white van.

A week after the shooting in Oakland, Carrillo allegedly ambushed sheriff's deputies in Santa Cruz County who were responding to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials. Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed and several other law enforcement officials were wounded, according to authorities and court records.

Prosecutors in Santa Cruz charged Carrillo with a slew of felonies, including murder and attempted murder in connection to that killing.

Carrillo pleaded not guilty to Gutzwiller's killing.
Gripped by a teenage crush on the Beatles, Janice Hawkins skipped school and caught a flight from the US to London.

She and fellow 16-year-old superfan Martha Schendel were determined to meet the Fab Four, so hitchhiked their way to Liverpool.

But when they were posted as missing in 1964, their wild schoolgirl escapade sparked an international manhunt, with the American embassy organising posters to be displayed at British police stations and post offices.

Almost 58 years on from their failed mission, Janice Mitchell has discovered that her hero Paul McCartney (pictured in 1963) had been willing to greet the teenagers after all

The wild schoolgirl escapade sparked an international manhunt, with the American embassy organising posters to be displayed at British police stations and post offices

Now, as Janice Mitchell, she has written a book about her adventure, My Ticket To Ride and it was while researching it that she found the Mail report

By the time their adventure ended, without them ever meeting the Beatles, the two runaways had made headlines around the world  and when they got back to Cleveland, Ohio, they were locked up as 'delinquents'.

Now, an agonising twist to the story can be revealed: almost 58 years on from their failed mission, heartbroken Janice has discovered that her hero Paul McCartney had been willing to greet the teenagers after all. 'I nearly fell off my chair,' she said.

And she found it out from a copy of the Daily Mail, published in October 1964 after they were found and were being sent back home.

The Mail revealed: 'As they took off for New York, a Beatles spokesman explained, "We arranged to get Paul McCartney to see them off, but then the embassy told us they did not want to encourage the girls."'

Janice Hawkins and Martha Schendel in London, They were determined to meet the Fab Four, so hitchhiked their way to Liverpool

The US embassy refused to pass on the message. Now, as Janice Mitchell, she has written a book about her adventure, My Ticket To Ride. It was while researching it that she found the Mail report.

Of the US embassy's approach, Janice said last night: 'It broke my heart and angered me.' But her feelings were bitter-sweet: 'I was, of course, also delighted to think that the Beatles knew about us.'

Janice said: 'When I came across that edition of the Daily Mail I got such a shock. I found out that Paul McCartney wanted to see us, and it was stopped by the officials.

'It is so sad. It would have been wonderful to have had even just a fleeting 'hello and goodbye' before our flight, but it was not to be.'

Janice's adventure started in December 1963 when she heard I Want to Hold Your Hand on the radio and recruited her neighbour Martha to Beatlemania.

The transfixed duo hatched a plan. They drained Janice's savings from babysitting and Martha's bank account of her $1,900 college fund  about 15,000 in today's money  and bought two one-way tickets to London.

The Mail revealed: 'As they took off for New York, a Beatles spokesman explained, "We arranged to get Paul McCartney to see them off, but then the embassy told us they did not want to encourage the girls."'

The day after attending a Beatles concert in their hometown in September 1964, they boarded a TWA flight from Cleveland.

They rented a flat in London and spent two weeks hanging around Soho, the epicentre of the Swinging Sixties, hoping to see their idols.

Then they hitchhiked to Liverpool, but when they got there the Cavern Club, where the Beatles made their name, was closed, and they returned to the capital.

Three weeks after their arrival in the UK, a London bobby recognised Janice and they were put in a holding cell. Sent back to the US, the girls were held in custody and charged with delinquency.

Fans greet the Beatles in Toronto, Canada in 1964. The day after attending a Beatles concert in their hometown in September 1964, Janice and Martha boarded a TWA flight from Cleveland

A judge in Cleveland warned of 'the evils of rock and roll music' before releasing them back to their families.

It led the city's mayor to impose a two-year ban on pop concerts by big acts such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

After their escapade, it was the end for Janice and Martha's friendship too. Janice said: 'I caused a lot of trouble. I think her parents were pretty strict with her. I never saw her again.'
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Eight months before her death, Princess Diana sat down to watch a television programme that had been billed as the biggest ever live debate on the future of the monarchy.

In reality, the show was a shambolic, ill-tempered and deeply unpleasant affair which even its contributors condemned as no better than a cockfight.

But Diana, in her Kensington Palace apartment that evening in early January 1997, was mesmerised. As were her two companions, sitting either side of her on the striped sofa  Prince William and Prince Harry.

As three of the nation's best-loved royals, they had more at stake, of course, than perhaps anyone else who had tuned in.

The programme reached its raucous zenith when the audience, some 3,000 strong, were asked whether Camilla Parker Bowles could ever be Queen, and to respond by holding up cue cards  blue for Yes, red for No.

The vote resulted in a blizzard of red cards and a resounding No, but in Diana's sitting room the moment was broken by the then 12-year-old Prince Harry.

Eight months before her death, Princess Diana sat down to watch a television programme that had been billed as the biggest ever live debate on the future of the monarchy. The programme reached its raucous zenith when the audience, some 3,000 strong, were asked whether Camilla Parker Bowles (pictured with Diana in 1980) could ever be Queen, and to respond by holding up cue cards  blue for Yes, red for No. The vote resulted in a blizzard of red cards and a resounding No, but in Diana's sitting room the moment was broken by the then 12-year-old Prince Harry. 'Who's Camilla?' he asked in a small voice

The danger for Harry is that this absence of any warmth towards the woman whom he once averred was not a 'wicked stepmother' could be seen as a snub

'Who's Camilla?' he asked in a small voice. As a knowing William smothered his laughter, Diana told her younger son that it was something he had to ask his father about.

This week, 25 years after that ITV debate  denounced by the late, great broadcaster Sir Robin Day as 'the most contemptible programme I have ever watched on a serious subject'  the single most contentious issue it raised, the future of Camilla, has been all but settled.

In an announcement to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty spoke of her 'sincere wish' that when the time comes, the Duchess of Cornwall will be known as Queen Consort, not Princess Consort, as announced on her marriage to the Prince of Wales.

But while a poll with the first test of public opinion showed enthusiastic support for the idea of Queen Camilla, the reaction of the two princes, who had no vote that long-ago night, has been sharply different.

William was said to be 'supportive' of the move and 'respectful' of the logic behind his grandmother's decision.

From Harry, there was, initially, not a public word. Then, when he did break his silence four days later from California, there was no mention of his stepmother, or the proposed change to her status.

Instead, he paid a lavish tribute to Diana, praising her work on Aids and HIV and explaining that he felt an 'obligation' to continue his late mother's efforts to remove the stigma surrounding the virus.

Pointedly, he said: 'I could never fill her shoes.' He might just as well have added: 'And nor could anyone else.'

During an interview to mark his 21st birthday in September 2005, Harry said he and William 'loved her to bits'. He went on: 'She's a wonderful woman and she's made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing.' Above: Prince Charles with Camilla, William and Harry after their marriage

The danger for Harry is that this absence of any warmth towards the woman whom he once averred was not a 'wicked stepmother' could be seen as a snub.

So was it calculated? And if so, why, when it was Camilla who was among the very first members of the Royal Family to offer the hand of friendship to Meghan?

The answer is complex, rooted in William and Harry's lives in the years immediately after Diana's death.

They were at first unwilling or unable to defend their mother's reputation and she was in danger of being airbrushed from history.

The transition from having two loving parents to just one affected the boys in different ways. But in their attitude towards Camilla there was a more unified view.

Eight years after that nervous question, 'Who's Camilla?', Harry was in no doubt. During an interview to mark his 21st birthday in September 2005, he said he and William 'loved her to bits'.

He went on: 'She's a wonderful woman and she's made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing.'

In an announcement to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty spoke of her 'sincere wish' that when the time comes, the Duchess of Cornwall will be known as Queen Consort, not Princess Consort, as announced on her marriage to the Prince of Wales

The first test of public opinion since the change to the coronation vows was announced reveals overwhelming support

Warming to his theme, he added: 'Look at the position she's come into. Don't always feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her. We are grateful for her . . . we're very happy to have her around.'

Should there have been any lingering doubts about the brothers' feelings for the duchess, who had married their father five months earlier, Harry emphasised: 'To be honest, she's always been very close to me and William. But no, she's not the wicked stepmother, I'll say that right now.'

More than 16 years later, it is hard to relate those kind and fulsome words to the peevish absence of any acknowledgement of the proposed change to Camilla's royal rank, which will mean so much to his father's future happiness.

It is entirely possible that Harry was taken aback by his grandmother's announcement. Sources close to William indicated that he was not part of the decision-making process, so it is, therefore, extremely unlikely Harry was.

The story of the relationship between the brothers and the woman who never wanted to be their stepmother was always awkward and frequently tense. Often it was the case of one step forward and two steps back.

When William met the then Mrs Parker Bowles formally for the first time, the encounter went well. But when it was subsequently leaked, the teenage prince reacted angrily, believing he was being used to try to salvage his father's damaged public image.

Raising the issue of another woman with a son whose mother is still alive is difficult enough. How much more difficult when the mother, much loved and desperately missed, has been dead for less than a year.

As Prince William's 16th birthday approached in June 1998, the Prince of Wales knew that the time to confront the matter had arrived.

Some sons would have sulked, others would have lapsed into a difficult silence. So how did William react?

'Whatever makes you happy, Papa,' he told his father. In that measured response there was an echo of how he had reacted when Diana told him she was losing her HRH title on divorcing Charles.

On that occasion he told her: 'It doesn't matter  you're still Mummy.'

Both parents knew their elder son was unusually mature and thoughtful for his age. So when he offered his father that simple response, it was partly because he had been primed by his mother and partly because he was curious to meet Mrs Parker Bowles.

It was also not lost on him that during his last holiday with Diana in the South of France, he had met Dodi Fayed, who died in the Paris crash that killed her.

So when Charles suggested a meeting with Camilla, William was keen. Ironically, it was Mrs Parker Bowles who was the nervous one, later reaching for a drink.

They met at Charles's apartment in St James's Palace, chatting for half an hour. William was friendly and Camilla sensitive.

Camilla, 74, was visiting the Nourish Hub kitchen in Notting Hill, west London, when she said she felt 'honoured' to have won the Queen's backing as future Queen Consort. Pictured, Camilla leaving the Nourish Hub kitchen

The story of the relationship between the brothers and the woman who never wanted to be their stepmother was always awkward and frequently tense. Often it was the case of one step forward and two steps back. Above: Harry with Camilla and the Queen at the 2008 marriage of Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly

A few days later, they met again, this time for lunch, and they also had tea a couple of times. As the weeks passed, when she was staying over in London, she and William would occasionally have breakfast together.

The meetings were pleasant enough. William didn't find the woman his mother had famously called 'The Rottweiler' as poisonous as he'd expected, but there was no real warmth, and it was not until 2001 that he was seen in public with her.

In those early days, Camilla tended to make herself scarce when the boys came home from boarding school for the weekend and in the holidays.

The next step, naturally enough, was for Harry to be introduced. With the benefit of hindsight, it was probably too soon. Harry was only 13, and a young 13 at that.

Palace courtiers wanted the meeting to take place before the first anniversary of Diana's death and ahead of Prince Charles's 50th birthday  one of the key royal events of the year. Insiders say it was an uncomfortable encounter.

'Harry wanted his mum and was missing her terribly,' an aide at the time recalls. 'He just didn't want to be there.'

The thinking behind this was to do with that landmark birthday.

Although Camilla was not included in the official events planned by the Queen, she would be at Highgrove for a more intimate close-friends-and-family-only celebration.

The arrival of Meghan in Harry's life had helped repair the relationship between the prince and the duchess. The American actress, Camilla said, was 'a very, very nice girl'

In fact, she was organising it and wanted both boys' help in planning a comedy skit involving some of Britain's best-known actors.

But there was another element to this strategy. If it was known that Camilla had already met the teenage princes, then attending the Highgrove party they were also scheduled to be at would surely scarcely raise a question?

In other words, if Camilla was acceptable to Diana's sons, then why on earth should the country object to her presence in the Prince of Wales's life?

Public affection was conditional on how Camilla was perceived to be behaving as a stepmother. The answer was clear when 17-year-old Harry had a highly visible scrape with drink and drugs.

She was not involved at all  at least publicly. Behind the scenes it was a different story.

Camilla's own son, Tom, from her marriage to Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, had had his own drugs-related crisis, intensified publicly because he was Charles's stepson.

It meant she could offer wisdom both to the Prince of Wales and to the wayward Harry.

By the time of Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles's wedding in April 2005, family unity seemed complete. The smiles of the wedding party were unforced and easy.

Here were Charles and Camilla flanked by Princes William and Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall's children, Tom and Laura, and all seemed well.

The rhythm of domestic lives entwined continued. Harry and William attended Laura Parker Bowles's wedding and were supporters at the funeral of Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand.

These, though, were the years when memories of Diana were being pushed to the margins.

Even a row over whether or not Camilla should attend a memorial service to mark the tenth anniversary of the princess's death  she didn't  failed to interrupt the duchess's smooth transition from the 'third person' in Diana's marriage to valued stepmother.

But slowly things began to change. William's marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 was the start of the loosening of ties between the boys and their father and his wife.

After Prince George was born, Charles complained about how little he saw his first grandson.

Harry, meanwhile, was admitting that he had bottled up years of grief over his mother's death. He absorbed everything he could read and watch about Diana and her life  even the wildly inaccurate TV series The Crown. And what he found, he didn't much like.

In 2017, to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana's death, the brothers collaborated on TV documentaries.

As part of their research, they invited some of their late mother's friends to Kensington Palace. For some, it was the first time they had talked to Diana's boys about her.

And then, as they unveiled their plans for a statue, Princess Diana suddenly was everywhere.

There are concerns about Harry's recollections of Camilla's arrival into royal life and whether he will claim her affair with Charles had damaged him from a young age

In public, both boys spoke movingly about their late mother, but of their father there was barely a mention. As for Camilla, there was precious little public affection.

One of Diana's circle, who met the boys as part of their 'fact-finding' about their mother in 2017, recalled: 'They were cool about Camilla  they didn't seem to be close, especially Harry, who made his feelings pretty clear.'

As boys, Camilla had made them laugh, but as adults their attitudes had changed to one of almost icy indifference, where they saw her only as the woman who had married their papa.

'It didn't help that Camilla couldn't bear it when the subject of the Diana statue was raised,' recalls one figure close to the Prince of Wales.

To start with, the arrival of Meghan in Harry's life had helped repair the relationship between the prince and the duchess. The American actress, Camilla said, was 'a very, very nice girl'.

But the legacy of the Sussexes' Oprah Winfrey interview, in which Harry claimed his father had cut him off financially and, more damagingly, that he and his wife had been the victims of racist comments about the colour of their son Archie's skin, has changed everything.

Since those gushing comments on his 21st birthday, Harry has rarely spoken about Camilla. The fear now is that his soon-to-be published memoir, which is bound to be protective of his mother, could be highly critical of the duchess.

There are concerns about Harry's recollections of Camilla's arrival into royal life and whether he will claim her affair with Charles had damaged him from a young age.

In a podcast last year, Harry made another passive-aggressive dig at his father, saying: 'He treated me the way he was treated.'

As for William, Kate has been the conciliatory factor. For years, the relationship with his father was not good and Camilla was appalled by his tantrums. 'The boy's got a temper,' she told one friend.

But the rift with Harry has brought Charles and William closer and reshaped William's thinking about Camilla. However, whether he will publicly support her should hurtful claims be made against her by Harry is uncertain.

Unlike Harry all those years ago, William didn't need to ask Diana about Camilla.

Above all, he respects his grandmother, the Queen, and her judgment. If it is right for her that Camilla should be queen, then it will be right for him.
MPs are set to be protected from a crippling tax rise about to hit millions of small firms.

The Commons pay body is expected to hand them more cash to cover the higher national insurance contributions they will have to pay for staff.

It means MPs will not have to consider reducing their spending or getting rid of workers to cope with the 1.25 percentage point rise, predicted to add more than 3,000 to the tax burden of a typical small firm.

The Daily Mail has led the Spike the Hike campaign for ministers to ditch the tax grab because households and firms are struggling with soaring living costs.

The national insurance rise, which is meant to raise up to 13billion a year for the NHS and social care, applies to employers as well as workers.

Last night critics of the policy said it was unfair that those who had voted for the rise should be insulated from its effects.

Former Tory minister Baroness Altmann said: There is a danger that if something doesnt affect you personally, you dont realise how many people are going to be struggling from this.

'It shouldnt be one rule for the public sector and another rule for everybody else, and the Government shouldnt be foisting extra costs on companies trying to recover from the pandemic.

The Commons pay body is expected to hand MPs more cash to cover the higher national insurance contributions they will have to pay for staff

The Federation of Small Businesses said: This is not a good look. Small employers do not have this option, and instead will have to choose between raising prices or cutting pay.

Each one of the 650 MPs is classed as an employer and gets up to 190,750 in London  and 179,330 elsewhere  to pay for a team of office managers, researchers and assistants.

Under the rules set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the money covers employer national insurance contributions as well as salaries.

Experts believe average firms with eight staff will  from April  have to pay 260 a month more, or 3,115 a year.

Workers face a double whammy from the looming national insurance rise, according to the Governments economic watchdog (Stock Image)

It is feared many will be forced to consider making redundancies or offering lower wages.

But MPs are likely to avoid having to make tough decisions because they are expected to be given more money for staffing  from the public purse.

IPSA has not yet set budgets for the coming financial year but is likely to follow the example of the rest of the public sector.

The Treasury is giving 1.8billion a year to Whitehall departments and other state bodies to compensate them for the cost of the new health and social care levy.

The Treasury is giving 1.8billion a year to Whitehall departments and other state bodies to compensate them for the cost of the new health and social care levy

When the tax rise was proposed in September as a way to cut NHS waiting lists and fix the elderly care system, IPSA said it would help MPs with their employer contributions only if other public sector bodies got extra money as well.

It was also agreed that IPSA should not provide a specific uplift to MPs budgets to cover the 1.25 rise in employer national insurance contributions in 2022/23 unless the Treasury decides to fund this universally across the public sector, board minutes noted.

But in October the Treasury did agree to provide this compensation to state bodies, paving the way for MPs to receive the same treatment.

Health minister Edward Argar said it would cost at least 1.7billion a year.

A spokesman for IPSA said last night: Budgets for MPs staff will be confirmed by IPSA in early March, before the new financial year in April 2022.

Boris Johnson was last month reported to be wobbling on plans to raise national insurance in an attempt to win favour with Conservative backbenchers who oppose the move.

But then the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak wrote a joint article in which they claimed to be tax-cutting Conservatives but insisted: We must go ahead with the health and social care levy. It is the right plan.

Sex pest Labour MP Mike Hill was allowed to charge taxpayers 12,000 for his legal bills after being accused of assaulting a female aide in his Westminster office who he then fired

A sex pest Labour MP was allowed to charge taxpayers 12,000 for his legal bills, it emerged last night.

Mike Hill hired solicitors after being accused of sexually assaulting a female aide in his Westminster office who he then fired.

Despite being forced to quit the Commons he was given permission to claim from his parliamentary office budget the legal costs of his defence against her claims.

Sex pest former Labour MP Mike Hill (pictured) was allowed to charge taxpayers 12,000 for his legal bills after he was accused of sexually assaulting a female aide in his Westminster office

One official at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority concluded in emails obtained by the Mail: On reflection, in spite of the reputational and ethical dilemma we cannot see a reason under the scheme to not reimburse these costs.

A colleague agreed: It does feel a bit uncomfortable, but as you say its hard to argue that it isnt directly related to his role as an employer.

Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen, who supported the victim and gave evidence against Mr Hill at the tribunal, said it was unfair that the disgraced MP had his costs covered while his victim had to find the money herself for legal help.

Despite being forced to quit the Commons, former MP Mike Hill was given permission to claim from his parliamentary office budget the legal costs of his defence against her claims

Mr Hill, 58, became Labour MP for Hartlepool in 2017 and retained the seat in 2019. He stepped down last March amid the furore over the claims against him.

The tribunal later ruled he had breached the Equality Act by sexually harassing his aide, bullying her, victimising her and then sacking her.
Sen. Joe Manchin teamed up with Republicans to introduce a bill that would ban the distribution of drug paraphernalia, and two Republicans appalled by a viral report alleging that the Biden administration was going to fund handing out crack pipes to drug addicts have introduced the 'HUNTER Act' which would do the same.

Though Health and Human Services (HHS) has denied that crack pipes were ever to be included in the 'safe smoking kits' they will fund, Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Dan Bishop of North Carolina told Fox News that the Biden administration got caught 'red-handed.'

HHS is now considering applications from community groups to dole out $30 million as part of its Harm Reduction Grant. The grant will fund programs that offer materials for addicts to utilize when using to mitigate the spread of disease.

The Republicans' bill, the Halting the Use of Narcotics Through Effective Recovery Act this week, dubbed the HUNTER Act, is named after President Biden's son Hunter who has struggled with drug addiction.

'I like the HUNTER Act,' Boebert said, 'because it was a better acronym than Stop Paying to Subsidize Biden's Son's Drug Addiction act. That didn't really flow. I think tax dollars have been on the hook for Hunter's addictions long enough.'

Bishop said the bill would take aim at the federal funding of safe injection sites, needle trade-ins, and safe smoking kits. He said such programs try to 'remove all stigma' from drug use, when 'actually stigma is not a bad thing.'

West Virginia Democrat Manchin joined in, introducing a bill with Sen. Marco Rubio to ban federal funding from being used to purchase illicit paraphernalia, such as pipes or needles. The bill is known as the PIPES Act, or Preventing Illicit Paraphernalia for Exchange Systems Act.

Rubio on Thursday introduced the CRACK Act, a separate but similar bill, along with 16 Republican co-sponsors, even after the Biden administration's denial that it would fund pipes.

'I am glad the Biden administration acknowledges sending crack pipes to our nation's addicts is a bad idea,' Rubio said in a statement. 'It is pure insanity to think the federal government would fund crack pipe distribution. This legislation will make certain the program can never pay for crack pipes, and given the Biden administration's position I look forward to their vigorous support.'

Rubio's bill would amend the American Rescue Plan to prohibit the use of federal funds to 'supply, or distribute pipes, cylindrical objects, or other paraphernalia that can be used to smoke, inhale, or ingest narcotics.'

While Republicans were almost universally appalled at the report on crack pipe distribution, many have already embraced needle exchange programs. Thirty-eight states currently allow programs to give out clean needles to addicts.

Two Republicans appalled by a viral report alleging that the Biden administration was going to fund handing out crack pipes to drug addicts have introduced the 'HUNTER Act' to ban the distribution of drug paraphernalia

View of a glass pipe used to smoke illegal drugs

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in 2019 allowing syringe exchange programs, as did Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey in 2021. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation expanding his state's exchange program, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcombs administration was critical when one Indiana county planned to close its porgram.

'The HUNTER Act is a means of encapsulating how ridiculous public policy can become when it's in the hands of the woke,' Bishop said.

'I like the HUNTER Act,' Boebert said in an interview, 'because it was a better acronym than Stop Paying to Subsidize Biden's Son's Drug Addiction act. That didn't really flow. I think tax dollars have been on the hook for Hunter's addictions long enough.'

While Republicans expressed dismay about a reported plan to include crack pipes in government-funded safe smoking kits, a liberal drug policy group criticized Health and Human Services (HHS) for leaving out the pipes.

The Drug Policy Alliance said the decision to 'remove pipes from safe smoking equipment is deeply disappointing.'

'This is a missed opportunity to be preventative of more deaths due to overdose,' the group wrote on Twitter. 'Giving clean drug-using equipment such as a pipe & syringe reduces transmission of disease including Hep. C & HIV.'

'Harm reduction works to meet people where they are at, and keep people free of diseases and alive so they have a chance of recovery and healing,' the group added.

The program, which accepted applications from local nonprofits until this week, will fund 'safe smoking kits/supplies,' which White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday will include 'alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.'

HHS could not be reached for comment on a comprehensive list of allowable items, but such kits also typically include a rubber mouthpiece to prevent cuts and burns, brass screens to filter contaminants and disinfectant wipes, according to Harm Reduction International.

Jamie Favaro, executive director of NEXT Distro, one of the groups that applied for the grants, told the Washington Post that such kits typically do not include glass pipes because it is far more expensive than just offering a mouthpiece, which can be affixed to any pipe to prevent spreading infection.

Clean pipes are intended to curb the injecting drugs with needles, which is far riskier. But the HHS grant will offer clean needles, too.

In pushing for the pipes to be included, the Drug Policy Alliance said: 'The US government has prioritized a criminalization approach for 50+ years & its failing. Overdose rates are at record highs.'

Also funded under the grant are harm reduction vending machines, including stock for the machines, medication to reverse a drug overdose, medication lock boxes, infectious disease testing kits, safe sex kits, medication and needle disposal kits, vaccination services and wound care supplies.

The $30 million Harm Reduction Program grant is funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan, and therefore is 'not subject to the same syringe funding restrictions as other federal grants,' HHS says.

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.

On Monday the Washington Free Beacon reported that an HHS spokesperson told them that included in these kits these kits could be pipes for users to smoke substances like crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, or 'any illicit substance.'

HHS on Wednesday put out a statement contradicting its previously reported remarks. '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.'

Psaki said that the pipes were never expected to be included in the kits. 'They were never a part of the kit,' said Psaki. 'It was inaccurate reporting.'

In Hunter Biden's 2021 memoir 'Beautiful Things,' he admitted to buying crack on the streets of Washington, D.C. and having guns pointed in his face while he went searching for drugs

'I would note that what we're really talking about here is steps that we're taking as a federal government to address the opioid epidemic,' Psaki added.

The press secretary denied that HHS had changed its policy on the crack pipes after the story first came out. 'We don't support federal funding, indirect or direct, for pipes.'

In Hunter Biden's 2021 memoir 'Beautiful Things,' he admitted to buying crack on the streets of Washington, D.C. and having guns pointed in his face while he went searching for drugs.

Hunter reveals that at one point, he let a homeless crack addict who he bought drugs from move in with him.

'The relationship was symbiotic,' he writes. 'It was two crack addicts who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. A one-act crack farce.'

'I spent more times on my hands and knees picking through rugs smoking anything that even remotely resembled crack cocaine. I probably smoked more parmesan cheese than anyone that you know,' the president's son said with a laugh, as he sat down with CBS Sunday Morning in April.
Boris Johnson will deny breaking Covid-19 rules and tell police he was working on the night of the alleged 'Abba Party' in the Downing Street flat, according to reports.

The Prime Minister last night received his questionnaire from police investigating allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in No 10, Downing Street confirmed, sharing the news late on Friday night as the Ukraine crisis dominated the news cycle.

The Metropolitan Police has begun sending questions up to 50 people in No 10 believed to have attended the illicit gatherings during lockdown, including the Prime Minister and reportedly his wife Carrie Johnson.

The move means Mr Johnson will have to provide a credible reason as to why he was at events held during coronavirus restrictions or face a fine.

Mr Johnson is believed to have attended as many as six of the parties being investigating by the Metropolitan Police.

One such party was allegedly organised by Carrie Johnson in the official Downing Street residence on November 13, 2020.

During the party - on the night of former chief adviser Dominic Cumming's departure - Abba songs were reportedly heard.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson will argue to investigators that the Downing Street flat can also be a workplace, in order to explain his presence.

Officers working on Operation HIllman will then have to decide if this is considered a 'reasonable excuse,' and if they are not satisfied, the Prime Minister could be asked to attend a face-to-face interview with investigators before any final decision.

Others said to be at the party will also be questioned.

If after the interviews officers are still not satisfied that Mr Johnson's presence at the alleged party was lawful, he could face a fine, and his future as Prime Minister will be in even further jeopardy.

However, according to a report in The Times citing Mr Johnson's allies, the embattled Prime Minister is of the belief that he will survive a confidence vote by his Tory MPs, even if he is fined by the police.

Boris Johnson has received his questionnaire from police investigating allegations of lockdown-breaching parties in No 10, Downing Street has said. Pictured: Johnson speaks to the media during a visit to the Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base near Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

Johnson 'optimistic he can win confidence vote even if fined by police' over Partygate Allies of Boris Johnson have said the Prime Minister is optimistic that he could win a confidence vote by his Tory MPs, even if he is fined by police over 'Partygate'. According to The Times, Downing Street personnel have said Mr Johnson will continue to fight for his job if the police find him to have been in the wrong. One told the newspaper the Prime Minister is 'not going to just walk off stage,' with another warning Mr Johnson has a 'huge mandate'. Another source told The Times the Prime Minister's aides are confident Tory MPs would be reluctant to vote against him in a motion of no confidence due to a lack of any clear successor. Mr Johnson will face a vote of no confidence if 54 Conservatives write to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, and would be ousted if more than half of his MPs subsequently voted against him. Advertisement

No 10 confirmed on Friday evening that the Prime Minister had received the legal form from Metropolitan Police officers, and said he will 'respond as required'.

A No 10 spokesman said: 'We can confirm the Prime Minister has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police. He will respond as required.'

The PM's wife Carrie is also reported to have been emailed the questionnaire, which has to be answered honestly.

The Met Police say the questionnaires ask for an 'account and explanation of the recipient's participation in an event' and have 'formal legal status and must be answered truthfully'.

Officers working on Operation Hillman are sending the questionnaires to more than 50 individuals across Downing Street and wider Government as they investigate 12 events.

The Prime Minister is alleged to have been at up to six of them, including the 'bring your own booze' party in the No 10 garden in May 2020 during the first lockdown.

Mr Cummings tweeted: 'great work tory mps leaving this crippled joke of a pm spending next 7 days bunkered down with lawyers trying to remember all his different lies while another major global crisis unfolds.'

Downing Street shared that Mr Johnson had received the questionnaire shortly before 10pm on Friday night, amid a mounting crisis in Ukraine and fears that Russia could invade its neighbour in the next 48 hours.

Britons were tonight told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an imminent invasion, with the growing crisis dominating the news cycle.

Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood urged for Boris Johnson to move on from the 'mess' after the Prime Minister received a legal questionnaire from police investigating Covid breaches.

Having discussed the Ukraine crisis, the chair of the Commons Defence Committee told BBC Newsnight: 'We're talking about these bigger issues and I'm asking for statecraft, I'm asking for leadership.

'It's because when you lifted the lid on No 10 and you saw the chaos that was going on, that's why we're not leading on the front foot when it comes to Ukraine.

'We need to get this resolved. The nation is looking at this. There's a massive level of trust to be regained. We need to move forward, this is a mess.

'I'm afraid I disagree with the Prime Minister, the world is watching this, they expect Britain to do better - we can do better than this.'

News that Mr Johnson has received the questionnaire comes in the wake of the dramatic resignation of Dame Cressida Dick from her post as the Met Commissioner yesterday

Scotland Yard is reassessing its decision not to probe a quiz night at Christmas 2020 where he was pictured with an aide dressed in tinsel, with sparking wine on the table in front of them

Outgoing Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick this week suggested some of those being contacted by officers will end up with fines.

'Clearly, some, but probably not all, of those people may very well end up with a ticket,' she told BBC Radio London.

The development further imperils the embattled Prime Minister.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said it would be 'very tough' for Mr Johnson to cling on to power if he is fined.

'It will be difficult, he knows that,' the senior MP said in an interview with the i newspaper.

Sir Iain added: 'If you've set the laws, and you break them and the police decide you have broken them... and then there's the unredacted (Sue Gray) report - the two things will come together.'

Fifteen Tory MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson to go, while more are thought to have privately written to the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories calling for a no confidence vote.

More still are poised to do so if the Prime Minister is found to have broken his own coronavirus laws, or further damaging details emerge from the Sue Gray inquiry.

He will face a vote of no confidence if 54 Conservatives write to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, and would be ousted if more than half of his MPs subsequently voted against Mr Johnson.

Tory MPs have told MailOnline of growing alarm that the Partygate probe will drag on as late as April - and potentially cripple their local election campaign.

To add to his woes, Mr Johnson was accused of trying to 'bully' police today after allies warned Scotland Yard against 'deciding who the Prime Minister is'.

Senior Tory MPs and Mr Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings were among those who urged the PM to distance himself from remarks made to the Times.

Downing Street shared that Mr Johnson had received the questionnaire shortly before 10pm on Friday night, amid a mounting crisis in Ukraine and fears that Russia could invade its neighbour in the next 48 hours. Pictured: Russian tanks take part in a drill in Belarus, Friday

News that Mr Johnson has received the questionnaire comes in the wake of the dramatic resignation of Dame Cressida Dick from her post as the Met Commissioner yesterday.

As a result, Dame Dick's No2 at Scotland Yard could face a Partygate timebomb after her resignation with a permanent replacement thought to be months away.

Deputy commissioner Steve House could be left trying to manage the fallout from the criminal investigation into Johnson's Downing Street after Dame Cressida announced she will only stay on for a 'short period' to ensure 'stability'.

It is understood the process of identifying a replacement will take 'months not weeks', with Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan gearing up for a clash.

The Met has insisted that Dame Cressida's resignation will have no impact on the probe - named Operation Hillman - which is being overseen by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors.

But the organisation's leadership will inevitably need to handle the political implications of what the investigation dredges up.

Sir Stephen, 65, was previously chief constable of Police Scotland before being appointed to his current role in 2018.

As the Metropolitan Police prepares to question up to 50 people in No10 about illicit gatherings during lockdown, a friend of the PM suggested the PM should not be fined if found to have broken the law.

Deputy Met Commissioner Stephen House (right) could be in temporary charge of the force when the Partygate investigation is completed

'There is inevitably a degree of discretion here - do you want the Metropolitan Police deciding who the prime minister is? They have to be very certain,' they told the paper.

'If he does get one, it would be odd if the discretionary action of the police determines the future of the country.'

discretionary action of the police determines the future of the country.'

A Downing Street spokeswoman tried to cool the row, saying: 'This government has always backed the police and fully respects their complete independence to carry out inquiries without fear or favour.'
Oil prices jumped as high as 5 per cent on Friday to reach nearly $95 per barrel, the highest in eight years, after the US warned that Russia could invade the Ukraine soon.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington believes Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine any day now and issued a dire warning to Americans still in the country: Get out immediately because the U.S. will not be coming back to rescue anyone.

'We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border. As we've said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time,' Sullivan said on Friday, sending the markets reeling.

The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures, the national oil benchmark, reached $94.66 per barrel, the highest level since September 2014, and closed at $93.90 per barrel, a total 4.47 per cent increase.

The international oil benchmark also saw a 4 per cent increase on Friday with prices ending at $95.12 per barrel.

The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures, the national oil benchmark, closed at $93.90 per barrel, a total 4.47 per cent increase

Oil prices shot up after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned on Friday afternoon that Russia could soon begin an invasion in Ukraine

A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows a Russian deployment at Zyabrovka airfield in Gomel, Belarus, less than 15 miles from the border with Ukraine. Russia has readied about 120,000 soldiers along the border

A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry

Oil prices had already been up by more than 2 per cent following the International Energy Agency's report this week that global demand for oil would hit a record 100.6 million barrels per day in 2022 as COVID restrictions ease.

Rebecca Babin, of the CIBC Private Wealth investment firm, told CNBC that the market had been keeping its eye on the Russian-Ukraine conflict, but investors were not expecting tensions to rise as fast as they have.

'The market has been concerned about this outcome for several weeks but most believed it would not occur or would at least be after the Olympics,' Babin said.

'The key consideration for crude will be what kind of sanctions the US and allies move forward' should Russia invade.

'That is what will ultimately determine how crude supply is impacted,' she told CNBC.

The market volatility hit Friday afternoon when Sullivan announced that a Russian invasion in Ukraine 'may well happen soon.'

'If a Russian attack on Ukraine precedes it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians now with regard to their nationality,' he said.

'A subsequent ground invasion would involve the onslaught of a massive force with virtually no notice communications to arrange a departure could be severed and commercial transit halted.

'No one would be able to count on air or rail or road departures once military action got underway.'

The region has been on edge for months as Russia sent more than 120,000 troops to the border with Ukraine.

Moscow denies that it is planning to invade its neighbor and instead said it wants Western guarantees that NATO will not encroach closer to its territory.

The latest escalation came after Biden met with security officials in the White House situation room on Thursday evening and as more Russian troops arrived in the area.

Analysts say the huge build-up of Russian troops offers Putin multiple military options

A Russian video of air defense crews taking up position during joint military exercises with Belarus that began on Thursday, further raising the stakes

Another 130 tons of U.S. weapons - including Javelin anti-tank missiles - arrived in Ukraine on Thursday night in response to the 120,000 Russian troops amassed along the country's border

On Friday the Biden administration stepped up its warnings and surged another 3,000 troops to Poland in support of NATO forces.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would remain closely engaged with his national security team and foreign partners.

'The president will be at Camp David, which is fully equipped to have engagements of all sorts, including with his national security team or European counterparts,' she said.

The latest U.S. deployments follow the 8,500 troops already on alert and the nearly 3,000 American troops the administration said earlier this month it would send to Poland and Romania.

Sullivan did not mince words for those who choose to remain: 'The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.'

The stern warning came after reports the U.S. now believes that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made up his mind to invade Ukraine and will make its move next week, following months of military build-up.

Sullivan said that the invasion could come before the end of the Beijing Olympics, which conclude next week on Feb. 20. But he said that the U.S. is still not sure whether Putin has put in action a plan to invade.

Asked if Putin risks upsetting Chinese President Xi by moving during the Olympics, Sullivan said: 'Putin will obviously have to decide.'

'As we've said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time should Vladimir Putin decide to order it.'

'We are not saying that a final decision has been taken by Putin,' he added.

Still, the national security adviser said Washington 'can't pinpoint the day, can't pinpoint the hour' when the Russians could invade Ukraine. He also said he did not know how many Americans remained in Ukraine.

Earlier the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined what he said were 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation.

'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time  and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' he said.
A shocked couple have claimed their travel plans were left in tatters after they were flown more to the wrong country by Ryanair.

Simon Forster and Emma Schofield had planned for a city break in Copenhagen, Denmark, over the festive period but were left bemused when their flight landed in Beauvais, France - more than 750 miles from their intended destination.

The pair had been quickly ushered aboard after navigating 'horrendous' queues at Manchester Airport during pre-Christmas chaos which caused hundreds of passengers to miss their trips.

Seated alongside the six other passengers on board, Simon and Emma say they went to show their boarding passes to Ryanair staff, but were told 'not to worry about it'.

It was only once the plane touched down and they were greeted with a cheery 'Bonjour' that they realised they had actually landed in the French city of Beauvais.

'The shock of landing somewhere near Paris when you're supposed to be going to Copenhagen was ridiculous,' Simon said.

'I would like to understand how on earth this happened.'

The couple are seeking an apology from Ryanair and have asked the company to reimburse their flights, hotels and taxis after being forced to fork out more than 930 during their time in Paris.

Ryanair have said that it is each passenger's individual responsibility to board the correct aircraft and there are multiple 'touchpoints' throughout a journey that indicate a flight's final destination.

Simon Forster (left) and Emma Schofield claimed their travel plans were left in tatters after they were flown more to the wrong country by Ryanair

The couple had planned for a city break in Copenhagen, Denmark, over the festive period but were left bemused when their flight landed in Paris - more than 750 miles from their intended destination

It was only once the plane touched down and they were greeted with a cheery 'bonjour' that they realised they had actually landed in the French city of Beauvais - about an hour out from Paris

Simon and Emma's pre-Christmas adventure started on December 17 last year, when they arrived at Manchester Airport for an evening flight to Copenhagen.

At the time, passengers were left in tears after huge queues meant they were 'stranded' and missed out on flights while others were seen fainting during the ordeal.

Airport bosses apologised and said security queues had been 'longer than we would have hoped' as a 'significant increase' in passenger volumes put the operation under 'severe pressure'.

Simon, who runs Leeds-based Robot Food, says he waited for more than two hours to pass through security.

'The queue for security was absolutely enormous and we were all crammed in like cattle,' he says.

'It seemed as though we were going to miss our flight,' he says.

'As soon as we got there I said "we should have just got a train up to Edinburgh instead".

Ryanair have said that it is each passenger's individual responsibility to board the correct aircraft and there are multiple 'touchpoints' throughout a journey that indicate a flight's final destination

'When we got past the shampoo police we got out into the airport and there was a last call for Copenhagen.

'It was already past the departure time so we just legged it to the gate. We got there and three Ryanair staff asked if we were there for Copenhagen.'

Emma and Simon showed staff their passports and boarding passes and were ushered down some stairs.

Simon and Emma were quickly ushered aboard after navigating 'horrendous' queues at Manchester Airport (pictured) during pre-Christmas chaos which caused hundreds of passengers to miss their trips

Manchester Airport bosses apologised and said security queues had been 'longer than we would have hoped' as a 'significant increase' in passenger volumes put the operation under 'severe pressure'

'There was a red plastic link chain directly ahead and to the right, so we turned to the left and to the plane that was there.

'We got on and there were only about six other passengers, which was not surprising because so many people were missing flights,' Simon says.

'I did show the stewardess my boarding pass and she said "oh, don't worry about it". I was dripping in sweat.

'Our seat numbers were free so we sat down. We landed in less time than we expected and as we walked into the airport I thought I didn't recognise it and I go to Copenhagen quite a lot.

'We were greeted at passport control with "Bonjour" and it became apparent that we were in France.'

The couple are seeking an apology from Ryanair and have asked the company to reimburse their flights, hotels and taxis after being forced to fork out more than 930 during their time in Paris

Emma and Simon had landed in Beauvais, a city about an hour outside of Paris.

After tracking down a security guard who spoke English, they planned to spend the night in Paris and shared a taxi with a stranger.

'It was now after 11pm and France wasn't letting UK travellers in from midnight so we were advised to book a hotel quickly. I had no 4G so one of my colleagues booked us in to a hotel near the Eiffel Tower for the evening,' Simon explained.

He contacted Ryanair in the morning and asked to be reimbursed for his flights and hotel in Copenhagen and given tickets home. He was told to fill in an online complaint form - which he did on December 21.

The couple stayed in France for the weekend and booked flights home to the UK with Easyjet.

'We had a lovely weekend and on the way back we kept getting messages from Ryanair about the return Copenhagen flight being delayed.'

Since returning home, Simon has tried to speak to RyanAir several times to complain and to seek reimbursement of his flights and the costs incurred.

He says he spent 926 (1,108)on the original flights to Copenhagen and a hotel in the Danish city, a taxi from Beauvais, a night in a Paris hotel and return flights from France to the UK.

'After spending hours calling Ryanair and filling in online forms, my complaint is showing as "solved",' he says.

'I was told on Monday that I would be contacted in three days. Today I called again and someone hung up on me.'

Simon says his colleagues have joked that the scenario was like the plot of the film Home Alone 2: Lost In New York - in which lead character Kevin McCallister ends up separated from his family on a flight to the Big Apple.

'It really was a s*** show,' Simon summarises.

'Just the fact we tried to show our boarding passes and were told "don't worry about it", You wouldn't think that could happen these days.

'If you put passengers on the wrong plane to the wrong country, you expect an apology.'

Ryanair have been contacted to provide comment.
The accused leader of a Sarah Lawrence College sex cult lost a last-minute bid Thursday to get new defense attorneys, as his accusers said that any delay to the trial would cause more trauma.

Lawrence Ray, 62, had sought to delay his sex-trafficking trial scheduled to start March 9 due to a breakdown in communications with his three public defenders.

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He is accused of targeting his daughters college friends and preying on the group of young people using extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, money laundering, assault and obstruction of justice to keep them under his influence.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's office shows Lawrence Ray, the ex-convict charged with sex trafficking and extortion for forcing young women into prostitution or forced labor after winning trust by posing as a father-figure. (HONS/AP)

Some of his former followers urged the court to allow the bizarre case proceed to trial as scheduled.

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Mr. Ray has had a grip on Jane Doe 2s life, and she wants relief from that grip, said Brooke Cucinella, an attorney for one of the victims. She is more exhausted and anxious than shes ever been in her life. She cant work. She cant socialize. She feels that her life has come to a standstill.

A male victim wrote in a letter that any delay would impede his ability to move on and recover from the devastating influence defendant Ray had on him for over a decade of his life.

Ray sat at the far end of the defense table and did not interact with his lawyers, listening intently as they insisted the attorney-client breakdown was not his fault.

Its his constitutional right to have lawyers he can trust, defense attorney Allegra Glashausser said in Manhattan Federal Court. Unfortunately, were not that.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Judge Lewis Liman determined  after extensive closed-door conversations with Ray and his attorneys  that the breakdown was largely Rays own fault.

A sign along a hedge row marks the campus of Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (Luke Sheridan/AP)

Liman said the inevitable result of a new defense team would be a delay of six months to a year. The trial will start March 9 as planned.

The conflict is not so great that it prevents adequate defense, Liman ruled. The defendant has substantially and unjustifiably contributed to the breakdown in communications.

Liman noted that Ray and his attorneys had slightly different trial strategies, but said that was common and hardly a reason to replace them.

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After the ruling, Rays attorneys planned to meet with him Friday at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Prosecutors have also brought charges against Rays alleged devotee and trusted lieutenant, Isabella Pollok, 30. She allegedly served as a madam in Rays sex ring, arranging prostitution dates for one of his victims.

Pollok faces trial in July.
NSW has recorded 32 deaths in residents with Covid and another 8,183 infections as Victoria sees 7,224 new cases and 19 lives lost.

Saturday's numbers in both states are lower than what was recorded a day earlier with Victoria seeing 8,521 cases on Friday, and NSW adding 8,950 infections.

Hospitalisations in NSW have dipped from 1,716 to 1,650 with 104 patients receiving care in the ICU - four less than on Friday.

In the southern state there are 487 Victorians with Covid in hospital, a drop from the 553 a day earlier.

ICU rates in Victoria are at 79, three less than in the previous 24 hours.

NSW has recorded 32 deaths in residents with Covid and another 8,183 infections as Victoria sees 7,224 new cases and 19 lives lost (pictured shopper in face mask in Melbourne)

The new infections come as the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) warned the effectiveness of Covid vaccines can drop from 80 per cent to zero in just four months.

New advice from the immunisation body shows initial protection of 36 per cent to 88 per cent is estimated to wane rapidly to 0 to 34 per cent approximately four months out from the second dose.

This means a person who has received both doses could lose up to 50 per cent protection against Covid in just 120 days.

Vaccine effectiveness against the risk of hospitalisation with Omicron was also found to drop, falling to 52 per cent.

Hospitalisations in NSW have dipped from 1,716 to 1,650 with 104 patients receiving care in the ICU - four less than on Friday (Sydney resident is seen receiving her vaccine)

ATAGI said a Pfizer booster shot appears to restore 'moderate levels' of effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron cases by 71 to 76 per cent.

A booster dose was also found to increase vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation to 88 per cent.

'Receipt of a primary schedule and a booster dose will provide individual protection from infection and hospitalisation with the Omicron variant, although these effects will wane,' ATAGI said in a statement.

On Thursday the immunisation panel changed its requirements for people considered 'up to date' on their vaccinations.

Those with three doses will be considered up to date.

Meanwhile in Victoria the state will end its 'Code Brown' alert for the state's hospitals from the beginning of next week.

The move gives the green light for private hospitals to perform 50% of elective surgeries and 75% in regional Victoria.

However, public hospitals in Melbourne will remain restricted to emergency and urgent elective surgery, a statement said.

Public hospitals in the state's regions will be allowed to resume all category two elective surgeries.

The move comes a month after the state declared 'Code Brown' - an official alert permitting under-pressure hospitals to defer less urgent health services to other facilities.
It's easy to overlook bath towels, but they can have a significant impact on the overall look of parts of your home.

Choosing the wrong shade or even a cheaper fabric that doesn't wash well means you can be left with towels that are fraying at the edges and let down the presentation of your home.

We speak to some experts about how to choose a towel and how to maintain it, so that it keeps in tip top condition.

We reveal how to choose a quality bath towel and how to keep it in tip top condition

These include never getting your towels dry cleaned, avoiding using silicone-based fabric softeners and conditioners, and not overcrowding your washing machine.

We also reveal some of the most popular towel colours, as well as some of the better fabric to look at out for.

Interior designer Jenny Allan, of Jenny Allan Design, explains: 'Towels add the perfect finishing touch to any bathroom, so selecting a high quality towel is essential.

'As well as colourful options, a classic white towel with an embroidered trim or monogram is a great way to elevate any bathroom.'

How to maintain a bath towel

Our expert recommends washing towels on a 40 degree gentle machine wash and only an occasional hot wash as a deep clean.

They also suggest drying them outside in the shade as bright sunlight can dilute the colour.

Joanna Ross, of towel supplier Sheridan, explained: 'When it comes to towel care and ensuring they last the distance, my top tips include washing them on a 40 degree gentle machine wash.

'And while it can be tempting to dry clean your luxury towels, I would avoid this as it dilutes the softness.

'For whites, optical brighteners are fine to use, but avoid using on coloured washes, and try to keep them separate to avoid the colour running.'

She recommends addressing any stains immediately and to use oxygen-based stain removers.

Experts suggest drying towels outside in the shade as bright sunlight can dilute the colour

She added: 'If you're doing a load of washing, try not to overcrowd the machine so it has plenty of water around them to soak and wash.

'I recommend the occasional deep clean on a warm to hot cycle to remove any bacteria and oils. A 40 to 60 degree wash is ideal for this.

'I also avoid using silicone-based fabric softeners and conditioners as these will repel water and will reduce the absorbency of the fluffy towels.'

And perhaps more unconventionally, Mrs Ross suggests drying towels in the shade.

She said: 'When the weather permits, I suggest line drying your towels in the shade. This reduces electricity usage and also means your towels will last longer, as drying towels in direct sunlight often can change the colour, so best to avoid this.'

Towels can be put in tumble dryer for a few minutes when they are almost dry off the line, as this will maximise their softness.

Mrs Ross said: 'It's important to ensure your towels are completely dry before storing in your linen cupboard. A common mistake is not checking that the towels have completely dried all over. If you store partially wet towels this can leave an unpleasant odour and it can also reduce the life of your towel.

'If you need to tumble dry your towels completely, I'd recommend drying them on a medium to warm setting and ensure they are completely dry before storing in your linen cupboard.'

Appealing fabrics for towels include Egyptian and Turkish cotton pile yarns, as well as organic cotton yarns wrapped in lyocell

How to choose a quality towel?

When it comes to finding the right material for your towels there is a whole range to choose from.

It's important that towels are soft and absorbent, although longevity is also necessary.

More appealing options include towels made with Egyptian and Turkish cotton pile yarns, as well as organic cotton yarns wrapped in lyocell.

Watch out for towels that are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified - the world-leading textile processing for organic fibres - if you're looking for something that brings softness and longevity.

The colour blue continues to be one of the most popular choices for bathroom towels

How to choose the colour

Mrs Ross explained: 'Colours are key and have the ability to transform your bathroom. Whether it's adding a pop of colour with a bold red or toning down a bathroom with a calming blue.

'Blue is one of the most popular colours in the bathroom. It can have a positive effect on our mood as it connects us to a blue sky or ocean found in nature, which helps us to feel relaxed.

'The colour blue is known to help calm the mind and produce a feeling of tranquillity, a perfect sensation for winding down at the end of your day.'

And Ms Allan added: 'When choosing towels it is important that they compliment the overall aesthetic of the bathroom.

'If you are looking for coloured towels, choose a shade that tones with the undertone colour of the tiles.

'For example, if you have grey bathroom tiles, some greys shades have warm brown undertones so taupe would be ideal while other greys have cooler undertones, in which case blue towels could work well.'
Becoming an astronaut is something that many people dream of, yet very few actually achieve.

But for 166 eager Britons, the dream is coming closer into reaching distance.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently on the search for its next batch of astronauts, who will have the opportunity to travel to the moon.

While 22,523 people applied, just 1,361 have made it through to phase two - including 166 Britons who are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tim Peake, the first official British astronaut to walk in space in 2016.

However, the final selection will include just six astronauts, who will be announced this autumn.

Sue Horne, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said: 'It's exciting to see so many UK candidates making it through to the next phase of ESA's astronaut selection and the number shows the high calibre of our applications.'

The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently on the search for its next batch of astronauts, who will have the opportunity to travel to the moon

While 22,523 people applied, just 1,361 have made it through to phase two - including 166 Britons who are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tim Peake, the first official British astronaut to walk in space in 2016

ESA's astronaut criteria To be eligible to file an application, an individual must: have a master's degree (or higher) in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences OR be qualified as an experimental test pilot

be fluent in English

have good knowledge of a second language

be calm under pressure and be willing to participate in life science experiments

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ESA's astronaut call opened in March, and attracted a whopping 22,523 valid applications.

Applicants were only eligible if they are either qualified as an experimental test pilot or held a master's degree or higher in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences.

Fluency in English was also essential, as too was the ability to be calm under pressure and a willingness to participate in life science experiments.

The largest number of applications came from France (7,087), followed by Germany (3,695) and the UK (2,000).

Meanwhile, 257 applications came from people with physical disabilities, who are hoping to become the first 'para-astronauts'.

Following a comprehensive screening phase, 1,361 applicants have passed through to phase two - 530 women and 831 men.

The next phase will involve a full of psychological performance testing at an unnamed facility in Europe, and successful candidates will go on to participate in further interviews and group tests, ahead of medical testing.

ESA said: 'ESA's new class of astronauts and reserve astronauts is expected to be announced in autumn 2022.'

If one of the British candidates is successful they will be the third British astronaut after Helen Sharman and Tim Peake - who was the first British ESA-astronaut

The final six astronauts will initially fly to the ISS, but could travel to the Moon, or even further, in the future.

ESA has secured three astronaut trips to the Lunar Gateway due to be built in orbit around the moon, and hopes to be able to send Europeans to the surface of our natural satellite in the future.

'Astronauts will fly further away from Earth than anybody has ever been' when they go to the Gateway as it will be further from Earth than the Moon, says Frank De Winne from the ESA astronaut training centre.

Candidates will go through a rigorous selection process including screening, psychological testing, medical testing and interviews

ESA says the number of applicants far exceeded even its most optimistic forecasts, describing it as a positive indication of the level of interest in space activities

'The first five to ten years will see astronauts fly to the ISS, but after that there will be opportunities to fly to the Moon and further than the Moon.'

The news comes shortly after Tim Peake said he hopes to embark on a second mission to space and become the first British person to set foot on the moon.

He said that his name is still 'in the frame' for a manned mission to the moon that will be undertaken by NASA in the coming years.

The former army Major said upcoming NASA missions to the moon would first only involve Americans, but that future journeys could see British astronauts participate.

Speaking to the Headliners podcast Peake, 48, said: 'We are very much part of the return to the moon programme. It's called Artemis.

'The European Space Agency build the service module which is going to take the Orion spacecraft back to the moon.

'We won't probably have Europeans in the first return to the moon, that's likely to be two Americans - a male and a female.

'But subsequently, yes. We will have Europeans, at some point, will be part of those missions. So who knows... I mean, my name is still in the frame and I hope to have a second mission. We'll have to wait and see.'
Monkeys being tested on by Elon Musk-owned brain chip firm Neuralink were allegedly subject to 'torture', an animal rights group claims.

The biotech firm is developing a brain-computer interface, that it claims could one day make humans hyper-intelligent, and allow paralyzed people to walk again.

However, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) alleges that between 2017 and 2020, test monkeys owned by Neuralink were subject to experiments that amounted to torture, with evidence of rashes, self-mutilation and brain hemorrhages in documentation seen by the group.

The experiments were a partnership between University of California Davis, and Neuralink, with a reported 23 monkeys involved in the experiment, 15 of which died or were euthanized as a result of complications, or 'inadequate animal care'.

PCRM lodged a complaint with the US Department of Agriculture on Thursday against UC Davis, claiming the primates faced 'extreme suffering as a result of inadequate animal care and the highly invasive experimental head implants during the experiments.'

UC Davis ended its relationship with Neuralink in 2020 and says during the experiments it had thoroughly reviewed and approved research protocols.

A spokesperson for UC Davis told DailyMail.com that 'UC Davis staff provided veterinary care, including round-the-clock monitoring of experimental animals and reported any incidents to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which mandated training and protocol changes as needed.'

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) says between 2017 and 2020, test monkeys were subject to experiments that amounted to torture

Monkeys being tested on by Elon Musk-owned brain chip firm Neuralink were subject to 'torture', an animal rights group claims, including rashes, self-mutilation and brain hemorrhages

The complaint stems from records obtained by the PCRM covering 600 pages of documents that include veterinary records and necropsy reports.

The 23 monkeys being experimented on where owned by Neuralink, but housed at a UC Davis primate study facility until 2020.

UC Davis received more than $1.4 million from Neuralink to carry out the experiments between 2017 and 2020, according to PCRM.

PCRM were prompted to look into the issue after becoming skeptical of claims made by Neuralink that primates were able to control computers with their mind.

A video was released by Neuralink early last year, showing a monkey named Pager playing 'MindPong' - a version of the classic game Pong - using an implanted Neuralink, simply by thinking about where to place the paddle on the screen.

In its complaint, the animal rights group argue that UC Davis are guilty of nine violations of the Animal Welfare Act - this includes a breach of the rule that says researchers must minimize pain and distress for animals in their care.

Neuralink's system is comprised of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads that are stitched into the brain by a 'sewing-machine-like' robot. The device pickups signals in the brain, which are then translated into motor controls

NEURALINK: ELON MUSK'S PLAY FOR COMPUTER-BRAIN INTERFACES Elon Musk's latest company Neuralink is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron-sized devices. Neuralink was registered in California as a 'medical research' company in July 2016, and Musk plans on funding the company mostly by himself. It will work on what Musk calls the 'neural lace' technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day upload and download thoughts. He said 'neural laces' will help people with severe brain injuries in just four years. And in eight to ten years, the Matrix-style technology will be available to everyone, he added. Advertisement

'Many, if not all, of the monkeys experienced extreme suffering as a result of inadequate animal care and the highly invasive experimental head implants during the experiments, which were performed in pursuit of developing what Neuralink and Elon Musk have publicly described as a 'brain-machine interface,' the group wrote.

'These highly invasive implants and their associated hardware, which are inserted in the brain after drilling holes in the animals' skulls, have produced recurring infections in the animals, significantly compromising their health, as well as the integrity of the research.'

It gave a number of examples of alleged failings, that saw the monkeys suffering without good cause, including one of an animal missing fingers and toes that was probably the result of 'self-mutilation' or other form of trauma.

Another case, PCRM alleges, involved a monkey that had holes drilled in its skull, and electrodes implanted into its brain, that caused it to develop a 'bloody skin infection'. It had to be euthanized, according to the complaint.

In a third example, given by the group, a female macaque allegedly had electrodes implanted into the brain, which led to her becoming overcome with vomiting, retching and gasping, which turned out to be a brain hemorrhage.

The researchers involved in her care wrote that she appeared to 'collapse from exhaustion/fatigue'. She was also euthanized.

The complaint stems from records obtained by the PCRM covering 700 pages of documents that include veterinary records and necropsy reports

Late last year Elon Musk said he hoped Neuralink will be able to start testing on humans this year, implanting them with brain chips.

Jeremy Beckham, from PCRM, told Insider he was 'extremely skeptical that they're anywhere near being able to safely carry out anything in human volunteers.'

'We wanted to look at the internal UC Davis records themselves, including videos and photographs, to get a better understanding of what was happening to the animals in the experiments as well as verify the integrity and promise of the research,' he added in a statement to the Sun.

He said the records show that monkeys faced extreme suffering under the care of Neuralink and UC Davis, but that some of the information about the treatment of the animals had been withheld.

Late last year Elon Musk said he hoped Neuralink will be able to start testing on humans this year, implanting them with brain chips

HOW IT WORKS: NEURONS ARE DECODED TO MIRROR PHYSICAL MOVES More than 1,000 electrodes were implanted in the hand and arm area of the motor cortex. This is the part of the brain involved in planning and executing movements. Named the N1 Link, one device was placed in the left motor cortex and another in the right motor cortex. Neurons in somatosensory cortex respond to touch, and neurons in the visual cortex respond to visual cues. Neurons in the motor cortex modulate their activity prior to and during movement, and are thought to be involved in planning, initiating and controlling voluntary movements. Many neurons in motor cortex are directionally tuned. Different neurons are tuned to different movement directions. By modelling the relationship between different patterns of neural activity and intended movement directions, the firm built a decoder that can predict the direction and speed of an upcoming or intended movement. They can use these predictions to control, in real time, the movements of a computer cursor. Advertisement

'Pretty much every single monkey that had had implants put in their head suffered from pretty debilitating health effects,' Beckham told the New York Post, adding that 'they were, frankly, maiming and killing the animals.'

PCRM plans to sue UC Davis, calling for access to photographs and videos not released as part of the original data request.

It also wants access to the animal ID numbers to trace where they ended up after the contract with UC Davis ended in 2020, but the university says the materials are owned by Neuralink.

As Neuralink is a private company, it is not subject to data requests, however PCRM says 'when you make use of these public facilities and these public resources, you forfeit your right to cloak the work you're doing from the public.'

A spokesperson for UC Davis told Insider the university 'acted lawfully' and 'fully complied with the California Public Records Act in responding to their request' for information on the experiments and contract.

'Animal research is strictly regulated, and UC Davis follows all applicable laws and regulations including those of the US Department of Agriculture.'

A spokesperson for UC Davis told DailyMail.com: 'Regarding the lawsuit by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, we fully complied with the California Public Records Act in responding to their request.

'Indeed, additional materials have been supplied to PCRM since the conclusion of the research agreement with Neuralink.'

Musk first unveiled his Neuralink startup in 2016, touting the technology as the key to helping paraplegics walk, the cure for depression and a way to merge humans with computers.

Neuralink's system is comprised of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads that are stitched into the brain by a 'sewing-machine-like' robot.

The device pickups signals in the brain, which are then translated into motor controls.

Musk says that the technology has proven to be safe in the brain and can be easily removed, so the only thing holding Neuralink back from human trials is FDA approval.

In an email, UC Davis told DailyMail.com: 'UC Davis did have a research collaboration with Neuralink, which concluded in 2020. The research protocols were thoroughly reviewed and approved by the campus's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

'The work was conducted by Neuralink researchers in facilities at the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis. UC Davis staff provided veterinary care including round-the-clock monitoring of experimental animals. When an incident occurred, it was reported to the IACUC, which mandated training and protocol changes as needed.'

'We strive to provide the best possible care to animals in our charge. Animal research is strictly regulated and UC Davis follows all applicable laws and regulations including those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which makes regular inspections, and the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.

The UC Davis animal care program, including the California National Primate Research Center, is accredited by AAALAC International, a nonprofit organization. As a national primate research center, the CNPRC is a resource for both public and private sector researchers.'
Two of SpaceX's ill-fated Starlink satellites can be seen disintegrating over Puerto Rico in stunning new footage.

The obliterated satellites, among about 40 that were brought down by a geomagnetic storm a week ago, are seen as sparkling white streams in the night sky.

The footage was captured by a camera in Anasco, Puerto Rico, operated by the Sociedad de Astronomia del Caribe (SAC), a non-profit astronomy organisation.

As of February, over 2,000 Starlink satellites have been launched, as part of a constellation that provides satellite internet access to remote parts of Earth.

But SpaceX announced earlier this week that up to 40 of its latest batch of 49, launched on February 3 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will 'reenter or already have reentered the Earths atmosphere' and therefore be destroyed.

Starlink satellites are not very big  they're around 10.5 feet by 5.25 feet and weigh 573 pounds  so there is very little chance that anything of the objects will remain after reentering the atmosphere, meaning they won't hit people on Earth.

Artist's depiction of a Starlink satellite over Earth. Starlink is a constellation of satellites that aims to provide internet access to most of the Earth, particularly underserved rural areas

WHAT IS A GEOMAGNETIC STORM? A geomagnetic or solar storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere - the area around Earth controlled by our planet's magnetic field. It occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth Earth's magnetosphere is created by our magnetic field and protects us from most particles the sun emits. Source: NASA Advertisement

Two objects can be seen in the new footage about a minute apart, both reentering Earth's atmosphere and fragmenting.

According to Marco Langbroek, a satellite expert from Leiden University in the Netherlands, the second object is 'especially spectacular'.

'The two objects could belong to one object that has broken up earlier; or be two separate objects close together in the same orbital plane,' he said in a blog post.

Langbroek is certain that these objects are Starlink satellites because the direction of the objects' movement matches up with the orbital plane of the Starlink launch.

'I did some astrometry on the footage and fitted a rough circular orbit to the measured positions,' he said.

'The rough orbital fit I get  I measured three fragments  yield orbital inclinations in the range of 54-56 degrees.

'Starlink satellites are in 53.2 degree inclined orbits, so this is close enough (given the error margin) to conclude that the reentering object fits with the Starlink orbital plane.'

Langbroek is certain that these objects are Starlink satellites because the direction of the objects' movement matches up with the orbital plane of the Starlink launch

SpaceX, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, also said the deorbiting satellites pose 'zero collision risk' with other satellites, so no parts will hit the ground or cause injury.

The February 3 launch had gone according to plan on the day, but SpaceX said in an update dated February 8 that there had been a hitch in space.

'Unfortunately, the satellites deployed on Thursday were significantly impacted by a geomagnetic storm on Friday,' SpaceX said.

'These storms cause the atmosphere to warm and atmospheric density at our low deployment altitudes to increase.'

SpaceX is owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk (pictured) who has grand plans for the Starlink project

SpaceX explained that the satellites had an issue with atmospheric drag, the force that acts opposite to their relative motion.

Atmospheric drag hinders an object exiting the atmosphere as it pulls orbital objects back towards Earth.

Onboard GPS has suggested that the escalation speed and severity of the geomagnetic storm caused atmospheric drag to increase up to 50 per cent higher than during previous launches, SpaceX said.

The Starlink team commanded the satellites into a 'safe-mode' so they would fly edge-on like a sheet of paper to minimise drag  to effectively to 'take cover' from the storm.

But the increased drag at the low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe-mode to begin orbit raising manoeuvres.

49 Starlink satellites blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 18:13 GMT on Thursday, February 3, 2022. The moment of launch is pictured here

For this reason, up to 40 of the satellites 'will reenter or already have reentered the Earths atmosphere', SpaceX said.

As of the February 3 launch, a total of 2,091 Starlink satellites have been launched since the first couple in February 2018, although many of this total have failed or been decommissioned in space.

Another four Starlink launches are set for February alone; the next one, on February 14, will send 51 satellites into orbit, while the other three will each send 49.

SpaceX has even grander plans for its Starlink project, and has already requested authorisation for a second-generation megaconstellation, made up of 30,000 satellites.

Earlier this week, NASA said having so many satellites in low Earth orbit could 'impact science and human spaceflight missions'.

The US space agency also warned the megaconstellation could lead to a 'significant increase' in collisions.
Whether it's their watery mouthfeel or the drab flavour, non-alcoholic beers are typically less satisfying than their boozy counterparts.

Now, scientists in Denmark claim they've made non-alcoholic beer that has all the complex flavour profiles of regular beer.

Low alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages are growing more and more popular, because they lack the harmful effects of alcohol, such as liver damage.

But they tend to pack less of a flavour punch due to the burning off of alcohol towards the end of production, which takes away hop flavour and aroma.

So, the researchers engineered a species of yeast widely used by brewers, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to produce a group of molecules called monoterpenoids.

Monoterpenoids, which are found in hops, are then added to non-alcoholic beer at the end of the brewing process to give it back its lost flavour.

The method is already being tested in breweries in Denmark and the plan is to have the technique ready for the entire brewing industry in October 2022.

Alcohol-free beer actually begins life with alcohol in it. Alcohol is produced during the fermentation process, which happens when sugar or starch is mixed with water and yeast. In the case of beer, grains such as barley are combined with water before the yeast is added. To create non-alcoholic versions, the liquid is gently heated, burning off the alcohol

HOW IS NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER MADE? Alcohol-free beer actually begins life with alcohol in it. Alcohol is produced during the fermentation process, which happens when sugar or starch is mixed with water and yeast. In the case of beer, grains such as barley are combined with water before the yeast is added. To create non-alcoholic versions, the liquid is gently heated, burning off the alcohol. The problem is, this burns off much of the aroma that's been left by the hops. Advertisement

Some people find the taste of non-alcoholic beer to be flat and watery, and this has a scientific explanation, according to Sotirios Kampranis, a professor at the University of Copenhagen and member of the research team.

Kampranis and his colleague Simon Dusseaux are both founders of the biotech company EvodiaBio, a firm producing sustainable, natural aromas for the food and beverage industry.

'What non-alcoholic beer lacks is the aroma from hops,' said Professor Kampranis. 'When you remove the alcohol from the beer, for example by heating it up, you also kill the aroma that comes from hops.

'Other methods for making alcohol-free beer by minimising fermentation also lead to poor aroma because alcohol is needed for hops to pass their unique flavour to the beer.'

Currently, the use of hops in the production of regular beer is also very wasteful, according to the team.

'Hops is a very intensive plant to grow and only a very small fraction of it is actually used to give the aroma and the rest goes to waste,' Dusseaux said.

'That's why in EvodiaBio we discovered how to efficiently produce those molecules using microorganisms.'

Pictured is a lab sample of the molecules that give the beer its hoppy flavour, which is normally lost during the manufacturing of non-alcoholic beer

Instead of adding expensive aroma hops in the brewing tank, just to 'throw away' their flavour at the end of the process when burning off the alcohol, the researchers turned S. cerevisiae (bakers yeast) cells into 'micro-factories' that can be grown in fermenters and release the aroma of hops.

'When the hop aroma molecules are released from yeast, we collect them and put them into the beer, giving back the taste of regular beer that so many of us know and love,' said Professor Kampranis.

'It actually makes the use of aroma hops in brewing redundant, because we only need the molecules passing on the scent and flavor and not the actual hops.

'No one has been able to do this before, so its a game-changer for non-alcoholic beer. Long term, we hope to change the brewing industry with our method.'

On top of improving the taste of non-alcoholic beer, the method is also more sustainable than the existing techniques, according to the researchers.

Aroma hops are mainly farmed in the west coast of the US, which calls for extensive transportation and cooling in refrigerators.

When the hop aroma molecules are released from yeast, researchers collect them and put them into the beer

Also, hops demand lots of water  a hop producer needs around 2.7 tons of water to grow one kilogram of hops.

'With our method, we skip aroma hops altogether and thereby also the water and the transportation,' said Professor Kampranis.

'This means that one kilogram of hops aroma can be produced with more than 10.000 times less water and more than 100 times less CO2.'

The researchers are 'pleased' to be able to contribute to a healthier lifestyle and hope that their new invention will help more people cut down on alcohol.
Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Liverpool's 50million January signing Luis Diaz following his Premier League debut.

Diaz was introduced to the Anfield faithful off the bench in the Reds' 3-1 FA Cup win over Cardiff last weekend but was given the nod from the start at home to Leicester on Thursday night.

And the 25-year-old slotted in seamlessly and impressed as Liverpool came out 2-0 winners to remain nine points behind league leaders Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp (right) was full of praise for 50m buy Luis Diaz (left) after his league debut

'It was one of the best first games I saw from a new player,' Klopp said in his pre-match press conference for his side's trip to Burnley on Sunday.

'Last night was a good opportunity to start him with Sadio [Mane] not back and Mo [Salah] coming back from an intense tournament. Luis showed up.'

Diogo Jota kept up his fine form this season by netting both goals - one in either half - to seal a comfortable win over the Foxes.

The 25-year-old slotted in seamlessly and impressed as Liverpool came out 2-0 winners

Questions over how Liverpool would cope without star forwards Salah and Mane were raised ahead of their departures to the Africa Cup of Nations but the Reds haven't lost a game and were only held to a draw by Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Salah returned to club action following his AFCON heartbreak with Egypt as he came off the bench in the victory on Thursday while Klopp revealed Mane will return to training today after celebrating Senegal's momentous triumph.

Klopp has multiple options now to choose from up front with the star duo back and Diaz adapting to his new surroundings quickly.

The Colombia international made the move to Anfield last month for a fee of 37.5million, which could rise to 50m, and he's already been a hit with Liverpool supporters.

Liverpool fans lauded him for his start to Merseyside life with former Reds striker Michael Owen revealing BT Sport pundits were 'drooling' over him during Liverpool's win over Leicester.
Sadio Mane's success with Senegal at this year's African Cup of Nations will be forever remembered with the forward to have a stadium named after him.

Liverpool forward Mane became his country's hero after slotting home the decisive penalty in the Teranga Lions' triumph over Egypt in the tense final.

He was equally prolific across the course of the showpiece in Cameroon, having added three goals to his tally and picked up two assists.

Sadio Mane will have a stadium in Senegal named after him following their AFCON triumph

Mane has quickly become an icon in the west African nation, with their first-ever success at the AFCON only further underlining his talismanic status.

Now, the mayor of Sedhiou - the 29-year-old's place of birth - has revealed that a new ground in the town will be dedicated to the superstar.

'Sadio Mane has honoured all of Senegal, the Sedhiou region and the entire Casamance area,' Abdoulaye Diop said.

Mane became his country's hero after slotting in the decisive penalty in the final against Egypt

The success at the showpiece in Cameroon was a first for Mane and his heroic team-mates

'I have decided to name the Sedhiou stadium after him.

'In doing so I wish to convey the gratitude of all the sons and daughters of the region towards him.

'He has made all of mankind aware of Bambali and Sedhiou, the region's main town.

Mane returned to Liverpool training, and playfully celebrated his country's success on camera

'This is a gift that Sadio Mane truly deserves.'

The stadium is now under construction and, reports say, will open next year.

Senegal's victory unsurprisingly sparked wild scenes of celebration across the capital of Dakar, with Mane and his team-mates hailed as heroes.
Stay at Snowdonia's Centre For Alternative Technology, where profits go to supporting educational activities

Doubles at Poole's Lifeboat College cost 89 - money that goes to training and funding lifesaving equipment

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There are all sorts of ways to help good causes, besides putting money in a box or setting up a standing order. So raise your philanthropic profile and check in at one of these places to stay. All profits go to charity.

Magic lantern

Galloway Lighthouse Cottages, Scotland

Inspiring: Galloway Lighthouse Cottages are based at the top of a 260ft cliff on Scotlands most southerly point

This trio of self-catering cottages lies on Scotlands southerly point. The cottages, which sleep between four and six, are run as holiday lets by the Mull of Galloway Trust, which helped the community turn surrounding heathland into a nature reserve. You may need earplugs: the Mull of Galloway is home to mainland Scotlands only operational foghorn.

Do Good: The trust awards grants to local community groups and businesses.

Details: A week in low season (January to late March) from 530 (lighthouseholidaycottages.co.uk).

Saluting Nelson

The Royal Maritime Hotel & Club, Portsmouth

Doubles with breakfast at The Royal Maritime Hotel & Club, pictured above, are priced from 70

In certain cases free or reduced price respite holidays at The Royal Maritime Hotel & Club (pictured) are offered to ex-servicemen

A former sailors home, this 100-bedroom hotel is run by a charitable foundation. For admirers of the admiral, the main attraction is that its just a cannonball shot away from his superbly preserved flagship, HMS Victory, in the historic dockyard.

Do Good: Veterans enjoy reduced rates; in certain cases free or reduced price respite holidays are offered to ex-servicemen.

Details: Doubles with breakfast from 70 (royalmaritimeclub.co.uk).

Dreaming Spires

The Tower House, Oxford

The Tower House, which is entered via the first door on the left, is a charming guest house with just eight rooms in Oxford

One of the bathrooms at The Tower House. All profits from the guest house support Oxford Hub, helping university students start local community projects

Some rooms at The Tower House share bathrooms and ensuite doubles with breakfast are priced from 130

This charming guest house with just eight rooms could hardly be in a better position for exploring Blackwells bookshop. Jesus College and Merton College are nearby.

Do Good: All profits support Oxford Hub, helping university students start local community projects.

Details: Some rooms share bathrooms. Ensuite doubles with breakfast from 130 (towerhouseoxford.co.uk).

Somerset-on-Sea

The Beach Hotel, Minehead

Minehead's Beach Hotel is a great location for exploring Exmoor National Park, pictured above

The South West Coast Path is on your doorstep at The Beach Hotel, and the West Somerset heritage railway runs for 20 miles to Bishops Lydeard

A room at The Beach Hotel, which is staffed largely by apprentices, with some employees coming from disadvantaged backgrounds

Doubles with breakfast at The Beach Hotel are priced from 85. Pictured is the hotel's dining room

This is a great location for exploring Exmoor National Park.

The South West Coast Path is on your doorstep, and the West Somerset heritage railway runs for 20 miles to Bishops Lydeard.

Do Good: The hotel is staffed largely by apprentices, with some employees coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Details: Doubles with breakfast from 85 (thebeachhotel.org).

A greener week

Centre For Alternative Technology (CAT), Snowdonia

The Centre For Alternative Technology (CAT) lies in the South Snowdonia National Park and offers 24 rooms with inspiring mountain views

All profits from CAT support the charitys educational activities - doubles are priced from 80 a night including breakfast

CAT is an educational centre which explores all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic farming.

On the site of a disused slate quarry, the eco-friendly complex lies in the South Snowdonia National Park and offers 24 rooms with inspiring mountain views.

Do Good: All profits support the charitys educational activities.

Details: Doubles from 80 a night including breakfast (cat.org.uk).

Harbour delight

Lifeboat College, Poole

The Lifeboat College, the home of RNLI training, is by Holes Bay in Poole Harbour (pictured above)

Guests at the Lifeboat College can hop on a ferry to the nature reserve on Brownsea Island (pictured in the background)

One of the rooms at the Lifeboat College. All profits go toward upkeep, training and funding lifesaving equipment

Enjoy the tremendous view from this swanky corner of Dorset. The college, the home of RNLI training, is by Holes Bay in Poole Harbour.

Explore nearby the Sandbanks peninsula or hop on the ferry to the nature reserve on Brownsea Island, which has red squirrels and is said to have inspired Enid Blyton.

Do Good: All profits go toward upkeep, training and funding lifesaving equipment.

Details: Doubles with breakfast from 89 (rnli.org).

Float Your Boat

Good Hotel, London

Built on a large floating platform, the Good Hotel (pictured) is the brainchild of a Dutch social entrepreneur and has 148 rooms

The roof terrace at the Good Hotel. Guests can enjoy views of the O2 and Canary Wharf Tower

B&B doubles at the Good Hotel are priced from 85, with guests paying 110 for a river view

All profits from the Good Hotel go to educating children in Guatemala and helping local long-term unemployed people train in hospitality at the hotel or elsewhere

The Good Hotel is berthed in Royal Victoria Dock (pictured), in the redeveloped London Docklands

Enjoy views of the O2 and Canary Wharf Tower from the Good Hotel, berthed in Royal Victoria Dock, in the redeveloped London Docklands.

Built on a large floating platform, it is the brainchild of a Dutch social entrepreneur and has 148 rooms.

Do Good: All profits go to educating children in Guatemala and helping local long-term unemployed people train in hospitality at the hotel or elsewhere.

Details: B&B doubles from 85, with river view 110 (goodhotel.co/london).
Ras al-Khaimah, one of the seven sheikhdoms in the United Arab Emirates, has said it will allow 'gaming' while announcing a deal with Las Vegas-based casino giant Wynn Resorts.

Wynn Resorts plans to build a multibillion-dollar development on Ras al-Khaimah's artificial Al-Marjan Island.

The resort, set to open in 2026, will include a 'luxury' 1,000-room hotel, a mall, a convention centre and a 'gaming area'.

Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts plans to build a multibillion-dollar development with 'a gaming area' on Ras al-Khaimah's artificial Al-Marjan Island (pictured)

Other facilities in the complex will include an 'exclusive' spa and more than 10 restaurants and lounges. And, according to a statement, guests will enjoy 'spectacular' views of the Arabian Gulf.

The announcement comes after months of rumours about gambling coming to the UAE, home to skyscraper-studded Dubai and oil-rich Abu Dhabi. Islam, the religion of the Arabian Peninsula, prohibits gambling.

While the other emirates haven't announced similar deals, casino operator Caesars Palace operates a massive resort already in Dubai - without gambling.

Initially, a statement issued by Wynn Resorts and Ras al-Khaimah authorities only referred to 'gaming', without elaborating. According to The Associated Press, the emirate's Tourism Development Authority repeatedly declined to answer questions on whether 'gaming' involved cash betting.

However, a statement from the authority said a new gaming division would require 'compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including financial crime laws) from operators, suppliers and employees'. It also would 'ensure responsible gaming at all levels'.

Ras al-Khaimah is the northern-most emirate in the UAE, a federation in which individual autocratic rulers wield wide powers in their emirate. Pictured is the city of Ras al-Khaimah

Gaming is often used as a euphemism for gambling in the United States.

Michael Weaver, a spokesman for Wynn Resorts Ltd, referred questions back to regulators in Ras al-Khaimah. However, all of Wynn Resorts' properties in Las Vegas, Macau and Massachusetts are built around their casino floors.

A filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday by Wynn Resorts said it entered an agreement with Ras al-Khaimah for 'the development and subsequent management of an integrated resort'. The term 'integrated resort', born in Singapore, refers to a hotel that includes a casino and other amenities.

According to a statement, guests will enjoy 'spectacular' views of the Arabian Gulf at the resort

A statement on the deal, also posted to Wynn Resorts' website, included repeated mentions of 'gaming' facilities at the site.

'The newly announced integrated resort is still in its early design phase and due for completion by 2026,' a follow-up statement from Marjan, the Ras al-Khaimah developer involved in the deal, said. 'These are all the details that can be provided at this stage.'

Ras al-Khaimah is the northern-most emirate in the UAE, a federation in which individual autocratic rulers wield wide powers in their emirate. Ras al-Khaimah, or 'the top of the tent' in Arabic, is ruled by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and is most widely known for its eponymous RAK Ceramics company.

Ras al-Khaimah often advertises outdoor activities around Jebel Jais (pictured), the highest point in the country at 1,934 metres (6,345 feet) above sea level

But Ras al-Khaimah has been trying to raise its profile for years in the tourism market, which is dominated by Dubai. It draws tourists from India, Russia, the United Kingdom and Egypt. It has liberal alcohol rules and an area focused on beach resorts, while also advertising outdoor activities around Jebel Jais, the highest point in the country at 1,934 metres (6,345 feet) above sea level.

J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said that Wynn Resorts' move into the UAE would mean 'significant foreign direct investment' and would benefit from the UAE's local population of nine million - which includes a vast population of foreign workers.

'We look at this beach resort as a super-regional-more-than-just-gaming high-end resort with solid (return-on-investment) prospects,' Greff wrote in an analysis of the deal.

Gambling remains rare in the wider Mideast, with casinos only in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.

Casinos long have been rumoured to be considered as a way to raise money in the UAE and boost its tourism industry, particularly in Dubai, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates. Already, duty-free car raffles bombard those flying through Dubai International Airport.

All of Wynn Resorts' properties in Las Vegas (pictured), Macau and Massachusetts are built around their casino floors

A 2004 U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks speculated that Dubai's casino plans had 'been put on ice due to deference' to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's first president after unification in 1971.

But in recent years, rumours about casinos kept growing. Britain's famed ship the Queen Elizabeth 2 opened as a hotel in Dubai in 2018 after over $100million (73.6million) of repairs. It still has its deactivated slot machines on board. Caesars similarly opened in 2018. Construction work is ongoing involving projects for casino firms MGM, the Bellagio and Aria.

However, casinos and the large amounts of cash they generate raise the danger of money laundering. Already, war profiteers, terror financiers and drug traffickers sanctioned by the U.S. in recent years have used Dubai's real-estate market as a haven for their assets. Ras al-Khaimah also found itself linked to the case of an Alaska man who laundered $1billion (736million) held in South Korea for Iran.

The resort is in the initial stages of development. For more information visit www.wynnresorts.com.
Prosecutors and police conferred Friday about possible charges against the driver who slammed a speeding SUV into a 10-year-old girl walking home from her nearby Queens school.

The discussions continued as tests were conducted to determine if there was a mechanical issue with the vehicle, although a police source told the Daily News that the 35-year-old driver accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake Wednesday as she exited a Far Rockaway supermarket.

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The 35-year-old driver accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake Wednesday as she exited a Far Rockaway supermarket. The black Mazda that ran down honor student Davina Afokoba was uninsured. (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News)

The News also learned the black Mazda that ran down honor student Davina Afokoba was uninsured, while the driver  who had a learners permit  was not accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of 21 as required by state law.

One day after the little girls weeping mother Priscilla Afokoba collapsed at the scene of the crash, a relative said the family now wanted space to grieve their devastating loss and no longer wanted to speak about the tragedy.

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Oh my God! Oh my God! the heartbroken mom cried out Thursday. My baby is gone!

The little girls death was the second horrific student fatality in eight months for the Queens neighborhoods Charter Challenge Schools, following the fatal June 2021 shooting of 10-year-old student Justin Wallace just three days before his birthday.

Honor student Davina Afokoba. (Obtained by Daily News)

School founder and CEO Les Mullings said the community was just barely bouncing back from Justins slaying in a dispute between Rockaway neighbors when Davina was run down this past Wednesday.

The deaths of two children is a hard one to swallow, said Mullins, whose staff was in full trauma counseling mode after Davinas passing. Theres a gut-wrenching effect. The whole idea of their classmates knowing theyre not going to see them again. They played together, danced together, had fun together.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

And tragically, both Justin and Davina were taken away under awful circumstances.

A picture of Justin Wallace is carried before the funeral services for Justin Wallace at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Far Rockaway, Queens, on Monday, June 21, 2021. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Davina, a straight-A student walking home at the end of her school day, was on the sidewalk just two blocks from home when the runaway SUV jumped the curb. The vehicle only stopped after slamming into a long-vacant car wash, with the little girl buried in the rubble, police said.

Two other pedestrians managed to dodge the oncoming car, while a 33-year-old woman was struck and suffered a broken leg. Reached by phone at Jamaica Hospital, the injured victim said she was doing all right but referred any further questions to her lawyer  who then refused to comment on the case.

Workers at the Shop Fair supermarket, where the driver was shopping before the deadly wreck, installed a small sign Friday reading SLOW.

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City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens) returned to the scene of the fatal crash, hoping to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.

We are walking around the district, including this area, to figure out what it is we have to do to deal with this epidemic of so many great New Yorkers, children, senior citizens losing their lives, said Rodriguez.

The slaying of young Justin was caught on video, with a neighbor seen firing eight rounds through the front door of the Wallace family on a Saturday night. The shooting was sparked by a long-running argument between the boys relatives and their neighbors over their shared driveway.
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Postcard-perfect hamlets with cobbled streets, ancient fortresses and jolly fetes: it's what every visitor to France hopes to stumble upon.

Thankfully, there's no need to rely on a chance encounter, as The Most Beautiful Villages of France book pinpoints the very best of them. It's compiled by an association dedicated to preserving rural towns called Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and it contains directions, maps and architectural highlights to over 160 quaint settlements.

What's more, this year's updated edition includes five brand new villages (presented below) - which means more stops on that summer road trip through fields of lavender and grapevines. Bon Voyage.

Chatillon-en-Diois

The definitive list of the most beautiful villages was compiled with a view to preserving precious rural towns in France. Pictured is Place de la Concorde, found in one of the book's new additions, Chatillon-en-Diois

BEAUX VILLAGES Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ('most beautiful villages') association was formed in 1982 and has since listed almost 160 villages, chosen for their heritage, architecture and general quaintness. And size matters - a 'Plus Beaux Village' cannot have a population larger than 2,000. Advertisement

Centuries ago on the site of this 'peaceful, quiet village', which is nestled at the foot of the Glandasse mountain in southeastern France, stood a simple feudal castle built on a rock, the book explains, but 'little now remains'.

'Over the centuries,' the tome continues, 'a village gradually coalesced around its first landmark, the Eglise Saint-Nicolas, built around 1200 from local Breche marble and Glandasse limestone.'

Today, Chatillon-en-Diois is surrounded by one of the highest vineyards in France and, 'benefitting from abundant sunshine is well suited to the cultivation of vines'.

The book adds: 'The Pays Diois is renowned for its wines. In particular, the famous Clairette de Die, an AOC sparkling wine.

'With more than 150 plant species spread throughout the village, Chatillon-en-Diois also appeals to plant lovers.'

Highlights in the village include the heritage tour, which starts at the Champ de Foire; the village fete, which takes place the second weekend of July; and the local art and wine festival, Festival Arts et de la Vigne, in August.

Accommodation options include two hotels and three guest houses, with five restaurants available for the elimination of hunger pangs.

Polignac

Polignac has a stunning fortress dating back to at least the 10th century built on a volcanic hill

Polignac, in south-central France, is referred to as 'fortress of the mountain kings' and has a fascinating history, as well as great views.

The book explains: 'Perched on a basalt outcrop near Puy-en-Velay, the powerful fortress of the lords of Polignac and the village below enjoy panoramic views over the Meygal and Mezenc mountains.

'According to legend, this volcanic hill was home to a temple to Apollo during Gallo-Roman times, making it famous even then. Texts dating back to 934 make mention of a public fortress that served to defend the town of Puy-en-Velay. But it was thanks to the Polignac family that the village developed in the 11th century.

'In order to establish their power in the region, the family created an imposing defensive system, building a keep and ramparts with arrow-slits and six fortified gates to reach the hilltop. The village was built at the foot of this fortress.'

According to the book's authors, Polignac 'attracts those interested in heritage and history as well as amateur geologists and nature lovers'.

The fortress offers guided tours and a treasure-hunt guidebook for five to 12-year-olds.

Cordes-sur-Ciel

The book loves medieval Cordes-sur-Ciel, pictured, for its 'cobblestone streets, its fortified gates and its panoramic view'

Perched on high and overlooking the Cerou river in southern France, the book summarises Cordes-sur-Ciel as a 'charming medieval village'.

Created and officially inaugurated in 1222, by Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, the book notes that it was 'initially made up of local limestone walls, and partially built by its inhabitants'.

It adds: 'Today, its heritage, its narrow, cobblestone streets, its fortified gates, and its panoramic view over the Cerou valley provide the villages many artists and craftspeople with a source of inspiration that runs as deep as the water in the markets well.'

The book picks out the local market, which boasts a 16th-century cast-iron cross listed as a historical monument, as one of the highlights.

Le Malzieu-Ville

Found in the historical province of Gevaudan, Le Malzieu-Ville draws visitors with its historical relics, such as the 13th Century clock tower, Tour de lHorloge, which was used as a feudal dungeon. Pictured here is the medieval church

Known as the 'Pearl of the Valley', Le Malzieu-Ville is a medieval town in the historical province of Gevaudan in southern France.

'Le Malzieu-Ville built up its fortifications - ramparts, defensive towers, keeps, and monumental gates - to protect it during the Hundred Years War and project an impression of power,' the book notes of the town's rich history.

'But a few centuries later the village faced the tumults of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenot captain Mathieu Merle seized the town in 1573; massacres, imprisonments, executions, and destruction followed.'

The book adds: 'Today, Le Malzieu-Ville offers visitors all the charms of a lively historic village at the heart of a magical landscape.'

The 13th century clock tower, Tour de lHorloge, is a highlight that the book notes was used as a feudal dungeon then a prison. It's a must-see for its 'panoramic view of the town and the surrounding area'.

Tournon-dAgenais

The quaint settlement of Tournon-dAgenais (town square pictured) has an impressive calendar of events, including the May 1st flower festival and the Foire de Tourtieere, which celebrates a delicious dessert that the villagers have made for decades

Originally a Celtic fortified town and later a royal bastide, the book says that Tournon-dAgenais, in Lot-et-Garonne in southwest France, has 'cultivated the good life'.

'Built on a spur overlooking two valleys between the Lot and the Garonne, the villages ramparts, tall, pale houses, and well-ordered streets are typical of the new towns that were built in the 12th century,' the book notes.

It goes on to admire the Maison de lAbescat, the residence of the bishop of Aven, which became a church in the 17th century and was recently converted into a concert venue.

The book concludes by saying: 'Tournon dAgenais continues to write its own history while perpetuating local traditions.'

Must-visit events include the May 1st flower festival and the Foire de Tourtiere, 'which celebrates a delicious dessert that the villagers have made for decades'.
Thousands of mansions in a remote corner of India once housed some of the nation's wealthiest bankers and traders - but a century later most of them lie abandoned, their desolate remains a mute testament to lost riches.

The tycoons of Chettinad, near the country's southern tip, made their fortunes trading precious gems and spices across sprawling business empires that stretched as far as Malaysia and Singapore during the era of British colonial rule.

Much of their wealth was channelled into the construction of resplendent homes, embellished with stucco figurines, colourful glass windows and cornices.

Thousands of palatial homes in Chettinad, near India's southern tip - which once housed some of the nation's wealthiest bankers and traders - now lie abandoned. Some of the mansions are found in Kanadukathan town, pictured

Many of the mansions (pictured is one in Kanadukathan town) were built for gem and spice-trading tycoons

Historians say they sourced chandeliers from Venice, giant mahogany-framed mirrors from Belgium and glazed ceramic tiles with intricate patterns from Birmingham.

'At that time there was a competition between the Chettiars themselves to create the most beautiful building - more beautiful than the brother, the cousin, whatever,' Bernard Dragon, a French architect working in the region, told AFP.

But time has not been kind to the nearly 11,000 palatial homes built across the region and many now appear dilapidated and overgrown with vegetation, their current owners either unable to pay for upkeep or mired in property disputes.

The tycoons of Chettinad channelled much of their wealth into the construction of resplendent homes, embellished with stucco figurines, colourful glass windows and cornices. Pictured are mansions in Chettinad's Kanadukathan town

Much of the wealth in the area came from a once booming maritime merchant empire, with residents able to partner with British traders seeking markets and financing for trade in tea, coffee and rubber. Pictured is one of the porch areas of the Saratha Vilas Chettinad mansion, which has been turned into a boutique hotel

'We worry about the state of conservation,' said Dragon, who has worked to restore one property in the area to its former glory for service as a boutique hotel.

'In some villages, the owners are more present and more committed. [But] in some of the villages, you enter... and you realise nobody is taking care of the properties.'

Chettinad's residents belonged to a caste of Tamil merchants, and the location was an ideal staging post for a maritime merchant empire.

Its residents were able to leverage their networks into sprawling banking operations and landholdings, in a commercial partnership with British traders seeking markets and financing for trade in tea, coffee and rubber.

Time has not been kind to the nearly 11,000 palatial homes built across the Chettinad region

The Chettinadu Mansion (pictured here) has been renovated into a heritage resort and has been featured as a backdrop for Bollywood movies

But after World War II their holdings were thrown into disarray, as independence movements gained ground regionally and socialist-inspired economic policies at home clamped down on moneylending and foreign trade.

Many families, forced to tighten their belts or seek other opportunities, moved to the nearby city of Chennai, leaving their homes in the custody of caretakers or simply abandoning them.

Today the dozens of villages that make up the Chettinad region are far from the beating heart of commercial life in southern India, while Chennai has become an important hub for finance and the automotive industry.

With the nearest airport more than two hours away and the mansions - some with up to 100 rooms - needing staggering sums for upkeep, there is little appetite for local real estate.

But emotional attachments from the descendants of earlier inhabitants and passionate architects extolling the supreme craftsmanship of the homes have helped fuel some efforts to preserve these marvels.

The proprietor of Chettinadu Mansion is hopeful that the next generation will be interested in restoring these properties. 'They want to preserve this unique heritage for future generations', he said. Pictured here is a renovated courtyard at the Chettinadu Mansion

'The new generation is earning a lot of money and they are interested in these properties,' said A. Chandramouli, the elderly proprietor of the Chettinadu Mansion.

'I expect a revival shortly,' he added, sitting on an antique chair in a tiled courtyard awash with afternoon sunlight. 'They want to preserve this unique heritage for future generations.'

The Chettinadu Mansion, spread over 40,000 square feet (3,700 square metres), has been renovated into a heritage resort and has been featured as a backdrop for Bollywood movies.

Other properties have largely retained their gleaming marble floors, crystal chandeliers and carved mirrors while adding modern amenities catering for wealthy sightseers attracted to the area's faded grandeur.

'These homes need to be restored for our future generations to see how people used to live here,' tourist Malini Bharathy told AFP, in between snapping selfies from one of the sun-drenched balconies of Chandramouli's property.

'I want my son (and) my son's son to come here and enjoy this, and relish this.'
True crime podcast Casefile is officially the most popular podcast in Australia with close to two million downloads a month.

The series has achieved great critical acclaim and a worldwide audience who can't seem to get enough of the show's serious tone and grim details.

Rolling Stone said it proved fact is scarier than fiction especially when 'the facts are told in a thick Australian accent'.

Crime wave: True crime podcast Casefile is officially the most popular podcast in Australia with close to two million downloads a month.

In the UK it has continually maintained a position in iTunes' top ten podcasts and in the U.S. Casefile has reached as high as number four.

Scripted in story form, each episode plunges the viewer into an atmosphere of dread, gruesome forensics, and the dark corners of the criminal psyche.

Debuting in 2016, Casefile has revisited the crime scenes of famous local cases, including the murder of Newcastle teen Leigh Leigh in 1989, serial killer Ivan Milat, and Adelaide's Snowtown murders.

Featured in hit Casefile podcast: convicted serial killer Ivan Milat (pictured)

Mystery killer: An identikit of the Zodiac Killer, whose story is told in Casefile

Casting their drag net of dirty dealings globally, Casefile has covered the ugly goings-on surrounding 1978's Jonestown massacre, and the mysterious Zodiac killer.

In the UK their mini-series on the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, scored a massive 5.8 million downloads.

Their most popular single episode dealt with the controversial case of Peter Falconio.

Outback mystery: Casefile True Crime podcast takes a penetrating look at the disappearance in 2001 of British tourist Peter Falconio, who is seen here with girlfriend Joanne Lees

Presumed murdered while he travelled through the Northern Territory in 2001, with girlfriend Joanne Lees, his body was never found.

Part of the attraction say fans is the low-key production approach.

There are no guests experts and the facts are allowed to speak for themselves.

Each episode, which can be as short as 20 minutes and as long 90, is narrated by the show's creator.



Sometimes known as 'Brad', the man prefers to remain anonymous.
ABC Radio presenter Josh Szeps has defended Joe Rogan once again after the American podcaster was mocked by The Drum host Ellen Fanning.

In an episode of the ABC talk show that aired earlier this month, Fanning called Rogan a 'conspiracy theorist' and a 'cage-fighting guy who does no research' while grilling Szeps over his decision to appear on the comedian's podcast.

Speaking to The Australian on Monday about the contentious interview, Szeps doubled down on his defence of Rogan.

'Tens of millions of people listen to him': ABC Radio presenter Josh Szeps (pictured) defended Joe Rogan once again after the podcaster was mocked by The Drum host Ellen Fanning

'Hes a polarising figure because hes not a newscaster, and he interviews dissident figures,' said Szeps, who is friends with Rogan even though they disagree on certain issues.

'But he also interviews people who represent the orthodox view. Tens of millions listen to him. Are we going to win the hearts and minds of people by not talking to him?'

Szeps explained he was on Rogan's show to represent 'the orthodox view when it comes to the safety of vaccines', adding that he 'stood his ground' against him during their heated discussion.

The 44-year-old has appeared on Rogan's podcast seven times over the years.

Triggered? Fanning (pictured) called Rogan a 'conspiracy theorist' and a 'cage-fighting guy who does no research' while grilling Szeps over his decision to appear on Rogan's podcast

Szeps was grilled by Fanning on The Drum earlier this month, with the ABC hosts disagreeing on how much research Rogan should be expected to do for his twice-weekly three-hour podcasts.

Fanning mocked Rogan, 54, before complaining about his popularity and some of the controversial guests that have appeared on his podcast.

'Here's this guy with all this money from Spotify and he says, "This is going to be intellectual jousting about Marxism and the history of the world and, y'know, I'm just a cage fighting guy," but he does no research!' she said incredulously.

'He says this is going to be an intellectual jousting exercise, that's what you're gonna see, he's going to have the stogy [cigar] in his mouth, he's going to be all this kind of razzle dazzle,' she continued as she waved her arms around in the air.

'And at the same time, he kind of has all these edgy people on and he doesn't bother to do any research about them.'

Szeps responded: 'How much research would you have to do to have a three-hour conversation, twice a week, with people all over the political spectrum?'

Fanning shot back: 'If you gave me a hundred million bucks, I'd probably hire some pretty fine producers!'

Rant: Fanning also said Rogan (pictured) has 'a head full of alternative facts' and was negatively influencing his listeners by spreading 'misinformation'

She continued to complain about Rogan during the interview, repeatedly claiming he 'doesn't do any research' and adding that 'sometimes he's stoned'.

Rogan, an advocate for the legalisation of certain drugs, often smokes marijuana while recording his podcast and famously once got high with Elon Musk.

Fanning also said Rogan has 'a head full of alternative facts' and was negatively influencing his listeners by spreading 'misinformation'.

Szeps continued to defend Rogan, as did AFR columnist Jennifer Hewitt, who was also appearing on The Drum as a panellist that night.

'He's not trying to be journalist or a gatekeeper or profess to have the answers,' Hewitt said.

'First of all, I'll point out that you can do an awful lot of research and get in vicious disagreements about all sorts of things,' she continued.

Controversy: 'Hes a polarising figure because hes not a newscaster, and he interviews dissident figures,' Szeps (pictured) told The Australian when asked about Rogan

Last month, Szeps praised Rogan in an interview with Mediaweek and claimed his podcast has far more reach than a mainstream show like NBC's The Today Show.

He went on to call Rogan a 'ferociously curious, very engaged, highly disciplined puppy dog'.

'He and I disagree about a lot, but I would rather engage with deeply enthusiastic, deeply curious people who I think are mistaken about many things, than only ever hear from people whose opinions I already understand,' he added.

The Joe Rogan Experience is the world's most popular podcast.

In 2020, it moved exclusive to Spotify in a deal worth $100million, making Rogan the world's highest-paid podcaster.

Szeps has appeared on Rogan's show multiple times over the years, and the pair have socialised off camera too.

Winners are grinners! The Joe Rogan Experience is the world's most popular podcast. In 2020, it moved exclusive to Spotify in a deal worth $100million, making Rogan the world's highest paid podcaster

His most recent appearance made headlines when they got into a debate about Covid vaccines and potential side effects.

Rogan argued vaccines increase the risk of heart condition myocarditis, but Szeps said the real risk of developing myocarditis is actually from contracting Covid-19.

At first, Rogan tried to say this was incorrect, but then his own producer stepped in to say Szeps was right.

The podcaster, who some have accused of being a vaccine sceptic, later tweeted a video of the moment and was happy to acknowledge Szeps was correct.

'If anyone was going to make me look dumb on the podcast Im glad its Josh Szeps, because I love him, and hes awesome,' he wrote.
Lily James had a massive makeover to play Playboy model Pamela Anderson for the Hulu series Pam And Tommy.

There has been much said about her prosthetic breasts and fake blonde hair to look more like the Baywatch actress.

But on Thursday the makeup artist for the series shared new details of her transformation like how he used veneers, covered up Lily's thick eyebrows to pencil on thin ones and used a forehead prosthetic as he talked to WWD.

So much work: Lily James had a massive makeover to play Playboy model Pamela Anderson for the Hulu series Pam And Tommy. There has been much said about her prosthetic breasts and fake blonde hair to look more like the Baywatch actress. Lily seen as Pam

The team was makeup department head David Williams, hair department head Barry Lee Moe and special effects makeup designer Jason Collins.

They used veneers to get Pam's smile down.

And they covered Lily's dark and bushy bushy brows.

'Lily has these amazing thick eyebrows that are beautiful and you dont want to tweeze those, so we covered them up, colored them and put the appliance over. We realized that got us a lot closer to Pam,' it was shared by Williams.

The way they rocked: Lee and Anderson attend the film premiere of Scary Movie 3 in 2003; their life is explored in Pam And Tommy on Hulu

He copied Pam's thin brows that were big in the 1990s.

And they used a 'forehead prosthetic, which would allow her hairline to be moved up and her natural eyebrows to be covered,' said WWD.

And added smoky eye makeup with heavy mascara and used a nude lip color.

They also added acrylic nails; Pam often had long nails with a French manicure.

It took about four hours to get Lily ready for the camera every day.

This comes after the British actress told Rolling Stone magazine that what Anderson went through with her personal sex tape being stolen and sold to the public was 'so wrong.'

Brows: And they covered Lily's dark and bushy bushy brows. 'Lily has these amazing thick eyebrows that are beautiful and you dont want to tweeze those, so we covered them up, colored them and put the appliance over. We realized that got us a lot closer to Pam,' it was shared by Williams.

With her costar: Lily and costar Sebastian Stan as Tommy

And she 'felt the pressure' to do the Baywatch star justice on the Hulu series Pam And Tommy.

The 32-year-old actress felt anxious about playing the Barb Wire star in the new drama series, which focuses on her whirlwind romance with Tommy Lee and the release of their sex tape.

Lily told Rolling Stone: 'I felt the pressure of trying to do justice to this woman.'

The Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again star then said: 'What happened to her was so unprecedented and so wrong.'

So much change: And they used a 'forehead prosthetic, which would allow her hairline to be moved up and her natural eyebrows to be covered,' said WWD; Lily as Pam in Pam And Tommy

Nailed it: They also added acrylic nails; Pam often had long nails with a French manicure

The actress recognizes playing Pamela is a distinctly different challenge to most of her previous roles.

But Lily was determined to give it her best shot.

Asked about the challenge of playing the blonde beauty, Lily shared: 'You come to understand how people think of you. That's very useful, what that fantasy idea of you is  I was ready for a transformational role, something I didn't really think I could pull off.'

In real life: Lily has dark hair and fuller eyebrows; seen this month on James Corden

Pam still looks sensational: Anderson attends Maddox Gallery Los Angeles Presents: Pamela Anderson in 2019

Lily thinks the leak of Pamela and Tommy's infamous sex tape 'collided with the huge change in the world', as it happened during the early years of the internet.

In fact, the actress believes the sex tape and the controversy that it sparked has influenced the 'kind of culture we have today'.

Lily - who previously played Lady Rose MacClare in the TV drama series Downton Abbey - said: 'A lot of people don't know the true story of what happened. And within that, the bigger themes of privacy and sexism and exploitation into the birth of the internet.

'It sort of simultaneously collided with this huge change in the world - the point of no return - and impacted the kind of culture we have today.'
She recently delivered a tearful speech on Capitol Hill encouraging Republicans and Democrats in Congress to pass a new version of the Violence Against Women Act.

And Angelina Jolie was spotted jetting out of Washington D.C. with her eldest daughter Zahara, 17, on Wednesday.

The mother-daughter duo walked through the terminal hand-in-hand with a security team in tow.

Heading home: Angelina Jolie was spotted jetting out of Washington D.C. with her eldest daughter Zahara, 17, on Wednesday

Angelina cut a chic figure in a black-and-white coat that she layered over a plain black dress.

The 46-year-old actress accessorized with a pair of diamond stud earrings and slipped her feet into a pair of tan high heels.

Her brunette hair was parted to one side and styled in soft curls and she wore her signature cateye flick.

The Changeling star carried her essentials in an off white leather tote bag.

Bonded: The mother-daughter duo walked through the terminal hand-in-hand with a security team in tow

Chic: Angelina cut a chic figure in a black-and-white coat that she layered over a plain black dress

Zahara let her bright blue braided hair pull focus by rocking a plain black dress and a brown coat to the airport.

The 17-year-old completed the look with some classic black Converse All Star sneakers and a bright orange purse.

Angelina and Zahara looked eager to return to their Los Angeles, California home after spending a few days in the Capitol.

She shares Zahara, as well as daughters Shiloh, 15, Vivienne, 13, and sons Maddox, 20, Pax, 18, and Knox, 13, with ex husband Brad Pitt.

Co-parents: She shares Zahara, as well as daughters Shiloh, 15, Vivienne, 13, and sons Maddox, 20, Pax, 18, and Knox, 13, with ex husband Brad Pitt; Angelina and Brad pictured in 2015

Angelina is still entangled in a custody battle with the 58-year-old Academy Award-winner, who she first filed for divorce from in 2016 after two years of marriage.

They originally met on the set of the 2005 action flick Mr. And Mrs. Smith, when Brad was still married to actress Jennifer Aniston.

Though family is her focus, Angelina has also made time to fight for the causes that are near and dear to her heart over the years.

On Wednesday, the Maleficent star visited Capitol Hill to help a bipartisan group of senators roll out a new version of the Violence Against Women Act.

Ongoing: Angelina is still entangled in a custody battle with the 58-year-old Academy Award-winner, who she first filed for divorce from in 2016 after two years of marriage; (L-R) Maddox, Vivienne, Angelina, Knox, Shiloh, and Zahara pictured in 2021

She got emotional when addressing a packed press conference - and shamed Congress' 'silence' on the matter as they've not reauthorized the bill in nearly a decade.

'Most of all, I want to acknowledge - most of all, I want to acknowledge the children who are terrified and suffering at this moment,' she said, her voice cracking. 'And the many people for whom this legislation comes too late.'

'The women who have suffered through this system with little or no support, they still carry the pain and trauma of their abuse,' the A-list actress continued. 'The young adults who have survived abuse and emerged stronger not because of the child protective system, but despite it.'

'And the women and children who have died, who could have been saved,' she said.

Victims advocate: Angelina visited Capitol Hill Wednesday to help a bipartisan group of senators roll out a new version of the Violence Against Women Act

Emotional: She got emotional when addressing a packed press conference - and shamed Congress' 'silence' on the matter as they've not reauthorized the bill in nearly a decade; Angeline pictured with (L-R) Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Sen. Susan Collins

Reason: 'The reason that many people struggle to leave abusive situations is that they've been made to feel worthless,' she said. 'When there is silence from a Congress too busy to renew the Violence Against Women Act for a decade, it reinforces that sense of worthlessness; Angelina pictured with US Senator Dick Durbin

Jolie, who's no stranger to Washington or political causes - and even met with Environmental Protection Agency head Michael Regan before her appointment on Capitol Hill - fussed at lawmakers for not reauthorizing the bill since 2013.

'The reason that many people struggle to leave abusive situations is that they've been made to feel worthless,' she said. 'When there is silence from a Congress too busy to renew the Violence Against Women Act for a decade, it reinforces that sense of worthlessness.'

'You think I guess my abusers right. I guess I'm not worth very much,' the actress continued.

'That's why passing this law is one of the most important votes US senators will cast this year,' she told the lawmakers.

Mother-daughter duo: Angelina Jolie (left) posted a photo with her daughter Zahara (right) as she prepared to speak at a Senate press conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill
They haven't left Melbourne for eight months following the city's hard lockdown.

So Georgia Love and her husband Lee Elliot were thrilled to be travelling to Noosa, Queensland on Thursday for their first getaway in almost a year.

The couple documented their trip on Instagram, starting with a picture taken on their Jetstar flight.

Girls just wanna have sun! Georgia Love stripped down to a bikini on Thursday as she enjoyed a romantic getaway with her husband Lee Elliot in Noosa

As soon as they touched down, Georgia stripped down to a floral bikini to work on her tan.

She accessorised with a black cane visor and wore a light application of makeup.

The romantic getaway comes after Georgia was force to address rumours the pair had split after she was spotted without her engagement and wedding rings during an outing in Melbourne.

The former Bachelorette star had been inundated with comments from fans, questioning where her beloved jewels were when she posted pictures from her day out.

Excited! The couple's trip to Noosa is their first getaway out of Victoria in eight months

Still married! The romantic getaway comes after Georgia was force to address rumours the pair had split after she was spotted without her engagement and wedding rings during an outing in Melbourne

The 33-year-old posed for a photo with Lee and explained, 'Can confirm still married.'

'And yes I forgot my rings today in a rush leaving the house, you guys are perceptive,' she added in a follow-up post.

Her posts come after she has shared a sweet series of photos documenting a date with her husband as they visited a popular floating bar in Melbourne, Arbour Afloat.

The couple were seen with drinks in hand as they enjoyed a sunny day in the heart of the city's CBD.

Whoops! The former Bachelorette star had been inundated with comments from fans, questioning where her beloved jewels were

Date day: Her posts come after she has shared a sweet series of photos documenting a date with her husband as they visited a popular floating bar in Melbourne, Arbour Afloat

Last week, Georgia, who recently moved into her new home, boasted about the pair's luxurious ensuite.

Georgia panned the camera to capture the 'his and hers' vanity sinks, the earthy colour palette and tiling, along with the contemporary bath tub and shower area.

The journalist has settled nicely into the home, adding her own touches in the form of statement flowers and greenery.

Luxurious abode: Georgia admired her luxurious new ensuite in an Instagram Stories post after moving into her $1.3million home in Melbourne with husband Lee Elliott, 40, last week (both pictured)

'God I love our ensuite. Feat. My pride and joy,' she captioned the footage.

Georgia and Lee, 40, who wed in March last year in Tasmania, got the keys to the townhouse last week.

Back in October, plumber Lee proudly showed off their new digs on Instagram with a video of Georgia excitedly walking into the pad.

Proud: Georgia panned the camera to capture the 'his and hers' vanity sinks and her choice of styling

Features: The journalist also drew attention to the earthy colour palette and tiling, along with the contemporary bath tub and shower area

Home owners: Back in October, plumber Lee proudly showed off their new digs on Instagram with a video of Georgia excitedly walking into the pad

'It's ours!' Georgia captioned the clip, which she re-shared on her own feed.

They proudly showed off their new doormat, personalised with the words 'The Elliotts, established 2021'.

They purchased the property in October last year, after the home was listed between $1.3million and $1.35million.

It features a spacious four bedrooms, as well as three bathrooms and an expansive living-dining area.

Georgia and Lee said 'I Do' at the Frogmore Creek Winery, just 20 minutes outside of Hobart's city centre, followed by an outdoor reception at the Shene Distillery, in March last year.

The bride stunned in a custom couture gown by Australian designer Jason Grech, while the groom donned a white tuxedo jacket and bow tie by YSG Tailors.

Georgia and Lee were due to marry in Italy the year prior, but were forced to cancel their wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Husband and wife: Georgia and Lee, 40 tied the knot in a stunning ceremony in Tasmania in early March last year. They were due to marry in Italy the year prior, but were forced to cancel their wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic
Brendan Cole has shared his hopes of ditching his 'bad boy image' after 15 years in the spotlight now he is appearing on Dancing On Ice.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 45, said he hopes viewers see another side to him because he is 'a bit of an idiot most of the time!'.

The TV star, who left the BBC ballroom show in 2018, said that his competitive reputation isn't a true reflection of himself at all.

Dancing On Ice: Brendan Cole has shared his hopes of ditching his 'bad boy image' after 15 years in the spotlight now he is appearing on Dancing On Ice (pictured February 2022)

He told the Mirror: 'I had 15 years of that narrative, regardless of how funny I was or the silly stuff that I got up to backstage.

'If my Strictly partner wanted to work hard and try and be there at the end, I'd be working my backside off. But if my partner was like, "I don't want it that much", that was fine also.'

Brendan said that his parnter Vanessa Bauer, 25, is just as hard a worker as he is and he feels very lucky to be partnered with her.

Days gone by: The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 45, said he hopes viewers see another side to him because he is 'a bit of an idiot most of the time!' (pictured 2016)

He said: 'There are a few elements to our personalities that just work. We love that feeling of, 'It's not quite good enough until the day'. We have that same drive, the same work ethic. She's got a little bit of spice in her, which I like.'

Brendan also admitted that Vanessa knows how to keep him in check and will give him 'a look' when he steps out of line.

Proving his dedication to the show, Brendan moved into rented accomodation near his training rink, while his family remained at their home in Mallorca.

That's not me! The TV star, who left the BBC ballroom show in 2018, said that his competitive reputation isn't a true reflection of himself at all

Brendan has been married to his wife Zoe for 11 years and they share Aurelia, nine, and Dante, three.

The New Zealand native brushed off any speculation of the show's 'curse' as he insisted he is a happy married man and Vanessa is half his age.

Brendan was the centre of curse claims during his partnership with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, 49, on the 2004 series of Strictly.

Brendan's engagement to fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup ended at the time but both parties denied any claims that an affair had taken place.
Ant Anstead has joined the promotional push for the NBC limited series The Thing About Pam, which stars his girlfriend, Renee Zellweger, in the lead role.

On Thursday, the For The Love Of Cars presenter posted the trailer for the upcoming true-crime series on Instagram, and showed off his sense of humor in the process.

'Beaming with pride (and now sleeping with one eye open!) Ren's latest role!' the reality star jokingly captioned the clip, in a reference to his ladylove playing a convicted murderer.

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Proud: Ant Anstead revealed he was 'beaming with pride' over his girlfriend, Renee Zellweger's new role in the upcoming limited series The Thing About Pam

Based on the true story, Zellweger portrays Pamela Hupp, the infamous Missouri woman who is currently serving a life sentence in prison for the deadly shooting of a mentally and physically disabled man, Louis Gumpenberger, in 2016.

Prosecutors also allege the murder was engineered by Hupp in an attempt to frame the husband of her best friend, Betsy Faria, for Faria's 2011 stabbing murder, for which Hupp was charged in July 2021.

Zellweger, 52, is making her network television debut with the role, while also serving as one of the executive producers for the project, via her banner Big Picture Co., according to People.

Jenny Klein, who's best known for her work on Supernatural, (2008-2016), Jessica Jones (2015), The Witcher (2019) serves as showrunner for the series.

Sharing: On Thursday, the For The Love Of Cars presenter posted the trailer for the upcoming true-crime series on Instagram, and showed off his sense of humor in the process

Jokes: 'Beaming with pride (and now sleeping with one eye open!) Ren's latest role!' the reality star jokingly captioned the clip, in a reference to his ladylove playing a convicted murderer Pamela Hupp (pictured left)

Along with Zellweger, The Thing About Pam also stars Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer, Laty Mixon, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Glenn Fleshler, Suanne Spoke and Mac Brandt.

The 6-episode series not only shows off the two-time Oscar-winner's range as a actress, it also showcases the incredible talents it took to get her to look more like the real Hupp,

For her transformation Zellweger donned facial prosthetics, including a fake nose and a fat suit that drew criticism from some people on the internet.

The shoot took place in New Orleans over several months last year, which meant she had to be away from Anstead, who lives in Laguna Beach, where he co-parents his two-year-old son Hudson with ex-wife, and HGTV star Christina Haack.

Based on the true story: Zellweger portrays Pamela Hupp, the infamous Missouri woman who is currently serving a life sentence in prison for the deadly shooting of a mentally and physically disabled man, Louis Gumpenberger, in 2016

Convicted murderer: Prosecutors also allege the murder of Louis Gumpenberger was engineered by Hupp in an attempt to frame the husband of her best friend, Betsy Faria, for Faria's 2011 stabbing murder, for which Hupp was charged in July 2021

Transformation: For her transformation Zellweger donned facial prosthetics, including a fake nose and a fat suit that drew criticism from some people on the internet

The cast: The Thing About Pam also stars Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer, Laty Mixon, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Glenn Fleshler, Suanne Spoke and Mac Brandt

Double duty: Zellweger, 52, is making her network television debut with the role, while also serving as one of the executive producers for the project, via her banner Big Picture Co.

To help ease their time apart, Anstead flew out to Louisiana to see Zellweger several times during the shoot, which he documented on Instagram by posting a photo of the new couple sharing a passionate kiss in October.

'WOW there is something very special about New Orleans!' he gushed in the caption.

'The late night wandering, the mind blowing history this nerd loves, the architecture, the blend of cultures, the food, the people, the smells and noises! All made made better by magical company to share it with,' he added, along with a red heart emoji.

Plenty of storytelling: The upcoming NBC limited series consists of 6 episodes

Missing you: The shoot took place in New Orleans over several months last year, which meant Zellweger had to be away from Anstead, who lives in Laguna Beach, where he co-parents his two-year-old son Hudson with ex-wife, and HGTV star Christina Haack

Trips to set: To help ease the new couple's time apart, Anstead flew out to Louisiana to see Zellweger several times during the shoot

Anstead brought Hudson along with him when he made the trip to the Big Easy so they could spend Thanksgiving together.

The Wheeler Dealers star only started dating the Jerry Maguire star in June, which was just four months before his October 19 post.

Zellweger and Anstead met on the set of his Discovery+ show Celebrity IOU: Joyride in June 2021.

The Thing About Pam premieres on Tuesday, March 8th, on NBC at 10/9c.
Arnold Schwarzenegger gushed about being a grandfather and admitted he didn't know the gender of pregnant daughter Katherine's baby on Thursday on a talk show.

The 74-year-old actor while visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live was congratulated by the host for Katherine, 32, and her husband Chris Pratt, 42, blessing him with another grandchild 'on the way'.

'It's on the way, and I'll tell you one thing, that it is the easiest thing to be a grandfather,' said Arnold, who wore a colorful Hawaiian shirt, grey coat and dark jeans.

Hollywood star: Arnold Schwarzenegger gushed about being a grandfather and admitted he didn't know the gender of pregnant daughter Katherine's baby on Thursday on a talk show

'Why do you say that?,' asked Jimmy, 54.

'Because they come over to the house, you play with Lyla for around an hour or two, put her on the horse, put her with the dog. I play with the dog. And after two hours, they leave,' Arnold said referencing his one-year-old granddaughter Lyla Maria.

The former Governor of California said that he had a 'great time' when Chris and Katherine come by with Lyla

'He's a fantastic guy. A great son-in-law. I love my daughter Katherine is so wonderful and I'm so proud of her,' Arnold said.

Cute couple: The 74-year-old actor while visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live was congratulated by the host for Katherine and her husband Chris Pratt, shown together in April 2019 in Los Angeles, blessing him with another grandchild 'on the way'

'They're great. When they come over the whole house lights up. And the animals are there,' he added.

Jimmy asked if Katherine and Chris would tell him the baby's gender or if they'd be too worried that he'd 'accidentally blow it?'

'I really don't know. But I do blow it a lot of time,' Arnold said.

Easy life: 'Because they come over to the house, you play with Lyla for around an hour or two, put her on the horse, put her with the dog. I play with the dog. And after two hours, they leave,' Arnold said referencing his one-year-old granddaughter Lyla Maria

He noted that his ex-wife Maria Shriver, 66, never wanted to know the gender beforehand of their four children.

'It was always a guessing kind of a game. I think because Katherine is a lot like Maria she will probably go in the same direction and not want to know. It's just a guess. Also, she cannot trust me,' Arnold said.

It was announced in December that Katherine and Chris were expecting their second child together.

Gender guessing: 'It was always a guessing kind of a game. I think because Katherine is a lot like Maria she will probably go in the same direction and not want to know. It's just a guess. Also, she cannot trust me,' Arnold said

Mask on: Arnold wore a black face mask as he arrived at the talk show studio in Hollywood

Hawaiian shirt: The action star wore a colorful Hawaiian shirt along with a blue coat and jeans

Chris also has nine-year-old son Jack with his ex-wife Anna Faris, 45.

Jimmy also asked Arnold about playing Zeus in a Super Bowl commercial for BMW after teasing it on social media.

'Did you want people to think that it was a movie and lead them in that direction?,' Jimmy asked.

Social media: Jimmy also asked Arnold about playing Zeus in a Super Bowl commercial for BMW after teasing it on social media

'I think that's how you tease something, to let the people know there's something coming out like that. But you don't give them the whole story. The next thing, a little teaser trailer. Then a bigger teaser trailer. Then a teaser for the teaser trailer,' Arnold said with a chuckle.

'Then you do a poster for the teaser trailer. Finally you come up to the commercial. I tell you something, Jimmy, I have never gotten so much publicity for any commercial I've ever done. This is like all over the world,' he added.

'The Super Bowl hasn't even happened yet,' Jimmy said.

'Zeus. Zeus. The god of lightning,' Arnold said.
Interview: UN refugee agency official says China's contribution helps alleviate dire situation in Afghanistan

Xinhua) 15:10, February 11, 2022

BANGKOK, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The resources provided by China to Afghanistan are helping the internally displaced Afghans to weather the harsh winter and COVID-19 pandemic, while China's engagement in political levels would facilitate a long-term solution to the situation after the hurried withdrawal of U.S. forces and its allies, a senior official of the UN refugee agency has said.

Due to the conflict following the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO forces from Afghanistan, some 3.5 million Afghan people remain displaced, 80 percent of whom are women and children that have been dependent on life-saving humanitarian aids, said Indrika Ratwatte, director for Asia and the Pacific of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based in Bangkok.

"It's a very, very dire situation in terms of the humanitarian needs," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview recently.

The displaced population are facing a harsh winter in Afghanistan since November last year which is expected to last till late February or early March. "Even when the snow starts melting, temperature in some areas could go as low as minus 20 to 25 degrees Celsius," he said.

There are also challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, as only 10 percent of the Afghan population have been fully vaccinated, which means vaccines, syringes and protecting equipment donated by the Chinese government were "very helpful".

In the interview via video link, Ratwatte expressed concerns over the poor health infrastructure in the country's rural areas, making such donations fundamental to the immunizations of the population.

"As we all know, with the new variant keeps spreading around, unless everybody is inoculated, nobody is actually safe," he said, adding that China has rolled out vaccination domestically in a successful manner.

Ratwatte said the UNHCR has put in extra efforts for Afghanistan, but as the coping mechanisms are being stressed out, more assistance is needed.

In January, the UN refugee agency launched a 4.4-billion-U.S.-dollar aid appeal for Afghanistan in its largest-ever humanitarian appeal for a country, according to Ratwatte.

He said China's increasing support and contribution to the UNHCR and other relief efforts through both bilateral and multilateral avenues are much welcomed.

According to the UNHCR data, China has been one of the public sector donors contributing at least 20 percent above the 2020 levels during 2021. The country's contribution raised from 1.77 million U.S. dollars in 2020 to 5.33 million dollars in 2021.

China donated a batch of core relief supplies through the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund in cooperation with UNHCR, which arrived in Afghanistan in November and helped the displaced people, returnees and host communities in Afghanistan brace the harsh winter.

"We do appreciate the increase in the Chinese government's contribution to UNHCR," he said. "We would obviously welcome the Chinese government to consider its multilateral support as well for UNHCR and continuing its bilateral support."

Ratwatte also pointed out China's contribution to improving the situation in Afghanistan went beyond providing medical and humanitarian resources. "We do appreciate very much what China has done, not just in terms of resources, but also trying to engage at the political level in Afghanistan to find solutions," he said.

"While resources are very important, obviously the engagement at a political level is appreciated to find solutions for refugees because that's what we all want to have at the end of the day," he said.

Ratwatte noted that priorities remain to ensure the 38 million people in Afghanistan to get dire support so that they could have a life, dignity and resilience. He called for the international community to come together and demonstrate the political will and ability to address key issues facing the Afghan people, including the funding of public services, health care and education.

"These are also very important things to be unblocked at a political level, and require resources to be devoted," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The billionaire owner of a New York City supermarket chain says hes fighting back against thieves who are putting other stores out of business.

Businessman John Catsimatidis said he is beefing up security to protect the beef and other products at his 30 Gristedes and DAgostinos stores throughout the city, where sticky-fingered shoplifters have walked off with meat, toiletries, cleaning supplies and ice cream.

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John Catsimatidis, owner Gristedes supermarket chain, speaks at the Gristedes at E. 40th St. and Second Ave. during a press conference about the companies new security measures to combat increase shoplifting Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

According to Catsimatidis  a city Republican party leader who ran for mayor in 2013  thefts are up nearly 50% at the supermarkets, and have cost Gristedes and DAgostinos millions of dollars.

Theyre stealing more than ever, Catsimatidis said at a Manhattan Gristedes on Second Ave. near E. 40th St. You know who its hurting? Its hurting the poor. Its hurting the middle class. Its hurting the people in these neighborhoods where all these stores are closing. Are we closing stores? Absolutely not.

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The most popular items to steal are meats, Catsimatidis said. To combat meat thefts, store managers will put less packaged meat on store shelves, and replenish them as needed.

Some of the most stolen items are on display at the Gristedes at E. 40th St. and Second Ave. after a press conference about the companies new security measures to combat increase shoplifting Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Shoplifters also like Tide laundry detergent, Dove soap, Ensure nutritional shakes and Haagen-Dazs ice cream, he said.

Gristedes and DAgostinos stores will add nearly 100 security personnel, some from the ranks of retired police officers.

The security measures come several weeks after Rite Aid executives announced that several of their New York City stores were closing. Rite Aid employees said a rash of thefts were behind the shutdowns.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

According to the NYPD Citywide Crime Statistics, the City of New York has seen a 23.3 percent increase in incidents of petit larceny, over last year.

Even the Rev. Al Sharpton expressed his concern about the crime wave, using a TV appearance to appeal to Mayor Adams to step up his efforts to address the growing problem.

In fairness to Eric, hes only been mayor five weeks, Sharpton said Wednesday during an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe. But even as a fan of him: Eric, theyre locking up my toothpaste.

To protect inventory, many stores have begun locking up low-cost items, including toothpaste. Sharpton and others aid they have to ask for help just to get a tube of Colgate or Aquafresh.

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I mean, were talking about basic stuff here, Sharpton said. Im like, what did I miss that we now have to lock up toothpaste?

Catsimatidis said New York City will not be back to normal until authorities get a handle on crime.

People have to feel safe walking around, Catsimatidis said. People have to feel safe going into subways. That is the big item left.
Dragons' Den

Rating:

The Queen's Guards: A Year In Service

Rating:

You know you're getting old when the phrase, 'I'm putting my affairs in order,' ceases to be a vague metaphor and becomes an item on your To Do list.

Entrepreneur Sheila arrived on Dragons' Den (BBC1) to promote her clever website, called Biscuit Tin, where users can store a will, last wishes, bank account details etc.

It's a nifty idea, saving families a lot of trouble and paperchasing after a loved one dies.

I'd worry, though, about the 50 annual fee. It'd be just my luck to sign up and then live for years.

Simpler, you'd have thought, to organise everything in a notebook. Scouring Amazon, I found one for just that purpose, labelled I'm Dead, Now What?

It's 12 quid new, but you can pick up a used copy for 6.80. I think I'll buy the second-hand one  my children stand a better chance of a decent inheritance if they get someone else's.

The dragons turned Sheila down, but they were in a grouchy mood.

Full-scale shouting matches broke out more than once. New arrival Steven Bartlett, 29, who boasts his businesses are worth 300 million, seems to provoke both the den's alpha males, Touker Suleyman and Peter Jones.

The Dragons' Den (L to R: Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones)

Flat feet of the night With Waterloo Road due to be revived and C4 in talks to bring back Big Brother, nostalgia for Noughties TV is growing. One survey predicts The Bill will be next. But can you see Sun Hill's coppers arresting people for hate speech and misgendering? Advertisement

It's making for the liveliest series we've seen in years. 'Never disagree with me,' Touker snapped, 'because I've got a lot more experience than you.' Steven just smirked.

Not everyone noticed the yelling. Georgia, trying to flog her toilet tissue moisturiser, took no notice. 'I'm Italian,' she explained, 'so it didn't even register.'

After the first two pitches flopped, presenter Evan Davis talked us through a highlights reel from the past 15 years.

That proved how badly Peter has aged. He used to look like a moptop 1960s pop star, now he has two days of unshaven grey stubble around droopy jowls.

If Steven really wants to wind him up, he should press a fiver into Peter's hand and tell him to get himself a sandwich and a coffee.

Even the coffee made me feel elderly as the final business hopefuls appealed for investors.

The chaps from London Nootropics billed themselves as an 'adaptogenic wellness company', selling coffee beans blended with ginseng and cannabis extracts.

What the heck is 'adaptogenic wellness'? If I'm getting too decrepit to understand a hot drink, I really am ancient.

The parade ground sergeant-majors bellowing insults at recruits on The Queen's Guards: A Year In Service (C5) were reassuringly old fashioned.

People watch members of the Household Cavalry during the changing of the Queen's Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London on Monday

'Did your father not teach you how to iron your trousers?' roared one at a quivering teenager with a lop-sided crease.

Another stuck his glowering face under a young Coldstream Guardsman's nose and informed him, at 120 decibels, that his moustache was 'a hideous growth'.

It's reassuring to know that, in the Army at least, anyone caught brewing adaptogenic coffee will probably find himself peeling potatoes till he stops being so bleedin' lah-di-dah.

Harried through one drill after another, the troops found a way to take revenge.

As their Major-General arrived to take the final inspection, the band struck up with Darth Vader's march from Star Wars.

The first half hour of this five-part documentary, about the soldiers famous for their red tunics and busbies, was slow to get going.

It tried to introduce too many characters and became fragmented. But by the time the regiment's Drum Major was being fitted for his 40,000 gold-braided robes, the narrative was starting to come together.

This promises to be an entertaining series.
Judi Dench, theatrical dame of the realm, lamented that due to failing eyesight she is no longer able to sew her famous saucy tapestries. For years, the actress would while away her downtime on set creating intricate needlework that she would give to friends.

A lot of folks  including David Hare and Richard Eyre  have been recipients of her handiwork over the years. 'They've probably thrown them out,' she said, laughing.

We were meant to be chatting about the Oscar nomination she received this week for her witty, poignant performance as Granny in Belfast, Kenneth Branagh's family drama set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The film has taken 10 million in the UK so far.

Dame Judi Dench (pictured), theatrical dame of the realm, lamented that due to failing eyesight she is no longer able to sew her famous saucy tapestries

Dame Judi has been nominated for eight Oscars. She won the Academy award for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love in 1999

I've observed her, first hand, creating her tapestries; and I couldn't help but notice that there was a lot of  for want of a better phrase  male wildlife in them. 'Well yes,' she admitted merrily. 'Some were quite rude.'

It's that sense of mischief that Branagh captures in Belfast, which marks their 12th time working together, in 35 years. But there's also grit in Judi's Granny.

When you watch her in the final moments of the picture, she launches an emotional charge that can catch you unawares.

Those who have questioned why she, and not the exquisite Caitriona Balfe, received an Oscar nomination should study what Dench does, seemingly effortlessly.

She had just returned from a funeral when her long-time agent Tor Belfrage broke the Oscar news. 'I'm genuinely very surprised,' she said.

Judi plays Granny in Belfast (pictured left), Kenneth Branagh's family drama set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The film has taken 10 million in the UK so far

She won the golden statuette in 1999, for portraying Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare In Love. And were she to triumph again, for Granny, she would  at the age of 87  be the oldest acting winner in the awards' history.

She is not amused about me mentioning her age. 'Oh, do shut up!' she said, in mock anger. 'Age, age,' she repeated. 'If you start thinking of your age, and you get to a certain age, you start thinking you must retire,' she admonished me, 'and I've told you before that I'm not going to do that.'

In any case, she added: 'I feel quite young and quite silly.' Which is why, she felt, she got on so well with Jude Hill, the 11-year-old actor who plays her grandson in Belfast.

Hill is quite remarkable in the film. 'We were in the same bubble and we had lots of larks,' she told me.

It's that sense of mischief that Branagh (left) captures in Belfast, which marks their 12th time working together, in 35 years. But there's also grit in Judi's Granny

Ciaran Hinds, who plays her hubby 'Pop', had fun, too. He's also been Oscar-nominated. Dench still marvels at how they managed to make the film in the heart of the pandemic. 'We filmed in the lockdown and none of us had been out of our homes. I felt grateful just to be a little bit together with other people, in a bubble.'

She has since completed a film with Eyre, based on Alan Bennett's play Allelujah! And she will tread the boards in the West End again, for three nights only  June 19, 26 and July 3  at the Gielgud Theatre, where she'll be in conversation with Gyles Brandreth.

I saw them do this at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, with Judi reminiscing about her career.

'We're just going to have a chat,' she explained. 'Gyles is easy to talk to. He could do the thing on his own! I don't have to join in at all. I could just butt in every now and again.'

How high kicking Ariana nearly put the boot into Obama

Actress Ariana DeBose has never been afraid to speak up  even if that meant 'gently bickering' with the mighty Steven Spielberg during a recording session for West Side Story.

And if that wasn't enough Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were there, too.

The former president was sitting cross-legged in the studio in Manhattan, so close to DeBose that she feared she might accidentally boot him as she danced to the classic number America.

Actress Ariana DeBose (pictured) at the Disney Studios' Los Angeles Premiere of West Side Story last December

The actress revealed former president Barack Obama was sitting cross-legged in the studio in Manhattan - so close to DeBose that she feared she might accidentally boot him as she danced to the classic number America. Pictured: Ariana as Anita Alvarez in West Side Story

She also feared that one of the Secret Service agents accompanying the couple might 'punch me in the face', because they were worried, 'I was going to kick him with all those iconic moves'.

Michelle was a bit less perilously placed than her husband: seated in a chair, taking a keen interest in DeBose's conversation with Spielberg about whether the music was being conducted at the right tempo.

'She looked at me  you know, those little moments where women see each other ... it felt like that,' she recalled.

In fact, the accomplished DeBose and the legendary filmmaker got along just fine, despite the bickering. 'I've never been afraid to speak up, even if I lost the battle,' she told me. 'I don't need to be right. I'm more interested in being heard.'

DeBose's performance as the 'scrappy little queen' Anita has won her accolades from critics and award season heat, including a best supporting actress Oscar nomination (West Side Story has seven in total) and a citation in the same category from BAFTA. Plus, she's in the running for an EE Rising Star honour.

She also feared that one of the Secret Service agents accompanying the couple might 'punch me in the face', because they were worried, 'I was going to kick him with all those iconic moves'

Her view is that, 'if you're playing a character you're not willing to fight for, then why are you playing that character?'. And, boy oh boy is she qualified for the part of Anita. The temperature rises whenever she's on screen  especially in the America sequence she performs with boxer boyfriend Bernardo (David Alvarez).

Raised by a single mother in Wilmington, North Carolina, Ariana learned to dance before she could properly walk. I've seen her, over the course of a dozen years, rise from the ranks of the chorus line to featured, then starring roles. She's an electrifying dancer. 'I speak dance better than I speak English,' she joked.

When she made a conscious decision to cross from stage to screen, she was warned that musical theatre actors are 'too big' for film. She was undeterred. 'I didn't have a problem humbling myself, and going back to camera class to try and figure it out,' she said. 'If you can work on stage, then you can work on screen.' But the opposite is not always the case  'and that's just the truth,' she added, when we met in London. 'To work on stage is to be incredibly versatile.'

Raised by a single mother in Wilmington, North Carolina, Ariana (pictured) learned to dance before she could properly walk

There's no doubt that the camera loves her. She was in the Netflix film The Prom, and the AppleTV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon!, and has been working on and off in the UK for the past several months for director Matthew Vaughn on his new spy thriller Argylle, which also stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Henry Cavill and Samuel L. Jackson.

She told me she liked Vaughan's 'fun, unconventional' style, and it was clear from when I visited the set last year that the feeling was mutual.

The day before we met, Vaughn and his wife Claudia Schiffer invited her down to his film studio compound, near his home in Oxford, to meet the family and have lunch. Their chef prepared her favourite meal: mac 'n' cheese.

She's hoping to work with Vaughn again, if only so she can get invited back, she joked.

West Side Story is still in cinemas (it's magnificent on the big screen), but moves to Disney+ from March 3.
Wordle has three million users across the globe and radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson has news for every one of them.

On Friday, the 47-year-old posted a short video revealing her incredible hack to find all the answers in the wildly popular puzzle game.

'Hi Guys,' she said in the post. 'There is this site that gives you the Wordle of the day up until 2027.'

'Just Google 'here lies Wordle', she said.

She signed off with a cheeky 'Thank me later.'

The news may be hack heaven for some fans of the addictive time killer, but for users who like a challenge it may ruin all the fun.

Essentially an interactive guessing game, players of Wordle are asked to guess the mystery five letter word from six tries. Clues are given with coloured tiles.

Launched last October, Wordle owes part of its creation to the pandemic.

Hack! Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed her incredible hack to find all the answers in the very popular puzzle game Wordle

Puzzle solved! She posted a short video revealing that there is a site that gives you the Wordle of the day up until 2027

It was invented by puzzle fan Joss Wardle, 36, a Welsh software engineer, who wanted to lift the boredom of extended lockdowns.

A huge hit in the Twitter sphere, Wardle sold Wordle to the New York Times in January.

The price tag is said to be in seven figures.
Influencer couple Chloe Szepanowski and Mitchell Orval have sold their Gold Coast home three weeks before it was scheduled to go to auction.

The five-bedroom Broadbeach Waters property was set to go under the hammer on March 5, but Chloe announced on Friday afternoon it had sold to a mystery buyer.

It's unclear who bought the 267 Monaco Street address or how much they paid for it, but Chloe and Mitch had purchased the house just 12 months ago for $1.85million.

That was quick! Influencer couple Chloe Szepanowski (right) and Mitchell Orval (left) have sold their Gold Coast home three weeks before it was scheduled to go to auction

Chloe, 23, confirmed the news by sharing a photo on Instagram of herself and property agent Mitch Lambert slapping a 'sold' sticker on the 'for sale' sign.

Mitchell, 25, watched on while carrying the couple's one-year-old son Arti.

The news comes a day after Mitchell told Realestate.com.au they were selling to take advantage of the booming property market.

'Sold': The five-bedroom Broadbeach Waters property (pictured) was set to go under the hammer on March 5, but Chloe announced on Friday afternoon it had sold to a mystery buyer

Done deal: Chloe (left) confirmed the news by sharing a photo on Instagram of herself and property agent Mitch Lambert (centre) slapping a 'sold' sticker on the 'for sale' sign. Mitchell (right) watched on while carrying the couple's one-year-old son Arti

The popular YouTuber also confirmed he and Chloe were looking for a new house together on the Coast.

'We've got our own personal lifestyle choices and have just decided to take advantage of the market and see what happens,' he said of the decision to sell.

Mitchell, who is the son of viral celebrity Mark 'Angry Dad' Orval, said he was first drawn to the home because of its 'old American style' and 'character'.

Renovation: Mitch said his pride and joy was the home cinema (pictured) - formerly an unused carport - which he renovated and fitted out with reclining chairs and rows of candy shelves

He revealed his pride and joy was the home cinema - formerly an unused carport - which he renovated and fitted out with reclining chairs and rows of candy shelves.

'It was actually my dream as a kid to have my own cinema in my house as I love watching movies,' he added.

Mr Lambert of Harcourts Coastal previously said of the listing: 'What better time than when the market is so buoyant for them to make a lifestyle change.'

'They are planning to stay local on the Gold Coast. They've got some really exciting projects coming up as a family,' he added.

House-hunting: The couple (pictured) decided to sell to take advantage of the booming property market. They are now said to be looking for a new house together on the Gold Coast

He said Chloe and Mitchell extensively renovated the property while living there.

The two-storey house has five bedrooms, two of which are ensuite, four bathrooms and six toilets.

Entertaining guests is a breeze with spacious living areas, a gourmet kitchen with stone benchtops, and a sun-drenched outdoor area.

Delightful decor: Marketing agent Mitch Lambert previously revealed Chloe and Mitchell had extensively renovated the property while living there

From the loungeroom, French-style panelled doors open out to a poolside pavilion.

There is also a large balcony off the upstairs master suite, while another bedroom boasts views of the nearby park and skyline.

'It's a beautiful home in a very tightly-held enclave,' Mr Lambert said.

'The couple have stunning taste. They're quite young and their home presents in such a sophisticated style.'

Chloe has made headlines several times over the last year, mostly due to her controversial stance on Covid-19 vaccination.

Delightful: Entertaining guests is a breeze with spacious living areas, a gourmet kitchen with stone benchtops (pictured), and a sun-drenched outdoor area

Dream: The kitchen can be seen here from a different angle

Lovely: From the loungeroom, French-style panelled doors open out to a poolside pavilion

The Queensland model previously shared posts supporting the anti-lockdown 'Freedom rally' protests, and is also known to peddle vaccine misinformation and follows numerous anti-vax Instagram accounts.

There have also been unconfirmed reports in recent months that her relationship with Mitchell is on the rocks.

Chloe revealed in October they no longer sleep in the same bed.

Lavish: There is an outdoor entertaining area, plus a swimming pool (pictured)

'[Mitchell and I] sleep in separate rooms because we are around each other 24/7 and I like to sleep early,' the mother of one wrote on Instagram.

She continued: 'He likes to stay up late on crypto and watching YouTube, and it's good to have some space from each other when you both work from home.'

Chloe went on to defend their sleeping arrangement, saying: 'I don't think there needs to be a certain way relationships have to be.

'Everyone is different. It works the best for us.'

Speculation: There have been unconfirmed reports in recent months that Chloe's relationship with Mitchell is on the rocks. (The couple are pictured here with their son Arti)

Chloe's admission came weeks after the Outspoken podcast reported on growing speculation she and Mitchell had called time on their relationship.

Mitchell had sparked split rumours in September when he shared a cryptic quote on Instagram that read: 'Sometimes the universe's best way to add to your life is to subtract from it.'

He followed this with a photo of himself crying, which he captioned: 'You don't always have to be strong.

'Sometimes you need to scream, cuss, throw s**t or have a really good cry. But you always, always, always need to pull yourself back together, then go back to being the bada** you were meant to be.

'It's good to have some space': She raised eyebrows in October by confirming she and Mitchell sleep in separate rooms, but insisted it was due to their different sleep cycles

Speculating on the meaning behind this post, Outspoken co-host Amy Taeuber said: 'People are just jumping to assumptions that it is about his relationship with Chloe. I mean it really does seem like a cry for help.'

At the time, Chloe had also shared her own cryptic post, which read: 'Stop running away from yourself, as if being alone is the scariest thing that could happen.'

Amy pointed out that Chloe and Mitchell had been going through a 'tough time' after receiving backlash for their anti-vax views, which may have put a strain on their relationship.

'That can't have been good for them as a couple,' she said.

Cryptic: Mitchell had sparked split rumours in September when he shared a cryptic quote that read: 'Sometimes the universe's best way to add to your life is to subtract from it'

But on January 4, Chloe shared a defiant post confirming the duo were still together.

'Storms make trees take deeper roots,' she captioned a photo of the couple.

'We had some unexpected things take place to begin the year but all to make us root deeper and create stronger foundations for our lil family!

'Always a good mindset to have when you say its happening for you, not to you. Happy new year to all. I hope youve all been safe and well.'
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Former VS stunners Sara Sampaio and Shanina Shaik glammed up to attend The Daily Front Row 20th anniversary party together inside the Paradise Club in Manhattan's Times Square neighborhood on Thursday.

The 'besties' - both repped by Lions Model Management - even locked lips for a Polaroid snap at the New York Fashion Week soiree.

Shanina was the woman of the hour considering she graced the cover of The Daily Front Row's 20th anniversary issue.

Former VS stunners: Sara Sampaio (L) and Shanina Shaik (R) glammed up to attend The Daily Front Row 20th anniversary party together inside the Paradise Club in Manhattan's Times Square neighborhood on Thursday

PDA alert! The 'besties' - both repped by Lions Model Management - even locked lips for a Polaroid snap at the New York Fashion Week soiree

'What's better than one Shanina? Two Shaninas!' Sara - who boasts 12.4M social media followers - gushed via Instastory.

The Melbourne-born bombshell is technically turning 31 this Friday, but she tweeted that it was already her 'born day in Australia.'

Shanina glimmered in a silver-stoned mini-dress featuring a tabloid print and black stilettos.

Shaik slicked her brunette locks into a sleek updo for the fashion festivities.

'What's better than one Shanina? Two Shaninas!' Shanina was the woman of the hour considering she graced the cover of The Daily Front Row's 20th anniversary issue

Kicking off her special day! The Melbourne-born bombshell is technically turning 31 this Friday, but she tweeted that it was already her 'born day in Australia'

Leggy lady: Shanina glimmered in a silver-stoned mini-dress featuring a tabloid print and black stilettos

Gelled: Shaik slicked her brunette locks into a sleek updo for the fashion festivities

Ready for her close-up! The Maluma video vixen played up her bushy brows and hazel eyes with a touch of pink on her cheeks and lips

The Maluma video vixen played up her bushy brows and hazel eyes with a touch of pink on her cheeks and lips.

Sampaio - who relies on stylist Mimi Cuttrell - wore a belted black blazer over a fishnet top, black silky shorts, and matching booties.

The 30-year-old Portuguese bombshell accessorized her all-black attire with $79 Call Me Gorgeous 'Long Bs' Swarovski earrings, studded fishnet gloves, and a chain-link purse.

Sara wore her brunette fringed mane in a middle part and rocked a bright red pout.

Babe: Sara - who relies on stylist Mimi Cuttrell - wore a belted black blazer over a fishnet top, black silky shorts, and matching booties

Drip: Sampaio accessorized her all-black attire with $79 Call Me Gorgeous 'Long Bs' Swarovski earrings, studded fishnet gloves, and a chain-link purse

Pop of color: The 30-year-old Portuguese bombshell wore her brunette fringed mane in a middle part and rocked a bright red pout

Karaoke: At their table, Sara and Shanina began singing along to Hilary Duff's 2017 song Come Clean while seated beside Clayd Yila (L), the executive assistant to their manager Ali Kavoussi

Stunning: Joy Corrigan flaunted every single inch of her impressive model physique in a sexy leather catsuit, teamed with funky snakeskin block heels

Edgy: Joy posed up a storm in the form-fitting look, accessorising with a mustard yellow leather clutch bag

At their table, Sampaio and Shanina began singing along to Hilary Duff's 2017 song Come Clean while seated beside Clayd Yila, the executive assistant to their manager Ali Kavoussi.

Missing from Shaik's side was her boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan, who owns the record label/management company Bad Habit.

And while the Sombra actress is single, she happily shares her $4M five-bedroom Los Angeles home with her canine companions, South and Kyta.

Also attending TDFR party was flame-haired model-singer Karen Elson - who suited up in a black silky blazer, matching palazzo pants, and gold peep-toe heels.

'2022 energy': Missing from Shaik's side was her boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan (L, pictured December 31), who owns the record label/management company Bad Habit

'They must touch me at all times!' And while Sampaio is single, she happily shares her $4M five-bedroom Los Angeles home with her canine companions, South and Kyta (pictured December 3)

The Bachelorette #15 alum Tyler Cameron - who's currently competing on Fox's The Real Dirty Dancing - wore a beige top beneath a charcoal-colored suit.

Drag performer CT Hedden got down on his hands and knees to pose in a silky purple blouse and matching Prada peep-toe heels.

The Bachelor #25 alum Kit Clementine Keenan went with a sleeveless LBD while designer Cynthia Rowley flashed her lingerie beneath a sheer embellished jumpsuit.

Speaking of sheer catsuits, Dutch model Cindy Kimberly - who was 'discovered' by Justin Bieber - raised eyebrows flashing her thong beneath a nude-painted onesie.

Jack White's ex-wife: Also attending TDFR party was flame-haired Karen Elson (left) - who suited up in a black silky blazer, matching palazzo pants, and gold peep-toe heels, and CAA model Maye Musk, who opted for an elegant pantsuit (right)

Suited and booted: The Bachelorette #15 alum Tyler Cameron - who's currently competing on Fox's The Real Dirty Dancing - wore a beige top beneath a charcoal-colored suit

We live! Drag performer CT Hedden got down on his hands and knees to pose in a silky purple blouse and matching Prada peep-toe heels

Peek-a-boo! The Bachelor #25 alum Kit Clementine Keenan (L) went with a sleeveless LBD while designer Cynthia Rowley (R) flashed her lingerie beneath a sheer embellished jumpsuit

CAA Model Maye Musk looked elegant in a silk white pantsuit featuring black lapels, diamond jewelry, chrome clutch, and wingtip loafers.

TikTok creator Vienna Skye rocked an epic beehive faux-hawk coiffed by Ernesto Rivera, while Wilhelmina Model Olivia Ponton bared her hip in a black cut-out mini-dress.

Fine artist Gianni Lee rocked a 'Love' trucker cap with black boots and blue jeans featuring painted patches.

Attention grabbing: Speaking of sheer catsuits, Dutch model Cindy Kimberly - who was 'discovered' by Justin Bieber - raised eyebrows flashing her thong beneath a nude-painted onesie

Inspired by Ye? Fine artist Gianni Lee rocked a 'Love' trucker cap with black boots and blue jeans featuring painted patches

Influence: TikTok creator Vienna Skye (L) rocked an epic beehive faux-hawk coiffed by Ernesto Rivera, while Wilhelmina Model Olivia Ponton (R) bared her hip in a black cut-out mini-dress

Two dapper athletes at TDFR bash were USVI footballer-turned-fitness trainer Shomari Francis and Olympic bronze medalist fencer Miles Chamley-Watson.

The event was date night for IMG Model Alex Lundqvist and his Brazilian-Japanese wife Keytt, with whom he has two children.

Victoria's Secret mdel Rachel Hilbert looked leggy in a long-sleeved sequin Bronx and Banco LBD while Elite Model Alexina Graham kept it simple in a long-sleeved velvet LBD.

Pro sports: Two dapper athletes at TDFR bash were USVI footballer-turned-fitness trainer Shomari Francis (L) and Olympic bronze medalist fencer Miles Chamley-Watson (R)

Still going strong! The event was date night for IMG Model Alex Lundqvist and his Brazilian-Japanese wife Keytt, with whom he has two children
They're the former Married At First Sight brides who are now co-stars on the British reality show, Celebs Go Dating.

And it seems that the friendship between Aussie OnlyFans model Jessika Power, 32, and UK star Nikita Jasmine, 27, is stronger than ever.

On Thursday, the pair were seen stepping out in Sunderland, in North East England, holding hands as they grabbed a bite to eat at the Asian restaurant House of Zen.

Girls' night! Jessika Power showed off her ample assets in a racy corset and held hands with her Celebs Go Dating co-star Nikita Jasmine as they went for dinner in the UK on Thursday

Jessika, who has just recently moved to the UK late last year, put her ample assets on display in a green bustier-style corset.

She teamed the look with baggy khaki trousers and white sneakers and toted a Louis Vuitton handbag, worth a cool $3,200 (AUD).

Nikita, who hails from County Durham and who also has an OnlyFans page, left little to the imagination in a pair of brown leggings.

All in the details: She teamed the look with baggy khaki trousers and white sneakers and toted a Louis Vuitton handbag, worth a cool $3,200 (AUD)

She showed off a glimpse of her washboard abs in leather look leggings and a beige crop top and wore a white Prada bag around her shoulders, worth $2,360 (AUD).

They later put on matching beige coats as they walked into the restaurant.

The girls both appeared on the hit franchise Married at First Sight, but on the respective versions of their home country.

Former brides: The girls both appeared on the hit franchise Married at First Sight, but on the respective versions of their home countries

According to Channel 4, Nikita was removed from the British version of MAFS last year over her 'unacceptable' behaviour and for 'breaching their code of conduct'.

Jessika rose to fame on Married At First Sight Australia back in 2019.

She made headlines earlier this week when she revealed on Celebs Go Dating what it was like growing up with a drug-addicted mother.

During Monday's episode, the blonde beauty fought back tears as she confirmed she was estranged from her mum, Melinda Mackenzie, during an emotional conversation with her fellow contestants.

Making headlines: Jessika made headlines earlier this week when she revealed on Celebs Go Dating what it was like growing up with a drug-addicted mother

Emotions were high: During Monday's episode, the blonde beauty fought back tears as she confirmed she was estranged from her mum, Melinda Mackenzie, during an emotional conversation with her fellow contestants

'So my mother was... she had a drug addiction,' she began.

'My mother and I don't have a relationship. We don't talk. So, um, yeah, sorry...' Jessika added, breaking down in tears.

'I've spoken about this before but it's still hard, you know?'

Jessica previously told The Daily Telegraph she 'saw a lot of things that a child should never see'.

'It was really rough growing up... I was in situations a child should never be put in,' said said.

'I saw my mother being abused by the various men that came and went. There were times where there were dirty needles left around the house. I stayed down a year because my mum never really got me to school.'
Russell Crowe has entered the Marvel Universe in a big way.

The 57-year-old Oscar winner has been cast in Kraven the Hunter.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars in the title role, a Russian big game hunter and arch-nemesis of Spider-Man.

New role! Russell Crowe is set to star in upcoming Marvel blockbuster Kraven the Hunter

The 31-year-old hunk is best known for starring in Kick-Ass, Godzilla and recently appeared in Christopher Nolan's brain-twister Tenet.

This will be his second Marvel picture. Crowe has already completed his role as Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder, filmed in Sydney and set for release in July.

Story details, including Crowe's role in Kraven, 'are being kept in a cage,' The Hollywood Reporter reported on Wednesday.

Debuting in 1964 in the Amazing Spider-Man comic (no.15), the Kraven character was created by Stan Lee.



According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kraven gained notoriety in the 1980s with fans when he buried Spider-Man alive and took his identity.

Kraven will be directed by JC Chandor.

Hollywood hunk: Aaron Taylor-Johnson will stars in the title role, a Russian big game hunter and arch-nemesis of Spider-Man. He is pictured here with wife Sam Taylor-Johnson

Better known for his drop dead serious dramas like A Most Violent Year, Chandor tested his action movie chops with the big budget Netflix Triple Threat in 2019.

Unlike most A-listers in the last decade, who have found a home in comic-book hero blockbusters, Crowe has been working steadily in a variety of pictures including Unhinged and Aussie production The True Story of the Kelly Gang.

In 2021, he played Superman's dad Jor-el in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
He turned 53 in October.

But Hugh Jackman looked nowhere near his age at the opening night of his new Broadway show, The Music Man, in New York on Thursday evening.

The Aussie actor showed off his fresh haircut and incredibly youthful visage as he cuddled up to his co-star, Younger star Sutton Foster.

He looks YOUNGER! Hugh Jackman, 53, looked nowhere near his age as he cuddled up to actress Sutton Foster at opening night of their new Broadway show The Music Man in New York on Thursday evening

The father-of-two was dapper in a three piece suit and an open-neck white shirt underneath.

Meanwhile Sutton stunned in a burnt orange plunging silk gown accessorised with pearl jewels.

Hugh plays the role of Harold Hill in the famed musical, which tells the tale of a con man who poses as a band organiser and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk.

Handsome: The Aussie actor flaunted his fresh haircut and incredibly youthful visage as he cuddled up to his co-star, Younger star Sutton Foster

Looking good! The father-of-two was dapper in a navy three piece suit and an open-neck white shirt underneath

However, Harold has no music experience, and no plans to teach the locals, and librarian and piano teacher Marian, played by Sutton, quickly begins to see through his act.

When Harold helps Marian's younger brother overcome his lisp, she begins to fall for him, and the rebel risks revealing his true identity to win her heart.

The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1957, and won five Tony Awards, before opening on the West End in 1961, and was later made into a film starring Robert Preston as Harold and Shirley Jones as Marian.

He was sidelined for more than a week in January after testing positive for Covid-19 at the end of last year.

Upon his return to the show, he shared a positive message with fans on Instagram.

'All right, I cant tell you how good this moment feels - yes, were back, were back,' said Hugh.

'It is Thursday, January 6th and we are back, going to work,' he added.

Gorgeous: Sutton stunned in a burnt orange plunging silk gown accessorised with pearl jewels

The Music Man: Review 'Jackman is like a coiled spring, effortlessly leaping onto desks, two-stepping with kids, tossing books into the air and pounding out a rhythm on his thighs. He's even magnetic in a romantic clinch. 'There's a winking knowingness to the show, a quiet awareness that the tomfoolery is just that and the folks up there are killing it. 'It starts on a train and feels like a ride you never want to stop. As the conductor says at the beginning: 'All aboard!' Mark Kennedy - Associated Press Advertisement

The Aussie hunk, who tested positive for Covid-19 on December 28, apologised to fans who had tickets to see the show when he was sidelined.

'To all those people who had tickets for the last 10 days Im so sorry, I hope and pray that you have a chance to reschedule,' he said.

'Im so excited to be back and to bring the show - which is pure joy and full of hope and belief and faith - back to Broadway.'

The Greatest Showman actor also had kind words for his colleagues as the Broadway community suffers during the Omicron wave.

He said: 'To all the shows on Broadway, Im thinking of you all, and everybody stay safe, be kind to each other and Im looking forward to seeing you soon.'

The Music Man was among the shows that had to cancel performances due to the spike in Covid-19 cases as previews kicked off.
Irina Shayk has been working alongside Riccardo Tisci on an ad campaign in recent days: he's the chief creative officer at Burberry.

And from the sounds of her most recent Instagram post, the in-demand supermodel may very well have just wrapped up her recent promo push and headed out on a holiday.

'She's MIA ,' the Russian-born beauty captioned two new photos of herself decked out in black leather and a revealing bikini top, along with a palm tree emoji.

Showing some 'tude: Irina Shayk, 36, struck a couple of confident poses in front of a colorful backdrop decked out in a black leather ensemble matched with a bikini top

The palm tree emoji and the MIA reference may be a sign that Shayk (born Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova) may now be 'missing in action' in a tropical destination.

In the photos, the 36-year-old top model stood up in front of a colorful backdrop with shades of black, white, yellow, orange and gray.

For the first image, Shayk looked straight into the camera, with a confident tilt to her head, as she tugged at her waistline with her thumbs.

'She's MIA: The Russian-born beauty may have signaled in the caption that she's going to be 'missing in action' at a tropical destination

The outfit consisted of a leather pants-skirt combo of sorts and a matching jacket that was left wide open to put the emphasis on her toned midriff and cleavage.

The bikini top was a brown, black and white pattern that looked like a size too small; the swimwear piece was from Burberry..

Over the past week or more, Shayk has been sharing some of the work she's being doing with Tisci for Burberry.

'It is an honor to work with @riccardotisci17 who is never afraid to push the boundaries, be different and express his creativity. Always the first ! N 1 .. @riccardotisci17 -> #burberryss22 @burberry,' she gushed in the caption of her post from past Sunday, which included snaps of her posing with fellow models and Tisci with exaggerated ears.

Over the past week or more, Shayk has been sharing some of the work she's being doing with Riccardo Tisci for Burberry

An earful: The recent campaign with Tisci has also included exaggerated ears

Animalistic: Shayk most recently followed up with an image of her and two models wearing black and white ensembles with fringe

Then on Tuesday she followed up with an image of her and two models wearing black and white ensembles with fringe.

When Shayk isn't hard at work with some of the latest fashions, she's typically playing the role of mother to her four-year-old daughter Lea, who she shares with ex-partner Bradley Cooper.

They are able to co-parent in a more efficient way by living just blocks from each other in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in Downtown Manhattan.

The former couple were an item for just over four years, beginning in spring of 2015 to June 2019.

Hands on: The supermodel has been co-parenting her daughter Lea, four, with her ex-partner Bradley Cooper; the former couple, seen in June 2021, live just blocks from each other
He has worried his Instagram followers over recent months with his markedly slimmer frame and posts about drugs.

And on Thursday night, Joey Turner sparked concern once again as he displayed his emaciated frame in a waistcoat while writing about 'the hour of death.'

The former TOWIE star, 20, teamed the velvet number with a pair of low-slung pin-striped slim-fit trousers and gold rosary beads.

Concerning: On Thursday night, Joey Turner, 20, sparked concern once again as he displayed his emaciated frame in a waistcoat while writing about 'the hour of death'

Joey finished his look with shiny black shoes and a bakerboy hat, while having painted his nails red.

He wrote in Latin alongside: 'Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.'

His followers were quick to share their concern for Joey's health, with many urging him to 'get help.'

'This poor boy needs help before it's too late,' commented one fan, while another raged: 'Shame on your friends and direct company, I'm sorry but this can't be right.'

Edgy style: The former TOWIE star teamed the velvet number with a pair of low-slung pin-striped slim-fit trousers and gold rosary beads

Details: Joey showed off him slim pins while revealing his red manicure

Someone else wrote: 'What on earth are you doing to yourself? Where are all your friends and family? Surely they must be worried about the way you look right now.

'Shame on all your so called friends,if I had a friend doing what you're doing to yourself I would move heaven and earth to help them. Please get the help you so clearly need.'

Another follower noted: 'Just one look at your hands gives it away. Your hands are purple due to change in circulation. I'm not judging. I'm a nurse. Just talk to someone.'

Booze and cigarettes: The reality star also shared a snap of himself smoking while holding an open bottle of alcohol

Old times: Joey at the NTAs in September 2019, before his drastic weight loss sparked concern on social media

Joey has previously worried his Instagram followers with his markedly slimmer frame and posts about drugs.

His latest shots came after the TV face, once again, sparked concern by sharing an article about 'dirty habits' and the 'detritus of glamour'.

He posted a picture of an i-D article about fashion designer Rick Owens that used the phrase in its headline.

In the article that Joey shared a picture of, Paris-based Rick discussed how his 'dirty chic' clothing is inspired by the 'rough streets of LA'.
A last-minute effort by a group of anti-vax municipal workers to avoid getting fired failed Friday, as Mayor Adams said other vaccine-resistant employees were finally getting the jab.

A Brooklyn federal judge rejected the groups request to temporarily bar the city from axing workers who havent been vaccinated. Similar suits previously flopped in court, with the latest one arguing that the rules violate workers fundamental religious and constitutional rights.

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Plaintiffs have not met their burden of demonstrating their entitlement to the extraordinary remedy of a temporary restraining order, declared Judge Diane Gujarati.

A group of New York City workers protest the planned firings over vaccine refusal. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

After the Brooklyn judges ruling on Friday, the vaccine mandate appeared to be implemented as the city planned. The city fired 36 EMS members fired for failing to get vaccinated, according to the Local 2507, which represents Fire Department EMS workers.

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Anti-vax public employees later Friday lost on another legal front when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor turned down a request by 14 city Department of Education employees who were terminated after their requests for religious exemptions to city vaccine requirements was denied.

We are pleased the U.S. Supreme Court has again denied an attempt to block the mandate, a city Law Department spokesman said. Sotomayor did not give a reason for her decision.

Adams has stood by the vaccine mandate created by his predecessor Bill de Blasio.

Its not about termination. Its about vaccination, he told reporters. We want people to be vaccinated. I dont want to see the city close down again. And all we can do is continue to encourage people to get vaccinated and hopefully people get the booster shot.

Late last month, the city sent termination warnings to nearly 4,000 employees. Adams on Friday suggested some of those workers have since gotten vaccinated, but said the exact number likely wouldnt be known until the weekend.

What we do know is that we have had an amazing response of from city workers and we are truly encouraged by those numbers, he said.

Mayor Eric Adams (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Municipal workers had to show theyd gotten at least two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Friday.

The anti-vax suit, led by a group called New Yorkers for Religious Liberty, Inc., argues that the mandate contains unconstitutional conditions on employment. Theyll get another chance to make their case in the Eastern District of New York court later this month.

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These are the heroes on the front lines for the last two years, and all of a sudden, now theyre being told they cant come to work if they want to follow their faith and practice their religion, said the anti-vaxxers lawyer, Sujata Gibson.

Echoing a number of cops, plaintiffs including NYPD officer Dean Paolillo cited concerns over the use of fetal cell lines during COVID vaccine research.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

I ... could never take any medications or vaccines that have a connection to abortion in their development and/or testing as it would be a grave sin against the Lord, Paolillo said in a sworn declaration. I cannot use products that use aborted cell lines in either developing or testing.

Aborted fetal cell lines, or cloned copies of cells, are commonly used in medical research.

Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, at a news conference on Friday about the firing of FDNY firefighters who refuse to be vaccinated. (Diane Bondareff/AP)

The suit also makes iffy claims about the vaccines, arguing that that they blunt the severity of infection  a widely accepted fact  but dont stop transmission to others.

Infections with the Delta variant in vaccinated persons potentially have reduced transmissibility than infections in unvaccinated persons, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated last year, noting more research was needed.

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The suit faces long odds. Late Thursday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge rejected a union coalitions effort to block the firings. And last fall, a Staten Island judge denied a request from the citys largest police union to prevent the mandate from going into effect.

City lawyers referenced those cases in urging Judge Gujarati to reject the anti-vaxxers suit.

The unions representing many of the Plaintiffs ... have already attempted to obtain the exact same relief as sought here. Each and every such attempt has failed. So too must this one, Corporation Counsel Georgia Pestana stated in a Friday filing.
She first appeared on the eight season of Married at First Sight offering advice and guidance on the topics of relationships, love and sex.

Now Puerto Rican clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampolla has broken the bed and revealed just how important sex truly is in a relationship.

Rampolla, 47, told 9Now that sexual chemistry is vital for any relationship to progress.

Straight from the expert: Married at First Sight clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampolla (pictured) has spoken bluntly about how important sex in a relationship truly is

'Your partner needs to be your best friend who you also want to get it on with. If that part isn't there they stay in the friend zone,' she said.

The 20-year expert told Nine that 'bad sex' will become the 'number one problem' in any relationship and the main reason that many couples will 'disintegrate'.

Alessandra stresses that open communication is the key to addressing issues related to the bedroom.

Tips: Rampolla, 47, told 9Now that sexual chemistry is vital for any relationship to progress and adds that 'bad sex' will become the 'number one problem' in any relationship and the main reason that many couples will 'disintegrate'

'So many couples have broken up just because they don't find how to better express themselves and communicate themselves sexually. Not feeling pleasure, not feeling comfortable saying, 'This is great but I really need it to be half an inch to the right'.'

Alessandra says being closed off about sex will make you 'start feeling unsatisfied' in the relationship to the point where you'll begin 'avoiding sex,' which then leads to 'walls and distance' between a couple.

'We don't want walls and distances up in any sort of intimate situation. It should be something where there's a sense of, 'We're in this together and there's this little secret between us and you and I know how great of a time we have',' she added.

Popular: Alessandra joined last year's season of Married at First Sight as the newest relationship expert. She was praised by fans of the show at the time for breathing new life into the reality TV series

Alessandra joined last year's season of Married at First Sight as the newest relationship expert.

The expert was praised by fans at the time for breathing new life into the reality TV series.

She now works alongside fellow experts Mel Schilling and John Aiken in the latest season of the show.
Rylan Clark has revealed that he was rushed to hospital where he stayed for an 'extended time' with a mystery illness.

The presenter, 33, took to social media on Friday morning where he posted a snap of himself with an IV in his arm, after being bedridden with the flu.

Rylan also shared that he is finally home, and although on the mend, is resting up and will once again miss his BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday.

Worrying! Rylan Clark, 33, revealed on social media on Friday morning that he was rushed to hospital for an 'extended time' with a mystery illness

Rylan wrote alongside the worrying photograph: 'Finally home after an extended trip to Costa del hospital.

'Slowly on the mend. Won't be on the wireless tomorrow. Resting up. Be back soon.'

The Supermarket Sweep host has not confirmed why he was in hospital.

MailOnline has contacted Rylan's representatives for comment.

Home and resting: Rylan also revealed that he is finally home, and although on the mend, is resting up and will once again miss his BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday (Pictured in 2020)

Last Saturday, Rylan was forced to pull out of hosting his Radio 2 show after falling ill with the flu.

The presenter usually hosts Rylan On Saturday every week from 3 to 6pm, but was too poorly last week. He was replaced on Saturday evening's show by Gary Davies.

The TV star took to Twitter the day before to make the announcement to his followers, writing: 'Gone and got the flu (not surprised) been in bed for a couple of days.

'Have lat tested and not Covid thankfully but won't be able to go on the wireless tomorrow. Be back soon x'

Ill: Rylan was forced to pull out of hosting his Radio 2 show last Saturday after falling ill with the flu and having been bedridden for a couple of days

Bad news: The TV star took to Twitter to make the announcement to his followers, writing: 'Gone and got the flu (not surprised) been in bed for a couple of days

It comes after Rylan stepped down from his BBC Radio 2 show for four months last year after splitting from former policeman Dan Neal.

Sources close to the former Celebrity Big Brother star told The Mail on Sunday the couple tried to reconcile at their marital home after he spent much of the summer with his mother, Linda, who appears on his Saturday afternoon show.

They said: 'Things were looking so good, like they were back together. They hoped they could avoid divorce, but it's now looking like the only way forward.'

Friends insisted the couple spent weeks 'trying to work through their problems', but the marriage is now said to be unsalvageable.

Rylan's absence from Radio 2, social media and hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May led to speculation.

Poor Rylan: The presenter usually hosts Rylan On Saturday every week from 3 to 6pm

In June, Rylan broke his silence to say: 'Following reports about Dan and I spending time apart, I feel I have to speak out as the way it is being reported is unfair.

'I have made a number of mistakes which I deeply regret and have inevitably led to the breakdown of our marriage.'

The couple married in 2015 at Braxted Park in Essex with guests including his This Morning co-stars Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes.

They met in 2013 and got engaged in Paris. In July 2016, they stepped in for Eamonn and Ruth, becoming the first gay couple to present the ITV programme.

Returning in September to Rylan On Saturday, he assured listeners: 'I am feeling better.'

Over: It comes after Rylan stepped down from his BBC Radio 2 show for four months last year after splitting from former policeman Dan Neal (Pictured in May 2017

In January, Rylan told The Sun On Sunday how he became 'dangerously thin' and 'mentally unwell' after the breakdown of his marriage to Dan.

He said: 'I got ill and I lost weight, I went down to under 10 stone - and I'm six feet four inches, so that's not good. The honest truth is that it's been s***.

'I didn't deal with what happened and now I am. I felt unwell and it was a very difficult time for me.

'My mum was majorly worried about me, as were all my family. I don't just disappear for four months - that doesn't just happen.

'Mum has been a lifesaver to me and one of my biggest regrets of this year was putting my mum through me not being well. I needed to get back to me.'
Maisie Smith tucked into a tin of Pringles at 2am on Friday as she arrived at her hotel ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour at the O2 Arena.

The actress, 20, cut a casual figure in a laid-back sweatshirt and light grey tracksuit bottoms as she strutted around the reception area.

The EastEnders star completed her look with a pink woolly hat and orange tinted sunglasses while playing on her phone.

Snack: Maisie Smith, 20, nibbled on a tin of Pringles at 2am on Friday as she arrived at her hotel for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour at the O2 Arena

She accessorised her ensemble with gold hoop earrings and a pair of New Balance trainers.

Maisie tucked her signature flame-coloured locks into her hat and opted for a full palette of makeup.

It comes after Maisie showed off her incredible figure in a tiny black bikini as she plunged into a freezing river alongside her Strictly stars.

Nom nom nom: The actress cut a casual figure in a laid-back sweatshirt and light grey tracksuit bottoms as she strutted around the reception area

Original flavour: The EastEnders star completed her look with a pink woolly hat and orange tinted sunglasses while playing on her phone

Wow: The star brought many large suitcases for her hotel stay

The group were in Sheffield as they tour around the UK with their show.

After watching them do cold water swimming in Tynemouth, Rev Kate from Gogglebox decided to challenge Maisie and the cast to a dip along the Rivelin Valley trail.

Slipping into a strapless bandeau bikini, Maisie was filmed as she jumped off a rock and into the river where she joined Nikita Kuzmin, Neil Jones and Sara Davies.

Yummy: Maisie tucked her signature flame-coloured locks into her hat and opted for a full palette of makeup

Delicious: Maisie was keeping her energy levels up with a late night snack

Heading home: The star made her way into her hotel

Oops: She struggled with a large red suitcase and carried it awkwardly despite it having wheels

Need a hand? Maisie lugged her bags off a hotel trolly

Maisie kept her shoes on as she launched herself off the rock in thong bikini which made the most of her derriere.

The group -including Strictly winner Rose Ayling Ellis- looked like they were having a blast- despite shuddering from the cold as they treaded water.

Nikita wrote: 'Chapter 2 baby lovely freezing morning in Sheffield with the best crew! Enjoyed this one even more since I havent lost completely feeling in my toes lol'.
An awkward scene of Scott Morrison playing 'April Sun in Cuba' the ukulele in front of his family and Karl Stefanovic on 60 minutes has been doing the rounds in the media.

And The Bachelor's Matty 'J' Johnson has not taken too kindly to the performance, slamming the prime minister on social media.

The 33-year-old shared the clip of the musical moment to his Instagram Stories on Friday.

Not a fan: Matty 'J' Johnson has criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) for awkwardly playing music on a ukulele and singing April Sun In Cuba

'Just when I thought I couldn't dislike @scottmorrisonmp anymore....' Matty captioned the post.

The video was part of an upcoming interview on 60 minutes with Karl Stefanovic that will air on Sunday.

In one scene shown in the preview, the prime minister attempts to play the 1977 song 'April Sun In Cuba' by New Zealand rock band Dragon while his family and Stefanovic are seated at the dinner table.

'Just when I thought I couldn't dislike @scottmorrisonmp anymore': The Bachelor star (pictured) did not take kindly to the performance, slamming the PM on social media

He begins by singing the chorus before forgetting the lines to the rest of the song.

'Take me to the April sun in Cuba oh oh oh - take me to the April sun in Cuba - I cant remember the words - oh oh oh,' he joked.

Stefanovic could be seen urging Mrs Morrison to 'join in' as the prime minister's daughters Lily and Abbey watched his efforts from the other side of the table.

Putting on a performance: In one scene shown in the preview, the prime minister attempts to play the 1977 song 'April Sun In Cuba' by New Zealand rock band Dragon while his family and Stefanovic are seated at the dinner table

The preview for the program also focuses on Jenny Morrison and the loneliness she has experienced while her husband runs Australia.

Mrs Morrison said 'doing it alone' had made her feel resentful during her husband's time as prime minister.

'There was a time where I couldn't help feeling resentful that I was doing it alone. It was something we had both wanted - but then it was only me experiencing it,' she said.

'But time is a great leveler. As it went along, I learned to cope better and accepted it - that way the resentment could go because that wasn't good for our relationship.'
Dawn French took to Instagram to share a beaming selfie alongside her Death In The Nile co-stars at London's British Museum on Thursday.

The actress, 64, was reunited with her long-time collaborator Jennifer Saunders, 63, and their fellow cast members as they celebrated the film's opening with a swanky private dinner at the tourist attraction.

She hilariously quipped in her caption: 'Almost everyone in this photo is a potential murderer,' alluding to the whodunnit plot of the murder mystery.

Gang: Dawn French shared a selfie with Jennifer Saunders and their Death On The Nile co-stars at a British Museum dinner on Thursday (Sir Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman, Ali Fazal, Dawn, Rose Leslie, Jennifer, Judy Hofflund, James Prichard and Daisy Ridley are pictured)

Comedian: She hilariously quipped in her caption: 'Almost everyone in this photo is a potential murderer,' alluding to the whodunnit plot of the murder mystery

Sir Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman, Ali Fazal, Rose Leslie, Jennifer, Dawn, producer Judy Hofflund, executive producer James Prichard and guest Daisy Ridley made up the star-studded ensemble in the friendly photo.

Jennifer plays wealthy American socialite and kleptomaniac Marie van Schuyler while Dawn takes on the role of her nurse Mrs Bowers.

The characters were previously immortalised on screen for the 1978 film by Bette Davis and Dame Maggie Smith. Sir Peter Ustinov starred as Poirot.

Dawn and Jennifer last appeared on screen together in the 2016 Absolutely Fabulous movie.

What a pair! Jennifer (left) plays wealthy American socialite and kleptomaniac Marie van Schuyler while Dawn (right) takes on the role of her nurse Mrs Bowers (pictured in-character)

French and Saunders' popular sketch show ran on the BBC from 1987 until 1993 but returned for the occasional Christmas special until 2005.

In the thriller, Kenneth is back as the legendary mustached detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous faces traveling down the Nile.

Gal Gadot, Leticia Wright and Armie Hammer also co-star in the first trailer for Death on the Nile, which dropped on Wednesday.

The film serves as the sequel to 2017's hit Murder on the Orient Express which once again teams up Kenneth as star and director with screenwriter Michael Green.

Back together: Jennifer (left) plays wealthy American socialite and kleptomaniac Marie van Schuyler while Dawn (right) takes on the role of her nurse Mrs Bowers (pictured in-character)

Set on a glamorous river cruise down the Nile, Detective Poirot's luxurious holiday becomes a murder investigation when someone on the boat turns up dead.

The murder mystery is based on Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, one of 66 titles written by the author. She is the best selling fiction writer of all time.

The thrilling whodunit sees a relationship turn into a jealous love triangle, turn into betrayal and finally, a murder. And, everyone is a suspect.

Kenneth brought together an all-star ensemble cast with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Rose Leslie, and Russell Brand.

Spellbinding: In the thriller, Kenneth is back as the legendary mustached detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous faces traveling down the Nile (pictured in-character)

The group of characters-turned-suspects is made up of both employees on the river steamer as well as travelers and they all seem to have a motive to kill.

The trailer sees holiday makers enjoying the stunning vistas off the boat deck, drinking, dancing and partying until a piercing scream changes everything.

When a young heiress turns up dead on the boat, Poirot sees everyone as a potential suspects and one of them will be unmasked as the killer by the film's end.

In his signature Poirot style, the detective brings everyone together in one room and systematically weaves the story of the murder and the murderer.

'The crime is murder, the murderer is one of you,' Branagh's mustached Poirot tells the room of suspects.

Death on the Nile is the second in Kenneth's adaptations of Christie's novels and has his sights set on creating a film franchise based on the iconic mystery writers 66 works.

Death On The Nile began showing in UK and US cinemas on February 11.
They have been seen on the set of forthcoming US Showtime series.

And Dakota Fanning, 27, and Andrew Scott, 45, both put on pensive displays as they resumed filming for the drama Ripley in Venice on Friday.

Dakota teamed a trench coat with a pair of Ugg boots as she could be seen speaking into a rotary dial telephone before walking away with a suitcase, for the series, which is based on the Ripley novels by Patricia Highsmith.

Upcoming: Dakota Fanning, 27, and Andrew Scott, 45, looked casual as they donned all-black ensembles on location in Venice on Friday

She completed her outfit with smart trousers, a black jumper and a loosely worn scarf.

Her blonde locks were pulled back into a sleek ponytail and she wore a flick of feline eyeliner to complete her chic look.

Andrew, who takes the lead role, sat in the background with suit trousers just visible under a fur-lined coat.

Chic: Dakota teamed a trench coat with a pair of Ugg boots as she could be seen speaking into a rotary dial telephone before walking away with a suitcase

Dramatic: Andrew put on a pensive display as he filmed scenes for the upcoming drama

Dapper: The star, who takes the lead role, sat in the background with suit trousers just visible under a fur-lined coat

Dramatic: Andrew could be later seen on a boat travelling along one of Venice's famous canals as he was filmed looking over the side

Andrew could be later seen on a boat travelling along the Canal Grande as he was filmed looking over the side.

He sported a smart suit which he paired with a long grey coat and blue shirt.

Dakota, will portray Marge Sherwood in the new Showtime series, while Scott plays the iconic Tom Ripley - the arch conman previously played to aplomb by Matt Damon in the hit 1999 film.

On the water: Andrew could be later seen on a boat travelling along the Canal Grande, while the cameras filmed him gazing over the water

Boat ride: He sported a smart suit which he paired with a long grey coat and blue shirt

Full of drama: A gondola could be seen sailing alongside the boat as it made its way along the canal during filming for the drama

Smart: Andrew, best known for his role in the Sherlock series, cut a dapper figure in a smart ensemble as he boarded the boat for the scenes

Setting sail: The screen star gazed onto the war, surrounded by crew filming all angles for the show, which is set for release later in 2022

Looking out: Andrew is set to play the lead role in the drama, which comes after Matt Damon played the role in the 1999 film

The character was created by late novelist Patricia Highsmith and played a defining role through five of her novels and several subsequent film adaptations.

In the new series, set in the 1960s, Ripley is hired by a wealthy New Yorker to travel to Italy to convince his wayward son Dickie Greenleaf to return home.

But along the way, he starts to weave a complex web of deceit with murderous consequences.

Stylish: Dakota's blonde locks were pulled back into a sleek ponytail and she wore a flick of feline eyeliner to complete her chic look

Co-stars: Dakota, will portray Marge Sherwood in the new Showtime series, while Scott plays the iconic Tom Ripley

Coming soon: The character was created by late novelist Patricia Highsmith and played a defining role through five of her novels and several subsequent film adaptations

Dickie's Venice based American girlfriend - played by Dakota - will slowly suspect Ripley's motives when he shows up looking for him.

The drama is being adapted from Highsmith's novels by Schindler's List writer Steve Zaillan.

The 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley, directed by the late Anthony Minghella, starred Matt Damon as Tom Ripley with Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge and Jude Law as doomed jazz musician Dickie.

Plot: In the new series, set in the 1960s, Ripley is hired by a wealthy New Yorker to travel to Italy to convince his wayward son Dickie Greenleaf to return home

Adaptation: Dickie's Venice based American girlfriend - played by Dakota - will slowly suspect Ripley's motives when he shows up looking for him

Serious: The drama is being adapted from Highsmith's novels by Schindler's List writer Steve Zaillan

The news of Dakota's casting comes on the heels of her joining Showtime's anthology series The First Lady.

She's set to play the daughter of President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford in the show.

The former child actress is best known for I Am Sam, Man On Fire, War Of The Worlds and The Twilight Saga.

Ripley is set for release in the US in 2022. A UK release is yet to be announced.
Kieran Hayler packed on the PDA with fiancee Michelle Penticost on Wednesday as they visited a potential wedding venue, Alexander House hotel in Sussex.

The loved-up couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they shared a tender kiss as they left the swanky venue before climbing into their car.

Their outing comes in the wake of rape allegations backed by his ex-wife Katie Price in which he was accused of grooming and raping an underage girl before their divorce.

Loved up: Kieran Hayler packed on the PDA with fiancee Michelle Penticost on Wednesday as they visited a potential wedding venue, Alexander House hotel in Sussex

After strongly denying the claims and agreeing to work with the police, Kieran, 34, appeared to be trying to brush aside his drama as he moved forward with future plans with Michelle.

The former stripper plastered on a broad smile as he held hands and put on an affectionate display with Michelle in front of the camera.

Kieran kept warm in a padded tan coat with an orange lining and furry white trim, which he wore over a pale grey T-shirt.

Devoted: The loved-up couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they shared a tender kiss as they left the swanky venue before climbing into their car

He finished off his casual look by adding light khaki cargo trousers and white high-top trainers.

Meanwhile flight attendant Michelle, 39, who welcomed the couple's first child together last year, went for glamour in a longline black satin shirt.

The mum teamed this with skintight black leather look leggings and black studded shoes, while she draped a small handbag across her body.

The stunner wore her long brunette locks in soft waves and added a sleek make-up palette for her visit to the stylish potential wedding venue.

Drama: Their outing comes in the wake of rape allegations backed by his ex-wife Katie Price in which he was accused of grooming and raping an underage girl before their divorce

Wedding bells? The couple paid a visit to the stunning 5 star Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa in West Sussex

Love: After strongly denying the claims and agreeing to work with the police, Kieran, 34, appeared to be trying to brush aside his drama as he moved forward with future plans with Michelle

Kiss kiss: The couple couldn't resist having a cheeky smooch outside the hotel

Happy: The former stripper plastered on a broad smile as he held hands and put on an affectionate display with Michelle in front of the camera

Kieran and Michelle looked in good spirits amid their romantic outing before heading off home together.

The trip comes after he was accused of raping an underage girl while married to Katie Price in 2016.

Kieran angrily denied the 'false accusations' from Katie, who says she has also given a statement to Sussex Police.

Following the allegations, his wife-to-be Michelle broke her silence in a cryptic Instagram post, she shared a message saying 'normal people don't go around destroying other human beings'.

My man: Michelle put a loving hand on Kieran's arm as they locked lips during the visit

Style: Kieran kept warm in a padded tan coat with an orange lining and furry white trim, which he wore over a pale grey T-shirt

Cool: He finished off his casual look by adding light khaki cargo trousers and white high-top trainers

Lovely: Meanwhile flight attendant Michelle, 39, who welcomed the couple's first child together last year, went for glamour in a longline black satin shirt

She also shared the hashtag 'restrainingorder'. Michelle has a restraining order against former glamour model Katie following a school playground row in 2019.

Writing in the post she said: 'If someone treats you badly, just remember there is something wrong with them, not you. Normal people don't go around destroying other human beings.'

She shared the pre-written message along with the hashtags 'restrainingorder', 'law' and 'courts'.

It comes after Katie, 43, who was married to Kieran from 2013 to 2018 and had two of his children, made allegations that he had groomed and raped an underage girl in 2016.

Fashionista: The mum teamed this with skintight black leather look leggings and black studded shoes, while she draped a small handbag across her body

Staying strong: The couple shared a loving kiss amid allegations against Kieran

Romance: The pair couldn't barely keep their hands off each other during the child-free outing

Moving on: Kieran and Michelle looked in good spirits amid their romantic outing before heading off home together

Katie claims she went to the police before their divorce - but suggests that the alleged victim has now come forward herself.

She said she had also given a statement to Sussex detectives. Kieran has vowed to co-operate with the police and attend an interview in a bid to clear his name.

Katie said in an Instagram post that Hayler allegedly groomed the girl, adding: 'I reported him to the police and then finally divorced him. I wasn't believed by the authorities', adding: 'I want to make this clear. The police came to me requesting a statement, I did not go to the police this time around'.

Kieran voluntarily agreed to be questioned by detectives over three alleged rapes of a minor, known to the couple, in 2016.

Drama: The trip comes after he was accused of raping an underage girl while married to Katie Price in 2016 (pictured together in 2016)

Accusations: Katie said in an Instagram post that Hayler allegedly groomed the girl, adding: 'I reported him to the police and then finally divorced him. I wasn't believed by the authorities' (pictured in 2017)

He said the claims are 'false' and 'fabricated' by a third party.

Sussex Police said he has not been arrested and described the alleged victim as a 'girl', who was under the age of 16 in 2016.

A spokesman said: 'We are investigating a report that in 2016 a girl was raped by an adult male known to her at a location in West Sussex.

'No arrest has been made at present. The girl is receiving support from specially trained officers'.

Speaking out: Michelle (pictured here with Kieran) broke her silence after his ex-Katie Price's allegations that he groomed and raped an underage girl before their divorce

Post: In a cryptic Instagram post the 39-year-old flight attendant shared a message saying 'normal people don't go around destroying each other'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Katie and Kieran for comment.

The former stripper's spokesman told the Mirror: 'Kieran is absolutely devastated by these untrue allegations and has requested to meet the investigating officer as soon as possible to clear his name.

'He is certain that these allegations are false and have been fabricated by a third party in an act of revenge. He will fight to clear his name and moreover for those responsible to be brought to justice'.
Nell Campbell is best known to fans for her racy role as Columbia in the legendary 1975 musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

But the Australian actress, who goes by the stage name 'Little Nell', was commanding attention for an even spicier reason on Friday.

Appearing on Australian breakfast show Studio 10 on Channel Ten, the 68-year-old dropped an F-bomb live on air, with the cuss word airing to audiences shortly after 11.40am before the program was able to bleep it.

Flamboyant: Rocky Horror Picture Show star Nell Campbell accidentally swore live on air while appearing on Australian breakfast program Studio 10 on Friday. Pictured in 2019

'How are you wearing those shoes, I don't know!' Nell said to the show's host, Angela Bishop, while attempting to teach her some dance steps.

'Ladies! I would like to make an announcement to all women in all countries in the world,' she she went on, before blurting out the swear word.

'Stop it! You don't need to wear follow me home and f**k me shoes, okay!'

'I would like to make an announcement to all women in all countries in the world,' she said. 'You don't need to wear follow me home and f**k me shoes, okay!' Pictured with host Angela Bishop

Oh dear! Angela gasped loudly, covering her mouth in shock, before gabbing feisty actress by the arm. 'Nell! We're live on air! We can't even bleep. We're going to have to stop it there,' she said, before urgently going to a commercial break

Oops! The star looked shocked herself, standing awkwardly alongside Angela, who joked that Nell would have to 'put a coin in the swear jar' as the show cut to an ad

Host Angela gasped loudly, covering her mouth in shock, before gabbing feisty actress by the arm.

'Nell! We're live on air! We can't even bleep. We're going to have to stop it there,' she said, before urgently going to a commercial break.

The star looked shocked herself, standing awkwardly alongside Angela, who joked that Nell would have to 'put a coin in the swear jar' as the show cut to an ad.

Plum role: Nell is best known to fans for her racy role as Columbia in the legendary 1975 musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She is pictured, left, in the film

Earlier in the interview, Nell discussed the impact of Rocky Horror, with its forward thinking depictions of gender fluidity and pansexuality.

'The great thing about The Rocky Horror Picture Show it it has helped many come out sexually or to embrace whatever they feel they are,' she said.

'Particularly in America, where they are so right wing and Bible bashers, it has been a wonderful, wonderful liberation for them and it continues. We are coming up to the 50th birthday and it still helps people so much.'

Impact: Nell also discussed the impact of Rocky Horror, with its forward thinking depictions of gender fluidity and pansexuality. 'The great thing about The Rocky Horror Picture Show it it has helped many come out sexually or to embrace whatever they feel they are,' she said

Nell's character Columbia is a lover and servant of lead character Frank N Furter, played by Tim Curry, residing in his castle.

She portrayed Columbia both in the original 1973 state production in London and the 1975 film adaptation.

Asked by Studio Ten host Angela Bishop how she landed her role, Nell joked, 'Oh, treasure, do I have to tell you again, I slept with the director! You are not born yesterday, Ang. How did you get your job?'

Impact: 'Particularly in America, where they are so right wing and Bible bashers, it has been a wonderful, wonderful liberation for them and it continues. We are coming up to the 50th birthday and it still helps people so much,' Nell added

During her time on the production, he co-stars gave her the nickname 'Little Nell' which later became her stage name.

Curry, 75, starred as the villainous 'sweet transvestite' Dr. Frank N Furter in the original London cast of The Rocky Horror Show alongside Nell in 1973.

He became a star when he reprised his role in the 1975 film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show starring Susan Sarandon.
She missed out on sleep after spending the night partying at the Broadcast Awards.

Yet Charlotte Hawkins still had a spring in her step as she headed to her second job of the day on Friday.

The presenter, 46, headed into the Global Radio studios in London to present her Classic FM show having earlier appeared on Good Morning Britain.

Chic: Charlotte Hawkins looked effortlessly stylish in leather trousers and a heart print jumper as she headed to her Classic FM radio show in London on Thursday

Charlotte looked effortlessly stylish on the outing as she highlighted her lean legs in a pair of figure-hugging leather trousers.

She teamed the garment with an eye-catching heart print jumper that bore the word 'love' across the chest.

Charlotte completed her look with a pair of mesh black heels and a large handbag.

Earlier in the day, Charlotte appeared alongside Ben Shephard, Kate Garraway and Richard Arnold as they struggled through their lack of sleep to present the morning news show.

Leggy lady! Charlotte looked effortlessly stylish on the outing as she highlighted her lean legs in a pair of figure-hugging leather trousers

Girl gang: GMB star Charlotte looked glamorous in a red sleeveless jumpsuit at the Broadcast Awards on Thursday night, while Laura Tobin wowed in a hot pink trouser suit

Professionals: Earlier in the day, Charlotte appeared alongside Ben Shephard, Kate Garraway and Richard Arnold as they struggled through their lack of sleep to present the morning news

There were plenty of hijinks on the show as ever, with Ben cheekily labelling Kate's dress a 'Battenberg'.

The presenter, 54, caught the eye in a quirky floral dress with a vibrant yellow and pink collar, which left Ben in hysterics.

The Tipping Point presenter, 47, teased he'd been distracted by the 'flamboyant' collar and joked his co-host 'lost a fight with a Battenberg'.

Cheeky: There were plenty of hijinks on the show as ever, with Ben cheekily labelling Kate's dress a 'Battenberg' after being distracted by the bright collar

Yummy! Kate's collar resembled the cake (pictured) thanks to its pink and yellow colouring, with the presenter joking the dress' designer would 'never work again' after Ben's jibe

Ben quipped: 'It's a statement piece. It's stating don't look over there, look over here.'

While a red faced Kate replied: 'She's a brilliant new designer who's probably never going to work again. It's Friday, I thought, 'be cheerful!''

To add insult to injury Ben also tweeted: 'Morning all - @kategarraway was at an awards do last night and this morning has won the award for 'Best Supporting Collar!' Either that or she's lost a fight with a Battenberg! (Cheers Ray on Twitter for that).'
Fiona Falkiner welcomed her first child in March last year.

And having recently moved house, the former Bigger Loser host wanted to treat her baby son, Hunter, to the best nursery money can buy.

On Friday, the 39-year-old gave her fans a glimpse inside the spacious room in an Instagram post.

Cosy: Fiona Falkiner (pictured) welcomed her first child in March last year. And having recently moved house, the former Bigger Loser host wanted to treat her baby son, Hunter, to the best nursery money can buy

In the images, Hunter played with Disney-themed toys, including a wall decal and a linen hamper - and the affordable items are all from at BIG W.

The nursery featured a wooden cot for the tot, as well as rain cloud mobile mounted on the wall.

Decorated in neutral grey and beige tones and with a large armchair in the room, as well as a fake fur rug on the wall, the space is a relaxing oasis for mum and bub.

Cute: In the images, Hunter played with Disney-themed toys, including a wall decal and a linen hamper. The nursery featured a wooden cot for the tot, as well as rain cloud mobile - and the affordable items are all from at BIG W

Fiona wrote in her caption: 'Having just moved house I am thrilled to have found some gorgeous pieces in the Disney Classics Collection.

'There are amazing wall decals, linen baskets and so many cute outfits and toys from the collection with all your Disney faves'.

The model is preparing for her son to turn one next month, after she and her fiancee Hayley Willis, 30, welcomed him in March last year.

Baby love: The model is preparing for her son to turn one next month, after she and her fiancee Hayley Willis (left) welcomed him in March last year

The couple recently revealed they will try for another baby after their wedding.

Fiona had been showing off her recent 12kg weight loss in a skimpy bikinis during her vacation in Port Douglas, Queensland in January.

Hayley posted a series of holiday photos of the women enjoying the summer weather as the slipped into a pool with their son.
Long Island Rail Road president Phil Eng will resign on Feb. 25  and hell turn over the reins to Metro-North president Catherine Rinaldi, MTA officials announced Thursday.

Eng took over at Long Island Rail Road in 2018 after stints as the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys chief operating officer and acting head of NYC Transit. He previously worked for the state Department of Transportation, and has been a public servant in New York for 39 years.

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MTA Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng (Glen Sager / MTA Long Island Rail Road)

I can retire knowing that I leave the LIRR well positioned for continued success with a dedicated management team and a tenacious workforce who are delivering the best train performance in LIRR history, Eng wrote in his resignation letter.

Rinaldi, who took over as president of Metro-North in 2018, will run both of the MTAs commuter railroads until a permanent replacement is found for Eng.

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Rinaldi during a news conference Thursday highlighted that she grew up on Long Island in Huntington and knows the railroad well.

Im very grateful to be able to serve in this way and excited for the challenges ahead, said Rinaldi.

MTA chairman Janno Lieber said Rinaldi will help oversee the completion of the agencys long under construction East Side Access project, which will bring LIRR trains to new platforms deep underneath Grand Central Terminal. The new service is scheduled to open in December.

Youre seeing the vision of regional connectivity, which benefits Long Islanders and people in the Metro-North region as well, said Lieber. Im really optimistic and theres really nobody else that could do this job on a dime like Cathy Rinaldi.
Britney Spears' little sister Jamie Lynn is reportedly in the preliminary phase of starting a podcast as part of her Hollywood comeback.

She is allegedly planning to host a podcast giving a candid account of life in showbiz - and her famous sister, TMZ reports.

Jamie Lynn, 30, has been hitting the headlines for her gossipy memoir after her promotional efforts set off a seething feud with Britney.

New venture: Britney Spears' little sister Jamie Lynn is reportedly in the early stages of starting a podcast as part of her comeback; she is pictured as a guest on the Call Her Daddy podcast

Jamie Lynn apparently wants to have guests on her show, which is to be a frank forum with no subject off the table, it is claimed.

The podcast is said to be a final step in a three-stage comeback that began with the memoir and her decision to start acting again.

Jamie Lynn, who was a child star on the Nickelodeon sitcom Zoey 101 during Britney's pop stardom, has returned to television in a digital format.

She is in the cast of the Netflix show Sweet Magnolias, which TV Guide reported this week is the most watched series on the streaming platform.

Family matters: Jamie Lynn, 30, has been hitting the headlines for her gossipy memoir after her promotional efforts set off a seething feud with Britney (pictured)

Meanwhile her memoir Things I Should Have Said was published last month and was a bestseller at first - only for Britney fans to swarm into the online reviews.

Just two days after the book came out, it tumbled to 95th place on Amazon, which reduced its hardcover price, according to the Daily Beast.

Jamie Lynn's book came out just months after Britney was finally released from her controversial conservatorship after 13 years.

Last year she succeeded first in having her father Jamie removed as her conservator and then in being released from her conservatorship altogether.

New work: Jamie Lynn is in the cast of the Netflix show Sweet Magnolias (pictured), which TV Guide reported this week is the most watched series on the streaming platform

Jamie first obtained his conservator status over Britney after her notorious breakdown during 2007 and 2008.

Since she was freed, Britney has waged a public war of words on her family for the way she alleges she was treated during the conservatorship.

Then while Jamie Lynn was doing publicity for the memoir she aired out a series of eye-catching allegations about Britney.

Jamie Lynn claimed her older sister once locked them both in a room with knife in hand, and described her behavior at one point as 'erratic, paranoid and, spiraling.'

'You are scum, Jamie Lynn': Britney has waged a public war of words with Jamie Lynn over the memoir, challenging the new author to 'take a lie detector test'

Britney categorically denied the knife story and retaliated by calling her sister a 'scum person' for telling 'crazy lies' about her.

As the bad blood between them rose to a boil, Britney also expressed regret that she had not 'slapped you and Mamma right across your f***ing faces!!!!!'

During the week of the book's release, Britney's counsel sent Jamie Lynn a cease and desist over the 'misleading or outrageous claims' in the book.

In a strange recent turn, Jamie Lynn liked an Instagram video Britney posted last week captioned: 'Me and the song Bad Liar. How appropriate is that ???'
He's best known for his blockbuster turn as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

And, Tom Holland attended a photocall for his upcoming film Uncharted, at cinema Publicis Champs-Elysees in Paris, on Friday.

The Spider-Man star, 25, looked dapper as he teamed a pinstripe waistcoat and matching trousers with a polo neck jumper.

Dapper: Tom Holland, 25, attended a photocall for his upcoming film Uncharted, at cinema Publicis Champs-Elysees in Paris, on Friday

Tom showed off his flair for fashion in the tailored trousers and high-cut co-ordinating double breasted waistcoat boasting a statement lapel.

The star ensured he kept warm with a black long-sleeved jumper worn beneath and opted for a sleek pair of dress shoes.

The Brit is currently in France promoting his new movie Uncharted, in which he stars as Nathan Drake alongside Mark Wahlberg.

The highly-anticipated Sony Pictures adventure is based on the iconic Uncharted video game series, which has spanned over nine games.

Stylish: The Spider-Man star looked dapper as he teamed a pinstripe waistcoat and matching trousers with a polo neck jumper

Statement: His high-cut double breasted waistcoat boasted a statement lapel

Holland stars as Nathan Drake, as he and Mark Wahlberg's character Victor 'Sully' Sullivan go on a quest to find the legendary treasure of Magellan's lost gold.

The trailer for the movie begins with Drake looking at a map, stating he's been, 'dreaming of this my whole life, Magellan's gold, the biggest treasure that's never been found.'

Sully tells him the treasure could be worth, '$5 billion, easy,' as they get ready for their epic adventure.

Uncharted hits cinemas nationwide on February 18.

Looking good: The star ensured he kept warm with a black long-sleeved jumper worn beneath and opted for a sleek pair of dress shoes

Fabulous: Tom showed off his flair for fashion in the tailored two-piece set

It comes as Tom and Zendaya, 25, have reportedly taken their relationship to the next level and purchased a 3million house together in London.

They are said to be making Britain their main base as they have bought a six-bedroom home in Richmond, near several other celebrities.

According to The Mirror, the couple have big renovation plans for their new abode which will include a cinema, a gym and a man cave for Tom.

The actor is said to have bought the property earlier this month and its located just four miles from Kingston upon Thames, where Tom grew up.
Last night was not what I was expecting. I still can't believe that one of the world's biggest pop stars watched my show at Heaven - and came up on stage to join me!

I turned up to my gig to perform my new single Need The Power and went straight to the dressing room to get ready. Little did I know that none other than the queen herself was in the building.

Rumours soon began circling the corridors and at first, I was like, 'No. I don't believe this. Someone's just winding me up.'

My wild night with Adele! Drag Race's Cheryl Hole (left) BARES ALL on the megastar's boozy antics at gay nightclub's Porn Idol event - where she pole-danced, stripped to her bra and gave swearing rant before falling over

Then Jeremy Joseph [G-A-Y Heaven's owner] popped his head in and said, 'No, the real Adele is here!' It was 12:30am by this point and the show was set to start at 1am.

Focusing on getting into my skin-tight silver leotard while applying my hair extensions and make-up, I tried to stay calm and cut out my nerves.

All of a sudden, I heard an unmistakable, 'Ello babes,' coming from around the corner. 'Oh my god... it's the real Adele,' I thought.

We were first just fangirling over each other. She was in awe of the costume I was wearing!

Dancing: Last night was not what I was expecting! I still can't believe that one of the world's biggest pop stars watched my show at Heaven (Adele is pictured on Thursday night)

I was like, 'But I'm in awe of you Adele!" She was such a sweetheart, a true queen and icon, exactly what you would expect.

When I put on a show, I always want everyone to have the best time possible. What I love about drag is it's escapism and it's removing yourself from the stresses of your life and the craziness of the world.

To see so much joy in her face and being surrounded by her friends and her peers and having a night of just fun... it's exactly what everyone deserves.

It's incredible to think, but she went completely unnoticed by the crowds as she danced the night away to It's Raining Men along with all my favourite anthems.

Iconic: All of a sudden, I heard an unmistakable, 'Ello babes,' coming from around the corner. 'Oh my god... it's the real Adele,' I thought (Adele pictured on Thursday night)

Before I knew it, she joined me on stage where we declared Martha, who was picked from the crowd after wearing nothing but a thong, as the winner of Porn Idol.

Adele said I could have 'the final say' and I was like, 'But you're f**king Adele and I'm little old Cheryl!'

She hilariously said: 'I'm going to go with my girl. I know I've had a lot of s*** the last couple of days,' before asking me to hold her shirt which she soon ripped apart.

With her bra showing, she began: 'You were great but we love females, f***ing females don't we. Yes, I pick her, I can you're f***ing beautiful, f***ing lovely, f***ing confident with all these men around. We love being f***ing females don't we?'

She was talking about her skepticism towards the BRIT's new gender neutral category. I just think we're all humans walking the same life and we all have to respect and love every single person.

Team: And then Jeremy Joseph [G-A-Y Heaven's owner] popped his head in and said, 'No, the real Adele is here!' It was 12:30am by this point and the show was set to start at 1am'

I love that the BRITs have done that because we have so many amazing artists who are of all walks of the gender spectrum. What Adele is trying to say is, 'You have to love and embrace everything that is yourself.'

At the competition yesterday, people were showcasing their true identity and we, as a community, have to come together to uplift and celebrate everybody.

I love Adele because she celebrates everything about femininity and being a queen.

And what an amazing pole dancer she is? I was totally impressed. I think it was completely unplanned. It's there for the contestants to use and she just started copying one of them really.

Pinch me: Before I knew it, she joined me on stage where we declared Martha, who was picked from the crowd after wearing nothing but a thong, as the winner of Porn Idol (L-R: Cheryl, Jeremy, Adele and Martha on Thursday night)

I can't believe she was leaning down from her VIP box asking the crowd, 'How does everyone know it's me?' before falling over! It just makes me adore her even more.

When it was all over, I ran upstairs because I had to go off for a tinkle and simultaneously, Adele ran off too because she'd a had a very busy day.

But she's promised me tickets to see her in concert now and I have every intention of taking her up on it!

She also vowed to have me perform at her next TV special while she gets her make-up touched up - just like what Alan Carr did at ITV's An Evening With Adele.

She even said: 'Yes 100% Congratulations my lovely, you are lovely I can see it in your eyes. You are lovely. Females all round baby!'

Me and Alan... we've have had two seasons of Drag Race together. We have a very good rapport so seeing that moment where he was pulled up on stage and made to sing. That would only happen to me as well.

I was like, 'I'm putting it out there. If you want me to give you a break while you have your make-up touched up, I'll go and sing Water Under The Bridge for you.' And she said yes in front of thousands of people!

It would be amazing to see her as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race's next series, it's definitely in the future for Adele and I'd love to see her sat next to Mama Ru.

But she's a very busy lady and it's the same with Dolly Parton and Cher. It's all about scheduling and making the time right. It took Lady Gaga nine seasons to get on the show, after all.

Watch RuPaul's Drag Race only on Stan in Australia.
Tati Gabrielle gushed over her friendship with Zendaya and discussed sexism in the video gaming industry as she graced Glamour magazine's February cover.

The American actress, 26, told how she 'grew up' with the Hollywood star and reconnected when she filmed her new movie Uncharted with the Euphoria star's boyfriend Tom Holland.

Uncharted is a highly-anticipated Sony Pictures adventure based on the iconic Uncharted video game series, which has spanned over nine games.

Star: Tati Gabrielle gushed over her friendship with Zendaya and discussed sexism in the video gaming industry as she graced Glamour magazine's February cover

Speaking about Zendaya, 25, she told the publication: 'I grew up with Zendaya! We went to school together.

'Tom was texting her while we were filming and then she texts me  it was like, 'Hey, he says you're doing super-awesome! Sending love!'

She looked incredible for the magazine shoot for which she wore a colourful co-ord which flashed her toned abs before changing into a stylish zip-up blue top.

Style: She looked incredible for the magazine shoot for which she wore a colourful co-ord which flashed her toned abs before changing into a stylish zip-up blue top

Elsewhere in the interview Tati shared her thoughts on the perception of video games as a masculine pursuit.

She said: 'I do feel that women get sort of shorthanded in that way. Immediately people, when they hear that a girl is a gamer, it's always like a 'Really?' as opposed to a 'Yeah! Dope!...' [Women], by biological standards, do have better hand-eye coordination than men, so that would explain why half of gamers are women!'

Gabrielle also discussed the often sexist portrayals of women in video games, adding: 'Often in games, women are hypersexualised with heavy cleavage, very curvy Games have been tailored to men in that way.'

Couple: The American actress, 26, told how she 'grew up' with the Hollywood star and reconnected when she filmed her new movie Uncharted with the Euphoria star's boyfriend Tom Holland (pictured right)

The You star went on to share her favourite lesson from the Uncharted set which came from co-star Mark Wahlberg.

She explained: '[He] really took me under his wing during the shooting and gave me a lot of different advicemostly how to carry myself and to know to ask for what I needed; to never be afraid of speaking up; and to just gain confidence in myself and whatever I say and do.

'As well as learning that, yes, you should be a team player, always, but don't let anyone walk over you or take advantage of you. Because that, for me, hurts more than you think it does.'

Upcoming: Uncharted is a highly-anticipated Sony Pictures adventure based on the iconic Uncharted video game series, which has spanned over nine games

During the interview she also reflected on a difficult situation during her time on the show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina where she played the character Prudence.

Tati recalled fellow castmate Jaz Sinclair having to email the producers to complain about the lack of a Black hair-stylist.

She said: 'This is another thing with African-American actresses  it's like we don't want to be perceived as a diva.

Career: Tati (left) is also well known for starring in the hugely-popular Netflix thriller series You alongside Penn Badgley (centre)

'And not that you should, because all you're asking for is something that you should be getting anyway. But unfortunately, there's a stigma of, 'If I ask for that, now I'm a mad Black woman.'

Tom is currently in France promoting Uncharted, in which he stars as Nathan Drake alongside Mark Wahlberg.

It is based on the iconic Uncharted video game series, which has spanned over nine games.

Tom stars as Nathan Drake, as he and Mark Wahlberg's character Victor 'Sully' Sullivan go on a quest to find the legendary treasure of Magellan's lost gold.

The trailer for the movie begins with Drake looking at a map, stating he's been, 'dreaming of this my whole life, Magellan's gold, the biggest treasure that's never been found.'

Sully tells him the treasure could be worth, '$5 billion, easy,' as they get ready for their epic adventure.

Read the full interview in the GLAMOUR UK February Digital Issue online now.

Uncharted hits cinemas nationwide on February 18.
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Brooklyn Beckham and his fiancee Nicola Peltz are reportedly selling their Los Angeles mansion and are looking to buy in Miami.

According to PEOPLE, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, 22, and the actress, 27, listed their home of less than a year for $10,999,999 million on Friday.

A source told the publication: 'They loved the house and are sad to be listing it, but realized that they wanted to be more flexible and bicoastal.

Moving: Brooklyn Beckham and his fiancee Nicola Peltz are reportedly selling their Los Angeles mansion and looking to buy in Miami

'They want to have both a place in L.A. and one in Miami to be closer to their families, so a property this big just didn't make sense as they started looking at their more immediate future plans.'

They added: 'Brooklyn's family has a place in Miami and Nicola's family is in Palm Beach.'

The incredible property comes with impressive views and boasts a host of features typical of homes in the upscale area  including a private yoga room, gym, sauna, steam room and juice bar.

Wow! According to PEOPLE, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, 22, and the actress, 27, listed their home of less than a year for $10,999,999 million on Friday

Expansive: A source told the publication: 'They loved the house and are sad to be listing it, but realized that they wanted to be more flexible and bicoastal'

The five-bedroom home is covered in enormous glass windows which allows swathes of natural light into the rooms and ensure the idyllic views can be seen from several rooms in the house.

The property also boasts various outdoor areas, including a paved seating area and a roof top terrace.

Describing the home, the listing when they bought the house read that the property 'embodies mindfulness and wellness with the highest level of design'.

Cool: The incredible property comes with impressive views and boasts a host of features typical of homes in the upscale area  including a private yoga room, gym, sauna, steam room and juice bar

Breathtaking: When entering the property, guests are greeted by a beautiful view of the surrounding area through the floor to ceiling windows at the back of the house

Beautiful: The back of the house is covered in hundreds of floor to ceiling black frame windows which let is swatches of light

It has walls of glass to create seamless flow and transition from the inside to the outside, harmonising the surrounding landscape.

The entrance of the home boasts a Smokey Quartz Crystal on a plinth which welcomes guests, helping purify and neutralise unwanted energy.

The listing continued: 'Smooth lines and rounded transitions create a feng shui balance you can feel when walking through this museum-like home that features all-natural exotic wood and stone throughout.

Welcoming: The entrance of the home boasts a Smokey Quartz Crystal on a plinth which welcomes guests, helping purify and neutralise unwanted energy

Making the most: Brooklyn, who often shares snaps of himself on social media working out will be sure to made use of the facilities in his new home, but is now reportedly wishing to sell it

Amazing: Included in the couple's property, which they are now reportedly planning to sell, was a fully-functioning wood-clad indoor sauna

'The amount of detail and thought that has been put into this one-of-a-kind luxury estate is unsurmounted, one must visit to truly experience the magnitude of beauty and peace this home has to offer.'

It also has a white crystal quartz massage and healing room, as well as a yoga and gym room, a soaking tub, dry sauna, steam room, relaxation lounge and a juice bar.

Impressive images taken to promote the property also show several large outdoor bath tubs for the ultimate relaxing experience.

Incredible: The five-bedroom property also boasts a relaxing massage room which can be used at any time

The listing describes the house: 'Smooth lines and rounded transitions create a feng shui balance you can feel when walking through this museum-like home that features all-natural exotic wood and stone throughout'

Spectacular: The five-bedroom home is covered in enormous glass windows which allows swathes of natural light into the rooms and ensure the idyllic views can be seen from several rooms in the house

The home is decorated immaculately throughout, with modern elements mixed with Scandi interiors.

It comes after Brooklyn and Nicola have revealed their wedding will include a Jewish ceremony.

The couple, who are reportedly set to tie the knot on April 9, appeared in a Valentine's Day-themed episode of the budding chef's Vogue cooking series, and shared details about their much-anticipated big day.

Brooklyn revealed that he'll be wearing a Yarmulke to exchange vows with his bride-to-be Nicola, with the couple planning to spend the night before their big day apart.

Stunning: Also included with the property is a beautiful blue infinity edge pool, a barbecue and grasses area

Sold! The property was listed by one of the largest real estate brokerages in the US

Outdoor spaces: The incredible home boasts various outdoor areas, including a paved seating area and a roof top terrace

Relaxing: Describing the home, the listing read it 'embodies mindfulness and wellness with the highest level of design'

In the cooking clip, Brooklyn and Nicola demonstrated how to make a heart-shaped dairy-free pizza for Valentine's Day.

The segment didn't go entirely to plan with some areas of the pizza looking slightly charred.

Thankfully for his fiancee Nicola - who also appeared in the clip - Brooklyn had made a non-alcoholic espresso martini to have alongside, so at least the pair had something to wash down the burnt bits.

As they sat down to enjoy their meal, Brooklyn and Nicola shared a rare insight into their lavish wedding, revealing their ceremony will be Jewish in accordance with Nicola's heritage.

Magnificent: The bedrooms and other areas of the home have walls of glass to create seamless flow and transition from the inside to the outside, harmonising the surrounding landscape

Chic: The home is decorated immaculately throughout, with modern elements mixed with Scandi interiors

Ideal for hosting: Inside the beautiful open-plan property boasts of several seating areas suitable for all occasions

Grand: The property boasts an all-white kitchen with built-in appliances and a breakfast bar

Brooklyn explained he'd be wearing a Yarmulke, or kippah, which is a traditional skull cap worn by Jewish men during prayer, while those in the Ultra-Orthdox communites also wear them during their public life.

According to Jewish law, it's required that a man is covers his head during prayer, but the customs for when they should be worn can vary, with some men also wearing them eating or studying Jewish texts.

Kippah's are not traditionally worn by women, who usually cover their heads with a scarf or hat, with the covering typically a sign of respect and fear of God.

Brooklyn and Nicola are reportedly set to wed on April 9 and the actress will wear two Valentino gowns during the day - despite previous claims Brooklyn's designer mother Victoria had been drawing up dress designs for Nicola.

Understated: The front of the property is understated, with only one window and a sleek black gate

Elegant: The five-bedroom home also has an expansive walk in wardrobe with dozens of cupboards, rails and mirrors

Enormous: The dressing room is so expansive it is possible to fit a large rug and a sofa inside

Privacy: Some of the bedrooms with less beautiful views had smaller windows which were shielded by bushes for privacy

Inspiration: The property will offer inspiring photographer Brooklyn plenty of photograph opportunities

The Sun has also claimed that Brooklyn's younger brothers Romeo, 19, and Cruz, 16, have been asked to be Best Men, while Nicola's brother Brad will be her bridesmaid.

The couple won't be short of space for guests, as the ceremony is said to be being held on Nicola's billionaire father Nelson's 27-bed Florida estate.

The star-studded guest list is believed to include the likes of Gigi Hadid, Nicole Richie and Beckham family friends Gordon and Tana Ramsay.

While 22-year-old Brooklyn's parents' wedding was covered by OK! magazine back in 1999, Brooklyn's nuptials will reflect the family's rise to style royalty as fashion bible Vogue has reportedly requested exclusive rights to their big day.

Quirky: On the roof-top terrace there is also an unusual shingle installation

Pass the popcorn: The cinema room has a comfortable sofa, cow hide chair and a large coffee table for a luxury film watching experience

Lush: A staircase leads down into the basement area of the property, with a large kitchen for entertaining

Unique: Another breakfast bar is located downstairs with an unusual art installation on the wall

Open plan: The spiral staircase, which lead from the entrance hall, leads to a another seated around, the cinema and a second kitchen
Kylie Jenner revealed her son's name to be Wolf Webster in an Instagram post shared on Friday morning.

The 24-year-old social media star posted a simple black-and-white image with the moniker for her 310million followers.

Jenner gave birth to the baby boy on Feb. 2, just the day after she celebrated her daughter Stormi's fourth birthday with boyfriend Travis Scott.

Welcome to the world, Wolf: Kylie Jenner revealed her son's name to be Wolf Webster in an Instagram post shared on Friday morning

Baby boy! Kylie Jenner, 24, revealed on Sunday that she gave birth to a baby boy on Feb. 2. It marks her second child with her partner Travis Scott

The name Wolf is a boy's name of German origin meaning 'traveling wolf', according to Nameberry.com.

The site notes the name 'is fairly common in German (where it's pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang.'

The mother-of-two posted a sweet black-and-white photo on Sunday featuring her new son's tiny hand to mark the news that he arrived.

Angel on Earth: Fans began speculating her son's name may be Angel as a slew of her famous friends and family used the moniker in comments welcoming the little one into the world

Proud mama: Kylie gave birth just a day after celebrating her first daughter Stormi Webster's fourth birthday

What's in a name? The origin of Wolf The name Wolf is a boy's name of German origin meaning 'traveling wolf', according to Nameberry.com which notes the name 'is fairly common in German (where is pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang.' Famous people with the name include CNN newscaster Wolf Blitzer, British James Bond screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz, painter Wolf Kahn, and the hero of Jack London's 1904 novel The Sea-Wolf, Wolf Larsen. Nameberry.com notes that 'Wolfie' is another variation. Wolf has gone up slightly in popularity in recent years and is currently ranked No. 1,318 on BabyCentre.com's boy name list. It is also an increasingly popular middle name in Hollywood. The rapper Eve recently chose Wolf as a middle name for her baby boy with husband Maximillion Cooper. She announced on Tuesday that her son, born February 1, is called Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Somers Cooper. Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa's 13-year-old son is named Nakoa-Wolf. Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik welcomed a son called Charlie Wolf in 2017 and that name combination sparked a trend. Lauren Conrad and her husband Wiliam Tell called their second son Charlie Wolf in October 2019. One month later, Bachelor in Paradises Carly Waddell and Evan Bass also settled on Charlie Wolf for their baby boy. Advertisement

Shortly after Kylie posted, fans instantly began speculating her son's name may be Angel as a slew of her famous friends and family used the moniker in comments welcoming the little one into the world.

Kylie captioned the post with his birthdate, '2/2/22,' preceded with the blue heart to denote her second child's gender.

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.

Signs: Kylie may have revealed her son's due date with fans months ago during a 73 questions with Vogue segment at her $36M Holmby Hills mansion in September

Jewelry: Eagle-eyed followers caught a glimpse of a gold '222' necklace Kylie wore throughout the show, which also coincided with Sunday's announcement that Jenner gave birth to a baby boy on Feb. 2

And ever the clever social media guru, Kylie may have revealed her son's due date with fans months ago during a 73 questions with Vogue segment at her $36M Holmby Hills mansion in September.

Eagle-eyed followers caught a glimpse of a gold '222' necklace Kylie wore throughout the show, which also coincided with the day Wolf was born.

Kylie and Travis confirmed in September that they were expecting another sibling for Stormi.

They've both stayed out of the spotlight since his deadly Astroworld concert in Houston on Nov. 5 which led to 11 people being killed and a slew of wrongful death lawsuits.

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 New York

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.'
They rose to fame on last summer's series of Love Island and have remained firm friends.

And Millie Court and Lucinda Strafford both cut seriously stylish figures to head to Forever Unique's Galentine's Day dinner at Menagerie resturant in Manchester on Friday night.

Series winner Millie, 25, turned heads in a plunging pink and red suit that showed off her incredible figure and impeccable fashion sense.

Ladies: Love Island's Millie Court and Lucinda Strafford both cut seriously stylish figures as they headed on a night out in Manchester on Friday

She wowed in the trendy two-piece which showed a glimpse of her cleavage and featured button detailing as well as a flattering flared trouser.

Millie accessorised in style as always with a baby pink Balenciaga bag and strappy heels in the same hue.

By her side was Lucinda who flashed her toned abs in a sparkly black top and baggy trousers, while toting a Prada bag.

Looking good: Series winner Millie, 25, turned heads in a plunging pink and red suit that showed off her incredible figure

It comes after last week Millie left the jaws of her 1.9million Instagram followers dropping as she took to the platform to show off her dramatic hair transformation.

The reality star channelled the 70s with a chic curtain fringe and volumised her locks with half a head of 14 inch Gold Fever extensions.

The bombshell slipped into a revealing Jacquemus top and white bottoms, applying a sultry face of makeup for the new hair debut.

Work it: She wowed in the trendy two-piece which showed a glimpse of her cleavage and featured button detailing as well as a flattering flared trouser

Details: Millie accessorised in style as always with a baby pink Balenciaga bag and strappy heels in the same hue

She penned the gorgeous snaps: 'New hair, new knit'.

Celebrity hairdresser Hadley Yates spoke of his decision-making for the latest look.

'We wanted to go for something a bit more chic and softer on Millies frame, this look is definitely more sophisticated and fashionable for her which compliments her latest ventures into the fashion world.

'Making sure to keep the look as natural as possible we used half a head of 14 inch Gold Fever extensions to added a little more length but mainly to add more volume to her naturally fine hair.

'Reworking her existing straight fringe we feathered into it to create the iconic 70s curtain fringe which is seeing a huge comeback,' he said.

Last month, Essex-born Millie enjoyed a Maldives getaway with beau Liam Reardon, 22, who she won the show with last August.
Sean Maguire has revealed he left the UK for America because of the abuse he was receiving at home.

The actor, 45, moved to Los Angeles in 2001, after struggling to handle the fame that came with being a teen heartthrob.

Sean originally found fame in teen drama Grange Hill, his first notable role, before appearing as troubled drug addict Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders.

Escape: Sean Maguire has revealed he left England for Hollywood because of the abuse he was receiving at home

Sean left the soap in 1993 after a turbulent 11-months on the Square, during which his character suffered homelessness and depression before returning to Ireland in an attempt to reconnect with his parents.

He has since enjoyed a successful career in the United States, with a steady stream of minor roles leading to recurring part in fantasy drama Once Upon A Time.

Speaking to podcast Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did, he said: 'I found that level of being recognisable is not what you think its going to be.

'I was hit in the face so many times. Going on holiday with my friends led to so many altercations and terrible moments and it just made life so much harder than it did make it easier or cool, that I realised celebrity is not for me. I just wanted to just be an actor.'

Needed to get away: The actor, 45, moved to Los Angeles in 2001, after struggling to handle the fame that came with being a teen heartthrob

After leaving the popular soap, Sean began a pop career, releasing three albums and bagging himself eight Top 30 hits.

However, he confessed that his success led to more problems, saying: 'I found with the pop thing I was too overexposed and inevitably people get sick of you. The job of an actor is to pop up, do something great and then disappear. Let them miss you. And I got to the point of being too everywhere at once - even I was getting sick of myself.

'So thats why when I got the opportunity to go to America, I thought maybe I could try it for a few years, then come back and maybe people wont be so bored of me.'

First roles: He originally found fame in teen drama Grange Hill, his first notable role, before appearing as troubled drug addict Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders (pictured on the soap)

The risk paid off as the star immediately landed a starring role in a US sitcom alongside American Pie star Eddie Kaye Thomas and Star Trek actor John Cho, which Sean says was one the 'happiest times' of his life.

He explained: 'Other than now with my kids and my wife, it was probably one of the happiest times Ive ever had. I wasnt getting punched in the face anymore and it was sunny.. And Im thinking, "well this all worked out great".'

Elsewhere, Sean admitted to preferring Grange Hill to his own school, explaining his own teachers were 'terrible' to him, to the extent that it 'bordered on child abuse'.

Success: He has since enjoyed a successful career in the United States, with a steady stream of minor roles leading to recurring part in fantasy drama Once Upon A Time (pictured on the show)

He also revealed that a near-fatal motorbike crash he had, had stopped his character in EastEnders from being killed off by suicide.

He revealed he had begged the bosses not to kill the character off in that manner in an explosive Christmas episode, because of impressionable young fans he had at the time.

He admitted: 'My conscience couldnt deal with that. That would break me if I felt in any way responsible for something like that.'

Married life: Sean is married to his wife Tanya (pictured)

'I said, "Please find another way. Im not telling you how to run your show, but please dont do that. Dont do that on Christmas Day. Itll ruin the countrys Christmas".'

However, a twist of fate meant that Sean was unable to film the scenes after suffering a terrible accident.

He said: 'And then as luck, bad luck, would have it, I broke my leg a week or two later in a I was doing a stupid motorcycle thing that I shouldnt have been doing.

'I broke my leg very, very badly and very nearly killed myself, very nearly actually died in the motorcycle accident, had I hit the wall differently.

'If Id have hit it with my head Id be dead for sure, because I hit the wall at about 50mph.

'And because I broke my leg I couldnt walk and because I couldnt walk, I couldnt jump off a building. So fate sort of stepped in and then Aidan just went off back to Ireland or something, I think.'

Sean married wife Tanya in 2012, and together they share three children - two sons, Flynn Patrick, six, and Leo James, three, and a daughter Amelie Rose, five months.

You can hear the chat with Sean on Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all major platforms.
She launched her festive lingerie collection with Nikki Inmates in December.

And proving there's underwear for every celebration, Georgia Steel promoted the final set in her Valentine's range on Friday, oozing confidence in a pale pink lace bra and matching bottoms.

The Love Islander, 23, shared two sultry snaps with her 1.6million Instagram followers, where she clutched a slew of heart balloons to promote Monday's celebration of love.

'Let's spread love this Valentine's!': Georgia Steel oozed confidence in pale pink lace lingerie as she posed up a storm in her new range on Friday

Describing the flattering two-piece as one of her 'ultimate faves', the fashionista made sure her cascading waves and glowing makeup would also garner attention.

As fans and friends rushed to the comments to compliment her, the reality star wrote: 'Lets spread love this valentines [sic] My final set to show you from my Valentines collection with @nikkiintimates was one of my ultimate faveeees. I hope you like [hearts]'.

Her fanbase was in for further treats if they viewed her Instagram Story, as the lingerie-clad promoted equally-sensational underwear sets, which boasted red and neon hues.

Pretty in pink: The Love Islander, 23, proved there's underwear for every celebration as she promoted the final set in her Nikki Inmates Valentine's range

Wow: Her fanbase was in for further treats if they viewed her Instagram Story, as the lingerie-clad promoted equally-sensational underwear sets

Stunner: As fans and friends rushed to the comments to compliment her, the reality star wrote: 'Lets spread love this valentines [sic]'

The brunette beauty has been holidaying in Dubai and was joined by fellow Love Island bombshell Hayley Hughes for a bikini mirror selfie on Friday.

The girls aligned their swimwear style, both opting for white which drew out their sun-kissed skin.

The influencers also matched up on their accessories, slinging cross-body bags over their frames to carry their essentials.

Getaway: The brunette beauty has been holidaying in Dubai

LYSM: Georgia was joined by fellow Love Island bombshell Hayley Hughes for a bikini mirror selfie on Friday

Holiday loving: The beauty told her followers: 'My eyes always go a yellowy green colour in the sun and I'm here for it'

At the end of January, Georgia looked forward to her luxe Dubai getaway with a throwback holiday snap.

As always, the star looked sensational in a garish orange bandeau bikini, her taut physique on full display as she reclined on a sunbed.

Raising a glass to the camera, she penned: 'Cheers to being back in the sun in -6 days [sic]'.
Kevin Bacon wrote a sweet reply this Thursday to a fan who told a heartwarming story about him in his Instagram comments.

She wrote that Kevin and his wife Kyra Sedgwick 'once body blocked my toddler who was running toward traffic by the Apple Bank on Broadway.'

The admirer gushed: 'Weve never forgotten your kindness,' and added that the incident took place a 'Long time agoShes 29!'

Good deeds: Kevin Bacon wrote a sweet reply this Thursday to a fan who told a heartwarming story about him in the Instagram comments of a trailer for his new short film (pictured)

'She's 29!': She wrote that Kevin and his wife Kyra Sedgwick 'once body blocked my toddler who was running toward traffic by the Apple Bank on Broadway'

Kevin took notice of the fan's remark and touchingly replied: 'It takes a village,' adding a heart emoji for good measure.

He and Kyra married in 1988 and have two children - Travis, 32, and Sosie, who at 29 is the same age as the little girl Kevin and Kyra once protected in traffic.

The comment exchange took place under a mysterious trailer that Kevin posted for a short film called Until, which will drop in full on Instagram this Friday.

Happy couple: Kevin and Kyra, who have been married since 1988, are pictured this past October attending a special screening of Belfast in New York

Incoming: The comment exchange took place under a mysterious trailer that Kevin posted for a short film called Until, which will drop in full on Instagram this Friday

Busy lockdown: 'I cant wait for you all to see the short film @kyrasedgwickofficial and I wrote, directed and acted in together during isolation,' he gushed

'I cant wait for you all to see the short film @kyrasedgwickofficial and I wrote, directed and acted in together during isolation,' he gushed.

In a series of evocative shots, Kevin and Kyra are shown waking up separately - but glancing longingly at bedside pictures of one another.

Kyra can be seen on a porch swing by herself, gazing out at a dazzling view of what appears to be an expansive ranch.

Waking up: In a series of evocative shots, Kevin and Kyra are shown waking up separately - but glancing longingly at bedside pictures of one another

What a vista: Kyra can be seen on a porch swing by herself, gazing out at a dazzling view of what appears to be an expansive ranch

Pensive: Then Kevin can be seen on his own porch drinking coffee, also all by himself - but taken in a view almost exactly identical to Kyra's

Then Kevin can be seen on his own porch drinking coffee, also all by himself - but taken in a view almost exactly identical to Kyra's.

As the trailer wears on Kyra runs through a field during a dazzling day and Kevin appears to be giving chase, but he never catches up.

Kyra continues wandering through the ranch, turning into a silhouette as a picturesque sunset unfolds behind her.

Off she goes: As the trailer wears on Kyra runs through a field during a dazzling day and Kevin appears to be giving chase, but he never catches up

At the end of the day: Kyra continues wandering through the ranch, turning into a silhouette as a picturesque sunset unfolds behind her

Throwback to 2009: Kevin and Kyra have two children - including Sosie, who at 29 is the same age as the little girl Kevin and Kyra once protected in traffic
A Queens grandmother who was bashed in the head with a rock during a horrific attack right after Thanksgiving has emerged from a months-long coma.

Guiying Ma, 61, was sweeping the sidewalk outside her Jackson Heights home on Nov. 26 when a man ambushed her and smashed a large rock against the left side of her skull, just inches from her eye.

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Guiying Ma (Obtained by Daily News)

The morning attack left her in a coma, and Ma needed surgery to open her skull and drain fluid to relieve pressure on her brain.

Cops arrested a suspect, Elisaul Perez, and charged him with assault.

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Perez and Ma got into an argument, which culminated with Perez, 33, knocking her unconscious with the rock, according to a criminal complaint. He threw the rock at her a second time while she lay on the ground, bleeding from the head, prosecutors charge.

He has pleaded not guilty and is in custody.

Mas supporters were thrilled by her recovery, though she was not out of the woods.

She was able to move her right arm and her right leg but not her left side, said landlord and friend Yihung Hsieh.

Hsieh described his tenant as a kind person who was always looking out for him.

When she saw me working in the backyard she cooked dumplings or noodles without asking me and would come and bring it to me for lunch, Hsieh said. She told me she wanted to help me sweep the sidewalk. I feel pretty bad, this incident happened because she was helping me.

Hsieh said the last two months have been very stressful on Mas husband, Zanxin Gao.

Guiying Ma with husband Zanxin Gao (Obtained by Daily News)

In his mind hes always thinking his wife might not understand him and may not be able to talk, like a vegetable, and that maybe shed be in a coma for a long time, Hsieh said. He was very worried about how to take care of her.

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But seeing his wife awake has given him new life, Hsieh said. The victims husband, a delivery man, had begun having problems with one of his legs, but after seeing his wife wake up and respond, the pain seemed to fade away, Hsieh said.

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Mrs. Ma was awakened and Mr. Gao was so happy, Hsieh said. I asked him how it was, and he told me much better. I think Mrs. Ma is the best medicine.

A GoFundMe set up for Ma noted that her improved condition had done the same for her husband.

A joyful heart is good medicine, a broken spirit dries up the bones, the GoFundMe notes, quoting a Bible verse.

Hsieh said he and Gao were scheduled to attend a banquet in Lower Manhattan put together by Asians Fighting Injustice, a local nonprofit that urges action against hate crimes.

While Mas alleged attacker is not charged with a hate crime, the incident occurred during an alarming spike in anti-Asian incidents around the city. On Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said his office is currently prosecuting 33 anti-Asian hate crimes, the most since the DAs hate-crimes unit was established in 2010.

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Hsieh set up the GoFundMe page to raise money for Mas hospital care. He said Ma does not have medical insurance and had lost her job during the pandemic.

WABC-TV first reported on Mas miraculous recovery.
Ricki Lake has paid tribute on the fifth anniversary of her late ex-husband Christian Evans' passing.

The talk show host, 53, shared two images of them as a couple with a touching note to the jewelry designer, who died by suicide at the age of 45 in 2017.

'He was and continues to be my greatest teach. I am a far better version of myself having been loved so deeply by him,' Ricki wrote on the somber day.

Touching note: Ricki Lake has paid tribute on the fifth anniversary of her late ex-husband Christian Evans' passing. The talk show host, 53, shared two images of them as a couple with a touching note to the jewelry designer, who died by suicide at the age of 45 in 2017

She began her message to him on her Instagram post shared Friday morning with:

'This is hard. sigh. Today is 5 years that the world lost #christianevans. Going through the old photos and memories we shared during our 6 1/2 years,' Ricki wrote.

'He was and continues to be my greatest teacher. I am a far better version of myself having been loved so deeply by him. Missing Christian and honoring his memory today and everyday. #1111,' she wrote.

Ricki posted two snaps of her and Christian as well as a quote that spoke about twin flames; it said: 'Twin flame relationships come into you life to help mold you to embody the vibration of unconditional love.'

From the heart: 'He was and continues to be my greatest teach. I am a far better version of myself having been loved so deeply by him,' Ricki wrote on the somber day

In 2012, Ricki tied the knot with Christian after a three-year romance.

She filed for divorce in 2014 and it was finalized in 2015, but the romance between them lingered until the autumn of 2016.

In 2017, he committed suicide, prompting Ricki to reveal to that the collapse of their marriage had been due to his bipolar disorder.

When he was in manic flight he would become convinced that he was able to 'cure cancer with his hands' or 'fly,' she told People at the time.

She explained that during the period after their divorce when they were still a couple 'He wasn't stable, and he was so fragile.'

Ricki, who last saw Christian just three days before his death, said: 'But I was still in love with him, so there was something romantic about it. I wanted to save him.'

Five years ago, Ricki announced the sad news of his passing to her Instagram page of his death: 'It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved soulmate, Christian Evans has passed. The world didn't understand this man, but I did. He succumbed to his life long struggle with bipolar disorder' [sic].'

Sad: In 2017, he committed suicide, prompting Ricki to reveal to that the collapse of their marriage had been due to his bipolar disorder

Ricki tied the knot with her lawyer fiance Ross Burningham on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at a stunning cliffside ceremony.

The couple wed in Ricki's backyard of her home, which had a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean; it was transformed for the ceremony.

Ricki and Ross had been dating for around nine months before they got engaged early last year.

Love birds: Ricki and Ross had been dating for around six months before they got engaged earlier this year

Ross is a successful lawyer and partner and the law frim Gunderson Dettmer, where he works across the San Diego and Los Angeles offices, reports Business Wire.

Ricki has two children, Milo, 24, and Owen, 20, who she shares with her ex-husband, Rob Sussman.

Rob and Ricki got married in Las Vegas in 1994 and remained together for a decade during which they welcomed their children before getting divorced.
Protesters against New York City's Covid-19 vaccine mandate march in October 2021

New York City was poised to sack roughly 3,000 municipal workers on Friday for failing to meet a deadline to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The expected dismissals come amid growing discontent in North America against coronavirus restrictions and as states unilaterally lift mask mandates.

New York requires all city employees, including police, firefighters and teachers, to receive at least one dose of a vaccine under orders passed by former mayor Bill de Blasio last year.

"We're not firing them. People are quitting," his successor, Eric Adams, said on Thursday.

"The responsibility is clear. We said it: if you're hired, if you get this job, you have to be vaccinated. If you are not following the rules, you are making that decision," he added.

Like mandatory mask-wearing, mandatory vaccinations have been a controversial political issue in America, with Republican-led Texas going as far as banning them.

Hundreds of workers who oppose New York's vaccine requirement were due to march on City Hall in Manhattan on Friday.

Approximately 95 percent of the city's municipal workforce has received at least one dose of a vaccine.

The 3,000 number represents less than one percent of the Big Apple's 370,000 municipal workers.

Several thousand others remain unvaccinated but have applied for either medical or religious exemptions to avoid losing their jobs.

Friday's deadline comes after New York state let an indoor mask mandate expire on Thursday.

Several other states, including California, New Jersey and Massachusetts announced this week the lifting of mask mandates for either businesses or schools.

The moves come as the US government grows increasingly concerned about copycat trucker-led protests against coronavirus restrictions that have shut down the Canadian capital Ottawa and three US border crossings.

Supporters of the movement in the United States have called on a convoy of truckers to gather in California in early March for a two-day rally before possibly heading towards the capital Washington.
Just a few years ago, Connecticut lagged behind larger cities and metropolitan areas when it came to food halls  eclectic collections of restaurants and food and drink vendors in one building, offering tastes of multiple cultures.

But thanks to forward-thinking real estate developers, three Nutmeg State cities now have unique dining destinations in renovated factories and former industrial spaces.

Hartfords Parkville Market was the first to debut in May 2020, and now boasts more than 20 different vendors, spanning the globe with Asian, Caribbean, South American and Latin American flavors alongside vegan fare, pizza, barbecue and a unique new addition, New Orleans-style sno-balls.

The end of 2021 saw two more small food halls emerge, with a variety of restaurant concepts under one roof. East Rock Market, in the Elm City's East Rock neighborhood, opened its doors in mid-October, and Assembly Room in New Britain opened in November. Each hall has at least five eateries, with a full bar.

Heres a look at the newest spots, offering everything from green juices to trendy Nashville hot chicken and fusion-style sushi.

Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media Food from East Rock Market in New Haven, including burrata pizza from Panicale, cold-pressed juices from Raw Bowls and Juice, sushi from Rockfish and sandwiches from The Grazing Goat. (Lisa Nichols / For Hearst Connecticut Media)

East Rock Market, New Haven

Developer Rishi Narangs family has owned the Nicoll Street building for more than 30 years, where current tenants include East Rock Brewing Co. and the mActivity fitness center. Hes always wanted to have a food business become part of the development, but hadnt found the right fit for a restaurant tenant.

Instead, he thought about bringing in several.

I lived in Boston for a number of years, I go to New York often, and always enjoyed meeting friends at food halls, Narang said. We never had to have that discussion about, Whats everyone in the mood for?

East Rock Market currently features five concepts. Three vendors were part of the initial opening: Rockfish, a sushi restaurant; Panicale, with fresh pastas, thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas and gelato; and Raw Bowls & Juice, a plant-based smoothie bowl, salad and juice company.

Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media

Next came The Grazing Goat, by the founders of the New Haven-based Whole G Bakery, with cheese and charcuterie boards, breads and sandwiches. Ricks Bar, named for Narangs father, opened after the holidays with wine, beer, sake, a full selection of spirits and a menu of craft cocktails.

Sushi fans will recognize the chef behind Rockfish: Jason Tay, who brings a wealth of experience (and loyal followers) to the new spot from his days at Miso Japanese Restaurant in New Haven. His expertise was ideal for the sushi experience Narang calls very traditional - no tempura, no crazy sauces, no rainbow rolls or anything.

Instead, Rockfish focuses on the best possible ingredients: deftly-sliced fresh fish and rice prepared to the perfect temperature and consistency, lightly enhanced with ponzu, scallion, toasted sesame and citrus salt. Hand rolls with tuna, crab, salmon and sea scallop are served only on site, because the crispness of the nori paper is paramount, Tay said.

Sashimi, nigiri and hand rolls are served a la carte, but many guests choose from assorted omakase experiences, Tay said, or guided tours of the sushi bars best offerings. To accommodate takeout and delivery needs, Rockfish packages sushi orders in specially-crafted flat boxes, with dining instructions presented in graphic visual format.

Lisa Nichols/ Hearst Connecticut Media

At Panicale, attorney Stanton Lesser partnered with Marty Levine of Martel Restaurant in Fairfield, designing a menu with antipasti, assorted fresh pastas and pizzas. All are cooked to order, with pasta options like fettuccine with lamb ragu and fresh mozzarella, squid ink spaghetti with rock shrimp, sausage and hot pepper; and tortelloni with roasted mushrooms and black truffles.

Wood-fired thin-crust pizzas range from classic margherita to more gourmet pies, like butternut squash, sausage and sage and roasted mushroom with truffle and Purple Haze goat cheese. Kids also love the Nutella dessert pizza with marshmallows, Lesser said.

Amy Allens healthy juice bar offers fruit smoothies, acai bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juice, detox shots and cleanses. Creative toasts on sourdough or nine-grain fitness bread are topped with avocado and cherry tomatoes, smoked salmon and creme fraiche, blackberries and Brie and beet with feta.

Naturally, bread is the star at The Grazing Goat, with housemade spreads like roasted eggplant with tahini, artichoke with cream cheese and horseradish, black bean and red pepper chevre. Grazing boards in two sizes feed one to four people, with choice of spreads and mains like prosciutto and salami, various cheeses and seasonal vegetable carpaccio. Sandwiches are served on Whole Gs Roman-style bread, including Caprese, turkey and roast beef options.

East Rocks expansion is also continuing. Panicale chef Carlos Rojas will head up a new Mexican spot next to the pizza and pasta stall called Taqueria de Rojas, with tacos, ceviche and other Mexican street food. Narang also wants to add two more restaurants in a second phase of development, potentially featuring ramen and Middle Eastern food.

East Rock Market is at 285 Nicoll St., New Haven 203-823-9148, eastrockmarket.com; @eastrockmarket.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner Wed- Sun.

Wheelchair accessible

Lisa Nichols/ For Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ For Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ For Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/ For Hearst Connecticut Media Food from The Assembly Room in New Britain, including acevichado from Nikko, cocktails from The Industrial Bar, Nashville hot chicken from Fowl Play and Miel, a new coffeehouse. (Lisa Nichols / For Hearst Connecticut Media)

The Assembly Room, New Britain

Developer Dan Czyzewski says he wanted to create a one of a kind living experience in the five-story New Britain building at 222 Main Street, a historic warehouse that was converted into 44 apartment units with ground-level retail space.

The idea was to create a trendy destination spot while offering the residents in the building an amenity, he said.

Assembly Room debuted in November, including Fowl Play, with Nashville-style hot chicken; Burrito Loko, with burritos, rice bowls, quesadillas and tacos, and Las Tortas MX, with Mexican-style sandwiches. Parkville Market fans will recognize these brands, as owners Enrique and Julie Rodriguez also operate those three restaurants at the Hartford food hall.



Nikko, a sushi and ceviche concept, celebrates Nikkei-style cuisine, which fuses Japanese and South American flavors and cooking styles. The menu features sushi rolls with Peruvian lomo saltado, octopus, rocoto pepper aioli and passion fruit sauce, along with traditional fish, shrimp and seafood ceviches with onion, potato and Peruvian corn.

Lisa Nichols/ For Hearst Connecticut Media

Brothers Andres and Marlon Soriano are also no stranger to food halls, having opened Que Chivo at Parkville in 2020 with Salvadoran pupusas, tamales and empanadas. At Assembly room, theyve opened The Industrial bar, with craft cocktails, wine, beer and cheese and charcuterie.

The Sorianos are also opening Industrial Kitchen, with panini sandwiches, soups and grab-and-go options, Czyzewski said. Assembly Room also welcomed Miel Cafe, a coffee spot, in early February.

Industrial Kitchen replaces Creole BBQ, one of the food halls original restaurants. The Louisiana-style barbecue concept came courtesy of Vincent Placeres of MofonGo, a Puerto Rican eatery with three Hartford County restaurants. Placeres said he is now offering Creole BBQs food through a ghost-kitchen setup at MofonGos New Britain location.

Assembly Room is at 222 Main St., New Britain, 860-348-5563, theassemblyroomct.com, @theassemblyroom.nb.

Open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (bar open later)

Wheelchair accessible

Parkville Market in Hartford plans future expansion

Winter Caplanson

Parkville Market isnt done growing. Developer Carlos Mouta is launching a second phase of expansion, with plans to renovate a building next to the current food hall space in Hartfords Parkville neighborhood.



The Hall at Parkville Market will have a 12,000-square-foot, multi-use space for events, Mouta says, and another 5,000 square feet of space where hes thinking of building a catering kitchen. The new building may also feature a new bar, and larger kiosks for food vendors that need more space than the food halls 200-to-400-square-foot halls.

Across the street, Hog River Brewing Co. has outgrown its current location and will relocate to a space next door to the market, part of its campus, Mouta says. He envisions introducing a new point-of-sale system that will allow brewery visitors to order food from the diverse lineup of vendors.

In the current building, the upper floor features semi-private dining rooms, but Mouta always envisioned that floor as space for retail opportunities. Hed like to bring in a candy store or amenities like shoe repair.

A new addition to the markets main hall is The Lettuce Bar, with a menu of salads and soups, part of an effort to offer more healthy options, Mouta says. He is also considering some higher-end concepts and full-service dining.

Parkville Market is at 1400 Park St. It's open Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Wheelchair accessible.
STAMFORD  The option of building a new K-8 school at Cove Island Park has already been scraped, only a week after it was brought up publicly as a potential site.

In a memo to Board of Representatives members, Director of Operations Matt Quinones wrote that Cove Island Park is one of three locations deemed not to be viable. The other two are Cummings Park and Czescik Park.

The memo served as a formal withdrawal of a request for an appropriation of $150,000 from the boards Steering Committee agenda on Feb. 14. The item was meant to fund the application process for state funding for two projects  a new south Stamford K-8 and the conversion of Roxbury Elementary School into a K-8 facility.

The deadline to file for state funding is June 30, and Quinones said the Roxbury project is likely to meet that deadline. The south school, however, presents more obstacles since a location has yet to be selected.

We will continue to inform you and the public on the assessment and research process related to identifying a viable location for a K-8 school south of (Interstate) 95, Quinones wrote. In the event a site can be determined in time to complete the application and submit by the June 30, 2022 deadline, we will submit to your board office.

The tentative plan for the south K-8 school is a 1,000-seat facility, which would make it the third largest school in the city, behind Stamford High School and Westhill High School.

The concept of building a new school below the interstate was presented by contractors SLAM Collaborative last week as part of a detailed master plan of the entire school district. That presentation showed the attendance zone for the potential new school as encompassing the Shippan and Cove neighborhoods.

But Quinones said officials are looking at sites south of I-95, which would open up the South End as a possibility as well.

The search for a school in the southern part of the city will continue, but the possible options wont be limited to city-owned property, Quinones wrote.

We believe that expanding the search for a site location to include the potential for land acquisition(s) will allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the most ideal and feasible location for a proposed K-8 school in Stamford, south of I-95, he wrote.

Reaction to the idea of building on Cove Island Park was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Residents criticized the idea for a variety of reasons, including losing green space and adding traffic to a congested area, as well as preserving the parks bird sanctuary.

The Connecticut Audubon Society and Audubon Connecticut issued a joint statement pleading with Stamford officials to abandon Cove Island Park as an option. Audubon executives argued that building on the 83-acre park would affect what they describe as one of the most important urban bird sanctuaries in Connecticut.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
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A Bronx emergency medical technician who followed in his sisters footsteps after she was mercilessly killed on the job had his own brush with death after answering what he thought was a routine call.

Joel Rosado joined the FDNYs Emergency Medical Service two years after his sister, Yadira Arroyo died in 2017 under the wheels of her own ambulance when a deranged man got behind the wheel of the vehicle and ran her down.

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FDNY EMT Joel Rosado, 32, when he graduated the FDNYs EMS academy. (ALEX ARROYO)

Rosados scary encounter came on Wednesday afternoon when he and a partner were dispatched to a Hoe Ave. building to see about a man who wasnt feeling well.

The two EMTs were putting the patient in a lift chair to bring him to the ambulance. But instead of showing gratitude for their help, the patient began asking others in the room for his pistol and reached for a gun that was concealed inside a bag, FDNY EMS union officials said.

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Rosado, 35, was the one who spotted the handle of the weapon sticking outside of the bag, according to his partner.

He tapped me on the shoulder and said, Lets go, the partner said in a departmental incident report. Hes got a gun.

The patient was with two other men who were talking with him in Spanish, said Local 2507 union head Oren Barzilay, who represents city fire inspectors, paramedics and FDNY EMTs. Barzilay said Rosado and his partner left the scene and called police. Barzilay said the gun was gone by the time cops arrived.

There were no arrests.

If it wasnt for Joey understanding Spanish and telling him, Lets go, they would have been in grave danger, Barzilay said. Joeys the one who was able to translate what was going on.

Rosado called the situation he faced scary, and added that he is glad it is being brought to light. He said EMS crews face many of the same dangers as other uniformed city employees.

The work is not different, he said. We go out there daily to help save lives and sometimes we get put in situations were our own lives get put in danger. This is why we are fighting for equal pay because we get put in these situations and oftentimes, its not talked about as much.

Barzilay said the threat against Rosado and his partner marked the third time in the past month that an FDNY EMT has been threatened with a gun.

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Jose Gonzalez at a Bronx Supreme Court hearing. (GREGG VIGLIOTTI/For New York Daily News)

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He said 250 EMTs and paramedics have been assaulted in the last year.

Everybody knows theres no consequences, Barzilay said. If theyre killing cops, theres no problem punching an EMT or paramedic.

Rosados close call came on the same day a Bronx judge ordered yet another in a long-running series of psychiatric exams for murder suspect Jose Gonzalez, who is accused of jumping behind the wheel of the ambulance and mowing down Arroyo, 44, in Soundview on March 16, 2017.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez was high on drugs when he jumped on the rear bumper and slipped behind the wheel of Arroyos rig. When the mother of five stepped out to investigate, the driver ran her over twice and dragged her into the intersection of White Plains Road and Watson Ave., prosecutors said.

She was working an overtime shift when she died.

For Arroyos family, the judges order added another setback to nearly five years of delays in their effort to get justice for the 14 year veteran and single mother.
Mumbai: Bollywood star Kajol on Friday said she has commenced shooting for her next film Salaam Venky, to be directed by veteran actor-filmmaker Revathy.

The project, earlier titled "The Last Hurrah", was announced in October last year.

In an Instagram post, the actor said she is excited to share the "unbelievably true story" of "Salaam Venky" with the audience.

"Today we begin the journey of a story that needed to be told, a path that had to be taken and a life that had to be celebrated. We can't wait to share this unbelievably true story of #SalaamVenky with you @revathyasha @suurajsinngh @shra_agrawal @varsha.kukreja.in @bliveprod @take_23_studios," Kajol, who was last seen in Netflix film Tribhanga, wrote alongside a picture with Revathy from the sets.

Revathy, who has helmed films like the 2002 National Award winning Mitr, My Friend and Phir Milenge (2004), also shared the same post.

Salaam Venky is produced by Suuraj Sinngh, Shraddha Agrawal and Varsha Kukreja. The team is filming the first schedule in Lonavala.
According to orders, Intermediate exams will start on April 8 for first year Intermediate and on April 9 for second year Intermediate students. (Representational Image/ PTI)

Vijayawada: AP government released SSC and Intermediate examinations schedule on Thursday. The Class X exams will be held from May 2 to 13 from 9.30 am to 12.45 pm. The Intermediate exams will be conducted from April 8 to 28, from 9 am to 12 noon. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed concern over the absence of exams due to Covid-19 crisis and as the pandemic infections were gradually decreasing, the government decided to conduct SSC and Intermediate public exams this year. Minister for education Audimulapu Suresh already made it clear that it is necessary to take exam for the future of the students. The minister stated that exams will be conducted in compliance with the Coronavirus guidelines.

According to orders, Intermediate exams will start on April 8 for first year Intermediate and on April 9 for second year Intermediate students.

First year Intermediate exams schedule from 9 am to 12 noon:

8 April: Second language paper-1.

11 April: English paper-1.

13 April: Mathematics paper-1 A, Botany paper-1 and Civics paper-1.

18 April: Mathematics paper-1 B, Zoology paper-1 and History paper-1.

20 April: Physics paper-1 and Economics paper-1.

22 April: Chemistry paper-1, Commerce paper-1, Sociology paper-1 and fine arts/music paper-1.

25 April: Public administration paper-1, Logic paper-1, Bridge course mathematics paper-1 (for BPC students).

27 April: Modern language paper-1 and Geography paper-1.

Second year Intermediate exams schedule from 9 am to 12 noon:

9 April: Second language paper-2.

12 April: English paper-2.

16 April: Mathematics paper-2 A, Botany paper-2 and Civics paper-2.

19 April: Mathematics paper-2 B, Zoology paper-2 and History paper-2.

21 April: Physics paper-2 and Economics paper-2.

23 April: Chemistry paper-2, Commerce paper-2, Sociology paper-2 and fine arts/music paper-2.

26 April: Public administration paper-2, Logic paper-2, Bridge course mathematics paper-2 (for BPC students).

28 April: Modern language paper-2 and Geography paper-2.

The Ethics and Human Values examination is proposed to be conducted on 7 March from 10 am to 1 pm. The Environmental Education examination will be held on March 9 from 10 to 1 pm and practical examinations will be conducted from 11to 31 March from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm every day including Sundays.

SSC exams timetable 2 to 13 May:

2 May: First language paper1 (group-A) and First language paper-1 (composite course) 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

4 May: Second language 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

5 May: English 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

7 May: Mathematics 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

9 May: Physical Science 9.30 am to 12.15 pm.

10 May: Biological Science 9.30 am to 12.15 pm.

11 May: Social Studies 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

12 May: First language paper-2 (composite course) and OSCC main language paper-1 (Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian) 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

13 May: OSCC main language paper-1 (Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian) 9.30 am to 12.45 pm and SSC Vocational Course (theory) 9.30 am to 11.30 am.
Some schools have compelled payment of fees by the 15th of every month, failing which would result in termination of all academic facilities. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: Several prominent private schools in the city have hiked tuition fees by 30 per cent, adding to the woes of parents.

Many parents alleged that schools have been increasing Rs 10,000 rupees every year. Even though they reduced the fee during the Covid-19 second wave, the fee has gradually been brought back to the previous level. Some schools have compelled payment of fees by the 15th of every month, failing which would result in termination of all academic facilities.

"According to prescribed rules, no school can hike fees and charge only tuition fees. But a few prominent schools have collected 100 per cent of the fee but showed the board that only 40% of the fees was collected as tuition fee," said Sujata Borde, president of Indian Parents Association.

G.O. Rt. No 46 issued on April 21, 2020 directs schools against increasing fees for the academic year 2020-21. Schools were urged to collect only the monthly tuition fee. Non-compliance of the instructions would result in cancellation of school recognition, the order said.

Another parent said that there has been an irrational increase in the fee despite pleas by parents against the move.

"Over 1,500 students have withdrawn from schools, because they did not follow government orders and kept on increasing fees even during lockdown. The parents were forced to pay the full fees for class ten students in spite of the government asking them to collect only the examination fee.'' said Sabina.

Meanwhile, principals of private and international schools state that their expenditures have increased even as revenues fell as extra supplies for online education had to be arranged.

"Basic training has to be provided for teachers and we had to buy material required to abide by Covid protocols and salaries to teachers have gone over the roof. Thousands of schools have not survived as they were unable to afford it. Parents need to understand our plight," said the principal of an international school. There was no help from the government in any manner. It did not even reduce property, he concluded.
Hyderabad: President Ramnath Kovind will arrive in Hyderabad on February 13. He will take part in the Sri Ramanujacharya Sahasrabdi Samoroham being held at Chinna Jeeyar Swami Ashram in Muchintal on city outskirts.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Thursday held a coordination meeting with the heads of various departments at the BRKR Bhavan to review the arrangements to be made for the President's visit to Hyderabad.

Kumar directed officials of departments concerned to work in coordination to make foolproof arrangements during the visit. He directed R&B officials to take up road repair works and barricading to ensure smooth flow of traffic to Muchintal. He directed the electricity department to ensure 24-hour power supply, medical department to deploy medical teams and other departments to make arrangements as per the protocol at Muchintal. The Chief Secretary said that the Presidents visit to Hyderabad should be seen as an opportunity to further enhance the prestige of the Telangana state government and recognition of Hyderabad worldwide. Accordingly, officials have been directed to coordinate with all the departments to avoid any shortcomings in the arrangements and make the Presidents visit a grand success.

Special Chief Secretary for energy Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary for home Ravi Gupta, Principal Secretary for GAD political Vikas Raj, Secretary for HM&FW S.A.M.Rizvi, Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V.Anand, GHMC commissioner Lokesh Kumar, Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra, Hyderabad Collector Sharman, Ranga Reddy Collector, Amoy Kumar, Medak collector S. Harish and other officials attended the meeting.
The bench, comprising Karnataka high court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice J.M. Khazi, that's hearing petitions challenging the state government's rule on dress code in schools, did not pass any interim order. (PTI)

New Delhi: A three-judge bench in Karnataka high court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the petitions on the hijab issue to February 14. The court said it will pass an order directing reopening of colleges while asking students not to insist on wearing religious things till the disposal of the matter. The judges said peace and tranquility must be restored in the state. Later, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said schools and colleges will be re-opened in a phased manner in the state.

The bench, comprising Karnataka high court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice J.M. Khazi, that's hearing petitions challenging the state government's rule on dress code in schools, did not pass any interim order. The court asked the media to refrain from reporting on oral observations and wait till the final order.

We are ready to decide the issue at the earliest. But we feel that peace and tranquility should be restored. Till the decision you should not insist on wearing these religious clothes which are not conducive, Chief Justice Awasthi said.

However, advocates for the petitioners raised objections to the interim restraint. This will amount to suspension of our rights... We are told to choose between food and water and both are essential, senior advocate Devadatt Kamath, appearing for the petitioners, objected. While saying it is a matter of a few days, the CJ asked the petitioners to cooperate. To this, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said, For few days we cannot be asked to suspend our faith.

While arguing for petitioners, Mr Hedge, while citing the Karnataka Educational Institutions Rules 1995, said, There is no provision for penalty for infraction of a uniform code. In the Karnataka Education Act, penalties are largely for management.

The hijab issue also reached the Supreme Court on Thursday but the top court refused to intervene saying Karnataka HC is already hearing the case.

Meanwhile, after the court order, Karnataka CM said, The last two days have been very peaceful. Today a three-member bench has, while adjourning the matter for Monday, appealed to all the schools to reopen but no religious dress codes should be followed by both sides. I appeal to everyone to work together and see that there is peace in the colleges. Schools will reopen from Monday for classes up to 10th standard. Degree colleges will reopen later. In the second stage, we will decide about reopening classes 11th-12th and other degree colleges as per the situation.

Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra said police have been directed to ensure law and order while maintaining extreme restraint in dealing with students. Students should not fall prey to communal elements who are hell-bent on making the hijab issue a tool to disturb communal harmony, he added.

Meanwhile, political statements and protests on the hijab issue continued. On Thursday, Delhi Police detained AISA workers marching towards Karnataka Bhawan to protest against the state government's rule on dress code in schools. Maharashtra home minister Dilip Walse Patil appealed to political parties against staging protests or disturbing peace for political gains over the hijab row. The minister said it was not appropriate to stage protests in Maharashtra over any issue that has roots in some other state.

We should avoid incidents that can further divide society. Its unfortunate that some people are trying to gain political mileage out of it. Indian culture and the Constitution don't teach us to divide people on caste and religious lines. Our country is a secular country and we should behave accordingly," Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLC K. Kavitha said no one should interfere in the personal choice of people. Such religious talk hinders opportunities for female students. Let's keep politics out of schools and colleges. I'm a married woman, I put vermilion whenever I want. It's a choice. As a society, we've no right to interfere in their personal choice.

However, BJP general secretary C.T. Ravi had a different view. Uniforms should be donned in schools. You are free to wear whatever you want, outside school. Priyanka Gandhi said women can wear bikini but one can't go to school, college wearing a bikini. It's not right to play politics in schools.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is set to showcase its business-friendly policies, infrastructure and growth opportunities to global investors during the states participation at the India Pavilion during Expo 2020 at Dubai from February 11 to 17.

The state will showcase the rapid strides being made by Andhra Pradesh in attracting investments in manufacturing, development of ports, multi-modal logistic parks, Industrial Corridors, Industrial Parks, fishing harbours along with developing education, medical, tourism sectors among others.

The state floor at India Pavilion will be inaugurated by minister for industries, commerce, information technology Mekapati Goutham Reddy in the presence of Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for foreign trade, Dr Ahmed Albanna, UAE ambassador to India and Sunjay Sudhir India Ambassador to UAE and Zulfi Ravdjee, adviser to Government of Andhra Pradesh (Cabinet Minister Rank), Special representative to government for Middle East and Far East Countries along with the senior government officials from the state.

A special cultural programme is being organised by the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) to showcase the timeless culture and legacy of the state at the Amphitheatre at India Pavilion.

A high-level delegation led by Goutham Reddy will attend various business meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to discuss potential collaborations with top corporations in UAE and present opportunities, in various sectors, in the state.

The delegation will also meet various industry associations and conduct bilateral meetings to strengthen the trade relations with the UAE. The Andhra Pradesh week at India Pavilion will conclude on February 17.

The department of industries officials said the website, www.indiaexpo2020.com will provide more information about India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
CMD, BDL Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) presents a model of BDL product to the Defence Minister upon the latter's arrival in Hyderabad in the presence of Director (Technical) NP Diwakar and Director (Production) P Radhakrishna. (Photo:Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with senior officials of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and reviewed the ongoing projects, in Hyderabad on Thursday.

BDLs chief managing director Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) apprised the minister about the progress of and explained the initiatives being taken up towards achieving Atmanirbharta in the defence sector.

He said BDL has an order of Rs 11,400 crore worth of project including the contract for Konkurs-M missiles signed earlier this month. The company is expecting more orders as approvals are at various stages in the ministry of defence.
HYDERABAD: Continuing his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday warned the BJP-led government at the Centre that if it failed to extend support to Telangana's development, Modi would be chased out of power.

Speaking at a public meeting in Yashwantpur in Jangaon district after inaugurating the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) district office, Chandrashekar Rao said he was ready to play a key role in national politics to break Delhi Fort'' if the situation demanded.

He lashed out at Modi accusing him of showing 'discrimination' towards Telangana. You dont give us national projects, you dont give us medical collegeIf you dont support us, no problem. We will chase you away from power and bring in a government that will help

us, he said.

If there is a necessity to play an influential role in national politics, certainly we should fight for our nationIf you (people) bless me I am ready to break the Delhi Fort. Be careful Narendra Modi. Nobody is scared of your threats, the Chief Minister remarked.

He posed questions to the people about whether they wanted him to play a key role in national politics and to fight against the Centre which was discriminating Telangana to which the people responded in an affirmative mode. Chandrashekar Rao said if people supported and blessed him, he is ready to wage a battle against the BJP government at the Centre.

He categorically stated that the state government would not implement the electricity reforms proposed by the BJP government come what may, that mandated states to install meters for agriculture borewells and collect power bills from farmers.

Ridiculing Modis doubling the farmers income slogan, Chandrashekar Rao said Modi in reality had doubled the farmers' expenditure on agriculture by increasing fuel and fertiliser prices.

He reacted angrily to the recent incident of the BJP activists attacking the TRS activists in Jangaon. "BJP has just a handful of workers in Telangana while the TRS has lakhs of activists. If we blow the air strongly, the BJP will be blown away. I warn the BJP not to touch the TRS. If they touch us, their address will vanish."

He alleged that the BJP government helped bank defaulters to flee the country who evaded thousands of crores of loans but burdened farmers and common people by increasing prices. Chandrashekar Rao said his government was committed to implement Dalit Bandhu scheme under which each beneficiary would be given Rs 10 lakh to start a business of their choice.

He said this year 40,000 Dalits would be given funds under the scheme and every year two to three lakh beneficiaries would be offered the Dalit Bandhu aid covering all 17 lakh Dalit families in phases.
A 34-year-old gang member was shot dead in the hallway of a Queens housing project early Friday, police said.

The victim, a member of the Dream Team gang, was shot in the chest just before 1:15 a.m. inside the third-floor hallway of an Astoria Houses building on 27th Ave., according to cops.

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Police on the scene at Astoria Houses building on 27th Ave. on Friday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Police said a resident heard gunfire, opened the door and saw the victim on the ground.

A single shell casing was recovered at the scene. There were no immediate arrests.

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The victim, who lived in Astoria, had 25 arrests on his record.
Apple on Thursday announced updates to AirTag coin-sized tracking devices to prevent them from being used to secretly track people instead of just finding lost keys, wallets or other items.

Launched early last year, AirTags are designed to be affixed to things people tend to lose, synching wirelessly to iPhones, iPads or iPod Touch devices to signal where they can be found.

Reports quickly surfaced of AirTags being used for more unscrupulous ends, such as being secretly stuck on a car to later steal it or find out where the owner goes.

Also Read | Apple unveils new iPad, iPad mini; India price, availability details

"We've become aware that individuals can receive unwanted tracking alerts for benign reasons, such as when borrowing someone's keys with an AirTag attached," Apple said in a post.

"We also have seen reports of bad actors attempting to misuse AirTag for malicious or criminal purposes."

Apple said that it has been working with police and safety groups to stop misuse, which it maintained is rare.

Newer iPhone models will alert owners of an "unknown accessory detected" when they sense an unidentified AirTag in range.

Must read | iPadOS 15: Key features you should know

AirTag software is being updated to display a warning the first time it is used, advising that tracking people without their consent is a crime in many locales and Apple will share the identities of owners with police when warranted.

Apple said it is working on enabling iPhones to more precisely locate AirTags to help people find any plants without their consent.

"AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person's property," Apple said in the post.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products."

Apple late last year released software so people with Android-powered smartphones can detect if an AirTag is nearby.

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Ford Motor Co, Suzuki Motor Corp and Hyundai Motor are among 20 companies that will be eligible for incentives under the Indian government's $3.5 billion scheme to boost clean fuel vehicles, two industry sources told Reuters.

The federal cabinet last year approved a plan for the automobile sector aimed at boosting production of electric and hydrogen fuel-powered vehicles.

Ford, Suzuki, Hyundai did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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On an outdoor stage in South Texas between screens with polished computer animations and a real gigantic shiny rocket behind him, Elon Musk provided his latest update on his dreams to send people to settle Mars on Thursday evening.

But while Musks presentation was vivid in detailing his vision of humanitys interplanetary future, he was more circumspect about the operational details of the massive SpaceX rocket Starship that is central to those and other goals. The spacecraft must overcome numerous technical and regulatory hurdles before it can fly to orbit or fulfil a contract worth billions of dollars to land NASA astronauts on the moon, let alone colonise the red planet.

But on the stage Thursday night, Musk said he thought that Starship would be capable of establishing a self-sufficient city on Mars, which he said would require taking a million tons of material therefrom Earth.

Also Read | Elon Musk 'confident' of Starship orbital launch this year

This is the first point in the 4.5-billion-year history of Earth that it has been possible, Musk said. We need to seize the opportunity and do it as quickly as possible. I want to be frank: Civilization is feeling a little fragile these days.

After an animated video of an imaginary Mars colony serviced by SpaceX vehicles, Musk shouted, Lets make it real!

For several years, SpaceX has been working on Starship, which would be the most powerful rocket ever. It would also, unlike any previous rocket, be entirely reusable. That has the potential for greatly cutting the cost of sending payloads to orbit  less than $10 million to take 100 tons to space  and it may be possible within a few years, Musk said.

Over the past few years, SpaceX has made a series of test flights of the top part of the spacecraft that is to go to orbit and then return, showing how it might belly-flop in the atmosphere and then land. One of the flights, in May 2021, was a success while the others ended in explosions. To reach orbit requires the use of an even larger booster stage, known as Super Heavy, with dozens of engines. That has not yet been tested.

Also read: SpaceX satellites falling out of orbit after solar storm

Musk has, however, routinely made schedule predictions that were far too optimistic. When he first talked of his Mars rocket in 2016  then an even larger design  he said that the first test trip to Mars, without people aboard, would launch in 2022 and that the first people going to Mars would be leaving two years later.

When Musk gave an update in September 2019, he predicted that the first orbital flight would occur within six months.

But with 2022 already here, SpaceX has yet to try an orbital launch of Starship.

In Thursdays talk, he expressed confidence that would occur this year, but he remained vague about details.

Also Read | Musk to give rare presentation on ambitious Starship rocket

His talk, at the site that SpaceX calls Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, near Brownsville, mixed in a variety of bawdy remarks while largely rehashing the vision he had described in the past including his arguments for why humanity needed to expand beyond Earth, as a backup plan for the survival of humankind.

He also responded to critics who say space is a waste of time and money, noting how little of the federal budget is actually directed to spaceflight and exploration.

Im just suggesting wed like maybe half a per cent or something, like that, would probably be OK, Musk said, referring to budgeting for space.

He mixed in technical details about improvements the company has made on the next version of the engines used for Starship. So the only remaining issue that were aware of is melting the chamber, Musk said, describing the intense heat generated by the engine. Just not melting the chamber is very difficult, Musk continued. Its kind of the last remaining challenge. But I think were very close to solving that.

Also Read | Tesla cut steering component from some cars to deal with chip shortage: Report

He was hopeful that an environmental review by the Federal Aviation Administration would soon give SpaceX the go-ahead to try a launch to orbit from Boca Chica. We have gotten sort of a rough indication that there may be an approval in March, Musk said.

If that occurred, an orbital launch attempt could occur in a couple of months or potentially May, he said.

But he also conceded that if the FAA decided a more comprehensive environmental review was needed, SpaceX would shift the launches to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and that would cause a delay of six to eight months in order to modify the launching pad there for the massive Starship.

In addition to the eventual trips to Mars, Starship is to be used by NASA to ferry astronauts from orbit around the moon to the surface of the moon. The company won a $2.9 billion contract for the mission, outcompeting other bidders that included Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos of Amazon, and defence contractor Dynetics. The moon landing is scheduled, on paper, for 2025, but it is expected to be delayed. In addition to work on Starship, the return of astronauts to the moon requires the Space Launch System, another large rocket under development by NASA that is also behind schedule.

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Soon after Apple launched the AirTag in 2021, some privacy activists voiced concern that the device can be misused for illegal stalking of a person. To that, Apple came up with value-added privacy-focused features that would curb spying.

Whenever an AirTag gets separated from the owner for too long, the latter will make sounds every eight hours or 24 hours, so that it makes itself known to the people around it and eventually get it returned to the owner.

Also, if the AirTag is traveling to faraway places with anybody else other than the owner, a notification gets displayed on the phone to make them known that an anonymous item is following them. They can even make it play a sound to locate it in the purse/wallet or in a vehicle.



AirTag alert. DH Photo/KVN Rohit



It should be noted that every AirTag comes with a unique serial number and gets linked with a registered Apple ID during the setup process. In this way, AirTag will have the owner's details.

It should be noted that whenever the company gets a subpoena from a law agency, Apple has helped them to nab the person, who misused the AirTag to spy on a victim.

Going forward, Apple AirTag will be getting new features that will further help in improving user privacy security.

"Apple has been working closely with various safety groups and law enforcement agencies. Through our own evaluations and these discussions, we have identified even more ways we can update AirTag safety warnings and help guard against further unwanted tracking," Apple said.

Whenever a user sets up the AirTag for the first time, he/she will get a privacy warning that the accessory must not be used for illegal tracking of people.

Also, the new update, which is slated to be released soon, will ensure, Apple device owners will know if an unknown item is an AirPod or an AirTag or any third-party Find My network accessory. Currently, it displays 'Unknown Accessory' is traveling with them and this confuses the user.

Additionally, the new update will help owners of iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 series handsets, be able to use Precision Finding to see the exact distance and direction to an unknown AirTag when it is in range.

Apple has also ensured that its unwanted tracking alert system will get improved so that it can notify users much faster than before, that an unknown AirTag or Find My network accessory may be traveling with them.



Apple AirTag. Credit: DH Photo/KVN Rohit



The company also added that going forward, the tone of the AirTag will be at its loudest when playing the sound to locate it.

Furthermore, Apple has revised the official unwanted tracking support article on apple.com to help people understand the working of the AirTag and how they can prevent people stalking them using AirTags and other accessories.

"AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another persons property, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products. Unwanted tracking has long been a societal problem, and we took this concern seriously in the design of AirTag," Apple noted.

Must read | Apple AirTag review: Fantastic smart tracker with privacy at the core

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
Thousands of vials of the Sputnik V vaccine will likely go to waste in Bengaluru because there are no takers for it given the almost-universal vaccination against Covid-19.

Private hospitals, which had procured the Russian-made Covid vaccine last year anticipating demand, say they dont know what to do with the unused vials.

The vaccine has been supplied by Dr Reddys Laboratories, the domestic manufacturer. As if the poor demand wasnt bad enough, private hospitals are also in a bind over the expiry date of the vaccine. While Dr Reddys has extended the expiry date, hospitals are confused by a central government directive that bans the use of vials beyond the expiry date mentioned therein.

The high vaccination coverage in Karnataka has severely hit the demand for Sputnik V, whose two doses are to be administered 21 days apart. Each dose is priced at Rs 995 plus a service fee of 150.

Also Read | Overall Covid-19 situation optimistic; Kerala, Mizoram still reporting high positivity, says Centre

Over 99 per cent of the eligible population in Karnataka has received the first dose and nearly 90 per cent the second dose.

Vaximum, a firm that offers vaccination at home, has more than 1,000 doses of Sputnik V worth Rs 10 lakh. There are no takers.

The stocks we received in August had a September expiry date. Since the government ramped up the free vaccination drive, there was absolutely no demand for Sputnik. With the serious slump, we have 1,100 doses that have expired, said Dr Narsimha Murthy, Founder and COO, Vaximum.

Dr Reddys sent the firm a letter, stating that the expiry date of the vials has been extended from six months to 12 months by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. But at the same time, the Karnataka drugs control department has asked the firm not to use expired vaccines, Dr Murthy said. Dr Reddys is also silent on relabelling the stock, he added.

Miracle Health Clinic, located in Hosakerehalli, South Bengaluru, says it has 800 vials of the first dose and 400 of the second dose.

Dose 1 has been extremely slow-moving. We had to purchase a minimum of 1,200

doses as per the company policy. Already, 99 per cent of the population has been vaccinated and there are no takers for Sputnik V, an official at the hospital said.

This is what Dr Pradeep Haldar, an advisor to the central governments reproductive and child health wing, said in a letter to the National Health Mission in Karnataka on December 23, 2021: All vaccines, including Covid-19 vaccines, should not be utilised beyond the expiry date as mentioned on the label of each vaccine vial.

A spokesperson for Dr Reddys told DH: All of the stock in the market is in line with shelf-life conditions. We work closely with the regulatory authorities and hospital partners.

We have received a shelf-life extension, and have communicated the same to hospital partners. All stocks being administered to beneficiaries are fully safe and compliant.

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The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha--the political front of 22 farmer unions that had taken part in the stir against the Centres farm laws--is finding it hard to woo voters here, with many questioning their foray into politics.

The opposition to Morchas move to contest the Punjab assembly polls has come from some of the most influential farmer unions, especially the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan).

The union is the states largest farmer outfit holding considerable influence in Sangrur, which was a hotbed of the struggle against the central laws.

The unions head, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, says they cant compromise on principles.

"We had come together to fight against the central laws on the basis of a common minimum programme, which bars unions from undertaking any such adventure," says Ugrahan, whose union has a presence in around 1,600 villages.

He says as soon as 22 farmer unions decided to contest the polls, they stopped being part of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that led the stir against the laws.

"The ball is now in their court. They will have to clarify on it," he says.

Krantikari Kisan Union chief Dr Darshan Pal echoes similar views.

He rejects the farmer bodies' political plunge, saying history tells that any party formed out of a movement like the farmers' agitation can't survive.

Pal claims that a majority of the outfits that joined the SSM have already left it.

Randeep Kaur, vice-president of the Sunam block for the Ugrahan faction of the BKU, says they stand with their leadership against the Morcha.

"They should have acted as a pressure group instead of forming an outfit to contest the polls," says Rupinder, who actively participated in the year-long stir against the central laws at Delhi borders.

Not only farmer leaders, but people also seem upset.

They should have waited at least till the Lok Sabha polls, says Bhagwan Das, an arhtiya and a resident of Sangrurs Dirba Assembly segment.

Das says the outfits should have first got farmers issues resolved. Contesting elections or even getting a few seats wont help farmers much, he opines.

"Everything is being controlled by the Centre. They should have acted as a pressure group, holding agitations if required to get farmers issues resolved. They will lose deposits," he says.

Gurshagandeep Singh, a 32-year-old farmer and a resident of Sangrurs Ratol Kalan village, is also disappointed.

He says the issue of getting the minimum support price (MSP) for crops still lingers.

"This cant be done unless farmer unions act as a pressure group and the political plunge by some of them weakens the movement," he says pointing to rising production cost and hidden unemployment in the farming sector.

No more than Rs 10,000 or Rs 15,000 is saved per acre, which we get on a rent of Rs 65,000 a year, he stresses.

Swaranjit Singh, a social activist, shows a WhatsApp message on his phone, telling that 16 of the 22 farmers bodies have already quit the Morcha.

He also questions the tickets given by the Morcha and hints that its leadership is being backed by the BJP.

Rupinder Singh, 33, says they dont have any hope from the farmers political front or any other party.

A resident of Sangrurs Kamalpur village, he says farmers did not fear the laws as much as they feared the system prevailing in the country.

"We did not want cartelisation, where a few people dominate the procurement process," he says, adding that the farmers front doesnt seem to offer any solution to it.

But does he has any hope from any party? Rupinder responds negatively. Even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is projecting itself as an alternative in Punjab, fails to excite him.

People are fed up with the governments, which sit idle for the larger part of their term and try to do some work only in the last few months of their tenure, he says.

"People want to change not because they have faith in AAP or any other party, they dont want that political parties to carry the impression that everything can be managed by performing in the last months," Rupinder adds.

However, SSMs Sunam candidate A S Mann is hopeful of winning the elections.

He says candidates of the political front after making it to the state Assembly can ensure that farmers get a fair price of their crops.

He rejects the "pressure group" narrative, saying the solution lies in contesting the polls.

"Its wrong to think that by only staging dharnas or facing lathis one can get issues resolved," he says.

However, amid opposing views, Kuldeep Singh, an office-bearer of the Kirti Kisan Union, stresses the need to save the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha.

"Let the SSM contest the polls. If they can do something, its better. Why to oppose them," he says pressing the point.

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The hijab controversy, which has rocked Karnataka, has reached Uttar Pradesh amid the ongoing assembly elections with Muslim students taking out protest marches and the Opposition parties alleging that it was a 'conspiracy' to 'polarise' the polls along communal lines.

In Jaunpur district of the state, a Muslim girl, a student of a degree college, alleged that she was not allowed to enter the class by her teacher as she had worn hijab though the teacher rejected the allegations.

The girl, identified as Zarina, complained that her social science teacher admonished her for wearing hijab and did not allow her to enter the classroom. The teacher, however, denied that he refused her entry in the class. The college management said that it was investigating the matter.

Also Read  Karnataka HC bars scarves, hijabs in classroom for now

According to the reports, a large number of students took out a march in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus on Friday in protest against the ban on hijab at schools and colleges in Karnataka.

They accused the BJP of 'deliberately' stoking the controversy with a view to gain mileage in the ongoing assembly polls in UP. ''BJP is behind it... it is doing so to polarise the polls in the state,'' said one of the students, who was part of the protest march at AMU.

Track live updates on hijab row here

Muslim women and girls also held a protest march in Prayagraj as a result of which traffic in Khuldabad locality was disrupted. A memorandum, addressed to the President, was also submitted to the district officials by the protesting Muslim women stating that it was their right to wear hijab and that the Muslim girls were being 'persecuted' on the pretext of dress code.

Muslim clerics have also condmened the ban on hijab at schools and colleges in Karnataka and said that it was violation of their fundamental rights. The Hindu Jagaran Manch, a saffron outfit, however, defended the ban and said that everyone should follow a dress code of the educational institutions.

Also Read  Will interfere at appropriate time: SC on hijab row pleas

The Opposition parties in the state said that it was a 'conspiracy' hatched by the BJP to polarise the polls in UP. ''BJP has realised that it is going to lose the polls and so it is doing everything to polarise the elections along communal lines... Their attempts will not succeed as the people of the state have decided to oust the saffron party,'' said a senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader here.

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is set Thursday night to deliver an eagerly-awaited update on SpaceX's Starship, a prototype rocket the company is developing for crewed interplanetary exploration.

The tycoon will make his presentation at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica, south Texas, at 8:00 pm local time (0200 GMT Friday), against the impressive backdrop of the spacecraft in its fully-stacked configuration, standing 394 feet (120 meters) tall.

It will be Musk's first detailed progress report since 2019  though he often provides small updates on Twitter  and is expected be live-streamed on the company's website.

Ahead of the event, he tweeted several photos and videos of Starship's matte black upper-stage being placed on its shimmering silver Super Heavy first-stage rocket.

Together, they make the biggest spacecraft ever built: taller than even the Saturn V rockets that took astronauts to the Moon during the Apollo era.

Made of stainless steel and designed to be fully reusable, Starship is intended to lift up to 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit.

SpaceX envisages the ship carrying crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond  and last year, NASA awarded the company a contract for a version of Starship to ferry astronauts on the Artemis program from lunar orbit to the surface.

Starship's upper stage has already made several suborbital flights. After multiple tests that ended in impressive explosions, SpaceX finally succeeded in landing the spacecraft last May.

Musk has promised a far more ambitious orbital test this year  pending clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration  which will require both stages of the vessel.

The FAA said in a December release that clearance could come by February 28, meaning the milestone could take place in March at the earliest.

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The Taliban on Thursday demanded direct talks with the international community -- which does not officially recognise it -- on providing vital humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, according to a statement by a delegation visiting Geneva

The delegation of around 10 Taliban members, which is in Switzerland for talks with NGOs, "calls on the international community to move forward with the IE (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) on the basis of transparency and accountability, and to respond to the need for humanitarian assistance".

The statement added that it wanted "all aid agencies to assist Afghans in facilitating humanitarian aid and logistics, keep borders open, and create a safe corridor for humanitarian aid, convoys, cargo and staff".

Since the Taliban took power in Kabul in August 2021, after the departure of American and other international forces, a terrible economic and financial crisis has threatened more than half of the country's population with famine.

The UN has been advocating for months for an easing of the sanctions imposed on Kabul since August 2021 to avoid the collapse of the country.

The Taliban delegation, led by Minister of Health, Qalander Ebad, was invited to Geneva by the NGO Appel de Geneve, which campaigns for the protection of civilians in conflict zones and which has been active for many years in Afghanistan.

The visit was also an opportunity to meet the head of the World Health Organization and hold talks with the Red Cross as well as European diplomats, including representatives of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All meetings were held behind closed doors.

Switzerland said on Thursday that the visit "does not constitute legitimisation or recognition" and stressed that it had clearly expressed its expectations about respect for human rights, international humanitarian law and the protection of the civilian population.

The international community has been particularly shocked by the treatment of girls and women, which has seen 20 years of progress that followed the ousting of the Taliban in 2001 reversed.

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The World Health Organization's chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, said on Friday that the world was not yet at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic as there would be more coronavirus variants.

"We have seen the virus evolve, mutate ... so we know there will be more variants, more variants of concern, so we are not at the end of the pandemic," Swaminathan told reporters in South Africa, where she was visiting vaccine manufacturing facilities with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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The robber accused of chasing a victim down a Harlem street and executing him in front of a Gap store in broad daylight has been arrested, police said Friday.

Manuel Frias, 24, was picked up at his Washington Heights apartment Thursday night and charged with murder and gun possession.

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Police secure the scene of a shooting in front of 272 West 125 street in Manhattan on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News)

He allegedly shot Isiah John, 23, at about 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 1 in what police described as a robbery over weed.

The victim and another man were confronted by Frias and an accomplice outside a Boost Mobile store on W. 125th St. near Frederick Douglass Blvd., police said.

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Frias allegedly fired once and then chased the victim across the street, shooting him several times in the chest outside a Gap Factory store.

The victim, who lived in the Bronx and had marijuana on him, was rushed by medics to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where he died.

The accomplice is still being sought.
Climate change, Covid and China's "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific top the agenda as foreign ministers of the Quad grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States meet in Melbourne on Friday, with talks also covering an escalating crisis between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Australia this week as Washington grapples with a dangerous standoff with Moscow, which has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraines border and stoked Western fears of an invasion. Russia denies it has such plans.

The Biden administration wants to show the world its long-term strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific and that a major foreign policy crisis in one part of the world does not distract it from key priorities.

Asked by reporters on Friday if confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific was inevitable, Blinken replied "nothing is inevitable".

Also read: Checking China: What is the Quad alliance?

"Having said that, I think we share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region," he said, before meeting with Quad foreign ministers and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on top of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, climate change and Covid related issues, the two top diplomats will also be discussing China, North Korea and Ukraine.

"More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK (North Korea), China as well and they will be part of our discussions today. We strongly support US leadership on these challenges," she said before a bilateral meeting with Blinken.

"We are going to talk today, I'm sure, about the threats to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine as well," she added.

Britain said the "most dangerous moment" in the West's standoff with Moscow appeared imminent, as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea following the buildup of its forces near Ukraine.

On Thursday, Blinken said Washington was working "24/7" on the Ukraine crisis but reaffirmed US focus on the Indo-Pacific  a region he said would be instrumental in shaping much of 21st century. "It's important that we be present, that we be engaged, that we be leading across this region," he said.

'Free from coercion'

Both Blinken and Payne said a key element of the Quad discussion will focus on establishing a regional environment free from "coercion", a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing's expansive economic and military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad's cooperation on the region's Covid response was "most critical", Payne told parliament, with cyber and maritime security, infrastructure, climate action and disaster relief - especially after the recent Tonga volcanic eruption - also in focus.

Also read: Biden warns American citizens in Ukraine to 'leave now'

Speaking to reporters on the plane en route to Melbourne, Blinken described the Quad as a "powerful mechanism" to deliver vaccines worldwide as well as to push back against "aggression and coercion" in the Indo-Pacific, without naming China.

New pledges are unlikely to be announced before a May summit of Quad leaders in Japan that President Joe Biden plans to attend.

Blinken's trip comes after China and Russia declared last week a "no limits" strategic partnership, their most detailed and assertive statement to work together - and against the United States - to build a new international order based on their own interpretations of human rights and democracy.

US-Chinese ties are at their lowest point in decades as the world's top two economies disagree on issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea and China's treatment of ethnic Muslims.

Biden told Asian leaders in October the United States would launch talks on a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But few details have emerged and his administration has been reluctant to offer the increased market access Asian countries desire, seeing this as threatening American jobs.

Critics say the lack of US economic engagement is a major weakness in Biden's approach to the region, where China remains to be the top trading partner for many of the Indo-Pacific nations.
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Friday Moscow's ties with London were at a low point as he met with UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for rare talks amid soaring tensions over Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, the level of our cooperation is close to zero and about to cross the zero meridian and go into negative, which is undesirable," Shoigu said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies.

He said he hoped for talks "without any escalation and raising the temperature even higher" in relations between Russia and the NATO bloc.

Shoigu also accused the West of "gorging" Ukraine with weapons.

"It is coming from all sides and it is done publicly. It is done demonstrably. Not entirely clear why," he said.

Wallace, who is accompanied by the UK's Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin, will also meet with the powerful chief of staff of the Russian army Valery Gerasimov.

He is the latest Western official to shuttle to Moscow in a desperate effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.

Russia has around 100,000 troops stationed near its borders with Ukraine, with the West fearing the Kremlin could order an attack.

Wallace's visit comes a day after Britain's Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow for talks that appeared to be fruitless and ended in mutual accusations.

Relations between London and Moscow are at an all-time low, with Russia singling out the UK as particularly hostile of all the Western countries.

The last meeting between the UK and the Russian defence ministers took place in 2013.

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A bar body has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that students across the country wear school uniforms and not hijab or burqa as it is not permitted in "general secular institutions".

All India Bar Association claimed that anti social elements were trying to spoil secular values in educational institutions by misguiding Muslim students to wear Niqab, Hijab, Burqa etc. in place of prescribed secular dress code of the educational institutions.

The letter said that the management of religious educational institutions were empowered to run their institutes as per the tenets of their religion.

Also Read | Hijab controversy reaches UP, Opposition parties smell 'conspiracy'

The management of Madarsas, therefore can prescribe any religious dress code for the students, including Hijab and Niqab, association's chairman Adish C Aggarwala said.

He added that Niqab and Hijab are permitted in Muslim Madarsas and not in general secular educational institutions.

It claimed that the citizens of India are entitled to have the right to follow their religious practices in their religious places and not in the secular places where a dress code is prescribed.

In these circumstances, we call upon the central government and state governments to ensure that all students, irrespective of any religion, wear the school uniform, in order to uphold secular values in India as India is a secular country, the letter said.

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A BJP MP from Jharkhand on Thursday requested the government to bring the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand, West Bengal and a particular area of Bihar.

Speaking during the Zero Hour, Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the people of the area from where he hailed were troubled by Bangladeshi intruders.

"When we (BJP) had our government in Jharkhand, our chief minister had demanded NRC for a particular district and had asked Centre for NRC to be implemented there.

"I request Government of India thain Jharkhand... and in an area of Bihar and in Bengal, NRC should be brought and this is how we get rid of Bangaladeshi intruders," he said.

Criticising the Uddhav Thackeray-led government's decision to allow the sale of wire at grocery shops, Independent MP Navneet Ravi Rana requested the Maharashtra government to take important decisons.

She also added that state government should not take those decisions which spoils the future of children and women.

K Jayakumar (INC) was of the view that the policy of food should be uniform.

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Bhupinder Singh Honey, the nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will be produced before the Jalandhar court by Enforcement Directorate on Friday after the expiry of his custody in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal mining in Punjab.

Earlier on two occasions, the court had granted ED the custody of Honey. ED sources are saying this time they won't seek more custody.

Honey was arrested during the intervening night of February 3 and 4 by the ED, which got his custody till February 8. It was later extended till Friday (February 11).

During these eight days of questioning the ED confronted him with various documents and recorded his statements.

"Honey was evasive and was not cooperating with the probe agency," the source said.

Also read: Jalandhar court sends Punjab CM's nephew to ED custody till Feb 11

Harneet Singh Oberoi, the counsel of Honey, was allowed to meet him on alternate days.

A few documents were accessed by the IANS which read that Honey allegedly used to take money from officials in lieu of their choice of transfer and posting.

"Moreover, Bhupinder Singh has explicitly stated in his statement during search, inter-alia, that all cash which was seized from his residential premises at Ludhiana (Rs 4.09 crore), Sandeep Kumar's premises at Ludhiana (Rs 1.99 crore) and from the Homeland House Premises at Mohali (Rs 3.89 crore) actually belonged to him. He admitted to having generated such proceeds of crime through mining related activities, including clearance of mining files and transfer of officials," read the ED document accessed by IANS.

Sources have claimed that since 'Honey was close to Channi, he was using the political connection to earn huge profits'.

According to ED documents, Honey has confessed that it was his Rs ten crore which were recovered by the ED during raids. ED has alleged that he was getting money from illegal mining too.

On January 18, ED conducted raids at ten different locations, including Homeland Heights which is the residence of Honey.

The ED continued raiding at different places for two days and recovered incriminating documents.

The ED officials had recorded the statement of Kudrat Deep Singh, the business partner of Honey.

The ED official had said that they seized incriminating documents pertaining to illegal sand mining, property transactions, cell phones, gold worth above Rs 21 lakh and a watch worth Rs 12 lakh and cash Rs 10 crore during the raid.

A source said that the documents recovered by them confirmed that Kudrat Deep Singh was running two firms and Bhupinder Singh Honey was the joint director in them.

As per sources, the firms are basically shell companies, but ED found a lot of money transactions. One of the firms is Provider Overseas Consultancy Limited, which was incorporated in 2018 with 33.33 per cent equal shares.

The ED case is on the basis of two-year-old FIR.

The Punjab Police had on March 7, 2018, lodged a case against more than ten accused.

The ED initiated a money laundering probe on the basis of this FIR pertaining to illegal sand mining in Punjab in November last year.

Bhupinder Singh Honey was not named in the Punjab Police's FIR and Kudrat Deep Singh was given a clean chit in the matter.

The ED found that money was being laundered by the accused and the agency started probing the matter.

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Journalist Rana Ayyub rejected allegations on Friday that she "misused" donor funds raised in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying money-laundering charges levelled against her are "preposterous and wholly mala fide".

Issuing a statement on social media platforms, Ayyub said she has "demonstrably shown" to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income-Tax department authorities that "no part of the relief campaign money has been used for any other purpose" or for her personal expenses.

The ED, earlier this month, attached over Rs 1.77 crore worth of bank deposits of Ayyub in connection with a money-laundering investigation against the scribe.

The agency had said its probe "makes it abundantly clear that the funds were raised in the name of charity in a completely pre-planned and systematic manner, and the funds were not utilised completely for the purpose of which the funds were raised".

"It is abundantly clear that no part of the relief campaign fund remains unaccounted for, and there is absolutely no scope for any remote allegation of misuse of the funds for personal expenses. Such allegations are preposterous, wholly mala fide and belied by the record, and is a deliberate misreading of my bank statements.

"All personal expenses borne by me are out of my personal income and savings," Ayyub said.

She said she does not have a copy of the ED's provisional attachment order and that "various allegations reported by the media...are utterly baseless, mala fide and fanciful".

"I am confident that the allegations levelled against me will not withstand any fair and honest scrutiny," the journalist added.

She also said she received "no foreign donations" and that she gave the details of the bank accounts of her father and sister to the online crowd-funding platform "Ketto" to transfer public funds, as the physical copy of her PAN (permanent account number) was not available immediately.

The ED attached over Rs 1.77 crore of her funds held in two accounts of a private bank in Navi Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The money-laundering case against Ayyub was filed by the ED after taking cognisance of a September 2021 FIR of the Ghaziabad police (Uttar Pradesh) related to alleged irregularities in donor funds of over Rs 2.69 crore raised by her through "Ketto".

Police lodged the case on a complaint from Vikas Sankrityayan, the founder of an NGO called "Hindu IT Cell" and a resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad.

According to the FIR, the funds were raised as part of three campaigns -- funds for slum dwellers and farmers during April-May 2020, relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra during June-September 2020 and help for Covid-impacted people in the country during May-June 2021.

The ED had said, "fake bills were found to have been prepared by Rana Ayyub in the name of some entities to claim expenses on relief work and expenses made for personal travel by air were claimed as expense for relief work".

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Political slander appeared to hit a new low here on Friday when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asking him whether the BJP ever told him to prove that he was Rajiv Gandhi's son.

Sarma attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike and questioning the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Accusing the Congress of doing negative politics, Sarma, at a press conference here, said the party demands proof of the efficacy of the vaccines and the surgical strikes questioning the valour of brave soldiers.

"Did we ever demand proof from Rahul Gandhi of being Rajiv Gandhi's son?" Sarma who is here to campaign for BJP candidates for the February 14 assembly asked reporters.

Charging the Congress with giving behind closed doors assurances for establishing a Muslim University in Uttarakhand, he said it seems Jinnah's soul has entered the party.

"It is speaking the same language as Jinnah," he said. "The Congress sometimes talks about establishing a Muslim University and sometimes a Madarsa. It should talk about education to all. The BJP would never allow its politics of appeasement to succeed," he said. Sarma said while campaigning for party candidates in Uttarakhand he saw a clear wave in favour of Modi-Dhami.

People have made up their minds to give their blessings once again to BJP, he added. Taking a dig at Congress campaign head Harish Rawat for drawing a comparison between him and the "Mahabharata" character Bhishma during an interview, the BJP leader said Rawat can see his defeat as he knows he is on the side of the Kauravas in this "Mahabharata".

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent criticism of dynasty politics evoked a below the belt response on Friday from RJD president Lalu Prasad who controls the party with the help of his wife and three children.

The former Bihar chief minister was asked about Modi's remarks criticising dynasty politics in an interview earlier this week.

The PM had also praised Prasad's arch rival Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister, for not bringing any family member into politics.

"Modi never had any children. Nitish has a son who is averse to politics. One can only pray that they are blessed with offspring who can carry forward their political legacy," said the RJD leader, who has been known for pushing the boundaries of civility in public discourse, during a media interaction.

Prasad was accompanied by younger son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, who started off in 2015 as the deputy to Nitish Kumar when the arch rivals had entered into a short-lived political alliance.

Also read: Dynastic parties biggest threat to democracy: PM Modi's attack on Congress

Yadav took a jibe at the prime minister reminding him of his famous acrimony with the Bihar chief minister that continued till the latter returned to the BJP-led NDA in 2017.

"Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar used to call each other names. One would say BJP stands for badka jhutha (big liar) party. The other would say JD(U) (Kumar's party) stood for janata ka daman, utpidan (suppression and exploitation of the masses)," Tejashwi Yadav recalled.

"The two senior leaders would do well to make up their mind about each other," the 33 years old said, tongue in cheek.

Yadav's mother Rabri Devi had succeeded his father as the chief minister and held the post till the RJD's defeat in 2005 at the hands of the JD(U)-BJP combine.

While Yadav is now the leader of the opposition in state assembly, his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav is a second term RJD MLA, and eldest sister Misa Bharti is a member of the Rajya Sabha.

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Taking a swipe at the ruling BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said while Azam Khan is in jail for building a university, a Union minister's son is out on bail in a case pertaining to the killing of farmers, and mockingly said this is the "new India" of the saffron party.

He also claimed that the voting in the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls has given enough indications that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be wiped out from the state.

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to Ashish Mishra, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, in a case of violence in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed.

Also Read | Those who speak truth jailed: Mehbooba on bail for Ashish Mishra

Addressing an election meeting here in favour of Khan and other SP candidates, Yadav said, "Even if the BJP performs 700 squats, the farmers will not forgive the party."

He said Khan's son Abdullah Azam had to languish in jail for two years on false cases.

"Azam Khan was also sent to jail on false charges. Cases of buffalo theft, chicken theft and theft of books were lodged against him. But the man who crushed farmers under the wheels of a jeep has come out of jail. This is the new India of the BJP," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister added.

"The man who built a university for you fought for your rights and honour, was sent to jail. And the man who crushed farmers using a jeep has been sent out of jail. Nowhere in the world, farmers have been crushed by a jeep. But since the Uttar Pradesh polls are here, he has got bail and is out," he said.

Also Read | Lakhimpur Kheri incident accused Ashish Mishra granted bail

Khan got the Jauhar University built in Rampur. He is currently lodged in the Sitapur jail on various charges.

The SP has fielded Khan from the Rampur Assembly segment and his son from the Suar constituency in the district. Rampur will vote on February 14.

"People were waiting for March 10 for the election results, but the way voting took place in the first phase (on Thursday), it seems that the results were out by yesterday evening.

"In the first phase of polling, people from different sections of the society including farmers, have wiped out the BJP and whatever is left (of the party), will be wiped out in the second phase from Saharanpur to Rampur," Yadav said.

He also claimed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been saying that he has distributed laptops among youngsters, but not a single laptop has been given to anyone in Rampur.

"BJP leaders lie a lot. The first time they had lied was during demonetisation when they had said the move will curtail corruption. Corruption could not be curtailed, but it doubled during the double-engine government," he said in a reference to the saffron party being in power both at the Centre and in the state and urged people to vote for the SP-RLD alliance.

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A woman was killed and two people were trapped under the rubble when a portion of an apartment building here collapsed on Thursday evening, an official said.

The official said the dining room floor of a sixth-floor apartment at Chintels Paradiso housing complex first came down, triggering the collapse of roofs and floors directly under it, till the first floor.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) carried out rescue work as people from neighbouring apartment blocks gathered outside the complex in sector 109.

Earth-moving machines and a Fire Brigade vehicle with an elevated platform were deployed.

Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav told PTI that one person was killed. The deceased was identified as Ekta Bhardwaj, a senior official said.

The official said a man was pulled out from the debris and rushed to a hospital. He was identified as Arun Kumar Srivastava.

While sources said that his wife, Sunita Srivastava, succumbed to injuries, the official said that she was critical.

The DC told reporters that construction work was under way on the sixth floor when the floor collapsed. He said third to sixth floors of the building were vacant and people were living on the first and second floors.

Yadav said a detailed inquiry would ordered into the incident by the administration on Friday morning and action would be taken against those responsible if any lapses are found.

Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted about the incident, saying rescue operations were on.

I am personally monitoring the situation and I pray for everyone's safety," he said.

Local residents said Tower D, part of which collapsed, was built in 2018. The complex has three other towers. The 18-floor Tower D has four-bedroom apartments.

The housing complex management blamed the disaster on negligence during repairs for the extremely unfortunate incident, which took place around 7 pm.

Upon preliminary investigations, we have come to know that some negligence in repair work done by the contractor in an apartment led to this incident, it said, offering condolences to the affected families.

The management said it is cooperating fully with the authorities.

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One man died and another was wounded in a hail of dozens of bullets outside a Brooklyn convenience store Thursday afternoon.

At least one gunman fired off more than 30 rounds at the two victims as they stood on Willmohr St. by E. 98th St. in Brownsville just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday, cops said.

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Police investigate a multiple shooting outside 1160 Willmohr St. in Brooklyn on Thursday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News)

One victim, 40, was hit several times in the chest by the barrage, cops said. Hes believed to be the intended target of the attack, police sources said.

Medics rushed him to Brookdale University Hospital, but he couldnt be saved.

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A shooter or shooters unleashed a barrage of more than 30 bullets in the shooting outside a convenience store near 1160 Willmohr St. in Brooklyn on Thursday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News)

The second victim, also, went to Brookdale with multiple gunshots to his leg and arm. He was in stable condition Thursday.

Police have not yet released the victims name, and have made no arrests.
The Rajasthan High Court has summoned an IPS officer for recording his evidence after an appeal challenging the conviction of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in a rape case claimed that the victim was tutored.

A lower court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in 2018 for the rape of a minor at an ashram in Jodhpur in 2013.

Jaipurs Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal Lamba has now been asked to appear on March 7 as court witness, following the plea by Asarams lawyers that a video recording by him might have influenced the testimony of the teenager.

Asaram has pleaded that the victims graphic description of the alleged crime scene - Asaram private quarters, the kutia - was influenced by a video recording of the place by the IPS officer when he was serving in Jodhpur.

The defence argued that it had no idea about the existence of the video clip until they found a mention of it in Lambas book, Gunning for the Godman: The true story behind Asaram Bapu's conviction.

In his book, the then DCP (West) in Jodhpur had said that he filmed the scene of crime on his mobile phone just in case it was needed during the investigation.

Asaram's counsel argued that the girl had not given any description of the interiors of the kutia in her handwritten complaint or the statement recorded by police on August 20, 2013.

Lamba, visited the crime scene the next day on August 21, 2013 and undertook videography of the crime scene which has been described at length in the book, the petition said.

This video had been shown to the victim and was the basis of graphic description of the crime scene by her, it claimed.

The petition argued that till the till the publication of the book, the defence had no idea about the video.

The petition said the entire prosecution case was false and fabricated and the description of the crime scene by the victim in her statements was influenced by the video taken by Lamba.

The counsel said the circumstances unequivocally supported the defence contention that victim never entered the kutia' as alleged in the FIR and in the girls subsequent statements.

The public prosecutor, however, cited a disclaimer in Lambas book which said that some parts of the story may have been dramatised.

The division bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Rekha Borana said it would be premature to comment that the victim was tutored by a video to describe the crime scene.

But the court expressed displeasure on the release of the book while the matter was still pending at the stage of appeal and said it may be viewed as an attempt to influence the judicial proceedings.

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A Delhi court has issued arrest warrants against eight alleged Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists on charges of money laundering related to funding terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu & Kashmir valley.

Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against Gulam Nabi Khan, Umer Faroog Shera, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat, Nazir Ahmad Dar, Abdul Majeed Sofi, Mubarak Shah and Mohd Yusuf on a plea moved by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The court noted the submission made by ED's Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana that the accused persons had been declared proclaimed offenders in 2013 itself.

Thus, there are reasonable grounds to believe that accused persons named will not respond to summons. Issue NBWS against all the above said accused persons for the next date of hearing, the judge said in an order passed on February 7.

The court also directed the ED to supply the copies of the charge sheet, filed recently the agency, to accused Mobd. Shafi Shah and the counsel appearing for other accused in the case - Mushtag Ahmad Lone, Muzaffar Ahmad Dar and Talib Lali.

The court also sought a report from the jail officials within 15 days after Muzaffar Ahmad Dar complained that he was not allowed e-meeting with his family members by the authorities concerned.

The court will hear the matter further on March 30.

ED initiated investigation under PMLA based on an FIR lodged by NIA in 2011 which claimed that Mohammad Shafi Shah and his associates were involved in execution of sensational blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from them.

ED said its investigation revealed that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, allegedly the most active terror outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu & Kashmir headed by Syed Salahuddin, its self-styled commander based out of Rawalpindi Pakistan.

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With rogue drones challenging the security scenario, a Parliamentary panel has asked the government to create a pool of anti-drone technology with states getting access to use it and looking at the possibility of using civilian drones to detect illegal unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs led by senior Congress MP Anand Sharma made its recommendations in its report Police  Training, Modernisation, Reforms, acknowledging with grave concern the misuse of drone technology for surveillance of vital installations, illegal delivery of drugs, arms and ammunition and other terror activities.

Rogue drones have become a critical threat to any country's security, privacy and cyber-security, it said.

The recommendations came against the backdrop of the Punjab government informing the panel that there has been a significant increase in the movement of drones from Pakistan in the recent past. Drones have been sighted over 133 times near the international border in the last two years and the first recorded delivery of arms and ammunition by a drone was in August 2019. Similar drone sightings have also been observed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Also read: In a push to Make in India, govt bans import of drones; provides certain exceptions

The report, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, said that the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with other ministries should create a central pool of anti-drone technology at the earliest and give its access to all states and union territories to deal with the menace of illicit use of drones.

For this purpose, it said private sector participation could be explored. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should also be created for state police in case of a drone attack.

The panel also wanted the MHA to advise states to sensitise ground-level police personnel on the drone regulations and civilian use of drones could be used to detect rogue drones.

Emphasising that there is no effective anti-drone technology available in the country at present, the panel said the major challenge before the law enforcement agencies for countering the drone threat is its detection, identification and safe neutralisation.

Technology-based counter-drone measures are the need of the hour which should be developed by the concerned department of Government of India, the report said, as it also warned about the threat of hacking of drones, drone data, mobiles and other devices connected with the drones.

Building capabilities to deter, detect and neutralise such aerial threats with the help of anti-drone technology is an urgent requirement, it said.

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To give a flip to tourism, the Jammu and Kashmir government has partnered with the worlds leading travel tech platform, OYO Group to launch a rural tourism initiative, 'Crown of Incredible India', across the Union Territory (UT).

Under the initiative, OYO will also partner with the Centres Mission Youth programme to open home-stays across 75 villages to promote entrepreneurship and create self-employment opportunities.

Mission Youth is a pioneering initiative of the J&K government, established with the objective to act as a conduit for aspirations and concerns of youth of J&K.

The deal with the OYO group was launched in a special event presided by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Thursday. On the occasion, the L-G announced Rs 50,000 special financial assistance to youth willing to establish a home stay unit.

Rural home-stays in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra have started to rival conventional tourism. Having the most beautiful locales in the country, J&K is determined to catch up. This partnership marks the start of a new chapter, the L-G said.

He said that J&K had emerged as a leader in the tourism sector over the last two and a half years. With a market giant like OYO coming onboard, we are making in-roads to encourage micro-entrepreneurs in the villages and revitalising local art & crafts and redevelopment of rural areas, Sinha added.

This new initiative will empower local communities, youth and women, fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Through vocal for local products, individuals and enterprises will help in poverty alleviation and sustainable development, said the Lt Governor.

The venture will help in building a tourist infrastructure of world standards in rural J&K. By December this year, around 200 home stays will be available on OYO platform, he added.

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO, said that the group was proud to extend its partnership with the J&K government to generate economic and employment opportunities in rural areas.

We are committed to strengthening tourism for the benefit of local communities and aim to work together with these micro-entrepreneurs to promote sustainable and responsible travel and home-stays that contribute to resilient local economies and support jobs, he said.

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In an unprecedented development, Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reportedly filed a graft case against Kashmiri separatist leader Altaf Bhat and 16 of his business associates for their alleged involvement in embezzlement of over Rs 100 crore in a cooperative housing scam.

The case was reportedly filed during an enquiry ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan over complaints from victims of the embezzlement. The FIA, according to media reports, has established that Rs 100 crore had been swindled by Bhat and other office-bearers of the Central Board of Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Society (CBRECHS).

Bhat, a resident of Begh-e-mehtab in Srinagar, operates in Pakistan as a representative of the Hurriyat Conference and had switched over from militancy to political activism more than two decades back. In 1990s, he was a militant affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and operated in Kashmir under the code name of Tufail.

He is the brother of Salvation Movement founder and former Hizb commander Zaffar Akbar Bhat. Both the brothers are wanted by the Special Investigation Agency (SIA), a newly carved-out unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police, for allegedly selling MBBS seats in Pakistani medical colleges to Kashmiri students and using the money to spread unrest in the Valley.

On August 18, 2021, J&K police arrested six of the accused in the MBBS seat scam including Zaffar. The agency has established the charges and filed a challan in the designated court for Counter Insurgency Kashmir (CIK) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases in Srinagar.

During the late 1990s and early part of this century, Altafs and Zaffars elder brother and a property dealer Abdul Gani Bhat was killed in the group clashes between two factions of the Hizb led by Syed Salahuddin and Abdul Majeed Dar.

Zaffar had sided with Dar during the battle for Hizbs leadership war between the two factions. However, Salahuddins loyalists allegedly killed Dar and his key associates including the dissident Farooq Mirchal.

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A 35-year-old woman was found lying unconscious in Rajasthans Nagaur district six days after two men allegedly raped her, attempted to strangle her and then abandoned her near a pond thinking she was dead, police said on Friday.

After the woman was found on Thursday, Superintendent of Police Ram Moorthy suspended Deedwana police station SHO and a head constable for inaction, they said.

The woman had gone missing on the night of February 4, and her family had lodged a missing complaint two days later at the Deedwana police station, accusing a man identified as Suresh Meghwal for it, Moorthy said.

The SP said when he came to know that neither call detail records were examined nor any physical efforts made to ascertain her movement from February 6 to 9, the circle officer concerned was instructed to initiate a probe, following which Meghwal was detained and interrogated.

During the investigation, Meghwal revealed that he and another man had raped the woman on the night of February 4 and then strangled her, Moorthy said.

"The next morning, on Thursday, a police team went to the spot in search of the woman, who was till then considered dead. Luckily, she survived. She was immediately shifted to a hospital and from there, taken to Jaipur where one inspector has been deputed to look after the arrangement of her treatment," he said.

The SP said the Deedwana SHO and a head constable were suspended.

"A criminal case of abduction and attempt to murder with sections of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against both the accused on Thursday. Today (Friday), based on the woman's medical report, the IPC section for gang rape was also included. Both the accused were placed under arrest," he added.

He said the condition of the woman is stable.

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The Supreme Court on Friday declined to intervene into ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, saying it should not be brought to the national level and if there is constitutional rights violation of anyone, the top court would intervene at the appropriate time.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana orally told the counsel of petitioner, challenging the Karnataka High Court interim order in the Hijab matter, to think whether it is proper to bring the issue at the national level.

Senior advocate Devadutt Kamat mentioned the plea challenging the Karnataka High Court's Thursday order to students not to insist on wearing religious attire.

Track live updates on hijab row here

Kamat submitted that High Court restrained the students from disclosing their religious identities, which leads to suspension of Article 25 and this will lead into larger consequences.

"The High Court is already hearing the matter, the bench said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for his part, said that the High Court order has not come out so far and it should be allowed to decide the issue. He that the matter should not be made religious and political. On this, the Chief Justice told petitioners counsel, Dont spread these things to a larger level We dont want to express anything on it.

We are watching it and we know what is happening. Think if it is proper to bring it to the national level," he asked.

The Chief Justice said if there is constitutional rights violation of anyone it would intervene at the appropriate time and it is its responsibility to protect constitutional rights of everyone.

Dr J Halli Federation of Masajids Madaaris and Wakf Institutions, in its petition, contended that the High Court's interim order created a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim female students and directly hit at secularism, a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

"The right to wear hijab falls under right to expression under Article 19(1)(a), right to privacy and freedom of conscience under Article 25. The same cannot be infringed upon without a valid law," the plea said.

It said the students concerned have to appear in practical examinations on February 15 and any interference on their access to institutions would impede on their right to education.

It asked the top court to stay the High Court's interim order till the disposal of the petition filed before the High Court against the state government's decision.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice J M Khazi had passed the oral observations and posted a batch of petitions questioning ban on Hijab for consideration on Monday.

"We will pass an order. Let the schools-colleges start. But till the matter is resolved, no student should insist on wearing religious dress, the Chief Justice had said.

A group of students' insistence to wear hijab was resisted by the college administration, triggering reactions from others to wear saffron shawls.

On Thursday, on a plea to transfer pending matters from to High Court to the top court, a bench presided over by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said, "Why should we jump in? Let High Court first decide the matter."

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Opposition MPs belonging to eight parties  Congress, DMK, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK, Muslim League, and JMM  walked out of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday over the hijab row in Karnataka, saying wearing it is not a crime and demanding a statement from the Centre on where it stands on the issue.

The issue was raised by Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. He said atrocities are being committed on Muslim girls for wearing hijab.

Hindus wear tilak on their forehand. Muslim women wear hijab. Wearing a hijab is not a crime. An atmosphere of fear has been created, Chowdhury said, referring to the hijab row in Karnataka.

Read more: As hijab row escalates, Bommai shuts all schools, colleges for 3 days

Shivakumar Udasi, a BJP MP from Karnataka, countered Chowdhury and said the Congress was making an unnecessary hue and cry over the issue though there are several court orders which said that law and order should get precedence.

He said the issue was a state subject and the Karnataka government has issued a rule on this and the subject is subjudice. So this should not be allowed to raise.

As Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla went ahead with the general discussion on Budget, Chowdhury announced the walkout saying what they were demanding was a statement from the government on the issue.

Congress MP Hibi Eden also submitted an adjournment motion in the House seeking an immediate discussion on the issue but was not allowed. Eden said several educational institutions in Karnataka have started to bar students from wearing the hijab. Wearing a hijab is a fundamental right of students. Violation of Article 25 of the Constitution by the Karnataka government shows their negligence, he said.

Chowdhury told reporters that some sort of moral policing is happening in the country on sisters of the Muslim community, creating a huge fissure in the society.
The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan on Friday held extensive talks in Melbourne amid escalating tension between Russia and NATO countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China's "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia's Marise Payn jointly called on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of their talks.

"A long and productive day in Melbourne. Just finished the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Impressed by the progress we have made," Jaishankar said on Twitter.

Also Read | Quad ministers convene to address China's 'coercion', climate, Covid

It is not immediately known whether the Ukraine crisis figured in the talks.

In the meeting with the Quad foreign ministers, Morrison talked about the importance of the grouping in the context of current geopolitical developments.

"We live in a very fragile, fragmented and contested world, and that is no more accentuated than here in our Indo-Pacific, and the like-minded partners that we see gathered together in this Quad, I always find so incredibly reassuring," he said.

The Australian prime minister said that he was reassured by the incredible support that Australia has received from its Quad partners and that he did not mean it only in a security context.

"I mean that in terms of our economic partnership and cooperation. I mean that in our humanitarian partnership. I mean that in terms of how each of us stands for a world order that favours freedom, and particularly here in a free and open Indo-Pacific. And I want to thank you for all of that," he said.

He said the Quad countries are working together on many shared projects and the partnership is not only about the traditional regional security issues.

"And the things we discussed today are principally how we will continue to always stand up for our values, which combined, which is what unites us most. Secondly, I think, in doing so, we stand up to those who would seek to coerce us," he said.

Also read: Checking China: What is the Quad alliance?

"And as I understand from our Quad partners, none of you know, understand better than we do, and that is a great comfort to us, that the coercion and the pressure that Australia has been placed under. We greatly appreciate your support," he added.

Australian Foreign Minister Payne said on Thursday that the fourth meeting of the Quad foreign ministers would focus on coronavirus vaccine distribution, countering terrorism and cooperation in maritime security and climate change.

In a statement, Payne also highlighted the need for ensuring that all Indo-Pacific nations are able to make their own strategic decisions, free from coercion, in remarks seen as a veiled reference to China's increasing bullying in the region.

It was the third in-person meeting of Quad foreign ministers, following their meeting in Tokyo in October 2020 and the inaugural meeting in New York in September 2019.

The ministers last held talks virtually in February last year.

In March last year, US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to the US.

Also Read | Quad meet amid US-Russia stand-off over Ukraine

The Quad has been focusing on cooperation in areas such as producing vaccines, connectivity projects, facilitating the mobility of students, and looking at promoting startups and technology collaboration.

The Quad vaccine partnership was announced in March last year with an aim to deliver one billion doses of vaccines to the Indo-Pacific region by the end of 2022.

It is learnt that there has been good progress under this initiative.

The production of Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccines started at India's Biological E facility in Hyderabad in October last year with the assistance of the US Development Financial Cooperation (DFC) through a credit line of $50 million to augment manufacturing capacity.

India is also open to supplying safe and affordable Made in India vaccines, such as COVOVAX and CORBEVAX, under the Quad vaccine partnership.

Following the launch of the Quad working group on critical and emerging technologies in March last year, four subgroups were established, with each country leading on one group.

The Quad is pursuing work on 5G technology and vendor diversification to maintain a diverse, open and interoperable telecommunication ecosystem through collaboration with like-minded partners.

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The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) Pravartak Technologies Foundation has partnered with Asha for Education to launch rural technology centres in Tamil Nadu to take computer science literacy to remote, rural government schools and enable tapping of the potential of school students in rural areas.

As part of the partnership, two Asha-IIT Madras Pravartak Rural Technology Centres were inaugurated on Friday in Kanakamma Chathram and Seethanjeri villages in Tiruvallur district just outside Chennai. The two institutes plan to launch more such centres near government schools this year.

The centres, which will train students of classes 9 to 12, is being funded by IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation.

IIT Madras is committed to working towards providing access to quality education and technology to students belonging to rural areas of our Country. The setting up of these two rural technology centres mark the beginning of our journey, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M, said.

Asha for Education is a worldwide action group formed to catalyse socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children, the IIT-M said, adding that the group uses advanced block-based programming tools such as Scratch from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Blockly from Google to teach programming.

We wanted to open the centres close to higher secondary schools so that the students will be able to attend courses in our centres in the evening after their school hours. Most children do not get any opportunity to learn computer science and other technologies, Rajaraman Krishnan from Asha For Education said.

Elaborating on the project, R. Divya, a teacher from Asha For Education who works at the Rural Technology Centre in Seethanjeri said the centres are a great opportunity for rural students to learn computers.

Based on the assessment of students levels, the Asha Team is planning to start two courses on Basic Digital Literacy and Basics of Programming. While instructions will be provided for two-thirds of the course, one-third of the course will be left for project work where the children create a presentation or software program of their own, the IIT-M said. These two basic courses will be followed up with other Code.org courses on animation, webpage design, and hardware-based programming, among others, the institute said.

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A gangbanger who murdered his pregnant girlfriend shot her on the Lower East Side in the neck while their young son watched in horror, prosecutors charge.

Dennis Fredricks has been arrested for shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the Lower East Side. (Obtained by Daily News)

Brittani Duffys son watched as she bled from the neck on the floor of their apartment at the Vladeck Houses on Madison St. near Jackson St. on Nov. 11, according to a criminal complaint.

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Her alleged killer, Dennis Applewhite, was brought back to New York to face murder charges this week, after his arrest in New Jersey more than two months ago.

Duffys son, whos described by prosecutors as approximately 7 to 9 years of age, told responding officers he saw the shooting, and described how his father ran out of the apartment, gun in hand, according to the complaint.

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Police investigate after a woman was shot inside 364 Madison Street in the Lower East Side on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News)

Duffy, 27, died of her wounds days later.

Applewhite, 28, a member of the Air It Out gang, , was arrested in Bogota, N.J. the night of the shooting. He carjacked an elderly motorist and crashed the stolen car, then fought off cops taking him into custody, according to Bergen County Sheriffs Office.

Applewhite, who also goes by the name Dennis Fredricks, remains held without bail.
Kerala youth Babu R, who was recued from a mountain cleft in a risky operation by Army the other day, said that he was not scared after being trapped as he was confident of somehow coming down.

Babu, who was discharged from the hospital on Friday, did not hide his desire to go mountaineering hereafter and also accepted the offer of help given by someone in Nepal to trek the Everest. When aksed if he was afraid, a cool Babu responded, "Of what?"

Recounting his experience, Babu said that he attempted climbing the same mountain earlier, but did not manage to reach the top. This time he was quite determined to reach the top, and hence, continued even as the teenagers who accompanied him returned on feeling thirsty.

Also Read | Will power of man trapped in Palakkad cleft lauded

When he reached the top, his legs slipped on dry grass and he fell 20 metres deep. Having sustained injuries to his leg, he knew it would be difficult to make it out without help. He first contacted a friend, and later the Fire and Rescue Services, and the police. Somehow, he slowly moved downwards and sat in the cave-like place, from where he was able to see all the rescue attempts.

Certain that the helicopter mission would not be successful did not mean he lost hope. The only thing that consistently remained a problem for him was dehydration as he was without water for two days.

Babu said that he still wishes to continue mountaineering, but hereafter with due permission from authorities and carrying adequate water and food.

Babu, who has been working as a news paper delivery boy, has previously worked at some hotels and an Air Forces mess. He also shared his desire to join the armed forces.

Alot of people gathered at the hospital and his house near Malampuzha greet Babu. Many had also presented him gifts as a token of appreciation.

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Continuing with his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday accused him of trying to cheat the states people by just saying Vanakkam (Tamil word for greetings) whereas the Union Government led by him continues to deceive the state by not releasing funds even to tackle natural disasters.

Stalin, while addressing a campaign meeting for elections to urban local bodies in Kanyakumari district via video conferencing, launched a frontal attack on the Centre by accusing it of trying to swallow one by one the financial resources of the state governments.

Criticizing Modi for his objection to Rahul Gandhis speech in Parliament during which he said India was a Union of States, Stalin said there was nothing wrong in the speech by the Congress MP since he has just reiterated what is written in the Constitution.

Also Read | PM Modi doesnt have to hand out certificates to Tamils on patriotism: M K Stalin

States are the foundation of this country, Stalin said in his speech and questioned the Centre why it has not released funds sought by the Tamil Nadu government for relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people and that why no major projects were not announced for the state in the Union Budget.

The Prime Minister quotes Thirukural but forgets Tamil Nadu where Thiruvalluvar (who wrote the couplets) was born. Where is the due importance for the Tamil language? Do you think you can cheat the people of Tamil Nadu by saying Vanakkam? People of Tamil Nadu will never cheat others nor get cheated themselves, Stalin said in his 30-minute speech.

He also said the people of Tamil Nadu will not believe people who speak in Tamil occasionally only with an intent to seek votes as they are aware of their various designs.

The Chief Minister also accused the Centre of not responding to the states request for the release of Rs 6,230 crore for temporary and permanent flood mitigation measures for the past few months.

We have not got money from the Centre. States are already facing financial crises due to Covid-19 mitigation efforts. Already, the Centre snatched away much of the financial resources of the states. Where do we get money to run the state? he asked.

Opposing the One Nation, One Registration scheme announced in the Union Budget, Stalin said the revenue from land and property registration was one of the major resources for the states. They want to snatch that as well. The Centre seems to be keen on swallowing the financial resources of the state governments, he alleged.

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While arguing for leniency towards 49 people convicted in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, the defence lawyer on Friday said before the special designated court that it should not treat the case as one of the "rarest of the rare" to award the death penalty as the country has witnessed several similar cases such as Malegaon blast.

Noting that such incidents shouldn't be taken lightly at any cost, the defence lawyer MN Shaikh told the court that if one goes to the root of the reasons behind these incidents, it will be found that these are the result of "injustice". Therefore, he said that one injustice should not lead to another. He argued that "awarding death penalty will not help in curbing such incidents and neither will it serve the purpose of justice." Shaikh added that "many of the convicted have lost their faith in the justice system" and the court must consider that their feelings come from the sense of injustice meted out to them.

Shaikh said it is the prosecution's case that the blasts were an act of "revenge" for atrocities on Muslims in wake of the 2002 post Godhra riots. But, he said, since 1992, following Babri Mosque demolition, "blasts have been happening in the country like in Malegaon, Modasa, Samjhauta Express, blasts in Jaipur and Delhi. Although the prosecution states that convicts carried out 2008 blasts to take revenge for 2002 post Godhra riots, I think it was more of an emotional reaction than a revenge like most of the cases I counted before the court."

Asking for minimum punishment, Shaikh argued, "They (convicts) are Indians, well educated and many of them follow Gandhi and Ambedkar's teachings." He asked for a simple life imprisonment in case the court still believes that they should be punished. He also asked the court to consider section-428 of code of criminal procedure (CrPC) that deals with setting off the period of sentence already undergone while awarding punishment. In this case, the majority of the convicts are in jail for over 13 years.

Other defence lawyers will argue on Monday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the special court had found 49 accused guilty and acquitted 28 persons for want of evidence and for the benefit of the doubt. On July 26, 2008, coordinated blasts had killed 56 people and left over 200 injured. Police had claimed that it was carried out by Indian Mujahideen, a breakaway faction of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The movie behind the blasts was found to be "a revenge for atrocities on Muslims in 2002 post Godhra riots."

Earlier in the day, the special judge Ambalal R Patel, who is conducting the hearing through video conferencing, asked all the convicts to address the court if they wanted to put forth their side before deciding the punishment.

Many convicts broke down while pleading for leniency citing their family backgrounds, social life and being incarcerated for over 13 years. Some of them burst into anger, claimed innocence and said that they had hope only in "divine justice" and alleged the police officers, prosecution lawyers and judicial system of being biased towards a particular community.

"The almighty is watching everyone, including those who are pleading for mercy here. The Almighty has punished some police officers, who framed the innocent people in this case, by putting them in jail. Only almighty can do the justice," one of the convicts told the court while alleging that those government officials involved in the investigation and trial "know in their heart that they (convicts) were innocent people."

One of the convicts while seeking mercy said, "I am in jail for over 13 years. My wife divorced me. I am a social man and want to live in society. I studied in jail by utilizing the time rather than wasting the time I had. I am so poor that I couldn't afford a lawyer. My lawyer is from the government's legal aid department."

"We are not bad people. You just meet my family and you will understand. They are well educated. You will realize it once you meet them," said another one requesting the court to meet his progressive family before awarding him any harsh punishment. "I have psychiatric issues. I haven't seen my father for 10 years. Please issue a special order so that I can meet him. I haven't touched my wife and children all these years," another convict said.

When I was put behind bars, I was an illiterate man. In jail, I studied till graduation but failed the exams. I had never visited Gujarat before being arrested. My family is dependent on the government's monthly ration, said another one.

I had no idea that the court would find me guilty. I had hoped for justice. I was barely 21 years old when the DCB (detection of crime branch) arrested me and forced me to sign some blank papers on which they wrote whatever they liked. I say that DCB should get a patent on this kind of investigation style, another convict said in his defence.

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In a significant development, a ten-member United States Navy delegation led by Rear Admiral Leonard C Butch Dollaga, Commander Submarine Group 7, visited the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command (HQWNC), the sword arm of the Indian Navy.

The visit of the US Navy (USN) delegation was part of follow-up activities linked to the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) discussions held in October 2020 wherein a consensus was reached to explore cooperation in the field of Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) with a formal agreement between the two sides.

The delegation was accompanied by David J Ranz, Consul General, US Consulate, Mumbai.

During the visit, Rear Admiral Dollaga called on Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and discussed matters of relevance to the maritime domain with special emphasis on the growing cooperation between the two navies.

The USN delegation presented various avenues to progress cooperation in the niche field of UDA and further strengthen Indo-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. On the Indian side, the discussion was led by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Staff, HQWNC wherein various facets of mutual cooperation in the field of UDA were deliberated.

India was accorded Major Defence Partner Status by the USA during the Prime Minister's visit to the USA in June 2016 that institutionalised defence trade and technology sharing with India, at par with closest allies and partners of the USA. Major agreements signed between India and USA since 2014 include the Defence Framework Agreement (DFA), BECA, General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Communication Compatibility and Security Arrangements (COMCASA) and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).

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Even as the controversy over wearing hijab in colleges is taking a violent turn across the state, Dharwad, which is the hub of education with a sizeable Muslim population, keeps cool much to the delight of academicians and parents.

Students organisations, like Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), National Students Union of India (NSUI) and All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), have appealed to the student community to keep off the controversy and concentrate on studies. Academic activities in schools and colleges in the district are going on smoothly.

Leaders of the ABVP are visiting colleges and hostels, sensitising students about the need to focus on studies rather than engaging in protests.

The NSUI, AIDSO and others too have appealed to the students not to be influenced by the controversy.

Also read: Hijab row: Why it pays to keep the youth fixated on religious identities

ABVP state secretary Prateek Mali told DH that the activists are meeting various groups of students and appealing to them not to allow politicians to drive a wedge between them for political mileage.

The students have already suffered for the last two years as the classes did not commence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and now they cannot afford to miss the classes again for any reason.

He said in the land of saints, like Shishunal Sharief and Kanakadasa who strove for communal harmony, it was unfortunate that the student community is being divided on frivolous issues. Creating communal harmony in the society is one of the objectives of education. Unfortunately, disharmony is brewing in educational institutions, Mali rued.

He said students are being told to shun the idea of wearing either hijab or saffron stole and adhere to the uniform prescribed by their respective institutions.

Dharwad has a student population of over two lakh and any disturbance to the academic schedule will harm their careers.

The response to our appeal so far has been encouraging as the students, teachers and parents have appreciated our stand on the issue, said ABVP organising secretary Gangadhar Haranjagi.

ABVP activists are visiting schools and colleges and raising the slogan all are one, education is our right, he noted.

The NSUI has appealed to the district administration to see to it that the controversy does not enter educational campuses.

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Amid the Hijab row in Karnataka, the government on Thursday decided to resume classes for high school students from next week, even as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated the High Court has said students should not wear a religious dress to colleges. The Hijab row started in December end when a few students started coming to the government pre-university college in Udupi wearing Hijab. Protesting against it, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves. Stay tuned for more updates.
Holiday announced to universities belonging to the department of Higher Education and colleges under the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), in the wake of the Hijab row, has been extended till February 16, the Karnataka government said on Friday.

However, examinations will be held as scheduled and it has been directed to conduct online classes, state Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said in a statement. Earlier in the day, both Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra had indicated that a decision regarding reopening Pre-University and Degree (higher education) Colleges will be taken on February 14. Noting that in view of the Hijab row, DCTE had declared the closure of institutions from February 9 to February 11, Narayan said, now as a precautionary measure it has been extended.

This closure is applicable for government, aided, unaided degree colleges, diploma, and engineering colleges, he added. The government on Thursday had decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and Degree Colleges thereafter. The Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the Hijab row, had earlier requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom.

As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9. Earlier in the day, ahead of the reopening of schools, the state government had issued a series of directions to district administrations, aimed at maintaining peace and that the High Court order is not violated.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with some Ministers, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendent of Police (SPs), Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPIs) and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats of all districts, via video conferencing, to review the ground situation. "From Monday, high school classes up to class 10 will resume across the state, directions have been issued to see to it that no untoward incident takes place.

In sensitive areas, DCs and SPs have to visit campuses and instruct the authorities and teaching staff there to see to it that no untoward incidents take place," Jnanendra told reporters after the meeting. DCs, SPs and DDPIs have been asked to keep constant contact with principals, teachers, management of educational institutions and parents. "Action should be taken against the guilty, peace meetings should be held and the High Court order should be followed literally.

Authorities should not budge to any pressure and even small incidents should be considered seriously," he added. Meanwhile, a police flag march was held in Udupi, ahead of the reopening of schools on Monday.

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The three-judge full bench of the Karnataka High Court has passed an order restraining all the students, regardless of their religion or faith, from wearing saffron (Bhagwa) shawls, scarf, hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders. A full bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice J M Khazi passed this order requesting the state government to reopen the educational institutions and allow the students to return to the classes at the earliest.

The bench made it clear that the order is confined to the institutions where College Development Committees (CDC) have prescribed the student dress code/uniform.

Also Read  Will interfere at appropriate time: Supreme Court on plea against Karnataka High Court's interim order on hijab row

Ours being a civilised society, no person in the name of religion, culture or the like can be permitted to do any act that disturbs public peace and tranquility. Endless agitations and closure of educational institutions indefinitely are not happy things to happen. The hearing on these matters on urgency basis is continuing. Elongation of academic terms would be detrimental to the educational career of students especially when the timeliness for admission to higher studies/courses are mandatory, the bench said.

Track live updates on hijab row here

The court expressed hope that all stakeholders and the public at large shall maintain peace and tranquility. The bench noted that the matters involve questions of enormous public importance and constitutional significance. Firstly we are pained by the ongoing agitations and closure of educational institutions since the past few days, especially when this court is seized off this matter and important issues of constitutional significance and of personal law are being seriously debated. It hardly needs to be mentioned that ours is a country of plural cultures, religions and languages. Being a secular state, it does not identify itself with any religion as its own, the bench said.

The court in its order further stated, Every citizen has the right to profess and practice any faith of choice, is true. However, such a right not being absolute is susceptible to reasonable restrictions as provided by the Constitution of India. Whether wearing of hijab in the classroom is a part of essential religious practice of Islam in the light of constitutional guarantees, needs deeper examination, the court said.

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MLA Raghupathi Bhat has demanded an NIA probe into the Hijab controversy.

Speaking to the reporters, the MLA said, "around 1500 to 2000 trainers have arrived from Hyderabad and Kerala to frame the strategies to fight for Hijab. There is information that some trainers had even come to Udupi from Hyderabad."

The MLA said he has written a letter to the state government demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.

Bhat said, "the entire issue is a conspiracy by some international forces. The strategy was formulated in November 2021 and the agitation was taken up after a well-planned strategy. The truth will come out only with a high-level inquiry and the probe should be handed over to the NIA."

Also Read | Hijab row: Decision on reopening PU and degree colleges likely on Feb 14, says Karnataka Minister

"Following the international conspiracy, the issue has spread all over the country like a wildfire," he said and added that he will speak to Home Minister Araga Jnanendra demanding an in-depth inquiry.

The MLA alleged that the girls have become puppets in the hands of the "Tukade gang". "All these activities were well planned and the role of the Tukade gang is clearly visible. There is a need to stop these forces from misleading the students," he said. Bhat accused the PFI and CFI of using agitating girls to disrupt the peace in the country.

Coming down heavily on the Congress, the MLA said, "Congress has interfered into the controversy. People are realising the true colour of Congress. Hijab is not completely banned. It is not allowed inside the classrooms."

Meanwhile, Udupi Government PU college principal Rudragowda S said that the students have crossed the limits, which calls for disciplinary action. The college tolerated all nonsense for more than a month.

The issue and the college became the topic of discussion at the international level. "They are our students. We sympathise with them. We need to protect the image of the college. No organisation will be entertained inside the college. These organisations are responsible for making the college a hub of indiscipline, "he added.

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Union Minister for Social Justice A Narayanaswamy on Friday blamed police failure for honour killings, manual scavenging deaths and low conviction rates in atrocity cases on SC/STs.

I have no hesitation in saying theres police failure, Narayanaswamy, who represents Chitradurga in the Lok Sabha, told reporters after a two-hour-long review meeting with officials on matters concerning social welfare, especially SC/STs.

Narayanaswamy said he asked officials to give him a full report on honour killings and manual scavenging, a practice he said still continues.

Read more: No person currently engaged in manual scavenging: GoI

There have been 90 manual scavenging deaths in Karnataka till date since 1995. Of these, 39 deaths were in Bengaluru Urban. The official concerned said he had no proper information. Ive strictly asked for a report on how many officials have been suspended and contractors acted against, he said.

Im not saying its not happening. The government is taking various steps and theres no magic wand, Narayanaswamy said on manual scavenging.

The minister said providing Rs 10 lakh compensation for manual scavenging deaths is not enough. All urban local bodies have serious instructions to purchase jetting machines, he said. Were also pushing a scheme in which loans are given to people to buy jetting machines. He added that an assessment is being done on how many jetting machines are needed to ensure manual scavenging does not occur.

Narayanaswamy further lamented that the conviction rate in cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is just 3 per cent. Officials have been asked to increase this rate. There are some 6,000 cases where charge sheets have been filed, but special courts havent been set up, he said.

During the review meeting, Narayanaswamy said he has asked the departments of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RDPR), Horticulture, Forest and others to work together on a master plan to ensure financial upliftment of Dalit farmers under the Ganga Kalyana scheme.

Till today, borewell and irrigation facilities worth Rs 53,000 crore have been provided to farmers under Ganga Kalyana. Were also thinking of ways to encourage Ganga Kalyana across the country, Narayanaswamy said.

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The California Supreme Court has rejected the latest bid for freedom by Leslie Van Houten, a notorious follower of Charles Manson who is serving a life sentence in connection with the cults infamous bloody killing spree.

Van Houten has said she was only a teenager when she started traveling with Manson along the California coast in the late 60s. At 19 years old, she helped the Manson family brutally murder Los Angeles grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in August 1969.

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The California Supreme Court has denied a potential bid for freedom by Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten following Gov. Gavin Newsom's rejection of her parole. The court on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 refused to hear Van Houten's appeal of a lower court ruling last December that denied her petition for a review. (Stan Lim/AP)

The slayings came a day after other Manson followers  without Van Houten  slaughtered pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others.

In 1971, she was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the deadly grocery store stabbings as well as conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Tate, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Parent and Jay Sebring. She was sentenced to death for her crimes, but the conviction and punishment were reversed on appeal and she was ultimately sentenced to life in prison.

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FILE - This March 29, 1971, file photo shows Leslie Van Houten in a Los Angeles lockup. (Anonymous/AP)

Since then, she has attempted to secure her freedom more than two dozen times. Last November, a parole board for the fifth time in as many years recommended Van Houtens release. Gov. Gavin Newsom ultimately rejected her parole, triggering an appeal. A lower court in December declined to review a petition, arguing the California governor violated Van Houtens due process when he reversed the 2020 parole board recommendation.

FILE - This combination of file photos shows Charles Manson on Aug. 14, 2017, left, in a photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and on Dec. 22, 1969, right, leaving a Los Angeles courtroom. (AP)

The petition also alleged that Newsom would not provide documents indicating when the board referred the case to him, suggesting that there was a strong possibility he exceeded a 30-day time limit for review.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 In the early morning of Aug. 9, 1969, blossoming actress Sharon Tate was brutally murdered, along with four others, in a horrific crime orchestrated by Charles Manson and executed by his followers. The 26-year-old actress was pregnant at the time of her murder and only two weeks away from giving birth. (Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear Van Houtens appeal regarding the December ruling.

Manson, who died in 2017 while serving a life sentence, organized a family of followers he believed would survive an impending race war. Part of his response to the imaginary war was to embark on a series of random murders in the Los Angeles region.

With News Wire Services
Paul Quinn is the co-chairperson of the Cross-Border Workers Coalition (CBWC), an alliance of individual employees from Derry/Donegal representing employees who reside in the Republic of Ireland but are largely prohibited from remote working (or working from home) due to restrictive personal tax rules which impact cross-border workers who work in Northern Ireland on a daily basis.

Here, he gives the reason when he believes ,the opportunity is now right to make the legislative change for the benefit of thousands of cross border workers right across the necklace region of the Republic of Ireland to allow them to work in the country that they reside without being exposed to a personal tax liability.

Be it the constant bad news, ever-changing restrictions, or even the inability to travel abroad, Covid-19 has given us very little to cheer about over the last two years.

Many of us will hope that 2022 will be the year we finally put the pandemic behind us and leave behind dreaded phrases like furlough and the new normal.

And yet, despite all the negativity of the last 24 months, we have seen real progress on one major issue: homeworking.

Working remotely has transformed my work-life balance, granting me more time with my family and less time commuting. According to WFH Research, working from home saves staff an average of 70 minutes a day. Half the time saved goes to working more, the other half to leisure, meaning that both employers and employees benefit.

Given these advantages, it is unsurprising that the Irish Government have moved to make remote work a permanent feature of our working lives.

The recently published Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 gives employees a formal right to request home-working and, if passed, will grant much-needed flexibility to workers across the Republic of Ireland. That is, if you dont work in the North.

I live in Donegal and work in Derry. Like thousands of others, I deal with contrasting laws, frameworks, and rules daily.

But this goes beyond carrying euro and sterling. While our Republic of Ireland colleagues are soon to be granted a home-working right, we are facing a full-time office return. While they are given modern working practises, we are looking to the past.

Remote work is here to stay, but for many cross-border workers, home-working flexibility is not. Under current Trans Border Workers Relief legislation, cross-border workers, who live in the Republic of Ireland but work in Northern Ireland, can be financially penalised if they work-from-home.

SDLP leader and Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood, pictured when he met with Cross Border Workers Coalition over double tax.

Left unchanged, employers across this island may be forced to exclude border employees simply because of where they live. This simply does not work for the employees we represent.

As co-chair of the Cross Border Workers Coalition, we have been engaging with the Irish Government seeking permanent, pragmatic amendments to outdated ROI tax rules. While we have secured an extension to temporary Covid-19 support, this waiver on pre-pandemic rules could end overnight, posing disruption to the lives of thousands of cross-border workers.

And despite engagement with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe TD and other Ministers, no concrete action has been undertaken.

Any strengthening of the right to remote work is to be welcomed. Now is the time for this home-working flexibility to be granted to employees regardless of where they live and work on this island. Now is the time for cross-border workers to be heard. Now is the time for action.
The School of Music in Derry is to host a workshop led by the MozART Group who will also be performing as part of the school's upcoming Gala concert.

The world famous MozART Group will perform in concert on Saturday March 5 in St Columbs Cathedral at 7:30pm.

MozART Group is a cabaret and comedy string quartet based in Warsaw, Poland, known for its unique approach to classical music.

Prior to the concert, there will be a workshop that will take place in the assembly hall of Foyle College and will begin at 2:30pm on March 5.

The School of Music would like to reach out to the community by opening this workshop to everyone  not just School of Music students.

The School of Music was founded in September 2019 by Nicky Morton and Louis Fields.

It is now home to over 260 students learning piano, organ, guitar, singing, violin, viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, flute, harp and musical theory.

Founder Nicky Morton said: "The school is very much cross community, cross border and cross cultural in its approach.

"It is also intergenerational with our youngest student aged six, and the oldest 78 years old.

"The 17 current tutors are all local musicians who want to give something back to the community - many of whom are graduates from Ulster University and still perform and play at the highest level.

"As well as the primary function of providing music lessons to our students, the School of Music has a strong desire to deliver musical enjoyment and fun to the local community.

"In the past, we have provided carols and Christmas songs in local care homes, worked alongside local primary schools to offer bursaries to local children who may come from what is deemed socially and economically deprived areas and cannot afford the price of a years worth of music lessons."

The School of Music attracts well known and professional artists to perform for the School of Music community every March. They provide tutors to local schools to provide workshops. These schools include St Josephs Secondary School, Fountain Primary School, Thornhill College and Foyle College.

Nicky continued: "The workshop is an opportunity for our young people to meet the world famous MozART Group performers.

"They will join in on musical games and activities with the group. Not only is this workshop open to the School of Music students, but we would like to open it up to the wider community.

"The workshop is free of charge. It is predominantly aimed at primary and secondary school students. However, the MozART Group has said it will also benefit adults so all children and adults of all abilities are most welcome to the workshop, and to the School of Music in general.

"We hope that this concert inspires our students about the possibilities and opportunities that music can give you.

"We hope that students can see the school of music as a platform to develop and steer their musical career.

"Our Roy Adams Memorial Piano Scholar, Ava McGinn will also perform before the MozART Group takes to the stage.

"Roy was an extremely well known and talented pianist and organist from the city. Above all else - he was a true gentleman and always supported the School of Music.

"Unfortunately, Roy is no longer with us but his legacy lives on. We are most grateful to Roy's son, Adrian, and his wife, Liz, who sponsor the scholarship each year.

"This allows the scholar- this year it is Ava- to receive free piano lessons and books to develop her talent.

"The School of Music does not receive any funding and therefore we are most grateful to our sponsors and donors who have so generously supported us over the years - without which we simply would fail to exist."

If you would like the chance to meet with MozART Group in person, and enjoy their workshop, you can sign up for free at www.stcolumbsschoolofmusic. com/events.

To purchase your ticket- 20 each- for the 7:30pm concert in the Cathedral, please visit www. stcolumbsschoolofmusic.com/ events
Baby Lewis, born July 2020, has lived his whole life with a rare condition currently not recognised as a rare disease.

Jennifer, Lewis' mother, said she has found that many consultants in Northern Ireland do not know the best way to treat Lewis and it has left her feeling frustrated and abandoned.

Lewis requires full time care and Jennifer is calling for Lewis' condition to be recognised as a rare disease and for there to be more medical, emotional and financial support for all the families currently going through similar situations.

The mum of four hopes to take this matter to Stormont as she fights for the 18-month-old and his condition on a daily basis.

Jennifer, describes baby Lewis as "the sweetest most loving little boy" and "hugs and kisses all day long would be his ideal world."

However, after giving birth to her son, Jennifer explained she knew something wasn't right, "When Lewis was born, call it mothers instinct, I knew something wasn't right," she said.

"After delivery, we spent 24 hours in the ward. As a mum of four, three of which were very vocal at birth, I was a little surprised when there was little to no crying when Lewis was born.

"He was sleeping more than expected and had quite a lot of sick episodes. Part of me was thinking okay, every baby is different but in the back of my mind my gut was telling me something wasn't right.

"In the days that followed, Lewis slept, he slept a lot. It was a struggle to get him to feed and very time consuming with the worry as every new parent has, "are they getting enough?"

"He had his heel prick on the fifth day and I really didn't think much of it until the dreaded phone call at nine days old. The endocrinologist in the Royal Victoria Hospital for sick children in Belfast rang that morning and briefly explained the situation with his results and asked that I bring Lewis up for more blood and to start medication that day."

Jennifer and Lewis travelled to the Royal Hospital in Belfast and were sadly told that Lewis had congenital hypothyroidism. A scan was arranged the following day which diagnosed Lewis with an ectopic thyroid gland. Little Lewis remains on a high dose of levothyroxine.

Jennifer continued: "It felt like a nightmare. Between going into panic mode and crying with worry. But, it was only the start of our journey with Lewis' condition."

Congenital hypothyroidism is a partial or complete loss of function of the thyroid gland that affects infants from birth. It occurs when the thyroid gland fails to develop or function properly.

Some babies with congenital hypothyroidism are less active and sleep more than normal. They may have difficulty feeding and experience constipation. If untreated, congenital hypothyroidism can lead to intellectual disability and slow growth.

Jennifer explained: "Lewis has always had feeding issues. He has always struggled with bottle feeds since he was born and weaning was just a no go. He has a defensiveness with feeding, food and in general with his mouth.

"It's only been the past few months he's engaged in trying but every meal, and feeding in general, differs every time.

"Lewis is behind in his development; his walking, talking, feeding and sensory. He suffers from bowel issues; either severe constipation or severe diarrhea. He has random episodes of vomiting and unexplained skin rashes that appear out of nowhere.

"Sleep for the past few months has just not existed. Melatonin was introduced a few months back and has been increased. It does help him go over to sleep at bed time but after an hour and a half, or two hours tops, he's wide awake with no intentions of going back to sleep."

Jennifer feels ever since Lewis was diagnosed with his condition, he was simply assessed, put on medication, and Jennifer was left to figure things out for herself. Jennifer was provided with a leaflet and told he would need regular bloods.

For the first three months of his life, Lewis had regular bloods taken and was then referred to the paediatrics in Altnagelvin.

Baby Lewis is 18 months old and was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism at just nine days old

Jennifer continued: "I am by no means wanting to say anything bad about the doctors or the nurses, they have been brilliant, but there is only so much they can do with what they have.

"I personally feel it's unfair for Lewis as he needs a specialist to monitor him and someone who fully understands his condition.

Expressing daily life with Lewis and the struggles that come with it has been difficult to explain to the paediatrics and the endocrinologist.

"With this being one of many rare conditions, I feel that medical professionals need to understand that within the 30-60 minute appointment we go to every few months, explaining every single little thing in detail is impossible.

"It's frustrating as a parent who is living with this every single day. I've had to basically beg for Lewis to have bloods done over the past 18 months when I knew he wasn't good.

"I feel like I'm being made to feel like I'm crazy or being told to wait for his next appointment. A lot has been pushed upon the health visitor, who is the most amazing caring and considerate lady I have ever come across, but she has fully exhausted her level of involvement.

"The UK strategy for rare diseases and conditions needs to be a priority at this stage. England, Scotland and Wales are moving forward and making changes, addressing issues, and making improvements.

"A signed declaration was made by our Health Ministers over the past few years as a promise to fulfil the needs of this community who are in desperate need of acknowledgement, understanding and care.

"These are babies, young children, teenagers, adults, and families that are being completely overlooked, in every aspect, suffering at the hands of our government. People in this community need more medical care, medical understanding, and financial help.

"I've been in contact with a few local councillors and I've been in contact with quite a lot of professionals over the past few months but nothing seems to happen. I'm waiting on calls that never happen.

"I started this journey with Lewis. My priority is Lewis. My priority will always be Lewis, but, this is a community of individuals that deserve the right to be treated with equality and respect- as much as anyone with a well known condition.

"This is a plea for recognition, acknowledgement and understanding for the babies, children and adults that are silently suffering."

Rhoda Walker, chair of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership, echoed Jennifer's requests and explained the work the charity is doing in hopes to achieve it, "It can take five years or more to get a diagnosis from first symptoms," Rhoda explained, "And even when a diagnosis has been made, only five per cent of rare conditions have an identified treatment.

"We are working closely with key partners in the NI Rare Disease Implementation Group to ensure that the regional action plan works towards faster diagnosis and clear medical pathways for conditions.

"In addition, we are working to increase awareness throughout not only the health care community but society more broadly.

Rare conditions affect one in 17 people- that's more than 110,000 people across Northern Ireland- so rare isn't actually rare at all.

"If there isn't a condition in your family, you just need to look to your friends, neighbours or work colleagues to find someone in this position.

"Living or caring for someone with a rare condition can be frustrating, challenging and sometimes lonely. If, like Jennifer, you are facing challenges, please don't struggle alone; reach out to our support hub.

"NIRDP are here to help, can provide accurate information, help you navigate the health care and other systems and signpost you to relevant organisations.

"There's an opportunity for everyone to get involved to raise awareness and even an hour of your time could be so valuable to help this often invisible community.

"If you need support or information, or think you might be able to support us in our efforts please visit nirdp.org.uk or find us on social media."
Local politicians have welcomed future improvements to a busy stretch of County Derry road.

The 700,000 Department of Infrastructure project, which will see turning lanes and additional measures to increase safety at the Ranaghan Road junction of the Glenshane Road.

Ongoing safety concerns have resulted in residents and local representatives campaigning for the work to be completed.

Mid Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said the project would be a 'game-changer' for safety on the busy road.

 This project has been considered for a significant amount of time, she said.

The works will include right hand turning lanes, drainage works, a footpath, and improvements to the hard shoulders on both sides of the road.

This is the culmination of a huge amount of work between ourselves, particularly Brian [McGuigan], as well as DFI Roads and local residents, and the benefits will soon be clear for all to see.

Mid Ulster District councillor, Brian McGuigan, said the priority had been road safety.

We all know that the Glenshane Pass is amongst the busiest and most dangerous roads in the north, he said.

Being as it is incredibly exposed to the elements, particularly ice and snow, as well as being the main road between Belfast and Derry.

Patsy McGlone MLA shared plans for the area online.

The safety of the junction is paramount, but we also felt that it was important that local residents were consulted on changes that would impact on their homes.

We are delighted to have engaged with everyone concerned and reached an agreement that all involved are happy with.

Patsy McGlone MLA also welcomed the confirmation of the plans.

Cllr Martin Kearney and I met with officials from Department for Infrastructure regarding ongoing safety concerns around the junction on A6 Glenshane Road entering onto the Ranaghan Road, he said.

I am pleased to say that 700,000 has been set aside for turning lanes and additional measures to increase safety at this very busy junction.

Cllr Kearney and myself have been working with local residents and DfI officials for a number of years and we thank Minister Nichola Mallon for her support in this project.
Samsung is offering a Galaxy SmartTag for free with the pre-order of the Galaxy S22 lineup.

After the debut of the Galaxy S22 series at the Galaxy Unpacked event held on February 9, Samsung must be gearing up to launch the phones in markets like India. And much to the delight of most Sammy fans in the country, the South Korean giant has confirmed that it will be bringing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 edition of the phones to our market. In a Twitter conversation, both Samsung and Snapdragon India revealed the news.

Thanks @Snapdragon_IN , #GalaxyS22 Series powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will surely set an epic standard of performance and Nightography.

Learn more https://t.co/VfIruytEyr https://t.co/R0VazioOZX  Samsung India (@SamsungIndia) February 10, 2022

Well, well, so if you are looking to snag one of these phones for yourself, know that they are up for pre-booking on the official Samsung India website. While doing so, you are also rewarded with goodies like a Galaxy Smart Tag and stand a chance at winning other benefits. Lets see how you go about doing the same.

Samsung Galaxy S22 series: Pre-order benefits

Pre-reserving a Galaxy S22 series smartphone costs 1,999 and here are the step to do it:

Visit the Samsung India website and click on the Pre-reserve button to add the Galaxy S22 Pre-reserve VIP pass to your cart.

Pre-orders will start off at a price of 1999 (refundable).

Upon successfully completing the process, you will receive a confirmation email and SMS message.

The benefits of this are that you get a preferential hold on the new Galaxy S22 phones. And when you buy the phone using the VIP pass (before March 10, 2022), you get a refund of the afore-paid 1,999 slashed from the purchase price. However, ensure you avail of this pass in time cause else Samsung warns, The coupon if not utilised till 23:59 hours on 10th Mar'22, will stand automatically cancelled and refund of the Pre-reserve VIP pass of amount Rs. 1999 will be generated to your source account from where you made the payment.

Note that you can pre-book the Galaxy S22 series until February 21, 2022. And those of you who pre-reserve a unit will be gifted a Galaxy Smart Tag worth 2,699 as well.

Samsung assures that this process is risk-free and that you can get a 100% refund on cancellation. The hows of this are detailed on the same webpages FAQ section.

As for the Indian pricing and availability details, the company hasnt announced them yet. So, you may work with what we know from the global launch 

The Galaxy S22 starts at $799 (~59,797), the Galaxy S22 Plus at $999 (~74,764) and Galaxy S22 Ultra at $1,199 (~89,700). In India, as already mentioned, the phones will be wielding the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. You can find more details about them here.

And for more news, reviews, buying guides, feature stories, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.
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TORONTO (AP)  The Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government Thursday to use its federal powers to end the truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country's COVID-19 restrictions, as the bumper-to-bumper demonstration forced auto plants on both sides of the border to shut down or scale back production.

For the fourth straight day, scores of truckers taking part in what they dubbed the Freedom Convoy blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products between the two countries.





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Image from Tet in Seattle Tet in Seattle celebrates the culture of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans in the Pacific Northwest through art, food, music and traditions.





SEATTEL  Tet in Seattle  Vietnamese Lunar New Year is part of the Seattle Center Festal series and produced in partnership with Tet in Seattle.





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SEATTLEThe Seattle Opera has announced the lineup of repertoire and artists for their 2022/23 season, which will include the world premiere of A Thousand Splendid Suns), as well as Samson and Delilah and favorites The Elixir of Love, Tristan and Isolde, and La traviata. Performing these works will be over 50 mainstage soloists.

A Thousand Splendid Suns (which runs Feb. 25  Mar. 11 at McCaw Hall) is an adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel. With music by composer Sheila Silver and a libretto by Stephen Kitsakos, it tells the story of two Afghan women, brought together under Taliban rule, who must make unthinkable sacrifices as they fight for their survival. The production is directed by Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, whose work as one of Afghanistan's first female film directors has garnered more than 20 international film awards.





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Photo by Kidder Mathews [enlarge] Once part of Auto Row, the century-old building appears bound for new use.





The former home to the R Place nightclub, at 619 E. Pine St. on Capitol Hill, just sold for $2.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was a family, now based in California, that acquired the property in 1994 for $700,000.





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Lao leader speaks highly of China-Laos railway

Xinhua) 15:43, February 11, 2022

VIENTIANE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith has spoken highly of the China-Laos Railway during his recent trip by the Lane Xang EMU train and inspection on the railway's operation.

Thongloun, who led a government delegation, took the train traveling from the capital Vientiane to the Boten town bordering China on Monday, before returning to Vientiane from Luang Prabang on Wednesday.

During his inspection at the Vientiane railway station, Thongloun was briefed on the station's operation and gave instructions on railway security issues, Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), the joint venture in charge of the operation of the railway's Lao section, told Xinhua on Thursday.

Thongloun praised his experience on board the Lane Xang EMU as a comfortable and safe trip, and expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in the two-month operation of the China-Laos Railway since its inauguration in December 2021.

The Lao president also said that the railway's operation facilitates the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and that the Lao people feel proud of the railway.

He expressed hope that the Lao people can all experience the train travel and truly get to know the significance of joint implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the LCRC told Xinhua.

Thongloun also quoted a Lao proverb as saying that "where there is a road, there is an opportunity for development", reiterating the important role of the China-Laos Railway in promoting development of the Southeast Asian country.

As of Feb. 5, the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway had run a total of 116 pairs of passenger trains, transporting 108,770 passengers, an average of 1,699 passengers per day, in addition to 124.5 pairs of freight trains, shipping 133,191 tons of goods, an average of 2,081 tons per day.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Two Maryland police officers were shot on Friday.

The incident took place in Frederick, about 50 miles east of Baltimore.

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We are on scene of an officer-involved shooting in the area of Key Parkway and Waverley Dr., Frederick County Sheriffs Office officials said on Twitter. There is no threat to the community at this time, the tweet added.

Two Frederick police officers and a suspect were shot, Frederick City Chief Police Jason Lando told reporters during a news conference.

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We are on scene of an officer involved shooting in the area of Key Parkway and Waverley Dr. There is no threat to the community at this time. We will have more information including a press briefing shortly. pic.twitter.com/BqBWYY4Pla  Frederick Police (@Fred_MD_Police) February 11, 2022

Police arrived at the scene at 12:43 p.m., after officers responded to a call about a suspicious male.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

The dispatch initially indicated that the male had a firearm in his possession, Lando said.

Shortly after officers arrived at the scene, a shooting was reported.

All three were taken to a hospital by helicopter, he said. It was not immediately known how they were injured.

Due to police activity in the area, the following schools are on lockout status: Frederick High, West Frederick Middle, Waverley ES, Butterfly Ridge ES, Hillcrest ES, Lincoln ES, Parkway ES, and SUCCESS Program.



All students and staff are safe. We will update.  FCPS-MD (@FCPSMaryland) February 11, 2022

Eight local schools were temporarily placed in lockout, according to Frederick County Public Schools.

In a lockout, students and staff get inside and lock the doors, the district said. Exterior doors remain locked with only authorized access to the building, no students are allowed outside unsupervised, and activities are conducted as usual inside.

All students and staff are safe, and the lockout status was lifted around 2 p.m.

According to police, the incident happened in a parking lot near the Frederick Towne Mall and several apartment buildings.
Duncan, OK (73533)

Today

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
Most of us have probably listened to a podcast and thought I could do that, but few ever work up the nerve to actually put themselves out there

This wasnt the case for local lads and lifelong friends Kieran Pickering and Kevin Carolan who this month celebrated a year of their popular podcast The Kev and Pico Show.

Kieran first came up with the idea for the show two years ago while listening to the 2 Johnnies podcast.

I listened to about fifty or sixty episodes and thought you know what, thats just two mates talking s**t, me and Kev do that every day, so I thought why dont we try this.

It helped people through a year that was going to be difficult for everybody, and thats how I pitched the idea to Kev even though he didnt want to do it."

Kevin laughs, Pico would send you a message every now and again saying Ive got an idea and Id think, oh no, another one.

I wasnt sure but then I thought if we get a few episodes out of it and a bit of a laugh itd be good craic.

But then it just went on and on and we were really enjoying it.

Both have been open about their own mental health and helped raise 4000 for SOSAD by hosting a Dawn to Dust relay in September of last year.

We openly talk about mental health and I know lately theres been a big push to get men talking about their mental health but we dont just talk about it we kind of take the p**s out of it and how we suffer from it and carry on with it, says Kevin.

I think thats what people like about it, Kieran says.

Getting the podcast off the ground wasnt easy with the lads only getting one in person episode done before the country went back into lockdown, forcing Kieran to try his hand at editing.

We started doing it over the phone and then Id have to try to edit it and take some stuff out. Id never done anything like that before and it was a nightmare."

It took us four days to get the first episode done, says Kevin, we were trying to be too radio and not letting it flow, we were constantly saying we cant say that, until we just decided you know what we can say what we want to say.

So then I just decided to do it on Zoom and it was much better because then we could work off each others face and now whatever is said is said and goes out, says Kieran.

The lads also cite the Tommy and Hector podcast as a model they enjoy and get inspiration from, with the 2 Johnnies being their biggest influence .

But the influence is not a one-way street, freely admitting that theyve taken segment ideas from the popular podcast theyve also given the two Tipperary lads some ideas too, asKieran explains..

We had their producer Maura Fay on for an interview and she was brilliant, and then she went back and gave them two of our segments to do on their show and a week later they were doing them, which was class!

And what can listeners of the podcast expect to hear?

For us, its all about stories and childhood memories, anything from what we used to do at school or from our teenage years or even younger.

Most of our stories start with us saying do you remember when

People know they can get an hour where they wouldnt normally let themselves go and talk about subjects but can listen to us and think, yeah, I want to talk about that.

It could be about anything really, says Kevin, from messing at the back of the bus at school to going to your first adult disco even though you were only sixteen, we talk about current events too and have a laugh about different things going on in the world.

We wanted to bring back memories of that childhood, well it wasnt innocence, but whatever it was, Kieran laughs.

A year in and the lads are already planning on improving the operation.

The plan for the future is if we can get a few more sponsors, we will be able to get better equipment and mics,  explains Kevin.

But people and businesses from the town have been very good to us, giving us vouchers to give away and really getting behind us.

Local people have been great too and sometimes youd have a lad coming up to you saying I remember that story you were telling, or is that me you were talking about?

The lads recently had Olympic medal winning cyclist Eve McCrystal on for a chat and the coming weeks will see them interview an Irish popstar whos sure to bring back some nostalgic memories.

But who would be their ideal guest?

Were both huge fans of Stephen Kenny,  says Kieran, hes on our guest bucket list.

You never know. He might read this and want to come on!

The Kev and Pico Show can be listened to on iTunes, YouTube and Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Louth had one of the lowest prices per acre for arable land in the country in 2020 according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office).

Louth falls within the mid-East region which saw a median price per acre of 9,660 and 579 acres sold.

Permanent grassland sold for 8,817 per acre in the region.

The mid-East region also saw the number of transactions of Agricultural land fall compared to recent years with just 220 transactions involving a total of 4379 acres of land.

The figures also show just over 34.5 million changed hands in the purchasing of Agricultural land in the mid-East region.

Commenting on the release, Anthony Dawson, Statistician, said:

Todays publication shows that there was a noticeable decline in the volume of land sold in Ireland in 2020 with 29,031 acres of land sold at a median price of 6,992 per acre compared with 61,997 acres of land sold in 2019.

The most expensive region to purchase agricultural land was in the South-East (Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford) where 2,093 acres of agricultural land sold for a median price of 10,645 per acre.

The West (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) was the least expensive region to purchase land where 6,412 acres of land sold for a median price of 4,625.

The South-West (Cork, Kerry) was the region where the least volume of land was sold with only 605 acres of land sold in 2020.
Racing returns to Dundalk on Friday, with 91 runners declared across eight Flat races.

The first race gets underway at 4pm with the concluding race at 7.30pm - find all the latest odds and tips at MyBettingSites.

The feature race of the evening is the 5.30pm, one mile race for three-year-olds, includes last weeks 66/1 course and distance winner Two Socks, who beat Knightlaila and Kawazaki on the nod on his sole start. She faces Gavin Cromwells Singsong Lady, who also here last month - albeit, that was over 7f and her strong run late on bodes well for this extra furlong trip.

The unraced Jezebel Queen - by Galileo - is a 170,000 purchase who is related to the likes of Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment and Prix de lArc de Triomphe winner, Detroit. The Ger Lyons-trained filly is well-bred and is the pick of the newcomers.

Just the five are due to line up for the closing race (7.30pm) - with a nice 10,199 headed the way of the winner of the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com 6f race, for three-year-olds and up. Its the two four-year-olds who look likely to do battle, with both being previous course and distance winners.

A Case Of You was a Group One Prix de lAbbaye winner on his penultimate start, before finishing fifth in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. Logo Hunters only finish outside of the places, including a host of Listed races, came in the Group Two Saphire Stakes at The Curragh back in July. He finished second to A Case Of You over course and distance last March. Current Option, Meishar and Royal Dynasty make up the small field.

Six course and distance winners are among the chances in what looks like an open contest - in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (6pm). Eight-year-old Tyrconnell will carry top-weight of 10st 1lb in the race over one mile, and the Dundalk regular has enjoyed a decent record at the track over the years. Chavajod finished second twice here last October - finishing a head second to Punk Poet over the trip. Punk Poet struggled here at the back end of last year and Chavajod seems to be edging closer to that first course success, so it would be no surprise if placings were reversed, despite the latter edging up the weights. Others for the minor money include Sense Of Romance and Catena Zapata.

First Blood (4pm), Fox Leicester (5pm) and Chica Power (6.30pm) are all last-time winners at Dundalk and should run well once again.

Dundalk Selections

4.00 Movie King

4.30 Elzaamsan

5.00 Fox Leicester

5.30 Jezebel Queen

6.00 Tyrconnell

6.30 Chica Power

7.00 Sondheim

7.30 A Case Of You
An FBI agent has told the Special Criminal Court that it was "beyond suspicion" that former Irish soldier Lisa Smith had joined terrorist organisation Isis when she was in Syria.

Agent B, who cannot be identified because he is involved in counter terrorism operations around the world, told Ms Smith's defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC that he was in Syria in 2019 when Ms Smith was being held in the Ain Issa camp.

When the witness said that Ms Smith had "joined Isis", Mr O'Higgins put it to him that that was just his suspicion and the agent replied: "It was beyond suspicion at this point."

Five counter terrorism FBI agents gave evidence on Wednesday and Thursday this week during legal argument in the trial.

Most of the evidence that the prosecution sought to lead from the FBI agents was ruled inadmissible by the court.

However, during legal argument the agents were cross-examined about their knowledge of Ms Smith.

Agent M told Mr O'Higgins that the FBI knew Ms Smith had been a member of the Irish army and they believed she could have been recruited to train members of The Khatibah, an all-female Isis battalion operating in Syria.

When Mr O'Higgins put it to Agent M that Ms Smith and the other women living in Syrian camps were living in "really difficult circumstances," Agent M replied: "Every one of these people travelled to join a terrorist organisation." When challenged, the agent said he was basing his statement on his "training and expertise".

Agent C gave evidence that was accepted as admissible in the trial.

He told Sean Gillane SC, for the prosecution, it was known that Ms Smith met American Islamic convert and Isis propagandist John Georgelas, aka Abu Hassan, in 2012 through Facebook.

She travelled to Turkey in September 2013 to meet Georgelas and together they crossed the border into Syria.

She later went to Tunisia and then back to Ireland in September 2014 only to return to the Middle East in October 2015.

By June 2016 she was living in Syria, had married and was living in Raqqa. She left Raqqa in February 2017 and moved to various places before ending up in a refugee camp known as Al-Hawl and then Ain Issa.

The court also heard today (FRI) from interviews Ms Smith gave to gardai at Kevin St Garda Station following her return to Ireland on December 1, 2019.

She had been arrested at Dublin Airport on suspicion of membership of Isis, a terrorist organisation.

Sgt Carrie O'Connor told Mr Gillane that gardai asked Ms Smith why she travelled to Syria when the "brutality" of Isis was at that time well known through news reports and from videos on the internet.

Gardai went through a series of Isis atrocities carried out in the months before Ms Smith travelled to Syria in 2015, including the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris in January, the burning alive of a Jordanian pilot in February and the murders of 33 people including three Irish people at a resort in Tunisia in June.

These events, gardai said, were "headline news all over the world".

Ms Smith said she felt a religious obligation to travel and she was swayed by what she was told by Georgelas, whose word she trusted.

She said she also saw videos online of people in the Islamic State enjoying themselves and living normal lives.

She said she didn't know if the things on the news were really carried out by Isis and a lot of people told lies about Muslims to make them look bad.

She said: "I didn't really know what was happening there at the time. All I knew was that I had an obligation to go."

She said she saw the videos online and was "horrified by them" but she also believed what Abu Hassan told her, that the caliphate was real or "legit".

She said Hassan took her under his wing and she believed he wouldn't lie to her or lead her astray.

She said she believes the caliphate will come some day; it could be next year or in a thousand years, but she believed that this caliphate was real. She said that the leader of the caliphate, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, fulfilled the criteria for a "caliph" or leader and when Muslims saw how quickly the caliphate expanded they believed it was real.

She said: "It was a trap. To trap all the people who made hijrah and slaughter them."

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne at the non-jury court.
A 24-year-old man whose bank account was used to disperse over 13,000 belonging to the customer of a US bank, was given a four-month sentence at Dundalk district court last week.

Derek Ani formerly of Garrybawn, Dundalk but now with an address at Headingham Road, Hornchurch, East London had 800 in court having previously been given the opportunity to repay the money.

The defendant who moved to England to work as a carer, was before the court charged with stealing the money over a two-day period at Bank of Ireland, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk November 5th and 6th in 2018, and with bringing into the State the proceeds of criminal conduct on November second that year.

The court heard how the money had been transferred via mule accounts and when the bank requested the return of the 13,171.75, it was redirected and the money which had been traced to the defendants account, was untraceable.

The defendant had no previous convictions and his solicitor stressed that her client had cooperated at all stages.

References from his church leader, family members and charities hes also worked for were handed into the court.

The solicitor stressed that her client is involved in church life and the offending was out of character for him.

She added he had returned from England for every court date and was extremely embarrassed and regretful for what occurred.

However, Judge McKiernan noted only 800 was in court and the reality is somebody is out of pocket by 13,000 and she had no other option but to consider a custodial sentence.

The judge imposed a four-month sentence and at the request of the Defence, fixed recognizance for an appeal on the defendants own bond of 300 and an independent surety of 500 cash to be lodged.
The callous murder and rape of a 9-year-old girl in an eastern Pennsylvania city has finally been solved after almost 58 years, police announced Thursday.

Marise Ann Chivirella was abducted, assaulted and killed while walking to school on March 18, 1964 in Hazleton. But her attacker was never found.

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A poster of Marise Ann Chiverella is displayed with a vase of flowers and a trooper's hat at a Pennsylvania State Police news conference in Hazleton, Pa., on Thursday. (Michael Rubinkam/AP)

Police identified the killer Thursday as James Paul Forte, a local man who wouldve been 22 at the time of the crime. Forte died in 1980 at age 38, possibly from a heart attack.

Forte was identified using DNA evidence taken from Marises jacket on the day she was killed. Police exhumed his body last month to confirm the match.

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Marise was on a short walk to school in Hazleton when she was last seen. Hours after she disappeared, her body was found in a coal strip mining pit. Investigators determined that she was raped and strangled to death.

The vicious assault shook the town of Hazleton, about 80 miles north of Philadelphia. Decades of investigators from local and state law enforcement agencies attempted to track down her killer. Pennsylvania State Police said more than 230 officers were involved in the investigation at one point or another.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

We have so many precious memories of Marise, one of her four siblings, Carmen Marie Radtke, said Thursday. At the same time, our family will always feel the emptiness and sorrow of her absence. We will continue to ask ourselves, what would have been, what could have been?

Marise Ann Chiverella's siblings Carmen Marie Radtke and Ronald Chiverella speak during a press conference Thursday. (John Haeger / Staff Photographer/AP)

A DNA profile of the killer was built in 2007, and authorities worked for years searching for a match. Beginning in 2019, local college student and genealogy expert Eric Schubert joined investigators in the search for Marises killer. He was an 18-year-old freshman at Elizabethtown College when he volunteered to help, and said he was surprised when state police took him up on the offer.

Forte was identified as a potential suspect in 2020, and police found a distant familial DNA match to help them narrow the search.

It means so much to me that I was able to be on the team that could provide answers to the Chiverella family, Schubert said Thursday.

Investigators said there were no known prior connections between Forte and the Chiverella family.

Before his death, Forte was arrested in 1974 on a sexual assault charge and pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and spent a year on probation, cops said Thursday. He served no jail time before his death in 1980.

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A 37-year-old Albanian man who produced a fake Greek national identity card and a forged driving licence when stopped by a member of the roads policing unit, received a driving ban at Dundalk district court last week for driving without insurance.

Emanuel Muca with addresses at Rockfield Court and Rockfield Manor, Dundalk was also charged with using two false instruments, and driving without a driving licence at St. Helenas Road, Dundalk on June 17th last year.

The court heard last Wednesday that the defendant was stopped driving a Peugeot 307 and produced a national ID card and a driving licence from Greece, which the investigating garda suspected to be counterfeit.

The defendant subsequently produced an Irish public services card and a Department of Social Protection card.

The Defence solicitor explained that his client has been in Ireland for two and half years and has difficulty with one of his legs which precludes him from walking long distances and at the time was working in the centre of Dundalk.

He added the 37 year old had obtained the false driving licence online from a man in England.

The solicitor said that his client now works part time in a car wash and no longer drives and had told him he got the fright of his life when he was stopped and was essentially frightened off the road.

In addition to a two-year disqualification, Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a 300 fine.
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A Massachusetts psychologist has been arrested and charged with possessing hundreds of pornographic images of children after a contractor found a hidden room in his apartment with multiple boxes containing explicit images of minors.

Mark Ternullo is a psychologist for adults, families and children, according to CBS Boston. He was arrested Wednesday after authorities found the photos in a secret room in his rented apartment in Danvers, about 22 miles north of Boston.

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Ternullo, 68, has lived in an apartment in a multifamily home for 23 years.

According to the Essex County District Attorneys office, a contractor who was hired to renovate the bathroom in the apartment had to remove a wall behind the bathtub because of extensive water damage.

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In doing so, the contractor found a hidden room in which multiple boxes full of pornographic images of children were stored, the DAs office said Thursday in a statement.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

After the owner of the house contacted police on Wednesday, investigators obtained a search warrant and searched the apartment.

He was arrested Wednesday night.

According to a police report, nearly 1,000 images were found in the rented apartment, with the majority in the secret room/void and in the bedroom or home office.

Ternullo has worked at a number of schools and community organizations in the area, The Salem News reported.

On Thursday he pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in Salem District Court.

Prosecutors requested the bail at $500,000, but the judge set it at $10,000, citing his lack of record. Ternullo was also ordered to have no contact with anyone under 18.

Hes expected back in court on March 7.
A man wanted in connection with a 2021 Clovis homicide has been arrested in Oklahoma City.

Clovis police stated in a news release that David Valdez, wanted for the Oct. 10 shooting death of Ivan Luevano, was arrested Wednesday on the Clovis murder warrant after being suspected of criminal activity in a small Oklahoma town.

Records show Luevano, 28, was shot four times in his bedroom at 125 El Camino in Clovis. First responders transported him to Plains Regional Medical Center where he died.

A Crime Stoppers tip led police to believe Valdez was the shooter. The tipster told police Valdez shot someone after the victim came at his friend, records show. The friend is identified in court records as Victor Quintanilla who also is charged with murder in the case.

Quintanilla was arrested earlier this year on unrelated firearm charges in Lubbock, Assistant District Attorney Brian Stover told the News. Quintanilla remained in custody this weekend and is expected to return to Clovis to face the murder charge as soon as they are finished prosecuting him in Texas, Stover said.

A resident of the house where Luevano was shot told investigators she was home at the time of the incident. She said she peeked through her bedroom door and saw a male in a black hoodie holding a semi automatic handgun and ordering somebody else to grab items from the house. At the scene, the witness told police that two backpacks were missing that Luevano was never without.

Police believe robbery was the motive for the shooting, records show. At least one of the backpacks that belonged to Luevano was found at an apartment in Lubbock where Valdez was staying soon after the shooting, records show.

Valdez was in custody of Oklahoma authorities and was expected to be arraigned on Friday, according to Stover.

Stover said he didnt know if Valdez plans to fight extradition to New Mexico and wasnt sure if Valdez has criminal charges pending in Oklahoma.
James Cox

Patients waiting to be assessed by a hospital consultant face little short of a "postcode lottery" with dramatic variations in outpatient waiting lists across the country, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

The IHCA has found wide disparities between outpatient waiting lists at different hospitals, when examined on a population basis, with some hospitals in the South and West having waiting lists 20 times greater than others.

Nationally, around one in eight people are currently on a hospital outpatient waiting list. However, new analysis by the IHCA suggests this can be a much higher rate in some areas, as consultants warn that timely access to healthcare should not be determined by a persons address.

The warning comes as the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures released today confirm there are 893,043 people on some form of hospital waiting list, including 97,954 children.

This is an increase of 30,323 in the past year, or around 83 people added to public hospital waiting lists every single day since January 2021.

Outpatient waiting lists

An analysis of outpatient waiting lists per hospital, reveals some stark geographical disparities. The six constituencies with the largest waiting lists are: Cork South Central (70,862), Limerick City (47,555), Dublin Central (44,956), Galway West (56,916), Waterford (43,002) and Dublin Bay South (41,655).

However, the IHCA said that this analysis does not take into account the fact that many of the larger hospitals provide specialty services to an even wider population than those directly in the area: for example in such treatment areas as cancer, cardiology, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, neurology or surgery.

Consultants say that the limitations of the NTPF data means a clear and accurate picture of patients waiting for appointments and treatment at each of Irelands hospitals is "almost impossible to derive".

While outpatient waiting lists at 625,513 have increased by 2,500 compared to this time last year, the increases are far greater in other lists for planned procedures, pre-admissions and inpatient and outpatient suspensions maintained by the NTPF but not widely publicised. These lists increased by more than 32,000 (25 per cent) since January 2021 and now total 161,246.

Consultants have renewed their call on Government to effectively address the record hospital waiting lists by ending the "discrimination introduced in 2012 against consultants appointed after that date, thereby increasing staffing levels and providing the health service with the ability to deliver timely access to essential care for Irelands patients".

IHCA President Prof Alan Irvine: These shocking figures should be a wake-up call to Government to urgently address the twin deficits of a shortage of Consultants and a lack of sufficient public hospital capacity to resolve the record waiting lists we continue to experience. A patients access to care should not depend on where they live. The Government needs to address this postcode lottery and realise that any waiting list plan which does not simultaneously address the Consultant recruitment and retention crisis is destined to fail. Our patients deserve better.




Canada confirms bird flu in Nova Scotia province

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at a commercial poultry farm at Nova Scotia province, the Toronto Sun reported.

The food safety watchdog said South Korea and the Philippines have banned imports of live poultry, poultry meat and edible eggs from all of Canada.

The US, European Union, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and Mexico have implemented trade restrictions on some products from Nova Scotia, or on the specific location where the bird flu outbreak was detected.

Russia has banned poultry imports from Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland and Labrador province, where bird flu was confirmed in December 2021 and January this year.

- Toronto Sun
The no-knock search warrant used by police in the killing of Amir Locke in a Minneapolis apartment was released Thursday.

Police claimed the subject of the warrant  not Locke  had a history of violent crime and therefore the element of surprise was necessary. That led them to specifically ask to enter the apartment without knocking and during nighttime, either before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

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Amir Locke was illuminated by a police officer's flashlight seconds before he was killed Feb. 2. (AP)

The teen police were looking for, 17-year-old Mekhi Speed, was not there on Feb. 2. Instead, his 22-year-old cousin Locke was asleep on a couch. Officers entered the apartment by using a key, then came in shouting and woke up Locke with a kick to the back of the couch.

With a blanket on his back, Locke peeked his head out and could be seen holding a gun in his right hand. Almost instantly, officer Mark Hanneman shot him three times. The killing was captured on body-camera footage.

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The warrant was connected to a Jan. 10 murder in St. Paul. Minneapolis police said the victim was shot with .223-caliber armor piercing bullets, and therefore a no-knock warrant was necessary to ensure officers safety.

Cops also said surveillance video showed Speed attempting to conceal a gun, and therefore they needed to enter the apartment unannounced in case he tried to dispose of anything.

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Speed was arrested about a week later and charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Otis Elder.

Activists have focused on the no-knock warrant as the key thing that led to Hannemans fatal shooting of Locke. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump compared Lockes killing to the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor in March 2020 in Louisville, Ky.

They didnt even give him a chance, Crump said. Lockes mother said he was executed that morning.

Crump and other activists have pushed on local, state and federal leaders to stop the use of no-knock warrants, with Crump specifically asking President Biden to take action. After Locke was killed, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey quickly announced a moratorium on no-knock warrants in the city.

St. Paul police initially obtained a normal warrant, but Minneapolis police requested the no-knock alteration. St. Paul police sources told local CBS affiliate WCCO that their department hasnt used a no-knock warrant since 2016.

The judge who approved the warrant was Peter Cahill, the same judge who presided over the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

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Best Buy restricted sales of several NVIDIA RTX 3000-series GPUs, including the RTX 3080 and 3090 models, to members of its $199 per year subscription program, PC Mag has reported. It made the graphics cards available for an "Exclusive Access Event," but anyone attempting to buy one was greeted with a popup saying that access was limited to Totaltech members.

The retailer launched Totaltech into beta last April with the promise of perks like free shipping, unlimited Geek Squad tech support, two-year warranty protection and free installation on most products. Another listed perk was "exclusive member sale pricing" on products, but yesterday's restock was reportedly the first time it was needed to purchase GPUs, stock checker @CameranRitz told PC Mag.

As usual, Best Buy had a limited number of cards, so even being a member was no guarantee of getting one. However, the sale reportedly last several hours before they were gone, which is longer than usual when NVIDIA cards get restocked.

Best Buy isn't the first retailer to put high-demand items behind a paywall, with Walmart and others also requiring memberships to buy certain items. However, Best Buy forces you to pay the $200 annual membership in one shot, where Walmart Plus is $15 per month and can be cancelled at any time.

Best Buy is also the exclusive retailer of NVIDIA Founder's Edition cards in the US, which it does usually sell at MSRP. So even with the Totaltech membership, purchasing one may still be cheaper compared to the outrageous markups from scalpers or other retailers. At the same time, the membership also blocks any bots. Still, the situation upset some potential buyers. "Disappointed but not surprised," said Twitter user @Michael_gg_Inc.
Tech news season is in full swing as Samsung launched its Galaxy S22 flagship phones this week, along with new Tab S8 tablets. This week on the podcast, Cherlynn is joined by senior writer Sam Rutherford and special guest Chris Velazco from The Washington Post to discuss Samsungs new gear. The trio also recap some of the best games announced at Nintendo Direct, followed by a look at the weeks biggest news including Pelotons layoffs, Steam Deck previews and the Olympics.

Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!



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Video livestream

Credits

Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford

Guest: Chris Velazco

Producer: Ben Ellman

Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Owen Davidoff, Luke Brooks

Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Brian Oh

Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
Google is facing more antitrust pressure in the EU over its advertising tech. Reuters reports the European Publishers Council (EPC) has filed an EU complaint against Google alleging the company has an illegal "stranglehold" on ad tech and the press. The Internet giant's ad suite is claimed to be "rife with conflicts of interests" as it not only represents the buyer, seller and auction house, but supposedly exploits that control to profit at the expense of its customers.

Council Chairman Christian Van Thillo saw the complaint as prompting the EU to take action where it was otherwise reluctant. The move should make Google "actually change" its behavior after years of "minor commitments" that don't provide any substantial impact, Van Thillo said. The EPC pointed to antitrust cases in multiple countries to support its case, including a multi-state US lawsuit.

The EU began its newest probe into Google's ad business in June 2021. It shares the EPC's general concerns about potential abuse. It didn't set a deadline for the investigation, however, and has already fined Google three times over its ad practices. Antitrust hunts like these can take years to wind down, and the complaint theoretically accelerates the process.

In a statement, Google argued companies enjoyed its ad tech but didn't address the unfair competition issues. Publishers keep the "majority of revenue," which climbs to "billions" of US dollars, a representative said.

There's no certainty the EPC complaint will prompt the EU to demand significant changes to Google's ad policies. It might ramp up the pressure on Google to act, however, even if it's just to minimize any potential penalties.
Google+ shuffled off this mortal coil to the great app graveyard back in 2019  right? Well, not quite. As a reminder, its corpse was reanimated as Google Currents, designed strictly for paying G Suite customers. Now, Google Workspaces announced that it has killed that app off too, marking the final end of Google's social network or whatever G+ was, Ars Technica reported.

Google said that the introduction of the Spaces group chat app last year negated the need for Currents, so it plans to wind it down starting in 2023. Before it does that, however, it will add new capabilities to Spaces to accommodate some of Currents' social features. "These include support for larger communities and leadership communication, investments in advanced search, tools for content moderation, and more," Google said.

As was the case with Google+, the usage and purpose of Currents was likely unclear to many users. That issue extends to Spaces, as well, unfortunately. As Google described it last year, Spaces is an evolution of Rooms but is a part of Google Chat that's designed for group messaging, much like Slack. Got it?

What's also kind of funny is that Google recycled both the Spaces and Currents names: Currents was a news-style app that existed until 2013, and Google Spaces was a messaging app we saw for a short time in 2016. So one might say that Google+ was effectively killed twice, and Currents was also buried two times. Now, let's hope we never hear those names again.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accepted Google's latest plan to replace third-party cookies from the Chrome Browser. The regulator said that Google made legally binding commitments to address its concerns that the "Privacy Sandbox" would weaken competition and harm consumers.

Early in 2021, the CMA announced that it would investigate Google's plan to replace third party cookies with "trust tokens." It said that Google's plan "could undermine the ability of publishers to generate revenue and undermine competition in digital advertising, entrenching Googles market power." It added that it received complaints from publishers and tech companies which alleged that Google may be "abusing its dominant position."

While this is an important step, we are under no illusions that our work is done. We now move into a new phase where we will keep a close eye on Google as it continues to develop these proposals.

The CMA said that Google has promised to use a "more transparent process than initially proposed." It will now engage with third parties and publish test results, and must address any issues raised by the CMA or third parties. It will also not remove third-party cookies "until the CMA is satisfied that its competition concerns have been addressed."

In its own blog post on the matter, Google said it would "design, develop and implement Privacy Sandbox with regulatory oversight and input from the CMA and the ICO." It promised to apply the commitments globally, not just in the UK, as "we believe that they provide a roadmap for how to address both privacy and competition concerns in this evolving sector," Google wrote.

Last year, Google delayed the rollout of third-party cookies until mid-2023, rather than the 2022 timeline it originally set. It admitted at the time that it "needs more time across the ecosystem to get this right." Google had originally proposed a cookie alternative called "FLoC" (Federated Learning of Cohorts) but announced last month that it was testing a replacement called Topics API.
Tailoring is fancy, sufficiently fancy that you may go your entire life and never once experience the art. Its expensive, having garments custom-made to suit your body shape, even if there are a legion of benefits in doing so. Mass-produced clothes, meanwhile, are never going to do the job if youve got a body that diverges from whats expected or treated as normal.

There are two real problems: Measurement, and manufacturing, issues that the fashion industry is wrestling with right now. A Taiwanese company, TG3D, has at least discovered a way to solve the first part of the equation with little more than an iPhone. It has developed a method of using FaceID to scan the geography of your body to give you a suite of measurements in minutes.

I first encountered TG3D back in 2018 , when the company was showing off its wares at Computex in Taipei. The system then required you to step into a booth the size of a changing room , which housed pillars full of infrared cameras. When activated, the system would scan your body and help you determine the ideal sizes for trying on clothes.

Since then, the company has been working to shrink this technology down to something that requires a lot less investment. Any FaceID-equipped iPhone can now offer a similar, albeit less accurate, scanning solution, enabling users to test sizes for off-the-peg clothes. Co-founder Rick Yu explained that the project was designed for ready-to-wear fashion, to solve [the issue of] huge returns.

Returns are, after all, a key problem for e-commerce fashion brands, since buyers cant be sure that their preferred size will actually fit them. A lot of consumers buy three different sizes and return the other two, which is bad for both the planet and most retailers bottom lines. If you know ahead of time what you need to order, the wastage and expense should decrease.

I tested the system and found that, much like it did in 2018, it reminded me how much timber I need to drop from my waistline. All you need to do, however, is stand your phone up on a flat surface  and it does need to be perfectly flat, so grab a book or some sticky tack. Then, just stand in view of the camera, ideally just in your underwear and, when ready, start turning around on the spot with your arms away from your sides. All in all, the scanning process takes less than a minute, and the analysis only takes a further two or three.

Once youve previewed your avatar to check it is more or less in the right shape, you can then send it off to the cloud to be properly analyzed. You may notice that, in use, your face, hands and feet are replaced with something blank and generic. This, says Yu, was an intentional move to protect user privacy given that youll be partially-clothed during the scanning process.

The data produced by FaceID isnt, by itself, accurate enough to produce a fully-measured avatar, however. Once captured, its sent to TG3Ds server to be analyzed, we have an AI engine that identifies the landmarks, explained Yu. We identify the landmarks, we position the landmarks and then based on [that], we extract up to 250 measurements automatically, he said.

Daniel Cooper / TG3D

Much of this data, and the conclusions generated from it, have been curated through years of interviews with tailors and pattern makers. These measurements that make sense to them, said Yu, when I asked for an explanation for some of the more arcane terminology. Yu explained that the margin of error using the iPhone system is, at most, 1.3 inches.

Yu also explained that the data can be exported in a variety of formats, so as well as being used for tailoring, there are other solutions in play. For instance, an avatar file could be exported in a .OBJ file which can be used for 3D modeling and sculpting. And, naturally, its also possible to capture this data and create an avatar for any potential metaverse that could require it.

TG3Ds solution isnt the only thing on the market, and plenty of other companies are operating in this space looking for a magic bullet. Shopify, for instance, was recently granted a patent for a body-measuring concept to help folks choose garments. Amazons Echo Look had a fairly rudimentary system to judge a fit based on how well it flattered your body. MTailor offers a scanning service by analyzing a video clip its users upload for similar results.

All of this is going to be vital in order to help reduce fashions already problematic waste problem. The industry reportedly consumes 10 percent of the worlds total greenhouse emissions and 20 percent of its water. Thats both down to sourcing and manufacturing through the waste involved in the buying and returns process when it reaches our homes.

But the consequences of this overproduction and overconsumption are piling up. One fairly pernicious example is blighting the Atacama desert in Chile. Garments made in South Asia will first be sold in Europe and the US, before the unsold sock is sent to South America for resale. Anything that remains unsold is dumped in huge piles, left to rot in the daylight with the price tags still on . This isnt the only example of this, however, and there are toxic waste piles piling high in Ghana right now .

Measurements are only half the problem, and manufacturing still remains a huge issue with the industry today. Attempts by companies to automate this process have not been successful  Adidas Speedfactory concept , for instance, was abandoned back in 2019 .

Yu, whose technology has most prominently been used by H&M in its flagship Stockholm store to create custom jeans with partner Unspun, also waxed lyrical about the future of fashion. He showed me the concept of an online retailer that was entirely virtual. A user can plug their body scan into the outfits on screen and get instant previews of how they would look in them. But this could happen before the garment is even made, ensuring that only whats good gets produced.

For now, I can be confident that my iPhone, at least, knows my inside leg measurement. The next step is for every fashion brand to work out how to stop my thighs rubbing the seat of my jeans to dust.
Gloria Rojas  billed as New York Citys first Latina broadcast journalist  is dead at 82, according to reports.

News of the groundbreaking reporters death was confirmed by WABC/Channel 7, where she worked from 1974 to 1976. She was also an on-air reporter at WNEW/Channel 5, WCBS/Channel 2, and WNBC/Channel 4.

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Rojas died in a Cambridge, Md. nursing home last week, WABC said.

Gloria Rojas was a Bronx native. (WABC / ABC 7)

Rojas began her TV news career with WCBS in 1968. She worked at WLS, an ABC affiliate in Chicago, and on the Midday Live program at WNEW/Channel 5 in New York before she joined WABC.

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The Bronx native graduated from Hunter College High School on the Upper East Side, got her degree in education in Albany and later attended Columbia University. She spent nearly a decade as a schoolteacher before making her television debut hosting a bilingual teaching program on public television in 1964.

So sorry to hear of passing of television journalist #GloriaRojas a true pioneer as NYs 1st Latina reporter. A teacher-Gloria later trained at Columbia University in a #FredFriendly-led program to integrate NY newscasts. In 1970 she recruited me, the 1st Latino.

Gloria was 82.  Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) February 7, 2022

Among those mourning her death was longtime reporter Geraldo Rivera, who she helped bring to ABC in 1970.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

So sorry to hear of passing of television journalist #GloriaRojas a true pioneer as NYs 1st Latina reporter, Rivera tweeted upon learning of her death.

[ Ernie Anastos is leaving TV to go back to college ]

Longtime newsman Ernie Anastos told the Daily News that hell remember Rojas, who worked with him for about a decade at ABC, as a fine person on and off camera.

She was, in my opinion, an exceptional human being, he recalled. Someway, somehow she and I would always find a way to giggle about something ... we would always find a way to push away the sadness of some of the stories of the day.

Gloria Rojas (WABC / ABC 7)

Anastos also remembers Rojas as being a part of a uniquely diverse TV family that included Italian-American anchor Rose Ann Scamardella, African-American reporter Anna Bond, and later, Chinese-American broadcaster Kaity Tong.

That made us stand out as being different, he said. A bit ahead of our time.

He said Rojas was very proud of her Latina heritage and her family at home as well.

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Rojas son Chris told the New York Times his mother died from kidney failure and complications from cancer. She is survived by two brothers and a pair of grandchildren, according to the Times, which writes that she was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur J. Maier, in 2003.
The CIA has been conducting a secret mass surveillance program that affects Americans' privacy, according to a newly declassified letter (PDF) by US Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). In the letter dated April of 2021, the members of the Senate Intelligence Committee urged the agency to tell the public the kind of records it collected, the amount of American records' maintained and the nature of the CIA's relationship with its sources.

The Senators also asked the Director of National Intelligence to declassify the studies conducted by a watchdog called the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), which prompted the letter in the first place. PCLOB did in-depth examinations of two CIA counterterrorism-related programs back in 2015 as part of a larger oversight review of Executive Order 12333, a Reagan-era EO that extends the powers of US intelligence agencies.

According to The Wall Street Journal, surveillance activities conducted under EO 12333  like the CIA's bulk program  aren't subject to the same oversight as those under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The publication also notes that that the CIA isn't legally allowed to conduct domestic spying, but some Americans' information get scooped up in certain instances. One example is if they're communicating with an overseas target via phone or the internet. Intelligence agencies are required to protect any information from the US, as well, such as redacting Americans' names unless they're pertinent to the investigation. According to the Senators, PCLOB noted problems with how the CIA handled and searched Americans' information under the program.

The Senators said the existence of the program was hidden not just to the public, but also to the Congress. An intelligence official told The New York Times, though, the the Intelligence Committee already knew about the data collection. It's the program's tools for storying and querying that collected data, which are discussed in PCLOB's reports, that it may not know the details of.

While both the Senators' letter and one of PCLOB's studies have now been released, they've both been heavily redacted. It's impossible to tell, based on the documents that came out, what kind of information was collected and what the nature of the program was. Or is  it's also unclear whether the program is still ongoing or if the CIA has already ended it. The CIA said in a statement:
The Joint European Torus (JET) fusion reactor in the UK has generated the highest level of sustained energy ever from atom fusion. On December 21st, 2021, the "tokamak" reactor produced 59 megajoules of energy during a five-second fusion pulse. Thats double what it created back in 1997. (Yes, I know energy is not created or destroyed, but you get what I mean!)

The JET reactor is the flagship experimental device of the European Fusion Program, funded by the EU. It's mainly designed to prove scientists modeling efforts, with an eye on future, bigger experiments with a much larger ITER reactor in France, set to start fusion testing in 2025.

JET hit a Q value of 0.33, meaning it produced about a third of the energy put in. The highest Q value achieved so far is 0.7 by the US Department of Energy's National Ignition Facility, but it only hit that figure for 4 billionths of a second. The goal with ITER is to reach a Q factor of 10 or greater. Fun fact: ITER isnt an acronym but means the path in Latin. And now you know.

 Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Decent surround sound comes cheaper than you think.

Getty

Maybe youve got a glorious new 4K TV. But maybe youre still using sub-par built-in speakers. Thankfully, it's never been easier to bring the surround sound experience home without investing thousands of dollars in Hi-Fi components. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar guides you through your options.

Continue reading.

The Boombox feature risked overpowering safety alerts.

Tesla is recalling hundreds of thousands of cars over a technical issue. It has recalled 578,607 Model 3, S, X and Y vehicles over concerns the Boombox feature can overpower Pedestrian Warning System sounds. The ability to play external audio while the car is in motion violates a federal safety rule requiring a clearly audible sound when EVs and hybrids are moving at speeds below 18.6MPH. As with some of its previous recalls, the company will address the issue with a free over-the-air update. The patch will disable Boombox while cars aren't parked, Tesla said.

Continue reading.

Tesla called the lawsuit "unfair and unproductive."

More bad news for Tesla. A California civil rights agency has filed a lawsuit against the company for alleged racial discrimination and harassment at its Fremont factory, according to The Wall Street Journal . "After receiving hundreds of complaints from workers, DFEH found evidence that Teslas Fremont factory is a racially segregated workplace," said California Department of Fair Employment and Housing director Kevin Kish in a statement.

Continue reading.

But its really not the same thing.

MoviePass is making a comeback. Co-founder Stacy Spikes, who is back at the helm, says MoviePass 2.0 is being built on a Web3 framework and will have a kind of virtual currency. It will have tiered plans, but he didnt mention pricing. Spikes said there'll be ways for people to earn credits through the app via a "preshow experience." Thats watching ads. To make sure you're actually watching them, the app will employ facial recognition and eye-tracking. Wonderful.

Continue reading.

More privacy controls and themed icons are coming.

Google

Google is unveiling the first Android 13 developer preview today, and it's clear the company is not going to avoid the "unlucky" number. Developers (and risk takers) can test their apps using the Android emulator or flashing a system image to the Pixel 4 or newer Pixel phones. Based on today's announcement, it looks like we can expect finer privacy controls and more of Android 12's Material You design licks throughout.

Continue reading.

States can apply for the funds to create an Alternative Fuel Corridor on US highways.

The Biden administration has announced a $5 billion plan to help states build half a million EV charging stations by 2030  five times the current number. The goal is to allow EV owners to find a charging port anywhere within 50 miles of their location across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A total of $615 million will be distributed this year alone.

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Dozens of Indian students protested across the country against a hijab ban imposed by the southern state of Karnataka. State education minister B.C. Nagesh said every institution has a right to prescribe uniforms to their students.
Friday, February 11, 2022

Did you know that one in five Americans is taking care of a loved one, often a parent who is stricken with a disease or simply nearing the end of their life? Put another way, more than 50 million people in the US are caregivers to aging parents.

Id like to take you on a journey of self-discovery told through the voice of one caregiver whose aged father, suffering from liver failure, lives with her. Just imagine being awoken at four in the morning because your father got confused and thought you had missed his paracentesis appointment. Paracentesis is basically a procedure to remove fluid buildup in the abdomen.

That is a typical day in the life of Susan Van Klink, Chief Revenue Officer & Chief Diversity Officer at Grokker. If it werent for her boss and CEO, Lorna Borenstein, life would be much more complicated and stressful than it is. Because Lorna understands the value of supporting her team, Susan does not have to worry about how good a job she is doing. They have an agreement on modified hours and expectations. And, Susans team all know what she is living with.

On top of that open communication, Susan shares the vulnerability of her struggles, which paves the way for others on her team to share their mental health struggles, an important part of removing the stigma of mental health.

Just imagine what all that openness means for the entire organization.

Ever since Susans father was diagnosed with liver disease her life has completely been turned upside down. Every two weeks she takes her father to the paracentesis clinic. This includes dressing him, including his socks and shoes. For her father one silver lining of going to the clinic is his social life. Odd as it sounds, her father looks forward to going so he can hang out with his new friends.

He also enjoys driving himself to coffee with other friends a few times a week, on his good days.

Built into this life situation is support from Susans loving husband, who travels for work. Since Susan does not like leaving her father all alone, when both she and her husband have to travel, she also has to provide for someone to check in on her father daily.

Susan has tried every iteration of care and she has made this arrangement work for her.

If it werent for Lorna Borenstein at Grokker this lifestyle would not be possible at all. Lorna is walking her talk. Grokker provides a wellness platform that incorporates five aspects of well-being: physical, mental, financial, nutrition, and sleep.

With 4000 videos, 130 experts, and 90 programs, you can access well-being from anywhere on any device at any time.

The idea for Grokker was born when Lorna was on sabbatical with her family and could not find any high quality instructional videos in one place to manage her wellbeing. In 2012 she founded Grokker to satisfy that need.

One of the many life lessons that Susan shared with me is that she works to live, not lives to work. Many American organizations do not take this tack, but Susan says that is shifting, especially as the next generation is coming up. Gen Z are more focused on finding meaning in their work and seeking companies whose meaning aligns with their personal values.

During this era of The Great Resignation, it is easier to control ones destiny by leaving companies whose values dont line up with yours.

Another lesson Susan shared is the importance of self-care. We all know what self-care means, but many of us dont do it. In this case, self-care is a lifesaver. Susan uses a little-known technique called tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.

Tapping, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine has been shown to reduce stress by lowering heart rate, reducing blood pressure and restoring the balance to your bodys energy.

According to Certified Tapping Practitioner, Master Trainer, and TedX speaker, Dr. Katie Nall, tapping is an easy to learn, non-invasive, self-administered technique to eliminate stress. The majority of her clients realize some immediate relief within each one-hour session, and they leave with a sense of lightness and control over their emotions.

Tapping starts with engaging specific meridians, thought of as areas of the body that energy flows through to eliminate negative emotions. These meridians can include: the heel of the hand, three locations around the eye, the area below the nose, the area below the lips, the collarbone, the underarm, and the top of the head. From seven to nine taps are delivered on each spot. Some scientists believe that it works because it stimulates the central nervous system and causes the body to release helpful chemicals.1

Finally, Susan knows the importance of taking time off. Taking breaks and vacations, while often difficult to achieve as a caregiver, is another important part of her self-care. The evidence is clear that taking breaks refreshes and rejuvenates. The value to the organization is a fresher, sharper workforce who are more creative and productive after a break or vacation.

Caregivers are one of the most important facets of the healthcare system because it depends on the family to pick up the slack. The toll caregiving takes is immeasurable but having an intuitive corporate culture which supports this important part of an employees life is critical.

Write to me to let me know how your organization supports your efforts to be a loving caregiver while maintaining your work performance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reference:

1 EFT Tapping: What Is It and Does It Work for Stress? WebMD, Accessed December 17, 2021

https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-eft-tapping#:~:text=Tapping%20draws%20on%20the%20ancient,by%20applying%20pressure%20(%20acupressure
San Ramon, CAJudson Brandeis, MD, author of The 21st Century Man, won a Silver Literary Titan Book Award. Judges from the Literary Titan Book awards bestow praise on books that have "astounded and amazed with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors." The 21st Century Man recently received two literary distinctions winning the 2021 Firebird Book Award and the 2021 International Impact Award in the Men's Health category. Many well-known doctors and medical professionals who have read the book have this to say about it:

"This book is one-stop shopping for the man who wants to improve, maintain, and optimize his health." Aaron Spitz, MD, Author of The Penis Book, Chair of AUA Telehealth Task Force, frequent guest on The Doctors

"Dr. Brandeis's text on men's health is a true tour de force. This will be valuable for all men over 40!" Andrew Hecht, MD, Professor of orthopedics and neurosurgery, Chief of spine surgery, Mt Sinai Medical Center

As a sexual medicine expert and educator leading courses all around the country, Dr. Brandeis approaches the subject of Male Sexual Wellness with enthusiasm and an ability to explain complicated topics in ways the listener can understand. Dr. Brandeis has been recognized for his excellence as a urologist, holding the post of Chief of Urology at John Muir Hospital for eight years, and was chosen by SF Magazine as a Top Urologist in the SF Bay for seven years running.

Written in an accessible and engaging style, The 21st Century Man is loaded with comprehensive, scientific, and factual information that men and their partners need to know. Dr. Brandeis compassionately encourages men to actively engage in a journey toward health and equips them with the tools and knowledge needed for that endeavor.

In The 21st Century Man: Advice from 50 Top Doctors and Men's Health Experts to Help You Feel Great, Look Good and Have Better Sex, he expands the reach of his educational efforts beyond physicians and his patients, providing a guidebook for all men on how to live better, healthier lives. For more information go to https://thetwentyfirstcenturyman.com/

Watch a video about The 21st Century Man at https://vimeo.com/670899545



Books In Print.mp4 from BrandeisMD on Vimeo.

"This is a mighty volumeeverything men should know about physical, mental, and psychological healthall delivered with authority, excellent support by specialist colleagues, caring and compassion. The book is medically and scientifically accurate, accessible, engaging, and inspirational." Grady Harp, MD, Amazon Top 50 Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5-Stars

"An encyclopedic guide to feeling good, living well and looking better for any 21st Century man." John Kelly, Detroit Free Press, 5-Stars

In this book, you'll find a practical guide to men's health and discover:

The most common health causes of premature death in men and smart ways to reduce risks

Principles of nutrition and exercise and how to fuel and strengthen your body without injury

Coping with mental health struggles and addictive behavior to increase quality of life

How to continue looking good through midlife and beyond

The impact of good relationship skills on men's health and overall wellbeing

Techniques and strategies to continue enjoying mutually satisfying physical intimacy

Specifics on prostate health, testosterone, circumcision, vasectomy, and fertility

How to navigate healthcare systems and understand health insurance

An insider's view on how to find a specialist and make the most of your trip to the doctor

The health effects of gratitude and how to leave a legacy that inspires the next generation

Dr. Judson Brandeis is an award-winning urologist and sexual medicine expert, clinical researcher, physician educator, and a caring clinician and surgeon. A graduate of Brown University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, with Urologic Surgery residency at UCLA and a post-doc fellowship at Harvard, today he specializes in the emerging field of sexual health and medicine.

Over the course of his 25-year career as a board-certified urologist he has performed thousands of surgeries and pioneered surgical robotics. In February of 2019, he opened BrandeisMD, a national leader in technology and sexual medicine innovations for men. BrandeisMD engages in ongoing clinical research to improve wellbeing and provide tools for men to live their best lives.

Dr. Brandeis is dedicated to helping his patients and men everywhere feel great, look good, and have better physical intimacy. He brings this wealth of expertise and care to this, his first book. A native New Yorker, Dr. Judson Brandeis now resides in Northern California.

Learn more about The 21st Century Man and Dr. Judson Brandeis at brandeismd.com or https://thetwentyfirstcenturyman.com/ (ISBN: 9781737379607). Available at Amazon.

Media Contact: For a review copy of The 21st Century Man or to arrange an interview with Dr. Judson Brandeis, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Reach Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist
Standing in front of a flood-lit, nearly 400-foot-tall Starship, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said he was highly confident the company would launch the reusable rocket into orbit for the first time by years end.

The billionaire with a flair for showmanship talked about the rockets prospects for more than an hour Thursday night on an outdoor stage at Starbase, located in Boca Chica near Brownsville. Thats where SpaceX has been developing the Starship vehicle and the 33-engine Super Heavy booster  the system Musk hopes will eventually ferry astronauts to Mars.

Its a pivotal moment for the commercial space company Musk founded 20 years ago.

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to release its long-awaited environmental review of the South Texas launch site on Feb. 28. The regulator could either green-light, delay or say no to SpaceXs first attempt to launch the massive rocket into orbit from Starbase.

We dont have a ton of insight into where things stand with the FAA, Musk told a crowd of SpaceX employees, supporters and reporters. We have gotten sort of a rough indication that there may be an approval in March.

2 1 of 2 Miguel Roberts, MBI / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less



If the FAA approves the Texas blast-off, the Starship could try to reach orbit in a couple of months, or maybe in May, he said.

If the FAA holds up or rules out a launch from Boca Chica, SpaceX likely would turn to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., where it already has approval for a Starship launch.

Our worst-case scenario is that we would be delayed for six to eight months to build up the Cape launch tower and launch from there, he added.

The FAA had been scheduled to announce its decision by Dec. 31. Ahead of the expected ruling, Musk said the Starship could launch from Boca Chica in January or February. But in late December, the FAA said it would delay its decision by two months, noting it had received more than 18,000 public comments.

For Musk, putting the Starship into orbit is a first step in achieving his goals of carrying NASA astronauts to the moon and colonizing Mars.

The Starship would be the worlds most powerful rocket. It also would be reusable  and maybe cheap. Musk said in a few years it could cost less than $10 million to lob 100 tons of material into space.

Miguel Roberts, MBI / Associated Press

Last year, NASA awarded a $2.9 billion contract to SpaceX to build a version of the Starship for the Artemis project aimed at sending astronauts to the moon and back to Earth by 2025  for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The Artemis will be a test for an eventual voyage to Mars.

On Thursday, Musk said the Starship would one day deliver humans and 1 million of tons of material to Mars and to build a self-sustaining city.

This is the first point in the 4.5-billion-year history of Earth that it has been possible, he said. We need to seize the opportunity and do it as quickly as possible. I want to be frank: civilization is feeling a little fragile these days.

Starbase

Musk said he chose to set up Starbase in Boca Chica because its close to the equator and allows for an eastbound launch  important factors in trying to get help from Earths rotation when launching a rocket into orbit.

Also, SpaceX rockets needed a good clear area, several miles around the launch site to be unpopulated, or at least clearable, he said. That doesnt actually leave a lot of options. Its basically here or Cape Canaveral or Cape Kennedy.

SpaceX has test-launched Starship prototypes six miles into the sky since September 2019. After a series of failures, including an explosion that rained chunks of steel across nearby marshlands, the company had its first successful launch and landing in May.

In November, Musk, who is also CEO of Austin-based electric vehicle maker Tesla, warned SpaceX employees of a Raptor 2 production crisis that could lead to bankruptcy. But he said Thursday that production was back on-track and speeding up.

If the Starship is allowed to launch from Boca Chica, the Super Heavy booster would separate three minutes after take off and drop into the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 miles off the Texas coast, according to the companys FAA filings. The Starship would continue into orbit and make a nearly complete trip around Earth before re-entering the atmosphere. It would splash down in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles off the northwest coast of Hawaii.

SpaceX had passed a federal environmental review in 2014 when it sought to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Boca Chica. But the Starship triggered a new review, largely because of SpaceXs related plans to construct a natural gas plant, a solar farm and parking lots at the site.

The company also plans to run more launch tests  noisy events that have rattled nearby residents.

While some neighbors support SpaceX as a new economic engine for South Texas, others have expressed concerns over the privately-held companys expansion in the region. They say the result has been the frequent closures of State Highway 4 and Boca Chica Beach on testing days and damage to the areas natural habitat.

Looking ahead, Musk said SpaceX plans to turn two offshore oil rigs into launch platforms, about 30 miles off the Gulf Coast in South Texas.

I think people are willing to have something thats loud occasionally, but if you want to have it frequently, it probably needs to be offshore, he said.

eric.killelea@express-news.net
Bear with me a moment  Starbucks employees drive to unionize one of the Seattle coffee chains North Side stores has stirred up memories of growing up in a Midwest union town.

My grandmother, Mabel, was a bookkeeper for the United Auto Workers local in Muncie, Ind., about an hour east of Indianapolis. She took me along whenever she dropped off paperwork at the union hall.

My grandfather, Dale, had been a UAW member and worker at Warner Gear, which made auto transmissions. A World War II veteran, hed also worked as a Delaware County sheriffs deputy. He died of lung cancer when I was 3 or 4  many, many Camels, all unfiltered.

BorgWarner owned several plants in town. Warner Gear was its biggest. When the UAW organized the plants in 1937, the Michigan-based parts maker employed nearly 4,000 workers in Muncie, according to the Star Press, the local newspaper.

Warner Gear, which made transmissions for Corvettes, was a big enough deal that John Kennedy visited the plant in 1960 during his race for the presidency against the hated, anti-union Richard Nixon. My grandfather was one of the deputies assigned to his security detail. He got Kennedys autograph, scrawled in green ink. My grandmother kept it in her jewelry box.

You know how this ends.

Auto parts manufacturers began ditching the U.S. for cheap overseas labor in the 1980s. The UAW  which had succeeded in securing good wages, benefits and pension plans for its members, as well as some insanely counterproductive workplace rules  somehow got more blame than the owners. The politicians who wrote the federal tax and trade policies that made the companies flight possible took even less.

Union membership fell. By 2020, just 10.8 percent of U.S. workers belonged to unions. (In Texas, the biggest right-to-work state in the country, it was 4.9 percent, well off its 1993 peak of 7.5 percent.)

By the time Warner Gear closed in 2009, it was down to a little more than 200 workers. Muncie had been collapsing in slow motion for decades by then. It is still. The citys population slid from 70,085 in 2010 to 65,194 a decade later. My hometowns poverty rate is a ghastly 31 percent.

From that perspective, watching employees efforts this week to unionize the Starbucks store at Loop 410 and Vance Jackson Road  and the bubbles of support theyve generated on Twitter and Facebook  has been fascinating.

Its a marker of how pervasive the service industry has become (most of us work in it) as manufacturing has receded. More than 7.5 million factory jobs have disappeared since 1980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Organized labor is still catching up to this reality.

And its Starbucks. A lot of us regularly buy coffee at its stores and know some of the baristas by name, so we can relate.

The Starbucks workers are the first in Texas to try to organize a company-owned store. On Tuesday, they filed with the National Labor Relations Board to conduct a union election.

These workers are catching a wave. In December, Starbucks employees in Buffalo, N.Y., voted to make theirs the first union store in the companys chain of nearly 9,000 locations. Starbucks Workers United was the lead organizer. In a statement this week, the organization said employees have also filed union petitions in Boston, Knoxville, Tallahassee, Chicago, Cleveland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor and several other cities.

That its happening in San Antonio isnt surprising. By number of employees, the leisure and hospitality industry is big business here, the fourth-largest of the 11 sectors the BLS tracks in the region.

Bexar and its seven neighboring counties have 129,000 people working in coffee shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and tourist attractions. By comparison, manufacturers  such as Toyota, its suppliers, and Caterpillar in Seguin  employ 52,000, making it the areas eighth-largest industry by workforce.

I requested an interview with the Starbucks organizers but got a written statement instead. It included a quote from K Garcia, a barista at the store.

Starbucks has promised its partners they are listening, Garcia said, and we are asking them to uphold the admirable values of our mission statement to inspire and nurture the human spirit  one barista, one family, one store at a time.

I tried to imagine what Grandpa Dale and his factory buddies, all of whom had gone on strike against the boss at various times, would have made of the nurturing talk. But it was a pointless exercise. Their day ended a long time ago.

Besides, they were comfortable. They led middle-class lives, thanks in part to the UAW bargaining on their behalf. My grandparents owned a small white house with pink trim on a respectable street.

Heres what workers in the lower-paying reaches of the service industry are facing: Last year, servers and food-prep workers in the U.S. earned median weekly wages of $573, according to the BLS. But workers who belonged to a union made a lot more  a median of $652 a week. Nonunion employees brought in $570.

The thing is, only 3.1 percent of those 6.4 million workers belonged to a union.

Will warm messaging hold up?

I stopped by the Starbucks at Loop 410 and Vance Jackson for a grande latte late Thursday afternoon. Six baristas scurried around the tight L-shaped work area behind the counter filling drink orders, restocking, wiping down surfaces. One was tinkering with one of the coffee machines.

The interior is all dark wood, brown-stained brickwork and shelves of Starbucks-branded travel containers and bags of coffee beans for sale.

In other words, a Starbucks like many others.

Emblazoned on the entrance is the corporate ethos: Were better together.

Starbucks gets points for the consistency of both its coffee and its messaging.

Responding to an Express-News reporters question about the store, a company spokesperson said Tuesday, Our position hasnt changed: Starbucks success  past, present and future  is built on how we partner together, always with our mission and values at our core.

Yet that same day came news that the coffee giant had fired seven employees in Memphis, Tenn., who were trying to unionize. Starbucks told The New York Times that workers had violated company policies. Organizers said the company was retaliating.

In its latest quarterly report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 1, Starbucks noted the recent unionizing at its stores. And the company said: Our responses to any union organizing efforts could negatively impact how our brand is perceived and have adverse effects on our business, including on our financial results.

In other words, being seen as a union-thwarting boss could prompt some customers to steer clear of Americas coffee shop.

I wonder if Starbucks executives feel like theyre captives of their own warm, community-spirited branding.

BorgWarner never had to worry about that kind of thing.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
Lawyers for a Black FedEx driver have called for a federal hate crime probe into the white men who chased down and shot at the deliveryman as he tried to drop off a package in Mississippi.

Gregory Case and his son, Brandon Case, were arrested last month for the alleged attack Demonterrio Gibson the afternoon of Jan. 24.

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The 24-year-old, who was wearing his uniform at the time, said hed just completed a delivery and was getting into his van, an unmarked vehicle rented by his employer, when he spotted a white pick-up truck pull out of a nearby lot.

As Gibson tried to drive away, he said the pick-ups driver attempted to cut him off, but that he managed to swerve out of the way on time. He was immediately met, however, by a man wielding a shot gun, who motioned for him to stop. Gibson instead, drove away, prompting the man to fire several rounds into the van.

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The FedEx driver was not injured in the incident, but several packages were struck by bullets, he said.

Gregory and Brandon Case (Lincoln County Sheriffs Dept.)

He was simply Black while working, Gibsons attorney, Carlos Moore, told reporters at a Thursday press conference. Moore also questioned whether authorities were taking the case seriously enough.

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While both men are facing charges, Moore said the state should upgrade them to counts of attempted murder. Gregory Case is currently facing a count of conspiracy while Brandon Case has been charged with aggravated assault.

Police told local news outlets that the elder Case was the suspected pickup driver, while son was the shot gun-wielding man in the street.

Directly after the incident, Gibson said FedEx instructed him to return to work, on the exact same route where he was attacked.

The following day, we had to go file a police report, and as soon as I was done filing a police report, they put me back on the same route, he said Thursday.

I did that for like a day or two until I started having real bad anxiety attacks, and I just couldnt do it anymore. I asked them for some time off, which I do have, but its unpaid.

A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed the department received a request to look into the case and that next steps will be determined following the review.

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HELOTES  Author Kelly Irvin is sorry for killing so many people in San Antonio. Check that. Shes sorry for setting so many murders in her novels in San Antonio.

I almost feel like I should apologize because San Antonio really is quite a safe place, Irvin said with a laugh.

In her newest book Trust Me ($16.99 HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson), Irvin offs two more San Antonio residents, all while providing her usual colorful travelogue of some of the citys most popular sites.

Trust Me hinges on the murder of Delaney Browards best friend Ellie, who she finds stabbed to death in Ellies candle shop in La Villita. Compounding the tragedy, Browards brother Corey was murdered in a similar manner 10 years earlier.

Shortly after discovering Ellies body, Delaney is attacked by the killer, who warns her, Stay out of it or youre next.

Of course, she doesnt.

Meanwhile, Delaneys boyfriend Hunter, who was convicted of Coreys murder, has just gotten out of prison and enlists Delaneys help to investigate the two murders.

So the story is fundamentally an issue of trust, Irvin said recently, sitting in the comfortable living room of her Helotes home, a throw with images of book-filled shelves on the chair behind her. Delaney still has feelings for Hunter, but can she trust him when he says hes not a murderer?

In addition to La Villita, Irvin has set her grisly tales of murder and mayhem in such San Antonio locales as the Alamo, Haven for Hope, the downtown courthouse and Market Square.

Even if she didnt live here, she said San Antonio makes for great settings for her novels.

There are so many iconic, historic locations here, she said. I was being interviewed about this book by a woman who said, We came to San Antonio when I was a kid and I remember visiting La Villita. So a lot of readers can picture these places when theyre reading my books.

A Kansas native, Irvin worked for 10 years as a newspaper reporter in El Paso and Laredo before moving to San Antonio in 1989 when her husband, Tim, a videographer, got a job with a TV station here.

Now 64, Irvin has been writing fiction for almost 20 years and has a total of about 30 romantic suspense and Amish romance novels under her belt. But even with such a track record, changing attitudes about cultural appropriation and representation are forcing her to rethink who she writes about and how she writes about them.

Its definitely on everyones mind, and everybody is approaching their books with a very careful eye toward, Is this my story to tell? she said. This is something that Im hypersensitive about that maybe I wasnt before.

But as a genre writer, shes also aware that following the write what you know advice authors are often given would severely limit the number of novels she could write and the types of people she could portray.

On ExpressNews.com: Super Bowls SoFi Stadium designed by San Antonio-native

So how do I balance that? she asked. Especially in a place like San Antonio thats so diverse, so multicultural. Ive struggled with that because while I may think I know someones story, I havent walked in those shoes.

One possible response, she said, is to have a so-called beta reader, someone who is a member of the group she is writing about  be it ethnic, racial or religious  read her manuscripts prior to publication and review them for missteps and inauthenticities. When she told her agent shes planning to write a character with muscular dystrophy, for example, the agent mentioned that she has a client with the condition who could review the story for accuracy.

Irvin recently submitted a proposal to her publisher for three books in what would be a new-to-her genre: womens fiction.

Its more family drama, like what Jodi Picoult writes, she said. Books that deal with issues like domestic violence and postpartum depression.

While shes touched on such topics in her Amish romance novels, these new books would take place in the secular world and feature women in their 50s faced with real-world challenges such as the empty nest syndrome, relationships troubles and divorce.

I also want to write about people with health issues, which is a pretty big one for me, she said. How illness can affect the characters families and their spouses and their work. I think these issues can create stories people can relate to.

In this case, she would be writing what she knows.

Six years ago, Irvin was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease that, while usually not fatal, slowly destroys nerve cells in the brain that control movement.

On ExpressNews.com: Like Airbnb for the outdoors, sites list private land for camping

But Irvins health didnt deteriorate, and since shes also been battling ovarian cancer, her doctors have since changed her diagnosis to paraneoplastic syndrome.

In laymans terms, my immune system tried to fight the cancer and attacked my central nervous system instead, said Irvin, who gets around with the help of a wheeled walker. The good news is, as long as we keep the cancer in check, my condition wont get worse.

rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini
The food and beverage options in San Antonios Government Hill neighborhood near the Pearl continue to grow with a new bar coming to the area.

Jeremy and Roxanne Rushing have purchased the building at 1606 N. Pine St. and plan to transform the roughly 1,200-square-foot space into a casual bar dubbed Manguera SA. The building will require extensive renovations, and Jeremy Rushing said he and his wife dont anticipate opening Manguera SA before 2024.

Were planning on making it a small neighborhood dive bar with beer and wine focused on local breweries, Jeremy Rushing said.

Spanish speakers may find the bars name, which translates to hose, curious. Rushing said manguera was one of his wifes favorite words as a child, and they both enjoyed the playful image of cooling off by drinking from a hose as the identity for their watering hole.

The building has sat vacant for a decade or more, and previously housed a VFW post and several bars Rushing added.

On ExpressNews.com: 10 great restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Government Hill

Manguera SA will be the first bar the couple have opened, but Jeremy Rushing is no stranger to the hospitality industry. He has worked as a chef in the past and currently works as an agent with the San Antonio-based Restaurant Realty Group.

Government Hill has been one of the citys busiest neighborhoods for bar and restaurant news in recent months:

Three Star Bar opened in October on Grayson in the former home of Grayze.

The McCullough mainstay Guillermos added a second location on Austin Street in December.

The team behind Southtowns Little Ems Oyster Bar and Upscale are opening a Southern spot called Restaurant Claudine next to Three Star Bar next year.

The popular tiki-inspired bar and Thai restaurant Hello Paradise is closing Sunday.

pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen
Theres no shortage of doughnut shops in and around San Antonio, including dozens of locally owned shops and even more chains. These are my picks for the best places to satisfy your morning sweet tooth.

RELATED: Mike Sutters 25 best San Antonio restaurant dishes of 2021

10. Chacha Bedoy Donuts & Bakery

Emma Bedoy-Pina  Chacha to her friends  is no stranger to the pastry business. Her parents started Bedoys Bakery in 1961, and its still going strong with two locations.

Striking out on her own, Bedoy-Pina opened Chachas in September in the former home of River City Donuts in the Medical Center area. Along with classic Mexican pastries, the shop turns out glazed doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters and a memorable cinnamon sugar doughnut filled with apple and caramel. 1723 Babcock Road, 210-515-4886, chachabedoy.com

Mike Sutter /Staff

9. Plantyful Sweets

At this charming vegan bakery near San Antonio College, owner Gaby Borrego is driven by a desire to create food thats easier on the body. Her doughnuts are vegan, gluten-free, naturally colored, lower in sugar and baked instead of fried.

Theyre just as rich, indulgent and euphoric as any other doughnut in this report, especially the Samoa, with thick chocolate icing, toasted coconut and a criss-cross of caramel inspired by the Girl Scout cookie of the same name. Varieties change daily, and Borrego said she shoots for three dozen each of three flavors. 1520 N. Main Ave., 210-957-1480, plantyfulsweets.com

Mike Sutter /Staff

8. ST Donuts

For the husband-and-wife team of Mengsrun Seng and Tessa Hor, doughnuts run in the family. His parents run a shop in California, and her brother owns Lees Donuts on the far North Side.

The couple opened ST Donuts in January, and already theyre putting out a spectrum of doughnut classics plus whimsical creations like a pillowy, pink-frosted glazed doughnut spiked with Froot Loops. 9793 Culebra Road, Suite 104, 210-267-1820, Facebook: ST Donuts Culebra

Mike Sutter /Staff

7. Old Fashion Donuts

Along with one of the best bear claws in the city  fluffy and cute, but dangerously good  this little shop on the Northeast Side goes all-in on the color spectrum, with scarlet, lavender and peacock blue scattered throughout the case.

As it is with all doughnut shops, the flavors dont really match the colors, but sweetness is its own reward. 12914 Jones Maltsberger Road, Suite 103, 210-545-3326, no web presence

Mike Sutter /Staff

6. Snowflake Donuts

When you order a filled doughnut at Snowflake in the Medical Center area, theyll pipe in any one of 11 cream or jelly flavors.

That level of customization, along with one of the tallest, lightest glazed doughnuts in this report, makes Snowflake unique. 5802 Babcock Road, 210-561-8863, Facebook: @SnowflakeDonutsBabcock

Mike Sutter /Staff

5. Krispy Kreme

Wait, they have other things besides glazed at Krispy Kreme? They do, and the assortment of heart-shaped pink and white and chocolate iced doughnuts with more sprinkles, swirls and flash than a Cher concert is a Valentines winner.

But those glazed doughnuts are the reason we keep a lookout for the neon-red Hot Now sign to light up. Theyre light as air, with a clean finish that makes each one look like airbrushed edible art. Multiple locations at krispykreme.com

On ExpressNews.com: Mike Sutters Top 10 most anticipated new San Antonio restaurant openings of 2022

Mike Sutter /Staff

4. Grand Donuts

Grand could be the description of the cavalcade of doughnuts at this Northeast Side shop. The most well-stocked case in this report, its a hypnotic array of glazed, iced, cake, old-fashioned, frosted, filled and novelty doughnuts, including one the best basic glazed around and a maple-bacon that tastes like breakfast at Dennys. 21920 Bulverde Road, 210-481-2002, no web presence

Mike Sutter /Staff

3. Duck Donuts

Five years ago, this North Carolina-based chain planted roots in San Antonio near the Medical Center. The formula is simple, and it works: Make each cake doughnut to order, and dress it like Billie Eilish at the Grammys.

Lemon icing with raspberry swirl? No problem. Peanut butter and chocolate? Check. Chopped bacon with maple icing and caramel drizzle? That, too. Hot, fresh and Southern friendly. 11703 Huebner Road, Suite 113, 210-476-5500; 7010 W. Loop 1604 N., 210-236-5886, duckdonuts.com

Mike Sutter /Staff

2. M&M Donut

Huynh Chun Lieus workday starts at 12:30 at night and ends at 4:30 in the afternoon  16 hours of doughnuts a day, seven days a week. She just shrugs it off as the price to pay for getting everything right. And M&M in Converse gets everything right. Glazed doughnuts as fluffy and light as cotton candy, cake doughnuts with a balance of density and crumble, old-fashioned doughnuts with ridges like gears, apple fritters with fresh green apples in every bite.

But shes justifiably proudest of the cinnamon glazed, fortified with a ring of cinnamon through the middle, the perfect marriage of a glazed doughnut and a cinnamon roll. Speaking of marriage, her husband Chen Ban is in charge of the kolaches, and they give the doughnuts a run for their money. 9081 FM 78, Converse, 210-566-7785, no web presence

Mike Sutter /Staff

1. The Art of Donut

Doughnuts are built for speed, meant to move a dozen at a time with as little fuss as possible. But The Art of Donut in Midtown is all about the fuss. The red velvet dough nut gets a sprinkle of more red velvet cake over the top. The French toast doughnut is finished with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. And the smores doughnut includes a marshmallow shingle with an actual chocolate bar for full campfire effect.

These doughnuts are not just for show. Both the cake and yeast doughnuts bring the right airiness and sturdiness that defines their forms, and the more than 25 varieties guarantee youll find one to savor, one doughnut at a time. 3428 N. St. Marys St., 210-265-5423, artofdonut.com

msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking
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
A man shot and wounded five police officers in an ambush in Phoenix early Friday morning after fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, cops said.

Four more officers were wounded by shrapnel and ricochets in the chaos.

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The gunman, identified as 36-year-old Morris Jones, was later found dead inside the house where he first opened fire. His ex-girlfriend was seriously wounded by the time police got inside, and she later died at a hospital.

In the middle of the shootout, officers also rescued a baby.

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Police cars surround the Phoenix residence where nine officers were injured Friday morning. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Police were called to the scene around 2:15 a.m. on a report that a woman had been shot. The first officer to arrive, who has not been identified, was invited inside the house, spokesperson Sgt. Andy Williams said Friday at a press conference.

But when the officer entered, he was immediately met with gunfire in what Williams described as an ambush and possibly a trap. The officer managed to get himself to safety. He suffered the most severe injuries in the incident.

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After backup arrived, a different man surrendered and walked backward out of the house while carrying a baby girl. The man then placed the girl on the ground outside the home. When officers went to retrieve the child, they were met with more gunfire from Jones, according to Williams.

Investigators peruse the scene outside the Phoenix home where several officers were shot Friday morning. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Four officers were hit and all suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Williams said. Another four officers were struck by shrapnel and ricocheting bullets. The baby girl was not injured, and the surrendering man suffered minor injures.

Two officers were able to return fire during the baby rescue, and Jones barricaded himself inside the home for several hours, police said. He was found dead inside.

His ex-girlfriend was taken to a hospital and later died from her injuries, police said.

Officers speak with each other while processing the scene. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

An initial investigation suggested that the baby retrieved from the scene was the child of Jones and his ex-girlfriend, Williams told the Arizona Republic. Authorities did not explain the surrendering mans relationship to the other parties, but they did suggest that he didnt have anything to do with the apparent ambush plan.

This is just one more example of the dangers that officers face every day keeping us and our community safe, Police Chief Jeri Williams said at an early morning news conference. If I seem upset, I am. This is senseless.

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A woman and her boyfriend have been arrested and are accused of abusing her 5-year-old daughter as a form of punishment over several weeks until she died.

Jose Angel Ruiz, 25, and Katrina Mendoza, 22, are charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury intentionally or knowingly. Ruiz is being held in the Bexar County Jail on $600,000 bail.

On Feb. 7, 5-year-old Mercedes Losoya, Mendozas daughter, was unresponsive when she arrived with her mother at Texas Vista Medical Center, formerly Southwest General Hospital. Medical personnel attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m., according to an affidavit supporting Ruizs arrest.

Hospital staff alerted San Antonio police that Mercedes appeared to have been the victim of extreme physical abuse, the affidavit states.

The detective who submitted the affidavit described a litany of gruesome wounds that he observed at the hospital. The girl was missing sections of hair from her head, and she had bruises, scratches, cuts and swelling on almost every portion of her body, the affidavit said.

The medical examiner who conducted an autopsy on Mercedes body told investigators it was obvious that she suffered extreme abuse and torture, according to the affidavit.

Courtesy of the Bexar County Sheriffs Office

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio parents accused of beating 12-year-old Danilo Coles to death

Officers arrested Ruiz the night that Mercedes died. He was sitting in his car at the hospital when officers approached him and found a gun in his vehicle, and he was booked for violating the condition of bond for a previous arrest, the affidavit states.

The arrest warrant against Ruiz for injuring a child was issued Wednesday and presumably executed immediately, while Mendoza was arrested Thursday.

When police questioned Mendoza on Feb. 7, she said that she initially sent Mercedes away with Ruiz so that he could punish her.

She said she spoke with Ruiz via a video call a short time later and that she saw Mercedes crying and holding something heavy, the affidavit states. Mendoza, who also has a 6-year-old daughter, told Mercedes that she had to keep her hands raised and listen to Ruiz because it was part of her punishment.

A few days later, Mendoza saw Mercedes and Ruiz in person. Mendoza tried to pick up Mercedes, who moaned as if she were in pain, the affidavit states.

Mendoza saw bruises and cuts on the girls inner thighs. She told police that Ruiz said he pinched Mercedes as punishment.

Mendoza and her two daughters then moved in with Ruiz, and she told police that she saw Ruiz physically abuse Mercedes over a few weeks.

Mendoza told police that her daughter was forced to consume feces and urine, according to the affidavit. Over the course of the alleged abuse, two of Mercedes teeth became dislodged and fell out, the affidavit states.

Ruiz wore rings when he hit Mercedes and used a belt on her, Mendoza told police.

On ExpressNews.com: Babysitter arrested; accused of sexually abusing child for six years

Mercedes 6-year-old sister was interviewed after she was removed from Mendozas custody. Her account was consistent with her mothers, telling investigators that Ruiz used the gold part of the belt on her sister.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has not yet determined how Mercedes died, Officer Ricardo Guzman, a police spokesman, said Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the doctor could also not account for marks on the bottoms of Mercedes feet.

Mercedes sister told police that Ruiz used thumbtacks on the bottoms of her feet.

When police interviewed Ruiz, he admitted to punishing Mercedes, but he said that he only spanked her, placed her in a corner or made her keep her arms raised.

Mendoza was quiet amid questions from reporters as she was escorted to a police vehicle at Public Safety Headquarters downtown.

The Texas Department of Family Violence Prevention Services has removed Mercedes sister from the familys custody, placing her in the care of the state, according to the affidavit.

jbeltran@express-news.net
San Antonio police detained more than 20 people who were seen exiting from the back of an 18-wheeler truck in Westover Hills early Friday morning.

Police were called to the Westover Marketplace, near Loop 410 and FM 151, at about 3:30 a.m. regarding a suspicious scene behind the Office Depot store in the shopping center. Officials suspect up to 100 people may have been in the trailer.

The people may have been a part of an illegal immigration operation, officials at the scene said.

Officers found people hiding in bushes, in dumpsters, behind buildings and under vehicles, officials said. Several family members of the people from the truck were pulled over by police in the parking lot when they tried to pick them up.

On ExpressNews.com: A heartbreaking story: BCSO deputy rescues group from possible human smuggling operation

The San Antonio office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations responded to the scene, and it has initiated an investigation with support from the San Antonio Police Department, the agency said in a brief statement.

Three suspects were arrested in connection with the overnight smuggling attempt. They may appear in federal court Monday, when their names may be made public.

The scenario is at least the third in recent weeks in or near Bexar County in which suspected immigrant-smuggling attempts were foiled.

Last Friday, after getting calls from the public, Kerr County deputies and the Texas Highway Patrol found 16 immigrants during a traffic stop along Interstate 10, near mile marker 505.

A news release said deputies observed several people in the bed of the truck trying to hide under blankets, cardboard and other items. Deputies removed everyone from the vehicle, including two people who were inside a metal toolbox, the release said.

The driver, Misael Jesus Santiago Hernandez, 22, and 12 adults and four children were taken into custody. The vehicle was headed to San Antonio, and Hernandez was booked on state smuggling charges and was being held on bail totaling $440,000. The immigrants were turned over to Border Patrol.

On Feb. 1, a Bexar County deputy was conducting an unrelated traffic stop on Shepherd Road, near Atascosa, when a passerby flagged him down and reported seeing a group of people being forced into a white utility van. That resulted in a short chase of the van into Atascosa, where the driver ditched the vehicle in a residential driveway and ran off. Deputies found eight immigrants from Mexico, some of whom had pieces of carpet tied to their shoes, Sheriff Javier Salazar said. The immigrants were turned over to federal agents.

According to the Border Patrol, smugglers instruct their human cargo to use rope to tie scraps of carpet to the bottom of their shoes to avoid leaving footprints as they wander through brush or desert terrain, making it more difficult to track large groups being smuggled.

On ExpressNews.com: Eagle Pass police detective arrested in human smuggling investigation

Earlier this month, a federal grand jury indicted two men, Marco Antonio Juarez and Gibran Michael Olivares, on human smuggling charges connected to a load of immigrants found by the SAPD about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 15. Court records said officers in a police helicopter spotted 18 immigrants at a property near Zarzamora Street and Applewhite Road, and most were near a tractor-trailer in which they had been transported.

Juarezs role was to collect money from drivers who arrived in vehicles to pick up immigrants from the scene, the documents said. The records said Olivares, who arrived to the scene in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, used a code word to locate some of the immigrants he was going to pick up to transport elsewhere.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net
A San Antonio couple were arrested after police received reports that they had locked three children in cabinets for three days, court documents said.

Erik Jesus Martinez, 29, was arrested on three counts of child endangerment and three counts of unlawful restraint. Valerie Diaz, 33, was also charged with child endangerment.

Diazs three children  ages 11, 6 and 5  told police that the couple would put them in a kitchen cabinet under the counter and secure the cabinet doors with screws or zip ties, an affidavit supporting their arrest said.

On ExpressNews.com: Extreme abuse and torture: Mother, boyfriend accused of beating 5-year-old girl in weeks leading to her death

The children said they were locked in the cabinet for days, though they didnt know precisely how much time elapsed during their confinement. They werent always fed while they were in the cabinets and had to soil their clothing because they werent let out to use the bathroom, the affidavit said.

Police were made aware of the situation after Diaz called police on Dec. 21 for a welfare check, reporting that her children had been locked in cabinets for three days, the affidavit said.

When police went to the apartment where they lived, they arrested Martinez on an unrelated warrant.

Diaz told police that Martinez put the children in cabinets and sealed them shut with screws. She said he would hit all three children with his hand, a belt or plastic objects, and that the 6-year-old boy was abused the most, the affidavit said.

Courtesy of the Bexar County Sheriffs Office

On ExpressNews.com: replace this text with your teaser head and add hyperlink

Diaz said she put the children in the cabinet one time but that she didnt lock it.

Police said the apartment where they lived was cluttered and dirty with little to no edible food, according to the affidavit. There were also holes in the cabinets frame where the screws would go, as well as used and unused zip ties near the cabinet.

Evidence of feces and urine were inside the cabinet, along with drawings the children made.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @Taylor Pettaway
Few issues divide old-school Democrats from young progressive idealists in the party more than the question of what to do about Israel.

The traditional Democratic take has been to offer full-throated, unequivocal support for Israel and its right to protect itself.

We can call it the Chuck Schumer position. Schumer, the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, has described the boycott-Israel movement as antisemitic and opposed this countrys 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

Then theres the new-generation Democratic position, which holds Israel accountable for violating international law by building settlements in the occupied West Bank and severely restricting the movement and activities of Palestinians.

This perspective, voiced by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other self-described democratic socialists in the House, holds that Israel is guilty of apartheid.

Its easy for the Israel-can-do-no-wrong crowd to caricature any high-profile critic of the Israeli government as antisemitic, but its grossly unfair. After all, finding fault with the policies of any U.S. administration doesnt make someone anti-American.

Greg Casar, the progressive former Austin city councilman who is running for the Democratic nomination in U.S. District 35, is mindful of the way antisemitism charges routinely get lobbed in the direction of people on his end of the political debate.

Thats why, on Jan. 9, he wrote a letter to Rabbi Alan Freedman, of Austins Temple Beth Shalom congregation.

Casar, 32, envisioned the letter as a handy answer to anyone who asked Freedman where Casar stood on Israel. He didnt necessarily intend for it to be widely disseminated, but he knew that was a possibility.

Casars letter made it into a Feb. 1 story in Jewish Insider, under a sub-headline proclaiming that Casar appears to be charting his own path in the Middle East.

The article drew a near-instantaneous pushback from some of Casars allies on the political left.

Alex Birnel, the advocacy director for MOVE Texas, tweeted: I like Greg, have immense respect for his work here in Texas, I consider him a friend, and I think people should support his candidacy, but on Palestine, hes not charting his own path. This is status quo.

The Austin chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which had enthusiastically endorsed Casars candidacy, announced on Feb. 6 that while many individual members will continue to support the (Casar) campaign, DSA will no longer be working on this campaign as an organization.

The statement said Casars letter to Freedman contained views that are not reconcilable with DSAs stance in solidarity with Palestine.

What stands out about Casars letter is how nuanced it is, how carefully he crafted it to acknowledge the intense emotions on both sides of this issue.

He expressed a belief in the right of Israelis to have their own democratic state and live in peace, free from violent attacks from nation-states or from groups like Hezbollah or Hamas.

He also wrote that Palestinians have a right to live in peace, security and democracy.

He advocated for a two-state solution that would provide Palestinians with a homeland of their own.

To achieve such a solution, we cannot ignore the economic and power imbalance faced by the poorest Palestinians, Casar said. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and indefinite occupation in the West Bank are untenable to Israelis, Palestinians and our collective conscience.

It was a balanced assessment in which Casar appealed to the better angels of all parties, with the thought that this is the best route to constructive dialogue.

The major sticking point for some of Casars fellow progressives was his stated support for continued federal aid for self defense of Israel. He also indicated that he does not back the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement against Israel.

I come from a progressive human-rights approach, Casar told me Thursday.

To make sure were providing humanitarian aid to those in need, restricting aid from being used in a way that violates peoples rights and with a real priority for keeping people safe in Israel and keeping people safe in Palestine. And challenging Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in all its forms, here and abroad.

Its unlikely that the dust-up over Casars letter will profoundly alter the metrics of the March 1 primary race. Casars most serious opponent, Austin-based state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, is a vociferous defender of Israel, meaning that TX-35 progressives are unlikely to defect to him.

On Saturday, Casar and TX-28 hopeful Jessica Cisneros will be joined by Ocasio-Cortez, the biggest rock star in the democratic-socialist constellation, for a San Antonio rally at Paper Tiger.

It might not put the controversy behind him, but itll help.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Last month, with a flash of candor and vulnerability, one of the Air Forces most senior generals cracked open the conversation about mental health in the military.

On Jan. 28, Gen. Mike Mini Minihan, who is responsible for about 107,000 people and nearly 1,100 of the militarys cargo and refueling aircraft, tweeted a photo of his schedule that showed an upcoming mental health appointment with the words Warrior heart. No Stigma.

A case study in leadership by example and a departure from the stoic tradition of military leaders, Minihans tweet will save lives  if it hasnt already.

Here, the messenger was as important as the message and the medium. His salvo has ignited conversations across the Defense Department and the country. Its motivating supervisors and subordinates to think more deeply about healthiness. Maybe it will give someone suffering in silence the boost to reach out to others.

The generals post went viral and tallied more than 2 million impressions, and thousands of likes, retweets and comments.

I learned more about me in the last three days than Ive learned about me in the last 30 years, Minihan, the 54-year-old commander of Air Mobility Command, told me during a telephone interview days after his mental health appointment. Im still trying to unpack the last three days of my life as it relates to the process of seeking help; as it relates to the personal process of receiving the help; as it relates to the relationship dynamics around you, both personal and professional.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Public was indifferent to a war made abstract

The general said hes social media shy, but the tweet wasnt the first time Minihan has made headlines since taking command. His official portrait garnered attention because he only wore three ribbons over his pocket versus a full rack. These awards honored the unit, not the individual.

You know, the ones Im most proud of are the ones that recognize the collective accomplishment of the teams, he said of the awards. I think theres power in brevity. I think theres power in things that are unsaid, but demonstrated.

A fourth-generation military man, he was quick to add theres always a time and a place for the full ribbon rack.

Our interview was the generals first since taking command in October and my first meaningful interaction with the Air Force as a journalist.

U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jacqueline Jastrzebski /51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

It helped that Minihan considers Texas home, even though he hasnt been here for a while. He graduated from Austins Johnston High School in 1985. His dad was stationed at Kelly AFB, and the younger Minihan worked at various places across San Antonio.

The conversation flowed easily, like we were two old friends, with subtle doses of humor and wisdom that mentors, older brothers, father figures or cool uncles naturally weave in. He called me brother and man, asked about my family, described things as awesome and spoke with the efficiency of a lifelong C-130 pilot concluding each thought with an over.

It was a conversation I couldnt have, or wouldnt have, when I was still in the Air Force. For whatever reason, Id never been comfortable discussing mental health and inner life with many of my military bosses.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: As Afghanistan falls, memories haunt

But this was different. All the barriers of hierarchy, rank and imagined life impacts had vanished. We were two people having an emotional conversation about shared experiences and how to stay healthy.

Korea

I first met Minihan in Korea in July 2018. Diplomats and generals had quelled the fiery rhetoric and tension that had dominated the previous months on the peninsula, and wed entered a precarious time of silence and summits.

As a goodwill gesture, North Korea agreed to return the remains of 55 Korean War dead to the United States. Minihan was chief of staff of U.S. Forces Korea and part of the C-17 crew that flew to Wonsan, North Korea, to pick up the remains.

I cant describe what it was like to come out of the back of the airplane, said the married father of three with a ripple of emotion in his voice. To look at that promenade of honor as we made our way from the airplane to the port. Holy cow. You know, just a collision of emotions there on who we are as a nation, and a promise kept on who we are as an alliance, a (Republic of Korea) R.O.K.-U.S. alliance.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Trail honoring fallen soldier offers path to peace

The mission, he said, was one of the most perfect hed been a part of, and he not only escorted the dead back from North Korea, but he has followed their journey as the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Hawaii continues its sacred work of identifying them. Since some of the remains were commingled, that mission will ultimately repatriate more than 55 Americans, he said.

I, too, stood on the Osan Air Base ramp as the honor detail carried each flag-draped transfer case onto the C-17s that would bring them to American soil. The dead had waited more than 60 years for that flight home. We honored them with silence and respect during the solemn procession.

After Afghanistan

Our nation, and the world, depends on air mobility. The missions span the globe, never stop and play a role in most world events.

Against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, increasing competition with China and Russia and rising tension in Ukraine, Minihan took command shortly after the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.

He described the final days in Afghanistan as operationally challenging and extremely vivid for those in his command. The end of the nations longest conflict  one that relied so heavily on the nations gray tails  had an impact on those involved and their loved ones.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Vets unaccompanied, yet theyre not alone

The legacy of Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, isnt tied to the end state.

Its tied to what we did together in the air and on the ground and on those battlefields, and theres a lot of honor in that; theres a lot of sacrifice there, he said, pausing halfway through. Theres an incredible amount of support thats going to be needed for us all to make sure that the loved ones, the people that served, the Gold Star families understand that  its all pride and honor, and we cant let how other people define the legacy alter that service and sacrifice.

Warrior Heart. No Stigma.

Shortly after taking command, Minihan summoned his commanders and staff to discuss resiliency and future fights.

Experts in mindfulness, wellness, courage, loneliness, vulnerability, depression and being available shared resources and approaches, while wing commanders recounted successes, concerns and frustrations. They also had frank conversations about the Afghanistan departure with airmen who were there.

One of the speakers, Anthony Brinkley, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant turned leadership and resiliency consultant, challenged the commanders to place a mental health appointment on their calendar for people to see.

Minihan sat with the idea for a month, and after the holiday break he stepped up to the challenge.

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Im only holding myself to the same standard thats expected of the airmen and the families around me, he said.

Making the message visible to everyone more appropriately met the intent of Brinkleys challenge.

The genuineness of the act, and what I did two days ago, has had a profound impact on me in every part of my life  more so than I anticipated, he said during the Feb. 3 interview.

A step forward

As the military and veteran communities continue to battle the ravages of poor mental health and suicide, Minihans message came through loud and clear, but its going to take much more momentum and genuine acts from leaders to break the deeply ingrained stigmas, suck it up culture and perceived career threats.

Id never seen a commander be that upfront during my career, and I wonder what would be different if more senior leaders had been so open when I, or previous generations, served. The small changes in thought would have grown and evolved. With more empathy and emotional honesty we would have been a better military. Maybe wed be better people. Maybe those friends who didnt reach out for help would have. Maybe the negative edges of military life would dull.

U.S. Air Force /

I can stand up on a stage all day long and say, Seek help, its not a sign of weakness, theres no stigma, he said. But at the end of the day, that trust really falls down to you.  I can feel that Im trusted, but its meaningless unless you feel that I can be trusted.

Theres no doubt the general will keep fighting to build trust and smash barriers to conversations about mental health. Hes confident the Defense Department will too.

They have a long but winnable battle ahead.

brandon.lingle@express-news.net
The Bexar County Clerks Office keeps government documents that record many parts of our lives: birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce forms, court records, military discharge papers, property sales and more.

A good leader in this office will be adept at records management, prioritize customer service, and embrace emerging technologies and best practices.

In the Democratic primary, we recommend County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, who hits all the high marks for this office. She faces Rachel Garcia Cavazos, who worked in the airline industry for 20 years and as executive director of the Housing Authority of Bexar County, then director of labor services with the United Way of San Antonio.

We simply see no reason for a change.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Hernandez in Dem race for district clerk

Adame-Clark has launched the Straight to You, Records on the Run program  two mobile satellite units that deliver land and vital records services. Perhaps the return on investment should be studied, but the program has won national innovation awards. Adame-Clark said funds are invested in the staff and in services to the community. She also wants to reclaim the half of the Bexar County Spanish Archives that were placed at the University of Texas at Austin after the archives were split in 1899.

/Courtesy

On the Republican side, we recommend Richard A. Gold, who holds a bachelors degree in marketing. He said he wants to bring transparency, professional leadership and fiscal accountability to the office. Gold retired after serving 27 years in the county, including 20 years as a records manager. Gold told us, if elected, one area of focus will be streamlining and decreasing operational budgets. And he raised questions about the cost of the mobile records service.

He faces Rose Farias, who has served as a Bexar County Sheriffs Office deputy for 25 years. She has a passion for serving the community but lacks experience in records management.
Editors note: In light of Sarah Stogners recent campaign video, the Editorial Board has rescinded its recommendation and is instead recommending Dawayne Tipton.

Most candidates for Texas railroad commissioner agree the 130-year-old state agency, which has nothing to do with trains, needs a new name.

We met with three Republican candidates seeking to lead the commission that regulates the oil and gas industry, which includes pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, as well as coal and uranium surface mining.

The Railroad Commission of Texas, or RRC, also oversees and enforces state and federal laws for energy industries in Texas.

Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian did not meet with us, but like the name of the agency he regulates, its past time for a change.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Our choices in primaries for state reps

In the aftermath of last Februarys devastating Winter Storm Uri, which killed more than 200 people and cost billions, the RRC came under fire for not requiring winterization of the gas supply chain.

Independent watchdog groups Commission Shift and Texans for Public Justice produced a series of reports that raise serious ethical concerns and conflicts of interest for each of the three elected commissioners overseeing the RRC.

The reports highlight how commissioners maintain interests in oil and gas entities that do business with the RRC. They also show how energy companies make significant contributions to commissioners campaign funds.

Then there are weak recusal rules that allow commissioners to participate in cases for companies that have made campaign contributions or in which they hold a personal financial stake.

In this Republican primary, we recommend Sarah Stogner, a West Texas oil and gas attorney and political newcomer, whose frustration with the RRCs failure to engage with landowners or hold oil firms accountable for abandoned well blowouts prompted her to run for the office.

From looking at ways to offer incentives to natural gas producers to prioritize reliability over profits, to ideas on enforcing regulations that are already on the books, Stogner offers the vision, energy and tenacity to make real changes at the RRC.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Time to refresh Railroad Commission of Texas ethics

Her priorities are to put Texans to work in the energy sector, prevent federal intervention, and establish ways to measure and evaluate the commissions efforts with an eye toward rewarding innovation.

She ultimately hopes to change the RRCs culture while bolstering both environmental stewardship and economic success.

In addition to Christian, Stogner faces two competitors  lifelong oilmen Dawayne Tipton and Tom Slocum  who also met with us.

Another candidate, Marvin Sarge Summers, died in a car accident in Midland on Tuesday.

Tipton is impressive. We could have easily recommended him. From roughneck to driller and engineer, Tipton offers a wealth of experience and a goal of limiting regulations that kill jobs. He wants to grow high-paying jobs while maximizing the benefits of Texas natural resources.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: DeBerry, Minjarez best primary choices for Bexar County judge

Slocum wants to ensure fair enforcement of the RRCs rules and regulations among all oil and gas operators. A strong fiscal conservative, he stands against future RRC bailouts like the $3.4 billion in gas costs for Winter Storm Uri. Hes also interested helping Texas become and remain a leader in the cryptocurrency mining boom that consumes vast amounts of energy.

Its time for a new RRC leader who will enact commonsense changes, such as requiring commissioners to have no financial interest in the companies they regulate; limiting campaign contributions from entities that do business with the RRC; improving financial disclosures; strengthening recusal standards; and using a neutral forum for contested cases.

We think either Stogner or Tipton could be this person, but we appreciate Stogners sense of urgency.

The winner will face Luke Warford, a political organizer and businessman, who is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
Nearly 4 in 10 Harris County mail ballots are being rejected because of a missing ID number, a new requirement of the Republican-backed voting bill passed last year that is causing confusion among voters.

This is just the latest problem to arise over the new rules. The ID provision, which Republican lawmakers said was meant to reduce voter fraud, has already led to unprecedented levels of denials of applications for mail ballots across the state.

Election officials in Harris County on Thursday said about 40 percent, or 1,430 out of 3,579 mail-in ballots received, had been rejected and sent back to voters to correct because they did not contain an ID number. Its yet to be seen how many will have to be corrected because of the use of an ID number that varies from what is in a voters file.

Those nearly 4,000 ballots received so far only comprise 10 percent of the more than 27,000 sent out by the county. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Feb. 18, so that number could still grow.

Other counties have also reported high rejection rates, such as Hays and Williamson counties in the Austin metropolitan area, which will each need to send back about 30 percent of ballots for correction, the Texas Tribune reported. Statewide numbers are not available from the Secretary of State, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Voters whose ballots were rejected will have an opportunity to correct their ballot by mail, or, if the deadline is coming up too soon, officials will call or email voters. They would need to then go to their local elections office in person. Another option would be to use the states new online ballot tracker to correct any mistakes.

Completed ballots have to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on March 1. They can also be delivered in person on election day.

RELATED: Harris County challenges measure forbidding elections officials from touting mail voting

The new law, Senate Bill 1, creates an added layer of scrutiny in a state that is already has some of the strictest requirements in the nation for voting by mail. Voters now have to include a state ID number, such as a drivers license number or a partial Social Security number, when applying for a mail-in ballot, and when submitting their ballot.

The ID must match what is in their voter file, which has also stumped some voters who cant always recall that information. Some county officials have advised voters to include both numbers, just in case.

Just two states, Alabama and Wisconsin, had ID requirements in 2020 for voters requesting a mailed ballot. But last year, Republicans in nearly a dozen states offered up bills limiting the method after its heyday during the pandemic. Texas and at least three other states enacted them: Arkansas, Florida and Georgia, according to Voting Rights Lab, which advocates for expanded voter access.

The location of the space to include an ID number on the new carrier envelopes could be part of whats throwing off some voters, election officials said. To protect the voters privacy, the field is located underneath the envelope flap  easy to miss if a voter isnt looking out for it.

FAQ: 7 things to know about Texas mail-ballot voting

Harris County elections spokeswoman Leah Shah said the office received a record 8,000 calls since Jan. 1, the majority having to do with mail ballots and applications. Thats more than the monthly call volume in the runup to the 2020 general election.

In part because of the confusion around SB 1, the county has doubled its staff answering voter calls and handling mail ballots, Shah said. Its also bumped up the number of election workers on the panels who qualify mail ballots.

On Friday in court, Harris County attorneys asked federal judge to strike down a provision in SB 1 that they say hampers election officials ability to give election advice because of the threat of criminal prosecution for what could be construed as unlawfully soliciting voting by mail.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Croatia Airlines is studying the potential resumption of flights from Zagreb to several markets it discontinued as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which are yet to be restored. The carrier is primarily looking at destinations in the region for the coming summer season. Croatia Airlines suspended services to Barcelona, Bucharest, Helsinki, Lisbon, Milan, Mostar, Oslo, Prague, St Petersburg, Stockholm and Tel Aviv, and shelved plans to launch operations to Sofia and Podgorica. So far, the Croatian carrier has only announced its return to Barcelona. Initially the airline was to resume flights in late March but has now pushed back its return to Spains second largest city to June.





Several foreign carriers have used Croatia Airlines absence to launch flights to Zagreb, which were previously operated by the flag carrier. TAP Air Portugal introduced seasonal services from Lisbon last summer, which will resume at the end of next month with an extra weekly rotation for a total of four weekly flights. Finnair will launch seasonal operations between Helsinki and the Croatian capital from May 1, with up to three weekly services to run through to September. Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossiya Airlines now operate between St Petersburg and Zagreb, while Ryanair has taken over Croatia Airlines planned services to Podgorica and Sofia.





Croatia Airlines CEO, Jasmin Bajic, recently said the carrier will adapt its summer network based on demand, with the company to remain flexible with its schedule. Traffic will continue to be contingent on external factors, beyond the companys control, such as restrictions, bans and other measures, which directly impact on peoples ability to travel both domestically and internationally. Accordingly, we will focus on flexible planning of our network. Our goal is to achieve optimal load factors with average fares in existing conditions of reduced capacity. Therefore, in 2022 our focus will be on greater rationalisation of costs and the implementation of the companys defined post-Covid strategy, Mr Bajic said.




Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
A high school freshman was on his way home after a day of classes at the Chicago Military Academy when another teen leapt out of an SUV and unleashed a hail of gunfire.

Michael Brown was shot at least 10 times, including once in the head. The 14-year-old victim was rushed to to Comer Childrens Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to ABC 7.

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Authorities arrested a pair of suspects, ages 15 and 16, during a traffic stop about a half hour later. The older teen had been wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet from a previous case, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, though he did not provide further details.

Neither of the suspects have been identified because they are minors.

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Just prior to the shooting on Tuesday, authorities believe the pair of teens called for a Lyft and then highjacked the vehicle at gunpoint. They then drove the SUV to site of the shooting.

Authorities are working uncover any relationship between the suspects and a motive in the shooting remained unclear on Friday.

Obviously its clear it was targeted, said Supt. Brown.

The 16-year-old suspect is expected to be charged as an adult. Hes facing counts of first-degree murder and a felony charge of vehicular hijacking, aggravated with a firearm.

The 15-year-old suspect is expected to be charged with possessing a stolen vehicle.

No family, no block, no community in the city of Chicago should have to endure the looming threat of guns and gangs, Brown said. We want to see bright futures for all of our children. We need everyones help. It takes all of us.
NFU Cymru has 'categorically rejected' government proposals to introduce tabular valuations for cattle compulsorily slaughtered due to bovine TB.

A 12-week consultation on a refreshed TB Eradication Programme launched in November 2021, setting out the Welsh government's vision for the eradication of the disease.

It included new plans for the TB testing programme to help reduce the risk of the spread of TB, such as testing protocols in relation to the pre-movement test.

The Welsh government also sought views on changing payments for cattle slaughtered as a result of TB, by introducing table valuations instead of individual valuations.

In its response, NFU Cymru stressed that the fair way to value cattle compulsorily slaughtered as a result of bTB was on the basis of their individual merits.

It said members were 'fundamentally opposed' to the introduction of any system based on table valuations, highlighting that such proposals had 'significant shortcomings'.

This system is used in England, where Defra uses average market prices to calculate compensation for cattle culled because of TB.

Every month it publishes a table of compensation values for 51 different categories of cattle.

But a tabular valuation system for Wales was 'not fair' to the farmer or to government, NFU Cymru explained, because a system based on averages would "likely create as many instances of over valuation as undervaluation".

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: "A table valuation system takes no account of many important factors relating to the individual characteristics of the animal, for example size, weight, quality, stage of pregnancy, milk yield, genetic merit or animal health status.

We often hear from Welsh government of the need for individual farming business to increase their resilience, improve productivity, business performance and the use of better performing genetic stock.

"Moving forward with a tabular valuation system will penalise the very farming businesses that Welsh government is purporting to champion."

The Welsh government, in its consultation, suggested that its proposals were a result of an overspend of its TB budget.

But NFU Cymru explained that the way to reduce overspend was to ensure that the disease was controlled quickly and effectively so it had the smallest possible impact on the national herd.

The fewer animals that needed to be slaughtered as a result of bTB, the lower the compensation bill and the lower the cost for both government and industry, the union said.

The consultation document also makes a number of proposals for changes to current policies, including changes to the current testing regime in the different TB regions of Wales.

But NFU Cymru said there was 'anger and frustration' within the industry over the 'repeated failure' of government to implement a comprehensive TB eradication strategy in Wales.

Cattle keepers throughout Wales farm under some of the most stringent and restrictive cattle movement and testing requirements in the world," Aled Jones said.

"This consultation proposes a number of further changes that, if introduced, will have significant consequences for cattle keepers."
Private investment in ecosystem services has more potential to reduce on-farm emissions than the government's schemes, a project has found.

The Resilient Dairy Landscapes project explored the trade-offs between farmers livelihoods, the natural environment and a stable supply of reasonably priced dairy products.

It evaluated the operation of Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs), which match private investors affected by landscape challenges with land managers.

The 1.5m project, undertaken by Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) and funded by the Global Food Security programme, explored LENs in Cumbria and East Anglia.

It also initiated the first networks in South West Scotland and supported their extension into Europe.

It found that farmers in the Eden Valley, Cumbria planted hedgerows four times faster under the privately funded Nestle-First Milk scheme than in public agri-environment schemes.

According to the project's researchers, this suggested that private sector investment may be needed to reach the UK's ambitious net-zero targets.

Farmers interviewed said they preferred private investment via LENs, which offer a simplified evaluation process, to publicly funded agri-environment alternatives.

The project also sought to understand if the implementation of on-farm interventions under the Cumbrian scheme affected the prevalence and incidence of vector borne diseases in grazing cattle.

The study found there was no impact from planting more hedgerows on vector-borne diseases such as summer mastitis.

Lead researcher Mark Reed, at SRUC, said the findings were important because they showed the important role hedgerow planting could play in meeting net zero targets.

He said the research also showed how carbon finance could speed this process up and make hedgerow planting more attractive to farmers.

LENs are now a proven method for enabling companies to invest in the natural capital they depend upon," Mr Reed explained.

"The research shows that if designed well, privately funded schemes can be more attractive to farmers than publicly funded agri-environment schemes, because they are more flexible.

The project is being carried out in partnership with the universities of Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool, and Nestle UK among others.
Scottish farmland values are rising at a faster rate than elsewhere in Britain, with demand for land proving extremely strong, according to new research.

Analysis of data from the past 12 months shows unprecedented levels of interest in farmland in Scotland during 2021, research by Strutt & Parker shows, resulting in a robust upwards movement in prices.

Arable land values varied greatly depending on location and capability, with an average value for prime arable land at around 7,000/acre, up from 5,800/acre in 2020.

However, arable land in East Lothian reached record-breaking levels for Scotland in 2021, peaking at 19,500/acre, with strong values for prime arable land seen elsewhere on the east coast.

Strutt & Parker says this part of the market is being somewhat underpinned by farmers with rollover money to invest, especially in areas of proximity to expanding settlements.

Over the past two decades, the value of prime arable land has increased by up to 550 percent, the property consultancy's research shows.

The price of pasture land with afforestation potential also continued to increase in 2021 because of demand from forestry buyers responding to the increasing value of timber and other green investors looking for land with carbon-capture or rewilding potential.

Rough grazing or hill land that is suitable for tree planting achieved prices of between 2,500/acre and in excess of 5,500/acre, compared with 200-2,000/acre for land unsuitable for forestry planting.

Diane Fleming, farm agent for Strutt & Parker in Scotland, said: Farmers are still the main investors in farmland in Scotland, but newer entrants such as forestry, ESG and lifestyle buyers are increasing.

"This has resulted in rising competition in a market where demand already outstrips supply.

Analysis shows that over 80% of the farms publicly marketed had found a buyer by the end of the year, with competitive bidding at closing dates resulting in prices above the asking price being achieved for most sales where information is available.

The amount of farmland which came to the market was 27,300 acres, which is significantly higher than in 2020, but still below the five-year average.

Looking forward, Ms Fleming said the supply of farmland to the market was likely to increase, with some farmers considering retiring early.

This was in part due to policy changes facing the agricultural sector, but also due to the strength of the market and the high prices being paid.

We forecast that the supply of farmland to the market will continue to grow, that demand will continue to outstrip supply and that buyers from abroad will return," Ms Fleming added.

"In recent months we have spoken to several potential purchasers from abroad who are interested in buying farmland in Scotland.

"We expect them to become more active in the market as Covid-19 restrictions are eased further."
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A judge on Friday ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end the 5-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production.

It was not immediately clear when or if law enforcement officers would be sent in to remove the demonstrators, who parked their pickups and other vehicles in a bumper-to-bumper protest against the countrys COVID-19 restrictions and an outpouring of fury toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government.

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Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court said during a virtual hearing that the order would be effective at 7 p.m. to give protesters time to leave.

Windsor police immediately warned that anyone blocking the streets could be subject to arrest and their vehicles may be seized.

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The news was met with defiance by protesters.

At the Ambassador Bridge, an unidentified person grabbed a microphone and addressed them, asking if they wanted to stay or leave when the deadline rolled around. By a show of applause, it was agreed they would stay. OK,' the man said. Lets stand tall. The protesters responded by singing the Canadian national anthem.

The crowd later grew in size and intensity, with flag-waving and frequent chants of Freedom! More patrol cars moved in around the site, and police handed out leaflets warning that a state of emergency would come into effect at midnight.

Since Monday, drivers mostly in pickup trucks have bottled up the bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit. Hundreds more truckers have paralyzed downtown Ottawa over the past two weeks. And protesters have also blocked two other border crossings, in Alberta and Manitoba.

The judges decision came after a 4-hour court hearing at which the city of Windsor and lawyers for auto parts makers argued that the blockade was causing undue economic harm for the city and region.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about the ongoing protests in Ottawa and blockades in Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday. (Justin Tang/AP)

Supporters of the protesters, some of them truckers, argued that an order to disband would disrupt their right to peacefully protest vaccine mandates that hinder their ability to earn a living.

The ruling came in a day of fast-moving developments as federal, provincial and local officials worked simultaneously on different fronts to try to break the standoff with the so-called Freedom Convoy, whose members have been cheered on by the right in the U.S., including Fox News personalities, Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

This unlawful activity has to end and it will end, Trudeau warned just hours earlier.

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We heard you. Its time to go home now, the prime minister said, cautioning that everything is on the table for ending the blockades.

Also Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency and threatened heavy penalties against those who interfere with the free flow of goods and people.

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, on Friday. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette/AP)

Ford said he will convene the provincial cabinet on Saturday to urgently enact measures that make it crystal clear it is illegal to block critical infrastructure. Violators will face up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000, he said.

There will be consequences for these actions, and they will be severe, Ford said. This is a pivotal, pivotal moment for our nation.

The measures will also provide additional authority to consider taking away the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesnt comply, according to the premiers office.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in his province. (Frank Gunn/AP)

Trudeau called Ontarios decision responsible and necessary and said he spoke with President Biden about it.

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We discussed the American and indeed global influences on the protest, Trudeau said. We talked about the U.S.-based flooding of the 911 phone lines in Ottawa, the presence of U.S. citizens in the blockade and the impact of foreign money to fund this illegal activity.

Trudeau said that on some fundraising platforms, as much as 50% of the donations are coming from the U.S.

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge on Friday. (Nathan Denette/AP)

He said he and Biden agreed that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cant continue.

Trudeau said he understands the protesters are frustrated by the pandemic, but these blockades are hurting everyday families, auto assembly workers, farmers, truckers, blue-collar Canadians.

The protests have caused shortages of auto parts that have forced General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda to close plants or cancel shifts.

A man waves a Canadian and American flag as truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, on Friday. (Nathan Denette/AP)

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Before the judges ruling came down, dozens of protesters in Windsor blocked the entrance to the bridge in what felt like a block party. Demonstrators milled about, carrying signs and Canadian flags  some at the ends of hockey sticks  while music played and food handed out. A trampoline was set up for the children.

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Troy Holman, a 32-year-old Windsor resident who has protested every day this week, said he believes the government overreached with its COVID-19 restrictions, which he said hurt his wifes small business.

Unfortunately, we have to be here, because this is whats going to get the attention of the government, he said.

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge on Friday. (Nathan Denette/AP)

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. The standoff comes at a time when the auto industry is already struggling to maintain production in the face of pandemic-induced shortages of computer chips and other supply-chain disruptions.

American legislators are freaking out, and rightfully so, said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. Pressure is now being exerted by the White House on Trudeau to act more decisively.

The protests have spread outside Canada as well. Demonstrators angry over pandemic restrictions drove toward Paris in scattered convoys of camper vans, cars and trucks Friday in an effort to blockade the French capital, despite a police ban.

And in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement officers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that truck protests may be in the works in the United States. The agency said the protests could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend and spread to Washington around the State of the Union address in March.


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To protect the environment, the world is moving toward sustainable solutions and eco-friendly alternatives. Various objects contribute to landfills without our knowledge of the perilous scenario we are in. Gifting papers are one of them; no special occasion is complete without exchanging gifts that are elegantly wrapped in colourful plastic wraps that come in a variety of patterns and prints. The paper is ignored and put in the bin as soon as the recipient opens and loves the gift, and but the paper remains in a landfill without degrading.







A 22-year-old student from Pearl Academy Delhi's School of Design has developed a unique way to address this rising concern for her college project. "As part of my sustainability module, we had to come up with a material innovation using natural and sustainable household products. Seeing the amount of kitchen garbage generated in every household, particularly during the pandemic, as well as the massive carbon footprint that was being contributed, was a huge source of concern for me. I learned that tons of kitchen wastes are collected from each constituency in the Delhi NCR from study papers and other sources. This inspired me to come up with an alternative approach in which a product that is a waste for others could be a crucial raw material and be beneficial to many," says Kamakshi Shukla, the creator of Kel Bio Leather (Banana in Hindi is kela), a product made from banana peels.





"I began my experiment using several types of peels and seeds. I ultimately settled on the banana peels because it has tremendous binding capabilities and banana fibres bond with the other materials pretty well," says Shukla, who developed unique bio leather, which is mouldable, can be hand-stitched, machine-stitched, waterproof to a degree, flexible, and compostable. "It can also be employed in the future in other accessory and leisure businesses," she says. Shukla says it took a lot of tries and tests to come up with the ultimate solution, which she claims was not easy.





"Hundreds of tests, experimenting with various binders, and creating various swatches were all part of the process. It took me 20 hits and trials to come up with a non-sticky, mouldable, flexible, and waterproof biomaterial that mimics some properties of bio leather and processed using sundried methods for the material made out of banana peels," says the young inventor, who also made the material odourless and anti-fungal using only natural elements.





Shukla notes that it can be used in a variety of industries based on its thickness. "If the thickness is very minimal, around 0.1-0.2 mm, it will act more like fabric, and if the thickness is around 0.1-0.4 mm, it will act like a gift-wrapping sheet," Shukla adds, concluding that the amount of banana peel fibre used in the initial making of the material indicates where it can be used in the future.

Also Read: Meet This 24YO Entrepreneur Who Volunteers As A Traffic Warden In Indore


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On Wednesday, actor Kajal Aggarwal shared a long note about women being mocked and body-shamed during their pregnancy. Kajal herself is pregnant and is expecting her first child with Gautam Kitchlu.

Kajal wrote, Ive been dealing with the most amazing new developments in my life, my body, my home and most importantly my workplace. Additionally, certain comments/ body shaming messages/memes dont really help. Lets learn to be kind and if thats too hard, maybe, just live and let live.

She added, During pregnancy, our bodies go through several changes, including weight gain! Hormonal changes cause our stomach and breasts to get larger as the baby grows and our body prepares for nursing. Some might develop stretch marks where our body gets larger. Sometimes our skin will break out with acne. We may also be much more tired than usual and have mood swings more often. A negative mood may make us more likely to have unhealthy or negative thoughts about our bodies.

She further wrote, We may take a while to get back to the way we were before, or may never completely return to the way we looked before pregnancy. And THAT'S OK.

Actor Samantha came out in Kajals support and cheered the to-be mum by writing, You are and will always be beautiful.

Kajal Aggarwal married Gautam Kitchlu in an intimate ceremony on October 30, 2020. Kajals pregnancy was confirmed by Gautam through an Instagram post last month.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This winter Gallery Delaive presents BURROW & POP-UP, a new solo-show by world-famous Japanese artist Ayako Rokkaku, celebrating 15 years of collaboration.

Painting technique

Ayako Rokkaku developed her own unique painting technique. She applies acrylic paint directly to the canvas or cardboard with her bare hands. She starts painting without a predefined idea, painting what comes naturally until a composition slowly starts to emerge. A dreamy, colourful landscape, with tiny floating flowers, animals and skulls. A recurring element in her work is the prominent presence of young girls, which she paints in the manga style, with large eyes and long limbs. Rokkaku considers these girls a way of expressing her personality in her paintings.

The artist demonstrates her painting technique during live painting performances, working on canvases that can be up to 7 meters wide: "I love painting on something that is much bigger than I am. Moving to and fro between the corners of such a huge canvas makes me feel as if the colours are flowing through my body." In recent years, Rokkaku has experimented with various new techniques and materials, creating wool and cardboard installations, ceramics and sculptures made from layered acrylate.

Ayako Rokkaku

Global citizen Ayako Rokkaku (b. Chiba, 1982) lives in Portugal and works alternatingly in Porto, Tokyo, Berlin and Amsterdam. She created her first paintings in 2002, applying acrylic paint to cardboard with her bare hands and her work soon caught the critics' eye. In 2003 and 2006, she won prizes at Geisai, an art fair for emerging artists in Tokyo, organised by the world-famous artist Takashi Murakami (b. Tokyo, 1962).

Gallery Delaive represents Ayako Rokkaku since 2006, organising her first solo show "Walkin' Around Clouds" at the gallery in 2007. Rokkaku has since exhibited her work in Asia, Europe and the United States, including solo shows in Rotterdam's Kunsthal museum in The Netherlands, the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum in Slovakia and the Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art in Japan.

Burrow & Pop Up

Ayako Rokkaku returns to Gallery Delaive with a body of original works on canvas, wood and ceramics. Painted in her signature colorful style, in bright scenes, girls hide behind layers of colorful clouds and pop up out of burrows. Also on view are two new limited editions, celebrating 15 years of collaboration between Ayako Rokkaku and Gallery Delaive. Very special is the limited edition sculpture designed by Ayako Rokkaku and produced by the world-famous and traditionally Dutch Royal Delft. Combining Japanese contemporary art with traditional Dutch ceramics, it represents the connection between Japanese artist Ayako Rokkaku and The Netherlands.



Ayako Rokkaku's show will be on view at Gallery Delaive in Amsterdam until February 27.

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The construction of a dozen wind turbines 35 miles off Long Islands eastern tip has begun, officials said Friday, marking the states first offshore wind project launch.

The South Fork Wind Farm is planned to sit south of Rhode Island and send power to East Hampton. It could also put New York into rare air: Gov. Hochul has said the state will boast the largest offshore wind farm in the Western Hemisphere after the projects completion.

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The farm is projected to power up to 70,000 homes. New York is also whipping up several larger offshore wind plants that the government estimated will collectively power more than 2 million homes and create thousands of jobs.

If you ask what the energy future looks like, I say: The answer my friends is blowing in the wind, Gov. Hochul said in a rhetorical nod to Bob Dylan at the Friday groundbreaking ceremony. This is just the beginning.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

Joined by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland at the event in Wainscott, N.Y., Hochul said she was sending a challenge out to the rest of the world.

Were coming after you, declared the governor, who last month pledged a new $500 million state investment in the offshore industry. We believe in this. This is our future.

The South Fork Wind project has been brewing since 2015, and is a joint effort from rsted, a Danish power company, and Eversource, an American energy provider.

The Biden administration approved the project in November, and it is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Hochul, a Democrat from Buffalo, is chasing a goal of moving two-thirds of the states electricity sector to renewables by the end of the decade.

The White House likewise aims to transition to renewables like wind, but it has drawn criticism from environmentalists for extending oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

Were just getting started, Haaland said at the groundbreaking event. The South Fork Wind project and all of the Interior Departments progress on offshore wind will contribute to the Biden-Harris administrations goal of generating 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.

In New York alone, Hochuls administration has set a goal of developing 9 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

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Last month, Haaland joined Hochul and Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey to announce the Biden administrations first offshore wind lease sale to auction off a swath of ocean in the New York Bight, which stretches from Montauk Point to New Jerseys Cape May.

Three of Deepwater Wind's five turbines stand in the water off Block Island, R.I, the nation's first offshore wind farm on Aug. 15, 2016. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

According to the Interior Department, that auction, scheduled for Feb. 23, will put more than 480,000 watery acres on sale and could set the stage for developments that would power almost 2 million homes. But it is in its early stages.

On Friday, Hochul also said New York State has finalized contracts for two additional wind projects: Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind.

The twin efforts, expected to be operational by 2027 and 2028, respectively, will power 1.3 million homes, Hochul said.

Empire Wind 2 is planned to be located south of western Long Island. Beacon Wind is to be built east of the South Fork Wind project.

According to Hochuls office, another wind farm east of Montauk Point, Sunrise Wind, is on track for completion in 2025. The project could power an estimated 600,000 homes.

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Were going to continue all of our partnerships here, but this one is extraordinary, Hochul said of the South Fork Wind Farm. Because theres nothing like being the first.
INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) said that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. government to supply up to 600,000 doses of investigational drug bebtelovimab for at least $720 million. The company noted that the U.S. government will accept the doses of bebtelovimab if it is granted an Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lilly has submitted a request for an Emergency Use Authorization for bebtelovimab for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in certain high-risk patients to the FDA. Pseudovirus and authentic virus testing demonstrated that bebtelovimab retains full neutralizing activity against Omicron. In addition, pseudovirus testing with bebtelovimab demonstrates that it retains neutralization against all other known variants of interest and concern, including BA.2. The supply agreement calls for the delivery of up to 600,000 doses no later than March 31, 2022 with an option of 500,000 additional doses no later than July 31, 2022. The 2022 estimated financial impact of the agreement is at least $720 million of revenue and about $0.20 of earnings per share. 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 10, 2022) - VAR Resources Corp. (TSXV: VAR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an amalgamation agreement dated February 10, 2022 (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with VAR Resources (Newco) Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Company ("NewCo") and Grounded Lithium Corp. ("Grounded"), a private arm's length company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) ("ABCA"), pursuant to which the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Grounded (the "Transaction"). In connection with the Transaction, Grounded is conducting a non-brokered private placement of up to $5,710,000 (the "Grounded Financing"), which, pursuant to the terms of the Amalgamation Agreement, shall include an investment by certain shareholders of the Company identified to Grounded equal to $1,800,000 (the "Grounded Investment").

The Transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), and is intended to constitute a reverse takeover (an "RTO") of the Company by Grounded as defined in TSXV Policy 5.2 - Change of Business and Reverse Takeovers. The combined company that will result from the completion of the Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will be renamed "Grounded Lithium Corp." or such other name as agreed to by the Company and Grounded. Subject to TSXV approval, the common shares of the Resulting Issuer will trade on the TSXV under a new trading symbol to be determined by the parties and the Resulting Issuer will continue to be listed on Tier 2 of the TSXV as a mineral exploration issuer.

Grounded Lithium Corp.

Grounded is a private lithium brine exploration and development company incorporated pursuant to the laws of Alberta. Grounded holds mineral leases over 70 sections of land in Saskatchewan, prospective for lithium opportunities. Grounded seeks to add to its opportunity base while in parallel, commence delineation operations of the lithium brine potential across its current mineral rights position.

Grounded was incorporated in October 2020 with the intent to participate in the energy transition shift, specifically targeting lithium resource development in Western Canada. To date, Grounded has been successful in acquiring land holdings both through government land sales in addition to contractual arrangements with certain freehold landowners. In total, Grounded has 18,904 gross hectares (17,841 net hectares) of land holdings. Grounded has not generated sales to date and does not anticipate commercial production of its lithium resources for several years. Grounded is well capitalized in conjunction with the Grounded Financing to execute on early stages of its business plan and remains debt-free.

The following list sets forth selected management prepared historical financial information of Grounded for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and selected balance sheet data as of such date (management prepared draft, unaudited):

Assets: $2,469,600

Liabilities: $69,856

Revenues: $nil

Net profits (losses): $(314,920)

General Terms of the Transaction

Amalgamation

The Transaction will be effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation, without court approval, under the ABCA, pursuant to which, following the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding securities of Grounded, NewCo and Grounded will amalgamate (the "Amalgamation") to form a new amalgamated entity ("AmalCo"), and AmalCo will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. At the time of the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"):

each of the common shares in the capital of Grounded (each, a " Grounded Share ") will be cancelled and, in consideration for such Grounded Shares, each Grounded shareholder (collectively, the " Grounded Shareholders ") will receive one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a " Share ") at a deemed price of $0.18 per Share for each one (1) Grounded Share held by such Grounded Shareholder;

all of the holders of share purchase warrants of Grounded (each, a " Grounded Warrant ") outstanding immediately prior to the Amalgamation shall receive, in exchange for their Grounded Warrants, an equal number of Share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a " VAR Replacement Warrant "), each on the same terms and conditions as such Grounded Warrants;

the holder of share purchase warrants of Grounded issued in connection with the Grounded Financing (each, a " Grounded Finder Warrant ") outstanding immediately prior to the Amalgamation shall receive, in exchange for the Grounded Finder Warrants, an equal number of Share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a " VAR Finder Replacement Warrant "), each on the same terms and conditions as such Grounded Finder Warrants; and

each of the stock options of Grounded (each, a "Grounded Option") outstanding immediately prior to the Amalgamation shall receive, in exchange for their Grounded Options, an equal number of stock options of the Company (each, a "VAR Replacement Option"), each on the same terms and conditions as such Grounded Options.

In connection with the Transaction, the Company shall seek the approval of its shareholders (collectively, the "VAR Shareholders") for the continuance of the Company out of the Province of British Columbia and the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and in to the Province of Alberta under the provisions of the ABCA (the "Continuation"). Immediately following the Closing, AmalCo will, subsequent to the Continuation, be wound up into the Company and the assets of AmalCo will be transferred to the Company by operation of law and the Company shall continue under the name "Grounded Lithium Corp."

The Transaction is an Arm's Length Transaction. In connection with the announcement of the Transaction, trading in the Shares has been halted and is expected to remain halted until the Closing.

Grounded Financing

In connection with the Transaction, Grounded has completed two tranches of the Grounded Financing. Collectively, Grounded has issued an aggregate of 21,722,221 Grounded Shares for gross proceeds of $3,909,999.78 under the Grounded Financing. As a condition to the Closing, certain shareholders of the Company will participate in the Grounded Financing in an amount equal to the Grounded Investment.

The anticipated use of proceeds from the Grounded Financing are to be used by the Resulting Issuer for exploration of its mineral properties and for general working capital purposes.

For more information on the Grounded Financing, see Grounded's news releases disseminated by Cision's Newswire Services on November 30, 2021, December 21, 2021, and February 10, 2022.

Voluntary Escrow

In addition to any resale restrictions applicable to the Shares issued in connection with the Transaction pursuant to the polices of the TSXV or applicable securities laws, 90% of the Shares issued to the Grounded Shareholders in exchange for their Grounded Shares and any Shares issued or to be issued upon the exercise of any VAR Finder Replacement Warrants (collectively, the "VAR Escrowed Shares") shall be subject to a voluntary escrow pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Amalgamation Agreement. Accordingly, the escrow provision requires the VAR Escrowed Shares to be locked up and released in accordance with the following schedule: 20% of the VAR Escrowed Shares on the date that is 6 months from the effective date of the Amalgamation (the "Effective Date"); 20% of the VAR Escrowed Shares on the date that is 12 months from the Effective Date; 25% of the VAR Escrowed Shares on the date that is 15 months from the Effective Date; and 25% of the VAR Escrowed Shares on the date that is 18 months from the Effective Date.

Change of Directors and Officers

Upon the completion of the Amalgamation and subject to prior acceptance by the TSXV, it is expected that each of the current directors of the Company will resign and there will be appointed in their place as directors of the Resulting Issuer individuals designated by each of the Company and Grounded, provided that a majority of the directors shall be designated by Grounded (the "Board Reconstitution"). In addition, each of the current officers of the Company is expected to resign and there will be appointed in their place as officers of the Company, such individuals as designated by Grounded (the "Management Reconstitution").

Additional information regarding the nominee directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer will be set out in a management information circular to be prepared by the parties in accordance with the policies of the TSXV as well as in a follow-up news release once determined.

Conditions to the Transaction

The Closing of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions standard for a transaction of this nature, including but not limited to:

the Company and Grounded having had the reasonable opportunity to perform searches and other due diligence, and being satisfied with the results of such due diligence;

the Company and Grounded obtaining all necessary consents, orders and regulatory approvals, including the conditional approval of the TSXV;

the absence of any material adverse change in the business, affairs or operations of the Company or Grounded, as applicable;

all outstanding Share purchase warrants of the Company, (each, a " VAR Warrant ") on or before Closing, being 6,250,000 VAR Warrants with an exercise price of $0.14 per VAR Warrant, shall have been exercised;

the completion of the Grounded Financing, with certain shareholders of the Company identified to Grounded participating in an amount equal to the Grounded Investment;

the Company shall have relinquished its exclusive option to acquire a 100% undivided right, title, ownership and beneficial interest in and to the Hook Bay Property;

each of the Board Reconstitution and the Management Reconstitution;

approval of the Continuation by the VAR Shareholders, as required by applicable corporate law; and

approval of the Transaction by the shareholders of the Company and Grounded, as required by applicable corporate law and the policies of the TSXV, as applicable.

In connection with the Transaction, Grounded has agreed to pay customary advisory fees to an eligible arm's length third party, including the issuance of 208,333 Grounded Shares at a deemed price of $0.18 per Grounded Share.

It is expected that, immediately prior to the Closing, there will be 38,327,447 Grounded Shares issued and outstanding (assuming completion of the Grounded Financing together with those subscriptions equal to the Grounded Investment) and, accordingly, an aggregate of 38,327,447 Shares (each, a "Consideration Share") are expected to be issued at a deemed price of $0.18 per Consideration Share. The Company intends to rely on Section 2.11 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions for an exemption from the prospectus requirements for the issuance of the Consideration Shares to the Grounded Shareholders, the VAR Replacement Warrants to the former Grounded Warrant holders and the grant of the VAR Replacement Options to the former Grounded Option holders.

Assuming the completion of the Transaction and that no convertible securities of the Company or Grounded are exercised prior to Closing other than the 6,250,000 VAR Warrants, a minimum of 56,872,750 common shares of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") are expected to be issued and outstanding on the Closing, of which approximately 32.6% Resulting Issuer Shares will be held by the current VAR Shareholders, approximately 11.6% will be held by the former Grounded Shareholders, and 55.8% will be held by the subscribers under the Grounded Financing.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of a RTO is required by the TSXV unless exempt or waived in accordance with TSXV policies. The Company intends to apply for a waiver from the sponsorship requirements. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such a waiver.

Additional Information

All information contained in this news release with respect to the Company and Grounded was supplied, for inclusion herein, by each respective party and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning such other party.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Contact Information

For further information on Grounded, contact:

Grounded Lithium Corp.

Gregg Smith

President & CEO

E: gregg.smith@groundedlithium.com

Greg Phaneuf

VP Finance & CFO

E: greg.phaneuf@groundedlithium.com

For further information on the Company, contact:

VAR Resources Corp.

Ron Schmitz

CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director

E: ron@asi-accounting.com

P: (604) 685-7450

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company's completion of the Transaction and related transactions. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, the Company completing the Transaction, the completion of the Grounded Financing, statements regarding the prospective lithium opportunities of Grounded's mineral assets, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Grounded Financing, the conditions to be satisfied for completion of the Transaction, completion of the Continuation, the name and business carried on by the Resulting Issuer, the capitalization of the Resulting Issuer, the Board Reconstitution, the Management Reconstitution, the reliance on a prospectus exemption for the issuance of the Consideration Shares, and obtaining a waiver from the TSXV sponsorship requirements. Such statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company. The risks include the following: the requisite corporate and shareholders approvals of the directors and shareholders of the Company or Grounded, as applicable, may not be obtained; Grounded may be unable to close the Grounded Financing in full or in part; the TSXV may not approve the Transaction; that the parties may be unable to satisfy the closing conditions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Amalgamation Agreement; and other risks that are customary to transactions of this nature. The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, also continues to pose risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance of any forward-looking statements. 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113530
Regulatory News:

Technip Energies (PARIS:TE) (ISIN:NL0014559478) as leader of a consortium with Dialog E&C Sdn. Bhd., has been awarded a significant(1) Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract by PETRONAS Chemicals Fertiliser Kedah Sdn. Bhd., (PC FK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) for a new melamine plant to be integrated into their existing complex in Gurun, Kedah, Malaysia.

This EPCC contract follows the successful completion of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) by Technip Energies. The project includes a 60,000 ton per annum greenfield melamine plant, utilizing CASALE Low Energy Melamine (LEM) technology, and associated interconnections with the existing urea plant where the CO2 generated in the melamine production process will be recycled. This serves to minimize the CO2 footprint of this new asset.

Technip Energies is responsible for overall project management, engineering, procurement and commissioning, whereas Dialog E&C is in charge of construction and pre-commissioning. This is a very strong combination leveraging decades of experience of delivering projects in Malaysia.

Marco Villa, COO of Technip Energies, stated: "We are honored to be entrusted by PCG to build their first melamine plant, participating in the diversification of their product portfolio. Technip Energies is committed to deliver a high performing, energy efficient and low carbon emission asset making this project another key milestone in our longstanding and successful history in Malaysia and with PETRONAS.

(1) A "significant" award for Technip Energies is a contract award representing between 50 million and 250 million of revenue.

About Technip Energies

Technip Energies is a leading Engineering Technology company for the energy transition, with leadership positions in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), hydrogen and ethylene as well as growing market positions in blue and green hydrogen, sustainable chemistry and CO2 management. The company benefits from its robust project delivery model supported by extensive technology, products and services offering.

Operating in 34 countries, our 15,000 people are fully committed to bringing our client's innovative projects to life, breaking boundaries to accelerate the energy transition for a better tomorrow.

Technip Energies is listed on Euronext Paris with American depositary receipts ("ADRs") traded over-the-counter in the United States.

For further information: www.technipenergies.com.

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements usually relate to future events and anticipated revenues, earnings, cash flows or other aspects of Technip Energies' operations or operating results. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee," "should," "would," "could," "may," "estimate," "outlook," and similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on Technip Energies' current expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning future developments and business conditions and their potential effect on Technip Energies. While Technip Energies believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Technip Energies will be those that Technip Energies anticipates.

All of Technip Energies' forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties (some of which are significant or beyond Technip Energies' control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Technip Energies' historical experience and Technip Energies' present expectations or projections. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see Technip Energies' risk factors set forth in Technip Energies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which include amendment no. 4 to Technip Energies' registration statement on Form F-1 filed on February 11, 2021.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date they are made. Technip Energies undertakes no duty to and will not necessarily update any of the forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210006029/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Phil Lindsay

Vice-President Investor Relations

Tel: +44 20 7585 5051

Email: Phillip Lindsay

Media relations

Stella Fumey

Director Press Relations Digital Communications

Tel: +33 (1) 85 67 40 95

Email: Stella Fumey

Jason Hyonne

Press Relations Social Media Lead

Tel: +33 1 47 78 22 89

Email: Jason Hyonne
SAO PAULO, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sensedia - a Brazilian multinational technology company specialising in APIs, has announced revenue growth of over 70% (R$ 130+ million) and its entry into the US market.

In 2021, Sensedia grew rapidly; it exceeded its 55% business growth target, received investment of R$ 120 million from US company, Riverwood Capital, and increased employee numbers from 200 to 650, consolidating its position in Brazil, Latin America and Europe.

The adoption of e-commerce and marketplace digital platforms, electronic payments, digital wallets and Open Banking/Open Insurance helped drive the company's results - all these technologies use APIs as the main data integration tools.

While experiencing continued growth in Brazil, Sensedia's presence in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, the UK, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Lithuania - the latter a recognised global hub for fintechs and start-ups - also contributed to its success.

Sensedia hopes expansion into the US, continued growth in existing markets and establishing bases in new territories will boost its ambitious 2022 growth target to increase revenue by 100%.

Marcilio Oliveira, Sensedia's co-founder and Chief of Growth, comments: "Our solution solves a global problem. With Europe representing 25% and the US, 50% of the API management market, there are clear opportunities for growth. Brazil remains a key focus, but last year's investment and our extensive recruitment campaign means we can accelerate innovation and strengthen our international presence."

In Open Banking, Sensedia leads the way. The connectivity and integration expert is an advisor to Brazil's Central Bank, helping to define regulations and design technical interfaces so financial institutions can safely share data.

"It won't be long before every sector is 'open'; Brazil's health and education sectors are discussing governance and debating Open Health and Open Education," explains Kleber Bacili, Sensedia CEO and co-founder. "Our experience and work to improve Open Banking in Brazil means we are well-placed to help deliver solutions in LatAm, the US and EMEA, where each country has different 'open' drivers and regulatory stages."

About Sensedia

Sensedia helps companies become more digital, connected and open. Whether integrating channels, enabling partner ecosystems or creating modern multi-cloud/hybrid architectures, innovative companies rely upon Sensedia for API and microservices management, to provide expert services and rapidly integrate their legacy systems. For the fourth year running, Sensedia is included in Brazil's Great Places To Work list. More information at www.sensedia.com

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Almere, The Netherlands

February 11, 2022

ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM)signed an agreement with the University of Helsinki to form and fund theAtomic Layer Deposition Center of Excellence (ALD CoE) at the university's Kumpula science campus.



The five-year partnership is a significant boost to ASMI's nearly two-decades-long collaboration with the university. As part of the agreement, ASMI will increase its current funding to the university. It will also expand the team at ASM Microchemistry Oy. ASMI's subsidiary, which has pioneered atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology since its founding in 1987, is co-located with the University of Helsinki at Kumpula.

ALD is an advanced technology for depositing thin-film materials conformally and with precise control over thickness and composition. ALD and other atomic layer processes play an increasingly critical role in semiconductor technologies as Moore's Law scaling drives semiconductor devices into the atomic scale Angstrom (1 Angstrom = 1/10 nanometer) regime, and complex 3D vertical structures. The HelsinkiALD group at the university has won global recognition for ALD chemistry innovations, and its high-quality research - in collaboration with ASMI - has translated into a number of breakthroughs in semiconductor applications.

The ALD CoE will build on this success, focusing on research around ALD that is necessary for future semiconductor technologies. Teams will develop and adapt novel research methods for the study of mechanistic details of atomic layer processes. They will use the recently installed ALD ultra-high vacuum surface analytical techniques cluster in the university's chemistry department and the accelerator laboratories in the physics department. The ultimate aim is the design of new precursors, processes and materials that will have great scientific and technical impact.

Benjamin Loh, CEO of ASM International, says: "The ALD Center of Excellence agreement significantly expands our nearly 20-year-long successful collaboration with the University of Helsinki. We're very excited about this partnership aimed at breakthroughs around ALD that will enable future semiconductor technologies."

He continues: "The newly formed ALD CoE will further build out the strength of Europe in ALD technology as an essential part of the European semiconductor infrastructure, so helping to realize the strategic objectives of the European Chips Act."

Paula Eerola, Vice-Rector at the University of Helsinki, says: "The collaboration with ASM, which is exceptional in terms of timespan and scope, is highly valuable for the University of Helsinki."

Professor Mikko Ritala, who leads the university's HelsinkiALD group, adds: "Our research group greatly appreciates the collaboration with ASMI, which takes us to the area where boundaries between basic and applied research disappear. The research questions we are addressing are fundamental by their nature, yet our results may find practical use in the future semiconductor devices."



About ASM International

ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

CONTACT



Investor and Media contact:

Victor Bareno

T: +31 88 100 8500

E: investor.relations@asm.com

Attachment
GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifestyle retailer MINISO is proud to announce its global fundraising effort with Peruvian NGO ECOAN (Asociacion Ecosistemas Andinos), has succeeded in donating $153,300 US dollars for a reforestation program in the Andes mountains. The success of the 'Take Penpen Home' campaign means, in the next 15 months, 115,000 trees will be planted in the pristine mountain range, providing a cost-effective solution for long-term climate resilience.

The joint initiative spanning over 30 markets began in November 2021 and centered around a key figure in MINISO's original MINI Family collection - MINI Pen the penguin, affectionately known as Penpen by customers. A quintessential symbol of Antarctica, MINI Pen serves as a reminder for people to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

MINISO's pledge to donate $1.33 USD to ECOAN's Accion Andina initiative for every MINI Pen plush toy sold caused an overwhelming public response. In countries such as US, India and Indonesia, sales of the penguin plush toy accounted for 15% of all plush toy sales. At one point, MINI Pen plushie was in short supply due to the strong consumer support for the charity drive.

Accion Andina is the first multi-country, large-scale initiative to restore the high altitude, native forests of South America's Andes. Co-founded by ECOAN and internationally recognized Global Forest Generation in 2018, the Accion Andina initiative has seen over 3 million trees planted in the Andes mountains to date.

"Achieving the results in just two months is by no means, an easy feat, and proves that many consumers also believe in doing their bit for the environment. We are extremely grateful for an outstanding partner such as MINISO," said ECOAN executive C. Aucca.

"Our successful campaign shows there are many people who share the same values as MINISO," said MINISO overseas VP Vincent Huang. "We are encouraged by this groundswell show of support, and plan to release more sustainable and fun products that look good and feel good."

As one of the most important and fast-growing markets, Latin America is key to MINISO's international success. The brand has over 100 stores in the region and is present in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Panama.

MINISO has a record of participating in socially responsible initiatives. Previously, stores in more than 20 markets participated in a 'Share love with MINISO' campaign to raise funds for the animals affected by the 2020 Australian bushfire. In 2019, MINISO partnered with a nonprofit ocean conservation group Oceana by adopting 200 penguins.

About MINISO

Lifestyle product retailer MINISO (NYSE: MNSO) offers high quality household goods, cosmetics, food, and toys at affordable prices. Since its 2013 debut, as of December 18, 2021, MINISO has rapidly expanded to 5,000 retail outlets in 100 markets worldwide. Sleekly designed and packed with the latest must-haves, MINISO retail outlets make it possible for everyone to have a little fun all the time by enjoying life's little surprises.

Contact: weihong.zheng@miniso.com

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viO HealthTech Builds on the Experience of Over 40,000 Women with its OvuSense Fertility Monitoring Portfolio to Personalise Support for Common Women's Health Issues, Unveils Plans for Digital Therapeutic Solutions for PCOS, and more

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. and CAMBERLEY, United Kingdom, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Fertility Focus, the manufacturer of the OvuSense? family of fertility monitors, became viO HealthTech . Derived from the Spanish meaning "a view" and Latin "I journey", the name change reflects the Company's natural evolution into Digital Therapeutics (DTx) as it looks to expand its current fertility offerings to encompass clinically-proven digital solutions for a woman's entire health journey. Trusted all over the world for over a decade, viO HealthTech's line of OvuSense solutions help women understand the best time to try to conceive in each cycle by identifying key cycle patterns over time, giving the best possible chance of pregnancy.

Over 215,000 reproductive cycles recorded with OvuSense led to the publication of ground-breaking research into screening for and monitoring of the treatment of common issues, which impact fertility but also women's health from puberty to menopause. viO HealthTech will roll out a range of products that provide a targeted personalised approach to not only conception, but the management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, miscarriage risk, pregnancy complications, diminished ovarian reserve and the link to peri-menopause, and the management of menopause itself.

The Company is uniquely placed to provide this offering with best-in-class sensor technology, AI algorithm leadership, 10 granted patents, a weight of clinical evidence, FDA and CE class 2 clearance, and a unique app that already complies with Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) standards.

"Today's healthcare systems tend to manage women's health as a disjointed set of one-off needs that are only investigated and treated after valuable time has elapsed. My wife and I experienced this firsthand when struggling to conceive due to issues with insulin resistance and endometriosis, and again recently when she went through early menopause," said viO HealthTech CEO Rob Milnes. "Women want access to personalised health information and insights that can help them make informed decisions about their health not only when issues occur but to avoid those issues in the first place. The insight our products have already offered has led to a far more informed conception journey for our customers, and viO HealthTech now wants to help put women in control of their whole health journey. "

Like Rob, the viO HealthTech team has one thing in common - they've been directly or indirectly affected by women's health issues, whether through struggling to conceive, PCOS, endometriosis, or irregular cycles. It's this collective experience that has driven viO HealthTech to pioneer products that provide clinically proven, accurate, and actionable information so that every woman can better understand her body on an individual basis. For almost a decade, viO HealthTech has been at the forefront of breaking down the mythology of what constitutes a 'normal' cycle, supporting more recent evidence, for instance, that although traditional thinking holds that a majority of women ovulate mid-cycle, less than 40% that struggle to conceive actually do.

Further cutting-edge clinical research led to the development of OvuSense Pro, which provides doctors with detailed remote screening for potential causes of female sub-fertility, risk of miscarriage, and potential pregnancy complications. The Company has now taken this one step further, utilising this clinical research to expand its offerings to the entire women's health continuum.

"As a medical provider, understanding a woman's cycle is an important part of understanding her holistic health. What is most impressive about viO's health tech is its unique ability to easily capture nuances such as prolonged or shortened cycle phases using their unique OvuSense App coupled with the OvuCore Sensor for continuous Core Body Temperature (cCBT) measurements. This provides us with data for better management of medical conditions like PCOS, Infertility, Perimenopause, Menopause, and various menstrual disorders," said Hina Mazharuddin, Executive Vice President of PAVMT, an organisation dedicated to the rapidly growing field of virtual care and telemedicine.

"Ultimately, these remote monitoring solutions are an excellent tool for healthcare professionals like myself to gain more insight into women's health. Knowing this Class II medical device has been tested with clinical studies and holds multiple patents and publications is reassuring," concludes Hina.

viO HealthTech's collective experience with women's health issues has also inspired the Company to provide exceptional customer service to its community, as the team understands firsthand the heartache associated with feeling lost and in search of answers. Recently, the Company was awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award , which recognises businesses that deliver exceptional customer experiences. The Trusted Service award is based purely on feedback from real customers, meaning it is a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service.

To learn more about viO HealthTech for the consumer, visit www.hellovio.com , or visit www.viohealthtech.com for corporate information.

Clinical References with Hyperlinks

Hurst BS, Karoshi M (2020) Atypical Core Body Temperature patterns and the wider implications for conditions related to pregnancy, infertility, and miscarriage risk P-833 American Society for Reproductive Medicine 76th Annual conference.

Poster ; Fertility and Sterility - September 2020 Volume 114, Issue 3, Supplement, Pages e446-e447

Karoshi M, Hurst B (2020) Atypical Temperature Patterns as an Aid to Identify Infertility Issues and Miscarriage Risk. P-628 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 36th Annual Meeting.

Hurst BS, Pirrie A (2019) Atypical vaginal temperature patterns may identify subtle not yet recognised causes of infertility P-345 American Society for Reproductive Medicine 75th Annual conference.

Poster ; Poster Plus Presentation ; Fertility and Sterility - September 2019 Volume 112, Issue 3, Supplement, Pages e244-e245

Vitalis 2020 - Video Presentation

Hurst BS, Citron C (2020) Normalised Ovulation Timing in Population using Core Body Temperature Monitoring to conceive S-194 Society for Reproductive Investigation, 2020 Annual Meeting.

Papaioannou S, Delkos D, Pardey J (2014) Vaginal core body temperature assessment identifies pre-ovulatory body temperature rise and detects ovulation in advance of ultrasound folliculometry. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 30th Annual Conference.

Papaioannou S, Aslam M (2013) Quality Index assessment of vaginal temperature based fertility prediction and comparison with LH testing, ultrasound folliculometry and other home cycle monitors. American Society for Reproductive Medicine 69th Annual conference.

About viO HealthTech

viO HealthTech provides digital monitoring and therapeutics for the entire women's health journey, from puberty to menopause. viO HealthTech with the soon to be launched viO app platform offer information and resources on issues of conception, but management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), miscarriage risk, pregnancy complications, diminished ovarian reserve and the link to peri-menopause, and the management of menopause itself. Building on the OvuFirst, OvuCore, and OvuSense Pro family of leading fertility monitoring solutions with over 40,000 women and 215,000 reproductive cycles, class II medical device classification, CE and 510k FDA clearance, the Company is now expanding upon its tried, tested, and trusted technology. viO HealthTech will further leverage information and data collected from the OvuSense fertility monitoring solutions through its corresponding viO app platform, which will offer much broader and deeper help to women who are suffering from health issues, and the personalization of treatment. For more consumer based information, visit www.hellovio.com , for corporate information www.viohealthtech.com , or follow viO HealthTech on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

For more information, contact:





Rob Milnes Kate Nichols viO HealthTech Next Step Communications (203) 660 0500 (978) 609-0271 +44 2476 980102 vio@nextstepcomms.com robert.milnes@viohealthtech.com



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Combination with portfolio company Acti-Med creates joint group representing one of the largest contract manufacturers of raw cannulas and cannula systems in Europe

UTRECHT, Netherlands and HEIDELBERG, Germany and TRENCIN, Slovakia, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Private Equity fund of Gilde Healthcare, a specialist healthcare investor, has acquired EUROPIN, a leading international developer and manufacturer of customized pen cannulas and lancet needles for diabetic use.

The acquisition of EUROPIN represents a major step for Gilde Healthcare in forming a leading integrated contract manufacturer for tailor-made cannulas and cannula systems, following its initial investment in German medtech company Acti-Med, less than 12 months ago. The transaction marks the third acquisition in the DACH region by Gilde Healthcare Private Equity in the past 12 months. By joining forces, EUROPIN and Acti-Med will be able to significantly expand their footprint - in terms of geography as well as breadth and depth of the product portfolio. The joint vision: further expand and internationalize the business through organic growth and acquisitions. Following the combination, the group will represent one of the largest contract manufacturers of raw cannulas and cannula systems in Europe.

Headquartered in Heidelberg (Germany) with a development and production plant in Trencin (Slovakia), EUROPIN develops and manufactures medical needles, such as pen cannulas and lancet needles for medical and pharmaceutical applications with a focus on injection systems for self-medication in the field of diabetes and hormone therapies. Founded in 1997, EUROPIN has strengthened its market positioning during the last years by evolving its comprehensive product portfolio to become one of the European leaders in its market, with an annual output of more than two billion needles and cannulas.

Acti-Med was acquired by Gilde Healthcare in April 2021. The company focuses on tailor-made, highly regulated cannulas and cannula systems for pharmaceutical and medical applications, jointly developed with international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Headquartered in Freiensteinau (Germany) and with operations in Kozerki (Poland), Acti-Med has attracted clients from all around the world by combining the highest development and engineering capabilities, offering superior quality and operational flexibility.

Lothar Lindenau, CEO of EUROPIN stated: "We are very proud of the development of EUROPIN which we have achieved with our team over the last years. We are pleased to have a new partner at our side and look forward to the next steps we will jointly pursue. We are convinced that joining forces with Acti-Med will bring great value to both companies and help build a global leader."

Rafael Natanek, Partner at Gilde Healthcare Private Equity, commented: 'We are impressed by EUROPIN's success over the last years and the achievements of the entire management team. We are excited to partner with Lothar and his team to support the future growth path. There is also a great strategic fit between Acti-Med and EUROPIN."

Andreas Schwalb, Founder and CEO of Acti-Med added: "The year 2021 was an exciting year, in which we already made great strides together with Gilde Healthcare. We look forward to taking the next steps in our joint journey with our new partner EUROPIN."

About EUROPIN

EUROPIN is a leading manufacturer of pen cannulas, lancet needles and special purpose needles for the medical and pharmaceutical world market with a particular focus on injection systems for self-medication in the field of diabetes and hormone therapies. EUROPIN provides skills in serial production of needles from prototyping to high volume manufacturing with a total annual output of more than two billions needles and cannulas. For more information, visit the company's website at www.europin.sk

About Acti-Med

Acti-Med is one of the leading manufacturers in the field of medical technology. Headquartered in Freiensteinau, Germany Acti-Med's competence lies in the development and production of cannulas and cannula systems. Acti-Med develops, produces and sells high-quality medical components and devices for medical and pharmaceutical industries. It's customers are located throughout a wide range of industries, including oncology, pain therapy, the pharmaceutical industry and veterinary medicine. www.acti-med.de.

About Gilde Healthcare

Gilde Healthcare is a specialized healthcare investor with two fund strategies: Venture&Growth and Private Equity. The firm is headquartered in Utrecht (The Netherlands) with local offices in Frankfurt (Germany) and Cambridge (United States). Gilde Healthcare Private Equity participates in profitable lower mid-market healthcare companies based in North-Western Europe. The Private Equity fund targets healthcare providers, suppliers of medical products and service providers in the healthcare market. Gilde Healthcare Venture & Growth invests in medtech, healthtech and therapeutics in Europe and North America.

Further information at: www.gildehealthcare.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - Cross River Ventures Corp. (CSE: CRVC) (OTCQB: CSRVF) (FSE: C6R) (the "Company") is pleased to report that the Drill Camp construction is underway at the 12,000-ha (120 Km2) McVicar Gold Project, located in the Patricia Mining Division, approximately 150 km east of Red Lake, and 80 km west of Pickle Lake, in the Superior Province, northwest Ontario, Canada. The Camp is located at kilometre 120 along the Cat Lake Winter Road and will support a planned 5,000-meter diamond drill program scheduled to start in mid February 2022.

Cross River has also received positive results from an initial Geoprobe sampling program designed to expand known gold mineralization (and pathfinder element anomalies) under cover along the Bear Head Trend target area (see below; Figure 1).

The Company utilized a Geoprobe to sample areas with thick overburden at McVicar in September-October 2021. The Geoprobe is a small, track-mounted percussive-hammer driven sediment and top-of-bedrock sampling tool capable of collecting samples up to 20 meters deep. The tool does not generate cuttings, leaves almost no disturbance, and in favorable terrain can collect up to 40 samples per day. Team members have previously successfully utilized Geoprobe technology in the Yukon.

"Camp mobilization is an exciting first step in Cross River's upcoming winter drill program at the McVicar gold project," said CEO, Alex Klenman. "Drilling in this first round will be conducted along-strike, down-dip and down plunge at the Altered Zone, in addition to a maiden drill program in the newly discovered Bear Head Trend. The initial Geoprobe results increase our confidence in the Bear Head Trend drill targets," continued Mr. Klenman.





Figure 1. McVicar Winter Drill Program target areas

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/113512_44843be22470d935_002full.jpg

Geoprobe Sampling Program

A total of 119 samples were collected from the Bear Head Trend using the Geoprobe in September and October of 2021. Most samples did not reach bedrock due to thick sandy horizons and thicker than expected glacial deposits (Figure 2A). Despite challenging ground conditions, Gold (Figure 2B), and Antimony (Figure 2C) contain single and multi-station anomalies adjacent to known mineralization, increasing confidence in these target areas. Gold values in the Geoprobe sampling ranged from below detection to 0.039 ppm (mean 0.0014 ppm), and antimony values ranged from below detection to 0.73 ppm (mean 0.0435 ppm).









Figure 2: Geoprobe sampling results in the Bear Head Trend, including A) Sample medium, B) Gold analyses, C) Antimony analyses. Significant rock samples are labeled on the maps.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/113512_capture.jpg

About The Bear Head Trend

Cross River Ventures field crews discovered the Bear Head Trend during the summer 2021 fieldwork. It is located approximately 600 meters south of the historic Chellow Vein at the southern contact between mafic volcanics and granite along the Bear Head Fault Zone (Figure 1). This geological environment is considered prospective for Archean greenstone gold deposits and contains favorable structural and lithological sites for gold deposition.

The Bear Head Trend is an undrilled, minimum 700m, high-grade gold corridor that is nested within a WNW trending multi-km braided damage zone structure. Key samples collected in 2021 include sheared and silicified mafic metavolcanic rocks with 1-10cm wide smoky blue quartz veins which returned gold values of 19.75 grams-per-tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 1.415 g/t Au.

About the McVicar Project

Cross River's McVicar Gold Project is a district-scale (approximately 12,000 hectares) gold exploration project that contains gold prospective structure and host rocks that transect the entire Lang Lake greenstone belt, located in the Patricia Mining Division, approximately 150 km east of Red Lake, and 80 km west of Pickle Lake, in NW Ontario, Canada.

The McVicar project covers all the major fertile structural and lithostratigraphic elements of the greenstone belt, which is bound to the south by the major NW trending Bear Head Fault zone (within which the historic Golden Patricia Mine is situated).

Historic drilling at McVicar Lake in the Altered and North Flexure Zones includei:

6.46 g/t Au over 10.09 m including 29.86 g/t Au over 1.86 m

5.5 g/t Au over 3.6 m including 12.2 g/t Au over 0.98m

The McVicar Lake claims also host the Chellow Vein zone, which is a narrow quartz vein that consists of smoky grey to white quartz mineralized with minor pyrite and visible gold. The vein system yielded high grade gold at surface including grab samplesii that assayed 827.4 g/t Au and 578.1 g/t Auiii.

Limited drill testing below the known showings in the early 1990's didn't yield significant gold assay values; however, the Cross River technical team believe the Chellow Vein is hosted in a much broader (1-2km wide) high-strain deformation corridor, characterized by a series of parallel-trending shears that have not been systematically tested.

The 2022 winter drill program is fully funded, and the Company has received all relevant permits.

Laboratory Protocol, Quality Assessment, Quality Control

Geoprobe samples pertaining to this release were sent to ALS Geochemistry Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario, for analysis. Samples were prepared using PREP-31 standard rock/core package and analyzed for gold using standard Fire Assay and ICP-AES (ALS Code: Au-ICP21). One certified gold standard and one blank were inserted for every 50 Geoprobe samples.

Qualified Person

Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo., M.Sc., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, reviewed, and approved the technical content disclosed in this press release. Historical assay results contained in this press release were not verified by the Company. However, the historical reports referenced were authored by experienced geoscientists and copies of laboratory assay sheets were commonly inserted in the reports.

About Cross River Ventures

Cross River is a gold exploration company focused on the development of top tier exploration properties located in emerging Greenstone Districts of NW Ontario, Canada. The Company controls a 28,000-ha, multiple project portfolio with highly prospective ground in and among prolific, gold bearing greenstone belts. Cross River's common shares trade in Canada under the symbol "CRVC" on the CSE, and in the US under the symbol "CSRVF" on the OTCQB. Please visit www.crossriverventures.com for more information.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

CROSS RIVER VENTURES CORP.

Alex Klenman

CEO

604-227-6610

aklenman@crossriverventures.com

www.crossriverventures.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

i McKay D.B, 2004. Report on the 2003 Overburden Stripping, Geologic Mapping and Sampling Program conducted on the McVicar Lake Property: Continuum Resources Ltd and Prospector Consolidated Resources Inc. www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/afri/data/imaging/52O11SW2003/52O11SW2003.pdf

ii Grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true grade or style of mineralization across the property. Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo., MSc., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, reviewed, and approved the technical content disclosed in this press release. Historical assay results contained in this press release were not verified by the Company. However, the historical reports referenced were authored by experienced geoscientists and copies of laboratory assay sheets were commonly inserted in the reports.

iii Waldie C.J. Report of Diamond Drilling McVicar Lake Area Patricia Mining Division: BHP Minerals Canada Ltd. http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/afri/data/imaging/52O11SW0014/52O11SW0014.pdf

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113512
Singapore, Feb 11, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The year 2021 can be termed as one of "Resurgence". Lives, businesses all saw a resurgence to some extent, even as Covid-19 continued to ravage many economies and livelihoods. If the year 2020 was when organisations began their internal digital transformation journey, in 2021- forward thinking companies turned their attention to integrate and digitalise external business processes.Digital consumption is now an ingrained way of life in Southeast Asia. Early adopters have expanded usage--pre-pandemic users are consuming four more digital services than they did before 2020 and the 60 million consumers who joined since the pandemic started are here to stay, with nine in 10 consumers who tried a new digital service in 2020 are continued using that service in 2021, according to a Bain, Google & Temasek report.From mom-and-pop stores who had reservations in adoption e-commerce to larger companies enabling millions of their workforce to work remotely, a positive evolution is underway as companies and their stakeholders find new ways of connecting, collaborating and keeping in pace with their evolving needs.This massive digitalisation has fuelled the need for data centres. The data center market in Southeast Asia is growing significantly, with multiple investments in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand. Southeast Asia is among the fastest-growing digital markets worldwide. The internet usage and social media trends have increased the demand for faster internet networks and data centers to store data generated by them.The internet penetration is one of the strongest drivers for the data center market in Southeast Asia. Moreover, social media usage among consumers and digital transformation by enterprises across industry verticals are other major factors promoting data center growth. The investments are growing significantly across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. In 2020, Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT Global Data Centers, Space DC & GIC, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, DTP, and DCI Indonesia were major investors in the Southeast Asia data center market.Looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, new questions arise as millions of users from Brisbane to Batam embrace IoT, AI, and 5G. How can we store this data sustainably? Are there vulnerabilities in endpoint security still to account for? How can SME's leverage cloud technology as effectively as enterprises?Simply put, it is time to get together and talk about the future of the Cloud & IT industries in this region. And so, W.Media has come back with Digital Week: Southeast Asia, after a hugely successful 2021 edition.The 2nd Edition of Digital Week with an enhanced Hybrid format brings the best knowledge sharing and quality networking experience in South East Asia.Our SEA Digital Week 2022 is back on the 9th-11th March with a hybrid style that combines both an insightful digital experience with global speakers and valuable in-person networking opportunities that we've been missing during the pandemic. As part of our upcoming Digital Week, we will focus on the markets of Southeast Asia where they will highlight different market insights and trends of the cloud, data center and the IT industry, as well as discuss with the experts about the current updates of this ecosystem.Experience the best of both worlds - choose to participate in either the digital or on site events or even both! Anticipate a return of 2500+ Cloud and Datacenter professionals across the region online and on site.For more information, visit https://w.media/sea-digital-week-2022/.Source: W.MediaCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Cambodian officials, experts discuss RCEP benefits

Xinhua) 17:03, February 11, 2022

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian officials and experts discussed the benefits of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during an online meeting, local media reported on Friday.

Signed on Nov. 15, 2020 and entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, RCEP is a mega trade agreement between 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its five major trade partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Sim Sokheng, secretary of state of the Ministry of Commerce, on Thursday opened the online event "Unpacking the RCEP Agreement" to discuss the Rules of Origin (ROO) that determines which goods that originate from RCEP member countries can benefit from preferential tariff treatment.

During the discussion the focus was on how the benefits from RCEP and the removal of certain tariffs between member countries could be enjoyed by as many Cambodian businesses as possible.

"The private sector is the backbone of the economy's growth," The Khmer Times quoted Sokheng as saying.

Jeremy Gross, director of capacity building at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), which organized the event, said that "sustained outreach to the private sector is essential," and referred to the 100,000 views within the first few hours after the ministry posted information about RCEP on a trade board.

"There's a real thirst for information about RCEP so ERIA is very much looking forward to continuing our cooperation with the ministry," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Deborah Elms, executive director of the Asian Trade Center in Singapore, who works with governments and companies to help decide trade policy for the region, said, "One of the most impressive things about Cambodia is the ability of the Cambodian government to be forward-looking."

"I'm pleased to say that Cambodia so far has been in front of many governments in the region in trying to get this information into the hands of businesses and making it accessible," she said.

She encouraged businesses interested in benefiting from RCEP to contact the Ministry of Commerce in learning about what tariffs are being removed and what rules need to be followed, in order to get this prized Proof of Origin Certificate (POC).

Un Chantha, director of Export-Import Department of the Ministry of Commerce, assured that the ministry is conducting "various in-house training among its officers who are in charge of the issue of origin."

RCEP covers approximately 30 percent of the world's population, accounts for about 30 percent of global gross domestic product, and represents some 28 percent of global trade.

After it took effect, more than 90 percent of merchandise trade among members that have approved the accord will eventually be subject to zero tariffs.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A recent spike in utility bills around New York City and throughout the state prompted Gov. Hochul on Friday to demand that Con Edison review their billing practices and better communicate with New Yorkers.

In a written statement shared Friday morning with the Daily News, Hochul urged Con Ed to help her take unified action in providing relief to New Yorkers now feeling the increased economic crunch of rising electricity and fuel prices.

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The extreme utility bill increases we are seeing across the state come at a time when New Yorkers are already struggling financially following the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. Even though the spike we are seeing in electricity, natural gas and fuel prices were predicted and are due to severe winter weather, I am calling on Con Ed to review their billing practices because we must take unified action to provide relief for New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable residents.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Her statement comes just days after The News reported on how people got socked with much higher Con Ed bills last month compared to what they were charged in December.

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Brandy Bora of Brooklyn described how her utility bill shot up from $300 in December to $850 in January, leading her to fear that she and her family would be forced to move because a sustained hike would make it impossible to afford rent.

I literally cant pay that, she told The News.

Con Ed spokesman Jamie McShane recently pointed to high winter demand for natural gas and fluctuations in energy markets as key reasons why consumers bills are higher.

On Friday, McShane said that the utility is taking action to address the increase in energy supply costs and its impact on our customers.

We are reviewing all of our practices that affect customer supply costs, including our energy-buying practices, the tools we use to reduce supply price volatility, the way we communicate changes in supply prices, and our programs to help customers who have fallen behind on their bills, he added.

The company sent alerts to customers Friday saying that bills may be higher than usual this month, even if you didnt use more energy than usual. The messages also noted that while Con Ed cant control supply costs, it could assist with leveling payment plans, payment extensions and special services for certain populations.

Con Ed spokesman Jamie McShane pointed to high winter demand for natural gas and fluctuations in energy markets as key reasons why consumers bills are higher. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The high tabs led city and state lawmakers to demand the states Public Service Commission open an investigation into Con Eds recent billing practices.

On Friday, the PSCs Chairman Rory Christian acknowledged that while utilities such as Con Ed cannot control supply prices, they can still improve their procurement and billing practices to reduce the likelihood of dramatic price swings in the future.

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We are requiring Con Edison to address this going forward, he said.

Christian also directed a letter on Friday to Con Eds CEO Timothy Cawley, citing numerous complaints from your customers and their representatives and seeking several actions.

A Con Edison truck on Wall St. in lower Manhattan, New York. (BRUCE BENNETT/Getty Images)

Those actions include: addressing the immediate problem, reassessing power supply billing practices and improving communication to customers  many of whom have claimed they received no notice of the increases until their bills came due.

This recent cold weather spell has exposed weaknesses in Con Edisons billing practices that warrant closer examination, Christian wrote, adding specifically that the utility should reexamine how it accounts for market fluctuations through hedging.

The Department has determined that the Companys current hedging strategies combined with a revised supply billing practice may have effectively mitigated the bill volatility seen in January, he then noted.

Christian concluded with a request for a response by the end of February.
- Craig Fox PhD, former CSO of C4X Discovery joins as Operating Partner, Life Sciences

- Caroline Cake MBA, MEng, former CEO of Health Data Research UK, joins as Entrepreneur in Residence, Health Tech

OXFORD, England, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Science Enterprises, the Science Business Builder and preferred intellectual property partner of the University of Oxford, today announces the appointment of Craig Fox PhD as Operating Partner, Life Sciences and Caroline Cake MBA, MEng, as Entrepreneur in Residence, Health Tech.

As Operating Partner, Craig will work across Oxford Science Enterprises' life sciences portfolio and apply his extensive operating and scientific expertise to support the growth and development of early and late-stage companies. He will also help identify novel scientific opportunities leading to the formation of new spinouts.

As an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Caroline will lead the creation and development of a new Health Tech enterprise based on ground-breaking research from the University of Oxford. The team will also benefit from her extensive network across government, the private healthcare sector and NHS as well as her deep understanding of health policy and data science.

The EIR model has been successfully deployed by Oxford Science Enterprises as exemplified by the creation of Base Genomics, led by former EIR Ollie Waterhouse and acquired by Exact Sciences in 2020, and the recently launched Salience Labs led by former EIR Vaysh Kewada.

Alexis Dormandy, CEO Oxford Science Enterprises, said: "I am delighted to welcome both Craig and Caroline to the team. Their operational expertise and highly relevant networks will be invaluable to our organisation, academic founders, and enterprises. The appointments of Craig and Caroline, two seasoned executives with impressive track records, builds on the recent strengthening of our senior leadership team. I am thrilled to have them both on board."

Craig Fox, PhD, Operating Partner, Life Sciences.

Craig brings over 20 years of drug discovery and development expertise to Oxford Science Enterprises, with vast experience as a research scientist managing initial target selection through to Phase 2 clinical studies. He joins from C4X Discovery where he was Chief Scientific Officer and an Executive Board Member for more than six years, guiding its transition from a technology-based company to a therapeutics business. Craig has also worked at a number of biotechnology companies supporting multiple financing deals, the creation and management of strategic collaborations and licensing deals with Pharma.

Caroline Cake, MBA, MEng, Entrepreneur in Residence, Health Tech.

Caroline has over 25 years' experience working in commercial, government and charitable organisations and has a proven track record in delivering transformational health tech initiatives. As CEO of Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), she established the company as the national institute for health data science and played a pivotal role in the UK's COVID-19 pandemic response. Under her leadership, HDR UK created Health Data Research Hubs, which supported the RECOVERY Trial to identify dexamethasone as the first drug to be effective against COVID-19, the PRINCIPLE Trial to identify budesonide as the first treatment to shorten recovery time in patients not admitted to hospital, and the vaccine rollout by providing access to real-world data on vaccine effectiveness. She also led the development of the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway, which is already transforming the scale and impact of UK health data research. Caroline also worked for the PSC where she was a founding director and prior to that she worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company.

About Oxford Science Enterprises

We are Oxford Science Enterprises, the Science Business Builder. We want to help solve the world's toughest problems for more people, in more places, faster. We do this by transforming world-leading science into world-changing businesses, partnering the best scientists from the world's best university with the best business brains. We grow our companies with care and expertise; in a way that is systematic and scalable. We invest for real-world impact, not only financial returns. And we re-invest proceeds back into the next generation of original research and world-changing businesses.

Our enterprises address problems that affect people in life-changing ways: their health, the availability of food, the survival of the planet. Since 2015, we have received an automatic stake in all Oxford University science spinouts - more than 100 businesses founded by over 200 of Oxford's leading academics. We have taken a leading role in creating and building over 70 of these, adding +55,000 sq ft of lab & start-up space to support them. Today our businesses are worth over 2bn and have created +2,000 jobs.

Follow us: oxfordscienceenterprises.com | Twitter | LinkedIn | Quarterly News

Visit us: 46 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT

Media contacts:

Oxford Science Enterprises:

Lisa Bedwell

lbedwell@oxfordsciences.com

Tulchan Communications:

oxsciencesmedia@tulchangroup.com
EquityStory.RS, LLC-News: PJSC Mechel / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

PJSC Mechel: MECHEL ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES



11.02.2022 / 12:00 MSK

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





MECHEL ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES



Moscow, Russia - February 11, 2022 - Mechel PAO (MOEX: MTLR, NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports creating a new post of deputy chief executive officer for Mechel PAO's operations. Alexey Lebedev has been appointed to this new post.

Alexey Lebedev will be in charge of a wide range of issues linked to operational planning and technical development, meeting production plans, product quality, construction and overhauls, labor and industrial safety.

He will temporarily coordinate work on his new post with management of the company's transport division.

"Alexey Lebedev built an exemplary career in Mechel Group and proved himself as an expert manager with a strategic approach to all issues. The fact that Alexey knows all our diverse business operations intimately is particularly important. This will certainly help him to promptly swing into action in his new capacity. The company intends to consistently restore and increase coal and iron ore production, expand our steel product range, optimize our logistical chains and perfect our sales system. I wish Alexey luck and success in his new post!" Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov noted.

Alexey Lebedev has been Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans Management Company since December 2013. Prior to this appointment, from 2011 to 2013 he served as Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Trans Auto OOO. In 2010-2011, he was director of auto transportation department at Mecheltrans OOO. In 2004-2010, he held senior management positions within transport and logistics companies (auto, railroad and air cargoes transportation, export, import and domestic logistics).

Alexey Lebedev graduated Izhevsk State Technical University with a degree in industrial management.

***

Mechel PAO

Ekaterina Videman

Tel: + 7 495 221 88 88

ekaterina.videman@mechel.com

***

Mechel is an international mining and steel company. Its products are marketed in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, heat and electric power. All of its enterprises work in a single production chain, from raw materials to high value-added products.

***

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

11.02.2022 MSK Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EquityStory.RS, LLC - a company of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EquityStory.RS, LLC Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


DGAP-News: Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. / Key word(s): AGM/EGM

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.: NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING



11.02.2022 / 10:00

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Shareholders are referred to the notice of Annual General Meeting of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. (the "Company"), with corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to be held on Friday, 25 March 2022, at 13:00 CET at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Piet Heinkade 1, 1019 BR Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and which will be accessible via webcast on the Company's website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) (the "AGM"), as posted on the Company's website today (the "Notice"). COVID-19 and virtual AGM

The Company accommodates its shareholders (the "Shareholders") in attending the AGM virtually through electronic means, without the need to physically attend the AGM. Participating virtually in the AGM is subject to the Company's hybrid meeting policy which is available on the Company's website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) (the "Hybrid Meeting Policy"). The health and safety of the Company's employees, Shareholders and other stakeholders is a key priority for the Company. To limit health and safety risks in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management board of the Company (the "Management Board") recommends that Shareholders participate in the AGM by proxy or virtually only, without physically attending the AGM, subject to the Hybrid Meeting Policy. The Management Board may take further precautionary measures to safeguard the health and safety of its employees and the participants of the AGM. These measures include, subject to an extension of the emergency legislation allowing fully virtual shareholders' meetings, converting the AGM into a fully virtual AGM. Shareholders and other persons with meeting rights will in such case not be able to physically attend the AGM and can only cast their votes if voting rights accrue by way of electronic means during the virtual AGM or by granting a proxy. Developments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic will be closely monitored and the Company will publish updates, and health and safety guidelines for attending the AGM on its website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) when appropriate. Shareholders should therefore check the Company's website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) on a regular basis for any updates. If a fully virtual AGM is deemed appropriate by the Management Board, its decision thereto and the relevant information and procedures will be published in the same manner as the Notice prior to the AGM in a timely fashion. Questions

Shareholders and other persons with meeting rights are invited to submit any questions relating to any of the agenda items prior to the AGM in the English language by e-mail to compsec@steinhoffinternational.com by no later than Tuesday, 22 March 2022, at 13:00 CET. These questions will be answered during the AGM and shall be published on the Company's website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) after the AGM. Further questions can be asked during the AGM in the physical meeting (if physical attendance is possible) and by submitting such questions in the English language through the digital voting platform. In the event of a fully virtual AGM, the chairperson of the AGM may determine that, in the interest of the order of business of the meeting, it can reasonably not be required to answer one or more specific further questions in light of the circumstances at the time of the AGM. AGENDA



The agenda of the AGM contains the following subjects: 1. Opening 2. Presentation to Shareholders (discussion item) 3. Shareholder Q&A (discussion item) 4. Annual Reporting 2021 4.1. Report of the Management Board, including the report of the supervisory board of the Company (the "Supervisory Board"), for the financial year ended 30 September 2021 (discussion item) 4.2. Explanation of any substantial change in the corporate governance structure of the Company and compliance with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (discussion item) 4.3. Explanation of the policy on profits and reserves for the financial year ended 30 September 2021 (discussion item) 4.4. Proposal to adopt the annual accounts for the financial year ended 30 September 2021 (voting item) 5. Release from liability 5.1. Proposal for limited release from liability of the managing directors of the Company (the "Managing Directors") for their management of the Company (voting item) 5.2. Proposal for limited release from liability of the supervisory directors of the Company (the "Supervisory Directors") for their supervision of the Company (voting item) 6. Composition of the Management Board 6.1. Proposal to re-appoint Mr. Louis du Preez as a Managing Director (voting item) 6.2. Proposal to re-appoint Mr. Theodore de Klerk as a Managing Director (voting item) 7. Composition of the Supervisory Board 7.1. Proposal to re-appoint Ms. Moira Moses as a Supervisory Director (voting item) 7.2. Proposal to re-appoint Mr. Paul Copley as a Supervisory Director (voting item) 7.3. Proposal to re-appoint Dr. Hugo Nelson as a Supervisory Director (voting item) 7.4. Proposal to re-appoint Ms. Alexandra Watson as a Supervisory Director (voting item) 8. Remuneration 8.1. Proposal to cast an advisory vote in respect of the remuneration report for the financial year ended 30 September 2021 (voting item) 8.2. Proposal to amend the remuneration policy applicable to Managing Directors (voting item) 9. Share plan Proposal to approve an amended share plan for Managing Directors (voting item) 10. Authorisations in respect of Shares 10.1. Proposal to authorise the Management Board in order for the Company to acquire shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") in connection with the Company's long-term incentive plan (voting item) 10.2. Proposal to authorise the Management Board in order for the Company to acquire Shares for other purposes (voting item) 10.3. Proposal to authorise the Management Board to issue (or grant rights to subscribe for) Shares and to limit or exclude shareholders' pre-emption rights in connection with the Company's long-term incentive plan (voting item) 10.4. Proposal to authorise the Management Board to issue (or grant rights to subscribe for) Shares and to limit or exclude shareholders' pre-emption rights for other purposes (voting item) 10.5. Proposal to authorise the Management Board to issue (or grant rights to subscribe for) Shares with pre-emption rights for shareholders for other purposes (voting item) 11. Appointment of the statutory audit firm for the financial years ending

30 September 2022 and 30 September 2023 Proposal to appoint Mazars Accountants N.V. as statutory audit firm for the financial years ending on 30 September 2022 and 30 September 2023, respectively (voting item) 12. Any other business 13. Closing GENERAL INFORMATION All Shareholders and other persons with meeting rights who wish to participate in the AGM are referred to the attendance instructions contained in the 'General Information' section of the Notice. Meeting documents

The Notice and agenda with explanatory notes, including Appendices, are available on the Company's website (www.steinhoffinternational.com). These documents are also available for inspection at the office of the Company (Building B2, Vineyard Office Park, Cnr Adam Tas & Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600 South Africa), where hard copies may be obtained free of charge. Record Date

Under Dutch law and the Company's articles of association, persons entitled to attend, speak and, if applicable, vote at the AGM are Shareholders registered as such on Friday, 25 February 2022 (the "Record Date") in the register of shareholders kept by the Management Board after all debit and credit entries have been made on the Record Date, regardless of whether the Shares are still held by them at the date of the AGM, provided that such persons have registered themselves for the AGM in the manner specified in the Notice. The date on which beneficiaries of Securities (as defined in the Notice) listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange must be recorded as such in the register of PLC Nominees (Pty) Limited to be eligible to attend and vote at the AGM is the Record Date, with the last day of trade on Frankfurt Stock Exchange being Tuesday, 22 February 2022. The date on which holders of Shares listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) must be recorded as such in the register of shareholders of the Company to be eligible to attend and vote at the AGM is the Record Date, with the last day of trade on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) being Tuesday, 22 February 2022. Registration to attend the AGM

Shareholders, persons with meeting rights or their proxies who wish to attend, speak and raise questions, and, if applicable, vote at the AGM, are required to register their intention to attend the AGM, specifying whether the respective person would like to attend the AGM physically or virtually via webcast, and further in accordance with the instructions set out in the Notice by no later than 11:00 a.m. CET on Friday, 18 March 2022. Steinhoff has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited. 11 February 2022

11.02.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

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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.
MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon television program, Copyright MMXXII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $6,950.00 to $11,995.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by Donald Baillargeon, the producer, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.

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.
Acquisitions include full service media agency Tre Kronor Media and digital agency ELLIOT

Making Science today announced a 70% interest in United Communications Partners Inc. (UCP), the owner of a 100% interest in Tre Kronor Media the full service media agency with locations in both Sweden and Denmark.

Speaking of the news, Niclas Froberg, Chairman of UCP Inc and CEO of Tre Kronor said: "Making Science offers UCP and Tre Kronor Media an ability to strengthen the current service portfolio and improve the competitive strength of the UCP group. The group can now add a full range of competences from AdTech, Data, CRM, and Google reseller status which are key to our future success as a full-service Media Agency in the Nordics."

Only a week prior to this announcement, Making Science also completed the acquisition of agency ELLIOT the leading digital marketing agency in Georgia, where the company already has a strong position in order to expand its outsourcing capabilities in marketing operations with a new service centre. The new ELLIOT acquisition will also contribute to the company's EBITDA and bring almost half a million GBP of additional gross margin in 2022.

The acquisitions are part of the expansion process that Making Science has been carrying out since 2020, both nationally and internationally. These acquisitions in the first-quarter of 2022 follow seven carried out in 2021 as part of the company's organic growth strategy.

Speaking of the Tre Kronor Media announcement, Jose Antonio Martinez Aguilar, CEO of Making Science, said: "The Nordic region is a strategic market for Making Science and we are delighted with the integration of Tre-Kronor, with locations in both Sweden and Denmark. We have been working with Tre Kronor on several projects during 2021 with excellent results for clients. We are convinced that our partnership with the Tre Kronor Media team will strengthen our positioning as a leader in Digital Marketing and AdTech in the region"

Jose gave further insight on Making Science's recent acquisition moves, commenting: "We start the year with the same determination we closed 2021 on, betting on digital talent, diversification and expansion to take another step forward in our business expansion. We are convinced that the acquisition of Tre Kronor Media and ELLIOT will strengthen our marketing operations and outsourcing capabilities by increasing our global service centres.

"The two acquisitions complement Making Science's growth strategy and will increase our European presence into the Nordic countries, as well as help expand US operations."

The deals will see an additional 50 professionals incorporated into the Making Science workforce from Tre Kronor Media and 30 new professionals from ELLIOT. With these 80 new professionals on its team, Making Science continues its commitment to consolidate a highly specialised workforce in areas such as campaign tagging, creativity, digital marketing, data configuration and campaign optimisation which is more important than ever in the digital sector where there is huge demand for talent and many challenges to secure it.

About Making Science

Making Science is a technology and digital marketing consultancy specialising in e-commerce and digital transformation. Its business model responds to the growing need for companies to digitise their entire value chain, particularly in the area of marketing. The markets in which Making Science operates are digital advertising, data analytics, e-commerce and cloud, all of them with high growth rates. The Making Science Group currently employs more than 800 people and has a presence and technological development in 10 markets: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, UK, Ireland, Georgia and USA. The company has been chosen SME of the Year 2019 by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and has recently received the C.R.E.C.E. (Rapidly Expanding Company with Exponential Growth) award from the consultancy firm Ernst and Young as part of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. It has also obtained the 71st position in the FT1000: Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies 2021 ranking, prepared by the Financial Times, positioning itself as the first fastest-growing European company in the marketing and sales sector. Making Science has also joined the Pledge1% initiative, supporting non-profit organisations in our community with a commitment that will have a major impact in the future.

About Tre Kronor Media

Tre Kronor Media is Sweden's first performance-based marketing agency founded in 2007. The founders were Niclas Froberg, Lars Bonnelyche, Carl Johan Grandinson and Jacob De Geer. Tre Kronor Media is today a full-service Media Agency with offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. Its partners in Norway and Finland also have offices in Oslo and Helsinki. The last ten years Tre Kronor Media has been awarded as the Best Media Agency in Sweden eight times. We employ more than 50 people and have a turnover of 80 million euro.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005038/en/

Contacts:

Making Science media contact:

Sarah Holmes-Siedle,

GingerMay

makingscience@teamgingermay.com

Tel: 01892 882208
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MatchCraft, a global leader in digital advertising technology, was recognized as the Rising Star of the Year by Microsoft Advertising at last night's virtual awards ceremony honoring the accomplishments of 2021. MatchCraft took home the top prize for its accelerated focus on integrating features that drive both scalability, feature adoption, and growth for its reseller and agency partners.

At the heart of MatchCraft's vision and mission is its ability to deliver consistent results across multiple channels and to do so in a scalable manner. A critical component of their success is the inclusion of Microsoft Advertising inventory in their suite of solutions. "Given the challenges local businesses have faced over the last year, maximizing advertising budgets and reach was the driving force behind much of our development in 2021," says Sandy Lohr, CEO of MatchCraft. "To be recognized for the hard work our team has undertaken to ensure our partners have access to Microsoft Advertising's valuable inventory is truly an honor and speaks to the strength of our partnership with Microsoft Advertising."

"Microsoft Advertising is delighted to show our appreciation and acknowledge the well-deserved recognition for MatchCraft as the Rising Star of the Year. Our partners are critical to our business and it's a privilege to recognize those who lead with a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and inclusive behavior. Our partners have displayed a strong commitment to their clients, and to their communities during a time of uncertainty and disruption," added Sean O'Connor, International Marketing Director at Microsoft Advertising.

About MatchCraft

MatchCraft provides a best-in-class advertising platform that enables companies to successfully sell and manage search, display, and social campaigns for their advertisers. Unlike other advertising technology platforms, MatchCraft's platform AdVantage helps organizations efficiently manage campaigns of all sizes, enabling clients to deliver results to their advertisers. MatchCraft's sophisticated real-time bidding algorithms, and a team of digital marketing enthusiasts, work relentlessly to deliver exceptional ROI for merchants around the world. MatchCraft is a fully remote company with team members across the US, Europe, Mexico, and India. For digital marketing news, advice, and to stay in the loop on product rollouts, follow MatchCraft on Facebook , MatchCraft on Twitter , MatchCraft on LinkedIn or visit www.MatchCraft.com .

About Microsoft Advertising

Represent your brand at its best with advertising solutions guided by an uncompromising respect for privacy, brand safety, and data security. Microsoft Advertising provides intelligent solutions that empower you to deliver engaging, personalized experiences to over a half a billion people worldwide. Bing powers billions of searches monthly on the Microsoft Search Network, including Verizon Media properties (AOL, Yahoo), platforms like Amazon and Apple, and on Microsoft services like Windows, Office and Microsoft Edge. Extend your reach and campaign performance with Microsoft Audience Network, high-quality native placements across devices on premium sites like MSN, Outlook.com, Microsoft Edge, and Verizon Media. Only Microsoft Advertising offers LinkedIn Profile targeting on search and native to help you find highly relevant audiences based on their company, job function and industry. With Microsoft Advertising, gain access to in-depth insights, intelligent advertising tools that use AI to improve campaign performance and audience targeting solutions to create more personalized advertising experiences. Microsoft Advertising. Intelligent connections.

Media contact: info@matchcraft.com
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEI: 213800X8BO8EK2B4HQ71

11 February 2022

Anglesey Mining plc

('Anglesey' or the 'Company')

Anglesey Mining - Proposed Move to AIM

Proposed cancellation of the Company's ordinary shares from the Official List,

proposed Application for Admission to trading on AIM

and Notice of General Meeting

Anglesey Mining plc (LSE: AYM), the UK based minerals exploration and development company, today announces the Company's intention to apply for admission of its Ordinary Shares to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under AIM's streamlined admission process for companies that have had their securities traded on the Official List.

Anglesey also announces the proposed cancellation of the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares to listing on the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market.

John F. Kearney, Chairman of Anglesey Mining, commented:"Anglesey Mining has a long history on the main board of the London Stock Exchange, having first listed in 1988. However, with the Company's current plans for the development of the Parys Mountain mine, the board of directors believes that moving to AIM will provide a more flexible regulatory regime, which is better suited to the Company's current stage of development and strategy.

The AIM market is now an internationally recognised market which has an established reputation for growth companies. We believe the proposed move to AIM is now appropriate and will ultimately provide Anglesey Mining with greater flexibility over corporate and financing transactions, and also provide potential tax benefits to investors."

Under the Listing Rules, the delisting from the premium segment of the Official List (the "Delisting") requires the Company to obtain the prior approval of not less than 75 per cent of shareholders who vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of shareholders. The Company is therefore convening a general meeting, to be held at 11.00 am on 8 March 2022 at the offices of DLA Piper UK LLP at 160 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4HT to seek such approval ("General Meeting").

A circular containing detail of the proposed Delisting and move to AIM, together with a notice convening the General Meeting (the "Circular") will be posted to shareholders today following FCA approval and will be available on the Company's website at https://www.angleseymining.co.uk. The Circular will also be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism to be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Circular.

Subject to the passing of the necessary shareholder resolution at the General Meeting, the proposed Delisting and Move to AIM will take effect simultaneously, utilising the AIM Designated Market Route at 8.00 a.m. on 8 April 2022.

Shareholders may not use any electronic address provided in this document or any related documents to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than those expressly stated.

For further information, please contact:

Anglesey Mining plc

Jo Battershill, Chief Executive +44 (0)7540 366000

John Kearney, Chairman +1 416 362 6686

Davy (Joint Broker & Nominated Adviser)

John Frain +353 1 679 6363

About Anglesey Mining plc

Anglesey Mining is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Anglesey is developing its 100% owned Parys Mountain copper-zinc-lead deposit in North Wales, UK.

In January 2021 an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) was completed on Parys Mountain which demonstrates that a major copper-zinc-lead mine can be developed on the island of Anglesey in North Wales.

The PEA, completed by Micon International Limited, included a new updated mineral resources estimate showing 5.2 million tonnes of Indicated Resources at a combined base metal grade of 4.3%, (or a copper equivalent grade of 2.4%), together with 11.7 million tonnes of Inferred Resources at a combined base metal grade of 2.8% (copper equivalent grade of 2.0%). The updated resource estimate in the PEA indicates that Parys Mountain, contains 160,000 tonnes of copper in situ, with a gross contained metal value in the ground of more than $1.4 billion.

A nine-hole programme for 2,750m of diamond core drilling commenced in November 2021 to provide additional information that will feed into the planned Feasibility Study in 2022. The additional information includes infill drilling of the White Rock Zone to increase the remaining inferred resource category confidence from Inferred to Indicated category between surface and the 280m level (currently around 78% of the White Rock resource is in the Indicated category) and will allow for additional metallurgical testwork from both the Engine Zone and White Rock Zone.

Anglesey also holds a 20% interest, and management rights to the Grangesberg Iron project in Sweden, together with a right of first refusal to increase its interest by a further 50.1% to 70%.

Anglesey also holds 12% of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited, which through its 52% owned subsidiaries, is engaged in the exploration and development of direct shipping iron ore deposits in Labrador and Quebec in Canada.

Expected timetable of principal events

Announcement and publication of the Circular 11 February 2022 Latest time and date for receipt of proxy appointments

(whether online, via a CREST Proxy Instruction or by a hardcopy form of proxy) in respect of the General Meeting 11.00 am on 4 March 2022 Time and date of General Meeting 11.00 am on 8 March 2022 Publication of Schedule One announcement 9 March 2022 Last day of dealings in the Ordinary Shares on the Main Market 7 April 2022 Cancellation of the listing of the Ordinary Shares from the Official List effective 8.00 a.m. on 8 April 2022 Admission of, and commencement of dealings in, the Ordinary Shares on AIM 8.00 a.m. on 8 April 2022

Notes: If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by way of an announcement on a Regulatory Information Service. References to time are to London time, unless specified otherwise.

The ISIN code for the Ordinary Shares will remain GB0000320472.

Background to and reasons for the Delisting and AIM Admission

The Company first listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 1988. However, given the matters referred to below, the Board has considered carefully whether the continued admission of its Ordinary Shares to listing on the premium segment of the Official List and to trading of its Ordinary Shares on the Main Market is in the best interests of the Company's shareholders. The Directors consider that AIM is a more appropriate market for Anglesey's current stage of development and strategy for the following reasons:

AIM was launched in 1995 as the London Stock Exchange's market specifically designed for smaller companies, with a more flexible regulatory regime, has an established reputation with investors and is an internationally recognised market;

AIM will offer greater flexibility with regard to corporate transactions, enabling the Company to agree and execute certain transactions more quickly and cost effectively than a company on the Official List;

Companies whose shares trade on AIM are deemed to be unlisted for the purposes of certain areas of UK taxation, including possibly being eligible for relief from inheritance tax. Furthermore, stamp duty is not payable on the transfer of shares that are traded on AIM and not listed on any other market; and

In addition to existing institutional investors, given the possible tax benefits, admission to trading on AIM could make the Company's shares more attractive to both AIM specific funds and certain retail investors where, since 2013, shares traded on AIM can be held in ISAs.

Accordingly, the Board considers that AIM is a more appropriate market for the Company at this stage. Further details of the consequences of the Delisting and AIM Admission are set out in the Circular.

Details of the Delisting and AIM Admission

Conditional on the Resolution having been approved by Shareholders at the General Meeting, the Company will apply to cancel the listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Official List and their admission to trading on the Main Market and give 20 Business Days' notice to the London Stock Exchange of its intention to seek AIM Admission under AIM's streamlined admission process for companies that have had their securities traded on the Official List via the "AIM Designated Market" route.

As the Ordinary Shares have been listed on the premium segment of the Official List for more than 18 months, the Company is not required to publish an admission document in connection with AIM Admission. However, the Company will, subject to the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting, publish an announcement which complies with the requirements of Schedule One to the AIM Rules comprising information required to be disclosed by companies transferring their securities from the Official List to AIM via the AIM Designated Market route.

It is currently anticipated that, subject to the passing of the Resolution:

the last day of dealing in the Ordinary Shares on the Main Market will be 7 April 2022 ;

; cancellation of the listing of Ordinary Shares on the Official List will take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 8 April 2022 , being not less than 20 Business Days from the date of the General Meeting; and

on , being not less than 20 Business Days from the date of the General Meeting; and AIM Admission will take place, and trading in the Ordinary Shares will commence on AIM, at 8.00 a.m. on 8 April 2022 .

Recommendation

Shareholders should note that, if the Resolution is not passed by Shareholders at the General Meeting, the Delisting and Admission to AIM will not be implemented.

In such circumstances, the Ordinary Shares will not be admitted to trading on AIM and the Ordinary Shares will continue to be admitted to listing on the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market.

The Board considers that transferring the trading in Ordinary Shares from the Main Market to AIM via the AIM Designated Market route to be in the best interests of Shareholders taken as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that you vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements which are based on the beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Directors and other members of senior management about the Company's businesses. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document may be forward-looking statements. Generally, words such as "will", "may", "should", "could", "estimates", "continue", "believes", "expects", "aims", "targets", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "prepares", "seeks" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or similar or comparable expressions identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. Rather, they are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company and are difficult to predict, that may cause actual results, performance, plans, objectives, achievements or events to differ materially from those express or implied in such forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should, therefore, not be placed on such forward-looking statements.

New factors will emerge in the future, and it is not possible to predict which factors they will be. In addition, the impact of each factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statement or statements cannot be assessed, and no assurance can therefore be provided that assumptions will prove correct or that expectations and beliefs will be achieved.

Any forward-looking statement contained in this document based on past or current trends and/or activities of the Company should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. No statement in this document is intended to be a profit forecast or to imply that the earnings of the Company for the current year or future years will match or exceed historical or published earnings of the Company.

Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this document and is not intended to give any assurance as to future results. The Company and/or its Directors expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or other information, except to the extent required by the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange or by applicable law.

General

Davy, which is regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement. Davy will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the regulatory protections a?orded to its clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

Neither Davy nor any of its a?liates or any of their respective partners, directors, o?cers, employees, advisers, agents or any other person accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from this announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, in whatever form, and howsoever transmitted or made available, or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.
CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Disruption - Potential opportunity worth USD 99 Bn is expected to open up in the drone industry, with drone services being the next big trend having an opportunity worth $25-30 Bn over the next few years. As per MarketsandMarkets research -

It is estimated that by 2030 Civil & Commercial drones will record more than 50 million units sales annually.

Aerial Delivery Drones with payload capacity 5-10 Kg is predicted to record the highest growth in the years to come.

Drone Package Delivery Charge today is USD 1.5 to 3 and is estimated to decline with further adoption across industry.

According to MarketsandMarkets analysis,

Unmanned aerial vehicle market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16-17% in the coming decade, driven by increased deployment of drones across various applications such as inspection, and disaster relief, among others.

Adoption of upcoming technologies such as AI, 3D printing, digital twin, and cloud computing are resulting in numerous product innovations in the drone industry such as drone taxis, swarm drones, and connected drones, among others.

Adjacent markets of drone services hold a potential of over USD 88.52 Bn , majority of which will be contributed by data analytics.

, majority of which will be contributed by data analytics. Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) is estimated to register the highest growth of 17-18% CAGR by 2030 within the UAV market.

Currently, businesses have low access to primary intelligence to clarify some unknowns and adjacencies in these opportunity areas -

Adoption levels of UAVs in Military applications is high. It is expected to range between 40-50% globally during 2026, however, in developed countries it is approaching 60%. The UAVS are witnessing increased demand owing to the convenience of use offered by them, as well as their capability to lessen casualties significantly.

Increasing focus on border management and search & rescue operation scenario in Government & law enforcement application drives the adoption of UAVs.

Adjacent markets such as Drone services, drone packing & delivery provide immense growth opportunities owing to generation of huge demanding for quicker analysis and reduced turnaround time.

The focus on adopting UAVs for various applications is primarily high in developed economies as compared to the emerging countries owing the fact that drones and its adjacent market attracts huge capital. Developed countries have more focused and targeted towards UAVs and its applications across the multiple domains.

The developed region like North America dominates the UAV market with 37%, followed by Asia Pacific with 30% share Europe with 23% market share.

Some of the growth problems encountered by drones' companies are:

Customer prioritization and assessing unmet needs:

What are the disruptions in our clients' businesses? How can we support them for additional growth?

Who are the most potential customers going forward? Should they provide platform, services, or software solutions?

What are the key unmet needs of end users? Who are the key stakeholders in different applications? Do vendor selection criteria differ by applications? Which new product features should be added to the existing drone products?

Where to play:

Which applications and end-use industry areas should the client focus on? Should it be construction & mining, agriculture, oil & gas or any other?

Which regions should they place bets on? Should they continue with developed countries or do developing countries offer more growth opportunities?

Building a compelling Right-to-Win (RTW):

For M&A, which are the right targets? Should they target platform manufacturers, software providers or service providers? Should they enter new markets directly or through partners?

How can they differentiate from top players? What is the right-to-win vs ours?

Key uncertainties/perspectives which industry leaders seek answers to:

For drones companies:

What are the market entrance regulation and norms for emerging economic countries?

What would be the change in revenue mix in near future, and what would be opportunity for star-ups in near five years?

Will UAVs become affordable for consumer application, or will it continue being used for specific applications?

What drone services will be relevant and redundant in the next 5 years?

How does the aftermarket for UAVs look like in the next 10 years?

What are the core applications of UAVs? Which application segment is expected to dominate the market for coming years?

Currently, does the market look lucrative or saturated. How would be the scenarios going forward.

For Companies in Adjacent markets:

Which products and solutions should the company focus? Should they have a tailored offering for new platform, vs only bringing their existing products?

How are companies planning on providing aftermarket services?

When can a 100% UAVs adoption be expected?

What will be the overall impact of UAVs on competitive markets?

Therefore, MarketsandMarkets research and analysis focuses on high growth and niche markets, such as fixed wing VTOL UAVs, drone analytics, drone logistics and transportation, drone services, and related markets, which will become ~80% of the revenues of drones' companies in the next 5-10 years.

Register for Whitepaper: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/practices/pdfdownload.asp?p=drones

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

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg
DGAP-News: IuteCredit Finance S.a.r.l. / Key word(s): Annual Results/Conference

IuteCredit reports unaudited 12M 2021 results on 17 February 2022 - Invitation to earnings webcast/call on 18 February 2022



11.02.2022 / 13:45

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





IuteCredit reports unaudited 12M 2021 results on 17 February 2022

Invitation to earnings webcast/call on 18 February 2022



Tallinn, Estonia, 11 February 2022. IuteCredit Europe ("ICE"), a leading European personal finance group, cordially invites investors and analysts to an earnings webcast/call with the Management Board on 18 February 2022, 10.00 CET, following the publication of its unaudited 12M 2021 results on 17 February 2022.



Earnings Call:

CEO Tarmo Sild and CFO Kristel Kurvits will comment on the unaudited results by means of a webcast presentation. The webcast/call will be held in English.

Please register in time to participate in the webcast/call at:

IuteCredit Europe - Earnings Call 12M 2021.

The corresponding presentation will also be available on the Company's website prior to the earnings webcast/call.



Contact:

Kristel Kurvits, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Email: investor@iutecredit.com

Phone: +372 622 9177



About IuteCredit:

IuteCredit - established in 2008 - is a leading European personal finance company. The Group is specialized in consumer credits via its 100% subsidiaries using equity and loan capital. IuteCredit serves customers currently in Moldova, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

IuteCredit's loan products are unsecured consumer loans with maturities between 1 month and 36 months and car-secured loans with maturities up to 60 months.

The mission of IuteCredit is to create the extraordinary experience in personal finance by exceeding customers' expectations.

www.iutecredit.com

11.02.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Mayor Adams took part in a slice of New York City history Thursday night as he swore in an East Harlem community leader as the neighborhoods next assemblyman, making him the first ex-con to ever get a seat in the state legislature.

Eddie Gibbs, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in 1988, took his oath of office, administered by Adams, in the gymnasium at the Johnson Houses Community Center in East Harlem, near where he grew up.

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Eddie Gibbs is sworn in by New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the Johnson Houses Community Center as his granddaughter Desire Gibbs holds the Bible in Harlem Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

You are going to Albany right now at the right time. You are bringing street credibility, Adams said before reading the oath.

Look at you and me  ejected, rejected and now being respected, the mayor added, prompting the audience to erupt in applause.

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Gibbs, who breezed to victory against Republican candidate Daby Benjamin Carreras in a special election held last month, copped to manslaughter charges in 1988 after killing a man in self-defense. Only 17 at the time, he was sentenced to four years in state prison, and spent his time behind bars earning an associates degree in business.

Gibbs, who has expressed remorse for his crime, grew visibly emotional after Adams swore him in, tears filling his eyes.

My brother, our mayor, Gibbs said, Adams beaming next to him.

Mayor Eric Adams speaks about Eddie Gibbs before he swears him in at the Johnson Houses Community Center in Harlem Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Upon his release from prison, Gibbs had a brief stint as a standup comic and rapped with hip hop icons Biggie Smalls and Big L before turning to politics, becoming a district leader for East Harlem in 2017.

He replaces ex-Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, who stepped down in November to become Gov. Hochuls secretary of state.

The 68th Assembly district that Gibbs will represent includes the apartment building where two NYPD officers were recently killed after responding to a domestic dispute.

In a recent tweet, Gibbs pledged to be a partner to Adams in his mission to fight back against the citys recent crime spike.

I look forward to working in partnership with @NYCMayor on his Blueprint to End Gun Violence, Gibbs tweeted, referring to Adams recently unveiled public safety plan. As the first formerly incarcerated lawmaker, I bring an important perspective to Albany with an understanding of balancing public safety and justice; I know Mayor Adams understands this as well.
Tallinn, Estonia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - In February 2022, PARSIQ and IQ Labs will be taking part in ETHDenver, the world's largest annual Web3.0 Community Innovation Festival, encouraging talented devs to build using their technology.

PARSIQ prepares bounties you could earn by building predefined tasks. Its core product - blockchain monitoring platform and domain-specific ParsiQL language - provide the ability to understand and manipulate blockchain data streams across different mediums and infrastructures.

Last year, PARSIQ's Chief Architect Anatoly Ressin presented a solo technical workshop to educate everyone on the time travel capabilities of PARSIQ's innovate technology.

After ETHDenver 2021, the team announced their plans for integrating historical data so that - with Retrospective Triggers - PARSIQ clients no longer need to use an archive service or run their own archive nodes for storing that data.

By adding the toolset for all historical data step-by-step, in 2022, PARSIQ plans to build the market fastest Historical Data API & SDK.

"PARSIQ's real-time solutions are proven to save thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in development time. Now that we aim for integrating historical data API & SDK, it's vital for us to present at ETHDenver, talk to the world's most talented developers about use cases and get real-value applications submitted," says Rong Kai, COO of PARSIQ.

During ETHDenver 2022, Daniil Romazanow, the Product Owner of PARSIQ Monitoring Platform, will conduct a workshop for developers looking to utilize blockchain monitoring solutions.

While the purpose of ETHDenver is to bring together builders, creatives and change-makers to continue driving the adoption of this new world, PARSIQ acts as a bridge between WEB 3.0 and WEB 2.0 - allowing users to seamlessly interact in both digital spaces and taking full advantage of the relevant offerings. When users eventually move more permanently to Web3, PARSIQ will be there too - providing necessary connections in the decentralized world to enable relevant and seamless interactions that all users will require in Web3.

For the dApp builders, it may be also useful to meet the IQ Labs team during the conference. IQ Protocol provides a framework for subscription-based services and risk-free collateral-less NFT renting possibilities.

About PARSIQ

PARSIQ is an automation platform which serves as "the glue" between blockchain applications and real-world applications. It does this by facilitating the creation of workflows and notifications between common blockchains and off-chain systems.

Similar to automation tools like Zapier, PARSIQ allows users to initiate various workflows or notifications if and when a certain event takes place. Currently, this logic can be defined for the following blockchains:

Bitcoin

Ethereum

Binance Smart Chain (BSC)

Dash

Algorand

Huobi Eco Chain

Solana

Polkadot

PARSIQ's platform standardizes all chains for users into one easily consumable system - which means that regardless of the blockchain, only one platform is needed to manage all of the workflow and notifications required by the user.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Telegram | Discord | Reddit | YouTube

Media contact

Francis Foster

Communications Lead

+44 7850 687 666

francis(@)parsiq.net
Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ("Austral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Austral Gold Argentina SA ("AGASA"), a subsidiary of Austral, has accepted a binding offer letter to enter into a Joint Venture contract ("Agreement") (with Mexplort Perforaciones Mineras S.A. ("Mexplort"), a subsidiary of Corporacion America International ("Corporacion America"). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the parties are to enter into a 50:50 Joint Venture ("JV") to identify and develop new precious metal projects located in the Indio belt in the Province of San Juan, Argentina and Mexplort is to grant AGASA an earn-in option whereby it may acquire a 50% interest in the Jaguelito project held by Mexplort through a concession granted by the Instituto Provincial de Exploraciones y Explotaciones Mineras de la Provincia de San Juan (IPEEM) in October 2011.

Austral Gold's Chief Executive Officer Stabro Kasaneva said: "We are investing in the Jaguelito project as we believe the project has the potential to discover a high sulphidation deposit of the Alturas - Del Carmen or even Veladero type in Argentina. The Jaguelito project appears to have the same affected volcanic units that host a large zone of alteration having the same age based on evidence of mineralization of silver and gold intercepted in previous drilling campaigns. The deal also represents an opportunity for Company's sponsored by two of Argentina's most prominent businessmen (Eduardo Eurnekian and Eduardo Elsztain) to create a new mining vehicle in the country."

Highlights:

a) Jaguelito Earn-in Option ("Option")

Mexplort is to grant AGASA an Option to acquire a 50% interest in the Jaguelito project ("Jaguelito") for the following consideration:

US$2 million in exploration expenditures on Jaguelito within two years from the approval of the Option by IPEEM (the " First Stage "), including drilling a minimum of 5,000 meters.

US$2 million in exploration expenditures on Jaguelito within two years after completing the First Stage (the " Second Stage "), and

US$3 million payment to Mexplort if the Board of the JV Company approves the construction of the project based on a bankable feasibility study ("BFS").

After completion of the First Stage, AGASA will have 30 days to notify Mexplort of its intention to pursue the Second Stage. This will enable AGASA to maintain the exclusive right to explore Jaguelito and AGASA will be obligated to expend an additional US$2 million. If the Second Stage is completed and the Option is exercised, Mexplort shall assign and transfer 100% of the Mining Rights on Jaguelito to the JV Company and AGASA must transfer all mining information obtained on Jaguelito to the JV Company.

If AGASA does not complete the First Stage, it will owe Mexplort any amount due under the US$2 million of exploration expenses committed for the First Stage, which must include drilling of at least 5,000 meters.

If AGASA notifies Mexplort of its intention to pursue the Second Stage but does not complete it, AGASA will owe Mexplort any pending balance from the US$2 million committed for the Second Stage.

During the term of the exploration period, comprised by the First Stage and the Second Stage, an Exploration Committee will be created with two representatives from each company and such committee will be chaired by one of Austral's appointees. The expenditures are subject to a budget prepared by Austral and approved by the exploration committee.

Primary exploration targets on Jaguelito are gold, silver and other precious metals.

b) JV Company:

Both parties agree to create a new Company (the "JV") that will be owned equally within 60 days from signing the offer letter.

The JV will have a Board comprised of six (6) members of which each partner will nominate three (3) members.

The JV will also have initially two further Governance bodies:

an Exploration Committee comprised by four (4) members.

an Audit Committee comprised by three (3) members.

The Chairman position for each Governance body will rotate within certain period to each partner as per a Shareholder Agreement to be subscribed by the parties. During the first year, the Chairman of the Board will be a representative from Austral and the Chair of the Audit Committee will be a representative from Mexplort.

The Exploration Committee will be led by Austral representatives during the first 4-years of the exploration phases on the Jaguelito project.

As part of the Agreement, each company provided customary representations and warranties.

The Agreement also contains customary shareholders provisions.

About Jaguelito:

Jaguelito is an advanced exploration stage project located in the Province of San Juan, Argentina, which is a high-sulphidation deposit that has had 30,000 meters drilled.

About Austral Gold

Austral Gold Limited is a growing gold and silver mining, development and exploration company whose strategy is to expand the life of its cash generating assets in Chile, restart its Casposo mine in Argentina and build a portfolio of quality assets in Chile, the USA and Argentina organically through a Tier 1 or 2 exploration strategy and via acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Austral owns a 100% interest in the Guanaco/Amancaya mine in Chile and the Casposo Mine (currently on care and maintenance) in Argentina, a non-controlling interest in the Rawhide Mine in Nevada, USA and a non-controlling interest in Ensign Gold which holds the Mercur project in Utah, USA. In addition, Austral owns an attractive portfolio of exploration projects in the Paleocene Belt in Chile (including those acquired in the 2021 acquisition of Revelo Resources Corp), a non-controlling interest in Pampa Metals and a 100% interest in the Pinguino project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: AGLD) and the Australian Securities Exchange. (ASX: AGD). For more information, please consult Austral's website at www.australgold.com.

About Mexplort

Mexplort is an Argentine Company with regional presence and experience focused on the development of a sustainable mining projects. Its strength is based on local technical teams with international experience. It is a subsidiary of Corporacion America International; which is a conglomerate with operations in nine countries in numerous business sectors and is controlled by Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian, a prominent businessman from Argentina.

About Corporacion America International

Based in Liechtenstein, it is an international holding with assets in 8 countries and diversified in various industries, from airport operations and construction, to energy, mining, financial services, real estate, technology and agribusiness. This international conglomerate was seeded in Argentina, expanded in Latin America and has branched into Europe and Asia.

Corporacion America was founded and is chaired by Argentine-born Eduardo Eurnekian, a serial entrepreneur before people spoke of entrepreneurship. Mr. Eurnekian has built multiple business over the span of almost half a century, commencing in his family's textile business, and shortly thereafter branched off into his own textile brand. In the early 1980's Mr. Eurnekian moved on to build one of the most important Communications conglomerates in South America which included Argentina's largest cable TV provider, two TV channels, radios and a financial daily. In 1997 he switched to airport operations and today Corporacion America Airports is the largest operator in the world according to the number of airports under its control.

In the 2000's Corporacion America International further expanded and diversified into other industries such as oil and gas production and transport (mainly in the Patagonian Austral Basin), bioenergy, wine and cotton production, chip technology, real estate, construction, financial services and mining.

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.

Release approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva.

For additional information please contact:

Jose Bordogna

Chief Financial Officer

Austral Gold Limited

jose.bordogna@australgold.com

+61 466 892 307 or +54 9115665 8745

Ben Jarvis

Director

Austral Gold Limited

info@australgold.com

+61 413 150 448

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the terms agreed to in the offer letter and that the Jaguelito project has the potential to discover a high sulphidation deposit of the Alturas - Del Carmen or even Veladero type in Argentina.

All of these 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, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets especially in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus" uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on the ASX and on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113531
CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2022 / Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX:MACE) today announced Sanjay Singh as its new Chairman and CEO. Mr. Singh succeeds Gary Medved, the former President and CEO, who has resigned from the company effective February 10, 2022 as part of the board of directors' business and leadership planning process.

Singh, 56, has served as Executive Chairman of the company since April 2020. He joined the board as Vice-Chairman in 2018. "It is a privilege to take on this new role," Singh said.

"A lot of hard work is in front of us as the company plans to further transform the business and unlock the value of MACE. We had lukewarm financial results in the first nine months of 2021 when compared to a very robust 2020. Over the last few quarters, the company has lowered its four wall costs and increased prices to mitigate the impact of lower revenues. We have a resolute team of employees who I am honored to work with every day. My priorities this year are to overhaul our revenue generating processes, solidify our financial position and strengthen our operations and I support the board's decision to reorganize the leadership to streamline decision making. Mace has significant brand presence with a growing base of customers across all its channels backed by a strong line of credit to support the growth. I am excited to accelerate the board's strategy," Singh said.

The company intends on participating in various investor conferences as it did in prior years. A calendar of those events will be available on the company's web site in the coming weeks.

About Mace Security International, Inc.

Mace Security International, Inc. (MACE) is a globally recognized leader in personal safety and security. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has spent more than 40 years designing and manufacturing consumer and tactical products for personal defense and security under its world-renowned Mace Brand - the original trusted brand of defense spray products. The company also offers aerosol defense sprays and tactical products for law enforcement and security professionals worldwide through its Mace Take Down brand, KUROS! Brand personal safety products, Vigilant Brand alarms, and Tornado Brand pepper spray and stun guns. MACE distributes and supports Mace Brand products through mass market retailers, wholesale distributors, independent dealers, Amazon.com, Mace.com, and other channels. For more information, visit www.mace.com.

Mace Security International distributes and supports its products and services through mass-market retailers, wholesale distributors, independent dealers, e-commerce channels and through its website, www.Mace.com. For more information, please visit www.mace.com.

SOURCE: MACE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL INC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/688354/Sanjay-Singh-Named-New-Chairman-and-CEO-at-MaceR-Security-International-a-Global-Leader-in-Personal-Self-Defense-Sprays
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - Silverstock Metals Inc. (CSE: STK) (the "Company" or "Silverstock") provides an update on the recent exploration work carried out on the Gold Cutter Property (the "Property").

Two geologists and a prospector spent five days on the Gold Cutter Property for Silverstock in October 2021, conducting additional sampling and geological reconnaissance. 111 grab samples were collected.

Results from a work program conducted in 2020 had verified the presence of significant precious and base metal values in intrusive-hosted veins around the original discovery zone (Fig. 1). Gold results varied from below detection to a high of 9.81 g/t; nine samples had in excess of 0.5 g/t Au. Silver ranged from below detection up to 101 g/t. Base metal values varied from very low to highs of 0.23% (Cu), 0.29% (Pb) and 0.09% (Zn). Molybdenum had a highest value of 0.22%.

James Walchuck, CEO of Silverstock, commented: "These levels of gold mineralization and polymetallic enrichment are considered encouraging for an early stage project. Once we have analyzed the 2021 results, we will have a better idea of the Property's potential and lay out a path forward for 2022."

The follow-up work completed in 2021 extended a north-northeast trending zone of quartz-ankerite-pyrite alteration in volcanics (now ~55 m long by up to 10 m wide) discovered in 2020, and further assessed soil/lithogeochemical and magnetic/structural targets inferred from 2020 data. Fill-in prospecting and geological mapping in areas not previously assessed were also undertaken.

The Company will continue to review and assess the information it has currently on hand and will have a better idea of the potential of the entire Property once the results from the 2021 program have been analyzed.

About the Property

The Gold Cutter Property consists of two mineral tenures covering a total of 1,821.1 hectares (~18.2 km2), 85 km north of Kamloops in south-central BC.

The Property lies within the Quesnellia terrane, in the southern Intermontane Belt of the Canadian Cordillera. In the Kamloops area, the Quesnellia terrane comprises marine clastic and chemical sediments and mafic volcanic cover rocks of three unconformity-bounded successions: the Devonian to Triassic Harper Ranch Group, the Late Triassic Nicola Group, and the Early Jurassic Rossland Group. These rocks have been cut by a series of Early Jurassic-aged plutons that form a ~375 kilometre-long, arcuate belt, prospective for gold, copper and molybdenum mineralization (Fig. 2).

The Property is underlain by siltstone/sandstone of the Harper Ranch Group and augite-phyric mafic volcanics of the Nicola Group. Dikes and other small intrusions, likely associated with either an elongate syenite-monzonite stock mapped in the southern part of the Property or the Thuya Batholith mapped immediately north of the Property (Fig. 1), have been subsequently emplaced into rocks of both groups.

Two geologists and two prospectors spent one week on the Property for Silverstock in October 2020, conducting geological reconnaissance/sampling and local detailed mapping. 133 grab samples were collected. A 414 line km drone magnetic survey was conducted over the entire Property at 50 m line spacing in September/October 2020. A 154-sample reconnaissance soil survey was conducted later in October 2020. Prospecting and mapping programs outlined polymetalic mineralization associated with and hosted by these irregular intrusions. Mineralization occurs as intrusion-hosted, Au (Ag/Pb/Cu/Mo)-bearing quartz veins up to 1 m wide, typically with pyrite, but locally containing pyrite-arsenopyrite-galena-molybdenite, with lesser chalcopyrite. The veining has been observed in subcrop, angular boulders and rare outcrops of quartz monzonite and is thought to be genetically related to the latter's emplacement.





Figure 1: Gold Results from 2020 Silverstock Grab Samples on the Gold Cutter Property

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8578/113452_silverstock%20fig1.jpg.





Figure 2: Generalized geology of southern Quesnellia. Discrete mineralizing events are directly linked to Mesozoic arc plutons, which form north-trending, temporally distinct belts (1-3). The Gold Cutter property lies in the tract of Early Jurassic plutons (Wildhorse-Takomkane plutonic suite), midway between the Brenda and Woodjam-Southeast deposits (modified after Massey et al., 2005). Orange/black squares are porphyry copper deposits.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8578/113452_silverstock%20fig2.jpg.

Qualified Person

Dr. Tom Setterfield, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release.

About Silverstock Metals Inc.

Silverstock Metals Inc. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct the exploration of its Gold Cutter Property. The Gold Cutter Property is comprised of two contiguous mineral claims totaling approximately 1,821.1 hectares and is located in the Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia.

For more information, please refer to the Company's prospectus dated August 3, 2021, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

James Walchuck

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

For further information, please contact:

James Walchuck

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

(778) 897 3322

invest@silverstockmetals.com

Silverstock Metals Inc.

2710 - 200 Granville Street

Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1S4





Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the commencement of trading of the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange, future capital expenditures, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, resources and/or reserves on the Company's projects and mineral properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration of the Company's properties, that the COVID-19 global pandemic will not affect the ability of the Company to conduct the exploration program on the Gold Cutter Property, the availability of financing on suitable terms, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Company's option to acquire the Gold Cutter Property, the proposed expenditures for exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated August 3, 2021 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113452
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - Apollo Shareholder Relations ("Apollo"), a full-service investor communications agency focused on connecting public companies with modern investors, announces launch of the company and the creation of its new offering of innovative IR programs tailored for the present era.

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We are Apollo.

Apollo was created with the understanding that, while the investing landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, most companies weren't modernizing their communications strategies to reflect this. Apollo has successfully crafted effective strategies to reach, communicate with, and learn from modern investors, as an extension of their public company clients. Offering 3 distinct monthly packages to address individual clients' needs, Apollo works with every budget and use case to ensure clients are only paying for exactly what they need. Apollo specializes in internal communications management, marketing expertise, IR consultation, community moderation, influencer strategy and relations, and press release writing and strategy. By blending old-school analysis with new-school methodology, Apollo is your unfair advantage for modern investor communications.

CEO Kevan Matherson stated: "Today is a really exciting day for our team as we launch our new brand that better reflects our niche in the investor relations business. It is also a reminder of how much this industry has changed in recent years. In 2018, we started pitching public companies on the utilization of social media and online forums to reach investors and build an open conversation to develop trust. Back then, this strategy was not well understood by many public company executives who had a hard time grasping how social media was relevant to the capital markets. In the wake of the Reddit investor boom and meme stock surge of 2020, the impact of retail investors has become undeniable, and we're extremely grateful to be pioneers helping public companies navigate through this new world of investor communications."

Apollo also announces the launch of its new website and invites visitors to explore and learn more about the company. There, you can find relevant information about Apollo's services and offerings. Designed with the user experience in mind, the website will be regularly updated to reflect any relevant changes. To learn more, please visit https://apollorelations.com.

About Apollo Shareholder Relations

Apollo is a full-service investor communications agency with a specific focus on the modern investor. From traditional phone line management to Reddit and everywhere in between, Apollo prides itself on being digitally fluent and community-minded, with an understanding that the communications landscape has dramatically changed in the age of social media and online forums. With expertise in capital markets advisory, branding, and infrastructure support, Apollo is committed to telling your story in a way that resonates with the people you want to reach. To get in touch, please email hello@apollorelations.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113529
With 350% Appreciation in 2021, SPiCE VC Closes Original Fund to Investors and Makes Way for SPiCE II in Q2 2022

SPiCE VC, the leading venture capital (VC) fund in the Blockchain Tokenization ecosystem, which has revolutionized the VC asset class, has been named the leading tokenized VC by Security Token Market, the largest security token financial data and media firm. The firm's report, Security Tokens: Annual Performance Review Outlook, provides statistical, data-driven analysis about the performance and the future of the digital asset market, specifically relating to security tokens.

The report highlighted SPiCE VC's 2021 stellar performance experiencing an unprecedented 350% increase in its security token price making it the top performing fund in this rapidly growing market.

"I am excited about the fund's stellar performance. At the end of the day, our primary objective is to create value and provide opportunities for our investors in the exploding blockchain and tokenization market. Our success is directly aligned with our mission and investment strategy identifying growth companies within this growing ecosystem that are led by founders and teams and have the ability to lead in their domain," said Tal Elyashiv, Founder Managing Partner of SPiCE VC. "With the overwhelming success of SPiCE VC, we are refocusing efforts on SPiCE II with a similar mission to identify and invest in companies that are helping shape the blockchain ecosystem, which is growing faster than any other industry in history."

Driving SPiCE's growth, the fund also experienced three portfolio companies successfully going public in 2021. INX Limited, the blockchain-based platform for trading digital securities and cryptocurrencies became the first company to complete an SEC-registered token IPO and most recently began trading on the Neo Exchange in Canada. Additionally, Lottery.com and Bakkt have both gone public at healthy valuations contributing to the firm's early and ongoing success. As a result, the fund implemented its first investor payout this quarter.

The SPiCE VC management team made strategic investments in more than 16 portfolio companies within the digital finance ecosystem, including Securitize, which recently launch Securitize Markets, as well as Blockdaemon, which just successfully closed a massive Series C funding round at a valuation of $3.25 Billion.

To learn more about SPiCE VC, visit https://spicevc.com/.

ABOUT SPiCE VC:

SPiCE VC is a Venture Capital fund providing investors exposure to the massive growth of the blockchain/tokenization ecosystem. SPiCE invests globally in platforms and ecosystem providers enabling access to capital markets, banking, real estate, and other industries enhanced through Blockchain technologies. The fund focuses on companies who stand to benefit the most from the massive growth of the industry. Combining institutional know-how, hands-on management, entrepreneurial innovation and professional investment experience SPiCE's management team has been involved in hundreds of tech funding rounds totaling billions of dollars; as entrepreneurs, investors, and executives. SPiCE is located in the US, Switzerland, Singapore and Israel. To learn more about SPiCE VC visit www.spicevc.com or email Tal Elyashiv, Founder and Managing Partner, at tal@spicevc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005372/en/

Contacts:

Liz Whelan

liz@lwprconsulting.com

(312) 315-0160
The First Digital Business Store of Credit and Financial Services For a Million Entrepreneurs

ALL DIGITAL, ALL FROM YOUR OWN OFFICE, ALL AT ANY TIME AND ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

TECHNOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS TO GIVE QUICK CREDIT RESPONSE TO ENTREPRENEURS

A SINGLE OPEN PLATFORM TO MANAGE ALL OF A COMPANY'S ACCOUNTS INCLUDING THOSE HELD WITH OTHER BANKS



TRY & BUY FORMULA AND SUBSCRIPTION WITH UNLIMITED OPERATIONS



TARGET BY 2025: DISBURSED CREDIT OF 3.7 BILLION EURO



MILAN, Italy, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- illimity today presents b-ilty, the first digital business store of financial services and credit for small- and medium-sized businesses ("SMEs") - those having a turnover of indicatively 10 to 2 million euro - with high growth potential.

A bank created with the aim of simplifying a businessman's life, thanks to the latest generation platform that combines specialist expertise and cutting-edge technology and provides its customers with the products and services of a complete bank, with the immediacy and ease that only an evolved user experience can ensure.

b-ilty is a digital platform 100% focused on SMEs, created with entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, aiming to simplify the management of daily activities. It gathers all banking operations together in a single ecosystem, integrating tools to support customer growth with solutions that are adapted to the needs of the individual business and the individual sectors of the economy.

It is precisely for this reason that it has been designed on the basis of models typical of the most widespread digital solutions, to bring means of relating and interacting normally used on non-financial platforms to the world of credit and financial services for the first time. The b-ilty business store, which envisages an "all-inclusive" subscription, will be progressively enriched with additional features, products and services, that will be automatically integrated and updated in the platform, available to subscribers.

A BANKING PLATFORM DEDICATED TO SMEs

b-ilty is a banking platform of financial services and credit that has been constructed on the basis of the suggestions received from hundreds of entrepreneurs. It includes all the most widely used banking transactions, credit and debit cards, short-term credit, factoring to fund working capital, medium-term credit to fund investments, insurance cover to protect the entrepreneur and the business and many other products and services provided directly by the illimity Group or by qualified partners. The range of products and services will be constantly updated and gradually extended to take into account the specific needs of the various sectors of the economy.

FAST LENDING DECISIONS

b-ilty provides short and medium to long-term credit. b-ilty is aware that entrepreneurs want an immediate and clear response, whatever it may be. b-ilty is aware that every sector is different from the others. Thanks to a strongly data-driven approach and the business expertise of illimity's Growth Credit division, it proposes a credit offer constructed by assessing the characteristics of the various businesses and the specific sectors in which they operate. Thanks to evolved LendTech systems and experts in the sector to be increasingly added, b-ilty is able to rapidly analyse dozens of indicators that will gradually be adapted to the features of each individual economic sector and shared with customers.

FULLY DIGITAL BUT ALSO PERSONAL

b-ilty is created fully digital, and easy to use to enable the entrepreneur, the CFO and the accountant to manage the business's finances from their own office, without paper or the need to go to a branch without depending on other people's availability. At the same time, it is also made up of people: every b-ilty customer will have a clear Relationship Manager with name and surname, as well as a professional call centre - Smart Care - available 7 days a week.

ALL ACCOUNTS IN ONE PLACE AND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION

Thanks to PSD2 functionalities, b-ilty also allows businesses to make a better use of the other bank accounts: the balances and movements of all the current accounts a company holds with other intermediaries can also be viewed on the b-ilty platform and the company can carry out transactions on all its accounts from this platform.

b-ilty knows how important it is to have detailed and comprehensible information available for managing a company and for this reason it puts the information it has available on the financial performance of each business and the sector to which it belongs at its customer's disposal.

It is then at the discretion of the Head of the company to decide which information should be shared with which internal workers and with which external professionals. The platform undoubtedly simplifies work within the company itself and relations with its own accountant or other external professionals. It is an open platform that adapts to the operating needs of every business.

ALL-INCLUSIVE TRY & BUY SUBSCRIPTION

b-ilty not only allows customers to tailor the use of their bank, but also removes any doubt about the transparency of the applicable conditions.

In this respect the b-ilty platform is available as an "all-inclusive" subscription, meaning without operating limits, at a monthly cost of 40 euro.

The first three months are free of charge, after which the monthly subscription can be interrupted at any time.

Today starts the Beta Phase of b-ilty, in which access to services will be restricted to a limited number of SMEs, that will be gradually increased to ensure that our customers always receive the best possible service.

Corrado Passera, CEO and Founder of illimity, commented:

"From its very beginnings, illimity has been very focused on providing credit to SMEs. In three years, we have created a new paradigm Bank that ended 2021 with assets of almost 5 billion euro, an operating income of 111 million euro, a ROE of 10% and a capital base and credit quality at the very top of the sector. In these three years we have inevitably concentrated on medium-sized businesses, but in these three years we have also invested in order to take our technological platforms, our valuation and credit structuring ability and our knowledge of the sector to all SMEs. b-ilty is precisely that: it brings illimity to a market consisting of at least a million SMEs. We see an enormous potential for growth and improved services in this large world, something fundamental for our country."

Carlo Panella, Head of Direct Banking in illimity, stated:

"b-ilty represents something different in the banking offer dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses. It combines the best of new technologies with a highly tailored proposal based on modern paradigms of use, with relations and support ensured by a team that will be the customer's point of reference. Created by listening to what entrepreneurs in the various sectors had to say, b-ilty's aim is to respond, for the first time, to the growing need for an offer exclusively dedicated to them. b-ilty's digital business store is moreover an example of real open banking based on a model that does not only consist of illimity's products but also those of selected partners, with the aim of constantly including the best available offers. In this respect, in order to create b-ilty we have gone beyond the financial world, taking inspiration from everyday digital platforms that are easy-to-use, transparent in their conditions and always updated in the offer. Our promise is to be complete in an offer that is easy-to-use and fast in the answers, always ensuring the human touch, thanks to a team of enthusiastic professionals."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Investor Relations illimity

Silvia Benzi: +39.349.7846537 - +44.7741.464948 - silvia.benzi@illimity.com

Ufficio Stampa & Comunicazione illimity Isabella Falautano, Francesca d'Amico Sara Balzarotti, Ad Hoc Communication Advisors +39.340.1989762 press@illimity.com (mailto:press@illimity.com)



+39.335.1415584 sara.balzarotti@ahca.it (mailto:sara.balzarotti@ahca.it)





Wire Service Contact:

InvestorWire

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@InvestorWire.com

illimity Bank S.p.A.

illimity is the high-tech banking group founded and headed by Corrado Passera created with the aim of responding to specific market needs by way of an innovative and specialist business model. More specifically, illimity extends financing to high-potential SMEs, purchases distressed corporate loans and manages these through its platform neprix, and provides digital direct banking services through illimitybank.com. illimity SGR, which sets up and manages alternative investment funds, the first of which dedicated to UTP loans, is also a member of the Group. The story of the illimity Group began in January 2018 with the launch of the special purpose acquisition company SPAXS S.p.A., which ended with a record 600 million euro being raised on the market. SPAXS subsequently acquired Banca Interprovinciale S.p.A., with the resulting merger between the two giving rise to "illimity Bank S.p.A." which has been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 5 March 2019 (ticker "ILTY"), first on the MTA exchange and since September 2020 on the STAR Segment (now Euronext STAR Milan). The banking group, headquartered in Milan, can already count on over 700 employees and closed its financial statements as of December 31, 2021 with assets of around 4.7 billion euro.




Premise survey finds support for joining NATO wins by over 2:1 over choice of neutrality - and by almost 7:1 over partnering with Russia

Almost two-thirds of Ukrainians in sample see greater economic benefits in aligning with European Union than Russia; margin favoring EU over Russia is 4:1

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a survey conducted in Ukraine in a single day among 1,032 Ukrainians nationwide, 77% - more than three quarters - of respondents said they favored holding a referendum on whether to join NATO, remain neutral, or align with Russia, with results favoring the referendum across the board by region, gender, and age.

Respondents in the survey were given a definition of NATO as "the American-European joint military defense alliance" before answering the questions. Here are some of the significant findings:

Ukrainian respondents overwhelmingly favored joining NATO vs. neutrality by an almost two-to-one margin (55%-28%). They also indicated they would vote to join NATO vs. partnering with Russia by a 7:1 margin (55%- 8%).

by a 7:1 margin (55%- 8%). Almost 2 out of 3 Ukrainians in the sample (65%) see economic benefits to joining the European Union, more than four times than those who prefer partnering with Russia economically (14%).

Comparing regions is important since historically, western Ukraine has been more nationalistic and anti-Russia vs. eastern Russian, where there are historically cultural and linguistic ties to Russia.

According to the results, a majority of Ukrainian respondents from eastern Ukraine favor a referendum on whether to join NATO, remain neutral, or partner with Russia , by a margin of 64%-36%.

favor a referendum on whether to join NATO, remain neutral, or partner with , by a margin of 64%-36%. Even on the issue of joining NATO vs. partnering with Russia , the normally more pro-Russian eastern region favors joining NATO over Russia by a margin of 31% - 20%. However, the easterners prefer neutrality over joining NATO by a margin of 38% - 31%, which is too small to be statistically significant.

, the normally more pro-Russian eastern region favors joining NATO over by a margin of 31% - 20%. However, the easterners prefer neutrality over joining NATO by a margin of 38% - 31%, which is too small to be statistically significant. In sum, when asked to choose between neutrality or aligning with NATO vs. partnering with Russia , 69% of the normally pro-Russian respondents in the eastern region choose neutrality/NATO vs. 20% that chose partnering with Russia .

, 69% of the normally pro-Russian respondents in the eastern region choose neutrality/NATO vs. 20% that chose partnering with . On the other hand, sentiment among western Ukrainian respondents on the referendum and joining NATO was, as expected, overwhelmingly in favor of both. 92% of westerners favor a referendum vs. 8% opposed, and on whether to join NATO vs. neutrality or partnering with Russia , 81% favor joining NATO, 11% favor neutrality, and only 3% (statistically equivalent to zero) favor partnering with Russia .

There is no doubt that across the board, Ukrainian respondents in this sample see greater economic benefits aligning with the European Union than partnering with Russia and its allies. Almost 2-out-of-3 Ukrainians in the sample (65%) see economic benefits to siding with the European Union, more than four times than those who prefer partnering with Russia economically (14%). Even among eastern region respondents, the margin choosing the EU over partnering with Russia is almost 2-to-1: 44% favor the EU vs. 23% partnering with Russia.

There is also no doubt that there is overwhelming nationwide dissatisfaction with the way things are going in Ukraine for all Ukrainian respondents: 81% say they are dissatisfied, while only 12% say they are satisfied. Respondents in the eastern region of Ukrainian are slightly more dissatisfied (82%) than westerners in the sample (72%), presumably because the Russian occupation and deaths on the Ukraine side of the eastern occupation zone are significant.

Differences between men and women on the basis of age are not significant in any of these questions. It appears that men are slightly more favorable to aligning with NATO vs. women, and younger people (ages 18-29) are slightly more satisfied with the way things are going in Ukraine than older age groups. But the differences are not statistically significant.

Comment on the methodology of the Premise Poll February 9 Ukraine survey:

These results are based on an internet survey of 1,032 Ukrainians conducted on February 9, 2022, via the Premise smartphone application. Respondents were compensated for their participation. Post-stratification weights were applied to accurately reflect the gender, age, and regional distribution of the general population based on 2020 demographic data from World Pop.

[FOOTNOTE: Premise used https://www.worldpop.org/ as it is the leading peer-reviewed source for population distribution data and Ukraine has not had a national census since 2001]

About Premise

Premise is a crowdsourced insights company. Our technology mobilizes communities of global smartphone users to source actionable data in real-time, cost-effectively, and with the visibility you need. In more than 125 countries and 37 languages, we find Data for Every Decision. To learn more, please visit www.premise.com.

Contact: Taylor C. Pearson

tpearson@tridentdmg.com

202-235-3482
Boulder, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - Leading business consultancy firm Strategic Advisor Board (SAB) has recently released two new books that have hit the stellar status of "Amazon Bestseller" in just 12 hours of the launch. Titled "The Power of 10", and "The Power of 10 Reloaded" and co-authored by 10 CEOs, the books aim to provide the ultimate guaranteed guide to scale business to the next level.

The Strategic Advisor Board team of 10 partners with businesses to create a path for growth.

Business guides are released almost every other day, leading to a cut-throat competition in the business guide industry. And, if a new CEO guidebook manages to reach Amazon Bestseller amid such fierce competition and that too in less than a day of its release, the books certainly show huge promise.

In an exclusive interview, Jason Miller, the founder and CEO of the Strategic Advisor Board and one of the authors of "The Power of 10", shared that their latest books offer wisdom and knowledge of as many as 10 CEOs, as well as fool-proof and proven strategies to spearhead a business to greater heights.

"Together we have brought together our individual chapters packed with wisdom, knowledge, years of experience and proven strategies to create two books of fool-proof methods that would unexpectedly move the needle forward in your business. We are glad that people are liking it, so much so that our new books are Amazon Bestseller now in just a few hours of the launch. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our readers for showering the books with so much love and lovely kind words," stated Jason Miller, while talking about the book.

Joseph Trujillo stated, "Running a business can be an overwhelming job. Having Veteran CEOs on the team, we hold first-hand experience of the typical problems faced by a business owner and over the years we have developed certain strategies to address these problems. We want to help our fellow CEOs out there, especially the new ones. It's such ethos that got us together to bring you the guaranteed blueprint of the proven strategies that will help you to improve your revenue and elevate your business to greater heights."

Authored by 10 CEOs, "The Power of 10" books are comprised of some of these topics -

Leadership

SAB CEO Jason Miller has shared the nuts and bolts of developing the most impactful leadership skills, backed by efficient systems and execution standards for proliferating growth of a business.

Traffic

The SAB SVP Shelby Jo Long has shared how to understand target niche, create client traffic, and develop lasting relations with clients through a unique communication strategy.

Creativity and Innovation

Business expansion specialist Michael Sipe has revealed his signature 3-part process for creating an engaged, profitable, and enthusiastic workforce through creative and innovative solutions.

Connection

Written by leading CEO Kara James, this chapter shows the proven strategies to develop an effective onboarding process and create a respectful and inclusive environment that would eventually reduce turnover rate.

Adaptation

Penned by veteran CEO Michael Jackson, this chapter shares his 30+ years of experience on how to develop resilience to constantly changing economic forces through efficient adaptation strategies.

Communication

Major corporate leader Joel Phillips has discussed how to elevate digital presence and customer messaging to create consistent and credible customer engagement that will eventually lead to rising sales figures.

Fulfillment

Written by Joe Trujillo, this chapter shares proven insights and pearls of wisdom on developing a unique effective fulfillment strategy to address the commitment of fulfillment which eventually would help to retain clients and pave the way for new growth.

Relationships

Leading CEO Mike Owens has provided the most comprehensive guide on growing relationships with customers and turning them into referral agents that will help to take a business to even greater heights.

Culture

Company culture specialist Will Black has laid down the strategies to create and maintain an inclusive and empathetic work culture that evokes inspiration and loyalty, resulting in enhanced growth and revenue in near future.

Mindset

Top CEO and USA Today Bestselling author Chris O'Byrne has shared how to attain mindfulness to develop a growth mindset.

The Power of 10 Reloaded

The Power of 10 Reloaded covers micro strategies that can be implemented into businesses immediately.

"The Power of 10" books are available in both eBook and Hardcover versions.

Reader testimonials:

"As an entrepreneur and private equity manager and investor, I value ethics, integrity, and grit when evaluating potential deals. You find these qualities in the Strategic Advisor Board team. Together, their service for small business owners to scale quickly is outstanding and it's because of their experience and the qualities I admire that sets them apart from others. I highly recommend them if you are a business owner or CEO." - Bill Militello

"This book will give you a nice read into the strengths of each CEO and how this team can help any sized business reach their potential. Very insightful, with a preeminent delivery of each individual."

For more information, please visit https://www.strategicadvisorboard.com/power-of-10-order

Contact Details:

Company Name: Strategic Advisor Board

Contact Person: Jason Miller - Founder/CEO

Email: jason@strategicadvisorboard.com

Website: https://www.strategicadvisorboard.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113539
Mayor Adams had a clear message Thursday for municipal workers hoping for a reprieve from the citys vaccination mandate: get vaxxed or get lost.

With Fridays deadline to get vaccinated looming for approximately 4,000 city workers, Adams was asked Thursday if he might reconsider the mandate.

Advertisement

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

His answer in short: Nope.

Were not firing them. People are quitting, he said. The responsibility is clear. We said it: if youre hired, if you get this job, you have to be vaccinated. If you are not following the rules, you are making that decision.

Advertisement

Adams comments come a day before the deadline for thousands of city workers to provide proof that they have been inoculated for COVID.

But not all city workers are up against the same deadline.

A group of New York City workers marched from Metro Tech in Downtown Brooklyn to City Hall in lower Manhattan, New York to protest ahead of their possible termination this Friday due to their vaccination status. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

There are two categories of employees wholl potentially be impacted by Fridays deadline: workers on unpaid leave who opted against receiving city-provided health benefits since the citys vaccine mandate took effect on Nov. 1 and workers hired after Aug. 2 who havent presented proof of a second vaccination shot.

Many of the employees who fall into those categories are cops, firefighters and correction officers.

I want them to stay. I want them to be employees of the city, but they have to follow the rules that were put in place before my administration, he said of the mandate enacted by his predecessor, Mayor Bill de Blasio. I would do a disservice to those who follow the rules if we dont have a clear direction.

Adams contended that changing course now would set a bad precedent  that when the next COVID variant hits, doing so would only cause more confusion moving forward.

We have to be very clear. People must be vaccinated if they are New York City employees, he said. Everyone understood that, and we have to follow that.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2022 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT)(OTC PINK:CNYCF)(FSE 2CC2) is pleased to announce the completion of an Airborne Magnetic Survey at the Robinson Creek Gold project, located approximately 15 km west of Creighton, Saskatchewan, in the historic Flin Flon mining camp.

Airborne Magnetic Survey completed

Magnetic Survey and Historical Drill Holes outline Gold Zones along Mosher Lake Shear Zone

The Robinson Creek Gold Project consists of 7 claim blocks covering 2.93 square km located approximately 15 km northwest of Searchlight's Bootleg Lake claims. The project was optioned in July 2021, and in September 2021 Searchlight completed an Airborne Magnetic Survey covering the entire claim block at 50 m line spacing. The survey results highlight the area of historical drilling along the Mosher Lake Shear Zone (Map 1).

"At Searchlight, we are encouraged that the airborne survey shows good correlation with gold mineralization from past drilling, and also suggests further potential along strike and at depth", said Stephen Wallace, Searchlight's CEO.

Concurrent with this airborne survey, an initial site visit was made in September 2021, confirming the presence of gold mineralization with multiple grab samples assaying over 10 g/t gold, including samples of 19.31 g/t Au and 17.17 g/t Au. See October 7, 2021 press release https://searchlightresources.com/news/2021/searchlight-resources-samples-up-to-19.31-gram-tonne-gold-at-robinson-creek-gold-target-in-saskatchewan/ .

The Robinson Creek target comprises three gold zones - the Vein, Bleiler, and Quartz Zones - over a strike length of approximately 1 km along the Mosher Lake Shear Zone. The Robinson Creek target is a structurally controlled mesothermal lode gold system, with considerable historical exploration which includes geologic mapping, trenching, soil surveys, airborne and ground geophysical surveys, and 70 diamond drill holes.

The Company continues the digitizing and interpretation of the historic drilling. Planning is underway for a summer field program of trenching, sampling, and mapping to determine the full extent of surface mineralization.
The "Global Microwave Oven Market (2021-2026) by Product Type, Application, Structure, Size, Distribution Channel, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Microwave Oven Market is estimated to be USD 8.10 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 11.09 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%.

Key factors such as the rising trend of ready-to-eat food, higher disposable income, and growing working-class segment are driving the market's growth. The increasing propensity of home and restaurants consumer to spend on appliances that assist them in kitchen chores has generated a growing demand for microwave ovens.

However, factors such as the high cost of premium products and the inherent inefficiency of electric power are likely to restrain the market growth. Moreover, preference towards traditional cooking due to severe consequences for health is a major challenge for the market.

The Global Microwave Oven Market is segmented based on Product Type, Application, Structure, Size, Distribution Channel, and Geography.

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 MEA)

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 a 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 Microwave Oven 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 IGR Positioning Quadrants, Infogence's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Trend of Ready To Eat Food and Frozen Food

Higher Disposable Income and Increasing Diverse Eating Preferences Lifestyles

Raising Awareness about Energy Conservation

Assist Restaurant in Kitchen Chores

Restraints

Issues with Warranty and Maintenance

Inherent Inefficiency Of Electric Power

Opportunities

Development of Energy-Efficient Microwave Ovens

Growing Demand for Smart Appliances and Integration of IoT

Challenges

Severe consequences for health

Companies Mentioned

Bajaj

Brandt

Breville

Godrej

Guangdong Galanz

Hoover

IFB Appliances

ITW Food Equipment

June Life

Kenstar

LG Electronics

Midea

Miele

Morphy Richards

Moulinex

Robert Bosch

Samsung

Sharp

Whirlpool

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lhgtap

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005440/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
Experience every loving emotion in portrait with state-of-the-art features on the Reno6 Pro 5G

Celebrate love and create lasting memories with user-friendly video and photo functions

Charge less and capture more with OPPO's SuperVOOC Flash Charge, giving a full charge in just 30 minutes.

DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capture content that even Cupid would be jealous of this Valentine's Day with the Reno6 Pro 5G, the only smartphone needed to celebrate memories made with family and friends.

Equipped with a mighty 50 MP AI quad camera and a host of innovative features, amateur photographers can capture professional-like images with ease.

Packed into the eye-catching design are cutting-edge photo and video features including the industry's first Bokeh Flare Portrait Video and upgraded AI Highlight Video enable users to create memorable videography content, with a cinematic effect that will capture lasting memories Available on both the front and rear cameras, the DSR-like Bokeh effects can be applied to videos with just one click.

The Reno6 Pro 5G's ultra-powerful imaging sensor behind the main camera, Sony IMX766, heightens a picture's dynamic range especially in low-light conditions, creating professional-level nighttime shots of candle lit dinners in perfect clarity.

In addition, the phone's advanced auto focusing capabilities ensure that the main subject in video always remains in focus, perfect when celebrating Valentine's with friends. The Reno6 Pro 5G also provides creative post-production tools such as AI Palette for easy editing and fine-tuning.

Users need not worry about running out of battery and missing the new year's countdown with OPPO's reliable and incredibly fast SuperVOOC Flash Charge, giving a full charge in just 30 minutes. Heading from celebration to celebration? The sleek design ensures the smartphone is lightweight and dynamic at just 7.99mm thick and weighing only 188grams, the perfect size for a purse or pocket.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global technology brand since 2004, dedicated to providing products that seamlessly combines art and innovative technology.

OPPO is on a mission to building a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity. The smartphone devices have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of smart and frontier technologies in hardware, software and system. In 2019, OPPO launched a $7 BillionUS Dollar three-year investment plan in R&D to develop core technologies furthering design through technology.

OPPO is firmly pursuing the creation of the best technology products and technological artistry for global users. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology.

For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing smartphones with camera capabilities that are second to none. OPPO launched the first mobile phone, the Smile Phone, in 2008, which marked the launch of the brand's epic journey in exploring and pioneering extraordinary technology. Over the years, OPPO has built a tradition of being number one, which became a reality through inventing the world's first rotating camera smartphone way back in 2013, launching the world's then thinnest smartphone in 2014, being the first to introduce 5X Zoom 'Periscope' camera technology and developing the first 5G commercial smartphone in Europe.

Today, OPPO was ranked as the number four smartphone brand globally. OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology of global consumers through the ColorOS system Experience, and Internet service like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+.

OPPO's business covers 40 countries with over six research institutes and five R&D centers across the world, from San Francisco to Shenzhen. OPPO also opened an International Design Centre headquartered in London, driving cutting edge technology that will shape the future not only for smartphones but for intelligent connectivity.

About OPPO MEA

OPPO started its journey in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in 2015 after setting up its regional office in Egypt. Following the immense success of the brand's sales centre in Cairo in the first year, OPPO accelerated its expansion plan across the MEA region and inaugurated its country operations in the UAE in 2019. Now OPPO is physically present in more than 13 markets across the region, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Levant.

To empower its presence in the region in line with its product localisation strategy, OPPO further invested in MENA and set up its very own factory in Algeria in 2017, thus, becoming the first Chinese brand to build a manufacturing premises in North Africa. Based on insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO has evolved the progress of product localisation, taking into consideration several perspectives towards each market, including product localisation, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localisation, to better communicate with local young customers; and talent localisation, to understand local consumers further and provide an optimum customer service.

Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X Series and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region.

A forward-thinking international technology company, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company that contributes to a better world and have enacted positive change in every way possible through activating local community initiatives and humanitarian, charity campaigns.

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Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2022) - As students across Canada return to in-person schooling during another school year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, February 7 - 11, marks the 8th annual Canadian School Counselling Week in which we recognize the school counselling profession in provinces and territories.

The goal of Canadian School Counselling Week is to increase the public's awareness of the programs and services that characterize the school counselling profession in Canada. This year's theme, Who We Are and How We Help, highlights the essential role of the school counsellor.

The school counselling profession continues to be a vital component for student success during a global pandemic. According to a survey conducted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (2020), the biggest challenges that youth are facing during the pandemic are feeling isolated and lonely (48%); closures of in-person schools and moving to remote learning (33%); limited access to mental health and other health-related supports (9%); fears of acquiring COVID-19 for oneself or loved ones (2%); lack of employment opportunities (1%); and other challenges (6%). Whether school counsellors are supporting students on-site in schools or remotely through tele-counselling, they continue to be instrumental in supporting student well-being and achievement.

"The scope of practice has always been extensive for school counsellors in Canada through a Comprehensive School Counselling Program and Practice," said Dr. Janice Graham-Migel, President of the CCPA School Counsellors Chapter. "School counsellors provide support for the personal, social, educational, and career development of students through programming and counselling services and are instrumental in supporting the well-being and achievement of students at all grade levels."

School counsellors are members of the school leadership team who support the academic, social, and emotional growth of students; intervene when additional supports are required for students' mental health and well-being; and advocate for students to help them reach their goals in a safe and inclusive school environment.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, school counsellors have provided students with the support, consistency and predictability that are essential to help them navigate these times of stress and uncertainty," said CCPA President Dr. Kathy Offet-Gartner. "We want to highlight the role that this profession plays in overall student success."

Canadian School Counselling Week is a collaborative initiative by CCPA, School Counsellors Chapter, regional school counselling associations, and Ministries/Departments of Education in each province and territory. To join the conversation on Twitter, follow @CCPA_ACCP and use schoolcounsellorshelp.

For more information including a key messages resource and shareable content, please visit the CCPA School Counsellors Chapter website at: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/school-counsellors-chapter/.

-30-

The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) is a national bilingual association providing professional counsellors and psychotherapists with access to exclusive educational programs, certification, professional development and direct contact with professional peers and specialty groups. CCPA promotes the profession and its contribution to the mental health and well-being of all Canadians.

For further information, please contact: Ben Howe | ben@impactcanada.com | (613) 697-2105

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113569


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The government announced a $5 billion package to push the EV industry. The allocated money will be spent over five years in building infrastructure and making EVs, according to reports. The plan is a part of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress in November 2021.



The Biden administration had shown interest in the EV industry as it summoned some of the major automakers to a meeting last year. Now, the government is putting the plan into motion. The federal government will spend $615 million to build a charging station every 50 miles on the interstate highway and has asked state governments to submit the plans by fall.



The money will be divided between the states according to the plans submitted and the infrastructure will have to meet the Department of Transportation requirements. The charging stations will have to be equipped with four charging docks where vehicles will be charged within an hour. According to reports, it will take significant private investments, despite the federal plan, to reach the 500,000 charging station milestone by 2030, as the President had promised.



Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, said, 'A century ago, America ushered in the modern automotive era; now America must lead the electric vehicle revolution.' In his presentation, Buttigieg also persuaded the rural combustion engine drivers to make the jump to EVs.



'Many might think of them as a luxury item. The reality is nobody benefits more from EVs in principle than those who drive the longest distances, often our rural Americans,' added the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The administration's goal is to bring the vehicles sales to 50% electric by 2030, from its current rate of 3%, and become a zero emission economy by 2050.



The plan will fund $2.5 billion later this year to fill the gaps in the rural areas. The states governments failing to follow the guideline will risk missing out on the fund. As of now, Kentucky is going to receive $10 million, Michigan $16 million, Hawaii $2.6 million, Iowa $51 million, Colorado $57 million and California $384 million for the project.



'It's going to help ensure that America leads the world on electric vehicles. China has been leading the race up to now, but this is about to change,' Biden said this week talking about the current EV trend in the automobile industry.



'Because America is building convenient, reliable, equitable national public charging networks. So wherever you live, charging an electric vehicle will be quick and easy,' added the President.







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ThinkMarkets, official global trading partner of Liverpool FC.

ThinkMarkets, a London, UK- and Melbourne, Australia-based multi asset online trading firm, closed a US$30m funding package.

The US$30m funding package was provided by Mars Growth, a Liquidity Group and MUFG joint venture fund.

The company intends to use the funds for growth across existing and new business initiatives in 2022.

Led by Mr. Nauman Anees, Co-Founder and CEO, ThinkMarkets is an innovative multi asset online trading firm allowing access to everything from Equities , Crypto , FX and more. The company maintains competitive trading conditions including tight spreads, low to zero commissions and a range of account types tailored to the needs of specific clients. With headquarters in London and Melbourne, and hubs in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Japan, ThinkMarkets provides global market access to individual and institutional investors all over the world.

FinSMEs

11/02/2022
Tampa, FL (33646)

Today

Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 89F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies late. Thunder possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden signed an order Friday to free $7 billion in Afghan assets now frozen in the U.S., splitting the money between humanitarian aid for poverty-stricken Afghanistan and a fund for Sept. 11 victims still seeking relief for the terror attacks that killed thousands and shocked the world.

No money would immediately be released. But Bidens order calls for banks to provide $3.5 billion of the frozen amount to a trust fund for distribution through humanitarian groups for Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would stay in the U.S. to finance payments from lawsuits by U.S. victims of terrorism that are still working their way through the courts.

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International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the countrys assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in August as the U.S. military withdrew.

President Joe Biden (Alex Brandon/AP)

The White House said in a statement that the order is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Taliban and malicious actors.

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Bidens plan aims to resolve a complex situation in which the U.S. is sitting on billions owned by a country where there is no government it recognizes, with competing appeals for the money for the crying needs of the Afghan people and families still scarred by the 2001 attacks.

FILE - Firefighters make their way through the rubble after two airliners crashed into the World Trade Center in New York bringing down the landmark buildings, Sept. 11, 2001. President Joe Biden signed an executive order, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, to create a pathway to split $7 billion in Afghan assets frozen in the U.S. to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and to create a trust fund to compensate Sept. 11 victims. (SHAWN BALDWIN/AP)

Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, died in the attack on the World Trade Center, said that though victims families support the distribution of a large portion of the funds to the Afghan people, the remaining funds should be distributed fairly among the families.

Anything short of equitable treatment for and among the 9/11 families as it relates to these frozen assets is outrageous and will be seen as a betrayal by the government, Eagleson said in a statement.

FILE - The south side of the Pentagon burns after a plane crash in Washington, Sept. 11, 2001. (TOM HORAN/AP)

The Justice Department had signaled months ago that the administration was poised to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims and families in New York City. The deadline for that filing had been pushed back until Friday.

The families, in that case, won a U.S. court judgment in 2012 against the Taliban and some other entities. But other victims relatives also have ongoing lawsuits over the attacks, and a New York-based lawyer for about 500 families urged Friday that all be on equal footing for the fund.

Its going to take a lot of funds to provide monetary compensation, but well never make these people whole. Never, said attorney Jerry S. Goldman.

FILE  Investigators and police probe the site where a jet crashed, Sept. 11, 2001, near Shanksville, Pa. (JOSHUA GUNTER/AP)

Afghanistans long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of the previous governments budget came from the international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

Aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. State employees, from doctors to teachers and administrative civil servants, havent been paid in months. Banks have restricted how much money account holders can withdraw.

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A boy selling bread watches Muslims attending Friday Prayer in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Hussein Malla/AP)

U.S. courts where 9/11 victims have filed claims against the Taliban will have to take additional action for victims and families to be compensated from the $3.5 billion, deciding if they have a claim, according to senior administration officials who brief reporters.

The Biden administration is still working through details of setting up the trust fund, an effort the White House says will likely take months.

Because victims have ongoing legal claims on the $7 billion in the U.S. banking system, the courts would have to sign off before half the money for humanitarian assistance could be released to Afghanistan, the officials said.

A Taliban fighter gives his meal to boys outside the Interior Ministry, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (Hussein Malla/AP)

The Biden administration pushed back against criticism that all $7 billion  largely derived from donations by the U.S. and other nations to Afghanistan  should be released to Afghanistan, arguing that the 9/11 claimants under the U.S. legal system have a right to their day in court.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.
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Bail was medieval. Going back wont fix crime.

Manhattan: Please dont abandon bail reform. Our criminal justice system is bloated, ineffective and, most importantly, cruel and unjust. We are overdue for this opportunity, this racial reckoning, and need to do the challenging work for justice. Beware the whiplash of the pendulum swinging back to the past.

The time is always right to do what is right, said Martin Luther King Jr. Let us value human lives and dignity and always remember Kalief Browder. Bail reform is necessary and just. Rikers Island is a hellhole. Kalief was 16 when he was arrested, accused by a man with inconsistent stories about the theft of a backpack. Kalief spent three years on Rikers without being convicted of the crime of stealing a backpack. A backpack!

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Remember Kalief. (ABC News / Handout)

He remained there because his family could not afford to pay his $3,000 bail. It costs, according to different sources, $450,000-$550,000 to keep one person on Rikers for a year. The city spent about $1.5 million to imprison Kalief, who was repeatedly beaten and starved by officers, beaten by inmates and never found guilty  never even brought to trial. He spent most of his time in solitary confinement. He repeatedly tried to kill himself. He was broken. After his release, Kalief struggled and eventually agreed to reveal his experience in order to save others from this cruel and unjust imprisonment. Jennifer Gonnerman, a journalist, obtained shocking video of his assaults by guards and inmates.

On June 6, 2015, Kalief died by suicide. He was 22. Remember Kalief. Remember all the others. Mary Garvey

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Safety concerns

Brooklyn: Every day in the news, whether on TV or in print, I hear about another shooter. I have a simple question: How are us Joe Schmoes supposed to protect ourselves from all this crime? Felix Baez

Big city troubles

Yonkers: I was born and raised in NYC (Bronx). To see where it is now is heartbreaking  an overcrowded city drenched in crime. Every day, there is gun violence. Our Manhattan district attorney feels that being lax on criminals would solve something. I wish someone would explain what problem is being solved by that. Its sad to see the Big Apple with so many worms in at. Arlana Solomon Walker

Special treatment

Manhattan: A few weeks ago, a Good Samaritan was hit by a subway train and killed while trying to rescue another person who had fallen onto the tracks. Yet, there was no funeral at St. Patricks Cathedral, no massive outpouring of grief and tribute and no shutdown of streets. Why do we get all of this only when its a cop who is killed? Even firefighters who die while saving others do not get this treatment. And why should I fear receiving death threats if I make these comments on social media? James Baldwin

Provide an alternative

Brooklyn: I just heard the MTA now has plans to increase ridership on the subways. I dont know how they are going to put this plan into motion. The only increase in ridership on subway trains these days is of the homeless. On an average week, I have witnessed between six and eight homeless people sitting on or sleeping across the seats. This is the F train at 6:17 a.m. I dont know how bad it is on other subway lines. I find it quite disturbing that hard-working people are forced to stand in packed cars because the homeless have taken over another entire car. It is unsanitary, dangerous, unacceptable and unfair. If the MTA really wants ridership to increase, maybe they should consider a plan to help the homeless find other places to sit or sleep. Thank goodness spring will be coming in a few months! Carol A. Cannizzo

Time to transition

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Valley Stream, L.I.: Re Too damn high! (Feb. 9): Burning fossil fuels isnt just bad for the planets health; it does a number on our wallets. We need to get our electric grid powered by renewables, including steady offshore winds here and the consistent wind and solar power available from upstate, to cut our costs and our emissions. As the grid greens, we should be investing in renewable heating and cooling systems. Private homeowners can install them on their own, thus cutting energy costs and slashing indoor air pollution. Multiple-family dwellings are ripe for retrofits. We need Gov. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to support the All-Electric Buildings Act, which will disallow gas hookups in new construction by 2024, and the $1 billion Green Affordable Buildings Budget, which will bring the advantages of these electric systems to disadvantaged communities. A.J. Pearl

Feel-good stories

Bronx: Mutts is more than a comic strip. It makes you laugh and smile. It truly warms your heart and brightens your day. I love Mutts! Marsha Kolin

What problems?

Brooklyn: Concerning the recent guest op-ed We got him (again, and again, and again) (Feb. 8) by Andrew Bacevich of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft: Its very nice that the Quincy Institute promotes ideas to move U.S. foreign policy away from war and towards diplomacy. Whats missing in this essay is how to do that. Bacevich states: The solution to our predicament in the Islamic world... should begin with reassessing problematic U.S. relationships with the likes of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. How are they problematic and what would he specifically recommend doing about these problems with our allies? It would be even more worthwhile to hear his specific policy actions that would correct problematic relations with our enemies. Steve Herskovits

Personal fire safety

Hartsdale, N.Y.: Get a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher. Most likely, you can get a free smoke detector at your local fire station. If you can afford a cell phone, you can afford these two important items that can save your familys lives. And dont assume a door will automatically close behind you. Do you do that each time you leave your home or do you make sure the door is closed? If the fire is in your apartment, close the door behind you. Dont assume it will close. Take responsibility and save lives. Lydia Ruth

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Less safe

Manhattan: Clearly, Gov. Hochul made the decision to lift the mask mandate for all indoor businesses as a political move to garner votes. Well, this voter wont be voting for her because of that decision and this shopper wont be patronizing any business that doesnt have the good sense to enforce a mask mandate at this time. We are barely beyond the omicron surge and all of a sudden, its all masks off? I guess only intelligent people understand that fully vaccinated and boosted individuals can still walk around with asymptomatic disease and spread it. I guess human beings arent mature enough, or strong or patient enough, to get us out of this roller coaster of a pandemic once and for all. Its very sad. Cindy Roberts

Element of truth

White Rock, British Columbia: Re Anti-vax havoc at the U.S.-Canada border (Feb. 9): I, one who has taken three COVID vaccine injections, essentially believe the mainstream science behind the vaccines safety and reliability. Still, in general, Im cautious of blindly buying into (what I call) speculative science. Also, I feel the term science gets used a bit too readily/frequently, especially by the government. Due to increasingly common privatized research for corporate profit aims, even scientific fact can be for sale. Research results, however flawed, can and are known to be publicly amplified if they favor the corporate product, and accurate research results can be suppressed or ignored if they are unfavorable to business interests, even when involving human health. Frank Sterle Jr.

Anti-Amazon woman

Bandon, Ore.: Doesnt anybody think its very strange how silent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is concerning the construction and opening of a movie studio in Queens? As I seem to recall, she was very vocal about prohibiting Amazon from coming into the area! Could have been a lot more jobs with Amazon. Just asking! William DAndrea
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.
Fort Wayne, IN (46808)

Today

Rain and thunderstorms. High 67F. SE winds shifting to SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Hell need 360-degree vision to keep up with his family now.

Anderson Cooper announced the birth of his second son live Thursday night on CNNs Anderson Cooper 360.

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I wanted to start out with some good news, which also happens to be very personal news, Cooper opened, sharing photos of his first son, Wyatt. If he looks particularly happy in this picture, its because he now has a baby brother. His name is Sebastian, and I would like you to meet him.

CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper attends the 15th annual CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in New York. (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

With photos of Sebastian on screen, Cooper, 54, announced that the newborns full name is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. Sebastian is 22 months younger than his brother, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, who was born in April 2020.

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(Sebastian) was 6.8 pounds at birth and he was healthy and happy, and even his occasional hiccups are, to me, adorable, Cooper said. He mostly just sleeps and eats and certainly poops, but he already seems like a wise and thoughtful little chap.

Cooper also thanked Sebastians surrogate mother during his opening segment.

The CNN anchor co-parents Wyatt, and now Sebastian too, with friend and former partner Benjamin Maisani. Cooper said the two are working on formalizing the arrangement and changing Wyatts last name to Maisani-Cooper.

Cooper frequently shares posts of himself and Wyatt on social media.

Nothing is better than this, he captioned a recent post of himself hugging his older son.
Lebanon could see its top cop behind the wheel of a patrol car instead of at the police chiefs desk after three officers recently resigned from the department and as many as seven others are considering resigning.

That was Lebanon Councilor Kim Ullfers warning to the City Council Wednesday night, Feb. 9, as departments in the mid-Willamette Valley struggle to keep and hire police officers.

The resignations took Ullfers by surprise. The situation is such, he said, that officers could burn out or endanger themselves responding to calls with little backup. Officers are facing having to work mandatory overtime to fill shifts.

The department's rosters leave little room for resignations.

With a department of our size, thats an unacceptable amount of folks, Ullfers said of the three recent departures.

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With warmer spring and summer months ahead  and with them an annual uptick in police calls  the department will need additional officers on the streets, Ullfers said.

According to his council biography, Ullfers was a sheriffs deputy. He was appointed in October to represent Ward 2 to fill Rebecca Grizzle's following her resignation.

The staffing crunch

The city frequently has two officers patrolling its streets, Lebanon police Chief Frank Stevenson said.

Ullfers said Stevenson may have to join them: Not only are his lieutenants going to be going out on patrol, but Franks going to reinvent himself as a patrol officer."

Crimes have become more violent in Lebanon with fewer officers to respond, Stevenson told the council.

Weve had homicides; weve had serious assaults, he said. Its getting dangerous.

One option Stevenson said he will consider is to shutter the jail. Typically, Lebanon police books people arrested on charges of misdemeanor crimes, such as burglary, at the city jail and keeps three beds open for those who violate their terms of parole and probation.

With no place to put those who he called low-level offenders, officers would cite and release some people they otherwise may arrest and book, he said.

Hiring hasn't been easy

The department is failing to attract new hires, Stevenson said, and losing existing officers to departments that can pay more and offer signing bonuses. Lebanon lost two officers to Oregon State Police. The third will become a firefighter, he said.

Finding good folks is tough, he said.

Officer pay starts at $56,880 in Lebanon. City Manager Nancy Brewer said that compares with similarly-sized cities. The city employs 14 patrol officers.

Ullfers said the citys gene pool of potential hires is dwindling as fewer enter police work and those who already are certified and trained at other departments are moving to Salem or Eugene. Replacing officers hasn't been easy.

How many did you interview? Ullfers asked.

Seven, Stevenson said.

How many would you hire?

None.

The council mulled financial strings it could pull. Mayor Paul Aziz suggested the city consider offer hiring bonuses. Ward 3 Councilor Michelle Steinhebel proposed additional payments for officers who have been with the department more than several years, taking a cue from schools that have offered retention bonuses.

Councilor Jason Bolen, who represents Ward 3 and is a fire marshal and division chief at Lebanon Fire District, said the police shortage is not something the city can throw bodies at because there are no bodies to be found.

He said the problem for fire agencies and police elsewhere is one of quality of life.

The cops of Frank's generation, the firemen of my generation who would fight, kick and scream over each other to get an overtime shift are gone, Bolen said. Unless theyre being mandatory, they don't take them  they have plans, they have families. They have things to do.

Brewer said after the meeting that the city is otherwise staffed. Many in the citys workforce are from the community and dont tend to move elsewhere for pay, she said.

Whether the department increases pay, adjusts hours worked or makes other quality of life changes would need to be addressed through labor negotiations between that department and local officers union, Lebanon Police Association, Brewer added.

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A bill establishing job protections for school superintendents who comply with state or federal law  and who may be facing pressure from their school boards to do otherwise  was approved Oregon State Senate on Thursday, Feb. 10.

Democrats advanced Senate Bill 1521 on a 16-7 vote, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration on Friday, Feb. 10. It was a near-party-line vote, although State Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, joined the Republican opposition to the measure.

Under it, a school board may not direct a superintendent to take actions that conflict with state or federal law. The bill also limits the instances in which a school board may terminate a superintendents employment without cause.

State Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education, carried SB 1521. In a news release, he said staff stability is key to supporting students.

We need to make sure that school district superintendents are protected from extreme board decisions, Dembrow said in the news release. Our school superintendents have a difficult job and should be able to focus on keeping our kids safe in schools and improving the quality of public education in their communities.

Reached by phone, State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, said the Legislature has a responsibility to protect kids from political backlash at the school board level, adding that superintendents deserve basic employment protections, just like teachers and many other education professionals.

Gelser Blouin noted Oregon is an at-will employment state, meaning employees can be fired without cause. She mentioned the terminations of superintendents in Newberg and Adrian as influences behind the bill.

It becomes very difficult, with as politicized as school administration has become, to recruit and retain people if their license is going to be at risk, she said.

The argument against the measure is that it goes against the authority of school boards, Gelser Blouin said, despite the fact that it was supported by the Oregon School Boards Association and the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators. She acknowledged the value of local control  up until the point of violating the law.

The GOP sees it differently. In an email, Senate GOP Communications Director Dru Draper said SB 1521 flips democracy on its head by insulating an unelected superintendent from the will of school boards and the voters who elect them.

Parents and local voters should be in charge of who runs their schools, Draper wrote. SB 1521 takes away part of that control.

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_.

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As it gears up to restart payments, Oregons housing agency reports that slightly more than 39,000 households have benefited from $278.3 million in federal emergency rental assistance, close to Oregons total allocation of $289 million.

The Oregon Housing and Community Services Department is now looking at 4,782 applications submitted before a pause Dec. 1 (4,276 of them will require more information from tenants or landlords before processing can proceed) and then look at 6,941 applications submitted since the pause ended Jan. 26.

The agency issued an update Wednesday, Feb. 9.

The agency says it and partner organizations, chiefly community action agencies or counties themselves, will continue to accept applications  but time is short. The likely deadline is early March.

The Oregon Legislature added $100 million to emergency rental assistance from the tax-supported general fund during a Dec. 13 special session, on top of $200 million in December 2020 that was spent by mid-2021. Gov. Kate Brown has requested $198 million more from the U.S. Treasury, which has not yet reallocated federal money that went unspent in other states and communities. Oregon did get an additional $1.1 million in January.

According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Oregon ranks fifth best in terms of rental assistance payouts, topped in ascending order only by North Carolina, New York, Texas and Connecticut.

Tenants can apply only once for the program. Not every household will qualify.

According to federal guidelines, priority goes to households earning less than 50% of an areas median income  for Portland, that is around $40,000  and one or more adults unemployed for at least 90 days. According to state guidelines, other eligibility factors are the size of households, months behind on rent, effects of 2020 Labor Day wildfires, and whether the residents are in a census tract deemed to have a high percentage of low-income renters, as measured by the rental assistance priority index of the Urban Institute.

Under a state law revised during the Dec. 13 special session, tenants can receive legal protection against eviction for nonpayment of rent if they show proof to their landlords they have applied for emergency assistance. The same law also eased the Feb. 28 deadline for payment of past-due rent  owed since the onset of the pandemic on April 1, 2020, through June 2021  if a tenant has an application pending for emergency assistance. Otherwise the deadline remains Feb. 28.

The law does not forgive any past-due rents.

Becky Straus, an attorney with the Oregon Law Center, said the changes can be confusing.

It can be hard to keep up with the changes. We want everyone to know that in Oregon, no one should be evicted for nonpayment of rent when there are new safe-harbor extensions and rent assistance available, said Straus, managing attorney for the centers eviction defense project. Unfortunately, we are seeing many people in court who shouldnt be there because they didnt know about the protections or how to get help.

Straus said the law gives tenants 10 days to respond to notices of eviction from their landlords. Tenants can get in touch with the eviction defense project, which is funded by the state, Multnomah County, the city of Portland and foundations to provide legal representation. It operates statewide, and provides free services in English and Spanish  translators for other languages are available  without regard to citizenship status.

As the new COVID variant continues to sweep across our state, people are losing income because of illness or businesses that cant operate. Some people are still struggling to catch up from the economic hit of the past couple of years, Straus said. We are lucky in Oregon that short-term help is available for people who are still dealing with the economic upheaval of the pandemic and we just need to make sure they know the help is available at every step of the way.

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Spice Girls fans who wannabe playing with Lego versions of the pop stars will be able to.

The toy company has transformed the British girl group into Brickheadz form, with all five members  Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice), Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), and Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) in their most well-known costumes.

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The Spice Girls at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards (main) and LEGO's Spice Girls figurines (inset). (Brenda Chase/Getty Images)

Each member measures 3 inches tall.

In tribute to the Spice Girls performance of Wannabe and Who Do you Think You Are at the 1997 Brit Awards, the 578-piece set contains everything to give fans what they want, what they really, really want to spark some nostalgic moments.

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LEGO's Spice Girls figurines.

More stylized than traditional Legos, each member of this set has been finished with their own signature style looks  Baby Spice in a pink mini dress, Scary Spice in leopard print, Sporty Spice in a tracksuit, Ginger Spice in a Union Jack dress and Posh Spice in a black mini.

There are also microphones and stands included in the box, which is retailing for $49.99.

LEGO's Spice Girls figurines.

The Spice Girls are the first real people to be immortalized as Lego BrickHeadz, which is a theme brand that recreates iconic characters from themes like Harry Potter, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Star Wars and Disney as buildable characters.

Available March 1, the all-new set will be available to buy  with a sweepstakes set up for true Spice Girls fans to get a signed edition on the Lego VIP website (www.lego.com/VIP).
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Windy with partly cloudy skies. Low around 35F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Windy with partly cloudy skies. Low around 35F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.
Crowds at Universal Orlando Resorts CityWalk shopping and entertainment district in Orlando, Fla., Monday, January 25, 2021. The latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report shows the number of deaths related to the pandemic climbed 14 percent but with new infections falling  further evidence that the holiday surge may have reached its peak. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Universal Orlando will no longer require fully vaccinated visitors to wear face masks indoors at its resort starting Saturday.

In a Friday message, the company said it was updating its face-covering policy based on local trends and conditions. The resort is still encouraging unvaccinated visitors to wear masks indoors.

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Its unclear if Universal will continue to require employees to mask up inside the resorts attractions, shops and restaurants. Spokespeople for the resort did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.

Orange Countys latest COVID-19 update, issued Feb. 2, showed infection rates were declining countywide but one in four tests was still resulting positive.

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Orange County still has high community COVID-19 transmission, with an 18.5% positivity rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on county statistics, the agency recommends everyone wear masks in public, indoor areas.

Universal Orlando has constantly shifted its mask requirements during the pandemic.

The latest major update, issued in December during a busy holiday season and a spike in the omicron variant, mandated masks indoors for all visitors and staff regardless of their vaccination status.

In January, the company briefly changed its policy to require employees to be vaccinated or mask up and test for COVID-19 weekly, but it rescinded those requirements before they would have taken effect in February.

Universal Orlandos indoor mask requirement for guests was previously dropped in May, while its policy for vaccinated employees was paused in November before being reinstated the next month.

krice@orlandosentinel.com and @katievrice on Twitter
Historic Downtown Glendale is hosting Galentines Day to bring women together for a plethora of fun activities on Saturday, Feb. 12.
TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galane Gold Ltd. (Galane Gold or the Company) (TSX-V: GG; OTCQB: GGGOF) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Andrew Bishop as Galane Golds Chief Financial Officer, effective February 21, 2022.



Mr. Bishop brings over 18 years of experience in accounting, finance and business development within the public markets and has a demonstrated ability to manage various financial and operational aspects of a dynamic and growing business. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant who started his career at PwC and has spent the last 14 years in the mining industry, with a focus on gold, most recently with Golden Star Resources Ltd.

I am delighted to join the team at Galane Gold at a very exciting time in its development, commented Mr. Bishop.

We are excited to welcome Andrew to Galane Gold as our new CFO, said Nick Brodie, Chief Executive Officer. Andrew brings impressive financial, strategic, and operational experience to the Company. His addition is another important step in the evolution of our Company and management team.

Mr. Bishops appointment remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Galane Gold

Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana, South Africa and New Mexico. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GG and the OTCQB under the symbol GGGOF. Galane Golds management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates.

Cautionary Notes

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the TSX Venture Exchanges approval of Mr. Bishops appointment, Mr. Bishops start date, and technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, plan, continue, will, may, would, anticipate, estimate, forecast, predict, project, seek, should or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Companys expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Companys annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

Nick Brodie

CEO, Galane Gold Ltd.

+ 44 7905 089878

Nick.Brodie@GalaneGold.com

www.GalaneGold.com
Fort Lauderdale, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Lauderdale, Florida -

BrokerCalls hires Andrea Tate as one of their new customer relationship managers. The lead generation service has created a reputation for being results-driven providing exceptional ROI for businesses in the home services, insurance, financial, and travel sectors. See their page about Pay Per Call marketing services.

The addition of the talented Andrea Tate to the BrokerCalls team further expands the companys results-driven lead generation focus and unparalleled customer service.

Andreas role at BrokerCalls will be to further the success of clients, helping to see the details of customer campaigns to maximize ROI and customer satisfaction. She brings more than 17 years of experience to the table and will become a valuable asset to both BrokerCalls and its clients.

Andrea graduated from the University of Central Florida where she focused on marketing and sales. Her expertise in sales and marketing is one of the reasons why Andrea will be able to work with each client individually to ensure that their growth expectations are met  she knows sales and marketing and will pass on her expertise to BrokeCalls clients.

Her range of skills includes marketing analysis, SaaS, customer service, Toast/Clover POS, traditional marketing channels, and digital marketing. Andreas skill set aligns perfectly with the needs of companies seeking to expand their business and increase their sales in the highly competitive markets that BrokerCalls specializes in.

Each client at BrokerCalls has the benefit of a client success manager such as Andrea. Her role is to ensure that every aspect of a clients qualified leads campaign is optimized because for BrokerCalls, the success of their clients is paramount and only when their clients succeed, BrokerCall succeeds.

Whether it is working on improving ROI through fine-tuning lead criteria and target markets or the expansion into new areas, Andrea will work closely with businesses that seek to bypass the digital marketing game and take advantage of BrokerCalls expansive SEO campaigns and affiliate marketing networks.

BrokerCalls provides their clients with call tracking software to see the exact details of their ROI and potential areas of improvement. Transparency is important for BrokerCalls  especially since their business is built on results-driven lead generation and not just call volume.

Each of their leads in the financial, insurance, home services, and travel verticals are exclusive  there is no dilution of call quality through the selling of calls to multiple businesses. These are just some of the ways that BrokerCalls seek to serve clients to help them achieve business growth. With the addition of the very talented Andrea Tate to the BrokerCalls team, the company looks set for continued growth and customer service excellence in the coming year.

###

For more information about Broker Calls, contact the company here:



Broker Calls

Bianca Toyos

855.268.3773

3323 West Commercial Blvd, Suite 260, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P2 Gold Inc. (P2 or the Company) (TSX-V:PGLD) reports the completion of the February 2022 Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (2022 MRE) for its wholly-owned Gabbs Project located on the Walker-Lane Trend in Nevada. The 2022 MRE is the first update to the Mineral Resource estimate for Gabbs since the Company acquired the Project in 2021. Gold-equivalent Mineral Resources at Gabbs have been upgraded and increased significantly as a result of the 2021 drill program, metallurgical test work and increased understanding of the geologic controls on the gold-copper mineralization.

Highlights

Gold equivalent Pit Constrained Mineral Resources at Gabbs comprise:

Indicated Mineral Resource of 1.12 million ounces of gold equivalent or 0.65 million ounces of gold and 266.7 million pounds of copper (43.4 million tonnes grading 0.47 g/t gold and 0.28% copper) Including, Oxide Indicated Mineral Resource of 576,000 ounces of gold equivalent or 0.39 million ounces of gold and 127.9 million pounds of copper (20.1 million tonnes grading 0.61 g/t gold and 0.29% copper)

or 0.65 million ounces of gold and 266.7 million pounds of copper (43.4 million tonnes grading 0.47 g/t gold and 0.28% copper) Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.64 million ounces of gold equivalent or 0.88 million ounces of gold and 376.1 million pounds of copper (69.9 million tonnes grading 0.39 g/t gold and 0.24% copper)



Prior to the 2022 MRE, the Gabbs Project had an Inferred Mineral Resource (2021 MRE) of 1.84 million ounces of gold equivalent or 1.26 million ounces of gold and 422.3 million pounds of copper (73.1 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold and 0.26% copper) (see P2 news release of February 23, 2021).

Gabbs Project February 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate

The 2022 MRE was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (P&E), based on four diamond drill holes and 27 reverse circulation drill holes completed by the Company in 2021 and 494 drill holes completed by prior Gabbs Project operators between 1970 and 2011. A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report will be prepared by P&E and posted on www.p2gold.com and the Company's profile on www.SEDAR.com within 45 days of the date of this news release.

Table 1: February 2022 Gabbs Project Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate(1)(2)(3)(4)

Mineral

Resource

Classification

Tonnes

(M) Gold

Grade

(g/t) Copper

Grade

(%)

Gold

(M oz)

Copper

(M lbs) Gold Eq.

Grade

(g/t)

Gold Eq.

(M oz) Indicated 43.4 0.47 0.28 0.65 266.7 0.81 1.12 Inferred 69.9 0.39 0.24 0.88 376.1 0.73 1.64





(1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. (2) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. (3) The Mineral Resources in this press release were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council. (4) The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared for a potential open pit scenario using a constraining pit shell (with 50 degree slopes) at respective 0.35 g/t and 0.36 g/t oxide and sulphide gold equivalent cut-off grades. The gold equivalent cut-off grades were derived from US$1,675/oz gold, US$3.80/lb copper, US$2.14/tonne mining cost, and US$13.81 and $17.34/tonne respective oxide and sulphide processing costs; US$0.68/tonne G&A cost, 76% and 94% respective Au oxide and sulphide process recoveries; and 48% and 87% respective Cu oxide and sulphide process recoveries.

Oxide Mineral Resources at Gabbs now consist of Indicated Mineral Resources of 576,000 ounces of gold equivalent (20.1 million tonnes grading 0.61 g/t gold and 0.29% copper) and Inferred Mineral Resources of 260,000 ounces of gold equivalent (9.9 million tonnes grading 0.61 g/t gold and 0.19% copper). See Table 2 below for a breakdown of the oxide and sulphide Mineral Resources.



Table 2: February 2022 Gabbs Project Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate by Rock Group(1)(2)



Rock

Group

Tonnes

(M) Gold

Grade

(g/t) Copper

Grade

(%)

Gold

(M oz)

Copper

(M lbs) Gold Eq.

Grade

(g/t)

Gold Eq.

(M oz) Oxide

Indicated 20.1 0.61 0.29 0.39 127.9 0.89 0.58 Oxide

Inferred 9.9 0.61 0.19 0.19 42.2 0.80 0.26 Sulphide

Indicated 23.3 0.34 0.27 0.26 138.8 0.73 0.55 Sulphide

Inferred 60.1 0.35 0.25 0.68 333.8 0.72 1.38





(1) See Notes 1 to 4 to Table 1 above. (2) Tables may differ and not sum due to rounding.

The majority of the increase in the 2022 MRE (from the 2021 MRE) occurred at the Sullivan Zone where the Company drilled 27 drill holes (four diamond drill holes and 23 reverse circulation drill holes) in 2021. The Inferred Mineral Resource at the Lucky Strike Zone also increased in the 2022 MRE, whereas the Inferred Mineral Resource changed nominally at Car Body and Gold Ledge. See Table 3 below for a breakdown of the Gabbs Mineral Resource by zone.



Table 3: February 2022 Gabbs Project Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate by Zone(1)(2)





Zone

Tonnes

(M) Gold

Grade

(g/t) Copper

Grade

(%)

Gold

(M oz)

Copper

(M lbs) Gold Eq.

Grade

(g/t)

Gold Eq.

(M oz) Sullivan

Indicated 43.4 0.47 0.28 0.65 266.7 0.81 1.12 Sullivan

Inferred 16.3 0.43 0.26 0.22 94.3 0.78 0.41 Lucky Strike Inferred 49.1 0.34 0.25 0.54 269.5 0.69 1.10 Car Body

Inferred 2.4 1.26 - 0.10 - 1.26 0.10 Gold Ledge(3)

Inferred 2.1 0.19 0.26 0** 12.2 0.51 0**





(1) See Notes 1 to 4 to Table 1 above. (2) Tables may differ and not sum due to rounding. (3) Gold Ledge Inferred Mineral Resource rounded to zero**.

Gabbs Project February 2022 Updated Mineral Resource Key Parameters



A comparison of the key parameters of the 2022 MRE to the 2021 MRE is set out in Table 4 below. Of note, for the 2022 MRE, the oxide and sulphide cut-off grades increased to 0.35 g/t gold equivalent and 0.36 g/t gold equivalent, respectively, from 0.24 g/t gold equivalent and 0.30 g/t gold equivalent for the 2021 MRE. In addition, the 2022 MRE used gold and copper prices of US$1,675 per ounce gold and US$3.80 per pound copper, compared to the 2021 MRE which used US$1,600 per ounce gold and US$3.00 per pound copper.

Table 4: Comparison of Key Parameters of the 2022 MRE to the 2021 MRE

Parameter February 2022 January 2021 Mining scenario Open pit Open pit Constrained pit shell 50-degree slopes 50-degree slopes Oxide cut-off grade 0.35 g/t gold eq. 0.24 g/t gold Eq Sulphide cut-off grade 0.36 g/t gold eq. 0.30 g/t gold Eq Gold price US$1,675/ounce US$1,600/ounce Copper price US$3.80/pound US$3.00/pound Gold recovery 76% Oxide 94% Sulphide 80% Oxide 80% Sulphide Copper recovery 48% Oxide 87% Sulphide 0% Oxide 90% Sulphide Mining costs US$2.14/t US$2/t Processing costs US$13.81/t Oxide US$17.34/t Sulphide US$8/t Oxide US$12/t Sulphide G&A costs US$0.68/t US$2/t

Metallurgical Test Results

The Company retained Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA) in Reno, Nevada to carry out a Phase Two metallurgical program to determine the preferred extraction process for the Gabbs mineralization. Based on work completed to date, KCA is proposing that the oxide material be heap leached and gold recovered as a salable dore and cyanide soluble copper produced as a salable copper sulphide concentrate. For the sulphide material, KCA is proposing flotation to recover a salable copper concentrate with the flotation tails cyanide leached to recover additional gold as a salable dore and cyanide soluble copper as a copper sulphide concentrate.

Gold and copper recoveries used for the 2022 MRE were based on historical metallurgical testwork and recently completed metallurgical tests at KCA. For the oxide material, gold and copper recoveries were assumed to be 76% and 48%, respectively. For the sulphide material: (a) gold recovery to copper flotation concentrate was assumed to be 72% and gold recovery from rougher flotation tails was assumed to be 78.0% for a weighted gold recovery of 94%; and (b) copper recovery was assumed to be 79% to flotation concentrate and 7.6% from cyanide soluble copper precipitation for a weighted recovery 87%. Metallurgical testing by KCA is ongoing.

Quality Assurance

The 2022 MRE was prepared under the supervision of Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. of Brampton, Ontario, who is an Independent Qualified Person (QP), as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Puritch has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release relating to the 2022 MRE and 2021 MRE.

Mr. Christopher L. Easton, MMSA QP, of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates is the Independent QP responsible for metallurgical testwork and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release relating to metallurgical test work.

Ken McNaughton, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., Chief Exploration Officer, P2 Gold, is the Company Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, responsible for the Gabbs Project. Mr. McNaughton has reviewed, verified and approved the technical information in this news release.

About P2 Gold Inc.

P2 Gold is a mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing precious metals and copper discoveries and acquisitions in the western United States and British Columbia.

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Ovsenek

President & CEO

(778) 731-1055



P2 Gold Inc.

Suite 1100, 355 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC

V6C 2G8

info@p2gold.com

(SEDAR filings: P2 Gold Inc.) Michelle Romero

Executive Vice President

(778) 731-1060





Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. Forward-looking information includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, anticipate, believe, continue, propose, potential or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, information with respect to the Companys expectations, strategies and plans for the Gabbs Project including the Companys planned expenditures and exploration activities and the estimation of mineral resources.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. See Risk Factors in the Companys annual information form dated August 9, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks.

The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
English Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beyond Limits, the industrial and enterprise-grade AI software company built for the most demanding sectors, today announced its acquisition of Singapore-based cloud solutions and consulting partner Oak Consulting.



Oak Consultings extensive track record and expertise in business intelligence and enterprise data management services made the company a natural strategic fit for Beyond Limits, said David Liu, Executive Chairman of Beyond Limits Asia-Pacific. Moreover, the company shares our strategic mission for creating solutions that magnify the talents and capabilities of people with the latest technologies, and were very excited to welcome them to the Beyond Limits team.

Oak Consulting provides enterprise-class, full lifecycle solutions from strategy through to the implementation stage for critical industries including public sector, eCommerce, healthcare, financial and supply chain, among others. The firm brings decades of extensive industry knowledge and experience in guiding clients through operational analytics supported by data mining, artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as the adoption of the latest cloud and data management technology platforms.

The acquisition of Oak Consulting further cements Beyond Limits position and profitability in the Asia-Pacific region and accelerates the companys technical resources to support new customer projects and use cases. Current and future customers in the area will also have more immediate access to experienced teams to lead them through complex AI, machine learning, data analytics and management integrations from the concept phase through implementation.

As a key partner for Beyond Limits since 2020, weve worked closely together for years to better understand and meet the rapidly evolving technology demands of businesses in the region, said Victor Ng, Managing Director of Oak Consulting. Beyond Limits and its Cognitive AI technology are extremely well-positioned to help meet these demands as artificial intelligence becomes more ingrained in daily business operations. We look forward to the strength and scope of services we will be able to offer together.

Oak Consultings current employees and management team will remain in place and will continue to generate immediate opportunities under the Beyond Limits brand by offering its existing products and services to customers and partners. This acquisition brings together two leading companies with decades of extensive industry knowledge and experience in technology and business solutions. Beyond Limits is committed to growing Oak Consultings services to achieve dramatic growth in the coming yearsgrowth that will result in more opportunities for Beyond Limits customers.

About Beyond Limits Asia-Pacific

Beyond Limits Asia-Pacific is an enterprise-scale AI company that optimizes operations, boosts efficiency, and increases productivity for demanding industries including energy, advanced manufacturing, and fintech.

Beyond traditional artificial intelligence, Beyond Limits software products are powered by award-winning Cognitive AI technology, utilizing a hybrid AI approach that combines data-centric techniques with embedded human knowledge to affirm trust in software-driven decisions, manage operational risk, and drive profitability.

Beyond Limits Asia Pacific is regionally headquartered in Singapore with operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo. The regional headquarters drives strategic investments for joint ventures and partnerships in Asia to expand Beyond Limits AI in verticals including financial services, led by the Hong Kong office, advanced manufacturing, led the Taiwan office, and the energy sector led by the Singapore, Shenzhen and Tokyo offices.

Founded in 2014, Beyond Limits leverages a significant investment portfolio of advanced technology developed at Caltechs Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA space missions. The company was recently honored by Frost & Sullivan as a Company of the Year for their 2021 Best Practices Award and by CB Insights on their 2020 List of Top 100 Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence Startups.

For more information, please visit www.beyond.ai.

About Oak Consulting

Oak Consulting is a Premier Tier Tableau Value-Added Reseller and Cloud Solutions Provider based in Singapore with offices in India and Malaysia providing Data Management and Analytics Consulting Services. We specialize in industries such as Healthcare, Education, Retail and eCommerce, Telcos, Financials, Shipping, Airport Hub, Business Services and the Public Sector.

Our firm thrives in delivering enterprise-class, full life cycle solutions from strategy through to the implementation stage. Oak Consulting specialties lie in dealing with huge and complex data sets, providing operational analytics supported by data mining, artificial intelligence, and machine learning; adopting the latest state-of-the-art Cloud and Data Management technology platforms of the world.

Our leadership team brings decades of extensive industry knowledge and experience in information technology and business solutions. Together with a team of experience technology and business domain specialists, we pride ourselves in being a Progressively Collaborative Partner to work with in Singapore and the Region.

Contact Information:

Scott Blevins

LEWIS for Beyond Limits

+1-415-283-5492

beyondlimitspr@teamlewis.com
New York, United States, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The Employee Retention Credit program has become the largest United States government stimulus program in history, with approximately $80 billion in funds to be claimed. This new quiz helps employers find out if they are eligible with only a few questions, so they can claim their credits before the deadline.

To take a short ERTC eligibility quiz or to speak with an expert, please visit https://ertcquiz.com

With billions of dollars on the table, many financial experts are surprised at the number of businesses, and tax-exempt organizations, that have failed to claim their tax credits so far. This may be caused by confusion over eligibility, which is what prompted Scott Hall and ERTC Today to launch this simple eligibility quiz.

The lack of claims is most likely caused by business owners believing that they do not qualify for the program because the eligibility requirements have changed since it was first introduced. This includes changes in who was eligible, how large a business could be and still make a claim, and also how much could be claimed per employee.

Some employers may also be concerned that the ERTC is a loan, like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP,) but the tax credit program is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. Employers who have already applied for the PPP and received a loan through that program are also now eligible for the ERTC program, though they were not when the CARES Act was first passed.

The eligibility quiz can be completed in approximately 60 seconds and asks no questions about proprietary business information. If an employer is eligible, they can file on their own or have the ERTC Today team pre-qualify them for a rebate and help with the paperwork.

To make a claim with ERTC Today employers only need to submit their 941 returns, raw payroll data, and PPP loan documents to the companys secure online portal. With that information, their expert accountants can take care of maximizing the claim, and completing the paperwork.

Businesses who have already filed their paperwork for 2020 or 2021 can also still claim their tax credit retroactively, by contacting an ERTC specialist or filing a 941-X form.

To learn more about tax credits and the eligibility quiz, please visit https://ertcquiz.com/video

Website: https://scotthall.co
Port Macquarie, Australia, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The Ideal Property Group real estate services have expanded to 11 NSW offices in the wake of increased demand for urban investments in coastal areas. Among the areas with the highest total sales values in 2021, Port Macquarie was the most desirable regional town in NSW.

More information is available at https://lifestylegroup.eldersrealestate.com.au

Elders Real Estates Port Macquarie offices updated services allow prospective home buyers and sellers to take advantage of the citys current market boom. Property sales are at their all-time highest in Australia, making it an opportune time to buy or sell.

With many corporations in Australia urging their employees to work at home offices, real estate agents are receiving more and more requests for seaside property. CoreLogic reports that 2021 property sales in Port Macquarie totalled almost $714 million by September, with 887 transactions and a median house value is just over $844,000 by November.

Elders Port Macquarie agents can help home buyers, sellers, and renters upgrade from their current homes, downsize for lifestyle reasons or get a change of scene, with assistance at every step of the process. The agents understand that homes mean more than shelter  they mean safety, putting down roots, establishing or augmenting your identity.

Their services also include property value estimates and the most effective marketing strategies including auctions nights where a number of properties go under the hammer in one evening. Their agents also offer advice on how sellers can best present their homes for sale to achieve the highest value. They can advise clients on the best multimedia signboard options from top industry suppliers to emphasise their propertys strengths.

The Port Macquarie branch of Elders Real Estate was established by CEO David Gray in 2017. Since then, it has expanded to encompass 11 offices covering the property market between the Mid North Coast and the Northern Rivers areas. Under Davids guidance, in November 2019 Elders Real Estate was rebranded as Elders Lifestyle Group. David has worked in the real estate industry for 20 years and has sold over $100 million dollars of real estate.

A happy client said: The Port Macquarie agents are very professional, reliable and friendly. They always communicated efficiently to keep us up to date with the process. I cant thank them enough for doing a fantastic job guiding us to a good outcome. They had a clear plan and strategy for our home from day one.

Interested parties can find more details at https://lifestylegroup.eldersrealestate.com.au

Read More About David Gray HERE

Website: https://lifestylegroup.eldersrealestate.com.au
Dublin, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. CAD Software Market Research Report - Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The U.S. CAD software market value stood at $2,458.6 million in 2020, and it is expected to rise to $4,271.5 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.7% from 2020 to 2030.

The major factor driving the market is the surging usage of the CAD software in the packaging industry and automotive industry.



The U.S. is home to several industries that were significantly affected because of the lockdown imposed by the government to control the spread of the COVID-19 infection. For example, the growth of the automotive industry slowed down massively because of the disruptions in the manufacturing and supply chain processes on account of the imposition of lockdowns and restrictions on the movement of people and goods.

This subsequently hampered the progress of the U.S. computer-aided design software market as the demand for the software fell among automobile manufacturers.



The surging use of the CAD software in the automotive industry is fueling the progress of the industry.



Between 3D and 2D software, the demand for the former was higher during the last few years, and this trend will continue in the upcoming years. The 3D software works more efficiently and provides a deeper insight when drawing designs than the 2D version.



End users are predicted to prefer cloud-based deployment over the on-premises one in the coming years. This is because the cloud provides improved agility, remote access from any internet-connected device, and better scalability.



The aerospace and defense industry is expected to use the CAD software extensively in the coming years, owing to the growing requirement for state-of-the-art space shuttles, aircraft, and missiles. High accuracy is required in the production of aerospace and defense components, which is fueling the adoption of the CAD software for product designing in this industry.



The players operating in the U.S. CAD software market are focusing on mergers and acquisitions to bolster their position. For instance, an agreement was signed by 3D Systems Corporation in September 2021 for acquiring Oqton Inc., a software company that offers cloud-based manufacturing operating system (MOS) platforms.



The industry is fragmented in nature because of the presence of various major players.



The mushrooming requirement for the CAD software in the packaging industry is one of the major growth drivers for the U.S. CAD software market. Packaging systems are needed for labeling, product filling, strapping, and wrapping processes.

With these machines becoming highly complex, designers and engineers are turning to the CAD software for meeting the mechatronic engineering challenges. This software makes unconventional modeling of packaging equipment possible via simulation and various communication control tools, which assist in the optimization of motors and selection of actuators.



Dassault Systemes SE, Hexagon AB, Bentley Systems Inc., Autodesk Inc., 3D Systems Corporation, Trimble Inc., Siemens AG, IronCAD LLC, AVEVA Group plc, PTC Inc., and CNC Software Inc. are some of the most-significant companies in the market.



Market Dynamics

Trends

Focus On Acquisitions by Market Players

Shift From License-Based To Subscription-Based Model

Transition From 2D Cad To 3D Cad

Drivers

Increasing Use of Cad Software In Packaging Industry

Growing Cad Adoption In Automotive Industry

Restraints

Availability of Free and Open-Source Cad Software, Coupled With Software Piracy

High Cost of Advanced and 3D Cad Software

Opportunities

Growing Adoption of Saas-Based Model

Rising Popularity of Cloud-Based Cad Services

Impact of COVID-19 On U.S. Cad Software Market



Porter's Five Forces Analysis



Company Profiles

Dassault Systemes SE

Autodesk Inc.

Bentley Systems Inc.

Trimble Inc.

PTC Inc.

3D Systems Corporation

AVEVA Group plc

Hexagon AB

IronCAD LLC

CNC Software Inc.

Siemens AG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ylwy2h

Attachment
WASHINGTON  COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another monthslong delay Friday as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters.

The Food and Drug Administration, worried about the omicron variants toll on kids, had taken the extraordinary step of urging Pfizer to apply for OK of the extra-low dose vaccine before its clear if tots will need two shots or three. The agencys plan could have allowed vaccinations to begin within weeks.

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But Friday, the FDA reversed course and said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.

FDAs vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said he hoped parents would understand that the agencys decision was part of its careful scientific review of the evidence Pfizer has submitted so far.

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That information made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose from the ongoing trial in order to make a determination, Marks told reporters. We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because were parents as well.

The nations 18 million children under 5 make up the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.

Vaccine experts had been concerned with the sudden race to evaluate Pfizers vaccine -- and now wonder what parents will make of the back-and-forth.

I think they made the right decision to be careful and wait for the third-dose data, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.

It was great to hear that there might be some promising data from two doses but it came out as Hey everybody, you can expect a vaccine in a few weeks, he added. I think this messaging gets very confusing for people.

Its not the first delay. Pfizer originally had expected to know by late December if the extra-low doses worked for kids under 5  only to face a disappointing setback. Preliminary study results showed two shots were safe and strong enough to give good protection to babies as young as 6 months. But once tots reached the preschool age  the 2- to 4-year-olds  two doses werent protective enough, prompting the addition of a third to the study.

So it was a surprise when a few weeks ago, FDA urged Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to go ahead and apply. Next week, the agencys independent scientific advisers were set to publicly debate if it was OK to start giving tots two shots before there was proof that a third would give them the extra needed protection  a highly unusual move.

Friday, the FDA abruptly canceled that meeting, promising to hold it once Pfizer submits the third-dose evidence. Even if Pfizer completes its submission by early April, it will take the FDA and other health authorities several weeks to review and publicly vet the data.

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Earlier this week, FDAs Marks had promised the agency wouldnt cut corners but also noted how rapidly the pandemic was changing. Before Thanksgiving, no one had heard of omicron, by last month pediatric COVID-19 infections had hit an all-time high  and now cases are dropping fast as the latest mutant burns out.

How long to wait for new vaccine data -- and how much to require -- is a difficult balancing act for the FDA. It is caught between pressure to be more proactive against a rapidly changing virus and the risk that acting too quickly may deter families already on the fence about vaccinating their children.

Pfizer aims to give children as young as 6 months shots that contain one-tenth of the dose given to adults -- two shots three weeks apart followed by a third at least two months later.

Thats a smaller dose than youngsters ages 5 to 11 receive, a third of the adult dose.

Vaccination rates have been lower among children than in other age groups. As of last week, just 22% of kids ages 5 to 11 and just over half of 12- to 17-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month found just 3 in 10 parents of children under 5 would get their youngster vaccinated as soon as shots were authorized, while about a quarter said they definitely would not.

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The Health Report Weekly A weekly update on health news in Florida. >

Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the pediatricians groups president, recognized parental frustration but said in a statement that doctors were committed to a careful, robust and transparent process to evaluate the evidence.

Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in Overland Park, Kansas, said, Were just gutted. We need this protection for our kids.

She said some families likely feel relieved because they didnt want to make that decision without good efficacy data. Other groups of parents are just crying out, Give us a choice. Show us what youve got and let us make a choice. Let us have access to it.'

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.

___

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Dublin, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Wound Care Market Research Report: By Product Type, Wound Type, Age Group, End User - Global Industry Revenue Estimation and Demand Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global wound care market revenue is predicted to witness a 5.5% CAGR during 2021-2030, to reach $34,459.2 million by 2030.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes; increasing cases of burns and other types of injuries, and booming geriatric population are propelling the demand for wound care products.



Manufacturing facilities of wound care market players were shut down in the beginning of 2020 to lessen the spread of the COVID-19 infection among workers. Additionally, lockdowns and movement restrictions forced people inside their homes, which substantially reduced the incidence of chemical burns and road accidents, thereby pushing down the demand for wound care products.



Wound closure, advanced, and traditional are the categories of the wound care market, based on product type. Among these, in 2020, the market was dominated by the advanced category, and the same trend is expected till 2030. Advanced wound care offers faster wound healing and more-effective infection control and leads to fewer drainage issues.



North America was the largest wound care market in 2020 due to the increasing demand for such products among the elderly, technological advancements in such products due to extensive research and development (R&D), and surging spending on healthcare. Asia-Pacific (APAC) will likely grow the fastest till 2030, driven by the booming geriatric population and increasing number of burns and traumatic wounds.



In order to improve their position in the wound care market, the providers of such products are engaging in mergers and acquisitions.



For instance, in February 2020, an agreement was signed by Essity AB for the acquisition of 75% shares of ABIGO Medical AB, a medical solutions firm based in Sweden. ABIGO Medical AB offers a range of advanced wound care solutions, including Sorbact. With the acquisition, Essity AB widened its portfolio of advanced wound care products that prevent bacterial invasion without making the body resistant to antibiotics.



In the same way, in April 2019, Leaf Healthcare Inc., which developed the Leaf Patient Monitoring System for patient mobility monitoring and pressure injury prevention, was acquired by Smith & Nephew PLC. After a two-year exclusive distribution and strategic investment partnership with Leaf Healthcare, Smith & Nephew acquired the latter to improve its advanced wound care portfolio.



Market Dynamics

Trends

Shift in preference from traditional products to advanced therapies

Drivers

Growing geriatric population

Increasing prevalence of diabetes

High rate of injuries and trauma cases

Increasing prevalence of chronic wounds

Rising cases of burns

Impact analysis of drivers on market forecast

Restraints

High cost of advanced wound dressing products

Inability of traditional wound dressing to treat severe wounds

Impact analysis of restraints on the market forecast

Opportunities

Developing economies offer lucrative growth opportunities

Impact of COVID-19

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Market Segments

By Product Type

Advanced

Dressing

Foam

Hydrocolloid

Film

Alginate

Antimicrobial

Hydrogel

Collagen

Hydrofiber

Wound contact layer

Superabsorbent

Therapy device

NPWT device

Pressure relief device

Biologic

Skin substitute

Collagen-based

Growth factor

Wound closure

Suture

Hemostat

Surgical staple

Adhesive & tissue sealant

Wound closure strip

Traditional

Bandage

Fixation tape

Gauze

Sponge

Abdominal pad

Others

By Wound Type

DFU

Pressure ulcer

Surgical & traumatic wound

Burn

VLU

Others

By Age Group

By End User

Hospital & clinic

Homecare setting

Long-term care setting

Company Profiles

Hollister Incorporated

DeRoyal Industries Inc.

ConvaTec Group plc

Johnson & Johnson

Smith & Nephew PLC

Molnlycke Health Care AB

3M Company

Essity AB

Paul Hartmann AG

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Coloplast A/S

Tecnoquimicas S.A.

Beiersdorf AG

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation

Wright Medical Group N.V.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5gqgnq

Attachment
Highlights:



Flowrs wholly-owned subsidiary, Holigen, fully operationalizes E.U. GMP certified indoor facility. Six grow rooms have been put into operation with Flowrs proprietary genetics.

Tom Flow, co-founder of Flowr and Chief Operating Officer, has relocated to oversee operations in Portugal.

First harvest of BC Black Cherry strain completed and in process testing at more than 25% THC content. Second harvest of BC Strawnana commenced January 31, 2022 with in process testing at more than 27% THC content.

Holigen expects to harvest approximately 300 kilograms of medical cannabis in the first quarter of 2022 and over 2,000 kilograms of premium cannabis per year from the Sintra facility.

Holigen launches EU-GMP co-manufacturing services business, providing third party cultivators with GMP tolling services which has seen huge demand from domestic cultivators. Company expects significant revenue from co-manufacturing services in 2022.

Holigen launches lab services business, now available for third party clients as a service offering to the domestic market, and provides an additional source of revenue.

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Flowr Corporation (Flowr or the Company) (TSXV: FLWR, OTC: FWPF) is pleased to provide an operational update at its facilities located in Portugal owned and operated by Flowrs wholly-owned subsidiary, Holigen Holdings Limited (Holigen).

We still firmly believe that Holigens team and assets are a unique entry point into the European Union. The Sintra facility is one of very few E.U. GMP certified facilities on the continent. If a competitor wanted to enter the E.U. today they would face long lead times on regulatory approvals, construction, importation of genetics and assembly of a quality team with the requisite experience to be successful. With the relocation of Tom Flow to Portugal and our partnership with Cookies Creative Consulting and Promotions Inc. (Cookies), we believe that Holigen is poised for great success in the near-term, commented Darryl Brooker, Chief Executive Officer of Flowr. There are several reasons to be in Portugal  the regulatory landscape is changing, the cost structure is highly competitive and there are no real competitors in the premium cannabis market yet.

I have been involved in the planning, construction and operation of several of the worlds premier cannabis facilities and the Sintra facility is undoubtedly one of the best facilities in the world to grow premium, high THC cannabis, commented Tom Flow, co-founder of Flowr and Chief Operating Officer. In Portugal, I see not only a growing medical cannabis market but the discussions around an adult use regime are also very encouraging. At Holigen, we have built a facility that will be able to cater to both a medical cannabis regime by providing patients with consistent, high-quality product but we are also looking ahead to when there may be an adult use market and having a partnership with Cookies also lets us be ready for that change.

Sintra Facility

At the Sintra facility, all capital expenditures have been made and the facility is fully operational. The facility is a 25,000 square foot purpose-built medical cannabis facility that mirrors the technology developed at Flowrs K-1 and Kelowna Research Station (KRS) located in Kelowna, British Columbia. There are six grow rooms that are now fully operational and producing high-THC strains  BC Black Cherry and BC Strawnana. Holigen expects to receive the Cookies genetics in the first quarter of 2022.

Holigen expects to harvest approximately 300 kilograms of medical cannabis in the first quarter of 2022 and over 2,000 kilograms of premium cannabis per year from the Sintra facility. Holigen is the final stages of cultivating BC Black Cherry and BC Strawnana strains, having completed its first harvest of BC Black Cherry and BC Strawnana at its purpose-built indoor facility in Sintra, Portugal. Initial in process testing for both genetics of medical cannabis are indicating high THC content levels of greater than 25%.

In addition, Holigen is commencing accelerated and long-term stability testing on these strains with a view to having them in market under its own brand in multiple markets in the second half of 2022. In the meantime, Holigen is pursuing business-to-business medical cannabis bulk sales as a way to get product into multiple markets, and to generate immediate revenue.

Tom Flow, co-founder of Flowr and previously of MedReleaf Inc., has relocated to Portugal and has assumed full operational control of the Sintra facility. In a short time, Mr. Flow has implemented best-in class standard operating procedures and has been able to cultivate premium quality high THC medical cannabis.

Genetics Portfolio

The Company has successfully exported its flagship high-THC strains  BC Pink Kush, BC Black Cherry and BC Strawnana  from Canada to Portugal. Holigen has established a robust stock of healthy mother plants and has initiated its first harvest. Preliminary testing results for BC Black Cherry indicate more than 25% THC content and for BC Strawnana early testing at more than 27% and is expected to continue to rise. These tests are in process tests and are indicative of the strains baring high-THC in their finished format.

In addition to the Flowr genetics portfolio, Holigen has received import permits for a wide assortment of genetics from Cookies, including their notable strains such as Gary Payton, Cereal Milk, Gelatti, Pancakes and Pink Runtz.

Holigen has initiated the product registration process and will submit for market authorization in Portugal, Germany, UK, and others in the first quarter of this year, and expects to receive approvals in the second half of 2022.

Co-Manufacturing Services

In Portugal, there are several GACP cultivators, predominantly operating out of greenhouse facilities, that require GMP tolling services. After successfully completing validation batches in 2021 and generating approx. 500k in revenue from tolling services last year, the company is now offering these services to additional clients. Holigen expects this to exceed 500,000 per quarter in the second half of 2022. The tolling services are primarily comprised of trimming, drying, curing and packaging of medical cannabis for Holigens clients.

Lab Services

The Sintra facility is fitted out with a state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, including GC and HPLC diagnostic machines. With its GMP cannabis testing license, Holigen has initiated third-party lab services, providing medical cannabis testing such as cannabinoid potency testing, Alfatoxins and ochratoxin and microbiological testing. Holigen expects the launch of third-party lab services to result in significant annual revenue.

About The Flowr Corporation

The Flowr Corporation is a Canadian cannabis company with operations in Canada and the European Union. Its Canadian operating campus, located in Kelowna, BC, includes a purpose-built, GMP-designed indoor cultivation facility; an outdoor and greenhouse cultivation site; and a state-of-the-art R&D facility. From this campus, Flowr produces recreational and medicinal products. Internationally, Flowr services the global medical cannabis market through its subsidiary, Holigen Holdings Limited, which has a license for cannabis cultivation in Portugal and operates a GMP licensed facility in Portugal. In 2020, Flowrs BC Pink Kush was recognized as the top indica strain in Canada by KIND magazine.

Flowr aims to support improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and, as an established expert in cannabis cultivation, strives to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking the highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency across a portfolio of differentiated cannabis products.

For more information, please visit flowrcorp.com or follow Flowr on Twitter: @FlowrCanada and LinkedIn: The Flowr Corporation.

On behalf of The Flowr Corporation:

Darryl Brooker

Chief Executive Officer

CONTACT INFORMATION:

INVESTORS & MEDIA:

John Chou

Chief Financial Officer

John.chou@flowr.ca

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements made in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, future oriented financial information or financial outlooks (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to: the satisfaction of all of the conditions under the Supply Agreement; the anticipated size of the European medical cannabis market; the Companys expectation that it will build on its achievements as it continues to invest in sales and marketing; Flowr servicing the global medical cannabis market and operating GMP facilities in Portugal; Flowrs business, production and products; Flowrs plans to provide premium quality cannabis to adult use recreational and medical markets; EU-GMP certification opening the medicinal cannabis opportunity for the Company in global markets; the Company being well positioned to distribute EU-GMP compliant product into underserviced markets; Flowrs ability to realize revenue from the Companys European operations within the anticipated timeframe or at all; Flowrs ability to establish further sales and distribution channels in Europe to deliver medicinal cannabis to underserviced markets; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada, in Europe and elsewhere; the cannabis industry in Canada and Europe, generally; the ability of Flowr to implement its business strategies; and the ability of can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, believe, estimate, plan, could, should, would, outlook, forecast, anticipate, foresee, continue or the Flowr to produce or sell premium quality cannabis. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking information is current as of the date it is made and is based on reasonable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. To the extent any forward-looking information in this press release constitutes future oriented financial information or financial outlooks, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the purpose of such information being provided is to demonstrate the potential of the Company and readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. However, we do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information as discussed in the Risk Factors section of the Companys 2020 Annual Information Form dated April 28, 2021 (the AIF). A copy of the AIF and the Companys other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Companys profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.



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.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24ad7bae-6b37-4a8a-93d1-44c7a62dbf11

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/559dbd7d-09eb-4f56-81c6-703e8fe64b21
Dublin, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Autonomous Train Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global autonomous train market reached a value of US$ 7.9 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 11.4 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.2% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, they are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor



Autonomous trains are driverless mass-transit locomotives that are monitored from the control station and operated automatically without any human intervention. Some of the commonly used autonomous passenger and freight trains include metros, monorails, light rails and high-speed rail or bullet trains. They are managed through stations that control the arrival, departure, movement, and automatic halting of the trains. Autonomous trains consist of an odometer, tachometer, radio set, camera, and accelerometer. In comparison to manually controlled trains, autonomous trains have improved acceleration capabilities, enhanced system efficiency, and reduced ongoing operational costs while providing consistent train speed and safety



Autonomous Train Market Trends:

The increasing electrification and automation of the transportation industry is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Autonomous trains are integrated with advanced systems that provide improved control over stopping, departure and movement of the locomotive between stations. They also offer automatic and sensor-based opening and closing of doors to enhance passenger safety and convenience.

Moreover, the rising demand for safe, secure, and efficient transport systems is providing a thrust to the market growth. Autonomous trains run on ground and underground levels and are highly secured by walls and fences to prevent trespassing and fatalities. Additionally, various technological advancements, such as the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions with railway systems, are favoring the market growth.

These technologies aid in improving the overall operational efficiency and maintaining freight operations and systems. In line with this, the widespread adoption of communications-based train control (CBTC) technology to reduce the time intervals between trains is positively impacting the market growth. Other factors, including the implementation of various government initiatives to improve public transportation systems, along with rising environment consciousness among the masses, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth



Key Market Segmentation:

The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global autonomous train market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on component, train type, automation grade, technology and application



Breakup by Component:

Camera

Accelerometer

Odometer

Tachometer

Radio set

Others

Breakup by Train Type:

Metro/Monorail

Light Rail

High-Speed Rail/Bullet Train

Breakup by Automation Grade:

GoA 1

GoA 2

GoA 3

GoA 4

Breakup by Technology:

CBTC

ERTMS

ATC

PTC

Breakup by Application:

Passenger Train

Freight Train

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being ABB Ltd., Alstom SA, Belden Inc., Bombardier Inc., CAF Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A., CRRC Corporation Limited, General Electric Company, Hitachi Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Siemens AG, and Thales Group



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global autonomous train market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global autonomous train market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the component?

What is the breakup of the market based on the train type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the automation grade?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global autonomous train market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Autonomous Train Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Component

6.1 Camera

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Accelerometer

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Odometer

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Tachometer

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast

6.5 Radio set

6.5.1 Market Trends

6.5.2 Market Forecast

6.6 Others

6.6.1 Market Trends

6.6.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Train Type

7.1 Metro/Monorail

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Light Rail

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 High-Speed Rail/Bullet Train

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Automation Grade

8.1 GoA 1

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 GoA 2

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 GoA 3

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 GoA 4

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Technology

9.1 CBTC

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 ERTMS

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 ATC

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 PTC

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Application

10.1 Passenger Train

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Freight Train

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region



12 SWOT Analysis



13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis



15 Price Analysis



16 Competitive Landscape

16.1 Market Structure

16.2 Key Players

16.3 Profiles of Key Players

16.3.1 ABB Ltd.

16.3.1.1 Company Overview

16.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.1.3 Financials

16.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.2 Alstom SA

16.3.2.1 Company Overview

16.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.2.3 Financials

16.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.3 Belden Inc.

16.3.3.1 Company Overview

16.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.3.3 Financials

16.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.4 Bombardier Inc.

16.3.4.1 Company Overview

16.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.4.3 Financials

16.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.5 CAF Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A.

16.3.5.1 Company Overview

16.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.5.3 Financials

16.3.6 CRRC Corporation Limited

16.3.6.1 Company Overview

16.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.6.3 Financials

16.3.7 General Electric Company

16.3.7.1 Company Overview

16.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.7.3 Financials

16.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.8 Hitachi Ltd.

16.3.8.1 Company Overview

16.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.8.3 Financials

16.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.9 Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

16.3.9.1 Company Overview

16.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.9.3 Financials

16.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.10 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

16.3.10.1 Company Overview

16.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.10.3 Financials

16.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.11 Siemens AG

16.3.11.1 Company Overview

16.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.11.3 Financials

16.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.12 Thales Group

16.3.12.1 Company Overview

16.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.12.3 Financials

16.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r0znxj

Attachment
GRAZ, Austria, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Critical live operations rely more and more on real-time video information delivered by technical devices like IP cameras and drones. eyeson's video technology enables developers to integrate nearly every media stream into a video meeting. A very important factor for these types of use cases is that eyeson's single stream technology ensures that everyone sees exactly the same. This allows for an outstanding optimization in a plethora of use cases like situation rooms for fast response units, as well as video analysis of investigations and reactions.

Police operations enhanced with multiple cameras in a live video meeting

The security integrator Trembit solved the interactive operations challenge with multiple IP and drone cameras for police departments based on eyeson MCU service. With the eyeson layout functionality, all cameras can be part of one video meeting with a team of police officers - where all participants see exactly the same information at the same time - which is key for situational awareness in a critical operation. "The case with eyeson is special because it makes it easily possible to add a number of security cameras to the video conferencing room. It is also important to note that such a system could be installed inside police departments on-premise." - says Stanislav Zayarsky, CEO of Trembit.

Visual support in investigations based on situational awareness

One typical use case is the interrogation process in police departments where investigators can access an ongoing interrogation via video call. The IP camera in this case is pointed to the suspect and its stream is added and shown live in the eyeson video conferencing room. Police officers from other departments can securely join the video meeting remotely as well, making sure everyones' privacy is protected.

Another use case is based on drone technology for aerial surveys, imaging, mapping and facilitating decision support activities. Within a single platform, it is possible to quickly identify damages or hazards and facilitate transparent collaboration. The whole communication process becomes more interactive and efficient as this solution allows to bundle all information on one screen.

For increased security demands, eyeson guarantees indispensable privacy by generating an instant link to start a dedicated temporary server in the cloud that is unique for the given meeting. The meeting server runs only for the duration of the meeting. Once the meeting is concluded, the server is terminated and the data deleted.

eyeson is a technology leader in cloud-based video communication. eyeson provides an API video service to easily integrate live video including live media, data and participants into any kind of use-case based on its unique patented single stream technology. To secure customers' performance eyeson offers the service to manage cloud capacity, scalable video coding performance and data management. eyeson provides browser-based video integrations on all desktop and mobile devices.

media@eyeson.com

Related Images











Image 1: eyeson for remote operations









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
English French

LYON, France and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amolyt Pharma, a global company specialized in developing therapeutic peptides for rare endocrine and related diseases, today announced that management will be participating at three upcoming investor conferences. Details for the three events are below:



SVB Leerink Global Healthcare Conference (virtual event) Date: February 14-18, 2022 Format: Management will be available for one-on-one meetings. Please contact your SVB Leerink sales representative to request a meeting. 42 nd Annual Cowen Healthcare Conference (virtual event) Date: March 7-9, 2022 Format: Management will be available for one-on-one meetings. Please contact your Cowen sales representative to request a meeting. BioCapital Europe Date:

Place: March 10, 2022

Amsterdam, NL Format: Thierry Abribat, founder and chief executive officer, will be presenting at the BioCapital Europe event on Thursday, March 10. Please visit the BioCapital event website for more details (https://www.biocapitaleurope.com/).

About Amolyt Pharma

Amolyt Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, is building on its teams established expertise in therapeutic peptides to deliver life-changing treatments to patients suffering from rare endocrine and related diseases. Its portfolio includes AZP-3601, a long-acting PTH analog as a potential treatment of hypoparathyroidism, AZP-3813, a peptide growth hormone receptor antagonist for the potential treatment of acromegaly, and AZP-3404, which is undergoing indication selection work. Amolyt Pharma aims to further expand and develop its portfolio by leveraging its global network in the field of endocrinology and with support from a strong syndicate of international investors. To learn more, visit https://amolytpharma.com/ or follow us on Twitter at @AmolytPharma.

Media:

Cherilyn Cecchini, M.D.

LifeSci Communications

ccecchini@lifescicomms.com

+1.646.876.5196

Investors:

Ashley Robinson

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

arr@lifesciadvisors.com

+1.617.430.7577
San Diego, CA, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) has partnered with StoryFile to create an AI-powered, conversational video of Dr. Sam Ridgway, who is known as the Dolphin Doctor. The interactive experience is available on the NMMFs site and enables anyone to ask Dr. Ridgway about his challenges, discoveries, successes and failures. StoryFiles technology was developed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, giving people access to great hearts and minds like Dr. Ridgways for future generations.

Talk to Dr. Sam Ridgway now.

"Dr. Ridgway's life story is so unique and now it's readily available in his own words to students, veterinarians, and scientists all over the world," said Dr. Cynthia Smith, National Marine Mammal Foundation Executive Director. "We are grateful to have archived his Dolphin Doctor legacy with StoryFile, while also capturing his true nature as a friend, mentor, and trail-blazing pioneer.

Dr. Ridgways groundbreaking and unique contributions to our understanding of dolphins and whales over the past 60 years in unequaled. As a founder of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program and a pioneer of marine mammal medicine, Dr. Ridgways career began as a Veterinary Officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1960. He is one of the founders of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program starting in 1961, and has over 60 years of experience in developing and advancing marine mammal medicine and research. In 1965, his work on marine mammal diving was transitioned for use in the Navy SEALAB II project, and, in 1969 to a system employing California sea lions, which is used to this day in various Navy recovery tasks.

Watch the trailer on this project now.

"When you spend decades with dolphins, there are things you know and want to tell people that don't necessarily come across in all the scientific papers and the books: for example, you learn, to recognize their "ah ha" moments and relish their sounds of glee, said Dr. Sam Ridgway, NMMF President. "With StoryFile, it will always be me connecting with people who care about marine mammals. This technology lets me talk about my experiences in a way that goes beyond the data, and because the visitor isn't just passively consuming a traditional video, I think it truly comes together across space and time."

Colleagues often call him the Father of Marine Mammal Medicine because of his development of dolphin anesthesia, medical technology, discoveries aiding marine mammal care, and his studies on dolphin auditory physiology and echolocation. He completed a large share of the seminal work in marine mammal medicine, and he continues to promote both applied and basic research in the field of marine mammalogy. Among over 300 papers, book chapters, and books he has published, Mammals of the Sea (1972) is one of the most definitive works on marine mammals.

"Dr. Ridgway's pioneering career as a marine mammal veterinarian was launched with the creation of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, and his story has been intertwined with ours through decades of dedicated service, said Dr. Mark Xitco, Director of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. I'm excited that his foundational perspective and unique insight, which has shaped us for so long, will continue to do so far into the future, while now being intimately shared with a much broader audience.

Dr. Ridgways StoryFile was filmed over five days with approximately 600 questions. Bonnie Samotin, StoryFiles Director of Research & Interviews, said StoryFile was honored to record and preserve Dr. Sam Ridgways life story and expertise. During the interview, I reflected how, just as I was learning his story firsthand, through his StoryFile, there will now be many people now and in the future who will have conversations with Dr. Ridgway, and hear how he became the Dolphin Doctor and a pioneer in marine mammal medicine.

Samotin continued, This StoryFile is a true gift to the community with the precious opportunity to interact with Dr. Ridgway. His mentorship and contributions will extend beyond those whom he mentored personally, as future generations will be able to benefit and learn from him, hear his stories, get to know this beloved colleague and community member, see how much he cares, and learn how much of a difference he made in the NMMF community, in marine medicine, and in the lives of all the humans, dolphins and sea lions and many other creatures who know and appreciate him, his caring, humor and wisdom.

StoryFile, which has been featured on 60 Minutes, has previously created projects with civil rights leaders, astronauts, WW2 Veterans, 9/11 survivors, the last living witnesses of the Tulsa Race Massacre, tech investor Tim Draper, and the icon William Shatner. The pandemic inspired StoryFiles founders to create a free AI Santa Claus that children from over 80 countries have had enjoyed talking to. StoryFiles have been used by the public at the Japanese American National Museum, the Philbrook Museum of Art, the Miami Crypto Experience, and the Tribeca Film Festival.



Carolyn E. Schlundt Melka, friend/colleague and project initiator said, Dr. Sam H. Ridgway has an amazing story to tell. What compelled me to engage StoryFile for this project was that you dont have to sit through hours of an interview hoping eventually hear the answer to a question about Dr. Ridgways life you may have. Instead, you can simply ask him. This technology embodies the same unique, groundbreaking and cutting edge advancements in filming as those for which Dr. Ridgway is known in the fields of marine mammal science and stewardship. This project came from the heart so that generations can come to know and love Sam as much as we all do, and continue to learn from his life story and pioneering advancements.

Dr. Sam Ridgways StoryFile was made possible by Carolyn Schlundt Melka, the NMMF Board of Directors Grants Program, and the Office of Naval Research through their funding of our Dolphin Doctor STEM education program based on Dr. Ridgways scientific discoveries and career. Special thanks to StoryFile and the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program.

To interact with Dr. Sam Ridgways StoryFile, please click here .

To watch the trailer for this project, please click here .

For press inquiries and more information, please contact Alana@StoryFile.com and/or steve.walker@nmmf.org .



# # #

About NMMF:

The National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized globally as a leader in marine mammal science, medicine, and conservation. With a mission to improve and protect life for marine mammals, humans, and our shared oceans through science, service, and education, our team of forward-thinking aquatic and wildlife veterinarians, scientists, conservationists, care experts, and analysts, is answering critical questions about the health of marine mammals. We are committed to protecting marine animals and conserving at-risk, threatened, and endangered cetacean species world-wide. In addition to publishing our findings in scientific literature, we share our discoveries with children and the community through our Education and Outreach program. More information at NMMF.org .

About StoryFile:

StoryFile LLC was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles by Heather Smith, Sam Gustman, Stephen Smith, and Ceci Chan. StoryFile uses AI, AR, VR, and its proprietary innovative technology to create and inspire human connections across generations to connect the past, present, and future. StoryFile developed the worlds first conversational video interactive platform that gives the storyteller the opportunity to tell their narrative and experiences in their own words. StoryFile has achieved the previously thought-of impossible by taking 2D video and transforming it into a 3D experience for all stakeholders. StoryFile recently launched StoryFile Life, the first at-home version of the companys proprietary conversational video technology which enables anyone to easily preserve the memories of loved ones and important life moments. It is a perfect gift for families, friends and mentors, since everyone has stories that deserve to be told, and saved for the future. More information at StoryFile.com.



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Due to unforeseen downtime and maintenance issues on the Shell-operated Trans Niger Pipeline, Decklar has suffered delays in establishing crude export activities and commercial production from the Oza-1 well.

As the timeline to restart operations at the Trans Niger Pipeline is still uncertain, Decklar has progressed alternate export options, including 1) a combination of trucking to a storage facility and associated exporting pipelines, and 2) barging from the Oza field to an offshore floating storage facility. Negotiations with local firms are in advanced stages to secure exports through both the alternatives.

2022 development plans include up to four re-entries and four new development wells across Oza, Asaramatoru, and Emohua, as well as further development and expansion of associated infrastructure.

Development plans beyond 2022 include up to 19 new development wells across the three fields.

CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Decklar Resources Inc. (TSX-V: DKL) (OTCQX: DLKRF) (FSE: A1U1) (the Company or Decklar) is pleased to provide a development and progress update on the Companys Nigerian operations across the Oza Field, Asaramatoru Field, and Emohua Field.

Oza Field  OML 11

At the Oza Field, the Risk Finance and Technical Services Agreement (RFTSA) between Decklar Petroleum Limited with Millenium Oil and Gas Company Limited covers 100% of the operations at the Oza Field. As announced on January 27, 2022, Decklar has now received US$4,750,000 with a further US$2,000,000 due by April 30, 2022 from San Leon Energy PLC (San Leon). Following the completion of the transaction with San Leon, Decklar Petroleum Limited will be owned 85% by Decklar and 15% by San Leon.

In terms of operations, Decklar has successfully finalized the re-entry, re-completion, and flow testing of the Oza-1 well, as detailed in the press release dated November 5, 2021. Crude oil storage tanks on site now hold approximately 20,000 barrels of oil, awaiting export and sale. Once Oza-1 is brought onto commercial production, the Company expects a stabilized flow rate of between 1,200  1,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

Currently, logistics and export activities are being finalized, as the Company is progressing several options, including:

Utilizing the Shell-operated Trans Niger Pipeline ( TNP ) to the Bonny Export Terminal; however, the link to the TNP between Isimiri, where Oza crude would enter the Shell operated pipeline network, and the TNP tie-in at Owaza, has been down for maintenance with an uncertain timeline to restart operations;

) to the Bonny Export Terminal; however, the link to the TNP between Isimiri, where Oza crude would enter the Shell operated pipeline network, and the TNP tie-in at Owaza, has been down for maintenance with an uncertain timeline to restart operations; Trucking to a storage facility that is tied into an operational associated pipeline network and export terminal;

Barging from the Oza field to an offshore floating storage facility.

Both alternatives above are currently in advanced stages of negotiations with local export infrastructure, storage, and transportation firms.

It is anticipated that the oil will initially be trucked to storage facilities with associated export pipelines. The next phase, and the most likely mid- to long-term solution for an alternate export option includes barging oil directly from storage facilities at the Oza Field along the Imo River to a floating storage facility located offshore in shallow waters.

2022 development plans for the Oza Field include:

Currently finalizing arrangements with local communities to begin construction of the access road and associated infrastructure for a new drilling pad;

Drilling the first new development well;

Re-entry, re-completion, and flow testing of the other two existing wells (Oza-2 and Oza-4), including tie-in to existing production facilities;

Installation of a Central Production Facility and infrastructure tie-ins for new well locations to replace the current Early Production Facility;

Completion of an inter-field evacuation pipeline and all related infrastructure; and

Drilling of up to two additional development wells.

Development plans for the Oza Field beyond 2022 include up to five additional development wells.

Asaramatoru Field  OML 11

At the Asaramatoru Field, the RFTSA between Purion Energy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Decklar, and Prime Exploration and Production Limited (Prime) covers 51% of the field. The remaining 49% is held by Suffolk Petroleum, who is currently in negotiations with Decklar to enter an RFTSA in relation to the additional 49% of the Asaramatoru Field.

2022 development plans for the Asaramatoru Field include:

Re-entry, re-completion and flow testing of the existing Asaramatoru-1 Asaramatoru-2 wells; and

Installation of a modular, barge-mounted Production Facility and well location tie-ins to infrastructure.

Future development plans for the Asaramatoru Field include up to six additional development wells.

Emohua Field  OML 22

At the Emohua Field, the RFTSA between Westfield Exploration and Production Limited (Westfield) and Erebiina Energy Resources Limited covers 60.13% of the field. The remaining interest has been awarded to two local Nigerian firms in the recent Marginal Field bid round. Decklar is in the process of finalizing the acquisition of Westfield according to terms announced on October 6, 2021. Decklar is also currently finalizing the purchase of additional equity in the Emohua Field and anticipate having RFTSAs covering a minimum 83% with potential to have RFTSAs up to 100%. This consolidation would require Decklar to pay additional signature bonuses as part of the field investment, along with the initial development capital funding to bring the field into production.

2022 development plans for the Emohua Field include:

Re-entry, re-completion, and flow testing of the existing Emohua-1 well; and

Installation of an Early Production Facility.

Initial longer-term development plans for the Emohua Field include up to eight additional development wells and associated production facilities.

Duncan Blount, CEO of Decklar Resources, said, While the infrastructure delays at the Oza Field have caused some unfortunate and unforeseen delays, we are at the final stages of entering contracts and receiving approvals for alternative export solutions at the Oza field that will allow for full-time production to commence in the near term. We also continue to progress development at our Asaramatoru and Emohua Fields where we are pursuing similar re-entry and development well strategies. We look forward to progressing commercial oil production at Oza and remain encouraged by the oil price environment and broader energy market fundamentals.

For further information:

Duncan T. Blount

Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +1 305 890 6516

Email: dblount@decklarresources.com

David Halpin

Chief Financial Officer Telephone: +1 403 816 3029

Email: david.halpin@decklarresources.com

Investor Relations: info@decklarresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Language

Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation), including the future commercial production of the Oza-1 well, the timing for export or sale of barrels of oil being held in storage, the development plans for 2022, the completion of the acquisition of a 60.13% economic interest in the Emohua Field, and the consolidation of the remaining economic interest in the Asaramatoru and Emohua Fields. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such statements and information (together, "forward looking statements") relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. There is no certainty that definitive agreements in respect of the Transaction will be entered into, or that any conditions precedent contained therein will be satisfied on terms satisfactory to the parties or at all.

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, assumptions 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", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The Company provides 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. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
ALL DIGITAL, ALL FROM YOUR OWN OFFICE, ALL AT ANY TIME AND ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

TECHNOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS TO GIVE QUICK CREDIT RESPONSE TO ENTREPRENEURS

A SINGLE OPEN PLATFORM TO MANAGE ALL OF A COMPANYS ACCOUNTS INCLUDING THOSE HELD WITH OTHER BANKS



TRY & BUY FORMULA AND SUBSCRIPTION WITH UNLIMITED OPERATIONS



TARGET BY 2025: DISBURSED CREDIT OF 3.7 BILLION EURO



MILAN, Italy, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- illimity today presents b-ilty, the first digital business store of financial services and credit for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)  those having a turnover of indicatively 10 to 2 million euro  with high growth potential.

A bank created with the aim of simplifying a businessmans life, thanks to the latest generation platform that combines specialist expertise and cutting-edge technology and provides its customers with the products and services of a complete bank, with the immediacy and ease that only an evolved user experience can ensure.

b-ilty is a digital platform 100% focused on SMEs, created with entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, aiming to simplify the management of daily activities. It gathers all banking operations together in a single ecosystem, integrating tools to support customer growth with solutions that are adapted to the needs of the individual business and the individual sectors of the economy.

It is precisely for this reason that it has been designed on the basis of models typical of the most widespread digital solutions, to bring means of relating and interacting normally used on non-financial platforms to the world of credit and financial services for the first time. The b-ilty business store, which envisages an all-inclusive subscription, will be progressively enriched with additional features, products and services, that will be automatically integrated and updated in the platform, available to subscribers.

A BANKING PLATFORM DEDICATED TO SMEs

b-ilty is a banking platform of financial services and credit that has been constructed on the basis of the suggestions received from hundreds of entrepreneurs. It includes all the most widely used banking transactions, credit and debit cards, short-term credit, factoring to fund working capital, medium-term credit to fund investments, insurance cover to protect the entrepreneur and the business and many other products and services provided directly by the illimity Group or by qualified partners. The range of products and services will be constantly updated and gradually extended to take into account the specific needs of the various sectors of the economy.

FAST LENDING DECISIONS

b-ilty provides short and medium to long-term credit. b-ilty is aware that entrepreneurs want an immediate and clear response, whatever it may be. b-ilty is aware that every sector is different from the others. Thanks to a strongly data-driven approach and the business expertise of illimitys Growth Credit division, it proposes a credit offer constructed by assessing the characteristics of the various businesses and the specific sectors in which they operate. Thanks to evolved LendTech systems and experts in the sector to be increasingly added, b-ilty is able to rapidly analyse dozens of indicators that will gradually be adapted to the features of each individual economic sector and shared with customers.

FULLY DIGITAL BUT ALSO PERSONAL

b-ilty is created fully digital, and easy to use to enable the entrepreneur, the CFO and the accountant to manage the businesss finances from their own office, without paper or the need to go to a branch without depending on other peoples availability. At the same time, it is also made up of people: every b-ilty customer will have a clear Relationship Manager with name and surname, as well as a professional call centre - Smart Care - available 7 days a week.

ALL ACCOUNTS IN ONE PLACE AND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION

Thanks to PSD2 functionalities, b-ilty also allows businesses to make a better use of the other bank accounts: the balances and movements of all the current accounts a company holds with other intermediaries can also be viewed on the b-ilty platform and the company can carry out transactions on all its accounts from this platform.

b-ilty knows how important it is to have detailed and comprehensible information available for managing a company and for this reason it puts the information it has available on the financial performance of each business and the sector to which it belongs at its customers disposal.

It is then at the discretion of the Head of the company to decide which information should be shared with which internal workers and with which external professionals. The platform undoubtedly simplifies work within the company itself and relations with its own accountant or other external professionals. It is an open platform that adapts to the operating needs of every business.

ALL-INCLUSIVE TRY & BUY SUBSCRIPTION

b-ilty not only allows customers to tailor the use of their bank, but also removes any doubt about the transparency of the applicable conditions.

In this respect the b-ilty platform is available as an all-inclusive subscription, meaning without operating limits, at a monthly cost of 40 euro.

The first three months are free of charge, after which the monthly subscription can be interrupted at any time.

Today starts the Beta Phase of b-ilty, in which access to services will be restricted to a limited number of SMEs, that will be gradually increased to ensure that our customers always receive the best possible service.

Corrado Passera, CEO and Founder of illimity, commented:

From its very beginnings, illimity has been very focused on providing credit to SMEs. In three years, we have created a new paradigm Bank that ended 2021 with assets of almost 5 billion euro, an operating income of 111 million euro, a ROE of 10% and a capital base and credit quality at the very top of the sector. In these three years we have inevitably concentrated on medium-sized businesses, but in these three years we have also invested in order to take our technological platforms, our valuation and credit structuring ability and our knowledge of the sector to all SMEs. b-ilty is precisely that: it brings illimity to a market consisting of at least a million SMEs. We see an enormous potential for growth and improved services in this large world, something fundamental for our country.

Carlo Panella, Head of Direct Banking in illimity, stated:

b-ilty represents something different in the banking offer dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses. It combines the best of new technologies with a highly tailored proposal based on modern paradigms of use, with relations and support ensured by a team that will be the customers point of reference. Created by listening to what entrepreneurs in the various sectors had to say, b-iltys aim is to respond, for the first time, to the growing need for an offer exclusively dedicated to them. b-iltys digital business store is moreover an example of real open banking based on a model that does not only consist of illimitys products but also those of selected partners, with the aim of constantly including the best available offers. In this respect, in order to create b-ilty we have gone beyond the financial world, taking inspiration from everyday digital platforms that are easy-to-use, transparent in their conditions and always updated in the offer. Our promise is to be complete in an offer that is easy-to-use and fast in the answers, always ensuring the human touch, thanks to a team of enthusiastic professionals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Investor Relations illimity

Silvia Benzi: +39.349.7846537 - +44.7741.464948  silvia.benzi@illimity.com

Ufficio Stampa & Comunicazione illimity Isabella Falautano, Francesca dAmico Sara Balzarotti, Ad Hoc Communication Advisors +39.340.1989762 press@illimity.com



+39.335.1415584 sara.balzarotti@ahca.it





Wire Service Contact:

InvestorWire (IW)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorWire.com

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@InvestorWire.com

illimity Bank S.p.A.

illimity is the high-tech banking group founded and headed by Corrado Passera created with the aim of responding to specific market needs by way of an innovative and specialist business model. More specifically, illimity extends financing to high-potential SMEs, purchases distressed corporate loans and manages these through its platform neprix, and provides digital direct banking services through illimitybank.com. illimity SGR, which sets up and manages alternative investment funds, the first of which dedicated to UTP loans, is also a member of the Group. The story of the illimity Group began in January 2018 with the launch of the special purpose acquisition company SPAXS S.p.A., which ended with a record 600 million euro being raised on the market. SPAXS subsequently acquired Banca Interprovinciale S.p.A., with the resulting merger between the two giving rise to illimity Bank S.p.A. which has been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 5 March 2019 (ticker ILTY), first on the MTA exchange and since September 2020 on the STAR Segment (now Euronext STAR Milan). The banking group, headquartered in Milan, can already count on over 700 employees and closed its financial statements as of December 31, 2021 with assets of around 4.7 billion euro.




PHOENIX, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- D Oh Gee CBD Daily Turkey Bites, a 100% natural, premium dog supplement formulated for supportive care for joint wellness, mobility, and calming aid during environmental stress, has been named Product of the Year for 2022. Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, determined by 40,000 American shoppers through a national survey conducted by Kantar, a global leader in consumer research. D Oh Gee CBD Daily Turkey Bites has been awarded the top honor as the most innovative product in the CBD Pet Category.



In an ever-changing consumer landscape, the annual Product of the Year Awards are a go-to resource for those looking to find the best new products on the market, whether theyre shopping online or in-store. With a distinctive red seal that is globally recognized as the vote of confidence from consumers themselves, shoppers can easily cut through the clutter and trust that these products demonstrate the utmost innovation in their respective categories, whether in function, design, packaging or ingredients.

Given the continued flux and uncertainty over the past two years, were prouder than ever to provide consumers with the vote of 40,000 fellow shoppers as a guide they can trust when making important purchase decisions for themselves and their families, said Mike Nolan, Global CEO of Product of the Year Management. One of the great strengths of Product of the Year is that we champion manufacturers for putting forward products that reflect the latest trends and offer consumers the solutions theyre looking for."

For over 30 years globally and 14 years in the USA, Product of the Year has served as the stage for brands to showcase exceptional quality and innovation. As an annual benchmark that forecasts the trends in store for the year ahead, this years winners reflect the things that everyday consumers value most.

Were thrilled to have D Oh Gee CBD Daily Turkey Bites recognized as a 2022 Product of the Year Award winner for the CBD Pet Category, said Brook Bacon, VP, Marketing & GM Animal Products at Sky Wellness. In an extremely competitive industry, were grateful for the recognition of our product excellence in this ever-growing CBD-for-pets category. To leverage the iconic Product of the Year red seal to confirm consumer choice is an honor and responsibility we dont take lightly. As a globally recognized program for product innovation, the Product of the Year Award serves as a distinctive, influential tool that will be important to our goal of reinforcing confidence and consideration among consumers and our retail partners.

The 40 winners of the 2022 Product of the Year Awards will be celebrated in a segment on Daily Mail TV this afternoon and on DailyMail.com. Shoppers nationwide can also enter to win all 40 winning products in a Product of the Year sweepstakes hosted in partnership with Daily Mail TV. For more details, visit the Product of the Year Instagram page, here.

As a resource for shoppers nationwide, the 2022 Product of the Year winners are highlighted in a shoppable article created in partnership with WomansDay.com, the online destination for the Hearst-owned Womans Day brand, and Ensemble IQ, a premier business intelligence resource with revered publications including Progressive Grocer, Store Brands, Drug Store News and Convenience Store News.

For further information about the 2022 Product of the Year winners, visit productoftheyearusa.com. Follow along socially with #SkyWellness on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and at #POYUSA2022 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Sky Wellness

Sky Wellness is the leading challenger brand in the CBD industry. With a portfolio of five brands: Sky Wellness, CBDaF!, D Oh Gee, EquineX and RipD, the company makes, markets and sells more than 100 affordable, premium THC Free, Isolate and Full Spectrum Hemp-derived CBD products designed to elevate health, enhance well-being and make life feel better. Each product is made only from the highest quality raw materials in the cleanest, safest, certified facilities, all verified via rigorous third-party testing. The ultimate goal of Sky Wellness is to make customers feel better by optimizing wellness outcomes through the benefits of Hemp-derived CBD. Available online at skywellness.com and at nearly 3,600 Convenience & specialty retail locations nationwide. By the end of 2022, Sky Wellness portfolio of CBD brands will be available in nearly 10,000 C-Store, Grocery, Drug and specialty retail locations across the United States, and online through more than a dozen of the most popular CBD ecommerce sites and marketplaces.

About Product of the Year:

Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation. Established over 30 years ago, POY currently operates in over 40 countries with the same purpose: Guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation. Product of the Year winners are determined by the votes of 40,000 consumers in an independent, national representative study conducted by research partner Kantar, a global leader in consumer research. The award is a powerful merchandising program for marketers proven to increase product sales, distribution and awareness. Winning products announced in February of each year are included in Product of the Years national marketing program and receive the right to use the Product of the Year honor and logo in their own marketing and sales communications for two years. For more information, visit productoftheyearusa.com.

About Kantar:

Kantar is the worlds leading marketing data, insight and consultancy company. We know more about how people live, feel, shop, vote, watch and post worldwide than any other company. Working across the entire sales and marketing lifecycle, we help brands uncover growth in an extraordinary world. Kantars services are employed by over half of the Fortune 500 companies in 100 countries.

MEDIA CONTACT

Mai Vu

VERY New York

mai@verynewyork.com

646-729-5969

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e9b2ed7-011c-4e36-9071-f4d02b649e72

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PHOENIX, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CONNECT Worldwide BPO is pleased to announce that beginning in Q1 2022, they will be adding Social Media Services to their Service Offering Portfolio. These services will be offered through their Premier Flagship location in Altia Smart City, Honduras. CONNECT Worldwide BPO is an international Business Process Outsourcing provider, specializing in:

Omnichannel (voice/text/chat/email) inbound Customer Care and Upsell services

Outbound Welcome and Customer Loyalty Connections

Social Media Services

Post-interaction customer perception studies

Post-treatment A/R and Collections services

Jose Moreno, Executive Director of CONNECT, said that the Social Media initiative had created over 25 career positions in Honduras thus far and the company projects that over the next year will create almost 1,000 new opportunities to support their Contact Center clients. "We are very pleased to be a part of the growth plans in the area and to support the people and industry of Honduras, managing Global Digital services," commented Moreno.

About CONNECT: CONNECT provides superior Omnichannel (voice/ text/chat /email/social media) Customer Care services, designed to support client objectives in their Customer Lifecycle efforts. CONNECT has offices in Honduras with USA-based client support.

For more information, press only:

Elise Christensen

480-360-1177, Ext 133

Elise.christensen@connectusa.com

For more information on CONNECT LATAM:

www.connectusa.com

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Beware the wilis -- vengeful spirits of women betrayed by their lovers in life, onstage in Orlando Ballet's production of "Giselle." (Michael Cairns / Courtesy photo)

Just in time for Valentines Day comes the story of a woman whose true love betrays her so she dies of grief and joins a gang of vengeful ghosts.

Or you could look at it as the story of a young woman so pure of heart that even after a betrayal she is willing to forgive with a love so strong it conquers death.

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However you want to view it  perhaps depending on your own current relationship status  Orlando Ballets Giselle is beautiful to behold.

Hitomi Nakamura plays the title role and John Abenanty is the noble who betrays her in Orlando Ballet's production of "Giselle." (Michael Cairns / Courtesy photo)

A wonderful combination of all the elements of ballet lifts the entire production: The fairy-tale quality of the sets, especially Giselles cute little cottage; the costuming by Eddy Frank Fernandez that makes the ghostly dancers even more otherworldly; the lighting by Joseph R. Walls  also adding to the supernatural atmosphere.

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And, yes, it does feel special that this is Orlando Ballets first production in the new Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which provides the perfect frame for a lovely staging.

Opening night marked the first time I had seen the hall configured with an orchestra pit, and it cant be emphasized enough how vital the music of the Orlando Philharmonic was to enjoying the evening. Brass fanfares, trilling woodwinds, seductive timpani: Adolphe Adams memorable score shone. Under the direction of Ramona Pansegrau, the orchestra burst with emotion.

The scenic and lighting design of Orlando Ballet's "Giselle" add fairy-tale magic to the production. (Michael Cairns/courtesy photo)

Giselle exudes emotion all over. In the story, the titular young peasant falls for a nobleman but then learns hes engaged to another. Her weak heart gives out in grief and she dies  only to join the Wilis, a ghostly band of women betrayed by love in life. But when Albrecht, the nobleman, becomes a target of the Wilis murderous actions, Giselle has to choose between vengeance and forgiveness.

Using the classic 19th-century choreography of Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, this Giselle was staged by Orlando Ballet artistic director Jorden Morris with Phillip Broomhead, Lisa Thorn Vinzant and Yan Chen. The result is a Giselle that is gentler than the last production of the work I saw.

Things to Do Weekly A look at entertainment and sporting events in Orlando and around Central Florida. >

The Wilis are less sinister  though the shadows they cast, thanks to Walls lighting, mesmerize during their first murderous outing.

The Wilis dancers showed remarkable unity in Orlando Ballet's production of "Giselle," onstage in Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. (Michael Cairns / Courtesy photo)

And Giselles famous mad scene feels more distraught than insane. Thats OK, though, when you have the luminous Hitomi Nakamura dancing the role. She radiates purity so intensely that it makes sense it takes Albrecht the first 10 minutes of the show to even get close to an innocent kiss from her. Nakamura dances lightly, as if she knows Giselles spirit is already heaven-bound.

As Albrecht, John Abenanty matches Nakamuras lightness with the choreography and scores with manly grace, though his second-act remorse could come across more strongly in his face.

The first-act peasant pas de quatre is particularly pleasing, as Ashley Baszto, Amir Dodakhojayev, Kenna Gold and Israel Zavaleta Escobedo make their frolic look natural and effortless.

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Dancing on someone's grave takes on new meaning in Orlando Ballet's production of "Giselle," with Hitomi Nakamura and John Abenanty. (Michael Cairns / Courtesy photo)

But the second act belongs to the Wilis  and the corps de ballet does not disappoint. The pointe work is steady and strong. The unity and synchronicity required to give the Wilis their wow factor are on grand display.

You wouldnt want to meet these Wilis in a dark and foggy woods, especially if youve done somebody wrong, but onstage theyre a welcome sight.

Giselle

Length: 2:20, including intermission

2:20, including intermission Where: Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando

Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando When: Through Feb. 13

Through Feb. 13 Cost: $24 and up

$24 and up Info: orlandoballet.org

Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts, facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
OTTAWA, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Large property owners, including the federal government and the City of Ottawa, and the cleaning companies they contract, have refused to pay janitors who, through no fault of their own, are losing much needed work hours. When you live paycheque-to-paycheque, this forces families to make impossible choices.



The convoy that has taken Ottawa hostage arrived nearly two weeks ago. While the dangers and annoyances it has caused have been well documented, not as evident is the impact they have had on the citys working class  consider janitors for example.

Janitors have been working through the COVID-19 pandemic, playing a key role in sanitizing the city. Their work has made it safer for everyone and they have continued to clean while property owners never saw it fit to provide janitors with pandemic pay. These workers have risked their health and safety, riding crowded busses through lockdowns without the option to work from home.

Many of the citys cleaners come from racialized communities and the majority are women. Although they are often left behind, through their union they have made important gains over the years, like annual pay increases, medical benefits and a pension plan. Still, many must work second and even third jobs just to make ends meet.

The occupation has resulted in the shutdown of many buildings in downtown Ottawa and blockades have, at times, prevented workers from getting to their jobs. Hundreds of incidents of intimidation, harassment and targeted racism have been reported and made the downtown core unsafe for workers.

Read More

SEIU Local 2 represents over 18,000 essential workers in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta. We are proud members of the largest, fastest growing and most dynamic union in North America.

Contact:

Diego Mendez

Communications Coordinator

416-476-7762
WHITEHALL, Mont., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX)  The pioneering Tailings Reprocessing Project at Barricks end-of-life Golden Sunlight Mine was officially opened today in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Montana Governor Gianforte, Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow, representatives of the Montana federal congressional delegation and members of the community.



The opening of the facility is the culmination of more than a years work that has already created more than 75 jobs. It has the potential to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue and benefits for the state over the next decade, while removing a source of possible water pollution from the mine site.

The facility will reprocess the ground rock, known as tailings, from which gold was previously extracted in the Golden Sunlight mills. The focus will be on removing and concentrating sulfur (iron pyrite) to be sold to and used in gold production by Barrick operated and majority owned Nevada Gold Mines, the largest gold producing complex in the world. The concentrated sulfur is not only valuable, but its removal will also eliminate a source of potential groundwater contamination. After reprocessing, the remaining benign material will be backfilled into the Mineral Hill pit.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bristow said the project, which combined rehabilitation with value creation, would serve as a model for Barricks future mine closures.

Last year we started this groundbreaking plan to initiate mining closure at Golden Sunlight while continuing to create economic benefits. Working in close collaboration with state agencies, we were able to complete the permitting process in time and commission the Tailings Processing Facility, creating value for all our stakeholders. Its a great example of what a true partnership between a miner and its host communities can accomplish. We look forward to shipping the first concentrates within weeks, Bristow said.

Governor Gianforte said, This project is an example of whats possible when state agencies provide a stable, predictable regulatory process that companies like Barrick can rely on. Were thrilled by Barricks investment in the Whitehall community and look forward to the benefits this project will bring, including more than 75 good-paying Montana jobs and a stronger, cleaner environment.

The Golden Sunlight mine produced more than 3 million ounces of gold during its nearly 40 years of operation. The mine shut down in 2019 when gold production was no longer economically viable.

Enquiries:

President and CEO

Mark Bristow

+1 647 205 7694

+44 788 071 1386

VP Closure and Governance, North America

Patrick Malone

+1 702 493 2421

Investor and Media Relations

Kathy du Plessis

+44 20 7557 7738

Email: barrick@dpapr.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words potential, will, focus, look forward and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to the expected economic and environmental benefits to be generated from the Golden Sunlight Tailings Reprocessing Project; the timeline for and potential benefits of shipping concentrate from the Tailings Reprocessing Project to Nevada Gold Mines; the potential for this Project to create economic benefits for host communities and serve as a model for future closure projects at Barricks other mine sites.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by Barrick Gold Corporation (the Company) as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary exploration permits and other permits approvals; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the United States damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).



Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
HOUSTON, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calzado Andrea has chosen to work with 11/11 Media, a Hispanic Digital Marketing Agency that has collaborated with different companies nationally and internationally with unparalleled results.

Calzado Andrea was sprung in Leon, Guanajuato, and remains a 100% Mexican-owned retailer. A leader in catalog sales, it boasts 45 years' experience in the footwear and clothing industry, enjoying a strong presence throughout the Mexican Republic and the U.S.

In addition, Andrea supports the development of clients, employees, suppliers, authorities, and shareholders for economic well-being, eco-friendly practices, and social development.

With fashionable products  from knee-high boots to sneakers  Calzado Andrea is a stylish as well as an economical international brand. The company taps only the highest quality materials, offering the durability and comfort its customers have come to expect.

The company's objective is to offer new consumers and future partners unique business opportunities such as a better e-commerce experience, fast delivery, and a lovely experience to fulfill their aspirations and enhance their personal and professional development.

With a presence in Arizona, California, Illinois, and Texas, Andrea plans to launch a new e-commerce platform (https://us.andrea.com) in 2022 to expedite access to and purchase of its quality shoes.

Being a footwear and clothing brand, it is characterized by its warm, family feeling, adding new staff and customers who realize its unrivaled position in the market. What could be more appealing than a chunky boot that is both comfy and chic? Or a brand that places the Hispanic consumer at the forefront, with a Spanish website and marketing staff?

Sergio Terreros, principal with 11/11, says: "Andrea Group has been a leader in the catalog shoe industry for decades. Its e-commerce strategy aligned with the trends we see in the Hispanic consumer industry, which is demanding brands they love directly and quickly. I am grateful to work with the Andrea Group on its e-commerce efforts."

In the States, the Hispanic population is booming. According to Statista, 60.5 million U.S. inhabitants were of Hispanic origin at the end of 2019, then jumping to 62.1 million in 2020, a number that is set to swell to 111.22 million by the year 2060. Andrea is betting on this market as the main objective, while not leaving out other demographics.

You can follow all the news of the brand on its official accounts in the U.S. @andreaonlineus on Instagram and facebook.com/andreaenlinea.us.

Media Contact: Sergio Terreros media@11-11media.com

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Ottawa ON, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amnesty International has been following with great concern the developments relating to the Freedom Convoy blockade in Ottawa.

Amnesty International Canada is deeply troubled by the reports of violence, harassment, intimidation, and hate speech which have surfaced since January 29th, said Amnesty International Canada Secretary General Ketty Nivyabandi.

Nazi flags, Confederate flags, and other symbols of racism and hate exhibited have no room in peaceful protests. Equally concerning is the affiliation of some of the Convoy organizers with overtly racist, white supremacist groups.

The failure of law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly and appropriately to reports of violence and harassment demands a prompt, thorough, and impartial public inquiry. The inquiry must also address instances of interference with residents rights to public health and social services delivery, as well as the harassment of healthcare workers, reporters, people living with disabilities, and racialized and other marginalized persons.

Authorities hold an equal international obligation to protect people from violence and harassment, and to respect the rights of all protesters to peaceful assembly and expression of their views. Violence and harassment however are not part of exercising the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Amnesty International calls on authorities to take immediate and appropriate action to facilitate peaceful protests, while investigating and holding those perpetrating violence or inciting hate to account, added Nivyabandi.

Throughout the demonstrations, racialized workers and residents have reported being singled out for abuse. Over 400 hate messages are under investigation by the Ottawa Police. Frontline services have expressed concern about the impact of the ongoing demonstration on their ability to provide to already vulnerable clients. People with disabilities have reported disruptions and delays in receiving supportive care, given ongoing street blockages by demonstrators. Journalists experienced threats and harassment, both online and while reporting from the demonstration zone. Until a recent court injunction, residents were subjected to almost continuous high-decibel noise levels, including honking, air horns, train whistles, street parties and fireworks since the demonstration began at the end of January.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg have also expressed concerns about the misuse and appropriation of sacred, traditional objects and ceremonies.

Further, Amnesty International Canada notes with great concern the permissive response afforded by the Ottawa Police to a largely white-dominant protest group. This response is in sharp contrast with how law enforcement authorities have mistreated Indigenous and racialized protesters in the past.

Amnesty International Canada expresses solidarity with the frontline organizations, including homeless and womens shelters whose operations have been impacted by these protests, as well as 2SLGBTQI+ and racialized communities  particularly Jewish, Muslim, Black and Indigenous communities  who have been targeted by hate propaganda, said Nivyabandi.

Further Background on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

Peaceful protests are a fundamental part of a vibrant society. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is a vital means of political engagement, with a long history of being a valid and effective means of bringing issues and grievances to light. Facilitating and protecting the right to freedom of assembly contributes to the protection of other human rights, including freedom of expression.

The right to hold assemblies and demonstrations on public roads has been consistently upheld by regional and international human rights bodies, which have established that urban space is not only an area for circulation but also a space for participation.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association has affirmed that the free flow of traffic should not automatically take precedence over freedom of peaceful assembly. However, these rights are not unlimited. They can be restricted in order to protect the rights of others, public order and public health.

The UN Human Rights Committee has said that an assembly that remains peaceful but which nevertheless causes a high level of disruption, such as the extended blocking of traffic, may be dispersed, as a rule, only if the disruption is serious and sustained. In any case, the onus is on the authorities to justify any restrictions.

Under international human rights law, states also have the obligation to prohibit and eliminate racial discrimination, including in the enjoyment of the right to security of the person and protection by the State against violence. The UN Human Rights Committee clearly stated that  peaceful assemblies may not be used for propaganda for war () or advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence (). As far as possible, action should be taken in such cases against the individual perpetrators, rather than against the assembly as a whole.

Amnesty International has produced reports outlining good practices on the policing of assemblies, as well as guidelines on the use of force by law enforcement officials.
WESTPORT, Conn., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the Worlds #1 digital platform for enabling technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is excited to be hosting its 2022 HMG Live! Multi-Cloud Executive Leadership Summit on February 24. HMG Strategys highly interactive events bring together the worlds most distinguished and innovative security and business technology leaders to discuss the most pressing leadership, strategic, cultural, technology and career challenges and opportunities that they face today  and into the future.



The 2022 HMG Live! Multi-Cloud Executive Leadership Summit will focus on the resiliency, cost optimization and other benefits that a multi-cloud strategy offers as well as how best to attract and retain the skill sets needs to support a multi-cloud model.

With the major cloud platform outages that occurred in 2021, a growing number of technology executives in the HMG community are pressing forward with a multi-cloud approach, said Hunter Muller, President and CEO at HMG Strategy.

World-class technology executives and industry experts speaking at the 2022 HMG Live! Multi-Cloud Executive Leadership Summit will include:

Ernest Boye , Managing Director, Cloud & Engineering Platforms, American Airlines

, Managing Director, Cloud & Engineering Platforms, American Airlines Tim Dokken , Vice President, Information Technology, Johnson Brothers

, Vice President, Information Technology, Johnson Brothers Fred Harris , Head of Cybersecurity Risk, Data Risk and IT Risk, Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking

, Head of Cybersecurity Risk, Data Risk and IT Risk, Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking Zachary Hughes , VP IT Development & Operations, CHS Inc.

, VP IT Development & Operations, CHS Inc. Dutt Kalluri , Former SVP Global Digital & Technology Transformation, Broadridge

, Former SVP Global Digital & Technology Transformation, Broadridge Wendy M. Pfeiffer , CIO, Nutanix

, CIO, Nutanix Anil Saldanha , Chief Cloud Officer, Rush University System for Health

, Chief Cloud Officer, Rush University System for Health Steve Winterfeld, Advisory CISO, Akamai

Valued Partners for the 2022 HMG Live! Multi-Cloud Executive Leadership Summit include Akamai, Aviatrix, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Genesys Works, Globant, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM Minnesota, Skybox Security, Strata, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2022 HMG Live! Multi-Cloud Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here.

On February 24, HMG Strategy will also be hosting the 2022 HMG Live! Digital Transformation Executive Leadership Summit. The 2022 HMG Live! Digital Transformation Executive Leadership Summit will focus on the role that technology leaders can play in partnering with the CEO and the executive team to identify how digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and analytics can be leverages to create new business models and go-to-market opportunities.

Top-tier CIOs and industry executives speaking at the 2022 HMG Live! Digital Transformation Executive Leadership Summit on February 24 will include:

Nicolas Avila , Chief Technology Officer for North America, Globant

, Chief Technology Officer for North America, Globant Paul Bellack , Global CIO, Magna International

, Global CIO, Magna International Mignona Cote , Chief Security Officer, NetApp

, Chief Security Officer, NetApp Dennis Hodges , CIO, Inteva Products LLC

, CIO, Inteva Products LLC Kyoko Kobayashi , Managing Partner, CIOs Beyond Borders Group

, Managing Partner, CIOs Beyond Borders Group Kin Lee-Yow , CIO, CAA Club Group

, CIO, CAA Club Group Samantha Liscio , Chief Technology Information Officer, Canadas CIO of the Year 2020, Public Sector, NIHR Clinical Research Network

, Chief Technology Information Officer, Canadas CIO of the Year 2020, Public Sector, NIHR Clinical Research Network Laura Money , EVP & CIO, Sun Life Financial

, EVP & CIO, Sun Life Financial Sanjib Sahoo , EVP and Chief Digital Officer, Ingram Micro

, EVP and Chief Digital Officer, Ingram Micro Jamal Shah , Managing Partner, Causal Effects, Inc.

, Managing Partner, Causal Effects, Inc. Gary Sorrentino , Chairman of the Zoom CISO Council, Global Deputy CIO, Zoom

, Chairman of the Zoom CISO Council, Global Deputy CIO, Zoom Jesse Whaley, VP & CISO, Amtrak

Valued Partners for the 2022 HMG Live! Digital Transformation Executive Leadership Summit include Akamai, BetterCloud, the CIO Association of Canada, Darktrace, Globant, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM Toronto, Skybox Security, Strata, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2022 HMG Live! Digital Transformation Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here .

On March 8, HMG Strategy will be hosting its 2022 HMG Live! SASE Executive Leadership Summit. This event, which is built upon the theme of The Shift to SASE: Tackling Risk and Inspiring Trust in a Cloud-Connected World, will focus on the factors that are prompting a growing volume of companies to adopt a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) network architecture to provide edge-to-edge protection across enterprise infrastructure, along with the steps and skillsets needed to do so.

World-class CISOs and security leaders who will be speaking at the 2022 HMG Live! SASE Executive Leadership Summit on March 8 will include:

Nishant Bhajaria , Global Head of Privacy Engineering and Analytics, Uber

, Global Head of Privacy Engineering and Analytics, Uber Rocco Grillo , Managing Director  Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal

, Managing Director  Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal John Iannarelli , Former FBI Special Agent and Senior Executive Advisor, FBI

, Former FBI Special Agent and Senior Executive Advisor, FBI Kumar Ramachandran , SVP of Products for SASE, Palo Alto Networks

, SVP of Products for SASE, Palo Alto Networks Erik Tomasi, Managing Partner, Symosis Security



Valued Partners for the 2022 HMG Live! SASE Executive Leadership Summit include Akamai, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Globant, Insight Cloud + Data Center Transformation, Netskope, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM Philadelphia, Skybox Security, Strata, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2022 HMG Live! SASE Executive Leadership Summit and to register for this custom event, click here.

To learn about all of HMG Strategys Upcoming CIO & CISO Summits, click here .

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. The HMG Strategy global network consists of more than 400,000 CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, senior business technology executives, search industry executives, venture capitalists, industry experts and world-class thought leaders.

HMG Strategys global media model generates more than 1 million impressions per week, providing vast opportunities for business technology leaders and sponsor partners to promote themselves and their brands.

HMG Strategy was founded in 2008 by Hunter Muller, a leadership expert who has worked side-by-side with Fortune 2000 executives with strategic planning and career ascent for the past 30+ years.

HMG Strategys regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven guidance from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent.

HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-led research services such as its CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) program which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles.

HMG Strategys Global Peer Actionable Insights Services Stack is a unique set of research services that are designed to keep business technology executives up to speed on the latest leadership, business, technology and global geo-economic trends that are impacting businesses and industries.

HMG Ventures is a venture capital unit thats designed to connect CIOs, CTOs, CISOs and other technology executives with innovative early-stage technology companies from Silicon Valley to Tel Aviv. HMG Ventures provides technology executives with a window into hot emerging technology companies that can help move the needle for their businesses while also offering these executives unparalleled personal investment opportunities. One early-stage investment in an enterprise-level AI-powered service management provider has generated a 100X return.

HMG Strategy also produces the HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel, a new webinar series thats designed to connect enterprise technology and security leaders with the most innovative technology and cybersecurity companies from across the world.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9607018b-7646-4f35-b662-146c38de123b
WEST CHESTER, Pa., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Financial President and CEO, Patti Brennan, has just been named by Forbes as #1 Best-In-State Women Wealth Advisors for 2022. This is a move up the list from last years #2 spot. Forbes also ranked the nations Top 100 Female Advisors and Brennan is ranked #13 in America. Forbes has partnered with Shook Research in reviewing more than 34,000 nominations nationally to determine this list of the nations top financial minds. Nominees are judged based on an algorithm of both qualitative and quantitative data. Advisors must have a minimum of seven years experience to qualify and are also weighed on additional considerations such as revenue trends, compliance records and assets under management. Data are weighted to ensure priorities are given to dynamics such as preferred best practices, business models, and recent business activity.



Recognized as a thought leader in the industry, Brennan is consistently ranked by Forbes, Barrons and the Financial Times as one of the nations top advisors. This honor goes to every member of my team who has worked diligently on behalf of our clients during a very tumultuous year. Between working from home at the beginning of the pandemic to coming back into the office while children were still being taught virtually  this dedicated team all faced challenges personally, yet the excellent service they provided to clients never waivered. Our bench at Key Financial is deep with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our clients know they will be taken care of, like family, for the rest of their lives.

While Patti Brennan is known nationally for her comprehensive services, she is also recognized locally as a loving mother of four children and dedicated member of the community. Patti maintains a close connection by holding seats on the boards of various institutions and nonprofits, such as University of Pennsylvania/Chester County Hospital, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine and Connect Through Cancer. Patti is invited to speak at conferences throughout America, as well as being the only American advisor invited to present at the 2019 Barrons Economic Summit in London and the 2020 Barrons Economic Summit in Australia. As a former board member of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), Brennan has also been the Keynote speaker for their Annual Economic Review in January  each year for the past seventeen years. Patti has guided standing room only audiences with her wisdom, perspective and practical advice through some of the most challenging times in our country. Brennan is also the host of The Patti Brennan Show, a podcast dedicated to helping improve the listeners net worth. It can be found on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. The show is biweekly and covers timely financial topics as well as economic forecasts and market discussions.

With assets under management of almost $2Billion, Key Financial Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services and is located at 1045 Andrew Drive Suite A West Chester, PA. For information about the firms planning services or to speak with Patti Brennan, call (610)429-9050 or visit www.keyfinancialinc.com.

Boilerplate :

A graduate of Georgetown University, Patti is a Certified Financial Planner with over 30 years of experience providing financial advice in West Chester, PA. In addition to being President and CEO of Key Financial, Inc. she also serves on the National Advisory Board, is a Board Member of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine and Connect Through Cancer. She formerly served on the Boards of the Chester County Economic Development Council, SEEDCO and Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital. Patti, her husband and their four children reside in West Chester, PA.

Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through Patricia Brennan are independent of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Advisory services offered through Key Financial, Inc., a registered investment advisor not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

The Barrons Winners Circle Top 100 and the Barrons Winners Circle Top 1200 are select groups of individuals who are screened on a number of different criteria. Among factors the survey takes into consideration are the overall size and success of practices, the quality of service provided to clients, adherence to high standards of industry regulatory compliance, and leadership in best practices of wealth management. Portfolio performance is not a factor. Please see www.barrons.com for more information. The Forbes ranking of America's Top Wealth Advisors, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. There is no fee in exchange for rankings.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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Las Vegas, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Las Vegas, Nevada -

Las Vegas, Nevada based Pigeonly is reaching out to the wider community to share information about their inmate calling services. Pigeonly provides everyone a simple, affordable way to stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones from any phone, tablet, or computer. More information about their services can be found here: https://pigeonly.com/inmate-calling/.

Frederick Hutson of Pigeonly says, Humans need connection, and it is no different with people who are serving jail time. The truth is that most who have loved ones in prison find themselves unable to keep in touch because of the astronomical costs of calling an inmate. This needs to change, so we started Pigeonly to ensure that you will get the lowest inmate phone rate possible. With our help, you can accept your loved ones calls without breaking the bank.

While everyone normally has the choice of shopping around and finding the cheapest or most beneficial deals when it comes to cell phone contracts, it is not the same for those who are serving time and their loved ones. Inmates are subject to whatever fees the prison phone service decides to charge. The average 15-minute prison phone call in the United States costs just under $6, but some facilities charge almost $25.

These outrageous charges often also have administration, voicemail and account fees added on top of the call rates, the results of which mean inmate calling is unaffordable for many families. This is exacerbated by the fact that some facilities will also often receive compensation from each phone call. Notably, while there is a push for this practice to be banned, it has not happened yet.

Pigeonlys inmate calling service is simple and straightforward, and the company promises that there are no hidden fees, service charges or cancellation costs. A customer needs only to look up their recipient with Pigeonlys easy inmate locator tool. Then, the company will help set up and fund a prison phone account on the users behalf, following which they are free to enjoy calls with their inmates at the lowest cost possible. On average, those who use the Pigeonly service will see a 40-60% reduction in their call costs. The best-rate number is only $0.06 per minute, which is a huge difference from the national average cost of a call. Pigeonly offers a 7-day free trial: Start Free Trial.

Pigeonly also offers the ability to send unlimited photos, letters, postcards, and greeting cards to the inmate, as well as the ability to send web and news articles. Since the Pigeonly service is monthly, there are no lengthy contracts. Users can choose to stop the service whenever they like, so if the inmate is released earlier than expected, users can simply cancel their Pigeonly account without incurring any additional fees.

Hutson says, We understand how overwhelming life can be at times, especially with a loved one in prison. We are here to make things as easy as possible for you. When you join Pigeonly, you will always be able to rely on us. Think of us as your personal assistant, and we would be glad to do everything we can to connect you to your loved one. First, we will get you the lowest calling rate possible for your inmate phone service. Then we will help establish your inmate phone provider or any prison phone system that is used at your inmates prison or jail. We will confirm your number is working and can receive calls, and we answer any questions you have. We will do all of the heavy lifting for you, so you dont have to worry about anything.

Those interested in the services provided by Pigeonly and want to learn more are invited to visit the companys official website to get started. Frederick Hutson encourages families to get in touch with the company via their online contact portal or reach out to him via phone or email. Pigeonly also maintains a presence on social media, and users can view the company Facebook page for more information.

###

For more information about Pigeonly, contact the company here:



Pigeonly

Frederick Hutson

800-323-9895

support@pigeon.ly

2252 E Pama Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Toronto, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On February 10, 2022, York Universitys Schulich School of Business was awarded the winning title of the 2022 CFA Society Toronto Local Ethics Challenge. This years local champions from the Master of Finance Program at Schulich include Rishika Bhatia, Yusuf Jiruwala, Juhi Maru, Kaustubh Sharma, Anbochao Wang. The team was mentored by their Faculty Advisor, Gregory Pau, a Schulich MBA graduate. The team members demonstrated their ability to expertly negotiate ethical dilemmas in a real-life investment scenario and presented their case to a panel of seasoned investment professionals.



The CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge case introduced us to typical scenarios that investment professionals face every day, said Juhi Maru on behalf of the Schulich team. We applied our learnings from CFA Institutes Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct as well as the Ethical Decision-Making Framework to evaluate the depth and breadth of the scenarios. The entire process prepared us to improve our competence to use our judgment and critical thinking to uphold these ethical standards and act in the best interest of the clients. Overall, it was a great learning experience for the team, and it will certainly be a value-add to further our careers and we are excited to learn more along the way!



The CFA Society Toronto Local Ethics Challenge is designed to increase students awareness of the ethical dilemmas they may encounter as future investment management practitioners. Student teams were given an ethics case to study and evaluate. Each team then presented its analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges. Following a question-and-answer period with each team, the judges then selected a winner. Their decision is based on the quality of the teams understanding of the ethical issues involved, as well as the quality of their analysis, presentation, and responses to the judges questions.



It was great to see so many high-quality teams from across the province compete in this years ethics challenge, said Dr. Kevin Veenstra, PhD, CFA, CA, CPA, CMA. All teams did a great job with their formal presentation and their responses to difficult questions from the judges. As these students embark on their professional careers, I encourage them to emphasize giving voice to their values as ethics/ethical behaviour is, in many instances, hard work and must include both beliefs and actions.



This years competing teams include students from the School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo-, the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, and the Smith School of Business at Queen's University.



The Schulich School of Business team will advance to the national level of the competition at the 2022 CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge on May 6, 2022. The national level of the competition will include local winners from CFA Societies across Canada.



About CFA Society Toronto

Founded in 1936, CFA Society Toronto is part of the worldwide network of CFA Institute member societies that lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. CFA Society Toronto represents the interests of over 10,000 investment professionals in the Greater Toronto Area through advocacy, education, events, and professional development. For more information visit http://www.cfatoronto.ca or follow us on Twitter @cfatoronto and on LinkedIn CFA Society Toronto.



The Schulich School of Business at York University

Known as Canadas Global Business School, the Schulich School of Business in Toronto is ranked #1 in Canada and among the worlds leading business schools by a number of global MBA surveys, including The Economist, Forbes, Corporate Knights and CNN Expansion. The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program is ranked #9 in the world by The Economist and #7 in the world among joint programs by QS MBA.

Global, innovative, and diverse, Schulich offers business programs year-round at its state-of-the-art complex at York University; at its Miles S. Nadal Management Centre located in the heart of the Torontos financial district; and at its campus in Hyderabad, India. The School also has strategic and academic partnerships with a number of the worlds leading business schools in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Schulich offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate business degrees that lead to rewarding careers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and has more than 34,000 alumni working in over 90 countries. The School pioneered North Americas first-ever cross-border Executive MBA degree, the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA. The School has one of the largest portfolios of one-year, specialized Masters programs of any business school in North America. Schulichs Executive Education Centre provides executive development programs annually to more than 5,000 executives in Canada and abroad.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Lynn Hayward at shayward@schulich.yorku.ca

Chartered Financial Analyst and CFA are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

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New York, Feb. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest research study on  Artificial Intelligence in Defense Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), Technology (Advanced Computing, AI Systems, and Learning and Intelligence), Platform (Land, Air, and Naval), and Application (Cyber Security, Battlefield Healthcare, Logistics and Transportation, Warfare Platform, and Others), published by The Insight Partners. The artificial intelligence in defense market growth is driven by the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in unmanned aerial vehicles and increasing government spending on defense to improve artificial intelligence capabilities, incorporation of quantum computing in artificial intelligence.





Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 6,404.73 million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 13,153.31 million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 10.8% from 2021 to 2028. Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 189 No. Tables 106 No. of Charts & Figures 94 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Component, Technology, Platform, and Application Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends





Get Exclusive Sample Pages of this research study at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100001303/







Artificial Intelligence in Defense Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

BAE Systems plc.; IBM Corporation; Leidos; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Raytheon Technologies Corporation; Charles River Analytics, Inc.; General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation); Shield AI; SparkCognition, Inc. are among the key players that are profiled in artificial intelligence in defense market study. In addition, several other essential market players were studied and analyzed to get a holistic view of the global artificial intelligence in defense market and its ecosystem.

In 2021, BAE Systems plc. and Sarcos Defense announced that they are going to develop systems to advance artificial intelligence and machine learning through enhanced perception and sensing capabilities for autonomous platforms for Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

In 2021, IBM Corporation and Raytheon Technologies Corporation announced that they will jointly develop advanced artificial intelligence, cryptographic, and quantum solutions for the aerospace, defense, and intelligence industries, including the federal government, as part of a strategic collaboration agreement.

In 2020, Lockheed Martin and NEC Corporation signed a joint collaboration agreement to extend their partnership. Both the companies are also finalizing a licensing agreement with a multi-year option. For several years, Lockheed Martin and NEC have been working together to evaluate the effectiveness of SIAT for early production testing and operational scenarios.





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Artificial intelligence and robotics are playing a significant role in many defense applications. Robots driven by artificial intelligence can travel through dangerous areas, perform remote operations, and most importantly, perform surveillance missions. Artificial intelligence technology mainly provides robotic assistance on the battlefield, which will enable forces to maintain or expand warfighting capacity without increasing manpower. For instance, the concept of the robotic Loyal Wingman is being researched and developed for the US Air Force. Designed to fly alongside a jet flown by a human pilot, this unmanned jet would fight off the enemy, be able to complete its mission, or help the human pilot do so. It would act as an AI bodyguard and defend the manned aircraft. Moreover, it has been programmed to sacrifice itself if there is a need to save the human pilot.

Further, both unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) use artificial intelligence and are capable of independently completing a pre-programmed mission. UUVs use artificial intelligence in mine detection operations in seawater. UGVs use artificial intelligence for surveillance operations. Therefore, artificial intelligence is highly used in developing advanced technologies, including defense robots, which will be a major trend in artificial intelligence in defense market in the near future.

The US government is boosting its investments in artificial intelligence systems in defense to preserve its military dominance and mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks on computer systems. Furthermore, to obtain a competitive advantage over other countries, the US government plans to increase expenditure on AI in military systems. Furthermore, North America is known as the global hub for important producers, exporters, and users of AI systems, with the strongest AI capabilities, which fuels the artificial intelligence in defense market growth in the region.





Buy Premium Copy of this research report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPTE100001303/







Artificial Intelligence in Defense Market: Component Overview

Based on components, the artificial intelligence in defense market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. Software is the most important component of artificial intelligence products used in defense operations, and its demand is expected to surge during the forecast period due to the significant rise in digitalization across the military & defense sector. Technological developments in the field of AI are allowing companies to produce powerful AI software and related software development kits. Computer systems with AI software are deployed to perform complex activities. This equipment combine inputs from hardware systems and run them through an AI system to produce an intelligent solution. AI software are crucial in improving the IT architecture by preventing security breaches, which is driving the artificial intelligence in defense market growth for the software segment.













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Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/artificial-intelligence-in-military-market


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Board Certified Trial Attorney Lance C. Ivey, a partner at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, & Fronrath, will be conducting a press conference on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, at 11:00 am. The family of the victim who tragically passed away on Feb. 6, 2022, at the Royal Park Bridge will be in attendance.

The press conference will be held on the Southwest corner of Royal Park Bridge adjacent to Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach.

The victim of this tragedy was pushing her bicycle across the Royal Park Bridge heading west towards West Palm Beach when the drawbridge opened. Attorney Lance Ivey said, "Our client was enjoying a beautiful South Florida afternoon when she suffered this devastating fall. This should have never happened."

Mr. Ivey will provide further information about the victim and the incident at the press conference.

About Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is a law firm that represents the plaintiff in personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, motor vehicle accidents and nursing home abuse cases. Their national reputation for representing and fighting for the rights of those who have been injured is well known.

For more information on Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, call the West Palm Beach office at 561-655-1990 or go to www.foryourrights.com. The law firm's office is located at 515 N. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach, FL, 33401.

Media Contact

Kevin W. Ryan

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, & Fronrath

kryan@foryourrights.com

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French President Emmanuel Macron visits Russia and holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 7, 2022. (File Photo)

By Wang Shuo

The tension in Ukraine continues to rise. While the US increased its troops to Eastern Europe, European countries launched intensive diplomatic mediation. Among them, France is particularly active. President Emmanuel Macron visited Russia on February 7 to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and became the first Western head of state to visit Moscow since the end of last year. Then, Macron visited Kyiv. As the current presidency of the Council of the EU, can France resolve the military confrontation crisis between Russia and Ukraine?

Europe and the US have some differences on the Ukraine issue. As a part of the Western camp, although Europe mostly follows the US, they have different fundamental interests. Although Europe hopes to maintain some pressure on Russia, it hopes to restart the "Normandy format " and ease the situation in a peaceful way for its own security. Of course, Macron has many considerations for being so proactive on this issue.

France will have a new presidential election in April this year. Although Macron is generally favored by the outside world, he still faces pressures. Macron came to power in the name of reform that is both the goal of his governance and the foundation of legitimacy. However, both strong social inertia and the sudden COVID-19 pandemic have seriously hindered and put on hold Macron's reform. The biggest challenge in Macron's re-election is not the challenge from the right, especially the far right, but how to persuade the people who have high expectations to vote for him again.

Charles de Gaulle's insistence on independence, maintaining France's status as a major power, and resisting American control has been deeply affecting France's foreign policy. Therefore, although France is a member of the alliance system under the leadership of the US, it has always maintained a certain degree of independence and advocated the formulation of foreign policies based on its own interests. The French people with a major power complex, have a high degree of acceptance of their president's diplomatic achievements. Macron, who regards "rejuvenating France's status as a great power" as his mission, will not miss such an opportunity.

It is because of the difficulty in advancing internal reforms that Macron is more eager to show his diplomatic capability and win the support of the public. Of course, Macron's strategic direction is right, and he hopes to use the diplomatic mediation on the Ukraine issue to show his image. However, it is hard to say what kind of results can be achieved.

First, neither France nor Europe is the decisive factor in the Ukraine crisis, nor do they have the key to solving the problem.

Second, Europe is not united. Although Macron is hailed as the "last European president" by the outside world, there are doubts about him within the EU as they believe that he represents French-style "selfishness" and "adventurous progress". In particular, some Central and Eastern European countries expect the US-led NATO to provide security guarantees, and they are not optimistic about the strategic autonomy advocated by Macron. The new German government's support for Macron will also be very limited.

Third, whether Macron can be re-elected is still in suspense. The latest polls show that Macron's approval rate is around 24%, and the Economist magazine estimates his chance of re-election is 79% on a model. But Macron is not without worries. He faces a highly divided French society with a modest edge over other candidates. Therefore, whether it is public or private, Macron needs to make a difference in the short term and deliver significant results. Although he cannot convince the US and Russia, at least he is trying to help solve the issue.

(The author is a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University)

Editor's note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, 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.
Diversity, inclusion and the possibility of living an open and genuine life in Florida are being threatened, according to LGBTQ+ and Hispanic groups and allies that are asking the community to get together against several bills in the Legislature they say are detrimental.

Ricardo Negron Almodovar , co-founder of the group Del Ambiente, an organization focused on creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ people, especially in the Latino and Puerto Rican community, said the situation is very unfortunate.

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SB 1834 and HB 1557, known as the Dont Say Gay bill, seek to prohibit topics of sexual orientation and gender identity from being discussed in primary grades. This will have the effect of leaving LGBTQ+ youth without a secure support system in their homes homeless, as they will no longer be able to count on vital resources in schools, Negron Almodovar said.

He says that although this has been the main bill discussed in news outlets and local groups, he fears so many dont know about several others that put at risk the life and mental health of so many LGBTQ+ and Latinos in our state.

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As lawmakers in Florida discuss banning racial equality instruction in classrooms, and some are also trying to limit conversation about gender and sexual orientation in schools, Negron Almodovar says that there are several others that people need to be aware of. And in addition to understanding what is being discussed, understanding why our taxpaying dollars are being spent discussing ways to marginalize members of our community instead of focusing on issues like access to affordable housing and better paying jobs.

An LGBTQ+ advocate and survivor of the Pulse tragedy, Negron Almodovar says living in Florida has been a safe haven where hes always felt safe to be who he is, openly without having to think about it twice.

But now, after our community got together and we were so Orlando United, its a shame and even hurtful to hear these constant attacks. These are bills that come from a specific political party that is aiming to target diversity, he said. They are dedicated to attack the trans community, imposing specific religious beliefs and their way of thinking. Anything that is not how they like it is wrong and should be erased.

Ricardo Negron Almodovar, co-founder of Del Ambiente, and Pulse survivor at the Interim Pulse Memorial , on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Orlando Sentinel)

For him, the vague language in the bills is also problematic and could be left to very broad interpretations.

Organizations, including Del Ambiente, Hispanic Federation, Alianza, The Center, Orlando Alliance, Chispa Florida, Peer Support Space, Inc, Florida Access Network and La Mesa Boricua de Florida said in a joint statement that On June 12, 2016 the world woke up to the news of a tragedy that struck the very heart of Central Florida. At Pulse, an LGBTQ+ club in Orlando, a madman had murdered 49 individuals celebrating Latin Night and left many others wounded  physically and emotionally. Five and a half years later, the Legislature in the state where this horrific event took place is looking to potentially leave without medical care and support the survivors of this attack on LGBTQ+ and Latino communities, and many others who fall under the propositions of SB 1820 and HB 747, the so-called Medical Conscience bill.

Negron Almodovar added that while areas in Florida like Orlando and Miami may be more open to accepting members of the LGBTQ+ community, there are many areas in Florida that are much more conservative, that are not openly accepting of gay people. Passing a project like this would have very unfortunate repercussions.

Another of the bills Negron Almodovar and member of the LGBTQ+ community are concerned about are Senate Bill 1820 and an identical House bill (HB 747) which would allow health care providers and insurers to deny a patient any care based on a patients religious, moral or ethical beliefs. That would include denying care to LGBTQ+ patients.

It would also grant immunity from civil, criminal or administrative liability to those who deny care for refusing to treat a patient.

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Those bills, Negron Almodovar said, allow not only medical personnel, but also insurance companies and anyone related to providing medical care to pick and choose who they are treating. It prioritizes the beliefs of health care providers over the well-being of the patient, Equality Florida wrote in a news release.

The Sentinel reached out Orlando Health and AdventHealth asking how this bill could affect health services they provide. AdventHealth, one of the largest health care providers in the United States, describes their mission on their webpage as Rooted in Faith. Forward in Care and say they work with thousands of compassionate professionals working to Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ around the country.

When asked how a bill like the one targeting medical consciousness could affect their care, they said in a brief email statement that AdventHealth is aware of the bills under consideration in Tallahassee. In accordance with our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ, we will always be committed to serving the health care needs of everyone in our community.

In South Florida, Kevin Cho, a clinical care practitioner, says he trusts that honest professionals will always put the health of a human being before any law, but is still concerned. Thats why more than 100 health professionals and allies have come together against what they describe as a license to discriminate. They have launched a campaign called Healthcare Against Hate focused in educating the community and gathering signatures against the HB 747 - Protections of Medical Conscience alleging it endangers us all by broadly weaponizing conscience laws to legally deny care to any Floridian under nearly any circumstance.

Cho, who was adopted when he was 4 months old, says that bills like this could potentially harm immigrants, Dreamers, its so broad that it puts everyone at risk. It is sloppy and hateful. He mentioned the case in Tennessee where a couple was denied adoption just because they were Jewish.

I am so blessed I am here in Florida, that I was raised by loving parents, but I cant stop thinking what would have happened if something like conscience could have prevented that from happening. Even non-English speakers are at risk if someones conscience says they dont want to attend people who speak other languages.

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The legislation being discussed, they published on healthcareagainsthate.com, puts care for Veterans and immigrants in jeopardy. It emboldens racists and endangers both womens health and reproductive freedom. Although LGBTQ+ families could be targeted, the transgender community would likely face the most difficulty accessing care.

Brandon Wolf, press secretary of Equality Florida described what is being discussed in the Florida Legislature as a buffet of right-wing issues. Theres probably like five bills right now dedicated to silence our diverse community and make us feel uncomfortable in our own skin, even from a very young age. If we dont discuss issues like being gay and transgender, if we dont teach about equality and diversity, how can we prevent the hatred that took so many of us in Pulse to happen again? he questioned.

Wolf says opposing the bills go beyond the LGBTQ+ agenda, as many have criticized, it could harm not only us in the LGBTQ+ community, but our community in general including Hispanics and immigrants. Not abiding to a principal that healthcare and medical attention is for everyone and allowing anyone to even consider putting their beliefs and thoughts before the benefit of another, is just outrageous and detrimental to us as humans, as a society.

Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the June 12, 2016, shootings at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, reflects on the impact of the evenings tragic events during an interview at the Orlando Sentinel offices on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. As the 5-year anniversary of the attack nears, Wolf discusses how he has turned his heartbreak into action and activism to honor those that were lost. (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

As a Pulse survivor myself, this strikes very close to home. It is personal to me. Dont say gay will prohibit discussions about what happened in that nightclub. Our community is already four times more prone to commit suicide due to the stigmatization and discrimination we face. If you add that we now cant even talk about it in school, with our teachers, our classmates, if we can be ourselves and demonstrate we are all equals regardless of if we have two moms or two dads, where are we heading to?

Wolf said that while many might think this will never pass, that he wants the community to know that they are very real. Time and money are being spent and they are passing the floor. It goes beyond immediate access to healthcare too. If theres just a handful of providers treating mental health and combating PTSD, what happens when they are slashed in half. We wont get the same attention. We are becoming second class citizens.

Yasmin Flasterstein, founder of Peer Support Space, says the organization focuses on supporting and holding a space for people to navigate our unique journeys with life struggles, mental illness and/or substance misuse challenges, neurodivergence, disability, grief, trauma, or other obstacles to mental wellness. She says her main concern is the mental health of everyone who will now start feeling less. From a mental health standpoint, is that its already so scary to reach out for help for your mental health because it is so deeply stigmatized, so having a bill like this would basically further scare people away from reaching out for care for their mental health.

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Even if the bills dont pass, Flasterstein says Its really scary for me as an LGBTQ+, because it tells me that there are people out there that dont accept who I am, and with this bill and the other bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, this legislative season, you know, it has me kind of reconsidering what version of myself, what parts of myself Im gonna disclose to people because I dont know how theyre going to accept me or not.

Yasmin Flasterstein, founder of Peer Support Space. (Courtesy)

It makes me really mad. It makes me really upset, she added. Just like Negron Almodovar , Flasterstein said that I think that there are so many other productive things to be working on. Instead of taking steps forward, it feels like were taking 10 steps backward and it makes me really question the different leaders in charge and if they are supporting me, because it feels like as an LGBTQ+ person, and Im a constituent, theyre not supporting me clearly because theyre targeting who I am as a person for stuff I cant change about myself.

Wolf hopes that the Legislature would focus on matters that require immediate attention.

I dont have to tell people in Florida that there are other issues they should be addressing, he said. We are still in the middle of a deadly pandemic. We are getting rent prices spiked. This is not what our elected officials should be focusing on.
SALISBURY, N.C., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robin Olshenske, store manager of the Food Lion located at 1430 South Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578, was named Food Lions 2021 Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager of the Year. Olshenske was selected from a group of more than 1,100 store managers serving their neighbors across Food Lions 10-state operating area. Named after one of Food Lions founders, the Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Awards recognize and honor exceptional store managers who enrich the lives of Food Lion's customers, associates and the communities they serve. Honorees are also celebrated for successfully leading the business, supporting their teams and inspiring others. In recognition of Olshenske receiving this honor, Food Lion will donate 20,000 meals in her name to both Tabernacle of Meetings and The Fathers House, two feeding agencies in Myrtle Beach, SC, through the retailers hunger relief initiative, Food Lion Feeds.



I am honored to represent more than 1,100 store managers who bring our brand, strategy and culture to life, said Olshenske. We want our customers to know they can count on Food Lion every day. Along my 10-year journey with Food Lion, Ive been blessed to have worked with many amazing people. I appreciate everyone who has supported me and made me the leader I am today.

"Our store managers are passionate about caring for their neighbors and setting them up for success in life, said Meg Ham, President, Food Lion. Each of these leaders is committed to the customers they serve, the associates they lead and the communities they support. I couldnt be more proud to recognize this exceptional group of individuals and to thank them for everything they do. They are excellent representatives of our organization, our values and our commitment to nourishing the towns and cities we serve.

Olshenske celebrated her 10-year anniversary at Food Lion in January 2022. She began her career with Food Lion in 2012 as the assistant store manager of the Food Lion in Pawleys Island, SC. She was then promoted to store manager at the Food Lion in Georgetown, SC, before transitioning to her current location, which she has led for the last four years. Her store excels at implementing business initiatives and she has developed strong partnerships with local schools, veterans organizations and other community partners.

In addition to Olshenske being selected as Food Lions Store Manager of the Year, four other store managers were recognized for exceptional leadership and honored as a 2021 Divisional Store Manager Excellence Award recipient. They included:

Central Division : April Ledford, previously the store manager of the Food Lion located at 742 W. Highway 27, Lincolnton, NC 28092

: April Ledford, previously the store manager of the Food Lion located at 742 W. Highway 27, Lincolnton, NC 28092 Mid-Atlantic Division : Connie Dixon-Williams, store manager of the Food Lion located at 3434 Cooperative Way, Farmville, NC 27828

: Connie Dixon-Williams, store manager of the Food Lion located at 3434 Cooperative Way, Farmville, NC 27828 Northern Division: Kelvin Grant, store manager of the Food Lion located at 3200 Old Washington Rd., Waldorf, MD 20602

Kelvin Grant, store manager of the Food Lion located at 3200 Old Washington Rd., Waldorf, MD 20602 Richmond/Norfolk Division: Danny Williams, store manager of the Food Lion located at 805 Ocean Trail, Corolla, NC 27927

About Food Lion

Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 82,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has donated more than 900 million meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com or job applicants may visit www.foodlion.com/careers.

CONTACTS:

Food Lion Media Relations

704-245-3317

publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7c1b4666-7419-4e0d-b5b5-09b031f4eaba

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44f442e3-ca51-4ae5-b338-36fde133cdab
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TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the 2022 February cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute monthly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on February 18, 2022, will receive per-unit cash distribution payable on or about February 28, 2022.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follow:

Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PMIF $ 0.03945 PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) US$ PMIF.U US$ 0.04188 PIMCO Investment Grade Credit Fund (Canada) IGCF $ 0.02939 PIMCO Global Short Maturity Fund (Canada) PMNT $ 0.01432 PIMCO Low Duration Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PLDI $ 0.02945

The Manager, PIMCO Canada administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO), to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs 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, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that 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. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

No offering is being made by this material. Interested investors should obtain a copy of the prospectus, which is available from your Financial Advisor.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

All investments contain risk and can lose value. For a summary of the risks of an investment in a specific fund, please see the risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus.

Investments made by a Fund and the results achieved by a Fund are not expected to be the same as those made by any other PIMCO-advised Fund, including those with a similar name, investment objective or policies. A new or smaller Funds performance may not represent how the Fund is expected to or may perform in the long-term. New Funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller Funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. A Fund may be forced to sell a comparatively large portion of its portfolio to meet significant shareholder redemptions for cash, or hold a comparatively large portion of its portfolio in cash due to significant share purchases for cash, in each case when the Fund otherwise would not seek to do so, which may adversely affect performance.

Funds can offer different series, which are subject to different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), having different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose.

PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2022, PIMCO

PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations

Phone: +212 597.1054
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) (Search or the Company), is pleased to announce a corporate update regarding our upcoming 2022 exploration program. Our treasury is currently over $ 7.0M, which includes our recent $ 6.3M financing. This treasury will be used to accomplish the goals outlined below.



2022 EXPLORATION PROGRAM

The Company is well positioned to execute on its Sprint to Production. We are currently preparing our work programs for Deep Fox, Fox Meadow, Fox Valley, and other prospects within our Critical Rare Earth Element District in SE Labrador. We will also carry out some exploration on our Red Wine Rare Earth Element District in central Labrador. We are expanding our work force and planning for early mobilization to our field office in St. Lewis.

Deep Fox Project

We completed a very successful 7,000m drill program in 2021 and are preparing a 2022 work program which will consist of up to 14,000m of drilling. We are looking to potentially expand the current pit design, gather geotechnical information and carry out infill drilling to better define the resource. We will utilize 2 drilling rigs for the drill program, which will commence around May 15, 2022.

Fox Meadow Prospect

We completed a successful channel sample program in 2021, and the Fox Meadow prospect is drill ready. We have planned approximately 6,000m of drilling to further assess the underground potential of this prospect and an additional 500m of channels to expand the surface extent; REE mineralization is open along strike and at depth. Once the Deep Fox drill program has been completed, the drills will mobilize to begin the Fox Meadow program.

Other Prospects

We will continue channel programs on the Silver Fox, Awesome Fox and Fox Valley prospects.

Greg Andrews commented: We are very excited about completing our current financing. We have over $ 7M in treasury, which is allowing us to initiate our ambitious plans in 2022. The recent macro developments in the rare earth market, including significant price increases for the permanent magnet REEs, along with a forecasted supply deficit, has allowed Search to capture funding opportunities looking for advanced projects in North America. Our Deep Fox project is one of those projects, but the other attraction, is our District Scale opportunity that also includes the Foxtrot resource, and the drill ready Fox Meadow mineralized zone. Search is completing a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Deep Fox project to be completed late March 2022, which will be followed immediately by commencement of a Definitive Feasibility Study for completion in 2023.

About Search Minerals Inc.

Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson  St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX.

Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with the support from the Department of Industry, Energy ad Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining. We also recognize the continued support by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for its Junior Exploration Program.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Andrews

President and CEO

Tel: 604-998-3432

E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the Companys exploration plans and the preparation of the PEA and Definitive Feasibility Study, and the timing thereof, and other forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, results of exploration work, the ability to secure any required funding, receipt of all required regulatory approval and the ability to secure the necessary resources to complete the planned exploration work..

The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, and that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.
U.S. Virgin Islands, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) have been awarded a five-year grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), through the 2021 University Center Economic Development Program competition. As co-applicants, UVI CELL and UPR will receive $260,000 per year over five years. The EDA is providing a total of $7.4 million in grants to 25 colleges and universities in 17 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to administer programs, leverage assets, promote innovation and strengthen regional economies.

Grant funding will allow the launch of the UVI CELL EDA University Center, which will be one of many national programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. The University Center will work with entrepreneurs and assist growing businesses through one-on-one technical assistance, educational workshops and courses, and mentoring opportunities.

We are thankful to the EDA for awarding this grant that will allow UVI CELL to transform lives, said Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras, UVI CELL director. This year marks the 20th anniversary of UVI CELLs service to the community. As we celebrate, it is fitting that this year we will expand our workforce development programs to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

With this grant, participants will also have the opportunity to connect with our OSHA Consultation program, Safety in Paradise, and receive free, confidential safety and health workplace assessments.

We are elated to receive this grant as it will allow UVI to leverage resources that can bolster small business growth and economic development throughout the territory, said Dr. Oluwafemi Banjoko, senior contract and grants specialist. This is a tremendous opportunity for both UVI and the territory to support our small businesses by providing expertise, applied research, and technical assistance, continued Dr. Banjoko.

The EDA University Center program is one of many EDA programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. EDA also was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding under the American Rescue Plan to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

For more information, about EDAs American Rescue Plan programs, visit https://www.eda.gov/ARPA/. For more information about the UVI CELL EDA University Center, contact UVI CELL at (340) 693-1100.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)



The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

About UVI CELL (http://cell.uvi.edu )

UVI CELL is a division of the University of the Virgin Islands that focuses on developing programs that prepare individuals for high-demand careers, professional development, and licensure. The Center is also responsible for delivering services that aid in planning, economic development, and policy analysis that lead to continuous improvement. For more information on UVI CELL, visit http://cell.uvi.edu or call (340) 693-1100.

# # #

Attachment
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- The first NFT Expoverse of this year will be hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 29-31, 2022. This conference is expected to attract much attention from the blockchain community.



The NFT Expoverse is an educational 3-day event showcasing how the inevitable mass-scale adoption of blockchain technology will affect our world. Whether you are a business or an individual, you will learn about the next major advancement in our society and how you can apply it to your everyday life today. Industry enthusiasts will have the opportunity to hear from multiple expert speakers, visit a host of exhibitors and review some of the most innovative and cutting-edge products within the NFT space.

The NFT Expoverse has secured multiple media partners to ensure the event gets tremendous coverage throughout the broader blockchain community. As an example, CryptoCurrencyWire will amplify content creation to 5,000+ news outlets and provide social media distribution via IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) to various brands that collectively have more than 2+ million followers. Other media partners include ICOHOLDER, Rush 49, NFT News Today, Financial IT, Dtlaweekly, and SmartMoneyMatch.

The event is set to cater to both NFT industry newcomers and professionals alike. The industrys leading professionals are coming together to present attendees with a series of educational seminars, keynote addresses, and workshops. Speakers at the event will include John Kraski from NFT Genius, Tejas Chopra from Netflix, Aly Madhavji of Blockchain Founders Fund, and Andrew Bull from Bull Blockchain Law LLP.

The discussions that attendees should look forward to include: How creators can build and transition their audiences into web 3.0 by Sarah Figueroa from Geojam; Moving your traditional Web 2.0 business onto the blockchain and Web 3.0 by Peg Samuel from Fierce Studios; and How to get on the path of success in crypto by Damon Zwarich from Charli3, Garizon, Cardano Defi Alliance.

Additionally, the conference will host hundreds of exhibitors from across the NFT universe that will be showcasing thousands of products at the event. Tokenframe, the first ownership-verifying NFT display to hit the market, has joined as the official NFT Display Partner. Among the current exhibitors are Charli3, Epstein Drangel, and others waiting to be released. With a surging number of NFT products gaining mainstream attraction, attendees will be presented with the unique opportunity to see and try out some of the most innovative ones that are yet to hit the market, all within a single venue.

To find out more about one of the nations most significant NFT events, including how to attend, visit https://nftexpoverse.com .

About ZJ Events

The primary goal of ZJ Events has always been to create top-notch events in the nation, gathering the industrys best under the same roof. The team strives to provide all attendees with a fun, thrilling experience that promotes business networking. NFT Expoverse is one of many different industry-specific events produced by the ZJ Events team.

For more information, visit https://zjevents.com .

Wire Service Contact:

InvestorWire (IW)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorWire.com

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@InvestorWire.com
CORNING, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation (OTCQX: CNIG) announced consolidated earnings of $403,222 or $0.13 per share for its first quarter ended December 31, 2021. This compares to consolidated earnings of $122,108 or $0.04 per share for its first quarter ended December 31, 2020. CFO Chuck Lenns stated, The company saw earnings increase principally due to both electric and gas rate increases at Pike County Light & Power that were partially offset by high merger transaction costs.



Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2021 is not necessarily indicative of expected results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Quarterly earnings are affected by the highly seasonal nature of the business and weather conditions such as temperature variations. The revenue and earnings increase in the quarter was the result of rate increases at Pike and Corning.

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation provides natural gas and electric service to customers in New York and Pennsylvania through its operating subsidiaries Corning Natural Gas, Pike County Light & Power, and Leatherstocking Gas Company.

From time-to-time, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation may produce forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Valentines Day gets a full-blown weekend this year and that means you can pull out all the stops for your S.O., life partner or besties and make a multiday event of it if youre so inclined.

Are you a planner? Youre likely all set because by now, reservations for hotels, rentals and fancy dinners are most definitely getting scarce. As for you procrastinators, consider this both a wake-up call and a plausible shortlist of gourmet goodies youve still got time to pre-order or grab up.

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And really you could do a lot worse than a box full of freshly made holiday doughnuts from The Glass Knife...

The new chocolate cherry cheesecake was purpose-built for sharing (serves 2-4 people). (The Glass Knife / Courtesy photo)

The Glass Knife

Behold the hot, hot handiwork of executive pastry chef Kristy Carlucci and her team as they take you on an impressive 12-pastry tour for the Valentines holiday, including a few new delights youll want to get your paws on.

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Case in point: The chocolate-cherry cheesecake ($35, serves 2-4), an entremets-style pastry for two, designed specifically with sharing in mind. Its comprised of decadent dark chocolate mousse layered with cherry pate de fruit jelly, New York-style cheesecake, a rich brownie, dark and chocolate crisp pearls finished in pink-hued white chocolate atop a chocolate sable thats embellished with a shimmering chocolate-rose design.

Were always about a sense of community and sharing and friendship, says Glass Knife brand manager Lance Koenig. And we can share that friendship even on Valentines Day.

The nice part? No night out required. Some folks eschew restaurants for popular dining nights like Valentines Day. Others cant get reservations. This year, the lingering specter of COVID-19 will likely find many choosing to stay home instead.

Just because youre not out on the town, it doesnt mean you cant create a really meaningful moment for your friend, your partner, you name it, Koenig offers. Hes most excited about that cheesecake (it just resonates with people, he admits) but his far-and-away favorite is their strawberry snack cake heart ($7), essentially a pink, fruity version of their wildly popular Big Wheel  but in a heart shape.

We always bring it back for Valentines Day and if we dont, people revolt, he jokes. Its a fan fave!

Other available items include the strawberry cheesecake heart pastry ($10, available on/after Feb. 1): chocolate raspberry tart ($10), strawberry champagne petite cake ($11) and the Valentine Donut Box ($30, available Feb, 11-14 for pickup only) which features six doughnuts including the strawberry cruller, cherry Boston cream, adore sprinkle, creme brulee, glazed and all-new, just for Valentines red velvet).

Online pre-order for all items available at theglassknife.com.

More info: 276 S. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park; 407-500-2253; theglassknife.com

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Book your Valentine's dinner at Tornatore's and you can let Chef Jason Wolfe cook them for you instead. (Massimos Aristan Pasta / Courtesy photo)

Massimos Artisan Pasta at Tornatores Italian Market

Lobster. Its a potent symbol of indulgence. Its an aphrodisiac. And Massimo Montanini is stuffing it into artful, heart-shaped ravioli with rich ricotta so you can bring it home and stuff it in your face. Boxes of six go for $18 and are available through Valentines Day at Tornatores Italian Market, but if youre really lucky (and at this point, youd have to be) you might be able to get a reservation for dinner. Then Tornatores executive chef Jason Wolfe can cook them for you as part of their weekend offering, a romantic, curated a la carte menu that features additional entrees of braised short rib and roasted duck breast, among other goodies.

More info: 3818 Edgewater Drive in Orlando; 407-292-2248; tornatoresitalianrestaurant.com

Tapa Toros Smashing Heart Box is filled with macarons, chocolate and assorted candies. (Tapa Toro / Courtesy photo)

Tapa Toro

This I-Drive favorite is bringing back a Valentines favorite that puts heartbreak front and center. Smashing Heart Boxes come with their own little mallet and inside the gorgeous, 14-inch chocolate shell: macarons, chocolate and assorted candies. ($35 each, $45 with strawberries) Preorder available now for pickup Feb. 11-13 at: tapatoro.restaurant/delivery-take-out.

More info: 8441 International Drive in Orlando; 407-226-2929; tapatoro.restaurant/delivery-take-out

Bottom to top: Choulala chef Stephanie Krupp's gorgeous raspberry macarons, Prosecco puffs and Valentine-themed entremets/glacage mousse cake. "It's like eating a chocolate-covered strawberry," she says. (Choulala / Courtesy photo)

Choulala

Executive chef Stephanie Krupp loves February, always a great time to do something old and something new. For Valentines Day this year, there are more than a few: raspberry macarons, a lychee rose cream puff and a beautiful strawberry and chocolate entremet.

Ive also got a prosecco puff Ill be busting out! she says. You cant have Valentines without a little bubbly!

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All items can be purchased a la carte, or you can opt-in for the V-Day Box ($16) which features two prosecco puffs, two raspberry macarons, one heart entremet (strawberry mousse, chocolate filling, brown butter brownie). At the Park Avenue shop, you can make the bubbly literal and add a bottle of prosecco to take out ($35) or two glasses if youre dining in ($16).

Heart-shaped cookie cakes, available in individual sizes and larger, must be ordered in advance.

More info: 1786 State Road 436 in Winter Park; 407-543-8558 or 340 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park, 407-960-6688; choulala-pastries.com

At Chocolate Kingdom, guests can customize a 10 oz. chocolate heart in milk, dark or white chocolate with the mix-ins of their choice. (Chocolate Kingdom / Courtesy photo)

Chocolate Kingdom

Chocolate for Valentines Day may be standard, but customizing your gift makes a real difference, says Edgar Schaked of Chocolate Kingdom, where handmade confections abound. Here youll find a vast assortment of chocolates, truffles and covered strawberries but the 10-ounce chocolate heart box is made just for the heart youre trying to capture.

We will even write a custom message on the chocolate so theyll know it was made special, he says.

Choosing three mix-ins of the 17 available will help (these include Rice Krispies, caramel, cocoa nibs, cayenne pepper  even bacon!).

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All ingredients are mixed together with the chosen chocolate to create a most unique heart for Valentines Day.

Hearts take about 10-15 minutes to make. In the meantime, throw a little extra romance in your basket with a jar of chocolate body paint or a bottle of chocolate wine and a chocolate champagne glass to complete your super sweet celebration.

Custom hearts are available through Feb. 13.

More info: 9901 Hawaiian Court in Orlando; 407-705-3475; chocolatekingdom.com

Smash open this gorgeous custom heart for salty-sweet holiday perfection. (Peterbrooke Lake Mary/Courtesy photo)

Peterbrooke Chocolatier Lake Mary

Who doesnt like a little salty with their sweet? Its a principle understood at Peterbrooke Chocolatier Lake Mary where the Stuffed Signature Peterbrooke Chocolate Heart ($45) does both  in milk, dark or white chocolate  with aplomb. But it doesnt end with popcorn.

Our chocolate heart will not only captivate the attention of your special someone, says co-owner and franchisee Ruchi Sharma, but will create a night like no other, allowing them to smash open into a sweet treat like one of our chocolates, tickets to an event or even an engagement ring to create the ultimate moment this holiday season.

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Bring your gift to the shop and see what sort of options abound.

More info: 1145 Townpark Ave. in Lake Mary; 407-732-4093; peterbrookelakemary.com

Valentine's Day classics from Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park. (Lisa Wilk/TasteCookSip.com/Courtesy photo)

Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park

Chocolate-covered strawberries are more than a classic, says Winter Park chocolatier Kevin Wray, they are a tradition ... sweet and chocolatey, they make everyone feel extremely special.

Their Valentines Day special features 6-8 dipped berries in a clear heart box for $24. Its an ideal addition to any gift or for pairing with wine and foiled chocolate long-stem roses.

More info: 300 S. Park Avenue in Winter Park; 407-644-3200; peterbrookewp.com

Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Lets Eat, Orlando Facebook group or follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Goshen, IN (46526)

Today

A steady rain early. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing in the afternoon. High 57F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Jason Friend (second from the left) looked away as his lawyers showed reporters body camera video of his 2019 arrest on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2022. Friend is suing the City of Apopka over the violent arrest. (Cristobal Reyes)

Before Apopka police officers violently arrested Jason Friend outside of his home the night before Thanksgiving 2019, they spoke to his neighbor, who called them because Friend was loudly listening to his music in his car while parked in the driveway in front of his home.

I know him. Hes a very nice guy. Hes a former New Jersey cop, I believe said the neighbor, who asked police to check on Friend after he appeared incoherent inside the car. His mother passed away a couple months ago, thats what hes blaming this on.

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The interaction, captured by an officers body-worn camera and released by Friends lawyers Thursday, happened just minutes before cops ripped Friend out of the car, beating him and using a Taser on him for nearly a minute while trying to handcuff him.

Nathaniel Tuck, an arresting officer who before the takedown aimed his Taser at Friend as he sat in his car, wrote in a report that Friend punched him in the face during the scuffle.

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Whether that happened is unclear in the video.

Friend, a former cop who served in the U.S. Army, looked away as reporters watched the footage inside a conference room at the downtown Orlando office of NeJame Law, the firm representing him in a lawsuit against the City of Apopka and Orange County. He said he didnt remember what happened that night until he was shown video by a neighbor.

Police described Friend as heavily intoxicated at the time of the arrest, which Friend and his lawyers deny. Rather, Friend said, he was zoned out.

I was unaware of the whole event until Im laying on the ground bleeding, face swelling up and I cant see out of my eyes. Struggling to breathe because the guy cracked my ribs, said Friend, who said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said there was no reason for officers to pull him from his car when no one was in danger or had been harmed.

Theres no rush, he said. Its a noise complaint.

The lawsuit alleges brutality by APD and the Orange County Jail and also takes aim at APDs hiring and retention practices, citing Tucks reported affiliation with the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist organization implicated in the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Tuck was also charged by federal prosecutors last year with invading the complex alongside his father, ex-Windermere cop Kevin Tuck, and members of the Proud Boys, including Arthur Jackman, the husband of an Orange County deputy sheriff and local chapter vice president.

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The City of Apopka declined to comment on the arrest due to pending litigation. When the Orlando Sentinel and other news outlets submitted public record requests for the video, the agency quoted the outlets $1,164 to review and produce it.

The Proud Boys is a fascist organization ... and yet this person was allowed to be on the Apopka police force. Why? said Mark NeJame, one of Friends lawyers. How could such a person be permitted to be on the force?

You dont allow this type of person to be responsible for the public, he added.

Friends lawsuit, which was filed last November, attracted news coverage after cellphone video taken by neighbors resurfaced on TikTok recently. The videos show neighbors, who called police to complain about Friend loudly listening to music in his car, which was parked in the driveway of his home, begging officers to stop as they repeatedly punched and used a Taser on him.

Shut the [expletive] up, an officer, which video released Thursday confirms was Nathaniel Tuck, can be heard saying.

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Tuck, who resigned from APD nearly a year before he was arrested for participating in the attempted insurrection, has not been publicly confirmed by federal prosecutors to be an active member of the Proud Boys.

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But according to chat logs published by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, he signed up as a member around July 2019, while still a cop, after being radicalized by right-wing YouTube videos.

I watched hours of antifa videos which then led me to Gavin videos, Tuck told Jackman, referring to Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes. He spoke the truth. Which sparked my interest.

Along with the allegations against APD, Friends lawyers claim corrections officers at the Orange County Jail subjected [Friend] to abuse including the use of racial slurs and physical violence. A jail spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations.

Friend was charged with resisting arrest without violence and three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, which have all since been dropped.

I grew up without my father, so all I ever had was my mom and Im the oldest of three sons, Friend said. Excuse me for grieving.

creyes-rios@orlandosentinel.com
Grand Haven, MI (49417)

Today

Rain likely. High 53F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 41F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
A Melbourne criminal defense attorney accused of using his law firm as a trafficking front now faces a federal lawsuit filed this week by four women who allege he raped and sexually trafficked them over the course of nearly two decades.

The Feb. 8 complaint is seeking damages against John Gillespie, who was arrested in 2020 on six felony charges, including counts of trafficking a juvenile and an adult for commercial sex, court records show.

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Gillespie, who has pleaded not guilty and vehemently denied the accusations in letters to the court, was found incompetent to proceed with his case in July. But a judge recently reversed that ruling, allowing his prosecution to continue, according to an online court docket.

[John Gillespie] in coordination with his named and unnamed co-conspirators ... acted in consort with each other to sex traffic and sexually batter Plaintiffs using threats, violence, manipulation, deception, debt bondage, controlled substances, and other forms of coercion to compel adults and children to engage in commercial sex acts against their will, the lawsuit said.

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The suit also names Mark Fetherman, who authorities accused of being a co-conspirator in Gillespies trafficking ring. He was charged with unlawful use of a two-way device to facilitate a felony, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Defense attorneys for both Gillespie and Fetherman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lisa Haba, the Longwood attorney for the women, said the lawsuit is seeking financial compensation to make our victims whole.

Money, power and influence were used in this case to manipulate, traffic and harm these women, she said. ... Its going to take a lot of healing, a lot of therapy, a lot of time to heal them  and that, of course, is not always free.

The complaint accuses Gillespie, 73, of sexually battering and trafficking girls and women from 2002 to 2020 across Central Florida. Three of the plaintiffs are listed as Jane Does because they fear retaliation.

The only woman named in the lawsuit, Edmee Martinez, was a 16-year-old runaway when she met Gillespies legal assistant, who provided her a place to stay, the lawsuit said. The assistant encouraged the then-teenager to work at a strip club and later recruited her to dance for Gillespie at his law office in Kissimmee, the suit alleges.

The Orlando Sentinel does not publicly identify victims of sexual assault without their consent, but Haba confirmed Martinez consented to be identified consistent with being named in her lawsuit.

Martinez said the attorney drugged and sexually battered her, leaving his assistant to drive her away from his office and drop her on the side of the road, according to the complaint.

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Another woman included in the lawsuit said she was 15 when her pimp forced her to have sex with Gillespie in exchange for legal services. Gillespie is already facing a criminal charge related to those allegations.

A third woman said Gillespie handled a drug case against her ex-boyfriend, whose mother had custody of their two children and financially supported the family. According to the complaint, to pay Gillespies fees, the boyfriends mother forced the woman to have sex with Gillespie, threatening to leave the state with the children if she refused.

Jane Doe No. 2 believed that if she did not comply, her children would disappear, the lawsuit said.

Later, Gillespie and her boyfriends mother forced the woman into commercial sex and split the profits, the complaint said.

The fourth woman included in the lawsuit alleged she was homeless and addicted to drugs when Gillespie and his female partner offered her a free place to stay, legal help and suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

But Gillespie instead gave her drugs that increased her dependency, the complaint said. He later told her she would need to pay off the debt she accumulated for the drugs and housing by engaging in commercial sex, the suit alleges.

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When the woman would not comply, Gillespie would allegedly strike her, threaten to make her homeless and deny her drugs when she was feeling withdrawal symptoms, the lawsuit said.

The complaint accused Fetherman of driving the woman to paid sex arrangements, paying for the drugs used to intoxicate her and buying phones to facilitate the commercial sex acts.

Haba said Gillespies actions will continue to affect her clients for the rest of their lives.

To be raped one time causes lifelong harm and damage to a victim, and when youve been sex trafficked, that harm is exacerbated on an astronomical level, she said. When youve been bought and sold like a piece of property, thats essentially a rape every single time. ... Theyre all experiencing the signs of trauma and [post-traumatic stress disorder] that comes with such a horrific ordeal.

Gillespies criminal trial is set to begin March 28.

mcordeiro@orlandosentinel.com
A KFC employee in Florida is recovering from a gunshot wound after an argument about a drive-thru order.

The suspect shot the victim in the parking lot of the restaurant Thursday night, according to the Bradenton Herald.

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The report states two people pulled in to make the order around 8:30 p.m. in Manatee County.

After an argument, two employees left the restaurant to confront the customer in the parking lot when one of the employees was shot, the Bradenton Herald reported.

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Read the full report on bradenton.com.
FILE - Curtis Reeves smiles at members of the gallery while attending the first day of jury selection for his second-degree murder trial on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, Fla. Opening statements are set to begin next week in the case of the retired Tampa police captain who is accused of killing a man during an argument over cellphone use in a movie theater in 2014. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Douglas R. Clifford/AP)

DADE CITY  Opening statements are set to begin next week in the case of a retired Tampa police captain who is accused of killing a man during an argument over cellphone use in a movie theater in 2014.

Six jurors and four alternates were chosen during the four-day jury selection process. Pasco County Judge Susan Barthle was scheduled to hear final motions from attorneys on Friday before the second-degree murder trial begins on Monday morning.

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Curtis Reeves, now 79, is accused of fatally shooting 43-year-old Chad Oulson in a Wesley Chapel movie theater during a showing of the Mark Wahlberg film Lone Survivor on Jan. 13, 2014.

Prosecutors said Oulson and his wife were seated a row ahead of Reeves and his wife. Reeves got into an argument with Oulson, who was texting during the movies previews. Reeves left the theater to complain about the distraction, but the argument escalated when he returned.

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Investigators said Oulson threw popcorn at the older man, who then pulled a .380-caliber handgun and shot him. The bullet also struck Oulsons wife, Nicole, in the hand.

The case has been delayed for years as Reeves claimed he feared for his life and sought protection under the stand your ground law. A circuit judge ruled against him, but Reeves appealed. Lawmakers changed the law to shift the burden of proof to prosecutors, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the changes didnt affect cases retroactively.

During the delays, Reeves has remained under house arrest.

The jury is made up of five women and five men. They will all hear the evidence, and wont know who the alternates are until deliberations begin.
GOLDBERG: The RNC's Idea Of 'Legitimate Political Discourse' Shows How Far Gone It Is
A passenger on a Florida flight pleaded guilty to assaulting a flight attendant and attempting to break into the airplanes main cabin.

Jason R. Cody, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea of the passenger, Kameron Stone, Tuesday morning, according to the Department of Justice.

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Stone, of Virginia, boarded the plane from Dulles International Airport in Virginia on April 16, 2021. The 29-year-olds flight was heading to the Pensacola International Airport when other passengers noticed Stone was acting odd, according to the DOJ report.

Stone smelled strongly of alcohol, behaved obnoxiously, refused to wear his seatbelt, and pretended to shoot at passengers during the flight. Flight attendants warned him several times regarding his behavior.

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As the plane began its final descent, Stone moved toward the front of the aircraft and tried to open the cabin and cockpit doors, according to the DOJ. When a flight attendant tried to stop him, Stone shoved the flight attendant into a wall. Next, he opened the main cabin door leading to the external portion of the plane, which set off an alarm and forced pilots to declare an emergency with the Federal Aviation Administration.

An off-duty Deputy U.S. Marshal, several other passengers, and the injured flight attendant subdued Stone to prevent him from fully opening the door.

Stones sentencing hearing is set for April 28, and he could serve up to 20 years in prison.
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GREENWICH  An accounting and human resources executive for a family-run kitchen design and remodeling business with a location in Greenwich has been charged with embezzling funds.

Susana Rivera, 40, of the Bronx, N.Y., was arrested this week and accused of stealing some $550,000 from the company, which also operates in Bedford and Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Federal prosecutors said Rivera diverted funds from the remodeling business and used them to pay for jewelry, beauty treatments, laser treatments, travel, pets, cosmetic surgery, clothing and cars, including a partial payment on a $100,000 Corvette, according to court paperwork. She also paid her utility bills with stolen funds, the complaint states.

According to the complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, Rivera began using the company credit card to buy goods and services for herself beginning in November 2019 in the amount of $175,000. She also set up a fake vendor to channel funds of more than $370,000, according to the federal prosecutors.

The complaint said Rivera posed as a member of the family business to use the credit card for big expenses, lifting spending restrictions on the credit card, and she also used a photo of another persons drivers license as part of the fraud.

On Wednesday, she was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The federal indictment says Rivera began working for the remodeling business, which was not named, in October 2019 at a salary of $80,000.

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said in a statement on the case: No more than one month after joining the company she allegedly defrauded, Susana Rivera started down a path of embezzlement that would eventually result in more than half a million dollars in losses to her victim.

Spending this money on a variety of luxury and personal items, she jumped headfirst into this scheme with seemingly no signs of slowing down  until we showed up to levy the charge, Driscoll said. Financial fraud schemes wreak havoc on private businesses and the economy alike. Any attempt to defraud a victim in this way will most certainly be met with consequences in our justice system.

Rivera was released from custody after posting a $250,000 bond after being processed in the federal court in White Plains, N.Y.
GREENWICH  Republican Town Committee Chair Dan Quigley announced that he will not seek a new term as head of the local party next month.

Quigley said he had intended to seek a second term leading Greenwichs GOP after the local party posted strong wins in municipal and state legislative elections during his first two-year tenure as chair.

But at the RTC caucuses last month, a surge of new members were elected who demanded leadership changes.

The statement was made at the caucuses that they wanted to go in a different direction. ... If I were to stay on, I would be staying on with a group that didnt really support me in the caucuses or support the organization as it was, Quigley told Greenwich Time in an interview Wednesday.

I think they want new leadership  so they should have new leadership, he said.

The RTC will elect a new leader at its meeting March 23. Quigley will not run for chair, but he will seek to hold onto his District 1 seat, which will be decided in a primary election early next month.

In Greenwich, the RTC has 63 members representing its 12 districts in town. At caucuses in January, 21 incumbent members lost their elections and another 12 didnt run.

Some of the new members have pushed for more aggressive scrutiny of candidates and for more conservative policies on issues such as COVID-19 mask mandates and social issues, including classroom curriculum.

This sea change on the RTC came after several successful elections for the GOP. In 2020, Republican state Rep. Harry Arora was reelected in the 151st District and Republican Kimberly Fiorello was elected to her first term in the House in the 149th District.

In 2021, Republicans posted a victory in an August special election, with Ryan Fazio winning the 36th District Senate seat left vacant after the sudden resignation of Alex Kasser, a Democrat. And in November, the Republican ticket led by First Selectman Fred Camillo and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin swept the municipal races in November.

I think when the caucuses first happened, you cant help but take it personally and think its about you. But I dont necessarily think it was about me, Quigley said.

I think it was about this group that wanted to organize and take the party in a different direction. I dont think it was personal. I dont view it as personal. I think my record speaks for itself, he said.

For the first time as the minority party in Greenwich, we had sweeping success this past year, Quigley said. Even in 2020, which was probably the most difficult presidential election year for Republicans in the history of Greenwich going back to the Great Depression, we held serve and didnt lose any ground.

Drawing criticism

Several of the new RTC members are supporters of the controversial Greenwich Patriots group, which has spoken out at Board of Education meetings, and a new group called Federated Republican Women of Southern Connecticut, which, according to attorney Lindy Urso, has funded a new lawsuit from educators against Gov. Ned Lamont and his COVID mandate requiring vaccines or tests for teachers. Urso is co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the newly filed case.

Many of the newer members criticized Quigleys leadership, with some criticizing an op-ed he wrote last November after the municipal elections. In it, he urged local Republicans to move away from the politics of former President Donald Trump and toward what he called the coalition-building that Camillo has demonstrated in office.

In the op-ed, Quigley blasted what he called the fringe right element in our party and accused the Greenwich Patriots of bullying tactics.

Quigley has also drawn criticism for his support of new Republican Board of Education member Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, who made financial contributions to groups campaigning against Trump, and for not supporting Republican candidate Megan Galletta, who narrowly lost her school board race.

After the caucuses, Quigley said what had once been a block of about 42 supporters of moderate, traditional Greenwich Republicans had shrunk to only 24, with 39 members representing the new guard.

Looking ahead to new leadership on the RTC, Quigley said on Wednesday that in his op-ed he wrote, The party has to embrace the way Fred Camillo has won elections and governed in Greenwich for the entire town and the entire community, not just the Republican Part.

I think the RTC in Greenwich is at a fork in the road where it is either going to continue with the course we set, which is to grow the partys tent and appeal more to moderate and independent voters to come over to the Republican side and stick by our traditional values of fiscal responsibility, low taxes and proper town management or take the party in a direction to the right of that, he said.

If they take the party in a direction thats too far right and embrace Donald Trump and what he has stood for, which is not popular in Greenwich, I think they run the risk of being relegated to a minority party for the foreseeable future.

Quigley nearly lost his RTC membership during last months caucuses. He had initially tied in the District 1 caucus, and in a revote, Quigley got just enough support, garnering seven of the 13 votes.

But now Quigley said he and the four other members of District 1 are facing a challenge March 1. Five candidates are seeking to primary their way onto the district membership of five members. As a result, the entire slate, including Quigley, will once again be up for reelection as five of the 10 candidates will be chosen.

Under primary rules, any registered Republican who is a member of District 1 can vote. A polling location will be open at Town Hall from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 1. Town Clerk Jackie Budkins, who is overseeing the election, said eligible voters can request an absentee ballot from her office now.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
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Google brought Android app developers an early Valentine's Day gift today in the form of the first developer preview of Android 13. It's important to note that this is merely a "first look" at the upcoming OS, and is intended for developers only. The first beta build to be ready for the public at large should arrive in April, while the final release of Android 13 is planned for sometime after July.

To go through the whole timeline Google's published, we should expect a second developer preview next month, then a beta in April and one in May, then two builds with "Platform Stability" (release candidates, as other companies would call them) in June and July.

Now let's look at what's new. With a renewed focus on privacy and security at the core, Android 13 brings a new system photo picker as a standard and optimized way of sharing local and cloud-based images securely. It extends what the Android document picker does - letting you share files without the app needing permission to view all media on the device - to picking photos and videos too. This should eventually make it "to more Android users" through Google Play updates for all devices running Android 11 and higher (except Android Go).

Speaking of Google Play updates, these will cover "more of Android", with new modules added to this update mechanism.

Next up, apps will be able to discover and connect to nearby devices via Wi-Fi without needing the location permission. The process of adding custom tiles to Quick Settings will be streamlined with a new API, as well as a new system dialog which will let you add a tile from within an app.

The Material You dynamically adjusting color engine extends in Android 13 to all app icons, not jus Google's. Of course, developers will have to provide compatible icons for their apps for this to work. These custom icons will be available on Pixels at first, but Google promises it will work with its device manufacturer partners to bring them to more phones.

You also get a per-app language preference in Android 13, which should suit multilingual users nicely.

If you're a developer and are interested in testing this build of Android 13, you can flash a system image onto the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4 XL, or Pixel 4. The build is labeled TPP1.220114.001.

Source
Evelyn Flores describes her poem "The Flame Tree" and the role of poetry on April 26, 2022, in anticipation of Poets.org "Poem-a-Day" focus on Pacific poets this May.
An 18-year-old Leesburg High School student was arrested Friday morning after officers found a loaded handgun in his backpack, according to an affidavit.

School resource officers got a tip from a student on Wednesday that Jamonte Chambliss was carrying a weapon in his bag while on campus, the report said, but he didnt show up at school again until Friday.

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During a search, officers found a teal 9mm handgun with a full magazine inserted and a round in the chamber, the affidavit said.

A Leesburg High School student was arrested Friday for carrying a loaded handgun inside his backpack. (Leesburg Police Department)

The gun wasnt reported stolen, the report said, and Chambliss doesnt have a concealed carry permit.

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Chambliss is being held in Lake County Jail and charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds and carrying a concealed firearm.

lgarza@orlandosentinel.com
A prayer to recognize Friday as the 30th World Day of the Sick was held by Catholic Social Service for ill clients and those who provide them care.

The day has been observed by the Catholic Church since it was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992. The message this year from the Vatican included acknowledging the needs of health care workers.

It encourages us to care for the sick and care for ourselves as well, said Lisa Bordallo, client services program manager for Catholic Social Service.

She added that the overall wellness of employees is key to ensuring their clients are cared for.

Bordallo said in-person activities for employees focusing on self-care and workshops on how to relieve stress were postponed for COVID-19 safety. They will be planned for upcoming weeks.

The prayer was held on Zoom instead of face-to-face because of the virus.

While the day focuses on prayer, Bordallo said residents can donate to support Catholic Social Service programs on the organizations website or through PayPal.

Items that are in high demand for the ill and elderly, such as adult diapers and nutritional drinks, can be dropped off at the Catholic Social Service office in Barrigada.

Donations can be made to a specific program, or to a general fund where the money or items will go where they are most needed, said Bordallo.

The organization has 165 employees, including nursing assistants who help the sick and disabled and support primary caregivers.

The Enkatgao Project assists unpaid caregivers, usually family members, who help the terminally ill or people undergoing cancer treatments. Staff members provide care for up to 16 hours a week. This gives primary caregivers time to focus on work, chores and their own health.

Other programs include the Community Habilitation Program, which gives adults with severe physical, cognitive or intellectual disabilities training to live independently. The Karidat Program provides 24-hour care for adults with severe disabilities who cannot care for themselves.
Some Guam taxpayers are receiving letters from the Internal Revenue Service stating they failed to file federal tax returns from past years.

We have been receiving inquiries regarding notices from the IRS, Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation Director Dafne Shimizu said.

If you received one of these letters, Rev and Tax can help you clear it up, Shimizu said.

The letters instruct recipients to immediately file tax returns from previous years with the IRS or explain why they haven't filed.

Generally, people who live on Guam during an entire tax year only file a tax return with Rev and Tax, not the IRS, according to guamtax.com. This applies to those who are citizens, permanent residents and nonresidents.

Taxpayers can bring in their notice to the Income Tax and Processing Branch counter along with picture ID so that (Rev and Tax) can prepare a certification, which will be sent to the IRS, Shimizu said.

According to the IRS website, there should be a toll-free number at the top right-hand corner of your notice that you can call if you disagree with the notice. Residents are advised to have their notice information available when they call.

The Internal Revenue Service hasn't responded to an inquiry about why the agency is sending Guam residents tax notifications.
Lawyers in the bankruptcy case for the Archdiocese of Agana will determine whether letters recounting the churchs acquisitions could be used as evidence if witnesses are able to testify at trial.

A motion filed by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors to exclude the letters from trial was argued at the District Court of Guam Friday.

The creditors argued the letters to Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes include hearsay because they are personal accounts about the archdioceses property.

The community statements are about individual feelings and intentions, said creditors attorney Andrew Glasnovich.

Glasnovich added the contents could not be an exception to the hearsay rule, which requires more reliability.

The archdiocese, however, said the letters include histories of acquisitions.

They would appear to have some inherent reliability and that they are simply relating to the date and a piece of property, said Ford Elsaesser, who used a letter discussing the history of a piece of land in Sumai-Santa Rita being used by the church.

After arguments were made, the creditors primary concern came down to the letters not being accompanied by witnesses who could testify to them at trial. A letter standing alone, they argued, would be considered hearsay.

Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, to resolve the issue, asked attorneys to confer as to whether they could get the writers of the letters to testify.

In 2019, a complaint filed by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors said the Archbishop of Agana did not Catholic schools and parishes as owned property when filing for bankruptcy.
Documents signed by now-resigned Contractors Licensing Board Executive Director Cecil Buddy Orsini have led to the dismissal of another procurement appeal.

G4S Security Systems on Aug. 10, 2021, challenged the Guam Department of Educations award of a project to install wireless internet in 40 public schools to Technologies for Tomorrow. G4S argued in part that Technologies for Tomorrow didnt have a C68 specialty license from the contractors board that would be necessary to complete the work.

The argument was similar to a separate procurement appeal filed by JMI Edison dismissed last week. In both cases, Orsini signed off on a Findings and Decisions document that stated the company that was awarded the project did not have a necessary license from the contractors board, according to the Office of Public Accountability.

Orsini resigned last week at Adelups request after the Office of Public Accountability found the document submitted in the JMI case constituted a fraud. In both cases, the Findings and Decisions documents were issued without the consent of other members of the contractors board, according to Office of Public Accountability reports.

The contractors board has not met since August 2021, an Office of Public Accountability report stated. The document submitted by Orsini in the G4S case was dated Nov. 1, 2021.

While it is unclear how and why the executive director came to issue the Findings and Decisions submitted in this case, the OPA is concerned about the probity and reliability of that document, given the misconduct in the JMI case, Public Auditor Benjamin J. Cruz wrote in the G4S dismissal.

The Guam Department of Education hadnt required a C68 specialty license on the invitation for bid and the appeal was untimely, decision stated.

Disappointed

G4S responded to the results in a Thursday press release. The company said there was no wrongdoing on its part, stating it followed correct procedure at each step of the appeal.

G4S was disappointed that the public auditor has declined to directly address an important question affecting government contracts in Guam based on another partys conduct in a completely unrelated matter, the release stated.

There was no answer on whether companies are required to have a contractors license to legally bid on and perform GovGuam contracts that would require a specialty license, the release stated.

Concerns

Guam Contractors Association President James Martinez said the question raised in each case was valid, especially when it came to sub-specialties such as fencing or communications work that a general contractor might need a more specific license to do. That question was sidetracked by what had happened in the G4S and JMI cases, he said.

The Guam Contractors Association would be looking into local procurement law to see if updates are required to make it clear what a contractor needed before bidding on a GovGuam contract.

Thats where the problems come in. If its not clear, someones got an issue, they file an appeal or a protest, Martinez said.

Guam Contractors Association members were concerned that the contractors board hasnt met since August, Martinez said, because theres some issues that may need to be resolved that now are delayed, especially in this climate where a lot of contractors are battling hard to do some business.
Mixed martial arts fighter Roman Sonic Boom Alvarez will be released from jail, but may face an attempted murder charge connected with hitting Joseph Baby Joe Taimanglo with his car.

Alvarez appeared Friday afternoon in the Superior Court of Guam after a potential release from the Department of Corrections was discussed earlier this week.

Alvarezs attorney had asked for the release of his client on a personal recognizance bond and that he be placed on house arrest and electronic monitoring.

Before releasing Alvarez, Magistrate Judge Jonathan R. Quan wanted to determine whether Alvarezs family members understood the responsibilities that come with being a third-party custodian.

Your liberty, because you can be put in jail, is solely dependent upon his conduct, Quan told Alvarezs family members, who would have to report Alvarez to the police if he doesn't comply with conditions of his release.

The family members agreed and Quan released Alvarez on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond that he will have to pay if he doesn't comply with the conditions of his release. The conditions include reporting to probation three times a week, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and not contacting Taimanglo in any way.

Attempted murder

Assistant Attorney General Basil OMallan initially objected to the release because of the possibility Alvarezs charges could increase to attempted murder after OMallan reviewed video from the scene.

Due to the nature of the charges, this is a very violent offense. This is quite shocking, OMallan said.

Quan decided to only take into account Alvarezs current charges, which include aggravated assault as a third-degree felony and resisting arrest as a misdemeanor. Alvarez also faces a special allegation of using a deadly weapon, his car, in the commission of a felony.

The charges stem from an incident Sunday morning when Taimanglo was found unconscious in a parking lot in Tumon with his head bleeding, court documents state.

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. Alvarez was later seen after the altercation driving his car into Taimanglo, according to a magistrates complaint.
The Tamuning Municipal Planning Council Thursday evening voted to support a proposed $600 million hotel and condominium project near Two Lovers Point after the developers agreed to make the projects condominium buildings three stories shorter.

Dan Swavely, a consultant for the Vista del Mar project, offered to withdraw the developers request for a height variance if the village council would agree to support the projects tentative development plan.

In response to the councils questions about the projects impact on infrastructure, Swavely said it is a really good site that is a short distance from the Northern District Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Ukkudu power plant, which is being built for the Guam Power Authority.

We cant get a permit unless we have our infrastructure in place, Swavely said, adding the developers might need to drill as many as three new water wells.

Approvals needed

All proposed development on hotel-zoned property must have a government-approved tentative development plan, reviewed by the Guam Land Use Commission and the governments Application Review Committee.

A resolution from the municipal planning council of the affected village, either supporting or opposing the plan, also is required as part of the land use approval process.

In response to public concerns, the Vista del Mar project during the past month was redesigned to include three 18-story condominium buildings instead of two 26-story buildings. A proposed water park, originally at sea level at the base of a cliff, now will be built on the plateau above.

The maximum height for the projects condominiums, based on the revised footprint of the buildings, is 15 stories. Developers planned to ask the Guam Land Use Commission for a three-story height variance, in addition to approval of the development plan.

The proposed development also includes a 736-room hotel and 50 single-family homes.

Public meetings

Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera, after the council meeting, said the council was unaware of the requirement to hold two public meetings for land use applications until late last year. The Vista del Mar application was the first to have two public meetings.

She said several other land use applications already considered and approved by the Tamuning council in recent months, including an application to build barracks for construction workers, are delayed at the Department of Land Management until the village council holds two public meetings for those applications.

On top of that, there are new applications that have not been heard yet by Land Management, including an application for more worker barracks and a project by GTA, Rivera said.

Tamuning council members said although required, village resolutions often are ignored by the Land Use Commission, which ultimately decides whether to approve applications.

I dont think what we say has any teeth, from what weve experienced, council member Vincent Camacho said Thursday. The fight doesnt start or end here. I just dont want anyone to get that perception that we have any say whatsoever.  The law requires us to put something forward before the Land Use Commission.

Height variance

Tamuning council member John Thomas Brown, during Thursdays meeting, said he supports the Vista del Mar project, but not a height variance, because the extra three stories for the condos are unnecessary.

In response, Swavely said the developers will withdraw the request for a height variance, keeping the condominiums at 15 stories, if it means the council will otherwise support the project.

If those three floors bother you  if thats what stands between us and a $600 million resort then well get rid of the three floors, Swavely said. Theyre out. Im OK with that.

Council members voted unanimously to pass a resolution supporting the projects tentative development plan, provided the developers comply with the conditions of the governments Application Review Committee and the Land Use Commission.

Beyond Tumon Bay

The project area, designated by the local government as the Dos Amantes Planning Area is ancestral land, declared excess by the federal government and returned to its original owners. The Land Use Commission in 2008 adopted a zoning map for the area, allowing hotels and resorts to be built there.

According to Vista del Mars application, the project would be the first within the planning area and would allow Guams tourism industry to grow beyond Tumon Bay.

My purpose here  is to grow Tamuning in the right way, grow our economy, jobs, investment, Swavely told the council. Its what planning is  do you have a place in the future to expand our options?
Zoya-Marie Tirow Sigeyog pleaded not guilty to charges connected to a September 2021 traffic crash that killed two women.

Sigeyog, 21, who was previously arrested and released by the Guam Police Department, was charged by the Office of the Attorney General with two counts of vehicular homicide.

On Sept. 11, 2021, GPD found that Sigeyog was driving 88 miles per hour in a Tucson on Route 1 before crashing into a pole near Polaris Point in Piti, a complaint stated.

Witnesses told police the Tucson was racing with a red hatchback before the Tucson fishtailed and lost control.

Officers arrived and saw the Tucson resting on its right side against the pole and needed to use chains to secure it to the pole to prevent it from falling over while they worked to remove the occupants from the car, the complaint stated.

The Tucson had extensive damage to the right front area, with the front passenger seat extending to the rear passenger seat smashed. The left front tire, brake assembly, spring suspension and axle assembly were also dislodged and ejected 288 feet from the area of impact, according to the complaint.

The passengers in the Tucson later died from injuries sustained in the collision. Sigeyog also sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, according to the complaint.

Medical care

In a hearing on Friday before Magistrate Judge Jonathan R. Quan, it was revealed Sigeyog will be going to Hawaii on Feb. 15 to receive extensive medical care caused by the crash.

In an attempt to expedite the charging process, the attorney generals office said they decided to charge Sigeyog through an information, a charging document that doesnt require a grand jurys vote, rather than bringing the case before a grand jury and getting an indictment.

An information warranted Fridays hearing where Sigeyog could plead guilty or not guilty to the charges before she left.

Sigeyog pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed by the court to leave off-island.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden signed an order Friday to free $7 billion in Afghan assets frozen in the U.S., splitting the money between humanitarian relief for poverty-stricken Afghanistan and a fund for Sept. 11 victims still seeking relief from the terror attacks that shocked America and killed thousands.

No money would immediately be released. But Bidens order calls for banks to provide $3.5 billion of the frozen amount to a trust fund for distribution through humanitarian groups for Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would stay in the U.S. to finance payments from lawsuits by U.S. victims of terrorism that are still working their way through the courts.

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International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the countrys assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in August as the U.S. military withdrew.

The White House said in a statement that the order is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Taliban and malicious actors.

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Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, died in the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, said that though victims families support the distribution of a large portion of the funds to the Afghan people, the remaining funds should be distributed fairly among the families so that they dont have to fight amongst each other. He said the best solution would be for the $3.5 billion to be sent directly into an existing fund for victims of state sponsored terrorism.

Anything short of equitable treatment for and among the 9/11 families as it relates to these frozen assets is outrageous and will be seen as a betrayal by the government, Eagleson said in a statement.

Afghanistans long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of the previous governments budget came from the international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

Aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. State employees, from doctors to teachers and administrative civil servants, havent been paid in months. Banks have restricted how much money account holders can withdraw.

U.S. courts where 9/11 victims have filed claims against the Taliban will have to take additional action for victims and families to be compensated from the $3.5 billion, deciding if they have a claim, according to senior administration officials who brief reporters.

The Biden administration is still working through details of setting up the trust fund, an effort the White House says will likely take months.

Because victims have ongoing legal claims on the $7 billion in the U.S. banking system, the courts would have to sign off before half the money for humanitarian assistance could be released to Afghanistan, the officials said.

The U.S. launched the war in Afghanistan more than 20 years ago after then-Taliban leader Mullah Omar refused to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Bin Laden, who was born in Saudi Arabia but had his citizenship revoked, relocated to Afghanistan after being expelled from Sudan in 1996.

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Taliban political spokesman Mohammad Naeem criticized the Biden administration for not releasing all the funds to Afghanistan.

Stealing the blocked funds of Afghan nation by the United States of America and its seizure (of those funds) shows the lowest level of humanity . . . of a country and a nation, Naeem tweeted on Friday.

The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

The Biden administration pushed back against criticism that all $7 billion  largely derived from donations by the U.S. and other nations to Afghanistan  should be released to Afghanistan, arguing that the 9/11 claimants under the U.S. legal system have a right to their day in court.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.

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As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of their ministries but were struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organizations say money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

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In recent months, Afghans have been able to withdraw only $200 weekly and that only in Afghanis, not in U.S. currency. Afghanistans economy has teetered on the verge of collapse.

The United Nations last month issued an appeal for nearly $5 billion, its largest ever appeal for one country, estimating that nearly 90% of the countrys 38 million people were surviving below the poverty level of $1.90 a day. The U.N. also warned that upward of 1 million children risked starvation.

David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, urged release of the funds to prevent famine, at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the matter Wednesday.

The humanitarian community did not choose the government, but that is no excuse to punish the people, and there is a middle course  to help the Afghan people without embracing the new government, Miliband said.

The Justice Department had signaled several months ago that the Biden administration was poised to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims and families of victims in New York City by filing whats known as a statement of interest. The deadline for that filing had been pushed back until Friday.

Gannon reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed reporting.




Haiti - Social : Cuba collects with dignity 292 Haitian migrants drifting at sea for 5 days





292 Haitian migrants in an irregular migratory situation, including 56 children who were on an overloaded precarious boat initially destined for the USA, drifted off their route due to the strong sea currents of the Windy Passage Strait which separates the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola , finally stranded on the coast of the Province of "Ciego de Avila" (Cuba) after 5 days at sea, exhausted with no more water or food...



The Cuban authorities and the Red Cross informed of the incident quickly went to the scene, the Haitians were rescued, giving them first aid, testing them for Covid-19 and malaria, before taking them to the hospital. former school of "Campo Ceballos 8", which is being restored to be converted into 73 accommodations.



Migrants were entitled to breakfast, lunch and snacks in facilities that had toilets, running water, real beds, sheets, towels and medical services on site, underlined Ana Francisco, Vice-Governor of the province.



Recall that 50 other Haitians were welcomed in Ciego de Avila in October 2021 for a period of 25 days, before being repatriated by plane to Port-au-Prince.



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Clashes in Martissant : 3 civilians killed

Wednesday in Martissant during the violent bloody clashes between rival gangs 3 people including a public transport driver were killed...



Judge Chavannes Etienne withdraws

Judge Chavannes Etienne chosen a few days ago by Me Bernard Saint-Vil Dean of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, to replace Garry Orelien whose 3-month term has not been renewed https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35753-haiti-news-zapping.html and investigate the case of the assassination of President Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html , has just withdrawn from the case for personal convenience. We will therefore have to find a new magistrate.



Call for calm from the Superior Council of Salaries

The Superior Council of Wages (CSS) calls for calm to the workers. of the textile sector assuring them that it is working on the file and will submit its proposals quickly to the authorities concerned.



Jacmel : 40 months of salary arrears

On Wednesday the employees of the town hall of Jacmel very motivated demonstrated to demand from the authorities concerned the payment of 40 months of salary arrears...



Commando : The FBI questioned the 2 Haitian-Americans

Tuesday, February 8, as part of the investigation into the assassination of Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html the FBI interviewed Joseph Vincent (Haitian-American) and Solages James (American) members of the commandos https://www.haitilibre.com/article https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html



Jessica Geneus appointed head of the Cinema-Fiction Commission

Haitian filmmaker Jessica Geneus (director of the feature film "Freda") has been appointed head of the Cinema-Fiction Commission of the Francophonie Image Fund. She succeeds Alexandre Michelin. She will chair the commission until 2023. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35317-haiti-cinema-the-film-haiti-freda-prize-for-the-best-film-tv5-quebec-canada.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















WASHINGTON  The Biden administration on Friday escalated its dire warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could take place within days, even as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis continued.

The White House said it still didnt know if Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a decision to invade, but it said Putin has assembled all the elements to do so quickly and told Americans in Ukraine to leave within the next 48 hours.

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The stark warning accelerated the projected timeframe for a potential invasion, which many analysts believed was unlikely to start until after the Winter Olympics in China end on Feb. 20. The heightened U.S. rhetoric followed new intelligence that showed another increase in Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and the start of a major Russian military exercise in neighboring Belarus.

We cant pinpoint the day at this point, and we cant pinpoint the hour, but that is a very, very distinct possibility, President Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. The strong possibility of action, the distinct possibility of action, in a relatively near term time frame ... is backed up by our view of whats happening on the ground.

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White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan gives an update about Ukraine during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, he added, ramping up the urgency of earlier U.S. warnings. As weve said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time should Vladimir Putin decide to order it.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently in Australia, was the first senior U.S. official to say publicly that an invasion could come before the end of the Olympics.

Repeating Blinkens earlier caution to U.S. citizens in Ukraine, Sullivan said: The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now.

Sullivan would not discuss the details of the intelligence behind the new U.S. assessment and denied a report that American officials believe Putin has made the decision to invade. But he said the situation is increasingly fragile and that the U.S. and its allies must be prepared.

We believe he very well may give the final go order, Sullivan said. That is a very distinct possibility. It may well happen soon.

Biden spoke to a number of European leaders on Friday to underscore the concerns raised by U.S. intelligence about the potential imminence of a Russian invasion. Sullivan said the Western leaders were completely united and would respond harshly to a Russian invasion with devastating economic and trade sanctions.

Britains defense secretary, meanwhile, was visiting Moscow in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion. Ben Wallaces trip came a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held frosty negotiations in Moscow to urge Russia to pull back over 100,000 troops near Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized that meeting in blunt and scathing terms, calling it a conversation between deaf and dumb.

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Russia opened massive war games in Belarus on Thursday that are due to run through next weekend but says it has no plans to invade Ukraine. It wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons there and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe  demands flatly rejected by the West.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and its not our fault.

Shoigu noted that shipments of weapons to Ukraine by the U.S., Britain and other allies have contributed to the tensions and pointed to the recent deployment of British soldiers to Ukraine, asking why they were sent and how long they will stay.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Wallace noted that the anti-tank missiles that Britain sent to Ukraine were defensive tactical weapons that do not pose a threat to any neighbor unless it invades.

He said British troops deployed to Ukraine to help train its military to use the British weapons and will leave pretty soon after they accomplish that mission.

Wallace described the talks as constructive and frank and noted his Russian counterparts assurances that Moscow has no intention to attack Ukraine. But he also emphasized that the concentration of Russian troops near Ukrainian territory is clearly beyond normal exercising, explaining that about half of Russias land forces are concentrated around the border with Ukraine.

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He reaffirmed that a Russian invasion would have tragic consequences and emphasized the need to maintain contacts between military forces to prevent incidents.

What is incredibly important, especially at this time with over 100,000 troops at high readiness on the borders of another country, is that we do not get into a position of miscalculation or escalation, Wallace said. He stressed that only through the ability to talk to each other at times of concern can we pave the way for any de-escalation measures.

Speaking earlier Friday in Australia, Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the latest State Departments security alert urging all American citizens to leave Ukraine.

Were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, Blinken added.

Yet, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba again played down the U.S. advice to Americans to leave, saying that Washington has made similar calls before. He noted that the situation remains volatile.

Continuing its military buildup near Ukraine, Russia has moved six amphibious assault vessels into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

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Moscow has announced sweeping drills in the Black and Azov seas in the coming days and closed large areas for commercial shipping, drawing a strong protest from Ukraine on Thursday.

Kuleba voiced hope that the West would react to the Russian move, saying that we have engaged our partners to prepare a coordinated response.

Ukraines military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday that the authorities plan to quickly engage 1.5 million to 2 million people in training for the army reserve.

Russias troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition. Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the Belarus border.

NATO has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the U.S. sending troops to Poland and Romania.

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The U.S. Navy said Thursday that it has deployed four destroyers from the United States to European waters. The Navy did not directly tie this deployment to the Ukraine crisis but said the ships provide additional flexibility to the U.S. Sixth Fleet commander, whose area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean, and will operate in support of NATO allies.

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the ongoing deployment of 1,000 additional U.S. troops that will nearly double their current number there. This is a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity, Stoltenberg said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by noting that NATO keeps building up its presence near Russias borders and exacerbates the situation around Ukraine to create a pretext for that.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraines Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.

___

Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.
Quincy, IL (62301)

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Rain likely, heavy at times in the evening. Low 54F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccinated travelers will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests when they enter Britain, officials announced Friday.

British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine now only need to fill out a passenger locator form before arrival, the Associated Press reported.

Unvaccinated people will still be required to take tests before and after arrival but will no longer have to self-isolate until they get a negative result.

After nearly two years of severely restricted travel, airlines and others in the travel industry welcomed the announcement, the AP reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government lifted most domestic rules last month. Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor spaces in England, and vaccine passports for gaining entry to nightclubs and large-scale events have been scrapped, according to the AP.

Johnson said he hopes to lift the final restriction -- mandatory self-isolation for people who test positive -- by month's end as part of a plan to live long-term with COVID, the AP reported.

Other countries should follow Britain's "pragmatic approach," according to British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle.

One of two terminals at London's Gatwick Airport has been closed since June 2020, but the airport said it plans to reopen it next month.

Andrew Flintham, managing director of the travel group TUI UK, hailed the move, telling the AP that there has been a "huge pent-up demand for international travel." He said people were scrambling to book getaways for this month's school break and April's Easter holiday.

The testing requirement for travelers was one of the last restrictions imposed in Britain during the past two years in response to the COVID pandemic.

While other European countries have eased COVID restrictions, the AP reported that some experts were surprised at Britain's scrapping of the traveler testing rule.

Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King's College London, described it as "more a political type of statement rather than a scientific one."

"There is some rationale to this and other countries are doing things similar, but it's clearly a race for the government to say that 'Britain is first, Britain is the first to come out of this, Britain has conquered Omicron, our booster program is world beating etc., etc.,'" Spector told Times Radio, according to the AP.

Among European nations, Britain's coronavirus toll is second only to Russia, with more than 159,000 officially recorded deaths, according to the AP. It reported that the country has seen a drop in both new infections and COVID patients admitted to hospitals since Omicron peaked in early January.

In all, 84.6% of Brits ages 12 and older have had two COVID vaccine shots and almost two-thirds have had a booster, the AP reported.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information for Americans about international travel.

SOURCE: Associated Press, Feb. 11, 2022
Hartford City, IN (47348)

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For the second consecutive day, Al-Suwaidaa province has witnessed anti-Damascus government broad protests.

SOHR has reported seeing hundreds of people gathering in Al-Sair square in Al-Suwaidaa downtown lifting placards with slogans written on them, condemning the Syrian government policies that have worsened living conditions across the country.

" Dozens of people have blocked Shaqa-Shahba road in north-east Al-Suwaidaa countryside with burning cars tires that coincided with blocking Damascus- Al-Suwaidaa, Namera-Shaba, and Magadel-Shahba roads," SOHR added.

"The residents of Namerah, Shaqa and Majadel villages in Al-Suwaidaa countryside have started, since the early hours of Monday, blocking main roads between their villages and Al-Suwiadaa city.

Meanwhile, activists had called for other protests in downtown the city similar to yesterday demonstrations against the regime government decisions of lifting subsidy on nearly 600,000 ration cards amid the worsening living conditions," according to SOHR .

The security forces had been deployed in the surrounding areas of the headquarters of Al-Suwaidaa governorate, while snipers had been deploying on the roofs of governmental institutions in the city. This coincided with the escalating protests in the city and the participation of scores of residents, where the protestors called for the toppling of the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad.

A.K
RTHK: 'Russian invasion of Ukraine could come at any time'

Russia has sent more forces to its border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time, including during the Beijing Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

He said Washington was continuing to "draw down" its embassy in Ukraine and repeated a State Department call to American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately.

"Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Blinken told a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne.

"As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics."

Russia, which has more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders, denies Western accusations it may be planning to invade its former Soviet neighbour.

The Winter Olympics are being hosted by Beijing until February 20.

At the opening day of the Winter Olympics last week, China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership, backing each other over standoffs on Ukraine and Taiwan with a promise to collaborate more against the West.

Russia's potential invasion of Ukraine threatened the international rules based order, Blinken said, adding that if such an action went unpunished, it could have consequences in the Indo-Pacific.

"If we allow those principles to be challenged with impunity, even if it's half a world away, that will have an impact here as well. Others are watching. Others are looking at all of us to see how we respond," Blinken said. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
U.S. President Joe Biden. /CFP

By Behzad Abdollahpour

It has been over a year that Joe Biden assumed power in the White House. However, up until now, his stance towards China's Taiwan region has not been clear. Although there has been heated debates among political pundits regarding his Taiwan policy, it seems that he will not abandon the strategic ambiguity, which has been the cornerstone of the U.S. Taiwan policy.

In fact, one of the common elements of U.S. Taiwan policy under the different U.S. administrations since the normalization of China-U.S. relations has been their commitment to the three Joint Communiques of 1972, 1979 and 1982, Six Assurances, and Taiwan Relations Act, which are also considered the foundations of strategic ambiguity.

Generally speaking, since the proposal of these documents, all the U.S. administrations have deliberately maintained some degree of ambiguity on the Taiwan question. In other words, the ambiguous language of this strategy enables the U.S. to maintain the status quo by assuring Beijing that Washington would not recognize Taiwan as a de jure independent country and at the same time warning China that the U.S. would not stand using force against the Taiwan island.

In sum, the main components of this strategy are based on three considerations.

Firstly, the U.S. is committed to the one-China principle, which provides U.S. authorities with greater leeway and spaces to maintain and elevate Washington's relations with Beijing. As a veteran politician who understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan question in Sino-U.S. relations, Biden is expected to approach the island cautiously. Therefore, on November 16, 2021, in a virtual meeting with President Xi Jinping, Biden emphasized that the U.S. will maintain its commitment to the one-China principle and that Washington "opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits." Biden's rhetoric is worth pondering. It seems that his administration has realized that it should not abandon Washington's enduring posture towards Taiwan, which in a nutshell is strategic ambiguity.

However, the U.S. may simultaneously support the Taiwan region in political and military spheres. Similar to the administration of former President Donald Trump, the Biden administration indicated its willingness to highlight close and cordial ties with China's Taiwan region. The unprecedented invitation of Taiwan's representative to attend Biden's inaugural ceremony was the prime example of this.

Lastly, the U.S. Taiwan policy is also much dependent on domestic and international factors. Domestically, the Taiwan question has been used by U.S. presidents and presidential candidates to gain votes and enhance voter approval ratings. On the international stage, the Taiwan card has been used to get more leverage with China.

Another feature of the U.S. Taiwan policy is the Congress' determination to introduce several Taiwan-related bills, including the Taiwan Travel Act of 2018, the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, the TAIPEI Act of 2019, and Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020. All of these bills contain pro-Taiwan provisions in strategic, defense, economic and technological areas as well as measures to contain China in the aforementioned arenas. Although most of the pro-Taiwan bills which have not passed by the Congress are not legally binding, they could influence the direction of future U.S. Taiwan policy and could be used as playing cards in future negotiations between Beijing and Washington.

Indeed, Washington has gone to great lengths to secure its own interests and justify its military presence in the East Asian region. The Taiwan region in particular should realize that depending on the non-Asian state to provide security would only lead to a security dilemma and make it a permanent market for U.S. defense factories.

Some advisors in the Biden administration believe that due to the recent transformations in China's economic and military power, which narrow the gap with the U.S., Washington should abandon its old strategic ambiguity and stick to strategic clarity to deal with cross-strait relations.

Beijing itself is eager to solve this issue peacefully. As it is mentioned in China's 14th Five-Year Plan, China seeks to promote "the peaceful development of cross-strait relations," but that doesn't mean that Beijing would allow Taipei to cross the red line.

Editor's note: Behzad Abdollahpour is a freelance writer and researcher from Iran. He got his MA in North American Studies from the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran. Currently, he is studying China Studies at Renmin University of China.
An officer was hurt in a scuffle after a man banged on the window of his patrol vehicle Thursday afternoon while the officer was working crossing guard duty near the Rock Lake neighborhood, according to the Orlando Police Department.

The alleged assailant, James Mossetty, 33, was arrested on charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, hindering communications and resisting officers with violence. He is being held in Orange County Jail on a $10,300 bond.

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The unidentified officer was sitting in his patrol vehicle near north John Young Parkway and west Harwood Street around 4:20 p.m. when Mossetty began banging on the vehicle, according to OPD spokesperson Officer Michelle Rogers.

The officer stepped out of his vehicle and ordered Mossetty to get on the ground while holding his Taser, body-worn camera footage OPD released Friday showed. Mossetty then balled his hands, taking what his arrest affidavit described as a fighting stance.

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The video shows the officer commanding Mossetty to get on the ground multiple times before tasing him, though Mossetty remained upright. As another officer arrived on the scene, the first officer threatened Mossetty with a chemical spray.

Get on the ground or youre going to get sprayed! the officer yelled on the video. Get on the ground now!

As the officer sprayed Mossetty in the face and grabbed him, Mossetty appeared to strike at the officer. The second officer was visibly affected by the chemical agent deployed by his colleague, OPD spokesperson Heidi Rodriguez said.

James Mossetty, 33. (Orange County Jail)

Mossetty struck the officer numerous times, on the left side of his face, as well as the back, left side of his head, according to the affidavit. The video also showed the officer hitting Mossetty with a baton.

Get on the (expletive) ground now! the officer repeated multiple times.

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At one point while grappling with Mossetty, the officer fell to the ground and the second officer intervened as Mossetty attempted to grab the downed officer.

On the [expletive] ground before I shoot you, [expletive]! the first officer yelled after getting back up and grabbing his handgun.

Just wait for units  theyre coming, a dispatcher told the officer over the radio. The officer later told the dispatcher, Im starting to feel dizzy  he punched me in the head multiple times.

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After two more officers arrived on the scene, one officer was able to tackle Mossetty and the remaining officers worked together to arrest him.

The officer was taken to a nearby hospital with no significant injuries, Orlando police Chief Orlando Rolon said on Twitter. Mossetty was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries and taken to jail after he was discharged, the affidavit said.

The agency said Mossetty was arrested in October by the Orange County Sheriffs Office for battery on an officer, resisting an officer with violence, trespassing and assault on law enforcement.

lgarza@orlandosentinel.com
(The Center Square)  The Kentucky House of Representatives passed an unemployment reform bill that would tie the number of checks a jobless worker could receive to the states unemployment rate.

House Bill 4 passed by a 57-37 vote. No Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill, but 15 Republicans sided with the Democratic caucus in voting against the measure after a lengthy debate on the House floor.

Most of the GOP opponents represent Eastern Kentucky districts, where unemployment rates are among the highest in the state.

Under the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Russell Webber, R-Shepherdsville, baseline unemployment benefits would go from lasting 26 weeks to 12. Additional weeks would be made available to recipients if the states average unemployment rate surpassed 4.5%, with that number capped at 24 weeks if the rate reaches 10%.

There would be waivers in place for laid-off individuals who have a return-to-work date of 16 weeks of their initial unemployment claim.

The bill also calls for recipients to increase their job search activities to at least five per week, with at least three of those including job interviews or completed job applications.

For employers, the bill also reduces the unemployment insurance rate they pay.

Supporters of the bill include the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which testified on behalf of the legislation during a House Economic Development and Workforce Investment hearing Thursday morning.

The chamber has been pushing lawmakers to take steps to increase the states workforce participation rate, which at 56.6% is the third-lowest in the nation.

State Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, said that increasing participation rate is crucial to landing more job opportunities in Eastern Kentucky. He recalled his father would drive for more than two hours each day round-trip to Lexington for work.

Is it the perfect answer? No, Bray said of the bill. Do I love every aspect of this bill? Absolutely not. But its a step in the right direction.

Organized labor, the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and the Kentucky Council of Churches spoke out in opposition to the measure at the hearing.

Opponents said that the bill would force recipients to settle for jobs that pay slightly more than half of what they previously earned and may force them to take a job that doesnt necessarily utilize the skills theyve learned.

The Rev. Dale Raines, first vice president for the council of churches, told lawmakers the group only speaks out when its members are unanimous on a position.

There is much about this bill that troubles people of faith and faith leaders, he said. What rationale can there be for enacting a law that will harm Kentuckians already hanging by a thread?

The bill now heads to the Senate for its members to consider.
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, with mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low around 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
RALEIGH  A jury needed just over an hour on Thursday to find former Granville County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Chad Coffey guilty of obstruction of justice for his part in an effort to falsify the training records of suspended Sheriff Brindell Wilkins and his second-in-command.

And Coffey ended the day in the custody of Wake County sheriffs deputies, sentenced to serve five to 15 months in prison, and another 24 months of supervised probation, after being convicted of a dozen felonies that will end his career in law enforcement.

Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour, who presided over the three-day trial, accepted Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freemans recommendation that Coffey receive an active prison sentence.

Baddour said that as he listened to the evidence in the case, the thing he found most troubling was the pervasive belief among the key players in the affair that the rules just did not apply to them.

That just cant be the way the system works, Baddour said.

In signing off on six years worth of phony records claiming that Wilkins and former Chief Deputy Sherwood Boyd had completed their annual in-service training classes and firearms tests, Coffey had made a complete sham out of the states training system for law enforcement officers, Freeman said.

What we have seen is that a culture developed of people believing they were above the law, Freeman said, speaking of the Granville sheriffs office under Wilkins. That is a dangerous place for any of us  especially those with the power of arrest  to be in.

Thursdays verdict and sentencing concluded a trial where the basic facts were never in dispute.

Freeman and Assistant District Attorney Katy Pomeroy made sure the jury saw the 356 documents Coffey signed, as the head trainer for the sheriffs office, attesting that Wilkins and Boyd had attended classes or shot their firearms qualifications.

Boyd testified on Tuesday that he never attended any of the classes as Wilkins chief deputy, and that with but one exception in 2016, when the department acquired AR-15 rifles, he never shot any of his firearms qualifications as his chief deputy.

Wilkins, he said, told him not to worry about those things because he needed his chief deputy in the office handling the departments business.

The sheriff himself took the stand on Wednesday and said that if Coffey signed the documents, it was because he told him to.

I ordered the deputy to do what he done  if he signed it  to  save the hassle and time of doing paperwork, Wilkins testified.

Coffeys lawyers maintained throughout that Wilkins, as sheriff, didnt need to be certified and that state law and the North Carolina constitution gave him broad authority to run the office as he saw fit.

The sergeant loved his job and had no intent to commit a crime, lawyer Hart Miles, the leader of Coffeys defense team, said in his closing statement.

Miles said Wilkins was a throwback, a small-town sheriff trying to make sure all the local officials are taken care of and the head of an office that doesnt have the lawyers and other resources its larger counterparts can take for granted.

It was paperwork to him, Miles said of the sheriffs attitude toward the training certifications.

He also said there were hints, from the testimony of two other officers, that this might be something thats been going on for a while now in other agencies, perhaps to the point of being an accepted practice in the law-enforcement community and something to which state regulators normally turn a blind eye.

Are these big-city prosecutors playing gotcha with a small-town sheriffs office? Miles said.

Pomeroy handled the prosecutions closing argument and reiterated Freemans opening statement on Tuesday that the case was fundamentally about trust.

We expect our law enforcement to act with honor and honesty, Pomeroy said. And the only thing he has given us is excuses. Thats it. The sheriff didnt have to be certified. That doesnt matter. The point is he chose to be certified. He chose to take that benefit. And they chose to lie about it. Just following orders? Come on. You dont follow orders that are illegal, unethical or immoral.

Coffey was responsible for his own choices, and every time, 356 times he signed his name, that was his choice, she said.

Even the defendant agreed, everybodys word should mean something, she said, noting that a deputy or police officer can get a search warrant that allows them to kick your door in, or an arrest warrant, based on their word to a magistrate.

And hes OK with his word being a lie 356 times? Where did it stop? Pomeroy said. Are we really OK with that? This is not OK.

When he charged jurors, Baddour gave them the option of finding Coffey guilty only of misdemeanor obstruction of justice if they felt he hadnt acted deceitfully or with the intent to commit fraud.

The judge turned down a defense request that he also instruct jurors that they could find that Coffey was entitled to presume the sheriffs orders were lawful.

The prosecution had also lodged a dozen charges of obtaining property by false pretenses against Coffey, but the jury found him not guilty on each of those.

There was no immediate explanation for the distinction, but Baddour in charging the jury had noted that among other things, Freeman and Pomeroy needed to prove that Coffey had himself obtained property from the alleged victim, the N.C. Sheriffs Training & Standards Division.

After the verdict, Coffey told Baddour that it was never my intent to make a mockery of the training program in the state of North Carolina, and it was never my intention to put unsafe officers on the street, and in my mind, I didnt.

I was in a bad position, he added, noting that he wouldnt have had a job or career had he defied Wilkins.

Baddour, however, said Coffey could have found work with other law-enforcement agencies in the region, or opportunities in private law enforcement.

It cant be that the solution when youre asked to lie is, Im going to do it to save my job,  Baddour said. Theres a roomful of people here who face that question day in, day out, or over the course of their careers. We havent even really talked about the idea that youre law enforcement and that brings an extra burden and responsibility.

Bottom line, Im sorry, sir, Coffey said in response.

Coffeys lawyers indicated that they and their client will appeal the outcome of this weeks trial.

Thursdays verdict leaves pending records-falsification cases in Wake County  the home of the Training & Standards Division  against Wilkins, Boyd and another deputy, Edward Keith Campbell. Freeman said she intends to proceed with the case against Wilkins next.

There are also Granville County cases pending against Wilkins and Coffey that are about other issues, and at this point it would be our intent to step back and evaluate the best road forward in those cases, Freeman said.

As for the Granville sheriffs office, it has now been through three different sheriffs, Freeman said, alluding to the fact that Boyd, Charles Noblin and now John Hardy have stood in for Wilkins as he remains suspended while his term winds down. This has been something that has created a significant amount of disruption for that community. So our intent in trying to move it forward was to try and get to a place where we could create some stability up there.

Thursdays verdict will send a message and probably change the landscape of how the rest of this matter will move forward, she said. It would be my hope that certainly this calendar year we will manage to get these other matters resolved.

Contact Ray Gronberg at rgronberg@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2850.
Friends of Ecusta Trail leader shares good news on project progress

Eleven years ago, when the Friends of Ecusta Trail approached the city of Hendersonville to fund a feasibility study for the trail. Mayor Barbara Volk was interested but said the city didn't have the $40,000 needed to pay for a study. Thirteen days later, the Friends had raised the money. A year after that, the completed study found the Ecusta Trail was feasible and would result in health and recreation benefits.

Chris Burns, a founding member of the Friends, told the story Thursday night when he updated the City Council on where the Ecusta Trail stands today. The first six miles  from the Hendersonville trailhead to Horse Shoe  is likely to be under construction in about a year and could be ready to walk, jog, cycle and skate on in late 2024.

"This council was the first public entity to endorse the trail," he said. "Your manager has been my confidant and has pulled me out of the weeds multiple times."

In the past year, Conserving Carolina completed the purchase of 19.5-mile corridor from Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, the land conservancy leased the trail to Henderson County to manage as a long and very narrow park and volunteers gathered for the first official workday to begin cleanup  300 signed up when 50 were needed.

"If you had told me two years that wed be this far along I would have told you you were crazy, Burns said.

A joint fundraising committee made up of Friends of Ecusta Trail and Conserving Carolina members has raised $4 million of the $6 million needed for a 20 percent match for construction cost of $32 million, Burns said. The trail advocates got good news, too, when Blue Ridge Southern Railroad said it wanted to give up the tracks west of King Street, too, because it didn't need tracks there. Burns said that raises a new challenge, however, because the estimated cost of extending the trail east from Busy Bend to King Street is about $1.6 million. Henderson County is exploring grants from the NCDOT and the Friends of Ecusta Trail is hoping to raise money for a 20 percent match.
First Avenue home listed in 'Negro Motorist Green Book' to get historic marker

A residence on First Avenue West that welcomed African-American travelers during segregation will get a historic marker recognizing its significance in local black history.

The Landina Guest House served as a location where African-Americans could rent a room during segregation with a private bath and meals, a memorandum from City Manager John Connet to the City Council said. The house was listed in the 1960-1961 Negro Motorist Green Book.

Operated by Hollis and Ozzie Landrum, the brick home at 710 First Avenue West was new when it served as a refuge for black travelers who were often turned away by segregated lodging businesses. The home was built in 1955.

The writeup in the Green Book, which African-American travelers used as a guide to hotels and guest houses that accepted black travelers when many established hotels, inns and motor lodges did not, said that in addition to a room and bath the home offered meals to satisfy.

The city's Diversity and Inclusion Committee Diversity and the Historic Preservation Committee recommended that the City Council authorize the marker. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee said it "was aware that there are a limited number of historical markers recognizing important African-American historical sites in Hendersonville and that placing the marker at the Greenbook house would be a positive step in recognizing the contributions of African-Americans in our community."



Debbie Roundtree, an African-American elected to the City Council in November, made the motion to place the historic marker.
Pardee named one of 'America's 100 Best Hospitals'

Pardee UNC Health Care has been named one of Americas 100 Best Hospitals, with special recognition given to Specialty Clinical Awards in four service lines, including Critical Care, Pulmonary Care, Stroke Care, and Gastrointestinal Care, the hospital announced.

Pardee was the only hospital in North Carolina to be recognized as one of Americas 100 Best Hospitals for both Critical Care and Pulmonary Care in 2022, according to new research released by Healthgrades, a resource that connects consumers, physicians, and health systems.

Pardee, which was also named one of Americas 250 Best Hospital in 2021, was recognized for the following clinical achievements in 2022:

One of Healthgrades Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care for two years in a row (2021-2022)

One of Healthgrades Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care in 2022

One of Healthgrades Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care in 2022

One of Healthgrades Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care for four years in a row (2019-2022)

We are honored to be recognized among Americas 100 Best Hospitals nationally, said Jay Kirby, President and CEO, Pardee UNC Health Care. We are even prouder of our achievement as the only hospital in the state to be recognized for our Critical Care and Pulmonary Care. To do so in the midst of a global pandemic with a virus that attacks respiratory function makes this specific recognition even more significant for our team. These designations are a reflection of the contributions from all of our team members and their dedication, hard work, and commitment to providing our community with the best quality care possible.

Consumers can feel confident in hospitals like Pardee for their commitment to high-quality care and exceptional outcomes. These recognitions help provide patients and consumers with peace of mind when selecting a place for care, said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades.

Pardee was also recognized for the following clinical achievements:

Recipient of the Healthgrades Stroke Care Excellence Award for three years in a row (2020-2022)

Recipient of the Healthgrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award for two years in a row (2021-2022)

Recipient of the Healthgrades Critical Care Excellence Award for five years in a row (2018-2022)

Recipient of the Healthgrades Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award in 2022

For its analysis this year, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for nearly 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 31 common conditions and procedures. Healthgrades recognizes a hospitals quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected), and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected). Pardee achieved 5-star ratings in the following cohorts:
More than $40 million of federal rental assistance is available across Central Florida local programs, able to help thousands of households facing economic loss amid the pandemic.

Throughout the nearly two-year pandemic, more than 12,000 households in the region have received payment from the locally run programs, but even as the tourism engine has been restarted, many remain in need.

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For example, when Orlando officials reopened the citys portal on Feb. 1 offering help on rent, about 2,900 applications were started within the first week, a spokesperson said, and 722 were completed and are being vetted for potential payment, spokesperson Samantha Holsten said.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani said her office remains inundated with calls ranging from people facing months-long delays from the states Our Florida relief program, to others seeking local help. Our Florida, which was allocated an additional $740 million last week, has paid $858 million to about 164,000 households since May.

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The demand is definitely still there, said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. There are no more safety nets, besides rental assistance.

Orlando already paid out $8.6 million to more than 1,500 households in its prior run of rental relief, and under the CARES Act, it disbursed $2.5 million to about 550 households, Holsten said.

Counties and large cities were allocated pools of money in pandemic relief packages, with thousands out of work and at risk of facing evictions. The American Rescue Plan alone allocated $21.5 billion dollars toward rent programs.

In November, the most recent month of available data, $2.9 billion was disbursed nationwide, the largest month on record, with that money going to 665,000 renters and landlords, according to the U.S. Treasury.

Since the start of the pandemic, governments in Central Florida have spent more than $90 million on programs to help with rent and utility payments as well as diversion programs to prevent evictions. In some instances, federal dollars were supported with general fund money.

In Osceola County, which in 2020 was once ground zero for unemployment in Florida peaking with rates as high as 29%, applications for assistance have slowed, even as the county has paid out nearly $31 million.

While Osceola at one point was taking in more than 500 applications per week, now officials are seeing only about 60 weekly, said Danicka Ransom, Osceolas assistant director of housing and community services.

Many in the county have gone back to work as the regions tourism economy has been reignited; that doesnt mean they dont qualify for aid under federal rules.

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We definitely recognize some folks have gone back to work but we also recognize there are a number of people who are underemployed because of COVID, she said. I do think most of the people who we may not be touching right now are underemployed, and probably think because theyre at work, they dont qualify.

To be eligible, a renter should either qualify for unemployment benefits or have lost income or incurred financial hardship because of the pandemic. People whose household income is below 80% of the area median income for where they live also may qualify.

Once applications are filled out, submitted and approved, payments are made directly to landlords.

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Applications have ticked up in Orange County after dwindling toward the end of 2021, said Dianne Arnold, manager of the countys Citizen Resource and Outreach department. In November, Orange fielded about 1,600 applications, which climbed to 2,300 in December, and 2,500 in January, she said.

But with about $11 million remaining in its current pool of funding, the county expects it can fund about 1,500 more applications. However, the size of payments vary from as low as $107 to as high as $30,000, Arnold said. An applicant can receive aid for as much as 18 months in rent.

Orange County also has an untapped $15 million reservoir of funds available once it finishes its current pot.

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Money remains available in each local program in the region. Seminole, which has spent $13.7 in rental assistance, has $7.5 million left. In Lake, where $8.4 million has been doled out, $2.6 million is remaining.

Residents who meet eligibility requirements can apply for either state or local rent programs, just not in the same month. Applicants to Our Florida, Eskamani said, often wait months before theyre paid.

Because its the only safety net, it continues to be really important for families and individuals, Eskamani said. If you qualify for your local program, youre probably going to have more accountability, and theyre dealing with a smaller population than the statewide program.

Where to apply

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
Greenville, TX (75401)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low near 65F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low near 65F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, attends a press conference as the governor announces the opening of a monoclonal antibody treatment site for COVID-19 patients at Lakes Church in Lakeland. Pushaw has previously seen her Twitter account temporarily suspended for encouraging harassment and has used the account to attack journalists and question whether neo-Nazis rallying in Orlando were planted by Democrats. (SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty) (SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)

Christina Pushaw is a combative, divisive and highly partisan political operative whose keyboard rants carry great weight for one reason: Shes the governors press secretary.

When she tweets and retweets, likes and dislikes, shes speaking on behalf of Ron DeSantis, the governor of the third-largest state and a likely 2024 presidential candidate.

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True to her flawed form, Pushaw implied on Twitter that neo-Nazi demonstrators in Orlando might be Democrats in disguise. They were not, of course, and she soon deleted the tweet. (The Sun Sentinel has asked for all of her deleted tweets, contending they were public records created by a state employee. So far, no response. No surprise.)

The deletion only called more attention to how her boss wouldnt say anything about the repugnant outburst of racism in one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations.

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When he finally did, it was to wallow in pretentious self-pity, complaining that Democrats were trying to smear me as if I had something to do with that. No one suggested anything of the sort. DeSantis silence was the issue  and Pushaws knee-jerk response highlighted it.

Nazi ideology, the greatest evil in modern history, committed the genocidal murder of millions and devastated Europe with war and is resurgent in the U.S. The numbers may be relatively small, but antisemitic attacks are rising.

History demands, and Americans expect, that their leaders denounce Nazi racism whenever it erupts from the sewer. Other Florida politicians in both parties spoke up swiftly and loudly against the outrage in Orlando, making DeSantis silence all the more conspicuous.

Nazism and other manifestations of white nationalism are a clear and present danger here, encouraged by the former presidents remark about fine people among the Unite the Right thugs at Charlottesville four years ago.

A Palm Beach County rabbi, Jeffrey Salkin of Temple Israel, called Pushaws comments reprehensible. The rabbi, whos also a columnist for Religion News Service, told POLITICO: This is the time for the public to be aware of the dangers of anti-Semitic extremism and not to traffic in the denial of that extremism.

In an era of endless spin, Pushaw takes things to new lows. She lights up social media with incendiary and off-base remarks that would have embarrassed previous governors and gotten press aides fired. DeSantis seems to relish them, and thats the problem.

Twitter suspended Pushaw for 12 hours for violating rules on abusive behavior in her criticism of an AP story last summer linking DeSantis largest campaign contributor with investments in Regeneron, a drug the governor was promoting for COVID-19 treatment. She warned the reporter that if he didnt retract it, she would put you on blast and retweeted: Light. Them. Up. AP said the reporter was a target of threats and stood by its story.

She set off a firestorm of criticism in November after peddling a conspiracy theory that linked new COVID-19 rules in the Republic of Georgia with a visit by a member of the Rothschild banking family. She took down that post and said she had not known that the Rothschilds have been perpetual targets of antisemitic propaganda.

She accused Ben Frazier, a Black social organizer in Jacksonville, of intending to disrupt a DeSantis press conference where he was handcuffed and charged with trespassing for demanding to talk to the governor about his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frazier, she said, is an activist, not a member of the press, which should not have mattered. The trespassing charge was quickly dropped.

After Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried compared DeSantis to Adolf Hitler, Pushaw attacked the media as DNC stenographers, a partisan slur that referred to the Democratic National Committee. (This newspapers opinion page editorialized against Frieds comments.)

She retweeted a post that said, The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is trying to make it so that people in Florida die of COVID. Theyll kill people to harm Republicans.

Often too quick on the draw, she attacked Glenn Kessler, a respected Washington Post fact-checker, for Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor, MSNBC analyst and critic of Donald Trump. Yes, she deleted it.

The traditional role of the governors press secretary is to announce, explain and defend policies and field inquiries. The prudent ones usually kept in the background and let the boss do the talking.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Pushaw is a one-off spokeswoman who strays far beyond that. She verbally attacks private citizens, picks fights with the media, and routinely blasts the Biden administration. Shes a full-time propagandist for DeSantis ambitions, and he gets to stick Florida taxpayers with her $120,000 salary.

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DeSantis, who seems to regard his reelection this year as a given and as a way station to the presidency, should pay Pushaw from his political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. He can afford it and its an abuse of the public treasury to make taxpayers pick up the tab for her daily partisan warfare.

A freelance journalist previously published in conservative media like Human Events Pushaw hitched herself early to DeSantis rising star. Before asking him to hire her, she auditioned of sorts, with articles attacking Rebekah Jones, a DeSantis critic fired from her job at the Department of Health and charged with illegally accessing state computers.

Pushaw and DeSantis rarely miss an opportunity to elevate his profile by attacking Democrats and the national media. If the corporate press nationally isnt attacking me, then Im probably not doing my job, DeSantis has said.

In many respects, hes mimicking the divisive tactics that Donald Trump used to win the presidency, where he boosted DeSantis to the governors mansion from an obscure seat in Congress.

DeSantis doesnt bother to deny that the White House is his goal, and he wont rule out running against Trump himself in 2024, which means that the platform for Pushaws distortions, attacks and flouting of Floridas public records law may only get bigger.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Anderson, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. To contact us, email at insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Anderson, IN (46016)

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Rain early...becoming windy with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 72F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

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Think of a civil rights hero, right now.

I can probably guess who youre picturing. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rosa Parks. My friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis. All patriots and American heroes.

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But there are two civil rights leaders you may not have heard of  even though they lived, worked, and died fighting for equal rights right here in Florida. Their names are Harry and Harriette Moore.

Charlie Crist is a U.S. House member from St. Petersburg. He served as governor from 2007 to 2011 as a Republican, and he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2022.

In 1951, Harry and Harriette Moore of Brevard County were the first prominent civil rights leaders to be assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan. But its not for their deaths that you should remember them. Its for their incredible lives.

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As teachers in 1930s Florida, Harry and Harriette experienced the evils of the Jim Crow-era first-hand. They witnessed the devastating impacts of segregation on their students  the same segregation that divided my hometown of St. Petersburg in two.

But where many would have seen adversity, Harry and Harriette saw an opportunity to rally their fellow Black educators and community leaders around the cause of desegregation  20 years before the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education outlawed segregation nationwide. The Moores used people power to create a united voice for Black Floridians, founding the Brevard Chapter of the NAACP and organizing other chapters statewide.

Harry and Harriette knew the discrimination they witnessed could not be addressed without real, legislative change  the kind of change that starts at the ballot box. In 1945, they formed the Florida Progressive Voters League to turn their grassroots movement into a powerful voting bloc, registering 116,000 Black Floridians up and down the state. They also advocated against racial violence in Florida, using their platform to bring attention to the Suwannee lynching of 15-year-old Willie James Howard in 1944 and advocating strongly to reverse the unjust arrest and conviction of the Groveland Four in 1949.

It was Harry and Harriettes advocacy on behalf of the Groveland Four that is widely believed to have made them a target of the Ku Klux Klan. On the night of Christmas 1951, a bomb went off under the Moores home that fatally wounded them both. They were survived by their two daughters, Evangeline and Annie.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Despite multiple investigations, no suspect was ever charged in the murders of Harry and Harriette. As attorney general of Florida in 2005, I saw an opportunity to bring some measure of closure to the Moores surviving family by re-opening the investigation into their murders. After re-examining past evidence and eliciting the help of the public, my office found that four deceased members of the KKK had worked together to murder the Moores on Christmas night 1951.

While Annie Moore passed away in 1978, Evangeline Moore continued sharing her parents legacy until she passed in 2015 at age 85. More than anyone, it was Evangeline who inspired me to reopen her parents case and draw awareness to their incredible work.

We will never have true justice for the Moores murder. True justice would have been for Harry and Harriette to sleep safely that Christmas, wake the next morning, raise their children, and continue their quest for equality. But what we can do now, 70 years later, is celebrate them for who they were  freedom fighters who gave their lives in the struggle for Black equality.

Harry and Harriette Moore deserve to be remembered alongside figures like King, Parks, and Lewis. Their story deserves to be told. Every Floridian should take hope and inspiration from their work and unwavering bravery.

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To that end, I am requesting that the Biden Administration posthumously award Harry and Harriette the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As our nations highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom allows us to celebrate the changemakers who faced tremendous resistance and little recognition in their lives.

If awarded, Harry and Harriette would join the ranks of recipients like James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and Harvey Milk  all brave Americans martyred in their fight for equal rights. While this award would not change the outcome of what happened on that terrible Christmas night, it would preserve the Moores place in American history  a place they have too long been denied.

Charlie Crist has filed to run in the Democratic primary for governor in the 2022 election. He serves the 13th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gas-tax rise isnt politicians fault

The Feb. 11 letter to the editor (Gas-tax idea shows Democrats shortsightedness) blaming the increased price of gas on Joe Biden and the Democrats gas decisions doesnt show an understanding of the concept of supply and demand. During the COVID-19 lockdown in the Trump administration people were advised to stay home and many businesses shut down or sent their employees home to work. Since there was less demand for gas, prices became competitive and prices for it remained stable or decreased.

Now that people have returned to work and the shutdown has been lifted, the demand has increased, as has the price. As for the gas tax being used for infrastructure in the past, looking at our infrastructure, how has that worked out?

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Blaming the Democrats for the high price of gas is like giving them credit for the record increases in the stock market. Neither is controlled by either party.

Boyd Rasmussen Casselberry

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Punishing schools for mask rules is vengeful

Why am I not surprised by the vengeful proposal to slash Orange County Public Schools budget for face-mask rules, as proposed by Rep. Randy Fine of Palm Bay? This boogeyman brood of Republicans in Tallahassee seem to find something new every day to make Florida a less desirable place to live. If it werent for my extended family here, I would be gone tomorrow.

Tom Wilke Orlando

Dont Say Gay bill shields kids from real life

Republicans apparently want every child in Florida to live in a bubble, protected from all that nasty truth out there like the Holocaust and racism and now (gasp!) differences in sexual orientation.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

The latest case of shielding kids from real life  the Dont Say Gay bill  is making its way through the Legislature (Florida doctors denounce Dont Say Gay bill, Feb. 10). While it is understandable that preschool and kindergarten teachers should stay away from classroom talk about gender and sexual orientation, it just needs to be school policy, not a law that gives parents the right to sue.

We need to give older kids a little more credit. Theyve already seen Modern Family reruns on TV and gay influencers on social media, and they probably have friends with two dads or two moms. So talking about it in a constructive, nonjudgmental way simply acknowledges what they already know.

On the other hand, If a child asks about it and a teacher is forced by law to treat it like a sinful taboo, it will only add to the stigma that LGBTQ young people already face. This law would ingrain that stigma early and could lead to terrible consequences later. More than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., according to The Trevor Project.

The role of education is to broaden knowledge and awareness of the world we live in. This cannot be accomplished if education is divorced from the truth.

Cal Massey Flagler Beach

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Pope Benedicts plea for pardon misguided

After turning a blind eye to all of those priests who ruined the lives of innocent children, retired Pope Benedict XVIs asking for a pardon is much like a bad joke  especially since he admits no wrongdoing. Benedict deserves no such pardon. No morally ethical and upstanding human being would have turned their back on the countless numbers of young children who were sexually abused. If Benedict was any kind of human being, he would have done all that he could to put an end to it. In the final analysis, Benedict is no better than the perpetrators themselves, for allowing the abuse to continue.

JoAnn Lee Frank Clearwater
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday threatened to veto any congressional map coming out of the Legislature that doesnt eliminate a Black district in North Florida.

But the compromise congressional map released late Thursday by the Republican-led state House, while less extreme than DeSantis proposal, would still dramatically alter Central Floridas congressional districts, experts said.

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This is a mess at the moment, said Michael McDonald, a professor of political science at the University of Florida. This is a train wreck thats in motion, and were going to have to see if they can somehow avoid derailing the whole process.

Both DeSantis map and the House map would turn Democrat Stephanie Murphys district into a Republican-leaning one and create a plurality-white Democratic primary in the district held by Val Demings, now a candidate for U.S. Senate. That could greatly reduce the odds that a Black candidate will succeed her.

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The House map also sets up a showdown with the GOP-controlled state Senate, which passed its own plan and considers Demings District 10 in west Orange County as designed to give African Americans representation under state and federal law.

And both chambers could soon face the wrath of DeSantis.

We will not be signing any congressional map that has an unconstitutional gerrymander in it, DeSantis said Friday of District 5 in North Florida, historically an African American seat. And that is going to be the position that we stick to, so just take that to the bank.

DeSantis campaign to eliminate District 5 came after he faced pressure from a key figure in Donald Trumps orbit.

According to the Washington Post, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon began publicly pressuring DeSantis and state legislators to draw more districts that would have voted for Trump.

Just days before DeSantis dropped his surprise map on Martin Luther King Day weekend, Bannons podcasts account on Gettr, a right-wing social media site, asked followers to contact DeSantis and tell him to [stay] focused on redistricting in his state to be sure MAGA gets these seats, the Post reported.

DeSantis was dealt a setback Thursday in his attempt to eliminate District 5 when the state Supreme Court refused to issue an advisory opinion on whether the districts majority-minority status was required under the law.

The Houses release of its own map hours later came after Speaker Chris Sprowls defied DeSantis and announced District 5 would remain intact despite DeSantis wishes.

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The House map, which has yet to come up for a vote, would give Republicans an 18-10 advantage in congressional seats compared to a 16-12 GOP advantage in the Senate map.

The DeSantis map has a similar 18-10 GOP advantage to the House map, according to the last presidential results. But with tighter margins in some districts, its realistic the GOP could have as much as a 20-8 advantage, said Matt Isbell, an elections expert who runs the MCIMaps website.

Compared to the DeSantis plan, it looks like a compromise, Isbell said of the House map. But its actually still a plan that was pretty bad when it came out. It was just DeSantis somehow made it worse.

In attempting to win back U.S. Rep. Murphys District 7 in Seminole and parts of Orange counties, Isbell said, the Republican-drawn House map removes Orange and adds much of GOP-leaning Volusia County.

But in doing so, Isbell said, the map also splits up Orange Countys Black voters, most of which are currently in District 10, and disperses them among three districts, one of which strongly leans Republican and none of which would automatically favor a Black candidate.

Itd be so easy to grab basically every African American voter in western Orange, Isbell said. Its a nice, compact community.  You have this split of the African American community that is so easy to avoid.

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In a seat such as District 10 in which Democrats would be overwhelmingly expected to win, the Democratic primary is the de facto election and African Americans currently have a 70% majority there among Democratic primary voters.

The House map, however, would create a district in which whites would become the plurality Democratic primary voters, with 41% of voters compared with African Americans 37% of the vote.

The Senate has staked out a legal position that the district in Orlando, the 10th District, is [legally] protected, Isbell said. So by that logic, theoretically, they should not be willing to accept the House map ever.

Thats a real conflict, he continued. Thats not just about, Oh, maybe we could do the lines here or here. This is a pretty fundamental question about protected districts.

Republicans in the Legislature could have been emboldened by last weeks U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing Alabamas redistricting map to go forward despite a legal challenge over lack of minority representation. That decision was on top of previous rulings that allow partisan gerrymandering as long as it isnt along racial lines.

They could also be responding to heavily skewed maps in Democratic-led states.

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Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

While Democrats at the national level have pushed for gerrymandering reforms, only to be blocked by Senate Republicans, Democrats on the state level have taken advantage of the gridlock by pushing through maps including a 22-4 Democratic-leaning map in New York and a 14-3 Democratic-leaning map in Illinois.

But, McDonald said, the situations with federal law and in other states are very different than in Florida, which has its own legal protections for minorities.

That Alabama case actually has no bearing on Floridas constitution, he said. ... Its up to the Florida Supreme Court to look at its own state constitution. And we have pretty strong language compared with some other states about what can and cant be done.

McDonald said the Senate map and the alternative House map both finding ways to easily preserve District 10 would be compelling evidence against the House map.

That said, we have a Republican-majority state Supreme Court, he said. "  I think what the House is banking on is that that the Court is going to give them wide latitude.

And DeSantis veto threat still looms over everything.

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So were in a three-way tug of war here, McDonald said.
TALLAHASSEE  The Senate on Thursday passed a long-debated bill that would shield information about applicants vying to lead colleges and universities, as nearly half of Floridas state universities are searching for presidents or will soon be pursuing new leaders.

The bill (SB 520) would keep confidential names and other information about applicants for state college and university presidencies, though information about finalists would be released near the end of searches.

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The measure was approved by senators in a 28-11 vote, after a substantial change was made Thursday.

That change would require that the age, gender and race of all applicants who met the minimum qualifications for the job be revealed at the time finalists are disclosed. The Senate measure would require that the identities of finalists be made public at least 21 days before presidents are chosen.

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Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said the change would ensure that we know the diversity of the pool of applicants.

Rouson, Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, and Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, joined Republicans in voting for the bill, allowing it to exceed a two-thirds margin legally required to create public-records exemptions. A similar proposal last year fell one vote short in the Senate.

The bill also would provide a public-meetings exemption for searches, unless meetings are held for the purposes of establishing qualifications for the job or establishing any compensation framework for a candidate. Also, the open-meetings exemption would not apply after groups of finalists have been established.

Bill sponsor Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said the measure is aimed at attracting the broadest pool of applicants possible during higher-ed searches. Brandes has repeatedly argued that applicants information being public under the current process dissuades potential candidates from applying, in part because their current employers could find out.

What this does is provide no reason for anybody not to apply. Because if you dont make the finalists list, your name will be held confidentially, Brandes said. That is the beauty of this.

Democrats who opposed the measure argued that obscuring applicants information would lead to institutions getting more insider candidates who are politically connected.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

We have not seen or heard any evidence of any chilling effect on the process because of our current openness and transparency. In fact, the evidence is to the contrary. The presidents themselves who have been through this process, the applicants themselves, have lauded the process, said Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point

The University of North Florida and the University of South Florida are being led by interim presidents and are seeking new leaders.

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Similarly, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs recently announced he will step down at the end of 2022 to work as a professor in the schools department of electrical and computer engineering. Also, former Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg last month abruptly announced his resignation, later acknowledging that his exit came after he caused discomfort for a valued colleague.

A similar House bill (HB 703) needs approval from the House Education & Employment Committee before it could be considered by the full chamber.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, told reporters Thursday that he supports the measure.

There is not another job out there where somebody tells their employer, who is currently paying their bills, paying for their familys health care and health insurance, Hey, Im going to go look for another job, I like this job better than you, Sprowls said.

The House version of the bill has a key difference from the Senate measure. The House would provide a 14-day window in which finalists information would be made public before selections are made, a week shorter than the Senate bills 21 days.
The Thunder have signed Lindy Waters III to a two-way deal, the team announced. To make room for Waters, OKC waived Paul Watson.

Waters is a native of Norman, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State in college. He went undrafted after his senior season in 2020. Through 25 games with the Blue this season, OKCs G League affiliate, Waters has averaged 11.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.8 SPG on .548/.513/.941 shooting.

Watson, 27, has bounced around the past few years. He signed a 10-day contract with Atlanta in 2019/20 before catching on with the Raptors for a two-way deal. That deal was converted into a standard contract last season after Watson had a strong performance with the club, but he was waived in August 2021.

Through nine games with the Thunder this season, Watson averaged 3.4 PPG and 3.0 RPG. He struggled mightily with his shot, putting up a .343/.231/.500 shooting line in just 17.3 MPG.
Before joining Capella Hotel Group, von Arnim was General Manager of Park Hyatt Sydney. During his tenure, he delivered sustainable revenue growth and strong operational performance, improved guests' satisfaction and employee engagement, and maintained the hotel's reputation as one of Australia's leading hotels.

Prior to returning home to Australia, von Arnim was pre-opening General Manager of Park Hyatt Busan in Korea and oversaw its successful opening. Under his leadership, Park Hyatt Busan was firmly established as a choice hotel in the city. von Arnim was formerly General Manager of Park Hyatt Goa in India and has served as a board member of the board of the Tourism Accommodation Australia, NSW.

Taking residence at the historic Lands and Educations Buildings, Capella Sydney will open in 2023 and comprises 192 Guestrooms, 32 Suites and One Bedroom Suites.
For 30 years, Julie Winkelmann worked as an occupational therapist, helping the sick and injured regain their strength and independence. But as COVID-19 overwhelmed emergency rooms, hospital wards and intensive care units, the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment that had sustained Winkelmann in a challenging career began to fade.

She started to feel a sense of futility as she cared for sick patients who were not going to get better at Memorial Hermann Hospitals Cypress location. It became harder and harder to tell families they couldnt visit loved ones because of pandemic restrictions.

She finally reached her breaking point in October when she hurt her back while helping to turn a morbidly obese patient. She came home in tears, and told her husband she had to retire.

We were (1) years into it, said Winkelmann, 52.  And eventually I just said, I cant do it anymore.

Winkelmann is among the hundreds of thousands of health care workers leaving jobs as the pandemic drags on, worsening a long-running labor shortage as demand for health services is only expected to rise with an aging population. More than 500,000 health care workers quit their jobs in December alone, according to the Labor Department, while job openings in sector have surged by 700,000 or nearly 60 percent over the past year.

On HoustonChronicle.com: As hundreds of Houston hospital staffers contract COVID, those left at work face burden of shortages

Burnout has always been a problem in an industry that each day faces questions of life and death. But hospital administrators, health care workers, and researchers say the level and scope of burnout has reached unprecedented proportions as one wave of COVID-19 infections is followed by another, with no end in sight. As more doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians leave the industry, it is only adding to workloads and stress on those who remain  and contributing to more burnout.

Many are exhausted, and they havent even recovered from the prior wave, said Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, a professor of psychiatry at Ohio State Universitys College of Medicine and author of several studies on health care worker burnout. So many nurses and clinicians are suffering from moral distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, theyre already burnt out by the time the next wave hits.

War zone

Jerry Holbrook, a nurse working at Houston Methodist, has trouble falling asleep after finishing his 13-hour shifts. The reason: its too quiet.

Holbrook has spent the past two years in some of the hottest hotspots of the pandemic in Texas, Louisiana and Minnesota, moving from patient to patient, refilling IVs as alarms buzzed, monitors beeped and doctors shouted orders. After spending 80-hours a week in the never-ending roar of people and machines, the silence of his trailer can be unsettling.

It was like a war zone, Holbrook said, recalling his shifts in the ICU. It was the loudest, most overwhelming thing you could ever imagine.

Holbrook, who has been at Methodist since July, is a contract nurse working for the Colorado staffing firm Fastaff. He said he has been able to recover, both physically and mentally, during the breaks between the COVID-19 surges that have marked the pandemic, now entering its third year. But he has also watched doctors and nurses  both veterans and recent hires  who couldnt rebound. Some took early retirements, he said, others just quit rather than return to nearly impossible conditions.

I put more people in body bags in two years than I had in my 31 years as a nurse, Holbrook said. The pure volume of it was overwhelming, and it affects you every time.

A mental health pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a mental health pandemic for health care workers, experts said. About 50 percent of nurses reported worsening mental and physical health since the start of the pandemic, according to a study published last year in Nursing Administration Quarterly.

The study showed clinicians generally slept less, developed unhealthy eating habits, and increased their alcohol intake during the pandemic as coping mechanisms. About 65 percent said they exercised less, 38 percent said they started drinking more, and 57 percent said they had started eating less healthy foods since the pandemic began.

About 53 percent of clinicians interviewed said they slept less, with 65 percent sleeping less than seven hours a night, the minimum experts recommend for adults.

This pandemic within a pandemic has implications beyond health care workers, said Mazurek Melnyk. The Journal of Clinical Nursing interviewed 285 nurses who made medical errors and 75 percent of them cited fatigue, burnout and exhaustion as one of the reasons.

As a result, its vital that health care workers seek the support and help they need to regain their mental and physical health, she said.

What I want people to hear, Mazurek Melnyk said, is that its a strength to recognize youre burnt out, stressed.

Christine Sloat had worked six years as a bedside nurse when, in September 2020, the ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital, was reaching capacity. Nurses were caring for twice as many patients as usual and Sloat was working 14-hour days. Then one her patients died of COVID.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Omicron's wave of breakthrough infections spurs rush for COVID tests, vaccines in Houston

The stress of it all triggered a flare-up in her Lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in joints. Her legs started to swell. Her joints wouldnt bend. She tried to will her legs to move, but they wouldnt budge.

She collapsed to the floor, and only got up with the help of coworkers.

It was like my body just shut off, Sloat said. I had to leave because I was getting to the point where I couldn't even walk at work, and thats not safe for anyone.

Sloat took a week off and realized she couldnt work bedside anymore. She is now a nurse case manager, planning discharges and preparing patients to leave the hospital  Just a less stressful position, Sloat said.

Employers respond

The health care industry has struggled with labor shortages for years, particularly as the baby boom generation has headed to retirement. Even before the pandemic, Texas forecast that the number of nurses entering the profession would fall far short of what the health care system needed. A 2019 report from the Department of State Health Services estimated that the demand for nurses would grow 38 percent by 2032, but the supply would increase only 30 percent.

As the pandemic continues, hospital administrators are trying to intervene before people reach their breaking points and leave the industry. CHI St. Luke's, for example, began providing counseling and support groups to frontline workers and paid $1,000 bonus to all full-time employees in October, hospital officials said.

Harris Health System, which operates the countys public hospitals, has boosted nurses' pay about 25 percent and improved benefits, adding paternity leave and coverage for infertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization, said Omar Reid, the senior vice president of human resources.

The hospital has about about 850 openings on a staff of 9,300, up from 544 vacancies before the pandemic, he said. Nearly 2,900 left the system in 2020 and 2021.

There's burnout, there's frustration. Certainly there is this sense of you know, when will it be over? Reid said. There are people who decided to go into different career directions

On the beach

After retiring from Memorial Herman, Winkelmann, the occupational therapist, moved to a small beach town near Corpus Christi, where she lives a much quieter life. Before COVID, she said, she enjoyed her work and her colleagues, and when ICUs filled up again around the holidays, she felt a sense of guilt.

But shes not going back.

I dont want to do anything health care related anymore, which is a shame because I loved it, Winkelmann said. I just had a huge sense of relief walking out of there.
Texas Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian has no shame, and Republican primary voters need to fire him next month.

The least qualified of the triumvirate that oversees the Texas oil and gas industry has demonstrated what at best is a profound disregard for ethics, and at worst, engaged in public corruption. Here are the facts that every Texas voter should know before casting a ballot.

The High Roller Group of Center, a town near the Louisiana border, submitted plans to the Railroad Commission to build a nine-story landfill to dispose of oilfield waste for the next 25 years. The location 20 miles north of Midland is very near the Ogalala Aquifer, a groundwater source for tens of millions of people stretching to South Dakota.

In 2020, staff at the commission recommended killing the plan, warning it was too close to the aquifer and added that the company was not doing enough to protect drinking water.

Christian, who represented Center in the Legislature and still operates a business there, overruled the staffs recommendation. On Dec. 8, 2020, he voted with fellow commissioner Ryan Sitton to reject the scientists recommendation, while the third commissioner Christy Craddick voted against it.

Then on Dec. 11, Christian accepted a $100,000 campaign contribution from HR Environmental of Center, according to Christians campaign finance report. (Hint: HR stands for High Roller.)

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Feds find true cause of the February blackouts, Texas officials deflect blame

The Odessa American broke the story when landowners filed suit, demanding a judge reverse the decision. My colleague Jeremy Blackman also dug into it, and none of our elected officials responded to requests for an explanation. Neither did the High Rollers.

Nothing in Texas law prohibits a corporation from donating to an elected state regulator who has the power to make or break a multimillion-dollar deal. Nothing prohibits Christian from taking money from the businesspeople he oversees.

Nowhere in state politics is quid pro quo more apparent than at the Railroad Commission.

Every two years, voters choose one commissioner to serve for six years, and the incumbent usually holds the rotating chairmanship while they are running for reelection. Running a statewide election is expensive, and since the public doesnt know what they do, commissioners raise money from the people they regulate.

More than two-thirds of their campaign donations come from oil and gas and their allies, according to Commission Shift, a non-partisan group campaigning for reform. All three commissioners trade oil and gas stocks, even while they make rulings on those companies applications and the complaints against them.

Why is the agency that regulates oil and gas called the Railroad Commission when it has zero authority over trains? Because the commissioners and corporations prefer it that way. Commissioners have blocked every effort to update the name, lest the public realizes what they are doing in Austin.

Christian is not the only elected official who collects rewards from big-money corporate bosses.

Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott blocked efforts by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to claw back the multi-billion dollar profits companies made off Texans during the February Freeze. A few weeks later, he accepted a $1 million donation from Kelcy Warren, whose Energy Transfer made $2.4 billion from millions of Texans shivering in the dark.

As long as were talking about shamelessness, lets not forget Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal maneuvering has kept him from standing trial for securities fraud for over four years now. Since then, his top aides have accused him of accepting bribes from an Austin real estate developer, and the FBI is investigating.

Lastly, do not forget Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who gave employees $400,000 in taxpayer-financed bonuses in his first nine months in office and allegedly used taxpayer money for personal travel. The Texas Rangers have investigated him twice, and his top aide was recently indicted for taking bribes in return for cannabis growing licenses.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Natural gas companies failed again, showing Texas energy system still vulnerable

Ive worked in impoverished African countries with stricter ethics laws than Texas. But even by our lax standards, the fact these statewide leaders feel comfortable taking cash from the people benefiting from their decisions is disturbing.

For more than 20 years, the Republican primaries have been the only elections that have counted for statewide office. Early voting begins on Feb. 15, and primary balloting ends on March 1.

Voters can punish this despicable behavior. None of these men deserve the votes of conservatives who value integrity in public office. They all have honest, qualified conservative challengers who would conduct their duties with greater honor.

Even if Christian was not expecting the $100,000 donation from his biggest donor, he should have demonstrated authentic leadership and rejected it rather than appear to take a payoff. Texans deserve leaders who put them first, not the corporations they are supposed to regulate.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
European oil major TotalEnergies said Thursday that it would acquire the commercial business of solar tech company SunPower Corp., expanding further into the renewables business.

In a statement, the Paris company formerly known as Total, said the $250 million deal for SunPowers commercial and industrial solutions business would help it build out its distributed generation business, which operates about 500 megawatts of power across the globe. Acquiring SunPowers division will help it develop more than 100 additional megawatts each year and expand its solar footprint both for residential and utility-scale projects. One megawatt is enough to power about 200 homes on a hot summer day.

SunPower, based in San Jose, Calif. with operations nationwide, is aiming to focus more on its residential business.

Vincent Stoquart, senior vice president of renewables at TotalEnergies, said bringing on a segment of SunPowers business will help it and its customers achieve sustainability goals. TotalEnergies already holds a majority ownership stake in SunPower.

PLEASING INVESTORS: TotalEnergies to boost investor returns after record profit

It is a new milestone in our renewable development in the country, where we are targeting 4 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2025, said Vincent Stoquart, senior vice president of renewables for TotalEnergies. This will also give SunPower additional resources to focus on the growing residential market.

For SunPower, the deal will create more clarity for customers about what each company offers, said Peter Faricy, CEO of SunPower.

TotalEnergies is the ideal partner for our CIS business to take advantage of the growing commercial market and opportunities like community solar and front-of-meter storage, he said. The sale enables SunPower to focus on creating a superior residential experience, increase our investment in product and digital innovation, and reach more homeowners.

The acquisition has already been approved by both companies and is expected to close early in the second quarter.

Its TotalEnergies latest move toward renewables and away from its oil and gas roots as it hopes to appease investors and governments eager to see it reduce its carbon footprint. The company hopes to become carbon neutral by 2050 and has begun to focus on electric vehicle charging stations, alternative fuels and renewable power generation. For example, it announced in November that it would use cow manure to produce biofuels, which it expects will prevent 45,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually by substituting fossil fuels with renewable natural gas made from the animal waste.

shelby.webb@chron.com
Artifacts from the time and location once traversed by the biblical prophet Joseph and even Jesus will be on display at The Bible Seminary starting March 1. Excavated from archaeological dig sites in Isreal, artifacts will be featured in the Joshua, Judges, and Jesus - A Walk Through Biblical History exhibit.

Most of the artifacts were uncovered by Dr. Scott Stripling, provost at The Bible Seminary and the Director of Excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research at Khirbet el-Maqatir and Shiloh, Israel, and his team.

More Katy news: Here's why dozens of Houston sports stars are coming to Katy

It's a walk through biblical history, which begins back in the Middle Bronze Age and then goes all the way up through the Byzantine period, so it's over 2,000 years of biblical history that we explore through the artifacts, Stripling explained.

The artifacts directly correspond to books of the Bible, Stripling noted. The artifacts found in the ancient city of Ai correspond to the Book of Joshua in the Bible, and items found in Shiloh are part of a larger effort to find clues to the location of the Tabernacle.

There are a total of 170 artifacts in the exhibit, including items like coins, bowls and even nails that were used in crucifixions similar to those used in the execution of Jesus.

The coins are really fascinating because they feature the images of Pontius Pilate on the coin- obviously he's a real person, not just part of a story, Stripling said. Herod the Great, Nero, Caligula, Claudius, Festus, Felix- all these rulers that you read about, we have all of their coins, and they're all on display here.

Each artifact in the display will have detailed information about not only the artifact itself but the implications it would have had for the time.

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We found four crucifixion victims, excavated with the nails still in their ankles, and well have the nails for people to see, Stripling said. Stripling further explained that crucifixions were a means of execution for non-citizens and enemies of the state. Citizens would have been beheaded in a gentlemans death, he noted.

While parts of history are often brutal, Stripling said, As sad as it is, that was the reality of the ancient world, and these historical artifacts can teach us a lot about what life would have been like.

The Bible Seminary is located at 2655 South Mason Road. Free tours are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or by appointment outside those hours and on weekends beginning March 1.

claire.goodman@chron.com
The Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office recently partnered with other agencies for three proactive operations to fight human trafficking, leading to 41 arrests and seven rescues.

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The arrests included five traffickers or pimps, and the rescues included one child sex trafficking victim, according to District Attorney Brian Middleton.

So, the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office remains committed to providing protection and safety for people in our community, Middleton said. These undercover operations are proactive attempt to reduce and eliminate crime in our community. We dont stop at human trafficking, but we are focused on human trafficking.

He said the top priority is protecting the women and children who are more vulnerable.

Operation Trick or Treat in October 2021 focused on discouraging sex buyers or johns. Mark Hanna, chief of the DA offices special crimes division, said the operations objective was to decrease the demand for purchasing sex so that fewer people would be victimized. Twenty-six individuals were arrested for trying to purchase sex over the internet.

In November 2021, Missouri City Police Department led the other agencies in Operation Frontline, which resulted in the arrest of seven individuals who were attempting to purchase sex, Hanna noted.

He said Januarys Operation Snowflake led to the arrest of five sex traffickers and the seven rescues.

Charges varied, and there were also some related drug and weapons charges.

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Human Trafficking Rescue and 11 other agencies worked with the DAs office to carry out the three operations. They included Missouri City Police Department, Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office, Sugar Land Police Department, Houston Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriffs Office, Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, Rosenberg Police Department, Waller County Sheriffs Office, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Homeland Security Investigations Houston.

Hanna said the number of arrests and rescues shows the impact of such operations, from improving the lives of the victims to holding traffickers accountable in order to make know that purchasing sex and trafficking will not be tolerated in Fort Bend County and those who engage in those activities will be caught. He emphasized that a person looking to purchase sex over the internet could be talking to an undercover agent and will be prosecuted.

Were going to continue through these collaborative efforts to investigate these and prosecute people to the utmost extent that we can, Hanna said.

Texas led the way in September as the first state to make solicitation of prostitution a felony through House Bill 1540. Hanna said he wanted to make people aware that there are serious consequences for soliciting.

County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson said her office uses civil paths to close storefronts and businesses that engage in human trafficking. A new county policy takes aim at illicit massage parlors, for example. Smith-Lawson said she will continue to support other offices to toward stamping out human trafficking across the county.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Fort Bend County political parties prepare as primary approaches

Amid the arrests and rescues, Middleton encouraged parents to carefully watch their children to safeguard them from traffickers.

What I will say is, parents, be vigilant. Protect your children. If you see something, say something, Middleton said. Were doing our level best to eradicate this problem, but we need your help. As between you and your children, there should be no secrecy. Monitor their online activity. Pay attention to whats going on in their lives.

He added that traffickers like to prey on children they believe are vulnerable, so parents of children in crisis should be extra vigilant.

Rhonda Kuykendall chairs the district attorneys human trafficking community awareness team, but she is also a survivor of sex trafficking. Trafficked from Fort Bend County in 1981 at just 10 years old, she waited 25 years to share her story. After learning her case was beyond the statute of limitations, Kuykendall lobbied in Austin for five years to change that law. Ultimately, the statute of limitations against child sexual assault in Texas was abolished.

While trafficking has always been an issue, Kuykendall said there is better awareness now. In her work with the community awareness team, she strives to educate people about the dangers.

The team is planning its Speak Up event on Tuesday, March 8, to build awareness. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Missouri City Community Center at 1422 Texas Parkway. An introduction will cover topics like what grooming looks like and how to keep children safe. There will also be a panel discussion.

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Kuykendall said her trafficking at such a young age is an anomaly . Many trafficking victims are groomed starting around 15 to 17 years old. They come from all races and backgrounds.

There is no one socioeconomic type that suffers from human trafficking, Kuykendall said. It occurs in urban communities and rural communities, rich communities and poor communities. Human trafficking is everywhere if we are ready to look for it.

Victims of sexual trafficking seeking help can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Homes in the Innovation at Hidden Lake neighborhood off Hartwood-Marsh Road in Clermont, Fla., equipped with rooftop solar panels, Thursday, January 6, 2022. Florida Power & Light with the largest electric utility customer base in the U.S. is lobbying state lawmakers to introduce legislation that would suppress the use of rooftop solar power for Florida residences. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida Power & Light is urging lawmakers to slash the value of credits they must pay to customers with rooftop solar systems for excess energy they produce, citing concerns that customers with modest incomes are subsidizing affluent homeowners who can afford solar panels.

But clean energy proponents say reimbursing solar customers at lower rates for energy they send back to the grid will put rooftop solar systems out of reach for middle- and lower-income homeowners who count on being able to recoup the cost of installing the panels through lower energy bills.

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Critics say the proposed changes to the states net metering program would make it difficult for prospective solar customers to estimate how much theyll save on future utility bills and discourage homeowners from purchasing the systems.

While a new rooftop solar system can cost $20,000 or more, some homeowners who purchase those systems anticipate saving thousands of dollars per year on their utility bills and view rooftop panels as an investment that eventually will pay for itself.

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I think with net metering, what you do see is greater middle-class and lower-income access to solar, said Jim Rossi, a professor of energy law at Vanderbilt University. Once you take that away, its extremely difficult for a middle-income customer and almost impossible for a lower-income person to access rooftop solar.

When lawmakers first approved Floridas net metering program in 2008, it was intended as an incentive for people to install solar panels on their homes. But proponents of the legislation argue that non-solar customers, who pay a greater share of the costs associated with maintaining the electrical grid, are now unfairly subsidizing the growing number of customers with solar panels.

We now fast-forward 15 years and that incentive becomes costly for the non-rooftop solar customers, said Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Orange Park, who sponsored the Senates proposal.

Homes in the Innovation at Hidden Lake neighborhood off Hartwood-Marsh Road in Clermont, Fla., equipped with rooftop solar panels, Thursday, January 6, 2022. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Analysis undercuts wealth claim

Floridas net-metering program allows utility customers who install renewable energy sources, like solar panels, on their homes or businesses to sell excess electricity those devices generate back to utility companies.

The initiative, which began when roughly 200 utility customers had rooftop solar panels, was intended to encourage the growth of the burgeoning industry. Today, more than 90,000 Floridians have solar panels on their homes.

The proposed rehaul of the states net-metering program would pertain to customers of investor-owned utilities such as FPL and Duke Energy, which are regulated by the Public Service Commission.

An amended version of the Senate bill would gradually phase in the proposed changes through 2028 and grandfather customers who own solar panels by the end of 2022 under the current rules for 20 years.

Roughly 99.5% of FPLs 5.6 million customers do not have solar panels and they pay an additional $30 million to subsidize other customers who do, spokesman Chris McGrath wrote in an email.

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That amounts to less than $6 per customer annually.

And though proponents of the legislation have characterized homeowners with solar panels as relatively wealthy, a Senate staff analysis cited FPL data that shows a third of the utilitys solar customers have incomes less than $50,000 per year and two-thirds have incomes less than $100,000.

Sterling Clifford, the manager of government affairs for Sunnova Energy, noted that when FPL successfully petitioned the Public Service Commission last year to raise its customers electricity rates, it did not cite the cost of crediting solar panel customers as a factor.

There is also nothing in this bill that would require money to go back to consumers, Clifford said during a recent Senate committee meeting. If it passes, rates for solar customers will go up. No one elses rates will go down.

Though the legislation does not mandate that the savings be passed along to customers, FPL insists that they would.

Lowering the credit for excess rooftop solar generation lowers the costs of procuring power, which would be reflected in customer bills, McGrath wrote.

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The legislation is a key priority for FPL, one of the largest donors to state legislative campaigns. Bradley and Rep, Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, who sponsored the Houses version of the legislation, received the language for those bills from lobbyists for FPL, the Miami Herald reported.

Consultants for the utility who at the time worked for Alabama-based firm Matrix LLC in past years have also provided extensive funding to Energy Fairness, an anti-net metering think tank whose work has been cited by McClure to bolster his criticism of the policy.

The same operatives played a key role in orchestrating the states ghost candidate scandal in 2020, while working closely with FPL executives, according to internal Matrix documents obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

The consultants billed FPL for more than $3 million days before they began moving money through a dark-money entity that paid for advertisements championing independent candidates in three Florida Senate races. The ads were worded to appeal to progressive voters, part of an apparent scheme to siphon votes from the Democrats in those races.

FPL has insisted its employees had no role in the spoiler candidate scheme. But the Florida Senate is particularly important to the utility company because it must confirm appointments the governor makes to the Public Service Commission, the body that oversees FPL and recently voted to let the utility giant raise rates by nearly $5 billion over the next four years.

A new group called Seniors Across America is also supporting the net metering legislation. The nonprofit organization, formed in June by prominent Republican attorney Bucky Mitchell, is led by John Grant, a former state lawmaker who has previously lobbied for bills backed by FPL and for a group called 60 Plus Association that was backed by the Koch brothers, the wealthy mega-donors to conservative causes.

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Grant has testified in favor of the proposals during recent committee meetings, saying that the growing number of solar customers would disproportionately hurt senior citizens, most of whom, for various reasons, cant or wont have solar.

Seniors Across America also has sent out several text messages in recent weeks, promising the legislation would make utility bills lower and fairer.

Seniors without solar on their homes should not pay higher bills at the expense of homes with solar, one of the messages read.

Cant calculate the savings

The promise of future savings was a key part of Michael Cohens decision to install solar panels on the roof of his Orlando home in 2015, as he and his wife were preparing to retire. Cohen said he spent $11,000 on his system, which generates enough energy for his households use.

He estimates his investment saves him $70 to $100 per month.

Thats a better investment than a CD in a bank, said Cohen, one of the co-founders of Solar United Neighbors of Florida, a nonprofit organization that helps people purchase discounted solar panels through co-op agreements.

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If the Legislature goes along with the proposal pushed by FPL, future solar panel owners wont see the same benefit.

Instead of being credited at the retail rate for energy they sell back to the grid, theyll be credited at the wholesale rate, which is roughly 30% of the rate customers pay. Theyll also still have to pay the full retail rate for energy they purchase at times when their panels arent generating enough for their household consumption.

And critics say it will be difficult for prospective solar panel owners to estimate how much theyll save. Thats because the credits they receive for excess energy produced will be based on thousands of instant transactions calculated throughout the day, said Tyson Grinstead, the director of public policy for Sunrun, a residential solar panel and battery company.

For example, a customer could be charged a retail rate for energy during part of the day when their panels arent generating enough power to meet their needs, then receive credit at the wholesale price for sending energy back to the grid during another part of the day.

They just cant calculate the savings  its too hard, Grinstead said during a recent Senate committee meeting.

Bruce and Gemma Dehnbostel paid $25,000 to install panels on their Seminole County home in 2016, spurred by a desire to help fight climate change and a belief in renewable energy. But the couple also wanted to cut their monthly energy bills. Theyre able to generate as much energy as their household consumes, they say, resulting in a savings of just over $2,000 per year.

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The Dehnbostels often talk to their neighbors and friends about the benefits of solar energy and worry that the initial investment required to install rooftop panels will deter many homeowners if theyre unsure of how much they will save on future energy bills.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

I think it will discourage people, sure it will, Gemma Dehnbostel said.

The Dehnbostels are customers of Duke Energy, which serves a broad swath of Central Florida. A spokesperson said Duke has not taken a position on the net metering legislation.

Simply put, Duke Energy is a strong supporter of solar and is committed to providing reliable, dependable, and cost-efficient clean energy to our customers, spokeswoman Ana Gibbs wrote in an email.

FPL is the states largest producer of solar energy and promotes itself as leading the expansion of clean energy in Florida, vowing to build 30 million panels by 2030.

The company supports net metering, according to its website, which acknowledges FPLs support for the legislation slashing credits for solar customers and says the current policies should be modernized, not eliminated.

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And yet there they are attacking private citizens with rooftop solar panels, Bruce Dehnbostel said. My interpretation is they are all for solar power as long as the money is going in their pockets.

anmartin@orlandosentinel.com
The first indication Shanette Lewis had police were seeking her son in a crime was around 9:30 a.m. Monday when she got a call at work that there was a warrant for his arrest  about an hour before officers swarmed her street and fatally shot her only child, a criminal justice graduate studying for law school.

Authorities said the shooting happened when Lewis son, 27-year-old Charion Lockett, opened fire on police from a parked car in the driveway and that firearms were recovered.

Lockett had been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, Lewis said she was told by a law enforcement officer Monday morning. The warrant for his arrest, filed Feb. 4, set into motion a court appearance on the 9 a.m. Monday docket, for which Lockett was a no-show, records show.

Lewis said Lockett also received a call about the warrant around that time and both of them told the law enforcement official that she needed to alert a lawyer before discussing the allegation further. Lockett on Thursday said she did not have a record of that call on her phone  or others from Monday or Sunday.

Houston police officials said investigators, on occasion, will call defendants to notify them of warrants and to tell them they need to turn themselves in. Otherwise, defendants are typically notified of warrants by lawyers or bail bondsmen.

Around 10:45 a.m., Lewis neighbors frantically called her with news of what was unfolding outside her home.

Several unmarked Houston Police Department vehicles had descended on the home in the 800 block of Oak West Drive, they said, and plainclothes officers with protective vests spilled out onto the street with guns.

A neighbor, Anthony Ugoh, said he saw the unmarked vehicles pull up while checking the mail.

(Lockett) was sitting in his car with the door wide open, Ugoh said, adding that the armed officers then stepped out of the vehicles. A marked Houston police vehicle arrived at around the time the gunfire happened, he said.

If anybody ambushed you in unmarked cars, what would you do, Lewis asked.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Lockett was still in his black sedan in the driveway when he opened fire, hitting at least one patrol car. Four officers returned fire, police said. No officers were injured and police recovered several weapons on the scene, he added.

The gunfire struck Locketts car and the familys garage, and shots went through the front door and struck inside the home.

He tried to run away from them, said Ugoh, who had known Locket since he was a child.

Lewis believes that Lockett ran inside the home in an attempt to escape the gunfire, she said. Medical examiner records show Lockett suffered multiple penetrating gunshot wounds.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting by police because it happened in their jurisdiction.

Robbery allegation

Court records show that HPDs North Belt Crime Suppression Team sought Locket for a Nov. 26 incident.

Melissa Phillip / Staff

Police said he lured a high school acquaintance to an apartment complex under the guise of needing help with crypto-currency.

Lockett, at the rendezvous, told the acquaintance he needed money and that the man had to give something up, according to charging papers. An unidentified accomplice joined Lockett.

The victim said he would get money from his vehicle in an attempt to stall for time and escape. The accomplice followed him and got into the backseat and pointed a pistol at him, while Lockett opened the drivers door and reached for the gear shift, records continued.

The victim managed to drive away with Lockett holding on to him but then hit two other vehicles in the parking lot, police said. He ran away and heard three or four gunshots.

Court records do not indicate whether it was Lockett or his accomplice who opened fire.

Prosecutors last week filed a motion asking that Lockett  once apprehended  be held on a $50,000 bond.

Court records show that investigators presented an earlier version of the charging papers in December but a judge did not sign it.

Lewis denied the allegations and said her son did not have a criminal history. He had a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University and obtained a masters degree from Lamar University in 2020 in the same subject. He was expected to take a test later this month for law school applications, she said.

Records show Lockett has never been arrested in Harris County.

Police footage to come

Taft Foley, Lewis civil lawyer, called the allegations that led to the Locketts warrant frivolous and unvetted.

Melissa Phillip / Staff

He then likened the shooting to the botched Harding Street narcotics raid  the 2019 firefight that left two homeowners dead and multiple officers injured. Fallout from the raid, based on false intelligence, has left several police officers fired, convicted of crimes or facing criminal charges.

The police account of what happened just doesnt add up  thats what Im losing sleep over at night, Foley said, adding that he is anticipating the footage the Houston Police Department releases. I think it would be very convenient for the police to allege that (Lockett) fired first and that they shot back.

Finner said that body-worn footage from the shooting is slated to be shared within 30 days  as part of the citys police reform recommendations to be more transparent. On-duty uniformed officers below the rank of lieutenants and plainclothes officers are expected to wear body-worn cameras, according to HPD policies.

Finner said Monday that he spoke with Locketts family after the shooting.

We don't know what's going on in these times, don't know what's going on in peoples heads but we have to pray for everybody involved, Finner said during a news conference.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said he expects to fly what would be the most powerful rocket to ever launch from the Earth by years end, but if it cant do it sooner from Texas like it had planned, the company will shift efforts to Kennedy Space Center.

Musk spoke on Thursday night at the companys Boca Chica, Texas, facility called Starbase to a crowd of hundreds with a fully stacked 394-foot-tall Starship and Heavy Booster in the background. He detailed the progress for SpaceXs next-generation rocket that looks to make its first suborbital flight once it receives approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

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FILE - Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musk has tweeted his way into trouble with another federal agency, this time the National Labor Relations Board. SpaceXas Elon Musk said Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 that the first orbital flight of his towering Starship _ the world's most powerful rocket ever built could come in another month or two. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (Susan Walsh / AP)

We need to make it work, so it doesnt work yet. It will work  might be a few bumps along the road but it will work, Musk said. At this point, I feel highly confident well get to orbit this year.

To date, the company has flown prototype versions to about 6 miles, and attempted landings back in Texas, sometimes with fiery results. Those used only three or fewer of the new, powerful Raptor engines. The fully working orbital version will be coupled with a Super Heavy booster with 39 Raptor engines, 33 on the booster and six on Starship.

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The next test flight seeks to launch the stacked version, have them separate, return the booster to land on a SpaceX ship 20 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico while Starship achieves orbit for least one trip around the Earth and then lands in the Pacific Ocean.

The FAA, though, is releasing the results of an environmental assessment on Feb. 28, and it could potentially require a much more in-depth environmental impact statement that would delay SpaceXs plans for Texas launches, even though that launchpad is the companys preference.

Because we have a lot of launches going out of the Cape we didnt want to disrupt the Cape activity  the operational launches  with the advance R&D of Starship, Musk said. So it was important to decouple the operational launches from the R&D launches. Thats why were at this location.

Musk said he wasnt sure how the FAA report would swing.

We dont have a ton of insight into where things stand with the FAA, he said. We have gotten sort of a rough indication that there may be an approval in March, but thats all we know.

That could lead to a launch attempt soon after, Musk said, adding he was optimistic that SpaceX will get approval.

SpaceX employees listen as Elon Musk provides an update on Starship, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, near Brownsville, Texas. Musk said that the first orbital flight of Starship--the world's most powerful rocket ever built--could come in another month or two. While he anticipates failures, hes confident Starship will reach orbit by the end of this year.(Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP) (AP)

I think objectively this is not something that will be harmful to the environment. Weve obviously flown the ship several times, and done multiple landings, takeoffs and landings, we fired the engines a lot, Musk said. I think the reality is it would not have a significant impact.

When it does launch, the rocket would become the most powerful ever to lift off from Earth generating more than 16 million pounds of thrust. That nearly doubles the power of NASAs planned Artemis flights and more than doubles those of the Apollo missions.

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If the FAA opts for the EIS for Boca Chica, Musk said the companys efforts would shift to Florida, referring to it often as Cape Kennedy.

That doesnt mean things dont get delayed from a regulatory standpoint, Musk said. We do have the alternative of the Cape and we actually applied for environmental approval from launching from the Cape a few years ago and received it. So we actually are approved from an environmental standpoint to launch from 39-A. So I guess our worst-case scenario is that we would be delayed for six to eight months to build up the Cape launch tower and launch from there.

Go For Launch - Space News Weekly Fix your telescope on all space-related news, from rocket launches to space-industry advancements. >

SpaceX last year announced it was building out a second set of apparatus for the KSC launch complex it currently uses for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy flights. Musk said he expects it to be ready by the years end, whether it becomes the primary Starship launch site or not.

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Immediate plans for Starship are for Starlink satellite delivery to add to the companys growing constellation of internet satellites, as well as to develop a version to assist NASA in getting humans back on the moon by 2025. Also upcoming is a tourist flight to orbit the moon funded by a Japanese fashion tycoon whos taking along several artists.

The main purpose for its development, though, is eventually to help create a self-sustaining colony on Mars.

There will probably be a few bumps in the road, but well want to iron those out with satellite missions and test missions, and get to a high flight rate and then have something thats extremely reliable for human spaceflight, Musk said.
A 19-year-old Spring soldier was fatally shot this week in an off-duty incident near the U.S.-Mexico border, the Texas Military Department reported.

Spc. Dajuan Townes of the Texas National Guard was serving in Gov. Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" when he was shot and killed Monday near Bracketville  126 miles west of San Antonio, according to a news release from the department.

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Townes was sitting in his car outside Fort Clark Springs and passing his personal firearm to another solider in the back seat when the weapon fired, striking him, according to documents obtained by the Army Times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our hearts are heavy at the news of a tragic death of a Texas Guardsman stationed at the border as part of Operation Lone Star," Abbott stated in a news release earlier this week. "We grieve for the soldier who died and lift their family and loved ones up in prayer."

More on 'Operation Lone Star': Texas lawmakers ask Justice Department to investigate, end Abbotts Operation Lone Star border program

Townes, who joined the Texas National Guard in 2019, worked as an army horizontal construction engineer, according to the release. He becomes the second soldier linked to the mission who has died from an accidental shooting since January and the sixth soldier to die since October  although four of those were death by suicide, the Army Times stated.

The Texas Military Department said it is working directly with Townes' family to provide them support during this time. Currently, the investigation into his death is still ongoing and will be conducted by both the Texas Rangers and the Texas Military Department, the release added.

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
Speeding is suspected in a crash that killed two people Thursday night in northwest Houston, police said.

Officers responded to reports of the crash just after 11 p.m. on the 5300 block of Hollister Street near Northwest Freeway feeder road and found two people dead and a third injured, authorities added.

More on HoustonChronicle.com: Motorist drives through fatal crash investigation in west Houston

Witnesses told investigators a truck was traveling east on the feeder road when it ran a red light and struck a sedan traveling southbound on Hollister, according to HPD Sgt. Dionne Griffiths. The passenger in the truck and the driver of the sedan were both killed while the driver is expected to survive and was cooperating with authorities, police said.

The truck driver had no signs of intoxication and the Harris County District Attorney's office was on the scene to evaluate charges, Griffiths said, adding that charges are still pending.

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"Judging by the impact it appears he was going at a high rate of speed but we won't get a definitive until we download the vehicle and see what speed the vehicle was going at the point of impact," Griffiths said.

No other information is available at this time.

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
Seeking to quell a campus controversy, Rice University plans to relocate the statue of founder and former slaveowner William Marsh Rice from its prominent perch at the center of a well-visited courtyard  but it wont be going far.

The universitys Board of Trustees agreed late last month to move the effigy from its current spot in the Academic Quadrangle to a less-visible location on the perimeter of the lawn.

The decision, first reported by The Rice Thresher, follows months of discussion about whether the statue should occupy such a prominent place at the 109-year-old private university. Some students had hoped to see the Rice statue relocated to a museum or less-traversed area of campus, but others interviewed Friday said they felt the university had reached a fair compromise.

Itd be great if we removed the statue (entirely), but at the same time I can understand why they didnt, freshman Ben Dhaiti said. So I think its good that they were able to do something to say, Hey, we hear you.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Rice, other colleges, face petitions over remainders of racist roots

The announcement comes as city, state and campus leaders nationwide confront what to do with statues and monuments honoring figures who backed secession, slavery and genocide, among other things.

Board chairman Rob Ladd said the private universitys decision to move the statue and affix context about his life successfully straddles two aspects of history: recognizing Rices landmark significance in founding the university as well as acknowledging his slave ownership and the universitys segregationist origins.

Rice was a merchant from Massachusetts who moved to Houston and quickly amassed his wealth in Texas. He endowed the private university in 1891, explicitly for whites only, and his reputation was further marred by his ownership of 15 slaves. He was killed in 1900 by his valet and a lawyer who had forged several documents in attempts to acquire his estate, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

We intend for the Academic Quadrangle to both fully acknowledge the history of our founding and founder, and to mark and celebrate the important evolution and growth of our university over time, Ladd said in a statement on Jan. 25. We believe the redesign will allow us to move forward as a community.

The Rice statute is among many monuments at academic institutions to prompt student protests and petitions about the honoring of Confederate leaders or otherwise implicated historical figures. Down With Willy protests occurred throughout the fall at Rice, and the Black Student Association initiated several conversations about the issue.

Some of those pushes have led to change at Texas campuses. After heated discussions in 2015, the University of Texas at Austin removed its statue of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy. And two years ago, Baylor University acknowledged its ties to slavery and the Confederacy and passed a resolution calling for racial healing and justice.

Others did not. Five years after relocating the Davis statue, UT declined to rename several buildings and monuments and instead opted to educate visitors and students on the history and context of those namesakes. The school also opted not to get rid of the school spirit song Eyes of Texas, which has ties to minstrel shows.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents last year created a committee to make recommendations on a statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, a former university president and Confederate general; however, they already determined that moving the statue was not an option.

The new layout of Rices Academic Quadrangle hasnt been decided. However, Rice plans to add historical context about the founder and commission a new monument of similar prominence commemorating the institutions integration in the 1960s, according to the board of regents. More monuments representing the universitys history and aspirations will be placed in the courtyard over time.

The redesigned quad will still feature something at its center - one that represents a welcoming space.

The Academic Quadrangle is the architectural anchor of Rices campus, a heavily wooded area that largely reflects Mediterranean-influenced designs. The quadrangle is bordered on one side by Lovett Hall, the original administrative building that dates to the schools founding in 1912; the grassy area has recently been used for commencement ceremonies. At the moment, the statue sits atop the spot where the eponymous founders ashes are buried.

This new vision for the Academic Quadrangle will reflect our growth and progress as a university and a community, university President David Leebron said. The campus discussions that informed the boards decision were guided by a spirit of creating a stronger and more inclusive Rice, as we recognize both flaws and progress in our history.

The boards decision came after the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation and Racial Injustice recommended the quadrangle undergo bold change. The Rice Student Association had called for the statues relocation so that it was no longer be a singular point of attraction.

The Board of Trustees received more than 1,200 responses from students, faculty and staff voicing their ideas and opinions. The boards working group also met with chairs of the task force, as well as the executive committee of the Association of Rice University Black Alumni and other Rice community leaders, according to the university.

Divya Venkatesh, a junior, said she hopes the university follows through on its promises to embrace historical context.

I hope its not just a Band-aid solution, she said.

Freshman student Lucia Romero-Alston agreed. As long as the university does more than move the monument several feet, a middle ground is satisfactory, she said. And she never expected the statue to be fully removed, considering the university is named after Rice.

Of the options they could have done, they found a pretty decent in-between, Romero-Alston said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Forty days later, Rice sit-in leader isnt giving up on removal of racist founders statue

The university will now launch a process to select an architect or landscape designer for the re-envisioned quadrangle, university officials said.

The university aims for trustees to receive a proposed design in May, according to a news release.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
Flashes of memory from this time last year still haunt Latricia Hagan.

The hours she spent searching for her missing mother on dark, icy streets. The mattress where she huddled for warmth with her family in the living room of her southeast Houston home. The rust-colored water that dripped from faucets.

Most persistently, there is the pain of losing her mother to hypothermia.

On a recent afternoon, Latricia looked at a photo taken six or seven years ago when her mother was smiling and full of life. Her older brother, William Hagan, wrapped an arm around her as she wiped away tears.

Were gonna be alright, he said. I know we are.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Siblings William and Latricia Hagan talk about their mom, Betty, who passed away last year during the 2021 winter freeze on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) Siblings William and Latricia Hagan talk about their mom, Betty, who passed away last year during the 2021 winter freeze on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

A year ago, a blast of frigid weather swept across the state, paralyzing the power grid and setting off a catastrophe. Power generators went offline, leaving millions in the dark for days without heat or water. Frozen pipes ruptured, damaging tens of thousands of homes in Houston alone. The states overwhelmed electrical grid came within five minutes of a total collapse.

Hundreds of Texans died from a variety of freeze-related causes, including automobile wrecks, hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning from fires or generators brought inside their homes.

In a place all too familiar with natural disasters, many still remain shocked by the failures of the electrical grid and government leaders, who failed to heed prior warnings about the importance of ensuring power plants prepared for winter storms.

Add to that the fear that another winter storm could spell disaster once more, even as residents across Houston and Texas still are fixing property damage, awaiting the results of lawsuits and mourning those lost in last years freeze.

I think about her every day, William said of his mother. If it werent for that freeze, I feel like she would still be alive.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas politicians knowingly blew 3 chances to fix the failing power grid

Even before the city and county had set up warming centers, Gregory Temple, a deputy on the Harris County sheriffs homeless outreach team, was making the rounds of homeless encampments.

Hey, he started as he entered one in the Spring area he patrols, we are hearing in the news there is a heavy freeze coming.

There was no way to know, of course, how disastrous the freeze would be, but Temple could offer services to those living on the streets: warm blankets, a lift to a shelter and a number to call if someone needed help. The 10-member unit in the sheriffs office planned to work in 12-hour shifts across the five districts they handle from Humble to Tomball and Pasadena to Katy.

Some refused rides to warmth for any number of reasons. The 50-year-old lawman told them he understood, drawing from his own experience with a family member.

2022 FREEZE: Woman who died on Houston street during freeze was bright presence who 'loved very deeply'

Temple realized he wanted to be a law enforcement officer after his brother was murdered 34 years ago. One day on patrol a year and a half into being a deputy, Temple spotted a familiar face in a homeless man, a face similar to his brothers.

It was his nephew who had run away after his fathers death. Temple took him home, but the young man ran away again soon after.

When the sheriffs office launched its homeless outreach team, Temple saw it as an opportunity to help others, and to look for his nephew.

I do this job, Temple said recently, because of the heart my mother gave me.

Down in Galveston that Sunday, Daniel Robinson shaved his father, Harvey, and cut his hair.

Harvey, who had turned 90 on Feb. 3, always wanted his son to cut his hair. Harvey had been a barber since he served in the Navy, but Daniel had not followed in his footsteps.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Daniel Robinson looks at a picture of his father, Harvey Robinson on his computer inside his Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) Daniel Robinson looks at a picture of his father, Harvey Robinson on his computer inside his Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

Meanwhile, his mother, Beryl, worked a crossword puzzle, as she usually did on Sundays. Daniel soaked her feet in an Epsom salt bath.

Daniel had gathered sleeping bags, batteries, water and blankets. He also had cooked oatmeal with brown sugar and honey, and set it aside so he and his parents, who lived on the other side of his duplex, would have something to eat, just in case.

That should be enough to get through the icy storm, he figured, remembering family camping trips. Besides, Daniel reasoned, he had survived the rolling blackouts he was being warned about his whole life, in Florida where he grew up and on the island where he had weathered hurricanes invading from the Gulf.

Maybe, he figured, the freeze would be like those camping trips, wrapping up with his Mama and Papa and with only a flashlight to see in the pitch dark. Maybe, it would be kind of fun.

The duplex lost power, Daniel recalled, around 1 p.m.

Harvey was kicking a gate in front of the house when Robinson got up to check out what all the clatter was about on his parents half of the house. It did not make sense. Until then, Daniel knew his father to be doing great for a 90-year-old who had spent his life working with his hands.

It was Monday night, and it was cold. The National Weather Service logged an average temperature of 27.5 degrees for the Galveston area. The thermometer inside the house read 32 degrees.

While Daniel calmed Harvey down, Beryl fell and scraped her shins. He bandaged her by flashlight.

He told them both to sit tight and cover up with blankets.

Many across the region were doing the same, trying to keep warm in homes with no heat. A family in Sugar Land played cards by their fireplace before turning in for the night. Firefighters responded hours later to the home engulfed in flames. Three children and their grandmother died.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Sugar Land mom shares grief, memories after fire during freeze kills her 3 kids and mother

Others, desperate to warm up, dragged barbecue grills and generators into living rooms and bedrooms.

That night, Dr. Samuel Prater, medical director at Memorial Hermanns medical center emergency department, began to get calls from colleagues telling him the ER was overwhelmed with patients suffering from what appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Prater headed to the hospital around 4 a.m., where he worked with doctors on getting carbon monoxide-poisoned patients into hyperbaric chambers to get oxygen into them quickly. They had dozens of patients, but could only treat six to eight at a time.

That morning in Fort Worth, Jessica Gable realized she had run out of bottled water and formula to feed her 6-month-old twin boys. The 25-year-old mother recently had moved to Texas from California. She had never driven in the snow, but now had no choice.

She loaded her babies into the car and drove as slowly as possible to a nearby store. The boys, Waylon and Ryan, needed a special type of formula for premature babies, but the stores shelves were bare. Instead, she purchased a few cans of generic formula and a case of Fiji water; the more expensive brand was the only bottled water left.

Back at home with no power or water, Gable warmed each bottle with a candle. She ate protein bars, Sun Chips and peanut butter, walked the dogs in below-zero temperatures and gathered snow in a laundry basket to flush the toilets, all the while feeling overwhelmed and helpless. At night, she checked on her red-cheeked children to make sure they were breathing.

Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer Jessica Gable and her twin sons, Ryan Gable, right, and Waylon Gable, 18 months, pose for a photograph in their garage with stocked food, water and supplies Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Cypress. (Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer) Jessica Gable and her twin sons, Ryan Gable, right, and Waylon Gable, 18 months, pose for a photograph in their garage with stocked food, water and supplies Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Cypress. (Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer)

These kids, they were relying on me  they cant do anything for themselves, Gable said. I dont think I slept.

Her husband, an apprentice lineman for MP Technologies, was working in Houston throughout the storm.

He slept in his car in between shifts because the hotels were closed. The young wife worried her husband would freeze to death and asked him to check in with her each morning. She did not want to drain her phone battery, but occasionally texted him: Hey, are you OK? Hows it going?

That same morning in Galveston, Harvey Robinson lay next to his coonhound, Penny, named after Penelope in Ulysses, in her bed on the floor. He slurred some words but seemed to be doing better than he had during the night.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Beryl, however, did not appear cognizant; her upper dentures were broken and hanging from her mouth. Son Daniel did not know what had happened. The last time he saw his parents before going to his half of the duplex, he had told them to sit tight.

I couldn't even get through to her, he said.

He called an ambulance.

The lights remained off at Latricia Hagans home in southeast Houston.

The power outage unnerved her mother, a 77-year-old with dementia and schizophrenia.

Betty Francis Hagan, born and raised in Houstons Freedmens Town, raised her six children and 17 grandchildren to look out for each other and put family first.

We all we got, she used to say.

Betty had everything she needed at home during the freeze, according to her daughter, including her beloved Coca-Cola.

A FIGHT TO SURVIVE: Deep freeze imperiled Texas' most vulnerable

At some point, however, the elderly woman left home wearing khaki pants and her grandsons hoodie.

Latricia and William believe their mothers caretaker instincts kicked in  Betty must have gone to get more blankets, buy some food or to ask someone to turn the lights back on, they said.

And she never came back, Latricia said.

Latricia braved the arctic cold and icy roadways to search for her mother. There were no working traffic lights or street lamps, and she prayed she would not be struck by a driver as she traversed the dark streets to check stores and warming centers.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Up in Fort Worth, the electricity came back to Gables home sometime between 9 and 10 p.m. Wednesday after the family had gone to bed. According to the thermostat, it was 51 degrees in the apartment when the power switched back on.

The next night, a pipe burst in the wall, soaking the couch and destroying a closet full of Christmas decorations. When Gable called her insurance company, the wait to speak to someone was four hours. She hung up.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning in Houston, as temperatures hovered in the low-30s, someone found Betty Hagans body outside the front door of a Baptist church near Bellfort Avenue and Cullen Boulevard.

She was two miles from home.

At least 25 deaths had been tied to the freeze by the time the elderly womans body was found.

The toll would increase.

Harvey had slipped into a coma and died of hypothermia on Feb. 21, the same day the duplex regained power, Daniel said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: ERCOT, Entergy Texas sued for $100 million by family of Conroe boy who died during freeze

Beryl was getting better. She stayed at the hospitals rehab center for a few weeks recovering from her fall.

But then she started to slide, Daniel said. After the storm, she was never right again.

She could not complete crossword puzzles on Sunday mornings anymore, and she began to hallucinate, asking Daniel why people went into the house while he was at work, and who was that standing on the table?

Meanwhile, Betty Hagans family had kept searching for her, unaware her body had been discovered at the church.

Latricia clung to the hope that her mother had found shelter, that she would pop up somewhere soon. She knew her mother was strong and tough. She filed a missing persons report with the Houston Police Department and posted a notice on social media. A local TV station put up a web article about Bettys disappearance.

Latricia does not remember exactly when she got the call from the morgue, but on Tuesday night, she broke the news on Facebook: Her mother had died from hypothermia.

Dozens died across the Houston region. Reports from the Chronicle and BuzzFeed News said the total could be much higher than the states official count. By the end of last year, the state put the death toll at 246 direct and indirect fatalities.

In Houston alone, five people died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, including an 8-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl whose mother was trying to keep warm by running a car in the garage.

Normally, without an event like this, it would take us a year to see even 50 patients, Prater said, adding the hospital had treated some 60 patients believed to be poisoned with carbon monoxide in 24 hours during the freeze. Looking back, it was a terribly tragic, completely avoidable situation.

Aftermath

Beryl Robinson died about three months after the freeze, following a cycle in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Daniel Robinson looks at photos of his parents, Harvey and Beryl, inside his Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) Daniel Robinson looks at photos of his parents, Harvey and Beryl, inside his Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

I feel kinda guilty that I should have done more, Daniel said on a recent morning, as a cold wind whirred outside his home, portent of another freeze, this one on what would have been his fathers 91st birthday. It is just a shame that, you know, they had lived so long and done so much and to then be taken out by a damn storm just does not seem fair.

Latricia Hagan said she found comfort that her mother ended up at a church.

I thank God he led her where he led her, she said. It gives me comfort for my mom, that shes in a better place because of where she was found.

Now, the little memories have become precious. William recalls how his mother always gave him Whoppers and Circus Peanuts for his birthday; Latricia remembers the silly faces her mother made to cheer her up. Both tell of how she would crawl into bed with her adult children and have heart-to-heart talks with them over coffee.

Its painful, Latricia said. Its a feeling I never want to feel or endure again.

While the year since has muddled some details for some, it has crystallized the impact of the freeze for others.

The storm made some wary of cold weather and inclined to over-prepare.

Gable, who since has moved to Cypress, said she felt scared last week when she heard weather forecasts of freezing temperatures coming to most of the state.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Cold weather sparks fear among some Houstonians nearly a year after the 2021 freeze

She said she one day will tell her children about that frigid, terrifying week to teach them the importance of preparation.

I do think that the leadership failed the people at every level, she said. It was like the people were left to fend for themselvesYou knew it was going to be bad, you had time to prepare and nothing was done.

The needs of young families with little children often are overlooked during disasters, she said.

It needs to be talked about, she said. Moms shouldnt worry about how theyre going to feed their babies or keep them warm. Theres no excuse for it.

In Galveston, Daniel Robinson said he is out about $20,000 for property damage, like countless others across the state. He awaits the results of a lawsuit that may offer him some financial help, and still lives in a house with traces of his parents.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer LEFT: Daniel Robinson points at the staircase that his father built by hand on the side of his duplex as he talks about how much his father loved working with his hands and building things, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. RIGHT: A picture of Harvey Robinson and a magnet that reads Best Mom Ever stick to the refrigerator on one side of Daniel Robinsons Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) LEFT: Daniel Robinson points at the staircase that his father built by hand on the side of his duplex as he talks about how much his father loved working with his hands and building things, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. RIGHT: A picture of Harvey Robinson and a magnet that reads Best Mom Ever stick to the refrigerator on one side of Daniel Robinsons Galveston duplex, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

There is the wooden table and bench his father built half a century ago and his mothers Wedgwood dinnerware. There are the two armchairs where he last saw them being themselves.

On a shelf in a corner, there are the two wooden boxes where Robinson has stored their ashes until he can find the time and money to spread them on the Suwannee River in north Florida, where they once had a gazebo and he remembers them being happy.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com

anna.bauman@chron.com
SAN ANTONIO  A woman and her boyfriend have been arrested and are accused of abusing her 5-year-old daughter as a form of punishment over several weeks until she died.

Jose Angel Ruiz, 25, and Katrina Mendoza, 22, are charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury intentionally or knowingly. Ruiz is being held in the Bexar County Jail on $600,000 bail.

On Feb. 7, 5-year-old Mercedes Losoya, Mendozas daughter, was unresponsive when she arrived with her mother at Southwest General Hospital. Medical personnel attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m., according to an affidavit supporting Ruizs arrest.

Hospital staff alerted San Antonio police that Mercedes appeared to have been the victim of extreme physical abuse, the affidavit states.

The detective who submitted the affidavit described a litany of gruesome wounds that he observed at the hospital. The girl was missing sections of hair from her head, and she had bruises, scratches, cuts and swelling on almost every portion of her body, the affidavit said.

The medical examiner who conducted an autopsy on Mercedes body told investigators it was obvious that she suffered extreme abuse and torture, according to the affidavit.

Courtesy of the Bexar County Sheriffs Office

Officers arrested Ruiz the night that Mercedes died. He was sitting in his car at the hospital when officers approached him and found a gun in his vehicle, and he was booked for violating the condition of bond for a previous arrest, the affidavit states.

The arrest warrant against Ruiz for injuring a child was issued Wednesday and presumably executed immediately, while Mendoza was arrested Thursday.

When police questioned Mendoza on Feb. 7, she said that she initially sent Mercedes away with Ruiz so that he could punish her.

She said she spoke with Ruiz via a video call a short time later and that she saw Mercedes crying and holding something heavy, the affidavit states. Mendoza, who also has a 6-year-old daughter, told Mercedes that she had to keep her hands raised and listen to Ruiz because it was part of her punishment.

A few days later, Mendoza saw Mercedes and Ruiz in person. Mendoza tried to pick up Mercedes, who moaned as if she were in pain, the affidavit states.

Mendoza saw bruises and cuts on the girls inner thighs. She told police that Ruiz said he pinched Mercedes as punishment.

Mendoza and her two daughters then moved in with Ruiz, and she told police that she saw Ruiz physically abuse Mercedes over a few weeks.

Mendoza told police that her daughter was forced to consume feces and urine, according to the affidavit. Over the course of the alleged abuse, two of Mercedes teeth became dislodged and fell out, the affidavit states.

Ruiz wore rings when he hit Mercedes and used a belt on her, Mendoza told police.

Mercedes 6-year-old sister was interviewed after she was removed from the Mendozas custody. Her account was consistent with her mothers, telling investigators that Ruiz used the gold part of the belt.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has not yet determined how Mercedes died, Officer Ricardo Guzman, a police spokesman, said Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the doctor could also not account for marks on the bottoms of Mercedes feet.

Mercedes sister told police that Ruiz used thumbtacks on the bottoms of her feet.

When police interviewed Ruiz, he admitted to punishing Mercedes, but he said that he only spanked her, placed her in a corner or made her keep her arms raised.

Mendoza was quiet amid questions from reporters as she was escorted to a police vehicle at Public Safety Headquarters downtown.

The Texas Department of Family Violence Prevention Services has removed the Mendozas sister from the familys custody, placing her in the care of the state, according to the affidavit.

jbeltran@express-news.net
Democratic candidate for governor Beto ORourke left no doubt during a San Antonio campaign stop on Thursday that hes going to be far more aggressive going after Gov. Greg Abbott than he was against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.

We are all paying the price for this guys corruption and his incompetence, ORourke told more than 200 people at a rally just east of downtown, pinning the failures of the states electrical grid last year on the incumbent.

At almost the same time on Thursday, Abbott was about 10 miles away at his own campaign event in San Antonio slamming ORourke as a danger to Texas businesses and warning that if the Democrat were governor, hed be hostile to the oil and gas jobs that are the backbone of the Texas economy.

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

He would be crushing jobs in the state of Texas, Abbott said, flanked by dozens of business leaders at Sunbelt Material Handling, a forklift dealership that opened just a month ago.

ORourkes language was particularly stark compared to his 2018 campaign, when he resisted putting out negative ads or attacking Cruz on the campaign trail until the final weeks.

Thursday, ORourke doubled down, going on to say that campaign donations Abbott has received from electricity providers and gas companies were pretty close to a bribe given that the governor has not been more aggressive in policing them even after the freeze that killed 246 Texans.

The back-and-forth volleys follow days of the Republican governor accusing ORourke of lying about policy positions. Wednesday in Austin, Abbotts campaign truck trolled an ORourke rally with a message board accusing ORourke of supporting border policies that help drug smugglers.

Its all setting a tone for a negative campaign season, even before Abbott or ORourke has won his partys primary.

But with early voting starting Monday in the primary elections, neither candidate said a word about them, instead digging in for their much-anticipated showdown that is still almost nine months away.

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

Abbott touts business growth

After his 20-minute speech peppered with attacks on Abbott, ORourke was unapologetic about his tone on the power grid issues and the governors handling of COVID-19.

There is one man who bears responsibility for that and Im going to make sure every single person in Texas knows that, ORourke said.

Meanwhile, Abbott told his supporters how the state under his leadership has responded to the grid failures from last year. He said he signed 14 bills into law reforming the power grid and said the state did a better job making sure there was enough electricity being generated to get through this year's winter storms.

The power grid is more resilient, more stable, and stronger than it has ever been in the history of our state, Abbott said.

He said during last weeks freezing temperatures, the grid had far more power than the state needed.

The companies that continue to move to Texas are further proof of the reliability of the grid, Abbott said, and the state is setting records for attracting business relocations. That wouldnt be happening if they had concerns, he said.

As part of his event, Abbott had business groups such as the Texas Manufacturers Association and Texas Automobile Dealers Association singing his praises for creating a strong business environment in Texas  a similar message to the TV ads Abbott is running all over the state.

Governor Abbott is a tireless champion for Texas job creators, said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business.

Kaylee C. Greenlee Beal

The importance of Bexar County

Abbott, a 64-year-old Wichita Falls native who is seeking his third term as governor, is aiming to make the state's strong economy a key selling point in November.

ORourke, the 49-year-old former congressman from El Paso, retorted: This governor is not making the state better for business, or economic growth or for the employees who drive the success of the companies for whom they work.

ORourke said Republican attacks on abortion rights, underfunding of public education and failing to keep the lights on during storms are all bad for recruiting workers and businesses to Texas. Just as he started talking about the electricity grid failings, his own public address systems power cut out.

We dont know if that was selective grid shutdown, ORourke joked.

But that joke washed away quickly as ORourke shifted back to accusing Abbott of corruption for taking campaign donations from oil and gas companies that made huge profits from the scarcity of electricity during the 2021 freeze.

Minutes after those words left ORourkes mouth, Abbotts campaign sent out a statement with the headline: Beto Lies, focused on an entirely different issue.

It was in response to ORourke telling media in Tyler that he has no interest in confiscating anyone's guns, despite statements ORourke made in 2019 calling for taking AR-15s and other dangerous weapons from their owners.

This is yet another example of Beto ORourke lying to the public about his extreme liberal views that align him more with President Biden than the people of Texas, said Mark Miner, Abbotts communications director.

The back-and-forth in San Antonio illustrates how important Bexar County is for the two campaigns. In 2014, Abbott carried the county with 50 percent of the vote en route to winning his first term as governor. But in 2018, Abbott lost the county to Democrat Lupe Valdez, winning just 46 percent of the vote.

ORourke meanwhile won Bexar County in 2018 when he was running against Sen. Cruz, with 59 percent of the vote  the best showing in Bexar for a Democrat running for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988 when the late-U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen won his final term in office.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
Jon Shapley, Staff photographer / Staff photographer

When Chuck Silverman ran for the 183rd Criminal District Court in 2018, his main flaw as a candidate was his lack of criminal law experience. Now, Silverman has three years on the criminal bench under his belt, and while there are still areas where Silverman can improve, we recommend Democratic primary voters give him a chance to defend his seat this fall.

One of the chief criticisms leveled at Silverman, 61, is his relatively high pre-trial detention rate among district court judges. With the Harris County Jail already overcrowded, its critical that judges arent just locking up indigent defendants without cause. But in Silvermans case, we believe the numbers dont tell the whole story. He has built a reputation as a reformer and in 2020, filed a motion to join the historic lawsuit challenging cash bail in the felony court system, saying he wanted to make the cash bail system obsolete or to make it work better. We believe he is sincere in his desire for a fairer bond system and that his pre-trial detention figures require greater context.
Texas Republicans have the opportunity to choose a deeply experienced, staunchly conservative appellate justice to serve on the Texas Supreme Court  and its not the incumbent, Justice Evan Young.

Young was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Place 9 seat on the high court in November to fill the vacancy left by Eva Guzman, who is running for attorney general in the March 1 Republican primary. Young, a Yale law graduate and former clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, had excellent academic credentials, experience at the Justice Department and was a partner in the Austin office of the prestigious Baker Botts law firm, but had zero judicial experience when Abbott gave him the job.

He has had time to write just one opinion for the court, and told us hes working on his second.

By contrast, Judge David Schenck of the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas County has authored hundreds of appellate decisions since being named to the bench by former Gov. Rick Perry in 2015. He was elected to a six-year term in 2016. He is also chairman of the states Commission on Judicial Conduct and a former deputy attorney general under then-Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Both judges appear to us to have a deep understanding of the law, and both are strong conservatives. But we believe Schencks near-decade of experience on the appeals court is a decisive advantage over Young.

Schenck, 54, graduated first in his class from Baylor Law School and, like Young, clerked on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals before starting his practice. Schenck is also board certified in appellate civil law.

In the last three judicial evaluation polls by members of the Dallas Bar Association, Schenck rated as excellent with 63, 66 and 53 percent of the respondents in 2017, 2019 and 2021, respectively. In the Texas Bar Associations judicial preference poll, released this week, Young had a slight edge over Schenck.

Another factor in Schencks favor relates to campaign finance reform. Both judges believe requiring partisan elections for judges, in Youngs words, is problematic in many ways. But given that reality, Young, 45, says the Supreme Court should be cautious in setting further limits on campaign contributions because that money is the only way judicial candidates can sufficiently connect with voters across such a vast state.

I don't think our system of campaign finance leads to a serious problem, he told us, pushing back against Schencks insistence that the rules are too lax. Young noted that he had voluntarily limited campaign contributions in his own case, as many judges do.

But when it comes to the publics faith in their elected officials, its the appearance of conflict, and possibility of corruption, that does the most damage. Schenck is right to focus on the threat to the judiciarys integrity that comes from rules that permit lawyers and law firms to donate directly to judges and candidates who will hear their cases.

The Supreme Court could adopt stricter limits, and Schenck says hell push his colleagues to do just that. That, and his much deeper experience as a judge, makes him the better choice in this race.
After 13 years as a civil district court judge in Harris County, Judge Kyle Carter, 45, tells us hes ready for a new job. I am asking voters for a promotion, he said.

We think hes earned Democrats vote in the March 1 primary for Place 2 on the 14th District Court of Appeals in Harris County. The winner will face Justice Kevin Jewell in the fall.

Carters Democratic opponent, Cheri Thomas, 43, is a lawyer with an impressive background. Shes worked as a defense attorney focusing on criminal appeals, and for two years was a staff attorney at the 14th District Court of Appeals. She says she made presentations to the justices there in nine cases, and has more recently argued before the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a still-pending case. On Thursday, she was endorsed by the Houston Association of Women Attorneys.

That laudable background doesnt match the experience Carter has gained on the bench. Thomas told us that Carters experience as a trial judge doesnt necessarily prepare him for the more cerebral role appellate justices must play. While its true that a justices effectiveness greatly depends on legal knowledge, reasoning and writing skills, there are few better ways to prepare for a role in shaping and interpreting the law than 13 years of having to implement them daily.

All judges start as rookies, of course, but for an intermediate-level court like this one, experience on a lower court bench is invaluable.

One justice can have impact on millions of lives, Carter told us. Weve seen that recently, with orders relating to mask mandates, access to health care, and so many others. Getting these decisions right makes a huge difference to people.

Carter sought a promotion previously. In 2014, he ran for chief justice of the 14th District Court of Appeals. At that time, we preferred his opponent. Eight years later, we believe hes much better prepared for the appellate bench.

In his time presiding over the 125th District Court, hes made headlines while handling high-profile cases. In 2010, he granted the Harris County Attorneys Offices motion to appoint a receiver to assume control of several companies accused of contaminating Vince Bayou in Pasadena. At the time, the Chronicle called the order extraordinary legal relief on the countys behalf  and its a welcome example of how judges can impact their communities for the better.

Carter also notes that with more than $300,000 raised in this race he will have the resources to run a spirited campaign in the fall.

Between these two impressive candidates, we recommend Carter for Democrats in the March 1 primary.
Disney Cruise Line's new ship Disney Wish travels on the Ems River from the Meyer Werft shipyard on its way to sea trials in the North Sea on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Disney Cruise Line)

Disney Cruise Lines new ship wont be sailing from Port Canaveral until July, but it dipped its toes into the water for the first time today.

The 144,000 gross-ton, 1,254-stateroom vessel has been under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenberg, Germany since 2020, assembled in pieces in the massive covered dry dock, but saw the light of day in a slow hour-long float out that was accentuated with Disneys signature fireworks once it made it all the way out.

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The hull structure was completed in August, but work continued such as the installation of the two massive Azipod engines, but crews have been ready to flood the dry docks awaiting good weather conditions since last week.

Now, the ship is floating on its own as work continues likely for at least six more weeks before its ready for the slow tugboat-assisted conveyance on the Ems River, a 20-mile trip from the inland shipyard to eventually arrive in Eemshaven, Netherlands to prep for sea trials in the North Sea.

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Disney this month announced the ships debut was being delayed by six weeks so its first sailing from Port Canaveral will be July 14. Citing delays at the shipyard partly because of the omicron variant of COVID-19, the cruise line had to cancel 12 sailings, working with customers to either rebook or refund deposits.

The delay isnt the first as original plans before the pandemic slammed the cruise industry including shipyards had Disney Wish being delivered to the cruise line in December 2021 and its first sailing from Port Canaveral was to have been last month.

Disney Cruise Line's new ship the Disney Wish hit water for the first time when it was floated out of an enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Robert Fiebak)

Now, though, work will continue on interior spaces of the ship and construction of some exterior features such as the AquaMouse, the signature water ride attraction on the top deck thats a mashup between a Disney dark ride and the popular water coaster found on Disney Dream and Fantasy.

Disney Wish is the first of three ships in what is dubbed the Triton class with two unnamed vessels slated for delivery in 2024 and 2025 that will also be built at Meyer Werft. Disney Wishs debut will come more than a decade since the maiden voyage of its last new vessel, Disney Fantasy, which first sailed with passengers in March 2012.

Disney Wish and the next two vessels will all run on liquefied natural gas. It will join Carnivals Mardi Gras as the only two cruise ships to home port in North America to use the cleaner burning fuel.

The Wish is set to take over from the Disney Dream the three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas including stops at Disneys private island Castaway Cay. The Dream is moving to Miami on June 7 while Disney Fantasy remains at Port Canaveral for seven-night sailings.
One reason Texas highest courts have nine members is so that justices with different perspectives can test their ideas in conference. They challenge each others ideas until arriving at a majority opinion. The states final arbiter on cases involving everything from murder to public intoxication  the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals  ought to have at least one member with extensive experience in trials defending clients.

Currently, the judge on the court with that experience is Justice Scott Walker, 68, who is facing off against a Harris County assistant prosecutor in the March 1 Republican primary. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Baylor School of Law, Walker practiced law before judges and juries defending people facing civil and criminal charges. In 2016, he won a six-year term to Place 5 of the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals.

His opponent, Clint Morgan, 40, says Walker writes too few opinions and takes too long when he does. He told us he suspects thats because Walkers defense attorney mindset finds few converts on the all-Republican court, where no other member brings a substantial background as a defense lawyer. Morgan notes hes won 10 of the 12 cases hes had before the Court of Criminal Appeals. If elected, he says hed rely on his own substantial appellate experience to produce more opinions, and bring a prosecutors mindset to his work.

We believe Morgans criticisms miss their mark by a wide margin. Its not a defect that Walker brings a defense attorneys perspective into the justices deliberations. And we think Walker makes sense when he offers no apology for being assigned to write fewer majority opinions than other justices.

Im not going to change my mind or water it down so I can get the vote, Walker told the editorial board. Im very careful to follow the Constitution and the laws.

He argues that he has, over time, brought greater balance to the court. In Ruiz v. Texas, for example, Walker joined the majority in refusing prosecutors to use as evidence results from a blood-alcohol test taken without a warrant from a hospitalized, unconscious man who was suspected of drunken driving.

The 2019 decision impacted cases across Texas, and Morgan said it made prosecutors jobs harder in DWI cases. Its an example of an over-emphasis on procedure that is more typically part of a defense attorneys mindset, he said.

And yet both the district court and a court of appeals had already ruled that the evidence could not be admitted.

Walker defended the opinion on purely constitutional grounds.

The Fourth Amendment, and its protections from search and seizure, is the supreme law of the land, he said.

By any definition, Walker is a conservative justice. But even during a surge in violent crime  perhaps especially during such a time  Texass highest criminal court benefits from judges who bring as wide a variety of backgrounds as possible, and ones who arent afraid to remind their colleagues of defendants fundamental rights.

We should strive for an efficient system that follows the law and Constitution. Towards the end of our call with Walker, he talked about a tremendous workload before the court. Primary voters should give him a chance to continue should he prevail over Democrat Dana Huffman in the general election.
We recommend William Demond, a Houston constitutional rights attorney, as the best choice for the March 1 Democratic primary for Place 9 on the 14th Court of Appeals. The winner will face Justice Randy Wilson in the fall.

The Texas Courts of Appeals serve as the kitchen sink of the judiciary. When lawyers think something went wrong at the trial level, it falls on the appellate justices to set the legal record straight and ensure that the law is applied properly.

Demond, 44, has the breadth of experience that would fit this court perfectly. He has a background in civil litigation, covering everything from breach of contract cases to administrative law. Not many attorneys can say their case work has helped establish constitutional rights. Demond has done it twice in cases before the Fifth Circuit Court, including the right to film police officers. Recently, he was appointed to represent Harris County inmates in a case concerning their constitutional rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hes already established relationships with some of the sitting justices on the court of appeals and believes hed be able to fit in seamlessly with an ideologically diverse panel. Demond also assured us he wouldnt take an activist approach as a judge.

I do not believe that judges should be legislating from the bench at all, Demond told us. I believe it's a violation of our tripartite system, and I believe that it undermines the rule of law and the integrity of it.

His opponent is Chris Conrad, 41, an appellate attorney and former Harris County prosecutor. Conrad has authored more than 100 briefs and argued in both the 1st and 14th Court of Appeals. Hes well-versed in criminal law, having tried more than 30 cases. His passion for becoming a well-rounded litigator is palpable.

I really enjoy learning and researching and I get to flex those muscles daily in the appellate division, he told us.

Our concern with Conrad is his lack of civil law experience. On a court that handles plenty of civil litigation, Conrad would have a steeper learning curve than Demond. Wed be happy to see Conrad run again in the future as he gains more experience.

At a time when there are increasing concerns over some of the federal and circuit courts willingness to protect constitutional rights, Demonds experience would be an asset to the court of appeals panel of justices.
Juan Figueroa, MBR / TNS

Trans children

Regarding Texas GOP candidate Shelley Luther complains that students cant make fun of transgender children, (Feb. 8): I dont know if Shelley Luther would be a competent member of the House or if she was a competent hairdresser, but she must have been a horrible teacher. Saying, The topic of gender transition became the top discussion every day in my classroom, begs a lot of questions. First, who was broaching the subject. Was it her? Competent teachers dont let lessons get sidetracked by students. In all my years teaching in Houston ISD from elementary to A.P. seniors, the topic never came up in my class. I only had one transgender student that I know of. There may have been others but I didnt ask students what their gender was since it was not relevant. They gave me their name, and that is what I called them.
Matthew Busch/Bloomberg

MIDLAND, Texas (AP)  One of the five candidates for the Republican Texas Railroad Commission nomination has been killed in a traffic crash while traveling from a West Texas campaign appearance, police said.

Marvin Leon Sarge Summers, 69, of Lubbock, was killed Tuesday when the sport utility vehicle he was driving slammed into the rear of a tanker truck, according to a Midland city spokeswoman.
President Joe Biden on Friday nominated Houston lawyer and Metro chairwoman Carrin Patman as the nations next ambassador to Iceland, according to a White House statement.

I am presuming nothing. It is up to the Senate, Patman said, referring questions to the State Department.

In the meantime, Patman, 65, said she has picked up some basic Icelandic.

Just a little, she said.

In the statement, Patman said she hoped to strengthen our cooperation and understanding between the governments of the United States and Iceland.

Iceland, with a population slightly smaller than Arlington, could seem both familiar and unfamiliar to the native Texan. It is the worlds largest electricity producer, per capita, but is a global leader in renewable and geothermal energy. Its record high temperature of 86 degrees is 5 degrees below Houstons average high in August.

All ambassadorial nominations require Senate confirmation, which for Patman would begin in the Foreign Relations Committee. No timetable has been announced for her confirmation.

Some Biden administration nominees from mid-2021 still are awaiting any movement on their appointments, including Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who was renominated last month to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his nomination last year lapsed.

Patman has been active in Texas politics since childhood, the daughter and granddaughter of Democratic politicians. In its statement, White House officials noted her distinguished record of civic engagement as a founder of The Center for Women in Law and a member of various Houston charitable groups.

Prior to retiring, Patman was a partner at Bracewell LLP, working from the law firms Houston office. She has been chairwoman of Metropolitan Transit Authoritys board since 2016.

During her time, the agency completed the last segment of its light rail expansion, opened its first bus rapid transit route along Post Oak and won voter approval for a $7.5 billion long-range plan that will expand bus and rail service in the Houston area. The $3.5 billion bond package approved by voters won support from business community leaders and transit advocates.

I do think being chair of Metro has prepared me for a diplomatic role, Patman joked.

If confirmed, Patman would replace Californian Jeffrey Gunter, who served during the last two years of the Trump administration.

As with many political appointees to ambassador posts, Patman is a prolific political campaign donor, steering hundreds of thousands of dollars to elected officials over the past five years. According to Federal Election Commission databases of campaign donations, Patman has donated to dozens of congressional and Senate races since 2016, in Texas and nationally, including more than $200,000 to the Biden campaign or related political action committees.

dug.begley@chron.com
Texas Republicans tagline for the elections bill full of new restrictions passed last year was that it would make it easy to vote and hard to cheat.

But election officials across the state are casting doubt on the easy to vote part, reporting never-before-seen rates of rejection for hundreds of mail ballots stemming from new ID requirements in Senate Bill 1. Voters can correct their ballots, but the clock is ticking as the March 1 primary approaches.

Previously, confusion over the same requirements led to hundreds of rejections of requests for mail ballots. Officials also say they have lost the ability to speak freely with voters about absentee voting options for fear of facing felony charges prescribed by the bill.

Democrats who walked out of the Capitol for two months in attempts to scuttle the legislation predicted these sorts of problems.

Texans votes are being rejected under the GOPs new anti-voter legislation, disproportionately hurting our senior citizens, said Houston state Rep. Ann Johnson in a tweet. Texas Democrats will continue fighting to protect the freedom to vote & to expand  not restrict  access to the ballot box.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who helped craft the bill, chalked up the ballot rejection issues to a learning curve. He noted that the number of ballot application rejections statewide (of the counties reporting data to the secretary of state) has dropped to 4.7 percent as of Feb. 4, down from 8.7 percent at the end of last month.

WHAT NEW TEXAS ELECTIONS LAW DOES Sets new limits on early voting hours Prohibits counties from sending out unsolicited ballot applications Implements new ID requirements for voting by mail Institutes new rules for voter assistance Creates a process for voters to correct mistakes on their mail-in ballots and applications Increases poll watcher access Requires the secretary of state to conduct monthly citizenship checks of the voter rolls Bans 24-hour and drive-thru voting Already in Texas law: Must have excuse to be able to vote by mail (one of 16 states) Must register to vote 30 days before election (one of 15 states with deadline 28-30 days before) Strict voter ID law (one of 11 states) See More Collapse

I think well see a similar type of reduction (with ballots) as people get used to the system, he said.

Bettencourt said the states ballot tracker site is a good resource for making corrections that was also required by SB 1.

Harris County officials reported Friday that about 40 percent of filled-in mail ballots, or 1,430 out of 3,579, have so far been rejected because of a missing ID number and will be sent back to voters to correct. The county is still determining how many will have to be corrected because the voter used an ID number that doesnt match what the county has on file.

Those nearly 4,000 ballots received only make up 13 percent of the more than 27,000 sent out by the county. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Feb. 18, so that number could grow.

Other counties have also reported high rejection rates, such as Hays and Williamson in the Austin metropolitan area, which will each need to send back about 30 percent of ballots for correction, the Texas Tribune first reported. In Dallas County, 28 percent of ballots had been rejected as of Thursday, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Statewide numbers are not available from the secretary of state, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Voters whose ballots were rejected will have an opportunity to correct them by mail, or, if the deadline is coming up too soon, officials will call or email voters. They would need to then go to their local elections office in person. Another option would be to use the states new online ballot tracker to correct any mistakes.

Completed ballots have to be postmarked by 7 p.m. March 1. They can also be delivered in person on election day.

RELATED: Harris County challenges measure forbidding elections officials from touting mail voting

Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, author of the legislation, had for months insisted that Democrats outcry over the bills potential to cause voter suppression was unwarranted.

This is a bill we can be proud of, Hughes said just before it passed. How much fraud is OK? None. How much suppression is OK? None.

Hughes has not responded to multiple requests for interviews, including on Friday, as problem arise with implementing the new legislation.

Mail voting wasnt easy in the first place

SB1 created an added layer of voting requirements in a state that already has some of the strictest in the nation for voting by mail. Voters now have to include a state ID number, such as a drivers license number or a partial Social Security number, when applying for a mail-in ballot and when submitting their ballot.

Some county officials have advised voters to include both numbers, just in case.

The location of the space to include an ID number on the new carrier envelopes could be part of whats throwing off some voters, election officials said. To protect the voters privacy, the field is located underneath the envelope flap  easy to miss if a voter isnt looking out for it.

Just two states, Alabama and Wisconsin, had ID requirements in 2020 for voters requesting a mail-in ballot. But last year, Republicans in nearly a dozen states offered up bills limiting the method after its heyday during the pandemic. Texas and at least three other states enacted them: Arkansas, Florida and Georgia, according to Voting Rights Lab, which advocates for expanded voter access.

Texas already limits absentee voting to people who are 65 or older, disabled, in jail or out of their home county during the voting period.

FAQ: 7 things to know about Texas mail-ballot voting

Harris County elections spokeswoman Leah Shah said the office has received a record 8,000 calls since Jan. 1, the majority having to do with mail ballots and applications. Thats more than the monthly call volume in the runup to the 2020 general election.

And you want to throw her in jail?

Also Friday, Harris County attorneys urged a federal judge in San Antonio to temporarily block a provision of SB1 that they say muzzles election officials who want to provide information to the public about voting by mail without fear of criminal prosecution.

The law made it a felony offense for any election official who solicits the submission of an application to vote by mail from a person who did not request an application punishable by up to two years in jail and $10,000 in fines.

IN-DEPTH: Texas woman recounts her mail ballot hassle: 3 forms, 28 days, lots of guesswork

The prospect of a felony charge has had a chilling effect on Harris County election administrator Isabel Longoria and others who may want to encourage voters to cast their ballots by mail or give mere truthful advice in response to questions from individual voters but worry about becoming the target of retaliatory or discriminatory prosecution, the suit argues.

This year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton convened a grand jury to consider charges against Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir for obstructing a poll watcher, as the Austin American-Statesman reported. The grand jury tossed the case in April, but DeBeauvoir said it felt like a politically motivated attack to intimidate her.

District Judge Xavier Rodriguez late Friday granted a preliminary injunction in the case, citing a likelihood that Harris County will prevail in its arguments that the anti-solicitation provision constitutes unlawful viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, both facially and as applied to Plaintiffs speech.

The judge barred enforcement of the provision and rejected the attorney generals oral motion to stay the injunction.

Throughout the roughly four-hour hearing, Rodriguez repeatedly said arguments from the attorney generals office seemed contradictory, that the law is problematic and that it is written too vaguely. At one point, he told the states lawyers: Dont get cute with me.

How old is Ms. Morgan? the judge asked one of them at another point about Cathy Morgan, a volunteer deputy registrar in Travis and Williamson counties, who is one of the plaintiffs. When the state answered that she is in her 70s, he added: And you want to throw her in jail?

Voting by mail is legal, state attorneys said, but its not preferable to voting in person, so the purpose of the law is to stop government resources from being used to encourage voting by mail instead of in person.

Longoria said helping people vote by mail is part of her job.

I feel compelled, that its my duty, to help voters vote, Longoria said. I can talk about voter registration, I can talk about in-person voting, but when it comes to voting by mail, I have to stop. To be very careful with my words.

I stop midsentence sometimes at these town halls and say the law prevents me from saying much more, Longoria said. If you have a question, good luck and call us, but Im tentative to overreach in this moment.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Two Republican state lawmakers from suburban Houston-area districts are trying to fend off formidable  and familiar  opponents in the March 1 primary.

In one of the most intently watched contests in the Legislature, former lawmaker Debbie Riddle is running to reclaim her north Harris County district from Rep. Valoree Swanson, a Spring Republican who defeated Riddle in 2016.

Though Riddle was widely viewed as a staunch conservative during her nearly 15 years in the House, Swanson unseated her by emphasizing the incumbents ties to then-Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate Republican despised by hard-line conservative groups, which lined up behind Swanson in the primary.

Several miles south of Swansons district, freshman Rep. Lacey Hull is running for the second straight cycle against conservative activist and former Harris County Department of Education trustee Josh Flynn. Hull, like Swanson, is pitching voters on her record of support for the laundry list of Republican-backed laws passed last year by the Legislature, including an infusion of border security spending, a near-ban on abortions and a ban on critical race theory in public schools.

The two contests are an exception in a cycle where most Republican incumbents in the Houston area have avoided primary opposition. Of the 11 GOP lawmakers seeking reelection to the Legislature in Harris County districts, only Hull, Swanson and Rep. Mike Schofield of Katy have opponents. (Schofields opponent, Erik Le, has not raised any money and does not have a campaign website.)

The Swanson-Riddle rematch has particularly captured the attention of political observers at the Capitol and in Houston, as it poses a test of whether Riddle  a one-time superstar among hard-line conservatives  can shed the image of being insufficiently conservative among voters in the bright-red suburbs of north Harris County.

In an interview, Riddle said she and Swanson are very conservative and generally aligned on policy issues. Riddles pitch to voters, she said, is her experience chairing and serving on key House committees  including the one that oversees funding for border security, the issue she said is her main motivation for running.

Im not going to get in the battle of saying, Im more conservative than her or shes less conservative than I am, because thats kind of ridiculous, to tell you the truth, Riddle said. But where we differ is, in the experience, knowledge and understanding that can only come with a bit of time (in the Legislature).

In an ad released by her campaign last month, though, Riddle painted Swanson as a weak-kneed Republican while casting herself as a pro-Trump conservative fighter.

Swanson, a founding member of the hard-line Texas House Freedom Caucus, dismissed the idea that she and Riddle are on equal footing ideologically. In response to emailed questions, she touted her efforts last year to pass a bill restricting which teams transgender student-athletes can join. The bill, authored by Swanson, was signed into law and last month took effect.

My voting record is by far the most conservative, as evidenced by every conservative ranking in existence, Swanson said, arguing that the Republican policy wins last year were only possible because conservatives like me took down the old establishment, including my opponent, a few years ago and elected new leadership in the House.

Riddle said she views it as hypocritical for Swanson to have criticized her over her support for Straus, when Swanson subsequently voted for Straus upon taking office. (When the issue came up in 2016, Swanson said she would support Straus if he was unopposed for speaker. Straus was unanimously elected in 2017, in the only term in which he overlapped with Swanson.)

But while Riddle said she considers herself far more conservative than Straus, her alignment with the speaker on certain issues means that she is seen by some of the more active Republicans in the area as having effectively gone to the dark side while in office, said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones.

While that was some time ago, its tough for her to play that down, especially since Swanson hasnt done anything to weaken her conservative bona fides, Jones said.

Both House primaries have drawn the attention of the current House speaker, Beaumont Republican Dade Phelan, who is supporting the two incumbents. Swanson is also backed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, while Hull is being supported by Gov. Greg Abbott for the second cycle.

Phelans support for Hull and Swanson may help partially explain why their primary foes have struggled to keep pace in fundraising, Jones said.

It sends a message to the Austin lobby and the institutional donors that these are the speakers candidates, he said.

Though Flynn had raised only a few thousand dollars for his campaign through mid-January, he said he has been relying on volunteers while self-funding certain operations, such as car mileage, that he is not reporting because he does not plan to reimburse himself with campaign dollars.

Still, Hull has vastly outspent Flynn, and she headed into the homestretch of the campaign with more than $80,000 in her campaign account, while Flynn reported just $500.

Im not out there beating the bushes for every dollar, Flynn said. I dont have (political action committees) that I can lean on. I mean, I think that when I go to Austin, the PACs are not going to be happy with me, because I dont necessarily care what their agenda is. I care what the agenda of the people of Texas is.

More recently, Hull has come under attack from a nonprofit group called Abolish Abortion Texas, which has been sending mailer ads around the district that ding Hull for not supporting a particular abortion bill last year, the Texas Tribune reported. The bill would have abolished abortion and classified the procedure as assault or homicide, the latter of which can be punished by the death penalty.

Because the group is registered as a 501(c)(4) organization, it does not have to disclose its donors.

A spokesman for Hulls campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Jones said Hull risks attracting further attacks by right-wing groups if she fails to clear the 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold needed to win outright March 1. Otherwise, the primary will be settled in a May runoff between the top two finishers, providing extra time for Hull to come under attack from groups that consider her insufficiently conservative, Jones said.

Also running in Hulls district is Christine Kalmbach, a Realtor who is making her first run for the House. She has loaned her campaign about $7,700 and reported $0 cash on hand as of Jan. 20.

Swanson also faces the prospect of a runoff in her primary, where a total of four candidates are running. The other Republicans are Valerie McGilvrey, a private investigator and the president of a property management company, who said she decided to run for the seat after Swanson shut me down immediately and without a second thought when in 2018 she asked her office for help with a work-related matter.

A fourth candidate, Bryan Le, had not reported raising any money and did not appear to have a campaign website.

Voters will begin deciding the contests Monday, when early voting polls open across Texas for the states Democratic and Republican primaries. Election day is March 1.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
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Striving for a region anchored by democratic values, the 4th Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) foreign ministers' meeting convened on Friday to tout ideological differences and confrontation in Asia.

China's "coercion" and "challenges" to so-called "democracy and rules-based order" tops the agenda of Friday's event. "I think we share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said before the meeting.

Who is acting aggressively in Asia?

In answering this question, Washington follows a faith-based approach  insisting China has the intent to act as an aggressor and deliberately ignoring the fact-based conclusion. Thus, its policy is made on irrational beliefs, rather than reality. This is dangerous foundation for the country's foreign policy.

Assuming the governments as "authoritarian regimes," Washington bombed Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and a slew of other countries that don't share the same political system with the West. The U.S. says it's for democratic ideals, but the result?

Other than American military conglomerates making profits from wars and politicians relying on these consortiums for campaign finance, no one benefited. Touting peace, freedom, and inclusiveness, Washington's democratic crusade brought an untold amount of instability to the world.

Now, the U.S. is diverting its attention to Asia  again, under the banner of "democracy."

A study by the anti-war group CODEPINK revealed that at least 326,000 bombs and missiles have been dropped on other countries by the United States and its allies since 2001  or 46 per day. If "46 bombs a day" means democracy in Washington's dictionary, it's not strange to see Blinken label China as "acting aggressively." Faith-based policymakers can always find lofty goals to legitimate their malicious maneuvers.

The humanitarian disaster as a result of Washington's "46 bombs a day" is the reality, so is China's sincere advocacy for regional peace and stability. China upholds the law-based international order, rather than the "order" unilaterally defined by the United States. While the U.S. and its allies shout cooperation for people's wellbeing, China, despite its political differences from the West, is taking concrete actions for the common good.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China turns out to be far ahead of other countries in vaccine donation. The country is an active advocator for global peace. It has grown into the world's second-largest economy neither by military expansion nor colonial plunder, and has never started any conflict since 1949.

But these facts mean nothing for Washington, which follows a faith-based approach in making its foreign policies. Its firm belief that China has an "evil" intent is instead the cornerstone of the U.S.'s policies. A review at Washington's actions on the Middle East, China, and Russia shows reality never matters for American policymakers.

Apart from its faith-based approach, Western hype of "China coercion" is also an attempt to legitimize the Quad mechanism. Washington's strategic demand, not democracy, is behind Quad's existence. By fabricating fear over China and labeling it as an "authoritarian regime," the U.S. is thinking to unite Asian allies to work together for its pursuit of hegemony in the region.

But will the allies dance to the U.S.' tune?

True, the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India can sit together and talk. But this doesn't mean the allies will sacrifice their own national interests for the United States'. Talk is one thing; act is another. What Quad members want from each other is quite different, making their coordinating actions unlikely.

Australia has no sovereignty dispute or strategic competition with China. It can reap nothing good from acting die-hard hostility toward China. India, as a developing country struggling to find a way out from the COVID-19 pandemic, is preoccupied with its economy, not China. In addition, the West has been attempting to intervene into India's internal affairs in the name of human rights, and thus New Delhi is unlikely to play the ideology card against Beijing. For Tokyo, despite its divergences with Beijing, it has maintained constructive dialogues with the Chinese government and has been a beneficiary of sound economic ties with China.

Washington's image of democracy has already collapsed. Quad members have the wisdom to tackle its ties between the U.S. and China for their national interests. The U.S. is happy to lie about China threats, but few would still buy Washington's fabricated stories.

Washington shouts democracy. The reality proves the opposite.
Pittsfield Superintendent Takes No Position on School Mask Mandate Lift

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Superintendent Joseph Curtis says the school district has "no position" on its masking policy following Gov. Charlie Bakers announcement that the school mask mandate will be lifted on Feb. 28.

On Wednesday, Curtis told the School Committee that he will look to them for consideration and if nothing is brought forward, he will make a final decision.



"As you can imagine, the superintendents had no notice of this announcement, besides around an hour and a half, so we found out about this, the mask policy not being extended past Feb. 28," he said. "We found out at 9:30 a.m. and the governor released his statement soon thereafter."



"So since the governor's release of statements, I've received numerous media inquiries about what my position or our position will be, parent emails and such, and so we will I will certainly look to the chair in the next coming days, if the school committee desires to make a policy amendment, then that would have to be done, if the school committee does not desire then I will make a decision moving forward."



Wednesday morning, Baker announced that the mask mandate would not be extended in late February. In its place, there will be guidance for mask-specific scenarios and they will still be required on buses.



He cited a low risk for young people, widespread availability of vaccines, testing, and the need to give kids a sense of normalcy.

The state is currently at 79 percent of residents being fully vaccinated; in the Berkshires, 76 percent of those age 5 and older are fully vaccinated.



Curtis pointed out that the mandate is set to end the day that students return from February break and in the past, there have been consistent spikes after school vacations.



He spoke to the varying opinions of the virus's severity, reminding school committees and the public that it still causes staff absences that can lead to entire schools being closed.



Taconic High School and Reid Middle School were forced to close for two days in early January due to staffing shortages.



"Certainly there's a lot of debate about the virus, the impact, the severity, some are incredibly concerned about the virus, others refer to it as nothing more than a cold, I don't get into those debates and this position, but what I can express to the community and certainly the committee is that no matter how you feel about the virus, it does have impact and you saw that impact after our recent December and January vacation, where because of staff cases after the vacation, we had to close the Taconic and read Middle School," Curtis said.



"And so whether the debate might be that the current virus and its variant causes severe illness or not, if one catches the virus they do have to quarantine and those guidelines are still in effect, quarantining causes staff absences and student absences if we reach a point where we cannot run the school safely as we did with Taconic and Reid despite our best efforts and certainly tried to rearrange staff to come up with alternative plans, we did reach a point where we could not do it and that's something that's in my thoughts in the deciding whether to affirm the Feb. 28 mass mandate lift or not."
Mount Greylock Superintendent to Look at Data Before Lifting Mask Mandate

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School District will not be ending its face-covering requirement for staff and students until at least a couple of weeks after the commonwealth mandate ends on Feb. 28, Superintendent Jason McCandless announced on Thursday night.

McCandless told the School Committee at its February meeting that he wants to see at least a couple of weeks worth of data after students return from the February vacation before taking the step of relaxing face-covering rules in school buildings.

At this point, we are not considering lifting the mask requirement until we have data stretching out at least, at a minimum, two or three weeks following a return from winter break, McCandless said.

I have to say as a school leader in the commonwealth, I was rather surprised [by Gov. Charlie Bakers announcement this week].  I was assuming that he would be maybe taking a page out of the New Jersey governors playbook and say, Were back from break on the 28th. Were going to make the mask restrictions go away two weeks from that point so we could see what the aftermath of break looks like. I was a bit taken aback that that was not the case.

To back up his point, McCandless showed the committee data indicating the preK-12 district hit its recent high point of cases, with 50 student cases and 12 adult cases, following the December break.

Since then, the districts COVID-19 case count has declined, with 21 positive cases among students and three adult cases for the week ending Feb. 9.

McCandless did say that the district will be taking a number of steps to help return to a sense of normalcy starting Feb. 28, but removing face-coverings will have to wait a little bit longer.

He implied that lifting the mask requirement without knowing the case rate and other conditions could lead to a situation where students are masked, then unmasked and then masked again. He likened that to the uncertainty students and families experienced last year when they were unsure whether school would be in-person or remote.

We are not lifting our mask requirements as of Monday, Feb. 28, McCandless said. It does not strike me as the right thing to do. We need time to work with local health officials. We want to hear from the families we serve, we want to hear from the staff we work with, we want to hear from our students who have thoughts on this.

We will not be looking at unmasking for at least two or three weeks, and, in honesty, Im not sure that that is the absolute highest priority for a lessening of requirements that we have in the Mount Greylock Regional schools, but we do see other opportunities to open up a little further and return to some normalcy, even if we continue to keep masking.

The good news for the districts families is that, as of Feb. 28, a number of COVID-related restrictions will be lifted:

 Athletes will be allowed to compete unmasked; but will remain masked while on the bench.

 Musicians, actors and dancers will be allowed to perform unmasked.

 capacity limits will be removed for performances and games; though face-coverings will be required for audience members.

 Group project and work restrictions will be lifted at the districts schools.

Were going back to letting kids do group and project group, were letting students sit in the ways that individual teachers choose to set up their classrooms and relaxing our distance requirements in classrooms, McCandless said. That doesnt sound like a big deal, but I think for a lot of teachers and a lot of students, because of the way that they like to do their work best, its a pretty big deal.

McCandless used the opportunity to renew his pleas to families to get their children vaccinated if they are eligible.

And, perhaps as importantly, families need to share their childs vaccination status with the district.

McCandless noted that the district suspects some student vaccinations are not showing up in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health database because the students in question were vaccinated in nearby Vermont or New York.

One anomaly in the districts data appeared to support that point. In Williamstown, the Mass DPH numbers indicate that more than 95 percent of Williamstown residents aged 12-15 are fully vaccinated (two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine) but just 47 percent of the towns 15-19 population is fully vaccinated.

And the reporting to the district by families appears to lag even those DPH numbers.

At Williamstown Elementary School, for example, just 43 percent of the pupils have been reported and documented by families as being vaccinated. But the commonwealths numbers show that 77 percent of the population aged 5-11 is fully vaccinated.

We can move to more and more of a normal school life for our kids and our employees, McCandless said. We can do this. Vaccinations and reporting to schools about vaccinations so we can have a good handle on the data were using to make these decisions is vital.
Taconic's Future Identity Will Be Rockets, Thunder or Titans

Quiz Maker

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Taconic High School could soon be the Home of the ... Titans, Rockets or Thunder.

The school's been considering a new mascot name since Braves was dropped in 2020.

On Wednesday, student representative William Garrity told the School Committee that the Taconic Mascot Committee has narrowed it down to three finalists from 10 options chosen through an open community survey in October.



The top three were selected through a second survey sent out to the vocational school's community in December. The rockets, thunder, and titans were the top choices when the survey closed halfway through the month.



The committee met a few times to discuss the three, Garrity said, and is determining how to gather the community's thoughts on the final choice.



"The committee is still deliberating on how the final round of input will be conducted, but we're hoping to have this set up soon so that the new Taconic mascot will be decided by the end of March," he reported.



The committee has worked with HEARD Strategy and Storytelling, a marketing and communications agency that has offered pro bono rebranding services for schools changing Native American mascots. It reviewed more than 230 options that were submitted through the first survey.
The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With Valentine's Day coming up, do you think the ECU community and the City of Greenville is doing all they can to make people feel loved and supported?

Survey
For the love of food: Anas Pupuseria now serving Salvadorian delights that will make your day
Today, ASUS Philippines recently unveiled their ASUS OLED creator lineup that includes both ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 and StudioBook 16 OLED. These pair of NVIDIA RTX Studio laptops are targeted not only to creative professionals but also to architects, engineers, game developers, and professionals into data science. Both the StudioBook Pro 16 and StudioBook 16 features the worlds first 16 4K OLED HDR 16:10 display that is also Calman verified and PANTONE validated. These workstation laptops are powered by either a powerful 11th Gen Intel Core / Xeon processor (W7600/H7600) or cutting-edge AMD Ryzen 5000 processors (W5600/H5600) and pro-grade NVIDIA RTX GPUs ranging from GeForce RTX 3060 up to RTX A5000 graphics. The new ProArt StudioBook 16 series also features the new ASUS Dial, an intuitive physical controller that offers ultra-precise fingertip control various creative apps.

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The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) went into effect in 1993, so you just assume that as long as the business is big enough (50 people), you're covered. But remote work has called that into question.

Here's what you need to know.

The Rules for the FMLA

To be eligible for the FMLA, you first need a condition that qualifies (or a new child, or a sick family member), and then must meet the following three conditions:

The employee must have been employed with the company for 12 months. The employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of FMLA leave. The employer is a covered employer with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius of the employee's worksite.

It's that last one that puts employees into a bit of a pickle. If you work from home in Connecticut and your co-workers are scattered throughout the country, are you all ineligible for FMLA?

The answer is maybe.

What Is a Worksite?

in 1993, the idea that vast swaths of people would be working from home never crossed the minds of congress. While some people worked remotely pre-pandemic, more people than ever now work from home -- and some businesses have gone fully remote. In those cases, there is no office.

The FMLA acknowledges that not everyone will be in the office and there are clear guidelines for someone who works from home -- when there is an office. Regarding remote workers, the FMLA states:

An employee's personal residence is not a worksite in the case of employees, such as salespersons, who travel a sales territory and who generally leave to work and return from work to their personal residence, or employees who work at home, as under the concept of flexiplace or telecommuting. Rather, their worksite is the office to which they report and from which assignments are made.

So, as long as you have an office --a worksite -- of some sort, your business is subject to the FMLA when you hit 50 employees.

When There Is No Office at All.

What happens when your company has no office and everyone is remote? Jeff Nowak, an employment attorney who specializes in the FMLA and is a shareholder at Littler, says he hasn't seen any lawsuit that focuses on this issue.

But he cautions that you shouldn't just assume there is no FMLA if there is no office. While there have been no test cases, you don't want to be the one that goes to court. He says,

But what happens if the employee's manager works remotely? And the manager's manager works remotely? And so on? Surely, the law cannot be read in a way to render all remote employees ineligible for FMLA, so it's critical for employers to avoid taking too risky a position in automatically denying FMLA leave to remote employees.

So, are fully remote employees in a fully remote company covered? We don't know for sure, but as Nowak says, don't automatically deny FMLA. You'll never get in trouble for being generous.

Remember the Purpose of the 75-Mile Rule.

Back in 1993, if you were out of the office, it was your immediate co-workers who had to pick up the slack. So it made sense that if there were 300 employees in California and only three in New Jersey, that having one of the N.J. employees out was much more of a hardship. With remote work, the impact of one absent employee can be spread out among people all over the country -- or globe.

Your best bet is to act as if the FMLA applies once you hit 50 employees, even if you have no office. Besides, telling your employees they can't have protected leave for medical conditions and new babies won't endear you to them.
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.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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PT INDOSTERLING SARANA INVESTA (the Company) the largest shareholder of Indonesian listed, leading Technology company, PT IndoSterling Technomedia (ticker: TECH:IJ) (IndoSterling) enters a Put Option Agreement for IDR 600 billion rupiah ($42 million) with global alternative investment group, LDA Capital (LDA).

Established in Jakarta in 2011 IndoSterling, a technology company of IndoSterling Group, has developed a diversified portfolio of information technology and digital companies, serving a diverse array of B2B markets. Within the education industry and through its subsidiary, PT Technomedia Interkom Cemerlang (owns EDUFECTA Learning Management System), IndoSterling has implemented EDUFECTA across more than 50 tertiary institutions in Indonesia, making it one of the largest learning systems in Indonesias educational sector. Aside from having substantial leading traction in the eLearning space, IndoSterling is also a dominant player in Indonesias Property Tech and Digital Publishing sector.

Under the agreement, the Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to sell shares to LDA Capital via the Put Option Agreement over a period of 3 years. The transaction will further enhance IndoSterlings access to capital allowing for additional accretive investments in the fast-growing Indonesian technology sector. Indonesias digital economy is expected to reach a total value of USD 70 billion in 2021, representing a 49% YoY growth. By 2025, the overall digital and internet economy in Indonesia will reach over USD 146 billion in value, growing at an outstanding 20% CAGR. IndoSterling is attractively positioned to benefit from this growth and is confident it will be Indonesias next leading tech Unicorn.

Billy Andrian, CEO of IndoSterling Technomedia, commented on the recent transaction: We are pleased to have an alternative funding group like LDA Capital support our digital transformation into a leading Big Data Enabler in Indonesia. LDAs flexible financial solution will aid us to become the leading Big Data Enabler as we intensify the depth of our products & services across the consumer, F&B, property, financial, capital market, digital publishing, and education sectors,Andrian said.

Indonesias technology market is at an inflection point and could grow to between $200 billion and $300 billion in size the coming years. We are excited about IndoSterlings market positioning - with an established management team on the back of strong macro tailwinds, LDA expects to have an attractive, risk adjusted return on our investment over the next few years, Warren Baker, Managing Partner of LDA, said.

LDA Capital is a prominent global alternative investment group with more than 32 portfolio companies across the globe. The founding team has committed over USD 10 billion in both equity and credit, executed over 250+ different transactions in over 43 countries around the world. LDA is sector agnostic but has a strong concentration in the technology, media, healthcare, consumer product services, and renewable energy. LDA seeks to back growth companies by supporting them with innovative, flexible capital solutions.

LDAs has made a strong push for building a portfolio of fast-growing global technology companies with the possibilities of reaching unicorn status. One of LDAs portfolio companies is Australias leading tech unicorn, Brainchip Holdings Ltd (BRN:AU), a smart chip processor of semiconductors utilizing artificial intelligence and edge computing capabilities. Since the announcement of the transaction with LDA, Brainchips market capitalization has increased from AUD 150m to over AUD 3 billion, representing an increase by over 20x in less than 24 months. Over this period LDA has deployed capital at rising share prices thereby allowing Brainchip to optimize and control the dilution from the investment. IndoSterling chose LDA as its investment partner given their recent success in the Asia Pacific technology sector.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210005074/en/
Bengaluru based Leading Super specialty mother and baby care chain, operating under the Cloudnine brand, offering end-to-end coverage of all stages of the parenthood journey has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for its initial public offering (IPO).The issue with a face value of Rs5 per equity share consists of a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs300 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 13,293,514 equity shares by existing shareholders.As per market sources, the company looks to raise around Rs1,200 crore.Dr. Kishore Kumar Rajagopal, Scrips 'N' Scrolls India Private Limited, True North Fund V LLP, Indium V (Mauritius) Holdings Limited, and Sequoia Capital Investment are among the key shareholders selling in the IPO. The offer also includes a reservation for a subscription for eligible employees.The proceeds from its fresh issuance worth Rs95 crore for the repayment or prepayment of borrowings, in full or part of all or certain borrowings for the company, Rs117.90 crore for setting up seven new Mother and Baby centres at various locations over the next few years, Rs12.71 crore for acquisition of 49% stake in its subsidiary, Acquity Labs Private Limited besides general corporate purposes.In line with its motto #WeKnowMoms, Cloudnine was founded by Dr. Kishore Kumar and Mr. Rohit MA, started its first centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka in 2006, with a vision to establish world-class mother and baby care focused medical care facilities. It owns, operates and manages a network of 23 centres across six states and one union territory in India, with an aim to provide its customers with memorable experience and access to advanced facilities. It currently follows a concentric cluster approach focusing on two key regions, the NCR (National Capital Region) and Bengaluru, Karnataka.As a value proposition it has various celebratory elements in its packages for customers such as special baby showers, candle light dinners before the expected delivery date, exclusive gift hampers for mother and baby. Cloudnine centres are thoughtfully designed vibrance and colour as a reflection of the celebratory nature of the parenthood journey it assists its customers with.As at September 30, 2021, its had a team of 1,480 medical professionals, including 196 junior doctors and 1,284 nurses and held medical records of more than 7.6L customers. In FY21 it had assisted in 16,801 deliveries and 5,994 fertility services.Cloudnine provides expectant mothers bespoke care with quality medical expertise, medically-advanced facility infrastructure and a bespoke motherhood journey covering most of their needs, offering end-to-end coverage of all stages of the parenthood journey, beginning with fertility treatments, through maternity, neonatology and paediatrics, dedicated to the holistic well-being of mother and baby and is the only healthcare facility chain in India which is a part of the Vermont Oxford Network (VON).To increase customer engagement, the mother and babycare chain recently launched Momeaze, an expert curated ecommerce marketplace for all maternity and child related products. As on September 30,2021 its platform has hosted over 2k SKUs and between the months of April to September 2021 it has recorded an avg of 39000 sessions per month. It also has cloudninemamas.com an active community accessible to its customers via a mobile application where queries are addressed by Cloudnine experts.For the six months ended September 30, 2021 revenue from operations grew 42.80% to Rs371.65 crore against Rs260.26 crore the same period a year ago. Despite the pandemic, KCILs revenue from operations grew 7.42% to Rs554.59 crore for the fiscal 2021 when compared to Rs516.30 crore for the fiscal 2020. This was primarily due to increase was on account of higher deliveries.While the EBITA has remained positive over the last 3 fiscals, as the depreciation is high the company reported restated loss which as decreased by 46.14% from 18.29 cr in six months Sept 30,2020 to Rs9.85 crore in six months ended Sep 30,2021. Additionally, as on September 30,2021 it generated Rs217.70 crore out of its total revenue of Rs260.26 crore from its mature centres. In FY 21 the mature centres generated a revenue of Rs491.62 crore. The ROCE for six months ended 30 September, 2021 stood at 10.05% and for fiscal 2021, it was in a negative territory of 0.10%.As per the Crisil Report stated in its DRHP, the total addressable market for private maternity healthcare in Fiscal 2020 was Rs20,800 crore and projected to grow at CAGR of 11% to 12% from Fiscal 2021 to Fiscal 2026 to reach Rs26,100 crore in Fiscal 2026.The market is expected to grow on account of increased penetration of institutional deliveries, the rising share of private hospitals in rural and urban areas, increase in the expenditure on maternity healthcare, and rise in the treatment costs on account of delayed deliveries.JM Financial Limited, ICICI Securities Limited and Axis Capital Limited are the book running lead managers to the issue.
Indiana, PA (15701)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A steady rain early. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing late. Low around 60F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
"It's very bad fashion. I don't think anyone will wear this. You should shut this down. Why are you wasting your time?"

This is what Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grover had told Niti Singhal, the pitcher who runs a reversible clothing brand Twee In One. Tables turned around when Grover's wife wore the outfit she had gifted and Niti pointed out the same.

After an uproar that all this caused, Ashneer Grover and Niti Singhal have both featured on Amul's latest topical. Here's how both of them reacted to this.

Also Read: Shark Tank India's Ashneer Grover Reportedly Demands Rs 4,000 Crore To Quit BharatPe Amid Probe



Sony

Ashneer Grover shared Amul's topical on his Instagram handle and wrote, "@amul_india @sharktank.india - The New Taste of India !! @sonytvofficial @sonylivindia #sharktankindia."

When one of Grover's followers asked if the girl in the photo is who pitched her business venture Twee In One, Ashneer tagged Niti Singhal and congratulated her. @niti.singhal congrats!", he wrote.

Instagram

Seeing the Amul tribute, Niti Singhal took to Facebook to write, "Thank you Amul! I have always been excited to see your hoardings since I was a child. Never thought I could be your Amul girl one day!!" She also shared it on Instagram.





Niti Singhal had taken a sly dig at Ashneer Grover in a reel which she ended with "Yeh sab dogalapana hai".

"Never let anyone's words pull you down. Everyone has their own opinions. Don't stop believing in yourself," she wrote.



(Also Read: Shark Tank India Pitchers Reveal What Happens Behind The Scene And How Much Of The Show Is Real)

(For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.)


Expressing her views on the Karnataka Hijab row, Sonam Kapoor compared a turban with a Hijab and thus became a topic of discussion.

She asked if a turban can be a choice then why not a hijab.

Also Read: 'Raise Your Sons Better', Violence Over Karnataka Hijab Row Angers Bollywood Celebrities Too

TOI

This comes after Kangana Ranaut's controversial statement wherein she said that women should show courage by not wearing a burqa in Afghanistan. Ranaut was lashed out at by Shabana Azmi.

Meanwhile, Sonam Kapoor had shared a photo on her Instagram story which shows a man in a turban and a woman in a hijab. "This can be a choice" is written underneath the photo with a turban while the other photo of a woman in the hijab has text that reads, "But this cant?".

Instagram

Also Read: 'Never Been In Favour Of Hijab Or Burqa', Javed Akhtar Slams Hooligans Over Karnataka Hijab Row

While some people agreed with Sonam, others lashed out at her for the comparison. Here's what people on Twitter have to say.

Two things can bring this change:

1. Money

2. Hate against one man #SonamKapoor pic.twitter.com/jScr477Iv7  Shailendra Singh (@shaksingh) February 11, 2022

Dastar or Dast-e-Yar meansthe hand of God. It is not a choice but a blessing of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji & an integral part of Sikhs identity. Comparing Dastar & Hijab are unjustified & unwanted in this context @sonamakapoor pic.twitter.com/CZL83TVY3W  Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) February 11, 2022

#SonamKapoor learnt something for the first time today. https://t.co/WorMEVokXm  Rami Niranjan Desai (@ramindesai) February 11, 2022

@sonamakapoor

'If turban can be a choice, then why not hijab'-CLONE Sonam Kapoor !

You synthetic clone don't know that turban is 'article of faith' of Sikhs and granted by Constitution of India.

Hijab is Geo-cultural attire !!  Soni Romesh (@SoniRomesh) February 11, 2022

Thank you. I required a reminder that Bollywood and people like Sonam Kapoor are still undiluted trash. https://t.co/yJgEMvujMN  Aditya (@MrAd1tya) February 11, 2022

Stuff you say when you lack a basic college education. Sonam Kapoor's IQ is less than her weight.

The Famous and the Uneducated https://t.co/p7GmO6oqY6  Guru Gaurav (@gurugaurav) February 11, 2022

@sonamakapoor do you know there was a law passed in court which allow sikha to wear turban and i know you have never went an Indian School that's why you don't know uniform and what is discipline so it's not your fault https://t.co/qgI3oaFd5x  HUMAN (@humanakainsan) February 11, 2022

Normal Day: Smash Patriarchy



Mentos Day: Why not Hijab??



 https://t.co/DNIZD138kQ   (@kiran_shunya) February 11, 2022

Sonam Kapoor @sonamakapoor I am damn sure you know nothing about Turban and hence you arecomparing Orange with Apples. Turban is not a piece of cloth that covers our head, it's our pride, our honour, our uniform, part of our body. We made innumerable sacrifices for this turban. https://t.co/9TLu9QPG7L  Tejinder Singh Sodhi  (@TejinderSsodhi) February 11, 2022

Is Sonam Kapoor losing brain cells?! pic.twitter.com/ZJt8B5AOvo  GKG (@GillGirl_GKG) February 11, 2022

I wish somebody explained to madame @sonamakapoor ji, the difference between a turban & a hijab.#HijabRow  Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 11, 2022

Sonam Kapoor supporting Hijab pic.twitter.com/xIDRA4qQ4B  Vicky () (@NavneetMODIfy) February 11, 2022

Meanwhile, Karnataka High Court in its order said, "Pending consideration of all these petitions, we restrain all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa) scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like, within the classroom, until further orders."

"We make it clear that this order is confined to such of the institutions wherein the College Development Committees have prescribed the student dress code/uniform".

It also added that the right to freedom of religion was not absolute. "However, such a right not being absolute is susceptible to reasonable restrictions as provided by the Constitution of India. Whether wearing of hijab in the classroom is part of the essential religious practice of Islam in the light of constitutional guarantees, needs a deeper examination.

"Ours being a civilized society, no person in the name of religion, culture or the like can be permitted to do any act that disturbs public peace and tranquility. Endless agitations and closure of educational institutions indefinitely are not happy things to happen. The hearing of these matters on an urgent basis is continuing," the full bench said.

(For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.)


More than 24 years after 2 men were convicted and sentenced to life for the 1987 murder of a woman in Thane, the Bombay high court has acquitted them based on the fact that the eyewitness evidence was not a sterling testimony, as per TNN.

2 judges quashed the 1998 order of the Thane sessions court against Ladkya Bhurbhura (64) and Manji Tumbda (47).'

PTI

On October 8, 1987, Shankar Wagh told police that on the previous night, he along with his first wife, Ladkyai, and second wife, Girija, went to sleep.

It was midnight when 3 people entered. Shankar identified the two accused and said Bhurbhura had a spear. The men questioned Girija and threatened to kill Shankar along with her.

Shankar ran to the hamlet next to his for help. When he came back, he found Girija dead and she had injuries to her chest. Ladkyai was there.

Times Higher Education

But Ladkyai claimed that she had also fled with Shankar.

The judges said the evidence based on the testimonies of Shankar and Ladkyai is not one to be confident of.

"The evidence of the eyewitness does not appear to be a sterling testimony upon which conviction can be maintained," they said.


The number of suicides due to unemployment during 2018-2020 stands at 9,140 as per records of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), replied Union Home Ministry in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The number of suicides due to bankruptcy or indebtedness during the aforementioned time period was 16,091 as per NCRB records, added the Union Home Ministry in its reply.

BCCL

The ministry also said that to address the burden of mental disorders, the government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and is supporting the implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 692 districts of the country.

"The programme aims to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges; mental health services including prevention, promotion and long-term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system and promote community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental healthcare services," added the ministry.

thenational

The ministry also informed that it has launched employment and income generation programmes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), which aims to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of employment. Another programme named The National Career Service (NCS) Project is for the job seekers and employers for job-matching in a dynamic, efficient and responsive manner and has a repository of career content for job seekers.

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) there were a total of 53 million unemployed people in India in December 2021 and a huge proportion of them were women.

According to CMIE, of the 35 million unemployed who were actively looking for work in December 2021, 23% or 8 million were women. At the same time, of the 17 million who were passively unemployed, 53% or 9 million women were willing to work although they were not actively looking for work.

Representational Image

However, CMIE's latest data showed that Indias unemployment rate fell sharply in January to 6.57%, the lowest since March 2021.

This was said to be due to a significant dip in rural unemployment which fell to 5.84% as against 7.28% in December 2021.

Haryana continued to witness the highest unemployment rate of 23.4% followed by Rajasthan at 18.9%, Tripura at 17.1%, Jammu & Kashmir at 15% and Delhi at 14.1%.

Telangana had the lowest unemployment rate in January at 0.7% followed by Gujarat at 1.2%, Meghalaya at 1.5%, Odisha at 1.8% and Karnataka at 2.9%.

If you know anyone battling with depression or other mental health issues, please reach out to someone who can help. AASRA Foundation: 022 2754 6669 Samaritans Mumbai: +91 84229 84528 / +91 84229 84529 / +91 84229 84530

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The NFT auction of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks which is an international non-profit organization that publishes news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous sources, has reportedly fetched over $50 million!

The online auction of digital art which was aimed to raise money towards WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's legal defence saw bids reach more than $50 million on Wednesday.

Reuters

Also Read: This Indonesian Students '$3 NFT Selfies' Are Now Worth Millions!



Julian Assange's Battle

Assange is considered a hero and champion of government transparency and freedom of the press by some, while others have often condemned him as a dangerous rogue who undermines national security.

Julian has been battling extradition from Britain to the United States, wherein the authorities want him to face trial on as high as 18 criminal charges, including breaking a spying law, after WikiLeaks began to publish thousands of secret classified files and diplomatic cables in 2010.

Even last month, Assange, who at present remains in a London prison, was given the chance to challenge the approval of his extradition at Britain's highest court. Now the Supreme Court has to decide whether or not to hear his case.

Also Read: This 15-year-old Artist's NFT Sales Are Already Worth More Than $1 Million

The Million Dollar Auction

Julian Assange collaborated with a crypto artist known as Pak to sell a collection of NFTs called Censored in an online auction that was held from February 7th-9th 2022. The auction was aimed to help Julian raise funds to support his case.

The centrepiece of the auction is stated to be an NFT artwork, Clock, which displays the number of days Assange has been imprisoned in white text on a black background. It keeps updating each day.

Also Read: 10 Big Brands That Have Dipped Their Toes Into The NFT World

The Support

We've raised almost 18,000 eth for good causes. The open edition continues for anyone wanting to join the Vanguards.https://t.co/WtZXXAplOn  Pak (@muratpak) February 9, 2022





Assange supporters had formed a group called AssangeDAO to bid collectively on the NFT. For the uninitiated, Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) is a sort of online community which allows members to pool their money and use blockchain-based tokens to vote on decisions about how it is run.

According to crowdfunding website Juicebox, AssangeDAO raised 17,422 of the cryptocurrency ether, which is around $54.6 million, since Feb 2nd 2022. More than 10,000 people had reportedly contributed to the fundraiser.

In a Discord post announcing the bid, the AssangeDAO communitys lead Joshua Bate said "This is tens of thousands of people coming together to show real strength - the Power of the People. In less than one week, we have shown that decentralized and distributed peoples can band together to fight injustice.

The group also stated that the proceeds from the sale of Clock will go to support Assange's legal defence.

Also Read: 5 NFT-Based Play To Earn Games That Could Soar In 2022

For more such interesting content and the latest financial news, keep reading Worth. Click here
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Apple and Microsoft are two giants without naming which the tech industry is incomplete. For several decades, these two tech giants have dominated the industry with continuous innovation.



And each year, they keep launching new products and services, with their product launches and events looked forward to by millions of people worldwide.

If you too are aware of their products or own them, you might have noticed that both iPhone maker Apple and its rival Microsoft have skipped the number 9.

shutterstock

Neither did Microsoft introduce Windows 9 nor Apple introduce iPhone 9.



Both launched Windows 10 and Apple X after the 8th version. Ever wondered why?

Lets decode this for you.

shutterstock

First, let's talk about Apple.



Also Read: Apple Becomes World's First Company To Hit $3 Trillion Market Value, Then Slips Marginally

Why did Apple skip the iPhone 9?

Apple launched the iPhone X in 2017, the year which marked Apples 10th anniversary. So, they decided to launch the iPhone's Xth model on the tenth anniversary. After all, it might have been confusing to have a 10th-anniversary phone that was named the iPhone 9.

That's not all. Apple also wanted to signify the new beginning of the product designs. Plus, it's believed that the number 9 is considered unlucky in many cultures, just like the number 13.

Also, it's believed that the number nine isn't welcomed in many countries and cultures. The number has negative meanings in Asian languages, with one translation meaning a literal curse in Chinese and torture or agony in Japanese.

Also Read: This Company Is Allowing All Its Employees To Work From Abroad For 6 Weeks Every Year

Why Microsoft skipped Windows 9?

microsoft.com

Also Read: On 20th Anniversary Of Windows XP, Elon Musk Trolled Microsoft Real Hard

Windows 8 was widely regarded as a mess. That version of windows was on the receiving end of lots of criticism due to the changes it introduced, which were heavily criticized.



That's why, to symbolize change, Microsoft seemed to have decided to signify that the next upcoming Windows release would be the last "major" Windows update.

Plus, there were also Windows 95 and 98 in the past, so a similar Windows 9 might have caused confusion and code overlap.

Hence, Microsoft decided and launched Windows 10 in the year 2015!

So now you know why Apple and Microsoft skipped the number 9!

Also Read: 10 Big Brands That Have Dipped Their Toes Into The NFT World

For more such interesting content and the latest financial news, keep reading Worth. Click here


Culpeper, VA (22701)

Today

Mostly cloudy with some showers in the afternoon. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly late. Low 59F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The daily average of new COVID-19 cases in Northern Virginia has fallen back below the level from the same day a year ago for the first time since mid-December, according to new data Friday.

Hospitalizations statewide for treatment of the virus are also back below year-earlier levels as the spread of the Omicron variant continues to subside. Reported deaths from the winter surge, however, remain at their highest levels since last winter.

In Northern Virginia, the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases fell another 40.8% this week to 767.6 as of Friday, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That's 6.8% below the level on Feb. 11, 2021, and down 87% from the region's Jan. 13 Omicron peak.

Statewide, the seven-day average fell 34% this week to 4,379.3 per day as of Friday. That's down 76.7% from the state's Jan. 13 peak but is still 24.5% above the level of a year ago, when vaccines were just starting to be rolled out.

Data from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association show that COVID-19 hospitalizations fell below 2,000 patients statewide on Thursday for the first time since Dec. 28. Hospitalizations are down over 50% from their peak on Jan. 18 and are now 8.6% below the level on this date in 2021.

The total number of patients treated and released by Virginia hospitals topped 100,000 this week since the pandemic began. That represents 1.16% of Virginia's total population of 8.6 million.

Reports of COVID-related deaths continued to soar this week. The state reported 779 new deaths, the most in any week since March 2021, and has reported 1,355 deaths in the past two weeks. Over 17,400 Virginians have now died from coronavirus since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Of this week's deaths, 93 were in Northern Virginia, also the most since March 2021. Of those, 36 were in Fairfax County, 28 in Prince William County, 16 in Loudoun County, five in Alexandria, four in Arlington County, and two apiece in the cities of Fairfax and Manassas. The region is now approaching 3,000 deaths since the pandemic began, with 1,299 of those in Fairfax County, more than any other jurisdiction in the state.

Deaths have been a lagging indicator throughout the pandemic due to the natural delay between the onset of illness and death and the time required for the National Center of Health Statistics to review and assign appropriate codes to Virginia death certificates before they are sent back to the state.

Diagnostic test positivity rates continued to fall this week across the region and statewide, although they remain well above levels at which health officials believe the virus is under control. The rates in Alexandria and Fairfax County joined that in Arlington County at falling below the key 10% threshold this week, however.

No new outbreak with more than four cases apiece was reported this week as still being in progress in Northern Virginia; however, a previously reported outbreak at Dulles Health & Rehab Center, a nursing home in Fairfax, has resulted in between one and four deaths. Five total cases have been reported in that outbreak. The exact number of deaths is suppressed for privacy reasons.

Two other outbreaks at nursing homes in the region have also resulted in deaths:

Culpeper Health and Rehabilitation Center, which has had 85 cases and one to four deaths, reported to the health department on Jan. 5.

Brookside Rehab & Nursing Center in Fauquier County, which has had 35 cases and one to four deaths, reported Jan. 11.

The health department's vaccination dashboard shows that the average number of doses administered per day stands at about 11,000. Vaccinations were as high as 86,000 a day in late March 2021.

As of Friday, about 15.12 million vaccine doses had been administered to Virginians, and third doses had been administered to over 2.73 million Virginia residents. Overall, 79.5% of all Virginians have now received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 70.8% are considered fully vaccinated.

LATEST COVID-19 DATA

New Cases/Deaths (Seven days ending Friday, Feb. 11)

Northern Virginia: 5,373 new cases (down from 9,083 prior week); 93 new deaths (up from 71 prior week)

Statewide: 30,655 new cases (down from 46,419 prior week); 779 new deaths (up from 576 prior week)

Statewide Testing: 138,022 PCR diagnostic test results (down from 174,057 prior week)

Overall Totals

Northern Virginia: 410,736 cases, 2,916 deaths

Statewide: 1,602,691 cases, 17,482 deaths

Statewide Testing: 12.54 million PCR diagnostic tests (18.04 million when including antibody and antigen tests)

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases: 140 (including 18 in Fairfax, 12 in Prince William, five in Loudoun, two in Alexandria and one in Arlington). Two new cases were reported statewide this week, including one in Loudoun.

*Provided by Virginia Department of Health. The health department's COVID-19 data is updated each morning (Monday through Friday) by 10 a.m. and includes reports by local health agencies before 5 p.m. the previous day.

Statewide Hospital Data (as of Friday, Feb. 11):

Hospitalizations: 1,952 (down from 2,521 on Feb. 4)

Peak Hospitalizations: 3,948 reached Jan. 18, 2022

Patients in ICU: 374 (down from 454 on Feb. 4)

Patients Discharged: 101,170 (7,938 this week)

*Provided by Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association

For updated national and international COVID-19 data, visit the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard.

Editor's note: InsideNoVa is providing regular COVID-19 updates every week. For daily reports, visit the Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard.
Students are suspended less when their teacher has the same race or ethnicity
Three Harvard University graduate students said in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Ivy League school for years ignored complaints about sexual harassment by a renowned professor and allowed him to intimidate students by threatening to hinder their careers.

The message sent by Harvards actions alleged in the complaint is clear: students should shut up. It is the price to pay for a degree, Russell Kornblith of Sanford Heisler Sharp, the womens law firm, said in a statement.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston alleges that one of the students, Lilia Kilburn, was subjected to repeated forcible kissing and groping as early as 2017 by anthropology and African and African American studies professor John Comaroff.

On another occasion in 2017, when she met with Comaroff to discuss her plans to study in an African country, he repeatedly said she could be subjected to violence in Africa because she was in a same-sex relationship, the lawsuit said.

Ms. Kilburn sat frozen in shock, while professor Comaroff continued for approximately five minutes, the suit said.

Comaroff, who is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, said in a statement from his lawyers that he categorically denies ever harassing or retaliating against any student.

Regarding Ms. Kilburn, professor Comaroff did not kiss her or touch her inappropriately at any time, the statement said.

As for the discussion about the dangers of possible violence she would face in Africa if traveling with a same-sex partner, the statement said he was giving her appropriate advice motivated by concern for her safety.

The other two plaintiffs, Margaret Czerwienski and Amulya Mandava, said when they reported Comaroffs behavior to university administrators, he retaliated against them by threatening to derail their careers.

Comaroff denied ever threatening Czerwienski or Mandava, but instead consistently made every effort to assist these students and to advance their careers.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault or harassment unless they choose to come forward publicly, as the three women have done.

All three plaintiffs lodged complaints with Harvards Office for Dispute Resolution in July 2020 alleging that the school was in violation of Title IX, the federal law that bars gender discrimination in education.

Harvards continued failure to act on repeated reports of harassment against professor Comaroff _until spurred to do so by the media _ demonstrates an institutional policy of indifference: a system designed to protect the university, its reputation, and the faculty who sustain that reputation at the expense of its students, the lawsuit said.

A Harvard spokesperson in an email declined to comment on the lawsuit, but provided a copy of a letter from Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Claudine Gay saying Comaroff was put on administrative leave last month for the remainder of the spring semester after university investigators found that he engaged in verbal conduct that violated both the schools sexual and gender-based and professional conduct policies.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, unspecified damages, and a judgment that Harvard violated the womens rights.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Education Universities
A federal judge has ruled that a Maine hospital violated the states equal pay law by paying a female psychologist barely half the wage of her male colleagues.

The judge ruled that Northern Light Acadia Hospital violated the Maine Equal Pay Law and must pay back wages and damages to psychologist Clare Mundell. She filed the lawsuit after learning her hourly rate of $50 was less than the $90 to $95 per hour made by men in her department.

The judge, Lance Walker of U.S. District Court in Maine, wrote Tuesday that Mundell was unlawfully underpaid by Acadia, a psychiatric hospital in Bangor. Mundell said in a statement that she only learned of the wage difference because of a discussion with a male coworker in a shared office space about hourly rates. She said she encourages all workers to share this information freely with one another.

Northern Light Acadia Hospital is part of Northern Light Health, a health network that includes some of the biggest hospitals in northern New England. Northern Light Health disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal it, vice president Suzanne Spruce said.

She said Northern Light is committed to treating all of its employees, regardless of gender, or any other protected class, fairly and equitably.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Maine
Criminals netted $1.3 billion in ransom payments from hacking victims in the past two years, reflecting a massive surge in cyber-crime that has prompted a global effort to stop it, according to a new report from Chainalysis Inc.

The cryptocurrency-tracking firm said in an analysis published Thursday it observed a huge increase in ransom payments: $602 million in payments in 2021 and $692 million in 2020. The 2021 figure is expected to increase and surpass 2020 as additional information becomes available, according to the report.

10 Cyber Attacks in 2021 Cost $600M With 40,000 Businesses Put at Risk

By comparison, Chainalysis detected $152 million in payments in 2019 and $39 million in 2018.

Hacking victims often dont disclose that they have experienced a breach or that they have paid a ransom in cryptocurrency to unlock their systems. The secrecy is one reason, experts say, that criminal groups often based in Russia and Eastern Europe continue to target businesses in the U.S.

The average payment totaled more than $118,000 in 2021, an increase from $88,000 in 2020 and $25,000 in 2019, the report said.

The U.S., the UK and Australia issued a joint alert Wednesday warning of an increased global threat from ransomware. Hackers have adopted advanced techniques, such as professionalized business models and sharing data about potential victims, officials said.

The Biden administration has rolled out a series of initiatives to bolster cyber defenses, both in government and in the private sector, after a series of devastating hacks last year, including ransomware attacks against the fuel transporter Colonial Pipeline Co. and the IT services firm Kaseya Ltd.

In October, the White House hosted representatives from 30 countries in an attempt to find ways to slow the number of breaches. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, have sought to deter hackers by arresting alleged ransomware operators throughout Europe.

Chainalysis researchers tracked payments in recent years in part by analyzing cryptocurrency wallets associated with suspected ransomware groups, including the gangs known as Conti, DarkSide and Evil Corp.

The Conti ransomware strain generated the most revenue in 2021, researchers said. Believed to be based in Russia, Conti reaped at least $180 million from victims, according to the report. Conti is one of numerous groups that uses the ransomware-as-a-service business model, where affiliates can purchase ransomware, use it to extort money and provide Conti with a share of the ransom.

The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an alert about Conti in September, noting more than 400 attacks, including intrusions that had impacted law enforcement and medical agencies.

DarkSide, the group behind the Colonial Pipeline attack, extorted the second-largest amount of money from victims last year, according to Chainalysis report. Colonial Pipeline said it paid $4.4 million to DarkSide. In June, the Department of Justice announced that it had retrieved $2.3 million of that amount.

The FBI has previously said that U.S. victims reported $29.1 million in ransomware losses in 2,474 complaints in 2020.

Photograph: Red light illuminates the keys of a laptop computer. Photo credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber Trends Fraud
BRUSSELS  Alphabet unit Google on Friday became the target of an antitrust complaint by the European Publishers Council over its digital advertising business, which could potentially strengthen EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestagers investigation into the issue.

Google made $147 billion in revenue from online ads in 2020, more than any other company in the world, with ads including search, YouTube and Gmail accounting for the bulk of its overall sales and profits.

About 16% of its revenue came from the companys display or network business, in which other media companies use Google technology to sell ads on their website and apps.

The European Commission opened an investigation in June into whether Google favors its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of rivals, advertisers and online publishers.

The publishers trade body, whose members include Axel Springer, News UK, Conde Nast, Bonnier News and Editorial Prensa Iberica, took its grievance to the European Commission, alleging Google has an adtech stranglehold over press publishers.

It is high time for the European Commission to impose measures on Google that actually change, not just challenge, its behavior, EPC Chairman Christian Van Thillo said in a statement.

Google has achieved end-to-end control of the ad tech value chain, boasting market shares as high as 90-100% in segments of the ad tech chain, he said.

Vestager, who has fined Google more than 8 billion euros ($9.2 billion) in recent years for anti-competitive practices in three cases, last year launched the investigation into Googles digital advertising business.

Google has said it would engage constructively with the Commission.

($1 = 0.8714 euros) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee. Editing by Jane Merriman)

Topics Europe
Greenlight Re Innovations (GRI), part of Greenlight Capital Re Ltd., has announced an investment in insurtech startup Redkik Inc., a cargo insurance administration and analytics platform.

Cargo insurance policies have traditionally been written on an annual basis and priced based on projected cargo volume and value, said GRI, explaining that cargo owners who cannot accurately predict the frequency and value of future shipments may experience additional costs.

Redkik has created an API-embedded solution and platform positioned between freight forwarders and insurance carriers, enabling transport intermediaries to offer appropriately priced, per-shipment cargo insurance policies to their clients at the point of booking. (API, or application programming interface, is a set of definitions and protocols that enable the integration of application software).

Some time ago, we identified cargo insurance as an ideal candidate for a more granular and data-driven approach to underwriting and pricing, thats more responsive to the needs of small and large enterprises alike, commented Simon Burton, chief executive officer at Greenlight Re. Redkiks product perfectly matches our vision for the future of cargo insurance and were excited to play a role in their development.

For years, there has been a disconnect in the market between customer needs and insurance products. The dynamic nature of the logistics process forces the insurance industry to adapt to meet the changing demands, said Chris Kalinski, founder and chief executive officer at Redkik.

Redkik offers a transactional, on-demand solution tailored for the unique and evolving needs of the global logistics sector, which solves this industry-wide problem and adds direct value for the customer. Working with Greenlight Re has been instrumental in accelerating our journey to transform the industry, Kalinski added.

About Greenlight Capital Re and Redkik

Cayman Islands-based Greenlight Re provides multi-line property/casualty reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland. In 2018, the company launched its Greenlight Re Innovations unit, which supports technology innovators in the re/insurance space by providing investment, risk capacity and access to its insurance network.

Redkik launched in Finland in August 2020 and operates a wholly owned subsidiary in the U.S. With a mission to transform and improve the insurance industry for all parties within logistics and transportation, Redkiks platform eliminates the need for annual and complex insurance policies. Through Redkiks embedded integration with licensed cargo insurance providers, transport intermediaries can offer their customers on-demand per-shipment, customized cargo insurance when their freight is booked.

Topics InsurTech Tech Trucking Startups
FloodFlash, the UK parametric insurance technology company that pays catastrophic flood claims within 48 hours, announced a Series A capital raise of $15 million.

The round was led by Chicago-based Buoyant Ventures with San Francisco-based fund Munich Re Ventures also featuring as an investor. Sony Financial Ventures/Global Brain (Tokyo), MS&AD Ventures (San Francisco) and PropTech1 (Berlin) all participated in the round alongside existing investors Pentech, Local Globe and Insurtech Gateway.

The investment comes three months after FloodFlash announced a new insurance capacity partnership with the reinsurer Munich Re. FloodFlash plans to use the investment and capacity to fuel international expansion and begin closing the $58 billion flood protection gap. Target markets include the U.S., Germany, Australia, and Japan.

Since launching in 2019, FloodFlash has established a track record for combatting extreme weather losses, using computer models, cloud software and connected technology to provide flood cover to those the insurance industry has left behind. Customers choose a depth and payout amount for their policy. When flooding reaches the depth selected, the insurance pays out, typically within 48 hours.

According to NOAA, inland flooding alone caused over $151 billion in damages across the U.S. in the last 40 years. Despite the prevalence of flood risk in America, only 5%-15% of homeowners, and fewer than 5% of small to mid-size businesses, carry flood insurance.

This investment is an endorsement of our parametric cover. The group of investors for the round couldnt be better tailored to supporting our efforts in solving the issues around underinsurance in the face of climate change, commented FloodFlash CEO Adam Rimmer.

About FloodFlash

London-based FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover. FloodFlash is a registered coverholder at Lloyds of London and is authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

Source: FloodFlash

Photograph: A view of a flooded street after the River Ouse burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Ciara, in York, England, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Photo credit: Danny Lawson/PA via AP.

Topics InsurTech Tech Flood Funding Startups
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has fined a Bettendorf, Iowa insurance agent nearly $112,000 for selling unregistered securities tied to oil wells in Texas.

The agency said in filings that Cody Christopher Biggs, 39, was not registered to sell securities when he sold millions of dollars in oil and gas securities dating back to 2016. According to an SEC complaint, Biggs hawked the securities for Nevada private equity firm and a Texas firm that sponsored the project, which vastly overpromised returns and production of the wells.

Federal regulators said Biggs received about $77,000 in sales commissions in the scheme. As part of a deal with the SEC reached last month, Biggs must pay that amount, plus interest of more than $9,700 and a civil penalty of $25,000.

As part of the agreement, Biggs is also barred from working with registered investment companies or associating with brokers, dealers or investment advisors for at least two years.

Reached Wednesday by The Associated Press, Biggs declined to comment on the case or the agreement reached with the SEC.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agencies Energy Oil Gas Iowa
An explosion and fire at a Yankton propane company has injured one person and left the business in ruins.

Strong winds fueled the fire at Longs Propane Feb. 8 and ignited a tanker truck parked next to the building.

Theres no word on the condition of the employee who was hurt and taken to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital.

There was an individual in the building, Fire Chief Brad Moser said. He got out, but I dont know the extent of his injuries.

Thick smoke led authorities to close Highway 50, where the business is located, because of reduced visibility, the Yankton Press and Dakotan reported.

Firefighters hauled in water from approximately a mile away to fight the blaze. A City of Yankton water truck was brought in to assist with water access.

Moser said that damage was heavy from the explosion and the resulting fire.

I would say the building is a complete loss, he said.

Firefighters from Lesterville and Gayville provided mutual aid.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A strain of avian flu that can cause high mortality rates among birds has been confirmed at a commercial turkey farm in southern Indiana, federal and state agencies said Feb. 9.

The United States Department of Agriculture said its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza at the farm in Dubois County.

State officials have quarantined the farm and its 29,000 turkeys are being euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease, said Denise Derrer Spears, a spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

The USDA said turkeys from the affected farm will not enter the food supply and issued a reminder that poultry and eggs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees (73.9 Celsius) to kill bacteria and viruses.

The agency said avian influenza does not present an immediate public health concern and no human cases of avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S.

The USDA said turkey infections are the first confirmation of highly pathogenic bird flu in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2020.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health said samples from the farm were analyzed at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University after about 100 turkeys died.

The state agency said the farm is under quarantine and that state officials are working with the poultry producers statewide to increase monitoring of flocks.

A January 2016 outbreak of bird flu in Dubois County affected 11 poultry farms, resulting in the loss of more than 400,000 birds, the State Board of Animal Health said.

Indiana ranks third nationally in turkey production, first in duck production, second in production of table eggs and egg-laying chickens, and is a significant producer of broiler chickens, the state agency said. Indianas poultry industry employs more than 14,000 Hoosiers and is valued at $2.5 billion annually.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Indiana
Bermuda-based specialty insurer Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. reports it has formed Hamilton Select Insurance Inc., a U.S. excess and surplus (E&S) lines insurer.

Hamilton Select Insurance Inc. is domiciled in Delaware and joins Hamiltons existing operating subsidiaries Hamilton Re, Ltd. in Bermuda, Hamilton Insurance DAC in Ireland and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited (Lloyds Syndicate 4000) in London.

Hamiltons Clay Rhoades, formerly president, U.S. E&S, has been named chief executive officer of the new company, Rhoades joined Hamilton a year ago to grow the companys U.S.-based book of E&S insurance business.

Rhoades leads a Richmond, Virginia-based team, writing hard to place risks for small and mid-sized businesses. The announcement said plans for additional products and recruitment are underway.

In the U.S., Hamilton also has teams in Miami and New York.

Clay will continue to report to Hamilton CEO Pina Albo.

Under Clays leadership, we hit the ground running. In one year, weve gone from being a startup to writing business across multiple lines and are now launching a dedicated E&S carrier to further enable the business to grow, said Albo.

Rhoades said Hamilton Select will continue to leverage this period of accelerated market growth.

Hamilton Select has received a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best Co.

Topics Carriers USA Excess Surplus
Great American Insurance Group has promoted Jason M. Cohen to senior vice president and Julie F. Kadnar to divisional group president within its Property & Casualty Group.

In 2006, Cohen joined the company as divisional vice president within Corporate Claims. In 2008, he transitioned to Strategic Comp, a business unit focused on workers compensation insurance, where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Cohen has served as divisional president of Strategic Comp since 2017 and as a divisional reporting officer since October 2020. He will now assume additional reporting responsibilities for the Specialty Human Services Division and Great Americans Loss Control department.

Kadnar joined the company in 1988 as an auditor. In 1991, she transitioned to the Product Data Compliance department of the company, where she served as divisional senior vice president. In 2004, Kadnar joined the Property & Inland Marine Division and has held various leadership roles of increasing responsibility. She was promoted to divisional president in 2017 and will continue to serve in this role, with the additional responsibilities of overseeing the Ocean Marine Division and the Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency.

Markel Names Wakeham to North America Terrorism Risk Post

Markel International has hired Ben Wakeham as senior war and terrorism underwriter and head of terrorism, North America.

The new arrival marks Markel Internationals entry into the U.S. war and terrorism market. Wakeham will be responsible for leading a team in the U.S., which will allow the organization to serve clients locally.

Reporting to Ed Winter, senior underwriter and head of terrorism at Markel International, Wakeham will be based at Markels London office for 12 months, before moving to the U.S. next year.

Previously, Wakeham was employed as assistant vice president and head of property and terrorism at Hiscox USA, Los Angeles, where he managed the terrorism portfolio to be one of the largest in the market. He also provided leadership and mentoring to Hiscoxs national team of underwriters.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters USA Underwriting Property Casualty
McGriff Adds Mike Feighl as Commercial Marketing Account Executive

McGriff has hired Mike Feighl as a senior vice president and marketing executive in its Houston-based Commercial Division.

Feighl comes to McGriff from Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, where he served as a managing director specializing in large-risk management clients. The 35-year insurance industry veteran has significant experience in healthcare, energy, power and utilities, and alternative risk programs.

A subsidiary of Truist Insurance Holdings, McGriff is a full-service insurance broker providing risk management and insurance solutions to clients across the United States.

Steve Harris Joins Alliants Employee Benefits Group

Employee benefits veteran Steve Harris, CBES, has joined Alliant as Senior Vice President, adding to its national Employee Benefit Group. The North Texas-based Harris will design and deploy strategic employee benefit solutions for a diverse portfolio of regional and national clients.

Harris has more than 30 years of experience as a client advocate in the corporate health, risk management, insurance, and employee benefits industries working with middle market to Fortune 1000 firms. Harris has worked with clients across a range of industries and sizes, as well as with financial sponsors, private equity firms, and their portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Alliant, Harris was an officer with two independently owned insurance brokerage and consulting firms in North Texas

Topics Texas Commercial Lines Business Insurance Risk Management Alliant
A workers compensation judge may not disqualify a treating physician simply because the doctors prices exceed the Florida workers comp fee schedule, a state appeals court decided this week.

In other words, providers arent categorically tainted by higher-than-schedule fees. And carriers and authorized providers may agree to reimbursements per the schedule or according to mutually agreed-on rates, Floridas 1st District Court of Appeal said in Palm Beach County School District and Sedgwick Claims Management vs. Frances Smith.

The court reversed the comp judge, Carol Stephenson, who had thrown out the physician and granted the claimant a second chance to obtain a new treating doctor for her injury. The Florida comp statute allows the employer/insurer to choose the treating physician, but the claimant can request a new doctor one time.

That happened in this case. Smith was injured in 2017 while performing a dexterity test on a school bus. She fell backward and landed on her tailbone, causing pain to her lower back and tailbone area, according to her petition for benefits.

After the employer/carrier assigned a physician, Smith requested a change. The insurer agreed and timely appointed a new physician. But it turned out that the doctor charged $800  more than what is allowed by Floridas fee schedule, which, incidentally, has not been updated in several years. The claimants attorney argued  and the comp judge agreed  that the higher reimbursement could prejudice the doctor and effectively made him an independent medical examiner hired by the insurance company.

Meanwhile, the carrier and the doctor restructured the fee agreement to comply with the law, which allows higher fees when physicians agree to follow certain procedures. Despite that, the comp judge sided with the claimant and allowed her to pick another doctor.

After Sedgwick and the school district appealed, the DCA found that the judges decision was not authorized by law.

The workers compensation code provides no JCC process allowing claimants to disqualify their treating physicians because they are dissatisfied with the fee reimbursement arrangements between the physician and E/C (employer/carrier), reads the appeal court decision, written by Judge Timothy Osterhaus.

A comp judge does not have jurisdiction over the terms of physician fee agreements, and at any rate, the employer had amended the agreement to comply with the law, the court said.

Third, the statute gives claimants no recourse for litigating complaints before a JCC about the reimbursements passing between E/Cs and authorized treating physicians, Osterhaus wrote. Claimants view would seemingly grant her potentially unlimited one-time changes for each billing miscue whenever she can show that a bill exceeded the scheduled rate for the appointment.

The claimants lawyer cited a previous court ruling that allowed a comp judge to discount the testimony of an independent medical examiner who had charged more than what the law allowed. But the appeal court said that does not allow comp judges to authorize a new treating physician due to the claimants concerns about the fee.

The decision did not address attorney fees in the case.

Topics Carriers Florida Workers' Compensation
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc. alleging systematic racial discrimination and harassment.

Tesla said on Wednesday the DFEH intended to file a lawsuit.

The lawsuit appears to be focused on alleged misconduct at its factory in Fremont, California, between 2015 and 2019.

The lawsuit, Department of Fair Employment and Housing Vs. Tesla, Inc., was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Alameda.

The lawsuit notes that the Fremont factory accommodates more than 15,000 Tesla workers alone, and that Black and/or African American workers are segregated to the lowest levels, making up 0% of executives and roughly 3% of professionals, while some 20% of factory operatives, such as engine and other machine assemblers, are Black and/or African American workers.

The suit also states: Segregation at the Fremont factory, along with the absence of Black and/or African Americans in leadership roles, has left many complaints of rampant racism unchecked for years. As early as 2012, Black and/or African American Tesla workers have complained that Tesla production leads, supervisors, and managers constantly use the n-word and other racial slurs to refer to Black workers.

According to the suit, these workers have complained that swastikas, KKK, the n-word, and other racist writing are etched onto walls of restrooms, restroom stalls, lunch tables, and factory machinery.

They have complained that Black and/or African American workers are assigned to more physically demanding posts and the lowest-level contract roles, paid less, and more often terminated from employment than other workers, complaint continues.

The suit alleges that Tesla has limited investigations of such incidents, and that workers were discouraged from complaining.

DFEHs enforcement action seeks to remedy, prevent, and deter unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation on behalf of all Black and/or African American workers.

The department is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages, economic damages, injunctive relief and declaratory relief. Among the economic damages sought are pay adjustments, backpay, lost wages and benefits.

The electric-car maker said it will ask the court to pause the case once the states civil rights regulator files its lawsuit, Reuters reported in an earlier story.

The company has been fighting a series of lawsuits over allegations of racial discrimination and sexual harassment, including being sued by two female employees last year in lawsuits alleging a hostile work environment against women at the Fremont factory.

Topics Lawsuits California Tesla Manufacturing
Three Washington businesses were fined after workers housed in Thurston County hotels and employed at a Lewis County distribution center got sick with COVID-19, and then walked to the hospital for help and feared they could lose their jobs if they went home sick.

At least one worker was allegedly told to report to work because they had not tested positive for COVID-19 when in fact they had. And, initially no one reportedly notified workers that theyd been exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries opened several inspections after the agency received a referral from the Thurston County Health Department. As a result, three businesses with employees working at that location  United Natural Foods Inc., Capstone Logistics LLC, and Prime 360  are facing more than $285,000 in overall fines for knowingly putting their workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Six other businesses in the warehouse were cited for less serious violations including not having COVID-19 plans and not keeping proper records.

At the three companies facing significant fines, inspections reportedly revealed a lack of basic safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19. L&I also reportedly found a disregard for the rights of workers to information about their health and exposure to infection.

Roughly one-in-four employees working in the warehouse between July 7 and Oct. 5, 2021 reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 253 workers who tested positive, five were hospitalized.

Capstone and Prime 360 have appealed the citations and fines. Money from fines is placed in the workers compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.

Topics COVID-19 Washington
Unlicensed insurance agent Karyl Lynn Reed, 58, formerly of Cosa Mesa, California, was convicted last week on multiple felony counts of embezzlement and white-collar fraud enhancements after defrauding three victims of over $1.4 million.

Reed was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution.

Reed was arrested last year in Seabrook, Texas, and was arraigned on Oct. 27, 2021, in Orange County after she was extradited.

An investigation by the California Department of Insurance reportedly found that between 2012 and 2019, Reed acted as an insurance agent without a license and collected premiums for workers compensation insurance through her businesses, Envoy Business Partners and Allenn Specialty Group. She would provide her victims with fraudulent certificates of insurance, causing her victims to believe they had valid coverage when there was actually none.

The investigation reportedly discovered Reed also operated a staffing company without valid workers comp coverage and personally adjusted and administered employee injury claims. She collected workers comp premiums and payroll, employer and employee taxes from victims, and provided them with falsified certificates of insurance as well leading them to believe they were covered when they were not.

The CDIs investigation showed that one victim did not have workers comp coverage for an employee who became injured. Another victim reportedly had requested an updated certificate of insurance from their insurance company and were told no policy or coverage was in place and found out the policy number Reed had provided them belonged to a policy for another business.

The CDI investigation further revealed another victim who discovered the money they were paying Reed to her staffing service was not being remitted to the insurance company.

The case was prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorneys Office.

Topics California Agencies Fraud Workers' Compensation
The former owner of a group of health spas and clinics in Los Angeles has admitted to participating in a $20 million insurance fraud scheme involving Botox injections, laser hair removal and other procedures, federal prosecutors said.

Roshanak Khadem, 54, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and subscribing to a false income tax return, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Khadems facilities in the San Fernando Valley included R&R Med Spa, Nu-Me Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Center.

Patients at her businesses were asked to provide their insurance information, even though Khadem and her staff knew the cosmetic procedures would not be covered, the statement said.

Staff told the patients they could get free or discounted procedures based on credit they would earn. A portion of the payments from insurance companies would then be calculated for the credit that the patients could use at the clinics, according to prosecutors.

Khadem masterminded the scam and submitted over $20 million in false claims along with four other co-defendants, according to prosecutors.

She faces up to 13 years in prison when shes sentenced in June.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Fraud
A judge has denied a request a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of an order from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that the California FAIR Plan Association offer an expanded homeowners insurance plan.

The FAIR Plan had appealed a ruling by the Los Angeles Superior Court that the association believes will lead to unnecessary rate increases for all FAIR Plan policyholders and unnecessarily expand the role of the FAIR Plan in the voluntary insurance marketplace.

Lara in September, 2021, ordered the FAIR Plan to offer a homeowners policy, in addition to its current dwelling fire coverage, with more traditional homeowner features, such as coverage for water damage, theft, and loss of use.

The Fair Plan, with about 200,000 policyholders, serves as the states property insurer of last resort. All admitted property insurance companies in the state are members of the association.

In July 2021, the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that the California Department of Insurance exceeded its legal authority in 2019 when it ordered the FAIR Plan to provide comprehensive homeowners insurance, known as an HO-3 policy. That ruling left the door open for the CDI to order the FAIR Plan to provide other new coverages, however.

Subsequently, CDI issued Order No. 2021-2 requiring the FAIR Plan to provide a quasi-HO-3 policy that would provide less coverage than comprehensive homeowners insurance yet would still force the FAIR Plan to offer new types of coverage.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel did not agree with the FAIR Plans arguments to halt the enforcement of Laras order.

The California FAIR Plan Association is disappointed by the denial of the request to stay the CDIs Order, a statement from the FAIR Plan reads. The FAIR Plan intends to appeal the denial and, if necessary, will ask the California Court of Appeal to stay enforcement of the CDIs Order pending the determination of the appeal.

The statement notes that the FAIR Plan is challenging the order requiring it to offer a quasi-HO-3 policy form, even though consumers already have ready access to equivalent coverage.

We remain committed to preventing unnecessary rate increases for FAIR Plan policyholders and protecting the FAIR Plans role as a safety net that provides basic property insurance for those who cannot obtain coverage in the voluntary insurance market, the statement continues.

The CDI put out the following statement response to the decision:

California consumers win when they have greater options for insurance coverage. The FAIR Plan, once again, has tried to put up roadblocks and deny consumers choice and, once again, a judge has ruled that they must comply with my order. By reaffirming that the FAIR Plan needs to implement a more comprehensive coverage option for homeowners, Judge Strobels decision is another victory for consumers.

Related:

Topics California Legislation Homeowners
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) announced today it has been named to Forbes' list of the "America's Best Employers 2022." The final list ranks 500 large and 500 midsize American companies that are admired by employees for their dedication to their workforce and their unparalleled company culture.

"There is something profoundly unique about working at Whirlpool. For over 110 years, families have relied on our products to take care of loved ones," said Carey Martin, chief human resources officer for Whirlpool Corp. "Our employees around the world are the definition of resilient and we're proud to be building a special work environment where every person can feel right at home as they shape their careers."

Whirlpool Corp. has taken meaningful actions to cultivate a strong, inclusive and diverse culture to support its employees around the world. As part of its social efforts, the company has created consistent communications with employees through its annual Employee Engagement Survey. The survey has helped facilitate the company's ongoing response to COVID-19, including quickly implementing health and safety procedures to protect employees. The company has also strengthened its workforce development and engagement programs by offering online learning platforms and providing educational reimbursement to employees seeking to further their own development and improve on-the-job skills.

Whirlpool Corp. is focused on Inclusion & Diversity, including delivering on its Racial Equity Pledge, which commits to drive hiring and development for all current and future Black colleagues and positive impacts in the local communities where the company does business. As part of these efforts, CEO and Chairman Marc Bitzer remains a founding member of OneTen, a coalition of leading corporate executives who have joined efforts with the mission to train, hire and advance one million Black Americans over the next 10 years into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. In addition to these initiatives, Whirlpool Corporation has maintained eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) around the world and continues to celebrate its annual Global Inclusion Week to teach employees about the importance of Inclusion & Diversity in the workplace.

In recognition of these efforts, Whirlpool Corp. is regularly recognized as a leading company in efforts related to employee engagement and support. In 2022, the company was named one of America's Most JUST Companies as well as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for the twelfth consecutive year.

America's Best Employers 2022 were identified in an independent survey taken by approximately 60,000 Americans working for companies with more than 1,000 employees in the United States. In total, 1,000 employers were recognized across 25 different industry sectors. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from respondents who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to friends and family. Their evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.

Click here to see the full list of Forbes "America's Best Employers 2022".

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and Yummly. In 2021, the company reported approximately $22 billion in annual sales, 69,000 employees and 54 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty today announced the expansion of its senior executive team with the hiring of Prakash Ranjan as vice president of marketing technology. In that role, he will lead the company's ongoing digital transformation efforts and guide Hagerty's growing pool of tech talent, defining project roadmaps and tracking execution.

Prior to joining Hagerty, Ranjan was vice president of engineering, marketing technology and digital ventures at MGM Resorts International, where he was responsible for accelerating business transformation using technology modernization and design thinking. Ranjan led growth and monetization platforms at MGM including customer data, web and mobile personalization, mar-tech, ad-tech and loyalty.

Prior to his work at MGM, Ranjan has led the digital transformation at several Fortune 50 companies, giving them the digital tools to become more customer-centric by unlocking the power of their own data. Prakash has held leadership positions with Intuit, VISA, IBM and eBay.

His areas of expertise include digital transformation with AI and cloud computing, technology management, team-building, organizational design and enterprise architecture.

"As Hagerty continues to evolve and find new ways to engage the automotive enthusiast community, digital transformation is an essential part of our business strategy," said Kelly Smith, chief digital and information officer at Hagerty. "Prakash brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in digital technology, and we're excited to welcome him to our growing team."

"Hagerty's vision, values and culture and its oversized impact on car lovers and drivers in general are the key reasons I joined the company," said Prakash Ranjan. "I'm thrilled to work with this world-class team to supercharge our digital agenda toward serving Hagerty's purpose of saving driving and preserving car culture for future generations."

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY)

Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty's purpose is to save driving and preserve car culture for future generations and its mission is to build a global business to fund that purpose. Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand offering integrated membership products and programs as well as a specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, Hagerty DriveShare, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Media, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social, the Amelia Concours d'Elegance, the Concours d'Elegance of America, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the California Mille, Motorworks Revival, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation and more. For more information on Hagerty, please visit www.hagerty.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

More information can be found at newsroom.hagerty.com.

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SOURCE Hagerty
Pakistani women have rallied to denounce a ban imposed in a region in neighbouring India on the wearing of the traditional headscarf  or hijab  by Muslim girls in schools.

About a hundred women took to the streets in the southern port city of Karachi in a protest organised by a Pakistani Islamist political party, the Jamaat-e-Islami.

In the eastern city of Lahore, dozens of women torched an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also demanded the lifting of the hijab ban.

A female supporter of Jamaat-e-Islami takes part in a demonstration to protest against barring Muslim girls wearing hijabs from attending classes at some schools in the southern Indian state of Karnataka (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Earlier on Thursday, a court in Karnataka, a state in southern India, told students not to wear any religious clothing until it delivers a verdict on petitions seeking to overturn the ban on hijabs.

The petitions were filed by students challenging the ban, which some schools implemented recently.

The issue grabbed headlines last month when a government-run school in Karnatakas Udupi district barred students wearing hijabs from entering classrooms, triggering protests outside the school gate.

Indian Muslim women hold placards as they gather to protest (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

More schools in the state followed with similar bans, forcing the states top court to intervene.

In the Hindu-majority India, where Muslims make up about 14% of the countrys almost 1.4 billion people, the traditional Muslim hijabs are not banned or restricted in public places and are a common sight.

However, violence and hate speech against Muslims have increased under Modis governing Hindu nationalist party, which also governs Karnataka.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations.

The two South Asian nuclear rivals have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which has been divided between them but claimed in its entirety by both.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth has been in direct contact with Prince Charles, who has tested positive for Covid, but the monarch is not displaying any symptoms, a Palace source said.

The 95-year-old Queen met recently with her son, but the source declined to confirm whether or not she had tested negative.

The situation will continue to be monitored, but a running commentary would not be provided on her health, the source said.

Mounting concern for the Queens health will be heightened given her advanced age.

Queen Elizabeth was out and about on public duties on Saturday, the eve of her Jubilee, meeting charity workers at Sandringham House.

Four days ago, Britains longest reigning monarch reached her historic Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne.

Prince Charles, who is self isolating after contracting coronavirus for a second time, is finding the situation a bit tiresome, his wife has revealed.

Camilla, who herself has tested negative, made the remarks on a solo visit to Thames Valley Partnership in Buckinghamshire.

Speaking to Willie Hartley Russell, high sheriff for Berkshire, during a visit to Thames Valley Partnership on Thursday, she said: Hes diagnosed now. Luckily (shes negative). Ive taken it so many times.

He added: It gets a bit pointless, doesnt it? and Camilla agreed.

Speaking to the PA news agency afterwards, Mr Hartley Russell said: She said, Yes unfortunately he had tested positive again. I said he must be building up lots of antibodies.

She said something like hes finding it a bit tiresome to have got it again, but she said it in a light-hearted way.

This morning The Prince of Wales has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating.



HRH is deeply disappointed not to be able to attend today's events in Winchester and will look to reschedule his visit as soon as possible.  The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) February 10, 2022

Prince Charles, who first fell ill with Covid-19 in 2020, was said to be deeply disappointed to have to pull out of engagements in Winchester after a positive test on Thursday.

A message on his official Twitter page read: This morning the Prince of Wales has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating.

HRH is deeply disappointed not to be able to attend todays events in Winchester and will look to reschedule his visit as soon as possible.

Clarence House confirmed the 73-year-old prince is triple vaccinated.

He will now need to self-isolate under current rules for 10 full days, but he could be free after five days if he tests negative on day five and day six.
Burma Around 70 Undocumented Myanmar Migrants Detained in Thailand

Women from Myanmar illegally staying in Mae Pae village were detained on Feb. 9. / MGR Online

Around 70 undocumented workers from Myanmar were detained in the Thai border town of Mae Sot on Tuesday and Wednesday.

About 50 women were detained in Mae Pae village near Mae Sot on Wednesday after allegedly illegally crossing the border into Thailand, paying 25,000 baht (1.4 million kyats) to agents.

Approximately 18 undocumented migrants were also detained in surprise checks on garment factories in Mae Tao on Tuesday.

Other undocumented workers in the area managed to escape.

Ma Thuzar from Yaung Chi Oo, a labor rights organization in Mae Sot, said: Three or four factories were inspected in Mae Tao on Tuesday. About 18 workers were detained from a factory and four of them were children.

They are being detained in Mae Sot and the employer will be charged for hiring illegal workers, she said. The employer was asked to pay the fines to secure his employees release.

I heard the employer negotiated with the authorities. I dont know what penalty he will face. I heard he will have to pay 5,000 baht per employee and 15,000 baht for each child, said Ma Thuzar.

Surprise checks are common in Mae Sot, especially around the beginning and end of each year. Some workers were detained because they had failed to renew their documents, said labor rights activists.

Since the coup last year, hundreds of migrants are crossing the border daily into Mae Sot to seek asylum or find jobs and there are arrests made every day, according to labor organizations.



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Burma Dozens of Junta Soldiers Killed in Sagaing, Kayah, Myanmar Resistance Groups Say

Karenni resistance fighters during a clash with regime forces in Loikaw, Kayah State on Thursday. / Khun John Paul's Facebook

Al least 38 junta soldiers and five resistance fighters were killed when Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armies attacked regime forces in Sagaing Region and Kayah State on Thursday and Friday.

Early Thursday morning, an intense clash broke out at Kyantha Village in the south of Kale Township, Sagaing Region when a combined force of five resistance forces including two ethnic Chin forces attacked regime troops and Pyu-Saw-Htee militias deployed at the village.

During the three-hour clash, the combined force estimated that at least 15 regime personnel including militia and junta informants were killed.

Also, an 18-year-old ethnic Chin resistance fighter from Chinland Defense Force-Hakha was killed while two other PDF fighters were injured by the juntas explosives.

The combined forces retreated from the fighting as junta reinforcements arrived in three vehicles to help the regime troops, according to Kalay-PDF.

The resistance forces also urged people to avoid the Kale-Gangaw highway until the national Union Day on Saturday due to potential clashes.

Another combined resistance group also claimed to have killed 14 junta police during two ambushes in Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region on Friday.

Using 13 mines, the combined force of three resistance groups ambushed a junta detachment near Aung Zayya Hill, where junta forces are stationed, and junta police officers at the gate of Police Battalion 28 in the township, said Ami Myay-Special Task Force, which was involved in the ambushes.

In the ambushes, 14 regime troops were killed and many others injured, the combined group claimed.

Kyar Thit Net, a resistance force in Sagaing Regions Pale Township, said it ambushed a military detachment of 80 regime forces on foot in the township on Thursday.

During 45 minutes of fighting, four junta troops were killed and many injured while four resistance fighters were also killed, according to the resistance group.

On Friday, Yaw-Defense Force (YDF) also ambushed a military convoy with remote-controlled mines while the convoy was traveling on the Kyaukhtu-Saw highway in Kyaukhtu sub-township in Magwe Region.

A video showed one of the military vehicles being targeted in an explosion. However, military casualties are unknown.

Also, at least five regime soldiers were killed when Karenni resistance groups continued to attack military targets in two Kayah State townships, Demoso and Loikaw, on Thursday.

Early Thursday morning, two regime forces were killed in Loikaw when the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, ambushed junta troops in two villages, according to the KNDF.

Clashes between regime forces and the combined resistance force continued to occur near another village in the township. But casualties are unknown, said the KNDF.

It also claimed that regime forces killed two civilians in Parkyal Village in the township.

Submitting photos of the slain civilians, the KNDF said the two were burned after being placed in military uniforms.

Demoso-PDF also said that a clash occurred in Aung Chanthar Village in Demoso Township when its forces attacked regime forces deployed in the village.

During an hour-long clash, three soldiers were killed by snipers of the Demoso-PDF. After the clash, the regime forces torched four houses in the village, the resistance group said.

Currently, the military regime is facing intense daily attacks from PDFs and many ethnic armed groups across the country.



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Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla sprinkle scented water on a religious plaque at Setkkyar Pandaung Pagoda on Feb. 10.

Junta hopes peace talks with EAOs will ease pressure

On Sunday, the military regime invited ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to join preliminary peace talks to be held on Saturday, Myanmars 75th annual Union Day.

Both signatories and non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) have been invited to the talks, but the parallel National Unity Government (NUG), as well as its parliamentary body, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), and its armed wing, the Peoples Defense Force (PDF)all of which the regime has labeled as terrorist organizationsare excluded from the planned talks.

Padoh Saw Taw Nee, head of foreign affairs at the Karen National Union, which is a signatory to the NCA, issued a strong response to the juntas proposal. We no longer have the NCA on our mind. They [the military regime] have already violated the NCA, and we have therefore cut ties with them.

The regime said participants are free to discuss any topic at the talks, but most of the EAOs told The Irrawaddy they are not sure whether they will attend the event. The Irrawaddy has also learned that the regime has sought help from China to push the Northern Alliancea military coalition comprising the Arakan Army, Kachin Independence Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Taang National Liberation Armyto attend the event.

The peace talks are simply the regimes attempt to kill two birds with one stone. The presence of EAOs at the Union Day event will lend some legitimacy to the regimeor at least allow it to spread propaganda. At the same time, if the regime, which is at war not only with EAOs but also numerous resistance groups, can convince the EAOs to enter a ceasefire, it would gain some breathing space for itself.

Cambodian PM red-faced after Australian detainee release gaffe

The military regime denied releasing detained Australian economics professor Sean Turnell after Cambodia said he had been freed.

On Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Prof. Turnell had been released the previous day, claiming the development came about after he passed on a request from Australias government. But by that evening he had been forced to issue a retraction on Facebook saying he had received faulty information.

During his visit to Myanmar in January, the first by a foreign head of government since last years coup, Hun Sen brought the matter up with Min Aung Hlaing.

Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told AFP that Hun Sen had misinterpreted coup leader Min Aung Hlaings statement that he would think about a release for Turnell after the advisers legal case was over.

Turnell was working as an economic adviser to civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when he was detained shortly after the coup in February last year. He has been charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison if found guilty.

On Monday, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called on the regime to release the economist, and said Australian officials should be able to observe his court proceedings.

Flag relay held despite fresh COVID-19 outbreak

On Tuesday, the military regime held a relay that saw the national flag transported from Yangon to Naypyitaw as part of celebrations for the 75th Union Day on Saturday in the administrative capital. The relay came amid a significant surge in coronavirus cases in the commercial capital.

Hundreds of people including military personnel and their families, regime employees and military sympathizers were involved in the relay as the flag was carried from Yangon City Hall to Yangon International Airport. From there it was carried by a military aircraft to Naypyitaw, and then to Naypyitaw City Hall. Students were involuntarily brought in to cheer the flag along the route.

The flag was carried by more than a dozen masked regime officials, none of whom wore gloves. Regime officials are ignoring COVID-19 regulations after prosecuting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under the Disaster Management Law for alleged violation of COVID-19 regulations because the civilian leader greeted one of her partys election convoys during campaigning ahead of the 2020 general election.

Hypocritically, even as the regime salutes the national flag, which it calls the Union Flag, its forces continue aerial and artillery strikes that have killed scores of civilians and displaced tens of thousands more in ethnic states.

Junta adviser Lt-Gen Yar Pyae promoted to SAC

Minister of Union Government Office (1) and national security adviser Lieutenant General Yar Pyae was promoted to membership in the State Administration Council (SAC), the governing body of the military regime, on Tuesday.

A graduate of the 22nd intake of the Defense Services Academy, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae was a classmate of junta No. 2 Vice Senior General Soe Win. He was the head of the militarys peace negotiation team under the National League for Democracy government, and became chairman of the junta-appointed National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) after the military coup last year.

The NSPNC met some political parties on the pretext of holding peace talks in October last year. The committee drew criticism when member Lieutenant General Win Bo Shein proposed a switch to the proportional representation electoral system at the meeting.

Lt-Gen Yar Pyae has served as the commandant of the Defense Services Medical Academy, chief of Eastern Command, judge advocate-general, chief of armed forces training and Bureau of Special Operations chief. He was appointed Union Government Office Minister four months after the coup, and became a national security adviser shortly thereafter.

Ambassadors snub minister, dodge briefing

Junta Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin held a diplomatic briefing on recent developments in Myanmar on Tuesday in Yangon. To the regimes embarrassment, only three ambassadors were present at the briefing, though there are more than 40 embassies in Yangon.

The briefing was intended for foreign diplomats and heads of UN agencies in Myanmar. But only three ambassadors, including those of Russia and Japan, attended the briefing, at which officials repeated the juntas narrative of the takeover. ASEAN countries only sent lower-level representatives.

The foreign minister urged UNCTED, ACCT, ASEANPOL and Interpol to denounce the terrorist acts of the parallel civilian National Unity Government, its parliamentary body the CRPH and armed wing the PDF, and called for cooperation in counterterrorism operations.

But no one seemed to take the request seriously. Global police body Interpol said on Thursday it will not provide help to countries in situations that involve domestic politics, two days after the Myanmar army announced it had sought its support.

Min Aung Hlaings advisers Dr. Daw Yin Yin Nwe, Dr. Salai Ngun Cung Lian and Daw Yin Yin Oo were also present at the briefing. Daw Yin Yin Nwe, the former daughter-in-law of the late military dictator Ne Win and onetime education adviser to former President U Thein Sein, talked about alleged electoral fraud in the 2020 general election and violence allegedly committed by the PDF. She has been strongly critical of the NUG, CRPH, PDF and striking civil servants.

Dr. Salai Ngun Cung Lian continued to defend the military regime, repeating his assertion that the military takeover was in line with the army-drafted 2008 Constitution. He was a legal counsel for the defunct Myanmar Peace Center and Rakhine State Inquiry Commission under President U Thein Sein administrations from 2012 to 2015.

Daw Yin Yin Oo, the eldest daughter of Ne Wins protege Dr. Maung Maung, was present but did not brief the diplomats.

Hoping for a long rule, junta boss invokes magic

Min Aung Hlaings words and deeds over the last year reveal the type of person he is. People know more about his personality one year after the coup. It is known to the world that he is power crazy. But he is still far from becoming a totalitarian leader given that he has not been able to take control of the country one year after the putsch. And he is obviously detached from reality, as can be seen in, for example, his plans to operate electric buses in a country that has long suffered from frequent blackouts.

Like his military dictator predecessors, Min Aung Hlaing believes deeply in various superstitionsastrology, occultism, numerology, black magic and yadayamagic rituals performed to delay, neutralize or prevent misfortune.

This was proven when Min Aung Hlaing together with his family placed the Hti umbrella atop a pagoda in Pwintbyu Township in Magwe Region on Thursday.

The umbrella is considered the most important part of the pagoda, and is placed atop the highest part of the religious structure. The Hti is also one of five items of Myanmar royal regalia, and represents sovereignty.

It is unusual to place a new Hti on a pagoda that is in good condition. Normally, only when a pagoda is damaged and being renovated is a new Hti placed on it. The pagoda on which Min Aung Hlaing placed a Hti was built only 18 years ago by a donor.

The pagoda was originally just 13.5 feet (about 4 meters) high. But Min Aung Hlaing has raised the height to 45 feet. Please dont ask why 45 feet and not 50 or 60 feet. Myanmar generals have a traditional obsession with the number 9, which is the regimes talisman.

It is also strange that Min Aung Hlaing has chosen a small pagoda in the provincial town, out of the countless pagodas in the country. When reporting the story, state-run media cited a local myth about a monk who once said the pagoda could help bring peace and prosperity. Maybe thats why Min Aung Hlaing picked the unknown structure; the general must be getting twitchy due to the constant attacks on his forces by PDF groups and EAOs.

After putting the Hti atop the pagoda, Min Aung Hlaing together with his son Aung Pyae Sone and some of his regime members shouted three times Aung Pyi!a common phrase used to mark the successful conclusion of a religious ceremony. But in the mouth of Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar people are all too aware that the exclamation is intended as a yadaya, shouted in the hope of conquering his enemies.

In February 2020, Min Aung Hlaing placed a Hti atop the Htilominlo Pagoda, an ancient pagoda in Bagan. On Dec. 18 last year, he, together with his family, did the same at the centuries-old Kyaik Devi Pagoda in Yangons Hlegu Township. Myanmar people know he did so solely in the hope of ensuring that his rule in Myanmar will be a long one.

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Myanmar Junta Officials Assassinated in Mandalay Region
Burma Myanmar Junta Officials Assassinated in Mandalay Region

U Aung Khaing Win, the administrator of Theingone Village, after being killed by PDF fighters on Friday.

Two Myanmar military-appointed village administrators have been shot dead by Peoples Defense Forces ({PDF} in Mandalay Region in the last two weeks, as part of local resistance groups ongoing efforts to weaken the pillars of military administration in the region.

U Aung Khaing Win, the administrator of Theingone Village in Mahlaing Township, Mandalay Region was killed on Friday by members of the Mahlaing Peoples Defence Force (PDF) while on his way to another village.

Two PDF members on a motorbike approached him and shot four bullets at him. He died on the spot, a member of Mahlaing-PDF said.

Mahlaing-PDF also claimed responsibility for shooting and killing U Sein Win, an administrator from nearby Kyauktan Village, with six shots at his home on January 30.

We will attack any group or person associated with the junta as much as we can, a Mahlaing-PDF member said.

In March last year, Kyauktan villagers burned two policemens motorcycles during anti-regime protests. Another village administrator was also killed in 2021.

The deaths of the administrators in Mahlaing Township are the latest in a series of assassinations of military regime-appointed local officials that started in March last year after the junta brutally cracked down on anti-coup protesters.

Many local officials have been accused of being junta informants.

As of January 20 this year, a total of 367 junta administration officials have been killed nationwide, while another 336 have been wounded, according to regime figures.

Mahlaing-PDF also bombed the government electricity office and municipal department in Wundwin Township and Kyaukpadaung Township last year, causing some casualties.

On January 30, the group also bombed a military-owned telecom tower and the house of a ward administrator from Wundwin Township.

The military regime is still unable to fully control the country thanks to daily attacks by PDFs and ethnic armed organizations.



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Myanmar Juntas Union Day Peace Talks in Doubt as Most EAOs Wont Attend
Burma Myanmar Juntas Union Day Peace Talks in Doubt as Most EAOs Wont Attend

Military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing speaks at the opening of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference in Naypyitaw in August 2020. / AFP

Uncertainty has grown over the likelihood of preliminary peace talks planned for the upcoming Union Day celebrations going ahead, as the majority of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) are not attending the event.

The military regime has invited EAOs, both the signatories and non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), to attend preliminary peace talks to be held alongside the 75th Union Day celebrations in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw on Saturday.

However, EAOs the junta has declared to be terrorist groups have not been invited to the talks.

There are ten NCA signatories and eight non-signatories. At least eight of them will not attend the junta-organized Union Day celebrations, while some other EAOs are planning to send only liaison officers to the event.

The Kachin Independence Army, the Chin National Front, the Karenni National Progressive Party, the Karen National Union, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Taang National Liberation Army, all of which are actively fighting the military regime, will not attend the event.

The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) will also be absent from the event, although they have attended previous peace talks organized by the Myanmar military.

We wont attend the event because of the overall situation and difficulties including the political situation, COVID-19 outbreak, [difficulties with] travel and various other factors, said ABSDF spokesman Sonny.

PNLO patron Colonel Khun Okkar said that he has urged PNLO officials to attend the Union Day celebrations, but the PNLO has told the junta that they are unable to attend for various reasons.

We have two secretaries and they told me that they have said [to the military regime] that they were busy and sick and are therefore unable to attend. I have suggested that we should at least send a liaison officer as our representative. He doesnt need to take part in the discussions. He can say he would consult with us and reply later. I told them that our relationship will sour if we dont go at all, said Colonel Khun Okkar.

Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing plans to hold a grand parade near the parliamentary compound in Naypyitaw for the 75th Union Day anniversary, becoming the first military dictator to preside over such a ceremony.

The regime said in an announcement that participants are free to discuss any topic at the peace talks, and that it wants to solve political problems through political means.

The parallel civilian National Unity Government, its parliamentary body the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and its armed wing the Peoples Defense Forces are designated as terrorist groups and so are not allowed to attend the talks.

The regime is organizing the large-scale event amid the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Myanmar. Over 1,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported recently, according to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health.

Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told online news agency NP News that the regime has offered to provide air transport for EAOs attending the peace talks. He admitted that some EAOs are only sending a representative rather than leaders and decision makers.

There have been reports that the United Wa State Army, the National Democratic Alliance Army, the Lahu Democratic Union, the Arakan Liberation Party, the New Mon State Party, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army are likely to attend the event. The Irrawaddy could not independently confirm those reports.

The Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA) told The Irrawaddy it is likely to send central executive committee members to the Union Day celebrations, but it is not sure to attend the peace talks.

We received the invitation to the Union Day event first. The invitation to preliminary peace talks came later. So we have not yet discussed about whether to attend. Roughly speaking, the delegation will attend the Union Day event, said KNLA spokesperson Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt.

We are attending the Union Day event to show our respect for solidarity among ethnic people, he added.

A political analyst said that the military regime is seeking to use the presence of EAOs to make a show to the international community that it has reached an agreement with them.

Most of the EAOs will not attend the event. But EAOs like the RCSS that do not have firm stances and smaller groups may take part in it in consideration of their long-term interests. The peace talks may take place with a few groups, but it will not be the ones which the regime needs to build permanent peace, said the analyst.



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Telenor is one of Myanmars two major telecoms providers.

Myanmars pro-democracy activists have launched an online petition calling for telecom operator Telenor to stop the sale of its subsidiary in Myanmar to a military-linked company and to safeguard users data.

The Norwegian telecom giant is planning to sell its operation in Myanmar to a joint partnership between Lebanon-based M1 Group and the regime-linked Shwe Bayin Phyu Group by February 15, according to Myanmar Now.

The partnership is due to be named Investcom Myanmar, which is yet to be registered. Shwe Byain Phyu, a military-linked gems and oil conglomerate, will be the majority stakeholder.

Campaigners said the planned sale of Telenor Myanmar would allow more than 18 million Telenor customers data, including anti-regime activists, to fall into the hands of the regime and lead to violence and arrests.

Launched on Thursday, the online campaign collected over 86,000 signatures by Friday afternoon. The petitioners called Telenor and its majority shareholder, the Norwegian government, to consider alternatives to the Investcom deal, including re-licensing, permanently deleting all data and shutting down its telecommunications infrastructure.

The campaigns deadline is February 14.

On Thursday, the parallel National Unity Governments acting president Duwa Lashi La said people trusted Telenor with highly sensitive information as an ethically responsible business that would protect its customers data security and safety.

The sale of the Telenor group is not acceptable and should not be approved, he wrote to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. He said the sale would endanger the security of 18.3 million Telenor customers.

The acting president urged Norway to respect Myanmars people and ignore decisions made by the illegal military regime and scrap plans to sell the business.



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Burma Taiwan Shipping Giant Evergreen Stops Using Myanmar Junta-Linked Port

Hteedan Port Terminal in Yangon / Myanmar Port Authority

Taiwan shipping giant Evergreen Marine said on Thursday it would no longer send its ships to dock at a military-owned port terminal in Myanmar, as a growing number of companies cut ties with junta-linked businesses.

The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the coup in February 2021, with more than 1,500 dead in a military crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.

With the economy tanking and pressure mounting from rights groups, companies from Frances TotalEnergies to British American Tobacco and Norways Telenor have upped sticks or are trying to leave.

Evergreens ships had occasionally docked at the military-owned Hteedan Port Terminal in Yangon, the firm said Thursday, adding the arrangements had been made by a local partner contracted to service its vessels.

It had since asked its partner to cancel that arrangement and had received a confirmation that with effect immediately Evergreen will no longer use Hteedan Port Terminal.

The statement did not say when or why Evergreen had made the request or if it would still send vessels to other ports in the country.

The military has vested interests in large swathes of Myanmars economy, from mining to banking, oil and tourism.

Junta-linked companies run three ports in commercial hub Yangon, according to Burma Campaign UK.

In 2020 global shipping giant Maersk announced it would stop using military-owned ports after a campaign against companies doing business with the military.

That campaign was sparked by a brutal crackdown on the countrys Rohingya Muslim minority in 2017 that particularly shocked the world and led to genocide charges at the UNs top court.



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Burma Thousands Flee as Myanmar Regime Raids Villages in Sagaing Region

The remains of a house after regime forces burned down Palchaung Village in Taze Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday. / CJ

An estimated 5,000 residents of Sagaing Region were forced to flee their homes on Thursday after Myanmar junta forces raided and burned down houses in at least four villages in Mingin and Taze townships.

Three detachments of over 200 regime troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia raided and burned down Moktha and Mouktat villages in the east of Mingin Township on early Thursday morning, according to the Mingin-Peoples Defense Force (Mingin-PDF) and residents.

The latest junta atrocities came after regime soldiers in nearby Sanabyin Village were raided by a resistance group on early Wednesday morning, killing three junta troops and injuring two others.

During Thursdays junta raid, regime forces torched 178 houses out of 200 in Moktha Village, as well as more than 120 houses including a monastery out of a total of around 150 houses in Mouktat Village, the spokesperson for Mingin-PDF told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

Most of the residents of the two villages luckily managed to flee the junta raids as they were notified in advance about the soldiers heading to the villages, according to locals.

Regime forces used heavy explosives in the raids, claimed residents.

A Moktha villager told The Irrawaddy that his 21-year-old cousins brother Ko Naing Soe Lin was killed after being shot in the head during the raids. Another three villagers are still missing.

Three PDF fighters on guard near the village were detained and then killed by junta forces. Other resistance fighters were able to escape.

The junta forces are aiming to cut off access to food in our area because they made sure to burn down all the rice stores first before they torched the houses, said one Moktha villager who saw three of his houses, a rice storage facility and some motorbikes go up in smoke in the junta raid.

On Wednesday, junta soldiers and a Pyu Saw Htee member were reportedly killed when a combined force of Mingin Township PDFs raided a military camp in Mokkattaw Village.

Mingin-PDF claimed also to have killed four regime troops and injured another eight on Wednesday, when its fighters ambushed a military flotilla of five motorboats transporting ammunition along the Chindwin River.

On January 31, around 200 Pyu Saw Htee militia and junta troops supporting a military flotilla of eight vessels burned houses in four villages in Mingin Township, after sustaining heavy losses during clashes with PDFs from Kani Township.

During the raids, regime forces torched more than 150 houses out of 200 in Binkyun Village, as well as burning down around 34 houses in three nearby villages.

To deter the PDF attacks, junta forces detained and used 35 Binkyun villagers, including several older residents and children, as human shields while traveling in Mingin Township. The detainees were released by regime forces when they arrived at their destination, according to Mingin-PDF.

Regime forces are now burning down villages as they cannot defeat the local resistance forces, said the spokesperson for Mingin-PDF.

People have requested us [PDFs] to fight until the military regime is gone, saying they dont mind losing their possessions, homes and villages, he added.

On Wednesday and Thursday, around 120 regime soldiers including Pyu Saw Htee militia also looted and burned down houses in Palchaung Village in Sagaings Taze Township, according to local media.

Military regime forces went on to attack and torch houses in nearby Khayutaw Village on Thursday evening, according to local media.

Around 3,000 residents in Taze Township were forced to flee their homes due to the junta raids, according to Taze News, which covers regime atrocities in the township.

The military regime is currently facing intense daily attacks nationwide from PDFs and many ethnic armed organizations.

Meanwhile, the regimes atrocities continue with torture, arbitrary killings, massacres, burning people alive, using civilians as human shields, shelling residential areas and looting and burning houses, especially in Magwe and Sagaing regions and Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Karen states.

As of Thursday, 1,546 people have been killed by the junta and another 12,073 people arrested since last years February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.



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Ithaca, NY (14850)

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BAI Communications, a communications infrastructure provider, announced the next phase in its international growth strategy with its expansion into Italy in collaboration with key local industry executives, to bring neutral host connected infrastructure solutions to one of Europes fast-growing telecommunications markets.

BAI Italia marks the companys first European operation outside of the UK and Ireland, and further strengthens its capabilities as a leading provider of 5G and shared infrastructure in the region, the company advised.

BAI says it has enlisted industry veteran Luca Luciani alongside a group of powerhouse executives with proven industry success, to spearhead its market entry. The BAI Italia executive team have long-shared BAIs vision and have already made significant preparations to launch a neutral host proposition in the country.

As CEO of BAI Italia, Luca Luciani brings over twenty years of business experience across telecommunications, energy, consumer goods and management consulting and has held several senior executive responsibilities at Telecom Italia and is former CEO of TIM Brazil. Other senior executives joining BAI Italia include Antonino Ruggiero, Riccardo Jelmini, Riccardo DAngelo and Enrico Lanzavecchia.

BAI Italia says it will focus on delivering the low latency and unlimited capacity neutral host networks needed to ensure Italians can stay connected in dense urban environments. The experienced executive team will leverage the wealth of capability across the group to design, build, manage and fund the critical connectivity infrastructure needed to accelerate digital innovation. Deploying solutions which include 5G small cells to densify networks in urban environments, private networks for enterprises in healthcare, education and manufacturing, alongside state-of-the-art DAS networks for large public venues and stadiums; like those the business has already deployed across over 220 marquee venues in the USA through Mobilitie and multiple venues across Europe through Vilicom.

BAI Communications group CEO Igor Leprince said BAIs expansion into Italy represents another important milestone in our growth strategy to become a leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure in Europe and globally.

"As one of the largest mobile markets in Europe, Italy presents an exciting opportunity for BAI to further extend its neutral host solutions, as MNOs, municipalities and private companies continue to invest in the 5G infrastructure required to support a more connected future.

BAI Communications Group CCO Andrew McGrath said, The movement towards an always connected society is only speeding up and as people return to public spaces, they will expect reliable coverage wherever they go.

"Our credibility for executing large-scale projects across the world, combined with the experience and market knowledge of the BAI Italia team, makes us well-positioned to deliver solutions for our customers and the people of Italy.

Luciani said, We are very excited to bring BAIs industry-leading solutions and expertise in neutral host connected infrastructure to the Italian market. The incredible experience across the BAI group means we are in the best position to work with the MNOs, private industrial precincts, commercial venues, public offices and municipalities to improve indoor and outdoor connectivity in Italy.

"Helping to accelerate digital innovation across multiple sectors and drive the deployment of smart city applications. We look forward to replicating BAIs success in other countries here in Italy, as we strive to become the largest neutral host provider in the country.

This latest step for BAI follows several recent developments in the companys regional and global growth trajectory. In 2021, BAI says it acquired Mobilitie, one of the largest privately-held telecommunications infrastructure companies in the United States, significantly increasing the companys reach across North America.

It also comes after substantial growth in the UK, including the recent acquisition of Vilicom, a leader in high performance 4G and 5G mobile and cellular coverage solutions. Last year, BAI was also awarded a 20-year concession by Transport for London (TfL) to deliver high-speed wireless communications for the London subway and agreed to a 20-year partnership with Sunderland City Council to design, build and operate next-generation digital infrastructure to aid the councils smart city development, the company advised.
In addition to Uplinxs advanced network infrastructure expertise, the company delivers customised advice and solutions for enterprise-grade telephony, critical messaging and collaboration, as well as contact centres. With significant experience in diverse markets, Uplinx have built a strong customer base in healthcare, government, education, emergency services, and more. Partnering with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise comes naturally as it provides enterprise-grade and mission-critical network and communications solutions for those industries, as well as hospitality and transportation.

Our partnership with Uplinx Advanced Services has been very strong from the start. We have much in common, especially in unified networking and critical communications in healthcare, but it is our company cultures that make this partnership special and successful. Built on a solid foundation of open communication and trust, we have shown our customers our joint value proposition and won a major public health project within 12 months of our first exploratory conversations. Based on what we have already achieved together, and the strong alignment between our organisations, I look forward to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers, said Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise country business leader ANZ Maud Holvast.

Since the first successful joint healthcare project, the partnership has grown from strength to strength with new opportunities in healthcare, education, government and emergency services.

We believe in the power of strong partnerships and ALE is the partner that inspires new possibilities and enables innovation. We know that with ALE we can build next-generation networks and communication platforms, making digital transformation a reality for our customers. This is only the beginning of our journey and I am confident that together we can change how people live, work and learn, said Uplinx Advanced Series director Alexey Sokolov.

The Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and Uplinx Advanced Services teams share the same passion for exceptional customer service, as well as the dedication to resolving customer problems with business-altering solutions. Together, the companies are committed to enabling both their customers and people to reach their full potential. Uplinxs outstanding knowledge of ALEs portfolio allows the team to provide users with comprehensive collaboration, high-end user networking, and faster, more reliable datacentre infrastructure. Backed by Uplinxs real-world experience and expert know-how, ALE solutions help customers do more than ever before.

Uplinx Advanced Solutions is committed to connecting the previously unconnected. Weve been solving business challenges by revolutionising how people communicate, collaborate, and innovate. As a high end Integrator we see our partnership with ALE as delivering ground-breaking solutions for networks, collaboration, and data centre, said Uplinx Advanced series principal architect Ricardo Meunier.
The Australian market saw a slight downturn in job growth in the period between October to December 2021, as the COVID-19 Omicron variant spread across the country, according to a new report from global recruitment software solutions provider JobAdder.

According to JobAdder in its annual 2021 Global Industry Report - Recruitment and Talent Acquisition - the average number of new jobs created in Australia per agency account in Q4 was 62.05, a decrease from the average of 64.71 in Q3 and 65.41 in Q2 2021.

And in New Zealand, this sentiment was mirrored, with a 14 per cent drop from Q3 to Q4 (50.93 in Q4, 58.91 in Q3 2021).

JobAdder says that espite this decline, when compared year-on-year, there was significant growth for this metric, with Australian agency users only creating an average of 47.99 jobs in Q4 2020, compared to the aforementioned 62.05 in Q4 2021.

This suggests that while the Omicron variant did impact the market, the year did result in steady and notable growth in jobs across Australia, notes JobAdder, adding that compared to agency users, Australian in-house users saw less fluctuations and more growth in average jobs in Q4 2021 with 53.08, compared to 51.82 in Q3.

And across the ditch in New Zealand, in-house users dropped slightly to 33.84 in Q4 from 35.27 in Q3 2021, reports JobAdder.

JobAdder reports that as the global pandemic created a candidate controlled market in 2021 and prolonged lockdowns resulted in candidate COVID-19 fatigue, the average ratio for applications per job for Australian agency users experienced a steady decline, falling from 14.30 in Q3 to 12.76 in Q4.

This was quite a difference from the start of the year at 21.59 in Q1 and 17.20 in Q2. In New Zealand, the results highlighted how tight the labour market is in the country, with the average ratio dipping from 10.18 in Q3 to 8.46 in Q4 2021, says JobAdder.

For Australian in-house users, applications per job were higher than agency users, with 14.77 in Q4 2021, compared to 18.93 in Q3. New Zealand also saw a sink in average applications per job, with 10.38 in Q4 versus 13.82 in Q3 2021.

When it came to sourcing talent for job roles, there was a 50/50 split between proactive sourcing and job postings in Q4 2021 for agency users. However, it was a different story for in-house users, with the share of applicants coming from proactive channels falling to 12 per cent in the latter end of 2021.

JobAdder says that when juxtaposed with Q3 2021, Australian agency users were placing candidates in temp and contract roles at a much quicker rate of 5.90 days to place, compared to 7.5 days.

In New Zealand, these figures were also much loftier at 7.60 days compared to 8 days in Q3. For permanent placements by agency users in Q4 2021, the Australian market placed an average of 29 days, while New Zealand took 36.10 days. This was contrasted by 29.5 days in Australia and 37.2 days in New Zealand in the third quarter of 2021.

For in-house users, days to place for temp and contract roles were highest in Australia for Q4 2021, sitting at 23.40 (24.4 days in Q3 2021). New Zealand saw an average of 18.20 days (21.7 days in Q3 2021). For in-house users filling permanent positions, the average days to place in Australia was 30.60 and 26.70 in New Zealand, JobAdder reports.

CEO of JobAdder, Martin Herbst, said: While there may be slight drops in activity and figures across the board, this report demonstrates the year-on-year differences the pandemic has made to the talent acquisition and recruitment sector. This rings especially true when it comes to continued widespread candidate shortages, changing career priorities and remote work advancements.

As we head into a brand new year, we hope these insights will provide Australian and New Zealand-based recruiters and talent acquisition professionals with the tools they need to prepare for 2022 and the challenges that lie ahead, especially while encompassing the Great Resignation.

Here at JobAdder, we are committed to supporting and informing the recruitment and talent acquisition space, helping and empowering professionals to work smarter not harder, concluded Herbst.

Recruitment industry expert and advisor to JobAdder, Greg Savage, said: This edition of the JobAdder Global Industry Report offers clues to some of the approaches agency recruiters should focus on to increase their effectiveness in a highly dynamic hiring environment.

Notwithstanding the COVID-19 Omicron surge, the long-term trends for job creation are up. Across the globe, hiring is surging, and all recruiters, agency and in-house alike, are dancing to the tune of hard to find, and even harder to pin down, candidates.

Applications per job are falling, and the boot is squarely on the foot of the job seeker. Increasingly though, its becoming likely that these shortages will not just result from ebbs and flows in COVID-19 infections. They will probably be consistent and long term. Many senior employees have used COVID-19 as a prompt to retire a year or two before they otherwise would have. Others have changed their work style, and it does not include traditional corporate life. Critical flows of international candidates have dried up, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. There is dwindling evidence to suggest they will come back in the numbers they once did.

Savage says that although agency recruiters might complain about these challenges on occasion, the truth is that this is a golden era for agency recruitment. Never have they been more needed.

Never has their value been so compellingly obvious, for those that can deliver quality candidates anyway. The fact that its not easy to find great candidates is a unique opportunity for agency recruiters. In simple language, their clients have never needed them more.



This report highlights how agency recruiters can remain pivotal to the hiring strategies of their clients. Fresh tactics are front and centre to locate, connect with and recruit great candidates. This is going to require innovation, skill and persistence.

Faster fill times will add to the value of agency recruiters. There are many ongoing vacant roles in hiring corporations worldwide. Efficient agency practice will alleviate this a great deal, concluded Savage.
Messages of solidarity from around the world on the 35th anniversary of Meena, the founder of RAWA. We offer our heartfelt thanks to these wonderful friends and supporters for the support and love they have for our leader and struggle.

To the people of Afghanistan, and especially to Afghan women

Sonali Kolhatkar

co-Director of Afghan Womens Mission

USA

What is there to say to you but sorry?

As an American citizen, my government has devastated your nation in my name and with my tax dollars. In spite of having spent the last 20 plus years demanding justice for the people of Afghanistan alongside other American activists, there has been little progress.

What else is there to say but sorry?

For so many years my government has dropped bombs, carried out raids, killed your children, armed fundamentalists, propped up corrupt warlords, and encouraged the drug trade. My leaders have done nothing but use you as pawns in their grand game of domination, violence, and war.

How else can I speak to you without saying the word sorry?

For far too long my leaders have pretended to care about you, about your education, your health, your childrens wellbeing, and then done the exact opposite of what it takes to keep people healthy, happy, and safe.

What more is left to say but sorry?

For decades my fellow American journalists have chosen to ignore your suffering, but then suddenly remembered to expose your oppression when it has served their purpose. On countless occasions, our leaders have promised to not forget about Afghan women, and then forgotten you when convenient.

What other words are there besides sorry?

I can think of some more: thank you.

Thank you for inspiring the world with your bravery.

Thank you for reminding us what courage looks like as you rise from the ashes of war to reclaim your nation.

Thank you for continuing to fight for progress and for keeping Meenas legacy alive.

Thank you for allowing me to be a very small part of your journey.

In solidarity and with all my love,

In solidarity with RAWA and all women fighting in Afghanistan for justice, freedom and peace

Gabriela Velarde Fernandez

Journalist

Peru

Please, always know that you are not alone as your fight is our fight. Your fight represents an example for all the world. Your strength gives us hope of a better world.

I am very proud of you and will never forget the experience of being in your country and in your home. You treated me like family. You are forever in my heart and prayers.

"I'm the woman who has awoken,

I've found my path and will never return."

Thank you for empowering us through you, RAWA.

Your courage and determination gave us the strength to stand on the side of RAWA and Afghan people

CISDA

Italy

Dearest Meena,

We didnt have the privilege to meet you in person because, when we had the luck to meet our sisters of RAWA, you were already been assassinated by evil fundamentalists that didnt want women to take the word, to decide their destiny, to study and be aware of their rights, to demonstrate in the streets and ask for a better future for them and for their country.

In a word, to organize themselves within the society in order to build a new and better one. Organized women, for these fundamentalists, and also for the so called modern capitalist societies, represent a danger; our struggle and your must be the same struggle, because only if we are united we will become free.

Meena, you were an example and an inspiration for many afghan women and girls; they have not forgotten you and, from the very moment youve lost your life, decided to continue your struggle because they know that it is the only way to change things, to improve the society and give hope to the women and to all the people. And you have been, and are, an inspiration also for us, here in Italy: your courage and determination gave us the strength to stand for many years on the side of RAWA and Afghan people and to struggle for the liberation of women all over the world.

You are amongst the many women that were martyred for their ideas and their struggle: Rosa Luxembourg, Sakine Cansiz, Leyla Saylemez, Fidan Dogan and all the Kurdish women that gave their life to defeat ISIS and fundamentalism and build a new society, Marielle Franco, Berta Caceres, Nadia Murad, Frozan Safi and thousands of others, killed, jailed and tortured every day. The patriarchal system all over the world fears our struggle and know very well that, if united, women will change the world for the better.

Dear Meena, now your country is again in the hands of the brutal and ignorant taliban, that want to silence the voice of women, but we know that our sisters of RAWA will stand strongly against this enemy which they know very well from the past experience; you should know that we wont step back, and will keep supporting your struggle with all our strength.

Resistance is life!

With love and solidarity!

Your CISDA sisters

This path of liberation shown by Meena is good for all countries of the world

Susanne Keil,

Courage Essen e.V.

Germany

Dear friends of RAWA,

We bring you our solidarity sympathy and our own sorrow on the 35th anniversary of the death of Meena Keshwar Kamal, the founder of your wonderful organization.

Meena in her short life ignited a great empowerment, heart-warming, fighting fire for the women and girls of Afghanistan.

Not only the women and girls of Afghanistan, not only you of RAWA, but the women and girls of the whole world are still benefiting from it today, carrying on Meena's life's work.

For a free, democratic Afghanistan, where the female population can also live, work, learn in a liberated way, without interference and dictates of the profit-hungry foreign powers. For the promotion of a resistance movement from the people and for the people instead of ethnic struggles and division by Islamist fundamentalist terrorist groups.

This path of liberation shown by Meena is good for all countries of the world.

And the most important thing for us is: Meena has not only found words for it - she also showed how it works in practice: she initiated the construction for schools, health and handicraft centers, orphanages and fought for them together with the people in the country - this is still enormously important for the liberation of women today! Not only in Afghanistan, but worldwide.

We from Courage Essen are happy that we could start with our fundraising campaign "Afghanistan instead of Amazon, Afghan women - like stand with you" today, under the deadly dictatorship of Taliban fascism together with you our first relief action for the women and children in Kabul.

We are happy to follow Meena's way also, if we can make concrete donation projects together with you maybe very soon, even if they still have to run underground, because the Taliban will persecute them bloody.

For Meena, for RAWA, for the women and children in Afghanistan, we wholeheartedly support the development of a self-organization of the women and girls in Afghanistan with projects for education, health, work - as soon as you clear the way for it!

In September 2022, the 3rd World Women's Conference of grassroots women will be in Tunisia. An event that Meena would surely also heartily support.

Courage Essen wishes so much that one of your women from Afghanistan can participate - if somehow possible. For the travel expenses we would do a fundraiser with our project #Red Hat - Fight Sexism Everyday.

For Meena, with Meena, in the spirit of Meena.

Strong together, for free women in liberated societies worldwide.

With love and from our hearts we send you our sympathy and greetings,

Meena did not die in vain, the seeds she sowed continue to grow

OCML

France

Dear RAWA sisters in struggle,

For 45 years, you have been fighting against all imperialist powers Russia, America and Europe and all fundamentalist and reactionary forces.

Thirty-five years ago, on 4 February 4 1987 your founder, Meena, was assassinated for this cause by agents of the Afghan secret service with the backing of the Russian KGB.

Still today, with the return of the Taliban to power, the barbaric puppets of successive imperialist interventions, you keep up your underground struggle within Afghanistan itself, in Kabul, Herat and elsewhere for the Afghan people and especially for women's rights. No flight to the West for you, but underground, clandestine political and humanitarian work supporting refugees, providing food aid to the poor, running clandestine schools for women and holding more or less public courageous protest demonstrations.

We salute your determination and your courage with all our respect for the difficulties that you have to overcome along the way.

Twice, in 2002 and again in 2008, we welcomed a representative of RAWA to take part in a tour to gather support around our country, which was at the time involved in a military intervention in your country.

Today, all the blowhards such as Sarkozy, Hollande or Macron have abandoned you, because the imperialist geostrategic stakes are no longer worth it; the so-called defence of women was nothing more than a PR smokescreen and a pretext to justify their intervention. We, the Maoist Communists of France, remain at your side, in our common fight against imperialism in all its forms especially French imperialism in our case and reaction and in support of women's rights and a true popular democracy.

Comrades of RAWA, since we take the liberty to call you that, your founder Meena did not die in vain. The seeds she sowed continue to grow; new generations of women are joining the struggle and the new imperialists and reactionaries will be defeated just as the old ones were.

We, Maoist Communists of France, remain at your disposal to the extent of our modest possibilities to broaden the support for your luminous cause!

Death to imperialism, be it American, European, French, Russian or Chinese!

For a true democratic liberation and for an Afghanistan free from imperialism and reactionaryfundamentalism!

For a women's liberation based on this anti-imperialist and democratic struggle!

Long live international solidarity! Long live the resistance of Afghan women!

Long live RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan!"







Admiration for the courage and bravery of all who continue the struggle against the Taliban

Maureen Arnott

Adelaide - Australia

Dear RAWA members and supporters

As you commemorate the 35th anniversary of Meena's martyrdom on 4 February, I offer my sincere admiration for the courage and bravery of all who continue the struggle against the Taliban and those who seek to suppress the rights and dreams of Afghanistan's women.

Women are half of the population of Afghanistan. They must have equal and fair rights alongside its men so that your country and all its citizens can grow and prosper.

Keep up your good work!

In solidarity, and with love and hope

Honour, respect and support RAWAs resolve to fight injustice and seek liberation

Support Association for the Women of Afghanistan (SAWA)

Australia

TO: THE REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN

We, your friends of the Support Association for the Women of Afghanistan (Australia) stand in solidarity with RAWA and all the brave women and girls in Afghanistan who continue to oppose and struggle against the Taliban in your country. We recognise and support your strength and determination in your ongoing fight for freedom, justice and equality.

SAWA stands with you in total opposition to the Taliban, particularly with regard to the removal of basic civil and human rights for women and girls.

We are deeply concerned that the impact of Taliban rule will be far-reaching, but we honour, respect and support RAWAs resolve to fight injustice and seek liberation.

You are not alone. The men and women of SAWA in Australia will always be thinking of you and sending messages of love and support.

We wish you a joyous and proud celebration in commemoration of Meenas 35th Martyrdom on 4th February this year.

In solidarity

We humbly join the commemoration of the 35th martyrdom of Meena

International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggles

France

The member organizations of the International Labor Network of Solidarity and Struggle reaffirm their support for the people of Afghanistan and in particular for the women of this country. The situation is dramatic: food, health, education, the most basic rights are not assured for a large part of the population. This is the observation after a few months of the return of the Taliban to power; it is also the result of years under American occupation.

We salute the work done by our comrades in RAWA, whose information we relay through the website of our International Labor Network of Solidarity and Struggle and via the member organizations in our respective countries. To make known the situation of the Afghan people, Afghan women and the action of movements like RAWA is part of our international trade union solidarity.

Twenty years ago, in December 2001, the Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women (RAWA, which has existed since 1977) rejoiced at the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, while denouncing the Northern Alliance of Commander Massoud at the service of American forces. RAWA denounced their involvement in mass rapes and ridiculed their claim to defend democracy and womens rights in a new government imposed by the occupying forces. She reminded them that "the end of the humiliating requirement to wear the burqa is not enough to prove a real change of mentality regarding womens rights and freedoms. In March 2002, RAWA predicted the failure of a war that would only be military, the corruption of the government in place, and called on the Afghan people to rise up against all fundamentalists.

We humbly join the commemoration of the 35th martyrdom of Meena, founder of RAWA, who was murdered in 1987 by the Afghan intelligence services. The struggle for life and freedom of Afghan women today continues this fight.

We are proud that all of you are the fighting sisters and daughters of Meena

Friends of RAWA

Japan

We, Friends of RAWA Japan, are extremely delighted to share the solidarity words with our loveliest Afghan sisters of RAWA together for Meenas 35th martyrdom anniversary under the extremely tough conditions that our sisters have been facing since 15th August 2021.

Last August, whilst we were very shocked at the news of Talibans takeover, we had no doubt whatsoever that RAWA would open a new page of their long-run struggle against this atrocious oppressor. Because we know the history of RAWA and have learnt a lots from your struggle, thoughts and activities through our mutual interaction for nearly 20 years, we could expect your further struggle with confidence.

As we predicted, RAWA members soon launched the brave protest in order to protect fundamental human rights and freedom of which Taliban would deprive people in particular women. In fact, Talibans various restrictions over women began before too long though at the beginning they tried to pretend that they would be different from the former Taliban between 1996 to 2001.

We are proud of your struggle and every effort to raise voices against injustice under the rule of Taliban. We are proud that all of you are the fighting sisters and daughters of Meena. We are proud that you have inherited Meena and other forerunners passionate spirit and have poured it into your ongoing struggle.

We firmly believe that your tireless effort will serve as the driving force to change the society fundamentally, and that one day you will achieve building the truly democratic and peaceful society which is entirely liberated from patriarchy, foreign domination, fundamentalists and warlords.

We are waiting that the time comes for all of us to be able to march together against the oppressors and to be able to directly meet you in Afghanistan. Although we are in Japan at this moment, we are with you in spirit. We pledge to reinforce our solidarity and cooperation with RAWA from here on out, and to support your struggle and activities for people.

In solidarity with the warmest love,

We wish to give voice to RAWA and supporting it

Elena Baragli

President The Artemisia Association

Florence - Italy

The Artemisia Association joins RAWA in commemorating the 35th anniversary of the murder of Meena, the pioneer and founder of RAWA in Afghanistan.

We did not get to know her directly, but from what we read and tried to learn from the lessons she left behind in her life, we feel that, like many leaders and activists of the feminist movement, Meena became part of the pantheon of cultural and human references common to all women who have fought and still fight for freedom and the rights of women and children.

For us, writing from Europe, it is not obvious to say that this pantheon of women, with Meena, expands further at international level, takes on an enlarged view of the so-called south of the world and forces us to look beyond the temporal and geographical references of the supposed north (classically understood as Europe and the USA), where feminism has always been predominantly white and European, and for too long self-referential.

Today, the fight for women's freedom concerns us all, on a global level. Increasingly strong and significant are the testimonies that reach us from the lives and commitment of activists and feminists living in the four corners of the world: from black Africa to the Maghreb, from India to China.

We have learnt to know that there are feminisms differently declined and interpreted, steeped in their own customs, theoretical and cultural references and sometimes even religious ones.

As feminists and as women engaged in the fight for freedom against violence, we are open and curious to know and to learn; available to dialogue, to confrontation and to the possibility of building a new and different sisterhood, through confrontation and mutual support.

Today it is impossible to gain freedom from violence, patriarchal oppression and inequality in just one country while in the rest of the world hunger, poverty, wars and terror oppress people and above all women and children.

Millions of refugees and exiles are fleeing, emigrating in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. And among these there are women, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends and companions.

In spite of selfishness, abuse of power and growing inequalities, the current pandemic reminds us that we are all human and that no one can reach salvation alone.

That is why we do not want the spotlight to be turned off about the situation in Afghanistan, and we wish to give voice to RAWA and supporting it, hoping in an end to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

That is why we denounce the hypocrisy of governments who promised aid, salvation and freedom for Afghan women, while now frost, poverty and hunger reign in Kabul.

We learnt that Meena was committed both against the tribal obscurantism in Afghanistan, that she was working for the education and training of women and girls and against the Soviet regime in Kabul, which she challenged at the cost of her own life, that she sacrificed for the greater good.

Her life was very short, that ended the age of 31 by the killers of a group of fundamentalists supported by the KGB.

An intense and worthwhile life. An example of courage and a legacy of freedom to follow and be inspired by today. We, the women of Artemisia, will try to bring her to life through our daily commitment: against the indifference towards the Afghan situation, to oppose the growing hatred towards the refugees and exiles of the world, to affirm love and the right to a life free from the obscurantism of the Taliban regime, from hunger, from poverty, from ignorance for all women, boys and girls.

Loving Greetings to the Women and Supporters of RAWA on the Occasion of the Martyrdom of Meena

Melody Ermachild Chavis

author of "Meena, Heroine of Afghanistan"

USA

Dear Sisters of RAWA. It is difficult to believe, almost, that RAWA survives and persists in doing work for the Women of Afghanistan for these many years and through breath-taking changes and staggering challenges.

Yet RAWA stands as an example of the strength and leadership of women everywhere. It was the honor of my life to work with you to gather all of the stories and photos about Meena  the evidence of her life and her achievements into her book.

Back then, to be honest, I often thought that Afghanistan needs also to have heroines who are not martyred, not only the inspiring examples of Malalai and Meena, who are no longer with us, but living leaders for the present moment too.

Twenty years later, this dream has come true! Afghan women have emerged as leaders in every field, from medicine to law and government, from filmmaking to teaching and sports, Afghan women have made the world marvel at them.

Hard times have never gone away, and at this moment, the struggle to survive is, sadly, even harder than ever for too many. Yet Meenas example still shows the way. She was both afraid and brave, both exhausted and tireless, both an international leader and a comforter of ordinary families. She would be so proud to see today her many daughters.

She would tell you that better times will come. May it be so.

Meena is still alive in our hearts, in our struggles

Women Defend Rojava

Meena Keshwar Kamal (1956-1987) was born on February 27, 1956 in Kabul. During her school days, students in Kabul and other Afghan cities were deeply engaged in social activism and rising mass movements. In 1977, while sturdying at Kabul University, Meena founded the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), an organization formed to promote equality and education for women and continues to give voice to the deprived and silenced women of Afghanistan. Despite the Saur Revolution and womens rights placed high on the Democratic Republics agenda, Meena felt that there was no vast changes of womens deprivation in Afghanistan. In 1979 she campaigned against government, and organized meetings in schools to mobilize support against it, and in 1981, she launched a bilingual feminist magazine, Payam-e-Zan (Womens Message). She also founded Watan Schools to aid refugee children and their mothers, a hospital and handicraft centers for refugee women in Pakistan to support Afghan women financially. In the 80, she moved and based RAWA organization in Quetta, Pakistan were she will be assassinated on February 4, 1987.

On this day, 4 February 2022, we, Women Defend Rojava, commemorate the 35th anniversary of the martyrdom of Meena Keshwar Kamal. A day to remember and honour her by reiterating our pledge to continue our struggles against patriarchy, religious fundamentalists, imperialism, capitalism, all systems that oppress and enslave women.

Meena is still alive in our hearts, in our struggles. This statement is not just a message to remember. Meenas struggle and life is an example for all women. It is also a message to remember the importance for us to build a womens internationalism.

With RAWA, Meena laid the foundations of an organisation that, 35 years after her assassination, is more than ever a force in the resistance of Afghan women. The return of the Taliban to Afghanistan is yet another betrayal against women and society by the capitalist powers. Our support for our sisters in Afghanistan must be stronger than ever. We owe it to all the women who have died in the struggle, and to all those who continue to risk their lives in the resistance, sacrificed once again by the dominant powers of this world. Our history is linked to yours. We can never let our guard down. We have learned this once again with the recent attacks in North and East Syria in the city of Heseke and the attempted return of IS.

Our world is fragile, but we are strong. We are strong together and we need support and help in these times. In the spirit of Meena, we must build a revolutionary unity to continue her work, her struggle and those of all the women who have lost their lives, while instilling in us the strength to pursue our goals.

Jin Jiyan Azadi.

Meena's spirit lives on in RAWA

Network against Faminicide Berlin

Germany

The commemoration of Meena this year takes place in a political change that has shaken Afghanistan and the world. The news of how the Taliban have been handed power over Afghanistan and what this means for the people and especially for women is horrific and infuriating. It has shown once again that imperialism is a feminicidal politics in which the patriarchs go hand in hand.

At the same time, feminist struggles and women in struggle around the world are on the rise and around the world we are forging links and common perspectives that oppose these feminicidal politics. We stand in solidarity with each other and as examples for each other.

Meena was one such woman who can be an example to us all. Full of courage and with a strong will, she founded RAWA and ensured that many more women organised themselves and stood up for their liberation. Despite the conditions that she had to carry out her actions underground under great dangers, she stuck to fighting for the liberation of women and for a self-determined life.

That RAWA continues the struggle in the current situation is very meaningful and shows how Meena's spirit lives on in RAWA. This spirit, where our will is stronger than any repression, also unites struggling women worldwide. This will is a will to live - because while patriarchs, be they fundamentalist mass murderers or imperialist nation states, are destroying lives, we are fighting for life worldwide - and a life of self-determination, freedom and dignity. And we will not give up.

We remember Meena and the beauty her struggle carried with it. We wish you and all of us the best in the struggle ahead!

Greeting for the commemoration of the 35th martyrdom anniversary of the founder of RAWA, Meena

Gemeinsam Kampfen

Jineoloji Committee Germany

Germany







Dear friends and comrades of RAWA,

We greet you on the occasion of the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Meena, who played such an important role in the founding of RAWA. We have heard about the charismatic leadership role that Meena had exercised. Everywhere we need people with the will to be leaders to decisively advance needed and pressing social and political change. Meena was such a person - and a very special one.

The murder of Meena is part of the worldwide feminicide, which is directed against women who want to live self-confident and self-determined lives and work to change patriarchal gender relations.

Our common and worldwide struggle for women's liberation as the basis of social liberation attacks these feminicidal policies. From domestic violence and intimate partner violence, to honor killings, rape and female infanticide as a practice of war, to the targeted killing of feminist activists and revolutionary women leaders, we must stop feminicides: in Afghanistan, in Kurdistan, in Europe, and everywhere.

We admire your over 45 years of feminist organized struggle that you have continuously waged as a women's organization under all forms of ruling and extremely difficult, repressive and violent conditions.

We are aware that the 20 years of Western military intervention or occupation, in which the German state also participated, has at no time seriously deprived the enemies of women's rights and democracy of power and influence. Nor, contrary to the rhetoric, has it ever worked to enable the people of Afghanistan to organize themselves for women's rights and democracy. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the sad result with the Taliban's anti-democratic takeover and the ousting of women from all public positions, income opportunities, and ultimately life chances, to the point of targeted assassination.

We are impressed by your determination to continue to advance women's organizing in Afghanistan and to hold the function of Meenas martyrdom anniversary in the country. We know how connected you are to the people as well as to the confidence that people will rise up against oppression, misogyny and Islamism.

We send you our solidarity in our hearts and want to strengthen you emotionally. We are part of the same struggle and are united in building the Democratic World Confederalism of Women.

We wish you much success on your way! We are by your side.

The dead advance and light our way

The fire with which Meena fought would turn all the enemies of freedom, democracy and women into ashes

Ansar

Supporter from Iraq

Dear Comrades in RAWA,

It has been inspiring to follow your work and to learn to read the situation in Afghanistan and in the world through your eyes. Learning and reading about the proud struggle of Meena is very powerful. Your work and her story is what we as your allied comrades need to tell people in Europe about Afghanistan. The imperialist interventions in Afghanistan have proved again that there is no freedom with liberal democracy, it will take on whatever robe  Islamist or secular. This becomes even more clear today watching how the Western governments that were part of the last imperialist intervention in Afghanistan, plan on normalization with the Taliban. Your words on Meena will be an inspiration for all of us not to lose faith that the people of Afghanistan can liberate themselves: The enemy rightly trembled in fear of the love and respect that Meena planted in the hearts of our people. They knew full well that the fire with which Meena fought would turn all the enemies of freedom, democracy and women into ashes. The regular detentions and assassinations continuing against activists today in Afghanistan show us that the enemy is very afraid  thats the best proof of your strength!

In deep solidarity,

Dear comrades and friends of RAWA, dear courageous women of Afghanistan,

Monika Gartner-Engel,

Responsible Person for Internationalism

Julia Scheller, Spokeswoman for Women's Policy

MLPD

Germany

The MLPD sends warmest greetings on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the death of Meena, founder of RAWA and pioneer of the struggle for the liberation of women in Afghanistan!

When Meena initiated the founding of RAWA in 1977 as the first revolutionary women's organization of Afghanistan, she gave the Afghan women a voice which resounds until today. RAWA's first campaign in 1979 against the Russian armed forces was important educational work, especially in schools and universities, against the revisionist politics of Soviet social imperialism. In Afghanistan and in exile in Pakistan, Meena took a strong stand for the social issues of the people. She founded schools for refugee children, a hospital and skilled trade centers for refugee women in Pakistan for financial support of Afghan women. This important social work for the self-organization and self-liberation of the people, as well as Meena's unshakable commitment against Islamist fundamentalists, the social-imperialist occupation and the puppet regime were a thorn in the side of the oppressors. For this reason she was murdered by secret agents and their fundamentalist accomplices in Quetta, Pakistan, on 4 February 1987.

In Germany we are aware of the inhuman oppression through the fascist Taliban, to whom power was left over after 20 years of imperialist occupation by US and NATO troops. However, we also hear of the courageous protests of militant and self-confident women of Afghanistan, who are not willing to bow to the violence, terror and death by the misogynist dictatorship of the Taliban. In the spirit of Meena, RAWA continues its important work among women and girls under most difficult conditions. We make your struggle known in Germany! We know that the people of Afghanistan never accepted imperialist occupation and that they also do not want to live under Islamist-fascist rule. Parts of our new federal government, the Social Democrats and the party The Greens, were already responsible for the participation of German troops in the war in Afghanistan in 2001. At that time they tried to win the masses in Germany for their war participation with the propaganda about the liberation of women in Afghanistan. The disaster following 20 years of occupation unmasked the imperialist interests behind this hypocrisy.

Today they deny refugees admission to Germany and watch idly when Taliban violently oppose protesting women and men and when millions of children starve!

The MLPD supports the right to flee and especially the right of self-determination of the peoples in the struggle for freedom, democracy and genuine socialism! We have known RAWA for a long time and work together well, for example at the World Women's Conference of grassroots women, which will be taking place again this year in Tunisia in the fall. It is in this spirit that we stand firmly at your side and further wish you courage, power and confidence in your struggle for women's rights and the liberation of the women and girls of Afghanistan!

Meena fought for her political goals at the risk of her life

Heinz Bierbaum

(Head of the International Commission)

DIE LINKE

Germany

To the comrades of RAWA

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the occasion of the commemoration of the founder of RAWA, Meena Keshwar Kamal, we send our solidarity greetings. Every organization needs its role models to look up to. People who stand up for their ideals with passion and dedication and full of courage. Meena fought for her political goals at the risk of her life and defied conventions that wanted to ban women from public and political life.

Afghanistan is experiencing dark times again. Anyone who rejects and opposes the Taliban's inhuman ideology is threatened. And fundamentally threatened are women who are again deprived of their rights. Meena has campaigned for democracy, human rights and social justice. Values that are in jeopardy today more than ever. The international community must not turn their back on Afghanistan, but fight for it, so it can develop into a country of democracy, human rights and gender equality. This is what we on the left will work for.

In solidarity,

RAWA has been singular in speaking out, against all forms of tyranny and corruption

Meena Nanji

USA

Dear RAWA Sisters

It is hard to believe that it is over 20 years since I first heard the name of RAWA and of the courageous and visionary work that all of you have done since 1977 and are doing, inspired by Meena, and continued by all of you.

Back in 1999, when I sat in a bookshop in Los Angeles, and heard two of your representatives speak - they were so young, barely in their 20's, but spoke with such incredible passion, knowledge and grace - I was moved enough by what I saw and heard, to come and visit you in Pakistan. With your incredible generosity and sharing of your lives and knowledge, I was able to make a documentary that I hope contributed to the sharing of your work, and of the situation of women in Afghanistan.

In the early 2000's. when the western powers were celebrating the fall of the Taliban, RAWA was the one group to tell the truth as it really was. RAWA has been singular in speaking out, against all forms of tyranny and corruption, and also in being clear-eyed about what is happening in the country and society.

RAWA not only spoke out about the corruption of the newly-installed, US-backed regime after the Taliban fell, and the fallacy of US policies, but RAWA also offered a vision for what could be: instead of the militaristic approach that was pushed by the U.S, RAWA offered the 'radical' idea of policies, not based on violence, but based on investing in peace, investing in civil society rather than militaries, of supporting truly democratic leaders with fresh and liberatory ideas. RAWA predicted the outcome of the short-sighted policies that the US implemented, and now, 20 years later, this has borne out in the return of the Taliban -

I say this with a heavy heart, as I am not pleased that RAWA was correct in this analysis. However, it has only reaffirmed my belief in RAWA's knowledge and expertise - it is far ahead of any other so-called international policy experts or military leaders or even presidents of other countries. This is something to strongly recognize!

It also means, unfortunately, that your/our work is not done. While other powers, groups, countries, whoever they may be, may try and seduce you with promises and rosy outcomes that their corrupt practices will bring, you see through this. As truth-bearers, you have a particular role that cannot be substituted by anyone or anything else. Although this is a burden, it is also a blessing, as you can know, definitively, that what you are fighting for is indeed true justice, true peace, true liberation. It is your determination and work that can make it a better, more fulfilling and meaningful world for us all.

On this anniversary of Meena's martyrdom, I can only thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do. Please keep strong, courageous and steadfast - and celebrate yourselves too. Know that you touch the lives of so many, inspire so many people, in continuing this work of justice and freedom, not only in Afghanistan, but all over the world. In the face of increasing fascism and militaristic leaders around the world, this work has never been more important, and it is vital that we keep connected and support each other in these challenging times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I celebrate and salute and support all of you and I feel stronger in knowing that we are moving forward in solidarity.

With much love

Solidarity Message for Women and Citizens of Afghanistan

New Japan Womens Association

Japan

The New Japan Womens Association extends its heartfelt solidarity to the women and citizens of Afghanistan, who are gathering to commemorate Meena's 35th Martyrdom. We send our warmest greetings with respect and friendship to our dearest sisters of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, RAWA, who, despite all the challenges you face, continue to encourage women in your country and to spread their voices throughout the world

Talibans takeover of the country and establishment of its interim government last fall once again revealed that the military occupation by the United States after 2001 had not bring genuine peace and stability to Afghanistan, and that the military force cannot achieve peace. We are distressed by the news reports that in Afghanistan, the already dire humanitarian situation due to the drought, COVID-19 pandemic, and a huge rise in internal displaced people amidst the deteriorated security conditions, is even worsening following Talibans coming back to power, and the subsequent suspension of aid, coupled with freezing of assets by many countries and international organizations, which could result in more than half of the population facing hunger. Furthermore, it is unacceptable that the Taliban, while speaking of protecting womens rights, is excluding girls from secondary schools, removing women from public life as well as from the media, and has even dissolved the independent election commission and several ministries. We oppose all these acts of destroying freedom and democracy.

At the same time, we are greatly heartened to see Afghan women, led by RAWA, continuing to take actions. In the Global Solidarity Acton with Afghan Women organized on September 25, 2021, we spread our messages of solidarity across Japan through social media. We know that since its foundation in 1977, RAWA has always been active in pursuit of womens rights, freedom and peace, over the course of history and under any form of the government, from the period of the Soviet invasion, civil war, former Taliban rule, US occupation, to the present Taliban interim government. And we are convinced that Afghan women, empowered in the past two decades through education and the progress in participation in politics and the economy, can overcome the ongoing crisis.

The struggle for peace, womens right and gender equality is common to all. Japan is no exception; with the deeply-rooted gender-based discrimination and under the neoliberal policies, it lags far behind in gender equality as seen in the underrepresentation of women in politics with women having only 9.7% of the seats in the parliament, and in the wide wage gap with women get paid half of what men receive. The pandemic has pushed many more women into impoverished situation, and there has been an increase in the number of women taking their own lives as well as in the sexual violence against women. The current coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komei Party is not facing up to these hardships of women, but instead is pushing ahead with arms buildup including the plan to double the military expenditure. Despite being the only country to have suffered the wartime use of atomic bombs, Japan refuses to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, on the ground that the US nuclearweapons are necessary. The government is reinforcing the structure to enable Japan to wage war with the US, and to that end it aims to revise Article 9 of the Constitution, which declares that Japan forever renounces war, a pledge to the world born out of the remorse over the war of aggression the country waged and the colonial rule it imposed on other nations.

The New Japan Womens Association was founded by women who had a firm resolve that they would never allow war, from the bitter experience of wartime, when they had no rights and were unable to speak out. This year, we celebrate the associations 60th anniversary. Upholding the banner of the elimination of nuclear weapons, opposition to the adverse revision of the Constitution, and the promotion of womens rights and gender equality, association members have been raising their and taking actions throughout Japan. We have been carrying on the movement in solidarity with women all around the world to achieve a peaceful, just and sustainable society. Convinced that preserving the Peace Constitution with its war-renouncing Article 9 to promote peace diplomacy is the biggest contribution Japan can make, we are determined to fight with all our strength to foil the attempt to revise the constitution.

HIRATSUKA Raicho, a pioneer of the womens movement in Japan and co-founder of the New Japan Womens Association, once gave us an inspiring message: From our united struggle to defend lives and livelihood, a peaceful future will arise, a new sun will rise. This is the message we want to share with you today. Together, let us work to create a society where everyone can live with hope, enjoying all their human rights and freedom. You are not alone. No matter how far apart we are, you will always find us standing with you.

RAWA draws its strength from Meena's unflinching opposition to obscurantism and repression

Sabiha Sumar

Writer/director/producer

Pakistan

Dear RAWA members

I salute Meena's courage and fearlessness. She carved a path for the emancipation of Afghan women against seemingly insurmountable odds and laid the foundation in RAWA for the next generations of women to continue the struggle for a better society for women and men. RAWA draws its strength from Meena's unflinching opposition to obscurantism and repression to carry on her legacy in the face of persisting challenges and harder times to come in Afghanistan. I am joined by women fighting for equality everywhere in wishing RAWA all success to make Meena's dream come true.

We are by your side and that we admire you a lot for all of your actions and for your strength

The students of the Carducci high school in Milan,

Italy

We were so interested in all of your stories; even though Meena died, we know that her spirit and her ideals flow in you, and we hope that they will also flow in us.

We would like to tell you that we are by your side and that we admire you a lot for all of your actions and for your strength. Thank you for trying to make this world more free.

Ludovica, a student of the school:

Every time I hear your stories I am struck by your courage, by the strength you have in leaving such a dangerous situation to try to have a future. I wonder how it is possible that certain behaviours and certain violence are still committed against innocent women and children, how this endless war continues to disrupt millions of lives, how certain people turn their backs and pretend nothing is happening. I feel so powerless in front of all this, I keep asking myself if something can be changed and it seems that you, little by little, are doing it. I really admire you, the women you are and will become.

You never stop fighting, you have many people cheering for you.

With love

We are by your side and that we admire you a lot for all of your actions and for your strength

Almu & Diana

Peru

Dear friends at RAWA,

Just recently, I realized how vulnerable being a woman makes us. Just recently, I realized how lucky and fortunate I have been to be able to study, and to suffer only some kind of violence. Even more recently, I realized this is not luck, but our birth right. Womens rights are human rights.

Your fight has helped us make our entire struggle visible. Thank you for not giving up and continuing to stand up for what you believe in.
As the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard - who he is suing over her 2018 Washington Post domestic violence op-ed - continues, we take a look at 10 of the stars who have shown their support for the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star. Click for more.
Funeral services for Marvin Smith Lloyd, age 77, of Rusk will be held Friday, April 29, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the Boren-Conner Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with Bro. Don Copeland and Bro. Kevin Gentry officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Springs Cemetery. Marvin Lloyd was born Septemb




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Johnson City, TN (37604)

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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Johnson City, TN (37604)

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Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of southeast Kansas, including the following county, Cherokee. Portions of southwest Missouri, including the following counties, Barry, Christian, Douglas, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Stone, Taney, Webster and Wright. * WHEN...Through Tuesday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Low-water crossings may be flooded. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
Two BJP leaders, who have been denied tickets, have joined the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) to contest the Assembly polls.

Surendra Singh, the sitting BJP MLA from Bairia seat in Ballia, has joined the VIP, a new entrant in Uttar Pradesh's electoral politics, after being denied ticket by the BJP.

He has been named as VIP candidate from Bairia.

VIP spokesperson Dev Jyoti said the party finds Surendra Singh a winnable candidate and one with a clean image.

Meanwhile, another BJP rebel Kanak Pandey has also been given a ticket by VIP and will contest Bansdih Assembly seat in Ballia.
Until February 28, anyone can vote for their favorite art piece created by 12 students from the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle in all 3 counties that participated in US Cellular's fifth annual Black History Month Art Contest.
Pictured above, from left to right, are Jonathan A. Noyalas, a member of Monsignor Lackey Council 1169 of the Knights of Columbus in Martinsburg; Angela Aparicio; Naomi Oshiyoye and Adelayna Wilson. The three children were winners in a state poster contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister: "The entire life of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji was based on the principle of 'Sarvajan Hitay - Sarvajan Sukhay'. His philosophy of 'Integral Humanism' is capable of providing solutions to many problems of not only India but the world. Respectful tributes on his death anniversary."

Also paying homage, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said: "Remembering the great son of this soil, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Punya Tithi today. He was a devout nationalist, insightful thinker and an epitome of selfless service.

"His philosophies of 'Integral Humanism' and 'Antyodaya' have inspired many to serve the nation and the downtrodden and will continue to remain a guiding force for all."

Also in a tweet, Home Minister Amit Shah said: "Deendayal ji's philosophy of Antyodaya and Integral Humanism contains solutions to the problems of India and the whole world. By giving house, electricity, gas, toilet and pure drinking water to every poor and downtrodden, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji is doing a great job of bringing Deendayal ji's ideas to the ground."

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Heartfelt tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji on his death anniversary. He has given such a philosophical concept of 'Integral Humanism' to the politics of India, which is completely in line with the culture, tradition and nature of this country. His thoughts will continue to inspire the coming generations of India."

BJP chief J.P. Nadda said that "his entire life dedicated to the service of the nation is an inspiration for all of us".
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SOME PRAISE, SOME CONCERN

Praise: Yale New Haven Health Systems has a good reputation and access to a sizable network of services and personnel.

Concern: Yale hasnt yet announced plans for the hospitals, and some question whether it will restore services to Rockville General in particular.

Question: Its unclear what the sale will mean for tax payments to Manchester and Vernon.
Do they fly on broomsticks? Glow in the dark? Dance with the Devil? Obviously not. Witches have been a subject of fascination for centuries in myths, fairy tales, films, even some well-known comedy sketches and series. But while they may be fun in fairy tales, accusations of witchcraft led to the torture and execution of at least 50,000 people in Europe in past centuries. Some 60-70% were women, according to Martine Ostorero, associate professor of medieval history at Switzerlands University of Lausanne, and there is no doubt that medieval society was misogynistic. But the rest were men, sometimes children. Ostorero says these people were subject to extraordinary justice because their crimes were considered to be the worst. They were convicted on confessions, often extracted under torture, because obviously there was no evidence, she told Justice Info. Many of them were burned at the stake.

Witches were persecuted by the Church, State or local communities for being perceived as different, rebellious or not in line with the dominant religious beliefs. Often they were blamed for things like natural disasters, famine and child deaths. Did any of these victims actually practice witchcraft? Like today, there were healers, people who had secret remedies, which met a social need, says Ostorero. If the remedies didnt work, perhaps they were more likely to be accused of witchcraft. But, she says, its hard to know how many of those killed were in this category, because interrogations tended to focus on such things as whether they loved the Devil or ate children. Movements to pardon the witches executed in the past tend to see them all as innocent victims.

Victims of misogynistic persecution

On January 26 this year, Catalonias regional parliament passed by a large majority a resolution to rehabilitate the memory of more than 700 women who were tortured and put to death centuries ago. Spanish historians have discovered that Catalonia was one of the first regions in Europe to carry out witch hunts. It was also considered one of the worst areas for executions.

Pro-independence and left-wing groups who led the campaign say the names of the women now pardoned were only recently discovered. They believe these women were victims of misogynistic persecution and want their memory honoured by naming streets after them. Before they called us witches, now they call us feminazis or hysterical or sexually frustrated. Before they carried out witch hunts, now we call them femicides, said regional deputy Jenn Diaz of the left-wing ERC, which is one of the largest parliamentary parties and holds the Catalan presidency.

Further north, the Witches of Scotland campaign, founded by barrister Claire Mitchell and writer Zoe Venditozzi, wants the Scottish parliament to grant a legal pardon for an estimated 2,500 people, mainly women, who were convicted and executed under Scotlands Witchcraft Act, in force from 1563 until 1736. They also want First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to offer an apology on March 8, International Womens Day, and for a national memorial to be erected to the victims.

An estimated 2,558 people executed in Scotland

It will right a historical wrong, so when historians look back at us they will see that in the 21st century we recognised it was wrong, Mitchell told Justice Info. It will also send a clear signal that could help people still fighting modern-day witchcraft accusations.

Mitchell is a lawyer working particularly on miscarriages of justice and how they can be righted. She is clearly inspired by that, and her research into the Witchcraft Act. She says she was also driven by just walking around the Scottish capital Edinburgh and realizing how little women are represented in street names and public places  either for their achievements or the terrible things that were sometimes done to them.

An estimated 3,837 people were accused of witchcraft under Scotlands Witchcraft Act and two-thirds of them were executed, often strangled and burned. That means 2,558 people, according to Witches of Scotland, and 84% were women. Its website gives some interesting insight into where some of the myths may have come from: The signs associated with witches (broomstick, cauldrons, black cats, black pointed hats) were actually things used by alewives  women who brewed weak beer in medieval times as a method of combatting the poor water quality at the time, it says. The sign above their door was a broomstick to let people know they could buy beer, they used large cauldrons for brewing, cats were kept to keep the mice at bay and the black pointed hats were used to make themselves easily identifiable at market.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement

Mitchell says the campaign in Catalonia was actually inspired by the Scottish campaign but had more funding and was able to move faster. But she is hopeful the Scottish parliament will also pass legislation this year introducing a pardon for the executed witches. Scottish National Party (SNP) member of Scotlands parliament Natalie Don plans to introduce a private members bill on this. Mitchell says the bill has support from the SNP, Green and Liberal parties and is now undergoing a period of public consultation.

Campaigners have not yet received any response from the First Minister or government about the prospect of an apology on March 8, but again Mitchell remains optimistic. Asked if it is likely that the government will apologise for something not its responsibility, she argues that there are precedents. She cites, for example, Scotlands 2019 pardon for all gay and bisexual men convicted under abolished laws criminalizing homosexuality.

So why now, centuries after the events? Clearly it comes at a time when Europe is examining its past, particularly its colonial past. It also comes in the wake of the #MeToo movement, with women speaking out against injustice. But Swiss historian Ostorero thinks there may sometimes also be political reasons. These initiatives are often led by feminist and left-wing groups wanting to assert the rights of minorities, she says. But in the case of Catalonia and Scotland also pro-independence movements. They want to show they are ready to recognize errors of the past when the central government is not.

The last witch executed in Europe was in Switzerland

Yet these are not the only places to have made such moves. Switzerland also executed witches in the Middle Ages, at a time when it was not only small but a weak federal state. Ostorero says that although there were many reasons, it was often a way for authorities to try and keep control through terror. Indeed, Switzerland persecuted presumed witches longer than any other country in Europe. In relation to its population, it also executed the most people for the crime of witchcraft.

The last witch to be executed in Switzerland and Europe was Anna Goldi in canton Glarus in 1782. She was decapitated in a public square. She was also the first to be rehabilitated in Switzerland, being posthumously exonerated by the Glarus cantonal parliament in 2008.

Several other Swiss cantons, especially in French-speaking Switzerland where the persecutions were worse, have also taken similar steps in the last 15 years, says Ostorero, including Fribourg and Geneva. In canton Vaud, a plaque was erected just over a year ago at the Ouchy castle in the cantonal capital Lausanne to the memory of one of the first witches persecuted in Vaud, Jaquette de Clause. It was in the Ouchy castle, by Lake Geneva, that she was imprisoned. Ostorero, who was consulted on this initiative, says it is part of a move by the Lausanne authorities to dedicate more streets and public spaces to women.

In Norway, the northern town of Vard opened a monument in 2011 commemorating the trial and execution in 1621 of 91 people for witchcraft.

And of course, it was not just Europe. In the US, the Massachusetts legislature in November 2001 passed an act exonerating all who had been convicted in the Salem witch trials and naming each of the innocent.

Fake news and modern-day witch hunts

So what is the relevance of such pardons today? Ostorero thinks it is an occasion for historians to plunge more deeply into the complex nature of these witch hunts. But more than that, she says there is a warning for our times. Most of these so-called witches were convicted on rumours, while rumours, false information and conspiracy theories are still causing harm today. She points to the example of QAnon, the right-wing, pro-Trump conspiracy theorists who were at least partly behind the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

And then, unfortunately, witch hunts are not a thing of the past, as recognised by a UN Human Rights Council Resolution adopted in July last year calling on all States to fight the practice. Leo Igwe, a campaigner at Humanists International against modern-day witchcraft accusations, says this problem is still rife in many parts of the world, including in Africa, India and Oceania. Those targeted are often elderly people  especially women  and children who have become a burden to their overstretched families and communities, he told Justice Info from Nigeria. He blames government failure to provide the necessary amenities, social benefits and free medical care.

Asked what happens to the victims, Igwe cites some examples. Children are sent to centres where they are subject to exorcism. They may be made to fast, tortured and beaten. In southern Nigeria they may be beaten with a hot iron, causing permanent injury and harm.

So would a pardon in Scotland for witches of the Middle Ages help the campaign in Africa now? Igwe is convinced it can have strong resonance, especially with modern technology and the fast spread of information. It sends a strong message that what happened in Scotland 300 years ago is wrong and what is happening now in Ghana, for example, is wrong  that people targeted by witchcraft accusations are victims, its a miscarriage of justice and they deserve an apology.
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Myanmar is back in our sights: the case at the International Court of Justice where Gambia has challenged Myanmar over genocide during the 2017 military crackdown against the Rohingya muslim minority is about to hold some hearings over some preliminary objections.

What has gotten people talking is the knotty issue of who represents the country at international fora  like the ICJ. Since the military took power again last year and is bloodily putting down demonstrations, the junta is not getting traction at international organisations, and theres a National Unity Government in exile that is objecting fiercely to any recognition of the generals.

Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the Global Justice Center in New York (and previously our guest on podcast about how gender issues could be part of a genocide case), lays out the tricky diplomatic and justice issues.

Meanwhile, we round up a variety of Myanmar international court cases, including one brought by Rohingya refugees in the UK and US who say the social media giant Facebook allowed hate speech against them to spread. They are demanding more than $150bn in compensation. And we cover the universal jurisdiction war crimes case in Argentina. Our guide to how all these varieties of procedures interconnect is international lawyer Priya Pillai.

Recommended reading Argentina comes to the aid of Myanmar Rohingyas
A group of UN labour experts have expressed their deep concern after evaluating the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in China, and in particular in the northwestern Xinjiang region.

A committee of 20 experts appointed by the International Labour Organization to evaluate how countries apply various international labour conventions took China to task in its annual report, published this week.

The committee had evaluated allegations by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in late 2020 that Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang were systematically being used for forced labour in agriculture.

Rights groups also say at least one million Uyghurs have been incarcerated in re-education camps in Xinjiang.

Beijing vehemently denies all such charges, and maintains the camps are vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.

 Politically motivated 

In its detailed response, which was attached to the ILO report, it slammed the ITUC allegations in particular as untrue and politically motivated.

The ILO report however said that after it duly considered the information provided by the Government in response to these serious allegations, the Committee expresses its deep concern.

The expert committee called on Beijing to reorient the mandate of vocational training and education centres from political re-education based on administrative detention.

Instead, it said, they should be assisting ethnic and religious minorities in the development and use of their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations.

The experts also called on Chinese authorities to stop requiring companies and trade unions to fulfil deradicalisation duties, and to allow them to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment.

The committee also asked Beijing to provide detailed information about the measures it was taking to ensure the activities at the vocational training centres in Xinjiang were in line with Chinas international obligations.

And it requested details on steps taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for the Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups when seeking to access employment outside the Xinjiang Autonomous Province.

It said Beijing should reply in full before all ILO member states during the UN agencys annual International Labour Conference in June.

 Genocide 

In its response, the Chinese government insisted that under its leadership, Xinjiang has made great progress in safeguarding human rights and development.

People from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang voluntarily participate in employment of their own choice, it said.

Washington and London, among the most outspoken critics of Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, hailed the ILO report.

In a statement, the US State Department called on Beijing to take the steps requested by the committee of experts, and reiterated its call for China to end its genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.

Britains ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, also welcomed the report.

The evidence of the scale and the severity of the human rights violations being perpetrated in Xinjiang, including forced labour, against the Uyghur Muslims is far-reaching, he said in a statement.

He also demanded that UN rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, be granted unfettered access to Xinjiang to verify the facts on the ground.

China has said Bachelet is welcome to visit the region but has not granted her the independent and unimpeded access she is seeking.

Her office has said it will soon release a widely anticipated report on the rights situation in Xinjiang, although the long-delayed publication date remains unclear.
The International Criminal Court will next week hear an appeal by Ugandan former Lords Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen against his conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ongwen, a former child soldier in the notorious rebel group led by the fugitive Joseph Kony in the early 2000s, was sentenced by the ICC in May last year to 25 years in jail for murder, rape and sexual enslavement.

Ongwen, whose nom de guerre was White Ant, had protested his innocence and cited his own history of being kidnapped while on his way to school by the LRA, and brutalised.

The appeal brought against the conviction is the largest ever considered by the chamber, raising complex and novel issues, the ICC said in a statement announcing the appeal hearings running from Monday to Friday.

Ongwens lawyers have raised 90 grounds of appeal against the verdict and 11 against the sentence, alleging legal, factual and procedural errors by the court, the Hague-based ICC said.

The LRA was founded three decades ago by former Catholic altar boy and self-styled prophet Kony, who launched a bloody rebellion in northern Uganda against President Yoweri Museveni.

Its brutal campaign to set up a state based on the Bibles Ten Commandments left more than 100,000 people dead and 60,000 children abducted, eventually spreading to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.

Ongwen handed himself in to the ICC in 2015 and was convicted of 61 charges. He was also the first person convicted by the ICC of the crime of forced pregnancy.

Judges said in their verdict that Ongwen personally ordered his soldiers to carry out massacres of more than 130 civilians at the Lukodi, Pajule, Odek, and Abok refugee camps between 2002 and 2005.

Civilians were locked in their homes and burned to death or beaten during the massacres, while mothers were made to transport the LRAs loot, forcing them to abandon their infant children by the roadside

But the court held back from the maximum possible 30-year sentence for his crimes, saying that his traumatic past as a child soldier was a mitigating factor.
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The Topeka Capitol Building houses the executive and legislative branches of government for the state of Kansas.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of distracting the attention of people of Goa from real issues like environment and employment.

Criticising Modi over his statement that if Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted, Goa could have been liberated "within hours" in 1947 when India attained independence, Gandhi said the prime minister does not understand the situation of those times and what was happening post-World War II.

Modi, while addressing an election rally at Mapusa near here on Thursday ahead of the February 14 assembly polls, had said it took 15 years for the Congress government to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule.

Speaking in a press conference in Margao, Gandhi said, "PM does not understand the history of those times, he does not understand what was going on post-World War II. He is coming to Goa to distract people from the real issues like environment and employment."
MBC gears up for the upcoming Kdrama "Tomorrow" with lead stars Lee Soo Hyuk, SF9's Rowoon, Kim Hee Su and Yoon Ji On.

The broadcast network dropped thrilling new stills ahead of its release, giving fans a glimpse of the 33-year-old star's intriguing character.

Lee Soo Hyuk Transforms as the Elite Grim Reaper in MBC's 'Tomorrow'

Over MBC's Instagram, they shared a sneak peek of Lee Soo Hyuk's role as he plays Guiding Management Team's elite leader, Park Joong Gil.

The South Korean heartthrob looked dashing in his sleek suit yet exuded a mysterious aura.

Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, "Tomorrow" follows the journey of Choi Joon Woong, portrayed by SF9's Rowoon.

Caught up in a challenging situation as he struggles to land a decent job, he accidentally crosses paths with the grim reapers whose role is to save the lives of people planning to commit suicide.

Surprisingly, Choi Joon Woong finds himself joining the team as their youngest member.

On the other hand, Lee Soo Hyuk works hand in hand with Kim Hee Sun, who took on the role of Goo Ryun, a skilled grim reaper and the Crisis Management Team leader.

Together with Goo Ryun is her fellow grim reaper Lim Ryoong Goo, played by Yoon Ji On.

In the forthcoming action fantasy series, the trio works under the spirit management headquarters of the afterlife known as Joomadeung or phantasmagoria.

As Lee Soo Hyuk returned to the small screen, producers praised the actor for his remarkable acting skills that suit the role.

They noted that he "completely melted into the character of Park Joong Gil through his detailed character analysis but by adding his signature deep gaze and his unique charm to the character."

Interestingly, the producers of "Tomorrow" lauded him for creating an extraordinary portrayal of a grim reaper adding that they "can't even imagine a Park Joong Gil who isn't Lee Soo Hyuk."

Helmed by the "Proof of Existence" director Kim Tae Yoon, the upcoming action fantasy series is set to debut in March 2022 after Im Si Hwan's Kdrama "Tracer."

This will be Lee Soo Hyuk's follow-up Kdrama after "Doom at Your Service" and his first project for 2022.

Lee Soo Hyuk, SF9's Rowoon, Lee Soo Hyuk, Kim Hee Sun, More Attends Script Reading for MBC's 'Tomorrow'

On January 20, MBC released a sneak peek of the upcoming Kdrama's script reading.

The cast showed off their chemistry and immersed themselves in their respective roles.

According to reports, producers were impressed with the cast members during the table read, pointing out that they exceeded their expectations.

Apart from the lead stars, "Tomorrow" cast includes Kim Chae Eun and "Miracle in Cell No. 7" child star Gal So Won as the young Kim Hee Sun.

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Americans in Ukraine on Friday to leave within one to two days, spelling out what a Russian attack on the country could look like -- and that civilians could die.
Kelowna city councillors will travel to Vancouver later this month to tour the Olympic Village area to get some ideas for how the old Tolko mill site in downtown Kelowna might be redeveloped.
Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin questions witnesses during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Sept. 17, 2020 in Washington. Slotkin complained Wednesday about a General Motors plant outside Lansing thats being starved of parts from Canada by the ongoing closure of the border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/POOL via AP-Chip Somodevilla
In a new paper published this week in the journal Science Advances, paleoanthropologists report hominin fossils from Grotte Mandrin in France that reveal the presence of anatomically modern Homo sapiens in Europe between 56,800 and 51,700 years ago. The discovery indicates that the movement of modern humans into Europe and the overlap with Neanderthals is more complex than previously thought.

Our species, Homo sapiens, emerged in Africa over 300,000 years ago, and anatomically modern humans by at least 195,000 years ago.

The first pulses of early modern humans outside Africa are found in Israel at 194,000 to 177,000 years ago and possibly Greece by 210,000 years ago.

Modern human remains are documented in East Asia as early as 80,000 years ago, and from archeological evidence, modern humans reached Australia by 65,000 years ago.

In Europe, however, their appearance seems to have occurred much later, perhaps because of ecological barriers and/or the occupation of the region by Neanderthals.

The earliest evidence of Homo sapiens settlement in Europe is constrained to around 45,000-43,000 years ago based on five isolated dental remains from three Italian sites and one site in Bulgaria.

The new evidence from Grotte Mandrin near the town of Malataverne, Mediterranean France, pushes this date back by about 10,000 years.

The Mandrin findings document the first clearly demonstrable alternating occupation of a site by Neanderthals and modern humans, said Professor Chris Stringer, a researcher in the Centre for Human Evolution Research at the Natural History Museum, London.

Weve often thought that the arrival of modern humans in Europe led to the pretty rapid demise of Neanderthals, but this new evidence suggests that both the appearance of modern humans in Europe and disappearance of Neanderthals is much more complex than that.

Professor Stringer and colleagues unearthed the dental remains of at least seven individuals in 12 archaeological layers of Grotte Mandrin.

They identified six of these individuals as Neanderthal, but in a layer sandwiched between the Neanderthal layers, a deciduous upper molar from a modern human child was found.

They also uncovered stone tools from the unique Neronian industry, which has previously been regarded as a technological anomaly due to its distinctive features and the fact it had been found in between classic Neanderthal Mousterian layers.

However, in Grotte Mandrin, the presence of the modern human molar in the Neronian layer led the researchers to directly link this stone tool industry with Homo sapiens for the first time.

In Grotte Mandrin, youve got a really nice sequence dated between about 60,000-40,000 years ago, Professor Stringer said.

In there are Mousterian stone tools made by Neanderthals, then the Neronian, then back to Mousterian tools, and then afterwards the appearance of modern humans with the Aurignacian industry.

The presence of the modern human molar alongside the Neronian is where the story really gets firmed up  both Neanderthal and modern human populations replaced the other several times in the same territory.

The finds from Grotte Mandrin also suggest the Mediterranean basin played a major role in the geographic expansion of modern humans into Western Eurasia.

The findings from Mandrin are really exciting and are another piece in the puzzle of how and when modern humans arrived in Europe, Professor Stringer said.

Understanding more about the overlap between modern humans and other hominins in Eurasia is vital to understanding more about their interactions, and how we became the last remaining human species.

_____

Ludovic Slimak et al. 2022. Modern human incursion into Neanderthal territories 54,000 years ago at Mandrin, France. Science Advances 8 (6); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9496
Truckers and supporters gather and discuss their next step after Ontarios premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency, giving the province sweeping laws and fines, as Truckers continue to block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, in Windsor, Ont., Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A 34-year-old Kenosha woman, formerly employed as an in-home care worker for a company in Milwaukee, faces six criminal charges for alleged thefts from a client.

Teisha M. Christensen, of the 7900 block of 60th Avenue, is charged with one felony count of unauthorized use of an individuals personal identifying information, along with five misdemeanor counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

The felony carries a maximum possible prison sentence of three years, three years extended supervision and a fine of $10,000. Christensen is due to make her initial appearance before Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Larry Keating on March 1 at 1 p.m.

According to the criminal complaint, a Kenosha County Sheriffs Department deputy spoke with the victim at her Village of Bristol residence Jan. 20, who stated that she and her husband require in-home health care on a daily basis. The woman stated workers had been sent from Home Instead, which is based in Milwaukee.

The woman stated she noticed several purchases for a guinea pig and other related items, but told the deputy she does have a guinea pig, along with one purchase from an online clothing company.

Christensen had been at the victims residence the past two months, the complaint states, and had been there Jan. 18, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that timeframe, the victim stated her credit card that is linked to an Amazon account was left next to her computer.

The address for the transactions was listed to the defendants, the complaint states.

According to the victim, her computer office is located away from she and her husbands bedroom, so she cannot see if anyone is in there. She said she spoke to a supervisor for the health care company Jan. 20, and was told the defendant would no longer be coming to her house, and the company would cover any financial loss.

The deputy then spoke with a different worker at the home, who stated she saw Christensen in the computer office. The defendant allegedly stated the stair chair was beeping, so I went in there to try and silence it. The other worker also stated the computer was on at that time.

When the deputy spoke with Christensen, she admitted she uses the office computer to check her emails from time to time. She at first denied using the victims credit card, but when the deputy observed she had a guinea pig, she responded, Oh yeah, I did make those purchase, but I thought I was on my own account., the complaint states.

In order to make those purchases, the deputy stated the defendant had to manually change the delivery address and the victims credit card number, the deputy stated, so he believed there was no way she believed she was on her own account.

After the defendant was confronted with the clothing purchase, she replied, OK, I take full responsibility for all of it, and then offered to pay for it with cash in her wallet.

The company supervisor told the deputy Christensen no longer is employed there, the company states.

A further check of the transactions revealed five total with an amount of $613.83. A sixth pending transaction from another clothing company was found Jan. 24, according to the complaint.

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UW Health providers, staff, students and volunteers are required to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster by May 2, the organization said Wednesday.

That plan is an outlier. Advocate Aurora Health, the City of Racine and Ascension Health  all of which have vaccine requirements for their staffs  do not plan on mandating boosters. Neither does St. Louis-based SSM Health, which has seven Wisconsin hospitals.

Were strongly encouraging boosters, but not requiring them at this time. The previous requirement remains in place, LeeAnn Betz, a spokesperson for Advocate Aurora Health, said in an email.

We have not discussed that at all, City of Racine Public Health Administrator Dottie-Kay Bowersox said Wednesday, according to city spokesperson Shannon Powell.

Added an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson in a statement: The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends COVID-19 boosters to help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. We are strongly encouraging all associates to receive a COVID-19 booster and are providing many opportunities for associates to receive their COVID-19 booster at multiple Ascension Wisconsin locations. We cannot stress enough the importance of vaccination and following masking and social distancing practices as we work together to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and care for all those in need.

While we strongly encourage everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, it is not required at this time, SSM Health spokesperson Kim Sveum said. We continue to evaluate the situation.

At UW Health, those who dont get boosters by May 2 may lose their jobs.

Boosters can be given five months after the last Pfizer or Moderna vaccine dose, or two months after a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

People who have a documented medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated or a religious conviction as defined in state law can file for an exemption to the vaccine requirement, UW Health said.

Boosters save lives, data show

UW Health said recent data show that boosters significantly reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, and efficacy from initial vaccination wanes over time.

According to December data, a person not fully vaccinated was seven times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, 57 times more likely to be hospitalized with it and 58 times more likely to die from it than a person who was fully vaccinated and had a booster or additional dose, according to Public Health Madison and Dane County.

A person vaccinated with only the primary series was three times more likely to get COVID-19, 10 times more likely to be hospitalized with it and 11 times more likely to die from it than a person who had the primary series and a booster or additional dose, the city-county health department said.

On Wednesday, the department said the county had 121 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the lowest level since Dec. 28, including 22 in intensive care, the lowest since Nov. 12.

In July, the hospitalization levels were down to a daily average of about 15 hospitalized and five in the ICU.

Our staff have been incredibly supportive of vaccination efforts in our system, our community and our state, Dr. Jeff Pothof, UW Healths chief quality officer, said in a statement. They see first-hand how important it is to get a booster as we deal with the omicron surge.
Vermont could become the first state to give full rights for anyone to have an abortion.
Severe storms ripped through communities throughout western Kentucky in the early hours of the morning on Dec. 11. (Photo by Morgan Bass)
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

Today

Rain likely. Becoming windy late. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Becoming windy late. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
System error

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e838cfe1d0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838d5f5b0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e838cfe1d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838d5f5b0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8387e7190)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838d5f5b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838d5f5b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e82d5a5738)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e838b97578)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e838b97578)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Looking to update your home? Watch the KHQ Spring Home Design Guide featuring the areas top home improvement businesses on Sat, May 7 at 4:30pm on KHQ. And click here to win a $500 VISA gift card, courtesy of our presenting partner - VPC Electric!
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System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e82d68bf08)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e8388385d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e82d68bf08)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e8388385d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8388380e0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e8388385d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e8388385d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e82d5a5a20)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e83886ca88)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e83886ca88)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
St Lukes Hospital are celebrating Older Persons Week, from February 14 to 18, with events and seminars.

This week will also mark the fifth year of the Geriatric Emergency Medicine Service (GEMS) in St. Lukes Hospital.

On each consecutive day during the week a different topic related to Older Persons will be highlighted with information stands, presentations and fun competitions in the foyer of St. Lukes Hospital for staff. Monday starts with cakes and bakes for the GEMS Birthday Celebrations.

GEMS Occupational Therapist, Danielle Reddy, said, We are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful GEMS service we started in 2017 to ensure the patient journey for older adults is of a gold standard as well as sharing our skills, knowledge and expertise in frailty and older persons care. We want to share our experiences, educate our staff on how to care for everybody through individualised pathways and have a bit of fun along the way. Over the past 5 years we have intervened with over 7000 people in this process.

The focus of the week will be on dementia, delirium, falls and the local community agencies who support patients on their discharge home.

The GEMS in St Lukes Hospital helps and treats patients over 70 years of age. The main purpose of the GEMS team is to provide early identification of frailty. The service establishes an individualised care plan for older patients from the start of their hospital journey while endeavouring to ensure they have the required support for their needs when discharged home.

St Lukes Hospital work on a home first ethos and the main priority is to support both the patient and their family in accessing any specific supports to enable them to continue residing in their own home.

Danielle went on to say, This week will be full of information on the common problems we see with older adults that present to the hospital. The GEMS service has not only been a turning point for care for our older patients but a joy to work in. Its been hard for staff to see joy in their work the past two years but thats not the case in the GEMS team. We are here to provide the right care, at the right time, from the right people.

The service has been developing over the past few years, to a hospital to home model of care and is now part of the ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons). The GEMS service in St Lukes Hospital has also won an achievement award from the HSE and the Ireland East Hospital Group

The multidisciplinary GEMS team is fully focused on trying to reverse the adverse effects of frailty to allow people to live more independently at home.

The National Integrated Care Programme, Older Person (NICP OP) improves the life of older persons by providing access to integrated care and support that is planned around their needs and choices, supporting them to live well in their own homes and communities

For more information or questions regarding GEMS and the care of Older Persons in St Lukes Hospital please email SLK.GEMS@maila.hse.ie.
Homestead, FL (33030)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 74F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 74F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
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Kokomo, IN (46901)

Today

Rain early with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with overcast skies late. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
President Moon Jae-in poses for a photo with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during their meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Feb. 11. Yonhap





President Moon Jae-in held a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Friday, and discussed ways to enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, including a bilateral free trade agreement.







During the meeting, Moon described Cambodia as a major partner for South Korea's economic strategy of reducing its reliance on China, noting that relations between the two countries "have dynamically developed in various fields."







The President also said that South Korea's free trade deal with Cambodia, signed in October last year, was "meaningful" because it was South Korea's first free trade pact with a Southeast Asian nation along the Mekong River.







He also congratulated Cambodia for taking over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying South Korea will actively support Cambodia's role in ASEAN.







Hun Sen asked Moon to ratify the free trade pact, saying Cambodia has completed all internal procedures and completed ratification







"I expect you to make more efforts on ratification," he told Moon via a translator.







The Cambodian leader also asked South Korea to provide more support to Cambodia's industrial sectors, saying the country has prepared to introduce a new law on investment and the law would benefit South Korean investors.







The Cambodian leader arrived in Seoul, Thursday, for a four-day visit. During his stay in South Korea, he will co-host an international forum on peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Cambodia's foreign ministry. (Yonhap)


Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Rain and thunderstorms. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain ending overnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain early with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High near 60F. ESE winds shifting to WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. High 61F. ESE winds shifting to SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early with overcast skies late. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
A video of TWICE member Sana performing and experiencing a wardrobe malfunction has resurfaced and garnered attention. Keep on reading for all the details.

Footage of TWICE Sana Experiencing Wardrobe Malfunction Resurfaces

While performing on stage, there are times when accidents are inevitable for idols. However, not everyone is quick enough or brave enough to handle these incidents smoothly. In TWICE, a member is often praised as the "troubleshooting queen" by her supporters  and it is Sana! She did not get this nickname without working for it. In fact, Sana has experienced several wardrobe malfunctions and accidents on stage, and she impresses with how well she hides it each time.

One of her most legendary stages is TWICE's performance of "FANCY" at the 2019 MBN Hero Concert. During the performance, Sana started experiencing issues with her necklace. As the strong and fast-paced choreography of "FANCY" continued, Sana's necklace started becoming more and more tangled, and it appeared to be slipping off her neck.

Despite that, Sana still appeared utterly immersed in the performance. However, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the idol's necklace had disappeared in the middle of the performance.

After re-examining the video, people nothing that while dancing, Sana pulled the necklace from her neck and threw it away. Since Sana's movements perfectly matched the "FANCY" choreography, many did not realize that Sana had thrown away the jewelry that was once on her neck.

How Did People React to TWICE Sana's Way of Handling the Wardrobe Malfunction?

When people realized that Sana had done this, they praised her for her professionalism and acknowledged her "troubleshooting queen" title! In addition, people were impressed with how quickly she resolved the situation and how she did so without a moment of hesitation.

Some comments concerning Sana's actions read, "Sana is the queen of handling situations," "Very fast and accurate," "Not a single nervous move," "These costume mistakes have Sana throwing things quickly and mercilessly," and "She threw it without a moment's hesitation. +10 professional points!"

Check out Sana's 'FANCY' fancam here:

This is not the first time Sana's professionalism has been praised. During TWICE's Seoul concerts, the idol was praised for handling a technical difficulty involving her microphone. After disappearing backstage, the TWICE member appeared with a hand-held mic and performed "SCIENTIST" with it. She was praised for her way of handling the situation and for proving that the group sang live.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

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Written by Alexa Lewis
BLACKPINK Lisa greeted her bandmate Rose on Instagram on her 25th birthday, but her post became a hot topic online just because of one little detail.

BLACKPINK Lisa's Birthday Post for Rose Becomes Hot Topic Only Because Of One Small Detail

On Feb. 11, Lisa uploaded a photo to her Instagram story to greet her bandmate Rose a happy birthday. The picture shows the two BLACKPINK members displaying their swag.

Together with the picture, Lisa wrote, "Happy 25th birthday to my true friend," and tagged Rose's Instagram account.

While there's nothing wrong with the Instagram post, it became a hot topic among netizens because of a small detail they saw on BLACKPINK member Lisa. Her teeth, in particular, have something that fans don't see every day.

On the online community MLB Park, a netizen shared Lisa's birthday post for Rose and wrote, "Those who haven't seen one would think they are cavities."

The "cavities" the netizen was referring to are the gold teeth caps on BLACKPINK Lisa. And, those who are unfamiliar with it would mistakenly think of it as tooth decay.

READ MORE: BLACKPINK Lisa Reveals What it Was Like Meeting the Members For the First Time

The Thai rapper had those teeth ornaments when BLACKPINK performed "How You Like That" during their comeback showcase on SBS back in 2020. The song served as a pre-release single ahead of their first studio album "THE ALBUM."

In the comments section of the netizen's post, other online community users admitted to mistakenly seeing BLACKPINK member Lisa's gold teeth caps as cavities. Some netizens say that it looks great on the rapper.

Since more netizens flock to talk about it, the post has now garnered over 5,000 views with over 1,000 comments.

What do you think of BLACKPINK Lisa's gold teeth caps?

CELINE Parfumerie Drops Latest Campaign Video Starring BLACKPINK Lisa

In other news, CELINE Parfumerie has released its newest campaign and its stars their global ambassador, BLACKPINK Lisa. The Thai rapper has been in collaboration with the luxury brand since 2019 when she was chosen to become the muse of Hedi Slimane but she was only announced as the ambassador a year later.

Filmed and directed by Hedi Slimane in France, the teaser marks the brand's first official campaign with the K-pop star. Lisa is dressed up in full CELINE look, wearing a ruffled dress that is accompanied by her new bob haircut. Featuring Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes" as the music background, the video shows close shots of CELINE's "Parade" perfume.

BLACKPINK Lisa also shared the visuals of CELINE Parfumerie's latest campaign on her Instagram feed and story.

Apart from being the global ambassador for CELINE, Lisa is also an ambassador for other popular brands such as the Philippine fashion brand Penshoppe, the Italian luxury brand Bulgari and the American beauty brand MAC Cosmetics.

Because of her many endorsement deals, BLACKPINK Lisa is reportedly the richest member of the group. She has also recently entered the Top 10 list of richest female K-pop idols that includes IU, Girls' Generation YoonA, Bae Suzy and more.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Mhaliya Scott
The meeting provided an opportunity for updates on developments, relevant action and legislative initiatives in the EU and Sri Lanka. The discussion focused on democracy, governance, rule of law, human rights, including the rights of minorities, women, children and labour rights, and freedom of expression and association.

A joint statement issued by EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission is as follows;

The European Union (EU) and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held their 24th meeting of the Joint Commission on 8 February 2022 in Brussels. The meeting, which was held in a friendly and open atmosphere, reviewed bilateral relations and entailed an exchange of views and updates on a wide range of topics of bilateral interest  ranging from governance, reconciliation and human rights, to trade, development cooperation, climate change and environment, sectoral cooperation, security and counter-terrorism, and cooperation in multilateral fora.

With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU congratulated Sri Lanka on the countrys effective vaccine strategy. Highlighting the need to address vulnerabilities and inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic, the EU emphasised its commitment to making the COVID-19 vaccine accessible to low- and middle-income countries in a fair and equitable manner. Sri Lanka appreciated the EUs continued contribution to global vaccine equity.

The meeting provided an opportunity for updates on developments, relevant action and legislative initiatives in the EU and Sri Lanka. The discussion focused on democracy, governance, rule of law, human rights, including the rights of minorities, women, children and labour rights, and freedom of expression and association.

Sri Lanka apprised on progress in reconciliation and in the independent institutions, notably the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), the Office for Reparations (OR), the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). The EU strongly encouraged Sri Lanka to continue cooperation and engagement with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. In this context, the EU underlined the importance of independence and effective functioning of the Independent Institutions. The EU and Sri Lanka concurred on the importance of empowering civil society and giving it the necessary space to function in all its diversity. The EU reiterated its continued commitment to support Sri Lanka in justice reform and reconciliation.

Sri Lanka reiterated its objective to achieve measurable, tangible and verifiable results on the ground in meeting its commitments. In this context, the EU welcomed the submission by the Government of Sri Lanka of amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). However, the EU noted that important elements had not been included in the Amendment Bill gazetted. Sri Lanka took note of the views expressed by the EU to take further steps to make the PTA fully compliant with international norms. In the interim, while taking note of the administrative steps taken in the form of directives issued by the Inspector General of Police, the EU urged Sri Lanka to continue reducing the use of the PTA, and to undertake further practical and administrative steps to release on bail those detained under the PTA without charges.

The Joint Commission took stock of the conclusions of the Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation held virtually on 26 January 2022. The EU and Sri Lanka noted the significance of bilateral trade relations. In this regard, the EU strongly urged Sri Lanka to lift forthwith import restrictions preventing many European products from entering its market. Sri Lanka clarified that it has imposed temporary import restrictions on non-essential items, strictly as an interim measure, due to a foreign exchange shortfall resulting from the impact of the global pandemic. Sri Lanka noted that these measures are subject to continuous and progressive review. Sri Lanka appreciated the valued contribution of the GSP+ regime to the countrys sustainable development. The EU acknowledged the constructive engagement by Sri Lankan stake-holders during the GSP+ monitoring mission in September 2021. The two sides reviewed Sri Lankas compliance with 27 International Conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance covered by the GSP+ scheme. Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to effective implementation of the 27 conventions, and noted its adherence to the principle of non-discrimination, and the removal of any further impediments in the exercise of labour rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU invited Sri Lanka to provide further updates on progress.

The Joint Commission also discussed the conclusions of the Working Group on Development Cooperation, which took place on 2 February 2022. The Working Group reviewed all aspects of EU - Sri Lanka development cooperation, and discussed priorities of the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for 2021-2027. They also discussed the interventions adopted in 2021, including the COVID-19 response package. The EU noted that the MIP, which focuses on Green Recovery and Inclusive and Peaceful Society, supports Sri Lankas development priorities, and is aligned with the external dimensions of the European Green Deal, and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Appreciating the EUs development cooperation, Sri Lanka reiterated the need for it to complement Sri Lankas national and developmental priorities. The EU and Sri Lanka expressed their commitment to work together on joint priorities under the MIP.

The EU and Sri Lanka agreed on the importance of continued cooperation in deterring and eliminating IUU fishing practices, and honouring commitments of the partnership.

Issues related to migration and readmission were also discussed.

The EU and Sri Lanka exchanged on ways to deepen cooperation in higher education and research and technical cooperation under the Erasmus+ programme, the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie programme, and the Horizon Europe framework programme.

The EU welcomed Sri Lankas update on its Nationally Determined Contributions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the countrys commitment to ambitious targets. The EU looked forward to working closely with Sri Lanka, bilaterally and in multilateral fora, on climate action and environment protection. Both sides exchanged views on priorities ahead of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The EU and Sri Lanka reviewed ongoing cooperation in the area of security and counter-terrorism. Sri Lanka appreciated the EUs continued listing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organisation. Both sides stressed the importance of adherence to international norms and standards in the fight against terrorism. They reiterated willingness to further enhance cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness.

The EU and Sri Lanka highlighted their commitment to continue joint efforts in the promotion of a rules based international order and effective multilateralism. They also discussed regional developments, and cooperation in the Indian Ocean. The EU presented Global Gateway, the new EU plan for major investments in infrastructure development around the world, which was launched on 1 December 2021. The initiative was welcomed by Sri Lanka.

The EU and Sri Lanka agreed to convene the next Joint Commission meeting in Colombo in 2023. They also discussed the timeframe of the next Working Group meetings under the Joint Commission.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, and Admiral (Prof.) JayanathColombage, Secretary, Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka.

The Joint Commission, which oversees the 1995 EU-Sri Lanka Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development, deals with a broad range of bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Its tasks are to ensure the proper functioning and implementation of the Agreement, set priorities, and make recommendations.

All three Working Groups established under the terms of the Joint Commission reported back from their respective meetings: the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights in September 2021; the Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation Issues in January 2022; and the Working Group on Development Cooperation in February 2022.
Eight-Dimensional Analysis of the Chinese Economy in 2021

by Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka

The year 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The COVID-19 pandemic continuedto spreadworldwideand the global economic growth lacked momentum. Against this backdrop, the CPC has rallied and led the Chinese people to fight their way; the Chinese economy has been on a steady recovery and development path and handed over a dazzling transcript, fully demonstrating its extraordinary resilience and vitality and injecting much-needed impetus into global economic recovery, which was highlighted byeight dimensions:

First, worlds leading economic growth was sustained. The gross domestic product (GDP) reached114.367 trillion yuan (about USD 17.7 trillion), registering a year-on-year growth of 8.1%, still at the forefront of major economies. Equilibrium in the balance of payments was basically realized, and foreign exchange reserves maintained above USD 3.2 trillion for eight consecutive months, with a balance of USD 3.25 trillion at the end of the year, ranking first in the world steadily.

Second, new jobs in urban areas continued to expand. The newly increased employed in urban areas totaled 12.69 million andthe surveyed unemployment rate averaged 5.1%, 0.5% lower than that of the previous year.

Third, consumer price was kept within a reasonable range. Efforts to ensure supply and stabilize prices continued to be intensified and the supply of basic living necessities increased. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) went up moderately by 0.9%.

Fourth, foreign trade and foreign investment utilization grew rapidly. The annual trade value of goods surpassed the USD 6 trillion mark for the first time (USD 6.05 trillion, up by 30%), ranking first worldwide for the fifth year running. Foreign investment in actual use hit a record high of 1.15 trillion yuan (USD 173.48 billion, up by 20.2% ).

Fifth, another bumper grain harvest was secured. The total output of grain was 682.85 million tons, a new high. It has maintained above 600 million tons for seven consecutive years, laying a solid foundation for ensuring market supply and stabilizing prices.

Sixth, new industries and new forms of business thrived. The value added of high-tech manufacturing went up by 18.2% year on year. The new generation of information technology accelerated its penetration and integration into new consumption areas such as online shopping, mobile payment, and online-to-offline commerce.

Seventh, peoples livelihood was strongly and effectively safeguarded. The growth of residents income wasbasically in line with national economic growth and poverty alleviation outcomes have been consolidated and expanded.Investment toimprove peoples livelihood has continued to increase, withthat in the education and health sector up by 11.7% and 24.5% respectivelyover the previous year.

Eighth, Chinas contribution to the world economy expanded. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China is expected to account for about 18% of the global economy in 2021, representing a steady increase in successive years. China has become the worlds second largest consumer market, with imports of goods and services worth USD 2,687.5 billion and USD 427 billion respectively in 2021.The annual outward foreign direct investment was 936.69 billion yuan (USD 145.2 billion, up by 9.2%), 14.8%of which flowed into countries along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative. So far, China has signed 19 free trade agreements with 26countries and regions. In particular, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement entered into force on 1January 2022, paving the way for the creation of the worlds largest free trade area, in terms of population, GDP and trade value, with the greatestdevelopment potential. Meanwhile, China is positively engaged in multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), IMF, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), G20, etc., contributing a lot to improving global economic governance and promoting economic globalization.

The world economy is recovering from the troughs, but the global industrial and supply chains have been disrupted; commodities prices continue to rise; energy supply remains tight. These risks compound one another and heighten the uncertainty about economic recovery. The Chinese economy is also faced withvarious challenges, but its fundamentals characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. China is striving to build a new development pattern with the domestic market as the mainstay and the domestic and international markets (dual circulation) reinforcing each other, indicating brighter prospects for the Chinese economy, which will continue to serve as a strong engine for global economic recovery.

China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa. China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up and further integrate into the regional and global economy. China will work together with all countries including Sri Lanka in promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, making the pie of the global market even bigger, strengthening the mechanisms for sharing benefits globally and exploring new ways of international cooperation, to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results and promote the world economy to head for a spring full of vitality.
Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com.
Fort Lauderdale  Calls to 911 about a shooting near Fort Lauderdale beach led officers to find a man dead Thursday night, police said.

Shortly before midnight, Fort Lauderdale Police were called to the 800 block of Seabreeze Boulevard, a popular tourist area lined with hotels, bars and restaurants.

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Officers found a man who had been shot. Steven Campbell, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, was pronounced him dead at the scene, police said.

Fort Lauderdale Police Departments Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting.

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Authorities ask any witnesses who were in the area about midnight and may have information about what happened to call Fort Lauderdale Police.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
US officials are currently weighing a wide set of sanctions on Russia meant to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching an invasion into Ukraine, according to people familiar with the discussions.
LAUDERHILL  Two Lauderhill firefighters pulled their ambulance into an empty Station 110 and were confronted by a man who, within minutes, climbed inside and attempted to drive off Tuesday night.

The firefighters of Rescue Crew 30 saw the man, later identified by police as Freddie Ross, 30, running frantically across Northwest 31st Avenue toward the fire station before he climbed over the gate in the stations back parking lot, Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Levy said.

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Concerned for his safety, the firefighters followed Ross into the stations parking lot at 3120 NW 11th Place, Levy said.

Video released Friday by the Lauderhill Fire Department shows Ross walking toward the rescue truck parked behind the fire station shortly before 9 p.m., and he quickly approaches the drivers side door.

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Seconds later, Ross reaches his hand through the drivers side window, attempts to pull the door open and then climbs through the window into the truck, the video shows. As the firefighters waited for police, they hop out of the truck, leaving Ross inside, according to Levy.

The firefighters turn their backs on the truck and begin to walk toward the building and out of the cameras view when the truck starts to reverse, the video shows. With the truck still reversing, the firefighters run back and pull Ross out of the drivers side door once the ambulance abruptly stops.

While waiting for the arrival of Lauderhill Police, the firefighters were able to maintain their composure, de-escalate the situation and keep the male subject calm, Levy said in a news release. Due to the quick actions of the two Lauderhill firefighters, they were able to prevent serious injury to motorists and prevent damage to the ambulance and other property.

[ Man tries to carjack Lauderhill Fire Rescue truck, firefighters fight back ]

Lauderhill Police officers arrived within minutes and placed Ross in handcuffs, the video shows. Major Michael Santiago, a spokesperson for the department, said Ross is under medical care and is not yet facing charges.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Are you planning to attend NH Pumpkin Festival this year? If not, what would make you attend?
February at the Lake means winter weather, romance and... Mardi Gras!

It may not be summer, but there's still plenty to do at Lake of the Ozarks. Check out these ways to beat the winter blues and have some fun this month at the Lake...

1. Valentine's, Lake-Style

Ready to make Valentine's Day special? It's on a Monday this year, so why not make it a whole, long-weekend?

Lake of the Ozarks restaurants and resorts offer special Valentines deals...

Lodge of Four Seasons's Valentine's Package: From February 10  16th, enjoy a cozy room and welcome amenity, $100 dining credit at HKs Restaurant & Bar, and a delicious breakfast for two. https://4seasonsresort.com/valentines-package/

JB Hook's: Indulge! Steak & lobster and live music at JB Hook's in Lake Ozark https://jbhooks.blogspot.com/2022/01/pop-question-at-jb-hooks.html

Stark Caverns: Here's a unique Valentine's experience! A Sweetheart Black Light Tour of Stark Caverns. The themed Black Light Cave Tour includes a Champagne Reception, Chocolate Tasting, and Keepsake Photo. More info at StarkCaverns.com.

2. February 1821: Mardi Gras Pub Crawl

Now a four-day event, the Mardi Gras Pub Crawl is a popular annual bar hopping event, where participants head to their favorite pubs around Osage Beach and Lake Ozark.

3. February 2526: Home, Business And Lake Living Expo 2022

Feb. 25, 2022: 3 - 7 p.m.

Feb. 26, 2022: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Regalia Hotel and Conference Center

The Home, Business, and Lake Living EXPO is the place to be for the latest innovations, offerings, and ideas related to personal and business services as well as in the home building, landscaping and remodeling industries! This annual event is organized by the Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce.

4. Saturday, Feb. 26: Winterfest 2022 - Everything Starts With "R"

This Daybreak Rotary event is always a hit! This year's themeThings That Start With 'R'means you could wear Red... or Royal Blue... or Ribbons... or Rainboots...

5. Saturday, Feb. 26: Lake Of The Ozarks Polar Bear Plunge: Freezin' For A Reason

2 p.m.  Public Beach #2

It's the most wonderful, miserable day of the year! Hundreds of Polar Plungers hop into the frigid Lake waters at Public Beach #2 in support of Missouri Special Olympics. Join in the fundraising fun... or watch safely from shore.

6. Saturday, Feb. 26: Lake Of The Ozarks Polar Bear Strut: Freezin' For A Reason

9 a.m.  Public Beach #2

Before the Plunge comes the Strut. Absurd costumes are a must, and team themes are even better. This parade is a riot.

7. Sunday, Feb. 27: Lake Of The Ozarks Wedding Expo

12 p.m.  3 p.m.  The Lodge of Four Seasons, Granada Room

Whether you're planning your wedding, or you help plan everyone else's this is a show not to miss!

BONUS: February 1620: Miami International Boat Show By Progressive

Sick of winter weather? Head to balmy Miami for the Miami International Boat Show!
DELAVAN  An Elkhorn area man faces new charges after he reportedly overdosed while on bond for a different felony drug charge.

Zakary Fibish, 30, of the N6400 block of Highway 12,6, Elkhorn, is being charged with felony bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were called to a City of Delavan residence for a report of a possible overdose on May 20, 2021. The male subject, later identified as Fibish, was reportedly unconscious and not breathing.

Officers reportedly performed CPR on Fibish and EMS personnel gave Fibish several doses of Narcan before transporting him to Mercy Hospital.

Fibish had been previously charged with felony offenses including possession with intent to deliver heroin. Fibish was let out on bond on May 7, 2021, just 13 days before the overdose.
Members of the Walworth County Democratic Party claim that guests at last years county fair spit and yelled profanities toward them. Those members believe the hostility was exacerbated by vendors selling vulgar anti-Joe Biden merchandise.

Going into this year, a year with congressional and gubernatorial elections in November, members of the party are still concerned.

Larry Gaffey, the Walworth County Fairs general manager, said the fairs committees are working on contract vendor language and possibly a new policy pertaining to some of the profane and offensive material like the F-Biden flags and T-shirts.

But he said what is considered offensive is subjective so the committee must be careful making policies. It may be offensive to some, but not others, Gaffey said.

When situations did escalate, Gaffey said he knows security was called and quickly responded.

Members of the Walworth County Democratic Party spoke at a fair board meeting in December, and are hoping that changes can be implemented by the next fair.

Ellen Holly, chairman of the Walworth County Democratic Party, said at the 2021 fair there was attempted vandalism, overt threats and repeated attempts at intimidation, vulgarity and profanity directed at the democratic partys fair booth.

This was not a safe environment for our volunteers and thousands of visitors, she said.

Hearing that the fairs board is discussing new ideas for next year, she was optimistic that there can be some solutions in place for the 2022 fair to help alleviate the vitriol. She said she looks forward to hearing how the board plans to address the behavior.

Holly said she believes these behaviors were fueled by certain vendors merchandise, which featured profanity in the form of F-Biden products. One car even bore the message on a banner in the demolition derby, Holly said.

This vitriolic messaging enabled a hostile environment around the Walworth County Democratic Partys booth at the fair, Holly said. She said several fair attendees wearing F-Biden merchandise approached democratic party workers with pointed aggression.

We were told we were going to hell, Holly said. We had several people get right in our faces in a posturing position.

Holly said she was particularly concerned for the booths volunteers, many of whom are older adults age 60 and up. These volunteers were not prepared to deescalate threatening situations, Holly said  nor should they need to be.

Having spent three decades working in education, Holly, a retired teacher, said the disrespectful behaviors from younger fair attendees were particularly troubling.

The disrespect, the in-your-face, the spitting...Ive never had a kid engage with me that way, Holly said.

Over the course of the county fair, many visitors of the democrats booth showed interest and respect, Holly said.

But the vitriol ... was just very damaging, she said.

Holly said it is important to address this vitriol in politics, especially as election season approaches. She worries that healthy, civil political discourse in Walworth County is at risk.

Holly said she and several other volunteers submitted comment sheets alerting the fair board to the harmful effects of the F-Biden merchandise circulating the fairgrounds.

Charlene Staples, vice chair of the county democrats, said, I just cant believe that the agricultural society would allow obscenities to be sold on the grounds ... Walworth County is better than that.

There are more appropriate ways for critics of the Biden administration to express their political views, Staples and Holly said  and there certainly are lots of other ways to make money than selling those shirts, Holly added.

There should be some accountability, Staples said. Republican or democrat, we all deserve respect.

Gaffey said the board is taking concerns seriously. The board is working on it.

He said in the past he has asked visitors to change clothing if they were wearing items with offensive language.

Gaffey said one solution to issues would be to not allow any political parties to have booths at the fair.

But then how far do you go? Eliminate religious organizations?  We try our hardest to not take sides. We also realize well never please everyone.

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TAMARAC  Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting trial will be allowed to refer to potential jurors by name, a Broward judge ruled Friday.

The decision rejects a defense request asking for the potential jurors deciding the fate of confessed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooter Nickolas Cruz to be referred to by number and not by name. The request would have protected the jurors from having their names disclosed to the public and, by extension, the news media.

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What [the] defendant requests is not permitted, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer wrote in her decision. Exemptions to the specific laws on public records cannot be created from thin air.

[ RELATED: Parkland mass shooting trial shifts to penalty phase ]

The defense motion would have barred court personnel and the media from disclosing the names of jurors, which are a public record under the law. During trials, the court bars media from taking pictures and videos showing jurors faces, and jurors are strictly prohibited from talking to the media or anyone else about their cases.

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But their names have always been a public record, and media members are legally permitted to interview jurors after trials are concluded. In practice, such interviews are infrequent but not unusual.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer is presiding over the trial of confessed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.(Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel) (Amy Beth Bennett/AP)

In her ruling, Scherer left the door open for the defense to present a stronger argument to keep juror names from being publicly disclosed.

Scherer has not always seen eye to eye with the media during the case. In the summer of 2018, a few months after Cruz murdered 17 and wounded 17 more in the Parkland high school, Scherer blasted the Sun Sentinel for disclosing education records that were inadequately redacted by the Broward school district.

[ RELATED: Judge Elizabeth Scherer and the Parkland mass shooting case ]

At the time, Scherer toyed with the idea of telling media outlets what they could and could not publish in the future. She later backed down from the threat, which was criticized by media law experts as an example of prior restraint, which is prohibited. Scherer cited the same principle in rejecting the defenses anonymous jury request.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4457 or on Twitter @rolmeda
Members of the Lake Geneva Joint No. 1 School Board and Lake Geneva-Genoa City High School Board have announced the three finalists for the superintendent position.

Officials from Lake Geneva schools are searching for a new superintendent to replace current Superintendent James Gottinger who is set to retire June 30. Gottinger has worked for Lake Geneva schools for about 23 years.

The selected candidate will serve as superintendent for both the Lake Geneva-Genoa City High School District and the Lake Geneva Joint No. 1 School District.

The three finalists are:

Jason Nault, associate superintendent of equity, innovation and accountability for Waukegan Public Schools

Ryan Ruggles, director of curriculum and instruction for the Milton School District

Peter Wilson, director of administrative services of the DeForest Area School District.

The candidates are set to visit the school districts and tour the school buildings, Feb. 22.

School board members will conduct final interviews with all three candidates in closed session, Feb. 23. The school districts plan to hire a new superintendent in early March.

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According to Thomas Haas, owner and operator of Cherry Hill Orchards, business has been underway as usual for this time of year.
Jacob Waddell fromthe US Hemp Building Association is a guest on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast this week. He talks about the process his group went through to build the case for hempcrete and what IRC approval would mean for the hemp and construction industries.
New Delhi, February 11: Automobile sales in January have seen a Year-on-Year decline of 23.21 per cent. Total 1,406,672 units, which include passenger vehicles, two and three-wheelers, and commercial vehicles were sold in January 2022 as against 1,733,276 units sold in January 2021, as per the data released by the industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).Total 254,287 units of passenger vehicles which include passenger cars, utility vehicles and vans were sold in January as against 276,554 units sold in January 2021 registering a decline of 8 per cent.

Total 1,128,293 two-wheeler units were sold in January 2022 as against 1,429,928 two-wheelers sold in January 2021 registering a decline of 21 per cent. Sales of three-wheelers also witnessed a decline of 11.21 per cent in January 22. Total 24,091 three-wheelers sold in January 2022 against 26,794 units sold in January 2021. Battery Swapping Policy to Allow EV Charging Stations for Automobiles Will Be Framed

Commenting on January 2022 sales data, Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM said, "Sales in the month of January 2022 again declined compared to January 2021, due to both Omicron related concerns and semi-conductor shortages."

"There is clearly a demand issue for two-wheelers due to lower rural off-take of entry-level models. Three-wheelers continue to be severely affected due to lower sales. On the other hand, the passenger vehicle segment is unable to meet the market demand due to supply-side challenges resulting in sales in January 2022 being even lower than January 2021," said Menon. (ANI)
New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) A bar body has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that students across the country wear school uniforms and not hijab or burqa as it is not permitted in "general secular institutions".

All India Bar Association claimed that anti social elements were trying to spoil secular values in educational institutions by misguiding Muslim students to wear Niqab, Hijab, Burqa etc. in place of prescribed secular dress code of the educational institutions.

Also Read | Kerala: 45-Year-Old Man Booked for Assaulting Wife Over Domestic Dispute in Ponganad; Absconding.

The letter said that the management of religious educational institutions were empowered to run their institutes as per the tenets of their religion.

The management of Madarsas, therefore can prescribe any religious dress code for the students, including Hijab and Niqab, association's chairman Adish C Aggarwala said.

Also Read | Uttarakhand Assembly Elections 2022: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Address Rally in Khatima, Haldwani, and Srinagar on February 13.

He added that Niqab and Hijab are permitted in Muslim Madarsas and not in general secular educational institutions.

It claimed that the citizens of India are entitled to have the right to follow their religious practices in their religious places and not in the secular places where a dress code is prescribed.

In these circumstances, we call upon the central government and state governments to ensure that all students, irrespective of any religion, wear the school uniform, in order to uphold secular values in India as India is a secular country, the letter said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhuj (Gujarat) [India], February 11 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) and Army troops supported by Indian Air Force on Friday arrested six Pakistani nationals and seized 11 fishing boats from the Harami Nalla area in Gujarat's Bhuj.

The Pakistani boats were spotted during drone surveillance of the area by BSF. "The intrusion of Pakistani fishing boats and fishermen was detected on Thursday in Harami Nalla, Gujarat. The Gujarat Frontier, BSF immediately launched a massive search operation in the area spread across 300 sq km, as a result, 11 Pakistani fishing boats have been seized so far", said the BSF on Friday.

Also Read | Punjab: 27-Year-Old Man Gets Death Sentence for Raping Minor in Jalandhar.

The BSF had deployed its specialized unit of 'Creek Crocodile Comandos' for the operation. A senior BSF officer on Thursday said that it has been more than 30 hours and the operation is still underway. "There is no chance of Pakistani fishermen could escape from the area," added the officer.

The operation was executed with great synergy and cohesion between BSF, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Gujarat Police and all other security agencies. Inclement weather, extreme marshy area, mangroves and tidal waters had made the task of the troops challenging, but with sheer grit and determination and with great coordination, troops overcame all obstacles in the conduct of the operation.

Also Read | The Complete Guide to Bitcoin and its Future & Beyond.

BSF said, "On February 9, based on Intelligence inputs regarding the intrusion of Pakistani nationals in fishing boats in General Area of Harami Nalla, Bhuj (Gujarat), a search operation was carried out in the creek area launched involving teams of BSF, Indian Army troops and Indian Air Force."

The BSF said that the questioning of the apprehended Pakistani nationals is on and all escape routes have been effectively plugged and a massive combing operation is still in progress. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shillong, Feb 11 (PTI) Five Congress MLAs in Meghalaya, who joined the BJP-backed ruling alliance in the state, are likely to face suspension and a show-cause notice, a senior Congress leader said on Friday.

The legislators had joined the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) last week, which brought the two arch foes together in a ruling coalition, and left Congress leaders in the state fuming and befuddled.

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I can tell you that the party high command is not in favour of the MLAs joining the MDA. The matter is being discussed. I think they will be suspended. An explanation will also be sought as to why they should not be expelled for their action, state Congress chief Vincent H Pala told PTI.

An urgent executive meeting of the party was held here earlier in the day.

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We will strictly abide by the rules and the constitution of the Congress party, the three-time MP said.

In a jolt to the Congress, which ruled the state for many years and was a formidable opposition with 17 MLAs, 12 of its lawmakers, including the redoubtable former chief minister Mukul Sangma, defected to the Trinamool Congress in November last year.

The five remaining members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) joined the ruling alliance on February 8, in a reflection of the party's diminishing influence in the state.

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New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Various journalists' bodies on Friday wrote to Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Thakur raising objections to the new guidelines issued recently for the accreditation of media persons by his ministry's arm Press Information Bureau (PIB).

In their letter to the minister, the journalists' bodies said the new accreditation guidelines were discussed at a meeting organised under the aegis of the Press Club of India and it was noted that the I&B Ministry has taken "unilateral and unfair" decision to "drastically" alter the accreditation guidelines in violation of the existing guidelines of the Press Council of India.

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Among those who signed the letter included the presidents of the Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Association, Delhi Union of Journalists and Working News Camaramen's Association.

"Various journalists' organizations, associations and unions under the aegis of the Press Club of India held a meeting today and discussed the new PIB accreditation guidelines," the letter to the minister stated.

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"The meeting, after a detail discussions, strongly opposed the unilateral and unfair decision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in drastically altering the guidelines and forming a lopsided Central Media Accreditation Committee (CMAC)," it read.

"Both the guidelines and the CMAC violate the existing guidelines framed by the apex media body Press Council of India," it added.

According to Central Media Accreditation Guidelines-2022, announced on February 7, accreditation is liable to be withdrawn or suspended if a journalist acts in a manner prejudicial to the country's security, sovereignty and integrity, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in any relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

Accreditation can also be suspended if a journalist or the media organisation the scribe represents is found to have furnished false or forged information or documents.

In such an event, the journalist/media organisation shall be debarred from accreditation for up to a maximum of five years but not less than two years, as may be decided by the CMAC (Central Media Accreditation Committee), the guidelines stipulate.

Besides, accredited media persons have been prohibited from using the words Accredited to the government of India on public/social media profile, visiting cards, letter heads or on any other form or any published work.

The new guidelines also provides for setting of a Central Media Accreditation Committee (CMAC), to be chaired by the principal director general of the PIB. The committee will comprise up to 25 members, nominated by the government.

The committee will function for two years from the date of its first meeting and will be responsible for suspending the accreditation of journalists.

A sub-committee of the CMAC consisting of five members nominated by the CMAC will take decisions on accreditation cases. The sub-committee will also be chaired by the principal DG, PIB.

"The new guidelines are against the spirit of the Constitution of India and against the freedom of speech and expression as well. This is an attempt to curb the voice of the media and control it," Press Club of India president Umakant Lakhera said.

He demanded that the new accreditation guidelines be withdrawn immediately and fresh guidelines be formulated in consultation with "the stakeholders including journalists' bodies and the Press Council of India.

"An action plan to organise protests against the new guidelines is being prepared in consultation with various journalists bodies and it will be announced shortly. Our action plan will be shared with the journalists' bodies in the states as well," he added.

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New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Deendayal Upadhyaya, a principal BJP ideologue, on his 54th death anniversary, saying his philosophy of integral humanism can provide solutions to many problems of not only India but the world.

Coming from the RSS, Upadhyaya was a founder member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which later transformed into the BJP after its brief merger with opposition parties to take on the Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha polls, and his ideas have been an inspiration for the party.

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Modi said his entire life was based on the principle of "sarvajan hitay, sarvajan sukhay" (For everybody's good, for everybody's happiness).

The prime minister has often cited Upadhyaya's advocacy of "antyodaya" (uplift of the most poor) as a key driver of his government's welfare policies.

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New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI): The meeting of the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee will be held on March 3 in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till March 14, as the first part of the Budget Session 2022 concludes today.

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The 2022 Budget Session of the Parliament commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address.

The second part of the session will take place from March 14 to April 8. (ANI)

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PEMBROKE PINES  A 13-year-old girl who was arrested and charged with posting threatening messages via social media toward students and staff at Renaissance Charter School in Pembroke Pines has been exonerated, authorities said Thursday.

A 12-year-old girl who attends the same school is now charged with making the threats and impersonating the 13-year-old by creating fake Instagram and email accounts in the 13-year-olds name. Charges were presented Thursday to the Broward State Attorneys Office.

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Police officers confirmed that the actual suspect maliciously impersonated another student, created email and Instagram accounts to send herself as well as other students threatening messages and intentionally lied to law enforcement and school staff to frame another person, said Pembroke Pines Capt. Adam Feiner.

Neither girl was identified by Pembroke Pines Police.

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The 13-year-old was arrested Nov. 19, 2021, after false threats were posted on an Instagram account in her name.

Police said the 13-year-olds mother chose to exercise their rights and did not cooperate with investigators. She did not allow them to examine the girls digital devices at the time, Feiner said.

Due the urgency of the threats, and in accordance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act as well as multiple witness statements from students and administrators, physical evidence and consultation with prosecutors, the 13-year-old was arrested, Feiner said.

[ RELATED: Online threats have been common to South Florida schools recently ]

The 13-year-olds mother later chose to cooperate with investigators, police said. The new information led to a subpoena for the IP addresses associated with the threats.

It was not until Dec. 21, 2021, that the mother of the arrested student chose to share information which prompted investigating officers to apply for an additional subpoena, said Feiner.

Feiner said on Jan. 18, police found new evidence to lead them to believe the 12-year-old lied about the 13-year-old.

Feiner said prosecutors were informed of the new development and five subpoenas and two search warrants were issued.

On Jan. 25, the 13-year-old was exonerated. The charges against her have been dropped.

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Feiner said it is inappropriate to say the 13-year-old was wrongfully arrested because their actions, in accordance with the Broward County State Attorneys Office, were based on all the available information known at the time. He further said as soon as police got new information they took immediate and swift action to exonerate the 13-year-old and charge the 12-year-old.

The 12-year-old has been charged with felony written threats to kill or do bodily harm as well as falsifying a police report, penalty for disruption of an educational institution on criminal use of personal information, and criminal use of personal information.

The 12-year-old girl had not been arrested late Thursday because the posted threats no longer pose an immediate danger, police said.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday paid tributes to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his death anniversary, describing the Bharatiya Jana Sangh co-founder an epitome of selfless service.

Upadhyaya died on this day in 1968.

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"He was a devout nationalist, insightful thinker and an epitome of selfless service," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.

Upadhyaya's philosophies of integral humanism and 'antyodaya' have inspired many to serve the nation and the downtrodden and will continue to remain a guiding force for all, the vice president said.

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Melbourne [Australia], February 11 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said even as the US continues to work relentlessly to resolve the Ukraine crisis, its participation in the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Melbourne underscores Washington's commitment to stay in focus on the Indo-Pacific.

"Even as we continue to work relentlessly to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine brought about by Russian aggression and to do that through diplomacy and deterrence.. but being here now even in the midst of that, I think only underscores our commitment to stay in focus on the Indo-Pacific," said Blinken after the meeting.

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"One of the reasons we are working so intensely to defend Quad principles threatened by Russian aggression towards Ukraine is because those very same principles are crucial to enjoying stability in this region and every other part of the world," he added.

The Secretary of State further talked about the shared meaning of Indo-Pacific for Quad and said, "Free Indo Pacific will mean that people will be free in their daily lives and live in open societies. It means that countries will be able to choose their own path and their own partners. It means that goods, ideas, individuals flow freely in the region and the problems will be dealt with openly."

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He encouraged Quad and said that India, Japan, Australia and US are "democracies united in advancing a very affirmative vision for the future."

Talking about his speech in Jakarta, Indonesia, in December Blinken recalled, "When I was in Jakarta I set out US vision for free and open Indo-Pacific which more than any other region will shape the trajectory of the 21st century."

"As Indo-Pacific countries, as democracies and as nations we understand how important it is to uphold the international rules that provided the foundation for decades of shared security and prosperity. It is in our interest to do more together," he said during the press conference.

He also shared that collaboration is enhanced on disaster response and Humanitarian assistance as in the case of the Tonga volcano eruption.

Furthermore, touching upon the Maritime security issue, Blinken said, "we are strengthening our cooperation on Maritime security both to combat like illegal unregulated unreported fishing and to ensure freedom to navigation across the region including in the South and East China seas."

He assured that "Quad has been and always will be an affirmative partnership" and said that it addresses the challenges that real people face in their lives and help them seize the opportunity they want. (ANI)

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Canajoharie (US), Feb 11 (AP) Ellie the potbellied pig snuggles up to Wyverne Flatt when he watches TV and sometimes rolls over to let him pet her belly.

The 110-pound pig is family, Flatt says, an emotional support animal who helped him through a divorce and the death of his mother.

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Officials in his upstate village of Canajoharie see it very differently. To them, the pig is a farm animal Flatt is harbouring in the village illegally.

The case could soon be headed to a criminal trial.

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But it has already caught the attention of pig partisans who believe the animals should be respected more as companions instead of just a food source.

"I could never dream of giving away somebody who's part of my family," Flatt said recently as he patted the pig in his kitchen.

She's very smart. She's more intelligent than my dogs. I think she can kind of hone in on you when you're feeling bad because she'll want to come in and snuggle with you.

Ellie is a knee-high Vietnamese potbellied pig with a black coat and hooves that clack on the floor as she walks from her kitchen food dish. Flatt was living in South Carolina when he got the pig in 2018, when she was about as big as a shoe.

She came north with Flatt in 2019 when he moved to Canajoharie, a modest village on the Mohawk River dominated by the husk of the old Beech-Nut food plant.

Flatt, 54, bought a fixer-upper near the business centre of the village with plans to remodel it and maybe open restaurant on part of the ground floor. He also has two dogs and two cats.

A village code officer told Flatt he was housing Ellie illegally in October 2019 during a visit for a building permit request.

When the village noticed Ellie was still there six months later, Flatt was formally notified he was violating the local code barring farm animals in the village.

Violation of a zoning code is a misdemeanour under state law, according to court filings.

Both sides have dug in since then.

Flatt says the village is picking on his pig, which he says is clean and smart. Several of his neighbors have signed affidavits saying they like Ellie.

Village Mayor Jeff Baker said the board has no comment while the court case is pending.

But an attorney for the village wrote in a court filing that the pig is a potential public health hazard. She argued that if every citizen were to openly scoff at the Village zoning codes ... we would live in a lawless society.

Ellie's fate could hinge on federal housing guidance that says municipalities should provide a reasonable accommodation when a person can demonstrate an animal provides emotional support for a disability-related need.

Flatt's attorney argues that his client meets that test, saying that Ellie allowed Flatt to get off his medication and cope with his anxiety.

The village has argued in court filings it is willing to make reasonable accommodations, but that Flatt never met the standard.

A note from a nurse practitioner saying Ellie helped Flatt get off of medication is in dispute. And while he keeps in his wallet a laminated card illustrated with a headshot of Ellie saying she is a registered emotional support animal, the village's attorney said it was obtained online for a fee with no formal legal process.

Defendant provided no legitimate proof that he is a person under disability, and no proof that his disability was remedied by having an emotional support animal, nor that the particular animal  a pig  was the only suitable remedy for his condition, attorney Kirsten Dunn wrote in a filing last year.

A trial was scheduled to start March 22, but has been delayed. If found guilty, Flatt could face jail time or have the pig taken from him, according to his attorney.

Emotional support animals have become common in recent decades. After years of passengers bringing pigs, rabbits, birds and other animals on airplanes, federal transportation officials in 2020 said airlines no longer had to accommodate emotional support animals.

And Flatt is not the first pig owner seeking emotional support to run afoul of local housing laws.

In 2019, a family in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst were not allowed to keep a potbellied pig, named Pork Chop, they said was an emotional support animal for their daughter-in-law.

An Indiana woman was told in 2018 to get rid of her emotional support pig for similar reasons.

Although people in the United States have been keeping smaller pigs as pets for decades, their advocates say they're still viewed by some people as little more than livestock.

There's a disconnect in most people's minds that even though these animals were imported originally as pets, they were never intended to be food. There's still a lot of people who do that equation: Pig equals food, said Kathy Stevens, founder of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary for rescued farm animals and a supporter of Flatt.

Still, many municipalities around the country allow residents to keep pigs as pets. Some local rules specify pet pigs must be under a specified weight or allow only pot-bellied pigs, according to information from the North American Pet Pig Association.

Canajoharie approved a new law in January clarifying its laws on keeping animals, citing a surge in violations.

Farm animals are still barred under the law, which spells out rules for residents seeking a reasonable accommodation.

Flatt said he's received offers from people to house Ellie outside the village, but he wants to fight to keep her.

I'm hoping this sets a precedent that people start understanding that these are pets, he said. These are not something you go home and slaughter and eat.

(AP) VM

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Phoenix, Feb 11 (AP) A fighter jet operated by a military contractor crashed outside Phoenix on Thursday, but the pilot ejected safely and no one on the ground was hurt, a spokesman for the contractor and U.S. Air Force officials said.

The French-made Mirage F1 crashed near Buckeye, a growing community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Phoenix.

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John Rupp, director of foreign military sales for Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., confirmed it was one of his company's jets that went down. The pilot was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries, he said.

"The pilot is safe and doing well," Rupp told The Associated Press.

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The plane was destroyed. The company said it will work with investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

Officials at Luke Air Force Base in nearby Glendale later confirmed the crash and said it occurred late Thursday morning about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of the base in an unpopulated area. The plane had been operating out of Luke, the Air Force's main base for training F-35 fighter pilots.

The Air Force sent crews from the base fire department, explosives ordnance specialists and police to secure the site. The Buckeye Fire Department was also on scene.

Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, commander of the base's 56th Fighter Wing, said in a statement that the base is committed to safety.

We are thankful for the continued outstanding support Luke receives from our community partners, especially during difficult situations like this," Kreuder said. "Finally, I'm grateful nobody was hurt on the ground, and the pilot was safely recovered with only minor injuries.

Airborne Tactical Advantage is one of a growing number of contractors that fly aircraft to help train military aviators. The company provides aggressor aircraft to help military fighter pilots learn their trade as well as other services to the military.

Another Mirage F1 operated by a different contractor crashed in Las Vegas last year as the pilot came in to land at nearby Nellis Air Force Base. The pilot  Nicholas Hunter Hamilton, 43, of Las Vegas  died.

The May 24 crash happened after Hamilton had an inflight emergency, and the plane crashed into a neighborhood, bursting into flames. Hamilton ejected shortly before the plane hit the ground.

Hamilton, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, was working for military contractor Draken International.

Another crash of a military contractor aircraft happened in 2015 in southern Arizona, killing Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony T. DuBeau. The 23-year-old from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in a pickup truck providing safety oversight for a construction crew working alongside the runway at Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma.

A National Transportation Safety Board report said the pilot of the BAE Systems Hawk jet took off at too low a speed on March 11, 2015. The British-built jet flying on a mission for the Air Force wobbled, veered off the left side of the base runway and eventually hit the pickup. (AP)

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Melbourne [Australia], February 11 (ANI): Reaffirming their condemnation of terrorist attacks in India including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, Quad countries on Friday denounced the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urged countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens, disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them.

A joint statement issued after a meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers here called upon all countries to ensure that territory under their control "is not used to launch terror attacks" and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks.

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The statement reflected concerns of India which has been a victim of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.

The meeting, attended by Foreign Ministers India, Australia and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States, said the Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism.

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"We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them, and halt the cross-border movement of terrorists," the statement said.

"In this context, we call on all countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks," it added.

Seven security personnel were killed in a terror attack at Pathankot air force base in January 2016. The terror attack in Mumbai by Pakistan-trained terrorists on November 26, 2008 killed 166 people including foreign nationals.

The Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts, "with such ungoverned spaces being a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific".

The foreign ministers welcomed progress on the practical cooperation to address regional challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), maritime security, counter-terrorism, countering disinformation and cyber security.

The statement said Quad is supporting regional neighbours to build resilience and counter disinformation.

"We will also coordinate efforts to assist partners across the Indo-Pacific to address the growing threat of ransomware, by strengthening capacity building to ensure resilient cyber security and to counter cybercrime. We are committed to promoting international peace and stability in cyberspace, and to helping build the capacity of regional countries to implement the UN Voluntary Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace," it said.

The statement said Quad partners champion the free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, rooted in international law, that protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries.

"We reaffirm our commitment to upholding and strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core. We oppose coercive economic policies and practices that run counter to this system and will work collectively to foster global economic resilience against such actions," it said.

"We express our commitment to strengthen our diplomatic efforts so that the vision for technologies, guided by the Quad Principles on Technology Design, Development, Governance, and Use, will be further shared by all like-minded nations," the statement added.

It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since the Quad Summit held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI)

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Ottawa [Canada], February 11 (ANI): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called for an end to blockades caused by the "Freedom Convoy 2022" protest as he briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation prevailing in the country. The protests began at the end of January as a rally of truckers against the vaccine mandate for Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the United States.

"Finally, I briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the current situation and the latest developments. I stressed how important it is for all Members of Parliament, from every party, to denounce these illegal acts - and to call for an end to these blockades," Trudeau tweeted.

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Trudeau said that he convened an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers to end these blockades.

"First, I convened an Incident Response Group meeting with ministers and officials. We'll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need," he said.

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The Canadian Prime Minister also informed that he held talks with the Mayor of Windsor, about the illegal blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which poses a challenge to the economies of both Canada and the United States.

Convoy protesters have blocked off the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge, which is a critical trade route for goods going into and out of the United States.

"I also spoke with @DrewDilkens, the Mayor of Windsor, about the illegal blockade of the Ambassador Bridge. We're committed to helping the Mayor and the province get the situation under control - because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border," he added.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Police Service said Thursday that police have arrested 25 people and issued 1,775 tickets to put an end to the unlawful demonstrations in the downtown areas.

Ottawa police said in a statement that police have responded to nearly 1,000 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began and continue to prevent people from supplying fuel and other material supports to demonstrators. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A day after the film was banned in Qatar, Kuwait and Malaysia, the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Friday asked the Telangana government to remove objectionable content from the Tamil film FIR, starring Vishnu Vishal, and its promotional material. The party, which is headed by Asaduddin Owaisi, took strong exception to the film poster carrying the 'Shahada' in Arabic, saying this has hurt the sentiments of Muslims. FIR: Vishnu Vishals Thriller Banned in Malaysia, Kuwait and Qatar; Actor-Producer Confirms News.

AIMIM General Secretary and Telangana MLA, Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, met the state's Minister for Cinematography, T. Srinivas Yadav, and handed him a memorandum demanding action against the film. The 'Shahadah', one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is a declaration of the believer's faith in the principle of the oneness of God (Allah) and the Prophet being God's Messenger. Malayalam Actress Assault Case: Kerala HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To Actor Dileep.

"By presenting it in a promotional film poster, the makers of the film have offended the sentiments of Muslims," the AIMIM memorandum said. "Such a representation demeans Islam and its tenets." The AIMIM delegation urged the minister to take necessary action under Section 8 of Telangana Cinema (Regulation) Act, 1955. "The action may be taken till such time that all objectionable content in the film as well as in the promotional material of the film is removed. This is essential to protect the state's public order and harmony," their memorandum added.

The story of the film, which is an action thriller, revolves around Vishnu Vishal, who plays a Muslim youngster, Irfan Ahmed. He is suspected by the intelligence agencies of being a terrorist. What happens to him is what the film is about.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2022 09:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the new Darbar Hall at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai today (February 11, 2022). Addressing the gathering, the President congratulated the people and government of Maharashtra on the inauguration of new Darbar Hall. He said that there is definitely something special in the people and the land of Maharashtra which repeatedly draws him here. Including this visit in the last four and a half years, he had come to Maharashtra about 12 times, he added.

The President said that Maharashtra is the land of spirituality as well as the land of brave struggles against injustice. This is also the land of the patriots as well as land of the devotees of God. Maharashtra is a major economic and cultural center of India. This state is blessed with talent and natural beauty. People of Maharashtra are known for their hospitality.

Due to many such specialty, not only he, but countless people from India and abroad, being attracted to visit Maharashtra again and again. But in this visit, he is experiencing a emptiness. A week ago we lost our dear Lata Didi. A great genius like her is born only once in a century. The music of Lataji is immortal which will always enchant all the music lovers. The memory of her simplicity and gentle nature will also be remain imprinted in the mind of the people. President Ram Nath Kovind Inaugurates the New Darbar Hall at Raj Bhavan.

Noting that the construction of the Darbar Hall has been done keeping the heritage building's feature intact, the President said that it is prudent to choose modernity according to the demand of the times while keeping the tradition alive. He congratulated the Governor of Maharashtra and state government for construction of the Darbar Hall with latest facilities.

The President said that transparency is the most important aspect of good governance in a democratic system. The modern concept of the Darbar promotes transparency. The method of connecting with the people through the Janta Darbar by the public authorities is becoming popular. Thus, this Darbar Hall, in a new context, is a symbol of our new India, new Maharashtra and our vibrant democracy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2022 04:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
A day after Bob Saget's family identified that head trauma was the reason behind his death, medical experts on Thursday underscored the importance of getting checked when one's head was knocked.

It can be recalled that a medical examiner from Florida ruled out that the death of the comedian stemmed from a fall backward, which was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, per NBC News. However, Saget's family underscored that the comedian "thought nothing of it" and decided to go to sleep after the incident.

According to neurologists, Saget's attitude after his fall was common, noting that people who experience the same kind of situation the comedian faced tend to "minimize" head injuries.

Nuvance Health Neurosurgeon Dr. Joshua Marcus pointed out that how someone feels after a head injury is an "essential" indicator of whether they should seek medical attention.

"If this feels like the worst headache of your life or anything that feels like a stroke-like symptom - it's better not to wait on that stuff... Get it checked out and make sure that you're safe," Cleveland Clinic Cerebrovascular Center Director Dr. Shazam Hussain said.

READ NEXT: Bob Saget Laid to Rest in Private Funeral: 'Full House' Co-Stars, Famous Friends Come Together to Say Their Final Goodbyes

Bob Saget Head Trauma: Symptoms of Head Injury

In an interview with "Good Morning America," ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said that the brain is so fragile to the point that "a little bit of bleeding can cause compression on the brain, and in some cases, can be fatal."

Dr. Ashton added that people should watch out for head injury symptoms, including loss of consciousness and confusion, headache, and nausea or vomiting.

Dr. Hussain also added that droopiness in the face, paralysis in the arms or legs, as well as difficulty in speaking should be checked.

However, not every knock on the head should be brought to the emergency room. According to Dr. Hussain, the force of the impact plays a role in deciding whether an individual should go for treatment.

"If you have hit your head right, you actually want to err on the side of caution. We all minimize our symptoms, and we don't like to bring attention to ourselves. But this is a situation where you want to seek medical attention. You want to get checked out. It's better to be safe than sorry," Dr. Ashton said.

When a head trauma is not treated, Dr. Marcus said that bleeding or swelling in the brain could lead to increased pressure in the head. The said pressure will affect the breathing and heart rate. Ultimately, Dr. Marcus pointed out that the issue could also be a "respiratory arrest phenomenon."

Dr. Marcus also noted that going to sleep after a fall should not be done as it is common for people who had head trauma to experience medical emergencies while sleeping.

Bob Saget Cause of Death

The warning from the experts came after the family of Bob Saget revealed that the comedian died due to head trauma.

According to the family, Saget "accidentally hit the back of his head on something," and then thought nothing of it, then went to sleep. The family also underscored that no drugs or alcohol were involved in his death.

It can be recalled that Bob Saget was found dead at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida on January 9. His demise came after he performed for two hours in the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

READ NEXT: Kim Kardashian Reveals What Led Her to Divorce Kanye West and Why She's Not Taking Him Back Even After He 'Begs'

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WATCH: Bob Saget Died From Accidental Head Trauma, Family Says - From TODAY
Elon Musk has stated that his income tax bill is on track to be the greatest in U.S. history - over $11 billion. Tesla, on the other hand, appears to be uninterested in paying anything.

Tesla may not plan to pay federal taxes in the near future, despite the fact that the business recently recorded its most profitable year ever. Tesla earned $5.5 billion in net income and $7.6 billion in adjusted income in 2021, per CNN.

However, Tesla's U.S. operations lost $130 million on a pre-tax basis last year, according to its most recent annual financial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Even while U.S. sales accounted for 45 percent of its revenue, it says that all of its pre-tax profits, worth more than $6 billion, came from overseas operations.

Although Tesla indicates its foreign tax bill was $839 million, its state tax bill was only $9 million. It also owed no federal taxes.

Chief economist for Tax Analysts, Martin Sullivan, said that Tesla's taxes "defies common sense but it does not defy the U.S. tax code."

"U.S. Multinational Thing" - Says Sullivan

According to Sullivan, also a non-profit tax publisher and an expert on U.S. corporate tax practices, the $130 million loss on Tesla's U.S. operations is most likely due to a common practice among U.S. multinational corporations of arranging their operations so that income is reported by overseas subsidiaries, leaving the U.S. operation with little or no taxable income to declare.

A company can, for example, assign its intellectual property to one of its foreign entities and charge its U.S. unit a fee for using that property. As a result, the foreign operation is very profitable, whereas the U.S. company, which is burdened with "costs" to the company itself, declares a loss or very little income.

"It's a U.S. multinational thing," said Sullivan.

Sullivan added that it can be considered as "malpractice" for multinational corporations not to enforce such a practice.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Treasury, 61% of U.S. multinational companies' foreign revenues are booked in seven small countries known as tax havens: the Cayman Islands, Ireland Bermuda, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk Slams Traditional Media Over "Relentless Hatestream" - "It's a Big Planet!"

Elected Officials Vowed To Stop The Practice

Many elected officials, as well as the Biden administration, have vowed to crack down the practice.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a frequent critic of Musk, said that giant corporations, including Tesla, have "long used scams and loopholes" to help them avoid paying taxes. She said it "has to stop."

According to Warren, the Democrats are trying to repeal Republican tax cuts for multinational corporations that are offshoring profits and jobs.

Last December 2021, Warren and Musk faced a full-scale Twitter war. Warren referred to the world's wealthiest person as a "freeloader" for paying $0 in income taxes in recent years. Musk retaliated with a series of personal attacks, referring to Warren as "Senator Karen" and saying that his income tax bill is about to be the largest in U.S. history.

However, Congress has so far failed to take action to stop it.

Tesla's financial filing, on the other hand, does not specify what it did. The company did not identify which country or countries it made a profit from while claiming a loss in the United States.

An inquiry about Tesla's filing received no response.

READ MORE: Elon Musk Offers 'Stalker' $5,000 To Stop Tracking His Plane Location, Saying It Is a Security Risk

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Does Elon Musk Pay Taxes? He Opens up in a New Interview.. - from The not so boring man


BOCA RATON  A man accused of breaking into 11 West Boca businesses, some in the same strip malls and plaza, to steal cash was found Thursday, deputies said.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office had been searching for the man who was seen on surveillance video smashing through the businesses doors in the early morning hours and rifling through their cash registers on six different occasions since early November. Two businesses were robbed as recently as Saturday, deputies said.

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Broward Sheriffs deputies in Deerfield Beach arrested Robert Earl Lewis, 52, shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, deputies said. Lewis is being held in the Broward County Jail on multiple charges and will face charges in the burglaries in Palm Beach County.

[ RELATED: Everybodys on edge: Burglar robs several West Boca businesses ]

He will be transferred to Palm Beach County once detectives complete paperwork to formally charge Lewis there, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said.

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Robert Lewis, 52, faces charges in multiple burglaries in Broward and Palm Beach counties. (Broward Sheriff's Office/Courtesy)

Lewis was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of multiple burglary charges, petit theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of cocaine in Broward County. He was released in April 2021, records show.
Five members of a family in New York were sentenced on Thursday for running a sex trafficking ring that exploited Mexican women for at least 10 years.

The sex traffickers were identified as Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas, Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas, Rosalio Melendez-Rojas, Francisco Melendez-Perez, and Abel Romero-Melendez, the United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York said in a release.

On Thursday, Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas was sentenced to 39 years imprisonment, while Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas and Rosalio Melendez-Rojas received 39 years and four months sentence.

Francisco Melendez-Perez was slammed with 25 years of imprisonment, and Abel Romero-Melendez got 20 years of jail time.

"Today's lengthy sentence reflects the immeasurable harm the defendants' brutality and exploitation inflicted on these young women and girls," the United States Attorney Peace said.

READ NEXT: Drug Ring Tied to El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Bribes Ex-Mexico Top Cop in Exchange for Top-Secret Info and Cop Gets 10 Years for It

Sex Trafficking Victim Details Her Experience in New York

According to New York Post, the family was convicted in March 2020, but their sentencing was delayed due to COVID-19. The suspects faced charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, money laundering conspiracy, and alien smuggling.

Reports mentioned that the family of the sex trafficker "promised a better life," but the defendants ensnared young, vulnerable victims from Mexico to the world of sex trafficking.

The defendants reportedly transported young Mexican women between 2006 and 2017 to the United States to work in prostitution. They reportedly utilized false promises of love, marriage, and a better life to lure the women and bring them to the United States, where they were expected to become prostitutes in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut.

On Thursday's sentencing, witnesses were also given a chance to speak with the judge.

One of the witnesses, identified as Delia, pointed out that she was 13 years old when she met Francisco Melendez-Perez. Delia noted that the defendant promised her a "beautiful future," but she alleged that the Mexican man threatened her that he will kill her family if she refused to go into prostitution.

The witness shared that she saw 30 to 40 clients a day in New York and that she works six to seven days a week.

"My back and legs constantly hurt and even walking is painful. My jaw was so badly injured that I would cry when I tried to chew food, and for years I could only eat soft food, like a baby," Delia said.

Delia also noted that she tried to escape, but Francisco told her that he will go back to Mexico and force her 12-year-old sister to also step into the business.

Mexico Sex Trafficker Believed What They Did was 'Normal'

One of the sex traffickers, Francisco Melendez-Perez from Mexico, also spoke with the judge as the sentences were given to them.

Melendez-Perez noted that he thought his family's business was "normal."

"Where I was born, it [sex trafficking] was a normal thing, this is what they did in my town," the defendant said. Melendez-Perez also noted that he matured, and he realized that he was "ignorant" as he asked the judge for another chance.

The sentencing of the traffickers who exploited women in New York and other areas came as human trafficking continues to grow in Mexico in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Insight Crime reported.

Reports noted that one of the most described forms of human trafficking in Mexico was sexual exploitation among women and girls. The country is known to have the highest rate of human trafficking as records revealed that at least 2,800 people were known to be victims between 2015 and 2021.

READ NEXT: Mexico City Officials in Hot Water for Giving Anti-Parasitic Drug to Thousands of COVID-19 Patients

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Sex Trafficking: A Family Business - From Thomson Reuters Foundation
A brush fire erupted in Laguna Beach, California on Thursday, as it threatened the exclusive Emerald Bay community and prompted evacuation from the residents in the said area.

According to CBS 8, the Laguna Beach fire was reported to the authorities around 4:10 a.m. on Thursday. However, the blaze was reported to quickly spread throughout the hillside area, which is behind the upscale gated community.

Currently, the fire charred at least 150 acres of land in the hill located above the exclusive Emerald Bay community.

The fire reportedly started amid the Santa Ana wind advisory. The flames were allegedly driven by winds in the mountain terrain.

READ NEXT: Colorado Pilot Fighting Wildfire Dies in Plane Crash After Making One Final Pass Over the Blaze, Officials Say

Firefighters Contain the Laguna Beach Fire

Firefighters who responded at the scene tried to control the brush fire.

Los Angeles Times noted that so far, the Laguna Beach fire is 5 percent contained, as crews battle the blaze from the ground and from the air. However, CBS 8 noted that the containment of the fire escalated to 10 percent by 3 p.m.

The outlet also noted that the focus of the fire crews is to protect Irvine Cove and Emerald Bay, which is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country.

According to reports, at least 375 firefighters were dispatched during the height of the Laguna Beach fire. Their number was decreased to 200 by 3 p.m. due to the help of the helicopters that dropped waters on the blaze.

"They [helicopters] made significant drops to slow the fire down, and then the wind died down this morning which helped tremendously," Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Captain Steve Concialdi said.

Aside from OCFA, personnel from the Laguna Beach Fire Department also responded at the scene.

OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said that there were also 75 engine crews fighting the flames. The said engine crews were aided by Cal Fire air tankers, five hand crews, two bulldozers, and five water-dropping helicopters.

Despite the efforts to control the blaze, the National Weather Service expected overnight winds to pick up once again by 10 p.m. However, Captain Concialdi noted that they expect to make more headway by the time the winds arrive, pointing out that their bulldozers created a "significant firebreak."

Laguna Beach Fire Evacuations Lifted

As the containment of the fire continued to progress, the evacuations orders issued on the north of the Laguna Beach, south and north of Emerald Bay, and Irvine Cove were lifted, per ABC 10.

Meanwhile, state parks and fire-affected areas remain closed.

Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf said that many longtime residents still remember the terror of the massive wildfire that burned through the city in 1993. The said incident reportedly damaged 400 homes.

"People have been here a long time and they're very sensitive. They're very worried," the mayor said, assuring that they have a good team and their city will get over the incident.

According to Chief Fennessy, the cause of the Laguna Beach fire is still under investigation. So far, there have been no reports of damaged properties in the area.

READ NEXT: Missouri Mom Charged in Deaths of All Her 5 Children in Apartment Fire

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Crews Make Progress On Massive Brush Fire In Laguna Beach; Hundreds Evacuate - Form CBS Los Angeles
Mexico has caught the alleged murder suspects involved in the killing of Mexican journalist Lourdes Maldonado, according to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador said in a news conference that they are working on the matter and that "they are not forgotten," with his team presenting photographs and maps showing the movements of the alleged suspects, according to a Reuters report.

The head of the Security and Citizen Protection law enforcement agency, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, confirmed the arrest of the three people linked to the crime.

Lopez Obrador and his security team did not give further details on the suspects' identity or motive.

The Mexican president said the arrests were the result of a joint investigation that included the federal government, as well as the Baja California state investigators.

Mexico's sub secretary of public safety, Ricardo Mejia, said that the group reportedly took a taxi to Maldonado's neighborhood and waited for three years for the Mexican journalist to arrive home.

Mejia described the suspects as "presumed material co-author." However, he did not elaborate on the details of the murder, according to a Los Angeles Times news report.

Other agencies involved in the arrests were the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Security, the Navy, the National Anti-Kidnapping Coordination agency, as well as the National Intelligence Center.

Baja California Atty. Gen. Ricardo Ivan Carpio Sanchez said in a local news conference that investigators may still be looking for other people.

Carpio said that the involvement of more people is not being ruled out.

Lopez Obrador said that they are obliged to ensure that justice is served in the country and that impunity is not allowed.

READ NEXT: Mexico Journalists Engage in Protests Calling Government for Protection Following Reporters' Death This Yearr

Killings of Mexican Journalists in Mexico

In February, the fourth Mexican journalist killed in Mexico was reported, with a news outlet in Mexico's Michoacan state saying that one of its employees, Roberto Toledo, was killed in the country in less than a month.

Armando Linares, director of Monitor Michoacan, commented on Toledo's killing. He said that exposing corrupt administrations, officials, and politicians has led to the death of one of their colleagues.

Linares said that Toledo worked as a videographer for the news outlet for two years. He added that Toledo had been preparing to record a regular video column at the law offices of the website's deputy director when he was shot.

Linares said that the news outlet had been reporting various sensitive stories, including three indigenous communities working towards self-government.

Photographer Margarito Martinez and Maldonado were killed within a week of each other in the border city of Tijuana.

Maldonado had been part of the $23 million a year federal program to protect journalists and right defenders since last December.

Meanwhile, Martinez had been in the process of applying to the same program when he was killed.

Reporter Jose Luis Gamboa was also killed in the coastal state of Veracruz in an attack on January 10. He was not known to be enrolled in the same program.

Activists noted that nine Mexican journalists were killed last year, with more than 50 having been killed since Lopez Obrador took office, according to The Guardian report.

Lopez Obrador has called for a "fairer and more humanitarian society." However, he said that he had inherited a "profound social, economic, and moral crisis."

READ MORE: Clashing Mexican Drug Cartels Leave 2 Police and 7 Others Dead in Mexico

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Mexican authorities have arrested three in connection with murder Tijuana journalist. - from KPBS Public Media






Convicted murderer Scott Peterson is looking ahead to an evidentiary hearing later this month that could determine whether he gets a new trial.

Based on Peterson's petition for habeas corpus filed by his defense team in 2015, the hearing will focus on his side's allegation that a jury committed "prejudicial misconduct" by failing to disclose that she had been involved in prior legal proceedings.

The five-day hearing starts on February 25, and Richelle Nice, the juror in question, was called to testify at the hearing. Peterson's lawyers claimed that Nice had kept the details of her personal life that could have been a conflict during his initial trial.

Nice is accused of "prejudicial misconduct" for not disclosing that she was the victim of domestic violence and had sought a restraining order in 2000 for fears that her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend would be a threat to her unborn baby.

According to KRON 4, the juror wrote several prison letters to Peterson while in San Quentin State Prison in California as a death row inmate. Peterson's lawyers plan to use these letters against her to prove that she wanted to ensure he was sentenced to death.

Nice has co-written a book about the case with other jurors. Sections of the book will also reportedly be used as evidence in the hearing.

On Monday, Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced that she would grant immunity for Nice so that she could testify on the stand without fear of self-incrimination, ABC News reported.

Nice, who was one of 12 jurors who convicted Peterson in 2004, has denied her experiences with domestic abuse influenced her. Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005.

The 49-year-old suspect remained on death row until 2020, when the California Supreme Court had overturned his death sentence after finding that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty.

In its ruling, the California Supreme Court said that a judge would decide the matter in San Mateo Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo now has the authority to overturn the suspect's conviction and grant him a retrial. She will reportedly base her decision on testimony from several witnesses at the hearing.

READ NEXT: Scott Peterson Resentenced to Life Imprisonment Over 2002 Murder of Wife Laci Peterson

Other Key Witnesses at Scott Peterson's Evidentiary Hearing

Based on the witness lists obtained by KRON4 from Scott Peterson's defense lawyers and the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office, the defense team's list includes Peterson's lead defense attorney for his murder trial, Mark Geragos, aside from Nice.

Juror Justin Falconer, who was dismissed from the trial for talking to one of Laci Peterson's family members, will also testify, and Steve Cardosi, who served as the jury foreman.

Jurors Greg Beratlis and Frank Swertlow were also on the list, including Shareen Anderson, who produced the A&E documentary "The Murder of Laci Peterson."

Johnny Dodd and Lyndon Stambler, both reporters for "People" magazine that covered the trial extensively, and Larry Gibbs, Peterson's ex-appellate attorney, will also be witnesses.

The district attorney's witness list includes Nice, Stanislaus County district attorney investigator Craig Grogan, and San Mateo County senior district attorney inspector Bill Massey.

Santa Clara County senior criminal investigator Nate Wandruff and Nice's former defense attorneys Elliot Silver and Negad Zaky will also be among the district attorney's witnesses.

After the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the judge would have 90 days to decide if she will grant Peterson's request for a new trial.

Last December, Scott Peterson was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner.

Scott Peterson's Murder Case

Scott Peterson was first convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder concerning his wife and of second-degree murder of their unborn son.

He was arrested in La Jolla, California on April 18, 2003. It was the same day when the two decomposed bodies washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay were identified as Laci Peterson and Conner.

Investigators noted that Scott Peterson bought a brand new boat 15 days before Laci disappeared. They also said he could not identify what type of fish he was trying to catch when a police officer asked him on December 24, 2002, when Laci was reported missing.

Investigators also discovered that Peterson was having an affair with massage therapist Amber Frey, at the time, of his wife's disappearance.

Frey told investigators that Peterson told her that he was not married and admitted that they had a romantic relationship. Prosecutors argued that the affair was Peterson's motive to kill his wife, allowing him to be with Frey.

Pat Harris, one of Peterson's lawyers, earlier told TODAY that they were "cautiously optimistic" that Peterson would be granted a retrial. Harris said they would present evidence they believed would exonerate Scott Peterson if he is granted a new trial.

READ MORE: Scott Peterson Wants a New Trial in His Murder Case

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Scott Peterson Resentenced to Life in Prison in Wife's 2002 Death | Rush Hour - From NewsNation Now






U.S. diplomats on Thursday said the Havana syndrome is affecting the recruitment in the U.S. diplomatic corps.

According to Eric Rubin, the head of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the Havana syndrome has "dramatically hurt" the morale of the diplomatic corps in the country, The Guardian reported.

AFSA represents around 17,000 current and former U.S. diplomats and foreign aid workers. Rubin said it is hard nowadays to recruit younger people willing to work abroad due to Havana syndrome. He noted that there was a concern about whether the government would look after them if they got sick from the mysterious illness.

"People have suffered real trauma and real injury, and it has dramatically hurt our morale, our readiness, our ability to recruit new members in the foreign service," the AFSA president said.

Rubin issued these remarks at a medical symposium on Havana syndrome organized by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

"I've had young members of the cohort that's coming into the foreign service ask me: 'If I do this, what am I getting into? Is this going to get solved? If I get attacked, and if I get injured, who's gonna be there for me?' We've got to address that," Rubin noted.

But Rubin stressed that despite the bureaucratic resistance that the AFSA still encounters, care for U.S. officials who have been affected by the Havana syndrome was improving.

READ NEXT: Secretary of State Antony Blinken Says the U.S. Still Figuring Out 'Havana Syndrome' as More Officials Get Stricken With Condition

U.S. Panel Reveals the Possible Cause of Havana Syndrome

Early this month, a panel of technical and medical experts gathered by the U.S. intelligence apparatus found that some cases of the Havana syndrome might be caused by directed electromagnetic energy.

According to Al Jazeera, the experts' findings revealed that a subset of anomalous health incidents (AHI) could not "be easily explained by known environmental or medical conditions and could be due to external stimuli."

The experts noted that it is possible to create concealable devices that will direct electromagnetic energy or ultrasound waves to cause damage in a targeted person using moderate amounts of energy. But the U.S. panel did not clarify if that technology currently exists or which actors may have used it against the U.S. personnel.

A National Academy of Sciences committee earlier said that "directed, pulsed radio-frequency energy" appears to be the most reasonable explanation for the symptoms.

CIA Says Havana Syndrome Unlikely Caused by Russia or Any Other Foreign Power

Last month, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ruled out Russia or any other foreign power's involvement in causing the Havana syndrome.

A senior CIA official said the interim findings of the CIA investigation found that most cases could probably be connected to pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors, or stress.

Another CIA official noted that the report was based on months of intensive investigation into what was widely believed a campaign of attacks by a foreign power against U.S. spies and diplomats.

"Despite extensive investigation, we have so far not found evidence of state-actor involvement in any [Havana Syndrome] incident," the unnamed official said.

The official further noted that based on the agency's investigation, it is "unlikely" that a foreign actor such as Russia is conducting a "worldwide campaign" in harming U.S. personnel using a weapon or mechanism.

However, the official said they are not ruling out the "involvement" of a foreign actor in a small number of Havana Syndrome cases whose cause could not be determined. The official noted that the CIA task force would continue investigating these cases.

Havana syndrome causes patients to experience hearing strange sounds, loss of balance, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss.

Since the original outbreak of the symptoms, more than 1,000 cases have been reported and studied worldwide. Many of the cases originated at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, beginning in 2016.

READ MORE: Kamala Harris Arrives in Vietnam After 3-Hour Delayed Flight From Singapore Over 'Havana Syndrome' Cases

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Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: What is Havana Syndrome? - From The Hindu
Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, is set to be released on September 13, 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said on Thursday.

Coronel Aispuro was sentenced to three years in prison on November 30 for helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar drug empire.

Coronel Aispuro's lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman told La Opinion that this was not a reduction in his client's sentence. He noted that El Chapo's wife could even get out of prison four months earlier or in May 2023.

Lichtman explained that Coronel Aispuro is allowed by law to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence and has the option to serve the remaining 10 percent of her sentence at home or a place that will help her rejoin society.

The lawyer added that El Chapo's wife would also be credited for the months she had already served. Coronel Aispuro has been incarcerated in a jail in Virginia since February last year when she was arrested at Dulles International Airport.

But Univision News reported that her exact location is not known since it is confidential government information.

At her sentencing hearing in a Washington court, Judge Rudolph Contreras has also ordered El Chapo's wife to forfeit $1.5 million tied to her criminal activities and serve four years of supervised release when she leaves prison.

Coronel Aispuro was also directed to find work after her release from prison and should work at least 30 hours per week.

READ NEXT: Sinaloa Cartel Founder 'El Guero' Is Still in Custody of Mexican Authorities

Emma Coronel Aispuro Pleads Guilty in Engaging in Financial Dealings With Sinaloa Cartel

Emma Coronel Aispuro has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and engage in financial dealings with the Sinaloa Cartel in June.

She also admitted to conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana for import into the U.S. for several years. She also admitted to helping her husband escape from a Mexican prison.

As part of her plea agreement, El Chapo's wife admitted acting as a courier between his husband and other members of the Sinaloa Cartel, while El Chapo was being held in Altiplano prison in Mexico following a 2014 arrest.

When her case was presented in court last year, Judge Robin Meriweather said if El Chapo's wife is found guilty, she could face a maximum sentence of life in prison with a $10 million fine.

U.S. prosecutors initially asked the court to sentence Coronel Aispuro to four years in prison in relation to the drug distribution and money laundering charges. But the prosecutors later agreed to a shorter sentence after she expressed remorse.

El Chapo's Wife and the Sinaloa Cartel

Emma Coronel Aispuro first met El Chapo after being crowned in a Sinaloa beauty pageant in 2006. She was only 17 years old at the time, and El Chapo was 49.

The two exchanged vows the following year on her 18th birthday. The California-born ex-beauty queen gave birth to their twins in 2011.

As the wife of El Chapo, the complaint filed against Emma Coronel Aispuro said she understood the scope of the Sinaloa cartel's drug trafficking, CNBC reported.

Before her sentencing, former DEA chief of international operations Mike Vigil told CNBC that Coronel Aispuro can provide a lot of information such as "the drug routes, the sources of supply for cocaine, corrupt public officials, (and other) members of the Sinaloa cartel."

Vigil added that El Chapo's wife also "knows where all the bodies are buried," and "she can do a lot of damage to the Sinaloa cartel."

The Sinaloa cartel is considered to be one of the most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. The Mexican drug cartel has been known for carrying out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf.

The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups.

El Chapo was arrested and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 1993. He escaped from prison in 2001 and was apprehended again in 2014 in Sinaloa, Mexico.

The Sinaloa cartel boss again escaped from prison through a tunnel the following year. In January 2016, Mexican officials announced that El Chapo has been captured again. He was extradited to the U.S. the next year.

El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Could Dismantle Sinaloa Cartel by Cutting Deal With U.S.: Report

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Emma Coronel Aispuro, Wife Of Mexican Drug Lord El Chapo Sentenced To Three Years | English News - From WION






Another Mexican journalist was shot and killed in southern Mexico on Thursday, authorities said. Heber Lopez's death is the latest in a string of journalist killings that prompted U.S. lawmakers to pressure Mexico to strengthen protections.

Lopez, director of the news site NoticiasWeb, was killed while leaving a recording studio in the port city of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca state, The Guardian reported.

Oaxaca state prosecutor Arturo Peimbert Calvo told Milenio that two suspects were arrested in relation to the killing and that the investigation was still ongoing.

Lopez is the fifth journalist killed in the country this year. His murder follows those of four journalists last month.

Lopez often reports about politics and corruption in local government, and he had received death threats in 2019, the director of RCP Noticias, Rodolfo Canseco, told Reuters.

According to the human rights organization Article 19, around 145 journalists were slain in Mexico from 2000 to 2021, making it one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists.

In a tweet, Article 19 called on Mexico's federal program to protect journalists to "contact [Lopez's] family members, colleagues and friends as soon as possible, in order to provide the necessary protection measures."

Deaths of Other Mexican Journalists

The fourth Mexican journalist, who was killed in Mexico this year, was Roberto Toledo. Three gunmen killed Toledo in a carpark at Zitacuaro City in the state of Michoacan on January 31. Toledo was a journalist at the local news website Monitor Michoacan.

Armando Linares, director of the Monitor Michoacan, posted a video on YouTube, wherein he expressed his apologies to the slain journalist's family.

Linares said exposing governmental corruption had caused the death of one of their colleagues. He noted that the Monitor Michoacan team had "suffered weeks, months of death threats" for exposing corrupt administrations and corrupt officials and politicians.

A Tijuana photojournalist was also shot dead outside his home on January 17 as he left for work. Margarito Martinez Esquivel also worked as a journalist assisting international outlets, including the BBC. His 16-year-old daughter heard gunshots and found her father's body by his car, according to San Diego Union-Tribune.

Martinez has filed an official complaint about the threats he had received through Facebook that referred to his work as a journalist. The threats were made a month ago before he was killed.

On January 23, Mexican journalist Lourdes Maldonado Lopez, who covered politics and corruption, was shot dead as she arrived at her home in Tijuana. Her colleagues said one of the windows of her vehicle was already covered in plastic as it had been shattered previously by gunfire.

On January 10, Jose Luis Gamboa's body was found in the Floresta neighborhood in Veracruz. Gamboa had been stabbed at least seven times.

Gamboa founded and edited the Inforegio news website. He also co-founded and edited the news website La Noticia while publishing news on his personal Facebook page.

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U.S. Senators Urge Mexico to Protect Journalists

Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia and Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, published an open letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking him to "urge the Mexican government to seriously improve efforts to protect journalists, NBC News reported.

Since Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018, more than 50 journalists have been killed.

The two prominent U.S. senators asked the State Department to report on what it is doing to help improve safety for Mexican journalists and to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for the recent murders of journalists.

Lopez Obrador's habit of "consistently disparaging journalists for daring to criticize his administration" was also criticized by Kaine and Rubio, who said the Mexican president's news briefings include almost daily tirades against journalists he considers either sold out or "conservatives."

The senators noted that the crisis of freedom of expression in Mexico should be addressed.

READ MORE: NBA Trade Deadline: Expert Predictions and Last Minute Trade Rumors Before February 10 Deadline

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Growing Public Outrage in Mexico as Journalists Are Targeted and Killed - From CBS News
Texas cops are looking for a Hispanic woman who allegedly lured a young man to a field where MS-13 gang members hacked him to death with machetes.

According to New York Post, authorities are offering $5,000 for any information leading to the arrest of Karla Jackelin Morales, who has been on the run since October.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office said the 20-year-old Hispanic woman was charged with murder for her alleged role in the machete slaying and shooting of 24-year-old Jose Villanueva in July 2018.

"She helped plan and plot this vicious execution, and somebody out there knows where she is hiding," District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement Wednesday.

Ogg assured that anyone with information on Morales' whereabouts would not be asked about their immigration status.

"You can do the right thing by helping deliver justice for Jose's family, and you can collect a reward for your efforts," Ogg said.

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Hispanic Woman Wanted By Texas Cops

According to El Diario, Karla Jackelin Morales cut the electronic monitoring bracelet off her ankle five days before her trial began and fled.

Court documents showed that the company that tracks the system was alerted at about 9:07 p.m. on October 20. Since then, cops have been unable to locate the Hispanic woman.

According to Ogg, prosecutors asked a judge to set Morales' bail to $250,000, but the judge set her bond at $100,000. After that, a district judge lowered it to $60,000 and waived fees associated with her ankle monitor.

Ogg said Morales was born in California but had relatives in Central America, including Honduras and El Salvador, where the MS-13 gang thrives. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the international street gang MS-13 was initially formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

Texas authorities believed that Morales may still be in the Houston area, KHOU 11 reported. Ogg said the Hispanic woman, who is 5 feet tall with black hair, brown eyes, and a heavy build, is known by several nicknames, including "Foxy" and "Cherry."

Ogg added that Morales also has a large tattoo on her chest that reads "Alicia."

Hispanic Woman's Involvement in the MS-13 Gang's Crime in Texas

Karla Jackelin Morales reportedly lured Jose Villanueva to a field in Spring, Texas where his killers were waiting back in 2018.

The Hispanic woman told the victim that they were going to smoke weed to celebrate his birthday. Morales then took Villanueva to a grassy field near an elementary school in Spring.

Upon arrival at the scene, five members of the gang attacked Villanueva. One of the convicted MS-13 gang members, Francisco "Psycho" Flores-Salazar, 21, confessed to authorities that he cut the victim with a machete at least twice. The other gang members also repeatedly shot Villanueva.

Flores-Salazar and the other four MS-13 gang members have already been convicted and sentenced to prison. The Hispanic woman is the last to face trial. She reportedly faces up to 99 years in prison if convicted.

Ogg said the suspects were angry at the victim for making fun of the gang in a rap music battle.

READ MORE: New York Sex Trafficking: Family of 5 From Mexico Sentenced After Running Ring That Exploits Mexican Women

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: The Truth Behind Street Gang MS-13 - From Inside Edition
The Armes Forces of Colombia intercepted a million-dollar submarine with four tons of cocaine on Sunday en route to Central America.

The Colombian military said the huge cocaine shipment, estimated to be worth $145 million, was seized as the submarine entered the country's waters, The New York Post reported.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces told reporters on Tuesday that the submarine was also carrying a drug trafficker hunted by the U.S. for nearly three years.

Jorge P.B., an Ecuadoran national wanted by a U.S. federal court on drug trafficking charges, was among the four men arrested.

In August 2019, the U.S. district court, which has not been identified, has formally requested his extradition with Ecuador's government.

Jorge P.B. and the Colombians were turned over to Colombia's Attorney General's Office. Daily Mail reported that they were charged with the manufacturing, possession, or trafficking of drugs and the use, construction, promotion, and possession of semi-submersibles or submersibles.

Cocaine Shipment Intercepted by Colombia's Military Belonged to Perilla Sandoval

Authorities in Colombia reportedly found at least 4,000 packages filled with cocaine when they opened the hatch on the top of the submarine.

Video footage released by the Armed Forces of Colombia showed the drugs were stored in black bags or wrapped in brown paper and crammed into the vessel. The cocaine's plastic bundles wrapped and placed in 200 large bags were sufficient to be split into 10 million cocaine doses.

A serviceman standing above the vessel and pointing a rifle down into the submarine was also seen in the video. The shipment was reportedly seized 78 miles of the Narino port city of Tumaco.

The Armed Forces of Colombia said it was the largest narcotics bust the military has uncovered in the last two years. Colombian officials said the diesel-powered submarine was capable of transporting at least 5,000 kilograms of cocaine.

The drugs belonged to a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) known as the Alfonso Cano Western Bloc led by Allende Perilla Sandoval, who traffics narcotics out of Tumaco, the military said.

The military also linked Perilla Sandoval to January's seizure of 4,256 kilos of cocaine from two speedboats off the coast of Punta Remedios, El Salvador.

According to the military, at least eight tons of cocaine were seized from a similar vessel in September 2019.

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Colombia Announces New Drug-Trafficking Strategy

The latest record bust comes only days after the South American nation and the U.S.'s main ally in the drug war announced the launch of a new strategy to fight drug trafficking.

According to Defense Minister Diego Molano, the strategy is to govern cyberspace to combat criminal groups involved in the cocaine trade and block their financial transactions.

The "Esmeralda" initiative, which was launched in the Caribbean city of Cartagena, would get its support from 36 countries, including the U.S.

In the III International Anti-Drugs Congress early this month, Molano said he hopes to develop new and innovative tactics in the coming years to "fight against the global scourge of drugs."

Molano added that artificial intelligence would also be used to monitor the selling and trafficking of chemical ingredients used in drug making.

Colombia is known to be the world's leading cocaine producer. Illegal armed groups heavily influence the production and trafficking of drugs, including leftist guerrillas and criminal gangs developed from right-wing paramilitaries.

According to the United Nations, the South American country reduced the number of coca plantations, the main ingredient in cocaine, by 7 percent in 2020, but potential output increased by 8 percent to 1,228 tonnes per year.

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Colombian Navy Seizes Four Tons of Cocaine from Submarine - From VOA News
DELRAY BEACH  Delray Beachs Federal Highway has become hot spot for townhomes  and 31 more could soon be on the way with price tags hovering above $2 million each.

The proposed townhome development, Highland Park, would consist of five four-story buildings just four blocks north of Atlantic Avenue at 375 and 395 NE Sixth Ave. Each unit would feature a two-car garage, a private elevator and roof deck.

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The 1.73-acre project also would include a private pool and public space with benches and a water fountain. The land was purchased by Courchene Development for $4.8 million in 2006 and has remained vacant since that time.

[ RELATED: A new gated community with $3 million luxury homes is coming to Delray Beach ]

Prices for individual units will likely be in the low-to-mid $2 million range, said Paul Courchene, president of Courchene Development, adding that the hope is for the townhomes to be ready in the beginning of 2024.

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The housing market has continued to surge in South Florida with people fleeing colder states up north, making downtown Delray Beach an especially attractive destination with its buzzing nightlife and proximity to the beach.

Highland Park would feature 31 townhomes in Delray Beach on Federal Highway just north of Atlantic Avenue. A rendering submitted to the city shows the exterior of the proposal. (Courchene Development / Covelli Design Associates)

The timing I think is perfect right now to develop it and theres definitely a need, Courchene said. We were just waiting for the appropriate time to get things going.

That infusion of wealthy northerners has created a demand for more luxury projects in Delray Beach.

Just south of Linton Boulevard, by the beach, 33 brand-new luxury condos are in development and selling for between $3.9 million and $7.5 million.

Additionally, a 14-home gated community is in the works less than two miles north of Atlantic Avenue with pre-construction prices beginning at $3.25 million.

While the housing demand is sky-high in Delray Beach, theres a scarcity of available land. 98% of Delray Beach is already built out, according to city records, making it a challenge to create new projects. The limited amount of land has made townhomes an attractive option for developers.

[ RELATED: How hot is housing? This Delray Beach Publix could soon have three stories of apartments built on top of it ]

While theres not enough space for larger complexes along Federal Highway, townhomes can be built on smaller plots of land, which allows developers to sell them at higher prices to maximize their value.

Elliot Koolik, principal for the Koolik Group and Founding agent at Compass Boca, has been specializing in luxury homes in Boca Raton and Delray Beach for over 30 years, said that townhomes close to Atlantic Avenue have become a popular option for people moving to South Florida.

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There is a migration of people who have had larger homes who are empty nesters and moving East and want walkability, so they are walking to the avenue and going to restaurants. They love that, Koolik said.

[ RELATED: Delray Beach turns on the glitz with deluxe homes to lure ultra-rich ]

And clearly second-home people, because townhomes are easy. You lock the door, you have an alarm, not a lot of maintenance, so its very appealing.

The project is in the early stages of development and still needs to receive city approval.
Portland, TN (37148)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 83F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Cloudy skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Ger Bowe - Ballinakill

The death took place on Wednesday, February 9 of Ger Bowe of Moate, Ballinakill.



Suddenly at his residence. Predeceased by his sister. Deeply regretted by his heartbroken wife Mary Ann, daughter Aileen, son Kieran and their partners Aidan and Caoimhe, mother in law Nancy Gorman, brothers, sister, brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and wide circle of friends.

Funeral Mass on Saturday at 12 noon in St.Brigid's Church, Ballinakill. Mass can be viewed on the link ballinakillknockparish.com. Burial afterwards in St.Brigid's Cemetery.

Please adhere to Government guidelines. It would be appreciated: To wear masks and no handshaking. The family thank you for your support and understanding at this time.

Albert Rothwell - Abbeyleix

The death took place on Wednesday, February 9 of Albert (Bertie) Rothwell of Green Road, Abbeyleix.



After an illness, at home surrounded by his loving family. Deeply regretted by his much loved wife Violet, son Howard, grandchildren Sarah and Shane, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. Leaving many happy memories behind.

Removal from his residence on Friday to Ballyroan Church, Main St., Ballyroan. (R32WP80) for 2pm Service. Burial afterwards in the adjoining Churchyard.

The Rothwell family would like to thank you for your help, support and understanding at this sad and difficult time. The family kindly request the house remain private.

Joseph Connolly - Portarlington

The death took place on Tuesday, February 8 of Joseph (Joe) Connolly of Pine Villa, Portarlington and formerly of Dublin.

Unexpectedly at his home, after a long illness bravely borne. To the inexpressible grief of his heartbroken fiancee, Ann Marie. Will be forever and sadly missed by his sisters-in-law Patricia, Caroline, Catherine, Betty, Winnie and Adele, brothers-in-law Eddie, David, Eugene and Gerry, nieces, nephews, Laura and Gillian. Will also be very fondly remembered by his large circle of friends especially John Keenan a life long companion. Predeceased by his dad Joe and mam Pauline.

Reposing at his home in Portarlington on Wednesday and Thursday. (House Private on Friday morning Please). Removal from his residence on Friday at 12:50pm arriving Newlands Cross Crematorium for cremation service at 2:20pm.

Everyone is asked to adhere to current Covid 19 guidelines while attending the residence and Crematorium.

Joseph's Cremation Service will be streamed live.

https://www.dctrust.ie/location/newlands-cross/chapel-webstream.html

Sherry Shiel - Stradbally

The death took place on Tuesday, February 8 of Sherry Shiel of Ballaghmore, Stradbally.



Sherry passed away peacefully in the company of her family and friends. Sadly missed by her loving family husband Paul, sons Ryan and Tom, relatives and friends.

Funeral Arrangements later.

Peter O'Brien - Portlaoise

The death took place on Wednesday, February 9 of Peter (Peadar) O`Brien of St Johns Sq, Portlaoise and formerly Millview.

In the tender care of the staff of Suncroft Nuring home. Kildare. Deeply regretted by his loving sister Rita. Loving brothers Noel, Tony, Gerry, Pacal and Thomas And Brian O `Neill. Bros in law, sisters in law, nephews and nieces, relatives and former colleagues in Irish Rail.

Reposing at Keegan's Funeral Home on Thursday from 7pm until 8pm. Funeral arriving at SS Peter and Paul's Church for 12 noon Mass on Friday. Interment will follow in SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery, Portlaoise. Mass May be viewed on https://www.portlaoiseparish.ie/webcam/. House private, please.

The family thank you for your understanding at this difficult time. Government Covid guidelines still to be observed. Those attending funeral are requested to wear masks and refrain from handshaking.

Liam Devoy - Ballyroan

The death took place on Tuesday, February 8 of Liam Devoy of Ballyruin, Ballyroan.



Peacefully at home. Predeceased by his parents William and Mary, his sister Sheila, brothers Fintan, Dan and James. Liam will be sadly missed by his siblings Michael, Martin, Kitty and Seamus, his brothers in law Michael Cushen and Pat McAndrew, his sister in law Kathleen, his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Liam will be reposing from 5pm Friday evening in St. Patrick's Church, Ballyroan with Rosary at 7pm. Funeral Mass at 12 noon on Saturday in St. Patrick's Church, Ballyroan followed by interment in the Old Cemetery behind the Church of the Holy Rosary, Abbeyleix.

Reenie England - Ballaghmore

The death took place on Monday, February 7 of Reenie (Catherine) England of Ballaghmore, Borris-in-Ossory.

In the care of the Matron and staff of The Dean Maxwell Home Roscrea. Pre-deceased by her parents Kitty and Joe. Deeply regretted by her sisters Esther, Noreen and Celine, brothers Joseph, TF and Gerard, sisters-in-law Carole, Margaret and Marianne, brother-in-law Leo, nieces, nephews, relatives good neighbours and many many friends.

Reposing at her residence on Thursday afternoon from 5pm to 7pm for close friends and family. Private removal from her residence on Friday morning at 10.30am arriving St. Molua's Church, Ballaghmore for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Face Masks to be worn at all times at the residence and church please.
A young boy was killed overnight when a car he was driving collided with a lorry in Limerick.

Shortly before 2am, Gardai and Emergency Services were alerted following a crash between a car and a lorry on the N21 at Rineroe near Adare.

The driver of the car, a male juvenile, was fatally injured. It is understood the boy was 12 years old.

He was the sole occupant of the car. His body has since been removed to the morgue at University Hospital Limerick. The coroner has been notified.

The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s, did not require hospital treatment.

The scene is preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Diversions are currently in place on the N21, with city bound traffic being diverted from Adare via Croom.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N21 near Adare area at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastlewest Garda Station 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Prosecutors have charged a former Univision producer for El Gordo y la Flaca with another attack on a woman who had hoped to be on the show.

Enrique Albis was arrested Friday morning, charged with false imprisonment and sexual battery by force. He is still awaiting trial in two other cases.

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The latest charges were filed nine months after the Miami Herald outlined the untold saga of Albis, a former producer for the popular show who was quietly accused of a series of attacks over years reported by multiple women.

For the full story, please visit miamiherald.com

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Acusan a ex productor de Univision de haber violado a una actriz en un estudio de television ]
The ward in the Laois Community & Voluntary Awards Arts, Culture and Heritage award recognises groups and organisations who enhance their local areas, by conserving, protecting and promoting the Arts, Culture and Heritage of their local community through collective creative activities.

The nominees in the Arts, Culture and Heritage category were:

Mountrath Youth Theatre

Kilabban Monastery Restoration Committee

Yarn Bombing Mountmellick

Spink Comhaltas

Colonel James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society

Mountrath Christmas Lights

The Runner-up in this category was: Mountrath Youth Theatre

The Winner of the Laois Community & Voluntary Awards 2021 in the Arts, Culture & Heritage Category was: the Colonel James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society

The judge said the Colonel James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society, captured the ethos of this exceptional Irishman who achieved the impossible dream.

"The groups creativity and forward thinking in documenting this aviation journey for this and future generations to enjoy is a testament to their involvement and commitment in preserving this unique magnificent story of the first East-West transatlantic Flight, which is now recognised as one of the most difficult flights," said the citation.

The awards which are supported by the Laois Volunteer Centre and the Leinster Express were streamed live on Friday, February 11 on the Laois County Council website and Facebook page.
A forgotten flashpoint at the Irish border in the wake of the War of Independence that left several people dead is set to be remembered 100 years on.

By February 11 1922, the British had handed over power to the Irish Free State provisional government and the War of Independence had finished.

But tensions still raged across the island, as the country headed towards civil war.

It was in this atmosphere that the Clones Affray, as it came to be known, occurred.

That day, a gun battle took place at a railway station in the border town of Clones that claimed the lives of a hero of the War of Independence in Co Monaghan, as well as four members of the Ulster Special Constabulary, or the B-Specials.

No-one really knows how the B-Specials ended up on the wrong side of the border, but it was a decision that would lead to one of the bloodiest events in the history of the border county  and one that would have ramifications beyond Clones.

At the station, a firefight broke out after the local IRA battalion was alerted to the presence of the police officers.

It left the four members of the B-Specials dead, while civilians were also wounded in the crossfire.

Gerard Fitzpatrick, the 84-year-old nephew of the IRA commandant Matt Fitzpatrick who was also killed in the shoot-out, said he learnt the details of the day from family and locals.

I was fortunate enough to listen to my uncles and the people involved around and people who marched to his funeral, he said.

He is proud that a new exhibition in Monaghan County Museum will remind people of his uncles role in Irelands road to independence.

That exhibition will include the rifle that reportedly killed Matt Fitzpatrick, as well as his Mauser handgun and a wooden crucifix display including the small metal crucifix he had in his pocket when he died.

It will also include insignia from his uniform and a lock of his hair.

Mr Fitzpatrick said he was a stickler for the correct telling of the events in Monaghan during that period.

He said: Any history should be accurate and authentic and correct, you know? No folklore to it and that.

Time has moved on. Were just to be glad to be about, to be part of taking part.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the family will mark the anniversary with the laying of a wreath at his uncles grave in Co Cavan, as well as a commemorative Mass marking the incident.

Liam Bradley, curator of Monaghan County Museum, said the Clones Affray has been partially forgotten.

He said: It was such a tumultuous period, there was so much going on in the border area at that time.

The shooting, which he likened to something from a Western movie, came at a fallow period after the War of Independence but before the Civil War.

And while the Clones Affray has become something of a footnote in Irish history, Mr Bradley said it encapsulated many of the anxieties that dominated the time after partition.

In the aftermath, there was outrage in Northern Ireland at the killings.

The train is allowed to leave, to go to Enniskillen, with the four bodies on it, he said.

The anger turned violent, sparking sectarian attacks on Catholics in Belfast.

In the House of Commons, secretary of state for the colonies Winston Churchill called for a tribunal to investigate the incident.

More locally, it saw Clones locked down amid IRA fears of a reprisal attack.

Later, the death of Matt Fitzpatrick saw the biggest funeral in living memory in Monaghan.

Mr Bradley said: We wanted to make sure the whole story is told.

He hopes that people will now take the opportunity to learn about the events of the day, 100 years on.

Mr Bradley said: It was just another one of those events that got lost in the ether.

One hundred years on, the incident still has a lot to teach us.

For many reasons, the Clones Affray reflects the reality of the situation in Monaghan at that point, said Mr Bradley.

A simple incident, getting off at a railway, in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Thats how much of a tinderbox the country was sitting on at the time.

To be in the wrong place in the wrong time could mean your life.
IRELAND'S first micro-forest will be planted in County Limerick later this month, it has been announced.

Eco-Sikh Ireland in partnership with Reforest Nation will plant 1,150 trees at Templeglantine National School as part of a

nationwide initiative to plant over one million trees, in a bid to help reforest Ireland and combat climate change, global warming and bio-diversity loss.

The new micro-forest, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be named the Guru Nanak Sacred Forest - after the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The planting will take place on Saturday, February 19 at Templeglantine National School where renowned Sikh scholar and historian Michael (Max) Arthur McAuliffe studied.

Students from the school will work alongside a team of dedicated volunteers from Reforest Nation, as well as the local Sikh community, plant saplings throughout the day.

When planted, the Guru Nanak Sacred Forest will cover an area of approximately 250 square meters, with over 1,150 trees of 11 different Irish native species.

Commenting ahead of the planting, Gearoid McEvoy, Founder of Reforest Nation said: "With the creation of Irelands first micro-forest at Templeglantine National School, I hope it will encourage more schools around Ireland and beyond to utilise their green spaces to help combat biodiversity loss and fight climate change."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by EcoSikh Ireland (@ecosikhireland)

Dr Jagdeep Singh, a founding member of Eco-Sikh Ireland, added: "As Sikhs, our connection to the environment is an integral part of our faith and identity. We hope this project inspires all communities in Ireland to lead on environmental stewardship

and learn more about the endeavours of the Irish Sikh community.

"The forest will be the first of its kind in Ireland, and the 367th Guru Nanak Sacred Forest planted globally to date. I would like to thank Reforest Nation and the Templeglantine National School for their support throughout the planning process and look forward to the tree planting day".

Tadhg Mulcahy of Templeglantine Community Development and local historian say the planting of the new forest in Templeglantine will be a wonderful way to commemorate the special relationship and heritage between the Sikh community and the place of Max McAuliffes childhood.

"It will also contribute to the enhancement of local biodiversity and provide a beautiful natural amenity for locals and visitors alike in the area to enjoy," he said.

The Guru Nanak Sacred Forest Limerick will be grown using a method of afforestation, where plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual. It will involve planting dozens of native species in the same area, without the use of chemicals or synthetic fertilizers, which will become self-sustaining after the first three years.

See ecosikhireland.wixsite.com/home for more.
A LIMERICK man who sexually assaulted his sister while he was 'significantly intoxicated' has been sentenced to three and-a-half years' imprisonment.

The 47-year-old, who can't be named to protect the identity of the complainant, called his sister by another woman's name before telling her, I'm going to have sex with you.

He then dragged her to the bedroom of his homeless accommodation where the assault occurred.

He hit her and pulled down his trousers as she yelled at him to stop, telling him 'I'm your sister, the Central Cri'inal Court heard. The attack ended when two neighbours heard the screams and made their way into the man's apartment.

The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting his sister at an apartment in Limerick on October 26, 2019. The court heard that he grabbed his sister's breasts in the course of the attack.

He has three previous convictions and has been in custody for two years in relation to the offence and other matters.

A Limerick-based garda told a sentencing hearing last November that the brother and sister were watching a movie in his accommodation on the evening in question. The man was drinking heavily and smoking a joint, the court heard.

He suddenly called out the name of a woman with whom he had had a previous relationship before attacking his sister, the court heard.

When the neighbours stopped the attack, he told them: I know it's wrong. I smoked a joint, my head wasn't [acting] right.

The court heard the man's sister, who was not present in court, did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Dean Kelly SC, defending, said his client has a limited intellectual ability and left school at primary level. Despite this, he kept down steady jobs in the farming and building trades for years before he lost his job.

His life then spiralled, his alcohol addiction worsened and he became homeless. He has limited sexual experience.

Mr Kelly said the man's sister also had issues with alcohol and was living in nearby homeless accommodation. He submitted his client was significantly intoxicated at the time and was at a loss to explain his behaviour.

He can't explain why he did it. He knows its wrong and he's ashamed, Mr Kelly said.

Imposing sentence this Friday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said there were a number of concerning features of the attack, including its unexpected and sudden nature, the degree of physical force and the fact his sister was intoxicated and vulnerable.

He said the manner in which the assault was carried out was humiliating and degrading for the victim, and all the more so because it was her brother carrying it out.

The judge noted the mans guilty plea, his personal and social problems and his strong work record prior to losing his job due to his alcoholism.

He said the man would need multi-agency support to address his issues. He is at a moderate risk of reoffending.

Mr Justice McDermott imposed a sentence of four-and-a half years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years.

He said the part suspension was to ensure that some stability can be brought back into the mans life with the necessary supports following his release.

The conditions of the suspension include a requirement that the man attends any rehabilitation program that is considered to be appropriate to his need to address his addiction and the nature of his offending.

The judge ordered that the man abstain from alcohol and illicit drug.
A LIMERICK community has been left 'shocked' after the death of a 12-year-old boy in a road collision in the early hours of the morning.

Emergency services and gardai were called to the scene on the N21 near Adare just after 2am where a lorry had collided with a car.

The 12-year-old boy was the single occupant of the car and he sadly died at the scene and his body was taken to University Hospital Limerick. The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s, did not require hospital treatment but he is said to be very shocked.

The young boy was a Polish national who lived in Newcastle West with his parents and sister, 24 kilometres away from the scene of the incident on the Limerick side of Adare.

He attended Scoil Mhuire agus Ide and was a past pupil of Gaelscoil O Doghair, both in Newcastle West.

The boy is believed to have been driving his mother's car and gardai are investigating the circumstances that led to the collision.

The young boy has not been formally named however Monsignor Daniel Neenan of Adare said the west Limerick community are shocked at his death.

He told RTE Radio's News at One that he was contacted in the early hours of this Friday. "I got the call around 4am that there had been a terrible accident and the fatality was very young. When I got there he had been taken out of the vehicle but he was obviously dead. I anointed him and said some prayers," he said.

"The emergency services were just amazing, they were wonderful. I waited then for the parents to arrive, they were so shocked but incredibly dignified. We gave them some time alone with their son and then I spoke to them and cradled them. Before she left, the mother went and thanked everyone for their tireless efforts. It was harrowing," added Monsignor Neenan.

"We prayed for him at Mass this morning as well as his family and the Polish community. They will support each other and look out for each other."

Scoil Mhuire agus Ide principal Sean Lane said the boy's death was a huge shock to the school community and they will put in place all the necessary critical support services to help pupils.

Gardai at Newcastle West are investigating the circumstances of the collision, which is the first fatal road collision in Limerick this year.

Any witnesses or any motorists with dash-cam footage are asked to come forward.
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As we grow and expand we need new members to join our teams, with a range of roles available.

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The Covid-19 restriction in the national capital may be relaxed further next week after the expected meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), reported news agency PTI on Friday.

This comes after demands were raised by several quarters, including traders and political parties, for the lifting of the night curfew and permitting weekly markets in all municipal zones.

Chairman of Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Brijesh Goyal has questioned the continuance of night curfew, saying it was hurting traders. He said that now the marriage season has started and people are going to face problems due to night curfew.

Further, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta on Thursday wrote a letter to Lt Governor and DDMA chairman Anil Baijal, requesting him to allow visitors to temples and other religious places. Currently, religious places are permitted to open without visitors.

The DDMA in its meeting on 4 February had extended the imposition of night curfew but slashed the timing by an hour from 11 pm to 5 am. Non-essential shops are allowed to open till 8 PM due to the night curfew.

The government had also allowed the reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 from 7 February, while that of the nursery to standard 8 from 14 February.

Further, it said that all government and private offices have been permitted to function at 100% capacity. The gyms have also been allowed to reopen with certain restrictions.

However, several restrictions like only one weekly market permitted in a municipal zone, no standing passengers allowed in buses and Metro trains, 50% cap on seating capacity in restaurants, bars and cinemas and no activity except weddings in banquet halls are yet to be relaxed even though the pandemic situation has improved in Delhi.

Covid situation in city

Delhi on Friday reported 977 fresh Covid-19 cases and 12 more deaths, while the positivity rate dropped to 1.73%, according to data shared by the city health department.

With this, the national capital's case count increased to 18,49,596 and the death toll climbed to 26,047, the latest health bulletin stated.

The number of daily cases in Delhi has been on the decline after touching the record high of 28,867 on 13 January.
Florida has a lot of electric cars  the second-highest number in the nation  and for drivers on long trips or a stressful hurricane evacuation there is always one big question: Where is the next charging station?

That worry may soon ease. The states major highways could see potentially 100 new fast chargers thanks to a boost from the federal infrastructure bill the U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday morning. Floridas initial share of the $5 billion federal pot to expand electric vehicle chargers nationwide was just over $29 million  the third-most nationwide and more could be on the way in coming years. Its part of several efforts to expand the charging network across the state.

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Switching to electric vehicles is an increasingly popular option and, experts say, one of the most effective strategies for helping the nation transition away from fossil fuels to offset the worst impacts of climate change.

Susan Glickman, spokesperson for the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, said in a statement that this investment will reap big benefits for Floridians.

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Increasing fast chargers along evacuation routes will increase confidence in going electric. Electric vehicles are key to slashing the climate change pollution driving the extreme heat, flooding and sea level rise already harming Floridians health, she said. Clean cars save on fuel and also avoid tailpipe emissions that cause asthma attacks, emphysema, and some cancers.

Florida must submit a plan to the federal government by August 1 on how it plans to use the cash, which can be used to install or upgrade fast chargers along the highway system. Its the first installment of five years of funding, and once each state has built enough chargers along its highway system, the money could go to installing chargers elsewhere in the state.

This Alternative Fueling Station Locator map from the U.S. Department of Energy shows the locations of charging stations for electric vehicles across Florida. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Florida has the second-most registered electric cars in the county, with a little over 58,000 as of June. According to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, electric cars made up nearly 3% of all cars sold in Florida last year.

Its hard to guess exactly how fast that number might grow, but calculations submitted by Florida Power and Light predict that the number of electric vehicles in its service territory, most of Florida, could jump to nearly 600,000 by 2030, and cross 8.1 million by 2040.

As the number of electric car drivers grows, so too does the risk that they wont be able to properly evacuate if a hurricane threatens the coast. Floridas first-ever electric car roadmap, produced by the Department of Agriculture in 2020, pointed out that most electric drivers live a few miles from the coast.

Currently there is little infrastructure in the interior of the state to support evacuation, significant portions of I-75, and I-10 in the panhandle have very little fast charging, the report read. The acceptance and growth of EVs continues to accelerate in Florida, and reliable, high-speed EV charging facilities are needed to support the evacuation of owners during an emergency.

Florida has 4,793 slow-charging stations and 1,246 fast-charging stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That puts Florida in a distant third behind California and New York.

A December 2020 statewide report estimated that Florida likely has enough slow chargers to meet state needs for a decade but that the fast chargers currently planned for installation along Floridas highways will meet the states needs only until 2025.

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The 34 fast-charging stations already planned to be installed along Floridas highways are part of Floridas $166 million settlement from Volkswagen, which was found guilty of purposely falsifying emissions test results on diesel engines. Some $8.6 million of that is going toward fast chargers.

Major utilities are getting in on the action too.

Florida Power and Light has already installed more than 400 charging ports across the state, part of its plan to install 1,000 slow-charging stations and 75 fast-charging spots across Florida. Tampa Electric plans to spend $2 million to install another 200 charging stations. Duke Energy Florida has already installed 41 fast chargers and 549 slow chargers.

This story was produced in partnership with the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a multi-newsroom initiative founded by the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, the Orlando Sentinel, WLRN Public Media and the Tampa Bay Times.
Harris County District Attorney's Office

A former Houston-area cop who prosecutors allege coerced a woman into sexual favors to allow her to avoid arrest during a 2020 traffic stop might have manipulated others in similar situations, and authorities Friday asked additional victims to come forward.

A grand jury in January indicted former Hedwig Village cop Richard Hernandez, 37, on a misdemeanor charge of official oppression for the July 2020 encounter. Hernandez had pulled a woman over, who was driving alone, and learned she had open warrants for her arrest, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. He allegedly told the woman he would forgo jailing her on the warrants if she performed sexual favors.
Astra Space successfully launched a rocket Thursday for the first time from the Space Coast, but the mission was a failure as the upper stage was last seen spinning in space with its ultimate fate unclear.

We experienced an issue in todays flight, said Astra Space CEO and cofounder Chris Kemp. Im deeply sorry we were not able to deliver our customers payloads. Im with the team looking at data, and we will provide more info as soon as we can.

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After launch attempts were thwarted by the Space Forces busted radar equipment last weekend, and then a last-second scrub Monday because of a communication issue with its Rocket 3.3 spacecraft, the Alameda, California-based company saw no issues leading up to a 3 p.m. liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Astra's Rocket 3.3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. This is the first launch from the Space Coast for the company. Rocket 3.3, carrying four small satellites for NASA, failed shortly after liftoff. (Craig Bailey/Florida Today via AP) (Craig Bailey/AP)

The plan was to deploy four satellites for NASA a little more than eight minutes after liftoff, but cameras on board ahead of the deployment showed the second stage tumbling in space.

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On the companys live stream aired by NASASpaceflight.com, sounds of cheers could be heard after the rocket successfully moved through main engine cutoff, first-stage and fairing separation three minutes into the flight.

But they turned to groans and then silence as viewers could see the blue ball of the Earth coming in and out of frame as the upper stage performed at least part of its planned burn before the cameras cut out.

Speed and altitude data on the stream showed the rocket hit a maximum velocity of nearly 9,700 mph and continued to climb in altitude even after the malfunction, moving from 85 miles altitude when the fairing separated and last seen at around 140 miles altitude and climbing when data cut off on the video.

An Astra Space Rocket 3.3 launches from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (NASASpaceflight/Astra)

Thats a high enough altitude to achieve orbit, but no details on its final position have been released. Objects between 99 and 310 miles are still within Earths thermosphere and break up as they descend to lower altitudes.

The International Space Station orbits at 254 miles altitude but travels at an orbiting speed of about 17,500 mph to maintain altitude.

Despite the mission failure, the company is still looking to join the spate of private companies that include SpaceX and United Launch Alliance to offer launch services from Florida.

Missions like these are critical for developing new launch vehicles in this growing commercial sector, said mission manager Hamilton Fernandez with NASAs Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center. The Astra team demonstrated dedication to supporting NASAs mission. The lessons learned will benefit them and the agency going forward.

NASA said Astra will work closely with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate.

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Rocket 3.3, a version of which achieved orbit once from the companys other launch site in Kodiak, Alaska, last November, is much smaller than SpaceXs Falcon 9 or ULAs Atlas and Delta rockets. The version that took off from Space Launch Complex 46 stood at only 43 feet tall compared to Falcon 9s nearly 230 feet.

And while SpaceXs workhorse can take up to 50,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit, the Rocket 3.3 only has a payload capacity of up to 331 pounds to sun-synchronous orbit, which is around 310 miles altitude.

That was the destination for Thursdays mission, which carried four small satellites known as CubeSats for NASA. CubeSats are at their smallest form about the size of a loaf of bread and typically weigh from 3-18 pounds.

This mission, which was the culmination of $3.9 million awarded to the company as part of NASAs Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 contract was dubbed ELaNa 41, as in the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites.

The four CubeSats lost in space came from the University of Alabama (BAMA-1), New Mexico State University (INCA), the University of California at Berkeley (QubeSat) and NASAs Johnson Space Center (R5-S1).

BAMA-1 was to test a drag sail that will allow a faster deorbit of the satellite. INCA, as in Ionospheric Neutron Content Analyzer, was geared toward improving space weather models. QubeSat was to demonstrate quantum gyroscopes to measure angular velocity. R5-S1 looked to demonstrate speed and cost efficiency in a particular design of CubeSats.

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The company had looked to complete the first of what is planned to be many launches from Florida. Last week it became the first company to get Federal Aviation Administration approval for a new type of license that combines what previously required multiple licenses.

The main purpose is to support greater innovation, lay the foundation for the FAA to keep pace with more frequent rocket launches, and it does allow for higher launch cadence and greater flexibility, said Astra Space Director of Product Management Carolina Grossman.

An Astra Space Rocket 3.3 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 46 seen at sunset Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 ahead of its planned first-ever liftoff from the Space Coast. (Astra / John Kraus)
Lockport, NY (14094)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing later in the day. High around 65F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
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) of 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) last Thursday pleaded guilty 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 silver 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 belonging to the accused.

Gardai later found photographs on Stokes phone which, Judge Keenan Johnson, established a firm link between the accused and the offending vehicle.

During Eamon Stokes' sentencing hearing, the court heard a key factor in the ensuing garda investigation which followed, came from his brother William Stokes Jnr.

In a statement given to gardai on July 19, six months after the incident, Mr Stokes Jnr told of how his brother had returned from the post office to reveal he had met the accused inside.

After returning to their home on the outskirts of Edgeworthstown, Mr Stokes Jnr said he then spotted the two men change their clothing before the pair 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 Mr Stokes had 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.

Judge Johnson sentenced Mr Stokes to three years in prison alongside a six month consecutive prison term for breaching the terms of the previous suspended sentence 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.
A man with eleven previous driving offences has been handed a three month prison suspended sentence, following further offences which appeared before Longford District Court last week.

Lukasz Kasprzyk of 18 Dun Darrach, Longford, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, driving without a licence, and being in possession of 120 worth of cannabis.

Sergeant Enda Daly, for the state, explained that Mr Kasprzyks previous offences include five for no insurance, three for driving without a licence, two for driving while intoxicated and one for dangerous driving.

The most recent of those was in September when he was fined 1,000 and disqualified for eight years for driving with no insurance. He was fined a further 1,000 for driving without a licence.

Prior to that, in September 2015, he was given a suspended prison sentence of four years for driving without insurance. He was also fined 750 and disqualified for eight years. A driving while disqualified charge was taken into consideration.

Solicitor for the defence, Frank Gearty, explained that his client is a hardworking man from Poland who has a car valeting business and speaks perfect English.

He is enduring an eight year disqualification and Ive advised him he wont be able to apply to remove it for ten years, said Mr Gearty.

Hes in a sticky situation. Regretfully, he drove. Hes engaged to be married soon. Hes a man of 30 years old and is a hard worker. It wasnt his car he drove.

He was tested at the Garda station that evening and there were no drugs in his system. He was coming back from a friends house.

Judge Owens, upon considering the evidence, sentenced him to four months in prison, suspending it for 12 months, and disqualified him for ten years.
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Donald Trump once thundered that the questions surrounding Hillary Clintons use of a private email server were bigger than Watergate. On his 2016 presidential campaign, where are her emails? became a Republican rallying cry that was soon replaced with an even more threatening demand: Lock her up.

Now, its Trump who faces accusations of improperly taking government records to his private residence. But among Republicans, once so forceful about the issue of mishandling documents, there was little sign of outrage.

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Several Republicans who once railed against Clintons document retention practices did not respond Thursday to questions about Trumps actions. Others who had been directly involved with investigating Clinton declined to discuss the specifics except to suggest, without evidence, that the National Archives and Records Administration was treating Trump more harshly.

Why is the archives handling this differently? Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked in a statement relayed through his spokesperson.

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Although the details differ, the broad strokes of the controversy over a former officials handling of government documents were strikingly familiar, prompting a wave of Democratic anger  and some painful memories. The fact that Clinton was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing only added to the sense of frustration among Democrats.

There is just the hypocrisy and irony of it all, said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist and former Clinton aide, who added that she wasnt particularly surprised by the new accusations against Trump. This is who Donald Trump is. He frequently will attack people falsely for things he is actually doing.

News reports this week revealed that after a lengthy back-and-forth between Trumps lawyers and the National Archives, the former president handed over more than a dozen boxes of records, including documents, mementos, gifts and letters that he was legally required to leave in the custody of the federal government. National Archives officials believe the boxes included classified information. Staff in the White House residence also thought that the president had flushed pieces of paper, after periodically discovering wads of printed paper clogging the toilet, according to a forthcoming book, Confidence Man, written by a New York Times reporter, about Trump and his presidency.

The yearslong State Department probe of emails sent to Clintons private computer server concluded with a whimper in 2019, when State Department investigators sent a report to Congress finding that there was no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.

Grassley, who started investigating Clintons email server in 2017, pushed for a finding nearly three years after the conclusion of the campaign, sparking speculation that Republicans were seeking to revive an issue that had been political advantageous.

In his statement about the charges against Trump, Grassley said, The law is the law, and it ought to be enforced regardless of which party is involved. He added that he believed the National Archives at the time was less inclined to involve the Justice Department in the recovery of Clintons emails.

But now, after the Archives was able to recover presidential records, it seems to want to loop in the Justice Department he said.

Jason Chaffetz, a former Republican congressman of Utah who as chair of the House Oversight Committee led extensive investigations into Clintons emails, said Thursday that the two situations were different. Clinton, he said, set up a convenient arrangement in which she stored State Department communications on a private server, in violation of agency policy.

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In the case of the former president, Chaffetz said, he needed to know more about what, specifically, Trump took from the White House, and if there were duplicate or digital copies of what Trump had reportedly flushed down the toilet or ripped up. When asked about detailed news reports, Chaffetz said that this behavior did not necessarily constitute destroying records.

I believe in the sanctity of the federal records, Chaffetz said, but youre going to have to come up with specific instances.

In a text message, Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Trump, said that the former president had worked with the National Archives to preserve documents that he could have kept in his possession as personal items if he had wanted.

Several former Trump White House officials, who regularly attacked Clinton, had nothing to say about Trumps decision to take documents with him to Mar-a-Lago.

But Stephanie Grisham, a former campaign aide who was White House press secretary for Trump, said in a text message that the seriousness of consequences for Trump would hinge on what he took and also on the broad power he had as president to declassify materials.

I think the recent revelations deserve scrutiny, said Grisham, who has written a book about her time in the White House. But until its known what kinds of information was taken/handled improperly, its hard to compare the two.

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Trump showed little such restraint. His belief that Clinton had intentionally mishandled email from her home office became a central focus of his campaign and a rallying cry for his supporters. The idea so fixated him that he called on a foreign government to conduct cyberespionage against a former secretary of state.

Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing, Trump said, referring to emails Clinton had deleted from the private account she had used when she was secretary of state. (The Russians, it turns out, might have been listening.)

But questions about the conduct of Trump White House officials quickly emerged. Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser, repeatedly used private messaging services for official White House business in a way that may have violated federal records laws. The presidents habit of ripping up documents when he was done with them prompted some aides to retrieve shreds from the garbage and send them to records management to tape them back together.

There were signs Thursday that Democrats may approach Trumps possible violations with some of the same fervor as their Republican opponents.

On Thursday, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said she had asked the National Archives for more information about how the agency had communicated with Trump about the records he had taken. Maloney, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, has promised to investigate whether or not Trump attempted to destroy records.

For her part, Clinton took a lighter approach. On Monday, she shared on Twitter a headline from a Washington Post article detailing Trumps habit of shredding documents, along with a link to a cup featuring a famous photo of Clinton, wearing sunglasses and scrolling on her BlackBerry.

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The slogan embossed on the coffee mug? But her emails.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
12th February 2022

Runtime 18:37





London South East spoke to Eldur Olafsson, CEO at AEX Gold (AEXG), the Greelandic gold and green minerals explorer and developer. And this is what Eldur told us.

"What does Greenland have to offer the investment community? It is the largest island in the world and has the oldest rocks that you can find in the world, and they are all on the surface - all geology is there.

"It is Scandinavian in how it is run, it is under Danish rule but it is a home ruling Government in Greenland.

Eldur says "I am Icelandic so I know a bit about living in the Arctic. What it comes down to is operatorship, which is about people, who are going to build, create and get things done. The Greenlandic people have lived there for thousands of years and know how to live there."

"We build and integrate Greenlandic people, businesses, stakeholders into the whole entity - board, management, geologists, drillers - everyone, and it is key to making a company work in our minds.

"South Greenland is on the same latitude as Northern Scotland and Oslo, so it doesn't freeze up in the same way, but more importantly it hosts the most interesting geology you can find in Greenland. It hosts the biggest and most strategic rare earth minerals the world has, in three deposits, and it is completely underdeveloped. Greenland only opened up to the mining industry in '09 and all these discoveries are on the surface, we just haven't quantified them. That's why we think we are sitting on something extremely valuable.

AEX Gold AEXG has a considerable portfolio of valuable assets in South Greenland, and the flagship project is the redevelopment of the old Nalunaq gold mine: "It is already permitted, which can take 7 to 10 years. It already has an inferred gold resource, and we think we have an understanding of how to increase that resource. Our resource is for 250,000 ounces and our potential is for 2 million ounces."
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Louisiana... Mississippi River At Red River Landing affecting West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. For the Lower Mississippi River...including Red River Landing, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Reserve, New Orleans...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/lix. Click on the Rivers and Lakes menu for forecasts and observations. The next statement will be issued when updates are needed. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until early Friday morning. * IMPACTS...At 51.0 feet, All river islands along the reach from Red River Landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 6:00 PM CDT Monday the stage was 50.2 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 6:00 PM CDT Monday was 50.3 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage late Thursday evening and continue falling to 41.1 feet Monday, May 30. - Flood stage is 48.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 48.8 feet on 04/22/2014. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
When I think of the poor the words of the Savior to the rich young man come to my mind. The young man was trying keep all the commandments under the law of Moses and came to the Savior asking what else did he need to do?

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross & follow me. (Mark 10: 21 in the Bible).

What I gain from this scripture is the Savior loved this young man and was trying to help him understand how important it is to take care of the poor. That applies to all of us today. We are to be sensitive to the poor around us that struggle to sustain life and help the best we can. There are many honorable organizations whose mission is to take care of the poor and we can join or contribute to them.

Recent experiences carrying for the poor around the world

The Kadado family who, for decades, owned three bakeries in Damascus, Syria. When war came, a blockade stopped food and supplies from reaching their part of the city. The Kadados began to starve. At the height of this desperate situation, Latter-day Saint Charities and some very courageous staff at Rahma Worldwide began serving a daily hot meal, along with milk for the little children. After a difficult time, the family began their lifeas well as their bakeryonce again in a new country. Recently, a box of cookies arrived at the Church offices with the following message: For more than two months, we managed to get food from the RahmaLatter-day Saint [Charities] kitchen. Without it we would [have] starve[d] to death. Please accept this  sample from my shop as a small token of thanks. I ask God the Almighty to bless you  in everything you do.

South African COVID relief

Sixteen-year-old Dieke Mphuti of Welkom, South Africa, lost her parents years ago, leaving her to care for three younger siblings on her own. It was always daunting for her to find enough food, but COVID supply shortages and quarantines made it almost impossible. They were often hungry, scraping by only with the generosity of neighbors.

On a sunny day in August 2020, Dieke was surprised by a knock at her door. She opened it to find two strangersone a Church representative from the area office in Johannesburg and the other an official from South Africas Department of Social Development. The two organizations had teamed up to bring food to at-risk households. Relief washed over Dieke as she glimpsed the pile of cornmeal and other food staples, purchased with Church humanitarian funds. These would help her to sustain her family for several weeks until a government aid package could begin to take effect for her. Diekes story is one of thousands of such experiences taking place across the world during the COVID pandemic.

Afghan relief at Ramstein

We have all seen recent images in the news: thousands of evacuees being flown from Afghanistan. Many arrived at air bases or other temporary locations in Qatar, the United States, Germany, and Spain before continuing to their final destinations. Their needs were immediate, and the Church responded with supplies and volunteers. At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the Church provided large donations of diapers, baby formula, food, and shoes.

Some of the church sisters noticed that many Afghan women were using their husbands shirts to cover their heads because their traditional head coverings had been ripped off in the frenzy at the Kabul airport. In an act of friendship that crossed any religious or cultural boundaries, the sisters of the Ramstein First Ward (church) gathered to sew traditional Muslim clothing for Afghan women.

Bethani Halls said, We heard that women were in need of prayer garments, and we are sewing so that they can be [comfortable] for prayer.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once remarked: Prayers are answered  most of the time  by God using other people. Well, I pray that Hell use us. I pray that well be the answer to peoples prayers. (Sharon Eubank I Pray Hell Use Us Liahona Magazine, November 2021)

The Blessings of helping the poor

When we help one another we serve God. An ancient prophet taught, When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2: 17 p. 149 in the Book of Mormon)

We gain important blessings by helping the poor. We become less selfish. As we think of the problems of others, our own problems seem less serious. God has said that those who desire to someday live with Him must love and serve His children (Matthew 25: 34  40 in the Bible).

Dallas Jones is a local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For further discussion call 231-383-8360 or send an email to dallasjones8349@yahoo.com. Visit djonesarticles.com to read more.
MANISTEE COUNTY  There is now a vending machine that contains free opioid reversal kits for the public in Manistee.

Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski notified the Manistee County Public Safety Committee at the February meeting that the naloxone vending machine is up and running. Naloxone is the opioid reversal drug that is often commonly referred to by the brand name Narcan.

Members of the public can walk in the very front door of our lobby, he said. They can walk in, punch in the row of (numbers) to get a free box of Narcan which contains two doses.

Those two doses can be administered nasally to a person who appears to be overdosing from opioids.

According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, a person experiencing an overdose may show signs of the following:

 Loss of consciousness;

 Unresponsive;

 Awake but unable to talk;

 Breathing that is very slow and shallow, erratic or has stopped;

 For lighter skinned people, the skin tone turns bluish purple, for darker skinned people, it turns grayish or ashen;

 There may be choking sounds;

 Face is very pale or clammy and/or their heartbeat is slow, erratic or not detectable.

Gutowski said he has also been involved in meetings for Harm Reduction Michigan which opened a branch in Manistee earlier this season.

They didnt know even know that (vending machine) was happening so theyre going to put some of their programming information out there with the Narcan vending machine so that if people are picking up Narcan they can also pick up some information on resources to get access to treatment and supportive services through Harm Reduction as well, Gutowski explained.

Gutowski said he has been involved in many meetings with Harm Reduction Michigan, Centra Wellness Network and others saying that there are a lot of groups doing a lot of great work for substance abuse disorder.

Arielle Breen/News Advocate

Were doing a lot of good work there in trying to do the best we can to get people the tools they need to work on that, he said.

The naloxone kit vending machine is part of a pilot project with Wayne State University and Catholic Human Services, Gutowski previously reported.

He also previously noted that the kits should not be stored in vehicles when temperatures are below freezing as the kits contain liquid that can freeze in low temperatures.



PREVENTING OVERDOSES

At the public safety committee meeting on Feb. 4, several first response leaders addressed the topic of opiate addiction in the area.

Jason Sopha, supervisor with Mobile Medical Responses northwest region, said at the meeting that he hasnt seen as many overdose calls as he was usually seeing about six to eight months ago.

Those types of calls unfortunately tend to run in cycles. If you have one, you have five. And then things kind of died down, maybe not necessarily all the time from opioids versus other illegal drugs, he said.

Arielle Breen/News Advocate

In previous meetings various leaders also said that the growing access to naloxone might be making it more difficult to see how many overdoses are actually happening since people can use the naloxone kits without needing to call 911 to save a person. That can mean there are fewer calls to track.

Before if somebody was having an overdose, they either overdosed and unfortunately lost their life, or they had to call EMS to respond out there. We were getting all those calls to EMS, Gutowski said.

Now, a lot of people are reversing their overdose in-house. They dont call 911 to go to treatment or to go see medical attention.

He also said there is a lag in the data released on overdoses and that that may not always paint an accurate picture of whats going on right now.

Gutowski pointed out that as far as trends go, many are turning to methamphetamines partly because meth is more available and cheaper than it used to be.

He said that each of the kits dispensed from the vending machine are tracked and counted through the pilot project.

Josh Glass, Manistee City Police chief, said he has teamed up with the Manistee City Fire Department to get a better idea of how many overdose calls and overdose fatalities they are seeing in the city.

Glass said that police arent always dispatched to overdose calls.

There was a point in time when we were running on it seemed like two overdose calls a month. I dont know if thats true anymore, he said. I dont have a lot (of data at the moment) as far as a trend at all except for that its significantly higher than it was years ago as everyone in this room knows.

Glass also noted that he and fire department officials would be giving annual statistics reports to Manistee City Council including numbers on overdose calls.

He said he believes that he and others need to develop strategies to help alleviate the overall situation with overdoses.

I know that enforcement doesnt solve opiate addiction. So I think it needs to be a multi-faceted  approach to how do we treat this epidemic, he said adding that putting people in jail isnt going to solve it. I can tell you that right now.

Both Glass and Gutowski have had conversations on other services that the two can support in an effort to help, he said. Glass said neither has an answer just yet.

Theres a lot of people focusing on this issue right now, Gutowski said. I think theres a lot of focus on what we can do and how we can do it better to impact the problem and I think were going to see improvement.
MANISTEE  The West Shore Community College Humankind series is hosting an exhibition by artist Anni Holm entitled "Can't See the Forest for the Trees" at the Old Kirke Museum in Manistee.

The exhibition will open on Feb. 19 and run through March 18; hours will be noon-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Old Kirke Museum is a historic Danish Lutheran Church located at 300 Walnut St. Manistee.

An exhibit reception will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 19. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

"This site-specific multimedia installation will transform the Old Kirke Museum into an artificial forest site reminiscing the past as well as contemplating the present and future," read a news release." Inspired by local history and Danish immigration experience of the 19th and 20th centuries, the exhibition addresses (de)forestation and celebrates people coming together to make a difference."

Holm, based in Chicago, works with photography, installation, performance and collaborative art. A Denmark native, she attended Krabbesholm Hjskole in Skive before she immigrated to the United States in 1999. Holm graduated with a BFA in photography from Columbia College Chicago in 2004.

Anni Holms work is community oriented. As an immigrant from Denmark, she deeply appreciates the value of community for moving beyond challenging experiences many immigrants face, said WSCCs Professor of Art and Curator, Eden Unluata-Foley, in a news release.

She is the director and curator of People Made Visible, which organizes a variety of art and cultural events and is an International Artist in Residency in Chicago, according to a news release. Holm is also a freelance curator, as well as a teaching artist at Chicago Arts Partnership in Education.

In her work, Anni brings people together where participants can exchange stories, share perspectives and seek common threads," said Unluata-Foley. "Anni Holm has been working with past WSCC president, Dr. William Anderson, in researching, meeting local community members, and visiting significant sites tied to the Danish immigrant experience.

"WSCC is very thankful to the Old Kirke Museum leadership for this collaboration," reads a news release. "The theme of the 2021-2022 Humankind series is movement. Topics to be explored under this theme include bodily ability (in the context of disability rights), socio-economic mobility, transportation, immigration, and even traveling and movement through society post-COVID."

For more information contact Unluata-Foley at nfoley@westshore.edu.
TALLAHASSEE  A push by Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend the states gas tax for five months this summer and fall is stalling, as legislative leaders say they want to find other ways to help Floridians.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson are questioning the gas-tax proposal because they said many of the motorists who would benefit from the 25-cent-a-gallon discount wouldnt be from Florida.

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While the proposal could still come up when the House and Senate negotiate a tax package in the coming weeks, Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, said the House is focused on issues such as asking voters in November to increase the homestead property-tax exemption for people such as teachers, military members and first responders (HJR 1 and HB 1563).

The reality is, I have a concern about the gas tax as it relates to out-of-state visitors, Sprowls told reporters. I think that our best estimate is hundreds of millions of dollars of that gas tax (break) would go to people who dont live in the state.

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He said HJR 1, a homestead exemption that applies to police officers, firefighters, first responders, child protection investigators, active-duty military, is something that obviously applies not only to Floridians but to people we need to live and work, you know, close to our community. So thats a priority of the House. And thats what were focused on.

Simpson, a Trilby Republican who is running for state agriculture commissioner, said no proposals are off the table with four weeks left in the legislative session. But the proposed gas-tax break, he said, is something that we would have to have a real conversation about as to why we go to that specific tax that a lot of Floridians wouldnt see.

Instead, Simpson pointed to proposals for another round of tax holidays, which DeSantis also has supported, that would give sales-tax breaks to people buying back-to-school items and hurricane supplies. Also, lawmakers last year approved what they called a Freedom Week holiday that gave a wide range of sales-tax breaks around the Fourth of July.

I just think we want to make sure that we target the ones that are appropriate for our citizens, Simpson said.

State economists recently estimated a return of Freedom Week could save shoppers $57.7 million by not having to pay sales taxes on items such as grills, bicycles, fishing and camping gear, kayaks and canoes, tickets for concerts, movies and ball games, gym memberships and even sunscreen.

DeSantis has called for suspending the state gas tax for five months, starting July 1, a move that could save motorists about $1 billion. He would use federal stimulus money to make up the lost gas-tax revenue, which ordinarily goes to transportation projects.

I want to provide people relief in any way we can, DeSantis, who is running for re-election in November, said during an appearance last week in Miami. I think the most direct way we can provide people relief is a gas-tax holiday, so that theyre saving at the pump.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, both Democratic candidates for governor, separately tossed out the idea of a gas tax holiday shortly before DeSantis initially announced his proposal Nov. 22 during appearances at convenience stores in Daytona Beach and Jacksonville.

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While a final tax package likely will not be completed until near the end of the legislative session, the House and Senate have been moving forward with the proposal to increase homestead exemptions for people such as teachers, military members and first responders.
eyecrave/Getty Images/iStockphoto

In response to reports received by the Secretary of States office this week, Jocelyn Benson is requesting an investigation into possible unauthorized access to voting equipment.

Benson is requesting that the Attorney Generals office and the Michigan State Police look into reports that a third party was able to access vote tabulator components and technology in Roscommon County. This access is a breach of security protocols and may make the machines unusable for future elections, according to the Secretary of State office.
McAlester, OK (74501)

Today

Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 67F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy in the evening with scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
McAlester, OK (74501)

Today

Thunderstorms, some strong during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some strong during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Two lonely and empty desks sit at the state Capitol in Tallahassee  one in the House, one in the Senate. This should not be.

They are silent symbols of how Broward and Palm Beach counties continue to be disenfranchised and marginalized on a daily basis by Gov. Ron DeSantis administration.

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Two Democratic legislators, Sen. Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale and Rep. Omari Hardy of Lake Worth Beach, resigned last summer to run for Congress, in plenty of time for voters to choose successors in two districts dominated by Black and brown voters. But DeSantis dragged his feet in calling for special elections to choose replacements, in a calculated move to weaken the minority partys voice in Tallahassee at a time when legislative and congressional districts are redrawn for the coming decade.

Two newcomers will finally be elected March 8 in two diverse districts. They will be sworn in too late to participate in this years session, but at least the two counties legislative delegations will be back to full strength after eight months.

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Both Democrats easily won their partys primaries on Jan. 11 in districts that are overwhelmingly Democratic.

For the Senate, the Sun Sentinel recommends Democrat Rosalind Osgood, who faces Republican Joseph Carter in central Browards Senate District 33.

Osgood, 56, of Fort Lauderdale, is an associate pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church and CEO of Mount Olive Development Corp., which operates community programs. She has served for nearly a decade on the Broward School Board and has overcome great personal challenges, giving her the perspective and strength to be a forceful advocate for the districts half-million constituents.

Carter was assessed an automatic fine of $627.75 by the state Division of Elections on Jan. 11 for failing to file his campaign finance reports on time, according to state records.

For the House, the Sun Sentinel recommends Democrat Jervonte Tae Edmonds in Palm Beach Countys House District 88.

Edmonds, 30, of West Palm Beach, has worked as an aide to two lawmakers and for Suits for Seniors, a nonprofit he founded that teaches leadership and financial literacy to high school seniors. Edmonds faces Republican Guarina Torres of Delray Beach in a March 8 special election. Torres was automatically assessed a fine of $279.25 on Jan. 22 for failing to file campaign reports on time, according to state records. Edmonds faces a similar fine of $150.

Neither Republican candidate completed a Sun Sentinel questionnaire. Neither responded to our offer of a virtual interview, and neither has mounted a serious, visible campaign for office. Candidates who ignore their local newspaper are also ignoring their prospective constituents.

You must be registered to vote in Senate District 33 or House District 88 to vote in either of these elections. You can request a ballot be mailed to you through 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, and early voting sites in both counties will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Feb. 26 through March 6.

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Consult your county elections website for details on early voting locations. Polls in both districts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 8.

Special elections often produce very low turnouts because they are held unexpectedly at odd times, but these elections also coincide with municipal elections in a number of cities and towns. We will present our editorial recommendations in the coming days in several cities in both counties.

Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its staff members. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.
Arab, AL (35016)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Meadville, PA (16335)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing later in the day. High around 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 52F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Unhealthy family dynamics include signs such as:

Lack of boundaries and empathy

Lack of personal space and privacy

Constant conflicts, hostility, and aggression

Verbal, emotional, and physical abuse

Role reversal between parent and child

Conditional acceptance and love

Different types of dysfunctional families have been identified based on the core issues. Pathological households are afflicted by a psychiatric condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse. Role reversals are common in such families. Chronic conflict families are characterized by frequent arguments and fights. Parents are likely to be abusive.

The chaotic household consists of inconsistent or inadequate parenting. Lack of rules and discipline can lead to unruly behavior in children. Emotionally distant families can foster identity and self-worth issues due to a lack of expression of love and affection.

Finally, the dominant-submissive household is characterized by power imbalance, with one aggressive and one passive parent. The aggressive parent controls everything in the family.

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Toxic family dynamics can affect a child in several ways. Effects of growing up in a toxic family include:

Poor self-esteem and lack of compassion towards others

Difficulty handling authority figures

High sensitivity towards personal criticism and quick to respond with anger

Constant need for validation from others

Unconsciously seek similar dysfunctional relationships

Lack of responsibility to handle their problems

Guilt to show compassion to oneself

Feeling helpless and hopeless

Irrational fear of being abandoned or rejected leading to dependency

Lack of trust and boundaries

Growing up in a dysfunctional family can have far-reaching negative impacts, and therefore, prevention and early intervention are crucial.

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Living in a toxic household is a very stressful situation. Knowing how to deal with toxic family members,one lives with can help manage the situation better.

Finding the right time to have important discussions is crucial. Taking responsibility for ones own words and actions helps not taking things personally.

Communicating clearly is helpful as it avoids assumptions and preconceived notions. This helps prevent arguments. Watching out for passive aggressive tendencies such as bringing up the past or competing can prevent an unnecessary altercation. Setting clear boundaries in person fosters healthy conflict resolution.

Being mindful and in the present enables one to handle conflicts more calmly. Thinking of the situation from their perspective can help them respond better. Finally, seeking support can provide an objective perspective.

Coping strategies for a child living with toxic family members include:

Writing down feelings can help a child vent

can help a child vent Engaging in hobbies When the child keeps themselves engaged in things that they like, it could improve their mood significantly

When the child keeps themselves engaged in things that they like, it could improve their mood significantly Seeking support Personal or professional support can help a child address the difficulties they face at home

Personal or professional support can help a child address the difficulties they face at home Boundary setting Identifying a supportive mature adult in the family can help the child set boundaries

Identifying a supportive mature adult in the family can help the child set boundaries Focus on yourself The child can focus on themselves and not take responsibility for the parents behavior

The child can focus on themselves and not take responsibility for the parents behavior Reaching out to child protection agencies such as UNICEF and laws, help prevent and handle such situations

This is an area where the role of the school can be paramount. If the school is teaching children about emotions, boundaries, and abuse, the child may be able to implement some of the methods mentioned. It is crucial that the child understands the importance of sharing distressing information with trusted sources.

Overcoming the past trauma of being raised in a dysfunctional family is both difficult and very essential. One of the coping mechanisms that can be used is journaling. This is helpful both as a means of catharsis and to view things objectively. This can also help be aware of the long-term effects of trauma, which will help address it.

Coping mechanisms also include keeping oneself engaged in hobbies, which will help improve ones mood. Exercise can boost serotonin which plays a significant role in happiness. Using positive affirmations with oneself can help undo the negative automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs towards oneself that have been developed over the years.

Prioritizing self-care can facilitate the reversal of the years of abuse and neglect. Part of self-care includes setting healthy boundaries with people, including toxic family members. Working on self-blame and guilt will help the boundary maintenance. Creating a healthy support system can act as a protective factor.

It is not possible to change the abusive family member, therefore there is no point in attempting it. Avoiding interaction with the toxic family member as much as possible is better as it cuts down on the possibilities of guilt-tripping, manipulation, bullying, and conflicts.

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Seeking professional advice can help to process the trauma of childhood. It can change irrational beliefs to more rational, helpful beliefs. It enables the expression of pent-up emotions. Engaging in creative pursuits such as art, music, or dance can help in this regard.

The long-term effects of a dysfunctional family include:
A Memorial Service of Christian Burial will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Mrs. Cobb, 68, of Meridian, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Bedford Care Ce
Daviess County is scheduled to receive $19.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. designed to help local governments recover from revenue lost during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The checks are to come in two installments.

Thursday evening, Daviess Fiscal Court approved accepting the first installment of up to $10 million.

Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said, ARPA is giving us $19.7 million based on our population.

Then, theres the part thats to reimburse the county for whatever revenue it lost.

The first rules said we had to document our loss of revenue, Mattingly said. That was very hard. We came up with $200,000, maybe. Then, they said we could just make an assumption. And they decided that up to $10 million was lost. And we agreed to accept that.

When the entire $19.7 million is received, he said, Were considering spending $10 million for broadband.

The idea is to implement a public-private partnership, bringing affordable and reliable high-speed broadband to the unincorporated areas of Daviess County.

Mattingly said that might come up for a vote next month.

He said the county is also considering earmarking $2 million to the Regional Water & Resource Agency to help with their projects, like the $9.9 million Ravine Sewer Project.

That project follows the path of an old ravine that once ran from the southwest into the Ohio River near the Owensboro Convention Center.

Those sewers would be replaced by a new system.

Mattingly said the county investing in that project would help keep rate increases down for residents of the city and parts of rural Daviess County that are served by RWRA.

He said fiscal court members are also considering spending up to $2 million in federal funds toward a new senior citizens center. Mattingly said hes hoping a vote can come in March.

The city and county were talking about building a new $10 million senior citizen center near the Sportscenter a decade ago.

But so far, nothing has happened.

Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301 klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com
In the late 1990s, tobacco accounted for more than 50% of Kentuckys $3.4 billion a year sales of farm products, Brian Lacefield, director of the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy, told the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerces Rooster Booster Breakfast on Thursday.

In 2021, he told the crowd at the Owensboro Convention Center, only 4% of the $6.75 billion worth of products was from tobacco.

Thats largely because in 1998, 52 state and territory attorneys general signed the Master Settlement Agreement with the countrys four largest tobacco companies to stop efforts by the states to recover billions of dollars in health care costs that were associated with treating smoking-related illnesses.

Since then, cigarette sales have dropped by more than 50%.

But the tobacco companies continue to pay annual installments on the settlement agreements with each state.

Last year, the state received $127 million from the settlement agreement.

That was up from the year before, Lacefield said, because people smoked more during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kentucky uses half of the funds it receives to help diversify agricultural products, Lacefield said.

Lacefield said nearly $5 million in settlement funds has been invested in Daviess County farms.

Since 2020, when meat shortages were felt during the early days of the pandemic, the state has invested more than $7 million in meat processing facilities, he said.

Daviess County farms sold $73 million worth of products in 1997, Lacefield said.

Twenty years later, he said, agricultural products here were worth $185.9 million.

Tobacco sales accounted for $13.6 million in 1997 and $13.4 million in 2017.

The number of farms here dropped from 1,042 in 1997 to 919 two decades later, Lacefield said.

Only 106 of those farms were still growing tobacco in 2017.

Lacefield was named director of the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy last April. Before that, he was Kentucky state director of the U.S. Department of Agricultures Farm Service Agency.

Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com.
J. Patrick Flomo

If we fail to provide boys with pro-social models of the transition to adulthood, they may construct their own. In some cases, gang initiation rituals, street racing, and random violence may be the result.

Leonard Sax



The grotesque human carnage perpetrated by an unknown gang on church worshippers at a revival service in Monrovia recently is an abomination to cultured people anywhere in the world. This wanton act of barbarism should cause outrage among Liberians everywhere at home and in the diaspora. But it seems not to be so. This is my most vexing question. Has human life become so valueless in Liberia that Liberians have become so desensitized to murder and mayhem? I remember a time when the death of an individual by natural causes caused great sorrow and solemnity in the community. Murder was extremely rare and when it happened, the entire community or city would be outraged and loudly called for the perpetrator/s to be brought to justice.



The spree of murders that have happened in the past few years without vigorous investigation by the government seems to have encouraged other perpetrators to act with impunity. There have been calls from several sectors of the country and in the diaspora for a vigorous investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice and to avert the growth of gang organization in Liberia. While some of the killings have been described as rituals, the majority seem to be perpetrated by gangs. Studies of gang activity in other parts of the world like Latin America and parts of America show that gangs are a menace to society.



The rise of violence in gang activity in Liberia is a new social phenomenon and calls for government and community action to root out this scourge. The January 19 incident that caused the death of 29 church worshipers and wounded several others was the most brazen act of gang violence in Monrovia or for that matter in the history of Liberia. We have seen the mayhem and terror caused by organized and entrenched gang organizations elsewhere in the world. We should not delude ourselves that it cannot happen here like we deluded ourselves that a military coup would not happen in Liberia. For example, in Latin America (Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, etc.) and Africa (Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, etc.) gang violence is wreaking havoc on society. There are sociological causes of gang violence, i.e., poverty, poor education, the lack of job opportunities and training, and family dysfunction. The growth of gangs in Liberia poses an existential threat to the Republics fragile governmental institutions even though these institutions have existed for 175 years.



The President of Liberia has called for three days of national mourning and prayer. The President should be applauded for such action, but PRAYER is not the answer. Before Monrovia becomes like Lagos, South Africa, Guatemala, or Mexico, there needs to be a Presidential Commission to explore resolutions to avert the entrenchment of gang organization. The fallouts of the senseless civil wars of the 1990s are poverty, poor education, dysfunctional family unit, the lack of job opportunities, and job training. These should have been the top priorities during the initial phase of transitioning from war to peace. But the Sirleaf government failed to do so and the Weah government is even worse. Thus, the growth of gang organization in Liberia continues to mushroom.



The existence of gangs in society causes FEAR, and fear generates apprehension, discontent, and distrust among people. When that becomes the norm, a single act of violence can lead to chaos and instability. With chaos comes anarchy and tyranny, and the result is civil war. Therefore, efforts to stop the growth of gangs in Liberia should be the priority of communities, religious organizations, political parties, and Liberians in the diasporas. The January 19th incident should be a wake-up call to action to address these systemic problems of poverty, very high unemployment, poor education, and healthcare. If we do not do so while the growth of gangs in Liberia is in its embryonic stage, it is poised to become contagious and virulent. This starts with a serious conversation among Liberians.



As the nation mourns this tragic loss of life, let us commit ourselves or resolve to fight corruption in government so that adequate resources can be appropriated to solving the problems of poverty, job training, job creation, poor healthcare, and family dysfunction. By doing so, these lives lost to gang violence on January 19th shall not be in vain. We know the problems and we know the solutions; we must now muster the WILL POWER to do the right thing for the people of Liberia. We must NOT let Liberia becomes like Haiti, where gang violence has infected all level of society or Colombia where the same violence has caused an exodus of citizens.



About the Author: J. Pratrick Flomo can be reached at (614) 707 3636or zamawood@gmail.com
When I was growing up, words like courage, integrity, honesty and public service meant something. After four years of President Trump, it appears that lying, cheating, stealing, cowardice and insurrection against the U.S. democracy have absolutely no consequence to being a Republican leader.
MANISTEE  Republicans from across the state, including candidates for Michigan attorney general, secretary of state and governor, were in Manistee this week.

The annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday was hosted by the Manistee County Republican Party and drew over 100 conservatives to the Blue Fish Kitchen and Bar. Opening speaker, Adam Dontz said that attendance for the event was the largest in nearly 30 years.

I believe the catalyst igniting new vigor in the Manistee County GOP was our government blurring the lines between medical science and political science, Dontz said at the dinner. As you can recall nearly 18 months ago, an indoor gathering of this nature would have been prohibited.

Proceeds for the event help support Republican candidates, get out to vote and signature gathering campaigns.

Several candidates seeking their party's nomination in the August primary turned out to meet with local officials and activists.

They include Tudor Dixon, who is one of 13 Republican candidates seeking to unseat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in November.

Others in attendance included former state Rep. Tom Leonard who is running for Attorney General and Secretary of State candidate and state Rep. Beau LaFave.

Republican candidates for the new 102nd District of the Michigan House of Representatives, Phil Morse and Andrew Sebolt, were also in attendance.

The recently redrawn district includes southwest Manistee County, northern Muskegon County and most of Oceana and Mason counties.

If elected, Sebolt told the News Advocate that he would seek an end to public health mandates and other policies, which he says are disincentives to work.

What you're seeing here is just a little bit of a thing called freedom after two years, Sebolt said of the Lincoln Day Dinner.

Other areas in Manistee County such as Onekama, Bear Lake, Kaleva, Arcadia, Marilla and Brethren are now part of the 104th District, which also includes most of Benzie County, such as Frankfort, Honor, Benzonia and Elberta.

Keynote speaker for the event was Manistee High School graduate and former state Rep. Dennis Cawthorne. Cawthorne is also the longest-serving chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, and a former U.S. delegate to international conferences in China, Belgium and Russia.

Dennis Cawthorne has quietly yet effectively influenced many of our state's most important legislative decisions for decades, said Dontz.

Local elected officials including Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski and Manistee County Board of Commissioners Chair Jeff Dontz were also in attendance at Thursdays dinner.

Adam Dontz said that between the dinner and a freedom event held in August, the Manistee County GOP received support from over 400 individuals, who donated in excess of $13,000.
Photo submitted/Michigan State Police

ONEKAMA TWP.  Police are seeking information on a construction business trailer that had been reported as stolen from Onekama, according to a Thursday afternoon Michigan State Police news release.

According to the photos provided by state police, the trailer is gray or silver with a logo of Youngs Construction LLC, Custom Home Builder on the sides. The Michigan State Police Cadillac Post is investigating the theft of the trailer.
Following a two-year absence resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bad Axe High School Theatre Department will raise the curtain on a spring musical, and theyre asking for the help of supporters to bring the production to life.

Co-directed by former drama department members Jordan A. Jenks and Steven Lee Jenks, "The Addams Family" will debut on Friday, March 11, in the high school cafetorium.

The new musical comedy, inspired by the cartoons of and adaptations inspired by artist Charles Addams, features some humor that's "a little edgy," Jordan Jenks said, and is suitable for a PG-13 audience, with some suggestive jokes and mild language.

"We thought it would be a good show to reinvigorate the program," she said.

Jordan and Steven are no strangers to the Bad Axe drama department. The two originally met when they were cast opposite each other in a production of "Aida" their junior year and "Carousel" their senior year.

"It's our home," Jordan said. "Bringing that joy to a younger generation of students is the best feeling. I think we just have a different energy being outside the school environment. It feels alien to us but feels fresh to the students. We really want to focus on them, (and) let them know this is their program ... and foster their love of the arts."

The Jenks have taken over the drama program from previous directors Melodie Kociba and Stacie Hobkirk. Jordan's mother, Lori Lehrke, retired after many years from her role as director in 2016.

Jordan said she had been involved with the theater department "pretty much her entire life," and she was happy to submit a letter of interest when she heard from a friend the position was once again vacant.

Restarting the program has been something of a challenge due to the fact that none of the cast members have been in lead roles previously, Jordan said, but she added she is thrilled with the current cast.

"We have the most phenomenal cast," she said. "Our entire group of upperclassmen  our 10 leads  are incredible. We could not have picked a better group of kids to work with for our first show."

That cast consists of Coleton Taylor as Gomez Addams, Danielle Jones as Morticia, Zoe Howard as Wednesday, Matthew Kubacki as Lucas Beineke, Hayden Miles as Uncle Fester, Claire Castle as Alice Beineke, Michael Zick as Mal Beineke, Daveon Booms as Pugsley, Alexis King as Grandma, Jacob Maxson as Lurch, and Aly Gerber, Leah Jackson, Liam Jenks, Lucie Kaczuk, Levi Michalski, Lacey Newland, Dakota Robles, Kiyono Slater, Kylie Stirrett, Maleighya Thompson and Riley Vaerten rounding out the cast as Addams Ancestors.

The musical features an original story line inspired by "The Addams Family" universe, including the original 1960s TV series, live-action and animated films. Jordan said she is particularly a fan of the old black and white television program.

The production, which assembled its cast in November and began rehearsals in January, is entirely self-funded, and that's why the theater department is asking for the support of the community. The department sent out a letter recently to individuals and businesses in an effort to raise funds for the drama department.

"Thanks to the generosity of our past patrons, our productions have been a great success, and we have been able to make upgrades to our sound and lighting systems, build amazing sets and provide custom costumes to our student actors," the letter reads. "It is with these donations that we can offer the experience of music and theatre arts to all students."

Patrons who donate $50 or more receive two complimentary tickets to any regular performance.

The show opens Friday, March 11, with a performance at 7 p.m. A Friday, March 18, performance and Saturday performances on March 12 and 19 also begin at 7 p.m., and matinees on Sunday, March 13, and March 20 begin at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students. No presales except for silver-level patrons and above.

To make a donation, email badaxeps.drama@gmail.com.
'They are looking for us to kill us': In hiding from Taliban, Afghans who helped U.S. struggle to escape
The FBI is looking for a serial bank robber who they say hit several locations in Connecticut.

Nicknamed The Route 91 Bandit on his wanted poster, the FBI said the man has committed 11 bank robberies along Route 91 in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media

A New London woman was charged this week in connection with an operation that trafficking more than 12 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through U.S. mail, according to federal prosecutors.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned the superseding indictment Tuesday that charged Griselle Ortiz Archilla, 31, of New London, with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. Ortiz Archilla appeared virtually for court Thursday and has been released on $100,000 bond, according to Leonard Boyle, the United States attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Roughly 4,000 patients at a Georgia Veterans Affairs hospital have been advised to get tested for several blood-borne viruses following concerns over the facility's sterilization procedures for reusable medical devices.

Veterans at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center are being notified that they need to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV following a discovery that the durable medical equipment used during their procedures "may not have received all the necessary steps for complete and safe reprocessing," according to press release sent to WMAZ-TV of Macon, Georgia.

The medical center halted all medical procedures and operations from Jan. 12-14 over concerns about the sterilization process for reusable medical devices.

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But any patient who had a dentistry, endoscopy, urology, podiatry, optometry or surgical procedure from Jan. 3-27 are being urged to get tested.

"We do recommend testing even if you don't have symptoms," a fact sheet sent to veterans and posted by WMAZ said.

In the letter sent Feb. 9, Dublin VA Health Care System Director Manuel Davila said the hospital learned during an internal review that the steps needed for a complete or safe sterilization may have not been followed consistently, according to the station.

Officials added, however, that the risk of an "infectious disease is very low."

Medical center officials did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has had a number of high-profile scandals involving dirty medical equipment. Between 2003 and 2008 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; in 2008 in Augusta, Georgia; and from 2004 to 2009 in Miami, 11,000 veterans underwent endoscopic procedures with unsterilized equipment, placing them at risk for cross-contamination.

As a result, six veterans contracted HIV and 37 tested positive for hepatitis. Several of those affected filed lawsuits against VA, settling or winning awards of more than $1 million.

For the most part, only veterans who received services at the hospital need to be tested. However, patients who received optometry procedures at the center's affiliated community-based outpatient clinics also are being advised to get tested.

The Dublin VA Health System, which oversees the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, has set up a walk-in testing site for all potentially affected patients, available through Feb. 25.

Patients also can be tested concurrently with any VA medical appointment or other lab procedure, according to the fact sheet.

Counseling also is available for affected veterans.

Should a patient test positive for an infectious disease as a result of the errors, the VA will provide medical treatment and will test the veterans' caregivers or family members, the fact sheet noted.

 Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Air Force: 135 Patients May Have Been Exposed to HIV, Hepatitis
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday to create a pathway to split $7 billion in Afghan assets frozen in the U.S. to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and to create a trust fund to compensate Sept. 11 victims.

The order calls for U.S. financial institutions to facilitate access to $3.5 billion for Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would remain in the United States and be used to fund payments from ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism.

International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the countrys assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in August as the U.S. military withdrew.

The White House said in a statement that the order is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Taliban and malicious actors.

Afghanistan's long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of the previous Afghan governments budget came from the international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

The lack of funding has led to increased poverty, and aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. State employees, from doctors to teachers and administrative civil servants, havent been paid in months. Banks, meanwhile, have restricted how much money account holders can withdraw.

The official noted that U.S. courts where 9/11 victims have filed claims against the Taliban will also have to take action for the victims to be compensated. It will ultimately be up to the courts to decide if the victims have a claim to the $3.5 billion the administration is allotting for them through the trust fund, according to two senior administration officials who brief reporters ahead of the signing.

The Biden administration is still working through details of setting up the trust fund, an effort the White House says will likely take months to sort out.

Because victims have ongoing legal claims on the $7 billion in the U.S. banking system, the courts would have to sign off before the money for humanitarian assistance could be released to Afghanistan, the officials said.

The U.S. launched the war in Afghanistan more than 20 years ago after then-Taliban leader Mullah Omar refused to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Bin Laden, who was born in Saudi Arabia but had his citizenship revoked, relocated to Afghanistan after being expelled from Sudan in 1996.

Taliban political spokesman Mohammad Naeem criticized the Biden administration for not releasing all the funds to Afghanistan.

Stealing the blocked funds of Afghan nation by the United States of America and its seizure (of those funds) shows the lowest level of humanity . . . of a country and a nation," Naeem tweeted.

The Biden administration pushed back against criticism that all $7 billion  largely derived from donations by the U.S. and other nations to Afghanistan  should be released to Afghanistan, noting that the 9/11 claimants under the U.S. legal system have a right to have their day in court.

The Justice Department had signaled several months ago that the Biden administration was poised to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims and families of victims in New York City by filing what's known as a statement of interest. The deadline for that filing had been pushed back until Friday because the department said the administration needed to resolve many complex and important issues that required consultation with numerous senior officials and executive agencies and components.

The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of their ministries but were struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organizations say money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

In recent months, Afghans have been able to withdraw only $200 weekly and that only in Afghanis, not in U.S. currency. Afghanistans economy has teetered on the verge of collapse.

The United Nations last month issued an appeal for nearly $5 billion, its largest ever appeal for one country, predicting nearly 90% of the countrys 38 million people were surviving below the poverty level of $1.90 a day. The U.N. also warned that upward of 1 million children risked starvation.

David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, urged release of the funds to prevent famine, at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the matter Wednesday.

The humanitarian community did not choose the government, but that is no excuse to punish the people, and there is a middle course  to help the Afghan people without embracing the new government, Miliband said.

___

Gannon reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed reporting.
A lot more Marines will be getting dunked deep thanks to a policy change requiring more intensive water egress training ahead of shipboard deployments.

An all-Marine message, quietly released Jan. 31, implements new rules governing pre-deployment training for troops assigned to Marine Expeditionary Units  massive multi-capable elements that deploy aboard three-ship Amphibious Ready Groups for global missions ranging from combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The message, signed by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, tightens up training requirements for troops flying over water or riding in amphibious vehicles as part of their job.

"The Modular Amphibious Egress Trainer (MAET) is required for all personnel conducting flight operations. The Submerged Vehicle Egress Training (SVET) is required for all personnel conducting amphibious vehicle waterborne operations," the message reads.

"Personnel who fail to successfully complete the SVET/MAET are not authorized to conduct overwater flight or amphibious vehicle waterborne operations."

The MAET, better known as the "Helo Dunker," consists of an open-ended chamber that represents the cabin of a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter or V-22 Osprey. Marines are seated inside and buckled in before the chamber is lowered by crane into a training pool. The chamber is rotated multiple times as it fills with water, simulating water crash conditions. The disoriented troops inside must unbuckle their harnesses and find a way out of the mock-helicopter to pass the training.

The SVET is similar to the helo dunker, with the same "modular core and rotational capabilities," according to Marine Corps Training and Education Command. But instead of a helicopter, it's designed to resemble the proportions of a High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or an AAV.

The All-Marine message goes on to state that the Shallow Water Egress Trainer, or SWET, is "not sufficient for completing either the flight operations or amphibious vehicle waterborne operations requirement." Any waivers to the training requirement must be approved by commanders at the 0-6 level, and those missing their main egress training requirement (SVET for amphibious vehicle operations, MAET for flights over water) must still have completed the alternative egress training, and water survival qualification to be waiver-eligible.

The SWET, also known as the "dunker chair," is unlike the other egress training devices in that it doesn't simulate a cabin or compartment that a service member would need to escape. The much smaller trainer consists of a chair inside a simple roll cage. A service member straps into the chair and is then manually submerged and rolled by training staff. The objective is to remove the harness, exit the cage, and reach the surface of the water: a simpler and less chaotic task than exiting a submerged and overturned helicopter or tactical vehicle in coordination with a handful of other panicked Marines.

This training change comes a year and a half after a horrific training accident in July 2020. Eight Marines and a Sailor attached to the California-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) died when their amphibious assault vehicle, or AAV, sank during a training exercise off the coast of San Clemente Island. The tragedy prompted congressional hearings and a series of soul-searching accountability efforts, including the firing of two senior commanders and suspension of a two-star general; the permanent suspension of water operations for the Vietnam-era AAVs; and multiple investigations into the causes of the accident.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Ramey, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit corpsman, is flipped underwater while buckled into a shallow water egress training chair during an Underwater Egress Training Course on Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 15, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chris Stone)

Ultimately the troops' deaths were attributed to "a confluence of human and mechanical failures" that included lapses in training. Most of the grunts in the back of the AAV that sank  11 of the 13  lacked underwater egress training due to unclear orders and logistical obstacles including a closed pool, Marine Corps Times reported. Because of that lack of familiarity with egress protocols, according to a USNI News report, the troops were flustered and unsure what to do when the vehicle began taking on water. Among the steps directed in the wake of the accident by Marine Corps Forces Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder was a review of underwater egress training and procedures.

The prior order governing MEU pre-deployment workups did require elements of water survivability training, but left significant loopholes that were starkly highlighted in the AAV disaster. The order, last updated in 2019, mandates MAET or SVET dunker training for personnel designated "high risk," or conducting operations in or over water as part of their normal mission profile. However, it notes that shallow water training in the dunker chair is fine for remediation training if required. For those designated "low risk," or not conducting operations in proximity to water on a regular basis, shallow water egress training is recommended but not required, it states.

U.S. Marines with Company B, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division conduct waterborne operations with assault amphibious vehicles at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 24, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alyssa Chuluda)

The updates to the order also require that the commanding generals of the relevant major subordinate command conduct a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, or MCCRE, for the ground, aviation and logistics MEU elements under their purview before the elements come together, or composite, ahead of a deployment. For air units, the training should be flown live "to the maximum extent practical," though simulators may be authorized if deemed a better option.

The AAV platoon involved in the July 2020 mishap hadn't completed the MCCRE before becoming part of the 15th MEU, Rudder's investigation found, noting that a completed evaluation might have highlighted areas in which the troops weren't fully prepared.

Underwater egress training is a relatively recent addition for the Marine Corps, with the first trainers acquired in 2008. It's now offered at the four major Marine Corps Bases: Camp Lejeune, N.C., Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, Japan, and Hawaii.

In April 2021, retired Col. Walt Yates, a former Marine Corps Systems Command program manager, wrote for Task and Purpose that the lack of complete underwater egress training was a critical factor in the disaster.

"Regardless of the sum total of human and mechanical failures that contributed to last year's sinking of AAV 523519, I believe that every Marine and Sailor could have evacuated to safety," he wrote.

"The decisive factor between limiting the loss to merely the AAV and embarked equipment versus the loss of nine lives was the failure to ensure that all personnel successfully completed UET."

The training, he added, doesn't merely prepare troops for the chaos and disorientation of water submersion. It also provides response cues. As water levels begin to rise, Marines and sailors are instructed to shed equipment, including helmets, body armor and personal weapons to prepare for a water escape. But even when the water had risen waist high in the sinking AAV, investigations show, the Marines inside were still wearing their heavy gear.

Yates said another step must also be taken to ensure training is successful: the Marine Corps must budget effectively for the operation and maintenance of its underwater escape trainers to ensure the resources are available for all troops who need them.

"Marine Corps headquarters cannot be allowed to simply publish a requirement for training without allocating the budget, time, and manpower resources to deliver that training," he wrote.

"UET cannot be relegated to the status of an unfunded requirement' that is below the cut-line for the budget request submitted to Congress."

Read the original article on Sandboxx
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Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sam Rodriguez's unit was in Norway for an exercise, but there was a basic issue the service hadn't worked out beforehand.

Where should Rodriguez sleep?

Norwegian service members share coed dorms, but the U.S. Navy segregates its sailors by gender.

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For Rodriguez, who identifies as nonbinary transgender, the Navy policy meant sleeping in what was little more than a "broom closet," separate from everyone else in the unit a floor away. Rodriguez was the only U.S. sailor on the deployment who didn't fit into the Navy's traditional gender divide.

"I felt like Harry Potter," Rodriguez said in a recent interview with Military.com, referring to the fictional wizard whose abusive aunt and uncle made him sleep in a closet. "They're able to interact with each other; I'm basically just in this isolation."

After a week, Rodriguez was moved to the same floor as everyone else, but was still secluded in a different room.

"It made me feel shitty having to be separated from my guys," Rodriguez said.

The U.S. military has made strides in recent years to be more inclusive for different genders, gender identities and sexualities.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which banned open service by gay, lesbian and bisexual troops, was repealed just over a decade ago. All combat jobs were opened to women in late 2015. And after a roller coaster few years of whiplashing policy, transgender service members have been able to serve openly since last year.

Nonbinary service is a frontier the military hasn't grappled with yet.

That could change soon, as the Pentagon has quietly been researching how it could allow nonbinary troops to serve more openly.

But those earlier policy changes all came after fierce, lengthy, often partisan battles, and any changes for nonbinary service members are expected to face similar pushback.

In the interim, nonbinary service members interviewed by Military.com described feeling isolated, living double lives and being misunderstood because of current policies, even as they said fellow troops respect and accept them in one-on-one interactions.

One of the service members Military.com spoke with cited restrictions about expressing their gender identity as a reason they are leaving the Army.

"There's not a lot of ways in which I can pursue expressing myself," Army Capt. Johnny Grady said. "It's been a large part of why I have decided to transition out of the military."

Navy Petty Officer Second Class Sam Rodriguez (left) snuggles their child alongside their wife on Christmas. (Courtesy of Sam Rodriguez)

'There Will Be No Medical Support'

Nonbinary refers to someone who identifies as neither exclusively male nor female, often using "they" and "them" as pronouns and marking "X" as their gender on forms with that option.

Some nonbinary people also identify as transgender and get medical treatment so they look more masculine or feminine than they were born, but not all nonbinary people identify as transgender and not all transgender people identify as nonbinary. While sex and gender are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, officially, sex is defined as biological characteristics while gender is marked by social standards such as attire and behavior.

There is no official ban on nonbinary Americans serving in the military like there were for gay or transgender troops.

But there's also no official recognition that nonbinary troops exist or guidance on how they should adhere to gendered policies, causing issues like the one Rodriguez described with sleeping arrangements.

The ambiguity has also caused some nonbinary service members to feel like they must "wear a mask," as several of those interviewed by Military.com phrased it.

Off duty, Grady will wear dresses and heels, paint their nails and experiment with makeup "despite the fact that I am not terribly good with it."

"But I have a tremendous amount of anxiety around showing up where I know there's going to be people that I know in the military," Grady said, explaining the only people in the military they've explicitly discussed their gender identity with are those involved with approving their separation.

"I would say that I'm pretty much leading a double life," Grady added.

Still, commanders can be accommodating for nonbinary service members.

Evaluations are supposed to use the pronouns that match a service member's gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS. But Rodriguez said their command has been good about avoiding pronouns altogether in evaluations or even sometimes using "they/them."

Opening up service to transgender troops has also created some wiggle room for nonbinary service members. For example, even though Rodriguez is still listed as female in DEERS, they take testosterone, have had top surgery to remove breast tissue, and have gotten exemptions to grooming and uniform standards, allowing them to grow a mustache.

But the military's transgender policies still rely on binary male-female standards, which opens up other issues for nonbinary service members.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Arie Reid has recently started the process to medically transition to appear more feminine. But Reid said they had to misrepresent their gender identity in order to get medical care.

"For me to get medical support, I had to tell the Navy that I plan to transition from male to female," Reid said. "There is no conversation about nonbinary. If I had said that I was nonbinary, the Navy would have said, 'Hey, great, you have a gender dysphoria diagnosis; we'll provide mental health services.' That's the furthest it'll go. There will be no medical support for you even though my gender falls outside of the binary."

Reid serves under a different first name that Military.com is not using in accordance with best practices about "dead names," or the name someone had before transitioning.

'A Challenge to a Lot of People's Perceptions'

Nonbinary service members see some hope on the horizon for simplifying the labyrinth and clarifying the ambiguities they face in policy with the Pentagon's nascent research project.

Military.com first reported last month that the Institute of Defense Analyses, at the Pentagon's request, is researching how nonbinary troops could be allowed to serve more openly. The research has included reaching out to members of LGBTQ military advocacy groups, including SPARTA and the Modern Military Association of America.

The Defense Department previously declined to confirm or deny the research's existence to Military.com and did not respond to follow-up requests for comment for this article.

But the Pentagon confirmed it is doing the research in a statement to congressional staff obtained by Military.com. Still, the statement to congressional staff said the department often researches issues that "may or may not become policy in the future."

The department expects to receive the research on nonbinary service later this year, according to the statement to congressional staff.

Advocates see the Pentagon undertaking a formal research project as a sign the department is serious about changing its policies.

"I know this isn't easy because it's just a challenge to a lot of people's perceptions, but we faced most of the same issues before with all the other groups that have incorporated into the service and realized that the value we get out of it is more than we had beforehand," one advocate familiar with the research who requested anonymity to speak freely told Military.com. "So yes, I am very hopeful that we're going to get there, and we're going to get people able to serve authentically."

Advocates and nonbinary troops don't have to look very far back in history to get a sense of the fight they may be in for.

When then-President Barack Obama allowed transgender troops to serve openly in 2016, conservatives howled about potential medical costs and effects on unit cohesion, despite medical costs five years into the Obama policy running about a fifth of the cost of one F-35 Lightning II fighter jet and testimony from service chiefs that they had seen no issues with discipline, morale or unit cohesion after the 2016 policy was in place.

Heeding conservative pressure, former President Donald Trump re-banned open service by transgender troops, first announcing his intention to do so in a 2017 tweet and then imposing a formal policy in 2019. Transgender troops who came out under the Obama policy were still allowed to serve openly and receive medical care during the Trump ban.

Several lawsuits were filed against Trump's ban, but despite some initial court successes in blocking the policy from taking effect, the Supreme Court ultimately paved the way for the policy's implementation.

Last year, days after his inauguration, President Joe Biden lifted Trump's ban. But advocates still worry a future president could ban transgender service yet again and have been pushing Congress to pass a law ensuring open transgender service.

Conservative groups have been relatively quiet since word got out about the Pentagon's research on nonbinary troops, and Republican lawmakers who in the past have publicly criticized "woke" military policies did not respond to Military.com's requests for comment for this article.

But nonbinary service members and advocates fear a fight over their service could be just as hard as the fight over transgender service.

"If someone is already transphobic, they're going to have a strong opinion about nonbinary," said Rodriguez, the Navy petty officer.

U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Arie Reid poses out of uniform. (Courtesy of Arie Reid)

Setting policies for nonbinary service members may also be a practical matter as younger generations come into recruiting offices with official documents listing their gender as nonbinary and recruiters must decide what to do.

More than 20 states and the District of Columbia have an option for an "X" gender marker on driver's licenses, and more than a dozen states allow an X on birth certificates. The State Department for the first time last year issued a passport with an X gender marker. A 2021 study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found about 1.2 million U.S. adults identify as nonbinary, about 76% of whom are under age 29.

The Air Force has already made a small, but advocates say significant, move toward recognizing nonbinary individuals. In December, the service announced that airmen and Guardians are allowed to note pronouns in email signatures, including "they/them."

"An inclusive force is a mission-ready force, and I'm thankful to the LGBTQ Initiatives Team for helping us realize this opportunity to be a more inclusive force," Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones, who is gay, said in a December statement.

'Really Boggles Their Mind'

A Space Force Guardian interviewed by Military.com who requested anonymity out of concern for affecting their young career said they feel their leadership right now has been "really incredibly accepting."

But the Guardian also described difficulties during ROTC, particularly after Trump reinstituted the transgender ban. The Guardian had already come out to some people before then but "retracted" their coming out after Trump's tweet.

The Guardian also had to wear what they described as a "really awkward, gross pixie cut" to comply with female grooming standards that made them feel like their hair "wasn't connected with my body."

"A lot of it came back to this feeling like my identity just wasn't conducive with that military career," the Guardian said. "Everybody else was conforming, everyone else was maintaining those standards and slicking their hair back or taking care of it in the way that they were supposed to. It was alienating, really."

Uniform standards also present land mines for nonbinary service members.

One Army officer interviewed by Military.com who requested anonymity over concerns about jeopardizing a pending promotion recalled a time in basic training when the officer was told to try on a skirt and refused.

"I had a number of drill sergeants just jump on me, like if you've ever seen 'Full Metal Jacket,'" the officer recalled, referencing a movie that depicts Marine Corps recruits struggling under an abusive drill instructor during the Vietnam War. "Their faces in my face and their fists and their fingers and their hands in my face and essentially just like verbally brutalizing me to put this skirt on."

The officer eventually acquiesced and put on the skirt, reasoning it was "just a piece of fabric" that shouldn't "have this much power over me."

Sometimes, it turns out that nonbinary service members didn't need to be anxious about their colleagues' reaction to their gender identity.

Reid, the Navy chief petty officer, recalled a time they wore waterproof mascara over the weekend that didn't fully wash off by the time they went back into work. A coworker noticed, and Reid had what they called an "oh crap" moment. But after Reid explained their gender identity is nonbinary transgender, the coworker was "fortunately, absolutely understanding."

But even when colleagues are accepting, the service members interviewed by Military.com said they don't feel colleagues necessarily understand what it means to be nonbinary and just see them as transgender.

The term nonbinary has entered broad public usage only in recent years; the definition of "they" as a singular pronoun for someone who identifies as nonbinary was added to Merriam Webster in 2019.

Reid, who joined the Navy a decade before Don't Ask, Don't Tell ended, has seen firsthand the military's evolution toward being more inclusive. But whether nonbinary service members will soon be part of that evolution is an open question.

"We're nowhere near there yet, but we're moving toward a gender neutral force," Reid said. "I am hopeful that we become more inclusive every day. As it stands right now, at least for the military leadership, there is more research that needs to be done for them to understand what gender is. ... I don't know that it's going to happen in the next five to 10 years, but I've been wrong before."

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Pentagon Quietly Looking into How Nonbinary Troops Could Serve Openly
President Joe Biden on Friday ordered the deployment of 3,000 more troops to Europe to bolster NATO's eastern flank as U.S. officials gave an urgent warning that Russia is now on the cusp of invading Ukraine.

The paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were ordered to deploy to Poland, according to a senior defense official. Those soldiers were expected to leave Fort Bragg, North Carolina, shortly and be on the ground in Poland "by early next week."

The deployment comes in addition to 1,700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne and XVIII Airborne Corps who started mobilizing Feb. 2. Nearly two-thirds of that first set of soldiers have arrived in Poland, and 300 soldiers who are mostly administrative personnel have been sent to Germany.

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In all, about 5,000 paratroopers from Fort Bragg are mobilizing amid the Ukraine crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that the former Soviet republic never be allowed to join the NATO alliance, and has spent nearly a year massing military forces around its border.

The increased U.S. troop deployment comes as the Biden administration sounded the alarm Friday that Putin now has enough troops, tanks, artillery and warships encircling Ukraine to mount an invasion -- possibly before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 20, Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told reporters Friday.

"We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Sullivan said. "We are in an urgent situation. ... Russia could choose in short order to commence a major military action against Ukraine."

Biden has pledged that U.S. troops will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO. Instead, the U.S. has pledged to defend alliance members in eastern Europe against Russian aggression. It and other alliance countries have sent military aid to the Ukrainians and worked through diplomatic means to dissuade Putin from invading.

But diplomacy has so far failed to de-escalate the tense standoff. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Biden urged American civilians to leave Ukraine.

"American citizens should leave now," the president said. "It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly."

Earlier this week, U.S. troops with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a Stryker squadron based out of Germany, began arriving in Romania, and about 1,000 are expected to arrive in the coming days.

The U.S. has some 80,000 troops already in Europe, including those permanently stationed and on pre-planned rotations, as well as National Guard units from Oregon, Washington state and California.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: US Troops Trickling into Europe as Putin Masses Forces Around Ukraine
MOSCOW  Britain's defense secretary visited Moscow on Friday in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which held massive war games near its neighbor and insisted the tensions were not at our fault.

Ben Wallace's trip came a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also held talks in Moscow, urging Russia to pull back over 100,000 troops near Ukraine and warning that attacking its neighbor would have massive consequences and carry severe costs.

Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons there and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe  demands flatly rejected by the West.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and not at our fault.

In an interview Thursday with NBC News, U.S. President Joe Biden repeated his warning that any Americans still in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible.

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly, he said.

Asked whether there were any scenarios that would prompt him to send U.S. troops to Ukraine to rescue Americans, the president said: Theres not. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

Amid the soaring tensions, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Thursday that the Ukraine crisis has grown into the most dangerous moment for Europe in decades.

Russias troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition. Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the Belarus border.

Continuing its military buildup near Ukraine, Russia has moved six amphibious assault vessels into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

Moscow has announced sweeping drills in the Black and Azov seas in the coming days and closed large areas for commercial shipping, drawing a strong protest from Ukraine on Thursday.

NATO has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the U.S. sending troops to Poland and Romania.

The U.S. Navy said Thursday that it has deployed four destroyers from the United States to European waters. The Navy did not directly tie this deployment to the Ukraine crisis but said the ships provide additional flexibility to the U.S. Sixth Fleet commander, whose area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean, and will operate in support of NATO allies.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the ongoing deployment of 1,000 additional U.S. troops that will nearly double their current number there.

This is a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity, Stoltenberg said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by noting that NATO keeps building up its presence near Russia's borders and exacerbates the situation around Ukraine to create a pretext for that.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraines Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled. The Kremlin has accused Kyiv of sabotaging the agreement, and Ukrainian officials argued in recent weeks that implementing it would hurt their country.

Foreign policy advisers from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine held nearly nine hours of talks in Berlin on Thursday to try to revive the stalled agreement but made no progress.

Russian representative Dmitry Kozak said Ukraine firmly refused to commit to a dialogue with the rebels on a political settlement, blocking any further movement. Ukrainian envoy Andriy Yermak sounded a more positive note, noting that the parties agreed to continue their discussions and hailed the four-way talks as an effective and efficient platform.

The Berlin talks were part of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who discussed the standoff with Biden earlier this week and plans to visit Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, renewed his warning to Russia.

It is our job to ensure that we prevent a war in Europe, in that we send a clear message to Russia that any military aggression would have consequences that would be very high for Russia and its prospects, and that we are united with our allies, Scholz told the German parliaments upper house on Friday.

Pointing to his trips next week, the chancellor said everything serves to achieve this: securing peace in Europe, and that is worth every effort.

___

Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
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A veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Nii Okai has added his voice to the ongoing brouhaha over the controversial e-levy policy.

He has questioned the sudden rush to pass the e-levy.

He has advised the government to take a critical look at its public relations which can make or unmake them.

Responding to a question posed by Rev. Thompson Sakyi on the Church Groove on Class 91.3FM, Nii Okai noted, But why the sudden rush to do it? Why? Because there must be a reason and anything that is not really well thought through is bound to face all forms of oppositions either before, during or after implementation. So for me, Ill say if it is good, time will tell so take your time and engage and get people on board, but dont rush.

The main opposition National Democratic Congress and a cross section of Ghanaians are against the 1.75 per cent levy which will affect electronic transactions including Mobile Money.

Several calls on the government to drop the proposed tax has fallen on deaf ears.

The government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy.

As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GHS500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared to GHS78 billion in 2016.

The government says the e-Levy proceeds will be used to support entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure, among others.
Adekunle Gold, the former Nigerian king of photoshop and now one of the most vibrant music artists in Africa is in cloud nine right now. Days after celebrating his birthday, he also churned out his fourth studio album Catch Me If You Can, to a commercial success.

The project is a cementation of Adekunle Gold's transition to full-fledged Afrobeats artists' last album Afro Pop Vol 1, was an experimentation which birthed some lovely tracks, attention and accolades.

With CMIYC, Adekunle Gold stands on a solid platform, his typical astute penmanship comes to play while for the first time, he is confident in his songs, says what he feels like, and even uses some lewd line when he feels it's necessary.

The opener welcomes the listener to the creative shift. I have been living for people but me, he says. It's a self-confident enhanced track and in some way snapshots of what he has been through in the last two years. He has a kid. Fatoumata Diawara's lush vocals come to his aid.

AG exudes confidence and positive affirmation on Win, and Mase Mi.( with a saxophone underneath). These run through a large chunk of the tracks.

Simi and Adejare are hismusesse on this album, he dedicated a track to the former; on One Woman, he co-opts the USA rapper TY Dollar Sign for a melodious and strings-filled track with an homage to theIgboo soup Ofesala. When you hear me and my woman, AG should come to mind.

Adekunle Gold's broadened sonic palette remained one of his unique selling points even after ditching Highlife and Juju to go mainstream, he still took some steps back to these genres. Mercy, retains some element of Galala with an obvious homage to Baba Frayo's classic record Denge PoseI hope the recuperating artist gets some royalty off this song. The highlife spiced More Than Enough, is a slow burner that reached its crescendo when the trumpet collided with the drums.

Sinner, and FYE, share similar themes. The placing on this album makes a seamless transition. Love into copulation or in the reverse order.

When AG goes the emo way on Sleep, you just know something was not right. He struggles, not even his vocal flirtation could help him.

For a guy who started by serenading his better half with lovely tunes and at some point claimed she doesn't care if he had money (Orente), there was an obvious change of narrative via the Davido assisted High. The first three;  lines /Love is not enough/Baby come to me, Molowo/(come to me, Molowo)  was an eye-opener. It currently has 10 million streams on Spotifyhis highest ever.

Even though he claimed Money doesn't bring happiness on It Is What It Is, he was quick to pray for others to have money apparently to prove or affirm his claim.

What's Adekunle Gold's album without a track for his ex? From Nurse Alabere (Gold) to Damn, Delilah(About 30), My Ex (Afro Pop), AG always has this penchant for striking something for his ex-girlfriends. It ranges from acerbic to sweet talk and half pleading. He continued that streak with the percussion-driven Selah. The eponymous track ends with a voice note from one of his close pals, signaling what to expect in his artistic trajectory.

CMIYC is a stark, distinctive artistic rebirth of AG baby and a further affirmation of his status as one of the African most innovative artists.
The former head of Eritrea's Orthodox church, who spent more than a decade under house arrest, has died aged 94, church officials and a London-based religious rights group said Thursday.

Abune Antonios was put under house arrest in 2007 by the notoriously repressive government of the Horn of Africa nation in a case that drew criticism from rights groups, the European Parliament, France and the United States.

Anba Angaelo, the Archbishop of London for the Coptic Orthodox Church, called for "a moment's silence and prayer... for the repose of Late #AbuneAntonios of #Eritrea, who suffered such injustice."

Mervyn Thomas, the founder president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), described the late patriarch as "a deeply principled man".

"The patriarch's body was taken to the Abune Andreas monastery, to which he belonged, and he was buried there on 10 February at 9am local time," CSW said in a statement.

"Local sources report that a large crowd gathered at his burial site, many of whom had travelled long distances on foot."

Antonios was stripped of his role as head of Eritrea's Orthodox church in 2006 after he refused to excommunicate 3,000 government opponents and called for the release of political prisoners.

He was then placed under house arrest -- a condition that lasted until at least 2017, when he reportedly made a public appearance, although the United States and CSW say he remained confined until his death.

The United States regarded him as a prisoner of conscience and viewed his detention as a violation of religious freedom.

"The US Embassy in Asmara is very sad to hear about the passing of Abune Antonios, Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, after being under house arrest for more than 15 years," the embassy said on its Facebook page Thursday.

According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Antonios was born on July 12, 1927 and sent by his father to be educated at a monastery at the age of five.

Oppression

Serving as a monk, he was ordained a priest in 1942, an abbot in 1955, and as the third patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tawahedo Church in 2004.

Eritrea is among Africa's poorest countries and President Isaias Afwerki's government is viewed by international observers as one of the continent's most oppressive.

Along with running a one-party state that routinely jails dissidents and hasn't held an election since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Afwerki's regime closely manages how the country's six million people worship in a bid to maintain national unity.

Half of the country is Muslim while the other half is Christian, and only four religious denominations are officially allowed: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and the Orthodox Church, which has ancient roots in Eritrea.

Eritrean Orthodox leaders appointed a new patriarch who died in 2015. However, Antonios was still seen by the leaders of the Egypt-based Coptic Orthodox Church as the legitimate head of Eritrea's denomination.
The Anloga branch of the Ghana Fire Service (GNFS) has held a public education on fire and its effects on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

ADO II Stephen Fofa, the second in command of Anloga District fire service disclosed that fire as the saying goes is a good servant but can be a bad master too if not controlled and taken care of.

He said improper handling of fire by some palm wine tappers, Fulani headsmen, hunters, cigarette and wee smokers, farmers among others were identified to be the major causes of bush fire in the various communities.

Mr Julius Maniasah, the District Safety Fire Officer at Anloga noted that problems caused by bushfires is very devastating.

"Excessive bushfire kills our vital herbs, destroyed our soil manures, destroyed farm crops, burn electrical polls and causes many other problems that draw the nation back economically," he added.

He continued that, in the last two years the statistics in the region indicated that bushfire and its related effects were higher in Keta and Anloga districts as they were ranked first.

He said the aim of the regular education by the service is to mitigate and help stop bush fires in Keta and Anloga respectively.

"Since the beginning of this year, Keta and Anloga have not recorded any case of bushfire and this is due to our continued education to the public. Our main target is to record zero case of bushfire this year, and we are poised to achieve it," he said.

According to them, PNDC law 229 is against bushfires and its effects.

The law stipulates that a culprit may either be imprisoned or fine or both depending on the description of the judge on the case at a particular court of competent jurisdiction.

It further indicated that the culprit may also be ordered to pay for all damages caused by the fire.

The law added that anyone who failed to report a culprit of bushfire is also punishable by the law if arrested.

The service personnel further advised the general public to continue to be very careful in handling fire domestically and outside their households.

Drivers were also advised to turn off their engines at filling and gas stations when refilling.

They stressed that parents who are fond of locking their children in their rooms with the keys outside for various reasons were also advised to desist from such acts since it is dangerous in cases of fire outbreaks.

Farmers, cattle headmen, hunters, palm wine tappers among others were cautioned about handling of fire in the bush.
The United Nations Security Council hs refrained from calling Burkina Faso's "unconstitutional change of government" last month a coup d'etat, but did express serious concern in a declaration unanimously adopted by the 15-member group.

The final text called for "release and protection of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other government officials," , but did not press the junta to "facilitate the rapid return of constitutional order", which French news agency AFP claims was in an earlier draft.

According to AFP, Russia requested that line be removed after difficult negotiations regarding the text.

The declaration did not condemn the coup, either.

Regional efforts

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had harshly condemned the military takeover in January, while the Council held back until the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) announced their positions on the matter.

The Council's text acknowledged Burkina Faso's suspension from ECOWAS and the AU "until there is swift and effective restoration of constitutional order by the military authorities."

The 15-member body also expressed its support for the regional mediation efforts in light of the joint Burkina Faso mission by ECOWAS, the AU and the UN office for West Africa.

ECOWAS, in its emergency meeting last Thursday in Ghana, decided not to slap sanctions on Burkina Faso, but called on the military leaders give a timetable for the return of constitutional order.

Junta leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, issued a presidential decree on Saturday, creating a commission that will form a new national charter and create a transition timetable.
Does French work culture tolerate bullshit jobs for the sake of work/life balance? Developing a vegan egg in a country with no strong vegan culture but an egg-heavy cuisine. How Moulinex helped free French women from their culinary shackles.

When American anthropologist David Graeber coined the term 'bullshit jobs' in a 2018 book, his definition rested on self-reporting: if someone feels their job is pointless, then it is. His argument was that bullshit jobs are a product of capitalism, which requires everyone to work. The concept took off in popular culture around the world. But Franco-German journalist Nicolas Kayser-Bril (@nicolaskb), who has worked his share of bullshit jobs, noticed it had not been picked up by academics. So he researched and wrote his own book, Imposture a temps complet: Pourquoi les bullshit jobs envahissent le monde (Full time imposters, why bullshit jobs are taking over the world), in which he refined Graeber's definition. Turns out bullshit jobs are 'opaque' and 'unclarifiable', and France is full of them. (Listen @3'20'')

France is known more for its butter croissants and egg-based creams than for its vegan cooking, but a startup is hoping to change that. Two female scientists have developed Le Papondu (Not laid), an entirely plant and mineral-based egg that cooks just like a chicken egg. The market for vegan and vegetarian food in France remains small, but it is growing, as are allergies in children which partly motivated the young scientists to hatch their vegan alternative. And how do they taste? (Listen @21')

On 16 February 1932, French industrialist Jean Mantelet patented the 'moulin-legumes', a food mill intended to help his wife in the kitchen. His company went on to create the first electric appliances in France, and in 1957 it became Moulinex, which advertised itself as 'liberating women in the kitchen with the press of a button'. (Listen @16'48'')

This episode was mixed by Cecile Pompeani.

Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, iTunes (link here), Spotify (link here), Google podcasts (link here), or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).
France has denounced joint Russian military exercises with Belarus as "a very violent gesture" at a time when Moscow's troop build-up continues on neighbouring Ukraine's borders.

The planned 10-day manoeuvres in Belarus are "extremely large," according to France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, talking to France Inter radio.

"There is a mounting number of very significant exercises right on Ukraine's border... it is a very violent gesture that concerns us".

Earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky described the joint military drills launched by Russia and Belarus along Ukraine's border as "psychological pressure" while NATO's chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia's deployment for the Belarus exercise is creating a "dangerous moment" in European security

Vienna Document

Preparation for the drills, nicknamed Union Courage 2022 included the transfer of troops and aircraft from Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD) in Siberia to Belarus.

According to Russia's Ministry of Defence, EMD combat crews manning S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems set up shop near Brest, next to the Polish border. The exercises include practice with drones, multi-kilometer reconnaissance marches by motorized infantry,

According to another statement by the Ministry, "the number of participants (and) weapons systems [does] not exceed" conditions set by the 2011 Vienna Document, a protocol signed by Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and all Nato member states, including the US, the UK and France.

According to Article 40 of the document, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) must be notified when one country stages "military activities" with "at least 9,000 troops or at least 250 battle tanks."

But contrary to what Russia says without giving specific numbers, NATO observers claim that up to 120,000 troops are involved in the exercise and Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are close to Belarus, filed a formal transparency request under OSCE rules, pressing Minsk to disclose key data about Union Courage 2022. Belarus has 48 hours to reply.

The Kremlin has promised that Russia will pull back its forces from Belarus once the drills conclude, but this is not enough to satisfy Ukraine and the EU and Nato members.

Ukrainian drills

On the contrary, the exercises have further heightened tensions despite European efforts to find a diplomatic solution to Russia's clash with the West over NATO expansion and Ukraine.

Ukraine has launched its own military drills that are meant as a deterrent against possible Russian invasion plans.

'No winners'

For Putin, the current exercise is meant as a warning for Nato, in case it decides to enlist Ukraine - a former Soviet state - as a full member.

According to the official transcript of the press conference, held just after he met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin warned that "if Ukraine joins NATO...European countries will automatically get drawn into a military conflict with Russia.

" ... Russia is one of the world's leading nuclear powers, and is superior to many of those countries in terms of the number of modern nuclear force components.

"There will be no winners, and you will find yourself drawn into this conflict against your will." Putin said.
10.02.2022 LISTEN

In the days of old, Ghana was the black star of Africa. This success became imminent with the likes of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, William Ofori Atta, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, Emmanuel Obetsebi Lamptey, Joseph Boakye Danquah and Edward Akufo-Addo at the helm of affairs. I will certainly be doing myself a disservice if I fail to mention Kojo Botsio, Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck, J. H. Allassani, General Charles Arden-Clarke, Archie Casely-Hayford, Krobo Edusei, Okyere Asafu-Adjaye among others.

These were men who had Ghana at heart and despite the infamous Krobo Eduseis scandals, they are by far better than what we are seeing today. Yes there were allegations of corruption during the period but cant be compared to our current crop of politicians alleged corrupt practices we hear every now and then.

I am worried because after all the natural resources at our disposal, if the only panacea to our economic woes is to resort to a certain E-Levy then the so-called economic management committee arent competent enough. As we speak, there are series of town hall meetings in line with this same E-Levy. If previous and current government had been proactive enough and shunned corrupt practices, the coffers could have been fat. This would have created employment opportunities and the living conditions improved.

It is sad to note that the country is rather experiencing hardship that has generated agitations in the Labour front. Strike upon strike has been the order of the day but activities aimed at scoring cheap political points have made many sit unconcerned and behave as though things are well. Meanwhile, UTAG is still on strike putting undue pressure on Freshmen and continuing students alike.

The country doesnt see it as a shame as it parades herself as though legality could be used to keep the UTAG members at bay. I said it yesterday and would be quick to hint again that our leaders are the cause of our problems. Some lack vision and others enjoy anything in the skirt. Truth is they are all staunch Christians and Muslims and dont see anything wrong with sleeping with ladies old enough to be their children and grandchildren.

I have been pondering over the rationale behind E-Levy when the bauxite, oil, ore, gold, manganese, cocoa, rose wood among others couldnt put Ghana on the international pedestal for achieving enviable social economic gains. Instead, Ghana has gained notoriety in creating, looting and sharing. The E-Levy, if its used in the supreme interest of the country, could eradicate poverty and eliminate social vices.

However, the proceeds of E-levy would be channelled into all sort of activities that undermine the sanctity of rule of law, human right and freedoms, provision of amenities to make life easy for the ordinary Ghanaian among other ill-motivated agenda currently running through the minds of the politician.

In the first place, our issues as a country isnt only about non-payment of taxes on the part of the citizenry. It goes beyond that. Corruption is deeply rooted and we all behave as though a certain way of exploiting the ordinary Ghanaian by way of imposing taxes is the way to go. Imagine a situation where the official mandated by law to collect taxes is corrupt. What becomes of the importance of the revenue? Lets work more on protecting our coffers rather than imposing more taxes on the people. I was particularly overjoyed when I drove past the tollbooth at the time the toll levy was abolished. Over the years, some unscrupulous workers will delay the process all in the name of outwitting the system. In the event where you give some of them say GHC1, they will play as though busy to the point where issuing the ticket is a hell of a tussle. Assuming youre the hurry type, you just ignore all the drama and move. Ask yourself; where does that money go to? This, I think you might have observed it too.

Another point worth mentioning is the fact that, taxes are good when theyre used for the right purposes. We all can attest to the importance of revenue to the citizenry and for that matter the economy. Is Ghanas case the same? Hell no! Some of our leaders cant possibly be trusted owing to their bad track records. They promise the citizenry 2bottles of oil and take from them a barrel of the same oil. I just overheard someone say that they are engaging in robbing Peter to pay Paul which could as well be said as the use of elimination by rough tactics.

It is worthy of note that, more taxes cannot be the solution. This could be seen on the face of the pink sheet. When we put in a mechanism that can bite all individuals involved in malfeasance, then, there could be a meaningful headway . More often than not, some of our leaders mount podiums and indicate their willingness to curb corruption, abolish some levies and taxes but verily, verily, I say unto you, it is part of their political gimmicks as they allegedly engage in corruption and impose more taxes forgetting the podium promise. Thanks to technology, the playback exposes their dishonesty. Until such a time we will have honest politician, even Moses in the bible will have issues in governing Ghana.

Our major challenge is corruption. Lets fight it and reduce the imposition of more taxes like the E-levy. Corruption, let my country go and develop. So I quiz finally, does Ghana really need E-Levy?

Author: Amanda Atunah, a student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)
Moroccan authorities plan to survey abandoned and unauthorised wells across the country, the official MAP news agency reported Thursday, after the death of a boy trapped in a borehole sparked global attention.

The boy, Rayan, had fallen down a narrow 32-metre (100-foot) dry well on February 1, sparking a huge but ultimately failed rescue operation.

"In order to avoid any repeat of the tragedy of Rayan, the water minister has instructed the directors of water resource offices to carry out a full survey of abandoned wells," water ministry official Abdelaziz Zerouali told the agency.

Wells that violate regulations will be made safe at the expense of those who dug them, followed by possible legal action, he said.

The case of Rayan sparked a wave of sympathy across the North African country and beyond, with some 1.7 billion people following the story online, according to the Observatory of Digital Public Opinion (O2PN).

Saudi Arabia said Sunday it has filled and fortified thousands of abandoned wells across the country in the wake Rayan's tragedy.

After his death, debate in Morocco also turned to the issue of irregular wells, with some public figures urging a crackdown.

Zerouali said no precise figures were available on such wells, but that more than 1,000 people a year were fined for offences related to illegal drilling.

Many residents of rural Morocco struggle for access to water for drinking and irrigation, a problem exacerbated by a particularly acute drought in recent years.
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The New World Order (NWO) is a conspiracy theory which hypothesizes a secretly emerging totalitarian world government. The conspiracy theories have a common theme about the New World Order: a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda, conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian one-world government which will replace sovereign nation states and an all-encompassing propaganda whose ideology hails the establishment of NWO as a culmination of history's progress. Many influential historical and contemporary figures have therefore been alleged to be part of a group that operates through many front organizations to orchestrate significant political and financial events ranging through systemic crisis to pushing through controversial policies at both national and international levels as steps in an ongoing plot to achieve world domination.

A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that involves conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups. Very often any step they take is politically motivated. This secret and oppressive idea was enacted, about one and a half decades after the world war, precisely in 1960. Before the early 1990s, New World Order conspiracy was limited to two American counter-cultures before the idea hit other European cultures and recently to some Asian countries.

A lot of strategic planning by the United States concerning the New World Order began immediately after the cold war and the ideas were implemented. The decision taken shaped international relations for several decades, thus compelling the government of the United States to make dramatic policy decisions that affected all people of the world. It was during this period when almost all African countries gained their independence. Africa was confronted with optimism and prosperity and also confronted by new developments on local, regional and continental levels. The powerful conspiracy of the NWO was felt in Ghana six years after its establishment. In 1966 the CIA allegedly paid some soldiers to overthrow Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as Ghana's first president. That was the beginning of Ghana's economic disintegration.

They were eager to do same to other African countries through wars, coup detat and also the looting of their mineral resources.

The New World Order was created by the USA but the idea caught up with Europe especially England and France. China has also joined in. What the European countries did was to deliberately and purposefully create and continue to create confusion, violence in the Sahel region of Africa where natural and mineral resources abound. Many Western countries, especially France and England, are behind the violence in the Sahel region that has gone on for the past nine years. France, as a country, and the European Union (EU), have been involved in the conflict on a long term basis without any solution in sight. The reason, you will agree with me, is simple: They are more interested in the mineral and natural resources of those countries in the Sahel region. At the full watch of the EU such violence has often resulted in coup detats. If France and the EU are eager to stop the violence from escalating why their deliberate inaction and failure to find permanent solutions to the violence which have caused the deaths of thousand lives in Mali and Burkina Faso? Such wild and continuous violence turned into coup detat in Mali which later spread to Niger and Burkina Faso. You may note that all these countries are francophone. What France would gain from the confusion of these countries is immense.

The Sahel region is of strategic importance to the European Union: many migrants from Sahel, after violence, confusion and coup detats, either move to Europe or transit through it. As these migrants, mostly professionals and intellectuals leave, Africa becomes impoverished as intellectual vacuum is created. France and England and the entire EU pounce on anything they can swoop from the Sahel region of Africa. Sahelian Africa, which has allowed itself to be thrown into confusion. Anytime any complex problem rears its ugly head in Sahel. France, England and even the EU rush in to help while holding exploitative motives that will benefit them. As a result many feel that Europe's credibility as crisis solver is baseless and suspicious. In order to prove how genuine they are ready and fully prepared to solve the complex problems of the Sahel region, the EU has invested money and political capital to solve pressing problems. Is this effort from Europe not for their own personal gains?

Has there been any effect of the New World Order conspiracy theory on Ghana? Yes, and this happened when the American Criminal Intelligence Agency paid a handful of military men to overthrow Ghana's first president because of his ambition to unite Africa and put it under one umbrella: the United States of Africa. Nkrumah's ambition was to power Ghana by atomic energy. The American NWO showed intolerance for Ghana's fast development and they used the coup detat to cripple Ghana and compel Ghana to be dependent on them instead of on the former Communist Soviet Union.

China is the first country in Asia to adopt the NWO. They have gone to Africa in their numbers to pursue their selfish ends. Ghana has the biggest number of Chinese people many of them without residence and work permits. Apart from engaging in illegal mining, the Chinese have acquired hundreds of acres of cocoa farms. Sadly enough, the government looks on helplessly while the Chinese take over cocoa production. They have machines in the farm that break the pods to remove the seeds faster than can be done manually. What is worse, they don't sell the beans in Ghana but they process the beans and sell them to chocolate production companies abroad. What is hindering Ghana from taking action against the Chinese? The President must wise up.

Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu

Author: Dark Faces At Crossroads

Email: [email protected]
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a state of the nation address on Thursday promising "decisive" action to stem corruption, as he faces demands for a plan to reverse widening disillusionment with his government.

State corruption, a flagging economy, staggering unemployment, rampant crime and last year's riots topped a long list of woes facing the former union activist-turned-tycoon.

"The fight against corruption will take on a new intensity," Ramaphosa said in his first state of the nation address since receiving a report containing damning allegations of how his predecessor Jacob Zuma sold control of the state to wealthy individuals and companies.

The massive corruption and cronyism under Zuma, which South Africans call "state capture", has been laid out in a series of investigative reports since January.

After a years-long investigation, Constitutional Court judge Raymond Zondo has released more than 1,400 pages of findings -- with more still to come.

Zuma was sent to prison in July after he refused to testify to Zondo's commission. His jailing sparked looting and riots that left more than 350 dead, the worst violence the country has seen since the end of apartheid.

Ramaphosa said he will present a plan of action before June 30 in response to the graft report.

Ramaphosa gave his address from the Cape Town city hall after the parliament was gutted by a fire last month. By RODGER BOSCH POOLAFP

"My responsibility is to ensure that the... report is properly and carefully considered and then acted upon," he said.

"While we have taken decisive steps to end the era of state capture, we know that the fight against corruption is far from over," he said.

Parliament fire 'symbolic'

Ramaphosa delivered his annual speech from Cape Town's city hall instead of where it is normally given in the nation's parliament building, which was gutted by a fire set by an arsonist on January 2.

Ramaphosa said the parliament fire symbolised "a broader devastation in our land".

"The fire was symbolic of the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, by rising unemployment and deepening poverty".

He also said the fire "reminded us of the destruction, violence and looting" the country had seen.

The economy, already battered by two years of strict Covid-19 restrictions, took another hit and unemployment increased to a record of 34.9 percent at the end last year -- up from 30.8 percent a year earlier.

Among young people, the unemployment rate is a stratospheric 64.4 percent.

Protests at Zuma's jailing last year for contempt of court spiralled into looting. By MARCO LONGARI AFP

Ramaphosa said his government had set itself "100 days to finalise a comprehensive social compact to grow our economy, create jobs and combat hunger".

He also said the government intended to end the national state of disaster imposed nearly two years ago at the onset of the pandemic, "as soon" as some legislation was finalised.

"As the trajectory of the pandemic has continued to change, we have had to adapt and evolve," he said.

ANC bust-up

In light of a recent report on last July's riots which laid the blame on his African National Congress (ANC) party as well as the ineptness of his government, Ramaphosa said it would accept the blame.

"The expert panel found that cabinet must take overall responsibility for the events of July 2021. This is a responsibility that we acknowledge and accept," he said.

The report said the ANC party's rifts were so bad that the squabbles were fuelling the risk of turbulence in the country.

"What appears to be factional battles in the African National Congress have become a serious source of instability in the country," said the report, which was made public this week.

If Ramaphosa wants to retain his office, he will need to ask the ANC, in power since the advent of democracy in 1994, to re-elect him at its internal party conference this year.
The Member of Parliament for Wassa East, Hon Isaac Adjei Mensah, has reiterated its opposition to the E-Levy and its resolve to vote against it whenever it is brought to Parliament.

It said the tax would bring untold hardship to Ghanaians and reverse the gains made by the countrys march towards a cashless society.

Hon Isaac Adjei Mensah maintained that the government could acquire the money is intended to raise from the imposition of the levy through other means without necessarily taxing the people.

The government is trying to be lazy there are several avenues to generate money not E-levy, there is too much hardship in the country already there is no need to implement E-levy, Hon Isaac Adjei Mensah exclusively told Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

He said the government could reduce the number of its appointees and cut down on some of its luxurious expenditures and also seal the revenue leakages in the system as some of the ways to raise the GH6.9 billion it seeks to raise through the E-levy.

According to him, the tax was obnoxious and would have dire consequences on the citizenry.

He urged the government to learn from the consequences of the introduction of such a tax from countries that have implemented it on the continent.
Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, has been the hotbed of the far-rightwing-inspired Canadian truckers protests tagged #FreedomConvoy2022 since late January. The #FreedomConvoy2022 started as a protest against mandatory vaccinations for truckers to cross the border into the United States and has grown into broader dissent against the Justin Trudeau-led Government thereby portraying the actions as some sort of anti-vaccination movement.

The protests have since become an occupation. The past days have seen thousands of demonstrators and supporters  mainly truckers - flood the streets and the open space in front of the Canadian Parliament Buildings parking more than 100 trucks across several highways and facilities. These actions had led the Canadian police to declare the protest as a siege or insurrection and the Ottawa authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The protests have revealed a lot. Mr. Trudeau was quoted to have mocked the Indian governments handling of the farmers protests in Delhi. The Indian protesters used the PMs quotes freely during their protests. Like the Ottawa protests, Indian protesters blocked roads, facilities, and other public utilities. Despite the challenges faced by other Indian citizens at the time, Mr Trudeau, being one of the loudest world leaders offering ideas to the Indian government as to how best to handle the protests, said (in 2020): We are worried about families and friends. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters. We believe in the process of dialogue. Weve reached out through multiple means to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.

Can Mr. Trudeau live up to his own standards? During the Indian farmers protests, it was the governments fault  how the crisis was handled. How then has Saint Trudeau handled the Ottawa truckers protests?

Lets hear what he had to say when he tweeted a few days ago on the #FreedomConvoy2022 protests. He said the protesters are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens' daily lives. It has to stop."

Really? Where are the much-touted rights to freedom of expression that Canada always tells us about in Africa? Arent road blockades as we saw during #endSARS in Nigeria too part of these human rights? Dont other citizens whose daily incomes are affected by blockades have their rights too? During the #endSARS protests, other Nigerians were told to endure the temporary pains for the greater good. If Nigerians endured close to three weeks of such blockades, Canadians too should have no qualms to make such sacrifices for democracy!

There is nothing any African or Asian government would have done to stop the uprising that the Canadian state has done. Cutting of protesters funding, arrests, curfew, the use of force, propaganda, just name it. Yet, there has been so far, no outcry from the all righteous US media especially CNN. This leads me to the question of Wests interventionism.

Two of the most vocal interventionist books Ive read are Paul Colliers Wars, Guns, and Votes and John Campbells Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink. Though both books were published about a decade ago, the ideas therein are still much relevant. They wrote on the challenges of democratic experiments in developing countries. One interesting thing about both books is their unapologetic justification of Western interventionist solutions (including military coups to remove democratically-elected leaders in Africa who falls short of Western standards of democracy). Professor Collier, for instance, argued that for him democratic values are universal (p.8). As an unapologetic interventionist, Professor Collier places much emphasis on continued external assistance from developing countries including support for military intervention providing stabilizing force in democratic developments in Africa. For him, military intervention, properly constrained, has an essential role, providing both the security and the accountability of government to citizens that are essential for development (p.10).

Curiously, the books presentation of the Wests holier-than-thou approach and self-appointed moral compass for African states. Ambassador Campbell writes on the US refusal to openly oppose President Olusegun Obasanjos ambitions to illegally extend his term in office in 2005 saying Nigeriansin general overestimate US influence over everything  gave us disproportionate credit for the defeat of Third Term rather than  themselves. (p.94). Even by his own admittance, the US did nothing concrete to stop this even though it undermined our identification with democracy with democracy and the rule of law (p.95).

One aspect not often talked about with the Wests insistence on external interventions in developing countries is the fact that the former does not always live up to their own standards. Historical and more recent developments in Africa and Asia prove this. The world watched the West and the US install Mobutu Sese Seko as President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and maintained him in power for over three decades. The US and the likes were well aware of all his brutalities but as long as he allowed them to freely mine Congolese vast natural resources and profess to be "anti-Communist", Mobutu can stay as long and brutally as he wanted in Zaire. Mobutu was removed after the Cold War ended in the early 1990s when he's outlived his usefulness. Mobutu was never a democrat  and never pretended to be one - but a bloodthirsty dictator worse than Joseph Stalin. Mobutu himself soon (or earlier) realized he was only used to fighting US Cold War in Africa. Little wonder he's the instrument used to kill the legendary Patrice Lumumba a few months after Congolese independence in 1960.

The United Fruit Company (UFC)  a US multinational corporation  was responsible for destabilization efforts in Central America with massive support from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) over control of banana plantations. Using fictitious or forged newspaper reports and anti-communist propaganda techniques, the UFC working closely with the CIA brought down several governments including President Jacobo Arbenz-led government in Guatemala just because he supported his countrys workers demands for better working conditions and pay from the company in the countrys banana plantations. So much for interventionism!

Why will Western countries not hold themselves to their own unusually high standards? Why did Canada seize the GoFundMe account which has raised Canadian $7 million from various sources to the protesters? Why were the Canadian authorities trying to choke off the supply lines of food, fuel and other goods that have sustained the protesters? Why are the Twitter accounts of the protesters (or sympathizers) heavily monitored or in some cases, banned for perpetrating hate crimes? The Ottawa police said it has launched 60 criminal investigations, issued hundreds of tickets, towed vehicles and made at least 20 arrests since last week. Why arrest peaceful protesters? Why threaten anyone attempting to supply the truckers with fuel or other logistics with criminal charges? Could Mr. Trudeau and his Western allies have tolerated this if done in Africa or Asia? Or, is Canada exempted from this rule?

The governments official reasons for blocking the protesters funding were that it suspected foreign sponsorship. Does that mean it's OK and "supporting human rights" for foreign funding/donations  or interventions - to protests in African/Asian countries but it's "insurrection or treason" to do the same to Canada? Shouldnt be as Thomas Harris book says: I'm OK  You're OK? If you could be OK with foreign interventions in other countries, you should be OK with it in yours too. That way, Dr. Harris says, everyone is Staying OK!

If blocking major roads or other public facilities or causing discomforts to other citizens under the guise of protests in Canada isn't ok, it shouldn't be ok anywhere else. If not for the double-faced Trudeau's morality which is now facing karma, there is nothing peaceful about denying other citizens their rights simply because others are protesting. Ones right to freedom of association must never prevent other peoples rights to freedom of movement. Both are rights guaranteed by the constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For over two weeks, some people blocked major roads in Nigeria, to the West and Canada, it's about their right to protest: it's human rights. It doesnt appear we are ready for this conversation!

Canadas case with the Ottawa protesters is analogous to what Jesus Christ said in Luke 4:23 "Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, 'Physician, heal thyself'. The key lesson I learned from the Ottawa protests is: Whatever you cannot take, dont expect others to take it. Mr. Trudeau should apply his own process of dialogue now in handling the #FreedomConvoy2022 now for the world to learn how best to deal with such situations!

NB: Nothing in this write-up should suggest the writer is in any way in support of the anti-vaxxer demands of the #FreedomConvoy2022. He, however, supports their rights to legitimately express themselves and without the denial of other citizens their rights to freedom of movement and other rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Olalekan Adigun, an Accidental Writer, sends this piece from Lagos. He can be followed on Twitter using @MrLekanAdigun
The Host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, has been arrested by persons believed to be National Security operatives.

He was picked up by men in police uniform at the premises of Class Media Group shortly after he ended his programme at 10:00pm on Thursday, February 10.

Reports say he has been taken to the Nima Police Station.

The Producer of the show, Kwame Kwakye, broke the news about Bobbie Ansah's arrest on air.

Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, the Host of The Citizen Show and also a staff of CMG, specifically Accra FM, has just been arrested by unknown policemen. We do not know where theyre stationed, neither do we know where theyre taking Bobbie Ansah. We dont know what his crime is and which police station hes been sent to. He was picked up right after The Citizen Show. He was arrested with a National Security car that had police officers in it without identity.

According to reports, his arrest is in connection to a post he made on Facebook alleging that the current judiciary is corrupt and made up of crooks and criminals led by a corrupt Chief Justice whos struggling to purge himself of a $5 million thievery allegation.

More soon...
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has appealed to Executives of the Tanker Drivers Union at the Buipe Depot Branch to help fight the tampering of seals on tankers and the siphoning of fuel from tankers.

To ensure the integrity of petroleum products on Bulk Road Vehicles(Tankers), the NPA has installed seals on all licensed tankers.

The NPA Chief Executive said there are more than 15 incidents of seal tampering on daily basis, a situation he said was very worrying.

Interacting with executives of the Union Buipe as part of his five region tour of petroleum installations and other state institutions, Dr. Abdul-Hamid said not only was the siphoning of fuel a loss to government but it also endangered the lives and properties of Ghanaians by the fires that sometimes resulted from such activities.

He made reference to the fire incident at Kaase in the Ashanti Region. He said investigations into that incident will conclude this week and the culprits will be punished according to the law.

He urged the executives to support the fight and educate their members to desist from carrying out these activities.

The Vice Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Union, Nashiru Mohammed, on his part said he will educate their members to conduct their activity according to the regulations.

He further appealed to the Chief Executive to help boost the level of activities at the Buipe Depot to increase their business.

The General Manager, Terminal and Transmission of BOST, Josiah Ato Kwamina said in the last two years, there have been some works done at the depot to expand their capacity and operations.

He said with their current facilities, they are ready for any increase in demand.
The National Petroleum Authority has secured the support of the police in the Upper East regional command to assist in curbing illegal fuel trading at the border towns and some fuel stations in the region.

The NPA Chief Executive, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid enumerated illegal fuel trading in the region such as fuel smuggling at the border towns, selling adulterated fuels, operating with expired licenses and operating without proper safety standards.

The NPA Chief Executive secured the support when he paid a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Dr. Sayibu Pabi Gariba.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid said he was worried about how some fuel station owners and their employees threaten to beat officers of the NPA when their outlets are locked.

The only thing we are worried about is that when people are in violation of the law, and I mean the fuel stations or according to the standards of NPA, a certain fuel station is not operating with proper safety standards or that their licences have expired or that their product have failed the quality test and when they are locked up, the people forcibly break the seals and continue selling and sometimes they threaten our officers that dont come here and lock our stations we will beat you etc etc.

Reacting, Dr Gariba assured the NPA of the support of the regional command in providing security through the various platforms to ensure the Upper East region is peaceful and safe so that people can go about their mandate without any fear.

He said his command had structured their operations in such a way that the filling stations and strategic storage were safe in the region.

I assure you of the Police support that we are here to serve, and we can have a good collaboration with NPA to curb future occurrence of such illegalities. As I sit here, we are providing 24hour security to some filling stations in Bawku because of the security situation there. All the filling stations we had intelligence they could be a target of some attack we are providing some security, he emphasized.

The visit to the regional police command was part of a five-day tour by the Chief Executive of NPA to the Northern part of the country to familiarize himself with some petroleum installations in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Bono and Ashanti Regions.

The Chief Executive and Management of the Authority, on Monday, made the first stop at the Bolgatanga depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST).

The team was conducted around the facility by Mr Josiah Kwamina Atta, General Manager in charge of Terminal and Transmission at BOST.

They also visited the Regional Coordinating Council and Custom Officers at the Paga Border to court their support in dealing with fuel supply and export challenges in the region.
Armed Security Personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service on Thursday evening stormed the residence of the embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson at Manet Estate, a suburb of Accra, to facilitate the service of court summons on him.

The NDC MP bodyguard reportedly chased out a court bailiff at the Job 600 Office of MPs, when he was ordered by the Accra High Court, to serve a criminal summons on the Member of Parliament to appear before it to face the charges of perjury and deceit of public officer, among others, leveled against him by the Attorney General.

The armed police officers according to information gathered stormed the residence in a Rambo style and forcibly entered the MPs residence to serve him with the court summons.

According to a Police source, the MP himself refused to show up to the Police as he was holed up in the house.

A servant in the house, reportedly came out to receive the court summons from the Police on his behalf.

The court, presided over by Justice Mary Nsenkyire, issued the criminal summons after the MP failed to appear before it for trial despite efforts by court bailiffs and the case investigator to serve him with the charge sheet of the case.

The prosecution had pushed for a bench warrant for the arrest of the embattled MP but the court instead issued the criminal summons on the lawmaker.

Criminal Proceeding

The Office of the Attorney General had charged him with deceit, forgery and other criminal offenses for misleading public officers.

The offences relate to the activities in the run-up to the 2020 parliamentary election which he won.

A Cape Coast High Court last year found that the MP was holding both Ghanaian and Canadian citizenship.

The court was to determine that at the time of filing his nomination to contest the 2020 parliamentary election in Assin North, Mr. Quayson was still holding Canadian citizenship.

The MP has been charged, among others, for deceiving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by making a false statement that he did not hold another citizenship to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Mr. Quayson has also been charged with perjury for making a false statement at Assin Fosu, that he does not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana, a statement he did not have a reason to believe to be true at the time of making it.

Again, the MP has been charged for making a false declaration for office when he knowingly said he does not owe allegiance to any country for the purpose of contesting for a public office as a Member of Parliament, a statement he knew to be untrue at thatvmaterial time.

No Show

The MP failed to show up for the trial for the second time and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, told the court that on February 3, 2020, after the order was given for the accused person to be served with the charge and facts sheets, the prosecution caused hearing notice to be issued with the service address of the accused person at Assin Bereku in the Central Region.

She said they subsequently got the Accra address of the accused person and the case investigator posted a copy of the hearing notice on the inside door of the accused person at Manet Estate in Accra.

Again, on February 7, we caused a second hearing notice to be issued for service by the court bailiff at the home of the accused person in, Accra. On this same date the police investigator also posted a copy of the charge sheet at the home of the accused person. The police met an occupant of the home of the accused who refused to accept the charge sheet and said the accused had gone out, the DPP told the court.

Mrs. Obuobisa therefore, prayed the court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the MP since bailiffs and the investigator are always told the MP has gone out any time they try to serve him.

Criminal Summons

The DPP then urged the court to issue the criminal summons to the MP by applying Section 65 of Act 30 which states that Where service in the manner provided by sections 63 and 64 cannot, by the exercise of due diligence be effected, the serving officer shall affix one of the duplicates of the summons to a conspicuous part of the house or homestead in which the person summoned ordinarily resides, and the summons shall be considered to have been duly served.

Justice Nsenkyire subsequently issued an order for substituted service in the form of a criminal summond on the MP to appear before the court.

The case was adjourned to February 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Police as gathered will be addressing a Press Conference anytime soon.

 Daily Guide
11.02.2022 LISTEN

A Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, is accusing Children, Gender and Social Protection Minister, Sarah Adwoa Safo of sabotaging Akufo-Addo's government business.

The New Juabeng South MP said the former Deputy Majority Leaders constinuous absence in Parliament is making government business in the chamber difficult.

Speaking on Kumasi-based Hello FM, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi said Adwoa Sarfo is causing the NPP problems.

All the problems government is facing are attributable to Adwoa Safo. Clearly, her intention and posture show that she wants to sabotage NPP.

He disclosed how they had to beg Adwoa Safo countless times to come to Parliament due to their limited numbers.

The New Juaben South MP said the Dome Kwabenya MP, fully aware of her critical role in getting government bills passed in Parliament has decided to frustrate the government.

He further revealed that Adwoa Safo insists she will not come to Parliament if she is not given the Deputy Majority Leader position.

All 136 NPP MPs are always in Parliament except for Adwoa Safo. One person cannot hold the party to ransom, he fumed.

He urged the Dome Kwabenya MP to renounce her seat if she is no longer interested in serving her nation.

Sarah Adwoa Safo had been absent from Parliament for a while following an extension of her leave which was granted by the President.

She had become the subject of public debate some months ago following allegations that she was impersonated during Parliamentary proceedings on November 30, 2021 because the Majority side needed the numbers at all cost to approve the government's 2022 budget, which they did despite the disapproval by the minority side.

The controversy was deepened by the fact that videos and photos of a woman believed not to be the Dome Kwabenya MP from the proceedings in Parliament went viral on social media.

In the video, the woman was seen wearing a nose mask, leaving the chamber right after the headcount which led to the approval of the budget statement.

Meanwhile, Madam Adwoa Safo has been away from her Ministry as well, after President Akufo-Addo directed the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, to temporarily serve as caretaker Minister in October 2021.

citinewsroom
A 37-year-old laboratory technician with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hospital, Emelia Amekuji has been confirmed dead after an articulator truck ran over her at Anloga junction in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti region.

The incident occurred on Thursday, 10 February 2022.

The deceased's four-month-old baby who was with her during the incident together with six passengers onboard other commercial vehicles also sustained injuries.

The woman and her baby are reported to have alighted from a commercial bus when the incident occurred.

Eyewitnesses told Class FMs Ashanti Regional Correspondent Elisha Adarkwah that the truck driver picked a fight with a commercial bus driver on the Accra road towards Kumasi.

This accident started from Boadi junction. I was in a trotro from Ahomaso to town, our driver was in the inner lane, the Sonata was in front of us and when we got to Boadi junction roundabout, instead of the Sonata going to the outer lane to take the roundabout, he was in the inner lane. Luckily, the Police confronted him, so if our driver had not swerved, he would have ran into the Sonata.

He dodged the Sonata and came to the outer lane and there was a truck behind, but our driver was able to make it though we were scared. When we got to Tech Junction, the truck driver confronted our driver for crossing him earlier and threatened to kill him and the passengers on board. But we kept going till Maxima, where the truck driver parked in the middle of the road, and came out with a jerk threatening to hit our driver with it. Our driver was able to go in front of the trailer, all we saw is that he ran into us, and killed the woman instantly. Her baby was rushed to the hospital. His brakes did not fail, an eyewitness explained.

The truck driver has been arrested by the Oforikrom Police.

classfmonline.com
Government is seeking to improve the tracking of the population right from birth to death.

This is to gather concrete and accurate data to aid in effective planning for development.

Government has thus through the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) released 13,000 computer tablets to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to help record demographic data of expectant mothers from antenatal clinics till delivery.

Additionally, the government is making efforts to link the databases of the National Identification Authority, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Statistical Service, and Births and Deaths Registry to ensure data harmonisation.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced this at the launch of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana, on Thursday.

The year-long celebration is on the theme: 50 years of shaping local and global population issues towards sustainable development, which attracted government officials, academia, and alumni of the Institute.

Dr. Bawumia stressed the need for the country to have accurate data of its population from birth till death for planning and to facilitate policy formulation.

The 2021 Population and Housing Census indicates that Ghana has a 30.8 million population, of which 60 per cent are literate.

The Vice President, therefore, commended the management of the Institute for chalking a milestone over the period, especially for training about 1,500 population scientists to help ensure that the government channelled the critical national resources at the right sectors of the economy.

He urged them to establish meaningful partnerships with international organisations and employ modern technologies towards enhancing their academic programmes.

I urge you not to be complacent for the 50 years milestone but should spur you on to excel in the next 50 years, the Vice President said.

Dr. Bawumia believed that having an accurate and healthy population was the bedrock for development globally, which aided state institutions to make informed choices towards improving the quality of life of the citizens.

He thus entreated the Institute to work closely with the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies towards efficient utilisation of resources and development of poor communities, noting that without timely and accurate population data, planning will be impossible.
The Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has stressed that government is not pinning the future of the country to the controversial Electronic Transaction (E-Levy).

Since its first announcement in November 2021, the levy has been largely opposed by the Minority in Parliament with backing from some Civil Society Organisations, as well as some Ghanaians.

Speaking at a town-hall meeting in Tamale on Thursday, Ken Ofori-Atta clarified that contrary to allegations, the Akufo-Addo government is not putting all hopes on the levy.

According to him, government only wants to tap into the growing digital economy to raise revenue to help the development of the country.

It is not that we are hanging our whole future on E-Levy but we know that E-Levy is even growing more. Should we just let it go? Do you just not want to participate in the reconstruction of our country? Is that what it is about? Or is it because youre another party, you dont want this to happen?

I dont know the last time we won seats in Tamale. I think Mustapha Ali won it twice or something, but it does not mean we are not going to put resources in Tamale or the Northern Region, that does not mean that we won't push, Ken Ofori-Atta shared.

The Finance Minister in a plea urged the citizenry to engage in conversations on E-Levy without emotions.

He said Ghana has reached a point where it needs to be more reliant and the only way to do so is for everyone to contribute in order not to return to the IMF.

The sovereignty of the people in making sure that we live well as a confident people and people who earn their way is paramount as we think through this whole issue of our philosophy of how to fund ourselves so that we dont become dependent on outsiders including, particularly the IMF.

So, thats the challenge and thats the plea that we bring here to let you know that look, were a country of manifest destiny for greatness and we should in whatever way we can, reclaim that role and that in our mind is through this new tax handle of E-Levy, Ken Ofori-Atta indicated.
11.02.2022 LISTEN

Director for Driver Training Testing and Licensing at the DVLA, Kafui Semevo has stated that, the theoretical driving test would now be taken in indigenous Ghanaian languages by May 2022.

Speaking to Joy News, he stated that the move is to ensure that, people understand that questions in their own dialect without an interpreter coming in to explain.

He noted that the new test system will allow prospective drivers to take the test in languages they understand in order to to test their knowledge aimed at curbing road accidents in the country.

According to him, the driving test system has undergone several reviews since 2011 with the question paper sheet being computerized now; however the challenge of misunderstanding as a result of language barrier has always been a problem.

If you look back beyond 2011, you will realize that at that time the test was paper based, a question paper is given and then you have an answer sheet, but a review revealed that the human intervention was too much and so we decided to computerize it so you take the test and immediately you know whether you passed or not. Another thing is that the test is in English language only as at now and that in itself has revealed that more than 20% of those who come to write the test may be failing because they dont understand the English language and so we decided to include pictorial questions to help people understand, but we are introducing this to solve the language barrier, he told Joy News.

He added, "The new languages, Ewe, Ga, Nzema, Akan, Hausa, Dagbani, will be the starter pack languages in this new initiative while more would be added as and when the need arises. The dialects in the driving test would be just audio with participants expected to give their answers in the same manner."

Mr Semevo indicated that Ghanaians who have failed driving tests as a result of language barrier will now have the opportunity to take the test in their own dialect and hopefully pass.

He stressed that the new initiative will see in traffic test also being electronic. "The now computerized system will disallow prospective drivers from choosing their own preference of an officer to guide them."

Mr Semevo added that the implementation of the new initiative is scheduled to begin in May 2022 pending approval from authorities.
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that Ghana has reached a point where it must go beyond borrowing to embark on developmental projects.

Speaking at the third edition of the governments townhall meeting on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the Minister said Ghanaians should help the government to internally generate enough funds by embracing the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy).

We cannot resort to borrowing every day to construct our roads. How much can we borrow to construct our roads in a year? We cant even borrow up to two billion dollars to construct our roads. That is why it is important that when were discussing the issue of E-Levy, we should discuss it dispassionately. We shouldnt put emotions in the discussion of E-Levy, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said at the townhall meeting.

The Finance Minister continued, The sovereignty of the people in making sure that we live well as a confident people and people who earn their way is paramount as we think through this whole issue of our philosophy of how to fund ourselves so that we dont become dependent on outsiders including, particularly the IMF.

So, thats the challenge and thats the plea that we bring here to let you know that look, were a country of manifest destiny for greatness and we should in whatever way we can, reclaim that role and that in our mind is through this new tax handle of E-Levy.

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta in November 2021 announced plans by the government to implement the E-Levy to generate more funds internally.

Government plans to charge a 1.75% tax on all financial transactions done electronically that exceed GHS100 per day.

Unfortunately, the levy is yet to be approved by Parliament with the Minority continuously demanding its complete scrapping.
The Ghana Police Service has disclosed that it was left with no choice but to arrest Accra FM presented Kwabena Bobbie Ansah after he refused to honour its invitation.

The journalist with Class Media Group (CMG) was arrested on Thursday, February 10, 2022, by the Accra Regional Police Command in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

READ: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1138123/accra-fms-bobbie-ansah-arrested-by-national-secur.html

In a statement issued by the Ghana Police Service via its official Facebook page, the security agency has provided some clarity on what led to the arrest.

Mr. Kwabena Bobbie Ansah of Accra FM was arrested yesterday, February 10, 2022, by the Accra Regional Police Command in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

"His arrest became necessary after he turned down several invitations from the Police to him and others involved in the case to assist with investigation, the Police statement has said this morning.

The Police note that the Accra Regional Police Command will issue a full statement on the matter in due course.
Uganda should drop all charges against a prominent author who has fled into exile and instead investigate claims he was tortured in detention, Human Rights Watch said Friday.

The rights watchdog said the arrest of satirical novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was testament to the continued repression of dissidents in the East African country through strict cyber security laws.

Rukirabashaija, an internationally acclaimed writer, was arrested shortly after Christmas over a series of unflattering social media posts about veteran President Yoweri Museveni and his powerful son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The 33-year-old said he was tortured by his interrogators during his month-long detention in a case that has triggered international alarm.

"The authorities should unconditionally drop any charges against the author and ensure that all security officials implicated in his torture and enforced disappearance are held to account," HRW said in a statement.

Rukirabashaija appeared on television at the weekend to reveal welts criss-crossing his back and scars on other parts of his body.

He said military officers beat him, forced him to dance for hours at times, tore at his flesh with pliers and injected him repeatedly with an unknown substance.

The novelist fled the country on Wednesday saying he wanted to seek treatment abroad for his injuries.

"Instead of prosecuting their critics over tweets, the Ugandan authorities should be investigating this and many other serious allegations of torture by state security in recent years," said HRW researcher Oryem Nyeko.

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.

Activists have been repeatedly targeted using the strict Computer Misuse Act which was used against Rukirabashaija and which carries heavy penalties, including jail time.

Outspoken Ugandan activist and writer Stella Nyanzi, who fled to Germany earlier this year, was imprisoned in 2019 under the same law after posting a profane poem about Museveni.

Ugandan authorities "should end the criminalisation of protected speech online and offline and address legitimate concerns raised by critics instead of persecuting them", said HRW's Nyeko.

Rukirabashaija won acclaim for his 2020 satirical novel "The Greedy Barbarian", which describes high-level corruption in a fictional country and was awarded the 2021 PEN Pinter Prize for an International Writer of Courage.

Rukirabashaija has been repeatedly arrested since "The Greedy Barbarian" was published and said he was previously tortured while being interrogated by military intelligence.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged that the Ghanaian taxpayer will pay close to GHS5 million for President Akufo-Addos latest trip abroad.

The President on Thursday, February 10, 2022, flew out of Accra on a 10-day working visit to France, Guyana, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Having done some checks, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that President Akufo-Addos latest extravagant trip will cost the country US$776,000, equivalent to GHS4,979,328.16.

In sum, for abandoning Ghana's Presidential Jet and obstinately choosing an extravagant and sybaritic option, the Ghanaian taxpayer should expect to cough up a staggering US$776,000 or the Cedi equivalent of GHS4,979,328.16 by the time President Akufo-Addo returns, Okudzeto Ablakwa notes in a statement on his Facebook page.

The NDC parliamentarian adds, Ironically, the cost is much higher than the GHS4.6million government has been unable to release to the Students Loan Trust since last year, making it impossible for the SLT to cater for the needs of thousands of tertiary students for more than a year, as it emerged in Parliament this week when I demanded answers from the Education Minister.

What should further embarrass all well-meaning Ghanaians is the fact that our real-time tracking reveals that none of the African Presidents joining President Akufo-Addo for these meetings are engaged in such unconscionable hedonistic misconduct. They are all making good use of their national presidential jets.

According to the North Tongu MP, President Akufo-Addos decision to fly in such an expensive aircraft for his latest trip demonstrates beyond any shred of doubt his blatant contempt, gross insensitivity, and utter disdain for the Ghanaian people who made him President.

Read the full statement from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa below:

Yesterday, February 10, 2022  Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo demonstrated beyond any shred of doubt that his blatant contempt, gross insensitivity and utter disdain for the Ghanaian people who made him President have no boundaries, whatsoever.

On the very same day and literally during the Yentua March by thousands of Ghanaians from all walks of life who took to the streets of Accra to register their revulsion in the strongest of terms against the obnoxious E-Levy and government's profligate dissipation of current taxes, loans and other resources which have led to a downgraded economy now in the ICU; President Akufo-Addo, in the most heartless, scornful and outrightly insulting conduct yet, opted for the umpteenth time to abandon Ghana's Presidential Jet and fly out of the country aboard his chartered US14,000 an hour ultra-luxury executive jet  the Boeing 737-97Y(ER)(BBJ3), registered LX-DIO.

In a grotesque imagery of a President who couldn't be bothered or give a toss about the mass agitations of his employers  President Akufo-Addo took off from the Kotoka International Airport at exactly 13:00 GMT  obviously at the same time angry protesters were approaching Parliament to present their petition.

The President's reckless indiscretion is likely to make it to the Guinness Book of Records as the most provocative, thoughtless and hard-hearted misconduct by any democratically elected leader.

One wonders if the President still felt no remorse when he saw from mid-air, the protestors, some of them older than him and others struggling mothers worried about grim prospects for their children.

From our unimpeachable tracking, President Akufo-Addo touched down last night in France at 20:50 CET.

Our comprehensive computation of the President's flying time for his 10-day tour looks as follows: 6 hours and 50min from Accra to France; 8hours and 30min from France to Guyana; 9hours and 5min from Guyana to Germany; 1hour and 10min from Germany to France; approximately 1hour from France to Belgium; another 1hour from Belgium to UK; 6hours and 30min from UK back to Ghana. This works out to some 34hours of air travel  at US14,000 an hour, an initial bill of US$476,000 arises.

In addition, we estimate incidentals such as: landing fees, ramp fees, segment fees, federal excise tax, 7-member crew oversight fees, 7-member crew per diem fees, wait time fees, short leg fees, de-icing fees, reposition fees, international fees and one-way fees to amount to a conservative figure of US$300,000.

In sum, for abandoning Ghana's Presidential Jet and obstinately choosing an extravagant and sybaritic option, the Ghanaian taxpayer should expect to cough up a staggering US$776,000 or the Cedi equivalent of GHS4,979,328.16 by the time President Akufo-Addo returns.

Ironically, the cost is much higher than the GHS4.6million government has been unable to release to the Students Loan Trust since last year, making it impossible for the SLT to cater for the needs of thousands of tertiary students for more than a year, as it emerged in Parliament this week when I demanded answers from the Education Minister.

What should further embarrass all well-meaning Ghanaians is the fact that our real-time tracking reveals that none of the African Presidents joining President Akufo-Addo for these meetings are engaged in such unconscionable hedonistic misconduct. They are all making good use of their national presidential jets.

For a President running away from accountability as his Ministers unjustifiably and unconstitutionally hide behind the cloak of national security not to disclose the full cost of his lavish skybath travels to us in Parliament, one would have expected that the President will reconsider his ways, particularly considering the now collapsed economy and how the Ghanaian populace have flatly refused to accept the E-Levy largely because of the President's penchant for obscene opulence and impunity of not accounting to the people who fund his aristocratic tastes.

What a terrible own-goal at a time President Akufo-Addo is contemptuously defying practically everyone and moving mountains to force the passage of the dreaded E-Levy.
Some funs of Accra FM's Bobbie Ansah have massed up at the Striking Force unit of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command at Accra Central to demand his release.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command on Thursday arrested Kwabena Bobbie Ansah in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

The broadcaster was picked up at the entrance of Class Media Group shortly after 10:00 pm on Thursday, just when his programme, 'The Citizen Show' which airs daily had ended.

An ardent listener of Bobbie Ansah, Adams Mohammed, told Citi News that he is appalled by the growing trend of intimidation of journalists.

I have been here for about an hour now. I was surprised at the news of his arrest. I think it is unfair. I am here to ensure that he is released.

Another listener said, he has done nothing wrong. We will not leave until he is released.

Few days ago, Power FM's Oheneba Boamah Bennie, was jailed for two weeks and fined 3,000 cedis for contempt of court, in a case in which he allegedly made false claims against President Akufo-Addo and the justices of the Supreme Court in relation to the 2020 election petition.

Before that, Captain Smart of Onua TV was also arrested for some utterances he had made on TV, and he's currently facing trial for alleged extortion.

Also, the Executive Director of ASEPA, a social group that advocates for good governance, Mensah Thompson, was on Thursday, February 10, 2022, granted bail in the sum of 50,000 cedis after he was arrested and charged for allegedly publishing false news against the President and the Ghana Armed Forces, although he had apologised for the claims.

Some observers of the political space have been worried about the trend, suggesting that the government is perpetuating a culture of silence, whereas others are of the view that these actions are necessary to sanitize the system to promote responsible journalism for the peace and stability of the country.

citinewsroom
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, says his outfit will revoke licenses of companies who at the expense of indigenous people engage foreigners in community mining schemes across the country.

Following drastic measures by the government to fight illegal mining due to the massive pollution to water bodies and the destruction of forest reserves, many local miners have complained about the lack of alternative job opportunities.

Government in a bid to create job opportunities for persons living in mining areas then introduced the community mining initiative.

Many inhabitants have alleged that mainly New Patriotic Party (NPP) members are the ones benefiting from the initiative. In some instances, others have said foreigners, particularly Chinese, have been engaging in illegal mining.

A new area to have community mining is Tokwae, within the Asante Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

As a predominantly farming community with little activity within the area, this initiative is expected to turn the fortunes of the people in the area and other neighbouring communities around.

In order to address concerns raised by residents within some mining communities against the community mining initiative, the Lands and Natural resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor says government is restructuring the initiative to make it achieve the intended purpose and also protect the environment.

He further revealed that President Akufo-Addo has directed that all community mining schemes be restructured to ensure strict adherence to all protocols.

He made this statement at Tokwae in the Asante Akim South District of the Ashanti Region, where he launched a community mining scheme within the area.

From the instructions of the president, we are restructuring the mining sector of our country, particularly the small scale mining sector. Sometime last year, my deputy minister Hon. George Mireku Duker launched a community mining scheme manual, which is the manual that stipulates the basic requirement of any community mining in our country. So far, we have commissioned 7 community mining schemes. This year, God willing, under the direction of the president, we intend to commission 50 community mining schemes across the country.

He has also stressed the need for indigenous people within various communities to benefit from the scheme, adding that he will revoke licenses of companies that engage foreigners at the expense of indigenous people.

This community mining scheme must be for the community (the people of Tokwae and the people of Asante Akim). Foreigners are not allowed to participate in this community mining scheme. If that happens, we will revoke the license immediately. If one foreigner is found working in this mining operation, the mining lease or the license which I have signed as minister stand revoked.

Traditional leaders within the area have thrown their support behind the initiative and want all stakeholders to play their roles as expected to ensure it achieves the desired results.

There are one hundred and ninety-eight (198) communities here. This is the first time we are hearing of mining activities to take place within this area. We thank our leaders for coming up with this. Traditional leaders here will all support to make it a success, Nana Ayim Kum Nipa II, the Paramount Chief of Asante Akim Gyadam, spoke on behalf of the traditional leaders within the area (Tokwae and surrounding communities).

An opinion leader in the area who will play a key role in the scheme, Yaw Opoku who spoke to Citi News urged the relevant stakeholders to ensure due diligence is done.

We want them to strictly comply with the laws on community mining to ensure no one engages in corruption. This will help ensure development here. The assembly should get involved to ensure that the community is not short-changed, which will then reduce the unemployment situation within this area.
Air quality in Accra is unhealthy due to harmattan dust from the northeast, household and bush burning activities, emissions from vehicles, says Expert.

Light industrial activities such as automobile spraying and carpentry are also key contributors.

The air quality index as of February 10, 2022, indicates that the quality of air is hazardous, meaning the air is filled with dangerous particles and when inhaled could be harmful to the body.

It is above 18.7 times above the World Health Organisation annual air quality guideline value.

Mr Emmanuel Appoh, the Head of Environmental Quality Department of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a working visit to the light industrial area of Accra.

He said the level of pollution was unhealthy for children, the elderly and people with underlying conditions like asthma.

The EPA, he said, was taking steps such as public sensitisation and enforcement of best practices to ensure that light industrial activities were done according

to standards to protect the health of the populace.

He noted that the chemicals/materials used for sanding and spraying by casket manufacturers and auto sprayers openly released heavy pollutants into the air.

Mr Appoh stated that persons involved in the activities, immediate occupants in the area, and the public were at risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections.

Ideally these activities should not be done at residential areas due to the pollution levels. Workers are supposed to wear protective clothing, wear industrial nose masks and goggles but this is not the case, he stated.

He said the EPA was working with other agencies to commence an initiative where air quality would be made known to the public through the media every six hours to guide people and enable them to take steps to protect themselves.

Mr Appoh said a study conducted by the Agency in 2015 estimated that 2,800 lives were lost due to the effects of air pollution.

He said without fast-action to reduce current and projected future levels of air pollution, there would be dangerous air pollution, which was projected to increase human death to approximately 4,600 by 2030.

Mr Obed Wunanu, an Automobile Sprayer Apprentice, told the GNA that

We do not wear nose masks and goggles when spraying.

The particles go into our eyes, so we frequently experience catarrh, red eyes, cough, fever, running nose and body painsSometimes after spraying, I am unable to sleep. We only visit the drug store and buy painkillers, he said, adding: This is the situation I met when I started this apprenticeship five months ago. My master too does not wear masks or goggles.

Dr Efua Commeh, the Acting Programme Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the Ghana Health Service, said there had been a growing trend in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

conditions associated with difficulty in breathing such as asthma.

She said the continued inhalation of polluted air had a long-term-effect such as death, heart disease, lung cancer, damage of nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs.

The trend, she explained, indicated a sign of poor air quality as a result of environmental pollution.

More children in schools are contracting asthma. Adults who had asthma in their younger ages with the condition getting better as adults, now seem to be having a resurgence, she noted.

As we yearn for industrialisation, more vehicle emissions will go up but there is the need to ensure that the systems are working to keep people healthy.

She called for regular engagements with the public and light industrial workers for the safety of all.

GNA
The Ghana police service has disclosed that, Accra FM presenter, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah would be arraigned before the court today.

The broadcaster was arrested on February 10 over alleged publication of false news.

In a statement released to the media on February 11, the police stated that, the journalist was arrested as a result of some alleged statements he made against some individuals on his show the citizen show.

Police reports say their investigations of those statements proved false.

According to the Police, the embattled journalist was invited but failed to honor the invitation.

The police noted that Bobbie Ansah made the statements on January 11, 2022 with three others who are currently being pursued for also failing to honor the invitation of the police.

Kwabena Bobie Ansah, a journalist with Accra FM and host of "the citizen show" was picked up by the police on February 10 after his radio programme.

His arrest is part of a string of media personnel arrest over the past month for alleged false publication.
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has blasted the Minister for Gender, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo over her posture toward the party.

He is accusing her of holding the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to ransom with her actions.

Speaking to Oman FM in an interview on Thursday, the vociferous businessman and politician said he is baffled how the Dome-Kwabenya MP has been pampered to feel like a god.

Adwoa Sarfo is holding the whole NPP to ransom. It is the truth Im saying. I wont cover it up because I have 2 children with her so when she is doing something which is wrong, [I wont say it]. What is going on in NPP is very annoying. We have pampered some people to the extent that they have become tin gods, Ken Agyapong said.

The criticism of Adwoa Safo follows her absence from Parliament.

Just recently, a similar criticism came from Deputy Trade Minister Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi. He accused the Dome-Kwabenya MP of sabotaging government business calling for her dismissal.

All the problems government is facing are attributable to Adwoa Safo. Clearly, her intention and posture show that she wants to sabotage NPP. All 136 NPP MPs are always in Parliament except for Adwoa Sarfo. One person cannot hold the party to ransom, the Deputy Trade Minister told Peace FM.
SINCE 1960, 91 coups have occurred in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. In 2021-22 four coup d'etats have taken place in Chad, Guinea, Mali and recently Burkina Faso. Equatorial Guinea was saved by the bell after some destruction of life and property by coup makers and security forces loyal to the Government.These recent upheavals seem to suggest a reversal of a long tradition which like a creeping plant, has spread across many countries in the post-colonial era within the sub-region. The reasons for the coups are normally justified with the connivance of disgruntled politicians against the backdrop of civil discontent as a result of the governments' inability to provide basic services, uphold democratic norms, worsened economic situation perceived to have been perpetuated by the corruption of the political class.

To be honest, this piece is not about the reasons that have given rise to military coups because to delve into them would seem to suggest that there are solutions to curtail them. With my experience, I think there is no justification for coups and also do not believe that coups are a panacea to solve the socio-economic problems of Ghana and any other countries in the sub-region. This piece seeks firstly, to caution colleagues who are still in uniform, who may erroneously consider the current economic situation and recent upheavals in other countries attractive grounds to indulge in some professional misconduct. Secondly, this is to encourage them to resist the temptation of temporal benefits of a coup which will eventually lead to their destruction and end a career of an enviable profession.

Over the past years within the sub-region, the observation of the performance of many past coup regimes had been a total failure if not a disaster both economically and socially. In Ghana, we garnished the previous coups with a revolution which subjected the nation to such inhuman treatment and economic difficulties never experienced in the history of the country.Ghana was saved by the international community which compelled the revolutionary leaders to hand over power reluctantly to an elected civil government under a democratic dispensation. The revolutionary (PNDC) metamorphosed into a political party (NDC) to pursue the revolutionary agenda and succeeded to poison the new political dispensation. Consequently, today Ghana is polarised with two political parties, one pursuing the revolutionary agenda and the other democracy.The country has still not recovered from the socio-economic disasters of the revolution and politically the 'hung parliament' of Ghana today as a result of the last elections, has brought to the fore the challenges we face in a developing democracy. Recent development in Parliament and the schemes of the Speaker obviously confirm that Ghana has a long way to go in the democratic development. If you are a Ghanaian, civilian or a military officer, you would observe that the country is going through crisis, politically and economically, and this is not the time to indulge in the frivolity of a coup d'etat because we have experimented it several times.

All coup leaders are possessed with a 'savior mentality' but sooner or later, when the challenges begin to unfold they simply crumble. The fact of the matter is that no matter how good the intentions, coups seldom achieve their objectives or improve the socioeconomic situation of the respective countries, otherwise countries in the SSA would have developed by now considering the number of coups that have been done.The failure of coups stem from the fact after that achieving the immediate objective of removing the Governments, the military, for lack of expertise and competence to manage the various sectors of the economy, are compelled to surrender governance to the civil servants and technocrats who manipulate the new won power to achieve their own objectives. Consequently, what the coup leaders sought to achieve is seriously undermined or compromised. In the final analysis, it is not worth a dime for any officer worth his salt to risk his life to overthrow a Government only to hand over the power to some unscrupulous politicians and civilians who will not be held responsible for the coup but will use the opportunity to amass wealth and prepare themselves to form the next Government.

The British, our colonial masters, bequeathed to Ghana, a professionally trained, motivated and patriotic Armed Forces after independence.Unfortunately, the numerous coups after 1966 and the revolution virtually destroyed the military discipline and esprit de corps of the Ghana Armed Forces. The politicisation of the Armed Forces as a result of direct recruitment of the revolutionary cadres into the various services also had serious repercussions on discipline. Thus, any coup attempt by any officer using these human resources runs a major risk of failure in the current situation (politicisation and indiscipline of the Armed Forces).

In appealing to the conscience of all service personnel, let me refresh their memory on the Oath of Allegiance we all take to serve in the Armed Forces.I  do hereby swear that I will bear true and faithful allegiance to the President, Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ghana and that I will well, truly and faithfully serve the Government of the Republic of Ghana as by law established, and that I will as in duty bound serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ghana and go wherever ordered by land, sea or air and that I will observe and obey all commands of the Government of the Republic of Ghana as by law established and any officer set over me even at the peril of my life. So help me God.''You will observe that if you ignore this Oath and take the law into your own hands, you are not worthy of the trust reposed in you and should the coup succeed, it has no morale foundation and will surely collapse as seen in previous ones.

Corruption is the major contributory factor to the slow development of many countries in the sub-region and has been the major justification for coups and revolutions in the sub-region. In Ghana, nineteen years of the revolution and the struggle to establish probity, accountability, integrity, all came to nothing and many Ghanaians wished it had never happened. The executions, human suffering and socio-economic failures were too many and painful to recount. In Ghana, corruption has become a way of life for survival by the less affluent in society and for the affluent a way to sustain their greedy life styles. The fact of the matter is that most Ghanaians are corrupt and to eradicate corruption from the society, is an impossible task. This is because Ghanaians indulge in it and benefit from it. It is sad that with our experience in coups, some responsible citizens including Parliamentarians and some NDC supporters are creating the impression that coups may be the solution to our problems. All those with that mentality should bow down their heads in shame. This is because Rawlings and his cohorts may have gotten away with a number of serious crimes, and coup plotters of today should know that they may not be that lucky to get away with such recklessness because the society is wide awake. Gone are the days when the closing of the only radio station (GBC) was enough to guarantee the success of a coup.

Ghana has come a long way since independence and in 1992, Ghanaians chose democracy as enshrined in the fourth Republican Constitution. The Constitution contains fundamental principles which Ghanaians have chosen to be governed by and this document emphatically places the military under civilian control. The oath of allegiance taken by all service personnel emphasises this important principle and therefore, it is preposterous for any service person, male or female, to set it aside and engage in any act that would facilitate a coup or take part in a coup. For any person or group of persons to undertake such an adventurist path, we, as citizens, have a responsibility to ensure that the coups do not succeed by taking all kinds of civil actions that would impede the progress and necessitate the return of the country to civilian rule. Yes, whilst the international condemnations of coups are crucial as deterrents to other adventurists, its effects can be maximised if internal vigilance, demonstrations and resistance in any form are undertaken. I went through all the coups in Ghana during my career and I will NEVER NEVER support any coup in place of an elected democratic government in the governance of our beloved GHANA.

To conclude, African Governments and their leaders are the only institutions who truly have the power to reverse these worrying trends, and managing the various economies should be done to make coups and other forms of takeovers unattractive, except the chosen path of democracy.

BY Brig-Gen (Rtd) J. Odei
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Executive Director for the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah has said freedom of the media does not mean journalists can be reckless in dispensing its duties.

His comments come on the back of the arrest of Accra FM journalist, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah. He was arrested by the police on February 10 in relation to alleged false publication.

Speaking in an interview on Joy News, Mr Braimah stated that the kind information aired on radio and TV begs the question of whether media leaders are in existence.

He indicated that journalists must act right and do what is expected of them as much as government agencies must act right.

We as journalist must note that the fact that media freedom is guaranteed does not mean media recklessness is guaranteed. If you commit crime it is of no consequence where you committed it. Crime is crime. If you publish in a newspaper and it is criminal of course the law will deal with you, he stated.

On the arrests, he stressed that, if anyone had a problem with media publications, the right channel was the National Media Commission instead of the police or national security personnels taking control of such situations.

Though he blames the ineffectiveness of the commission has led to a lot of government interference in the work of journalists, he emphasised that due process must be followed.

The National Media Commission (NMC) has to assert itself as the statutory media regulator. Increasingly the functions of the NMC are being taken away. We know that the NMC has the mandate to ensure the highest journalistic standards. The government of the day says it is releasing funds to build media capacity and yet it is the ministry of information, the government PR ministry that is doing that capacity building. The NMC is quiet in fact they even participated. The NMC has a role to play so that people can have confidence and report errors to them," he intimated.
European Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Friday offered to deploy the EU's border agency to Senegal to help combat migrant smuggling, following a surge in perilous crossings to Spain's Canary Islands.

At a news conference in the Senegalese capital Dakar, Johansson said the arrangement would mark the first time that the EU border agency Frontex would operate outside Europe.

Should the Senegalese government agree, the commissioner added, the EU could send surveillance equipment such as drones and vessels, as well as Frontex personnel.

Deployed alongside local forces, the agents would "work together to fight the smugglers," she said.

"This is my offer and I hope that Senegal's government is interested in this unique opportunity," said Johansson, the EU's home affairs commissioner.

The announcement comes amid a sharp jump in attempts to reach the Canary Islands -- a gateway to the EU -- as authorities have clamped down on crossings to Europe from Libya.

The Spanish archipelago lies just over 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the coast of Africa at its closest point.

But the conditions in the open Atlantic are often dangerous, and would-be migrants often brave the trip in rickety wooden canoes known as pirogues.

About 1,200 people died or went missing attempting the crossing in 2021, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras last month put the figure at over 4,400 people.

Johansson also said on Friday that the 1,200-person figure was likely an underestimate.

She added that she had discussed her Frontex proposal with Senegal's armed-forces minister and foreign minister, and was due to continue talks with the interior minister on Friday.

An agreement that would see Frontex agents deployed in Senegal could be finalised by the summer, she said.

The Canary Islands and the African coast. By AFP

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was also at the news conference, said a Frontex mission in Senegal could also help tackle illegal fishing.

Several top European Commission officials, including President Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Senegal this week to prepare for a summit between the EU and the African Union on February 17-18.
US-based Ghanaian professor and private legal practitioner, Kwaku Asare has called for the immediate discontinuation of the prosecution of all journalists across the country.

The US-based Ghanaian professor made the call in a Facebook post on Friday, 11 February 2022 following the recent arrest of journalists across the country.

According to the Us-based Professor, the silence of those who hitherto defended media rights and hailed former President John Agyekum Kufours historic repeal of the obnoxious criminal libel and sedition laws is deafening.

He also questioned the silence of the 8th Parliament on the recent arrest of journalists.

Why is the 8th Parliament silent when its younger sister, the 3rd Parliament, boldly and unanimously repealed the criminal libel and sedition laws, including clauses governing sedition and defamation of the President?

Why is a polity that discontinued all pending cases on criminal libel, including those involving allegations of government involvement in drugs and arms smuggling, now silent, with some even shockingly defending the wanton arrests of journalists?

He emphasised that good governance does not endorse false and malicious reportage, transparency and truth are the antidote to such reportage.

He added that: Those who feel that their reputation have been damaged by malicious reportage have a civil remedy.

Meanwhile, Host of Accra FMs 'Citizen Show' Bobie Ansah has been arrested.

His follows Captain Smart of Onua TV who was also arrested for some utterances he had made on TV, and is currently facing trial for alleged extortion and Power FMs Oheneba Boamah Bennie, who is in jail for two weeks and fined GHS3,000 for contempt of court, in a case in which he allegedly made false claims against President Akufo-Addo and the justices of the Supreme Court in relation to the 2020 election petition.

He was arrested by non uniformed security operatives on Thursday, 10 February 2022 after the Citizen Show ended at about 10:00pm.

He was picked up and taken to the Nima Police Station and later transferred to the striking force.

He becomes the third journalist to be arrested in the past month.

---classfmonline.com
From 7 to 9 February 2022, the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme for Customs organized its annual coordinators meeting via Zoom, gathering more than 80 representatives from all WCO A-CIP partner administrations.

The workshop aimed at supporting the delivery of WCO A-CIP results, through taking stock of lessons learned and best practices under the Programme over the past year. A-CIP partner administrations who joined the Programme from the Americas region last year, with funding from Canada, had the opportunity to provide feedback on the conduct of the Customs Integrity Perception Survey (CIPS) in their countries as well as how its results would be utilised. The meetings also included feedback on the remote technical assistance and capacity building activities organised by the WCO, especially in the areas of stakeholder engagement, internal control, and building a culture of integrity  experienced by Members who had joined the Programme earlier, with funding from Norad.

During the last day of the workshop, an overview of future activities related to e-learning activities, data-driven decision-making for integrity and corruption risk management was also provided, all continuing to build the A-CIP Programmes support to Members implementing the ten key factors of the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration. Representatives of all partner administrations were also invited to share their ideas and key messages to for all WCO Members to note in their fight against corruption and promotion of integrity. These will be passed through the WCO Integrity Sub-Committee, taking place in the following days. These messages include the need for Customs to invest in their relationship with the Private Sector, as well as the importance of exploiting opportunities to coordinate more on matters of Integrity.

The WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Ricardo Trevino, and the WCO Capacity Building Director, Mr. Taeil Kang, both pointed the WCO A-CIP Programme has played, not only as a catalyst for change in each A-CIP Partner administration, but also broadening and deepening the WCOs integrity-related support to all its Members, making in a flagship programme in the fight against corruption. As it was underlined by the representatives of both Programme donors Mr. Per Pharo, Head of the Department for Department for Partnerships and Shared prosperity in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), and Mr. Patrick Segsworth, Deputy Director of the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme (ACCBP) of Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the WCO A-CIP Programme offers an innovative results-based approach for Member administrations committed to the fight against corruption. Mr. Segsworth also added that the WCOs strong project management practices allowed the Programme to overcome the challenges imposed by the pandemic.

For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org
A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere Darko has advised the government to run away from questions from journalists in the event that they do not have information on the matter.

In a post on his Twitter page, the Lawyer and Communication strategist implored party officials to always consult and prepare very well before any engagement with the media.

Small advice to prominent people, particularly government officials: Dont ever feel compelled to comment straightaway when called by a journalist. You can always say, Im sorry can you please call me back later? It offers you the chance to crosscheck, consult and prepare well, Gabby Otchere Darko posted on his Twitter on Friday.

The advise comes in reaction to the controversy that has followed the interview by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong on Akoma FM this week.

The Minister in the interview denied knowledge of the widely circulated report that the Ghana Card is now recognised globally as a valid e-passport.

According to him, the information had not emanated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and hence he could not confirm it.

Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) earlier on Wednesday, February 9, had reported that holders of the Ghana Card, as well as its future biometric equivalents, can present it as official documentation at all 197 (ICAO) compliant countries and 44,000 airports worldwide and board flights to Ghana.
The Youth-Wing of the Peoples National Congress (PNC), is asking government to reduce the controversial E-Levy rate from 1.75% to 1% to limit the anticipated hardship on Ghanaians.

PNC believes that a reduction from 1.75% rate to 1% rate will minimise the possible hardship the levy will have on the people of Ghana.

They further appealed to Ghanaians to support the governments E-Levy to help sustain the countrys economy.

It is our appeal to fellow Ghanaians to side with the government in its call to sacrifice in building our nation, especially the future of the youth.

In the press statement, the youth-Wing of the PNC admitted that the COVID-19 impact on the countrys economy is huge, and that interest paid on loans makes it difficult for continuous borrowing.

Admittedly, the economy is recovering from the COVID -19 pandemic; whose main impact has significantly reduced government revenue amidst the numerous financial demands to keep the country running. The interest paid on loans tops government expenditure, hence, continued borrowing cannot be an option for the country.

In a quest to give hope to Ghanaians, the PNC promised to block all financial leakage in state institutions when given the mandate to lead the country.

We want to assure Ghanaians that a future PNC government shall block all financial leakages in state institutions and create more wealth for the country.

citinewsroom
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the formation of a legal team to assist all journalists and persons who feel intimated in their line of duty.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo made this announcement while speaking to journalists at the Greater Accra Regional Police command when he visited Accra FMs Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of the Citizen Show who was arrested for the publication of false news last night Thursday, February 10, 2022.

Our team of lawyers are at the disposal of all journalists as well as persons who feel intimidated by the government in the wake of the protest against the controversial E-levy, he said.

As a party we have seen all sorts of machinations ongoing in the past 72-hours all in an attempt to intimidate the front runners in the agitation against the E-levy. This cannot actually intimidate us in the fight against E-levy, he added.

Meanwhile, Kwabena Bobie Ansah has been whisked to the Kaneshie Circuit Court to face trial.

The journalist was arrested in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

Bobie Ansah was arrested by security operatives Thursday night after he ended his show at about 10:00pm.

He was picked up and taken to the Nima Police Station and later transferred to the striking force.

He becomes the third journalist to be arrested in the past month.

This follows Captain Smart of Onua TV who was also arrested for some utterances he had made on TV and is currently facing trial for alleged extortion, and Power FMs Oheneba Boamah Bennie, who is in jail for two weeks and fined GHS3,000 for contempt of court, in a case in which he allegedly made false claims against President Akufo-Addo and the justices of the Supreme Court in relation to the 2020 election petition

 Classfmonline
January 28 every year is celebrated as International Data Privacy Day - an international effort to create an awareness of the importance of privacy and personal data protection. With the increase in data breaches and cybercrime internationally, data protection and cyber security are more important now than ever before. Countries across the globe, including Ghana, through the laws, regulatory frameworks among many others, regulate how organizations process the personal data of their citizens both home and abroad. In Ghana, the Data Protection Commission is the government institution mandated by law to regulate organizations to comply with the Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843).

Using digital technologies and digitalised data is increasing rapidly in policy areas, as well as transforming society, transforming how citizens, governments, civil society, and companies engage with one another. The subsequent attendant challenges are enormous, with automation, biometrics, ID systems, and other technologies being adopted swiftly. It is essential to assess the necessity and risks but, sometimes, these technologies are adopted with insufficient assessment. In particular, the adoption of new technologies may impose considerable challenges to data protection and privacy. For instance, ID systems and biometric databases may allow for certain links to be made between databases, including enabling interoperability with other government systems or information sharing across international borders, exacerbating the risks in terms of personal data protection. Therefore, although technically possible, the linking of different databases is not automatically justified, but must be balanced against an assessment of the inherent risks to data protection and privacy.

The right to privacy is an internationally recognised human right, enshrined in several international human rights treaties, widely ratified by many countries and jurisdictions across the globe. One of such treaties is the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), and contained in many conventions at the regional level, as well as national constitutions and bills of rights.

Privacy and data protection are different rights, although intrinsically linked. The right to privacy is broader and includes the right to protecting personal data yet covers many elements beyond personal information. The right to data protection safeguards the fundamental right to privacy by regulating the processing of personal data: providing the individual with rights over their data and setting up systems of accountability and clear obligations for those who control or undertake the processing of the data according to the Privacy International. Therefore, data protection is essential to the exercise of the right to privacy.

Data protection and privacy work through key principles that give individuals rights over their data. Some international data protection and privacy principles have formed the foundation or the basis for the enactment of laws, bills, and regulations by various countries across the globe. Below are some of them:

United Nations Personal Data Protection and Privacy Principles

Council of Europe (CoE) Convention for the Protection of Individuals about Automatic Processing of Personal Data; Convention 108 and later updated to Convention 108+.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Data Flows of Personal Data referred to as the OECD Privacy Framework.

General Data Protection Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe (GDPR).

United Nations Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files, UN Resolution 45/95.

These instruments have influenced the development of national data protection laws worldwide,

translating some data protection and privacy principles into domestic legislation that regulates the processing of personal information.

Core Data Protection and Privacy Principles

The various data protection regulations across the world set out principles for the lawful processing of personal data. Processing includes the collection, organisation, structuring, storage, alteration, consultation, use, communication, combination, restriction, erasure, or destruction of personal data. The principles are at the centre of the various enacted regulations; they are the guiding principles of the regulation and compliant processing.

The core data protection and privacy principles which are stipulated in most of the regulations across the globe are:

Accountability

Data minimisation or collection limitation

Purpose limitation or purpose specification and use limitation

Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency or openness

Accuracy or data quality

Storage limitation

Integrity and confidentiality or security safeguards

Individual participation

These principles are interrelated and overlap. Each one contains several points of guidance, and it is essential to treat them together as a whole. While they can receive different names, the basic principles are similar across the different data protection and privacy frameworks.

The data protection principles establish the conditions under which processing personal information is legitimate, limiting the ability of both public authorities and private actors to collect, publish, disclose, and use individual personal information without the data subjects consent. These principles also establish the rights that data subjects hold, such as the ability to determine who holds information about them and how that information is used. They entail several obligations imposed on those processing personal datathe data controller and processorin both public and private sectors, forcing them to handle this data according to local data protection laws. Hence, and as stated by Privacy International, A strong data protection framework can empower individuals, restrain harmful data practices, and limit data exploitation.

Who is responsible for data? What happens when things go wrong?

There are two entities that have control over personal data and/or process personal data: data controllers and data processors. The data controller is the natural person or the legal entity (e.g., government institutions, private companies, that alone or jointly with others, to determine the means of, and purposes for, processing personal data. That means that the data controller has decision-making power regarding data processing and is responsible for safeguarding and handling personal information on computers or structured manual files. The data processor is the individual or legal entity that processes data on behalf of data controllers (which is often limited to technical solutionsthe methods and means of processing).

According to good international data protection practice, and as seen in most laws, conventions, and guidelines, there should be several legal responsibilities and obligations imposed on data controllers and processors. Institutions that process personal data, in their capacity as either data controllers or processors, must be able to demonstrate how they are complying with data protection requirements, including data protection principles, fulfilling their obligations, and upholding the rights of individuals whose data they process. This is the accountability principle, under which controllers and processors must take all appropriate measures to comply with the obligations under the data protection regime. These obligations entail the acknowledgement of the data rights of any individual, such as the right to always access their data, have their data rectified if it is inaccurate and express objections if data processing leads to disproportionate or unfair results.

The author consulted the following materials which readers could refer to for further reading:

Data Protection for Social Protection: Key Issues for Low- And Middle-Income Countries (GIZ Data Protection for Social Protection)

General Data Protection Regulation

Privacy Guide for BusinessesOffice of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

The Bigger Picture: Privacy and Work in the New Normal (Data Protection World Forum)

Author: Emmanuel K. Gadasu

(Data Protection Officer, IIPGH, and Data Privacy Consultant and Practitioner at Information Governance Solutions)

For comments, contact author [email protected] or Mobile: +233-243913077
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has attributed strengthened public-private partnerships and community engagement as contributing to positive outcomes in the delivery of critical maternal, new born and child health services.

While commending the impact of collaboration between GHS and private sector players like Zipline, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Aboagye Kuma, highlights that the country has in recent years registered an improvement in outcomes of maternal healthcare.

Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicates that 875 maternal deaths were recorded in 2018 and 838 in 2019. This figure further decreased to 776 in 2020 despite the increase in deliveries while institutional maternal mortality ratio reduced from 117 in 2019 to 106 in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and all its associated impact.

During the Maternal, Child Health conference, GHS called for strenuous efforts to achieve the sustainable development goal target of 70 per 100,000 live births in 2030. GHS noted that the recent decrease in maternal mortality can be attributed to measures such as increased partnerships, which has resulted in the delivery of essential maternal medications and medical supplies to health outposts via drones.

Dr. Patrick Aboagye Kuma emphasized that there has been a steady decline in maternal deaths and an improvement in maternal healthcare delivery since Zipline rolled out its rapid delivery system in the GHS supply chain processes.

On the heels of concerns in the past about the growing number of maternal deaths in the country, the government moved to initiate measures to curtail the growing trend. Top among the priorities was to link health facilities, especially those in remote areas to child and maternal medications.

Following successful works in Rwanda, Zipline was engaged as the special purpose vehicle to facilitate the decentralisation of medical health. The company has since 2021, delivered 16,627 pregnancy category medications and has on countless occasions flown critical medical supplies to save pregnant women from intrauterine deaths.

Naa Yawson, the General Manager of Zipline indicated that following the advancements in healthcare delivery, it was necessary for Ghana to wean itself of maternal deaths, by improving access to maternal healthcare delivery. She further extended her appreciation to all stakeholders for recognizing the impact of the drone service in addressing maternal healthcare challenges.

Zipline has been contributing to improved access to quality maternal healthcare in Ghana by providing solutions to emergency interventions such as intrauterine foetal death (dead baby in the uterus), low haemoglobin in pregnant women, and ectopic pregnancy. We are therefore excited to be identified as an integral partner in helping the Government reduce maternal mortality in Ghana, said Mrs Yawson.

Zipline has hinted that it will continue to carry out the needed expansion to ensure that more people in critical need of medical and blood products are serviced, regardless of location.
Editor in-chief of The New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has expressed concern over the arrest of Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of "The Citizen Show" aired on Accra 100.5 FM.

In reaction to some questions posed by one Sir Obama to Bobie Ansah on a Facebook post he [Bobie] made yesterday morning, parts of which bothered on Kweku Baako's incarceration in 1998 relative to the now infamous Mrs Konadu Agyemang Rawlings saga, the veteran journalist had the following words of commiseration.

He wrote: "...Honestly, I do not know the EXACT REASON(S) for the arrest of our colleague/brother/friend (Kwabena Bobie Ansah) by the Police. Operative word: EXACT.

Bottomline: If it is something he communicated, spoke or wrote about which hurt the integrity and reputation of any individual, let the latter cure the "mischief" by way of civil litigation! No need for criminal investigation and prosecution!

"If his communication and expression had/has the potential to cause fear and panic, I suggest he and the said communication/expression can and should be ignored.

"National Security should have the capability to contain any threat - perceived or real, or both!

"I have made no judgment on the quality or nature of the communication/expression because I am not privy to it yet!

"I am allergic to Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act! They need to be repealed same way the Criminal and Seditious Libel Laws were repealed in July 2001; after a protracted battle with people who 'shouted' that that course of action would be attained over their DEAD BODIES!

"My two pesewas! Good afternoon Nkrumah's Ghana!"
Niamey  The Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Antonio Vitorino, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, are calling for more international support to address challenges faced by migrants, refugees and internally displaced people in Niger, and vulnerable host communities, following a joint three-day visit to the country.

Niger deserves much more from the international community, said the High Commissioner for Refugees. This must be translated into financial aid, as the country lacks resources to face the humanitarian challenges caused by instability in neighbouring states.

With migration and refugee flows closely intertwined in Niger, Grandi said the joint visit will "strengthen the operational links between the two [UN] agencies, so that we can be more effective in supporting people on the move, and the Government and people of Niger.

Niger lies along complex migration routes and is also impacted by violence spilling over from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, and Nigeria which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In addition, Niger hosts thousands of migrants, while many others, transiting on their way to North African countries, often end up stranded in the desert and exploited by trafficking and smuggling groups, and are also in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Ive seen first-hand the resilience and strength of migrants and host communities in the face of great challenges, said Vitorino.

The complexity of migratory movements in Niger requires a holistic response that puts the well-being and human rights of people at the centre, to reduce vulnerabilities and provide tailored assistance to migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and those displaced.

Focusing on solutions, Vitorino and Grandi stressed that in addition to peace, stronger humanitarian and development support will be crucial to addressing mixed flows  persons on the move having varying needs and profiles including migrants in irregular situations, asylum seekers, refugees, victims of trafficking, and separated children. They pledged to advocate for more funding to the country.

The UN officials also called on development actors to invest more, alongside humanitarian organizations, to help mitigate the impact of climate change on forced migration and displacement. According to a study published recently by IOM and the Nigerien Ministry of Environment, environmental and climate shocks are intensifying, impacting the livelihoods of communities and forcing many people to leave their homes.

Both were encouraged by the generous, open response of host communities, which they saw during visits to the town of Agadez in the Agadez region and Ouallam in the Tillaberi region. They observed how local authorities and civil society have embraced migrants and forcibly displaced people, despite scant resources.

They commended Niger for its exemplary solidarity, demonstrated through its inclusive refugee policy, by providing life-saving support to thousands evacuated from Libya through the Emergency Transit Mechanism, and by hosting stranded migrants awaiting return home.

A high-level roundtable on mixed migration in Niger was organized in Niamey during the joint IOM-UNHCR visit, chaired by Nigers Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, with Government ministers, the UN Resident Coordinator, senior diplomats, and UN agencies. Participants discussed how to better support Niger to manage the challenges of complex movements of refugees and migrants.

Vitorino and Grandi were also received by President Mohamed Bazoum and discussed support to migrants and communities hosting them, and displaced people and refugees returning to their communities of origin once the situation stabilizes, both within the region of Diffa, Niger, and in northeastern Nigeria.

They also thanked President Bazoum for championing both the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees.

IOM Director-General said that at the first International Migration Review Forum in May 2022, Member States, including Niger  a GCM champion country- will have the opportunity to share progress on the implementation of the GCM.
11.02.2022 LISTEN

In part 1 of this series which received a lot of accolades as well as attention from different sections of the society and even beyond, it was obvious towards the end, the reason for the title. Unfortunately, not many know the story of the Trojan Horse even though it is recorded as a Greek mythology. While the Wikipedia describes so, it is becoming realer than imagined as the quest for power and domination continue to live with humanity and not the black world is excluded. The making of the Nigerian Trojan Horse is non-fiction, yet a lesson from history.

Let me use this opportunity to take the uninformed through a fact-finding mission of this historical record and why the power shift agitation should not be a waste of resources on a possible failed mission.

According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, the "Trojan horse, huge hollow wooden horse constructed by the Greeks to gain entrance into Troy during the Trojan War. The horse was built by Epeius, a master carpenter and pugilist. The Greeks, pretending to desert the war, sailed to the nearby island of Tenedos, leaving behind Sinon, who persuaded the Trojans that the horse was an offering to Athena (goddess of war) that would make Troy impregnable. Despite the warnings of Laocoon and Cassandra, the horse was taken inside the city gates. That night Greek warriors emerged from it and opened the gates to let in the returned Greek army. The story is told at length in Book II of the Aeneid and is touched upon in the Odyssey. The term Trojan horse has come to refer to subversion introduced from the outside. Beginning in the late 20th century, the name Trojan horse was applied to deceptively benign computer codes that seem like legitimate applications but are written to damage or disrupt a computers programming or to steal personal information."

The Greeks eventually won the war through the art of deception! A war they were supposed to lose.

The battle for 2023 is thickening as different interests continue to horsetrade behind the scenes. It is becoming rather difficult to stifle the voice of those who insist that power should move from the North of Nigeria to the South. Any other contrary opinion is termed by public opinion as an attempt to further divide the country and worsen the present scenario where ethnic cards have become the major fault line in the Nigerian contemporary politics.

Yet, the attempt to foist a Southerner as President can only be a test of our democratic ideals as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution which unfortunately, is silent on rotation and zoning.

In spite of the fact that there are specific considerations on the choice of who takes on the baton after President Buhari, the political space is becoming polluted with all manner of people who think themselves competent to run the race but not cut out to win the crown in the end. I will restrict my piece to the real contenders while leaving the pretenders to their fate.

Much as the population and electoral figures continue to be a phantasm of their manufacturers, it is absolutely impossible to succeed electorally without the backing of the North. The numbers favour them and so they continue to pride themselves as the natural kingmakers or the born-to-rule, depending on which side of the coin they choose.

Buhari's ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is expected to strengthen our democracy and move it from infancy to adolescence. It is therefore a rite of passage for the APC to zone its Presidential ticket to the South. This should not be a matter for debate. But there is a lacuna here. If the balance of power between the North and the South is weighed on a scale, from the time of this uninterrupted democracy, which we pray remains so, the South has successfully held on to power for 14 years, with Obasanjo and Jonathan as the occupants of Aso Rock, the seat of power. On the other hand, the North would have held on to power for 10 years, by 2023, when Buhari completes his second tenure. Recall that Obasanjo established the first power shift when he truncated Odili's towering ambition to become President in 2007, at the end of Obasanjo's 8-years hold on to power from 1999. Without that bloodless coup, Odili, a fellow Southerner, would have become President immediately after a fellow Southerner. Incidentally, at that point, not many were bothered if an Easterner succeeded a Westerner, in spite of both coming from Southern Nigeria. Dr Peter Odili was the candidate to beat but Obasanjo thought it would be senseless to let power remain in the South for another 8 years.

Unfortunately, the former President's plans were aborted two years after his preferred candidate who later became President, died in office. Goodluck Jonathan who was the beneficiary of the palace coup against Odili became the President, as such, faulting every human calculation at power shift.

Another opportunity comes to play and this time, it is going to be a test of the resolve of President Buhari and his hatchet men in the APC to strengthen democracy by ensuring that equity and justice prevail. The President is not like the former President, another retired Army General who not only speaks up but acts out his body language on such occasions as this. Buhari is taciturn and prefers to abstain from political influence in matters that others before him would gladly engage in. A disturbing attitude to most of those who expect to benefit from his endorsement, directly or indirectly.

Speaking recently at a media parley, Buhari confirmed his choice of a successor but would prefer to keep it close to his chest until the time is ripe. His reason being that an attempt to make it public could lead to the person being killed, a statement I would rather describe as a joke or an excuse to not incite unnecessary political rivalry within the APC.

But speculations were rife that he may have been referring to Chibuike Amaechi, his Minister of Transportation, considering their closeness and the extraordinary performance of the latter in giving the government a face through his timely achievements in the Transportation sector and particularly in the Railway Revolution. Many political analysts believe that Amaechi needs to be protected. The recent turbanning of the Minister in Buhari's hometown, Daura, heightened the speculations that Amaechi is the anointed one. But are these enough strengths for the camp of the Minister to celebrate even before the die is cast? Some argue that some others in the past had received traditional titles from the North and their political fortunes didn't change. I was recently reminded that Odili was honoured by the then Ooni of Ife with the prestigious title of Obafunminiyi of the Source. They point to the fact that in spite of Obasanjo being from the South West, the title bestowed on Odili in pomp and pageantry did not influence Obasanjo's decision to zone Odili out of the political equation.

Could these titles be the Greek Gifts from the rest of Nigeria to the Easterners?

While the euphoria of the uncommon title of Dan Amanar (the Trusted One) of Daura conferred on Amaechi is sti on, there are yet others who believe that former President Goodluck Jonathan is the chosen one. While he is yet to make his intent known, there are inside sources to the cabal who align with the thoughts of the retired Generals popularly known as the G7 on the need to bring back Jonathan.

They argue that since the former President is the only Southerner who is constitutionally barred from staying beyond 4 years in office, he should be allowed to succeed Buhari in order to help balance power between the North and the South. Should Jonathan be voted back to office, at the end of his tenure, the South would be ahead of the North by 8 years, thereby giving the North another opportunity in 2027, to take back power for 8 years. This would bring both regions to a balance where the tension in the polity would have reduced considerably and then a proper power shift and rotation would be entrenched along the geopolitical zones.

Aside from the issue of balance of power, the proponents of the second coming of Jonathan see him as one who is more acceptable to the different regions. His decision not to challenge the election of his successor in Court on the grounds that the election is not worth the blood of any Nigerian is a strong advantage above his fellow contenders.

But the other truth is that the APC is careful not to fall into the trap of the opposition PDP which is likely to zone its presidential ticket to the North. If the PDP does, the Jonathan group believe that he is the only one, if drafted into the APC and handed over the ticket, could muster the votes that would beat any popular candidate from the North. Otherwise, once a candidate emerges from the North in PDP, it is not unlikely that the North irrespective of Party leanings would throw their weight behind one of their own.

However the game is played, those with the Trojan Horse will emerge victorious.

Written by Chief Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe, a socio-political commentator, analyst and columnist based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLC) has disclosed the arrest of some 10 people for engaging in lottery fraud.

Sammi Awuku said the ten (10) will be put before the court.

Speaking at a meeting with the head of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Maame Tiwa Addo Danquah, he stated that;

Together with our collaboration with the National Signal Bureau, the National Security Council, and the Ghana Police Service, we have arrested about 10 of such mystery makers in some remote areas and around the border areas between Ghana, Togo, and elsewhere. My legal department tells me they are being arraigned.

What bothers me is the involvement of minors in this act. Let me state that we have no strong room here where you would get numbers when the draws are close.

He assures that there will be more sensitization across the country, and advised that the public beware of such fraudsters.

citinewsroom
The 65th National Independence Day Celebration, to be hosted in Cape Coast, has been launched at the new stadium, where the event is billed to take place.

The two-week celebration, on the theme: Working Together; Bouncing Back Better, will be the third to be hosted outside Accra, after the Northern and Ashanti regions.

Contingents from the various security agencies, the Ghana Education Service, and civil society organisations (CSOs) among others will partake in the parade on March 6.

The Prime Minister of Barbados, Her Excellency Mia Mottley, will be the Special Guest of Honour, while Odeefuo Amoakwa Boadu VIII,

President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, and other high-profile personalities, representatives of CSOs as well as other dignitaries will grace the occasion.

Mrs Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, officially launched the celebration on behalf of President Akufo-Addo and expressed gratitude to him for choosing the Central Region to host it.

The rotation of the national celebration, mooted by the President, was to help boost the local economy.

Mrs Assan said almost all hotels in the regional capital had been booked ahead of the event and was optimistic drivers and traders would all make good returns.

The programme begins from Sunday, February 26, to Saturday, March 12.

We are ready to host the 65th Independence Day Celebration, the Regional Minister added.

Mr Laud Commey, the Chairman of the National Planning Committee, said hard work must be put in to ensure the economy bounced back after the devastating period of the Covid-19, hence the theme.

He said the celebration would be a collaboration between the Local Planning Committee, chaired by Mrs Assan, and the National Committee to ensure success.

Mr Jefferson Sackey, the Deputy Director of Communications at the Presidency, outlined the itinerary and officially unveiled the logo for the celebration.

He said Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would partake in the Ghana Health and Fitness Walk to begin the celebration.

Other programmes lined up are: Christian Prayer and National Thanksgiving, National Flag Hosting Day, Presidency and Independence Day Award ceremonies for school children, a wear Ghana Day and an Invest in Central Region forum.

There would also be an anniversary debate, re-enactment of the declaration of the Independence Day, and Beyond the Return Vigil, among others.

Mr Sackey urged the media to increase publicity on the day to get all on board for a successful celebration.

GNA
The World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted the 40th Session of the Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) on 7 February 2022. The meeting of the Technical Committee, which was chaired by Ms. Nan Ding (China Customs) and opened with welcoming remarks by Mr. Konstantinos Kaiopoulos, Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, and Ms. Gael Grooby, Deputy Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, was attended by over 100 delegates from around the world. Observers from the WTO, UNCTAD and the International Chamber of Commerce were among the delegates.

The meeting was updated on intersessional developments in relation to the WCO Action Plan on Preferential Rules of Origin, the Revenue Package, capacity building and the practical application of rules of origin, including implementation of advance ruling systems. The representative of the WTO Secretariat, Mr. Darlan Marti, briefed the Technical Committee on the activities of the Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) and the developments which had taken place at the WTO with respect to rules of origin.

Special attention was given to the new www.wcotradetools.org database which offers a single point for accessing the Harmonized System, preferential rules of origin and Customs valuation using an entirely new interface. As well as introducing a new interface design and new search and comparison engines, this new platform collates over 350 free trade agreements with their preferential rules of origin and product-specific rules.

The Director also briefed the Technical Committee on the WCO/JICA Joint Project, funded by Japan, relating to the Master Trainers Programme for the respective West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa regions, and on the agreement between the WCO and the European Commission concerning the Origin Africa Project. The aim of this project is to strengthen intra-African trade as part of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to facilitate trade through the coordinated and harmonized implementation and application of rules of origin by the Regional Economic Communities, Customs administrations and other African administrations and economic operators concerned. As part of this project, the WCO additionally hopes to develop tools and instruments that will be of benefit to all WCO Members.

Following on from the 40th Session of the TCRO, a Virtual Workshop on the Data Analytics Approach and Preferential Rules of Origin was held on 7 and 8 February 2022. The Agenda covered, in particular, the Nairobi Ministerial Decision, the comprehensive review of the Revised Kyoto Convention, practical data analysis and the administration of Rules of Origin.

This event was a resounding success in terms of participation, high-level speakers and the wide-ranging nature of the topics and issues discussed at a global level as well as the interactions between Customs, the private sector and the international organizations involved.
The trial of Accra FM presenter, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah has been adjourned to March 14.

The Kaneshie District Court where he was arraigned on February 11, 2022, granted him a bail sum of GHC50,000 with two sureties.

He was arrested on February 10 for alleged publication of false news.

Per the facts presented in court, Bobbie Ansah was arrested as a result of alleged statements against the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo and the second lady Samira Bawumia regarding Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation.

According to the Class Media Group which houses Accra FM and other stations, the National Media Commission reached out to their outfit on February 3 and the issue was being handled by them.

Class Media Group noted that the arrest of Bobbie Ansah comes as a surprise to them.

According to them, they have been cooperating with the commission on the matter.

Kwabena Bobie Ansah was arraigned before court on February 11, after being arrested by the Ghana police service in the evening on February 10 after his radio show the citizen show.
Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, the host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM who was arrested on Thursday, February 10, 2022, has pleaded not guilty.

He has been granted bail to the tune of GHS50,000 by the Kaneshi District Court.

The journalist according to a Police statement on Friday was arrested after he failed to honour several invitations to assists with investigations relating to the publication of false news and offensive conduct.

Mr. Kwabena Bobbie Ansah of Accra FM was arrested yesterday, February 10, 2022, by the Accra Regional Police Command in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

His arrest became necessary after he turned down several invitations from the Police to him and others involved in the case to assist with investigation, part of the Police statement explained.

Arraigned before the Kaneshie District Court today, Kwabena Bobie Ansah has been granted GHS50,000 bail with two sureties.

The case has been adjourned to March 14, 2022.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has described as appalling the growing criminalisation of speech and journalism in Ghana under the Akufo-Addo government.

In a statement on his Facebook page, the 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC has urged President Akufo-Addo to ensure that the oppression stops.
Many challenges face South African President Cyril Ramaphosain the aftermath of riots last July that left more than 350 dead, the worst unrest since the end of apartheid.

In his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, Ramaphosa acknowledged the government's "responsibility" for the turmoil and vowed to overhaul the country's security apparatus.

But in some areas, Ramaphosa's room for fixing the problems is limited -- in less than a year he has to ask his party to back him for a second term.

Here we look at the main issues:

Leadership shakeup

An inquiry on Monday blamed glaring failures by police and intelligence agencies for the unrest.

Ramaphosa told lawmakers: "This is a responsibility that we acknowledge and accept."

"The report paints a deeply disturbing picture of the capabilities of our security services and the structures that exist to coordinate their work," he said.

He promised a leadership shakeup of security agencies, including appointing new chiefs to the long-vacant top jobs at the state spy agency and the crime intelligence division.

He has already dissolved the security ministry and placed it firmly under his office, the first step in the reforms.

Police reform

In July, the Constitutional Court ordered former president Jacob Zuma to prison for refusing to testify before an anti-corruption commission.

Zuma's incarceration sparked an outburst of violence that spread through his home province of KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg.

The decision to jail former president Jacob Zuma sparked the 2021 riots in South Africa which cost 354 lives. By Jerome Delay POOLAFP

Initially his supporters took to the streets, but then others joined in with what became mass looting and riots -- a reflection of South Africa's poverty that only deepened during the pandemic.

Vigilantes took up arms as police appeared either to go missing or to be overwhelmed. Intelligence agencies were caught on the back foot. Days later 354 people had died as a result of the riots and some 50-billion-rand ($3.3-billion) had been wiped off the economy's books.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the report's most damning findings.

"Government's initial handling of the July 2021 events was inept, police operational planning was poor, there was poor coordination between the state security and intelligence services, and police are not always embedded in the communities they serve," he said.

Speed up investigation

At the time, Ramaphosa called the violence an "insurrection." Some 2,500 people were initially arrested for various offences, including theft.

But six months later, only eight people have been prosecuted, according to the elite Hawks police unit. Investigations are still underway, and all the trials have been pushed back by months.

"I don't think we are going to see any of the big fish caught," said Guy Lamb, political scientist at the University of Stellenbosch.

Ramaphosa had promised to arrest the masterminds behind the violence. Police have said they suspect 12 people were the brains behind the unrest, but have given no details.

But police and soldiers did sweep through poor township neighbourhoods to confiscate looted goods.

Months later, the unprecedented deadly unrest had all but vanished from public debate, something analysts blame on the "habituation" of crime and murder in South Africa.

"South Africa has a 'black lives don't matter' issue," said David Bruce of the Institue for Security Studies. "Murder is not taken very seriously."

Democracy 'threat'

In an address to the ruling African National Congress last month, Ramaphosa warned that "divisions and factions" in the party "are becoming a threat to our democracy."

The ANC had admitted that some of the people "inciting" the violence were their members, said the report, "but it is unclear whether disciplinary action was taken against such members."

Rioters loot the Jabulani Mall in the Soweto district of Johannesburg on July 12, 2021. By LUCA SOLA AFPFile

When the ANC meets in December to choose its leadership, Ramaphosa is expected to ask for re-election.

He has always had to deal with raucous rival factions within the party -- but if he actually takes action against instigators, the party might toss him out.

The three-person panel of experts report warned that the factions in the ANC pose a threat to national stability.

Right now, analysts say his action has been statesmanlike given the low levels of public trust in the government.

"As a leader, at the moment, that was the right thing to do, to say 'we failed and we are aware of the consequences and we are ready to solve this problem and prevent it from happening again'," said Lamb.

"What we saw was a solid leader taking responsibility."
The Ghana Police Service has released a fact sheet explaining circumstances leading to the arrest of Accra FMs Presenter, Kwabena Bobie Ansah.

The broadcaster was picked up at the entrance of Class Media Group shortly after 10:00 pm on Thursday, just when his programme, 'The Citizen Show' which airs daily had ended.

He has been granted a GH50,000 bail and charged with the publication of false news and offensive conduct.

His bail is with two sureties.

The Police report indicated among other things that Mr. Ansah was arrested for alleging that the first and second ladies, Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Mrs. Samira Bawumia respectively had fraudulently acquired State lands at AU village, and around the Kotoka International Airport, Accra for the construction of the Rebecca Foundation, a Non-Governmental Project.

Find below the brief facts as captured by the Police

The accused person, Kwabena Bobie Ansah, is a radio presenter at an Accra based FM station. Sometime in January, 2022, police received a report concerning a video circulating on social media to the effect that the 1 and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Her Excellency Mrs. Samira Bawumia respectively have fraudulently acquired and for granted for themselves State lands at AU village, and around the Kotoka International Airport, Accra for the construction of the Rebecca Foundation, a Non Governmental Project.

Police commence investigations into the alleged publication by the accused person and his accomplices, Edwin Tamakloe, Kwame Kwakye and Eugene, all at large Police obtained the said video to assist in investigations.

The accused person was invited on several occasions but he failed to honour the invitations Thus, on 10th February, 2022, accused person was arrested. Investigations so far revealed that the publication by the accused person and his accomplices is false Efforts are underway to arrest the accomplices to assist in investigations.

---citinewsroom
The Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi says the latest arrest of persons including journalists for comments deemed false should be put some fear in the NPP communicators.

He says the arrests means that if tomorrow, should power change hands, any NPP communicator who says anything which is not true, he/she can be picked up, arrested and detained.

According to him, the Akufo-Addo administration is setting a bad precedent by arresting people accused of peddling falsehood.

His comment follows the arrest of Accra FM's Kwabena Bobie Ansah allegedly for the publication of false news and offensive conduct, Mr. Gyamfi said President Akufo-Addo was guilty of similar actions.

Our brothers from the NPP, particularly the communicators, should be very worried because what this means is that if tomorrow, you are an NPP communicator, and you say anything which is not true, you will be picked up, arrested and detained.

If we are going by that precedent then not even President Akufo-Addo will be spared because if peddling falsehood is a crime then we know that President Akufo-Addo has peddled many falsehoods in this country, Mr. Gyamfi said.

On the arrest which took place late on Thursday evening at the premises of the Class Media Group, he said the National Democratic Congress feels disgusted by the persistent attempts by the ruling government to suppress dissent and media persons deemed critical of the government.

Mr. Gyamfi also questioned the lack of police independence in the matter.

The charges are so frivolous that you cannot even understand why the police will lend themselves as tools for this clear case of persecution, he said.
Nine people including a Frenchman were killed this week in attacks in a national park in Benin's remote north bordering troubled Niger and Burkina Faso.

In a statement late on Thursday the Benin government said an African Parks patrol flushing out poachers and another patrol hit two improvised explosive devices on Tuesday, killing five park rangers, one park official, one soldier and a French trainer who was with them.

A third reconnaissance patrol reportedly hit another explosive on Thursday, killing another African Parks official.

The latest death toll is the deadliest Benin has suffered, as coastal West African states face a spillover of insurgents from Sahel countries battling jihadists.

Following an emergency meeting the cabinet issued the following statement: "The government wishes to reassure the population that...our strategy will secure this critical area."

African Parks, which manages the wildlife reserve in the north of Benin, had reported on Wednesday that six people were killed in an attack.

Meanwhile, France has opened an investigation into the 50-year-old national who was among those killed in what it says was a "terrorist attack in Park W in northern Benin".

Criminal gangs and jihadists

No group has claimed responsibility for the killings, but Benin's military has increased its presence in the area following two attacks late last year that military sources blamed on jihadists from across the border.

Benin had long been one of the more stable countries in West Africa, where Islamic State and al Qaeda militants have been operational in Sahel countries for over a decade.

Criminal smuggling gangs also operate along its Benin's northern border.

The W national park, which extends over Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, is attached to the Pendjari park where two French tourists were kidnapped by gunmen in 2019.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Akufo-Addo to end the attack on free expression.

This comes on the back of the arrest and detention of Accra FMs Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Thursday night, 10 February 2022 at about 10:00pm.

The host of the Citizen Show on Accra100.5FM was picked up and taken to the Nima Police Station and later transferred to the striking force.

The Police said his arrest is in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

He becomes the third journalist to be arrested in the past month.

Reacting to this, the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party considers the escalation of arrests and harassments as an attempt by the Akufo-Addo junta to put fear in Ghanaians opposed to e-levy and douse the impact of the massive Yentua Demonstration held in Accra yesterday.

The NDC assures the despotic regime of Akufo-Addo, that we shall not relent in our effort both within and outside Parliament to stop the introduction e-levy, the statement said.

The party called on groups to speak out against the blatant acts of repression being perpetrated against our young democracy.

These groups should take note of the rising political instability in the sub-region and speak out now and not wait to until matters get out of hands before they host series of belated interventions and seminars on what went wrong, the statement added.

Below is the full statement:

President Akufo-Addo Must end the Attack on Free Expression Now

The National Democratic Congress has observed with utter dismay, the calculated onslaught on media freedom and free speech by the Nana Akufo Addo government, which is increasingly showing dictatorial and autocratic tendencies. The past few weeks have seen a dramatic upsurge in the criminalization of free speech as well as unbridled attack on the journalism profession.

There has been sharp deterioration in the expression of the right to free speech under the Presidency of a personality whose claim to fame as a human rights activist, was his work on the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law when he was an Attorney General. Recent events however, exposes duplicity and hypocrisy Mr. Akufo Addos. In short President Akufo Addo speaks from both sides of his mouth.

The nation is yet find answers to the barbaric murder of an investigative journalist, Mr. Ahmed Suale, following his expose of the involvement of the President and his Vice in the Kwesi Nyantekyi - bribery scandal. The peoples demand for justice has remained an illusion.

In the last few weeks, four journalists have suffered police brutalities and in some cases unfair judicial conviction. Journalist are being cowed into silence through the atmosphere of oppression and harassment. It is the modus operandi of autocrats and despots to create an atmosphere of fear to silent the voice of opposition and free speech. In all these the police appear complicit, aiding the oppressors to hound citizens of Ghana.

Last week a Media Generale Radio and TV presenter, Captain Smart was in a Rambo-style dragged into detention, after he had been granted bail by a court. Last Tuesday another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie of Power Fm/TV XYZ was incarcerated for statements he allegedly made against the President. A civil society activist, Mr Mensah Thompson was arrested, detained, sent to court on criminal charges, granted bail and yet again detained all for being critical of President Akufo-Addo.

Another radio presenter Mr Kwabena Bobie Ansah of Accra Fm, was last night arrested and detained in connection with a story of looting of state lands by Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo.

We consider the escalation of arrests and harassments as an attempt by the Akufo Addo junta to put fear in Ghanaians opposed to e-levy and douse the impact of the massive Yentua Demonstration held in Accra yesterday. The NDC assures the despotic regime of Akufo-Addo, that we shall not relent in our effort both within and outside Parliament to stop the introduction e-levy.

We are deeply worried by the loud silence of the Moral Society, large section of Civil Society and rather surprisingly the Ghana Journalists Association, whose members are under siege.

We take this opportunity to call on these groups to speak out against the blatant acts of repression being perpetrated against our young democracy. These groups should take note of the rising political instability in the sub-region and speak out now and not wait to until matters get out of hands before they host series of belated interventions and seminars on what went wrong.

Signed

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah

General Secretary

---Classfmonline
Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, has given an indication that he will not be ready next week to withdraw the Electronic Transaction (E-Levy) Bill in Parliament and substitute it with a new Bill.

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, who announced this on the floor of Parliament, said the House would be informed accordingly about a new date for the interrogation and the possible passage of the Bill.

He said it was the Business Committee of the House, which communicated to the Presidency of a convenient time for the E-Levy Bill.

Last week, the Deputy Minority Leader, in his presentation of the Business Statement of the House, indicated that the Minister of Finance would possibly withdraw the E-Levy Bill, 2021 on Friday, February 11.

Another option, he stated, was the withdrawal of the Bill in Parliament and the substitution of a new Bill that would include the amendments that the Committee had consensually agreed on.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, expressed the Minority Caucus' disquiet strongly about the manner the E-Levy issue was being handled.

He said Order 169 of Parliament indicated that "the Committee on Finance shall be composed of twenty-five Members, to which shall be referred Bills, inquiries and other matters relating to finance and the economy generally".

He said: "As far as we are concerned, a Bill known as the Electronic Transfer Bill was introduced in this House and referred appropriately to the Finance Committee, my strong view is that even in the search elucidation of views and inputs, it does not lie in the powers of the Minister Mr Ken Ofori-Atta. It lies in the Finance Committee."

He said what the Minister opt to do under Article 106 was to explain it in a memorandum, which accompanied the Bill, but going round the country to hold town hall meetings on the Bill was not his responsibility, saying, "he is not Parliament, and he is not the Finance Committee of Parliament."

The Minority Leader said there was a Bill before this House, appropriately referred to the Finance Committee and that if there must be an engagement, the engagement should be the work of the Finance Committee of Parliament, stating that the rules of the House and the Constitution, impose this authority on the Finance Committee of Parliament, not the Finance Minister.

He said as and when the Majority brings the E-Levy Bill to the House, his side was ever ready for it.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, in his response, said it was the same Minority, who requested for a broader consultation on the E-Levy, adding that the Finance Minister was not doing the consultation on behalf of Parliament but rather on behalf of the Government.

GNA
Professor Emeritus Stephen Adei, the immediate past Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, has urged government and public office holders to fight corruption with all aggressiveness.

The mining sector for instance, he said, could save the nation huge sums of money by discouraging dishonest use of power.

But someone will take one million dollars instead and close eyes to corruption, which could rather save the nation 100 million and billions. Corruption in Ghana has become a systemic problem and hindering the economy's growth, he said.

Prof. Adei said this when he addressed attendees at the 2022 Bible Week Symposium organised by The Bible Society of Ghana in Accra on the theme: The Bible, Corruption and Integrity.

He said: Anyone in authority who says he wants evidence on corruption is blind. We can also save billions of dollars through investigation of the mining sector and area.

As a people, when I hear the young people talk, sometimes I'm afraid, because they believe there is nothing or no righteousness on this land even though I believe there are still people here with integrity.

Prof. Adei said integrity required total consecration and consistency, adding: Today, you are a judge and tomorrow, you are at a funeral doing something wrong with an excuse that it's a culture.

He said integrity was a major characteristic of nations that wanted to develop within a democratic context, saying its opposite was hypocrisy.

The leadership of the nation, he said, had a primary responsibility to control the growing canker of corruption.

Corruption thrives when the opportunity to be corrupt is high and being found is low and when the likelihood of being prosecuted and charged is low, he noted.

Prof. Adei, also a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, admonished authorities in government and public offices to fight corruption through modelling to enthuse their followers to imitate their honesty.

That is why my secretary will not accept any envelope for me, because he knows when he brings it, he will be fired, he said.

He charged the government and the public to challenge public officials to explain the source of their wealth and institute stringent measures to severely punish corruption lawbreakers.

When people see this and notice the smell of corruption anywhere, they will be careful. If we want to fight corruption, we can. It requires integrity on all our parts. We must insist on integrity.

GNA
Mr. Sulemana Braimah

11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Mr. Sulemana Braimah has advised the media in Ghana to prioritise professionalism and avoid recklessness.

Speaking to Citi News on Friday evening, the MFWA boss stressed that although the media enjoy freedoms in the 1992 Constitution, it must not be seen as a ticket to abuse others.

According to him, heads at media organisations must also take responsibility and instill professionalism in employed practitioners.

Media organizations must also recognize that they have a responsibility. Freedom of the media and freedom of the press is not about freedom to be reckless and freedom to abuse. I think it is important that media owners, editors, media managers must begin to instill professionalism and discipline among persons who practice directly and those who appear on platforms to engage in public commentary, Mr. Sulemana Braimah shared.

Further lamenting over how freedom of the media have been trampled upon under the current government, the MFWA Executive Director indicated that it is about time the curreNt NPP administration exhibited tolerance.

He said although journalists are not above the law, the security apparatus should not be used to go after the media in the manner witnessed in the last few years.

The government of the day needs to be more tolerant because it is not as if we have passed a law about false publication in our country, this law has been in existence over the years. We never saw the Kuffuor, Mills, Mahama government apply the law the manner in which it is being applied today, he noted.

Mr. Sulemana Braimah notes that he fears if the trend continues, people will feel emboldened to abuse journalists and their media organisations.

Discussions on press freedom have become topical again following the arrest of Accra FM's presenter Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

The presenter with Class Media Group was arrested by the Police for allegedly publishing false news and displaying offensive conduct according to a statement from the Ghana Police Service today.
From 7 to 11 February 2022, in Mexico City, Mexico, the World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully conducted a second Regional Accreditation Workshop for Technical Operational Advisers (TOAs) for the Americas and Caribbean region, with the financial support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan.

The objective of the workshop was to prepare a pool of Spanish-speaking Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) TOAs to conduct workshops on behalf of the WCO, thus increasing the number of Technical Assistances delivered to Hispanophone Member countries who are faced with the challenge of combatting ever-changing and more sophisticated counterfeiting and piracy methods.

Eight pre-selected Customs officers from Argentina, Belize, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico and the United States demonstrated their skills and abilities during the five-day intensive programme through a range of exercises, including presentations, discussions and role-play. The workshop was facilitated jointly by three Experts from the WCO Secretariat, and one IPR Accredited Expert.

The workshop was a major achievement under the framework of the new version of the IPR strategy 2020, approved by the 41st Meeting of the Enforcement Committee (EC). Capacity building is one of the five (5) pillars of this strategy, with the particular aim of building up the pool of accredited experts to support the Secretariat in the conduct of its activities.

The workshop was launched virtually by Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, WCO Director for Compliance and Facilitation and Mr. Werner Ovalle, the WCO Vice-Chair for Americas/Caribbean region. Director Das congratulated the participants and highlighted the importance of the close cooperation between Customs administrations. He stressed on the importance for a Member-driven organization like the WCO to facilitate information sharing among Members, and congratulated the WCO IPR accredited experts for their contribution in the design of the content of the upcoming CliKC module on counterfeit medicines.

Vice-Chair Ovalle thanked the WCO Secretariat and the Japanese CCF for holding the Accreditation Workshop in the Americas/Caribbean region and mentioned the excellent coordination of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (SAT). He further acknowledged the importance of the new tools developed by the Secretariat such as the IPR Training Handbook on Legal and Practical Measures against Offences Relating to Intellectual Property Rights and the IPR Self-Assessment Tool, adding that together with activities like the Accreditation Process, will ease the implementation of the IPR Strategy 2020.

The TOA accreditation process comprises two phases. The first one consists of the successful completion of a one-week workshop, and the second one relates to a field Mission. The objective is to assess the ability of participants to conduct capacity-building activities in the IPR domain. Only participants who meet the expected level of training will be accredited as IPR Expert.

Learn more: IPRteam@wcoomd.org
An Accra Circuit Court has granted a 37-year-old trader a GH150,000.00 bail with three sureties, one to be justified over an alleged GH 262,247.81 theft.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah ordered that Sheila Ekuba Bassey, to report once a week to the police pending trial.

Sheila has denied the offence and will make her next appearance on March 9, 2022.

Police Chief Inspector Gulliver Kwabena Tenkorang said Ahmed Inusah, the complainant, is a Civil Servant (name withheld) and living at Cantonment while Sheila is a petty trader and resident at Kasoa.

It said the complainant is a friend to Inusah who lived in Australia, adding that Ahmed had a building plot at New East Legon Hills and in early 2020, he visited Ghana and met the accused person through a friend.

The Prosecution said he later became close with the accused person and at a point he wanted someone to help him put up a house on the plot, hence, the accused person got wind of the complainant's intention and she quickly offered to help.

It said that Ahmed showed the accused person the plot and he later flew back to Australia and that from October 27, 2020, to May 31, 2021, Ahmed sent various sums of money through World Remit and the rest through Veronica Quarshie, Frank Owusu Boateng, Wahab Idrisu Anthoney Darko, Sulaiman Musah Lampo and Duomo Sarpong, all amounting to GH262,247.81 to the accused person to build a storey building for him and GH21,730.54 to rent a house for the two orphans he adopted all totaling GH283,978.35.

The Prosecution said months after the accused person received these monies, Inusah asked the accused person to send him pictures of the house, but the accused person informed him that she had put up the house and was only left with its fencing.

It said Sheila then convinced Inusah that she wanted to surprise him with a complete house so he should hold on. Some weeks later, Inusah requested pictures of the house again and when Sheila tried to play tricks on him, he became suspicious and asked a friend to verify the stage of the house for him.

The Prosecution said it was after the said friend had visited the building site that he discovered that the supposed completed building was just at a footing stage.

It said Inusah was under a total lock down in Australia because of the COVID-19 pandemic so, on discovering of the theft perpetrated by Sheila, he issued a power of attorney to the complainant and on July 1, 2021, the complainant together with others arrested her and handed her over to the Kotobabi Police station and lodged a complaint.

The Prosecution said the accused person was re-arrested and during investigation, the accused person admitted having received the monies from Inusah in her investigation cautioned statement stated that she used GH45,000.00 for the foundation.

It said investigations revealed that Sheila did not use the money for the intended purpose.

The Prosecution said Police also discovered that the building was only at foundation stage and the amount spent on it could not be more than GH20,000.00.

It said investigation also revealed that Sheila stole GH217,247.81 out of the money sent to her for the building and she also stole GH12,730.00 from the money sent to her for the rent, all totaling GH 229,978.35.

The Prosecution said Sheila admitted in her charge statement that she used GH 40,000.00 out of the money she stole to import plastic bottles from China to sell and spent GH10,000.00 on her mother's medical treatment and used the rest for other businesses.

GNA
There was drama in an Adentan Circuit Court on Friday when a complainant in a defilement case pleaded with the judge to reduce 13 years imprisonment imposed on the accused person who defiled his granddaughter.

The complainant, who raised her hand to attract the attention of the judge, said, " Please the 13 years is too much, reduce it.

The trial judge, however, rebuked her saying "someone has defiled your granddaughter and you are here pleading for him?

Mr Sedinam Awo Balokah pointed out to the complainant that for exposing the victim to harm after sending her on errands, she (complainant) could be sent to jail for a year.

The complainant, who claimed the victim was a " spoilt" child, then apologised to the court.

"Please, I have not been to court before. I did not know the implications of my actions, I am sorry," the complainant said.

Kelvin Nwogwu, a 24-year-old Nigerian, pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement.

Nwogwu prayed to the court to forgive him because the victim told him that she was 18 years old.

The trial judge asked the accused whether the victim looked like an 18-year-old girl to him.

Age assessment done medically, however, indicated the victim could be 13 or 14 years.

The court convicted the accused on his own, saying it considered the fact that the accused was a first offender, his quick admission of guilt and the fact that he did not waste the court's time.

Prosecuting Inspector Gloria Ayim said the complainant was a 58-year-old farmer residing with the victim, a class three pupil at Adenta.

Accused, now a convict, also resides at Adenta Lotto kiosk.

Prosecution said on February 3, this year, at about 6:00pm, the complainant sent the victim to go and deliver food to her daughter, who also resides within the vicinity.

It said the victim did not return home but came home the following day at 0600 hours.

When the complainant quizzed the victim, prosecution said, she said it was the accused who lured her into his room while she was returning from the errand and had sex with her.

According to the prosecution, the accused asked her not to return home until the next day.

A report was made to the Police and a Police medical form was issued to the complainant to seek treatment at any government hospital facility.

GNA
11.02.2022 LISTEN

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project (GLSERP) with a call on the chiefs and people of the five northern regions, especially farmers, to own it and ensure its success.

The $54.5 million GLSERP project seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change on the fragile ecosystem of the Northern Savannah Landscape as well as improve the shea value chain, especially for the hundreds of thousands of women engaged in the entire value chain.

Performing the launch in Tamale on Friday, February 11, 2022, Vice President Bawumia said the Shea Landscape Project will be the second emission reductions programme to be implemented under the REDD+ process in Ghana, after the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+, and focuses on the northern landscapes which are currently undergoing rapid deforestation and degradation including the loss of valuable shea trees.

The GSLERP therefore provides a unique opportunity to engage on a bigger scale in the Shea commodity and its by-products, which are an important income generating activities for over 600,000 women and has gained prominence as a preferred ingredient in the cosmetics and food processing industry globally, he added.

Ghana is currently the fourth largest producer of Shea in the world. I believe this project if successfully implemented will change this status with the planting of over 1.7 million shea trees over the 7-year project period.

Government has since 2017, supported scientific research on the shea plant geared towards making the shea a reliable income generating product. This work, undertaken by the COCOBOD, has led to important breakthroughs, including reducing the gestation period of the shea plant from over 20 years to an average of 3 years, the Vice President disclosed.

It is against this background that the government committed in the 2022 budget statement to embark on projects and programme that will promote the cultivation of shea in the north, just as cocoa in the south, to transform the local economies of the shea region.

The implementation of GSLERP is crucial. This is so because the project addresses about nine Sustainable Development Goals, including goals on; no poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, economic growth, climate action and life on land.

This project will address at first-hand the financial constraints of shea farmers, ensure that gender equality prevails in shea-production systems, promote the business development of shea farming among natives, and cause a decreased deforestation and enhance fire management covering almost 500,000 hectares.

It is estimated that the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project will achieve 6.1 million tonnes in emission reductions and removals over the first seven years of the projects lifetime and 25 million tonnes in emission reductions over 20 years.

This can only be achieved when stakeholders fully commit to the project at every point in time through collective ownership Dr Bawumia stressed. I therefore call on all stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project in the 5 regions of the north to collaborate to achieve this and build ecosystem resilience.

Government will continue to create a climate responsive atmosphere through the right policy, technical and financial commitments.

I also entreat everyone here to support this project and all other climate related projects and programmes in our communities. Finally, I appeal to all farmers especially Shea smallholder farmers and local communities, to own this programme and contribute to its success.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor, expressed Governments gratitude to the chiefs for banning the harvesting of wood and the burning of same into charcoal, saying it would go a long in the fight against climate change. His Ministry, he assured, would also continue with aggressive afforestation programmes.
22.01.2015 LISTEN

Two opposition parties - New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Party  have stated their intention to hit the streets to force government to reduce fuel prices and fix the current energy crisis.

The two parties say they will embark on a series of demonstrations across the country starting from the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi next month.

According to the opposition parties, crude oil has reduced on the international market to a record low of 49 dollars per barrel but government has failed to adequately reduce fuel prices.

Government recently announced a 10 percent reduction in fuel prices.

Ghana is also grappling with severe power crisis with the ECG shedding between 500 and 600 megawatts of power.

Ernest Owusu Bempah, Communications Director for the NDP told Starr News, that they are bent on staging the mass demonstration because government has reneged on numerous promises it made to Ghanaians.
The option of working from home during COVID attracted a massive influx of new investors into the stock market and the rise continues, even as stock indices have begun to wobble badly in the past two monhts. As of 31 January 2022, Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL) has 58.49mn (million) (58,497,541) investor accounts, while National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) has 25.48mn (25,483,687) client accounts active. In short, the depositories have 83.98mn (83,981,228) investor accounts. Out of CDSLs 57.49mn demat accounts, 58.36mn are individual account-holders. The same figure for NSDL comes to 24.78mn out of 25.48mn. However, CDSL and NSDL do not provide information about unique investors.

During January 2022, as many as 3.39mn (3,388,979) investors opened accounts with the CDSL and NSDL. The total number of new accounts opened from April 2021 until January has exceeded 28.85mn (28,853,792).

According to information shared by market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), during January, NSDL had added 500,000 demat accounts while the CDSL added 2.9mn demat accounts. Cumulatively, both the depositories have added 28.9mn new accounts in this fiscal year so far (April 2021-January 2022), with CDSL itself accounting for 25.1mn new demat accounts, the market regulator says.

Data from the depositories show that during the first month of 2022, CDSL has registered 2.93mn (2,930,544) new accounts, while for NSDL, it is 458,435, taking the number of new accounts opened to 3.39mn.

As reported by Moneylife, Indias investor population has nearly doubled since the lock-down forced by the COVID pandemic in March 2020. This means that over half the investors todayalmost 20mn of themare first-time investors in the stock market. They are attracted by a ferocious bull run that has allowed many first-timers to make a lot of money.

The level of ignorance among investors about the primary character of equity investment and its inherent risks is such that bankrupt companies facing insolvency proceedings have become a hotbed for fraud and manipulation.

There are over 5,000 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and about 1,600 on the NSE. Of these, about 3,000 are traded regularly and, at any point of time, a few thousand of them are nearly defunct companies, ready for resolution, are under the radar of fraudsters for price manipulation.

Read: Many Ways of Being Fooled in a Bull Market ) Since the price is usually a few paise, it is easy to lure the gullible with the promise of a massive percentage return (a 1,000% return is relatively routine in such manipulation) on minimal investments. It is also easy to manipulate prices in the early stages to attract naive newbie investors. (

After the initial public offerings (IPOs) mania of the mid-1990s, investors vanished from the Indian stock market in millions. The primary market for new issues was dead for years and investors even shunned mutual funds for a long time. After stagnating at 20mn investors for decades, Indias investor population has exploded by millions since the pandemic.
The settlement involving the different branches of the TVS family was consummated recently as the national company law tribunal (NCLT) passed the relevant orders. Since the parties to the settlement were the private (unlisted) companies of the TVS group, little beyond the news releases issued by the different branches of the family exist in the public domain. Hence, it is quite possible that some inaccuracy in understanding or appreciation of the impact may pervade this article, which, though undesirable, is inevitable.

The settlement was purportedly to get the shareholdings of the large conglomerate reorganised to rest with the relevant branches of the four sub families involved. For the sake of convenience, these are identified as the families of TS Rajam (deceased), TS Krishna (deceased), TS Srinivasan (deceased), and TS Santhanam (deceased). The children of the respective branches head the relevant parts of the group and there, perhaps, exists a further sub group where the children of the above four may have worked out their respective domains.

Historically, the shareholdings of the various operating companies in the TVS group largely rested with the three holding companies, viz., TVS and Sons, Sundaram Industries and Southern Roadways. Based on publicly available information, the three above-mentioned companies have coalesced into a single entity as step-1 and, quite likely, the shares of all the companies consolidated in this process were further split into independent holding companies representing the different families, a minimum of four or more, depending on the number of sub-groups that the public is not privy to.

appointed dates for the restructuring. Going by certain past cases, it is likely that the restructuring was a composite one with an initial consolidation of the three former holding companies and a later split, family-wise. It is not clear how the segregation was achieved; but it is reasonable to speculate that a split off like a demerger would have been the route for this purpose. A news from The Hindu refers to different appointed dates for the restructuring. Going by certain past cases, it is likely that the restructuring was a composite one with an initial consolidation of the three former holding companies and a later split, family-wise.

As a consequence, one of the new family holding companies that emerged appears to be TVS Holdings Pvt Ltd, relevant to the family controlling Sundaram Clayton Ltd and its satellite and subsidiary companies.

Going by the market data, this cluster has the highest value compared to any other cluster pertaining to the other families. TVS Motor alone has a market-cap of about Rs31,000 crore (as on 8 February 2022), while Sundaram Clayton holds around 53%. As a comparison, the second most valuable company in the group, Sundaram Fastners, has market-cap of about Rs17,600 crore.

So, the family getting control of the TVS Motor and Sundaram Clayton cluster is most likely to be paying a cash value to the other families. These steps would be outside any publicly available document as this would be a private arrangement among the family members.

What fuels the above speculation is the fact that Sundaram Clayton, during the second quarter 2022, had booked a sum of Rs1,494 crore as exceptional profits. However, there was little in terms of disclosure by the company about the reason for selling a block of 5.14% in TVS Motor that resulted in this profit.

Presumably, it was to keep the powder dry to complete the cash settlement as and when the final tribunal order was received, approving the corporate side of the reorganisation.

However, the amount is trapped in Sundaram Clayton (SCL), a listed entity with 25% public shareholding. Hence, forthwith on receipt of the formal order, the board of directors of the company in the meeting held on 9 February 2022 have come up with a very novel and complex scheme which is the reason for this article.

SCL is an operating company with its core business in castings and automobile parts and incidentally holds valuable stake of 53% in TVS Motor. The details as available about the decision of the board of directors as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine , are examined here for the implications of the decision.

Read: Corporates in Cross Roads of Candour in Communication ) While, apparently, the announcement seeks to create an excitement that surplus cash is proposed to be shared with all shareholders, there are other components to the proposal that tickles ones curiosity. To set the record straight, the surplus under consideration is essentially the amount of approximately Rs1,500 crore realised on the sale of TVS Motor shares in the second quarter of the current year, which was hardly explained beyond a note that the amount was exceptional in nature.(

However, the manner of distribution proposed is not a simple special dividend or a pro rata buy-back of shares. Rather, it involves the issue of non-convertible redeemable preference shares as bonus shares. These shares will have a two-year tenure and would be redeemed in February 2024.

It is quite strange to ferret out such an outmoded idea that a few companies have adopted in the past either as preference share or debenture as a bonus issue to commemorate special occasions. A company with cash on hand and wanting to dispose it does not need such a convoluted way to distribute it.

A possible reason could be that some clever tax advice may have triggered this, with the view that a buyback or a dividend would attract a higher rate of tax but the disposal of listed security like a preference share may suffer a slightly lower tax. It is most unlikely that any of the recipients of the preference share would wish to hold on till maturity as it may get a minuscule return, and instead liquidate it in the market at a discount and get cash in hand. In effect, the discount may equal or exceed the tax difference and leave one none the richer in the process!

But the subject doesnt end here. The announcement also talks of a merger of some private companies and most intriguingly the demerger of the entire operating business of SCL!

This is stranger than the route considered to return the excess cash to the investors. The merger of TVS Holdings Ltd and VS Investments Pvt Ltd being the promoter holding companies is understandable as these are, perhaps, the two new entities formed as part of the family reorganisation and hold the capital of SCL. The promoters may legitimately wish to simplify the holding structure to avoid a step holding involving multiple tiers.

However, if the two amalgamating companies that received the shares in the demerger become subject to any adverse tax proceedings which the tax department may initiate regarding the entire exercise, viewing it to be non-tax neutral, the public shareholders with their 25% holding would get entangled in such tax demands.

The other bigger question is: Why demerge the entire operating business of SCL; what would the residual SCL hold? While the author may be accused of jumping the gun and not awaiting the finer details, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the design seems to be to ring-fence the 53% holding in TVS Motor in the residual entity, essentially making it an investment company with 75% promoter holding and 25% public holding.

This has been the situation in many cases across the country where historically operating-cum-shareholding companies were demerged and new shell entities that merely hold shares in a down-stream entity were formed.

A question may legitimately be raised about why this is objectionable? Market data shows that such holding companies suffer a big discount in valuation and the case of how the Bajaj family effectively used that route to augment its holding in its operating companies is already explained in the article given in the link. The Racing Pulsar !! - by Ranganathan V (substack.com)

Clearly, the public shareholders will, over time, be forced to exit at sub-optimal valuation and the promoters will have the luxury of time to consolidate their holding indirectly in TVS Motor.

And this very group has the distinction of using this mode in an earlier restructuring that involved certain other group company shares (designated as a non-automotive business), which was effected on 7 July 2011. Though the resulting company, namely, Sundaram Investments Ltd, was unlisted, there were some public shareholders who stayed put and, finally, by resorting to a hitherto untested procedure under Section 236 of the Companies Act 2013, all the non-promoter family shareholders were squeezed out sometime in 2021 or so.

The group normally expands its abbreviation as Trust, Value and Service.

It would be best that the misconceived reorganisation be revisited and the independent directors come out with a detailed explanation for the reasons for favouring this proposal.

Will the independent directors suggest that the residual SCL holding the shares of TVS Motor should merge into the latter so that the shareholders of SCL will directly own TVS Motor than through a layered structure? Is good governance really feasible in promoter-owned companies?
Last week, the High Court (HC) of Jharkhand in Ranchi upheld the 11-year-old state information commissioner (SIC)s order of paying compensation to the RTI applicant to the tune of Rs60,000 to be paid by the errant public authority, which in this case, is the health and family welfare department.

This SIC order also levied a penalty on the public information officer (PIO) but directed the public authority to financially compensate the RTI applicant for providing unsatisfactory information.

Hence, a petition was filed by the principal secretary of health and family welfare in the HC of Jharkhand, contesting the SIC order of 13 April 2010. His single point contention in his petition was that, under the RTI Act, the order of penalty can only be levied on the PIO who is the only one who can only be treated as the erring official in not supplying the information and not on the public authority which has been erroneously asked to compensate the RTI applicant.

The counsel of the state information commission argued in the HC that the penalty has been levied on the health and family welfare department since it is a public authority under Section 19(8)(b) of the Act, 2005 and, hence, the compensation to the RTI applicant is to be imposed upon the public authority. The SIC quoted the provisions under Section 20(1) and (2) of the Act, 2005 under which it directed the public information officer to pay the penalty for not providing satisfactory information under Section 19(8)(b) of the RTI Act.

The HC observed that the following sections in the RTI Act qualified for the SIC to direct the public authority to give compensation to the applicant. They are:

Section 4 provides the obligation of public authority in maintaining all records while Section 5 casts the duty upon the public authority to designate the public information officer in the Central office or in the state office, as the case may be.

Section 19(8)(b) casts the duty upon the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered, impose any of the penalties provided under this Act and reject the application.

Section 20(1) confers power upon the commission to impose penalties both in terms of money as well as with a recommendation to initiate departmental proceedings but prior to that a reasonable opportunity of being heard is required to be provided to the PIO.

On the other hand, the public information officer means the officer designated by the public authority to act as the public information officer. Hence, the RTI Act provides specific difference between a public authority and a public information officer because:

 The public information officer is the designated officer by the public authority;

 The public authority is the custodian of the record;

 The public information officer is required to provide information deriving from the custody of the public authority;

 Therefore, the obligation has been cast upon the public authority as per the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, 2005 to maintain all records.

The judge also stated that, if Section 2(h), 2(m), Section 4 and Section 5 would be read together; it would be evident that the public authority is ``the authority if established or constituted by the enforcement of law or under the Constitution. Meaning thereby, the public authority, if found to be within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India, the same would be said to be public authority. On the other hand, the public information officer means the officer designated by the public authority to act as the public information officer.

He further elaborated that:

 The Act, 2005 provides specific difference between public authority and public information officer;

 To the effect that, the public information officer is the designated officer to be designated by the public authority who is the custodian of the record; and

 The designated public information officer is required to provide information deriving from the custody of the public authority and; that is the reason the obligation has been casted upon the public authority as per the provision of Section 4 of the Act, 2005 to maintain all records.

The judge also analysed that the object of the Act, 2005 is casting obligation upon the public authority who is the authority constituted either under the Constitution or any enforcement of law either by the Parliament or by the State legislature or anybody owned or financially aided by the state government.

Therefore, there is a clear distinction in between the public authority and the public information officer. Section 19(8)(b) and Section 20 provide the consequence in case of non-supply or inadequate supply of information as has been sought by the Information commission, therefore, the Act provides the provision of compensation as also penalty.

The provision of compensation has been provided under the provision of Section 19(8)(b) by which a public authority is required to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered.

The object of the Act to compensate the complainant by the public authority is because it is the public authority who is supposed to keep the document in safe custody and if the document is not found available, the compensation is required to be paid by the public authority.

Simultaneously, the state public information officer who is the designated officer by the public authority, has also been casted some responsibility or accountability to provide the information sought by the information seeker and if there would be any negligence in discharge of the aforesaid duty, the provision of penalty as also recommendation to initiated departmental proceedings has been provided under Section 20(2).

This Court, on the basis of the aforesaid legal position has come to a finding that the state information commission is having the power to pass an order of compensation by resorting to the provision of Section 19(8)(b) of the Act, 2005. Accordingly, this Court declines to interfere with the order whereby and where under the state information commission has directed the concerned department of the State of Jharkhand to compensate the complainant by making a payment of Rs.60,000/- in exercise of power conferred under Section 19(8)(b) of the Act, 2005.

States RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar There have been several instances where the information commissioners have given orders to the public authorities to the RTI applicant but this is a rare case wherein the public authority has sought legal intervention to contest it.
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Kalanithi Maran, the former promoter of SpiceJet, to consider the full and final settlement offer made by the private airline to end the dispute in a share transfer matter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana heard the matter.

In a statement, SpiceJet, after the hearing in the top court, said: "SpiceJet has offered to pay Rs 600 crore in cash in the share transfer case with its former promoter Kalanithi Maran and his firm KAL Airways for a full and final settlement of all disputes. Out of the principal amount of Rs 578 crore awarded in arbitration, SpiceJet has already paid Rs 308 crore in cash and deposited a bank guarantee of Rs 270 crore."

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing on behalf of SpiceJet, proposed to pay the bank guarantee equivalent amount of Rs 270 crore in cash and top it up with additional Rs 22 crore aggregating the total pay-out to Rs 600 crore as full and final settlement of all disputes between the parties.

Maran and his firm, KAL Airways, had urged the top court to lift the stay on a Delhi High Court order asking the low-cost airline to deposit Rs 243 crore as interest on the amount of Rs 579 crore in the dispute.

In November 2020, the top court stayed the high court order.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, along with advocates from Karanjawala & Co, represented KAL Airways in the top court. Maran had sought the stay to be lifted to secure the decreed amount -- refund amount awarded and interest -- from SpiceJet.

Singh contended before the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, that the high court have asked the airline to pay the decretal amount and against which SpiceJet have deposited only Rs 270 crore as bank guarantee and now there is a winding up order passed against SpiceJet by the Madras High Court in another case - Credit Suisse AG vs SpiceJet.

He added that in such a change in circumstance, SpiceJet should be directed to pay and deposit 242 crore otherwise his client will have to run from pillar to post.

Karanjawala & Co, in a statement, said the top court proposed two offers to Maran and KAL Airways - that SpiceJet will give Rs 300 crore towards full and final settlement of the dispute and the matter finally gets settled and no further litigation.

Second, out of the bank guarantee of Rs 270 crore deposited with HC, SpiceJet will give Rs 100 crore for now and the order will be passed by the top court to hear petitions which are pending before the high court expeditiously.

The top court asked Singh to discuss the settlement with his client.

The bench, in its order, said: "List on February 14, to enable the learned senior counsel for the petitioners to seek instructions."

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Recently multinational technology company Metas founder Mark Zuckerberg remarked at an event that India will hugely contribute in building Metaverse . This statement raises hope that India is on the cusp of bringing a new revolution of the Internet to the world. However, not much attention has been paid to the fact that India is largely a consumer of technological services that are offered to it, and must therefore get a say in how a particular technology will be operated in the country.

Till now, trends suggest that India has for most of the time drawn on inspiration from foreign countries in order to make laws related to technology. For example, the Personal Data Protection Bill [PDP Bill] has largely been drawn from the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation. It is argued that India needs to be active in making laws in relation to new technologies, and specifically focus on the Metaverse.

Privacy concerns

While India may have been largely relying on foreign laws in order to update its own digital laws, the Metaverse provides a breakthrough. Recently, law professor Ashit Kumar Srivastava, writing in The Statesman , had rightfully argued that the gradual process of law making and leeway this allows technology to get entrenched in the society, in turn making application of law harsher. Various important provisions which govern the data protection laws such as profiling, data localisation and cross data transfer are likely to undergo significant changes. For example, if one goes through the website of Oculus, it clearly mentions that it collects data such as information about environment, physical moments and dimensions when you use an XR device.

A brief perusal of the definition of sensitive personal data under the PDP Bill suggests that it falls under the category of sensitive personal data as it contains biometric information (for example  ones hand movements).

Most importantly, the education sector in India is likely to undergo a significant transformation as the Central Board of Secondary Education and Meta recently announced a tie-up to cover 10 million students who will be provided curriculum in Augmented Reality experience. The current Information Technology Act [IT Act] does not have a provision in relation to handling sensitive and personal data of children. Though the same has been provided in the PDP Bill (Section 16 of the Bill), the bill does not take into account the effect of virtual reality and augmented reality. Therefore, in the present legal framework, there is no protection of sensitive and personal data of the children over metaverse platforms.

Need for more data storage centres

With the advent of Metaverse, the amount of data being stored will increase significantly. This means that a lot of new data centres will be needed. According to computer engineer and Intel executive Raja M. Koduri , these data centres will also require a significant amount of restructuring in order to provide additional capability to compute, store and network. There is a need for a specific law which will help in enabling the formation of data centres and increasing their capacity smoothly, and at the same time, requires that these data centres adhere to environmental protocols.

The current IT Act does not have a provision in relation to handling sensitive and personal data of children. Though the same has been provided in the PDP Bill (Section 16 of the Bill), the bill does not take into account the effect of virtual reality and augmented reality. Therefore, in the present legal framework, there is no protection of sensitive and personal data of the children over metaverse platforms.

Concerns over digital assets

Considering the interest in metaverse shown by tech giants like Meta and Google, ordinary people have started making investment in buying digital assets. Recently, virtual land was sold in the sandbox for 4.3 million dollars , the costliest land ever sold in the metaverse. Moreover, one of the conditions mentioned in the site from where the said land is purchased is that the land can be bought in cryptocurrency only and moreover, if the companys server fails to operate, the land will no longer exist. This raises the legitimate concern that people can use virtual assets as a means to commit fraud on innocent people. Since cryptocurrency is not a legal tender money and no legal registration deed is provided when a person buys a virtual asset, it will be an onerous task for the investigating agencies to bring the culprits of such a crime to book as the evidence against the culprits will be extremely weak.

The Metaverse has greatly increased the demand for the virtual assets, thereby providing criminals who indulge in money-laundering a safe harbour to hide their proceeds of crime. The criminals can convert their illegal proceeds into cryptocurrency, and can purchase virtual assets with the cryptocurrency.

The Metaverse has greatly increased the demand for the virtual assets, thereby providing criminals who indulge in money-laundering a safe harbour to hide their proceeds of crime. The criminals can convert their illegal proceeds into cryptocurrency, and can purchase virtual assets with the cryptocurrency. Since the cryptocurrency works on blockchain technology, the real identity of the criminals will remain anonymous, and the law enforcement agencies will face a tough challenge to discover all the proceeds of the crime.

Concerns regarding Horizon platform

In December last year, Meta had opened a metaverse platform known as Horizon Worlds. On this platform, the incident of the groping of a female avatar by a male avatar had come into limelight. Later that month, a woman avatar revealed that she was gang raped by four male avatars in Metas Horizon Venues metaverse. This leads to the question as to whether the virtual body is legally the same as the physical body, and will it be appropriate to use words like rape in relation to offences against the virtual body. For example, Section 354 of Indian Penal Code punishes a person for outraging the modesty of a woman . The essential ingredient to punish a person under this section is that a woman must possess modesty that has been outraged by a man.

The grey area arises as to whether the woman avatar possesses modesty or not. There is no firm law according to which it can be said that a virtual female avatar possesses modesty. The present IT Act that regulates cybercrimes against women is not drafted keeping in view the crimes that can occur in the metaverse. Moreover, there is no law presently that penalises sexual assault done in online mode. It is also difficult to identify the culprit who engages in such criminal acts as each individual is provided with a separate identity in the metaverse.

One of the features of the Metaverse is that the user has the option to choose clothes for their avatar. Whenever the user picks a particular attire for the avatar, data regarding it will be stored in the server of the company that provides metaverse services. The company can use this data to build the fashion profile of the user. On analysing the data of many users, the company can get to know what the preferences of the users in the fashion industry are.

The company can use this information to produce its own brand of clothes, thereby having a dominant position as compared to the other competitors in the fashion industry. This could severely hamper the efforts of the governments to have a fair and competitive economy. This is something that the Competition Act must be updated to deal with.

There is no firm law according to which it can be said that a virtual female avatar possesses modesty. The present IT Act that regulates cybercrimes against women is not drafted keeping in view the crimes that can occur in the metaverse. Moreover, there is no law presently that penalises sexual assault done in online mode.

Needed: laws that set boundaries for evolution of Metaverse tech

There are a lot of concerns regarding the technology of Metaverse and what kind of legal implications it will have. From the issue of the groping of a female avatar to selling of assets in millions, Metaverse has thrown a plethora of challenges. At the same time, this is just the beginning of the revolution of the internet, and full implications of the technology of Metaverse will be realised only in 10-15 years . However, lawmakers will have to be active in ensuring that the technology of Metaverse is in sync with the norms of data protection. This calls for an early draft of the law for Metaverse so that technology also evolves with boundaries set by law.

(Siddharth Chaturvedi and Priyansh Bharadwaj are undergraduate law students at the Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur. The views expressed are personal.)
HELENA  The Montana Department of Commerce awarded $100,000 in grant funding to be shared by eight Montana communities, including Anaconda, to revitalize Main Street businesses and downtowns. The funding is provided by Commerces Montana Main Street Program.

Part of the foundation of our state and communities is the success of Montanas main street businesses and downtowns, Commerce Director Scott Osterman said. These Main Street grants are community investments that will empower communities to grow stronger and create more opportunities for Montanans while preserving the unique histories of the places they call home, Osterman added.

The Montana Main Street Program helps member communities strengthen and preserve their historic downtown commercial districts by focusing on economic development, urban revitalization, and historic preservation through long-range planning, organization, design, and promotion.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County will receive $15,000 to create a Preliminary Architectural Report/Preliminary Engineering Report for the Copper Village Art Center and Museum.

Other grant funding recipients are Baker, $8,000; Ekalaka, $20,000; Glasgow, $10,000; Glendive, $15,000; Red Lodge, $10,000; Roundup, $15,000 and Shelby, $7,000.

Montana Main Street funding can be used for planning or brick-and-mortar projects that support downtown revitalization efforts and require a $1 match from the local community for every $5 received. The program currently serves 35 member communities across Montana.

For more information about the Montana Main Street Program, visit COMDEV.MT.GOV.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
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Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning followed by scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening, then skies turning partly cloudy overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
After Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836, it became its own independent country and was named the Republic of Texas. During the years 1836-1846 immigrants moved here from various countries in Europe hoping to find a better life in the Republic in Texas. These immigrants took a chance and left their homes and countries to start a new life in a beautiful place with lots of land, rivers and mild climate. In areas where they settled in the Republic, you can still see evidence of their culture, hear their different languages being spoken and see their influence on the area they chose to settle.

Life was different back in those days. The capital was located in Houston. There was not much money in the Republic because so much money had been spent on the war. There were not many roads to get from one town to the next and there were still attacks from Indians and Mexican troops near the border. The Republic wanted new people to move here to build towns, schools and roads for our new country. Our new government wanted people to move here from Europe to start new lives here. To help attract European immigrants to Texas, the empresarial system was used to designate colonies and bring immigrants here.

Three of the most famous empresarios were Henri Castro from France and two Germans named Henry Fisher and Burchard Miller. In 1842, Henri Castro persuaded 600 families and men to move from their homes in France and come live near San Antonio, Texas. They started a colony called Castroville named after Henri Castro. Castro hired 27 ships and brought over 2,000 farmers from France to start new lives in Texas. In return for the French people leaving their homes, friends and country, Mr. Castro gave them a ship ride over to Texas, 320 acres, a house and tools to start their first farm. All of this only cost $240.00. In return, Castro gave all his colonists approximately 300,000 acres of land. The ship ride was very difficult and would take months to get to Texas from France. They would land in Galveston, Texas and take horses and buggy rides from Galveston to their new community and the trip was long and hard and would take many weeks. Back then, a horse and buggy could only travel about 10 miles a day.

Also in 1842, Henry Fisher and Burchard Miller were two empresarios who helped bring 6,000 German, Swiss, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish families to settle on 3 million acres between the Llano and San Saba Rivers. These immigrants moved away from their countries and chose to move to Texas where costs were cheap and taxes were not high.

A small number of European immigrants moved to Texas from Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. The Swiss immigrants settled in the northern part of Texas. They helped to bring dairy farming to Texas. The first Swedish immigrants settled mainly in the towns of Galveston and Houston. The first Norwegian immigrants settled near the Dallas area and in East Texas.

The largest groups of immigrants to move to Texas were from Germany. During 1836 and 1846 over 35,000 immigrants moved to Texas from Germany. They did not speak English and only spoke German. They had to learn a brand new language when they arrived in our country. They settled mostly in the areas of New Braunfels, Texas and Fredericksburg, Texas. Both of these towns have a strong German influence still seen today. You can still hear German accents spoken when you walk down the streets visiting these towns. You also still see some of the German influence in many of the buildings and homes were built with an architecture style from Germany. German foods like sausage, sauerkraut, German potato salad and German beer are very popular in these towns today. One of the largest water parks in the United States today is called the Schlitterbahn, which is a German word meaning slide. The Schlitterbahn water park is located in New Braunfels, Texas and was built with a German theme to remind us today of the strong German culture in this area. New Braunfels and other towns have yearly festivals called the Wurstfest and Oktoberfest that honor all the German people who immigrated here and to celebrate all the German traditions still seen today.

The European immigrants sacrificed greatly by leaving their family and friends in their home countries of Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and many more and took a chance moving to Texas and starting a new way of life. Many died from the long trips over the ocean and malaria from mosquitos when they landed in Galveston. They slept in tents for months while waiting for their homes to be built, but coming to the new frontier of the Republic of Texas was worth it. Texans today owe gratitude for the sacrifices made by the European immigrants to settle Texas and start farms, build towns, hospitals and schools and they contributed to the creation of the Texas we have today.

Tanner Hedrick is a seventh-grader at Midland Christian School. He is the son of Stephanie Hedrick and Larry Hedrick.
James Durbin

Ms. Leeders claim that long-term studies on the impact of hydraulic fracturing on water systems are not available at this time is simply not true. Researchers have investigated that topic for years, and their studies consistently show minimal risks associated with fracking.

For example, after half a decade of study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a report in December 2016 that showed no evidence of widespread water contamination from fracking. The EPA spent $30 million preparing the report, and even expanded the definition of fracking to include surface activities and other processes that are common with all oil and gas development.
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Reverend Terry Garrett, in his 64th year, Surrendered his Soul Tuesday from Tulsa. His Sacred Farewell, 10:00 AM, April 30, 2022, Worship Community Center, and until then, he will rest in Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Alabama. biglowfunerals.com
Medical workers prepare the COVID-19 vaccine at a health center in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Jan. 13, 2022. Slovenia launched a massive three-day vaccination campaign on Thursday to curb the fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

LJUBLJANA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia launched a massive three-day vaccination campaign on Thursday to curb the fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Until Saturday, vaccination centers across the country will be open at least 12 hours a day with no appointment needed.

"We are expecting a bigger number of patients (than usually) to come in, so we are prepared with bigger teams to vaccinate, and we are ready to vaccinate anyone who comes," Haris Mustajbasic, a vaccination coordinator in a health center in Ljubljana, told Xinhua.

Although Slovenia started its vaccination campaign more than a year ago, so far only 57 percent of the country's 2.1 million population have been fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Janez Poklukar visited several vaccination centers on Thursday and told reporters that "I am glad there is a lot of interest. This will help us master the pandemic together and return to the life that we knew before the outbreak."

"We have 153 patients in intensive care units today," he said. "Ninety percent of them have not been vaccinated. So, I again invite the public to take part in the vaccination days that we have organized."

Slovenia has been fighting COVID-19 since March 2020. To date, it has logged 512,793 confirmed COVID-19 cases and has lost over 6,000 people to the coronavirus, the National Institute of Public Health said. 

A medical worker administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a man at a health center in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Jan. 13, 2022. Slovenia launched a massive three-day vaccination campaign on Thursday to curb the fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A medical worker prepares the COVID-19 vaccine at a health center in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Jan. 13, 2022. Slovenia launched a massive three-day vaccination campaign on Thursday to curb the fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a health center in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Jan. 13, 2022. Slovenia launched a massive three-day vaccination campaign on Thursday to curb the fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)
A 28-year-old man from Surfside Beach pled guilty Wednesday to reckless homicide by operation of a boat, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office.

On April 11, 2021, John Rays boat was travelling south on the Intracoastal Waterway when it struck a fixed dock near Waterway Drive in Myrtle Beach, according to the solicitors office. The victim, Corey Parag, was seated in the bow of the boat and was killed in the crash.

One dead after boating accident on the Intracoastal; boat operator arrested One person died and at least two were injured in a boating accident on the Intracoastal Wate

Agents with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded to the crash and found Ray to be under the influence of alcohol, the solicitors office said in a news release. Investigators said Ray had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14, which is close to twice the legal limit.

Judge Steven John sentenced Ray to seven years in prison, suspended to just three years in prison with another five years of probation after release. Ray will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing during his probation.

I would like to thank the agents with the SCDNR for their excellent and timely work, which enabled this case to be brought to a swift conclusion, said assistant solicitor M. OBryan Martin, who prosecuted the case. Agents would like this to serve as a reminder to the public to be aware of the tragic consequences of such reckless behavior on our waterways, as senseless tragedies like these are avoidable.
The state's attorney general on Thursday entered the heated fray over a judge's decision to reverse a conviction in the sexual assault of a high school girl  a move that has drawn national attention and calls for his removal from the bench.

Adams County Judge Robert K. Adrian vacated the sentence of Drew S. Clinton, now 18, who was convicted during a bench trial in October of felony criminal sexual assault. Clinton was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl who had passed out during a graduation party. He initially was charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault and pleaded not guilty, maintaining the encounter was consensual.

Although the conviction carried a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison, Adrian said during a hearing Jan. 3 that he was changing the verdict to not guilty and that Clinton "has served almost five months in the county jail. ... For what happened in this case, that is plenty of punishment. That would be a just sentence."

Court transcripts show Adrian went on to lambaste the actions of those involved with the party.

This is whats happened when parents do not exercise their parental responsibilities, when we have people, adults, having parties for teenagers, and they allow coeds and female people to swim in their underwear in their swimming pool. And, no, underwear is not the same as swimming suits. Its just  they allow 16-year-old (sic) to bring liquor to a party. They provide liquor to underage people, and you wonder how these things happen. Well, thats how these things happen," Adrian said.

The decision and the comments ignited a firestorm among victims' advocates and from the victim herself, who acknowledged she had been drinking and passed out, but said she never consented and woke with a pillow pressed over her face and someone sexually assaulting her.

Several groups demanded Adrian be removed from the bench, and a change.org petition calling for charges against the judge had almost 102,000 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Thursday asked the Illinois Supreme Court to order Adrian to reinstate the original verdict and "impose a lawful sentence" in the case.

The mandatory sentencing range set by the Illinois General Assembly for felony criminal sexual assault is four to 15 years in prison. In addition to the insensitivity to the victim in this case, the judges decision to vacate the conviction and call the 148 days Clinton served in county jail plenty of punishment, demonstrates an abuse of power, Raoul said.

The attorney general contends the judge's decision undermines confidence in the judicial process and "usurped the authority of the legislative branch."

Adams County States Attorney Gary Farha applauded Raoul's action.

Victims of sexual assault often make the decision to not come forward because they believe that the criminal justice system will not believe them nor protect them. The victim in this case took the brave steps of reporting the crime, cooperating with the investigation, and testifying at trial. Because of her courage, the defendant was convicted of his crime. There is nothing more frustrating and disheartening to our community, this victim, and to all victims of sexual assault when any defendant avoids the legal consequences of his conduct, he said.
By all accounts, it is a near certainty the Republican Party will regain control of the House of Representatives this year and is well-positioned to gain one seat and secure a Senate majority.

The only thing standing in the way is Donald Trump.

If the national party leadership enters the midterm campaign season as the cult of Trump, the odds of returning to congressional power for the first time since 2014 will plummet.

With an unpopular President Biden, a bitterly divided Democratic Party and national dissatisfaction with the countrys direction, the Republican future is bright.

It is time to cut ties with the ex-president and halt the damaging debate over his insistence he was cheated out of re-election in 2020.

His recent unhinged rally harangues have astonished even many of his hard-core supporters and created a narrative that, left unchecked, will turn voters away from the partys congressional candidates.

For more than a year, Trump has insisted the election was stolen despite not a shred of credible supporting evidence has been presented in the more than 60 court challenges.

His response has been to stoke outrage by claiming Vice President Mike Pence had the unilateral power to overturn the election results  an argument with no constitutional or statutory foundation.

He most recently urged his followers to erupt in national mass protests if charges are lodged by vicious, racist prosecutors investigating allegations of illegal activities by his private businesses as well as by accusations he interfered in the balloting process in Georgia.

It was a call to arms to promote civil uprisings to discredit the established legal system if he or his businesses are found culpable. He followed by pledging that if elected president in 2024, he would issue pardons to anyone found guilty of Federal charges for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U. S. Capitol building.

It was the kind of fist-shaking rant history has recorded as shouted from balconies to mass audiences below.

Republican leaders are likely aghast at Trumps language and threats, but those few who have spoken out have been measured while the vast majority have remained silent.

It is indicative of Trumps iron grip on that portion of the party base that shouts in agreement when he speaks and it creates a fear that crossing the former president would alienate his dedicated followers.

His calls to cast aside the constitution and place his interests above it, incite potentially violent street protests and abuse presidential pardon authority to absolve rioters who threatened duly elected members of Congress, can no longer go unanswered.

Dismissing his actions as simply Trump being Trump is wishful thinking, a belief that Americans will grow weary of his histrionics, and hell fade into irrelevancy. They rightly point out that without the national stage given him by the White House, his voice and authority are seriously diminished. His banishment from social media platforms has hampered his reach as well.

He remains, though, a shrewd manipulator of the mainstream media. They cover his rallies, tout his fund-raising prowess and assess the strength of his candidate endorsements.

Trumps guiding principle is that the American people can never hear enough from him and the media is a willing accomplice in achieving it.

He understands that the greater his outrage, the more inflammatory and personally coarse his language, the more widespread is the coverage.

The damage inflicted on the Republican Party, though, will continue to pile up and, in the absence of a response, will become a crushing burden.

While Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell  a frequent target of some of Trumps cruelest attacks  has ignored him, it is a position that will become untenable over time.

It is time to acknowledge that Trump will not go away anytime soon, hell not retire gracefully like his predecessors and will continue to strew political havoc throughout the Republican Party.

Congressional elections are 10 months off, but serious campaigning and fund raising have already begun.

The party leadership can no longer afford a delay and drift strategy and hope Trump will talk and bluster his way out of relevancy.

The leadership must move decisively to isolate Trump and break cleanly from his incendiary rhetoric.

If not, Trump will isolate the party.
MOSCOW, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Beijing is the "safest place on the planet" given its anti-coronavirus measures taken during the Winter Olympics, an official of the International Olympic Committee has said.

"It is almost impossible to get infected with COVID-19 within the bubble," Brian McCloskey, chief of the Beijing 2022 Medical Expert Panel, was quoted by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency as saying recently.

"We look at the results of all tests every day and everyone has been vaccinated," he said.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are being held under strict anti-coronavirus measures, RIA Novosti noted. 
This home on Warne Street in Festus was significantly damaged in a fire this week, and the homeowner suffered smoke inhalation.
Arrosta

Arrosta, one part of the dual Italian restaurants from the Maverick Restaurant Group, will officially be opening its doors to breakfast and lunch service on Valentine's Day  Monday, February 14. Hours of operation will last from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to a restaurant representative.

The restaurant will provide Italian fast-casual offerings on the ground floor of the Oxbow building adjacent to Pearl. Allora, its more upscale full-service sister restaurant, is expected to begin service at the end of the month.
VIENNA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) supports the China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) and is willing to deepen cooperation with China on the initiative, UNIDO director-general Gerd Muller has said.

Muller made the remarks when meeting with Wang Qun, the Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, on Wednesday.

The GDI, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is an initiative to support the development of developing countries, promote global economic recovery in the post-pandemic era and strengthen international development cooperation.

Muller said the GDI is in line with UNIDO's mission to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development for its members.

Citing China's tremendous changes over the past 40 years as well as the country's achievement in poverty alleviation and job creation, Muller said UNIDO members, especially developing countries, can learn from China's development experience.

Wang said at the meeting that China, as the largest contributor to UNIDO, has maintained sound cooperation with the organization over the years and is willing to conduct all-around cooperation with the organization on advancing and delivering on the GDI. 
The largest school district in San Antonio is ending the temporary face mask mandate that has been in place since January. On Thursday, February 10, Northside Independent School District sent out a letter to parents about the lift of its face mask mandate.

In the letter sent to MySA, NISD is moving to "strongly encourage" the use of face masks by all students, staff and visitors while indoor and on school buses starting Monday, February 14.

"The removal of the temporary mandate is based on improving metrics in both the city and county as well as in our schools," NISD stated in the letter. "Metrics that were specifically monitored include the percentage of positive tests, cases per 100,000 residents, positive cases reported directly to our schools, number of individuals in self-isolation or quarantine, and student and staff attendance rates. All of these metrics have steadily improved over the two weeks."

Texas school districts have been in a legal battle with Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton over the face mask mandate subject. Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting school districts and local government entities from mandating masks.

Many school districts, including NISD, have sued the state by claiming it lacks the authority to prevent districts from adopting mask mandates. San Antonio ISD is one of the local districts that has kept its mask mandate in place while its lawsuit makes it way into court. In December, San Antonio ISD reinstated its face mask policy after pausing its policy on December 1 after the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored Abbott's mandate banning face mask mandate.

Northside ISD stated it will keep its COVID-19 protocols in place and include the number of confirmed cases on its website. The district added it will provide weekly website reporting and frequent sanitizing.

"Thank you for your support of our efforts to keep our schools open for in-person learning," NISD stated. "We will continue to monitor metrics closely and continue to make decisions in the best interests of students and staff."

The district lists 143 active COVID-19 cases among the campus staff, 32 for non-campus staff and 564 among students for the week of January 31 through February 6.
After losing a fight to change the name of Enrique M. Barrera Parkway in 2016, City Council has agreed to change the name to Historic Old Highway 90.

Council members approved the change back to Historic Old Highway 90 unanimously Thursday after years of community organization and push from a grassroots group called Save Old Highway 90.

The name was changed to Enrique M. Barrera Parkway in 2015, backed by then District 6 Councilman Ray Lopez. Barrera was an ordained deacon, Edgewood ISD board member, and former District 6 councilman who died in 2007.

The Save Old Highway 90 group was led by business owners who say customers were confused by the name change. The group celebrated their victory on Facebook.

Here's some other stories you might have missed.

Expect delays on I-10 in Boerne this weekend

If you're heading toward Boerne this weekend, be aware of a bridge demolition that will result in some traffic.

Read more here.

San Antonio sends largest bond package to May election

City Council placed its $1.2 billion bond package on the ballot for May 7. San Antonio's largest bond yet, the package will fund nearly 200 projects.

Here's what you need to know.

Highly-anticipated Italian eateries sets opening date

If you're looking for place for a Valentine's Day date, a pair of Italian restaurants are set to open at the Pearl just in time for the romantic holiday.

Read more here.

Last music venue on Austin's Sixth Street moving

The Parish, a longtime live music venue on the iconic road, will say goodbye to its home, which shows in more ways than one that things are changing.

Read more here.
William Luther /Staff

As San Antonio is warming up from last week's freezing temperatures, another cold front plans to blow in chilly temperatures and rain this Saturday. But don't expect the same frigid temps.

On the road again: San Antonio residents, businesses reclaim Old Highway 90 with new street name
Getty

Gov. Greg Abbott appears to be ramping up campaign efforts against opponent Beto O'Rourke. The Democrat made a stop in Austin ahead of the March 1 primary for his "Keeping the Lights On" campaign tour, which focuses on honoring lives lost during the deadly 2021 winter storm and O'Rourke's plans to fix the state power grid.

But before the former Texas Congressman began his speech in front of hundreds across the street from the governor's mansion, members of Abbott's re-election campaign distributed empty "fentanyl" pill bottles to those in attendance before being escorted from the event, according to Austin American-Statesman reporter Madlin Mekelburg.
Judge restores protections for gray wolves across much of US AP

Intricate Marble Run Machines Made Out of Cardboard Laughing Squid

To fight inflation, the Fed may resort to a tool it hasnt used since 2000 CNN

Credit Suisse managers knew clients were potential criminals FT

When A Swap Becomes A Swipe Daily Poster

The Crapification of the U.S. Economy Is Now Complete Charles Hugh Smith, Of Two Minds

Tumin: the alternative currency rebuilding community in Mexico Resilience (JP).

Laying down a marker:

Climate

#COVID19

There Is Nothing Normal about One Million People Dead from COVID Scientific American Return to normal (1): This is such an irritating take because most of the country has never "closed everything," so the insistence on "opening everything" as a proxy for shaming people for their enduring cautiousness when thousands are still being infected & dying daily is as obnoxious as it callous https://t.co/zHqFS7XSpL  Zoe (@ztsamudzi) February 10, 2022 Return to normal (2): Yes, like everyone else I want the pandemic to be over. I also wanted the Lebanese Civil War to be over, which lasted 15 years. But I didn't expose myself to sniper fire or wander into street battles just because I was tired of the war.  Peter Daou (@peterdaou) February 10, 2022 Heart-disease risk soars after COVID  even with a mild case Nature. n = 150,000 (VA database). It doesnt matter if you are young or old, it doesnt matter if you smoked, or you didnt, says study co-author Ziyad Al-Aly at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the chief of research and development for the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System. The risk was there.' Assessment of Sequelae of COVID-19 Nearly 1 Year After Diagnosis Frontiers in Medicine. n=120. The Conclusion: At the nearly 1-year follow-up, COVID-19 survivors still had multi-system issues, including those in the respiratory functioning, radiography, quality of life, and anxiety and depression. Moreover, non-severe cases also showed some sequelae and the proportion of IgG negative cases in the non-severe patients was higher than that in severe cases. Therefore, conducting follow-ups and preventing the reinfection of SARS-CoV-2 in this group is necessary.

China?

Indonesia to buy Rafale fighter jets, as US approves F-15 plan Al Jazeera

Myanmar

India

New Cold War

Biden Administration

Canada Truckers

Trump Legacy

Haberman book: Flushed papers found clogging Trump WH toilet Axios. They want Trump bacl so bad.

Big Brother Is Watching You Watch

Guillotine Watch

Thats quite an act. What do you call it?

Ladies and gentlemen, the economists! pic.twitter.com/2WFXBsrL7h  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) February 10, 2022

Class Warfare

An Ancient Geometry Problem Falls to New Mathematical Techniques Quanta

Theses on Sleep Alexey Guzey

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Countries in the region are taking greater control of the revenues generated by the minerals and hydrocarbons produced within their borders, in particular when it comes to lithium.

Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO for short) may be on course for a showdown with China, the worlds second largest economy. During his February 1 morning press conference, AMLO told reporters that Mexicos large lithium deposits were not there to be exploited by Chinese, Russian or American companies. The day after, he announced his government would set up a state-owned company to mine and refine the silvery-white metal.

It has already been decided that lithium is going to be exploited for the benefit of Mexicans., said AMLO. We are going to create a Mexican company, of the nation, for lithium.

Chinese Interests

This is unlikely to have pleased Chinese company Ganfeng, the worlds largest lithium miner, which recently acquired UK-based Bacanora, with whom it owns a stake in a huge lithium mining project in Mexicos Sonora state. Once the acquisition is approved, Ganfeng, which recently closed a deal to supply Tesla with lithium batteries, will have complete control over the mine.

But AMLOs government seems to have other ideas. Although AMLO had formerly pledged to respect the concessions awarded to mining firms by previous administrations, he now contends that those mining rights were granted for other minerals, not lithium:

When these concessions were granted, it was not for lithium but the exploitation of other minerals, and lithium is a whole other matter. It is a strategic mineral and it belongs to the nation. It is not like gold, silver, copper, it is something else. It is more like a national strategic resource such as oil.

The shift in policy has also raised the hackles of U.S. business leaders and policy makers, which elicited the following response from AMLO:

Of course there were complaints from the United States because they have different commercial interests. We dont want confrontation with anyone, we just want to defend what is ours.

Mexico is not the only nation in Latin America that is considering nationalising its lithium reserves, as so-called white-gold fever grips the planet. Lithium is a critical component of the green energy transition plans of countries like China as well as the EU. Also known as the new oil, the metal is used to make the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, and wearables.

Lithium Central

Latin America has the largest lithium reserves on the planet. Bolivia has the largest known reserves in the region (and by extension the planet) with an estimated 21 million tons of the mineral, though it is yet to find a way of successfully exploiting those reserves. Together with neighbouring Argentina (14.8 million tons) and Chile (8.3 million tons), it comprises the so-called lithium triangle which accounts for 63% of the planets known reserves. Peru and Mexico also have large deposits of the mineral.

The price of lithium is going through the roof, as demand for battery cells outpaces supply. At by end of 2021 there was a structural shortage of the metal, meaning there isnt enough capacity in the industry to satisfy demand. Spot prices for battery-grade lithium in China  where three quarters of all battery-making capacity is located  have more than quadrupled in the past year, from $11,000 per metric ton to $50,000 per metric ton, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Prices elsewhere are lower, but also going up.

Governments of lithium-rich countries in Latin America, starved of cash by the virus crisis and struggling to keep their economies afloat, want to make sure they (and hopefully by extension their voters) benefit from the lithium rush. This is part of a broader trend of growing resource nationalism in the region that has global mining companies and their investors extremely concerned. As the UK-based global risk and strategic consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft noted in August 2021, more and more countries are taking greater control of the revenues generated by the minerals and hydrocarbons produced within their borders:

Mexico stands out as seeing the largest increase in risk out of the 198 countries assessed by the RNI, driven by AMLOs nationalist agenda that wields community and environmental arguments as justification for greater state involvement in the extractive sector. Worryingly for miners and energy firms, its performance is indicative of a wider regional trend. South Americas three largest economies, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are also experiencing substantial negative shifts in the index, while the once stable mining destinations of Peru and Chile are on the cusp of political changes that will alter the operating environment for the industry.

Since then both countries have elected left-wing governments, though Pedro Castillos coalition government in Peru, now on its fourth cabinet in seven months, is desperately weak while Chiles new president, the 35 year-old former student leader Gabriel Baric, is still waiting to take office.

Before that happens, in a months time, the outgoing Pineda government has been trying to sell off the mineral rights to the countrys recently discovered lithium deposits to mining companies. They include the rights to 400,000 tons of metallic lithium or 2.129 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LME) discovered in Chiles Atacama Desert.

The contract would have awarded 20 years exploitation rights to the company or companies that won the concession. That would have probably included the Chilean mining giant Soquimich (SQM), which is majority owned by the late dictator Augustin Pinochets son-in-law Julio Ponce Lerou and which is accused of widespread corruption practices, including tax evasion, bribing ministers and government officials, breaking campaign finance laws and signing fake invoices. In the end, a judge blocked the sale of the rights to the lithium deposits in Atacama citing environmental concerns.

Environmental Risk

This raises another major issue with the lithium fever sweeping across Latin America: the potential damage it could visit on the continents environment. Boric plans to turn Chile into a strategic supplier not only of minerals  mainly copper, lithium and rare earths  but also a global powerhouse in renewable energy, by exploiting the Atacamas bountiful wind and solar power. With the revenues generated, the president elect plans to finance an ambitious program of pensions, education and public health that will help to reduce Chiles extreme inequality. But this project could also end up doing serious harm to Chiles environment.

In the meantime, global mining conglomerates want to maintain their influence over the industry. In September 2021, companies accounting for more than half of the worlds lithium output set up a global trade association headquartered in London (where else?) to represent their interests. The five founding members of the International Lithium Association (ILiA) are Chiles SQM; Chinas Ganfeng Lithium; AMG Brazil, a subsidiary of the Dutch firm AMG< Orocobre ORE.AX and Pilbara Minerals PLS.AX, both from Australia, currently the worlds largest lithium producer.

Back in Chile, mining firms and investors are fretting about two proposals that have been put before the constitutional convention, one of which would pave the way for the nationalisation of Chiles mines while the other would place strict time-limits on mining concessions. The first has already been approved. As the business intelligence portal BNAmericas recently reported, if the two proposals were passed they would utterly transform Chiles mining industry:

Earlier this week, a commission of the convention that is writing the countrys new constitution approved a proposal to nationalize Chiles natural resources such as copper, lithium, gold, silver, uranium, molybdenum, cobalt, rare earths, manganese, liquid hydrocarbons and boron to ensure the development of a sustainable economic model where there is a balance between economic activity and the protection of nature. In 1971, Chiles congress approved the nationalization of the copper industry, which led to the formation of state-owned Codelco in 1976. However, since the 1990s the industry has seen multibillion dollar investments by the private sector, including foreign companies, in new mines. The head of national mining association Sonami, Diego Hernandez, says the current proposal would mean nationalizing mining companies rather than copper, as that is already owned by the nation. With what they approved, the mining institutional framework would disappear and all the mining companies would be nationalized. Theres no distinction between major or small-sized [companies], he told Radio Cooperativa on Thursday. In an interview with CNN Chile, the promoter of the initiative, constituent member Ivanna Olivares, said that if the proposal became part of Chiles new constitution, the president would have a year to order the seizure of transnational and private major mining companies. Compensation would be based on book value, according to the proposal. There are no parameters, everything will be nationalized, she added.

AMLO wants to do much the same in Mexico. In Peru the Castillo government wants the mining companies operating within its borders not only to extract and refine lithium into a raw material for export, but also to invest in lithium-ion battery plants to transform it into a product with a higher market value, generating more and better paid jobs.

More and more governments in Latin America want greater control over the increasingly valuable raw materials that underpin their economic models, which is perfectly justifiable and long overdue. But in so doing they are pitting themselves against some very powerful interests. According to some reports, those interests have already led to the toppling of one government in the region. In 2019, Bolivias then President Evo Morales suffered a coup which he blames in large part on companies with commercial interests in the lithium sector, including TESLA whose CEO Elon Musk famously tweeted: We will coup whoever we want. Deal with it!
Yves here. This post does a very good high level job of unpacking the procedural and substantive issues in a potentially important Supreme Court case.

By Lexi Smith, a third-year student at Yale Law School who studied environmental science and public policy as an undergraduate at Harvard and then worked on environmental policy for the Mayor of Boston. Originally published at Yale Climate Connections

The Supreme Court in late February is to hear West Virginia v. EPA, a case challenging the Environmental Protection Agencys authority to regulate greenhouse gasses as pollutants. This site in November explored best- and worst-case scenario outcomes from the perspective of climate action advocates based on arguments in initial briefs filed by parties to the case.

This update surveys some of the key legal questions on which the case may turn, including those detailed in a new round of briefs from the litigants and from outside groups.

Standing, in Absence of an Adopted Regulation

The Courts decision to hear West Virginia v. EPA in the first place was controversial among some in the legal community and, in particular, among climate action proponents, and not just because of its environmental implications.

The case to be argued before the Supreme Court on February 28 concerns the Clean Air Act provision that the Obama administration relied on to create the Clean Power Plan regulation. The Trump administration later repealed and replaced that regulation, substituting the weaker Affordable Clean Energy rule, which the D.C. Circuit vacated.

The groups challenging the EPAs authority in West Virginia v. EPA are essentially anticipating the possibility that the Biden administration will use the same provision of the Clean Air Act to put forward new greenhouse gas regulations on coal-fired power plants.

That anticipatory aspect of the case is where things get complicated procedurally. To bring a lawsuit in federal court, plaintiffs must establish they have standing. Standing requires that a party show that they have been injured, that the person or institution they are suing caused the injury, and that the courts can redress the injury. Courts generally reject suits that deal with speculative injuries based on the view that under the Constitution they are to address only live cases or controversies. In other words, the federal courts cannot issue advisory opinions about situations, in this case a federal regulation not yet actually adopted or promulgated.

The Biden EPA argued in a recent brief that the challengers in this case do not have standing because there is no EPA rule currently in place that uses the Clean Air Act provision in question to regulate greenhouse gasses: The EPA brief argues that the challengers injury is speculative. As the brief puts it, the challengers real concern is that the EPA might incorporate some features of the [Clean Power Plan] into a future  rule. But the contours of such a rule are uncertain.

This argument presents a neat and easy way for the Supreme Court to hear the case without deciding its merits: The Court could decide it on standing grounds without deciding any other questions presented. Of course, the Court could later choose to hear a future case challenging eventual Biden administration greenhouse gas regulations if and when they are promulgated.

Such an approach might appeal to some of the moderate conservative Justices, who tend to favor judicial modesty and often support dismissing cases on grounds that the Court does not have the power to hear them. And the liberal Justices might support such a ruling because it would minimize potential damage both to the EPA and to the administrative state (more on that below).

But the Court chose to hear the case, doing so through its internal voting system that requires at least four votes to put West Virginia v. EPA on the docket. The exact rationale for that decision is speculative, but the case is likely attractive to conservatives because it presents an opportunity to limit the power of federal agencies, which some conservative jurists see as an unconstitutional expansion of government power. Presumably at least four Justices voted in favor of hearing the case so it can be considered on its merits, rather than dismiss it on grounds of lack of standing. The key question then involves whether those who seek to limit agency power can reach a five-vote majority on the nine-member Court. If not, a decision on standing grounds seems a likely outcome.

Major Questions Doctrine: Congress to Make Most-Important Decisions Itself?

On the theme of limiting the power of federal agencies, one argument was made more frequently and forcefully than any other in the challengers and their supporters briefs: that EPA lacks authority to regulate greenhouse gasses because of the major questions doctrine.

That admittedly vague doctrine essentially suggests that courts should presume that Congress wants to make the most important policy decisions itself, rather than delegating them to Executive branch agencies.

For those wanting to significantly curtail federal agencies power, the reasoning goes like this:

1) a statute is ambiguous about whether an agency has been delegated decision-making authority; and

2) granting the agency that authority would allow it to address a major question.

In that case, courts should assume that Congress did not delegate the authority. In other words, Congress would not hide elephants in mouseholes: It would speak clearly if it meant to delegate away its authority on a question as significant or as major as that involving greenhouse gas regulation.

This major questions issue is closely related to the nondelegation doctrine, discussed in this sites earlier analysis on this case. To summarize, the nondelegation doctrine argues that Congress cannot constitutionally delegate its lawmaking power to federal agencies. But although the nondelegation and major questions doctrines are related, deciding the pending case on major questions grounds could be less damaging to Executive branch agency authority more broadly.

If the Supreme Court decides the case on grounds of the major questions doctrine, the precedent would be limited to circumstances where an ambiguous law is used to justify exercise of agency authority on a major question. In other words, Congress could still delegate power over major questions to agencies, but it would have to say so explicitly in the relevant law.

In contrast, if the Court decides the case on nondelegation grounds, the Court would be saying theres a (heretofore largely unenforced) constitutional limitation on Congresss ability to delegate power to agencies. If the Court decides the case that way, the argument would ensue that Congress could not delegate power over major questions at all, no matter how explicitly it tried to do so.

Making predictions about major Supreme Court decisions is a risky business, but the Court might well favor a major questions approach over a nondelegation approach. Some of the Courts more conservative Justices may wish to enforce the nondelegation doctrine more forcefully. But such a judgment likely would be politically explosive, particularly given that a major-questions ruling still would have represented a significant (some might even say unprecedented) victory for those interested in limiting the power of federal agencies.

A somewhat subtler approach would likely be more appealing to Court conservatives such as Chief Justice Roberts, concerned about growth of the reputation of the Court as a partisan institution. Indeed, a brief from Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont seems to appeal to this concern about the Courts reputation. Those senators argue that a decision against the EPA could undermine the publics faith in the Supreme Court and lead to its increasingly being seen as a purely political body. The briefs for the challengers address this concern in a different way: namely by invoking the major questions doctrine rather than the nondelegation doctrine, likely because they sense it is a more appealing argument given the current makeup of the Court with six Justices generally seen as conservative and three generally described as liberal.

That said, a major questions doctrine ruling could still have serious consequences. There are many instances in which agencies must rely on ambiguous allocations of statutory authority to resolve important policy questions. Conservatives would be able to use a major questions ruling to challenge agencies in such instances, particularly because a vague line between major questions and minor questions and between ambiguous and unambiguous might make it hard to understand the scope of the ruling. (New York University Law professor Richard Reveszs brief focuses on the illogical and unworkable new standards that would come from applying the major questions doctrine to this case).

For climate action advocates, a Court ruling requiring explicit congressional language authorizing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gasses in the energy sector could be devastating. Given current gridlock in Congress, passing such a law would be extremely challenging, and in the meantime, the Biden administration would be prevented from acting through EPA to create new greenhouse gas rules, at least not using the same Clean Air Act provision that the Obama administration had used.

The EPA and its supporters put forward several counterarguments against the major questions doctrine. One interesting attempt to rebut the doctrine came from the Scholars of Congressional Accountability (SCA), who filed an amicus brief in the case. SCA argued that the major questions doctrine relies on the idea that it is easier to hold Congress accountable when it passes explicit laws on major questions than when it passes authority to agencies through more ambiguous laws. The SCA brief found that voters, as an empirical matter, dont really make choices in this way, meaning that the supposed justification for the major questions doctrine is faulty. Given that most voters dont closely follow the legislative process, SCA argued that it seems unrealistic to think limiting ambiguous delegation on major questions will lead to a boost in congressional accountability.

Several other briefs supporting the EPA, including one from 192 current members of Congress, argue that Congress intentionally gave EPA authority to regulate the power sector through the Clean Air Act, including in transformational ways. The National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors made a different but related argumentthat the Courts own precedents, including a 2011 case concerning EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions called American Electric Power Company v. Connecticut , have already established EPAs authority to regulate under the Clean Air Act. The two groups argued therefore that the major question at issue has already been settled and that the major questions doctrine does not apply.

Judicial Deference to Executive Branch Agencies

The challengers to EPA rulemaking on this issue raised another argument that could have serious implications for federal agency power. They suggested that courts should abandon a longstanding practice of giving deference to Executive branch decisions.

Under current precedents, courts generally defer to federal agencies interpretations of the laws that grant their powers where those laws are ambiguous. In this case, the EPA argues that the Court should defer to EPAs interpretation of the Clean Air Act, an interpretation which gives the agency power to regulate greenhouse gasses.

This practice is known as Chevron deference, named for the 1984 environmental casewhere it was introduced. In recent years, some conservative justices have questioned Chevron deference and have signaled a willingness to overrule it. One of the groups that filed an amicus brief in support of the challengers, the Claremont Institutes Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, argues in its most recent brief that the Court should use this case to do away with the Chevron deference.

Doing away with the Chevron deference would be catastrophic for environmental regulation. Chevron is justified in part by federal agencies expertise in the areas where they regulate. Allowing agencies like the EPA to interpret complex laws like the Clean Air Act recognizes agency professional civil servants extensive knowledge of the regulatory schemes they implement and of the underlying science. If Chevron deference were overturned, courts interpretation of ambiguous statutes would routinely win out over the agencies interpretations, significantly limiting agency power, especially in light of the many conservative appointees to the federal judiciary in recent years.

Despite conservatives growing interest in overruling Chevron deference, there are indications the Court may be unlikely to overrule it in this case. Tellingly, only one amicus brief (out of fifteen filed in favor of the challengers) argued for overruling Chevron, and none of the challengers themselves made this argument. While Chevrondebates are certainly something to watch for in future years, this relative silence on the issue suggests that the challengers do not think overturning Chevron is likely to happen in this case.

A Few Observations and Takeaways

As with so many hot-button cases in recent years, the outcome of West Virginia v. EPA seems likely to come down to the moderate conservative Justices who represent the swing votes on the current Supreme Court. Both sides briefs seem to try to appeal to these Justices.

The federal government under President Biden emphasized judicial modesty through its standing arguments. The challengers emphasized the separation of powers and possibility of limiting the administrative state through their major questions doctrine arguments. But they largely stopped short of making more sweeping and controversial arguments involving the nondelegation doctrine and the possibility of overruling Chevron deference. Both sides couched their arguments in textualist terms, the preferred interpretive method of the Courts six conservative Justices.

If swing Justices, such as Chief Justice John Roberts, decide not to involve the Court in a highly controversial case for the sake of preserving its institutional reputation, the case could be decided on grounds of the challengers lacking standing. If they instead choose to reach the merits, a major questions doctrine ruling may appeal to moderates more than nondelegation or Chevron deference rulings. The Court alternatively could decide the case on narrower grounds entirely, perhaps focusing only on the text of the Clean Air Act provision in question and limiting the implications of the case for other federal agencies.

The oral arguments before the Court, scheduled for February 28, may shed some light on individual Justices thinking. But only time will tell whether this case will change the landscape for greenhouse gas regulation and for federal agencies more broadly. A Court decision on the case likely will not be issued until close to the end of the current term in June.
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.

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NANNING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The customs authority of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said on Thursday that it recently refused the entry of 77.48 tonnes of solid waste into the country.

The waste was declared at customs as zinc oxide powder, but the relevant departments identified the substance as solid waste, according to the customs office in the coastal city of Fangchenggang in Guangxi.

Customs at Qinzhou Port also seized 50.4 tonnes of solid waste recently, and subsequent procedures for dealing with the waste are underway.

Chinese law prohibits the entry of solid waste into the country. 
Legal bill for anti-tax measure is $700K and rising

Metro on the hook after Davidson County Election Commission decided to hire outside counsel
(Natural News) Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has sent a letter to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) denouncing the way the Catholic church and governments are responding to the coronavirus pandemic and accusing them of forming part of a globalist conspiracy to control the worlds population.

The letter comes after a previous letter he sent in October asking the USCCB to reconsider the moral implications of their approval of a Vatican document that encouraged Catholics to get vaccinated against COVID-19 went unanswered. On that occasion, he pointed out the lack of data on the vaccines and their components.

The new missive, dated January 27, describes the earlier letter as being about the moral liceity, effectiveness, and dangerous nature of the experimental gene serums which are supposedly vaccines against Covid.

It may be controversial phrasing, but its not wrong to say that these so-called vaccines bear little resemblance to traditional vaccines in the sense that they do not stop people from getting or spreading the very diseases they claim to protect against. The fact that they only reduce symptoms for some people means they really only protect the person who is receiving them, completely obliterating the argument that people should get jabbed for the greater good of their community.

Vigano said in the earlier letter that he knows it may not be popular to come out against the jabs, But as Shepherds of the flock of the Lord, we have the duty to denounce the horrible crime that is being carried out, whose goal is to create billions of chronically ill people and to exterminate millions and millions of people, based on the infernal ideology of the Great Reset formulated by the President of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab and endorsed by institutions and organizations around the world.

Vigano also takes the USCCB and CDF to task for trying to guilt Catholics into believing that getting the experimental vaccine is somehow their moral duty and will actually protect others. Instead, he says the globalist vulgate are the ones who will benefit from these vaccine campaigns.

He wrote: The multiple Vatican endorsements of the criminal mass vaccine campaign confirm the full adherence of the Hierarchy to the globalist vulgate, without taking even the slightest account of the serious critiques of the so-called vaccines, both in terms of their production as well as their demonstrated ineffectiveness, the weakness of the immune system that they induce, and finally the serious side effects they entail.

He went on to say that he was not surprised that the deep church is totally subservient to the deep state. He also called out Big Pharma for the role it has been playing in all this, saying that Big Pharma is one of the principal allies of the elite in the pursuit of the Great Reset.

Archbishop is not afraid to criticize Catholic leaders

The Catholic archbishop, who once served in the role of ambassador for the Vatican to the U.S., has not been shy about sharing his opinions, particularly when it comes to church and social injustices.

In the past, he publicly criticized prominent Catholic bishops who endorsed Joe Biden when he was running for president despite his pro-abortion stance. He has also identified politicians on the left who appear to be Catholic in name only as they support political causes that go against Catholic beliefs. Referring to Biden, Andrew Cuomo and Nancy Pelosi, he said all of them proudly support abortion and gender indoctrination, and all of them are proudly in favor of the Antifa and Black Lives Matter movements that are setting entire American cities on fire.

Sources for this article include:

TheNewAmerican.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Asthma is a long-term disease characterized by wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. Asthma attacks normally occur at night or early in the morning.

It is a prevalent disease, affecting more than 300 million people and resulting to more than 400,000 deaths worldwide in 2016, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Children are the most common victims of the disease, but adults can also develop asthma even if they did not have it when they were young. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the known causes of asthma are genetic, environmental and occupational factors.

There is still no accepted cure for the disease, but asthma attacks can be prevented if a person knows the things that trigger the attacks. Tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergens, pets, molds, smoke from burning wood or grass and infections like the flu are the most common triggers, although a persons trigger(s) can be different from others.

Aside from knowing and avoiding the possible triggers, natural remedies in the form of homeopathic treatment can also be applied to prevent or treat asthma symptoms. (Related: Fed up with steroids and asthma inhalers? Try the benefits of herbs as natural treatment for asthma.)

Role of homeopathic treatment against asthma

Homeopathic Medicine, or homeopathy, was developed in the 1700s in Germany. The philosophy of this treatment is based on the idea that the body can heal itself. This means that giving a person a substance that triggers the symptoms of his/her disease, known as like cures like, enhances the bodys healing processes, allowing it to regain homeostasis. This treatment uses pills or liquid solutions containing active ingredients from plants or minerals.

In a review conducted by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy in India, researchers found that using homoeopathy in treating asthma satisfied the patients. According to the researchers, one positive effects of homoeopathy is its ability to control acute episodes of asthma. The team added that patients reported reduced frequency and intensity of asthma attacks after trying this type of treatment.

The researchers noted that one of the reasons why people opt to try homoeopathy treatment is its cost-efficiency. Their review was published in the Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy.

Homeopathic treatments for asthma

Aconite  This is a type of perennial plant that can be found throughout the temperate zones of the U.S., Canada and in many parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. It is best applied to treat dry teasing coughs especially during the winter season. In addition, it provides relief from tightness of chest or a discomforting constriction sensation. In traditional medicine, aconite extracts are given orally to treat fever associated with asthma. Also, aconite is used to treat symptoms that result from exposure to dry, cold weather or very hot weather. This is important because changes in the weather can trigger asthma attacks. However, it should only be taken in small doses as it contains an active ingredient called aconitine, which is poisonous. In fact, extracts of the plant were once used as arrow poisons. This is why in China, many species of the plant are only used for treatment after processing. In Europe, only 60 mg of the root is recommended per dose.

Arsenicum Iodatum  This is recommended to be used on asthma that is triggered by allergies from dust, pollen or certain food. It is said to work best in children who experience asthma attacks coupled with restlessness and anxiety.

Sambucus nigra (elderberry)  This is recommended for asthmatic children to give them relief from episodes of night asthma attack, which commonly includes nose blockages, congestion in the chest, nausea, pressure in the stomach and dry, suffocating cough.

In addition to these three, other homeopathic remedies for asthma include antimonium tart, chamomilla, ipecac, lobelia, nux vomica, pulsatilla and spongia.

Visit AlternativeMedicine.news to learn about other ways of treating asthma.

Sources Include:

AskDrShah.com

UofMhealth.org

Drugs.com

KidsHealth.org

WHO.int

CDC.gov

Homeopathic.com

IJRH.org
(Natural News) Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci claimed that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemics full-blown phase is over. He also hinted at when COVID-19 restrictions will end.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) made these remarks during a Feb. 9 interview with the Financial Times (FT). There is no way we are going to eradicate this virus, he told the paper. Fauci added that he looks forward to the population having sufficient immunity that the COVID-19 restrictions will soon be a thing of the past, and hopes it would be soon.

He also touched on local health authorities leading the way when it comes to making decisions related to COVID-19 instead of the federal government. As we get out of the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19, which we are certainly heading out of, these decisions will increasingly be made on a local level rather than centrally decided or mandated. There will also be more people making their own decisions on how they want to deal with the virus, said Fauci.

Contrary to what other experts claim, Fauci did not mention COVID-19 becoming endemic thanks to the more infectious yet milder omicron variant. He also opened up the possibility of COVID-19 reaching an equilibrium, in which the government no longer has to monitor infection levels. The NIAID director warned that local health departments could temporarily reimpose measures in cases where local transmission is detected.

Faucis Feb. 9 FT interview came amid several states dropping mask mandates. These include California, New Jersey, Delaware and New York  which are all led by Democratic governors. Despite this, some cities have opted to keep mask-wearing orders in place. (Related: States with mask mandates have higher COVID-19 case rates than Florida, which never had a statewide mask mandate.)

Federal data showed COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant has dropped across the United States. COVID-19 hospitalizations have also had a significant drop over the past two weeks.

Flip-flopping Fauci singing a different tune on boosters

Interestingly, Fauci made reference to natural immunity during his FT interview. He mentioned that before COVID-19 restrictions could be totally lifted, there should be enough people vaccinated and enough people with protection from previous infection.

Based on the NIAID directors 2021 interviews with different outlets, he often downplayed natural immunity in favor of vaccines. He and other officials pushed for COVID-19 vaccines as the only way to stop the pandemic.

Fauci also responded to criticisms that public health officials had been overly reliant on the COVID-19 shots to keep the disease at bay. Right from the beginning of the outbreak, we were testing for therapeutic approaches, he said. The infectious disease doctor pointed to remdesivir, which was found within the first month of two of the pandemic, as one of these interventions that can keep patients out of the hospital. However, this drug was found to cause more harm than good  causing kidney failure in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Fauci also touched on booster doses in his interview. According to the White House chief medical adviser, he does not think every American would need regular vaccine boosters to stay protected against COVID-19.

It will depend on who you are. But if you are a normal, healthy 30-year-old person with no underlying conditions, you might need a booster only every four or five years.

His recent interview contradicted remarks he made months prior. In August 2021, Fauci insisted that Americans will likely need to be boosted against COVID-19. Were already starting to see indications of some diminution [in vaccine-induced immunity.] Inevitably, there will be a time when well have to get boosts. No vaccine, at least not within this category, is going to have an indefinite amount of protection, he said at the time.

More related stories:

Here come the endless COVID booster shots! Fauci says its likely, inevitable theyre never going to end.

Fauci floats the idea of injecting eligible Americans with COVID booster shots every six months.

Fauci shifts goalposts, redefines vaccine to include booster shot.

Fauci claims fourth COVID dose is entirely conceivable.

Watch the video of Dr. Anthony Fauci putting forward the possibility of a second COVID-19 booster.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Visit FauciTruth.com for more stories about Faucis inconsistent guidance on COVID-19.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

FT.com

CNBC.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Around 80 percent of serious cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in Israel are fully vaccinated. Nearly four in five of the most severe COVID cases at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center are reportedly people who have had at least three injections, said Jacob Giris, the facilitys director.

The vaccine has no significance regarding severe illness, which is why just twenty percent of our patients are unvaccinated, he said.

Israel has now moved on to its fourth dose of vaccines for some citizens despite indications that these are ineffective against the omicron variant.

Giris said that there is also some confusion in reporting the cases. Defining a serious patient is problematic. For example, a patient with a chronic lung disease always had a low level of oxygen, but now he has a positive coronavirus test result which technically makes him a serious coronavirus patient, but thats not accurate, he said. The patient is only in a difficult condition because he has a serious underlying illness.

Israel as Pfizers world lab

Due to the critical nature of COVID-19, governments allowed for vaccine procurement deals without worrying too much about pricing or data-sharing arrangements. Upon the commencement of the jab administration, Israel was only using Pfizer to vaccinate a large section of its population, serving as a world lab for the company.

We knew that it is very appropriate for humanity to be able to select one country so that we can demonstrate what the vaccination of the people can do to the health index, the health of the people, Bourla said about the vaccinations.

By March 2021, Pfizer revealed their plans to allow teenagers ages 12 to 15 to begin receiving their vaccinations within the next six months, with younger children ages five to 11 getting their own doses by the end of the year. (Related: Data show COVID vaccines are a spectacular failure.)

However, the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccines was in question only four months later due to another outbreak in Israel, which involved the transmission of the infection from a fully vaccinated COVID patient to 16 healthcare workers, 23 exposed patients and two family members.

The vaccination rate among the exposed individuals was at 96.2 percent, with 151 healthcare workers and 97 patients, 14 of which became severely ill or died. Only two unvaccinated patients developed a milder version of the disease.

This issue was said to have been caused by the waning efficacy of the vaccine a few months after its administration. Reports of breakthrough infections also increased, challenging the assumption that high universal vaccination rates would eventually lead to herd immunity.

In the Israel study, all transmissions between patients and staff occurred between vaccinated and masked individuals. This means that even back in July 2021, there is something to learn about Israels vaccination program, and its that vaccination did not prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. Despite 96.2 percent of the exposed population being vaccinated, it did not stop the infection from advancing rapidly with high viral loads. (Related: Majority of hospitalized COVID patients are fully vaccinated, report reveals.)

Vaccinated individuals account for majority of COVID cases worldwide

The numbers are not unique to Israel. The British government also claimed that children are 52 times more likely to die following COVID vaccination, and mortality rates were greater in younger age groups that received two doses of the vaccine.

New South Wales, which has a 91.5 percent vaccination rate for qualified individuals, found that it did not deter cases from skyrocketing to unprecedented levels since its previous peaks in September 2021.

For the unvaccinated, COVID cases remain treatable, with 99.4 percent of unvaccinated individuals above 12 years found to be able to recover from the disease. Moreover, unvaccinated children under 18 also have a minor death rate of only 0.1 percent.

More related stories:

Fully vaccinated individuals make up majority of COVID cases and hospitalizations in NSW.

Numbers dont lie: British children 52 times more likely to die after COVID shot.

Czech Republic Supreme Court: Vaccination requirements set by government are invalid.

Canada health chief suggests vaccines and mask-wearing be made voluntary.

High excess death cases worldwide linked to COVID vaccines.

Watch the video below to learn more about how the vaccinated individuals are catching COVID.

This video is from the OnlyTruth4Me channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyExpose.uk

RiotTimesOnline.com

LifeSiteNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Italian microbiologist Andrea Crisanti debunked Italys official narrative on the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths, saying that it is not the unvaccinated who are dying from the disease.

Crisanti interpreted the latest available data on television program Laria che tira on February 2, saying that the 437 deaths recorded the day before are mostly vaccinated people. He added that the number of unvaccinated who died in the intensive care unit is only 20 to 30 per day.

He also criticized the use of face masks, saying they dont do much outdoors, as well as the lack of transparency of data from clinical studies, adding that by now, scientists should know whether or not a third dose is protective.

Crisanti is also highly critical of the World Health Organization, which he said has its guidelines completely wrong. Their bureaucrats were far away from the problem and far away from the science.

Despite the continuing cases in the country, Prime Minister Mario Draghis administration met on February 2 to discuss how to ease guidelines and mandates. The government is set on streamlining its quarantine rules for schools and children, who face up to 10 days of isolation in case of positive test results. A cabinet meeting will also be held at a later date in Rome to cut the isolation time to five days for vaccinated children. (Related: 12 European countries roll back covid restrictions, Israel scraps green pass.)

Crisanti made waves back in 2020 as a contrarian who broke initial WHO guidelines on testing for the new coronavirus. While the organization was advising governments to test only those who showed symptoms of the virus, Crisanti, a professor of microbiology at the University of Padua, was convinced that some people could catch the disease and spread it without even realizing they were sick.

To combat these transmissions, Crisanti called for broad testing even before the first surge in Italy in February 2020. His request was rejected by officials in the region, who relied on guidance from national and international health authorities.

All infectious diseases have an asymptomatic transmission component. The longer the asymptomatic period, the more it has the ability to transmit, Crisanti said back then. The WHO guidelines were wrong.

Europe on the way to pandemic exit

Meanwhile, the rest of Europe is looking to roll back pandemic restrictions as efforts to control the virus have been futile. Politicians across the region are now deeming public health measures unnecessary.

Despite the virus spreading rapidly across the continent, the alert levels have dropped. (Related: WHO: Omicron variant could spell end of pandemic in Europe.)

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said its time to take a different viewpoint and start unwinding restrictions despite the high number of infections. She is hopeful that her country could be rid of restrictions in February.

Switzerland is also expected to announce plans of easing measures. The Swiss government may move to eliminate work-from-home obligations and reduce or scrap quarantine periods for people who come into contact with infected individuals. They are also eyeing the withdrawal of the COVID pass that proves vaccination or recovery to visit restaurants.

The Lithuanian government also plans on easing restrictions and will drop requirements such as presenting a vaccination certificate in public areas like restaurants and sporting events.

France also loosened up its mandates, ending mandatory work-from-home rules on Wednesday and eliminating requirements on outdoor face masks. Attendance limits in stadiums and theaters have also been lifted.

Germany, however, remains disconnected from the rest of Europe, showing little inclination to loosen its measures. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also warned that the cases wont peak until mid-February.

Public health experts warn that the risk of COVID is not over and that more harmful variants can still emerge, leaving people exposed without proper precautions. The WHO also urged governments to ease gradually where possible, but continue to make use of social distancing and mask-wearing to prevent a possible resurgence.

More related stories:

Despite vaccine passport schemes, COVID cases surging across Europe.

Fresh wave of protests break out in Europe following reintroduction of COVID-19 restrictions.

New covid variant found in Europe, media claims during global hysteria campaign to push SCARIANTS.

Ireland experiencing highest number of new covid infections in Europe despite also having highest percentage of adults fully vaccinated.

British clergy warn COVID vaccine passports will lead to medical apartheid as protests against mandatory vaccinations spread across Europe.

Watch the video below to learn more about COVID hospitalizations.

This video is from the WalkInVerse channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates.

Sources include:

FreeWestMedia.com

Bloomberg.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
GENEVA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- A group of UN human rights experts on Thursday called on Canada to urgently repatriate from Syria a woman who has life-threatening illnesses.

The woman, named Kimberly Polman and a Canadian national, has been detained at various camps since March 2019 absent any legal charges or legal process. She is currently held at Roj camp in Syria's northeast under conditions "meeting the threshold of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," the experts said.

According to the experts, she traveled to Syria in 2015 at the behest of her future husband whom she met online.

"Victims or potential victims of trafficking should not be placed in situations that expose them to multiple forms of abuses," the experts said in a statement.

"The failure of their home State to protect individuals in such situations perpetuates and contributes to further victimization of those who have already experienced violence and trauma," the statement said.

The experts pointed out that the Canadian government has not heeded her family's requests for repatriation, for access to immediate medical health, or for assistance in replacing her Canadian passport, a prerequisite to any return to Canada.

"The Canadian authorities' outright refusal to assist her so that she has urgent access to healthcare, or at the very least to facilitate the transfer of money from her family so that she is able to improve her health and living conditions, is a clear violation of her right to health and could amount to violations of the right to life and the prohibition of cruel and inhumane treatment," the experts said.

The experts, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, said that they have been in contact with the government of Canada since autumn 2021. 
(Natural News) A recent study found that the preventive use of ivermectin against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) reduced deaths by 90 percent and the number of cases by more than 40 percent.

The study, published last Jan. 15 in the journal Cureus, involved more than 220,000 residents of Itajai city in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. All of them were offered ivermectin between July and December 2020 as part of a citywide prophylaxis program against COVID-19.

About 3.7 percent of Itajai residents who caught COVID-19 during the study period were taking ivermectin. This was considerably less than the number of people (6.6 percent) who contracted it and were not taking ivermectin.

The study also found that when used as a prophylactic, ivermectin caused a 90 percent reduction in COVID-19 deaths among Itajais population. It also found that ivermectin reduced COVID-19 infections by 44 percent in those who took it as a preventive medication.

Study co-author and endocrinologist Dr. Flavio Cadegiani told Epoch Times in an email that ivermectin must be considered as an option, particularly during [COVID-19] outbreaks. He and the other authors backed this up in their study, citing ivermectins well established long-term safety profile with rare adverse effects.

We recommend that ivermectin be considered as a preventive strategy, in particular for those at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 or contracting the illness, they wrote.

Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) President Dr. Pierre Kory lauded the findings of the Cureus study. What they found was astonishing. [The results] should convince any naysayer, he said during an appearance on Epoch Times American Thought Leaders. Incidentally, Cadegiani is also a founding member of FLCCC alongside Kory. (Related: New study on Ivermectin should convince any naysayer: Dr. Pierre Kory.)

According to Cadegiani, he and his colleagues also plan to publish further findings about COVID-19 hospitalization rates. These would be based on the study involving Itajai residents, he added.

Study results undermine Big Pharmas push for vaccines

However, the paper by Cadegiani and his co-authors was not without criticism. One tweet by Australian epidemiology graduate student Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz dubbed the study as flawed, alleging that the confounding factors such as occupation and risk factors were pretty inadequate given the purpose.

Katz further described the study by Cadegiani and others as a fairly simple example of observational research that youd do on routine medical data.

The Brazilian endocrinologist called the criticism unfounded, saying that researchers controlled all relevant factors in their study. The inability [of critics] to focus on the data provided by the study itself is proof of the [extremely] high quality of the study. To us, this is the best observational study on COVID-19 to date, with a power almost equivalent to a huge randomized clinical trial, said Cadegiani.

Kory had a different opinion on criticism about the study. He argued that the lack of media reports on the Brazilian study, despite being peer-reviewed, highlights how mainstream media outlets and scientists ignore developments that go against the narrative.

You would think this would lead major headlines everywhere  and yet, nothing. And this is not new, the censorship of this highly effective science and evidence around repurposed drugs. The censoring of it, its not new. Its just getting more and more absurd, and it has to stop, he said.

The FLCCC president also took aim at government agencies continuing to turn a blind eye on ivermectin despite its effectiveness. India, Brazil and other countries have used ivermectin to address COVID-19, but U.S. authorities advise against its use for the sickness  to the point of actively suppressing it. Its about the pharmaceutical industrys capture of our agencies and how our policies are all directed at suppressing and avoiding use of repurposed drugs, said Kory.

More related stories:

Japanese study finds that ivermectin is safe and effective for treating covid.

Brazilian city cuts COVID hospitalizations, mortality in HALF by using ivermectin.

Widespread ivermectin use has caused a 97% drop in coronavirus cases in Delhi, India.

A 5-day course of ivermectin hastens patient recovery from respiratory infection  real-world study.

Watch the video of Brazilian otolaryngologist Dr. Clarice Saba sharing how ivermectin helped some of her patients with COVID-19.

This video is from the Signposts channel on Brighteon.com.

IvermectinScience.com has more studies about ivermectins effectiveness against COVID-19.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Cureus.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Content without the right to question it is indoctrination. Its in our schools and universities. Its on NPR and the various candy-land media channels every day. Indoctrination of our school children with CRT while banning books by Mark Twain and others? For what reason? Apparently, the lefts misinformation cant withstand any opposing viewpoints. It wont tolerate any description of life in early America, no matter how accurate the portrayal.

(Article republished from RumorMillNews.com)

Have you noticed how any time an entertainer, media personality, or even a politician on the fringe, steps out of the lockstep mantra of the Progressives, they get slapped down? Joe Rogan is just the latest example. The libtards were just fine with Rogan until he made the unforgivable mistake of speaking his truth, of inviting people with opposing views to the approved rhetoric, on his program. He is receiving the worst cyber spanking Ive seen in some time.

So, my question to Rogan is, why are you placating these stasi social media owners? You might be a liberal, but you are no longer a blind one. When you got COVID and chose to use common sense proven drugs to cure yourself, you might just as well have started wearing, I Love Trump T-shirts on your show.

Instead of licking the boots of Spotify owners, why dont you do what people like Alex Jones or Mike Adams did after being brutally censored? Create your own site. Take your 11 million viewers with you. Maintain your right to free speech. Its okay to have people on the program who have opposing views. Because those of us with critical thinking skills will quickly suss out the liars, the biased, and the bought-and-paid-for mouthpieces.

It should be obvious, even to the sheeple, that the socialist indoctrination we are being force-fed, cannot stand up to the truth, which is why they are in such a hurry to ban free speech and penalize any who still speak their truth.

Look at the way the Dem libtards have gone after Senators Manchin and Sinema for refusing to go along with these Marxists thugs. I respect both of these politicians for not caving to the pressure to step back into the Party line.

If we want our Constitution and Bill of Rights to survive into this new century, we are going to have to elect people of conscience, not people of a political party.

So now, our faux president has promised to select a black woman to the Supreme Court? Is it because she will guarantee the continuation of our Constitution? Or is it because it projects an image of inclusiveness? The color of her skin and her sex are more important than her integrity or her respect for the law of the land?

Okay, I have a suggestion, Mr. Biden. How about Cynthia McKinney? Shes black. Shes a lawyer. And best of all, from your point of view, she is a Democrat. From what I know of her, and I supported her run for president, she is ethical and a staunch supporter of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as far as I could tell. As always, my favorite president had a solution for every problem.

In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson

We in America do not have government by the majority-we have government by the majority who participate. All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. Thomas Jefferson

So, if you want to know why those in power and authority are working overtime to silence our freedoms guaranteed in the first amendment, this is why. If we allow these power-hungry Elites to stop our march toward freedom, we might just as well march meekly into the FEMA indoctrination/re-education camps. If enough people show up and hand out food, water, fuel, and money to the Canadian truckers, there wont be enough Brown Shirts to stop them. Protests around the world need to be supported by massive numbers of those of us who want to live in a free society. Now is not the time to pull back in fear. Socialism cannot withstand the light of day. Let us individually shine our light everywhere.

Read more at: RumorMillNews.com
(Natural News) It seems pretty obvious that the Biden regime purposely dismantled President Donald Trumps highly successful immigration and border enforcement policies for the express purpose of flooding our country with drugs and illegal migrants.

Thats the only way to explain why on Joe Bidens first day in office his handlers would have him sign a stack of executive orders completely dismantling Trumps policies: They knew it wouldnt take long for record numbers of migrants and drugs to begin streaming into our country.

But now, a year later, border states run by Republicans are beyond fed up with the invasion of migrants and rampant drug smuggling, and one of them  Arizona  appears poised to essentially nullify the federal regimes borderless policies like blue states ignored federal laws against recreational use of marijuana during Obamas reign (remember when he famously said his regime had bigger fish to fry than go after states who he suggested had a right to nullify federal pot laws?).

Earlier this week, Arizona Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich declared the massive numbers of illegal aliens streaming into the state an invasion, thus allowing for the state government to take appropriate measures.

Brnovich, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat, issued the legal opinion at the request of GOP state Rep. Jake Hoffman, noting that the ongoing migrant crisis, which includes violent actions by cartels at the border, meets the definition of an invasion as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, The Epoch Times reported.

The on-the-ground violence and lawlessness at Arizonas border caused by cartels and gangs is extensive, well-documented, and persistent. It can satisfy the definition of actually invaded and invasion under the U.S. Constitution, the opinion says.

Two conclusions flow from this. First, the federal government has a duty to protect Arizona under the Invasion Clause. Second, Arizona retains the independent authority under the State Self-Defense Clause to defend itself when actually invaded, the opinion continued.

We were asked for an opinion and are thus providing Arizona policymakers with our legal analysis, Brnovich added in a statement. The Constitution recognizes Arizonas interest and power to defend herself from this type of invasion.

Though he issued the opinion as state attorney general, it is now up to GOP Gov. Doug Ducey to either accept and enforce the opinion or reject it. If he does accept it, then as commander-in-chief of Arizona, Ducey has the authority to find ways to defend Arizona from the invasion, according to Brnovichs office.

Duceys communications director, CJ Karamargin, told the outlet that Ducey deployed the Arizona National Guard to the border in April 2021 and then extended the mission in August of last year to give our law enforcement the support they need to fight this criminal activity.

Arizona has and will continue to protect our communities with our National Guard, our Border Strike Force and in partnership with local law enforcement, Karamargin said, going on to correctly note that the Biden regime has totally failed to address this very real public safety and humanitarian crisis.

Karamargin then took a swipe at Brnovich, however.

For Attorney General Brnovich to imply the Guard is not on our border does them a serious disservice and shows that he fails to appreciate the commitment these men and women have to protecting Arizona, he added.

For his part, Hoffman said he was glad to see the opinion.

This groundbreaking legal opinion further reinforces what I, and my colleagues at the state Capitol, have been calling for, that Arizona under Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution has the authority to step up and protect itself from this invasion, he noted in a statement.

The human smuggling, cartel drugs and violence, sex trafficking, and other illicit activity must end, he said before calling on the governor to utilize his constitutional powers to end the invasion and secure our border.

States concerned with their own border integrity must begin to enforce their boundaries on their own because its clear the Biden regime isnt going to.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

OpenBorders.news
(Natural News) Australia is experiencing a pandemic of the fully vaccinated, with a vast majority of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, hospitalizations and deaths occurring among fully vaccinated and boosted citizens.

According to the latest data, nine out of every 10 COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and eight out of every 10 coronavirus-related deaths between Nov. 26, 2021 and Jan. 15 in Australia were among its fully vaccinated and boosted population. (Related: Australia expanding definition of fully vaccinated to include third covid injection.)

In the southeastern state of New South Wales, COVID-19 cases have increased tenfold since mid-Dec. 2021. The state broke its coronavirus infection records since the virus first struck the country in March 2020. This is despite the fact that over 94 percent of all state residents 16 years old and above are fully vaccinated, and nearly half of all adults have received booster doses of the vaccine.

On Dec. 14 last year, the state recorded 1,347 new COVID-19 cases. Exactly one month later, on Jan. 14, the state recorded 48,133 new cases.

COVID-19-related deaths in the state have also skyrocketed to their highest levels since the start of the year. New South Wales never experienced such a surge in deaths throughout the pandemic.

On Dec. 29, the state recorded only one death related to COVID-19. By Jan. 17, the state recorded 36 deaths in a single day. This is the states highest single-day tally since the start of the pandemic.

While members of the Australian media continue to claim that the current COVID-19 wave the country is experiencing is due to the unvaccinated population, the data paints a vastly different picture.

According to the New South Wales government, which publishes a weekly surveillance report for COVID-19 that contains data on infections, hospitalizations and deaths as well as the vaccination status of these cases, the fully vaccinated make up the overwhelming majority.

In the latest report, published Feb. 4, the state has experienced a total of 450,603 confirmed cases since the post-vaccine omicron variant was discovered.

Of all these cases, only 55,697, or 12 percent, were unvaccinated. A whopping 372,912, or 82 percent of cases, were fully vaccinated. The remaining 21,994 cases occurred in people who were partially vaccinated (4,644) or had received their booster doses of the vaccine (17,350).

Thousands of Australians already injured by COVID-19 vaccines

Not only are COVID-19 vaccines leading to a surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths, they are also causing tens of thousands of serious adverse events.

The Australian federal government recently launched a no-fault indemnity scheme that will allow people affected by serious coronavirus vaccine injuries to receive payouts on the condition that they do not take their case any further in court.

The amount Australians can receive is, at a minimum, AU$5,000 ($3,590), but people who suffered serious injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine can be paid significantly more than that amount, plus compensation for medical costs and lost wages.

Clare Eves, head of medical negligence at Shine Lawyers, a law firm specializing in personal injury compensation law, said the amount the federal government might pay out could be really significant because of the vast number of people who were negatively affected by the vaccines.

Adverse events  for the people it does impact, its really quite devastating, said Eves.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, it has recorded and recognized nearly 80,000 adverse events linked to the COVID-19 vaccine. This is no doubt just a small proportion of the number of people who did experience significant side effects due to the experimental vaccine.

As of mid-November, only around 10,000 of these nearly 80,000 recognized adverse event cases have registered their interest to make a claim to be compensated.

What this means is that if every single claim is approved, it would cost the Australian government at least $50 million. Eves said that significant injuries, such as brain or heart complications, could result in claims in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of Australian dollars.

People who experienced moderate to significant side effects resulting in a hospital stay of at least one night are covered by the governments payout scheme.

Claimants seeking between AU$5,000 to AU$20,000 ($14,360) need to provide evidence that the injury is related to the COVID-19 vaccine, how much they spent on medical costs and how much they lost in wages.

Claimants seeking more than AU$20,000 are required to provide the same evidence. But their claims, including death claims, will be assessed by a panel of independent legal experts. Their recommendations will decide how much claimants will receive.

The federal government has not revealed what its standard of proof will be for establishing that a claimants conditions were caused by the vaccine, leading many to be concerned that most claims might be rejected.

More related stories:

Covid booster shots will soon be mandatory in Australia.

No COVID vaccines for kids, medical experts tell Australias leaders.

Western Australia imposes MORE Covid restrictions on unvaxxed residents.

Australia now ADMITS covid vaccines are harming people, offers up to $600,000 in compensation for the seriously injured.

Whistleblower says young fully vaccinated Australians are DYING due to vaccine complications.

Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, which talks about Australias ethnic-cleansing military roundups of indigenous people.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines are making the pandemic worse at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyExpose.uk

TheGuardian.com

Health.NSW.gov.au

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Its becoming patently obvious that Joe Bidens handlers are aligned with former President Barack Obama in terms of how they view Israel and the Middle East.

Obama spent eight years downplaying Israels security concerns because hes a Muslim sympathizer, going so far as to make a horrific nuclear deal with Iran and then deliver some $1.5 billion in hard currency to the cash-strapped regime, much of which then went to support  wait for it  terrorist activities against Israel and Israeli enemies, as then-Secretary of State John Kerry himself admitted.

So, knowing that the Iranian regime supports terrorism and anti-Israel activities, why would you pay Iran off  unless you wanted to support anti-Israeli terrorism (because your boss, again, is a Muslim sympathizer)?

Fast forward five years, and many of Obamas people are now working in the Biden regime, as has become apparent after the current White House agreed to unfreeze $29 billion in assets for Iran, as the Jerusalem Post reported, and the Biden admin did so just as the Iranian regime appears to be on the verge of collapse, which would be a good thing for the entire region.

The outlet explains:

A hacktivist organization has revealed a highly sensitive Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps document that asserts Iranian society is in a state of explosion because of the crippling sanctions imposed on the nation due to its illicit nuclear program.

The US government news organization Radio Farda obtained the document from Edalat-e Ali (Alis Justice), the whistleblower entity that has also secured confidential documents and video footage about the torture of Iranian prisoners, wrote Farda.

Radio Fardas Golnaz Esfandiari, who wrote the exclusive story, notes that the document covers a meeting with IRGCs intelligence wing and quotes an official named Mohammadi saying that Irans society is in a state of explosion.'

According to Esfandiari, Mohammadi explained further that social discontent has risen by 300 percent in the past year.

The report said that the authenticity of the document could not be independently verified, but it appears to be valid given other reporting regarding the current state of Iranian society under the authoritarianism of the fanatical Islamic government.

Meanwhile, in the midst of Iranian societal implosion, the Daily Mail reported that the Biden regime lifted some sanctions imposed by the real president, Donald Trump, that included unfreezing $29 billion in assets in the hope that Iran will return to the 2015 agreement (which, again, is bad for Israel and the region).

The sell-out of Israel comes as U.S. negotiators are heading back to Vienna, Austria, for what could be a make-or-break session, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken having signed a series of documents waiving the sanctions that are linked to Irans nuclear activities, the Daily Mail added.

Resuming the waiver would be essential to ensuring Irans swift compliance if a new nuclear deal can be reached, according to a U.S. State Department official.

In other words, the Biden regime is mimicking the Obama regime  bribing Iran to make a phony nuclear deal to give the White House an equally phony foreign policy win ahead of the 2022 elections, and all at the risk of Israels national security.

As before, the nuclear deal did not stop Iranian work on a nuclear weapons program, as Israeli intelligence discovered when it obtained a trove of Iranian documents proving as much in 2018.

Iran did not come clean on its nuclear program, then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a global news conference that came on the heels of Israeli airstrikes against a pair of Iranian bases in neighboring Syria and as then-President Donald J. Trump was nearing a decision on whether he wanted the U.S. to remain in the deal (spoiler alert  he withdrew from it).

All of which brings us to this question: Why do American Jews continue to overwhelmingly vote for a Democratic Party that hates their homeland and constantly works to endanger it?

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk

JPost.com
(Natural News) (Op-ed) Pandemic restrictions are coming to an end based on ZERO science because a crisis actor named Leana Wen says they are. The science has changed, she says on CNN, just a few months after demanding every Americans 100 percent compliance to getting vaccinated, wearing masks all day, and social distancing by exactly six feet at all times. Without citing any studies or data whatsoever, the former president of Planned Parenthood has admitted the science changes, meaning its never settled. The medical tyrant has spoken on the Counterfeit News Network (CNN), so all shall obey.

So the science ISNT settled, after all. That works out just fine for healthy, freedom-loving Americans, because if the science can change on masks and lockdowns, it can certainly change on vaccines, too. And if the science can just CHANGE at any time, then what is the point of censoring people for disagreeing with the science?

Moreover, the skeptics were right, and all those who tweeted the truth who got banned, now suddenly Leana Wen agrees with them? Where are all the apologies and reinstatement of all the banned accounts?

Everyone who was banned from social media for Covid misinformation is now 100% EXONERATED by the pandemic experts at CNN

People have been all but screaming on social media that the masks and social distancing dont work, and thats based on science. Now the science reveals the so-called vaccines for Covid dont work either, so all the skeptics and anti-vaxxers are redeemed. All of their social media accounts and privileges should be immediately reinstated. Looks like all that misinformation and disinformation came from the scamdemic pushers, or the science simply changed, as it does. Either way, pandemic restrictions are being lifted across the country, and righteously so.

No more vaccines needed because the science has changed, according to CNNs fake expert who cites zero science, ever

Crisis actor Leana Wen also claims one-way masking works to protect the person wearing it. So now, somehow, the microscopic virus particles cannot penetrate the bandana of the mask wearer going into their mouth, but still have no problem coming out of their mouth and escaping their cotton-rigged apparatus?

Wen also said mask mandates for children should all be lifted because it harms kids and makes it harder for them to learn. You think? And so why doesnt this happen for teens and adults? It must be that once you become a certain height or age, suddenly your body doesnt need much clean oxygen to function, and it does just fine sucking back carbon dioxide all day.

Now Wen also claims wearing a mask should be up to the individual and not a government mandate, after she adamantly supported the US government forcibly removing all constitutional rights, travel rights, schooling rights, rights to free speech, rights to free press, and rights to shop for food for anyone who didnt comply with the mask rule all summer and fall. Why? The science has changed.

So the science can only change when a crisis actor on CNN announces that it has, otherwise, everyone must fall in line with all non-science-based theories about Covid safety coming from talking heads on the Counterfeit News Network, that brought us the fake Russia collusion hoax for four years.

Tune your internet dial to Vaccines.news for updates on experimental scamdemic Covid vaccines and boosters that cause blood clots and other horrific side effects.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

TruthWiki.org

NaturalNews.com

DailyExpose.uk

TheGatewayPundit.com
(Natural News) The chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reversed course on his stance toward mask mandates. Earlier supporting mandatory face coverings just like the rest of his Democratic colleagues, New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is now expressing support to rescind them.

The lawmaker called for a return to normal, given the dwindling number of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

[The] Democrats plan to fight COVID is working. Cases are down and vaccines are widely available. Now, its time to give people their lives back. With science as our guide, were ready to start getting back to normal, he tweeted.

Maloney also thanked President Joe Biden and Gov. Kathy Hochul for their strong science-based leadership. He also reiterated his support for rolling back mask mandates in other Democratic states, not just New York.

The lawmaker shared this sentiment during a Feb. 9 interview. He told news anchor Erin Burnett that New York and many other places are very close to dropping COVID-19 mandates. We should free as many people from these restrictions. Theres no reason for mandates at this point, Maloney said.

I think that, in a state like New York, we can stop mandating [masks] and we can leave these decisions to parents and/or local school boards, but the lowest level of government possible. I do think this is not a one-size-fits-all situation anymore. (Related: New Yorks response to the coronavirus made the pandemic worse.)

Maloney took the interview as a chance to highlight the pandemic response by both Biden and Hochul. Here in New York, we feel comfortable because of the success of the presidents policies [and] of responsible people doing the right thing, he said. The lawmaker also mentioned the governor, who was waiting to see what do about school mandates.

Masks, of course, will continue to play a role and everyone should feel free to wear one, especially if you feel vulnerable or uncomfortable. But the issue of mandates is one where, I think, we can stop mandating it, Maloney told Burnett. We should not continue these extraordinary mandates one second longer than necessary.

Pivot comes as Biden approval rating plunges

The New York legislators reversal followed the first year of Bidens presidential term. The former vice president during the Obama administration originally promised to shut down the virus during the 2020 presidential elections. However, the delta and omicron variants caused COVID-19 cases to surge across the nation.

Following the sudden case spikes, Democratic areas imposed mask and vaccine mandates to curb infections. Republican areas, on the other hand, carried on as usual  and even banned mask mandates.

It also appeared that Democratic politicians like Maloney suddenly supporting repeals of mask mandates after previously calling for them, coincided with growing sentiment against Biden. Multiple surveys reflected this idea, with respondents saying they disagreed with the presidents pandemic response.

An NBC News poll with 1,000 adult respondents nationwide from Jan. 14 to 18, 2022 showed a majority of adults disagreeing. Fifty-three percent of respondents disagreed with Bidens COVID-19 response, compared to only 44 percent who agreed.

Another poll by Quinnipiac University found more than half of respondents giving Bidens COVID-19 response a thumbs-down. The survey polled 1,313 American adults from Jan. 7 to 10. Based on its results, 55 percent of respondents disapproved of how the president handled the pandemic, compared to only 39 percent that approved.

A Jan. 10 survey by NewsNation and Decision Desk HQ also reflected strong disapproval of Bidens COVID-19 response. It polled 1,013 participants via an online survey, the results of which were published Jan. 13. Almost 55 percent of respondents said they disapprove of the federal pandemic response, while a little over 45 percent expressed approval.

More related stories:

Democratic governor of Colorado finally decides its time to go with the REAL science and end foolish, ineffective COVID lockdowns and mask mandates.

New York Health Commissioner repeals mask mandate for unvaxxed after federal lawsuit filed.

Poll: Almost no one trusts US health authorities when it comes to Covid information.

NY Supreme Court strikes down Hochuls statewide mask mandate.

Watch the clip below of a New York woman arrested for failing to mask up in the subway.

This video is from the ZGoldenReport channel on Brighteon.com.

For more stories like this, check out Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com 1

Twitter.com

Breitbart.com 2

PollingReport.com

Poll.QU.edu [PDF]

NewsNationNow.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) More than 70 years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug to treat alcoholism that scientists today have discovered is also effective at treating the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Disulfiram was found to protect rodents infected with SARS-CoV-2 against lung injury, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Up until this point, no drug had been discovered that is capable of stopping certain white blood cells called neutrophils from forming inside Fauci Flu patients, damaging their lungs. Disulfiram could be a game-changer though.

Researchers who tested the drug on infected mice found that it dramatically reduces the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs, which otherwise causes fluid to build up in the lungs, sometimes leading to blood clots.

For their trial, scientists dosed the mice with disulfiram one day before and three hours after infecting them with SARS-CoV-2. Roughly 95 percent of the mice survived compared to just 40 percent of those not treated with it.

If it really works, chances are the government will ban disulfiram

Published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation on February 8, the paper suggests that disulfiram could be useful in the management of pathologies involving NETs, including lung injuries, sepsis, thrombosis, and cancer.

As we learn more about the underlying biology of these lung injuries, we may be able to specifically target the processes that are damaging the lung tissue, added Dr. Robert Schwartz, an associate professor of medicine in the gastroenterology and hepatology division at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Currently there arent any good treatment options for COVID-related lung injury, so disulfiram appears to be worth investigating further in this regard, particularly in severe COVID-19 patients.

Earlier studies have found that the antiviral effects of disulfiram are also effective against other coronaviruses such as MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

One not-yet-published study involving human patients with moderate covid showed promising results. Another not-yet-completed study also involving humans similarly shows promise.

Other FDA-approved drugs that show promise, but that are either not accepted or even rejected by the government, include ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and fluvoxamine. The government is, however, okay with Paxlovid, which currently has emergency use authorization (EUA) for use in covid patients.

Disulfiram is still in the early stages of being evaluated for use with covid, so it may never reach mainstream status. This is especially true if the drug turns out to be amazingly beneficial like ivermectin and HCQ.

Another treatment to be banned by Fauxi and the CDC in 3  2 , joked on commenter at The Epoch Times.

Has the Biden / Fauci / Pfizer game teamed up to label this misinformation yet? said someone else. Will the medical geniuses of Facebook, Spotify, Twitter and Google ban all mention of these drugs soon?

Sounds to me like we are all the human research rats, chimed in another.

So many people are now awake to the scamdemic, noted another, that any efforts to keep a lid on this information will probably fail because nobody is buying the official narrative anymore.

Nobody with one neuron firing would EVER deign to trust anybody associated with the Govt. Medical Complex, Big Pharma, any Govt. Official EVER AGAIN, this same person wrote.

THIS conspiracy is DONE and the Elites have FAILED. If they continue to deceive, obtain money and power  They just may end up in the grave while their families are at the mercy of all they tried to enslave.

Many others agree that enough is enough, and that the time of the plandemic is now over.

More related news about the plandemic can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Political activist Lauren Witzke slammed the globalists for using Greta Thunberg in their push to inject more people around the world with the experimental Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

I feel for her. I have like a lot of compassion for her because I know shes been diagnosed with autism. They put a script in front of her and say, Hey, read this, and theyre just using her as a propaganda piece. So I have a lot of compassion for Greta Thunberg, Witzke said during her appearance as guest for The American Journal on InfoWars.

However, the people that are handling her, putting her in these positions and having her read these scripts are vile and evil, and theyre willing to use a young girl with autism to push their agenda, and that is what they are doing.

In a short video clip, Thunberg called on the international community, governments and vaccine developers to step up their game and address the tragedy that is vaccine inequity. (Related: Greta Thunberg admits to being a puppet, is now under investigation for collusion and conspiracy.)

Thunberg, who was obviously reading from a script, said: Vaccines were developed in record time. But so far on average, one in four people in high income countries have received a coronavirus vaccine, compared with just one in over 500 in low and middle income countries.

The 19-year-old Swedish environmental activist is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation, which is another issue associated with the globalists.

Witzke was also appalled by the level of arrogance shown by the globalists in the way they operate.

They have no problem letting you know what theyre about to do before they do it. Theyre so prideful, and theyre arrogant, and they like to give you the hint, Witzke said.

Witzke noticed that arrogance in the Thunberg video.

Today, up to 75 percent of all emerging diseases come from animals. And as we are cutting down forests and destroying habitats, we are creating the ideal conditions for diseases to spill over from one animal to another  and then to us. And we can no longer separate the health crisis from the ecological crisis. Its all interlinked in many ways, Thunberg said.

Shes talking about the animals again, talking about these cross species, viruses and illness, Witzke noted.

Globalists to orchestrate climate change lockdowns disguised as medical emergency

It may not be long before the globalists orchestrate climate change lockdowns under the guise of medical emergency.

Hey, this is coming next. Hey, childhood heart attack  thats coming next. But also they downplay you at the same time and say things like, Oh, its going to be because of climate change or because youre on your cell phone too much, or whatever excuse they make up. But they always let you know whats coming next because theyre that arrogant and that vile and that evil, said Witzke.

But Witzke pointed out that Republican leaders are partly to blame as they paved the way for the globalists.

We have to remember that it wasnt China or Russia that locked down our businesses, that locked down our country. It was Republican governors who participated in this, Witzke said.

They enabled the Luciferian regime as they push the experimental vaccine on the general population, on their constituents. And they did nothing. They did absolutely nothing to stand in the gap between the American people and the Luciferian globalist regime thats trying to take over the country and depopulate and exterminate us  especially White people.

Witzke noted that White people are now getting denied COVID treatment. Theyre now denying treatment to White people  early treatments. That has started and its absolutely evil.

LifeSiteNews reported last month about a leaked document from New Yorks Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) showing that state authorities are prioritizing non-White people for critical COVID-19 treatments that are in short supply.

The document released by the department shows that eligibility for these treatments, including monoclonal antibody therapy and the administering of antiviral drugs like molnupiravir, requires candidates to have a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness.

A bullet point below this criterion indicates that people who are non-White or are of Hispanic or Latino heritage should be considered as having a risk factor for severe illness, and therefore meets the DHMHs standards to be prioritized for treatment.

Non-White race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, the DHMHs document stated.

Utah is also prioritizing non-White people when it comes to accessing treatment for COVID-19. Some health systems in Texas are doing the same thing by sending non-White people to the front of the line.

In Minnesota, the states Department of Health issued a guide sheet containing suggested eligibility requirements for those seeking monoclonal antibody treatments. Included in the guide sheet is a section pertaining to race, which basically says that every other race of people except for White people should be granted automatic eligibility for these treatments.

More related stories:

In LOL moment, CNN adds Greta Thunberg to its expert coronavirus panel.

Just as we suspected, climate youth puppet Greta Thunberg is controlled by George Soros.

Off script, climate hysteria child Greta Thunberg can barely answer basic questions or explain anything.

Watch the video below to know how the globalists weaponized Greta Thunberg.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TeenVogue.com

Business-Standard.com

LifeSiteNews.com
(Natural News) A coalition of lawyers and judges from all around the world has convened to prosecute the crimes against humanity perpetrated by governments and their psychopathic puppet masters in the name of fighting covid and saving lives.

The international cohort, which calls itself the Peoples Court of Public Opinion, gathered in Germany recently to detail the many human rights violations inflicted by corrupt politicians under the directive of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

This case, involving the most heinous crimes against humanity committed under the guise of a corona pandemic, looks complicated only at first glance, said German attorney Dr. Reiner Fuellmich in his opening statement (watch below).

Grand Jury, The Court of Public Opinion Attorney Reiner Fuellmich Opening Statements (Part 1) pic.twitter.com/hHsHM5XHE5  The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) February 5, 2022

Fuellmich went on to highlight how the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic was purposely engineered by the establishment to usher humanity into a new technocratic great reset system under a centralized global power structure.

One, there is no corona pandemic, but only a PCR test plandemic fueled by an elaborate psychological operation designed to create a constant state of panic among the worlds population, Fuellmich said. This agenda has been long planned.

Covid isnt about saving lives; its about ending them

Fuellmich believes that this was all tried before with swine flu, the precursor to covid. More than a decade ago, the genocidal maniacs in charge of the planet tried to rile up the world about Pig Germs but it failed.

Fast-forward to 2020 and they apparently honed their mind control craft to convince enough of the world to play along with the scam, which is still going on some two years after it was first launched.

[Covids] ultimately unsuccessful precursor was the swine flu some 12 years ago, and it was cooked up by a group of super rich psychopathic and sociopathic people who hate and fear people at the same time, have no empathy, and are driven by the desire to gain full control over all of us, the people of the world, Fuellmich maintains.

Theyre using governments and the mainstream media to spread panic propaganda 24/7, he contends.

The fact that there are numerous easy, inexpensive and viable remedies for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) that are not allowed to be prescribed speaks volumes about the level of evil taking place here on a global scale.

Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are two of the most powerful remedies for the Fauci Flu that are next to impossible to get from the current medical system. Zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D have also been shown to fight Wuhan Germs.

Governments everywhere, however, continue to fight against these remedies, instead pushing people to get vaccinated with experimental gene therapy needles that are spreading vaccine-induced AIDS to the fully vaccinated.

Our governments are not our governments anymore, Fuellmich says. Rather, they have been taken over by the other side through their main platform, the World Economic Forum, which has started to create their own global leaders through their Young Global Leaders program as early as 1992.

Some of the first graduates of the Young Global Leaders program are plandemic names that you will instantly recognize: billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates and corrupt German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In the end, the final goal of all this is global depopulation. The shots, the masks, the restrictions, all of that is about exterminating human life, not saving it like governments claim. (Related: Deaths are up 40 percent due to covid injections.)

The latest news about the push to hold the plandemic purveyors responsible for their many crimes against humanity can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

HumansAreFree.com

NaturalNews.com
LIMA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed and 33 injured on Wednesday, after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine about 100 meters deep in the northern Peruvian province of Pataz of La Libertad department, local authorities confirmed Thursday.

The regional health department reported that the accident occurred at about 14:40 local time on Wednesday in a rural sector between the Andean towns of Tayabamba and Huancaspata.

According to the report, the interprovincial bus, belonging to the Picaflor company, was heading to Trujillo, capital of La Libertad, from Tayabamba when it skidded off the road.

People living in nearby towns arrived at the scene to help the injured passengers, who were taken to health centers in Tayabamba, Huancaspata and Trujillo.

Personnel from the National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office took charge of removing the bodies and initiating an investigation. 
(Natural News) A Spanish study has found that the post-vaccine omicron variant of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads at the same rate among vaccinated people as it does among unvaccinated people. This study led to widespread changes in the COVID-19 vaccine passport policies in Spain.

The study was conducted by leading public health and medical practitioners from the Public Health Observatory of Cantabria, the Directorate General of Public Health of the Cantabrian provincial government and the Marques de Valdecilla University Hospital. The study examined the spread of the post-vaccine omicron variant in the Cantabria province, which has recorded nearly 120,000 COVID-19 cases as of Feb. 9. Around 20,000 of those cases are still active.

According to the studys findings, the highly infectious post-vaccine variant of the virus accounted for nearly half of all infections in the province. The researchers found that one reason for this is because the omicron variants window for transmission is earlier than in previous variants.

The researchers noted that half of the infections occurred before the onset of symptoms, with only two percent of people infected with the omicron variant continuing to spread the virus after the fifth day of infection. They noted that the early stage of transmission complicates mainstream mitigation efforts even more .

This would imply that the effectiveness of measures such as screening, rapid testing or isolation would decrease significantly in the absence of preventive measures such as distance, limiting mass gatherings or social gatherings, wrote the researchers.

Perhaps the studys most consequential finding is that being fully vaccinated does not appear to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Vaccinated cases seem to have the same transmission capacity as unvaccinated people, noted the researchers during an interview with a Spanish public radio station.

The researchers, who believe in the effectiveness of the vaccines, claim that this is a departure from the post-vaccine delta variant, where other studies supposedly found differences in transmission depending on vaccination status. (Related: Columbia University study confirms vaccines and boosters DO NOT WORK against omicron.)

Study findings lead to changes in Spains vaccine passport regulations

The leading researchers in the Cantabrian study agree that their study makes COVID-19 vaccine passports pointless. Cantabrian Director-General of Public Health Dr. Reinhard Wallmann, one of the study authors, said the high contagiousness of the omicron variant made vaccine passports a measure that no longer makes sense.

Wallmann argued that, if the objective of COVID-19 vaccine passports is to reduce transmission and if that cannot be avoided with this variant regardless of vaccination status, then it is no longer effective.

Many other leading public health experts in Spain have used the Cantabrian study as additional evidence to support their claim that the vaccine passports are not effective at controlling the coronavirus.

Scientific evidence tells us that the COVID passport has had very little or no effectiveness in interrupting infections, especially with the omicron variant, said Jonay Ojeda, spokesman for the Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration. Ojeda described the measure as more gimmicky than effective.

The epidemiological situation is changing, noted Angela Dominguez, coordinator of the Spanish Society of Epidemiologys Working Group on Vaccinations. At the moment, given the evidence that transmission of the virus occurs in the vaccinated, which, really, is something that we already knew but that is more evident with the omicron variant, the COVID passport makes less sense.

Inigo de Miguel Beriain, a researcher specializing in bioethics, law and legal philosophy, said that he was one of the COVID-19 vaccine passports most ardent defenders. However, given the new evidence, he has changed his mind.

The only use of the COVID passport is to protect the unvaccinated, even against their will, preventing them from accessing places where the contagion is more likely, he said in an interview in Spanish. At this point, it is not going to make those who have not already been vaccinated get vaccinated, and it is not going to substantially reduce infections, because vaccines do not make transmission more difficult.

In light of the evidence from the Cantabrian study, a committee of scientists told the regional government in the autonomous region of Catalonia that, because of the way the omicron variant spreads, a large part of the population is once again susceptible to getting infected whether or not they are vaccinated or have already had the illness. Therefore, the effectiveness of the regions vaccine certification is reduced as an extra level of security.

Several other Spanish regional governments have announced that they are scrapping their vaccine passport requirements.

More related stories:

Columbia University says omicron has striking resistance to covid vaccines.

Expert says Omicron is a natural vaccine  no need for any more boosters.

Israel flipping out over spread of new Omicron covid strain  vaccines and boosters proving to be medically useless.

Pfizer CEO pushes for more boosters just as studies show vaccines actually make people MORE likely to catch omicron after 90 days.

Moderna CEO: Existing COVID vaccines, treatments may not work well against omicron variant.

Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, as he speculates whether the omicron variant was engineered as a self-spreading antidote to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about the omicron variant at Infections.news.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

CoronaLevel.com

ResearchSquare.com

FEE.org

EITB.eus

ElMundo.es

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Biden regime and Democrats in Congress are becoming more lawless by the day, as noted by revelations this week that U.S. Capitol Police have been breaking into the offices of GOP lawmakers and spying on them without warrants and in blatant violation of the Constitution.

In late January, Fox News host Tucker Carlson broke the news that Capitol Police have been spying on members of Congress  a stunning revelation which came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced last year that she was essentially politicizing the agency by setting up offices outside the capital and throughout the country, ostensibly to gather intelligence so as to prevent another Jan. 6 insurrection (which was nothing more than a false flag, by the way).

Capitol Hill Police are spying on elected members of Congress, their staff, and private citizens. pic.twitter.com/vo6p5CL27A  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 26, 2022

Politico provided additional details:

In another document reviewed by POLITICO, one Capitol Police official noted that [Julie Farnam, head of USCPs intelligence division] directed analysts to run background checks on people whom lawmakers planned to meet, including donors and associates. When staff were listed as attending these meetings, Capitol Police intelligence analysts also got asked to check the social media accounts of the staffers.

Analysts were also directed to probe the ownership of buildings where members of Congress held their meetings.

Is there a foreign interest or ownership in the event location? the revised template read. Are there any permanent delegations or missions in the immediate area of the event?

This process was the result of major changes Farnam, a former Department of Homeland Security intel operative, made following the Jan. 6 incident  which again, was just a government-staged false flag, as Carlson has already proven.

But a follow-up report from The Federalist this week provides even more shocking details of the depth of spying on GOP members by the USCP:

In November 2021, a USCP officer entered the congressional office of Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Tex., and took a photo of a whiteboard in Nehls legislative office detailing various legislative plans being considered by Nehls and his staff. In a formal police report filed several days after the incident, the officer wrote that he had been conducting a routine security patrol on Saturday, November 21, and discovered that one of the doors to Nehls office was open.

The report claimed that the officer entered Nehls office and found a whiteboard that contained suspicious writings mentioning body armor[.] The officer reportedly took a photo of the whiteboard, which was then passed around to analysts within USCP. The following Monday, USCP dispatched three plain-clothed intelligence officers to Nehls office and questioned a staffer who was there about the whiteboard and the legislative proposals it contained.

The body armor writings were related to the congressmans discussion, with his staff, of body armor supplied by China through a Texas firm when it was supposed to be supplied by a U.S. maker. In other words, the lawmaker was discussing legitimate business that actually pertained to his own Texas constituency  he wasnt planning an assault on the Capitol.

It should also be noted that the USCP exists solely to physically protect members of Congress and their staff; they have zero business looking into foreign threats because federal agencies are tasked with that responsibility.

Other GOP lawmakers have been targeted by the USCP as well, including Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana.

These reports are incredibly disturbing, Scott spokesperson McKinley Lewis said in a statement. It is unthinkable that any government entity would conduct secret investigations to build political dossiers on private Americans. The American people deserve to know what Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi knew and directed, and when. Senator Scott believes the Senate Rules Committee should immediately investigate.

Nehls also expressed his anger.

If Capitol Police leadership had spent as much time preparing for January 6 as they spent investigating my whiteboard, the January 6 riot never would have happened, Nehls, a former law enforcement officer, told The Federalist. When I was a patrol officer responding to a call, I didnt have the time or authority to go rifling through someones personal papers. There are serious 4th Amendment, constitutional issues at play here.

Nancy Pelosi is ultimately responsible for Capitol security and thus, Capitol Police. This unconstitutional outrage has her nasty fingerprints all over it.

Sources include:

Politico.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) (Op-ed) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is having a meltdown over being told by the courts that it must now procure the first monthly batch of 55,000 pages of data from Pfizer backing the companys Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine.

The agency had initially asked if it could get away with producing just 500 pages per month instead, which would have allowed many decades of buffer time to obscure the truth. Legal challenges are speeding up that timeline, however, and Big Pharma is really not happy about the situation.

You see, Pfizer has been raking in the mega-dough from selling its mRNA (messenger RNA) Fauci Flu shots to countries around the world. This year, Pfizer expects to generate upwards of $54 billion in sales  that is, unless its little scam completely falls apart, which is becoming more of a possibility.

In its most recent earnings report from Q4 of last year, Pfizer warned investors that things are not looking to good moving forward. It turns out that whatever is contained within the disclosures is not exactly favorable to the company and its covid injections.

Many now believe that they reveal fundamental fraud and deception as the basis behind the science that was used by the FDA to first emergency use authorize (EUA), then approve, Pfizers experimental gene therapy injection.

The Q4 earnings report explains to investors that there could be unfavorable new pre-clinical, clinical or safety data and further analyses of existing pre-clinical, clinical or safety data or further information regarding the quality of pre-clinical, clinical or safety data, including by audit or inspection revealed throughout this process.

The report further mentions that challenges driven by misinformation could affect the companys stock price moving forward, this being a signal to investors that the Pfizer gravy train is soon coming to an end due to concerns about clinical data integrity.

Now that Pfizer has made billions due to fraud, the company says covid could magically disappear entirely

Interestingly, Pfizer also made reference in its report to the fact that the time of the plandemic could be coming to an end right  how convenient!  as a critical mass of the worlds population finally wakes up to the truth about the plandemic scam.

Pfizer actually admitted in the report that the plandemic will probably now diminish in severity or prevalence, or disappear entirely  again, how convenient.

It would seem as though Pfizers goal all along was to milk the planet for obscene profits for as long as possible on the back of its vaccine scam. Knowing that people would eventually start figuring it all out, however, the plan was baked in such a way as to hide all of the incriminating clinical trial data until 2076 when many of the people currently alive are long gone, allowing Pfizer and its investors to run with the cash scot-free.

These devious plans are now getting thwarted, thankfully, as the 2076 timetable is moving closer towards a now timeline due to ongoing lawsuits. This has basically forced Pfizers hand, resulting in a death knell for its stock price.

How would a trial for crimes against humanity impact the business? asked someone at Zero Hedge, reading the writing on the wall.

It wasnt for nothing, said someone else about the persistence of lockdowns and mandates, which we now know did nothing to stop the spread.

It was for depopulation, profits, control and they probably were able to figure just the right formula to get most of the population to drop dead at about the same time. Brought to you by Pfizer.

More related news about Pfizers deadly covid injections can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Poland has declared that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemics conclusion is now in sight. The countrys health minister made this declaration with the hope that the country will soon return to the pre-pandemic normal.

During a Feb. 9 press conference, Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said he expects infections to significantly decrease. This would reduce the chances of Polands health system being overwhelmed and put the Polish government in position to ease restrictions in March.

The minister explained that his very serious declaration was based on the characteristics of the pandemic in other countries. Niedzielski mentioned countries that are now lifting restrictions following a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant. He claimed that Poland is on the same trajectory.

From my point of view, and as often as I have been a pessimist, I am now optimistic. We have the beginning of the end of the pandemic, Niedzielski told reporters.

The health minister expressed this optimism during a separate interview with the Polish tabloid Fakt. If the tempo at which infections are falling remains the same, there is a realistic prospect of lifting restrictions in March, he said. (Related: Czech Republic scraps vaccine passport requirements and other mandates.)

Last month, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he hopes the omicron-driven COVID-19 wave would be the last one to hit the country. The Polish leader also pledged to transform his COVID-19 advisory board into a council with two main tasks  combating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and developing a post-pandemic recovery strategy.

The Central European nation has seen a decrease in active COVID-19 cases in a span of several days, with only a slight increase on Feb. 9. According to numbers from Johns Hopkins University, Poland has 5.26 million COVID-19 cases and 107,204 deaths.

Poland slowly easing restrictions alongside EU neighbors

Niedzielski also announced several changes to COVID-19 restrictions currently in place during the Feb. 9 press briefing. His announcements put Poland in line with its neighbors in the European Union.

Starting Feb. 11, people who have come into contact with an infected person and their household will no longer be quarantined. Mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated travelers will be reduced to seven days beginning that date.

From Feb. 15, those infected with COVID-19 will only need to quarantine for seven days  shorter than the usual 10. People in the same household will only be quarantined during the weeklong isolation period. Furthermore, Education Minister Przemyslaw Czarnek confirmed the return of in-person learning in schools beginning Feb. 21.

The health minister also mentioned that indoor mask mandates would become a recommendation rather than a requirement. As of writing, Poland requires people to mask up in enclosed public spaces. However, these mask mandates and other regulations are often not strictly enforced.

Polands decision to drop COVID-19 mandates mirrored that of Denmark. The Nordic country dropped restrictions currently in place on Jan. 30 despite the spread of omicron. The Danish government further relaxed restrictions the following day, Jan. 31.

Copenhagen permitted cinemas, zoos, museums and theaters to reopen. Sporting events held indoors and outdoors were also allowed  albeit with capacity limits. In these cases, visitors were still required to wear masks and present either proof of vaccination, recent COVID-19 recovery or a negative test result before entering.

According to Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke, the government wouldnt have supported the reopening if it hadnt been for a clear approach both from [internal] and external experts. He added that Copenhagen was monitoring the pandemic situation carefully.

More related stories:

Welcome to the life we knew before: Denmark is abolishing ALL COVID-19 restrictions.

12 European countries roll back covid restrictions, Israel scraps green pass.

End of COVID-19 tyranny: European countries move to ease pandemic rules.

Watch Jeffery Jaxen and Del Bigtree discuss Polands neighbors in Europe loosening COVID-19 restrictions on The HighWire.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

Pandemic.news has more stories about countries worldwide relaxing COVID-19 restrictions.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

UK.News.Yahoo.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

Euronews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) During a recent stand-up routine, comedian Heather McDonald had a brush-up with her Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines.

Not long after getting triple-vaccinated with two primary doses and one booster dose of an mRNA injection, McDonald started telling a joke while on tour in Tempe, Ariz., and suddenly got dizzy. She then collapsed on stage, fracturing her skull.

McDonald had to be rushed out of the building and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. She then livestreamed her audience from her hospital bed to apologize, explaining that she feels so terrible about her show having to be canceled.

Oh my G*d, Im so, so, so, so, so sorry, McDonald rambled on Instagram following the incident.

I got up, I did one joke and I felt so dizzy. You can see my eye. I fell on my eye. Oh my God I cannot believe this happened, I feel so terrible that they had to tell everyone to leave and then cancel the second show.

McDonald further added that she has never, ever fainted even once in her life, and that this was totally unexpected. (Related: Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and other politicians who are triple-vaxxed are also testing positive for the virus.)

McDonald was making fun of the unvaccinated when she collapsed

Ironically enough, the nature of McDonalds bit included political commentary against people who refuse to get injected, though she also reportedly made light of the plandemic.

Im vaxxed, double vaxxed, boosted  and flu shot, and shingle shot, and havent gotten COVID and Jesus loves me most, McDonald joked right before she fell to the floor and hit her head.

The audience was stunned by the display but believed it to have something to do with McDonalds act. It then became apparent that McDonald had experienced a medical emergency when an EMT and a nurse who happened to be in the audience rushed up to the stage to administer first aid.

A recording of the 911 call included mention of a possible seizure. An ambulance also came to the site, however McDonald turned it down and instead had her sister-in-law, who was present at the show, drive her to a local hospital.

Interestingly, nobody seems to know what actually happened to McDonald even after the fact. She received a CAT scan and was subjected to various other diagnostic tests, but medical professionals were unable to figure it out.

McDonald now says she feels tired and her head hurts but that other than this, she is doing well.

In the days prior to the incident, McDonald had already performed two other shows at the Tempe Improv without issue. It was the third time that her vaccine-injured body apparently just could not take any more.

The first two shows, she said, were so much fun.

McDonald says she plans to return to Tempe very soon to do more shows, perhaps specifically for all of the people who paid to watch her that third night and only got part of the way through one joke.

Lets hope it is not brain cancer, wrote one person at the DailyMail Online.

The covid shots are the number one cause of coincidences, joked another.

Previously, a vaccine had to be in use for TEN YEARS before the government approved it for pregnant women, said someone else. This got approved in like three months.

And babies breastfeeding from vaxed moms have died within a couple weeks, and many babies have been miscarried unexpectedly. Far more than normal.

More of the latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine injuries can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Nabil Yaghi from Ontario. (Dan Aponte)

For two weeks, the 18-wheelers, the semis, the tractors and the pick-up trucks streamed through the snow and ice into the center of Ottawa, the Canadian capital.

(Article by Rupa Subramanya republished from BariWeiss.Substack.com)

They came from across the country. Vaxxed, unvaxxed, white, black, Chinese, Sikh, Indian, alone or with their wives and kids. They huddled around campfires. They set up pop-up kitchens and tents with block captains doling out coffee and blankets. They honked (and honked and honked). They blasted We Are the World. And everywhere you looked, someone was waving the Maple Leaf.

It dipped to 4 degrees. The mayor declared a state of emergency. And they didnt budge.

The truckers were scared of running out of gasfreezing to death in their little truck beds in the middle of the night. The city threatened to arrest anyone who brought it to them. In response, hundreds of Ottawans did just that. The truckers stayed put.

They are a city inside a city whose inhabitantsthere are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000were outraged with a country that seemed to have forgotten they existed. This past Sunday, as if to confirm that suspicion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has yet to meet with Freedom Convoy leaders, took a personal day. On Monday, during an emergency debate at the House of Commons, he called them a few people shouting and waving swastikas.

??I live in downtown Ottawa, within view of Parliament Hill, and have spent the past 10 days or so bundled up and walking around the protests. I have spoken to close to 100 protesters, truckers and other folks, and not one of them sounded like an insurrectionist, white supremacist, racist or misogynist.

Katie Hepburn from Owen Sound, Ontario. (Dan Aponte)

They sound like Ivan, 46, who emigrated, with his wife, Tatiana, from Ukraine to build a new life in New Brunswick, in eastern Canada. We came to Canada to be freenot slaves, he said. We lived under communism, and, in Canada, were now fighting for our freedom. (Like so many truckers, Ivan refused to share his last name.)

B.J. Dichter, a spokesman for the Freedom Convoy, is vaccinated, and he estimates that manymaybe mostof the truckers at the protest are, too. Im Jewish. I have family in mass graves in Europe. And apparently Im a white supremacist, he told me on Wednesday.

Ostensibly, the truckers are against a new rule mandating that, when they re-enter Canada from the United States, they have to be vaccinated. But thats not really it. The mandate is a moot point: The Americans have a similar requirement, and, anyway, the vast majority of Canadian truckers, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, are vaccinated. (The CTA represents about 4,500 truckers nationwide.)

So its about something else. Or many things: a sense that things will never go back to normal, a sense that they are being ganged up on by the government, the media, Big Tech, Big Pharma.

One thing was indisputable: There was this electricity coursing through the streets, and it felt like it could get out of control. It didnt help when a handful of protesters sported swastikas and Confederate flags. Or when GoFundMe shut down the convoys fundraiser, announcing that donors had two weeks to reclaim their money before it was sent to established charities chosen by Freedom Convoy organizers. Or when the cops started arresting locals, including the elderly.

It is hard to capture how thoroughly Trudeau has misjudged the moment. This pandemic has sucked for all Canadians, he said Monday. As for the protest? It has to stop, declared the prime minister.

If he sauntered down to the mess of rigs on Wellington Street, across from the Parliament building, opposite the mall and the war memorial, if he talked to these people for a few minutes, he would understand: It will not stop.

Whats happening in Canada right now is bigger than the mandates.

Sebastien Fortin from Coaticook, Quebec. (Dan Aponte)

The convoy is spearheaded by truckers, but its message of opposition to life under government control has brought onto the icy streets countless, once-voiceless people declaring that they are done being ignored. That the elitesthe people who have Zoomed their way through the pandemichad better start paying attention to the fentanyl overdoses, the suicides, the crime, the despair. Or else.

Kamal Pannu, 33, is a Sikh immigrant and trucker from Montreal. He doesnt believe in vaccinations; he believes in natural immunity. He had joined the convoy because the Covid restrictions in the surrounding province of Quebec had become too much to bear. He said that he and his wife used to do their grocery shopping at Costco, until the government decreed that the unvaxxed would be barred from big-box stores. Since then, their monthly grocery bill had jumped by $200. Before, he said, we didnt look at the price of what we were buying. Now, we sometimes put items back because we dont have that much money.

Read more at: BariWeiss.Substack.com
Aerial view of rubber rafts of sea cruiser MS Explorer, who had to be abandoned after she hit an iceberg off Antartica 23 November, 2007. The cruise liner hit an iceberg on Friday and other ships rushed to rescue more than 150 people who took to the freezing seas in lifeboats, officials said. The 100 passengers and most of the 54 crew from the MS Explorer were picked up safely after the Titanic-style accident near the South Shetland islands, officials from international coastguard and navy services said. (Photo : Photo credit: MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Fuel-eating microbes from the frozen Antarctic were recently found to naturally clean up pollution in the driest continent, "munching up" through wastes caused by diesel.

Research stations have been using diesel as a source of heat and energy in the coldest polar region. Protected by a 1961 Madrid Protocol on keeping the continent a pristine state, a team of Argentine scientists say the fuel-eating tiny microbes may help in the plastic clean-up and "could have potential use for wider environmental issues," NewsBreak reported.

"This work uses the potential of native microorganisms - bacteria and fungi that inhabit the Antarctic soil, even when it is contaminated - and make these microorganisms eat the hydrocarbons," said Dr. Lucas Ruberto, a biochemist. "What for us is a contaminant, for them can be food," he notes.

Using native microorganisms to clean up pollution from fuels

Last December, Ruberto, along with other researchers went to Carlini, one of the six permanent Argentine bases in Antarctica, and gone through COVID-19 protocols. There had been isolated virus break-outs reported in the continent.

The researchers carried out a bioremediation tasks using clean soil affected by diesel and native microorganisms and plants to remove some 60-80% of contaminants. They found that microbes thrived in nitrogen, humidity and aeration.

"We optimize the conditions to do so: add nitrogen, phosphorus, let it ventilate and correct some of humidity conditions. Basically, with that we get the microorganisms to biologically reduce, with a very low environmental impact, the level of contaminants," he told Reuters via Zoom.

"This year we incorporated as one of the group's projects the search for indigenous microorganisms that are capable of degrading plastic," said Nathalie Bernard, a biochemist and specialist in plastic biodegradation, as they begin to study how the microbes can tackle plastic waste pollution in the icy continent and elsewhere, as per Tucson.com.

"If we find that it is indeed degrading plastic, the next step would be to understand how it does that, so that in the long-term we could find a way to put together a biotechnology process for low-temperature polymer degradation," Bernard added also via Zoom.

To do so, the researchers collected samples of plastic from the Antarctic seas to see if the microorganisms are eating the plastics or simply using them as rafts.

Also read: Climate Change to Ramp up Flood Damage Cost in US by More Than 25% in 2050

Motivation for the Antarctic research

Ruberto said doing their work within the awe-inspiring surroundings of the Antarctic helped motivate the research.

"Being able to investigate in Antarctica is a dream come true," he said. "It is a unique, protected place, with very special ecosystems."

Both fuels and plastics are polymers, with molecules made up of long chains of mainly carbon and hydrogen. The hydrocarbons that make up plastics are embodied in the material itself, essentially making plastics a form of stored energy, which can be turned into a liquid fuel source. While the researchers have not yet completely uncovered how the tiny microbes "munch" upon these polymers, they are looking forward to develop the idea into something the environment will find especially useful.

Also read: Scientists Are Testing Compound in Rosemary as Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19
Birds migrating to and from North America are getting smaller since has temperature risen over the past 40 years. According to new research from Washington University in St. Louis, the sizes of birds with smaller brains reduce more than those with bigger brains.

How Climate Change Affect the Sizes of Bird

This is the first time cognition and animal response is associated with human-induced climate change. Singing bird species such as sparrows, warblers, and thrushes have experienced tiny but noticeable changes in body size, as per Phys.org.

In fact, some experts believe that shrinkage is a universal reaction to global warming because of how widespread the size changes are.

A recent study published in Ecology Letters indicates that birds with larger brains can outthink those with smaller brains.

Body sizes are shrinking as temperatures rise, says Justin Baldwin, a Ph.D. student in Carlos Botero's lab at Washington University's School of Arts & Sciences. However, the decline in large-brained species is less dramatic than the decline in small-brained species.

Also Read: Almost 300 Migratory Birds Found Dead in New York After Smacking Into a Skyscraper

Experimental Findings

Between 1978 and 2016, Baldwin and his co-authors examined data on more than 70,000 birds that perished in Chicago after colliding with buildings.

New brain capacity measurements and lifespan data for 49 of the 52 species of North American migratory birds included in the original study were added by the researchers at the University of Michigan.

Compared to birds with smaller brains, birds with large brains had only one-third the amount of reduction in body size, according to the Washington University researchers.

According to Verve Times, birds' behavioral adaptability is typically equated with their relative brain size. Applied to other creatures, the concept is disputed, yet it works effectively for birds.

In addition to better learning and memory, Baldwin found that having a larger brain led to longer lives and more stable population dynamics.

There is a possibility that a bird with a larger brain could seek out microhabitats where the temperature is cooler, reducing its exposure to warming temperatures, according to Baldwin.

It is the first time that scientists have demonstrated a relationship between cognition and phenotypic responses to climate change, making these discoveries crucial.

Does Climate Change Affect Brainy Birds?

The reason so many songbirds are getting smaller as temperatures rise is a mystery. This could be due to the fact that birds with smaller bodies are better able to dissipate heat.

There is evidence to support this theory, like the smaller size of birds found in the more temperate regions of their regular geographic distribution areas.

However, reducing one's size may have a detrimental effect on a bird's capacity to compete, such as an increase in predation or a decrease in competitiveness. Being a large-brained species opens up possibilities that smaller-brained ones do not.

There is no guarantee that brainy birds will be unaffected by climate change, or that they would fare well in the face of it. But the findings show that the less-intelligent birds may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Related Article: Researchers: Migrating Bird Prefer Routes with the Best Atmospheric Condition

For more news, updates about birds and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A long-lasting study in the Antarctic Ocean shows a clear connection between rising ocean temperatures, shrinking sea ice, and a decline in the Antarctic silverfish population. Penguins, seals, and other local marine creatures prey on these tiny, profuse fish.

Global Warming Linked to Decline in Fish Population

Lead author and William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) PhD student Andrew Corso said, a statistically significant association between sea ice and the long-term abundance of any Antarctic fish species has never been recorded before.

Fish like these could become extinct if regional warming continues, which would have far-reaching consequences for the marine ecology, according to Phys.org.

VIMS researchers Drs. Deborah Steinberg and Eric Hilton along with the University of Colorado, Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research co-author Dr. Sharon Stammerjohn have contributed to the study.

More than 7,000 larval fish specimens collected over 25 years (1993-2017) as part of VIMS' participation in the NSF-funded Palmer Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research program were analyzed by Corso in this work.

Also Read: Aquaculture Causes Stress and Suffering for Certain Fish Species This Way

Examining the Effects of Climate Change on Ocean Food Web

To better understand the effects of climate change on Antarctica's west coast, the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project was established.

The study area is one of the most quickly warming places on Earth, with increases in air and ocean temperatures contributing to major declines in sea-ice coverage over the previous half century, adds Steinberg, who leads VIMS' participation in the Palmer LTER program.

According to Steinberg, it has risen by 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) since 1945, while the yearly period of sea ice has decreased by nearly two months.

There are currently more than 40,000 individual specimens in the Nunnally Ichthyology Collection at VIMS, which is the second-largest collection of Antarctic fish in the world and is continually increasing.

When it comes to natural history collections and ecological programs working together, Hilton adds that the findings presented in the paper is a great example of the usefulness of curated, cataloged, and stored [natural history] collections.

Role of Sea Ice in the Life History of Fishes

While their ability to flourish in Antarctica's freezing waters is a result of their adaptations, the silverfish's vulnerability to ocean warming and loss of sea ice is also a result of this.

Sea ice plays an important part in these fish's life cycles, According to Corso. Their eggs and larvae are both nurtured by sea-ice, and the loss of this habitat is like a loss of milkweed to monarch butterflies.

Both larvae and adults may be negatively affected by rising water temperatures. It has been proven in previous trials with closely related Antarctic fish species that an increase in water temperature of 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) can kill some species outright and also reduce the rate at which these fish digest their food, as per Science Daily.

In this study, researchers found that warmer water and less sea ice are linked to a drop in the abundance of larvae. Many other studies in the area corroborate and extend this finding, which shows that adult silverfish have been declining in number for several decades in the northern part of the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Reated Article: Antarctic Fishes' Change Their Behavior to Adapt to Changes in Water Temperature

For more news, updates about fishes and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Vava Suresh, India's famous snake catcher, has been rescuing a cobra within the Kottayam district of Kerala on the night of Jan. 31 when, in a brief movement, it bit him above the knee.

Suresh suffered a cardiac arrest even as being rushed to the Kottayam district hospital

The 47-year-old had been bitten by a snake 16 times but never before had it been so serious.

This time, he was rushed to the hospital and treated him with 65 bottles of antivenom after that cobra bite nearly killed him.

'Second birth' has been given to him

According to Newsweek, Suresh was in intensive care for a week.

Local news outlet Onmanorama reported that they usually provide 25 bottles of antidote to people bitten by cobras.

However, the medical committee decided to give him more injections after Suresh's health did not improve.

The medical team said Suresh's body was completely cleansed from the toxin.

It took more than 65 bottles of antidote, more than the normal amount, to bring Suresh back to life, the sources said.

He was on respiratory support until Feb. 3rd, as per Indian Express.

The hospital's medical board discharged Suresh after he was fully healthy and recovered from his fever.

Meanwhile, the wound on his right leg from the snake bite has not yet fully healed, but Suresh can walk and eat unaided and only struggles with minor pain, according to authorities.

Read more: Cone Snail Venom Might Hold the Cure for Malaria, Study Shows

What is a cobra and how is its venom very dangerous?

Cobras are elapids, a type of viper with hollow fangs attached to the upper jaw at the front of the mouth.

According to the San Diego Zoo, these snakes inject venom through their fangs because they cannot prey on fangs alone.

They also have an excellent sense of smell and night vision.

In addition to the characteristic hood, the cobra has round pupils and soft scales.

Cobras are also related to taipans, coral snakes, and mambas, which are all members of the Elapidae family. The Elapidae family cannot fold their fangs down as vipers can, so mostly their fangs are shorter.

According to National Geographic, their venom is not the most powerful of all vipers, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite can kill up to 20 people or even an elephant with up to 2/10 ounces of liquid.

Cobra venom affects the respiratory center of the brain, causing respiratory arrest and heart failure.

Threats of survival of cobras

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the cobra as a vulnerable species.

These snakes face many threats from human activity.

Intensive deforestation in Southeast Asia has destroyed the habitat of many cobras and is also harvested in large quantities for skin, food, and medicinal purposes.

They are also harvested for the international pet trade.

Cobras are also persecuted by those who fear a threatening reputation, as per the National Geographic.

Related Article: Can Humans Produce Venom Like Snakes? New Data Reveals Possibility
People visit the Tang Paradise ahead of the Lantern Festival in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Photo by Xiong Shiyu/Xinhua)

People view lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Photo by Xiong Shiyu/Xinhua)

People visit the Tang Paradise ahead of the Lantern Festival in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Photo taken on Feb. 10, 2022 shows a scene of the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Photo by Hu Jinpei/Xinhua)

People view lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

People view lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Lanterns are lit up to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xi'an. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
Astronomers have detected an Earth-like planet that is orbiting around Proxima Centauri, the closest star in the solar system.

A team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO' VLT) have found proof of another planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Solar System.

Planet's candidacy for substitute planet

As per Scienc Daily, the newly discovered planet named Proxima d orbits Proxima Centauri at a distance of about 4 million kilometers, less than a tenth of the distance from Mercury's Sun.

When orbiting between a star and the habitable zone, the area around the star where liquid water may be present on the surface of the planet, it takes only five days to orbit Proxima Centauri once.

According to Nature, astronomer Joao Faria, a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco, Portugal and lead author of the study with his collaborators discovered Proxima Centauri d by measuring small changes in the star's optical spectrum as the planet's gravity pulls the star in orbit.

Proxima d, which weighs just a quarter of Earth's mass, is the lightest exoplanet measured by the radial velocity method, surpassing the planets recently discovered in the L 98-59 planetary system.

Proxima e's gravitational influence is so small that it causes Proxima Centauri to move back and forth at a speed of about 40 centimeters per second (1.44 kilometers per hour).

The team used a state-of-the-art spectroscope called Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) on a super-large telescope, a system of four 8.2-meter telescopes at the European Southern Observatory in Ceropanal, Chile. As per Nature.

Faria says that after gathering all of the new pieces of information and observations, they were able to confirm that the planet has a signal as a new candidate for living.

Read more: Scientists Discovered Unexpected 'Hidden World' in Earth's Inner Core

Will be this planet as a livable planet?

Each of the planets within the Proxima Centauri system provides a remarkable case study for exoplanet scientists: They exist along around one star, however, they're all different from one another.

This oddity, as well as the tantalizing prospect of a minimum of one planet firmly inside a livable zone, suggests that scientists are continuously interested in whether or not a future mission can be prepared to go to the star system and its orbiting planets, as per Inverse.

So far, researchers consider Proxima Centauri d as a "planetary candidate". According to Nature, Astronomers traditionally wait for independent confirmation before officially including a new world in their catalog. But the ESPRESSO team is confident they will find it.

Based on their effect on the star's spectrum, the team calculated that the planet is likely smaller than Earth, but at least 26% of its mass.

Pedro Figueira, ESPRESSO instrument scientist at ESO in Chile said that "It shows that the radial velocity technique has the potential to unveil a population of light planets, like our own, that are expected to be the most abundant in our galaxy and that can potentially host life as we know it." As per Sciencedaily.

Also read: 'Potentially Hazardous' Asteroid Expected to Fly by Earth on March 4
Residents of Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia were finally able to remove a used tire stuck in a wild crocodile's neck for six years.

The 'elusive' Indonesian crocodile was finally freed after six years since it swam over a motorcycle tire, with the help of animal lovers on the island of Sulawesi. Luckily, the 13-foot beast didn't grow big enough to eventually choke on the rubber.

According to the locals, it had been very difficult to capture the reptile, thus the very long while to finally make it free.

"I caught the crocodile by myself. I was asking for help from people here, but they were scared," a local resident named Tili, 35 years old, told CNN. People in the island said that at some point, an Australian crocodile wrangler attempted to free the Palu river reptile, but did not succeed.

Reward to remove tire from the croc's neck

The Indonesian province launched a contest in 2020 to free the crocodile as an effort to help it before it gets strangled. Since 2016, the wild croc roamed the Palu river with a tire on its neck, even surviving past the 2018 earthquake and tsunami, CNN reported two years ago.

"A reward will be given to anyone who can release the hapless reptile," Central Sulawesi BKSDA chief Hasmuni Hasmar told the Antara news agency.

Two years later, the "hapless reptile" had finally been released by Tili who captured it, but he said the reward was not his main motivation. "I just can't stand to see animals hurt. Even snakes, I will help," said the self-taught wild expert.

Tili used duck and chicken as bait and set up a basic trap with a rope tied to a log. After three weeks of tracking the wily crocodile, which managed to escape the trap twice, it was finally captured.

"Many people were skeptical about me and thought I was not serious about capturing the crocodile," said Tili as he poses next to the tethered reptile for pictures before it was released back into the river on Monday evening.

Also read: Robert Irwin, Son of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin Nearly Attacked by 12-Foot-Long Crocodile

"Buaya kalung ban" - Crocodile with a tire necklace

The local people had referred to the reptile as "buaya kalung ban" or the crocodile with a tire necklace. Many believed that the 'buaya' is a critically endangered Siamese crocodile, but fated to live a long life after surviving the tsunami and earthquake that had struck Central Sulawesi's capital city, Palu, in 2018, with a tire lodged around its neck.

Of course, there had been several attempts to capture and free the animal. Before the disasters, in January 2018, conservationist and famous animal whisperer Muhammad Panji or Panji Petualang (Panji, the Adventurer), had attempted to remove the tire from the crocodile's neck but to no avail.

During the same year, the conservation office itself attempted to lure the crocodile using chicken and meat as bait, but failed to draw the reptile's interest, according to Antara.

Also read: American Flamingos Sighted Again in Florida After Becoming Rare for 100 Years
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New Castle, PA (16103)

Today

Showers developing during the afternoon with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
MOSCOW, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed Kazakhstan's stability and bilateral cooperation during their talks in Moscow on Thursday.

President Tokayev's firm stance, Russia's support, and the assistance of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) made it possible to restore order and peace in Kazakhstan in the shortest time possible, Putin said during a press conference following talks with the Kazakh leader.

Putin called January's unrest "an act of terrorist aggression committed with the direct participation of destructive internal and external forces."

Putin praised the joint efforts of the CSTO aimed at ending the unrest in Kazakhstan and restoring peace, as well as the work currently being done by Tokayev to normalize the situation.

"The talks also focused on strengthening military and military-technical cooperation. Russia will continue to assist Kazakhstan in training military specialists," Putin said.

Turning to regional and international issues, Putin noted that the positions of both countries often coincide, including on international platforms such as the United Nations, and both nations respect the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference.

Tokayev in turn thanked Putin and the CSTO for repelling an "unprecedented terrorist attack" in Kazakhstan, and voiced support for Russia's position on the indivisibility of security in Eurasia.

He said both countries are ready to deepen political, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties, adding that a number of documents were signed that would enhance cooperation in the digital sphere, in space exploration, and nuclear energy, among others. 
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People view an artwork during the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

RIYADH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) --

Under the theme of Sarab (mirage in English), the event runs from Feb. 11 to March 30 and aims to explore ideas of mirage and oasis, where participating artists are invited to address dreams, camouflage, fiction, appearance or disappearance, extraction, illusion and myth, and examine the dichotomy between the natural and manmade worlds.

Neville Wakefield, co-artistic director of Desert X AlUla, said the landscape and history of AlUla, which has always been at the crossroads of trade and culture, have and will continue to draw people from across the globe.

Nora Aldabal, arts and creative planning director at Royal Commission for AlUla, said the Saudi exhibition allows people to integrate art, nature and history together, hailing AlUla "a destination built and inspired by artists."

"With initiatives like Desert X AlUla, we are crafting the next chapter in AlUla's history as a cradle of artistic inspiration, transfer and expression," she noted.

Building on the legacy of Desert X, produced by a non-profit charity in California, Desert X AlUla draws on principles of land art, offering a profound opportunity to experience art on a monumental scale in dialogue with nature. 

Photo taken on Feb. 11, 2022 shows artworks of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Photo taken on Feb. 11, 2022 shows artworks of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Photo taken on Feb. 11, 2022 shows artworks of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Photo taken on Feb. 11, 2022 shows artworks of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Photo taken on Feb. 9, 2022 shows an artwork of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

People view artworks during the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Photo taken on Feb. 9, 2022 shows artworks of the art exhibition Desert X AlUla in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
An effort to provide a five-day waiver on the 180-day school-year requirement  intended to help districts that canceled classes due to COVID-related staffing shortages and to garner Democratic votes for continuing a limited set of COVID orders first issued by Gov. Ned Lamont  failed largely over opposition from the governors administration.

The waiver was one of the notable changes lawmakers proposed for the 11 orders that Lamont requested be continued. But it was struck from the final bill the House passed late Thursday by a vote of 86-62, with nine Democrats voting with Republicans.

It was something that I felt was important to some colleagues, House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said Friday. But it shows what adult legislators do. You dont vote no because you dont get everything you want.

Ritter had fervently defended the proposal following 11th-hour opposition from the state Department of Education ahead of the House vote. The state education department argued students have already lost enough time in the classroom.

The department is deeply concerned about any proposal that would deprive students of the learning opportunities to which they are entitled; such a proposal is not in the best educational interests of our students and is simply not equitable, Eric Scoville, spokesperson for the department, said in a written statement.

Ritter said the proposal could come up as an individual bill later in the session, which ends May 4.

The reaction is not that people arent willing to entertain it. The feeling is to see how many districts want to avail themselves of it and see where we are in April, Ritter said.

Local school boards wouldve had the option to decide if they want to waive up to five days, and it would not have been mandated.

The waiver was supported by school officials who welcomed the added flexibility as they figure out how to make up lost days due to COVID. The change wouldve only applied to the 2021-22 school year.

Districts, historically, sometimes make up days during April vacation. They try not to have school too late in June because many of their buildings are not air conditioned and its not a productive learning environment, said Patrice McCarthy, deputy director and general counsel for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, which was in favor of the waiver.

The concern for most school officials now is how to handle masks in schools since that decision is expected to be up to them starting at the end of this month, McCarthy said.

Were hopeful as we move to perhaps not having masks in school that we dont have more closures in the coming weeks, she added.

Ansonia Public Schools were among the hardest hit by staffing shortages during the omicron surge, canceling classes for almost a full week of school.

I didnt say we have four days and were going to Turks and Caicos, Superintendent Joseph DiBacco said in an interview Friday. We got hit disproportionately hard.

DiBacco, who said he asked lawmakers for the waiver, said it was a tough decision. He said he didnt want kids to have less time in the classroom, but hes also worried about their mental health given how taxing the pandemic has been on them, and wanted them to have time to spend with their families before summer programs and other activities start.

The last day of school was supposed to be June 6, but is now June 14 given the four missed days due COVID staffing shortages and two snow days, he said.

Connecticut law allows districts to request permission from the state Board of Education to shorten the school year due to an unavoidable emergency.

Ritter said the thinking is to allow impacted districts like Ansonia to try that avenue first and then come back to the legislature to reintroduce the waiver proposal, if needed.

The feeling was it was too broad when maybe only very few districts actually need it, Ritter said

But DiBacco said its highly unlikely such a request would be granted by the state.

I wouldnt waste my time, he said. Theres never going to be a time when the state Department of Education says kids can go to school less and were OK with that. I would love to know the pass rate on that waiver process.

According to data from the state department of education, the average length of a closure in Connecticut was less than two days, and the last day of school for most districts ranges from May 26 to June 21.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
Pikeville, KY (41501)

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Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 63F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Thunderstorms in the morning followed by occasional showers in the afternoon. High around 65F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs of Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province has distributed humanitarian assistance donated by China to 880 needy families, head of the department Mohammad Yunus Jihadmal said.

The displaced and needy families including widows, orphans and security personnel of the former government across the mountainous province have received assistance in the provincial capital Faizabad on Thursday, Jihadmal added.

Confirming the distribution of the aid, another official Mullah Nasrat said that the assistance, which includes blankets, coats and sacks of rice has been distributed to the needy families.

According to Mullah Nasrat, more humanitarian supplies would be provided to the needy families in Badakhshan province in the coming days or weeks.

Following the U.S. military defeat and pullout from Afghanistan last August, Washington has imposed sanctions on the Taliban-run administration and frozen more than 9 billion U.S. dollars of assets of Afghanistan's central bank, which battered the economy in the war-torn country. 
A new study led by University of Liverpool researchers has shown that the effects of pollutants can be transmitted over many generations in water fleas and may persist long enough to influence the evolutionary process.

Published in Evolution Letters, the research adds new evidence to the debate on whether environmental influences can cause heritable changes to an animal's biology.

Genes passed down from parents to offspring are overlaid by a complex array of proteins and chemicals that determine how they are expressed  collectively known as the 'epigenome'.

The epigenome is sensitive to environmental stresses, such as pollution, which can alter gene expression. Importantly, there is increasing evidence that these stress-induced changes can be transmitted across generations.

Dr Stewart Plaistow, a Senior lecturer in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Liverpool, explains: "Epigenetic inheritance mechanisms are controversial in evolutionary biology at the moment because they provide a possible mechanism for the inheritance of environmental effects alongside traditional Darwinian inheritance.

"Although they are routinely demonstrated in plants they are much more controversial in animals because epigenetic marks are often thought to be wiped clean during embryo development."

In this study, the researchers looked at one important epigenetic mark, the methylation of cytosine in DNA, in the water flea Daphnia pulex.

They demonstrated that exposure of water fleas to low doses of pollutants had effects on the epigenome that persisted for 15+ generations.

They exposed replicated populations of water fleas to three different freshwater pollutants for 7 months (approximately15 generations), and then switched half of the populations to clean water for 8 months (>15 generations).

They found that all three pollutants led to changes to DNA methylation. Importantly, some of these changes were detectable not only in the continually treated Daphnia, but also those that had been switched back to clean water, implying that these persistent modifications were stably passed down through the generations, even in the absence of the pollutant.

A follow-up experiment confirmed that three generations after pollutant exposure, phenotypic effects were still detectable.

If these environmentally-induced persistent changes to the epigenome are able to influence organismal traits like growth and development, as appears to be the case, epigenetic processes like DNA methylation may play an important role in rapid adaptation." Dr Ewan Harney, a Marie-Curie Fellow, The Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Barcelona

Work in the lab is underway to test whether these effects are independent of genetic background and whether they influence fitness.

The work was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and supported by the University's Centre for Genomic Research.
Iowans might notice some new uninvited guests crashing their summer barbecues this year.

Mosquito surveillance efforts led by Iowa State University entomologists uncovered evidence that the invasive mosquito species known as Aedes albopictus for the first time is surviving the winter in three Iowa counties, allowing the species to establish itself in those locations. Previously, the species, which is capable of transmitting several diseases through its bite, had overwintered in regions of Illinois and Missouri while making seasonal appearances in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. But it was thought Iowa's harsh winters kept the species from making a permanent home in Iowa, said Ryan Smith, an associate professor of entomology and the director of the ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory.

"For a long time, it was thought that these mosquitoes wouldn't survive the winter here," Smith said. "Our data show they're here, and they seem to be spreading."

Aedes albopictus mosquitoes first showed up in the United States in 1985 in Texas. The species has expanded its territory gradually since then and can be found in more than 26 states today. A new study from Smith and his colleagues based on data gathered by the Medical Entomology Laboratory suggests the species has established itself in Lee and Des Moines counties in southeastern Iowa along the Mississippi River, and in Polk County in central Iowa. The study was published this week in the peer-reviewed academic journal Scientific Reports.

Disease vector

Aedes albopictus mosquitoes don't spread West Nile Virus, which is the disease most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes in Iowa. But the species is a competent vector for Zika, chikungunya and dengue viruses, which can all cause serious health problems in humans. Smith said Iowans should be aware the species appears to have taken root in some parts of the state, but the species' presence shouldn't cause panic.

Those diseases are rare in Iowa and almost always require someone to contract the disease in a tropical region where the viruses are more common. The infected person would then have to travel to Iowa and get bitten by an Aedes albopictus mosquito for that mosquito to transmit the pathogen to other humans.

That's an unlikely chain of events, Smith said.

Just be aware that they're here, and they have the potential to spread. Pay attention to neglected materials in the yard that could allow them to lay eggs." Ryan Smith, associate professor of entomology and director, ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory

Smith said Iowans may be able to notice the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes with the naked eye. The species has a distinctive white racing stripe along their backs that can help distinguish them from other species common in the state. They tend to be most active in late summer.

Smith said the mosquitoes may have entered the three counties mentioned in the study by hitching a ride on debris or other materials that contained their eggs. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the landscape that remain dormant through the winter until warmer temperatures return. It's likely Aedes albopictus eggs were carried across the Mississippi River unintentionally into Lee and Des Moines counties, he said. The species seems to prefer urban and suburban environments rather than rural regions. That may suggest the mosquitoes are able to find structures in urban areas that help their eggs survive the winter, Smith said.

The Medical Entomology Laboratory monitors mosquito populations across the state using a network of traps to collect population samples. The laboratory launched an effort to track Aedes albopictus in 2016 that has utilized traps in around 30 Iowa counties.

Though it appears the species has established itself in only three counties, that number is likely to rise in the years ahead, Smith said.

"Exactly how fast and what counties they'll expand to is unclear, but it is a question that we are continuing to follow," he said.

This study was possible through close cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health and several local public health partners throughout the state.
People with lower incomes are exposed to heat waves for longer periods of time compared to their higher income counterparts due to a combination of location and access to heat adaptations like air conditioning. This inequality is expected to rise as temperatures increase, according to new research.

Lower income populations currently face a 40% higher exposure to heat waves than people with higher incomes, according to a new study. By the end of the century, the poorest 25% of the world's population will be exposed to heat waves at a rate equivalent to the rest of the population combined.

Poorer populations may be hit with a one-two punch of more heat waves from climate change due to their location and an inability to keep up with it as a result of lack of heat adaptations like air conditioning.

The study analyzed historical income data, climate records and heat adaptations to quantify the level of heat wave exposure that people in different income levels face around the world. Exposure to heat waves was measured by the number of people exposed to heat waves times the number of heat wave days. Researchers paired those observations with climate models to predict how exposure will change over the next eight decades.

The study was published in the AGU journal Earth's Future, which publishes interdisciplinary research on the past, present and future of our planet and its inhabitants.

The study found the lowest-income quarter of the world's population will face a pronounced increase in exposure to heat waves by 2100, even taking into account access to air conditioning, cool air shelters, safety regulations for outdoor workers and heat safety awareness campaigns. The highest-income quarter, comparatively, will experience little change in exposure as their ability to keep up with climate change is generally greater.

People in the lowest-income population quarter will face 23 more days of heat waves per year than those in the highest income quarters by 2100. Many populous, low-income regions are in the already-warm tropics, and their populations are expected to grow, contributing to the discrepancies in heat wave exposure.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that populations who have contributed the least to anthropogenic climate change often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, said lead study author Mojtaba Sadegh, a climatologist at Boise State University. Historically, higher-income countries contribute a majority of greenhouse gases.

We expected to see a discrepancy, but seeing one quarter of the world facing as much exposure as the other three quarters combined that was surprising." Mojtaba Sadegh, Climatologist, Boise State University

While higher-income regions often have greater access to adaptations, they will likely face rolling blackouts or brownouts as electricity demand swamps the grid. An increase in geographic area affected by heat waves, which the study found has already increased by 2.5 times since the 1980s, will limit our ability to "borrow" electricity from unaffected neighboring regions, like California importing electricity from the Pacific Northwest, Sadegh said.

"We know from far too much experience that issuing a heat wave forecast is insufficient to ensure that people know what appropriate actions they need to take during a heatwave and to do so," said Kristie Ebi, a professor in the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the University of Washington who was not involved in the study. Collecting more data on heat wave frequency and responses in low-income countries, she said, is critical.

Sadegh hopes the study will prompt innovations into affordable, energy-efficient cooling solutions as well as highlight the need for short-term solutions. "We need to raise awareness of dangers and heat safety, and to improve early warning systems -; and access to those early warning systems," he said.
Oregon State University scientists have discovered a new class of potential drug targets for people suffering from neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's disease.

The possible targets are oxidized proteins, and researchers in the OSU College of Science are now in pursuit of the best way to attack them. A drug target is any molecule critical to the process a disease follows, meaning its disruption can prevent or slow illness progression.

Findings were published in Redox Biology.

Neurodegenerative diseases happen because nerve cells lose function over time and ultimately perish. The diseases affect millions of people worldwide, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are the most common ones, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The Alzheimer's Disease Association estimates more than 6 million Americans suffer from that condition, and another 1 million have Parkinson's, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

Any individual's risk of developing a neurological disease increases with age, which means that with people living longer, a growing number of cases is likely coming over the next few decades, the NIH says.

Franco, assistant professor of biochemistry and biophysics, explains that with medical conditions involving inflammation, including neurogenerative disorders, diseased cells produce peroxynitrite  the most powerful oxidant a cell can make.

An oxidant, also referred to as an oxidizing agent or oxidizer, is anything able to oxidize other substances  i.e., take electrons from them in chemical reactions. Oxidative stress brought on by inflammation results in the production of oxidants and free radicals that can damage cellular molecules such as DNA, lipids and proteins and cause a range of health problems.

Franco and collaborators at Oregon State, the University of Central Florida and Rollins College found that when peroxynitrite oxidizes Hsp90  short for heat shock protein 90  it triggers the activation of signals inside of the cells that lead them to die by "suicide" in a process called apoptosis, Franco said.

We had earlier found that oxidation of specific molecules by peroxynitrite leads to the death of motor neurons, the cells that carry signals from the brain to the muscles to coordinate muscle movement. Now we know that the oxidation of different parts of Hsp90 can elicit different toxic functions in the protein." Maria Clara Franco, Scientist, Oregon State University

The normal function of Hsp90 is to support healthy cellular processes, but oxidation can have profound effects on the three-dimensional structure of a protein such as Hsp90, altering its function, Franco said.

"By understanding the ways that oxidation modifies the Hsp90 structure, and how the oxidized protein works in the cells, we can look for drugs that bind to the modified structure of Hsp90 and stop its toxic function without affecting the activity of normal Hsp90 in healthy tissues," she said. "That means such drugs should have minimal to no side effects."

Oregon State undergraduate student Asra Noor helped Franco lead the study along with Megan Jandy and Pascal Nelson, researchers at the University of Central Florida. Collaborators also included Carrie Marean-Reardon, Ryan Mehl and Alvaro Estevez of OSU.

The National Institutes of Health supported this research.
It is well known that Black women experience disproportionately high rates of preterm delivery and cardiovascular disease. A new Northwestern study, published in Science Advances, suggests that one contributor to these inequities may be the stress created by police violence occurring in Black women's neighborhoods.

The multidisciplinary study conducted by experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, epidemiology, anthropology and medicine is the first to look at everyday forms of police misconduct and the health outcomes of women, adding to growing evidence that suggests police violence adversely affects the health of Black communities.

Chicago map with spatial distribution of complaints about excessive use of force; Models showing increased preterm birth and cardiovascular disease risks for Black women.

Motivated by frequent, high-profile police violence in Black communities, corresponding author Alexa Freedman, a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern, said the research team wanted to investigate whether formal complaints about excessive force by police (EFP) were associated with the health of women in Chicago.

To do so, the researchers used data on complaints filed against Chicago police for excessive force, compiled by the Invisible Institute. The researchers calculated the frequency of EFP complaints in each of Chicago's neighborhoods. These data were then linked to the electronic health records of two separate groups: pregnant patients (67,976) and healthy adults (6,773) who did not have cardiovascular disease at their initial visit with a doctor.

We were encouraged that our findings were consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses, especially the ones that compared pregnancy outcomes among patients with multiple deliveries. These analyses improved control of individual and neighborhood characteristics that might confound the results." Alexa Freedman, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern

The findings also speak to the potential public health impact of police misconduct.

"The results suggest that police misconduct may have implications for health beginning at the earliest stages of development, which we know has important repercussions for long-term health," said Andrew V. Papachristos, PhD, professor of sociology and director of the Northwestern Neighborhood & Network (N3) Initiative.

The senior study author is Greg Miller, PhD, the Louis W. Menk Professor of Psychology and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern. Co-authors of the study include Northwestern faculty Sadiya Kahn, MD, MSc, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Kiarri Kershaw, PhD, MPH, associate professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Epidemiology, and collaborators at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Britney Smart, MPH, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin, PhD, MPH, and Ann Borders, MD, MSc, MPH.

"These studies are an important step forward for research on health inequity," Miller said. "It's long been clear that excessive police force in the neighborhood is a potent and persistent stressor for Black residents of Chicago. These studies extend knowledge by suggesting there may consequences for women's reproductive and cardiovascular health."

The researchers' next step is to plan a deeper look at medical records to try and understand the biological mechanisms.
A number of existing strains of SARS-CoV-2, as well as other future variants that could arise, have the potential to escape the immune system's cytotoxic T cell response in some portion of the population. That's the conclusion of a new modeling study publishing February 10th in PLOS Computational Biology by Antonio Martin-Galiano of the Carlos III Health Institute, Spain, and colleagues.

The T cell response in humans is genetically encoded by HLA molecules-;this means different individuals have different HLAs, programmed to recognize invading pathogens based on different parts, or "epitopes" of the pathogens. With thousands of different HLA molecules in the human population and thousands of possible epitopes in any given virus, the experimental evaluation of the immune response of every human HLA allele to every viral variant is not feasible. However, computational methods can facilitate this task.

In the new study, researchers first determined the full set of epitopes from an original reference strain of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan, China. The team discovered 1,222 epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 that were associated with major HLA subtypes, covering about 90% of the human population; at least 9 out of every 10 people can launch a T cell response to COVID-19 based on these 1,222 epitopes.

Then, the researchers computationally analyzed whether any of 118,000 different SARS-CoV-2 isolates from around the world, described in a National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) dataset, had mutations in these epitopes. 47% of the epitopes, they showed, were mutated in at least one existing isolate. In some cases, existing isolates had mutations in multiple epitope regions, but cumulative mutations never affected more than 15% of epitopes for any given HLA allele type. When the team analyzed susceptible alleles and the geographic origin of their respective escape isolates, the team found that they co-existed in some geographical regions-;including sub-Saharan Africa and East and Southeast Asia-;, suggesting potential genetic pressure on the cytotoxic T cell response in these areas.

"The accumulation of these changes in independent isolates is still too low to threaten the global human population," the authors say. "Our protocol has identified mutations that may be relevant for specific populations and warrant deeper surveillance."

However, Martin-Galiano notes that "unnoticed SARS-CoV-2 mutations" might in future "threaten the cytotoxic T response in human subpopulations".
One dose of an anti-parasite drug was just as effective as two at significantly reducing the spread of scabies, the contagious, intensely itchy skin condition, according to a new study.

The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) in collaboration with Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales, found the mass drug administration of one-dose of ivermectin was not inferior to two-doses, taken a week apart, for reducing scabies prevalence in Fiji.

Published in PLOS Medicine, the study paves the way for a cost-effective and efficient one-dose strategy for scabies control in countries where the disease is endemic, improving children's and families' quality of life and reducing the burden of disease. This would replace the two-dose strategy recently endorsed by the World Health Organization.

A 'screen-and-treat' approach using a cream medication, permethrin, was also found to be effective in reducing scabies among participants and their households.

Scabies is a neglected tropical disease, with high infection rates in many Pacific nations, parts of South America and Africa, and in remote Australian Indigenous communities. Globally, there are about 455 million new cases of scabies every year.

The constant scratching caused by the mites leads to the skin infection impetigo, which can lead to rheumatic heart disease and chronic kidney failure if Strep A bacteria enters the wound.

Scabies and impetigo are common in Fiji, affecting 20 per cent of the population at any one time, and up to half of our children. Research into how to tackle scabies is important for Fiji and many Pacific countries." Dr Josaia Samuela, Lead Fijian Researcher

MCRI Dr Myra Hardy said this was an important study designed to determine if community wide treatment with one dose of ivermectin could substantially reduce both burden and transmission of scabies.

The randomized controlled trial involved 3812 participants across 35 villages on two Fijian islands. At 12 months, the two-dose ivermectin group had a scabies prevalence of 1.3 per cent, down from 11.7 per cent, while the one-dose ivermectin group was 2.7 per cent, down from 15.2 per cent. The screen-and-treat group was 1.1 per cent, down from 13.6 per cent. There was also a decrease in impetigo prevalence in all groups to 1 per cent or less.

MCRI Professor Andrew Steer said while two doses of ivermectin had already proven to be successful at reducing community prevalence of scabies, a one-dose strategy would have substantial advantages.

"Ivermectin can't kill mites' eggs, therefore a second dose seven to 14 days after the first (when eggs have hatched) is recommended and has been the standard for mass drug administration protocols," he said. "But a second dose increases the cost, duration, burden on the community, and is more challenging to integrate with other neglected tropical disease mass drug administration programs, which are all one-dose."

Kirby Institute Professor John Kaldor said despite a screen-and-treat approach also being effective, the strategy was impractical to implement as a large-scale public health strategy.

"A screen-and-treat approach is labor-intensive, requiring a large workforce of highly skilled clinical examiners to screen an entire population," he said. "Now that we have this evidence that a one-dose strategy performs well in small island settings, we need to see how well it performs in larger populations."

The findings come as the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated MCRI's Tropical Diseases Group as its first Collaborating Centre for Scabies Control. Professor Steer will act as Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre, which will be based designated at MCRI for four years.

WHO collaborating centers are institutions which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the organization's programs.

MCRI and its partners are also leading a global program aiming to equip low- and middle-income countries with the tools and the resources to detect, monitor and control scabies in affected communities.

The World Scabies Program was established in 2019 after securing a $10 million grant from the Macquarie Group's 50th anniversary philanthropic commitment to address social need.

Researchers from the Burnet Institute, Case Western Reserve University and Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Washington University in St Louis and McGill University in Montreal also contributed to the study.
Lynette Henley needed one more year to receive her full pension after 40 years as a teacher, but she couldn't convince herself it was worth the risk.

So Henley, 65, who has diabetes and congestive heart failure, retired last June as a math and history teacher at Hogan Middle School, in Vallejo, California, which serves mostly Black and Hispanic children.

"You're in a classroom with 16 to 20 kids and a lot of my students weren't vaccinated," said Henley. "I just didn't feel safe. It wasn't worth it to possibly die to teach."

Henley, who is Black, is part of a nationwide surge of teachers who are leaving the profession  especially evident among members of the profession with minority backgrounds. Amid the pandemic's toxic brew of death, illness, and classroom disruption, these departures of seasoned teachers have created another strain for students.

The California State Teachers' Retirement System reported a 26% increase in the number of teacher retirements in the second half of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. Of those surveyed, more than half cited challenges of teaching during the pandemic as their main reason for leaving. A national survey published by the National Education Association on Feb. 1 found that 55% of teachers planned to exit earlier than anticipated, up from 37% in August 2021. The numbers were highest among Black (62%) and Latino (59%) educators.

The issue was palpable when in-person classes resumed in Southern California in January. In some large districts, more than a quarter of schoolchildren were absent the first week back. Some of those who did return entered classrooms that had no teacher or were staffed by underqualified substitutes.

Bryan Monroy, an 11th grade physics teacher at Lennox Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy, in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles, walked into a half-empty school after winter break.

Five teachers, about a fifth of the charter school's staff, were out, presumedly sick with covid or taking care of relatives, said Monroy, 29. And that's on top of an underlying problem hiring and holding onto staff, he said.

"We hired some people to teach chemistry and math and for whatever reason they had to resign halfway through the year during the pandemic with no one to replace them," he said. "The kids had to finish off their year with substitutes and teacher's aides, and that was really hard for them."

Covid has been harder on teachers of color because many of them return to the communities where they were raised and which have suffered the most, Monroy said. His students are nearly all Hispanic and about 75% are on free or reduced lunch, he said. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he can relate to their struggles, but "because there are so many similarities that resonate between me and my kids, the vicarious trauma is also even more real."

Studies have shown that teachers of color improve educational outcomes for students of the same background. But Black and Hispanic teachers tend to have shorter teaching careers than their white colleagues, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, which cites a lack of support and poor working conditions as the impetus for early departures.

According to a 2019 study by the Learning Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group in Palo Alto, shortages affect 80% of California school districts, most severely those with low-income families and students of color. To make up the gap, schools have hired poorly prepared replacements, which aggravates learning difficulties, said Tara Kini, chief of staff and director of state policy for the Learning Policy Institute. Another study by her group found that minority-majority schools were four times as likely as mostly white schools to employ uncertified teachers.

Plunging standardized test scores in California last year revealed a widening learning gap between whites and Black and Latino students. A little over a third of Black and Hispanic students met or exceeded proficiency standards in English, compared with 60% of whites. In math, only about a fifth of Black and Hispanic students met or exceeded standards, compared with nearly half of white students. Relative to 2018, Hispanic students' scores fell by 12 percentage points in English. White students' scores fell 5 percentage points, while those of Black students remained about the same, on average. (Hispanics can be of any race or combination of races.)

Online learning has been harder for poorer children, contributing to difficulties for their teachers. In July 2020, the University of Southern California and Partnership for Los Angeles Schools surveyed more than 1,100 Los Angeles Unified School District families whose children attend historically low-income public schools and found that about 1 in 6 had no internet access at all and roughly 1 in 12 had mobile internet only. Additionally, 1 in 7 said they never had a space free of noise or distraction.

Teaching in person with the threat of covid, meanwhile, is "living in a constant state of anxiety" because a single positive test in the classroom can disrupt all teaching plans instantaneously, said Katie Caster, manager of curriculum and evaluation at Latinos for Education in Boston, a group that mentors new teachers.

Caster said teachers of color have an extra burden. "I call it the brown tax. It's having to go above and beyond all the time, whether it's the cultural connection, the language, being asked to translate, or connecting families with resources," she said. "The pandemic has exacerbated the issue."

This problem was reflected in a 2019 study by the nonprofits Teach Plus and the Education Trust, which found that teachers of color feel pressure to take on added work to help students who share their demographic backgrounds.

Monroy said the pandemic made him question his career.

"Before the pandemic, I was 100% certain that I would continue teaching and retire as a teacher," said Monroy. "Now, feeling the dread of coming to work instead of feeling excitement, I have my doubts of even making it through the end of this year, let alone, like, staying until I retire."

At L.A. County's San Gabriel High School, where nearly three-quarters of the 1,777 students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, grades fell during the year of remote learning, said band and music teacher Benjamin Coria. "These students were occupied with pandemic-related things, like taking care of siblings, or working," he said. "Some just didnt engage no matter how many times you called home."

Coria's school is part of the Alhambra Unified School District, where absenteeism was 27% in the first week back in school, starting Jan. 3. In neighboring L.A. Unified, the absentee rate was 31% when classes resumed on Jan. 11. (By Feb. 4, L.A. Unified's absentee rate had shrunk to 13%; Alhambra's was down to 14%.)

The Alhambra district, whose teachers are 70% people of color, hired 286 substitutes to help fill the gaps for teachers out sick or on leave. In many cases, district administrators are filling in. Still, the school has had to plan special no-school days to help teachers catch up.

The pandemic has also taken a toll on Coria. His father died just before the pandemic, and he lost a grandfather to covid a year later. Snarled school and work schedules have sharpened daily challenges for him, his wife, and their two children. "All these things that would normally be hard are just so much harder in this environment," said Coria, 39, who has taught for 16 years.

But Coria, whose parents were first-generation Mexican Americans, isn't retiring. He does his best to remain upbeat in the classroom, he said, and smiles even when he doesn't feel like smiling.

"We set the temperature," he said. "If we're not in the mood, then the students aren't going to be. Anything I can do to make the environment a little more positive, including for myself."

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
CAIRO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egypt voiced on Thursday its support for the Libyan House of Representatives, the Libyan parliament, which has elected a new prime minister.

Egypt valued the role of Libyan institutions and their assumption of their responsibilities, "including the measures taken by the House of Representatives today," said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez in a statement, referring to the Libyan parliament's election of a new prime minister.

Earlier on Thursday, the Libyan parliament unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha as the country's new prime minister, replacing Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah.

However, Dbeibah said that his government will remain in office until the general elections are held, and he will only hand over his power to an elected government.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the Libyan parliament is the body entitled to "enact laws, grant legitimacy to the executive authority and exercise its oversight role over it."

"Egypt continues its communication with all Libyan parties with the aim of bringing their views closer and ensuring the preservation of the country's security and stability," said Hafez, adding that Egypt will continue supporting efforts to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation in Libya.

Egypt also called on all Libyan institutions and national forces to maintain internal stability and avoid violence or use of force that would ruin the current political efforts.

Libya had suffered insecurity and chaos since the fall of its late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 before the warring parties reached a ceasefire in October 2020 following the UN-sponsored talks. But the scheduled general elections in Libya in later 2021 were indefinitely postponed due to the differences among the political rivals. 
If patients with clot-caused strokes obtain medical care more than 4 hours after their symptoms are noticed, it is too late to receive the standard clot-busting medication alteplase. However, in this study from China, tenecteplase appears to lengthen the window for additional stroke treatment to up to 24 hours, according to preliminary, late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2022, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health being held in person in New Orleans and virtually, Feb. 9-11, 2022.

A one-hour infusion of alteplase is the standard treatment for a clot-caused (ischemic) stroke, administered within 4.5 hours of first stroke symptoms. Alteplase dissolves blood clots that are blocking arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the lungs or brain and has been FDA-approved for the immediate treatment of ischemic stroke since 1996.

A newer medication, tenecteplase, is also a clot-busting medication and is a bioengineered variant of alteplase, and there are ongoing studies to determine its safety, efficacy and treatment parameters for ischemic stroke. Previous studies of Tenecteplase to treat acute ischemic stroke patients found it may be non-inferior to alteplase and may be superior for treating large-vessel strokes.

The stroke burden continues to grow across the world, and particularly in China where stroke is the leading cause of death. There are two major limitations in thrombolysis [treatment to dissolve dangerous clots and restore blood flow] with alteplase: the restricted time window of 4.5 hours, and a low rate of success in re-opening arteries and restoring blood flow when a large brain vessel is blocked." Xin Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University and National Center for Neurological Disorders in Shanghai, China

To evaluate the potential of using tenecteplase to treat patients with large-vessel strokes, Cheng and colleagues studied 86 patients with ischemic strokes, treated at 13 different hospitals in China. The patients had brain imaging between 4.5 and 24 hours after they were last known to be free of stroke symptoms. On imaging, all study participants were found to have large, affected brain areas that could potentially be salvaged if blood flow was re-established and a few small areas that were unlikely to benefit from treatment (called a penumbral mismatch).

Study participants were randomly assigned to two groups:

43 patients (average age of 68 years; 58.1% male) received a lower (0.25 mg/kg) dose of tenecteplase; and

43 patients (average age of 67 years; 72.1% male) received a higher (0.32 mg/kg) dose of tenecteplase.

The researchers had determined a pre-established, combined, positive outcome of effectiveness and safety if there was major restoration of blood flow without symptomatic brain bleeding 24-48 hours after treatment. If more than 7 of 43 patients met the positive outcome criteria, that intervention dose of tenecteplase would be deemed of sufficient promise to warrant further study. In addition to tenecteplase, some patients underwent endovascular therapy (thrombectomy) to mechanically remove a clot, at the discretion of the treating physician.

The researchers found:

At the lower dose of tenecteplase, 14 of 43 patients (32.6%) achieved the designated positive outcome criteria.

At the higher dose of tenecteplase, 10 of 43 patients (23.3%) achieved the designated positive outcome criteria.

Among all study participants evaluated 3 months after treatment, more than half (53.5%) of the patients were no more than slightly disabled, not able to carry out all previous activities but did not require daily assistance, and 38.4% of the participants either had no significant symptoms of residual neurological deficits or had mild symptoms but were able to return to pre-stroke activities of daily living.

"Tenecteplase appears to be safe and potent in reestablishing blood flow through blocked, large brain vessels, thereby preventing damage to brain tissue at risk of dying. Using perfusion imaging [to measure blood flow throughout the blood vessels] to assess patients with larger areas of potentially salvageable brain tissue and smaller areas that have already been lost to the stroke, it seems feasible that with tenecteplase we may be able to extend the time window for treatment to 24 hours after the time the patient was last known to be well. However, we still need more data from randomized controlled trials before practice changes to routinely include tenecteplase," Cheng said.

In the subset of patients who received tenecteplase and underwent endovascular therapy (also known as thrombectomy or mechanical clot removal), fewer patients (3 of 34, or 8.8%) reached the primary outcome measure of restoring blood flow without symptomatic brain bleeding, compared to those who received only tenecteplase (21 of 52, or 40.4%).

"In our study, tenecteplase seems to be quite effective and safe in patients who do not need endovascular therapy. More research is needed to understand why tenecteplase was less effective in restoring blood flow and more likely to result in symptomatic brain bleeding among those who had endovascular therapy," Cheng said.

As a Phase 2a trial, the focus of this research was to evaluate whether a treatment is safe and effective enough to proceed to a larger clinical trial with more study participants and to determine the potential medication doses appropriate for further research. Based on the results of this trial, the lower dose of tenecteplase is being evaluated in a larger, nationwide, Phase 2b study in China to compare the effectiveness and safety of tenecteplase versus standard treatment.

The study's limitations include being a phase 2a clinical trial without a control group and these results from China may not be generalizable to other non-Chinese populations.

"Strokes involving large arteries in the brain due to plaque build-up are much more common among people of Chinese or Asian ethnicity compared with people of Caucasian descent. These types of strokes usually have more sustained blood flow through collateral vessels than embolic strokes, which are caused by a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain. The optimal strategy to restore blood flow in patients with large-artery plaque build-up is unknown, and there is a question of whether endovascular treatment [thrombectomy] is appropriate and effective in this type of stroke. With a huge stroke burden and limited access to centers capable of endovascular treatment in China, a potent intravenous thrombolytic like tenecteplase may be more meaningful," Cheng said.

The latest ischemic stroke treatment guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend it may be reasonable to consider tenecteplase to treat ischemic stroke among select patients. Several recent clinical trials focused on ischemic stroke have directly compared alteplase and tenecteplase, however, large, Phase 3 trials are still ongoing.

Study co-authors are Lan Hong, M.D.; Leonid Churilov, Ph.D.; Jin Zhang, M.D.; Jianhong Yang, M.D.; Yu Geng, M.D.; Yifeng Ling, M.D.; Lumeng Yang, M.D.; Longting Lin, Ph.D.; Mark Parsons, M.D., Ph.D., and Qiang Dong, M.D., Ph.D. The list of authors' disclosures is available in the abstract.

The study authors reported funding from the National Key R&D Program of China.
Every year, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. For 2022, the focus is placed on not only recognizing the role women and girls play in STEM as beneficiaries but also as agents of change. News-Medical aims to share science with the world and with people who can make a difference. Therefore, this year, we are highlighting a selection of women that are driving innovation in the sector of medical science.

We asked each representative the following questions, exploring how science has shaped their career, their thoughts on the future of the field, and the irreplaceable role of women in STEM.

Over the course of your career, has any moment stuck with you that has made you particularly proud to be a woman in the scientific community? What inspired you to initially pursue a career in science?

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Amunts , Professor of the C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research at the University of Dusseldorf and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in INM-1 in Forschungszentrum Julich

I have to say that I have always seen myself as a scientist first, and I believe that male and female scientists feel proud in similar situations. Yet, there are situations in the career of a female scientist that one can take particular pride in, for example, often being among the first women in higher-level positions. I actually grew up taking it for granted that I had the same career opportunities and choices as men.

Only when I entered my first leadership role it became very clear to me that women are underrepresented in these positions and that it is extraordinary to have reached this level.

A moment that particularly stuck with me was when I became a full professor as one of only four women in the entire faculty of medicine.

I have always been curious and fascinated by science, first by biology, physics, and mathematics and later by the brain in particular. With my career choice, I really followed my gut instinct, and I was the first one in my family to pursue such a path. When you are truly passionate about something, you will find a way to do it. You have to disregard expectations about your role in society.

Dame Jane Dacre , Professor of Medical Education at University College London and former President of the Royal College of Physicians of London

My proudest moment as a woman in medicine was when I was elected by the Fellowship as the President of the Royal College of Physicians. This College was given a Royal Charter in 1518 by king Henry VIII and has been influential in medicine since then. The RCP now has over 40,000 members from all over the world.

I was the third female president in its 500-year history, which was a huge honor.

I initially went into medicine because of a strong interest in the life sciences, coupled with a desire to help others. For me, it was a perfect career choice, and I have loved every minute of being a physician.

Dr. Benitta Muller , postdoc at the Institute for Mechanical Systems at ETH Zurich

There is no particular moment I remember, but being a part of the scientific community means a lot to me. It is the feeling of being at the forefront of something new, creating something inspiring, and doing something meaningful that is very special to me.

What makes me particularly proud is having the opportunity to prove that science doesnt care about your gender and I am very thankful to get the chance to follow my dreams.

Dr. Nako Nakatsuka , Senior Scientist at ETH - Aptamer Biosensing

I had strong female role models growing up, from my mother, who raised me as a single parent, to my research mentors. These women taught me grit and always pushed me to strive for goals beyond what I thought I could achieve. When I joined ETH Zurich as a postdoc, I took on the role of a mentor to many students. Especially being in an electrical engineering department, some female students told me they felt out of place in classrooms and labs where they were one of few women in a male-dominated field. I had the opportunity to pay forward the self-assurance my mentors had instilled in me, to convince these students that they belong. It made me proud to see them rise above such insecurities and to demonstrate their capabilities through excelling in their research projects.

Everyones individual struggle in science is unique and being able to support women who need a confidence booster, is something that gives me purpose in my role and job.

I was inspired to pursue a career in science in high school because I was excited about the lab classes taught by an engaging teacher. But after two years of taking chemistry classes at my university, I was uninspired  I was unsure how chemistry could make a societal impact. Outside of courses, I ran for the cross country and track & field team in university, but I had broken my ankle in a race and was on crutches for six months. That was when I met Prof. Banerjee, who was my organic chemistry lab instructor at the time. Prof. Banerjee offered me a research project in tissue engineering to heal such injuries without the need for surgery using nanobiotechnology. It was the first time I made the connection between what I learned in the classroom and applying this knowledge to clinically relevant applications, which has been my motivator in scientific research since.

Dr. Nina Shah , Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of California San Francisco

Probably o ne of the proudest moments I've had as a woman in oncology has been when my mentor Dr. Elizabeth J. Shpall, won the mentor of the year award from the Women Who Conquer Cancer Awards run by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. This is because it was a nice way for her to get a reward for all of the wonderful things that she's done for women in medicine, which included providing 360-degree mentorship, as well as leading by example, and being a leader herself in her field of cellular therapy.

Fortunately, there is not a single event but many moments where I was inspired by female scientists.

I look back at these moments, and I notice that these are women that have succeeded in the career ladder, and these are women that are still trying to figure out their path. But the common thread is that they show up - they do rigorous and innovative science, they mentor and educate the next- generation of scientists, and they advocate for others that don't have a seat at the table. I'll also add that many of these women are accomplishing while being mothers, international candidates, and facing other adversities. This makes me proud to be a woman in science.

Helen Vuong , Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Los Angeles

Fortunately, there is not a single event but many moments where I was inspired by female scientists. I look back at these moments, and I notice that these are women that have succeeded in the career ladder, and these are women that are still trying to figure out their path. But the common thread is that they show up - they do rigorous and innovative science, they mentor and educate the next- generation of scientists, and they advocate for others that don't have a seat at the table.

I'll also add that many of these women are accomplishing while being mothers, international candidates, and facing other adversities. This makes me proud to be a woman in science.

In all honesty, I did not grow up thinking that I would have a career in science. I am a first-generation college and post-college graduate, and growing up; there was not a lot of opportunities to get involved in science. I had no idea that you could have an entire career dedicated to research. My first exposure was as an undergraduate student at UCLA. I needed a job to help pay for tuition, so I signed up to wash dishes in a lab. All the while, I was eyeing graduate students and postdoctoral fellows doing experiments, and I asked if I could help.

The World Needs Science and Science Needs Women Play

Science, as well as gender equality, are both vital in achieving the UN's sustainable development goals, yet women still only represent 33.3% of the global research community. What more can be done to ensure equal access for women and girls in science?

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Amunts , Professor of the C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research at the University of Dusseldorf and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in INM-1 in Forschungszentrum Julich

We need to empower women at all career stages, and we need to do so at a professional, mental and organizational level. I think that dedicated organizations and programs that offer targeted support for women in science are key. A good example is EAF Berlin, a non-profit organization that operates at the intersection of policy, economy, and science and particularly supports equal opportunities, but there are still not enough of such programs.

In addition to bottom-up support, I believe it to be crucial that we win over decision-makers to drive gender equality top-down. For real change to happen, decision-makers need to be convinced by the direct benefits of more equality rather than being driven by the desire to act politically correct. Research on the impact of gender equality on the success of industrial and academic organizations provides very important data to support the argument. More such studies should be supported.

Men and women need to drive equality together; both need to see the advantages, and both will benefit from the changes.

Dame Jane Dacre , Professor of Medical Education at University College London and former President of the Royal College of Physicians of London

I have become increasingly aware of the lack of equality for women in medicine and science. This has been highlighted by the small number of female colleagues in leadership positions. I led the work commissioned by the Department of Health and Care in England to look at gender pay gaps in medicine. Women in medicine and science earn less than men. Pay gaps are everywhere we look in medicine and are complex to unravel. With the support of Professor Carol Woodhams from Surrey Business School, we have studied the underlying causes of these pay gaps.

I see the gaps as a measure of inequality, which will reduce if we reduce inequality in science and medicine. In the UK, the NHS was set up in 1948, when the pay structures were based on the lives of men with wives at home. Recognizing that this structure needs to be updated, and implementing evidence-based change, is what we need. We have identified 42 recommendations across seven themes, which would make a difference  reduce inequality, based on evidence- and reduce pay gaps.

Dr. Benitta Muller , postdoc at the Institute for Mechanical Systems at ETH Zurich

Encouragement. Women and girls are oftentimes limited by boundaries that should not exist. They question themselves and their abilities and they want to be 100% certain of a situation before they take actions. We need to change this and create an environment that encourages the self-confidence of scientists and gives them a platform for communication without having the feeling that they need to hold back.

Dr. Nako Nakatsuka , Senior Scientist at ETH - Aptamer Biosensing

There are multifaceted aspects to tackle when we think about the global research community. In developed countries, I believe the key is to expose more young girls to science, technology, and engineering to eliminate gender stereotypes. I tutored a 5-year-old girl during my Ph.D. and brought over nanoscience experiments to her home, which significantly increased her interest. Excitement about science from a young age will lead to more women and other underrepresented groups wanting to pursue these fields. In turn, seeing role models that are relatable in research will encourage the retention of these individuals, as they will no longer be the "one" representative minority.

Image Credit: Hanna Karpiak/Shutterstock.com

However, in developing countries, general accessibility to science is still needed, which necessitates improved infrastructure, teacher training, and scientific equipment. Since we live in a highly digitalized world, rendering highly rated high school/university courses accessible online may lower the barrier for students applying for fellowship programs at international institutions.

Dr. Nina Shah , Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of California San Francisco

I think first and foremost, we have to make sure that women are promoted to leadership levels and higher academic levels like professor, tenured professor, and endowed chairs, because the more that women see other women like that, they themselves will feel that it's possible to work hard and get to these spots without sacrificing everything.

Secondly, I think that all of us are changing, both women and men. We've divided all the tasks of life, not just academics, work, and making money, but the rest of life; all those tasks are now being divided more evenly between men and women. Because of that, the time course of when each of us, both men and women, are going to rise to the achievement level required to be in these positions may change, and it may be variable. So, we have to be flexible to accept that it might take a certain gentleman five years, where it would've taken three years for him to do something 20 years ago because he now shares part of child-rearing tasks. Similarly, it might take a woman five years versus three years. We have to be flexible and really look at a person's long-term career arc and not necessarily how long it took them to get there because there are always other factors involved.

Helen Vuong , Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Los Angeles

This is such an important question. To begin, there needs to be more awareness. Young girls need to have opportunities to be exposed to science and female scientist role models. This can come in the form of education, mentorship, internship opportunities, outreach, and funding. After equal access, the next question is how do we retain women in science. There is clear evidence that there are fewer women in higher positions in science. To combat this issue, there need to be institutional changes such as efforts to provide substantial maternity leave without affecting promotions, significant childcare support, non-traditional opportunities (i.e., teaching, program directing), and advocacy for women to be nominated for awards and talks.

The health sector has faced tremendous challenges over recent years regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, there have been incredible advancements, including the development of RNA vaccines and the continued incorporation of AI. Are there any particular innovations you are excited to see, and what do you believe the future of technology will look like within healthcare?

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Amunts , Professor of the C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research at the University of Dusseldorf and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in INM-1 in Forschungszentrum Julich

I am particularly enthusiastic about the developments towards personalized medicine. By combing data from individual patients with data from large cohorts and populations, clinicians can predict the best treatment strategies for an individual person. We can already see the power of this approach in new cancer therapies as well as in targeting neurological diseases. Within the Human Brain Project, we integrate large, multi-scale datasets about the human brain with patient-specific data to generate personalized brain models. Such models help physicians, for example, with the identification of affected brain areas in epilepsy. They provide a precise tool to help individual surgery decisions and improve outcomes. A clinical trial with 400 epilepsy patients is currently carried out in France.

Dame Jane Dacre , Professor of Medical Education at University College London and former President of the Royal College of Physicians of London

The greatest innovation, which I am very excited to see, is not technological; it is cultural. The acceptance of flexible working, and working from home has really helped some women. The recognition that leaders in vaccine development are often women has been a breakthrough. Lets embrace an exciting future where we achieve equality for women in science, medicine, and everything!

Dr. Benitta Muller , postdoc at the Institute for Mechanical Systems at ETH Zurich

The past two years were indeed very challenging for the health sector, and it showed the importance of global communication. For me, an interesting trend in healthcare technology is towards collaborations between providers to enable patient-centered care. I am really excited to see advancements in telemedicine with the aim to improve patients' life.

Dr. Nako Nakatsuka , Senior Scientist at ETH - Aptamer Biosensing

I believe healthcare is going to transform towards remote diagnostics and telemedicine where you can conduct tests at home and be advised virtually. Such innovations will improve accessibility to healthcare, which is far from universal today, especially in areas with a shortage of doctors or individuals with insecure health coverage. This healthcare revolution will go together with technological developments for personalized medicine that enable health tracking by monitoring chemical biomarkers in addition to vital signs for early disease detection.

As a researcher in chemical diagnostics, these advancements are incredibly exciting for me. From personalized diagnostics, I envision a transition towards personalized treatments, where we can tailor medication dosages for individuals and release drugs in response to different biological cues in a regulated feedback system.

Image Credit: plataa/Shutterstock.com

Dr. Nina Shah , Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of California San Francisco

I'm particularly excited as a person who is a cancer physician about the innovations in immunotherapy. These innovations are not only in trying to find immune therapies that work based on what we already know but the discovery of the ways that cells work, their intracellular mechanisms, as well as different target antigen discoveries and different ways to produce immunotherapies. All of these are a way that I'm seeing us all think outside the box and think of innovative ways to use the immune system to fight cancer. I am excited about that.

Helen Vuong , Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Los Angeles

My research lab is focused on understanding the role of the microbiota on the development and physiology of the host. Over the past decade, an increasing number of peer-reviewed studies were published linking the microbiota to the development of a number of diseases and the potential to modify disease progression, mostly carried out in animal models. This is really exciting because the microbiota is a fairly tractable system and therefore provides promise for translation to therapeutics and preventions of diseases.

However, we still have so much to learn about how microbes affect our individual health, what are the mechanisms, and how best to harness and implement their therapeutic value. I look forward to seeing these questions answered in the next decade.

Banner image courtesy of AZoNetwork with material from plataa/Shutterstock.com
The Trade & Industry Department will roll out an enhancement to the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading & Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) on February 14 to further support enterprises in developing more diversified markets.

The geographical scope of the BUD Fund will be extended from 22 economies to 35.

The additional 13 economies include Austria, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

They have signed Investment Promotion & Protection Agreements (IPPAs) with Hong Kong.

The fund's geographical scope has been extended in phases since July 2021 to cover all economies with which Hong Kong has signed Free Trade Agreements or IPPAs.

The final phase, with the geographical scope to be further extended to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, will be implemented in the next quarter.

Call the fund's secretariat at 2788 6088 for enquiries.
The Government announced today that it will extend to March 4 the suspension of passenger flights from eight countries, while the same restriction will apply to aircraft from Nepal from tomorrow.

Having implemented the place-specific flight suspension mechanism from January 8, passenger flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US are not allowed to land in Hong Kong. This restriction was to be maintained until February 18.

However, as the local epidemic situation remains severe and many Hong Kong residents have been returning from these eight places, the Government decided to extend the suspension for two weeks from February 19 to March 4.

It made the move to prevent imported COVID-19 cases from placing additional pressure on the citys healthcare system at this crucial juncture of curbing the local epidemic situation.

To stop people from the eight countries from travelling to Hong Kong via transit, those who have stayed there for more than two hours within 14 days will be restricted from boarding inbound passenger flights, the Government added.

At the same time, due to a number of imported COVID-19 cases from Nepal, a flight ban will be enforced on passenger aircraft from the country from tomorrow until March 4, prohibiting people who have stayed in Nepal for more than two hours within 14 days from boarding passenger flights for Hong Kong.

We understand that the place-specific flight suspension mechanism is an extremely stringent emergency measure, and will inevitably affect the return journeys of Hong Kong residents from these nine places. However, we must maintain the relevant measure so as to quickly quell the epidemic situation, in order to prevent imported cases from posing additional pressure on the medical system, the Government noted.
Sisters Gray and Andrea Koesters honored the life of their father, Willi Hans Koesters, by creating an exhibit of his work at the Bourne-Schweitzer Gallery in New Albany.
TUNIS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Thursday the dissolved Superior Council of the Judiciary will be replaced by a provisional body pending the establishment of a new council.

"It is a choice already made and Tunisia must turn this page and move on to cleaning up, starting with the judiciary," Saied said at the opening of a ministerial council.

The judiciary should be independent, "but in reality it is the opposite," said Saied.

The president added that "judges have a well-defined function within the framework of the Constitution... they only have to apply the law in complete impartiality."

Earlier on Thursday, some Tunisian judges protested in front of the Tunisian Justice Ministry in Tunis against the dissolution of the judiciary council by Saied on Saturday amid suspected corruption by many local magistrates. 
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(Newser)  Update: A wealthy California man who spent years on the run after killing his wife has been sentenced to 15 years to lifeand he won't be getting credit for the more than two years he spent in county jail awaiting trial after Mexico sent him back to the US. Former real estate investor Peter Chadwick had been facing a first-degree murder charge in the 2012 death of Quee Choo Chadwick, mother of his three young sons, but he accepted a plea deal on a count of second-degree murder Wednesday, the OC Register reports. He skipped bail and fled to Mexico in 2015 and was captured four years later. "I wish I could take it back," the 57-year-old told the judge Wednesday. "I compounded that by running away from it." Our original story from Aug. 6, 2019, follows:

Police in Newport Beach say media attention and the "Countdown to Capture" podcast they produced helped lead to the arrest of fugitive millionaire Peter Chadwick. "The podcast about this murder generated leads for us and it was a way to generate interest and created leads and created pressure for Peter to surrender," Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis said Tuesday, per ABC. Police say Chadwick, who allegedly strangled wife Quee Choo Chadwick in 2012, was arrested by immigration authorities in Mexico on Sunday and deported to the US. It's not clear who, if anybody, will be receiving the $100,000 bounty offered for his capture. Authorities say Chadwick had been living in an expat community near Puebla.

Chadwick, a wealthy real estate developer, jumped bail in 2015 and fled the country, authorities say, though both his American and his British passports had been confiscated. Investigators say the 55-year-old left clues to make it appear that he had fled to Canada but he was probably in Mexico the entire time, the AP reports. Officials say Chadwick started off staying in high-end resorts but moved to more modest residences after hotels started asking him for a passport. CBS reports that he withdrew large sums of cash from his accounts but the money apparently ran out. Lewis, the Newport police chief, said Tuesday that Chadwick had been working odd jobs, using aliases including Paul Cook, Paul Craig, and John Franklin. (Read more fugitive stories.)
(Newser)  Updated: Cheer star Jerry Harris pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of receiving child pornography and soliciting sex from minors that could keep him in prison for decades, the AP reports. During a change of plea hearing in federal court in Chicago, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of receiving child pornography, a US attorney's office spokesman said. Harris, 22, pleaded guilty to two of seven felony counts against him, one for persuading a 17-year-old to send him sexually explicit photographs for money and the other stemming from a trip he took to Florida for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 15-year-old. Prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining five counts under a plea agreement. The child pornography charge carries a sentence ranging from five to 20 years and the second charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced June 28. Our original story from Dec. 23, 2020, follows:

Cheer star Jerry Harris has pleaded not guilty to federal child pornography charges and allegations that he solicited sex from minors at cheerleading competitions and convinced teenage boys to send him obscene photographs and videos of themselves. Harris, 21, of Naperville, Illinois, was indicted earlier this month in a seven-count indictment that included the child sex, porn, and other allegations, reports the AP. A complaint filed in September initially charged him with child pornography. In the original complaint, prosecutors said Harris admitted to FBI agents that he asked a teenage boy to send him lewd photographs of himself, but that he requested child pornography from at least 10 to 15 others he knew to be minors via Snapchat.

Two of Harris alleged victims, who are teenage brothers, have sued Harris in Texas. Harris entered his not guilty plea to all seven of the countswhich include four counts of sexual exploitation of childrenon Dec. 17 during an arraignment hearing held by a telephone, court records seen by ET Online show. Each sexual exploitation charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years. Harris remains held without bond at a federal detention facility in Chicago. He has been held there since his September arrest. Harris was the breakout star of the Emmy-winning docuseries that follows a cheerleading team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.

(Read more Jerry Harris stories.)
(Newser)  A Louisiana candidate for the US Senate is making waves with his ads, which show him smoking marijuana and burning the Confederate flag. Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers Jr.who had a viral moment in 2020 when he called out a school board member for online shopping during a discussion about the renaming of a school named after Gen. Robert E. Leeis running for the seat held by first-term Republican Sen. John Kennedy, per the AP. In an ad released Wednesday, he's shown hanging a Confederate flag on a clothesline, dousing it in gasoline, and setting it on fire.

"We must burn what remains of the Confederacy down," Chambers says, condemning a system that's "producing measurable inequity" for Black people. He adds that gerrymandered election districts are "a byproduct of the Confederacy." The ad came a day after Chambers rallied at the Louisiana Capitol in support of the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district, which the Senate rejected, per the Daily Advertiser. As a third of the state population is Black, supporters argue two of the state's six districts should have Black majorities, per the AP. In an earlier ad, viewed 6.6 million times on Twitter, Chambers smoked a marijuana blunt from a wingback chair in a field while dressed in a suit.

The ad was recorded in New Orleans, where there are no longer penalties for possession of small amounts of pot. Marijuana use in Louisiana could lead to jail time, though Chambers says that should change. In the ad, he decried the money wasted on enforcing marijuana laws, adding that arrests disproportionally affect Black people. "Most of the people police are arresting aren't dealers, but rather people with small amounts of pot. Just like me," he said. Chambers and fellow Democrat Luke Mixon face an uphill battle in trying to unseat Kennedy. The Republican has almost $10 million in campaign cash, compared to about $170 for Chambers. The latter spent about $400,000 last year in a House race in which he finished strong but lost. (Read more Senate candidate stories.)
(Newser)  Regulators in California are taking Tesla to court for allegedly operating a "racially segregated workplace." In a complaint filed in state court Wednesday, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing said there are major workplace issues at the firm's main US car plant, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a statement, DFEH director Kevin Kish said the department investigated hundreds of complaints and found evidence that Black workers at the Fremont plant "are subjected to racial slurs and discriminated against in job assignments, discipline, pay, and promotion, creating a hostile work environment."

The agency said Black workers regularly heard racial slurs from managers and supervisors, and they complained of being passed over for promotions, subjected to harsher discipline, and assigned to more physically demanding roles than workers of other races. Last year, Tesla was ordered to pay $137 million to a Black worker at the plant who said he had faced racial taunts and had seen swastikas in a bathroom. In a 2020 diversity report, Tesla said Black people made up 10% of its US workforce and 4% of employees in leadership roles, per the Journal. In a blog post Wednesday, Tesla described the lawsuit as "unfair and counterproductive," the AP reports.

The Tesla post said the allegations date from years ago and the regulators shouldn't focus on "attacking a company like Tesla that has done so much good for California." It said the DFEH had been asked nearly 50 times over the last five years to investigate allegations of discrimination at Teslaand had closed "every single case" without finding misconduct. "It therefore strains credibility for the agency to now allege, after a three-year investigation, that systematic racial discrimination and harassment somehow existed at Tesla," the post said. (Read more Tesla stories.)
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and four government forces were wounded Friday in a grenade attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The grenade attack took place in Bandipora town, about 65 km north of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Police officials said the attacked government forces were on routine duty. Eyewitnesses said following the blast, locals were seen run away from the spot.

Immediately after the attack, government forces rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. Media reports said searches were going on to trace the attackers. 
(Newser)  Harvard for years ignored sexual harassment complaints against a renowned professor who threatened to derail the careers of those who reported him, according to a new lawsuit. The suit, brought by three graduate students, claims officials failed to remove John Comaroff, a professor of anthropology and African and African American studies, after complaints about "rampant" sexual harassment as early as 2017. "He kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students' careers if they complained," the document reads, per NBC News. One of the students, Lilia Kilburn, says Comaroff kissed her on the mouth during a 2017 campus visit before she had even enrolled. She also says he groped her.

She filed a complaint with Harvard's Title IX officers in 2019. Two other students, Margaret Czerwienski and Amulya Mandava, had reported Comaroff's behavior toward others in 2017, though Harvard didn't launch an investigation until 2020. In the meantime, Comaroff was able to retaliate against the women, according to the suit. Comaroff, who is not named as a defendant, "categorically denies ever harassing or retaliating against any student" in a statement from his lawyers, per the AP. "Regarding Ms. Kilburn, professor Comaroff did not kiss her or touch her inappropriately at any time," the statement continues. It also defends Comaroff for warning Kilburn that she could face rape or other violence while studying in Africa because she was in a same-sex relationship.

Comaroff argues this advice came out of concern for Kilburn's wellbeing. But Harvard's investigation found he "engaged in verbal conduct that violated" a "sexual and gender-based harassment policy" and a "professional conduct policy." Comaroff was placed on unpaid leave in January as a result. But the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in US District Court in Boston, claims the university only acted when "spurred to do so by the media" after demonstrating "an institutional policy of indifference." Comaroff had also been put on leave in August 2020, but was allowed to continue teaching "after a slap on the wrist," the suit alleges. As attorney Russell Kornblith puts it, per the AP, the message is that "students should shut up. It is the price to pay for a degree." (Read more Harvard stories.)
(Newser)  "Learn more" is one of the principles Dolly Parton laid out for her foundation. Dollywood employees will now receive help achieving that goal, CBS News reports. Tuition, fees, and books will be covered for all Dollywood workers who want to continue their education. The offer applies to seasonal, part-time, or full-time employees in the company's 25 sites. That's 11,000 people. "We want our hosts to develop themselves through advanced learning to fulfill the foundation's other tenets: care more, dream more, and be more," said Edward Naughton, president of the Dollywood Co.

Parton hasn't commented publicly on the new program yet, but the company said it has her support. "Shes very supportive of the employees learning and continuing to grow themselves," a company spokesman said. She articulated the four tenets in her commencement address at the University of Tennessee in 2009. People on social media responded with praise. Parton is "easily one of the best celeb-type people ever," one tweet said. The company is hiring applicants 14 and older for this season, and interest rose instantly.

Employees become eligible for the education aid on their first day of work, per CNN. They can choose from diploma, degree, and certificate programs from 30 learning partners in fields including marketing, business administration, finance, technology, and culinary studies, per the Post. The company will assist with the costs of another 150 programs, up to $5,250 per year, in subjects such as engineering, human resources, and art design. "If Dolly is involved, its always great to see the reaction," the spokesman said, "especially something like this." (Read more Dolly Parton stories.)
(Newser)  The official White House logs turned over to House investigators list few phone conversations for then-President Donald Trump as the Capitol was being attacked on Jan. 6, 2020. Some calls made during the gaps have been widely reported, including conversations that Republican members of Congress have said they had with Trump during that period, CNN reports. No evidence has been found showing the records were tampered with, per the New York Times; Trump was known to use his personal cellphone and those of aides at times. But the gaps hinder the work of the House committee investigating the riot.

That work includes piecing together Trump's actions at the White House while his supporters attacked the Capitol to try to prevent the Electoral College results in the 2020 presidential election from being certified. The committee has not sought records for Trump's personal cellphone, though that still could happen; the official log tracks calls to the White House switchboard and calls made from White House. The records were turned over after the Supreme Court declined to block their release, which Trump had sought, in January.

The committee has learned about some calls in other ways. They know House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Trump that rioters were breaking into his Capitol Hill office, for instance, and that the president talked to Republican Sen. Mike Lee. "Whether it is the absence of data or phone logs or willing testimony, inevitably, we have different sources to get that information because these are conversations that require more than one participant," said Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who's on the committee. Investigators also know that Trump called former Vice President Mike Pence before the attack began but that Pence didn't answer. (Read more Capitol riot stories.)
(Newser)  A South Korean diplomat was attacked with no provocation Wednesday in New York City, police say. NYPD officers responded around 8:10pm to reports of an assault in Midtown Manhattan and found the injured 53-year-old. He'd been punched in the face for no reason by a stranger, police say. The male suspect, who said nothing to the victim, fled on foot and has not yet been caught, the Hill reports. The man, who was taken to a hospital with a broken nose, was about a mile from the United Nations headquarters when he was hit, NBC News reports.

"Over the past year, weve seen a rise in hate crimes against the [Asian-American Pacific Islander] community that is abhorrent and cannot continue. It is our duty to condemn these terrible incidents and take action against this continued harassment, violence, and discrimination," said the city councilman who represents the Manhattan neighborhood where the assault happened. "The unprovoked attack against the South Korean diplomat is horrific and absolutely unacceptable." Says the consul and press attache for the South Korean Consulate General in New York, "We are outraged by this senseless and deplorable violence and look forward to a swift resolution of this unfortunate incident." (Read more South Korea stories.)
(Newser)  Two years after filing for Chapter 11 protection while facing a flood of child sex abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America has reached a tentative settlement with an official bankruptcy committee representing more than 80,000 men who say they were molested as children by Scout leaders and others. The settlement announced Thursday comes two weeks before the start of a hearing at which a Delaware judge will consider arguments on whether she should confirm the BSA's reorganization plan, the AP reports. All told, the compensation fund would total more than $2.6 billion, which would be the largest aggregate sexual abuse settlement in US history.

The official abuse claimants committee, known as the tort claimants committee, was appointed by the US bankruptcy trustee to act in and represent the interests of all sexual abuse survivors. It has long maintained that the BSA's plan to compensate abuse victims was "grossly unfair," representing only a fraction of potential liabilities of insurers and local Boy Scout councils, and a fraction of what they can pay. But after weeks of discussions that extended late into the night Wednesday, the committee announced that it had negotiated changes to the BSA's plan. It is now recommending that abuse claimants who voted against it change their votes. Judge Laura Selber Silverstein will hold a case status hearing Friday.

The committee said it had accomplished its primary goals with the revised plan, including enhancing child protection measures for Boy Scouts going forward and ensuring independent governance of the settlement fund that will distribute payments to abuse claimants. The revised plan also provides abuse claimants the ability to sue insurance companies and local troop sponsoring organizations, such as churches and civic groups, that do not enter into settlements within one year of the reorganization plan taking effect. The BSA's former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, agreed to contribute $250 million to the fund for claims involving the church. Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million.

(Read more Boy Scouts of America stories.)
(Newser)  Signs announcing face masks were required came down in Nevada casinos on Thursday, after the state dropped its mandate for public places. The change was effective immediately. "It's really an exciting day," said Stephen Thayer, general manager of the Strat in Las Vegas. Employees were relieved that they won't have to remind customers to put their masks on, he said, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Nobody wants to be the mask police and tell people to put it up when theyre having a good time."

Masks are no longer the rule in most public places, including prisons and schools, per the Las Vegas Sun. The requirement remains for hospitals, nursing homes, and other high-risk settings, Gov. Steve Sisolak said in making the announcement. To avoid a chaotic unmasking during class, the rule remained in effect till the end of the day for students. Sisolak attributed his decision to a drop in COVID cases and hospitalizations, as well as a decline in the amount of virus found by wastewater testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends wearing masks indoors where there's "substantial or high transmission" of the virus, per the AP; on Wednesday, that was everywhere in the US except for 14 rural counties.

The federal mask mandate is still in effect at the Las Vegas airport and aboard its planes. It also applies on the Las Vegas Monorail and buses and in cabs and while ridesharing. The governor said employers and organizations, including schools, can still require masks, as can communities where casinos are located. Public opinion on the mandate is split, Sisolak conceded. US Senate candidate Adam Laxalt, a Republican, said in a statement that the decision was politically motivated; the Democratic governor is up for reelection this year. "My decision is based on science, not politics," Sisolak insisted. (Read more mask mandates stories.)
(Newser)  The Citizen Kane-like table that Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin sat at earlier this week during their talks on the Russia-Ukraine standoff wasn't just symbolic. Two members of the French leader's team tell Reuters that Macron was told he had to take a Russian COVID test before meeting with his Russian counterpart, or the two would be forced to adhere to strict social distancingand Macron chose the latter, worried that he'd be giving away a sample of his genetic makeup to the Kremlin by taking the PCR test. "We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table," one source says. "But we could not accept that they get their hands on [Macron's] DNA."

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that Macron said "non" to the test and insisted there was "no politics" involved in keeping him at a great distance from Putin, whose health had to be protected. "The Russians told us Putin needed to be kept in a strict health bubble," one of Macron's sources agreed. Insider notes that Putin is said to have been "exceptionally cautious" about his health during the pandemic, surrounded by rigid health and safety protocols put in place by his security forcesincluding a tunnel into his Novo-Ogaryovo palace that sprays visitors with disinfectant.

Macron did reportedly take both a PCR test in France before flying to Moscow, as well as an antigen test when he got therebut one given by his own doctor. The 13-foot table the two world leaders sat at became the subject of online jokes and memes, as well as a lot of head-scratching. Some wondered if the Russian leader was sending a "diplomatic message," as the BBC puts it. The official word out of Macron's office on the COVID test refusal doesn't reference DNA pilfering but states the Russian results would've taken too long to get back. When pressed on the DNA question, the office noted: "The president has doctors who define with him the rules that are acceptable or not in terms of his own health protocol." (Read more Emmanuel Macron stories.)
(Newser)  Update: The US is urging Americans to leave Ukraine now. At an afternoon briefing, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said new intelligence suggested Russia could invade any day now, even with the Olympics in progress. "We want to be crystal clear on this pointany American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours," said Sullivan, per NBC News. He emphasized that he's not saying Putin will invade, only that the likelihood appears to be growing. Meanwhile, President Biden ordered 3,000 more troops to Poland, per the AP. Our story from earlier Friday follows:

American citizens still in Ukraine should get out because US troops won't be able to rescue them if Russia invades, President Biden warned Thursday night. "Its not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world," the president told NBC. "Its a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly." When Lester Holt asked him if there was a scenario in which he would send troops to rescue Americans after a Russian invasion, Biden replied: "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another."

The State Department also issued a warning that the government "will not be able to evacuate US citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine." Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said an invasion could happen before the Beijing Olympics end on Feb. 20. "Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, Blinken said, per the AP. "We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics."

Blinken was speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Canberra, where Marise Payne, his Australian counterpart, warned that the strengthened alliance between Russia and China is concerning because it doesn't "represent a global order" that squares with "ambitions for freedom and openness and sovereignty and the protection of territorial integrity." At a press conference in Brussels, meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he doesn't believe Russia has made a firm decision to invade Ukraine, but the intelligence "remains grim," the BBC reports. Russia, which has 100,000 troops near the border and has launched massive military exercises with Belarus, denies that it has any plans to invade its neighbor. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  Liam Neeson has made some great action movies, but Blacklight definitely isn't one of them, critics say. The thriller, in which Neeson plays an FBI "fixer" who uncovers a government conspiracy, has a lowly 4% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics complain that the movie seems generic, with Neeson playing a "man with a particular set of skills who wants to protect his family" character extremely familiar from numerous movies, starting with 2008's Taken. It was directed and co-written by Mark Williams, who also directed Neeson in 2020's Honest Thief. Four takes:

The film mainly serves as a "time-filler until the next, better Liam Neeson action movie comes along," writes Frank Scheck at the Hollywood Reporter. "Lacking a high concept or memorable central character, the film is a by-the-numbers actioner that coasts on its stars soulful gravitas and low-key charisma," writes Scheck, who praises the 69-year-old actor's work ethic.

Some very faint praise from Todd Gilchrist at the Wrap: "Blacklight is an unsurprisingly tepid action thriller which extends this odd phase of Neesons career, but the best thing that can probably be said about it is that its not materially worse than most of the others," he writes, adding that the actor "hasnt followed in Bruce Willis footsteps and fully given up on acting for anything other than his paycheck, but it would be tough to argue successfully that hes working very hard in a role like this."

Barry Hertz at the Globe and Mail disagrees on the Willis point. The "bottom-of-the-barrel" Blacklight is a "movie that Bruce Willis would deem below his standards," he writes. Hertz describes the action scenes as "underwhelming" and complains that Neeson's character doesn't even get many butts to kick. "There is one main bad guy here and a measly two henchmen, each of whose butts takes forever to finally meet Neesons loafers," he writes.

Jocelyn Noveck at the AP says the problem is the material, not Neeson and other stars, including Hamilton performer Emmy Raver-Lampman, who plays a journalist. Neeson "could keep doing this til hes 80, but surely theres something better out there," Noveck writes. "As the films closing song goes, 'every story needs a hero.' True. But every hero also needs a story. A better one."

(Read more movie review stories.)
(Newser)  Update: Chinese officials' evolving story on the woman found chained by her neck has gotten another revision. While authorities earlier reversed their denials and confirmed the woman, named Xiaohuamei and confirmed to be 44, had been a human trafficking victim, they now say she was actually sold twice. In early 1998, she arrived in Jiangsu and was sold to a man who intended to marry her for 5,000 yuan (about $790 in today's dollars), reports the Wall Street Journal. She disappeared a few months later to the buyer's dismay, and somehow ended up being sold again to the man who allegedly kept her chained; they obtained a marriage license in June 1998. Our original story from Feb. 11 follows:

Chinese officials say a mother of eight filmed chained by the neck to a doorless shack in freezing temperatures is indeed a victim of human traffickingtwo weeks after authorities claimed she was not. County-level officials in Jiangsu province initially said the woman, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was legitimately married to a man with the surname Dong, whose father had found the woman begging on the street shortly before their 1998 wedding, per Reuters. It was only after intense public pressure that officials said they would investigate Dong. They have now charged him with illegal detention and human trafficking, the BBC reports.

On Tuesday, Xuzhou city said the woman initially identified by the surname Yang was in fact named Xiaohuamei (though Reuters notes that may be a nickname rather than her real name) and hails from a village in southwestern Yunnan province. Village residents told authorities that, sometime after Xiaohuamei was divorced in 1996, her parents asked a woman with the surname Sang to take her across the country to Jiangsu province so she could seek treatment for mental illness and find a husband, per the BBC. According to authorities, Sangwho is also charged with human traffickingclaimed to have lost Xiaohuamei upon arrival in Jiangsu, though she never informed police or the woman's now-deceased parents.

Captivated social media users seemed to doubt the officials' explanations even while welcoming the charges, per the BBC. The Washington Post earlier this week described "clumsy attempts by local authorities to contain the outpouring of criticism" amid "a broader debate about mistreatment of women, the ineffectiveness of local authorities in fighting trafficking, and poverty in rural areas." According to the outlet, a law professor remarked that under Chinese law, the maximum penalty for trafficking a woman or child is three years in prison, which is "less than the penalty for selling a few protected parakeets." (Read more China stories.)
SYDNEY, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- As aged care homes and older citizens bear the brunt of living with COVID-19, advocates for aged care have rallied across Australia to protect society's most vulnerable.

According to figures released by the federal Department of Health on Feb. 4, in 2022 alone over 500 COVID-related deaths have been recorded in residential aged care homes across the nation, more than one third of the total deaths in the aged care facilities since the beginning of the pandemic.

The crisis has been confounded by the unexpected rate at which Omicron spread through Australia in part due to most states opening their borders and removing restrictions at the end of last year in a bid to live with the virus.

The rapid spread across society has resulted in worker shortages, a delayed vaccine booster rollout in aged care homes, and supply shortages of protective equipment and rapid antigen tests.

Aged care bodies have emerged to shed light on a sector that is buckling under pressures from all sides.

CEO of Queensland-based advocacy group, Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia), Geoff Rowe, told Xinhua that many of the nation's aged care facilities were inadequately prepared.

"What we've seen is the impact of Omicron has found many aged care providers unprepared. Unprepared in respect of the extent of infection, and the impact that would have on a workforce," said Rowe.

He said that presently more than half of all aged care services are locked down due to outbreaks.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt flagged concern on Thursday that nearly 20 percent of aged care residents were yet to receive a booster shot, despite all aged care homes now having access to a vaccine clinic.

Rowe said this was both due to a lack of access in some locations as well as family members not giving consent for residents to receive the vaccine.

"The rollout of the booster vaccines has been much slower than what has been needed to protect older people from Omicron."

In a bid to plug worker shortages, the federal government announced on Monday that 1,700 Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel would be deployed to aged care homes to help ease pressure and give aged-care workers relief.

Rowe pointed out that, while a welcome respite for aged care workers facing burnout and overwork, the move may have unintended consequences.

"For some older people, maybe who are from a migrant background, or an indigenous background, their exposure with people in uniform hasn't always been positive,"

"We need to be careful that we don't reawaken that trauma for those people," Rowe said.

Aged care advocates across Australia have echoed Rowe's calls.

CEO of the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Ian Yates released a letter on Thursday calling for reform of the aged care sector.

"We could never prevent all COVID deaths in aged care after opening up, but we didn't need to have it be this tragic," he said.

The Australia Aged Care Collaboration (ACCC), an organization comprising six aged care peak bodies, penned a joint letter to the prime minister calling for increased funding and a bolstering of the workforce.

"Although there is much that has been done to respond to the presenting issues, regrettably, much of the government's response has fallen short of what Australia's older people in care have needed," read the letter published on Thursday.

"Older people, their families and our aged care workers are all suffering as a consequence."

Rowe said that now was an opportune moment to focus the national conversation onto how we care for and value the elderly.

"I think our focus needs to be on how we can show dignity and respect to the older members of our community," he said. 
(Newser)  Pennsylvania state police have identified a man who raped and murdered a 9-year-old girl 58 years agowith help from a college student. Marise Ann Chiverella was abducted while walking to school in Hazleton, 80 miles north of Philadelphia, on March 18, 1964. Her raped and strangled body was found hours later in a waste coal pit. Over the ensuing decades, more than 230 law enforcement officers sought justice, though the name they were looking for wouldn't emerge until 2020. As CNN reports, a distant relative of the killer was identified using genetic genealogy in 2019. Eric Schubert, an Elizabethtown College history major and genealogy expert who was just 18, volunteered his services to police a year later. They accepted, and he constructed an elaborate family tree to nail down the suspect.

His efforts led to James Paul Forte, a 22-year-old bartender at the time of the crime with no known connection to Marise. He had a recorda guilty plea for aggravated assault in 1974 and an arrest for recklessly endangering and harassment in 1978. Forte died of natural causes, possibly a heart attack, two years later at age 38. His body was exhumed last month to show his DNA matched fluid found on Marise's jacket, per CBS News. Police made the announcement at a Thursday press conference, attended by Marise's four siblings. "We have so many precious memories of Marise. At the same time, our family will always feel the emptiness and sorrow of her absence," said sister Carmen Marie Radtke. "We will continue to ask ourselves, what would have been, what could have been?"

But "thanks to the Pennsylvania State Police, justice has been served today," Radtke added. After two years on the case, Schubert, who's helped crack other cold cases since founding ES Genealogy in 2016, also spoke. "The investigation that went into all of this work was probably the hardest genealogy task that I've ever faced. This was probably the hardest thing that I've ever done in my entire life," he said, per the AP. "And it means so much to me that I was able to be on the team that could provide answers to the Chiverella family." The lead investigator, State Police Cpl. Mark Baron, said the cold case was the fourth-oldest in the US to be solved using genetic genealogy, and the oldest in the state. (Read more cold cases stories.)
(Newser)  One of Australia's most iconic animals is now an endangered species in much of its range. The country's federal government has declared the koala endangered in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory after a steep decline in numbers. The marsupial was declared vulnerable in those areas in 2012. "Koalas have gone from no-listing to vulnerable to endangered within a decade. That is a shockingly fast decline," conservation scientist Stuart Blanch tells the BBC. Conservationists say koala numbers are also dropping in South Australia and Victoria. In September, the Australian Koala Foundation estimated that the county's koala population had fallen by almost a third over three years.

Koalas are facing multiple threats, some of them connected to climate change. Thousands of koalas died in wildfires in 2019. "The impact of prolonged drought, followed by the black summer bushfires, and the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanization, and habitat loss over the past twenty years have led to the advice," environment minister Sussan Ley said Friday, per the Guardian. She said a koala recovery plan will include efforts to protect the animal's woodland habitat. Blanch says that while the new designation is welcome, it won't save the koala unless it is "accompanied by stronger laws and landholder incentives to protect their forest homes."

Deborah Tabart, chairwoman of the Australian Koala Foundation, said the government isn't doing enough to address deforestation and other threats, the New York Times reports. "Behind all the photo opportunities and political rhetoric they continue to approve the destruction of the koala habitat," she said, adding: "If the clearing of the koala habitat continues, a further status change is imminentfrom endangered to extinct." It's not clear how many koalas remain in the wild, but conservation groups believe the number could now be below 50,000. (Chlamydia is also a major threat to koalas, but researchers are working on a vaccination program.)
(Newser)  A white father and son are facing criminal charges in Mississippi, accused of shooting at a Black FedEx driver last month while he was working. D'Monterrio Gibson, 24, tells CNN that on the evening of Jan. 24, he was delivering FedEx packages out of a Hertz rental van, complete with Hertz stickers, to a home in Brookhaven when he spotted a white pickup headed his way from a neighbor's house, honking its horn. Gibson says the truck tried to cut him off, so he attempted to fleewhen suddenly a man showed up in the middle of the street, pointing a gun at his van and motioning for him to get out. Instead, Gibson swerved around him, ducking as he was driving, which is when he says he heard "at least five shots" fired, with the bullets hitting the van, per a Jan. 25 incident report filed by the Brookhaven Police Department.

Gibson says the truck, now with both men inside, then chased him for about seven minutes, until he reached the interstate. Brandon Case, accused of being the man in the street with the gun, has been charged with feloniously attempting to cause bodily injury with a firearm and a deadly weapon by shooting at an occupied vehicle with Gibson inside, per an affidavit, which also notes that Gregory Case, said to be the driver of the white pickup, was charged with unlawfully and feloniously conspiring with Brandon Case to commit aggravated assault by attempting to cause bodily injury to Gibson. Gibson's attorney, Carlos E. Moore, says he thinks the charges should be upgraded to attempted murder. "If the roles were reversed, and he'd done this to them, he would have been immediately arrested for attempted murder and gone to jail that same night," Moore says.

Moore adds that the Cases were arrested more than a week after the incident. He also deems what allegedly happened "a copycat crime," claiming the Cases were inspired by the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man gunned down in February 2020 after being chased by three white men in a Georgia neighborhood, per the Washington Post. "This man went to work and they attacked him like he was a wild animal," Moore says of his client. A spokesperson for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department says both men were booked on Feb. 1, with Brandon Case's bond set at $150,000 and his father's bond set at $75,000. Gibson, meanwhile, tells WAPT that he's been struggling with PTSD. "I have been having a lot of anxiety and trauma," he says. "I have slight panic attacks and I am getting into therapy to handle that." (Read more Mississippi stories.)
(Newser)  Sarah Palin is in a Manhattan courtroom this week testifying in her libel suit against the New York Times, and one line in particular from Thursday caught the attention of observers who think she hurt her case. (Granted, these are observers from the mainstream media, which the former Alaska governor says is biased against her.) Details:

The lawsuit: All of this stems from a Times editorial that baselessly accused Palin of inciting violence that led to the shooting of former Rep. Gabby Giffords in 2011. The Times admitted the editorial was wrong and ran two corrections, though Palin says it irreparably hurt her reputation.

All of this stems from a Times editorial that baselessly accused Palin of inciting violence that led to the shooting of former Rep. Gabby Giffords in 2011. The Times admitted the editorial was wrong and ran two corrections, though Palin says it irreparably hurt her reputation. Testimony: Asked about her reaction to the 2017 editorial, Palin said she was upset the newspaper had lied about the incident "again." It's the word "again" that caused a fuss in the courtroom, writes Erik Wemple of the Washington Post. The lawsuit is about a specific editorial, one instance of alleged libel, not a pattern. But Palin suggested otherwise.

Elaborating: "What did you mean by 'again'?" asked Judge Jed S. Rakoff. "They lied before," said Palin. "About this?" Rakoff asked. "My view was the New York Times took a lot of liberties and wasn't always truthful," she said. "That's what I meant by 'again.'" She later added, "I don't have the specific articles ... in front of me."

"What did you mean by 'again'?" asked Judge Jed S. Rakoff. "They lied before," said Palin. "About this?" Rakoff asked. "My view was the New York Times took a lot of liberties and wasn't always truthful," she said. "That's what I meant by 'again.'" She later added, "I don't have the specific articles ... in front of me." Mistake? At Slate, Seth Stevenson writes about this under the headline "the moment Sarah Palin's testimony fell apart." Palin was doing impressively on the stand before this, he writes, but the "again" comment triggered a sidebar of the judge and lawyers on whether it should be stricken from the record. "When they returned, everybody just moved on, with no mention of the previous flub. But the spell had been broken." Wemple also sees it as a misstep: "Adoring audiences at Fox News don't stop and ask for citations, specifics, supporting evidence. But that's precisely what happens in a courtroom."

At Slate, Seth Stevenson writes about this under the headline "the moment Sarah Palin's testimony fell apart." Palin was doing impressively on the stand before this, he writes, but the "again" comment triggered a sidebar of the judge and lawyers on whether it should be stricken from the record. "When they returned, everybody just moved on, with no mention of the previous flub. But the spell had been broken." Wemple also sees it as a misstep: "Adoring audiences at Fox News don't stop and ask for citations, specifics, supporting evidence. But that's precisely what happens in a courtroom." Ending soon: The above isn't the only criticism of Palin. At NPR, media writer David Folkenflik has found her to be a "a less-than-commanding witness" on cross-examination in regard to how the editorial was damaging to her. We'll know soon whether the critics are right: Closing arguments were set for Friday, per the AP.

(Read more Sarah Palin stories.)
(Newser)  Comedian Dave Chappelle said his threat to pull the plug on his plans to open a comedy club near his hometown in Ohio wasn't because he opposed a proposal for affordable housing in a nearby development. Chappelle, who became the target of criticism this week after speaking against the development in Yellow Springs, said in a statement that the plan wasn't the right fit for the village, per the AP. "Dave Chappelle didn't kill affordable housing," said Carla Sims, a spokesperson for Chappelle. "Concerned residents and a responding Village Council 'killed' a half-baked plan [that] never actually offered affordable housing."

Chappelle was among several residents who spoke up against the project at a council meeting Monday, the Dayton Daily News reported. The comedian, who announced last year that he was buying a former fire station in Yellow Springs with plans to turn it into a comedy club, said he would back out if the project was allowed. "I am not bluffing. I will take it all off the table," Chappelle said. The council sided with Chappelle and other residents opposing the project, which would have been expanded to include duplexes, townhomes, and less than two acres for future affordable housing.

Instead, the project will now go forward with just single-family homes. Chappelle lives with his family outside the village and has ties that go back to when his father graduated from Antioch College, in Yellow Springs, and later was a professor there. "Neither Dave nor his neighbors are against affordable housing," said the statement from Chappelle's spokesperson. "However, they are against the poorly vetted, cookie-cutter, sprawl-style development deal which has little regard for the community, culture, and infrastructure of the Village."

(Read more Dave Chappelle stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden signed an executive order Friday to move toward unfreezing about $7 billion in Afghan reserve funds now held in the US. The administration locked down the money in August to keep it from the Taliban when they overthrew Afghanistan's government. Biden's plan would split the money, with half going toward aid in Afghanistan and half to the families of 9/11 victims with legal claims against the Taliban, the Washington Post reports. The Taliban immediately objected to the US plan, saying the money isn't Biden's to spend.

"The frozen funds are the reserves of the Afghan central bank," said Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban representative to the UN. "This should be totally unfrozen and transferred to Afghan bank as reserves. We don't want what the [US] is planning." A court ruling is required to allow the half of the money going for humanitarian needs to be transferred, per NPR, because some families of 9/11 victims have claims filed against the assets. Biden's executive order acknowledges those claims. His plan could meet opposition in Congress from lawmakers who don't want to send aid that could help the Taliban.

To avoid that happening, that $3.5 billion would go into a trust fund administered by a third party. "We are going to be ensuring that there are very robust controls in place," an administration official said, emphasizing that the money "is not going to the Taliban; it is going to be used for the benefit of the Afghan people." The UN has forecast that severe hunger will affect most of Afghanistan's 40 million people this winter and that many will die, including children. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Hillary Clinton is in business after reports that former President Trump flushed documents in White House toilets. The former secretary of state, who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election, is promoting caps carrying the message, "But Her Emails," the Hill reports. Clinton's use of a private email server was a persistent issue in the campaign, sparking investigations and regular attacks from Trump. In an Instagram post, Clinton wrote that the $30 caps are for sale just "in time for Galentine's Day, and the news that Trump was flushing documents down White House toilets."

Trump has denied mishandling documents, but the reporting resurfaced the Clinton email accusations this week. Republicans who were outraged by Clinton's handling of electronic documents didn't say much about reports that Trump improperly took government records home with him when he left office, per the New York Times. A Clinton spokesman complained about the "two-year frenzy" over the emails in a tweet. "Call it sexism, Republican depravity, ratings-hungry media, it's time we acknowledge it was bull----, and write that into the history books," Nick Merrill wrote.

Clinton, who was not charged with any crimes involving the emails, said in her post that the caps are made by union workers and that the sales help groups working to protect voting rights and "young progressives" running for office. But the site handling the sales warns that because of high demand, the "black unstructured dad hat" won't be sent out for six to eight weeks. The Onward Together site also offers a mug for $20 with the same plaintive wording. (Read more Hillary Clinton stories.)
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CANBERRA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australia's vaccine advisory body has recommended to change the term of "fully vaccinated" against coronavirus to "up to date" or "overdue".

The Australian government recently received advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) about the COVID-19 vaccination status, with people aged 16 and over having had a booster shot now considered "up to date" with immunizations.

Under the new rules, an eligible person who has not had a booster COVID-19 vaccine within six months of their second dose will be considered "overdue".

Australians aged 16 years and older are currently eligible for a booster shot three months after their second dose.

The cabinet on Thursday night also endorsed an Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on mandatory booster vaccinations in aged care facilities.

On Friday morning, Australia reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases and 46 deaths including 19 in New South Wales, 13 in Victoria and 14 in Queensland.

As of Thursday, there were 3,414 cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 267 in intensive care units, according to the Department of Health. 
Alaska_news

Steven Downs found guilty of first-degree murder in Sophie Sergie's death

Robin Wood for the News-Miner Robin Wood for the News-Miner Steven Harris Downs is seen in Fairbanks Superior Court on Aug. 14, 2019, for an arraignment hearing in connection to the death of Sophie Sergie in 1993.

A Fairbanks jury convicted Steven H. Downs Thursday of murder in the death of Sophie Sergie, nearly 29 years after the 20-year-old was found brutally raped, stabbed and shot in a dormitory bathtub at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The 12-person jury found Downs, 47, guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual assault. He will be held without bail until his sentencing hearing in September.

The jury verdicts were read in court by the presiding judge in the case, Thomas Temple. Jurors sent Temple a note about 10:15 a.m. Thursday saying they had reached a verdict after deliberating for more than 20 hours over four days.

The panel began deliberating Monday after hearing three weeks of evidence and listening to numerous witnesses, including testimony from forensic experts and Downs college girlfriend and former roommate.

Downs, of Auburn, Maine, was arrested in 2019, more than 25 years after Sergies body was discovered in the second-floor bathroom of Bartlett Hall dormitory. The arrest came after a family member submitted DNA to a genealogy website that matched semen from the crime scene.

A DNA sample provided by Downs prior to his arrest in 2019 confirmed that his genetic profile matched semen found inside Sergie. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained his innocence throughout the case.

Lead defense attorney Jim Howaniec said his client was let down by the verdict and plans to appeal the conviction.

Ive spoken to Steven and he is obviously disappointed, but continues to maintain his innocence, Howaniec said. We believe strongly that this was a case of reasonable doubt. We felt, generally, we received a very fair trial, but we do anticipate an appeal.

We remain very grateful for all of the hard work the jurors did in assessing what was very difficult evidence to consider, he added.

Prosecutors maintained that Downs  who lived in Bartlett Hall at the time of the murder  raped Sergie in the early morning hours of April 26, 1993, before stabbing her multiple times and shooting with a .22 caliber pistol.

During the course of this trial, you have heard evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt who killed and raped Sophie Sergie, Chief Assistant Attorney Jenna Gruenstein said during closing arguments. You heard evidence beyond a reasonable doubt it was that man, Steven Downs.

During the first week of testimony, Downs former roommate told the court that Downs possessed two firearms during their freshman year at the university. His college girlfriend testified that Downs had been in and out of her room on the morning that Sergie was killed.

Jurors heard audio recordings from the interrogation that led up to the defendants arrest in February 2019, in which Downs told investigators that he had never met Sergie and only vaguely recognized her photo from news coverage surrounding the event. He did not testify during the trial.

Downs faces a maximum sentence of 99 years in prison. He was represented by Maine attorneys Jim Howaniec and Jesse Archer, as well as Fairbanks defense attorney Frank Spaulding.

Gruenstien did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This story was updated at 5:10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 31F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 31F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the launch of an explosive-laden drone towards Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthi militia.

Twelve people were injured at the airport when shrapnel from the drone intercepted by the Saudi Air defences hit people.

Shrapnel from the drone interception at midday fell inside airport grounds and some glass facades were damaged, a coalition statement carried by state media said.

Light injuries were sustained by two Saudi nationals and citizens of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Soon after the incident air traffic operations at the civilian airport returned to normal after standard safety procedures were carried out, the coalition said in statements carried by state media.

Bahrains Ministry of Foreign Affairs, terming the attack a sinful terrorist act, said it is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The statement said the Kingdom stand with the Kingdom and support all the measures it takes to maintain the security and safety of its citizens and residents.

Bahrain praised the efficiency and vigilance of the coalition forces for intercepting and destroying the drone in timely action.

The Kingdom also called for concerted efforts to put these treacherous acts aimed at destabilising the security and stability of the region.

The coalition has been fighting the Houthis since early 2015 after the group ousted Yemens internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis often launch attacks on Abha airport, which lies close to the Yemeni border in Saudi Arabias south, and other parts of the country with drones and missiles.

Most attacks are intercepted but a few people have been killed and several injured. The Arab Coalition including Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in 2015.

The coalition yesterday said it would take measures to neutralize the source of threats to civilians following international humanitarian law.
Nearly 8,000 Indian citizens jailed abroad, half of them in Gulf countries, 178 in Bahrain

Nearly 8,000 Indian citizens jailed abroad, half of them in Gulf countries, 178 in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

A total of 178 Indian expatriates are either serving their various sentences or under-trials in Bahrain jails, according to the latest available statistics with the Indian External Affairs Ministry.

There are 1,570 Indian expatriate prisoners in Saudi Arabia followed by the UAE (1,292), Kuwait (460), Qatar (439) and Oman (49).

There are close to 8,000 Indian nationals jailed abroad and half of them are in Gulf countries, according to the statistics.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Dr Babu Ramachandran, the Chairman of the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) said that Bahrains government has been putting in its best efforts to ensure the best humane treatment of prisoners.

ICRF is a non-government, non-profit organisation working under the patronage of the Indian Ambassador for the general welfare of Indian workers in Bahrain.

ICRF would regularly conduct prison visits before the pandemic struck Bahrain.

The Kingdom has one of the worlds best prison systems in the world.

All requirements of prisoners are being attended, matching the best of world standards.

We have been earlier conducting regular prison visits that have to be stopped following the pandemic outbreak.

We are hopeful that ICRF teams will be able to resume jail visits again once the pandemic is brought under absolute control.

Dr Babu, who is also a physician at American Mission Hospital Bahrain, said mental depression dominates all health disorders faced by Indian expatriate prisoners.

It is quite natural for inmates to suffer from mental depression.

During the visits, we have noticed that most of them want to speak with us about their backgrounds and families.

ICRF mainly offers legal assistance to Indian expatriate prisoners apart from offering to counsel and serving a link between the inmates and their family members.

Before the pandemic season, we would serve special food and offer telephone cards to them.

Other major illnesses among inmates are diabetes, hypertension and respiratory disorders.

Alternative sentencing Dr Babu hailed the governments efforts to improve the lives of inmates as well as the introduction of alternative sentencing.

Bahrain's government has already announced further alternative sentencing reforms to modernise its sentencing framework.

Now all prisoners are potentially eligible for alternative sentencing unlike in the past when only prisoners who served one-and-a-half years of the custodial sentence were eligible.

Under the new system, all adults sentenced to imprisonment will become eligible for their cases to be dealt with by alternative sentencing, even before the commencement of any sentence of imprisonment.

Alternative sentences may include community service, home detention, exclusion orders, non-contact orders, electronic tagging, rehabilitation programmes or compensation.

The reforms will see more offenders serving their sentences in the community and a review of existing prisoners for transfer to alternative sentencing and early release.

Alternative sentences will be considered by the Courts on application by the prosecution and upon being satisfied that the offender does not pose a risk to the public.
Take COVID-19 tests if you have a symptom: top Bahrain health expert

Take COVID-19 tests if you have a symptom: top Bahrain health expert

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A top Bahraini health expert called on all to take COVID-19 tests quickly when they have a symptom.

Dr Jamila Al-Salman, a Consultant of Infectious Diseases and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex, said it is necessary to take a COVID-19 test if a person is having high temperature, cough and shortness of breath.

Acting responsibly by taking the initiative to quickly conduct a COVID-19 examination in the event of detecting any of these symptoms will contribute to rapid isolation of existing coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the doctor said.

This would also help reduce contacts and supports the efforts made in this aspect, she added.

Dr Al Salman is also a member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The doctor further stressed that Bahrain is ready to deal effectively with the various stages of the pandemic.

She stressed the importance of continue adhering to the COVID-19 precautionary measures and announced decisions to continue addressing the Coronavirus pandemic successfully and preserve the health and safety of all.
Agencies | Abu Dhabi

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The UAE's air defence system has been very effective to thwart recent missile attacks on the country and the United States will work with the UAE to improve it the system, a top US military commander said.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the US is working with the UAE and other regional and global partners to develop better solutions to stop drone attacks, even before they are launched.

"We are happy to see that THAAD [the US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system] employed successfully by UAE in the first two combat employments of that system. So, that's been very good, and I know that it sends a strong message of reassurance to everyone in UAE. We will continue to work with UAE to make that system even better in the future," said McKenzie.

His visit to the UAE comes in the wake of terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia against civilian targets in the UAE. The UAE's Ministry of Defence (MoD) had announced in January that its air defence forces had intercepted and destroyed missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist group.

On February 2, the ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed three "hostile" drones that penetrated the UAE's airspace.

Solution to tackle drone attacks

McKenzie, who oversees the US forces in the Middle East, added, "We are working with our partners here in the region and with the industry back in the United States to develop solutions that would work against drones. We would like to work against drones what we call 'Left of Launch,' [which means] before they can be launched."

Such a system will be able to detect the launch of drones, see them and disrupt their flight.

"And if you can't do that, you will certainly be able to shoot them down as they reach their intended target," he said.

"In all of those areas we're working with our friends internationally as well as with industries in the United States to become more effective at that."

Professional military makes UAE safe, secure

He emphasised that he finds his visit "a great opportunity to assure the United Arab Emirates about the continued friendship and support of the United States of America."

Although the attacks on the UAE are very concerning to the US, "I think the UAE has one of the most professional militaries in the region. They're very well-led, and I think the UAE is a very safe and secure place," the commander stressed.

Immediate US military support to UAE

"Even as the UAE has come under attack, the United States has moved quickly and swiftly to help an old friend. We brought a destroyer in a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Cole, which has ballistic missile defence capabilities. It will patrol the waters of the UAE, working closely with UAE air defenders to protect their nation," he affirmed.

"And then additionally, over the next week or so, we're going to bring in a squadron of F-22 fighter jets, the best air superiority fighters in the world. They will also work with their UAE partners to help defend the nation. So, we think this is just one friend helping another in a time of crisis."

Impact of Houthis' terrorist tag, ISIS leader's killing

Asked about the US Government reports considering re-designating Houthis as a terrorist organisation and the possible impact of such a move, Gen. McKenzie replied, "I would leave the questions about designating the Houthis to the diplomats. But I would tell you this  the Houthis are behaving in a reckless and irresponsible manner as they attacked the UAE and they have continued to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

About the killing of Daesh leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi during a US counterterrorism raid in northwest Syria on Wednesday, McKenzie said, "I think taking the international leader of ISIS [or Deash] off the table makes it hard for them to coordinate their activities across the globe. And certainly, while regional aspects of ISIS will remain, it will be harder for them to coordinate their activities across continents."

Asked whether the threat of Daesh forming a global network has been thwarted with his killing, he answered, "No, I do not believe it has been done away with. I think that threat will be with us for a long time. Our goal of encountering this threat is not to have a bloodless or a nonviolent future, because tragically, I don't think that's going to be a possible outcome."

The CENTCOM Commander explained that the US wants to contain the threat of Daesh "locally and regionally" so that its security forces could "deal with them on the spot rather than allowing them to coordinate across the globe, and mount large, spectacular attacks."

Situation in Afghanistan

The US is watching Afghanistan very closely, McKenzie said.

The US' concern related to Afghanistan is mostly the ability of Daesh Khorasan, a regional affiliate, and Al Qaeda to mount large attacks against the US and its allies. "That's what we're looking at when we look into Afghanistan. That's the principal concern that we have right now."

McKenzie was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of US Central Command in March 2019. In July 2017, he was named Director, Joint Staff. In October 2015, he was assigned to the Joint Staff to serve as Director, J-5, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff.

Earlier, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, in June 2014.
Renowned for its towering Osaka and Himeji castles, Zen gardens and fresh, seasonal cuisine, Kansai is widely considered Japan's cultural and historical heartland. Here, we round up five of the regions best cities to discover.

Kyoto may be considered by some as the crowning jewel of Kansai, but there's so much more to this region of Japan than its ancient capital. From the urban environs of downtown Osaka to the tranquility of monastic life in Koyasan, Kansai is home to an eclectic collection of attractions and is widely regarded as Japans cultural and historical heartland. Its here you can discover ancient technology and archaeological mysteries in Sakai city, learn about authentic Samurai culture on Himeji's Mount Shosha and delve into delectable culinary delights in Kobe city. Whats more, all five cities are conveniently located near Kyoto, making it easy to step off the beaten track and experience something new.

1. Osaka

The culinary capital of Japan

Kyoto may be the most well-known city in Kansai, however Osaka is the true culinary capital of the region  and while many come to the metropolis for Universal Studios Japan, Osaka has various other locales worth exploring. On the historical side, the city is proudly home to the eight-storey Osaka Castle, one of the most visually spectacular creations in the country with a history dating back some 450 years. Although the keep is a modern reconstruction, much of the other infrastructure is authentic and even houses a fascinating museum about Osaka castle.

2. Kobe

A bustling, cosmopolitan port city

Surrounded by the sea to the South and the Rokko Mountains to the North, Kobe is the capital city of the Hyogo Prefecture and the seventh largest city in Japan. It's also the origin of the world-famous Kobe beef  a delicacy which comes from certificated Hyogo's Tajima breed of Japanese black cattle (which meet quality standards) and is valued for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. To taste this iconic dish, head to Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotels Steak House Oriental which offers carefully selected, seasonal ingredients cooked right in front of you and panoramic views of Kobe's cityscape.

3. Sakai

For ancient technology and archaeological mysteries

Located to the south of Osaka, Sakai rarely pops up on the radars of overseas visitors  and although technically still located within the confines of the same prefecture, Sakai stands in stark contrast to Osaka's neon glow. But you dont know what you are missing as there are a handful of things you can do in the city.

4. Koya

The heart of Shingon Buddhism

While Sakai may be a relative newcomer to the scene, Wakayamas town of Koya is no stranger to inbound tourists. In 816, Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi founded Koyasan on a plateau located within the Kii Mountains as a centre for the study of Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Currently, there are 117 temples in Koyasan, with Kongobu-ji being the head temple, and countless visitors have come to pray at the sacred grounds within Koyasan.

5. Himeji

A time capsule of Samurai culture

Located only half an hour by train to the west of Kobe city, Himeji is best known for its spectacular feudal castle. Often referred to as the white heron castle due to its elegant, white appearance, imposing size and well-preserved castle grounds, this UNESCO World Heritage site and national treasure is widely considered to be the best of Japans 12 remaining strongholds. Unlike many modern reconstructions, the interior hasnt been transformed into a museum and maintains much of its authentic atmosphere. ...continue reading
Japan will ease a near-ban on foreign arrivals this month, gradually allowing in more business travelers and students, Nikkei has learned, as frustration mounts with stringent curbs that have kept people out of the country for as much as two years.

The tougher border controls implemented in late November in response to the omicron coronavirus variant are now set to end March 1 after multiple extensions. Prior to that, the government plans to start accepting more than 1,000 people a day, and gradually raise the cap to several thousand.

Schools and companies will be expected to supervise travelers coming in under their sponsorship, and visitors will be asked to self-isolate after entering the country.

The looser restrictions on business travelers will apply to both short-term business trips and long-term relocation. The government will prioritize researchers and engineers, as well as workers who provide a "public benefit."

Japan had previously begun allowing a handful of government-sponsored foreign students into the country. This broader reopening will give priority to students who cannot graduate without in-person classes in Japan.

Cutting quarantine periods to three days or less from seven days is under consideration. To qualify, travelers, both Japanese and foreign nationals, will have to have received a vaccine booster and have been tested for COVID-19. The government plans to simplify the required paperwork and the screening process.

A decision will be made as early as next week based on how coronavirus cases are trending.
The top diplomats of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India have held talks on ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of the so-called Quad alliance met in Melbourne on Friday.

They agreed to cooperate in the fields of infrastructure development and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, with China's growing influence in the region apparently in mind.

"We agreed to boost maritime security support for Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen their maritime domain awareness and ability to develop their offshore resource, to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to combat challenges such as illegal fishing," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a news conference.

"We were able to reaffirm our mutual commitment to pursue the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and agree to step up practical cooperation," Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said. "This is a meaningful result at an appropriate time."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "We believe that the only way to make that vision reality is to deepen our engagement as allies and partners."

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, "We're keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts."

The foreign ministers also expressed their concerns about Russia's massing of about 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine.

The ministers also agreed to arrange a Quad summit in Japan during the first half of the year.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Belgium has banned a "freedom convoy" protest planned for Feb. 14 in the capital Brussels, authorities said Thursday.

"The Federal Police will check the motorized vehicles on the main axes towards Brussels who come to demonstrate in Belgium. The Region and the City of Brussels will issue orders prohibiting demonstrations with trucks on their territory," read a press release published by the office of Rudi Vervoort, minister-president of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, Vervoort, and Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels, have said they are ready to deploy federal, regional and local resources to prevent a blockade in Brussels.

The first "freedom convoy" was organized in Ottawa in Canada, with truckers blocking the streets of the capital for over a week. They have been protesting mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for people wishing to cross the border to the U.S.

Inspired by the Canadian Freedom Convoy, the European movement is preparing to send convoys to various European capitals, including Paris during this weekend and Brussels, on Feb. 14. 
DANBURY  City leaders expect to grow closer this week to determining the location for the career academy after faltering negotiations with developers threw a wrench into the flagship school project.

Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito was scheduled to meet Thursday with City Council leadership to discuss where to build the middle and high school that would serve 1,400 students.

Well bump questions off of each other, Esposito said Thursday morning before the meeting. Were going to have a list of positives and negatives for each location, and hopefully with their advice, well move forward on one in the near future, the very near future.

The proposal for other sites for the school come a little over a week after Esposito walked away from deliberations with the developer over the purchase of space in the 1.2 million-square-foot building for the school.

Still, he and city leaders have been in touch with the developers and building the school at the Summit remains a possibility.

Theyve made some change in their proposal, and in my mind theyve been positive, Esposito said.

Summit developers agreed talks are improving.

All is well here, Mike Basile, project manager for the Summit, said in a text message in response to a request for comment on the negotiations. I dont have much to add other than weve had productive discussions over the last week.

But the city is also negotiating with another party to build the school on a different property that the mayor declined to name. The city could build another high school by Danbury High School and an addition to Broadview Middle School.

Our goal is to increase space for the school system and were going to do what we have to do to make sure the location is suitable for the staff and students, Esposito said.

School staff have been working to prepare the curriculum to go along with the new school, which would see students at the academy and Danbury High School gaining experience in career fields of their choice.

We are still optimistic, very optimistic that our work, all the work behind the Danbury career academy is still moving forward, Superintendent Kevin Walston told the school board on Wednesday night.

He said his impression is that the school could open on time in fall 2024, regardless of the location. He said he expected to have more answers for the board members at their next meeting.

Weve all been a little anxious about whats next, Walston said. We were all a little surprised by the stall in negotiations and a little confused about what that meant for us moving forward, but weve been assured by the city that a venue is their top priority.

City Council initially approved borrowing $99 million for the project, with Danbury seeking a state grant to cover 80 percent of that cost. But the mayor informed the council last week that cost estimates have increased to $144.5 million. That was when the plan was to build the school at the Summit. The city is still working with the state to earn the grant.

Whats best for the students

Republican Vinny DiGilio, City Council president; Warren Levy, Republican majority leader; Paul Rotello, Democratic minority leader; Jack Knapp, Republican legislative leader; and Fred Visconti, Democratic legislative leader, were expected to attend the Thursday meeting.

The superintendent or representatives from the schools wont be at the meeting, but Esposito said hes received feedback from him.

Hes been involved every step of the way, the mayor said.

Esposito said he hasnt ranked the options.

The mayor hasnt physically met with the Summit developers since last Thursday but has been in constant communication with them. He said he wont schedule another meeting with the Summit or the other party until after hes met with the council leadership.

Its unclear what the next steps would be or when the city could decide on a location.

I dont want to rush this thing, Esposito said.

He said hell get feedback from the council leadership and school officials, but hell ultimately decide what the city should do. That decision would then be subject to counsel approval, he said.

The city will consider construction costs, purchase price and building accessibility as officials look at locations, Esposito said.

In the end, its what's best for the students and what were going to provide for them, and the best possible project we can get for the best possible price, he said.

The academic experience will remain the same, regardless of the location, Walston said.

The team and I, were working very hard to make sure the academic experience is top notch, he said. That is not going to change, but the venue might.
DANBURY  The school boards $152 million plan to increase local spending by 6.2 percent is set to go to the mayor.

The budget proposal matches the superintendents plan and would add 30.5 staff members to address rising enrollment and state graduation requirements. It reflects rising costs in salaries, benefits, health insurance and transportation, among other items.

The challenges that are coming into our classrooms on the heels of the pandemic have created different kinds of needs for our staff, different kinds of needs for our administrators, Superintendent Kevin Walston said at a board workshop earlier this week. So the investments that you see help to keep class size down across the school system and help to ensure we have social emotional support for kids across the school system.

The board unanimously approved the proposal during its Wednesday meeting. After multiple workshops that started last week where they delved into the details, board members had few comments or questions.

This is just one step and just the beginning of a longer process that we will go through, said Rachel Chaleski, school board chair.

The spending plan is 9.2 percent higher than this fiscal years budget, but by using reserves and federal grants, the cost to the taxpayers would increase by 6.2 percent. The district would use $1.12 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds and $3 million in reserves. The district has about $10 million in its reserve fund, said John Spang, chief financial officer.

Mayor Dean Esposito said he and the citys finance director have communicated with the school finance team as the budget was crafted.

He wouldnt say Thursday if he would approve the 6.2 percent increase, but that hes looking for a budget that supports students, without breaking the bank for taxpayers.

The goals are simple for me  that we have to get the best possible scenario for the students and the taxpayers of the city, Esposito said.

A 6.2 percent spending increase would be higher than the school district has seen in at least five years, according to data from the district. Danburys tax rate has stayed flat for the last three years.

David St. Hilaire, the citys finance director, said he should receive the full budget details from the school finance team soon. Theyll need to go over specifics and priorities, he said.

Were going to be hammering all that out at the same time were putting our [city] budget together, St. Hilaire said.

In the third meeting with the mayors office, Walston said they discussed pushing for an increase in state funding to Danbury. Hes said hes been pushing for the state to accelerate its payment to Danbury, but has been told that would mean other school districts would lose a year of funding.

Given our enrollment and declining enrollment across the state of Connecticut, I think someone could lose a payment while we are awarded an escalated payment, Walston said at the meeting.

The districts lobbyist to the state will be at the boards next meeting to discuss issues like this.

He felt confidentially, like if it was going to happen, this would be the year given the surplus in the state with some of the relief funds across the districts and the state of Connecticut, Walston said.

Danbury ranks last in per pupil spending across the state, but has scored better on the states accountability index than other districts that spend more, according to data administrators presented to the board.

Still, Walston said staff have consistently done more with less. Thats getting harder as more students, including those with higher needs, come into Danbury, he said.

We are in need of continued investment to not only continue the success that weve had over these five plus years, but to also continue to make this city an attractive place for families to move to and to live, he told the board Tuesday.
DANBURY  Mirian Rivas worked for more than 20 years in the food industry when her teenage son encouraged her to pursue her interest in manufacturing.

While still working full-time, the Danbury woman took a 10-month course through Naugatuck Valley Community College and earned the skills she needs for her new job at ASML. She is an optical coding and cleaning technician, working with machines that make microchips.

Im really, really proud of what Im doing right now, Rivas said on Friday morning to a crowd of dignitaries inside a new center that will prepare college students for careers in the manufacturing industry. Im helping to change the world.

Rivas helped cut the ribbon on the new Connecticut State Community College Naugatuck Valley Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Western Connecticut State University.

The 3,000-square-foot facility is meant to help meet the demand for manufacturing jobs and fuel this industry in the Danbury area and Connecticut.

This is what the future is really about, said Gov. Ned Lamont, who later touted Connecticuts manufacturing revolution.

The $2.4 million project was funded through state bonds and was a partnership between WestConn and Naugatuck Valley Community College, which has a satellite campus in downtown Danbury.

The center was created within an existing WestConn warehouse behind the parking garage on White Street and features state-of-the-art equipment and technology.

The opening of the center comes amid global supply chain challenges that Lamont said shows how important it is for us to make things right here in the United States of America.

Danbury and this part of the state, we have the wind at our backs because this is what we do, he said. Weve always been the best at doing this.

With the new facility, 24 students may be enrolled in Naugatuck Valley Community Colleges two-semester certificate program where they earn 31 credits, which can be applied to engineering technology or technology studies associate degree programs. Each student can earn an OSHA 10 Certificate and National Institute for Metal Working Skills nationally recognized credential in two semesters.

Among the students in the program is Francesco Ambrosino. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University in New Britain with an exercise science degree, but now works at East Branch Engineering in New Milford.

Once I found this course, it was really eye-opening, said Ambrosino, adding its helped him grow and that the professors have been amazing.

Facility brings opportunities

For the last six years, Naugatuck Valley students have used space at Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury for their classes. Thats where Rivas took her courses and where her son attended high school, which inspired her to pursue manufacturing.

But she said the new center is a major step up from the space where she studied. All the machines are new, and each student has access to computers for programming, she said.

Its wonderful, really, really wonderful, said Rivas, who immigrated to the United States 25 years ago and has three adult children. She earned a scholarship from Linde Manufacturing to take the course.

The facility helps to debunk some of the misconceptions about manufacturing that may dissuade some from pursuing the field, said Lisa Dresdner, campus CEO at Naugatuck Valley.

Look at the natural light coming through the windows, look at the calming blue walls, clean floor, clean machines, the fact that you do not see dust particles hanging in the air, she said. Were a long way from the old days of manufacturing.

About 12 students moved into the space in January, but the facility has the capacity for 24, Dresdner said. The 12 students will graduate from the program in May.

The program could grow to 72 graduates per year with day and weekend cohorts planned.

There are 21 manufacturing companies in the area that partner with Naugatuck Valleys Danbury and Waterbury Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center programs, where students are placed in internships.

About 95 percent of graduates are placed in full-time jobs with the potential average starting salary for a machine operator ranging between $18 to $22 an hour, according to data from the governors office.

Our students are driven by the opportunities of this industry, Dresdner said.

When the governor tries to convince businesses to move to Connecticut, they ask about workforce.

Theyre going to locate where they make sure they have the people who can do the skill, Lamont said. And that's what this is all about, look no further, stay right here in Danbury, stay right here in Connecticut.
LONDON - Prince Charles tested positive for the coronavirus and went into isolation on Thursday, prompting far less alarm than when he had the virus early in the pandemic, but there was concern that the heir to the British throne had been in contact with his 95-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

A palace official said that Charles recently met with Elizabeth, but that she was not showing any symptoms. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private medical matter, did not indicate whether the queen had tested positive or negative for the virus but said her health would continue to be monitored closely.

It was also not clear exactly when the two met. But the palace said on Monday that the queen had returned to Windsor Castle, her main residence. Charles was at Windsor on Tuesday, when he hosted an investiture ceremony and handed out awards.

Charles's office, Clarence House, said in a tweet Thursday that the 73-year-old was isolating and disappointed that he was not able to attend a scheduled event. According to England's current rules, the prince must isolate for 10 days, unless he tests positive on day five and six. But those rules may be dropped later this month, as the British government adopts a policy of "living with the virus."

Charles' wife, Camilla, tested negative for the virus, according to a Clarence House spokeswoman.

Unlike the first time Charles was infected, Clarence House did not mention any symptoms but simply said that he looked forward to rescheduling his events as soon as possible. Charles has received three vaccinations, his office said.

That made for a very different announcement than when he was infected in March 2020 - before vaccines or treatments, and when the virus tended to be more severe.

The queen has had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The palace does not normally comment on private medical matters involving the monarch, but in an unusual move in January 2021, it did confirm that she had received her first shot.

The queen recently reached her platinum jubilee - or 70 years on the throne - and was filmed meeting charity workers at her Sandringham House residence on Saturday.

- - -

The Washington Post's Maite Fernandez in Washington contributed to this report.
ANKARA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed 29 members of Syria's Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Friday.

A total of 28 YPG members who attempted to attack the Operation Euphrates Shield zone and one YPG fighter trying to attack the Operation Peace Spring region were "neutralized," the ministry said in a written statement.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to mean militants are killed, wounded or captured in security operations.

Turkish forces and the YPG members often exchange fire on the Syrian border, but the tension has increased in the region since early January when three Turkish soldiers were killed there.

The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019 and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria, in an alleged bid to eliminate terror threats against Turkey and provide a safe zone that will facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homes. 
Its brick and limestone facade and sprawling grounds invoke the features of a castle. While the home on 544 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan might not be royal structure, it did have some notable residents  and a room inspired by a real-life castle.

Listed for $16.9 million, the New Canaan home was designed by New York architect William B. Tubby, the architect behind the towns Waveny House, as well as Dunnellen Hall in Greenwich and the William H. Childs House in Brooklyns Prospect Park. According to managing broker Danielle Malloy, Tubby built the Oenoke Ridge property for the Taggart family, the chief counsel for the Rockefellers. The Taggarts were the first of four families to own the property.

The second family in the 70s was the mayor of Mexico City, billionaire Carlos Hank [Gonzalez], who bought the house to raise his two kids in New Canaan she said. Theres this big beautiful stone wall around the property that he built in the 80s that you could never build again today. Its about 9 feet high and 1,500 feet wide, which he did for privacy and security at the time.

By the late 1990s, Malloy said another owner purchased the home and brought in New Canaan-based architect Dinyar Wadia to lead an $8 million renovation and addition project, which added another 9,000 square feet to the home. The current owners purchased the property in 2014 and enlisted Wadia again.

They wanted to preserve the integrity of the house, she said. They spent three years and $6.5 million extensively renovating and reconstructing and almost rebuilding some parts. Its a Tudor-style home, but they wanted to have more of an Elizabethan era-type home, where its more cultural and artistic with an English Renaissance architectural vibe to it.

Nest Seekers International Greenwich / Contributed Photo

One of the features that stands out to Malloy is the great room, which was inspired by a real-life Scottish castle.

The owner loved the design of Duart Castle in Scotland, which is featured in the movie, Entrapment, she said. So they designed it based off that room in the castle, but it has these gorgeous 35-foot ceilings and this very rare Tunisian marble flooring thats all heated.

The great room is one part of the 35-room estate, which has 25,000 square feet of living space, 12 bedrooms and 12 full bathrooms. Theres also a four-bedroom guest house on the over 6-acre property. According to Malloy, each room in the home has its own little personality and history, due to the attention to detail throughout.

All of the woodwork was all hand-carved in most of the rooms, she said. The molding and ornamental plaster work was all imported from the same plaster house that designed the Windsor Castle.

Nest Seekers International Greenwich / Contributed Photo Nest Seekers International Greenwich / Contributed Photo Nest Seekers International Greenwich / Contributed Photo Details part of the home on 544 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. Nest Seekers International Greenwich / Contributed Photos

With all of these unique features part of the property, Malloy said the home is getting both local and far-flung attention.

A lot of buyers from China are really coming into the area, which has been a trend Ive seen, she said. Im also seeing a lot of families from down south, like Del Ray or Boca Raton.

For Malloy, the interest in the house matches both its history and its grandeur.

Its such an iconic property, she said. Its the crown jewel of New Canaan.

With its unique details attracting attention from near and far, Malloy said they make the home hard to replicate elsewhere.

Dinyar Wadia had said that couldnt even rebuild this house, Malloy recalled. The house alone would cost you $25 million just to rebuild, but you cant even get some of these things that were imported anymore. Theres a French Renaissance fireplace mantel, and you just cant get these things again.

Another unique feature part of the property: the 5,000 square-foot wellness center that houses a yoga studio, gym, massage therapy rooms and sauna, along with a pool house and kitchen. Theres also a cottage that contains a full bar, living room and bathroom. Malloy said the current owners use all of these spaces for hosting private events and fundraisers, with the terrace holding 100 people at once for one of these events. There is also a movie theater room, observation deck, billiard room and a library inside the main house.
The 25% tuition bursary program provides financial relief to refugees hoping to obtain or upgrade their education. This bursary will help cover costs of dozens of career diploma programs across 20+ campuses in Canada. Available to all refugees across Canada, the program will run until the end of 2022.

Jawed is one such refugee who hopes to build his life and career in Canada and is one of the first recipients of the 25% tuition bursary. Jawed enrolled in the Web and Mobile Application Development at CDI College and has enjoyed the experience so far.

Six months ago, Jawed lived in Afghanistan with his wife and three children. Now, they call Calgary, Alberta home. They are some of the thousands of Afghan refugees that have arrived in Canada since last August.

"I got admitted [to] the Web and Mobile Application Development program and I am looking forward to a career in [technology]," says Jawed. "There is a very good program of scholarships which helps you with your financial status."



He also encourages other refugees to consider enrolling in their own program of choice, noting that an education is essential to securing a good job in Canada.

"CDI will help with employment as well, so I'm encouraging all the refugees who have come over here tostart studying over here with the wonderful staff and instructors."

The support available goes beyond the curriculum of the classroom. Refugees will have access to academic English classes prior to joining the career program, as well as specialized job placement and career services after graduation. CDI College has also ensured that refugees are aware of the provincial and federal funding that's available to them, in addition to the scholarship program.



CDI College

Over the last 50 years, CDI College has been transforming lives through education and driven students to building their careers. As one of Canada's premier career-training providers, we offer robust, market-driven programs that focus on helping our students develop the skills that leading employers demand in the business, technology, and health care industries.

SOURCE CDI College

For further information: Program Contact: Najib Raie, Senior Director, Business and Strategy, [email protected], 604-915-7288 x2262; Media Contact: Melissa Davis, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, 604-915-7288 x2126, [email protected]
PM Modi said, "Our government stands with 'Har Mazloom (every person who has faced injustice)'. Those people (Opposition parties) are trying to trick Muslim sisters to push them back in their lives."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government stands with Har Mazloom (victim of injustice) Addressing a public rally in Saharanpur, PM Modi said, Our government stands with Har Mazloom (every person who has faced injustice). Those people (Opposition parties) are trying to trick Muslim sisters to push them back in their lives. He further said that the BJP government has freed the Muslim sisters and daughters from the menace of triple talaq.

Muslim sisters and daughters understand our clear intentions. We made them free of Triple Talaq, and gave them protection. When the BJP received support from the Muslim women, these vote-thekedaar (contractors) got restless, seeing that their daughters were chanting Modi-Modi Theyre trying to trick Muslim sisters again, he added.

Prime Minister took a dig at Opposition parties over dynasty politics, cautioning people from trusting their tall claims.

A whole parivaar-vaad party is making fake promises to the people of UP Remember if someone promises big, they are usually empty, and irresponsible. They promised electricity, but kept UP in dark and illuminated their residing district only, leaving Saharanpur and others to fend for themselves, said PM Modi.

Earlier governments had no vision because of parivar-vaad. They could not see or think beyond family. They did not worry about you but only ran everything via mafias. We bring permanent solutions and want every citizen to live with self-respect, he added. He also referred to riots in Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur and labelled the Samajwadi Party as dangawadi (rioters).

Dont think for a moment that these dangawadis have reformed. They are just waiting for a chance. The rioters of Saharanpur were welcomed by these mafia-like people. Across western UP, they are backing rioters. These people want to take revenge against the people of UP. Those who were cursing rioters earlier are now standing with the same rioters, PM Modi said.,Voting for the first phase of state assembly elections on 58 seats is underway, and 623 candidates are in the fray.
A bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi of the High Court said that it will pass an order directing the reopening of colleges and asked students not to insist on wearing religious things till the disposal of the matter.

Karnataka High Court, after the hearing of petitions challenging the ban on hijab in colleges, on Thursday asked students not to wear religious things till the disposal of the matter. A bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi of the High Court said that it will pass an order directing the reopening of colleges and asked students not to insist on wearing religious things till the disposal of the matter. Peace and tranquility must be restored, the court said while adjourning the matter for Monday.

Yesterday, a single bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit of High Court had referred the petitions filed by Muslim girl students to a larger bench while observing that important questions relating to Constitutional rights and personal law are involved. The Hijab protests in the state began in January this year when some students at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka alleged that they had been barred from attending classes. During the protests, some students claimed they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab.

Following this incident, students of different colleges arrived at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura wearing saffron stoles. The situation was the same in several colleges in the Udipi district. The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

Following these protests, a three-day holiday from February 9 has been declared in all the universities under the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE).

On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court also appealed to the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity while hearing various pleas challenging a ban on hijab in the state.
In late April 1991,ShabanWakil, Editor in Chief of prominent Urdu daily AI-Safa was brutally gunned downed in his office by Pakistani sponsored terrorists. ShabanWakil had been critical of the terrorists who had unleashed an atmosphere of fear and terror in Kashmir since the eruptionof terrorism in 1989. In following years, many other journalists, intellectuals, teachers, politicians, religious leaders and social workers met the same fate. Pakistan was successful in silencing the saner nationalistic voices within the valley. The intimidation and coercion of Kashmir society in favour of separatism by and large was near complete.

As a result, most of the media houses and their associated journalists became the mouth pieces of Pakistani backed terror organizations. From press notes to hit lists, they would carry all dictates of these terror organisations with little to no resistance. It ushered in an era of reporting which would ignore any or all atrocities committed by these terror organisations. The brutal killings, rapes, extortion, kidnappings, disappearance of common people carried out by the terrorists were met with near total silence. In turn, what it paved way for was the depiction of the state as the only instrument of violence and atrocities. Thus started the inception of Single Story Syndrome wherein any violence or criminal act committed in the Valley was either justified in the name of the state or attributed to it. Many years down the line, this syndrome still plagues the media fraternity in the Valley. The new media houses which emerged during this period quickly adjusted to this operating module. Proximity to separatist organizations became a norm for most of these media men. They would throng the offices of these organisations and take dictates to publish it accordingly. Some entered directly into business partnerships with the separatist leaders while others got paid hefty sums of money to propagate the separatist ideology. Soon a thriving economic model of conflict benefactors from the raging conflict emerged.

With the re-emergence of mainstream politics in the Valley, these media men, who had by then established themselves well within the society donned the role of middle men between the main stream and these paratist parties. From negotiating on issues pertaining to security and managing unstable peace, to doling out contracts and securing jobs for the kith and kin of the separatist leaders, as they would frequently hold the state to ransom, these men indulged in every activity which was detrimental to welfare of the state and society. The nexus between the mainstream and separatist parties to jointly manage the irrespective spaces gave complete sanctity to the conflict economy.

As the single story of anti-India sentiment became a daily occurrence in media and public discourses, the budding generation of journalists were overwhelmingly influenced by the separatist narrative carried the mantle of Pakistani propaganda forward. They projected India as the Goliath of all problems and them as David staked with slaying the Goliath. These journalists actually were activists of Pakistani propaganda machinery. As New Delhi scrambled to restore peace and normalcy in the Valley, the policy of accommodating dissenting voices further normalised sedition as a daily discourse. This also provided the successive state governments with an excuse of accommodating the separatist voices within all spheres.

Kashmir witnessed unprecedented corruption during this turmoil from both ends. While a certain section of society wielded unaccounted mass of wealth, the common Kashmiri silently suffered on all ends. From gifting of government jobs to the rise of private contractors, to providing scholarships, the state and non-state benefactors ruled roost. The common Kashmiri bee lined behind these conflict entrepreneurs to scavenge some space and a somewhat decent living for himself. This ecosystem became so vicious that it destroyed the basic ethos of the society.

The allegations of rampant corruption among the top echelons of power,favouritism, nepotism, seeking state accountability on good governance, hardlyfound space in most media publications. When corruption and malpractice casesof large magnitude came to the fore, silent deals were stuck to hush up thestories. Another predominant narrative to hush up the malpractices corruption among the separatists was also built. Since so called Azadi was theonly objective supposedly for the Pakistani backed separatist leaders, under thegarb of this so called Azadi slogan every wrong doing of theirs was swept underthe carpet. The popular narrative for this criminal silence percolated was, that ithurts the larger goal of achieving this so called Azadi as it discredits these self-styled leaders in theunabatedly.

Thereof, every attempt was made to malign the reputation of those journalists who had the courage to stand up against this thievery. They were labelled as Stooges and collaborators of the Indian system and its agencies. Same was the case for Jammu and Kashmir police. Any officer who would stand against this ecosystem was either transferred to a less significant posting or maligned by the labelling narrative. Any this was managed behind the scenes by the same conflict entrepreneurs who were the supposed ball joints of mainstream-separatist ecosystem.

Finally New Delhi realised the failure of its previous policy and immediately started rectifying it. After the abrogation of article 370, crackdown on conflict entrepreneurs to break the back of conflict economy which fuels the deadly cycle of terrorism was initiated. The separatists who were propagators of seditious narratives were rightly jailed as per law. The Pakistani agenda of spreading disinformation and misinformation through its mouth pieces in the valley were stopped. Many Pakistani propaganda activists masquerading as journalists were arrested. The course correction to set up the ground for ushering stable peace in and Kashmir has begun, but the remaining ecosystem of conflict entrepreneurs is still working to disrupt the peace. Complete dismantling of this ecosystem is imperative to sow seeds for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and is the need of an hour.
As per sources, the woman's mother attempted to immolate in front of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's vehicle in Lucknow on January 25.

In a disturbing revelation, the body of a girl who had been missing for two months was unearthed on Thursday in late SP leader Fateh Bahadur Singhs son Rajol Singhs land in Unnao, in a disturbing revelation. After the deceaseds family filed a FIR on December 8, Singh was accused of kidnapping the 22-year-old woman from Unnao. The deceaseds body is currently being postmortemed by the police for additional identification.

Unnao, UP: Police recovers dead body of a missing woman from plot allegedly owned by the accused



"FIR was registered on Dec 8 and the accused was later arrested. Following investigation, the dead body was recovered. The post mortem will be done," says ASP Shashi Shekhar Singh https://t.co/zd1Lzvmd5i pic.twitter.com/ewZ2WoGxmL  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 10, 2022

According to the authorities, the accused summoned the victim to Ashram, where he reportedly strangled her. The body was then covered in a blanket before being buried in a septic tank. Rajol Singh was probed for eight hours by UP police on February 4, at which time he disclosed his accomplice, Suraj. Suraj has been apprehended by the police now.

As per sources, the womans mother attempted to immolate in front of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs vehicle in Lucknow on January 25. She claimed that the police did not conduct an investigation 50 days after Rajol Singh took her daughter. Despite the fact that a FIR had been lodged, she stated that her daughter remained in Rajol Singhs custody.

Meanwhile, BSF chief Mayawati backed the victims parents accusations against the SP leader and urged the authorities to act, saying that the perpetrators must face severe legal consequences in order to provide justice to the victims family. Anurag Thakur, Union Minister, has stated that the police will ensure that peace and order are maintained in such instances.
Addressing the matter, the blockades were once again labelled "unacceptable" by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said he was working with authorities throughout the nation to put an end to them.

Truckers in other nations have begun staging their own versions of the Freedom Convoy following the lead of thousands of Canadian truckers protesting against Covid-19 vaccination mandates in Ottawa. Truckers are taking to the road from Leeuwarden, Netherlands to Wellington, New Zealand, to London, England, and Canberra, Australia, to send one message in common- end the vaccine mandates.

A group of truckers in the United States is organizing a protest by traveling to the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Joining the ranks of Canadian truckers, French demonstrators also set off from southern France on Wednesday in a freedom convoy that would converge on Paris and Brussels, the European Unions headquarters, to seek an end to Covid-19 restrictions. New Zealand truckers are said to have formed a convoy from both ends of the country. One group left on Sunday from the North Island, while the other will leave from the South Island, with both groups meeting in Wellington, the countrys capital.

Yesterday, the protesters shut down another US border crossing. The border blockades have already had an impact on businesses, with the crucial Ambassador Bridge between Ontario and Detroit being shut down for several days and major automakers being forced to reduce output at many sites as a result. One crossing in Albertas western region has been stopped for days, while protestors shut down another in central Manitoba on Thursday.

Meanwhile, truckers in the United Kingdom are planning a series of protests around the country. According to the sources, a Freedom Convoy will begin in a Glasgow suburb, travel to Edinburgh, Scotlands capital, and then to London. In the United Kingdom, Freedom Convoys will depart from Llandudno, Cheshire Oaks, and Cardiff in Wales. Manchester, Exeter, Bristol, and Bournemouth are the four meeting sites for convoys in England. Protesters will also drive from Northern Ireland to Ireland, from Belfast to Dublin.

Addressing the matter, the blockades were once again labelled unacceptable by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said he was working with authorities throughout the nation to put an end to them. This is wreaking havoc on communities across Canada, Trudeau warned. The PM briefed the leaders of the opposition parties on the present situation in the nation on Thursday, calling for an end to the blockades created by the Freedom Convoy 2022 demonstration.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Police Service announced on Thursday that 25 persons have been detained and 1,775 tickets have been issued to put a halt to the illegal rallies in downtown areas. Since the demonstrations began, police have responded to roughly 1,000 requests for service related to them, and they continue to prohibit people from delivering fuel and other material assistance to protestors, according to an Ottawa police statement.
US President Joe Biden warned Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately amid tensions between Moscow and Kiev, saying that sending US troops for an evacuation would mean world war. American citizens should leave now, Biden said during an interview with NBC News. Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly, he said, according to NBC News.

Asked about what scenario would require US troops to enter Ukraine to evacuate Americans, Biden responded: Theres not. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. Meanwhile, the US State Department has issued a new advisory urging Americans in Ukraine to leave the country at the earliest possibility, strengthening earlier warnings that urged its citizens to consider such action.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19; those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action. Some areas have increased risk, the advisory said on Thursday (local time).

On January 23, the State Department authorized the evacuation of US diplomats family members and of direct-hire employees. The State Department also recommended that US citizens who were present in Ukraine should consider departing right away due to the unpredictable security situation. Meanwhile, the first group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Poland on February 5 following Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirbys announcement about 1,700 additional troops from the United States to be sent to the country, Polish media reported.

Earlier, Kirby said that the US will temporarily deploy additional forces to Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia. The deployment includes 1,700 soldiers to be sent to Poland and 1,000 US personnel based in Germany will be relocated to Romania and another 8,500 troops will remain ready to move if called for the NATO response force, Kirby had said.
OTTAWA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ottawa Police Service said Thursday that police have arrested 25 people and issued 1,775 tickets to put an end to the unlawful demonstrations in the downtown areas.

Police have responded to nearly 1,000 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began and continue to prevent people from supplying fuel and other material supports to demonstrators, the Ottawa police said in a statement.

The Ottawa police on Wednesday delivered a message to demonstrators highlighting that it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property. There are currently 126 active criminal offence investigations in connection to the demonstrations, according to the police.

The "Freedom Convoy 2022" protest began on Jan. 29 as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the United States be fully vaccinated as of mid-January. 
ORANGE  A leading retail consultant says New Haven County could be getting its first Amazon Fresh grocery store, based on indicators he has seen before as the e-commerce giant has rolled out its stores across the country.

Its still only well-informed speculation at this point, but Burt Flickinger, managing director of New York City-based Strategic Resource Group, said Orange officials recent approval of site plans for vacant space in the shopping plaza at 538 Boston Post Road has all the hallmarks of an Amazon Fresh rollout.

Im very familiar with for their site location and this checks off all the boxes, Flickinger said Friday.

The plaza, owned by furniture and bedding retailer Raymour & Flanigan, has vacant space because of the departure of TJMaxx and Famous Footwear.

Scott Milnamow, senior vice president of real estate for Raymour & Flanigan, recently told the members of the Town Plan and Zoning Commission that the retailers real estate team has secured a deal, a lease for a national grocery store. Milnamow said he couldnt reveal the name of the chain because of a confidentiality agreement with the retailer.

Flickinger said that whenever they can, Amazon Fresh likes to locate its stores as close as possible to a Trader Joes, or a Costco or a BJs.

Trader Joes has a store in the Orange Meadows Shopping Center across Peck Lane from the shopping plaza that Raymour & Flanigan owns. And there is a Costco less than a mile south on Boston Post Road.

Slightly farther south on Boston Post Road, just across the border in Milford, is Whole Foods, another retailer in Amazons burgeoning grocery empire. And farther north on Boston Post Road, near the West Haven line, is an Amazon warehouse.

Flickinger said Amazon Fresh has employed a similar strategy in stores it has opened in a suburb west of Chicago, where the chain already has one store and is in the process of opening a second.

Demographically speaking, Orange would be a great location, Flickinger said. Amazon Fresh is always looking for well-heeled areas to serve.

The average annual income within a 3-mile radius of the Orange Meadows Shopping Center is $117,835, according to the Greenwich-based Urstadt Biddle Properties, which owns the retail center.

But Flickinger said because Interstate 95 runs through Orange, Amazon Fresh could be a much wider draw, from families headed off to vacation or coming back from one, as well as for daily commuters. He said Amazon Fresh will open between six and eight locations in Connecticut initially.

Amazon has been scouting for locations in Connecticut since 2019, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Advertisements have been showing up on Google searches in the past two days indicating that Amazon Fresh is hiring. But a company spokeswoman, Laura Hayes, said the advertisements arent really accurate sources of information for our jobs.

The best way to find new Amazon Fresh jobs is on our own website, Hayes said.

But Amazon has been notoriously secretive as it has expanded its distribution facilities in Connecticut.

Brookfield First Selectman Stephen Dunn told radio station WRKI last June that Amazon Fresh was coming to the town. And in April 2021, Bloomberg News reported that plans available in Brookfields Town Hall showed features that only Amazon Fresh has been using.

Amazon Fresh also has been secretive about whether it plans to open in Westport. The chains website lists no Connecticut stores currently and Dunn was not immediately available Friday to comment on whether Amazon Fresh has opened in the Candlewood Shopping Center yet.

Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said his office could not comment, citing the confidentiality agreement that Raymour & Flanigan has with its new tenant.

David Cadden, a professor emeritus at Quinnipiac Universitys School of Business, said the companys secrecy probably can be traced back to early 2019 when plans to build a second Amazon headquarters in Queens, N.Y., was scuttled by public opposition.

They have probably been pretty gun-shy about revealing their plans since that got torpedoed, Cadden said. That opposition came up pretty quickly.

Flickinger said two other factors behind Amazons secrecy concerns may be about labor unions launching organizing efforts in advance of store openings as well as competitors swooping in and beating them to the best sites.

They dont want Aldi to beat them to the punch, he said.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN >> Fair Havens Old Barge, possibly the one remaining connection to Americas mid-19th century booming oyster industry in New York, is going home.

The vessel, which began life as a working oyster barge on the East River in Brooklyn when the industry was selling 6 million of the mollusks a week, has been on the shore of the Quinnipiac River at 289 Front St. since around 1921.

Alex Pincus and his brother, Miles, of the Maritime Foundation, are having the barge disassembled over the next few weeks and trucked to the Atlantic Basin, a marina in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, where they hope it eventually will be restored and begin a new era.

There are no decisions on what that new chapter might be, but the brothers already have restored a 1942 Grand Banks all-wooden schooner, the Sherman Zwicker, at the Hudson River Parks Pier 25 where they opened an outdoor oyster bar on the deck.

The name of the bar-restaurant: Grand Banks.

This is a source of revenue to make the schooner, which traveled the Eastern Seaboard fishing cod, a self-sustaining example of maritine history for a new generation to experience.

Alex Pincus, an architect with a love of boats, said the moving costs to Brooklyn are in the area of $25,000, while full restoration is around $500,000, necessitating a lot of private fundraising.

Miles Pincus, the younger brother, who has a masters in maritime science, is president of the nonprofit Maritime Foundation, while Alex is the vice president.

We have been doing boating stuff from New York for the last ten years, Alex Pincus said. He said Miles rebuilt the biggest passenger sailboat in U.S. The Clipper City is at the South Street Seaport in New York.

The old barge, possibly 76 years old by the time it arrived in New Haven, evolved into a full-service speakeasy during Prohibition, with accommodations for a brothel upstairs.

Starting in the early 1970s, New Haveners mainly remember it as the Old Barge Cafe, a storied watering hole run by John Tsilfoglou, who bought the Fair Haven Marina where the barge had landed some 50 years before on Front Street.

He closed that out in 1987 with no patrons at the bar for almost 30 years.

Preserving the Old Barge and finding the best home for it has always been the goal of its latest owner, Lisa Fitch, who took on that responsibility in 2007 after buying the property and renaming it the Quinnipiac River Marina.

I think the destination is a positive one. It gives it justice, historical justice, Fitch said of the Pincus brothers plan.

She said she managed to ignore the advice of family and friends for the past eight years to junk it, hoping a solution on how to preserve it would come along.

Its a love match, with Fitch giving the barge to the care of the brothers at no cost.

There were many lovers of all things marine Monday to welcome the Pincus brothers and take another tour of the Old Barge.

Robert Greenberg, a New Haven history buff, has already rescued many examples of 1920s bottles that were found in the hull, as well as pieces of pottery and rusted components of a Model T car that he said was on the site.

Greenberg has a favorite place he wants to see the Old Barge call home: the Brooklyn Bridge Park. I think that would be a fabulous location, he said.

The Maritime Foundation, though a spokesman, agreed that that would be one of their first choices, but they dont want to rule out any options at this point.

Greenberg said the Old Barge was built anywhere between the 1840s and 50s. By the early 20th century, the oyster industry was defunct, when some blamed it for a cholera outbreak. It went from 6 million eaten a week, to zero.

It was the hot dog of its day, said preservationist Ken Karl of the popular 18th century food.

John Kochiss, a retired Mystic Seaport researcher, was the first to realize the significance of the barge almost four decades ago. He tried to get the seaport to take it on as a project, but his brother, Joseph Kochiss, said it didnt have the money.

Oyster barges, which are two-stories tall, have hulls that slant inward.

Joseph Kochiss, called it a tumble design, which makes it look like a miniature Noahs ark.

On the East River, the barges were nestled tightly next to each other. The bowed sides kept them from being damaged when the water got rough.

The barges operated by receiving the oysters at one end of the lower level, where there also was a shucking room. A gangplank at the other end allowed customers to come in and purchase the oysters.

The product could be stored in the lowest part of the barge, where they would stay cool in the summer and not freeze in the winter.

Houses along Front Street in New Haven and some cross-streets had cellars that opened to the street, where workers would shuck the mollusks.

Originally, three of the barges were brought to the Quinnipiac River in the 1920s, but the other two were scuttled and their remains can be seen in the river.

The Quinnipiac River Marina will soon be for sale; Fitch expects it will be on the market next month with a $2.95 million asking price.

In the meantime, Fitch said once the barge is moved and the area is cleaned up, by June she hopes to lease an area to a rowing club that will later be part of the citys boathouse project at Long Wharf.

That project wont be finished until 2017, so Fitch offered her services to fill the gap.

The Long Wharf boathouse is being underwritten by the state as mitigation for demolishing the Yale Boathouse that was lost as part of the expansion of the Pearl Harbor Bridge.
Hearst Connecticut Media

WEST HAVEN  A state-funded audit into the citys finances and financial processes is slightly behind schedule after the city was unable to provide auditors with all the requested information before the end of January.

After former Democratic state Rep. Michael DiMassa was arrested by federal authorities and charged with wire fraud, accused of shifting $636,000 in federal pandemic relief funding into a shell company, the state Office of Policy and Management ordered a forensic audit. OPM Sec. Melissa McCaw said the city would have to comply with auditors and provide all requested information prior to Feb. 1 to avoid having auditors hired by the state from CohnReznick overlapping with auditors hired by the city for a required annual audit.
NEW HAVEN  In its first 100 days serving Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, Avelo Airlines has spurred the creation of 100 new jobs at more than $20 million in local economic impact, with additional destinations coming soon, Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said.

During the next few months, the airline plans to double both the size of its fleet in New Haven  to six airplanes  and the amount of local people it employs to more than 200, as it adds several new routes, the first two of which will be to non-Florida destinations, Avelos spokesman said Friday.

Were grateful and were honored to be part of this resurgence of Tweed New Haven, Avelo spokesman Jim Olson said at a press conference marking Avelos first 100 days serving Tweed as its first East Coast base.

What Im really excited about is the fact that in the near future, well going to be adding several new destinations ... and as much as we love Florida, these destinations are going to be to places other than Florida, he said.

Were very pleased with the initial 100 days, Olson said.

During Avelos first three months of service, it flew nearly 70,000 customers on nearly 600 flights to and from New Haven, Levy said.

Avelo began flying from Tweed Nov. 3.

For me, the last 100 days have been a bit surreal, said Sean Scanlon, executive director of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority. There is excitement at the thought of what Avelo might do to serve area travelers in the next few months, he said.

These flights have mean so much to people, he said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pointed out that $1 million in federal funds are coming to Tweed as part of a total of $12.5 million earmarked for aviation in Connecticut as part of the federal governments infrastructure program. He hailed the recent activity at Tweed.

This airport was given up for dead ... until the vital investment led by Avelo and its partners, Blumenthal said. Its a great thing to give area travelers the option to fly locally, to park easily and to have decent rates to fly from somewhere so nearby, he said.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, called Avelos first 100 days at Tweed a success story all the way around and pointed out that Avelo was one of only two new airlines that began operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The other, Breeze, serves Bradley International Airport.)

Mayor Justin Elicker said the changes taking place at Tweed, including the arrival of Avelo and airport operator Avports proposal to build a new terminal and extend the effective length of the runway, have eliminated a $1 million annual city subsidy.

Avelo hired more than 100 people and now theyre going to hire 100 more, Elicker said. Thats a big deal for our communities. He said he was looking forward to hearing about the additional destinations.

City Economic Development Director Mike Piscitelli said whats happening at Tweed is part of a good trajectory here in New Haven. Avelo establishing an East Coast base at Tweed will help us grow in the future.

East Haven Mayor Joe Carfora did not attend the press conference but said in an email, Since plans to expand Tweed New Haven were first announced nearly a year ago, I have been crystal clear that our community needs to be treated as a partner; that any growth must be done with the protections in place; and, if there is job creation, East Haven residents need to be direct beneficiaries.

While there is still much work ahead; studies to be completed, reviewed, and then approved, todays news by Avelo is a positive sign that progress at Tweed can benefit our community, Carfora said. It is clear that the region is enjoying new direct flights to Florida. We have also been provided information that our residents are being exposed to new job opportunities.

With that being said, I will continue to ensure that changes to Tweed that impact East Haven are only undertaken after the proper analysis is completed and if East Haven continues to be a partner at the table, he said.

Avelo currently operates three 147-seat Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft at Tweed. The airline will be adding three more planes in the coming months, Levy said.

He would not say which other cities Avelo will fly to from Tweed, which uses the booking symbol HVN. But a representative of Rex Development, Barbara Malmberg, told the East Haven Economic Development Commission earlier this week that Avelo soon will announce service to a Midwest destination.

Avelo has hired 109 New Haven-based crew members, including flight attendants, pilots, airport customer service representatives and operations-related roles, as well as managers and supervisors, the airline said in a release. It plans to hire at least 100 additional Tweed-based crew members by the end of 2022.

Im very pleased with the initial response to Avelos arrival at HVN, said Levy, who did not attend the press conference but spoke on the phone a day earlier. HVNs unrivaled convenience paired with Avelos exceptional reliability and affordability have made our airline an appealing choice for folks from across the region.

We look forward to continuing to invest in our team, this community and the state as we add more destinations, more airplanes and more Crewmembers in the months ahead, Levy said in the release.

Olson introduced two crew members at the press conference: Base Manager Isaac Naylor and Flight Attendant Kristine Jermaine.

Naylor, who lives in Hartford but is looking to move to Greater New Haven, said Avelos first 100 days at Tweed has been a fun ride ... Were going to continue to grow with New Haven.

Jermain, who lives in Wallingford, said the move to Avelo also meant a change of careers for her after some hardships earlier during the pandemic.

Since beginning, I found that I absolutely love this job. To me, its does not feel like Im even going to work. ... I am thrilled to be able to see what the next 100 days will hold.

To celebrate the 100-day milestone, Avelo is offering a $49 one-way fare between Tweed and its six Florida destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota / Bradenton, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Avelo said in the release. The fare is available at AveloAir.com.

We have known for nearly two decades that expanding and modernizing Tweed could be accomplished in a responsible manner and with a positive economic impact on New Haven, said Elicker. Over the past 100 days, Avelo Airlines is showing just how accurate those projections were, he said.

While Avelo has experienced some weather-related cancellations and redirected flights both in December and January and earlier this month  plus one flight that had to land at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks because of a possible bird strike  Levy said hes satisfied with Avelos realiability so far.

Despite the historic severe winter weather that pummeled the Northeast in January, Avelo has achieved an impressive level of reliability during its first three months of operations, the airline said in the release. When excluding weather-related cancellations outside Avelos control, the airline achieved a cancellation rate of less 1 percent between November and January.

Avelos on-time arrival rate between November and January was more than 80 percent after excluding weather-related delays outside the airlines control, it said.

Avelo is investing $1.2 million to help upgrade and modernize facilities and operations as part of an overall $100 million project at Tweed. The expansion, which airport operator Avports LLC is financing, will include a new terminal on the East Haven side of the airport and an extended runway.

Once the new terminal is compete, the runway has been expanded and the additional jobs have been added, the economic impact to the region has been forecasted to be over $275 million, Avelo said.

Avelo, which also offers service on the West Coast to and from Los Angeles Hollywood Burbank Airport, currently serves 18 destinations across the U.S. It has committed to adding nine additional 737 NGs in 2022. It plans to double its network from 18 to at least 40 destinations by the end of this year, the release stated.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
New Haven Police Department

NEW HAVEN  A city teacher arrested earlier this month after allegedly pulling a students hair remains on leave, according to the school district.

Jennifer Wells-Jackson, 49, was arrested Feb. 2 and charged with risk of injury to a minor and second-degree breach of peace, Officer Scott Shumway said in a previous email.
SHELTON  Panera Bread will soon be reopening in Fountain Square, according to the sites contractor.

Daniel Witkins, Sr., of DFW Building Co., who has been the construction manager for the Fountain Square project, confirmed Wednesday that the eatery is scheduled to open in mid-April on the site located at 801 Bridgeport Ave.

Panera Bread had been at 850 Bridgeport Ave., the center with Staples and Dominos Pizza, until closing at the end of last year. Panera had long been known to be opening at 19.1-acre site, where it will now feature a drive thru.

The Planning and Zoning Commission, at its meeting Tuesday, approved signage for Panera.

Witkins offered no other details on other tenants or prospective opening dates.

Work on Fountain Square  which remained dormant for more than a year after the start of the pandemic in March 2020  began again in earnest last fall.

The sites developers, Fountain Square, LLC, announced in September that construction of the 801 Bridgeport Ave. property has resumed. The site, at the intersection with Parrott Drive, was formerly occupied by the United Illuminating Co.

The developers of Fountain Square have secured all necessary funding and investors needed to complete the project, the company said in a written statement. The restart of construction has already commenced and should be in full swing over the next few weeks.

The Fountain Square project was first presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2017. The project was split into five phases, and final development plans for all phases were approved separately between 2018 and 2020.

The original approval allowed for three restaurants, a pharmacy, bank, coffee shop, other retail, a small office building and a 123-room Marriott hotel. Since that time, there were changes in the list of tenants, headed by the addition of a Chick-fil-A.

In early 2020, along with Chick-fil-A, other tenants were to be Jersey Mikes Subs; Mission BBQ; DQ; The Goddard School; Pokemoto, along with an unnamed jewelry store, a hair salon, a Korean BBQ restaurant, a fitness operation and an Italian restaurant featuring wood-fired tapas.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
WEST HAVEN  When writing her competition-winning essay, Ayannah Obas said the words practically flowed onto the page.

It was very easy to type. It was fluid, she said.

Obas, a junior at West Haven High School, wrote one of 15 winning essays for U.S. Sen. Chris Murphys sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day contest. Her essay, which is displayed in the senators Hartford office, was selected as the best high school level essay in the states congressional 3rd District. Murphys office reported that 2,200 entries were submitted in total at the elementary, middle and high school levels in all five districts.

Obas said Kings speeches and writing have moved her, so she saw fit to include several quotes of his in her essay.

The Letter From a Birmingham Jail really hit me very hard, she said.

Most famously, King delivered his I Have A Dream speech during the March on Washington in 1963. In her essay, Obas said she, too, has a dream.

A dream where I no longer have to force a smile amidst insults or have to calm myself down in heated positions. Where I no longer possess uncertainty in my own being. I refuse to continue to deny who I am as a black woman and conform to society's standards, she wrote.

In her essay, Obas wrote about the damage racism and bias had on her self-esteem as a young girl.

Growing up in the early 2000s I still felt a sense of inferiority compared to my classmates. Due to the lack of representation of black women, I felt ugly and uncomfortable in my skin. I would often beg my mother to style my hair a certain way, similar to my white classmates, she wrote. As a young child with a religious upbringing, I vividly recall praying to be white. That one day, I would awake with straight blonde hair and vibrant blue eyes. That one day, I would finally be beautiful.

Obas said going to pre-K and kindergarten in New Haven meant that many of her earliest social interactions were with children who looked like her, especially with hair similar to hers. Returning to West Haven for school, she said she was one of two Black students in her first-grade class. Suddenly, she started feeling different; even images on classroom materials rarely depicted Black people, she said.

She said she also soon was embarrassed to speak Haitian Creole over the phone with her immigrant mother in the company of her peers, often trying to keep their conversations in English.

I didnt want to be ridiculed, Obas said.

However, through powerful role models such as King and her mother, Obas said she began to recognize her value. She said it also has been important for her personal growth seeing video diaries from Black women on YouTube who style their natural hair.

I refuse to continue to deny who I am as a black woman and conform to society's standards. I aspire to be a prominent figure and representative of black women to little black girls struggling with their own sense of beauty, Obas wrote in her essay.

Obas, an aspiring psychiatrist who intends to study psychology after high school, said she believes shes become a stronger writer because of an AP Government teacher at her high school.

Hes a strict essay grader, she said, which has given her more feedback to improve her writing.

Board of Education officials said they were pleased by the news that Obas wrote the best high school essay in the region.

I couldnt be prouder that a West Haven student won that, said board President Cebi Waterfield.

Waterfield said she would prefer to hear more positive stories about West Haven students and their accomplishments coming from the district.

We honor Dr. Kings legacy by continuing his fight for justice and equality. Every year, I am so impressed by the students across Connecticut who submit essays of their reflections on Dr. King and their own dreams for a more just future, Murphy, D-Conn., said in a statement. Young people have always been at the forefront of the great social change movements, and their hope and determination continue to inspire me.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  The Yale Police Department is growing its ranks, with the city Board of Police Commissioners approving three new officers for the department.

The board approved the recommended hiring of Greg Curran and Angelo DeLieto, both of the Hamden Police Department, and Karl Rodriguez-Perez of the Woodbridge force.

Yale Assistant Chief Steven Woznyk, who oversees planning, implementation, and direction of programs, activities and personnel, requested the officers be hired and discussed their histories at the virtual commission meeting earlier this week.

Curran, before working in Hamden, served in the Marines and worked five years for the Yale Police Department, Woznyk said. He said he had worked with Curran during that time, saying he represents the best in policing from my view.

DiLieto, a detective in Hamden, is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University who majored in sociology and minored in criminal justice, Woznyk said.

He also holds a masters degree in emergency management from the University of New Haven, Woznyk said, saying its argued that he also represents the best in policing.

Rodriguez-Perez is a UNH graduate, as well, Woznyk said, and speaks both Spanish and English.

When you look at, collectively, these three candidates, what they bring to the table, they certainly bring a very diverse portfolio, said Woznyk.

Were excited about the opportunity to be able to take advantage of their knowledge and their expertise. We feel that theyre be very valuable here, not only within the campus but within the city of New Haven.

Yale Police Chief Ronnell Wiggins, in presenting the candidates, said he appreciated the commissions work, support and wisdom.

Daniel Hunt, founder of the departments community walk program, said he believed Curran would be a boon in the new position, noting he had come to know him over the years.

I am excited for him. I think he would do well in this new role, said Hunt. He engages with the youth; very known in the community. Im in favor of the hire.

Riberio said the board interviewed all three men last week. Commissioner Mike Lawlor, an associate professor at the Univerity of New Haven and former undersecretary of criminal justice in the administration of former Gov. Dannel Malloy, said he had spoken with two, noting he was impressed.

They bring an extraordinary amount of experience and they handled some tough questions in our interview process, said Lawlor.

Higgins said in an email Thursday that the Yale Police Department is currently budgeted for 93 officers.

This included 65 uniformed patrol officers, two community engagement officers, six detectives, 12 sergeants and additional command staff, according to a March 2020 assessment of the department by 21CP Solutions , a Chicago-based consulting group.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain later in the day. High 62F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
A video of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Senator Rochas Okorocha shaking hands and hugging each at a public function has gone vira...

A video of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Senator Rochas Okorocha shaking hands and hugging each at a public function has gone viral online.

Both leaders have been at loggerheads as Governor Uzodinma has continued to probe Okorochas administration and taken over assets said to belong to the state government from him.

Recently, Okorocha charged President Muhammadu Buhari to look into what Gov. Uzodinma and his heartless government have been doing in Imo state.

The exchange of pleasantries between both parties has stirred reactions among Nigerians online.

Some of them warned supporters against fighting themselves because of politicians.

VIDEO:

Uzodimma: Owelle my Boy.... Na recovery of looted assets we dey do, we no kee person... pic.twitter.com/9mUw7Kvub3  Martin Okorowu   (@mr_okokobioko) February 10, 2022





Here are some comments gathered from Twitter;

@Onyeka_Nwelue His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma (current Governor of Imo State) and Senator Rochas Okorocha (former Governor of Imo State) today in Yobe. Only the middle, lower, working classes will kill themselves for the political class.

@UbaDike Okorocha and Hope Uzodinma hug and shake each other at an event today. Chai, these people are using you.

@Sammyzy_k I pity those involved in their fight, fear who no fear politicians.

@DaminaboEric See Hope Uzodinma and Rochas Okorocha, say a prayer for those fighting because of them.

@Nwana This aint real love to me.

@Kavelle Theres no permanent political enemy. Only permanent interest.

@Richigist Just when you think the storm was over the roof. Supporters can now have a glass or rather get busy on different issues than supporting blindly.

@DrMichaelOgbuji They look at the masses and laugh with hysteria.

@OneJoblessboy Dont die in their war!
The Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police has taken over the investigation of the circumstances ...





The Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police has taken over the investigation of the circumstances that led to the death of a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Miss Ajibola Heritage Ayomikun.





It was learnt that the owner of the PRIVATE HOSTEL, BVER where the student died has not responded to a query sent by the management of the University.





Miss Heritage is a 200 level student of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.





The student who resided in one of the PRIVATE HOSTELS on Wednesday fell into the septic tank of the hostel through an opening that was allegedly not properly covered.





In a release on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, described the incident as saddening, tragic, devastating, unfortunate and unacceptable.





The owner of the private hostel, BVER, according to the institutions spokesman, has been issued a query by the University Management and his response is being awaited.





Abiodun noted that all the hostels in the students village are privately owned and not under the control of the University.





In his words, It must be noted that all the hostels in the students village are privately owned and they are not under the control of the University.





The University Management presently has only oversight functions on these private hostels.
The Police Service Commission has given the police two weeks to conclude investigation on the case involving the suspended Deputy Commission...





The Police Service Commission has given the police two weeks to conclude investigation on the case involving the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

According to a statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the commission also directed that the investigation should be carried out by a different panel.

The commission took the decision at the continuation of its 14th plenary meeting, which ended in Abuja, on February 11, 2022, chaired by retired Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith.

Kyari, until his suspension by the commission, was the officer-in-charge of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

A report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America had indicted him in the case of fraud involving Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

The report was investigated by a special panel set up by the IGP Usman Alkali, who also forwarded it to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for legal advice.
Residents of Ado Ekiti and its environs have been subjected to untold hardship following the acute scarcity of petrol at the moment. As of t...









Residents of Ado Ekiti and its environs have been subjected to untold hardship following the acute scarcity of petrol at the moment.





As of the time of this report, barely four filling stations are dispensing fuel in the state capital.





The petrol stations are packed full of motorists and other consumers struggling to purchase the commodity





While speaking with our correspondent, the residents described the scarcity as pathetic and called on the government to address the situation.





They expressed worry over the reports of adulterated fuel which led to the whole saga.
Yes. Gov. Hochul chose Mr. Benjamin, and she's stuck with him through the election.

No. The state should have the option to remove someone under criminal indictment.

Vote

View Results
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

I believed in heroes growing up, even though I saw very few, if any, up close. Heroes existed in comic books and television shows, or in the real lives of others. Not in my life. I saw the world as one big jungle where survival meant hoping the lion would spare me and those I loved, rather than having the strength to resist being eaten. The only way to stop any abuse I saw as a kid was to run from it. Cry about it. Then try to forget it. No heroes. Just a desire to be one every time I left my home, even as I often felt powerless to make life safer for my mom and younger siblings.

For that reason, nothing became more important to me growing up than to be someone's hero. That, more than anything, was my purpose as I signed my life away to become one of "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children."

The Marine Corps recruiters didn't have to convince me to join after I'd determined that college was financially out of reach for me, despite graduating near the top of my class. I spent my 17th birthday at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Buffalo, New York, doing blood tests, answering probing questions about my life, and undergoing a litany of physical and mental exams before finally raising my right hand to take the oath of enlistment.

Later -- after boot camp and graduation and deployments and time as a drill instructor -- that's about the point when my recurring memory of enlistment would end as I lay staring into the dark, listening to the IV drip incessantly beep next to me, as the night nurses laughed and cajoled at the nursing station right outside my room. I wished to the point of tears that I could go back in time and take a path other than the one that led to the miserable place where I now found myself.

My regret had nothing to do with the fact I was now isolated, immobilized, and disoriented in a Veterans Affairs hospital, haunted by my misfortune. I knew the risks when I joined the Marines. I expected to go into harm's way someday, like my uncles and grandfather had during World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The Desert Shield military campaign started in the Persian Gulf on the day after I arrived at Parris Island for recruit training. We didn't know much about Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Saddam Hussein, but we did train for the day we'd be bringing the smoke to him and his army. So the possibility of suffering injury or dying, in our minds, was a risk we willingly chose to bear. Over the next 11 years, I'd bear that risk as I advanced through the ranks, deployed to foreign lands, trained recruits as a drill instructor, and earned the rank of warrant officer. In other words, doing the work that heroes did to prepare for the moment, in my mind.

During that period, geopolitical conflicts occurred in hot spots all over the world. Places like Somalia, Bosnia, and Venezuela. I thought for certain we'd eventually get the call to heroism, and we certainly did the moment I turned on my television just in time to watch the South Tower get hit by an airplane as the North Tower smoldered on Sept. 11, 2001. From that moment, a mix of panic, anger, and confusion was quickly ameliorated by the sense of nervous, excited anticipation that ran through me.

Finally, I could do what Marines do. The time had finally come for me to prove that I could confront the abuser and defeat the bully.

Well, almost.

As I watched several members of my unit and peers in my MOS, or job, receive special orders to deploy, I spent the next couple of months wondering when my number would come up. By the third month, I told myself I'd either end up in Afghanistan or the brig as I fired off an email to my MOS monitor at Headquarters Marine Corps, "tactfully" demanding to know why my senior staff NCO and a fellow warrant officer had gone to Afghanistan and I had not.

After a period of anxious anticipation, it happened: orders to 1st Marine Division to be executed in the next 30 days. Before me now sat the greatest test I'd ever faced in my 29 years of life -- but not in a way I could have ever imagined.

* * * *

My eyes slowly blinked open to what sounded like heavy, mechanical breathing to my left. Still dizzy and barely conscious, I could feel the synapses in my brain fire off, trying to bring hazy images and memories into view, wanting to make sense of why I was lying down, staring into complete darkness. It took me a moment to realize the breathing sound I heard wasn't someone else's. It was mine. A ventilator paced my diaphragm, controlling my breath. As I realized this, I tried to take in a gulp of air, only to be suppressed by the machine as it sped up to regulate airflow through the tubes going through my nostrils and down my throat.

Sherman Gillums delivers keynote remarks during a national veterans health summit in Washington in 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Sherman Gillums)

Panicked, I struggled to move and yell. I could do neither. The more I struggled, the more I felt suffocated, like Seligman's dogs in the electric cage. In my case, learned helplessness may have been the only pathway to relief as I stopped long enough to slip back into unconsciousness.

The next time my eyes opened, a doctor stood over me, explaining how I'd been in a serious vehicle crash three days before. My spinal column was fractured, damaging my spinal cord, after I tried to avoid a collision between a car and a semi in front of me. The move caused my own vehicle to spin out of control and flip three times. Not exactly the type of danger I trained for, I thought. If my fate were to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair, my story would be about how a bullet or IED took me out, not some goddam traffic accident. Heroes don't go out like this.

Before long, the reality that my time in uniform had ended took over every waking thought I had. How close I'd come to executing those orders and living my dream became part of the torture. No lead up to some climactic, heroic encounter with an enemy. It was simply over.

During my recovery, I began to fetishize the war experience in my mind, wondering how being paralyzed in my crash compared to being blown up by an IED. I'd sleep all day and stay up all night, watching 24-hour cable news coverage of troop updates, immersing myself in the narratives. Some nights I'd have nightmares and hallucinate as the news footage distorted my own traumatic memories -- with the help of the drug cocktail I'd been prescribed -- quieted only by nightly shots of whiskey.

My lost sense of purpose had become my identity until I met Eric and Curtis, two newly injured Marines, during an outpatient appointment on the spinal cord injury unit -- a meeting that would change my entire perspective.

Eric and Curtis both had suffered paralysis in Iraq. One by a bullet shot through the stomach, the other by an IED. True heroes in my book. While both men had expressed no regret for serving in harm's way, I could see how each came back missing a part of himself in some way. Hearing their stories made the experience less abstract for me, less glorious, as I could better imagine what getting shot or thrown in the air by an explosion actually felt like, along with the other ugly aspects of combat.

Sherman Gillums Jr. places a wreath at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery during a funeral service for Army soldier Curtis R. Spivey, who died of severe injuries he incurred in Iraq on Sept. 16, 2005. (Photo courtesy of the Sherman Gillums)

The stories began to sicken me as I listened to them in gritty detail. By the end, Eric and Curtis' combat medals no longer looked like trophies to me. They looked more like colorful patches that concealed their torn spirits and the holes in their being. While all three of us were paralyzed and ostensibly shared the pains of that part of the experience, I couldn't help but to wonder how different the dialogue with myself, behind my eyes and between my ears, would've been had it been filtered through experiences similar to those of Eric and Curtis.

The day Curtis unexpectedly died from his brain injuries proved to be the moment my mind took a reflective turn, understanding that heroism came at a cost that might've been too great for even me to bear. Or for anyone to bear who had imagined a heroic moment but hadn't actually faced the danger of combat.

I could never be a hero by my own definition, and I had to be fine with that out of respect for those, like Curtis, who gave it all.

What I could do, however, was ensure they'd never pay the cost of heroism alone. I could not fight by their sides on the battlefront, but I could commit to fighting the enemy on the home front: a formless, insidious enemy who used homelessness, joblessness, addiction, incarceration, broken families, and lost hope to add to the body count at a rate of 17 or more a day. An enemy I'd stare in the face and confront from hospital bedsides and communities from Capitol Hill and the White House for more than 17 years and counting.

I'd learn an important lesson through this experience: Heroes also need heroes. I'd also come to understand that heroes aren't created or manufactured. They're revealed when it most counts. The mere act of choosing to matter when it counts, while giving some measure of sacrifice, is the only prerequisite. Dedicating my life to doing just that on behalf of those who served did not make me the hero I always wanted to be -- but it made me the hero I was chosen to be.

Sherman Gillums Jr. served in the U.S. Marines for 12 years between 1990 and 2002. He received an honorable discharge at the rank of chief warrant officer two after suffering a career-ending injury. His awards include two Navy/Marine Commendation Medals, Navy/Marine Achievement Medal, Drill Instructor Ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism Service medal.
Lucky spectators at the 2022 Freret or Tucks parades could catch one of the rarest Carnival throws ever. At long last, biodegradable beads, containing plastic made from algae in an LSU laboratory, are ready to be tossed.

For ecologically minded parade-goers, worried that imported plastic throws might eventually bury New Orleans like lava buried Pompei, its a hallelujah moment. Finally, there will be beads designed to melt away, eventually, under the suns ultraviolet rays and New Orleans' abundant rainwater. Finally, float riders will be able to fling necklaces without the guilt associated with clogging the citys storm drains and landfills. Finally, Carnival will have gone green.

Or not. Naohiro Kato, the cell biologist whose research led to the environmentally conscious beads, isnt celebrating. Kato says the experiment in making biodegradable beads has taught him that such beads are not the answer to the greening of Carnival. His algae-born plastic could have practical applications, but, in his studied opinion, Carnival throws might not be one of them.

It was about nine years ago that a happy accident took place in Katos lab, when an algae-filled beaker was accidentally left unrefrigerated overnight. It was then that Kato noticed the wet and gooey microscopic plants had produced a promising oily substance.

By drying out and powdering the oily algae, Kato discovered he could produce something like moldable plastic, with the added benefit that it would eventually break down in the natural environment.

Kato is 53. He was born in Tokyo and came to the United States in 1998. He said that when he took a job at Louisiana State University in 2005, he wasnt sure where Baton Rouge was. When he and his wife bought a house in his new hometown, they had no idea why they were being congratulated for having found a home along the route of the Krewe of Southdowns parade. But soon enough, Kato came to appreciate Carnival customs, including the tossing of beads and doubloons.

An opportunity

Too, he soon recognized that beads and doubloons had ecological drawbacks. Which was a problem, and an opportunity. Because Carnival throws have such symbolic importance, why not use them as algae plastic product prototypes?

The trouble with the original algae-based beads and doubloons, which Kato produced in 2014 and 2018, was twofold. First, they were the color of cooked okra. And second, it would take a custom-designed industrial process to produce them in large enough quantities to compete with the conventional plastic beads that workers in China were pumping out by the freighter full.

So Kato set out to find a plastics fabricator that might be able to pioneer the manufacture of his biodegradable throws on a grand scale. Sure, he could have searched for an overseas manufacturer, but he wanted to keep production in Louisiana. Lucky for him, he found Noble Plastics Inc. in Grand Coteau, where the owner, Missy Rogers, not only agreed to try, she agreed to do so at a price Kato could afford. The bead project was funded by a $10,000 grant from LSU, a tax credit from the state and Rogers' largesse.

Rogers said her bread and butter is manufacturing objects for use in the oilfields, heavy manufacturing and the defense industry. But, she said, We like to keep our souls engaged by working with local inventors. ... Were big-time nerds, and we were really into it.

But, she said, it was surprisingly difficult, especially as she hoped to automate the process as much as possible.

'A ridiculous amount'

In the end, Rogers company figured out how to mold beads, but the research and development necessary made the beads cost a ridiculous amount.

Volume is key to making biodegradable beads a viable alternative, she said. If you produced bead necklaces by the millions, you might be able to sell them at only 2 times the price of conventional plastic beads.

Part of the problem is that the biodegradable material itself is costly. Rogers said that all around the world inventors are scrambling to produce commercially competitive green plastics. There are so many people chasing the same magic pill, she said.

In fact, in March 2021, a company called NexEvo announced that it was bringing starch-based biodegradable beads to the marketplace.

Kato said that in order to get his algae plastic to work, it had to be mixed with large quantities of commercially available biodegradable plastic - the sort of stuff they use to make environmentally friendly disposable knives, forks, and spoons.

6-millimeter orbs

The beads that Noble Plastics produced are black, not okra green, and each 6-millimeter orb is embossed with a letter, so that each 32-inch strand spells out MADE WITH ALGAE LSU, over and over again. The threads onto which the beads are molded are made from durable, but degradable, hemp.

Kato said he cant be sure how long it will take for the MADE WITH ALGAE LSU beads to degrade. If a strand were to get snagged in an oak tree, it might take only a year or so for the hemp string to fail, and maybe another five years, more or less, for the individual beads to fade away. He said conventional plastic beads could last for a century.

Freret and Tucks were the earliest krewes to express an interest in the beads, Kato said. So when some were finally available, he delivered 10- and 20-foot lengths of beads to the krewes, asking that they be cut into 32-inch segments and tied into necklaces. Each krewe should end up with 160 strands to throw.

Thats it: 320 in all.

Which certainly makes Katos 2022 beads among the most collectible catchables of all time.

Rogers said its tough to figure out what each necklace cost to produce, but considering all that went into producing them, shed guess that each strand cost more than $50.

And thats the rub.

Disenchanted

Rogers is still optimistic that someday, biodegradable beads could enter the market at relatively reasonable costs. But Kato has become disenchanted with the whole concept. For now, at least, the idea of biodegradable throws is illogical, he said: They work only if theyre the ones you dont care about, he said. For the beads to deteriorate and return to the earth, they must be left on the earth in the first place or thrown away. If they are rare and very precious, he said, theyll never replace the disposable conventional plastic beads that are causing all the problems.

He said it would make more sense to use his algae plastic to make, say, fishing net floats that inevitably get lost at sea and should therefore be biodegradable.

Kato said hell continue to consider ways to manufacture biodegradable beads efficiently. But in the end, he said, they wont be the solution. Instead, he said, Carnival krewes just have to provide fewer, more desirable throws, such as the old-time glass beads that can be worn again and again.

The Freret parade takes place Feb. 19 starting at 6 p.m., the Tucks parade Feb. 26 at noon, both on the Uptown New Orleans route.
If youve ever wanted proof of the old French adage, The more things change, the more they stay the same, you need look no further than the Louisiana Legislatures ham-fisted way of redrawing district maps after a decennial census.

This is true not only of lawmakers redrawing their own district boundaries but also those of the states congressional delegation, the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and even  on rare occasions  the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Its literally happening as I write this, only this time the official dilution of Black voting strength is more pronounced than in recent decades.

The Republican-controlled Legislature called itself into a special redistricting session that began Feb. 1  the first day of Black History Month  and immediately got to work making sure Black voters made no gains whatsoever in their ability to elect leaders who look like them or care about their concerns.

That, despite the fact that Louisianas Black population increased nearly 4% in the past decade  while the states white population decreased by more than 6%.

To be fair, the 29 Black-majority districts in the current 105-member state House of Representatives at least approximated (somewhat) the percentage of Louisianas Black population after the 2010 Census. Unfortunately, the House redistricting plan that appears likely to pass this time  with near-solid GOP support and near-unanimous Democratic opposition  keeps that number at 29, even though Black citizens now comprise 33% of the states population.

Clancy DuBos: Redistricting session puts race and politics front and center The Republican-dominated Louisiana Legislature will mark the first day of Black History Month by convening a 20-day special session.

That increase in Black population justifies at least three more Black-majority seats in the House, but that would make GOP efforts to override gubernatorial vetoes even more difficult. The Republican majority wont stand for that, so they made sure to maintain the status quo. Again.

True to form, GOP-backed redistricting plans for the state Senate, BESE, the PSC and the state Supreme Court all maintain the current number of Black-majority districts, notwithstanding indisputable Census numbers justifying more Black-majority districts.

The only thing standing in the way of Black voters getting steamrolled is Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who could veto any or all of the plans. Edwards has called for a second Black-majority congressional district. Currently only one of Louisianas six congressional districts has a Black majority. The governor has been silent on other redistricting plans.

+2 Louisiana House Republicans pass redistricting plan with only one majority-Black congressional seat The Louisiana House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that keeps the state with a sole majority-Black congressional district out of

Edwards vetoed several controversial bills last year that Republican lawmakers passed by large majorities. A first-ever veto override session called by GOP leaders failed to muster the votes to overturn those vetoes.

Its by no means certain that his potential veto of any new district maps could survive such a session this year, however. Redistricting  particularly when lawmakers draw their own maps  is more an exercise in self-preservation than run-of-the-mill policy making.

In decades past, the courts and the federal Voting Rights Act offered minorities a measure of hope, but the current U.S. Supreme Court, which has effectively gutted the act, has all but dashed those hopes. I wouldnt be surprised to see the Louisiana redistricting plans become the next Plessy v. Ferguson.

Plus ca change.
The Louisiana House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that keeps the state with a sole majority-Black congressional district out of six, despite Black people making up a third of the state and strong opposition from Black lawmakers and civil rights groups. The house voted 70-33 to pass the bill.

Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee, a white Houma Republican who presented the bill on Thursday, said accounting for the increase in the states Black population was not the primary driver of the district boundaries in the plan.

That is not something that I think is the primary driver, Magee said. Its an important driver, but this map was based off of maintaining traditional maps that we've always had in the state of Louisiana.

The vote comes despite the fact that attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund have repeatedly said that not creating two majority-Black congressional districts would violate the Voting Rights Act given Louisianas current population  and that the group would sue accordingly.

This bill is totally illegal, so when you say its legal, I dont know how you can say that, Rep. Wilford Carter, a Black Lake Charles Democrat, said to Magee.

Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, a Black Baton Rouge Democrat, tried to amend the bill on the House floor in yet another attempt to create a second majority-Black district, but her amendment failed 30-71.

The bill now must pass the Senate and get the governor's signature. Gov. John Bel Edwards has also said he supports two majority-Black congressional districts but has not said if he plans to veto maps that dont meet that threshold.

Earlier in the day, the Governmental and House Affairs committee shot down four plans in a row by Black Democrats that would have created an additional majority-Black congressional district in what began to feel like a time loop.

The votes fell mostly along party lines with Rep. Melinda White, a white Bogalusa Independent, joining Democrats in voting for the plans. However, Rep. Barry Ivey, a white Central Republican, crossed party lines to vote for a plan by Rep. Barbara Carpenter, a Black Baton Rouge Democrat, to create a second majority-Black district. Chairman John Stefanski, a white Crowley Republican, killed the bill, though, with a tiebreaker vote.

Marcelle brought forth one of the plans with two Black-majority districts, telling the committee, We could just skip the census if were just going to go with the status quo.

The committee also refused to even vote Thursday on an alternative state House district plan by Rep. Sam Jenkins, a Black Shreveport Democrat. The plan originally contained 29 Black-majority districts  the same number as the plan led by Stefanski the committee passed and the number the state has currently  but as amended, it would have upped that number to 30.

Jenkins plan had many district lines similar to Stefanskis, but it also left House District 23 in Natchitoches as a majority-Black district. Stefanskis plan would move that district to the New Orleans area and split its current population in North Louisiana among neighboring Republican districts. The seat currently held by Rep. Kenny Cox, a Black Democrat, was the subject of much debate.

To me I look at these and go, Wow, hes just doing everything I did, Stefanski said to Jenkins, before voting against giving the committee a chance to vote on Jenkins plan.

Before the committee killed her congressional district plan, Carpenter talked about how her late husband had to take a poll test to vote in Natchitoches under racist laws designed to keep Black people from voting.

The struggles still continue, Carpenter said, and you wonder when is it ever going to end.

+2 Four excuses Louisiana Republicans have for attempting to marginalize Black voters, again A Senate committee has yet to vote on the proposed congressional redistricting plans, but after hours of presentations Thursday, we now have a
We regret to inform you that everybodys least favorite Carnival tradition, the Entitled Krewe of Chad, is back on their nonsense again.

Over the last few days the manspreaders of Carnival have been hitting the Orleans Avenue neutral ground, marking their territory like a pack of poodles named Karen. More than two weeks out from the Endymion parade, about 10 spots along Orleans between City Park and Carrollton avenues had already been painted up.

Normal people simply show up to a parade route the day of, plop down their coolers and enjoy the show. There's also the Uptown ladder brigade, which for years has set up increasingly elaborate and expansive chains of ladders, folding tables and tents on neutral grounds before parades roll.

But then theres the Krewe of Chad, who prefer the long-game, staking out viewing areas weeks in advance. Chads utilize a number of tactics, but is best known for spray painting large, irregularly shaped boxes on the neutral ground on Orleans Avenue, along with the name of their various subkrewes  including the venerable Jason and Bush outfits.

The Krewe of Chad has traditionally focused its annual landgrab on the route Endymion takes to its ball, befitting the parades gawdy, plastic approach to Carnival.

Sightings of the Krewe of Chad date back to at least 2013, when former Gambit editor Kevin Allman brought them to light on Twitter. Nobody knows the exact origin of the pushy band of unmerry makers, though legend says it formed during an all-night campout to buy tickets to the 1985 Motley Crue show at UNO.

H/t to Twitter user @shimoji__ for pointing out Chads early start this year.
Education has always been at the heart of Leona Tates life.

Born in 1954 in the Lower 9th Ward, Tate took the first steps toward finally breaking the back of school segregation in New Orleans when she, along with Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, walked past angry white protesters and through the doors of McDonogh 19 Elementary School on Nov. 14, 1960, to become the first Black students at the school. At the same time, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges also was walking into the all-white William Frantz Elementary School.

Looking back now, Tate says she is grateful she can never say she was afraid of going to school because at 6 years old, she didn't fully understand what was happening.

I thank God that we were so young that we didn't understand, I can never say that I was afraid because I wasn't. I was made very comfortable by my teacher. The marshals that brought us to school every day made us very comfortable, she says.

As federal marshals escorted Tate, Prevost and Etienne to and from schools, crowds of white parents stood outside McDonogh 19 protesting against the court-ordered desegregation. They were the only three students for months. Brown paper bags covered the school windows at all times as the girls had recess indoors and were not allowed outside for their safety.

Tate later suffered abuse from the white students, and when the marshals stopped bringing them to school, entering the building would mean walking a gauntlet of angry white people alone.

Though New Orleans would move to turn McDonogh 19 into an all-Black school two years later, the roots of integration in the citys schools had been planted and would eventually bring the Jim Crow practice to at least a temporary end.

However, over the last 60 years, white flight, an increasingly conservative Supreme Court and a growing white supremacist movement have meant that New Orleans schools are increasingly segregated. Many of the other hard-won victories of the civil rights movement have been eroded or cast aside completely.

But while the forces of discrimination and hate may be making a comeback, so too is Tate  and McDonogh 19, where later this month Tate will open a new civil rights museum and learning center. The goal is to help educate the public on the push to desegregate New Orleans as well as train the next generation of racial equity and justice activists.

McDonogh 19 ... is where I was introduced to racism, Tate says. I feel like that's where I want it to end.

Tate says she didn't talk about her experience for years, instead focusing on the present and raising her family.

For years, the three of us didn't talk about it. We put it on a back burner for many years and I started thinking about it again in my junior high school years, she says.

Its understandable. As a 6-year-old, Tate had found herself at the center of the national fight for racial equality and justice.

Six years earlier on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Despite the ruling, it didn't ensure racial integration. State and local governments across the country refused to abide by the order for years or even decades.

In New Orleans, the push towards desegregation was met with anger among many white people, and many adults would routinely wait outside schools to taunt and threaten Black children. Tate says that while she experienced hatred and abuse from students, the press outside of the school was the most overwhelming part of the experience.

Tate says she realized the significance of that point in her childhood when one of her high school gym teachers told her she was reading a book that she was in.

I started thinking of it again in my junior high school year, she says. One of my gym teachers called me to the office and she told me, Im reading a book and you're in it. And that made me start thinking of it again, the importance of it.

In fact, for a long time Tate didnt tell her children her story because she wanted them to have a normal childhood.

My children didnt even know for a long time because I didnt want them to have an abnormal experience at school. Because once they found out who I was, that was going to make it a whole other ballgame for them, she says.

Soon, the fight for equality and justice would once again become a major part of her life. Tates flame for activism was reignited after Barack Obama became president in 2009. She began working as a community and civil rights activist and created a foundation, Leona Tate Foundation for Change, to provide children in New Orleans with equal access to educational services.

The foundation hosts business and financial literacy programming, along with the G.R.O.W Adult program that provides GED preparation and tutoring. Previously, its also hosted summer camps to educate youth on the desegregation movement in New Orleans.

Now, Tates mission is to educate the New Orleans community on how the city was instrumental to the civil rights movement and desegregation.

To keep these pieces of history from being lost or forgotten, Tate is creating the TEP Interpretive Center at the McDonogh 19 building, which she hopes to open to the public in mid-February.

The center  named after Tate, Etienne and Prevost  will be the first space dedicated to preserving and teaching the history of the civil rights movement in New Orleans.

Nobody was aware of the history of that building, Tate says. That building stood dormant since 2004, and it just didn't seem like it was important to anybody. I want everybody to know that that made a big difference. I even want the residents in the 9th Ward to know the Lower 9th Ward is very important because of that history.

The museum will not only be New Orleans first space dedicated to the civil rights movement, it will also be the first in the state  though not for a lack of trying. As Times-Picayune columnist Jarvis DeBerry noted in 2018, activists have been pushing for a civil rights museum for decades, even getting the state legislature in 1999 to pass a bill establishing the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum and mandating it be built in New Orleans. Today, nearly two decades later, New Orleanians still have to leave the state to find a museum that tells the story of the civil rights movement, DeBerry wrote.

The TEP Interpretive Center will be housed on the bottom floor of the building, focusing on both the events that happened to prepare the three women for their first day in a desegregated school and also what it was like for them to experience it.

I find that a lot of students are not aware of the desegregation of the public schools and how it happened. They just don't know about it at all, Tate says. We are planning on a lot of visual aid and interactive materials. I want students to come in and understand and feel what we felt, but they can only do that if they see it."

The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, which provides anti-racism training and seminars across the country, will also be at the McDonogh 19 site. And Tate says it will also include 25 affordable housing units for people 55 or older.

The Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum also will move into the new space, according to Tate. Back in 2011, Caroline Heldman and Ian Breckenridge-Jackson created the museum, located two blocks off St. Claude Avenue on Deslonde Street, to share stories from the community. Tate says she has been involved with the project since the group interviewed her for research.

It went from me talking about my experience to then gathering information from other people. It's so good to hear from people that are still living  to hear their perspective and how resilient the Lower 9th Ward people can be, she says.

The museum showcases events that shaped the Lower 9th Ward from the community's perspective through oral stories and recordings from residents. Tate says it's important for residents to share their past in order to inform the future.

Maintaining not only the history of the civil rights movement but its immediacy has become an increasingly important task in recent years. Since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and the end of widespread civil rights protests in the early 1970s, the era has been regarded somehow as ancient history, despite the fact that Tate and millions of others who participated in the struggle are alive and well  as is racism itself.

Our schools have segregated again. It's like white flight has taken another stand in the school system. If you don't go on the outskirts of New Orleans, you barely see white students, Tate says.

The effects arent theoretical: According to October 2021 statistics from the Louisiana Department of Education, out of the 43,982 students enrolled in Orleans Parish public schools, 32,264 of those students are Black and 3,543 are white. That doesn't reflect the demographics of the parish as a whole. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, out of the 383,997 individuals reported in the parish, 126,462 were white and 208,273 were Black.

Additionally, over the last two decades anti-civil rights forces have pushed this narrative both in politics and education, culminating in the latest push against so-called critical race theory in legislatures across the country.

The loss of history can also lead to a loss of culture in New Orleans as locals forget the stories of their communities that helped to build the city into what it is today.

We need those doors to the future. If we don't document it somewhere, it's going to be forgotten, Tate says. I was one that was reluctant about telling my story, but now visiting the schools in New Orleans I see where it's needed because the children don't know where they come from.

When people see me, she adds, they are surprised because they think it happened long ago. A lot of kids think it was during slavery times. They don't know it in their lifetime. I think it makes a difference when they see us.

Tate argues it's important for both youth and adults to learn about the civil rights movement in New Orleans, but she worries that too few educators understand the citys place in the movements history.

You can't teach what you don't know. I find that most of the teachers we have today are not from New Orleans. New Orleans has a culture that nobody has, she says.
Every six months, Ashley Fisher gets an infusion of medication that wipes out her B-cells, the immune systems equivalent to a weapons producer.

In a typical immune system, B-cells build antibodies that fight off viruses. For Fisher, who has multiple sclerosis, B-cells play a key role in slowly degrading her brain and spinal cord. Killing some of them off has stopped the damage, and she's lived symptom-free for four years.

But its at a cost. Her body cant drum up the antibodies for the COVID vaccine, so shes been paused in a early-2020 era lockdown even though she's vaccinated. In December, after nearly two years of ordering takeout and declining invitations, she wondered if she should try another type of drug, one that might not work as well but would allow the vaccine to prod her immune system into making antibodies.

Thats when her doctor mentioned Evusheld, a new monoclonal antibody for immunocompromised people. Unlike other monoclonal antibodies patients have taken to treat COVID, the treatment directly injects coronavirus antibodies into a patient's system and provides protection for about six months.

But the drug is in short supply nationwide, with only 1.2 million doses ordered for a population about seven times that size. Fisher, a 38-year-old data health care analyst, pestered her doctors office for the next two months. Finally she got the call, and last Friday she got two shots of Evusheld and an immediate sense of freedom.

I feel so much relief, feeling like I'm kind of more back on par with other people, said Fisher, who lives in New Orleans. I can barely even process it.

It's a relief not many immunocompromised patients have felt in Louisiana. Fisher is one of the few people to receive the drug, which has been deemed a precious resource. But its scarcity, along with familiar pandemic challenges like staffing and communication, has left it sitting on shelves.

Louisiana has received about 6,144 doses of Evusheld from the federal government, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

But hospitals and pharmacies have only requested about 2,000 doses. More than half of those have gone unused, according to federal data. Almost 40% of the nearly 40 hospitals and pharmacies who received the drug have not reported using a single dose. The remaining 4,656 courses that have gone unclaimed are being held by the state.

People with compromised immune systems are currently recommended to take four vaccine shots: three mRNA shots as the primary series, then a fourth booster five months later  a timeline the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated will soon be shortened to three months.

But even four shots might not muster a response for some people. It's not well understood how the vaccine works in people with weak immune systems, but one study found that only about 50% of immunocompromised patients have antibodies after two doses of the mRNA vaccines.

"The direction I've always been given, despite having gotten vaccines whenever I could, is that I should treat myself as though I am unvaccinated," said Fisher.

Data from last year showed that an injection of Evusheld, manufactured by AstraZeneca, could reduce the risk of getting COVID by 77%. While early data suggest it may not be as effective against the omicron variant, it is still thought to be effective against hospitalization and death.

Despite its benefits, many immunocompromised patients aren't aware they qualify. When Fisher posted on her social media that she got Evusheld, others with MS were thrown off. Even people who are aggressive about their own treatment didnt know about it.

Health news in your inbox Reporter Emily Woodruff shares weekly updates and insights on local health news, including COVID coverage and medical research. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

I feel like this one really just kind of has really snuck under the radar, said Fisher.

Like other stages of the pandemic, the distribution of this scarce resource has been a patchwork system, with hospitals and pharmacies left to decide how to divvy it up. Some hospitals, like Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, instructed doctors who treat immunocompromised patients to give it at their discretion. But theyve run into roadblocks with that approach. The hospital's limited supply  72 doses  made clinicians feel like they should save it for people who really need it. As a result, only four people have received it.

We find that we have less people getting it because were trying to make so many difficult decisions about who is best to get it that were using it less often than we should, said Dr. Catherine ONeal, medical director of Our Lady of the Lake. When resources become scarce, we have trouble figuring out how to use them.

Other states have been criticized for not having enough prioritization policies in place. In Florida, for example, the majority of the first doses were given to a small concierge clinic rather than the states large transplant or cancer centers. Some patients in other regions have reported crossing state lines for easier access to the drug. And some hospitals have introduced complicated equity formulas, using factors such as how disadvantaged a patients zip code is to balance the scales of who should get priority access.

Getting patients and providers up to date on a constant whirl of changing information is difficult, said ONeal, pointing out that complex schedules for things like the pneumococcal vaccine took years to drive home to patients and doctors.

The messaging for this virus and prevention for small subgroups has become so complicated, said ONeal.

Some patients feel they're sufficiently protected from their vaccines or want more time to talk about it with their doctor, said O'Neal, and clinicians may be hesitant to push a new drug while the omicron variant is on the downslide if they don't know how many doses the next shipment might contain.

Ochsner Health is also running up against distribution issues. It has a tiered system and reaches out to patients based on how likely they are to benefit from added protection. The hospital system, Louisianas largest, has received about 900 doses of the drug and 2,000 offers have been made to patients as of last week, according to Dr. Jonathan Hand, section head of transplant infectious diseases. About 100 patients, Fisher included, have accepted.

Staffing and finding a place where immunocompromised patients can safely receive the injections has been a challenge.

Similar to other pandemic strategies we have tried to rapidly expand for our patients in an environment in which health care workers are in high demand and are spread thin, Hand said in an emailed statement.

Louisiana is not alone in its sluggish use of Evusheld. Many states have more than half their allotment available.

But the state does have a greater share of immunocompromised patients than the national average and one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S., making the likelihood a vulnerable person will be exposed to the virus higher.

For Fisher, Evusheld made all the difference. Her first dinner reservation on the books for Jewel of the South this week, where shell dine inside the cozy French Quarter restaurant without the creeping fear that shes putting her life on the line. Arnauds for fried souffle potatoes is next. Shell stick to venturing out on weeknights at places she knows will check for vaccination, as required in Orleans Parish, but it feels like reclaiming a tiny piece of normal life.

"It's like the light at the end of the tunnel," said Fisher. "It's a huge deal. It's totally a huge deal."
Court reporters fingers glide across their 23-button keyboards at a speed of up to 225 words per minutea rate thats more than 60 percent faster than the average person can even speak.

That was just one tidbit shared during the Guardians of the Record, an event held this week at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court aimed at educating attorneys, judges and law students on court reporters jobs, and what it takes to create the most accurate transcripts.

As Eve Kazik, a court reporter in district courts Section H and the events organizer, welcomed a packed courtroom, several court reporters began typing on their pint-sized equipment, called stenotype machines, and recorded the event just as they do in court. A court reporters job is to capture each spoken on-the-record word, in real time, and create the official record of each court case.

To do that, Kazik said, court reporters use a keyboard she likens to a piano: Unlike a traditional keyboard, which allows its user to hit only one key at a time, their stenotype machines buttons can be mashed simultaneously, allowing court reporters to record a word with a single motion.

To accommodate words that span the 26-letter alphabet in just 23 keys, court reporters spell words differently, often using shortcuts to allow quicker typing or spelling phonetically. For example, the word fit is spelled on a stenotype machine as t-p-e-u-t, each button pressed at the same time, allowing the longer spelling to take less time to type.

Even so, for every hour that court reporters record on their stenotype machines, Kazik said, it takes an average of an additional three hours to clean and make the transcript readable.

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Court reporters also broke down what they need to create accurate records: Clear and audible speech, eye contact and, in some cases, slowed speech. While the average person doesnt speak faster than they can type, it occasionally happens, said Crystal Ballast, a court reporter in district courts Section G.

If we ask you to slow down, note: It is not us. It is you, Ballast said.

The face masks required in courts, a pandemic safety precaution, have complicated court reporters jobs, often making it more difficult for them to hear what has been said. And if they cant hear you, it doesnt happen, said Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Kimya Holmes, who also sits on the board of the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters.

Court reporters receive three years of training before they can begin working, including six months dedicated to learning the language of their machines keyboards.

They must also continue their education, completing 12 credits each year, to maintain their certification, said Vincent Borrello, a freelance court reporter and president of the Louisiana Court Reporters Association.

The event was held in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Nandi Campbells courtroom, in honor of the National Court Reporters Associations Court Reporting & Captioning Week.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the section of Criminal District Court where Eve Kazik works. She is the court reporter in Section H.
A man who fatally shot a former friend during an argument at the Pair of Dice Lounge in Metairie was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in prison for manslaughter and obstruction of justice.

Maurice "Marlo" Leach, 36, and Michael Shawn Brown, a 49-year-old Mandeville father of two, were regulars at the bar but got into a fight there on May 19, 2019. Authorities dont know what sparked their argument, which patrons broke up.

But Leach pulled a 9 mm pistol from his waisteband, reached over a woman who tried to step between the two men and shot Brown in the face, prosecutors said. Brown died at the scene.

Leach ran from the bar, at 4520 S. Interstate 10 Service Road, and tossed the gun, the Sheriff's Office said. A week later, he was arrested in New Jersey.

He was tried on a second-degree murder charge, which carries a life sentence in prison, but the jury found him guilty Nov. 10 of the lesser charge of manslaughter, punishable by 40 years in prison. One of Brown's daughters, citing emotional and financial damage due to her father's slaying, argued for the maximum penalty. Leach asked for leniency and said he had found religion and been rehabilitated while incarcerated.

Judge Stephen Enright of the 24th Judicial District Court concluded Leach had remorse for himself only and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
On the defensive for blowing legal deadlines in dozens of violent crime cases, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams promised Thursday to fix the problem and announced a staff shakeup.

Williams said he will beef up his screening division, which decides whether to accept or refuse charges lodged by police. He also promoted chief of trials Ned McGowan to first assistant district attorney and reassigned an early major hire who held that job, Bob White.

Last week, multiple news media outlets reported that Williams was missing the legal deadline to charge or refuse cases after arrests at a vastly higher tempo than his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro. Under the section of state law that sets the legal cutoff, Article 701 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, defendants are released from jail or from their bail obligations if the district attorney doesnt make decisions fast enough.

Some 52 people were released from jail last year due to blown deadlines after their arrests for allegedly committing violent crimes or domestic violence. While he acknowledged missteps, Williams said these were a result of a swell of violent crime overwhelming his office  rather than the platform on which he ran for district attorney in 2020.

'System breakdown'

Let me just unequivocally say that the current 701 numbers are problematic and frustrating to me, Williams said Thursday. The people of this city need to know that the 701 numbers from 2021 are absolutely not the result of any new progressive policy or reforms; in fact, quite the opposite. These numbers are the result of a system breakdown, and because it happened on my watch, we are taking swift and corrective action on every single level to correct these numbers.

Williams said a small number of individuals, less than 1 percent, have been released due to blown deadlines. But he acknowledged residents growing concerns over crime, tied to the spike in homicides and carjackings over the past two years.

The folks who are frustrated are rightfully frustrated, Williams said. When someone says this is the DAs fault, some of it is my fault. There are a lot of other shoulders that bear responsibility in dealing with the circumstances that were in now.

Still, Williams criticized some of the news reports about the releases, asserting they failed to distinguish between people who were released from jail and those released from bail obligations.

Staff shifts

Last month, Williams lambasted the Police Department for filing reports too slowly or failing to find enough evidence to secure convictions.

But since then, Williams has fallen under criticism for his office's slow charging decisions, which he has tied in part to laggardly reports from the Police Department.

Williams said Thursday he needed more money from City Hall to hire more prosecutors, while acknowledging that he should have acted sooner to shuffle staffers in response to violent crime rates. He said he is boosting the ranks of attorneys in the screening division.

Chief screener Paige Cline, a holdover from the Cannizzaro administration, is being reassigned to focus on murder, rapes and general screening, Williams said.

The district attorney also is creating a new unit to focus solely on domestic violence cases, which Williams said are particularly tricky to charge because of difficulty in securing the cooperation of victims.

Former judges to help

Two familiar names around Criminal District Court will also work in screening: former judges Julian Parker and Morris Reed. Reed, who finished fourth in the 2020 district attorney race then endorsed Williams in the runoff, has been on the DA's office payroll since last year.

Lawyers from other divisions will also pitch in on screening, Williams said, potentially earning overtime in the process.

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There will also be more charge conferences, where prosecutors huddle with police on the evidence available in cases. Those are a longstanding practice for the most serious crimes such as murder, but Williams said they will be expanded to include crimes such as armed robbery.

Williams said his office will be tracking how quickly cases are taken or tossed. He promised that his office will get to the five-day mark for charging decisions that he promised on the campaign trail.

These numbers, regardless of how small, fly in the face of my goal of screening charging decisions in less than five days, Williams said. We are owning it, we are fixing it and we will share results of our efforts to do so.

Critics on all sides

Instead of five days, the number of blown charging deadlines has skyrocketed on his watch. Williams promised Thursday to redouble his efforts to meet the mark.

While some critics, such as the nonprofit Metropolitan Crime Commission, have bemoaned the possibility that violent criminals are walking free, progressives also have a bone to pick with slow charging speeds. They have long argued that prosecutors across Louisiana should make charging decisions more quickly, and that the deadlines should be tightened, so that people in jail arent held on weak allegations any longer than necessary.

We want those speedy charging decisions made because jail sucks, and folks should not be held in jail when a case is going nowhere, said Derwyn Bunton, chief of the Orleans Public Defenders. To move cases quickly is good, 360 degrees, in our system.

However, Bunton said he was alarmed about a new legal stance that Williams lawyers have taken this week. For years, Magistrate Court judges and commissioners have set a rule date for a hearing that corresponds with the charging deadlines, to create a safety valve ensuring that defendants arent held longer than the law allows. But Williams appeals division has recently taken the position that the onus should be on defense lawyers to move for their clients release. The district attorneys office filed a writ to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal on that point Tuesday.

Theres no reason that judges should be doing the work that defense attorneys should be doing, Williams said.

Bunton said the district attorney had it wrong.

What this argument really means is that judges should not care about the Constitution until someone tells them to, and that's false, Bunton said. I think it is dangerous to argue that judges have no role as a gatekeeper or vanguard of people's rights.

Shuffling the brass

Outside of the screening division, Williams moved several top staffers to different posts.

McGowan, a former Plaquemines Parish violent crime prosecutor who wore one of his distinctive bow ties at the Thursday's news conference, is being elevated to serve as Williams right-hand man.

White, another Plaquemines graduate who was one of the first members of the Williams leadership team, will take the title of senior adviser and executive assistant district attorney. Before Thursday's announcement, he was a frequent presence next to Williams at news conferences and other public events.

Williams said White will be in charge of interacting with the U.S. attorneys office, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Louisiana State Police. White will also serve as interim leader for the offices prosecutors in Magistrate Court, Williams said.

Meanwhile, Matthew Derbes has been promoted from deputy to chief of trials, a position in which he will oversee the prosecutors who handle cases once theyre accepted. Derbes is an experienced major crimes trial prosecutor who rose to deputy director of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys criminal division before the two men clashed.

Derbes is the third person to hold the job, after McGowan and interim chief of trials Michael Morales.
New Orleans police are investigating a video posted to social media Thursday morning, which shows a crowd watching a driver doing donuts in the Central Business District.

A rider atop the vehicle briefly carries what appears to be an automatic weapon.

Cant see the video below? Click here.

Instagram user @fightfornola posted the video at around 9 a.m. Wednesday with the caption, "No words."

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The user shared the video with The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate but did not respond to requests for an interview. Commenters on the post pleaded with elected officials and media workers to ramp up public safety and awareness in New Orleans.

Amid surging violent crime, police officer numbers have fallen from a pre-pandemic level of about 1,225 to 1,069 today. Mayor LaToya Cantrell is under pressure from the City Council and community leaders to contain a recent violent crime surge that on Monday drew demonstrators to the steps of City Hall.

We will certainly feel the impacts of these vacancies if we do not ramp up our efforts to both recruit as well as retain our public safety workers, Cantrell said.

Anyone with information about the incident may call NOPD Eighth District detectives at (504) 658-6080 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.

Ben Myers contributed to this report.
We tend to be way too hard on politicians, so let it be said they are no less honorable than any other class of citizen and it would be slander to assume they never engage in a disinterested pursuit of the public good.

Furthermore, the U.S. Constitution requires that congressional and state legislative districts are as close to the same size as practical, while the Voting Rights Act was passed to put the kibosh on such stunts as the racial gerrymander.

Redistricting, which happens every 10 years after each census, and is going on right now, thus ensures that everyone has a fair crack of the whip on election days. It is a jewel in the crown of American democracy.

So goes the theory at least, but our guys in Baton Rouge are demonstrating all their political wiles, which is to say they are betraying one another with gusto while seeking every personal and political advantage.

That Republicans come across as the sneakier faction should not be a surprise, considering their recent antics in various parts of the country in response to an entirely imaginary threat to the integrity of elections.

GOP-controlled legislatures in various states have passed laws apparently designed to suppress the Democratic vote and, in some cases, have sought the power to second-guess local election officials in the certification of results.

Louisiana has, in John Bel Edwards, a Democratic governor to resist the worst excesses of the Republicans who dominate the House and Senate, but they can still be pretty sneaky. Take, for instance, the recent redistricting debate in the Senate. In the course of it, Sharon Hewitt of Slidell, who chairs the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, airily allowed that a law firm had been advising her on compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

Democratic legislators, who had no idea a law firm had been retained, were naturally miffed, and were not placated when Senate President Page Cortez, of Lafayette, assured them they would be informed when legal advice became available. In other words, Democrats should put their trust in the Republicans with whom they are struggling for a redistricting advantage. Not exactly a sporting proposition.

Cortez, who had hired the law firm in cahoots with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, of Gonzales, then made one of those disingenuous disclaimers on which politicians sometimes rely to get themselves off the immediate hook, presumably in hopes that they won't be checked out.

Those hopes are always vain. Although Cortez declared that there has been zero public money spent on the law firm, it soon transpired that Cortez and Schenxnayder had signed a contract in December to pay $10,000 a month for legal advice, and $60,000 a month should litigation be required.

Further doubts about whether the public interest is paramount in redistricting decisions arose over an attempt by state Sen. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, to shift the Tulane and Loyola Uptown New Orleans campuses into his district.

State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans, the Democrat who spearheaded objections to the secret law firm deal, was similarly dubious about Henry's move, accusing him of seeking to adjust the boundaries just in order to move his sister into his district.

Henry conceded that he would be glad to have his sister as a constituent, but claimed that his main motive was to give the universities the blessings of being represented by Cameron Henry.

In states that leave redistricting to independent commissions, such kind legislators are unknown.

Email James Gill at gill504nola@gmail.com.
So, Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder cares about Black barber Ronald Greene.

Or does he?

In keeping with a promise he made with state Senate President Page Cortez and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, Schexnayder has created a committee to investigate the death of Ronald Greene.

The best news is that Schexnayder has pulled together an eight-member bipartisan committee charged with looking into the May 10, 2019, death of Greene while in Louisiana State Police custody.

The cryptic decisions and statements made every step of the way since then have eroded public trust," he said in a statement. "That trust can only be regained with a transparent and robust search for the whole truth in this matter."

Schexnayder said the move was prompted, at least in part, by comments on the controversy by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

The Associated Press, which continues to break developments about the Greene case, reported last month that the governor had received a text from the top State Police leader only hours after the incident, describing it as a "violent, lengthy struggle." The text did not name Greene, and certainly it was early in the investigation since it was only hours after the incident.

We have a Senate Select Committee on State Police oversight and that group held hearings. They looked at the Greene matter, some, but there was a broader focus, examining State Police operations and addressing concerns about state troopers.

Its not clear whether the House committee will have more hearings or do more work. It is clear that Schexnayder's committee on Greene's death will dive into details and specifics.

House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee, R-Houma, will lead the panel. Democratic Reps. Jason Hughes and Mandie Landry of New Orleans will weigh in. So will Democratic Reps. Edmond Jordan and C. Denise Marcelle of Baton Rouge. Republicans Richard Nelson of Mandeville, Debbie Villio of Kenner and Tony Bacala of Prairieville make up the rest of the committee.

Since the incident happened in State Police Troop F territory in northeast Louisiana, seems they might benefit by having representation from the area where Greene was severely beaten. Or, as then-Superintendent Kevin Reeves said in a text to the governor, got into a "violent, lengthy struggle" with troopers.

Democrats Pat Moore, Patrick Jefferson and Adrian Fisher are certainly familiar with the Troop F reputation among Black folks across the region. Republicans Larry Bagley and Dodie Horton might add some regional perspective.

My initial reaction to the announcement that there would be a legislative investigation was somewhat like the governors earlier this month, when he first heard about the possibility: I cant tell you that I welcome an investigation that is an absolute witch hunt with no basis in fact. Where would that stop?

I think we know now. If Edwards is telling the truth that he wasnt a part of a cover-up and he didnt know how horrible things were until he saw the State Police video in September 2020, this legislative review should clear him, and the review will stop most of the blame-the-governor talk. If State Police Superintendent Lamar Davis is telling the truth that hes doing all he can to hold accountable the state troopers involved, the review will slow if not stop the cover-up talk and focus on any troopers arrested and charged.

The governor changed his tune Thursday: I welcome any and all legislative oversight and hope that this will be a productive, nonpartisan discussion ...

No matter who is on the committee, there should be a balanced, bipartisan approach with a focus on finding out what happened, when and who did what.

This legislative review can help establish a timeline that the governor, the State Police, legislators and Greene advocates and family members can agree on. The committee can have a lasting impact if it leads to legislation and policy to prevent unforgiveable actions like those Greene experienced.

I dont remember hearing outrage about the Greene case from Schexnayder, Cortez and Landry before the recent AP text story, which raised questions about Edwards, their political sparring partner. I want to believe they really care about Greenes family and how Black suspects are treated by State Police. I would love to see them say  with or without these words  that Black lives matter.

Perhaps they can prove thats the case with a thorough, even-handed legislative review.
Norman, OK (73070)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. Low near 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Unique is a funny and over-used word. There are no comparatives for unique  no uniquer or uniquest, no more unique or most unique. It means one of a kind, nothing else like it, alone in the universe.
Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas.
Williamsport, Pa.  An inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 18 months imprisonment for possessing a weapon.

Hugo Reynosa, 26, will serve this sentence consecutive to his current sentence of 96 months imprisonment for distributing nearly four kilograms of pure methamphetamine, according to a release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Reynosa was previously found guilty of possessing a weapon in prison following a December 2021 bench trial. On May 12, 2020, officers at USP Lewisburg caught Reynosa trying to dispose of a 6.25-inch piece of metal with a crude handle and sharp point, commonly referred to as a shank, during a mass search of Reynosas unit, according to the release.

Chief United States District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann handled the sentencing at the Williamsport federal courthouse.

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Lock Haven, Pa.  The Clinton County District Attorney released a statement on the Oct. 5, 2021 shooting of a man by State Police officers in Greene Township.

David Strouse said troopers from PSP Lamar, Montoursville, and Milton were justified in their use of force that left Nurgazy Mamyrov, 27, of Langhorne deceased.

The incident occurred just beyond a rest stop located near mile marker 194 on Interstate 80. A coroners report said Mamyrov was pronounced dead at 5:58 a.m. as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Related reading: Clinton County DA releases name of suspect involved in I-80 robbery, shooting incident

At the time the officers discharged their weapons, they reasonably believed that both they and their fellow officers were in a life-or-death situation that posed both the threat of serious bodily injury and death, wrote Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse.

Mamyrov was accused of attempted robbery while being armed with a firearm. A witness who called State Police at approximately 3:45 a.m. said Mamyrov shot several windows out of his truck as he fled the scene.

Related reading: One dead in shooting at Interstate 80 rest area in Clinton County

Mamyrov allegedly barricaded himself inside a tractor trailer and refused commands from PSP to exit the vehicle or put his hands outside the window. PSP troopers said they issued more than 20 commands to Mamyrov in an effort to remove him from the vehicle.

Witnesses, troopers, and video surveillance showed Mamyrov start the engine of his truck and release the air brakes at 5:51 a.m. He then drove through spike strips and several state police vehicles, striking a trooper. "The trooper was nearly crushed by the vehicles, but escaped with only a head injury," according to a press release.

Authorities opened fire as Mamyrov reversed his truck and pushed through the barricade of vehicles. Troopers said Mamyrovs truck traveled approximately 321 feet before it was disabled.

Based upon my review of the facts and circumstances surrounding Mamyrovs death, the law enforcement personnel involved in this incident acted reasonably under the circumstances and bear no criminal liability for their actions, Strouse wrote.

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Biden administration officials stated that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin any day on Friday.

In a White House briefing National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged any Americans remaining in Ukraine to leave as soon as possible. In a debriefing live streamed on the White House's Twitter page, Sullivan made clear the United States thoughts about the ongoing standoff and the impact it could have on American citizens

We want to be crystal clear on this point. Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible. And in any event, in the next 24 to 48 hours Sullivan said. If you stay, you are assuming risk with no guarantee that there will be any opportunity to leave, and no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.

While Russia has continued to deny its intent to invade Ukraine they have maintained war games actions in neighboring Belarus. In addition Russia has continued to speak out against the allowance of Ukraine into NATO.

The way that he has built up his forces and put them in place, along with the other indicators that we have collected through intelligence, makes it clear to us that there is a very distinct possibility that Russia will choose to act militarily. We cant pin point the day at this point, and we cant pin point the hour. But what we can say is that there is a credible prospect that a Russia military action would take place even before the end of the Olympics. Sullivan also added.

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On Wednesday, the Wolf Administration sent a letter to Pennsylvanias Congressional Delegation urging them to support the extension of the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) nationwide waiver authority throughout the 2022-23 school year.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Congress has given the USDA the authority to issue nationwide waivers to ensure that school feeding programs could adapt to the needs of the communities they serve amidst ever-changing learning environments and increased food assistance needs during the summer months.

According to Feeding Pennsylvania, more than 1.5 million people in Pennsylvania, including more than 443,000 children, are at risk of hunger, and our school feeding programs play a critical role in ensuring that all our young people have the food they need to grow and thrive.

The waivers issued by USDA can serve a multitude of purposes. Examples include allowing flexibility for both schools and nonprofits as to where meals can be accessed and the opportunity to offer meals to young siblings of school aged children or a chance to provide continued access to after school meals and snacks, regardless of traditional school and activities being in session or not.

It is critical to meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of learners so they can learn, grow, and achieve, and additional resources and support have never been more necessary, said Secretary of Education Dr. Noe Ortega. The extra flexibility these waivers can provide will help alleviate supply chain challenges, protect at-risk children, and ensure continuity of services to students, schools, and communities across the commonwealth.

Waivers for the 2021-22 school year are set to expire on June 30, 2022, and USDA cannot provide waivers past this date without approval by Congress. This means that the summer meal options countless Pennsylvania families have relied on over the past two years will expire, leaving millions of children without consistent access to food.

This waiver authority is critical to ensure Pennsylvanias school-aged children dont have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. Food is a human right, and its critical fuel for children to thrive and succeed.

Schools and community feeding partners are already making plans for the summer and 2022-23 school year. They need to know now if theyll have the opportunity to continue serving Pennsylvania children in the same manner or if service opportunities will be limited.

Families currently in need of support to meet their food needs are encouraged to take advantage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP supports low-income and working Pennsylvanians, allowing them to purchase produce and groceries for themselves and their family.

SNAP helps more than 1.9 million Pennsylvanians, including children, people with disabilities, older adults, and working Pennsylvanians, expand purchasing power to ensure their household has enough food to avoid going hungry. SNAP is issued through a monthly payment to an electronic benefit transfer card, and benefits are based off income and household size. People can apply for SNAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us online at any time.

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Reportedly, Xiaomi will be releasing the Watch S1 in Europe soon. Allegedly, the Watch S1 will launch for between 200 and 260, depending on the watch strap chosen. The Watch S1 has plenty of features, but those prices put the Watch S1 into Galaxy Watch4 territory.

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Purportedly, Xiaomi is preparing to release the Watch S1 in Europe soon, a smartwatch that it already sells in China. Introduced last December in its home market, the Watch S1 has a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, a built-in GPS module and 5 ATM water resistance. Additionally, Xiaomi equips the Watch S1 with a 470 mAh battery, over 110 exercise modes and an NFC chip for making mobile payments.

According to @TechInsiderBlog, the Watch S1 will launch in Europe with Space Black, Ocean Blue and Moon Silver colourways. While Xiaomi did not describe the differences between the trio in its Chinese launch, @TechInsiderBlog asserts that the company will sell them in Europe at different price points. Apparently, the Watch S1 will be available at the following approximate prices:

Watch S1 Active - 200

Watch S1 'base' - 250

Watch S1 'silver' - 260
Empowering Female Leaders in Energy

Mentorship Programs Advance Professional Development for Women in Geothermal

According to national studies, women only account for 22% of the traditional energy sector. That compares to an overall average of 47% nationally in the workforce. One National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) geothermal researcher is determined to elevate the number of women in energy-related professions.

Inspiring, strengthening, and recruiting women in the energy sector is essential for more innovative and inclusive solutions to achieve ambitious clean energy goals.

Female Leaders In Energy (FLIE) Through a two-year mentorship program, FLIE aims to: Empower, encourage, and guide professional goals to advance energy careers

Build confidence and leadership skills in the next generation of female energy leaders in Southeast Asia

Strengthen professional networks

Improve industry and job function knowledge and skills

Provide opportunities for career development, public speaking, and project management.

NREL Project Manager Caity Smith is working to do all that and more to encourage peers and rising stars into energy sector leadership roles. A 15-year geothermal industry veteran, Smith was selected to serve as a mentor through Female Leaders in Energy (FLIE). FLIE is a joint effort between the United States Energy Association (USEA) and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Energy Resources to advance the professional development of early- to mid-career-level women working in energy sectors across Southeast Asia. Through the program, Smith will be paired with a geothermal resource specialist in the Philippines and an energy consultant in Indonesia.

"I am excited that FLIE has officially kicked off and I have the opportunity to mentor two rising stars in the geothermal industry," Smith said. "My goal in mentoring these women is to let them know that they aren't alone and to help them develop the tools and attitude needed to thrive in the industry and advance their career into a leadership role."

Smith's participation in FLIE is part of her overarching goal to help geothermal technologies grow in the United States and internationally. She began her career focused on drilling and project management in the United States before transitioning to work in East Africa. During her previous position with USEA, Smith organized information exchange visits, private sector forums and workshops, and policy/technology cooperation exchanges with the United States Agency for International Development, East African stakeholders, the U.S. geothermal industry, and other international donors.

Caity Smith at the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Station in Iceland.

"I have seen so much growth within the geothermal industry, and we're on the cusp of so much more to come," Smith said. "Promising advances surrounding lower-temperature geothermal resources could lead to new technologies to address topics such as food insecuritywith geothermal greenhouses to increase produce growing seasonsor to assist remote communities in transitioning from costly diesel generators to renewable energy sources for their heat and power needs."

In addition to her involvement in FLIE, managing the Geothermal Collegiate Competition and Geothermal Stakeholder Engagement and Education, Smith also devotes time to the Future Leaders Cohort for Women in Geothermal (WING). Through WING, more than 2,200 members from 74 countries are working together to ignite the passion and courage that will make the geothermal community a global model for equality.

"I am humbled that people look to me as a mentor, as I often learn just as much from them as they learn from me!" Smith added.

For more information on the programs or to get involved, visit usea.org and womeningeothermal.org.

Also, visit www.nrel.gov/geothermal/ to learn more about NREL Geothermal research.
Franciscan Health's new Crown Point hospital marked a major milestone in its construction with a topping-off ceremony.

A crane lifted a steel beam to the top of the new $200 million hospital at Interstate 65 and U.S. 231. It's the last piece of structural steel that went into the building.

This is a special day. This is the final beam going up into the hospital," said Jason Middleton, vice president of administrative services at Franciscan Health Crown Point.

Construction workers already have erected more than 10 million pounds of steel after moving 9.5 million cubic feet of soil or pouring 1,500 truckloads of concrete at the site.

It has been 479 days since we started to move dirt out here. Although we still have a long way to go, we have made great progress, said Jon Gilmore, president and CEO of Tonn and Blank Construction, the general contractor handling the project.

Exam rooms, bathrooms and electrical distribution rooms are being built off site and moved to the new hospital.

Thanks to our highly skilled workforce, coupled with the latest in virtual construction technology, we are able to do things on this project like this that were never possible in the past, Gilmore said.

The beam used in the topping-off ceremony was moved from the current hospital and signed by staff there. Two blessed holy medals were affixed to it, said Sister Ann Kathleen Magiera, vice president of mission integration for Franciscan Health Crown Point, Dyer, Hammond and Munster.

One is of St. Joseph the patron of workers, daily imploring him to protect all as they continue making progress on the building, and to continue his protection of all who work within our Franciscan facilities," she said. "The second medal is of our foundress Blessed Maria Theresia Bonzel. We beg her continued intercession as we strengthen our Franciscan ministry.

The Rev. Tony Janik, director of spiritual care at Franciscan Health Crown Point, sprinkled holy water on the beam, blessing it.

As we raise this beam, we know that we are dedicating ourselves again to commit to continuing Christs ministry in our Franciscan tradition.

The project is part of a broader development at the southeast corner of I-65 and U.S. 231 in Crown Point that will double the size of St. Francis University, reserve 250 acres of residential development and set aside 80 acres for commercial development and 60 acres for a potential Catholic high school.

As I said at the groundbreaking, this isnt about a building, its about beginning a new age for health care in Northwest Indiana. This building reaffirms the commitment the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration have made to our communities since arriving in Lafayette from Germany in 1875, said Daniel McCormick, president and CEO of Franciscan Health Crown Point.

Franciscan Health has been the largest employer in Crown Point for decades. Mayor David Uran said the new state-of-the-art facility will make this the best location for medical services, not only in Northwest Indiana but also the Chicagoland area.

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Franciscan Health Crown Point is offering a free mental health first aid class.

The class will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday at the Marian Education Center at 1201 S. Main St. in Crown Point. It's located just east of the main entrance to the hospital.

The class is targeted at first responders like police, paramedics and firefighters, as well as community service providers in Lake County. But it's also open to the public.

Anyone interested can come to receive the training, which covers how to respond to people suffering from mental health crises or addiction issues, Franciscan Health Injury Prevention Coordinator Marissa Adcock said.

This mental health first aid training will help you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In this training, you will learn the risk factors and the warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns. This is great training for police, firefighters, medical personnel, social workers, nonprofit workers and anyone who wants to help their community, Adcock said.

The class is free, but space is limited.

For more information or to register, call Adcock at (219) 488-1380.

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Jugo + Rado, a Northwest Indiana-based record label, is releasing a new album.

Michigan-based artist Illingsworth is dropping "Hashtag Illingsworks Vol. 1 & 2," which will come out on a clear two-side 7-inch vinyl record. It's now available for presale.

"Illingsworth is a dude created by another dude. He's also an emcee, a music producer, and he likes to create strange videos," Jugo + Rada owner Bojan Jovanovic said. "He was born, raised, and schooled in Detroit, Mich. Currently, he still lives there so, he must like it."

He produces raps and beats, some of which can be found online on Bandcamp. He's worked with some well-known musicians over the years.

"He's collaborated with Phonte, Sene, Open Mike Eagle, Milo, Denmark vessey, clear soul forces, cold men young, nolan the ninja, Nameless, Hir-O, Chris Orrick (FKA red pill), Stryfe, SWEatson klank, SelfSays, Fresh Daily, Zach Sherwin and more," Jovanovic said.

The album features tracks like "STEPZ," "break your heart," "bingo smoker," got some dinner out here," "brigga dunes," "park poop," "chopping, chopping right now" and "swizzank."

Jugo + Rado has released vinyl records, cassette tapes and digital music in a number of genres. It has put out indie music from artists like Cxpital, Tom Hymn, AMS and Supergroup. It also puts out a zine, magazine, music review and T-shirts, which are available at local retailers like The Den Records & Clothing in Porter.

For more information or to preorder, visit https://jugoandrada.bigcartel.com/products.

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CHESTERTON  Students involved in Westchester Intermediate Schools Nora Project held an inclusion dance Wednesday.

The dance was open to students of all ages and was intended to be welcoming to students with special needs or disabilities.

Brian Doolin, a special education teacher at Westchester Intermediate School, said students involved in The Nora Project learn empathy and how to include others. The Nora Project is a national organization that intends to promote disability inclusion and engage students and communities. Currently, The Nora Project has approximately 70 schools across the U.S. and Canada participating.

Doolin got WIS involved because he saw a television news piece highlighting the project. It has been at the school for four years and more than 150 students have participated.

One day a week, students in The Nora Project work on a curriculum that teaches acceptance about anyone who may be different. Throughout the year, the students plan events to include students with disabilities, such as activity nights and the inclusion dance. These activities are then used to create documentaries at the end of the year, which are featured in a red carpet event, Nora Night in May.

Doolin said an important part of the program is that students see the children with special needs or disabilities as equals. A lot of programs have children work with special needs students but do not see them as equals.

There are a lot of kids that have a lot to offer but dont get to experience it, because we have predetermined biases or a lack of understanding of what they're capable of, Doolin said. He said he has seen studies that indicate that the earlier children are exposed to diversity, the more accepting they will be moving forward.

Ruby Dudek, a sixth grade student at WIS who is involved in The Nora Project, said she joined because her older brother has autism and was in the program when he went to WIS. Dudek said she feels it's important to make everyone feel included.

Doolin said the dance did not feature any bright lights and allowed community members to get away from loud music, as a lot of special needs students may have sensory issues that can make lights overwhelming.

We wanted to invite kids who we would typically not have a chance to interact with, Doolin said. He said that many schools and grade levels were invited to the dance.

Jillian Mitchell, a sixth grade student at WIS in The Nora Project, said the inclusion dance is partially for students who may be left out of certain activities. In previous Nora Project events, it has been mainly students at WIS in The Nora Project participating, and the students wanted to open it up to other schools.

There were several students in attendance, with large groups dancing in the gym. Dudek said she thinks it may be because they announced the dance beforehand in several areas and it is great so many people came.

Mitchell also said this can help students get out of their comfort zone and talk to new people. Dudek said some students have limited experience talking to students who are different than them and this helps them learn to be more comfortable.

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VALPARAISO  Porter County has a $33 million windfall from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and auditor Vicki Urbanik wants to make sure no costly mistakes occur when the money is spent.

Through the CARES Act (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), Porter County received more than $6.7 million, all of it funneled through various state agencies. The ARPA money comes directly from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Porter County hasnt spent any of that $33 million yet, but its about to get started.

Urbanik was glad to wait for the final rule that sets out the parameters for spending that money.

That final rule is more than 400 pages.

I literally carry it around with me about everywhere Im going, she told members of the public who showed up at the Porter County Administration Building to hear one of her presentations on the subject Tuesday.

The document is a tentative plan. The Porter County Council is set to vote Feb. 22 on the plan.

The federal government allows four main buckets for pouring the money into: revenue loss; public health and negative economic impacts; premium pay; and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. Roads and bridges arent included.

Revenue loss is a nonstarter for Porter County. We did this calculation in-house and determined Porter County did not qualify, Urbanik said.

The Memorial Opera House lost about 80% of its revenues in one year, and had to furlough the staff, she said. The highway department lost gas tax revenue because people were working from home instead of commuting and going out and about. But the federal formula looks at finances in aggregate, not for specific departments.

The Treasury Department allows counties to spend up to $10 million for just about whatever they want, within reason. Thats a boon to smaller counties. Jasper County, for example, is getting $6.5 million, so there are far fewer strings attached, Urbanik said.

Premium pay for eligible workers, providing essential services, comes to $969,818 for the county. No elected officials are included.

Spending on public health has four sub-categories: COVID-19 mitigation and prevention, behavioral health, medical expenses and responses to violence.

Porter Countys preliminary spending plan includes $25,000 for a behavioral health study and $785,000 for a larger jury assembly room.

To address negative economic impacts, the county is planning $2.5 million for the Marquette Trail; $1 million in assistance to small businesses, through the Redevelopment Commission; $500,000 in assistance to households, through township government; $150,000 in assistance to impacted industries, for capital improvements at the Indiana Dunes Welcome Center.

Also on the list is $4 million in stormwater projects in Shorewood Forest and Stimson Ditch.

Porter County has just one census tract that qualifies as disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, roughly between Lincolnway and U.S. 30 and Sturdy Road to Hayes-Leonard Road, Urbanik said. Valparaiso and the county could provide all sorts of programs to address quality-of-life issues, from parks and recreation to environmental improvements to child care and more. This category gives us a lot of flexibility.

As all the money is spent, we have to document every penny of this, Urbanik said. Nothing will be spent without proper documentation.

Porter County has had clean audits on federal grants in recent years, which is impressive, she said. A troubled audit could jeopardize the ability to receive future federal grants.

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ELKHART COUNTY  A man led a 54-mile chase in a stolen U-Haul truck through Indiana, which ended in an arrest in Porter County, police said.

Geramie Evans, 26, of Wheaton, Illinois, faces charges of theft of a vehicle, resisting law enforcement, battery on law enforcement, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, according to Indiana State Police.

Evans was taken to jail Thursday after he was released from the hospital.

On Monday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol alerted Indiana State Police of a stolen U-Haul truck that led a chase out of Toledo, Ohio. They told ISP they had reason to believe the vehicle was in Indiana, giving a description of the stolen truck.

At 9:02 p.m., ISP Trooper Garrett Tharp found the U-Haul truck heading west on the Indiana Toll Road near the 90 mile marker, about two miles west of the exit for Elkhart.

As the trooper worked to confirm this vehicle was the same one described by Ohio authorities, he said he saw the driver commit several traffic violations.

When Tharp activated his emergency lights to pull over the driver, Evans refused to stop and sped away, police said.

The pursuit continued west on the Indiana Toll Road, and police said they saw Evans turn off the lights on the truck at times.

The U-Haul truck ran over tire deflation devices at the 63 mile marker, but the vehicle continued to flee despite both driver's side tires being deflated.

Then a second set of deflation devices caused a passenger side tire to deflate at the 63 mile marker.

Now with the truck on three rims with sparks flying, Evans attempted to continue the chase as a rear rim fell off. He drove with the rear axle dragging on the left side.

Finally, the U-Haul could not go any farther and came to a controlled stop at mile marker 36 in Porter County. Evans was taken into custody.

Officers believed Evans was under the influence and suspected marijuana was found in his possession, police said. A certified test was performed, and while Evans was at the hospital, a medical issue unrelated to the pursuit caused him to have to be admitted for observation.

Police said while Evans was at the hospital, he kicked and spit on an Indiana trooper.

Evans was released from the hospital Thursday and was booked into to Elkhart County Jail in the afternoon.

St. Joseph County Police Department, the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office and troopers with the Indiana State Police Lowell Post assisted Indiana State Police Bremen District.

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VALPARAISO  A Hammond man was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail after pleading guilty to one of three charges stemming from accusations of secretly taking a photo of a woman during sex and later sending the image to the woman's mother and another nude photo of the woman to her sister, a court document shows.

Kyle Landers, 25, was sentenced by Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of distribution of an intimate image, the court said.

A second count of distributing an intimate image and a felony charge of voyeurism were dismissed in the case, which dates back to September 2019.

The judge reportedly cited Landers' history of juvenile and criminal activity when deciding on the sentence, court records show.

The victim told Portage police she and Landers were having sex in Aug. 5, 2019, when he stood up and said he was going to put on some music. He picked up his phone and turned on music, but also took a photo of the woman without her knowledge or permission, police said.

The woman told police she stopped seeing Landers five days later, but he continued to harass her at work and she obtained a protective order, according to a police report.

The woman's mother told police Landers sent her a text message and a nude photo of her daughter on Aug. 12, 2019.

Landers also is accused of forwarding a partially nude photo of the woman to her sister Aug. 17, 2019, police said. The woman told police she had taken the photo earlier on Snapchat and sent it to Landers but did not give him permission to share it with anyone.

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MERRILLVILLE  Voices rang out inside the Merrillville Town Hall on Tuesday night, providing a lesson in Black history through song.

The Merrillville High School Vocal Teens performed African American spirituals such as Wade in the Water and Every Time I Feel the Spirit as part of a Black History Month program being featured during Town Council meetings.

I just get choked up every time I hear this group, Councilman Richard Hardaway said of the Vocal Teens.

African American spirituals are significant in many ways, and they often have been viewed as codified songs that encouraged an escape from slavery.

A spiritual is a type of religious folk song that is most closely associated with the enslavement of African people in the American South, according to the Library of Congress. The songs proliferated in the last few decades of the eighteenth century leading up to the abolishment of legalized slavery in the 1860s. The African American spiritual (also called the Negro Spiritual) constitutes one of the largest and most significant forms of American folk song.

Merrillville schools Superintendent Nick Brown said Hardaway developed the idea for the school district and town to collaborate to honor Black History Month during Town Council meetings in February.

He said the Vocal Teens performance was the first program to highlight some of the activities taking place in schools to celebrate black history.

Beautiful  I mean if those voices dont move you, I dont know what will, Brown said after the performance.

Students from Merrillville Intermediate School will attend the Feb. 22 council meeting to showcase art projects that represent what theyve learned during Black History Month.

Hardaway hopes that following that meeting, the projects will remain in Town Hall for the remainder of the month so that the public can have the opportunity to view them.

Danny Lackey, executive director of Student Support Services for Merrillville schools, said hes elated students have the opportunity to interact with the council and honor Black History Month as a community.

Looking forward to us celebrating other diverse aspects as well, and Im really excited about the collaboration that is taking place between Merrillville schools and the town, he said. I think thats a really important collaboration. At the end of the day, it allows us to create a wider and a more secure safety net for the health and wellbeing of our kids and our community.

Several songs performed Tuesday are among the collection Merrillville students sang during a recent Indiana State School Music Association contest.

All of the Merrillville choir students involved in the event received gold medal ratings and will move on to the ISSMA state contest.

Very, very proud of our students, Choral Director Melinda Reinhart said.

She said songs performed Tuesday and others will be featured during the choirs contest concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Reinhart Auditorium in Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Place. Admission is $6, and a family pass is $20. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Susan Emig Scholarship.

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VALPARAISO  The city is moving forward with the Linc apartment complex proposed for downtown Valparaiso.

During a Thursday meeting, the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a resolution requesting the issuance of $3 million in TIF Bonds for the Linc. Announced in January, the Linc will bring about 121 rental units to Valparaiso's downtown.

The project is being developed by Carmel-based Hageman and is slated to be completed in January of 2024. The complex will consist of three separate four-story buildings that will form an "L" shape. The first floor will be filled with retail and restaurants.

The Linc will sit on the north side of Lincolnway between Michigan Avenue and Morgan Boulevard, where the Round the Clock restaurant is currently located.

Apartments will range from studios to three bedrooms likely costing $1,000 to $1,800 per month. Each unit will include modern kitchens with stainless steel appliances, and an in-unit washer and dryer. The Linc will also have a fitness center, coffee bar, media rooms, outdoor patio space and a pet washing station.

The entire project is estimated to cost $27.5 million, the developers received $5 million in State of Indiana Tax Credits in addition to the $3 million in RDC TIF Bonds.

During the Thursday meeting, Andrew Mouser, a financial adviser with Baker Tilly, said now that the RDC has approved the resolution, it will need to receive approval from the Valparaiso Economic Development Commission and the City Council.

Approving the bonds will allow Hageman "to proceed with construction in a timely manner," if approved. Mouser said the bonds will likely be closed on in March or April.

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VALPARAISO  Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt took Porter County officials to task this week for not doing all their deliberations in public for the initial American Rescue Plan Act ordinance.

Britts 10-page advisory report concludes, It is the opinion of this office that the Porter County Board of Commissioners, in part, have likely violated the Open Door Law. The group making determinations on the ARP funding also should have held meetings publicly as it appeared to be an official decision-making body of the county.

Susie Talevskis complaint to the public access counselor said Commissioners Laura Blaney, D-South, and Jeff Good, R-Center, held private meetings to discuss, deliberate and decide on the distribution of ARPA funds. Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, didnt participate.

Talevski is a Porter County resident and former County Council candidate.

The proposal was presented to the Board of Commissioners for a vote in October, with County Attorney Scott McClure pointing out the ordinance was meant to be amended as other needs were identified.

Talevski argued the discussions with one commissioner and two council members to discuss options should have been done in public.

Her complaint was filed Dec. 20. Since then, Blaney removed the proposed Memorial Opera House renovations from the plan, saying that work can be funded through other means. A steering committee and three subcommittees are being set up to evaluate other options. A link on the county websites home page, porterco.org, invites public comments and suggestions.

It is clear that Commissioners Laura Blaney and Jeff Good violated the Open Door Law and thereby, breached the public trust, Talevski said Thursday. Based on the findings in his advisory opinion, I call on every single member of the Porter County Council to reject the entirety of the ARPA funds appropriations ordinance.

Biggs responded Thursday saying there is "plenty of time and resources for county officials to develop a meaningful and equitable process to reinvest these millions of dollars. However, that process must first begin by reaching out to the public where the pandemic inflected its worst damage.

Blaney also responded to Britts opinion.

During my time as commissioner, I have made many moves toward increased transparency, she said. I led the county into the Shared Ethics Commission. We brought video cameras into our meetings. We revamped our website to include timely posting of agendas, meeting minutes and video. You can sign up for text alerts that notify you when new meetings are scheduled. At every commissioners meeting we take public comment that is neither tethered to our agenda nor has a time limit."

If I had thought meeting with two of seven councilmen (one from each party) or directing our county attorney to write an ordinance to be considered at a public meeting was a violation of even the spirit of the Open Door Law, it would not have happened," Blaney said.

I hope other communities take note because besides the steering committee structure we've been publicly discussing to assemble the rest of our ARPA plans, I haven't seen any other local public strategies for making plans to spend these federal dollars, she said.

Britt said ARPA committees should meet publicly.

Regarding ARPA committees, this office has been vocal with counties, municipalities and their respective associations that if a committee is established to discuss ARPA funds and develop spending projects, those meetings should happen in public, Britt wrote.

We have confirmed that this is the expectation from the federal government as well depending on state access statute provisions, he added.

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A Five-Alarm Fire for American Democracy

The warning signs of serious decline for many democracies worldwide are flashing red. In the U.S., we may be on the verge of the greatest political and constitutional crisis since the Civil War and quite possibly the suspension of American democracy as we have known it, in the words of Robert Kagan.

I want to focus my discussion on two of these related threats: misinformation/disinformation and efforts to subvert our electoral system.

The U.S. is in what many have called a post-truth age. For millions of Americans, feelings are becoming more important than facts and people are increasingly comfortable bending reality to their beliefsinstead of adjusting beliefs to match the evidence. The very notions of facts and expertise are being rejected by large numbers of Americans.

At first glance this may seem incongruent with the fact that Americans have easier access to factual information, and more of it, than ever before.

Imagine traveling back in time and asking a person that you met there to take you to their best library. Now imagine, once arriving in the building, pulling your smartphone from your pocket and explaining, This tiny device gives me access to exponentially more information than this entire library. You would leave him or her speechless.

With all of this high-quality information at our fingertips, why do so many of us fall for misinformation and disinformation? A good portion of the blame can go to the internet, the decline of traditional news outlets and rise of partisan ones (including cable news, talk radio, and partisan websites), and the rise of social media.

Despite easy access to more high-quality information than ever before, we also have easy (and often easier) access to more low-quality information than ever before. Millions of Americans do not know the difference between credible journalism and biased partisanship, lock themselves in ideological silos which continuously feed them messages and information that supposedly confirm their beliefs, and become addicted to low-quality information. There are valuable tools that can help, but many Americans are either unaware of or unwilling to use them.

Imagine sitting at a table in a restaurant. Along comes your server with a plate of healthy food and places it on your table. At this point, 100 percent of the food in front of you is healthy. But before you can take a bite, another server places three more plates on the table containing unhealthy food. Now only 25 percent of the food on the table is good for you.

If you desire to eat healthy during this meal, have these additional plates made your goal less attainable? Only if (a) you are unable to identify which plate contains the healthy food and/or (b) you are unable to resist the temptation to eat off of the other plates. This is a good metaphor for the current news media landscape.

Our human brains are hard-wired to look for information that makes us feel good, avoid information which does not, and interpret information in a manner that makes it consistent with what we already believe and maintains our highest sense of self. This is true for everyone regardless of their political orientation. Most of us try to avoid information that might destabilize our view of the world and/or threaten our core beliefs, identities, and deeply held opinions. As social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains, When the facts conflict with. . . sacred values, almost everyone finds a way to stick with their values and reject the evidence.

When we only have a few sources of mostly high-quality information available to us, our cognitive biases are kept somewhat under control. But when there are seemingly endless sources of information available to us, and we have difficulty differentiating what is credible from what is not, our cognitive biases are unleashed to do their worst.

Think back to the movie Jurassic Park. In that film, the dinosaurs do not pose much of a threat to park patrons when the security systems are working. But once Dennis Nedry deactivates them? Well, hold on to your buttsat that point, the dinosaurs eat people. Partisan news outlets, the internet, and social media have deactivated the security systems that kept our cognitive biases somewhat at bay. Now misinformation and disinformation help diseases once thought to be a thing of the past to rear their ugly heads again. They destabilize democracies. This is not some minor problem.

Lee McIntyre explains that, The cognitive bias has always been there. The internet was the accelerant which democratized all of the disinformation and misinformation and diminished the experts. Democratization has led to the abandonment of standards for testing beliefs. It leads people to think they are just as good at reasoning about something as anybody else. But theyre not. At the doctors office, I dont ask for the data and reason through it myself and decide on the course of treatment. It takes expertise and experience to make that judgement. Just like I cant fly my own plane. There is a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where he is in the room with all of these goblets and chalices and doesnt know which one is the Holy Grail. Thats where we are right now. We have the truth right in front of us, but we dont know which one it is.

Tom Nichols writes that, These are dangerous times. Never have so many people had so much access to so much knowledge and yet have been so resistant to learn anything. In the United States and other developed nations, otherwise intelligent people denigrate intellectual achievement and reject the advice of experts. Not only do increasing numbers of laypeople lack basic knowledge, they reject fundamental rules of evidence and refuse to learn how to make a logical argument. In doing so, they risk throwing away centuries of accumulated knowledge and undermining the practices and habits that allow us to develop new knowledge. This is more than a natural skepticism toward experts. I fear we are witnessing the death of the ideal of expertise itself, a Google-fueled, Wikipedia-based, blog-sodden collapse of any division between professionals and laypeople, students and teachers, knowers and wonderersin other words, between those of any achievement in an area and those with none at all.

Or as Yevgeny Simkin writes: Lets take a short walk down memory lane. Its 1995. A man stands on a busy street corner yelling vaguely incoherent things at the passersby. Hes holding a placard that says THE END IS NIGH. REPENT. You come upon this guy while out getting the paper. . . No reasonable person would think of convincing this man that his point of view is incorrect. This isnt an opportunity for an engaging debate. . . Now fast forward to 2020. In terms of who this guy is and who you are absolutely nothing has changed. And yet here you arearguing with him on Twitter or Facebook. And you, yourself, are being brought to the brink of insanity. . . [Social media is] responsible for the tearing apart of our social fabric. . . An insidious malware slowly corrupting our society in ways that are extremely difficult to quantify, but the effects of which are evident all around us. Anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, QAnon, cancel-culture, Alex Jones, flat-Earthers, racists, anti-racists, anti-anti-racists, and of course the Twitter stylings of our Dear Leader.

A prime example of the threat that misinformation and disinformation pose to American democracy is the ongoing campaignwhat has become known as the Big Lieto delegitimize and overturn the free and fair election of President Biden.

As Will Saletan writes in the Bulwark, Americans like to think our country is immune to authoritarianism. We have a culture of freedom, a tradition of elected government, and a Bill of Rights. Were not like those European countries that fell into fascism. Wed never willingly abandon democracy, liberty, or the rule of law. But thats not how authoritarianism would come to America. In fact, its not how authoritarianism has come to America. The movement to dismantle our democracy is thriving and growing, even after the failure of the Jan. 6th coup attempt, because it isnt spreading through overt rejection of our system of government. Its spreading through lies.

Saletan notes that:

In the last four Economist/YouGov polls, most White Americans without a college degree said President Biden did not legitimately win the presidency.

Three-quarters of Republicans in a January/February 2022 Economist/YouGov poll said they believe that Biden did not legitimately win the election.

An October 2021 Quinnipiac survey found that 94 percent of Democrats said former President Trump is undermining democracy, while 85 percent of Republicans said he is protecting it.

In a December 2021 survey from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 61 percent of Republicans said Biden is illegitimate because fraudulent ballots supporting him were counted by election officials. Forty-six percent said ballots supporting Trump were destroyed by election officials. Forty-one percent said voting machines were re-programmed by election officials to count extra ballots for Biden.



In a Politico/Morning Consult poll from January 2022, more than 60 percent of Republicans said that in terms of violating the Constitution, the election was at least as bad as the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Two-thirds of these people (or 43 percent of all Republicans) said the election was worse.



An overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrates that these ideas are false, and yet their support is widespread.

Saletan closes by saying, Were in a battle to save democracy, but the battleground isnt values. Its facts. Were up against a party that spreads, condones, excuses, tolerates, and exploits lieslies about our political process, and lies about an attempt to overthrow our governmentin order to make Americans think that the party of authoritarianism is the party of democracy. And were in serious danger of losing.

Misinformation and disinformation have been powerful weapons that leading political figures in America have used recently to further their authoritarian efforts to subvert democracy.

Recent examples of election subversion include former President Trump admitting to wanting former Vice President Pence to overturn the election at the electoral vote counting stage. Kimberly Wehle, a law professor at the University of Baltimore, argues that we desperately need to fix the Electoral Count Act (ECA) for this very reason. Even though the ECA was not intended to give the Vice President the power to single-handedly overturn an election for no good reason, it is vague enough that somebody might be able to abuse it to that end.

Wehle explains that, There are massive holes in the Electoral Count Act. It is stunning that there is nothing requiring states to count the popular vote. Arizona is proposing legislation to ignore the popular vote and allow the state legislature to pick the electors. That is not democracy. If this is not addressed, state legislatures and/or Congress can steal the next election. The future of our republic is at stake.

Other alarming examples of recent election subversion efforts in the U.S. include (but are not limited to):

Trump prodding and threatening Georgias secretary of state to find enough votes to flip his state from Biden to Trump (NBC News).

Eighty-four GOP officials across seven states (including local GOP leaders, current office holders, and current candidates for public office) sending fraudulent documents to the National Archives in the hopes that these fake alternative slates of electors would be taken seriously and play a role in overturning the election (the New York Times, the Bulwark).

Trump bringing leaders of the Michigan legislature to the White House to try to convince them to incorrectly certify that their state went for Trump when in fact it went for Biden (Politico).

Partisan state election audits (Brennan Center).

Trump wanting to seize voting machines and records (Politico, the Bulwark).

Trump calling governors and local election officials to try to pressure them to fabricate voter fraud (USA Today).

The January 6, 2021 insurrection (New York Times).

Trump floating pardons for those who stormed the capital on January 6 (Politico).

Trump wanting to install Jeffrey Clark at the DOJ to carry out his election subversion schemes (the Bulwark).

American democracy is under serious threat. As Michael Gerson laments, recent developments in the U.S. are revealing the frightening fragility of the American experiment. And as Jonathan Last warns, America faces an authoritarian peril.

This is a five-alarm fire for American democracy, and we are all going to have to do our part to put it outand there is little time to wait.

Joining us on this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss all of this is Jim Swift, senior editor at the Bulwark. Swift worked at The Weekly Standard from 2012 to 2018, where his last post was as deputy online editor. His writing has also appeared in the Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and elsewhere. Before TWS, he worked for five years for members of the House and Senate as a tax staffer, working for Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) on Ways and Means Committee matters and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on Finance Committee matters. In 2004, he worked as a field staffer for President Bushs re-election campaign.

For a good example of the consequences of misinformation and disinformation, check out Jim Swifts piece in the Bulwark about what happened recently in Maitland, Florida.

Also take a look at this cant miss piece from Anne Applebaum in the Atlantic about what Vladimir Putins objective is in threatening Ukraine.

Further reading:

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[theme music]

miya lee

From The New York Times, Im Miya Lee.

dan jones

And Im Dan Jones. This is the Modern Love podcast.

miya lee

Todays essay loops in people from Hungary to Brazil to Chicago.

dan jones

Right. And it takes place near the beginning of the pandemic, when people were isolated, and they were feeling just especially vulnerable and alone and reaching out.

miya lee

And reaching out the only way that they could, which was on the internet.

dan jones

Yeah.

miya lee

The essay is called, How I Got Caught Up in a Global Romance Scam.

dan jones

Its written by Michael McAllister and read by Eric Martin.

eric martin

This past spring, my inboxes began filling with messages from heartbroken women. The first came through Instagram. Hey, Im Lina. I live in Germany. Someone is using your pictures for scamming. Her profile revealed a woman who looked to be near my age  late 40s, wearing black, framed glasses. She told me she had met the guy on Tinder, but after a few months of exchanging messages, she grew suspicious of his motives. Her daughter image-searched his photos on Google, which led them to my profile. I felt a bit in love with you, she said. I thought Id have some luck to meet a wonderful person from England. The fake me was Simon, an investment banker from outside of London. He had sent Lina photos of me and my dog, Agnes. Hed called him Pom Pom.

[music]

Some basic facts. Im a single copywriter in Western Massachusetts who finds the name Pom Pom embarrassing. Also, Im gay. Everything was fake, Lina wrote. I only want to be happy. I think my day will come. Are you looking for a partner? It makes me sad that so good-looking a guy is not interested in women. The next week, I heard from a woman in Hungary. I was fooled by your photos. He called himself Harvard from Colorado. I thought you were the man. I fell in love. A woman in Santa Barbara  Embarrassing, but I kind of became obsessed with you. Not sure why I felt compelled to share this with you, except to maybe purge my obsession. Im not looking for anything. Friends told me I should feel flattered that someone would consider me attractive enough to use as bait, but it felt gross that some version of me was preying upon the vulnerable. This all started last spring when virus fears, mounting unemployment, and the loneliness of digital life combined to create a perfect environment for online romantic scams. These women didnt strike me as being especially gullible. They were just looking for love from the confines of their homes, like so many others. I had been single for years following a divorce. A stranger glancing at my photos may have seen someone trying to look happy. But as one woman from Nebraska wrote, Youve got sad eyes. They were generous in letting me know about the scams, but their messages held complicated layers. For months, each woman had built something with this fake me. In the wake of the scams collapse, the real me was all that was left to absorb their bitterness and provide what they hadnt yet received: honesty. It wasnt hard for me to relate. Many years ago, when catfish was still just known as a fish, I was a 20-something man in San Francisco who fell for a fellow blogger many states away. Over two years, we grew closer and closer by email and phone. But every plan for us to meet in person, always mysteriously fell through. In the end, I was able to peel back the layers of his lies. He was not a museum curator in Pittsburgh. He lived in his parents basement in Dubuque. That experience devastated me, but also helped me understand all too well how these women could fall for a stranger online, and how he could use their hope against them. I told them I was sorry that someone using my photos had caused them so much pain. I risked causing them more pain by telling them they werent the only victims, but I figured they deserved the truth. My photos were circulating all over, creating new personas  a Chicago stockbroker, an Oregon park ranger, a dog-walker named Larry. I couldnt stop it. I couldnt even confront the imposter, or could I? As spring turned to summer, I kept thinking about one email from a woman who had shared the phone number the imposter had used to chat with her on WhatsApp. I recognized his area code as one from my hometown, Minneapolis. But phone numbers can be faked. I decided I would text him. This was no small act for me. Ill do anything to avoid confrontation, but I needed to know. I had a WhatsApp account, but I crept up to the guy sideways. At least, I assumed it was a guy. I stripped my profile of photo and name and texted just one word: Hi. A minute passed. The word hung like a baited hook. Then, a reply. Who are you, please? I had intended to scam the scammer, to pose as a lonely woman before eventually revealing my identity. But my motive was to dig for the truth, so I abruptly decided to come at him from the same place. When I tell you who I am, I wrote, dont be afraid. I sent him my photo. He responded simply, LOL. I think you know who I am now, I wrote. Ill never ask you for your real name, and I cant get you into trouble. It took several minutes of tense back and forth for him to believe my identity. Yes, the irony. He asked how I found him, and I told him how, but not who. He kept asking which woman had revealed his number. I told him, youve hurt them enough. Well, he wrote, Im actually sorry for using your pictures. I appreciate that. I only did this to get money for my poor family. Unfortunately no one gave me money. I kept trying, but its kept failing. When I pressed him, he said he first built a relationship and made them love me. After a few weeks, he would ask for money for hypothyroid surgery  $2,000. But nobody paid me. When I asked about the Minneapolis number, he said he lived in Brazil. Are you married? Why do you ask? he said. I know you gay. I guess I was wondering if you were lonely, too. He told me he had a girlfriend and a two-year-old son, and that he had lost his cashier job when the pandemic hit. We are safe, he wrote, but we are hungry. He told me he had found my pictures on Instagram, liked my tattoos and figured I made a believable lure. I hope you are not angry with me, he said. And I wasnt, not really. But I couldnt quite believe him. So I didnt know where to hang my feelings. Then he asked me the question Id been dreading. Can you help me? The man who had stolen my photos to scam lonely people was now asking me for money. So much of our willingness to help other people depends upon what we know of their lives. Without being able to confirm anything he said, could I believe his story? Of course not. Still, he had answered my questions. What was that worth? I told him I barely made enough to get by. It wont be much, maybe $25. Can you send an iTunes card with it? I thought you were hungry. Yes, but $25 is very small, my friend. Indeed, it is. I learned he had tried to scam only one of the women who had contacted me, although he had a list of 10 others I knew nothing about. If that was true, it meant there was more than one impostor using my pictures in more than one location. I wont use your pics anymore, he said. I thanked him and closed the app. Our whole exchange reminded me of the blogger who had led me on for too long. Without facts, without trust, human connection fails. And what is trust on the internet except a suspension of disbelief? I havent sent him money, but I keep thinking about his son, who I believe may exist. Maybe. Ive always been more sucker than cynic, but in any case, my impostor and I may not be done with each other. So how is life in America? he texted recently. I may still respond. In the meantime, Im learning to live with the discomfort of knowing my images are still being used in ways I can barely imagine. I keep in touch with some of the women. We comment on each others Instagram posts and send occasional texts. I hope you find the right man, too, Lina told me recently. Whether I do or not, the human connection during a pandemic may be worth the heartache, however it finds me. I try not to obsess over all the things my stand-ins are saying on the internet to other lonely people, but it seems theyve been busy. If you find yourself messaging with one, I hope he tells you youre beautiful. I hope that you believe it, even if you dont believe him. Ive learned its important to peel back the lies until you can see the truth.

miya lee

Michael McAllister is still getting emails from women around the world, and he still writes back to each one.

dan jones

He put us in touch with two of the women. After the break, well hear from them.

robin lipka

My name is Robin, and I live in Michigan.

michelle merkes

I am Michelle Merkes, and Im from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

robin lipka

I hadnt been on a date since before I married my husband, which was over 20 some years ago. The last time I was on a date was 1991, put it that way. So I was just looking for a guy to come take me out for dinner, have a good time and (LAUGHING) bring me home.

michelle merkes

Ive been divorced 12 years. I tried dating five years ago, and I just wasnt ready. But I had just recently started dating again on the website.

robin lipka

So Im on Plenty of Fish right now.

michelle merkes

POF  Plenty of Fish. Its a free website. Some people to pay for it, but its basically free. I was on POF. I was talking to a few people here and there, and then I clicked on his profile because I liked his picture. I liked the tattoos. He looked like a bigger guy. Short, dark hair, with nice-looking face. He had facial hair. He had nice eyes. And he had muscles on those tattooed arms.

robin lipka

His profile said he was 62. He said he lived in Detroit, and he was a widow. And he was looking for somebody for long-term. And I said, OK, well Im a widow, and it could lead to that.

[music]

michelle merkes

It said that he was from Chicago area. He said he was 50  a little bit younger than me, so 51 maybe? I said I liked his pictures, so Id take a chance and message him. And I just said, nice tats. He messaged back. It was within a day, and he said thanks. And he asked my name, and we just went from there as far as texting back and forth on the website.

robin lipka

Well, I was pretty excited. A good-looking guy like that interested in me?

[music]

He said he was in antiques.

michelle merkes

He mined gems. [LAUGHS] I was like, hmm, a little bit leery. But yet, as it kept going, well, maybe, you know? Somehow we got on the discussion of hot cars. And so we would always argue about which was better. I prefer the Challenger, and he likes the Mustang. We kind of joked back and forth about that, which is awesome because I like to do that, even if it was only through texting, which I thought was weird. [LAUGHS]

robin lipka

I said, well, can we meet? He says, well, I got to go out of town for a while. He says, Im going to Maine to see if I can find some antiques. I said, OK. How long are you going to be gone? He said, a couple of weeks.

michelle merkes

Finally, one day I tried calling him, and yeah, it didnt go through. So I knew there was something not right. I was suspicious the whole time, but I really enjoyed our conversations, so I kept letting it go. I just kept pushing my suspicions to the back, like, lets see where this goes.

robin lipka

Hes there for a couple of weeks, and then it went into another week. I said, I thought you were coming home in two weeks. Well, things are bad, and I need money for this, and I need money for that. I said, how much do you need? And he told me $1,500. I said, I dont have that. He says, but you know you care about me. I said, I can care about somebody and still not give them $1,500.

michelle merkes

We talked  I want to say it was at least a total of three months until I finally got smart and I googled his picture.

[music]

And the picture belonged to a writer in Massachusetts. And he was a gay man, so I knew he was not the man I was talking to.

robin lipka

So I said, well, whats your last name? And thats when he told me, McAllister. And thats when I started looking it up, and I searched for Michael McAllister. Then theres a lot of Michael McAllisters on there, but only one with that picture. I said, so youre not the real Mike McAllister? He says, I am the real Mike McAllister. I said, not according to the picture youre not. Why would a gay writer be interested in me? He says, well, yeah, but I changed since I met you. Im not gay anymore. I said, right. I said, there aint no way this woman here is going to change any man from what he already is. I know what I look like. Im a little, fat, old lady. [LAUGHS]

michelle merkes

Mike, the man in the picture  from his website, I had an email address, and I let him know what was going on, that someone was using his pictures on dating websites. And he emailed me back that I was not the only one that told him this. Hes been told by a few other people that they had been catfished also with his likeness, with his pictures. And he actually said that he wrote an article for The New York Times. And when I read the article, I started laughing because it was about this. [LAUGHS] And I thought, wow, thats great.

[music]

robin lipka

Im just glad I didnt lose anything. Life goes on. I mean, disappointments come. I mean, it would have been nice for him to be real.

michelle merkes

It was a letdown. I dont want to say I was heartbroken. It was a letdown. And I think thats kind of why I contacted Mike, just to maybe get it out of my system, to kind of purge and say, OK. [LAUGHS] This is my goodbye now to this man in the picture.

robin lipka

Ive come to the conclusion that I just have to look out for myself and be careful and warn anybody else I know on dating sites just to be careful so you dont get ripped off. Ive had about close to 100 people that were scammers, and now I know just how to weed them out, so I dont even answer when they contact me. My niece told me, if you want to find out if the guy is real, ask him to take a selfie with a spoon. Because nobody has a selfie of himself holding a spoon up. Nobody. And most of these guys  they say, well, we dont have any spoons. I said, how can you not have a spoon? So you know theyre not real.

michelle merkes

I am actually dating somebody now. Weve been doing pretty good. We also were friends first, so well see where this goes.

robin lipka

I met this guy. Hes three hours away, though. Hes a big guy, but he worked for the phone company in Muskegon. And hes supposed to come out this side of town next weekend, so were supposed to meet up and go out for dinner. So Im excited about that because hes my type. And, yeah, hes real. Hes real. How do I know? (LAUGHING) I got a selfie with a spoon. I got a selfie with a spoon.

[music]

dan jones

Modern Love is produced by Julia Botero with help from Anna Martin and Hans Buetow.

miya lee

Its edited by Wendy Dorr and Daniel Guillemette.

dan jones

This episode was mixed by Corey Schreppel. This weeks essay was written by Michael McAllister and read by Eric Martin. Special thanks to Robin Lipka and Michelle Merkes.

miya lee

And also to Julia Simon, Mahima Chablani, Bonnie Wertheim, Anya Strzemien, Sam Dolnick, Lisa Tobin, Corey Siche and Ryan Wegner at Audm.

dan jones

Im Dan Jones.

miya lee

And Im Miya Lee. Well be back next week with more stories from Modern Love.

dan jones
Elegance, Nino Cerruti once said, got on his nerves. It was the sort of remark you can afford to toss off when you are easily the most elegant man in the room. And Mr. Cerruti, who died last month at age 91, embodied that attribute, a quality seldom encountered yet unmistakable when you are in its presence.

It can be learned, but you have to have a natural disposition for it, he said in an interview in LOfficiel USA last year.

Though sartorial elegance is an instinct, as Mr. Cerruti suggested, it can be anatomized. It derives from knowing and remaining true to yourself; from ruthlessly assessing physical flaws and assets in order to understand the effect of your body moving through space. It depends, to a degree, on learning the fundaments of dressing before pitching them.

As we roll into the third year of a pandemic still, by and large, sitting at home in our casual duds, it may seem as if having an aptitude for elegance is as useful as knowing how to prune a bonsai.
People say, I have $200 less this week, what do I do? Mr. Chiodo said. It affects the Canadian and U.S. economy as a whole.

Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Mich., estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries.

Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, the president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, then youre looking at layoffs.

The blockades came after a demonstration in Ottawa that started nearly two weeks ago. The protests began over a mandate that truck drivers coming from the United States be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have grown to include various pandemic restrictions. Some have demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign. The truckers have been joined by various groups, including some displaying Nazi symbols and damaging public monuments. Police in Ottawa said on Thursday that the protesters and their supporters, including some in the United States, had almost overwhelmed the citys 911 system with calls.

The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. It carries roughly a quarter of the trade between the two countries, which has been relatively unrestricted for decades. While food and other products are also affected, about a third of the cargo that uses the bridge is related to the auto industry, Ms. Bailo said.

The blockade has been felt as far south as Kentucky, where production has been disrupted at a Toyota factory, the company said on Thursday. The shutdown at the border also will prevent manufacturing at Toyotas three Canadian plants for the rest of the week, a spokesman for the automaker, Scott Vazin, said.
Delia was 13 when she started dating Francisco Melendez-Perez, a 16-year-old she met in a park in Mexico. She thought that he was handsome and nice, and that he would bring stability and love to her life.

Instead, Delia told a federal judge in Brooklyn on Thursday, Mr. Melendez-Perez made her a victim of his familys dark trade: sex trafficking. He raped her, smuggled her over the border and from a home base in Queens forced her to have sex with 30 to 50 men a day. He beat her so severely that she lost use of her jaw, Delia, who is now 25, told the court, as her former boyfriend faced sentencing on 10 counts including sex trafficking of children, money laundering and racketeering.

Francisco did everything he could to make sure he could sell me for sex, no matter what, said Delia, who had also testified  using just her first name  at Mr. Melendez-Perezs trial in 2020. All he wanted was for me to make money for him.

Mr. Melendez-Perez, 27, was one of two men sentenced Thursday for their roles in a family-run sex-trafficking network that prosecutors said brought vulnerable teenage girls from central Mexico to Queens.
Other cities like Boston and Chicago have moved to require vaccination for city employees and have faced serious pushback from unions and workers. In other places like San Francisco, Washington State and Massachusetts, hundreds of workers have lost their jobs, though most have complied with mandates.

New York has also seen resistance to its mandate. Unions filed a lawsuit, arguing that the city had overstepped its authority, but the challenges were not successful. A group of unions filed a new lawsuit on Tuesday, claiming that the city was not following due process by firing workers.

Harry Nespoli, the president of the sanitation workers union, said he was urging Mr. Adams to slow down and not fire workers yet because there were still people that do not want to put this vaccination in their body.

The city could replace fired workers, Mr. Nespoli said, but the department would lose valuable experience.

If we get another blizzard, service could be affected, he said. People are trained at what they do and its important. How fast can you train someone compared to someone who has 15 years on the job?

City officials said the potential dismissals should have no effect on city services: The 3,000 targeted workers have been on unpaid leave for months. The city also suggested that the actual number of people fired may be lower, as some may decide to get vaccinated just before the Friday deadline or submit proof of vaccination.

About 44 sanitation workers were facing termination on Friday, according to Mr. Nespoli.

It changes every day, he said. Some people are getting vaccinations now  they dont like it, but theyre going for it. They like eating every week and paying their bills.
If were able to go to trial, this will show something really important, which is the reach and the network Comaroff has, said a lawyer for the students, Carolin Guentert. Because prior to this letter being published, of course our clients knew just how much reach Professor Comaroff has, and how devastating it is to lose an adviser and to lose support from your adviser, and really having the well poisoned in your field of study. But this letter shows that perfectly.

It shows us some other things as well. I find the letter fascinating because it demonstrates how some of the most revered writers and scholars in America are deeply anxious about what they see as #MeToo overreach, student hypersensitivity and campus kangaroo courts. In their retraction, 34 of those who signed the original letter said they were lacking full information about the case. Yet they were willing to believe Comaroffs spin on the limited information that had become public, which is that he was being punished simply for offering a student professional advice about the dangers of traveling as part of a lesbian couple in an African country where homosexuality is illegal.

Since we the undersigned would also feel ethically compelled to offer the same advice to any student conducting research in a country with similar prohibitions, we are perplexed, they wrote. These scholars appear to feel that the current campus climate leaves them open to life-upending accusations for entirely innocent comments.

This isnt wholly surprising; there are real examples of professors whove been subject to grotesque campus inquisitions. And yet what we know of this case  including the existence of the letter itself  shows that the deck is still very much stacked against those challenging powerful men. More than one prominent professor in Harvards anthropology department has been accused of pervasive sexual misconduct, and according to a 2020 Crimson expose, women who were made uncomfortable by faculty in the department said they faced a persistent dilemma. Report, and risk their career aspirations in anthropology. Continue, and face greater obstacles than their male counterparts.

Many of the underlying facts in the Comaroff affair, of course, remain in dispute. Harvard conducted two investigations, one of which found that Comaroff engaged in verbal conduct that violated school policy. But exactly what he said isnt clear, and the lawsuit claims that the inquiry was deeply flawed. Comaroffs defenders, meanwhile, have argued that the overlapping investigations are a kind of double jeopardy. (Hes been put on unpaid leave for a semester and barred from teaching required courses or taking on new graduate-student advisees through the next academic year.)
A California state agency is suing Tesla, accusing it of allowing racial discrimination and harassment to flourish at its San Francisco Bay Area factory in a lawsuit that was made public on Thursday.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing said hundreds of Tesla workers had reported being subjected to racist graffiti and widespread use of racial slurs, including from supervisors. They also accused the company of discriminatory practices. The agency said Black employees were assigned more physically arduous work and denied transfers and promotions more often than other workers.

After receiving hundreds of complaints from workers, D.F.E.H. found evidence that Teslas Fremont factory is a racially segregated workplace where Black workers are subjected to racial slurs and discriminated against in job assignments, discipline, pay and promotion creating a hostile work environment, Kevin Kish, the departments director, said in a statement. The facts of this case speak for themselves.

In a statement posted online on Wednesday, before the lawsuit was filed, Tesla said it strongly opposes all forms of discrimination and harassment. The company denounced the lawsuit, arguing that the state agency had investigated dozens of previous claims in recent years and found no misconduct.
The State Department said on Thursday that military action may commence at any time and without warning, as it reissued an advisory urging Americans not to travel to Ukraine with its starkest language yet. A military incursion would also severely impact the U.S. Embassys ability to help Americans leave Ukraine, the department said. In October, Ned Price, a State Department spokesman, estimated that about 6,600 U.S. citizens were living in Ukraine.

Mr. Biden had previously made clear that he had no intention of sending American troops to defend Ukraine, stating pointedly in early December that the military option was not on the table, and this week, he warned Americans that it would be wise to leave the country. But Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, avoided directly answering a question Wednesday on whether the United States would assist Americans stranded after an invasion.

The United States does not typically do mass evacuations, Ms. Psaki said in a briefing. There are a range of means that individuals and Americans can depart from Ukraine, and weve been encouraging them to do exactly that.

Satellite images from Wednesday and Thursday showed new Russian forces and equipment still arriving on three sides of Ukraine. Senior Biden administration officials told lawmakers this month that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had assembled everything he would need to undertake an invasion that could take an enormous human toll, including the potential deaths of 25,000 to 50,000 civilians.

Among the most aggressive actions Mr. Putin could take if he invades is to quickly surround and capture Kyiv, the capital. But officials have stressed that U.S. intelligence analysts still do not think Mr. Putin has yet decided whether to invade.
In addition to considering whether to create and fund ARPA-H, the House and the Senate are working to reconcile their versions of legislation authorizing an increase in funding for the National Science Foundation, which would expand research in a range of science and technology fields, like quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

I am excited about what we have accomplished so far, but I am really worried about this next set of steps, Dr. Parikh said. We are on the cusp of some of the biggest changes to the way we do science in this country in 74 years, so we want Senate-confirmed scientific leaders that can put forth a vision.

Ellen Sigal, the chairwoman and founder of Friends of Cancer Research, an advocacy group in Washington, shares that concern.

They promptly need to have an F.D.A. commissioner confirmed, they have to have an announcement on who will direct the N.I.H. and then they are going to have to replace Dr. Lander and figure out who has the stature to bring these various initiatives together, she said.

After the administration of former President Donald J. Trump, who routinely spread misinformation about the coronavirus, scientists were thrilled and relieved when Mr. Biden was elected.

Our long national nightmare is over, R. Alta Charo, professor emerita of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, told Scientific American at the time.

In an interview on Thursday, Ms. Charo said Mr. Biden had fulfilled his pledge of respecting scientific integrity, and his response to the pandemic, while not perfect, had been a big improvement. Still, she said, I think its appalling that we have such a vacuum of leadership.
WASHINGTON  President Biden said on Thursday that he had thoroughly vetted four potential Supreme Court nominees so far, all of whom he believes could draw the support of Republican senators during the nomination process.

During an interview with Lester Holt of NBC News, Mr. Biden said that he wanted his nominee, who he has promised will be a Black woman, to have a similar view of the law to Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the most senior of the courts liberal members, who announced his retirement last month.

Im looking for someone to replace Judge Breyer with the same kind of capacity Judge Breyer had, Mr. Biden said, adding that he is looking for a candidate with an open mind, who understands the Constitution, interprets in a way that is consistent with the mainstream interpretation of the Constitution.

Mr. Biden was echoing language from Senate Republicans who have publicly called for the president to nominate a mainstream candidate that can preserve the publics faith that the court can operate in a nonpartisan manner, despite critics who say that Mr. Bidens predecessor, Donald J. Trump, did the opposite with his nominees. Mr. Biden, who served in the Senate for 36 years, has said repeatedly that he wants the advice and consent of the Senate as he deliberates, despite the reality that he may receive scant support from the other side of the aisle.
Complaining that the C.I.A. had not told the Intelligence Committee about the activity before, the senators suggested that its hidden existence cut against Americans understanding that various pieces of legislation enacted in recent years limit and, in some cases, prohibit the warrantless collection of Americans records.

However, an intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said that the Intelligence Committee did already know about the agencys classified collection of the data itself. The Deep Dive II report, the official said, instead focused on repository and analysis tools for storing and querying that data after its collection  systems the committee may not previously have been told about.

After the disclosures in 2013 by the former intelligence contractor Edward J. Snowden that the National Security Agency was collecting bulk logs of all Americans phone calls using a disputed interpretation of the USA Patriot Act  and had until recently done the same for logs of emails  there was a period of uproar over the scope of government surveillance.

During that time, The New York Times reported that the C.I.A. had been paying AT&T to analyze its vast trove of call records for associates of the agencys overseas terrorism suspects. It also found that the agency had been obtaining bulk records of international money transfers handled by companies like Western Union  including transactions into and out of the United States  using the same provision of the Patriot Act.
In his statement about the charges against Mr. Trump, Mr. Grassley said, The law is the law, and it ought to be enforced regardless of which party is involved. He added that he believed the National Archives, at the time was less inclined to involve the Justice Department in the recovery of Mrs. Clintons emails.

But now, after the Archives was able to recover presidential records, it seems to want to loop in the Justice Department, he said.

Jason Chaffetz, a former Republican congressman of Utah who as chairman of the House Oversight Committee led extensive investigations into Mrs. Clintons emails, said in an interview on Thursday that the two situations were different. Mrs. Clinton, he said, set up a convenient arrangement where she stored State Department communications on a private server, in violation of agency policy.

In the case of the former president, Mr. Chaffetz said, he needed to know more about what, specifically, Mr. Trump took from the White House, and if there were duplicate or digital copies of what Mr. Trump had reportedly flushed down the toilet or ripped up. When asked about detailed news reports, Mr. Chaffetz said that this behavior did not necessarily constitute destroying records.

I believe in the sanctity of the federal records, Mr. Chaffetz said, but youre going to have to come up with specific instances.

In a text message, Liz Harrington, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, said that Mr. Trump had worked with the National Archives to preserve documents that he could have kept in his possession as personal items if he had wanted.

Several former Trump White House officials, who regularly attacked Mrs. Clinton, had nothing to say about Mr. Trumps decision to take documents with him to Mar-a-Lago.
Even as mask mandates begin to lift across the country, many people still need high-quality masks for air travel, shopping and visiting the doctor. One of the best options is the KF94 from South Korea.

KF94 stands for Korean filter and 94 percent filtration. The KF94 was developed in South Korea for public use, and unlike the N95, which is the respirator-style mask approved in the United States, the KF94 is available in adult and child sizes. In Korea, the masks range in price from 529 won to 1,244 won (about 50 cents to $1); most online sellers in the United States charge about $1 per mask. Like other respirator-style masks, a KF94 can be worn for a total of about 40 hours, in any combination of short or long increments, as long as it remains clean and continues to fit snugly on the face.

A more breathable mask

Many users say the KF94 is more comfortable and easier to speak and breathe in than other respirator-style masks, because the design creates more space between the mask and the mouth. The mask, which has ear loops, arrives flat in a single package and unfolds to reveal extra flaps, including one with a moldable nose bridge, that give complete coverage from the top of the nose to under the chin, with no gaps.

Yoon S. Byun, a photographer and filmmaker in Portland, Maine, recently purchased KF94s for his children, who are 4 and 6, after reading about them in The New York Times. (Mr. Byun has freelanced for The Times.)
An impressive roster of jazz professionals, including Salim Washington, Brian Jackson, Arturo OFarrill and Caroline Davis, have played at the Freedom First concerts, which began on a broiling afternoon in August 2020 at the Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, where some 25 musicians performed in the middle of a pandemic. There had not been a single rehearsal. They had no permit. The sound equipment was cobbled together. The budget nonexistent.

Three concerts later, Marques and the others are producing an album this month in conjunction with LaMar. A year in the making, it will feature remarks and poetry by LaMar, a 10th grade dropout who has educated himself in prison by reading Richard Wright, James Baldwin and Cornel West, as well as jazz from sympathetic musicians whove recorded covers and fresh compositions from locations including Spain and Oregon.

To meet someone like Keith LaMar, whos not only incarcerated, but on death row, unfairly, unjustly, its a heavy thing, said Washington, a tenor saxophonist and jazz educator with a doctorate from Harvard. But the warmth that he has as a human, and the elegance and eloquence that he has as a scholar, and just the charge that he has for himself, and that hes able to exude to the rest of us, is a thing of beauty.

Beyond musics primal power to sooth, energize and inspire, it has helped focus attention on the pleas of those incarcerated for crimes they say they did not commit. Rubin Hurricane Carter, the boxer convicted of murder, spent almost a decade in prison before Bob Dylans Hurricane raised the profile of his case. He was ultimately freed years later.
ANYBODY HERE SEEN FRENCHIE?

By Leslie Connor

A SONG CALLED HOME

By Sara Zarr

Is there anything more frustrating than being 11? Elevens are often the biggest of the big kids, yet theyre still two long years away from being teenagers. The two-faced Roman god Janus, who rules over time and transitions, may as well be the patron deity of 11s, trapped as they are between childhood and adolescence, reluctant to let go of one and unsure how to embrace the other. Its a moment where zippers stick, crushes are crushing and personal freedom is at a premium. But it can also be a period of prodigious growth. Two new middle grade novels, by the National Book Award finalists Leslie Connor (The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle) and Sara Zarr (Story of a Girl), explore the costs and benefits of this in-between season.

In Connors Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? the titular character is on the autism spectrum and loves all things avian. Frenchie Livernoise doesnt speak, with the exception of an occasional bird call. Aurora Petrequin, his loquacious 11-year-old neighbor, has taken Frenchie under her wing since he and his family moved to her small town on the coast of Maine. Together they have formed an unusual bond: Frenchie serves as a willing audience to Auroras endless discourse, while Aurora is Frenchies trusted interpreter and protector. In the summer, they hike the beaches and woods of their little hamlet, constantly on the lookout for Frenchies beloved birds, and during the school year they are always in the same class, serving as each others special person. This arrangement has worked beautifully since third grade, shielding both of them from the unkindness of other children when it comes to their unique personality traits.

But now its the start of sixth grade, and Aurora and Frenchie have been placed in separate classes. As Aurora begins to make new friends and explore experiences outside their circle of two, she starts to realize what shes been missing by having Frenchie as her only companion.

When torn between playing Preposterous Pursuits with her new friends Leena and Joanie at recess or running her usual 100-yard dashes with Frenchie, who counts on things to happen the same way every day, Aurora describes her conflicted feelings as a little burn: Frustration is what that is.
Ms. McDaniels comments came as a surprise, said the people at the meeting. But it was not the only indication to the staff that Slate was in a tough spot.

Image Slate staffers said Ann McDaniel, a consultant for Slates parent company, had been blunt in her assessment of the publication. Credit... Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Making money from an online publication continues to be a tricky business, even for established brands like Slate. Many digital media companies have merged in recent years, hoping that by joining forces they can compete with the likes of Google and Facebook for online advertising dollars.

Slate made its first move to build revenue through subscriptions instead of relying on advertising in 2014, with a membership program called Slate Plus. The company plans to soon double the cost of renewing subscriptions to Slate Plus to $119, from $59.

Navigating the fast-changing digital media landscape has left Slate struggling to define its identity, said three of the staff members who were at the meeting, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals. Slate once stood out as a home for contrarian takes and intellectual debate, but that distinction has faded in recent years, they said.

The questions about its mission have increased after several high-level departures this year, the people said. The departure of Jared Hohlt, who had been the editor in chief since 2019, was followed a couple weeks later by Allison Benedikt, a longtime staff member who was a top editor. Other departures last month included Gabriel Roth, the head of podcasts; Laura Bennett, the editorial director; and William Saletan, a writer who had worked for Slate for 25 years.
Blockades of border crossings between the United States and Canada have disrupted production for some automakers and their suppliers, causing workers to be sent home.

The pain is likely to be most acute for smaller auto parts suppliers, for independent truckers and for workers who get paid based on their production, Jack Ewing and Ana Swanson report for The New York Times. Many of these groups, unlike large automakers like General Motors, Ford and Toyota, lack the clout to raise prices of their goods and services. Companies and workers in Canada are more likely to suffer because they are more dependent on the United States.

The longer that crossings between the countries remain blocked, the more severe the damage, not only to the auto industry but also to the communities that depend on manufacturing salaries:

Employees at large automakers are generally paid a percentage of their regular pay when they are sent home early.

Workers at smaller firms typically receive no compensation for lost hours, said Dino Chiodo, the director of auto at the giant Canadian union Unifor.

Workers who have been sent home early because of parts shortages will spend less at stores and restaurants.

Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Mich., estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries.

Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, the president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, then youre looking at layoffs.

The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which carries roughly a quarter of the trade between the two countries. READ THE FULL ARTICLE 
Over the last year, the number of views of TikTok videos in which influencers mentioned Vaseline increased by 46 percent, according to Traackr, which monitors influencer social media data; on Instagram, the number of videos that mentioned Vaseline jumped 93 percent over the same period. According to Unilever, the multinational consumer-goods company that owns Vaseline, mentions of the product went up by 327 percent on social media during the first week of February, compared with the same week last year.

One influencer, Brooke Paradise, dabbed her lips with Vaseline in a recent video and looked into the camera.

The girls that get it, get it, she mouths along with a TikTok-famous sound bite. The girls that dont, dont.

The newfound popularity of a product that costs as little as $1.79 is amusing and bewildering to longtime Vaseline devotees, many of whom are Black and have childhood memories of parents smearing it on their faces to protect them from the cold and wind.
This is Clued In, a column that will give you insight into some of the New York Times Crossword clues and answers.

Bagels and ___, three letters: LOX

LOX has been used in 85 New York Times crossword puzzles, according to XWord Info. It has been clued in several different ways, including bagel go-with, fish eaten cold, and cured salmon. The word LOX made its first appearance in the New York Times Crossword in 1953, as a clue for smoked salmon. Most recently, it appeared in Mondays puzzle, constructed by Rebecca Goldstein.

Bagels and lox are like salt and pepper  they practically belong together at the brunch table. Enjoyed by generations of people, New Yorkers in particular, the bagel shop staple has a fascinating history.

By definition, lox is salmon that has been packed and cured in salt. Peter Shelsky, a co-owner of Shelskys of Brooklyn, said that genuine lox is so salty that if you lay a slice of it on your tongue and just let it sit there for a minute, it starts to burn. It originated in Scandinavia, according to David Zabar, the executive director of Zabars, an appetizing market in New York City. He was the stores smoked fish buyer for a decade. His grandfather, Louis Zabar, launched the business in 1934, selling herring, lox and smoked fish on the Upper West Side. The bulk of the fish were caught on the West Coast, from California to Alaska, and Louis bought the salmon from smokehouses, many of which were in Brooklyn or Queens. There was not the capacity to fly or ship fresh product to the East Coast, so salmon was delayed and packed in wood barrels with pure salt, David Zabar said.
It took two months for Claudia Martinez, the executive pastry chef at Miller Union in Atlanta, to perfect her salted chocolate-chip cookie recipe. For the morsels, she ended up using a high-end chocolate  Lactee Barry Equilibre from the French chocolate company Cacao Barry  and was happy with her results. But when she tried some cookies that her regulars had made for her as gifts, she thought they tasted way better than her own.

They were baked with Toll House chocolate chips.

As pastry chefs, were always trying to use the fanciest chocolates, said Ms. Martinez, 29. Sometimes, people just want that flavor they can recognize. Including her. Toll House morsels were in her mothers cookies and in treats made by her childhood babysitter long before she attended culinary school.

Nostalgia is only one reason to love chocolate chips. Aside from their obvious convenience  no messy chopping  they hold their shape better in the oven when stirred into doughs and batters, and deliver more flavor in baked goods than some expensive bar chocolates. And its all because theyre relatively low in cocoa butter and high in cacao solids.

Donald Wressell, an executive chef of the Guittard Chocolate Company, said, At face value, sure, the most expensive chocolate is the best, but he emphasized that how you plan to use the chocolate should determine what you use. What is the right chocolate for what youre trying to do?
As people get older and responsibilities stack up, they tend to consume less alcohol. The 40-year-old liver is not the same as a 25-year-old liver, said Garrett Oliver, the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, which introduced Fuzzy Details, a hazy I.P.A. that is 2.5 percent alcohol, at its taproom in December. Mr. Oliver fondly recalled the brewerys Black Light, a 2.2 percent stout. I could have a pint and just go straight to the gym, Mr. Oliver said.

When Luc Lafontaine brews, he doesnt drink much water. I drink beer, said Mr. Lafontaine, an owner and the brewmaster of Godspeed Brewery in Toronto. His go-to is Baby Svetly, his Czech-style pale lager that, at 1.5 percent alcohol, is a warm-weather favorite.

Building quality low-alcohol beer is a balancing act. Brewers must use less malt  the grains supplying the sugars that are fermented into alcohol  and too many hops can create clashing bitterness and flavor. Mr. Lafontaine uses imported Czech malt and hops, and carefully adjusts water chemistry. I want to go as low as 1 percent, he said of Baby Svetlys alcohol level.

One complaint about low-alcohol beers is that they can taste watery. To brew Buzzard, a 3 percent hoppy small beer released in January, Matt Young, the director of brewing operations at the Chicago brewery Half Acre, boosted the body with wheat. He also leaned on fragrant hop extracts and Cosmic Punch, a yeast strain that imparts complementary tropical aromas. Buzzard costs $10.99 for four 16-ounce cans, or $1 less than several stronger I.P.A.s.

Just because theres less alcohol doesnt means that it was cheaper to produce, Mr. Young said.

Mr. Boisson released two versions of Bella Snow Soft Ale, flavored with mandarin or grapefruit, in four-packs of 12-ounce cans sold for $7.99. It was a low enough price point where people would try it, Mr. Boisson said, adding that half the return customers are baby-boomer men. After decades of drinking, they just know they shouldnt have as much, he said.
Douglas Trumbull, an audacious visual effects wizard who created memorable moments in a series of blockbuster science-fiction films, including the hallucinogenic sequence in Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey in which an astronaut in a pod hurtles through space, died on Feb. 7 at a hospital in Albany, N.Y. He was 79.

His wife, Julia Trumbull, said the cause was complications of mesothelioma.

With colleagues, Mr. Trumbull was nominated for visual effects Oscars for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner and Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but perhaps his most stunning work came in 2001  his first big break in motion pictures.

He was in his early 20s when Mr. Kubrick hired him as a $400-a-week artist, and his first job was to create graphics for the 16 screens that surround the eyes of HAL 9000, the seemingly omniscient computer that controls the Discovery One spacecraft at the center of 2001.

Then, using a process called slit-scan photography, he conceived the trippy five-minute scene in which the astronaut Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) soars at hyperspeed in his pod through a phantasmagorical cosmic passageway in the universe.
Its a busy time of year for the model Lauren Chan, with the flurry of activity surrounding New York Fashion Week Friday through Wednesday. Her runway gigs will include 11 Honore, Christian Siriano and Peter Do, which she will fit in around running her company, Henning, a size-inclusive womens clothing line, for which she also designs.

The reason I started Henning was to improve the lives of women size 12 and up who are feeling excluded from this industry, said Ms. Chan, 31. I want them to feel better.

She lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, with her husband, Alan Paron, 37, a national sales manager at Kohler, and their shepherd mix, Pepper.
As it happened, Ms. Duffy was not the only Brooklyn teacher to be fired as a result of critical comments made about the police. Days earlier, Chris Flanigan, who had been working at Coney Island Prep for just a few weeks, was let go after posting an image to his personal Instagram account of a throng of police officers outside the funeral for Officer Rivera with the text: 5/30/20: NYPD SUV drives into a crowd of protesters. Ideal conditions for reciprocity.

Mr. Flanigan was referring to a situation in which a police department vehicle accelerated toward a barricade, knocking people down behind it, in Brooklyn at a demonstration around George Floyds murder. Some people interpreted his post as a call for retribution, which makes it harder to defend. Remarking on the teachers firing in a statement, Leslie-Bernard Joseph, the chief executive of Coney Island Prep, a charter school where the majority of students are Black and Latino, said that as public servants, teachers and staff must hold themselves to a higher standard and that the school did not condone or promote violence of any sort.

But Mr. Flanigan claimed he did not condone violence either, that he respected uniform service and that he had been trying to suggest  however incendiary his language seemed  that the crowd formation had put the police officers in a vulnerable position. He expressed deep regret for his comments and said that he had incredible respect for Coney Island Prep and the community. But his rash words now appeared to make him irredeemable.

Had the ideas he registered on Instagram never made their way to a broader audience, the threats and harassment that he and the school ultimately endured might not have come to pass. Mr. Flanigan, who had only 400 Instagram followers at the time, put the post up at midnight on a Friday. By 10 the next morning, he told me, after noticing that a few people had taken issue with his sentiment, he removed it. On Saturday night, however, Mr. Flanigan received a call from The New York Post, which had got hold of the posting and planned to run an article about it. It went up several hours later, and early on Sunday morning, Mr. Flanigan alerted his employers.

Although the arts might seem more open to controversial positions, a young actress named Jacqueline Guzman found herself cast aside after she vented and cursed about street closures for police funerals in a since-deleted TikTok video in which she pointed out that we dont shut down the city for those who are killed by the police.
Poly Prep Country Day School, an elite, expensive Brooklyn institution, will continue to require students and staff to wear masks in school, reversing a decision to make masks optional starting Monday.

A statewide mask mandate for schools remains in place until at least Feb. 21. Officials at Poly Prep, which had been the first New York City school to make masks optional despite the mandate, said in an email to parents on Friday afternoon that they had received guidance from the state and city health departments that the policy shift was not permissible under current state- and city-wide restrictions.

The school said it would delay the policy shift and asked parents to make sure their children were masked starting on Monday.

Please continue to send students to school with masks on Monday, as has been the policy throughout this year, Sarah Zuercher, the schools director of health and well-being, said in the email.
At 10 Claver Place, sandwiched between a 24-hour parking garage and a beige apartment building, stands a three-story complex that was once the epicenter of Pan-Africanism in Brooklyn.

The brick building, on the edge of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, is now home to 10 apartments, but starting in 1969, it was the headquarters of The East, an organization and meeting place where Black people from all walks of life could learn about the African diaspora and its history and culture, beyond slavery.

The buildings first floor once housed an iconic jazz club where Sun Ra and Gil Scott-Heron played into the wee hours of the morning. Above it, there were workshops on politics and activism for adults, and a state-certified school for children of all ages known as Uhuru Sasa Shule, Swahili for Freedom Now School.

Though its doors closed in 1985, for 16 years The East served as an incubator, spurring the political awakening and cultural enlightenment of its hundreds of members and giving them a sense of belonging and pride.
There are many things the Biden administration has done right in managing the crisis Russia provoked over Ukraine.

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency conveyed our knowledge of military deployment and our opposition to Moscow. The director of national intelligence shared information with NATO allies. The secretary of state warned about Russian disinformation operations. The secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have projected steadiness and readiness, with the defense secretary emphasizing that a move on Ukraine will accomplish the very thing Russia says it does not want  a NATO alliance strengthened and resolved on its western flank. The administration is creatively orchestrating gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut them off.

NATO also responded strongly, reassuring its frontline states by considering the deployment of additional alliance military forces, and reaffirmed its commitment to including potential new members. Keeping 30 countries together is a huge achievement when President Vladimir Putin of Russia has Ukraine in his cross hairs and is threatening to shoot the hostage unless NATO reverses 30 years of European security.

Despite these successes, Russia still looks poised to invade Ukraine. Mr. Putin is still threatening to use military force, whereas President Biden is sending the message that the United States is afraid of confronting Russia militarily. Even if the United States is unwilling to fight alongside Ukrainians, its a big bargaining advantage for Russia if its telegraphing willingness to go to war and were ultimately reassuring it that it doesnt need to worry about us.
Under a traditionally liberal view of the Supreme Court, its decision on Monday to uphold, at least for this year, a congressional map in Alabama that intentionally weakens the voting strength of Black people in the state is a betrayal of its duty to protect the rights of minorities, racial and otherwise.

Under a more historical view, it is the court doing what the court does.

First, a little background on Mondays decision. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act bars any voting law or procedure that results in a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen to vote on account of race, as the Department of Justice puts it. This includes situations where lawmakers have cracked minority communities into multiple districts to dilute the strength of their voters. To remedy this, courts can require states to create majority-minority districts in which these voters can then elect the candidates of their choice. This is especially important in places where voting is so polarized by race that minority communities are rarely, if ever, able to shape the outcome of an election.

Last year, Alabamas Republican-controlled Legislature drew and passed a congressional map that packed a large number of Black voters into a single district encompassing the cities of Birmingham and Montgomery, while spreading the remaining voters throughout six majority white districts. By packing one group of Black voters and dispersing the rest, Alabama Republicans successfully reduced the voting strength of the entire Black community in the state, which accounts for 27 percent of its population.

Black Alabamians filed suit. In January, after seeing evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, a three-judge District Court panel (with two Trump appointees) agreed that the state had violated the Voting Rights Act. It ordered the Legislature to draw a new map containing a second majority-minority district. Republicans appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, where five members voted to stay the order, reinstating the original map.
The Torah begins with the world being created by words. Let there be is the recurring refrain. God names each item  Light. Day. Night. Darkness. Earth. Sea. Heaven. From this emerges the concept that words can build or destroy.

Words matter. Every letter in the Torah is believed to have significance, and every word is essential. There are no errors. The idea of precision is so important in the Jewish origin story that we have pages of commentaries, stories, explanations and laws when an extra letter is added onto a phrase. While some critical readers of the Torah define extra letters, words and redundancy as scribal errors, there is a deep spiritual practice in combing through phrases, repetitions and words. We find meaning to justify each phrase; each phrase justifies its meaning.

It is difficult to reconcile this deep relationship between word and meaning with a 21st-century culture of using words as if they do not matter. Last week the Jewish world erupted after Whoopi Goldberg, a co-host of The View, used ill-informed words on the show to describe the Holocaust, saying the genocide was not about race and was, instead, essentially a case of infighting between two groups of white people. A flurry of conversations, articles and rage emerged in response. The words evoked fear and reflections on antisemitism, and revealed ignorance of the history of race (and genocide).

The Talmud teaches, The world exists only in the merit of the person who restrains him or herself at the time of an argument (Chullin 89a). Words create narratives. Words have the ability to disrupt, provoke and uproot, and in a world that is divided, they can cause terrible harm. Building false narratives about Jews  or any other group for that matter  can destroy. In Nazi Germany, Jews were dehumanized first by words as they were described as rats, defiling society. Dehumanizing another by using words can help categorize a people as less than, thus normalizing horrific acts. Of course Jews are not the only people to have been leveled by words. Indeed, throughout history efforts to separate cultural, religious, ethnic or racial groups from one another  consider Rwanda or the Balkans  have often begun with dehumanizing descriptions and unraveled from there. Words can highlight vulnerability and trigger attack.
There is a simple, amazing thing that W. Kamau Bell does in his Showtime documentary series, We Need to Talk About Cosby. While interviewing subjects about the comedian and actor accused of multiple rapes, Bell has them watch scenes of Bill Cosbys performances on a tablet.

The interviewees  entertainers, experts, women who have accused Cosby of sexual abuse  hold a small screen in their laps. The device makes them turn their faces downward, lighting up at warm childhood memories or registering disgust at punch lines that now ring horrific.

Its a small gesture, but its important. You have to hold in your head what you know about Bill Cosby the man. And you have to hold literally in your hand what you know about Bill Cosbys work.

We Need to Talk About Cosby holds Cosbys achievements and his wrongs close, and it recognizes that there may be unresolvable dissonance between the two.
For Claudia Ruffle, living in a co-housing community was a lifelong dream. She longed for connection with people who shared her values, particularly around concern for the environment. But as an introvert, she found it hard to meet people on her own.

Co-housing, a form of collaborative living that originated in Denmark, provided a structure where I didnt have to be outgoing and could still get the benefit of getting to know people, said Ms. Ruffle, 72, a former substitute teacher and administrative secretary. It compensated for my lack of outgoingness.

So she was among the early supporters of what was envisioned as Connecticuts first co-housing community. After more than a decade of planning, the project, called Rocky Corner, finally broke ground in 2018 on a 33-acre plot in Bethany, a suburb of New Haven.

Ms. Ruffle and a friend contracted to purchase one of the attached housing units there, and sold their home in New Haven in anticipation of closing in 2019. But their closing date kept getting extended. And then members of the community were told that the project was having a cash flow problem.
Mr. Musk has, however, routinely made schedule predictions that were far too optimistic. When he first talked of his Mars rocket in 2016  then an even larger design  he said that the first test trip to Mars, without people aboard, would launch in 2022, and that the first people going to Mars would be leaving two years later.

When Mr. Musk gave an update in September 2019, he predicted that the first orbital flight would occur within six months.

But with 2022 already here, SpaceX has yet to try an orbital launch of Starship.

In Thursdays talk, he expressed confidence that would occur this year, but he remained vague about details.

His talk, at the site that SpaceX calls Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, near Brownsville, mixed in a variety of bawdy remarks while largely rehashing the vision he had described in the past including his arguments for why humanity needed to expand beyond Earth, as a backup plan for the survival of humankind.

He also responded to critics who say space is a waste of time and money, noting how little of the federal budget is actually directed to spaceflight and exploration.
Two months after a dramatic Christmas morning launch and several spine-tingling weeks of gyrations and unfoldings, the James Webb Space Telescope has achieved what astronomers celebrate as first light.

Actually, it was first lights.

NASA on Friday released 18 images of a star in the constellation Ursa Major known as HD 84406, as seen through each of the 18 segments that make up the telescopes primary mirror and recorded by the Webbs workhorse instrument, the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam). The Webb astronomers will now spend the next few months wiggling each of those mirror segments back and forth and back and forth until that star becomes one.

Marcia Rieke, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona who led the team that built NIRCam, described the Webb team as ecstatic in a news release from NASA.
Most of all, we reveled in our Blackness. We danced to hip-hop in his living room  and he could dance, something I had rarely experienced with my white boyfriends. We joked about the endearing quirks of our older Black relatives. We shared stories about being among the few Black people in our respective professional arenas  finance for him; law for me. With him I could openly speak the language and not have to explain myself. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could be completely, unapologetically Black with the guy I was dating.

Like most first dates, there were uncomfortable moments. Josh was reserved and rarely volunteered information about himself, which meant it was hard to get to know him. And while there was definitely a mutual physical attraction, there was a shyness in Josh that only seemed to fall away with the help of a few drinks. Still, I chalked that up to our still getting to know one another.

However, on my last night there, as we gazed at the city lights over the Inner Harbor, he turned to me and said, You know this isnt going to work, right? Completely out of nowhere. I asked him to explain.

He said our personalities were too different  Im outgoing, high-energy and emotional; hes analytical, quiet and calm. I, both a romantic and a lawyer, attempted to argue my case  Doesnt love find a way?  and he, the realistic, number-crunching one, pointed out the obvious practical hurdles. With the physical distance between us, there was no way to properly date or figure out how we would fit together.

My fairy tale seemingly shattered, I started to cry. He seemed sad too, though whether it was because of a mutual feeling of despair or simply uneasiness at my tears, I couldnt tell. The next morning he drove me to the airport and I asked him to visit me in California. He gave a noncommittal answer. I left wondering if I would ever see him again.

Turns out, I would. A few weeks after my Maryland trip, Josh asked to visit me in California. I was thrilled. I convinced myself that he wanted to visit California to see if he could make a home here with me.
This essay is part of a collaborative project with Black History, Continued. We invited readers and renowned writers to respond to the question What is Black love today?

Two summers before Mary J. Blige crooned soulfully about searching for a Real Love, I found mine. I was 11 years old.

I havent seen him since, and I have no idea where he is now, so for our purposes Ill use his initial: L. In the summer of 1989, my family had moved to South Jamaica, Queens, and a year later L. and his mother moved into a house across the street.

He rode into my life doing tricks on the wheels of a BMX bike accented with a checkerboard frame and handlebar grips. I had a bike, too, but I never tried the tricks that L. did. I was not that kind of boy. I was more apt to read my mothers romance novels or spend all day during school breaks watching soap operas. I was the kind of boy more likely to fall in love than to fall off a bike.
This essay is part of a collaborative project with Black History, Continued. We invited readers and renowned writers to respond to the question What is Black love today?

Peter and I hitched our wagons young. Early 20s.

He was wildly handsome, gay, with soulful brown eyes and a head full of loose, unruly curls. Raised by an African American woman and a white preacher man, Peter spent his childhood steeped in the evangelical ministry. He was as terrified of his fathers sermons as he was soothed by his mothers inclination to administer to the more human aspects of the congregation they both led.

The night I met Peter, he and I fell all the way in love. Kismet, you could say. He made me laugh with his very first words. It was my first time at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the premier debut joint for every performance poet trying to get onto the New York City poetry scene. I read my first piece on the open mic after the slam. Peter was among the first admirers to make his way through the applauding crowd to tell me I had simultaneously embodied the fury of his father and the vulnerability of his mother  and, as such, I was destined to be one of his true loves.

Only one of? I asked.

Fate isnt fixed, he said, The gods have to leave room for surprises!

By the time we met in the fall of 1997, Peters parents were long divorced. His father had left the church. And Peter was already exploring other truths to believe in. Poetry was his new religion. His poems were long, lyrical and lovingly painted with the impossibly beautiful brushstrokes of utopia.
In 1970, as Americans were preparing to mark the first Earth Day, Richard Christiansen, still relatively early in what would become a storied career of writing about theater in Chicago, seized the moment to argue that the arts deserved just as much attention as the environment but were unlikely to receive it.

One can actually see the air becoming befouled through pollution, he wrote in The Chicago Daily News, his employer at the time, but it is much more difficult to tell when the spirit is withering for lack of nourishment.

Over the next three decades, at The Daily News and then, from 1978 to 2002, at The Chicago Tribune, Mr. Christiansen nourished readers with his drama criticism. He helped make Chicago one of the most vibrant theater towns in the country, not only through his writing but also with the occasional behind-the-scenes nudge.

He championed early work by David Mamet and other playwrights; boosted the careers of directors like Robert Falls; and highlighted performances by countless actors who would go on to become national names, among them Gary Sinise, Amy Morton and Brian Dennehy. He shined his spotlight on the innovative early efforts of now venerable companies like Steppenwolf and now departed ones like the Famous Door Theater.
I am honestly disappointed that were having the conversation of a mute person with a deaf person. Its as though we are hearing each other, but not listening.

SERGEY V. LAVROV, Russias top diplomat, about talks with his British counterpart.
The trustees of the University of Alabama on Friday reversed a decision to name a building after both a Ku Klux Klan leader and the first Black person to attend the school, instead voting to solely honor the student, Autherine Lucy Foster.

During a special meeting on Friday morning, 13 trustees unanimously voted to rename Lucy-Graves Hall for Ms. Foster, who became the first Black person to attend the school in 1956. The building will now be called Autherine Lucy Hall.

Fridays vote amended a decision the university made on Feb. 3, when it said that a building named for David Bibb Graves, a former governor and Klan leader, would also carry the name of Ms. Foster. That decision drew an immediate backlash, as students and others criticized the school, accusing it of conflating their legacies.

The university said this week that its priority was to honor Ms. Foster, who opened the door for students of all races at the school. The complex legacy of Governor Graves distracted from that important priority, the schools statement said.
CORAL GABLES, Fla.  Every so often, a petty political episode consumes Miami, its piquant details transfixing the city for days. Like the one that began this week at Mortons Steakhouse during a late lunch, when a lobbyist happened upon a city commissioner.

Depending on whos telling the story, the lobbyist, Carlos J. Gimenez, whose father is a local congressman, either slapped (according to the police) or flicked his wrist (according to the commissioner) at the back of the head of Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami, after greeting him with a sexual epithet and a query: Do you remember me?

A detective from the Miami Police Departments special investigations section, who was providing security to the commissioner, at that point approached Mr. Gimenez.

What happened next is not entirely clear, and remains the subject of intense debate in political circles all over town. It ended with the arrest of Mr. Gimenez, who spent the night at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, the decidedly unglamorous county jail, clad in one of the red jumpsuits reserved for high-profile inmates.
With Covid treatments still in short supply in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration on Friday gave emergency authorization to a new monoclonal antibody drug that has been found in the laboratory to be potent against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The Biden administration said it would make the therapy immediately available to states free of charge.

The authorization of the treatment, bebtelovimab, means that the United States now has four drugs available for high-risk Covid patients early in the course of their illness that have been found to neutralize the Omicron variant. While there is a greater menu of Covid pills and treatments now than at any other point in the pandemic, the drugs have been so scarce that doctors have been forced to make painful rationing decisions during the Omicron surge.

The drug that the F.D.A. authorized on Friday is manufactured by Eli Lilly, which said on Thursday that it had signed a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide the government with up to 600,000 courses of the treatment for at least $720 million. The company said it had already manufactured hundreds of thousands of doses and was ready to begin shipments within 24 hours.
Mr. Biden has now decided that the government will not object to any court decision to devote half of the money for the Sept. 11 claims. The Justice Department is instead expected to tell the court later Friday that victims of the attacks should have a full opportunity to have their claims heard, according to people familiar with the matter.

But if the judge agrees to partly lift the writ of execution, Mr. Biden will seek to direct the remainder toward a trust fund to be spent on assistance in Afghanistan  while keeping it out of the hands of the Taliban, according to people briefed on the decision. Setting up that fund and working out the details is expected to take several months, the people said.

It is highly unusual for the United States government to commandeer a foreign countrys assets on domestic soil. Officials are said to have discussed a two-part legal process for Mr. Biden to engineer that outcome.

First, in his executive order on Friday morning, he used emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to consolidate all Da Afghanistan Bank assets in the United States in a segregated account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That has blocked them, but the Afghanistan central bank still owns them.

Second, officials have discussed then using a provision of the Federal Reserve Act that permits disposing of property belonging to the central bank of a foreign nation  so long as it has the blessing of someone the secretary of state has recognized as being the accredited representative of that foreign country.

But deciding who qualifies as such a person, at a time when Afghanistans former government no longer exists, has raised significant complications. It remained unclear what solution Biden administration officials had settled on and whether the name of any person or people they deem as such would be disclosed for security reasons, like possibly endangering family members still in Afghanistan.
ISTANBUL  The Taliban on Friday released two Western citizens and two Afghan colleagues who had been working for the United Nations in Afghanistan, hours after the U.N. had announced that they had been held by the Taliban for several days in Afghanistan.

The team members, including Andrew North, a British citizen and former BBC reporter, were on assignment with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and were detained in Kabul in recent days. We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, the U.N.s initial statement said.

The statement was quickly picked up by international media, and the Taliban did not initially respond to requests for comment. But hours later, the governments chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that the Westerners had been released, without mentioning the two Afghans.

Those foreigners who were said to be related to an international entity were arrested because they did not have the correct identification and permits, he said. They are in good health, and after their identities were verified they were released.
SYDNEY, Australia  The Australian government on Friday declared the koala an endangered species, as drought, bush fires, disease and habitat loss have drastically reduced the numbers of an animal that is an emblem of the countrys unique wildlife.

The announcement, by the countrys environment minister, came two years after a parliamentary inquiry predicted that koalas could be extinct by 2050 without urgent government intervention.

Reclassification from vulnerable to endangered does not require the Australian government to take any special action. But it separately announced that it would adopt a recovery plan for the koala issued by the countrys environmental department.

That plan would aid the creation of laws protecting koalas and their natural woodland habitats. Additionally, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last month that the government would commit 50 million Australian dollars ($35.7 million) over four years to koala recovery and conservation efforts.
The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau.

In last weeks Australia Letter, Besha Rodell wrote about her frustrations with the current state of Australias politics. She invited readers to send in their own feelings on the matter. Here are some excerpts from the many responses we got:

How frequently have I lamented the lack of educated and experienced statesmen and stateswomen in this country with the knowledge, experience, and pragmatic sense of how to govern. I listen to and watch the U.S. news where elected officials get into policy, doctrine, matters of deep concern for the population, but there is none of that here in Oz. Where are the statespeople with law degrees? Where are the conversations on equality, racial justice, climate change and plans for the future. At the same time, Australians themselves, myself included, are so complacent, anyone putting his/her hat in the ring to govern can usually get elected since it means we are happy that we dont have to worry ourselves about any of it. Let someone else do it. Shell be right, no?  David Roche

Im sure that if Australia were in such a mess as the U.S., politically and socially, the political debate here might be a bit more sober. Obviously, the conservatives here are happy enough with the status quo and certainly dont want serious debate about the major issues for which they either deny or have no answers. But yes, why arent the oppositions and independents views being hammered loudly, every day? Perhaps it has to do with the lack of extreme polarization in Australian society. Isnt much of the debate in the US just noise, sniping, propaganda and the echoes of inflated egos? So, lets have more serious debate about the important issues without all the extraneous song and dance of the American sideshows.  Barry Long

We do live in one of the best countries on the planet, mainly due to the resilience and efforts of its population. It is hindered by the existing government and can be even greater when they are assigned to the dustbin of history. We do need to act collectively; the responses to bush fires, floods, drought and pandemics has reinforced this. We need less partisan and more cooperative governments capable of progressive and decisive action.  Greg Clydesdale

Both major parties are paralyzed by the contradictions in their policies on resource extraction and trading, and climate change. As a result, they cant speak clearly about the major issue of our time, which turns everything else they say into shadow play. This state of affairs was brought about by the right-wing parties and their resource extraction friends killing off the hope of a sensible carbon pricing policy back in 2014. The Labor Party found itself sitting on a very sharp fence because of the resource extraction unions siding with their owners. Things just aint been the same since, Im afraid, and frankly, theyre not going to improve in a hurry.  Tom Mangan
Blockades of the U.S.-Canada border stymied flows of critical supplies for the fourth day on Friday, leaving companies scrambling for materials and shutting down major auto factories from Ontario to Alabama.

The partial closure of the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest land crossing between the countries and a vital conduit for the auto industry, sent ripples through North American supply chains. Business groups called on officials to forcefully remove protesters who were causing the blockades. Some companies tried to redistribute key parts among their factories and looked for other ways to move products.

But others appeared resigned to shutdowns, saying that bypassing the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, was just too expensive or difficult.

Toyota said that the disruptions had led to periodic downtime at its engine plants in West Virginia and Alabama, as well as factories in Canada and Kentucky, and that interruptions were likely to continue through the weekend. Ford Motor curtailed capacity at two plants in Windsor and Oakville, which is also in Ontario, and shut down its Ohio assembly plant.
This is a hostage-taking with the demand that specific people  me and my brother  return to Chechnya to be lynched by Kadyrov, Abubakar Yangulbayev said in a video interview from an undisclosed European city where he had sought protection. This is typical terrorist behavior.

Tanya Lokshina, of Human Rights Watch, said Ms. Musayevas forced return to Chechnya was consistent with the longstanding pattern of collective punishment by which the Chechen leadership persecutes entire families, even distant relatives, for the alleged actions of one of their members.

Chechen authorities pointed to a vitriolic Feb. 2 rally in the capital of Grozny which they say drew hundreds of thousands of people  an unverified number  as a sign of support for Mr. Kadyrovs hardline approach against the Yangulbayevs. Participants cursed the family and burned photographs of them.

Thats how Mr. Kadyrov shows the Kremlin that he is in control, Ms. Lokshina said, referring to the rally.

Both brothers say they can be of more assistance to their mother from abroad. Human rights advocates say the charge against Ms. Musayeva is a dubious way of keeping her in detention for at least two months, despite the fact that, according to Russian law, people with diabetes cannot be held in special detention centers.

In a hearing before the Chechen Supreme Court on Thursday, she asked to be held under house arrest, saying I am dying quietly. Her request was denied. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
The U.S. intelligence community has told the White House and American allies that there are signs that President Vladimir V. Putin has moved up his timetable and could launch an invasion of Ukraine within days, according three Western officials briefed on the discussions.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said at a news conference in Melbourne on Friday that a Russian invasion could even occur before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.

There had been widespread speculation that Mr. Putin would not take action during the games, in order not to distract attention from an event highly prized by President Xi Jinping of China. Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi issued a long joint statement in which they said the partnership of the two nations had no limits.

President Biden held a phone conference on Friday with a wide array of NATO and European Union leaders to discuss what appears to be a deteriorating security situation in Ukraine.
We dont know exactly what is going to happen, Mr. Sullivan said, emphasizing the need for Americans to leave Ukraine now. The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands. If you stay, you are assuming risk with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.

Russia has made a series of demands of the West, including scaling back the NATO military presence in Eastern Europe to 1990s levels and guaranteeing that Ukraine could never join NATO. (Mr. Putin has long been vehemently opposed to Ukraine, a former pillar of the Soviet Union, joining NATO, a position he last made forcefully clear when Russian forces reclaimed Crimea in 2014.) The United States has called those demands non-starters and instead offered a series of proposals aimed at arms control.

What I do know about Putin is he likes uncertainty, said Michael A. McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia. He has leveraged that in the past for advantage. He is forcing Bidens hand and everybody elses.

Next week, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is scheduled to visit Ukraines capital, Kyiv and Moscow, fresh from a visit to Washington where he and Mr. Biden promised a united front on shutting down Nord Stream 2, a lucrative Germany-to-Russia gas pipeline project, should Russia invade Ukraine.

Russias foreign ministry dismissed American talk of war as mere propaganda.

A coordinated information attack is being conducted against Moscow, the ministry said in a statement, along with a list of previous Western warnings of a possible imminent invasion. That messaging, it said, is aimed at undermining and discrediting Russias fair demands for security guarantees, as well as at justifying Western geopolitical aspirations and military absorption of Ukraines territory.

Maria Zakharova, the ministry spokeswoman, wrote on the Telegram app: The White Houses hysteria is as revealing as ever. The Anglo-Saxons need war. At any price.

Mr. Sullivan disagreed with the idea that informing Americans of Russias military capabilities was the same as calling for a war. We are trying to stop a war. Prevent war. To avert a war, he told reporters.
The Pentagon on Friday ordered 3,000 additional troops to Poland, bringing to 5,000 the total number of reinforcements sent to Europe in the past two weeks.

The purpose of the troops, nearly all from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., will be to reassure NATO allies that while the United States has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine, where President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been threatening an invasion, President Biden would protect Americas NATO allies from any Russian aggression.

Poland borders Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, a close ally of Russia.

The troop deployment announced on Friday will depart Fort Bragg over the next couple of days and is expected to be in place by early next week, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The troops are commanded by Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the head of the 82nd Airborne, who was also the ground commander for the evacuation at Kabul International Airport in August.
She was 19 when she got married, to a cousin. (Theyd bring you the man and say, this is who youre marrying, she said of her courtship.) A couple of years later, she was a mother.

I was happy to work in the fields, to help out, but I wanted to be educated, she said. I want all my children to go to school and not be like their mom and dad.

It was her daughter Heidi, 19, who came home one day from a local acting workshop and told her mother a director had come to town, looking to cast his lead.

Ms. Nassar thought, Why not? She first checked with her son, Mario, to make sure that auditioning would not be eib, or shameful  a concept that governs a lot of behavior in Egypt. As head of the household in the absence of his father, whose work frequently kept him from home for extended periods, Mario gave her his blessing. (So did her husband, later on.)

Ms. Nassar had grown up mesmerized by Egyptian films and television, wishing she could become an actress. Whats the difference between these people and me? she recalled thinking. Is it because theyre educated and Im not?

The director, Omar el-Zohairy, cast her after just one conversation, she said, telling her that he had been looking for a fresh face. (Mr. el-Zohairy declined to be interviewed, with press representatives explaining that the producers hoped to avoid stirring up further attention.)

Perhaps Ms. Nassars experience helped. Like many women from poor families in Egypt, whose husbands migrate to other Arab countries or other parts of the country to work and send money home, Ms. Nassar carries the household herself  onscreen and off.
The New York Times News Quiz, February 11, 2022

Did you follow the news this week? Take our quiz to see how well you stack up with other Times readers.
A security guard got so bored on his first day at work that he ruined a million-dollar avant-garde painting by drawing eyes on the faceless figures depicted in the artwork.

Anna Leporskayas Three Figures, an artwork painted between 1932 and 1934, was on display at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center in Ekaterinburg as part of an exhibition when someone noticed something strange about it in December of last year. The three figures depicted in the avant-garde piece were originally faceless, but now two of them had small dots for eyes. The vandalism was first noticed on 7 December by two visitors who alerted the Yeltsin Center staff about it, and a search for the perpetrator began. One thing that no one expected was for the security guard paid to prevent such things from happening to be the vandal

His motives are still unknown but the administration believes it was some kind of a lapse in sanity, said Alexander Drozdov, the executive director of the Yeltsin Center. Fortunately, the vandal drew with a pen without strong pressure, and therefore the relief of the strokes as a whole was not disturbed. The left figure also had a small crumble of the paint layer up to the underlying layer on the face.

Apparently, the unnamed security guard, who was on his first day on the job, got so bored that he drew the eyes on the painting using a Yeltsin Center-branded pen. The mans identity has not been revealed, but he was apparently working for a private security company and has since been fired.

The Guardian reported that the act of vandalism was first reported by the Yeltsin Center on December 20, but the ministry of internal affairs declined to press charges, as it considered the damage insignificant. However, the ministry of culture later complained to the prosecutor generals office about the lack of action, and an official investigation began. Now the bored ex-security guard faces a fine and several months behind bars.

Anna Leporskayas Three Figures was insured for 75 million rubles ($988,000) and experts at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow have estimated that the restoration work would cost 250,000 roubles ($3,300).
For over half a year now, border control points in Longzhou County, along Chinas border with Vietnam have been using geese as part of their arsenal of detecting and apprehending illegal immigrants.

As part of Chinas strategy to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the country has taken a very hard stance on illegal immigration, with border patrols and control points playing a big part role. However, Chinas a big place with a long border, so keeping people out isnt the easiest thing to do. In Longzhou, a county in Guanxi Province, the border with Vietnam stretches for 184 kilometers on land and 22 kilometers on waters, with many trails and paths for patrols to keep an eye on. Luckily, since last summer, they have had a new secret weapon in their arsenal  geese.

In June of last year, Longzhou County took the lead in testing geese as part of a complex strategy to prevent immigration and soon reported surprisingly positive results. Apparently, geese proved to be much more alert to strangers and unusual noises than dogs, helping border agents to capture several people trying to enter the country illegally.

By September of last year, geese teams were already being deployed to border control points along Longzhous border, and before long, every border control team featured at least a pair of geese. According to China News, two geese, one dog, and two local border residents represent the standard border control team in the county these days.

Many villages and towns in Longzhou County are surrounded by high mountains, dense forests, and a spiderweb-like network of paths that people can use to sneak into the country. However, the introduction of geese has proven very effective at preventing immigration and the smuggling of various goods and wildlife.

The geese are very sensitive to sound, Li Fei, a local border control agent stationed in Naguan, told reporters. They will scream when there is a slight disturbance, and they will scream even louder when they see strangers.

In fact, geese have proven such a valuable asset in Longzhou that they have been promoted in other districts of Chongzuo City in recent months. There are now more geese than dogs involved in Chinas epidemic prevention centers on the border with Vietnam.

There are currently about 400 dogs and 500 geese distributed between the more than 300 border epidemic prevention and control checkpoints, and the number of birds is expected to increase even more.
Hikmet Kaya, a retired forest technician from Turkey, is being praised as the main driving force behind an impressive ecological achievement  turning a barren hill in Sinop city into a green oasis of million trees.

During his 24-year tenure as Head of Afforestation at Boyabat Forestry Operations Department in Sinops Boyabat district, Hikmet Kaya focused on afforestation, planting over 25 million saplings on a barren hill overlooking Sinop and turning it into a green oasis. He began work in 1978, and focused on afforestation in the steppe areas of Boyabat, relying both on specialized teams and the local community to transform inhospitable land into a green oasis for both humans and animals. Even though he retired in 2002, Hikmet Kayas project lived on, and today he is regarded as somewhat of a local hero.

Photo: AA, IHA

Hikmet Kaya was in the news recently, after being invited to Sinop to celebrate his great work. Photos of him holding up a before-and-after picture of the area he helped transform recently went viral in Turkey, as they show just how much of a difference his work has done in a country where deforestation and desertification are huge issues.

The transformation of those areas into forests has been my biggest source of pride, Kaya told reporters. After many years, we have ensured that our district has more forest assets compared to those days. It is a very good feeling.

Although not many remember what the area afforested by Hikmet Kaya used to look like a few decades ago, its worth pointing out that around 30 million saplings were planted during his tenure. The before-and-after images he was recently photographed holding show exactly what a huge number that is.

Everyone should protect the forests with care, Kaya said when asked about the future.

Hikmet Kayas achievement reminded us of other amazing eco-warriors we featured in the past, people like Sebastiao Ribeiro Salgado, the Brazilian man who brought a subtropical rainforest back to life, or Ma Sanxiao, a double amputee who dedicated his life to planting trees. And who could forget the female Vigilantes who have been protecting a forest in India for over 20 years?
THE peatlands of the Midlands have been highlighted as a tourism attraction by Senator Pippa Hackett in the Seanad.

The Offaly Minister was welcoming the countys inclusion in the Hidden Heartlands of Failte Irelands marketing campaign.

Im delighted Offaly is being recognised for all that it has to offer, said the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.

The Hidden Heartlands brand is centred around Irelands natural rural beauty, untouched heritage and outdoor activities - things which Ireland's Hidden Gem, Offaly, has in abundance.

Explore the 50km of trails and see the natural re-colonisation and pastureland in the Midlands bog and how it provides a new habitat for the parks biodiversity.

Indeed, bogs are something we have in abundance in Offaly. And while we all know the importance of preserving our bogs in the battle against climate change, they also offer a unique habitat for wildlife and biodiversity.

At the raised bog in Clara, you can walk the boardwalk and experience ten thousand years of history in the ten square kilometres.

In Lough Boora Discovery Park, a wealth of flora displays and wildlife can be spotted amongst the grasslands, lakes, and wetlands.

And while this is just a snapshot, I hope that I have raised awareness of this beautiful region and shown what Offaly, a county with nature and communities at its heart, has to offer.

Minister Hackett's remarks in the Seanad followed Failte Ireland's announcement earlier this week that all of county Offaly is now located in its Hidden Heartlands marketing region.

Previously, the county was included in 'Ireland's Ancient East' and when the Hidden Heartlands was launched in April, 2018, the parts of Offaly along the river Shannon were included in the new brand.

After a review of the branding, Offaly, along with all of Westmeath and Cavan, were shifted by the State tourism promotion agency to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands in an effort to ensure clearer messaging to markets.
Olean, NY (14760)

Today

Cloudy with light rain developing later in the day. High 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 57F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A new lung cancer drug that has only been tested in China was soundly rejected by an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.

Known as sintilimab, the treatment is a type of immunotherapy that unleashes the immune system to attack tumors. It was developed and tested in China by Innovent Biologics, which entered into an agreement with Eli Lilly that would have allowed Lilly to seek approval to market the drug in the United States, The New York Times reported. It was to be used alongside chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

"We had hoped that sintilimab could have played a positive role for patients and the U.S. healthcare system through an aggressive pricing strategy," Lilly said in a statement released Thursday. "Along with Innovent, we will continue to work with the FDA as it completes its review of the sintilimab application."

Dr. Richard Pazdur, who heads the FDAs oncology unit, explained on Thursday why he had backtracked from a far more welcoming attitude in 2019, when he said the agency might consider a drug tested solely in China.

Over the past two or three years, this country has experienced tremendous social change, he said during the meeting, the Times reported, and diversity in clinical trial participants has become a critical issue.

A drug tested only in China is a step backward, he said.

More troubling was the results of an FDA staff analysis that skewered the methodological grounds of the Chinese trial, the Times reported. It cited a failure to provide patients in the control group with an approved therapy that is standard of care; questioned the competence and experiecne of some of the investigators; noted a patient population that was younger, had more men, and had fewer smokers than typical U.S. lung cancer patients; and criticized use of an endpoint that isn't always reliable.

Lilly had promoted its FDA application by saying that it wanted to use sintilimab as a wedge to break the sky high prices of many cancer immunotherapies.

Already on the market are several other similar dugs, which make cancers vulnerable by blocking a protein that tumors use as sort of an invisible shield. These immunotherapy drugs treat such cancers as colon, breast, liver and lung, and carry list prices that are nearly identical  about $150,000 a year per patient.

Lilly said it would charge 40 percent less if its drug were approved. Sintilimab costs $6,000 a year in China.

Breaking the price lock on such drugs is a big deal, Brad Loncar, a biotechnology industry investor, told the Times.

Im not aware of any precedent of a company, especially of Lillys size and credibility, announcing that a discounted price like this is how they planned to innovate, Loncar noted.

Now, he added, the near certainty that the drug application would be rejected by the full agency means that a real option for substantially lower drug prices is being closed in the U.S.

But Dr. Scott Ramsey, a health economist and cancer specialist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, was among those who were skeptical of Lillys motives. Yeah, right, he told the Times.

Are they talking about the stranglehold on prices that their current drugs contribute to? Ramsey asked. Maybe they could start by knocking 40 percent off their price for Cyramza  a stomach cancer drug with a list price of $13,400.32 to $15,075.36 per month  and Verzenio, a breast cancer drug with a similar price tag.

I dont buy it, Ramsey said.

More information

Visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute for more on lung cancer treatments.

SOURCE: The New York Times
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Britain's envoy to Canada says the two countries are co-operating on a tough new set of sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine.
The raids took place just weeks before last year's German elections and targeted top candidate Olaf Scholz among others. Now, a court has invalidated search warrants granted to public prosecutors.
On her first official Middle East trip, the German foreign minister has visited a refugee camp in Jordan. She said that though Germany was the second-biggest donor to the country, it might give more in certain areas.
New US intelligence suggests Russia could intend to attack Ukraine before the end of the Olympics. The news comes after the US and European nations told their nationals to leave Ukraine.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck addressed concerns about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline while in Warsaw, saying: "These days, energy policy is always geopolitical."
The head of London's Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick has resigned after a succession of scandals over behavior within the force. Dick said she had no choice after losing the support of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
euronews (in English) 27 Apr 2022

Tensions have increased recently in and around the Moldovan breakaway region that few in Europe have heard of, but which could..
Rumble 22 Mar 2022

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks about Twitter trying to cover for Joe Bidens new world order remark, an overview of..
The International Testing Agency says it will challenge a decision to lift a ban on Russian skater Kamila Valieva. The teenager tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The US president said "things could go crazy quickly" as NATO raised the alarm of Russian live-fire drills in Belarus. Biden warned the US would not carry out an evacuation of its citizens in the event of conflict.
Jerry Harris, star of the Netflix TV series Cheer, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of receiving child pornography and soliciting sex from minors.
US President Joe Biden signed an executive order unfreezing billions in Afghan funds in US banks. The frozen Afghan central bank assets will be split between humanitarian aid and the victims of the September 11 attacks.
Thousands of people from around France are traveling to Paris in convoys to protest pandemic restrictions. Police have been told to deal "firmly" with anyone blocking roads.
My colleagues and students are all very calm here and regular life goes on, says Juan Tec.
Thousands of opponents of COVID rules were encamped on the outskirts of Paris early Saturday after driving in convoys from across..

Japan Today 12 Feb 2022
Russia has massed enough troops near Ukraine to launch a major invasion, Washington said on Friday, as it urged all US citizens to leave the country.
United States President Joe Biden urged American residents in Ukraine to evacuate the country as soon as possible because "things could go crazy quickly." The Democrat added that he will not be sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to pull out Americans because the situation was not a world war.
Newsy 25 Feb 2022

Watch VideoWith a military intervention in Ukraine off the table, and countries around the world looking to heap more financial..
Britons are being advised against all travel to Ukraine and those already in the country are being told to leave while they can.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday that a Russian military invasion could begin at any time, though he added: "We are not saying that a decision has been taken."
Three former defense contractor executives face up to 5 years in prison on charges they illegally funneled donations to Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
William voiced his concerns in a speech at the Dubai Expo 2020 and said despite the gains made at the recent Cop26 UN climate change summit 'we are still in a race against time'
The Defence Secretary will travel to Moscow on Friday to meet his Russian counterpart in an attempt to quell the crisis on the Ukrainian border.
The biggest donor to Durham University has withdrawn his financial support over what he describes as ridiculous and..

Belfast Telegraph 10 Feb 2022
Spain has announced it will drop its entry requirement for children over 12 from non-EU countries such as the UK to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
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Russia could mount an invasion of Ukraine at any time, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said as he warned that conflict would have tragic consequences for both countries.
Wibbitz Top Stories 14 Apr 2022

Russia Threatens, to Move Nukes into Baltic Region, if NATO Expands Any Further.

On April 14, Russia warned that if Finland..
A British journalist who was being detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been released, the PA news agency understands.
American citizens should leave, should leave now, the president said in an NBC interview, adding that rescues in a conflict zone during a Russian invasion would risk world war.
"That's a world war  when Americans and Russians start shooting at one another, we're in a very different world than we've ever been in," President Biden said.
The Biden administration on Friday escalated its dire warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could take place within days, even as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis continued. (Feb. 11)


Chicago has one of the largest concentrations of Ukrainians in the U.S. and many of them maintain strong ties to their home country  are bracing for the worst amid Russia-Ukraine conflict tensions.
The federal government sent nearly $12 million in Canada Emergency Response Benefit payments to more than 1,600 people with foreign addresses during the first seven months of the pandemic.
A plan for an affordable housing portion of a new development in Yellow Springs, Ohio has reportedly been scrapped after comedian Dave Chappelle added his voice to those opposing it.



#yellowsprings #davechappelle
Hong Kong: 1,325 positive cases recorded

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 1,325 additional COVID-19 infections, comprising 1,323 locally acquired cases and two imported.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority announced two preliminarily confirmed patients passed away.

An 86-year-old male patient with chronic diseases was admitted to the Caritas Medical Centres accident and emergency department yesterday due to a fever.

He preliminarily tested positive during an admission screening and was transferred to Yan Chai Hospital for isolation treatment. His condition became serious and continued to deteriorate. The patient eventually died at 4.07am.

In addition, an 88-year-old female patient with chronic diseases was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday due to a positive result from a rapid test conducted in an elderly home.

She tested preliminary positive at a subsequent hospital admission screening and was under isolation treatment in a stable condition. Her condition became serious today and continued to deteriorate, she eventually passed away at 2.17pm.

In view of the positive sewage test results of Begonia House, So Uk Estate and Un Shing House, Un Chau Estate in Sham Shui Po, the Government tonight made a restriction-testing declaration to cover the building, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing.

As regards the positive sewage test results found in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, Yuen Long and North Districts, the Home Affairs Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in those areas from tomorrow.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Woodville, AL (35768)

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Russia's troop build-up and military exercises on the border with Ukraine amount to an escalation, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said.
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Fiona Hill, former intelligence officer on Russia and Eurasian affairs and former National Security Council member, on the tensions between Russia, the U.S. and Ukraine.
The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried
Daily Caller 23 Dec 2020

'We are confident that when the investigation is completed the true facts will be revealed'
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Harrison Street, an investment management firm exclusively focused on alternative real assets, has raised over 800 million ($912m) in equity for its third European alternative real estate fund, Harrison Street European Property Partners III, SLP RAIF, its largest ever European fund.

The Chicago-based firm said in a press release that Fund III is approximately 75% committed to date and includes a life sciences portfolio of over 2 million square feet, making Harrison Street one of the largest private real estate owners of life sciences assets in the UK.

Additional Fund III investments include build-to-rent and student accommodation in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, the release added.

Launched in 2015, Harrison Street's European strategy encompasses alternative investments in student accommodation, build-to-rent residential, and life sciences real estate. The firm's growing and diverse European team is based in London and includes over 40 dedicated professionals, comprising 14 nationalities speaking 17 languages.

In this time, the firm has acquired or developed 70 assets, including over 18,000 student accommodation beds and 2,600 residential units, in partnership with 14 operating partners in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Spain. Additional investments in the near-term pipeline are anticipated to expand the firm's footprint to the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, and Portugal.

Paul Bashir, Chief Executive Officer of Harrison Stree......................

To view our full article Click here


Andre Steyn B. G., Opalesque Geneva: An Africa equity-focused fund manager believes that it pays to bet on Africa's earnings growth. Steyn Capital Management, an African and frontier markets-focussed equities investor located in the Winelands surrounding Cape Town, South Africa, has been investing in African markets since 2009. It manages more than US$700m in a South African long/short fund, as well as pan-African and global frontier markets long-only funds. The Steyn Capital Africa Fund, a value-oriented long-only fund that invests in Africa (ex. SA) equities, returned 34% in 2021 and 90% since inception in September 2011. Almost all of the portfolio performance was driven by earnings growth that year. The Steyn Capital SNN QI Hedge Fund, a value-orientated long/short portfolio investing in South African equities that follows a bottom-up stock selection approach, returned 51% in 2021. It has annualised 17% since its May 2009 inception. CEO Andre Steyn tells Opalesque about opportunities in Africa, his outlook, and changes in investor sentiment.

Opalesque: How did African equities fare in 2021? How has your portfolio developed? Andre Steyn: African equity markets had a respectable year in 2021, with the average of three pan-African indices that we track advancing by 11.3%. Our own Africa fund returned 34.17% for 2021, handily beating the indices. We observed a resumption of earnings growth from African businesses, with the weighted average operating earnings of the companies in our portfolio advancing by 29% during the year. This earnings increase drove almost all of our fund's performance during the period, meaning that our portfolio is still valued at only 5.4 times operating earnings, which is close to a decade-low valuation. Opalesque: What opportunities are you currently targeting? Andre Steyn: We are seeing most opportunity in consumer stocks, which have been out of favour but are obvious beneficiaries of Africa's youthful demographics and rapid urbanization, which we believe will result in strong demand growth for many years to come. We are also finding interesting investments in telecoms with continued growth in voice and data, as well as unrecognized mobile money franchises. Across Africa, a number of telecoms have been compelled by local regulators to list their businesses on a local exchange, sometimes leading to very interesting investment opportunities. Opalesque: What is your macro-economic outlook for the region? Andre Steyn: Higher resource and agriculture prices and a resumption of tourism will be a boon to most African markets we are active in over the coming year. Resources and agriculture form up to a quarter of GDP in Africa, a figure up to ten-fold higher than is most developed markets. The oil price is 80% higher than a year ago, copper is a quarter more expensive, cobalt and coffee have both almost doubled, and Tanzanian tourist arrivals are up 225% to pre-Covid levels. If these factors persist, and we think they will, we will see strong earnings growth in 2022 from many African companies. Opalesque: Have you observed any shift in investor sentiment towards Africa? What is your outlook? Andre Steyn: We have been surprised that African equities have remained so loathed given the strong earnings growth, as well as the obvious demographic tailwinds (you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that demographics is going to be a headwind for much of the world over the coming decades, while Africa stands out as a major beneficiary of an increase in working-age population). We believe the reason is once again to be found in competitors shutting down and selling down their portfolios indiscriminately. The 2020 year saw the exit of three African investment firms with a three-decade track record, while the 2021 year saw the exit of another two African investment firms with roots stretching back to the 1990s. One of these African managers shut down his firm to relaunch as an ESG manager of ETFs, which is the polar opposite of active investing in African equities. We would call that a contrarian indicator. Recently, we have seen some inbound interest into Africa from high-quality investors, many of whom are cognisant that the very strong performance from developed markets, especially the US, has made those markets expensive, reducing prospective returns. The table below illustrates that the S&P500's 322% return over the last decade has been driven more by multiple expansion, rather than earnings growth, while the reverse is true in Africa. We believe that this sets up African equities markets for strong prospective returns.

*** The Steyn Capital Africa Fund's top five performance contributors for 2021 were Bralirwa, a Rwandan brewer, MTN Ghana, a telecommunications company, Guinness Nigeria, a brewer, Tanzania Portland Cement, and British American Tobacco Kenya. The top five performance detractors were WPP ScanGroup, an advertising business, Tanzania Breweries, Eastern Company, a tobacco manufacturing company, Nigerian Breweries, and Alexandria Pharmaceuticals. The fund made a new position in Nestle Ivory Coast and exited its position in Onatel, a mobile business. At the end of the year, the fund held 97% of its capital in 18 positions. The largest geographical equity exposures were Egypt (19%), Tanzania (18%), Nigeria (16%) and Rwanda (12%). The South Africa hedge fund held 101% of the capital in 34 long positions and -31% in 23 short positions, for a net market exposure of 70%. The portfolio has a beta adjusted market exposure of approximately 30%.

Watch Opalesque.TV's VIRTUAL MANAGER VISIT video with Andre Steyn in Cape Town: https://www.opalesque.com/virtualmanagervisit/#previousManagervisits_6 Related article: 21.Jun.2021 The Big Picture: Why should investors allocate to Africa

Past Big Picture articles:
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

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Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low near 40F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
GREEN TOWNSHIP  The Green Township board of trustees has secured a property for the second of two new internet towers, approving a lease agreement with George Derby for use of property on Round Lake Road.

The board approved a lease agreement with Paul Owens for property at 180th and Beach Road in December. The lease with Derby could not be implemented until a survey of the property was completed.

The survey is done, and the lease agreement is a duplicate of the one with Paul, township supervisor Jim Chapman told the board.

The agreement is for a 25-year lease of the property for a single payment of $3,000.

Originally proposed in July 2021, Chapman said he hoped to have the towers in before the start of the school so that students would have better access to the internet, however, delays in securing suitable locations for the towers has slowed the process.

The original recommendation included one tower on township park property along the Muskegon River near Old Logging Road and River Road, which would serve the northeast section of the township, and a second tower in the area west of U.S. 131 along 230th Avenue, which would service the northwest section.

Plans to place a tower on park property along the Muskegon River were derailed after the township was threatened with a lawsuit by a neighboring property owner and the plan to place a tower on property along 230th Avenue did not pan out, leaving the township to look for alternate properties.

Subsequent plans included areas on private property, and the township had to get permission from the property owners to move forward.

Monies from the American Rescue Plan Act funding were earmarked for the project in the amount of $148,000 for purchase of the towers and installation.

In addition to delays in securing the location, Chapman said things have run a little over budget from what they had set aside from the ARPA funding, so the board will likely have to make some adjustments about where the additional money will come from.

During the meeting, the board also approved a bid proposal from Gerber Construction for installation of the concrete bases needed for the towers at a cost of $64,000, by a vote of 6-1, with trustee Roger Carroll voting no.

Carroll said he was not 100% in agreement with going into debt more than what the board had previously discussed and would like to hear options for the additional funding needed before approving the proposal.

Both of these projects are over budget, and we are looking at options for financing them, Chapman said. We need to approve it soon to get on the schedule with Gerber. Nothing can start until the foundation base is in, and I would like to get this going.

Chapman said he and township staff would be looking for additional funding avenues and bring the information back to the board.

POINT BROADBAND ISSUES

In other business, Chapman told the board he has sent a letter to Point Broadband, formerly Casair, regarding their recent activity in the township.

In the letter, Chapman states that fiber optic crews currently laying fiber in the township have the neighborhoods up in arms.

Your crews are putting lines through residential areas with no regards for the community, Chapman said in the letter. I looked at a site this morning where they ignored 15 foot of open area and bored across four (residential) lots going through the root balls of trees. They then quit for the night after digging a 4 foot deep hole in a front yard.

He went on to say there are torn up yards all over the four subdivisions, with holes and piles of dirt left everywhere, along with equipment left abandoned overnight in the middle of lawns.

Further, I have been told that, when questioned, the crews are telling irate people that their lack of notice is the fault of the township as we were notified, Chapman said. That is false. My last communication with you was last summer when I was told Point Broadband had no intention of extending fiber or wireless within Green Township within the foreseeable future.

If the company intends to convince residents to abandon Charter/Spectrum for Point Broadband, efforts to keep their goodwill should be at or near the top of the priority list, he said, but they have missed the mark.

You will obviously have significant damage to make good come spring, he said.

The township board approved a contract with Point Broadband, giving the company permission to lay internet service lines within the township, in March 2021.

The Metropolitan Extension Telecommunications Rights-of-way Oversight Act requires that a telecommunications service provider file an application for a permit and pay a one-time $500 application fee to each municipality whose boundaries include public rights-of-way for which access or use is sought by the provider.

In addition, when fully implemented, service providers pay an annual maintenance fee of 5 cents per linear foot of wiring.
Bay Future, Inc., the Midland Business Alliances neighboring counterpart, has been allocated $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help small businesses that have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a recent special meeting, the Bay County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to award the funding to Bay Future. The economic development agency will partner with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Lake Huron Region Michigan Small Business Development to implement programs they proposed to help the hard-hit small business community.

Like the Midland Business Alliance, Bay Future sprung into action at the beginning of the pandemic to help lead a variety of efforts to bring much-needed relief to struggling local businesses.

Bay County is proud to have committed $2 million of American Rescue funding to our partnership with these organizations to help Bay Countys economy move forward during these trying times, said Thomas Herek, Bay County Commission Chair.

Bay Future and its partners plan includes $1,050,000 for small business grant funding; $368,500 for small business and entrepreneurial support; and $581,500 to be used for workforce talent attraction and retention. The funding, according to Bay Future President and CEO Trevor Keyes, is a game-changer for the community.

We are certain the impact these initiatives will have on our small businesses and the long-term opportunities they will provide to Bay County will be great and measurable, Keyes said. We are working aggressively to get dollars back into the hands of our small businesses, the lifeblood of our economy.

Bay County has been awarded $20 million in ARPA funding and is soliciting public input on how to best use the money.

Ryan Tarrant, President & CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, addressed the talent and retention portion of the collaborating agencys efforts.

As communities compete for talent in a post-pandemic world, this program will provide Bay County the platform needed to build on the momentum we have experienced in the past decade, Tarrant said. Bay County has shown it is willing to take an aggressive stance as a community to compete for talent and future economic development.

Additionally, the funding allows us to pursue more placemaking efforts that create an even more vibrant and engaging community, Keyes added. This includes everything from public art initiatives to better utilization of vacant spaces and more. Ideas for these efforts will be generated through engagement with the community.
A data breach at Morley Companies in Saginaw is threatening the security of the personal information belonging to more than 521,000 current employees, former employees and various clients.

"Morley has sent notification of this incident to potentially impacted individuals and has provided resources to assist them," the company said in a press release.

The attack may have exposed names, home addresses, social security numbers, birth dates, client identification numbers, health insurance information, medical diagnostics and medical treatment information, according to the company.

The data security incident prompted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to issue consumer protection reminders in a press release on Friday.

While Morely's notification letters going to potentially affected individuals are legitimate, bad actors may take the opportunity to use the breach to access additional personal information, according to the Attorney General's Office.

"Watch out for fraudulent emails, phone calls, and text messages seeking personal or banking information in connection to the Morley breach," Nessel said in the release. "As recipients of the notice will see in Morleys letter, the company will explain steps to take to protect the information, as well as access to free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. If you receive other correspondence that asks you do to something like call a number to confirm your personal information, assume its a scam."

The Attorney General's Office provides resources for consumers to review anytime on a variety of topics, including "Data Breaches: What to do Next Consumer Alert."

Consumer complaints can also be filed online at the attorney general's website here. If you have questions, call 877-765-8388.
Midland Public Schools will soon offer two new programs for students, younger and older, to fit their educational needs.

Plans are currently in the works to offer early college and an elementary advanced learning program at the start of the 2022-23 school year. These programs will help MPS create equitable learning opportunities to meet the needs of all students, said Associate Superintendent Penny Miller-Nelson.

Early college

The Early Middle College program will be a three-year program that will allow current 10th-grade MPS students to get an associate's degree or 60 credit hours towards a four-year bachelors degree. This would be through taking classes with either Delta College or Davenport University starting in a students junior year.

However, this means students in this program would have to be in MPS for an additional fifth year, although they would be taking classes at either of the colleges full-time, said Curriculum Specialist for Auxiliary Education Steve Poole. These students will still be able to walk in the commencement ceremony with the fellow classmates at the end of their fourth year as usual, but will receive their high school diploma after their fifth year.

Students will either take classes on the college campuses during the school day or take them virtually. The classes the students will take will mostly be core curriculum classes, but they can still take electives, Poole said.

This program would be cost-free for students and parents, since MPS will cover the cost of the classes, Poole said. However, highly expensive textbooks may have to be covered by the students/guardians, he said.

Miller-Nelson said applications are not ready yet for this program. MPS applied to the Michigan Department of Education to be a part of this program and will not hear back until March. However, she is confident MPS will get that approval and students can start applying by March.

The program will start in the fall of 2022 for current 10th-grade students. Poole said in order to apply, students must have a 3.0 GPA, get two recommendations from teachers, answer short-answer questions, and have good school attendance.

Advanced learning

For the elementary students, Advanced Learning Program for Students (ALPS) is designed for students who could benefit from deeper and faster-paced learning.

Jen Servoss, elementary curriculum specialist, said this program will utilize the International Baccalaureate-Primary Years Program overarching framework, an inquiry-based framework of learning. The program will promote critical thinking and feature project-based learning.

The program will apply to grades 1-5 and will be housed in Central Park Elementary School, with one class per grade. The program is for qualifying students in all MPS elementary schools. Teachers will receive professional training to meet the needs of these advanced learners, Miller-Nelson said.

The program will start in the next school year, but it is not a program parents can apply for, Miller-Nelson noted. MPS will identify these students with established criteria and district level assessments. The district will also utilize I.Q. equivalent tests and teacher input to determine if a student is a good fit, she said.

According to the MPS weekly communique on Monday, for students who are identified for ALPS based on the first phase of the process, parents will be contacted by email in mid-February with information on the next steps.
The University of Utah is congratulating more than 9,600 students who were named to the fall 2021 dean's list. Jay Jindeel of Gladwin, whose major is listed as Asian Studies BA and Japanese BA, earned honors.

The University of Utah, located in Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, is the flagship institution of higher learning in Utah.
Paducah, KY (42003)

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Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

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Paducah, KY (42003)

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Scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 75F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Senegal has recorded 38 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), composed of two monitored contact cases and 36 cases resulting from community transmission confirmed by tests carried out on 1,568 samples, the Ministry of Health and Social Action announced here Friday
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday expressed concern over the arrest of a Sudanese former cabinet minister and two other high profile officials, calling for full respect of their human rights
Photo: (Photo : IRWAN ABDUL LATIF/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida Parents Facing Child Abuse Charges had entered a not guilty plea for forcing their adopted teenage son to live in a box inside the garage of their home. Charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment had been filed against Tracy and Timothy Ferriter.

The police discovered the box at the residence of the Ferriters when they reported that their 14-year-old son had been missing since the end of January. The mom told the cops that the box, roughly 8x8 foot, was supposed to be a temporary office and was later converted to a storage room.

However, the structure had a camera, a mattress, chair and desk, personal items like books, and a bucket used for urinating and defecating, per Fox News. The police also noticed the box's light source could only be turned on and off from the outside next to the deadbolt.

Read Also: Arizona Parents Face Child Neglect Charges for Leaving Son Home Alone for 2 Weeks

"No One Loves Me"

The police found the teenager when he resurfaced at the Independence Middle School. He detailed that his parents have been locking him up in the box for up to 18 hours a day for the last five years, especially when there are no classes.

According to WPTV, the teenager said he ran away because "no one loves me" and then asked the cops to arrest him because being in jail would be better than being at home. The investigators allege that the Florida parents may have been physically abusing their son, apart from locking him up.

The Ferriters were taken into custody while their son and three other kids in the house are now in the care of Child Protective Services. Tracy and Timothy faced the courts on Wednesday, February 9, and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment.

The judge has set their bond at $50,000 each. The parents were also ordered not to have any contact with their children without the expressed permission of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Teen Suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder

However, Nellie King, the defense attorney, said that the Florida parents locked the 14-year-old boy because he suffered from reactive attachment disorder (RAD). According to the Cleveland Clinic, RAD is common in kids who have experienced emotional and physical neglect and abuse. The condition prevents them from forming an emotional bond with their primary cares or parental figures.

Tracy did inform the police when they filed for the missing person's report that their son had several behavioral disorders, which has often landed him in trouble in school. One of the other kids also confirmed to the cops that their brother was locked in the box if he misbehaved or got into trouble. The police report did not indicate that the other children had been abused.

Neighbors told the investigators that they had seen the box in the garage, but the Ferriters and their kids mostly kept to themselves. After coming from Arizona, the Ferriters have been living in the same neighborhood for 16 years.

Related Article: Turpin Children Continues to Suffer as California Guardianship System Fails Them Again
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Colorado mother who fakes child's illnesses was given a 16-year prison sentence. Kelly Turner pleaded guilty last month to charges related to the death of her seven-year-old daughter, Olivia Gant. The Guardian reported that the mother was charged with child abuse, charitable fraud, and theft.

Authorities said that Turner lied to doctors about Olivia's medical history, causing the girl to receive unnecessary operations and medications until her death at a Denver hospice care in 2017. Turner also publicly sought funds and sympathy from TV networks and charitable organizations like Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Charges against Turner for Faking Child's Illnesses

In October 2019, 9News reported that she was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of child abuse, three counts of theft, three counts of charitable defraud, two counts of attempting to influence a public official, and forgery.

However, Turner pleaded guilty on January 3, weeks before the trial. On Wednesday, District Court Judge Patricia Herron said that the plea agreement calls for 16 years of a prison sentence, and she would serve three years of probation upon her release. Herron also emphasized that the ruling could not be reconsidered or reduced.

The charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and forgery were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea, Denver CBS Local reported.

Ara Ohanian, Kelly's lawyer, said that "she is not guilty of murdering her child" but opted to plead guilty because she did not want her family to go through a trial.

The indictment alleged that Turner received $538,000 Medicaid system, committed fraud to foundations that provide memorable experiences to terminally ill children, and the hundreds of people who donated to her online fundraising page. Reports indicate that she also stole from a funeral home and a cemetery that handled the girl's arrangements.

Herron ensured that Turner shall not and will not benefit from Grant's death. Instead, the court ordered to donate the money generated from the case to the charities that Turner defrauded, Herron said.

Read Also: Child Abuse: Four-year-Old Boy Allegedly Beaten to Death by Nine-year-Old Sister, Caretaker Arrested

Mother faked child's illnesses

Turner moved to Colorado from Texas with her three daughters. In 2012, she told local doctors that Olivia had numerous ailments and diseases. She asked and convinced medical professionals to perform surgeries and provide prescriptions for illnesses her daughter did not have.

When Olivia had her first ER visit, a doctor thought she seemed normal. However, a year later, she underwent an operation in the same hospital to remove a portion of her intestine and insert a feeding tube.

Several doctors at the Children's Hospital Colorado thought that Olivia's medical problems were not terminal. Doctors said that the mother was so persuasive that they convinced one of the physicians to sign a "do not resuscitate." In the final weeks of Olivia's life, Turner also asked the doctors to withdraw all of her daughter's medical care, including total parenteral nutrition, a procedure that provided nourishment to the patient through an intravenous line, 9News reported.

The investigation on Turner began when she also claimed that her other daughter has cancer, although medical records show it is not true. The mom also claimed that Olivia had intestinal failures for years, but an autopsy later revealed no evidence of such a condition.

Related Article: Oxford School Shooting: Suspect Showed Red Flags and Disturbing Texts to Parents Before Incident
Photo: (Photo : Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

The state of New York is set to release batches of one-time payments, estimated at $870 per household, to at least 155,000 families.

In a statement made Tuesday, February 8, Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that the payments would come from the $64 million Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund to help families and kids in multi-generational households and survivors of domestic violence. The payments will help parents cover expenses for diapers, food, rent, and relocation assistance.

"The pandemic has laid bare the inequities that exist across our society, leaving vulnerable New Yorkers who were already struggling even further behind," Hochul said, adding that her administration is taking action to ease the poor's burden brought on by the pandemic, especially among the younger children.

Read Also: Vegan Fridays: NYC Public Schools Will Have Plant-based School Lunches Every Friday

When and Who Can Get the Stimulus Payment?

Thus, starting February 2022, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will be issuing the stimulus payment to families qualified under the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund's Public Assistance Program. New York families enrolled in the food stamps initiative, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will also receive incentives.

Those confirmed in either program, Public Assistance or SNAP, may expect to get $140 for each child under three years old to cover expenses for diapers. According to The Sun, the total cost for this stimulus payment will benefit at least 128,500 households.

Then, in April, the state government will be rolling out $730 as one-time SNAP benefits to help families pay for their grocery expenses. This payment will benefit families with kids below 17 and adults above 55 years old. An estimated 26,300 households are expected to receive this food assistance.

Both diapers and food payments will be dispersed through the Electronic Benefit Transfer of the participant's enrolled account for either Public Assistance or SNAP. If the participants qualify for both payments, they may expect to get $870 or more by spring.

What About Domestic Violence Survivors?

Domestic violence survivors may also qualify for financial aid under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for relocation expenses, rent payments, or home repairs. The state, however, has not yet detailed how much money will be dispersed from the $21.4 million funding set aside for the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV).

The agency's fact sheet stated that calls coursed through the New York State Hotline involving domestic violence cases had a 45 percent uptick during the pandemic. Before COVID-19, New York issued over 237,000 protection orders for victims.

Kelli Owen, the OPDV Executive Director, said that this funding would enable providers to closely work with the survivors who are mostly from families of color or Indigenous backgrounds. Owen also thanked the governor for her leadership and steadfast commitment to supporting the needs of the survivors.

Meanwhile, New York Senator Roxanne Persaud also thank Hochul for approving the pandemic assistance to help food-insecure households with newborns, toddlers, and the elderly. She noted that the pandemic has affected "every community and walk of life."

Relate Article: Additional $4,000 Annual Family Income May Help Boost Baby's Brain Development
Photo: (Photo : ERIC LALMAND/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

At least 11 states in America are dropping or modifying their mask mandates in schools this February, even as the experts said there are still substantial risks of community transmissions.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in an interview with WYPR that she does not recommend dropping the mask mandates as outbreaks and transmissions are still occurring in many communities. She believes that her agency has to uphold protecting the children so they can safely be in school as the pandemic is far from over.

However, as of Monday, February 7, the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington have announced removal or changes to its mask mandates indoors, which will take effect in the coming weeks. This has raised the alarm for many parents who worry for the health and safety of their children against COVID-19.

Read Also: Governor Murphy Defends New Jersey Mask Mandate for Toddlers in Daycare

Kids Can Still Wear Their Mask

However, CNN's medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen said that parents should not be worried because they can still let their children wear a face mask in school. Wen clarified that dropping the mask mandates simply means that state governments can no longer impose on this requirement.

However, this doesn't remove anyone's right to have that extra layer of protection. So, if the parents choose to let their kids keep wearing a face mask in the classroom, they are free to do so.

Wen also stressed that parents might also give their children another layer of protection by getting them vaccinated. In an interview with CNN, she said that many vaccination centers have stocks of the approved vaccines for children.

"The vaccine is a very powerful layer of protection because people who are vaccinated are less likely to contract COVID-19 and therefore less likely to transmit it, too," the doctor said.

Mom Sabila Kahn of New Jersey believes that dropping the mask mandate is a "recipe for disaster" when only 22 percent of kids between the ages of 5 to 11 years old are fully vaccinated. She feels that her kids' school should wait until the vaccination rate in their age group is higher before changing the rules.

The mom said that her children's mental health also suffered when they lost their grandfather to COVID-19 in 2020. She implied that the stress of dealing with the disease is also mental and physical.

Some Parents Welcome Mandate's Removal

Meanwhile, in Houston, parents welcome actions from officials to remove the mask mandates. The West U Parent Choice, a concerned parenting group, has been speaking with the school board to make mask-wearing optional, even as there is still no order from the state governor.

Parent Lauren Droubi believes that wearing a face mask should be their call and not anyone else's. She said that they have been asking the school board from the start for scientific evidence that wearing a face mask is effective against COVID-19 in the school setting, but they have been given none, per Click 2 Houston.

Related Article: Spike in COVID-19 Cases in Kids Attributed to Schools With No Face Mask Policy
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

A Melbourne mom who left her son in her car for five hours with windows rolled up and no air conditioning while playing poker was sentenced to three years in jail.

According to the 9News, Kaija Millar, 34, left her son Easton in her car for four hours and 50 minutes on January 5, 2020, as she played bingo and used the pokies at a Point Cook Hotel.

When Millar parked the car before 10 AM, the temperature was already 31C. She left her child inside the vehicle with the windows shut and no air conditioning. The temperature reached 37.5 degrees while she played bingo and the pokies.

Read Also: Colorado Mother Who Fakes Child's Illnesses to Raise Funds Gets 16 Years in Prison Sentence

Leaving toddler in a hot car

At around 3 PM, when she got back to the car, Easton was foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and unresponsive.

Millar rushed to the hotel to get help, telling people who helped that he was suffering from the bushfire smoke haze in the area. She also lied and said that Easton had only been in the car for two hours, with air conditioning and opened windows. She also told paramedics not to tell her husband that she had been at the pokies. She claimed that she checked on Easton every two hours.

The incident caused the toddler to have severe cerebral palsy, cognitive and communication impairments, blindness, and other illnesses that he may not recover from. The County Court Judge Felicity Hampel told The Age that Easton was a healthy baby before he was left in the car.

The consequence of leaving a toddler in a hot car

The court heard that Millar, a former Uber driver, has a relatively low IQ of between 62-73. She was also reported to have been struggling as a first-time mom and had experienced postnatal depression.

Judge Hampel said she accepted those factors may have impaired her judgment and reduced her moral culpability. However, Hampel noted that Millar knew she should not have left Easton inside the car as she lied when she asked for help for her son.

Millar maintained that she checked on her son every two hours, but Judge Hampel said that the CCTV from the outside showed that she never checked on her son until before 3 PM.

Hampel also said that Easton's disabilities were a consequence of her actions. According to the judge, the baby is now entirely dependent on carers all his life.

"Your son suffered these injuries because you left him unattended and uncared for inside a locked car on a scorching hot day," Hampel added.

Judge Hampel also noted that Millar was ultimately remorseful of her actions, pleading guilty to a single charge of negligently causing serious injury. The charge carries a jail term of ten years at most. However, she also found that the mother may not care for her son.

Melbourne's Magistrate Court was told that Millar is now estranged from her husband, Steve.

According to DailyMail, Steve's parents and brothers had been accompanying him to the hospital for Easton's check-ups.

Related Article: Child Abuse: Four-year-Old Boy Allegedly Beaten to Death by Nine-year-Old Sister, Caretaker Arrested
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At a Glance Experts Rating Pros Privacy and anonymity are top priorities

Accepts cash payments for added anonymity Cons Smaller number of servers

Limited country selection Our Verdict OVPN is a relatively small VPN service that takes privacy very seriously. Its limited to 19 country choices, with less than 100 servers in the network. Yet the speeds are pretty good, it supports U.S. Netflix streaming, as well as several other services such as Disney+ and Hulu, and multi-hop is free for subscribers who pay for six months or more.

Price When Reviewed

OVPN : $4.99 per month

Best Prices Today  OVPN

Retailer Price Delivery OVPN $4.99 View

OVPN in brief:

P2P allowed: Yes

Yes Business location: Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden Number of servers: 96

96 Number of country locations: 19

19 Cost: $59.88 per year

$59.88 per year VPN protocol: OpenVPN

OpenVPN Data encryption: ChaCha20-Poly1305 (OpenVPN 2.5+)

ChaCha20-Poly1305 (OpenVPN 2.5+) Data authentication: DHE using RSA with 4096-bit key

DHE using RSA with 4096-bit key Handshake: TLSv1.3

The first time we reviewed OVPN, it was a bit disappointing. The service got so many things right but performance just wasnt up to snuff. These days thats not a concern. OVPN isnt fast enough to make it into our top 10 speed demons, but it is in the top 20.

The big appeal of OVPN is how seriously it takes privacy and security. OVPN was one of the earliest VPN services to adopt diskless servers, which run the machines operating system and VPN software entirely in RAM. Write permissions have also been removed for OpenVPN processes and syslogs on each server. In addition, the servers are configured to not accept physical console access; its also not possible to use the servers USB ports or hook up a keyboard.

You can read all about its setup on the companys blog and even see photos of all of its colocated servers (click on the location names underneath the map).

Thats a reassuring approach for a VPN aimed at maximizing user privacy.

Note: This review is part of our best VPNs roundup. Go there for details about competing products and how we tested them.

Services and features

OVPN with an active connection showing bandwidth usage. IDG

Not much has changed with the design of the OVPN app on Windows. OVPN still uses four basic tabs at the top: Connection, Statistics, Support, and Settings.

Connection offers to connect you to the best server in 19 different countries, or you can choose your server manually. With the latter method, you can select from a list of all available servers complete with their current loads, and the ping time in milliseconds between you and the server location. Those are two key stats to help you pick the best server possible.

Once youre connected, the app shows a graph of bandwidth usage along with some basic information such as the VPN connections IP address, and the time spent connected.

The Statistics tab shows both your up and down bandwidth in the last 60 minutes, and your usage over the last 24 hours. All of this data is saved locally, and does not get sent to OVPN.



The Settings section is pretty straightforward, with a large number of sliders allowing you to turn features on or off. Theres not much here to turn on or off, really, unless you want to activate OpenVPN over TCP port 443. You can also activate a feature that automatically connects to an OVPN connection when the client starts. Other than that there isnt much to turn on or off.

IDG

OVPN provides an internet kill switch, and IPv6 is automatically activated. It also enables compression by default, and offers the usual options to launch on boot and automatically connect.

Finally, OVPN offers a multi-hop feature that you can activate by clicking the second drop-down menu item under the Connection tab. Multi-hop allows you to further hide your location by sending your traffic through two servers before hitting the internet instead of just one. OVPN markets multi-hop as an extra feature that costs an additional $5 per month, but its included for free when you sign up for six months or longer.

Performance

In our tests, OVPN did well. Overall, based on five country locations around the globe, tested over three days at three different times, OVPN maintained about 31.6 percent of the base speed.

Thats not as good as last time when OVPN maintained around 44 percent. Nevertheless, OVPNs speeds are very good and should be appropriate for pretty much anything you want to do.

Privacy, anonymity, and trust

OVPN, like Mullvad, doesnt require an email address to sign up. You can provide one to aid in account recovery should you forget your password, but the choice is yours.

OVPN only requires a username and password, and the website will automatically generate a numeric username for you if you prefer. That makes for a better level of anonymity, or pseudo-anonymity, than most VPN services provide.

OVPNs country list. IDG

As weve already mentioned, OVPNs privacy policy says it wont keep any logs, and the company has taken physical actions to make sure its servers cant keep any data. Thats outstanding. OVPN also provides a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that blocks ads and trackers and will block select websites unless youre using a live VPN connection with OVPN.

OVPN is operated by OVPN Integritet AB, which is based in Stockholm, Sweden. The companys founder is David Wibergh.

Mentioned in this article Mullvad Read our review MSRP: $6.88 per month Best Prices Today:

OVPN costs $59.88 per year, which works out to $4.99 per month. You can also opt for six months for $41.94, or a single month for $11. OVPN accepts payments via credit card, PayPal, cryptocurrency, or even cash sent via mail. In addition to the cash, OVPN requires you to include a code so the company can properly assign credit to your account. OVPN allows for four simultaneous device connections; however, for every year you subscribe to the service you get one extra connection and this is cumulative, meaning the more years you remain a customer the more simultaneous connections you get. You can read more about this policy on OVPNs website.

Conclusion

OVPNs design hasnt changed, but the service is cheaper, it still offers multi-hop for free to regular subscribers, it supports popular streaming services, and it pays a lot of attention to security and privacy.

Editors note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article.
Heavily armed men attacked government buildings in the capital Bissau while Embalo was chairing a cabinet meeting.



Embalo, 49, later told reporters that he had escaped the five-hour gun battle unharmed and that 11 people had been killed in the fighting.



On Thursday, he named former rear admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, who was head of the navy in the early 2000s, among three men he said had been arrested over the attack.



He named the other two as Tchamy Yala, also a former officer, and Papis Djeme, and said all three had been arrested.



Embalo linked the attack on government buildings to the transatlantic drug trade.



The former Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau is a hub for the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America into Africa.



The hands holding the guns are people with links to the big drug cartels, Embalo claimed.



The three men named by the president were arrested in April 2013 aboard a boat off the coast of West Africa by undercover operatives from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).



The DEA officers posing as traffickers said the men had attempted to negotiate a deal to import cocaine into Guinea-Bissau and then redirect it to North America and Europe.



Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, who was described by the DEA as a drug baron, was sentenced to four years in prison in the US while Tchamy Yala and Papis Djeme received jail terms of five years and six-and-a-half years respectively.



All three returned to Guinea-Bissau after their release.









Source: France 24









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A meeting between the government and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) which was aimed at finding a solution to the current industrial action ended Thursday morning in a deadlock.



The meeting, Graphic Online understands ended after three hours of deliberations, which was geared towards addressing UTAGs concerns.



Sources at the Ministry of Education told Graphic Online that "the parties could not arrive at any conclusion".



They said the parties, therefore, decided to head to the court to rule on the matter.



The High Court (Labour Division) last Thursday asked the parties to resolve the issue and report back to it Thursday.



In attendance at the meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum said, were the representatives of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the National Labour Commission.

Today's meeting followed an earlier one last Tuesday where some gains were said to have been made.

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.

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The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has revealed that Government has secured funding for the construction of the second phase of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital known as Ridge.



Upgraded and commissioned by former President John Dramani Mahama in 2016, the first phase of the hospital now has a bed capacity of 420 prior to which was 192.



However, according to the Director of the health facility, Dr. Emmanuel Srofenyoh, demand for health services have remained increasingly high forcing authorities of the hospital to discharge patients who have received some level of attention in order to make room for new patients, a phenomenon which has been the bane of the health sector.





The demand for healthcare services in the region is increasing rapidly and so even though we have a 420-bed capacity hospital, the demand is still high and we still have patients who come and we do not have a bed, sometimes we have to discharge someone in order to get a bed for a new patient, said the Director.



Dr. Emmanuel Srofenyoh made this observation in July 2021 when he called for the completion of phase two, during the celebration of the fifth anniversary since the operationalization of the first phase.



This concern has instigated the need to construct the second phase to augment the support services provided by the health facility, for which reason the government has been sourcing funding.





At a press briefing held at the Ministry of Informations conference room on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, Mr. Agyemang-Manu indicated that a fund has been sourced and processed in relation to the project, which would soon be effected.



We have found somebody who is bringing the money and I believe not long well get the regulatory processes done for us to do the Ridge hospital [phase 2], he said, adding that the government has not abandoned the hospital.



The second phase, if completed, would increase the capacity from 420 to 620-bed capacity together with other ancillary services to be provided by the facility.

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.

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Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Justice Yankson has lamented the rate at which well trained doctors and other medical professionals are leaving Ghana for greener pastures.



Dr Yankson said Ghana was losing many competent, well-trained health care professionals due to the poor economic conditions in the country, according to a report by Myjoyonline.com.



He disclosed that many of his colleague doctors had already left the country or were planning to leave.



We keep seeing numbers in professions that ideally we think is absurd but thats the reality. You go to work and you overhear professionals discussing their exit  either they are preparing themselves or in the next couple of days they may be leaving and you see it all the time, Dr Yankson was quoted by myjoyonline.com.



Data from statista.com show that there were 3,236 doctors in Ghana in 2019. However, the United Kingdom alone has 3,395 doctors of Ghanaian origin, according to a document by the House of Commons Library.



In 2020, Ghana was ranked 14th in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of doctor to patient ratio. Ghana has a 1:10,450 doctor to patient ratio which is below the World Health Organisation recommended 1:1,302.





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.

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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has asked the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to withdraw its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and job loss threat to health workers who have not been vaccinated.



It said the Service could demand that nurses who had not vaccinated produced negative test results but not threat of job loss.



The GMA said this in a press statement issued in Accra on Thursday and made available to the Ghana News Agency.



The statement, jointly signed by its President Dr. Frank Serebour, and General Secretary, Dr. Titus Beyuo, said while the mandate may be well-intended, it had the potential of reducing the already stressed and depleted health workforce.



It said the mandate if hastily implemented may worsen antivaccine sentiments and vaccine hesitancy, especially when COVID-19 case count continued to decline.



It said based on the current data on effectiveness and safety of the COVlD-19 vaccines approved for use in Ghana, the vaccines were safe and efficacious in helping combat the COVlD-19 pandemic.



"While vaccines are generally safe and effective, persons who take the vaccines may suffer some side effects as it may be the case with already existing vaccines that have been used for decades," the statement said.



It said the GMA fully supported the COVlD-19 vaccination rollout and said aside people who were excluded for medical reasons, every person living in Ghana should be encouraged to get vaccinated.



"While the government has the power to institute a vaccine mandate (as enshrined in the Public Health Act), the GMA is, however, of the considered opinion that vaccine mandates should only be issued as a last resort owing to the ethical, legal and practical challenges it may pose. GMA is also unaware of any Executive Instrument that has been promulgated given legal backing for any such vaccine," it said.



The statement, therefore, proposed that the GHS partnered with media houses, National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Civil Society Organizations, Religious bodies, traditional authorities, to ramp up public education on the need for COVlD-19 vaccinations, especially in local languages.



Also, Government, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and GHS should note the concerns of vaccine-hesitant individuals and groups and fashion out messages that directly addressed those concerns with local data and relevant information, adding that vaccines should be made accessible to all Ghanaians and as close as possible to their doorsteps.



The statement recommended that the strict enforcement of the COVID-19 preventive protocols should continue until the country achieved herd immunity through vaccination or a verifiable cure/treatment was found.



"We must all adhere to the preventive measures to ensure the safety of our families, friends and neighbours," it added.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A. Jinapor (MP) has cautioned communities benefiting from the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) not to engage the services of foreigners in their activities.



The Minister emphasised that the CMS is the preserve of Ghanaians and that any attempt by foreigners to infiltrate the sector will not be tolerated.



He vowed to revoke the license of any firm found to engage foreigners at its site.



The Minister further explained that government holds the position that Ghanaians must benefit from the countrys natural resources and the CMS is the surest way of manifesting that belief.



Hon. Jinapor issued the stern caution during the launch of the Tokwae Community Mining Scheme on Thursday, February 10, 2022 in the Asante Akyem South district of the Ashanti region



He disclosed that government as part of its job creation strategy is seeking to establish at least 50 CMS in 2022.



We want natives and the Elders of Asante Akyem South to enjoy maximum benefits so I am pleading with you not to allow foreign nationals to engage in it. This should not happen at the expense of the natives of this town, he maintained.



This Community Mining Scheme is for the people of Tokwae and Asante Akyem South. Foreigners are not allowed to participate in it. If one foreigner is found working in this mining operation, the mining license which I have signed as Minister will be revoked, he warned.



He stated that the new module will replace the archaic and more harmful galamsey practices and also empower mining communities economically.



So far, we have commissioned seven community mining schemes and this year under the direction of the President, we intend to commission 50 Community Mining Schemes. Agenda 50 Mining Community Schemes begins with Tokwae, he said.



Community Mining Scheme which is done responsibly and has regard for the environment which employs the teeming youth of the country is indeed an alternative to illegal small-scale mining and that is the strategy of the Ministry.



The Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem South, Hon. Kwaku Asante Boateng eulogized the Sector Minister for showing exemplary leadership in his role.



He urged the leaders and residents of the community to heed to the counsel by the minister and obey the regulations governing the CMS.



Hon. Kwaku Asante Boateng was happy with the scheme which he reckons will relieve the constituency of some headache with respect to unemployment.



Nana Eyim Kum Nipa II, Omanhene of Gyadam, expressed gratitude to the government for the initiative which would offer job opportunities to the teeming youth in the area and improve upon their living standards.



He pledged the support of the chiefs and other traditional leaders in promoting safety and enhancing security in the operations of the scheme.



The Municipal Chief Executive of Asante Akyem South, Alexanda Frimpong commended the government and the ministry for completing the processes which has culminated to the Launch of the scheme.



He appealed to the Minister to help deal with illegal small-scale mining activities in the area.



Prior to the Launch, the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the area, Nana Eyim Kum Nipa II.





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.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana, on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to begin a ten-day working visit to France, Guyana, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.



President Akufo-Addos first port of call will be Brest, France, where, at the invitation of H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, he will participate in the One Ocean Summit, to be held on Friday, 11th February, 2022. Up to 40 world leaders are due to make ambitious and concrete commitments towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution at what is billed as the first high-level summit dedicated to the ocean.



Thereafter, the President will, at the invitation of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, travel to Georgetown, Guyana, participate as a keynote speaker at the maiden International Energy Conference and Expo by Guyana to be held from 15th to 18th February, 2022. Ghana and Guyana are developing close working relations in the oil and gas sector.



Following the visit to Guyana, he will travel to Marburg, Germany, at the invitation of KENUP Foundation, to participate, together with Presidents Macky Sall and Paul Kagame of the Republics of Senegal and Rwanda respectively, at the presentation of the BioNtech modular production facility for MRNA vaccines on Wednesday, 16th February, 2022, towards a pan-African Project for the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa.



President Akufo-Addo will then travel to Paris, France, to meet with President Emmanuel Macron, together with other African Heads of State, on the security situation in the Sahel and Africa, in general, in the evening of 16th February, 2022. He will also participate in a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and some Heads of State from the ECOWAS Region in the morning of 17th February 2022, to discuss the security situation in ECOWAS.



After this meeting, he will travel to Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the Africa Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit to be held from 17th to 18th February, 2022, and then travel to the United Kingdom for a private visit.





The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah; the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Kwaku Afriyie; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.



President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Sunday, 20th February, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.









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.

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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has reiterated the governments commitment towards the mordenisation of VALCO, to improve efficiency and increase its capacity and make it globally competitive.



According to him, the Ministry is finalizing a memo to Cabinet for approval to proceed with search for a strategic investor to partner the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) in the modernisation and expansion of VALCO.



Addressing the press during a working visit to the smelter on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, Mr. Jinapor noted that a retrofitted VALCO will play a significant role in the development of Ghanas Integrated Aluminium Industry. He further noted that the development of Ghanas Integrated Aluminium Industry remains a priority of government.



We are fully committed to realizing the vision of the President. The instructions of the President could not have been clearer to us than they are now, and we are absolutely determined to work, as a Ministry, with GIADEC and VALCO to ensure that we realize President Akufo-Addos vision of building an integrated Aluminium Industry in Ghana so that we can ramp up our industrialization agenda. It is only through that we can create the hundreds, thousands and millions of jobs that our population so need dearly he said.



Mr. Jinapor stressed that the development of an Integrated Aluminium Industry is a huge project and will require a collaborative effort and time to develop.



We have to be very candid about the kind of task we have on our hands. Its a very challenging one; its a really big undertaking. Its not impossible, its not insurmountable but it will take a lot for us to build, eventually, this Integrated Aluminium Industry. What should be assuring to our countrymen and women is the fact that a framework has been established, extraordinary work is being done on a daily basis, day and night, and the signals are looking very good he added.



He commended Management and Board of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), who holds Government of Ghanas 100% shares in VALCO, and the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) for their enormous contribution in positioning the aluminium smelter as a viable business venture which is beginning to attract new investments.







Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah, who joined the Minister on his working visit to the wholly Ghanaian owned smelter emphasized that the modernisation and expansion of VALCO, to increase its capacity and upgrade equipment to new and more efficient technology, forms part of GIADECs four projects of the IAI launched by President Akufo-Addo in September 2021.



He said VALCO is very much at the core of GIADECs strategic plan to develop the entire value chain of the Integrated Aluminium Industry, which is everything around bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting and ultimately the development of downstream industries. We are actively engaged in making sure that we can partner various companies to establish downstream industries to ensure that we can lock in the value of what we are doing.



Mr. Ansah further noted that the timing of the development of Ghanas Integrated Aluminium Industry is favourable as theres been a significant rise in the demand and prices of aluminium on the world market.



The timing of what we are doing is right; the market is moving in our favour. The world market today is in deficit in terms of supply of aluminium. China and other big markets are demanding aluminium and thats what is accounting for the upward trend in pricing. With the deficit that is being forecast in the mid-2020s, it positions us to be in a strong place to drive this Mr. Ansah added.



Chief Executive of VALCO, Mr. Daniel Acheampong on his part thanked GIADEC and Government of Ghana for what he described as a massive support and productive collaboration between all stakeholders in the IAI value chain in recent years which is beginning to bear fruits in the operations of VALCO.



Mr. Acheampong assured the Minister and his delegation of VALCOs readiness and resolve to play its part in the development of a fully operational Integrated Aluminium Industry in Ghana.



The delegation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and GIADEC were taken on a brief tour of VALCO to observe the processes involved in the smelting of alumina into aluminium.



The team also observed how the primary metal is poured from a molten state into moulds to produce a variety of forms such as sows, ingots, billets, and slabs.



The Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) is a wholly-owned Ghanaian Company and the largest in West Africa. GIADEC holds 100% shares on behalf of Government of Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Kwabena Bobie Ansah, an Accra FM Presenter, who was arrested for alleged publication of false news, has been granted bail in the sum of GHC50,000.00 with two sureties by a Kaneshie District Court.



Bobie Ansah,42, is also being held on a charge of offensive conduct.



He has pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mr Oheneba Kuffour.



Three other accomplices - Edwin Tamakloe, Kwame Kwakye and one Eugene, are said to be at large.



The accused person was represented by Kwadjoga Adawudu, Theophilus Donkor and Edudzie Tamakloe, took turns to pray for bail for him.



The matter has been adjourned to March 14.



Prosecuting Inspector Ebenezer Teye Okuffo narrated that sometime in January 2022, the Police received a report concerning a video circulating on social media to the effect that the First and Second Ladies of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo and Mrs Samira Bawumia had fraudulently acquired or granted to themselves State lands at AU village and Kotoka International Airport for the construction of the Rebecca Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.



The prosecution said the Police commenced investigations into the matter and invited the accused person, but he allegedly failed to hour the invitations.



It said based on that, Bobie Ansah was arrested on February 10, 2022.



The prosecution said investigations so far revealed that the publication by the accused and his accomplices was false.

Source: GNA









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The reinstatement of Professor Mawutor Avoke as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) is being challenged at the Supreme Court.

A resident of Darkuman in Accra, by name, Emmanuel Ansong Baah, who is suing in his capacity as a Ghanaian, is asking the Supreme Court to quash the decision of the Winneba High Court ordering the UEW to reinstate Prof Avoke.



Grounds



It is the case of the applicant that the case leading to Prof Avokes reinstatement was not properly filed and therefore the Winneba High Court has no jurisdiction to determine it.



The applicant is arguing that the case was filled out of time because it was filed four years after the said events leading to the sacking of Prof Avoke.



That I have been advised and believe same to be true that since the application was filed out of time, the respondent (Winneba High Court) ought not to have entertained it since it was contrary to the rules, the applicant said.



Again, the applicant is of the contention that a report by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) which exonerated Prof Avoke of any wrongdoing was not properly before the Winneba High Court, and therefore the court committed an error when it relied on it for the judgement.



For a document emanating from an agency of the state to be a legal document, at least it ought to have been signed, stamped and probably on the Letter Head of that institution but in the instant case, it was not the case, the applicant contended.



Based on the above reasons, the applicant is urging the Supreme Court to quash the decision of the Winneba High Court.



The respondent (Winneba High Court) relying on the EOCO report to order the 2nd interested party (UEW) to reinstate the dismissed officers was erroneous and must not be allowed to stand by the apex court of the land, the applicant argued.



Background



On February 2, this year, the Winneba High Court ordered the UEW to reinstate Prof Avoke.



The court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, also ordered the UEW to reinstate five principal officers of the university who were dismissed together with Prof Avoke in August 2018.



The five officers are Dr Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Finance Officer; Mr Frank Owusu Boateng, Deputy Finance Officer; Ms Sena Dake, Internal Auditor; Ms Mary Dzimey, acting Head of Procurement, and lng. Daniel Tetteh, acting Deputy Director of Works and Physical Development.



Per the orders of the court, Prof. Avoke is to be reinstated as V-C, while the five officers are to be reinstated to the same grade level they occupied before their dismissal.



It was the considered view of the court that the position of V-C of the UEW was currently vacant and, therefore, Prof. Avoke should go back to occupy it, while the other officers should be given other commensurate positions because their previous positions were currently being held by others.



Reasons



Justice Aboagye Tandoh held that the dismissal of Prof. Avoke and the five officers, coupled with the subsequent refusal of the UEW to reinstate them, was wrongful in law, unjust and against the tenets of equity.



According to him, the six persons had already been exonerated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which investigated certain allegations of procurement malfeasance levelled against them



He also held that a three-member committee set up to investigate and amicably resolve the crisis that bedevilled the UEW had also recommended the reinstatement of the six persons after finding no adverse case against them.



The three-member committee, chaired by Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, had held that the dismissal of the six persons was illegal and, therefore, they must be reinstated.



Justice Tandoh ruled that it was unjust for the UEW to still refuse to reinstate the six persons when all investigations had cleared them of any wrongdoing.



The court gave the judgment after it upheld an application for prohibition and mandamus by one Samuel Kweku Ghartey.











Source: graphiconline.com









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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has lost about 66 electricity poles through induced fires within 62 days in

four ECG Districts of Juapong, Afienya, Tema North, and Nungua, due to activities of some unscrupulous people in those catchment areas.



Between December 1st, 2021 and January 31st, 2022, fire destroyed our ECG Poles - a total of 19 were lost in Juapong; 23 in Afienya; 16 in Tema-North; and eight in the Nungua District, Ms. Sakyiwaa Mensah, ECG Tema Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) has said.



Ms. Mensah, who was speaking at the Ghana News Agency Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue platform expressed concern about the behaviour of some Ghanaians who burn substances close to ECG Poles which most often results in the destruction of the poles.



She said the replacement of the wooden poles cost the company huge sums of money, which otherwise would have been channeled into other initiatives.



Ms. Mensah said the loss of one electricity wooden pole could affect a lot of people in a community as many people were connected to a pole, and therefore, called for community watchdogs to help protect ECG installations, including the wooden poles, which serve as transmission lines. If it is destroyed we cannot transmit power to the residents.



Ms Mensah, also explained that any unscheduled interruption in power supplies affects both industrial and domestic customers negatively, in view of this, we must all police ECG properties within our communities at all times



ECG urgently needs the public to serve as a watchdog to help prevent recalcitrant individuals from destroying the companys properties, we must all be vigilant at all times and if in doubt challenge persons found around ECG installation.







Source: GNA









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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is to begin digitally tracking and monitoring pregnant women across the country to ensure new born babies receive national ID numbers at birth, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed.



This according to Dr Bawumia has become possible following the ongoing linkage of the data of the National Identification Authority, Ghana Health Service, Birth and Deaths Registry, Ghana Statistical Service, and the Ghana Police Service to create a comprehensive database of persons residing in Ghana in order to help in policy formulation and planning, and help with the issue of national ID numbers and cards.



Dr Bawumia said this when he appeared as the guest of honour at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Thursday, 10 February 2022.









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A new law that went into effect in Kenya this week makes it legal for a man to marry as many women as he wants. And a leading womens group is applauding it.



President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the polygamy measure into law on Tuesday, formally recognising what has long been a cultural practice in the nation.



The countrys parliament passed the Bill in March despite protests from female lawmakers, who angrily stormed out of the late-night session at the time.



The Bill initially allowed the first wife the right to veto the husbands choice of additional spouses. However, the male members of parliament successfully pushed to get that clause dropped.



Marriage is the voluntary union of a man and a woman whether in a monogamous or polygamous union, Kenyatta said, in a statement. The Marriage Act 2014 defines various types of marriages including monogamous, polygamous, customary, Christian, Islamic and Hindu marriages.



The law legalises polygamous unions but does not provide an official limit on the number of wives a man can have.



The Federation of Women Lawyers, a powerful womens rights group, applauded aspects of the Bill but criticised others.



Polygamy already is a common fixture among many cultures in Kenya and in some other African countries.



The Bill, the group said, is long overdue because polygamous unions were previously not regarded as equal to regular marriages.



We are happy with the law because finally all marriages are being treated equally, said the Executive Director of the nations Federation of Women Lawyers, Christine Ochieng.



However, she said, the first wife should have a say in picking her husbands co-wives.







Source: voiceoflibertyng.com









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The government has been urged to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to determine what its implication will be on the economy before any decision to pass it.



The "Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value Bill 2021" which is before parliament under the private member bill is meant to promote proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family value.



The bill, which is hugely popular among the mostly religious and traditional Ghanaian populace, is being opposed by some human rights-based advocates from international and local organisations and civil society organisations.



Avoiding setbacks



Delivering a presentation dubbed, "The Anti-LGBTQ+bill: Its impact on the economy of Ghana, a policy analyst of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Bernard Anaba, said the cost benefit analysis would help the government avoid the potential reputational, economic and diplomatic friction that the bill had already triggered which could become worse from its passage into law.



Addressing a round table discussion organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on the subject in Accra last Tuesday, Mr Anaba said the Bill had drawn some unpopular attention to Ghana, which could have significant direct and indirect economic impact.



Ghana, he said, had ratified many global and regional conventions on human rights and therefore must take notice of its obligations before passing the bill as there could be both direct and indirect economic impact on the country.



He noted that a clear conflict between key national personalities of the country and key international personalities on the Bill and the stature of those personalities who were major decision makers for the country was a recipe for diplomatic row and potentially a major source of diplomatic tension between Ghana and the UN human rights council.



Proponents of the bill, he said, should also consider resolving all the contradictions and sources of conflict and tension with the United Nations system of human rights which had a better chance of prevailing against the bill in the long run.



Criminalisation



Explaining further, he said the impact of criminalisation apart from the generational stigma, would lead to a reduction in access to goods and services for LGBTQ persons and Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) who would be afraid to seek such services for fear of sanctions.



It will have a backdoor burden on the health system, since the control of the spread of unlimited illness such as HIV will become an obscure economic burden on families. This will lead to a huge black market of health needs and eventually adverse impact on the national economy, he stated.



Mr Anaba said the countrys budget regularly relied on grants of about four to six per cent each year from donor partners and that the bill could result in delays and reduction in the budgetary support.



Stigmatisation



A fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr Theophilus Acheampong, for his part, recommended that the government conduct a follow-up anonymous survey of people who may be described as LGBTQ and which sectors of the economy these individuals were likely to be and determine the scope of the exclusion they were likely to face due to the social norms of the country.









Source: graphiconline.com









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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.
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday, March 01, hear the motion seeking to restrain James Gyekye Quayson, Member of Parliament for Assin North, from holding himself as a legislator.



The court also directed the Registrar to submit a report on an alleged assault of the bailiff of the court, who attempted serving the MP at his office in Parliament.



The said report is to be forwarded to the Chief Justice for further investigation.



Quayson was, however, absent in court.



The court turned down an invitation of Mr Tsatsu Tsikata who decided to act as an amicus curia -a friend of the court in the motion for an injunction.



"We don't think we need an amicus curia at this stage, the seven-panel presided over by Justice Victor Jones Dotse, said.



Tsikata had informed the court he could be of assistance to the court after hearing that Quayson had not been served after several attempts were made.



He told the court Quayson was in chambers attending to some urgent matters, hence he could not be in court.



When sitting resumed at the apex court of the land, the Registrar of the court informed the seven-member panel that officials of the court had made two attempts to serve the embattled MP but same had proved futile.



According to the Registrar, the Bailiff on February 1, this year, went to the MP's office in Parliament House and soon after the bailiff had introduced himself and started his mission, he was informed that the MP had indicated that he did not want to see him so he should leave his office.



The Registrar, Mr Mathew Antiaye, said the bailiff informed him that the Personal Assistant of the MP then allegedly called the bodyguard of the MP to throw him out after manhandling him.



The second service was done through the High Court in Assin Fosu on February 3, this year, the Registrar told the court.



He said the bailiff of the Assin Fosu, Francis Kumi, went to the house of the MP in Assin Breku and met the caretaker of the house.



The Registrar said the caretaker informed the bailiff of Assin Fosu that the MP had travelled to Accra, and he could not tell when he would return.



Mr Frank Davies, who represented the Plaintiff, Mr. Michael Ankomah Nimfah, said Quayson had still not been served and that they were going to advise themselves.



Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General, indicated that the accused, based on constitutional provisions, could be served anywhere in the country.



The Attorney General, therefore, prayed the court to apply the provisions under Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution.



The seven-member panel, therefore, entreated the parties to exercise restraint because there was an appeal pending at the Court of Appeal and the privileges of the MP.



A Cape Coast High Court had earlier ruled that Mr Quayson was not eligible to contest the December 7, 2020, Parliamentary Election because he held dual citizenship before picking nomination form from the Electoral Commission of Ghana.



The Court further ordered the MP to stop holding himself as MP for the area and directed that fresh elections be held.



The MP, however, filed a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.

Source: GNA









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President Akufo-Addo has left Ghana for a ten-day working visit to France, Guyana, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.



A statement from the presidency indicated his first port of call will be Brest, France, where, at the invitation of French President, Emmanuel Macron, he will participate in the One Ocean Summit, to be held on Friday, 11th February, 2022.



Up to 40 world leaders are due to make ambitious and concrete commitments towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution at what is billed as the first high-level summit dedicated to the ocean.



He will also at the invitation of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, travel to Georgetown, Guyana to participate as a keynote speaker at the maiden International Energy Conference and Expo by Guyana to be held from 15th to 18th February, 2022. Ghana and Guyana are developing close working relations in the oil and gas sector.



From there, the President will proceed to Marburg, Germany, at the invitation of KENUP Foundation, to participate, together with Presidents Macky Sall and Paul Kagame of the Republics of Senegal and Rwanda respectively, at the presentation of the BioNtech modular production facility for MRNA vaccines on Wednesday, 16th February, 2022, towards a pan-African Project for the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa.



President Akufo-Addo will then travel to Paris, France, to meet with President Emmanuel Macron, together with other African Heads of State, on the security situation in the Sahel and Africa, in general, in the evening of 16th February, 2022.



He will also participate in a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and some Heads of State from the ECOWAS Region in the morning of 17th February 2022, to discuss the security situation in ECOWAS.



After this meeting, he will travel to Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the Africa Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit to be held from 17th to 18th February, 2022, and then travel to the United Kingdom for a private visit.



The President was accompanied on the trip by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah; the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Kwaku Afriyie; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.



He is expected back home in Ghana on Sunday, 20th February, 2022.



In his absence, Vice President Bawumia will act as President in accordance with the provisions of Article 60(8) of Ghanas Constitution.









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Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has expressed shock at the rejection of the E-levy proposal by some youth of this country including some free senior high school beneficiaries.



He asked whether they know what the cost of rejecting the E-levy will be, given that the government needs resources to fund the programme and other initiatives.



Speaking at the Governments 3rd Townhall meeting to sensitize the public on the need for the E-levy to be passed by Parliament in Tamale on Thursday February 10, he said If I look at E-levy for instance, and I say that this year we intend to collect 7billion cedis and I look at mobile money subscribers and there are over 21million of us.



So assuming I divide this 7billion by 21million of us , it is about 300 cedis a year for each person, divide by 12.



So when I see the energy especially with which graduates who have gone through free senior high are against E-levy, I ask whether the they are calculating what the cost is. And I ask in truthfulness that does any graduate make more than 8000 or 5000?



Assuming you are a graduate and you even made 100,000 cedis a year and you transfer all of that through MoMo, how much will that be? 10 per cent of 100,000 is 10,000 , so a third of that is 3000. So 3000 cedis for your roads , for your free education , for all of that and you are up in arms.



So truly who should be paying for it? You have every responsibility to ask me to account for it. But we as a people, we cant pretend that we dont need these resources to do what we are doing. No graduate makes 100,000 cedis a year.



Regarding calls to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr Ofori-Atta insisted that Ghana would not return to the Bretton Woods institution for support in order to deal with the challenges that the local economy is going through at the moment.



Doing so, he said, will have dire consequences.



He also indicated that Ghana had the capacity to raise domestic revenue for development. The government has been called upon to return to the IMF for support instead of relying on the proposed E-levy for revenue.



For instance, a former Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah believed that a return would rescue Ghanas struggling economy.



Without a doubt, I think we should be placing a call to Washington if we havent really done that. We are just not going to ask for the funds just because E-levy has been passed or not. E-levy will just bring about GH5 billion. We are in a deep hole of our tax revenue and facing difficulties, so going to the Fund will give us some support.



So there is nothing wrong with going to the Fund. Ghana is a member of the IMF so what is wrong going to ask for support when we are in difficulties to go and pool resources. If I was the finance minister, I will be convincing the President that it is about time we went back, he told Citi.



Mark Assibey Yeboah also added that the revenue expected to be accrued from the E-levy is to ensure the economic stability government is eyeing.



He further cast doubt on the governments ability to raise the projected GH6.9 billion target, saying the maximum the government can raise from the controversial e-levy is GH5 billion.



The GH6.9 billion target cannot be realized. There are a lot of exemptions so, in my estimation, the maximum amount we can get from the E-levy is GH5 billion, and that is less than a billion dollars, so I do not think that the E-levy is going to be a panacea to our revenues. Going to the IMF will ensure some stability and above all, we are going to get some $3 billion.



The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia also made similar call to the government.



Asked whether President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should go to the IMF, while speaking on the New Day show on TV3 on Monday February 7, he answered I think it is something that they have to consider. if it is the only that will take us out of this problem then the earlier the better.



But Mr Ofori-Atta who had earlier stated that the government would not go back to the IMF insisted that I can tell you, as my colleague deputy said, we are not going back to the IMF, whatever we do we are not [going back]. The consequences are dire, we are a proud nation, we have the resources , we have that capacity, dont let anybody tell you  we are not people of short-sighted, we need to move on, Mr Ofori-Atta said.









Source: 3news.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed contentment that Ghana is recovering from the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the governments post-COVID-19 policy measures to revitalize and transform the economy are yielding the desired outcomes.



He said the comprehensive GH100 billion Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) Obaatanpa programme to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has begun yielding results.



I'm happy to report that the Ghana Cares programme is inspiring the desired dividends that we anticipated, he said at this years presentation of New Year greetings to members of the Diplomatic Corps, at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region, on Wednesday.



The President, who expressed optimism that the development would return the country to a sustained path of robust growth and create a more resilient and transformed economy, noted that because of the government's policies, the economy grew at a provisional 5.2 per cent in the first three quarters of 2020.



That growth, which he said, was expected to be sustained and projected to rise to 5.6 per cent in the medium term, was a testament that his administration had managed the economy exceptionally well, despite the ravages of the pandemic.



The overall real GDP for the medium term is projected to grow at an average of 5.6 percent, and we remain committed to returning to the fiscal deficit target threshold as enshrined in the fiscal responsibility Act, (Act 982) from this year, he stated.



We will continue along the line of promoting inclusive growth, encouraging investments, and improving the standard of living of Ghanaians It is encouraging for me and my party, the New Patriotic Party, to record that the rate of growth of the economy at 5.6 percent against the background of exceptionally difficult circumstances of the Covid Era, is still considerably better than the 3.4% we inherited in calmer times from our predecessors' Administration.



He gave the assurance that the government would continue to work to accelerate the development of the country and ensure prosperity for its people.



The annual New Year greeting is held to strengthen the bonds for friendship and promote goodwill between Ghana and other countries, as well as international organisations.



The event had not been held for the past two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.



President Akufo-Addo expressed the gratitude of the Ghanaian people to the Diplomatic Corps for the various items of support offered by their respective countries and the World Health Organization to assist Ghana in her fight against Covid-19.



We are thankful for the test kids, the protective medical gear, the facemask, the vaccines, as well as the collaboration with our research and health institutions. These gestures of solidarity and friendship also underscore the fact that none of our countries can do It alone in the fight to defeat the virus, he stated.



We have learnt in this period that getting vaccinated is the most efficient way to defeat the virus and go back to our normal way of life, reopen fully our economy and return our nation on to the path of progress and prosperity.



The President informed the Corps that the government had been succeeded in securing nearly 26 million doses of the Vaccine and had so far been able to administer a total of 11 million doses and we will ramp up our vaccination campaign to ensure that more and more Ghanaians get the jab.



We're still determined to reach our target of at least 20 million Ghanaians vaccinated, he emphasized.



The President also urged the international community to support the sanctions taken out on Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to curb the worrying political developments unfolding in the region.



The recent military take-overs in those three countries, he said, were grave setbacks to democracy for the citizens of these countries and indeed for the entire ECOWAS community.



Our Collective history has taught us these military interventions are never a panacea to whatever challenges that a nation may be confronted withDecisive steps need to be taken to preserve democracy and freedom in the region, as well as to overcome the additional security challenges posed by terrorist activity.



And as I stressed during the recent extraordinary Summit in Accra, West Africa will remain unsafe until drastic measures are instituted to consolidate and entrench democratic tenants, which are necessary for economic development and the protection of freedom.



In this regard, I urge you and your respective countries and organisations to lend your wholehearted support for these sanctions to ensure their effectiveness.



The President reiterated his governments commitment to promote the tenets of Ghanas foreign policy as well as continue to work to uphold the countrys reputation which finds expression in her democratic credentials.



He expressed hope that the relations between Ghana and the respective countries and international Organisations would be deepened through cooperation in the course of the year and beyond to help create prosperity and opportunity for all.

Source: GNA









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The Communication team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hit the streets of Accra to explain e-levy to Ghanaians.



Alhaji Aziz Futah, the National Nasara Coordinator, disclosed in a forum at Nima that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will keep collecting the e-levy from Ghanaians if they lead the country after the levy is passed into law by the ruling party.



He said; They are only playing politics and propaganda knowing very well that no country can develop without taking tax.



He also disclosed that all the stories from the opposition camp concerning the e-levy are false and should be rejected.



They will not cancel the levy because it was in their 2020 manifesto and they planned to collect it when they come to power, he stated.



He also explained the e-levy isnt just to widen the tax net but also to see to the development of Ghana, hence urging Ghanaians to support it.



The leadership of the NPP took the forum to Lapaz to educate Ghanaians on the benefit of the e-levy.



The National Youth Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye of the party described the opposition NDC as hypocrites and only putting up a performance against the e-levy.



Nana B also narrated how NDCs propaganda against the e-levy once compelled a certain young entrepreneur Kwame Kyei to lose his livelihood.



Nana B narrated Kwame Kyeis story saying one faithful morning, Kwame Kyei, upon hearing the announcement from the NDC sponsored campaign against the yet-to-be introduced e-levy [tax] that the NPP government is planning to tax MoMo transactions and reduce the money on their wallet, left him in fear and thereby rushing to a Mobile Money vendor nearby to withdraw his hard earned savings of Ghc 1,800.00 just to avoid the alleged stealing from his wallet by government, Nana B said.



Kwame Kyei withdrew the money which he usually sit in the comfort of his shop and order his wares from Techiman market avoiding the risk of traveling long hours and rather save time and energy and then also make some sales on the day he anticipate the arrival of his Milo, Sugar, Milk, Alewa, etc to boost his business decided to travel with the 1,800 and his mobile phone in his pocket to Techiman Market and bring the wares by himself.



The promising entrepreneur but unlucky Kwame Kyei, lost his money and phone to the waiting pickpockets at the Techiman market before he arrived at Opanin Donyinas shop, he recounted.



The controversial e-levy bill has received a lot of opposition as a section of the Ghanaian populace regards it as high and a burden.



The opposition NDC has vehemently opposed it also describing it as insensitive and a draconian tax.



They have pledged all in their power to ensure the bill is not passed, taking a step further to rally support towards the #Yentua demonstration against the levy held on Thursday.



The E-levy is a new tax measure introduced by the government in the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions.



A charge of 1.75% will apply to electronic transactions that are more than GH100 on a daily basis.

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.

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An Atlanta man was arrested late Thursday night in connection to a shooting in the Bea's Place Bar & Lounge parking lot on Jan. 29.

Ce'Drick Antwaune Devoe, 36, is charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of a violent felony and driving under suspension.

Devoe has previous convictions for assault and battery of high and aggravated nature and first-degree assault and battery, according to arrest warrants obtained from the Aiken Department of Public Safety. These convictions prohibit offenders from possessing firearms.

The shooting

Around 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 29, two Aiken Department of Public Safety officers responded to 306 Hampton Ave. in reference to a patrol check.

About 20 minutes after arriving, police heard two gunshots from the side of the building, according to an incident report obtained from the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

A rifle is listed as the weapon used in the incident. An additional nine officers arrived on scene to assist.

EMS was requested for one victim and patient care was provided until their arrival, according to the report.

Police said Devoe discharged a firearm at the victim, striking him on his right upper arm, according to arrest warrants from the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Detectives obtained a copy of the bar's video footage and collected two shell casings from the parking lot.

Others charged

A Fairfax woman was arrested Tuesday in connection to the shooting.

Alexis Shatavia Grant, 26, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

On Feb. 2, detectives interviewed Grant, who initially said she was the driver of a vehicle involved in the shooting. However, she later changed her story and said Devoe was with her. She stated he was the driver and the shooter, according to the report.

Warrants state Grant "maliciously and intentionally assist[ed] the principle felon, Ce'drick Antwaune Devoe, by failing to report the attempted murder of [the victim]. Further, [Grant] deliberately withheld information and purposely gave false and misleading statements to law enforcement during the course of the investigation."

On Feb. 3, detectives obtained warrants for Devoe for attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and driving under suspension first offense.

Devoe was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as wanted with extradition in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

On Monday, detectives obtained warrants for Grant for accessory after the fact of attempted murder.

Grant met with detectives at Aiken Public Safety headquarters on Tuesday and provided "additional information" before being arrested and transported to the Aiken County detention center, according to the report.

Breaking news. This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
A Circuit Court judge has denied an appeal involving the mayoral election in Wagener last November.

But Courtney Clyburn Pope wrote in her order that Travis Kennedy, who filed the protest, may seek relief through other avenues.

One option would be to ask the Circuit Court for a declaratory judgment, according to Pope.

We dont know yet, said Robert Thuss, Kennedys attorney, when asked Friday morning what he and his client would do. She (Pope) left the door open. She says it should be a declaratory judgment, but I havent talked with Travis. There are a couple of routes (we could take). Right now, I dont have anything to say about it.

Pope heard the appeal virtually, via Webex, in the South Carolina Second Judicial Circuits Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 1.

Pope signed her order electronically Wednesday, and it was filed electronically Thursday.

Incumbent Mike Miller won the Wagener election with 68 votes. There were 61 votes for Kennedy and 34 for Christopher Nathan Salley.

In addition, one write-in vote was received.

Soon after the election, Kennedy filed a protest, claiming that Salley was not eligible to run for mayor because he didnt live in Wagener.

Kennedy wanted the election results to be overturned and a new election to be held without Salley as a candidate.

The Aiken County Board of Voter Registration and Elections subsequently met to consider the protest. Following a hearing and after going into executive session to get advice from legal counsel, the board voted unanimously to deny Kennedys challenge.

Board Chairman Andrew Marine gave several reasons for the decision.

Basically, there was no formal withdrawal of the candidate (Salley) of his candidacy, and there was no formal protest filed by anybody (prior to the election) as to his residency, Marine said.

Also, Marine continued, there was no proof presented that any voters who supported Salley would have chosen Kennedy if Salley had been declared ineligible or would select Kennedy if they were given another opportunity to vote for mayor.

In addition, Marine said, it would be up to a court to determine if Salley is legally a Wagener resident.

Specifically, according to Marine, it would be a Circuit Court issue.

Thuss, on behalf of Kennedy, then filed an appeal in the Second Judicial Districts Court of Common Pleas.

In her order denying Kennedys appeal, Pope referred to South Carolina law and other court cases in explaining her decision.

County boards and election commissions are granted the authority to determine the legal qualification of all applicants for registration (emphasis added), Pope wrote. The Legislature also has granted citizens of South Carolina the ability to challenge the residence of an elector. However, this appeal seeks to establish the qualifications of a candidate for municipal election  not an elector.

According to Popes order, the Aiken County Voter Registration and Elections Board never had any authority to determine Christopher Salleys qualifications at any point. Therefore, because the Board did not have that authority, this matter is not, at present, properly before this Court on appeal.

Aiken County Attorney Brad Farrar represented the Board of Registration and Elections when Kennedys appeal was heard.

The court affirmed that the boards decision was appropriate given its jurisdictional limitation in terms of reviewing a candidates residence, said Farrar on Friday. Were not jumping up and down (celebrating the decision). We just responded to the appeal. We understand his (Kennedys) concerns. Its just that our board was not the one to rule on his particular claims.

Kennedy is an employee of Aiken County's Emergency Medical Services Department.
COLUMBIA  A bill opposed by LGBTQ advocates as nullifying Columbia's ban of "conversion therapy" is moving in the Senate, with its Republican sponsor saying local governments shouldn't muzzle faith-based counselors.

While the measure never actually references conversion therapy or LGBTQ issues, it is intended to void Columbia's ban and prevent other cities or counties in South Carolina from adopting anything similar.

SC United for Justice & Equality, a coalition of dozens of LGBTQ advocate organizations, condemned the bill's Feb. 10 advancement to the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee.

"Last year, Columbia did the right thing by protecting LGBTQ minors from so-called 'conversion therapy,' which is extremely dangerous and has led far too many young people to experiencing depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse and even suicide," said Holly Whitfield, executive director of the Alliance for Full Acceptance on behalf of the coalition.

She contended the bill's move up in the Statehouse process equates to legislators "sanctioning this abusive practice."

"We need to be supporting our LGBTQ youth, affirming them and letting them know that they are loved, respected and worthy of dignity just as they are," Whitfield said. "This bill does the opposite, putting a rubber-stamp on efforts to shame and erase LGBTQ young people."

Sen. Shane Martin, the subcommittee's chairman and a bill co-sponsor, said the purpose of sending the measure on was to get more senators to weigh in on the contentious issue following two subcommittee meetings.

It advanced with no discussion after the panel pared down the bill to focus solely on barring local rules on medical professionals  to match what the main sponsor, Sen. Josh Kimbrell, said was his goal.

As introduced last year, the bill protected doctors and other medical professionals from being fired, demoted or sued if they refuse to provide non-emergency services to which they morally object. But even sponsors worried how the broad protections could be applied.

It was scaled back Thursday to a single paragraph that says only the Legislature or a state agency can impose rules "regulating the right of conscience" of medical professionals in South Carolina. Any local rule that could conflict with their beliefs would be voided.

The conversion therapy ban passed last year by Columbia City Council, which threatens to fine counselors or therapists $500 per violation, is the only known existing ordinance in South Carolina the amended bill would undo.

Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, acknowledges he has a "major problem with what Columbia did."

But he insists his legislation is not focused on conversion therapy. He said he wants to stop any governmental efforts, whether underway or in the future  from the right or left  that force health care professionals to choose between their practice and their faith.

"It's about defending people who have a different opinion," Kimbrell said. "I have no problem with people having a more liberal view than me." But it's wrong, he said, for people to use the force of government to impose their view by censorship and threatening to fine a business out of existence.

The bill could advance to the Senate floor as early as next week. But it may go no further. In the Senate, an objection from a single senator can block debate. And there's no question Democrats will object.

The measure is among the priorities this session of a coalition of Christian conservative groups.

Palmetto Family Council President Dave Wilson said they oppose bans like Columbia's for restricting a "counselor's ability to bring a biblical world view to minors dealing with sexual orientation issues."

Columbia's public relations office declined to comment on the legislation. As for enforcement of the ban, no one has been fined, according to an emailed response.

Two similar ordinances in Florida were struck down in November 2020 by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as an unconstitutional violation of therapists' free-speech rights. The divided ruling did not affect South Carolina, which is in the 4th Circuit.
COLUMBIA  A new partnership is expected to give a boost to a Capital City technology startup that has made its name serving the defense sector, taking the small firm from targeting deals in the half-million dollar range to tens of millions in federal contracts.

Columbia-based NineFX is joining forces with Charlotte-headquartered Meridian Technologies as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration Mentor Protege-Program.

"This allows us to level up in the fed space," said NineFX founder Drew Varner.

The partners are already chasing two big contracts, Varner said, including one with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Landing this deal could put NineFX on a shortlist of contractors for any number of tasks the agency needs in the next five to 10 years, he said.

"Watching the evolution of NineFX over the last few years has been exhilarating. They have created a great blueprint for other local tech companies to follow," said Matt Vaadi, a co-member of the GrowCo industry group seeking to increase high-tech growth in the Columbia area. "We are excited to see how this partnership elevates NineFX over the coming years and adds to the innovation economy in the Midlands."

Meridian, which specializes in IT staffing services, brings the benefit of having the back office support system and business development know-how, as well as providing financial backing.

Where NineFX shines is in a process called SecDevOps, secure development operations, Varner said. Software inherently has vulnerabilities, he explained, but NineFX has automated a process that securely scans the software code while it's being developed, identifying possible pathways for hackers before the technology is ever deployed.

While NineFX remains small, with just six full-time employees, the firm will be able to tap into Meridian's staff of more than 1,000 workers.

Meridian was itself the beneficiary of mentorship similar to what it will provide to NineFX, Executive Vice President for Federal Solutions Rick Stengard said.

"Its exciting to return that favor to NineFX and to bring our capability for building consulting teams at scale to customers seeking highly capable small businesses," Stendgard said.

Varner said it's hard to find qualified people with the necessary clearances, certifications and technical know-how. Meridian's staffing services fill that need for NineFX. But the startup will also scale up its own in-house staffing as it lands larger contracts, reinvesting the big dollars back into the company.

"We want to make sure we use it as an opportunity to grow," Varner said.

Meridian's private equity backing also made it an attractive partner, as the owners also may choose to invest in NineFX after the mentorship ends.

In addition to landing the partnership, NineFX recently began selling subscriptions for a secure chat software it developed. Varner said the software is preferred by the defense industry because of its ability to function across multiple platforms, allowing unrelated agencies and governments to communicate no matter what differing programs they use.

"There are a lot of secure chat tools out there but that's our specialty," Varner said.

The startup closed the first $450,000 deal two months ago.
COLUMBIA  A new bill filed by Sen. Chip Campsen could help the state move closer to a goal announced by leaders last summer to double the total acreage of protected lands by 2050.

Nearly 3 million acres of land are already protected in the Palmetto State. But rapid development is causing loss of forests, farms, wildlife and recreational habitats, said Campsen, R-Isle of Palms.

The S.C. Conservation Enhancement Act, introduced Feb. 2, would do three things.

First, it would provide the resources and capital for the S.C. Conservation Bank to continue its work of protecting and sustaining lands in the state.

The bill would reinstate a dedicated funding source to the Conservation Bank by requiring a portion of the deed recording fee to go to the bank's trust fund. Twenty-five cents of each $1.30 would support the fund. Essentially, the more fees paid, the more money will go to the Conservation Bank.

Campsen said that is an important relationship because with more development in the state, there is a greater need for conservation.

"We're very popular now. People are moving here in droves," Campsen said. "So the more that happens, the more there are real estate transfer fees, the more money will go to the Conservation Bank to do conservation to try to protect what makes us love South Carolina in the first place."

He said this could likely produce between $20 million and $25 million a year for the bank. This does not involve a tax increase, but would instead take money that now goes to the general fund and dedicate it to the Conservation Bank.

Raleigh West, executive director of the Conservation Bank, said he feels there is some wisdom in tying conservation dollars to the overall real estate market to ensure they have the voices of commerce and infrastructure when making spending decisions.

"It helps to have confidence that there'll be a funding source available from which they can build the sound, financial foundation for these projects to come together," West said.

A predictable amount of funding every year would help the Conservation Bank better plan and complete projects and recruit matching sources, West said.

Secondly, the bill would add the following exhibition members, or their designees, to the Conservation Bank's board: commissioner of agriculture, secretary of commerce and the secretary of transportation.

Although these would be non-voting members, Campsen said it is important to have their input because a lot of environmental mitigation happens when there are new road or economic development project bills.

"The idea is that transportation and economic development has profound impacts on land-use patterns, and so we ought to be more streamlined, perhaps, in communication with one another on land-use matters and making sure that our missions or our works align with one another," West said.

And finally, the South Carolina Conservation Enhancement Act would dedicate a portion of the sales tax revenue from sporting goods to capital improvements on public lands owned by the state Department of Natural Resources, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and the Forestry Commission.

In this case, capital improvements means activities requiring $50,000 or more to create, improve or restore access to public lands and waters, facilities, natural resources or recreational opportunities, the bill said.

Acquiring land is one thing, but it takes money to maintain it. The sales tax revenue from sporting goods can be used for things like adding new roads on land to provide public access, erecting new buildings for accommodations at a state park and managing wildlife habitats.

"We have a growing manufacturing base in South Carolina. That's important," Campsen said. "But it's also important to refuse to destroy the special places that make South Carolina so attractive in the first place."

Jennifer Howard, executive director of the S.C. Land Trust Network, said additional funding for land protection work is critical.

"It helps us not only act quickly here on the ground in South Carolina, but it also improves our abilities to leverage outside funding," Howard said. "And that helps us move even more quickly because time is not on our side in terms of protecting the quality of life in South Carolina."

Campsen said he had 22 co-sponsors for the bill when he introduced it in the Senate on Feb. 2. A similar bill was introduced in the House on Feb. 10.
GEORGETOWN  In what could be a major economic shake-up in South Carolina's third-oldest city, Liberty Steel in Georgetown needs to stop operating because the company failed to reopen it in time to avoid a land zoning change, local government officials said in a letter to the mill's owners.

Liberty had a year to reopen the plant at U.S. Highway 17 and Front Street before triggering a city ordinance that would shift the zoning from an industrial to a commercial use. The change would not allow heavy-industrial production on the 50-acre site, opening the possibility of creating more tourism-friendly development on the waterfront.

The debate between the city and mill owners hinges on when the clock started.

Liberty believes the plant closed in February 2021. The company restarted work at the mill in mid-January with the understanding that it had just beat the deadline.

The city believes the mill closed in April 2020, meaning Liberty is well past the year deadline that triggers the rezoning.

That was the conclusion drawn in a six-page letter sent by former Georgetown zoning administrator Chris Inglese to Liberty officials on Feb. 4. He cited an April 2020 letter from the company to the city that said the steel maker needed to idle the plant because of COVID-19 and market conditions.

Inglese, who was asked for an assessment after a plant tour by Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe and other city leaders, wrote that the city and Liberty both agree that the melt shop that produces steel has not operated for more than a year. Even though the part of the plant that produces the wire rods is operating, it is doing so far below its normal capacity, Inglese wrote.

The letter said that Liberty Steel can appeal Ingleses decision to the Georgetown Board of Zoning Appeals.

Liberty Steel insists it is on compliance with the ordinance after bringing back 65 workers in January. The plant, a fixture in the city for decades, once employed more than 1,500 workers.

Liberty Steel is surprised and disappointed with the citys sudden change of approach toward Georgetowns steel mill, the company said in a statement. "The citys action is particularly surprising given the threat it poses to Libertys employees who have shown such commitment and resilience through the uncertainty of the pandemic."

Liberty added that it "will vigorously defend the status of the mill, and oppose efforts to redevelop the site for certain real estate interests, through any administrative appeals and legal process available."

The company plans to continue to operate at Georgetown mill "as normal and to supply its customers." The wire rod produced at the mill is used in tires and bridge cables.

Liberty stressed that it spoke with the Georgetown mayors office during what it called "the care and maintenance period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, updating regularly on the status of the mill and how weve been maintaining it."

The mayor during that time, Brendon Barber, lost reelection last fall to Jayroe, a city councilwoman.

Jayroe, who formally took the mayor's office in January, has said those 65 jobs at the restarted mill do not compare with the impact of transforming the site into a tourism-centric attraction. Efforts to reach Jayroe on Feb. 10 were unsuccessful.

Redevelopment is already happening in several areas near the mill, including the former Georgetown Times building becoming a boutique hotel along the citys Harborwalk and a $25 million project to turn the citys old electric department building into luxury apartments and an open-air market.
Fountain Inn is establishing a grant program to encourage downtown businesses to upgrade their storefronts, expand outdoor dining and add art to the city's central district.

The city plans to use $100,000 in federal American Rescue Plan stimulus money to fund the first round of grants. Fountain Inn Public Relations Manager Kate Kizito told City Council during a Feb. 2 meeting that 10 businesses and property owners have already expressed interest in the program.

The grants will be divided into three categories. The first will be a $10,000 match for downtown business owners who want to invest in facade upgrades such as improving awnings, windows or paint. Fountain Inn will also provide an up to $10,000 match for updates and beautification to outdoor space, such as private parking spots, for public use.

In the third category, the city will provide a three-to-one match up to $4,000 for improvements such as expanded outdoor dining and adding exterior murals.

City Administrator Shawn Bell said that by leveraging private and public funds, Fountain Inn can help local shops and restaurants thrive while improving the appearance of downtown.

"So the building owner that might have said, 'Yeah my building could use a new awning and windows, but I don't know if I want to do that,' hopefully with this grant program they'll say, 'I'll go ahead and do that,'" he said.

Bell said if there is enough interest in the grants, the city will likely extend funding beyond the initial $100,000 in ARPA money.

"If it takes off like wildfire and we have to ask council to refill that bucket here in the next few months, to me, that's great," he said.

The idea for the new grant program, Bell said, came out of the city's collaboration with Main Street South Carolina, a state Municipal Association initiative aimed at helping towns enhance their downtown corridors.

City Council unanimously approved the grants at the Feb. 10 meeting. During the same meeting, council approved the use of another $50,000 in ARPA funds to establish grants for any eligible business or nonprofit in the the city. Those grants would provide up to $5,000 to use for things such as rent or mortgage, infrastructure improvement, personal protective equipment or pandemic recovery.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has reprimanded a Greer attorney after the court found he failed to provide an accurate accounting of his work and respond to official investigations into his law practice.

David Harley agreed to the reprimand issued by the court Feb. 9 that involves five incidents dating back to 2015.

Online profiles describe Harleys private practice representing students, teachers and employees in education matters involving discipline, employment and special education.

The first matter relates to an agreement in February 2016 between Harley and a client who paid him $4,000 for representation in a civil matter, according to the Supreme Courts reprimand order. Just shy of two months later, the client requested a refund and received $1,120 and asked for an accounting of work related to what wasnt refunded.

The states Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) mailed a notice of investigation, which Harley did not respond to.

In August 2015, two clients asked Harley for an expert opinion on a civil action they intended to file against previously retained attorneys. Harley gave the clients his opinion verbally and promised it in writing but provided only a draft copy.

A year later, Harley told the clients he had drafted the final opinion and would send it to them, but never did.

In November 2016, the ODC mailed Harley a notice of investigation, which he didnt respond to, then sent another notice in April 2017. The disciplinary office received a response from Harley in December 2020.

In the third matter cited by the Supreme Court, a client and his wife in 2015 retained Harley for $5,000 for a civil action against a school district. Despite a fee agreement, Harley failed to provide a monthly accounting of work.

The couple terminated Harleys representation in summer 2017, hired new counsel and requested a refund of the retainer. In June 2017, Harley told the couple he had processed their request but was in the hospital at the time.

Harley told the couple he sent them a check, but they didnt receive one and over the next eight months tried to contact Harley. The retainer was refunded in February 2018. The following month, the ODC mailed a letter of investigation but didnt get a response until a year later.

In February 2018, Harley retained a private investigator for various services. Two months later, the investigator submitted invoices totaling $716. Harley disputed the charges but paid a little more than one-third of what was considered undisputed a year later.

In September 2018, the ODC mailed a notice of investigation, then again the following November, but didnt receive a response until April 2019.

In the final matter, a client paid Harley a $6,000 retainer for representation in a civil action against a school district. Harley failed to adequately communicate the status of the case, and a month later the client terminated the representation.

Harley promised to return the retainer within nine days, and the client received a $4,125 check, but Harley couldnt provide an accounting for his work.

The client filed a dispute with the South Carolinas Bars Resolution of Fee Disputes Board and was awarded the entirety of the retainer. Harley repaid the remaining amount a few months later.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson's office published a legal opinion Feb. 11 stating that physicians across the state have the authority to prescribe "off label" drugs to treat COVID-19.

State Sen. Shane Martin, R-Pauline, and Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, had specifically asked Wilson's office if doctors can prescribe Ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine or other off-label drugs to treat coronavirus, expressing concern that hospitals in South Carolina were refusing to let them do so.

"We advise that there are no easy answers to any of these questions. Each is fact-specific," Wilson's office wrote in response to the lawmakers. "Moreover, we generally do not advise with respect to questions concerning federal law. However, we note that the physician-patient relationship is given constitutional dimension by the courts and broad  if not absolute  deference in a doctor's prescribing medications to his or her patient, whether such prescriptions relate to off-label use or not."

"Off label" prescriptions generally describe the use of FDA-approved medications to treat symptoms or diseases for which they were not originally intended. Botox, for example, was originally approved more than 30 years ago to treat a muscular eye disorder. Today, it is commonly prescribed by dermatologists for cosmetic purposes.

The use of "off label" prescriptions is both "legal and common," according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "In fact, one in five prescriptions written today are for off-label use," the agency's website explains.

Most of these "off label" uses aren't consider controversial. That hasn't been the case when it comes to treating COVID.

Ivermectin is already approved by the FDA to treat some parasitic infections in humans, though it is more commonly used to treat horses, cattle and other farm animals. Hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to treat malaria caused by mosquito bites. Neither drug has been proven effective in treating coronavirus and the World Health Organization advises that Ivermectin, specifically, should only be used to treat COVID in the context of a clinical trial.

Numerous medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, have issued similar statements since the start of the pandemic.

The AMA last year urged "physicians, pharmacists, and other prescribers ... to warn patients against the use of ivermectin outside of FDA-approved indications and guidance, whether intended for use in humans or animals, as well as purchasing ivermectin from online stores. Veterinary forms of this medication are highly concentrated for large animals and pose a significant toxicity risk for humans."

Even so, Wilson's office said South Carolina law allows physicians to prescribe the drugs to their COVID-positive patients, contingent on the patient's consent.

"The opinion says it is beyond the (attorney general) offices expertise to comment on whether 'off-label' medications are appropriate for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 specifically," a statement issued by Wilson's office explained.

The opinion goes on to state that South Carolina "law strongly protects the medical judgment of the physician in this circumstance. It is clear that an attending physician possesses especially broad discretion to prescribe what he or she deems the appropriate medication in a given situation.

The statement issued by Wilson's office pointed out that the S.C. General Assembly passed a joint resolution last year granting "limited immunity to physicians who prescribe off-label drugs for COVID-19."

Data related to COVID-19 cases and deaths in South Carolina are typically released by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control every weekday. Due to "issues with the receipt of data charts into our system," DHEC explained the numbers on Feb. 11 were to be delayed.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed with a slight chance of thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Hemingway police officer Cassandra Dollard, accused of shooting and killing an unarmed motorist, has been fired, the Williamsburg County's town administrator said Feb. 11.

Dollard was fired two days after she was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter after Robert Langley was fatally shot at the end of a high-speed car chase Feb. 6.

Dollard's firing leaves Hemingway, a town of roughly 500 residents, with two active officers  including one who started the day after the shooting.

The chase started when Langley rolled through a stop sign in Hemingway in the early morning hours of Feb. 6. He raced off at speeds of up to 100 mph on S.C. 261 while disregarding traffic signals and failing to stop for the officer.

Eight miles outside of Hemingway, Langley drove into a ditch at the intersection of Schoolhouse and Choppee roads in Georgetown County.

Langley, a 46-year-old father of 10, was not armed when he was shot in the chest while leaving the car, according to Dollard's arrest warrant.

Dollard was freed from the Georgetown County detention center Feb. 10 soon after a judge set her bond at $150,000. If convicted on the voluntary manslaughter charge, she faces up to 30 years in prison.

This marks the third time Dollard has been fired by a police department during a career spanning close to 30 years.

Dollard was fired in 2014 from the State Transport Police, which oversees enforcement of commercial motor vehicles, after 8 years for unspecified violations of rules, conduct unbecoming a state employee and negligence, according to state records.

She also was fired from the Johnsonville Police Department after eight years in 2002 for "poor performance," records show.

Dollard started with the Hemingway Police Department less than five months ago, according to state records. She has also worked for the St. Stephen and Lake City police departments and the Williamsburg County Detention Center.

Hemingway Police Chief Alex Edwards declined to comment on why Dollard was hired despite being fired from two other departments.

Asked if Dollard had any issues while on the job in Hemingway, Edwards said the department was conducting an internal review.

Dollards arrest warrant said she did not have jurisdiction to arrest anyone outside of Williamsburg County.

Hemingway is on the edge of Williamsburg, Florence and Georgetown counties, and it is not uncommon for the police to occasionally enter those jurisdictions, officials said.

It all depends on the investigative purposes, Edwards said. Since I've been chief, I have investigated cases here and I have gone to other jurisdictions to investigate cases.

Edwards and Town Administrator William Freeman referred further questions to the State Law Enforcement Division, which investigates all police shootings in South Carolina.

The Hemingway Police Department is down to two active officers  Edwards and one other officer who started on Feb. 7. The town has one other officer who is completing training. The department is considered fully staffed with the chief and four officers.

The public is not going to see us as much until we can reassess with Administrator Freeman, said Edwards, who has been on the job in Hemingway for seven months. As far as what we're going to do moving forward, were in conjunction with the (Williamsburg County) Sheriff's Office.

Deputies have helped provide enforcement in Hemingway since late May because of the town's short staffing, Williamsburg County Sheriff Stephen Gardner said. That coverage will continue with Dollard's firing, he added.

Freeman said he appreciated the assistance from the sheriff: "They've helped us before, they're helping us now."
NORTH CHARLESTON  The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments wants to see existing communities along the proposed Lowcountry Rapid Transit route benefit from the project, not be displaced by it.

But individual municipalities, which have the authority to make zoning decisions to shape future development, must also embrace that vision in order for equitable development to occur along the proposed 21.5-mile corridor of the state's first high-capacity mass-transit project.

"It's not going to happen as a matter of course," said Bill Stanfield, CEO of nonprofit Metanoia, which builds affordable housing units in North Charleston. "It's going to take a great deal of intentionality. The question for all of us is do we have the will to do it differently."

Local governments are thinking ahead about how they might plan for affordable development. The cities of North Charleston and Charleston have already taken measures to see reasonably priced housing along and near the route, which will run down U.S. highways 78 and 52 from Ladson to the Charleston peninsula.

But more steps need to take place before the line's projected 2028 opening to ensure development plays out in a fair manner. And it remains to be seen whether local municipalities have the true political will to take the needed steps to promote affordability, Stanfield said.

The Council of Governments hopes to assist local cities in that regard. COG was recently awarded a federal grant of $860,000 that'll be used to plan for construction along the bus line. The council will use the funds to help municipalities plan for walkable, mixed-used communities, which are expected to pop up around the bus line's transit stations.

The council received an initial grant for similar planning in 2018. It used the funds to come up with recommendations that local cities could adopt to maintain affordability. The proposals suggested local municipalities create a community land bank, rezone properties for residential use, establish an affordable housing trust fund, among other recommendations, said Sharon Hollis, principal planner with COG.

The most recent grant will allow COG to provide cities with technical support to implement these and future recommendations.

"We dont want displacement to occur around this corridor," Hollis said.

The Lowcountry is in dire need of attainable housing.

The region has a shortfall of 10,000 affordable housing units for those earning less than $35,000, according to COG.

Without intervention, this shortfall is projected to grow to 34,000 by 2040, the council said.

The agency notes that cost-burdened households paying more than 30 percent of their income toward housing have grown by 42,000 since 2000, faster than the population rate. Additionally, there is significant need for affordable housing along the bus rapid transit corridor, where 27 percent of owners and 52 percent of renters are housing-cost burdened, COG said.

The federal funds come from the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Transit Administration, which expressed the need to develop public transit in a way that doesn't harm neighborhoods.

Were pleased to award this funding to help more communities develop around transit in a way that reduces pollution, increases economic opportunity, and contributes to affordable housing," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a release sent out by COG.

Local cities have made progress in planning for future development.

Last year, North Charleston adopted special overlay districts along Rivers Avenue, the future home of the bus line. The district incentivizes developers to make 20 percent of multifamily units affordable. It also calls for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as a 12-foot wide sidewalk.

The city said COG's new grant will help provide a basis for how it can use zoning to encourage density around the station areas.

The city's hope is that density around the stations provides for better mobility for individuals who dont have a car or dont want a car, city spokesman Ryan Johnson said.

Johnson said affordability is a priority and the city is open to COG's future recommendations for how North Charleston might promote equitable development.

"We're working hand in hand with them," Johnson said.

The portion of the route that runs through the city of Charleston is mostly developed. That said, Charleston is still looking for redevelopment opportunities, such as rehabbing existing buildings around the future bus line, said city Planning Director Robert Summerfield. The city has made many strides in creating affordable residential development, but Charleston hopes there will be an opportunity to create new, affordable commercial spaces, Summerfield said.

That might include businesses such as a new day care, which would be ideal for parents using the bus line, Summerfield said.

Moving forward, the city will be thinking about how it can use zoning controls and development agreements to keep people in neighboring communities from being displaced, Summerfield said.

"Weve had folks whove lived in their neighborhoods and homes for generations," Summerfield said. "How do we keep the development pressure from indirectly and directly displacing these folks from their homes? That'll be the next frontier. We're looking forward to collaboration with COG on what some of those recommendations might look like."
ALCOLU  Several months into the pandemic, the Rev. Franklin Colclough received a call from a member whod seen something alarming at their church, Harmony Presbyterian.

Though the congregation was meeting virtually, she had come by to clean. A few members still gathered in-person to collect tithes, so Colclough asked her to focus there. He told her not to worry about the vacant sanctuary.

She peeked inside anyway and discovered a problem that many small rural churches faced after extended shutdowns: There was mildew and mold everywhere.

Colclough remembers walking through the sanctuarys back door and seeing fungus all the way to the front. The room was musty. Black spots had emerged on the walls and ceilings. Everything was cast in a dusty light green  the flags on the back wall, the Bibles and hymnals in the pews, the pews themselves. He ran his hand over the furniture and a cloud of spores wafted up.

I'd never seen anything like it, but we thank God for the fact it was more mildew than mold, Colclough said.

Cleaning the church, restoring furniture and repainting the walls ultimately cost the congregation more than $10,000, Colclough estimates. The damage at Harmony Presbyterian represents a hidden secondary toll of the pandemic on rural churches, an extra cost at a time when many are already struggling with declining membership and reduced collections. Unaddressed, mold poses a health risk to members with weakened immune systems or respiratory illnesses, and it can threaten the building's structure.

The scope of shutdown-related damage to churches has not been studied, but the extent of the problem emerges in government records in Clarendon County, which cut more than $1 million in checks to local nonprofits to help them through the pandemic.

Inside the dry language of government forms, the grant applications they received tell a story of problems that became widespread in this corner of the state: of mildew in fellowship halls and organ pipes, of ruined Bibles and collapsing structures.

Supporting churches

Clarendon County sits an hour and a half north of Charleston, cradled by Lake Marion and bisected by Interstate 95. But off the highway, the landscape is dotted with houses of worship.

We've churches on top of churches. We've got so many churches, said Curt Richburg, a church-supply salesman who lives in Manning, the county seat.

So when County Council decided in 2021 to set aside federal stimulus money to help local nonprofits, the program largely made grants to churches. Of the nearly $1.1 million distributed to nonprofits, records show that roughly $714,000 went to more than 75 religious groups.

Most of their requests addressed the sorts of COVID-19 expenses that have become commonplace after two years of pandemic: masks, cleaning supplies and ventilation upgrades. But as soon as the county began accepting applications, they heard from churches that were struggling with damage from moisture, said county finance chief Lynden Anthony, who ran the grant program.

All told, at least 17 churches reported mold and moisture issues, according to their applications, which The Post and Courier obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

They included churches that trace their history to the 1800s and two congregations that played key roles in the civil rights movement. One was Historic Mt. Zion AME Church, which held meetings on desegregation as one of its members sued the county board of education over its unequal treatment of Black and White students.

His case set the groundwork for Briggs vs. Elliott, the landmark desegregation case that the U.S. Supreme Court combined with Brown vs. Board. The families who filed the Briggs case met at another church nearby, Union Cypress AME. County records show mildew was found there, too, latching onto the walls and piano.

The grant applications also included funding requests that are striking in a country founded on ideals of keeping church and state separate. One congregation, for instance, asked for money to buy 50 hymnals and 72 King James Bibles, plus a cowhide-bound copy for the pulpit.

Clarendon County ultimately side-stepped those concerns when it determined that it wouldnt pay for mold remediation. The county took a strict reading of the U.S. Treasury Departments rules for stimulus funds, Anthony said. According to his interpretation, the money could be used to repair COVID-related damage to homes, but not to public facilities.

Churches claiming moisture damage were asked to submit new applications, and the county divvied up money based on churches sizes instead of their specific requests.

Whether churches ultimately used the grant funds to fix structural issues anyway is not altogether clear. The county did not require organizations to submit receipts showing how they spent the money, Anthony said. And the U.S. government has given counties and cities wide latitude to distribute stimulus money how they see fit. For instance, they can give grants to nonprofits and even private businesses as long as they can show the pandemic impacted their revenue.

And several churches with moisture problems draw a direct connection from the arrival of COVID-19 in South Carolina to the growth of mildew in their sanctuaries.

Rural issue

The churches that asked for help with mold are mostly small congregations, without the resources to keep the air on constantly, and most have had extended closures.

Clarendon County was one of the states first coronavirus hotspots in 2020, with an early surge that disproportionately impacted elderly Black residents, who also make up most of the membership at the impacted churches. Church leaders say their congregations have been hesitant to return to in-person worship in light of the risks to older people.

Those dynamics may have created a unique set of circumstances. Leaders of several mainline protestant denominations in South Carolina said they had not heard of mold issues among their congregations, perhaps because they hadnt been closed as long.

"While weve hit the pause button on worship a few times, weve never entirely shut down long enough to encounter mold and mildew problems," said the Rev. Jim Lewis, canon to the ordinary of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.

But as the months passed in Clarendon County, the problems grew more evident, local church leaders say.

At Historic Mount Zion AME, trustee chairman James Kindell noticed a few fine hairs of fungus grow darker and darker as he made visits to try to air out the sanctuary.

At Oak Grove Missionary Baptist, leaders decided to extend virtual services because moldy spots had grown on the walls, clerk George Frierson III said.

And at St. Peter AME, George McConico saw collections slip and challenges mount for his congregation, which has only about 15 active members. In the nearly century-old sanctuary, he saw the ceilings and pews gradually discolor, then turn yellowish-green. In the dining area, he saw the floor sink. When someone came to assess the damage, the man fell through to the ground.

St. Peter sits in the middle of a field  fallow, this time of year  at the end of a long driveway through a grove of trees. Its a few miles from Rimini, a crossroads community where the train stopped coming decades ago.

Its members regard St. Peter, founded in 1859, as the areas mother church. It has a deep history and broad roots; not long ago, the church received an offering from someone in Baltimore who still claimed the church as their own.

But like other rural churches, membership has fallen. Just two decades ago, there were enough members for Elijah McConico, a steward member, to start a youth choir with a dozen children. Now, the churchs youngest member is out of school.

The dwindling membership has left St. Peter with few resources to fix its damage. George McConico, who chairs the church board, said the church has honored the countys instructions not to use grant money for repairs, and fixing the sunken floor drained the churchs coffers.

He would like to replace the faded pew cushions, once covered in mildew, which members cleaned the best they could. Hed like to replace the ceiling fans drooping blades, which had also been covered. At the start of February, they found a bathroom cabinet rotting, too.

We dont have the funds for that right now, George McConico said.

He's eager to make the building safe and comfortable when members return, hopefully soon. The church went back to virtual services because of the omicron surge. The congregation is back to conference call services  back to missing out on reading and singing together, shaking hands and hugging, sharing Sunday morning with family and friends.

When the church would gather before COVID, each service was like building a fire, Elijah McConico said. Over a few hours, songs and devotionals set sparks, until the pastor's sermon ignited the room.

"Once you get the fire going, you get warm," he said.

The pandemic has made it harder to keep the flame going.

Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr. contributed to this report from Charleston.
SUMMERVILLE  Dorchester County's District 2 school board is joining other governing bodies throughout the state in supporting employees with one-time payments and raises from COVID relief money.

In the last year, the district was granted more than $40 million in COVID-19 relief dollars. In addition to using the money to address things like learning loss, school board officials have agreed to temporarily raise the pay for the district's substitute teachers.

Officials also agreed to use its carry over funds to award DD2 staff a one-time pay bonus of $1,500.

"We realized we could actually do more," said DD2 board member Tanya Robinson. "It's a small token of appreciation."

Certified substitute teachers will see a pay increase from $120 a day to $140. Those that aren't certified will receive $100 a day versus the previous $90.

This comes as schools across the Lowcountry struggle to find substitute teachers during the pandemic. In DD2, officials have continuously relied on different staff members to cover teacher absences.

During heavy COVID outbreak periods, a variety of staff members have had to step up. Guidance counselors, administrative staff and other staff members are often looking after classes for absent teachers.

This has resulted in situations where staff members are covering classes with subjects or course levels they are not qualified to teach.

The pay increase follows a trend to entice more substitute teachers. In the Berkeley County School District, officials recently increased the pay for its substitutes to $175 per day for certified teachers, $150 for those with 60 college credits and $130 for those with a high school diploma.

Berkeley's pay increase is slated to last until May 31. DD2's increase will remain until the end of the year. This is all due to the federal COVID relief funds being a temporary financial source.

For the rest of the permanent full-time and part-time staff members at DD2, they should also be on the lookout for a $1,500 payment on Feb. 25.

During a Feb. 3 meeting, the board approved for more than $5 million in carry over funds to go toward supporting around 3,400 of its staff members with a one-time pay bonus.

Carry over monies are savings from the previous year that come out of the district's general operating budget. Officials said after checking out different financial requirements, they realized they had the funding to do a little more.

"Nobody is getting paid what they're worth," said DD2 Superintendent Joseph Pye.

Chairwoman Gail Hughes said she agreed the decision was one of the best ways they could show appreciation to their staff.

Board member Justin Farnsworth said the public may not be aware of how much work goes into making sure the schools are functioning.

The support ranges from bus drivers and food service employees to nurses and teachers.
A judge  urged on by a seriously injured crash victim  agreed to change bail conditions for the man accused of ramming his vehicle into a Berkeley County sheriff's patrol car while driving drunk.

The S.C. Highway Patrol on Aug. 15 charged Judd Novak, 49, with driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury.

Patrol spokesman Cpl. Matt Southern said Novak was traveling east on University Boulevard in North Charleston just after 2 a.m. Aug. 14 when his car collided with the deputy's vehicle.

Novak was trying to make a left turn onto Elms Plantation Boulevard in front of the squad car when the crash occurred, Southern said.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office identified the deputy as Joshua Whitmore, who had his emergency lights and sirens active as he responded to a disturbance call.

Whitmore suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash, which left him in a coma for several weeks. He is recovering at a facility in Georgia but is still not 100 percent, said Marian Askins, an attorney with the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Novak, who had no prior criminal history, tested positive for alcohol, cocaine and marijuana, Askins said. There were six beer cans in his car, she said.

Novak was released on Aug. 16 from the Charleston County jail after posting $100,000 bail, records show.

As part of his bail conditions, he was required to install an ignition interlock device, or a small handheld car Breathalyzer, in his car.

Novak's attorney, Francis J. Cornely, told 9th Circuit Judge Jennifer McCoy the condition is "prohibitively expensive" and asked her to lift it.

His client is working two jobs and is spending about $300 a week to take ride share services to work, Cornely said.

The device costs about $100 a month to maintain and several hundred dollars to install, he said.

Christopher Romeo, who represents Whitmore, appeared in the courtroom to voice his client's support of the modification.

Romeo previously served as a public defender, and knows firsthand how cost-prohibitive the Breathalyzer devices can be.

Romeo and Whitmore want Novak to remain employed, and worry this bond condition could inhibit that.

"We don't want that," Romeo said. "We want him out there. It's a benefit to society for him to be working."

Romeo praised the deputy for his perspective.

"I appreciate him for that," Romeo said. "Going through what he's gone through."

Askins said the state opposed the modification, believing it "protects society from the defendant."

McCoy sided in Novak's favor, opting to lift the condition, especially in light of the victim's support, she said.

Novak remains out on bail pending trial.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
I write today to raise awareness of a serious issue that continues to plague our community. Domestic violence, often a silent or stigmatized topic, impacts our state at a shocking rate. South Carolina ranks sixth in the nation for domestic violence-related deaths.

Nearly eight years ago, I was part of a Post and Courier reporting team working on an in-depth series, Till Death Do Us Part, which highlighted South Carolinas abysmal record of domestic violence deaths.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning series served to immerse me in the work of a critical victim-service agency in the tri-county area: My Sisters House.

While the subject matter was sobering, disheartening and, at times, overwhelming, I found My Sisters House to be impactful, vital and often lifesaving.

Though I no longer work at The Post and Courier, my investment in My Sisters House remains.

Im now proud to serve on the board of directors and am amazed by the many ways the agency serves victims as it works to build lives free from abuse.

This spring, were launching a new opportunity for advocates and the community to join the fight against domestic violence.

On April 21 aboard the aircraft carrier Yorktown, My Sisters House will hold its inaugural benefit gala, Lowcountry Life.

The event brings together locally sourced cuisine, fine wines and spirits, Lowcountry art, music and culture  all to support critical services for domestic violence survivors in our community.

Please join me in supporting the work of My Sisters House. For information and tickets, visit mysistershouse.ejoinme.org/Tickets.

NATALIE CAULA HAUFF

Board chairwoman-elect, My Sisters House

North Charleston

Stop burn pit

At its Feb. 1 meeting, Charleston County Council was poised to approve the purchase of 95 acres on Johns Island as a place to burn fallen tree limbs and vegetation after a major storm, to turn this material into wood chips, or as a possible dirt mine.

This would have devastating effects on the people who for generations have called this Sea Island home.

Had it not been for an article by Post and Courier reporter Chloe Johnson alerting us to the upcoming vote, we would not have known about it and could not have voiced our concerns.

As a result, the vote was postponed to the next meeting.

The enormous health effects on those around the proposed site, including the two schools in the area, were outlined in another article by Ms. Johnson.

Patricia Fair, a researcher who has spent decades studying environmental contamination, spoke at the council meeting and wrote a letter describing the potential health effects of wood smoke.

In the letter, Ms. Fair pointed out the many adverse effects of burning wood, supported by research done by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wood smoke particles travel far and wide. The impact extends to rivers, such as the Stono and Edisto, which are rich and vibrant ecosystems as well as a source for drinking water for the Lowcountry.

The proposal would result in pollution affecting those far from Johns Island.

In addition to burning wood, the public works department has many other uses planned for the site, none of which are suitable to be located in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas in our state.

The ill effects of the purchase of this particular property for its intended uses will be felt by all of Charleston County and needs more thought, discussion and, most of all, transparency.

EDITH HAMAN

Johns Island

Coyote control

After reading Mondays Post and Courier, I realized that we have a lot of smart and humane people at the Statehouse in Columbia.

According to an Associated Press article, the state Department of Natural Resources has been releasing tagged coyotes since 2016, when lawmakers created the program to help limit the population of the animals.

Wildlife agents will release 16 coyotes that are being held in safe control and then award a free lifetime hunting license to hunters who can kill any of them.

Maybe they could stake them out on a very short rope to make it easier.

BOB MILLS

Summerville

Put country first

The Republican National Committee recently censured the two Republican representatives who had the courage to join the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 mob that attacked the Capitol in an effort to stop the legitimate constitutional process of certifying the election of our duly elected new president.

To make matters worse, the RNC now describes the attack as legitimate political discourse.

Trying to rewrite history would be an understatement. To paraphrase a famous movie line: They cant handle the truth.

What a sad state the Republican Party is in. Are there no John McCains left who put country before party?

STEPHEN MALLEY

Charleston
COLUMBIA  Former Vice President Mike Pence will give the commencement speech at a small Christian university here in April, further evidence he is upping his interest among evangelicals in this early primary state ahead of the 2024 election season.

Pence will speak at Columbia International University on April 30, according to an announcement from the school Feb. 11.

Founded in 1923, Columbia International University bills itself as a private, Christian and multidenominational university that specializes in Bible-centered professional development.

The school's mission "prepares students to impact the nations with the message of Christ in ministry, missions and the marketplace," according to its promotional statement.

A school spokesman could not be immediately reached, but CIU's 2019-20 enrollment was 2,366 students, including undergraduate, graduate and online.

The visit is at least the second Pence has scheduled with a faith-based audience in South Carolina in the spring.

In May, Pence will give a keynote address on behalf of the Carolina Pregnancy Center, The Associated Press reported. The center is considered a pro-life ministry offering Christian counseling and adoption services, and free supplies to women who opt to have babies following unplanned pregnancies.

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The center's fundraising banquet is a regular stop for GOP presidential hopefuls.

Pence has not slowed down since leaving the vice presidency in terms of national appearances. Earlier this month in a speech to the conservative Federalist Society in Florida, he directly rebutted Donald Trumps false claims that Pence somehow could have overturned the results of the 2020 election.

The former president was simply wrong, Pence said, and that I had no right to overturn the election, confirming that vice presidents play only a ceremonial role in the the counting of Electoral College votes.

Pence made an unannounced visit to Charleston last year, speaking to a gathering of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a conservative group based in Milwaukee that supports grassroots and faith-based efforts and has advocated for a variety of causes, including school choice.

Pences private address was held at the Belmond Charleston Place hotel downtown. Pence at the time did not take media questions at the end of his hours-long stay.

The Washington Examiner recently reported Pence has begun amassing support in the Palmetto State ahead of South Carolina's critical primary, teaming up with national Republican strategist Chip Saltsman as well as state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, to galvanize support ahead of the election.
The newest chancellor of University of South Carolina Upstate is following his predecessors in considering plans to expand in downtown Greenville.

Bennie Harris, who became the university's fifth chancellor in July 2021, noted in an interview with The Post and Courier he could rent a space in downtown Greenville right now and put up a marquee, but he and his administration want to examine the need and funding for an expansion.

I'm looking at several places and depending on what's viable, Harris said. Its great to have a downtown presence. Let people know that you're there. ... The question is: Is that the space that we need and for what we need to offer?"

Harris and his administration will look at the program opportunities that could benefit from growth in the Greenville market and what type of student base the region serves. From there, the team will also determine what it would take to fund an expansion.

USC Upstate went through a rebrand almost two decades ago under chancellor John Stockwell from being more focused on Spartanburg County to extending its reach to the entire Upstate. The top South Carolina counites USC Upstate students come from are Spartanburg, Greenville, York, Richland and Berkeley.

Under former chancellor Tom Moore, there were moves to establish a downtown USC Upstate presence in Greenville. Initial public chatter started as early as 2012 and a news release from Feb. 8, 2016, announced that the university intended to establish an additional Greenville location at 501 River St. "to provide a long-desired footprint in downtown Greenville and to allow for increased metropolitan engagement with the Greenville community."

To this day, there remains no downtown Greenville campus. The main campus sits on 330-acres in Spartanburg County at 800 University Way. In Greenville, the campus is in the University Center at McAlister Square on South Pleasantburg Drive. USC School of Medicine Greenville is located in Greenville Memorial Hospital on Grove Road.

Harriss administration is examining the larger picture to determine if a downtown Greenville campus is viable.

Harris succeeded Brendan Kelly, who now serves as the president of the University of West Georgia.

He came to lead the 5,400-student university, which has a 48 percent non-White student population, from Atlanta where he worked for seven years as senior vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Harris is the second Black person to be chancellor at any of USC's statewide campuses.

In the six months Harris has been in the Upstate, he has spent a lot of time listening and sharing the story of the university to local government and business leaders, as well as other stakeholders. Harris has also held town halls with the faculty and staff along with students.

He aims to at least double current enrollment over the next seven years. With USC Upstate competing with local community and technical colleges offering free tuition, the university is working to offer more online courses and degrees and higher flexibility to include evening courses and occasional weekend courses.

The top majors at USC Upstate are nursing, applied learning and instruction, psychology, criminal justice, exercise and sport science, biology and management. Of the 31,000 alumni of the university, 84 percent remain in the state and 68 percent stay in the Upstate.

I have no desire to be the best kept secret. My job is to tell the story, Harris said.
PRESS RELEASE

12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Feb 11, 2022  Contact: Floyd Neeland

Biden's speech reveals key truth:

Biden's gun speech to only affect decent citizens

Justice system seems resolved to give criminals a pass

When Joe Biden used his bully pulpit to assault guns, in his Feb. 3 speech in New York, he forgot to mention America has already outlawed all evil gun use. Villifying a particular gun type, or the ammunition that makes guns valuable, reflects how out of touch and tyrannical the current administration has become. His "Iron Pipeline" black-market gunrunning, if it exists, is not at issue.

"Banning guns and pursuing so-called 'gun control' is an article of faith for Democrats and the left, just something you do," said Alan Korwin, the author of 10 books on gun law and a consultant to JPFO. "If they really wanted to do something about crime and safety, they would go after criminals. Clearly, that's not what they want," he said, "because they're not doing that." The vast numbers of criminals and other people criminally sneaking into our country, with direct financial support from Biden and his team, is all the proof a rational person needs. "Criminals are not a problem," Biden never said. His actions show he believes it though, encouraging more arrivals.

With respect for our Constitution, a reasonable politician could never propose gun bans, because infringement is what's banned, not guns. We'll know there's a turnaround in the administration's thinking, when they stop buying plane tickets, bus fare and housing for criminals coming across the border, and start locking up active violent criminals who get caught, instead of releasing them.

#####
The Work Zone

Many of us didnt grow up with a strong male influence in the home. My parents split before I was 10, so the majority of the wisdom I picked u Read more
I wrote earlier today about the rather sudden reversal on the part of blue state politicians, who apparently think the science has changed so that vaccine and mask mandates can now be done away with. The real driver, of course, is politics. Glenn Reynolds takes up this theme in his New York Post column. Many links in the original are omitted here:

Lockdowns  which the World Health Organization disavows except in very narrow, short-term circumstances and which are unsupported by science  have dragged on and on. Teachers unions kept schools closed month after month in blue states, and even children as young as 2 are being forced to mask despite no scientific support for doing so. Indeed, masking has become a political statement, to the point that Democrats routinely report wearing masks outdoors simply to ensure they wont be mistaken for Republicans. Anyone who disagreed with this approach was accused of spreading misinformation, engaging in conspiracy theories and generally wanting everyones grandma to die.

This is the insane environment we have endured for the last two years.

As recently as last month, when newly elected Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin ended mandatory mask rules in Virginia public schools, Democrats were calling him, essentially, a mass murderer.

But the times they are a-changin!

But that was then. All of a sudden, we are told, The science has changed. No, really, those were the words of CNN medical expert Dr. Leana Wen, leading Reasons Robby Soave to ask, Has anything fundamentally changed in the last six months, except for Democrats finally, belatedly realizing that militant masking is a political loser? The science didnt change, the politics changed.

Heh. Just ask the Canadian truckers. Actually, the science has proved remarkably malleable over the last two years. The science was said to support whatever the Democratic Party found expedient at a particular moment, in the context of a grossly exaggerated fear of the Wuhan virus.

Famously in Canada, truckers have occupied the grounds of the national Parliament in Ottawa, honking their horns and demanding change. In front of the House of Commons, meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus defense of ever-stricter COVID restrictions got him mocked and jeered by members, with opposition leader Candice Bergen challenging him to follow the science, follow the evidence, end the restrictions, end the mandates. Canadian provinces are starting to drop their rules. Alberta caved to the truckers and ended its vaccine-passport regulation. Trudeau is even facing defections from his own party, as Liberal Party member Joel Lightbound denounced mandatory vaccinations. Trudeaus efforts to smear the truckers as Russian agents, Nazis and perpetrators of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, homophobia and transphobia failed as it turns out a majority of Canadians support the truckers and want COVID restrictions lifted.

As Glenn notes, there is nothing more pathetic than liberals attempt to smear their common-sense opposition with labels of racism, sexism, and so on. These days, I dont think those smears have any impact on anyone. So what is the result?

Likewise in the United States, COVID rules are suddenly falling. Just weeks after Youngkin was called a murderer for ending mask rules, Democrats in the Virginia Senate voted with Republicans to pass a statute . . . ending mask rules. Connecticuts Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is ending school mask rules as of the end of this month. Colorados Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is doing the same. Were seeing similar actions from New Jerseys Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Delawares Democratic Gov. John Carney. (Georgias wannabe governor Stacey Abrams backs masking in schools but not enough to stop her taking her own mask off for a photo opportunity with masked kids.) In the words of blogger Lawrence Person, Not since the collapse of the Hindenburg Line in 1918 have such bitterly held positions been abandoned so quickly.

Heh. The saving grace in a democracy is that every once in a while, the politicians need to face the voters. The November 2022 election has concentrated the minds of liberal politicians, and a headlong flight from mandates is the result. Glenn gets the last word:
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill has unsealed 16 pages of search warrant documents underlying the no-knock raid in which Amir Locke was killed last week. The papers lay out the no-knock rationale. St. Paul police sought assistance in their investigation of a deadly robbery that took the life of Otis Elder. They filed two warrant applications  the first for a regular warrant, the second for a no-knock nighttime warrant when Minneapolis police balked.

Video and photographs connected suspects to three of the apartments to be searched in one downtown Minneapolis building. The surveillance footage depicts Mekhi Speed and other suspects carrying firearms. Evidence from the scene raised fears of .223 caliber rounds that can penetrate body armor. Speed has now been charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Elder in what appears to have been a robbery set-up last month.

These suspects have been actively involved in numerous crimes throughout the metro area since at least November 2021 to include robberies, firearm incidents, and fleeing police in a motor vehicle, the warrant application read. The suspects have been posting videos and photos on Instagram holding several different firearms to include a rifle, possibly the murder weapon.

Having first signed off on a regular warrant, Judge Cahill subsequently approved the early hours, no-knock raid that the MPD SWAT team conducted. Cahill was persuaded that the no-knock raid would be safer for the police and the public, including other apartment residents.

Deena Winter has a good story on the unsealed documents that is accessible to one and all at the Minnesota Reformer. Winters story is Minneapolis police sought no-knock search warrant to protect the public. Her story comports with the Star Tribune story and provides pertinent background and details, as well as an open question or two.

This is a developing story. I have sought to present the facts and withhold judgment until all relevant facts are in with one exception. I stand by my judgment that you can see why the Minneapolis police might have wanted a no-knock warrant and that, apart from Speed himself, the culprit at the heart of the tragic chain of events leading to the death of Amir Locke is Minnesotas pathetic criminal justice system.

Warrant 652 by Scott Johnson on Scribd
What Ammo Grrrll sees is NOT YOUR DADDYS MILITARY (OR YOUR MOTHERS EITHER). She writes:

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a link to an invidious comparison between the military recruitment videos for North Korea, China, Russia  and the United States. Now I have seen many pretty effective U.S. recruitment videos or billboards in the past, particularly for the United States Marine Corps. The Few. The Proud. The Marines. Looking squared away and sharp in their beautiful dress uniforms.

And I recall another one for the Army with the slogan, We do more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day. I remember that one because a late Minnesota comedian, Scott Hansen, asked in his act, Is that really the way to appeal to teenage boys? As the mother at the time of three teenage boys who got up at the crack of noon, that line made me laugh.

But nothing really prepared me for the current ads. They have been discussed before on the Internet and in Podcasts, but I only saw them recently. The machismo in the Asian and Russian ads was almost cartoon-like. The Koreans and Chinese break cement blocks, kick them off the heads of other guys, and lie on broken glass while a comrade breaks bricks on their abs with a sledgehammer. As fun as that looks  and I cant wait to try it  I dont know how often it would come up in combat, but it sure makes an impression. Little Whoa Fat the Korean boy dictator watches a display and claps like crazy. As do all the others around him if they know whats good for them. You dont want to be denied your weekly allotment of grass.

And then we see the one for the U.S. military, which features an actual cartoon of a very sweet-looking, attractive young woman who informs us apropos of nothing that she was raised by two mommies. Quoi? Why is that even relevant? Did we learn anything about the parentage of the Russian behemoth or the Korean tae kwon do experts featured in their ads?

Its all so tedious. Our cartoon star and narrator has enlisted in the Army, and good for her  I didnt  and I would love to see her on the rifle range or kicking bricks off someones head, just DOING something we can applaud her for. Rather than just BEING something, which is the daughter of two lesbians.

I can just see the North Koreans in deep, perplexed discussion: Huh! The soldiers in American imperialist Army are all women. Is it a devious trick? AND, they all have two mommies. Whos zoomin who? THAT is impossible! They are worse off than we thought  they do not even know basic biology!

One of the most precious possessions I own  and something I would save in a fire before virtually any of my clothing  is a personal letter to my father from James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy. It is dated February of 1946 as Daddy mustered out of the service. I suspect  and hope for the sake of the typing pool  that it was partly a form letter with the personal salutations and addresses typed in carefully. But it looks for all the world like a hand-typed letter. It would make more of an impact if I scanned it, but I am afraid if I remove it from the frame, it could crack or tear. So, I will simply retype it exactly as it appears over the Secretary of the Navys Washington letterhead:

My Dear Mr. Baumbach: I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the Navys pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart. It brought our land-based airpower within bombing range of the enemy, and set our ground armies on the beachheads of final victory. It performed the multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you into civilian life. Good luck!

And then it is signed in cursive in fountain pen ink: James Forrestal.

This amazing document is 76 years old and brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. Not just because I lost Daddy so recently, but because it evokes a pride and patriotism that is now not just passe, but actively denigrated by our political elites, even unto the highest reaches of the military itself, especially the generals with more ribbons than brains. Daddy really was proud as long as [he] live[d].

Can you imagine a military that is worried about third-trimester pregnancy flight suits ever saying about any branch of the Service that It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart? Boy, that sure sounds toxic and male. Surrender is such an ugly, humiliating word for people we should never call enemies.

Or, For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. Sakes alive, crushing another nations military sounds a lot like white rage, and we cant have that now, can we? Why would anyone have had a reason to be upset about the thoroughly crush-worthy behavior of the Japanese or Germans in regard to the way they conducted the war?

Before the final best wishes to go with Daddy into civilian life, SecNav Forrestal predicts The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude.

Not so fast, sir! The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will throw your behind OUT of the service if you dont take multiple shots for a virus you have a 99% chance of surviving. It will make you walk around in high heels to show what it feels like to be a woman. It will call the white soldiers White Supremacists without a shred of proof that they are among the two or three dozen White Supremacists left in the country. It will do all it can to stir up racial division and grievance, seriously damaging the morale and esprit de corps that is vital to combat.

And now with the saber-rattling Cornpop veteran hastening hostilities with Russia in the winter (Napoleon, or Hitler, call your offices), can you imagine the current political and military leadership (taking nothing away from the individual American soldiers) coming out with a victory? Military vets who know a whole lot more about this than I do, please weigh in!

I include a postscript of sorts to the short, controversial life of James V. Forrestal. He was a strong anti-Communist, a hard-liner on American attitude toward the Soviet Union, and a firm believer that the State Department and other high echelons of government were being infiltrated by Communists. In a conversation with the much-maligned Joe McCarthy, Forrestal said regarding the alleged stupidity of the prevailing attitudes favoring accommodation and focusing on social welfare in the budget rather than Defense: Consistency has never been a mark of stupidity. If they were merely stupid, they would occasionally make a mistake in our favor.

Has any truer statement ever been made about the good faith errors of the Big Tech cancellers, of the alleged sloppiness of out-of-context quotes in the legacy press and flagrant, disingenuous editing in the electronic media, or the border disgrace which has gone from porous to a firehose of illegal invasion, complete with secret night flights to Red States? (And thats why they call them Red-eyes?)

Everything we see now is deliberate. And has nothing in common with the country in which I grew up.

And now this here birthing person must make a few phone calls to check on how to get one of them there fancy new crack pipes the taxpayers have purchased for just $30 million. I wonder if their manufacture was outsourced to China, like the hundreds of millions of COVID test kits mailed to Americans? As the late author Sue Grafton once had her main character say in a novel: I will have much to report when I return to my home planet.
The Kwara State Government has accused former governors Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed of fraudulently negotiating the state into underwriting debts they incurred in the name of Shonga Farm.

In a swift reaction, however, Mr Ahmed denied any wrongdoing and described the claims that his administration and that of his predecessor, Bukola Saraki, guaranteed bank loans for the farm. He said such claims are uninformed and false.

Shonga Farm was established in 2004 by Mr Saraki, who was then the state governor, and some white farmers he brought from Zimbabwe.

At a press briefing on Thursday in Ilorin, the state government lamented that the controversial venture was funded 100 per cent at inception with taxpayers money without any gains accruing to the people of the state under whatever guise.

The government held the briefing to explain the recent takeover of two Kwara properties by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) owing to about N1.7 billion debts of the farm.

The press briefing was jointly addressed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Salman Jawondo; Commissioner for Communication, Bode Towoju; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Lateef Alakawa; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Communication, Bashir Adigun; and Group Managing Director of Harmony Holdings, Abdullahi AbdulMajeed.

The officials said more than a cumulative sum of N5 billion of public funds and loans secured with the government as guarantor have been sunk into the agricultural project with no traces of any dividends to the people of the state.

Out of the 13 autonomous farms set up with public funds, nine had been sold out with no kobo paid into the public coffers, even when the government is supposed to hold a paltry 10 per cent equity in each of the farms.

The reason AMCON took over the Kwara properties in Abuja is to recover the bad loans that the Farm owes a consortium of banks that invested in it dating back to 2007 because the Shonga Farm Holdings could not pay back on the agreed timeline.

AMCON had to hold the state responsible because it is listed among the shareholders of Shonga Farms Holdings Ltd, even though its share  allocated to it only after public noise in the early 2000s  is not anywhere commensurate with its huge investments in the project.

On why the government has not taken legal action against the perpetrators of the alleged fraud, Mr Jawondo said crimes perpetrated through fronts and companies take years to unravel.

However, he said the government would take action once it had gathered the documents necessary to do so, including files and transactions tucked away by previous officials.

For instance, the sale of nine farms  in which the government ought to have 10 per cent equity shares  was done secretly without any document left for the government to trace how the transaction was done, at what amount they were sold, the billions of naira proceeds of the sale, and who the buyers were, while no board resolution existed to show that shareholders consented to the divestment process in line with the law.

When such mind boggling frauds are committed using companies and fronts, it may take many years to unravel the web of conspiracy. It is not enough to prosecute for the sake of mere prosecution. But rest assured that we will prosecute everyone involved when we get all the evidences, Mr Jawondo said.

By section 61 of AMCON Act, a debtor or a debtors company is defined to include directors or shareholders. That is where Kwara State properties came in. As a shareholder in Shonga Farm Holdings (however little these afterthought shares are, compared to our investment), we are liable for the failures of the farm. What happened was that three out of the five banks who later invested in the Shonga Farm sold their debts to AMCON. So, AMCON inherited these debts and started pursuing Shonga Farm Holdings (which included Kwara government) to come and pay.

At a point they negotiated and they were allowed to pay a little less than a billion naira within a time frame. They were left with N283 million. They could not pay within the time limit. Dont forget I said that this loan went to small small farms, not even Shonga Holdings. In fact, this Shonga Holdings was just a body established without anything doing other than managing these small farms. Then, they now exited (after fraudulently activating Clause 17) which means that Shonga Farm Holdings has nothing in these small farms again. The 60% even given to Kwara is already gone. You can see the scam.

So, as far as AMCON is concerned Kwara is still a shareholder in Shonga Farm Holdings, even though it is doing nothing. It was on this basis that AMCON approached the Federal High Court and sought an attachment of Kwara properties. This basically means we are responsible for the woes of Shonga Farm even when no dime or dividends have come to the people of Kwara State despite its huge investments there.

And you know why they did that? I have read online of people asking why they picked Kwara and not other debtors. The Kwara state government is the big elephant in this matter. Kwara State government is the most vulnerable in these circumstances. So if you people are claiming they had not used the kwara state property to secure the loan, yes, directly; but indirectly, they have siphoned Kwara State government money. They practically have negotiated Kwara state into debt.

We didnt guarantee loans for Shonga farms -Ex-Governor Ahmed

However, in his reaction, the immediate past governor, Mr Ahmed, said the claims that his administration and that of Bukola Saraki guaranteed bank loans for Shonga Farm Holdings (SFH) are uninformed and false.

In a statement by Wahab Oba, his media aide, Mr Ahmed, who was Commissioner of Finance when Shonga Farms was established and whose administration created Harmony Holdings Limited, SFHs supervisory company, said Shonga Farms is a public-private partnership (PPP) funded under a debt-equity structure and owned by the state government, a consortium of banks and the Zimbabwean farmers.

The former governor said their administrations invested in the project through infrastructure for the farms and its communities such as roads, electricity, water and security infrastructure that are still intact.

SFH, he said, secured bank loans for expansion using its assets as collateral, adding a state government can only guarantee a loan through its federal allocation, which was never pledged.

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Mr Ahmed agreed that not all the businesses are thriving, stressing that while the poultry business remains viable, the dairy syndicate stagnated when a global milk company cancelled its off-taker arrangement with SFH. The mixed crop section, he said, stalled due to irrigation problems as a result of federal governnents renege on its promise to assist with irrigation.

Mr Ahmed said some of the farms secured new investment to pay off their loans to the banks through SFH, which has paid over N600 million out of an outstanding N900 million to AMCON.

The former governor exonerated the previous two administrations of any wrongdoing in exploiting a business opportunity that attracted investments into the state, developed the local community and placed Kwara State on the global map.

According to Mr Ahmed, SFH attracted foreign and local investments above $100 million and has created over 4000 direct and indirect local jobs besides knowledge transfer to the local community.

He maintained that his and the Saraki administration followed due process in all transactions relating to SFH, a quality that earned the state government a high ranking from the global rating agency, Fitch. 

While acknowledging that the SFH financing model was innovative, Mr Ahmed urged the state government to seek clarifications from professionals rather than indulging in theatrics capable of discouraging investment in the state.

The former governor urged the state government to focus on surpassing investment inflows recorded during the previous administrations, including Dangote Industries and BUA Sugar Company.
Nigerian actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington has taken the bold step towards pursuing her passion for music with her new single, So Natural.

The track was produced by Cobhams Asuquo and written by her musician husband, Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W.

Reality star Bisola Aiyeola and actress Jemima Osunde made cameo appearances while Banky W worked behind the scene.

While she has previously featured on her husbands music videos, Made for you, Final Say, and most recently Jo, this is the first time she would go solo, music-wise.

The 33-years-old actress, whose stage name is Susu, took to her Instagram page to share the news of the release of the new song.

The mother-of-one had caught the attention of many after she starred in the blockbuster movie Wedding Party (2017).

The song is an ode to the love she shares with her husband.

On the other hand, the lyrics show that the love she shares with her husband is natural and magical.

The song is a cross between a mid-tempo RnB and reggae.

History

Etomi-Wellington is not the first actress to try her hand at music.

Several Nollywood stars have tried their luck and delved into the music industry in the past.

In 2004, Genevieve Nnaji signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label. She released her debut album, One Logologo Line, a mix of R&B, hip hop, and urban music.

Shortly after that, in 2010, another famous Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade had a two-day album launch which got people thinking that the award-winning actress had finally embraced a music career. Then, on November 13, 2010, Shan Geroge also released an album.

Stella Damasus, in 2012, released a new single titled song Love Me Quick. The track was best described as Afro-soul, and her second track was released Get Up.

Also, Tonto Dikeh released her first track titled Itz Ova, a break-up song produced by Teso Music and features the up and coming act, SNYPA, while her second single, Hi, in 2013.
Hartland Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the reconstruction of the 50-km Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road in Abia State, officially returned to site Thursday to resume work on the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Federal Government first awarded the N13.2 billion contract to the company in 2019 but the job was stalled by the paucity of funds.

The Federal Executive Council, in 2021, re-approved the project for funding by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through the Road Tax Credit Scheme.

Speaking with reporters after inspecting the site, the companys Managing Director, Fayez Khalaf, said the company had started mobilising equipment to the site.

He said the federal government had released the fund, including the outstanding, to enable the company to expedite action on the project.

Mr Khalaf said that their immediate focus was to rehabilitate the deplorable 10-km Umuahia-Oboro portion of the road this dry season in order to end the sufferings of the road users.

He said the company would need to fill the failed portions, especially at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike section.

We are bringing in more equipment.

We have made some big investments to increase the number of equipment and workforce on the project, Mr Khalef said.

He stated the companys commitment to ensure thorough rehabilitation of the single-carriage way with drainages due to be delivered by 2023.

Also, the lawmaker representing Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency, Sam Onuigbo, who facilitated the project, expressed joy over the resumption of work by the contractor.

Mr Onuigbo told reporters that the resumption of work meant that the pressures he mounted on the Federal Ministry of Works and contractor had yielded results.

He said he felt very hopeful and expectant that the project would soon be delivered to alleviate the plight of his constituents and other road users.

During my meeting with the Minister of Works and the contractor last week, I told them the need to take advantage of the dry season to return to site, Mr Onuigbo said.

(NAN)
The Supreme Court in a split decision, on Friday, dismissed a suit filed by the Attorney-Generals of the 36 states of the federation, in which they sought the funding of state judiciaries by the federal government.

In the suit which challenged the widely accepted norm that states are to fund their courts, the plaintiffs argued that it is the constitutional duty of the federal government to fund the capital and recurrent expenditures of states High Courts, as well as their Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.

But the Supreme Court in its split-decision of four justices against three held that the responsibility of funding state courts lies squarely with the state governments.

In the lead judgement prepared by Musa Dattijo, but read by Centus Nweze, the Supreme Court held that Presidential Executive Order 10 issued in 2020 to shore up the financial independence of state judiciaries and legislatures is unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs had argued that the Executive Order violated the Nigerian constitution by seeking to compel state governments to fund the recurrent and capital expenditures of state courts, which according to them ought to be that of the federal government.

Details later
The Supreme Court Friday nullified Executive Order 10 put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. The court said the Nigerian leader overstepped his powers by promulgating such a rule.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Buhari, in May 2020, signed the order into law.

The order grants financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary in the 36 states of the country.

The order also mandates the accountant-general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

That order has now been voided by the Supreme Court which ruled Friday in a suit by the 36 states against the federal government.

In its ruling, the seven-member panel of Supreme Court judges, in a split-decision of six justices to one, held that the Constitution provides a clear delineation between the state and federal government.

The president has overstepped the limits of his constitutional powers, the court ruled about the president promulgating Executive Order 10.

The country is run on the basis of rule of law, the judges said.

The majority decision adopted the expert opinion of Musibau Adetunbi and Mahmud Magaji, two of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, invited by the Supreme Court to advise it on the matter.

More details later
An officer with Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), has provided a heart-wrenching account of how a female job-seeker, Iniubong Umoren, was raped and brutally killed by her alleged attacker, Uduak Akpan, last year in Uruan, Akwa Ibom State.

The officer, simply identified as Okeke, is the 10th prosecution witness in the ongoing murder trial of the accused person, Mr Akpan, 20.

The 26-year-old Ms Umoren was lured out of her home by her alleged killer with a fake job offer.

Mr Okeke, in his testimony before a State High Court in Uyo, told the court how Miss Umoren was faced between life and death when her alleged attacker insisted on having sex with her, and how she begged him to use a condom if he must rape her, according to a report by the Punch newspaper.

The officer, who testified on Wednesday before Justice Bassey Nkanang, said Mr Akpan in his statement to the SSS admitted threatening to kill Miss Umoren if she would not let him have sex with her.

He (Akpan) also told us that even when he overpowered the deceased, she told him she would allow him (have sex with her) only if he used a condom, Mr Okeke said in court.

The first accused person also told the investigation team that in the process of having sex with the deceased, he removed the condom and the deceased started struggling with him again. He said while he was still on top of the deceased, she carried an iron, and hit him on the forehead.

He said that, in order not for the deceased (Ms Umoren) to shout, he, Uduak-Abasi, now collected a black cloth, stuffed (it) into her mouth, and tied her mouth. He said he then used a standby stabilizer and hit her on the abdomen. From that point, the first accused said the deceased started bleeding profusely. He told us that he became afraid as if she had already died.

The first accused also said he used the jeans-trouser of the deceased to strangle her completely, the officer said.

Mr Akpan, the officer said, dug a shallow grave within his family compound where he buried the victims remains.

He told the investigating team that he wrapped her (Ms Umoren) body with a blanket, and with her mouth still tied, and the Jeans on her neck and buried her in the grave. He further told us that the incident happened between 13:00 hours to 20:00 hours, on the 29th of April, 2021.

The officer said Mr Akpan and the two other accused persons made their statement voluntarily and that the SSS also analysed their phones.

Mr Akpans phone and the two Nokia phones belonging to the second accused were submitted and admitted as exhibits by the court.

The victims phone, which was retrieved from her alleged killer, was also presented and accepted as exhibit.

Mr Akpans lawyer, Samson Adula, objected to his confessional statement being tendered as exhibit, claiming it was made under duress.

The case was adjourned to February 15 for the court to conduct a trial-within-trial to determine if Mr Akpans statement was made under duress or not.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja mandated his Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to ensure that all ministers and heads of agencies include young people with the requisite skills and experience in all boards and committees of the Federal Government.

The president, who gave the directive while receiving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Lobby Group, said young peoples inclusion in governance would encourage learning and mentoring in government and politics.

The president asked the SGF to submit a report on the inclusion of young people on boards and committees that are yet to be constituted, next month.

He further directed Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari and the SGF to ensure monthly engagements with the APC Youth Lobby group for better synergy and cross pollination of ideas and opportunities.

He urged both senior government officials to explore the establishment of a committee of young people to form the monitoring and evaluation team of ongoing Federal Government projects across the country.

He said the committee would provide feedback which will enable his government to hold public office holders and those given responsibility to account.

The president also welcomed the idea of the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Youth in liaison with the youth leader, requesting the SGF and the Chief of Staff to work out the modalities for its operationalization.

President Buhari told the APC Youth Lobby Group led by Ismaeel Ahmed that the leadership of the party would ensure full participation of young people at all levels.

I will also support the aspirations of credible and committed young people who are vying for positions in the upcoming convention.

It is also in our interest to ensure the longevity of our party by standardizing and institutionalizing the leadership recruitment system. Hard working and exemplary individuals should be identified and encouraged and mentored.

It should be a deliberate policy of the progressives in ensuring that we have a robust succession plan in place, he said.

Commending members of the APC National Youth Lobby group for the work they are doing for the party, the president said:

You are not begging, but negotiating, staking a claim and seeking to add value, which is admirable.

He urged them to help the party achieve a successful convention on February 26, 2022 and in subsequent elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

President Buhari declared that APC must be made attractive for younger people to continuously take ownership of it because that is the future, and that is what progress means.

Expressing support for the establishment of the Progressive Institute for the party, the president said:

The party must have an Institute where its ethos, character and mantra are inculcated in our members. I will rely on you to share the concept note for further action.

The President, who endorsed the 2021 APC Youth Conference Report presented to him, assured the group that the recommendations in the report that are within his own remit would be given favourable consideration.

He also promised to encourage the leadership of the States and the party to implement the recommendations of the report for the benefit of young progressives.

Describing the president as the leader of the party and moral compass of the nation, the APC Youth leader thanked him for sending a powerful delegation to the Progressive Youth Conference in June 2021, demonstrating that the present government believes in young people.

Mr President, young people in Nigeria believe in your capacity and the history of your public service. You joined the army at the age of 20, you joined the war to save the country at the age of 25, became a governor at the age of 33, minister at 36 and Head of State at 41.

You joined politics at the age of 60 and was elected President at the age of 72. You have demonstrated through your personal example, the integrity that very few people have had the opportunity to demonstrate in the country, he said.

On the forthcoming APC convention, Mr Ahmed appealed to the president to speak for the young people whenever we are not there to speak for ourselves, as you have always done.

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Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 11, 2022
The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police has taken over the investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of a 200-level student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Heritage Ajibola, on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Miss Ajibola of the Linguistics and African Languages Department slipped into the septic tank at a privately owned BVER hostel located at an area named students village on the campus.

A statement issued by the university on Friday also revealed that an unnamed owner of the private hostel has been queried.

The statement, which was signed by the universitys public relations office, Abiodun Olarewaju, read in part: Meanwhile, the owner of the private hostel, BVER, where the incidence occurred has been issued a query by the University Management and his response is being awaited.

It must be noted that all the hostels in the students village are privately owned and they are not under the control of the University. The University Management presently has only oversight functions on these private hostels.

Mr Olarewaju said the incident saddened the university management, describing it as tragic, devastating, unfortunate and unacceptable.

Backstory

This newspaper reported that the efforts to rescue the deceased alive lasted up to an hour but she was confirmed dead at the institutions teaching hospital on the same day.

Students and friends of the deceased took to Twitter to demand justice, using the hashtag #JusticeForHeritage.

The students had on October 1, 2021, staged a mass protest against alleged negligence on the part of the management of the institutions health centre, which led to the death of a final year student of the Department of Foreign Languages, Aisha Adesina.

The university had, however, denied the allegation as of when the incident happened.
Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated more than 120 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-east in the last three weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, a major general, said this while giving update on military operations across the country between January 20 and February on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Onyeuko said several ISWAP commanders including their Amir and some foreign mercenaries who make improvised explosive devices were killed during air raids and land operations.

He also said 965 terrorists and thier family members surrendered to troops in different locations within the theatre of operation during the period.

Mr Onyeuko said 104 of the surrendered terrorists were from the ISWAP group while 25 abducted victims were rescued during the operations.

According to him, the terrorists have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

He added that 50 terrorists were arrested from different locations by the troops while five gun trucks and cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

According to him, troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe around Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Notably, the air interdiction eliminated several ISWAP commanders and their fighters during the encounter.

In the air strike, ISWAP senior commander Malam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorists were killed during the airstrike.

Relatedly, the Air Component conducted air strikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in Marte Local Government Area.

In the process, troops neutralised scores of terrorists including high profile commanders, while about 25 terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.

The ISWAP armoury and warehouse were also destroyed and arrest of several terrorists, recovery of assorted arms, ammunition were made, along with their gun trucks and other weapons.

Also, livestock and other items of security concern were recovered as well as rescued abducted civilians, he said.

(NAN)
Media freedom has continuously been declining in recent years, driven in part by anti-democratic and illiberal pressures and practices and by the misuse of digital technologies to restrict media freedom, the Media Freedom Coalition, a group of media practitioners, said on Thursday.

The global coalition also said the challenges to media freedom include unduly restrictive laws, arbitrary and/or unlawful surveillance, censorship, undue interference in the circulation of information online and physical violence; these challenges are exacerbated by financial threats, which jeopardise media independence and sustainability.

Members of the coalition recently concluded their Third Global Conference for Media Freedom, which held on February 9 and 10 and was hosted by Estonia and the Estonian Institute of Human Rights.

Women unfairly treated

The coalition, in the communique released after their engagement, also said women journalists are disproportionately targeted by online harassment, threats, sexist hate speech and trolling.

In many instances, women journalists are subject to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and gender-based violence because of their sexual orientation, race, disability, religion, ethnicity or gender identity, as well as other reasons. This can lead to self-censorship such that women choose to withdraw from the public sphere, which undermines media pluralism and democracy as a whole.

It added that despite the challenges faced by journalists globally, the coalition would continue working together to improve media freedom and the safety of journalists online and offline both at home and abroad. As representatives of governments, it is our responsibility to ensure that people in our countries can freely enjoy all their human rights.

The statement was signed by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States.

Pls read the communique below:

Global Conference for Media Freedom: Joint communique

February 9, 2022  Global Affairs Canada

Media freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. Free and independent media is necessary for ensuring accurate information and informed public debate and discussion, holding governments accountable and drawing attention to human rights violations, and it serves as a watchdog for the public interest.

Media freedom has continuously been in decline in recent years, driven in part by anti-democratic and illiberal pressures and practices and by the misuse of digital technologies to restrict media freedom. Challenges to media freedom include unduly restrictive laws, arbitrary and/or unlawful surveillance, censorship, undue interference in the circulation of information online and physical violence; these challenges are exacerbated by financial threats, which jeopardize media independence and sustainability.

Women journalists are disproportionately targeted by online harassment, threats, sexist hate speech and trolling. In many instances, women journalists are subject to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and gender-based violence because of their sexual orientation, race, disability, religion, ethnicity or gender identity, as well as other reasons. This can lead to self-censorship such that women choose to withdraw from the public sphere, which undermines media pluralism and democracy as a whole.

By joining the Media Freedom Coalition, we have made a commitment to continue working together to improve media freedom and the safety of journalists online and offline both at home and abroad. As representatives of governments, it is our responsibility to ensure that people in our countries can freely enjoy all their human rights.

Today, we recall the commitments made in the Global Pledge on Media Freedom. We committed to speaking out and taking action together: by combining forces to share information, as appropriate, and to take action in cases where journalists and media organizations are at risk; by shining a light on violations and abuses of media freedom, bringing these to the attention of the global public and working toward accountability; by standing together to intervene at the highest level with the governments of countries where media freedom is at risk and to show solidarity with countries that work to build media freedom; and by considering all available measures to address violations and abuses of international human rights law related to media freedom.

We reiterate our commitments to increase coordination locally through our diplomatic missions around the world, to defend media freedom and to increase support for and engagement with journalists and independent media under threat.

We support measures to tackle the precarious working conditions and poverty of journalists, which undermine their independence.

The Media Freedom Coalition expresses its gratitude to Estonia and the Estonian Institute of Human Rights for shining a spotlight at the Global Conference for Media Freedom on the important topics of disinformation and freedom of speech, the protection of journalists and the interlinkages between media freedom and Internet freedom. We also thank them for creating the Media Freedom Coalitions website, which provides the members of the coalition with a platform to continue addressing abuses of media freedom together.

We commend the tireless work of all journalists and media workers who uphold and defend media freedom. We pay tribute to all journalists and media workers who have been targets of intimidation, violence or arbitrary detention or who, in the most extreme cases, have been killed in the course of exercising their profession.

We again wholeheartedly congratulate Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov on being awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which emphasizes the importance of independent journalism.

We need journalists to report the facts, keep us informed and hold those in power accountable. When violence against journalists triumphs, media cannot be free and democracy cannot function.

We look forward to celebrating the upcoming 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunitya milestone in media freedom and the protection of journalists.

We welcome the ongoing work of the independent High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom to provide advice to governments to ensure the protection of media freedom in legislation, and we note the recommendations contained in the reports of the panel. We also warmly welcome the newly appointed deputy chairs of the panel, Can Yeginsu and Catherine Amirfar. We look forward to working together with them.

We recognize the importance of media development work, which supports media organizations in becoming more viable and resilient and improves the enabling environment for media. We commit to working together to improve the effectiveness of this work including through the Working Group of the Coalition on Media Development.

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We underscore the important role played by international and regional organizations in the protection and promotion of media freedom, including the UN, UNESCO, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organization of American States, the African Union and the Council of Europe. We also note the complementary and fundamental role of other like-minded initiatives, such as the Freedom Online Coalition and the International Partnership on Information and Democracy.

We commend the work of the Global Media Defence Fund, administered by UNESCO, in enhancing journalists legal protections and improving media freedom by supporting investigative journalism and strategic litigation.

We commend the work of civil society organizations, and especially that of the Media Freedom CoalitionConsultative Network, co-chaired by IFEX, ARTICLE 19 and the Pakistan Press Foundation, in providing the Media Freedom Coalition with expert counsel and strategic direction.

Finally, we would like to thank Maldives, Germany and Latvia for their commitment to media freedom as members of the Media Freedom Coalitions Executive Group, and we would like to welcome the Czech Republic and Estonia as new members of the Executive Group, as well as Ireland, which has officially joined the Media Freedom Coalition as its 50th member.

We would like to express our gratitude to the United Kingdom for initiating the work of, and being a strong co-chair of, the Media Freedom Coalition. We are also thankful to the United Kingdom for launching the Media Freedom Coalition Secretariat, which will ensure the sustainability of the coalition.

We also thank Canada for its ongoing leadership as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition since 2019 and welcome the Netherlands as a new co-chair of the coalition. The Netherlands will provide strong leadership in this role.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, the United States
Ahead of Saturdays Area Council elections, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello, has warned residents against carrying out any form of violence before, during or after the poll.

The minister, who called for the active and peaceful participation of FCT residents in the elections, said security agencies are under strict directives to bring the full weight of the law on errant individuals or groups who may attempt to breach the peace in whatever guise.

These were contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, on Thursday.

While he noted that the attention of the national and international community is on the elections, Mr Bello urged parents, traditional, community and religious leaders to caution their wards, subjects and members of their congregation against engaging in acts that could disrupt its peaceful conduct.

And conducting a smooth election is not the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission alone, but also that of the electorate, he said.

The FCT is a symbol of Nigerias unity where every citizen has an equal stake in its affairs and called on all contestants and political parties to commit themselves to peace before, during and after the election because, after the elections, we must all return back to being brothers and sisters bound by the love for country and the desire to see her grow.

I, therefore, call on residents and contestants to use the council poll to truly demonstrate the unity of all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.

The electorate in the FCT, therefore bear a burden of responsibility of ensuring a peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections, part of the statement read.

Residents of the FCT were also advised to call on the relevant authorities should they witness any activities that run contrary to the laid down election guidelines.

The elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 12.

A total of 1,373,492 registered voters are expected to participate in the elections for Chairmen and Councillors, in 2,229 polling units.

Already, INEC has deployed 2,822 Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and 12,000 ad hoc staff for the elections.

The sensitive materials were collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution will recommend 28 amendments to the House for consideration.

Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), the Chairman of the Committee, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Abuja.

In his opening remarks, Mr Wase said 1,980 recommendations were made by Nigerians in the 178 memoranda submitted to the committees after the zonal public hearing on the bills.

He stated that in the first batch, the Committee recommended 28 bills for harmonization with the Senate, out of the 62 bills considered. He said that eight (8) bills were rejected, twenty-five (25) Bills were retained with modifications and the consideration of 3 bills were deferred.

The deputy speaker stated that the thematic areas include issues bothering on local government administration and autonomy, the legislature, judicial reform, state creation, state police, devolution of powers, women and vulnerable groups.

Other areas are; strengthening of Institutions, good governance, political parties and electoral matters, traditional institution, Federal Capital Territory Administration, fundamental human rights and national security.

Mr Wase did not disclose the bills that the committee has rejected so far.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that State Police has been rejected, 35 per cent affirmative action has been rejected and mayor for FCT has been deferred.

Mr Wase stressed that there is a need for synergy between the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to ensure they deliver a working constitution.

According to the deputy speaker, the current constitution is military exigency, adding that that the reference to We the people in the document does not truly represent them.

He added, We also are cognizant of the fact that we cannot work in isolation if we must achieve a concrete result and deliver on the promises we have made to Nigerians. Whatever we have done will still go through the State Houses of Assembly for their own input and vote.

Hence the need for this collaborative synergy which will give us the opportunity to engage, consult and harmonize for a smoother, tidier and more efficient Constitutional review.

We have worked tirelessly to engage, negotiate, debate, lobby, review and persuade in order to reflect the various competing and contrasting aspirations of Nigerians of different leanings and backgrounds. One thing we are sure of is that no one has been left behind.

We have aggregated all manners of proposals, sorted them out to meet the constitutional guidelines and criteria and have ultimately harmonized positions after lengthy debates and majority votes on several critical issues.

Role of State House of Assembly in Amendment

State Houses of Assembly play a prominent role in the passage of Constitution amendment bills.

Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides that 24 Houses of Assembly must approve a bill before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.

After the two chambers must have passed the bills with 2/3 support in their respective chambers, 24 House of Assembly must give a nod to the bills.

An Act of the National Assembly for the alteration of this Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States, section 9(2) reads
Conference of Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria has insisted on the restructuring of Nigeria and community policing in the ongoing amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

Chairman of the Conference and Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, stated this in Abuja on Friday.

He was addressing a retreat of the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution with Speakers of States Assemblies.

Mr Suleiman said with the challenges of insecurity, it was important for the legislature to address many agitating issues such as restructuring, devolution of powers, community and state police.

We are confronted with certain challenges in the country that border on insecurity, economy, devolution of powers and weak institutions.

The Conference of Speakers subscribes to the call that the review of the Constitution is one of the legislative actions at our disposal that could be explored to address these challenges.

We call on the National and States Houses of Assembly to seize this opportunity of another amendment to address agitating issues such as restructuring, devolution of powers, community and state police, he said.

While appreciating the inclusiveness in the exercise, the chairman called on the National Assembly to endeavour to carry along other major stakeholders like the Presidency and governors in the exercise.

We are particular about the executive arm at both tiers of government because of previous experience and reluctance or selective considerations for presidential assent and challenges of implementation at the state level, Mr Suleiman added.

In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, said the retreat provided an auspicious opportunity to interface with state legislatures as distinct and critical partners in Constitutional amendment.

Surely, and without a doubt, the success of this process largely depends on your support and partnership.

Going forward, after the passage of the proposals by the National Assembly in a fortnight, you will be the pillar on which this work will be anchored, he said.

Mr Omo-Agege, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, said the proposed amendments set out institutional and legal reforms, which together with sufficient political will, would help to strengthen institutions of governance and provide for accountability and transparency.

On his part, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Idris Wase, said during the first batch of the review, the Committee in the House of Representatives considered 62 bills out of which 26 bills were recommended for harmonisation with the Senate.

Of the 62 bills, eight bills were rejected, 25 bills were retained with modifications and the consideration of three bills was deferred.

One thing we are sure of is that no one has been left behind.

We have aggregated all manners of proposals, sorted them out to meet Constitutional guidelines and criteria and have ultimately harmonised positions on several critical issues, he stressed.

(NAN)
The Lagos State Building Control Authority (LASBCA) has told an Ikeja Coroners Court that the late Femi Osibona, Managing Director of Fourscore Heights Ltd., prevented its officers from gaining access to the construction site of the collapsed 21-storey building.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluseun Randle, an Assistant Director in charge of the Inspectorate of Quality Control of LASBCA, appeared before the panel on Friday.

She said she was the officer overseeing Eti-Osa, Victoria, Island, Surulere, Yaba, Lagos Mainland and Ikoyi, the area where the collapsed 21-storey building was located.

The witness noted that one of the duties of LABSCA was the identification and possible removal of non-conforming structures in Lagos.

She made the revelation while being cross-examined by Ola Adeosun, the counsel to Prowess Engineering Nigeria Ltd., the structural engineering consultant to Mr Osibona who withdrew its services over a dispute on how the project was structurally executed.

The witness said LASBCA had visited the site of the building collapse to check the level of compliance on three occasions.

An officer first visited on February 13, 2019, he peered through a small opening in the gate and observed piling equipment.

He moved closer to observe the piling operation and to gain access to the premises. The security operatives manning the premises did not allow him entry.

He was only asked to wait outside of the gate for the developer (Osibona). After some minutes, the developer came and the officer told him he wanted to serve a notice.

He (Osibona) told him that he could not go in and if tried to forcefully gain entry he would tell the security to release dogs.

The monitoring officer served a Contravention Notice and Stop Work Order dated February 13, 2019, on the structure. The notice and order was to be complied with within 48-hours, she said.

The witness said the LASBCA officer returned to the site for the second time on February 21, 2019, and pasted a Seal Up Notice on the fence and left.

On the second visit, she said the monitoring officer did not observe any construction work on the site except for the locked gate.

Mrs Randle said sometime in June 2019, LASBCA received a notification from a sister agency, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), over a permit given to Fourscore Heights Ltd.

The approval drawing was for three blocks of 15-floors. With that (the permit) LASBCA had a reprieve over the matter, she said.

The LASBCA Assistant Director noted that for the rest of 2019, officers of the agency did not observe any construction work at the site except for the locked gate.

She said she did not know if it was possible for an individual to forge a LASBCA approval document. She also could not recall if a developer had ever forged LASBCA documents.

Questioning Mrs Randle further, Mr Adeosun said As at (of) February 2020, two 15-storey structures were already standing on the site before the COVID-19 lockdown.

The construction of the third building which was the one that collapsed was already at the third-floor stage. Would you be surprised?

Responding, she said, I will be surprised.

While being cross-examined by Ahmed Gbadamosi, a counsel to the family of Samuel Iwelu, one of the victims of the building collapse, the witness revealed that Mr Osibona was arrested on June 10, 2020.

He was arrested alongside his wife and staff for contravening certification and planning laws.

They were arrested by a joint enforcement team of LASCA and LASPPPA. The security men at the gate put up an attitude by resisting the teams access to the property.

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He was found to be in contravention of the law, she said.

On his enquiry about events that transpired after Mr Osibonas arrest, Mrs Randle told Mr Gbadamosi to make his enquiry via correspondence to the General Manager of LABSCA.

Mr Gbadamosi noted that in Paragraph 27 of Mrs Randles Statement on Oath to the Coroners Court, she said Mr Osibona had continued construction on the property until it collapsed on November 1, 2021.

Was this particular developer beyond the control of your agency, why was the developer who was arrested by the task force, taken to an unknown location by the police only to go back to continue developing the property? he asked.

Mrs Randle responded saying, No developer is beyond LASBCA. The agency was not aware that he went back to the site.

It was the report of the collapse of the 21-storey building that gave us an insight on the height and type of the structure at the time of the collapse.

Responding to questions from Yusuf Lawan, the counsel to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs Randle said LABSCA was unaware that Mr Osibona had returned to the construction site after his arrest.

The monitoring officers were not going to the site because of the COVID-19 lockdown, then #EndSARS occurred.

All our monitoring officers fell under the category of those asked to stay at home, Mrs Randle stated.

One of the three high-rise buildings (Blocks A, B and C) which were situated on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Block B (21-storeys) collapsed on November 1 killing 46 persons while 15 persons were rescued.

One of those who died in the tragedy was Mr Osibona, the Managing Director of Fourscore Heights Ltd., the contractor to the project. (NAN)
As part of the measures to check the rising insecurity across the nation, the Nigerian police are calling for a legislation that would compel private citizens, including government agencies and corporate organisations, to install CCTV cameras and security sensors on their facilities.

The police made the call on Wednesday at the end of their two-day retreat and conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The retreat was attended by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and about 148 other senior police officers from the rank of commissioner of police and above from all over the country.

According to a statement on Friday from the deputy spokesperson of the Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, the retreat emphasised on intelligence as the brainbox of policing and proposed a legislation that will place an obligation on government agencies, corporate bodies, estate developers and private individuals to install CCTV cameras and security sensors on their facilities as a standard practice amongst others

Mr Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, said a communique which captured the proposal, had been sent to relevant authorities, including President Muhammadu Buharis office, the national security adviser, the National Assembly, Ministry Of Police Affairs, and the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

The IGP, Mr Baba said officers must embrace intelligence-driven approaches towards effective policing of the nation.

The retreat, hosted by Governor Udom Emmanuel, was declared open by President Buhari, represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi.

Other dignitaries who attended the retreats opening ceremony were Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State; Haliru Jika, chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs; and Bello Kumo, chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs.

Nigeria, for years now, has been plagued by several security challenges, ranging from Boko Haram insurgency, banditry to abduction-for-ransom.

Police officers have also been target of deadly attacks, especially in the countrys South-east where the agitation for an independent state of Biafra had given rise to armed group, IPOB.

Governor Udom Emmanuel said the meeting was timely because of the current security threats all over the country.

We are living in an age where known approaches to fighting crimes have been tested, thus necessitating the evolution of new strategies. We are living in an age and time, where criminals have reinvented their wheels of criminal enterprise; where non-state actors with no known addresses have infiltrated our space, where a neighbour may be kidnapers, or runs a terrorist cell.

This reality calls for new strategies to take the fight to these enemies of peace and defeat them. The first step to achieving this usually starts from retreats such as the one you are having here, Mr Emmanuel said in his opening remarks.

The governor said security is everybodys business and therefore Nigerians should support the police and other security agencies to fight crime.

The retreat, which is supposed to be an annual gathering since it was first hosted in Lagos in 2019, could not hold in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19.
It appears that many politicians, for their selfish purpose would want Nigeria to use the old Act. That Electoral Act is today problematic because the Supreme Court has ruled that the INEC Manual that recognises use of Card Reader in authenticating voters in any election is illegal, and voided it. In this context, the provision for the electronic transmission of results in the proposed Bill is extremely important for our democratic progress and must not be allowed to fall.

I am beginning to see signs of evolving plans to stop the president from signing the Electoral Bill and I seriously hope that I am wrong. On Monday this week, Abubakar Malami, the minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation declared in an interview with Channels Television that President Buhari may withhold assent from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill if it is considered to have proposals based on personal interests. It was a strange comment because he said it had just arrived on his table and he had not yet studied it. If he had not read it, why was he talking about the president rejecting it? The bill, which the National Assembly transmitted to the Presidency the second time on Monday January 31, has been with the president for 11 days now. President Buhari had withheld assent to the first version of the bill last year, after keeping it without comment for a full month before consulting with the Ministry of Justice and the Independent National Electoral Commission, among others, and then returning it to the National Assembly.

According to The Nation of Wednesday February 9, President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure to reject the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022. The lobby is said to be framing an argument that the Bill contains certain anti-democratic and discriminatory clauses. Their concern is the clause that requires that no political appointee at any level  minister, commissioner or board chairman, can vote or be voted for during primaries. They are mandated to resign before the primaries of their parties if they want to participate in the process. The situation, currently, is that if the Bill is signed into law, political parties will be expected to submit the names of their presidential candidates by August 18 this year; that is six months before the date of the presidential election. It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already drawn up the timetable and scheduled the presidential election for February 18, 2023.

These office holders know it, which is why they are reframing the narrative in the form of anti-democratic clauses in the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022. If they succeed in their campaign, we may end up using the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) for the 2023 general election, which would waste all the efforts made collectively by INEC, political parties and civil society to develop a new electoral law that is fit for purpose

Political office holders, therefore, out of pure selfishness, are trying to scuttle the Bill so that they can stay in office while the primaries are on-going. This goes against the protocol and best practice set by all Nigerian leaders since 1999  that political office holders who want to contest for office must resign from their positions in good time before the primary elections of the offices they are vying for. President Buhari himself made this clear in the run up to the 2019 general elections. These office holders know it, which is why they are reframing the narrative in the form of anti-democratic clauses in the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022. If they succeed in their campaign, we may end up using the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) for the 2023 general election, which would waste all the efforts made collectively by INEC, political parties and civil society to develop a new electoral law that is fit for purpose and would definitely improve the integrity of future elections.

The Electoral Bill has been a fulcrum for the titanic political battle between state governors on one side and federal legislators on the other, on the issue. In an interesting power game that led to the rejection of the first Bill, most state governors openly canvassed support for delegate-driven conventions for party primaries. Their reasoning is well known to Nigerians; they have almost total control of political structures in their states, as such whoever they want wins the primaries held in the state. Many legislators are apprehensive that their governors, as they usually do, love changing them at each election, so that no one within the state builds sufficient political capital to become a major actor. Based on their fear, most legislators lined up in favour of primaries through direct election, thinking that is their best bet in preventing the governor from making them ex-legislators. Nigerians were surprised to find out that President Buhari took the side of the governors and refused to sign the bill into law. This time round, governors are keen on flooding the congresses with their political appointees and legislators are aware of their intentions and they blocked the loophole. The question today is whether once again, the president will side with the governors.

The National Assembly worked hard and amended the Bill in record time. President Buhari, who has always said that the legacy he wants to leave to Nigeria is the promotion of the culture of free, fair and transparent elections, should seize the moment and sign the Electoral Bill. We must not return to the position in 2019 when the president rejected the Amendment Bill and we had to fall back to use the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

In his letter of rejection to the National Assembly, the president argued that the conduct of direct primaries in the 8,809 wards across the length and breadth of the country will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties, as well as increase the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC, which has to deploy monitors across these wards each time a party is to conduct a direct primary for the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative posts. The National Assembly responded by amending the Bill and allowing parties to decide for themselves whether they wanted direct or indirect primaries, or even choose their candidates by consensus.

Moving forward, the key issue is that the Bill is extremely important for the development of electoral democracy and enhancing its integrity in Nigeria. The National Assembly worked hard and amended the Bill in record time. President Buhari, who has always said that the legacy he wants to leave to Nigeria is the promotion of the culture of free, fair and transparent elections, should seize the moment and sign the Electoral Bill. We must not return to the position in 2019 when the president rejected the Amendment Bill and we had to fall back to use the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). It appears that many politicians, for their selfish purpose would want Nigeria to use the old Act. That Electoral Act is today problematic because the Supreme Court has ruled that the INEC Manual that recognises use of Card Reader in authenticating voters in any election is illegal, and voided it. In this context, the provision for the electronic transmission of results in the proposed Bill is extremely important for our democratic progress and must not be allowed to fall.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.
The former Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Bishop Peter Jasper Akinola (78) returned to the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on Friday February 4, 2022, to give a funeral sermon for his Abeokuta friend and former Interim Head of State of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, GCFR (9 May 1936  11 January 2022). It was the first time Bishop Akinola has preached a sermon since he handed over to Archbishop Nicolas Okoh on March 25, 2010. On hand to receive him were the Most Reverend Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, Archbishop, Ecclesiastical of Province of Lagos and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, from the ancient town of Idanre and the Provost of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Adebola Ojofeitimi, from Omofe, Ilesha, Osun State.

Others who received him were Prince Dapo Opeaye(Peoples Warden), Mr. Adeyinka Shonekan (Provosts Warden), Mr. Tunde Sosan(Master of the Music and Organist), Reverend Henry Mooh(Altars Severs/Care Ministry, Reverend Olusegun Lufadeju, Reverend Dr. Oluwaseun M. Adeyemi, Reverend Olawole Faloye (Prison/Youth), Reverend Canon Emmanuel Fadipe (Elders Fellowship/SWSU), Ven. Henry Adelagun(Harvest Sub-Committee) and Former Provost Warden, Mr Gbola Akinola(SAN).

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), His Grace The Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba as well as twelve other Bishops were at the Cathedral on that day.

Seated at the Cathedral on that day were the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu as well as the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(87), GCFR and his wife Victoria as well as the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (64), GCFR.

It was the first time a funeral was held for a former Head of State at the Cathedral, which is the oldest Anglican Cathedral in the Church of Nigeria.

The foundation stone for the first cathedral building was laid on 29 March 1867 and the cathedral was established in 1869.

Construction of the current building to designs by architect Bagan Benjamin started on 1 November 1924. The foundation stone was laid by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) on 21 April 1925. It was completed in 1946.

In 1976 the relics of Rev Dr Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a former enslaved Yoruba man who became the first African bishop in the Anglican Church, were translated to the cathedral. There is a cenotaph erected as a memorial of him.

The organ of the Cathedral was built by Oberlinger Orgelbau, Germany on right side of the altar with two facades  one looking to the altar and second looking to the right nave. One of the sections, Antiphonal, is located at the organ loft above the main entrance to the church. At the beginning of 21st century the whole instrument was renewed (and console rebuilt) by English company Harrison & Harrison; it consists 64 stops on 4 manuals and a pedalboard. It is the largest organ in Nigeria.

One cannot but be moved when you enter the Cathedral, which has become part of the Nigeria heritage.

When Queen Elizabeth of England and her husband Prince Phillip came to Nigeria on January 8, 1956, they both worshipped at the Cathedral. She donated a chair which is still preserved in the Cathedral till today. When Princess Alexandra of Kent represented her cousin, the Queen of England at Nigerias Independence on October 1 1960, she worshipped at the Cathedral.

On Apil 19, 1969, the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon got married to Victoria Zakari at the Cathedral.

On Friday, when Bishop Akinola preached the sermon, the Cathedral as expected, was full. It was a sermon full of revelations. For some of us, who lived in Abuja during General Sani Abachas years, it was nostalgic to listen to Bishop Akinolas sermon.

He declared on that day So, Auntie, Mrs Shonekan, the children and all the people, do not grieve endlessly and hopelessly like those who are without Christ. Rather, rejoice and be thankful to the LORD that after this dark world of sin, better things await those who know, love and serve the LORD. Thanks be to God.

A word or two will be appropriate at this point about the life and times of this great man of faith, man of prayer who was utterly committed to the things of the LORD. He was ever humble and totally unassuming. His love for God was easily visible in his relationship with people around him. To his dear wife and children, he was the best husband and father anyone could ever wish to have.

In the Church of God, he was a great pillar and shining example of authentic Christianity. In spite of his enviable high position in the society, he served as a church steward. His virtuous footprints are discernible here in Lagos, Abuja, Abeokuta, Ekpoma and many more. He would spend and be spent in service of the LORD. Regardless of whatever was going on, he remained steadfast and in so far as we know didnt compromise his Christian faith and virtues.

In the world of business, he was a noted captain of industry and guru of the boardroom. As the head of the largest business conglomerate in Nigeria and West Africa, (UAC) he was not only very resourceful and successful, he was well established and contended.

He was not a politician. But, as he journeyed on in his life pilgrimage, at a point without thinking, planning or asking for it, he found himself in the ever dark and dreary and murky waters of Nigerian politics. Following the infamous annulment of the 1993 Presidential elections, the aftermath of which threw the country into chaos, he was invited and persuaded to head the Interim National Government, ING. Those were not the best of times for Nigeria and certainly not for any political leader. The situation was tense.

Nigerians demanded that General Babangida should leave office but for reasons best known to him, he was reluctant. But when it became clear that the political imbroglio if not quickly resolved could lead to violent agitation and mass bloodshed the Maradona of Nigerian politics created the transitional government to help usher in a new political arrangement. In the unfolding dangerous political drama, I remember that Chief Shonekan declined the offer to head the ING. Time was running out as Gen Babangida had fixed a date for himself to step aside.

As pressures mounted on Chief Shonekan from many quarters at home and abroad; he then said that he would to think about it. At this stage I remember vividly how his very good friend late Alhaji Dr Shehu Idris, at that time the Emir of Zazzau and this creature here addressing you were pleading with him to think of the pros and cons of not accepting the call to stand in the huge political gap. He was reminded that nationwide, tensions were running high and that anything could happen in the military barracks.

In addition, we also knew that from the very beginning of its journey to political nationhood (which it is yet to attain) Nigeria since Independence has been a blood- letting country. (Remember the western region operation wet e, the pogrom in northern Nigeria, the military coups and counter coups, the devastating 30-month civil war; hitherto unknown reckless armed robbery attacks and numerous political assassinations all of which sniffed precious life out of millions of innocent citizens).

We were quick to realise that once violence broke out again, we would have no idea who would be consumed and who would remain. It was from this perspective that he was persuaded rather reluctantly to save the situation. He then decided that it was better, though equally risky to stand in the gap and avoid unnecessary bloodshed so that somehow, we would avoid a repeat of the 1963 dismal fiasco; and hopefully navigate through the political land mines to restore normalcy and democratic governance.

While some hailed him and breathed a deep sigh of relief, others did not welcome that decision. I still remember that the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Lipede called Chief Shonekan on phone repeatedly to come back home. Ironically, even some parts of the Church refused to give him benefit of the doubt. Pity.

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Meanwhile, the political gladiators and the news media had a field day. They vilified and demonized him. To my utter consternation the same people who called him unprintable names in day time, would troop in to Akinola Aguda House Nicodemusly begging for all sorts of favours and political appointments. What a shame. (Aiye!) Some of those agitators claiming that on June 12 they stood were mere political opportunists and they made the loudest noise. I put it to you people of God on June 12 such people were feeding fat. Just as it is today, when we are suffering from the consequences of systemic failure, political opportunists are feeding fat on the present chaos. Nigeria has never had it so bad, (I reserve details for another occasion).

From our standpoint, Chief Shonekan put his life on the line for sake of this country. When Abacha struck, it was a fellow Yoruba man who put the gun on his head ordering him to sign his resignation. It may interest you to know that Chief Shonekan was not completely unaware of the possibility of the palace coup. Those close to him advised him to retire Gen Abacha and his clique and simultaneously announce the appointment of their replacement.

He wouldnt. He reasoned that if Abacha was fired, the next in rank to him for appointment was a Yoruba man. If appointed, it would create a new problem as he, Shonekan, would be accused of tribalism and nepotism. And so, he not being a typical ambitious Nigerian politician refused to do anything to preserve himself in the office of Head of the Interim National Government. He would say to me, let us just continue to pray for Gods guidance and divine resolution to the challenges we were facing. In truth, we spent time praying and the LORD spared his precious life and came back home safely. The rest is history.

Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, writes from Lagos.
Faki as the AU Commission Chairperson did not implement the provisions of the AU Declaration against the Chadian coup plotters. This may be partly due to the facts that he is an old time member of the Deby gang and the coup has the backing of his paymasters in Paris.

The agenda of the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa was long. It included a new epidemic of coups, a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, food insecurity and the plethora of wars ravaging the continent. But as usual, fifth columnists, sycophants and agents of imperialism were so hard at work that they were able to divert attention from the main challenges of the continent.

The Trojan horse in this case was Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, the former Chadian prime minister planted by France in the heart of the AU as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I had my doubts when he was elected in 2017. In my February 3, 2017 column titled, The Choices Of Africa, I wrote that: A cause for worry might be that Faki is Foreign Minister of a not too stable country that has been virtually on war footing for four decadesThe new AU Commission Chairperson had served incumbent Chadian President Idris Derby in various capacities in the 27 years the latter has been in power Despite his origins, Faki may well surprise Africa by providing the needed leadership for the African Union. But there have been no surprises, rather he has reduced the AU to his very low standards.

Faki, before this February 5-6, 2022 AU Summit, had already weakened Africas resolve against coups. The AU has a subsisting charter of dealing with coups titled the Lome Declaration of July 2000 on the framework for an OAU response to unconstitutional changes of government. In it, African Heads of State had declared that whenever an unconstitutional change takes place in a member state, the AU, should immediately and publicly condemn such a change and that the new regime should not be recognised. It also provides that, A period of up to six months should be given to the perpetrators of the unconstitutional change to restore constitutional order. During the six-month period, the government concerned should be suspended from participating in the Policy Organs of the OAU (including)  meetings of the Central Organ and Sessions of the Council of Ministers and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

On April 20, 2021, there was a coup in Chad in which 37-year old General Mahat Deby overthrew the government following the death of his father. The Chadian constitution had provided that upon the death of the president, the president of the National Assembly shall provisionally assume his powers and duties. To circumvent this, the coup plotters dissolved the Chadian parliament and suspended the constitution.

Faki as the AU Commission Chairperson did not implement the provisions of the AU Declaration against the Chadian coup plotters. This may be partly due to the facts that he is an old time member of the Deby gang and the coup has the backing of his paymasters in Paris.

Despite the antics of Faki, the rejection of coups in any part of the continent was loud and clear. For instance, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria, who noted an intrinsic link between governance and weak security apparatus, warned that: The Sahel must not be turned into a hotbed of un-constitutionalism. Also, New AU Chair, Senegalese President Macky Sall in demanding stronger sanctions against coups, called for: Embargos on borders, embargos on aerial space (and) commercial embargos against all countries occupied by coup plotters.

As expected, Fakis antics led to divisions at the summit. Algeria, which lost two million people in its fight against France for independence; Nigeria, with a long history of defending the right of all peoples to self-determination; and South Africa, which for 46 bloody years fought against the Apartheid monster, led the charge against Faki.

Faki further caused diversion and division amongst African countries at this summit by violating another core principle of the AU, in unilaterally granting Israel an observer status at the African Union, including its Heads of State Summit. This is against the long standing resolve of the AU to bring Israel to book for practicing Apartheid against non-Jews and non-Whites, seizing Palestinian lands and building illegal structures on them, and refusing to recognise the right of Palestinians to an homeland.

To further solidify this sacrosanct position, the African Heads of State, at their January 27-28, 2013 summit, issued a DECLARATION ON PALESTINE. In it, the AU condemned the continuous illegal Israeli practices of collective punishment and settlements building in occupied Palestinian territories.

They commended African countries for their solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian and support for: the full realisation of Palestines legitimate right to be admitted as a full member of the United Nations.

The AU leaders also decided to: URGE the International community to pressure Israel to comply with United Nations resolutions and previous agreements signed with Palestine as well as to halt the illegal policy of settlements building in the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since the 5th of June 1967.

They stressed that: peace can never be attained (in the Palestine) except by the creation of an independent sovereign viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of June 4, 1967, existing side by side in peace with the state of Israel.

In an effort to heal the split, the AU setup a committee of eight Heads of State to consult member states on the matter, ahead of a vote at the next ordinary summit in 2023. Faki and his minders succeeded in diverting attention from pressing issues at the summit. This will need to be avoided at subsequent summits. Meanwhile, the continent continues to bleed and be exploited.

It was against this solid background that Faki, playing the role of a fifth columnist in the AU and in order to cause a split in the organisation, surreptitiously brought Israel into the AU chambers.

Ordinarily, Faki should have been removed or at best, suspended, but his French masters have sycophants and errand boys in the leadership of the continent.

In his defence, Faki told the Summit that the AU Sirte Criteria of 2005 empowered him to grant observer status to non-African countries. But paragraph 2 of the same section states that: The Chairperson shall consider such requests on the basis of the principles and objectives of the Constitutive Act, relevant decisions of AU Organs and these criteria. If he had done so, Israel would not by any stretch of imagination, have been qualified for such a status.

As expected, Fakis antics led to divisions at the summit. Algeria, which lost two million people in its fight against France for independence; Nigeria, with a long history of defending the right of all peoples to self-determination; and South Africa, which for 46 bloody years fought against the Apartheid monster, led the charge against Faki. They insisted that his unilateral imposition of Israel as an AU Observer should be rescinded. But some countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Rwanda, backed Faki.

In an effort to heal the split, the AU setup a committee of eight Heads of State to consult member states on the matter, ahead of a vote at the next ordinary summit in 2023. Faki and his minders succeeded in diverting attention from pressing issues at the summit. This will need to be avoided at subsequent summits. Meanwhile, the continent continues to bleed and be exploited.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.
Five residents of Rogoji in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been killed in an early morning raid by bandits on Thursday.

Confirming the deaths, residents said the bandits carried out the attack to punish them for providing information on the bandits to security agents and vigilantes.

Rogoji is just two kilometres from Bakura main town.

Sources said the residents had supported security agents and vigilantes in moving against bandits in Lambar Bakura to Dogon Karfe axis.

Hamza Abdullahi, a resident of Bakura town, said the bandits struck Thursday morning when residents were preparing for their early morning prayers.

He said despite resistance from vigilantes, the bandits entered the community and killed five people.

Another resident of Rogoji, Bello Mande, who is now seeking refuge in Talata Mafara town, told PREMIUM TIMES through a phone call that he escaped on foot to Lambar Bakura before he got a vehicle that took him to Mafara.

The bandits came on motorcycles around 5 a.m. and started shooting, which alerted the vigilante members in our village. If not because of them, the bandits wanted to ransack the whole community. They killed five men, he said.

When asked why residents were leaving despite that normalcy had returned to the village, Mr Mande said it was out of fear that the bandits would return.

The issue is some of our people have clue to security agents on the whereabouts of the bandits in the forest and the vigilante members who led the operation were from our village. That is why we are praying for the end of informants because it was some informants in our town that told the bandits that we were conniving with the police to track them.

I personally feel that they will still return because that was their promise. They are angry with us and what we are doing to tackle them, he said.

He added that those killed were buried Thursday afternoon.

The Zamfara police command spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.

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 irrepressible.

Thousands of people have been killed or kidnapped 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.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) said it has introduced a new business model to ensure steady electricity supply to users in its area of coverage.

The companys franchise states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers.

PHEDs Managing Director, Henry Ajagbawa, gave the indication in a statement by the companys Head of Corporate Communications, John Anonyai in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

According to Mr Ajagbawa, the new service models are Maximum Demand (MD), Non-maximum Demand Post-Paid Customer (PP) and Pre-paid Metered Customers (PPM).

This new business model will be delivered on a six-region structure, with three product managers and commercial officers supported by several linesmen.

The new structure replaces the existing zonal structure to enable quick wins, as well as produce smart goals in an evolving business environment.

So, aside from the increase of electricity needs of our valued customers, the new model will meet the challenging dynamics in our business operating environment, he said.

Mr Ajagbawa expressed optimism that the new model would drive performance, while monitoring PHEDs operations at the product level.

According to him, PHED adopted the new plan as part of its desire to become the number one electricity distribution company in the country.

The introduction of the new model will further help the company to achieve its objectives in spite of the challenges we face in our operations.

The challenges range from inability to collect revenue from a large percentage of our customers, including deductions from source by authorities, restiveness and staff assault.

Others are: inability to meet contractual agreements and making payment to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for energy not sold to a segment of consumers, the managing director stated.

Mr Ajagbawa solicited the support of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees on the implementation of the new model.

(NAN)
Companies executing projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have threatened to protest against the NDDCs interim administrator, Effiong Akwa and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over the commissions alleged non-payment of outstanding debts to its contractors.

The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs supervises the operations of NDDC.

The companies, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Indigenous Contractors Association said, Thursday, its members were ready for a nationwide protest over non-payment of their debts by the NDDC.

The contractors issued a five-day ultimatum to Mr Akwa and Mr Akpabio over the issue.

The spokesperson of the association, Dressman Darlinton, told a news conference in Abuja that if the duo failed to accede to their demands, a nationwide protest would begin next week.

The association will protest in the Niger Delta region and the FCT should the interim administrator of the NDDC fail to meet our demand to pay contractors by Tuesday, February 15, he said.

Mr Darlinton called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a substantive board for the commission as soon as possible to prevent the mismanagement of the commission.

The association wants the president to consider the request of the Olu of Warri and other prominent Niger Delta stakeholders to, as matter of urgency, constitute and inaugurate a substantive board of the NDDC, he said.

NDDC was established some 21 years ago by President Olusegun Obasanjos administration as an intervention agency to speed up the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, but it has been plagued by corruption and maladministration.

While the NDDC officials connived with contractors to steal the commissions funds, thousands of abandoned NDDC projects litter various communities in the region.

The residents of the region continue to live in poverty and polluted environments, despite billions of naira pumped into the region.

A forensic audit of the NDDC initiated by Mr Buharis administration had been completed, but many people feel the government is slow about acting on the audit report which had raised hope of some cleansing in the commission.

Many people are also agitating for the government to replace the NDDC sole administrator with a substantive board.

(NAN)
Some police officers and officers of the Nigerian Customs were feared dead in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, on Thursday, when gunmen attacked security checkpoints in the Enugu metropolis.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the gunmen attacked the Ozalla community along the ever busy Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, as well as the Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road within the metropolis.

The gunmen opened fire at a customs checkpoint within Ozalla community, close to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, at about 1:30p.m.

A customs officer was said to have died instantly, while three other officers sustained serious bullet wounds.

I saw one of the customs officers motionless and three others in serious pain as they were helped by some Good Samaritan down to the UNTH hospital close-by, an eyewitness said.

The gunmen also opened fire at a police checkpoint at Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road where some officers were said to be on a stop-and-search duty.

Two officers were feared dead from the shooting, while about four others sustained bullet wounds.

The incident, which happened at about 2p.m., caused the Ugwuaji Road to be deserted for about two hours.

The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the shootings but said the information surrounding the incident is sketchy.

A manhunt for the hoodlums has been initiated, said Mr Ndukwe, an assistant superintendent of police. Further development will be communicated, please.

(NAN)
Traders displaced from Waterside Market, Ogbor Hill, Aba, on Thursday called on the Abia State Government to assist them in recovering from their losses.

The state government ordered the demolition of the shanty shops and evacuation of traders at the market on February 4, a day after an accident claimed many lives there.

The government equally ordered the relocation of the traders to the Good Morning Market, also at Aba.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Aba, Alpheus Ajiogu, Chairman of Waterside Market Traders Association, appealed to the government to give the traders some assistance.

Many of us traders at Waterside Market reside in Obingwa Local Government Area and it costs a lot for us to get to Good Morning Market where the government has relocated us.

The most challenging issue now is that the road to Good Morning Market from Peoples Road, Obingwa, is in deplorable condition.

We are managing to pass through the road now because it is the dry season.

We are begging the government to reconstruct Peoples Road to enable us and our customers who come from neighbouring Obingwa and Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom to easily access Good Morning Market.

We are also asking the government to please assist us with some money because the sudden demolition of Waterside Market caused us lots of losses as we did not remove our properties and wares, he said.

Mr Ajiogu also urged the government to ensure that the new abattoir at Omuma-Uzo in Ukwa West Local Government Area was completed.

He said the abattoir was only for slaughtering cows and not a market to sell meat.

The chairman also requested for the completion of the roofing of shops allocated to the displaced traders at the Good Morning Market.

ALSO READ: NSCDC destroys eight illegal refineries in Abia

He said that some parts of the market in the valley should be landfilled to secure the traders goods and make movements in and out of the market easier.

Ezinna Ogbonna, the chairman of Good Morning Market Traders Association, in a separate interview, said the market had more than 4,000 unoccupied shops, noting that many of the shops are not roofed.

He called on the state government to roof the shops so that traders goods would be secured now and during the rainy season.

Mr Ogbonna also requested the grading of market road networks and the provision of electricity for those who depend on electricity to conduct their businesses.

He thanked the state government for providing three months moratorium for the relocated traders during which they would trade without paying rents.

(NAN)
Two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) clashed on Friday in the Agbado area of Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos over ticket collection at the parks.

According to The Punch newspaper, the conflict led to pandemonium as road users and passersby scampered for safety as the warring factions violently engaged each other.

Witnesses said gunshots were heard in the area.

Adekunle Ajisebutu, the police spokesperson in Lagos, said in a statement that the confrontation/crisis occurred at Kola Bus stop in the area.

Mr Ajisebutu said that the police patrol teams from Alakuko, Agbado, Ijaiye- Ojokoro and reinforcements from the headquarters have been deployed to the area on the order of the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi.

The place is calm. No threat to lives and property currently as the police are still maintaining their presence in the area.

In January, a violent clash between members of the transport union left two persons dead and grounded commercial activities in the ever-busy Lagos Island.

The clash led to the state government suspending the activities of the union in that area.
Manassas, VA (20110)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers in the evening with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Commenting on the funding package, Mr. Nauman Anees, Co-Founder and CEO of ThinkMarkets said, Our exceptional growth in recent years has been underpinned by a significant increase in products available on our world leading multi asset trading platform. Our ambitions to continue to rapidly scale are entrenched in strong geographical expansion plans and significant new product developments to benefit our clients trading and wealth management needs in an increasingly borderless investing world. This funding package, supported by leading institutional investors, gives our business the liquidity to scale rapidly in line with our business growth objectives. I thank all the investors who participated and look forward to introducing ThinkMarkets to an increasing number of global trading and wealth management participants.

The US$30m funding package was provided by Mars Growth, a Liquidity Group and MUFG joint venture fund. This facility was completed using Liquidity Groups innovative artificial intelligence platform Liquidity Analytics and was introduced to ThinkMarkets by Singapore-based ARC Investments.

"It has been our pleasure to work with Nauman Anees and his great team at ThinkMarkets to provide them with the funding to continue rapidly scaling their fintech business." Ron Daniel, Co-Founder & CEO, Liquidity Group.

About ThinkMarkets:

ThinkMarkets is an innovative multi asset online trading firm allowing access to everything from Equities , Crypto , FX and more. By providing quick and easy access to a wide range of markets around the globe through our global geographic footprint we are removing the boundaries for investing and trading. The company employs the latest technology to provide the best pricing and execution speed and delivers superior service to traders throughout their trading journey. ThinkMarkets maintains competitive trading conditions including tight spreads, low to zero commissions and a range of account types tailored to the needs of specific clients. With headquarters in London and Melbourne, and hubs in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Japan, ThinkMarkets provides global market access to individual and institutional investors all over the world.

www.thinkmarkets.com

For more information: pr@thinkmarkets.com

Contact:

Victor Golovtchenko

+44 203 514 2374

pr@thinkmarkets.com

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SOURCE ThinkMarkets
Key Opportunities for Investors, Businesses, Financial Institutions in the Middle East

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH), founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) to support the growth of the FinTech industry in Qatar, has announced the Wave 3 Demo Day for its flagship Incubator and Accelerator Programs, which will take place virtually on 14 February, 2022.

The QFTH Demo Day is considered one of the major FinTech events in the region. Wave 3 of the event will host key players from the local and regional financial services ecosystem, as well as investors, global startups, international FinTech hubs, aspiring entrepreneurs and FinTech enthusiasts.

The Incubator and Accelerator Programs attracted FinTech entrepreneurs and startups from more than 50 countries from across the world including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Canada, and Qatar. Under the theme Embedded FinTech for TechFin, the program has witnessed great success with over 500 applications from early-stage startups and mature FinTechs.

The early-stage and mature FinTechs that have been selected from the application pool and who will be presenting their innovative solutions on QFTH 3rd Virtual Demo Day are ToneTag, T2meen, GFI Fintech, Restock.id, Whrrl, Open CBS, Infrabase, NeuXP, Netdollar, AIOTF, Loopay, VoicePay, S-Treasury, Alwasia, QatarCrowd, and Tiptiptop.

Participants took part in more than 300 business development sessions with 15 financial institutions, completing a series of Masterclasses and FinTech Bootcamps conducted by QFTH partners and renowned speakers from across the world.

Mr. Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, Acting CEO of Qatar Development Bank, said: "Numerous companies, especially tech ones, are shifting towards offering financial services through their platforms as a way to keep their customers within their ecosystem for the longest intervals. Therefore, finding solutions that can easily integrate with existing services and systems is a growing need. This wave focused on innovations that can support companies on that front."

"I would like to thank all the participants and partners who are continuously contributing to the growth of our programs, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the much-awaited third virtual Demo Day," he concluded.

Applications are now open for Wave 4 of the QFTH Incubator and Accelerator Programs, which will focus on Next Gen Banking. FinTechs with innovative solutions in this domain can visit QFTH's website (fintech.qa) to get more details and to apply until mid-February. All applications undergo a thorough evaluation process, where shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their solutions in front of a jury panel comprised of key stakeholders from Qatar's financial services ecosystem.

As part of its commitment to offering world-class expertise to participating FinTechs, QFTH is continuously collaborating with strategic stakeholders within the FinTech ecosystem including financial institutions, technology providers, payment networks, global FinTech hubs, academia, and regulators. Microsoft is participating as the program technology partner. Other recent partnerships include Amazon, Progress Soft, Vodafone, and Global Positioning System to name a few.

QFTH Demo Day will be held on the 14th of February at 11:00 AM Qatar time.

For more information about QFTH, visit www.fintech.qa

Contact: Rawan Yousif, PR Coordinator, [email protected], +97433475991

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SOURCE Qatar FinTech Hub
- PAT improves by 18% YoY for Q9MFY22

- Revenue for the Pharmaceuticals grows by 31% in Q3FY22, with strong expansion in Gross Margins

HYDERABAD, India, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited (Balaxi), a branded IPR-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, reported its results for the third quarter and nine-month ended 31st December 2021.

Financial Highlights  Q3 FY22 & 9MFY22

Particulars (INR mn) Q3FY22 Q3FY21 YoY 9MFY22 9MFY21 YoY Revenue 617 660 -6.5% 1903 1784 6.7% Gross Profit 197 165 20% 557 441 26.4% EBITDA 132 119 11% 399 321 24.3% EBITDA Margin % 21% 18% 330 bps 21% 18% 300 bps PAT 122 110 11% 350 297 17.5% PAT Margin % 19.7% 16.6% 313 bps 18.4% 16.7% 170 bps

Revenue: The Company reported strong growth in its Pharmaceuticals segment, with Revenue from this segment increasing by 31% YoY in Q3FY22. Overall Pharmaceuticals Revenue growth was witnessed across all geographies, led by Dominican Republic (46%), Guatemala (41%) and Angola (22%). The LATAM market demonstrated healthy growth traction in Q3FY22, with revenue share of 41% in Q3FY22 against 35% in Q3FY21 in its Pharmaceutical segment.



The Company reported strong growth in its Pharmaceuticals segment, with Revenue from this segment increasing by 31% YoY in Q3FY22. Overall Pharmaceuticals Revenue growth was witnessed across all geographies, led by (46%), (41%) and (22%). The LATAM market demonstrated healthy growth traction in Q3FY22, with revenue share of 41% in Q3FY22 against 35% in Q3FY21 in its Pharmaceutical segment. Gross Profit: After experiencing raw material supply chain bottlenecks in H1FY22, the Company witnessed easing of such pressure in Q3FY22. Furthermore, with improving raw material prices and better product mix, the Company expects to expand its gross margin profile. It recorded a Gross Profit of INR 197 million in Q3 FY22, registering a 19.3% growth year-on-year.



After experiencing raw material supply chain bottlenecks in H1FY22, the Company witnessed easing of such pressure in Q3FY22. Furthermore, with improving raw material prices and better product mix, the Company expects to expand its gross margin profile. It recorded a Gross Profit of INR 197 million in Q3 FY22, registering a 19.3% growth year-on-year. PAT: On the back of strong performance of Pharmaceuticals segment and higher gross margins, improving economies of scale helped the Company to report an increase in PAT of 11% YoY in Q3FY22.

Revenue Mix:

Segment Q3FY22 Q3FY21 9MFY22 9MFY21 FY21 Pharmaceuticals 74% 53% 65% 59% 59% Ancillary 22% 34% 17% 30% 30% Branded Consumer Products 3% 13% 18% 11% 11%

Gross Profit Breakup

Segment Q3FY22 Q3FY21 9MFY22 9MFY21 FY21 Pharmaceuticals 86% 68% 79% 73% 73% Ancillary 13% 23% 11% 20% 18% Branded Consumer Products 1% 10% 10% 7% 9%

For Q3FY22, the Pharmaceuticals business segment contributed 74% of the consolidated revenues and 86% of the total gross profit.

The share of business conducted in Guatemala and The Dominican Republic increased during the quarter, which helped the Company in further strengthening its geographical spread.



and The increased during the quarter, which helped the Company in further strengthening its geographical spread. The product split between Branded & Generics remained stable at 28:72 in Q3FY22 indicating good growth potential for the Company's branded products across all geographies. N ewer registrations across different geographies would further strengthen the product mix towards branded products.

Update on Pharmaceutical Product Registrations/Import Permits:

Particulars Angola Guatemala Dominican Republic Honduras El Salvador Central African Republic Nicaragua

Ecuador

Total Existing Product Registrations 283 86 142 34 40 - - - 585 Submitted to MOH

67 21 64 16





168 Product Registrations in Pipeline - 59 19 19 54 133 88 41 413

Other Highlights

i) Consolidation: The Company further consolidated and strengthened its operations by consolidating Balaxi Healthcare (SU) LDA, Angola(BHA) by acquiring the balance 51% of the equity, leading to complete ownership and management control of BHA with Balaxi.



ii) Vertical integration & Geographic expansion: Already making steady forays into the LATAM markets, the Company is preparing a roadmap for entering into regulated markets of Europe and North America via inhouse manufacturing of key products in the Pharmaceuticals segment. The Company recently completed the acquisition of land for its greenfield manufacturing facilities.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Ashish Maheshwari, Chairman and Managing Director said, "Despite a challenging macro environment in terms of raw material prices and availability, higher freight costs led by supply chain bottlenecks, I am pleased to report solid quarterly and nine months ended results. We strategically balanced the growth both in terms of volume and price hikes, generally led by passing on the higher costs.The Pharmaceuticals business remains our core strength and our results demonstrates it to be our major growth driver, with increasing revenue share coming in from recently entered geographies. Our Branded Consumer products segment, which inherits our strong customer reach and Brand visibility from our Pharma business, has been performing satisfactory during 9MFY22. With minor hiccups in that segment during Q3, we expect a rebound going ahead as well.

We were recently allotted 3.41 acres of land in the Pharma SEZ in Hyderabad, our first step in our plans for having our in-house manufacturing facilities for catering to advanced regulated markets. We have appointed a reputed firm for complete consultancy for this project. They have already submitted their initial CBD report. We intend to establish a facility in compliance with EU norms.

Looking at specific markets, I am pleased to report good response from geographies such as the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, further contributing to our revenue growth. We continue to remain debt free and are focused on maximising stakeholder value. At Balaxi, we are confident about achieving our long-term growth aspirations and look forward to expanding into many other territories in the coming years."

About Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited:

Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a branded IPR-based pharmaceutical player focusing on frontier markets, with a vast and growing portfolio of prescription and OTC drugs, across multiple therapeutic segments. The Company is engaged in supplying branded and generic medicines through its well-built distribution network across Angola, Guatemala and Dominican Republic. These products are procured from WHO GMP certified contract manufacturers based in India, China and Portugal. Balaxi is also present in an ancillary business and is building a Branded Consumer Products business which complements the pharmaceutical business and provides operating leverage on the back of well-established on-ground infrastructure and channel relationships.

Forward-Looking Statement:

Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties like regulatory changes, local political or economic developments, technological risks, and many other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited will not be in any way responsible for any action taken based on such statements and undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited
Cloisonne, whose scientific name is "copper tire filigree enamel", gained its name because it was popular in the Cloisonne period and the enamel glaze used is mostly blue.

It has distinctive national style and profound cultural connotation, and is one of the traditional handicrafts with Beijing characteristics.

The production process of cloisonne is complicated, and the international students experienced the two main stages of its production process - copper-wire inlay and enamel-filling.

Under the guidance of Xu Siqing, an ICH inheritor of the technique, Wang pinched the copper wire into the shape of a tiger to welcome the coming Year of the Tiger.

In the process of experiencing enamel-filling , Makala said,It's not as simple as it looks. It takes decades of practice to make a beautiful piece of work. It's an honor to visit and learn here, and I will introduce this traditional technique to my family and friends in the future.

On the same day, the international students also went to the enamel factory and witnessed the creation process of the master craftsmen.They were amazed by the originality of cloisonne works.

"I learned that to make enamel works, we need to master the skills of copper body-making,enamel-filling, polishing and calcination, and any mistake in these steps will affect the overall effect. During the short experience, I fell in love with this traditional art." Wang said.

Actually, cloisonne can not only be used as a royal gift, but also go into ordinary people's homes. It comes with the identity of exotic craft, but after decades of development it adopts the traditional Chinese metal production technology, which integrates traditional Chinese artistic characteristics, giving people elegant and solemn aesthetic feelings.

During the process, the international students had a thorough understanding of Cloisonne and its history and culture. They all expressed their confidence in spreading and carrying forward Chinese culture in their mind and telling their personal stories about China.

As a craft inherited for a hundred years, Cloisonne regained its vitality through the efforts of craftsmen with a sense of responsibility. This royal craft spanning thousands of years,with the pulse of history and the brand of the new era, is bound to go to the world and have a bright future.

SOURCE China.org.cn
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) today announced that it has executed a definitive agreement to sell its West Virginia natural gas utility  Hope Gas, Inc. (Dominion Energy West Virginia or DEWV)  to Ullico Inc.'s infrastructure fund for $690 million. The transaction is expected to close late this year.

Ullico Inc.'s infrastructure business plans to integrate DEWV with Hearthstone Utilities, Inc. (Hearthstone), a portfolio company that owns and operates gas utilities in Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio, serving more than 80,000 customers. As part of the definitive agreement, Hearthstone will move its headquarters to West Virginia.

Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy chair, president, and chief executive officer, said:

"For nearly 125 years, Dominion Energy West Virginia has provided reliable and affordable natural gas, safely, to the people and businesses of the Mountain State. From its roots as the Flaggy Meadow Gas Co., DEWV has been a pioneer in the natural gas sector, taking part in the construction of one of America's first interstate pipelines, which originated in Wetzel County, and building our country's first extraction plant at Hastings."

"DEWV is a valuable business with tremendous employees. The business and its people will fit extremely well with Ullico and Hearthstone's commitment to safety and their mission to serve American workers and customers."

"We are excited about the opportunity to continue to build on and invest in this important and valuable West Virginia company," said Morgan O'Brien, Hearthstone's president and chief executive officer. "Our vision is to grow the business and expand the footprint within the state, including to underserved communities. A key component is to establish West Virginia as our foundation for growth in creating new family-sustaining jobs, including bringing new jobs into the state in the first year."

DEWV is a Clarksburg, W.Va.-based gas utility employing about 300 and serving 111,000 West Virginia customers, with 3,200 miles of gas distribution pipelines and more than 2,000 miles of gathering pipelines. Dominion Energy continues to own and operate Mt. Storm Power Station in Mt. Storm, W.Va.

The sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and approval from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

McGuireWoods LLP served as legal counsel to Dominion Energy. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as the company's financial advisor for the transaction.

Customer, employee benefits

Ullico is an outstanding employer that shares Dominion Energy's commitment to safety and to providing reliable, affordable service. Importantly, the transaction is structured to have no impact on rates for customers.

Additionally, Hearthstone Utilities will assume the current collective bargaining agreement in place for UGWU Local 69 workers and honor those terms.

About Dominion Energy

About 7 million customers in 13 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable, and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

About Ullico

For more than 90 years, Ullico has provided financial and insurance products and services to meet the needs of union employers and employees. In 2010, Ullico launched an investment fund to assist in the construction, maintenance, and refurbishment of America's infrastructure. The fund currently has over $4 billion in investor commitments on behalf of over 200 investors, with 21 portfolio investments across water, wastewater, telecommunications, electricity transmission, power generation, transportation, and gas transmission sub-sectors and is exploring opportunities in all infrastructure related sub-sectors.

From insurance products that protect union members, leaders, and employers, to investments in building and infrastructure projects that have created thousands of union jobs, our customers continue to trust us with protecting their families, employees and investments. The Ullico Inc. Family of Companies includes: The Union Labor Life Insurance Company; Ullico Casualty Group, LLC; Ullico Investment Company, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC); and Ullico Investment Advisors, Inc. For additional information, visit www.ullico.com.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the sale of Hope Gas, Inc., which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: the risk that Dominion Energy and Ullico may be unable to obtain any necessary regulatory approvals for the transaction or that required regulatory approvals may delay the transaction and the risk that any conditions to the closing of any of the transaction may not be satisfied. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Dominion Energy's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Dominion Energy assumes no obligation to provide any revisions to, or update, any projections and forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

SOURCE Dominion Energy
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of the nation's leading clean-energy companies, Dominion Energy is broadening efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Building on plans to achieve Net Zero carbon and methane emissions from power generation and natural gas operations by 2050, Dominion Energy will now work to achieve Net Zero for emissions outside of the company's direct operations. These include emissions generated downstream by customers and upstream by suppliers.

Dominion Energy's Net Zero commitments are among the boldest yet in the utility sector.

"These commitments are a natural next step, building upon our industry-leading programs to drive down carbon and methane emissions within our own operations. We are now formalizing our efforts to help customers and suppliers decarbonize, as part of our work to build a clean and sustainable company. Setting goals helps drive the innovation and focus we need to succeed. We're already making progress on these vital goals and will continue to do so in the months and years to come," said Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy's chair, president and CEO. "As we do, we will never lose sight of our fundamental responsibility to customers  to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy around the clock."

With today's announced expansion, Dominion Energy's Net Zero commitments not only cover those emissions within the company's direct control, they now cover what are known as Scope 2 and material categories of Scope 3 emissions. Scope 2 emissions are those emitted from electricity the company consumes, but does not generate. Scope 3 emissions are generated downstream of company operations by customers and upstream by suppliers.

Notably, the company will focus on achieving progress in three material Scope 3 categories: electricity purchased to power the grid, fuel for our power stations and gas distribution systems, and consumption by natural gas customers. These areas cover nearly all of the Scope 3 emissions measured and reported in the company's 2021 Climate Report. The company plans to reduce these emissions through programs focused on supplier engagement, customer empowerment, constructive public policy and technology innovation.

Consistent with company strategy, Dominion Energy is investing to make electricity and natural gas cleaner. Among other things, the company is building industry-leading solar and renewable natural gas (RNG) portfolios, developing the largest offshore wind project in North America, modernizing gas distribution networks, relicensing nuclear plants and piloting use of hydrogen.

Here are some of the steps Dominion Energy is taking to address the expanded Net Zero commitments:

Supporting federal methane regulation.





Developing and advancing procurement practices that encourage transparency through enhanced disclosures by upstream suppliers on their emissions and GHG reduction programs, including specific commitments.





Preferencing offers for Responsibly Sourced Gas and/or those suppliers committed to Net Zero, consistent with the company's reliability, service and cost obligations.





Developing plans, which will require collaboration with policymakers and regulators, to increase access to RNG for Dominion Energy customers, such as the company's voluntary GreenTherm program.





Pursuing innovative use of clean-burning hydrogen. A company pilot program in Utah confirmed that distribution system and appliance performance are not impaired with at least a 5% hydrogen blend.





confirmed that distribution system and appliance performance are not impaired with at least a 5% hydrogen blend. Pursuing reductions in the carbon intensity of power sourced from the market, consistent with the company's responsibility to maintain customer reliability and affordability.





Continued investment in energy efficiency, working with state regulators as the company develops new and expanded programs to promote conservation by customers.

Support offered for Dominion Energy's Net Zero plans:

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox : "Dominion has a commitment to community and quality of life. As a strong strategic partner with the state of Utah , I applaud their efforts to adapt, find new solutions, and continue to provide affordable and durable energy, while looking for ways to lead through innovation."





Gov. : "Dominion has a commitment to community and quality of life. As a strong strategic partner with the state of , I applaud their efforts to adapt, find new solutions, and continue to provide affordable and durable energy, while looking for ways to lead through innovation." Sean McGarvey , President of North America's Building Trades Unions: "Transitioning to a clean energy economy requires investments in infrastructure across the whole value chain, from renewable energy to modernizing our electric grid and natural gas systems, to utilizing domestic supply chains. This has been the cornerstone of the unionized construction industry. Dominion Energy has been a strong partner with the Building Trades as the company undertakes these projects and continues to expand its use of domestic manufacturing. We applaud this new commitment and look forward to a continued partnership in executing the projects necessary for their achievement."





, President of Building Trades Unions: "Transitioning to a clean energy economy requires investments in infrastructure across the whole value chain, from renewable energy to modernizing our electric grid and natural gas systems, to utilizing domestic supply chains. This has been the cornerstone of the unionized construction industry. Dominion Energy has been a strong partner with the Building Trades as the company undertakes these projects and continues to expand its use of domestic manufacturing. We applaud this new commitment and look forward to a continued partnership in executing the projects necessary for their achievement." Nat Keohane , President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): "Achieving zero-emissions electricity and reducing methane emissions from natural gas are must-have elements of meeting Paris Agreement goals. Dominion's expansion of its net-zero target is a step toward meeting those objectives and provides an important signal to the marketplace. We look forward to working with Dominion as it continues to escalate ambition and eliminate climate pollution."

About Dominion Energy

About 7 million customers in 13 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information." Examples include information as to our commitment to achieve net zero and plans as to how to achieve that goal. Our ability to reach this goal is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely. We have identified and will in the future identify in our SEC Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. We refer you to those discussions for further information. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made.

SOURCE Dominion Energy
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), today announced it was awarded the Customer Care Center (CCC) task order on the Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise (SITE) III contract. The task order, valued at $829 million over 10 years, was awarded in November by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Virginia Contracting Activity.

GDIT was awarded an $829 million task order from the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Under this task order, GDIT will provide a wide variety of remote and on-site IT services to support networks and domains at DIA locations globally. This will include modernizing workflows through automation and deploying the agency's first customer experience (CX) team which will use data insights, advanced analytics and CX methodologies to continuously evolve services and efficiently resolve IT issues.

"As DIA implements its IT modernization strategy over the next decade, we look forward to partnering with the agency to enable users to save time, work faster and stay focused on their mission of providing intelligence to our military forces," said Amy Gilliland, GDIT president.

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 Information Technology is available at www.gdit.com. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics Information Technology
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Lithium Mining: Global Markets to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report includes details about different source types of lithium mining like brine and hard rock. It has detailed analyses of lithium mining market players, this market's prominent trends and the opportunities prevailing in the market that can result in the growth of the market in the future. The market values are based on multiple factors and an analysis of manufacturers' revenue.

Market dynamics within each industry are identified. Technological advancements and trends are reviewed, and other influential factors such as economic conditions and standards are discussed. Because this is a global study, the publisher analyzes domestic and international technological issues and includes economic considerations.

The market segments of the report are focused on the technical and commercial aspects of lithium mining activities with respect to different types of lithium, such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. The report also covers the policy and regulatory framework for lithium mining that mining companies adhere to in order to maintain environmental sustainability and to comply with government regulations.

In addition, the report analyzes the global lithium mining market by region as well as country. The forecast period for all regional segments is 2021 to 2026. Furthermore, the report includes a comprehensive survey of the competitive landscape of the market, and it provides a detailed analysis of key market players.

The Report Includes:

44 data tables and 44 additional tables

An up-to-date overview of the global lithium mining market

Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2020, estimates for 2021 and 2022, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2026

Highlights of the current and future market potential and quantification of lithium mining market size and forecast by source type, mining (resource) type, end-use segment, and region

In-depth information (facts and figures) concerning the major factors influencing the progress of the market (drivers and industry-specific challenges) with respect to specific growth trends, upcoming prospects and contributions to the overall market

Impact of COVID-19 on the global market for lithium mining

Market share analysis of the key companies of the industry and coverage of their proprietary technologies, strategic alliances, and other key market strategies

Descriptive company profiles of the leading global players, including Albemarle Corp., Allkem Ltd., Livent Corp., Sociedad Quimica (SQM), Tianqi Lithium, and Orocobre Ltd.



Key Topics Covered:





Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights

Chapter 3 Market Overview

Pricing Analysis

Market Potential

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Challenges

Trends

Lithium Mining Supply Chain

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Market for Lithium Mining

Chapter 4 Global Market for Lithium Mining by Source Type

Brine Lithium Mining

Hard Rock Lithium Mining

Chapter 5 Global Market for Lithium Mining by Type

Lithium Carbonate

Lithium Hydroxide

Chapter 6 Global Market for Lithium Mining by End Use

Batteries

Lithium-Manganese Oxide (LMO)

Lithium-Cobalt Oxide (LCO)

Lithium-Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (Li-NMC)

Lithium-Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA)

Lithium-Titanate Oxide (LTO)

Developments in Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs)

Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturers

Glass and Ceramics

Lubricants and Grease

Polymers

Flux Powder

Other End Uses

Chapter 7 Global Market for Lithium Mining by Region

Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape

Global Competitive Landscape

List of Players in the Market for Lithium Mining

List of Players in the Lithium Battery Market

Chapter 9 Company Profiles

Albemarle Corp.

Allkem Ltd.

Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd.

Lithium Americas Corp.

Livent Corp.

Nemaska Lithium Inc.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd.

Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Co. Ltd. (Yahua Group)

SQM S.A. (Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile S.A.)

Tianqi Lithium Industry Co. Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nt9sq0

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
SAO PAULO, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ("Company" or "Itau Unibanco"), in compliance with Article 157, Paragraph 4 of Law 6,404/76 and Instruction no. 358/02 of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission, informs its stockholders and the market in general that as of this date it has announced its projections for the year 2022 in accordance with the provision in item 11 ("Projections") of the Reference Form.



Consolidated Brazil1



total credit portfolio2 between 9.0% and 12.0% between 11.5% and 14.5%









financial margin with clients between 20.5% and 23.5% between 22.0% and 25.0%









financial margin with the market between R$1.0 bn and R$3.0 bn between R$0.3 bn and R$2.3 bn the hedge of the capital ratio

with an impact of

approximately R$2 billion







cost of credit3 between R$25.0 bn and R$29.0 bn between R$23.0 bn and R$27.0 bn









commissions and fees and results

from insurance operations4 between 3.5% and 6.5% between 4.0% and 7.0% considers the adjusted 2021

result excluding participation

in XP Inc.







non-interest expenses between 3.0% and 7.0% between 3.0% and 7.0% efficiency ratio in Brazil below 40%

in 4Q22. Core cost nominally stable

in 2022







effective tax rate between 30.0% and 33.0% between 31.0% and 34.0%









recurring managerial ROE - - sustainable ROE around 20%







capital - - tier I capital above risk appetite

(1) Includes units abroad ex-Latin America; (2) Includes financial guarantees provided and corporate securities; (3) Composed of result from loan losses, impairment and discounts granted; (4) commissions and fees (+) income from insurance, pension plan and premium bonds operations (-) expenses for claims (-) insurance, pension plan and premium bonds selling expenses.

It's worth mentioning that the company considers, for management purposes, a cost of capital of around 14.0% per year.

Information on outlooks for the business, projections and operational and financial goals are solely forecasts, based on management's current outlook in relation to the future of Itau Unibanco. These expectations are highly dependent on market conditions, general economic performance of the country, of the sector and the international markets. Therefore, our effective results and performance may differ from those forecasted in this prospective information.

Sao Paulo, February 10, 2022

Renato Lulia Jacob

Group Head of Investor Relations and Marketing Intelligence

Itau Unibanco  Corporate Communication

(11) 5019-8880 / 8881  [email protected]

SOURCE Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded three contracts under the on-ramp feature of the Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV (Rapid IV) contract. These multi-agency contracts are available to support all NASA centers and other federal agencies.

The awardees are:

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Lockheed Martin Space, Littleton, Colorado

QinetiQ Space NV, Kruibeke, Belgium

Space Flight Laboratory, University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Toronto, Canada

The work will be performed at the contractors' facilities at the locations listed above.

The Rapid IV multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts allow the U.S. government to place firm-fixed price delivery orders for spacecraft and related services. These contracts, which may support various NASA centers and other federal agencies, have a combined potential maximum value of $6 billion, with the ability to issue firm-fixed-price delivery orders. This value includes all the delivery orders issued from the Rapid IV contract and is not the order value to any one vendor. The period of performance begins Tuesday, Feb. 15, and runs through Aug. 31, 2025.

The on-ramp feature used with these contracts allows for the original solicitation to be periodically reopened to give new vendors the opportunity to propose flight proven spacecraft designs. This option also gives vendors already awarded a Rapid IV contract the opportunity to propose additional flight-proven spacecraft designs and/or update their existing catalog designs.

The Rapid IV contracts serve as a rapid and flexible means for the government to acquire spacecraft and related components, equipment, and services in support of NASA missions and/or other federal government agencies. The spacecraft designs, related items and services may be tailored, as needed, to meet the unique needs of each mission.

For more information regarding Rapid IV spacecraft vendors and their core spacecraft offered, visit the Rapid Spacecraft Development Office website at:

https://rsdo.gsfc.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural fiber-optic network design and construction management leader, Conexon, has been selected by Winnsboro, Louisiana-based Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative (NELPCO) to deliver comprehensive fiber broadband support services including network design, construction project management, engineering, and operations support for the electric cooperative's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network project. Service will be provided to NELPCO members through its fiber subsidiary, Volt Broadband.

Through this partnership, 100 percent of NELPCO members spanning a seven-parish region will have access to world-class, high-speed fiber internet. The overall project is anticipated to be complete within two years.

"We're proud to be a part of this project," Conexon Founding Partner Randy Klindt said. "It's become clear that this part of Louisiana, like many rural areas, is in desperate need of high-speed internet. This project will provide not only affordable internet service to Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative's members, but access to the most robust, and fastest service available anywhere in the country. It will be life-changing for rural northeast Louisiana residents."

The lightning-fast fiber-optic network offered by Volt Broadband will give members access to symmetrical gigabit internet capabilities  among the fastest and most robust in the nation. Additionally, it will enable enhancements and smart grid capabilities to the electrical infrastructure, including improved power outage response times, better load balancing, more efficient electricity delivery, and others.

"We are excited to work closely with a trusted and proven company like Conexon to provide this much-needed product to our co-op members through Volt Broadband," NELPCO and Volt Broadband General Manager Jeff Churchwell said. "Conexon brings years of valuable experience and expertise in both the design and construction of fiber-to-the-home systems for cooperatives across the country. We are confident that by working closely with them, we will achieve great results for our members."

Conexon brings to the project unmatched experience and expertise in deploying rural FTTH networks. The company has designed more than 200,000 miles of fiber for cooperative projects and builds more than 50,000 miles of fiber annually. In addition, Conexon has created a broad ecosystem of equipment and labor resources specializing in rural fiber builds. Since forming six years ago, Conexon has assisted more than 200 electric cooperatives, 50 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 rural Americans connected to fiber-to-the-home networks.

"Electric cooperatives were built on a covenant, an echo of the original American covenant of 'We the People,'" Conexon Partner Jonathan Chambers said. "Covenants bind people together and lift them all up. In this fashion, NELPCO and its subsidiary, Volt, will bring light, via an advanced fiber-optic network, to all of its members over the next two years. We are proud to be part of that effort and congratulate Jeff Churchwell for leading a cooperative that is 'of the members, by the members and for the members.'"

About Conexon

Conexon works with Rural Electric Cooperatives to bring fiber to the home in rural communities. The company is comprised of professionals who have worked in electric cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, and offer decades of individual experience in business planning, building networks, marketing and selling telecommunications. Conexon offers its electric cooperative clients end-to-end broadband deployment and operations support, from a project's conception all the way through to its long-term sustainability. It works with clients to analyze economic feasibility, secure financing, design the network, manage construction, provide operational support, optimize business performance and determine optimal partnerships. To date, Conexon has assisted more than 200 electric cooperatives, 50 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 rural Americans connected to fiber to the home. The company has secured more than $1.5 billion in federal and state funding for its clients.

About Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative

Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative was incorporated in 1938 and is headquartered in Winnsboro, Louisiana with additional offices in Bastrop and Oak Grove. NELPCO serves nearly 11,000 members in a seven-parish region including Franklin, Madison, Richland, Tensas, East Carroll, West Carroll, and Morehouse.

About Volt

Volt Broadband, LLC was established in 2021, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative. Volt will work with its partners to bring Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology to NELPCO members using the existing cooperative infrastructure.

Cindy Parks

913-526-6912

[email protected]

SOURCE Conexon
CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Disruption  Potential opportunity worth USD 18 Bn is expected to open up in Off-Highway Vehicles, owing to electrification which is expected to be the next big trend. The global electric off-highway vehicle market is projected to reach USD 14-18 Bn by 2025, owing to the development of long-range and fast charging battery technology and rising demand for low noise and emission-free construction machines in residential areas.

According to MarketsandMarkets analysis,

There is ~USD 14 -18 Bn potential within electric off-highway vehicles, more than half of which is contributed by electric construction equipment.

-18 Bn potential within electric off-highway vehicles, more than half of which is contributed by electric construction equipment. Though Li-Ion batteries are dominating the e-OHV segment, the solid-state batteries are the next potential technology worth $300 Mn post 2023.

post 2023. Government initiatives is a key factor contributing to the adoption of electric off-highway vehicles at municipal corporation level (city use).

Currently, businesses have low access to primary intelligence to clarify some unknowns and adjacencies in these opportunity areas 

How are OEMs dealing with limited driving range and long charging time of eOHVs?

Which would be the applications and regional/country level eOHV markets to target first?

What will be the potential markets for hybrid and all electric battery and powertrain in next 5 years?

What can EV component suppliers capitalize on in order to grow their eOHV production and sales?

What would be the tipping point where electric off-highway vehicles would cross the sale of ICE vehicles?

What should OEMs develop and build considering growing EOHV penetration? How are the competitors dealing with this trend?

Which would be the applications and regional/country level EOHV markets to target first?

What is the potential of EOHV with long cord in urban construction and underground mining?

Some of the growth problems encountered by off-highway vehicle companies are:

Customer prioritization and assessing unmet needs:

What are the disruptions in our clients' businesses? How can we support them for our own growth?

What are the key unmet needs of customers? Who are the key stakeholders in different settings? Do vendor selection criteria differ by settings? Which new product features should be added to the existing products?

Where to play:

Which applications areas should we focus on? Should it be mining, construction, agriculture or any other?

Which regions should we place our bets on? Should we continue with developed countries or do developing countries offer more growth opportunities?

Building a compelling Right-to-Win (RTW):

For M&A, which are the right targets for us? Should we target battery development companies or consumables companies? Should we enter new markets directly or through partners?

How can we differentiate from top players? What is their right-to-win vs ours?

Key uncertainties/perspectives which industry leaders seek answers to:

For off-highway vehicle companies:

What would be the tipping point where electric off-highway vehicles would cross the sale of ICE vehicles?

What should OEMs develop and build considering growing EOHV penetration? How are the competitors dealing with this trend?

How are OEMs dealing with limited driving range and high charging time of EOHV?

Which would be the applications and regional/country level EOHV markets to target first?

What is the potential of EOHV with long cord in urban construction and underground mining?

How should battery manufacturers deal with varying battery performance in harsh working environments?

Which are the potential battery types to outperform Li-Ion batteries in near future?

For Companies in Adjacent markets:

How recent and upcoming emission regulations in OHV sector will boost the market for emission aftertreatment devices?

How would be the future of automation in underground mining?

How would electric car battery development boost the electric OHV developments?

What opportunities are there for hybrid and electric powertrain manufacturers in off-highway vehicle industry in next five years?

Therefore, MarketsandMarkets research and analysis focuses on high growth and niche markets, such as construction equipment telematics mining equipment telematics, electric bus, electric off-highway vehicle, and related markets, which will become ~80% of the revenues of the off-highway vehicle ecosystem in the next 5-10 years.

Register for Whitepaper: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/practices/pdfdownload.asp?p=off-highway-vehicle

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: [email protected]

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
MIAMI, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced the appointment of Governor Michael O. Leavitt, three-time elected governor of Utah and former Secretary of Health and Human Services during President George W. Bush's administration, to its Board of Directors.

"Governor Leavitt's leadership of the Healthy Sail Panel and tireless work to synthesize cross-disciplinary expertise into safety guidelines for the entire cruise industry led directly to our successful return to sail amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Richard Fain, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Royal Caribbean Group. "His knowledge and experience in finding solutions to public health issues will be a valuable addition to the board."

Governor Leavitt co-chaired the Healthy Sail Panel, a group of experts across disciplines tasked with collaboratively developing recommendations for cruise lines to advance their public health response to COVID-19, improve safety, and return to a safe resumption of operations. The panel developed a comprehensive report, including 74 detailed best practices, to protect the public health and safety of guests, crew and the communities where cruise ships call. The recommendations were adopted by the entire cruise industry and submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in response to a CDC request for public comment to inform future public health guidance and preventative measures relating to travel on cruise ships.

Leavitt is the Co-Chairman of Health Management Associates, a health care consulting firm, and chairman of Leavitt Equity Partners, a private equity fund. In 1984, Leavitt became chief executive of The Leavitt Group, a family business that is now the nation's second largest, privately held insurance brokerage. In 1993, Leavitt was elected governor of Utah. He served three terms from 1993 through 2003. In 2003, he joined the Cabinet of President George W. Bush, serving in two positions, first as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2003 through 2005 and then as secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005 through 2009. At HHS, he administered a $750 billion budget  nearly 25 percent of the entire federal budget  and 67,000 employees. He currently serves on the board of directors of American Express.

Leavitt grew up in Cedar City, Utah. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Southern Utah University.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 61 ships traveling to more than 800 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 12 ships on order as of December 31, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group
HOUSTON, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Pipeline Company LP ("Shell") today announces it has made a non-binding offer to purchase all remaining common units held by the public representing limited partner interests in Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SHLX) ("SHLX") for $12.89 per common unit in cash. Shell and its affiliates currently own approximately 68.5% of SHLX common units. The proposed transaction simplifies the governance of the SHLX assets, reduces costs, and provides flexibility to optimize the pipeline portfolio.

The proposed transaction is subject to a number of contingencies, including the approval of the board of directors of SHLX and the satisfaction of any conditions to the consummation of a transaction set forth in any definitive agreement concerning the transaction. There can be no assurance that such definitive documentation will be executed or that any transaction will materialize on the terms described above or at all.

Editor's Notes:

In line with IAS7:17, for Shell this transaction will be reflected as an outflow of cash of financing activities (CFFF). Should this full transaction complete, the net debt of Shell will increase by up to the value of the transaction, all else being equal.

Media International: +44 207 934 5550

Media Americas: +1 832 337 4355

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "Shell", "Shell Group" and "Group" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this release refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition", ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', "milestones", ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release February 11, 2022. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

The content of websites referred to in this release does not form part of this release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this release that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Shell Pipeline Company LP
Key Market Dynamics:

Market Driver: Changing consumer preferences along with price discounts, product bundling, and exclusive offers

The evolving preferences of consumers have led to the advent of various types of innerwear that come in different fabrics, styles, and kinds. Besides, the increasingly busy and hectic lifestyles of consumers have increased the reliance on online shopping. This is encouraging many brands to expand their presence on online channels by providing special offers, coupons, and price discounts to attract customers. All these factors are making shopping for lingerie products more cost-effective and convenient, thereby fueling the growth of the market.

Market Challenge: Increasing competition from the unorganized sector

Many local and unorganized vendors operating in the market are becoming popular due to their competitive pricing. The products of these vendors are occupying the shelf area of athleisure brands in supermarkets. These products are made available on both online and offline channels and are priced lower than the products offered by major brands. This is negatively hampering the sales of key players, thereby impeding the market growth.

Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges in the market. Read our FREE Sample Report right now!

Online Lingerie Market: Segmentation Analysis

The online lingerie market report is segmented by Product (Bras, Panties, and Others) and Geography (Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America).

By product, the bra segment is generating maximum revenue in the market. The higher price and replacement cycle of bras over the other kinds of intimate apparel is driving the growth of the segment. Also, the increase in the demand for customizable bras is contributing to the growth of the segment. The market growth in the segment will be significant during the forecast period.

Europe will be the leading region with 38% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for body-shaping slips and skirt lingerie is driving the growth of the online lingerie market in Europe. Germany and the UK are the key markets for online lingerie in Europe.

View our sample report for additional insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities.

Some Companies Mentioned with their Offerings

AB Lindex: Online lingerie products offered by the company include Seamless bralette with lace, Classic regular briefs, and Night dress with floral pattern.

Online lingerie products offered by the company include Seamless bralette with lace, Classic regular briefs, and Night dress with floral pattern. American Eagle Outfitters Inc.: Online lingerie products offered by the company include Aerie Animal Lace Padded Strappy Bralette and Aerie Animal Lace Padded Strappy Bralette.

Online lingerie products offered by the company include Aerie Animal Lace Padded Strappy Bralette and Aerie Animal Lace Padded Strappy Bralette. Hanesbrands Inc.: The company offers Hanes Ultimate Ultra Light Comfort With Support Strap Wirefree Bra and Hanes Comfort Flex Fit Microfiber Stretch Modern Brief.

The company offers Hanes Ultimate Ultra Light Comfort With Support Strap Wirefree Bra and Hanes Comfort Flex Fit Microfiber Stretch Modern Brief. Jockey International Inc.: The company manufactures a line of apparel products such as underwear, sleepwear, and sportswear for men, women, and children.

The company manufactures a line of apparel products such as underwear, sleepwear, and sportswear for men, women, and children. L Brands Inc.: The company offers Lise Charmel - Dressing Floral Half Cup Bra Ambre Nacre and Lise Charmel - Soir De Venise Half Cup Navy Blue.

The company offers Lise Charmel - Dressing Floral Half Cup Bra Ambre Nacre and Lise Charmel - Soir De Venise Half Cup Navy Blue. LISE CHARMEL

Maison Lejaby

Nubian Skin Ltd.

PVH Corp.

Wolf Lingerie SAS

To gain access to more vendor profiles with their key offerings available with Technavio, Click Here .

Related Reports:

Lingerie Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Maternity Intimate Wear Market by Product, Distribution Channel, and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Online Lingerie Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2019 Forecast period 2020-2024 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of almost 18% Market growth 2020-2024 USD 64.48 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 17.27 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 38% Key consumer countries US, Germany, China, UK, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AB Lindex, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Hanesbrands Inc., Jockey International Inc., L Brands Inc., LISE CHARMEL, Maison Lejaby, Nubian Skin Ltd., PVH Corp., and Wolf Lingerie SAS Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact 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.

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

Bras - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Panties - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Product

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global market

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

AB Lindex

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Hanesbrands Inc.

Jockey International Inc.

L Brands Inc.

LISE CHARMEL

Maison Lejaby

Nubian Skin Ltd.

PVH Corp.

Wolf Lingerie SAS

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Technavio Research

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SOURCE Technavio
The iconic fifth-generation Jeep  Grand Cherokee, known for its legendary 4x4 capability, superior on-road refinement, premium styling and craftsmanship inside and out, continues its impressive awards streak by earning a top spot among Autotrader's Best New Cars for 2022. The expanded Grand Cherokee lineup includes an all-new two-row, a 4xe plug-in-hybrid and the first ever three-row Grand Cherokee L model.

"Long popular with outdoorsy types and suburbanites alike, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the perfect vehicle to explore the type of living that starts where the pavement ends  but with a little extra space," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. "Jeep has taken the Grand Cherokee and made it grow up with two handsome versions  the standard Grand Cherokee now available with a 4xe electric plug-in hybrid powertrain and the first three-row version, the Grand Cherokee L."

The list of Best New Cars for 2022 is comprised of 12 vehicles selected by a team of experts at Autotrader, who collectively tested and ranked new models using a range of criteria, including vehicles they think offer significant value or are groundbreaking in some other way.

Click here to read the release in its entirety.

Jeep Brand

Built on 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand that brings capability, craftsmanship and versatility to people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a broad portfolio of vehicles that continues to provide owners with a sense of safety and security to handle any journey with confidence. The Jeep vehicle range consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee 4xe, Renegade and Wrangler and Wrangler 4xe. Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep 4x4 lineup, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep brand owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support. The legendary Jeep brand's off-road capability is enhanced by a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into new 4x4 in pursuit of the brand's vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom. All Jeep brand SUVs will offer an electrified variant by 2025.

Follow Jeep and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Jeep brand: www.jeep.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep

YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de C.V. ("Aeromexico") (BMV: AEROMEX) today reported January 2022 operational results.

Grupo Aeromexico transported 1 million 269 thousand passengers in January; a 16.2% year-on-year increase. International passengers carried increased by 79.2%, while domestic passenger numbers decreased by 1.5%.

Aeromexico's total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASKs), increased by 23.5% year-on-year. International ASKs increased by 42.1% compared to January 2021 . Domestic capacity decreased by 2.2%.

. Domestic capacity decreased by 2.2%. Demand, measured in passenger-kilometers (RPKs), increased by 39.0% year-on-year. International demand increased by 81.9% compared to January 2021 . Domestic demand decreased by 6%.

. Domestic demand decreased by 6%. Aeromexico's January load factor was 71.7%, a 6.3 p.p. increase versus January 2021 . International load factor increased by 13.1pp, and Domestic load factor decreased by 2.8pp.

. International load factor increased by 13.1pp, and Domestic load factor decreased by 2.8pp. During January 2022 , Aeromexico informed that in addition to the 9 destinations already offered from Terminal 1 of Mexico City International Airport (AICM), as of February it will also operate Culiacan , Mazatlan and Minatitlan routes from Terminal 1 of the AICM.



January

2022 2021 Var vs 2021







RPKs (itinerary + charter, millions)





Domestic 800 851 -6.0% International 1,620 891 81.9% Total 2,420 1,741 39.0%







ASKs (itinerary + charter, millions)





Domestic 1,128 1,154 -2.2% International 2,262 1,592 42.1% Total 3,391 2,746 23.5%







Load Factor (itinerary, %)



p.p. Domestic 70.9 73.7 -2.8 International 72.1 59.0 13.1 Total 71.7 65.4 6.3







Passengers (itinerary + charter, thousands)





Domestic 841 853 -1.5% International 429 239 79.2% Total 1,269 1,092 16.2%



Figures may not sum to total due to rounding

The information included within this report has not been audited and does not provide information on the Company's future performance. Aeromexico's future performance depends on many factors and it cannot be inferred that any period's performance or its year-over-year comparison will be an indicator of similar future performance.

Glossary:

"RPKs" Revenue Passenger Kilometers represent one revenue-passenger transported one kilometer. This includes itinerary and charter flights. The total RPKs equals the number of revenue-passengers transported multiplied by the total distance flown.

Revenue Passenger Kilometers represent one revenue-passenger transported one kilometer. This includes itinerary and charter flights. The total RPKs equals the number of revenue-passengers transported multiplied by the total distance flown. "ASKs" Available Seat Kilometers represent the number of available seats multiplied by the distance flown. This metric is an indicator of the airline's capacity. It equals one seat offered for one kilometer, whether the seat is used.

Available Seat Kilometers represent the number of available seats multiplied by the distance flown. This metric is an indicator of the airline's capacity. It equals one seat offered for one kilometer, whether the seat is used. "Load Factor" equals the number of passengers transported as a percentage of the number of seats offered. It is a measure of the airline's capacity utilization. This metric considers the total passengers transported and total seats available in itinerary flights only.

equals the number of passengers transported as a percentage of the number of seats offered. It is a measure of the airline's capacity utilization. This metric considers the total passengers transported and total seats available in itinerary flights only. "Passengers" refers to the total number of passengers transported by the airline.

refers to the total number of passengers transported by the airline. Grupo Aeromexicos investors presentation is available in the following link: https://www.aeromexico.com/en-us/investors

Grupo Aeromexico confirms that its voluntary process of financial restructuring under Chapter 11 of the legislation of the United States of America , will be carried out in an orderly manner while it continues operating and offering services to its customers with the same quality that characterizes it, contracting from its suppliers the goods and services required for its operation. The Company will use the advantages of Chapter 11 to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, protect and preserve its operations and assets, and implement the necessary adjustments to face the impact of COVID-19.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of the Company and its management with respect to its performance, business and future events. We use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect,", "intend," "target," "estimate," "project," "predict," "forecast," "guideline," "should" and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, but they are not the only way we identify such statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in this release. The Company is under no obligation and 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.

About Grupo Aeromexico

Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, has its main operations center in Terminal 2 of the Mexico City International Airport. Its destination network has reach in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Asia and Europe. The Group's current operating fleet includes Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, as well as the latest generation Embraer 190. Aeromexico is a founding partner of SkyTeam, an alliance that celebrates 20 years and offers connectivity in more than 170 countries, through the 19 partner airlines. Aeromexico created and implemented a Health and Hygiene Management System (SGSH) to protect its clients and collaborators at all stages of its operation.

www.aeromexico.com

www.skyteam.co

SOURCE Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V.
OSLO, Norway, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Clean Hydrogen, a global integrated clean hydrogen, ammonia and methanol producer, and Kuehne+Nagel, the world's largest sea logistics provider, are joining forces to decarbonize the maritime logistics sector by offering green container transport. The two companies envision the expansion of Kuehne+Nagel's offer of green fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.

The first vessels with engines that can run on these fuel alternatives are in production and expected to hit the waters in 2024. In the early days of such first generation fossil-free engines, the sourcing of these fuels will present a challenge. Through this partnership, both companies want to help scale fossil-free shipping early on. While Aker Clean Hydrogen will secure access to green fuels, Kuehne+Nagel handles the booking of contracts for environmentally friendly containers in cooperation with their carrier partners.

Aker Clean Hydrogen and Kuehne+Nagel are already in advanced discussions with container ship owners who share the ambition of fossil-free shipping and who want to convert to hydrogen, ammonia and methanol engines. Through partnerships with these carriers, Kuehne+Nagel's customers will in the future be able to purchase the appropriate amount of green fuels for their cargo via the Mass-Balance-Concept and instantly avoid CO2 emissions in their supply chains.

"The Mass-Balance-Concept is crucial in the transition towards replacing fossil fuels with green fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia," said Arne Faaberg, Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Norway. "This partnership with Aker Clean Hydrogen contributes to our commitment to a low-carbon business model. Together with them and our carrier partners we will be able to provide certified green container shipment".

"Shipping accounts for approximately 3 percent of the world's total emissions. With Kuehne+Nagel's Mass-Balance-Concept and green fuel from our planned hydrogen, ammonia and methanol projects around the world, we are well placed in the transition towards a more sustainable future for global shipping," said Knut Nyborg, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Clean Hydrogen.

For further information, please contact:

Christian Yggeseth, Investor Relations, Tel: +47 915 10 000, [email protected]

Mathias Nilsen Reierth, Communications, Tel: +47 988 05 724, [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-clean-hydrogen/r/aker-clean-hydrogen-and-kuehne-nagel-to-accelerate-green-container-shipping,c3504436

SOURCE Aker Clean Hydrogen
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aleut Aerospace Engineering, LLC (Aleut) has been selected to provide training services to the U.S. Space Force (USSF) 319th Combat Training Squadron and 533rd Training Squadron.

This Firm Fixed Price task order was competitively awarded January 24, 2022, under the General Services Administration (GSA) One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) Small Business (SB)  8(a) Sub Pool 3 Contract.

Aleut, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will perform training services in support of tactical, operational, strategic, joint, and coalition space operations by providing courseware development and instruction, information technology and assurance, database development, as well as on-line support and student and staff support.

Aleut Aerospace Engineering, LLC, a subsidiary of Aleut Federal, LLC, specializes in training services and is a Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business.

Work will be performed at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

"We [Aleut] are very excited to continue collaboration with the U.S Space Force," said Geoff Vaughan, General Manager of Aleut Aerospace Engineering. "We look forward to supporting the USSF mission through training of Guardians, equipping them to overcome the challenges of an evolving global space environment."

ABOUT ALEUT

Aleut Aerospace Engineering, LLC is a Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) program participant and Small Disadvantaged Business delivering innovative, cost-effective professional technology services to government and commercial customers.

Aleut Aerospace Engineering, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aleut Federal, LLC, a holding company for Federal subsidiaries of The Aleut Corporation (TAC). TAC was one of 12 original Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), passed by Congress in 1971.

Contact: Berlyn Martin Marketing Coordinator

Aleut Federal, LLC

Phone: 586-337-5828

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Aleut Federal, LLC
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dotdash Meredith's Allrecipes announces the results of its second annual Community Choice Awards survey, revealing the trusted grocery staples, pantry items, and kitchen products that home cooks can't live without. Allrecipes readers, viewers, and vast community of cooks voted for their favorite brands across 74 categories, ranging from ice cream, canned cocktails, brownie mix, and hot sauce to paper towels, pet food, dishwasher detergent, and air fryers. The 2022 Allrecipes Community Choice Award winners are featured in the February/March issue of Allrecipes magazine, on newsstands now, and also featured on https://www.allrecipes.com/longform/community-choice-awards.

ALLRECIPES ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF NEW SURVEY REVEALING THE TOP FOOD, KITCHEN AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS FOR HOME COOKS

"What I love about the Allrecipes Community Choice Awards is that they're truly chosen by our audience of passionate cooks," said Nichole Aksamit, Editor in Chief of Allrecipes magazine. "We get the inside scoop on what's most helpful to real people in their day-to-day lives, whether they're getting dinner on the table, whipping up a Sunday brunch, or entertaining friends for a game-day gathering. With so many delicious and useful products spotlighted, this guide will help make shopping a little easier. I'm sure many people will see some of their favorite go-to products. And I bet, like me, they'll also be inspired to try more brands that other home cooks trust and swear by."

Allrecipes Community Choice Winners 2022  Listed Alphabetically By Category

Dinner Helpers

Faster Pasta: Barilla Ready Pasta Heat-and-Eat Frozen Veggies: Birds Eye Prepared Meats: Johnsonville Seasoning Mixes: McCormick Quick-Cooking Rice: Minute Rice Frozen Finger Foods: Ore-Ida Seasoned Seafood: StarKist

Plant-Based

Plant-Based Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry's Non-Dairy Pints Plant-Based Meat Alternatives: Beyond Meat Plant-Based Butter: Earth Balance Buttery Spread Plant-Based Cheese: Miyoko's Creamery

Global Flavor Helpers

Italian Pantry Staples Go-To Brand: Barilla Hot Sauces and Chile Pastes: Frank's Asian Pantry Staple Go-To Brand: Kikkoman Mexican Pantry Staple Go-To Brand: Old El Paso Simmer Sauces & Marinades: Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ

Always In Your Cart

Milk (Dairy or Plant-Based): Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Sugar: Domino/C&H Sugar Eggs: Eggland's Best Flour: Gold Medal Flour Bacon: Hormel Black Label Spices: McCormick Spices Bread: Pepperidge Farm Cheese: Sargento

Baking Helpers

Ice Cream and Sorbet: Breyers Whipped Toppings: Cool Whip Brownie Mix: Ghirardelli Brownie Mix Topping Sauces: Hershey's Chocolate Syrup Cookie Dough: Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Chocolate Chips: Nestle Toll House Morsels Frozen Puff Pastry: Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets Biscuit Dough: Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits Frozen/Refrigerated Pie Crust: Pillsbury Pie Crusts

Snack Solutions Snack-Sized Cheese: Babybel Cheese Yogurt: Chobani Bite-Size Chocolate: Dove Chocolate Jerky: Jack Link's Beef Jerky Microwave Popcorn: Orville Redenbacher's Kid Favorite at Your House: Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Nuts: Planters Hummus: Sabra Hummus Guacamole: Wholly Guacamole

Drink Fixes Canned Cocktails: Angry Orchard Coffee Creamer: Coffee mate Powdered Drink Mixes: Crystal Light Seltzers & Bubbly Waters (nonalcoholic): LaCroix Prepared Iced Tea (bottled, ready-to drink): Pure Leaf Cold Brew Coffee: Starbucks Cold Brew Hot Chocolate Mixes: Swiss Miss Hard Seltzers: White Claw

Household Helpers Paper Towels: Bounty Dishwasher Detergent: Cascade Dish Soap: Dawn Trash Bags: Hefty All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Lysol Parchment Paper: Reynolds Kitchen Aluminum Foil: Reynolds Wrap Reusable Food Storage Containers: Rubbermaid Plastic Wrap: Saran Disposable Food Storage Bags: Ziploc

Pet Helpers Wet Cat Food: Fancy Feast Dog Treats: Milk-Bone Wet Dog Food: Pedigree Dry Dog Food: Purina Dry Cat Food: Purina Cat Treats: Temptations Kitty Litter: Tidy Cats

Kitchen Helpers/Gotta Have Gear Slow Cooker: Crockpot Toaster/Toaster Oven: Cuisinart Multicooker: Instant Pot Coffee Maker: Keurig Blender: KitchenAid Mixer (Stand or Hand): KitchenAid Air Fryer: Ninja

The awards get top billing on the flip side of the February/March 2022 issue, the magazine's first "flip issue." Readers can flip the issue over to reveal a special second cover and Community Choice Awards section at the back of the magazine announcing and celebrating 28 of the award winners. Readers can find all 74 winners, along with shoppable links to the products, at www.allrecipes.com/longform/community-choice-awards/.

Allrecipes Community Choice Survey 2022 methodology: The 2,499 respondents in Allrecipes' online survey were asked to vote for their favorite brands across 74 kitchen and household categories. They could select more than one brand, write in brands, skip categories, and note why they liked a given brand. The winner in each category is the brand that received the most votes. The survey was conducted from July 6 - August 31, 2021.

ABOUT ALLRECIPES

Allrecipes, the world's largest community-driven food brand, provides trusted resources to more than 50 million home cooks, publishes recipes from home cooks around the world who connect and inspire one another through photos, reviews and videos. Since its launch in 1997, Allrecipes has become an indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking trusted recipes, cooking trends, entertaining ideas, every day and holiday meal solutions, grocery savings information and practical cooking tips. The brand helps cooks shop, budget and make healthy, sustainable choices in the kitchen. In addition to the site, Allrecipes produces content across numerous platforms, including voice skills, smart appliances, social media, apps and podcasts. Allrecipes Magazine, the magazine industry's first large-scale digital-to-print brand extension, reaches an audience of 8.7 million. Published six times a year, the magazine has grown rapidly to a 1.5 million rate base from 500,000 at its inception eight years ago.

SOURCE Dotdash Meredith
SAO PAULO, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer S.A. (" Embraer ") (NYSE: ERJ) announces commencement of an offer to purchase for cash outstanding 5.150% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (the " 2022 Notes "), issued by Embraer, in an amount representing up to US$150.0 million in aggregate consideration, and outstanding 5.696% senior unsecured guaranteed notes due 2023 (the " 2023 Notes " and, together with the 2022 Notes, the " Notes "), issued by Embraer Overseas Limited and fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Embraer, in an amount representing up to US$150.0 million in aggregate consideration (in each case, subject to increase or decrease by Embraer, in its sole discretion, the " Maximum Tender Amount ") (the " Tender Offer "), for the applicable consideration set forth in the following table:













Payment per US$1,000 Principal Amount of Notes Title of Security

CUSIP / ISIN

Principal Amount

Outstanding

Tender Offer

Consideration(1)

Early Tender

Payment

Total

Consideration(1)(2) 5.150% Senior

Unsecured Notes due

2022

29082AAA5 /

US29082AAA51

US$318,113,000

US$982.00

US$30.00

US$1,012.00 5.696% Senior

Unsecured

Guaranteed Notes

due 2023

Rule 144A:

29081YAD8 /

US29081YAD85; Regulation S:

G30376AB6 /

USG30376AB69

US$439,375,000

US$1,020.00

US$30.00

US$1,050.00

__________________ (1) Excludes accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date (defined below) (" Accrued Interest "), which will be paid in addition to the applicable Tender Offer Consideration or Total Consideration, as the case may be. (2) Includes the Early Tender Payment.

Information on the Tender Offer

The Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 10, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated by Embraer (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Expiration Date "). Holders of Notes who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 24, 2022, unless extended by Embraer (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Early Tender Date ") will be eligible to receive the applicable Total Consideration for such Notes, which includes the Early Tender Payment, plus the applicable Accrued Interest. Holders of Notes who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase dated February10, 2022 and relating to the Tender Offer (the " Offer to Purchase ") will not be eligible to receive the Early Tender Payment and will therefore only be eligible to receive the applicable Tender Offer Consideration, plus the applicable Accrued Interest. Validly tendered Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time prior to the Early Tender Date but not thereafter, except as may be required by applicable law (as determined by Embraer).

If the aggregate principal amount of a series of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, as the case may be, represents consideration that exceeds the Maximum Tender Amount, a prorated amount of Notes of such series validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) by holders at or prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, as the case may be, will be accepted for purchase.

Settlement

Holders of Notes that have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase shall, if Embraer so elects, receive the applicable Total Consideration, plus the applicable Accrued Interest, on the early settlement date, which date will be three business days following the Early Tender Date but before the Expiration Date (the " Early Settlement Date "). If Embraer does not, in its sole discretion, elect to pay for such tendered Notes prior to the Expiration Date, then the Early Settlement Date will be the same as the final settlement date, which date will be two business days following the Expiration Date (the " Final Settlement Date " and, together with the Early Settlement Date, each a " Settlement Date ").

Conditions to the Tender Offer

Embraer's obligation to purchase Notes in the Tender Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon the tender of any minimum principal amount of Notes of such series or of the other series. However, the Tender Offer is subject to the Maximum Tender Amount. Embraer reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase or decrease the Maximum Tender Amount at any time, subject to compliance with applicable law. In the event of a termination of the Tender Offer, neither the applicable consideration nor Accrued Interest will be paid or become payable to the holders of the applicable series of Notes, and the Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. Embraer has the right, in its sole discretion, to not to accept any tenders of Notes for any reason and to amend or terminate the Tender Offer at any time.

Subsequent Redemptions or Repurchases

From time to time after consummation, termination or withdrawal of the Tender Offer, Embraer or any of its affiliates may acquire Notes that are not tendered or not accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer through open-market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as Embraer or such affiliate may determine (or as may be provided for in the respective indenture governing the Notes), which may be more or less than the applicable purchase price to be paid pursuant to the Tender Offer and could be for cash or other consideration. It is currently Embraer's intention, but Embraer is under no obligation, to redeem the 2022 Notes via the make-whole call following the consummation, termination or withdrawal of the Tender Offer. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these alternatives or combinations thereof Embraer or its affiliates may choose to pursue in the future.

For More Information

The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase. Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available to holders of the Notes from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Tender Offer (the " Tender and Information Agent "). Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to the Tender and Information Agent at +1 (877) 732-3617 (toll free) and +1 (212) 269-5550 (collect) or by e-mail to [email protected].

Embraer has engaged Banco Bradesco BBI S.A., Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Natixis Securities Americas LLC and Santander Investment Securities Inc. to act as the dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") in connection with the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the terms of the Tender Offer may be directed to Banco Bradesco BBI S.A. at +1 (646) 432-6642, Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. at +1 (888) 770-4828 (toll free) or +1 (212) 710-6749 (collect), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at +1 (800) 624-1808 (toll free) or +1 (212) 761-1057 (collect), Natixis Securities Americas LLC at +1 (212) 891-6100 and Santander Investment Securities Inc. at +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll free) or +1 (212) 940-1442 (collect).

Disclaimer

None of Embraer, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent, the trustee for the Notes or any of their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether holders should or should not tender any Notes in response to the Tender Offer or expressing any opinion as to whether the terms of the Tender Offer are fair to any holder. Holders of the Notes must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. Please refer to the Offer to Purchase for a description of the offer terms, conditions, disclaimers and other information applicable to the Tender Offer.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Tender Offer is being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase. Embraer is making the Tender Offer only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The Tender Offer is not being made to holders of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require any tender offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of Embraer by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including those related to the Tender Offer. Forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future, and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Embraer S.A.

Antonio Carlos Garcia

Head of Investor Relations

+55 (11) 3040-6874

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
BOSTON, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aura, the leader in intelligent safety for consumers, today announced the appointment of Lara Sweet to the Aura Board of Directors effective February 8. Sweet, the former interim chief financial officer and chief people officer of Snap Inc., will leverage her deep roots in technology, finance and talent development to help propel Aura in its next phase of growth. She has extensive experience in accounting and finance, having also served as chief accounting officer at both Snap Inc. and AOL. Sweet will serve as chair of Aura's audit committee.

"At Aura, we are building a diverse board of directors with experience spanning industry sectors from cybersecurity to consumer technology to finance," said Sujay Jaswa, Chairman of Aura's Board of Directors. "Lara has served in leadership roles during key phases of hyper growth at Snap and AOL, and we are excited to be adding her unique perspective to Aura as the company scales."

During her time at Snap Inc., Sweet served in a variety of roles that provided strategic direction to the company during moments of rapid growth and change. She supported Snap Inc.'s culture and talent throughout the onset of a global pandemic that required a rapid shift to remote work. And, as interim chief financial officer, she provided seamless continuity for the company's financial organization during an executive transition.

"This is a great moment to be joining Aura's board as the company has tremendous momentum, and is putting in place a world class leadership team and board," said Sweet. "I look forward to helping guide Hari and the team as they continue to grow as an organization and keep all of us safe online."

Sweet currently serves as a board member and audit committee chair of MediaAlpha. Prior to joining Snap, Sweet served as controller and chief accounting officer at AOL, and previously served as chief audit executive, and vice president, assistant controller. She has held the positions of senior director, external reporting at Freddie Mac and manager, internal audit at Marriott International. Sweet holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from George Mason University.

For more information about Aura's executive board and leadership team, visit www.aura.com/about.

About Aura

Aura, the leader in intelligent safety solutions, provides all-in-one digital protection for consumers. We understand that the online safety needs of each individual are unique and require a personalized solution. By bringing together security, privacy and parental controls on an intelligent platform, Aura makes adaptive and proactive digital safety accessible to everyone. Visit www.aura.com .

Contact:

Eva Dudzik

908-642-8581

[email protected]



SOURCE Aura
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- automotiveMastermind (aM), part of IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) and a provider of predictive analytics and marketing automation solutions for dealerships, has announced several new enhancements to its flagship automated sales and marketing platform, Mastermind. The updates are designed to help dealership partners attract customers, maintain profits and sell more vehicles, as well as offer a more streamlined platform.

The enhancements include:

Navigation and Market Conquest

aM dealer partners have an improved user experience thanks to a more modern and intuitive navigation design. Designed to offer seamless navigation through the platform and to support future updates, this release comes after a successful pilot that included more than 50 of aM's dealer partners over the past two months.

aM's new Market Conquest updates put dealers back in the driver's seat by empowering them to take control of their conquest leads. The dashboard includes new filters that enable dealers to segment their audience to find the leads they're looking for based on customer engagement, brands customers already own, customers likely to purchase or sell a car and more. These changes allow dealers to see who in their audience is most likely to return to the market and at what stage of the sales cycle they are in based on engagement. With the Market Conquest enhancement, dealers can talk to a more relevant conquest audience than ever before using a multi-channel approach with email and direct mail over a 6-month campaign.

Behavior Prediction Score

Another update is an enhanced Behavior Prediction Score (BPS)  enabling advanced predictability and highlighting aM's commitment to continuously evolving this distinctive component of the Mastermind platform.

Mastermind's proprietary algorithm provides a unique and compelling BPS that ranks buyers on a scale of 0 to 100  empowering dealers to close more deals by predicting future buyers with confidence and consistently marketing to them.

The BPS enhancement builds on providing dealers with even deeper insights to know when a customer is ready to buy: Through Mastermind's in-market modeling, dealers can accurately determine when individuals are ready to purchase a car, even if they already have one or just recently purchased.

Upcoming Enhancements

Looking ahead, aM has additional enhancements planned for the coming months, including a Conquest Facebook component.

Dealers will be able to have their Conquest audiences populated directly onto their Meta Ads manager to create custom ads targeting those buyers on Facebook and Instagram.

"Our goal through these new product enhancements and future ones is to make the complex simple and to remove the guesswork and legwork from our dealer partners," said automotiveMastermind VP of Product Aaron Baldwin. "Mastermind's enhanced workflow and user experience, combined with our company's continuous investment in providing the most accurate and expansive data available, will continue helping our dealer partners do what they do best  sell more cars."

About automotiveMastermind

Founded in 2012, automotiveMastermind, part of IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), empowers dealers to close more deals by predicting future buyers and consistently marketing to them. Its proprietary automated sales and marketing platform, Mastermind, helps dealerships generate success in loyalty, service and conquest portfolios through a combination of turnkey predictive analytics, proactive marketing and dedicated consultative services.

automotiveMastermind is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit automotiveMastermind.com .

Based in London, IHS Markit is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

SOURCE automotiveMastermind
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines marked its 100th day of service today at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN)  Connecticut's most convenient airport. Avelo, which introduced service at HVN on November 3, 2021, has ushered in a new era of convenient, reliable and affordable air service  fueling significant local economic impact and job creation.

To celebrate this milestone, Avelo is offering a travel-inspiring $49 one-way fare* between HVN and its six popular Florida destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota / Bradenton, Tampa and West Palm Beach. The commemorative fare is available at AveloAir.com.

Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "I'm very pleased with the initial response to Avelo's arrival at HVN. HVN's unrivaled convenience paired with Avelo's exceptional reliability and affordability have made our airline an appealing choice for folks from across the region. We're especially proud of Avelo's remarkable HVN-based Crewmembers whose dedication to excellence and caring Soul of Service are fueling Avelo's success. We look forward to continuing to invest in our team, this community and the state as we add more destinations, more airplanes and more Crewmembers in the months ahead."

During Avelo's first three months of service (November, December and January), the airline flew nearly 70,000 Customers on nearly 600 flights to and from HVN. The airline currently operates three 147-seat Boeing Next-Generation (NG) 737-700 aircraft at HVN.

Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, "Simply put, the last 100 days have been incredible. From 100 new jobs created to 70,000 people passing through our airport, we are so proud of what we've been able to accomplish these last three months. Working alongside our partners at Avelo Airlines and Avports, we've transformed HVN into the more vibrant airport Connecticut needs and we've always known it could be."

"The past 100 days have marked the beginning of the return of the glory days for Tweed Airport, said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. "It is truly an economic driver for the New Haven area  essential to the diverse group of businesses that call this region home. Avelo Airlines has become a valued partner with their investment in the future of Tweed and our state. I am proud to have fought side by side with my Connecticut colleagues for over $1 million in infrastructure dollars that will continue to grow this airport, improving safety and enhancing the traveling experience in the years ahead."

"I am pleased to be celebrating the success of Avelo Airlines' first 100 days of service out of Tweed-New Haven Airport," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "During its first three months of service, Avelo flew nearly 70,000 customers on nearly 600 flights to and from New Haven and is the first airline to offer nonstop flights between New Haven and Floridabut this is just the beginning. Avelo's expanded service at Tweed Airport offers Greater New Haven families convenient air travel at a price they can afford. With Avelo investing an additional $1.2 million to upgrade and modernize its facilities and operations, it will more than double the number of our airport's crewmembers and destinations by the end of this year. Not only will this create more traveling opportunities for residents, but it will also continue creating hundreds of jobs for the hard-working people of Connecticut."

Remarkably Reliable and Convenient Service

Despite the historic severe winter weather that pummeled the Northeast in January, Avelo has achieved an impressive level of reliability during its first three months of operations. When excluding weather-related cancellations outside Avelo's control, the airline achieved a cancellation rate of less 1% between November and January.

Avelo's on-time arrival rate was equally impressive. Avelo's on-time arrival rate** between November and January was more than 80% after excluding weather-related delays outside the airline's control.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said, "We have known for nearly two decades that expanding and modernizing Tweed could be accomplished in a responsible manner and with a positive economic impact on New Haven. Over the past 100 days, Avelo Airlines is showing just how accurate those projections were."

Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks, and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by Connecticut travelers, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways make it Connecticut's most convenient and easily accessible airport.

Avelo's arrival to HVN marked the largest expansion of service at HVN in more than 30 years. Avelo is also the first airline to offer nonstop flights between HVN and Florida.

Economic Impact and Growth

Avelo is investing $1.2 million to help upgrade and modernize facilities and operations as part of an overall $100 million project at HVN. The airport expansion will include a new terminal and extended runway spearheaded by airport operator Avports.

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts said, "Avports is very excited to continue our work with Avelo Airlines and our great partners at Tweed-New Haven airport to bring new jobs and increased economic activity to Southern Connecticut, and we congratulate Avelo on reaching this milestone. As the operator of HVN for more than 20 years, we're extremely excited about what Avelo is doing at the airport, and what the future will bring for HVN."

Avelo has hired 109 HVN-based Crewmembers, including flight attendants, pilots, airport customer service representatives, operations-related roles, as well as managers and supervisors. The airline plans to hire at least 100 additional HVN-based Crewmembers by the end of 2022  expanding Avelo's HVN team to more than 200 Crewmembers.

Once the new terminal is completed, the runway has been expanded, and the additional jobs have been added the economic impact to the region has been forecasted to be over $275 million.

New Haven Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli said, "In a little over three months, Avelo Airlines has demonstrated the value of Tweed to our economy. With over 100 jobs and forecasted economic impact of well over $20 million, Avelo is a key part of New Haven's national standing in innovation and inclusive growth."

Avelo has committed to adding nine additional 737 NGs in 2022. Several of those aircraft will be added to Avelo's East Coast operation. The airline plans to more than double its nationwide network from 18 to at least 40 destinations by the end of this year. Many of those new destinations will be served by Avelo's HVN base.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, very low fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Avelo Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 18 popular destinations across the U.S., including its West Coast base at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and its East Coast base at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). For more information visit AveloAir.com. For Avelo B-roll and Images visit AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

*The one-way $49 commemorative fare includes government taxes and fees. The fare must be purchased by February 25, 2022, for travel between May 1, 2022 and June 20, 2022. This commemorative fare is available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage.

**On-time arrival performance based on Department of Transportation (DOT) A14 standard, which defines an on-time arrival as a flight which arrives at its intended destination within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time.

Media Contacts:

Avelo Airlines

Mary Coursey

[email protected]

Tweed-New Haven Airport

Sean Scanlon

[email protected]

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballentine Partners, an independent wealth management firm headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, welcomed Peter Chiappinelli, CFA, CAIA, as Deputy Chief Investment Officer. Pete will be focused primarily on Asset Allocation in setting strategic direction for client portfolios.

Pete has close to 30 years of experience in research, investment strategy, and thought leadership regarding the management of multi-asset class portfolios, inclusive of equities, fixed income, and alternatives. His work has been featured at leading industry conferences, in documentaries on capital markets history, and in the broad financial media and new media.

Mr. Chiappinelli served as a Senior Portfolio Strategist on the Asset Allocation Team at GMO for over 12 years. Prior to that, he was an Institutional Portfolio Manager within a specialized unit of Fidelity Investments, and before that, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at Putnam Investments.

"We are thrilled to welcome Pete to our team," said Drew McMorrow, President and CEO of Ballentine Partners. "His extensive background in our industry and his analytical views will allow us to continue to curate a world-class investment program for our clients."

"This is a tremendous opportunity," said Chiappinelli. "I was drawn to Ballentine's culture, independence, and commitment to the fiduciary standard. Typically, it's a term that gets buried in legalistic fine print, so it's rare to find a firm that puts the concept center-stage. The transparency, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, the deep sensitivity to the corrosive effects of high fees, the relentless effort to deliver excellent after-tax returns --- these are all hallmarks of a firm that has embedded the meaning into the very fabric of the company. "

Peter Chiappinelli joined Ballentine Partners on February 10 as a Deputy Chief Investment Officer. He is a graduate of Carleton College and holds his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Peter is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). He is also a Founding President of CAIA Boston.

About Ballentine Partners

Ballentine Partners is an investment and wealth management firm dedicated to serving its clients with integrity and independence. We manage over $9.7 billion of assets (as of 9/30/2021) for private clients who rely on us to be their advisor for all aspects of their complex financial lives. With clients ranging from entrepreneurs with $3.5 million of liquid assets to multi-generational families with over $1 billion, we customize our solutions to our clients' needs and design our strategies with our clients' interests in mind.

Contact:

Carly Augeri

[email protected]

SOURCE Ballentine Partners
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest analysis from BizVibe, a leading company insights platform, provides detailed insights for hundreds of motorcycle leasing companies and thousands of consumer goods rental companies worldwide. BizVibe's motorcycle leasing industry insights highlight the influence that the emergence of subscription-based rental models is expected to have in the coming years for market participants.

Get free insights for 100+ motorcycle leasing companies

Snapshot of key trend impacting BizVibe's motorcycle leasing industry group.

Key Industry Trend  Subscription-Based Rental Services

An increasing number of industries are beginning to offer subscription-based services, and the vehicle rental sector is no exception. A vehicle subscription can provide consumers with a shorter rental term and more flexibility than a lease, allowing them to change vehicles easily or to meet short-term rental needs. This flexibility can be especially appealing to users due to the greater financial uncertainty brought on by the global pandemic, combined with a general trend away from vehicle ownership.

For vehicle leasing companies, subscription models with flexible terms can allow them to make more efficient use of fleets, renting out idle vehicles for short periods of time. Some manufacturers are adopting the strategy themselves in order to mitigate the impact of falling vehicle ownership rates.

Trend Geographic Relevance  High Relevance in Asia-Pacific

There are many growth opportunities for vehicle leasing and subscription services in Asia-Pacific, and particularly for motorcycles. In densely populated cities with congested roadways, for example, motorcycles are a popular option. China and India are key countries for the motorcycle leasing industry, and subscription services can provide users with flexibility in terms of vehicle type, timing, and budget to suit varying needs. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region for the motorcycle leasing industry over the next several years.

View All Motorcycle Leasing Company Insights on BizVibe

Detailed analysis of 100+ motorcycle leasing companies

Risk of doing business for all motorcycle leasing companies

Industry trends and challenges expected to impact motorcycle leasing companies

Regional, national, and global competitors/similar companies

Key products and services for each motorcycle leasing company

List of key executives and decision makers for each motorcycle leasing company

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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.

SOURCE BizVibe
Strengthening the MSME, especially the ultra-micro sector, has marked the main discussion at the BRI Microfinance Outlook 2022. There are 45 million ultra-micro businesses in Indonesia, of which 30 million of them still do not receive formal financial services.

The number of micro-enterprises, which account for 98.7% of MSMEs in Indonesia, is the backbone of the national economy as it contributes to the absorption of 89.04% of the workforce and 37.35% of the 2019 GDP.

Therefore, the potential of the ultra-micro sector must be increased. The strong efforts will also reflect the G20 2022 theme, Recover Together, Stronger Together.

"We formed the Ultra Micro Holding with a rights issue process that can be absorbed by Rp95.9 trillion, providing BRI strong liquidity and capital that can grow in an integrated ecosystem," said Sunarso.

Airlangga Hartarto also added that lending to the ultra-micro sector accelerates businesses to 'grade up' and support the stimulus provided by the government.

Meanwhile, Sri Mulyani explained there needs to be an integrated data management. "So good intentions and noble goals must be prepared with a reliable integrated data system that can be accounted for. With better integration, unbankable ultra-micro sector will be reached," said Mulyani.

Kartika Wirjoatmodjo emphasized the importance of data integration as a key factor for targeting accuracy. Not only credit, BRI Group also ensures sustainability for businesses.

Sunarso has confirmed the readiness of the data integration and the Ultra Micro Holding system with strong liquidity and capital to expand into the ultra-micro sector. This is evidenced by the number of Ultra Micro Holding customers as of December 2021 amounting to 25.2 million and is targeting 45 million ultra-micro businesses in 2024.

For information about Bank BRI, visit www.bri.co.id.

SOURCE PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI)
Packed into the eye-catching design are cutting-edge photo and video features including the industry's first Bokeh Flare Portrait Video and upgraded AI Highlight Video enable users to create memorable videography content, with a cinematic effect that will capture lasting memories Available on both the front and rear cameras, the DSR-like Bokeh effects can be applied to videos with just one click.

The Reno6 Pro 5G's ultra-powerful imaging sensor behind the main camera, Sony IMX766, heightens a picture's dynamic range especially in low-light conditions, creating professional-level nighttime shots of candle lit dinners in perfect clarity.

In addition, the phone's advanced auto focusing capabilities ensure that the main subject in video always remains in focus, perfect when celebrating Valentine's with friends. The Reno6 Pro 5G also provides creative post-production tools such as AI Palette for easy editing and fine-tuning.

Users need not worry about running out of battery and missing the new year's countdown with OPPO's reliable and incredibly fast SuperVOOC Flash Charge, giving a full charge in just 30 minutes. Heading from celebration to celebration? The sleek design ensures the smartphone is lightweight and dynamic at just 7.99mm thick and weighing only 188grams, the perfect size for a purse or pocket.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global technology brand since 2004, dedicated to providing products that seamlessly combines art and innovative technology.

OPPO is on a mission to building a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity. The smartphone devices have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of smart and frontier technologies in hardware, software and system. In 2019, OPPO launched a $7 Billion US Dollar three-year investment plan in R&D to develop core technologies furthering design through technology.

OPPO is firmly pursuing the creation of the best technology products and technological artistry for global users. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology.

For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing smartphones with camera capabilities that are second to none. OPPO launched the first mobile phone, the Smile Phone, in 2008, which marked the launch of the brand's epic journey in exploring and pioneering extraordinary technology. Over the years, OPPO has built a tradition of being number one, which became a reality through inventing the world's first rotating camera smartphone way back in 2013, launching the world's then thinnest smartphone in 2014, being the first to introduce 5X Zoom 'Periscope' camera technology and developing the first 5G commercial smartphone in Europe.

Today, OPPO was ranked as the number four smartphone brand globally. OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology of global consumers through the ColorOS system Experience, and Internet service like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+.

OPPO's business covers 40 countries with over six research institutes and five R&D centers across the world, from San Francisco to Shenzhen. OPPO also opened an International Design Centre headquartered in London, driving cutting edge technology that will shape the future not only for smartphones but for intelligent connectivity.

About OPPO MEA

OPPO started its journey in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in 2015 after setting up its regional office in Egypt. Following the immense success of the brand's sales centre in Cairo in the first year, OPPO accelerated its expansion plan across the MEA region and inaugurated its country operations in the UAE in 2019. Now OPPO is physically present in more than 13 markets across the region, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Levant.

To empower its presence in the region in line with its product localisation strategy, OPPO further invested in MENA and set up its very own factory in Algeria in 2017, thus, becoming the first Chinese brand to build a manufacturing premises in North Africa. Based on insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO has evolved the progress of product localisation, taking into consideration several perspectives towards each market, including product localisation, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localisation, to better communicate with local young customers; and talent localisation, to understand local consumers further and provide an optimum customer service.

Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X Series and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region.

A forward-thinking international technology company, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company that contributes to a better world and have enacted positive change in every way possible through activating local community initiatives and humanitarian, charity campaigns.

SOURCE OPPO
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CareAvailability is proud to announce the launch of their new and improved website.

Initially launched in 2020, CareAvailability is a branch of the Retirement Connection family and looks to further extend helping seniors find the living they look for in a modern and convenient format. The site went live during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic to help hospitals that were struggling to find care for patients upon discharge.

CareAvailability

Setting the industry standard, CareAvailability is the first and only website to deliver up to the minute real-time reporting on the availability of senior care. Working closely with hospitals and care providers, Care Availability removes the hassle of finding the best care.

Included in this update is an even smoother navigation process and user experience including integrated Google Maps, custom sorting and filtering of search results, and interactive provider profile pages that now display the current availability for each service it covers!

Senior advocates and health professionals who have relied on CareAvailability to put together comprehensive lists of care options will be delighted to see the website's new and improved design and functionality.

"With real-time senior care options and availability, CareAvailability is a one-stop-shop for finding and contacting care providers from a source users can trust. There is no login required, no information shared, and it is free for anyone to use, including hospitals and senior case managers and advisors," Care Availability's CEO, Amy Schmidt, explains. This is the ONLY website of its kind that delivers so much information, while respecting the privacy of those searching. The site lists every senior housing and care provider in Oregon and Washington for free, giving families a more robust set of options.

CareAvailability's new website has been redesigned to better serve users by making searching easy and straightforward to use.

About CareAvailability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team's contact page .

Media Contact:

Amy Schmidt

503-505-5865

[email protected]

SOURCE CareAvailability
JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, has declared a quarterly dividend on the utility's preferred stock.

The following dividend is payable April 1, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2022: $1.125 per share on the $4.50 preferred stock (NYSE: CMS_pb).

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com.

To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

SOURCE CMS Energy
PORT CHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynara USA, Inc., a brand featuring premium-quality artichoke products, is expanding its customer base to new stores and markets around the country. Cynara will now be available at Dierbergs Markets, increasing the distribution of their innovative Artichoke Chyps and Ready-to-Eat Artichoke Delights into 25 stores across the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and Western Illinois.

Get all the goodness of artichokes in a craveable, crunchy Chyp that you can feel good about. Fresh-packed hearts presented in a sustainable and Ready-to-Eat tray.

"Over four generations, Dierbergs has been committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients. As they have continued to evolve and innovate, they've successfully made healthy options more accessible in their communities," said Nina Kalandadze, General Manager of Cynara USA, Inc. "We are proud to be a part of their journey."

Artichokes' soft, buttery taste and nutritional value can't be beat if you know how to tackle them. Cynara grows, produces, innovates and distributes artichokes year round. By doing the prep work, they've taken all the hassle and intimidation out of the process. Eating artichokes has never been easier and more convenient.

Artichoke Delights are fresh-packed hearts presented in a sustainable and ready-to-eat tray that is BPA-free, microwavable and shelf-stable. Prepared in various sizes and flavor options, they can be enjoyed in multiple dishes and occasions, from a snack on the go to topping on appetizers, salads, soups and more. They are naturally gluten free, keto friendly, vegan, non-GMO verified and contain zero trans-fats.

Artichoke Chyps are the first artichokes in the form of a chip prepared with all-natural ingredients for a hearty crunch. Made from hand-picked artichokes, they are flash fried in high oleic sunflower oil and dashed with a touch of salt for the perfect, savory snack. They've been winning the stomachs of better-for-you snackers as they hit a lot of the important boxes: rich in vitamins, keto friendly, gluten free, non-GMO, high in fiber and 100% plant based.

Cynara's versatile products are now sold via e-commerce platforms, Thrive Market, Amazon and Instacart, and off the shelves of Albertsons and Safeway locations in the Southwest. To learn more about Cynara USA, Inc., please visit www.cynara.net/en . Follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for recipe inspiration and company news.

Media Contact: Michelle Castillo, [email protected] , (914) 312-2780

SOURCE Cynara USA, Inc.
SUNBURY-ON-THAMES, England and CARY, N.C., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- D4t4 Solutions Plc (AIM: D4T4), a leading innovator in customer data and analytics, today announced it has been recognized as a leader in four categories with the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards :

Cybersecurity Company Award for Most Innovative Cybersecurity Company

Cybersecurity Product Award in Fraud Prevention for the Celebrus Fraud Data Platform (FDP)

Cybersecurity Woman of the Year, Serpil Hall

Cybersecurity Industry Solution Award for Software for the Celebrus Fraud Data Platform (FDP)

D4t4 Solutions Plc

"We're truly honored to receive these awards but more importantly, that our team and our products are making the world a safer place. Each year, billions of dollars are lost to fraud. These costs should no longer be seen as the price of doing business, as we now have the technology to detect and prevent fraud before it happens," said Bill Bruno, CEO of D4t4 Solutions. "Working in tandem with our customers and partners, we won't stop until there are no longer opportunities for malicious actors to take advantage of businesses and consumers. Congratulations to Serpil and the rest of the team on these well-deserved honors for making that vision a reality."

"The Celebrus Fraud Data Platform was released last June with a vision to 'catch the fraudster before the fraud'  since most existing platforms are able to trace how and why fraud occurred, but only after the money is long gone," said Serpil Hall, D4t4 Solutions's head of fraud prevention and winner of the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards Woman of the Year.

Drawing on her deep expertise from time spent with Ernst & Young, BAE Systems, FICO, and Visa Europe, Serpil drives the development of the Celebrus Fraud Data Platform . "The Fraud Data Platform was designed with the fraudster in mind. It studies, learns, and ethically traces digital behaviors to prevent fraud from happening in the first place," Hall said. "The FDP has proven to be a success in prevention, and we are aggressively updating the platform with more robust features as threat behaviors advance."

For more information or to schedule a demo, please visit www.Celebrus.com , or connect with us via LinkedIn or Twitter .

About D4t4 and Celebrus

D4t4 Solutions plc (AIM: D4t4) was founded around a passion for helping global enterprises derive value from their data assets. Supporting customers in financial services, retail, travel, healthcare, and telecommunications across 27 countries, D4t4 enables businesses to make smarter, informed decisions via Celebrus, the company's flagship first-party product suite. Celebrus CDP automatically captures, contextualizes, and activates user-based behavioral data in real-time across all digital channels. Through behavioral biometrics and analytics, Celebrus FDP helps companies prevent fraud before it happens. Celebrus CDM provides an enterprise platform that automates the integration and transformation of customer data from all relevant data sources, whether on-premises or cloud, to deliver customer and regulatory analytics.

Editorial Contacts:

D4t4 Solutions Plc

Tiffany Staples

[email protected]

Finn Partners

Maryam Sabbagh

+1 202-823-8028

[email protected]

SOURCE D4t4 Solutions Plc
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Edison Awards, a global leader in recognizing and honoring the best in innovation and excellence in the development of new products and services, today announced that DrFirst's SmartSuite for Pharmacy has been selected as a finalist in the Commercial Technology, Consumer Safety category.

"Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive for innovation in product development and business," said G. Cameron Deemer, president at DrFirst. "We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition for SmartSuite for Pharmacy, which also shines a light on the dangers posed by medication errors and the need to provide more accurate, efficient technology solutions to hard-working pharmacists."

SmartSuite for Pharmacy cleans and accurately translates medication data between incompatible systems, which saves time and can help reduce adverse drug eventsthe cause of more than 100,000 deaths per year.

"The Edison Awards is delighted our 2022 Finalist, DrFirst, continues to positively impact both patients and health systems through their innovative AI-powered design," said Frank Bonafila, executive director of Edison Awards.

This year's Edison Awards finalists were chosen by senior business executives and academics from across the globe, whose votes acknowledge excellence in meeting the award criteria. The awards are named for Thomas Alva Edison, whose extraordinary contributions garnered 1,093 U.S. patents, pioneered multiple industries, and made him a household name worldwide. The 2022 Edison Awards will be celebrated April 20 to 22, 2022, in Fort Myers, Florida, at an event hosted by award-winning science and technology journalist Miles O'Brien of PBS NewsHour.

SmartSuite for Pharmacy is an AI-powered solution that cross-links an electronic prescription from a provider's EHR to an actual product on the shelf at the receiving pharmacy. It also translates abbreviated medication directions from the electronic prescription into the specific "short codes" used by the receiving pharmacy. Finally, SmartSuite for Pharmacy codifies allergy data for safety checks within the pharmacy workflow.

About The Edison Awards

The Edison Awards is an annual competition designed to honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. Winners represent "game changing" products, services and excellence and leadership in innovation around four criteria: Concept, Value, Delivery and Impact. Started in 1987, The Awards are named after inventor Thomas A. Edison and symbolize the persistence and excellence in innovation personified by him.

About DrFirst

Since 2000, DrFirst has pioneered healthcare technology solutions and consulting services that securely connect people at touchpoints of care to improve patient outcomes. We create unconventional solutions that solve care collaboration, medication management, price transparency, and adherence challenges faced in healthcare. We unite the Healthiversethe interconnected healthcare universeby providing our clients with real-time access to the information they need, exactly when and how they need it, so patients get the best care possible. DrFirst solutions are used by nearly 325,000 healthcare professionals, including more than 120,000 prescribers, 70,000 pharmacies, 280 HIS/EHRs, and 1,500 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit www.DrFirst.com and follow @DrFirst.

Media Contact:

Katlyn Nesvold, Amendola Communications for DrFirst

715-559-0046

[email protected]

SOURCE DrFirst
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) has filed its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Enbridge has also filed its audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021, with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Copies of these documents are available electronically at www.sec.gov (U.S. filings) or www.sedar.com (Canadian filings) or the Company's website at http://www.enbridge.com/investment-center/reports-and-sec-filings/sec-filings and http://www.enbridge.com/investment-center/reports-and-sec-filings/investor-documents-and-filings. Printed copies of the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis are available on request by calling 1-800-481-2804 or writing the Company's Investor Relations department at:

Enbridge Inc.

Investor Relations

Suite 200, 425 - 1st Street S.W.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3L8

Enbridge's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held virtually via live audio webcast at 1:30 p.m. (MDT) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

About Enbridge Inc.

Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. We safely and reliably deliver the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life. Our core businesses include Liquids Pipelines, which transports approximately 30 percent of the crude oil produced in North America; Gas Transmission and Midstream, which transports approximately 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.; Gas Distribution and Storage, which serves approximately 3.9 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec; and Renewable Power Generation, which owns approximately 1,766 MW (net) in renewable power generation capacity in North America and Europe. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Media

Toll Free: (888) 992-0997

Email: [email protected]

Investment Community

Toll Free: (800) 481-2804

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Enbridge Inc.
Vegetable Protein Procurement report explains key category management objectives that should form the base for sourcing strategy, including:

Top-line growth

Scalability of inputs

Green initiatives

Category innovations

Supply base rationalization

Demand forecasting and governance

Minimalization of ad hoc purchases

Adherence to regulatory nuances

Cost savings

Customer retention

Reduction of TCO

Supply assurance

Sign Up for a Sample Vegetable Protein Procurement Market Report: www.spendedge.com/report/vegetable-protein-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

This report evaluates suppliers based on provision for applicable insurance policy, real-time analysis, pipeline software solutions, and conduct pipeline surveys. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, legal requirements, quality control, change management procedures, pricing models, penalty clauses, SLA nuances, acceptance criteria, and evaluation criteria.

Best Selling Reports:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

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
HUNTINGTON, W.Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Evan Jenkins, former Justice and Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has joined the law firm his grandfather started almost one hundred years ago, Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC.

Former WV Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Evan Jenkins joins Jenkins Fenstermaker

Jenkins will focus his practice on representing clients in local, state and federal government relations, coalition building, association management, grant procurement, strategic planning, and appellate practice review and strategy. "I have never been more excited about our state's future and I'm ready to put my twenty-five years of state and federal legislative experience and extensive network of contacts to work for my clients and our state at Jenkins Fenstermaker," said Jenkins.

A native of Huntington, Jenkins will be conducting his legal practice from the firm's Huntington location.

"We are excited to welcome Evan back to our Firm. His public and private experience will be very valuable for our clients, our communities, and our colleagues," said Steven Wellman, CEO and Managing Member of Jenkins Fenstermaker. "Evan's expertise in Government Relations allows Jenkins Fenstermaker to offer a service that is in high demand, particularly with the growth in the State's economic development outlook. We are thrilled to give our clients the opportunity to benefit from Evan's unparalleled experience."

Jenkins was appointed to the court by Governor Justice on August 25th, 2018 and elected by the voters on November 6th, 2018. Prior to joining the court, Jenkins was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, to which he was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. Jenkins also served in the West Virginia Senate, being elected in 2002, 2006, and 2010. He served three terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, being elected in 1994, 1996, and 1998. In the private sector he was the executive director of the West Virginia State Medical Association, general counsel of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and taught business law at Marshall University. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1988.

Justice Jenkins thanked Governor Jim Justice and the voters of West Virginia for the opportunity to serve on the court in a February 4th letter to Governor Justice. "It has been my distinct privilege to serve the great people of West Virginia these past four years as a Justice and Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court. I will always be grateful for the opportunity you and the voters of West Virginia gave me to make a positive contribution to the state through the judicial system. After a great deal of prayer and careful consideration with my family, I have decided to return to the practice of law and put my years of state and federal experience to work promoting job-creating economic development projects and championing the issues I so deeply believe will benefit the people of West Virginia," Jenkins wrote in his letter to Governor Justice.

Contact: Stephanie Rigsby

Phone: (304) 523-2100

URL: www.jenkinsfenstermaker.com

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Jenkins Fenstermaker PLLC
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ceramic Tiles Market report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global ceramic tiles market was valued at $343.9 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $633.5 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2030.

Ceramic tile is manufactured from natural clay, sand and water. These materials are mixed and molded into square or rectangular tiles and baked to eliminate the majority of the moisture. Ceramic tiles are available in many varieties and are used in a variety of locations across the structure and homes. These tiles are ideal for use on walls, floors, counter-tops, and other surfaces because of their greater absorption rate. Ceramic tile is coated with a unique finish that seals and protects it while also increasing its longevity. Ceramic tiles come in a wide range of colors, patterns, styles, and sizes.



The market is primarily driven by an increase in demand for residential and commercial infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, government measures to assist the tile sector continue to fuel the expansion of the ceramic tile industry. Similarly, increased demand for residential construction propels the industry forward. Low replacement rate of tiles, on the other hand, has a direct impact on the market growth. Furthermore, the expansion of the market is projected to be aided by increased innovation in tile production and printing machinery.



Various key players are strengthening their market position and improving their product portfolio with latest design of ceramic tile. For instance, in July 2020, Crossville, Inc. has launched new Swatches ceramic wall tile series. This unique product is attractive for its extensive options for creating custom wall designs. The colors can be mixed and matched to create attractive and exciting patterns or placed monochromatically for better looks. Hence, this strategic move in business is projected to increase the demand for ceramic tiles and hence offer lucrative growth opportunities during the forecast period.



The ceramic tiles market is segmented on the basis of type, application, construction type, end user, and region. By type, it is divided into glazed tiles and unglazed tiles. By application, it is bifurcated into floor tiles and wall tiles. By construction type, it is categorized into new construction and renovation & replacement. By end user, it is classified into residential and non-residential. Region wise, the market analysis is conducted across North America (the U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa).



Key Benefits

The report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging ceramic tiles market trends and dynamics.

In-depth market analysis is conducted by constructing market estimations for the key market segments between 2020 and 2030.

Extensive analysis of the ceramic tiles market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring of the top competitors within the market framework.

A comprehensive analysis of all regions is provided to determine the prevailing opportunities.

The global ceramic tiles market forecast analysis from 2021 to 2030 is included in the report.

The key market players within ceramic tiles market are profiled in this report and their strategies are analyzed thoroughly, which help understand the competitive outlook of the ceramic tiles industry.

Key Topics Covered:



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Market definition and scope

3.2. Key findings

3.2.1. Top investment pockets

3.2.2. Top winning strategies

3.3. Market player positioning, 2020

3.4. Porter's five forces analysis

3.5. Market dynamics

3.5.1. Drivers

3.5.1.1. Rise in urbanization & industrialization in developing countries

3.5.1.2. Increase in spending on home remodeling

3.5.1.3. Recovery in the construction sector

3.5.2. Restraint

3.5.2.1. Volatile raw material prices

3.5.2.2. Popularity of natural stones for flooring

3.5.3. Opportunities

3.5.3.1. Implementation of advanced digital printing

3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis



CHAPTER 4: CERAMIC TILES MARKET, BY TYPE

4.1. Overview

4.1.1. Market size and forecast, by type

4.2. Glazed

4.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

4.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

4.2.3. Market size and forecast, by country

4.3. Unglazed

4.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

4.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region

4.3.3. Market size and forecast, by country



CHAPTER 5: CERAMIC TILES MARKET, BY APPLICATION

5.1. Overview

5.1.1. Market size and forecast, by application

5.2. Floor Tiles

5.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

5.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

5.2.3. Market size and forecast, by country

5.3. Wall Tiles

5.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

5.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region

5.3.3. Market size and forecast, by country



CHAPTER 6: CERAMIC TILES MARKET, BY CONSTRUCTION TYPE

6.1. Overview

6.1.1. Market size and forecast, by construction type

6.2. New Construction

6.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

6.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

6.2.3. Market size and forecast, by country

6.3. Renovation and Replacement

6.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

6.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region

6.3.3. Market size and forecast, by country



CHAPTER 7: CERAMIC TILES MARKET, BY END USER

7.1. Overview

7.1.1. Market size and forecast, by end user industry

7.2. Residential

7.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

7.2.2. Market size and forecast, by region

7.2.3. Market size and forecast, by country

7.3. Non-residential

7.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities

7.3.2. Market size and forecast, by region

7.3.3. Market size and forecast, by country



CHAPTER 8: CERAMIC TILES MARKET, BY REGION



CHAPTER 9: COMPANY PROFILE

9.1. CERAMICA CARMELO FIOR

9.1.1. Company overview

9.1.2. Key executive

9.1.3. Company snapshot

9.1.4. Product portfolio

9.2. CERAMICA SALONI

9.2.1. Company overview

9.2.2. Key executive

9.2.3. Company snapshot

9.2.4. Product portfolio

9.3. CHINA CERAMIC CO., LTD.

9.3.1. Company overview

9.3.2. Key executive

9.3.3. Company snapshot

9.3.4. Operating business segments

9.3.5. Product portfolio

9.3.6. Business performance

9.4. CROSSVILLE INC.

9.4.1. Company overview

9.4.2. Key executive

9.4.3. Company snapshot

9.4.4. Product portfolio

9.4.5. Key strategic moves and developments

9.5. KAJARIA CERAMICS LIMITED

9.5.1. Company overview

9.5.2. Key executive

9.5.3. Company snapshot

9.5.4. Operating business segments

9.5.5. Product portfolio

9.5.6. R&D expenditure

9.5.7. Business performance

9.5.8. Key strategic moves and developments

9.6. LAMOSA GROUP

9.6.1. Company overview

9.6.2. Key executive

9.6.3. Company snapshot

9.6.4. Operating business segments

9.6.5. Product portfolio

9.6.6. Business performance

9.7. MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, INC.

9.7.1. Company overview

9.7.2. Key executive

9.7.3. Company snapshot

9.7.4. Operating business segments

9.7.5. Product portfolio

9.7.6. Business performance

9.8. R. A. K. CERAMICS

9.8.1. Company overview

9.8.2. Key executive

9.8.3. Company snapshot

9.8.4. Operating business segments

9.8.5. Product portfolio

9.8.6. Business performance

9.8.7. Key strategic moves and developments

9.9. SIAM CEMENT GROUP

9.9.1. Company overview

9.9.2. Key executive

9.9.3. Company snapshot

9.9.4. Operating business segments

9.9.5. Product portfolio

9.9.6. R&D expenditure

9.9.7. Business performance

9.10. STN CERAMICA

9.10.1. Company overview

9.10.2. Key executive

9.10.3. Company snapshot

9.10.4. Product portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qdpydn

Media Contact:

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Mukerjee, who has a market-leading reputation for handling complex patent cases on behalf of multi-billion dollar corporations and some of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical companies, puts superior client service at the cornerstone of his practice. Survey participants stated that he "consistently provides timely and prompt service," "goes out of his way to treat us well and respectfully," and "always has our best interests in mind."

Mukerjee also advises clients in connection with inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. His sector knowledge spans pharmaceuticals, life sciences, biotechnology, botanicals, electrical circuits and voice recognition software. He serves on Katten's board of directors, where he is deeply committed to the firm's efforts to reflect racial and gender diversity both on the board and in leadership positions.

The BTI Client Service All-Stars is considered the gold standard used by corporate counsel and law firms alike to identify the attorneys delivering the absolute best levels of client service. Only 22 percent of all attorneys named to the All-Star list were honored as MVPs. All-Stars are defined as having the following qualities: practical, savvy, in-the-know, deals with complexity, available and nimble.

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com .

SOURCE Katten
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), is the first American Library Association (ALA) presidential candidate to have been a past recipient of two prestigious diversity scholarships.

Kelvin Watson, executive director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

As a library science graduate student at North Carolina Central University, Watson's background as a U.S. Army veteran, and in the book publishing industry, made him a standout candidate for the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Kaleidoscope Program. This educational funding served as a springboard for his career as one of the most highly respected thought leaders in the library industry.

The ALA is a national organization that provides essential resources, programs, and services to support and inspire library professionals in transforming their communities. For more than 140 years, it has served as the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring free access to information for all.

The Spectrum Scholarship Program is ALA's national diversity and recruitment program, designed to address under-representation of critically needed ethnic librarians within our communities.

The ARL is a membership organization of libraries and archives in major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in Canada and the US. The organization advocates on research libraries' behalf, convenes research and higher education partners, shares intelligence on current issues, and develops the next generation of diverse library leaders, which is the mission of scholarships awarded through the ARL Kaleidoscope Program.

"As a recipient of both the Spectrum and Kaleidoscope Scholarships, I could not have imagined the honor of standing to lead this fine organization through such difficult and trying times," Watson said. "My leadership roles at four major libraries have prepared me to face our professional challenges head-on, and I am optimistic about our future. America and our libraries continue to transform, and I'm humbled and honored by the possibility of serving the ALA in its highest role."

"Kelvin brought a unique experience as a veteran and vendor to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce," said Dr. Jerome Offord, Jr., former ARL Director of Diversity Initiatives, 2003-2008. "He was able to speak with his cohort about Libraries as a business and how we lead organizations through its mission, with support from its internal operations. We often lean to the mission of libraries as our core value, but library leaders are also challenged with operational, political, and other infrastructure type work. Kelvin exposed his cohort to these issues and have enlightened them to paramount issues impacting library management and leadership."

Watson is credited with expanding his customer base in multiple library management roles, through outreach efforts to underserved and diverse populations. Read more about his background here.

"We have always been a melting pot of nationalities, religions, ethnicities and gender identities," said Watson, "but historically, many of these segments have been blocked from realizing their full potential. By 2030, the U.S. Census predicts that immigration will become the primary source of growth, putting greater pressure on our schools to teach the literacy and tech skills needed for 21st century jobs. All libraries in the ecosystem will be called upon to fill this void and the ALA will at the forefront of this conversation."

Watson joined the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District from his role as the director of the Broward County Libraries Division (BCL), where he brought transformative change through ambitious and groundbreaking initiatives that streamlined access to resources, introduced new technology, and developed collaborative partnerships. He was named the 2021 winner of the Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award, sponsored by Novelist, for his dedication to implementing new and innovative ways to meet customers  both existing and new  "where they are."

"In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kelvin has made an immediate impact in the Las Vegas community," said Elizabeth Foyt, LVCCLD Board of Trustees Secretary, "bringing together powerful community partners and engaging in much-needed strategic planning with groups like Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the Clark County School District, Nellis Air Force Base, and Nevada Workforce Connections. Kelvin's strong leadership, since taking over as our executive director, has shown his commitment and dedication to the role of libraries in our society. I wholeheartedly endorse him for ALA president."

Kelvin prides himself on 'inviting the uninvited,' which at BCL meant developing programs for veterans, the homeless, and the disenfranchised," said Hannah Handler Hostyk, co-president of the Stirling Library Friends in Broward County. "He expressed concern that the library system did not do enough to welcome the LGBTQ community and he instituted staff training so that all community members would feel invited and served Kelvin took a system in great need of repair and not only made strides in fixing the system but expanded services, created tech initiatives, and laid the groundwork for inclusivity."

Kelvin Watson has been endorsed by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and numerous library industry professionals. For a full list of endorsements and to read about his vision for the future of libraries, go to KelvinWatsonforLibraries

About Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

The award-winning Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is an independent taxing entity that serves a diverse community across 8,000 square miles. Through its 25 branches and website, the Library District offers a collection of 3.2 million items consisting of books, movies, music (including streaming and downloadable), online resources, as well as free programs for all ages.

The Library District is a vibrant and vital member of the community offering limitless learning; business and career advancement; government and social services support; and best of all, a place where customers find a sense of culture and community. For more information, please visit LVCCLD.org.

SOURCE Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest study on global precision agriculture market by BIS Research, it is expected to reach $10.93 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

And not just this, several modern techniques that are making their way into the farming methods are adding to the growth of the overall precision agriculture market. Here are some of the top technologies in agriculture that are helping the market grow; and their future projections.

Global IoT in Agriculture Market

In 2021, the global IoT in agriculture market was valued at $21.99 billion. According to BIS Research study, this market is set to reach $35.55 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 10.1%.

IoT allows sensors-enabled devices to communicate and interact with one another through the internet. Various components in the farm industry, including sheds, tractors, pumps, weather stations, and computers, can be remotely monitored and operated in real-time.

IoT allows farmers to remotely monitor agricultural conditions and infrastructure, reducing time in the field, labor efforts, and investment capital, among other things, allowing them to focus on other things.

Request a Free Sample of Global IoT in Agriculture Market

Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Market

As per a report from BIS Research, the global artificial intelligence in the agriculture market is estimated to reach $6.65 billion during the projected period 2021-2026, with a CAGR of 30.56 %.

The market is growing because artificial intelligence-based solutions are becoming more popular in various parts of the world.

Artificial intelligence technology applies the cognitive computing idea to agriculture, with farm equipment intelligence fashioned after human intelligence. Using predictive analytics for agricultural input decisions and farm process planning, artificial intelligence technologies assist farmers in improving their planning to create profitable crop yields.

Request a Free Sample of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Market

Global Agricultural Sensors Market

In 2020, the global agricultural sensors market was valued at $4.18 billion and is estimated to reach $9.79 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 15.4 %. The rise can be ascribed to a greater understanding of the advantages of alternative and optimal agricultural approaches over traditional farming.

Agriculture sensors are devices that are utilized in smart farming. These sensors give information that helps farmers monitor and optimize crops by adjusting to changes in the environment.

Farmers may use smart sensor technologies to remotely monitor the insect population in their fields in real-time. Using online cloud services and a dashboard, they may take rapid action to protect their crops.

Request a Free Sample of Global Agricultural Sensors Market

Global Hyperspectral Imaging in Agriculture Market

During the projected period 2021-2026, the global hyperspectral imaging in the agriculture market is estimated to reach $56.88 million, with a CAGR of 11.93 %. Because of the rising emphasis on precision farming throughout the world, the industry is growing at a rapid pace.

Through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, hyperspectral imaging has applications in a wide range of sectors, including mining, agriculture, astronomy, and surveillance. A wide range of crop difficulties may be handled with hyperspectral imaging cameras and accessories.

Request a Free Sample of Global Hyperspectral Imaging in Agriculture Market

BIS Research Related Market Studies:

Global Smart Farming Market

AR in Agriculture Market

About BIS Research:

BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm focusing on deep technology and related emerging trends which can disrupt the market dynamics in the near future. We publish more than 200 market intelligence studies annually that focus on several deep technology verticals.

Our strategic market analysis emphasizes on market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data, and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision-making for senior management.

BIS Research offers syndicate as well as custom studies and expert consultations to firms, providing them specific and actionable insights on novel technology markets, business models, and competitive landscape.

BIS Healthcare vertical offers intelligence in the healthcare technology market for Medical Devices, Digital Health, Life Sciences, Robotics and Imaging, Information Technology, Precision Medicine, and other emerging healthcare technologies, covering the entire industry spectrum. In the past 5 years, BIS Healthcare has published more than 50 reports under the precision medicine banner. Additionally, BIS Research has been nominating Top 25 Voices in Precision Medicine on its Insight Monk platform for the past two years successfully.

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SOURCE BIS Research
RESTON, Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LDOS) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per outstanding share of common stock of Leidos Holdings, Inc. The cash dividend is payable on March 31, 2022 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2022.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Media contact:

Melissa Lee Duenas

(571) 526-6850

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Stuart Davis

(571) 526-6124

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos
The joint initiative spanning over 30 markets began in November 2021 and centered around a key figure in MINISO's original MINI Family collection  MINI Pen the penguin, affectionately known as Penpen by customers. A quintessential symbol of Antarctica, MINI Pen serves as a reminder for people to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

MINISO's pledge to donate $1.33 USD to ECOAN's Accion Andina initiative for every MINI Pen plush toy sold caused an overwhelming public response. In countries such as US, India and Indonesia, sales of the penguin plush toy accounted for 15% of all plush toy sales. At one point, MINI Pen plushie was in short supply due to the strong consumer support for the charity drive.

Accion Andina is the first multi-country, large-scale initiative to restore the high altitude, native forests of South America's Andes. Co-founded by ECOAN and internationally recognized Global Forest Generation in 2018, the Accion Andina initiative has seen over 3 million trees planted in the Andes mountains to date.

"Achieving the results in just two months is by no means, an easy feat, and proves that many consumers also believe in doing their bit for the environment. We are extremely grateful for an outstanding partner such as MINISO," said ECOAN executive C. Aucca.

"Our successful campaign shows there are many people who share the same values as MINISO," said MINISO overseas VP Vincent Huang. "We are encouraged by this groundswell show of support, and plan to release more sustainable and fun products that look good and feel good."

As one of the most important and fast-growing markets, Latin America is key to MINISO's international success. The brand has over 100 stores in the region and is present in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Panama.

MINISO has a record of participating in socially responsible initiatives. Previously, stores in more than 20 markets participated in a 'Share love with MINISO' campaign to raise funds for the animals affected by the 2020 Australian bushfire. In 2019, MINISO partnered with a nonprofit ocean conservation group Oceana by adopting 200 penguins.

About MINISO

Lifestyle product retailer MINISO (NYSE: MNSO) offers high quality household goods, cosmetics, food, and toys at affordable prices. Since its 2013 debut, as of December 18, 2021, MINISO has rapidly expanded to 5,000 retail outlets in 100 markets worldwide. Sleekly designed and packed with the latest must-haves, MINISO retail outlets make it possible for everyone to have a little fun all the time by enjoying life's little surprises.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Miniso Group
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for bebtelovimab, an antibody that demonstrates neutralization against the Omicron variant, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today.

Bebtelovimab can now be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. The authorized dose of bebtelovimab is 175 mg given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds.

"As a global pharmaceutical company, Lilly has worked hard to fight this pandemic. Early in 2021, prior to the identification of the Omicron variant, Lilly scientists were already working to develop bebtelovimab as a broadly neutralizing antibody that could be used to fight a highly mutated variant, should one emerge," said Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., Lilly's chief scientific and medical officer, and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. "With the emergence of variants such as Omicron, treatment options remain limited. Lilly is pleased to provide another treatment option to help address the ongoing needs of patients and health care providers who continue to battle this pandemic."

The data supporting this EUA are primarily based on analyses from the Phase 2 BLAZE-4 trial (NCT04634409), treatment arms 9-14. This trial was a Phase 2, randomized, clinical trial evaluating treatment of non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were treated with the authorized dose of bebtelovimab (175 mg) alone or together with 700 mg bamlanivimab and 1,400 mg of etesevimab. Pseudovirus and authentic virus testing demonstrate that bebtelovimab retains full neutralizing activity against Omicron  currently the predominant variant in the U.S. In addition, pseudovirus testing with bebtelovimab demonstrates that it retains neutralization against all other known variants of interest and concern, including BA.2.

As previously announced, Lilly has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to supply up to 600,000 doses of investigational drug bebtelovimab for at least $720 million.

For more information about the use of bebtelovimab to treat COVID-19, contact Lilly's 24-hour support line at 1-855-LillyC19 (1-855-545-5921).

Important Information about bebtelovimab

Bebtelovimab has not been approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA under an EUA, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.

The emergency use of bebtelovimab is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C.  360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

Healthcare providers should review the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers for information on the authorized use of bebtelovimab and mandatory requirements of the EUA. Please also see the FDA Letter of Authorization and the Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents and Caregivers on the authorized use of bebtelovimab.

Authorized Use and Important Safety Information

Bebtelovimab is authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg):

with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and

who are at high risk i for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and

for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, for whom alternate COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.

LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORIZED USE

Bebtelovimab is not authorized for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in geographic regions where infection is likely to have been caused by a non-susceptible SARS-CoV-2 variant based on available information including variant susceptibility to this drug and regional variant frequency.

FDA will monitor conditions to determine whether use in a geographic region is consistent with this scope of authorization, referring to available information, including information on variant susceptibility, and CDC regional variant frequency data available at: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions.

FDA's determination and any updates will be available at: https://www/fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization#coviddrugs

Bebtelovimab is not authorized for use in patients who:

are hospitalized due to COVID-19, OR

require oxygen therapy and/or respiratory support due to COVID-19, OR

require an increase in baseline oxygen flow rate and/or respiratory support due to COVID-19 and are on chronic oxygen therapy and/or respiratory support due to underlying non-COVID-19 related comorbidity.

Treatment with bebtelovimab has not been studied in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bebtelovimab, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when administered to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 requiring high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

Important Safety Information

There are limited clinical data available for bebtelovimab. Serious and unexpected adverse events may occur that have not been previously reported with bebtelovimab use.

WARNINGS

Hypersensitivity Including Anaphylaxis and Infusion-Related Reaction

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been observed with administration of other SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies and could occur with administration of bebtelovimab. If signs and symptoms of a clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction or anaphylaxis occur, immediately discontinue administration, and initiate appropriate medications and/or supportive care.

Infusion-related reactions, which may occur up to 24 hours after the injection, have been observed in clinical trials of bebtelovimab when administered with other monoclonal antibodies and may occur with use of bebtelovimab alone. These reactions may be severe or life threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions may include:

fever, difficulty breathing, reduced oxygen saturation, chills, fatigue, arrhythmia (e.g. atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, bradycardia), chest pain or discomfort, weakness, altered mental status, nausea, headache, bronchospasm, hypotension, hypertension, angioedema, throat irritation, rash including urticaria, pruritus, myalgia, vasovagal reactions (e.g. pre-syncope, syncope), dizziness, and diaphoresis.

Administer appropriate medications and/or supportive care if an infusion-related reaction occurs.

Hypersensitivity reactions occurring more than 24 hours after the injection have also been reported with the use of SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies under Emergency Use Authorization.

Clinical Worsening After Monoclonal Antibody Administration

Clinical worsening of COVID-19 after administration of SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody treatment has been reported and may include signs or symptoms of fever, hypoxia or increased respiratory difficulty, arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, bradycardia), fatigue, and altered mental status. Some of these events required hospitalization. It is not known if these events were related to SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody use or were due to progression of COVID-19.

Limitations of Benefit and Potential Risk in Patients with Severe COVID-19

Treatment with bebtelovimab has not been studied in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bebtelovimab, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when administered to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 requiring high-flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation. See Limitations of Authorized Use.

Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions observed in those who have received bebtelovimab alone or in combination with bamlanivimab and etesevimab, at the authorized dose or higher are infusion-related reactions (n=2, 0.3%), pruritus (n=2, 0.3%) and rash (n=5, 0.8%). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events observed in subjects treated with bebtelovimab, alone or in combination with bamlanivimab and etesevimab, at the authorized dose or higher included nausea (0.8%) and vomiting (0.7%).

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

There are insufficient data to evaluate a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Bebtelovimab should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk for the mother and the fetus.

Breastfeeding

There are no available data on the presence of bebtelovimab in human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Breastfeeding individuals with COVID-19 should follow practices according to clinical guidelines to avoid exposing the infant to COVID-19.

About bebtelovimab

Bebtelovimab (LY-CoV1404; LY3853113) is a neutralizing IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that maintains binding and neutralizing activity across currently known and reported variants of concern, including Omicron and BA.2. Bebtelovimab is being studied for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 both as a monotherapy and together with other mAbs. Lilly has licensed and developed bebtelovimab after it was discovered by AbCellera and the scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center.

About BLAZE-4

BLAZE-4 is a Phase 2, randomized clinical trial evaluating treatment of subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (subjects with COVID-19 symptoms who are not hospitalized).

The data supporting this EUA for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 are primarily based on analyses of data from the Phase 2 BLAZE-4 trial (NCT04634409), treatment arms 9-14. This trial evaluated the clinical safety and efficacy from subjects receiving 175 mg bebtelovimab, alone and together with 700 mg bamlanivimab and 1,400 mg of etesevimab. The authorized dosage of bebtelovimab is 175 mg given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds.

Clinical data confirm the neutralizing ability of bebtelovimab. The trial enrolled subjects who were not hospitalized and had 1 or more COVID-19 symptoms that were at least mild in severity.

About Lilly's COVID-19 Efforts

Lilly has utilized the full force of its expertise to develop the first monoclonal antibody authorized for Emergency Use (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  bamlanivimab, followed by the authorization of bamlanivimab with etesevimab and, most recently, bebtelovimab. The authorized dose of bebtelovimab is 175 mg given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds.

While bamlanivimab together with etesevimab are not authorized for use in the U.S., at this time, the FDA will monitor conditions to determine whether use in a geographic region is medically appropriate, referring to available information, including information on variant susceptibility, and CDC regional variant frequency data available at: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions .

To date, over 700,000 patients have been treated with Lilly's monoclonal antibodies in the U.S., potentially preventing more than 35,000 hospitalizations and at least 14,000 deaths during the worst of the pandemic. Click here for resources related to Lilly's COVID-19 efforts.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and www.lilly.com/news . P-LLY

Lilly Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about bebtelovimab as a potential therapy for patients with COVID-19, the supply, distribution and contracts with governments relating to bebtelovimab, and Lilly's development plans, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that future study results will be consistent with the results to date, that bebtelovimab will prove to be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19, that bebtelovimab will receive regulatory approvals or additional authorizations, that patients will volunteer to participate in clinical trials or achieve positive outcomes, that Lilly will obtain any additional purchase orders or supply contracts, or that Lilly can provide an adequate supply of bebtelovimab in all circumstances. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, please see Lilly's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.



PP-BB-US-0009 02/2022 Lilly USA, LLC 2022. All rights reserved.

i. For information on medical conditions and factors associated with increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Healthcare providers should consider the benefit-risk for an individual patient.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LSP announced today that it has raised over EUR 1 billion for its flagship fund LSP 7. This constitutes the final close of the largest life sciences venture capital fund ever raised in Europe to date. The fund aims to invest in companies developing new drug therapies and medical technologies, to help ensure that their scientific innovations benefit patients.

In November of last year, LSP announced that it had raised EUR 850 million for LSP 7 and that it is intending to join forces with EQT, one of the largest European and top-ten global private equity firms. ''Just one day after the announcement of our partnership with EQT, a large investor decided to pursue a EUR 150 million investment in LSP 7, bringing the fund straight to the maximum size (hard cap) of EUR 1 billion. This investment immediately validates a key rationale for joining EQT: with EQT, we expect that we will be able to raise large funds much faster, serving the life sciences in Europe even better than before,'' says Rene Kuijten, managing partner of LSP and incoming head of EQT Life Sciences.

LSP 7 is, among others, backed by five pharmaceutical companies of which four from Asia and one from the US. The strong support by pharma demonstrates their interest in European life sciences ventures and, in the view of LSP, validates its track record and industry standing. The firm expects to invest LSP 7 in 15-20 companies developing new drug therapies and medical technologies. Until today, four investments have already been completed: Evommune (dermatology and immunology), Egle Therapeutics (oncology and autoimmune diseases), Hotspot (autoimmune diseases, rare diseases and oncology) and an undisclosed radiotherapy company.

As communicated earlier, the transaction with EQT is expected to close in Q1 2022. LSP will then be renamed to EQT Life Sciences.

About LSP

LSP is one of the largest European investment firms providing financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP's management has raised over EUR 3.1 billion (USD 3.6 billion) and supported the growth of more than 150 companies since it started to invest over 30 years ago, including signature deals such as argenx, Crucell and Neuravi. With offices in Amsterdam, Munich and Boston, LSP currently has the possibility to invest through several strategies, each having a distinctive investment scope and a dedicated team. LSP is an active contributor to the global life sciences industry and the European life science eco-system by assuming roles as initiators, founders and board members in various private and public bodies and organizations, for example being founder and board member of the Oncode Institute. More info: lspvc.com

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 73.4 billion in assets under management across 28 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 175,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. More info: eqtgroup.com

SOURCE LSP
LONDON, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Communications Partners Inc. ("UCP") (OTC Markets: UCPA) and Making Science Group S.A. ("Making Science") (Madrid: MAKS) are pleased to announce the acquisition by Making Science of a 70% interest in UCP, the owner of a 100% interest in Tre Kronor Media  the full service media agency with locations in both Sweden and Denmark. Making Science will complete the acquisition pursuant to a share purchase agreement (the "Acquisition Agreement") entered into between Making Science and Niclas Froberg, a director and the Chairman of UCP, Lars Bonnelyche, a director of UCP, and Anna-Karin Darlin, the Chief Financial Officer of UCP (the "UCP Manager Sellers"). Under the Acquisition Agreement, each of the UCP Manager Sellers will transfer to Making Science all of their common share holdings in UCP, subject to formal registration. As a result of these transfers, Making Science will be the owner of 1,129,366,661 shares of UCP's outstanding common stock, representing a 69.805% interest in UCP. The consideration for the transfer of the shares included a combination of up-front cash and additional cash consideration, that is contingent upon Tre Kronor achieving certain agreed financial milestones, and shares in Making Science. Each of the UCP Manager Sellers has entered into a new employment agreement with Tre Kronor Media upon completion of the acquisition. Each of the current directors on the board of UCP, namely Mr. Froberg, Mr. Bonnelyche and Mr. Kenneth Rosenthal, will remain as a director of UCP, and Ms. Darlin will continue as Chief Financial Officer of UCP.

The acquisition is part of the expansion process that Making Science has been carrying out since 2020, both nationally and internationally. Last week Making Science announced the acquisition of ELLIOT, the leading Digital Agency in Georgia. These acquisitions in the first quarter of 2022 follow seven carried out in 2021 as part of the company's organic growth strategy.

Niclas Froberg, Chairman of UCP Inc and CEO of Tre Kronor: "Making Science offers UCP and Tre Kronor Media an ability to strengthen the current service portfolio and improve the competitive strength of the UCP group. The group can now add a full range of competences from AdTech, Data, CRM, and Google reseller status which are key to our future success as a full-service Media Agency in the Nordics."

Jose Antonio Martinez Aguilar, CEO of Making Science, said: "The Nordic region is a strategic market for Making Science, and we are delighted with the integration of Tre-Kronor, with locations in both Sweden and Denmark. We have been working with Tre-Kronor on several projects during 2021 with excellent results for clients. We are convinced that our partnership with the Tre-Kronor Media team will strengthen our positioning as a leader in Digital Marketing and AdTech in the region."

The deals will see an additional 50 professionals incorporated into the Making Science workforce from Tre Kronor Media. With these 50 new professionals on its team, Making Science continues its commitment to consolidate a highly specialised workforce  in areas such as campaign tagging, creativity, digital marketing, data configuration and campaign optimisation  which is more important than ever in the digital sector where there is huge demand for talent and many challenges to secure it.

About Making Science

Making Science is a technology and digital marketing consultancy specialising in e-commerce and digital transformation. Its business model responds to the growing need for companies to digitise their entire value chain, particularly in the area of marketing. The markets in which Making Science operates are digital advertising, data analytics, e-commerce and cloud, all of them with high growth rates. The Making Science Group currently employs more than 800 people and has a presence and technological development in 10 markets: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, UK, Ireland and USA. The company has been chosen SME of the Year 2019 by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and has recently received the C.R.E.C.E. (Rapidly Expanding Company with Exponential Growth) award from the consultancy firm Ernst and Young as part of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. It has also obtained the 71st position in the FT1000: Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies 2021 ranking, prepared by the Financial Times, positioning itself as the first fastest-growing European company in the marketing and sales sector. Making Science has also joined the Pledge1% initiative, supporting non-profit organisations in our community with a commitment that will have a major impact in the future.

About Tre Kronor Media

Tre Kronor Media is Sweden's first performance-based marketing agency founded 2007. The founders were Niclas Froberg, Lars Bonnelyche, Carl Johan Grandinson and Jacob De Geer. Tre Kronor Media is today a full-service Media Agency with offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. Its partners in Norway and Finland also have offices in Oslo and Helsinki. The last ten years Tre Kronor Media has been awarded as the Best Media Agency in Sweden eight times. We employ more than 50 people and have a turnover of 80 million euro.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the future financial and operational performance, financial performance, business objectives and strategies of UCP, Making Science and Tre Kronor. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, and other forward-looking statements will not occur. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the results or performance implied by these forward-looking statements will be achieved or realized. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying on these forward-looking statements. No duty to update these forward-looking statements is assumed by UCP or Making Science.

SOURCE United Communications Partners Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pre-owned luxury goods wholesale supplier MARQUE Luxury has moved into a larger Re-Commerce Hub showroom space in Las Vegas, NV located at 101 Convention Center Dr., located near Las Vegas Blvd, steps from the newly opened Resorts World.

Located at 101 Convention Center Las Vegas, Nevada Thousands of Authentic Pre-Owned designer handbags, jewelry, watches and more

"We saw a significant opportunity to expand our Las Vegas presence and are happy to announce an improved experience to our wholesale customers and partners. The new Re-commerce Hub will enable us to engage with our wholesale customers more efficiently and provide the space that is necessary to continue the value offering of our team of experts," said Quentin Caruana , Co-Founder & President of Marque Luxury. "These Re-commerce Hubs not only bring our brand to life but also enable us to provide the resources and tools that our partners need to succeed in the circular economy."

The Las Vegas Re-commerce Hub will provide more access to all of the high-end product category offerings, including authentic pre-owned designer handbags, watches, jewelry, and accessories with access to brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, and more. Re-commerce Hub locations offer wholesale clients the ability to curate their pre-owned luxury goods and the option to be able to sell items to MARQUE Luxury to refresh their business inventory offerings.

The rigorous authentication process overseen by the experts at MARQUE Luxury provides businesses with a safe and reliable platform to buy and sell pre-owned luxury goods. For their wholesale customers, the company handles all the heavy lifting by providing optimized pricing, photography, logistics, and customer service.

About MARQUE Luxury

Founded in 2017, MARQUE Luxury has established itself as the most trusted name in B2B wholesale providing authenticated pre-owned luxury handbags, small leather goods, accessories, watches, and jewelry. Based in Irvine, CA MARQUE Luxury has a presence worldwide with Re-commerce Hubs in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, New York, Miami, and Charlotte alongside international hubs in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and more. MARQUE Luxury promotes sustainability by being part of the circular economy and providing authenticated pre-owned luxury.

For potential wholesale partners that are not located close to any Re-commerce Hub locations, buying and selling as an approved wholesale member is simple and accessible through the website at marqueluxury.com.

Learn more about MARQUE, their wholesale program, and how to schedule a visit. Check out https://www.marqueluxury.com/ or call (877) 262-7783.

Media Contact:

Marque Luxury

[email protected]

844-562-7783

SOURCE Marque Luxury
LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach has joined the second phase of Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies  a two-year cohort, with three other LA County hospitals, Communities Lifting Communities (CLC), the Public Health Alliance of Southern California (Alliance) and the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC)  a collaborative effort to reduce Black maternal and infant health inequities in LA County.

Guided by data and grounded in Black women's experiences, this two-year cohort will bring together decision makers from local birth hospitals, public health departments, health plans and Black community leaders to co-design systems-change solutions across clinical, institutional and community systems.

"We are proud to be part of such important health inequity work that really impacts our community," says Susan Herman, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer, Miller Children's & Women's. "The data and the firsthand experiences of Black women prove that this is the time for change in birth equity. We owe this to the community we serve to create real action and improve outcomes."

In LA County, Black women and families continue to disproportionately experience higher rates of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity compared to other ethnic groups. The data is staggering: the rate of preterm birth among Black women is 50 percent higher than for white or Asian women (1) ; Black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women; and Black women report experiencing discrimination when getting medical care more than other racial/ethnic groups (2) .

Research shows that these inequities cannot be fully explained by factors such as income, education, or health status. Research points to systemic issues, including racism, toxic stress, and racial bias in health care as central drivers for these inequities.

"As a Black woman and an OB/GYN, the issues regarding birth equity resonate deeply," says, Lauren Yu, M.D., laborist, Miller Children's & Women's. "I will always remember the patient who expressed relief when she found out I would be the attending physician for her case because she stated she felt she would be heard. I feel strongly that we can get to a place where the patient of color and the patient who is underserved can truly be heard regardless of what ethnicity their provider may be. The work regarding addressing inequity on a multi-system level is critical and I am privileged to be a part."

Cherished Futures uses hospital data to help know where to start in tackling issues such as implicit biased, structural racism, trustworthiness and community engagement. Miller Children's & Women's has submitted the preceding year's data for select measures and will again at the end of the year.

Miller Children's & Women's has already taken the preliminary steps to help combat this birth care inequity. For the past two years, Miller Children's & Women's has participated in building a birth equity toolkit with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC). In addition, a patient survey tool is used to inform and monitor our equity work with a focus on awareness and reduction of implicit bias. In addition, over the past year, birth care and NICU physicians and staff have received electronic training sessions which provide evidence-based approaches to inclusion.

To date birth care equity work at Miller Children's & Women's is showing positive results. The BirthCare Center team reports data on Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) cesarean birth rate  first time pregnant person with a single term infant in a head down position who had a cesarean birth  is about to meet the statewide target of 23.6 percent. Just three years ago that rate hovered around 35 percent. The awareness and education to leaders, physicians and staff, along with initiatives like Commit to Sit, where the nurse takes the opportunity to sit and get to know her patient better and learn what her objectives and goals are for her labor and birth experience have made a difference.

The second phase of the Cherished Future landmark took place just prior to a Dec. 7 White House statement that identified reducing maternal mortality and morbidity as a strategic objective of the Biden-Harris Administration, and there was a presidential proclamation released during April 2021's Black Maternal Health Week.

About MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach:

MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, as well as maternity care for expectant mothers. Only five percent of hospitals are children's hospitals, making them unique not only to children's health care needs in the community, but across the region. Miller Children's & Women's is one of only eight free-standing children's hospitals in California  treating more than 14,000 children each year  and has become a regional pediatric destination for more than 62,000 children, who need specialized care in outpatient specialty and satellite centers. With maternal-fetal medicine specialists and neonatologists available 24/7, Miller Children's & Women's cares for women with high-risk pregnancies and premature infants under one roof. Learn more millerchildrens.org.

LA County Department of Public Health Maternal Child Health, 2016 LA County Lamb Survey, 2016

SOURCE MemorialCare Miller Childrens & Womens Hospital Long Beach
Moomoo Inc.'s affiliate in Singapore to become the first digital brokerage to receive approvals-in-principle for all Singapore Exchange ("SGX") memberships, with this feat achieved in less than a year since it entered the Singapore market.

to become the first digital brokerage to receive approvals-in-principle for all Singapore Exchange ("SGX") memberships, with this feat achieved in less than a year since it entered the market. Meanwhile, Moomoo Inc.'s affiliate in Singapore has also received the exempt financial adviser ("EFA") status under the Financial Advisers Act of Singapore ("FAA") and will be allowed to provide financial advisory services.

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Moomoo Inc.'s affiliate in Singapore announced that it has received approvals-in-principle for all of the SGX memberships, and has also separately received the approval to commence business as an EFA in the provision of financial advisory services on investment products, as well as the issuing or promoting of analyses and reports on them as defined by the FAA. It looks forward to ensuring the responsible delivery of such advice or recommendation to its investors.

These SGX qualifications are Clearing Member of The Central Depository (Pte) Ltd ("CDP") and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"), Trading Member of SGX-ST, Trading and Clearing Member of Singapore Exchange Derivatives Trading Limited ("SGX-DT "), and Depository Agent of CDP.

Moomoo Inc.'s affiliate set to become the first full-service digital investment brokerage in Singapore, with approvals-in-principle for all SGX memberships.

Moomoo can enjoy more efficient access to SGX's range of investment and risk management solutions as well as a wider pool of international investors. At the same time, the memberships will enhance security and efficiency for the execution of SG trades on the moomoo platform, which would especially support the settling of fast, multiple transactions.

Born in California, United States, moomoo enter the Singapore market in 2021. By evolving and localizing its offerings to cater to the Singapore market, moomoo has rapidly emerged as an inspiring and transformative tech-driven trading platform recognized by local investors. Its product experience and customer service have been praised by local customers. This unprecedented feat comes as the tech-driven moomoo platform sees strong reception in the local market since its introduction here, with Singapore investors actively using the comprehensive tools and resources on the app to make smarter investment decisions. They are highly engaged on the investment superapp - attending in-app investment-related events, browsing courses and news, as well as engaging within a vibrant community to discuss on diverse topics including their investing experiences and insights.

About Moomoo Inc.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Moomoo Inc. is a company that offers a commission-free* professional trading app. With advanced research tools, free in-depth market data, and one of the most active online communities, moomoo empowers individual investors to trade like a pro. In the United States, securities are offered by Futu Inc., a licensed broker dealer regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Futu Inc is also a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). For more information about moomoo, please visit the company's official website www.moomoo.com.

*Commission-free trading is available only to U.S. residents trading in the U.S. markets.

SOURCE moomoo Inc.
The purchase, which was acquired at a discount to replacement cost, further expands Muinzer's position as the largest owner of student housing near Purdue University. "The acquisition of The Quarters is a logical addition to our portfolio. With Purdue's enrollment approaching 50,000 students, we are looking to acquire significantly more apartments in West Lafayette," said Marc Muinzer, Founder and CEO, Muinzer.

The transaction also marks the continued nationwide expansion of the Muinzer student housing platform. "We are aiming to double the size of our team while targeting an additional $500 million of acquisitions near rapidly expanding universities in the Big Ten and SEC," added Mr. Muinzer.

About Muinzer:

Muinzer and its affiliate South Street Capital were both founded by Marc Muinzer in 2002. The Muinzer team has acquired and developed over 5 million square feet of commercial and residential real estate and is one of the fastest growing student housing investment firms in the nation. With offices in Los Angeles, Knoxville, West Lafayette and Chicago, Muinzer is one of the largest owners of student housing in the Big Ten and SEC Conferences. Please visit www.muinzer.com for more information.

Contact:

Muinzer Management

220 South Street, Suite #201

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 765-505-4000

SOURCE Muinzer
CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Nanocellulose Market by Type (MFC & NFC, CNC/NCC), Raw Material (Wood, Non-Wood), Application (Pulp & Paper, Composites, Biomedical & Pharmaceuticals, Electronics & Sensors), And Region (North America, APAC, Europe, Row) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Nanocellulose Market is expected to grow from USD 346 million in 2021 to USD 963 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 22.7%. The major factors driving the nanocellulose market include growth in the sustainable products demand and increasing funding for nanocellulose R&D from government & private sectors of developed nations. The focus of electronics and automotive manufacturers to reduce the weight and size of their offerings while maintaining the sustainability is expected to further accentuate the demand for nanocellulose based composites in the near future.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=56392090

Browse in-depth TOC on "Nanocellulose Market"

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View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nano-cellulose-market-56392090.html

High strength-to-weight ratio imparted by MFC & NFC results in the type holding the largest market share

Based on type, the nanocellulose market has been segmented into three types, namely, MFC & NFC, CNC/NCC, and others. MFC & NFC is projected to lead the global nanocellulose market during the forecast period (2021-2026). The demand for MFC & NFC is the highest as they provide various advantages such as material efficiency, strength enhancement, lightweight and renewable barrier characteristic materials. In addition, fibrous content of MFC & NFC increases the strength of green electronics produced, which may result in inflated demand for product from the electronics industry as they move from traditional non-renewable materials for circuit manufacturing to sustainable materials.

Pulp & paper applications accounted for the largest share in the overall nanocellulose market in 2019.

The nanocellulose market has been segmented based on application into five categories, namely, pulp & paper, composites, biomedical & pharmaceuticals, electronics & sensors, and others. Among these applications, the pulp & paper application accounted for the largest market share in 2020. Nanocellulose helps to increases the absorbency of several paper products and helps to cut down the overall production cost. This is driving the market for nanocellulose in the pulp & paper segment.

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Stringent environmental regulatory framework driving the demand for nanocellulose in Europe

Europe is the largest market for nanocellulose. The competitive and diversified industrial sector is supporting the growth of the nanocellulose market in Europe. The increasing consumption of nanocellulose is also influenced by the excellent business environment and a strict regulatory framework of the region. The regulation on usage of single-use packaging products have shifted the demand towards sustainable materials for manufacturing packaging products, thus resulting in the pulp & paper and composites applications being the significant shareholders in the region.

The major players in the nanocellulose market include Fiberlean Technologies (UK), Borregaard (Norway), Nippon Paper Group (Japan), Celluforce Inc. (Canada), Kruger Inc. (Canada), Stora Enso (Finland), RISE Innventia (Sweden), American Process Inc. (US), FPInnovations (Canada), UPM-Kymmene Oyj (Finland), Melodea (Israel), Cellucomp (Scotland), Blue Goose Refineries (Canada), Oji Holdings Corporation (Japan), VTT (Finland), and SAPPI (South Africa).

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Related Reports:

Microcrystalline Cellulose (Mcc) Market By Application (Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics & Personal Care,), Raw Material Source (Wood-based, Nonwood-based), and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, RoW)- Global Forecast To 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/microcrystalline-cellulose-market-59144224.html

Nanocomposites Market By Type [Carbon Nanotubes, Nanoclay Metal Oxides, Nanofiber, Graphene), Resin Type, Application (Packaging, Automotive, Electrical & Semicondustors, Coatings, Aerospace & Defense, Energy), and Region- Trends & Forecast To 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nanocomposites-market-141476334.html

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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.

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vernon Litigation Group, based in Naples, Florida, and Kristian Kraszewski, Esq., have teamed up to represent an investor whose Pruco Securities, LLC broker Brian Scot Kazinec took unauthorized loans from the investor's insurance policies. The loans were hidden from the investor for many years. Even after the broker disclosed the existence of some loans, not every loan was identified. This loan arrangement violated FINRA Rule 3240.

FINRA Rule 3240 governs borrowing and lending arrangements between registered representatives and customers of their member firm. This type of borrowing and lending is disfavored in the securities industry. Indeed, it is strictly prohibited unless it passes a stringent approval process overseen by the member firm.

Our client has suffered significant damages as a result of Kazinec's misconduct, and due to Pruco's lack of supervision. If your broker has borrowed money from you, or one of your loved ones, you may be entitled to a financial recovery. One of our securities attorneys will happily provide you with a free overview of any potential securities arbitration and litigation claims you may have.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.vernonlitigation.com/ or contact Vernon Litigation Group by phone at 1-877-649-5394 or by e-mail at [email protected] to speak with a representative of Vernon Litigation Group.

Vernon Litigation Group

Chris Vernon | 239-319-4434

Naples, FL

SOURCE Vernon Litigation Group
In an ever-changing consumer landscape, the annual Product of the Year Awards are a go-to resource for those looking to find the best new products on the market, whether they're shopping online or in-store. With a distinctive red seal that is globally recognized as the vote of confidence from consumers themselves, shoppers can easily cut through the clutter and trust that these products demonstrate the utmost innovation in their respective categories, whether in function, design, packaging or ingredients.

"Given the continued flux and uncertainty over the past two years, we're prouder than ever to provide consumers with the vote of 40,000 fellow shoppers as a guide they can trust when making important purchase decisions for themselves and their families," said Mike Nolan, Global CEO of Product of the Year Management. "One of the great strengths of Product of the Year is that we champion manufacturers for putting forward products that reflect the latest trends and offer consumers the solutions they're looking for."

For over 30 years globally and 14 years in the USA, Product of the Year has served as the stage for brands to showcase exceptional quality and innovation. As an annual benchmark that forecasts the trends in store for the year ahead, this year's winners reflect the things that everyday consumers value most.

"We're thrilled to have Nature's Bounty Jelly Bean Vitamins recognized as a 2022 Product of the Year Award winner for the Vitamins category," said Aileen Stocks, President, Wellness Brands, Nestle Health Science U.S. "In an extremely competitive industry, we know the vitamins category is more relevant than ever before and we're grateful for the opportunity to leverage the iconic Product of the Year red seal to help simplify decision making for shoppers. As a globally recognized program for product innovation, the Product of the Year Award serves as a distinctive, influential tool that will be key to our upcoming marketing and sales efforts."

The 40 winners of the 2022 Product of the Year Awards will be celebrated in a segment on Daily Mail TV this afternoon and on DailyMail.com. Shoppers nationwide can also enter to win all 40 winning products in a Product of the Year sweepstakes hosted in partnership with Daily Mail TV. For more details, visit the Product of the Year Instagram page, here.

As a resource for shoppers nationwide, the 2022 Product of the Year winners are highlighted in a shoppable article created in partnership with WomansDay.com, the online destination for the Hearst-owned Woman's Day brand, and Ensemble IQ, a premier business intelligence resource with revered publications including Progressive Grocer, Store Brands, Drug Store News and Convenience Store News.

For further information about the 2022 Product of the Year winners, visit productoftheyearusa.com. Follow along socially with #NBJellyBeans on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and at #POYUSA2022 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Nestle Health Science

Nestle Health Science is a leader in the science of nutrition and a globally managed business unit of Nestle. We believe in empowering healthier lives through nutrition and are committed to redefining the management of health, offering an extensive portfolio of science-based active lifestyle nutrition, medical nutrition and pharmaceutical solutions. Our extensive research network, both within Nestle's R&D centers as well as with external partners, provides the foundation for products that can help people to live their healthiest lives. Headquartered in Switzerland, we have more than 11,000 employees around the world, with products available in more than 140 countries. www.nestlehealthscience.com .

About Product of the Year:

Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation. Established over 30 years ago, POY currently operates in over 40 countries with the same purpose: Guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation. Product of the Year winners are determined by the votes of 40,000 consumers in an independent, national representative study conducted by research partner Kantar, a global leader in consumer research. The award is a powerful merchandising program for marketers proven to increase product sales, distribution and awareness. Winning products announced in February of each year are included in Product of the Year's national marketing program and receive the right to use the Product of the Year honor and logo in their own marketing and sales communications for two years. For more information, visit productoftheyearusa.com.

About Kantar :

Kantar is the world's leading marketing data, insight and consultancy company. We know more about how people live, feel, shop, vote, watch and post worldwide than any other company. Working across the entire sales and marketing lifecycle, we help brands uncover growth in an extraordinary world. Kantar's services are employed by over half of the Fortune 500 companies in 100 countries.

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Nature's Bounty
"As the first-of-its-kind, dual-texture treat in NERDS' iconic portfolio, we knew we had something special on our hands when we developed NERDS Gummy Clusters," said Greg Guidotti, General Manager, Sugar at Ferrara. "And we are honored to hear that so many candy fans agree. We look forward to continuing to push industry boundaries with NERDS and bringing our loyal fans new and exciting innovations along the way."

NERDS Gummy Clusters

Winner of the Sweets & Snacks 2021 "Best in Show" Award, Gummy Clusters debuted in 2020 and soon became a beloved innovation among fans for its key features  Rainbow NERDS surrounding and accentuating a fruity gummy center.

Building on the product's success, NERDS introduced the first flavor extension for Gummy Clusters in 2021 with Very Berry. Adding a new twist to the original line, each brightly colored piece offers a cluster of crunchy, tangy and Very Berry NERDS, while keeping the delightful, fruity gummy center.

Beyond Gummy Clusters, NERDS continues to breakthrough in the market with transformational innovations like NERDS Candy Corn, and unique collaborations such as its recent one with Dungeons & Dragons. Everything NERDS does embodies the spirit of the brand, which is known for celebrating how everyone is perfectly imperfect and better together.

Visit NerdsCandy.com to locate product retailers and to learn more about the NERDS product portfolio. Follow the brand on social: @NerdsCandy on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

About NERDS:

NERDS is the playful and fun-to-eat candy with a variety of delicious, crunchy, chewy and gummy options: Original NERDS including the iconic dual-flavored box, NERDS Ropes, Big Chewy NERDS and now NERDS Gummy Clusters. The original iconic box couples two complementary flavors with dual chambers, allowing candy lovers to pour out perfectly imperfect pieces of pure delight. NERDS Ropes give fans a chewy, fruity string packed with crunchy, sweet NERDS, and Big Chewy NERDS and Sour Big Chewy NERDS have a crunch that surrounds a chewy center. The new NERDS Gummy Clusters have tangy, crunchy, NERDS clustered around a sweet gummy center for a poppable tasty bite.

About Ferrara:

Ferrara, a company related to The Ferrero Group, is a powerhouse in the North American and global sugar confections category. A passionate team of more than 6,000 employees work together to share delight in every bite through our beloved candy brands that have shaped the industry for more than 100 years. Our diverse portfolio of nearly 30 brands includes SweeTARTS, Trolli, BRACH'S, Black Forest and NERDS, along with iconic favorites like Lemonhead, Red Hots and Now and Later. Ferrara's superior innovation is rooted in diversity of thought, experience and people, helping us introduce new candy products that make everyday moments a bit sweeter. Headquartered in Chicago, Ferrara has an operational network of 20 locations in North America that includes manufacturing, distribution, and R&D facilities. Learn more at www.ferrarausa.com.

Media Contact

Gabby Toro-Rosa, Golin

[email protected]

SOURCE Ferrara
The Office of Cannabis Management has also permanently waived the $50 patient application fee, expanded the type of practitioners that can recommend cannabis, and allowed the sale of flower in addition to several other improvements. The OCM has also prepared the regulations for personal cultivation, which should be passed by summer.

This massive expansion of the program is due to the passage of the state's recreational legalization bill, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which was signed into law on March 31, 2021.

New York physician Brian Kessler is thrilled to see this change. "The OCM did the right thing for the people of New York," said Kessler. "They put the medical decisions back into the hands of the practitioners, where they belong. New York providers have been deeply frustrated because we were pigeonholed into rejecting patients that should qualify for medical marijuana simply because they didn't have the right kind of illness. This is huge progress."

The program improvements are expected to cause a large surge in registered patient numbers for the state. Despite its former limitations, roughly 1.3% of New York's population of 19 million are registered with the medical marijuana program. States that have no qualifying conditions and no adult-use market have seen much higher patient populations.

For instance, a staggering 10% of Oklahoma's population , or 376,000 people, have registered with their medical marijuana program since it started in June 2018. Missouri processed over 228,692 applications since its program began in June 2019, representing roughly 3.7% of the state's population.

Neither state requires patients to have a specific qualifying condition, and both states have medical-only cannabis markets. New York has legalized recreational marijuana, but legal adult-use sales aren't anticipated to begin until 2023 at the earliest.

"If just 4% of New York's population registers with the program, the state will be processing half a million more registered patients," said Kam Babazade, co-founder and COO of NuggMD. "It's going to be a massive undertaking for the OCM."

"It wouldn't surprise me to see well more than a million people join New York's medical marijuana program this year," said NuggMD co-founder and CMO Alex Milligan. "New York just legalized the sale of flower too. This is a huge boost for patients who prefer cannabis in its natural form and makes the program even more attractive to potential patients."

The OCM is also allowing a broader range of practitioners to recommend cannabis. Any health care provider who is qualified to treat the patient's serious condition and who can prescribe controlled substances to humans in New York State can complete the OCM's two to four-hour class on medical marijuana and register to certify patients now. This includes dentists, nurse practitioners, and podiatrists.

Patients who were evaluated before but whose conditions didn't qualify for the program can get re-evaluated by the same practitioner or by a new one so long as the practitioner is qualified to treat their specific condition.

Since 2016, NuggMD has provided patients with a safe, convenient and affordable way to obtain a medical marijuana card. Their fully-licensed practitioners have obtained all certifications necessary for the states in which they provide evaluations. In New York, evaluations cost just $149, and no appointment is necessary.

For further information, visit nuggmd.com/new-york

About NuggMD

NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, facilitating access to medical marijuana for patients in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. NuggMD's patients receive their evaluations entirely online via face-to-face video chats from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Qualifying medical conditions vary by state. Since its launch in 2016, NuggMD has helped over one million medical marijuana patients connect with their new physicians and obtain their medical marijuana recommendations. They are fully committed to improving their patients' quality of life through cannabis.

SOURCE NuggMD
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Debt Collectors (Nordic) - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Debt Collectors (Nordic) Analysis provides a detailed overview of the Debt Collectors (Nordic) market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 150 companies, including AB Syna, Asker Og Baerum Boligbyggelag Ba and Bisnode Kredit AB.



This report covers areas such as debt, finance, collection, collect, repayment and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years.



The publisher's latest Debt Collectors (Nordic) analysis is ideal for anyone wanting to:

See the market leaders

Identify companies heading for failure

Seek out the most attractive acquisition

Analyse industry trends

Benchmark their own financial performance

Using the publisher's exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Debt Collectors (Nordic) report will tell you that 22 companies have a declining financial rating, while 38 have shown good sales growth.



Each of the largest 150 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.



Every business is examined on the following features:

The Publisher's Chart: A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Debt Collectors (Nordic) market.



This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

The publisher provides busy managers with a set of tools to monitor the financial welfare of their company, their rivals, or those they wish to acquire. The reports are used to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain better understanding of a market and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The Debt Collectors (Nordic) analysis is the most definitive and accurate study of the Debt Collectors (Nordic) sector in 2021.



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 150 largest Debt Collectors (Nordic) companies.



The Debt Collectors (Nordic) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



Indeed, the first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength - for example Gothia As has been ranked as a best trading partner in the industry.

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company - for example Kravia As is among the fastest growing.

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and pre-tax profit over the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies.

Market Size: Based on the largest 150 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure.

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit.

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Debt Collectors (Nordic) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unequivocal model and culminates in the production of The Publisher's Chart. The Publisher's Model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



The Publisher's Chart is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Utilising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Debt Collectors (Nordic) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



Companies Mentioned

AB Syna

Asker Og Baerum Boligbyggelag Ba

Bisnode Kredit AB

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z1vdyl

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion Medical Staffing, an Omaha-based company dedicated to improving the lives of healthcare workers, has won ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards. These awards are determined by feedback from hospital systems Fusion works with and the healthcare workers the company staffs around the nation.

"It's an honor to win the Best of Staffing award on both the Client and Talent sides," said Fusion CEO and President Steve Koesters. "Fusion is always working to improve the lives of everyone we touch, hearing that those who work with us are having a good experience keeps us motivated to continue making that positive impact on the healthcare industry and the individuals fueling it."

Fusion Medical Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 76.1% of their clients, significantly higher than the industry's average of 41%. On average, clients of winning agencies are twice as likely to be completely satisfied and candidates who have been placed by winning agencies are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies.

"Winners of the 2022 Best of Staffing award have demonstrated their commitment to delivering exceptional service, even as Covid-19 has forced them to reimagine and rebuild their approach to business," said ClearlyRated's CEO and Founder, Eric Gregg. "These service leaders have kept the client, talent, and employee experience at the heart of their business strategy, and it's my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2022 Best of Staffing winners alongside feedback from their actual clients on ClearlyRated.com!"

The full list of winners can be found at clearlyrated.com/staffing .

About Fusion Medical Staffing:

Fusion Medical Staffing connects traveling healthcare professionals with their dream job anywhere in the country. We give our travelers the support they need to be heroes in their workplace. We exist to ensure everyone we touch has a better life. We strive to stay humble, driven, and positive.

About Best of Staffing:

ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients, placed talent, and internal employees. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on ClearlyRated.coman online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated client ratings and testimonials.

Contact:

Leah Kemple

877-230-3885

[email protected]

SOURCE Fusion Medical Staffing
Luxury jeweler bluboho launches the world's first "PFP" (Profile Picture) Collection for NFT Proposals

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Today bluboho introduces the world's first engagement NFT PFPs. Each NFT is a one-of-one piece of art and is accompanied by a one-of-a-kind sapphire ring from bluboho's "To the Stars" collection. The Montana-mined sapphires are ethically-sourced, artisan-cut, and set in recycled yellow gold. Each ring from the collection and accompanying artwork is completely unique and will never be reproduced.

Launching just in time for Valentine's Day, the kick off to engagement season, the commemorative artwork may become a part of the very first NFT proposal in history. Each custom piece of digital art was inspired by the center stone in its respective ring, telling a unique story of love written in the stars.

"bluboho was born out of a desire to mark moments. We have always loved the idea of carrying tiny tokens with us that represent our most cherished memories and jewelry has always been that token. Now we're seeing these tokens-of-affection being exchanged digitally, and the idea of matching our one-of-a-kind jewelry with one-of-a-kind art and minted forever on the blockchain is so romantic." - Maggie Aurocco, bluboho founder.

Each one-of-a-kind art piece is available for purchase via OpenSea and includes unlockable content in the form of a code to redeem the ring that matches the artwork. Every NFT was minted on the Ethereum blockchain and has been carbon-offset with a donation through Aerial. In addition, bluboho's lasting environmental commitment is echoed by their contributions to 1% For The Planet ~ ensuring 1% of all sales goes back to Mother Earth.

The move marks an important international expansion for bluboho which has turned into an eCommerce empire and continues to establish wholesale relationships in the US and around the world.

ABOUT BLUBOHO

named "blu," after the colour of the water and sky, to impart the notion of endless possibility. "boho" after a free-spirited lifestyle, bluboho is a fine jewelry company that carries ethically sourced, raw and refined jewelry pieces. bluboho creates jewelry and an experience worthy of the moments they mark. each piece tells a story. each experience is a memory in the making.

Visit https://opensea.io/collection/bluboho-to-the-stars , https://www.bluboho.com/collections/one-of-a-kind-rings-with-nfts/ , https://www.bluboho.com/ or follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluboho/ for more information.

SOURCE bluboho
MIAMI, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Education Equity Lab, an education justice nonprofit focused on delivering, and supporting, college credit-bearing courses from top universities to students in low-income communities, today announced that outgoing Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho will receive its inaugural Superintendent of the Year Award. The award recognizes Carvalho's commitment to building a culture of college-going aspiration and skills in the district, work which will continue in the coming year: Miami-Dade will expand its partnership with the Ed Equity Lab from eleven high schools to over twenty.

"Under Superintendent Carvalho's bold leadership, Miami-Dade has built an inspiring college-going culture with its teachers and students  and has become a bellwether for other districts around the country," said National Education Equity Lab CEO, Leslie Cornfeld. "Superintendent Carvalho has challenged all of us to build a better and more just future. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from him. His legacy in Miami goes far beyond one initiative, but his work with Ed Equity Lab is emblematic of the kinds of innovation he has advanced. We look forward to both expanding our work in Miami and Los Angeles."

Research from the National Student Clearinghouse indicates that there have been precipitous declines in college attendance during the past two years, particularly for students graduating from high-poverty or low-income high schools. The National Education Equity Lab is partnering with districts around the country, as well as highly selective colleges and universities, to deliver a unique model that enables high school students to take credit-bearing courses in teacher-led classrooms, at no cost to students and their families.

This school year, more than 250 students from 11 Miami-Dade high schools completed Ed Equity Lab courses. Of those students, 92 percent passed college courses from universities such as Howard, Princeton, Wharton, and Stanford  including all three of the country's highest performing high school students in the fall semester of the University of Pennsylvania's Essentials of Personal Finance.

"The commitment, enthusiasm, pride, and passion of Miami's students has been an inspiration throughout my tenure in the district," said Carvalho, who was recently appointed Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, which is already working with the Ed Equity Lab to deliver classes in two high schools. "Initiatives like the Education Equity Lab prove that students from all backgrounds can succeed at the highest levels of American education. It's an honor to be recognized for this work, which could not have been accomplished without the teachers and administrators who help our students exceed their limits and fulfill their aspirations."

"Throughout his tenure as superintendent, Dr. Carvalho has exemplified a compassionate, innovative approach to leadership that has been transformative for our community," said Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County. "His groundbreaking work with the National Education Equity Lab reflects not just his belief that all students deserve the opportunity to pursue success in college and beyond  but also his commitment to making that belief a reality."

Founded in 2019, the National Education Equity Lab is designing, testing, and implementing new strategies to help our nation's top universities deliver on the democratic promise of higher education by taking a more active role in developing and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

The Lab currently works with a consortium of institutions including Princeton, Howard, Stanford, Cornell, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Barnard/Columbia, and Arizona State University to deliver, and support, online credit-bearing courses into teacher-led high school classrooms in 32 states and over 90 cities nationwide, at no cost to students. School districts and principals apply to be part of this education equity effort, which will have reached over 10,000 students by the end of this year. In the Lab's 2019 national pilot program, 89 percent of students who completed a Harvard humanities course passed, receiving college credits; to date, over 80 percent of students have successfully completed their courses nationwide.

SOURCE The National Education Equity Lab
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital ("Peak Rock"), a leading middle-market private investment firm, announced today that it has completed an acquisition of Ziyad Brothers ("Ziyad" or the "Company"), in partnership with the Company's management team and the Ziyad family.

Ziyad is a leading omni-channel provider of branded Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods. The Company has a 50-year track record of delivering a diverse product portfolio of over 800 SKUs to thousands of customers, including local specialty grocers, supermarkets, national accounts, and e-commerce platforms. Headquartered in Chicago, with additional facilities in New Jersey and California, Ziyad has earned a strong reputation for its exceptional portfolio of brands, reliable service, national distribution, deep relationships, and category expertise.

Steve Martinez, President of Peak Rock, said, "Ziyad represents a unique opportunity to invest in an exceptional business and team that has differentiated itself as the unparalleled authority on Middle East and Mediterranean cuisine. Ziyad's history of service and dedication to its partners' and customers' success, coupled with its strong and consistent track record of growth, make it an ideal platform investment for Peak Rock. We are looking forward to partnering with the Company to accelerate the execution of strategic growth investments."

Nassem Ziyad, commented, "For generations, our family has been proud to serve our brand partners, retail customers, and local communities. After an exhaustive search, it was clear that Peak Rock was the right partner as we begin this next growth phase. Peak Rock truly understands our business, our heritage, and our dedication to supporting our partner brands and customers. We look forward to our partnership, which will position Ziyad for continued rapid growth across products, brands, and retailers." In conjunction with the transaction, Nassem Ziyad has been named as the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

"This transaction further exemplifies Peak Rock's deep experience investing in founder and family-owned businesses and highlights our continued interest in attractive investments in the food, beverage, and distribution sectors. We continue to seek consumer-oriented platforms and acquisitions that we believe could benefit from our ability to drive rapid growth and expansion," added Anthony DiSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Peak Rock.

The acquisition of Ziyad represents Peak Rock's thirteenth investment in the food, beverage and consumer industry in recent years.

CG Sawaya Partners served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Peak Rock on this transaction.

ABOUT ZIYAD

Ziyad is a leading omni-channel provider of branded Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and beverage products. Founded as a small bakery in 1966 in Chicago, Ziyad now owns numerous brands and partners with dozens of world-class companies on an exclusive basis to deliver their brands to the North American market. For more information on Ziyad, visit us online at www.Ziyad.com.

ABOUT PEAK ROCK CAPITAL

Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com.

Media Contact:

Daniel Yunger

Kekst CNC

(212) 521-4800

[email protected]

SOURCE Peak Rock Capital
OSLO, Norway, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (PHO: OSE), The Bladder Cancer Company, announces that its partner Asieris Pharmaceuticals (SSE: 688176) has obtained the Phase III clinical trial application (CTA) approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for Hexvix.

The study is a prospective, multicenter bridging trial aimed to investigate the additional detection rate and safety of Hexvix and blue light cystoscopy (BLC) versus white light cystoscopy in Chinese patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC, tumor types CIS, Ta, T1). The study will be led by Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Professor Li Hanzhong, Head of the Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, will serve as the Principal Investigator to lead a team of top experts in the field of bladder cancer in China to carry out this study.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the number of new bladder cancer cases in China reached 86,000 in 2020, and is expected to rise to 101,000 in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4% during the period. The total number of patients with bladder cancer in China was estimated to be higher than 600,000 in 2020. The use of BLC with Hexvix for the management of NMIBC is included in the global expert consensus guidelines.

In January 2021, Asieris Pharmaceuticals entered into a license agreement with Photocure, obtaining exclusive rights to register and commercialize Hexvix in mainland China and Taiwan. In December 2021, Hexvix was put into pilot use in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province: the first patient in China received blue light cystoscopy with Hexvix at Hainan General Hospital.

"We are very glad that the phase  trial of Hexvix has been approved by the NMPA" said Dr. Yong Xue, Chief Medical Officer of Asieris. "We will accelerate the clinical trial process so that doctors and patients in China will have access to this breakthrough technology as early as possible."

"This clinical registration trial is a critical step toward giving bladder cancer patients access to Hexvix in China. Hexvix is a diagnostic agent that has been proven to improve the detection, and completeness of resection of tumors, and can be an important solution in the management of disease", said Anders Neijber, Vice President Global Medical Affairs and Clinical Development at Photocure.

Read Asieris' full media release here: https://asieris.com/asieris-announced-hexvix-a-drug-for-diagnosis-of-bladder-cancer%ef%bf%bc-has-obtained-the-ind-approval-from-the-nmpa-for-phase-%e2%85%b2-clinical-trial/

Note to editors

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA

This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product 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 BC 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

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/photocure-partner-asieris-announces-approval-to-conduct-a-phase-iii-clinical-trial-for-hexvix-in-chi,c3504690

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Photocure
BANGALORE, India, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Polyethylene Market is segmented By Type - HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, Others, By Application - Packaging, Consumer Goods, Construction Materials, Others. Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2022 - 2028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Plastics & Polymers Category.

The global Polyethylene market size is estimated to be worth USD 122550 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 142120 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.5% during the review period.

Major Factors Driving The Growth of The Polyethylene Market are

Polyethylene's increasing use in various end-user applications such as packaging, consumer goods, and construction materials is expected to fuel the Polyethylene market's growth. polyethylene.

Furthermore, features of polyethylene such as being highly adaptable, extremely lightweight, economical, excellent rigidity, superior flexibility, and easily recyclable are expected to propel PE adoption thereby driving the polyethylene market growth.

In addition, the introduction and development of bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene will almost certainly create new growth opportunities for the Polyethylene market.

Browse The Table Of Contents And List Of Figures At https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-6X647/global-polyethylene

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF POLYETHYLENE MARKET

The Polyethylene market is expected to grow due to the increasing use of PE in the packaging industry. The versatility of polyethylene packaging allows for a variety of advertising opportunities, regardless of the nature of your product. Polyethylene plastic packaging can also be heavily customized. Polyethylene packaging also protects easily contaminated products from the elements because it does not allow water vapor to pass through. Heat sealing allows many types of polyethylene packaging to be tightly wrapped around a product and sealed airtight. Many companies use polyethylene to shield electronic components from moisture and tampering.

The use of PE in the manufacturing of consumer goods is expected to propel the polyethylene market forward. Polyethylene is a lightweight, long-lasting thermoplastic that can be used to make plastic containers, bottles, bags, and toys.

Polyethylene has high ductility and impact strength and is an excellent electrical insulator. It also has a low friction coefficient. Pipes made of high-density polyethylene are frequently corrosion-resistant and leak-free. Polyethylene is used in a variety of construction applications, including sheets to protect materials and seal off rooms, damp-proof membranes (DPM), loose lining material for foundations, to protect concrete during the curing process, and damp-proof membranes (DPM), loose lining material for foundations, to protect concrete during the curing process. As a result, the growing use of PE in construction is expected to propel the Polyethylene market forward.

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POLYETHYLENE MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on type, the HDPE segment is expected to hold the largest market share of about 60%. Because HDPE does not leach into the contents of bottles, it is ideal for blow-molding applications, particularly in the food and beverage industry. HDPE is also recyclable, making it an excellent choice for these highly disposable items.

Based on the application, the Packaging segment is expected to hold the largest market share of about 75%. This is due to characteristics such as chemical resistance and low cost. PE, or polyethylene, is a petroleum polymer that can withstand any environmental hazards and can be customized to any desired shape and size.

Asia and the Middle East region held the largest market share of about 50% of the global market. Due to rapid industrialization and the trend of consumers in emerging economies such as China and India purchasing goods online, the polyethylene market in the Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period.

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Market By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Polyethylene Market By Companies

Turtle Wax

DuPont

Exxon Mobil Corporation

LyondellBasell

SABIC

Sinopec Corporation

BP

Ineos

Borealis

Total

Shell

National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)

TASCO Group

Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (ENI)

CNPC

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ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since launching operations in Georgia in Fall 2021, economic development, nonprofit organization Prospera has made strides to better assist local Hispanic entrepreneurs year-round:

Individual consulting services for clients are available both in person and virtually.

The first in-person business training is scheduled for this month.

A second local office has been established to serve the community.

Bank of America has made a generous contribution to support local entrepreneurial services.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Prospera will host its first local business startup seminar at 3 p.m., presented in person and in Spanish. Designed for Hispanic entrepreneurs in initial business stages or planning to start a new business, the seminar will provide an orientation and resources for new entrepreneurs, covering topics such as legal and tax structure, licenses and permits, government regulations and financing options.

All Prospera servicesincluding individual consulting, training, and access to capitalare offered to clients at no charge, thanks to funds raised from private and public funders. In addition to local government funders, Prospera recently received a grant from Bank of America to help fund Prospera's mission in the region.

Bank of America awarded Prospera $50,000 to help disadvantaged Latino small business owners start, sustain, or grow their business, thereby driving economic mobility and opportunity in Metro Atlanta. "Prospera's work to support minority led businesses is inspiring," said Al McRae, President, Bank of America Atlanta. "Bank of America's partnership with them is part of our commitment to sustainable economic growth and opportunity in Atlanta."

Prospera now counts on two local offices in the Atlanta metro area: the first at 705 Town Blvd, Suite R430, Brookhaven, GA 30319, and the second at 2750 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30324. Individuals who wish to receive Prospera's assistance for their businesses or new startup ideas can call (678) 904-0944 or email [email protected].

Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that since 1991 has specialized in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, sustain, or grow their businesses. In the last five years, Prospera facilitated over $61 million in loans, trained over 18,000 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Prospera currently offers services in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. For more information, visit www.prosperausa.org or call (678) 904-0944.

Media Contacts:

Maria Yabrudy, 407-412-3303, [email protected]

Anibal Torres, 404-882-3896, [email protected]

SOURCE Prospera
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("RegeneRx"), a clinical-stage drug development company focused on tissue protection, repair, and regeneration, today announced that Dr. Hynda K. Kleinman, a consultant to the Company, will receive the Second Biennial Dr. Gertrude Herzfeld International Jewish Woman of the Year Prize for Health. Dr. Kleinman will be the first living Jewish female in the world to receive the prestigious Herzfeld Prize. Her career and personal life emulate and mirror the historic achievements of Dr. Herzfeld both in health and the advancement of women in science.

Dr. Kleinman has published over 440 papers and been awarded ten patents, three of which have been successfully commercialized. One of her inventions, Matrigel, is used worldwide and was among the top 15 National Institutes of Health (NIH) patents bearing royalties for many years. While at NIH she conducted seminal research on thymosin beta 4, a regenerative protein, currently in phase 3 clinical trials for eye and skin injuries.

She has received numerous national / international awards for her scientific accomplishments, including the Hildegard Doerenkamp-Gerhardt Zbinden Award for developing "an in vitro assay for screening anti-cancer compounds that spares animals." She received the Debio Peptide Award for identifying a peptide that inhibits cancer growth and metastases, the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Award for "being the most outstanding woman scientist in the federal government", and the Senior Woman in Science Award from the American Society for Cell Biology for "her scientific achievement and strong commitment to the fostering of women in science." She also chaired the Committee on the Status of Intramural Scientist at NIH.

Dr. Kleinman has been a consultant for the last 16 years and is currently a science consultant to various clinical stage biotech companies, including RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and its U.S. joint venture, ReGenTree LLC, to develop treatments for dry eye syndrome and neurotrophic keratitis, among other medical indications.

She has been a long-time champion for women in science both at the NIH and throughout the world. She was appointed by the Director of the NIH to a committee to help identify impediments to the advancement of women within the Institutes.

Dr. Gertrude Herzfeld (1890-1981) was proudly Jewish and the first female pediatric surgeon who worked in Edinburgh and was the second female fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2020, the Edinburgh Jewish Cultural Centre, in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, established the Herzfeld Prize to recognize, honor and promote outstanding Jewish women in the field of health. Dr. Herzfeld was posthumously awarded the first prize in 2020.

The Second Biennial Herzfeld Prize will be presented during a ceremony connected with International Women's Day on 6 March 2022 at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

RegeneRx is focused on the development of novel therapeutic peptides, including Thymosin beta 4 (T4) and its constituent fragments, for tissue and organ protection, repair, and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, cardiac/neuro and dermal indications, four active strategic licensing agreements in the U.S., China, and Pan Asia (Korea and Japan, among others), and the EU, and has patents and patent applications covering its products in many countries throughout the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements from us, our partners, consultants, third-party organizations, or within research published by third parties. There can be no assurance that positive results from any research or clinical trial by the Company, its collaborators, or independent parties in the U.S. or any other country will result in subsequent clinical confirmation or future value. There can also be no assurance that any of the Company's drug candidates will result in any approved products in the U.S. or any other country. Please view risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
PALAU, Oceania, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The President of the Republic of Palau, His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr., honored Silicon Valley giant Tim Draper as Founding Digital Resident of Palau's newly-introduced RNS Digital Residency Program. The Inauguration Ceremony took place on Tuesday, February 1st, with top blockchain and technology leaders in attendance. The event was also open to the general public and live streamed to the global community.

Republic of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. Inaugurates Tim Draper as Founding Digital Resident

The inauguration of Tim Draper as Founding Digital Resident comes on the heels of Palau's launch of their digital residency platform, which has had more than 300,000 people sign up for on the waiting list. The Palau RNS Digital Residency Program, made possible by the President's signing of the Digital Residency Act last December, marks the first time global citizens can claim blockchain digital residency backed by a sovereign entity.

President Whipps Jr.'s inauguration of Tim Draper commemorates a landmark event, as the RNS Digital Residency platform opens up the doors for individuals from around the world to apply for digital resident status regardless of geographic location. Draper, a prominent venture capitalist and figure in the blockchain industry and an early investor in companies like Twitch, Coinbase, and Tesla, has spoken about digital residency at great lengths, with a vision that started more than two decades ago.

"Most people are feeling like they are citizens of the world and they will choose the best governance that they can find out there in the world, and I suspect more and more of that will be done virtually."  Tim Draper, speaking on the movement from physical to virtual governance.

In his speech, President Whipps Jr. compared digital residency to the inventions of democracy and the World Wide Webinnovations that disrupted the status quo and have become widely adopted in the world. The President made clear that digital residency was not the end of the journey, but rather the first step of their vision. A vision that includes "building the foundational infrastructure for digital existence."

"Just like democracy or the World Wide Web, digital residency is starting with just one idea, one vision. But soon, it will be ubiquitous, and take the world by stormAlready, we've seen more than 300,000 people sign up for our digital residency waiting list, and that's in entirely less than one month. Truth be told, a world of 7 billion digital residents is only just a few years away."  President Surangel Whipps Jr.

Via the RNS platform, the application process for new digital residents is a seamless Web3 experience, enabling users from around the world to apply and get approved from the comfort of their homes. Once approved, users will be issued a digital resident ID card, both physically and on the blockchain as a non-fungible token (NFT). Interested users can apply for Palau Digital Residency at www.rns.id .

About RNS

RNS is the world's first sovereign-backed blockchain-native digital residency platform.

PRESS CONTACT:

DY

4693600888

https://www.RNS.id

SOURCE RNS
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal boutique Scali Rasmussen announced its continued support for an event benefitting SAGE, a national non-profit serving LGBTQ+ older adults.

The March 5 event, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Phoenix near Beverly Center, will honor longtime SAGE friend and supporter Bill Weinberger, a partner at the law firm Parker Milliken.

Also being honored is Vallerie Wagner, a local unsung hero for the LGBTQ+ community. Wagner runs the largest medical clinic in the country focused on serving both HIV-negative and -positive people of color.

"Vallerie is an amazing person, with a long history of activism in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the fight to end stigma and barriers to treatment for HIV positive people of color," said Jeffrey W. Erdman, a partner at Scali Rasmussen and a member of SAGE's national board of directors. "She's worked tirelessly for decades in support of the LGBTQ+ community and SAGE's mission. We're happy to have this opportunity to show our support."

To attend the event, or to become a member of the event host committee, please contact James Worsdale at 212-741-2247 or email him at [email protected].

SAGE serves as a resource dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ seniors and their caregivers through education, training and technical assistance. With a growing network of affiliates nationwide, including SAGE LA, SAGE strives to improve the lives of the United States' aging LGBTQ+ population. The organization provides advice and support for caregiving, LGBTQ+ inclusion and cultural competency, elder abuse and neglect, social security, Medicare and Medicaid, healthcare, financial security and retirement, housing, and HIV/AIDS.

For more information on the event, click here. To read more about Vallerie and her vital community clinic, click here.

About Scali Rasmussen

Scali Rasmussen attorneys are leaders in the automotive industry, often called upon to provide their opinions on new and trending issues on auto distribution and franchise, F&I, employment and advertising issues. The firm drafted the CNCDA's 2015 and 2017 Advertising Law Manuals, providing auto dealers with practical guidance on advertising practices. For more information, visit our website.

SOURCE Scali Rasmussen
SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Snoppa, a cutting edge image stabilization company, recently released a revolutionary shooting device - Rover on the Kickstarter platform. Rover is a new type of cinema dolly that has an electronic stabilization system. After the release of the product, it has attracted the attention and praise of many filming professionals and enthusiasts.

Rover is essentially a shooting robot that removes obstacles that the ground creates. It can carry heavy and bulky professional cameras, move stably on a variety of bumpy surfaces, and has programmable automation function. For film crews, it can significantly reduce labor costs and improve work efficiency by introducing a new type mobile shooting equipment to the filming environment. Whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors, Rover can be your ideal choice. Rover also supports a variety of control methods, respectively, APP remote control, manual control, and universal remote control. You can choose a more applicable control method according to your shooting habits, or the current shooting scenario.

Rover is essentially a shooting robot that removes obstacles that the ground creates. It can carry heavy and bulky professional cameras, move stably on a variety of bumpy surfaces, and has programmable automation function. For film crews, it can significantly reduce labor costs and improve work efficiency by introducing a new type mobile shooting equipment to the filming environment.

Snoppa Rover is equipped with a unique and revolutionary electronic active damping system that can eliminate vibrations caused by road bumps and obstacles during movement. Rover can also eliminate speed mutation caused by road obstacles, and keep keep forward motion at a constant speed. This gives Rover a wider range of terrain adaptability.

Rover has a load capacity of up to 15 kilograms (33 lbs.) and can carry cameras ranging from mirrorless and DSLRs to cinema cameras. With the built-in Wi-Fi module, wireless image transmission module, and camera control module, the operator can use a tablet to remotely control both Rover's movement and camera shooting.

Users can program a preset path through the dedicated app to let Rover automatically move according to the preset path and shooting angles. This can greatly improve the efficiency of film work, and reduce the burden of videographers. Preset or recently used paths can be saved as templates, which can be reused repeatedly so that the videographer can easily take repeated shots with precise accuracy.

In addition, other features like hyperlapse, auto tracking, high-speed follow shooting, and others are all very practical functions the lend assistance in the cinema and film environment.

Rover is being pre sold on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform which is currently offering an early bird price of $2399. It is expected to be shipped around July this year.

Purchasing link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atom2/snoppa-rover-electric-stabilization-cinema-dolly?ref=5groz3

Website: https://www.snoppa.com/rover.html

Media Contact:

Lynn Li

[email protected]

+8613715091611

SOURCE Snoppa
QINGDAO, China, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) (the "Company" or "SOS") today announced the Company has received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") dated January 14, 2022, notifying SOS that it is below compliance standards due to the trading price of SOS's American depositary shares (the "ADSs").

Pursuant to NYSE rule 802.01C, a company will be considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of a security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. Once notified, the company must bring its share price and average share price back above $1.00 by six months following receipt of the notification. The company can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period the company has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the six-month cure period, both a $1.00 closing share price on the last trading day of the cure period and a $1.00 average closing share price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the cure period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures.

The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Company's ADSs, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during the cure period subject to continued compliance with the other listing requirements of the NYSE.

About SOS Limited

SOS is an emerging blockchain-based and big data-driven marketing solution provider, with a nationwide membership base of approximately 20 million in China. SOS is also engaged in blockchain and supercomputing operations, and may expand into cryptocurrency security and insurance in the future. Since April 2021, SOS launched commodity trading via our subsidiary SOS International Trading Co. Ltd. The core infrastructure of SOS' marketing data, technology and solutions to insurance and emergency rescue services is built on big data, blockchain-based technology, cloud computing, AI, satellite, and 5G network, etc. SOS has created a cloud "software as a service (SaaS)" platform for emergency rescue services, with three major product categories: basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information cloud. This system provides innovative marketing solutions to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers, and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry.

For more information on SOS, please visit http://www.sosyun.com/

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident," "optimistic" and similar statements. SOS may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about SOS's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: local government's policies and regulatory oversight of crypto currency mining operation and SOS's other operations; SOS's blockchain and supercomputing, commodity trading and marketing solutions businesses are still under development, with many uncertainties in the future direction and integration of these various business segments; failure to manage the newly launched commodities trading business effectively; loss of key customers in the commodity trading business; failure to access a large quantity of power at reasonable costs could significantly increase SOS operating expenses and adversely affect demands for SOS's mining activities; any significant or prolonged failure in the data warehouse facilities and data mining facilities that SOS operates or services it provides, including events beyond its control, would lead to significant costs and disruptions and would reduce the attractiveness of its facilities, harm its business reputation and have a material adverse effect on its results of operation; security breaches or alleged security breaches of our data warehouses could disrupt SOS operations and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operation; uncertainty in global supply chain and international shipping. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and SOS does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE SOS Limited
RYE BROOK, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Council of Westchester today made a series of announcements celebrating important milestones for its newly formed Westchester Innovation Network (WIN), a program aimed at driving economic development, innovation, and growth within the county as a hub of innovation.

"At the BCW, we know that to build and sustain strong and vibrant communities, we must convene thought leaders and futurists to design a county of the future. These building blocks include creating opportunities to showcase Westchester as a place to build, grow, test, and explore innovation in all forms," said Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. "With our innovation efforts delivered through WIN, we are focused on embracing innovative new companies from Westchester, across the U.S. and internationally to learn from and co-create with them, and to advance key incentives necessary to get them to grow and stay here in Westchester."

The WIN has broad support from the county's business community. Founding sponsors of the WIN program include:

Montefiore

Regeneron

Westchester County Office of Economic Development

KeyBank

Robert Martin Company

Simone Development Companies

Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers

Verizon

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

Dorf & Nelson

"Across Montefiore and Einstein, innovation allows us to deliver and provide access to the highest quality care for residents of our region," said Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, President and CEO, Montefiore Medicine. "As the founding healthcare sponsor of the Westchester Innovation Network, we are excited to work with the Business Council of Westchester and all local partners to encourage and celebrate innovation; community health and economic development depend on it."

"This program incorporates a myriad of themes from healthcare to government, finance and technology. The Business Council of Westchester has put together a supportive, empowering, diverse group of companies that align with the creation and development of new ideas," said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. "It truly is a 'WIN' for Westchester County."

Luiz Aragon, former development commissioner for the City of New Rochelle, has been hired as a consultant to serve as the program director of the WIN initiative.

"There is nothing more satisfying to me than to continue to work with the Westchester community; this time to help create the blueprint for its innovation-based future," said Aragon.

The WIN program kicked off with three key components:

The Innovation Match Program, which attracts innovative companies to Westchester and pairs them with local companies to test their products and services in real-world settings. Innovation Matches can also be formed with Westchester -based innovators. The goal is to provide the local host companies with an opportunity to understand innovation within their industries and to provide valuable feedback to innovators who need to pilot or beta test in a prospective customer setting.

and pairs them with local companies to test their products and services in real-world settings. Innovation Matches can also be formed with -based innovators. The goal is to provide the local host companies with an opportunity to understand innovation within their industries and to provide valuable feedback to innovators who need to pilot or beta test in a prospective customer setting. The Practical Innovation Project, which is a program that spotlights a host community and teams that municipality with individuals focused on identifying projects to assist in delivering immediate economic benefit to that community and its residents through innovation.

The WIN Implementation Guide, which will provide information to assist with the policies and infrastructure of the county to better attract and retain innovators, including funding, zoning, job training, incentives, and more.

"In just six weeks since the formation of WIN, we are extremely pleased with the positive response to the program and the significant progress already underway. Our goal is to transform our county into a hub of innovation that will attract investment, create new jobs, and spotlight Westchester as a place to build business," said Dr. Heidi Davidson, Chairman of the Board for The Business Council of Westchester and co-founder and CEO of Galvanize Worldwide. "The BCW membership has been quick to embrace and welcome innovators into their businesses so that together they can learn about evolving technologies in their industries and build solutions that will have a long-lasting impact on businesses of all kinds."

The Innovation Match Program

The first phase of the WIN program was to attract innovation partners from Westchester, within the U.S. and internationally  hosting these innovators in Westchester, pairing them with a local industry partner, and testing their commercially viable innovations in a real-world setting. The BCW has already identified 60 potential innovator partners looking to be paired locally to test a product or service and the process to match those innovators with businesses has already begun. The goal of the Innovation Match Program is to continually host 10 innovation pairings with local businesses in Westchester with discrete deliverables agreed upon at the outset of the relationship and delivered by a specified timeframe. Businesses interested in participating as either a host or an innovator to test products or services should email [email protected]

The first pairings include: Last20, a Canadian social enterprise that upcycles plastic waste into innovative solutions, including pavement. Last20 will be paired with the City of Yonkers DPW and with Regeneron as it builds new parking infrastructure in Tarrytown .

. Ferro, a self-service insurance management platform for insurance brokerages, based in Omaha, NE , partnering with The Rey Insurance Agency in Sleepy Hollow focusing on streamlining the way commercial policies are managed and renewed.

, partnering with The Rey Insurance Agency in focusing on streamlining the way commercial policies are managed and renewed. Kool Nerd Connect, a Mamaroneck, NY based career readiness company that connects diverse students to future career possibilities, partnering with the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester to conduct a healthcare industry career focused class.

based career readiness company that connects diverse students to future career possibilities, partnering with the YMCA of Central and to conduct a healthcare industry career focused class. SilverBills, a New Rochelle, NY -based fintech innovator focused on providing an easy-to-use technology platform to automate bill paying for seniors. SilverBills will partner with the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY) to help its tenants learn to use automated bill payment.

-based fintech innovator focused on providing an easy-to-use technology platform to automate bill paying for seniors. SilverBills will partner with the Municipal Housing Authority for the (MHACY) to help its tenants learn to use automated bill payment. ShelterZoom, a New York City -based technology company with a proprietary technology that transforms documents, contracts, and marketing leads into fully digital, intelligent, and interoperable smart documents. ShelterZoom will partner with the Fullerton Beck law firm in White Plains .

"I'm honored to be part of the program and excited to be matched with the Ferro team. Agencies like mine strive to provide the very best service while keeping things simple and cost effective for our clients. I look forward to exploring Ferro's inventive approach," said Laura Rey Iannarelli, owner of Rey Insurance Agency.

"The WIN program is a huge opportunity for a scale-up like Ferro. Having access to insurance brokerages where we can get real-world beta testing and constructive feedback to continue to improve our user experience is so critical for our business at this point," said Chris Senkbile, founder of Ferro. "The WIN program and the exposure it provides us to the NY metro market is really an incredible opportunity, and we thank the Business Council of Westchester and its members for hosting us."

"SilverBills will provide household bill management services to older adults and allow them to age in their homes without suffering the consequences of improper household bill management," said SilverBills founder, CEO and general counsel Marci Lobel-Esrig.

"We are hopeful that successful automation of our residents' bill payments could then serve as a model for other housing authorities nationwide," said Wilson Kimball, President and CEO of MHACY.

The Practical Innovation Project

The second component of the WIN program is an effort called The Practical Innovation Project. For the Practical Innovation Project, the BCW will bring together experts from Iona College to Mount Vernon with the aim of identifying innovative changes that the municipality could make right now to deliver economic activity, cost savings, and improvement in the day-to-day lives of its residents. This action plan aims to be delivered to Mount Vernon by the end of June. Last year, U.S. News and World Report ranked Iona College as one of the most innovative schools in the Northeast.

"Convening innovation thought leaders from the BCW and Iona College in Mount Vernon is a unique opportunity to refine our practices to better serve residents," said Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. "We are eager to receive fresh ideas on how we can promote economic activity while reducing our operational costs."

The WIN Implementation Guide

The third component of the WIN program will be an Implementation Guide that spotlights ideas and suggestions gathered from innovative communities around the world and the innovation matches hosted through the WIN program. The intent is to share the Implementation Guide in the Fall of 2022.

About The Business Council of Westchester

The Business Council of Westchester is the county's only business membership organization focusing on economic development and advocacy. It is the county's largest and most prestigious business membership organization representing more than 1,000 members, including multinational corporations, hospitals, universities, biotech pioneers, not-for-profits, entrepreneurs, and companies of all sizes. As the most influential economic development and advocacy organization in Westchester, The Business Council of Westchester's members enjoy unparalleled access to today's leading thought leaders, diverse business development opportunities and lawmakers at all levels of government. The BCW Data Exchange provides the latest demographic research to help guide smart business decisions. The LEAP program, a one-of-a-kind initiative, gives members direct access to lobbying efforts at the county, state and national levels on issues that directly affect their businesses. Build, Connect and Win with The Business Council of Westchester. Visit thebcw.org to connect today.

SOURCE The Business Council of Westchester
Commenting on the funding package, Mr. Nauman Anees, Co-Founder and CEO of ThinkMarkets said, Our exceptional growth in recent years has been underpinned by a significant increase in products available on our world leading multi asset trading platform. Our ambitions to continue to rapidly scale are entrenched in strong geographical expansion plans and significant new product developments to benefit our clients trading and wealth management needs in an increasingly borderless investing world. This funding package, supported by leading institutional investors, gives our business the liquidity to scale rapidly in line with our business growth objectives. I thank all the investors who participated and look forward to introducing ThinkMarkets to an increasing number of global trading and wealth management participants.

The US$30m funding package was provided by Mars Growth, a Liquidity Group and MUFG joint venture fund. This facility was completed using Liquidity Groups innovative artificial intelligence platform Liquidity Analytics and was introduced to ThinkMarkets by Singapore-based ARC Investments.

"It has been our pleasure to work with Nauman Anees and his great team at ThinkMarkets to provide them with the funding to continue rapidly scaling their fintech business." Ron Daniel, Co-Founder & CEO, Liquidity Group.

About ThinkMarkets:

ThinkMarkets is an innovative multi asset online trading firm allowing access to everything from Equities , Crypto , FX and more. By providing quick and easy access to a wide range of markets around the globe through our global geographic footprint we are removing the boundaries for investing and trading. The company employs the latest technology to provide the best pricing and execution speed and delivers superior service to traders throughout their trading journey. ThinkMarkets maintains competitive trading conditions including tight spreads, low to zero commissions and a range of account types tailored to the needs of specific clients. With headquarters in London and Melbourne, and hubs in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Japan, ThinkMarkets provides global market access to individual and institutional investors all over the world.

www.thinkmarkets.com

For more information: [email protected]

Contact:

Victor Golovtchenko

+44 203 514 2374

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1744594/ThinkMarkets_Liverpool_FC.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/835251/ThinkMarkets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE ThinkMarkets
"This has been a true exercise in remote, DIY collaboration and a testament to the love that we all share for Peter Gabriel, both in his artistry and his humanity," said Producer and Musician Jeremy Nesse. "This project would not have been possible had it not been for the pandemic, the generosity of the contributing artists, and my co-producer, Deane Arnold."

The project, which has spanned over a year and a half, will include five songs per month via Bandcamp.com, beginning in February, 2022.

The interpretations will span over 40 years of Gabriel's career, and will include well-known songs as well as obscure and previously unfinished tracks.

"Peter Gabriel kindled our love for art-rock and world music," said Producer Jeremy Nesse. "The co-mingling of differing cultures and international perspectives has been a driving force in our musical journey. With the advent of the pandemic, over 100 artists, who have a shared love of PG's music, donated their time and talent to this magnificent experiment that would never have happened under normal circumstances."

The musicians who worked on the project include current and previous members of Gabriel's band: Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Pat Mastelotto, Larry Fast, Pete Levin, David Sancious, Paul Richards, Donna Lewis, Elliott Sharp, Tim Bowness, Peter Chilvers, Gail Ann Dorsey, Stephan Thelen, Julie Slick, Steve Ball, Jon Durant, Theo Travis, Jakko Jakszyk, and Patrick Grant.

The music is being mixed in Bearsville, New York by Robert Frazza of Ashokan Talent. Frazza has supported over 200 bands around the world, including Orleans, Todd Rundgren, and Peter Gabriel. He is frequently called upon to pull together international tours.

Fans of Peter Gabriel's expansive catalog should head to https://jeremynesse.bandcamp.com/ for the first release.

Press materials are available here: https://tinyurl.com/yckv4js4

SOURCE Through the Wire Project
RESTON, Va., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trillion Technology Solutions, Inc. (TRILLION) is proud to announce that Trillion ERP VentureTech LLC, our JV with ERP International managed by TRILLION, has been awarded a spot on DoD's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) Artificial Intelligence Test & Evaluation (AI T&E) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). This five-year BPA allows TRILLION to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) T&E services to JAIC, DoD, and the entire US Government. TRILLION will support the DoD and US Government's AI test and evaluation objectives in T&E technologies and tools, T&E services using AI, and integrate and align AI T&E tools and services with DoD's AI platforms.

TRILLION's Director of Business Development, Colonel Kevin Kelly USMC (Ret.), says, "the JAIC T&E BPA provides us one more avenue to grow our partnership with DoD and continue to enhance our services to support the Warfighter." Nick Hale, who leads the Trillion Research and Innovation Lab (TRIL), says he and his team look forward to exploring ways to collaborate with DoD and other federal agencies and share emerging technology ideas and solutions that are being developed at TRIL.

Trillion Technology Solutions, Inc. provides innovative IT business solutions and services in the government and commercial sectors. We are Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified organization with industry-standard quality certifications including CMMI-3 (DEV and SVC), ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 20000-1:2018. We support several civilian and defense agencies, including FEMA, ICE, DHS S&T, CBP, USCIS, GSA, FAA, DOJ, NOAA, DOC, DISA, USMC, and Air Force.

We are a proven leader who provides cost-effective, secure, and scalable IT solutions driven by advanced capabilities in machine and deep learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cyber security, health IT, cloud computing, enterprise architecture, & mobile technology. We build custom solutions, integrate various COTS and open-source technology stacks to create cutting-edge IT systems, migrate legacy systems to scalable microservices-based architectures to be deployed either on-premise, or cloud-enabled infrastructure. We are proficient in Agile development methodologies such as SAFe, Scrum, Kanban, and Scrumban. We have been listed as a top performer on the INC 5000 list several times. The accolades, feedback, reviews, and CPARS that we receive from our clients are a testament to our high quality of service and our ability to ensure that our clients can meet their business objectives.

Visit Trillion Technology Solutions at www.ttsiglobal.com

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Trillion Technology Solutions
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul announced it is now fully operational at its new fulfillment and distribution center at 1800 Reynolds Ave. in Kansas City, site of the former Ball Corporation aluminum beverage can manufacturing plant.

Initial operations began at the new U-Haul Fulfillment Center of Kansas City in May 2021. The 410,000-square-foot facility is the distribution hub for everything from truck parts to moving supplies across the U.S. and Canada.

"Kansas City is in the center of U-Haul business operations, making it a prime distribution location for our entire network," said Jeremy Brick, U-Haul Fulfillment Center president. "Opening this location enabled us to expand operations while still ensuring shipments are as prompt and practical as possible."

U-Haul invested millions of dollars into the facility, modernizing the warehouse and adding the most updated technology, including automatic conveyers, 3D imaging for stocking, inline scales for quality control, and much more.

Brick expects to employ at least 220 Team Members at the fulfillment center. While many of those positions have been filled, jobs are currently available. Apply at uhauljobs.com. U-Haul, honored as a "Best for Vets 2020" leading veteran-friendly employer by The Military Times, actively recruits veterans and gives them preference in the hiring process.

Acquisition of the property was driven by U-Haul Corporate Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new-building materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings.

About 70% of all U-Haul-owned and -operated stores and plants are adaptive reuse projects.

Prior to acquisition of the Reynolds Avenue property, U-Haul distribution needs were met out of a leased facility at 1650 N. Topping Ave. in Kansas City.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul continues to serve communities during the COVID-19 recovery while offering contactless business programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people's homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and many other dependent groups, in addition to the do-it-yourself household mover.

About U-HAUL

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 825,000 rentable storage units and 71.6 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.

Contact:

Andrea Batchelor

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul
PHOENIX, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unity Rd., the cannabis dispensary franchise from Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB), is prepped for momentous growth with new franchise partners, acquisitions and openings. After a successful year of eight signed agreements for expansion into six new states, the brand is well-positioned to build off this performance in an optimistic 2022.

Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Virginia were some of the states to see franchise growth in 2021  and the industry itself grew with five more states legalizing either medicinal or adult-use cannabis last year. With several states preparing to legalize cannabis through legislative bills and ballot measures this year, more opportunities will soon be available and market forecasts show U.S. cannabis sales will reach $50 billion by 2026.

"Cannabis is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and we are at the forefront, as a pioneer leading the charge," said Andrew Bowden, CEO of Item 9 Labs Corp. "Heading into 2022, we believe all our efforts will accelerate as we see licenses and permits go through and new Unity Rd. openings taking place nationwide."

A major brand milestone was hit in June with the opening of Unity Rd.'s first cannabis franchise shop in Boulder, Colorado owned by a father-and-son team. Stacked with a roster of strong development, Unity Rd. also solidified deals in New Jersey and Virginia, while announcing its expansion throughout Maine, and most recently signed its first agreement in South Dakota.

Another success the franchise company saw last year was the launch of a national dispensary acquisition program which offers a solution for prospective entrepreneurs seeking immediate entry into the cannabis industry. Through corporate acquisitions, this program converts dispensaries into Unity Rd. shops that can be sold to an existing or future franchise partner. This initiative allows for another avenue to keep cannabis dispensary ownership local, which is at the core of Unity Rd.'s mission and will be a key focal point this year.

In October, Item 9 Labs Corp. executed an Asset Purchase Agreement for the first shop in this program, an existing dispensary license and storefront in Adams County, Colorado. The company is currently awaiting regulatory approval by Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division (the "MED") and expects the shop to be operational in the first half of 2022.

"We truly strengthened our foundation this past year, and now we will continue to educate and build awareness of our franchise opportunity," added Unity Rd.'s Chief Franchise Officer Mike Weinberger. "We have seen increased interest from prospective franchise partners and are starting to open more shops, but we are not taking our pedal off the gas because more entrepreneurs need to know that the complex cannabis industry and franchising can exist as one  and that is Unity Rd."

An industry trailblazer, Unity Rd. has set the stage as the first national cannabis dispensary franchise model in the United States. This continues to be recognized by the franchise industry, as Unity Rd. recently became the first of its kind to be named a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA). The cannabis dispensary franchise also landed a place on Franchise Dictionary Magazine's TOP 100 Game Changers for 2021 and Franchise Journal Magazine's list of 2021 Top Brands.

Unity Rd. offers a guided route for cannabis entrepreneurs looking to enter and navigate the complex cannabis industry. The dispensary franchise's time-tested Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and dedicated team, with a combined 120+ years of cannabis experience, direct franchise partners through every operational function of the business, whether it be securing a license or assisting with cash flow, product selection or changing regulations. The marijuana dispensary franchise is actively seeking qualified partners who would benefit from the systems, processes and ongoing support the franchise offers. Currently, Unity Rd. has multiple agreements signed with nearly 20 entrepreneurial groups who are in various stages of development nationwide.

To learn more about the Unity Rd. franchise opportunity, contact [email protected], call 720-923-5262 or visit unityrd.com.

About Unity Rd. :

Unity Rd. is bridging the two previously disconnected worlds of cannabis and franchising. The industry trailblazer is the first to bring the cannabis dispensary franchise model to the United Stateswith duality of prowess in both industries to back it up. Built up from a collective 200 years in the legal cannabis industry and franchising, the company helps eager operators enter the complex industry with ease. The marijuana franchise pioneer offers its partners the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. Launched in 2018, Unity Rd. has signed multiple agreements with nearly 20 entrepreneurial groups across the country. Recently, it was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and one of the "Best Cannabis Companies to Work For" in both the dispensary and cultivation categories in Cannabis Business Times' elite 2020 list. The company is also the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award. For more information, visit unityrd.com.

About Item 9 Labs Corp.

Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand. Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space up to 640,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com.

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. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Media Contact:

Marisa Beaumont

Fishman PR

[email protected]

847-945-1300

Investor Contact:

Item 9 Labs Corp.

[email protected]

800-403-1140

SOURCE Unity Rd.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate, "If your husband or dad served in a navy ship's engine room as a boiler technician-boilerman and he has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma anywhere in the USA please call attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste at 800-714-0303 for a serious conversation about financial compensation. Financial compensation for a person might be in the millions of dollars-depending on the specifics of their asbestos exposure.

US Navy Veteran-Mesothelioma Asbestos Warning Sign

"If the navy had a job title for 'dirtiest jobs in the navy' before 1982 it would have been boiler technician-boilerman. These specialists maintained their ship's boilers, gauges, pumps, valves, insulation, and everything else in the engine room. Navy Veterans like this probably had daily exposure to asbestos. If a navy ship was sent to a shipyard for an engine room overhaul or repair in most instances the boiler technicians would have worked side by side with the shipyard workers and their asbestos exposure could have been extreme.

"If the person we have just described sounds like your husband or dad, and he has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma please call attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste at 800-714-0303 for a serious conversation about financial compensation. Aside from being one of the nation's most skilled mesothelioma attorneys Erik Karst specializes in assisting Navy Veterans with this rare cancer-coast to coast." www.karstvonoiste.com/

The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate wants a Navy Veteran with mesothelioma or their family members to know that the size of a mesothelioma compensation settlement is based on how, where and when a person like this was exposed to asbestos. A Navy Veteran's discharge papers called a DD214 might be extremely helpful and the asbestos exposure probably took place in the 1960s or 1970s. https://USNavyMesothelioma.Com

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However, based on the calls the US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate receives a US Navy Veteran who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. www.karstvonoiste.com/

For more information about mesothelioma, please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma

Media Contact:

Michael Thomas

800-714-0303

[email protected]

SOURCE US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate
Following the reveal of VinFast's full lineup of EVs at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2022) last month, VinFast is bringing its new VF 8 and VF 9 all-electric sport utility vehicles directly to Californians through this roadshow.

The VinFast California Roadshow will kick-off with a private event and VF 8 vehicle display this evening at Penthouse 56, this week's headquarters for the Los Angeles Rams as part of their big game celebrations.

The tour will run concurrently in Los Angeles at the Westfield Century City during 11th  13th February, and will continue to three more cities in Northern and Southern California, then concluding on March 6th at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. The tour will be held in the most populous areas in Californian cities, directly providing specifications and images of VinFast's EV models to potential customers and the locals.

"We are thrilled to provide potential customers a first-hand opportunity to experience our brand and learn more about our premium electric SUVs," said Ms Van Anh Nguyen, VinFast US Chief Executive Officer. "California is VinFast's home in the US, with operations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, so it's important that we start our journey building relationships with local communities in our own backyard."

Those who attend the Roadshow will learn about VinFast's full lineup of electric vehicles and the exclusive VinFirst pre-order program, which offers early-bird reservation holders premium rewards including a 5-star resort stay and $3,000 to $5,000 discounts on vehicle purchases. The VinFirst program is open until April 5, 2022 (PST).

The Roadshow schedule includes:

Southern California

Westfield Century City



10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067

90067



Friday, February 11  Sunday, February 13



Irvine Spectrum



670 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, CA 92618

92618



Thursday, February 17  Sunday, February 20

Northern California

o Westfield Valley Fair



2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050

95050



Thursday, February 24  Sunday, February 27



San Francisco Ferry Building



1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105

94105



Friday, March 4  Sunday, March 6

The Roadshow comes in advance of the initial VinFast company-owned retail locations and experience center openings, which will be launching throughout California in the coming months.

The retail centers will provide potential customers the opportunity to learn more about VinFast's vehicles and technologies and engage with knowledgeable client hosts about the marque's products and services. They will also be able to build and customize their own VF 8 five-passenger or VF 9 seven-passenger all-electric SUVs using in-store applications, design elements and configurators.

For more information about VinFast's California Roadshow, please follow along on the Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/1jEEnCeSt. Interested customers can make reservations through the VinFirst reservation program for the VF 8 and VF 9 at: https://reserve.vinfastauto.com/.

About VINFAST

VinFast - a member of Vingroup  envisioned to drive the movement of global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.com.

About VINGROUP

Established in 1993, Vingroup is one of the leading private conglomerates in the region, with a total capitalization of $35 billion USD from three publicly traded companies (as of November 4, 2021). Vingroup currently focuses on three main areas: Technology and Industry, Services and Social Enterprise. Find out more at: https://www.vingroup.net/en.

SOURCE VinFast Automotive
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market, By Type (Non-persistent VDI, Persistent VDI), Component (Platform, Service, Hardware), Deployment Model (On-premise, Cloud), Application (IT & Telecom, BFSI, Government, Aerospace): Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18% during the forecast year from 2021 to 2027.



The latest report on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market understands market size estimates, forecasts, market shares, competition analysis, along with industry trends of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure with emphasis on market timelines and technology roadmaps analysis.



The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market is segmented by type, component, deployment model, application and region. The research covers the current and historic Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market size and its growth trend with company outline of Key players /manufacturers: NComputing, Inc., RedHat, Inc., VMware, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Evolve IP LLC., Citrix Systems, Inc., Amazon Web Services, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Parallels International GmbH, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, and Microsoft Corporation among others.



Analysis of the global market with special focus on high growth application in each vertical and fast-growing market segments. It includes detailed competitive landscape with identification of the key players with respect to each type of market, in-depth market share analysis with individual revenue, market shares, and top players rankings. Impact analysis of the market dynamics with factors currently driving and restraining the growth of the market, along with their impact in the short, medium, and long-term landscapes. Competitive intelligence from the company profiles, key player strategies, game-changing developments such as product launches and acquisitions.



The objective of this study is to identify the market opportunities and estimate market size by segments and countries for last few years and to forecast the values to the next five years. The report incorporates both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry with respect to each of the regions and countries involved in the study. The report also covers qualitative analysis on the market, by incorporating complete pricing and cost analysis of components & products, Porter's analysis and PEST (Political, Economic, Social & Technological factor) analysis of the market. The report also profiles all major companies active in this field.



Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market is segmented by type, component, deployment model, application and region. Players, stakeholders, and other participants in the global Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market will be able to gain a strong position as this report will surely benefit their marketing strategies. The market analysis focuses on revenue and forecast by region/countries and by application in terms of revenue and forecast for the period 2016-2027.



Report further studies the market development status and future and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market trend across the world. Also, it splits Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market by type, component, deployment model, application and region to deep dive research and reveals market profile and prospects.

Reason to purchase this report:

Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market over the next years.

Gain an in-depth understanding of the underlying factors driving demand for different and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them.

Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others.

Identify the major channels that are driving the global Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market, providing a clear picture of future opportunities that can be tapped, and resulting in revenue expansion.

Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the different countries within the global Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market.

Make correct business decisions based on a thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure market providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available.

Key Topics Covered:



1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



2. INTRODUCTION



3. MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Industry Segmentation

3.2. Market Trends Analysis

3.3. Major Funding & Investments

3.4. Market Dynamics

3.4.1. Drivers

3.4.2. Restraints

3.4.3. Opportunities

3.5. Value Chain Analysis

3.6. Pricing Analysis



4. IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET

4.1. Impact Of Covid-19 On Market, By Type

4.2. Impact Of Covid-19 On Market, By Component

4.3. Impact Of Covid-19 On Market, By Deployment Model

4.4. Impact Of Covid-19 On Market, By Application

4.5. Impact of Covid-19 On Market, By Geography



5. VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET, BY TYPE

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Non-persistent VDI

5.3. Persistent VDI



6. BY COMPONENT

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Platform

6.3. Service

6.3.1. Implementation

6.3.2. Maintenance & Support

6.3.3. Consulting

6.4. Hardware

6.4.1. Client-side hardware

6.4.2. Server-side hardware



7. BY DEPLOYMENT MODEL

7.1. Introduction

7.2. On-premise

7.3. Cloud based



8. BY APPLICATION

8.1. Introduction.

8.2. IT &Telecom

8.3. BFSI

8.4. Government

8.5. Aerospace

8.6. Manufacturing

8.7. Education

8.8. Transportation

8.9. Retail

8.10. Others



9. BY GEOGRAPHY

9.1. Introduction

9.2. North America

9.2.1. U.S.

9.2.2. Canada

9.3. Europe

9.3.1. Germany

9.3.2. U.K.

9.3.3. France

9.3.4. Rest of Europe

9.4. Asia Pacific

9.4.1. China

9.4.2. Japan

9.4.3. India

9.4.4. Rest Of Asia Pacific

9.5. Rest of the World

9.5.1. Middle East

9.5.2. Africa

9.5.3. Latin America



10. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Top Companies Ranking

10.3. Market Share Analysis

10.4. Recent Developments

10.4.1. New Product Launch

10.4.2. Mergers & Acquisitions

10.4.3. Collaborations, Partnerships & Agreements

10.4.4. Rewards & Recognition



11. COMPANY PROFILES

11.1. NComputing, Inc.

11.2. RedHat, Inc.

11.3. VMware, Inc.

11.4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company

11.5. Evolve IP LLC.

11.6. Citrix Systems, Inc.

11.7. Amazon Web Services

11.8. Oracle Corporation

11.9. Cisco Systems, Inc

11.10. Parallels International GmbH

11.11. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd

11.12. Microsoft Corporation



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7wymx0

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
For the 2022 CMO Leadership Awards, Life Science Leader Magazine teamed up with Industry Standard Research (ISR) to conduct the Contract Manufacturing Quality Benchmarking survey that captured input from decision makers, aiming to recognize the top contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) achieving outstanding performance in terms of capabilities, expertise, quality, etc. More than 86 contract manufacturers were assessed by 23 performance metrics in ISR's annual Contract Manufacturing Quality Benchmarking survey, covering all sizes of companies from both Pharma and Biopharma industries. With outstanding performance over the past year, WuXi STA won a 2022 CMO Leadership Award in all six core categories and scored as a 2022 CMO Leadership Award Champion in four core categories, based on customers' direct experience working with WuXi STA.

Dedicated to the CDMO industry for twenty years, WuXi STA served more than 560 customers worldwide in the year of 2021 alone. There are over 1,500 molecules in WuXi STA's pipeline, including 49 late-phase projects and 42 commercial projects. With the industry-leading integrated CMC platform and the global quality system, products manufactured by WuXi STA have been launched in 105 countries around the world.

Dr. Minzhang Chen, Co-CEO of WuXi AppTec and CEO of WuXi STA, commented, "It is a great honor for WuXi STA to receive the CMO Leadership Awards in all six categories again. Thanks to our partners for their recognition and trust. WuXi STA will continue to leverage our integrated CMC platform empowering more partners to accelerate the development of their innovative medicines for patients worldwide."

About WuXi STA

WuXi STA (stapharma.com), a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec (wuxiapptec.com), is a leading pharmaceutical development and manufacturing capability and technology platform company serving the life sciences industry, with global operations. As a premier contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), WuXi STA offers its worldwide partners efficient, flexible and high-quality solutions for integrated chemical, manufacturing and controls (CMC) from preclinical to commercial uses, including the development and manufacturing of small molecule, oligonucleotide, peptide and various complex chemical conjugate.

For more information, please visit: http://www.STApharma.com

About the CMO Leadership Awards

Now in its 11th year, Outsourced Pharma and Life Science Leader 's CMO Leadership Awards provide readers with accurate and reliable customer feedback to assist them in choosing a reputable partner for their development and manufacturing needs. For the 2022 CMO Leadership Awards, Industry Standard Research (ISR) determined the award recipients through their evaluation of more than 86 contract manufacturers. These CMOs were assessed by 23 performance metrics in ISR's annual Contract Manufacturing Quality Benchmarking survey. For more information about the awards, visit the awards website .

SOURCE WuXi AppTec
Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) has confirmed a key gold discovery at its Mount Flora project in Western Australia, thanks to an infill, reverse circulation (RC) drill campaign.

The explorer has tabled assays for the first eight holes, which targeted the primary gold zone at Mount Flora and returned as much as 5.65 g/t gold.

Kin says the initial RC findings further confirms the gold discoverys deeper, primary mineralisation and refines its understanding of the Mount Flora structural model.

Assays for another 17 holes, covering just more than 2,000 metres, remain pending, but Kin will report further results once received.

Potential to emerge as an important new gold discovery

Speaking to the campaign, Kin Mining managing director Andrew Munckton said: Were building an increasingly detailed understanding of the mineralisation at Mount Flora, with these initial RC holes providing further confirmation of the deeper, primary gold mineralisation, as well as enhancing our broader geological model.

These latest results support our view that the Mount Flora Eastern Zone contains several mineralised lodes, providing further confirmation of Mount Floras potential to emerge as an important new gold discovery 20 kilometres east of the main Cardinia Gold Project.

Assays are now eagerly awaited for the remaining 2,083 metres of RC drilling completed at Mount Flora as part of this program to confirm the extent of the high-grade mineralisation in both the near-surface and primary environment to the north and south of section 6817710mN.

Visual inspection of the RC drill chips shows that the drilling has successfully intersected the interpreted zones of mineralisation, with sulphide and scheelite logged in numerous holes.

The results are in

In November last year, Kin set out on a 25-hole drilling expedition, covering 3,169 metres, to chase up the primary gold mineralisation below a series of high-grade aircore results.

The latest gold hits from Mount Flora include:

 18 metres at 1.57 g/t gold from 119 metres, including 4 metres at 2.23 g/t from 119 metres at 2 metres at 5.65 g/t from 135 metres; and

 22 metres at 0.86 g/t from 102 metres, including 3 metres at 2.4 g/t from 102 metres and 2 metres at 2.35 g/t from 112 metres.

In addition, a single diamond hole was completed to test potential depth extensions of near-surface mineralisation at the Eastern Zone.

The diamond hole intersected two zones of high-grade gold at roughly 54 to 62 metres downhole and 188 to 194 metres downhole.

Following the latest results, Mount Flora is now interpreted to be multiple sub-vertical, north-striking lodes off the main, regional, northeast-striking Federation Fault.

Overall, Kin says the combination of soil geochemistry, aircore and diamond drilling and now the primary gold returned from the RC program confirm a zone of strong gold mineralisation.

The Mount Flora project remains a priority satellite exploration target for the companys geological team, alongside the 1.28-million-ounce Cardinia Gold Project.
Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) managing director Ian Warland discusses the companys strategy of adding value through greenfield exploration in highly prospective areas with good infrastructure and undervalued tenure.

The company has been developing the Mt Isa East Project in Queensland, targeting iron, gold, copper, and shear-hosted cobalt-gold over 1300 square kilometres of tenement.

Cooper Metals has already identified multiple copper-gold deposits, with the Barbara target offering a mineral resource estimate of 4.7 million tonnes at 1.6% copper and 0.15 g/t gold.

Historical workings already exist at the Python and King Solomon prospect, with shallow pits and an old shaft offering promising rock chip grades consisting of copper returns up to 16.65% and gold grades of up to 0.44 g/t.

A high-powered ground electromagnetic (EM) survey is already underway to identify optimal drill targets across the Python prospect.

The Yarraman prospect also provided promising rock chip samples up to 20.2% copper and 3.9 g/t gold, which will be followed up with mapping and sampling with some possible geophysics planned for this year.

Cooper Metal is also planning systematic exploration of its second project, the Yamarna Gold Project in Western Australia, historically underexplored because of shallow aeolian cover over areas of the tenure.
Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) has kept the drill bit turning at the Alahine Gold Project in Guinea, exploring an area believed to host a mineralised trend with an auger drilling program and confirming gold mineralisation.

The company has already completed 604 holes for 7,372 metres of shallow auger drilling out of the 10,000 metres of exploration targeted.

Initial results have confirmed the presence of a mineralised trend, with composite samples from beneath lateritic cover offering peak grades of 3.58 g/t gold and 0.93 g/t gold, results the company considers an encouraging indication of bedrock gold potential.

Multiple Phase 3 targets have also been identified for future follow-up programs, highlighting the potential for a parallel gold mineralisation trend within the southeast quadrant of the Alahine licence.

Laying the foundations for a gold discovery

Polymetals has continued the great momentum of 2021 with a suite of geological work scheduled for the coming year across both our Alahine and Mansala Gold Projects as we lay the foundations for a significant gold discovery, Polymetals Resources CEO Alex Hanly said.

The team is hard at work in the field, ensuring we position the company for exploration success in what is becoming arguably one of the best regions globally for greenfields gold discovery.

The next few months will provide a consistent stream of news flow and results for our Siguiri Basin licences.

We will announce further details of the upcoming Mansala drilling program and the final results from the Alahine auger program shortly.

Polymetals will now define additional targets on both the Alahine and Mansala projects with an airborne magnetics survey schedule for March.

About Polymetals Resources

Polymetals Resources is focused on acquiring, exploring and developing gold projects in Guinea, West Africa.

The companys key projects are Alahine and Mansala. Polymetals license areas contain extensive historic and current artisanal gold production, highlighting the exploration potential in the region.

The Siguiri Basin hosts several large active gold mining operations and is known for its significant and widespread gold anomalism.
Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd (ASX:MNS, OTCQX:MNSEF) continues to advance its wholly-owned Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania towards production.

The lithium-ion battery company is working on an updated bankable feasibility study (BFS), constructing a resettlement village and gearing up to deliver on a major offtake agreement in the years to come.

Heres whats on Magnis agenda heading into 2022.

Bankable feasibility study

As Magnis gears up for the next phase of Nachus development, its tapped a global engineering group to complete an updated BFS for the graphite asset.

Thanks to the companys recent offtake deal with Traxys  more on that below  theres been a buzz of interest from other potential customers and funders.

As a result, Magnis has opted to update the feasibility study to an annual graphite production rate of 220,000 tonnes.

That metric is very similar to the findings from a 2016 study but in this case, Ausenco will redesign the process plant for capital and operating cost efficiency.

In addition, the updated BFS will review power generation options with a strong focus on assisting the local community.

Over time, Nachus high-grade graphite production profile will include:

20,000 tonnes per annum of +500 micron (+35 mesh Super Jumbo) at 98.5% total graphitic carbon;

70,000 tonnes per annum of +300 micron (+50 mesh, Jumbo) at 98.5% total graphitic carbon; and

130,000 tonnes per annum of 300 micron (- 50 mesh) at +99% total graphitic carbon.

Magnis says its able to generate large-size fraction and high purity graphite products from Nachu thanks to the quality of the flake that naturally occurs in mineralisation.

Now, its working on a process that will take advantage of these natural attributes.

Resettlement village

Recently, Magnis completed basic infrastructure works on the projects resettlement village, including work on a boundary road.

The company has also appointed a contractor and project manager to erect the village.

Magnis chairman Frank Poullas said: We are proud to be involved in many social programs which will improve the lives of the local community.

It has and always will play an important role in the company.

We continue to work hard to progress our Nachu Graphite Project and we believe the green attributes of the project of being able to produce battery anode material without the need for chemical purification will be a game-changer in the marketplace.

Traxys binding offtake agreement

In late December, Magnis inked a binding offtake agreement with Traxys to deliver and sell high-quality, high purity natural flake graphite from Nachu.

Under the terms of the agreement, which will begin in the second half of 2024, 600,000 tonnes of high purity graphite  across all flake sizes  will be purchased over a six-year period at market prices.

About Magnis

Magnis Energy Technologies is a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery company with strategic investments in several aspects of the electrification supply chain, including the manufacture of green credentialed lithium-ion battery cells, leading-edge lithium-ion battery technology and high-quality, high-performance anode materials.

The companys vision is to enable, support and accelerate the green energy transition, which remains central to the adoption of electric mobility and renewable energy storage.
Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX:CPH, OTCQB:COPHF) has entered the final stage of development for a new hemp-based lozenge, potentially expanding its international opportunities.

The lozenge, based on cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A), shows strong therapeutic benefits and will be sold in Europe and Latin American markets as a food supplement.

Creso anticipates its lozenge has the potential to push a whole new product range, which can be sold through the already existing operations in Europe and international markets.

Creso already has existing relationships with Europe and Latin America, providing a strong foundation for potential sales growth overseas.

The company plans to leverage its existing products, including cannaQIX (a nutraceutical aiming to reduce stress) as well as its internal expertise and technology to progress its development.

Research into COVID-19

The development of the new lozenge follows a recent study from Oregon State University, which highlighted how hemp compounds demonstrate the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells.

The study identified how CBD-A possessed the correct molecular make-up to suggest it could stop the COVID spike protein from binding to and infecting a cell.

It is important to note, however, that Creso has not undertaken an independent study on the efficacy of the lozenge in the treatment of COVID-19 and makes no therapeutic claims.

CEO and managing director William Lay says the development of the new lozenge will become the basis for Creso to launch another strong product range.

As the CBD and hemp sector continues to expand at a rapid pace, Creso Pharma remains well placed to capitalise their portfolio.

Once the development is completed, we will begin selling the new products through existing operations in Europe and through our recently acquired US business division.

Written by Duncan Bailey
Euro Manganese Inc (ASX:EMN, TSX-V:EMN, OTCQX:EUMNF) has closed a C$8,499,500 strategic equity investment with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The battery materials company issued 17.8 million EMN shares at C$0.4775 apiece to the EBRD via a private placement.

Thanks to the investment, the multilateral bank now holds around 4.4% of Euros shares.

EMN will use the funding runway to help finance its cornerstone Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic.

The cash injection will support a feasibility study, site preparation and operating costs for the demonstration plant and environmental works, including permitting and other activities related to the final environmental and social impact assessment.

EMN will also issue 534,000 shares, priced as above, to EIT InnoEnergy. Altogether, the shares are valued at C$254,985  representing a finders fee thats equivalent to 3% of the placements gross proceeds.

CEO Matt James to host EMNs first quarterly investor call

Euro Manganese has also announced it will host its maiden quarterly investor call at 1:30 pm Pacific Time on Monday, February 14, 2022.

CEO Matt James will provide an overview of the companys activities, including an operational update on the Chvaletice Manganese Project and upcoming milestones.

The chief executive will take questions from investors after the presentation.

Full details are outlined below:

For North America and Europe: Monday, February 14, 2022  1:30 pm Pacific Time | 4:30 pm Eastern Time | 9:30 pm GMT

Monday, February 14, 2022  1:30 pm Pacific Time | 4:30 pm Eastern Time | 9:30 pm GMT For Australia : Tuesday, February 15, 2022  8:30 am AEDT

: Tuesday, February 15, 2022  8:30 am AEDT Meeting link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/uwyf46bn

Dial-in numbers (for participants who wish to ask questions):

AUSTRALIA - Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (1800) (005989)

US/CANADA - Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (855) 702-9142

US/CANADA - Participant International Dial-In Number: (478) 219-0702

Conference ID: 8265260

About Euro Manganese

Euro Manganese is a battery materials company whose principal focus is advancing the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in which it holds a 100% interest.

The proposed project entails re-processing a significant manganese deposit hosted in mine tailings from a decommissioned mine, strategically located in the Czech Republic.

The companys goal is to become a leading, competitive and environmentally superior primary producer of ultra-high-purity manganese products in the heart of Europe, serving the lithium-ion battery industry, as well as other high-technology applications.
One of the holes hit a length of 10.5 metres at a grade of 5.06 grams per ton (g/t) of gold and 3.27 g/t silver

TomaGold Corporation has unveiled the latest drill results from its Obalski property and revealed that it has expanded its ground at the asset in Quebec via a new acquisition.

The new assays come from the first three holes of the second phase of the group's 11,500-metre (m) drilling program at the property.

One of the holes hit a length of 10.5m at a grade of 5.06 grams per ton (g/t) of gold and 3.27 g/t silver. Included in that intercept was 0.65m at a 71 g/t gold and 31.4 g/t silver.

At the end of last year, TomaGold noted, an induced polarization (IP) survey was carried out over around six line-kilometres (km)at Obalski, which indicated large geophysical anomalies to the west and southwest. Around 9 line-km of further line-cutting will begin in the next few days, to be followed by IP surveying, the company said.

In addition, TomaGold noted that on February 10 this year, it inked a deal with Yorbeau Resources Inc to acquire Yorbeaus 51% interest in the five claims immediately west of Obalski. In exchange, it will issue 1.5 million shares to Yorbeau, along with a 2% net smelter return royalty (NSR), with half (1%) redeemable by TomaGold for $1 million.

The Obalski property now comprises 74 claims and covers an area of 2,724 hectares or 27 square kilometres (sq km)

David Grondin, the CEO of TomaGold, noted that the hole, reported above, continued to demonstrate the potential of the asset in Chibougamau, Quebec.

"Hole OBS-21-015A continues to demonstrate that the Obalski property has excellent exploration potential at depth in terms of grade and width, and the results of the IP survey also seem to indicate exploration potential to the west of the deposit. Acquiring the claims to the west was therefore a logical choice for us. The prospects for work on Obalski look very promising for TomaGold," he said in a statement.

Drilling continues on the property, with three holes totaling approximately 2,000m currently being sunk.

Discovered in 1928, the Obalski deposit produced 100,273 tonnes at grades of 1.14% copper, 2.08 g/t gold and 6.04 g/t silver from the A zone between 1964 to 1972, and around 9,000 tonnes at a reported grade of 8.5 g/t gold from the D zone in 1984.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
I3 Energy Plc is set for very positive catalysts both in terms of commodity prices and the groups operations, thats according to analysts at WH Ireland.

The stockbroker highlighted that I3 has its propeller turning in Canada where a multi-well drill campaign promises to build material production volumes, described by WH Ireland as a development with major strategic implications.

Today, the company provided details of its planned Phase One, US$47mln, capital programme for 2022.

The company, in a statement, said that seven wells (five net) will be drilled across its portfolio - including the Central Alberta, Marten Hills & Marten Creek, and Simonette areas  targeting 2,450 barrels oil equivalent of addition production (expected to be 55% oil and natural gas liquids).

At the same time, a programme of recompletions and reactivations is planned to take advantage of low-cost, high-return opportunities. It is expected to yield 600 boepd and the investments are forecast to achieve payback within a year.

WH Ireland highlighted that its recently updated fair value pitched 37p per share of upside, of which 30p per share ascribed to the Canadian assets.

Specifically, our valuation remains premised on our estimate of cash flow from operations for 2022 multiplied by 5.0x to arrive at a fair value estimate, WH Ireland analyst Brendan Long said in a note.

Looking ahead, we see very positive catalysts for i3 Energy: i) commodity prices rising ii) i3 Energy establishing itself an operator capable of drilling long-reach laterals iii) hundreds of undrilled well locations  circa 450 and iv) very significant amounts of unallocated cash that can be deployed opportunistically  we expect the companys year-end cash balance to be greater than $80m in the absence of more-than-guided capex.

Elsewhere, SP Angel analyst Sam Wahab added: i3s low-decline assets continue to outperform expectations, and the company is forecasting robust cash flow generation from its production business following an intense period of accretive growth since its mid-2020 entry into the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

In addition, the recently announced monthly dividend will appeal to investors seeking regular income and the option for reinvestment to improve returns.

I3, meanwhile, revealed the results of the campaigns first well which is its first as operator.

The well was drilled on the Open Creek field of Central Alberta. The well (numbered as the 14-24 well) was drilled over seventeen days, down to a vertical depth of 5,334 metres with a 2,900 metre lateral section and it encountered clean sand and strong gas shows throughout the entirety of the horizontal length. It is the first of two to be drilled off the same drill pad.

The drill rig has now skidded over to drill the second well from the pad, and, it is planned that both wells will be completed and tested.

I3 said it expects the wells will yield around 600 boepd per well.

"We are very pleased to have successfully completed drilling operations on our first new operated well in the company's 2022 Canadian capital programme and look forward to bringing this well and subsequent wells onto production over the first half of this year, Shafiq said.
Soma Gold Corp CEO Javier Cordova joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of its 2022 exploration plans, which include 20,000 metres of drilling at its assets in Antioquia, Colombia.

Cordova telling Proactive that there is significant potential for high-grade gold discoveries in the underexplored, yet highly mineralized region of Soma's concessions.

Soma also Soma completed the repayment of the first tranche of the NG Gold loan in January, well ahead of its end-2022 deadline, and plans to complete the repayment of the second tranche by the end of the year, Cordova added.
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New Pacific Metals (TSX:NUAG, NYSE:NEWP) Inc Senior Vice President Steve Stakiw joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of the company's discovery drill program last year at its Carangas project in Bolivia.

Stakiw telling Proactive that it received assays from six holes from the asset, while results from 17 have so far been received, with all of them hitting near-surface silver-rich polymetallic mineralization.

He also updated investors on New Pacific Metals' flagship Silversand project.
Ottawa, Feb 11 : The Ottawa Police Service has said the police have arrested 25 people and issued 1,775 tickets to put an end to the unlawful demonstrations in the downtown areas.

Police have responded to nearly 1,000 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began and continue to prevent people from supplying fuel and other material supports to demonstrators, the Ottawa Police said in a statement.

The Ottawa police on Wednesday delivered a message to demonstrators highlighting that it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property. There are currently 126 active criminal offence investigations in connection to the demonstrations, according to the Police.

The "Freedom Convoy 2022" protest began on January 29 as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the US be fully vaccinated as of mid-January, Xinhua news agency reported.
Geneva, Feb 11 : A group of UN human rights experts on Thursday called on Canada to urgently repatriate from Syria a woman who has life-threatening illnesses.

The woman, named Kimberly Polman and a Canadian national, has been detained at various camps since March 2019 absent any legal charges or legal process. She is currently held at Roj camp in Syria's northeast under conditions "meeting the threshold of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," the experts said.

According to the experts, she traveled to Syria in 2015 at the behest of her future husband whom she met online, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Victims or potential victims of trafficking should not be placed in situations that expose them to multiple forms of abuses," the experts added in a statement.

"The failure of their home State to protect individuals in such situations perpetuates and contributes to further victimisation of those who have already experienced violence and trauma," the statement said.

The experts pointed out that the Canadian government has not heeded her family's requests for repatriation, for access to immediate medical health, or for assistance in replacing her Canadian passport, a prerequisite to any return to Canada.

"The Canadian authorities' outright refusal to assist her so that she has urgent access to healthcare, or at the very least to facilitate the transfer of money from her family so that she is able to improve her health and living conditions, is a clear violation of her right to health and could amount to violations of the right to life and the prohibition of cruel and inhumane treatment," the experts said.

The experts, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, said they have been in contact with the Canadian government since autumn 2021.
London, Feb 11 : Commissioner Cressida Dick, Head of London's Metropolitan Police (Met), announced Thursday evening that she has resigned as Britain's top cop.

Dick, the first woman to lead the country's largest police force, had been under pressure over a number of issues that recently generated adverse publicity for the Met, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Police Chief said her decision followed contact with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan earlier on Thursday.

"It is clear that the Mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue. He has left me no choice but to step aside as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service," she added in a statement.

Dick said at the Mayor's request she agreed to stay on for a short period to ensure the stability of the Met and its leadership while arrangements are made for a transition to a new Commissioner.

She has been at the helm at the Met during a period that saw terrorist attacks, the Grenfell fire, protests, and the pandemic. Dick also acknowledged the impact of a number of events that have harmed the image of the force.

She said the murder by a serving Met police officer of female citizen Sarah Everard, and many other awful cases recently have damaged confidence in police service.

In a statement from City Hall, Khan said urgent changes were required in the Met to root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination and misogyny that still exist, and he is not satisfied with the Commissioner's response.

Earlier this February, a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Britain's police conduct authority, unveiled evidence of bullying and discrimination within the ranks of Met.

"Disgraceful behaviour" by police officers, including racism, misogyny, harassment and the exchange of offensive social media messages, was highlighted in the report.
Kabul, Feb 11 : During a meeting with Deborah Lyons, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Afghanistan, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi assured to resolve the issue of the missing female activists, it was announced.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Lyons and Muttaqi held the meeting on Wednesday during which the Taliban Minister "assured of efforts to resolve issue. His constructive approach welcomed. UN continues to engage Taliban to support welfare and rights of all Afghans".

While Tamana Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhil went missing in January, Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar disappeared last week On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed concerns over the well-being of the activists.

"I am increasingly concerned about the well-being of missing women activists in Afghanistan. Several have 'disappeared', some not heard from in weeks," he said in a tweet.

"I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home." Echoing the UN chief's concern, Australia's interim mission to Afghanistan said on Thursday: "Australia shares the international community's concerns about the well-being of women activists in Afghanistan. We urge the Taliban to resolve this issue and ensure the rights of all Afghans." Meanwhile, Afghan women's rights activists have called for clarification over the fate of the missing.

"Releasing statements, holding conference, gatherings and twitter messages will never end in a result which is required and we expect. These do not change the situation," said Monisa Mubariz, a women's rights activist.
Kabul, Feb 11 : The UN has provided $3.13 million cash assistance to Afghanistan over the past three months, the country's central bank has said.

"Afghanistan Bank welcomes UN humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and calls for further assistance and cooperation," TOLO News reported on Thursday citing Saber Momand, spokesman of the central bank, as saying.

Meanwhile, some economists consider this aid to be important in reducing poverty in the country amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

"Afghanistan needs more aid to be able to help our infrastructure, such as our production, industry and agriculture," said Seyar Quraishi, an economist.

"The world financial assistance can help us solve the liquidity problem, improve monetary stability and control the exchange rate," said Shakir Yaqoubi, another economist.

In the meantime, the Taliban government called on the world to provide more aid to Afghanistan.

"The start of formal interaction, as well as the expansion of various interactions, especially trade and economic interactions, can save Afghanistan from the current economic crisis," said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman of the Taliban.

After the fall of the former government in August last year, nearly $10 billion of Afghan assets were frozen in US banks and international aid to the country was cut off.
Seoul, Feb 11 : The top nuclear negotiators of South Korea, Japan and the US met in Honolulu to discuss ways to restart dialogue with reclusive North Korea.

The talks follow a series of North Korean missile launches that included the firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the longest range ballistic missile fired by Pyongyang since late 2017, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"Right now, the conditions in the Korean Peninsula are very serious. We are especially concerned because many remarks and actions have been emanating (from North Korea) since late last year and this month," South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk told reporters before the start of a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi.

"And that is why we plan to discuss with the US and with Japan on how we may engage with North Korea at this point and focus on such steps that may allow engagement," Noh added.

Noh was later set to hold bilateral talks with his US counterpart, Sung Kim, which will be followed by a trilateral meeting with the US and Japanese nuclear envoys.

Kim declined to comment when asked what steps the countries may consider to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table, only saying he was "just looking forward to having a good meeting".

North Korea staged seven rounds of missile launches in January, marking the largest number of missile tests it conducted in a month, while ignoring US overtures for dialogue.

North Korea has avoided denuclearization talks since late 2019.

Noh said the countries have been discussing "various ways" to engage with North Korea.

"But we will now have to consider the situation. There are special circumstances at this point and so we will have to discuss which steps will be effective and whether they will work," he said.

The South Korean envoy earlier noted one of such steps may be the Seoul-proposed declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

The nuclear envoys' meeting comes as a preview of trilateral foreign ministerial talks that will also be held here later this week.
Kathmandu, Feb 11 : US President Joe Biden's administration has warned that it will review its ties with Nepal if the $500 aid pledged under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was not ratified by the Himalayan nation's Parliament.

In separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML chair K.P. Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Thursday, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu said that Washington will review its relations with Nepal in the event of its failure to ratify the MCC compact from Parliament by February 28, according to multiple media reports in Kathmandu.

"Secretary of State Lu conveyed to Chairman Oli that the US will be forced to review its bilateral ties with Nepal if the MCC is not ratified by the given deadline set by Deuba and Dahal," The Kathmandu Post daily quoted Rajan Bhattarai, the head of the UML's Foreign Department, as saying.

In response, Oli, according to Bhattarai, said that the US has been one of the biggest assistance partners of Nepal in various sectors for decades.

Nepal signed the $500 million grant under the MCC facilities in 2017 but to the strong opposition from some communist parties including from Prachanda's CPN-Maoist Center, the US aid has failed to execute and ratify from the house.

One of the clause in the MCC agreement is to ratify it from Parliament for timely completion of the project in five years.

Assistant Secretary Lu told the Nepali leaders that if the grant agreement did not move forward, the US would understand that China played a role in the South Asian country's internal politics, resulting in indecision on MCC and its ultimate suspension.

According to the media reports, Secretary Lu clearly told Maoist Chair Prachanda that the MCC agreement could not be amended nor its deadline for parliamentary ratification extended.

"Now you have to decide - whether you approve it or not," Lu added.

Prachanda, on his part, said that public opinion was divided on MCC and his party also had some objections.

However, Secretary Lu communicated to Prachanda that the US would think that MCC was turned down owing to China's pressure in Nepal.

"We will understand that China intervened and suspended our aid," he said.

The US assistance project MCC has long been under consideration in the House of Representatives.

MCC, in a letter dated February 6 and addressed to Prime Minister Deuba and Prachanda, had set February 28 deadline for Nepal to decide on grant agreement.

The letter was in response to another one dispatched by Deuba and Prachanda to the MCC on September 13 last year.

In the letter, the two leaders sought at least four months assuring to create an environment for MCC approval.

A consensus among major political parties is still lacking.

Prime Minister Deuba's efforts to move forward MCC is encountered by delay tactics employed by the ruling coalition partners, Maoist Center and the Unified Socialist.

Deuba, who is also the Nepali Congress president, sought the support of the main opposition but the CPN-UML clearly told him that it would reveal its stance on MCC only after the coalition clarified its position.

The meeting of the House of Representatives has been postponed several times due to lack of consensus among the parties on agenda.

Preparation is afoot to postpone the next sitting slated for February 14.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : A plea was moved in the Supreme Court on Friday challenging the Karnataka High Court's interim order directing students not to insist on wearing religious attire till the matter is decided.

The plea filed through advocates Rahamatullah Kothwal and Adeel Ahmed said: "The right to wear hijab falls under right to expression under Article 19 (1)(a), right to privacy and freedom of conscience under Article 25. The same cannot be infringed upon without a valid law". The college administration has resisted a group of students' insistence to wear Hijab. The matter has triggered reaction, where others have worn saffron shawls.

The plea filed by Mohamed Arif Jameel and D.J. Halli Federation of Masajids Madaaris and Wakf Institutions contended that the high court through its order has sought to curtail the fundamental right of the Muslim student-women by not allowing them to wear the hijab and pursue their education. "It is, therefore, necessary that an appropriate order be made staying the operation of the impugned order till the disposal of this petition otherwise the purpose of filing of special leave petition may be defeated and the same may be rendered in-fructuous", said the plea.

Citing the high court order, the plea said the Karnataka government has issued an order denying the entry to the Muslim women wearing Hijab in the educational institutions. "The impugned order creates an unreasonable classification between the non-Muslim female students and the Muslim female students and thereby is in straight violation of the concept of secularism which forms the basic structure of the Indian Constitution", added the plea.

The plea said the students concerned have to appear in practical examinations scheduled on February 15 and any interference on their access to institutions would impede on their right to education.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice J.M. Khazi had passed the oral observations and scheduled the hearing on petitions challenging Hijab ban on Monday. The high court said: "We will pass an order. Let the schools-colleges start. But till the matter is resolved, no student should insist on wearing religious dress".

The Supreme Court on Thursday refrained from giving a specific date for the urgent listing of a plea seeking transfer of petitions from the Karnataka High Court, which is currently examining the permissibility of hijab in schools and colleges.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana.

Sibal submitted that this deals with what is happening in Karnataka, and its spreading in the entire country. The Chief Justice told Sibal that the Karnataka High Court is already examining the issue and it should be allowed to decide it. "Why should we jump in at this stage? It does not look nice," said the top court.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister: "The entire life of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji was based on the principle of 'Sarvajan Hitay - Sarvajan Sukhay'. His philosophy of 'Integral Humanism' is capable of providing solutions to many problems of not only India but the world. Respectful tributes on his death anniversary." Also paying homage, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said: "Remembering the great son of this soil, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Punya Tithi today. He was a devout nationalist, insightful thinker and an epitome of selfless service.

"His philosophies of 'Integral Humanism' and 'Antyodaya' have inspired many to serve the nation and the downtrodden and will continue to remain a guiding force for all." Also in a tweet, Home Minister Amit Shah said: "Deendayal ji's philosophy of Antyodaya and Integral Humanism contains solutions to the problems of India and the whole world. By giving house, electricity, gas, toilet and pure drinking water to every poor and downtrodden, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji is doing a great job of bringing Deendayal ji's ideas to the ground." Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Heartfelt tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji on his death anniversary. He has given such a philosophical concept of 'Integral Humanism' to the politics of India, which is completely in line with the culture, tradition and nature of this country. His thoughts will continue to inspire the coming generations of India." BJP chief J.P. Nadda said that "his entire life dedicated to the service of the nation is an inspiration for all of us".
San Francisco, Feb 11 : Google has released the first developer preview of Android 13.

The developer preview of Android 13 brings a number of changes that benefit developers and making improvements to privacy, Material You, language controls, and more. These early previews are meant for developers rather than end users.

According to GSMArena, the first beta build to be ready for the public at large should arrive in April, while the final release of Android 13 is planned for sometime after July.

The next-gen Android 13 platform may add the ability to launch QR code scans via the lock screen.

Android 13 platform will allow apps to transfer media to nearby devices with a tap.

Android 13 platform will also offer major improvements in audio streaming through Bluetooth.

Google has merged the LE Audio codec (LC3) and has added it to system settings as a new option. When connecting to an audio device, the codec will take the highest priority, meaning that supported devices will try to establish a LE Audio connection before any other.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the world's highest-level decision-making body with a universal membership of all 193 nations, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on March 3 and 4, bringing together governments, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to address the environmental challenges that threaten the planet.

It will be preceded by the fifth session of the UN Environment assembly taking place -- in person and online -- at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi from February 28 to March 2 to agree on policies to address the most pressing environmental challenges.

Founded in 1972 following the landmark UN Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP was conceived to monitor the state of the environment, inform policy making with science and coordinate responses to the world's environmental challenges.

Since its creation, UNEP has worked closely with its 193 member states and other stakeholders to galvanize worldwide commitments and coordinated action to address many of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

It also played a leading role as the docking station for 15 multilateral environmental agreements.

Chemicals and waste management, marine litter and a green recovery from Covid-19 are some of the issues the UN Environment Assembly will address when it convenes for the resumed part of its fifth session, a UNEP spokesperson told IANS on Friday.

Environment ministers are also expected to consider the adoption of a declaration on strengthening actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

For 50 years UNEP has coordinated a worldwide effort to confront the planet's biggest environmental challenges. This global collaboration has helped repair the ozone layer, phase out leaded fuel, stop some endangered species from going extinct and more.

UNEP's convening power and rigorous scientific research has provided a platform for countries to engage, act boldly and advance the global environmental agenda.

To mark UNEP's 50th anniversary, a year-long series of activities and outreach events are taking place under the UNEP@50 banner. These recognize the significant progress made on global environmental matters and address the planetary challenges to come.

On October 2, 1973, Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta inaugurated UNEP's headquarters at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. In 1975, UNEP moved to a new location on the site of an old coffee farm on the outskirts of Nairobi, where it remains to this day.

The first meeting of the UNEP Governing Council took place in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, in June 1973.

In 2010, the first in a series of landmark science-based assessment by UNEP charts the gap between countries' pledges on greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions required to deliver a global temperature increase of below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

In 2016, Erik Solheim was appointed as Executive Director of UNEP. Solheim, a Norwegian, served from May 2016 to November 2018, championed action to tackle plastic pollution.

After Solheim, Joyce Msuya was appointed interim Executive Director. From November 2018 to June 2019, Msuya, a Tanzanian, tenure included leadership of the fourth UN Environment Assembly.

Inger Andersen appointed as Executive Director in 2019. A Danish national, she became the eighth and current leader of UNEP.

Andersen has more than 30 years of experience in international development economics, environmental sustainability, strategy and operations. She focuses UNEP and the broader United Nations on the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

What is next after the world marks 50 years since the birth of the environmental movement. Stockholm+50 --an international meeting to be held from June 2-3 -- will aim to accelerate the implementation of the UN Decade of Action, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the post-2020 global Biodiversity Framework.

One of the main themes of the conference is to achieve a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

UN Secretary-General AntAonio Guterres has described the triple planetary crisis as "our number one existential threat" that needs "an urgent, all-out effort to turn things around".

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
Nuapada, Feb 11 : The nomination of 40-year-old, visually impaired Shantilal Sabar, a candidate for the Sarpanch of Gandamer Gram Panchayat, Nuapada district, was rejected because he signed the nomination papers in Braille. This has triggered a demand for amendment in the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act and reservations for the differently-abled and highlighted the discrimination and insurmountable challenges faced by the community.

Three-tier panchayat elections are to be held in Odisha in five phases from February 16 to 24. On January 21, Sabar had filed his nomination. During the scrutiny on January 22, Election Officer cum Komna Block Development Officer (BDO) Sushant Rana cancelled his nomination, stating that a candidate who cannot read and write Odia is ineligible for the post of Sarpanch under section 11(b) of the Orissa Gram Panchayat Act 1964.

His case has also attracted the attention of the Odisha film industry (Ollywood), he said, and a few people have expressed interest in making a film based on his life. "They said they will visit me in my village soon," said Sabar.

Without rhyme or reason In 2012, the nomination of another visually impaired candidate, Golak Gauda from the Sanakhemundi block of Ganjam district, was rejected because he had placed a thumb impression instead of his signature. Sabar said that there was a call to amend the Act at that time; however, even after ten years, nothing has changed. The uproar only lasts during elections and fizzles out once the polls have concluded. Nevertheless, Sabar is determined to pursue his case and fight for reinstating his nomination.

Many visually impaired officers are employed across the nation despite their disability, including the IAS and IFS. Their contributions to the country, notwithstanding, Nuapada Sub Collector Taranisen Naik told The Hindu, "Shantilal's nomination had been cancelled as he could not read and write Odia. A visually impaired candidate cannot hold a highly demanding post like a Sarpanch who has to handle a fund of almost Rs 1 crore. The work of Sarpanch requires multi-tasking. Under various government schemes, they have to go through hundreds of applications seeking houses, pensions, etc. Blind candidates may face problems in grievance redressal." The sub-collector's statement disappointed Sabar. He told 101Reporters, "When an officer has this perception of visually impaired people, how could the general public trust him? The treasury officer of the district is also visually impaired. He is doing his job well. If I become the Sarpanch, I will discharge my duties responsibly. I can do my job well with the advancement in technology with the help of screen reading software, scanners, etc. Also, it is in the guidelines that I can have a helper to assist me." Sabar wants to develop his village, Dabripada. He said, "The government has provided so many schemes that everyone can live comfortably. However, their benefits are not reaching the villages. If I become the Sarpanch, I will provide all the facilities available in towns in my Panchayat. My priorities are building proper roads, providing clean drinking water, a good mobile network and a public library. I will install a big screen in the village centre so that the villagers can be up-to-date with news and information." He said that if elected Sarpanch, he would develop a model Panchayat in two years and set up a fund of one crore rupees towards the development of the village. Based on the success of his endeavour, he would then contest elections for the post of MP or MLA in 2024.

Living and dreaming beyond disabilities Sabar has been blind since birth and has studied at a school for the visually impaired in Kalahandi district. He completed his tenth board examination in 2003 through correspondence conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha. He had scored 50 marks out of 100 in the Odia language in this exam. Due to personal reasons, he then had to discontinue his studies. However, he is currently pursuing his final year BA from IGNOU. In 2012, he started Samarth, an organisation in Gotia village, Kalahandi, which works for the upliftment of the visually impaired. They are currently working with about forty persons who are blind, helping them with skill development, technology access and training in music and handicrafts. They are also assisted in their chosen subject of studies. The organisation also has a manufacturing unit of phenyl, dish wash liquid, sanitiser and candles.

He has also contested the Panchayat elections in 2007 but was initially stopped from filing his nomination, for the same reason. The Election Officer cum BDO informed the higher officials of the Panchayati Raj Department, who had instructed the BDO to accept the nomination because of the candidate's educational qualifications. Although Sabar had lost the 2007 election by nearly 200 votes, he did not lose his spirit. In 2012 and 2017, he wanted to contest elections again, but the post of Sarpanch was reserved for women. This time the seat is unreserved, and therefore, he had filed yet another nomination.

Demand for equal opportunities Sabar has demanded that the Gandamer Panchayat elections be postponed and that he be given the opportunity to contest the elections this time. He said that differently-abled people were deprived of their rights by cancelling their nominations despite having necessary educational qualifications. He plans to approach the Odisha High Court with support from Odisha Blind Association and Odisha Viklang Manch, and initiate a district-wise protest.

In Sabar's case, senior advocate and social activist Murlidhar Panda said, "The Gram Panchayat Act does not say that the candidate should only read and write the Odia alphabet. The defendant can read and write Odia in Braille. In Section 25 of the Act, it is not specified that a blind person can be disqualified for the post of Sarpanch. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, no person can be classified based on disability. The cancellation of his nomination is unconstitutional." The Odisha Viklang Manch has written a letter to the State Election Commission, Odisha Human Rights Commission and State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, demanding amendment in the disputed Act and immediate validation of Sabar's nomination.

Sabar is hoping to set a precedent for all differently-abled candidates. He said, "I do not have any specific knowledge of the law, and due to my financial condition, there may be some problems in fighting the legal battle. However, if the verdict is in my favour, other people like me will also stand a chance in future." (The author is a Odisha-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
Jaipur, Feb 11 : Rajasthan BJP workers have questioned the ban on the much famous Baneshwar Dham fair and demanded permission for it saying it is the centre of tribal faith.

"Beneshwar Dham is the centre of tribal faith. Tribals coming from Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh and Gujarat are disappointed as the fair has been banned. Many tribals have a ritual to immerse mortal remains of their family members during this fair.

"Moreover, when permission was granted to pilgrims to visit the shrine of Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer during Urs when Corona was at its peak, why can't the same be given to us?" asked the party workers who later met the collector demanding lifting of the ban.

Banswara BJP District President Govind Singh Rao, along with other officials -- Hakru Mayda, Mukesh Rawat, Manohar Patel, Rajesh Katara, Gauravsinh Rao and other BJP leaders -- submitted a memorandum to the Collector for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The workers said that a fair is held every year in Beneshwar. Every year, other communities along with the tribal families, come here to immerse the ashes of their loved ones. In such a situation, permission should be granted to this tribal fair which is held each year on the border of tribal dominated Banswara and Dungarpur districts.

Many businessmen from tribal communities set up their shops here. This gives income to their families and becomes a means of livelihood too, they added.

Rao said: "We urge the state government to stop playing with this appeasement policy and permit the fair or we shall organise a major protest."
Beirut, Feb 11 : Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has inaugurated the Lebanese National Library, a war-torn institution that has gone through decades of restoration.

"Despite all the political, economic and social challenges, Lebanon will always be a hub for culture," he told an inauguration ceremony, quoted by the Council of Ministers' statement as saying.

Established in 1921, the library was closed to the public in 1979 due to bombing and looting during the country's 15-year civil war, reports Xinhua news agency.

In 1999, the Lebanese government designated an old Ottoman-era building in the Sanayeh district as the new site of the library. Yet the restoration of the building and documents were repeatedly interrupted due to conflicts and challenges such as the Beirut port explosion in 2020.

The library's collections contained 300,000 titles, including books, manuscripts, rare documents, periodicals, as well as paintings, music scores and postcards.
Stockholm, Feb 11 : Just a day after Sweden virtually removed all Covid-19 restrictions, authorities announced that the number of hospital in-patients being treated for the disease is on the rise.

According to the latest statistics, 2,043 patients required hospitalisation this week - 40 more than a week ago, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The healthcare system is still strained. There are still many patients in hospitals and also many infected in special housing and home care," Anna Bennet Bark of the National Board of Health and Welfare said at a press conference on Thursday.

This situation is further compounded by the fact that many healthcare staff are off sick, Bennet Bark said.

The number of deaths related to Covid-19 has also increased compared to last week, but Sara Byfors of the Swedish Public Health Agency said it was still too early to say whether these deaths were due to the disease.

Compared to a week earlier, the number of confirmed infections in 24 hours had halved to 17,000, with around 45 per cent of all tests coming out positive.

However, testing has been rolled back considerably, and is now only recommended for those working in health care or at nursing homes.

"The pandemic is entering a new phase, but the spread of infection is still high," Byfors said, calling for more efforts on vaccination.

Sweden has now administered 20 million vaccine doses, in a population of 10.4 million.

As of Thursday, 86.6 per cent of those aged 12 or older had received at least one dose, while 83.8 per cent had had two doses.

Among those aged 18 and older, 54.4 per cent had also received a booster dose, up from 50 per cent last week.

Official statistics show that 37 additional deaths from Covid-19 had been recorded since Wednesday, bringing the total to just under 16,400, while the cumulative number of confirmed infections was approaching 2.4 million in the country.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the US has always used his country for its purposes, The News reported.

"Whenever the US needed us, they established relations, and Pakistan became a frontline state, and then abandoned it and slapped sanctions on us when its purposes were served," he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during an interview with Eric Li, the director of the advisory committee of the China Institute at Fudan University.

On Pakistan-US relations, he said there was a time when Pakistan had friendly relations with the US; and when Pakistan was no longer needed, the US distanced itself from it.

Later, he continued, friendly relations between the US and Pakistan were restored and Islamabad became a friend of Washington.

"The US helped us at that time, but as soon as the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, the US imposed sanctions on Pakistan." He said that after nine years, when 9/11 happened, US-Pakistan relations got better again. When the US failed in Afghanistan, Pakistan was blamed for the defeat.

Khan said Pakistan has not maintained relations with the US as it has with China, the report said.

China is a friend of Pakistan which has stood the test of time, and Pakistan-China relations have been continuing for 70 years. Pakistan has been with China in every forum and China has supported Pakistan in every need.

During the interview, he dismissed outright the Western countries' suspicion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Gwadar port and said that the projects were a great opportunity for regional development.

"I do not understand why there is suspicion about CPEC and the Gwadar port. It makes no sense because, as far as Pakistan is concerned, my number one priority is the country's 220 million people."
Lucknow, Feb 11 : In what can be termed as a "medical" miracle, doctors at a city hospital restored a toddler's skull bone through a complex brain surgery using biomaterial implant made from porous polyethylene (a high-density polymer being used for medical needs since 1985).

The case relates to an infant from Rae Bareli who fell from the rooftop and developed a head injury in January 2020.

The boy was rushed to the neurosurgery department at Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital.

Neurosurgeon, Dr Sunil Kumar Singh, said: "The injury had damaged his skull bone and section of the left brain. But saving life was more important at that point of time. The boy survived the trauma in the intensive care unit for a month." Since the boy was too small for a complex surgery, Dr Singh resorted to undertake the DECRA procedure as per standard protocol.

"This is a neurosurgical procedure in which part of the skull is removed to allow a swelling brain room to expand without being squeezed. At the same time, the strewn bone was taken away and preserved to be implanted when the child grew enough to face the surgery. Meanwhile, the boy's scalp was sealed," Dr Singh recalled.

In July 2021, the boy was brought to the hospital again and a procedure to fix the problem was undertaken.

However, it failed to yield the desired result landing the boy again in the hospital in September 2021.

"We found that the bone had been rejected leaving use of implants as the only option. Now, had the patient been an adult, things would have been simpler. But with children, the skull also grows with age while implants do not. The inadequacy made us search for other options and the biomaterial implant made from porous polyethylene was explored," the surgeon said.

In November 2021, the boy underwent surgery.

On Thursday, he was declared fit though the boy will be monitored for a few more months.

CEO and Managing Director, Dr Mayank Somani said: "This is the first of its kind surgery in UP. So far, it is available in big centres like New Delhi and Mumbai." Experts said that with the bio-implant in place, there will be no change in the size of the head with the age of the child as the implant will also grow with him.
Los Angeles, Feb 11 : Hollywood star Cate Blanchett's Dirty Films and Scarlett Pictures have teamed up to co-produce 'The New Boy', from award-winning Indigenous Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton.

Blanchett will star in the film, set in 1940s Australia, alongside Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair. Written and directed by Thornton, 'The New Boy' depicts the story of a nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan boy who arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery, run by a renegade nun (Blanchett), where his presence disturbs the delicately balanced world in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

Blanchett, Andrew Upton and Georgie Pym will produce the project for Dirty Films alongside Scarlett Pictures principal Kath Shelper, reports variety.com.

"What a joy to finally be collaborating with Warwick - a filmmaker whose warmth, wit and humanity we have admired for so very long," Blanchett said on behalf of Dirty Films.

"We can't wait to be on the ground with him and the wonderful Kath Shelper to realize this startling story." Added Thornton: "The idea for the story of this little boy has been flickering in my imagination for a long time. Kath and I are beyond excited to be working with Cate and the Dirty Films mob to put him up on the big screen where he belongs." Thornton has built a reputation as one of Australia's most celebrated filmmakers. In 2017, his critically acclaimed film "Sweet Country" won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2009, Thornton's first feature "Samson & Delilah" won the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Both films were named best film by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts.

Shelper and Thornton previously partnered to produce 'Samson & Delilah', the documentary hybrid 'The Darkside' and multiple award-winning short form projects.

'The New Boy' is set to begin filming this October on location in South Australia and is scheduled to wrap production at the end of 2022.
Brussels, Feb 11 : Health ministers of the European Union (EU) member states met in Grenoble, France, vowing to protect citizens by creating an "EU for Health" organisation, regrouping European hospitals and health data.

French Minister of Health Olivier Veran announced that the Ministers had agreed on a "European hospital label", in order to set common objectives for member states, reports Xinhua news agency.

Although European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, emphasized that "70 per cent of the European population is vaccinated and more than 45 percent have received the booster shot", she said the Covid-19 vaccination campaign must continue.

The EU must also be prepared for the next phase of the pandemic, with the possibility of new variants, she said.

At the meeting of ministers, discussions and agreements between EU member states during the pandemic were underlined, as well as the solidarity of the Union in terms of medications and disease control.

Veran and Kyriakides highlighted that the "Health Union" must not only protect the health of European citizens, but also EU economies and societies.

Further discussions will take place with a scientific council during France's six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.
Brussels, Feb 11 : Belgium has banned a Canada-style "freedom convoy" protest planned for February 14 in the capital Brussels, authorities said.

"The Federal Police will check the motorized vehicles on the main axes towards Brussels who come to demonstrate in Belgium. The Region and the City of Brussels will issue orders prohibiting demonstrations with trucks on their territory," said a statement published by the office of Rudi Vervoort, minister-president of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, Vervoort, and Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels, have said they are ready to deploy federal, regional and local resources to prevent a blockade in the capital city, reports Xinhua news agency.

The first "freedom convoy" was organised in Ottawa in Canada, with truckers blocking the streets of the capital for over a week.

They have been protesting mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for people wishing to cross the border to the US.

Inspired by the Canadian Freedom Convoy, the European movement is preparing to send convoys to various European capitals, including Paris during this weekend and Brussels, on February 14.
Patna, Feb 11 : Union Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh's lunch party here in his official residence on Friday has been organised to send out a message to his political rivals within his own party, the Janata Dal (United).

Singh, despite being a Union Minister in the Narendra Modi government under the JD(U) quota has been sidelined by the top leadership of his own party ever since the national president post was handed over to Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.

The party top leadership, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is said to have asked after RCP Singh, who was appointed as the leader, to bargain with the BJP for two cabinet and two state ministry portfolios during the second cabinet expansion of the Narendra Modi government.

But RCP Singh is said to have put his personal interest ahead of the party and become a Union Minister, say party insiders.

As in JD(U), one person one post applied here, RCP Singh left the post of party's national president.

Following that Lalan Singh was elected as the national president of the party. Lalan Singh, after becoming national president, sidelined the leaders who had been loyal to RCP Singh and held key posts within the party. Hence, many of RCP Singh loyalists jumped into the Lalan Singh camp.

Lalan Singh has cornered RCP Singh over several issues, including negotiation on the seat sharing with the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, caste-based census and special status of Bihar. The JD(U) has a difference of opinion with the BJP over these issues. Hence, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar already announced that RCP Singh is the party's representative at the Centre who would talk to top leadership of BJP on these issues.

RCP Singh's Rajya Sabha tenure is also ending in the second half of this year and uncertainty looms whether he would be elected again as the Rajya Sabha member from the party or not. Hence, he wants to check his loyalists within the party.

The lunch party given by him is seen as a power demonstration. He has arranged for 5,000 people for the lunch party. Media are also invited so that he can express his real strength to the political rivals within the party.

RCP Singh has already clarified that there is no need to negotiate with the BJP as it has already proved its majority in the Lok Sabha and is capable of running the government in the Centre.

He also warned the leaders of JD(U) to avoid hue and cry about the issues.
February 11 : Shabana Azmi has given an apt reply to Kangana Ranaut, who has recently commented on the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka. The veteran actors husband, renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar has also expressed his opinion on the issue and said that while he was not in favour of burqa or hijab, he condemns any sort of hooliganism in the name of manliness.

The Hijab row had started in December last year, when a few students started coming to the government pre-university college in Udupi, Karnataka, wearing Hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women). To protest against it, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves. The row spread to other educational institutions in different parts of Karnataka, and eventually protests took a violent turn at some places, prompting the government to declare three days holiday for the institutions.

On Thursday, Kangana had shared her opinion on the ongoing hijab controversy. Kangana shared a post by author Anand Ranganathan and wrote, "If you want to show courage, show it by not wearing burqa in Afghanistan. Learn to break free, not cage yourself."

On Friday, Shabana Azmi shared Kangana's post on her official Instagram handle, and questioned the actress. "Correct me if I'm wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic?!!"

Several netizens supported the veteran actor, as one of them wrote on her comments section, We cannot educate people, thank you ma'm. Another wrote, She doesnt understand the difference perhaps! While still another commented, Not only the largest democracy (on paper) but also the largest diversity. One netizen also wrote, There is no point in expecting anything sensible or logical from Kangana.

Earlier, Javed Akhtar took to Twitter and wrote, I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of MANLINESS. What a pity

I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of MANLINESS . What a pity  Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 10, 2022

Actress turned politician, Hema Malini had also reacted to the issue and told ANI, Schools are for education and religious matters should not be taken there. Every school has a uniform that should be respected. You can wear whatever you want outside the school.

Kamal Haasan also tweeted on the controversy and wrote, What is happening in Karnataka is provoking unrest. A religious poison wall is being erected among the students who are not lying. What is happening in the neighboring state beyond the single wall should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful.
New Delhi, Feb 11: In a significant development, unprecedented in the last 32 years of the separatist insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed an FIR against a prominent Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, and 15 of his business associates in a fund embezzlement scandal running into hundreds of crores of rupees in a cooperative housing society in Islamabad.

In an enquiry ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan over complaints from victims of the embezzlement, FIA has established that money worth billions of rupees had been swindled by President Ataf Bhat and other office-bearers of the Central Board of Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Society (CBRECHS).

Altaf Ahmed Bhat is a prominent Kashmiri separatist, operating in Pakistan as a representative of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC). He has been on the forefront of every anti-India and pro-azadi activity after he switched over from militancy to political activism more than 20 years back. Previously he operated as a militant with Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir under the code name of Tufail.

While Altaf Ahmad Bhat, according to the Pakistani media reports, has gone into hiding, a number of other accused have been arrested in the case. "He will surely be arrested in a day or two", said a source privy to the developments in Pakistan.

The FIA has arrested Choudhary Nazir Ahmed, Executive Member and Rana Liaqat Ali (land provider) even as the search was underway for other accused individuals and raids were going on at their suspected whereabouts on Thursday. The accused are wanted for executing agreements on exorbitant rates without considering the actual rate of the land of the locality, converting a residential plot into commercial plot without paying any conversion fee and release of payment to the land providers from 2013 to 2019 without physically taking over of the complete land.

According to the allegations, the CBRECHS's management committee committed fraud, cheating and criminal breach of trust and it failed to safeguard the interest of the society members.

The resultant loss suffered by the Society has been to the tune of Rs 85 crores. According to the reports, an amount of Rs 33. 93 crore was still outstanding against a property dealer while an amount of Rs 36.85 crore was also outstanding against the same property dealer as the land advances. Another amount of Rs 18.34 crore was reportedly outstanding against another property dealer as the land advances.

Who is Altaf Ahmad Bhat? While Altaf's elder brother Zaffar Akbar Bhat founded and operated 'Salvation Movement' in Kashmir, Altaf maintained the same banner in Pakistan. Both, according to the charges from the Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) were beneficiaries and promoters of Al-Jabbar Trust, floated in the name of their father. Zaffar joined Hizbul Mujahideen as its "District Commander" in 1991. He was subsequently elevated as the outfit's "Divisional Commander" for Central Kashmir.

During the battle of Hizbul Mujahideen's leadership between the factions loyal to Syed Salahuddin and Abdul Majeed Dar in 1998-2000, Zaffar sided with Dar. However Salahuddin's loyalists allegedly killed Dar and his key associates including the dissident Farooq Mirchal. 'Commander' Masood Tantary got killed in an encounter in Pampore. Zaffar's elder brother and a prominent property dealer Abdul Gani Bhat was also killed during the same internecine clash.

Later Zaffar managed to retain some space in the separatist camp with the intervention of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. On the other hand, the Jammu and Kashmir government provided Police protection to the Salvation Movement chief Zaffar Bhat, even as he played a key role in mobilising anti-India and pro-azadi demonstrations in Kashmir in 2008 and 2010.

In July 2020, the CIK of Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a case against unnamed persons for allegedly generating 'terror funds' through MBBS admission of the Kashmiri students against huge cash payments in Pakistan's medical colleges. On 18 August 2021, the CIK arrested 6 of the accused including Zaffar. The agency has established the charges and filed a challan in the designated court for CIK and NIA cases in Srinagar.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Feb 11: Pakistan has launched a massive crackdown on Baloch people after a series of daring attacks on its border forces that killed scores of troops. Media reports say that over a dozen people have been abducted by forces in just three days from across the province.

In one of the latest abductions, Pakistani security forces reportedly took away four youngsters from Panjgur and Quetta and moved them to unknown locations. The Balochistan Post says that their whereabouts are not known.

In another incident, the newspaper says that the Pakistani forces raided the house of Haji Nisar Sarparra and took away his son Haroon Waleed Sarparra. "It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistani forces have reportedly apprehended more than ten individuals from the Sarparra family during several raids in Mastung, Nushki and Quetta. All of them remain missing to this day", reported the newspaper.

The arrested people include former soldiers, students and people who have been critical of the Pakistani government and the military. Among the people arrested includes Nazeer Rehmat, the brother of the General Secretary of Baloch Students Organization, Mama Azeem Baloch.

Geopolitical analyst and Pakistan watcher Mark Kinra told India Narrative: "Pakistan Army's reaction of abducting Baloch nations was expected as a consequence of the massive attacks on the Panjgur and Noshki FC camps. "On the other hand, the Baloch also would have anticipated and prepared themselves for these reactions considering decades of enforced disappearances. Such reactions will only seek to bolster Baloch freedom struggle".

In Khuzdar too, the forces detained Hafeez Baloch, a final-year MPhil student in the Physics Department of the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.

Kinra adds: "These arrests will not deter Baloch nationalist organisations from carrying out attacks in various parts of Balochistan including on check posts of the Pakistani Army. Pakistan PM Imran is raising salaries of Frontier Corps and Rangers by 15 per cent, as they guard most of the border areas and are the first targets of Baloch fighters. This increase in salaries shows that Pakistan is trying to keep up the morale of its soldiers who are otherwise being used as fodder by the establishment, considering that Pakistan is not looking for a solution to its Baloch problem".

The military has launched a massive crackdown in the aftermath of the deadly siege on the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters in Panjgur and Noshki that reportedly killed about 190 odd troops.

"There is a feeling in the military establishment that such a devastating attack on the forces could not have happened without inside knowledge. The Pakistani military feels that vital insight was leaked to the Baloch armed groups which helped them take on well-equipped and highly trained Pakistani personnel for three days in their own camp", says an expert.

Besides the abductions, the Pakistani forces are alleged to have randomly killed people during the tense situation that enveloped Panjgur last week. In Panjgur, the forces allegedly killed a young student identified as Ehtisham Sarwar. They allegedly also abducted and killed two individuals for breaking the curfew during the attack on the FC camp in Panjgur.

With the internet down and a complete blackout on media, information about the tense situation in Balochistan is trickling through Baloch media organisations and the social media.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Mumbai Gallery Weekend (MGW), which began in 2012 to breathe new life into Mumbai's art scene, returns with the goal of engaging audiences through a series of exhibitions highlighting art from India and around the world.

The three-day event will provide visitors with the opportunity to participate in a variety of art-related affairs, all of which are open to the public and free to attend. This year's weekend will feature 23 galleries and design venues from across Mumbai.

This art-focused weekend has established itself as one of Mumbai's most important cultural events over the last ten years. MGW's mission has evolved over time to include new galleries and cultural spaces. The goal has remained the same, to bring together potential art collectors and aficionados in order to expand the reach and importance of contemporary art.

You can log on to www.mumbaigalleryweekend.com (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : None of the above (NOTA) option will be used for the first time in the upcoming election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Odisha.

State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha has issued an order to implement the new provision on Friday.

"The State Election Commission, in exercise of powers vested in it under Article 243-ZA of the Constitution, directs that the option NOTA (none of the above) will be provided to the electors for the general elections to Urban Local Bodies," read the order.

The words NOTA will be printed in the last panel after the last candidate and the NOTA symbol will be printed on the symbol column, it said.

There is no provision of providing NOTA option to the electors under the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 and the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 and the Rules framed there under.

However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided the option of NOTA to the electors for elections to legislative assemblies and Lok Sabha. So considering that, the SEC has decided to provide the NOTA option to the voters during the ULB poll, official sources said.

Elections for 107 Municipalities/NACs and three Corporations Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur are likely to be conducted soon after the Panchayat poll in Odisha. The delimitation of wards, reservation seats and all other formalities required to conduct the ULB election has already been completed.

Recently, the Commission has also enhanced the spending limit of the candidates contesting for the post of Councillors, Corporators, Chairpersons and Mayors in the civic bodies.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Delhi Police has arrested a 27-year-old man in the south Delhi hit-and-run case in which a man was injured and hospitalised after being hit by a car, an official said here on Friday.

The accused, identified as Raj Sunderam, 27, a law student, was arrested from Gurugram, Haryana. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi) Benita Mary Jaiker said on February 8, Wednesday, an information regarding a hit-and-run incident near Greater Kailash was received.

The accused, driving a mustard colour Volkswagen car at a high speed, hit the man named Anand Vijay Mandelia, 37, and dragged him on the bonnet of the car for a while after which the accused fled from the spot.

The injured was immediately rushed to Max Hospital for treatment. His condition is now said to be stable.

During the course of investigation, the police found and seized the vehicle involved in the accident and conducted raids at all possible hideouts of the accused.

During one such raid today, the accused was arrested outside Le Meridien Hotel, Gurugram, Haryana.

Earlier before the arrest of accused Sunderam, the police had booked him under sections 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code at the Greater Kailash police station.

However, later sections 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 307 (Attempt to murder) and 212 (Harbouring offender) were added to the FIR.

Meanwhile, the DCP informed that the father of the accused was charged under section 212 of the IPC.
New York, Feb 11 : Ebola virus, which can persist in certain areas of the body, can re-emerge to cause fatal disease, even long after treatment with monoclonal antibodies, according to a study.

The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, was conducted using a nonhuman primate model of Ebola virus infection.

The research team from US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases found that about 20 per cent of monkeys that survived lethal Ebola virus exposure after treatment with monoclonal antibody therapeutics still had persistent Ebola virus infection -- specifically in the brain ventricular system, in which cerebrospinal fluid is produced, circulated, and contained -- even when Ebola virus was cleared from all other organs.

"Ours is the first study to reveal the hiding place of brain Ebola virus persistence and the pathology causing subsequent fatal recrudescent Ebola virus-related disease in the nonhuman primate model," explained Xiankun (Kevin) Zeng, from the institute.

In particular, two monkeys that initially recovered from Ebola virus-related disease after treatment with antibody therapeutics had recurrence of severe clinical signs of Ebola virus infection and succumbed to the disease, Zeng said.

Severe inflammation and massive Ebola virus infection were present in the brain ventricular system; no obvious pathology and viral infection were found in other organs.

Previous research using nonhuman primate survivors as a model has showed that the virus, despite being cleared from all other organs, can hide and persist in specific regions of immune-privileged organs, such as the vitreous chamber of eyes, the seminiferous tubules of testes, and the ventricular system of the brain reported in this study.

"The persistent Ebola virus may reactivate and cause disease relapse in survivors, potentially causing a new outbreak," said Jun Liu, from USAMRIID.

Recurrence of Ebola virus disease has previously been reported in human survivors, according to the researchers.

For example, a British nurse experienced Ebola virus relapse in the brain, suffering from meningoencephalitis nine months after recovering from severe Ebola virus disease.

She had received therapeutic antibodies during the 2013-2016 outbreak in Western Africa, the largest such outbreak to date.

In addition, a vaccinated patient who had been treated with monoclonal antibody therapeutics for Ebola virus disease six months earlier relapsed and died at the end of the 2018-2020 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Unfortunately, that case also led to many subsequent human-to-human transmissions Ebola virus causes one of the deadliest infectious diseases known to humankind. It is still a major threat in Africa, and there were three outbreaks in Africa in 2021 alone, according to the World Health Organization.

Two vaccines and two monoclonal antibody therapeutics have been approved to prevent and treat Ebola virus disease in recent years.

"However, our study reinforces the need for long-term follow-up of Ebola virus disease survivors -- even including survivors treated by therapeutic antibodies -- in order to prevent recrudescence. This will serve to reduce the risk of disease re-emergence, while also helping to prevent further stigmatization of patients," Zeng said.
Bengaluru Rural, Feb 11 : In a shocking incident, a jilted lover stabbed a woman multiple times near IB Circle in Doddaballapur city in Karnataka on Friday.

Prabhavathi (38), suffered serious injuries and been admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru where her condition is stated to be critical.

The accused has been identified as Girish (31). According to police, accused Girish had barged inside the woman's house with two knives and attacked the woman this morning.

Prabhavathi has received stab injuries in the neck, abdomen, back and shoulders.

She worked as a staff nurse in a hospital where the accused Girish worked as an accountant. Both were in love, police said.

They decided to get married and their parents also gave their consent.

However, the woman's family changed their mind and decided against the alliance.

Enraged by this, Girish stabbed Prabhavathi and escaped.

Dobbaballapur City Police have launched a hunt for the accused.

Further investigation is on.
New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 11 : Jammu and Kashmir's Chenani region is a historical gamut. It has witnessed the rise and fall of many great empires whose glory shines through the city walls, the palaces, and the much revered heritage sites that Chenani is famous for. The town of Chenani is located in the Udhampur district of the Union Territory.

Built on the banks of the sacred Suryaputri (Tawi River) which originates in the lap of the Kailash Kund glacier, the belief is that Suryaputri is Saturn's sister, whose presence relieves all from the maladies of life, can be confirmed at this town where every breath of air gives one power and healing energy. Historian account suggests the name 'Chenani' is derived from Chanderi (Bundelkhand), where the ruling line of Chenani came from between 8th to 9th century.

Amongst the quondam 22 Dogra states, Chenani was the oldest and dearest to its rulers. It is believed to be erected by Chandel Dynasty Kings presently known as Anthal Rajputs who came from Kot Kalhur, Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh. Once upon a time this region used to be the capital of a small Kingdom till 1822, when Raja Gulab Singh annexed it, initially to the Lahore Empire and later to the Jammu state. Born in 1792, Maharaja Gulab Singh became the commander of a Dogra cavalry contingent.

Chenani enjoyed a continuous single dynasty rule from 850 AD to 1947, the only Principality in J&K to achieve this status. It also used to be among the richest Jagirs of the region having been subordinate to the Mughals and Jammu. George Forester, a European traveller, revealed the annual income of Chenani in 1783 was Rs 1 Lakh! By 1945 it dropped to Rs 65,800.

While J&K has a history of Kings who ruled with an iron fist, Chenani was excused; the relationship between the Kings and their subjects was very informal. It is said that the Kings of Chenani were father figures to its people. Even the people accused of crime could roam freely, carry out their routine work, and appear in court as per their convenience. Chenani's King was also the final authority on the State Subject Certificates (PRCs) and he had the power to collect Toll and Entry Tax for entry in his region.

Chenani in the present day is most famous for its grand Shiva temple - Sudhmahadev. Back in the day Sudhmahadev was the summer camp office for the Kings of Chenani. Today the picturesque Sudhmahadev invites devotees of Lord Shiva for an annual four-day long major cultural event known as Kudd of Sudhmahadev.

The Centre is working on reviving heritage sites like temples which have been in a neglected state for a long time. Chenani's temples have unique architecture owing to its strong religious beliefs. Two notable temples among these are the - Jalandhra Devi Mata near Laddan Kotli Fort which was constructed by the early Chandel Kings in honour of their Kuldevi, Mata Jalandhara Devi; and Naina Devi Temple in the upper heavens of Mantalai hills which dates to the medieval period. Other ancient temple sites of Chenani are situated in Gouri-Kund, Gau-Karan, Mantalai, Benisang, Mandir-Dushala, Haridwar, and Buddha Kedarnath.

Built by Raja Dayal Chand in the 1820s, Chenani houses the grand Kotli Fort in Laddan (Udhampur) which has been declared as a protected monument and is undergoing renovation. The Kings enjoyed exhibiting their luxurious lifestyle and grandeur by building monuments and palaces in and around the capital city of Chenani. One such palace was the Singh-Garh Palace, that later gained popularity being the epicentre of the famous Hindi movie 'Jaani-Dushman'. The government is building an extensive plan to reconstruct and conserve such establishments that lost value over time to bring new tourist destinations in limelight and reignite the UT's passion for their glorious history.

Chenani's beauty lies in its history, pilgrimage sites, and quaint picnic spots. J&K's popular picnic destination, Patintop, is connected to Chenani with a cable car. Thanks to its cool climate, Chenani is also a giant producer of high quality vegetables and fruits, besides milk and milk products such as cheese, Kalari, Khoya, etc., which are in high demand in the region.

In the wake of spiritual tourism in the country, the Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Khellaini road project is in full swing, granting greater access to Sudhmahadev, Gauri Kund, and Mantalai temples to people across India. It will help launch J&K to the rest of the country. Boost in employment and trade will uplift the socio-economic standard of the region. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), owned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, are also eager to bring Udhampur in limelight as construction for an International Yoga Centre at Mantalai is underway.

Today the region's greatest attraction is the all-weather longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia standing at 9.28 km -- the Chenani-Nashri tunnel. It has reduced the distance of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by about 30 Kms and travelling time by about two hours. Lately J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has announced that Kashmir will be connected to Kanyakumari by train by the end of 2022.

The UT is going through a series of paramount developments after the revocation of Article 370, ensuring a stable ecosystem that rewards hard work and the products of the people.
Addis Ababa, Feb 11 : Fighting in Ethiopia's northern Afar region has prevented aid delivery by road to neighbouring Tigray, triggered large-scale displacement and increased the need for more relief, the UN humanitarians said.

"Humanitarian operations are significantly reduced or suspended, due to a lack of fuel, cash and aid supplies," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

An international aid agency delivered more than 14 metric tonnes of medicines into Tigray by air, the office said, adding: "This life-saving assistance via air is welcome but is far from what is required," reports Xinhua news agency The humanitarians said more than 5 million people require food and other assistance.

Despite the conflict, humanitarians completed the second phase of a measles vaccination campaign in Tigray, reaching 595,000 children in 69 locations, OCHA said.

Due to fuel shortages, health workers reported walking up to 35 km to provide vaccination services in some areas.

Also, limited food distribution continues in Tigray, the office said.

Since mid-October, only 880,000 people received food aid. It's the same number of people humanitarians should reach every week.

In the Afar region, fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused urgent food, non-food, and health care needs, OCHA said. But insecurity limits access.

"In accessible areas, nearly 85,000 people received food assistance in the past week, bringing the number of people reached with food assistance since mid-October to over 500,000," the office said.

In the Amhara region, south of Tigray and east of Afar, more than 1 million people received food assistance in the past week, OCHA said.

"Across the three regions, malnutrition rates among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are reportedly alarmingly high," the office said.

"While the capacity for nutrition screening in Tigray remains highly limited, in the past week over a third of all children screened were found to be malnourished."
Jammu, Feb 11 : Three policemen were injured on Friday in clashes with protesting villagers in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

Police said three policemen were injured, including two constables and one special police officer (SPO), when villagers attacked them with stones in the Galuta village of Mendhar tehsil.

"The police team had gone to the village in connection with some investigation. The injured policemen are being treated in the hospital while a case has been registered against the protesters," sources said.
Chennai, Feb 11 : The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the Tamil Nadu government to furnish a copy of the inquiry report of Justice Kalayiarasan to former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, M.K. Surappa so that his explanation could be part of the inquiry proceedings. The report is to be forwarded to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who is the chancellor of the University.

Justice V. Parthiban of the Madras High Court passed the orders on the basis of a petition filed by the former Vice-Chancellor.

While delivering the order Judge said, "Nevertheless in the face of certain detrimental findings in the report, the petitioner's explanation and his version must be part of the inquiry proceedings as his vindication." The judge also said that the government can't be oblivious of the law and can't say that it cannot provide a copy of the report.

It may be noted that Surappa, whose tenure came to an end as the Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu's premier educational institution in 2021, has been waging a legal battle after the previous AIADMK government initiated an inquiry against him on alleged corruption, maladministration, and irregularities in appointments.

Surappa, however, petitioned that it was the victimisation of his resistance to the misappropriation of funds and materials by the then Minister for Higher education K.P. Anbalagan.

The former Vice-chancellor had also countered the government on the issue of giving pass marks to all students without taking examinations due to the lockdown induced by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The former Vice-Chancellor was given four weeks time to respond to the findings of the report.
Seoul, Feb 11 : Samsung Electronics on Friday said its subsidiary Harman International bought an entire stake in German automotive software firm Apostera to expand its business in the augmented reality and mobility technology sector.

Munich-based Apostera, founded in 2017, is specialised in software solutions for augmented reality and mixed reality, Samsung said, adding that the deal will help strengthen connected car solutions provider Harman's automotive product portfolio.

Samsung Electronics did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Combined with Harman's digital cockpit product offerings, Apostera's technologies are expected to narrow the gap between the physical and digital worlds, Samsung said.

"Harman is dedicated to delivering in-car experiences with the speed and flexibility of consumer technology together with the reliability and performance of automotive grade solutions," Christian Sobottka, president of Harman's automotive division, said in a statement.

"By seamlessly blending AR with the physical environment, Apostera's mixed reality solution furthers this goal, transforming any display in the car into a richly contextual experience." Samsung, the world's largest memory chip and smartphone vendor, completed its acquisition of Harman for $8 billion in March 2017 to expand into the rapidly growing in-vehicle electronics market, reports Yonhap news agency.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 last month, Samsung said it had been looking hard for next acquisition targets in order to provide differentiated products for its customers and further expand its business.
Canberra, Feb 11 : Australia's Covid-19 vaccine advisory body has recommended to change the term of "fully vaccinated" to "up to date" or "overdue".

The government recently received advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) about the vaccination status, with people aged 16 and over having had a booster shot now considered "up to date" with immunizations, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under the new rules, an eligible person who has not had a booster Covid-19 vaccine within six months of their second dose will be considered "overdue".

Australians aged 16 years and older are currently eligible for a booster shot three months after their second dose.

The cabinet on Thursday night also endorsed an Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on mandatory booster vaccinations in aged care facilities.

On Friday morning, Australia reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases and 46 deaths including 19 in New South Wales, 13 in Victoria and 14 in Queensland.

As of Thursday, there were 3,414 cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 267 in intensive care units, according to the Department of Health.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Srinagar, Feb 11 : Two girls were injured on Friday when a knife-wielding thief tried to hold their family hostage in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district.

Reports said the two girls were wounded when the thief, who tried to hold the female members of the family hostage, met resistance from them in the Mominabad locality of Batmaloo in Srinagar city. All the male members of the family had gone for the Friday prayers.

Reports quoting a relative of the family said the incident occurred around 1 p.m.

"We had gone for prayers after which the thief entered the house.

"The thief failed to carry out the theft after facing resistance from the females.

"After this, the thief tried to hold the females of the family hostage. During the scuffle, two girls were injured by the thief who carried a knife," the relative said.

Police promptly arrived on the spot and, assisted by the locals, managed to arrest the thief, police sources said.

"The accused namely Umer Yousuf Wani who trespassed a house and tried to attack two girls in Batmaloo area has been arrested by police in a swift action.

"Crime against women will not be tolerated at all", Srinagar police said in a tweet.
Chennai, Feb 11 : The Tamil Nadu government should immediately issue an order to fix the fees for 50 per cent of the private medical college seats at Rs 13,610 per annum, and bring it it on par with the government medical colleges, said PMK Founder S.Ramadoss.

Ramadoss welcomed the recent National Medical Commission's (NMC) guideline that the fee for 50 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities should be at par with that being charged by government medical colleges.

According to him, private medical colleges charge an annual fee of Rs 3.85 lakh to Rs 4.15 lakh for the seats given to the state government.

The fees charged by government medical colleges is Rs 13,610, which is less than the fees charged by private schools for lower kindergarten (LKG) class, Ramadoss said.

He said more than the private medical colleges, it is important to implement the new fees structure in deemed universities as they charge between Rs 20-25 lakh per year.

It should be noted, the majority of the political parties in Tamil Nadu are opposed to NEET on the grounds that it would affect social justice, and the poor students will not be able to clear the entrance test.

Ramadoss said there have been instances where students from poor families were not able to join the private medical colleges as the fee structure was very high.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 : A police official attached to the Adoor police station was arrested for attacking a doctor, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred at a private clinic at Noornadu in Alappuzha district when the arrested police official Ratheesh had taken his ailing mother to the clinic on Thursday night.

According to the doctor, Venkatesh, he had gone to the washroom after seeing a patient and when he came out, he was surprised to hear two people screaming using abusive language.

"I asked what's the issue and I was pushed and jostled. They were using abusive language and saying one of them had come with his mother for treatment. I told them I am the only doctor and had gone to the washroom," said Venkatesh.

"Then they started beating me up. I was pushed and I fell down. Then they took a stone and hit me. I ended up with stitches on my head and have broken bones on my leg," said Venkatesh.

A case has been registered by the police.

Of late, there has been an increase in number of attacks on medical professionals in the state. The issue has been taken up by the medical community and the state government has assured quick action.
Chennai, Feb 11 : The students and teachers of Sankarapuram Government Boys Higher secondary school were in for a surprise on Thursday, when the Kallakuriichi District Superintendent of Police, S. Selvakumar walked into a classroom and donned the hat of a teacher.

The SP was on a visit to the school to check on the security aspects and the vulnerable booths in the district for the Urban local body polls to be held on February 19.

The students and teachers of the school were caught unawares when the Superintendent of Police entered a classroom and started teaching students.

According to the teachers, Selvakumar taught about the human eye and explained to the students in detail about the role of iris in regulating the amount of light that enters the eye. Students listened in rapt attention to the police officer, who is also a graduate in Engineering from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University.

The police officer told the students that they should learn a subject out of interest and enthusiasm and not out of compulsion. He also gave certain tips to the students to excel in studies.

Later the SP gave a lesson in geography to the students of Class 7 of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School.

Selvakumar while speaking to IANS said, "The offline classes in schools of Tamil Nadu have resumed after a long gap and my visit was to motivate the students and to make learning more effective. There has been a dynamic change in the school syllabus when compared to the past. I asked the students to study based on the concepts and enjoy the learning process rather than learning by rote.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : In a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, Pakistan which is widely acknowledged as a terror sponsor is blaming India for the unrest in Balochistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Office made it clear that there was strong evidence that India was involved in unrest in Balochistan, The News reported.

Islamabad blamed New Delhi for its 'sinister campaign' to sabotage CPEC and also rejected the "unwarranted" and "preposterous" remarks it made on the Pakistan-China Joint statement of February 6, the report said.

"Pakistan categorically rejects the unwarranted and preposterous comments made by the spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on the Pakistan-China Joint Statement of 6 February 2022, and we also strongly reject India's persistent propaganda against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan has shared irrefutable evidence of India's sinister campaign to sabotage CPEC through its dossiers released in 2020 and 2021," said the Foreign Office.

"We expect the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India," the MEA had said.

The Pakistan Foreign Office reminded India that there is strong evidence of Indian involvement in recent sinister attempts to stir up unrest in Balochistan by supporting anti-state elements, the report said.

"Besides, Naval Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav is a living and irrefutable proof of how India has been seeking to sponsor and patronise subversive activities in Pakistan and the region," said the Foreign Office, as per the report.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Chinese People's Liberation Army entered into Indian territory in Ladakh region last month and did not allow local people's herds from grazing, claimed former BJP councillor Urgain Chodon of Nyoma area on Friday.

She put out a video on social media platforms purportedly showing that Chinese troops running after herds. Chodon lives in Koyal, a village on the banks of Senge Zangbu, a tributary of the Indus River, that divides the Himalayan region of Ladakh between India and China.

Chodan tweeted that in January, PLA soldiers came into Indian territory and were "not letting our herds graze in our own territory".

She alleged that when this was happening, no action was taken by Indian security forces.

Instead of when a herdman cross the undemarcated border to get his livelihood (yak) back, the Indian army caught him from our own territory and sent him to a police station, she alleged.

India and China are engaged in border disputes for the last 22 months. To resolve the issue, India and China military delegates have carried out 14 rounds of talks.

Giving a clear message to China, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had, last month, asserted that the force won't let any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country's borders to succeed.

India claims that China has illegally occupied about 38,000 sq km of India's territory in Aksai Chin, which borders eastern Ladakh. Pakistan ceded to China about 5,180 sq km in 1963 from the Indian territory illegally occupied by it.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Two people were injured while five others are said to be trapped under debris after a four-storey building collapsed in north Delhi on Friday, officials said.

Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg told IANS that they received a call about the incident at 2.48 p.m. after which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Confirming that there has been no casualty so far, he said that the rescue operation is currently underway.
London, Feb 11 : Hungarian scientists have stumbled upon traces of the early versions virus that may have been manipulated in a Chinese lab, giving fresh momentum to the pandemic's lab leak theory, media reports said.

The team from Eotvos Lorand University and the University of Veterinary Medicine, in Budapest, have discovered traces of a unique variant of coronavirus while examining DNA from soil from Antarctica that had been sent to firm Sangon Biotech in Shanghai, Daily Mail reported.

They also found genetic material from Chinese hamsters and green monkeys, which may suggest the virus was being examined in a lab, using either the animals themselves or their cells.

The findings, not yet peer-reviewed, were made accidentally while examining DNA from soil samples collected from Antarctica in late 2018 and early 2019 in a completely unrelated research project.

The samples had been sent to company Sangon Biotech in Shanghai to be analysed in December 2019, where a 'barcode error' saw them become contaminated with previously unseen coronavirus mutations, the report said.

The machine being used to analyse the samples has been known to suffer barcode reading errors -- meaning samples from two different projects can be mixed together.

In this case, the Antarctic soil is believed to have been mixed with the DNA from lab monkeys or hamsters carrying coronavirus.

The Sangon facility is thought to be used by Chinese researchers, including those at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) -- the lab at the centre of the accidental leak hypothesis.

According to some experts, the new mutations bridge the gap between the original bat coronavirus and the one that jumped to humans -- the missing piece of the puzzle that has escaped scientists for the past two years.

But others believe the contamination came from samples of China's early Covid patients, who were announced in December 2019.

A yet another theory is that the genetic material is from other animal-borne coronaviruses that were circulating at the time or being experimented on by the Chinese.

The Hungarian team who found the sample error say the virus could be the ancestor of the original Wuhan strain, if the mistake happened in December 2019, the report said.

According to Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, the finding was "very, very intriguing and very, very suspicious".

While this is no definitive proof that Covid was engineered in a lab and released, it signalled that coronaviruses were being studied in Chinese labs very early in the pandemic, Young was quoted as saying.

"The two things that really stand out for me are there are these three key mutations bringing the bat Covid closer to the first Wuhan strain. It is very very suspicious (and could be) a signature of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2,"he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that internet connectivity in rural India is increasing at a fast pace and will soon surpass urban connectivity.

Responding to the debate on the General Budget 2022-23 in the Rajya Sabha, she said that as per the report of Internet and Mobile Association, the rural internet user base is growing three times faster and is likely to surpass the urban user numbers soon.

"Data consumption through Bharatnet optical fibre surpassed 13,000 terrabytes in June 2021 while the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) report in August 2021 said that the total number of internet subscribers has gone up to 82.5 crore," she said.

Sitharaman also said that, in the Budget she announced, the contracts for laying optical fibre connections in rural and remote areas will be awarded this year and will be completed by 2025.

Replying to the Opposition's comments on Bangladesh growing faster than India, she informed the House that India's economy is 10 times bigger than Bangladesh, so if Bangladesh grew at 10 per cent and India grew just at 1 per cent, the absolute number in terms of growth will be the same.

"To say Bangladesh is growing at 5.5 per cent and we are growing at 4.1 per cent is not a completely correct picture in terms of the growth rate," she said.

Responding to Congress MP Kapil Sibal's "India in Rahu Kaal since 2014" comment, she said: "Raau Kaal is when a sitting PM was about to meet the US President and a Bill he cleared was torn up.

"Rahu Kaal is what produces what is called G23, it is where the Congress party is. Ours is Amrit Kaal, senior leaders from the party are leaving their own party and getting out. That is Rahu Kaal." On request by the Deputy Chairman, the Finance Minister concluded her speech while two Members laid their papers for the 'Special Mention' and the chair adjourned the House till March 14, as the first part of the Budget Session was over.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, Feb 11 : Hollywood star Gal Gadot, whose murder mystery "Death on the Nile" released recently, had a great time working with the film's director Kenneth Branagh.

Sharing her experience of working with the Oscar nominated director, Gal Gadot, who plays the lead role of Linnet Ridgeway Doyle, said: "Working with Ken was an amazing experience for me. I learned so much from his performance, as well as his direction." Lauding the director for his clarity of thought, the actress said, "He's so prepared and organised and that leaves almost no room for any mistakes but at the same time, he gives the actors a lot of freedom to try and do whatever they want to do. He has this ability to make everyone feel special, and his charisma and charm go a long way." "Death on the Nile" is based on Agatha Christie's novel of the same name and is a follow-up to "Murder on the Orient Express". The film, produced by 20th Century Studios, features an ensemble cast which includes Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman, Gal Gadot, Ali Faizal and Emma Mackey. The movie is currently running in Indian theatres in English and Hindi.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : 'Kashibai Bajirao Ballal' actress Aarohi Patel, who is seen playing the lead character of Kashibai, revealed the upcoming sequence in the show.

Kashibai in the coming episodes will be seen opposing the death sentence to a traitor who planned to kill her husband, Bajirao, played by Venkatesh Pande.

Talking about this sequence, Aarohi said: This is the very first time when Kashibai has taken a stand against her own family and especially Bajirao. It isn't easy for her to make everyone understand her perspective of seeing things. She is also worried that this might cause conflict between her and Bajirao's friendship.

Bajirao will order to hang the culprit till death, post which wife of the traitor requests Bajirao to forgive her husband. On hearing the traitor's wife pleading in front of Bajirao, Kashibai opposes the verdict given by him.

The actress asserted that Kashi took a right stand and it proves that she has a powerful character. Aarohi said she got to learn a lot while playing this role.

"She stood with right and tried to convince everyone to take back the decision to kill the traitor. I believe my character, Kashi, is a very strong-headed girl, and I am enjoying performing this on-screen since I get to learn something new every day," she added.

'Kashibai Bajirao Ballal' airs on Zee TV.
Srinagar, Feb 11 : A Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir Police was killed and four other security forces personnel were injured after terrorists lobbed a grenade on a joint police-BSF party in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Friday, officials said.

Senior oficials told IANS that the greande was hurled by terrorists on a party of security forces resulting in injuries to five security forces personnel, and the SPO of later succumbed to his injuries.

The injured have been rushed to the hospital. Reinforcements have reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off and an operation has been started to nab the attackers.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Ahead of the February 14 Uttarakhand election, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will on Saturday address three rallies in the hill state's Khatima, Haldwani, and Srinagar.

The first rally in Khatima is in the home constituency of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhamiw, ho is again contesting from the seat, and she will set try to set the tone for her party which is trying to unseat the BJP.

The Congress has fielded former Chief Minister Harish Rawat from the adjacent Lal Kuan constituency.

The Saturday campaign is basically focused in the Kumaon region, which was stronghold of Congress due to N.D. Tiwari and Indira Hridyesh both now deceased.

However, Rawat, a veteran in politics, does not consider the incumbent Chief Minister as an opponent but says its him vs the BJP.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, Feb 11 : The 2017 drugs case allegedly involving some Tollywood personalities is back in focus as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought all details of the case from the Excise Department of Telangana.

The Central agency has requested the Department to share digital records, call data and statements of accused and confessions of witnesses in the case. The ED also wrote to the Department to provide WhatApp chats of the accused in the case.

This comes days after the Telangana High Court had directed the Telangana government to share all the documents and details related to the case with the ED.

On February 2, the court had asked the government to provide all the details within 15 days after receiving a request from the ED.

The court had told the ED that it can come back to the court if it did not get all the details relating to the case.

The directions were given by the court while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2017 by then MLA and now Congress MP Revanth Reddy, seeking direction to the state government to entrust the investigation to the Narcotics Control Bureau, the ED, the CBI or other central agencies, arguing that the Excise Department is ill-equipped to investigate the case.

ED Joint Director Abhishek Goyal had also told the court that ED was not provided documents and details relating to the court. However, the state government's counsel claimed that all the details were given to the ED.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court directed the government to provide copies of FIRs, investigation reportsa, nd all other related documents to the ED.

The court, however, said there was no need to order a probe by the CBI or any other agency.

The ED had questioned 12 Tollywood personalities in September last year as part of a money-laundering probe in connection with the case. Actors Rakul Preet Singh, Rana Daggubati, Charmee Kaur, Ravi Teja, Nandu, Navdeep and director Puri Jagannadh were among those who were questioned by the ED based on the chargesheets filed by Excise Department's Special Investigation Team (SIT) against drug trafficker Calvin Mascarenhas.

The SIT had questioned the Tollywood personalities in the case in 2017 but found no evidence against them.

The drugs racket was busted on July 2, 2017 when customs officials arrested Mascarenhas, a musician, and two others and seized drugs valued at Rs 30 lakh from their possession.

They had reportedly told the investigators that they are supplying drugs to film celebrities, software engineers, and even students of some corporate schools. Mobile numbers of some Tollywood celebrities were allegedly found in their contact lists.

A total of 12 cases were registered in connection with the drugs racket. Thirty people were arrested while 62 individuals including 11 people connected with Tollywood were examined by the SIT under Section 67 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Section 161 of Criminal Procedure Code.

An American, a South African and a national from the Netherlands were among those arrested.

The SIT had collected blood, hair, nail and other samples from some of those who appeared before it for questioning and sent them for analysis.

The SIT filed chargesheet in eight out of 12 cases. It, however, gave a clean chit to the film personalities who were questioned as part of the investigation.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Smuggling is a huge threat to national security and all stakeholders, including the industry, are required to come together to tackle it, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said on Friday.

In his address at the Anti-Smuggling Day launch event, organised by FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy), CBIC Member, Investigation, Balesh Kumar, also said that the government has always been been committed to combating the menace of smuggling and has institutionalised coordination between agencies, which has helped in generating volumes of information that are not only timely but also accurate, leading to major seizures.

"On February 6, DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence) in Imphal, Manipur effected a seizure of 12.5 kgs of gold coming from Myanmar and over 46 lakh sticks of cigarettes valued at Rs 9.5 crore in one single operation," he said.

Anti-Smuggling Day was launched with an objective of enhancing coordination and cooperation between different law enforcement agencies.

"Despite smuggling being a global menace, due focus and thrust has not been given to this mounting threat which is not only damaging our exchequer and leading to job losses but is also impacting the safety and security of nations worldwide," said Anil Rajput, Chairman of FICCI CASCADE at the same event.

Thereby, it is critical to emphasise and generate global awareness about the fact that the root cause of illicit trade lies in smuggling, he added.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a PIL seeking introduction of a common syllabus and curriculum for children across India.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, submitted before a bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao that there has to be a national curriculum.

Counsel contended that the exclusion of the Right to Education (RTE) Act on certain institutions was creating a religious impression on the children as eight to 16 years was a crucial age.

After a brief hearing in the matter, the bench, also comprising Justice B.R. Gavai, told the petitioner's counsel that it is not keen on entertaining the plea and allowed Upadhyay to approach the high court.

The plea said sections 1 (4) and 1 (5) of the RTE Act are the biggest barrier in expounding the Constitution and the absence of a common curriculum in mother language leads to the fostering and perpetuation of ignorance, the plea said.

Upadhyay argued that the Central government inserted Section 1(4) and 1(5) of the RTE Act to deprive educational excellence to Madrasas, Vedic Pathsalas, and educational institutions, which impart religious instructions.

"The prevailing system does not provide equal opportunity to all children as the syllabus and curriculum varies for EWS, BPL, MIG, HIG and elite class. It is necessary to state that purposive and harmonious construction of Article 14, 15, 16, 21, 21A with Articles 38, 39, 46 of the Constitution which confirm that education is a basic right of every child and the State cannot discriminate the most important right," said the plea.
Bengaluru, Feb 11 : Karnataka college girl Muskaan Khan who confronted a crowd by raising slogans of "Allah hu Akbar" during protests that broke out on hijab row, continues to be in news.

Congress MLA from Mumbai's Bandra Zeeshan Siddique came all the way from Maharashtra on Friday and paid visit to Muskan's residence in Mandya city. The MLA appreciated her "courage", assured support and gifted her an iPhone and smart watch.

"I came from so far to meet the girl from our community who showed exemplary courage. I am happy for her courageous act," he stated.

"Today whole of Karnataka, entire country is taking pride of her act. She has shown what is the real power of woman. After seeing her brave act, other women who are being pressurised, subjected to harassment and whoever is meted with injustice, they can also confront such acts," he asserted.

Her act against those zaalims (cruel people) is commendable, he added.

"Wearing hijab is a constitutional right. One can wear clothes of her choice. You have problem with her hijab or with the fact that she is getting educated," the Congress MLA said.

"There are crores of brothers behind Muskaan to protect her right of wearing hijab. I felt happy after meeting her family," he added.

Muskaan Khan, the student of PES College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Mandya district was allegedly heckled by a group of students in the college premises for wearing 'burka'. The group raised slogan of 'Jai Sriram' while surrounding and following her. Muskan confronted the crowd with slogan of 'Allah hu Akbar'. The video is now viral on social media.

Later, she was safely escorted inside the classroom by authorities. Muskaan has later stated that she will abide by the court order and thanked college authorities.

Meanwhile, various Muslim organisations have announced cash reward for her act. Complaint has also been lodged in connection with announcing cash prize to Muskaan.
Patna, Feb 11 : Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday said that he will pray to God to give children to "everyone" and they should come into politics.

The remark was made after the Prime Minister praised Nitish Kumar for not indulging into dynasty politics and termed him a "great socialist leader". He also referred Ram Manohar Lohia and Geordge Fernandes as great socialist leaders.

"What can I do if Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have a child. Everyone knows Nitish Kumar has a son who does not want to enter politics. He (Nitish's son) is not capable of handling politics and contesting elections. In these cases, who will be seen on the dais of the election campaign. I pray to god to give children to everyone and they should come into politics," Lalu Prasad has said.

The Prime Minister's statement came a day before the first phase of polling for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. He was targeting the Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav for dynastic politics.

Lalu Prasad said that a successor is "essential" to carry forward the political legacy of the family and party.

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav, the younger son of Lalu Prasad, referring to a remark made by the Prime Minister during campaigning for 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, said, "I want the PM to decide which statement is correct, 2015's -- when he termed the JDU as Janata Ka Daman and Utpidan -- or the one he made in 2022, as the two statements are contradictory."
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Rebels seems to be turning out a major concern for the BJP in Uttarakhand Assembly polls as in more than half a dozen constituencies the party's official candidates will face challenge from rebel leaders.

A BJP functionary in Uttarakhand said that these rebels turning out to be 'headache' for the party's official candidates. "Rebels may effect the poll equations of party candidates in eight assembly constituencies," he claimed.

Some of the constituencies from where rebels are contesting against BJP's official candidates are Kotdwar, Dhanaulti, Rudrapur, Doiwala, Bhimtal, Lalkua, Ghansali and Dharampur.

Taking strict action, the Uttarakhand BJP has expelled the rebel candidates from the party which includes sitting MLA from Rudrapur Rajkumar Thukral.

A party insider pointed out that some rebels have joined other parties and are giving strong challenge to the party candidates.

On expulsion of rebels and those involved in anti-party activities, a senior party functionary said that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party and the action has been taken to send a strong message among cadres.

"Despite repeated requests to follow the party line, these leaders failed to follow the instructions. Non-compliance of party lines has forced the state leadership to take action against them as they were either contesting an independent or working against the party to damage electoral chances of the BJP's official candidates," he said.

Another senior functionary said that the party's central leadership has also sent a strong message to the state leaders that indiscipline or any anti-party activity will not be tolerated.

Last week, the Uttarakhand BJP expelled 20 leaders for six years for being involved in anti-party activities. Among these, eight were from the Dharampur assembly constituency in Dehradun and four from the Doiwala, once represented by former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

Polling for 70 member Uttarakhand assembly will be held on February 14 and counting of votes will be held on March 10. The ruling BJP is leaving no stone unturned to retain power in the state.

The BJP has set a target of winning over 60 seats in next assembly polls in the state. In the last assembly polls, in 2017, the BJP had won 57 seats.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday held that an insurance company cannot reject a claim on the basis that there was a delay in communicating the theft of a vehicle to it.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M. Trivedi said: "When the complainant had lodged the FIR immediately after the theft of the vehicle, and when the police after the investigation had arrested the accused and also filed challan before the concerned court, and when the claim of the insured was not found to be not genuine, the insurance company could not have repudiated the claim merely on the ground that there was a delay in intimating the insurance company about the occurrence of the theft." The bench said the accused were also arrested and charge sheeted, however, the vehicle could not be traced out. "Of course, it is true that there was a delay of about five months on the part of the complainant in informing and lodging its claim before the insurance company, nonetheless, it is pertinent to note that the insurance company has not repudiated the claim on the ground that it was not genuine," it noted.

The top court set aside an order by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which was passed on a petition by Oriental Insurance Company Ltd challenging the direction to pay the insured sum to Jaina Construction Company Ltd in connection with the theft of Tata Aiwa Truck.

The bench said: "In that view of the matter, the court is of the opinion that the NCDRC should not have set aside the orders of the District Forum and the State Commission by holding that the repudiation of the insurance claim by the insurance company was justified. The impugned order being erroneous and against the settled position of law, deserves to be set aside, and is set aside, accordingly." The insurance company disowned the liability on the claim, saying there was a breach of condition number one of the policy, which mandated immediate notice to the insurer of the accidental loss or damage. The company said the theft was intimated to it after the lapse of more than five months.

Rejecting this contention of the insurance company, the top court said in the instant case also, the FIR was lodged immediately on the next day of the occurrence of theft of the vehicle by the complainant.

The district consumer awarded Rs 10,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 litigation expenses to the complainant. This order was challenged by the insurance company in the state commission, which dismissed its appeal. Later the insurance company moved the NCDRC, which ruled in its favout. Jaina Construction Company moved the top court challenging the NCDRC order.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : In a first of its kind inter-state investigation, the Maharashtra Goods & Service Tax Department has arrested a Gujarat-based couple for evading GST of a whopping Rs 450-crore in this state through a fake ITC scam, an official said here on Friday.

The accused - Prima Mhatre of Dolphin Overseas and Sanjeev Singh of Prime Overseas - were caught in Surat with help of the Gujarat Police and brought here by a Mumbai Police team.

The duo was produced before the court this morning which sent them to 14 days judicial custody, said a GST official.

The official said the couple had been evading GST in Maharashtra since August 2021 and despite repeated summons, they failed to appear before the concerned authorities.

At one point at the start of the investigations, Mhatre and Singh even fled from the GST sleuths on medical grounds and remained untraceable since then.

Based on comprehensive analytics, the GST Department continued its probe and finally in a meticulously-planned operation over the past two days, caught them from their luxurious flat in the diamond hub of Surat on Thursday.

During the probe, the sleuths detected a collective GST evasion of around Rs 111 crore by the duo and understood their modus operandi, said the official.

They floated many bogus firms in the names of unknown persons, accepted fake invoices of around Rs 482 crore and fraudulently availed input tax credits of Rs 111 crore by this method.

Since both Mhatre-Singh continued to abscond and dodge the GST notices, the GST Department took the help of Mumbai Police and started a joint probe against them.

After collecting all the evidence, a team of Mumbai Police and GST left for Surat late on Wednesday, took help of the Gujarat Police and effected a dramatic arrest of the couple yesterday afternoon.

The entire successful operation was overseen by GST Joint Commissioner Sampada Mehta, Deputy Commissioner Vinod Desai, Assistant Commissioner Rishikesh Wagh, Tax Officer Swati Shinde and their teams.

A state Finance Department officer termed it the development as a "historic moment" for the GST Department as this is for the first time they have arrested tax-evaders from another state who were perpetrating GST frauds in Maharashtra and depriving the state exchequer of its rightful dues.

"This will definitely serve as a strong warning to all scamsters that the Maharashtra GST Department will not spare anybody evading taxes and they would face action from us wherever they may be," said the officer.
New Delhi, Feb 11: India and Japan today agreed to deepen cooperation through multi-layered dialogue and the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to India later this year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi finally held their first face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday after having two telephone conversations over the past few weeks.

In an interaction which lasted 45 minutes, the two ministers welcomed "the frank discussions" to enliven Japan-India partnership and also reaffirmed to work closely with each other along with Quad partners Australia and the United States towards the realisation of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific'.

"In particular, they concurred to cooperate to enhance connectivity through the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative and Japan-India cooperation in third countries," said the Japanese Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Hayashi stated it is becoming more important for both the countries, who share the basic values and have advocated the importance of rule-based order, to address common challenges under the 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' in this "increasingly uncertain international community".

Jaishankar mentioned that the 70th anniversary is the opportunity to strengthen the Japan-India ties even further and he is keen to expand the cooperation with Japan in various fields toward realising a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific'.

"The two ministers reiterated the importance of resuming the annual mutual visit of both leaders by realising Prime Minister Kishida's visit to India at an appropriate timing that is convenient for both sides," said the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

In addition, the two ministers concurred to hold the next round of India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting (2+2) to promote cooperation in the field of security besides deepening cooperation through multi-layered dialogues and meetings areas like cyber, space, maritime, disarmament and non-proliferation and UN Security Council.

"Good to meet FM Hayashi in person. Our conversation followed up on two virtual discussions. We prepare for our Annual Summit of Leaders," tweeted Jaishankar Friday afternoon.

India and Japan today also reaffirmed their commitment to promote economic cooperation including in digital, climate change countermeasures, healthcare, as well as economic security cooperation in the fields such as Beyond 5G, undersea cables, and supply chain resilience.

In addition, both Jaishankar and Hayashi spoke on the ongoing partnership in India's North Eastern region and steadily advancing the High-Speed Rail Project, the flagship project of Japan and India.

They also shared views to promote people-to-people interactions and cultural exchanges, including the utilization of the talented IT workers and the Specified Skilled Workers of India, while taking advantage of various opportunities of the 70th anniversary.

"The two ministers exchanged views on cooperation in regional affairs such as Myanmar and international cooperation including WTO, disarmament and non-proliferation, UN Security Council reform," the statement added.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com earlier, just like his predecessors Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga, Kishida values Japan's association with India which has been strengthened by shared values of belief in democracy.

This was the third in-person meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers, following Tokyo in October 2020 and the inaugural meeting in New York City in September 2019. The ministers last met virtually in February 2021.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Aam Aadmi Party MLA Vishesh Ravi on Friday wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana urging him to book North MCD Commissioner Sanjay Goel and Omaxe Ltd for "cutting 15 trees present in the premises of a municipal school".

"North MCD Commissioner Sanjay Goel and Omaxe Ltd. have violated sections 425 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code," Ravi said.

He said that in "a gross abuse of power and flagrant violation of the laws", the North MCD had cut down 15 of 35 marked trees present in the campus of the MCD School at Bank Street, Ajmal Khan Road on February 11.

Ravi said that he had also written about it to Delhi LG Anil Baijal and requested him to intervene and prevent this, however, there was "no help" from the LG.

The MLA stated that the school building was completely demolished by deploying bulldozers in "full force" to avoid any further protests against the BJP-run North MCD's "misdeeds".

"The felling of 15 of the 35 marked trees is also a direct violation of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, which is severely punishable under law," he added.
London, Feb 11 : The UK has detected a deadly haemorrhagic fever with "pandemic potential", the country's health officials have said.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, similar to Ebola, and people become infected through exposure to food or other items that have been contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Lassa fever has been imported to the UK for the first time in a decade, the Telegraph reported. Previously, there have been eight cases of Lassa fever imported to the UK since 1980, with the last two cases occurring in 2009, the report said.

The agency announced two confirmed cases and one probable case of Lassa fever in the country.

The three affected patients -- all from the same family -- had recently returned from West Africa, where the disease is endemic and there is an ongoing outbreak, the report said.

While health officials have sounded a note of calm to dampen down fears of disease spread in the UK, "at the moment it is unclear if anyone else has been infected", Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, was quoted as saying.

"Cases of Lassa fever are rare in the UK and it does not spread easily between people. The overall risk to the public is very low. We are contacting the individuals who have had close contact with the cases prior to confirmation of their infection, to provide appropriate assessment, support and advice," Hopkins said.

The haemorrhagic fever can also spread from person to person through body fluids.

It has symptoms like flu -- fever, headaches, sore throat, muscle pain as well as diarrhoea and vomiting.

In severe cases it can cause bleeding from the vagina, mouth or nose and severe facial swelling.

In West Africa, there are around 100,000 cases of the disease a year with an average of 5,000 deaths. But some 80 per cent of cases are asymptomatic.

While there is no effective treatment or vaccine, two jabs have entered phase one trials in 2019 and another started human trials last year.

The disease has been classed as having pandemic potential and it is on the WHO's list of priority pathogens alongside viruses such as Ebola and dengue, the report said.

Lassa fever is a rare, but serious infection. But it's chances of a spread like Covid in the UK is "unlikely".

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, was quoted as saying.

"Whilst any Lassa cases within the UK are of concern, we won't be seeing transmission anything like the scale we have with the Covid-19 pandemic," Head said.
Shillong, Feb 11 : The five Congress MLAs, who earlier this week announced to support the BJP backed NPP-led MDA coalition government in Meghalaya, are likely to be suspended from the party, state Congress President Vincent Pala said on Friday.

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress President Vincent Pala on Friday said that the AICC is against the decision of the five party MLAs supporting the National People's Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, in which the BJP with two MLAs, is also a partner.

"Action would be initiated against the five MLAs. Show-cause notices would be served to all the five legislators. They were all likely to be suspended," the state Congress chief told the media.

"As because of the five MLAs, we cannot lose in the remaining 55 constituencies (Meghalaya assembly has 60 seats). Without the five MLAs, the party (Congress) can do well for the interest of the people and the state," he added.

In a significant political development, all five Congress MLAs in Meghalaya led by their legislature party leader Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh on Tuesday met and told Chief Minister Conrad Sangma that they wish to join the NPP-led MDA government.

Of the five Congress MLAs, Ri-Bhoi's legislator Mayralborn Syiem and West Shillong Congress MLAs, Mahendro Rapsang reportedly said that they are in Congress and would remain in the party.The letter, signed by the five MLAs and Awritten to the Chief Minister earlier had said: "We wish to support you and the MDA to strengthen the government's arms and decision making, so as to ensure that our joint efforts will take the state forward, in the general interest of its citizens." "The five Congress MLAs have decided to support the MDA government for the development of Meghalaya," Lyngdoh had told the media.

After the 12 Congress MLAs led by former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma joined the Trinamool Congress on November 24 last year, the party's strength reduced to five in the 60 member assembly.Before November 24, the Congress's main rival in the state was the NPP and with the TMC's entry into the northeastern state forced the Congress to come closer to the NPP for its survival.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with two MLAs and several other local parties are the partners of the MDA government headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who is also the president of the NPP, the dominant party of the MDA government.

The NPP is also a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the northeastern unit of the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the convener of the NEDA. Assembly elections in Meghalaya are due in February-March next year (2023).
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro on Friday expressed shock and displeasure on Centre's reply that it has not received any resolution from the Odisha government on setting up of Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) in the state.

Replying to a question of Biju Janata Dal MP Prasanna Acharya in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that the Central government has not received any resolution adopted by the state assembly for the formation of the Council in Odisha.

However, he said the information is being collected from the state government of Odisha as regards to adoption of resolution.

Expressing dismay over this statement of Rijiju, the Assembly Speaker said it was forwarded way back in 2018 after the State Assembly passed a resolution to that effect.

Patro said the Assembly had passed the resolution on September 6, 2018 and submitted the same to the Centre on September 18, 2018.

The Assembly resolution was submitted to the Secretary General of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and also to the Secretary of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Law & Justice, he said.

Even the Assembly Secretariat had in the past responded to Parliament's query on this matter, he pointed out.

"It is shocking to know how the Union Minister has overlooked such an important document of the Odisha Assembly while giving reply in Rajya Sabha," Patro said.

MP Acharya too expressed shock over the reply and said he will seek clarification from the Law Minister on this issue.

The resolution was passed in the absence of the opposition Congress and the BJP in the House. A total of 104 MLAs including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, had voted in favour of the resolution.

Currently, only six states in India -- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, have legislative councils.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Friday said the Upper House did not witness any forced adjournment during the first part of the budget session, and it functioned nearly half-an-hour more than the scheduled sitting time.

He also said that the Members could not only participate effectively in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President Address and on the General discussion on Budget but also were able to raise 51 Starred Questions, 71 Zero Hour Submissions and about 50 Special Mentions.

"Just before we adjourn for a long recess, on behalf of the Honourable Chairman and on my own behalf, I would like to express our happiness over the manner in which proceedings of this august House took place during the first part of the Budget Session," he said.

"I compliment all sections of this august House for effective functioning of the House in a very positive way during this part of the Budget Session and hope that we continue to be guided with the same spirit in the future," he added.

The 256th Session of Rajya Sabha (Budget Session) began on January 31 with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind to both the Houses and the General Budget 2022-23 was presented on February 1.

The Upper House discussed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address and the general discussion on the Budget during the first part of this session which concluded on Friday.

The House will be summoned again on March 14, 2022 for the second part of the session to enable the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees to consider the Demands for Grants relating to Ministries/Departments and prepare their reports.

The second part of the session is scheduled to conclude on April 8.
New Delhi/Melbourne, Feb 11 : The Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, and the US Secretary of State met in Melbourne on Friday for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific - a region which is inclusive and resilient, and in which states strive to protect the interests of their people, free from coercion.

The Quad Foreign Ministers deliberated on regional challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), maritime security, counter-terrorism, countering disinformation, and cyber security. It was also decided that Japan is going to host the next Quad Leaders' Summit in the first half of 2022.

The Quad recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and reiterates the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas with deepened engagement with regional partners, including through capacity-building and technical assistance, to strengthen maritime domain awareness, protect their ability to develop offshore resources, consistent with UNCLOS, ensure freedom of navigation and overflight, combat challenges, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and promote the safety and security of sea lanes of communication, read the joint statement issued after the meeting.

The Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism and denounces the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urges countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens, disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists, it said.

In this context, Quad reiterates its condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and reaffirms UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts, with such ungoverned spaces being a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific, said the joint statement.

As unwavering supporters of ASEAN unity and centrality, and the ASEAN-led architecture, Quad continues to support ASEAN partners to advance the practical implementation of ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Quad acknowledges the importance of sub-regional mechanisms and institutions, including in the Mekong sub-region. and will continue to support Cambodia in its important role as 2022 ASEAN Chair, it added.

In the meeting, it was noted that the Quad partners have collectively provided more than 500 million vaccine doses, and have pledged to donate more than 1.3 billion vaccine doses globally. It alo noted the Quad Vaccine Partnership's rapid progress in expanding vaccine production at the Biological E Ltd facility in India, which aims to deliver at least 1 billion vaccines by the end of 2022. Quad is also assisting to train healthcare workers, combat vaccine hesitancy, and augment infrastructure, especially cold chain systems, for 'last mile' vaccine delivery.

"We welcome the timely initiative for coordinating the response to combat the Covid pandemic under a Global Action Plan for Enhanced Engagement," the statement said.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Brokerage and financial firm JM Financial Institutional Securities has given a 'buy' call for Hindalco Industries, Mahindra & Mahindra, Zomato, Bharat Forge, Prestige Estates, and Gujarat State Petronet.

Outlook for Hindalco Industries remains buoyant as Indian aluminium continues to benefit from high realisations coupled with strong recovery in copper volumes driven by recovery in segmental profits, the firm said in a report.

Target price for the company is set at Rs 650, as against current price of Rs 540.5.

For Mahindra & Mahindra, target price is kept at Rs 1,060, as against Rs 850 currently.

Robust demand and with a strong product pipeline are expected to drive growth for the automotive manufacturer, the report said.

"Subdued performance in 3QFY22 was driven by a challenging environment on account of semiconductor shortages, higher commodity prices and weakness in high margin tractor business. We believe the ongoing rural slowdown would continue impacting tractor sales in coming quarters." However, it expects strong demand for SUVs to continue over the next two to three years and the premiumisation trend would further pick up.

For food aggregator Zomato, target price is at Rs 155 against its current price of Rs 88.80.

"Zomato indicated that it is likely to increase its stake in Blinkit (erstwhile Grofers) following the latter's 100 per cent transition to the quick commerce category." The firm remains optimistic on such hyper-local ecosystem investments (beyond core food delivery) as they could lead to bundled offerings that would not only help Zomato improve customer engagement, retention and ordering frequency but also drive operational synergies.

For Bharat Forge and Prestige Estates, the target price is kept at Rs 875 and Rs 595, against their current share price of Rs 732 and Rs 452, respectively.

Lastly, the target price for Gujarat State Petronet is kept at Rs 350 versus the current price of Rs 297.
Hyderabad, Feb 11 : Aggressive masculinity dominates the Indian news shows and talk shows, according to researchers at the Hyderabad University. The study monitored prime time news and talk shows across 31 television channels in 12 Indian languages including English.

A team from the university's Department of Communication, comprising Prof. Usha Raman and two of her research scholars, Amritha Mohan and Anuja Premika, collaborated with the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) to conduct a study exploring the presence of aggressive masculinity in journalistic performance and social media discourse.

According to the study, aggression was observed in more than 50 per cent of all news shows sampled, with the percentage rising to 85 per cent for talk shows.

At 76.8 per cent, tone of voice was the most common expression of aggression observed in the study. Elements that increased stridency such as sound and visual effects occurred as frequently as 60 per cent.

Panels moderated by male anchors revealed relatively more aggressive masculinist behavior (54.55 per cent) on several metrics than those moderated by female anchors (12.07 per cent).

Using a scale developed by the Hyderabad University team to identify and catalogue aggressive, dominant and sexist verbal and non-verbal behaviours associated with hegemonic masculinities, a team of coders from the NWMI membership analysed the television content.

The study also conducted a limited analysis of trending social media posts, as were a set of case studies of specific news stories and channels.

It was prompted by the increasing polarisation in news performance, characterised by high-decibel confrontational behavior on many shows, which often carries over into social media as well.

The researchers also looked for instances of gender positive behaviours and offered guidelines on how channels can move towards a more dialoguic, civil mode of television news presentation.
Kolkata, Feb 11 : Few hours after All-India General Secretary of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Abhishek Banerjee indicated to step down from the organisational responsibilities, West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday called for an emergency meeting at her Kalighat residence on Saturday wherein all the senior leaders including Abhishek Banerjee, Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Bakshi have been asked to present.

Insiders in the party are of the opinion that the sudden meeting convened by the Chief Minister is not only a message of truce being sent to the second-in-command of the party but also a desperate attempt to solve the differences within the party.

The senior-junior rift in the party has reached to an extent where Abhishek Banerjee has expressed his wish to step down from the party responsibility.

According to sources in the party several issues including the 'One Man One Post' theory recently introduced by Abhishek Banerjee and the confusion regarding the list of candidates of the party in the upcoming Municipal election will come up for discussion.

"Abhishek Banerjee is the younger generation and he wants to manage the party in a much professional and democratic manner. This is definitely not liked by the seniors of the party who have been enjoying undue privileges," a young leader close to Abhishek Banerjee told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

The differences in the party started cropping up during the Kolkata Municipal Corporation when chief minister Mamata Banerjee changed several names without following the 'One Man One Post' theory.

Firhad Hakim being the Minister of Transport was made the Mayor flouting the norms. Though Abhishek Banerjee has strongly backed the idea, senior members like Firhad Hakim openly said that the Trinamool Congress supremo does not support the idea.

The controversy became even more complicated when a poster supporting 'One Man One Post' was seen on the cover of the Twitter handle of Minister of State for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Chandrima Bhattacharya.

Bhattacharya who is considered to be close to Mamata Banerjee said that her Twitter handle is controlled by I-Pac which the organisation immediately denied.

The differences became even more prominent during the publication of the list of candidates by the party where two lists surfaced - one signed by party Secretary General Partha Chatterjee and State Secretary Subrata Bakshi and another list prepared by I-Pac had the support and patronage of Abhishek.

Though Mamata Banerjee said that the list prepared by Chatterjee and Bakshi was the official list but in many municipalities, Abhishek overruled the chief minister's decision and gave nominations to the candidates approved by Prashant Kishore and I-Pac.

The situation went to that extent when both Chatterjee and Bakshi told the chief minister that it would be better for them to get distanced from active politics than taking instructions from Camac Street (The office of Abhishek Banerjee). Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was also very unhappy with the situation and gave indications to terminate ties with I-Pac.

In a situation like this, the meeting is likely to be very important and will decide the future course of action. All eyes will be on the meeting at Kalighat on Saturday.
Ahmedabad, Feb 11 : Led by three-wicket hauls from Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, India signed off from the ODI series with a 96-run win over West Indies in the third and final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. Chasing 266, West Indies were never in the hunt and were bowled out for 169 in 37.1 overs.

Deepak Chahar tested the opening pair of Brandon King and Shai Hope with some movement available from the pitch. He was almost successful when King top-edged the third ball of the innings but it fell between mid-on and mid-off fielders. King survived a DRS call off Chahar and ended the third over with successive boundaries.

Mohammed Siraj was the first bowler to strike, trapping Shai Hope with a sharp nip-backer to hit him flush on the back pad. Hope didn't take the review as replays later showed the ball was missing the stumps.

In the next over, Chahar returned to take out King and Shamarh Brooks in the space of four balls. While King nicked an outswinger to first slip, Brooks sliced the ball straight to point, departing without troubling the scorers.

Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran amassed some boundaries but Prasidh Krishna broke the 43-run stand for the fourth wicket in the 14th over. Bravo played an expansive drive away from the body and edged to second slip. The extra bounce in the pitch helped Krishna in taking out Jason Holder as the ball hit the shoulder of the bat while defending and edge flew to slip fielder.

Two balls later, Fabian Allen fell for a golden duck, enticed in driving forward by a returning Kuldeep Yadav. But the googly took the edge behind to Rishabh Pant. Allen took the review but replays showed a spike on UltraEdge.

Yadav returned in his next over to take out captain Nicholas Pooran, who went hard on the drive and edged to slip fielder. But Odean Smith gave a stunning exhibition of his clean ball-striking, taking Yadav for fours through down the ground and extra cover. It was followed by back-to-back sixes over both sides of 'v'.

Smith had luck on his side as Suryakumar Yadav dropped an absolute sitter at mid-off off Siraj the unlucky bowler. After hitting Yadav for another six over long-on, Smith had a streaky boundary off an outer edge off Siraj. Two balls later, Siraj ended Smith's short-lived blitzkrieg as the right-handed batter mistimed to cover.

Alzarri Joseph and Hayden Walsh frustrated India with a 47-run stand for the ninth wicket. Siraj broke the stand with a short ball directed towards Walsh, and the left-handed batter gave a simple catch to leg gully. Krishna finished off the match as Joseph pulled and top-edge flew to deep mid-wicket.

Brief scores: India 265 all out in 50 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80, Rishabh Pant 56; Jason Holder 4/34, Alzarri Joseph 2/54) beat West Indies (Odean Smith 36, Nicholas Pooran 34; Prasidh Krishna 3/27, Mohammed Siraj 3/29) by 96 runs
Panaji, Feb 11 : A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the blame for the "delay" in Goa's liberation from Portugal at India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru's door, BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday followed the suit.

Speaking at an election rally in Marcela village in North Goa, Nadda said that the Central government at the time, led by Nehru did not have the will to liberate Goa, as a result of which the state's liberation was delayed till 1961.

"Because of the Indian National Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru, your independence was delayed. The rest of the country gained independence in 1947. You became independent later. The country's leaders did not have the will to liberate you. You earned the liberation through your struggle," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president said.

"When I see the people of Goa, I feel pride and honoured. I feel pride and a sense of honour because you have tolerated foreign forces for a long time. You kept on fighting and your struggle has not been a small one. The struggle went on for 451 years," Nadda said.

In his speech at an election rally in Mapusa town in North Goa on Friday, PM Modi had said: "The first Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spoke from the Red Fort and you can listen to his speech on Youtube. He said from the ramparts of the Red Fort, that he could not send the army to help the Satyagrahis." "That means you do what you want, if you want to die, die, live if you want to live. This is what he did!" the Prime Minister had added.
Amravati : , Feb 11 (IANS) In an embarrassment for Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government, a Minister of State was on Friday convicted in an election case and sentenced to 2 months simple imprisonment along with a fine.

The Chandurbazar Court in Amravati district has found Minister of State for Water Resources and Education Omprakash Baburao alias Bacchu Kadu guilty in a complaint pertaining to his 2014 election as MLA from Achalpur.

The court has pronounced a two-months simple imprisonment plus a fine of Rs 25,000, but has granted 30 days' time to appeal against the order.

The 3-time legislator was elected again as an Independent MLA from the same constituency and later elevated as MoS from the Shiv Sena quota in the MVA government headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to a complaint lodged in 2017 by a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Kadu had allegedly suppressed information about owning at least one flat in Mumbai in his 2014 election affidavit, and hence violated the provisions of the Representation of The People Act.

Among other things, the complainant demanded that his election should be set aside and he should be punished for hiding information in the poll affidavit.

After the trial lasting for nearly five years, the court pronounced the guilty verdict on Kadu, but Kadu said he would challenge the order in a higher court soon.

He told media persons that the allegations against him were misleading and he had not suppressed any information in his poll affidavit.

The flat he had bought in Mumbai in a society for legislators was against a loan, he had shown the loan amount in the election affidavit, so he had not committed any offence, Kadu claimed.

An aggressive leader from Amravati, Kadu was first elected from Achalpur in 2009, and repeated the feat in 2014 and 2019, and rewarded with a ministerial responsibility this time.
Panaji, Feb 11 : The construction of a brand high new Bombay High Court complex in Porvorim, a Panaji suburb, is proof of how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allowed the independence of the judiciary to grow and flourish, BJP national president JP Nadda said on Friday.

"The High Court (building) has been constructed. I would not want anyone to land in a legal fight that lands in the High Court. No one should have to go to a High Court. I pray to God for that. But do go just to see the High Court building," Nadda said at an election rally in Marcela village, located a short distance from Panaji.

"Goa has one of the best High Courts in the country thanks to PM Modi. We have to remember this. It is state of the art. It has every facility. It also shows how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allowed the independence of the judiciary to grow and flourish," Nadda said.

The new building complex, which houses the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court was built at the cost of Rs 90 crore and was inaugurated earlier this year. Located on a hillock close to the state legislative assembly complex, the High Court complex overlooks the offshore casino-decked Mandovi river, which divides Porvorim from Panaji.
Chennai, Feb 11 : The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) has brought in relaxations on the restrictions imposed during the campaigning for urban local body polls as the number of fresh Covid cases in the state is coming down.

On Thursday, the state reported 3,592 fresh Covid cases and 30 of the 38 districts logged in less than 100 cases each.

According to the new relaxations announced by the TNSEC, candidates and political parties are allowed to campaign from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday onwards, as against 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. earlier.

The commission also permitted the conduct of roadshows, padayatras, processions, and cycle rallies without prescribing the maximum number of participants.

The TNSEC, in a statement, said: "Candidates and political parties shall conduct public events complying with the guidelines given by the respective district administration or Chennai corporation. The parties should also inform the campaign location of their star campaigners to the district administration well in advance." The campaigning to the urban local body polls to be held on February 19 for 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 489 town panchayats, will end on February 17 evening.
Bengaluru, Feb 11 : Karnataka's Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan on Friday said that it would not be possible to ban the usage of phones in colleges as digital learning has become part and parcel of the study process.

Replying to a query by reporters about speculation that usage of mobiles will be banned in schools and colleges against the backdrop of hijab row, he said: "Nowadays modern gadgets such as mobile, computer, laptop, tab, etc have become an integral part of the teaching-learning process. When such is the situation, how usage of mobiles can be banned?" "Neither students or parents should believe such rumours. The government's aim is to provide quality education to students at all levels using modern gadgets. Accordingly, usage of mobiles in institutions will be continued." Meanwhile, Karnataka Police have conducted flag marches in various districts, including Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Vijayapura, Dharwad, and Hubballi as a precautionary measure amid tension against the backdrop of hijab row.

Two teams of armed policemen have taken out flag march in sensitive areas of Hubballi to send out a strong signal to the anti-social elements and instil confidence among parents as high schools are reopening from Monday.

The police also took out march in communally-sensitive Vijayapura. Flag march was undertaken in arterial roads and sensitive pockets of the historical city.

Police march was also taken out in Udupi, from where the hijab row started.

The Karnataka High Court has given interim order banning both hijab and saffron shawls until its final orders.
Press Release

February 10, 2022 Pangilinan: Gutom ang mga Pilipino dahil may kumikita sa importation LIPA, BATANGAS, FEB. 10 - A huge portion of the country's population are reeling from hunger because there are corrupt government officials benefiting from the importation scheme of the national government, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said on Thursday. The lawmaker did not mince his words when he criticized the decision of the national government to import goods such as fish, sugar, and pork from other countries, describing it as a factor contributing to the continuing spike in food prices. "May kumikita diyan at obviously at the expense ng taumbayan," Pangilinan said, citing the decision of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to import fish even if local fishermen say that fish supply in the country is sufficient. "Hindi tama ang importation. Is this fundraising? Mayroon bang kumikita dito? Pati ang fishery sector, iyong galunggong, iniimport na rin. Eh malamang iyong mga galunggong na iyon ay mga balikbayan lang din kasi galing China at alam natin na hinuli lang naman ng mga mangingisdang Intsik yan mula sa ating tubig. It's really wrong," he added. Just a few days ago, the DA yet again decided to import sugar even if it is currently the milling season for this product in the Philippines. Pangilinan said this band-aid solution by the DA should stop, otherwise the Filipino people will continue to suffer. "Tumututol tayo riyan sapagkat kasagsagan pa naman ng milling season so makikipag-kumpitensya itong imported sa ating mga lokal [na asukal] na hindi tama. Dapat 'yan ay doon sa panahon nang hindi nag-mi-mill dahil babagsak na naman ang presyo," Pangilinan said in a radio interview earlier today. Last year, the DA promised that the price of pork will go down due to importation. Pangilinan, however, said the opposite happened as the price has risen to P380 per kilo, which a minimum wage earner could not afford. "Ang sabi nila last year bababa ang presyo ng karne dahil sa importation. Hindi naman bumaba. P380 pa rin ang isang kilo. Tone-tonelada na ang inimport pero mataas pa rin ang presyo," Pangilinan said. With this lingering problem that prevents the Philippines from being food secured, Pangilinan, who is running for vice-president, offers a simple solution. He has pushed for the national government to fully and properly implement the provisions of his Sagip Saka Act which mandates government agencies to buy directly from local farmers and fisherfolk. "If there's a basic right, it's the right to food and proper nutrition. Obviously mayroon tayong [problema sa pagkain] and we begin solving this by securing our farmers and fisherfolk," said Pangilinan. Pangilinan, along with his running mate presidential candidate Leni Robredo, visited Batangas today on the third day of the campaign period. Although campaigning is physically taxing, Pangilinan said, all the exhaustion is taken away by the warm welcome of their supporters. "We're up at four in the morning and we end at ten or eleven at night. It's exhausting and tiring pero lumalakas ang loob namin at nawawala ang pagod dahil overwhelming at outpouring ang support [ng mga tao]. We will keep at it. It's a small price to pay for a better future of the country," he said.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Vedanta Aluminium Business, India's largest producer of aluminium and value-added products, will collaborate with cement, construction and infrastructure industries for gainful utilisation of its by-products - fly-ash (a by-product in thermal power generation) and bauxite-residue (a by-product of producing alumina from bauxite).

At a national-level webinar held with global experts and participants from the cement industry, the company also sought interest from cement manufacturers for setting up integrated cement plants or cement clinker grinding/blending/processing units adjacent to its plants in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Since aluminium is a continuous process industry, proximity to the company's operations will give cement manufacturers a continuous supply of high-quality fly-ash and bauxite-residue, save costs incurred on logistics, and provide access to emerging construction markets in eastern and central India.

Vedanta Aluminium's webinar was attended by almost 200 executives from the cement, construction and infrastructure sectors. Renowned experts in this domain - Ulhas Parlikar, Global Consultant - Waste Management, Circular Economy, Policy Advocacy, AFR & Co-processing, Prof (Dr) Virendra Kumar Paul, Head - Department of Building Engineering and Management, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and Dr Amit Chatterjee, Director - R&D, Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd. shared their insights and experience on the benefits of fly-ash and bauxite-residue in cement industry with the industry professionals.

Speaking at the webinar, Rahul Sharma, CEO - Vedanta Aluminium Business said, "We believe in seamlessly integrating principles of sustainability into the way we do business. Sustainable business practices form the bedrock of our operational excellence, as we generate long-term value for our customers and communities. We are working towards developing thriving value-chains to convert our by-products into resources, by fostering long-term strategic collaborations with complementary industries. We hope the Indian cement producers come forth to work with us on this innovative solution, which is a true win-win scenario for the industry and environment." Fly-ash and bauxite-residue, the two most voluminous by-products generated by the aluminium industry, can be used in cement and concrete manufacturing, providing cement manufacturers significant benefits in terms of quality output, cost and sustainability. Fly ash can partially replace cement in concrete (or be used to produce blended cement), significantly improving durability and workability of cement. In cement manufacturing, every tonne of fly-ash used can help save around 700-800 kg of carbon emissions, 4.2 million KJ of energy, and 341 litres of water. Bauxite-residue can be a very useful additive in raw mix for cement clinkers. The advantages of using bauxite-residue with slag improves properties of the raw mix, reduces energy consumption, and improves the strength of the final product. Both fly ash and bauxite residue being industrial wastes themselves, come with significant cost and energy advantages as well.

Sharing his insights and industry experience with the audience, Parlikar said: "Fly-ash and bauxite residue are two voluminous resources that have huge potential for gainful use in the cement and construction industry. Properly utilised, they can contribute substantially to the cause of sustainable growth, circular economy and climate action." "Mainstreaming the use of fly-ash and bauxite residue is the need of the hour. Abundance of opportunities awaits their use as we move to a sustainable construction paradigm. It is a resource being wasted at the cost of materials that have potential to be replaced. Let us think differently!" Prof Paul added.

In line with its quest for fostering circular economy, in the current fiscal alone, Vedanta Aluminium has aided in utilisation of over 3 million tonnes of fly-ash and 26,000 tonnes of bauxite-residue in cement, bricks and infrastructure industries.

Vedanta Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Ltd, is India's largest manufacturer of aluminium, producing half of India's aluminium at 1.97 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY21. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class Aluminium Smelters, Alumina Refinery and Power Plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the 'Metal of the Future' for a greener tomorrow.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Rahul Gandhi has accused the Prime Minister of distracting the attention of Goans from the actual issues.

Rahul was responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark in which he "blamed Jawahar Lal Nehru for delay in liberation of Goa".

The Congress leader said, "Every party has a particular role, like I see my role as to ensure that Goa gets a government that represents its voice. The Prime Minister also has a role, he cannot come to you and say, I gave you jobs..I have fixed your problems, he can't say that to you, so he has to distract you, his role is to distract." "His role is to take you away from your issues and distract you. Now the fact of the matter is that this is an issue that has come up before, academics and freedom fighters have commented on this. The sad fact is that the Prime Minister doesn't quite understand the history of those times. He doesn't understand in details what was going on post World War-II," he added.

Rahul also said that the party would look to rejuvenate the state's tourism sector and also restart the mining industry at the earliest.

"This time we are going to get a solid majority and we are going to act immediately to ensure that we have a government in Goa. We won't fall short. I think we'll be well above the majority mark with ease," Gandhi said.

To form government, victory over 21 seats is required in the 40-member state Legislative Assembly. In the last elections, in 2017, the Congress had emerged as the single-largest party, but the delay in cobbling together the required numbers had resulted in the BJP forming a government in the coastal state.

He also said that the Congress would focus on turning Goa into an IT hub in order to address the issue of unemployment in the state.

"We propose to focus on transforming Goa into an IT and knowledge hub so that many young Goans can get jobs in the IT industry and get connected to the rest of the world," the Congress leader said.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : YES Bank's board considered and approved a proposal to seek investors' approval for early redemption of bond instruments worth Rs 1,764 crore.

The bonds are Basel II compliant Lower Tier II and Upper Tier II Bond, the bank said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Capital Raising Committee of the bank.

Total eight bond issuances that were issued during 2012, are up for early redemption.

These bond issuances are set to mature during 2022 and some in 2027, respectively, it added in the filing.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Zomato third quarter earnings release remains opaque, lacks substance, and describes only selective aspects of the business, foreign brokerage, Jefferies said in a report.

"Lack of management call leaves a lot to the imagination and our inexperience with the Internet sector does not help either," Jefferies added.

"We continue to believe that management should face tough investor questions through an earnings call rather than providing abstract details on the business," Jefferies added.

The past two quarters signal how unpredictable this business (& probably Internet sector) is likely to be, but we remain confident on the structural India growth story, it said.

After a strong 2Q, an underwhelming GOV (+1.7 per cent QoQ) in 3Q will raise questions on India opportunity, Jefferies said.

Adjusted revenues were flat QoQ to Rs14.2bn in 3Q, which was 9 per cent below estimates, albeit on a strong 2Q base. While net revenues (ex-delivery charges) grew 9 per cent QoQ, customer delivery charges fell 22 per cent QoQ which was a drag. This was driven by Rs7.5/order reduction in delivery charges - management attributed this to its strategy of lowering discounts as well as foray into ~180 new cities, where they introduced a temporary free delivery.

After a positive surprise in MTUs and GOV resulting in sharp upgrades in 2Q, we now cut the FY22-26 GMV by 4-9 per cent to reflect the muted performance in 3Q. While 2Q nudged us to build a faster topline at the cost of profitability, we now trim growth, but raise profitability, the report said.

Monthly active users (MTU) saw a marginal decline QoQ for the first time in five quarters. Active delivery partners saw a marginal decline QoQ for the first time in five quarters.

Weak GOV growth was due to reduction in delivery charges and post-covid reopening resulting in a shift towards dining out, per management, the report said.

MTU saw a marginal decline QoQ for the first time in five quarters to 15.3m. 2Q base was stiff though, with 26 per cent QoQ growth.

Hyperpure saw a strong 40 per cent QoQ growth in 3Q to Rs 1.6 billion. Dining-out business also saw a revival but again, release provides no details, which is a surprise in the context of a shift towards dine-out.

Zomato has $1.7 billion of cash which they intend to invest in Core food business and Quick commerce. The company has raised the upper bounds of potential investments in quick commerce to $400 million over the next two years, Jefferies said.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Hyderabad, Feb 11 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday made it clear that the state will not implement power reforms being pushed by the Centre and declared that even if he is killed, he will not accept installing meters for electricity connections to the agriculture sector.

He flayed the Narendra Modi-led Central government for pressurising the state to implement power reforms by linking it to subsidies and by refusing to procure paddy and threatening the state with a smear campaign through social media.

Addressing a public meeting in Jangaon, he said in the name of power reforms, the Modi government was trying to fix meters to electricity connections to agriculture pumpsets. "Even if you kill me, I will not install meters," he said.

The Chief Minister said Telangana has 30 lakh borewells, the highest in any state in the country. Stating that his government took several steps to improve the ground water table and was providing 24-hour free electricity to farmers, he said the Central government was creating new hurdles for the state which was marching ahead with all-round progress in a short span of eight years.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, asked BJP not to forget what happened when Chandrababu Naidu as the Chief Minister of then undivided Andhra Pradesh wanted to fix meters to agriculture connections.

Slamming the Centre for anti-farmer policies, he said Narendra Modi promised to double the income of farmers but instead doubled the cost of agriculture by increasing prices of diesel, fertilisers and other inputs.

He claimed that for eight years, the state did not pick up any fight with the Centre and despite not receiving any help from the Centre, solved its problems by ensuring water for irrigation and drinking purposes, overcoming electricity shortage and extending all help to farmers under Rythu Bandhu.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief claimed the Centre went back on its commitments and ignored all the demands of Telangana.

He alleged that the Modi government not only adopted anti-farmer and anti-poor policies but helped those who looted lakhs of crores to escape the country.

KCR also told the people that if necessary he would impact the national politics by playing a key role. "With your support and blessings, we will demolish the Delhi fort," he said.

Referring to the attack on a TRS leader by BJP men in Jangaon, the Chief Minister warned the saffron party of serious consequences for any physical attack.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The UAPA Tribunal asked controversial Islamic preacher Zakir naik to appear physically for authentication of his credentials for his affidavit before the Indian embassy in Malaysia or be physically present before it in the next hearing.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Tribunal order came after Naik failed to submit his affidavit with authentication of his credentials as asked by the tribunal in the last hearing, citing his inability to visit the Indian embassy in Malaysia.

The controversial islamic preacher and his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) have been under the radar of investigative agencies for multiple cases such as money laundering, UP conversion racket, Delhi riots, RGF trust scam, and others. The IRF earlier filed an affidavit against the ban imposed by the government on it.

The 55-year-old Islamic preacher was accused of using his televisised speeches to promote anti-India sentiments among Muslim youths, spread hatred and incite them to take up terrorism. He fled from India in 2016 when the government agencies started probing him and his foundation.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : India and Australia have reached an understanding on the 'interim' trade agreement and plan to finalise it in the next 30 days, India Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

The India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is expected to be concluded in 12 months thereafter, he announced at a joint press conference with Australian Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan.

The two nations are expected to sign the interim agreement in March. The proposed areas covered under the interim agreement include goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs procedure, and legal and institutional issues.

Goyal also said significant progress has been made in advancing the FTA between the two nations.
Panaji, Feb 11 : India's top 100 billionaires have as much wealth as 40 per cent of the country's population, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday.

Speaking at an election rally at the Curchorem assembly constituency in South Goa, Gandhi once again spelled out his theory of two India, which he had first advocated in Parliament earlier this month.

"In India, on the one hand, there are billionaires and on the other hand there are unemployed.

"Today, India's richest 100 persons have as much money as 40 per cent of the Indian population. On the one hand, there is 40 per cent of India's population and on the other hand, 100 billionaires.

"Today, 90 percent profit goes to 20 businesses," Gandhi said.

"The country is being further divided. On the one hand, there are a select few rich and lakhs, crores of poor on the other. We do not want such a Goa and India. If India is a country, everyone should get the opportunity, there should be justice. We want such a Goa, such an India," he added.

Gandhi also faulted the Central government for growing unemployment in the country.

"Why did employment opportunities disappear? Who creates employment? Employment is created by people who run small and medium businesses. Employment is created by small businessmen, small shop owners. Over the last eight years, the government in Delhi has attacked them," Gandhi said, blaming demonetisation and a flawed Goods and Services Tax for the phasing out of small businesses and industries.

"GST was (also) not implemented in the correct manner. Small and medium businessmen were affected. As a result, those small and medium business owners who were providing employment, their businesses shut down. They cannot provide employment anymore," he said.

Gandhi said that the electoral contest in Goa was between the BJP and the Congress, urging voters not to cast ballots in favour of smaller parties in the fray.

"The fight is between the BJP and the Congress. The rest of the parties cannot form a government. The government will be formed by the Congress and not the rest of the parties. So do not waste your vote. Congress should win with a full majority in Goa," he said.

Polling to the 40-member Goa Assembly will be held on February 14.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked whether parties connected with cases involving quota in private sector - based on domicile - can be heard together.

A bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R, Gavai said: "If the matters are pending before other high courts, we can hear the larger issue after calling for the papers from high courts..." The top court was hearing an appeal by the Haryana government challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court interim stay, on its law to give 75 per cent reservation to the youths belonging to the state in the private sector.

The bench said Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh government policies granting reservation on the basis of domicile have been challenged in the high courts. It further queried the parties in the Haryana matter, whether matters of other states could be brought to the top court for adjudication along with Haryana government's policy.

The top court asked parties, including the Haryana government, to find out the pending cases in high courts and inform it on Monday whether they are agreeable on hearing matters together.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Haryana government, submitted at the beginning of the hearing that only a handful of people are opposed to the state's policy.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said he will consult with his clients. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing one of the parties, emphasised that the matter requires examination by the top court.

In a special leave petition, the Haryana government contended that the interim order was passed in the teeth of law laid down by the top court in Bhavesh D. Parish vs Union of India (2000), and also in violation of the principles of natural justice. "It is submitted that the hearing granted by the High Court was mere empty formality, whereby, the High Court with a predetermined conclusion opened the hearing by saying that they Act is liable to be stayed and thereafter did not afford any opportunity to the law officer appearing on behalf of the state of Haryana," said the plea.

"Violation of principles of natural justice is manifest from the fact the entire hearing in the matter concluded within one minute," it added.

On February 3, in a setback to the BJP-JJP government in Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the state government law to give 75 per cent reservation to the youths belonging to the state in the private sector. The law under the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020 is applicable in industries having more than 10 employees.

In a petition, the Faridabad Industrial Association said the impugned Act was against the provisions of Constitution and also against the basic principle of meritocracy that acted as the foundation for businesses to grow and remain competitive.
Imphal, Feb 11 : Weeks before the crucial assembly elections, the ruling BJP in Manipur on Friday expelled its chief spokesperson, Chongtham Bijoy, a day after he termed the National People's Party (NPP) a "parasite that had proved a menace" to the ruling alliance in the last five years.

The NPP headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is a dominant party of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government and an ally of ruling BJP in Manipur since 2017 though the two parties separately contesting the two phase assembly polls on February 28 and March 5.

According to a statement issued by Manipur state BJP President A. Sharda Devi, Bijoy was expelled from the party's primary membership for six years "for violation of the party's rules and regulation and breach of party discipline".

Soon after his expulsion from BJP, Bijoy told the media that he would be supporting Janata Dal (United) candidate of Uripok Assembly constituency Kh Suresh in the ensuing elections.

"I was denied a party ticket as I was vocal against the corruption. Without serving any show cause notice to me and following the due procedure, an expulsion order was issued against me by the party President," he said.

Bijoy, who was keen to contest the Assembly polls from Uripok, reacted sharply after a retired IAS officer, L. Raghumani, was nominated by the BJP for the assembly seat.

He claimed that Raghumani, despite being "a corrupt man", got the BJP ticket on the recommendations of the influentials.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Droughts occurring simultaneously across different regions of the world could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural systems threatening the water and food security of millions of people, recent collaborative research has found out.

Continuing fossil fuel dependence will increase the probability of co-occurring droughts 40 per cent by the mid-21st century and 60 per cent by the late 21st century, relative to the late-20th century. That comes out to an approximately nine-fold increase in agricultural and human population exposure to severe co-occurring droughts unless steps are taken to lower carbon emissions, said the study carried out by researchers from the Washington State University, Vancouver, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, the Columbia University, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar.

"There could be around 120 million people across the globe simultaneously exposed to severe compound droughts each year by the end of the century. Many of the regions that our analysis shows will be most affected are already vulnerable, and so the potential for droughts to become disasters is high," said lead author Jitendra Singh, a former postdoctoral researcher at the WSU School of the Environment, now at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

The elevated risk of compound droughts estimated by the research team is a result of a warming climate coupled with a projected 22 per cent increase in the frequency of El Nino and La Nina events - the two opposite phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

La Nina refers to the large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, coupled with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation. It usually has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Nino.

The researchers' projections show that nearly 75 per cent of compound droughts in the future will coincide with these irregular but recurring periods of climatic variation in the world's oceans, which have played a large role in some of the greatest environmental disasters in world history.

The research team analysed climate, agricultural and population growth data for the research study that was recently published in Nature Climate Change, an international high-impact journal.

"While technology and other circumstances today are a lot different than they were in the late 19th century, crop failures in multiple breadbasket regions still have the potential to affect global food availability. This could in turn increase volatility in global food prices, affecting food access, and exacerbate food insecurity, particularly in regions that are already vulnerable to environmental shocks such as droughts," said study co-author Prof Deepti Singh, an Assistant Professor in the WSU School of the Environment.

The study results also indicated that areas of North and South America are more likely to experience compound droughts in a future, warmer climate than regions of Asia, where much of the agricultural land is projected to become wetter.

Sharing insights from the research study and its estimated impact on India and South Asia, Prof Vimal Mishra from the Department of Civil Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, and co-author of the study, said: "Our study estimated the probability and risk of co-occurrence of drought in multiple regions during the observed and projected future climate, which is likely to increase under the warmer climate. Simultaneous droughts in major agricultural areas pose food security risks and raise food prices. ENSO remains one of the prominent drivers of drought occurrence in both observed and future climates." "The potential for a food security crisis increases even if these droughts aren't affecting major food-producing regions but rather many regions that are already vulnerable to food insecurity," he said.

Moving forward, the researchers plan to take a closer look at how co-occurring droughts will affect various aspects of the global food network, how vulnerable communities are affected by and adapting to such climate extremes, as well as how society can be better prepared to manage the risk of increasing simultaneous disasters.
New York, Feb 11 : The Quad on Friday called for the elimination of terrorist safe havens and for bringing to justice the perpetrators of cross-border terrorism.

"We call on all countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks," the Foreign Ministers of the Quad nations said in a joint statement after their meeting in Australia's Melbourne.

Reiterating the condemnation of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks, the statement said: "We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Ministers Marise Payne of Australia and Hayashi Yoshimasa of Japan who participated in the meeting focused on joint action, said in their statement: "The Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism." They warned that "ungoverned spaces" are "a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific" and said, "Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts".

The statement said they were committed to the "Indo-Pacific countries' efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific - a region which is inclusive and resilient, and in which states strive to protect the interests of their people, free from coercion".

Without mentioning China which poses a common threat to the four countries, the ministers said: "Quad partners champion the free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, rooted in international law, that protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries." Their statement made a pointed reference to the South and East China Seas where Beijing has posed a direct threat to countries in the area.

"We reiterate the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in South and East China Seas," the statement said.

"The Quad recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific," it added.

The ministers said they would "deepen engagement with regional partners, including through capacity-building and technical assistance, to strengthen maritime domain awareness, protect their ability to develop offshore resources, consistent with UNCLOS, ensure freedom of navigation and overflight, combat challenges, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and promote the safety and security of sea lines of communication".

Their statement highlighted their initiative to provide 1.3 billion vaccines around the region with India being the manufacturer of the vaccine.

"We are pleased with the Quad Vaccine Partnership's rapid progress in expanding vaccine production at the Biological E Ltd facility in India, which aims to deliver at least 1 billion vaccines by the end of 2022," it said.

The first batch of Quad-supported vaccines would become available in the first half of this year, it said.

As another element of Quad's humanitarian assistance and disaster response programmes, the statement said that it was helping recovery efforts in Tonga which was hit by volcano eruption and tsunami last month.

The Quad ministers who met under the shadow of tensions in Europe because of the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, did not broach the topic in their statement.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)
New Delhi, Feb 11 : In a key development in the case pertaining to the casteist remark made against former NCB official Sameer Wankhede by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) has directed the Mumbai Police to immediately lodge an FIR under relevant sections of IPC read with sections of SC/ST POA Act and to dissolve their SIT.

IANS has accessed the entire documents pertaining to the case which have revealed this.

Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, Principal Secretary, Home, DGP, Police Commissioner, Mumbai have been summoned in the matter to be present before the Commission on March 7.

The Commission noticed that Mumbai Police formed an SIT to look into the matter which was harassing Sameer Wankhede and his family members in the name of investigation.

The Commission while coming down heavily on Mumbai Police has directed the force to dissolve the SIT as there was no need of it.

"The investigating officer of SIT are harassing the petitioner and his family members. This violation has been viewed very seriously by the Commission," read the minutes of the Commission accessed by IANS.

It has directed the Mumbai Police that an ACP should carry out the investigation of the matter.

The copy of the FIR along with the Action Taken Report (ATR) will be submitted before the Commission by the Mumbai Police.

The order further read that the SIT had to be dissolved immediately as there was no provisions in the SC/ST POA Act, to constitute SIT or to do preliminary examination before registration of FIR.

The Commission has advised the Mumbai Police not to harass Sameer Wankhede on any pretext.

It also asked the Maharashtra Caste Scrutiny Committee to expedite the matter of verification of Caste Certificate of Wankhede and submit a report.

On November 26, 2021, Sameer Wankhede had lodged a complaint with the Commission alleging that in the Aryan Khan drug matter, he was being threatened by Maharashtra Minister and others.

Wankhede had urged in his complaint to direct the Mumbai Police to lodge an FIR under Section 186, 211, 499, 503, 508 of IPC, read with SC/ST (POA) Act, and Section 66 E of IT Act. Following this the Mumbai Police had formed an SIT to look into the matter.

Wankhede has alleged that the SIT instead of filing an FIR harassed him and his family members.
Jaipur, Feb 11 : As the Opposition BJP in Rajasthan is going aggressive with their demand of CBI probe into the REET paper leak 'scandal', there are silent whispers in the political corridors that REET scandal can be a repeat of JBT scam in Haryana due to which the state's former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was also handling the Education Ministry then, was sentenced to ten years in prison by a special CBI court.

Satish Poonia, BJP state president, told IANS, "What JBT was in Haryana is REET in Rajasthan. Honest aspirants who worked hard couldn't get jobs as many senior officials and ministers collected huge funds to get fake candidates selected. That's the reason we are demanding a CBI probe into it." "Can SOG (special operations group) investigate any minister or any other senior leader who is found guilty? Till date, the SOG has probed the issue within a limit and it is a well known fact that it cannot cross its line," he added.

The state government has cancelled the REET level 2 exam and sacked the RBSE chairman after it was proved that the papers were stolen from the education complex.

Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria and Rajya Sabha MP Kirorilal Meena made serious allegations against an organisation, named Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle (RGSC) and have alleged that people associated with it are the masterminds of the crime.

"State Minister, Subhash Garg is the national coordinator of the organisation. Jaroli, sacked as RBSE chairman, is a member of its advisory committee. Pradeep Parashar appointed as coordinator for REET 2021 from Jaipur district is regional coordinator, the Chief Minister is a chairman for the NGO. Hence, it is difficult for the SOG to undertake a thorough investigations in a transparent manner and the probe should be handed over to the CBI," BJP leader Kataria said.

Meanwhile, Poonia said, "We are fully prepared to fight a battle from road to the Vidhan Sabha, demanding a CBI inquiry into the REET paper leak case." The BJP MLAs have been raising CBI probe since the first day of the budget session which started on February 9. They stood for almost 1 hour with placards in their hands pressing for their demand of CBI probe into the 'scandal'.

Similarly, on the second day of the session, the Opposition protested again and four BJP MLAs were suspended from the Assembly for the rest of the session for "creating ruckus" in the House.

On third day, on Friday, suspended BJP MLAs staged a sit-in at the gate of the Assembly to protest the suspension and demanded a CBI inquiry into the paper leak.

"REET case is related to 26 lakh youths and 1 crore people. This is the biggest issue of the state and the country. The BJP has decided that nothing less than a CBI inquiry on this issue is acceptable," said suspended MLA Madan Dilawar, adding that the "big fishes" are roaming outside. The Chief Ministers and the ministers associated with RGSC should be investigated, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot argued saying, "The proposed non-Secretariat clerk exam scheduled for February 13 in Gujarat has been postponed. This exam has been postponed thrice in four years. I have said earlier also that organised gangs are involved in paper leaks, copying, etc in different states and are causing problems in all examinations. This should be a matter of concern for the Central and state governments." "The state agencies investigated the paper leaks within the states. BJP should tell why the investigation of all these recruitments was not given to CBI," he asserted.

"The REET Level 2 exam was cancelled as BJP was instigating youths. Now, the BJP does not want to allow discussion on the development issues by disrupting the proceedings of the Assembly," Gehlot said, adding that his government is coming up with a bill for strict laws against paper leaks, copying and other irregularities in examinations.

Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed before the Rajasthan High Court seeking to cancel the REET examination which was conducted on September 26, 2021. In the present matter, the bench has listed the matter for February 28.

The plea claimed that almost 16.51 lakh candidates applied for over 32,000 seats but due to the paper leak, the reliability of the exam has become doubtful and candidates who appeared in the examination are "feeling cheated".

"The question paper was found unsealed at various examination centres and was available in the mobile phones of some candidates' relatives who are part of the government machinery. It clearly indicates the involvement of the government machinery," the plea further alleged, adding that it has not just played with asirants' future but also "misused" the public money.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Centrally-sponsored pilot scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System", for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total outlay of Rs 174.64 crore, is underway in 11 states, the Parliament was told on Friday.

The pilot scheme focuses on 15 districts across 15 states, preferably 1 district per state. Out of 15 states which consented for the pilot scheme, so far 11, namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand have reported distribution of fortified rice in their identified districts under the pilot scheme, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

So far 3.64 lakh metric ton (LMT) of fortified rice has been distributed under the Pilot Scheme, he said.

The incremental cost at 73 paise per Kg is uniformly reimbursed by the states/UTs to the millers for production of fortified rice and shared between the Centre and the states/UTs in the ratio of 90:10 in case of northeast, hilly and island States/UTs, and 75:25 in case of rest.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Friday said that its personnel rescued 14 people from a drowning boat in the sea near Mormugao Port Trust in Goa on Thursday.

According to CISF, around 8 p.m. on February 10, while conducting patrolling in port area of CISF Unit Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Goa, the force's Quick Reaction Team (QRT) personnel noticed that a boat carrying some persons has become out of control due to sudden non-functioning of engine and was about to capsize in the sea outside the lighthouse area where the water was very deep.

Immediately, the CISF QRT team reached the location and found that 14 people were there in the boat Shiv Sagar, the QRT team informed the matter to the shift in-charge and the Coast Guard Officials.

Subsequently, officers and other personnel of CISF immediately reached the site of the incident and started a rescue operation.

The boat was stabilised through ropes and the petrol was also made available after which the engine of the boat started and the lives of all the 14 people were saved.

The rescued persons thanked the CISF personnel for saving their lives and they proceeded to the safe private fishing jetty.
Patna, Feb 12 : A STET qualified candidate tried to set himself afire outside Bihar Education Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary's residence in Patna on Friday evening, police said.

A large number of STET qualified candidates assembled outside the minister's official residence, seeking recruitment in the department, and there was a scuffle with police posted there.

One of the protesters named Anil Kumar then sprinkled petrol on his body and tried to set himself afire using a match box. The police personnel present at the spot, immediately snatched away the match box and overpowered him.

"We have arrested the protestor on the charge of attempting suicide in public place. Further investigation is underway," said the officer, who overpowered Anil Kumar.

As policemen took him away, Anil Kumar said: "The Education Minister is challenging the Constitution of the country. The department has given advertisements for the counselling which the Education Minister has changed." "This government has no intention to give employment to us. Hence, you should shoot me or I would gun down Vijay Kumar Chaudhary," he added.

Another STET passed candidate Rajesh Singh said: "We came here to fight for our rights and police personnel are beating us with batons. What is our fault?" Earlier, a large number of candidates who have passed the examination of Amin (bailiff), demonstrated in a half naked state outside the residence of Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai in Patna as well.

Abhishek Kumar, one of the qualified candidates, said: "The Bihar government had held an examination in 2019 wherein 5,000 candidates qualified. The Department has given jobs to 3,000, but left out the remaining 2,000 candidates." The agitated candidates finally went to the RJD office to register their complaints. They have interacted with Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav who have given assurance of help.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : Four persons including a nine-year-old girl child were killed while two persons injured after a four-storey building collapsed on Friday in the national capital's Bawana area, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Rukaiya Khatoon, Shahzaad, Afreen and Danish, all residents of JJ Colony while two women -- identified as Fatima and Shahnaaz, were rescued, and sent to the hospital. "Both of them are out of danger," a police officer said.

Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg told IANS a call was received about the incident around 2.48 p.m. following which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The outer north district police also rushed to the spot after they received information about the incident of house collapse.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer north) Brijender Kumar Yadav said the collapsed building is the part of Rajiv Ratan Aawas Yojana in which there are about 300-400 flats. "Immediately three JCBs, one Hydra and two ambulances were rushed to the spot and the rescue operation was started," Yadav told IANS.

The rescue operation is underway.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : Two days after the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 11 fishing boats in the Creek area, it arrested six Pakistani nationals on Friday in the Harami Nalla area in Gujarat's Bhuj.

The BSF said that force's Creek Crocodile Commando teams were involved in a search operation in the area to look for the intruders.

The Force officials said that the inclement weather, extreme marshy area, mangroves and tidal waters are making task of the troops challenging.

The arrest of these Pakistani fishermen came after the search operation was in progress in the areas following the seizure of 11 Pakistani fishermen boats near around the Harami Nala.

On February 9, during late afternoon, intrusion of Pakistani fishing boats and fishermen was reported.

DIG BSF Bhuj immediately launched a massive search operation in the area spread over almost 300 sq km while the BSF IG Gujarat Frontier GS Malik reached Kutch from Gandhinagar and was personally monitoring the massive search operation.

BSF's three groups of commandos were air dropped by Air Force helicopter from three different directions; commandos have been closing in where the Pakistanis intruders might hide.

The officials also said that after the arrest of six Pakistani fishermen, search operation has been continued as they apprehend that more intruders likely to be there.

Till the entire area is properly scanned, the search operation will continue, officials added.
Bhopal, Feb 12 : Bhopal-based Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadwi on Friday appealed all Muslim women to wear 'burqa' and 'hijab' regularly. The appeal was made during a traditional Friday's 'namaz' (islamic prayer) at a mosque in Bhopal, saying that Muslim women have been showing reluctance in wearing burqa and hijab in the city while it should have been a regular practice.

He advised that following maliq's (Allah) direction is in the favour of women and therefore wearing burqa and hijab should be a regular habit of Muslim women.

Meanwhile, Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadwi has directed clerics in Bhopal to make a similar appeal from mosques during prayers.

"It has observed that many Muslim women are not wearing burqa and hijab in Bhopal, which prompted me to make an appeal in this regard before Friday's namaz. There is no need to create a controversy on wearing hijab. In every religion, people are free to wear dresses at their own choice and therefore, I do not find any room for debate on wearing hijab," Nadwi said.

Nadwi added that people of every religion should be free to wear clothes of their own choice and there is no need to debate or make laws for banning burqa or hijab. Meanwhile, he also appealed people of Muslim community in Bhopal to maintain peace and brotherhood.

He said Muslims are well aware of rules and regulation for wearing burqa and hijab, however, there should be announcement from mosques time to time to remind the people.

It came amid controversy on wearing hijab erupted at a college in Karnataka where students protested over their right to wear a hijab during classes, while the members of a state-based right-wing group opposed it.

The controversy over wearing hijab has already begun in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh after state Education Minister, Inder Singh Parmar on Tuesday said hijab will not be allowed in schools across the state.

"Students will be allowed only to wear dress code and hijab is not a part of dress code," Parmar has said, adding that the Madhya Pradesh government is preparing to bring a law on dress code in educational institutions.
Kolkata, Feb 12 : On a day when Speaker Biman Banerjee 'judged' that Mukul Roy belongs to BJP and not Trinamool Congress, the ruling party's state general secretary Kunal Ghosh demanded the arrest of Roy in Sarada and Narada case.

Few hours after Speaker Biman Banerjee pronounced his 'judgement', Ghosh on his Twitter handle wrote: "CBI & ED should arrest BJP leader Mukul Roy in Sarada and Narada case. I have already sent them a letter praying for joint interrogation with him. He is an influential conspirator. He has used different parties only for his personal protection. Mukul Roy should not be spared." The tweet came just a few hours after Speaker Biman Banerjee gave a ruling that Mukul Roy is still in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Banerjee dismissed the petition filed by the leader of the opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari seeking Roy's disqualification as a legislator under the anti-defection law.

Banerjee in his ruling said that the evidence produced by Adhikari was not substantial enough to prove that Roy had joined TMC.

Adhikari petitioned the assembly speaker last year after Roy who won the assembly polls in BJP ticket from Krishnanagar North assembly constituency attended an event in Kolkata where he was seen returning to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on June 11. Adhikari furnished videos and social media posts to back up his defection complaint.

But his (Mukul Roy's) lawyers told the speaker during the last hearing on January 19 that he is still in the BJP and never joined the ruling party. They argued that Roy's visit to the TMC headquarters where he was greeted by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek in the presence of the media was a "mere courtesy call". The lawyers cited the judgments of several courts to back their argument. Banerjee gave the ruling in favour of Roy.

Speaking to the media, BJP Vice President Dilip Ghosh said, "Kunal Ghosh suddenly demanded the arrest of Roy in Sarada and Narada case. His demands came on a day when Speaker Biman Banerjee ruled that Roy is still in BJP. I can find a conspiracy between these two incidents.

"Speaker has played a childish game with Mukul Roy and it is ridiculous. All the media channels have footage of Mukul Roy joining Trinamool Congress. This is only done to retain the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) post. People of Bengal are observing everything," he added.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : Remembering his ancestor 'the Grand Maratha Mahadji Shinde' on the 251st anniversary of his reconquer of Delhi, Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' that Prime Minister talks of today was the same principle that Mahadji had followed.

"Mahadji can be termed as the pioneer of coalition government as he brought together the Gujar, Jat, Dalit, Sikh and Muslims all under the banner of Hindavi Swaraj and the name of the army was 'Hind Ki Fauz'," Scindia said.

Mahadji had a special 'Decxan Invincibles' brigade that had advisors from France and Portugal, the Union Minister said while recounting how Mahadji "favoured modernisation of arms and artillery" as he was determined to face the Britishers who could not be fought just with 'talwar and dhaal' (swords and shields).

"He even started an industrial unit on the outskirts of Agra where he started a tank manufacturing unit. Army modernisation, Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, all that we talk of today, Mahadji Shinde had laid the foundation in 1771," Scindia said at a programme organised to mark the 251st anniversary of the Mahadji Shinde's take over of the then Mughal ruled Delhi.

The programme was jointly organised by 'Dilli Marathi Pratishthan', a socio-cultural organisation, with 'Rambhau Mhalgi Pratishthan', an organisation based in Thane, working for improving civic governance.

Held at Maharashtra Sadan in the national capital, the programme was watched live by over 10,000 people on multiple social media platforms managed by Vayam.

Recalling how Mahadji had been single handedly responsible for expansion of the Hindavi Swaraj 'Attock Se Cuttack Tak' (from Attock in present day Pakistan to Cuttack in Odisha), Scindia said, "I am not just emotional as I come from the family of this great personality but feel pride that he has shaped a glorious chapter in the history of India." Rajya Sabha member Vinay Sahastrabuddhe, who also heads the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) said, "Gen Lake (who led the British forces in 1803 Battle of Patparganj) had mentioned in his diary that Britishers had taken over India from the Marathas and not from any Mughal rulers." Earlier, explaining 'Dilli Vijayotsav', Vaibhav Dange of Dilli Marathi Pratisthan, said, "Unfortunately, people remember the tragic defeat at the 1761 Battle of Panipat. But within 10 years of that, Mahadji Shinde, a Maratha sardar, had gathered force and reconquered Delhi. What we need to do is to revisit history again and again as we believe, a society that learns from history can create a bright future."
New Delhi, Feb 12 : India, in the last seven financial years (2014-21), has received FDI inflow worth $440.27 billion which is nearly 58 per cent of the total FDI reported in the last 21 years ($763.83 billion) the Parliament was told on Friday.

India registered its highest ever annual FDI inflow of $81.97 billion (provisional figures) in 2020-21 despite the Covid-related disruptions, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

This indicates increasing inclination of global companies to set up their business in India, she added.

India jumped to 63rd place in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking as per World Bank's Doing Business Report (DBR) 2020 from a rank of 142 in 2014.

Keeping in view India's vision of becoming 'Atmanirbhar' and to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and exports, an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore (over $26 billion) has been announced in Union Budget 2021-22 for Production Linked Incentives(PLI) schemes for 14 key sectors of manufacturing, Patel said.

An Empowered Group of Secretaries has been constituted to fast track investments in the country. Similarly, Project Development Cells (PDCs) have been set up across Central Ministries/Departments to handhold investors and spur sectoral and economic growth.

Further, a GIS-enabled India Industrial Land Bank has been launched to help investors identify their preferred location for investment. A National Single Window System (NSWS) has also been soft launched in September 2021 to facilitate clearances for investors, the Minister said.
Patna, Feb 12 : The Patna High Court on Friday directed the district police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by woman DSP rank officer to investigate Gaighat shelter home sexual assault case.

The direction was given by a bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol.

Prosecution lawyer Meenu Kumari said: "We are not satisfied with the approach of Patna police. The officials of the women police station applied pressure on two victims.

"We have pointed out the approach of Patna police as well. The officials of the women police station initially want to club two complaints to register one FIR which we have objected to. We have pointed out that the grievances and circumstances of both the victims could be different. Hence how could it be possible to register one FIR. The court has admitted our point." The Bihar government counsel told the court that two FIRs have been registered against Vandana Gupta, the Superintendent of Gaighat shelter home, Patna.

Patna police on Tuesday registered the first FIR on the complaint of an inmate who is a resident of Bakhtiyarpur. She alleged sexual assault and forcibly giving drugs to inmates.

Following her complaint, an FIR was registered against Gupta in the women police station. Kishori Sahchari, the SHO of women police station, also appointed SI-rank officer named Lushi Kumari as the investigating officer of the case.

"Since, the approach of Lushi Kumari was not appropriate toward the victims, we have informed the Chief Justice of the High Court," Meenu Kumari said.

"The court has directed Patna police to appoint a DSP-rank officer who has clean image and is soft spoken by nature. The health of the victims is weak and they were given drugs forcibly inside the shelter home," she said.

The incident of Gaighat shelter home incident came to light on January 30 when a girl, who was released from it, alleged that Gupta used to inject sedatives or force inmates to consume tablets. Following that, the inmates went unconscious and were raped.

The victim alleged that she underwent such an ugly situation several times while staying in the shelter home. Gupta used to invite men inside the women's shelter home as well, she also alleged The first victim, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, in a complaint to Patna police alleged: "I was a victim of sexual assault for many times inside the shelter home. The Superintendent of the shelter home used to invite youths inside the premises who target girl inmates in unconscious or semi unconscious stages. I realised sexual assault had been committed many times when I woke up in the morning. Several inmates have the same story." Following the charge, the Social Welfare Department had given a clean chit to Vandana Gupta and declared that the victim is a mentally unstable person. As the Patna High Court had taken cognisance of the matter, the Department changed its decision and recorded the statement of the first victim.

"The district administration of Patna played negligent attitude in this matter. The District Magistrate, the SSP and other senior officers tried every possible way to suppress the voice of the victim. The Social Welfare Department had given clean chit to accused Superintendent without any investigation," said Veena Manavi, convener of a Patna-based NGO Mahila Vikas Manch.

Patna police did not register an FIR on the application given by the first victim 10 days ago, and it was registered finally on Thursday.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : Four persons, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed while two persons suffered injuries after a four-storey building collapsed on Friday in New Delhi's Bawana area, police officials said.

The deceased were identified as Rukaiya Khatoon, Shahzaad, Afreen and Danish, all residents of J.J. Colony while two women -- identified as Fatima and Shahnaaz, were rescued and sent to the hospital. "Both of them are out of danger," a police official said.

Delhi Fire Services Chief, Atul Garg told IANS that they received information about the incident at 2.48 p.m. following which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The police were also informed by the locals at the same time and the outer north district police immediately reached the specified location.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer north), Brijender Kumar Yadav said the collapsed building is the part of Rajiv Ratan Aawas Yojana in which there are nearly 300 to 400 flats.

"Immediately three JCBs, one Hydra and two ambulances reached there and the rescue operation was started," Yadav told IANS.

He informed that four dead bodies were recovered from the debris which included two females. "They have been sent to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial hospital for post-mortem," the DCP added.

The rescue operation ended after three JCBs worked for more than four hours to clear the debris and rescue the people trapped.

Notably, Friday's accident was the second major building collapse incident reported in the past five months in the national capital. Nearly five months ago, on September 13, 2021, a three-storey old building collapsed in the Sabzi Mandi area of North Delhi that claimed the lives of two children.

In Friday's incident as well, the building was old and in a dilapidated condition. The police were yet to register an FIR in the incident.
Tehran, Feb 12 : Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said Iran never pins its hopes on the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement, noting its reliance on its people and domestic potentials.

"Counting on foreigners to do something for us has caused problems. With the efforts of our people and the service of government, great steps will be taken toward economic independence," Raisi said on Friday in a televised speech commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in the capital Tehran.

"Looking to the West has made the country unbalanced," he said, adding his administration is seeking a "balanced" policy in its foreign relations and "must pay attention to all countries, especially our neighbours".

Under the nuclear agreement reached in June 2015, Iran accepted some restrictions on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the Western sanctions. However, former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal unilaterally in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, which retaliated by dropping some of its commitments, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in Austria's capital Vienna between Iran and remaining parties to the deal, with the US indirectly involved, in a bid to restore the landmark nuclear deal.
Tashkent, Feb 12 : Uzbekistan will increase natural gas production to 56.3 billion cubic metres this year to ensure a stable supply of oil and gas products for the country, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said on Friday.

Uzbekistan, which exports gas to some of its neighbours, including Russia and China, has produced 53.8 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2021, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resource-rich Central Asian country has been taking steps to reform the energy sector so as to create conditions for competition and investments, which would increase production efficiency, and to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to consumers.

Uzbekistan's energy concept envisages the production of 66.1 billion cubic metres of gas annually by 2030, and prioritises deep processing of natural gas to produce value-added products.
Tashkent, Feb 12 : A gas explosion in a private medical clinic in the eastern Andijan region of Uzbekistan has killed one person and injured four others, the Uzbek Emergency Situations Ministry said on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, based on preliminary reports, the Ministry added that seven persons were injured.

The gas explosion occurred on the first floor of the three-storey private medical center, "one person died at the scene and four others were taken to the district hospital with various injuries," it said.

Authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.
Jack Conway Rebrand This new brand perfectly reflects our modern spirit and vision for tomorrow, said Carol Bulman, CEO

Jack Conway unveiled a company-wide rebrand at its annual convention with a new, modern visual identity. The rebranding effort includes a new logo, signage, and updated website.

Working with the real estate branding and strategy agency 1000-watt Consulting, Jack Conways new brand marries the modern vision and timeless values its founder, Jack Conway, instilled at the companys foundation and remains a guiding principle under CEO Carol Bulman, Jacks daughter.

This new brand perfectly reflects our modern spirit and vision for tomorrow, said Bulman. We are a strong, and fiercely independent brokerage with innovative tools, stellar agents, and global connections. Our new brand portrays the company we are, and the excitement we have for the future.

With the consolidation under large brand names of so much of our industry, image and brand identity are more important than ever in the real estate industry. Its a chance to show progress, evolution and improvement in an outward expression, said 1000watt co-founder Brian Boero.

You can see a video about the process and see the new look at jackconway.com.

Announced at the Annual Conway Convention, held in person at the Boston Quincy Marriott, the agents responded positively to the new, modern and timeless look of Jack Conways branding, and are excited for the future.

About Jack Conway: Jack Conway is the top independent family-owned and operated real estate company based in Massachusetts. With 28 offices and nearly 700 agents, Conway covers the 4,000 square miles of Eastern Massachusetts that stretches from the North Shore and Greater Boston, across the South Shore, to the South Coast and Cape Cod. Consistently ranked among the top real estate brokerages in the country, Jack Conway strives to provide best-in-class service to home buyers and sellers across Conway Country. http://www.jackconway.com
Oxbow Industries, LLC (Oxbow) a middle-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the sale of its portfolio company, Town & Country Fence in Brooklyn Park, MN, to Dakota Fence in Fargo, ND.

Oxbows working relationship with the team at Town & Country Fence has been superb and we wish them continued success, stated Leah Berend, CFO and CAO of Oxbow. We are delighted that Town & Country Fence is positioned for outstanding growth with Dakota Fence.

Oxbow remains committed to the perimeter security industry with a continued ownership interest in MN Fence Supply, a wholesale fencing distributor and manufacturer located in Savage, MN.

Oxbows approach always supports the management of portfolio companies, supplementing their capabilities by providing the creative resources to consider new ideas. Learn more at http://www.OxbowIndustries.com.
Avionos designs and implements marketing and commerce solutions.

Avionos, which designs and implements marketing and commerce solutions, continues to exceed targets and is set for double digit growth in revenue and headcount in 2022. The company has much to celebrate as it enters the new year. Avionos continues to add talent that provides word-class service to its global clients; in one year the team has expanded across every North American time zone, while increasing U.S. headcount by 87 percent and nearly tripling the technical and demand generation experts on its Colombian team. The company also received Great Place to Work certification in the U.S. and Colombia in the past month.

This new talent complements the existing team of experts who support Avionos growing roster of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 clients digital transformation, commerce, and data-driven marketing programs. The complexity of the B2B buyer journey continues to fuel the need for Avionos services that span both the Adobe and Salesforce enterprise ecosystems as well as other technology partners like Salsify. Rooted in aligning digital programs with clients business objectives, Avionos enables brands to innovate their go-to-market strategies and exceed customers expectations.

Understanding B2B buyer needs is at the core of Avionos mission. To gain new insight and inform its digital approach, the company conducts annual proprietary data studies, which confirm that 88% of buyers would turn to a competitor if the suppliers digital channel could not keep up with their needs and 87% of buyers would even pay more for a supplier with excellent eCommerce experience.

Through our research and our delivery experience, its clear that B2B customer expectations have continued to evolve at an unprecedented rate. Our clients must provide digital experiences that make their customers lives and jobs easier. That means making really complicated B2B experiences seem seamless and personalized, said Scott Webb, CEO of Avionos. We thrive on the challenges of blending the complexity with compelling experiences and look forward to enabling our clients to innovate their digital strategy.

The talent at Avionos never fails to impress me and the teams work over the past 12 months is some of the best Ive ever seen, said Gibson Smith, CPO at Avionos. It sets a high bar for 2022 and Im excited for our employees to achieve even greater success this year. This also means the talent acquisition team will be busier than ever, which I love to see.

Avionos is actively looking for sales, delivery, development, and operations talent to support accelerated growth in 2022. For more information about Avionos, visit http://www.avionos.com/join-us.

ABOUT AVIONOS

Avionos team of experts drives measurable business outcomes for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies like Brunswick, Abbott, and Transunion by partnering with executives to turn their digital vision into reality. Avionos integrated digital transformation, marketing, and commerce capabilities elevate its global clients digital experiences and drive growth. Avionos is an Inc. 5000 company, a Certified Great Place to Work, a Crains Best Place to Work, and on the Comparably Best Company Culture list. Learn more at http://www.avionos.com.
Single: a potent discussion of the current culture that views singleness as a negative circumstance. Single is the creation of published author Bethanne Milton, a dedicated educator who graduated from the University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, in 2017.

Milton shares, Are you dating anyone?

Why does that always seem to be the first question out of someones mouth when you are catching up? It is a question that has beaten young people down and made them feel like failures for centuries (probably). But the truth is, many teenagers and young adults are better off going through seasons of singleness. Singleness is often treated as a problem that needs a solution. But singleness is not a problem. Singleness is a gift.

We know that God has a plan for each and every one of us, but relationships seem to be one of the more difficult aspects of that plan for people to trust in. You would be surprised what you can glean from a time of singleness when you know what to strive for. It is Gods desire to use singleness as a time for deep personal growth. It is a time to refine your understanding of who God is and how He sees you.

In Single, Bethanne Milton presents the opportunities for spiritual and emotional growth that come through singleness. Intertwined are stories of her own experiences as an adolescent and college-age single woman battling against a culture that questions why anyone would be or should be single.

Milton addresses many different topics that fall under the umbrella of singleness. From questions about why we feel alone and what love really is, to the kinds of spiritual and personal growth that may need to occur before seeking out a relationship; from what scripture actually says about relationships and singleness, to what it could mean to really give God control over your relationships. Milton presents her ideas and insight into Christian relationships, culminating in one main idea:

Singleness is not an obstacle; it is an opportunity.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Bethanne Miltons new book pairs personal stories and reflection from the authors own experience.

Milton presents an optimistic and encouraging work that pushes single individuals to value the time they have alone and use it toward emotional and spiritual growth.

Consumers can purchase Single at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Single, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
CRIMSON SIDE BAR experience We developed SIDE BAR to highlight our exclusive coffee offerings, inspire new coffee enthusiasts and expand knowledge for connoisseurs. - CRIMSON Coffeehouse Manager Marcus Cason

Want to up your coffee game? Learn about the countries and farmers behind your favorite beans? Then head over to CRIMSON at Easton Town Center in Columbus for its new SIDE BAR immersive coffee education experience.

We developed SIDE BAR to highlight our exclusive coffee offerings, inspire new coffee enthusiasts and expand knowledge for connoisseurs, said CRIMSON Coffeehouse Manager Marcus Cason.

Each SIDE BAR session will guide guests on a farm-to-cup journey through brewing techniques, sampling and coffee education.

SIDE BAR participants will taste award-winning, experimental and limited micro lot coffees while learning new brewing techniques and the stories behind each coffee.

SIDE BAR highlights the best of our best, said Founder and President Greg Ubert. Our coffee team has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe to bring these exceptional coffees to CRIMSON.

Guests can choose one of two options for each 45-minute SIDE BAR experience: the SIDE BAR alone for $25, or the experience plus a 12-ounce box of the featured coffee for $40.

SIDE BAR coffees, dates and times will be announced on the CRIMSON Instagram account on a weekly basis. Follow CRIMSON on Instagram for updates.

To sign up for a SIDE BAR, direct message @crimsoncolumbus on Instagram or email mcason@crimsoncup.com.

About CRIMSON

Located at 1066 Worth Avenue in Easton Town Center, CRIMSON is the retail flagship of award-winning Columbus coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. Rooted in bringing you closer to your favorite cup, CRIMSON bridges the connection from producer to consumer and highlights the people behind exceptional coffees and drink recipes. For updates, follow @crimsoncolumbus on Instagram.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry.

Its attentive roasting, coffee shop startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup  driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaborations across local and global communities.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. In addition to CRIMSON, the company also owns four Crimson Cup Coffee Houses. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.


Shane Atchison has joined Netrush as the new CEO to lead the ecommerce accelerators continued growth in one of retails hottest sectors. As a veteran of traditional advertising, most recently the CEO of Wunderman Thompson (WPP) North America, Atchison has seen the increasing opportunity for accelerators from brands of all sizes.

For the past 10 years, brands and agencies have focused on digital transformation, says Atchison. Launching their own platforms, deploying massive advertising campaigns, and analyzing data to be more consumer-centric. In spite of all this, customers have made their own choices, and those choices have overwhelmingly pointed to Amazon. The ecommerce accelerator model is crucial for brands to optimize a retail experience with a customer-centric approach. Thats the growth model brands need.

Ecommerce accelerators, like Netrush, partner with brands to provide full-service solutions for ecommerce, including Amazon. Unlike traditional agency models, accelerators purchase products from brands and act as retailers to online shoppers. Instead of making money from retainers, accelerators make money off of sales, which is a factor Atchison believes sets the model apart.

Netrush isnt a paid-for servicewere a partner that shares in profits and losses with brands, said Atchison. This shared risk and reward creates real alignment between accelerators and the brands we serve.

Former CEO Brian Gonsalves and Company President Chris Marantette co-founded Netrush in 2006. Since then, the company has grown from a small, living-room operation to an enterprise-level platform that employs 200+ people and serves 700+ brands. Gonsalves served as the companys CEO until transitioning into a Chief Entrepreneur role in February.

Now is the time for Netrush to expand, which is why Ive decided to shift my role to Chief Entrepreneur, said Gonsalves. Ive been wanting to return to my roots as a builder and inventor, and transitioning into a Chief Entrepreneur role will allow me to drive Netrush forward in that way. Working alongside an amazing group of leaders, Ill be driving innovation and growth  shaping the future of Netrush and what we can bring to better serve brands. Simply put: I wont be going anywhere.

In addition to bringing on Atchison, Netrush has also recently made large investments in technology and infrastructure, the most recent of which included the acquisition of the marketing automation platform Sellozo.

About Shane Atchison

Shane Atchison is the CEO of Netrush. As a 25-year veteran in the advertising and digital marketing industry, Shane is recognized as an innovative leader who creates meaningful and effective experiences for brands on a global scale.

Prior to joining Netrush, Shane was the CEO of Wunderman Thompson North America. Before that, he was the CMO of DOMO.

Shane is also the author of Does It Work?: 10 Principles for Delivering True Business Value in Digital Marketing.

About Netrush

Netrush is an ecommerce accelerator that partners with brands to provide the teams, technology, strategy, and infrastructure needed to thrive on Amazon and other ecommerce platforms. With headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, and processing facilities in Kentucky and Canada, Netrush provides a full suite of capabilities ranging from supply chain to creative services that make brands stand out across the shopping journey.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. STK-CV-UOE-2022-552, is currently pending in the San Joaquin County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, and (f) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

California Labor Code  226 states that employers shall provide employees with accurate itemized wage statements showing, among other things "gross wages earned and all applicable hourly rates in effect during the pay period..." The lawsuit alleges that Defendant allegedly violated this California Labor Code by allegedly failing to provide accurate itemized wage statements.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

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FHU VP for Student Services TJ Kirk I will do my best during the time I am here to make the Freed-Hardeman experience the best it can be.

Chester County Middle School Principal TJ Kirk has been named vice president for student services at Freed-Hardeman University, according to an announcement by FHU President David R. Shannon, Wednesday, Feb. 9.

An FHU alumnus, Kirk earned two degrees from the university, a Bachelor of Science in education in 2006 and a Master of Education in administration and supervision in 2009. He has been employed by the Chester County School System since 2006. He was named an assistant principal in 2012 and principal in 2017. Kirk will complete this school year at Chester County Middle School before beginning his duties at FHU in June.

Known for his strong relationships with students, Kirk led CCMS in being recognized as a Tennessee Reward School for Achievement for the first time in history in 2018-19.

In addition to his work with the school system, Kirk is a minister for the Jacks Creek Church of Christ. He spoke Tuesday during the FHU Annual Bible Lectureship just prior to the announcement.

Kirk and his wife, Dr. Shiradon Howard Kirk, have two daughters, Khloe and Kennedy. Shiradon, an FHU alumna, teaches special education in the Chester County School System.

FHUs search for a vice president for student services, which extended over several months, garnered 20 applicants. We were looking for someone who understands the Freed-Hardeman experience, one who knows our traditions but is also a dreamer, Shannon said. We believe TJ is that person. He has the education and experience for the job, but more than that, he is a strong leader and a faithful Christian.

Kirk thanked everyone who had helped him get to where he now stands. He then pledged to the university and students, I will do my best during the time I am here to make the Freed-Hardeman experience the best it can be.

As vice president for student services, Kirk will oversee and lead a variety of aspects of student life. These include spiritual and social development, safety, dorm life and physical and mental wellness, in addition to career services.

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson, Memphis and Dickson, FHU offers associate, bachelors, masters, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.
The frozen yogurt station at Fuelco.coms Foodsmart convenience store in Valhalla, N.Y. on February 3, 202 As gas becomes less relevant because of electric vehicles and remote work, we need to ramp up our convenience store sales. These specials are essential tools in reaching our goals, says Adam Musa.

Fuelco.com President Adam Musa announced his tips for building convenience store sales in 2022.

Musa says that every convenience store owner should establish creative loss-leader programs in 2022 that inspire customer loyalty.

Loss leaders help to raise awareness about your store, and they give people a reason to come in, said Musa, whose Foodsmart convenience store often sells frozen yogurt for 99 cents any size.

Even though both small and large frozen yogurts are 99 cents, many of our customers are health conscious and they buy the small portions.

The Foodsmart convenience stores also sell coffee for 99 cents any size.

We were inspired by 7-Elevens Bring Your Own Cup Slurpee promotion, said Musa of the one-price coffee promotion.

Musas staff frequently changes its loss leaders and promotes them as specials. A popular special among his customers is two hot dogs for $2. The hot dog specials encourage Foodsmarts customers to buy beverages and other items that are not marked down.

As gas becomes less relevant because of electric vehicles and remote work, we need to ramp up our convenience store sales. These specials are essential tools in reaching our goals, says Musa.

Musas loss leaders are designed to attract specific customers. For example, the frozen yogurt and hot dog sales appeal to nearby community college students seeking deals. The coffee promotion appeals to many commuters who live in the surrounding suburban area.

Fuelco.com is a gas station brand launched by Musa in 2020. The service station combines deeply discounted gasoline and a variety of organic, gluten-free, and fair-trade snacks, along with convenience store staplesthink Trader Joes with a gas pump.

Musa expects to open new Fuelco-Foodsmart locations coming to Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield counties by the end of 2022. Musa currently operates two Fuelco stations in Valhalla and Yonkers.


Inspired Reflections: A 30-Day Journal: an encouraging approach to daily self-care practices. Inspired Reflections: A 30-Day Journal is the creation of published author Kimberley Montgomery, M.A, LPC-S, a loving wife and mother and a licensed professional counselor and supervisor.

Montgomery shares, Inspired Reflections is a personal journal that will provide daily inspiration while allowing a space to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Each day, you will have a prompt that will allow you to search for personal meaning.

This journal provides a daily affirmation and an encouraging Bible verse that will engage the reader in exploring their personal values and beliefs.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kimberley Montgomery, M.A, LPC-Ss new book will encourage and engage readers in daily reflection.

Montgomery shares in hopes of encouraging others to explore and nurture a strong sense of personal values and faith.

Consumers can purchase Inspired Reflections: A 30-Day Journal at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Inspired Reflections: A 30-Day Journal, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Scheduled to broadcast Q2/2022, Advancements with Ted Danson will focus on how collaborative data analytics can help advance scientific innovation and human progress in industries like healthcare and semiconductor.

This segment will explore how the ethical and secure management and collaborative use of data is helping to solve some of the toughest challenges in science, from unleashing the power of biomedical data for accelerating oncology and COVID-19 research, to improving materials quality and reducing chip shortages in the semiconductor industry.

Hearing from experts in the field, audiences will learn how Syntropy and Athinia aim to transform the healthcare and semiconductor industries. Viewers will see how a smart and unified data integration approach, combined with collaborative analytics and underpinned by an ethical and responsible ethos, create a radical new approach to sustainable digital business models that protect data ownership and IP.

We're a company that has, for more than 350 years, been continuously anticipating human needs. Athinia and Syntropy are enabling science through secure collaboration and by building a robust data ecosystem to solve some of the most pressing problems in key industries, commented Laura Matz, Chief Science & Technology Officer of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and CEO of Athinia.

Advancements will also explore how Syntropy is ushering in a new era of scientific discovery by creating an innovative model for how health organizations approach collecting health data, as well as how Athinias unique collaborative data analytics platform connects the semiconductor industry to create a new quality standard, minimize quality deviations, and increase efficiencies.

In addition, spectators will see how the platform leverages AI to solve critical challenges by utilizing data to improve supply chain transparency, quality and reliability of materials, as well as speed time to market.

Athinia and Syntropy are building data ecosystems to help both the semiconductor and healthcare industries focus time and resources where it matters most, said Richard Lubin, senior producer for the Advancements series. We look forward to sharing this information.

About Syntropy and Athinia:

Syntropy is a technology company specializing in healthcare data governance, harmonization, and collaboration solutions aimed at unlocking the value of real-world data. Syntropy empowers health care providers, researchers, and collaborators to derive insights from every point of data they collect and generate in a secure, compliant, and ethical manner.

Athinia is a technology company that provides a platform for collaborating on relevant information from participants across the semiconductor industry. It brings manufacturers and materials suppliers together to share, aggregate, and analyze data to unlock efficiencies, improve quality, supply chain transparency, and time to market. All this without taking ownership of data.

Syntropy and Athinia are partnerships between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (DAX:MKGAF), and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR). Foundry is a licensed trademark of Palantir. Syntropy and Athinia are headquartered in Cambridge, MA, USA.

For more information, visit: http://www.syntropy.com and http://www.athinia.com.

About Advancements and DMG Productions:

Advancements is an information-based educational television series targeting recent advances across a number of industries and economies. Featuring state-of-the-art solutions and important issues facing todays consumers and business professionals, Advancements focuses on cutting-edge developments, and brings this information to the public with the vision to enlighten about how technology and innovation continue to transform our world.

Backed by experts in various fields, DMG Productions is dedicated to education and advancement, and to consistently producing commercial-free, educational programming on which both viewers and networks depend.

For more information, please visit http://www.AdvancementsTV.com or call 866-496-4065.
2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD Carl Black Orlando is helping local shoppers learn more about the new 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD before they head to the dealership by adding a detailed model research page of this new truck to its website.

Choosing the right new pickup truck can be a difficult task, even for the savvy and knowledgeable shopper. With so many new vehicles arriving at local dealerships, a driver must spend time researching the vehicle they are interested in if they want to make an informed buying decision. Carl Black Orlando is helping local shoppers save time and learn more about the new 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD pickup truck before they head to the dealership by adding a detailed model research page of the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD to its website.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD research page offers valuable information about the new pickup truck that drivers want to know about. For instance, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD is a full-size truck that offers four powerful engine options that deliver incredible power and capability. With four engines to choose from, drivers can pick the one that best fits their specific needs for towing and hauling. The interior of the new 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD also has a lot to offer drivers who want to get behind the wheel of a high-tech and luxurious pickup truck. When it comes to safety protection, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD offers a long list of advanced safety features and driver-assistance technologies.

To learn more about the new 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD, truck shoppers are encouraged to visit the Orlando Chevy dealerships website by going to http://www.carlblackoforlando.com. Drivers may also contact the dealership to schedule a test drive or to inquire about current sales and promotions by calling 888-502-0763 or by driving to 11500 E Colonial.
Personify launches the Mission: Possible Webinar Series in partnership with some of the industrys most recognized association societies. The Mission: Possible Series is an incredible opportunity for us to partner with AMCI and state associations across the United States to provide thought leadership and resources that directly impact their members, said Lindsay Smith, Director of Event and Partner Marketing at Personify.

Personify, Inc. (Personify), the leader in technology solutions for associations and nonprofits, is proud to launch the Mission: Possible Webinar Series in partnership with some of the industrys most recognized association societies. The series marks the first multi-partner collaboration of its kind for Personify, aimed at educating the members of eight association leadership organizations. The organizations that will join Personify for the series to empower their mission-minded members and leaders include:



The Mission: Possible Series is an incredible opportunity for us to partner with AMCI and state associations across the United States to provide thought leadership and educational resources that directly impact their members. Mission: Possible is our first multi-partner collaboration which is the culmination of months of planning and work. We are thrilled to kick-off the series next month with so many valuable associations, said Lindsay Smith, Director of Event and Partner Marketing at Personify.

FSAE values its partnership with Personify and we are thrilled to be partnering with Personify on the new thought leadership webinar series  Mission: Possible. We see it as a great opportunity to team up with a leading technology company to provide education to our members and industry, said Hester Ndoja, Vice President, Membership and Development of Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE).

The quarterly Mission: Possible webinar series will debut on Thursday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. EST with Authentically Social: Putting Connection at the Core of Your Digital Strategy, featuring Corey Perlman, Social Media and Digital Marketing Consultant and Owner of Impact Social Media. As member-based organizations continue to navigate a complex and ever-changing world of virtual, in-person and hybrid events, it is critical that digital communications are candid and transparent. In this thought-provoking presentation, Corey Perlman will challenge the status-quo of posting 'just to get something out there' and, instead, will talk about building a content plan around connection, community and collaboration. Creating a more Authentically Social digital strategy will help build trust, credibility and loyalty with members for years to come.

To register for Authentically Social: Putting Connection at the Core of Your Digital Strategy, click here. Webinar attendees can earn one CAE credit.

About Personify

Personify partners with associations, chambers of commerce, charities, event organizers, health and wellness facilities, educational institutions, and other purpose-driven organizations to help them manage and grow their communities. Personifys Community Experience Platform combined with their professional service offerings benefit organizations of any size and at any stage of growth. For more information, visit https://personifycorp.com/.
Were excited by the ongoing growth of the Firm, and we truly believe our culture, approach and infrastructure has made PKF OConnor Davies a destination for like-minded professionals, said Kevin J. Keane, Executive Chairman at PKF OConnor Davies.

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, one of the nations largest accounting, tax and advisory firms, announced today that Simon, Tapper, Edelman & Wilner, P.A. (STE&W) has joined the Firm. Currently located in Hackensack, NJ, STE&W provides a variety of personalized tax, consulting and accounting services to individuals and businesses across various industries. This addition is the latest in a line of recent acquisitions reflecting the Firms sustained momentum in expanding its client base and enriching core service lines.

Were excited by the ongoing growth of the Firm, and we truly believe our culture, approach and infrastructure has made PKF OConnor Davies a destination for like-minded professionals, said Kevin J. Keane, Executive Chairman at PKF OConnor Davies. With their many years of experience offering one-on-one accounting and tax support to a diverse set of clients, the team at STE&W is the perfect addition to the PKF OConnor Davies team. I look forward to welcoming them and their clients to the Firm.

Guided by the value of client partnership, STE&W specializes in providing customized accounting, tax and consulting support. Its comprehensive suite of services aligns well with the Firms current offerings and includes tax, retirement, estate and business succession planning, tax preparation, IRS representation, financial forecasts and projection, cash flow and budgeting analysis, and audits, reviews and compilations. STE&Ws partners and team members will join the Firms Woodcliff Lake, NJ, office later this year.

Weve always approached our work with the best interests of our clients in mind, and this partnership only expands the tools, resources and expertise we have to help them succeed, said Jay Edelman, Partner at STE&W. On behalf of my fellow Partners, I am eager for our firm to join the PKF OConnor Davies team and look forward to providing deeper support and value to our clients as their needs continue to evolve.

Client relationships have always been the foundation of our business, and PKF OConnor Davies shared belief in the value of high-touch service is one of the many reasons why this partnership is poised for success, said Stuart Tapper, Partner at STE&W. Together, our clients can expect an unparalleled level of support guided by a mutual commitment to accounting excellence.

PKF OConnor Davies continues to expand through organic growth and acquisitions on the East Coast. It has supported this growth with a strategic combination of promoting from within coupled with an ongoing focus on top-tier external hires.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full-service certified public accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, the Firm has 16 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida and Rhode Island and more than 1,400 professionals providing a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services. PKF OConnor Davies is led by over 135 partners who are closely involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness.

The Firm is a top-ranked firm, according to Accounting Todays 2021 Top 100 Firms list and was recently recognized as one of Americas Best Tax and Accounting Firms by Forbes. PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's 2022 Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting, tax and business advisory services in over 400 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.
Resmark currently manages various investments in the region and is looking to significantly expand its footprint.

The Resmark Companies, a leading residential real estate investment manager, has opened a regional headquarters in Denver and named Matthew P. Osborn as Senior Vice President, Investments, with responsibility for new residential investments in Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

Assuming a new position for Resmark, Osborn is responsible for originating and underwriting land, single-family for-sale, single-family for rent, multifamily, and purpose-built single-family investments throughout the tri-state region. He currently is actively identifying new investments and local joint venture partners in each market.

Resmark currently manages various investments in the region and is looking to significantly expand its footprint.

Resmark has been active in the region for a number of years and has successfully completed for-sale and multifamily residential projects in Arizona, Colorado and Utah totaling over 50,000 units, said Ziv Cohen, Chief Investment Officer for Resmark. Now we plan to focus more resources in these fast growing states to help fill their deep unmet demand for housing, and we are confident that Matt will provide the leadership we need to further enhance our presence in the region, he noted.

Osborn previously managed the Colorado market as a Regional Partner with JEN Partners, LLC and oversaw entitlement, development and builder partner sales of a 2,500-home master planned community in Parker, CO. Prior to this position, he was the Colorado Division President for TRI Pointe Homes, responsible for leading its Colorado market entry from 2012 to 2018. Over the previous 20 years, he held various positions with Village Homes, leading planning, marketing, homebuilding and becoming its president in 2010.

Osborn has held leadership positions in various industry organizations, including the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver (serving as President in 2008), the Urban Land Institute (serving on the Residential Neighborhood Development Council), and the Colorado Association of Home Builders (serving as Chairman of the Board in 2022). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of The Challenge Foundation. He holds a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Boston College and an MBA from the University of Denver.

About The Resmark Companies

Founded in 1995, Resmark is a leading residential real estate investment manager that provides capital to premier homebuilders, land developers, and multifamily developers across the United States. As a fiduciary to its investors, Resmark is a best practices aggregator that provides preferred access to Americas best residential developers. The firm has participated in more than 260 investments encompassing over 85,000 single-family and multifamily residential units. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Resmark operates nationally and maintains offices in select target markets. For additional information, please visit http://www.resmark.com

Contact:

Barbara Casey

310.990-0750
Surprise, I Am Still Here, To Tell My Story, After Many Years: an engaging look into a life of unexpected adventure and deep faith. Surprise, I Am Still Here, To Tell My Story, After Many Years is the creation of published author Robert Ray Swan, a loving husband and Vietnam veteran.

Swan shares, He was called into the Army by the US Army Draft by being number one on the draft schedule in the town of Albia, Iowa. He was just graduating from high school and was waiting to go to college. The army gave him one week to enlist or be drafted. He went and took he entrance test and scored 140. He went into the medical field. He took a twenty-week training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and a twelve weeks training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, at medical school basic. I did not tell you about his childhood or his other struggles in life. It could play a big role how his life will be in Vietnam.

He spends four and a half years in Vietnam. Why is the big question! This soldier become a very brave and one of the greatest medics in Vietnam history. His courage and diligence were able to help save many soldiers lives. He was able to deliver nine babies under enemy fire. His survival technics helped him live to see freedom where others gave up on him. Read the book. You will see how brave he is.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Robert Ray Swans new book offers readers a fascinating look into the authors most cherished and challenging memories.

Swan invites readers to witness a life lived in courage, determination, and trust in God.

Consumers can purchase Surprise, I Am Still Here, To Tell My Story, After Many Years at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Surprise, I Am Still Here, To Tell My Story, After Many Years, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
As for Me and My House: The Strength of Our Nation Rests upon Our Families: a potent exploration of the cultural and spiritual shifts that have occurred over time in the United States. As for Me and My House: The Strength of Our Nation Rests upon Our Families is the creation of published author Roy Thomas Sublette, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who experienced the Depression and served in the Navy at the end of World War II. He is a graduate of Huntington College and Vanderbilt University.

Sublette shares, One of the greatest surprises of my life was to be chosen of our Lord to proclaim the good news of Jesus to a world that dearly needed to hear such a message. While growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, such a lifes career was the furthest thing from my mind. But after over seventy years as a Methodist minister, I have never doubted the reality of that calling.

It was early in my ministry that God also indicated that sometime during that time He wanted me to not only to preach but also to do some writing for Him. He even supplied for me the title of a book that I was to write, As for Me and My House. And so that title has been resounding in my mind for most of the seventy-plus years that I have been a Methodist minister.

However, even though our Lord supplied the title, until now He did not supply the time. And yet the further I have progressed in ministry, the more I have become convinced that the basic unit of our society is the American family. Further, the longer that I have lived, the more I have come to realize that the strength of our society is measured by the strength of that family unit.

This book, therefore, is an attempt to draw upon several areas of experience, faith, family, and friends to call our nation back to the roots upon which, I believe, it was foundedthe Christian faith of our forefathers. It is what, I believe, will enable our nation to survive during the years that lie ahead.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Roy Thomas Sublettes new book is a thought-provoking look into how things have changed within culture.

Sublette draws from over seventy years of experience as a minister to present a compelling argument for the importance of reestablishing the strength of the traditional family unit.

Consumers can purchase As for Me and My House: The Strength of Our Nation Rests upon Our Families at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about As for Me and My House: The Strength of Our Nation Rests upon Our Families, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
The civil war has devastated the economy, destroyed critical infrastructure, and left millions homeless in Yemen, said ShelterBox President Kerri Murray.

Global humanitarian relief organization ShelterBox will begin distributing emergency shelter in Yemen next month, responding what the United Nations has called the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

An estimated 4 million civilians have fled their homes and possessions during Yemens civil war, which began in 2014. Heavy spring rains have caused flooding the last two years, leading to fears it could happen again as concerns rise about the spread of COVID-19, cholera, and malaria.

Whole Yemeni communities have been caught in a cycle of displacement, fleeing their homes only to set up new shelters they then have to leave again due to extreme weather or changes in the frontlines of the conflict.

Air blockades have made it almost impossible to send aid for many years. Two thirds of the entire population need humanitarian assistance and most people who have been displaced have been away from home for more than two years.

ShelterBox, will start distributing aid next month, including tarps, water filters, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, solar lights, soap, and wash basins.

The civil war has devastated the economy, destroyed critical infrastructure, and left millions homeless in Yemen, said ShelterBox President Kerri Murray. Families in Marib have been forced to build makeshift shelters from sticks, rags, plastic sheeting, and anything they can find, as they fight for their survival between COVID-19 and a brutal conflict that has left them displaced and without access to basic services.

ShelterBox is working with the humanitarian coordination system in Yemen to address the most urgent needs, providing emergency shelter and essential household items to help the most vulnerable people, Murray added. Our tents, tarps, sleeping mats, tools, kitchen sets, and equipment will help provide privacy and protection to people living in overcrowded camps, damaged homes, and abandoned buildings. We are doing everything possible to expand our capacity to provide lifesaving relief in Yemen.

ShelterBoxs aid will shield civilians from rain, provide safe drinking water and protect them from COVID-19 and other diseases.

Since the conflict intensified in 2021, Marib, once a safe haven for people who had to flee their homes, is becoming less safe. People are moving within the region, which is already home to the highest number of displaced people in Yemen, to find safety.

Father-of-five Ahmed was forced to leave his home after it was destroyed by heavy rain.

We are still suffering, Ahmed said. We are four families in one tent due to rains and floods. If the weather is cloudy or windy, we feel anxious and worry for what is going to happen later.

Like Ahmed, mother-of-three Eshraqs first thought was how to save her children.

Rain and floods came over and everything in my house was totally destroyed, everything has gone, said Eshraq, who also has to care for her sick husband. We are still suffering. There isnt place for my children to sleep, they sleep in the yard outside the tent. We have no place to go to.

We are suffering a lot. Our life is worse than any one can imagine, we just feel afraid and anxious.

Notes to editors:



Interviews available upon request.

Images available upon request, including of Ahmed and Eshraq.

The Yemen Crisis explained.

About ShelterBox

ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and other essential items to families who have lost their homes to disasters or conflict. In April 2021, ShelterBox surpassed providing support to two million people since 2000, responding to more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential shelter, aid, and other life-saving supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. The organization was nominated for a distinguished Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019. ShelterBox USA is based in Santa Barbara, California.
Love is the Foundation: a potent exploration of the authors spiritual experiences and reflections. Love is the Foundation is the creation of published author Stefan Bazydlo, a native of Poland who was born at the height of World War II and later moved to Canada, where he currently enjoys a peaceful retirement.

Bazydlo shares, This book is about Gods existence and the relationship between him and ordinary people, like you and me. In this book, I am giving you proof that first, God is alive. Second, God interacts with people daily. He is sending messages for you to help you have a better life now. He will even use words to warn you about the dangers lying ahead of you. Yes, he talked to me too. I also experienced unusual encounters with God. Third, God sent to earth his only son to teach us how to maintain our life correctly. Fourth, God loves you and any person in this world. All of these (and more) are in the book. Take a chance and read it. It could change your life for a better one.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Stefan Bazydlos new book will encourage and challenge believers to reflect on the ways God has impacted their life.

Bazydlo shares in hopes of empowering others to nurture a strong connection to their faith and God.

Consumers can purchase Love is the Foundation at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Love is the Foundation, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Ione's Suite The Mercersburg Inn Lovers can retreat at one of the cozy inns or bed and breakfasts and explore many attractions nestled throughout the county.

Franklin County is a Pennsylvania treasure that has a hometown feel and upscale experiences that make for a perfect romantic escape. Lovers can retreat at one of the cozy inns or bed and breakfasts and explore many attractions nestled throughout the county.

In Chambersburg lovers are always welcome at the 1900s, hillside Inn at Ragged Edge located just a few miles East of Chambersburgs downtown, shopping and dining. Elevate romance in the Honeymoon Suite complete with a jacuzzi tub and upgrade to the Romance Package for complimentary wine, fresh flowers and a gift card to a local restaurant. Downtown, take a romantic stroll and explore art, shopping and fabulous dining. Bistro 71 is a date night favorite with a unique, seasonal menu and creative cocktails. Enjoy romantic seating on the patio terrace or inside the dim-lit lounge. Couples can catch a show at the historic Capitol Theatre featuring musical acts, tributes, comedy shows and events. Just steps away from the heart of downtown sits a trifecta of breweries (and a winery.) At TBC Brewing Company, GearHouse Brewing Co., Roy Pitz Brewing Company and JanZell Wines couples can enjoy live music, great food, craft beer and cocktails.

Mercersburg Inn offers grand elegance and secluded romance in all its luxurious rooms. Add-on the date night package to turn up the romance with chocolates, candles, wine and roses. A romantic dinner is just steps away at Byrons Dining room with exquisite meals and occasional live music. The inn is just a short drive from area attractions including, White Tail Ski Resort, James Buchanans Birthplace State Park and the Star Theatre.

Situated on Main Street in the charming town of Waynesboro is a variety of great shopping, galleries, coffee, candy and book stores. Couples can book a stay at the 1883 Italianate Amberson House Bed & Breakfast. Among the many locally owned restaurants are Sapporo Japanese Restaurant, The Waynesburger and Christines Cafe. Stop by Rough Edges Brewery and 633 Brewing Co. to wind down; theres always something exciting on tap!

Consider Fireside Pub and John-Allison Public House in Greencastle for great food or check out the Franklin Fresh Food & Dining Guide. To find more great places to stay, relax, rejuvenate, and explore during your romantic retreat view the Franklin County Visitors Guide, here.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. For more information, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com regularly or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060 for information and 11/30 Visitors Center activities.


By reading the policy carefully, drivers will learn what is covered and what is not. Covered incidents are what the policy will pay for, and exclusions are what the policy will not cover., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents how drivers should manage their car insurance policies.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-manage-the-car-insurance-policy/

Reading the car insurance policy is probably not the favorite reading material list for most policyholders. However, drivers should familiarize themselves with it. Drivers who understand their car insurance policies will manage them better and will make the best choices for their needs.

To better understand car insurance policies, drivers will need to know the following:



What is a car insurance policy? The purpose of a car insurance policy is to allow drivers to drive legally while protecting the driver and its passengers in the event of an accident. Basically, car insurance is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. Almost all states, except New Hampshire, require motorists to purchase minimum levels of car insurance before hitting the road on a vehicle. If possible, drivers are advised to purchase more than the minimum mandated by the state. In serious accidents, the minimum amount will not be enough to pay for all the damage done. A car insurance policy likely consists of three basic types of coverage. First, medical coverage covers the costs of treating anyone injured in an accident when the driver is at fault. Second, property damage covers damage to or theft of the policyholders vehicle. Third, liability coverage covers the costs of the other drivers injuries or property damage.

When to revisit the car insurance policy? Important life events can impact the price of insurance. Getting a new car is one of these events. To protect their newest purchase, drivers of new cars will probably add new options to their insurance policies. Comprehensive, collision and Gap insurance are coverages that owners of new vehicles are recommended to add to their insurance policies to better protect their new vehicles. Getting married can help drivers save money on their insurance policies by taking advantage of the multi-car discount. However, adding a teenager to the car insurance policy can increase the premiums. Furthermore, in this situation, many policyholders purchase additional coverage because teen drivers are more likely to be involved in car accidents. Another reason for reviewing the car insurance policy is the improvement of the policyholder's financial situation. When the financial situation improves, that means more of the policyholder's personal assets are at risk if he gets involved in an accident where he did not carry enough liability insurance.

How to manage car insurance policy expenses. Drivers can save money by raising the deductible. By doing so, they can lower their monthly premiums. However, some drivers can't afford to pay large amounts out of their pockets, so for them raising the deductible is not recommended. Policyholders who own cars that are not worth much money can save money by dropping collision and comprehensive insurance. Shopping around at multiple insurance providers can help drivers find the best rates.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
Car insurance lapses happen for many reasons, often because of circumstances beyond the drivers control. Whatever the reason, car insurance lapses should be avoided if possible, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that shows how drivers should handle car insurance lapses.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-drivers-should-handle-a-car-insurance-lapse/

A car insurance policy can lapse for several reasons. Unpaid premiums, policy cancelations due to an excessive number of tickets or accidents, and others can lead to a car insurance lapse. Driving with lapsed insurance is never a good idea. In some states, drivers can risk jail time if they are caught driving with lapsed insurance. Insurance companies consider that a car insurance lapse occurs if there was no auto insurance coverage for 30 to 60 days. Also, drivers with lapsed insurance will be labeled as high-risk and will pay more for their insurance when they finally get one.

To better understand a car insurance lapse and its effects, consider the following:



What do with a car insurance lapse? If the car insurance lapses, drivers should contact their providers immediately. For better results, they should speak with a representative before the policy lapses. To lower the costs of the premiums and to make the policy more affordable, the insurance representative may suggest the policyholders take advantage of discounts or raise their deductible. After the car insurance lapses, the policyholder can expect to pay more for the insurance. If the policy has been renewed within a month, the policyholder can expect to pay 9% more on his premiums. If the lapse lasted up to 60 days, the policyholder can expect to pay 48% more on his insurance. However, if the policy has lapsed for more than 60 days, the insurer will likely refuse to renew the policy. In some states, drivers who incurred a car insurance lapse will have to pay a license and registration reinstatement fee. In other states, drivers will need to file an SR-22 form.

What drivers can do if they are not using their cars for an extended period of time? In most cases, these drivers can go to their providers and ask their insurance to be suspended for a specified period. However, in some states, the drivers will need to obtain an affidavit from the state DMV. A suspension of insurance is not considered a lapse.

The insurers car insurance lapse grace period. Policyholders should receive notice before an insurance company cancels their policy. Grace periods generally range between 10 and 20 days to allow the policyholders to pay their bills and avoid policy cancelation. If the lapse in the grace period is very short, providers will usually reinstate the policy.

What happens if the driver has an accident with lapsed insurance? If the driver lives in an at-fault state, and he was not at fault for the accident, the driver with a lapsed policy can contact the at-fault's driver provider and file a claim. If the driver lives in a no-fault state, where the drivers insurance is responsible for covering their own injuries and any damage to the vehicle, he is not covered if the insurance lapsed. Also, the driver is not covered in a fault state if he was the at-fault driver.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand name insurance companies, etc.
Tennessee and Missouri are the latest states to introduce library e-book laws, with new measures introduced at the end of January. Meanwhile, despite continued opposition from the Association of American Publishers, a library e-book bill recently introduced in Illinois has unanimously passed out of the Committee on Consumer Protection and is now headed to the General Assembly.

The bills in Tennessee and Missouri, which have bipartisan support, are similar to e-book bills already passed or advancing in other states. In Missouri, the bill requires publishers that offer e-book licenses to the public to also offer to license to libraries on "reasonably similar terms as those offered to the public." In Tennessee, the bill requires an offer to libraries on "reasonable" terms.

Library e-book bills are now pending in five state legislatures, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, Tennessee, and Missouri, and such bills have already passed unanimously in Maryland and New York.

The AAP is currently challenging the Maryland Act in federal court, however, and supporters in New York are considering next steps after their bill was vetoed in late December by Governor Kathy Hochul, who cited the legal concerns raised by the lawsuit in Maryland.

The bills also come as the legal battle in Maryland heats up. After a three-hour hearing on February 7, a federal judge is expected to decide soon on the AAP's motion for a preliminary injunction blocking the law. AAP lawyers argue such library e-book bills are unconstitutional because they infringe on the exclusive rights granted to copyright holders under federal law. Defenders of the laws insist the measures do not run afoul of copyright, but merely provide for oversight of potentially unfair or discriminatory license terms.
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Nearly 600 students piled into room 105 in Lilly Hall on Feb. 10. Dozens of students were forced to line up along the walls and stairwells.
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FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- While the pandemic has undermined public health in countless ways, a new report warns that the pandemic has been particularly hard on cancer patients and cancer research alike.

"As much as so many people have been vaccinated, and we continue to find new and exciting treatments [for COVID-19], it's been an exhausting and difficult year," Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a videotaped message presented during a media briefing on the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) report this week.

On the question of cancer in the context of COVID-19, Klobuchar spoke from personal experience: In the middle of the pandemic, she was diagnosed with stage 1A breast cancer, following a routine mammogram.

Her diagnosis came early, her treatment went well, and her risk for recurrence remains low, she noted. "[But] I share my story to call attention to the fact that because of the pandemic many people have been delaying physicals, routine exams, including the kinds of tests that can help people catch cancer early," she said.

Indeed, the AACR report indicates that between January and July of 2020 alone, the pandemic prompted 10 million missed cancer screenings.

A case in point: Wenora Johnson, a cancer survivor from Joliet, Ill. She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011, and then genetic testing showed she had Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that predisposes a person to hereditary colon cancer. Then, she was diagnosed with early-stage endometrial cancer; Johnson opted for a hysterectomy to cut her chances of more cancer. She was later diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. For her, cancer screenings are now paramount.

Speaking at the media briefing, the 55-year-old recalled how the pandemic forced a four-month delay in getting the annual colonoscopy screening that she relies on, both for her health and for her peace of mind.

When Johnson did finally have the procedure, it turned out she had three precancerous polyps. They were removed, she said, but the experience "really brought home to me the effects of what COVID has done."

And screening cancellations are but one of many direct threats and dilemmas the pandemic has posed to cancer patients, the report found. Others include major delays in treatments; a higher-than-average risk for COVID-19 infection; twice the risk for related complications and death; and a poor immune response to vaccines.

Pandemic put cancer trials on hold

Dr. Larry Saltzman, a 68-year-old from Sacramento, Calif., with a blood cancer known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, spoke to the latter concern.

In the midst of his fourth clinical cancer trial when COVID-19 first struck, Saltzman explained that for someone with a weakened immune system like him, COVID-19 has endured as a constant mortal threat, even after vaccines came to the fore.

"I know through some blood testing that the vaccines have not produced an antibody response in my system to COVID," he noted. That left him "essentially an unvaccinated person," despite having had four shots.

As a result, he said, "Even now, I don't go to a movie theater, I don't go to restaurants, even though the recommendations are lifting to go out. I can't do it, because I am afraid."

"I rely on people around me to get with it and protect themselves, and ultimately that protects me from this infection," he added.

Johnson and Saltzman typify just how tough COVID-19 has been on the cancer community, said AACR report team member Dr. Ana Maria Lopez.

Speaking at the briefing, Lopez, a medical oncologist from Jefferson Health in Sewell, N.J., said that from the start, "patients with cancer are at increased risk for infection, and are at an increased risk for getting sicker" from COVID-19.

That heightened risk was compounded by the hit the pandemic took on diagnosis and treatments. Particularly, said Lopez, among elderly cancer patients and those from minority communities who are already "medically underserved" due to longstanding health inequities.

She noted, for example, that during the first wave of the pandemic, prostate cancer surgeries declined 17% among white (non-Hispanic) patients, compared with a 91% drop among Black patients.

Early cancer research also slowed by COVID

Yet the new report warns that it's not only today's patients who have been impacted by COVID-19, but tomorrow's patients as well, given widespread pandemic-triggered study interruptions and science lab closures that, at least temporarily, pulled the rug on efforts to develop new and better cancer treatments.

Dr. Antoni Ribas, report chair, past president of the AACR and director of the tumor immunology program at University of California, Los Angeles, said that the disruption to cancer research "is estimated to result in thousands of additional cancer deaths in the coming years."

"The pandemic has caused significant challenges for cancer researchers," Ribas added, noting that a survey of AACR-funded cancer researchers found that nearly all had experienced significant negative impacts to their productivity and careers.

Still, the report is not all bad news.

For example, Ribas noted that "decades of NIH-funded research into mRNA vaccines for cancer paved the way for developing COVID-19 vaccines at an unprecedented speed, [and] in turn, the tremendous success of COVID-19 vaccines has renewed enthusiasm for mRNA cancer therapies, which could revolutionize cancer treatment."

At the same time, the move to telemedicine has increased dramatically, Lopez noted, jumping 38-fold by July 2021, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Over the long haul, the move could serve to even out the playing field when it comes to access to health care, Lopez added. And meanwhile it already appears to be popular with patients: AACR statistics indicate that cancer patients actually prefer televisits over in-person meetings, 45% to 34%.

Ribas did emphasize that getting cancer care and research back on solid footing will take time and money, and he highlighted the report's call for an infusion of federal funds to bolster the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a post-pandemic world.

"While the pandemic has certainly strained cancer care and research, it has also provided valuable lessons for the future of cancer science and medicine," said Ribas, encouraging researchers to find innovative ways to streamline their efforts and reduce costs, while placing a greater premium on patient needs and convenience.

More information

There's more on cancer and COVID-19 at U.S. National Cancer Institute.

SOURCES: Feb. 9, 2022, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) media briefing with: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, past president, AACR, and director, tumor immunology program, University of California, Los Angeles; Ana Maria Lopez, MPH, MD, medical oncologist, Jefferson Health, Sewell, N.J.; Wenora Johnson, cancer patient, Joliet, Ill.; Larry Saltzman, MD, cancer patient, Sacramento, Calif.; AACR Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care, Feb. 9, 2022
At the end of January, Politico ran a story about General Motors CEO Mary Barras new professional challenge: Balancing GMs support for the Biden administrations Build Back Better economic plan with the Business Roundtables opposition to the same plan. Barra is the Roundtables chair for 2022, a role which will require her to make public statements about major public policy issues which affect businesses.

The article was evidence of Barras rise as a power player where business meets politics. Politico wasnt subtle, citing her many appearances with President Joe Biden in support of his economic and green energy agendas. But the article also framed the Roundtable as having an apparent contradiction with Barras support for BBB because of the organizations opposition.

Barra is taking on a balancing act, reported Politico. Both organizations positions are unchanged, despite sharing a common emissary, and both issued narrow, defensive statements about their positions on BBB. Politicomade sure the reader understood the subtext, describing the Roundtable as having a statement that carefully threaded the needle between endorsing the bills climate change provisions and criticizing its tax increases.

It's not easy to straddle two brands in the media; its impossible when the brands conflict on important political matters. Apple was the target of withering criticism in 2015 when it boycotted North Carolina over a controversial LGBT bathroom law even as it sold iPhones in Iran, where same-sex attracted men and women are legally executed. Chick-fil-As Christian customer base was deeply offended when the company temporarily stopped giving donations to socially conservative faith-based non-profits  donations which offended prospective secular markets into which the company was trying to expand.

There are many ways to avoid the complications which can plague business leaders when they take on roles that have political implications. The best way is to build a consistent umbrella brand which fully aligns with your values, beliefs, and public persona  and then set the narrative by comprehensively communicating that message.

Barra got two of these matters right - she went from being the politically-linked CEO of a billions-dollar company to chairing the board of directors for a prominent business lobbying group. That fits under the umbrella of being a leader in both politics and business. She also showed consistency of values by leading an association which agrees with her corporation on important matters like left-of-center solutions to racial, social, and environmental issues.

What it appears that she didnt do, however, was get in front of the fact that GM and the Roundtable disagree on a major bill. Barra could have set the narrative by highlighting where the organizations align, then amplifying her message through interviews, op-eds, third-party influencers, and social media. Instead, she allowed Politico to define the discussion negatively, putting both groups she represents on the defensive.

A narrative-controlling media strategy might have looked like this:

 The day Barra became the Business Roundtables chair, have both groups issue press releases about where they agree on political issues. The releases would frame Barra as their important liaison to the domestic and international business and political communities. Instead, the Roundtables September 2021 release announcing Barra as chair was very generic, and offered little substance about where the Roundtable and GM stood on critical issues under discussion in Washington, D.C.

 Secure early interviews with CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, and Politicoabout how Barra will move the business community forward with her new role, and how the role is consistent with her role at GM.

 Have third-party influencers like other Roundtable board members amplify these messages on social media and in their own media appearances.

 Publish early op-eds in outlets like The Hill and The Washington Postabout what Barra plans to accomplish in her new role.

If youre an executive who is involving your company or companies in politics  not something I recommend  youre risking serious trouble in controlling your public persona. Your best chance of coming out unscathed is to be consistent from the start, and communicate that consistency early and often. Dont make Barras mistake in letting anyone else set the narrative for you.
Arnold Schwarzenegger says Tracy Morgan brings "great energy" to the Twins sequel, Triplets.

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The 74-year-old actor discussed working with Morgan, 53, and Danny DeVito , 77, on the new movie during Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Schwarzenegger and DeVito played fraternal twins Julius and Vincent Benedict in Twins, which opened in theaters in 1988. Triplets will see the brothers discover they have a third sibling, portrayed by Morgan.

Schwarzenegger had nothing but praise for Morgan on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

"Tracy is a fantastic guy," he said. "I met him a few times, and then we got together with this. I mean, he is a fantastic entertainer, great actor, great energy, and he is also the age where we can mainly make him a little older to sell the idea that he's the same age as Danny and me."

Schwarzenegger also said Triplets has a "fantastic" story that was years in the making.

"We've been tinkering around with that story now for 10 years, and then when [original director] Ivan Reitman took charge of it again ... he really got into it and he straightened it out," he said. "We have a straight 10 script. We love the script."

Schwarzenegger confirmed that he and DeVito often prank each other set and recalled a time when DeVito tricked him into smoking marijuana on the set of their 1994 movie Junior. Schwarzenegger said DeVito cooked Italian food during a lunch break and then offered him a cigar.

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"I'm smoking it and it was fantastic. We get to the set, we continue on with the scene. I forgot my lines," the star shared.

"Find out then an hour and a half later when I finally started remembering things again that Danny put some marijuana in the front of the cigar," he said. "I was stoned out of my mind."

Triplets will begin filming in the fall.
Julia Roberts is celebrating her niece Emma Roberts' 31st birthday.

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The 54-year-old actress marked the occasion Thursday by posting a tribute to Emma Roberts on Instagram.

Roberts shared a clip of herself and Emma Roberts wearing party hats and blowing on party horns as confetti flies in the air.

"Happy Birthday Magical One! Oh how I love you. #waitforit," she captioned the post.

Producer Rita Wilson, who is married to actor Tom Hanks, celebrated with the pair in the comments.

"Happy happy day!!!!" Wilson wrote.

Emma Roberts is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts, the older brother of Julia Roberts, and Kelly Cunningham.

She has starred in several seasons of the FX series "American Horror Story" and also had a lead role in the Fox series "Scream Queens."

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Emma Roberts said in the March issue of Tatler magazine that she used to visit Roberts on the set of "Erin Brockovich" and "America's Sweethearts."

"I'd write the wardrobe tags and organize the makeup brushes and watch how they did their continuity books," she said.

"I would ask questions without a filter. This industry really is 'learn as you go.'"

Emma Roberts expressed her admiration for Roberts but said she is making her own career in acting.

"I never aspired to be her," she said of Roberts. "I love her so much, I love her work, but I'm just doing my own thing."

Roberts will next star in the Starz Watergate drama "Gaslit," while Emma Roberts will star in the film About "Fate."
Celebrity couple Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman will host the 2022 Independent Spirit Awards.

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Mullally, 63, and Offerman, 51, will host the awards show March 6 in Santa Monica, Calif., the Film Independent tweeted Friday.

"We hope to get a little rowdy, but it'll mainly be legitimate cinematic discourse. Although, with the two of us involved, it's more likely to be intercourse. Either way it'll be legit," Mullally and Offerman joked in a statement.

Film Independent president Josh Welsh praised the couple as a "dream team."

"Why have just one host when you can have two? We're delighted to have Megan and Nick onboard to bring the magic back to the beach. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!" Welsh said.

Mullally and Offerman married in 2003. The couple have worked together on several projects, including Offerman's show Parks and Recreation and the bestselling book The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.

Mullally is known for playing Karen Walker on Will & Grace, while Offerman portrayed Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation.

The Independent Spirit Awards will air live on IFC. Nominations include The Lost Daughter, Reservation Dogs and The Underground Railroad.
TRAVERSE CITY  The regions largest school district has tallied more than 600 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the 2021-22 school year.

Traverse City Area Public Schools has recorded 604 COVID cases since the beginning of the school year. This week, TCAPS has recorded 21 COVID cases across seven schools.

The latest on COVID-19 Continuing coverage of COVID-19 and its impact. If you have a question about the novel coronavirus pandemic and haven't been able to find an a

In less than one month, the number of cases recorded for the 20212022 school year on TCAPSs positive case reporting page have shot up by about 200. On Jan. 20, the Record-Eagle reported that TCAPS had tallied just more than 400 COVID cases this school year.

In an interview from late January, TCAPS Communications Director Ginger Smith said the school district had seen a surge in cases but also recently started a new program through the state of Michigan for free COVID tests for students and staff. It is unclear whether the increased number of cases are related to more COVID spread in the school district or the higher frequency and number of tests, Smith said in January.

All but three TCAPS schools recorded COVID cases in February so far.

As previously reported, the numbers displayed and reported on TCAPSs COVID-19 Reporting web page do not always accurately reflect the number of COVID cases in the school district. The school reports COVID cases to the page when it is notified by the health department, but that process is often slowed because of staffing shortages at the health department and the increased use of at-home tests.
TRAVERSE CITY  Two northern Michigan health departments that have held strong onto their K-12 school mask mandate since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year plan to drop the requirement in the next week.

The latest on COVID-19 Continuing coverage of COVID-19 and its impact. If you have a question about the novel coronavirus pandemic and haven't been able to find an a

Lisa Peacock, health officer at the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan notified local superintendents Thursday morning that the K-12 mask mandate implemented by her health departments would expire on Feb. 17. Peacock notified the schools a week in advance to decide whether theyll instate their own mask mandates.

The public health response across local, state and national public health agencies is shifting away from one of mandates and restrictions to one of focusing more on personal responsibility, Peacock said. We just have a lot more tools that people can use now to protect themselves that we havent had in other times during the pandemic.

Individuals have more access to vaccines, boosters, testing and high quality masks such as KN-95s now, Peacock said. Also, hospitalizations and cases are beginning to stabilize after a surge in cases, that left many with stronger immunity after getting infected, she said.

Its conditions that weve been waiting for since we issued the order and now theyre here so were making that change, Peacock said.

BLDHD and HDNM still will align policies with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to COVID precautions, Peacock said. According to its website, the CDC recommends that those who are 2 years or older who are not up-to-date on COVID vaccinations, live with someone who is not up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations or live with someone who is immuno-compromised wear masks in areas of high transmission.

Peacock said she does not anticipate the health departments reinstating their mask mandates for the rest of the school year, although individual school districts may implement mandates of their own.

BLDHD and HDNM cover six counties in northern Michigan  Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego  and a large portion of school districts in the Northwest Education Services Intermediate School District. Prior to the announcement, a vast majority of K-12 students in the NorthEd ISD went to school under mask mandates, but following the decision, it is likely that only a few schools in the region will remain with a mask mandate.

Casey Petz, Superintendent of Suttons Bay Schools, said his district will strongly recommend masks following Feb. 17, but not instate its own mandate. He said he trusts the families of Suttons Bay, who have been doing well using common sense when it comes to pandemic precautions.

When its time to have a mask mandate, were going to trust the health department, Petz said.

At Benzie County Central School, the board of education has scheduled an emergency meeting to decide whether or not they will implement a mask mandate on their own. At the beginning of the school year, the board planned to send students back to school without a mask mandate before BLDHD implemented one, Superintendent Amiee Erfourth said.

One of Benzies elementary schools, Betsie Valley, sits in Manistee county and therefore is not under BLDHDs jurisdiction. Betsie Valley has been mask-optional for this school year, Erfourth said.

Traverse City Area Public Schools, which is not within the jurisdiction of either health department, also will feel the effects of the mandate dropping. Without explicit and formal directives from the Grand Traverse County Health Department, TCAPS trustees decided to look to BLDHD, where some of its students live.

TCAPS Board President Scott Newman-Bale said masking is not yet on the agenda for the boards upcoming meeting  Feb. 14  but he thinks it will be discussed in some cap- acity, either as an agenda item or just questions during the superintendents report.

I assume the board would just let it expire on that particular day, Newman-Bale said.

During the discussion about hitching their mask mandate to BLDHDs mandate, some members of the board expressed concerns that at some point, the situations in the two areas would be different. Newman-Bale said he thinks the current situation with COVID and vaccinations in Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau counties are similar enough to make following BLDHDs lead justifiable.

At their last meeting, trustees voted unanimously to instate a universal mask mandate that would align with the timeline of BLDHDs K-12 mask mandate so that when BLDHDs mandate dropped theirs would, too. Board members also expressed that the decision would keep them from overstepping the boundaries of their powers and making public health policy.

BLDHD and HDNMs decision follows suit with recent decisions in other states. In California, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and New Jersey, for example, state officials have rolled back COVID precautions, including mask mandates in schools and public spaces, as COVID case counts subside following a surge from the omicron variant.

Some of these decisions have drawn criticism from those who are immuno-compromised and still at high risk of catching COVID and becoming seriously ill.

I respect those fears, Peacock said. And I still think its very important that everybody do whatever they can to protect themselves and those around them.

She added that there are many more early treatments available for those who catch COVID and are at high risk of infection, such as monoclonal antibody treatment.

Vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds were made available in November, the percentage of kids vaccinated in that age range still are low. In Grand Traverse County, about 40 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds are vaccinated. In the area that covers BLDHD, about 35 percent of kids in that age range are vaccinated while 23 percent of the same age group are vaccinated in HDNMs jurisdiction.

Peacock said while those statistics are concerning and she hopes to see that change, they are not related to the availability of vaccinations.

That problem is not related to access or our capacity to immunize people, Peacock said. Were ready and waiting. It really is, again, related to personal choice.

For those still concerned about the pandemic and what precautions they should take in public, Peacock said her health departments are trying to be more available for the community. Both health departments have a wealth of knowledge on their websites, Peacock said, and they now have public health information lines that people can call to speak and ask questions to public health nurses during normal business hours.

HDNMs public health information line is: 800-386-5959. BLDHDs public health information line is: 231-882-2197.
Born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Ty is now a proud northern Michigander who lives in Traverse Citys Oak Park neighborhood with his wife and two sons. He can be reached at ty.schmidt.tcmi@gmail.com.
On Jan. 28, Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School Principal Bipul Singh was seen on camera discarding ten colorful balloons and a card sent to support a student whose artwork featuring a pride flag was allegedly removed on Jan. 21 at the request of administrators who compared it to Nazi imagery.
Several Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School community members, including a fifth grade student, spoke at a Thursday Clarke County School District Board of Education meeting to express their concerns and frustrations over the school districts limited actions regarding an incident at the school where a students artwork supporting the LGBTQ+ community was taken down and allegedly likened to a swastika by a school administrator.
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 
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Anson Tebbetts is Vermont secretary of agriculture; Lindsay Kurrle is Vermont secretary of commerce. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
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State Sen. Jeanette White, a Democrat, represents the Windham District. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low near 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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HARTFORD  A man was taken to an area hospital in critical condition Thursday evening after he was shot multiple times, according to the Hartford Police Department.

Police went to Gillette Street around 5:30 p.m. Thursday for a report of a person having been shot. There, police found a man in his 30s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Press Release

February 11, 2022 Bong Go renews push for establishment of country's virology institute and center for disease control and prevention As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the lives of millions of Filipinos, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go supported calls for the passage of two legislative measures that will help the country better prepare for public health emergencies. In an interview on February 7, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Orville Ballitoc reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte supports the passage of measures establishing the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) and the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The President had previously mentioned this during his sixth and final State of the Nation Address delivered last July 26, 2021. "I salute President Duterte's continued leadership throughout this unprecedented pandemic and he continues to find ways to push for a more proactive approach in addressing public health emergencies of any kind," said Go. "Sa bawat oras na nagkulang tayo sa paghahanda, maaaring buhay ang kapalit. Kaya naman dapat one-step ahead tayo. Hindi natin masasabi kung kailan dadating ang susunod na pandemya kaya mabuti na na maging proactive tayo," he emphasized. The lawmaker is the author of Senate Bill No. 2155 which seeks to create a national virology laboratory that will study and investigate viral diseases in the country. The overall goal of the VIP is to help develop vaccines against highly pathogenic emerging viruses. The bill, most notably, provides guidelines for the establishment and operation of testing, reference and biosafety levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 research laboratories. It likewise grants the VIP the authority to regulate the operation of the existing virology laboratory network in the country. "These efforts are intended to avoid similar situations where poorer nations are left with fewer medical resources, particularly vaccines, to address pandemics as compared to their more developed countries that have early on invested in health sciences and medical research," Go previously explained. Aside from SBN 2155, the senator similarly pushed for the passage of SBN 2505 which will create the Philippine CDC. The bill is the consolidated version of an earlier measure he authored and filed in May 2021. The proposed Center will be primarily responsible for protecting Filipinos from health threats, both foreign and domestic. To accomplish this, the CDC will detect and respond to new and emerging health threats, conduct scientific research, and communicate critical health information to the public. The bill also establishes four sub centers that will carry out the functions of the CDC, namely, (1) Center for Health Statistics, (2) Center for Surveillance and Epidemiology, (3) Center for Health Evidence, and (4) Center for Reference Laboratories. The CDC shall serve as an agency within the Department of Health led by the Director General, with the rank of Undersecretary, and the Deputy Director General. During a state of public health emergency, all health personnel, including those employed by local government units, will directly report to the Center. "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the public's health and safety, we should use this time to reexamine how we can improve efforts to combat this virus, reevaluate our capabilities, review the lessons we've learned, and consider new legislative solutions that may strengthen our response to future public health emergencies," appealed Go. "It is imperative that we remain vigilant and focused on preventing a bigger outbreak in addition to addressing the urgent needs facing our people," he added. SBN 2155 (VIP) is currently pending in the Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Sen. Nancy Binay while SBN 2505 (Ph CDC) is set for plenary deliberations. To complement these efforts to increase the nation's resilience against future public health emergencies, Go had successfully pushed for the passage of 24 laws in 2021 that will upgrade existing and establish new health facilities across the country. In addition, 15 local hospital bills sponsored by the senator were recently approved on the third and final reading in the Senate last January 31. Said bills include upgrading and increasing of the bed capacities of existing hospitals as well as establishing new DOH-run hospitals in the provinces of Albay, Bulacan, Cagayan, Cebu, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, La Union, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Samar and Sulu.
Lebanon, IN (46052)

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Sam Sokha was given just one day to raise the money after being freed this week.

A Cambodian woman freed on Wednesday after serving four years in jail for posting a video of herself throwing a shoe at a poster of Prime Minister Hun Sen said she had taken out a loan to pay the fine imposed to secure her release.

Sam Sokha, a supporter of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in Thailand in February 2018 by Thai authorities and forced to return to Cambodia despite having earlier been granted refugee status by the United Nations refugee agency.

The former factory worker had faced another six months in jail unless she could raise 10 million riels (U.S. $2,460) to pay the fine levied this week by the Kampong Speu Provincial Court. But after raising the money to pay the fine, the court refused to give her a receipt, she told RFA on Thursday.

They could be afraid that I might post the receipt on social media to prove that they had pressured me to pay 10 million riel, she said. She is still concerned for her security however as she now has no proof that she has paid her fine, she added.

Am Sam Ath, deputy director of the rights group Licadho, said it is rare that a Cambodian court will force a person already released from jail to pay a fine, calling the provincial courts move very strict. The court should have given Sam Sokha more time to pay the fine, he said.

She was given only one day to raise 10 million riel. This was not nearly enough time, even if she had properties to sell, he said.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said that Cambodian courts use excessive fines as a roundabout way to keep human rights activists like Sam Sokha behind bars.

Her entire conviction was ludicrous to start with, and shows how Prime Minister Hun Sen treats the judicial system as his plaything to settle vendettas against anyone who dares ridicule him, Robertson said.

This additional six-month sentence is just adding insult to injury in a case where human rights have been abused from the start. But Sam Sokha can take heart that many people are still laughing every time they watch her video with her infamous shoe.

Sam Sokha is one of dozens of CNRP supporters who have been detained for protests against the crackdown on the party by Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 35 years.

Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017 in a move that allowed the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party to win all 125 seats in Parliament in a July 2018 election and drew U.S. sanctions and the suspension of trade privileges with the European Union.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan have rescued a three-year-old girl who was taken from a public toilet in Xinping county, amid growing public awareness of trafficking and abduction of girls and women, often for marriage.



An officer who answered the phone at the Xinping county police department confirmed to RFA that the girl had been found, but declined to comment further on the case.



A source inside the unofficial people-tracing community, which has sprung up across China in the absence of effective action by the government, said the girl was lucky to have been found by police, and had likely benefited from the public outcry over a woman kept chained up by her husband in Feng county, in the eastern province of Jiangsu.



Authorities in Jiangsu are investigating the husband of the woman found chained in a freezing outbuilding after giving birth to eight of his children for "illegal imprisonment," according to an official announcement.



Dong ***min, husband of Yang ***xia, is currently under investigation for "illegal imprisonment," while two other people surnamed Sang and Shi are being investigated for abduction and trafficking offenses, the Xuzhou municipal committee of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the city government said in a joint statement on the case.



The committee had earlier identified Yang as a woman known by the nickname Xiao Meihua from Fugong county in the southwestern province of Yunnan, although most of the official announcements in the case have met with renewed public anger at official inaction over rampant trafficking and skepticism that the authorities are constructing a narrative to limit damage to their own reputations.



Few now doubt that Yang -- who has been diagnosed with and treated for schizophrenia since a viral video exposing her living conditions sparked mass condemnation on Chinese social media -- is a victim of human trafficking.



A writer based in Nanjing, Jiangsu's provincial capital, who gave only the penname Jiang Chun, said the case has gripped the nation, exploding as it did into public consciousness during the Lunar New Year festival, a time for honoring and celebrating family life.



"Most social media users want this investigated in full, because it's not enough just to save Yang," Jiang said. "There are government officials who should be held accountable too, with all kinds of issues involved, including excess births [during the one-child policy era], illegal marriage registration [as Yang's mental capacity was in doubt], and fraud."



Online comments on the case this week have included growing anger at official negligence that allowed a woman with a severe mental illness to be taken to another province and married to a man without stringent identity checks and tests of her mental capacity.



Wave of public anger

Many believe that rampant trafficking, especially in women and girls for marriage, could never happen without official collusion, and accused the government of acting like a criminal organization.



Previous announcements from the CCP committee in Feng county, where Yang was living at the time the video went viral, found that she had been married to Dong ***min in 1998 after being brought home by Dong's father, who found her begging on the streets.



But amid a growing wave of public anger over trafficking, the investigation changed its tune in later announcements, tracing Yang to Yunnan, saying she was likely abducted by Sang and others, implying she was sold to Dong.



"There was also an issue with the conduct of officials at the marriage registration bureau, because Yang wouldn't ... have been eligible for marriage, given her psychiatric problems," Jiang said.



"There is also the fact that she gave birth to eight children at a time when we weren't even allowed to have two yet; so this should have been the responsibility of the local family planning bureau," he said.



Investigative journalist Deng Fei reported last week that hundreds of local officials have been drafted in to investigate trafficking in Feng county after anecdotal reports that the region is notorious for trafficking in women and girls.



Lu Jinghua, a Chinese dissident living in the United States, said the public outcry in the case appeared to be getting some results.



"It's great that so many urban residents and intellectuals are speaking out about this, despite the fact that these issues don't affect them personally," Lu said.



A resident of Qinglong township in the southwestern province of Sichuan, who gave only the surname Zhang, said her mother Wang Jun has been missing for several months, but police wouldn't accept a missing persons report from her.



"The police didn't want to know ... they wouldn't open a case at the police station," Zhang said. "We went there several times and asked if they could use the SkyNet surveillance system [to find her] but they just looked at surveillance cameras in Qinglong township, and there was nothing to see."



Slave labor

Unofficial websites offering family tracing services have sprung up to fill the void left by police inaction.



A person familiar with the issue said many of those who go missing have disabilities of some kind.



"There are quite a lot in any county [who go missing]," the person said. "I used to work in a non-profit, which used to search for kidnapping and abduction victims, and I helped to track down three missing persons."



"It was very difficult to find them, and I just got lucky, because someone just happened to see my posts in group chats, and gave me a lead," he said. "One was the case of a grandmother watching a child, who disappeared after going up the mountain to play, and the grandfather killed himself."



He said traffickers often target vulnerable adults or children with a view to using them as slave labor.



"I have a cousin who was kidnapped and trafficked twice, and forced to work as a slave, which made him insane," he said. "There was a disabled person who worked in a shop in Taipingsi village in Hubei, who bought his wife from Guizhou. I saw several videos [to substantiate this] ... but they still haven't been caught."



"The police in this country don't care about this, and they do nothing."



The ministry of public security in Beijing had made no response to a request for comment at the time of writing.



An official at the Yunnan provincial bureau of civil affairs refused to comment on the trafficking of women and missing persons cases when contacted by RFA on , saying the information was a "state secret."



"You ask about missing persons, but we only have figures for minors, and we don't give out that information," the official said.



According to a 2020 report by the Chinese Civil Society Research Institute, a think tank under the civil affairs ministry, around one million people were missing in China during that year, with a peak in 2016 of 3.94 million.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Politicians in the U.S. are calling for an investigation into claims of torture against a man jailed after someone posted a photo of ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping's daughter to a website he ran.



"Former website administrator Niu Tengyu "was reportedly severely tortured and sentenced to 14 years in prison during a crackdown on people related to the websites [VulgarWiki] #EsuWiki and ZhinaWiki, which published information of relatives of #XiJinping," the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) said via its Twitter account, naming Niu under the hashtag #OlympicPrisoner.



"Credible torture claims must be investigated," it said.



Niu, was jailed in the southern province of Guangdong after someone posted a photo of Xi Mingze to meme site ZhinaWiki, an act that was later blamed by police on Niu's VulgarWiki.



He is currently serving his sentence at Yangjiang Prison.



Niu's attorneys Bao Longjun and Wang Yu filed an official complaint over torture Niu suffered while in police detention in resulted in injury to his right hand.



Bao told RFA's Cantonese Service in that Niu had also been stripped, suspended from the ceiling, and his genitals burned with a lighter.



Niu's mother Coco welcomed the CECC's focus on her son's case.



"This shows the international community cares about my son's case," she said. "I will continue to appeal as far as I can according to the law."



"I once again call on CCP general secretary Xi Jinping to urge the relevant departments to correct this wrongful conviction, release my son and maintain China's international image regarding the rule of law," she said.



'Indelible psychological shadow'

The father of another young man detained in the same case, Zhang Qinrui, told RFA that his son had also been severely mistreated by the authorities.



"My son was transferred to the Foshan Detention Center for anonymous detention, where he was given a code, and not allowed to meet with a lawyer," Zhang's father said. "He wasn't allowed to communicate with anyone, and his glasses were taken away, leaving him very short-sighted."



"He was prevented from wearing warm clothing in winter, prevented by his cell-mates from eating, and the detention center did nothing when he reported it," he said. "This went on for more than three months and has left an indelible psychological shadow on him that will last the rest of his life."



"Do our kids have any human rights?" he said.



Zhang's father said he believed all of the young people in the case were framed, and demanded immediate acquittal of all charges.



"When the Maoming police came to our home to arrest my son, they said this case had been designated by the ministry of public security [in Beijing] and that my child was a traitor who had smeared the image of our national leader on the internet," Zhang's father said. "There was no paperwork when they took him away."



"After the dust settled a bit, I discovered that actually nothing of the kind had happened. It was obvious persecution," he said. "Zhang Qinrui did not participate in any illegal activity."



"They wanted him to take the fall for Song Wanglin, who has a strong CCP background," he said, adding that top CCP officials had dictated to the court how the case should be handled from the outset.



Another young person connected to Vulgar Wiki, Gu Yangyang, was apparently released, also because he had high-ranking connections in Shanghai, Niu's mother has said in earlier interviews.



Zhang, who is now 24, was handed a five-year jail term for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," and "violating citizens' right to privacy," and designated a member of a "criminal gang."



23 detainees mistreated

Niu was sentenced on Dec. 30, 2020 by the Maonan District People's Court in Guangdong's Maoming city, which found him guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," "violating others' privacy" and "running an illegal business."



Reports at the time indicated that 23 young people detained around the same time in connection with the Vulgar Wiki case had also been tortured and mistreated in detention.



Sources told RFA that the parents of the other young detainees were told there was no record of them at the detention center when they went to put money into their prison spending accounts.



The records were restored following a protest by parents outside the Guangdong Detention Center.



A ZhinaWiki editor, who gave only the pseudonym Mr. L, said he was the person who posted personal information relating to the Xi family.



"Throughout this investigation, all of the official records of the case, including the verdict, all admit that ZhinaWiki was responsible for posting [details about Xi's family], but they still refuse to admit that this has been a miscarriage of justice," he said.



"We will continue to expose the secret dealings between Gu Yangyang, Song Wanglin, the Guangdong police and the state security police in Beijing, as well as other instances of police corruption and perversion of the course of justice."



The Maoming People's Court rejected Niu's appeal behind closed doors on , 2021.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Pyongyang fears that their loyalty could be shaken by the Olympic spectacle, hostile forces.

Passengers of a North Korean vehicle arriving at customs in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, board the vehicle after inspection in this file photo

North Korean workers in China are forbidden to travel to Beijing during the Winter Olympics, as Pyongyang is afraid they could get swept up in Olympic fever and betray their homeland by contacting South Koreans, sources in China told RFA.

In the Chinese city of Dandong, which lies across the Yalu River border from the North Korean city of Sinuiju, a consulate oversees thousands of workers dispatched by the government of Kim Jong Un to China to earn desperately needed foreign currency.

North Korean trade workers make deals with Chinese businesses to procure goods to ship into North Korea, or to provide laborers for factory work.

Business during the coronavirus pandemic has been rough. With factories shut down and trade with North Korea suspended from January 2020 to last month, many of the workers cant even cover their own living expenses in China. The Olympics could reveal to them how much better off the rest of the world is.

This is why the consulate last week told everyone not to travel long-distance until the Feb. 4-20 Olympics are over, a North Korean trade worker in Dandong told RFAs Korean Service.

If they have to travel outside of Dandong, even if they need emergency supplies to send back to the homeland, they need to report their intention to travel to the consulate in advance, show their train ticket reservation, and inform the consulate who they will meet and the time and place of the meeting, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

They underscored that travel to Beijing and the surrounding areas, where the Winter Olympics are happening right now, is strictly prohibited. If theres an urgent need to meet with a Chinese counterpart in or around Beijing, they must travel under the supervision of a companion designated by a state security agent, he said.

The consulate in Shenyang, which is within the same province as Dandong, requires trade workers there to report on their activities daily, a source familiar with the consulate told RFA.

They have to report the details of who they met and what they did each day through the end of the Winter Olympics, the second source, who also requested anonymity for security reasons, said.

Family members of North Korean trade officials stationed in China are also being closely monitored to make sure their movements and ideological conditioning are not heading towards Beijing, the second source said.

Pyongyang is afraid that the spectacle of the Olympic Games could be alluring to the North Koreans in China, the second source said.

The consulate warned that if a family member of a trade official is caught travelling to Beijing to watch the Winter Olympics, the trade official and their whole family will be punished as anti-party counter-revolutionaries, he said.

They fear that the trade officials and their families might come in contact with hostile forces, including people from South Korea, and this could cause them to betray their motherland during the Winter Olympics, the second source said.

With the trade officials themselves having trouble making ends meet right now, their ideology could easily be shaken, the source said. Their motivations could easily be bought by hostile forces such as South Korea, so the North Korean authorities continue to closely monitor their movements

There are an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 North Koreans working in China, according to the U.S. State Department's 2021 Trafficking in Person's Report.

North Korean labor exports were supposed to have stopped when United Nations nuclear sanctions froze the issuance of work visas and mandated the repatriation of North Korean nationals working abroad by the end of 2019.

But Pyongyang sometimes dispatches workers to China and Russia on short-term student or visitor visas to get around sanctions.

North Korea announced in January that it would not send athletes to the Beijing Olympics due to the coronavirus and what it called hostile forces.

Translated by Claire Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
But opponents of the military junta remain defiant: The revolution will not be stopped, one said.

Barren streets in Myanmar's commercial center Yangon amid a "Silent Strike" to protest the one-year anniversary of the country's military coup, Feb. 1, 2022.

Authorities in Myanmars Mandalay region on Wednesday detained nearly 20 people accused of participating in a Silent Strike, bringing the number of those arrested in connection with the nationwide anti-junta protest to more than 200 in recent days, according to sources.

Residents of Mandalays Mahar Aung Myae township told RFAs Myanmar Service on Thursday that security forces blocked off streets for most of the previous day and arrested at least 19 people  including a Buddhist monk and several youth activist leaders.

Ashin Raza Dhama, the leader of the Mandalay Buddhist Monk Union, said junta forces searched Mahar Aungs Sein Pan ward and detained around 15 people.

In the evening, four leaders [who led] boycotts were taken, he said of the youth activists, whose names were withheld due to concerns for their safety and that of their families.

Today, I heard they are searching in Myaukpyin area the same way they did in Sein Pan, he added.

Authorities also arrested a Buddhist monk from Mandalays Thingazar Monastery, alleging that he was involved in the protests.

Streets in Myanmar were largely empty on Feb. 1 as people across the country took part in the Silent Strike to protest the one-year anniversary of the military coup, despite a week of junta threats and arrests of organizers.

Public areas around the country were noticeably barren, except for occasional groups of young people holding flash protests. In the lead up to the anniversary of the Feb. 1, 2021, coup, authorities had warned of tough punishments  including life in prison  for anyone found applauding, honking or otherwise expressing support for the strike.

The movement marked the third Silent Strike since the military seized power, the others coming in March in the immediate aftermath of the putsch and in December on International Human Rights Day. In the past year, security forces have arrested more than 9,000 civilians and killed 1,546  mostly during nonviolent anti-junta protests, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Residents of Mandalay said the junta is arresting protest leaders in the region to tighten security ahead of the 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of Union Day on Feb. 12. The holiday commemorates the 1947 signing of the Panglong Agreement by ethnic majority Burmans and the countrys minorities to form a union following Myanmars independence from Britain on Jan. 4 a year later.

Sources expressed concern for the safety of the four protest leaders who were arrested Wednesday, who they said are on the juntas wanted list.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal, said that arresting the youth leaders will not end the resistance against the military regime.

The revolution will not be stopped. It may take some time to recoup, but it will be restarted. The protesters will come out again, he said.

The source called on more people to participate in the movement against the junta, saying that the political situation in the country has worsened.

Popular participation has declined. We no longer have safehouses, and it has become more challenging to organize, he said.

We hope nothing happen to [the leaders]. I feel bad because they are very important for us.

Tayzar San, a protest leader in Mandalay, said the juntas violent crackdown on dissent will be its downfall.

People throughout the country are fully motivated and in the mood for revolution, he said.

The peoples participation in the Silent Strike during the anniversary of the coup is evidence of that. The people of Myanmar will push back when the military tries to push them down.

Youths protest ahead of the one-year anniversary of the military coup, Jan. 28, 2022. Citizen journalist Dozens arrests over silent strike

Prior to Wednesday, the junta said that authorities had arrested 193 people throughout the country between Jan. 27 and Feb. 8 for allegedly offering support for or encouraging others to take part in the strike by committing to close their shops on social media.

The announcement said that it will charge the alleged strike supporters under the Counter-Terrorism Act and the Electronic Communications Act, and that those found guilty of violating the laws are subject to having their property confiscated.

Family members of those arrested told RFA on Thursday that they were not talking about participation in the strike when they posted messages about closing shops, but just writing about how they intended to observe the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which also falls on Feb. 1.

A woman who declined to be named said she hadnt had contact with her husband since his arrest for allegedly closing his shop.

We are ethnic Chinese. We announced on Facebook that we would close our shops on Feb. 1 according to New Year tradition, she said. Now my husband has been arrested, and I am in trouble taking care of three kids.

A fortune teller in Yangon named Thar Htet Hsann was also among those detained in recent days.

His wife said he was arrested for allegedly participating in the strike but that he always takes the day off on Mondays.

He closes his fortune teller shop every Monday. He used to call me when he is coming home, but he didnt that evening, she said. Later, I saw something about his arrest on the news on TV. I have two children. They are still very young, and I dont know what to do.

Instilling fear through arrests

The spokesperson of a social media watchdog group in Myanmar said the junta works with popular pro-military influencers to monitor the activities of users.

There are so many accounts of people named Kyaw Zwar, Han Nyein Oo or Thazin Oo on Telegram, he said, referring to a popular social media platform.

We found out that they are military supporters. We found that they are monitoring activities on these channels and taking actions by initiating these arrests.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the arrests related to the silent strike went unanswered on Thursday.

A court attorney who works on human rights violation cases in Yangon told RFA that if a person runs their own private business and independently pays municipal taxes, the authorities cannot arrest them for closing their shop.

The arrests are illegal and unlawful. They are using the law to oppress the people. I believe they are just using the laws to limit individual freedom, the attorney said.

A Facebook user and youth activist in Yangon said the military council is trying to intimidate its opposition with the arrests.

They are trying to instill fear among young people from using internet, he said. We will make sure they cannot govern us. We will continue the resistance online.

Reported by Soe San Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Authorities have ramped up security controls in Tibetan areas of western China during the Beijing Winter Olympics, with police monitoring residents closely to block communications with Tibetans living in exile, sources in the region say.

Restrictions are especially tight in the Kanlho (in Chinese, Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province and the Ngaba (Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, one man living in the area told RFAs Tibetan Service this week.

Tibetans in these places are barred from speaking with Tibetans in exile, and Tibetans who have been to India and then returned are being summoned each day for questioning by the local police, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Pictures of Tibets exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama are also being seized wherever they are found, the source said.

The situation here is more intense than ever before, and local Tibetans are terrified now to receive calls from the exile community and communicate with them, he added.

Police in Thewo (Diebu) county in Gansu are now questioning local Tibetans and examining mobile phones and online chat groups for evidence of contacts outside the region, Trisong Dorje, a second source, said from exile in Dharamsala, India.

Tibetans are also being warned not to talk to anyone outside, Dorje said, citing contacts in Gansu. And Tibetans in Ngaba who had earlier traveled to India are being specifically targeted by the Chinese government and have to report to their local police station every day.

Tibetans who have returned to Kanlho after traveling to India are never hired for government jobs, as the Chinese authorities believe they have a separatist mentality, Dorje said.

Tibetans in Ngaba and Kanlho who have sent money to Tibetans in exile for use in prayer ceremonies are routinely threatened by Chinese authorities, with their mobile phones confiscated and bank accounts closed, sources told RFA in earlier reports.

The 2022 Winter Olympics, which opened in Beijing on Feb. 4, have drawn a series of protests and boycotts from the international community because of Chinas treatment of Tibetans and other minority groups.

Formerly an independent country, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force 70 years ago, and Tibetans living in Tibet frequently complain of discrimination and human rights abuses by Chinese authorities and policies they say are aimed at eradicating their national and cultural identity.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Once again, Russian President Vladimir Putin displayed his ability to offend by uttering a controversial remark about Ukraine. Regardless of how he intended it to come across, his comment added to the pressure Moscow is piling on Kyiv -- and pointed to a possible pretext for a new military offensive against Ukraine, a neighbor Putin seems determined to pull back into the Russian fold.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

Rhyme And Reason?

Over more than two decades in power, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been known for his frequent use of punchy, often risque or off-color wording, sometimes to underscore a point or amplify a threat, and sometimes seemingly just to impress anyone within earshot -- whether it's a group of men at a table or a much larger TV audience.

In September 1999, just weeks into what has turned into more than 22 years as president or prime minister, there was his vow to "rub out" terrorists "in the outhouse."

Seven years later, he praised Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who was accused of raping several staff members and was later convicted on two counts of rape as well as indecent assault and sexual harassment: "What a mighty man he turns out to be! He raped 10 women," Russian media quoted Putin as saying after microphones were switched off at a Kremlin meeting. "We all envy him."

The issue of rape came up again this week, when Putin used the following words at a Kremlin meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in Moscow as part of a flurry of diplomacy aimed, from the Western side, at averting what intelligence agencies fear could be a new and potentially large-scale Russian offensive against Ukraine: "Like it or not, my beauty, [you must] put up with it."

A number of Russians immediately recognized a variation on a line from a 1990s punk-rock song that clearly references a violent act of necrophilia. Others saw a far less sick or sinister interpretation, saying it was a phrase teachers and parents sometimes used -- including long before the 1990s -- to tell children that they would have to do something they would rather not do.

The Donbas Factor

That's how the Kremlin soon began spinning it. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 8 that he was pretty sure Putin, 69, was unaware of the punk song, and that the band probably borrowed the phrase from Russian folklore. Putin himself came about as close as he ever does to issuing an apology, saying on February 10 that there was no "personal" connotation in his remark -- while accusing Ukraine of foot-dragging on a deal to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

And that's the thing. The brief rhyme may speak volumes about Putin's mindset, his attitudes, and his personality -- though much of that may already have been pretty obvious from his remarks about Katsav more than 15 years ago. But what matters most in the end is the substance behind it: Putin's intentions toward Ukraine, not his choice of a phrase or a signaling strategy.

While his true intentions cannot be known, Putin made clear that at least on the surface, he meant to convey something that he and other Russian officials have conveyed many times: That Moscow wants the Minsk 2 agreement -- a February 2015 pact aimed at ending the war between Kyiv and Moscow-backed separatists who hold parts of the Donbas -- to be implemented in accordance with the Kremlin's interpretation of the agreement.

The Kremlin's interpretation of the deal and the sequencing of the steps it calls on Russia and Ukraine to take clashes with Kyiv's in a fundamental fashion.

While Moscow says that the United States and European countries must pressure to Kyiv to implement Minsk 2, Ukraine and the United States say the onus is on Russia, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, in an interview with RFE/RL late last month, has reneged on its commitments under the agreement "to a much greater extent than Ukraine has."

Russia could potentially use that deep disagreement as another potential pretext for a new offensive against Ukraine, should it decide -- or already has decided -- to launch one.

Russian officials have repeatedly said they have no plans to invade Ukraine. But surrounding the country on three sides with more than 100,000 troops while demanding that NATO shut its doors to Ukraine, Georgia, and other former Soviet republics forever -- and pull back any forces deployed in Central and Eastern Europe after May 1997 -- represents an implicit threat.

Putin made it more explicit on December 21, when he said that if Russia's wishes were ignored it might take "military-technical" measures.

Creating Options

That comment came in the context of the "security concerns" laid out in the form of draft treaties that the Russian Foreign Ministry sent to the United States and NATO in December, setting in motion a tense diplomatic dance that Moscow could abruptly end at any moment by declaring it is displeased with its partner's steps and replacing words with the use of force.

While the diplomacy continues, Putin has already set the stage for that potential shift by declaring that the West has ignored Moscow's core concerns.

Meanwhile, with the Russian military piling more pressure on Ukraine almost every day now, including by staging joint military exercises just north of Ukraine in Belarus, the Kremlin has been drawing increasing attention in the past two weeks to Minsk 2 and the unresolved conflict in the Donbas -- the subject of inconclusive nine-hour talks in Berlin, in the so-called Normandy Format, on February 10.

It's as if Moscow, having focused for weeks on dramatic geopolitical demands levelled at the United States and NATO, is now opening a second front -- giving itself the option of citing a lack of progress toward implementation of Minsk 2, accusing Kyiv and the West of recalcitrance, and asserting that it is being forced to resort to force. An attack, in other words, cast as reaction rather than aggression.

That's how Moscow portrayed its seizure of Crimea and support for separatists at the start of the war that has killed more than 13,200 people in the Donbas since 2014. And it's an approach that Russian officials, in their repeated statements that no invasion of Ukraine is planned, have seemed careful not to rule out in 2022.
One of the worlds largest and most remote collections of petroglyphs will soon be made easily accessible due to a massive highway project cutting through central Kyrgyzstan.

This is Saimaluu-Tash, a national park in Kyrgyzstan's rugged Jalal-Abad region, around 200 kilometers south of the capital, Bishkek.

The site is littered with thousands of flat-faced chunks of basalt that have lain for millennia alongside an ancient shepherds route.

Around 10,000 ancient petroglyphs -- images made by chipping away at the surface of the rock -- have survived for thousands of years. Some of the illustrations are estimated to be around 5,000 years old. Saimaluu-Tash means "patterned stone" in Kyrgyz.

The sacred mountainside holds the largest collection of ancient rock art anywhere in Central Asia, but only a handful of people reach the site each year due to its extreme remoteness and tiny window of accessibility.

Saimaluu-Tash is usually only reachable for two or three weeks each August, when the summer sun briefly melts off the mountain snow before autumn arrives.

Reaching Saimaluu-Tash from Bishkek requires a meandering 10-hour drive through the mountains, followed by a hike of around four hours. But the site is set to become much easier to reach thanks to a massive infrastructure project known as the North-South Highway.

The North-South Highway (pictured under construction in 2017) will cut straight through the mountains of central Kyrgyzstan, connecting Bishkek in the north to Jalal-Abad, near the southern city of Osh.

The highway, which is funded largely with Chinese cash and is part of Beijings Belt And Road Initiative, is due to open next year. The highway will run directly past the entrance to Saimaluu-Tash, making the site reachable in a single day from Bishkek.

Bishkek-based tour guide Altynai Kudaibergen (pictured during a tour to Saimaluu-Tash in August 2021) told RFE/RL that Kyrgyz locals have mixed feelings about the changes the highway will bring to the sacred site. Its a good thing that more people will be able to see the place and learn the history and explore the petroglyphs, Kudaibergen says. But the guide and art expert says with all things that get more accessible, it can get kind of devalued.

Kudaibergen also worries that the site, which is nearly impossible to safeguard, will see increased vandalism. Already there are some petroglyphs with names from recent times saying 'so and so was here,' that kind of stuff. Actually, its interesting. You can see what mattered to people of different eras. You have the hunting scenes and the plowing depicted in the ancient petroglyphs, then in the 20th and 21st century its more self expression and everyone just writes their names.

One detail of the site that surprises some visitors are sex scenes depicted on the rocks. One visitor who asked not to be identified remarked to RFE/RL "Everyone was very excited about this, They were like, You didnt tell us this Kama Sutra would be here!'"

American travel journalist Stephen Lioy, who took the photos in this gallery, says the mountainside is one of the most remarkable historical sites Ive visited anywhere in Central Asia and says he hopes the Kyrgyz authorities will be able to conserve Saimaluu-Tash for future generations once the nearby highway opens.
Concern is rising among many Hungarians living near the Ukrainian border as fears over a Russian attack on Ukraine have grown. RFE/RL spoke to people in the Hungarian villages of Zahony and Gemzse and asked them how hostilities might affect the border region.
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
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold telephone calls with U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on February 12 amid growing fears Russia may be preparing for an invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 11 that the request for a phone call between Putin and Biden came from Washington. A White House official confirmed that the call will take place, according to Reuters. The call with Macron, which Peskov confirmed, comes days after the two leaders met in Moscow for more than five hours of talks.

The calls were arranged after U.S. officials said Russia has massed enough troops near Ukraine to launch a major invasion and urged all U.S. citizens to leave the country within 48 hours.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he would speak to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on February 12 in a last-ditch attempt to head off a possible invasion.

"We continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving around Ukraine's borders," Blinken said at a press conference in Fij on February 12. He expressed hope that Putin would choose diplomacy but said Washington would impose economic sanctions if Moscow invades.

"I continue to hope that he will not choose the path of renewed aggression and he'll chose the path of diplomacy and dialogue," Blinken told told reporters. "But if he doesn't, we're prepared."

A major military operation against Ukraine could begin "any day now, even before the end of the Winter Olympics, White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said on February 11 as he urged Americans to leave the country within 48 hours.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Sullivan also said that if a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians."

Sullivan said such an air assault would make departures difficult, therefore any American still in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours."

Echoing comments earlier on February 11 by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sullivan said U.S. intelligence now believes Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. He also said a rapid assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, is a possibility.

It remains unclear, Sullivan said, whether Putin has definitively given an order to start an invasion. Thus far, Russia has denied it plans to invade Ukraine.

Sullivan spoke after President Joe Biden held a video call with transatlantic leaders and sought allied unity in the face of a worsening situation.

Biden also ordered the deployment of an additional 3,000 U.S. soldiers to NATO ally Poland. A statement from the Pentagon on February 11 said the troops should be in place by "early next week," joining some 1,700 soldiers who arrived in Poland at the start of the month.

"All told, these 5,000 additional personnel comprise a highly mobile and flexible force, capable of multiple missions. They are being deployed to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATOs eastern flank, train with host-nation forces, and contribute to a wide range of contingencies," the Pentagon statement said.

On February 11, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had received "no substantive reaction" from the EU and NATO over its demands for guarantees on European security, including a legally binding commitment that NATO will not accept Ukraine and other former Soviet states as members, that the alliance will halt weapon deployments there, and also roll back its forces from Eastern Europe.

"Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," Blinken told a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne on February 11.

"As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics," he said, adding that Washington was continuing to "draw down" its embassy staff in Kyiv and repeated a State Department call to U.S. citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately.

Russia denies Western accusations it may be planning an invasion. But it is also holding military drills in Belarus involving some 30,000 troops, a move the West has called provocative. The Winter Olympics are being hosted by Beijing until February 20 and countries traditionally, though not always, adhere to a truce to stop all hostilities through the course of the Games.

The U.S. State Department previously urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately and the Associated Press said the United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv.

The West has said Moscow's main demands are nonstarters, with the EU and NATO delivering joint responses this week saying their members had agreed to speak as one.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would respond in the "nearest future" to counterproposals on European security made by the United States and NATO.

He made the remarks after talks with British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, who arrived in the Russian capital earlier on February 11.

Shoigu urged the West to stop supplying arms to Ukraine and said Russia was not the one to blame for the rising tensions in Europe, according to Interfax. He also said he wanted to know why London was sending special forces to Ukraine.

Wallace described his talks with Shoigu as constructive and frank. He said he took Russian assurances that Moscow will not invade Ukraine seriously, but that he wanted to see accompanying action.

He reaffirmed that a Russian invasion would have tragic consequences and emphasized the need to maintain contacts between military forces to prevent incidents.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa
ALROSA reports preliminary rough and polished sales results for January 2022

11 february 2022 News

ALROSA sales of rough and polished diamonds in January 2022 accounted for $325 million, including $315 million of rough diamond sales and $10 million of polished.

January saw continuing strong demand for diamonds from midstream companies seeking to stock up after a successful holiday season sales across all the key markets. At the same time, sales have been capped by current production levels, similar to the situation seen in the second half of 2021. On the back of the changes in the sales mix and the price indexs annual growth the average revenue per carat considerably increased from January 2021, when diamond miners had extensive inventories. Amid limited diamond supply globally, ALROSA continues with its measures to quickly respond to market demand by accelerating pre-sale diamond processing, said Evgeny Agureev, Deputy CEO of ALROSA.



Vladimir Malakhov, Rough&Polished






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Rutland, VT (05701)

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Danvers, MA (01923)

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Israeli President Herzog's calling President Erdogan, who has tested positive for COVID-19, to convey his get-well-soon wishes, brought together positive comments concerning the relations between the two countries.

4th call in 8 months

Israeli President Herzog's call to President Erdogan last Sunday, to convey to him his wishes to get well soon, has been recorded as the fourth call between the two leaders, since Herzog assumed duty in July.

According to the statement made by the Israeli Presidency, Isaac Herzog conveyed to Erdogan his get-well-soon wishes and wished him and his wife a speedy recovery. It has also been reported that President Erdogan thanked his Israeli counterpart Herzog for his concern. In the statement, the fact that two leaders have "discussed the possibility of meeting soon" has also been reported. President Erdogan had stated last Saturday that Herzog would be coming to Turkey in March.

President Erdogan in the statement he made via his social media account said, "I would like to thank the Israeli President Mr. Herzog for his kind get well soon wishes."

The call on Sunday was the first phone call by Herzog to Erdogan. Following the call, Israel made a positive statement expressing that Erdogan's invitation to Turkey has been accepted.

"There is change"

The call has also been reflected greatly in the press. The Israeli press interpreted the call as "Erdogan's policy towards Israel has changed".

Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kaln also mentioned the change in Turkish-Israeli relations in a press statement. Kaln said, "There are some changes. The 15-year-long Netanyahu era is over in Israel. A new government is established there. There is a government bringing together very different elements. Soon Israeli President Herzog will visit our country. There has been a change there, there is a positive approach."
The Philippines and Mexico are thousands of miles apart. But in Chula Vista, both cultures live side-by-side.

Filipino and Mexican cultures are so intertwined in the South Bay that people even have a name for it: Mexipino.

That is also the name of a restaurant on Broadway between Anita and Main streets in Chula Vista that opened in January.

I grew up eating both cultural foods, said chef Roger Buhain. My mother is Mexican and my father is Filipino.

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Buhain and Richard Corpus, who is also Mexican and Filipino, decided to open a breakfast restaurant that celebrates both cultures.

Their menu includes traditional dishes like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros but also features unique fusions that blend Mexican, Filipino and American classics.

Nothing captures Mexipinos multicultural spirit better than the Mexipino hash. The dish comes loaded with achiote chicken, longaniza, purple yam, avocado, queso fresco and two fried eggs.

Differentiating between dishes that sound good versus those that actually taste good was a challenge. Buhain and Corpus spent a month trimming down 200 potential menu items through trial and error.

We gained 15 pounds that month, Corpus joked.

And they arent done. One of the most popular menu items, the adobo fried chicken and waffles, was added two days before they opened.

Buhain still experiments with new dishes at home. The restaurant currently has a breakfast and lunch menu but Corpus plans to have dinner options as well in the future.

Mixing both of their Mexican and Pilipino heritages, Richard Corpus (l) and Roger Buhain offer the MexiPino Breakfast Sandwich. Served with prime smoked brisket, spam,chorizo, avocado and egg on a Mex conchita bread and a side of fries. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Mexipino people have lived in San Diego for generations, according to Rudy Guevarra Jr., a fourth-generation Mexipino who is an associate professor of Asian Pacific American Studies at Arizona State University and published a book about the history of Mexicans and Filipinos in San Diego.

The two cultures first came together under Spanish colonial rule. They exchanged food, language and culture through the Manila-Acapulco trade route, Guevarra said.

Here in San Diego, Mexican and Filipino immigrants generally worked in some of the hardest and lowest-paying jobs like agriculture and fish canning. This, along with racially motivated redlining, kept them in close proximity to each other and over time they developed strong relationships, according to Guevarras research.

Mexipino culture has largely been overlooked by academia. One of the few articles Guevarra found while researching his book was from a 1930s sociologist who suggested they would die out.

Were still here and theres more of us, Guevarra said.

Guevarra grew up in San Diego but now lives in Arizona. A friend called him about the restaurant and he plans to dine there during his next visit.

Buhain and Corpus werent aware of the areas Mexipino history before they opened the restaurant. Initially, they werent sure how people would react.

But opening the restaurant introduced them to a large community of fellow South Bay Mexipinos they didnt know existed.

Many people who identify as Mexipino visit the restaurant because of the name and return because of the food.

Im surprised to see how many there are, Corpus said. Honestly, I thought we were a unique mix but theres been a bunch. Were bringing communities together and thats great.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
Sanford, NC (27330)

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(Photo : Hugh Hastings/Getty Images) NEWQUAY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02 : A OneWeb satellite is diaplyed on the opening day of the Story of a Satellite summer exhibition at Spaceport Cornwall on Aug 2, 2021 in Newquay, England. Spaceport Cornwall is aiming to launch its first satellites in spring of 2022.

Arianespace launched 34 new satellites to space via Soyuz ST-B rocket on Thursday. The satellites would serve as an addition to the wider constellation of channels for a broadband connection led by the British global communications company OneWeb.

The launch is the beginning to provide a better internet service anywhere around the world, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

Arianespace and Roscomos Launched Soyuz Rocket to Deliver OneWeb Satellites to Space

European launch provider Arianespace conducted its first mission in 2022, sending the Soyuz Flight VS27 straight from French Guiana's Space Center in Kourou. The launch commenced at 1:09 PM EST. Commentator Georgie Barrat hosted the live streaming of the launch.

OneWeb's Thursday flight is the company's 13th flight for the program.

Arianespace said in a press release that the total scope of the mission ran for 3 hours and 33 minutes. In addition, it will proceed with a series of nine satellite operations. The broadband devices will be lifted higher into orbit where they will operate.

OneWeb's latest flight delivered the company's latest broadband satellites meant to be mediums for several industries that heavily rely on communications. Several agencies will benefit from the satellites, including governments, aviation, maritime, and emergency responses, according to Arianespace.

OneWeb said that their 13th space flight aimed to ensure that their signal devices would not affect and harm the new wave of connectivity in the future, improving the experience of the generations that will utilize the satellites while providing assistance to everyone.

OneWeb is vocal about its projects. They promote efficient missions and follow an established guideline under 'responsible space' management.

Its innovative culture drives them to create concepts that will cater to subjects such as orbital debris and satellite designs.

ALSO READ: NASA Parker Solar Probe Captures Dark Side of Venus Glowing Like an Iron

OneWeb's Satellite Constellation

Like SpaceX and Blue Origin, OneWeb is among the private space enterprises currently facing criticism due to the impact of space debris generation and interference to astronomical studies relying on observations and imaging.

Satellite mega constellations are among the modern-day problem of the satellite business. In the latest months, the International Astronomical Union, U.S. National Science Foundation's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), and the Square Kilometer Array Observatory collaborated to develop the Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation to address the threats from megaconstellations.

Thursday's launch was successfully carried out by Soyuz rocket. At the moment, OneWeb's satellite constellation on-orbit totals 428 pieces. In 2022, the company aims to complete its 648 satellite target on space.

OneWeb's next launch is expected to commence on March 5 and be carried once again by the Soyuz rocket. According to a report by Space, the estimated satellite count that will be lifted next month could be around 36. The launch will be held at Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome.

PhysOrg reported that Arianespace and their almost two-decade partner Roscosmos will also be conducting separate Soyuz launches in 2022, completing the 16 flights that began in December 2020 and will end this year.

RELATED ARTICLE: Protocluster Discovered with Dead Galaxies; Young Members Stopped Evolving Since Early Formation of Universe

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
Four small NASA-funded satellites were lost in orbit on Thursday after being launched on an Astra Space rocket.

The company's 3.3 rocket launched from a launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 3 pm ET to the delight of a multitude of Astra workers watching on live television, SpaceNews said.

However, onboard cameras revealed the rocket's second stage booster spinning out of control a few minutes after launch, as it was about to break out for its journey further into orbit.

One of the most critical movements in space travel is when a rocket's booster detaches from the top load to transport the payload, which Astra failed to execute successfully.





Astra Space's NASA CubeSat Payload Launch Fails Dramatically

The story of Astra's aborted launch has gone viral, and the firm has issued an apologetic statement on Twitter. The company explained what went wrong during the latest trip.

Astra said that it would perform better on the next launch and that difficulties on the present flight were to blame for the failure to deliver.

We experienced an issue during today's flight that resulted in the payloads not being delivered to orbit.



We are deeply sorry to our customers @NASA and the small satellite teams. More information will be provided after we complete a data review.  Astra (@Astra) February 10, 2022

A netizen on Twitter posted a video of the rocket's demise, which captured the situation as it unfolded throughout the voyage.

Because the top stage rocket failed to separate correctly from the lower stage, the rocket's cargo lost control and went off track.

Chris Kemp, Astra's chief executive, acknowledged on Twitter that they experienced an issue in today's flight. He likewise issued a public apology over the tragic incident.

Despite a successful launch, according to NASA Space Flight's video footage of the event, the rocket's next minutes on the air did not prove to be notable or memorable.

We experienced an issue in today's flight. I'm deeply sorry we were not able to deliver our customer's payloads. I'm with the team looking at data, and we will provide more info as soon as we can.  Chris Kemp (@Kemp) February 10, 2022

ALSO READ: Astra Identified the Cause of LV0006 Rocket Failure; Will Relaunch Before October Ends





Astra has yet to issue a detailed report on what transpired during the rocket's failed launch, particularly the precise diagnosis of what went wrong with the changeover.

Nonetheless, the corporation will investigate what occurred today in collaboration with the US Federal Aviation Administration.

"Missions like these are critical for developing new launch vehicles in this growing commercial sector," Hamilton Fernandez, mission manager with NASA's Launch Services Program, said in a statement after today's failure.

"The Astra team demonstrated dedication to supporting NASA's mission. The lessons learned will benefit them and the agency going forward."

About Astra Space, Previous Launches

With its range of mass-produced, cost-effective, and ever-evolving rockets, Astra, formed in 2016, hopes to capture a substantial piece of the small-satellite launch industry.

The business had successfully launched four orbital flights before the incident, all of which were test missions from Alaska's Pacific Spaceport Complex, Space.com reported.

On two of the four flights, Astra was able to reach space. The firm's LV0007 made it to orbit on the most recent experiment, a mission for the US military that blasted out this past November - a significant milestone for the Bay Area startup.

During a test flight in December 2020, an Astra rocket made it to space but ran out of fuel before reaching orbital velocity.

The goal of today's mission was to expand on that accomplishment by putting Astra into operational flight.

LV0008, a member of Astra's Rocket 3 launch vehicle family, carried four small satellites that launched as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program.

If the launch today had been successful, the tiny spacecraft would have performed various tasks at the last frontier.

RELATED ARTICLE: Astra Space's LV0006 Rocket Failed to Reach Orbit After Sliding Horizontally Off Its Pad

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
Pangilinan to DA: Use budget to generate jobs

LAGUNA, FEB. 11 - Vice-presidential candidate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan made a push anew for ramped-up spending in agriculture to buoy activities in the sector and generate jobs.

"Mahigit P5 trillion ang budget natin ngayon taon. Dapat taumbayan ang makikinabang, hindi ibubulsa ng iilan habang milyon-milyon sa ating mga kababayan ang walang makain at walang trabaho," Pangilinan said.

"Dapat maramdaman ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang budget ng bayan," he added.

Pangilinan issued the remark as the Philippine Statistics Authority released its data showing that the number of unemployed adults, or those aged 15 and above, in December 2021 stood at 3.27 million or an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent.

This was higher by over 100,000 compared to the November 2021 figures.

Pangilinan rued that millions of Filipinos remain without source of income despite eased Covid-19 restrictions.

He said the DA must accelerate the use of its funds to fuel economic activity in the sector and provide employment opportunities.

He said funds for irrigation must be utilized to aid farmers in having better yields.

Pangilinan also batted for better access to formal credit and financing with easy payment terms, crop insurance and additional support mechanism such as post-harvest facilities, better roads and agricultural extension services.

Pangilinan, together with presidential candidate Leni Robredo earlier vowed to double the budget of the Agriculture department if they get elected.

They stressed that the sector which provides food and nourishment to the Filipinos should not suffer from budget starvation to be able to contribute to the country's economic bounce back.
The San Ramon Police Department concluded that an officers release of a police dog that severely mauled a man during a traffic stop was justified and necessary, even though video of the incident revealed that the unarmed and barefoot driver had offered no resistance, city records obtained by The Chronicle show.

Police Chief Craig Stevens signed off on the internal review that found the dog was released at the proper time, according to documents provided under a California law passed in 2018 to boost police transparency and accountability. The dog handler, Officer John Cattolico, faced no discipline in connection with the traffic stop in December 2020.

However, after victim Ali Badr filed a lawsuit and The Chronicle reported on the incident, the San Ramon City Council requested that city officials work with the police force to do additional investigation into what happened, said Council Member Sabina Zafar.

Its a matter of huge concern for us, said Zafar, who declined to discuss specifics, citing the ongoing lawsuit and city probe. Im wishing Mr. Badr a speedy recovery.

Now Playing: Footage from the body cam of K-9 handler John Cattolico shows the interaction between driver Ali Badr and San Ramon police officers after Badr was violently bitten by a police dog. Video: San Ramon Police Department via Matthew Haley

Cattolico and Stevens did not respond to interview requests.

Cattolico and his fellow officers had stopped Badr, a 42-year-old Oakland resident, because the car he was driving had been reported stolen by the owner of a rental company. Badr had rented the Toyota Camry so he could give Uber and Lyft rides, and was behind on his lease payments.

Two police use-of-force experts who viewed the videos of the dog attack at The Chronicles request said the release of the animal appeared to be unjustified. Former Boston police Lt. Tom Nolan, who studies police use-of-force cases, called it a hyperexaggerated and hysterical response.

The cops lost control of what they created, said Nolan, an associate professor of sociology at Emmanuel College in Boston. Its as wild a situation as it gets. Its Cops Gone Wild.

The internal finding and lack of discipline come at a time when advocates for increased accountability continue to question whether police departments can properly investigate their own officers.

San Ramon Police Department 2020

In Danville, San Ramons neighbor to the north, an internal review of Officer Andrew Halls 2018 killing of a fleeing, unarmed motorist cleared him of misconduct before a jury convicted the officer of felony assault, a Chronicle investigation found. After Hall was cleared, he shot and killed a second man while on duty.

In San Francisco, Police Chief Bill Scott and District Attorney Chesa Boudin are now battling over the chiefs recent decision to pull out of an agreement that made the District Attorneys Office the lead investigator in police use-of-force cases. Scott alleges that Boudins office violated the deal, which Boudin denies.

The records from San Ramon reveal that seven police officers reported that Badr refused to comply with orders and, after being ordered out of the car, appeared to be reaching back into his car in the moments before he was mauled. The Chronicle viewed videos from 11 body-worn and dashboard cameras, and the footage does not show Badr reaching back into the car.

Members of the command staff, in a subsequent use-of-force review, found that the deployment of the dog was reasonable and followed department policies.

Badr sued the city of San Ramon, Stevens, Cattolico and six other officers in a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force, assault and battery, and violation of civil rights. Badr, an Egyptian immigrant, said he believes he was treated differently because he is North African and was perceived to be Muslim.

Now Playing: Footage from the body cam of K-9 handler John Cattolico shows the initial encounter between driver Ali Badr and San Ramon police officers during a traffic stop over a reported stolen vehicle. Cattolico released a dog that violently attacked Badr. Video: San Ramon Police Department via Matthew Haley

Badr, alleging negligence, is also suing the cars owner, CarMommy CEO and co-founder John Blomeke, his San Jose company, and HyreCar Inc. of Los Angeles, which acted as a go-between for the rental. The new records allege that Badr was 10 days behind in his payments when the car was reported stolen to police.

A CarMommy spokesperson told The Chronicle that the company made extensive efforts to have the car returned or paid up, but eventually filed a missing vehicle report with San Jose police on Dec. 20, 2020, the day of the traffic stop.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mr. Badr at this time for what he endured with his injury and the extent of his recovery process, as a result of his interactions with the San Ramon Police Department, the company said in the statement.

It was about 6:40 p.m. on Dec. 20 when officers pulled over Badr after license plate scanners alerted police that his car had been reported stolen. Badr was en route to his part-time job at a San Ramon gas station.

Badr got out of the car near the intersection of San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Crow Canyon Road. He dropped his shoes onto the pavement and stood next to them, the videos show.

With the car surrounded, officers yelled at Badr to put his hands in the air and not to reach back into the vehicle. The videos show that Badr placed his hands on the roof of the car, then briefly dropped them near his waist as he shuffled his feet, trying to slip his shoes on.

Less than 10 seconds after Badr stepped out of the car, Cattolico released his dog, Dexter, who latched onto Badrs right arm and bit him for more than a minute as the Uber driver screamed in pain. The wound required 32 stitches to close and multiple surgeries to repair.

San Ramon police recommended that Badr be charged with felony vehicle theft and misdemeanor resisting arrest, but Contra Costa County prosecutors declined to file a case, citing a lack of evidence and the interests of justice.

Now Playing: Footage from officer Kyle Leano's body cam shows the initial encounter between driver Ali Badr and San Ramon police officers during a stop over a reported stolen vehicle. K-9 handler John Cattolico released a dog that violently attacked Badr. Video: San Ramon Police Department via Matthew Haley

Police records show officers at the scene told a consistent story  that Badr was not following orders and appeared to be reaching or moving back into the car.

In his report, Cattolico said he took out his dog because suspects in vehicle thefts often carry weapons, flee on foot or barricade themselves inside the cars. He noted that the stop was in a populated area.

In the video, he told his colleagues he would handle verbal commands, as is recommended by department policy to avoid interfering with communication with the dog. But in the videos, other officers can be heard yelling orders, often over one another.

Cattolico described in the documents obtained by The Chronicle how he told Badr no less than four times to place his hands out the window, but that Badr at first only placed one outside.

San Ramon Police Department 2020

Once I was able to see both hands of the suspect outside the open window on the driver side I told him to exit the vehicle with his hands up, Cattolico wrote. He then placed both hands back inside the vehicle and opened the door. He stepped out. As he stepped out he did not keep his hands raised as he was directed to do.

Nolan, the former Boston lieutenant, said drivers often struggle to follow precise commands to exit a car with their hands raised, because they must use their hands to unbuckle their seat belt and unlock and open their door.

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After Badr exited the car, Cattolico wrote, he repeatedly told Badr to raise his hands. In the videos, Badr can be seen with his hands on the hood of the car.

He then bent over and appeared to be accessing something inside the vehicle. I stated, Do not reach in the vehicle. I again told him to raise his hands, he did not comply, Cattolico wrote. At this point I feared the suspect may be attempting to access a weapon inside the vehicle, in an attempt to assault officers. This potential assault could aid in the suspects escape.

Additionally, the officer continued, an overt act of violence against officers would compound his resistance and further endanger the public as well as officers. These two instances would ultimately lead to the suspects avoidance of being arrested.

So, he said, he released Dexter to prevent escape, overcome resistance and effect an arrest.

Provided by Ali Badr

The last thing Cattolico said before releasing the dog, according to his own body-camera video, was, Walk back toward the sound of our voice! At the same time, other officers were yelling for Badr to place his hands in the air. A second later, Cattolico released the dog.

The internal review by the San Ramon Police Department found that Badr lowered his hands and bent forward toward the open car door as if he might have been getting back inside. Training Sgt. Becky Chestnut concluded that Cattolico acted within the departments dog policy, the records show.

Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago Law School professor and director of the Civil Rights & Police Accountability Project, said he was shocked by the video footage.

It looked horrific and presented as an obviously unjustified use of force, said Futterman, a former juvenile public defender. It was painful to watch even for me.

Nolan said the police had set up an impossible scenario for Badr with a dog barking and officers shouting confusing orders that likely created a disorienting experience.

Theyre saying the guy is not compliant, but Im not seeing that, Nolan said. Im seeing multiple officers yelling different orders. ... I couldnt understand what they wanted him to do. You can see the guy is trying to put his shoes on.

The fact that Badr pulled over right away, indicating a compliant driver, should have de-escalated the traffic stop, Nolan said. And he said Cattolico had not warned Badr he was going to release the dog, in apparent violation of San Ramons K9 deployment policy.

This should be used in training, Nolan said, in how not to handle this type of situation.

Badr told The Chronicle this past week that he is now jobless and living out of a hotel. He said a doctor has told him he will need at least one more surgery on his arm. He said he followed every direction given by police.

I listen to everything they said and was compliant for all they told me, he said. All I can say is you can watch the video and see for yourself.

Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni
BART has withstood earthquakes and survived economic recessions in its near 50-year history. But the Bay Areas regional rail system is staring down one of its most daunting challenges yet: Its approaching a financial cliff as its leading source of revenue  fares  is sluggishly recovering.

New projections shared at a BART Board of Directors meeting Thursday underscore the challenge that the regions public transit agencies continue to face as telework and low office occupancy have contributed to one of nations slowest transit recoveries.

The agency expects to exhaust the pandemic federal aid thats helped sustain BART operations by fiscal 2024, when it will start incurring a budget deficit of $48 million, according to a base case projection. Under this scenario, the deficit is projected to balloon to $1.2 billion by fiscal 2032, absent new sources of revenue.

Fare revenues, which accounted for about 65% of the agencys budget before the pandemic, are not a likely source of relief. Revised projections by BART expect the agency to recover 70% of its average pre-COVID weekday ridership in the next 10 years.

It is clear that we are facing our most challenging revenue outlook throughout our systems 50-year period, said Pam Herhold, BARTs assistant general manager for performance and budget. We need to work together to extend our fiscal runway beyond the projected 24- to 32-month timeline. We cannot cut our way to a balanced budget and remain a meaningful public transit service for the Bay Area.

Signs point to a potential ballot measure in 2024 that would either be BART-specific or a regional mega measure, such as the $100 billion tax proposal for transit that was briefly discussed among transit officials in 2020.

BART leaders say theyve committed to reinventing the system to address the longstanding pre-COVID concerns from riders about cleanliness and personal safety on the system by hiring more cleaning staff, transit ambassadors and crisis intervention specialists meant to give riders a greater sense of security on BART.

BARTs ridership recovery, though, has been slow compared to other U.S. transit agencies, and the regions recent omicron surge undid months of progress.

Some BART board directors said that for a tax measure to be successful, the agency would have to convince voters it would lead to meaningful quality-of-life changes for riders, and not be used as merely a financial stopgap to sustain current service.

When people are going to the ballot, they want to see that weve changed, that weve actually reinvented ourselves, BART Board Director Liz Ames said. We have new fare gates, weve got cleaner stations than ever before. And, of course, the filtration, we launched that early on (during the pandemic). But its not really resonating with folks.

Its unclear whether the regions transit agencies, which are all facing similar financial cliffs, will coalesce behind a regional mega ballot measure, or go it alone.

San Francisco officials have floated a potential tax measure this year to sustain and possibly expand service operations for Muni, the Bay Areas largest transit system, to aid its pandemic recovery and attract more riders. A concrete plan has yet to emerge.

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The Municipal Transportation Agency, which runs Muni, had until recently projected incurring a budget deficit starting next fiscal year. Officials say the new projections that push back SFMTAs estimated fiscal cliff to 2025 gives the agency more time and flexibility to decide what course it plans to chart at the ballot box.

Recent polling, though, illustrates the tough sell public transportation faces in winning the necessary support from voters for a tax measure for operations.

Polling commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the regions transportation planning agency, in August found that Bay Area voters are less likely to support a new tax for transit than they were in 2019 in part because of rising sentiments that taxes in the region are already high enough.

The poll of 800 respondents found that voters view other issues, such as homelessness, education, climate change and public safety, as more important to prioritize funding than for public transportation.

BART officials said Thursday they planned to begin a lengthy public outreach campaign that will likely include listening sessions to gather input from riders and voters.

Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano
A longtime federal law that makes it a crime to encourage or persuade undocumented immigrants to enter or stay in the United States violates freedom of speech because it applies to a wide range of ordinary, innocent statements, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Under the 1985 law, anyone who encourages or induces an unauthorized immigrant to enter or live in the U.S., knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the immigrants presence is illegal, is guilty of a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Helaman Hansen, who ran a Sacramento business from 2012 to 2016 falsely offering citizenship to hundreds of migrants who went through adoption ceremonies, was convicted in 2017 of two counts of violating the law and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

On Thursday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld Hansens convictions for defrauding the immigrants, which carried a separate, concurrent 20-year sentence, but said the law criminalizing encouragement of undocumented immigration was unconstitutional.

Many commonplace statements and actions could be construed as encouraging or inducing an undocumented immigrant to come to or reside in the United States, Judge Ronald Gould said in the 3-0 ruling.

For example, he said, one could advise an undocumented immigrant about available social services, offer legal advice, tell a tourist that he or she was unlikely to be deported for overstaying a visa, or simply say, I encourage you to reside in the United States.

Such statements and conduct are likely repeated countless times across the country every day and are protected by the First Amendment, Gould said.

He said the 1985 law could be used, legitimately, to punish conduct such as smuggling unauthorized immigrants or aiding their illegal entry, luring them in with promises of employment or providing them with fraudulent documents  but not to criminalize speech that encourages them to enter or remain in the U.S.

Another Ninth Circuit panel had issued a similar ruling declaring the law unconstitutional in 2018, but withdrew the ruling two years later after the Supreme Court said the defendant in the case, a San Jose immigration consultant, had not challenged the law. The panel then upheld the defendants conviction without deciding the laws validity, leaving the issue for a future case.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, which filed arguments supporting Hansens challenge to the law, said Thursdays ruling recognized that the government cannot criminalize people for supporting their immigrant family members, friends, and neighbors. ... People should be able to support immigrants and speak out about the injustices of our immigration systems without fearing government retaliation.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The court said in a separate ruling that evidence supported Hansens convictions for defrauding his clients. Prosecutors said his company, Americans Helping America, charged 471 immigrants between $550 and $10,000, conducted adoption ceremonies in local courts and told them, falsely, that they were eligible for citizenship. While upholding those convictions, the court told a federal judge to reconsider Hansens overall 20-year sentence.

Hansens lawyer, Carolyn Wiggin, an assistant federal public defender, said she was disappointed that the court had rejected arguments of legal errors in his trial but thrilled by the ruling striking down the immigration law. She said Hansen, 70, was transferred to home confinement with his family in Sacramento in 2020 because of health infirmities that made him vulnerable to a COVID-19 outbreak at the federal prison in Lompoc (Santa Barbara County).

The Justice Department declined to comment on the case. It could appeal the ruling.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Next Wednesday, California will officially drop its universal indoor masking mandate; so, too, will all Bay Area counties  save Santa Clara County.

For some, the move feels sudden. For others, this moment is a long time coming.

Masking has, for better or worse, become a potent symbol of pandemic-era life. So, of course, its unlikely face coverings will disappear overnight. Shops, restaurants and gyms can still set their own requirements, and many will likely elect to continue masking up out of an abundance of caution.

Still, the move means Bay Area residents find themselves in yet another new phase of this years-long pandemic, one with fewer rules and guidelines.

On Thursday morning, Brian Stump, the executive director of Community Thrift Store, was working behind the Valencia Street shops front counter. Hed just gotten a notice about the change.

I was a little surprised, he said. It seemed a little bit premature.

For the most part, though, he was sanguine about the news. Were always expecting changes to the mandates, he said. Weve been rolling with the punches (throughout the pandemic).

Samantha Laurey/The Chronicle

He hadnt made any decisions about store rules going forward  he wanted to take the pulse of the people who work there first. Still, he expected masks would be required for a while longer, even if enforcing something like that does get harder when mandates are lifted.

A couple blocks away, Jody McWilliams, 74, and Connie Ewald, 75, both San Francisco residents, chatted as they waited for Dandelion Chocolate to open. Theyd finished a morning walk and wanted to cap it off with a cup of coffee.

I think its a good idea, McWilliams said. Im going to continue because of my age  I think young people  they shouldnt be as worried.

Ewald nodded along. Were probably ready for that kind of decision, she said. Ewald tries to be science-based in her thinking. Shes never really understood vaccine hesitancy, for instance. But now, she said, enough of us are vaccinated.

People are tired of being told what to do, Ewald said. We need to move past this somehow.

The pandemic has trained us all to do a certain sort of risk arithmetic. The thing is, it seems, we all have our own formulas and can come to vastly different conclusions about whats safe and whats right.

On 19th Street, not far from Dolores Park, Morgan Robinson, 44, and Blyth Strachman  both mothers of young children, both residents of San Francisco  were on a walk. Strachman had a greyhound named Dash with her.

Robinson was enthusiastic in her support of lifting the restrictions. She used the word delighted.

The vaccines are so good, she said. Three high-risk people in her life came down with COVID after theyd been vaccinated, and theyd made it through. I have great faith in the vaccines and the wonderful antivirals.

Strachman was on the same page: I think with omicron as the dominant strain, we should shift our strategy.

Both women hoped the city and state would reconsider school masking rules next. My kid has never seen his teachers face, Strachman said. That doesnt make sense to her. Theyre so low risk. The risk is so low.

But as confident as both women were that this was the right move, a block away, two other women were just as sure that this was all happening too quickly.

Samantha Laurey/The Chronicle

Drea Garcia, 20, and Ricki Hall, 20, were cutting through Dolores park on Halls way to work. Both wore masks. Bad timing, Garcia said. We had a surge last month. About 86% of eligible residents are vaccinated in San Francisco  more than 90% have had at least one dose. Still, Garcia would like to see those figures be even higher.

With summer coming up, Hall said, people will be moving outside anyway  so why not keep masks on indoors for now?

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.

Neither was sure when theyd feel comfortable going maskless again.

Across San Francisco Bay, Oakland resident Jonathan Julian waited in line at Red Bay Coffee. Julian was younger, late 20s, early 30s, and was more in line with Garcia and Hall.

It just feels like we havent been out of the height of this long enough for me personally to feel comfortable with people indoors having their masks off, Julian said. I just feel like people are still being affected by thisall of my queer, trans and POC family are all feeling like this is too soon when people are still being affected and impacted by this.

I know its not the worst that it has been, but it just makes me feel safer.

Without official guidance, all anybody has, really, is their own sense of safety to guide them.

Sarah Ahern, 30, was walking her dogs Flip and Macaroni behind the Target at 27th and Broadway Thursday morning. She imagines shell keep masking indoors, at least until she can get her son, who turns one next month, vaccinated, too.

I was pregnant during the pandemic, I have a new baby, so theres a lot of extra anxiety and stress, Ahern said. I think Ive been through more than most people who just were sort of stuck in their apartment and didnt like it. I know that I tend to feel more cautious than most people.

Ultimately, she hopes, mandate or not, that people will keep others in mind as they make their own decisions moving forward.

I think, in general, Im hoping that people are responsible and safe and honest about their symptoms and where theyve been, she said. I think theres a little bit of concern because its a lot of personal responsibility  well see.

Ryan Kost and Ryce Stoughtenborough are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @RyanKost. Email: ryce.stoughtenborough@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rstoughts
A man beaten by a San Francisco police officer took the stand for the second day Thursday, saying the incident left him shocked and embarrassed, and denying that he tussled with officers.

Dacari Spiers closed his testimony as the closely watched trial of Officer Terrance Stangel rounded its fourth day, with the prosecution calling three witnesses to the stand to describe a chaotic encounter near Pier 39 on Oct. 6, 2019, in which Stangel struck Spiers with a baton, causing serious injuries.

Among the witnesses who testified Thursday was a police officer who responded to the scene, hearing from dispatches that the 911 callers had reported seeing someone being choked  what the police believed was an act of domestic violence. The others were bystanders who had been enjoying a night out at the wharf when they glimpsed the altercation that would ultimately prompt District Attorney Chesa Boudin to charge Stangel with three counts of assault and one of battery.

Stangels trial is the first in a series of prosecutions that Boudin is pursuing against six law enforcement officers. It will likely serve as a critical test for Boudin, who ran for office on pledges to hold police officers accountable for misconduct, while striving to reduce incarceration overall.

Despite a gag order issued by Judge Teresa Caffese, the trial has also become enmeshed with city politics and widened the chasm between San Franciscos two most powerful law enforcement officials  Boudin and Police Chief Bill Scott. In days leading up to the trial, Scott said he was pulling out of a memorandum of understanding that names the D.A.s office as the lead agency to investigate use-of-force cases.

On Thursday, prosecutors Hans Moore and Rebecca Young appeared to be building a case that Stangel began striking a bewildered Spiers without any reasonable cause. Stangels defense attorney pointed to video footage that seemed to show Spiers struggling or attempting to kick the officers, which Spiers vigorously denied.

Dayton Denmark, who took the stand after Spiers on Thursday, said he and his wife were driving to a restaurant when they saw a couple arguing. When he saw officers approach, Denmark got out of his car to take a closer look. He described a situation in which police moved with urgency toward a confused and agitated man whose companion was crying hysterically.

The swish and click of a baton captivated Denmarks attention  he alluded to a similar personal experience with law enforcement, but did not go into detail.

Is this what it sounded like? Moore asked, pulling out a baton. Denmark nodded yes. He recalled feeling something jump up in me to go help the guy in trouble, he said, apparently referring to Spiers.

Another witness, Trina Hudson, said she was walking up the street when she saw two people kissing, though she couldnt identify them with certainty as Spiers and his then-girlfriend, Breonna Richard. As she continued up the block, Hudson heard a loud disturbance behind her, and thought she heard a man in the middle of the street shouting, Stop recording me!

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At that moment, Hudson said she prayed for peace. She said she had not seen any domestic violence.

San Francisco police Officer Gonee Sepulveda, who testified last, said she arrived to the scene at Beach and Jefferson streets on Oct. 6 focused on the domestic violence reports. When she pulled up in a squad car, Sepulveda found Richard, and pulled her aside. Sepulveda then interviewed Richard, who screamed and protested the domestic violence reports, saying she had been upset after losing her wallet  Spiers had testified that he was trying to reassure her.

Richard showed no signs of injury, an observation Young highlighted in her line of questioning. But defense attorney Nicole Pifari noted in cross-examination that victims of domestic violence are not always forthcoming about their experiences, and Sepulveda agreed.

The trial resumes Monday, and the prosecution is expected to close its case Thursday.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Jacom Stephens/Getty Image

Someone shot a man in the foot and hand in a parking lot at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto before driving away on Thursday night, police said.

Palo Alto police said the shooting occurred at about 9:40 p.m. and said that authorities are actively investigating the circumstances of what occurred.
A San Francisco man was fatally shot early Wednesday morning in Oakland, authorities said.

Oakland police officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation just before 3:30 a.m. Wednesday near the 1400 block of 45th Avenue and were flagged down by an individual who advised they had been involved in a shooting, Oakland police said.

Police officers found another person, identified only by police as a San Francisco man, who had apparent gunshot wounds.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Police are withholding the victims identity until his family is notified.

No one has been arrested in connection with this incident, police said.

Homicide investigators are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, police said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Oakland polices Homicide Section at 510-238-3821 or the tip line at 510-238-7950.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
WASHINGTON  California Sen. Alex Padilla this week called out colleagues over what he said was disparaging treatment of judicial nominees of color, laying down a marker as he gears up to be a key voice in the confirmation hearings of a nominee who could become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.

The Democrat made his remarks before a Thursday vote by the Judiciary Committee to advance the nomination of Andre Mathis to the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, citing in particular the treatment Mathis received at his confirmation hearing, including being asked about a rap sheet in reference to decade-old traffic tickets. But Padilla noted in his remarks his concerns were broader  and his office told The Chronicle that he was also talking about incidents involving Judge Lucy Koh, of San Jose, at her hearing before being confirmed to the Ninth Circuit.

Its not lost on me that nominees of color have been treated differently in our hearings, whether its insinuations of a rap sheet or hostility about their qualifications or views or undue scrutiny of their personal religious faith, Padilla said to his colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. I want to take this moment to ask all of my colleagues to, please, lets just be cognizant of this disparity.

Padilla did not have further comment beyond his remarks at the hearing, but his office said he felt it was particularly important to speak out ahead of the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation process. President Biden has made clear he will nominate a Black woman to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman to serve on the nations highest court.

Later Thursday evening, Padilla attended a meeting at the White House between Judiciary Committee Democrats and Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Afterward, he told reporters that he was enthused by the number of qualified candidates who were even stronger choices by virtue of their life experiences as Black women.

Since he replaced Harris in the Senate last January, becoming the first Latino senator from California, Padilla has been a staunch advocate of diversity, including among judicial nominees. His comments on Thursday marked a sharpening of that advocacy to include calling out his own colleagues behavior.

Padilla spoke in particular about Mathis, an accomplished lawyer who has done considerable pro bono work to represent people in court who cant afford attorneys. Noting Mathis qualifications, Padilla said the committees role in vetting nominees is important but doesnt merit inappropriate questioning.

I was particularly troubled by some of the treatment that Mr. Mathis was subjected to during the hearing, Padilla said. During the hearing, Mr. Mathis was asked to answer for his rap sheet with a laundry list of citations. So lets be clear: Mr. Mathis is not a career criminal or violent felon as the question implied. ... Whether it was unintentional or intentional, questions and tones like what I heard during his hearing are demeaning, offensive and just plain wrong.

Padilla was referring to questions by Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who represents Mathis home state of Tennessee. Blackburn was asking Mathis about incidents from 2008-2011 when he received traffic tickets and failed to show up to court. Mathis emotionally explained that he had placed a ticket in his glove box and forgotten about it, and later resolved the issue quickly, and said he deeply regretted the incidents and causing embarrassment for his family. NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the questions outrageous & offensive in a tweet.

The committee advanced Mathis nomination 12-10 with the support of one Republican, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy.

Padillas office also pointed to the confirmation of Koh, who was a district court judge in the Bay Area before her promotion to the Ninth Circuit.

At her hearing, Koh faced scrutiny over her ruling allowing California to restrict indoor religious gatherings during the pandemic, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. But some of her supporters bristled at the way questions were posed to her. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, repeatedly asked her if she was biased against people of faith.

Koh repeatedly tried to tell Hawley about her own faith, as he interrupted her.

Has the Supreme Court reversal of you maybe prompted you to confront some implicit biases you may have against people of faith? Hawley asked.

Im a person of faith, so I would have to be having a bias against my own, Koh said, as Hawley cut her off to interject: So youre telling me no, the answer is no.

Also at her hearing, a comment by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, drew rebuke. Intending to be complimentary, Grassley noted Kohs statements about her experience in a Korean immigrant family and praised her Korean mother as her hero, as reported by The Des Moines Register.

What you said about your Korean background reminded me a lot of what my daughter-in-law of 45 years has said: If Ive learned anything from Korean people, its a hard work ethic. And how you can make a lot out of nothing, Grassley said. So I congratulate you and your people.

But some noted that Grassleys generalization of Koreans, even if intended as positive, was perpetuating a stereotype.

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.

Even as a compliment, assigning any trait to a whole community is the definition of prejudice, Los Angeles County Rep. Judy Chu wrote on Twitter.

Some of Padillas Republican colleagues on the committee, however, took umbrage at his remarks.

To accuse members of this committee of racism because you disagree with them on substance is a very serious thing and frankly Im very startled to hear it, Hawley said.

I hope I misunderstood them to the extent he was suggesting racial bias on the part of members of this committee, said Utah Sen. Mike Lee. I know that to be grossly inaccurate, extraordinarily unfair and also of the sort of comment that would incite people to anger, acts of retaliation and violence.

But Padilla was supported by other Democrats on the committee, including Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.

I worry about the charges made against some nominees who seem to be in some cases thinly veiled charges because they are a woman or a person of color, Leahy said.

Fellow California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was present, did not chime in on the conversation, though her office said she does have concerns about treatment of nominees.

The senator is concerned with how some nominees are being treated, including one nominee who has received threats, as Chairman (Dick) Durbin noted, spokesperson Tom Mentzer said. Using phrases like rap sheet to describe traffic violations is not productive discourse.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
Its been almost 20 years since a botched surgery while she was incarcerated, but Gabby Solano still mourns the bleak consequences of losing an ovary after her other ovary had already been compromised.

To me, a woman is here to have kids, she said. Im never going to feel that  being pregnant, the baby growing inside of you, having that unconditional love.

Shes among dozens of California women who underwent sterilization procedures without their consent while they were in state prisons, up until as recently as 2010.

The wrongful prison procedures echo an older, horrific chapter in California history that affected many more people. Impelled by the racist practice known as eugenics, California forcibly sterilized more than 20,000 people from 1909 to 1979. Both men and women, they were residents of state-run institutions for people who were mentally ill, or had intellectual or physical disabilities.

Now California is owning up to its deplorable practices. The current budget includes $4.5 million to be split among survivors of sterilization procedures at state prisons and institutions, plus money for outreach and to place plaques at some sites.

While we can never fully make amends for what theyve endured, the state will do all it can to ensure survivors of wrongful sterilization receive compensation, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

The amount survivors receive will depend on how many can be found, but it should be at least $10,000 each and possibly as much as $25,000.

Ariana Drehsler/Special to The Chronicle

I dont think any kind of monetary compensation can make up for what the state has done to these individuals, said Carly Myers, a staff attorney at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. It is really tragic all around. But we are appreciative that California is taking a material step forward in acknowledging that what it did was unjust, wrong and has traumatically affected the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Many of those targeted by the eugenics policies were minorities, gay, transgender, disabled or poor, plus women who were considered promiscuous.

There was a lot of racism, classism and ableism involved in it, said Laura Jimenez, executive director of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, which fought for redress for survivors of forced sterilization. People of color bore the brunt of this eugenics pseudoscience.

Poverty was another impetus. Doctors who did most of these sterilizations would say things like, These women wont have any more children who will be on welfare,  said Paul Lombardo, a law professor at Georgia State University who has studied the history of the eugenics movement.

That kind of violence and efforts to subjugate and/or disappear whole groups of people is all part of the same philosophy formed by white supremacy and institutionalized systemic racism, Jimenez said.

Mary Franco was just 13 when she was sterilized in 1934. Her family, Mexican immigrants living in Arcadia (Los Angeles County), had her committed to nearby Pacific Colony and State Narcotics Hospital in Pomona after a neighbor molested her. They wanted to stop rumors and preserve their own reputations.

She was labeled feeble-minded due to sex delinquency,  said Stacy Cordova Diaz, Francos great-niece, who has accumulated a trove of documents about what happened to her Aunt Mary, who died in 1998, a day before her 78th birthday. This was a young, vibrant girl. She wasnt feeble-minded, and I want everyone to know that.

Diaz uncovered the family secret when she interviewed Franco for a Chicano studies class a few months before her great-aunt passed away.

Amanda Lopez/Special to The Chronicle

She revealed to me that she was put into an institution because she was a bad girl and she was sterilized and felt no one would ever love her because she couldnt bear children, Diaz said. She blamed herself for disgracing the family. She felt like her life was ruined.

The two women cried together.

Amanda Lopez/Special to The Chronicle Left: Paperwork shows the authorization of the forced sterilization of 13 year-old Mary Franco. Right: A portrait of Mary Franco holding a baby. Franco, who was sterilized without consent in a California instituation, was never able to have children. (Amanda Lopez / Special to The Chronicle) Left: Paperwork shows the authorization of the forced sterilization of 13 year-old Mary Franco. Right: A portrait of Mary Franco holding a baby. Franco, who was sterilized without consent in a California instituation, was never able to have children. (Amanda Lopez / Special to The Chronicle)

I was absolutely stunned, Diaz said. It was very upsetting. I felt for her, and it made me mad. I couldnt believe this happened. So harsh. So cutthroat.

Years later, Diaz heard a radio program about Californias eugenics movement and how it targeted people of Hispanic heritage in state-run institutions.

To hear it was a government program  that threw me for another loop, she said.

That spurred her to do more research. Now Diaz is working on a book about Franco, the eugenics movement and her own history as a teenage mother.

Franco was released after about a year at the institution. She got married at age 17 or 18. But when her husband found out she couldnt bear children, he brought her home and never saw her again, Diaz said.

Franco lived on her own for the rest of her life, working for about 40 years as a canner at StarKist Tuna in San Pedro (Los Angeles County).

She was a dear, grandma-like figure, always spoiling my sister and I, Diaz said. Shed always bring little gifts and trinkets for us. She was funny and feisty.

Diaz applauds the California restitution. (Money is available only to people who were sterilized, not their families.)

Amanda Lopez/Special to The Chronicle

My aunt would have been right on with this, she said. Of course it wouldnt have taken the pain away, but to know someone acknowledges how wrong this was, she would have appreciated that.

In delving into her aunts life, I found so many pictures of her with babies, Diaz said. She was always taking care of kids for the neighbors. She loved babies; she just loved babies.

Francos surgery and others like it were sanctioned by California law. The 1909 Asexualization Act sought to prevent people considered unfit from procreating. It was followed by similar laws that expanded the scope to anyone deemed abnormal, a category that included questionable sexual behavior or moral perversions.

California was one of the first among some 30 states to legally authorize sterilization and became the most prominent practitioner, sterilizing about a third of the 60,000 people targeted nationwide over seven decades.

The idea grew out of eugenics, a pseudo-science focused on improving a populations genetic composition through selective breeding. In the early 20th century, leading scientists, doctors, philanthropists and professionals endorsed the idea of weeding out undesirables from future generations.

Even the U.S. Supreme Court backed the concept. It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in an infamous 1927 decision.

Adolf Hitler praised the eugenics movement in California and other U.S. states in his 1925 book Mein Kampf. Historians believe it served as a model for his own horrific practices, which included forced sterilization of some 400,000 people after he became leader of Germany.

There was clearly back and forth between (eugenics) scientists in America and Germany both before and during Hitler, said Lombardo, the professor who studies eugenics history.

One of the first measures passed after Hitler came to power in 1933 authorized compulsory sterilization for people considered genetically diseased. It borrowed language from laws in California, Indiana and Virginia, while casting an even wider net on who could be sterilized, Lombardo said.

It took until 1979 for California to overturn its sterilization law.

But the practice still occurred at prisons, where doctors made reproductive decisions for women under their care. Some acknowledged that they felt the prisoners didnt deserve to make reproductive decisions or that their children would be a burden to society. One doctor said the surgeries were cheaper than welfare, according to court documents.

The Center for Investigative Reporting, the California state auditor and other investigators uncovered dozens of instances of tubal ligations, hysterectomies and oophorectomies (ovary removals) performed without consent up until 2010. The documentary Belly of the Beast said there were nearly 1,400 sterilizations of inmates between 1997 and 2013.

Ariana Drehsler/ Special to The Chronicle

Prison sterilizations were prohibited in 2014.

Finding people who will qualify for state reparations may be hard. So much time has passed that survivors of the institutional procedures who are still living now number only a few hundred. Survivors of the prison procedures may not even know what happened to them, as doctors sometimes withheld information.

We are committed to making sure women have every possible opportunity to have their records reviewed if they suspect this may have happened to them, said Hafsah Al-Amin, program coordinator at the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. These doctors who, for far too long, got away with this under auspices of the state  their records are not as clear as is now required.

Ariana Drehsler/Special to The Chronicle

The words of the prison doctor still ring in Solanos ears: Youre a lifer anyway; you dont need that ovary.

Shed gone in for surgery to remove a cyst from her left ovary. When she woke up, she was informed that her other ovary had been removed. Her despair at the news was rebuffed.

At the time, she was still new at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla (Madera County).

Solano was incarcerated after her abusive ex-boyfriend coerced her into giving a ride to him and some friends. Her ex and his friends stole a car and killed a pedestrian. Solano, now 49, was sentenced to life without parole with an additional 25 years to life as an accomplice under Californias felony murder rule, which doesnt require proof of intent or direct involvement in first-degree murder.

A petition seeking commutation of her sentence said her legal counsel was compromised and she didnt understand the consequences of not accepting a plea bargain. The jury was not allowed to hear about her history of domestic violence at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, whom shed been with on and off since age 15.

It was lots of physical, mental and emotional abuse, she said. He broke my nose twice; he beat me bad.

During 23 years in prison, Solano focused on rehabilitation, facilitating groups for other prisoners, working as a clerk and taking classes. She earned a GED and two A.A. degrees. In 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown commuted her sentence to 20 years to life, making her eligible for parole.

Solano was paroled last year  but then immediately placed in immigration detention. After a few months, she was deported to Mexico, a country she had left at age 2. (She is suing over the immigration issue.)

She chose Tijuana, hoping its proximity to the border would ease visits from her family in San Bernardino. Now she lives in a studio apartment and works six days a week at a call center, answering questions from American customers about blue jeans.

Ariana Drehsler/ Special to The Chronicle

The surgery cast a shadow on her release from prison. When I got out (and realized) Im not going to have kids, its something Ive struggled with, she said.

A couple of years after her surgery, Solano was subpoenaed to testify in a lawsuit brought by another inmate who also had a procedure that resulted in sterilization. The next time Solano had a medical appointment, the prison doctor yelled at her, saying, How dare you speak against me? she recalled.

She didnt know much about Californias reparations until a Chronicle reporter contacted her.

That money doesnt change the fact that I (cant) have kids, she said. I dont care about the money. What they did to me is the issue here.

It was so dismissive and disrespectful, like I wasnt a person; I was just an inmate and my feelings didnt count. Theres no amount of money that can take away how I felt.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
The Oakland City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on certifying the environmental review of the As waterfront ballpark project and surrounding development  a pivotal step that could bring the city and the As closer to an agreement on the proposed $12 billion project.

The vote comes nearly a month after the citys Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the council certify the environmental impact report, a nearly 3,500-page report that analyzes the environmental impacts of the project.

The team wants to build a 35,000-seat waterfront ballpark, 3,000 units of housing, 1.5 million square feet of offices, 270,000 square feet of retail space, a 3,500-person performance venue, up to 400 hotel rooms and 8,900 parking spaces. If approved, the project would be one of the largest developments in state history and would transform the area around Jack London Square.

Even if the council votes to certify the environment report, it could still vote against the development agreement and the community benefits package at a later date.

Some council members recently expressed hesitation about voting Thursday, saying they need more time to analyze the report and consider community concerns. But Dave Kaval, the president of the As, is urging the council to vote Thursday so other state agencies can move forward with their reviews and city staff can move forward with negotiations.

A lot of work has gone into this, Kaval said. We have a very thoughtful approach to the environmental mitigations. Weve taken a lot of input from the community. Its imperative that this project gets approved as quickly as possible.

Council Member Dan Kalb said the panel will have a lot of questions that need answering. Council Member Carroll Fife echoed Kalb and requested that the panel schedule the vote for another day, saying it was premature to vote without the community benefits agreement coming to the council at the same time.

City staff told The Chronicle that the councils action this week is only on the environmental review. The development agreement and community benefits agreement will come to the council for a vote later. Certifying the environmental impact report legally sets the framework to then have the authority to take all those other actions, city staff said.

Kalb told The Chronicle that if the council decided to delay the vote to March, it wouldnt be a big deal. City staff told The Chronicle its unlikely a short delay would change the timeline of the overall approval process. The As want final approvals for the project before the end of the year. Mayor Libby Schaaf has also said she hopes to get the project approved before the end of her term this year.

Opponents of the project have said their concerns around compatibility with port functions, affordable housing, removal of toxic waste and traffic have not been adequately addressed in the report.

There are still significant impacts with respect to rail safety and access to the site, said Mike Jacob, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, which opposes the project. There are still significant impacts with respect to trucking displacement. Weve got pretty much the same concerns weve had this whole time.

On Thursday, Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and Kalb scheduled a resolution for a vote this Thursday that requires the council to take action on the community benefits package and freight compatibility either before or with the approval of a development agreement.

If the council certifies the environmental document on Thursday, it would mean that the city sufficiently analyzed the potential environmental effects of the project and identified mitigation efforts. An environmental review is required of most large development projects per state law.

The councils vote Thursday will also give the city authority over the project site, which is currently both city and port property.

The vote also allows other state agencies to move forward with their process to analyze the project, city staff said. Those agencies include the Department of Toxic Substances Control, State Lands Commission, California Public Utilities Commission and San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.

In addition, the certification would free up staff time to focus on negotiations with the As.

Kaval said his team is working in good faith with the city to get to a positive outcome on the development agreement and the community benefits package, and ensure the project is a win for everyone. The sticking points remain the community benefits package, infrastructure costs and affordable housing.

The As initially proposed a $450 million community benefits package that would be funded through tax revenue from two infrastructure financing districts. But the city rejected the As proposal to use two tax districts  one over the Howard Terminal site and one over a large swath of Jack London Square  and said it was not fiscally responsible.

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.

Instead, the city has proposed partnering with Alameda County to create a tax district over the ballpark site and has promised to raise more than $350 million through regional, state and federal grants. Alameda County has not yet agreed to join the city in a tax district over the project site.

In November, Schaaf said the city will receive $14.5 million in federal grants for improvements to certain parts of Jack London Square. Schaaf said the Port of Oakland secured about $260 million from the state budget for infrastructure upgrades that can be used for improvements. The city has also secured about $17 million in other funding for the area and is considering a limited obligation bond, which could help pay for the remaining infrastructure costs.

In addition, city staff is negotiating for 450 on-site affordable units, or 15% of the 3,000 units, and $50 million to support affordable housing elsewhere in the city.

Its going to bring affordable housing to the waterfront in a positive way, Kaval told The Chronicle. He added that negotiators are also talking about anti-displacement measures.

Kaval said the As have submitted a proposal to the city and are waiting for a response. He declined to give details on how much affordable housing the As have agreed to or what is in the community benefits package.

But he struck a positive tone on the negotiations.

This is as far as weve ever been in terms of getting a new ballpark approved in Oakland for the As, Kaval said. Its an incredible accomplishment of the city staff, the elected leaders, really everyone involved in the entire project.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Families in Bay Area suburbs are facing a wave of evictions in cities with few tenant protection laws. Changes made by employers to cope with the pandemic, like teleworking and wage increases, are becoming increasingly permanent, according to federal data. Eight of the Bay Areas nine counties plan to lift universal masking rules next week, in keeping with guidance from state health officials. But one is choosing not to: Santa Clara County.

Boosters lose efficacy after four months, CDC says: A third dose of the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine offers four additional months of protection against the coronavirus after an initial vaccination series before losing a substantial amount of effectiveness, according to a study published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But booster shots still cut down on the number of people requiring hospital visits during the omicron surge, according to the study  by 91% in the second month after receiving the third dose and then falling to 78% protection in the fourth month. The study suggests there may be a need for additional booster shots in the future.

Supreme Court rejects bid to block vaccine mandate for teachers: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal from a small group of public school teachers in New York City attempting to block the citys vaccine mandate, NBC News reports. Justice Sonia Sotomayor for the second time denied the application without comment, which is standard procedure. The group argued that the city is violating the rights of school employees by requiring a religious official to sign off on requests for religious exemptions. Very few religions oppose vaccination.

FDA authorizes new antibody drug against omicron: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized use of a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody drug from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, called bebtelovimab, for people aged 12 and older at risk of severe illness. The agencys advisors found the treatment is effective against the omicron variant of the coronavirus and its new BA.2 sub-variant. The Biden administration said it had purchased 600,000 doses of the drug ahead of the clearance. The move comes after the withdrawal of several previously authorized monoclonal antibodies that showed limited effectiveness against omicron. We want to make sure if an American gets sick with COVID-19, they can get a treatment that works, said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. A previous Lilly monoclonal antibody, called bamlanivimab, failed clinical trials in 2020.

Surgeon General warns of pulling restrictions too quickly: Mask mandates will eventually go away but now is not the time to lift restrictions, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The pandemic is not over today. We are still seeing record numbers of hospitalizations, deaths, and cases in this country, he said in an interview with the Associated Press published on Friday. Murthy said the government needs to focus on ways to protect the most vulnerable or those who continue to be at higher risk for COVID-19, rather than undoing prevention strategies that are already in place. What I can tell you is that to live that future, we are going to need the tools that weve been building over the last year, he said. Were going to need readily available vaccines and therapeutics ... were going to need those freely available high-quality masks and tests, and were going to also need the right mindset recognizing that COVID is not going to disappear overnight.

FDA postpones decision on vaccine for babies and young children: The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations vaccine advisory committee has delayed a key meeting on authorizing Pfizers coronavirus vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years old  which had been scheduled for Tuesday  citing the need for more data, the FDA said Friday. The agency did not provide a new date for the meeting, but Pfizer said Friday it expects to have the additional data available in early April. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said they are awaiting more data on the three-dose series of the vaccine, which they believe may provide a higher level of protection in this age group. Read the full story here.

Biden says its premature to lift mask mandates: President Biden stopped short of criticizing Democratic state leaders who eased COVID-19 restrictions this week, but said that lifting mask mandates was probably premature, in an interview Thursday with Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News. Governors in California, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Nevada and Oregon announced the rollback of many coronavirus mitigation measures, following private meetings with political focus groups. Its hard to say whether they are wrong, Biden added. They set a time limit and I assume it has something to do with whether the omicron variant continues to dive.

BART faces its most challenging revenue outlook in history as low ridership numbers persist: BART has withstood earthquakes and survived economic recessions in its near 50-year history. But the Bay Areas regional rail system is staring down one of its most daunting challenges yet: Its approaching a financial cliff as its leading source of revenue  fares  is sluggishly recovering. Read the full story here.

How Californias COVID numbers compare to the last time its mask mandate was lifted: When California lifts its universal indoor mask mandate on Feb. 16, it will be the first time since June 15 that the Golden State has relaxed rules on moving about freely without face coverings. Now, as cases have plummeted and hospitalizations continue to fall, the state has confirmed that it wont renew the mask mandate. But are we really ready to lift the mandate? How does our situation now compare to the last time the indoor mask mandate was lifted early last summer? Read the full story here.

Is it time to unmask? We asked what people plan to do when Californias mask mandate ends, heres what they said: Next Wednesday, California will officially drop its universal indoor masking mandate; so, too, will all Bay Area counties  save Santa Clara. For some, the move feels sudden. For others, this moment is a long time coming. Read the full story here.

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.

Top S.F. transportation official says psychology of fear remains a hurdle for public transit: Today, Muni and BART remain essential for the hundreds of thousands of riders who use the transit services each day. But, as the pandemic enters its third year, there remain just as many lapsed transit riders. Jeffrey Tumlin, director of the Municipal Transportation Agency, which runs Muni, said overcoming the psychology of fear remains an enduring challenge for public transit. Read the full story here.

This federal report suggests remote work and increased wages are here to stay: A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics found that 14.5% of private sector businesses bumped pay for workers either by offering hazard pay or an hourly bonus, while 9.4% of all businesses gave out one-time bonuses for working during the pandemic. Read the full story here.

Coronavirus can destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths: Researchers from 12 countries including the United States have found that the coronavirus can damage the placenta in pregnant women who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 and lead to increased risk of stillbirth. Many of these cases had over 90% of the placenta destroyed  very scary, Dr. David Schwartz, the lead author of the study published Thursday in Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, told the Associated Press. Coronavirus was also detected in some of the fetuses researched but was not their cause of death. A CDC report published in November found about 1 in 80 deliveries in women with COVID-19 was a stillbirth, compared with 1 in 155 among uninfected women.

COVID survivors face lasting heart risks, huge study finds: An analysis of more than 11 million health records from military veterans reveals that those who had COVID-19 even 12 months earlier faced a 72% higher risk of heart failure than those who were never infected, says new research published Feb. 7 in the journal Nature Medicine. The massive study  the first to look at the impact of the disease on heart health a year after infection  has shocked experts. COVID-19 boosted the risk of all 20 cardiovascular ailments studied, including heart attacks, arrhythmias, strokes, transient ischemic attacks, heart failure, inflammatory heart disease, cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis, says a Science journal article about the study, which included nearly 154,000 people who got COVID before January 2021. Although most participants were white men in their early 60s, the researchers found higher heart risks even in younger, healthy people who didnt smoke, werent obese and didnt have diabetes. Stunning, Eric Topol, a cardiologist at Scripps Research, told Science. Worse than I expected, for sure.

Omicron became dominant variant in U.S. in just two weeks: While it took the delta variant eight weeks to account for a majority of the COVID-19 cases in the United States last year, omicron became the dominant variant within just two weeks of detection, according to a study published Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A variants ability to spread and cause disease is affected by population susceptibility (duration of variant-specific immunity, cross-protection from previous infections, and vaccine-induced immunity), the authors of the report write. Transmission is also influenced by human behavior, particularly through prevention strategies.
Regarding PG&E may be blamed for wildfires smoke harm (Front Page, Feb. 10): I dont think enough people understand that every time there is a judgment against PG&E, we end up paying for it through increased rates. Fines are the worst; that money goes into the states general fund where it is spent by politicians on gosh knows what.

PG&E has a tough, tough job. On the one hand, we blame it for fires started by high winds and dry conditions. On the other hand, we blame it for brownouts and blackouts caused by the company trying to prevent the fires.

On top of all that, we have lawyers constantly looking for yet another lawsuit against the company to help fill their pockets.

There must be some balance between the increased costs to all PG&E customers and those who benefit from the latest group looking to use PG&E as punching bag.

Daniel Lenehan, San Francisco

S.F., embrace change

Regarding Safety and reform are both possible (Open Forum, Feb. 9): I wish to commend Vikrum Aiyers thoughtful piece. Mayor London Breed has come up with a constructive solution for all involved in the Tenderloin.

Crime and homelessness are impacting San Francisco in a troubling manner. My friends on the East Coast often ask if its all overblown in the press, as it sounds unbelievable, and ask if its really like that, to which I sadly respond, it is all true.

A comprehensive solution as put forth by the mayor is long overdue. Wake up, San Francisco, and acknowledge true reform is required and give it a chance.

No one wants to come to San Francisco anymore and those who live there want safety, community and pride in their city.

Once a city spirals out of control, its only a matter of time before jobs, residents and visitors flee. San Francisco is at a tipping point. Fix it before its too late. Everyone is watching.

Virginia Turezyn, Half Moon Bay

Dont fault educators

Regarding As for student who didnt attend school (Bay Area & Business, Feb. 6): I question why editors thought it was worthy of prominent coverage.

Bay Area public school enrollment has been falling since before the pandemic. There are numerous reasons why many of our schools are experiencing absenteeism at record levels. Sensationalizing this single incident in San Francisco is sidestepping the issue and putting the blame on the educators.

One student clearly fell between the cracks, and that is unfortunate and unacceptable. The suggestion that there may be indifference toward any student must have been terribly demoralizing for the Martin Luther King school staff, all of whom are on the front lines of this pandemic with near impossible expectations.

Maybe instead, we can show appreciation for educators like Principal Michael Essien and the teachers and staff, who show up every day, trying to make the best of an untenable situation to create safe and supportive public schools for our kids.

Dee-Dee Sberlo, San Francisco

Guns lead to bad things

Regarding An Unacceptable step backward (Open Forum, Feb. 10): No amount of memorandums, panels, promises, marches, meetings or agreements are going to change this fact: No police force can control an armed society. When fear of police brutality leads a person to flee and fear leads the police to chase, gun shots are likely to occur, no matter how irrational. Instinctive fear-driven behavior is likely to be immediate and irrational.

Gabrielle Grossman, Oakland

Kudos to skate champ

Congratulations to Nathan Chen for winning the mens singles figure skating gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, our first since the 2010 Vancouver games. Way to go Nathan. USA! USA!
SACRAMENTO  California legislators are trying to succeed where the federal government couldnt by mandating that all businesses require their employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, introduced a bill Friday that would mandate vaccines for workplaces and require employers to verify that their workers are immunized. New hires would need to have at least one shot by their first day  and the second within 45 days.

The measure, AB1993, would include exemptions for people who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons or those who oppose vaccines on religious grounds.

Wicks considered a similar proposal last year, but ultimately decided to wait. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Biden administrations mandate that large employers require each worker to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask on the job.

But states can proceed with their own mandates, and Wicks bill would go further than the federal effort. Her bill would apply to employers of all sizes, as well as independent contractors.

Wicks announced the bill during a virtual news conference with medical experts and business and labor leaders Friday. She said the best way for California to enter the endemic phase of COVID-19 is to increase vaccination rates.

The pathway to endemic is through vaccines, Wicks said. Thats fundamentally what this bill is about, is getting back some sense of normalcy so we can go on with our lives and we dont have these constant interruptions and outbreaks.

If passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, AB1993 would take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and businesses that dont comply would be subject to penalties. The amount of the penalty isnt specified in the bill.

Public health officials say that while some vaccinated people are still getting infected with the coronavirus, particularly the highly transmissible omicron variant, they are less likely to catch it and far less likely to become seriously ill.

Unvaccinated people are nearly six times more likely to get infected with the coronavirus, 11 times more likely to be hospitalized and 21 times more likely to die from it than people who are fully vaccinated, according to recent statistics from the California Department of Public Health.

Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeleys School of Public Health, said mandates such as AB1993 are necessary because  even after efforts to coax people with rewards for getting immunized and educate them about the safety of vaccines  there are many holdouts whove exacerbated the spread of COVID-19.

We have a history of over 100 years of mandated vaccines, he said. That history shows us that they work. When people are vaccinated, the world is safer.

Wicks bill is part of a series of high-profile vaccine proposals expected to be hotly debated at the state Capitol this year  measures that come as public health officials warn that resistance to vaccines could prolong the pandemic.

Among the other vaccine measures:

 SB871 by state Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, would expand Californias existing COVID-19 vaccine mandate for K-12 students by removing the personal belief exemption.

 SB866 by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, would allow young people ages 12 to 17 to receive vaccines, including for COVID-19, without parental consent or knowledge.

 AB1797 by Assembly Member Akilah Weber, D-La Mesa (San Diego County), would require health providers to submit all student vaccine records to the states confidential immunization registry; school administrators could also check the registry.

Any proposals to tighten immunization requirements are expected to stir fierce resistance from opponents of mandatory vaccines. Critics of vaccine laws say such mandates dont make sense when the coronavirus already seems to be an endemic disease and many vaccinated people are still contracting the virus.

Republican legislators and some business groups are also likely to fight the proposed mandate. Assembly GOP Leader James Gallagher of Nicolaus (Sutter County) said that while he personally supports getting vaccinated, its wrong to bar people from earning a living if they disagree.

Telling people they cant feed their family unless they get the vaccine is just wrong, he said in a statement. I trust Californians enough to treat them like adults who can make their own health care decisions.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
SACRAMENTO  Mountain lion habitat. No new water meters. Must have a row of evergreen shrubs. Cannot cast shade on a neighbors solar panels. Matching painting and lighting required. No basements or decks. Not too big, too tall or too small.

The list of excuses and restrictions that California cities have leveled in response to SB9, the new state law to increase housing density, has been exhaustive and, well, imaginative.

Housing advocates won a long-sought victory last year when Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators approved SB9, which aims to address the states dire housing shortage by increasing density in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes.

But they say the law is being undermined by dozens of cities as they create roadblocks that threaten to hamstring the laws impact.

SB9, which took effect Jan. 1, makes it easier for property owners to split lots, convert homes to duplexes or build second units on their property  allowing up to four units on lots that had one before.

The tug-of-war playing out between housing advocates and some communities drew national attention recently after Woodside, an affluent Silicon Valley suburb, proclaimed its entire town a sanctuary for mountain lions and therefore off-limits for denser housing under the law.

Woodside backed off its so-called cougar town defense following a public uproar and smackdown from state Attorney General Rob Bonta. Still, the episode speaks to a larger battle playing out.

Rafa Sonnenfeld, director of legal advocacy at YIMBY Law, a housing advocacy group, said while mountain lion habitat is certainly the most creative way that weve seen cities trying to get around this law, many other communities are deliberately creating obstacles.

Some cities just take it too far, he said. Putting too many standards in is death by 1,000 cuts and really makes it harder for this to be a law that can be used to create more affordable housing.

YIMBY Law is tracking at least three dozen cities that have adopted  or are considering  policies that it deems hostile to the law, from Cupertino to Pasadena. It has sent at least a dozen municipalities letters warning that they are out of compliance.

Meanwhile, some city leaders and homeowner groups opposed to the law are rallying around a proposed ballot initiative that would hand control over land use back to local governments.

Bill Brand, mayor of Redondo Beach, a Los Angeles-area community that opposed SB9 and has passed restrictions to limit it, helped launch the initiative. He said city leaders are gathering signatures to resist the law because it will encourage hedge funds to gobble up single-family properties and redevelop them into multi-unit rentals, changing the basic character of neighborhoods.

This is much bigger than Woodside or any other specific citys approach to comply with SB9, he said. This is nothing but the biggest upzoning story in the history of the state, and here comes Wall Street.

In many ways, SB9 was intended to be a compromise between legislators and local leaders, whove bitterly clashed for years over the states efforts to compel cities to build more housing.

State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said the law is a more measured approach that gives cities leeway to set local building guidelines.

So its disappointing that some municipalities are abusing it in absurd ways, she told The Chronicle in an email. That not only hinders our ability to create more housing  which is desperately needed  but it takes the option away from the homeowner, who is ultimately the one who should be able to make the decision of whether they want to utilize the law.

Under SB9, homeowners can build more units on their lots through a process known as ministerial approval, a streamlined review that removes city officials discretion to arbitrarily reject denser housing.

There are, however, exceptions in the law: Additional units cannot be built on lots where there are historic, environmental or high fire-risk concerns. Homes with rent restrictions or that have been occupied by tenants in the past three years are similarly off-limits.

Communities are also allowed to impose their own objective design standards for new construction.

It isnt hard to find cities that have adopted extensive design standards that may limit SB9s use. Many have passed urgency ordinances that create tougher rules for new units than for new single-family homes.

In Cupertino, for example, property owners cannot build new units if doing so would cast a shadow over more than 10% of a neighbors existing solar panel array. They must hire a licensed engineer to study how much shadow would be cast.

Cupertinos ordinance also bans basements, balconies and condo conversions for second units.

The city also limits the size of new homes to 2,000 square feet for split lots.

When the rules passed in December, Mayor Darcy Paul said the move allows for thoughtful density growth that meets our communitys interests.

Cupertino is one of about a dozen wealthy Silicon Valley suburbs that have passed urgency ordinances. Los Altos Hills was among the first in the state to impose new restrictions last November.

Under its ordinance, Los Altos Hills limits new units to 800 square feet, the minimum cap allowed, and a single story. New units are also required to closely match the existing home, using the same exterior materials, color tones, window types and roof pitch.

Los Altos also requires new units to have fire sprinklers and a hedge of evergreen shrubs along the unit closest to the property line.

Our intent is to work within the parameters of SB9 but ... the town has a variety of health and safety as well as residential privacy concerns that we continue to be sensitive of in the provision of SB9 units, Los Altos Hills City Manager Peter Pirnejad said in an email.

Numerous cities, such as Redondo Beach, have further tried to limit the impact of SB9 by requiring that a portion of new units or subdivided lots be designated for affordable housing, if the property owner intends to seek renters.

Housing advocates say those policies are designed to undercut SB9 by making it difficult for property owners to recoup their investment if they build a backyard unit or subdivide their lot.

Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who has carried several aggressive bills to speed up housing production, said its clear that a minority of cities are trying to exploit good faith exemptions written into the law. Wiener said opponents of SB9 and other recent housing laws seem driven by an unfounded fear that their communities will change rapidly.

Its going to be a very gradual change over time, Wiener said. Just let it play out. See the sky isnt falling.

While some communities have limited new units through strict design standards, others have relied on more blunt tactics that could prevent SB9 projects from even hatching.

In Pasadena, a Los Angeles suburb, planning commissioners have discussed the idea of creating more historic districts so essentially all of the city would be exempt from the law, according to the local news site Pasadena Now.

Meanwhile, on the Central Coast, the working-class city of Seaside has used Californias drought as an apparent shield to block SB9.

The Seaside City Council imposed a moratorium on new water hookups last fall, blocking most new units in a large area serviced by its municipal utility. On the surface, city officials said the moratorium was in response to over-pumping of its aquifer amid a drought emergency.

Were already over-pumping. We probably should have had a moratorium a long time ago, said City Attorney Sheri Damon. Whether you like it or not, SB9 has the potential to exacerbate that.

But critics of the councils move point out that the aquifer has been in overdraft for decades. Mayor Ian Oglesby also made references to SB9 while debating the moratorium, saying, My thing is not about the water. Its about the quality of life for those residents, according to Monterey County Weekly.

Council Member Jon Wizard, who also works as a policy director for YIMBY Law, cast the lone vote against the moratorium on new water meters. He said the timing was more than conspicuous.

Theres zero urgency other than the all-but-obvious stop SB9, said Wizard, who is running for the state Assembly. Those two lines of reasoning dont overlap.

At this point, it seems inevitable that SB9 will lead to lawsuits. Bonta, the attorney general, warned that more cities could soon be put on notice  even if the excuse isnt as blatant as declaring their town a mountain lion refuge.

While Woodside was a particularly egregious example, we know it is not the only town or city that is attempting to sidestep SB9 compliance, Bontas office said. Our message to local governments remains the same: Act in good faith, follow the law and do your part to increase the housing supply. If you dont, our office wont stand idly by.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
=The new bars in San Francisco are not headed downtown.

Liquor license data from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control shows bars and restaurants with full-sale liquor licenses in San Francisco are popping up in different neighborhoods than before. A bar or restaurant must have a full-sale liquor license to sell beer, wine and liquor.

In 2021, the number of liquor licenses obtained by establishments in neighborhoods such as Chinatown, the Marina, the Castro/Upper Market and the Inner Richmond all doubled compared with 2019. For example, Chinatown went from no licenses acquired by establishments in 2019 to six in 2021. In contrast, the Financial District and South of Market both saw a 40% decrease in the number of liquor licenses obtained in 2021 compared with 2019. The Financial District alone saw six fewer licenses in 2021 than in 2019.

We compared 2021 with 2019 because there were just 55 licenses obtained by new establishments in 2020 during the period of the strictest lockdowns, compared with 77 in 2019 and 87 in 2021. The states liquor license data does not include establishments that acquired a liquor license in 2019 and then subsequently closed, so our estimates are likely slightly underestimating the number of establishments acquiring licenses in 2019.

From June 2020 to June 2021, only 11 new full-sale liquor licenses were actually distributed throughout the city, according to ABC data. The total number of on-sale licenses is currently capped around 1,050 due to a 1939 law that linked liquor licenses to a countys population. However, existing licenses are bought and sold among businesses, which changes the geography of the bar scene within San Francisco. These transfers are causing a shift in the density of full-sale licenses in neighborhoods away from downtown.

Downtown is a dense area of office spaces that used to be the main area where people congregated to work, have lunch, enjoy a cocktail and have dinner meetings, LiquorLicenseAgents.com President Rob De La Torre said. Since the change of environment has caused more people to work from home in local neighborhoods, the licensed locations that were successful before have lost business and opted to open new locations elsewhere or sell their liquor licenses to new establishments opening in the communities.

Our analysis shows that prior to the pandemic, the Financial District and South of Market were seeing growth in license numbers. The Financial District added 9 more liquor licenses in 2019 than in 2017 and South of Market also more in 2019 than 2017. With both neighborhoods now trending downward, the data suggests the pandemic has played a role in shifting bars away from downtown San Francisco.

Licenses go where the customers are, CEO of Future Bars Group Brian Sheehy said. And the customers  for the past years  have not been downtown.

However, Sheehy says downtown will see its comeback  and soon. He says although licenses have not come into the Financial District and South of Market in the last few years, things are already beginning to change. With the recent announcement of the end of Californias statewide mask mandate, Sheehy is confident this will help return full-sale liquor licenses to downtown San Francisco.

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.

Those types of licenses are needed in this part of town, and we are very confident that business is going to come back, Sheehy said. It is going to take a few months, but there is massive pent-up demand and we are seeing that, especially over the past week with the word getting out that the mask mandate is going to go away.

The demand for liquor licenses is also showing up in the market. Prior to the start of the pandemic, liquor licenses in San Francisco County cost anywhere from $250,000 to $280,000. In the fall of 2019, these prices dropped about 30% to $190,000. However, with recent prices coming in anywhere from $220,000 to $250,000, De La Torre is optimistic about what this means moving forward.

Regardless of neighborhood, business owners who want full-sale liquor licenses have the same high price to pay. That is about the only thing they have in common, Sheehy says, as a neighborhood bar and high-traffic downtown bar provide two completely different experiences, though he notes the importance of both. Full-sale liquor licenses are always in demand, he says, leaving the future of neighborhood bars unknown if downtown rebounds as he predicts.

The limitation on licenses  it frustrates a lot of people. But, I really think it is a system that works and it maintains a good balance. Every corner of San Francisco cannot have a license, and so you need to be a pretty good operator to be able to make it, because of the cost of doing business these days, Sheehy said. And of course, you cannot do it without these licenses, which are a very very valuable commodity, and the cost of these licenses is only going to go up as the economy comes back.

Amy Coval is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: amy.coval@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @amy_coval
San Francisco Mayor London Breed seems to be gearing up to publicly support the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a manner similar to the way she supported next week's school board recall.

In January, she invoked Boudin by name when criticizing white progressives who opposed her emergency declaration in the Tenderloin but "did not grow up in poverty in San Francisco." In an interview with NBC Bay Area released Thursday, Breed publicly criticized Boudin once again.

Breed was asked by reporter Bigad Shaban  who had a heated run-in with Boudin in October of last year  if she has "faith the district attorney is doing everything he can to keep the city safe."

After Breed originally replied, "I think you're going to have to ask him that," she was pressed further by Shaban on what she thinks, to which Breed said, "I am not necessarily on the same page with a number of things that he's doing," before adding that she did not want a "public fight in the press over personality conflicts or over things that are more complicated than just a sound bite for a news show."

A few sentences later, she provided said sound bite when she said, "We need to start concentrating more on supporting the victims of this city than we are supporting in some cases, sadly, the criminals."

That's an attack line frequently used by those in favor of recalling Boudin on June 7.

In a statement to NBC Bay Area, the District Attorney's Office said it "dramatically expanded our Victim Services Division  including creating new positions for advocates for victims of property crime," as well as adding more staff who speak languages other than English to increase accessibility.

NBC Bay Area did not ask Breed about the recall, but Breed previously told the New York Times, "Oh, I do know how Im going to vote, but Im not ready to reveal what I plan to do publicly."

Breed has recently escalated her rhetoric on crime and proposed new "tough-on-crime" policies. Police Chief Bill Scott has also recently gone after Boudin publicly. Last week, his department withdrew from an agreement with the District Attorney's Office on investigating police shootings, but as SFGATE reported, Scott may have had other political motives beyond what was stated.
Human remains found in Joshua Tree National Park this week may belong to a man missing under mysterious circumstances since 2010, reports the Palm Springs Desert Sun.

The remains were found by hikers Tuesday near the Panorama Loop Trail in the northwestern part of the park. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the remains were old and being investigated as a homicide.

"I think that any unnatural death is investigated as a homicide if there is no other evidence," park Superintendent David A. Smith told the Desert Sun. "They are looking at any evidence they found at the site to determine who the person is."

Radio station KZDC reported Wednesday that a wallet found with the remains was identified as belonging to Bill Ewasko, a Georgia man who was reported missing in June 2010 at the age of 66. Two days after his disappearance, Ewasko's car was found in the park at the Juniper Flats trailhead. After 11 days of searching with helicopters and bloodhounds, the official search was called off, but the unofficial search continued for years, according to a 2018 New York Times story.

Through online forums, amateur sleuths and backcountry hikers have reportedly cataloged more than 1,000 miles of hiking routes in the area. The New York Times described it as "one of the most geographically extensive amateur missing-person searches in U.S. history."

Ewasko, a Vietnam veteran, was described as an avid jogger and a "cheerful" man.

The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department did not yet confirm that a wallet was recovered and told SFGATE that a statement is incoming Thursday. This story will be updated with further details when available.
Photo via Yelp user Allen N.

Liliha Bakery is one of the oldest bake shops in Hawaii, and one of the few food establishments period that dates back to the middle of the 20th century.



Roy and Koo Takakuwa opened it in 1950 as a small shop on Liliha Street in Honolulu, where they sold loaves of bread. As popularity grew, the Takakuwas moved the bakery in 1961 to Kuakini Street (where you can still find the original location today), and over time, their baked goods have grown to include 150 varieties of doughnuts, pastries and cakes.



The business eventually passed to the Takakuwas son, Fred. Fred retired in 2008 and  with no other family member to take over  sold the business to local restaurateur Peter Kim.

Liliha Bakery

Kim is the man behind Yummy Restaurant Group, which is flagshipped by his well-known Yummy Korean BBQ restaurant chain on Oahu, which he and his family started in 1987. Yummy Restaurant Group now has a total of eight different dine-in and takeout restaurant brands, including The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood at the top of the Ala Moana Hotel in Waikiki.
Bay Area birders are aflutter over the recent sighting of a rare species of turtle dove only spotted on two previous occasions in the state of California, according to reports in the Mercury News and Palo Alto Online.

The lost animal, identified as an oriental turtle dove, was first observed in a residential Palo Alto neighborhood last Sunday. It quickly garnered crowds of hundreds of bird-watchers from all over the country who learned of the news through eBird  an online database not unlike iNaturalist where the sighting was posted  and flew to the Bay Area to catch a glimpse of the creature themselves.

The bird was described as larger and plumper than the nearby mourning doves perched in a cedar tree around Greer Road and Maddux Drive. Oriental turtle doves also have a distinctive patch of black-and-white stripes on their necks rather than solid gray plumage and ruby red eyes.

Wildlife biologist Andrew Bradshaw said he first spotted the bird a few days earlier in his yard, where it was hanging out with a flock of its dove counterparts under his bird feeder.

Unless it shows up at the house of someone whos going to recognize it, youd never know its special, Bradshaw told the Mercury News. I knew this was something different.

Matthew Dodder, executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, described the sighting to Palo Alto Online as exceedingly rare. He believes the bird may have traveled north from its breeding range instead of south, which he said is a common phenomenon with Asian vagrant species described as mirror misorientation.

This is only the third time it has been seen in California. It is considered a mega-rarity with only a handful of reports from anywhere in North America, Dodder told the outlet.

The first sighting of the species in California occurred in Death Valley in Oct. 1988, while another dove was later spotted in Bolinas in Dec. 2002, Pacifica ornithologist Joseph Moran told SFGATE. He noted six other recorded sightings of oriental turtle doves in Alaska, explaining that ships may have aided in some of the birds long journeys.

We have a pattern of occurrence of wild birds migrating down the West Coast, he said.

The oriental turtle dove has six subspecies, two of which are migratory, and they range from parts of East Asia to India and Kazakhstan, with other sightings recorded in Sweden and Norway. Moran identified the bird discovered in Palo Alto as the widespread East Asian nominate race, which he explained is usually paler in color than other subspecies and is among one of the migratory birds. The tip of its tail is gray rather than white, and the overlapping feathers on its wings are pale gray, not rusty.

Moran also determined the bird was an adult because juvenile oriental turtle doves do not develop their distinctive black-and-white neck patches until they are fully grown.

What remains unclear, however, is how the bird got here.

Sometimes non-native bird species become established and develop functioning populations, said Glenn Phillips, executive director of the Golden Gate Audubon Society. For example, he noted a wayward rock sandpiper that made its way to Herons Head Park in San Francisco three years ago.

The first time it was sighted, it was unusual, he said. Now its here every winter and doing just fine.

A rustic bunting, which is native to parts of Korea and Japan, was also seen in Golden Gate Park for a number of months in 2015.

Anytime you see something new, its exciting, Phillips said. When youre birding in your patch  thats what we call the place where you bird often and are familiar with the usual suspects and look forward to seeing your regular bird friends  to have a newcomer is always exciting. It challenges your thinking. How do I know what Im seeing? Thats one of the secret pleasures of birding, knowing youve seen something different and knowing how to identify it. Thats a very emotional moment for many people.

The Mercury News described the sighting of the bird as a symbol of hope, given the serendipity of the encounter and how it was discovered by an ecologist who knew what he was looking at. But Phillips said the sighting of the solo bird could also be somewhat troublesome.

If its out of range, it might not be able to find its mate, he said. But sometimes its a sign that ranges are changing and birds are doing different things.

The only way the origin of the bird could be proven is if someone came forward and claimed it as a pet, Phillips said, adding that some DNA tests, albeit costly, allow scientists to determine where a bird was living by sampling its feathers.

If its here now, and its alone, its unlikely to spawn a new population, he said. I think the best thing we can do now is enjoy it.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated the bird may be an escaped captive pet. Glenn Phillips has since clarified with SFGATE that this is unlikely, given new information he learned after the story's initial publication.
The town of Yellow Springs, Ohio, has scrapped a plan that would have created more affordable housing following opposition from many residents, including superstar comedian Dave Chappelle.

Last July, Oberer Homes anounced it planned to build about 140 new homes on 53 acres of land in Yellow Springs, a village about 20 miles from Dayton.

According to Dayton Daily News, the village council had asked for the development to contain an affordable-housing component, including duplexes and townhomes, as homes in the town of 4,000 people had grown increasingly scarce and expensive.

Because the area had been designated for single-family housing, the proposal required council approval to rezone the area to include duplexes and townhomes.

On Monday, Chappelle spoke up at a village council meeting, adamant in his displeasure, and threatened to remove his business investments, which include plans for a restaurant and a comedy club in the village.

In video footage from the meeting posted on Twitter, Chappelle said, "I don't know why the village council would be afraid of litigation from a $24-million-a year company, while it kicks out a $65-million-a-year company." The latter was a reference to his company, Iron Table Holdings LLC, which had recently purchased property in the area.

"I cannot believe you would make me audition for you. You look like clowns," he added, his voice rising. "I am not bluffing. I will take it all off the table. That's all. Thank you."

Chappelle's impassioned speech was met with some applause from the meeting's audience. Other residents followed suit, mentioning fears of increased traffic and water management.

Later that night, the council voted 2-2 with one member abstaining, meaning the development will proceed without duplexes and affordable housing. Homes will start at about $300,000, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Last year, Chappelle found himself in hot water after making jokes that many considered transphobic in his latest Netflix comedy special, "The Closer." The October controversy sparked a walkout and protest by Netflix employees and their supporters, along with multiple rebukes from the trans community and a handful of Netflix staffers leaving the company.

"Dave stands by his Art. Both sides of the street are talking and Dave is listening. At some point, when everyone is open, I'm sure our communities will come together," his publicist, Carla Sims, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times in October.


By Katy St. Clair

Bay City News Foundation

The Larkspur City Council agreed on Tuesday to send a letter to Marin County supervisors outlining concerns from them and the community about a proposed site to house chronically homeless individuals in the Greenbrae area of the city.

The letter, penned by Mayor Dan Hillmer on behalf of the council, has yet to be released publicly. Based on discussions among council members at the end of Tuesday's meeting, the letter will most likely contain collective support for the project's intention but opposition to the process so far, which they feel has not been thorough enough and does not adequately address the community's safety concerns.

"We are asking for more robust dialog," said Vice Mayor Gabe Paulson. "There are unanswered questions."

Marin County has selected a former skilled-nursing facility located at 1251 S. Eliseo Dr. to potentially provide permanent supportive housing for approximately 43 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. The county defines chronic homelessness as being unhoused for a year or longer and possibly presenting a disabling physical, mental, or developmental condition.

The county's Board of Supervisors will consider funding this site at its Feb. 15 meeting. Larkspur does not have jurisdiction to accept or deny the S. Eliseo project, but it can express its support or concerns to the county.

A Change.org petition entitled "Keep Our Children Safe by Stopping the Homeless Facility Next to Playgrounds and Schools" had 2,400 signatures by Thursday.

On Tuesday, the council heard from 61 residents or residents in nearby communities, with 48 in opposition to the project and 13 in support. Of those that objected, many said they did not oppose the idea of providing people housing per se, but they felt that this project was being rushed with not enough community engagement and they also had safety concerns. Those who supported the project said it would be an asset to the community, would address equity issues in Marin, and was being opposed by people who have pre-conceived, negative notions about homeless people.

A presentation of the project was given to the council from Ken Shapiro, COO of Marin County Health and Human Services and Gary Naja-Riese, director of homelessness and whole person care for Marin County.

The county claims to be using an evidence-based, national best practice model for solving chronic homelessness and to have housed over 440 chronically homeless people since 2017 with a 95% retention rate.

Some funding for the project would come from California's Project Homekey monies, which uses funds to rehabilitate unused or derelict buildings and turn them into permanent housing for vulnerable populations.

Marin has applied for funding for 16 units to serve clients with "serious mental illness," or SMI. SMI can include bi-polar disorder and major depression.

According to Naja-Riese, if the site is opened and occupied, there will be 24/7 staff presence, including on-site property management. There will also be on-site case management and clinical services, primarily during regular business hours. A Community Safety Services Team (CSST) will serve as a community liaison to prevent and de-escalate any issues. Case management will consist of health, behavioral health, counseling, benefits advocacy, financial literacy, and food. The staff to client ratio will be 1:17.

Residents will sign leases and pay 30% of their income towards rent. They will have the "standard rights and responsibilities of tenancy" and can be evicted.

Several people who called in opposing the site raised the specter of San Francisco's Tenderloin and their fear that allowing this population to live in their town would invite drugs, crime, and general decline.

"They have the same services in San Francisco," said Greenbrae resident Steven Chesley on behalf of he and his wife. "They are out doing drugs and having sex in the street. We are definitely opposed to this project."

Larkspur resident James Holmes described the project as a "quasi-asylum for the insane, addicted and convicted."

Randy Collins of Larkspur questioned the message it would send.

"I don't need experts to tell me this is a bad idea," he said. "I would never raise my kids and say, no matter what you do, no matter what crimes you commit, what drugs you take, how you behave, no. matter what you do I will house you and feed you."

Kentfield resident Connie Wong said that she was "very supportive" about solving the homeless situation but has "serious concerns" about the safety of the site, especially regarding drug use and sexual predators.

The county told the council and community on Tuesday that the people who would live at the site will be using federal HUD vouchers, and as such cannot utilize those funds if they have a lifetime sex offender registration requirement. The county has not addressed Tier 1 and Tier 2 sex offenders, however, who are required to register for between 10 and 20 years depending on their convictions.

Others called in with their support of the project. Kevin Carroll of Greenbrae spoke of his chronically homeless son who has been living on the streets for 25 years. He questioned the comparisons to SF.

"Marin is a much different environment," he said. "Comparing the two is ridiculous."

Carroll urged people to talk to law enforcement and people from the district attorney's office as well as public defenders to get a better understanding of how permanent housing can help people and to look for the data that is out there that supports this.

"My son would not qualify for this housing. He is out of compliance with his probation and currently living in a car a block from his former elementary school," he said. Carroll said he "knew" the sort of people who would be moving into the S. Eliseo residences and that they are "victims."

"Most of these people are victims who will be helped tremendously by getting them away from predators that are in the homeless community. The predators are not going to want to live in a supervised environment."

A caller who referred to herself simply as "Jess" agreed with Carroll.

"Homelessness can happen to anyone," she said. "It doesn't automatically make someone a drug addict or a sex offender. I know a mother with medical issues who rides the bus all night to have somewhere to sleep. This is an equity issue. We are so lucky to have immense privilege in this county."

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Drew Altizer Photography/SFWIRE/Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Ph

Zuckerberg and Chan spent more than $170 million buying up Kauai acreage  a land grab that has been well documented in the national media. In an attempt to ingratiate themselves to their new home after a bumpy start to their Kauai residence, the pair has also poured millions of dollars into Kauais various nonprofit organizations through the Chan Zuckerberg Kauai Community Fund.

What's resulted is a divided community: Some are genuinely appreciative of the funding, some are skeptical and begrudgingly appreciative, and others say no amount of donations make up for buying a not-insignificant portion of the island. Read more.
Mark Newman/Getty Images

The best view of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in all of North America, is from a place named Dantes View, a peak on the craggy spine of the Black Mountains.

The swirling soupy salt flats below appear so unearthly George Lucas used them to shoot Mos Eisley, the wretched hive of scum and villainy in Star Wars. The brackish sink is home to its own species of snail and a dazzling array of natural hexagons that tile the valley floor. Once every 50 years or so, the valley even breaks out in a brief burst of wildflowers.
On "Home Town," Erin and Ben Napier adore renovating old, historic homes. The challenge, though, is figuring out how to freshen up the look without erasing what's great about the original.

In the Season 6 episode "The Zen Room," the Napiers meet Scott and Deanna, a couple from California who plan to retire in Laurel, MS. Erin and Ben help them buy a 1915 Craftsman home for $150,000, and while Erin wants to honor this home's history, Scott and Deanna also have a style that's all their own.

"Our design style is eclectic," Deanna says. "We like Spanish, Mexican influences, and we travel every year to Puerto Vallarta for our anniversary."

Erin and Ben have $100,000 to add some Spanish style to this Craftsman, while still letting the old-fashioned architecture shine.

Read on to see how Erin and Ben incorporate new designs in an old home, with plenty of tips to help inspire you to shake up the design of your own abode.

A home's colors should match the style of the house

This classic Craftsman home needed classic Craftsman colors. HGTV

When Erin and Ben first show their clients this home, they know Scott and Deanna won't be impressed by the light blue exterior. Erin points out that while this is certainly a Craftsman-style home, the house doesn't have the fun color palette one would expect. Erin thinks she can give this home some new colors that will satisfy both its historical integrity as well as Scott and Deanna's sense of style.

After: With new colors, this house looks like a true Craftsman. HGTV

"I wanted to use a very truly historic 1920s Craftsman color palette, but that also works with this style that I know you love, which is Mexican-inspired," Erin explains about her color choice. "These rich, like, terra-cotta tones. So I want to paint the house a very deep, rusty red-brown and then an ecru color on all the trim and an avocado color on the windows and front door."

Once the exterior is finished, it's clear that these colors really add personality to this house. They suit not only its history, but also the style of the new homeowners.

Connect new details with old features

Before: Erin Napier wanted to copy this dining room window. HGTV

Erin wants to update Deanna and Scott's front porch by adding a railing, but she doesn't want this modern addition to seem out of place. So she designs a railing that will match one of the original features of the house.

"The front porch rail is going to have the X pattern that you see in the dining room window," Erin says. "And I feel like that'll be a nice moment of connection between what we're doing that's new and what's original to the house. So then hopefully, it feels like that handrail has always been there."

This new railing seems like it could have always been part of the house. HGTV

When the new railing is installed, it adds some visual interest to the entrance and makes the porch a cozier spot to hang out.

"The thing about the railing is it made it feel finished," Erin says.

Incorporate sentimental pieces wherever possible

This fireplace was plain. HGTV

In the living room, Erin and Ben plan to redo the fireplace by adding some unique tiles from Deanna and Scott's personal collection. They include tiles with a cactus, a wagon wheel, and even a skull. It's not a typical tile choice, but Erin loves the challenge.

"I love it so much when people have something to give us that's personal that we can design around," Erin says.

To finish the fireplace, she also incorporates some dramatic, dark green tiles.

After: The colorful tiles on the fireplace are a nice contrast to the orange walls. HGTV

These colorful tiles add a personal touch to the living room. HGTV

Saltillo tiles can add warmth to a kitchen

This kitchen had an odd layout and, even worse, laminate floors. HGTV

Scott and Deanna explain that they don't want a formal dining room, saying they'd rather use the space for something else.

"We came from a house where we had a Zen room. It was kind of our quiet room," Scott says.

Still, Erin points out that they "gotta eat somewhere," and luckily their kitchen is large enough to also serve as a dining space.

There's only one thing that absolutely has to go: the drab laminate floor. Erin replaces it with elegant Saltillo tiles.

"These Saltillo tiles are truly handmade," Erin explains. "There is a ton of imperfection, which, to me, is perfection."

After: The Saltillo tile flooring warms up the kitchen. HGTV

Once installed, this tile flooring gives off Spanish vibes and serves to remind homeowners that there are many flooring options besides hardwood.

Go bold with cabinet colors

This kitchen looks great with open shelves, a new counter, and blue cabinets. HGTV

To finish this kitchen, Erin surprises herself when it comes to cabinet color.

"I chose a cobalt blue for the cabinets, which is not in my usual wheelhouse," she says. "This is not the norm for me."

Still, she goes ahead with the color choice, impressing Deanna and Scott with the bold look. And surprisingly, their bold color helps complement the Saltillo tile floors.

The post 'Home Town' Reveals a Personal Design Challenge That Erin Napier Loves appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Paul Souders/Getty Images

LATEST Feb. 17, 11:55 a.m. KCRA reported that after nearly 150 calls to local law enforcement and wildlife personnel, the 500-pound, "human-food conditioned" black bear will be euthanized once he's caught. Wildlife officials are currently setting traps as a last resort but still have not successfully caught him.



Feb. 11, 4:00 p.m. Flanked by yacht clubs and vacation rentals, the South Lake Tahoe Keys neighborhood is an idyllic, 740-acre marina community that has million-dollar houses, private beaches and unfettered lake access. However, residents were in for a surprise this month when a bear awoke from hibernation in the dead of winter and started wreaking havoc on their homes.

According to This is Reno, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials called the intruder a severely habituated bear, who, despite months of hazing and other mitigation efforts  has caused extensive property damage and forcefully entered several homes.
Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Since mid-June of 2021, the official portraits of former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have been touring the country, with stops at the Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, where they reside until March 20.

The tour was originally planned to conclude in May at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, but it has just been extended to include two more cities  San Francisco and Boston. The artwork is slated to be displayed in San Francisco's de Young Museum from June 18 through Aug. 14, 2022.
SHELTON  A national dog day care chain is one vote away from calling Shelton home.

The Planning and Zoning Commission, at its meeting Tuesday, asked zoning consultant Anthony Panico to prepare a resolution approving a modification to the Planned Development District at Shelton Place, 850 Bridgeport Ave.  presently home to Staples and Dominos Pizza.

The resolution will be presented at a future commission meeting, at which commissioners will formally vote on the application. If approved, the move would allow Dogtopia to set up shop in space formerly occupied by Panera Bread, which closed last year with plans to reopen in Fountain Square in mid-April.

Commission Chair Virginia Harger said there was a need for the dog care business but questioned the overnight boarding option that the business owners propose.

I have concerns about overnight boarding here, Harger said.

The property owner  S&S Shelton Development, LLC  stated in the application that the dog day care center use is not covered under the existing Statement of Uses and Standards approved with the original PDD, requiring an application to the Planning and Zoning Commission seeking a major modification.

Dogtopia is a national chain of dog day care centers with more than 160 locations in the United States and Canada. The business offers dog care with daycare, grooming and overnight boarding services seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In all, the business will have 20 employees, with at least six working each shift.

The application states that Dogtopia owners target higher income locations, and the tenant seeking to move into Shelton Place is the franchise owner of 16 Dogtopias throughout Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

The proposed owner also operates Connecticut locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield and Milford, and they see Shelton as a great fit, the application states.

Dogtopias use would not require any structural modifications to the existing exterior or additional parking.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Hello! My name is Justin Kurtz, and Im a Penn State Student majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education, which is another way for me to 
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Page Content

A bill has been sent to the president's desk that would ban pre-dispute employment arbitration agreements for sexual-harassment and sexual-assault claims.

The House overwhelmingly approved H.R. 4445 in a 335-97 vote on Feb. 7. The Senate passed the measure on Feb. 10, and President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.

"This bipartisan, bicameral legislation empowers survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment by giving them a choice to go to court instead of being forced into arbitration," the White House said in a statement.

We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.

Employees Can Still Choose Arbitration

Although the bill bans pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate sexual-harassment claims, employees can opt for arbitration after the claim arises. "You will have survivors of sexual assault or sexual harassment who may not want to go to court," said Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.

A spokesperson for Bustos said, "The bill would apply to any new claims, regardless of when the bad behavior occurred and barring any state or local law that might limit when a claim is brought."

(NBC News) and (Bloomberg Law)



The Details

"Effectively, the bill says that any arbitration agreement signed before a claim or dispute involving sexual assault or sexual harassment arises is voidable at the option of the individual with the claim," said Eric B. Meyer, an attorney with FisherBroyles in Philadelphia. "In plain English, if my employer requires me to sign an arbitration agreement and someone later sexually assaults/harasses me, I can arbitrate my claims if I want. Or I can sue in court under state or federal law or both. It's entirely up to me."

The proposed legislation would also apply to sexual-harassment and sexual-assault claims brought in a joint, class or collective action.

(The Employer Handbook)

Significant Workplace Reform

The bill's supporters say it gives survivors the choice to speak publicly about their experiences and about how to pursue their claims. "This bill is one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history and is a major step forward toward changing a system that uses secrecy to protect perpetrators and silence survivors," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.



(The Wall Street Journal)



Check State Law

Employers should note that some states, including California and New York, already ban mandatory arbitration of sexual-harassment claims and that some large companies have stopped enforcing arbitration agreements in such cases.

(Reuters)

Litigation Continues Over Broad California Ban

A California law, AB 51, which was originally set to take effect in 2020, would broadly prohibit employers from requiring workers to arbitrate state-law discrimination and labor code claims. A federal court prevented the law from taking effect initially, but a September 2021 federal appellate court decision upheld the law (Chamber of Commerce v. Bonta). This ruling is currently being challenged, and, for now, a trial court's decision enjoining enforcement of the law remains in effect. In the meantime, employers in the state are encouraged to consult with counsel regarding their arbitration agreements.

(SHRM Online)


Page Content

The state of New York has amended its whistleblower law to make it one of the most expansive in the country, providing remedies, including potentially punitive damages, to employees, former employees and independent contractors.

The requirement to report any suspected wrongdoing first to the employer now has many exceptions. Moreover, a worker may blow the whistle on any conduct the individual reasonably believes violates any law, rule or regulation, or executive order or any judicial or administrative decision, ruling or order, noted Philip Berkowitz, an attorney with Littler in New York City. Workers also are protected for reporting any conduct that they reasonably believe constitutes a substantial and specific danger to the public health or safety, he added.

"Retaliation claims already ranked high among the types of claims asserted in COVID-19 employment lawsuits," wrote Simone Francis, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and New York City, and Rae Gross, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in the Detroit metropolitan area, in a joint e-mail.

Expansive new whistleblower laws like New York's "make it probable that an increasing percentage of lawsuits will include whistleblower claims either alone or in conjunction with other statutory and common-law theories of recovery," they predicted.

New York is joining other states with broad protections for whistleblowers, including California and New Jersey. But New York's new provisions are particularly expansive.

Expect an Increase in Litigation

"Employers can expect a significant increase in litigation and potential liability for whistleblower claims in New York," wrote Greg Keating, an attorney with Epstein Becker Green in Boston, and Christopher Shur, an attorney with Epstein Becker Green in New York City.

They noted that the New York whistleblower law now has an expanded definition of retaliation. This definition includes:



Discriminating against someone for exercising their rights under the law.

Taking actions or threatening to take actions affecting current or future employment.

Contacting U.S. immigration authorities.

Threatening to report the suspected immigration or citizenship status of a whistleblower or a whistleblower's family or household member.

Employer Notification Often Isn't Required

While a good-faith effort to notify employers of alleged wrongdoing remains, Keating and Shur noted that employer notification isn't required in the following cases:



There is imminent and serious danger to the public health or safety.

The whistleblower reasonably believes that reporting to the supervisor or employer would result in destruction of evidence or other concealment of the activity, policy or practice.

Such activity, policy or practice could reasonably be expected to lead to endangering the welfare of a minor.

The employee reasonably believes that reporting to the supervisor would result in physical harm to the employee or any other person.

The employee reasonably believes that the supervisor or employer is already aware of the activity, policy or practice and won't correct it.

The last of these "is such an enormous exception to the internal disclosure requirement that the requirement may as well not exist," said Gerald Hathaway, an attorney with Faegre Drinker in New York City.

Action Steps

Nonetheless, David Baron, an attorney with Hogan Lovells in New York City, said employers should implement policies that encourage employees to report internally if they believe they've been made aware of a violation of the law.

Employers should develop protocols that allow employees to report anonymously possible violations of law within the company, said Linda Jackson, an attorney with Arent Fox in Washington, D.C. "Such protocols may encourage employees who fear retaliation to come forward prior to reporting to an outside agency.

"Additionally, an expansive whistleblower policy that provides guidance for employees and sternly rebukes any forms of retaliation may aid in creating a workplace where employees feel that their concerns are valued and any complaints will be adequately addressed."

Berkowitz said New York employers also should:

Revisit codes of conduct to ensure that all employees know what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Revisit internal and external whistleblower and reporting policies and procedures to be sure individuals know how to bring to the employer's attention conduct that may be unlawful, that they perceive to be unethical or that constitutes a danger to the public health or safety. Policies must also make clear that bringing knowingly false claims will subject employees to discipline.

Review training protocols for HR and managers on how to respond to complaints.

Post notice of the law.

In addition, Berkowitz said, employers should review their internal investigation procedures for the following characteristics:



The procedure should provide protections for the confidentiality of whistleblowers, consistent with a full and fair investigation.

The company should ensure that investigations are free from bias.

The procedure should provide for appropriate handling of complaints to ensure that the right people or departments investigate.

The company must identify individuals who are qualified to conduct investigations.

The organization should ensure that investigations are carried out, when appropriate, under the protection of attorney-client privilege.

The company needs to consider how and when to communicate to regulators or others regarding the claims.

Ideally, an internal report should go to someone who has no control or influence over the whistleblower's employment status, Baron said. "A complaining employee's supervisors should be advised of complaints only if and to the extent they need to knowfor example, to conduct a proper investigation," he said.

The right investigator may include someone in HR, compliance staff, inside counsel or outside counsel, depending on the situation, Baron noted.

"The best policy is one of compliance," Hathaway said. "Don't engage in illegal behavior that can be the subject of an employee complaint."

He added, "Sometimes an employee can reasonably believe that a violation of the law is going on, but the employee is just wrong. In those cases, there can be a calm, candid conversation with the complaining employee to explain why the issue being raised does not involve a violation of any law."


The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has, since 1975, launched a total of 129 satellites of Indian origin and 342 foreign satellites of 36 countries, of which 39 satellites are commercial satellites and rest nano satellites, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.

"India has a total of 53 operational satellites in space providing various identified services to the nation. Total 21 of these are communication satellites, eight are navigation satellites, 21 are Earth observation satellites and three are science satellites," Union Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha in written replies to two different questions.

From 2016-2017 to 2021-2022, a total of 285 customer satellites from 29 foreign countries were successfully launched on-board PSLV on a commercial basis. The number of foreign satellites launched year-wise are 122 in 2016-2017, 57 in 2017-2018, 32 in 2018 -2019, 50 in 2019-2020, and 23 in 2020-2021, he said.

The satellite enabled data and services are being used for the benefit of various sectors of the country. These include television broadcasting, Direct-to-Home, ATM, mobile communication, tele-education, tele-medicine and advisories on weather, pest infestation, agro-meteorology, and potential fishing zones.

Satellite data is also used for crop production estimation, crop intensification, and agricultural drought assessment, wasteland inventory, identifying ground water prospect zones, inland aquaculture suitability and disaster risk reduction, he said.

The ISRO has plans to launch more satellites to further enhance operational applications and cater to the needs of emerging applications and user requirements in the country, the Minister added.

Many of the applications have been effectively adopted by stakeholder departments for operational use.

A few of such applications include: potential fishing zone forecast and ocean state forecast by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, crop acreage and production forecasting and national agricultural drought assessment and monitoring system by the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), biennial forest cover assessment by the Forest Survey of India under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, irrigation infrastructure assessment by the Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, weather forecasting by the India Meteorological Department under the Ministry of Earth Science, ground water prospect and suitable recharge locations' mapping for the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and integrated watershed management programme and MGNREGS by the Ministry of Rural Development.

The Minister also informed that the number of spacecrafts launched by space centres in the country from 2016-2017 to 2021-2022 till date, year-wise are: 2016-2017 (135), 2017- 2018 (67), 2018-2019 (40), 2019-2020 (56), 2020-2021 (30) and 2021-2022 (till date) 1. Of these, the spacecraft launched by the country for domestic use, year-wise are 13, 10, 8, 6, 7 and 1, respectively.

The country-wise breakup of number of foreign satellites launched during 2016-17 to 2021-22, the Minister said, was: Algeria (3), Australia (1), Austria (1), Belgium (3), Brazil (1), Canada (5), Chile (1), Colombia (1), Czech Republic (1), Finland (3), France (2), Germany (2), Indonesia (1), Israel (2), Italy (4), Japan (2), Kazakhstan (1), Latvia (1), Lithuania (7), Luxembourg (1), Malaysia (1), The Netherlands (2), Republic Of Korea (5), Slovakia (1), Spain (2), Switzerland (2), the UAE (1), the UK (6), and the US (222).
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San Mateo, CA (94402)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Insurance Australia Group chief executive Nick Hawkins says the COVID-19 building boom will contribute to higher premiums, as rate rises across a range of policies drove the insurers half-year profit of $173 million.

Mr Hawkins said labour and material costs had gone up as renovations spike during the pandemic-induced housing boom, fuelled by low interest rates and record savings that have seen property prices soar around the country.

Disruptions to supply chains had improved since the beginning of the pandemic, Mr Hawkins said, but demand for skilled labour was being felt across the industry would drive up repair costs and feed into higher premiums.

IAG chief executive Nick Hawkins said the gross written premiums increase was primarily rate driven but added the groups plans to sign up 1 million new customers over the next five years was delivering encouraging progress. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Its demand-driven. Theres lot of work out there for skilled labour in the property industry, the building industry. Thats adding to inflationary pressure, Mr Hawkins said. Were all experiencing inflationary pressure on labour at the moment.
Even domestic tourist spending  64 per cent of industry turnover pre-COVID  fell by a quarter in the first 10 months of 2021 compared to 2019, according to Tourism Research Australia data. Sydney and Melbourne suffered the heaviest blows, with domestic tourist dollars falling 57 and 68 per cent respectively. The Omicron variant not only denied tourism operators the summer revival they were desperate for, but dented optimism about how quickly the 9 million foreign tourists who had visited Australia annually will return. Its going to be harder to nudge people off the sofa, says Adele Labine-Romain, lead tourism partner at consultancy firm Deloitte. Melbourne has suffered the biggest downturn in domestic tourist in 2021, with spending down 68 per cent. Credit:Eddie Jim Labine-Romain forecast in November last year that foreign tourists could hit 7 million in 2022, but she now says it will likely be between 3 million and 4.5 million.

Omicron also finally broke the desire of many Australians to travel again, with no sign of the pent-up demand that was unleashed following lockdowns earlier in the pandemic. Over 2020 and 2021, every time [lockdown] lifted people would be just like chickens running out of the coop - people were really excited, she says. Theres a really significant proportion of our population that are waiting a little longer before they venture out again. John OSullivan, Tourism Australias managing director from 2014 to 2019 and now CEO of tour operator Experience Co., which operates boat, diving, skydiving and walking tours across Australia and New Zealand, says the border news is welcome but will not mark an opening of the floodgates. Tourism jobs accounted for around 5 per cent of Australias workforce before COVID - more than twice that of mining. Credit:Tourism and Events Queensland We know theres pent-up demand, Australia is still top of mind for a lot of travel markets, he says. But ... were still looking at 2024 as to when it returns [to pre-COVID levels].

The industrys biggest short-term issue, OSullivan says, is staff shortages, with many of his companys foreign divemasters, tandem skydiving masters and boat captains returning to their homes overseas when the pandemic hit. OSullivan only has enough staff to run Great Barrier Reef boat tours five days a week, although he says working holiday visa holders should fill roles when the border opens. One of the strategic challenges now as we come out of this... is how do we get that next generation of workers to say: I want to work in these industries, I see this as a viable career, he says. A lot of people look at tourism as something you do at uni, [but] if you go into places like Switzerland or North America, tourism and hospitality are seen as long-term careers.  OSullivan says Australia needs to send a consistent message to the world about the rules of travelling here, with federal and state governments already at odds over whether visitors need two jabs or three.

And the country will need to compete fiercely with other destinations to attract visitors, he says, suggesting Tourism Australias funding should be increased, from around $200 million annually to $250 million or $300 million to drive a post-COVID revival. Loading Every country is coming out of this and saying, how do we get our economy going? Lets get some visitors, but you actually then have to go and fight for that, he says. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said in a statement that Tourism Australia would launch marketing campaigns ahead of the border reopening to attract as many tourists as possible. Karl Flowers, a tourism and aviation economist who runs Decisive Consulting, says many tourism businesses are now in the toughest period of the pandemic, facing rising costs from wages, training new staff and materials while revenue remains severely depressed.

The first two-thirds of the pandemic have been about the loss of demand, and the last third is the loss of demand and the increase in costs, he says. Its a double whammy. Loading Flowers says the countrys handling of the pandemic should reinforce the perception that it is a safe place to holiday, while Australians learning to love their backyard while the border was closed will boost domestic travel volumes into the future. But as I say, the major issue at the moment is survival ... [and] were still not out of the woods in the case of new variants, he says. How quickly foreign tourists return will hinge on whether affordable airfares are available, according to Morgan Kelly, KPMGs global lead partner of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism restructuring. Airlines capacity remains slim, and the rise of video conferencing will permanently dent the number of corporate travellers, whose business class fares subsidise cheaper economy seats.
Mickie loved wild animals, yet spent many years helping her husband hunt and slaughter them. He would praise her strong nerves, keen eyes and steady hands and, in turn, she acknowledged his right to collect animals for science.

The couple were in British East Africa, now Kenya, to shoot and collect a family group of six elephants for display at the museum. Mickie was the supporting hunter, the only woman on a safari dominated by hyper-masculine male hunters and local male porters.

In 1909, Delia Mickie Akeley, was 40-years-old, child-free, an exceptional shooter and married to Carl Akeley, a famous collector and taxidermist who worked for the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

This was back when specimen-hunting was deemed an acceptable form of science, when testing ones manhood in personal combat using powerful rifles against lions promised to arrest the alarming decline of American men into effeminacy and impotence, according to former US president and big game hunter Theodore Roosevelt.

This was a time when big-game hunting was seen to help restore the martial vigour that had fuelled a mans greatness, when a pure man whose danger in pursuit of a noble cause brings him into communion with nature through the beast he kills, as feminist scholar Donna Haraway expressed it.

And yet, this world is not so far from our current world, where masculinity and meat, which is to say masculinity, death and violence, are so inextricably linked, where domination is mistaken for communion.

Iain McCalmans Delia Akeley & the Monkey is a confronting read, insofar as one finds oneself in the difficult position of assessing actions of those in the past using hindsight  its hard to accomplish this task without judgment, without acknowledging the humane revolution that has taken place since the 1960s in the ways we co-exist with our fellow animals.
And why? Under the proposal, kids attending religious school who didnt fit the institutions idea of what was an acceptable identity were to get different levels of protection from unfair treatment. Some could be expelled, some not. Teachers whose lifestyles didnt fit the ethos of their schools were to be given no legislative protection. Who comes up with an arrangement like that in the 21st century? Liberal MPs Trent Zimmerman, Fiona Martin, Katie Allen and Bridget Archer along with colleague Dave Sharma crossed the floor to amend part of the religious discrimination bills. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Who couldnt foresee that a handful of government MPs couldnt live with such nonsense, and would join with the Opposition and others to dispose of it, leaving Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the rest of his team looking like heartless beggars at the altar of the Christian Right?

All for nothing. The whole thing, now shoved off by the government to an inquiry, will quietly die of embarrassment. And religious institutions, wonderfully free from paying tax, their private schools marvellously lavished with public money  couldnt they have simply agreed all along to behave in the same manner required by existing anti-discrimination legislation of the wider community and by state schools? Loading There seemed no sensible answers. I doubled down on the simpler business of polishing my boots. It was pacifying, removed from wondering about the mysteries concerning those whose judgments were based in something called faith.

People, my straightforward father often advised me, actually judge you by your shoes. He meant it, too. Years later, Id learn hed never had a new pair of shoes when he was a child. He had a horror of wet feet because of holes in old soles. It was a long walk across wet paddocks to his little bush school when he was young. And so he had a cast-iron shoe anvil, known as a cobblers last, out in the shed. Ive still got the old thing. If the tread on our boots or shoes ever looked to be getting thin, the last appeared, the shoe was fitted to the most suitable mould, strips of stout leather were carved and a cobblers hammer was applied to brass nails. Steel caps were fitted to heels. A lather of saddle soap and an application of polish and our footwear was as good as new. There wasnt much that our father couldnt fix. A practical man, he didnt have much time for those he called wasters and layabouts.

I hesitate to imagine the magnitude of the contempt he might have expressed for the swarm currently infesting Australias national capital, at least those outside the doors of parliament. The anti-vaxxers, those insisting they are simply opposed to vaccine and mask mandates, flag-waving sovereign citizens, Trumpists, Proud Boys and QAnon nutters, the out-there conspiracy theorists and the plain crazy who profess that politicians and judges are traitors who will be hanged - hed be astonished such people existed. My father was born in 1919, the year the last pandemic, the Spanish flu, laid waste to Australia and the world. His generation was raised by parents mortally afraid of infectious disease. He and my mother were proud beyond measure that they could ensure my brother and I got jabbed with every vaccine introduced during the 1950s. Loading

As a new pandemic lays waste to aged care homes and struggling businesses, and misled fools rant against the only measures proven to alleviate the worst excesses of the pandemic  how could he be anything but confounded? He always thought, too, the hungry years of the Depression of his youth wouldnt be revisited in Australia. And yet, as I sat cogitating on my back step, charities in every town and city were being run ragged with demands for food and emergency accommodation. Families and individuals were being left behind everywhere by an economy we are told daily is among the most robust in the world. A few years back, I came home to discover my father hadnt cleaned his shoes. We would never sit on the porch and polish our boots together again.
Neville Power, the former head of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, and his son should serve immediate terms of imprisonment for breaching WAs strict border laws, a police prosecutor says.

But the two men will have to sweat over what their sentence will be, with the case adjourned until February 24 after they pleaded guilty to two charges each of breaching state of emergency laws.

Lawyer David Manera, Neville Power and Nicholas Power leave the court after entering their pleas. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

Mr Power, his company Airpower Australia, and son Nicholas were facing three charges each for failing to comply with WA border restrictions after the West Australian millionaire flew into the state in his helicopter without permission in October last year. The third charge was dropped on Friday for each of the two men.

Neville Power flew to Queensland  which was considered a low risk state at the time in WA, meaning anyone who came from there had to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival  on a Virgin flight on September 23 and travelled to his familys cattle station at Bushy Park in the region around Mount Isa for a muster.
He alleges several other SAS members also witnessed this incident and confirmed that the gunned-down Afghan had a prosthetic leg which was later used as a trophy drinking vessel at SAS headquarters. He said he and many other soldiers drank from it over time, including some whod since been promoted to very senior positions. The second incident related to Roberts-Smiths alleged order to members of an Afghan military unit to execute an unarmed detainee following the discovery of a concealed weapons cache on a mission in October 2012. Tell him to shoot him or I will, Person 14 recalled Roberts-Smith saying. Person 14 revealed hed also harboured doubts about aspects of the citation provided for Roberts-Smiths receipt of the Victoria Cross. In forceful cross-examination, Moses, for Roberts-Smith, repeatedly accused Person 14 of lying and of seeking to smear and rubbish his client. The soldier wavered on some secondary aspects of his testimony, but has remained steadfast on the core details he provided to the court this week about the 2009 and 2012 incidents, insisting they are 100 per cent correct.

Moses set out to convince the court it was necessary to test Person 14s evidence against what he might have told Nines reporters, Masters and McKenzie, in meetings four years ago. Person 14s barrister, Glenn Cridland, opposed the move saying his client could be exposed to ADF disciplinary proceedings and his army career imperilled if he was confirmed as a media source. Ben Roberts-Smith and his barrister Arthur Moses, SC. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Nicholas Owens, for the media outlets, also sought to shield Person 14 from answering questions about contact with the media, arguing Moses was trying to outflank safeguards in section 126K of the Evidence Act which give journalists protection from having to reveal their sources. Owens also contended that Moses attempt to reveal which soldiers might have been sources for the media outlets was an abuse of process which would have the effect of media organisations no longer being able to rely on truth defences because they wouldnt be able to honour promises to sources.

Justice Besanko granted Person 14 a certificate under the Evidence Act against self- incrimination and initially disallowed Moses question about contact with the media. However on Wednesday morning the judge reversed his position on that issue, with the result that the soldier had to recount in detail what transpired at a meeting with Masters in January 2018 and another with Masters and McKenzie the following month. Moses put to Person 14 that hed originally told Masters it was a more junior soldier, Person 4, who had machine-gunned the Afghan with the prosthetic leg. Person 14 maintained that was incorrect, though agreeing hed originally assumed the more junior soldier was responsible. He denied telling Masters that Roberts-Smith had gone up the river  an apparent reference to the fictional colonel Kurtz who goes rogue in the Vietnam War movie Apocalypse Now. The precise reasons for Justice Besanko ordering Person 14 to reveal his dealings with the media remain semi-opaque, because the evidence on which the decision was based was produced by Moses in closed court.

Commonwealth concerns over national security and current federal war crimes investigations have meant the court closing to the public and media at regular intervals, sometimes for hours at a time. Moses revealed enough, however, to indicate he had a possession of a document which he claimed went to the credibility of Person 14 as a witness. It is not clear at this stage how many other military witnesses may be forced to disclose their dealings with the media. The clashes in the courtroom have served to highlight the tangled thicket of issues that arise when competing public interest considerations  support for sources versus broader interests of justice concerns  are brought to bear against one another. Interests of justice President of the Australian Bar Association, Dr Matt Collins, QC, told the Herald and The Age that Australia does not have broad- based journalist source protection laws.

There are very limited protections in most jurisdictions, including before the Federal Court (where the hearing case is taking place), he says. And such protection as [exists] is always capable of being over-ridden by the court if a court takes the view that the public interest in the administration of justice ought to prevail over the protection of the journalists source. The new witness called by Nine on Friday, Person 16, has testified about an entirely separate alleged atrocity from the previous two SAS witnesses. On November 5, 2012, he said, he and Roberts-Smith had both been on a mission to Fasil in Afghanistan. Person 16 recalled stopping a group of four males travelling along a road in a Toyota Hilux, among them a youth in his late teens, who, according to Person 16, was shaking with terror when detained. Although components for IEDs had been found in the Hilux, Person 16 said, he found the youth to be unarmed and turned him over for questioning to Roberts-Smiths patrol. A day or two later he asked Roberts-Smith what had become of the young man. Allegedly Roberts-Smith replied, I  shot the c--t in the side of his head, blew his brains out and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Cross-examining Person 16 on Friday afternoon, Moses accused the soldier of imagining the conversation. The soldier replied that this conversation 100 per cent happened.
Former TV host Andrew OKeefe has pleaded guilty to drug possession amid a fresh charge that he breached an apprehended violence order.

Mr OKeefe, 50, appeared briefly via video link from isolation in custody to nod his agreement as his lawyer, Arjun Chhabra, told Central Local Court his client would plead guilty to possessing 1.5 grams of cannabis on January 27  but not guilty to all other charges.

Andrew OKeefe pictured outside court last year. Credit:Georgina Mitchell

Mr OKeefe had been found with the drugs when he was arrested by police over an alleged assault on a woman on January 25, while he was on bail for breaching an AVO in a separate matter.

On that afternoon, its alleged Mr OKeefe punched, kicked and choked a 38-year-old woman who had met him at his home for business purposes. The woman told police she had to bite Mr OKeefes arm to break free during one of the episodes of choking.
The NSW government was warned late last year that the aged care sector was not prepared for the Omicron wave, according to an industry expert who says the states decision to push ahead with reopening resulted in hundreds of deaths.

A NSW parliamentary hearing into the governments response to the pandemic also heard from healthcare union officials who revealed the conditions nurses and doctors had been subjected to during the Omicron wave, with some resorting to wearing incontinence underwear during their shifts.

A healthcare worker in PPE inside a Penrith aged care facility. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Aged Care and Community Services Australia chief executive Paul Sadler told the committee on Friday that the sector warned the NSW government in late 2021 it was not ready for an outbreak of the highly virulent Omicron variant.

We were already flagging with the NSW government, For goodness sake, be very careful here, we dont think we are prepared sufficiently because theres not the supply of rapid antigen tests coming from the federal government yet, Mr Sadler said.
NSW has recorded 8183 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths, after a state parliamentary inquiry heard of the conditions nurses and doctors had been subjected to during the Omicron wave.

There are 1650 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, including 104 in intensive care units. Hospitalisations are down by 66 cases on those reported on Friday.

NSW has recorded 8183 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths, after a state parliamentary inquiry heard of the conditions nurses and doctors had been subjected to during the Omicron wave. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

The new cases were detected from 4895 positive PCR tests and 3288 rapid antigen tests. Of the new cases, the majority were recorded in the western Sydney region, followed by the Hunter New England and south-western Sydney areas.

Of the 32 deaths, 25 were men and seven were women. Eleven of these deaths have been included following the conclusion of coronial investigations  these 11 deaths occurred from January 22 to February 5.
Queenslands state government and major airports have pooled a $200 million war chest to lure more international flights to the state as national borders ease.

The Palaszczuk government will pour in half the funding, the Premier boasting on Friday the state would be better placed to snap up returning travellers and rebuild its $6 billion international tourism sector.

Tourism hotspots such as Cairns have been hankering for the return of international tourists. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Speaking with cabinet members and industry figures from the Gold Coast, Ms Palaszczuk said the four-year project would help airports negotiate with airlines to fast-track more direct flights, deliver an estimated 5.3 million seats each year and pour $4 billion into businesses across the state.

This is a large injection, weve been supporting the tourism economy  especially those businesses that have been affected by COVID during the pandemic  to the tune of a billion dollars, she said.
Next week is the fourth week, and were confident that, while [its] still going to be very, very busy, we are in a position to safely lift the code brown alert. Quarantine hotels across the state will also cease operating as isolation facilities by the end of next month, with the states purpose-built quarantine hub now near completion. The $200 million facility will become operational later this month and begin housing unvaccinated travellers as well as people unable to safely isolate at home. Aerial image of the Mickleham quarantine facility under construction. Credit:Joe Armao Located in Mickleham, the hub will also be used as emergency accommodation in the event of natural disasters, such as bushfires, and be equipped to deal with future pandemics.

The first 250 beds at the facility will open in late February with operations scaling up through March and April. About 500 staff are currently being trained on-site. Loading Several hotels used to treat and care for COVID-19 patients before they are discharged from hospital will also cease operating for that purpose in late February, due to dropping infection numbers in the state. In a statement announcing the news on Friday afternoon, Police Minister Lisa Neville said the new quarantine hub would ensure Victoria had the resources to deal with current and future pandemics. We have always known hotels were built for tourists, not quarantine, so its more than appropriate to be ending our hotel program now that operations are about to kick off at the purpose-built Victorian Quarantine Hub, she said.

The lessons learned in hotel quarantine wont go to waste, with hundreds of existing hotel staff transitioning over to the hub in the coming weeks. Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville. Credit:Penny Stephens More than 70,000 residents have transited through Victorias quarantine system since December 2020. The announcement comes after Victoria recorded 8521 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths on Friday and after Australian health officials announced people would need a third coronavirus vaccine dose to be considered up to date. There are now 553 people in hospital with the virus in Victoria, with 23 on ventilators and 82 in intensive care.

Of the new cases reported across the state, 3162 were confirmed by PCR tests, while 5359 were self-reported from rapid antigen tests. More than 22,000 PCR tests results were returned on Thursday. Victoria now has 55,617 active cases. In its updated advice on Thursday night, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended that everyone aged 16 and over get a booster three months after their primary two-dose course to maintain protection against COVID-19. If it has been longer than six months since a person has received two doses, and they have not had a booster, they would no longer be considered up to date and instead would become overdue. It is a step away from stricter messaging around the need to be fully vaccinated.

Ahead of Australias border reopening on February 21, the federal government stated the new ATAGI definition would not apply to international travellers, with that cohort needing two doses of an approved vaccine to enter the country. In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews said his government would try to the maximum extent possible to have consistent rules, but there might be discrepancies depending on how long a visitor was in Australia. That will probably mean that they wont be perfect rules because well all have to compromise a little bit, he said. In some circumstances, people who are here a short term, for instance, [there] might be different rules [than] for people who are here longer term. National cabinet agreed in its Thursday meeting that there would be no national mandates for three doses except for aged care workers, but states and territories are open to decide any other local requirements.
There was no record of the man having any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, he had underlying conditions, and is believed to have contacted the virus after attending an event at North Beach Bowling Club.

Mr McGowan said his thoughts went out to the mans family and friends, and thanked the healthcare workers who had looked after him.

The man was being taken care of at Joondalup Hospital and is the second person in WA to die from the virus.

Hed been in and out of ICU and onto the ward. He had some other conditions, Im advised, but he also had COVID. It was obviously very difficult for him and his family, Mr McGowan said.

There were also 51 local cases announced, a spike Mr McGowan said was not a concern and had been expected since Omicron was first detected in Perth, and 48 cases in travellers brought the total to 99 recorded overnight.

The news of 51 local cases may shock some and we can expect higher numbers in the weeks to come, but I can assure all Western Australians it is not a cause for panic, but its a reminder to take Omicron seriously, he said.

If its been three months since your second dose, dont wait any longer. Omicron is here, go get your third dose to protect yourself, your family and our community.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said her thoughts were with the family of the man who died and also with those affected by the Bentley aged care facility outbreak.
Last weekend The Sun newspaper in the UK revealed Britains channel 5 television station was not renewing its relationship with the long-running Australian series Neighbours.

For decades, the Aussie soap which launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and countless others had been played twice a day during the week, and, in its heyday, being watched by millions of viewers.

The relationship with the UK was something of a lifeline for the show  with the millions of pounds invested by Channel 5 shoring up the shows budget after its Australian broadcaster, Network 10, moved it from its lucrative slot after the news to the multichannel.

Now, the shows future is in doubt and if an alternative UK broadcaster isnt found, visits to Ramsay Street may be no more.
As well as arguing it is needed, Morrison said he was committed to the legislation because he promised it before the last election. In reality, he has been substantially driven by a quest to keep or win faith-based conservative voters, particularly in ethnic areas in western Sydney. Some Coalition sources believe these votes were an essential component in his 2019 victory. Albanese desperately requires these votes too  Labor identified after the 2019 election that it had a problem with them  and he certainly cant afford to lose those already in the ALPs camp. So, although many in Labor and its base didnt want a bar of the religious discrimination legislation  Bill Shorten told Parliament We will rue the day if this legislation passes the Senate  the opposition leader wrangled a divided frontbench and caucus into supporting it, while pressing amendments. The governments package included an amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act to prevent gay students being expelled from religious schools.

Loading But that was narrower than an earlier undertaking Morrison gave, and it didnt cover transgender students. The government said it wanted a report from the Law Reform Commission before acting on them, because of what it insisted were the complexities of religious schools dealing with trans students. The exclusion of transgender children turned out to be a serious flaw in the eyes of some in Liberal ranks. The moderates asserted themselves, in negotiations on the package before the parliamentary debate, and in the chamber. They were driven by principle but also by their own political imperatives. Some moderate critics of the bill share Perrottets view about the unwisdom of stirring up the religious discrimination issue. They were even more exercised about transgender students being left in limbo.

Morrison twisted arms and gave some sops to try to corral his followers. Perhaps he thought when push came to shove, his authority would get him through. It didnt. Two Liberal defectors, Bridget Archer and Trent Zimmerman, raised their heads in votes on the main bill, although it eventually passed the House of Representatives unamended. Loading It was a much worse story for the government on the bill to amend the Sex Discrimination Act. Three more Liberal rebels  Katie Allen, Fiona Martin and Dave Sharma  joined Archer and Zimmerman. The five supported a successful amendment for all students  including transgender  to be protected. Morrison was left flummoxed and no doubt furious. The government was uncertain how votes would go if the legislation went immediately to the Senate. For hours on Thursday it mulled over its next step.

It was consulting stakeholders, according to assistant Minister to the Attorney-General Amanda Stoker. And counting its numbers, obviously, in this hostile chamber. One of its senators, Andrew Bragg, would have crossed the floor. But in fact, non-government Senate leaders had already decided late Wednesday there wouldnt be enough time to deal with the legislation on Thursday. Meanwhile the Australian Christian Lobby declared the government should withdraw the package, saying: Taking away protections for Christian schools is a price too high to pay for the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill. After a few hours the government shelved the package, and lashed out. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash argued in a letter to her Labor counterpart, Mark Dreyfus, and crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie, who moved the successful amendment, that the change could, in fact, allow  rather than prohibit  discrimination in religious schools. The government said this was based on advice from the government solicitor, although the letter did not reference the advice. Sharkie was unimpressed, describing Cashs letter as a ruse. Lets see whats behind it, she said, challenging Cash to table the legal advice.

Loading Sharkie smells the same game as the government played years ago when the crossbench rolled it to pass the Medevac law to facilitate the transfer of offshore asylum seekers and refugees to Australia for treatment. The consensus is the religious discrimination package wont get through this term. There are only a couple of Senate sitting days left (in budget week), the government doesnt have the numbers, and the political caravan will have moved on. As for now, Morrison might argue he tried but was thwarted by Labor. But that can be countered with a question and a proposition. The question is: Why did you leave it so late? The proposition is that, regardless of the legal argy-bargy, when you are promoting anti-discrimination it is difficult to complain you have been stymied by the House of Representatives insisting on removing discrimination against trans kids.
The debate over the federal governments religious discrimination bill may have been put on hold but it has exposed deep fissures in Australian society which will take time and careful thought to resolve.

While there is broad agreement that religion deserves the same protection from discrimination as sex, race and gender it is also clear there must be restrictions on expressions of religious belief which conflict with the standards of tolerance that are fundamental to Australian society.

History has shown that while religion can be a great force for good in the world, people acting in the name of religion have sometimes used their beliefs to justify bigotry, hatred and even violence. The bill that went before the Federal Parliament failed to get the balance right.

One of Prime Minister Scott Morrisons main arguments for the bill was that it would consolidate Australias multicultural society.

But the role of religion in culturally and linguistically diverse social groups is as complex as it is for the wider community and not all groups supported the bill.
First-home buyers will be able to use a contribution from the state government for their house deposit in return for handing over some equity in the property, in a novel strategy being devised to address Sydneys affordability crisis.

The Perrottet government scheme would help first home buyers enter the property market earlier, and the equity held by the state would be repaid in instalments or when the property was sold.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Treasurer Matt Kean at a press conference following Fridays CBD Summit. Credit:Renee Nowytarger

Parents of first home buyers could also hand over equity in their homes to the government to help their children buy a property.

The strategy is being developed as part of Premier Dominic Perrottets commitment that home ownership and affordability would be a key focus, and could become a key election issue ahead of next years poll.
London: The White House says Russia could invade Ukraine next week, possibly within the next two days, as the United States, Britain and Australia have told their citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.

Britains Boris Johnson told world leaders in a virtual meeting that he feared for Europes safety as US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in Washington that while he did not know if Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered an invasion, all the pieces were in place for a military operation that could start rapidly.

US President Joe Biden. Credit:AP

Now we cant pinpoint the day at this point and we cant pinpoint the hour but what we can say is that there is a credible prospect that Russian military action would take place even before the end of the Olympics, he told reporters at the White House on Saturday AEDT.

At a door stop in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for Australians in Ukraine to leave.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, February 9th, 2022, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley met with the representatives of the Social Economic Council (SER) to discuss the increase of the minimum wage on St. Maarten.

The Minister previously sent a request to the advisory council, requesting their feedback on the steps he wishes to take for the implementation of a one-time increase, on the minimum wage.

At the time of the request, the Minister could not offer a figure to the SER, as the Ministry was still awaiting the consumer price index (CPI) of the third quarter of 2021, from the department of stats, which has since been received.

The meeting was called by the SER to get a full explanation on what would be the possible figure and why the Minister feels this is the right time to increase the minimum wage.

Minister Ottley listened to the concerns of the business representatives and agreed to take their concerns into consideration. He stated that while he understood their concerns, he reminded the Council that the minimum wage is the legal instrument that protects the workers from being underpaid for their labor. The Minister stated that withholding an increase for so many years now, regardless of the reason, ... is illegal!

Minister Ottley ended the meeting with the promise to have the finalized advice, with the newly proposed calculated amount, sent to the SER within two weeks.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Crystal Gibbes will be representing Sint Maarten in Miss Global 2021/2022 which will be held in Bali, Indonesia from May 31st - June 11th, 2022. She is one of around 80 contestants, selected from all over the world, that will compete for the title of Miss Global 2021/2022.

Miss Global Sint Maarten would like to thank the Windward Island Bank, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Government of Sint Maarten for their sponsorship.

Currently, the voting for the virtual section is now open on Instagram. The voting will run from February 9th - February 23rd. Please follow Miss Globals official Instagram account to like Miss Global Sint Maarten, candidate number 37.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 56F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to deliver a batch of more than 100 cubesats into orbit.

The principles of rocketry were first tested more than 2,000 years ago, but it's only been within the past 70 years or so that we have built rockets to explore space.

Today, rockets routinely loft spacecraft off Earth, sending satellites to low-Earth orbit or cargo to the International Space Station. And with the commercial space industry booming, astronauts now regularly travel to and from the orbiting lab, carrying scientific experiments with them.

New developments have even seen reusable rockets become common, landing back on Earth autonomously, ready to be used again.

Early rocketry

There is evidence that rocket technology, or the early fundamentals of rocketry, was used thousands of years ago, as early as 400 B.C., for example.

In an experiment at that time, Archytas, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, showed off a pseudo-rocket: a wooden pigeon suspended on wires. The pigeon was propelled by escaping steam, according to NASA.

Around 300 years after the pigeon experiment, the Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria is said to have invented the aeolipile (also called Hero's engine), NASA added. This is a sphere-shaped device that sat on top of a boiling pool of water. Gas from the steaming water went inside of the sphere and escaped through two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides. The escaping steam created thrust that would make the sphere rotate.

Further developments in early rocket technology were recorded in the 9th century when Chinese monks developed what is now called "gunpowder," a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur and charcoal. Saltpeter was theorized to have life-extending properties and it was that interest in seeking a sort of immortality that helped lead to gunpowder's development, according to ThoughtCo.

"During the Tang Dynasty, around 850 A.D., an enterprising alchemist  whose name has been lost to history  mixed 75 parts saltpeter with 15 parts charcoal and 10 parts sulfur. This mixture had no discernable life-lengthening properties, but it did explode with a flash and a bang when exposed to an open flame," ThoughtCo wrote.

A Chinese Long March 6 rocket lifts off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying SDGSAT-1 on Nov. 4, 2021. (Image credit: Zheng Bin/Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.)

"According to a text from that era," ThoughtCo continued, "smoke and flames result, so that [the alchemists'] hands and faces have been burnt, and even the whole house where they were working burned down."

The first military use of rocket technology was also recorded in China later in 1232 CE, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The Chinese used "flying fire lances" against the Mongol Empire as they moved against the former Chinese capital Kaifeng. (Today, it is a prefecture in Henan province.)

Smithsonian researchers led by Frank Winter, former curator of rockets at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum, dug deeper into these early "rockets" and discovered that the lances arose from a more modest device called the "ground rat" in the 12th century, described in a book called Rustic Tales in Eastern Chi (Chin yeh-yu).

The "ground rat" was a self-propelled device that was more like a firework, "made from a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder that shot about in all directions on the floor," Smithsonian Magazine wrote. "During a royal banquet in the 13th century, the wife of Emperor Li Chung was terrified when a ground rat scurried beneath her chair. The festivities abruptly ended and those responsible for the firework display were imprisoned."

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 21, 2022. (Image credit: ULA)

Roger Bacon, a Franciscan English philosopher and monk who dabbled in experimental science, is the first person on record in what some call "Western science" to provide directions for making gunpowder, according to Britannica. In the 1200s, he speculated gunpowder might be useful in warfare, foreshadowing the mixture's future name and use in guns the following century.

Meanwhile in China, the possibilities of this new gunpowder and rocket technology sparked a legend surrounding a public official (called a mandarin) named Wan Hu, around 1500 AD.

"As he sat on a chair, the story goes, forty-seven coolies lit forty-seven black-powder rockets that were attached to it. Wan Hu traveled a short distance and then disappeared in an explosion and a cloud of smoke," William E. Burrows wrote in the first chapter of his Pulitzer Prize-nominated book "This New Ocean."

"If it really happened," Burrows mused in the book, "Wan Hu had the triple distinction of being the first person to ride a rocket, the first to fly on a self-propelled, heavier-than-air device, and the first rocket pilot to get killed during a test flight."

A 2004 episode of the television show "Mythbusters" investigated the rocket chair's possibilities on television.

Rockets in theory and practice

By the 16th century, early rocket technology was regularly used in military skirmishes in Asia and Europe as well as in fireworks displays.

While likely many people were musing on rocketry's potential during this era, we'll highlight just a couple. Austrian Conrad Haas created a "treatise" on rocketry technology, including crewed rockets, in the mid-16th century and the work laid undiscovered by historians until 1961, according to the European Union-funded site "Digital Treasures."

A century later, Kazimierz Siemienowicz, a Polish-Lithuanian general of the 17th century, published his book, The Complete Art of Artillery, which included designs for rockets and multistage rockets, NASA says.

"He published a design for multistage rockets that was to become fundamental rocket technology for rockets heading for outer space," the agency wrote in a brief guide to rocketry. "Siemienowicz also proposed batteries for military rocket launching, and delta-wing stabilizers to replace the guiding rods currently in use with military rockets."

The 'lead' Ground-based Interceptor is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., March 25, 2019, in the first-ever salvo engagement test of a threat-representative ICBM target. It was the first of two missiles launched to intercept an ICBM target vehicle by the Missile Defense Agency. (Image credit: U.S. Missile Defense Agency)

Briefly, parallel developments in science and engineering helped contribute to rocketry's development. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) first described the property of inertia, which means an object in motion remains in motion while an object at rest remains at rest (outside of something pushing upon it).

Galileo's work previewed the physics pioneered by English scientist Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Newton formulated theories of gravitation and motion that fundamentally redefined how we think about planetary motion and movement through space. Newton's third law of motion, which (simply put) says that every action induces an opposite reaction, underlies the principle of rocketry.

In the early 19th century, Sir William Congreve experimented with numerous rocket designs for military purposes, ultimately coming up with what we today term the "Congreve rocket." Britannica describes the up to 60-pound (27-kg) rocket as stick-guided, meaning that users had a bit of control over its path. Famously, the Americans and the British both used Congreve rockets during the war of 1812; Francis Scott Key's "The Star Spangled Banner" refers to "the rockets' red glare" at the Battle of Fort McHenry.

Meanwhile, French science fiction Jules Verne (1828-1905) envisioned a cannon bringing astronauts to the moon in 1865, just over a century before it actually happened for the first time during Apollo 8 in 1968. It doesn't quite describe rocketry in its modern form, but Verne's vision was influential for rocketry pioneers for generations after its publication.

Apollo 13 mission launches to the moon on top of Saturn V rocket. (Image credit: NASA)

'Fathers' of rocketry

In the modern era, spaceflight historians often acknowledge three fathers of rocketry who helped push the first rockets into space. Admittedly, the term singles out a person who may have been in charge of a large team, and also comes from an era when people were less sensitive about the use of gendered language.

Still, these individuals have a large footprint on the development of rocketry as we understand it today. Only one of the three survived long enough to see rockets being used for space exploration.

Russian Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) published what is now known as the rocket equation in 1903, which you can read more about in this European Space Agency description of the mathematics. Simply put, the equation concerns relationships between rocket speed and mass, as well as how fast the gas is leaving when it exits the propellant system's exhaust and how much propellant there is.

Robert Goddard (1882-1945) was an American physicist who sent the first liquid-fueled rocket aloft in Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926. He had two U.S. patents for using a liquid-fueled rocket and also for a two- or three-stage rocket using solid fuel, according to NASA.

Hermann Oberth (1894-1989) was born in Romania and later moved to Germany; as a Nazi engineer his legacy is complicated given that he worked for an oppressive, racist empire during the Second World War. His studies on multistage rockets were first used for Nazi attacks on Britain using the A4 rocket, better known to us as the V2. The rocket, notes a German museum of Oberth, "utilized 95 of Oberth's inventions and suggestions." Oberth lived well into the space shuttle era, allowing him to see humans fly to space and use early reusable spaceships.

The American Rocket Society tested the M15-G1 rocket engine in June 1942. From left: Hugh Pierce, John Shesta and Lovell Lawrence, who would go on to become three of the founders of Reaction Motors Inc. (Image credit: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum)

Rockets in early spaceflight

Following World War II, several German and Nazi rocket scientists emigrated to both the Soviet Union and the United States, assisting those countries in the Space Race of the 1960s. In that contest, both countries vied to demonstrate technological and military superiority, using space as the frontier.

The most famous of these engineers was Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977) who was also a Nazi with a complicated legacy. After emigrating to the United States, he became most famous for leading the design of the Saturn V rocket that took people to the moon, and popularizing space travel through Disney productions.

Describing even the early history of rockets and all their milestones is admittedly a book-length endeavor, as it also involves elements such as the so-called Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union that spurred tremendous and rapid developments in rocketry in just a couple of decades.

The history also includes military history in Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States that underlay the development of space technology, along with the ongoing privatization of rocket development in the United States and later, Europe. A short article unfortunately cannot cover all these developments.

To learn more, you can start with Space.com's history of every crewed spacecraft that ever was used. We also recommend the International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems by Joseph Hopkins Jr., Joshua Hopkins and Steven Isakowitz.

Artist's illustration of NASA's huge Space Launch System rocket in flight. (Image credit: NASA)

Here is a quick timeline of the first few years of rocketry: A rocket was used for the first time to send something into space on the Sputnik rocket mission, which launched the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957. The United States used a modified Jupiter-C military rocket (called Juno-1) to heft its Explorer 1 satellite into space on Feb. 1, 1958, following an infamous disaster with another, largely untested rocket type.

It took several more years before either country felt confident enough to use rockets to send people into space; both countries started with animals (monkeys and dogs, for example). Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, leaving Earth on April 12, 1961, aboard a Vostok-K rocket for a multiorbit flight. About three weeks later, Alan Shepard made the first American suborbital flight on a Redstone rocket. A few missions later in NASA's Mercury program, the agency switched to Atlas rockets to achieve orbit, and in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.

When aiming for the moon, NASA used the Saturn V rocket, which, at 363 feet tall, included three stages  the last one designed to be powerful enough to break away from Earth's gravity. The rocket successfully launched six moon-landing missions between 1969 and 1972. The Soviet Union developed a moon rocket called N-1, but its program was permanently suspended after multiple delays and problems, including a deadly explosion.

NASA's space-shuttle program (1981 to 2011) used solid rockets for the first time to boost humans into space, which is notable, because unlike liquid rockets, they cannot be turned off. The shuttle itself had three liquid-fueled engines, with two solid rocket boosters strapped on the sides. In 1986, a solid rocket booster's O-ring failed and caused a catastrophic explosion, killing seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger. The solid rocket boosters were redesigned after the incident.

Rockets have since been used to send spacecraft farther into our solar system: past the moon, Venus and Mars in the early 1960s, which later expanded into the exploration of dozens of moons and planets. Rockets have carried spacecraft throughout the solar system so that astronomers now have imagery of every planet (as well as the dwarf planet Pluto), many moons, comets, asteroids and smaller objects. And, because of powerful and advanced rockets, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was able to leave our solar system and reach interstellar space.

Rockets of today and tomorrow

Several companies in many countries now manufacture uncrewed and crewed rockets  the United States, India, Europe, China and Russia, to name a few  and routinely send military and civilian payloads into space. Each of these countries has their own complex history of rocketry across many booster types, which often come with numerous variants for heavier loads or smaller loads, or different celestial destinations.

Meanwhile, crewed spaceflight continues to proliferate. The Russians have used variants of their Soyuz rocket for decades, bringing humans into space across several different versions. NASA now has two streams of rocket providers, one set commercial and one set agency-directed.

For International Space Station missions, the agency is using the SpaceX Crew Dragon system aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, modified from a booster variant used for satellites; the hope is to use In the near-future, NASA also plans to use a Northrop Grumman Starliner spacecraft, which would launch aboard either Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket or United Launch Alliance's Atlas V. Further afield, NASA is also developing a Space Launch System to launch astronauts to the moon and potentially (eventually) Mars, following at least one SLS test launch this decade.

This SpaceX photo shows the first test-fire of six Raptor engines on the company's Starship SN20 rocket prototype on Nov. 12, 2021 at the Starbase facility in near Boca Chica Village in South Texas. A Starship Super Heavy booster stands at right. (Image credit: SpaceX)

Rocket technology continues to change rapidly in private industry, with milestones often accruing in a period of just months. We'll just point to a few trends. SpaceX and Blue Origin have pioneered the use of self-landing rockets. Numerous companies are launching clutches of satellites on a single rocket, as satellite technology continues to improve and miniaturize. Rockets are getting lighter and more adaptable through 3D printing, more efficient fuels and continued improvements in machine learning (artificial intelligence).

As of early 2022, space tourists and commercial astronauts now have choices of several rocket or spaceplane systems developed by Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. Space tourism may be the trend to watch for the 2020s and 2030s, although for now it is largely confined to the super-rich.

The most high-profile future rocket system in development is Starship and its Super Heavy rocket, a SpaceX project that is expected to bring NASA astronauts to the moon in the short term and settlers to Mars in the much longer term. The system changes quite rapidly between iterations and as of early 2022, it has yet to achieve a spaceflight. But founder Elon Musk has been committed to the project for many years and regularly shares updates on Twitter in between launches.

Additional resources

Bibliography

"Roger Bacon: English Philosopher and Scientist." Theodore Crowley. Britannica. (2022, Jan. 1). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roger-Bacon

"Brief History of Rockets." NASA. (2021, May 13.) https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/TRC/Rockets/history_of_rockets.html

"On the Making of Cannons and Missiles." Gabi Rudinger. Digital Treasures. (2021, Feb. 20). https://www.digitaltreasures.eu/on-the-making-of-cannons-and-missiles/

"The Invention of Gunpowder: A History." Kallie Szczepanski. ThoughtCo. (2019, July 3). https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-gunpowder-195160

"Dr. Robert H. Goddard, American Rocketry Pioneer." NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (2017, Aug. 3). https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/history/dr_goddard.html

"Congreve Rocket." The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica. (2014, July 24). https://www.britannica.com/technology/Congreve-rocket/additional-info#history

"The History of Rocket Science." Jimmy Stamp. Smithsonian Magazine. (2013, February.) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-history-of-rocket-science-4078981/

"A Man And An Equation." European Space Agency. (2012, Oct. 14). https://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2012/10/14/a-man-and-an-equation/

International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems, Fourth Edition. Joseph Hopkins Jr., Joshua Hopkins and Steven Isakowitz. (2012, Aug. 27). https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/4.475917

"Hermann Oberth." Hermann Oberth Raumfahrt Museum. (n.d.) http://www.oberth-museum.org/index_e.html

"A Pictorial History of Rockets." NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center. (n.d.) https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/pdf/530422main_Pictorial%20History%20of%20Rockets.pdf
Palmas de Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Feb 10, 2022 (SPS)- The president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, today received the Minister for Cooperation of the Saharawi Republic (SADR), Fatma Mehdi, accompanied by the delegate in Spain , Abdulah Arabi, and the delegate in the Balearic Islands, Hmudi Lebsir, to exchange on the current situation of the Saharawi people and the new situation in the territory as a result of the violation of the ceasefire by Morocco in Western Sahara and resumption of the war .

Francina Armengol has reaffirmed that the meeting is part of the broad commitment to the Saharawi people and adherence to international law, pointing out out that the Balearic political and humanitarian support for the Saharawi people responds to a consensus of the citizens, historically linked to the Saharawi people.

Along the same lines, the president also expressed concern about the inaction of Spain and the international community in the face of the decolonization process.

In the hearing held at the headquarters of the Government, the Saharawi official addressed in detail the current scenario, marked by war and the health pandemic, in the Saharawi refugee camps and in the occupied areas.SPS

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A construction management firm at the center of a federal grand jury probe into school construction grants got two no-bid contracts worth a combined $530,000 to oversee the building of a new elementary school in Tolland  during the same period of time it hired the daughter of Konstantinos Diamantis.

Diamantis had been the director of the Office of School Construction Grants and Review until he resigned Oct. 28.

Tolland officials hired Construction Advocacy Professionals, or CAP, based in Plainfield, to first oversee installation of portable classrooms at the Birch Grove Primary School on June 20, 2019, according to contracts obtained by the Connecticut Mirror. They were paid $70,000 for the work.

Then, in July 2019, CAP hired Diamantis daughter Anastasia, documents state.

Weeks later, a contract amendment, giving CAP another $460,000 worth of work, was signed on Sept. 18, 2019 for the construction of a new Birch Grove school. The old school needed to be replaced immediately because the foundation was crumbling.

The initial contract was signed by Tolland Superintendent of Schools Walter Willett and Antonietta DiBenedetto, one of the owners of CAP, while the second was signed by then-Town Manager Michael Rosen and DiBenedetto, records show.

Willett and Rosen did not respond to numerous phone calls to their offices on Friday, but Willett issued a written statement to The Hartford Courant.

In his statement, Willett alleged that local officials in Tolland were pressured by Diamantis to choose CAP and another contractor, DAmato Construction, for the school construction project.

Representatives of the town and the board felt they had no real choice as to CAP and DAmato because Mr. Diamantis routinely emphasized there would be detrimental effects to the project if Tolland chose contractors or consultants other than CAP or DAmato, he said, according to the statement provided to The Courant.

Kosta Diamantis daughter, Anastasia, could not be reached for comment.

West Hartford Attorney Craig Raabe of Izell, Kendall & Raabe said Friday he is representing CAP and DiBenedetto and that they would not comment.

According to statements included in a recent report compiled by former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy Jr., Anastasia Diamantis told investigators that the owner of CAP called her out of the blue and offered her the job.

She described CAP as a Rhode Island-based company. But she also acknowledged that she did work on school projects in Connecticut for CAP. Anastasia said she worked on spreadsheets and did filings for CAP, according to the investigation report.

Diamantis influence under investigation

Anastasia Diamantis employment at CAP was not the only position she held that was of interest to investigators.

Twardy was hired by Gov. Ned Lamont to conduct an independent review of how Anastasia Diamantis came to get an executive assistant position at Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelos office  at the same time Colangelo was lobbying Kosta Diamantis to help him get pay raises for staff in Colangelos office.

Kosta Diamantis also was an undersecretary at the Office of Policy and Management, the agency that could approve such pay raises.

On Oct. 28, Diamantis was removed from the OPM position by the governors office and suspended with pay from the school construction post. Rather than accept the suspension, Diamantis retired. He has since filed a grievance with the state Employee Review Board alleging he was targeted by the administration after he complained that two of Lamonts top aides, Joshua Geballe and Paul Mounds, had been disrespectful to OPM Secretary Melissa McCaw.

Meanwhile, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena to the state Department of Administrative Services on Oct. 20 for all emails, text messages and attachments involving Kosta Diamantis and a broad range of construction projects.

Federal authorities sent an addendum to that subpoena eight days later asking the state to prioritize 19 search terms  among them Anastasia, Antoinetta, DiBenedetto-Roy, Construction Advocacy Professionals and Birch Grove.

Emergency contract

The Birch Grove school project was considered an emergency by state legislators in January 2019 after tests revealed that the foundation of the school was cracking because the concrete used to build the foundation contained pyrrhotite, a mineral that was causing cement to deteriorate in foundations and houses and buildings all over Eastern Connecticut.

The state initially agreed to pay 89% of the costs for the project and waived normal bidding procedures because of the emergency.

The state funded two contracts  the first for about $9 million to build portable classrooms at the site so students could go to school while the old school was demolished and replaced. The state also agreed to a $46 million contract to build the new school at the same site on Rhodes Road.

The time frame was tight, as officials wanted the new school open in time for the first day of school in 2021.

The Tolland Board of Education established the Birch Grove Building Committee, which began meeting in May of 2019.

Diamantis appeared at the committee several times in person and later by Zoom during the pandemic to discuss everything from the design of the new school, to timely submissions of change orders, to questions about budget increases  at one point admonishing the group when a $2 million add-on occurred because of soil issues, according to minutes of the meeting.

He first appeared at a June 18, 2019 meeting to address questions from the committee about the cost of the portables, the availability of design options and overall costs. Tony DAmato, the owner of DAmato Construction, which had just been named the builder, also attended the meeting, according to the minutes.

Two days after that meeting, Construction Advocacy Professionals was hired as construction manager for the Birch Grove project.

The minutes show that Diamantis attended an October meeting to make sure the committee was submitting change orders to the state on a timely basis so they could be reviewed by his 16-member team.

Mr. Diamantis explained that the purpose of the building committee is to keep the project moving forward and on schedule as well as ensuring it is an amenable design. In regard to the latter, the school will need to be somewhat similar to the original building. Based on the recognition that additional space is needed, an exception has been made and an agreement is in place that states that the space standard is not involved, the minutes from the Oct. 1 meeting state.

$2 million dollar soil

After the old school was demolished, contractors ran into a serious problem almost immediately: The soil could not bear the weight of the new school and needed to be replaced.

The cost would be nearly $2 million, significantly increasing the total budget, but since the town had approved a $46 million budget at a referendum, the committee couldnt exceed that amount without special approval.

Diamantis attended the May 19, 2020 committee meeting to discuss the soil issue and the budget implications, according to the minutes.

Diamantis addressed the unsuitable soil situation and expressed concern that the town did not have a record of this. He is a bit shocked in regard to the degree of unsuitable soil, $1M+, that is being removed and cuts need to be made to trim the project to $46M if the town is not in a position to provide additional funding, the minutes state.

Because the town had approved spending no more than $46 million, committee members started discussing what could be cut from the project to bring the budget back in range.

Mr. Kosta noted that cuts can be made but they must keep the building healthy and provide an adequate educational experience. He would like to keep the project to $46M unless the overage is needed, the minutes state.

The committees budget concerns were alleviated a week later when DAmato made a surprise announcement that the state had agreed to cover the $2 million cost to dispose of and replace the soil.

The legislature eventually not only approved the extra $2 million for soil but also agreed to fund the entire project  all $57 million.

The project stayed within its $46 million budget, and the school opened on time for the 2021 school year, even as contractors finished small items throughout the building into October.
GLASTONBURY  Police on Friday announced they have arrested a member of the local school board and another man for a physical altercation that occurred during a public hearing at the high school in December.

The fight, captured in a widely shared video, occurred during a heated Board of Education meeting over whether to change the name of the high school mascot, which some found offensive to Native Americans.

Police said Monte Ray McFall, the secretary of the Glastonbury Board of Education, was charged with second-degree breach of peace, after turning himself in on a warrant Thursday. Police also arrested a second man, Mark Finocchioaro, who they identified as the man seen in the video punching McFall during the Dec. 14 incident. He was also charged with second-degree breach of peace. Both were released on $2,500 bond.

McFall is due to appear in Manchester Superior Court on March 10. Finocchioaro is due in court the following day.

Neither immediately responded to messages seeking comment on Friday.

The altercation occurred during a meeting over a circulating petition calling for the district to reinstate its former high school mascot, whose name referenced a Native American symbol. The school dropped the mascot in 2020, choosing the Guardians instead, after Native American team names and imagery came into the national spotlight.

The Dec. 14 meeting was a public hearing to discuss the petition. The fight broke out during a 10-minute recess after the public hearing ended.

The video shows McFall come face-to-face with another man, who police allege is Finocchioaro. McFall appears to push the other man away, leading Finocchioaro to punch McFall in the face, knocking him to the floor.

The widely publicized incident drew shock from parents, some of whom said it set a poor example.

The school board voted in favor to keep the name change in place a week after the incident.

The purpose of a mascot is to recognize and unify a group with a common identity, board member Evan Seretan said during the meeting. Our common identity is our connection and our affiliation with Glastonbury High School, both present and former.

But after the hearing where the fight broke out, the former mascot no longer seems to be a symbol that reflects a vision of strength and unity at Glastonbury High School, but instead seems to sow division and discord in our community, he added.

Past reporting by Staff Writer Adam Hushin contributed to this story.
Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  The Taste of Stamford is back in all its glory, for the most part.

The Stamford Chamber of Commerce will hold its culinary extravaganza March 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shippan Landings Harbor Terrace. Last year, the chamber held a mini version of the event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 71F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
HAZLETON  An on-site batch plant prepared the materials that flowed into forms inside the Canadian-based Nexii Building Solutions first U.S. production facility last week.

Nexii employees spread and leveled out the proprietary green building material, working quickly before the product began to set up.

Elsewhere inside the former Dorr-Oliver building in the citys Heights section, workers custom-painted finished walls and cranes hoisted them onto trailers, ready for shipment to building sites.

The plant, operated by principals John Wolfington and Dan Metzler, of NEXUS-1 LLC, opened three months ago and employs just under 110 people, hiring more people each day as production increases.

Hazletons proximity to highways and interstates was one draw for the company, said Wolfington, who has worked in real estate development in northeastern Pennsylvania for the past 21 years.

Plus, the facility itself, a former steel fabrication plant, already had the infrastructure and equipment on site, he said.

So the location and the factory layout worked very well for us, Wolfington said, adding that the local community, CAN DO Inc. and the Governors Action Team were all supportive of the company locating in Hazleton.

The company invested $20 million in the plant and getting ready for production, Wolfington said. The first building manufactured in Hazleton is being constructed right now in New York, he said.

We have 25 buildings going up in the state of New York, he said. These will be public buildings and we have the first one going up right now. Plus, we have contracts to build multiple buildings locally.

The Hazleton facility is capable of making 10-foot by 20-foot green building panels, as well as 12-foot by 40-foot panels that are sustainable, cost-efficient and resilient to natural disasters and climate change.

The panels are made from Nexiite, an alternative to concrete. Creating the panels is similar to pouring concrete, but curing time is much faster. Also, there are less carbon emissions, the panels are energy efficient, hold up to the elements and resist mold, mildew, rot and insects, Wolfington said.

And its reusable, he said. All of the panels can be disassembled, repurposed and moved to other locations.

The company has another production facility preparing to open in Commerce, Texas, and continues to look for more sites, Wolfington said, but right now the focus is on Hazleton.

Were thrilled that Nexiis first unveiling in the United States is in Hazleton, a community that has proudly played an integral role in Americas manufacturing heritage, said Nexii CEO Stephen Sidwell in a news release this week.

Nexii Hazleton will be a model of innovation, determination and the future of sustainable construction as we continue working with communities that are similarly moving away from industries like coal and steel, he said.
Ashtabula, OH (44004)

Today

Rain. High 66F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 48F. S winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
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Roaming and international calls tariffs between the Republic of Moldova and Romania will decrease based on an agreement signed on Friday between the two states for a period of five years, informs the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

"Today, February 11, 2022, during the joint meeting of the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Agreement on the reduction of tariffs for the provision of international roaming services and international calls between the two states was signed. The agreement was concluded on a 5-year period. The National Agency for Regulation in Electronic Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Moldova (ANRCETI) and the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) have provided technical assistance to electronic communications in the two states," the release reads.

According to the quoted source, the agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova aims to create the framework of collaboration between the two parties in order to sustainably reduce the supply tariffs, on the retail market, of international roaming services: voice, SMS and data, respectively international calls between the two states.

Thus, the scope of the Agreement includes mobile communications traffic performed by users of operators in the Republic of Moldova, roaming in the networks of Romanian operators, as well as that performed by users of Romanian operators, roaming in the networks of operators in the Republic of Moldova.

At the same time, the document contains provisions regarding the international calls to the Republic of Moldova made from the Romanian telephone numbering system, respectively the international calls to Romania, made from the Moldovan telephone numbering system.

ANCOM states that the agreement will enter into force immediately after the exchange of notes on the completion of the necessary national procedures, and ANRCETI and ANCOM will support the implementation of its provisions.

Romania and the Republic of Moldova will encourage the sustainable reduction of the supply tariffs, on the retail market, of international roaming services, respectively of those of international calls between the two states within maximum three months from the date of entry into force of the Agreement, notes ANCOM, Agerpres informs.
A series of bilateral documents were signed in Chisinau on Friday at the end of a joint meeting of the national Romanian and Moldovan governments, including an intergovernmental agreement on the implementation of an aid programme under which Romania extends 100 million euros in financial grants to Moldova, an agreement signed by Romania's PM Nicolae Ciuca and Moldova's PM Natalia Gavrilita.

The two also signed a joint statement of the government of Moldova and the government of Romania on strengthening economic and investment co-operation.

During the same event, a series of documents were signed at the level of ministers.

Thus, an agreement was signed between the two governments on cutting tariffs for the provision of international roaming services and international calls between the two countries by Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicolae Popescu and Romania's Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Transformation Marcel Bolos.

A bilateral agreement on technical, financial, legal and organisational matters regarding the consolidation of the border road bridge between the two countries over the Prut River between Giurgiulesti (Moldova) and Galati (Romania) was signed by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spinu, and Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

The same ministers also signed an agreement on technical, financial, legal and organisational aspects regarding the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of the border road bridge between the two countries across the Prut River from Ungheni in Moldova to Ungheni in Romania.

A memorandum of understanding on energy security co-operation between Moldova's Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Romanian Ministry of Energy was also signed by Spinu and Popescu.

Another memorandum of understanding between the two national governments regards digital transformation. It was signed by Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Transformation Minister Iurie Turcanu and his Romanian counterpart Marcel Bolos.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed between Moldova's Ministry of Education and Research and the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Transformation in the area of development and innovation research by Moldovan minister Anatolie Topala and Romanian minister Marcel Bolos.

At the same time, a cooperation protocol was added between Moldova's Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Education of Romania for the years 2020-2026, signed by Moldova's Education Minister Anatolie Topala and Romania's Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu.

At the same joint session, a protocol on military education co-operation between the defence ministries of Moldova and Romania was signed by Molodva's Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii and Romania's Defence Minister Vasile Dincu.

A joint statement was signed by Moldova's Interior Minister Ana Revenco and Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode on internal affairs co-operation. The two ministers also signed a co-operation plan in the area of professional training for the interior ministries of the two countries for the year 2022.

Another plan, an action plan in the area of justice between the justice ministries of Moldova and Romania, was signed for 2022-2024 by Moldova's Justice Minister Sergiu Litvinenco and senior offcial with Romania's Justice Ministry Catalin Serban, Agerpres informs.
The cyber security solution producer Atos Romania, part of the French company Atos, plans to hire a thousand IT's this year, of which 400 juniors, according to a press release sent on Friday to AGERPRES.

Thus, the Romanian subsidiary of the French company is looking for graduates, but also for people with experience from all cities, the employees being to work in a mostly remote system.

Atos Romania ended 2021 with over 3,000 employees in the offices of Bucharest, Brasov, Iasi and Timisoara, its specialists serving more than 300 customers from 15 countries. Currently, the company has partnerships with the defense, cyber security, science and health institutions, being one of the most important French organizations on the Romanian market.

For the current year, Atos aims to attract over a thousand IT specialists locally, both young people at the beginning of their careers, as well as seniors and professionals with experience in the fields of: R&D, Cyber security, Application Development, Big Data and Security, High performance computers, Data Center and Hosting, Systems Applications and Products, Cloud Enterprise Solutions, Digital Workplace, Agerpres.ro informs.

Also, young graduates are considered to enter the Atos Academies, especially for those of Cyber Security, Cloud, Application Management, SAP and DevOps.

At the beginning of this year, Atos Romania obtained the Great Place to Work (GPTW) re-certification, through which the company is recognized as a top employer in terms of providing a constant positive experience at work. The certification is based on the results obtained in an independent study conducted among the employees.
Father Radu Petre Muresan, the Parish Priest of Bucharests Mavrogheni Church, blessed on Monday the building site of a new centre being built in the church courtyard for children with Down syndrome and autism. Their perpetually manifest joy reveals the presence of the Holy Spirit, he said.

Our goal was to find inspiration in similar centres from abroad and build an integrated centre, where all the needed therapies to be fully state-subsidized and offered by accredited professionals, explained the priest.

Romanian parents need lots of resources to be able to care for these children and the infrastructure is not very friendly. Thus, these children become one of the most discriminated categories, he added.

It is crucially important that they socialize and become more confident. That is why we needed to conceive an integrated project to address all their needs. I know people who learned German and looked for a job abroad only to be able to offer their children the chance to benefit from such therapies, continued Father Radu Petre Muresan.

There are more than 2.000 children with Down syndrome in Bucharest, the Capital city of Romania. The new centre could offer daily therapies for 150 of them.

The happiest children

God found me worthy of a Down syndrome child and I know their world and their needs, Father Radu Petre Muresan declared for Basilica.ro.

The first child in the family was an adopted little girl. Then Teodor came, the first-born in the family. We had the diagnosis before birth and assumed this cross, the parish priest continued.

As I knew many people from among the clergy who had children with Down syndrome, I bitterly confessed to our doctor, saying that maybe God was punishing the children for their parents unworthiness, the priest recounted.

But the doctor contradicted him, explaining: Children with Down syndrome are often born in families of priests or good Christians because they are those who always assume them and do not end their lives before birth.

Indeed, although recent data shows that 99% of people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives, other statistics uncover a harsh reality: 92% of children diagnosed with Down are aborted. In Iceland, this percentage is 100% and the country does not have such children  nor the blessing they represent.

Blessing  the priest said  because this cross has turned out to be a light burden, according to the Saviours promise. Teodor is constantly laughing. I have learned from him that we need to live in joy. Joy is the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit  authentic, loving joy.

Teodor is eight years old and goes to a normal school. He is a joyful and happy child.

His family experience inspired Father Radu Petre Muresan to take a decision: In 2020, the Solemn year of the pastoral care of parents and children, I decided to make a project to help these childrens families.

A project of public utility

The centre, probably the most complex of its type in Romania, will be ready for inauguration next February. The parish offered a 300 square-metre plot, which is almost one million Euros worth, and the building is being made by the Local Council of Bucharests Sector 1.

The building shall have a basement, ground-floor plus other two levels: 925 square meters in total, with a reception room, 10 specialized medical cabinets, three rooms for educational therapy, a pool for hydro-kinesiotherapy, elevator, locker rooms, showers and annexes.

Yet, the most difficult part will be to find and train therapy workers. Both children with Down syndrome and autism need complex, personalized therapies. Children with Down need four hours a day of different therapies for 3 to 5 days a week, while costs amount to 20-40 Euros an hour  in a country where the average wage is around 700 Euros.

But, if they benefit from timely therapeutic intervention, over 75% recover and lead a normal life, says Father Radu Petre Muresan. In Western countries, up to 50% of people with Down syndrome are integrated into the labour market, unlike Romania, where the rate is up to 0.5%  one hundred times less.

We want a centre of excellence, a model of good practice which can help the community. It is not even a Church project  but one of public utility, he added.

Father Radu Petre Muresan will go even further. When one of his spiritual children asked what will happen to his special child when the father will pass away, the parish priest promised him to also create a safe dwelling place for those who cannot be fully integrated into society.

For parents of children diagnosed with the syndrome and who may wonder what to do, while being pressured by doctors or those around to abort their children, the priest has the following message: Let them get the courage to bring the children into the world! These children have the right to live and have their own special charisma!

What may look like a heavy cross is a saving light, the priest says.

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Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca reiterated his firm belief that the European path is the only way to ensure the stability, prosperity, economic and social development of the Republic of Moldova, in the talks held on Friday in Chisinau with the President of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu.

"I discussed with the President of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, about the consistent vision of the Romanian Government in relation to the Republic of Moldova, supported by all political forces in Bucharest. I urged the acceleration of judicial reform, the fight against corruption, the strengthening of the rule of law, good governance and streamlining the functioning of the public administration, essential to improve the business environment and the well-being of citizens. I reiterated the firm belief that the European path is the only one for ensuring the stability, prosperity, economic and social development of the Republic of Moldova," Nicolae Ciuca said in a message on the Government's Facebook page, Agerpres.ro informs.
Romania has the opportunity to become a regional hub for maintenance programs in the defence industry, Economy Minister Florin Spataru said in Brasov on Friday, stressing that the defence industry can be revitalized by investments from the state budget, so that it can produce both for the domestic market and for export.

The economy minister told a press conference that out of the amount of 200 million lei allocated through the state budget this year for the defence industry, 118 million lei is dedicated to Brasov County, a "key" one for this industry. He pointed out that, by comparison, last year, in the budget of the Ministry of Economy, 5 million lei was allocated for the defence industry, which was not spent.

He pointed out that the defence industry is going through a crisis of raw materials, but it remains to be seen what can and should be produced in the country, so that Romanian factories are not dependent on imports.

In this context, he mentioned that he visited the Fagaras Powder Factory.

According to him, at present, the defence industry in Romania provides modernization and maintenance programs for the Ministry of National Defence, but it could become a regional hub that would provide such services to other countries as well, Agerpres.ro informs.

"The Ministry of National Defence has an endowment program defined in different categories. The Romanian defence industry can, at this moment, deliver some of these products, but it can also provide maintenance and modernization programs. We provide for artillery, modernization programs for the aeronautical industry. We want to do more, that is why we need to make investments. Romania also has this opportunity to become a regional hub for regional maintenance on certain projects", said Florin Spataru.

During his visit to Brasov County, Florin Spataru reviewed the county's defence industry companies by visiting IAR Ghimbav, Tohan Zarnesti, Pirochim Victoria, Urolight and the Fagaras Powder Factory.
Representatives of the Governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the area of energy security, Romanian Energy Minister Virgil Popescu announced on Facebook.

"Together with Andrei Spinu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, we signed today the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on cooperation in energy security. Energy is one of the areas in which cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Moldova is a close one and, I might add, with concrete results," mentioned Virgil Popescu.

The Minister of Energy explained that Romania and the Republic of Moldova will draw up in the next 6 months the joint action plan in case of energy crisis.

"The memorandum signed today establishes a framework for dialogue in which we will be able to exchange information and coordinate our actions to ensure the continuity of electricity and / or natural gas supply to consumers, without affecting the fulfillment of the obligations assumed, according to the coordination platforms and mechanisms implemented under the Energy Community and the European Union. In the next 6 months, we will draw up a Joint Action Plan and Solidarity Measures in the Event of an Energy Crisis," said Virgil Popescu.

The Minister of Energy stressed that Romania supports the harmonisation of the internal legislation of the Republic of Moldova with the European legislation in the field of energy.

"Romania supports the harmonisation of the internal legislation of the Republic of Moldova with the European legislation in the field of energy, in order to achieve a higher degree of integration of the regional market. I strongly believe that we can explore new areas of cooperation between our countries in the field of energy. (...) Romania has been, is and will always be by the side of the Republic of Moldova in order to reach its goal of becoming a member of the European Union," concluded Virgil Popescu, Agerpres informs.
In a conversation with Moldova's President Maia Sandu in Chisinau on Friday, Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca voiced full support for the implementation of reforms in Moldova, especially in the area of the rule of law.

"I want to thank the President of the Republic of Moldova, Mrs Maia Sandu, for the very valuable discussion we had today! I assured her that the Republic of Moldova can count on our support, both in Bucharest and in Brussels, and I conveyed full support for the implementation of reforms, especially in the area of the rule of law. I commended the remarkable efforts for judiciary reform and the fight against corruption, which place the Republic of Moldova in a favourable position with regard to its European journey. I am fully confident that we will keep the dialogue close regarding the promotion of the objectives and approaches of the Republic of Moldova in its relation to the European Union, as well as in the implementation of joint projects to the benefit of the citizens," Nicolae Ciuca said in Facebook a post on the Romanian government page, Agerpres.ro informs.
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana on Friday travelled to the 57th Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base as part of the arrival in Romania of 1,000 US forces of the Stryker battalion.

Iohannis and Stoltenberg had private and public talks. Afterwards, they met the troops stationed at the military base, toured an exhibition of military equipment, and held a joint news conference where they pointed out that the presence of NATO troops in Romania conveys a message of NATO unity.

"The presence of NATO troops here in Romania is so important. Because that sends unwavering and ironclad message of Alliance unity, that we are here together that we stand united. And of course, the presence of US troops at this base in Romania sends a very strong message of US North American commitment to European security," said Stoltenberg.

In response to a question about a further Russian invasion in Ukraine, Stoltenberg warned that there was a real risk because what we see now is that the military build-up in and around Ukraine continues so there is a real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe. "The number of Russian troops is going up and the warning time is going down," he said

"We are only 200 miles away from the illegally annexed Crimea. We also share over 400 miles of our northern and eastern borders with Ukraine. We therefore perceive the current security threat in a clear manner. Romania has been constantly involved in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security, as a significant contributor to the implementation of NATO's objectives. Your presence here is a testament to NATO solidarity and cohesion, and a strong demonstration of the United States' strong commitment to Romania as its strategic partner," said Iohannis.

He added that Romania is very well defended and has all the security guarantees it needs.

"No Romanian should worry, but we need to know where this security of ours comes from, what the security guarantees are. First of all, our armed forces - which have developed enormously in recent years - are very well prepared. In addition, Romania is a member of the NATO alliance, the strongest military alliance in all of history. In order to come to our aid, we have these soldiers that we greeted today, here at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base, and others who came from strategic partner countries, from our allies, to work together with the Romanian military," said Iohannis.

The chief of state pointed out that ensuring a consolidated deterrence and defence posture in a uniform and coherent manner on the entire Eastern flank, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, contributes to regional stability and also to the security of the NATO as a whole and its citizens.

"Regardless of current developments in the region, NATO must maintain its high capacity for deterrence and defence, which will enable it to effectively fulfill its strictly defensive objectives for which the Alliance was established. In addition to these measures to strengthen the Allied presence, we are advocating the need to continue the political and diplomatic dialogue with Russia in order to find solutions that will allow the situation to be de-escalated, without compromising the fundamental principles of NATO and international law. We start from the clear premise that the current crisis does not stem from possible structural problems of the existing security architecture, but from non-compliance with some of its essential provisions. Romania was and is very diplomatically involved in the NATO and European decision-making process related to the current crisis, given its geographical position and its strategic interest in NATO Eastern Neighborhood and the European Union being stable," said Iohannis.

He reiterated Romania's support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, and for the right of these countries to build a future based on their own European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

The US Department of Defence announced last week that 1,000 US forces would be repositioned from Germany to Romania. The first components of military equipment of the US battalion that will be called Task Force Cougar, arrived at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base. TF Cougar will be made up mainly of 2nd Squadron / 2nd Cavalry Regiment soldiers, who will use Stryker armoured personnel carriers, and additional troops of other specialties from the regiment's battalions (artillery, engineering, support).
A detachment of the United States Air Force (USAFE), consisting of about 150 soldiers and eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, will carry out, starting on Friday, for about two weeks, joint training missions with troops and the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft belonging to the Romanian Air Force.

According to the Romanian Air Force, during this period, the US aircraft will also carry out Enhanced Air Police missions, alongside the Romanian aircraft and those of the Italian Air Force, which have been in Romania since December last year, Agerpres.ro informs.

"The main objective of the joint training missions is to increase interoperability between NATO allies, while the joint air police missions contribute to the development of responsiveness and deterrence. The US aircraft arrived today, February 11, at the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociornita" from Borcea, where there are also, for the February 8-17 interval, another 50 troops and four F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft belonging to the United States Naval Forces deployed in Europe (United States Naval Forces Europe)," the same source also said.
Romania is not alone, and the presence of NATO troops sends out a message of the Alliance's unity, said on Friday the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta county.

Speaking of the arrival of and additional 1,000 US servicemen, he said that it "is a powerful demonstration of transatlantic unity," emphasizing "North America's ironclad commitment to the defence of Europe".

The Black Sea region is of "vital strategic importance" for NATO, Stoltenberg also said in a joint press conference together with President Klaus Iohannis.

Stoltenberg also stated that the Allies are open to finding a political solution with Russia in regards to the Ukrainian crisis, but NATO will not make any compromises on key principles, such as the right of each nation to choose its own path and the right of the Alliance to defend all its members.

"There will never be first class and second class Allies in NATO, (...) here are only NATO Allies. United as one," said the NATO Secretary General.

"From here, in the Black Sea region, all the way to the Baltic, Allies are stepping up to reinforce NATO's presence at this critical time, with more troops, more capabilities and greater readiness," Stoltenberg added.

"Next week, NATO defense ministers will meet and discuss how we can further strengthen our presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, including with battle groups. I welcome France's offer to lead a NATO battle group here in Romania," he added.

Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO is a defensive alliance and that its task is to preserve peace.

He also said that the Black Sea region has strategic importance for NATO and that three of the Alliance's member-states are riparian to the Black Sea, as well as important partners such as Ukraine and Georgia.

Answering a question from the press, he warned that there is a "real risk" of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, because Moscow continues to increase the number of troops around Ukraine.

"The military build-up continues. We've seen the threatening rhetoric from the Russian side and we know there are many Russian intelligence officers operating inside Ukraine and then, of course, we have the track record of Russia using force against Ukraine before," Stoltenberg added.

All these are reasons for "being seriously concerned and being vigilant and ready to react if they once again use force against Ukraine," he said.

"That's why the presence of NATO troops here in Romania is so important. Because that sends an unwavering and ironclad message of Alliance unity. That we are here together, that we stand united and, of course, the presence of US troops at this base in Romania sends a very strong message of US-North American commitment to European security," the NATO head said, Agerpres informs.
Romania is the first trading partner of the Republic of Moldova and one of its main investors and our country wants to further strengthen these positive developments, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca underscored on Friday during a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart, Natalia Gavrilita, in Chisinau.

"Trade volume between Romania and Moldova reached 2.4 billion US dollars in 2021, a record in bilateral relations. We want to strengthen these positive developments in order to fully exploit the huge potential for cooperation existing between our countries, especially through substantial Romanian investments in the Republic of Moldova. In order for this to happen, determined efforts are needed to improve the business environment and the investment climate in the Republic of Moldova," Ciuca said.

He underscored that the Romanian Government is watching "with concern the major challenges" facing the Republic of Moldova in the energy sector.

"We are still by the Republic of Moldova's side in this sensitive area, with significant implications for the citizens," he added.

According to him, the agreement on non-reimbursable financial assistance of 100 million euros will be the "main vector" through which Romania will support in the next period, financially and technically, the efforts of the Republic of Moldova for sustainable development, advancement through reforms, rapprochement with the EU and increase in resilience in key sectors.

"Basically, this agreement will be the instrument through which we intend to support the firm, solid connection of the Republic of Moldova to the European space, through Romania - through roads and bridges, through electricity and gas networks, through local development projects. Agreements aimed at the construction of a bridge over the Prut River between Ungheni and Ungheni, respectively the consolidation of the border road bridge between Galati and Giurgiulesti have a strong practical and symbolic significance when it comes to the connection between Romania and the Republic of Moldova," Nicolae Ciuca explained.

He brought to mind that, in 2020, Romania provided the Republic of Moldova with official development assistance worth a total of 46.8 million euros, mainly in the field of education. At the same time, in 2021, our country donated over half a million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 and over 100,000 rapid antigen tests and a new medical aid, worth over 2 million euros. Farmers in the Republic of Moldova received over 6,000 tonnes of diesel from Romania.

"Thanks to our voluntary contribution, the European Endowment for Democracy organisation has received 300,000 euros in funding for the implementation of projects in support of the civil society and the independent media," he said.

At the same time, Nicolae Ciuca stated that a framework for collaboration is needed to reduce roaming charges, and the document signed on Friday does not amount to an immediate reduction in costs, but provides tools to achieve this goal.

"We are beginning this process today, with the essential involvement of the telephone operators on both banks of the Prut. We hope to have the results that our citizens expect as soon as possible," he said.

Prime Minister Ciuca reiterated his support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova.

"I have sent a firm and sincere message of support to the Government led by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita for the European path of the Republic of Moldova, under the Bilateral Strategic Partnership for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, as well as for its deep reform process. It should be noted from the outset that the Joint Declaration of the President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, and of the President of the Republic of Moldova, Ms. Maia Sandu, signaled a new beginning, providing us with political guidance for relaunching bilateral cooperation," Ciuca also said, Agerpres informs.
Oana Ghita reports: Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Friday that the Romanian government "is following with concern the major challenges facing the Republic of Moldova in the energy sector."

"We are still by the Republic of Moldova's side in this sensitive area, with significant implications for the citizens," the prime minister said at the end of the joint meeting of the two governments, Romanian and Moldovan.

His counterpart, Natalia Gavrilita, spoke about Romania's support in this regard.

"I would like to mention in particular the memorandum on cooperation in the field of energy security. The global energy crisis that has also affected the Republic of Moldova has been a need that indeed showed who our friends have been," she said, Agerpres informs.
PM Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday, before the visit in Chisinau, that the Romanian authorities want to support the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova during this difficult period.

"This is a message of urge to trust because all that we do we do because we care and we want to support the Government, and through the Government to support the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, given that it is a difficult period, with challenges and hardships for both the citizens, as well as the state institutions. (...) We care and we will do all we can to support them on their European path," the PM declared in an interview for public TV broadcaster TVR 1.

He mentioned that talks in Chisinau will be focused on accomplishing joint infrastructure projects, but also for finding solutions to ensuring alternative energy sources, of natural gas and electricity, for the Republic of Moldova.

The PM also confirmed that he will continue bilateral cooperation in the area of security, but taking Moldova's neutrality in consideration. He specified that this is about "joint bilateral activities that were carried out, which continue to be carried out and these gain elements of new, diversified consistency".

"We must respect Moldova's decision, which registers very clearly in the constitutional neutrality. And the support for the areas of security, defence, has carried out until now, it will keep carrying out, agreements will be signed between the Ministers of Defence from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. They will cover programs of counseling assistance, joint training, support regarding this part of cyber security capacities, but also to deal with hybrid threats. There are areas of collaboration, there are areas where we can support the option through which the Republic of Moldavia can strengthen their own defence capabilities, benefiting from the support that the EU grants to its partners. And the Republic of Moldova is a partner of the European Union," Nicolae Ciuca also said.

The Romanian and Moldovan Governments will have their first join session in Chisinau, on Friday, and PM Nicolae Ciuca will have talks with president Maia Sandu and the Parliament chairman, Igor Grosu.
President Klaus Iohannis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have arrived, on Friday, at the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta County.

According to the Presidential Administration, the two officials will have tete-a-tete and official discussions, will meet the servicemen deployed at the base and will hold a joint press conference.

The NATO Secretary General is conducting his visit to Romania at the invitation of President Iohannis.

Last week, the Pentagon announced that 1,000 US troops will be redeployed from Germany to Romania. The first convoy with equipment of the US detachment has already reached Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, informs Agerpres.
President Klaus Iohannis participated on Friday, at the invitation of the US President Joseph R. Biden in close consultations with a number of allied leaders and of the European Union institutions on the worrying developments of the regional, European and Euro-Atlantic security generated by the massive deployment of Russian forces and equipment in the vicinity of Ukraine and the Black Sea region, the Presidential Administration reported.

The talks were also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

According to the Presidential Administration, the conversation of European and transatlantic leaders took place at the end of an intense week of political-diplomatic efforts, aiming to defuse the tense situation on the borders of Ukraine and at the Black Sea, Agerpres.ro informs.

"The talks provided an opportunity for a wide-ranging exchange of views on the latest developments and prospects for managing the current security crisis. Assessments and conclusions were made following the recent dialogue with the Russian side, and the next steps to be considered, were analyzed, including the comprehensive response measures needed to increase security on the European continent and discourage the use of military force."

In his speech, President Klaus Iohannis emphasized the importance of close coordination and unity at this time and welcomed the decisions taken at the Allied level to strengthen the position of deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank inclusively and especially at the Black Sea, as shown by the deployment of American troops in Romania these days or the decision of France regarding the sending of troops to Romania and the assumption of the role of a framework nation to the advanced military presence of NATO in Romania.

The head of state thanked the allied leaders and especially the presidents of the United States and France, the prime minister of Italy and the chancellor of Germany, for the solidarity shown for the security of Romania and its citizens, but also of the other allies on the Eastern Flank.

President Iohannis emphasized that ensuring a consolidated position of discouragement and defence, in a uniform and coherent manner on the entire Eastern Flank, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, contributes to regional stability as well as to the security of the Alliance as a whole, of all citizens of the allied states respectively.

The head of state expressed his firm support for the continuation of the political-diplomatic dialogue with Russia, in order to find solutions that would enable the de-escalation of the situation, without compromising the fundamental principles of the Alliance and international law.

He also stressed the importance of the preparation and the coordination among transatlantic partners in terms of the robust package of sanctions to be adopted against Russia if de-escalation measures fail.
President Klaus Iohannis at the joint press conference at the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta County.

"Dear American friends, dear militaries,

Welcome to Romania!

I am very pleased to greet you here, at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, in the Southeastern part of Romania, at the Black Sea.

As President Joe Biden stated during the Bucharest 9 Summit I hosted last May, the transatlantic relationship is not just about the two sides of the Atlantic, it extends across Europe to the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.

Thus, the Romanian people and I personally are grateful to President Biden for the decision to deploy troops to Romania, and for this mission you are undertaking.

We are just about 200 miles away from the illegally annexed Crimea. We also share part of our Northern and Eastern borders with Ukraine, over 400 miles.

Therefore, we perceive the current security threat in a clear manner. Romania has constantly been involved in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security, as a significant contributor to the implementation of the Alliance's objectives.

Your presence here is proof of the Allied solidarity and cohesion and a strong demonstration of the intensified commitment of the United States to Romania, as its strategic partner.

You are part of the joint efforts that enhance the consistency and credibility of the Allied collective deterrence and defense posture in the Euro-Atlantic area, in the south of the Eastern Flank and at the Black Sea.

Your presence here also comes as a continuation of the excellent cooperation between the US and Romanian armed forces when we fought together, shoulder to shoulder, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is the continuation of our joint efforts to defend our fundamental democratic principles and values, for ensuring stability and a better, more secure future.

I also want to convey our gratitude to other NATO allies that contribute to the multinational structures located in Romania. I use this moment to also greet and thank the Italian and German troops present here at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase today.

This is a word of appreciation to each and every one of you. I want to praise you for the efforts you, at a personal level, are making in the service of your country and of our Alliance. I thank you for your resolve and professionalism, your commitment and courage.

You will find the same professionalism and dedication among our troops, among the Romanian Armed Forces. As you already know, you can fully count on them.

During your mission, you should always have in mind that your efforts are part of the endeavors of the greatest and most successful military Alliance in history.

We are all part of this, and we should always remember that We Are NATO! And this is the key for lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area.

I wish you success during your stay in Romania!

Thank you!"
Romania's Defence Minister Vasile Dincu and his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii signed in Chisinau a protocol on co-operation in the field of military education on the sidelines of a joint meeting of the national governments of Romania and Moldova hosted by Chisinau.

According to the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN), the document details practical ways of carrying out a student exchange programme involving pupils, students and trainees of military schools in the two countries.

The protocol, concluded for a period of 10 years, also provides for a framework for collaboration in the area of harmonisation of educational processes, applied research and cultural activities and upgrading education infrastructure.

Dincu and Nosatii had a private meeting during the joint governmental session to review the main aspects of defence co-operation since 2000 and the prospects for its intensification under the aegis of the strategic partnership between the two countries signed in 2010.

"It is important for the civil society to be aware of the firm commitment and substantial support of our country to the well-being of the Republic of Moldova. On your journey to European integration, you can count on Romania's full support," said Dincu.

In order to strengthen regional security and develop military co-operation, the two defence ministers sent a signal to encourage the accession of Moldova to the South-East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM) Process, which would allow participation in projects developed under this initiative.

At the same time, Dincu also underscored the importance of strengthening crisis resilience, mentioning to the point the mutual support that Romania and Moldova have provided one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his turn, Nosatii expressed his gratitude for the support provided by Romania in key areas of co-operation: ensuring the participation of the troops of the two national armies in joint exercises in both Romania and Moldova and ensuring a significant number of places in Romanian military education establishments for the personnel of the National Army of Moldova.

He also mentioned the valuable expertise and assistance provided by Romania amidst the implementation of objectives of important co-operation initiatives - the Moldova-EU Action Plan and the Moldova-NATO Partnership Individual Action Plan, in particular the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building (DCB).

"Romania was and is an important strategic partner to Moldova. Over time, we have managed to build sincere, unconditional and confirmed friendships under a large number of joint projects, programmes and activities designed to develop the defence sector of Moldova. We continue to rely on the experience of Romanian partners in reforming the defence sector according to democratic standards, which is an important goal for the current government, besides strengthening the capacities of the national army to participate in international peacekeeping operations," said Nosatii, Agerpres informs.
Romania fulfills the criteria for accession to the Schengen Area, and accession represents a priority of Romania, emphasized on Thursday the Senate's President, Florin Citu, at the meeting with the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Peer Gebauer, who was on a presentation visit.

According to a release of the Senate, the two approached topics that regard the consolidation and intensification of relations between Romania and Germany at the level of parliamentary diplomacy, the intensification of economic cooperation, as well as themes on the international agenda.

Florin Citu pointed out the particular importance that Romania grants to the relation with Germany, defined through a very good political dialogue, a significant economic cooperation, powerful social interconnections, as well emphasizing the continuous development and diversification of existing bilateral relations.

"In what regards economic cooperation, Florin Citu showed appreciation for the quality of German investments and their contribution to the development of Romanian economy and pointed out the potential to increase German presence on the Romanian market, in domains of mutual interest," shows the release posted on the Senate's website.

Furthermore, topics on the international agenda were approached, with emphasis on the security of the Eastern Flank of NATO and the EU. In this context, the Senate President mentions that "Romania is a trustworthy partner in the realm of defense."

At the end of the meeting, the Senate President made a short presentation of the internal political situation and the governing agenda of the coalition.
The internet abounds in tales of overnight crypto millionaires. But making a killing  or even any money at all may be a lot harder than it looks. Just how hard? According to one recent estimate, more than half of Bitcoin investors have actually lost money trading the cryptocurrency.

The trick to any investment is buying low and selling high. Nothing has demonstrated that axiom more clearly than Bitcoin, where early investors, sometimes after buying in for just pennies on a lark, saw their investments balloon into the millions or even billions of dollars. But, with Bitcoin becoming a mainstream asset, those easy money days are gone.

Lately Bitcoins price has hovered in the low $40,000s. Thats several times what it was in 2020, but well below its 2021 record of more than $60,000. The problem: Thousands of investors only jumped in recently, when Bitcoins price  and hype were at all-time highs.

Feeling less confident about managing your own investments? Learn more about personal financial advisor services like SmartAsset available in your location.

As of Feb. 8 roughly 55% of Bitcoin investors were underwater, according to cryptocurrency investment firm 21Shares. Thats actually an improvement from several weeks ago, when Bitcoin was trading about $35,000. At that time, more than two out of every three Bitcoin investors were in the red, according to 12Shares Head of Research Eli Ndinga.

21Shares insights into Bitcoin investors are thanks to the transparent nature of the blockchain, the digital ledger technology that underpins Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies.

Each address has essentially a timestamp attached to the transaction, so if you bought in 2014, we would know that [someone] bought at 5pm CDT on a certain day two bitcoin, and thats your cost basis, says Ndinga. By collating all such timestamps, Ndingas firm can aggregate the cost basis for every bitcoin transaction on record.

The time-stamps reveal the difficulty of investing in Bitcoin. To turn a long-term profit, you have to ride out gut-wrenching short-term losses.

Online Financial Advisors can guide you toward smart investments and sound economic planning. We can all benefit from the help of experts, especially when it comes to finances. Reach out to an Online Financial Advisor by clicking below.

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TUESDAY

DIVERSITY  The St. Louis chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women holds this virtual program on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) as a strategy for business success.

Noon  1 p.m.

Free for members, $25 for guests. Register: https://crewstl.org/events

ENTREPRENEURSHIP  The Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise hosts an in-person and virtual event featuring a presentation by Rachel Ferguson, co-author of Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America.

3 p.m.  4 p.m.; Lindenwood University, Dunseth Auditorium in Harmon Hall, 209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles

WEDNESDAY

BUSINESS STARTUPS  Score presents this free online workshop titled Startup 101.

Noon  1 p.m.

FACILITY MANAGEMENT  This IFMA program will cover ways for building owners to increase energy efficiency.

5 p.m.  7 p.m.; Paric, 77 Westport Plaza, Suite 250, St. Louis

Free to members and one guest; $35 for nonmembers. Register: https://bit.ly/3B89aSi

FUNDRAISING  The Association of Fundraising Professionals offers this online, interactive workshop on how to adopt a multi-prong approach to maximize your donor appeals.

11 a.m.  noon

THURSDAY

MARKETING  This free Zoom meeting from Score covers how to make videos an effective part of your business marketing strategy.

Noon  1 p.m.

SMALL BUSINESS  Justine Petersen, Emerson and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri host a small business legal clinic, offering free 30-minute, confidential sessions to discuss legal issues ranging from insurance to contracts.

Free; to register, contact ynelson@justinepetersen.org or call (314) 533-2411, ext. 118.
FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccinated travelers will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests when they enter Britain, officials announced Friday.

British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine now only need to fill out a passenger locator form before arrival, the Associated Press reported.

Unvaccinated people will still be required to take tests before and after arrival but will no longer have to self-isolate until they get a negative result.

After nearly two years of severely restricted travel, airlines and others in the travel industry welcomed the announcement, the AP reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government lifted most domestic rules last month. Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor spaces in England, and vaccine passports for gaining entry to nightclubs and large-scale events have been scrapped, according to the AP.

Johnson said he hopes to lift the final restriction -- mandatory self-isolation for people who test positive -- by month's end as part of a plan to live long-term with COVID, the AP reported.

Other countries should follow Britain's "pragmatic approach," according to British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle.

One of two terminals at London's Gatwick Airport has been closed since June 2020, but the airport said it plans to reopen it next month.

Andrew Flintham, managing director of the travel group TUI UK, hailed the move, telling the AP that there has been a "huge pent-up demand for international travel." He said people were scrambling to book getaways for this month's school break and April's Easter holiday.

The testing requirement for travelers was one of the last restrictions imposed in Britain during the past two years in response to the COVID pandemic.

While other European countries have eased COVID restrictions, the AP reported that some experts were surprised at Britain's scrapping of the traveler testing rule.

Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King's College London, described it as "more a political type of statement rather than a scientific one."

"There is some rationale to this and other countries are doing things similar, but it's clearly a race for the government to say that 'Britain is first, Britain is the first to come out of this, Britain has conquered Omicron, our booster program is world beating etc., etc.,'" Spector told Times Radio, according to the AP.

Among European nations, Britain's coronavirus toll is second only to Russia, with more than 159,000 officially recorded deaths, according to the AP. It reported that the country has seen a drop in both new infections and COVID patients admitted to hospitals since Omicron peaked in early January.

In all, 84.6% of Brits ages 12 and older have had two COVID vaccine shots and almost two-thirds have had a booster, the AP reported.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information for Americans about international travel.

SOURCE: Associated Press, Feb. 11, 2022

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Michael Polittes roommate brought him a manual from the Missouri Department of Revenue so he could study for his drivers license exam. He plans to take the test later this year, when he gets out of prison.

It will be his first drivers license.

Politte is 37. Hes been in jail or prison since he was 14, when he was accused  falsely, he says  of killing his mother by setting her on fire in the trailer where they lived in Potosi, Missouri. Politte was sentenced to life in prison, his youth stolen from him by a system that rushed to judgment. Since his conviction, one of the deputies in the case, and two of the jurors, have joined with his sisters and his attorneys in questioning the conviction. The state has admitted its key evidence was based on bad science.

Politte, who has always maintained his innocence, has a habeas corpus petition before the Missouri Supreme Court, filed by attorneys with the Midwest Innocence Project and MacArthur Justice Center, seeking his full exoneration.

In the meantime, hes preparing for his first taste of freedom, really, in his life.

Ive never been free, Politte told me in a phone call this week from prison. Ive always been told what to do. I just want to hang out on the porch and eat barbecue with my family.

Last week, the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole granted Politte the parole he may have never received if not for a law passed last year by the Missouri Legislature. He is scheduled to walk out of the Jefferson City Correctional Center on April 23. The law is a long-awaited response to the changing landscape surrounding juvenile sentences, that was spurred by a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that juveniles sent to prison should not be treated the same way as adults. The new Missouri law has created a flurry of opportunities for people like Politte, sent away when they were children, to seek their freedom.

Some of them, friends of Polittes in prison, were guilty of their crimes, but they have grown up in prison, their minds and hearts changing as they aged. Its ground-breaking, and its something that has been in the works since 2005, says one of Polittes attorneys, Megan Crane, about the parole boards work scheduling dozens of hearings on cases of men and women who were sentenced to life without parole when they were children. Its been a slow and long road for Missouri to accept and meaningfully implement those Supreme Court opinions.

The first of those opinions, issued in March 2005, was a Missouri case titled Roper vs. Simmons, in which the nations high court ruled that applying the death penalty to minors is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

Weve come a long way in the 17 years from the Roper case, Crane says. Kids are different. They arent miniature adults. They are both less culpable and more capable of rehabilitation. Recidivism rates for people who went in as a kid are dramatically lower.

For Politte, though, parole is just the beginning.

This was never the main event for him. For him its all about exoneration, and justice for his mother, Crane says. Hes thrilled hell be able to continue that fight at home with his sister rather than behind bars.

Politte plans to live with his sister, Melonie, who has been one of his biggest advocates. They talk on the phone nearly every day. He has a job lined up. Hes looking forward to spending time with his nieces and his nephews and watching his beloved St. Louis Blues.

The ultimate goal is to get my conviction vacated and seek justice for my mother, Politte says. Im excited. Im relieved. I feel like I dont have to view life through the eyes of a tired heart anymore.

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Authorities in St. Louis County have arrested two men on suspicion of killing 19-year-old Kylen Dalton of Wellston.

Detectives turned the case over to prosecutors to consider charges against the suspects, who are 20 and 23 years old, said St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus.

Dalton was killed early Thursday at an apartment complex in the 7200 block of Norstead Walk, in the village of Norwood Court. He was shot about 1:45 a.m. and died at the scene.

Norstead Walk is just south of Interstate 70 and west of Lucas and Hunt Road.

Dalton lived in the 1500 block of Oak Grove Avenue in Wellston. A St. Charles woman who works with Dalton's mother has set up a fund to raise money for his funeral.

Panus said Dalton was killed in an altercation over a personal feud. She did not elaborate.

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CLAYTON  Two former officers of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership accused of paying themselves over $200,000 in unauthorized bonuses countersued the taxpayer-funded organization Wednesday, demanding over $150,000 in retirement benefits they say are being held up and arguing the Partnerships bylaws shield them from litigation.

Responding to a lawsuit the Partnership filed against them in December, former Partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney and former Chief Financial Officer Joyce Steiger say in court filings that an indemnification clause in the economic development agencys bylaws protects them from legal actions related to their time there. Such clauses are common in the bylaws of nonprofit and governmental boards.

Sweeney, who pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony as part of the federal corruption investigation that sent former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger to prison, also alleges that the Partnerships actions have caused her fear, anxiety, confusion, mental anguish, pain, suffering, and severe emotional distress. She seeks in excess of $25,000 for what her countersuit says is the Partnerships breach of her contract vis-a-vis the By-Laws.

Steiger says the Partnership first threatened legal action in February 2021 over the bonus payments and she has paid more than $15,000 in attorneys fees since then, which her countersuit seeks to recover.

Sweeney and Steiger also argue that the five-year statute of limitations has expired on some of the Partnerships allegations and that no dates are specified in those allegations, making it impossible to know if the Partnership filed its lawsuit in time.

In addition, both Sweeney and Steiger say the Partnership has refused to pay them their retirement benefits. Sweeney says she is owed more than $120,000 in retirement funds. Steiger, in her countersuit, says she is owed in excess of $40,000 from a retirement plan and that the Partnership has declined to release the funds despite demands from Steiger since June 2019, shortly after she retired.

The bonus payments to Sweeney didnt become public until Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloways office released a September 2020 audit of the organization. And, the audit for the first time implicated Steiger in misconduct at the Partnership, which Stenger used to award contracts to campaign donors and played a central role in the feds case against him.

The state audit found Sweeney had paid herself $160,000 in bonuses in 2016 and 2017. Steiger paid herself $65,000 in unauthorized bonuses during those years, and also abused her position, according to the audit report, by instructing her staff to add to her paid time off hours and then rolling over her unused hours, contrary to the Partnerships policy. That resulted in her receiving an additional $38,000 in compensation when she retired in April 2019.

Sweeney and Steiger paid the bonuses to themselves  as well as $123,000 to other, unidentified employees at the Partnership  without board approval, according to the audit and the Partnerships lawsuit. But Steiger refutes that, arguing in her response that certain board members determined the amount of the bonuses to be paid to Sweeney, and the Board and or certain members thereof possessed actual and/or apparent authority to make those determinations.

Most of the board members have been replaced by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, who appoints 11 of the 15 board members. St. Louis gets four appointments, and those members are also new since the corruption scandal.

The Partnerships roughly $7.4 million budget gets about $4.2 million from the county and $1.1 million from the city.

Sweeneys lawyer, Justin Gelfand, said in a statement that we are confident in our position and look forward to litigating this case.

Steigers lawyer, Sanford Boxerman of Capes Sokol, declined to comment beyond the court filings. A Partnership spokeswoman declined to comment.

Post-Dispatch reporter Joel Currier contributed to this report.

Originally posted at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10.

Former economic development officials paid themselves over $200,000 in unauthorized bonuses, audit says The audit implicates former St. Louis Economic Development Partnership CFO Joyce Steiger in unauthorized bonus payments to herself and former CEO Sheila Sweeney.

RBC chief Kathy Osborn says she won't stay on Economic Partnership board Osborn's move to distance herself from Partnership board follows its vote to oust former CEO Sheila Sweeney. The Partnership's CFO and chief spokeswoman are leaving, too.

Meet the low-profile group that wields big power in St. Louis County St. Louis County Port Authority funds a lot of projects. Very few of them have anything to do with ports.

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ST. LOUIS  Alderman Jeffrey Boyd stirred the local Twitterverse this week by referring to an unsuccessful 1994 effort at City Hall to allow the public caning of graffiti vandals.

Who remembers this & what do you think about it today? Boyd, of the 22nd Ward, said in a tweet Wednesday. Could it save taxpayers money if criminals were caned and let go rather than jail? Could public humiliation work?

Boyd added that he doesnt have a position on the idea himself.

After getting mostly negative reaction on the social media platform, he followed Thursday afternoon with a tweet asking whether anyone remembered when the St. Louis Public Schools allowed the use of paddles to deal with unruly pupils.

Teachers and Administrators rarely had a problem with discipline and children were able to truly learn without a lot of disruptions, Boyd tweeted. Boyd, in an interview Thursday, said he posted the tweet on caning after he came across the 1994 article online. I said wow, I wonder what people think now.

But he said the strong reaction against it was from people who incorrectly assumed he was advocating for the idea; he said white progressives were among them. Absolutely not; I was just generating some conversation, he said.

Boyds initial post, which linked to a wire service article in The New York Times on then-Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr.s caning proposal in 1994, drew more than 100 Twitter comments. Bosley later said hed like to expand it to include wife beaters, chronic curfew violators, youths who steal cars for joy rides and others.

Among the critics was state Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson.

What in the 8th Amendment is going on here?! she asked, referring to a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Heres an elected Black man asking if CANING and public humiliation is a viable option to save money. During Black History Month. In real life.

Proudie, Boyd and Bosley are all African Americans.

A commenter calling herself April tweeted: Whats next? Locking people in stocks ...?

Someone posting as Left in Missouri said: This is sick. We are devolving as a society. Another critic, John Price, said: I wont hesitate, even in my whiteness, to say shame on you, Jeffrey Boyd. Shame on you for even referring to this. Your referral to it is your position.

One of the few supporting comments was from Royal A. Williams, who said criminals should get both caning and imprisonment. Theyre not helping society. Theyre not helping my neighborhood, Williams tweeted. Gary Bess, the former parks director for the city and St. Louis County, tweeted that he didnt know if caning is the solution but clearly what St. Louis City is doing is not working regarding crime.

At the Board of Aldermen, Boyd has clashed with some in the boards progressive bloc over law enforcement issues such as an aerial surveillance system to aid police. Boyd had said the idea, which failed at the board last year, should be considered to help residents in high-crime areas.

Boyd told a reporter that the negative reaction to his caning tweet provoked me to follow up with the paddling tweet. As with caning, he said he wasnt endorsing the idea, just seeking comment. In the first few hours after the tweet appeared, it also drew generally unfavorable reaction.

The city school system stopped allowing paddling in 1981 but efforts in the Missouri Legislature to bar corporal punishment in schools statewide have failed over the years.

Originally posted at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10.

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EAST ST. LOUIS  A woman from St. Louis pleaded guilty in federal court here Thursday and admitted stealing from a charity.

Kenesha Burlison entered the plea to theft from an organization receiving federal funds and aggravated identity theft.

She is scheduled to be sentenced May 26.

At the time of the theft, Burlison, 40, was director of human relations for Call for Help Inc., a charity that helps people overcome sexual assault, poverty, homelessness and other crises, prosecutors said.

Burlison used a $69,788 Call for Help cashier's check for a down payment on a home, telling the charity that she needed a cashier's check but couldn't get one from the bank because it was closed, prosecutors said.

She wrote the charity a $70,000 check, but it bounced, as did two others. Burlison also submitted fraudulent requests for reimbursements totaling more than $100,000, prosecutors said.

Burlison also forged the signature of the charity's director of quality assurance on the mortgage application's income verification form, prosecutors said.

Kenesha Burlison demonstrated bold disregard for her co-workers and the people who depend on Call for Help to survive," said David Nanz, head of the FBI's Springfield office in a statement announcing the guilty plea.

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Updated Friday night with more details.

Illinois State Police are investigating two shootings Thursday night  one in which a Bond County woman was killed and a man was reported to be barricaded inside a home, and another that sparked a police pursuit that ended with a fatal crash in Madison County.

The two shootings in Greenville, a small town in Bond County, were originally thought to be connected, but an Illinois State Police spokesman on Friday said they now appear to have been unrelated.

There was just so much going on at one time, said Trooper Josh Korando, an Illinois State Police public information officer. He said the agency is investigating to try to sort out what transpired throughout the night and into the early morning hours on Friday.

The first shooting happened about 7:25 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of East South Avenue, where a 37-year-old woman was found dead. The stretch of East South Avenue is several blocks south of Greenville University.

Bond County coroner Tony Brooks on Friday identified the woman as Laquita M. Sullivan, of Greenville.

Shortly after that shooting, police said, a subject barricaded himself into a residence in the 500 block of East Main Street, not far from where the shooting took place. After an hourslong standoff, that person was taken into custody around 1 a.m., police said.

However, Korando noted that the man was later released after questioning, and is not believed to have been involved in either shooting  but was merely in the vicinity of the homicide and went to an acquaintances residence for safety.

There was no suspect in custody in that homicide as of Friday night, police said.

Adding to the confusion was an additional shooting in Greenville, Korando said.

Moments before the actual homicide there was another shooting that occurred, he added.

There was a red Dodge Challenger that was believed to be involved with that and fled the scene, police said. No one was hurt in that shooting, Korando said.

Just after 9 p.m., a vehicle that matched the description of the one being sought was seen in Wood River, and failed to stop for Wood River police officers, leading to a pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Korando said. He was not able to identify the other specific agencies that took part.

The pursuit continued along Illinois Route 203, and the car left the road and overturned near Eagle Park in Madison County, police said.

Two men were inside the car  a 25-year-old from Greenville and a 23-year-old from Anna, Illinois, a Union County town south of Carbondale. Both were taken to a hospital, and the Greenville man died from his injuries, police said.

Korando did not know about the condition of the other man in the vehicle.

Illinois State Police are asking anyone with information on the incidents Thursday night to contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477.

Greenville, with a 2019 population recorded at about 6,400 people, is the county seat of Bond County. It is about 50 miles northeast of St. Louis.

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A bill that would shift millions of dollars from traditional public schools to charter schools advanced Thursday with approval from lawmakers.

The Senate Education Committee voted 7-1 after a hearing on the school funding bill sponsored by Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester. Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, cast the lone vote in opposition.

Currently, school districts in St. Louis and Kansas City receive more money per student than do charter schools in those cities. The rates are calculated through a funding formula that sends more state dollars to charter schools and more local dollars to public schools.

Charter schools, which are tuition-free and independently operated, have long called for a fix the glitch solution to a funding formula that doesnt take into account a rise in local property taxes.

Dozens of parents from St. Louis Public Schools as well as local charter schools traveled to Jefferson City this week to make their case for or against the bill. The bill now moves to the full Senate; a similar bill is pending in the House. Such proposals have been introduced for years without reaching Gov. Mike Parsons desk.

Supporters of SLPS, including Superintendent Kelvin Adams, told the committee that funding issues should be resolved without cutting the districts budget. They pointed to additional expenses for the district including mandatory transportation, free preschool and a higher rate of students with special needs.

We all have the same problems. What we all need is more state funding in education, said Emily Hubbard, who testified Thursday and has four children in the city school district.

A fiscal analysis of this years version of the bill estimates it would divert more than $18 million from SLPS and $8 million from Kansas City Public Schools to charter schools in those districts.

A representative from Kansas City testified in support of the bill because the district had worked out a compromise with charter schools outside of the proposed legislation. Sen. Cindy OLaughlin, R-Shelbina, encouraged SLPS leaders to do the same.

Matt Davis, an SLPS School Board member, told the committee that district leadership had returned to an elected board for the last two years and its members are open to negotiations.

The school funding bill is part of a groundswell of proposals targeting education in the state. Other bills weaving through the Legislature involve recalls for school board members, critical race theory in curriculum and a Parents Bill of Rights.

The legislation is SB 869.

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JEFFERSON CITY  A measure passed Thursday by the GOP-led Missouri House would raise the bar to put constitutional amendments to a public vote and be passed.

The legislation, approved 98-53 by House lawmakers, would require a two-thirds vote of the people to amend the state Constitution. Currently, it takes a simple majority vote.

The measure also would make it harder to put a proposed constitutional amendment to a public vote in the first place.

Currently, petition gatherers need signatures from 8% of voters who cast ballots for governor in the previous general election in six of the state's eight congressional districts to get a measure on the ballot. The House proposal would require signatures from 10% of voters who cast ballots for governor in the previous general election.

If the Republican-led Senate also signs off on the proposal, it will go before voters on the ballot this year.

Republican backers on Thursday argued well-funded special-interest groups have too much influence on Missouri policy through initiative petitions and that it's now too easy to change the state Constitution.

Sponsor Rep. Mike Henderson said the Constitution should be a living document but not an ever-growing document.

I've always thought that our Constitution's a pretty sacred document," Henderson said. "When we're changing it left and right  we change it one year, (and) two years later we change back what we just changed  I'm not sure that's good for the people of Missouri."

Democrats called out the proposal as retribution for voters sidestepping lawmakers by enacting policies through initiative petition.

Voters in 2018 overturned a new law banning mandatory union fees in Missouri, thwarting a longstanding effort by GOP lawmakers to pass the measure. And following years of inaction by lawmakers, voters used the states initiative petition process to expand eligibility for the Medicaid health care program and allow medical marijuana.

This General Assembly did everything to say no to Medicaid expansion, and our voters said yes," Democratic Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern said. "Thats the real reason we're here today.

Conservative and progressive Missouri organizations also slammed the proposal as a power grab by lawmakers.

Missouris 115-year-old ballot measure process allows voters to circumvent partisan divides in Jefferson City and directly get things done for the people," said Rob Schaaf, co-founder of Conservatives Against Corruption, in a statement. "The General Assembly should not support misguided efforts to erode this process.

Some Republican House members also questioned a provision added to the measure that would delay its effect until January 2023.

Republican Rep. Jered Taylor said that unfairly allows initiative petitions that have already been filed, such as the push to legalize recreational marijuana, to operate under the current rules.

If we think it's important for some of the changes to take effect in four years or two years, they should be important enough to take effect now," Taylor said to House members. "Why are we letting special interests come into the state of Missouri and have a lower threshold this November and next November?

Republican Rep. Dan Shaul, who supports the delayed effective date, countered that it would be unfair to change the rules mid-cycle.

This story has been updated to correct the attribution of comments to Rob Schaaf and that the proposal would require signatures of 10% of voters who cast ballots for governor in the previous general election.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Missouri Senate panel on Thursday terminated a proposal one county prosecutor called the Make Murder Legal Act.

The official name of the measure is Senate Bill 666, which the sponsor, Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, said he didnt choose.

Members of the GOP-controlled Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee failed to advance the bill out of committee on Thursday.

Burlison, however, told the Post-Dispatch that he could bring the measure back as an amendment to other firearms legislation hes sponsoring.

There are multiple ways to pass language, Burlison said.

The legislation wouldve established a presumption that a defendant acted reasonably in self-defense when they use force against another person.

I refer to it as the Make Murder Legal Act, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, a Republican representing the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said in a Senate committee hearing last week.

What we are doing with this bill is ... basically saying the 6,500 assaults that are committed every single year in Missouri  that every single one of those are automatically presumed to be self-defense, Oliver said.

Burlison said the claims are overblown.

Some of the things that have been said are just absolute hyperbole, said Burlison, who is running for Congress. The label is just really over the top.

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Lohmar, a Republican, said currently, if prosecutors believe a homicide is unjustified, the person is charged with murder, for example. Provided there is some degree of evidence, Lohmar said the defendant can assert self-defense at trial as an affirmative defense.

He said the legislation would create pretrial immunity hearings during which a defendant would be able to make a self-defense claim. The state would then have to prove by clear and convincing evidence the defendant isnt immune from prosecution.

Anybody who uses a weapon to murder another individual, or to kill another individual, if they claim self-defense, the law enforcement potentially is handcuffed from even arresting that person, Lohmar said.

During the hearing Thursday, Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, called Burlisons bill one of the most offensive pieces of legislation I have ever seen in my life. Its a personal attack on me. Its a personal attack on people who look like me, said Williams, who is Black. I try to think of words to describe it and the only word I come up in my mind is this bill is complete bullshit.

Burlison and other proponents of the measure said the state needed to edit its castle doctrine to avoid overzealous prosecutions.

Mark McCloskey, a St. Louis attorney who with his wife, Patricia, waved firearms at racial injustice protesters in 2020 outside their home, spoke in favor of the measure. The McCloskeys pleaded guilty to misdemeanors last year related to the incident.

The bill before the Senate now turns the castle doctrine into a bar to prosecution, McCloskey said at the hearing last week. We were shocked to find out when we were charged that the castle doctrine can only be raised as an affirmative defense.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, later pardoned the couple. Meanwhile, the Missouri Supreme Court this week placed the couples law licenses on probation for one year.

Burlison said he is open to discussing changes in the proposal.

My intent was to simply avoid what happened in St. Louis with the McCloskeys, Burlison said. Im all ears.

Originally posted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Five bills introduced by Missouri lawmakers this year aim to help kids remain in school, keep adults in the workforce and mitigate a deep, long-running psychological burden  all by protecting hairstyles.

CROWN, or Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, Acts aim to prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair style or texture. Theyre part of a push to address the oppression of people, especially Black women and girls, based on their natural hair.

Existing civil rights laws generally have not addressed hair discrimination. Dress codes and employer policies regarding professional or appropriate hair have disproportionately affected non-white people, but without the explicit mention of race, those codes and policies fall within an area of legal ambiguity.

Legislation prohibiting this type of discrimination has been passed in 14 states and the cities of Kansas City and St. Louis.

This is the third session with CROWN Acts filed. Two House bills, sponsored by Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, and Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, have passed out of committee.

The bills filed this session specifically ban policies discriminating against those wearing braids, locks, Afros or other protective hairstyles in schools that receive funding from the state.

For this legislation, Proudie said she had one of the highest turnouts for public commentary since shes been elected.

Witnesses testified hair is tied to many peoples sense of identity, heritage or culture. Studies and reporting have collected a wide range of negative educational, health and financial effects of the discrimination.

When children are punished for their hairstyle, it tells them they are not accepted as they are, said Marjorie Dorime-Williams of Jack and Jill of America.

My little girl loves her Afro, Dorime-Williams said. She wants to wear it to school every day. And so I hate to think that she can be judged on something that has nothing to do with her intelligence or her ability to perform in a classroom.

Witnesses have called out the shame and humiliation they and others have been made to feel, along with experiences losing employment opportunities and being taken out of school and school activities.

The discrimination is primarily race-based, but Proudie said the legislative protection covers anyone who faces oppression based on their hair.

She remembers clearly, she said, a young Jewish woman with tight curls telling her that though she knew this legislation wasnt intended for her, it would have helped her as a kid. She was pushed to flat-iron or chemically relax her hair to fit the right look for the school play in high school.

Just how she feels about how her great grandmother, who was a Holocaust survivor, loves her hair  that was a point of pride for her, Proudie recounted. She was really scared to use a box relaxer. So she ultimately didnt get to perform.

Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com
JEFFERSON CITY  The Senate was set to convene for a rare Saturday work session with the chamber still mired in disagreement Friday over Missouris next congressional map.

Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, held the floor on Friday in order to stop GOP leaders from bringing up a map that the House approved last month, which would give Republicans six seats and Democrats two seats in the states U.S. House delegation.

The Senate went into recess before 3:30 p.m. on Friday and had plans to return Friday evening. The chamber reconvened at about 6:30 p.m. and quickly adjourned for the day without taking any action.

But even as Onder delayed debate, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, said he remained confident a resolution could be found.

There are people who have been actively working on scenarios and maps and trying to knock down barriers. We have to have those conversations, and it just takes time. Were going to continue to have those conversations, Schatz said.

There are times when we get positive movement, but then we take a step back, Schatz said. There has been progress. Im optimistic. But there are so many people who have a say in this thing that it makes it challenging.

The once-per-decade debate over the boundaries of congressional districts has split the chamber into factions.

The all-male group of Republican senators who call themselves the Conservative Caucus want to gerrymander a 7-1 map that leaves just one safe Democratic district in St. Louis.

They include two St. Charles County members, Sens. Bob Onder and Bill Eigel. Sens. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville and Mike Moon of Ash Grove also have been prominent in their push for the map.

Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, who is considered part of the group, has not been as active during floor debate. Another member, Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, is running for Congress and says he wants to keep his distance from the debate.

Eigel said Koenig and Sen. Cindy OLaughlin, R-Shelbina, have been active in trying to find a compromise.

Onder indicated during floor debate that he could eventually support a 6-2 map.

While Onder and Eigel have sought to place St. Charles County into one district, Hoskins has argued that the states two large military bases  Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood  should be in the same district, as they are currently.

The chambers 10 Democrats, meanwhile, have said the partisan makeup of Missouri should result in a 5-3 map.

But Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, has signaled that they will accept a 6-2 map for now in hopes of gaining a seat in upcoming congressional elections.

The 11 women in the chamber, a bipartisan mix, also have weighed in, saying the name-calling and acrimony generated by the hard-line conservatives are not good for the chamber.

And the so-called regular Republicans have indicated support for a 6-2 map.

Updated at 6:36 p.m. Friday.

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FLORISSANT  There's a pretty adorable fellow making waves in Florissant  there's no "otter" way to describe it.

Florissant officials shared several photos this week on their social media pages of a river otter that has apparently taken up residence in the pond in St. Ferdinand Park, near North Lindbergh and St. Ferdinand Drive.

The Facebook post about the newest resident has drawn more than 225 comments  including an abundant assortment of otter puns  and has been shared more than 325 times. Many readers also shared their own photos of the otter.

On Facebook, Florissant officials asked that those who head to the park to check it out for themselves "make sure to admire him from a distance as to not disturb his habitat."

River otters, which are members of the weasel family, typically make their home along the banks of rivers or streams, and enjoy eating fish, frogs and insects, according to information on the St. Louis Zoo website. With their dense, oily fur that repels water, the animals are well suited for a semiaquatic life.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, river otters are common in most watersheds in the state.

The 64-acre St. Ferdinand Park runs along Coldwater Creek, and the pond is stocked with fish.
Pelosis evil culinary constables

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of running a gazpacho police force during an interview on the right-wing network OAN. Not only do we have the D.C. jail, which is the D.C. gulag, Greene said. But now we have Nancy Pelosis gazpacho police spying on members of Congress, spying on the legislative work that we do, spying on our staffs, and spying on American citizens that want to come talk to their representatives.

It appears that Greene meant Gestapo, the secret, murderous Nazi police force and not gazpacho, the cold vegetable soup. Greene has a pattern of inappropriately invoking Nazi Germany in her remarks critical of Democrat policies.

We wonder whats coming next on Greenes culinary-police menu. Perhaps a reference to Vichyssoise France as the Germany-friendly government that ruled France during the World War II occupation?

Dallas owns up to an ugly past

After five decades, the city of Dallas is finally acknowledging its dirtiest secret. In 1973, Dallas police officers investigating a vending-machine robbery picked up two Mexican-American boys and interrogated them in the back of a squad car. One, 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez, kept denying involvement. The officers decided to play Russian Roulette to prompt a confession.

Officer Darrell Cain pulled the trigger once but got no confession. He pulled it again, and in a flash, Rodriguez was dead. Cain was tried for murder and served a whopping 2 years in prison. Dallas did its best to put that sordid little embarrassment behind the city for decades, but activists refused to let Rodriguezs death be forgotten. Their persistence is paying off. This weekend, a six-foot statue of the boy is being unveiled in his honor.

We must apologize as a police department, a department made up of mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. On behalf of the Dallas Police Department, as a father, I am sorry. We are sorry that someone trusted to protect you, someone who wore the same uniform I proudly wear today took your son and took Davids brother away by way of murder.

The statue wont bring the boy back, but itll remind a major Texas city of a history that many might prefer to forget because it makes them feel uncomfortable.

Last call at a 1,200-year-old pub

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub is no spring chicken. The pub, in St. Albans, England, is believed to have first opened in 793, making it older even than the United Kingdom itself. But now, having survived all kinds of plagues, the pub is closing its doors because of the current pandemic.

The Washington Post reports that the pub has lost so much business that its owners are shutting it down. The company said it hopes to eventually open under new management.

As devastating as pandemic restrictions have been to economies throughout the world, they have helped prevent what could have been a Medieval-level of death from the coronavirus. More than 5 million people worldwide have died in the current pandemic. The bubonic plague of the mid-1300s is believed to have killed as many as 200 million, from a much smaller global population.

Musk on the move

Tesla founder and billionaire Elon Musk seemed thrilled to have the worlds attention when he blasted passengers into space aboard his new rocket ship last year. But when it comes to coverage of his movements closer to Earth, Musk apparently gets a little annoyed at the attention. Florida teenager Jack Sweeney created 16 automated Twitter accounts designed to follow the movements of private planes owned by prominent billionaires like Musk, Bill Gates and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

The accounts took advantage of publicly available data tracking planes by their tail numbers. Sweeney posted them online for the world to see, but Musk took offense. He direct-messaged Sweeney on Twitter, telling him that such postings posed a security risk and offering to pay him $5,000 to stop doing it. Sweeney responded with a counteroffer of something closer to $50,000 plus a new Tesla Model 3. Musk ended the communication.

Maybe Musk thought he was being extorted, but he was the one who made the first offer. After that, it was the sellers decision. And the kid figured better than to accept a low-ball offer from a guy whose net worth exceeds $200 billion.

Butterfly sanctuary in the crosshairs

Sitting close to the Mexico-U.S. border, the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, was the largest refuge for over 200 species of butterflies, as well as the only place to observe many species of native bees, and endangered plants and animals. That is, until recently. It has closed indefinitely following credible threats attached to the right-wing We Stand America group that supported construction of then-President Trumps border wall, which would have run through the sanctuary.

In 2017, the sanctuary filed a lawsuit to halt the construction, which prompted conspiracy theorists to claim (falsely) that the sanctuary served as a human trafficking and illegal-immigration conduit. According to the Texas Tribune, the sanctuarys director reported receiving threats. Former Republican Texas state Rep. Aaron Pena even suggested that the director should be armed at all times or leave town before a We Stand America rally planned nearby. In January, a Virginia congressional candidate allegedly tackled the director for refusing her admittance. The Board of Directors of the North American Butterfly Association decided to close for the safety of their staff.
Regarding the editorial Murder-Protection Act would make it harder to enforce Missouri gun crimes (Feb. 2): What the heck is going on in Jefferson City? Senate Bill 666, so aptly named, has got to be the handiwork of the devil himself. A presumption of self-defense in basically all gun homicides? To me, it sounds illegal or at least immoral, and gives the criminal more rights than the victim. How can one assume self-defense in every single instance? In my opinion, it would just keep making St. Louis even more dangerous, as if thats possible.
In eastern Congo and the nearby CAR (Central African Republic) there has been an increase in violence during the last few months. In Congo this is on purpose, as forces from Congo and Uganda make a joint effort to eliminate the Ugandan ADF Islamic terror group from its bases in the eastern Congo. The campaign against the ADF began at the end of November 2021 and continues. In CAR civil war continues, with more of the violence taking the form terrorist bombings.

February 8, 2022: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) Ugandan warplanes again bombed ADF rebel positions in a forest. This is part of an ongoing Congo-Ugandan operation against Ugandan rebels in Congo. ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) is from Uganda and has more Moslem radicals than rebels. ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) considers the ADF to be ISCAP (ISILs Central African Province). ADF pledged allegiance to ISIL in 2019 and later described itself as ISCAP. The name changes nothing because ADF continues its terrorist operations, primarily in eastern Congo.

February 7, 2022: Foreign NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) are calling the trial of men accused of killing UN field investigators Zaida Catalan and Michael Sharp a sham. At least one of the NGOs is actively involved in urging the UN and Congolese authorities to investigate the murders and conduct a fair trial. The two UN workers were murdered in 2017. At least two Congolese workers supporting them disappeared and have yet to be accounted for. The trial lasted four years in a military court. The NGOs claim the Congolese authorities and the court ignored evidence that tied to slayings to senior Congo government officials. The court verdict was given January 29.

February 5, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) ADF attacked two villages, killing six and kidnapping several others. A week earlier the U.S. embassy warned that an attack could occur.

February 4, 2022: In eastern Congo (South Kivu province) soldiers killed at least 33 militiamen belonging to a Mai Mai militia allied with the Burundian FNL rebels and RED-Tabara. The army said three militia leaders were killed in a large scale operation in the hills near Uvira. The area has several suspected Burundian rebel base camps.

February 2, 2022: Near the Congo capital (Kinshasa) a high-voltage power cable snapped and fell onto nearby houses and a market square, killing at least 26 people. A later report said that the market area had been inundated with rain and a live end of the cable fell into a water-filled ditch. Authorities said it was not clear what caused the cable to break. Congos national electrical authority said it believed lightning struck the cable.

February 1, 2022: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) Lendu tribesmen belonging to CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) killed at least 62 members of the Hemas tribe who were living in the Plaine Savo refugee camp. Locals said CODECO rebels were responsible for the slaughter. CODECO is a Lendu tribal militia from Uganda that used to recruit both Lendu and Hemas in Uganda. In the late 1990s the Lendu began forcing Hemas out of CODECO, a process that created a lot of hostility between the two tribes. CODECO commits a substantial number of the attacks and atrocities in Ituri, as well as across the border in Uganda. The violence in eastern Congo is mainly in Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province. CODECO is predominantly a Lendu tribal organization, as are many of militias in eastern Congo.

January 31, 2022: Rwanda reopened its border with Uganda to truck traffic. For some three years the two nations have waged a war of nerves on the border, restricting trade, preventing civil transit (sometimes even returning Rwandan passport holders) and at times restricting trade. Covid-19 was one reason but also an excuse. The Rwandan government said that issues with Uganda must still be resolved. In 2019 Rwanda accused Uganda of supporting anti-Rwandan government rebels. Uganda claimed Rwanda had agents operating illegally in Uganda.

Congo president Felix Tshisekedi held a ceremony launching the construction of Congos first true deep-water port. The port will be located on Congos Atlantic Ocean coastline. The coastline is short, only 23 miles. There is already a small port facility located at Banana. However, the new port, Banana Port, will be much larger. It will cost an estimated $1.2 billion. Tshisekedi has received a lot of domestic criticism for supporting the port project, but his government believes it will aid Congolese exports. A UAE port construction company, DP World, has the contract. Matadi is currently Congos major sea port. It is on the Congo River, 93 miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. 93 miles is the furthest point ocean-going vessels can travel on the river.

January 29, 2022: In Congo a military court sentenced 49 defendants to death. Some of the death sentences as in absentia. An army colonel was sentenced to ten years in prison for disobeying orders. Two defendants were acquitted. The court made the rulings in a mass trial of individuals accused of being involved in the March murders of UN investigators Zaida Catalan and Michael Sharp. The murders were committed in Congos central Kasai region.

January 28, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) claimed responsibility for a raid on an army camp near the Uganda border. The ISIL forces belonged to the ADF militia and were seeking to free twenty of their members held prisoner in the camp. The attacks, which left three dead, succeeded in freeing the prisoners.

January 25, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) fighting outside the city of Goma continued into a second day. This forced several thousand people to flee their homes leaving at least 2,000 living in improvised shelters. There have been several clashes between soldiers and M23 rebels. It all began with a clash near Virunga National Park. Today another firefight near Goma left at least twenty soldiers dead. M23 now refers to itself as the Revolutionary Army of Congo.

January 22, 2022: Tanzania signed an agreement with Burundi to extend Tanzanias standard gauge railroad to Gitega, which is located in central Burundi and is now the official capital of Burundi. The extension is 282 kilometers in length and cost an estimated $900 million. Tanzania will share the costs. The railroad connects to the Tanzanian port at Dar es Salaam. A Turkish, a Portuguese and two Chinese companies will handle construction.

January 21, 2022: In CAR the UN is investigating the alleged killing of at least 30 people near the town of Bria between January 16 and 17. CAR security forces and mercenaries working for the Russian Wagner Group were involved in the deaths.

January 18, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) police arrested two men in connection with the February 2021 murder of the Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and two other people, a Carabiniere officer and a World Food Program driver. Police report that the killers intended to kidnap the ambassador and hold him for ransom.

January 12, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) Congo and Uganda issued a joint statement that ADF Islamic terrorists wearing Ugandan military uniforms have attacked Congolese villages. These attacks were apparently meant to sabotage current anti-ADF operations in the Virunga National Park and undermine the Congo-Uganda alliance to defeat the ADF.

January 10, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) locals tended to believe a recent ISIL claim of responsibility for the December 25, 2021 suicide bombing attacked in Beni that killed five people and injured 14 others. What this means is an ADF terrorist conducted the attack. ISILs claim adds an international political dimension to the ADF attack.

January 9. 2022: In CAR UN peacekeepers report that terrorist attacks are increasing there. Peacekeepers have particularly noticed an increase in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), especially in the CARs northwestern areas.

January 7, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) the military lunched another major operation against ADF Islamic terrorist bases in Virunga National Park. The new operation began with a series of airstrikes, likely provided by Uganda, on several ADF targets. The goal is catching the Islamist terrorists during Friday prayers. The fighting continued for over a week.

January 5, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) government authorities confirmed that security personnel have arrested a major ADF leader, Banza Madjaribu in the city of Goma on December 29, 2021. Banza Madjaribu is described as a key recruiter for the ADF and has masterminded terror bombing attacks. He is also the brother of the ADFs senior commander, Imam Zakaria Banza Souleymane (nom de guerre Bonge La Chuma). Madjaribu is now in Kinshasa, being held at the military criminal intelligence prison (DEMIAP)

January 1, 2022: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) the army reports that the joint Congo-Uganda anti-ADF operation is entering phase two. Congo and Uganda estimate their forces have killed at least 100 ADF members since the operation started on November 30, 2021. Around 70 ADF fighters have surrendered. The initial phase struck six major ADF base camps. On December 24, 2021 the joint force occupied an ADF camp named Kambi Ya Yua.
(Tribune News Service)  A bipartisan U.S. Senate bill would require the remaining federally owned chimpanzees used in past medical experiments to be transferred to a sanctuary  including 34 housed at Holloman Air Force Base.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, one of the bills four sponsors, hopes moving the primates to Chimp Haven in Keithville, La., will bring to close a long, notorious history of experimentation, which was well documented as invasive and often inhumane.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have been advocating for a humane and permanent solution for chimpanzees housed at Holloman Air Force Base, Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, said in a statement. We have a moral responsibility to prevent senseless animal cruelty and provide the

34 chimpanzees who remain at Holloman and the numerous other primates housed in similar facilities across the country with a humane living environment, and the best possible care for the remainder of their lives.

The National Institutes of Health designated the 200-acre Chimp Haven for retiring federally owned chimps from Hollomans Alamogordo Primate Facility and two other sites after the agency decided in 2015 to quit supporting biomedical experiments on the animals.

The sanctuary now has 300 chimps. About 75% of its funding is federal, and the rest comes from donations.

The bills other sponsors are Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D- Ill., and Republican Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

An animal advocacy group lauded the bill, saying it would place the chimps in a setting with forested areas that more closely match their natural surroundings and it would prevent the NIH and others from interfering in their transfer.

Its an amazing facility, said Noelle Callahan, policy and program director for Animal Protection New Mexico. Theyre designed for 24/7 welfare of the chimps. And thats just not the case in a laboratory environment.

The bill would override a decision in 2019 by NIH to keep 44 chimpanzees at Hollomans primate facility because three agency veterinarians deemed them too frail to move to the sanctuary. The population has since dwindled to 34.

Callahan contends the NIH veterinarians never physically examined the chimps. Instead, they went along with the opinions of veterinarians employed by the facilitys contractor, Charles River Laboratories, which is being paid well by the government to tend to the chimps, she said.

The NIH pays Charles River $124 a day per chimp, compared to the $26 a day that Chimp Haven receives, Callahan said, adding the move, aside from being better for the animals, would save taxpayers a lot of money.

A Holloman spokeswoman wrote in an email the Air Force cant comment because NIH has complete oversight of the primate facility, even though its located at the base.

An NIH spokesman said the agency doesnt comment on pending legislation and emailed a link to a webpage with written statements, including on the NIH decision to keep the chimps at Holloman.

A 2019 statement said NIH veterinarians used defined protocols to assess the chimps and advised the agency it would be a serious risk to their health to move them. As a result, NIH expected the chimps to live out their lives at the facility to ensure their safety and welfare, the statement said.

The chimps have a blend of indoor and outdoor living conditions in structures called Primadomes that allow them to climb and swing, the statement said. They have strong dependency on their social groups as well as close bonds with their caretakers, from whom they receive excellent care.

But Callahan said the facility keeps the chimps in much smaller groups than they naturally form in the wild and confines them to a place that was never meant to house them permanently.

This setting was designed to conduct experiments on the chimps, not offer lifetime care, and keeping them in the place where they experienced trauma makes it extremely difficult for them to recover, she said.

Theyre very intelligent animals  theyre our closest relative, Callahan said. They have great memories. Besides physical trauma, theres probably mental and emotional trauma as well.

The bill also would require transferring about 50 chimps to the sanctuary from the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research in Bastrop, Texas, and any chimps that remain at the Southwest National Primate Research Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The NIHs 2015 decision to stop supporting biomedical experiments on chimps came the same year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the primates as endangered.

The protected listing was important in ensuring chimps could no longer be lab animals, Callahan said. And the current bill would make sure they arent held captive in the labs  a crucial final step, she said.

While they arent being used in experiments right now, theyre still in a laboratory facility that really cant meet their needs, she said.

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NEW DELHI - In early 2021, India was jolted by revelations that a jailed human rights activist and vocal government critic was targeted by hackers who planted incriminating evidence on his laptop before he was arrested on terrorism charges.

Now, a year later, a report by U.S. experts says the activist, Rona Wilson, was targeted by two separate groups, including one group that has been linked to widely documented cyberespionage campaigns against military targets in China and Pakistan, Indias top foreign adversaries.

The report notes that the other group, responsible for planting documents on the activists device, dubbed ModifiedElephant by SentinelOne, shared hacking infrastructure with an attacker that researchers have long suspected of state-sanctioned political espionage.

The findings, published in a report by the California-based cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, shed light on what amounted to a concerted, nearly decade-long effort to surveil a group of dissidents. It also offers new clues about the connections between groups that cybersecurity experts have observed targeting foreign adversaries and domestic critics.

The report does not identify the people who carried out the attacks or the entity that ordered them but notes that ModifiedElephants activity aligns with Indian state interests.

Two separate groups going after the same target suggests they were tasked with the job by the same entity, said Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher and co-author of the SentinelOne report.

According to SentinelOne researchers, Wilson received dozens of emails - often from other activists he knew and sometimes disguised as news articles - that contained malware designed to infiltrate his computer.

The Washington Post reported in April on a separate forensic analysis that found that, years before his arrest, an unknown hacker compromised Wilsons computer and planted at least 32 documents, including a letter discussing a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi that authorities have cited as evidence against him.

SentinelOne found that ModifiedElephant shared web domains with a hacking group known as Hangover. SentinelOnes research built on a 2013 report that found Hangover had attacked commercial businesses and national security interests in Europe, the United States and Pakistan.

The SentinelOne report identified the second group targeting Wilson as SideWinder, a group that is well known to international cybersecurity researchers who have tracked its operations against government and military targets in Pakistan and China.

Three independent experts in the United States and Europe reviewed the SentinelOne report at The Posts request and concurred with its conclusions.

The new findings suggest Wilson, a 50-year-old human rights activist awaiting trial in a jail outside Mumbai, was the target of an extensive cyberattack campaign that involved more than one hacker and spanned nearly a decade, a longer time frame than previously known.

Indias National Investigation Agency, the prosecuting authority in the case, did not respond to a request for comment.

Wilsons case has sparked controversy in India at a time when Modis government is battling allegations of hacking and surveillance of its opponents.

Last year, an investigation by a global consortium including The Post revealed that hundreds of phone numbers from India appeared on a global list that included some numbers selected for surveillance by NSO Groups clients using its Pegasus tool, which is licensed only to government agencies. Those on the list included Indian activists, journalists and opposition party leaders.

The Indian government has neither confirmed nor denied that it is an NSO client. In December, Amnesty International said a forensic analysis of a backup of Wilsons iPhone 6s found traces of Pegasus spyware.

Wilson was arrested in 2018 along with lawyers and academics in what is known as the Bhima Koregaon case, which began as an investigation into a violent clash between Hindu nationalists and Dalits, formerly known as untouchables. Prosecutors charged Wilson and 15 others under an anti-terrorism law, alleging they had ties with a banned Maoist militant group, charges they deny.

U.N. experts have called on the Modi government to release the defendants. Last July, one of the defendants, an 84-year-old Jesuit priest, died in a hospital after his health deteriorated in jail.

Last year, Arsenal Consulting, a Massachusetts-based digital forensics firm, found that the computers of Wilson and a co-defendant, lawyer Surendra Gadling, had been hacked by an attacker that planted dozens of documents on them, later cited by prosecutors as evidence. Arsenal analyzed electronic copies of their computers at the request of the defense team and worked pro bono.

SentinelOnes report takes the findings further.

ModifiedElephant, the main hacker, sent emails with documents or attachments - laden with commercially available malware like NetWire and DarkComet - that were tailored to the victims interests and were often copied to multiple recipients they knew, SentinelOne said. Wilson received at least 32 emails from ModifiedElephant, and Gadling was the recipient of 40 such mails from the group.

Dozens of other members of civil society, including other co-defendants, were also targeted by ModifiedElephant, though it is not known how many were successfully infiltrated.

SentinelOne based its research on an analysis of Arsenals findings, malware infrastructure and more than 100 phishing emails received by Wilson and his co-defendants. SentinelOne requested the emails from the defense team and conducted the work pro bono.

The researchers said the earliest attack on Wilson can be traced back to a decade ago, though the email attacks intensified in 2014 and continued until at least 2016.

The phishing emails were traced to two distinct groups that sent messages from free services such as Gmail and Yahoo around the same time. Besides ModifiedElephant, SideWinder, a group that typically attacks foreign targets and has been tracked for years by international researchers, sent at least four malicious emails to Wilson between 2013 and 2014. It is unknown whether the SideWinder attacks were successful.

In 2019, the Pakistani government issued an advisory detailing attacks on its defense and government offices by SideWinder and calling it an Indian attacker.

SentinelOne identified the two groups by tracking the Web domains associated with the emails.

The report also found evidence that links ModifiedElephant to Hangover.

At least two web domains used by ModifiedElephant for sending phishing emails to Wilson were linked to Hangover, suggesting an overlap between the two groups, SentinelOne said. Hangover was accused of attacking Norways state-owned telecom company in 2013.

Snorre Fagerland, a Norwegian cybersecurity researcher who co-wrote a 2013 report on Hangover, said the newest details about the campaign against Wilson contribute to a better understanding of the ties between attackers who may be operating in India and targeting foreign adversaries and domestic dissidents alike.

Its safe to say that we have learned a lot over the last decade, Fagerland said, not only about the methods, but also about targeting and how the Indian advanced persistent threat ecosystem works.
North Korea, weighing in on the ongoing conflict over Ukraine, has demanded the United States cease its hostile policy for isolating and weakening Russia.

The communist regimes Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday published an unsigned online column criticizing the U.S. role in heightened tensions in Ukraine. NATO allies, including the U.S., have sent military aid and supplies in recent weeks to support Kyiv as Moscow masses troops on the two countries shared border.

The U.S. is flatly rejecting Russias legitimate demand while stubbornly insisting that it can never abandon NATOs open-door policy  and that Ukraines membership in NATO is an issue that belongs to the sovereignty of the country, the Foreign Ministrys column said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to U.S. and NATO calls to de-escalate the situation by demanding guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO.

Russia has built up a force of more than 112,000 troops at the border, Ukraine's envoy to the U.N., Sergiy Kyslytsya, said on Feb. 1. Other news reports indicated that up to 130,000 troops may have been amassed at Ukraines eastern border and on the Black Sea.

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has ordered 3,000 U.S. troops to Germany, Poland and Romania. The U.S. had made it very clear were ready to continue talks in good faith but noted NATO would respond accordingly if Moscow violates Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Biden said in a speech Tuesday.

But if Russia makes a choice to further invade Ukraine, we are jointly ready and all of NATO is ready, he said.

Russia in 2014 invaded Ukraine to seize and annex Crimea, a region it still holds. Russian-backed separatists have also waged war since then in Donbass, an eastern province bordering Russia.

North Koreas Foreign Ministry said it empathized with Russia and called the U.S. troop deployments a serious security concern.

The above facts clearly indicate that the United States, though advocating a solution through dialogue and diplomacy, is taking a growing Russia as a thorn in its flesh, the column said.

North Korean diplomats met with their Russian counterparts on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss strategic cooperation and issues of mutual concern regarding the regional and international situation, according to two North Korean press releases.

Russia, one of the Norths few international friends, has previously come to the regimes aid. Russia and China have lobbied the U.N. Security Council to lift sanctions against Pyongyang and blocked a U.S.-led effort to sanction North Korean affiliates, according to multiple news reports.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Jan. 12 that it imposed sanctions against six North Koreans, a Russian and a Russian company for procuring material goods for Pyongyang.

U.S. sanctions against North Korea create a toxic atmosphere around Pyongyang and fuel its widespread unwillingness to cooperate, Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Dmitry Polyanskiy said during a Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield in a rebuttal argued that member nations were too often undermining legitimate sanctions.

When member states willfully ignore sanctions, ignore sanctions evasion activity or fail themselves to live up to the commitments we have all made to enforce those measures, they undermine the utility of those tools and the work of the council itself, she said at the meeting.
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TOKYO  New COVID-19 cases on U.S. military bases fell below 100 for the first time in three weeks on Friday while the respiratory disease held tight across Japan.

U.S. Forces Japan reported 78 new cases at 13 installations, from Misawa Air Base in the northeast to Air Force and Marine Corps bases on Okinawa. Four cases are pending confirmation, and none are hospitalized, according to USFJs online update. The command, which oversees about 55,000 service members, reported 135 new cases in its Thursday update.

Although USFJ has not posted updates every day, its numbers have steadily declined from 715 new cases Jan. 19.

Meanwhile, Tokyo reported 18,660 people tested positive for the coronavirus, the third straight day the city has counted more than 18,000 new infections, according to public broadcaster NHK and metro government data.

Fridays new caseload was 1,138 fewer than one week prior, according to metro data. And the seven-day moving average of new cases in Tokyo fell to 17,849 on Thursday, from a high of 18,575 on Tuesday.

Tokyo, its three neighboring prefectures and nine others are under a quasi-emergency until March 6, a three-week extension to the coronavirus public health emergency that was set to expire Sunday. The emergency asks bars and restaurants to close early, limit group sizes and refrain from alcohol sales. Residents are asked to avoid travel outside their home prefectures.

Japan posted another 99,604 new cases Thursday and 164 deaths stemming from COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The seven-day average on Thursday stood at 93,814 new cases, a dip from the sixth-wave high of 94,491 the previous day.

Among U.S. military bases, Kadena Air Base on Okinawa reported 19 cases, the high number on Friday. The air base has 113 active cases, according to an update on its website. That number has fallen from 307 on Feb. 1.

Okinawa prefecture, home to the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, reported 643 new cases Friday, the fourth consecutive day that number has exceeded 600, and 53 within the U.S. military population, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care.

Yokosuka Naval Base, homeport of the 7th Fleet south of Tokyo, reported 14 new cases Friday and 45 on Thursday, according to USFJ. The naval base said it had 358 active cases as of Thursday.

Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, where USFJ has its headquarters, reported six cases on Friday and 13 on Thursday, according to USFJs update. The air base said 35 people tested positive between Tuesday and Thursday, according to its website.

U.S. Army Japan accounted for no new cases on Friday and five on Thursday, according to USFJs updates.

U.S. Army Garrison Japan, headquartered at Camp Zama 25 miles southwest of central Tokyo, cautioned its members to think carefully about gathering to watch the Super Bowl on Monday.

Stay at home if you feel ill, or are at risk for contracting COVID-19, said a Friday post on the commands Facebook page. Avoid buffet-style food, use disposable or personal utensils, practice social distancing, wash hands often and wear a mask.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other NATO defense ministers are slated to review plans for increasing allied troop numbers in southeastern Europe, the alliances top official said Friday.

Among the moves on the table is the creation of a multinational battlegroup to be stationed in the Black Sea region, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said during a stop in Romania, which would be one of the host countries under the proposal.

NATO defense leaders will meet in Brussels for two days of talks beginning Wednesday. They will review various plans for reinforcing the alliances eastern flank, Stoltenberg said.

The meeting comes amid growing concerns about Russias military buildup around Ukraine and the potential for a new large-scale war there.

The number of Russian troops is going up, and the warning time (for an attack) is going down, Stoltenberg said.

On Friday, Stoltenberg said he had visited with U.S. troops from the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment who deployed earlier this week to Romanias Mihail Kogalniceanu military base, which serves as a hub for U.S. forces rotating through the country.

About 1,000 U.S. soldiers have shifted from Germany to Romania as part of an effort to shore up defenses closer to Russia. In all, the U.S. now has close to 2,000 troops in Romania on a rotational basis.

Adding a NATO battlegroup could supplement force strength in southeastern Europe in a way that would be similar to postures in the Baltic states and Poland, Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg said France has already volunteered to lead a battlegroup in Romania. He didnt spell out what other countries could see similar battlegroups, but Bulgaria is one possibility.

A final decision on the size, scope and locations of the new battlegroups is expected to be made in the spring, he said.

Stoltenberg also met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. During a news conference, Iohannis reiterated Romanias long-standing view that NATO needs to shore up defenses in southeastern Europe.

A more consistent presence of U.S. and other allies in the Black Sea region is needed, Iohannis said.
Even in ordinary times, the massive military exercises with Russia and Belarus, its western neighbor, would be worrying Europe and its allies. No joint exercises between the two countries have ever been as big as the 10-day maneuvers that began Thursday.

Friction between Russia and NATO has not been at this high level since the Cold War. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called it a dangerous moment. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke Tuesday of an urgent need to de-escalate the crisis - but then on Wednesday claimed that Moscow had to stage the war games to face down an unprecedented threat against Russia.

Heres what you need to know about the military exercises between Russia and Belarus:

Whats different this time?

It looks more like the staging for an invasion force than typical military exercises.

Russia hauled huge amounts of military equipment across the country from distant time zones, mainly in the Far East, to Belarus. Thats highly unusual for a military exercise, according to analysts.

NATO has reported that Russia deployed Iskander tactical missiles in Belarus as part of the force. Russias Defense Ministry says it sent in S-400 missile systems and SU-35 fighter jets. Russias force in Belarus numbers 30,000, according to NATO.

The scope is more massive than Zapad, the major exercise Russia runs every four years with Belarus. The last Zapad exercise was in September. So the timing of the current exercises  so soon after that  appears provocative.

They brought a lot of things with them that are not normally seen in military exercises, said military analyst Michael Kofman of Arlington-based CNA, an military analytical group. They have pontoon bridging companies. They have communications. They have a lot of high-end electronic warfare with them. They brought a lot of logistical supporting equipment with them.

Its unusual, he said.

Is Russia making other military moves?

Russian forces continue to grow near Ukraines eastern border, stoking worries of a potential invasion seeking to halt Ukraines tilt to the West and aim to join NATO, a red line for Moscow. Russia says it has no intention of invading Ukraine.

Moscow is also holding simultaneous drills in the Black Sea and southern Russia.

It is mounting a major naval exercise in the Black Sea, blockading large areas and announcing the closure of the adjacent Sea of Azov  the latter move denied by the Kremlin Thursday. Six large amphibious landing vessels docked in the Crimean port of Simferopol on Thursday.

Ukrainian officials blasted the naval maneuvers, describing them as destructive activity to destabilize the security situation and accusing Russia of effectively disrupting sea traffic to Ukrainian ports.

Russia also has been conducting military drills in southern Russia, east of Ukraine in Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don. The Southern Military District began three weeks of drills Tuesday involving more than 30 tactical exercises using missile systems and armored vehicles.

Why is Belarus such a close Russian ally?

In short, Belaruss President Alexander Lukashenko owes Russias President Vladimir Putin.

Until two years ago, Lukashenko asserted his independence from Moscow. But in 2020, facing mass protests that nearly toppled him from power, he turned to Putin for support.

Putin rescued him, promising to send Russian troops if need be. In return, Lukashenko has effectively made Belarus part of Russias military space.

Last week, Lukashenko said the Russian-Belarusian joint Allied Resolve force could target Ukraine or NATO if need be.

If Ukraine started a war, Lukashenko said his army would act jointly, exactly as the Russian one. (Ukraine officials have ruled out mounting attacks.)

Could Russias military deepen its reach in Belarus?

There are signals that Belarus could acquire advanced Russian weaponry  at least going by what the Belarusian president says.

Lukashenko told journalists in November that he wanted Russia to supply several battalions of Iskander ballistic missile units to deploy in southern and western Belarus.

He recently hinted at the development of three joint training centers to teach Belarusian military personnel how to use advanced Russian military technology.

In November, Lukashenko told an interviewer he would invite Russia to install nuclear weapons in Belarus if NATO deployed nuclear weapons in Poland, a proposal repeated in December by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei.

Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said in December that if NATO deployed nuclear weapons to Poland Russia would balance the situation.

Its not a secret to anyone that the placement of various types of weapons near our borders, which can pose a threat to us, will require relevant steps to balance the situation. Various options are possible here, Peskov said.

Belaruss opposition is worried that some Russian forces in Belarus for the exercise may never leave. But Russian and Belarusian officials say they will return to base when its complete.

Could the exercises be used to launch an invasion?

Russia has used military exercise as cover or rehearsal for military operations against its neighbors in the past.

In July 2008, Russias large-scale military exercise near Georgia  called Caucasus Frontier  involved at least 10,000 service people and hundreds of tanks and other pieces of military equipment. It ended early August but two battalion tactical groups stayed behind, according to Kofman, before fighting broke out between the two sides a few days later.

Russia sent ground forces into South Ossetia, a separatist region of Georgia, landed war ships and mounted bomb attacks, swiftly dominating Georgias military.

Kofman, who has closely followed Russian military exercises, said the current joint Russian-Belarusian exercise does appear to be a cover for a very large number of Russian forces to be in Belarus and many of these forces dont appear to be there for the exercise but potentially arrayed for an operation against Ukraine.
Americans in Ukraine shouldnt count on 82nd Airborne paratroopers in nearby Poland to come to the rescue if a Russian invasion occurs.

That was the message Thursday from President Joe Biden, who ruled out evacuation missions should the Kremlins threatening military buildup near Ukraine turn into a new incursion.

Thats a world war. When Americans and Russians start shooting one another, were in a very different world, Biden said during an NBC News interview.

He added that American citizens should leave immediately.

Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world, he said. This is a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly.

On Friday, hours after Bidens comments, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued a statement saying that Russian military action may commence at any time and without warning.

The U.S. government will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine, the statement said.

The travel alert comes as paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne continue to arrive in eastern Poland and take up positions near the Ukrainian border.

On Wednesday, Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said the troops could be called on to help evacuate American citizens from Ukraine.

Given Bidens directive, the option of sending U.S. forces into Ukraine for evacuations is off the table, at least for now.

One of their missions could very well be preparing for some sort of evacuation assistance on the Polish side of that border, Kirby said.

Kirby did not detail what form that assistance could take, but The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed officials, reported Wednesday that the plan could involve checkpoints and tent camps at the border to receive fleeing Americans.

For weeks, the U.S. government has been urging Americans to leave Ukraine, which is now surrounded by an estimated 130,000 Russian troops on its northern, eastern and southern borders.

In response to Russias buildup, the Pentagon has sent 1,700 extra soldiers to Poland and 300 to Germany, and also repositioned 1,000 soldiers from the Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Romania.

The moves are aimed at reassuring and demonstrating resolve to NATO allies worried about Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
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WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  Several Democratic governors are moving to ease some indoor mask mandates, skipping ahead of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Biden administration, which continue to urge Americans to wear masks indoors regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul lifted her states indoor mask mandate for businesses this week, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is ending the requirement that students and school employees wear masks. Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, said he is relaxing his states universal mask mandate next week. Other Democratic-led states are following suit, just as a federal free mask program is in full swing.

The urgency of state officials to ease guidelines reflects recent polling showing growing frustration with the Biden administrations pandemic response and the electorates broader impatience after two years of shifting public health guidelines. With Novembers midterm elections looming, some Democratic officeholders arent waiting for the president, the CDC or scientific consensus as they take steps to neutralize a potential campaign liability that Republicans have already seized upon.

Spokesmen for Hochul and Murphy both attributed their decisions to a drop in cases and hospitalizations; Newsom also cited the omicron variants wane as a reason to ease some restrictions for vaccinated Californians.

Governors are picking up on a sense that voters simply wont tolerate mask mandates any longer, said Julia Lynch, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. They are worried about how much longer voters are willing to abide by restrictions.

Americans are increasingly critical of the COVID-19 response from elected and public health officials, and 60% of U.S. adults polled say theyve felt confused as a result of changes to public health officials recommendations on how to slow the spread of the coronavirus, up 7% since the summer, according to a January Pew Research Center poll.

Just last month, as omicron cases soared, the CDC upgraded its stance on high-quality masks, emphasizing that N95 or KN95 masks offer far more protection than cloth face coverings. President Biden launched a program to distribute 400 million free N95 masks to the public. More than a hundred million masks have been distributed to pharmacies and community centers nationwide, according to the White House. And Americans have started receiving free at-home rapid testing kits in another Biden administration program.

The administration continues to recommend indoor masking in areas of high transmission, which, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, is basically the entire country at this point.

Psaki said the president would keep to his campaign promise  defer to the nations top scientists in how the federal government responds to the pandemic. Biden got burned for taking a victory lap on his administrations handling of the pandemic in July when cases were at a low point, only to see the delta and omicron variants sicken millions and fill hospitals. The spike in cases prompted federal and local officials to reinstate more restrictive measures.

Still, Psaki acknowledged that Americans had tired of restrictions and said the administration was developing plans to help the nation exit the emergency phase of the pandemic.

In a wide-ranging NBC News interview Thursday, Biden responded to whether states and cities were moving too quickly to loosen indoor mask mandates, telling anchor Lester Holt: Ive committed that I would follow the science  the science as put forward by the CDC, and the federal people. And I think its probably premature, but its, you know, its a tough call.

But Biden acknowledged that the waves of coronavirus variants have had a profound impact on the psyche of the American people.

Last week, as the National Governors Association met with Biden at the White House, Murphy and others pressed the president to give guidance on how states can live with the coronavirus.

What does the road from pandemic to endemic look like, and how do we keep score? Murphy told reporters. There was broad agreement thats the task before us.

Meanwhile, there is some disagreement among public health experts on how soon the nation should ease restrictions.

Carolyn Cannuscio, an associate professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Pennsylvania, said its premature for states to lift mask mandates since there are still high rates of community transmission and many hospitals are still overwhelmed.

Though case counts are on the downturn, the country should be taking advantage of the decline to try to enter into a period of recovery and rest, and masks are an important way for us to continue to reduce transmission, Cannuscio said.

Lifting mask mandates now may most severely impact marginalized communities, including people of color and immunocompromised Americans, she said.

We need to keep preventive policies in place in order to allow these people to participate fully in society, Cannuscio said.

Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University, said because the public can get widely available vaccines and high-quality masks, theyre in a better position to individually decide the level of risk that theyre willing to take instead of this being a government mandate.

Wen said that governors announcements to ease mask mandates ahead of any new CDC guidance is a result of slow decision-making at the federal level.

The states have been asking the CDC for months about guidance for what the metrics are for when masks should go from required to optional. The CDC doesnt even have a timeline even now for when that change is going to be forthcoming, Wen said. I think the states frankly said, We cant wait anymore.

N2 America, a center-right nonprofit, is already running TV ads in battleground states to appeal to swing-voting parents skeptical of Democrats response to the pandemic. One advertisement shows kids wearing masks in classrooms and learning remotely. Democrats are putting kids last, the ad reads. Teachers unions are putting kids last.

Zack Roday, a senior advisor to the nonprofit, said that the pandemic has wholly shifted the political landscape. It has animated not just the Republican base but also independent voters, both of whom will have a long memory regarding their leaders COVID-19-related decisions when election season comes, he said.

Whether that equals a red wave ... that is the million-dollar question, Roday said.

Democratic strategist Jeff Horwitt said the ad doesnt speak to the reality in schools and reminds voters of the Trump administrations slow response to the pandemic. Its sad theyre trying to attack teachers and trying to score political points when were trying to get students in schools safely, Horwitt said.

Parents know who the real heroes are: the teachers trying to do right by their kids.

Times staff writer Eli Stokols contributed to this report.

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Visit at latimes.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  An additional 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., were ordered to Poland as a Russian invasion of Ukraine could launch in the coming days before the end of the Winter Olympics, senior defense officials said Friday.

The troops are part of the 82nd Airbornes infantry brigade combat team, which last week deployed 1,700 soldiers to Poland to assist the NATO ally that borders Ukraine to the west. The troops are expected to join the other 82nd soldiers by early next week, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Saturday, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. will be repositioning 160 members of the Florida National Guard who have been deployed to Ukraine since late November. The troops from the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will move to another European nation. They have been advising and mentoring Ukrainian forces as part of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

Last week, the U.S. sent 300 soldiers from other elements of the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg to set up a joint task force headquarters in Germany.

All told, these 5,000 additional personnel comprise a highly mobile and flexible force, capable of multiple missions, the official said. They are being deployed to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATOs eastern flank, train with host-nation forces, and contribute to a wide range of contingencies.

The 5,000 join roughly 80,000 U.S. troops already stationed in Europe or there on a rotational basis, according to the Pentagon.

In addition to the 2,000 troops deployed last week to Poland and Germany, about 1,000 troops were moved from Germany to Romania, another NATO country bordering Ukraine.

The Navy also recently sent four guided-missile destroyers  USS The Sullivans, USS Gonzalez, USS Donald Cook and USS Mitscher  to the region, said Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a Navy spokesman. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group is also in the European theater, having wrapped up the NATO exercise Neptune Strike 22 last week in the Mediterranean Sea.

Throughout their deployment, they will participate in a range of maritime activities in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and our NATO allies, Abrahamson said. One of the unique values of naval forces is their mobility and ability to deploy for a range of contingencies and operations.

Rising risk of invasion

The deployment announcement came after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday said Americans in Ukraine should leave the country within the next 48 hours as the risk of a Russia invasion of Ukraine has risen.

The threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands, he said. If you stay [in Ukraine], you are assuming risk with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and there is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.

U.S. troops might help fleeing American citizens leaving Ukraine at the countrys border with Poland, but the U.S. will not send service members into the country for evacuation missions, Sullivan told reporters at the White House.

[President Joe Biden] will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to," he said.

He said Russia could invade within the week, though he could not provide an approximate timeline for when it might occur.

There is a very distinct possibility that Russia will choose to act militarily, and there is reason to believe that that could happen on a reasonably swift timeframe now. We can't pinpoint the day, at this point, and we can't pinpoint the hour, Sullivan said.

Civilians in Ukraine will suffer immensely if war breaks out on the scale and scope thats possible, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said.

Given the type of [Russian] forces that are arrayed, the ground maneuver forces, the artillery, the ballistic missiles, the air forces  all of it packaged together, if that was unleashed on Ukraine ... it would result in a significant amount of casualties, the general said Jan 28.

Sullivan on Friday echoed Milleys remarks that Americans who remain in Ukraine could be subject to Russian attacks.

If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality, he said. A subsequent ground invasion would involve the onslaught of a massive force with virtually no notice.

Sullivans comments represent a heightened urgency regarding a possible invasion of Ukraine. For months, as Russia stacked more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines border, U.S. officials have not been willing to predict the next steps of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The reason I'm up here talking in the way I am to American citizens ... is because we believe [Putin] very well may give the final go order  that is a very distinct possibility, he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued similar warnings earlier Friday at a news briefing during his trip to Melbourne, Australia.

We continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, the secretary said. And as weve said before, were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time.

Should an invasion occur, Sullivan said leaving could become increasingly difficult, as communications to arrange departure could be severed and commercial transit halted.

No one would be able to count on air or rail or road departures once military action got underway, he said.

Ready either way

Meanwhile, Russia is engaged in a massive military exercise with neighboring Belarus. Though its leadership in recent weeks has said Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine, Sullivan said Russia continues to add troops and military equipment to the border each day.

Russia has said it wants NATO to deny Ukraine membership to the alliance and withdraw foreign troops and military equipment from Eastern European countries that joined NATO during the past 25 years, such as Romania and Bulgaria.

The U.S. has denied those appeals in individual and NATO responses to Russia but has offered some room for diplomatic negotiation. For example, the U.S. has offered to discuss arms control and nuclear weapons management agreements.

Top U.S. officials spent much of Friday on the phone with NATO countries. Biden held a video call with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom, as well as the presidents of the European Commission, European Council and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke Friday with defense leaders for Canadian, French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian, according to the Pentagon.

The secretary made clear that the United States continues to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border," the Pentagon said in a statement. Austin also reiterated an invasion could begin at any time.

Milley also met with his respective counterparts in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom, Army Col. Dave Butler said in a statement Friday.

The military leaders discussed items of mutual security concern, including ongoing coordination during the adjustment of U.S. force posture in Europe, said Butler, a Joint Staff spokesman.

Blinken said the U.S. would strongly prefer to resolve tensions with Russia diplomatically, but Russia has not been willing to pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border.

Weve made every possible effort to engage Russia, to look at the concerns that its raised, to share concerns that we have, that European partners and allies have, to see if we cant find ways to advance collective security on a reciprocal basis, he said.

Whether Russia will invade or chose a diplomatic resolution remains to be seen, but the U.S. is "ready either way," Sullivan said.
(Tribune News Service)  Sometimes the smallest sign can suggest something is wrong  like a missing Wordle score.

When 80-year-old grandmother Denyse Holt failed to text her daily score for Wordle, her two daughters thought it was strange, since she always shared her results from the popular online puzzle in which players try to guess a five-letter word.

When Holt failed to respond or even read their texts or answer the phone, the daughters, who live on the West Coast, got worried. When they had a neighbor check her house in Lincolnwood, Illinois, and her car was there but she didnt answer, they knew something was wrong.

Police were called and found a broken window with blood on the scene, suggesting a break-in. Using the neighbors key, they entered, asking, Is anybody home?

Im here, Holt called, from inside a basement bathroom where shed been barricaded by a naked intruder threatening her with scissors. Police rescued her and arrested James H. Davis III, of Chicago, the man who they say held her hostage and in fear for her life for nearly 21 hours. Her daughter said it was her mothers calm during the crisis that may have kept her alive.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, police said, a naked man broke through a window to enter Holts home in the 4600 block of Morse Avenue, got into bed with her and threatened her with scissors.

He took away Holts phones, then forced her to stay in the basement bathroom, barricading her inside with a chair, police said.

All the while, according to Holts daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, Holt was trying to stay calm, avoiding any emotional outburst or sudden movement that could escalate the situation.

At one point, Holt even assured her captor, Youre the captain. Im on your team.

Shes amazing, Holt-Caldwell said. She doesnt really know how she was able to remain that calm. She just kind of played along and made him feel as though he was in charge.

When the man threatened her, Holt, a former middle school teacher, told him it scared her, which prompted him to throw away the scissors and declare he wouldnt hurt her.

But when she was forced to wait for hours in the bathroom, she feared that the longer the ordeal went on, the more she was in danger.

After police rescued her, Holt stayed at a friends house, and her daughter arrived on an overnight flight to be with her. Through her daughter, she emphasized her gratitude to police.

Lincolnwood police were so wonderful, they made her feel so safe, Holt-Caldwell said. They did such an incredible job. Theyre part of the reason shes here today.

After Holt was taken out of the house, police said, they found Davis in an upstairs bedroom, armed with knives and refusing to surrender. They tried unsuccessfully to disable him with an electric Taser shock, then called in a SWAT team through the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, or NIPAS, which was able to Taser Davis and arrest him, Parrott said.

Davis, 32, whose last known address was in the 700 block of North Dearborn Avenue, was charged with home invasion with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, a class X felony; and two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer, a class 4 felony.

Davis, who police believed was going through a mental health crisis, was ordered held without bond in Cook County Jail.

Holt-Caldwell said the family is still in shock, and the daughters want to give their mother a fresh start after being traumatized in their childhood home, where every room was left bloodstained by the ordeal.

We want this to be a message, to reach out to your loved ones when theyre far away, Holt-Caldwell said. Dont be lackadaisical. You can do something from 3,500 miles away. You can save lives and make a difference. Have a plan in place. If theres weird behavior that doesnt match, do some investigating.

If something seems not right, please call us and let us investigate, Lincolnwood police Chief Jay Parrott said. People may be reluctant to bother police, he said, but he added, Please bother us.

2022 Chicago Tribune.

Visit at chicagotribune.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A disabled Army veteran, living in the Philippines but facing open-heart surgery in the United States, says he fears dying without his family at his side after the State Department twice refused emergency visas for his three stepchildren.

Blocked arteries have meant several surgeries and stents inserted into Kevin Baltzleys heart since 2009, he told Stars and Stripes by phone earlier this month.

Baltzley, 58, a former Army staff sergeant and veteran of the Persian Gulf War, in 2014 moved to Pampanga province in the Philippines near Clark Air Base, formerly Americas largest overseas military installation.

The retired teacher and foster parent was told in May 2020 he needed open-heart surgery but waiting on a COVID-19 vaccine delayed his return to the States, where the surgery may be performed at no charge by the Department of Veterans Affairs, he said.

Since August last year he has this pain almost daily, his wife, Karen Baltzley, said in the same interview.

After receiving a first coronavirus vaccine shot in July and the booster in December, Kevin Baltzley was ready to head to Miami, where he owns a condominium, for surgery, he said.

However, his familys request for emergency visas was refused by the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Baltzley said.

A second request garnered a visa for his wife but none for his three Filipino stepchildren, he said. Two sons from a previous marriage live in Florida.

His stepchildren  twin daughters and a son  are all fully vaccinated and attending local colleges, Baltzley said. They will have to wait in the Philippines while their parents head to Florida later this month.

The State Department doesnt comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, a press officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Heather Carlin Fabrikant, said in an email Wednesday.

The former soldier said he chose Miami for the surgery because its free, he had stents put into his heart there and his condominium is nearby.

The pandemic meant he couldnt travel to the U.S. after his father, a Navy veteran, died from cancer and his sister, who served in the Army, died of the coronavirus last year, Baltzley said.

If I die, I would like my family with me, so I dont have to leave this Earth alone, he said. I think I have earned that.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
Groms across the country are looking forward to the second event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge as subtropical low Dovi makes its way across the country this weekend, just in time for the second of the three events to kick off at Whangamata on the Coromandel.

Early forecasts suggest contestable waves all weekend long with 1m waves and strong northerlies on Saturday before a bump in swell and increasing winds for Sunday.

The Under 145 Boys and Girls Divisions and Under 16 Girls Division will be contested on Saturday with the Under 18 Boys and Under 16 Boys Divisions contested on Sunday.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge at Whangamata is the second event of the series which kicked off at Mount Maunganui a fortnight ago and concludes in Auckland at Piha Beach on February 26 and 27.

With the series sold out, the Billabong Grom Series continues to be a favourite among up-and-coming young surfers across New Zealand. Spread across three divisions ranging from Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18, over 120 surfers will surf at Whangamata Beach, Access 8 on The Esplanade from 8am  5pm daily.

Surfers from the surrounding Coromandel region are hoping to put on a display at their local with the likes of Lola Groube from Pauanui hunting the win off the back of her recent second placing in the Under 14 Girls Division at the Mount.

Local Whangamata surfer Pia Rogers, the current National Champ for the under 16 girls, will also be looking to channel her momentum from Westport and her second place in Mount Maunganui to take the top spot for the under 16 girls division this weekend.

Tao Mouldey from Mount Maunganui looks to continue his great form in the Under 16 Boys Division at Westport and the Mount.

After a stella performance in the summery conditions of Tay Street, a contrast to what is expected this weekend, where he walked away with a first place and a solid lead in the rankings.

Kalani Louis (Tara) will be looking to defend his lead in the Under 18 Boys Division followed closely on his heels by Tyler Perry (Kaik) making the trip from Raglan where he is attending the Surfing Academy this year, and Finn Vette (Gis) hot off the back of his first event win for the year at Tay Street.

In its seventeenth year as a major sponsor, Billabong in partnership with Oceanbridge has been a proud supporter of junior surfing in New Zealand. Over the years the Billabong Grom series has involved almost all of New Zealands current crop of elite surfers including Ricardo Christie (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).

Surfers from Ahipara down to Dunedin will take part this weekend with action taking place at Access 8 on The Esplanade from 8am  5pm daily.

Tyler Perry Image: Guy Rencher / Coastal Surf Images.




A Bay of Plenty teenager has beaten an exceptional group of young people to be awarded the Overall Merit Award win at a recent Blue Light Life Skills camp.

She will take her experiences and knowledge from the camp and share it with our up-and-coming Rangitahi in Matata which will lead to positive outcomes for our community, states Senior Constable Kevin Raynes on Riria Wikis recent win.

The 15-year-old walked away with the award by beating an exceptional group of young people from across Aotearoa at the recent Life Skills camp held on February 1-4 at Whenuapai Airforce Base, Auckland.

It was a great experience, and I would recommend others to give it a go, especially as I also got NCEA credits, says Riria states when reflecting on her time at the camp.

The opportunities in our small village are limited due to access to things that young people in big cities take for granted. Matata Blue Light and our community are very proud of Riria and her achievements on the Blue Light Life Skills course. Well done Riria, says Senior Constable Raynes.

The camp was cool because while I didnt have any friends when I arrived, but I was soon able to make connections with some girls from Whangarei, says Rita, who attends Trident High School.

Blue Lights Life Skills Coordinator Abbe-Mae Henry notes Riria was awarded the Overall Merit Award through her consistent progress throughout the camp, her self-discipline, and support of others.

As well as learning life skills such as cooking, ironing, and making her bed, Riria took part in teamwork, leadership, and physical activities, (including parade ground drills and rising early for 6am room inspections).

She also tested herself on the Hi Ropes Course and got to learn about the different services - the Royal New Zealand Navy, the New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force along with the NZ Police Force.

Blue Lights highly successful Life Skills programme has been run in partnership with NZ Defence Force for the past 12 years and has adventure-based experiential learning as a key part of the programme.

The programme provides 14-17-year olds critical life skills such as self-development, self-control, and teamwork that will enable young people to be successful at home, school, communities, and employment.

Up to 12 courses are held each year in Auckland, Central North Island and Burnham locations.

For more information about the Blue Light Life Skills camps visit www.bluelight.co.nz.

Blue Light is grateful for the support of the sponsorship of the Lion Foundation and community supporters.

New Zealand Blue Light Life Skills camp 1-4 February 2022 Graduation photo.
New Zealand has reached a milestone of 10 million Covid-19 vaccines administered, says Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

This afternoon [Friday] at around 2pm, the 10 millionth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was administered. This has been helped by a big surge in boosters and a healthy uptake in tamariki aged 5 to 11 years old having their first paediatric dose," says Hipkins.

"The number on its own tells a great story. But it's what it signifies for the people in our country thats the most important factor."

The 10 million doses is made up of 4,011,194 first doses, 3,939,188 second doses, 39,717 third primary doses for immunocompromised people, 1,722,179 boosters, and 204,796 paediatrics doses.

Ten million vaccines, including more than 1.7 million boosters, means our communities already have a good level of protection against Omicron  with more to come. Every single one of our DHBs has now reached 90 per cent of their population having received at least one vaccine dose," says Hipkins.

"Kiwis have really pulled together to protect each other with 95 per cent of people aged over 12 now fully vaccinated  one of the highest rates in the world. Sixty-one per cent of people over 18 who are due for a booster have already had one  and this is climbing quickly.

This is a major logistical achievement and the milestone is testament to the DHBs, hundreds of pharmacies, GPs, hauora, community providers and mobile clinics and other sites that have given the vaccine to everyone from our old to our young.

The advocates and workers on the ground who work with those in our hardest-to-reach communities also deserve huge recognition.

But of course, its the people of New Zealand who have embraced the science and put their trust in the health system who deserve the biggest accolade. They should take a bow, and then take a breath and continue to encourage others to get vaccinated.

Hipkins says a strong booster uptake in all NZ communities is our best defence against the Omicron variant.

"Being fully vaccinated is great, being boosted is even better. Book your vaccine now, whether its your first, second or booster. Every dose counts."

The Big Boost campaign continues this weekend, promoting the booster dose to anyone 18 and over who has had their second dose more than three months ago.

Many vaccination centres will be open extended hours over the weekend to encourage people to get their booster, says Hipkins.

Find a vaccination centre near you by visiting BookMyVaccine.nz or calling the Covid Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 for a whanau booking.

The Big Boost in the Bay of Plenty this weekend, February 12 & 13:

Drive-throughs:

Katikati, RSA, corner of Henry & Main Roads

Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm

Kawerau, Ron Hardie Rec Centre, 111 Onslow Street

Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm

Hauora provider (Te Manu Toroa):

Te Puke Sikh Temple, No. 3 Road

Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm

Waihi Beach community centre, 106 Beach Road

Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm

COVID-19 community vaccination centres:

Tauranga central, 87 First Avenue

Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 3.30 pm

Whakatane, 11 Quay Street

Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 3.30 pm

Pharmacies:

Tauranga Crossing

Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm

Life Pharmacy Tauranga, 53 Devonport Road

Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm

Unichem Cherrywood Pharmacy, 52-54 Cherrywood Drive

Saturday from 9 am to 2.30 pm

Bethlehem Pharmacy, State Highway 2

Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm

Unichem Metro Pharmacy Bethlehem, Bethlehem Town Centre

Saturday from 9 am to 5.30 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm,

Unichem Greerton Pharmacy, 221 Chadwick Road

Saturday from 9 am to 12.30 pm

Welcome Bay Pharmacy, 252 Welcome Bay Road

Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm

Bayfair Shopping Centre

Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm

My Pharmacy Papamoa Plaza, 7 Gravatt Road

Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm

Life Pharmacy Te Puke, 61 Jellicoe Street

Saturday from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm

My Pharmacy Te Puke, 96 Jellicoe Street

Saturday from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm

Unichem Total Health Pharmacy, 252 The Strand, Whakatane

Saturday from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm

Church Street Dispensary, 116 Church Street, Opotiki

Saturday from 9.30 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 10 to 2 pm

People can check the Healthpoint website for information on Covid-19 vaccination clinics, pop-ups and drive-throughs throughout the district: www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19-vaccination/bay-of-plenty.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The agreement with the proscribed extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) demonstrates that the Pakistan Army is using the group to keep in check the civilian government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).



Now that it has the upper hand in Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, it appears that the Pakistani Army is once again activating its proxies -- the religious extremist groups -- to advance its domestic political ambitions, as per an article by Sameer Patil, former Fellow, International Security Studies Programme, Gateway House.



The TLP's 2021 protests in Punjab took place when the controversy over the appointment of the new Inter-Services Intelligence Chief had brought out in the open, the differences between Imran Khan and Chief Of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.



Hence, the military may have used the TLP protests and the subsequent agreement to signal the civilian rulers that there would be political consequences of their actions, if not immediately, then in the future, the article said.



"With the agreement with the TLP, Imran Khan may have staved off the pressure for now, but the challenges for him are far from over. Growing pressure from the opposition and alliance parties, speculation about former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's return, a collapsing economy -- these will further weaken PTI's position in the run-up to the 2023 general elections. The military's displeasure will only increase PTI's vulnerabilities allowing the military to give further prominence to its proxies," it added.



This is worrisome, with serious implications for India and counterterrorism efforts as a whole, for the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has emboldened the Pakistani Army to activate its proxies like the TLP, to advance its domestic political ambitions and openly support extremist organisations.



This brazen support to the TLP does not come as a surprise as the Army has used extremist groups like the TLP to send a 'message' to the civilian rulers, who work at cross-purposes with the military, the article said.



The TLP, as a Barelvi group, has a unidirectional focus on the issues of 'Khatm-e-Nabuwwat' (finality of the prophethood) and 'Tauheen-e-Risalat' (blaspheming the Prophet). This focus has made it an influential religious-political group.



The Pakistan military perceives the TLP as a 'containable outfit' that can do its dirty work rather than making them hostile against the state.



Aligning with the Army also helps the TLP to widen its base. The group understands the ruling PTI's growing vulnerabilities at all levels -- political, economic and foreign policy and capitalises on them accordingly.



Since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, radical groups in Pakistan have become emboldened and question the democratic system in the country. Calling for the implementation of Sharia law, the TLP's activities are in line with this trend, it added.



The military's patronage and an emotive religious issue of blasphemy have made the TLP an influential actor in Pakistan's politics. The civilian government's abject surrender to the TLP has set a dangerous precedent as future civilian governments, too, will be vulnerable to the coercive actions of extremist groups.
Policies to tackle COVID-19 are more likely to get broad public support if they are proposed by experts or bipartisan coalitions, rather than by politicians from only one party, a new study of seven countries involving a Swansea University academic has shown.

Public behaviour and support for measures such as facemasks or social distancing are crucial in tackling a worldwide pandemic. Yet, it can be difficult to secure and maintain that support, and to avoid debates getting polarised.

The research found that polarisation emerges when policies are associated with opposing political parties and politicians. However, the research also revealed that people have a high level of confidence that science experts will act in the publics best interest.

The COVID pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study this issue. It was a new threat and one that was experienced simultaneously across the world, allowing for international comparisons.

The research team, led by the University of Colorado Boulder, included Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy from Swansea University, a social psychology expert, alongside colleagues from elsewhere in the UK, US, Sweden, Israel, Austria, Italy and Singapore.

Their research involved 13,000 participants in 7 countries: UK, US, Brazil, Israel, Italy, Sweden and South Korea. These countries display a range of different political systems and parties in government and varying experiences of COVID and responses to it.

In each country, participants were asked first about their overall political views, using a measure called affective polarisation: their feelings towards liberal and conservative politicians and towards experts.

They were then asked to give their views on two COVID policies. Both involved restrictions, but one emphasised more stringent public health measures to keep case numbers down, while the other involved fewer restrictions for economic recovery.

Crucially, participants were told that the policies were being proposed by one of four groups: liberal political elites, conservative political elites, a bipartisan coalition of parties, or relevant nonpartisan experts such as the World Health Organisation.

Participants were asked to rate their overall support for the two policies and for accompanying measures such as social distancing, workplace regulations, contact tracing and travel regulations.

The research showed:

Respondents in all countries supported policies proposed by experts and bipartisan coalitions more than those proposed by liberal or conservative elites;

Support for a policy was strongly linked to who was proposing it;

Both liberal and conservative respondents supported policies from ingroup politicians and parties  those they already supported or voted for - more than the same policies when these were proposed by outgroup politicians and parties;

when these were proposed by outgroup politicians and parties; The policy focusing on public health was more widely supported than the one on economic recovery;

Political polarisation was no greater in the US than in other countries;

A follow-up questionnaire with US participants replicated the findings of the main study regarding vaccine distribution.

Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy of the School of Psychology at Swansea University said:

We take cues from our leaders (or partisan elites) because thats what were supposed to do. But partisan elites often create barriers to combatting shared threats such as COVID. They polarize public opinion with their words, actions or merely their presence.

We found that, across all seven countries, cues from political elites we endorse or vote for make us like less, trust less and feel colder toward the political elites from the parties we dont prefer.

To depolarize communication about COVID, a solution is to take the politicians out of the communication and put the experts in the foreground. Experts can help avoid issues getting polarised. In our data, policies that were backed by bipartisan coalitions and nonpartisan experts avoided these polarizing effects and gained more support. Our results show the importance of maintaining experts as nonpartisan, in order to preserve public trust in them.



The findings were published in the PNAS journal (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

Culture, communication and heritage - Swansea University research
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Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Oklahoma... Illinois River near Tahlequah affecting Cherokee County. ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING TO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Illinois River near Tahlequah. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning to early Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...At 11.0 feet, minor flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Floating the river is too hazardous due to strong turbulence. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:30 PM CDT Monday the stage was 7.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage Wednesday morning to a crest of 11.1 feet early Wednesday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage late Wednesday evening. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
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Seminole, FL (33772)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
What just happened? The long-running saga of unfortunately-named Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser has come to an end with a 40-month prison sentence. The Team Xecuter member, who isn't related to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser or the Mario antagonist, was charged with two piracy-related federal felonies, for which Nintendo has publicly thanked authorities.

Bowser had been a member of the Team Xecuter hacking group---the DOJ called him a "prominent leader"---that had been creating and selling Nintendo hacking devices since at least 2013. The tools allowed buyers to circumvent security measures, enabling them to play illegal ROMs on consoles/handhelds such as the Switch, 3DS, and Nintendo Wii.

Bowser was arrested in 2020 along with fellow Team Xecuter member Max Louarn on 11 felony counts of piracy. In April last year, Nintendo of America launched a lawsuit against Bowser, asking for $2,500 for each trafficked device and $150,000 for each copyright violation. He initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty a few months later and was ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million.

Bowser was also facing a civil suit from Nintendo. Given that he had already pleaded guilty to the criminal case, he ended up settling with the company in December for $10 million. In court documents, Bowser said he was paid $1,000 a month to market and distribute the hacking devices to retailers.

The US government's prosecution argued that Team Xecuter's actions resulted in $65 million in losses for Nintendo and asked for five years imprisonment for Bowser. His defense said he was the "least culpable" of the three arrested members and asked for 19 months, which would have seen him spend 3 months in prison given his time served. The US District Court for the Western District of Washington sentenced him to 40 months.

The DOJ also charged the other Team Xecuter members, Louarn (of France) and Yuanning Chen (of China), but neither are in custody.

Nintendo gave the following statement in response to the sentence.
NASA has expressed its concerns regarding SpaceX's Starlink plan to send 30,000 satellites. NASA's concerns are regarding how the "orbital network will impact the space agency's missions."

NASA Expreses Concerns to the FCC Regarding SpaceX Starlink's 30K Satellite Network

According to the story by PCMag, although SpaceX's Starlink network still needs to secure FCC clearance before launches, NASA is already worried. A 7-page filing was submitted by the space agency to the FCC which outlined the "risk of the 30,000 satellite network" which could cause congestion around Earth's orbit.

CNBC was the first to report the agency's writings noting that they want to ensure that prudent conduction of the deployment of the Starlink Gen 2 happens in a way that would "support spaceflight safety and the long-term sustainability of the space environment."

NASA raises concerns about the SpaceX plan for Starlink Gen2 in letter to the FCC:



Risks include:

near miss/collisions with science and crewed missions

maneuvering capability failure

interference with space and ground-based telescopes

launch schedule delays pic.twitter.com/J2X08uyj2t  Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 9, 2022

Risk of Collision Remains Top Concern for the Satellite Mega-Constellation

The risk of collision for the 30,000 satellites into other space objects is one of NASA's main concerns. In order to avoid this, a satellite with an "autonomous anti-collision system" was designed by SpaceX.

NASA, however, remains doubtful about the "zero risk" claim stating no orbital collision will ever happen, especially since there are also other plans of larger satellite constellations. NASA stated that since tens of thousands of spacecrafts are being planned, they do not recommend that people assume ground detection systems, propulsion systems, and software are 100% reliable.

Additional Concerns Regarding the Potential Satellite Fleet in Space

If there are manual operators for the satellites, NASA also notes that it is still not 100% error free. 1,400 active satellites are being operated within the first-gen Starlink network as of the moment with the second-gen network expected to scale the number immensely.

Excessive sunlight reflection is also another concern that NASA has regarding the Starlink satellites saying it could potentially "disrupt space telescopes from observing Earth's climate" and even "block ground-based telescopes from detecting near-Earth asteroids."

NASA's Concerns of Disruptions from the Starlink Satellites

NASA also worries about the potential difficulty of sending spacecraft to the International Space Station due to 20,000 Starlink satellites expected to orbit under it. The article by PCMag, however, clarifies that NASA is not against the second-generation Starlink network by SpaceX.

More evidence is being requested by NASA regarding proof that the mega-constellation "won't one day disrupt the space agency's activities." SpaceX was recommended to publish an analysis that would explain how the Starlink satellites' auto-maneuver capabilities are "sufficiently scalable."

Read Also: 40 SpaceX Starlink Satellites Reportedly Hit By Geomagnetic Storm | How Dangerous is it?

SpaceX is Waiting for Approval from the FCC for its 30,000 Satellites

Technical details are also being requested by NASA as the space agency expressed their concerns "with the potential for a significant increase in the frequency of conjunction events" as well as the potential impacts towards the science and human spaceflight missions by NASA.

As of the moment, SpaceX is still hoping for quick approval from the FCC for its 30,000 satellite constellations aiming to launch the "first satellites as soon as next month."

Related Article: Elon Musk is Now a Member of the National Academy of Engineering for His SpaceX Designs-What's the Role?

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft warned Windows 10 users that support for multiple outdated versions of the operating system are ending in May 2022.

Although Microsoft says that it is not forcing its users to upgrade to Windows 11, some of its outdated Windows 10 versions would soon lose support from the tech giant.

Microsoft Windows 10 Support for Old Versions Ending

In a support document from Microsoft, the tech giant reminded its users that Windows 10 20H2, or some call the October 2020 Update, is nearing its "end of servicing or EOS on this May 10, as per a news story by Bleeping Computer.

The EOS warning includes those who are using various editions of Windows 10, such as Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, Pro, and Home.

On the other hand, Windows 10 20H2 users under Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, and Education editions still have until May 9. 2023, before their operating systems reach EOS.

On top of that, Windows 10 1909 for Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, and Education editions are also reaching the end of servicing on May 10, 2022.

Meanwhile, 1909 version users for Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, Pro, Home editions have already lost support as of May 2021.

In the same announcement, Microsoft further warned Windows 10 users that EOS essentially means that "these editions will no longer receive security updates after May 10, 2022."

As such, those who are still using the older version of Windows 10 will then be asked to update their PCs to its latest version to continue getting support from Microsoft.

So, if you are still sporting the aforementioned versions of Windows 10, it is time to go for its latest version to avoid losing security updates starting May of this year.

Read Also: Microsoft Windows 11 is Opening a 'Dev Channel' for Testers to Sample New Features, Separate from Beta

Windows 10 1909, 20H2: Forced Updates

Bleeping Computer added in the same report that Windows Update will be forcing the latest version of Windows 10 to 1909 and 20H2 version users before reaching its EOS in May this year.

According to a news story by OltNews, Microsoft has previously announced that it will support Windows 10 until Oct. 2025. Until then, Windows 11 is an optional update.

As such, the tech giant has already rolled out the latest version of Windows 10, the 21H2.

Users of the predecessor of Windows 11 could update their systems to the 21H2 version by manually clicking the Check for Updates option on their PCs.

Related Article: Microsoft: Blizzard Activision Games to Release on PlayStation Moving Forward | More on Nintendo Switch?

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The first SpaceX Starship orbital flight is now expected to be a reality. For the past few years, Elon Musk tried to conduct successful flight tests to send the giant spacecraft into space.

However, SpaceX's aircraft always end up in accidents. All of the four previous test flights were unsuccessful. But, back in 2021, the giant independent space agency was able to successfully launch, with Starship landing safely for the first time.

Now, the popular billionaire said on Thursday, Jan. 10, that they would try to send Starship into its first orbital flight around March or April.

First SpaceX Starship Orbital Flight

According to USA Today's latest report, Elon Musk provided an update for his giant spacecraft after two years.

Also Read: SpaceX Starlink Satellites Are Bringing More Than Just Super-Fast Internet

"This is really some wild stuff here. In fact, hard to believe it's real," he said while standing near the 390-foot long spacecraft. He shouted to the crowd that they will make the first-ever orbital flight of the SpaceX Starship a reality.

Once it is in orbit, NASA will land astronauts on the moon. This activity is expected to start around 2025.

As of the moment, SpaceX only plans to deliver Starlink internet satellites. On the other hand, if the first orbital flight is a success, Elon Musk is expected to release a fleet of Starships.

Once this happens, it will start the billionaire's planned Mars colonization.

Starship as World's Tallest Spacecraft

Space.Com reported that SpaceX's Starship is the tallest spacecraft across the globe. Standing 395 feet tall, if it is connected to a Super Heavy rocket booster, this massive rocket is around 30 feet longer than NASA's Saturn V moon rocket.

On the other hand, Starship is made of stainless steel. It is specifically designed to carry humans across space. But, further tests are still needed to ensure safety.

In other news, Elon Musk became a member of the National Academy of Engineering, thanks to his advanced SpaceX design. Meanwhile, 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites were allegedly hit by a geomagnetic storm.

For more news updates about SpaceX and other giant space agencies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: SpaceX Starship Backdrop? Elon Musk Says it is a Good One After Reports of Mission Not Close to Launching

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google Nest Thermostat is suffering from various issues. In January, the search engine giant was accused of infringing Sonos' patented technologies in wireless speaker innovation.

Some experts claimed that this issue showed the rising intellectual theft in the United States. This is not the first time that Google has been accused of stealing intellectual properties from less-known tech firms.

Aside from Google, Apple, Samsung, and other big names also suffered from the same issue for the past few years.

Now, another issue arose as Google faced a new lawsuit filed by EcoFactor.

Google Nest Thermostat's New Issue

According to Android Police's latest report, the new lawsuit filed by EcoFactor, a tech firm that focuses on energy-saving innovations, against Google requires the search engine giant to pay $5.16 million.

Also Read: Google Reportedly Adds New API to Improve Support For Ultra-Wideband Devices

The issue involves Nest Thermostat units sold between January 2020 and 2022. At first, Google tried to argue its way out, saying that it independently designed the energy-saving features of its thermostats.

However, the West Texas jury finds the giant manufacturer infringing on one of EcoFactor's patents. Because of this, Google is now required to pay around $20 million for all the damages caused.

Future Nest Thermostats Also Included

Aside from the sold Nest Thermostat units between the mentioned dates, Google is also required to pay for the products it will sell in the future.

This is why the original $5.16 million requirements increased to $20 million. Since this is the case, this means that Google can still sell its Google Nest Thermostats that have energy-saving features.

As of the moment, EcoFactor considers the copyright infringement issue a serious matter since it doesn't sell its innovations directly to consumers.

Instead, this tech firm offers its services through HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) companies. Aside from them, utilities and broadband providers also use EcoFactor's energy-saving innovations to enhance their products.

In other news, Android Google Maps is still unavailable for some consumers. On the other hand, Google Chrome finally updated its logo for the first time after more than a decade.

For more news updates about Google Nest and other Google products, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Google Lawsuit: Sweden's PriceRunner Sues Search Giant for $2.4 Billion for Alleged Anti-Competitor Behavior

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Some U.S. embassies are believed to be targeted by high-power microwave signals. A new report revealed this issue after experts identified some unexplained or anomalous illnesses on some officials.

Back in 2016, many CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) officers and U.S. embassy officials in Cuba, Russia, China, and other countries reportedly suffered from mysterious symptoms, which are believed to be caused by pulsed electromagnetic energy.

Now, a new report was released, claiming that the issue happened again.

US Embassies Suffer From Microwave Attacks?

The National Academies published a new study regarding the rumored microwave attacks against some U.S. embassies in some countries, especially in Guangzhou, China.

Also Read: Japan's ASDF F-15 Mysteriously Crashes in Region's Sea, Went-Off Radar Before Accident

"As of June 2020, many of these personnel continue to suffer from these and/or other health problems," explained the experts involved in the new study.

According to The Next Web's latest report, the new security report still hasn't confirmed why the affected individuals or the embassies were targeted.

Aside from this, the people behind the attacks also remain in mystery. High-power microwave signals were already used during the Cold War between the United and the Soviet Union.

Although this is the case, it is still too early to accuse Russia of conducting microwave attacks against the U.S.

High-Power Microwave Attacks' Severity

As of the moment, high-power microwave attacks are still considered among the most efficient war weapons. They may not inflict abrupt serious injuries, but their effects can be long-lasting.

One of the devices that can emit these high-frequency signals is the SINUS-6, which can generate an output pulse within 10 nanoseconds.

Now, imagine someone using it to attack another individual for only a few minutes. Aside from this, they also don't emit too much heat, which makes them hard to be identified.

In other news, Google Maps recently captured an unknown stealth bomber. On the other hand, some experts claimed that North Korean missile programs are funded by crypto hackers.

For more news updates about microwave attacks and other related defense topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: New US Defense Focus Will Be Hypersonic Missiles? New Weapon Contracts Can Last for Decades

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Uber's crypto payment is now expected to become a reality after the American mobility provider's CEO announced, again, that they will soon accept digital coins as payment.

As of the moment, many companies are trying to enter the rising blockchain industry as more and more people invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other giant crypto brands.

However, Uber seems to be rejecting these digital coins. Dara Khosrowshahi explained the reasons why so that consumers will not be left hanging.

Uber Crypto Payment To Arrive, But Not Now

According to Bloomberg's latest report, CEO Khosrowshashi explained that this is not the right time for Uber to start accepting cryptocurrencies as payments.

Also Read: 'Rogan Coin' Promises to Create a Platform to Avoid Censorship-Is New Crypto Related to Joe Rogan?

He said that they are not releasing payment options for digital coins because crypto mining still has some adverse effects on the environment and energy grids.

Aside from this, he added that using cryptocurrencies as payment also has high transaction fees, which can affect the revenue of Uber.

"As the exchange mechanism becomes less expensive and becomes more environmentally friendly, I think you will see us leaning into crypto a little bit more," said Dara.

Based on his statement, the arrival of Uber's crypto payment feature is still unpredictable. It might take months or years, depending on the company's final decision.

Other Risks of Cryptocurrencies

Energy grid issues and high transaction fees are not the only issues the blockchain industry faces. Cybersecurity risks are also at large as more and more hackers target the rising digital coins.

Trend Micro reported that malware is among the security threats used against digital coins. Experts explained that crypto-mining malware could lead to information theft, hijacking, and exploitation of other system viruses.

This is why cybersecurity researchers always remind crypto miners to update their devices and conduct other security measures.

In other news, the FBI seized more than $3.6 billion worth of crypto from the recent massive Bitfinex hack. Meanwhile, rapper Gunna is accused of crypto rug pull.

For more news updates about Uber's upcoming crypto payment feature, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: TurboTax Now Allows Coinbase Users to Deposit Tax Refunds in Crypto | Here's How to Get Started

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The investigation is related to alleged irregularities committed by Petroperu officials during the acquisition of biodiesel barrels in Oct. 2021.

In the early hours of Friday, teams from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (ACPO) carried out raids on the headquarters of the government of President Luis Castillo and on the residences of 14 people implicated in the alleged irregularities committed in the Petroperu case.

The "Resplandor 2022" operation was carried out simultaneously in the General Secretariat of the Presidential Office and in the properties of people such as businessman Samir Abudayeh, Petroperu manager Hugo Chavez Arevalo, and businesswoman Karelim Lopez. Accompanied by the National Police, the Prosecutor's Office began the raids at 5 in the morning with the purpose of registering and seizing assets.

The investigation is related to the alleged irregularities committed by Petroperu officials during the acquisition of biodiesel barrels, a process in which they would have tried to benefit Heaven Petroleum Operators, a company managed by Abudayeh.

The Prosecutor's Office maintains that the collusion agreements would have been coordinated on October 18, 2021 from the presidential office with the presence of Castillo and Lopez.

 On February 8, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo swore in his fourth ministerial cabinet in his little more than six months in office with lawyer Anibal Torres as the new prime minister and head of the council of ministers.https://t.co/sFaNRbTmkn  Peoples Dispatch (@peoplesdispatch) February 10, 2022

On Feb. 4, the Judiciary issued an order to prevent Chavez, Lopez, and Abudayeh from leaving the Peruvian territory.

A month before, the Prosecutor's Office confirmed a preliminary investigation against Castillo for alleged influence peddling, collusion, and illegal sponsorship. Due to the presidential immunity principle, however, such an investigation will be suspended until Castillo completes his term.

The leftist leader is accused of having influenced the tenders for the construction of a bridge, in the acquisition of fuel for Petroperu, and in the promotion of soldiers from his close circle. All this happens amid actions that the Peruvian extreme right deploys to hinder the functioning of his administration.


Green Dragon marijuana dispensary temporarily closed Jan. 26 and his since instigated legal action against the Town of Telluride in a licensing dispute. (Photo by Amy M. Peters/Telluride Daily Planet)
Down to Earth is one of many local businesses that regularly donate clothes to the Telluride Aids Benefit. (Photo By Eva Thomas/Daily Planet)
Madisonville, KY (42431)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 78F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been selected as this year's East Baton Rouge Parish Library One Book One Community read.
Ochsner nurses give Moderna COVID vaccines during the 24-hour Vax Fest at the Shrine on Airline Metairie in March 2021. Ochsner's president and CEO said the COVID pandemic caused the health care system to spend roughly $160 million in temporary labor in 2021. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn.

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Old beach hut Around the corner on Chapel Street, the Simonds Family Office is understood to have bought Paul Franze and Sampieri Groups development site  the old beach-hut market. The 817-square metre site at 438 Chapel Street was originally offered as a fund-through development deal by Gross Waddell ICR agents Danny Clark, Michael Gross and Alex Ham. But Mr Clark said he was inundated by investors and developers. We got a lot of strong enquiry to buy it outright, but we probably got more interest than if we had sold it as a straight development site, Mr Clark said.

It fetched around $14.2 million or a record $17,500 land price per square metre. Emmetts Charles Emmett, Geoff Emmett and Andrew Milligan are understood to have introduced the buyer who plans to occupy part of the building when it is completed. Meanwhile, the Emmetts team also sold three shops at 576-584 Chapel Street for $15.9 million in an off-market deal brokered over the summer. The sale of the shops, leased by Saba, Gorman and Marimekko, reflected a yield of 3.5 per cent. Also on Chapel Street, but over the river in Cremorne, Teska Carson agents Stephen Speck and Adrian Boutsakis are selling a low-rise office-warehouse on 513 square metres of land on the corner of Walnut Street.

The two-storey office warehouse at 2-6 Chapel Street is behind the newly completed 510 Church Street and is expected to sell in the mid-to-high $5 million range. Long service CoINVEST, the organisation that manages the construction industrys portable long-service leave programme, is off-loading a Camberwell office. The two-level office at 1183 Toorak Road. Credit: The two-level building at 1183 Toorak Road is expected to fetch in the low $20 million range. Built in 1989, the 2645-square metre office also has two levels of parking for 98 cars.

Its on a 1807-square metre site halfway between Hartwell and Burwood railway stations and is fully leased to Lion Beer and several other tenants. It returns more than $1.22 million a year. Colliers agents Peter Bremner, Rachael Clohesy and Alex Browne are running expressions of interest which close on March 17. CoINVEST bought the property from Trinity Funds Management back in 2007 for $11 million. It was advised by Charter Keck Cramer. Slade family The Slade family, a once-famous knitwear manufacturer, is offloading its Queens Road investment opposite Albert Park.

Cleared in 2010, the 2323-square metre site at No.31 is one of the last development sites left on the leafy boulevard and comes with a permit for a 15-storey, 142-apartment tower. While towers now dominate the Albert Park dress circle, the immediate neighbours are classic Art Deco apartments  Newburn Flats to the north, Brookwood Flats to the south. Vinci Carbone agents Joseph Carbone and Frank Vinci are selling the site with Gross Waddell ICRs Michael Gross and Danny Clark. Expressions of interest close on March 3. Its expected to fetch in the mid-to-high $20 million range. The last deal on Queens Road was No.50-52 which sold for $70 million a year ago with no planning permit. Around the corner, 8 Louise Street fetched $21 million in June 2021 with Samuel Property buying a three-storey block of 1950s era flats.

Pub test Even when we couldnt get a drink at the bar in the past two years, the pub deals were pumping. The latest offerings to be served up include the Apollo Bay Hotel, held for 30 years, and West Melbournes Royal Mail Hotel, fresh to the market for the first time in 20 years. The Royal Mail Hotel in West Melbourne. Credit: The Apollo Bay pub comes to the market after a slew of strong results for coastal hotels.

Justin Hemmes Merivale Group paid $38 million for the Lorne Hotel last August. In New South Wales, Byron Bays Great Northern fetched $75 million, the Woy Woy Hotel sold for $32 million and Shaws Bay Hotel in Ballina changed hands for $30.5 million. JLLs hotels agents Will Connolly said the Apollo Bay Hotel, which won the best regional pub bar award in 2021, is expected to sell for north of $10 million. One of the long-time owners, Stephen McMahon, said it would be an emotional exit for the partners who had held the property for a generation. Its on a 2368-square metre corner site on the Great Ocean Road with views out to the foreshore and bay. Theres probably a different future in sight for the Royal Mail, on the corner of Spencer and Stanley streets, which is being sold with vacant possession.

Its likely to sell as a development site when it goes to auction on March 18 through Colliers agents Oliver Hay, Tom Isaksson, Alexander Leggo and Leon Ma. Meanwhile, a long-closed pub, the Australia Hotel on the corner of Bridge Road and Waltham Street, has sold off-market for $3.85 million. The deal was done by Gross Waddell ICRs Danny Clark and Julian Materia at a land rate of $11,527 a square metre. The old pub was converted into a shop and offices back in the 1990s when Bridge Road was at the beginning of its long, golden retail cycle. Records show the vendor was City of Yarra councillor Herschel Landes who bought the old pub in 2001.
If there is a lesson to be learned from the corporate regulators investigation into the most disastrous float in a decade, its that prospectuses have become a butt-covering exercise for unscrupulous companies.

On Thursday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) concluded an investigation into the Nuix prospectus and said it was not taking any further action.

The Macquarie-backed Nuix has been dogged by missed forecasts and unfolding scandals.

For the many investors  many of them retail  the message is that what happened at Nuix is essentially a multibillion-dollar victimless crime.

In a nutshell, the Macquarie-backed Nuix listed in December 2020 at an issue price of $5.31, soared to $12 in January as investors lapped up a 330-page prospectus that pitched the software company as a growth stock, then crashed 32 per cent in February after being blindsided by its half-year results.
Californias civil rights regulator sued Tesla for racial discrimination and harassment after finding a widespread pattern of mistreatment of black workers at the electric car-makers factory near San Francisco.

During a three-year investigation, the states Department of Fair Employment and Housing said it received complaints from hundreds of workers and found evidence that Teslas Fremont plant is a racially segregated workplace.

Racially segregated workplace: Teslas factory in Fremont, California. Credit:AP.

Segregation at the Fremont factory, along with the absence of black and/or African Americans in leadership roles, has left many complaints of rampant racism unchecked for years, according to the complaint that became public on Thursday after it was filed the day before in Alameda County Superior Court.

As early as 2012, black and/or African American Tesla workers have complained that Tesla production leads, supervisors, and managers constantly use the n-word and other racial slurs to refer to black workers.
After hearing the marine archaeologist Kieran Hosty on the ABC last week, after talking to folk at the Maritime Museum and chewing the fat with my talented daughter, Meg Keneally (see her The Wreck), herself an enthusiastic diver on wreck sites, I have no doubt that the wreck named RI 2394, scuttled in the American Revolutionary War in Newport Harbour, Rhode Island, is the Endeavour.

That is, the modest but beautifully built coastal collier James Cook himself bought for the navy in 1768, because he trusted it for its keel, its shallow draft for seas of coral and ice. It is bark of our imaginings and disputes, ship of arguments and omens, and crucial wood to the fiery argument about who and what Cook was, and should he be honoured or repented of? Seeing the Endeavour in April 1770, the people of the Eora nation people called it turaga, an island. An island of returned-to-earth ghosts, who might be persuaded to leave again. As happened.

A pre-visualisational digital model of Lieutenant James Cooks vessel the Endeavour, compared to an old sketch of the ship.

Although little post-colonial Aussies of my own and other generations were encouraged to see the hand of God in it (because God loved the British Empire, didnt he, and reserved Australia for it?), it happened purely through British domestic issues that the ghosts returned 18 years later, and could never be charmed into returning to the sky. And how kinky is it that the Endeavour was scuttled to inhibit the movements of the American rebels, and that those same colonials, when they triumphed, reasonably refused to take what they would have called the swill of British jails. And thus a new penal territory must be found!

Though we now know the millennial story of humankind in Australia, the 1770 story, implanted in our civic imaginations in childhood, is not without large moment and reverberations in our psyches. For very belatedly the Endeavour, even acknowledging Australian contact with other regions of the earth during the long Aboriginal occupation, was a modest key that knitted Australia into modern world history.
I challenge all Sydneys mayors and MPs to use public transport for a week, no cars or bikes, and see how it works from their suburb. Not just for a photo opportunity or a media bite, but day and night, as an ordinary person would. Gara Baldwin, Maroubra The lower north shore used to have a well-used bus route that ran from Taronga Zoo to the inner west, linking us to the city, Central, the universities and the RPA medical precinct. That route was lost in December 2020. It now takes three forms of transport: a bus to the mid-city, a tram to Pitt Street, Central, a walk to the bus interchange at Central and then another bus to the inner west. Alternatively, its a bus to the mid-city and an uphill hike to Castlereagh Street to find a bus to the inner west. Not an attractive option, particularly when its raining. Our local member just gave a metaphorical shrug and an assurance that there are now more bus services. Its a pity that those services dont go where theyre needed. Linda Pettersson, Cremorne Beehive yourselves St Valentine is also the patron saint of beekeepers. We should not celebrate his day on Monday with imported roses covered in pesticides. Gifts of local honey, please. Vera Yee, Waverton

Presumably not at a break-neck speed (NBN closes in on $1b target, February 11). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal Good Neighbours How will Britains new mothers now calm their newborns (Letters, February 11)? One study showed that the unborn baby calmed when the mother-to-be settled down for an episode of Neighbours. This sound was found to still calm the new one after arrival. John Dawson, North Parramatta Some years ago, friends went to England to visit relatives, taking a video of their wedding to share with those who couldnt make it. As the carousing went on, younger family members realised they were missing their favourite show and inadvertently taped Neighbours over the wedding video. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow On a holiday in Britain in the late 80s, my mum told me she watched Neighbours twice a day. I asked her why: Oh, the acting is so good. Ah well, at least her treacle tart was the stuff legends are made of. John Grinter, Katoomba

Kicking the habitat: koalas decline predicted for years Koalas are now officially endangered (Koalas officially endangered in NSW, Qld, February 11). This has been predicted by scientists for many years, but still, we dont act. We just watch the decline.

The government offers up promises that we will double koala numbers some time in the vague future, while it continues to approve housing developments; continues to approve clearing for mining, and agriculture; and doesnt even count the destruction from logging our native forests.

Empty promises from our government. We can rebuild bike paths after destroying them, but once the koala habitat is destroyed, it takes 20 to 30 years to regrow (if it does at all). Meanwhile, the koalas have nothing to eat and nowhere to live. They die. Peggy Fisher, Killara Dont mention the C word, Sussan Ley. Land clearing, urbanisation, drought and bushfires are all cited as causes for the koalas decline but not climate change. The Australian Conservation Foundation says conservation documents for more than half of Australias critically endangered species and habitats fail to mention climate change. This is a government deliberately promoting a climate change gap in both the threat assessment and recommended recovery actions. Tim Hand, Balmain There is no point in increasing funding for the protection of koalas unless their natural environment is spared from development. Preserving their environment is paramount as koalas dont live in the housing built where their trees once stood. John Cotterill, Kingsford Along for the (free) ride

There is one problem with our Lord Mayors plan to make train and light rail trips in the city free. (Free CBD transport under plan to kickstart city life, February 11): for an increasing number of passengers, it appears this policy is already in place. In the interim, effective policing of a fare go strategy is a much-needed first step. Bob Scott, Eastlakes When the mask mandate on trains finally ends (Worst virus phase over, says Fauci, February 11), could we have a carriage for those who wear masks by choice? A bit like the popular quiet carriages (I imagine were the same people). Jennifer Giles, Elizabeth Bay Tickling our tummy Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Australia set an incredibly powerful example by standing up to Beijing and Britains Financial Times writes Australia offers timely lessons in resisting Chinese trade coercion (Trade blow backfired, February 11). But what price victory? In Peter Hartchers words: While China has imposed boycotts on more than $20 billion worth of Australian products, US companies have taken their place in some areas of the Chinese market, and: Asked whether there was a more effective way that countries could deal with Beijings trade coercion, Mr Blinken had no direct solution to offer. It was disingenuous of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to claim the June quarter net loss from the Chinese boycotts was only $1 billion because the $5.4billion reduction in exports to China was offset by a $4.4 billion increase elsewhere. That market was always available. It is all very well getting our tummy tickled, but at what cost? Maurice Critchley, Mangrove Mountain Yes, Australia has set a powerful example for other countries by standing up to China, but not the one that Blinken describes. The world now knows that if a nation confronts China and wears trade sanctions in retaliation, then the US will happily step in and fill the resulting trade void. Peter Weston, Lindfield

Imagined miracles Cathy Wilcoxs cartoon (Letters, February 11), a product of her imagination, showing a bemused Anthony Albanese declaring Scott Morrisons self-inflicted wound to be a miracle is a fitting place for an imagined miracle to be found. Unbelievable, rare, unexpected, incredible things do happen. Not often, admittedly, but when they do occur, there is no supernatural explanation warranted nor one to be found. Even Steven Bradburys win was no miracle; it was just a manifestation of a failure of Newtons third law of motion due, probably, to extra molecules on the surface of ice. Just like Scott Morrisons self-declared miracle win, God had nothing to do with it. Trevor Somerville, Illawong Wasted lives, lost millions In recent weeks, the government awarded a $218 million contract to the Brisbane company Canstruct for the next six months of offshore detention operations on Nauru. There are 107 people detained on the island and 80 of them have had their claim for protection formally recognised, which means Australia is obliged under international law to protect them. It is costing $11,000 per person per day to provide these offshore services. It is surely time to bring these refugees to Australia, where there are worker shortages in many areas. This would give these people hope for their futures and would be of benefit to us all. Marlene Griffin, Valla Beach Tax cuts: a price to pay

We all want excellent services in health, transport, education et cetera, but we must accept that our taxes are the source of the governments income (Letters, February 11). If we want improvements, we need to pay for them. Political parties can offer tax cuts as sweeteners to gain government, but so far, neither of the major parties has been honest enough to declare that improved services would require increases, not decreases, in taxes. Sandra Burke, North Sydney If you tolerate this ... Arguing for the right to discriminate, Australian Christian Lobby national director Wendy Francis talks of protecting our children (After the wedging and sledging, ugly truths persevere, February 11). The children of Christians are as likely to be gay or transgender as anyone elses children. If Francis thinks her family doesnt contain gay and transgender people, she would be mistaken. Perhaps they arent letting her know. Ben Aveling, Alexandria ... your children will be next Our children are the ones we need to protect, says Wendy Francis. Protect from what? Inclusion? Diversity? Tolerance? Learning about difference? So, the most important task for the Prime Minister in the few sitting days before the election is to empower religious schools to practise and to teach intolerance and bigotry. Against children no less. Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach

Five keep faith alive Even this little old lady who hardly leaves the house wasnt surprised by four of the five who crossed the floor. I hadnt seen/heard one on the media, but the others had all spoken clearly of their concerns. I am so grateful to the five  something good for Australians may well come out of it.

Leigh Allen, Hawks Nest Postscript This week the letters pages started with Barnaby Joyce apologising to Scott Morrison for a text mix-up, this was later graciously accepted by the Prime Minister, although it amused the letter writers. It died down until Niki Savvas Thursday column, about how Barnaby Joyce is the barnacle Scott Morrison just cant seem to shift, brought a fresh flurry of amused letters. Then Peter Dutton caused much comment about China coming to get Australia and its allies if we dont prepare ourselves in the next decade. Most writers were of the belief, as Fred Jansohn said, that If anything signifies an imminent election it is the Liberal Party dealing the old China threat card.
A series of media outlets including News Corps The Australian have issued apologies to an experienced Federal Court judge after articles were published which erroneously linked his judicial appointment to his brothers political donations.

Justice David Thomas was appointed a Federal Court judge in 2017 after an almost four-decade legal career, including working as a senior partner at prominent law firm Minter Ellison and being elevated to the Queensland Supreme Court in 2013.

Justice David Thomas was appointed to the Federal Court in 2017.

Justice Thomas, who has been praised for his experience in dispute resolution and administration, also served as president of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and has held board positions including with Queensland Ballet.

His eminent career came under the microscope last month after The Australian published two stories which incorrectly inferred his appointments as a Federal Court judge and president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal were linked to a political donation made one day earlier by his brother, businessman Geoffrey Thomas.
Book lovers often talk of having a visceral connection to fictional characters, of bonding with their literary heroes as if they were alive. French novelist Gustave Flaubert believed that you should lose yourself in books as in a perpetual orgy. Orgies aside, the notion of books being alive is not that crazy, as the long-running Human Library project attests. Founded in Denmark in 2000, the project, which is now active in 70 countries, including Australia, hosts events in libraries, schools and festivals where users borrow a human, just as they would a book, for half an hour or so to hear his or her story.

Human books have their own titles and blurbs, which they write themselves. Credit:Illustration by Drew Aitken

People often think about gaining knowledge as something that is done via books, says Dr Greg Watson, a human-rights academic at Curtin University and co-ordinator of Human Library Australia. Our message is that you can search for knowledge not just through books, but by speaking to a person with first-hand experience.

Watson, who lives in Perth, discovered the Human Library while researching his PhD on human-rights education in 2011. He was so taken with the idea that he organised his own event at Willagee Library in south-west Perth in 2013. Human books work much like paper ones, he explains: They have their own titles and blurbs, which they write themselves  Readers select the book they want and then sit down and have a conversation.

Most human books are from marginalised backgrounds: Muslims, LGBTQ people and those with disabilities. The guiding principle is to build empathy. By sitting down and talking with someone from a different background, people learn not to judge a book by its cover, Watson says.
This weeks news has been dominated by the federal governments failed attempt to pass its Religious Discrimination Bill. On one level, it is a narrow issue, unlikely to be of broad interest to many Australians who are more exercised about the rising cost of living, flat wages and the pandemic.

Australias history has  comparatively  been fairly free of intense religious intolerance and violence. Some leaders such as NSW Liberal premier Dominic Perrotett, himself a Catholic, questioned the need for the bill at all, saying it could cause more problems than it solves.

The Ages editorial position has been to support legislation that would outlaw discrimination against people on the basis of their religious faith. It is the missing piece of our discrimination laws that already cover sex, age, disability and race. The principle is that in a liberal democracy, it is not just the majority who rules. Individual rights  especially those of minorities  deserve to be protected. It should be unlawful to refuse to rent a house to someone based on their skin colour, or to deny someone employment because they wear a hijab.

Australia is a multi-faith community and, increasingly, Australians are saying they have no religion, which should also be respected in practice, and in law. Mostly, we all get along fairly well, but there are numerous examples of people being discriminated against because of their religion and there are signs that such intolerance is increasing. Certainly, Jewish and Muslim groups say religious hate is becoming more worrying.

Democracy is messy and the rights of some do sometimes clash with the rights of others. There were reasonable arguments on free speech grounds, for instance, that section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act was an overreach because it makes unlawful speech that could insult or offend on the basis of race. The government tried to change that a few years ago, but it fell into a culture war heap, as have its attempts to introduce religious protections this week.
Is Dutton preparing for a leadership challenge? Scott Morrisons attempt to wedge Labor on the absurd Religious Discrimination Bill comes on top of the pile on in respect of his honesty and political doublespeak from within and outside his party. Three months to an election, with polls sliding against the incumbent and Anthony Albanese gaining traction and demonstrating political guile, signals to me the environment for a Liberal leadership challenge. Are Peter Dutton and his allies working the phones to suss out the feelings of their parliamentary colleagues on their appetite for a challenge so close to the election? There are precedents on both sides of politics. I await with bated breath and significant satisfaction.

Maurie Johns, Mount Eliza Both major parties need to work with China The pre-election hysteria has reached a new and dangerous low. Peter Dutton in his role of Defence Minister accuses Anthony Albanese of being soft on China. Incorrect.

Mr Dutton is not a sinologist or a diplomat. China is now a superpower. Both the Coalition and Labor need skilled people in place to acknowledge and work with this. Australia does not need Mr Duttons uniformed views making this harder.

Maria Prendergast, Kew Coalition and Labor, getting into each other Peter Dutton tells us that China is backing Anthony Albanese while those on the left say Rupert Murdoch is backing Scott Morrison. What a contest. The federal election will be a rerun of the puppet show, Punch and Judy.

Ian Hetherington, Moama The old reds scare campaign wont work again In the 1960s, come election time, the Liberals would be sure to trot out the line that a vote for Arthur Calwell is a vote for Mao Zedong. It is a sign of the desperation in the current Liberal Party that Peter Dutton trots out words to the effect that a vote for Anthony Albanese is a vote for Xi Jinping.

This line will not wash with an electorate that remembers, in 2015, the Northern Territorys then County-Liberal government granting a 99-year lease on Australias most strategic port, Darwin, to a Chinese company.

Mike Puleston, Brunswick THE FORUM Need for consistency The Australian Technical Advisory Group has recommended that to be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, Australians require a third dose (The Age, 11/2). Why arent international arrivals required to be triple-vaccinated? From a scientific viewpoint, it makes no sense for Australians to be subjected to harsher vaccination requirements than foreigners arriving here.

Justin Chan, Lower Templestowe

A risk to pedestrians ... Last October I was fortunate to spend four days in Lyon, France. A reunion that promised strolls along picturesque riverbanks and laneways became a glimpse into a dystopian future. Electric scooters were a silent menace, shooting by in their thousands, threatening injury or worse to anyone on foot. The remembered joys of soaking up the charms of this great city had vanished. The e-scooters ruled, any restrictions utterly ignored. E-scooters require materials and emissions to produce, ship and ultimately be recycled or in landfill. They have no incidental health benefits, unlike bicycles and public transport. They threaten those with vision impairments or mobility aids, small children, and anyone not paying attention. We adopt them at our peril, unless they are restricted to bike lanes (and bike speeds), with riders forced to dismount and push scooters anywhere else.

Martha Morrow, South Oakleigh

... and foolhardy riders How many teenage boys can you fit on an e-scooter? On Thursday I saw three boys, who were not wearing helmets, hurtling along Graham Street, Port Melbourne. Parents, please speak to your kids about the risks.

Jan Silverwood, Port Melbourne Our loss is the US gain US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (The Age, 11/2) failed to mention that the US has gained enormously from Australias stance on China. It has increased its sales of meat and other primary products at Australias expense. I am sure many of our farmers would have a very different view to Mr Blinken.

Michael McKenna, Warragul Power of the hip pocket

Waleed Aly (Opinion, 11/2), thank you for clarifying the debate over the Religious Discrimination Bill. Most organisations respond when their hip pocket is threatened. As a taxpayer, I want our money to be used in ethical ways and I support any withdrawal of funding for educational institutions that discriminate against staff or students on the grounds of their gender or sexuality. In other areas of our society, such discrimination would be unlawful. This is a clever solution and would save having to legislate where the outcome will not satisfy either side of the debate.

Clare Canty, Shepparton Credit to state schools Waleed Aly writes: Weve never required individual schools to teach whoever turns up. That might be true of private schools, but it is certainly not the case for almost all government schools  to the great credit of those schools. Long may they remain bastions of non-discrimination. If private schools want to discriminate, they should not receive government funding.

Keith Fletcher, Kennington The need to exercise

Good on you, Karl Quinn (Opinion, 11/2/) for your persistence in exercising a creaky, ageing body. I have been sidelined for months with a steadily deteriorating dodgy knee. I too crave and enjoy the transcendence one gets through regular exercise. Sadly, sprawling on the couch watching Netflix or shlepping around a supermarket does not do it for me.

Linda Fisher, Malvern East Not a genuine danger The risk of snake bites is given as one reason to close Collingwood Childrens Farm (The Age, 10/2). I am a passionate advocate for the protection of snakes and all our native wildlife. Throughout Australia, thousands of children live, play and ride/walk to school in country areas and never see, nor get bitten, by a snake. I doubt that visitors to the farm are in greater danger than children in the Mallee or near the Murray.

Robert Scheffer, Bayswater North Protect precious emblem Superquiz (The Age, 11/2) asked: The weedy seadragon is the official marine emblem of which state?. The answer is Victoria. Well, this will no longer be the case if Parks Victoria gets its way and demolishes the historic Flinders Pier, one of its last remaining habitats of the endangered weedy seadragon.

Fiona Parker, Flinders

Lessons from our youth Critics of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins (Letters, 11/2) do not appreciate the differences between men and women. For too long, women have been expected to be humble, modest and retiring. These two young women have learned the lesson that such behaviour does not advance their cause. The 2022 Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott, is listened to because he is an articulate young man of achievement. For women to gain status, to be attended to, they need to be more demanding. I wish I had realised this when I was young.

Gael Barrett, North Balwyn Importance of respect The two female warriors, Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame speak of respect. They should learn to show some to their Prime Minister, irrespective of whether they like him, vote for him, or otherwise.

Geoff Lipton, Caulfield North

The ABC of passing How could a student pass several year 12 subjects and fail a basic test of literacy and numeracy? Good question, Alan Duncan (Letters, 11/2), but the answer is simple: it is easy to pass the subjects. You only have to turn up most of the time and complete certain assessment tasks  i.e. hand in a piece of work from time to time, however incomplete or shoddy. And if you do not hand in the required work, you get extra time and extra help, and then more time and help if you need it. Students receive an S or N (satisfactory or not satisfactory) for all key tasks and units of study. I gave one N in my 30 years as a VCE teacher (I retired at the end of 2019), and my guess is that that would be about the average for VCE teachers.

Lindsay Zoch, Mildura Great jobs deception Craig Horne is spot-on with his comments regarding real jobs (Letters, 9/2). The employment numbers are falsely portrayed, as those employed on as little as one hour a week could hardly be described as earning a living wage. The insecurity of casual and short-term contracts creates powerlessness and anxiety.

The Coalition government, through its scare campaigns, has successfully deterred people from joining unions that could protect their jobs and conditions. When the Treasurer and Prime Minister boast about job figures, the Opposition, and indeed the unions, should be speaking out loudly about this deception. The media, too, should hold the government accountable.

Mary Linnestad, Corryong Put vulnerable first The ABC is reporting that hundreds of people with autism and intellectual disabilities have lost National Disability Insurance Scheme funding after the NDIS ruled it wasnt value for money. What sort of criterion is that for decision-making that affects the survival and quality of life of vulnerable citizens?

Robert Henning, Clifton Hill When no one will help

We bow down to the heroes of disability and Dylan Alcott, but does anyone know or care what that really involves? There is no one to help you in the night or help you get out of the door. No one to care when you are down and out and cannot pay the bills. Thank you, Dylan, and all the hard workers for the good cause. We are with you and we have a voice of millions.

Marilyn Boarder, Bacchus Marsh Tackle the big issues Why isnt the Prime Minister getting on with the real issues facing our country (too many to list list here)?

Andrew Smith, Ascot AND ANOTHER THING Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding

Politics As angry Liberals question the PMs leadership skills (or lack of same), Dutton feeds the anger. Whats his motivation?

John Bye, Elwood Its a shame Leigh Sales is leaving the ABCs 7:30 (11/2) but Im sure many politicians are relieved.

Garth Mitchell, Euroa The legacy of Morrisons era will be a very large, open can of worms.

Graeme Montague, South Yarra When will Dutton send fridge magnets to warn us of reds under the bed?

Annie Wilson, Inverloch

At least Morrisons promise of an integrity omission will be kept.

Jonathan Crockett, New Gisborne Pork and wedges. A recipe for re-election.

Russell Ogden, Inverloch Dutton complains the PM was misled. Does this mean the rest of his MPs are learning by example?

Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton Todays politics is no more sophisticated than the schoolyard game of wedging.

Dennis Richards, Cockatoo Religious bill

PM, living the Christian life means much more than waving your hands in the air and shouting hallelujah once a week.

Bill Dunstan, Eltham Scott, how disgusting that you caused such pain to so many innocent people.

Irene Morley, Seaford Remind me again, what was the point of this bill except its proximity to the election.

Mark Freeman, Macleod Now that the religious bill has been shelved, bring in independent MP Helen Haines integrity bill.

Luise Mock, Tawonga South Furthermore
This week, it was announced that every Victorian year 12 student will have their literacy and numeracy tested and recorded on their graduating certificate for the first time, giving potential employers a better picture of a persons abilities in reading and maths.

The assessment will form part of a revamped General Achievement Test, which at the moment is taken only by students seeking an ATAR tertiary admission ranking. From this year, tens of thousands of senior secondary students completing the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, which is being phased out, and thousands completing an unscored VCE will also need to sit the exam.

All VCE and VCAL students will be expected to sit the GAT this year and be assessed on their literacy and numeracy standards. Credit:Simon Schluter

Students will receive a certificate of attainment stating they either met or exceeded minimum standards of literacy and numeracy. Students who do not meet the standards in the new test will not receive a certificate but will still graduate as long as they pass their year 12 subjects.

Critics were quick to take aim at the new standardised test. Templestowe College principal Peter Ellis said some VCAL students at his school had already expressed anxiety about sitting the GAT and being assessed. He said they felt the goal posts had shifted quickly in their final year of school and believed many would opt out of sitting the revamped test.
When Paddy was born, like many Australian dads I pictured a future of footy-kicking in the backyard. I did not imagine one day Id be using the bandsaw in my backyard workshop to fashion a pair of fake boobs out of foam for him. Or that when we hit the mall together it would be to buy fabric for his thriving bespoke dressmaking business.

I also did not expect that one day I would be an advocate in Federal Parliament for ending discrimination against LGBTQI+ kids.

Stephen Jones, the shadow assistant treasurer, with Paddy. When people ask if hes gay or trans, he just tells them hes Paddy, just Paddy.

But life and love shape us all, and I am no different.

When I spoke in Parliament this week, it was from the heart as a father. I wanted my colleagues in the Parliament to know what it was like for the families of kids like Paddy.
The politics, as Glady Berejilkian noted in her text exchange with an unnamed federal minister during the Black Summer fires two years ago, is the first thing Morrison thinks of. But he does eventually get around to policy. Which is why the word games on aged care this week are worth unpacking for what they reveal about the thing that matters most: the safety and dignity of some of our most vulnerable Australians. Loading In Morrisons telling of the Omicron wave, the virus has simply added a layer of tragedy to the routine of death in the aged care system. In the normal course of events, around a thousand people pass away in aged care facilities every week, he told the media on Monday. Thats what happens year round, even when theres not a pandemic and when there is. And over the course of particularly Omicron, around less than 10 per cent of those who passed away in our aged care facilities have passed away with having COVID. It was, on paper, a callous thing to say. Does he really think that the electorate can be convinced to accept the death of up to 100 of people each week as a trade-off for the rest of us living with the virus? Or was he trying to reassure himself that he has done his best? There was, in fact, a hint of genuine humility as he brought his answer to a close. He acknowledged that he cant fix the systemic problems in aged care when you have large numbers of people taken out of the workforce in a pandemic. He can only seek to mitigate them as best you can, but that doesnt mean you can mitigate them all.

What is clear is that the crisis in aged care can now be described as a catastrophe. You can see it in the dirty secret behind Morrisons superficial observation about the workforce. The problem in aged care begins not with the treatment of the residents, but the pay and conditions of aged care staff. This is work that Australians prefer to avoid. It can be seen in the official jobs data. The Australian economy, as we know, employs more people today than it did before the pandemic started. It remains the governments last great boast. Heres the rub. The nations largest employer, health care and social assistance, has added 120,000 jobs over the past two years, an increase of almost 7 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Encouragingly, 70,000 of those new positions have been taken up by men. But break down the three main types of work in the sector  in hospitals, medical and other health care services, and residential care  and guess who missed out? Employment jumped by almost 7 per cent in hospitals and by more than 11 per cent in medical and other health care services. But in residential care, the total number of jobs actually shrank by 29,000, or almost 11 per cent. And this was before Omicron put thousands more into isolation.

This is the hidden cost of a closed international border. We received 232,000 migrants from overseas per year in net terms between 2004-5 and 2018-19, while 13,000 more Australians left the country each year than came the other way. In the past financial year, 96,500 migrants left the country in net terms, while just under 8000 Australians came home. The labour shortage in aged care can be found in that gap. The system did try to cope by allowing some groups to continue coming to Australia. The most notable ethnic community to defy the trend for departure was from the Philippines. We received an additional 1000 migrants from there in 2020-21. But the average intake per year before lockdown had been almost 12,000. It is already too late for the government to buy itself a reprieve before the election. As Victoria showed us in 2020, once the virus gets into aged care, it takes at least three months to suppress it. On that score, we are only half through this wave. Lets assume the best case and the death toll halves from here on. We are still looking at another 600 lives lost between now and a May election. And then we face the perfect storm for whoever forms the next government. Chief medical officer Paul Kelly has already warned of another COVID wave in winter, combined with the return of the flu.
Former UK prime minister Theresa May has urged Australia to be more ambitious in tackling climate change and said it was a fallacy to argue legislating net-zero by 2050 would irrevocably damage the economy.

Speaking at a Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event on Friday afternoon, Lady May acknowledged Australia relied heavily on its mining and resources sector but warned the future of the planet depended on nations leading the charge on climate action.

Former UK prime minister Theresa May urged Australia to be more ambitious tackling climate change.

You can do well by your economy and deal with climate change, but it just means you have to do this in a different way, she said.

I hope Australia is going to pick up this agenda of climate change thats rather more proactively than it has done [until now] ... This really is the way of the future and for younger generations it is so important.
Melbournes CBD will need to pull out all the stops to attract people back after the pandemic, but there is one significant urban design project by GPT Group that might help fill the gap.

GPT gave Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) - who worked with BVN and heritage architects Lovell Chen - the commission to upgrade some of the citys finest heritage-listed buildings.

The banking chamber, with its dramatic ornate vaulted ceiling will be occupied by the restaurant NOMAD. Credit:

Located on the corner of Collins and Queen streets, the significant Gothic buildings, once occupied by the ES&A (English Scottish and Australian Bank) and the Stock Exchange from the 1880s, were designed by architects William Wardell (the ES&A Bank) and William Pitt (the Stock Exchange, which appeared a few years later).

A major tower was added on the site in the late 1980s.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron refused a Kremlin request that he take a Russian COVID-19 test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin this week. Sources say that is why they sat at opposite ends of a four-metre-long table to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

Observers were struck by images of Macron and Putin holding the five-hour talks at the extra distance on Monday, with some diplomats and others suggesting Putin might be wanting to send a diplomatic message.

Some distance between their positions: Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Kremlin. Credit:Kremlin/AP

But two sources with knowledge of the French Presidents health protocol told Reuters that Macron had been given a choice: accept a PCR test done by the Russian authorities and be allowed to get close to Putin, or refuse and abide by more stringent social distancing.

We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not accept that they get their hands on the Presidents DNA, one of the sources said, referring to security concerns if the French leader was tested by Russian doctors.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 10, 2022 --

First-ever three-row Jeep  Grand Cherokee recognized for its exceptional customer experience

Grand Cherokee recognized for its exceptional customer experience Grand Cherokee L models deliver an unmatched combination of 4x4 capability, premium styling and craftsmanship, and an impressive lineup of advanced safety and technology features

The all-new, three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a large utility vehicle designed to deliver unmatched 4x4 capability, performance and luxury, earned top SUV honors in the annual MotorWeek Drivers' Choice awards competition that honors the best new cars and trucks of the year.

MotorWeek named the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L as the Best Large Utility vehicle, applauding its increased interior capacity, next-generation safety features, premium on-road refinement, all-new luxurious interior that showcases modern, handcrafted materials and the most available technology features in its class.

The annual Drivers' Choice awards competition reviews and evaluates vehicles from a buyer's point of view, with the goal to select the best new cars and trucks for a practical guide to shopping.

"When you have something great, you want to share it with as many people as possible. That pretty much sums up our view of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the first three-row Grand Cherokee," said John Davis, host and creator of MotorWeek. "Now, growing Jeep families no longer have to look elsewhere for seven-passenger comfort. But, adding seats has not, in any way, compromised the go-anywhere capability that is the Jeep brand."

An episode of MotorWeek featuring the 2022 Drivers' Choice award winners is currently scheduled to air beginning February 12, 2022, on PBS.

Jeep Brand

Built on 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand that brings capability, craftsmanship and versatility to people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a broad portfolio of vehicles that continues to provide owners with a sense of safety and security to handle any journey with confidence. The Jeep vehicle range consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee 4xe, Renegade and Wrangler and Wrangler 4xe. Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep 4x4 lineup, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep brand owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support. The legendary Jeep brand's off-road capability is enhanced by a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into new 4x4 in pursuit of the brand's vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom. All Jeep brand SUVs will offer an electrified variant by 2025.

SOURCE Stellantis
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 pump handle hangs from a car at a gas station as motorists take to the road to start the Memorial Day weekend, Thursday, May 27, 2021, near Cheyenne, Wyo.
Chicago Teachers Union president Jesse Sharkey speaks at a rally outside of an elementary school where striking teachers picketed on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, in Chicago.
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.
A truck passes a welcome sign along I-10 Sunday, March 29, 2020, in Orange, Texas, near the Louisiana border.
An anti-fascist protester addresses police with a bullhorn during a protest outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Salem on Aug. 10, 2021.
Democrat Beto O'Rourke is running for governor of Texas. The former El Paso congressman announced his decision Monday, Nov. 15.
Staff Reporter

RaeLynn Ricarte is the author of two books and an award-winning editor and reporter with more than 25 years in the newsroom. She now covers government in Eastern Washington for The Center Square.
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Batavia, NY (14020)

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Rain developing later in the day. High 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Oneonta, NY (13820)

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A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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News

'Doing 100% better:' Dozens of felines taken to animal center on road to recovery

Technicians care for one of the 61 cats brought into the Blount County Animal Center after being taken in from a rescue organization in the community. Some of the 61 cats have been adopted out. The sick ones will have to get healthy first. Some were dehydrated and suffered from infections. The cats that came in from Kitty Kamp are doing much better, Blount County Animal Center officials said.

Ita been a flurry of activity at the Blount County Animal Center for the past few weeks since animal control brought in 61 cats, many in bad condition, from a self-proclaimed rescue organization.

Two of the sickest cats died right away and three others had to be euthanized because they were deemed too far gone to save. One of them had a broken pelvis and couldnt walk, said Wendy Lemons, manager of the cattery at the BCAC.

A cat who had no teeth was among the group as well as many that were dehydrated.

The cats were taken by animal control from Kitty Kamp, which was operating out of Alnwick Community Center. The cats were all found in one room. Complaints had come in concerning the smell. No charges against the owner have been filed.

They are now being cared for at BCAC, located at 233 Currie Ave., Maryville.

There are 16 with ringworm, which is highly contagious to animals and also humans, Lemons said. Another seven have upper respiratory conditions that require antibiotics.

It takes four to five weeks to cure ringworm, Lemons explained. Its a draining experience because each one has to be dipped in sulfur/lime twice a week. Because its so contagious, you have to gear up like you are ready to go into hazmat.

In addition to the twice weekly baths, cat litter has to be completely changed every day, Lemons said. We are going through tons of cat litter.

But, things are getting better for these rescued animals. The Wisconsin Humane Society heard about the dire situation and has adopted nine cats. Others have been adopted locally, Lemons said. In all, there are still 30 cats being cared for that will need new homes.

Add that to the population of felines already there and the head count is 63.

The rescued cats have been at the shelter now for about three weeks. Lemons said at one point they ran out of cardboard boxes used for litter boxes and had to resort to bleaching and cleaning out the other reusable ones every day.

A separate area of the center has been opened up so the new temporary residents can be away from the others.

These cats are doing 100% better, Lemons said. The shelter has its own veterinarian, Dr. Michelle Williams. She has worked tirelessly to provide excellent care, Lemons said.

The needs are great since the BCAC is not equipped to handle such a large influx of animals at once. Of course they need cat litter, cat food, cleaning supplies, etc. The fundraising arm of the center, Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, has put the word out through social media. There are wish lists on both Amazon and Chewy.

Volunteers are always needed, Lemons pointed out. We never have enough.
Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
Forest City, NC (28043)

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Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
3 Military Industrial Execs Indicted for Illegal Campaign Contributions to Sen. Susan Collins

Three military-industrial executives with Department of Defense contracts have been indicted for allegedly making illegal contributions to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) reelection bid.

According to a statement by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the three executives under investigation are Martin Kao, former chief executive of the firm Martin Defense Group, Clifford Chen, its chief financial officer, and Lawrence Kahele Lum Kee, an accountant for the firm.

Under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, restrictions are placed upon who can make donations to candidates and the maximum amount that they can donate to those campaigns. Military contractors are among those prohibited from making campaign contributions under the legislation, in part due to the conflicts of interest that such contributions entail.

In an effort to get around this restriction, the three indicted men allegedly formed a shell company in 2019 called the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers. From there, they funneled $150,000 to the Collin-supporting 1820 PAC.

According to the DOJ statement, the three men also allegedly used family members as conduits to make illegal contributions to the campaign committee of the same candidate, and then reimbursed themselves for those donations using funds obtained from their employer. Donations given this way exceeded $52,000.

The charge, if proven to be true, would put the three men in clear violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act, which prohibits the use of conduits, or go-betweens to give donations in a secretive or roundabout way.

The trio has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make conduit and government contractor contributions, making conduit contributions, and making government contractor contributions, according to the official indictment (pdf). Kao, the chief executive, has also been charged with two counts of making false statements for causing the submission of false information to the Federal Election Committee.

If convicted, the men could each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Martin Kao has also faced investigation in the past for allegedly cheating the federal government out of millions in CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus relief loan funds.

In September 2021, Martin Defense Group (formerly known as Navatek) received a $54.8 million contract from the Department of Defense to work on the Manta Ray phase 2 program, whose goal was the construction of autonomous, long-range underwater drones that can carry out certain missions with very little human involvement.

Martin Defense Group had earlier been awarded the contract for the first phase of the Manta Ray program, for which they received $5.5 million from the federal government.

Collins campaign emphasized that Collins herself is not mixed up in the criminal activity of the three men. Her campaign representatives said after the indictment, there are no allegations of wrongdoing by the Collins for Senator Campaign.

Collins has in the past helped Martin Defense Group receive an $8 million contract with the U.S. Navy, but this came well before the illicit donations were handed out.

Military industrial firms have long faced strict public scrutiny, particularly as the United States has ramped up its involvement in foreign conflicts at an ever-increasing pace in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Currently, the Pentagon receives a huge portion of all federal government expenditures. In fiscal year 2021, defense spending cost the United States $753.5 billion, and this budget item is only exceeded by the costs of medicare/medicaid and social security, which each surpass $1 trillion annually.

And according to the Department of Defense itself, a great deal of fraud happens every year with so much money on the line.

In one DOD report to Congress, it admitted that in the five-year period between 2013 and 2017, there had been over a thousand cases of defense contracting fraud resulting in 1,087 convictions of individuals and businesses (pdf).

In November 2018, a team assigned to audit the Pentagon announced that its bookkeeping was so poorly-handled that they could not complete the job. In fact, the auditors found that the books were so heavily cooked that trillions of taxpayer dollars that the DOD has spent over the past several decades is entirely untraceable.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime critic of the DODs bookkeeping habits, accused it of twenty-six years of hard-core foot-dragging and internal resistance to auditing the books, prior to the 2018 audit.

With the DOJs decision to pursue criminal charges against Martin Defense Groups executives, it is unclear what consequences if any the decision will have for the company at large.
7 House Republicans Unveil Plan to Grant Millions of Illegal Aliens Amnesty

A group of seven House Republicans led by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) have unveiled a bill that would make almost every illegal alien in the United States, as many as 22 million, eligible for green cards and a pathway to citizenship even as the country grapples with unprecedented levels of illegal immigration along its southern border.

Salazars bill is cosponsored by Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), and Pete Meijer (R-Mich.), in addition to Puerto Rico Republican Delegate Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon.

The legislation would put some restrictions on a pathway to citizenship for the millions of illegal aliens residing in the United States, and would trade amnesty for stricter enforcement of immigration law, but would still be the most expansive amnesty bill ever passed if it were to make it to President Joe Bidens desk.

Illegal aliens, under the so-called Dignity Act, (H.R. 6637) would be required to pay a one-time fine of $10,000 over 10 years and to successfully pass a criminal background check before they could move toward citizenship. They would also be barred from taking advantage of any welfare services.

In addition, the bill would attempt to tighten the enforcement of immigration law, similar to an immigration bill passed by President Ronald Reagan.

That bill, the most expansive amnesty bill ever passed in U.S. history, was the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which Reagan signed into law in 1986. Reagans immigration bill gave amnesty to around three million illegal immigrants.

H.R. 6637 would far exceed that total, though estimates as to the total number of illegal aliens in the country range dramatically.

On the low end of the estimates, Salazars bill would make 11 million illegal immigrantsfour times the amount in the 1986 billeligible for amnesty; On the high end, it could grant amnesty to as many as 22 million, more than seven times the amount covered by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

In addition, H.R. 6637 would grant permanent legal status to those protected under President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Obama advanced with an executive order. Estimates for how many illegal immigrants were covered by the program vary, ranging from 1.5 million at the least to 3.5 million at most.

In statements to The Epoch Times, GOP cosponsors Tom Reed and Dan Newhouse defended the bill.

This bill is a common-sense, compromise approach to illegal immigration, Reed contended. None of the bills provisions will take effect until the border has been certified secure, it will end catch and release and will provide $25 billion for border security. This is an important step forward in combating illegal immigration.

In his statement, Newhouse also claimed that H.R. 6637 would be an improvement from the current system.

[We] have millions of people here who have never been held accountable for crossing our borders unlawfully, Newhouse wrote. They are benefitting from taxpayer-funded roads, schools, and services without any consequences, which is not fair to hard-working American taxpayers. Dignity Visa holders, on the other hand, are always ineligible for welfare.

The Dignity Act acknowledges every undocumented person committed a crime to come here, but allows them to get right with the law, come out of the shadows, and join society while paying $10,000 in restitution fees over 10 years and then (possibly) go to the back of the line after another 5 years. This is in line with the American notion that we are a nation of laws but also a nation of second chances.

Newhouse also argued that the bill would not run the risk of spurring future illegal immigration under the hope of another amnesty in the future, and would bar Congress from passing further amnesty bills.

The Dignity Act would actually eliminate the possibility of further blanket amnesties being issued down the line, Newhouse said.

However, the question of whether this bill could do so is legally murky at best.

American jurisprudence, founded as it is on constitutional law, has generally held that the Constitution is the only thing that binds Congresses absolutely. Since every Congress is considered coequal with the one that preceded it and the one that will follow it, no law passed by a previous Congress can be binding for another, meaning that one Congress may not place limits on the actions of another through legislation.

In the 1996 case U.S. v. Winstar Corp., Supreme Court Justice David Souter referenced and reaffirmed this long-held legal principle in an Opinion of the Court.

Since H.R. 6637 would simply be the act of one Congress, it is unlikely that future judges would rule it binding on another, opening the door for further amnesty legislation.

Preston Huennekens, Government Relations Manager at the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), criticized the bill in a statement to The Epoch Times.

[Salazars] bill follows closely with the spirit of President Reagans 1986 amnesty: it provides amnesty in exchange for some enforcement changes, Huennekens explained.

As we know, the 1986 amnesty led directly to a massive increase in illegal immigration from people trying to benefit from the protections. What happened to the enforcement changes? Future Congresses gutted them entirelyleading to the implementation of the entire amnesty without any of the corresponding enforcement changes that President Reagan promised.

Huennekens predicted that the bill would inspire more illegal immigrants to cross the border in the hope of receiving future amnesty.

This would undoubtedly spur further illegal immigration, as all amnesty legislation does, Huennekens argued.

The bill has some positive aspectsparticularly mandatory E-Verify and Sarah and Grants Laws, Huennekens argued, but they are overwhelmed by the scale of the amnesty.

This is not an appropriate proposal at a time when weve seen more than 2 million border apprehensions in a single year, Huennekens ruled. Worse, the Biden administration has completely handcuffed ICE, preventing them from doing their job and leading to record-low removals.

The United States is already facing unprecedented levels of illegal immigration along its southern border, which critics have blamed on the Biden Administrations laissez-faire attitude toward enforcement of immigration law.

Viral images and videos have circulated on the internet showing massive numbers of immigrants crossing into the country, often without a border patrol agent in sight.

Alarming reports have arisen from Americans living in border towns, which are facing constant threat of criminal sex and drug traffickers crossing the border. Several interviewees living along the U.S.-Mexico border say that they are now unable to leave their homes without a firearm, and do not let their children out of their sight while outside.

Border patrol agents say theyre swamped, and they have been unable to apprehend a large portion of illegal entrants to the country, leaving many border residents to fend for themselves.

Still, H.R. 6637 is unlikely to pass, now or in the next Congress.

While it could conceivably make it through the House of Representatives, where Democrats have a majority and might be open to the bill, it has little chance of winning the support of the 10 Senate Republicans needed to meet the 60-vote threshold to start a vote in the Senate.

In an interview with Breitbart News, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)who is the most likely candidate for speaker if Republicans take the House in Novembersaid that a Republican majority will not consider any legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens.

We know first and foremost that one of our greatest strengths is the rule of law, McCarthy said when asked whether a GOP majority would pass amnesty legislation. So you have to have an immigration system based upon the rule of law.

If McCarthy keeps the promise, the legislation stands little chance of making it through any future GOP-held House.
(L-R) Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Melbourne Commonwealth Parliament Office in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 11, 2022. (APP Image/Pool, David Crosling)

A World Order That Favors Freedom: QUAD Foreign Ministers Meet in Melbourne, Australia

The four foreign ministers of the QUAD nations, Australia, the United States, India, and Japan, met on Feb. 11 in Melbourne for the fourth iteration of the talks.

High on the agenda are issues like regional securityincluding Russia, China, and North Koreaeconomic engagement, new technologies, climate change, humanitarian issues, and the response to COVID-19.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined a brief press appearance before the meeting got underway, welcoming U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japans Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Morrison praised the dialogue as a source of support in a world that is very fragile, fragmented, and contested.

Im reassured by our perspective, Im reassured by the understanding shared by each other, Im reassured by the incredibly strong support that Australia has received from QUAD partners, he told reporters, referencing the economic coercion campaign launched by Beijing against Australian exports.

(L-R) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa at Melbourne Commonwealth Parliament Office in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 11, 2022. The 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting brings together the foreign ministers of Australia, the United States, Japan, and India are meeting to discuss the countries cooperation in areas including the economy, security, and the coronavirus pandemic. (AAP Image/Pool, Darrian Traynor)

Well continue to always stand up for our values that unite us most. In doing so, we stand up to those who would seek to coerce us.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken praised Morrison for his leadership in advancing the QUAD.

This is a group of countries brought together not by what were against, but what were for. What were for is a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said.

The most dynamic region in the world, the fastest-growing economies, half the worlds population, people deserve to live freely, countries deserve to have the freedom to work together and associate with whom they choose, he added. Together, we can demonstrate that we are effective in bringing benefits for our people.

In his first visit to Australia, Indias Jaishankar said the reason the QUAD worked so well was because bilateral relations between Australia and India were strong, while Japans Hayashi said Australia-Japan relations had reached new heights, referencing the recently concluded historic Reciprocal Access Agreement for greater cooperation on defense matters.

Australias Foreign Minister Payne said the talks would focus on challenges at a different scale than preceding decades.

More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challengeDPRK (North Korea), China as welland they will be part of our discussions, she said in a press statement.

Our work together in the Indo-Pacific is growing exponentially, and it is very rewarding to see the engagement of so many of our partners in the region with us both.
A Taliban member stands guard, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Nov. 15, 2021. (Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images)

Afghan Taliban Claim Explosion Near Mosque Kills 1, Wounds 7

KABUL, AfghanistanAn explosion on the doorsteps of a mosque in northern Afghanistan killed one worshipper and wounded seven others on Friday, the Taliban terrorist group claimed.

Taliban spokesperson Baz Mohammad Sarwari of Badghis Province said the cause of the explosion is unknown but investigations are ongoing.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. The local ISIS terrorist affiliate has in the past repeatedly claimed responsibility for similar attacks.

Sarwari said the wounded were transferred to the provincial hospital while the Taliban secured the area.

The explosion went off while dozens of worshippers had gathered inside the mosque for Friday prayers.
The Amazon logo on the frontage of an Amazon's centre in Bretigny-sur-Orge, France, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images)

Amazon Tells Staff They Must Be Fully Vaccinated to Get COVID Paid Leave

Amazon has told staff at its U.S. warehouses and logistics sites that they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by March if they want to receive paid leave if they contract the virus.

In a Feb. 10 memo to employees obtained by The Epoch Times, the Seattle-headquartered company said workers have until March 18 to get two doses of a COVID vaccine if they want to get paid leave.

However, the retailers paid leave change does not impact workers who have received a religious or medical accommodation, the company said.

Unvaccinated employees without such accommodation will be allowed to take one week of unpaid time off for isolation, it said. In January, Amazon reduced its isolation period for employees who test positive for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus to seven days.

Before the announcement, the companys COVID virus paid leave for self-isolation was up to 10 days. The new isolation time came off the back changes in guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Amazon on Feb. 10 also said it will allow fully vaccinated employees to go maskless inside of its warehouses, starting on Feb. 11, so long as local regulations allow for it.

Face coverings remain required for anyone entering our U.S. Operations facilities who is not fully vaccinated as well as for employees who have not updated their vaccinated status on Amazons A to Z internal reporting tool, according to the memo.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, an Amazon spokesperson said the companys latest updates regarding masks are due to a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past weeks along with increasing vaccination rates across the country.

This is a positive sign we can return to the path to normal operations, the companys message said, according to the spokesperson.

In December, the company told warehouse employees that they must wear masks, even if theyre fully vaccinated or live in an area where masks arent mandated, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to an employee notice obtained by CNBC.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its weekly update reported a decline in overall COVID-19 cases worldwide.

Cases are down by 17 percent globally in the week between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 when compared with the previous week, WHO said.

The prevalence of the Omicron variant has increased globally and is now detected in almost all countries, the WHO stated in the weekly report.

However, many of the countries which reported an early rise in the number of cases due to the Omicron variant have now reported a decline in the total number of new cases since the beginning of January 2022.

The decline in cases has prompted some states in the United States to begin easing mask restrictions.

Update: This article has been updated to include comments received from Amazon.
A general view of the High Court of Australia in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 5, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Australian High Court Decision Draws Line Between Employee and Independent Contractor

The High Court of Australia on Wednesday handed down two landmark decisions that provide greater clarity on the definition of employee and contractor, which may have major ramifications for gig economy workers.

The High Court bench unanimously determined in one case that two truck drivers who worked for a company for 40 years under a partnership agreement were not employees but independent contractors.

Martin Jamsek and Robert Whitby, initially truck drivers employed under the predecessor businesses of ZG Operations, later agreed to contracts to purchase their own trucks and carry goods for the company.

Jamsek and Whitby argued that ZG Operations had the most complete example of control in directing the operations. However, the bench stated that it was power to give directions to make deliveries rather than how it should be carried out.

The totality of that relationship was not that of employer and employee, the judgement states.

As a result, the truck drivers are not entitled to employee benefits such as superannuation and annual leave.

The bench said their decision was in line with another case, where a labourer, who was a self-employed contractor under his agreement with a labour-hire company, was determined to be an employee.

The majority of the High Court held that while the contract stated the labourer, British backpacker Daniel McCourt, was a contractor, the nature of the contract was that of an employee.

The labour-hire company determined where McCourt would work and provided payment in return for full cooperation in all respects for his labour.

These rights and obligations constituted a relationship between [the labour-hire company] and Mr McCourt of employer and employee, the case summary states. That the parties chose the label contractor to describe Mr McCourt did not change the character of that relationship.

University of Adelaide law professor Andrew Stuart said the decision was a big win for companies like Uber.

What the High Court majority has said carries with it the implication that it will be much easier for businesses to source labour from contractors rather than employees and achieve significant cost savings from doing so, he told The Australian Financial Review.

The Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said the decision for ZG Operations v Jamsek will provide more certainty to businesses that face an increase in arguments that people engaged as contractors are misclassified and entitled to employee benefits.

The High Courts decision is sensible, practical, and fair, Willox said. The outcome will increase business certainty and investment and will consequently be good for jobs.
Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton addresses media as Liberal member for Canning, Andrew Hastie looks on in Perth, Australia on April 19, 2021. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Australian Political Opposition Needs Greater Awareness After Beijing Plot to Infiltrate Foiled by Spy Agency: Defence Minister

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton has said the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) needs greater awareness about who it engages with after the countrys domestic spy agency, ASIO, foiled a Beijing-backed plot to install Manchurian Labor candidates from New South Wales (NSW) in this years federal election.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess revealed details about the disrupted plot on Feb. 9, at his annual threat assessment speech, saying an unnamed foreign government conspired to bankroll electoral candidates thought to be pliable or who might already support the interfering foreign power. The political candidates targeted in the plot were unaware of the scheme, he said.

The revelations led Dutton to declare, during Question Time in parliament on Feb. 10, that the foreign power was the Chinese regime, and he alleged they had picked national Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese as their candidate for prime minister.

The next day, Dutton doubled down on his remarks, saying: Theres no doubt in my mind about the statement that I made yesterday and I think there needs to be a greater awareness, frankly, particularly from the Labor Party, about the engagement of people who dont have our national interests at heart. Thats the reality of the situation, he told ABC Radio National on Feb. 11.

Next came a report from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Feb. 11, citing multiple of their own anonymous security and intelligence sources who pointed the finger at the Chinese regime for the plot.

Their report claimed that both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Albanese had been briefed on the conspiracy by ASIO. The offices of Morrison and Albanese did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation on these claims.

NSW Labor General Secretary Bob Nanva then denied any knowledge of the alleged plot.

NSW Labor can confirm that no national security agency has ever raised these alleged matters with the parliamentary leadership or the organisational wing of the NSW Branch, Nanva wrote in a statement published on Twitter on Feb. 11.

Anthony Albanese speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the potential candidates who had been targeted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were ultimately not preselected by Labor.

Further, Albanese said he had spoken to Burgess on Feb. 11, who Albanese said had reaffirmed that he has not raised concerns about any of my candidates in the federal electionwhich has not yet been called.

Dutton doubled down the next day on his assertion that the CCP backed a Labor government, saying: I think theres no doubt that there are elements within the [Chinese] Communist Party that would be very happy to see the back of our government.

The CCP has sought to punish Australia after the Morrison government called for an international inquiry into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which came on the back of Australia moving to protect its national interests in the face of Beijings ambitions to replace the United States as the dominant power in the region.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra also leaked a 14-point list of grievances against the Australian government to a journalist and demanded that Australia back down on those issues before Beijing would return relations to normal.

The list of grievances included: government funding for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, raids on Chinese journalists, academic visa cancellations, and Australias participation in multilateral forums on Chinas affairs in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiangwhich the regime claimed that Australia was spearheading.

A Chinese flag flies at the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Canberra, Australia, on May 12. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Speaking to the ABC, Albanese hit back after Duttons comments, describing them as desperate politics.

I have had a consistent position over a long period of time but I am not going to sit back and cop the sort of nonsense that is being put forward from a government that sat back while the Port of Darwin was sold to interests of a company directly engaged with, and connected to, the government of the Peoples Republic of China, he said.

Albaneses comments come after Dutton had earlier told ABC Radio National that Albanese doesnt want to be discussing China or national security in the lead up to the election.

He wants to neutralise the issue and doesnt want to talk about the issue at all, he said.

Dutton reiterated that Chinese interference in Australia and around the world was well-documented, and include instances of editorials written in pro-Beijing Chinese language newspapers, and targeting people on WeChat who spoke out against the CCP.

The U.S., at the moment, has 12,000 cases [of foreign interference by China] under investigation [by the FBI]. ASIO will be looking at matters themselves of [political] interference in Australia.

I just think its uncontroversial in the sense that that is the modern reality and we should be alive to it, he said.
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)

Australians Will Need Third COVID-19 Shot to Be Considered Fully-Vaccinated

The ATAGI has updated its guidelines around COVID-19 vaccinations saying that Australians will need three COVID-19 vaccine doses to be considered fully vaccinated on Feb. 10.

For Australians to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, it is now recommended that they have a booster shot within 3 to 6 months from the primary course for Australians 16 and over. Children aged from 5 to 15 are currently not recommended to be administered boosters.

Consistent with current arrangements this booster dose is recommended from 3 months after the last primary dose and will now be recommended to be administered within 6 months of completing the primary schedule, the statement from National Cabinet said.

ATAGI has advised that a booster can be given safely and effectively at any time after 6 months to become up-to-date in the event that the booster had not been received earlier.

The National Cabinet noted that ATAGIs advice was for the up-to-date status to be applicable only in domestic situations and policy settings.

However, in a move sure to please the tourism sector, the national cabinet noted that foreign travellers will be permitted to enter Australia with just two shots. This is despite the comments made by Labor state premiers, Daniel Andrews, and Annastacia Palaszczuk for Victoria and Queensland.

Prior to the National Cabinet meeting, both had initially flagged three doses for foreign travellers if the ATAGI were to change the definition for vaccination status.

Their statements have led to outcries from members of the tourism industry and federal MPs, who warned that this could hurt the tourism industry across Australia as a whole.

However, the Australian states and territories reached a two dose consensus on Feb. 10, giving hope to the tourism industry of recovery from the last two years of pandemic.

Palaszczuk already promised on Feb. 9 a total of $1 billion in funding into the tourism industry, expecting a $4 billion worth of business return.

The national cabinet meeting also addressed approaches to cruising; a major sector of the tourism industry that has been banned from operations since March 2020.

The cabinet agreed for a resumption of cruising, but the recommencement date will be left for each jurisdiction to decide.

The Australian government has also promised funding of $15 billion for the cruising sector, with NSW, Victoria, and Queensland expected to be the first few to reoffer cruising services.

Federal health minister Greg Hunt has said that though the federal government will be working with states and territories to resume cruising in Australia, the resumption will need green lights from both the state and Commonwealth.

He advised frequent testing and isolation protocol for cruisers but reassured that it was a sign Australia is returning to normal.

Joel Katz, Managing Director of Cruise Lines International Association said that the consistent nation-wide approach for international travellers was certainly some positive news for a change.

Though he said that the announcement was a glimmer of hope for the 18,000 Australians within the cruising industry, he expressed that more genuine and concrete actions are needed for cruises to resume.

Most cruise lines have cancelled sailings through to the end of May and it will take several months to prepare ships for their return, so we need governments to sign off on industry protocols as soon as possible so we can begin a careful and responsible revival of cruise tourism in Australia, he told on the Nine Network on Feb. 11.
Autopsy Reveals New Details in Bob Sagets Cause of Death

An autopsy report revealed Full House star Bob Saget died due to blunt head trauma last month in Florida.

It is in my opinion that the death of Robert Saget, a 65-year-old white male found unresponsive in a hotel room, is the result of blunt head trauma, Orange County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua D. Stephany said in a statement (pdf). It is the most probable that the decedent suffered an unwitnessed fall backwards and struck the posterior aspect of his head. The manner of death is accident.

Stephany also said that a toxicology report did not reveal any illicit drugs or toxins in his system at the time of death in a hotel room in Orlando on Jan. 9.

An autopsy report that was released alongside Stephanys statement said Saget had posterior scalp abrasions, subgaleal hemorrhage (blood that forms between the scalp and skull), discoloration of the eyelids due to the fracture, subdural hematoma (a buildup of blood on the surface of the brain), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space that surrounds the brain).

The autopsy also said a PCR test revealed that Saget was positive for COVID-19.

The autopsy comes one day after Sagets cause of death was confirmed by his family.

The authorities have determined that Bob passed from head trauma, they said on Wednesday. They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep. No drugs or alcohol were involved.

The actor and comedians family added that they have been overwhelmed with the incredible outpouring of love from Bobs fans in the weeks after his death.

Now that we have the final conclusions from the authorities investigation, we felt it only proper that the fans hear those conclusions directly from us, Sagets family added. As we continue to mourn together, we ask everyone to remember the love and laughter that Bob brought to this world, and the lessons he taught us all: to be kind to everyone, to let the people you love know you love them, and to face difficult times with hugs and laughter.

After confirming his death, authorities told media outlets at the time there were no signs of foul play or drugs at the scene.

Following his death, there was an outpouring of grief online.

Bob was the most loving, compassionate, and generous man. We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has, the Olsen twins said in a statement. I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him, said John Stamos, who co-starred with Saget on Full House. I love you so much Bobby.
President Joe Biden speaks at an event at the White House in Washington on Feb. 2, 2022. (Cheriss May/Reuters)

Biden Administration Buys 600,000 Treatment Courses of New COVID Antibody Drug That Works Against Omicron Variant

The Biden administration has purchased 600,000 treatment courses of a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody drug that data shows works against the omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Known as bebtelovimab, the drug is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

It is used in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in certain high-risk patients and works via laboratory-made proteins that mimic natural antibodies the body produces to fight off harmful pathogens.

The drug has not yet received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but if it does, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it will make the treatment available to states free of charge.

In a statement, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said the purchase of the 600,000 treatment courses of bebtelovimab was part of the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to ensuring Americans who get sick with COVID-19 have access to treatments that work.

Under President Bidens leadership, we are prepared for the challenges we face with COVID-19 and are laser-focused on saving lives, said Becerra. If authorized by FDA, this purchase will add an additional 600,000 courses of treatment to our nations medicine cabinet that could help prevent severe outcomes for Americans who do get sick with COVID-19.

Becerra also stressed that the administrations top priority was to prevent people from getting sick with COVID-19 and urged everyone to get vaccinated or boosted if they can.

Under the contract, HHS said it would receive approximately 300,000 treatment courses of the monoclonal antibody in February and about another 300,000 treatment courses in March.

If and when the treatment is authorized, HHS said it would make the treatment available immediately. The contract also includes a future option for 500,000 more doses.

Officials said early data suggested that the newest product by Lily has activity against both Omicron and the BA.2 Omicron subvariant the latter of which is believed to be a more transmissible subvariant of Omicron.

A nurse administers a monoclonal antibody treatment to a COVID-19 patient at the Childrens Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., on Jan. 15, 2022. (Hannah Beier/Reuters)

The World Health Organization on Feb. 9 said that the BA.2 Omicron subvariant will increase around the world but said there is currently no indication as to whether or not the subvariant might cause a more severe illness than the original.

Should the number of BA.2 subvariant cases rise in the U.S., the new drug could help to ensure the administration can continue to offer Americans a monoclonal antibody treatment that works against that strain of the virus, officials said.

Eli Lilly, in a separate statement, said the U.S. government agreed to pay at least $720 million for the treatment courses under the agreement.

The company said it has submitted a request for an EUA for bebtelovimab and that Pseudovirus and authentic virus testing demonstrate that bebtelovimab retains full neutralizing activity against Omicron.

In addition, pseudovirus testing with bebtelovimab demonstrates that it retains neutralization against all other known variants of interest and concern, including BA.2, Eli Lilly and Company said.

The announcement comes after the FDA in January said it was restricting the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19, made by Eli Lilly and Regeneron, because data showed they are highly unlikely to be active against the Omicron variant.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is currently the dominant strain in the United States, and officials say it makes up roughly 99 percent of all cases in the country.

HHS said it has so far this year provided more than 2.5 million COVID-19 treatments and therapies, including antiviral pills and monoclonal antibodies, to states so that Americans who contract COVID-19 can use them.

We have more COVID-19 treatments than ever before, we are providing a billion free at-home tests, and we have enough vaccines to get everyone vaccinated and boosted, Becerra said.
Protesters, who are in support of the truckers' Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, block an intersection near the Ambassador Bridge border crossing, in Windsor, Ontario, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Administration Urges Canadas Government to Use Federal Powers, Respond to Protests Blocking Joint Borders

The Biden administration has urged Canadas government to use its federal powers to respond to the protests that are blocking access points along the countries mutual border, the White House said.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke separately with their Canadian counterparts, urging them to use federal powers to resolve this situation at our joint border and offering the full support of our Homeland Security and Transportation departments, a White House official told CNN on Feb. 10.

Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall is also set to speak with her Canadian counterpart this evening, according to the White House. Meanwhile, President Biden is closely monitoring the situation and being regularly briefed on the matter.

We know that a number of companies and industries are seeing significant impacts from these disruptions, the official said.

The Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Council, Department of Transportation and the National Economic Council are working collaborativelyincluding with their Canadian counterparts at all levelsto rapidly develop a set of options that match current industry demandsincluding alternative routes and other scenario planning.

Administration officials are also in close touch with stakeholders, including American auto companies, shippers, business and trade associations, labor unions, and agricultural groups, and are principally focused on resolving the ongoing blockage at the Ambassador Bridge as well as blockages at other ports of entry, the official said.

The White Houses comments come as blockades continue on the Ambassador Bridge, which serves as a key span connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario. Officials say the protests are disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products between the two countries.

The bridge is one of the busiest crossings between Canada and the United States and counts for an estimated 20 percent of all trade between the two countries.

But in recent days, the route has been forced to temporarily shut down due to protests, which officials worry could have potential impacts on the supply chain. The detour port, Port Huron, however, is still fully operational.

Multiple U.S. Automakers including Toyota, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford, and General Motors have also had to pause some production at their Canada plants due to the ongoing protests in recent days, although some have already been able to resume manufacturing.

The protests in Canada initially began as a demonstration by truckers in response to a federal vaccine mandate that went into effect on Jan. 15 for truck drivers, despite staunch opposition.

Since then, the movement has grown to demonstrate against all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, as more people from different parts of Canada join in. Several protest convoys have been set up in different parts of the country, demanding an end to the mandates.
Biden: Im Rejecting Militarys Account of Afghanistan Evacuation Failures

President Joe Biden denied firsthand military accounts that were on the ground in Afghanistan during the August 2021 evacuation of Kabul.

In an interview with NBC News Lester Holt, the president said he rejects now-surfaced accounts from military leaders who claimed the White House acted too slowly in its evacuation.

An article from the Washington Post, citing an Army investigative report that was released via a Freedom of Information Act request, claimed that top State Department and White House officials didnt have a grasp on the Talibans steady advances across Afghanistan last summer.

No. No. Thats not what I was told, Biden told Holt when he was asked about whether the Post claims were accurate. Yes, I am. Im rejecting them, he added when asked about whether he rejects such claims.

There was no good time to get out, but if we had not gotten out, they acknowledged we would have had to put a hell of a lot more troops back in, Biden also said.

The Army report contained sworn testimony from commanders who were involved directly in the U.S. military withdrawal.

Evacuees wait in front of a Royal Air Force C-17 at Kabul airport (LPhot Ben Shread/MoD/PA)

In my opinion, the [National Security Council] was not seriously planning for an evacuation, Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Farrell Sullivan told investigators, according to the Post. Furthermore, he was told on Aug. 6 by a National Security Council member that if the U.S. evacuated Kabul, it would create the impression that we have failed.

A full-scale evacuation of Kabul was not carried out until the Taliban was able to depose of then-President Ashraf Ghani as they quickly dispatched the Afghan army in an advance that was faster than anticipated. The U.S. military was able to mostly secure the Kabul Airport and evacuated tens of thousands of people, although possibly hundreds of Americans and thousands of Afghans who had worked with the U.S. were left behind.

The fall of Kabul, which was accompanied by images of Afghans falling to their deaths from U.S. military cargo planes and Taliban members holding American military rifles, at the time could be considered the lowest point in Bidens administration. In a break, pundits on mainstream news outlets such as CNN and NBC harshly criticized Biden for its execution, although senior White House officials have repeatedly defended the move.

When asked about the Army report, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters this week that the administration was prepared for a range of contingencies, without elaborating. Psaki noted that top officials didnt anticipate Afghanistan falling so quickly, however.

There was a range of contingency planning that was done in close coordination by all of the players on the national security team at the time to prepare for a range of options and a range of outcomes, Psaki said.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of State and the National Security Council regarding the Army report cited by the Post.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden arrive for a summit at Villa La Grange in Geneva on June 16, 2021. (Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden, Putin to Speak by Phone Amid Ukraine Tensions: Spokesman

US sends nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to Europe

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, according to a top Kremlin spokesman on Friday.

Indeed, the U.S. side requested a conversation with President Putin, and the talks of the two presidents are planned to take place tomorrow in the evening, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The request was preceded by a letter from the U.S. side, he said.

Unnamed Biden administration officials told several news outlets that the two leaders will have a phone call about the military escalation. The Epoch Times has contacted the White House for comment.

I would expect that President Biden will engage by telephone with President Putin, but I dont have anything to announce for you on that right now, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday.

Previously, Sullivan told reporters at the White House Friday that Russian forces may assault Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Before that, President Joe Biden warned that U.S. citizens in Ukraine and Russia should leave immediately as the State Department issued a notice that it wouldnt be able to evacuate Americans if Russia carried out any military action.

That is a possible line of attack, course of action, that the Russian forces could choose to take. They could also choose to move in other parts of Ukraine as well, Sullivan said Friday.

And Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Australia, issued a similar message: As we said before, were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. To be clear, that includes during the Olympics.

Neither Sullivan nor Blinken provided any evidence or new information that Russia might invade Ukraine. Russian officials, meanwhile, told state-run media on Friday the White Houses claims of a pending assault are fake news.

Earlier this week, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba sought to calm tensions, namely a theory that Russia may invade Kyiv.

Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development, Kuleba wrote on Twitter. Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support and the faith of Ukrainians in their country. It is the enemy who should fear us.

The U.S. Air Force this week confirmed that nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, support equipment, and 5th Wing personnel are being deployed to England in the midst of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The B-52s will be integrated with British Typhoon aircraft and Portuguese F-16s currently assigned to NATOs Icelandic Air Policing mission, according to a press release from the Air Force.

US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress after refueling during a mission over the Middle East on Sunday. (US Air Force)

Four B-52 aircraft are being sent to Royal Air Force Fairford, the release said. Those bombers integrated with other NATO aircraft while traveling to the base, the Air Force said, adding that they include British Typhoon aircraft and Portuguese F-16s currently assigned to NATOs Icelandic Air Policing mission.

The Air Force release did not mention the increased tensions in Eastern Europe. On Friday, White House officials called on Americans to leave Ukraine in the next 48 hours as more than 100,000 Russian troops and military armor have amassed near the countrys borders in recent weeks.

With an ever-changing global security environment, its critical that our efforts with our allies and partners are unified, said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, a U.S. Air Force commander. Were in Europe training and collaborating together, because consistent integration is how we strengthen our collective airpower.

Photos published by UK news outlets showed the B-52s arriving at Fairford on Thursday. The bombers, based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, are capable of carrying precision-guided and nuclear weapons.
Biden Says US Troops Wont Rescue Americans in Ukraine If Russia Invades

President Joe Biden in an interview released Feb. 10 urged Americans still in Ukraine to leave immediately.

American citizens should leave now, Biden said in the interview, which aired on NBC Nightly News.

Russia is on the brink of invading Ukraine, U.S. officials have repeatedly stated. Russia has not ruled out invading its neighbor but has accused the United States of misrepresenting its position, and Ukrainian officials have also taken issue with the U.S. stance.

Biden made clear that, in the event Russia does invade, he will not send troops to evacuate Americans.

No. How do you do that? How do you even find them? he said. Thats a world war, when Americans and Russians start shooting at one another, he also said.

Biden presided over the evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan in 2021, but held fast to his withdrawal deadline as U.S. troops pulled out despite hundreds of Americans still being in the Middle Eastern country.

The United States evacuated the families of diplomats from Ukraine in late January while authorizing non-essential U.S. embassy staff to leave the country. Officials have since then encouraged all Americans to depart, adding urgency to the request in recent days.

Still, there is no active planning for the evacuation of Americans who live in Ukraine, the Pentagons spokesman said this week.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Australia on Friday that we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border and that were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time.

Were continuing to draw down our embassy. We will continue that process and weve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now, he said.

Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops at or near the border with Ukraine, according to U.S. officials.

Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. This is a very different situation. And things could go crazy quickly, Biden said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, told reporters in Russia that a UK official apparently not recognizing Russian sovereignty over two of its southern regions earlier in the week highlighted how Western officials have a conceptual misunderstanding of the RussiaUkraine situation.

Russian officials say forces from members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should not be dispatched to countries near Ukraine and Russia and have long called for the organization to commit to not accepting Ukraine as a member.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said after meeting with Polands prime minister in Warsaw that if Russia wants fewer troops near their borders, this is entirely the wrong way to go about it.

It would be a disaster for them, it would be a disaster for Russia, it would be a disaster for the world, if they were to invade, he said.
A man puts a poster that reads "Liberty Convoy" on a van before leaving for Paris, in Bayonne, southwestern France, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Bob Edme/AP Photo)

Blockades by Virus Protest Convoys Banned in Paris, Brussels

PARISAuthorities in France and Belgium on Thursday banned road blockades threatened by groups organizing online against COVID-19 restrictions, in part inspired by protesters in Canada.

Citing risks of trouble to public order, the Paris police department banned protests aimed at blocking the capital from Friday through Monday. Police will put measures in place to protect roads and detain violators.

Blocking traffic can lead to two years in prison, 4,500 euros (more than $5,000) in fines, and a suspended drivers license, the police department said in a statement.

Online chat groups in France have been calling for drivers to converge on Paris starting Friday night, and to continue north to Brussels on Monday. There have been calls to action in Belgium for truckers to converge on the capital, which houses European Union institutions.

Authorities in Belgium banned Mondays threatened blockade, and said a wide perimeter around the city of 1.1 million would be set up to keep an excess of trucks out of the center of Brussels.

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said in a Twitter message that officials decided to ban the Freedom Convoy protest because organizers failed to seek permission to hold the event.

A similar freedom convoy is planned in Vienna on Friday.

The protests would mirror those of truckers in Canada who have blockaded border crossings.

In France, small groups of drivers set out Wednesday from Bayonne on the Atlantic coast and Nice on the French Riviera, with stickers on their cars reading Freedom Convoy.

Protesters prepare to leave for Paris , in Bayonne, southwestern France, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Bob Edme/AP Photo)

Departures were also reported or planned in about a dozen other cities, with groups calling for them to converge on Paris on Friday evening and to protest there on Saturday.

Those looking to take part in the convoy appear to represent a mix of causes, and vehicles, from trucks to motorcycles and camper vans.

FranceBleu radio in the southern Vaucluse region quoted the head of a transport company as saying he and three employees would rally to Paris in separate vehicles. Its truly a peaceful convoy, FranceBleu quoted the man, identified only as Sylvain, as saying.

The idea is to make ourselves seen, heard. We have to end this health pass, he was quoted as saying, referring to a COVID-19 pass France requires to get into restaurants and other public venues, and noting that the country has a presidential election in two months.

France has seen weekly protests against vaccine rules and virus-related restrictions for several months. The convoy attempt comes as participation in the protests has waned recently. The French convoys do not appear to have a single organizer or rallying cry.

The French protesters have been sharing images of truckers in Canada. They want an end to Canadas COVID-19 restrictions, including a rule for all truckers entering the country to be fully vaccinated.

Some are also calling for gatherings elsewhere in Europe, but its not clear whether the different actions in different countries are coordinated.

A couple of Telegram groups in Spain are calling for gatherings and trying to organize logistics and food donations.
Breaking Dependency on Russia, China Will Cost Us, but Its Worth It: Lithuanian Foreign Minister

The cost of goods such as iPhones, shoes, and electricity could go up if countries break from their dependency on Russia and China, but its the price the world must pay to safeguard the rules-based order, Lithuanias foreign minister has stated.

Lithuanias Gabrielius Landsbergis made the comments in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 10, where he called for tighter global alliances and a stronger response in dealing with the twin challenges posed by Moscow and Beijing.

Lithuania currently sits on two major geopolitical fault lineson the one hand, it must confront rising tensions on the neighbouring Ukrainian border with Russian troops mobilising in their thousands, while on the other, it has been the subject of ongoing economic coercion from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

For decades now, there were those who were convinced it is possible through the liberalisation of trade to bring values like rule of law and democracy to others, he said. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem to be the casequite the opposite actually.

Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis addresses the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 10, 2022. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

It appears that profitability created dependencies, dependencies that limit the possibility of one side to even ask for responsibility from the other, he said.

Take the case of energy supply for Europe. Seemingly cheap energy supply from Russia to Europe has not created incentives for Russia to reform, but it definitely has limited the possibility of Europeans to react to possible Russian military aggression.

Landsbergis said that if Russia were to cut oil, gas, or coal exports to European Union nationsof which it is a significant sourceenergy prices would skyrocket, hamstringing the response from governments.

In contrast, Lithuania had built resilience that Landsbergis hoped could inspire other countries. He pointed to the 2014 decision to purchase an LNG terminal, after years of dependency on Russia, which allowed the Baltic nation to import its own gas suppliescontributing to some of the cheapest electricity prices on the continent.

When asked by a student invited to the Press Club on what individuals could do in response to the lack of solid action from governments in dealing with China and Russia, Landsbergis said to keep speaking out on those issues and noted that there would be a cost to acting.

Sometimes there is wishful thinking that we can get a Green Deal and not pay one dollar on the euro. It wont happen. Its costly, and we will have to pay it, he said.

Men work at the construction site of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Lubmin, northeastern Germany, on March 26, 2019. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images)

If we dont want to purchase things from forced labour camps, that means our shoes will be a bit more expensive, iPhones can get much more expensive, and things like that, he said. These things do cost, but principles cost. We have to understand on which side are we?

Landsbergis noted that three weeks prior, during discussions in Germany on banning imports from forced labour-linked supply chains, concerns were raised that Europe could not meet its green objectives if it decoupled.

European nations and the United States have been accused of outsourcing emissions-intensive industries to developing countriesnamely Chinaso they can meet their own net-zero demands.

Meanwhile, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute estimated in early 2020 that around 80,000 Uyghurs in Chinas westernmost Xinjiang province were forced to work in labour supply chains associated with major brands such as Apple, Nike, the Gap, BMW, Samsung, Sony, and Volkswagen.

Beijing-Moscow, Strange Bedfellows

Regarding the Beijing-Moscow axis and its recent joint statement released during the Winter Olympic Games, Landsbergis said he did not believe everything was rosy with the alliance.

For example, if I remember correctly, it doesnt say a word about the security guarantees that (Vladimir) Putin is asking. Im absolutely sure that Putin wanted to have this because hes constantly repeating this every day and in every statement that he makes, the foreign minister said.

Since late 2021, Putin has been calling on Western democratic nations to sign off on security guarantees around the Ukrainian situation.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Landsbergis said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov even sent a letter to every minister in the European Union and NATO asking on an individual basis, What do we think about the security guarantees that Russia is asking for?

So obviously, he asked the same thing from China, but he (Putin) didnt get it, Landsbergis said. There are interesting missing points. I would say they are partners in this because of necessity, not because they really like it.

While the English-language translation of the joint statement saw Moscow reaffirm support for the One China policy, acknowledging that Taiwan was an inalienable part of Chinaan issue Putin had very little interest in, according to Landsbergis. Beijing, in turn, only said it was sympathetic to proposals around binding security guarantees in Europe but stopped short of committing.
Britons Book Half-Term Holidays Abroad as Travel Restrictions Ease

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are set to go abroad for their half-term holidays as the UK relaxed its international travel rules on Friday.

A travel company said it saw bookings comparable to 2019 before the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic started.

Travel association ABTA said families appetite for travel has been ramped up after not being able to do so for nearly two years.

From 4 a.m. Friday, those who are fully vaccinated against the CCP virus are no longer required to take tests before or after travelling to the UK. Adults still have to prove that theyre fully vaccinated, which does not include a booster dose under current rules. Passenger locater forms still have to be filled out.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are no longer required to quarantine, as long as the adults test negative within two days prior to their travel and take a PCR test on or after day 2 of their arrival.

Between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, some 200,000 and 186,000 passengers are set to depart from Londons Stansted and Gatwick airports. Around 90,000 are expected to fly from Luton, 160,000 from Manchester, 55,000 from Bristol, and 17,000 will embark on their journey from East Midlands airport.

According to ABTA members, Turkey, the Canary Islands, Egypt, and Portugal are favourite destinations for short-haul trips, while long-distance destinations such as Dubai, Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are also popular choices.

For those who fancy a ski holiday, resorts in France, Italy, and Switzerland are their first choices.

Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar said more than 125,000 people are booked to travel between the UK and the Continent during the school holiday.

The busiest day will be Friday, when more than 16,000 passengers are booked to travel.

Several services are sold out.

Eurostar Chief Commercial Officer Francois Le Doze said the trend shows the potential for recovery and the appetite for travel between the UK and the Continent.

Andrew Flintham, managing director for TUI UK, said bookings for February half-term and Easter were now comparable to 2019.

The ABTA survey showed that 64 percent of families with children under 16 said limited opportunities to travel due to the pandemic have made their holidays more important to them than before.

The survey also shows holidaymakers are now 30 percent more likely to book from travel professionals50 percent for families with children under 16primarily for the security of a package holiday (43 percent), followed by guidance with COVID-19 travel requirements (35 percent).

UK holidaymakers travelling abroad must still follow the CCP virus regulations that apply at their destination.

Spains requirement for children over 12 to be fully vaccinated led many UK families to cancel plans to visit the Mediterranean country over half-term.

Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, said he hopes other countries will soon catch up with the UKs pragmatic approach.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Canada, Britain Discussing Russia Sanctions If It Invades Ukraine, Says UK Envoy

OTTAWABritains envoy to Canada says the two countries are co-operating on a tough new set of sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine.

Susannah Goshko, the British High Commissioner to Canada, said her countrys passage of new sanctions legislation on Thursday will strengthen its ability to target individuals close to President Vladimir Putin if Russian forces put one toe over the Ukraine border.

We will be ready to go with sanctions, Goshko said in an interview Thursday. This new, enhanced sanctions regime will allow us to put in place really hard-hitting sanctions at that moment. And weve been working really closely with a range of allies on this, including Canada.

Goshko spoke as British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to Brussels and Poland.

In London on Thursday, the British parliament enacted a new sanctions law that targets Russian political figures as well as the powerful oligarchs that are backing Putin.

The British government was billing the new law as its toughest sanctions regime yet because it targets businesses and individuals in key sectors such as information and communication technology, defence, extractives and financial services.

This gives us an ability to go after people, businesses or entities who are of strategic importance to the Kremlin, said Goshko. Theyll be designed to really hit the Kremlin where it hurts and to not inflict damage on the Russian people. We have no beef with the Russian people.

Russias deployment of 100,000 troops on Ukraines borders is stoking fears of invasion, but Russia denies it has any plans to do so.

Goshko said Britain will be sharing details of its meetings with Canadian officials after receiving a full update on the recent travels of Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand to Ukraine and other European capitals.

The British diplomatic forays follow French President Emmanuel Macrons attempt to defuse the tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border with his own meeting with Putin in Moscow on Monday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also held his own talks with Lavrov in Geneva.

Last month, the German and European Union ambassadors to Canada told The Canadian Press that their governments were working closely with Ottawa to co-ordinate the imposition of sanctions that would target the Russian economy and individuals.

Unlike Canada, which has decided not to supply the Ukraine military with lethal weapons, Britain has also supplied light armour anti-tank weapons to the Kyiv government.

Goshko stressed it wasnt her place to tell Canada whether it should follow suit with enhanced military aid.

Canada has been involved in training Ukrainian soldiers as well for some time now. So, theres a lot of things where were working together, and of course theres Canadas enduring commitment to NATO through Operation Reassurance, so theres an awful lot there that Canada is doing.

Canada leads the NATO battlegroup in Latvia, where is has about 600 troops leading and has 200 military trainers in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.

Canada recently announced a three-year extension of its training mission in Ukraine and committed another 60 trainers as part of a military aid package that includes night-vision goggles and armoured vests.

Canada and NATO partners have yet to respond to calls from another eastern European ally, Latvia, for military reinforcements.

Earlier this week, Ottawa warned against any travel to Ukraine and urged all Canadians in the country to leave.

By Mike Blanchfield
Chinas Version of Capitalism Is Dangerous to the Free World

Commentary

Chinas version of capitalism is not capitalism in any form, it is socialism hidden under the guise of state capitalism and led by an authoritarian MarxistLeninist one-party state.

Internationally China is acting in retaliation against the success and freedom of Western markets, and has a unified goal to destroy capitalistic economies from the system within. How is it doing this? By pretending to participate in capitalism while simultaneously playing by its own rules to benefit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) economically and politically.

Historically China was a superpower from the 1st century to the 19th century, but it suffered great defeat in the 19th century as Western markets found success during the first and second industrial revolutions. Prior to reforms, the Chinese economy was largely centered around rural life, state-owned enterprises, central planning, and British-controlled Hong Kong.

In 1978, CCP leader Deng Xiaoping introduced the socialist market economy118 years after the beginning of the second industrial revolutionand China began to implement a series of economic reforms.

The state capitalism we see today in China first began in the 1990s when the CCP began to strategically invest in small- and medium-sized businesses and large corporations. China also began to provide those corporations with government contracts, opportunities for growth in international markets, subsidies, protection from competition, and protection from Chinese antitrust regulation.

The CCP gains influence by providing companies and corporations direct equity investment, cheap loans, access to government contracts and state-backed monopolies. This economic model of state capitalism should really be called CCP party-state capitalism.

Regardless, the issue at hand is that Chinas version of state-capitalism is a direct economic strategy utilized to benefit communism. Despite the fact that other forms of enterprise ownership occur (public-private ownership and purely private ownership), the state undoubtedly has absolute control.

In the fall of 2020, Hong Kong billionaire Jack Ma ran afoul of the CCP. His fintech subsidiary, Ant Group, was scheduled to raise $34 billion, in the process becoming the worlds largest IPO at the time, with a scheduled enterprise value over $300 billion.

Plans fell through soon after Ma was critical of Chinese banks, saying they operated with a pawnshop mentality; Mas comments angered CCP grandees. The IPO was shelved, and Ma disappeared for months. It was reported that CCP leader Xi Jinping shut down the operation personally. Later, Ant was fined over $2 billion and came under investigation. In April 2021, it was reported that Ant would become a financial holding company controlled by Chinas central bank. This is a prime example of CCP control in the public markets. CCP political leaders will not allow challenges to their authority or critiques of their planning. Ant had achieved incredible growth but that growth came from Alibabas partnership with the CCP. As soon as Ma stepped out of line, the operation was shuttered and control was transferred to the CCP. Ma, one of the worlds wealthiest people with an estimated net worth of $30 billion, was essentially silenced by the CCP.

Market Cap as of Feb. 3, 2022, at 3:00pm. (Data from Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Zermatt Research/Data edited and arranged by Chadwick Hagan)

How significant is state capitalism in China?

Jude Blanchette, Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) wrote on Jan. 22, 2021: The problem is daunting. China now has more companies on the Fortune Global 500 list than does the United States (124 versus 121), with nearly 75 percent of these being state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Three of the worlds five largest companies are Chinese (Sinopec Group, State Grid, and China National Petroleum).

On Chinas SOEs, he continued: Chinas largest SOEs hold dominant market positions in many of the most critical and strategic industries, from energy to shipping to rare earths. The combined assets for Chinas 96 largest SOEs total more than $63 trillion, an amount equivalent to nearly 80 percent of global GDP. The size and scale of these entities is partly a function of Chinas massive domestic market, but more important is the fact that SOEs operate in strategic sectors.

The arrangements are not so straightforward and blur the lines significantly in the name of party-state capitalism.

Ian Bremmer from his 2010 book, The End of the Free Market, stated: In this system, governments use various kinds of state-owned companies to manage the exploitation of resources that they consider the states crown jewels and to create and maintain large numbers of jobs. They use select privately owned companies to dominate certain economic sectors. They use so-called sovereign wealth funds to invest their extra cash in ways that maximize the states profits. This is a form of capitalism but one in which the state acts as the dominant economic player and uses markets primarily for political gain.

If the free market economies of the world continue to allow China to use the capital markets for political gain, then there is a clear and present risk to American investors in Chinese securities, and a clear risk to free market corporations of the world that compete with Chinas subsidized industries.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat takes part in a meeting of a conservative research group in Westminster hall in London on April 9, 2019. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Spy Agency Silences UK University Debates: Lawmaker

A Chinese spy agency has managed to silence debates in British universities, a senior Conservative lawmaker has warned.

Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the House of Commons on Feb. 10 that Chinas Ministry of State Security (MSS), the communist regimes main intelligence agency, has been working to erode freedoms in UK university campuses.

Tugendhat said he had spoken to some students the day before, who told him that their debates in their universities were silenced.

They said that people were not willing to speak out or to stand up for what they knew was true, because they would face the pressure of the Ministry of State Security, Chinas enforcement arm, in silencing them in debate here in the UK, said Tugendhat, who is also a co-founder of the China Research Group of Conservative MPs.

University students return for the spring term at Cambridge University in England, on Jan. 13, 2004. (Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)

Tugendhat said the students told him that the interference often comes from a fellow student or from a teacher or lecturer who is connected in some way to the state.

We are seeing the erosion of the liberty of British citizens and of those who have come here seeking that liberty, whichever country they come from, because we are sadly not robust enough in standing up for it, he said.

Tugendhat warned that dictatorships such as China and Russia are trying to undermine democracies, saying: We are seeing an erosion of our own freedoms here in the UK.

He said the UK needs to close down the Confucius Institutes which have been set up in British universities with funding from the Chinese regime, because they are agencies of a hostile state through the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an organ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which specializes in domestic and foreign influence operations.

The senior lawmaker said it is a fundamental role of government to defend the liberty of British people to study and learn ideas of any kind, of any form, in a free environment.

Silencing debate undermines us and erodes freedom. It also erodes our path to the future, he added.

In a debate about Britains relations with Taiwan, Tugendhat said he remains optimistic because he sees Taiwan as an example showing that Chinese society and culture, in different forms, are intrinsically at home with liberty.

He said he sees hope that the CCPs attempts to silence people will eventually fail.

Alicia Kearns is another Conservative member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, and she is also on the steering committee of the China Research Group.

She called Taiwan the living, breathing truth that societies rooted in Chinese culture are capable of developing into free market, democratic, and rules-respecting members of the international community.

It is this truth that explains why the Chinese Communist party fears Taiwan so greatly, because as long as Taiwan exists, the world will know that government need not be defined by control, repression, and even genocide, as we have seen under the Chinese Communist Party, she said.

Kearns said the free world cannot sit back and wait for any tragedies, such as those in Hong Kong, to occur again.

She urged the UK government to work with our allies around the world, to engage with those nations that respect freedom and have the same concerns that we do, to set in place deterrents and diplomacy to protect our Taiwanese friends.
Protesters demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates gather as a truck convoy blocks the highway at the U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alta., Canada, on Feb. 2, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh)

CNN Analyst Backtracks After Calling for Canadian Convoy to Have Tires Slashed

A former Obama administration official who works for CNN hastily backtracked on a Twitter post calling for people to slash the tires of Canadian truckers protesting against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Earlier today, I tweeted something that has been used by others to suggest I was promoting vigilantism. I was not. People have the freedom to protest. Governments have the responsibility to protect public safety. That was what I intended to say, Juliette Kayyem wrote on Twitter Thursday evening.

Earlier on Thursday, Kayyem criticized the truckers and called for them to be stopped. It comes as a group of truckers blocked the U.S.Canada Ambassador Bridge for about five days.

The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a freedom protest, is an economic and security issue now. The Ambassador Bridge link constitutes 28 percent of annual trade movement between US and Canada. Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks, she wrote.

But her Twitter post was quickly derided by other users, including some who claim to be truckers. Some noted that if the trucks gas tanks were drained, it would be difficult to move them. Others remarked that commercial trucks generally have their tires inflated to around 100 PSI, meaning that if someone tried to slash one of the truckers tires, it could lead to significant bodily harm.

Kayyem, who currently works as a national security analyst for CNN, is also a lecturer at Harvards John F. Kennedy School of Government. Previously, she worked in the Obama administrations Department of Homeland Security.

Starting about two weeks ago, thousands of truckers and protesters gathered in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, and have remained stationed downtown and near Parliament in a bid to protest against the countrys COVID-19 vaccine mandates and passports, which are among the strictest in the world.

Starting about a week ago, the protesters started moving to key U.S.Canada crossing points, including the Ambassador Bridge.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has yet to meet with the demonstrators, has faced significant criticism for how hes dealt with the crisis, alleging without evidence that the protesters are racist and misogynistic.

People of Ottawa dont deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods, dont deserve to be confronted with the inherent violence of a swastika flying on a street corner or a confederate flag or the insults and jeers just because theyre wearing a mask. Thats not who Canadians are, Trudeau said Monday during a Parliament speech.

Despite Trudeaus comments, the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan announced recently that they would do away with COVID-19 mandates, including vaccine passports.

The Epoch Times has contacted CNN for comment.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) speaks about his opposition to S. 1, the "For The People Act" in Washington, on June 17, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Communism Is Cancer: Senator Says Americans Must Fight Hard Against Communist Chinas Influence

Communist China is reshaping the world according to its own agenda. And Americans need to act if they dont want their cherished freedoms taken away, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told a panel event in Washington on Feb. 10.

We cannot allow Xis influence to spread, because communism is a cancer, he said, referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. We know what its done in Cuba. We know what it did in Soviet Russia. We see it at work in Venezuela, and now we have people in America saying socialism is goodwe cannot let this spread.

It will kill us, just like it killed one hundred million people in the 20th century.

At the forum at America First Policy Institute, a think tank led by some senior Trump administration officials, the senator made clear that he saw China under the Chinese Communist Party as the greatest threat to world order and Americans livelihoods, an idea that is receiving growing consensus in Washington.

For Scott, the tainted Winter Olympics in Beijing is the latest reminder about the direction the communist regime is heading.

The ceremony that opened the Beijing Games on Feb. 4 featured a smiling Uyghur athlete as a final Olympic torchbearer in a purported show of ethnic unity, again putting Chinas human rights abuses in the global spotlight.

It was a perfect example of the kind of propaganda Communist China is known forthey want to whitewash their crimes, said Scott.

He went on to enumerate a list of Beijings transgressions at home and abroad, including its coverup of the pandemic; suppression of Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong freedoms; its harassment of Taiwan; forcible harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners; trade violations; and militarization in disputed waters. These acts demonstrate that the Chinese leader doesnt want to merely compete on the global stagehe wants to set the terms of debate and isolate the U.S. and our allies, he said.

You look at what theyre doing and you cant help but come to these two conclusions: Communist China has chosen to be our enemy  and we have entered into a new Cold War.

Peoples Liberation Army soldiers rehearse a flag raising drill at the medal plaza in Zhangjiakou Olympic village in Zhangjiakou, China, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Detention Near Olympic Venues

A string of prison camps currently holding prisoners of conscience are situated in Beijing and nearby cities where major Olympic events are taking place, according to an interactive map recently released by Falun Dafa Information Center, a New York-based advocacy group.

One of those imprisoned in these facilities is 65-year-old Ji Yunzhi, who had also previously been detained in labor camps in 2001 and 2008, the year of the Beijing Summer Olympics, merely for persisting in practicing her faith in spiritual discipline Falun Gong. The Chinese Communist Party has brutally persecuted adherents of the faith group for more than two decades.

During her previous detentions, Ji was slapped, beaten, electrocuted, and stabbed with needles reaching her bones, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong. In both instances, she was released on medical parole when her injuries led her to the brink of death.

The recent arrests of Ji and others have again shown Beijings willingness to silence and imprison religious minorities and political dissidents, said Scott in a Feb. 7 statement. Its gross and deserves the scorn of every freedom-loving nation.

Ji is now on a hunger strike at Baarin Left Banner Detention Center in Inner Mongolia, the region neighboring Zhangjiakou city that hosts the majority of the ski and snowboarding events at the Beijing Olympics.

Jis son Simon Zhang, who lives in the United States, said the police had been waiting outside when his father opened the door to throw out some trash. They grabbed dozens of Falun Gong books and took Ji away, he said in an interview with EpochTVs Facts Matter program.

Simon Zhang and his mother Ji Yunzhi during a trip to Hangzhou city in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2012. (Courtesy of Simon Zhang)

It was a great shock to the family because it happened on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Chinas biggest yearly event where families reunite and exchange well wishes, said Zhang.

At the time when the 2008 Summer Olympics convened, Zhang was in his early 20s working in the city of Xian, about 2,000 miles away from his jailed mother. He remembered watching the fabulous opening ceremony, which was like a huge banquet celebrating unity.

But all the while, he couldnt help thinking about what his mother was suffering in the labor camp. Something was wrong with the country, he thought to himself at the time.

She was arrested and tortured, just for her belief in truthfulness, compassion, forbearance, Zhang said, citing the three core principles of Falun Gong. And her willingness to continue to tell the truth even if the government doesnt want her to do so.

She was put into prison to put into a labor camp to be tortured, to be silenced for that fabulous ceremony  that everyone from the world is focusing on.

Zhang spoke fondly of his mother, describing her as warmhearted, active, and well respected for her honesty. He is nonetheless worried about her health, which has deteriorated amid the years of torment. Three months ago, Ji suffered a heart attack and a seizure during another house raid. Police took a lot of cash, worth about 40,000 yuan ($6,200) in total, according to Minghui.

Shes stubborn, because once she thinks something is right, she will not give up.

Roman Balmakov contributed to this report.
Conservative Leadership Hopeful Poilievre Says He Stands With Truckers

In open letter, Poilievre calls on Trudeau to lift all COVID restrictions and 'give Canadians back control of their lives'

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, who recently announced his intention to run for the leadership of his party, reiterated his support for the Freedom Convoy in an interview with Postmedia on Feb. 10.

Im proud of the truckers and I stand with them, Poilievre told columnist Anthony Furey on the Postmedia podcast Full Comment for an episode that will air next week.

The same day, interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said the protesters in Ottawa have been heard and should go home, noting that the Conservative Party will continue to work on having federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions lifted.

It is unclear from the excerpts of Poilievres interview published in the National Post if he agrees with Bergens position. A request for clarification from his office wasnt responded to by publication time.

[Truckers] have reached a breaking point after two years of massive government overreach of a prime minister who insults and degrades anyone who disagrees with his heavy-handed approach, Poilievre told Furey.

But lets be honest, if Canadians are being inconvenienced, or in any way suffering from these protests, it is because Justin Trudeau made these protests happen and his intransigence is keeping the protests going.

Poilievre said Trudeau is using the vaccine mandate put on truckers as a vindictive wedge strategy to divide Canadians and demonize an apparently unpopular minority of unvaccinated people to his own political advantage.

But now its blown up in his face.

So hes gotten himself into an impossible political situation. And unfortunately, the rest of the country is held hostage by his unwillingness to do the right thing, admit he was wrong, and lift these mandates, he added. In an open letter to Trudeau on Feb. 10, Poilievre called on the prime minister to lift all vaccine mandates and COVID restrictions and give Canadians back control of their lives. You have divided the country. You have told Canadians to fear their neighbours. You have destroyed peoples livelihoods on the basis of their personal health choices. These actions are directly to blame for the protests in Ottawa and across Canada, he wrote.

Canadas vaccine mandate for truckers came into effect on Jan. 15, and a U.S. mandate on Jan. 22, hence both countries would need to lift their respective mandates for unvaccinated truckers to be able to resume normal cross-border travel.

U.S. President Joe Biden has faced legal setbacks in imposing vaccine mandates, but it appears there isnt any current legal challenge to the U.S. mandate being imposed on the trucking industry.

The American Trucking Association (ATA) has legally challenged the attempted mandate on businesses with over 100 employees but said before the border mandates came into force that fleets should prepare to comply with the impending requirements.

The Freedom Convoy movement has spread around the world, and there are signs that similar protests are being organized in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told The Epoch Times on Feb. 10 that it is tracking reports of a potential convoy that may be planning to travel to several U.S. cities.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Convictions of Two Women Reversed for Deadly Shooting Outside Church

LOS ANGELESA state appeals court panel on Feb. 10 reversed the murder convictions of two women in connection with a shooting that left one man dead and another person wounded outside a Westlake District church a decade ago.

The three-justice panel from Californias 2nd District Court of Appeal noted in its opinion that the state legislature substantially modified the law relating to accomplice liability for murder and attempted murder while the appeals of Janeth Lopez, now 31, and Ivy Navarrete, now 40, were pending.

The panel ordered the case to be remanded to give the prosecution an opportunity to retry the two on a legally viable theory of murder and attempted murder and to retry the criminal gang enhancement involving the Nov. 4, 2012, killing of Andres Ordonez, while upholding their November 2015 convictions for vandalism.

The two were charged along with Pedro Martinez, who was described in the appellate court panels ruling as the shooter. Martinezs December 2014 convictions on one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder and vandalism were subsequently upheld in 2016, and the California Supreme Court refused the following year to review the case against him.

Authorities said Lopez was spray-painting red graffiti on a church wall when she was confronted by one of the parishioners outside Iglesia Principe de Paz in the 3000 block of West Beverly Boulevard, with Ordonez and another person then coming to the parishioners aid.

Ordonez, 25, was struck in the chest by a shot fired by Martinez, authorities said. Another person was wounded.

An act of vandalismspraying graffiti on a church wallended with one person dead and a second wounded, Presiding Justice Dennis M. Perluss wrote on behalf of the panel in the 29-page ruling.

The appellate court panels opinion noted that Lopez had marked the church wall with spray paint and that Navarrete drove Martinez and Lopez away from the church after the shooting.

A Los Angeles police officer testified that Lopez was a known gang member and that he believed Martinez was a gang member and opined that Navarrete was a gang associate, according to the ruling.

All three defendants were sentenced to potential life prison terms.

Ordonez s widow, the granddaughter of the churchs pastor and three months pregnant at the time of the shooting, was sitting in a car in a nearby parking lot because she wasnt feeling well. She told reporters at the time that she thought her husband was coming out to check on her when he encountered the tagger.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was a city councilman at the time, called the crime perhaps one of the most reprehensible acts Ive seen here in my entire time as a City Council member.
A convoy of vehicles block an intersection near New Zealand's Parliament in Wellington Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Hundreds of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove in convoy to New Zealand's capital on Tuesday and converged outside Parliament as lawmakers reconvened after a summer break. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)

Convoy Protests Against COVID-19 Mandates Continue for Fourth Day in New Zealand

The convoy protest against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate and other pandemic restrictions outside New Zealands parliament building entered its fourth day on Friday, with more vehicles joining in to block streets.

The protest has been met with a heavy-handed response from authorities.

On Thursday, police arrested 120 protesters and charged them with trespassing or obstruction. Police also used pepper spray on protesters twice after officers were pulled into the crowd.

Police said in a statement that a number of vehicles parked illegally on Lambton Quay had been moved overnight, with two protesters arrested for alcohol-related behavior.

Images and videos often do not provide the full context of the protest activity and the situation police staff face. Police will not comment on individual arrests, the police stated.

Police reiterate their request to the protesters to leave the area, as it is closed to the public and anyone remaining on the grounds is trespassing.

Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said in a statement Friday that a range of different causes and motivations among the protesters are making it difficult to resolve the situation with protesters.

Some factions are actively promoting false advice about peoples rights and police powers, which is misleading and factually incorrect. For example, the use of a particular word or phrase by an individual will not impact the arrest of anyone involved in unlawful activity, he said.

Police also raised concerns that protesters would encourage others to bring their children to the protest site to show support.

Parnell said that those arrested and taken into police custody will be required to provide their personal details and let their photograph and fingerprints be taken by the police under the Policing Act 2008.

Earlier today, several staff were noted to be carrying batonsthat was not in line with current approach, and staff have now removed this equipment, he noted, adding that police continue to explore options to resolve the disruption to local businesses.

The protest began Tuesday after more than 1,000 people driving cars and trucks converged on Parliament in convoy inspired by protests in Canada and elsewhere.

Among the protesters grievances is the requirement in New Zealand that certain workers get vaccinated against COVID-19, including teachers, doctors, nurses, police, and military personnel. Many protesters also oppose mask mandatessuch as those in stores and among children over about age 8 in classroomsand champion the idea of more freedom.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen at a branch office in Zurich, on Nov. 03, 2021. (Arnd WIegmann/Reuters)

Credit Suisse Flags Weak 2022, Ends a Torrid Year with $2.2 Billion Quarterly Loss

ZURICHCredit Suisse on Thursday capped a scandal-ridden year with a $2.2 billion quarterly loss and said 2022 earnings would be weighed down by restructuring and compensation costs.

Though Switzerlands second-biggest bank had flagged a large fourth-quarter loss, it was still steeper than expected with analysts pointing to slides in revenue across most of its business segments in addition to hefty legal costs for its investment bank. In contrast, many of its rivals have posted robust results.

Credit Suisse also flagged a decline in adjusted pretax income for the first quarter. The banks shares, which have lost nearly a third of their value since the start of 2020, slid 4 percent in early trade.

We see no reason to recommend bets in Credit Suisse securities, ZKB analyst Michael Kunz said after the results.

Credit Suisses horrendous 2021 was marked by the collapse of $10 billion in supply chain finance funds linked to insolvent British finance firm Greensill and a $5.5 billion trading loss from the implosion of investment fund Archegos.

Net income attributable to shareholders for the year tumbled to a 1.6 billion franc loss which compares with a 2.7 billion franc profit in 2020.

Credit Suisse Chief Executive Thomas Gottstein said the bank was actively working on resolving legacy issues, also noting a goodwill impairment charge relating to its acquisition of U.S. investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) in 2000.

During the last three quarters of the year, we ran the bank with a constrained risk appetite across all divisions as we took decisive actions to strengthen our overall risk and controls foundation and continued our remediation efforts, he said in a statement.

Last years scandals, preceded by an executive spying scandal in 2019, have only been followed by more. It began in 2022 with the abrupt departure last month of its chairman brought in just nine months earlier and has become the first major Swiss bank to be tried in a criminal court, charged with allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros.

Credit Suisse has denied wrongdoing in the Bulgarian money laundering case.

Tasked with reforming the banks freewheeling corporate culture, Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann has said he wants to stick with his predecessors strategy of focusing on wealth management, noting customer business remained excellent at the time of his appointment in January.

During the final quarter of 2021, Credit Suisses investment banking division posted a 2.1 billion-franc pretax loss. The goodwill impairment for DLJ came to $1.7 billion.

Fixed income and sales & trading revenue tumbled 38 percent year on year while equity sales & trading revenues slid 26 percent as a result of the banks exit from prime services announced in November. Capital markets revenue plunged 48 percent, while advisory revenue surged 51 percent.

Credit Suisses flagship international wealth management business saw revenue fall 26 percent. It noted it had seen new net asset outflows of $3.2 billion in its separate Asia Pacific division, which it said were related to wealthy clients deleveraging as well as de-risking measures it had taken.

Across the bank, assets under management rose 7 percent to 1.6 trillion Swiss francs, helped by a pickup in inflows for its asset management business.

The bank maintained its dividend at 0.10 francs per share.

In a surprise move, it said it did not plan to publish an internal report on the Greensill debacle.

The results mark a sharp contrast to cross-town rival UBS in particular, which this month reported its best annual profit since the global financial crisis, emboldening it to hike share buybacks and set more ambitious profit goals.

($1 = 0.9242 Swiss francs)

By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi
Cross-Border Drug Tourism May Be Fueling HIV Spike in Tijuana, UCSD Reports

SAN DIEGOA so-called drug tourism may be fueling a new HIV outbreak in Tijuana, unabated by the COVID-19 closure of the international border, the University of CaliforniaSan Diego School of Medicine researchers announced on Feb. 11 at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infection.

Specifically, the researchers found that the HIV incidence rate among people who use drugs in Tijuana had risen to an unprecedented 11 per 100 person-yearsa statistical time measure that roughly translates to 11% per year. The HIV incidence rate for people using drugs in San Diego who cross the border to purchase drugs was found to be lower, at 2.77 per 100 P-Y, but still high compared to the HIV incidence rate among drug users who do not cross the borderfor whom the HIV incidence rate was zero.

These rising rates occurred during a period when the U.S.-Mexico border was closed to nonessential travel, said Steffanie Strathdee, associate dean of Global Health Sciences, referring to the period between March 2020 and November 2021.

They are fueled by undiminished drug tourismpeople in the United States traveling to Mexico, often for extended periods, to buy and use cheaper, more accessible drugs, Strathdee said. Obviously, viruses dont require passports to spread and walls dont keep out infectious disease. We need to bolster HIV prevention efforts on both sides of the border.

According to researchers, HIV incidence in Tijuana had been stable or decliningin part due to a multimillion-dollar effort by the Global Fund for HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to support safe need and syringe exchange programs in the country and other public health measures; but that funding ended in 2013.

Additionally, some Mexican government funding to community-based organizations providing HIV services to marginalized populations was reduced in 2019.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 diverted more resources away from HIV prevention and treatment efforts, making an already vulnerable population even more vulnerable.

Its important to understand that public health issues like this are binational in nature. Viruses dont stay in one place, and we need to work closely with partners on both sides of the border to find adequate resources, said Gudelia Rangel, co-director of this study and researcher at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and US-Mexico Border Health Commission,

The researchers said the findings underscore the urgency of restoring and expanding efforts such as mobile needle exchange programs and greater access to tailored health services providing antiviral therapies and pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medicine that significantly reduces the chances of HIV infection for persons at high risk.
Nine-year-old Ding Shaonan has supper at Wang Jiayu Orphanage of Sanshilipu Village in Yingshang County of Anhui Province. Village children, left by their migrant parents, are subject to risks. The rape of minors, including boys, is more frequent and the age of victims is getting younger. But the draconian laws allow Communist perpetrators to avoid punishment. (China Photos/Getty Images)

Man Whose Daughter Has Been Missing for 26 Years in China Blames Police for Failing to Take Action

A 14-year old girl went missing from her home in a northeastern port city in China in 1996. Her parents have been searching for her for 26 years but have yet to find her.

On Aug. 15, 1996, Liu Jianping, a junior at No. 17 Middle School of Dalian City, went home for lunch after a rehearsal for a student performance at the upcoming Dalian Fashion Festival.

Liu Peiyi, Jianpings father, left for work at 1 p.m. after lunching with Jianping. He hasnt seen his daughter since.

Liu reported his daughters disappearance to the police the next day after searching for her all night.

The police only filed the case for investigation in 2018, according to Liu in a recent interview with the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times.

Liu has been traveling across the country looking for his daughter, following any traces and leads that he can find. He blames the local police for failing to do their job since Jianpings disappearance.

He said two police officers came to his home after he reported his daughter missing on Aug. 16. They looked around and then left without a word. Now, 26 years have passed, and they still havent given him any update on the case, Liu told The Epoch Times.

He said that he and his neighbors provided leads to the police, including a minivan appearing in the compound at around 4 p.m. on the day his daughter went missing, and a male neighbor who always threatened his daughter. But the police did not question the man nor seek the minivan, which would have been easy to identify as automobiles were quite rare in the area other than public buses, and this one was painted red and white.

Go back home and wait, an officer would tell Liu every time he went to the police station for a progress report on the case. The officers were usually unhappy to see him.

The case was filed as human trafficking in 2018 after Liu went for the third time to the countrys top petition office in Beijing to seek help. He was notified 22 years after his daughter went missing.

Liu Peiyis father found a letter on his window ledge in 1997, one year after his granddaughter went missing.

The letter was written in Jianpings tone, telling her grandpa that she was hospitalized in Manchuria for frostbite of her hand and that shed given birth to a baby, Liu said.

He delivered the letter to the local police and gave them some names of suspects, asking the police to investigate the possible writer of the letter and verify the handwriting.

He told the police that one character in his name was written in traditional Chinese. Junior school students only know how to write simplified Chinese characters, and its not my daughters handwriting, Liu said.

You shouldnt suspect people, is what they have been telling me, Liu recounted; but they havent done any investigation nor have they searched for my daughter.

They just told me to wait. I have been waiting for almost 30 years. Do you think I can wait for another 30 years? Liu asked, adding that his wife is now also nearly 70 and is ill in bed most of the time.

Detained by Police

Liu and his wife lost their jobs as they spent so much time looking for their daughter. There was a time when they couldnt even pay for their fuel bills during freezingly cold winters, Liu told The Epoch Times.

He went to the village office to apply for low-income welfare in 2006, and the village chief told him that he wasnt eligible for the subsistence allowance.

We are freezing and starving. Why do people with private cars and houses get the allowance, but I, with no income, cant? Liu questioned the official, and eventually a quarrel broke out along with some physical contact.

The village chief called 10 security people to his office and they beat me so badly that my back was broken. The village chief sprained his hand when he beat me, Liu said.

Nonetheless, the local police summoned Liu to the police station and asked him to pay $30 to the official, which he refused to do.

The police then detained him for a week and asked him to pay the sum before releasing him.

I had to pay an inmate $5 to borrow his cell phone and call a friend, Liu said. His friend paid the fee to have him released.

He received no medical treatment while in detention.

My wife hates me because I cant find our daughter, Liu said.

I dont want to live at all; but for the sake of my daughter, I must stay alive and continue looking for her.

Petitioning for Help

Recently, a viral video of a mother of eight children, who was shown chained by her neck in a village shack, has prompted an outcry among netizens in China. A netizen called it trafficking, rape, and captivity in an online post. Some contacted Liu and suggested a DNA matching in case the woman was his missing daughter.

Liu intended to go directly to Xuzhou to meet the woman, but local police would not allow him to. Instead, they asked him to take blood for DNA testing.

Liu felt the request was odd because he had been tested several times, and his DNA profile should be in the database.

But the police said impatiently, Isnt that a lot of work [to check the database]? It will be quicker to test your blood now and send your DNA to Xuzhou.

Lius friend told The Epoch Times that the police probably hadnt stored the previous test results in the database and that is why they had to ask him to have his blood retested.

I am worried they might cheat on the test results, Liu told The Epoch Times.

The Epoch Times reached out to the local police bureau but has not had a reply.

Gao Miao and Sophia Lam contributed to the report.
Disproportionate Justice Is a Cancer on the Body Politic

Commentary

Throughout the history of modern nations, most fair-minded people have agreed that equal treatment under the law is a categorical imperative for a just society.

In the traditional Anglo-American justice system, its regarded as cruel and unusual to impose widely different sanctions for similar offenses. For several decades after the U.S. Civil War, ongoing racial inequality weakened the credibility of a justice system that was intended to treat everyone fairly. Other countries have a history of similar disparities with regard to class or religious distinctions.

The subsequent success and global influence of the U.S. civil rights movement did much to discredit the practice of disproportionate justice and to fortify the principle of equality before the law.

Parallel Cases Produce Incongruent Outcomes

For most citizens, returning to an era in which there was one set of rules for aristocrats and another for the common man would be unthinkable.

And yet, this appears to be exactly the direction in which the United States is heading. Disproportionate judgments have become the order of the day. Take, for example, two controversial episodes that came to public attention in 2021. Each case involved a fatal shooting by law enforcement, but the outcomes for the officers were entirely different.

The Michael ByrdAshli Babbitt Case

On Jan. 6, 2021, a U.S. Capital police officer chose to use deadly force during an unruly protest in the U.S. Capitol building.

Disturbing video footage captured the moment when U.S. Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd. The 35-year-old woman was among several supporters of then-President Donald Trump who breached the Capitol to protest the certification of the 2020 presidential election in favor of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Video footage appeared to show several rowdy protesters attempting to break down a door in the halls of the Capitol. Through the doors shattered windows, a lawman could be seen with his handgun raised and trained on the crowd.

Byrd stepped forward and fired a single shot at Babbitt. Other officers, clad in riot gear and toting long guns, came up a flight of stairs and ordered the protesters to back up. One man knelt over Babbitt, attempting to tend to her wound as she died.

Byrds identity wasnt disclosed to the public, and he was summarily cleared of any wrongdoing. He later defended his actions during friendly television interviews, where he was permitted to give his own account of the shooting without serious cross-examination.

Later investigations confirmed that none of the protesters were armed.

She was posing a threat to the United States House of Representatives, Byrd said on NBC.

Byrd said he shot Babbitt as she tried to climb through a broken window into the Speakers Lobby. He said he feared she and others would get into the chamber, where Congress members were hiding after the Capitol was breached.

The Kim PotterDaunte Wright Case

Daunte Wright was a 20-year-old African American man with a record of multiple criminal charges. On April 11, 2021, he was pulled over by Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officers for an expired license tag.

At the time, he had previous charges of first-degree aggravated robbery, fleeing from police, and possession of a handgun without a permit. There was also a warrant out for his arrest on the pending weapons charge.

During the routine traffic stop, Officer Kim Potter and her partner became aware of Wrights outstanding warrant and attempted to place him under arrest. Video footage shows that Wright vigorously resisted. Once out of the vehicle, he pulled away from the officers, jumped back in his car, and attempted to drive off.

During the chaotic struggle that ensued, Potter unwittingly drew her service pistol instead of the Taser she had intended to subdue the suspect with. In the confusion produced by Wrights sudden resistance and attempt to escape, she mistakenly shot him.

The officers account of the tragedy was largely uncontested. Video footage of the incident showed that Potter yelled Taser repeatedly before she shot Wright with her handgun. She then expressed shock and dismay that she had used the wrong weapon. She resigned from the department days later.

Potter was prosecuted to the severest extent imaginable. In the context of the anger still simmering from the wrongful death of George Floyd, she was charged and convicted on two counts of manslaughter.

She has lost her otherwise excellent reputation, forfeited her 26-year career, and has been separated from her family. She will be sentenced later this month.

The Weaponization of Justice

Today, it appears that justice is no longer blind. Byrd was an African American U.S. Capitol Police lieutenant who enjoyed the full support of like-minded federal authorities. Kim Potter was a rank and file, white Minnesota cop who prosecutors threw the book at to appease a Black Lives Matter (BLM) mob that was standing by to unleash mayhem on the MinneapolisSt. Paul metropolitan area if she wasnt convicted.

Byrd was ultimately treated as a hero. On Feb. 18, Potter will appear for sentencing. For some, her so-called privilege alone calls for a lengthy stay in prison.

Justice has been weaponized by an out-of-control political class that doesnt even pretend to respect the law. When Republican outsider Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, he faced more than two years of investigation, carried out by a hostile special prosecution team, looking into implausible Russian collusion allegations.

On the other hand, there has been little interest in documented evidence of actual collusion between Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Wuhan virology lab from which the global COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have originated. As chief public health adviser to Biden, Fauci appears to be untouchable.

When thousands of Antifa and BLM activists disrupted cities, burned businesses and public buildings, looted stores, injured or killed police officers, and laid siege to the White House during the summer of 2020, they were treated with kid gloves by friendly authorities. But when several hundred protesters entered the Capitol building and disrupted the business of Congress for a few hours, Babbitt was shot dead. Other protesters were hunted down, held without bail, and charged with felonies. Selective persecution like this is reminiscent of some of the darkest moments in modern history.

It has become clear that ruling progressives regard themselves as virtually immune from prosecution. The U.S. attorney general is one of their own. For those on the left, the bolder their crime, the less likelihood that it will be punished.

A Cancer on the Body Politic

Over centuries, civil rights reformers have regarded the disproportionate application of the law as an impediment to civic peace and national solidarity.

Like other protections secured by the U.S. Bill of Rights, equal justice is a fundamental requirement for the maintenance of a free society. A justice system that favors the powerful and well-placed over the common citizen is a gateway to permanent tyranny.

Disproportionate justice is a cancer on the body politic. There should be no room for show trials and coordinated media lynchings to silence opponents while brazen crimes committed by powerful people are overlooked.

An unfair justice system depletes U.S. social capital and undercuts the sense of trust thats required to preserve a free society.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Los Angeles County Public Health director Barbara Ferrer speaks at a press conference on COVID-19, in Los Angeles, California, on March 6, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Doctor Calls to Elect LA County Health Director

A medical doctor is calling for more accountability within Los Angeles Countys Department of Public Health, saying its current director has too much power, as she single-handedly enacted COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Houman Hemmati, of Santa Monica, is requesting the countys Board of Supervisors to make the public health director position an elected office, and to create an independent panel of medical doctors to hold the director accountable.

The [county health] department historically has been focused on issues like trying to find rat droppings in restaurant kitchens, not controlling the lives of every citizen, Hemmati told The Epoch Times. Until the pandemic hit and then we realize how much power [the position has].

Current county health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer, who was appointed by the Board in 2017, has been criticized by Angelenos for enacting some of the nations strictest health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ferrer told the board on Feb. 8 she would continue the countys indoor mask mandate for at least a few more weeks, even though the statewide indoor mask mandate will end on Feb. 15.

Ferrer said she will lift the indoor mask mandate on two conditions: first, if county cases reach moderate levels below 730 a day for two consecutive weeks, and second, if two months elapse after the COVID-19 vaccine becomes federally authorized for infants over six months old.

Hemmati said Ferrers conditions have no scientific basis.

We know that kids are the lowest risk group for COVID-19, especially younger kids, he said. The [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] also hasnt [authorized] that vaccine [for infants] and may never authorize it  so basically shes saying when pigs fly.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Countys Department of Public Health did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

During a Feb. 8 supervisors meeting, Ferrer noted that the county remained in the moderate daily case rates for three months last yearthrough the county health department did not remove the mask mandates then.

In situations like these, Ferrer should answer to a panel of medical experts, Hemmati said, adding that Ferrer was likely unprepared to be single-handedly responsible to make such impactful decisions.

The ophthalmologist compared the health directors position to the LA County sheriffs position, which is an elected office.

Somebody who controls armed sheriffs deputies  who has power to kill people and enforce laws  must be accountable to the people, Hemmati said. That same rule needs to apply to the public health director now that we realize how much power that position has.

However, most of the supervisors supported Ferrers decision, including Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

When Im sick, I go to the doctor, not to an elected official, because I want to be treated by a medical expert who follows science. I think most county residents would want the same for themselves and their community, Kuehl told The Epoch Times in a statement.

But Supervisor Kathryn Barger dissented from her peers, expressing frustration with the continued mask restrictions.

The state has public health experts that are also advising the governor, and I believe that the recommendation to lift that mandate is based on public health as well, Barger said. And so I just find it very frustrating that, once again, we are being the most restrictive.

In a Feb. 10 statement sent to The Epoch Times, Barger said she had not yet received a formal letter or request to make the health directors position an elected office, though she said she fully recognizes the frustration that the public feels with our current COVID-19 masking mandates and restrictions.

Barger said having an elected public health director may further politicize the position.

Having an elected public health director  would not necessarily eliminate any perceived bias, Barger said. Id like to point out that there is a system of checks and balances in place. Our public health director consults with an internal team of infectious disease scientists and physicians to develop recommendations, and ultimately is held accountable by the Board of Supervisors. Ive been vocal about my concerns. But, it takes a unified front or at least a Board majority to effect change.

Grassroots organization LA Uprising started a petition on Change.org to fire Ferrer and lift the mask mandate and has gathered over 3,000 signatures so far.

The county currently has a rate of 9,500 cases per dayabout one-fifth of the 44,000 daily cases seen during the peak of the Omicron surge at the beginning of the year. However, the current rate is still six times the December 2021 rate, which averaged 1,600 cases per day.

Spokespersons from Supervisors Hilda Solis, Janice Hahn, Sheila Kuehl, and Holly Mitchell did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
Elizabeth Prelogar testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 14, 2021. (U.S. Senate/Handout via Reuters)

DOJ Grants Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar Five SCOTUS Ethics Waivers Allowing Her to Work on High-Profile Cases

The Justice Department has waived ethics rules to allow Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar to work on a number of high-profile cases before the Supreme Court that could have huge implications for abortion and gun rights laws, according to documents filed with the Office of Government Ethics.

Prelogar, who is the federal governments chief advocate before the Supreme Court, was granted ethics waivers that would allow her to work on five Supreme Court cases involving her former law firm, Cooley LLP, or its clients.

Specifically, the waivers allow her to work on the Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College case, despite her having earlier served as a guest lecturer at the law school.

The case pertains to a nonprofit called Students for Fair Admissions which disagrees with how Harvard uses race to determine which applicants to admit and is seeking to overturn the admissions policy.

Harvard has acknowledged that they use race as a factor in admission decisions, but say that such consideration doesnt violate federal law or the Constitution.

In the Harvard case, Prelogar submitted a brief siding with the University.

The Justice Department said in its Nov. 18 waiver regarding the Harvard College case that Prelogar has unique qualifications to meet the governments needs in this particular matter as a veteran appellate lawyer whose career includes both public and private service.

Prelogar has also received four other authorizations in cases that presented potential appearance issues.

These include Boechler v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, Patel v. Garland, and Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the latter of which has potentially huge implications for abortion.

Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the only remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, asks the Supreme Court to determine whether the states ban on all elective abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy is constitutional.

The abortion ban went into effect in Texas last September and will remain as such for the foreseeable future after a federal appeals court sent a case challenging the ban to the states Supreme Court earlier this month.

Prelogar joined oral arguments in December on behalf of Jackson Womens Health Organization, acting as a friend of the court.

The former partner at Cooley joined the Biden Justice Department in January 2021 as the principal deputy solicitor general. She was confirmed as the U.S. solicitor general in October 2021.

Prior to her being confirmed to her current position, Prelogar served on special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation of Russian alleged meddling in the 2016 election.

According to Protect the Publics Trust, which tracks the Biden administration ethics waivers, ethics responsibilities are an important aspect of public service and such rules regarding ethics ensure public officials are not using their positions of public trust for private gain for themselves or those around them, such as former employers.

They also serve to maintain public confidence that the government is not making decisions arbitrarily or based on inappropriate biases.

But on occasion, public servants are granted waivers from those strict ethics requirements which enable them to work on matters that may involve former employers or others with whom the public servant has a covered relationship; someone with whom they have a close relationship or business relationship or are seeking such.

Michael Chamberlain, a former Trump administration official who leads the group, told Axios, that the DOJ appears to have a strikingly large volume of high-profile cases involving [Prelogars] former employers and clients.

Waivers normally arise because of skills, talents, and experience that are supremely unique, Chamberlain said in an email to the publication. Several of the waivers weve seen recently have been very broad and awarded to attorneys and former lobbyists, two professions of which theres hardly a shortage in D.C.

The Epoch Times has contacted The White House for comment. A spokesperson for the DOJ declined to comment.
In Emotional Video, Edmonton Police Officer Expresses Support for Trucker Protest

Const. Elena Golysheva says sad to see Canadians freedom taken away

A constable with the Edmonton Police Service made an emotional video expressing her support for the Freedom Convoy, while also addressing the Ottawa police officers who are being put in a tight spot in the current protest.

Elena Golysheva, an immigrant who has been a police officer for 17 years, said it saddened her to see the freedom of Canadians eroding by the day.

My heart [has] been broken every day when I saw that the very freedom that I moved to Canada for has been taken away, and people, Canadians who lived here, who were born here, they were not recognizing that, said Golysheva in her video message on Feb. 8.

I fought to come here to have it, and it was very difficult to see it to be taken away.

To the several hundred extra police now massing in Ottawa to soon raid/arrest their fellow Canadians protesting for Charter rights, watch this video. Decide which side of history you are on. The world is watching. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/7qd50yHCEI  Keith Wilson, Q.C. (@ikwilson) February 9, 2022

Golysheva has since been placed on administrative leave, according to a media statement by the Edmonton Police Service on Feb. 15, which said an investigation into the matter is being conducted by the the forces professional standards branch.

The officer, who was wearing her uniform in the video, commended the truckers and their supporters who are currently protesting against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. The protests in Ottawa began on Jan. 29 and have continued ever since.

Thank you truckers, thank you farmers, thank you people with open hearts and clear minds for standing up, she said.

Golysheva also addressed to her counterparts in Ottawa regarding the importance of using their own discretion when they are being put in difficult positions in light of the current protest.

You have been asked a lot right now. Youve been asked to be leaders, and make your decision in a situation that is hard for everyone, she said.

She stressed that in her years of service, she was never told to follow unlawful orders and was always reminded by her supervisors to ask questions if she thinks the orders are unlawful or unsafe, and to make her own decisions on the ground.

I had to make my decision based on my observations and information that I saw, she said. Its like any other investigation, based on thorough collection of facts and evidence and then making your subjective decision based on your experience, your knowledge, the persons history.

She said she knows what decision to take if she is asked to follow an unlawful order.

Im for freedom of choice, for freedom of conscience, for freedom of speech, for freedom of expression, for freedom of communication, she said.

And I am to serve, protect, and to help out you, people in Canada.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in his province on Feb. 11, in response to the trucker protests in Ottawa and Windsor. The premier said any non-compliance to pull away from these locations will incur a hefty fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment. He said his government will provide additional authority to the police to take away the personal and commercial licences of anyone who doesnt comply.

The Ambassador Bridge protest in Windsor ended on Feb. 13.

Andrew Chen contributed to this report.
A firefighter reacts after a pile of bricks falls on him from a window eve as crews work to extinguish the fire in the structure in St. Louis, Mo. on Jan. 13, 2022. (Colter Peterson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File)

Fatal Fires in St. Louis, Baltimore Expose Vacant Home Risks

ST. LOUISThick smoke billowed from the vacant, crumbling St. Louis house, but Benjamin Polson knew homeless people might be inside taking refuge from the January chill.

So the 33-year-old firefighter went in. It cost him his life.

Eleven days later, three Baltimore firefighters died when an abandoned row home collapsed. The same vacant house was the site of another fire seven years earlier that injured three firefighters.

Vacant homes dot the landscape  urban and rural  across the U.S. Theyre far more prone to catch fire, and because the structures are often compromised, they are especially dangerous for firefighters.

Officials in St. Louis and Baltimore are looking at ways to reduce those risks.

St. Louis fire leaders are doing an inventory of every vacant home  all 10,000 of them  with plans to develop a computerized database so firefighters know what theyre getting into. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott directed every department to evaluate how to deal with the citys 15,000 vacant homes.

This is a top priority of my Administration, Scott said in a statement on Jan. 31. Anything less than our very best attempt at solving the problem would be a discredit to the lives of the brave firefighters we lost last week and the residents we serve day in and day out.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 17 million vacant homes nationwide. Many have been abandoned and left to rot, but red tape and a lack of money prevent cities and counties from moving quickly toward demolition.

An excavator is used to pull debris off a building during efforts to retrieve the body of a deceased firefighter caught in the buildings collapse while battling a two-alarm fire in the vacant row home in Baltimore on Jan. 24, 2022. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo/File)

Even in buildings with no utilities, crumbling walls and dangling roofs, homeless people often take shelter, especially in winter. When they make a small fire to cook or stay warm, the blaze can spread.

St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson wasnt surprised that Polson went into the flames on Jan. 13, especially since neighbors alerted first responders that people were potentially inside.

Were there to help people and help them make it each day, Jenkerson said. There wasnt any question.

A 2018 report by the National Fire Protection Association found that U.S. departments responded to an average of more than 30,000 vacant building fires each year. Those fires injure, on average, 3,300 firefighters annually.

Curt Floyd, technical lead for responders at the National Fire Protection Agency and a retired firefighter in Connecticut, said there is no single approach that works best for all departments. But, he said, firefighters are simply wired to save lives.

Its a risk assessment evaluation everybodys going to make, but theres that chance that a life could be in there, Floyd said.

Still, many communities have adopted new policies to protect firefighters.

After an internal study found that 60% of firefighter injuries in Flint, Michigan, were at vacant buildings, the city changed protocols in the mid-2010s. Now, firefighters do not enter homes that have been deemed unfixable and are awaiting demolition unless lives are clearly at risk.

We adopted this policy so we didnt have to have that line at a funeral, Fire Chief Raymond Barton said. It was like, why are we running into these vacant structures, putting our firefighters at risk?

The U.S. Fire Administration, which is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, suggests that communities determine the structural soundness of each vacant building and provide a visual exterior marker.

Worcester, Massachusetts, established a marking system after six firefighters died at an abandoned warehouse in 1999. An X in an exterior box indicates firefighters should not enter a vacant building unless a known life is endangered. A single slash means use extreme caution. An empty box means the building was stable at the time of the marking. Several other cities use similar systems.

In Baltimore, where firefighters Paul Butrim, Kelsey Sadler and Kenny Lacayo died Jan. 24, firefighters decided to go into the vacant home because an adjacent row home was still occupied, Chief Niles R. Ford said. A fourth firefighter was critically injured but survived.

WJZ-TV, citing property records, reported that the home had been vacant 11 years.

On Jan. 31, Scott directed all city departments to conduct 30-day reviews to determine ways to address vacant homes and the dangers they pose. Scott said COVID-19 stimulus money will be used toward the solutions.

St. Louis city firefighters console one another after a firefighter was killed while battling a blaze in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo. on Jan. 13, 2022. (Daniel Shular/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File)

In St. Louis, Polson grew up in a firefighter family. His dad, Jim, spent more than 30 years with the department and retired as a captain.

So despite earning an MBA and a law degree, Polson jumped at the chance when a spot opened in the St. Louis Fire Academy. He joined the department in 2019.

Jenkerson understands. His own father and grandfather were firefighters, too.

For whatever reason it gets ingrained into your psyche, Jenkerson said.

The St. Louis home where Polson died has long sat vacant. Built in 1895, records show the owner lives out of state and has ignored repeated notices.

The city typically demolishes 600 to 700 homes annually at a cost of up to $14,000 per building. Democratic Missouri state Rep. Donna Baringer of St. Louis has proposed a bill aimed at expediting vacant home demolitions in the city.

Meanwhile, Jenkersons department is assessing the structural soundness of every vacant building. By March, he expects to have a database accessible from computers in each fire truck listing every structure as either high risk, medium risk or low risk. Firefighters wont enter high-risk vacant buildings without clear evidence that someone may be inside.

Barton, the Flint fire chief, said the more defensive approach will take some getting used to, just as it did in Flint.

Now its accepted, he said. If its a vacant structure with no exposures, they dont have a problem letting it go.

By Jim Salter
Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Md., on Aug. 29, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

FDA Authorizes Emergency Use for Monoclonal Antibody Drug Amid $720 Million Deal

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday announced it handed down an emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly and Companys bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

The drug is intended for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19, the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in patients aged 12 and older who tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for progression to severe disease, including hospitalization or death.

It also applies to individuals for which alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate, according to an FDA news release.

Bebtelovimab is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19, said the federal drug regulator. Treatment with bebtelovimab has not been studied in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bebtelovimab, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when administered to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 requiring high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

The agency and Eli Lilly said that bebtelovimab works by binding with the CCP virus spike protein that causes COVID-19 and is similar to other monoclonal antibodies that have been approved by the FDA and other drug regulators.

Meanwhile, the drug also appears to work against the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which some researchers have said is more contagious than the initial strain, according to the agency.

COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths through day 29 for those who received bebtelovimab alone or with other monoclonal antibodies were lower than the placebo rate in previous trials of the drug, the FDA and Eli Lilly said.

Todays action makes available another monoclonal antibody that shows activity against omicron, at a time when we are seeking to further increase supply, said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D, director of the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in the release. This authorization is an important step in meeting the need for more tools to treat patients as new variants of the virus continue to emerge.

Eli Lilly, in a statement released on Feb. 10, announced that it came to an agreement with the federal government to supply 600,000 doses of the drug for $720 million.

The supply agreement calls for the delivery of up to 600,000 doses no later than March 31, 2022 with an option of 500,000 additional doses no later than July 31, 2022, according to the company.

The FDA said that potential side effects include itching, rash, nausea, vomiting, and infusion-related reactions.
FDA Postpones Decision on Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Young Children

U.S. drug regulators on Feb. 11 announced they are pushing back a decision on whether to authorize Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 6 months old.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had planned to consult its vaccine advisory committee on Feb. 15 on the jab for young children and could have granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the shot within hours of the meeting. But that plan has changed, based on a preliminary assessment of data Pfizer sent on Feb. 1.

FDA officials now believe that they cannot clear the shot for children aged 6 months to 4 years until they receive data from an ongoing trial examining a three-dose regimen for the age group.

The data that we saw made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose, as in the ongoing trial, in order to make it the term determination that we could proceed with doing an authorization, Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, told reporters on a call.

I think parents can feel reassured that we have set a standard by which we feel that if something does not meet that standard, we cant proceed forward, he added.

Multiple panel members declined interview requests before Fridays announcement. Dr. Eric Rubin, a member who serves as editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, told The Epoch Times in an email that it was difficult to draw any conclusions at this point because members had not seen the data.

Every American aged 5 or older can currently get Pfizers two-dose primary regimen.

The trial testing the regimen on young children, which Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, are running, showed the two doses triggered an adequate immune response for children aged 6 months to 1 year, but did not in children aged 2 to 4, the companies announced in December 2021. They said at the time that they planned to test a three-dose regimen for toddlers.

But the FDA soon after asked the companies to send data over due to concerns about the spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among all age groups driven by the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. Pfizer and BioNTech then, on Feb. 1, requested the EUA for the new youngest age group.

COVID-19 cases, particularly those caused by Omicron, in children rarely lead to severe disease or death, but some parents and health groups have been pressuring the FDA to greenlight the jab for the this new age group, arguing that doing so would help protect the children against infection and hospitalization.

Critics note that the Pfizer vaccine and the two others authorized for use in the United States have gone down in effectiveness against more recent strains, especially Omicron, and that getting toddlers vaccinated is not worth the risk, given the possible side effects.

Pfizer and BioNTech in a joint statement said the companies plan to extend the rolling submission of data for the EUA request.

Given that the study is advancing at a rapid pace, the companies will wait for the three-dose data as Pfizer and BioNTech continue to believe it may provide a higher level of protection in this age group, they said. The extension allows the FDA time to receive updated data on the two and three-dose regimen, conduct a thorough evaluation of it and facilitate a robust, public discussion.

An independent monitoring committee overseeing the study supports continuing it and believes that the data collected to date indicate the vaccine is well tolerated and support a potential three-dose regimen, the companies also said.

The updated data is expected in early April.

Once the next tranches of data come in, we will be looking at them in an expeditious manner, Marks said. The decision could very well be based on actual clinical data as opposed to the immunobridging analysis, or comparison of immune responses among children to immune responses in a set of adults, he agreed.
Fireworks in the shape of the Olympic rings explode above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Li Xin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Gold Medal in Propaganda: Chinas Games Cant Hide Long-Term Decline

Commentary

The Olympic Games in Beijing seem impressive but taking a moment to look at long-term economic trends suggest that Chinas moment might be in the past already.

During the Olympics, the Chinese regime is making it seem like China is the center of the world. It has the luxury of highlighting its grand venues. It has promoted dazzling displays, and paid for good press and influencers to highlight positive stories. Some outlets already proclaim the Olympics as a signal of Xi Jinpings and Chinas readiness.

Yet there are serious problems with how the communist regime treats its own people and how the country acts on the world stage that need to be addressed. Some Western media outlets have correctly highlighted the plight of Uyghurs suffering from the regimes genocidal control, and a Dutch reporter was already manhandled by the authorities on live television.

But the myth of the powerful China and the Olympics as a coming out story could demoralize the American people and their allies into thinking that China is an economic and technological powerhouse. Thus, it is also important to consider long-term trends that suggest China may already be on the decline and its moment of importance is passing.

When I was a kid in the 1980s, everybody was worried about the juggernauts of Japan and Germany overtaking the United States. Like China today, they had rather impressive economies and were the subject of fear mongering articles describing their rise. But both countries face severe demographic crisis. They dont have enough workers to support their aging population. Japan faced a severe economic recession that took it a decade to recover from. Germany is the relative workhorse of Europe but is being dragged down by debt-ridden countries like Greece and Spain.

Then in high school, I first started reading about the rise of China. For literally the last 20 years, Ive seen pictures of a red Chinese flag on the cover of Time magazine with a fearful headline declaring how quickly China will take over the world. But Beijings one-child policy has introduced demographic challenges similar to Germany and Japan, with an aging population and a lack of young workers to support the care of the elderly. This causes immediate problems with recruiting and retention for the military. Many Chinese kids have little emperor syndrome, which results in discipline and physical fitness issues for recruiters. Of course, officials have backtracked and now claim the opposite. In the long term, the imbalance of men to women result in difficulty in finding brides and social dysfunction such as increasing crime rates.

Chinas economic growth remains uneven. For example, China has averaged record growth in GDP since 1979 but still has a significant number of people living in caves. The average net earnings for Chinese citizens remain far lower than their American or even European counterparts. Chinas GDP looks so big because it has so many peoplebut its population growth is falling. So its progress was amazing but didnt touch everybodyand most importantly, it may not continue forever.

A man preparing beans outside his house in a village near the Yellow River in Lankao county, Henan Province, on Sept. 28, 2017. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

In the 2008 recession, China embarked on an unprecedented loan and spending spree that prevented a downturn like the one experienced in America and across the world. But it now has a debt bubble that is larger than the one faced by the United States in 2008. Furthermore, Chinas aging population and stagnant workplace productivity will remain so.

The last time China recorded an economic downturn was in 1976, so it will eventually have to face a correction that will dwarf the U.S. financial crisis of 2008. It will perhaps be a crash or maybe a decade-long recession similar to the one experienced by the much-vaunted Japanese economy. There are signs in smaller cities of the bubble bursting. Beijing is trying to make sure China lands softly by loosening credit, opening up mortgages, and funneling money to bankrupt developersbut the command economy can only do so much.

When the crash does come, it will hit many lower- and middle-class workers who bought expensive properties under the government-promoted belief that they were good investments. That will serve to further lessen the trust in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who seem to get rich while the people suffer. As I discussed, an authoritarian government can command bodies but often alienates the hearts of the people, and the disproportionate impact will have disastrous consequences for the CCP.

A Chinese economic meltdown will have worldwide effects that include foreign-supplied commodities such as iron ore, coking coal, and copper. It will lower the prices of foreign-listed companies that do business in China. The lack of capital gains income will destroy the market for luxury goods in China, consumer spending in general, and the companies that supply those products.

Finally, communist China is a good example of why a command economy is not preferable. That might go without saying, but there are many Americans that seem stifled by the often slow and messy democratic process. While many of the safeguards like the filibuster havent been removed yet, Chinas command-driven bubble is a good example of the dangers of concentrating too much power in the hands of only one faction. That bubble is so big because the people most affected by it didnt have a say in economic policy.

Whatever course the correction takes, it will mean that China will not catch up with the United States within the next 50 years and may already be ready for an inexorable decline. So enjoy the Olympics. But make sure to remember the lies behind the spectacle. The Uyghurs are still being abused, athletes often face speech codes, and this is not Berlin in 1936, more like London in 1946, with a power that looks strong but is far less so when you look closely.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Green Light Cuts Monthly Migraine Days by 60%

People who get migraine headaches may benefit from green light therapy, according to a new study.

The research shows that green light can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches and improve patient quality of life.

Migraine is the third most prevalent illness in the world, affecting 39 million people in the United States and 1 billion worldwide, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

This is the first clinical study to evaluate green light exposure as a potential preventive therapy for patients with migraine, says lead study author Mohab Ibrahim, an associate professor in the University of Arizona College of Medicin-Tucsons anesthesiology, pharmacology, and neurosurgery departments and director of the Chronic Pain Management Clinic.

As a physician, this is really exciting. Now, I have another tool in my toolbox to treat one of the most difficult neurological conditionsmigraine.

Migraine Treatments Remain a Challenge

Overall, green light exposure reduced the number of headache days per month by an average of about 60%. A majority of study participants86% of episodic migraine patients and 63% of chronic migraine patientsreported a more than 50% reduction in headache days per month. Episodic migraine is characterized by up to 14 headache days per month, while chronic migraine is 15 or more headache days per month.

The overall average benefit was statistically significant. Most of the people were extremely happy, Ibrahim says of the participants, who received light strips and instructions to follow while completing the study at home.

One of the ways we measured participant satisfaction was, when we enrolled people, we told them they would have to return the light at the end of the study. But when it came to the end of the study, we offered them the option to keep the light, and 28 out of the 29 decided to keep the light.

Ibrahim and coauthor Amol Patwardhan, have studied the effects of green light exposure for several years. This initial clinical study included 29 people, all of whom experience episodic or chronic migraine and failed multiple traditional therapies, such as oral medications and Botox injections.

Despite recent advances, the treatment of migraine headaches is still a challenge, says Patwardhan, an associate professor and the vice chair of research in the anesthesiology department.

The use of a nonpharmacological therapy such as green light can be of tremendous help to a variety of patients that either do not want to be on medications or do not respond to them. The beauty of this approach is the lack of associated side effects. If at all, it appears to improve sleep and other quality of life measures.

Green Light as a Drug

During the study, patients were exposed to white light for one to two hours a day for 10 weeks. After a two-week break, they were exposed to green light for 10 weeks. They completed regular surveys and questionnaires to track the number of headaches they experienced and the intensity of those headaches, as well as quality of life measurements such as the ability to fall and stay asleep or to perform work.

Using a numeric pain scale of zero to 10, participants noted that green light exposure resulted in a 60% reduction in pain, from 8 to 3.2. Green light therapy also shortened the duration of headaches, and it improved participants ability to fall and stay asleep, perform chores, exercise, and work.

None of the study participants reported any side effects of green light exposure.

In this trial, we treated green light as a drug, Ibrahim says. Its not any green light. It has to be the right intensity, the right frequency, the right exposure time, and the right exposure methods. Just like with medications, there is a sweet spot with light.

Ibrahim says physicians from as far away as Europe, Africa, and Asia have contacted him, asking for the green light parameters and schematic design for their own patients.

As you can imagine, LED light is cheap, he says. Especially in places where resources are not that available and people have to think twice before they spend their money, when you offer something affordable, its a good option to try.

These are great findings, but this is where the story begins, Ibrahim says. As a scientist, I am really interested in how this works because if I understand the mechanism, then I can utilize it for other conditions. I can use it as a tool to manipulate the biological systems to achieve as much as we can.

The paper appears in Cephalalgia. Additional coauthors are from the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a unit of the National Institutes of Health and the University of Arizona funded the work.

This article was originally published by University of Arizona.. Republished via Futurity.org under Creative Commons License 4.0.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 19, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republicans Call for Probe Into GoFundMe Shutting Down Freedom Convoy Fundraiser

GoFundMe accused of attempting to 'defraud hardworking taxpayers'

House Republicans on Feb. 10 urged Democrats to hold a hearing to examine Big Tech silencing after GoFundMe shut down fundraising for the Freedom Convoy campaign by Canadian truckers.

In a letter (pdf), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) accused the for-profit crowdfunding platform of selectively discriminating against certain people by canceling their ability to organize funds through its crowdfunding platform.

We write to request that you hold a hearing to examine yet another incident of Big Tech silencing certain viewpoints in potentially unlawful ways, lawmakers said in the letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).

Scalise and Comer also accused GoFundMe of attempting to defraud hardworking taxpayers of millions of dollars in donations received in support of an organization promoting individual freedom, by trying to divert that money away from them and instead funnel it to other unrelated causes.

More than $8 million had been raised through GoFundMe before the platform said on Feb. 4 it would stop payments and instead send the money to charities.

However, a day later the platform changed course and said it would automatically reimburse the funds to donors.

They only reversed course after investigations were launched by attorneys general in a number of states who exposed this attempted scheme, lawmakers said in their letter.

The Biden administration has since urged Canadas government to use its federal powers to respond to the protests in Canada, which have blocked access points along the countries mutual border this week.

While the protests initially began as a demonstration by truckers in response to a federal vaccine mandate that went into effect on Jan. 15 for truck drivers, they have since gained traction, attracting protestors from all over the country who want COVID-19 mandates and restrictions eased.

Protesters have vowed to stay put until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Multiple media outlets, including CNN and MSNBC, have described the growing protests as amounting to sedition and insurrection.

But the organizers of the Freedom Convoy 2022 have said participants have mostly received the support of local police because they understand that this is a peaceful, family-oriented event where people can bring their kids.

In their letter on Feb. 10, the Republican lawmakers went on to argue that for some in the Big Tech industry, far-left violence is merely speech, while conservative speech is treated as violence.

GoFundMe has not taken similar action against other crowdfunded pages in support of left-leaning protest movements, including those with connections to violence such as bail funds for rioters during the Summer of 2020, they wrote. GoFundMe even permitted support for the Antifa-occupied CHOP zone in Seattle, Washington.

As well as a hearing examining GoFundMes decision to remove the Freedom Convoy 2022 page, the GOP lawmakers also want GoFundMe to provide all documents and communications related to their decision to do so.

Thousands of protesters gathered in a massive Freedom Convoy to protest the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions at Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022, (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Supporters of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in front of Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, Canada, on Jan. 28, 2022. A convoy of truckers started off from Vancouver on Jan. 23, 2022, on its way to protest against the mandate in the capital city of Ottawa. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images)

The GOP lawmakers also want the hearing to look into the platforms policies on diverting donated funds to other causes that it deems credible and established.

We must stand up for American taxpayers by holding Big Tech accountable for its actions and determine if any laws were violated, lawmakers said.

In a separate letter (pdf) to GoFundMe CEOs, lawmakers expressed their concern over the company censoring individuals who they said are peacefully challenging the science and merits of some of these COVID mandates.

The Epoch Times has contacted a GoFundMe spokesperson for comment.

Following GoFundMes announcement that it would redirect the money raised to charities, protest convoy organizers set up the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser on GiveSendGo.

However, the government of the province of Ontario in Canada on Thursday successfully sought a court order to freeze the millions of dollars in funds raised on the platform.

In an apparent response, GiveSendGo wrote on Twitter, Know this! Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo.

All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is The Freedom Convoy campaign.

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, is also investigating GoFundMes decision to seize the donations meant for the trucker convoy.

His probe will determine whether the company violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which prohibits false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.
COVID-19 has claimed more than 1.25 million human lives since December 2019 when the SARS-CoV-2 emerged. It has been demonstrated that obesity is an risk factor for worse outcomes, however it is unclear whether the association of obesity with worse outcomes is sex-specific. The authors of a new article on this issue explores the relationship in this blog.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed more than 1.25 million human lives since December 2019 when the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged. Almost 50 million people have had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection to date, the clinical spectrum of which ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe COVID-19 with critical illness.

It has been demonstrated that obesity is a risk factor for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. However, it remains unclear whether all classes of obesity are associated with worse outcomes or whether this is specific to severe obesity. In addition, it is unclear whether the association of obesity with worse outcomes is sex-specific.

It is unclear whether the association of obesity with worse outcomes is sex-specific.

The pathogenetic mechanisms involved in COVID-19 infection have not been fully elucidated, but it is known that a major cause of disease severity and death is an excessive inflammatory host response to SARS-COV-2 that is associated with high levels of circulating cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Obesity is considered a state of enhanced chronic inflammation. Therefore, predisposition to systemic hyper-inflammation has been hypothesized to be one of the main mechanisms by which obesity leads to worse outcomes in COVID-19.

Our study investigated whether there is an association of obesity in men and women with in-hospital outcomes in 3530 consecutive patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in a tertiary medical center in the Bronx, New York. In addition, our study attempted to assess the role of systemic inflammation using IL-6 levels as a surrogate in the outcomes of obese inpatients with COVID-19.

Our study demonstrated that obesity classes II and III in men and obesity class III in women were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. The male population with severe obesity was the one that mainly drove this association. No significant association between BMI and IL-6 was noted.

Several possible pathogenetic mechanisms have been described through which obesity independently increases the risk for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Severe obesity may adversely affect lung function by directly altering the mechanical properties of the lungs and chest.

Severe obesity may adversely affect lung function by directly altering the mechanical properties of the lungs and chest.

Furthermore, obesity has been shown to be a state of chronic low-grade inflammation due to a poorly understood interplay between adipocytes and immune system cells that results in impaired immune function. Also, obesity is associated with a perturbed intestinal microbiota that otherwise would directly prevent the invasion of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.

Finally, the fact that ACE2 is also expressed in adipose tissue, mainly in visceral fat, suggests that severely obese individuals can host significantly higher viral load leading to local inflammation at the ectopic fat tissue level and making this population more prone to develop severe COVID-19 and this effect may not be easily measurable by measuring systemic cytokine levels.

Particular attention should be paid in protecting the population living with severe obesity from SARS-CoV-2 with priority to vaccination access, remote work, telemedicine, and other measures given the higher risk of adverse outcomes once they are diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, patients with severe obesity diagnosed with COVID-19 should be treated with particular attention given the high risk for worse outcomes.
Steam rises from the cooling tower of the nuclear power plant of Gundremmingen, in Bavaria, Germany, on Dec. 31, 2021. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP)

In Altered Photo from Public TV Network, Nuclear Plant Appears to Issue Black Smoke Instead of Water Vapor

ZDF, one of Germanys public television networks, has released and deleted a modified photograph of a nuclear plant in a Facebook post, sparking mockery and outrage at a time of intense debate over the low-emission power sources future during a worldwide push for decarbonization.

Like the BBC in the United Kingdom, ZDF is funded in part by compulsory television license fees. Every German household must pay those fees regardless of whether they own a TV, though the fees can be reduced in some cases.

The original photograph shows two cooling towers issuing white water vapor. The altered photo, which accompanied a ZDF heute Facebook post, depicts what looks like a black cloud of smoke around the towers. The photograph for that post has since been changed.

In a follow-up post on the same Facebook thread, ZDF claimed the smoky shade was produced by a dark Photoshop layer in order to make the text on it easier to read.

The Epoch Times has reached out to ZDF for comment.

Writing at No Tricks Zone, Pierre Gosselin expressed skepticism about ZDFs official explanation for its manipulation of media.

Nuclear power is hated and viewed as evil by the German media, so any possible trick to make it look bad gets the green light, he wrote.

Ich konnte es zuerst nicht glauben, aber es stimmt. [I couldnt believe it at first, but its true], said Bild columnist Julian Ropcke in a Tweet about the photograph.

The controversy comes in the midst of heated debate over nuclear power in Germany and the EU more broadly.

Germany plans to close the last three of its nuclear plants by the end of this year, completing the phaseout it initiated under Chancellor Angela Merkel after the Fukushima meltdown.

The larger EU, however, has chosen a different path. In early February, it released an act affirming that natural gas and nuclear power have a place in the EU Taxonomy, a key classification scheme for labeling certain investments as environmentally sustainable.

The Taxonomy classification does not determine whether a certain technology will or will not be part of Member State energy mixes. The objective is to step up the transition, by drawing on all possible solutions to help us reach our climate goals.

Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, the Commission considers that there is a role for private investment in gas and nuclear activities in the transition, stated an EU press release on the Act.

The EUs move has met with resistance from the German government. After a draft plan from the commission was released several weeks ago, a government spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, told reporters that We consider nuclear technology to be dangerous.

The move has also been criticized by the Club of Rome, a group known for its focus on environmental degradation and overpopulation.

The moves to label natural gas and nuclear as green, in as far as being transitional activities, is completely misleading, said Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, co-president of the Club of Rome and member of the European Commissions Platform on Sustainable Finance, in response to the draft plan.

She cited a report from the EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, which did not recommend the inclusion of nuclear power in the Taxonomy because of uncertainty about potential harms. That report emphasized the lack of an international consensus or an existing repository for high-level waste (the waste generated when spent nuclear fuel is reprocessed).

She attributed the push to include nuclear to France, which is heavily reliant on that power source.

Other high-profile environmental organizations have expressed more friendliness to nuclear power. The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Nature Conservancy are among the groups that have embraced the energy source to some degree, in large part because it produces very little carbon dioxide relative to fossil fuels.
Indonesia Signs Deal With France to Acquire 42 Rafale Warplanes

Indonesia inked an $8.1 billion deal with France on Thursday to acquire 42 Rafale fighter jets, Frances defense ministry said, as Paris seeks to bolster military ties in the Indo-Pacific region after losing a submarine deal with Australia last year.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced the deal on Twitter during her visit to Indonesia on Thursday, stating that it will benefit from the deepening of our defense relations.

France is proud to contribute to the modernization of the armed forces of our partner, which plays a key role within ASEAN and in the Indo-Pacific, Parly said.

Indonesia is the second country in the region to acquire the Rafale alongside India.

Six Rafale fighter jets will be delivered to Indonesia in the first phase of the deal, with the remaining 36 delivered later this year or next year, according to a French defense ministry official.

The agreement will make Indonesia Frances largest military procurement client in Southeast Asia, which is currently ranked second after Singapore.

I hope that defense partnerships arent just focused on munition purchases, but also keeping in mind the development and joint production, technological transfer, and investment in defense industries, Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters.

Parly said that Indonesia is also partnering with France on the development of submarines, which is expected to culminate in an order for two French-built Scorpene vessels.

France lost a multibillion-dollar submarine deal with Australia last year, following the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdomnamely the AUKUS pactunder which the two countries will help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines.

France called the cancellation of the dealvalued at $40 billion in 2016a stab in the back and recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia.

When asked if the developments surrounding the AUKUS alliance and the failed Australian submarine deal influenced negotiations with Indonesia, the French defense ministry official responded, I dont think so, neither in one way nor the other. [Reuters]

We have an Indo-Pacific strategy, we have the determination to maintain our defense industry and thus to export, the official said.

Indonesia had previously expressed concern over the AUKUS pact and emphasized the importance of Australias commitment to continue meeting all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, urging Australia and other relevant parties to advance in a dialogue.

Indonesia calls on Australia to maintain its commitment towards regional peace, stability, and security in accordance with the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement last September.

Reuters contributed to this report.
New U.S. Ambassador in a meeting in Tokyo, on Feb. 1, 2022. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan to Divert LNG to Europe Amid Worries over Ukraine

TOKYOJapan has decided to divert some of its gas reserves to Europe amid growing concern over possible disruptions of supplies due to the Ukraine crisis, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda said Wednesday.

The decision was made at the request of the United States and European Union and is intended to help European countries cope with uncertainties about gas supplies given fears of a possible Russian incursion into Ukraine, he said after meeting with U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, who arrived in Japan in late January.

Emanuel welcomed Japans offer.

Japans assistance to Europe is an example of how President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida are working closely together with like-minded partners to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine, and uphold our shared values, Emanuel said in a statement.

Russia is the third-largest oil producer after the United States and Saudi Arabia and the source of about 40 percent of the natural gas used in Europe. With gas and oil prices already high, any move to cut the flow of energy could be painful to Europe.

The United States and European allies have pledged economic and political sanctions if Russia moves its military into Ukraine, but worry about potential repercussions such as the possibility of Russia halting its natural gas supplies to Europe in the middle of the winter.

The United States and European officials have been coordinating with natural gas suppliers around the world to cushion the impact in case Russia cuts off natural gas supplies over the Ukraine conflict.

With some 100,000 Russian troops massed at the Ukraine border, experts say Qatarthe worlds second-biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, or LNGis eager to help again but might only be able to offer limited assistance.

Japan is a major importer of LNG. Hagiuda said it is contributing its excess supply after securing enough for its domestic needs for the coldest month of February.

Our country also faces a difficult situation with LNG for February, Hagiuda said. But he added that In light of requests from the U.S. Ambassador to Japan Emanuel, and given the severe gas shortage situation in Europe . . . we have decided to cooperate, on the premise that stable supply to Japan is secured.

Hagiuda also met, separately, with EU ambassador to Japan Patricia Flor on Wednesday.

The exact amount of LNG to be diverted was not disclosed. Government officials have been negotiating with Japanese gas companies about the plan, he said.

During his talks with Emanuel, Hagiuda also noted the importance of further deepening and expanding broad and inclusive economic cooperation between Japan and the United States and across the Indo-Pacific region.

By Mari Yamaguchi
Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on the anniversary of the Capitol breach, on Jan. 6, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

Judge Upbraids Prosecutors Who Offered False Information about Location of Kamala Harris on Jan. 6

Federal prosecutors who falsely said then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were scolded by a federal judge on Feb. 10.

The government claiming Harris was in the building despite previously admitting she was not suggests a certain lack of attention and care in the prosecution of this case, undermining any confidence the Court can have in the Governments representations, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, wrote in an order.

Prosecutors claimed that both Harris and the vice president at the time, Mike Pence, were present at the Capitol on Jan. 6 while asking McFadden to limit cross-examination of Secret Service agents who were protecting Pence that day. They also listed the wrong year for when the Capitol breach occurred.

The superseding indictment against Nicholas Rodean, the defendant, references the presence of the Vice President and Vice President-elect, who were protected by the U.S. Secret Service, at the Capitol on January 6, 2022, prosecutors wrote.

Limiting cross-examination of the agents is needed because the very nature of the Secret Services role in protecting its protectees implicates sensitive information related to that agencys ability to protect high-ranking members of the Executive branch and, by extension, national security, they added.

McFadden was displeased about the filing, which came several months after at least two federal prosecutors admitted that Harris was not present in the U.S. Capitol at the time of the breach.

The Government has a problem. The superseding indictment says that then Vice President-elect Harris was at the Capitol when Rodean entered it. She was not, the judge said in his 3-page order.

News outlets reported this mere days after January 6. And recognizing that fact, the Government has, in other cases, filed a superseding indictment to correct its error, he wrote. Yet here, over a year after first charging Rodean under  1752(a) and nearly a year after misleading the grand jury about the whereabouts of the Vice President-elect, the Government has still not explained or remedied its mistake. The Government compounds this error by repeatedly referring to the presence of the Vice President-elect in the Capitol in its motion in limine.

Because of the misleading charges, McFadden rejected the governments attempt to limit cross-examination of the Secret Service agents.

Susan Lehr, the assistant U.S. attorney who submitted the motion containing erroneous information, did not respond to a request for comment.

Charles Burnham, a lawyer representing Rodean, declined to comment.

Prosecutors have shed little light on why they initially claimed Harris was in the Capitol when it was breached.

Superseding indictments in cases against two other defendants, Christian Secor and Matthew Council, did not mention Harris after she was listed in indictments as part of a charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter told the court during the sentencing of Eric Torrens, another defendant, in late 2021 that the government had recently learned Harris was not in the Capitol when the building was breached, according to Politico.

Nicholas Smith, a defense attorney for some of the Jan. 6 defendants, told the outlet that Harris not being in the Capitol raises questions about when, exactly, Pence left the building.

This might turn on where Pence wenta question [the government] is trying to preclude cross-examination on, Smith said. If Pence was in a garage under the Capitol, [the government] has a strong argument thats still the building. However, reporting also suggests Pence went right to the underground tunnels. The next question becomes are those tunnels still Capitol grounds even if not the building?
LA Residents Have Complete Lack of Faith in Government to Handle Homelessness: Survey

LOS ANGELESNearly every Los Angeles resident encounters homelessness on a day-to-day basis. Encampments line neighborhoods, parks, and outside of businesses. The fire department said 54 percent of fires reported in Los Angeles were started in homeless encampments last summer. And residents are fed up, according to a new survey.

LA residents say they dont trust city and county officials to adequately address the spiraling homelessness crisis plaguing the streets, according to the survey (pdf) published Feb. 10 by a nonpartisan coalition of civic leaders and community members.

Unless we stop the drugs, homelessness isnt going anywhere. [Ninety] percent is drugs, one Latino voter said, according to the survey.

An African American voter told pollsters: People are taking advantage of no bail. Theyre doing the crime, getting arrested, then doing it again.

The survey, conducted in December 2021, presents responses from a series of focus groups put together by the Committee for Greater LA and orchestrated by David Binder Research. The committee said the purpose of the study was to gauge voters knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the issue of homelessness, including existing policies, and accountability.

The results of the focus group paint a grim picture of LA residents level of trust in city and county officials. Residents said they dont see any accountability from elected officials on how their taxes are being spent toward reducing homelessness, no consistent plan across city districts, and no successful tactics on how best to deal with the homeless.

A homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 8, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Residents sensed that elected officials are content to manage the problem and not solve it, the results said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti allocated $1 billion for the 202122 fiscal year to address it. Currently, officials utilize an array of different supportive housing methods including Tiny Home villages, interim housing units, and repurposing properties to name a few.

Residents chunked homeless individuals into four categories:

 Those with serious mental health issues

 Those with drug addiction issues

 Those who are otherwise healthy and capable of work but prefer to live outside

 Those who have simply fallen on hard times due to the economy

Residents also said Angelenos have become too lenient and coupled homelessness with recent progressive criminal justice reform measures the city has adopted, rolling back on some tough-on-crime approaches, such as limiting the hours that encampments are allowed up in public spaces.

Homelessness is essentially everywhere, longtime policy expert Darry Sragow said during a committee webinar discussing the results on Feb. 10. And to say that voters are frustrated by the problem is a gross understatement.

The pollsters discovered that the groups interviewed are decently informed on local politics impacting the progress of helping the homeless, and they expressed frustration over the failures of Proposition HHHa $1.2 billion bond passed by voters in 2016 to build 10,000 permanently supportive housing units for the homeless.

The citys independent auditor Ron Galperin discovered this time last year that only 489 units had been built. Since Proposition HHH passed, homelessness has grown 45 percent.

The plan is HHH, but were 5 years in and it hasnt made a difference. Youve got to follow the money and hold people accountable. Its just the red tape and whos taking, whos skimming, an African American voter said, according to the survey.

Findings of the report show that across each focus group, residents are frustrated that the commitments made through their tax dollars havent significantly reduced homelessness. Instead, they see more homelessness popping up in their neighborhoods.

Contrary to many of the ambitious goals to end homelessness that officials have laid out over the past few yearsthe problem has worsened. Los Angeles saw a 20 percent increase in homelessness from 2017 to 2020.

It is estimated that more than 66,000 homeless people live on the streets countywide; meanwhile, 41,000 of that number are in the city of Los Angeles alone. The next homeless count takes place Feb. 2224.

Voters do not have the expectation that we are suddenly somehow going to eradicate homelessness in Los Angeles, Sragow said. Again, uniformly, they see this as a problem that is going to be around for a long time, and what theyre looking for is a realistic plan with clear measures and goals and a system of accountability to measure whether or not those goals are being met.

Homeless individuals live out of cars and R.Vs in Los Angeles on Jan. 20, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Angelenos want an independent, centralized, nongovernment entity overseeing all efforts to address homelessness, the survey found. Generally, LA residents trust nonprofits ability to address the crisis more than city and county leaders.

I like it, because I think the issue is less creating a larger pot of money than it is about being more exacting about how thats spent and then having accountability, one millennial voter said of the proposal.

Though sentiments regarding residents attitudes toward enforcing anti-camping policies are not displayed in the survey, Sragow told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that government efforts to move homeless encampments and individuals off the streets was discussed at length.

There is no question that the encampments were of concern, he said.

He added that residents in the groups want streets cleared of homeless individuals, but they also expressed empathy for their circumstances and want them to be placed in housing and not pushed from one part of town to another.

As the filing deadline for LA city candidates to submit their paperwork approaches this weekend, homelessness remains a top issue in the minds of LA residents.

The Committee for Greater LA said they sent the results of the survey to elected officials as well as candidates urging them to recognize the valid frustration Angelenos have on the issue of homelessness and to be open to the solutions proposed rather than considering a unilateral approach.

A similar study, conducted by the Los Angeles Times in conjunction with the Los Angeles Business Council, found that 94 percent of residents considered homelessness a very serious issue in December 2021. For that study, 906 eligible LA voters were interviewed.

A key difference between the two studies is residents attitudes toward another tax measure toward reducing homelessness. Individuals in the committees focus group had a negative view of throwing more taxes at the problem, whereas the business councils survey found most residents would find another tax increase favorable if it seemed promising.

There is an absolute total completewithout exceptionlack of faith in city and county government to address homelessness, Sragow said. In all the years Ive watched focus groups in the hundreds, [Ive] been doing this for decades, never have I seen this kind of consistency in focus group results.
First responders work together in extinguishing the flames of a wildfire near the Irvine Cove neighborhood in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022.(John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Laguna Beach Lifts Emerald Fire Evacuation Orders, Residents Asked to Stay Vigilant

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.City officials lifted evacuation orders at 3 p.m. Thursday, hours after a brush fire broke out in the hills of Laguna Beach.

We are so proud of our City team for the way they activated the Emergency Operations Center so quickly. [The City manager] and I personally watched them in action at 5 a.m. this morning, Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf said in a statement.

Orange County Fire Authority said they have contained an estimated 20 percent of the 145-acre Emerald Fire and reported no significant threats or structural loss to the region as of Thursday at 5 p.m.

However, Laguna Beach Fire Department Chief Mike Garcia advised the community to stay vigilant while the heat is high, the wind continues to blow, and the fire is still active in the back country.

Just because they lifted evacuation orders, doesnt mean its completely safe, Garcia said at a press conference. If you packed up and were ready to leave, lets stay vigilant, not unpack yet, and stay prepared.

First responders work together in extinguising the flames of a wildfire buring in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

At around 4:10 a.m. on Thursday, reports of flames erupted on the thick, dry brush hillsides amidst the Santa Ana winds.

Approximately 375 firefighters, ten strike teams, four hand crews, and five helicopters from the Orange County Fire Authority, Laguna Beach Fire Department, and Los Angeles County Fire Department were deployed in response to the fire.

The massive hillside blaze forced the cancellation of classes Thursday at all schools in the Laguna Beach Unified School DistrictEl Morro Elementary School, Top of the World Elementary, Thurston Middle School, and Laguna Beach High School.

Law enforcement personnel from the Orange County Sheriffs Department and the California Highway Patrol secured the area, closing a portion of Pacific Coast Highway for a few hours.

It has since reopened in both directions.

First responders work together in extinguishing the flames of a wildfire near the Irvine Cove neighborhood in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022.(John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Diane Mello, a Laguna Beach resident, said she and her husband woke up around 5:30 a.m. to the smell of smoke and an immediate evacuation order alert issued by the City of Laguna Beach.

We immediately started throwing valuables and pictures in our car, Mello told The Epoch Times.

Meanwhile, she said her husband, Kevin, sprayed down the roof for the next two hours.

My wife looked me in the eye and told me were going to lose everything, Kevin Mello told The Epoch Times. Grab what you dont want to lose because youre never going to any of this again.

Although that was a little over the top, he said.

Despite authorities evacuating their neighbors, he continued spraying down the house until they forced them to leave.

We knew if it was [a] brush [fire], the embers probably wouldnt be big enough to catch all the houses, he said. But if a house goes up in flames with huge embers, we would have bolted.

First responders work together in extinguising the flames of a wildfire buring in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Like many of the residents in the area, the Mellos stay on high alert year-round by clearing surrounding foliage, installing rooftop water spigots, and a generator for powerwhich Southern California Edison cut the power and await permission from the Incident Command Post before re-energizing power lines.

Laguna Beach Fire and Police will be patrolling overnight and through the weekend to watch for hot spots in the impacted areas.

A fire truly has no boundaries, and we all need to work together in situations like this. While this fire affected two gated neighborhoodsone in Laguna Beach and one in unincorporated Orange County, we will all work together to do everything we can to protect everyone and keep the fire from spreading, Laguna Beach City Manager Shohreh Dupuis said in a statement.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A Fox News channel sign is seen at the News Corporation building in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on June 15, 2018. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Longtime Fox News Correspondent Jim Angle Dies at 75: Network

Jim Angle, a longtime correspondent for Fox News, died at age 75, the broadcaster confirmed on Friday.

Jim was a FOX News original and a top Washington correspondent whose talent and fearless reporting was unmatched. He was a central figure to establishing our Washington bureau in 1996 and was beloved across the entire network for his down-to-earth easygoing demeanor, his kindness, and a smile that was ever-present. He will be greatly missed, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his entire family, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement.

Angle joined the channel when it launched in 1996 as a White House correspondent and appeared nightly on Special Report with Brit Hume. Before joining Fox, he worked for CNN, ABC News, and NPR.

I covered 4 Presidents and it was a thrill. I saw the Cold War come to an end, and the Berlin wall come down, which was particularly touching for me since I had given tours of it while stationed in Berlin in the Army, Angle wrote in a farewell memo as reported by Fox. Angle retired from the channel in 2014.

Angles cause of death was not disclosed. He died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, the outlet said.

He did a great job. Jim understood what we meant by fair and balanced news as well as anybody, Hume said in reference to his death. He was very, very fair-minded but never dull. When he retired I missed him, and Ill always miss him.

Other details about his death were not provided.
French scientist Luc Montagnier poses in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Oct. 8, 2008. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Luc Montagnier, Virologist Who Discovered HIV and Critic of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates, Dies at 89

Luc Montagnier, a Nobel Prize-winning virologist who discovered HIV and a critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, has died at the age of 89.

The professor died at the American Hospital of Paris, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, surrounded by his children, reported French outlet FranceSoir on Feb. 9. The death was later confirmed by the areas city hall. No information about the cause of death was released.

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute in a written statement on Feb. 10 to Montagniers major contribution to the fight against AIDS and expressed condolences to his family.

Montagnier is best known for having been awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for having discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1983. Montagnier shares half of the award with colleague Francoise Barre-Sinoussithe two led a working group at the Pasteur Institute in Paris that isolated the virus.

The other half of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to German cancer researcher Harald zur Hausen for having discovered the role of papilloma viruses.

American scientist Robert Gallo had claimed to have found the same virus at almost exactly the same time as Montagnier, sparking a disagreement over who should get the credit. The two scientists ultimately agreed in 1987 that Montagnier had isolated the virus, while Gallo had established HIVs link to AIDS and had created the first HIV blood test.

HIV attacks the bodys immune system and can, but not always, lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not treated. AIDS treatments became widely available in 1997, enabling HIV patients to live near-normal lives.

Montagnier was born in 1932 in France and studied medicine in Poitiers and Paris. He gained a Ph.D. in virology at the University of Paris. In 1960, he joined the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), one of Europes largest scientific agencies, where he served as director of research from 1974 to 1998. In 1972, Montagnier joined the Pasteur Institute and became the founding director of its viral oncology department until 2000.

Throughout his career, he worked in a variety of research and teaching positions at the Pasteur Institute, the CNRS, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, and the Queens College in New York.

Prior to the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Montagnier had made significant discoveries concerning the nature of viruses and contributed to the understanding of how viruses can alter the genetic information of host organisms. His investigation of interferon, one of the bodys defenses against viruses, also opened avenues for medical cures for viral diseases.

In 1993, he became the President of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, which he founded with Federico Mayor, former General Director of UNESCO, in the same year.

Montagnier was a recipient of dozens of awards, including Frances highest decoration, the Legion of Honor. He also had 13 honorary doctorate degrees.

Opposition to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Over the past two years, Montagnier made headlines over his various statements regarding COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccines.

In April 2020, the prominent virologist said that the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, appeared to be man-made as a part of HIV vaccine research, and appeared to have accidentally escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan.

In a separate interview the same month with French news channel CNews, he said that sequences of HIV were found in the virus, citing a since-retracted paper by Indian scientists in January 2020 that had not been peer-reviewed. The paper garnered controversy, with some experts saying the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence has no HIV-1 sequences.

Months later, in May 2021, Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee issued a report that stated, There is overwhelming circumstantial evidence  to support a lab leak as the origination of COVID-19. By July 2021, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said was premature to rule out the possibility that the virus could have emerged from a lab in Wuhan, China, without sufficient evidence.

In May 2021, prior to the emergence of the Delta variant, Montagnier expressed his concerns over sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandates that were being imposed in many countries and in various industries around the world.

When asked about his views toward mass vaccination against COVID-19 compared to other treatments, Montagnier said at the time, according to a translation provided by the RAIR Foundation USA: Its an enormous mistake, isnt it? A scientific error as well as a medical error. It is an unacceptable mistake. The history books will show that, because it is the vaccination that is creating the variants.

For the China virus, there are antibodies created by the vaccine. What does the virus do? Does it die or find another solution? he continued. The new variants are a production and result from the vaccination. You see it in each country, its the same: the curve of vaccination is followed by the curve of deaths.

Im following this closely and I am doing experiments at the Institute with patients who became sick with Corona after being vaccinated. I will show you that they are creating the variants that are resistant to the vaccine.

In an opinion piece Montagnier co-authored with former Yale law professor Jed Rubenfeld, published in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 9, the two wrote that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have prevented infections by the Omicron variant, and as such, it would be irrational, legally indefensible and contrary to the public interest for the U.S. government to mandate the shots.

[M]andating a vaccine to stop the spread of a disease requires evidence that the vaccines will prevent infection or transmission (rather than efficacy against severe outcomes like hospitalization or death), they wrote.

They also said that the little data we have suggest that the mRNA-based vaccines do not prevent transmission, pointing to a preprint study that found that vaccines from companies Pfizer and Moderna no longer had any statistically significant positive effect against Omicron infection after 30 days, and the effect went negative after 90 days, which meant vaccinated people were more susceptible to Omicron infection by then.

In January 2022, Montagnier delivered a speech at a protest against vaccine certificates in Milan, Italy.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Man Found Guilty of Murdering Stepdaughter, 18, in 2015

NORFOLK, Va.A Virginia man has been convicted of murdering his 18-year-old stepdaughter and hiding her body behind an abandoned house nearly seven years ago.

Prosecutors said Wesley Hadsell, 43, had kidnapped Anjelica A.J. Hadsell, assaulted her and then injected her with a lethal dose of heroin, The Virginian-Pilot reported. A Southampton County Circuit Court jury on Monday found the Norfolk man guilty of first-degree murder and concealing a dead body.

A.J. Hadsell was spending her spring break from Longwood University at her familys home in Norfolk when she disappeared in March 2015. Officials didnt locate her body until five weeks later when they found it partially buried in a drainage ditch behind an abandoned house in Southampton County, near the North Carolina border.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, a medical examiner determined that she died from acute heroin poisoning and homicidal violence. She had three times the lethal dose of heroin in her system and her eyes and chin had been bruised.

It took the jury 40 minutes to come to a verdict. Hadsell faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced April 4.

Hadsell wasnt charged for the murder until 2018. His first trial in 2020 was declared a mistrial after two days over a disagreement on what evidence the jury should be allowed to hear.

Prosecutors said that shortly before A.J. Hadsell disappeared, Wesley Hadsell had been kicked out of the house by his wife because of his drug use. Investigators said Wesley Hadsell kidnapped his stepdaughter while she was folding laundry and listening to music in the living room.

Prosecutors believe he abducted his stepdaughter to sexually assault her and that she wasnt killed until the next day. Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Toni Colvin said a line of bruises found across her chest were consistent with someone holding an arm across her chest and bruising on her chin likely was caused by someone holding it tightly in their hands.

He abused her, he beat her and then he poisoned her with heroin, Colvin told jurors, according to the newspaper.

Hadsell then tried to distract police by lying and planting evidence in various places, including planting one of her jackets at her friends home, prosecutors said. Hadsell had previously admitted to breaking into the home during an interview with a local TV station but denied hiding the jacket there.

Defense attorney James Ellenson argued that A.J. Hadsell had killed herself by an overdose of medication she was taking for migraines. Ellenson claimed that she was depressed about her relationship with her boyfriend and had been downloading images with captions related to suicide in the days leading up to her disappearance.

Wesley Hadsell declined to testify in his defense.

A.J. Hadsells mother, Jennifer Wright, testified that her daughter had been happy. She described her ex-husbands behavior in the days surrounding her daughters disappearance as erratic.

It was very odd, she said. He was always coming and going. Just acting on edge a lot.

Norfolk police found heroin hidden in a motel room where Wesley Hadsell was staying after he was kicked out by his wife.

Hadsells drug dealer testified that he sold heroin to Hadsell the day after A.J. was reported missing.

Authorities also found a shovel and duct tape in the back of Hadsells work van.

A GPS unit in the van led police to the abandoned house where A.J. Hadsells body was found. The GPS showed that the van had traveled there from Norfolk two days after she went missing. Cellphone data for Wesley and A.J. Hadsell also showed the two in the same place the day after she disappeared.

There was no reason for the defendant to be there, Colvin said.
A Maryland police officer is being credited with saving a middle school student from being hit by a car, officials say.

Corporal Annette Goodyear of the North East Police Department was directing traffic on Friday, Feb. 4 at a crosswalk when the North East Middle School student entered the intersection. The officer then realized that an approaching car was not going to be able to stop in time and reacted quickly by pushing the student out of the way. The officer herself was struck by the car.

The incident was caught on camera, WUSA reported.

After the officer was struck, the student and the driver were seen attending to her.

(Courtesy of Cecil County Board of Education/Bus Patrol)

(Courtesy of Cecil County Board of Education/Bus Patrol)

(Courtesy of Cecil County Board of Education/Bus Patrol)

Cecil County executive Danielle Hornberger shared the video on her Facebook page. Hornberger said she has spoken with the towns mayor and they are working on commendations for Goodyear.

Corporal John Fakner of the North East Police Department said Goodyear was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was later released.

(Courtesy of Cecil County Board of Education/Bus Patrol)

After the incident, on Feb. 8, Goodyear was honored by Marylands Governor Larry Hogan, who presented her with a citation for her selfless act, posting a photo of the presentation on Facebook along with a caption: Thank you Cpl. Goodyear! North East PD and Cecil County residents are lucky to have you in our community protecting and serving.

The driver of the car was cited for several traffic violations including negligent driving, the Cecil County Sheriffs Office said.

(Courtesy of Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger)

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Metropolitan Police Chief Resigns After Losing London Mayors Backing

Dame Cressida Dick, head of Londons Metropolitan Police, has resigned from her job after losing the backing of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Dick released a shocking statement on Thursday evening, announcing she was stepping down from the job, despite having insisted hours earlier that she had no intention of going.

She said in the statement: It is with huge sadness that following contact with the mayor of London today, it is clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue.

He has left me no choice but to step aside as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Dick has faced a series of scandals during her time leading Britains biggest police force, most recently concerning discriminatory messages exchanged by officers based at Charing Cross police station that were published by a watchdog.

There was also fury over the rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 by serving officer Wayne Couzens, who abducted her by staging a fake COVID-19 arrest.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks after being re-elected in the London mayoral election, at the City Hall in London on May 8, 2021. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

Sadiq Khan earlier this week indicated that the police chiefs future hung in the balance over her response to problems with the culture within the Met, and how to restore the publics confidence in the force.

On Thursday he said: Last week, I made clear to the Metropolitan Police commissioner the scale of the change I believe is urgently required to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners in the Met and to root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination, and misogyny that still exists. I am not satisfied with the commissioners response.

Its clear that the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the Metropolitan Police, he said, adding that he will work closely with Home Secretary Priti Patel on the appointment of a new commissioner.

Patel, who reportedly had past clashes with Dick, praised the officers steadfast dedication.

She said: She would be the first to say that she has held the role during challenging times; yet for nearly five years she has undertaken her duties with a steadfast dedication to protecting our capital city and its people, including during the unprecedented period of the pandemic.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said Dick has been much loved by rank and file police officers.

We feel the way she has been treated is wholly unfair and we did believe that she was the person who could take us through this and bring us out the other side, he told PA Media.

Susan Hall, the Conservative chairwoman of the London Assemblys police and crime committee, said Dicks departure had been handled extremely badly by the mayor.

Confidence in the police at the moment is at an all-time low and this wont help, she told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.

Ninety-nine percent of officers are very good, brave officers. They need confidence, they need support, and to have done this in this way, I think Sadiq Khan is completely wrong. It will leave a void at the top as opposed to a properly managed handover, which is no way to run a service like this.

The Met said its investigation into alleged parties held at Downing Street during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus lockdown will not be affected by the commissioners resignation.

The force said the probe continues as normal under the leadership of Commander Catherine Roper.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Ministry worker Rosario Acuna Hernandez looks upon the streets of Zona Norte from the window of Iglesia Cristiana Bethel in Tijuana, Mex., on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Ministry Brings Light in the Darkness of Tijuanas Red Light District

TIJUANA, MexicoJust a 10- to 15-minute walk from the U.S. border, women wearing skintight clothing and very high-heeled shoes stand holding phones near the walls of bars and brothels. Its 11:30 a.m., and a drunken man who appears to be a young American in his mid-twenties looks down from a restaurant patio and loudly calls out to a group of prostitutes standing just below on the sidewalk.

In Zona Norte, Tijuanas red-light district, sex work is legal within the neighborhoods three-block radius. However, locals say law enforcement is lax in the area, despite the heavy presence of authorities such as the federal police, ministerial police, tourist police, state police, municipal police, and the Mexican army, who all conduct frequent patrols in Zona Norte.

Some patrols drive the streets in unmarked cars in civilian-style clothing. The presence of the police doesnt seem to impede the prostitution that brings in steady income to local business owners and their cartel affiliates.

A man walks by two women standing near a strip club in Zona Norte, Tijuana, Mexico, on Jan 16, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Next to the women being cat-called, a man publicly feels up an Asian woman wearing an outfit and heels that appear consistent with that of the prostitutes. Hes holding cash in his right hand while wearing large black sunglasses.

The restaurants in Zona Norte are like the old excuse that men read Playboy magazine just for the articles, missionary Stan Lee, a resident of Tijuana, told The Epoch Times. People do not go to these restaurants just for the food.

Further down the sidewalk, a man standing within inches of a prostitute speaking perfect English extends an invitation to his restaurant, a bright yellow building several stories high just across the road.

I have a beautiful woman there just for you, the man said. Come with me and I will take you there, now. There are so many [women].

A woman stands with her phone near an entry to a hotel in Zona Norte, Tijuana, Mexico, on Jan 16, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Meanwhile, Lee leads the way toward Iglesia Cristiana Bethel, the only church operating within Zona Norte.

Wedged between bars and strip clubs, common fronts for brothels, the 85-year-old church was originally developed as a stand-alone entity before the chaotic development and businesses of the Red-Light District.

Despite the character of the area, we are not affected in our ministry here. This place is ground zero for broken hearts, ministry worker Rosario Acuna Hernandez told The Epoch Times. And we do not plan on leaving. People offer good money to buy the property and relocate the church very often. Im sure they would love to make us disappear, but God has protected us all these years.

To this day, the church continues to operate despite threats that include bomb scares. In the 1990s, drug dealers within Tijuanas crime syndicates threatened to destroy the church using explosives.

More recently, a group of men had even planned to rob the church, but after mounting the church steps, the men were said to have become overwhelmed with fear and fled the scene.

Just to the side of these steps, bullet holes mark the walls where local gangs shot a man who died in 2021 in front of the church.

Bullet holes mark the outside walls of Iglesia Cristiana Bethel in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

There is an option for a better life with God at this place, Hernandez said. A different life, a life with Jesus that does not need brothels and bars.

A Light in the Darkness

When Pastor Heriberto Martinez accepted God into his life, he was serving time in a Tijuana prison for a crime he had committed. He had no idea that the church of the people who consistently came to visit him and share about the character of Jesus Christ would eventually be the place he would pastor for 31 years and counting.

We have had bad experiences here, and we have had good. But God has always watched out for us and kept us safe along the way, Martinez told The Epoch Times. It has been by the grace of God moving forward, and He has given me the strength to pastor day by day.

It was soon after Martinez started attending Iglesia Cristiana Bethel that his interest in God developed deeper into a love and passion for understanding the Christian faith. It would lead him to seminary school in 1964 in Baja Norte, after which he became the pastor of a church in the worlds most violent city.

Iglesia Cristiana Bethel in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

As the third head pastor over the course of the churchs history, Martinez preaches to Bethels church members both in-person and online through its website amid the chaos of Zona Norte.

I consider a great opportunity God has given us here in Zona Norte. A wonderful blessing to preach the good news, Martinez told The Epoch Times. Even through the spiritual and financial challenges we face here in the neighborhood, God has provided for us.

For decades, Martinez has seen a consistent flow of sex tourists cross over from the United States, saying that customers can find anything they want in the red-light district.

There is even child prostitution here, Martinez said. What you saw today on the outside was bad, but the worst is behind the walls.

Despite these tragedies, Martinez remains encouraged by the radical changes he has seen within congregants of the church that range from former criminals to drug addicts.

When they came into this church, they received an upgrade in their life through God, Martinez said. The first thing is the gospel in the lives of the people who came into this church. Amongst the prostitutes, drug dealers, and the gunmen who God changed are part of the many miracles we have seen in lives changing around here. These testimonials are so powerful.

Obed Quinonez teaches local children in his Kids Club ministry at Iglesia Cristiana Bethel in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The Next Generation

Translating for Martinez was Obed Quinonez, a former successful architect who has been attending church at Iglesia Cristiana Bethel since infancy.

My grandfather went to church here, my father, and now my family and I, Quinonez told The Epoch Times. God has given us such a great opportunity here, and it is so important to us to be persistent in our ministry in Zona Norte.

After years of a career in architecture, Quinonez and his wife felt as though they were led by God to care for Tijuanas orphan community, which has now grown to an estimated 5,000 children.

My friends and colleagues thought we were crazy to do this, Quinonez said. But you see these kids and you see what they go though, and its our calling from the Lord to respond to this.

Quinonez and his family run an orphanage with 18 children, and he also runs the Kids Club ministry at Iglesia Cristiana Bethel.

Children participating in Kids Club at Iglesia Cristiana Bethel look down the exit leading to the streets of Zona Norte in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The ministry was started by Martinez three decades ago, and it gathers on Saturday mornings at the church, where children from Zona Norte are served a hot meal, sing worship songs, play games, and have fellowship together.

These kids here have emotional scars trying to adapt to this environment, he said. With all of the drugs and prostitution in Zona Norteit has an effect on them. But you start seeing positive changes within them soon after they show up here on Saturdays.

Quinonez said that after a few attendances, the neighborhood children, whose ages range from 3 to 15 years old, will start showing up clean and wearing nicer clothing without being told to do so.

Many of these young kids will come cussing and using bad language, but it slowly disappears with their new surroundings at the church, and they start learning values and how they apply to themselves, he said.

Some of the children attending Kids Club have parents working within the bars and brothels located inches away from the church.

Sustainable Impact

Recently Quinonez recalled asking a little girl attending Kids Club what she wanted to do when she grew up. In her response, the four-year-old started to slowly dance.

I want to dance like my mother does, she told Quinonez.

Her mother was a dancer at one of the local strip clubs and would eventually take her daughter with her as she moved across town to live with a man who was presumed to be one of her customers.

Zona Norte is trying to take the lives of these kids, Quinonez said. We are trying to show them that there is a way out.

A bible sits placed behind a chair in Iglesia Cristiana Bethel, in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Just then, there was a pounding at the door, but it didnt seem to surprise Quinonez.

After the metallic creaking of the heavy door opening came the voice of a small child who came to quickly say hello to Quinonez before running off down the sidewalks of Zona Norte.

He is nine and lives in the neighborhood with his grandma, Quinonez said. Families here know they can come to us at any time because they know we are in this ministry for the long run.

Working with the children of Zona Norte and seeing the effect the harsh environment has on kids without adult supervision, Quinonez has plans to expand the churchs outreach toward neighborhood families.

Our goal is to create a daycare here in Zona Norte, and we are in the final stages of receiving our government permits and approval, Quinonez said. When parents are working in the bars and clubs, the kids roam the streets, which are full of drugs and crime and no schooling, but that doesnt have to be. We will be providing a safe environment for them where they can learn and grow in values.

Pastor Heriberto Martinez stands at the pew of Iglesia Cristiana Bethel in Tijuana, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The current challenge is finding the right location. One opportunity for a building became available, but it was 10 blocks from Zona Norte and too far for working parents.

The idea is to find something near Zona Norte, but not in it. The location is important due to the practicality of parents dropping their kids off.

Quinonez is confident that theyll find the right location and that God will provide the funding needed for the operation moving forward.

One location about a block away cost around $150,000. We are partnering with the Genesis Dream Foundation in fundraising for these efforts. God is faithful, is providing, and will provide for our new building.

In 2020, the U.S. State Department reported that Tijuana is a critical-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Statistics show that Tijuana has the highest per capita murder rate in the world with 2,208 homicides in 2019, down from 2,519 in 2018.

This church is a light in the darkness here, Quinonez said. We see a lot of bad things, but the opportunity for the gospel is flourishing and will not be stopped.
Natural Immunity Protects Well Against Severe COVID-19: Study

People who recovered from COVID-19 were well protected against severe COVID-19, even after the Omicron virus variant became dominant, according to a new study.

The people, benefiting from protection known as natural immunity, had approximately 88 percent protection against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 in cases caused by Omicron, according to researchers in Qatar.

That was down from 100 percent during the time of Delta dominance but about the same as the protection while the Beta variant was dominant.

The protection of previous infection against hospitalization or death caused by reinfection appeared to be robust, regardless of variant, the researchers, with Weill Cornell MedicineQatar and other institutions, wrote in the study, which was published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study drew from national databases containing information about COVID-19 cases, including testing and vaccination data.

Researchers also examined how natural immunity fared against symptomatic infection from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

The protection was the strongest against the Delta and Alpha strains, around 92 percent. It was the lowest, 56 percent, against Omicron.

Excluding people who recovered from COVID-19 and had received a COVID-19 vaccine, the protection rose to 62 percent against the variant, which emerged in Africa in late 2021 and has displaced Delta in countries around the world.

Protection of natural immunity is robust against reinfection with Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, at about 90%, but less so against Omicron at approximately 60%. Still, this shows that the natural immunity was relatively strong against reinfection with Omicron, Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad, an infectious disease specialist at Weill Cornell MedicineQatar and one of the study authors, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Earlier studies have shown the protection against infection from both vaccines and natural immunity is lower against Omicron, a principal reason COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in the United States and elsewhere after the variant emerged.

The researchers were funded by the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, and several other institutions.

Dr. David Wohl, a professor at the University of North Carolinas Division of Infectious Diseases who was not involved in the research, told The Epoch Times in an email that the study results were encouraging, especially as Omicron spread has been so vast.

Abu-Raddad contended that people who have natural immunity should still get a vaccine, pointing to the drop in protection against infection.

Vaccination will enhance existing natural immunity. We have ongoing work, not yet published, showing exactly that. Hybrid immunity (natural and vaccine immunity) is most protective against COVID-19, he said.

The view is common among experts but not universal; some say that the increase in protection from vaccination for the naturally immune is minimal and note that several studies have indicated that people with natural immunity who get vaccinated are more prone to suffer side effects.

One could argue that if there is benefit its very modest, Dr. Paul Alexander, a former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 adviser, told The Epoch Times in a previous interview.
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A man crosses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) logo in the lobby of CIA Headquarters in Langley, Va., on Aug. 14, 2008. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Newly Declassified Documents Reveal CIAs Secret Bulk Collection Program: Lawmakers

Newly declassified documents reveal the Central Intelligence Agencys previously secret bulk collection program and problems with how it searches and handles Americans information, according to Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The two senators sent a letter (pdf) to top intelligence officials in April 2021 calling for more details about the program and for it to be declassified.

Large parts of the letter and documents released by the CIA were declassified Thursday, with large portions redacted.

In their letter, Wyden and Heinrich requested an expedited declassification of a report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) on the alleged CIA bulk collection program.

That report, called Deep Dive II, was part of a set of studies by the watchdog board PCLOB scrutinizing intelligence community operations under Executive Order 12333, a document (pdf) signed by former President Reagan in 1981 that governs intelligence community activity.

PCLOB and its staff members have access to the classified information.

Wyden and Heinrich said in their letter that the program operated outside the statutory framework that Congress and the public believe govern this collection and without any of the judicial, congressional or even executive branch oversight that comes with FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) collection.

The senators called for more information on the program to be declassified.

The CIA has secretly conducted its own bulk program, the lawmakers wrote in their letter. The rest of the line was blacked out.

This basic fact has been kept from the public and from Congress. Until the PCLOB report was delivered last month, the nature and full extent of the CIAs collection was withheld even from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the senators said.

Among the many details the public deserves to know are the nature of the CIAs relationship with its sources and the legal framework for the collection as well as the amount and kind of records being collected on Americans, Wyden and Heinrich said.

They also called on the agency to declassify information on the rules governing the use, storage, dissemination and queries (including U.S. person queries) of the records, stating that all of the above was in the publics intense interest.

The PCLOB report noted problems with the CIAs handling and searching of Americans information under the program.

According to portions of the PCLOB reports (pdf) recommendations declassified by the CIA, a pop-up box warns CIA analysts using the program that seeking any information about U.S. citizens or others covered by privacy laws requires a foreign intelligence purpose.

However, the program does not require analysts to provide a justification for their search, according to the recommendations, which urged the agency to require them to do so.

CIA Director, William Burns, testifies during a House Intelligence Committee hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 15, 2021. (Al Drago/AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) speaks during a hearing in Washington on June 30, 2020. (Susan Walsh/Getty Images)

A string of other recommendations was also laid out, including that the CIA should determine how best to address the retention and use of legacy data that may include USP information. Other recommendations were partly redacted.

The U.S. government, including the CIA, is obligated to protect the legal rights and freedoms of all Americans and must collect, analyze and disseminate critical foreign intelligence information to national security policymakers in a manner that is consistent with that requirement.

However, a 2019 survey of Americans conducted by Pew Research Center found that 64 percent were concerned about the way their data is being used by the government.

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Kristi Scott, the CIAs privacy and civil liberties officer defended the agencys actions.

CIA recognizes and takes very seriously our obligation to respect the privacy and civil liberties of US persons in the conduct of our vital national security mission, and conducts our activities, including collection activities, in compliance with U.S. law, Executive Order 12333, and our Attorney General guidelines. CIA is committed to transparency consistent with our obligation to protect intelligence sources and methods, Scott said.

But Wyden and Heinrich said that the documents demonstrate many of the concerns that Americans have about their privacy and civil liberties also apply to how the CIA collects and handles information under executive order and outside the FISA law.

In particular, these documents reveal serious problems associated with warrantless backdoor searches of Americans, the same issue that has generated bipartisan concern in the FISA context, lawmakers said.

While we appreciate the release of the Recommendations from PCLOB Staff which highlights problems associated with the handling of Americans information, our letter also stressed that the public deserves to know more about the collection of this information, they said. The DNI and the CIA Director have started this process. We intend to continue to urge them to achieve the transparency the American people deserve.

The Epoch Times has contacted a CIA spokesperson for comment.
Stock photo of a clock on top of papers with chart info, next to a laptop computer. (Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels)

Nordson Set to Replace Xilinx in S&P 500

S&P MidCap 400 constituent Nordson Corp. looks to replace Xilinx Inc. in the S&P 500 effective before the opening of trading on Tuesday, February 15.

S&P SmallCap 600 constituent PDC Energy Inc. will replace Nordson in the S&P MidCap 400, and XPEL Inc. will replace PDC Energy in the S&P SmallCap 600.

S&P 500 constituent Advanced Micro Devices Inc.s acquisition of Xilinx is likely to complete by February 14.

AMD recently won approval from all necessary authorities to proceed with the acquisition of Xilinx.

AMD announced its plan to acquire Xilinx in an all-stock transaction on October 27, 2020.

The transaction combines two industry leaders with complementary product portfolios and customers, combining CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, Adaptive SoCs, and deep software expertise to enable leadership computing platforms for cloud, edge, and intelligent end devices.

By Anusuya Lahiri

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Novavax logo in this illustration taken, on Oct. 30, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Novavax Rollout in Australia to Begin One Week Earlier

Australia will begin rolling out the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at select general practices, community pharmacies, and state clinics across the country for Australians aged 18 and over from Feb. 14, one week earlier than planned.

It is the first protein-based vaccine approved for Australians, allowing people who have allergies to certain ingredients used in approved vaccines or other issues to take an alternative option.

Protein vaccines use a non-infectious protein component of the virus manufactured in a lab. After vaccination, immune cells recognise the vaccine protein as foreign and launch an immune response against it, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.

While most people in Australia are already vaccinated, with 95 percent of people aged 12 and above having taken at least one dose, Hunt expects the arrival of Novavax will encourage that number to go higher.

Despite high vaccination rates in Australia, there has been a demand for a protein-based formula, he said. For some people, the arrival of Novavax will be the extra push they need to get their first jab and kick start their protection against COVID-19.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt speaks to media during a press conference at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia, on Dec. 14, 2021. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)

The first batch of the 51 million doses of Novavax purchased by the federal government arrived on Tuesday.

According to trial data, Novavax has a vaccine efficacy of 90.4 percent in adults aged 18 and over. The most commonly observed adverse effects were headache, myalgia, fatigue, and malaise.

Novavax also announced that its vaccine showed 82 percent efficacy against the Delta variant in 12- to 17-year-olds, according to new clinical trial data involving 2,200 adolescents across the United States.

We are encouraged by the results in this adolescent population given the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options for COVID-19, Novavax Chief Medical Officer Filip Dubovsky said. We believe the Novavax vaccine offers a differentiated technology and option for this younger population given its established protein-based technology already used in other vaccines, and the positive responses demonstrated against variants.

Meanwhile, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has updated its guidance for vaccination status.

ATAGI moved away from the term fully vaccinated, with the new rules saying Australians aged 16 and over will now only be considered up-to-date with vaccinations once they receive a booster shot.

Novavax has not been approved for booster shots, but studies are currently underway in Australia.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (R) will be NSW Labor's candidate in Strathfield, formerly held by Jodi McKay. (Steven Saphore/AAP PHOTOS)

NSW Labor Remains Silent on Candidates Pro-Belt and Road Stance

New South Wales (NSW) Labor has yet to respond to an inquiry asking about a state-election candidate who has expressed pro-Belt and Road Initiative views, despite a state by-election due to occur on Feb. 12.

The Epoch Times sent inquiries to NSW Labor and the state opposition leader this week asking for the Australian Labor Partys (ALP) views on Strathfield candidate Jason Yat-Sen Lis comments showing strong support for the Chinese Communist Partys BRI.

Li is the Labor candidate for the seat of Strathfield, a multi-cultural area in Sydneys inner-west.

In 2019, Li wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald: If there is a particular project under the banner of Belt and Road that makes sense for Australias strategic interest, brings economic dividends, creates jobs and there are no adverse national interest elements, absolutely, we should seize these opportunities.

Lis stance goes contrary with that of Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne who canceled Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews BRI deals with Beijing in 2021, citing their inconsistency with Australias national interest and foreign policy. The move was supported by federal and state politicians from around Australia.

The silence from NSW Labor on Yat-sens views comes as the party has denied that it had ever been approached by Australias intelligence agency, ASIO, about Chinese spies seeking to influence the party via a plot to bankroll a selection of NSW Labor candidates for the upcoming federal elections, as reported by The Australian on Feb. 11.

In a statement published on Twitter on Feb. 11, General Secretary of NSW Labor Bob Nanva said that it was the first time his party branch had heard of the allegations and that no national security agency had ever raised the issue with the parliamentary leadership or the organizational wing of the NSW branch.

NSW Labor can confirm that no national security agency has ever raised these alleged matters with the parliamentary leadership or the organisational wing of the NSW Branch, he said.

A statement from NSW Labor General Secretary Bob Nanva in response to reports published today in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: pic.twitter.com/rC9iLy8TpX  NSW Labor (@NSWLabor) February 11, 2022

Candidate Li did not respond to a request for comment on his views on the BRI, Australia-China relations, and the CCPs policies on Hong Kong.

Li, who has previously been a candidate for the ALP at a federal level, was this year chosen by the NSW branch to run for the state-level by-election in the seat of Strathfield, despite not living in the area.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns has also endorsed Li.

The son of migrants. A business owner. The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sydney. And someone who truly reflects the community that hes seeking to represent, Minns wrote on Twitter.

Im proud to announce our candidate for the Strathfield by-electionJason Yat-Sen Li!

Li will be contesting the seat against Bridget Sakr (Liberals), Courtney Buckley (Greens), Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party), Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia Party), and independent candidate Elizabeth Farrelly.

The Strathfield by-election will be held on Feb. 12, along with by-elections in Willoughby, Bega, and Monaro. Early voting opened on Jan. 31, and voters will have the option to mail-in their ballot amid the Omicron outbreak.
Court Freezes $8 Million for Freedom Convoy Raised on GiveSendGo

GiveSendGo says Canada has 'ZERO jurisdiction'

The government of the province of Ontario in Canada on Thursday successfully sought a court order to freeze over US$8 million in funds made to the Freedom Convoy on the GiveSendGo platform.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered that all donations made through the Freedom Convoy 2022 and Adopt a trucker campaigns on the Christian fundraising platform be frozen until further notice, according to a statement from Premier Doug Fords office.

The statement said Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey brought the application for the restraint order, in which 490.8 of the Criminal Code was cited as grounds to freeze the funds. The section reads, in part: The Attorney General may make an application  for a restraint order  in respect of any offence-related property.

Ivana Yelich, spokesperson for the premier, said the order binds any and all parties with possession or control over these donations.

In a statement on Twitter, GiveSendGo wrote in an apparent response to the court order, Know this! Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo.

It adds, All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is The Freedom Convoy campaign.

John Carpay, president of the legal group Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which is providing legal help to the Freedom Convoy organizers, told The Epoch Times that their lawyers are looking into the issue.

The protest started in late January 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. Since then, various protest convoys have been set up in different parts of Canada.

Protesters in Ottawa say they wont leave until the government lifts COVID-19 mandates.

More than US$8 million had been raised through GoFundMe before the platform said on Feb. 4 it would stop payments and forward the money to charities instead, before changing course on Feb. 5 and announcing it would automatically reimburse the funds to donors.

Following the GoFundMe announcements, protest convoy organizers set up the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser on GiveSendGo.

Several U.S. Republicans subsequently raised concerns about GoFundMes removal of the funds for the trucker protest.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Ottawa Protests Day 13 in Photos: Demonstrators Continue Demand for End to COVID-19 Mandates

The snow and rain in Ottawa on Feb. 10 didnt deter protesters who are still in the nations capital protesting COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

With trucks and vehicles parked in the citys downtown core for nearly two weeks, the Freedom Convoy continues to demand the federal government end its restrictions.

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Joe MacDonald, an 81 year old military veteran who joined the protest for the second time since it started on Jan. 29, said he supports the truckers as he is here in support of freedom.

I spent 30 years in the Canadian military, and for freedom, we cant lose that, MacDonald said in an interview with NTD Television, an Epoch Times affiliate media on Feb. 10.

The vaccines I dont care [about]. You can take it or not take it. Its the freedom that we need back, and thats whats been taken away from us by our government.

With the federal, provincial, and municipal governments determine dot remove the trucer demonstrations, MacDonald said he hopes the truckers can continue to protest.

The protesters in Ottawa say they are willing to talk with government representatives about their grievances, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to meet with them or send any representatives.

I know the government and the city [have] been very bad to them, and not cooperating, and nobody is talking to them, he said. We have to keep fighting.

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

On Feb. 11, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in his province in response to trucker protests in Ottawa and Windsor, saying he will enact orders making it crystal clear that it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people, and services along critical infrastructure.

Trucks parking on the street of Ottawa protesting against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Claire Forgie, a retired resident from Southern Ontario, said enough is enough.

I want our civil rights and freedoms to be returned, she told NTD Television in an interview on Feb. 10.

This is not the Canada that I know that I was born into. And I want my Canada back again, not only for me, but for my mother, and my children, my grandchildren and my great grandchildren. We are here for all these generations. And we want to end to this now.

Messages from supporters to truckers who protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022 (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

Annie Wu contributed to this report
Ottawa Will Soon Announce Changes to Border Measures as Omicron Recedes: Health Minister

Canadas Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Friday his government expects to announce changes to border measures next week, with the worst of Omicron now behind us.

During a press conference in Ottawa providing an update on COVID-19, Duclos didnt hint at what those changes would entail, but this week the Opposition Conservatives criticized the border measures as being out of step with the rest of the developed world.

The pre-departure, on-arrival PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers makes no sense. It is not science. Canadas current COVID-19 travel restrictions are obsolete, said Conservative MP and transport critic Melissa Lantsman in the House of Commons on Feb. 10.

The government has been adamant when imposing measures or defending them that it has been following science, and Duclos added the concept of prudence to the discourse about what should be considered when deciding on the relaxing of public health measures.

As we all know, science is continuously evolving. And as we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to base our decisions on the best available scientific information and on prudence, he said.

The public health restrictions currently in place by provinces and territories in particular were always meant to be temporary. Some of these restrictions will be with us for a long time. Others will be lifted as soon as the epidemiological situation, science, and prudence allow it.

Duclos also commented on the development earlier this week when Quebec MP Joel Lightbound broke ranks and asked for the government to provide a roadmap for the lifting of all restrictions under its purview.

The health minister said he has a considerable level of affection and esteem for my dear friend Joel and that they regularly discuss the management of the pandemic.

I have always valued and appreciated these inputs. In a democracy, its a healthy habit for everyone to be able to express his or her opinions. Debate and discussion should always be encouraged.

Data

Duclos and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam were asked twice during the press conference if there were any data or studies to justify the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, and were also asked if it was worth jeopardizing social peace over it.

Duclos did not answer directly, but said vaccination isnt a punishment but a form of protection.

Tam did not cite any data either, saying they dont have a breakdown of the figures based on occupation. Thats not to one of the indicators in our databases.

But she did say there is obvious evidence that mandates work, since after being imposed there is an increased vaccine uptake.

Path Forward

Tam said that based on available indicators such as the positivity rate, the reproduction number, wastewater surveillance, and daily cases reported, Canada has passed the peak of the Omicron wave.

This means health authorities across the country are now considering how to manage SARS-CoV-2 virus in a more sustainable manner, she said.

This will allow jurisdictions to begin to ease restrictions. It also includes planning for the months ahead and beyond when we can expect the virus to still be with us, including emergence of new variants with uncertain transmission and severity characteristics.

Some provinces have already announced they are removing controversial measures such as vaccine passports, with Saskatchewan being the first to do so.

Tam also raised questions regarding what needs to be done to adapt the longer-term management of COVID-19 while monitoring the evolution of the virus, asking do we need to change the vaccine? What will we need to do in the fall?
Trucker Bill Dykema, from Ontario, was one of the first protesters to park his rig in the center of Ottawa, Canada, in an undated photo. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Our Freedoms Have Gone: Trucker Protesting Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Speaks Out

OTTAWA, CanadaWalking on Feb. 11 through the parking lot of trucks that has paralyzed the center of Canadas capital Ottawa the main word you hear uttered is freedom.

It is not only spoken but regularly features on signs, flags, and messages that not only adorn the rigs, but are placed along the fleur-de-lis topped metal fence that edges the parliamentary and governmental precinct.

The second most mentioned word is peace and none the hundreds of Canadian truckers involved in what has been dubbed the Siege of Ottawa seem the slightest bit interested in doing anything other than staging their protest against government vaccine mandates in a peaceful manner.

Disruptive, yes. Costly, absolutely. Infuriating to many, yes. Violent, no.

I have 19 grandchildren, Bill Dykema, 71, from Grimsby, Ontario, told The Epoch Times. The protest, he said, is for them and to give them their freedom.

Dykema, a trucker, was one of the first drivers to block Wellington St, which borders the parliamentary precinct.

My grandson wants to go to university but he cant because hes not shot, not injected, Dykema said. I dont call it a vaccine or injection because its bad stuff in my book. Our best friend, she got one shotwe buried her.

Dykema used to cross the U.S.Canada border every week. Due to the mandate, which stipulates proof of vaccination or an isolation period, he cannot go anymore.

Im just a 71-year-old, poor old working man. Our freedoms have gone. You cant go to a restaurant, unless youre shot, he said.

Dykema estimates he is probably losing $1,400 to $1,500 a week. The trucker says he is living in his truck at the protest camp. His truck is right at the heart of the blockade on the corner of Wellington and OConnor streets.

Dykema says he will remain until the action is over. People have been great here, he said.

Armand Theriault, 57, is a retired worker from Quebec. He is in Ottawa to support the truck drivers. He says the protest is for freedom.

Dressed in a green winter jacket, a business shirt, and with a tie, Theriault has a quiet determination about him.

He arrived on Jan. 10 to support the truckers actions and spent his first evening walking around the vehicles keeping an eye out for anything amiss.

Armand Theriault has come from Quebec to support the truckers and patrols the protest area at night. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Protesters have blocked Wellington St, Ottawa, and set up a small village to make life more comfortable. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Big rigs will prove too big an obstacle for the government to remove, truckers believe. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Dana-Lee Melfi says the Ottawa protest is a peaceful one and it is his role to let everyone know that. He stands at the front of the line of trucks with his hand making the peace sign for 10 hours a day. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Not everyone in Ottawa is happy with the truckers actions.

As Theriault is interviewed, a man walks by and loudly tells him something in French.

The man said, you crashed the economy.

Theriault shrugged it off and said it was important to provide extra security at night.

We do everything we can, he said. This is a peaceful protest and we want to know the truth. It is not just us who will win, every country around the world will.

Dana-Lee Melfi, 50, stands with a Canadian flag in one hand and his right almost frozen in a peace sign.

But when he speaks it is with an educated voice in well-measured tones.

I have been here since before the beginning. I was born in Ottawa and I cant stand to see what our country is becoming. I was standing on the Parliament Hill for the first couple of days with a simple message of peace. We are here in peace, but there was a couple of bad actors and jokers in front of these trucks, he told The Epoch Times.

So the truck drivers have asked me to stand here and hold the line. I stand here 10 hours a day and show our simple message that we are here in peace.

What does Melfi do for a living?

I am a government employee  maybe, he said, laughing.

Melfi wants all the vaccine mandates rescinded.

No one can force me to do anything to my body that I do not wish, he said. Its very unCanadian.
Foreign passengers wearing protective suits prepare for their flight to China at Manila's International Airport, Philippines, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Philippines Welcomes Back Foreign Travelers After 2 Years

MANILA, PhilippinesThe Philippines lifted a nearly 2-year ban on foreign travelers Thursday in a lifesaving boost for its tourism and related industries as an omicron-fueled surge eases.

Foreign travelers from 157 countries with visa-free arrangements with the Philippines who have been fully vaccinated and tested negative for the virus will be welcomed back and will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival. The government also ended a risk classification system that banned travelers from the worst-hit countries.

We will begin the next chapter in the road to recovery, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said. She added the border reopening would restore jobs and generate revenue across tourism-related enterprises and communities.

The Philippines imposed one of the worlds longest lockdowns and strictest police-enforced quarantine restrictions to quell a pandemic that caused its worst economic recession since the 1940s and pushed unemployment and hunger to record levels.

More than a million Filipinos lost their jobs in tourism businesses and destinations in the first year of the pandemic alone, according to government statistics. Tourism destinations, including popular beach and tropical island resorts, resembled ghost towns at the height of pandemic lockdowns, and a volcanic eruption and typhoons exacerbated losses.

The reopening had been set for Dec. 1 but was postponed as the highly contagious omicron variant of the COVID-19 spread.

Less than a thousand new cases were added daily during the Christmas holidays. The subsequent surge peaked above 39,000 infections in a day in mid-January, but has since eased. Health officials reported about 3,600 infections on Wednesday, with 69 deaths, and have declared the entire archipelago, except for one southern region, at low to moderate risk.

More than 60 million of nearly 110 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 8.2 million have received their booster shots in a campaign that has been hampered by vaccine shortages and public hesitancy.

President Rodrigo Duterte warned Filipinos in televised remarks Monday that we are not over the hump and urged the unvaccinated to get immunized soon.

If youre unvaccinated and you die, well, Ill tell you, good riddance, the tough-talking president said. You can walk around and if you get contaminated, you will be awfully very, very sorry for yourself, and your family.

By Jim Gomez and Joeal Calupitan
Police arrest people protesting against coronavirus mandates at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP)

Police Arrest Convoy Protesters at New Zealands Parliament

WELLINGTON, New ZealandPolice on Thursday arrested dozens of protesters who were camped out on the grounds of New Zealands Parliament on the third day of a convoy protest against coronavirus mandates.

The arrests came after Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard took the rare step of closing the grounds.

Police called in more than 100 extra officers from other parts of the country. Still, police seemed prepared to wait it out as officers formed a line and ordered people to leave but only very slowly advanced on them.

By evening, police had arrested more than 120 people and charged many of them with trespassing or obstruction. Police wore protective vests but didnt don riot gear or carry guns. Some protesters were readying to hunker down for a third night.

Police said they had told everybody on the grounds they were trespassing.

Police have appealed repeatedly to protestors to leave the grounds and have begun evicting people from the precinct, said Superintendent Corrie Parnell, the Wellington district commander. While police acknowledge peoples right to protest, this needs to be conducted in a way that does not unfairly impact on the wider public.

The protest began Tuesday after more than 1,000 people driving cars and trucks converged on Parliament in a convoy inspired by protests in Canada and elsewhere.

The number of protesters dwindled to a couple of hundred by Thursday. Some of the protesters vehicles remained parked in the middle of streets around Parliament, forcing some street closures. The National Library and many cafes and bars in the area closed their doors while the protest played out.

Parliaments grounds are often the site of peaceful protests, although mass campouts are unusual.

Typically at least some politicians will come out to listen to the concerns of protesters, but politicians reconvening at Parliament after a summer break appeared to be in rare unison by not acknowledging the protesters, who Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said werent representative of New Zealanders.

Among the protesters grievances is the requirement in New Zealand that certain workers get vaccinated against COVID-19, including teachers, doctors, nurses, police and military personnel. Many protesters also oppose mask mandatessuch as those in stores and among children over about age 8 in classroomsand champion the ideal of more freedom.

New Zealand was spared the worst of the pandemic after it closed its borders and implemented strict lockdowns, limiting the spread of the virus. The nation has reported just 53 virus deaths among its population of 5 million.

But some have grown weary of the restrictions. Ardern last week said the country would end its quarantine requirements for incoming travelers in stages as it reopened its borders. With about 77 percent of New Zealanders vaccinated, Ardern has also promised she wont impose more lockdowns.

Health officials have been reporting about 200 new virus cases each day as an outbreak of the omicron variant grows. Sixteen people are currently hospitalized because of the virus.

Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said it had not been ticketing illegally parked vehicles near Parliament due to concerns over staff safety but was considering its options to get the roads reopened in what remained a volatile situation. He said the council was advising people to avoid the area.

By Nick Perry
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the General Motors Detroit- Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit, Mich. on Jan. 27, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Public Sector Unions to Gain Big From Record Whitmer Budget

A half-dozen public and private sector union heads lined up on Feb. 9 to praise the announcement of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers proposed $74 billion state budget.

The last state budget before Whitmer, a Democrat, took office was in fiscal year 2018. It contained $57 billion in spending. Republican strategist Jamie Roe told The Epoch Times that Whitmers massive spending spree looks similar to socialism.

Whitmer is a career politician using our money to buy her reelection and to pay off her political supporters, Roe said.

Michigan American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Ron Bieber disagrees.

With $3 billion allocated for direct pay to workers in the form of bonuses, wage increases, and raises for so many that risked their own safety through the pandemic, the Michigan AFL-CIO is committed to stand shoulder with Governor Whitmer in advocating for Hero Pay, Bieber said.

Hero Pay is a proposed payment from the state to an unspecified array of school employees, first responders, health care employees, and other frontline workers.

The $500 million line item doesnt specify exactly who would receive the payment, nor does it specify the amount each recipient would receive.

John Cakmakci, president of Local 951 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, believes that his workers will be among those receiving Hero Pay.

Cakmakci said his grocery store workers showed up every day from the beginning of this pandemic to make sure Michigan families had the food supplies they needed, and they deserve to be acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts.

State Superintendent of Schools Michael Rice said, The budget will improve our childrens educational experiences  and will strengthen public education by providing $4,000 to every school staff member over a two-year period and help to hire and train thousands of new teachers.

Whitmers budget allocates $1.6 billion for educator retention programs.

Educator retention means bonuses, salary increases, and other incentives for teachers and other school employees to stay at their posts. The proposed budget raises the annual per-pupil state aid allocation from $8,700 to $9,135.

More money is also provided to teach English to newly arrived immigrant school children.

Governor Whitmers bold plan is the most transformational investment in public education we have seen in decades.  Her plan will make a real difference in recruiting, retaining, and respecting educators to help every student succeed, said Paula Herbart, president of the Michigan Education Association, the states largest teachers union.

A total of $50 million is being proposed to provide state-funded retention payments to local police, state troopers, conservation officers, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional facility workers.

Investing in retention is the smartest use of tax dollars to support law enforcement, Rob Figurski, president of the Michigan Association of Police Organizations, said. Keeping experienced officers in the profession needs to be our collective priority.

The green agenda also loomed large in Whitmers budget, with the state government proposing to pay a $2,000 point-of-sale rebate to anyone purchasing an electric vehicle. The state would also pay a $500 rebate toward the purchase of at-home charging equipment for new or used electric vehicles.

Equity issues were also addressed in the budget, with $20 million earmarked for work on racial health disparities and $94 million earmarked for literacy programs in Detroit Public Schools.

Michigans economy needs the governor to rein in spending and come up with ideas other than growing state government by throwing money at our problems, said Eric Ventimiglia, a spokesperson for the conservative political group Michigan Rising Action.

Ventimiglia also said increases in state education spending should be tied to commitments that the districts would remain open.

The Whitmer budget proposal calls for rolling back the states unpopular retirement tax and for raising the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit.

The budget projects a $20 billion surplus due to higher-than-expected tax revenues and a flood of federal COVID-19 relief dollars. State Budget Director Christopher Harkins views the surplus as a unique opportunity to transform our state for years to come.

Harkins said the budget doesnt utilize one-time funds for ongoing purposes.
Desiree Andrade (L), whose 20-year-old son Julian Andrade was killed in 2018, speaks at a press conference with supporters of an effort to recall Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon on Dec. 6, 2021. Opponents of Gascon have launched a new bid to recall the progressive district attorney after an earlier effort fell short. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Rasmussen Poll: Voters Support Laws to Remove Soft-on-Crime Prosecutors

Nearly three in five likely voters support new state laws to empower an oversight committee to remove elected local prosecutors who dont prosecute violent crimes, according to a new Rasmussen Poll.

Often called district attorneys or state attorneys, local chief prosecutors are publicly elected at the county and sometimes the city levels to steer criminal prosecutions on behalf of the people of a particular state. They have wide discretion in setting policies on when to file or drop criminal charges, what kind of criminal charges to file, and how cases travel through the criminal justice system.

In the past decade, an increasing number of elected progressive prosecutors began to use the discretion at their disposal to go softer on certain crimes and decrease the prison population.

The poll, released on Feb. 9, also finds that the majority of likely voters support state laws that empower state attorneys general to appoint special prosecutors if elected prosecutors abuse their discretion.

Conducted by the National Police Association and Rasmussen Reports, the poll randomly surveyed 982 likely voters in the country by phone or internet on Feb. 7. Of those polled, 67 percent of the survey responders are white and 13 percent are black, while 33 percent are Republican and 35 percent are Democrat.

The margin of sampling error is 3 percentage points, with a 95 percent level of confidence, according to Rasmussen Reports.

Stanford University law professor David Alan Sklansky has been supportive of the progressive trends in the criminal justice system. In 2017, he wrote a journal article, The Progressive Prosecutors Handbook to guide local progressive prosecutors reforms in their local jurisdictions.

But Sklansky also questioned the unchecked discretion of these prosecutors.

Few public officials have as much power and discretion as prosecutors, Sklansky wrote in a journal article. [Prosecutors] have rarely, if ever, questioned the amount of power they exercise, and the absence of meaningful checksaside from the ballot boxon their discretion.

Voters concerned with progressive prosecution policies are using the only tool at their disposalthe ballot box. San Francisco voters have successfully pushed for a recall election of progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin on June 7. In Los Angeles, a petition drive is underway for a similar recall election of progressive District Attorney George Gascon.

Sklansky believes that prosecutors themselves also have an important role to play in determining what kinds of restraints on their power would work best, according to the article. One solution that he proposed was to strengthen defense counsel through more public funding. A stronger defense counsel will help curb prosecutorial misconduct, he wrote.

The Rasmussen survey also asked voters about specific prosecution policies used by progressive prosecutors in several big cities.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has directed his prosecutors to stop prosecuting resisting-arrest offenses. Nearly three in five respondents think that makes it more likely for suspects to resist arrest in the future.

In Los Angeles County, Gascon has ordered his staff to stop prosecuting juveniles as adults, regardless of the crime theyre charged with. As a result, a gang member who committed a murder at age 17 was sentenced to six years instead of a possible life sentence.

Three in five respondents think Gascon bears responsibility if that gang member commits more crimes after hes released from prison.

The survey also asks likely voters if they support new laws to allow more legal tools for victims to seek justice. For example, two in five respondents support new state laws to empower victims to appeal a nonprosecution decision to a judge.
Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian walks to speak to the media as she departs the Independent Commission Against Corruption on November 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Recently Resigned Australian State Leader Joins Telco in Game Changer

Former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has joined Australias second largest telecommunications firm Optus, in a move likely to bolster Optus chances of winning more government contracts.

The former premier will be the managing director of enterprise, business, and institutional, and will assist Optus with delivering on its vision to become Australias most loved everyday brand.

To deliver on our vision we need to think and do things differently and we need to attract amazing people who bring diverse experiences and new ways of thinking to our industry, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, CEO of Optus said in a statement.

So, I am thrilled to announce that Gladys Berejiklian will join our talented and experienced executive team to help transform our approach to business customers.

Rosmarin called Berejiklian a proven leader who helped guide Australias largest state through the pandemic.

I believe she will be a game-changer for Optus, she said. In bringing our business-focused teams together under this newly created role, I truly believe that our collective energies can deliver superior customer outcomes in market segments that continue to be dominated by the incumbent (Telstra).

Berejiklian said she was excited to join Optus.

I look forward to working with Kelly and the executive team of Optus who are providing inspiring and innovative leadership in the telco sector, she said in a statement.

Current tender data shows that market leading telco, Telstra, won nearly AU$100 million in state government work in 2021, compared to the $11.2 million from Optus, according to the Australian Financial Review.

In terms for federal work, Optus lags far behind Telstra with just 85 contracts compared to 571.

Berejiklian was premier from January 2017 until she announced her resignation from politics in October 2021, pending an investigation from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

ICAC announced it would investigate whether the premier exercised public functions in conflict with her secret, five-year private relationship with Daryl Maguire, which was made public in late 2020.

Maguire is accused of abusing public officer while serving between 2012 to 2018 as a state member of Parliament.

In 2017 and 2018, two grants from the state government were promised to two organisations in Wagga Waggathe Australian Clay Target Association and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. At the time, Berejiklian was the state treasurer who oversaw the approval of state funding.

ICAC will also investigate whether she breached the public trust by failing to report anything she suspected on reasonable grounds to be corrupt conduct and if she was liable to allow or encourage the corrupt conduct of Maguire.
U.S. Army soldiers are seen in a 2011 file photo taken near Nasiriyah, Iraq. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Retired 3-Star General: Critical Race Theory Leading to Military Failure

A retired Marine general spoke out about critical race theory training in the armed forces, arguing that the Marxist ideology will ultimately weaken the U.S.s military capability.

Writing for military magazine Task and Purpose, retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Greg Newbold argued that critical race theory and related ideologies run counter to the stone-cold pragmatism needed to win conflicts.

Wars must be waged only with stone-cold pragmatism, not idealism, and fought only when critical national interests are at stake, he wrote. Hopes for changing cultures to fit our model are both elitist and naive. The failures of our campaigns in Iraq and especially in Afghanistan confirm this.

Meanwhile, the tenets of critical race theoryan offshoot of the Marxist critical theory schoolcan ruin unit cohesion, he added.

A military forces greatest strengths are cohesion and discipline, said Newbold, who retired in 2002. Individuality or group identity is corrosive and a centrifugal force. Indeed, the military wears uniforms because uniformity is essential.

The tenets of Critical Race Theorya cross-disciplinary intellectual and social movement that seeks to examine the intersection of race and law in the United States, but which has the unfortunate effect of dividing people along racial linesundermine our militarys unity and diminish our warfighting capabilities.

If military leaders focus on differences and group identity, he added, it undermines cohesion and morale. After that, failure results, the retired general said.

Values that are admirable in civilian societysensitivity, individuality, compassion, and tolerance for the less capableare often antithetical to the traits that deter a potential enemy and win the wars that must be fought: Conformity, discipline, unity, Newbold said.

Last year, Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested that critical race theory is being taught to cadets.

I want to understand white rage, and Im white, Milley said during a contentious House Armed Services Committee exchange in June. I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military general officers, commissioned [and] noncommissioned officers, of being woke or something else because were studying some theories that are out there. Ive read Karl Marx. Ive read Lenin. That doesnt make me a communist.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) also claimed last year that theyve received hundreds of tips from military whistleblowers who reported that critical race theory and related diversity training programs are being implemented in the armed forces.

Weve received hundreds of whistleblower complaints about critical race theory being pushed on our soldiers, Cotton said in a statement last year. The problem is realand worse than we thought.
Not Rated | 2h 9min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy | 1959

This week, Im continuing my mission to revisit family-friendly adventure films from a bygone erawhen cinema was much more wholesome. In these increasingly cynical times, big-budget blockbuster movies, which are purportedly targeted for family viewing, are apparently being produced by sadistic technophiles. Hence, in the absence of good storytelling, they rely on flashy CGI and lots of wanton violence that is definitely unsuitable for kids.

Back when Walt Disney made some excellent family-friendly films, the company inadvertently struck cinematic gold with its 1955 production of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In 1959, Twentieth Century Fox adapted yet another literary work of French adventure novelist Jules Verne and filmed Journey to the Center of the Earth, directed by Henry Levin.

Seeking Knowledge

The story begins in the beautiful capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, in the year 1880. The highly esteemed professor Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook (James Mason) is proudly receiving his knighthood. Right after the celebration, his young protege Alec McEwan (Pat Boone) approaches him with a curious objecta strange volcanic rock thats a little too heavy for its size.

Alec McEwan (Pat Boone, L) has a mysterious goodie for Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook (James Mason). (20th Century Fox)

The two men quickly run some tests on the solidified lava and make a rather (ahem) explosive discovery within it: a 300-year-old toola plumb bobinscribed with cryptic messages that are just begging to be deciphered. After some hilariously slapdash analyses, they quickly deduce that the rock was originally found near a volcano in Iceland.

They also learn that an Icelandic adventurer-scientist named Arne Saknussemm disappeared after hed embarked on a journey to the center of the Earth. Since the inscriptions were apparently scribed by Saknussemm and entail encouraging news of his various subterranean discoveries, Lindenbrook becomes obsessed with taking his own expedition to Earths core, with his loyal assistant McEwan.

When Lindenbrook and McEwan reach Iceland, they soon experience every intrepid scientists ultimate fear: that other scientists are competing with them. Racing to get to the center of the Earth first are Swedish professor Peter Goteborg(Ivan Triesault) and Count Saknussemm (Thayer David). And the latters last name isnt merely a coincidence; hes a descendant of the original scientist who attempted the epic trek 300 years before and, hence, believes hes naturally entitled to make the monumental discovery before anyone else.

After some devious happenings, the Swedes beautiful wife Carla (Arlene Dahl) joins Lindenbrook, McEwan, and a towering local Icelander named Hans Belker (Peter Ronson). Oh, and in typical Disney fashion, Hans has a cute little pet duck, Gertrude, which also gets to accompany the band of adventurers on their quest.

Carla Goteborg (Arlene Dahl) meets one of the monsters the adventurers encounter. (20th Century Fox)

Pseudoscience

Right off the bat, I must say that this film is filled with all kinds of implausible pseudoscience (such as a lack of extreme temperatures and pressure near the Earths core, as well as a curious abundance of breathable air), which is explained away in half-hearted gibberish, some of which sounds as if it were made up on the spot. But then again, this is a film based on a 19th-century literary work.

A scene from Journey to the Center of the Earth. (20th Century Fox)

The actors performances are fun and straightforwardperfect for this type of genre film. What I also enjoyed is that were drawn into the storyline graduallythe whole setup to Lindenbrooks expedition isnt glossed over as is usually the case in contemporary fare. This, in turn, gives us time to get to know the characters better and more naturally.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is an entertaining adventurous romp that is fantastical in nature. What it lacks in plausibility, it more than makes up for in nailing the grand sense of adventure from Vernes vast imagination. Its the perfect type of movie to enjoy on a lazy weekend afternoon with ones family.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Director: Henry Levin

Starring: James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl

Not Rated

Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 16, 1959

Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Correction: The original posting of this article misstated the production company and the date the story is set. The production company is Twentieth Century Fox and the story is set in 1880. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, on Jan. 13, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia Could Invade Ukraine Before the End of the Olympics: White House

The White House is continuing to signal urgency as it relates to a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During a press briefing Friday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated to reporters that Russia could invade Ukraine any day and added that an invasion could occur before the completion of the Beijing Olympics, which are set to end Feb. 20.

If you look at the disposition of forces, both in Belarus and in Russia on the other side of the Ukrainian border from the north and from the east, the Russians are in a position to be able to mount a major military action into Ukraine any day now, said Sullivan.

Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops and artillery along its border with Ukraine over the past few months.

Sullivan continues to urge all Americans currently in Ukraine to leave the country.

Any American who is in Ukraine right now who needs help, who needs financial help, or needs logistical help to take advantage of a commercial option to get out, please call the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, because we stand ready to provide that help, he said.

Sullivan also spoke to a recent joint statement put out by Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping. The statement joins China in Russias opposition to the further enlargement of NATO and calls on NATO to abandon its ideologized cold war approaches. It also expresses Russian opposition to an independent Taiwan.

China also has its own decisions to make, said Sullivan. And to the extent that they are giving a wink and a nod or a green light to a Russian invasion of Ukraine for no justified reason, I believe that China will ultimately come to suffer consequences as a result of that in the eyes of the rest of the world, most notably in the eyes of our European partners and allies.

Sullivan says he does not believe China can compensate Russia for the economic losses it would sustain from the sanctions Western nations have proposed in the event of an invasion. He noted the West represents more than 50 percent of global GDP, while China and Russia are less than 20 percent.
In this file photo, a school classroom is seen in Tustin, Calif., on March 10, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

San Diego County School Retracts Wheel of Privilege Teaching Tool

A school in San Diego County claims it has removed a Wheel of Privilege graphic from its professional development training materials after the image was exposed on social media and parents objected.

The image was touted as part of professional development training by the Black Mountain Middle School in Poway Unified School District (PUSD), according to the Californians For Equal Rights Foundation (CFER), whose executive director posted the graphic on Twitter.

The Wheel of Power/Privilege teaching tool was designed to rank people by power and privilege based on skin color, body size, and gender identity, as well as citizenship, language, wealth, and other factors.

CFER stated in a Feb. 9 newsletter that it was alarmed by such a such divisive narrative, rooted in critical race theory (CRT) and intended for middle-schoolers.

We exposed the issue on social media. In the meantime, PUSD parents and residents contacted the school leadership to demand explanations, CFER stated.

(Courtesy of CFER)

The schools principal, Scott Corso, indicated in an email sent to a parent on Feb. 7 that the graphic was shared as one idea at a Big IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity Equity Awareness) committee meeting for a future professional growth day with educators. The virtual meeting was open to the public.

After further reflection on feedback received and working with Shawntanet Jara, PUSD Director of Equity and Improvement, we have modified our activities. We have decided not to use the graphic entitled Wheel of Privilege, nor the video related to intersectionality, Corso said in the email obtained by The Epoch Times.

Corso claimed in the email that the school is not teaching CRT.

We have no interest in promoting Critical Race Theory. That is not our intent, he wrote. Our intent, as educators, is to examine our own personal biases in order to support all students and be the most inclusive school we can be.

CFER disagrees.

While the education establishment stubbornly denies their engagement with CRT, mounting evidence shows otherwise, CFER stated in its newsletter.

By now, its a moot point, Wenyuan Wu, CFERs executive director, told The Epoch Times on Feb. 9.

Were not talking about teaching critical race theory as a legal doctrine or legal hypothesis. Were talking about propagating and inculcating key tenets of critical race theory such as race essentialism, intersectionality, and anti-racism as a bandage or solution to all observed problems in our society, Wu said.

The claim CRT isnt being promoted or is not widely taught in California schools is more than just an argument of semantics, Wu suggested. Rather, she contends, its a deliberate subversive tactic the education establishment commonly uses to hide from parents that theyre teaching pseudoscientific ideas based on the tenets of CRT to their children.

Call it whatever you want. Call it Mickey Mouse. It does not change the fact that its teaching or indoctrinating our kids with very bad illiberal and un-American ideas about race in our society, Wu said.

CFER sees the removal of the Wheel of Power/Privilege as small victory in its battle against CRT concepts. It encourages a robust rebuttal to the narrative of victimhood and disempowerment.

The next Big IDEA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. on Zoom, Corso said in the email.
A picture shows the entrance of Abha airport in the southwest of Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 31, 2021. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images)

Shrapnel Injures 12 at Saudi Abha Airport as Drone Intercepted

DUBAITwelve people were injured at Saudi Arabias Abha airport by shrapnel from an explosive-laden drone intercepted by air defenses on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi group said.

In a statement carried by Al Arabiya TV, the coalition later warned people in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa to avoid civilian locations used for military purposes during the next 72 hours while they strike drone launch sites,

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group hit a military target at Abha airport with a Qasef 2 drone.

Air traffic operations at Abha civilian airport returned to normal after standard safety procedures following the drone interception, the coalition said in statements carried by state media.

Shrapnel from the drone attack at midday fell inside airport grounds and some glass facades were damaged, it said.

Light injuries were sustained by two Saudi nationals and citizens of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

The coalition has been fighting the Houthis since early 2015, after the group ousted Yemens internationally recognized government from power in the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis often launch attacks on Abha airport, which lies close to the Yemeni border in Saudi Arabias south, and other parts of the country with drones and missiles. Most attacks are intercepted but a few people have been killed and several injured.

The coalition regularly carries out air strikes on what it says are Houthi military targets in Yemen. On Thursday it said it would take measures to neutralize the source of threats to civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The United Arab Emirates, a coalition member, twice in January said its forces destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launch area in Yemen, after unprecedented drone and missile attacks on the UAE this year claimed by the Houthis.
Thousands of Slovaks rally to protest a defense military treaty between this NATO member and the United States, in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Pavol Zachar/TASR via AP)

Slovakia Lawmakers Approve Defense Military Treaty With US

BRATISLAVA, SlovakiaSlovakias parliament on Wednesday approved a defense military treaty with the United States.

The Defense Cooperation Agreement passed 7960 in the 150-seat legislature in a vote split between lawmakers from the four-party ruling coalition and the opposition.

The treaty allows the U.S. military to use two Slovak air force basesMalacky-Kuchyna and Sliacfor 10 years while Slovakiaa NATO memberwill receive $100 million from the United States to modernize them.

The deal was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Slovakias defense minister, Jaroslav Nad, on Feb. 3 in Washington. It still needs to be ratified by President Zuzana Caputova, who supports it.

The vote took place amid fears that Russia will invade Ukraine. Moscow has massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraines borders, but insists it has no plans to attack. Slovakia borders Ukraine.

The treaty has been supported by the government of Prime Minister Eduard Heger, who said it will significantly enhance our security. But the agreement is fiercely opposed by the opposition, which claims it would compromise the countrys sovereignty, make possible a permanent presence of U.S. troops on Slovak territory and even enable a possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Slovakia.

The Slovak and U.S. governments have rejected those charges.

Nothing in todays agreement creates permanent U.S. bases or troop presence in Slovakia, and the agreement fully respects Slovakias sovereignty and laws, Blinken said during Thursdays signing ceremony at the U.S. State Department.

Thousands rallied against the agreement on Tuesday in front of the parliament building when lawmakers were debating it.

The protest united the Slovak opposition, including the far-right Peoples Party Our Slovakia and the leftist Smer-Social Democracy of former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The United States has such an agreement with 23 other NATO members, including, Poland, and Hungary, two other countries that neighbor Ukraine on the eastern flank of the alliance.

Any particular deployment of U.S. forces still needs approval by the Slovak government and parliament.
"Ashes" the cat, who had been lost by a Maine family since 2015, is held by Janet Williams at Tampa International Airport, in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 9, 2022. (Janet Williams via AP)

Snowbird Kitty: Lost Cat Heads Home to MaineFrom Florida

PORTLAND, MaineA Maine family that long ago gave up on a lost family cat is being reunitedmore than six years and 1,500 miles later.

Denise Cilley, of Chesterville, said she was shocked to get a voicemail last week announcing her cat, Ashes, had been located in Florida.

Ashes disappeared in 2015 during a 10th birthday celebration for her daughter.

They looked for her for quite a while, and they sadly concluded she probably had become prey for a predator, said Janet Williams, a family friend in Florida who took temporary custody of the cat, told WABI-TV.

A veterinarians office determined the kittys identity, thanks to an implanted microchip. But how she got to Florida remains a mystery.

I have interrogated her quite strictly and she is not talking, Williams said.

Ashes was being returned to Maine on Wednesday, accompanied by one of Janet Williams friends.

Cilley said she planned to be on hand to collect her pet at Portland International Jetport.
Dr. Renato Werndli, Co-President of the Animal Experiment Initiative Committee displays a banner in front of his office in Eichberg, Switzerland, on Feb. 08, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Swiss to Vote on Becoming First Country to Ban Animal Testing

ZURICH Switzerland votes on Sunday whether to become the first country to completely ban medical testing on animals, after animal rights campaigners gathered enough support to stage a referendum in the country, which hosts a huge pharmaceuticals sector.

More than 550,000 animals died in laboratory tests in 2020 in Switzerland, according to government statistics. The figure includes 400,000 mice and rats, nearly 4,600 dogs, 1,500 cats and 1,600 horses. Primates, cows, pigs, fish and birds were also killed during and after experiments

Its cruel and unnecessary to experiment on animals and I am certain we can develop medicines without it, said Renato Werndli, a doctor from northeast Switzerland who launched the initiative under the Swiss system of direct democracy.

The result of the referendum will be binding.

The ban is not expected to pass, however, to the relief of the pharmaceuticals sector, which has warned the move would halt new drug development and force companies and researchers to relocate abroad.

We should not exploit animals for our own selfish ends, Werndli said, adding research methods such as biochipstiny chips that host large numbers of biochemical reactionscomputer simulations or microdosing of humans were more effective than animal testing.

Pharmaceuticals lobby group Interpharma says the sector, which includes companies such as Roche and Novartis, contributes 9 percent to the Swiss economy including indirect effects, and generates nearly half of Swiss exports.

A mouse is seen in a plastic box at the Laboratory Animal Services Center (LASC) of the University of Zurich in Schlieren, Switzerland, on Feb. 07, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Interpharma has led the industrys opposition, saying the proposals would be devastating if adopted.

Drug research, clinical studies in hospitals and basic research at universities would no longer be possible, said Interpharma CEO Rene Buholzer.

Pharma bosses said an animal testing ban could lead to the end of new drugs.

I think youve seen in the times of Covid how important it is to discover new vaccines, how important new drugs are. And they have been tested on animals, Idorsia Chief Executive Jean-Paul Clozel told Reuters.

Maries van den Broek of the University of Zurich conducts research which implants tumours into mice to study how their immune system can be strengthened to fight cancer.

Because we dont understand even 10 percent of the processes going on inside a tumour, it is impossible to use computer models or cell culture to understand the complex biology of cancer, she said.

Before scientists start an animal experiment, they must prove there is no alternative and their research is important.

We use around 750 mice per year. They all die at the end of the experiment, but there is no alternative, she said. Without this particular experiment, we wouldnt be able to develop treatments that save human lives.

The latest opinion polls show only 26 percent of voters in favour of a ban and 68 percent against.

Switzerland holds referendums four times a year, with votes last year backing the governments coronavirus restrictions and approving same sex marriage.

Werndli said the campaign had raised awareness about the plight of lab animals, and remained hopeful of success.

I hope we can eventually change and Switzerland can be a positive example to the rest of the world to help stop animal suffering, he said.

By John Revill
Performers dressed as hockey players perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium in China on Feb. 4, 2022. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Taking the Gold in Technology Theft

How China is gathering massive amounts of technological knowhow from the US without consequences

Commentary

As some of us watch the Winter Olympics in Beijing (and some of us dont), the most important games are being played every day in Americas universities, corporate labs, and research institutions.

Thats where China is capturing the gold that really matters.

The stakes for the United States in maintaining the technological edge couldnt be higher.

No Area Untouched

Chinas advanced weapons systems, including its hypersonic nuclear missiles against which we cannot defend ourselves, is a direct result of technology theft.

This advanced delivery system gives China first strike capabilities, and was built from tiny chips designed by a Chinese firm called Phytium Technology using American software and built in the worlds most advanced chip factory in Taiwan, which hums with American precision machinery, according to The Washington Post.

As bad as that soundsand its impossible to overstate the riskChinas hypersonic missile program is just the tip of the technology iceberg.

The Chinese regimes technology theft is so expansive that it reaches into virtually every area of scientific inquiry, including artificial intelligence (AI), bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, and other next generation science.

How has China been able to do this on such a broad scale?

Theft by Every Means Possible

Of course, there are other very effective means of technology theft that have served China well such as cybertheft hacking techniques, deploying spyware in routers, networks, and other equipment, and simply talking to people about what they do and how they do it, specifically targeting the U.S. national security community.

In fact, the LinkedIn, the preferred social media channel for business professionals, has been a major source of technological data gathering for the CCP.

But the United States is just one of many Western nations to be targeted by the CCP via LinkedIn.

For instance, in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Germany and France both detected thousands of LinkedIn targeting efforts into offering interviews to non-existent jobs in order to gather technological data and processes from the interviewees.

Thats pretty much been the modus operandi of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ever since China opened to the United Statesor perhaps more accuratelysince the United States opened to China.

Thousand Talents Plan a Huge Success

For years, Beijings Thousand Talents Plan has been as successful as any other method for gaining new technology from the United States.

This one program has enabled China to steal, bribe, and/or recruit the very smartest technological and bioengineering ideas and minds from America and bring them to China.

The logic is as simple as it is devastating.

Why go through the entire long, expensive, and difficult process of developing technology when you can just steal it, especially if you can buy the scientists who are developing new scientific breakthroughs as theyre creating them?

In 2017, the Chinese congratulated themselves on their Thousand Talents Plan. The results were undeniable. China had started 73 companies and recruited over 11,000 high-level talent from foreign countries to work in China.

The Best and Brightest Traitors

One of those high-talent scientists was Dr. Charles Lieber, former chair of Harvard Universitys Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department.

Lieber served as the principal investigator of the Lieber Research Group at Harvard University, and received more than $15 million in taxpayer money for research grants. But Lieber was also a strategic scientist at Wuhan University Technology (WUT), but didnt tell anybody.

Little wonder why. Under his WUT work agreement, he was paid $50,000 per month plus living expenses of up to $150,000, and was awarded $1.5 million to develop a new WUT research laboratory.

Lieber was arrested at Logan Airport in Boston with two colleagues on their way to China attempting to smuggle 19 vials of biological research specimens. One colleague was Zaosong Zheng, 31, a former scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The other was a Boston University researcher who was also a lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army.

In December 2021, Lieber was found guilty of concealing his affiliation with the WUT and his participation in the Thousand Talents Plan.

Harvard University nanotechnology professor Charles Lieber arrives at the federal courthouse in Boston, Mass., on Dec. 14, 2021. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

US Response Is Feeble and Ineffective

But now that the United States knows what China is doing, what is the administration doing about it?

According to the MIT Technology Review, the Biden administration has started its China Initiative to look into cases of theft, bribery, recruitment, and other nefarious actions from Beijing that target U.S. technology.

But there are a few challenges, to say the least. The first is defining the problem. The Department of Justice has no definition of what constitutes a China Initiative case.

Perhaps, thats why only about one-quarter of cases have led to convictions. Its rather difficult to identify a problem if you cant clearly define it. Not a good start.

Then, theres the shifting focus of the initiative. Instead of concentrating on economic espionage, the focus has shifted to investigating academics charged with breaching research integrity in one way or another.

Different problem, but a similar outcome.

A third challenge is the delicate issue of race. Almost 90 percent of all those charged with theft, espionage, or other acts aimed at technology or information exfiltration are ethnically Chinese.

In these bizarrely woke times, what politician wants to be accused of racial biasor worseoutright racism?

No administration, thats for certain.

But still, just a little perspective and common sense is all thats required to resolve this correctly. Its likely a safe bet that the vast majority of Chinese students coming from China are Chinese, just as most Nazi spies were likely of German heritage.

Who wouldve imagined?

As for the U.S. governments China Initiative, like most government programs, it has yet to live up to its billing.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Liel Leibovitz, a senior writer for Tablet magazine and a host of the "Unorthodox" podcast, in New York on Jan. 3, 2022. (Jack Wang/The Epoch Times)

Taking the Turn: Facing an Illiberal Reality

Now politically homeless, Liel Leibovitz advocates for rebuilding our country, starting in our backyards

I never want to be part of any group of people, Liel Leibovitz says, where a political disagreement could empty your heart of love.

In this episode of American Thought Leaders, host Jan Jekielek discusses topics such as political homelessness and rebuilding society from the bottom up with Liel Leibovitz, a senior writer for Tablet Magazine and a host of the Unorthodox podcast. Hes the author of the popular Tablet essay The Turn: When I saw the left give up everything I believe in, I changed politically. You can, too.

Jan Jekielek: Liel, you wrote one of my favorite essays of 2021, The Turn. What is the turn?

Liel Leibovitz: The turn is the moment when you call into question everything you assumed was the fabric of reality. I grew up with this idea that if you were a decent human being, you were on the left, because the left cared about human rights, womens rights, gay rights.

Related Coverage How the Left Became IlliberalLiel Leibovitz on a New Coalition of the Politically Homeless

On the right were people who only cared about money and held benighted and scary ideas.

I never doubted that premise. But then, I noticed things on the left you werent allowed to say.

It was fine to criticize some people for saying objectionable things, but others were somehow beyond reproach. You start asking yourself, what can I say and not say?

You figure out that the self-proclaimed party of the working class supports an oligopoly of corporations. You realize the party of science uses media to quash inquiry into scientific issues. And once you discover that, you take the turn.

Mr. Jekielek: Theres a lot of people experiencing the turn, but dont want to put their careers on the line or lose family members by objecting to things.

Mr. Leibovitz: Im heartbroken by that. Let me tell you one story of how it happened to me. The turn doesnt occur overnight. Theres no explosion.

Its a series of small vibrations, of small moments.

Ive had a bunch of those moments. One day, I had lunch with my dear friend and mentor in the university where I studied.

He told me that comments I was making about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict were no longer acceptable to a large number of our colleagues on the faculty. [What] struck me about that statement was how perfectly Soviet it was: Watch out, comrade. Theres talk in the party you are expressing wrong ideas. This is not good.

It was strange coming from a person who represents an institution that, to me, is the bedrock of the free and unfettered exchange of ideas. But what hurt even more was how empty of love his voice was. It wasnt, Hey, I just want whats best for you. Lets work this out together. Instead, this cold authoritative voice said, Straighten up or else.

I never want to be part of any group of people where a political disagreement could empty your heart of love.

Mr. Jekielek: There must be a lot of Democrats who feel like you do.

Mr. Leibovitz: I get notes and emails from people all the time that say they started feeling something weird in the Democratic Party or, for that matter, in the Republican Party. They felt politically homeless.

To me, thats a wonderful sentiment. I want to be politically homeless.

Because being politically homeless is the moment in which you stop thinking about these structures in old and unhelpful terms.

Whats important is whos in your camp and what we believe and what we could do together to rebuild our country. And while I think the chaos that were experiencing is weird and scary, I couldnt be more optimistic for the future of this country in the long term.

Lets rebuild, because our universities have been corrupted. Lets build another news media outlet, because our newspapers have been corrupted. Lets build another way of doing business, because our big businesses have been corrupted. That fills me with so much hope and so much joy.

Thats what successful people are doing.

Americans are doing what Americans have always done, which is be resolute, creative, resilient, and community-minded.

Mr. Jekielek: Recently, Dr. Robert Malone was on with Joe Rogan, where he mentioned mass formation psychosis. Any thoughts on that?

Mr. Leibovitz: Yes. I think its grimmer and simpler than we would think.

If your commitment isnt just to yourself, but to your children and to their children and to your community and to your fellow believers and, above all, to the almighty, then your perspective on life is very different. If you start every morning saying thank you for all of this, thats one thing.

Now, imagine you woke up in the morning and literally believed in nothing.

Imagine you have massive student debt and also no job, because the whole premise that you would go to college and then get a good job and career, that doesnt happen anymore.

Imagine that you saw all around you tremendous misery. Imagine that the people entrusted with keeping you safe, well-fed, free from disease or want were failing their jobs miserably and blaming all kinds of other ephemeral structures. Thats a recipe for disaster. Thats a recipe in which you seek the devil. Who can I blame? Blame Trump. Blame the Republicans. Blame Russia. Blame this. Blame that.

Mr. Jekielek: I keep thinking about this ideology: wokeism. John McWhorter calls it The Elect. Its profoundly reductionistic in the way youve been describing.

Mr. Leibovitz: Correct. And its a religious faith, 100 percent. The iconography, the murals, the taking of the knee, all the trappings of a religious order are there, except for the stuff that actual religions have worked out like absolution, forgiveness, compassion, or kindness. And this new religious order is a bad religion, because theres no forgiveness, no way for you to redeem yourself. Its, as you said, reductionist. Its cruel and unforgiving, which is why I think, ultimately, it will fade. It doesnt make anyone happy. It doesnt bring justice. It sows discord, disruption, mistrust, and violence.

Mr. Jekielek: Some people watching this may be thinking, I cant talk about these things. I risk alienating the love of my life. I risk destroying my family. To those people, its a difficult moment. What should people like this do?

Mr. Leibovitz: Simple advice comes to us from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: Live not by lies. Its also the title of a book by my friend, Rod Dreher, that reminds us that if youre forced to lie to be accepted, theres no growth, no hope. And you should leave. The price of leaving may be high. Its quite possible youll no longer be able to continue working at your place of employment.

Thats a difficult conundrum for most people. Its also possible you might alienate a loved one or a family member.

But the freedom to speak the truth is great. And heres the reward for that sacrifice. The connections you make are real. I was no longer able to continue teaching at New York University once I was unwilling to express views and ideas that I knew to be completely nonsensical and offensive.

I lost quite a bit, but I gained the friendship and love of a group of human beings that I had never known existed.

I came to them with humility and with an understanding that I, too, can make mistakes and built some of the most beautiful friendships of my life.

When you live not by lies, you get relationships with amazing people you never wouldve thought would become your friends.

Mr. Jekielek: There are a lot of people in this day and age that have lost that.

Mr. Leibovitz: Its important to me to offer three pieces of advice. The first is cribbed from my friend Walter Kirn. He told me to wean myself off my addiction to prestige, to stop thinking I need to write for The New York Times because thats the prestigious publication or that I need to go to Harvard because thats the prestigious school.

Related Coverage How the Left Became IlliberalLiel Leibovitz on a New Coalition of the Politically Homeless

The second is, understand that many people around you want to connect with you.

And that leads me to my third and most important prescription, which is to be focused on building.

Your job isnt to fix America. Your job isnt to fix health care, politics, or national security.

Your job is to fix the thing thats in your backyard. Maybe its some kind of food bank because you really care about this issue. Maybe its helping a couple of homeschooling friends, because youre thinking about doing this too, and you want to start a group.

Those kinds of small grassroots positives are what Im seeing.

If you feel youre creating something sustainable and nurturing in your community, then youre on the right path.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Jan Jekielek Senior Editor Follow Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of the show, "American Thought Leaders." Jans career has spanned academia, media, and international human rights work. In 2009 he joined The Epoch Times full time and has served in a variety of roles, including as website chief editor. He is the producer of the award-winning Holocaust documentary film "Finding Manny."
Tampa Woman Convicted of Killing Her Kids Seeks New Trial

TAMPA, Fla.A woman serving two life terms for killing her teenage children in 2011 while her husband was deployed overseas is seeking a new trial.

A Tampa jury rejected the insanity defense for Julie Schenecker, 61, and convicted her in the shooting deaths of her 16-year-old daughter Calyx and 13-year-old son Beau.

Schenecker is seeking a new trial in an appeal she filed herself, the Tampa Bay Times reported. She contends that the public defenders who represented her were ineffective. She argues that they should have sought to move the trial away from Tampa because of extensive local news coverage and that they didnt call certain witnesses who could have bolstered her insanity claim.

State prosecutors said a hearing is necessary to address some of the 20 claims she made.

Judge Michelle Sisco ordered that Schenecker return to court for the March 10 hearing with a new attorney appointed to represent her. She has been brought to the Hillsborough County Jail from Lowell Correctional Institution Annex, a womens prison near Ocala.

Hillsborough Public Defender Julianne Holt suggested that claims of ineffective lawyering are routine.

Im confident the work we did was good work. And I think the testimony of my attorneys will clearly show how much work and effort went to the defense of Ms. Schenecker, she told the newspaper.

Officers said Schenecker was dazed from the effects of drugs when they found the childrens bodies in the familys home on Jan. 28, 2011.

She told detectives that she shot the children, but also asked, Are my kids coming in later?

Army Col. Parker Schenecker returned home from duty and was granted a quick divorce.

During the 2014 trial, Scheneckers attorneys presented testimony about her mental health history and use of antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Prosecutors acknowledged her history of mental illness, but also pointed to a spiral notebook where she had written plans to kill the children as evidence she knew what she was doing.

Jurors later told news outlets her writings convinced them she was guilty. An appeals court affirmed her conviction and sentence in 2016.

In her new appeal, Schenecker said she wanted to testify during the trial but was urged not to do so. She claims one of her lawyers warned that the prosecutor would eat her alive. She said jurors would have had a better understanding of her state of mind had she been allowed to take the stand.
An aerial view of the city of Hobart and Mount Wellington in Tasmania. (AAP Image/Supplied by MACq 01 Hotel, Stu Gibson)

Tasmania Education Minister Resigns After Overseas Holiday Saga

Tasmanian Education Minister Sarah Courtney has resigned from politics after the opposition harshly criticised her for holidaying in France during the states preparations for students to return to schools.

Courtney, who was the health minister for Tasmania when the COVID-19 pandemic started said she wanted to have more family time after experiencing an exhausting few years.

I am resigning as both minister and member for Bass, the Liberal MP told reporters on Feb. 10.

I have given my heart and soul to this role for eight years and have taken every step to ensure it is my first priority.

However, I believe the time has come for me to move on.

When I was on leave, it gave me the opportunity to properly consider what future is personally right for me and my family.

Courtney had tested positive for COVID-19 while overseas and returned to Tasmania in the week commencing Feb. 7 after spending extra time in isolation.

The Labor opposition and Greens party had lashed Courtney for the timing of her leave; however, she received support from Premier Peter Gutwein.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein attends the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Sydney, Australia, on March 13, 2020. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

After learning of Courtneys resignation, opposition leader Rebecca White said that her decision resulted in a mess because of an absence of leadership, the Guardian reported.

We no longer have a minister to support our students and our teachers when they are facing the most disruptive weeks of learning in our memory.

We had always called on Sarah Courtney to come back to do her job. And instead of that shes resigned and left Tasmania in a bigger mess.

Meanwhile, Courtney did not attribute the cause of her decision, which came on the second day of term one, to the criticisms she attracted over the past few weeks.

She said she would travel to Sydney on Feb. 11 to attend the funeral of her grandmother, who passed away while Courtney was in quarantine overseas.

The past two years, in particular, have been especially gruelling. Rewarding, but very gruelling and exhausting, she said.

I dont accept the criticism that has been put forward by Labor and the Greens. I think it is unfounded.

Courtney became a member of the Tasmanian parliament in 2014 and has since held five minister positions, including tourism, hospital and events and disability services.

In October 2018, she resigned as the primary industries minister after notifying then-Premier Will Hodgman of her relationship with John Whittington, the secretary of a department she was managing.

An internal investigation found that Courtney and Whittington, who was the head of the department of primary industries, parks, water and the environment, did not commit any wrongdoing.

The two have since married.

Tasmanians fill out their ballot forms in Hobart, Australia, on May 01, 2021. (Steve Bell/Getty Images)

An election recount is expected to take place in Bass, with Courtneys seat is likely to go to one of the three following Liberal candidates: Simon Wood, Greg Kieser and Lara Alexander.

The deadline for candidates to apply for the recount is noon on Feb. 25.

Currently, 13 out of 25 seats in the lower house belong to the Liberals.

In the wake of Courtneys resignation, Gutwein said he would contemplate a cabinet reshuffle over the week commencing Feb. 14.

He remarked that Courtney had been a fantastic member of Tasmanian parliament, saying she shouldered an enormous weight when the state went through the most challenging moments of the pandemic.

Australian Education Union Tasmania president David Genford said in a statement that Courtney left behind a poor legacy, with concerns over Tasmanian educators and students missing out because of delays resulting from a change in the minister position.

Genford also said that the state had to prioritise solving a serious shortage of teachers and support staff.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, speaks during a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on June 9, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Teachers Union Head: New York Keeping Students Masked Is Absolutely the Right Way

The head of the nations largest teachers union applauded New York States decision to allow adults to not wear masks while keeping public school students masked up, saying the governor is doing it absolutely the right way.

Appearing Thursday on CNNs Newsroom, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten was asked about her opinion on the ongoing trend of states phasing out mask requirements for public schools. She replied that it confuses teachers, students, and parents when their governors call for an off-ramp for masks but the federal government still recommends universal masking in schools.

Weingarten, whose organization has been advocating for school mask mandates over the past two years, said she agreed with New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls approach to the issue.

I think Im just going to lift up the one governor who I think is doing it absolutely the right way  Gov. Hochul in New York, she said, noting that the governor listed the four or five different things to determine whether schools should keep masking students instead of joining other states to announce an end date to school mask mandate.

Hochul, a Democrat, announced Wednesday that New York will lift the statewide mask mandate for businesses and most indoor public settings, except in certain areas where people congregate, including public transit, correctional facilities, child care, and nursing homes. However, the mandate in New York schools will remain in place at least until early March.

The governor, who has not been satisfied with the number of New York children whove taken COVID-19 vaccine shots, said public school districts will distribute testing kits for students to use at home when the mid-winter break ends next week. After that, the state will consider whether to end the school mask mandate.

After the break, after we have kids tested, we are going to make an assessment that first week of March, she said.

Of all age groups, those under 18 are the least likely to get severe cases of COVID-19.

Hochuls decision is facing pushback from parents across the state, including Daniella Jampel, a Democrat and founding member of the Keep NYC Schools Open movement. Jampels group was founded in November 2020 when the United Federation of Teachers, an AFT affiliate, pushed to shut down the citys entire public school system because the citywide average COVID-19 positivity rate surpassed a 3 percent threshold.

Starting today, maskless NYers can go to grocery stores, pharmacies, movie theaters, and just about anywhere else. Our kids, however, will spend 7 hours behind a mask, struggling to hear their friends and understand their teacher, Jampel wrote on Twitter, calling on fellow New York parents to call Hochul and demand immediate end to school mask mandates.
A person holds a sign for the "Freedom Convoy" a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, as people rally against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Jan. 29, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

The Canadian Truckers Battle Against COVID Tyranny

Commentary

The tinpot dictator Justin Trudeau thought he could extend his regime of COVID tyranny, but a massive number of Canadian truckers have defied him. They have a good chance of forcing him to back down and maybe toppling his government as well.

Aden Tate tells us what happened:

It was on Jan. 15 that the Canadian government decided they needed to impose a jab mandate over Canadian truckers, claiming that man no longer had the right to his own body, but that his body instead belonged to the state. And so, Canadian truckers organized, creating the Freedom Convoy. This massive caravan may very well have set a world record, as its estimated that 50,000 trucks have joined with it. Thats trucksnot truckers. The Jan. 15 royal decree has stated that Canadian truckers who do not have The Jabawockee in their body will be forced by Canada to undergo a two-week quarantine period should they traverse the Canadian-American border. Washington D.C. decreed a similar demand on Jan. 22, when the post-9/11 U.S. Department of Homeland Security decided that Canadian truckers had to be fully jabbed should they enter American soil. Both of these decrees (when enforced by those who do not understand what their respective countries truly stand for) would result in thousands of men losing their ability to provide a paycheck for their familiesto put bread on the table. And the Canadian truckers are not alone, it seems. Reports are surfacing of thousands of American truckers all traveling up to Canada to join the fray. The caravan is heading towards Ottawa, where it intends to turn the city into the largest truck stop of all time. Canadian mainstream media has been downplaying the extent of this convoy, and there are even reports surfacing that the live camera feeds the public can normally watch online of Canadian highways have been shut down.

Naturally, the Trudeau dictatorship is battling against the truckers, but the public supports them and has donated millions of dollars to help their cause. The Last Refuge offers details:

The fundraiser for the effort now exceeds $5.5 million dollars and still climbing. [It reached $10,000,000 before being suspendedsee below.] It is now estimated that over 50,000 vehicles are participating in the convoy effort, and the Canadian Dept. of Transportation is doing everything possible to stop, block and impede the assemblies. Every federal truck stop and DOT weigh station has been opened, and every truck is being required to go through the DOT checks. This is not accidental. The movement has now evolved into a conflict of the average Canadian, represented by the truckers, -vs- the oppressive government, represented by the activated federal agencies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It really has become an incredible example of THE PEOPLE -vs- GOVERNMENT. The truck convoys started from British Columbia in the west, Newfoundland in the east, and Windsor, Ontario in the south. However, cars, SUVs, vans, and small commercial trucks are now included in the massive convoy lines and joined with the big rigs. On every highway along the way crowds are cheering and waving support for the Truckers. Aerial views show some of the context for how massive these convoys are that are converging on Ottawa Jan. 29. It is widely estimated, If it gets there on timeand if the convoy holds together as it has in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewanit could be 10 times larger than the world record, for the longest convoy in history.

The leftist media doesnt like the protests. GoFundMe suspended fundraising for the trucker after $10,000,000 was raised:

With the multi-million dollar Freedom Convoy fundraiser now in suspended animation, some donors are reporting receiving refunds from GoFundMe. On Wednesday evening, [Feb. 3] GoFundMe placed the fundraiserwhich has raised at least $10-million in just a few weeksunder an official review. This fundraiser is currently paused and under review to ensure it complies with our terms of service and applicable laws and regulations, read the message that appeared on the fundraisers GoFundMe page. Our team is working 24/7 and doing all we can to protect both organizers and donors. A statement released by GoFundMe that evening implies the crowdfunding platforms position on the convoy evolved as truckers and their supporters converged for their planned Ottawa rally on Jan. 29.

Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, isnt happy about the protests either:

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says a truck convoy thats blockaded a highway at a busy U.S. border crossing as part of a protest against vaccine mandates violates the provinces Traffic Safety Act and must end immediately. The Canada Border Services Agency said the U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta., has remained open despite the blockade on Highway 4, but RCMP say only foot traffic is able to get through. As I said last week, Canadians have a democratic right to engage in lawful protests. I urge those involved in this truck convoy protest to do so as safely as possible, and not to create road hazards which could lead to accidents or unsafe conditions for other drivers, Kenney said Sunday in a statement from Washington, D.C., where he is attending a National Governors Association meeting.

Kenney is upset at blocked highways, but the Canadians governments totalitarian measures to destroy the Canadian economy through lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and travel restrictions dont bother him.

Trudeau responded to the truckers in a way you would expect. He and his ilk are totalitarians and fascists, but they project their own attitudes onto their opponents. In Orwellian fashion, if you want freedom, that makes you a racist and a fascist.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada on Monday lashed out at protests against pandemic restrictions over the weekend in Ottawa, chastising demonstrators for desecrating war memorials, wielding Nazi symbols, and stealing food from the homeless. The protest was a culmination of a group of Canadian truckers and their supporters who drove from Western Canada to Ottawa to challenge government vaccine mandates. Speaking from self-isolation after he and two of his children tested positive for the coronavirus, Mr. Trudeau said he understood the frustrations of Canadians, exasperated by a pandemic that has taken a heavy toll. But he criticized the protesters for flying racist flags, hurling abuse at small business owners, spreading disinformation and, in one case, going to a homeless shelter in downtown Ottawa and demanding food. There is no place in our country for threats, violence or hatred, he said, adding that the convoy was not representative of a majority of truckers.

Contrary to Trudeaus lies, the Canadian truckers are splendid in their struggle against COVID tyranny.

By Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Chinese Regime Uses Infiltration Tactics to Control Dissent and Steal Technology

China poses the greatest spy threat to the US

News Analysis

The FBI has identified China as the greatest intelligence threat to the United States. The Chinese regime employs a variety of methods to infiltrate U.S. companies and the government in order to support Beijings interests, to control dissenters, and to steal U.S. technology and know-how.

There is no country that presents a broader, more severe threat to our innovation, our ideas and our economic security than China does, said FBI Director Christopher Wray in an interview with NBC News on Feb. 1.

The following are just a few examples of cyberattacks that were allegedly carried out by Chinese hackers with ties to Beijing.

In early February, News Corp., a division of The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, reported being the target of a two-year cyberattack, which was linked to China.

On Nov. 7, 2021, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it had brought criminal charges against Hytera, a Chinese company that was previously proposed for blacklisting, on national security grounds. The charges allege that Hytera conspired with employees of Motorola Solutions Inc. to steal digital mobile radio technology.

In 2015, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was breached, with Beijing-linked hackers stealing information on 20 million current and former federal employees.

In 2013, Chinese hackers penetrated both The New York Times and the Journal.

The News Corp. building on 6th Avenue, home to Fox News, the New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal, in New York on March 20, 2019. (Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

The Chinese regimes proven history of cyberattacks on businesses, government agencies, and universities had prompted the Trump administration to launch the China Initiative to counter cyberattacks sponsored by Beijing. Wray has said the FBI currently has over 2,000 active investigations against China.

Within China, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) spy craft is used to monitor and control its own people, with security officials creating a system to track journalists and academics. Chinas Xinjiang region has become synonymous with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), facial recognition, and surveillance technology. Meanwhile, all attendees at the Beijing Winter Olympics are monitored, surveilled, and tracked with the latest spy gear, including health apps, phone taps, and state-approved VPNs. Even more worrying is that the DNA of foreign athletes, officials, and diplomats may be collected and categorized as a result of a strict schedule of daily COVID testing.

The CCP exports this type of repression to stifle dissenters in immigrant communities in the United States. One of the reasons the regime hacks media outlets is to discover the names and locations of informants who oppose the CCP. Once these people are found, they may be subject to intimidation while authorities threaten their families back in China. In the most extreme cases, they could become targets of extrajudicial harassment and Fox Hunt, which Beijing usually imposes on political dissidents and their families living overseas. These people may be kidnapped from the streets of foreign countries and returned to China where they face prosecution for alleged crimes.

Subtle types of infiltration occur when Chinese embassies and consulates send out messages to U.S. businesses, advising that if they wish to continue doing business in China, they should promote pro-China legislation in the Congress.

In 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Washington contacted corporate executives and congressional representatives, asking them to block bills designed to increase U.S. competitiveness.

Similarly, in October 2019, Beijing threatened to cut lucrative contracts with the NBAs Houston Rockets when its general manager, Daryl Morey, liked a social media post by Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

Using economic pressure, the CCP seeks to control the activities of American, Chinese, and foreign citizens and companies, regardless of which country they are in.

Industrial and Economic Espionage

Beyond spying, as a form of social and political control, the CCP also engages in industrial and economic espionage in order to further Chinas development. Beijings Made in China 2025 lists broad goals for the Party, such as increasing its dominance in robotics, green energy, electric vehicles, aerospace, biopharma, and others. The CCP is so determined to achieve these goals that it will throw massive quantities of money and resources at them, as well as resorting to unfair competition, technology theft, and spying.

Wray estimates Chinas IP theft costs the U.S. government and private companies between $300 billion and $600 billion per year. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), since the year 2000, there have been 160 publicly reported instances of Chinese espionage directed at the United States. There have also been an additional 50 cases of attempts to smuggle munitions or controlled technologies out of the United States. As a result, U.S. companies have brought 1,200 cases of intellectual property theft litigation against Chinese entities.

In these cases of industrial espionage, the CSIS reported that 42 percent of the alleged perpetrators were Chinese military or government employees, 32 percent were private Chinese citizens, and 26 percent were non-Chinese, usually Americans, who were persuaded to act on behalf of the CCP. The prevalence of economic spying has increased over the past decade, with 76 percent of these incidents occurring between 2010 and 2021, according to the report.

Soon after news broke out about the News Corp. hack, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, issued a statement and said that China is a staunch defender of cybersecurity. Despite Beijings claims to the contrary, the regimes hacking apparatus is larger than that of any other nation.

In a single incidence, criminal hackers with ties to Chinas Ministry of State Security stole terabytes of data from a network that represented 10,000 American companies, Wray said in a speech he delivered on Jan. 31. Consequently, the FBI has identified China as the biggest threat to U.S. innovationstealing or attempting to steal the designs for everything from COVID vaccines and computer chips to nuclear power plants, wind turbines, and smartphones.

Apart from hacking, some of the CCPs spying is done through workers, students, or researchers physically planted in the target organization. These co-opted agents may provide cover, identify assets and targets, facilitate communication, or otherwise aid in intelligence gathering.

Last year, a Chinese engineer, Xu Yanjun, was charged with economic espionage, when he attempted to steal GE Aviation technology used for making jet engine fan blades from composite materials. Xu also aided hackers in gaining access to the companys systems, and even tried to convince a GE engineer to visit China.

Xu Yanjun in a photo taken shortly after his arrest. (Courtesy of Butler County Jail)

The CCP often makes strategic investments in American companies in order to gain access to proprietary information. In some cases, the true ownership of a state-owned or state-controlled company may be obscured.

An example is Chinas HNA Group, which was in talks to purchase controlling interest in Forbes magazine. Last year, HNA bought the American technology distributor, Ingram Micro, which distributes a wide range of products, including iPhones and Cisco networking equipment. Two of HNAs largest shareholders are Hainan Jiaoguan Holding, which translates to Hainan Traffic Administration Holding and Yangpu Jianyun Investments, both of which were incorporated by state-owned enterprises.

The FBI and Justice Department Respond

Some groups have accused the FBI and Justice Department of overreach or Asian-hate when they profile Chinese nationals in spying investigations. Additionally, critics claim that U.S. intelligence agencies are nitpicking, indicting people for paperwork offenses that have no effect on national security, according to a Feb. 1 NBC News report.

But some of these offenses have proved to be very real, for example, Chinese researchers fail to disclose their ties to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) or that American professors fail to disclose funding from Beijing. In 2020, Wang Xin and three other Chinese academics were charged with visa fraud for failing to disclose their connections to the Chinese military. Another high-profile case was Harvard professor Charles Lieber, who covered up his financial relationship with the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) and Chinas Thousand Talents Program.

The charges against Wang and the other three Chinese researchers who had connections to the PLA were dropped last year, when a U.S. court found that the visa application question on military service was not clear enough for the applicants to understand. Critics saw this as vindication and confirmation of state-overreach.

Similarly, when Hu Anmings espionage and fraud charges were dropped last year, it was seen by critics as a failure of the China Initiative. Hu, an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), was charged in 2020 for failing to disclose his ties to a state-run Chinese university.

Critics aside, the CCP uses a variety of methods to infiltrate U.S. organizations. Exporting Chinese technology to the United States and other countries is a backdoor means that the CCP uses to spy on foreign countries and to obtain their data. But now, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is getting ready to spend $5.6 billion to get rid of Chinese telecom components because they pose a hacking risk.

Another means of spying and projecting soft power is the Sister Cities program. Currently, there are 157 U.S. cities that maintain a sister-city relationship with cities in China. Since 2020, U.S. lawmakers, led by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), have been asking that these partnerships be investigated, as they pose a threat and allow the CCP to co-opt or influence city-level officials.

The Confucius Institutes (CIs), which the Heritage Foundation refers to as a Trojan horse, have been at the center of espionage discussions for a number of years. The CIs are Chinese language and culture centers installed on U.S. campuses, which have been accused of spying, censoring, and disseminating CCP propaganda.

Over the past four years, U.S. authorities have been increasing their investigations into the CIs. As of Feb. 9, there are 21 CIs in the United States, with four of these scheduled to close.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
An empty street is seen outside the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Jan. 17, 2021. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

The White House Now Says It Never Really Wanted Lockdowns

Commentary

Last Friday, a reporter asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki to respond to the Johns Hopkins COVID study showing lockdowns provided no real benefit in terms of disease prevention.

In response, Psaki dodged addressing the study directly, but then pivoted to claiming that the Biden administration had never pushed lockdowns. We are not pushing lockdowns, she insisted. Weve not been pro-lockdownmost of the lockdowns actually happened under the previous president.

 #BREAKING: | Press Secretary Psaki responds to Johns Hopkins Study that says lockdowns had little to no effect on curving Covid mortality. We are not pushing lockdowns, weve not been pro-lockdown  most of the lockdowns actually happened under the previous President. pic.twitter.com/iOKAFciOwX  El American (@ElAmerican_) February 4, 2022

We have now reached the point in the media and political narrative where the party of lockdowns realizes lockdowns are increasingly unpopular and so now claims it never supported lockdowns at all.

But how can Psaki get away with saying this?

We all know that Joe Biden has always supported lockdowns. Well, thats not quite it, and shes not completely wrong. By the time Biden was actually sworn in as president, he had already stopped pushing for lockdowns as a continued anti-COVID option.

On the other hand, it is certainly true that as late as early November 2020, high-ranking Biden advisors were still holding up lockdowns as a possibility that fall and winter. For example, on Nov. 11, 2020, Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of Bidens COVID-19 Advisory Board, suggested the country might require a lockdown for 4 to 6 weeks and recommended the U.S. government spend additional trillions to pay for a package right now to cover all of the lost wages for individual workers.

Osterholm also referenced an August 2020 column he cowrote with Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari in which the authors concluded: To be effective, the lockdown has to be as comprehensive and strict as possible.

For his part, Biden was keeping lockdowns very much on the table at least as late as August 2020. Biden declared in a joint interview with Kamala Harris that if COVID numbers increased again I would shut it down. I would listen to the scientists. Were going to do whatever it takes to save lives.

By November, however, the administration appears to have shifted to a policy of using lockdowns more as a threat than as a likely plan of action. This position was also reflected in the comments of Zeke Emanuel, a long-time supporter of draconian lockdowns who also remained a Biden advisor in November.

Earlier in 2020, Emanuel had advocated for long-term lockdowns, suggesting lockdowns would need to last for 18 months or more. Yet by November, he instead insisted that whether or not the additional lockdowns would take place would depend on what we do now.

In other words, if enough people wore masks and get vaccinated, then the administration wouldnt be forced to push for full lockdowns again. This position was already stated quite clearly by Anthony Fauci in August, when he told an audience:

I believe strongly and Ill say it very clearly: We do not have to completely lockdown if we do things right. And if we do these things right I believe we can open up the economy, get the employment back, get people out of the doldrums of being locked downif we do it prudently, carefully, and the way the guidelines say.

For Fauci, you dont need lockdowns ifand thats a key ifeveryone does exactly what Fauci tells them to. In any case, Fauci still wasnt giving up on lockdowns into late November, stating it was too early to say if lockdowns could be ruled out.

In spite of this, by Nov. 19facing a tough election battlethe administration was openly saying it was not planning on trying to implement lockdowns again but with the subtext being that this was contingent on enough of the population getting vaccinated

Indeed, in her own disavowal of lockdowns this past Friday, Psaki pushes this very line of reasoning stating that the presidents approach has been using the tools we have to prevent [lockdowns]. Translation: So long as vaccines and mask wearing work, lockdowns wont be necessary.

Nowhere in those words, however, is there an admission that lockdowns do more harm than good or that they are unacceptable. No, it appears the administration can have it both ways. It will say it isnt for lockdowns while simultaneously insisting that lockdowns could be triggered by not using the tools that prevent lockdowns.

So, Psaki is correct that once Biden had been inaugurated into the White House, there was no general drive from administration officials for lockdowns. The focus had shifted to masks and vaccines.

Today, this fact allows the administration to claim that lockdowns are mostly something that happened under the previous president. Indeed, Donald Trump did little to prevent lockdowns and did much to provide political cover for state governors wishing to impose lockdowns.

It was on Trumps watch that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pushed heavily for lockdowns. Trump gave a daily nationwide platform to prolockdown technocrats like Fauci and Deborah Birx. Trump claimed to disagree with these bureaucratswhom he could have easily firedbut Trump was either too craven or too incompetent to intervene.

Instead, dozens of state governors imposed lockdowns on their populations, helped by the fact they could simply say they were following guidelines put out by Trumps CDC.

Thanks to Trumps weakness, Psaki is right that lockdowns are something we can all remember from the Trump era.

Legally, of course, its unlikely any administrationwhether Trumps or Bidenscould actually get away for long with directly imposing any sort of nationwide lockdown if it wanted to. The federal courts have already sent a pretty clear message that police actions like lockdowns are prerogatives of the states governments.

Moreover, with gubernatorial races in 36 states this November, only candidates in the absolutely bluest blue states would even consider telling the voters as governor I am poised to impose new lockdowns at the first sign of crowded hospitals. Eight weeks to flatten the curve!

That might still work in Europe or China, but its hard to see much support from American voters at this point.

But as weve seen, we shouldnt expect those who supported lockdowns to admit states with lockdowns showed no better results than states that barely locked down at all. Rather, the lockdown party will just split hairs to show they never really pushed lockdowns at all or that the science changed.

Instead, these people will move on to pushing their new version of lockdownism: vaccine passports and pariah status for the disobedient. Whether they worked or not, lockdowns have clearly fallen out of favor so much that the Biden administration wont even admit to supporting the idea. Thats a victory for friends of freedom and human rights. The next stop is to strike a similar blow against vaccine mandates.

By Ryan McMaken

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
City workers gather to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in New York City on Feb. 7, 2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of Workers in NYC to Be Fired as COVID-19 Vaccine Deadline Ends

New York City is set to fire nearly 4,000 unvaccinated municipal workers who failed to comply with the citys harsh COVID-19 vaccine rules that required employees to get jabbed by Feb. 11 or face termination.

Eric Adams, who took office in January, confirmed this week that he will go ahead with then-Mayor Bill de Blasios mandate that ordered all public and private sector workers in the city to get the shot or lose their jobs. The order is one of the most sweeping CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic policies in the nation.

We have to be very clearpeople must be vaccinated if they are New York City employees. Everyone understood that, Adams said. We dont want to terminate anyone. We want people to be vaccinated and employed so that our economy continues to open.

Adams, a Democrat, faced a swell of protests from workers who expressed frustration over the order, organizing large demonstrations to voice their concerns. A march to the City Hall is planned for Friday, The New York Post reported.

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams speaks during a press conference in New York City on Dec. 15, 2021. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

There were up to 4,000 workers who had failed to comply with the mayors order by the end of January, according to City Hall, but that number might have dropped after city officials said last week that they would face termination if they fail to comply with the governments COVID-19 vaccine rule.

New York City has a rough total of 370,000 municipal employeeswhich includes teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Firefighters, medics, and EMTs formed a grassroots pro-choice group called Bravest for Choice in an attempt to have the city back down on the mandates.

Matt Connor, a member of the group, previously told The Epoch Times that the organization believes every person has the right to make his or her own informed choice in relation to medical decisions.

The groups union representatives previously said during a press conference in early November that they have been understaffed for a long time, and many were already overworked.

Connor told The Epoch Times that the group is gravely concerned about the situation and that if the city denies the thousands of requests and appeals for reasonable accommodations and terminates the applicants, there will likely be severe impacts to public health and safety.

For example, in the case of the FDNY, New Yorks Bravest, terminations will exacerbate an existing staffing shortage that has been further impacted by a sustained elevation in medical leave due to illness and injury during the past several months following the mandated vaccination program.

Municipal workers hold placards and shout slogans as they march across Brooklyn Bridge during a protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, in New York on Oct. 25, 2021. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Protesters rally against vaccine mandates in New York City on Nov. 20, 2021. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

He noted that a lack of manpower will mean more need for overtime staffing, and the COVID-19 vaccine mandate has disastrous potential to overtax an already stressed workforce.

City officials said they wont know exactly how many workers will get fired until after the Feb. 11 deadline passes. For most workers, thats the end of their Friday workday.

The United Federation of Teachers, which represents New York City public school teachers, had negotiated with the city school district to allow members to choose to stay on unpaid leave until Sept. 5, but the union said 700 of its members who have been on unpaid leave for months opted not to extend their leave or provide proof of vaccine and had been notified theyd be fired.

Enrico Trigoso and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Trucker Protests the Tipping Point of Frustration With Two Years of Botched Pandemic Responses

Commentary

With the ongoing trucker protests that have rocked Ottawa and several other Canadian cities and jurisdictions, it is reasonable to say that weve reached the peak of the politicization of this pandemic.

Something like this was bound to happen.

The support the protest has garnered is clearly a product of frustrations that have reached a tipping point after two years of botched pandemic responses. The two main ingredients of it are manifestly the collapse in trust in institutions and the astonishing lack of self-awareness of our politicians that continues to fuel it.

It has also quickly become a culture war battle in which, yet again, the casualty is any worthwhile debate on COVID mandates and how we should work toward ending them.

On Feb. 7, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh requested an emergency debate in Parliament to discuss the matter of the mutinous truckers and what to do about it. This was sorely needed, but the prime ministers performance again showed why such a protest has occurred and why those involved are so unrelenting.

Conceding that Canadians are indeed tired of the pandemic, he then went on to accuse the protesters of undermining democracy and reiterate the point that they are akin to a band of racist Nazi sympathizers. This is a story of a country that got through this pandemic and a few people shouting and waving swastikas does not define who Canadians are, he said.

Trudeau commended members of the opposition who called for an end to the blockades, saying it was time to put national interests ahead of partisan interests. This is true, but such a statement rings hollow coming from an elected official who has subjected much of the discourse on COVID to his own political interests.

Trudeau has been one of the most aggressive when it comes to pitting Canadians against each other, with his comments frequently suggesting that anyone who criticizes COVID restrictions is in line with racists and conspiracy theorists. It is also difficult to take much of what he said about critics of COVID mandates seriously when he decided the public health emergency could be put on hold when it was politically convenient to support and participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in the summer of 2020. In many U.S. cities, these protests brewed a wave of vandalism and violence and occurred before there was ever a vaccine.

Constant flip-flopping throughout the pandemic by federal and provincial political leaders and health authorities was bound to either reinforce those already skeptical of restrictions or make skeptics out of those who were once fully on board with them. The same effect has been seen as a result of claims by Trudeau and others to the effect that those critical of mandates were somehow less Canadian and perhaps should not be tolerated.

What continues to escape the gaze of these politicians is that, despite the widespread objection to the tactics used by some protesters and the few extremists in their ranks, a large swathe of Canadians at least sympathize with the frustration of many of those participating in the convoy.

A poll conducted by Leger released this month concludes that around 44 percent surveyed expressed that they understood the frustration of the protesters. Another 44 percent said they agreed that the prime minister and premiers share a fair amount of the blame for the predicament we are in.

This is compounded by other polls that suggest a general decline of trust in governments among Canadians. A recent trust index done by Proof Strategies indicates a significant drop in trust among Canadians since the pandemic hit, with only 34 percent saying they trust politicians, business figures, or those in media. This is down from 38 percent reported in the first year of the pandemic.

If Canadas politics are to resemble anything close to sane as we enter the post-COVID period, those in elite positions need to develop a sense of self-awareness and ruminate on how their own conduct may have contributed to a loss of trust and respect that has led to what weve been witnessing in the Freedom Convoy protests.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Trudeau: Ontarios Declaration of State of Emergency Over Trucker Protests Responsible and Necessary

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ontario Premier Doug Ford did the right thing by declaring a state of emergency over the trucker protests in Windsor and Ottawa.

Ontarios announcement this morning is responsible and necessary, Trudeau said at a press conference on Feb. 11.

The same day, Ford said at a press conference that the state of emergency involves measures such as imposing fines of up to $100,000 and up to a year of imprisonment for non-compliance, as well as additional authority for the police to take away the personal and commercial licences of those who dont comply.

Trudeau said that in his call with U.S. President Joe Biden on the morning of Feb. 11, the two talked about the challenges caused by the border blockages and protests, and that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cannot continue.

Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed, he said.

Since Feb. 6, protesters have had a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge crossing which connects Windsor to Detroit. Its the busiest border crossing between the two countries, with over $300 million worth of goods moving on the bridge each day. Some other border crossings across the country have been blocked by vehicle convoys as well, including in Manitoba and Alberta.

Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2022. (Annie Wu/NTD Television)

The protests were inspired by the Freedom Convoy movement that began as a demonstration against a requirement for truck drivers to have COVID-19 vaccination for cross-border travel. The protests grew in size as people from across Canada joined in, converging in Ottawa on Jan. 29, with many saying they will stay until all COVID-19 mandates are lifted.

In previous remarks, Trudeau linked the trucker protests with racism and violence, and has refused to meet with the convoy organizers.

Earlier this week, two Liberal MPs dissented from their governments position, saying those who have legitimate concerns shouldnt be demonized and that pandemic policies shouldnt be politicized.

Trudeau was asked at the press conference if he regrets his approach to the protesters, and if he thinks his remarks angered them. He didnt directly respond to the question, instead saying that the majority of truckers are vaccinated.

People are tired of COVID, theyre tired of the restrictions, but at the same time, as a government, we made a promise to Canadians to have their backs every step of the way for as long as it takes, he said.

Earlier this week, Alberta and Saskatchewan said they are removing their COVID-19 vaccine passport programs, and a number of other provinces including Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador said they are easing some of their COVID-19 restriction measures.
Ukraine Responds to Russian Military Drills in Belarus by Holding Its Own

Russia and Belarus have begun joint military exercises close to Belaruss borders near Ukraine, further inflaming tensions in the region and triggering Kyiv to conduct its own military exercises in response.

The RussiaBelarus military drill, which began on Feb. 10, will reportedly last for 10 days. Moscow has committed 30,000 troops while almost the entirety of the armed forces of Belarus is taking part in the exercises.

Russia is expected to use Spetsnaz special operations forces, S-400 missile defense systems, SU-35 fighter jets, and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles during the joint exercise according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine launched its war games on Thursday which will run until Feb. 20. Ukrainian forces will deploy NLAW anti-tank weapons, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and Bayraktar drones for the exercise. Roughly 10,000 troop members are taking part in the drills.

The armed forces of Ukraine are ready. We are capable and we will not give up a single meter of Ukrainian land without a fight, Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi said to Sky News. The training of Ukraines armed forces is being conducted close to borders where there is a high possibility of enemy offense.

Russia has also sent six warships to Sevastopol in Crimea that Moscow annexed from Ukraine back in 2014. The warships will take part in the upcoming naval drills in the Black Sea.

Ukraine criticized Moscow for blocking parts of the Black Sea, Kerch Strait, and the Sea of Azov for the naval exercises. These blockades will make navigation on both seas virtually impossible and negatively affect international shipping and trade, Ukraines foreign ministry said.

This is a manifestation of open disregard for the norms and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, UN General Assembly resolutions, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the ministry said in an official statement on Feb. 10.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the potential invasion of Ukraine as one of the critical moments for Europe at a recent press conference with Stoltenberg. I honestly dont think a decision has yet been taken (by Moscow). But that doesnt mean that it is impossible that something absolutely disastrous could happen very soon, Johnson said.

This is probably the most dangerous moment, I would say that in the course of the next few days, in what is the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades, and weve got to get it right.
A US Air Force transport plane transporting military equipment and troops lands at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland, on Feb. 6, 2022. Tensions between the NATO military alliance and Russia are intensifying due to Russia's move of tens of thousands of troops as well as heavy weapons to the Ukrainian border. (Janek Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine Tensions Stoke Fears That US Is Shifting Focus Away From Countering China

The brewing crisis between Ukraine and Russia and the United States engagement in it has drawn fresh concerns within the Indo-Pacific, a region that Washington has declared as its long-term strategic focus, particularly in countering the Chinese regime.

Some experts and U.S. lawmakers fear the crisis in Europe will distract the United States from its commitments to the Indo-Pacific, particularly in relation to Taiwan, the self-ruled that China eyes for itself, thus sharing a similar predicament to Ukraine vis-a-vis Russia.

Amidst these concerns, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed down south to Australia on Feb. 8 to reinforce Washingtons policies and goals in the Indo-Pacific. He landed in Melbourne on Wednesday to hold meetings with his counterparts from the QUAD groupingAustralia, India, and Japan.

The link between the crisis in Ukraine and the geopolitics in Indo-Pacific came into a sharp focus earlier when just before the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In a joint statement, both leaders backed each other stakes in Ukraine and Taiwan.

The Russian side reaffirms its support for the One-China principle, confirms that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and opposes any forms of independence of Taiwan, said a joint statement issued by the Kremlin on Feb. 4.

The two countries jointly countered Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy and called it a threat. They also opposed external interference in their common adjacent regions, indirectly pointing to Ukraine and Taiwan.

The sides stand against the formation of closed bloc structures and opposing camps in the Asia-Pacific region and remain highly vigilant about the negative impact of the United States Indo-Pacific strategy on peace and stability in the region, said the joint statement.

Meanwhile, amid rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen ordered her National Security Council on Jan. 28 to create a task force to study how the confrontation could affect its long-running dispute with the Chinese regime.

Blinken, after his meeting with his QUAD counterparts on Friday, highlighted that if Russia is allowed to invade Ukraine, it would have wider consequences since it would embolden countries like China to keep pursuing their military aggression.

In a dig at Russias policies towards Ukraine and Chinas towards Taiwan, Blinken said, One country cant simply change the borders of another by force or dictate to another its choices, its policies, with whom it will associate.

If we allow those principles to be challenged with impunity, even if its half the world away in Europe, that will have an impact here as wellothers are watching, Blinken told reporters.

Others are looking to all of us to see how we respond. So thats why its so important that we have this solidarity: that we do everything possible, through diplomacy, to try to avert a conflict and prevent aggressionbut equally, to be resolute if Russia renews its aggression.

Ukrainian armored vehicles drive during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 10, 2022. (AP/Andrew Marienko)

Is the US Distracted?

Amidst these rising concerns, some experts blame the United States for creating hysteria over Ukraine, adding that this is in Chinas interest. Others said that Washington is amply focussed and has interests in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center as The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, told The Epoch Times that the United States is not distracted from the Indo-Pacific.

The U.S. is a global power with interests in both regions. China remains the number one global threat to U.S. interests and values, and our long-term strategic focus will remain, Asia, Lohman said in an email.

However, Madhav Das Nalapat, an associate with the New Delhi-based think tank United Services Institution said that the United States turned into a principal cheerleader over the Ukraine-Russia crisis and should have conducted itself better.

The hysteria whipped up by the Biden administration over Ukraine, including its oft-repeated but unsourced comments that a hundred thousand Russian troops are poised to invade at the Ukrainian border. This when such deployments within Russian territory have been taking place for several years, Nalapat told The Epoch Times in an email.

From Asia, it looks as though Biden is seeking to return Washington into a past world, that when the Atlantic was the center point of global tension and activity for nearly three decades; now the Indo-Pacific has taken over that role, he added.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Miss.) appears to share the same concern. In a Feb. 2 letter to Blinken seeking clarification about the U.S. administrations support for Ukraines bid to join NATO, the senator warned that an increasingly powerful China seeks hegemony in the Indo-Pacific.

To thwart this, the United States must shift resources to the Indo-Pacific to deny Chinas bid for regional domination, Hawley wrote.

This means the United States can no longer carry the heavy burden it once did in other regions of the worldincluding Europe. To the contrary, we must do less in those secondary theaters in order to prioritize denying Chinas hegemonic ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, he continued.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has continued to raise the alarm about developments in Ukraine. President Joe Biden told NBC News on Feb. 10 that any remaining American citizens in Ukraine should leave the country immediately.

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly, Biden said.

The State Department also issued an advisory on Thursday warning that the administration will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine.

After the QUAD meeting on Friday, Blinken warned that there were very troubling signs of Russian escalation.

Were in a window when an invasion could begin at any timeand to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, he said.

Nalapat said that the Asian nations are watching the situation closely. Any rebound of the American focus from Indo-pacific to Europe, meaning a refocus from China to Russia, would be unwelcome to those nations opposing Chinese Communist Party expansionism in the Indo-pacific, he said.

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)

Anti-US Alliance

Andres Ortega Klein, a senior research fellow at Madrid-based think tank Elcano Royal Institute wrote in a Feb. 8 commentary that China has adopted a complex stance on the Ukraine crisis which is linked to its agendas in Indo-Pacific.

It has two main goals: to gauge the US reaction to a possible crisis between Beijing and Taiwan; and to prevent NATO as such from meddling in the Indo-Pacific, one of the main issues that need to be settled between now and the NATO summit due to be held in Madrid this June, said Klein.

Lohman, of the Heritage Foundation, said Chinas support of Russia stems from their mutual antagonism towards the United States.

Chinas interest is in supporting Russia broadly as part of an anti-U.S. meeting of the minds. From Beijings perspective, trouble for the U.S. is good for China, he said.

The unfolding events in Ukraine, however, do not mean that Beijing will jump into making a military move towards Taiwan, Lohman said, as any action would require an assessment of their own militarys ability to prevail over Taiwan and the U.S.

Nalapat believes that it is incorrect to contend that if Washington fails to respond in support of Ukraine, itll embolden Chinas designs on Taiwan.

The hysteria over Ukraine is draining necessary attention away from the activities of China, just as 9/11 took away attention from China back to the Middle East and Afghanistan, he said, adding that China gains the most if the U.S. attention gets shifted away from East Asia and the South China Sea to Ukraine.

The more Biden shifts focus away from China to Russia and to extremist groups in Af-Pak and in the Middle East, the better does Washington serve the strategic interests of Beijing.
US Needs to Prioritize Competitiveness to Ensure It Doesnt Lose Critical Industries to China: Report

The cross-border trade and regulatory policies of the United States government in recent years have not always served the interests of American competitiveness on the world stage and have sometimes played directly into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to a new report by Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a Washington-based think tank.

Virtually every policy affecting the economy is at best grounded in a framework designed to support overall growth and what economists call allocation efficiency, i.e. ensuring market forces allocate goods and services, the report states. With the exception of a few programs  competitiveness policy is exogenous to the operations of the U.S. government.

In order to reverse a long-term industrial decline similar to what has taken place in the United Kingdom in the last few decades, and avoid strengthening the CCPs hand, the report argues, Congress and the administration need to shift decisively toward policies and goals better suited to fostering U.S. competitiveness.

Trade Policy

A critical area of reform, in the reports analysis, is U.S. trade policy, which all too often has benefited countries such as China where chronic violations of intellectual property law go on to the detriment of American innovators and entrepreneurs. The forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property (IP) under the CCPs watch are well-documented problems in areas ranging from military technology to copyrighted movies and songs.

Under a more competitiveness-focused trade policy, regimes that tolerate or facilitate IP violations would be identified by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and would not be eligible for preferential trading privileges, the report advocates. Of course, to make this shift will require a marked change in focus from maximizing profits at no matter what cost in the vast and lucrative markets of China, to protecting the proprietary information and products of U.S. firms.

Report author Robert D. Atkinson, president of ITIF, also calls for a shift in the focus of enforcement with regard to IP, given that U.S. resources and compliance tools are limited. To put it simply, the U.S. needs to pick its battles well. To give an example cited in the report, the competitiveness-focused trade policy that Atkinson envisions would focus far more on unfair and abusive Chinese trade practices related to semiconductors than on Canadian practices regarding timber and milk.

The report calls for a reassessment of the goals set forth in former President Donald Trumps phase one trade agreement with Beijing, which encouraged China to import significantly more U.S. agricultural goods, among other products. In Atkinsons view, setting such targets does not serve American interests, because when the U.S. diverts more of a given type of export to China (say, milk or wheat), those exports could have gone to other countries trading on better terms with the U.S. exporters. Other competitors will step into the breach and send their own products to the markets that had been receiving the products and services diverted to China. Hence, phase one and trade policies that similarly privilege Chinese markets may put U.S. firms at a disadvantage.

Some observers of U.S.-China trade policy, like Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.), have called recently for a body equivalent to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency body that reviews foreign investment for national security risks, but with a focus on outbound rather than inbound investment and trade.

Atkinsons report concurs about the need for better oversight of outbound economic activity, especially when the destination is China, but goes further in calling for a change in how CFIUS operates with regard to inbound products and investments. Besides assessing the potential effects for U.S. national security, CFIUS would also consider the ramifications for the competitiveness of strategic industries. CFIUS would also be giving certain nations, like China, that deny U.S. firms the right to become majority shareholders in their own enterprises, a taste of their own medicine. According to the report, CFIUS should not allow Chinese and other foreign players to take advantage of a double standard and would ensure fairness and reciprocity in cross-border investment and trade.

But it would be wrong to read a protectionist agenda into the report, which calls for expanding programs such as the Commerce Departments Select USA with a view to luring foreign investment. Inbound investment is not the problem, but the government needs to encourage such investment intelligently. The report calls for tightening the focus of Select USA so that foreign companies that invest in the United States without participating in exports and imports do not eat into the market share of U.S. firms that do contribute to cross-border trade.

Antitrust Policy

Another crucial area of a competitiveness-based stance as outlined in the report is antitrust policy, which Atkinson regards as having failed in the past to serve the best interests of U.S. firms involved in cross-border transactions.

In Atkinsons view, U.S. government policy here has been misguided for some time. He gives an example from the 1970s, when the Federal Trade Commissions antitrust suit against Xerox, which led to the corporation having to share drawings, blueprints, and some 1,700 patents with competitors. As a consequence, Xerox lost half its market share, mostly to Japanese competitors.

More recently, antitrust policy has benefited the CCP through forced divestitures of parts of foreign firms interested in opportunities in the United States. Atkinson gives the example of Dutch semiconductor company NXPs purchase of U.S. manufacturer Freestyle. The FTC imposed the condition that NXP would have to divest a core part of its business to a Chinese firm under the ownership of Chinas sovereign wealth fund, whose administrator is the cabinet-like State Council. In the end, China ended up being the biggest purchaser, and beneficiary, in what was ostensibly a deal between a Dutch and an American firm. The antitrust requirement benefited Beijing and had only adverse consequences for the competitiveness of the other parties, according to the report.

Atkinson envisions an antitrust policy more attuned to the competitive advantages of U.S. businesses and more aware of the dangers of parties hostile to American interests benefiting from forced divestitures.

Looking Ahead

If you talk to the antitrust bureau at the Department of Justice, or talk to the financial regulators, and ask them, is competitiveness of any kind in your vision statement, your agenda, theyll say no, our job is to just get more market competition, Atkinson told the Epoch Times.

Such a stance may be politically convenient but does not, in the end, serve the interests of competitiveness, he said. Atkinsons report calls for specific steps to reverse the trends causing the United States to lag, but to implement these changes will require a shift in the priorities of both the major parties in Congress and on the part of the Biden administration.

Theres a set of industries that the U.S. has to have if we want to be a global power economically and militarilysemiconductors, AI, quantitative. China is going after those industries, and if we dont do something, they will take those industries away from us. This is the first time weve faced a competitor with such a mission. This challenge is unique in our history, Atkinson said.

Right now, if we look at what the Republicans have been wanting, they are saying, well just cut taxes and regulations on all corporations and have more free trade agreements. What Democrats want is a whole lot more social welfare spending. Rather than address the challengehow do we not lose critical industries for America? Atkinson concluded.
A farmer and his son pick cotton in a cotton field in Shihezi of Xinjiang, China on Sept. 22, 2007. (China Photos/Getty Images)

US Urges China to End Uyghur Forced Labor in Xinjiang

The United States calls on China to take steps to end the racial and religious discrimination in Xinjiang identified in an annual report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) .

China is utilizing vocational training and rehabilitation centers for political re-education based on administrative detention, according to the 2022 report, released by the ILOs Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations on Feb. 10. It spotlighted a widespread and systematic program involving the extensive use of forced labor of the Uyghur and other Muslim minorities for agriculture and industrial activities throughout Xinjiang.

While employed outside of the region, [Uyghur] workers lack of freedom of movement, remaining confined to dormitories, and required to use supervised transport to and from the factory. They are subject to impossible production expectations and long working hours, the report reads.

Where wages are paid, they are often subject to deductions that reduce the salary to almost nothing, said the ILO, citing a global trade union organization. It called on China to review, repeal, and revise its laws and practices of employment discrimination against racial and religious minorities in Xinjiang.

In a Feb. 10 press release, the U.S. State Department welcomed the issuance and urged China to take the steps requested by the Committee of Experts, reiterating its call on Beijing to end its genocide and other abuses including forced labor of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-west Xinjiang region.

The 870-page report (pdf) detailed observations by Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in the past few years, and alleged violations of trade union rights in practice on a national level in countries around the world.

Some 13 million members of the ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang are targeted on the basis of their ethnicity and religion with a goal of social control and assimilation of their culture and identity, said the report.

A young Uyghur activist holds up a poster that reads China where is my grandma?! during a demonstration outside the Foreign Office in Berlin, where the Chinese Foreign Minister was expected to hold talks with his German counterpart on Sept. 1, 2020. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the ITUC, China called its suppression, featuring forced labor camps housing some 1.8 million Uyghur and others in the region, poverty alleviation, vocational training, reeducation through labor, and de-extremification.

Beijing calls Uyghurs extremist terrorists and emphasizes that these allegations are politically motivated.

Such camps are central to an indoctrination program focused on separating and cleansing ethnic and religious minorities from their culture, beliefs, and religion, findings show. They are also characterized by extraordinary hardship, lack of freedom of movement, physical and psychological torture, compulsory vocational training, and actual forced labor.

Overseas travel, passport application, communicating with people abroad, or regularly praying can all lead to imprisonment, according to ITUC.

Beyond prisons, workplaces across Xinjiang and other parts of the country saw unjust treatment toward Uyghurs, including continuous physical and virtual surveillance, extended working hours, a squeeze on wages, and lack of free choices.

At least 80,000 Uyghurs and other ethnic minority workers, according to the report, were forcibly relocated to factories in eastern and central China under an official scheme named Xinjiang Aid. Those who are forced to leave their homes have to comply, otherwise they or their families will be punished with detention.

Without these coercively arranged transfers, Uyghurs would not find jobs outside Xinjiang, as their physical appearance would trigger police investigations, the report reads, citing ITUC.

To facilitate the implementation of these schemes, the Government offers incentives and tax exemptions to enterprises that train and employ detainees; subsidies are granted to encourage Chinese-owned companies to invest in and build factories near or within the internment camps; and compensation is provided to companies that facilitate the transfer and employment of Uyghur workers outside the Uyghur Region.

The Chinese Communist Partys campaign against Uyghurs in Xinjiang has been labeled a genocide by nations and rights groups, including both the former and current United States administrations, and the parliaments from the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Lithuania, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.

Last December, the United States placed trade and investment restrictions on dozens of Chinese entities over their role in weaponizing biotechnology and other U.S. innovations in order to bolster the Chinese military and to elevate its human rights abuses, reported The Epoch Times.

Washington will stand by and work with its allies to end forced labor and strengthen international action against the ongoing crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, according to the Thursday statement.

The committee of the ILO, an independent body composed of 20 senior legal experts at both national and international levels, reviews the application of ILO Conventions, Protocols, and Recommendations by member states.

China joined the United Nations agency in 1919 as one of its founding member states.
Video still from bodycam footage showing Officer Lila Morris picking up a wooden stick that she uses to beat Rosanne Boyland. (Metropolitan Police Department/Graphic by The Epoch Times)

Bodycam Footage Shows DC Metro Police Striking Unconscious Trump Supporter Who Died on Jan. 6

Heavily redacted bodycam videos from the West Terrace tunnel on Jan. 6, 2021, provide a glimpse into conditions at the time Rosanne Boyland lay unconsciousincluding the sound of her being beaten with a large wooden stick by police.

Several bodycam videos obtained by The Epoch Times have much of the screen blurred out by authorities, but key audio and video clues back up witness statements and other videos previously released by the U.S. Department of Justice.

A 39-second video clip from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department shows the gloved hand of Officer Lila Morris picking up a long stick that was lying alongside an unconscious Rosanne Boyland, and then striking the prone woman multiple times. The sound of the stick making contact with Boylands body is clearly audible.

After the attack, a protester can be heard screaming: Guys, stop! We dont need to do this! We dont need to do this!

Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Ga., died on Jan. 6 after being trampled by a crowd of protesters trying to escape being gassed by police inside the West Terrace tunnel entrance to the U.S. Capitol.

A variety of videos show Boyland struck by a weapon wielded by a D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer, later identified as Lila Morris.

The Epoch Times reported on Feb. 10 that the beating of Boyland, who was unconscious at the time, by Morris was deemed to be objectively reasonable after an investigation by the departments Internal Affairs Bureau.

The DC medical examiner said Boyland died of an accidental overdose of Adderall, a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. That ruling has drawn skepticism and outrage from Boylands friends and family. Her father, Bret Boyland, said Rosanne had been taking Adderall for about 10 years.

On the 39-second video, protester Luke Coffee of Dallas wielded an aluminum crutch and held it up in front of officers after Boyland was struck by officer Morris. Stop! Stop! implored Coffee, who was hit with pepper spray.

A few seconds later, a protester shouted, You killed her, [expletive] pigs!

A longer bodycam video clip picked up the dialogue: Weve got a man down here, dying! someone said. A man may be dead! Another person shouted: A medic! Now!

In the far lower right part of the screen, Boyland is seen being given CPR after bystanders moved her away from the police line. Ronald McAbee, a sheriffs deputy from Williamson County, Tenn., can be seen digging through a backpack, possibly looking for medical supplies.

A group of men carried an unconscious Boyland and set her down directly in front and center of the police line. Shes [expletive] dead! someone shouted. You murdered her! Another added: Shes dying! Shes dying! None of the police officers moved to render aid.

One of the protesters administered CPR to Boyland. Compression! I need compression! someone shouted.

Police then grabbed Boyland by the feet and dragged her on her back into the tunnel. Her lips are purple and her skin appears gray. A small amount of blood is visible below her nose. One witness said Morris final blow with the stick hit Boyland in the face and caused a nose bleed.

Thats on you, mother[expletive], an enraged protester shouted at police. Thats on you, mother[expletive]. You kill us, mother[expletive]!

Correction: An earlier version of the headline of this article incorrectly stated the police department the officer in question works for.
We Just Want Our Freedom: Protesters at Windsor-Detroit Border Crossing Say They Will Continue Blockade

WINDSOR, Ont.Windsor resident Sue Samir says she has suffered greatly from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, losing her job because she refused to be fully vaccinated and not getting any unemployment benefits because of her choice.

She says she suffered major side effects after getting a first dose of COVID-19 vaccination, so she didnt want to get a second dose. She is now protesting along with many others at the Ambassador Bridge, setting up a vehicle convoy blocking the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing.

Protesters at the blockade by the Ambassador Bridge, demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates, in Windsor, Ontario, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lisa Lin/The Epoch Times)

Protestors and supporters bring pizza to protestors as they attend a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit, in Windsor, Ontario, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Your workplace is giving you extortion, pretty much, to get the vaccine or not, and then youre not eligible for your unemployment benefits that you paid all your life for, she said in an interview at the protest site on Feb. 10.

We just want our freedom, we want nothing else.  Thats your God-given rights. Thats your health choice.  Enough is enough.

The border crossing connecting Windsor to Detroit is one of several blocked by protesters in Canada in recent days in protest of COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest Canada-U.S. border crossing. Governments on both sides of the border have expressed concern about the major impact the blockade is having on the supply chains and the economy. The city of Windsor and industry associations are seeking injunctions in court to give police more legal tools to remove the blockade.

Truck driver Sami Mandalawi takes part in the blockade by the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lisa Lin/The Epoch Times)

Fellow protester and Windsor resident Sami Mandalawi says the protesters will remain until they get arrested, but they will remain peaceful.

Im here because I cherish our Charter of human rights and freedoms in Canada, and I want to protect those freedoms, Mandalawi said.

We need to stand up for whats right, and we will do what is required, provided that it is peaceful, with a capital P. We are perfectly prepared to leave in handcuffs and without a finger lifted in aggression towards our police officer, whom we love and who tragically are being put in between a rock and a very hard place.

Truck driver Kade Dubai takes part in the blockade by the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lisa Lin/The Epoch Times)

The protest is part of a larger movement started by truck drivers opposed to the federal governments requirement for all cross-border drivers to have COVID-19 vaccination. Since initial trucker convoys converged in Ottawa on Jan. 29, many other vehicle convoys have set up protest sites across the country, demanding an end to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions from different levels of government.

Kade Dubai, a truck driver, has been at the protest at the Ambassador Bridge since Feb. 6. He says the protesters want their freedom back.

[We want to have the] freedom to come and go as we please, [and] not put anything in our body, he said.
Western Australias Biggest University Mandates Vaccination for Staff and Students

Curtin University, the largest university in Perth, Western Australia (WA) by total number of students, has mandated vaccination requirements for all staff, students, campuses, and activities.

A letter sent by Curtin Chief Operating Officer Fiona Notley to students on Feb. 10 revealed the university was aware that the new directives might be considered contentious by some.

While we know this is potentially controversial, this decision is part of our strategy to counter the impact of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of the University community, Notley said.

Curtin is the second university in WA to enforce the requirement, after the University of Western Australia released similar requirements from Feb. 7.

While WA has one of the broadest proof of requirements in the nation, the state government has not mandated vaccination for universities.

Front of a building at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, on Aug. 13, 2018. (Orderinchaos/Wikimedia Commons)

The statement also explained the decision was made after consultation with staff and the student guild, a representative body elected by students. However, Curtin did not mention whether students themselves were surveyed or consulted in the process.

The decision was made following a period of engagement with the Curtin Student Guild and our staff. Feedback from the Guild, who represent all students on campus, and our staff, was strongly in support of requiring vaccination as a crucial way of protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our community, Notley continued.

In Western Australia, students who wish to attend a campus or facility, or to participate in a University activity involving physical interaction with others must provide Curtin with evidence they have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by 21 February and a second by 21 March 2022.

Students will also be required to receive a third booster dose within one month of being eligible. Currently, booster doses are to be taken three months apart, meaning students may eventually be required to get vaccinated between three and four times per year to remain enrolled.

Thank you to all those who have already been vaccinated. I encourage anyone who has not done so to be vaccinated by the relevant deadlines, Notley said.

As of Feb. 11, the state recorded 482 active cases, with just under half the 16-and-over population already receiving their third dose.
After a peaceful march of hundreds to the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on May 29, 2020, protesters returned to the area around the CNN Center and confronted police amid outrage over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal Constitution/TNS)

Why Ideology Is the Ancient Enemy of Civilization

Commentary

What ultimately destroyed the evil empires of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were bankrupt dogmas. Crackpot ideology destroyed free expression. It ruined meritocracy and ensured unequal application of the lawsand so paved the way for far worse.

The Nazi idea of a superior Aryan race adjudicated everything from physics to tank design. Soviet commissars did the same, subordinating rational thought to communist agendas.

Zealots in both systems infiltrated the universities and schools to institutionalize indoctrination.

Wokeism, while not yet as lethal, is similar. Racial wokeism posits that the race and gender of the vice president and the next Supreme Court justice subordinate all other considerations.

But will the current vice president and next Supreme Court justice commensurately select their own future surgeons, or their upcoming airline pilots, on the same predetermined race and sex criteria?

Whatother than ideologyexplains why rejecting nominations of African American judge Janice Rogers Brown in 2003 and 2005 was not racist and sexist, but blocking Joe Bidens upcoming nomination of a preselected African American female would be?

Why were most Antifa and Black Lives Matter criminals who looted, destroyed, and assaulted during the 120 days of summer 2020 not charged, much less tried? Why, by contrast, were the January 6 rioters or the current Canadian truckers treated disproportionately harshly by the media?

Had the same rioters on January 6 been waving pride flags and BLM banners, would some of them have been sitting for a year in solitary confinement and still uncharged?

Had the criminal protesters and looters of summer 2020 been wearing red MAGA hats, would they also have mostly gotten off without charges?

What would have happened had conservative demonstrators cut out a police-free MAGA Zone in Seattle like the exempted Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone? Would police have similarly left it alone, and the media similarly romanticized such illegality?

One of the reasons the COVID-19 lockdown and mask policies lost public confidence was their utter corruption by ideology.

When thousands in June 2020 brazenly defied quarantinesand yet were excused by over 1,000 health care professionals claiming that woke agendas justified violating quarantine lawsthen millions of Americans concluded government policy was as much about identity politics as saving lives.

Which politicians in 2020 trashed the vaccine programs and declared they would likely not get inoculationsif they were endorsed by then-President Donald Trump?

If Trump is demonized as a destroyer of election legitimacy, what then are we to say of the beatified Stacey Abrams? She lost the Georgia gubernatorial race by more than 50,000 votes. Yet for years, she has maintained the voting was rigged and the elected governor is illegitimate.

In 2000, who challenged for weeks the vote count, despite numerous public and private audits confirming George W. Bushs popular vote victory in Florida?

Who in 20042005for only the second time in historychallenged in Congress the Electoral College vote? In whose party were the 31 House members and one senator who forced a congressional vote in a failed effort to overturn the election?

Who in 2016 ran ads for weeks after the election, beseeching the chosen electors to violate their constitutional duties, ignore their state vote tallies, and instead vote for Hillary Clinton?

And who in 2016 claimed her victorious opponent was elected president illegitimately? Who bragged she was joining the resistance to undermine his presidency? Who advised Joe Biden in 2020 not to accept the election result if he lost?

If conservative zealots were ransacking American stores, carjacking innocents in the major cities, and spiking murder rates to historical highs, would the Biden administration be mobilizing law enforcement to ensure arrests, prosecutions, and incarceration? Would current city and county prosecutors continue to turn a blind eye?

If anti-communist Cubans by the millions were illegally crashing the southern border, would they be welcomed in as are those from Mexico and Central America?

If, by 2024, a Republican president enjoys a Republican Congress, what would be the reaction to conservatives who advocated ending the filibuster? Ensuring a national voting law requiring IDs at all the polls? Voting to increase the Supreme Court to 15 justices to guarantee at least six new nominations for the Republican-controlled presidency and Congress?

When ideology in places like Castroite Cuba, the old Soviet Union, and Venezuela warped the application of the law, destroyed the role of merit in assessing qualifications, silenced speech, and unequally applied the law, then society unwound.

In such ideological dystopias, eventually even the shelves empty, the currency becomes worthless, and the nation regresses into poverty and chaos. Is that the future we await?

Scarier still, ideology ensures that such chaos is heralded as success. Critics are demonized and hounded. And the obsequious state media assures the public that things are going just great.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Demonstrators take part in the Freedom Convoy protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Workers of the World UniteAgainst Despotism

Commentary

Rebellion is always an evil. It is always an offence against the law of a nation. It is not always a moral crime. [] What is hateful is not the rebellion, but the despotism which induces that rebellion. What is hateful are not the rebels, but the men who, having the enjoyment of power, do not discharge the duties of power; they are the men who, having the power to redress wrongs, refuse to listen to the petitioners who are sent to them; they are the men who, when they are asked for a loaf, give a stone. ~ Prime Minister of Canada Wilfred Laurier, March 16, 1886

As fears of COVID fade, the gulf between those who represent the power of the nation and those who defend its morality has widened. It has pitted the globalist managerial elites against the workers.

While other countries have relaxed or dropped their Covid mandates, the ideological blindness of the Federal government led it to expand and harden its restrictions. It was the last straw for the working class in our weary nation. It prompted an enormous convoy of truckers, fueled by a sense of injustice.

This clash between the mandates of the mandarins and the morality of the movers has been a pattern around the world over the past two years. It was most evident when the Nuremberg Code of medical ethics was steamrolled by the managers of the Western healthcare establishment, and God-given freedoms were robbed from the people by the power grab of government bureaucracy.

It is the virus itself that has halted this momentum. Omicron has disappointed the opportunist fearmongers. The biggest threat it poses is that its patent weakness undermines the need to continue the regime of mandates and government by fiat.

This is what has made the freedom convoy such a popular story.

People intuit that the clash is as much about the future of democracy, and have a sense that the time to stop the momentum towards a future of despotism is nowbefore its too late. After two years, there has, after all, been no exit strategy announced from the state of emergency declared from on high, or an end to the emergency powers seized by politicians in democratic countries. They openly call their unconstitutional restrictions on people the new normal.

The language is telling and important.

A new normal of dictatorship would be convenient if the plan of the elites was for the medical emergency to give way to the climate emergency. As Mark Carney noted to the BBC a year ago, it was worse than Covid and it warranted the same despotic powers for the banking and credit system to manage the heroic fight on behalf of everyone, with or without their approval.

Some might question whether this conclusion is warranted. But witness how the convoy was greeted by the powers-that-be in Canada, and the Prime Minister that has never ceased speaking about the need to fight the climate emergency. Even as the convoy arrived, an impasse could have been avoided. Former Liberal Prime Minister Lauriers keen sense of the moral limits of power, and the need for reconciliation and concession would have done it. But instead of following the spirit of Laurier, discharging the duties of power, seeking to redress wrongs, or even granting an audience to the petitioners, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave them a stone.

He acted as if power was a privilege, not a duty.

If that werent hard enough to swallow, he disparaged them even before they arrived as a fringe minority with unacceptable views. Globalist banking governor Mark Carney added his stone this week by calling them insurrectionists and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh even blew the ideological dog whistle and called the truckers white supremacists. The parroting of like sentiments by the Canadian media establishment only made his rock into a wall surrounding the establishment.

The stonewalling that has ensued has only fueled the convoys cause. It created an immediate surge in popular support for the truckers, and incited popular peaceful rebellions around the globe.

Rather than walking their decision back or engaging in dialogue, the government has remained stony-faced. There is still no dialogue or debate. They think this is about power, and nothing else. And they regard absolute power as their privilege, if not divine right. So do all despots.

Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford said nothing, but first moved to freeze their online funding, and then declared a state of emergency with serious punishment for the protesters.

How can they remain committed to such a brazen assault on their own public image?

The reasons are twofold and linked. Many in our political class have never learned how to debate or reach common ground with their opponents, and they have resolutely committed themselves to a climate ideology with a similarly tyrannous appeal to urgency and powers to combat it.

The lazy intellectual habits of the political elites and their comfort with despotic power is being exposed now that they are clearly unnecessary to deal with the crisis at hand.

Yet it has simultaneously exposed the great betrayal of the working class by the political left. The political establishment has ironically performed the miracle of turning bread into stones even while they mouth platitudes of operating on behalf of the marginalized and oppressed.

This universal human proclivity to stone others for their sins while being blind to their own, has become a habit of thought of the elites. Habits can be broken. They need to heed Jesus words: He that is without sin, cast the first stone.

The workers want the bread of their lives back.

The elites and their apologists need to repent.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Citizen Journalist Who Reported on Wuhan Outbreak Allegedly in Local Detention House After 2-Year Disappearance

A local aid worker said that citizen journalist Fang Bin is allegedly being jailed in a local detention center for undisclosed charges two years after his forced disappearance by Chinese authorities for reporting on the early COVID-19 oubreak in Wuhan. However, authorities refuse to officially verify his whereabouts.

The source, who declined to be identified for safety concerns, confirmed to The Epoch Times on Feb. 9 that the recent rumor about Fang being kept in the Jiangan District Detention House is correct.

The tip came from one of our fellow members in a mutual aid group who is tasked with contacting Fangs family, said the volunteer aid worker. However, the local authorities warned them against depositing money for him over there, sending him clothes, speaking up for him, or authorizing any lawyer to represent him.

Currently, Fangs family is hesitant to hire a defense counsel to intervene in his case due to pressure from authorities.

The Epoch Times reached the local prosecutors office by phone for comment. I cannot disclose anything regarding the case of Fang Bin, replied the receiver. Nor can I put you through to the head of [our] prosecutors office.

The Epoch Times also repeatedly tried to reach the court and detention house in the same jurisdiction but without success.

Fang was a citizen journalist to cover the chaos in Wuhan in the early days of the pandemic, while authorities sought to downplay the severity of the situation.

A general view of the south tower at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, where the first patients to die from COVID-19 were housed, on Jan. 10, 2020. (Getty Images)

On Feb. 1, 2020, Fang posted a video clip that he said showed eight new body bags that had been removed from the No. 5 Wuhan Peoples Hospital within five minutes. Footage such as this challenged official narratives that the outbreak was under control.

Police officers took him away that day but had to release him under pressure. Two days later, they again showed up at his home and harassed him.

After that, he began posting daily video clips as a form of reporting his safety to the outside world. In his clips, he said that tyranny was more destructive to the public than the virus.

Five days later, local authorities and police officers launched a joint operation against Fang. They broke into his home and forcibly took him away.

Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown until recently, nearly two years later.

Fang was not the only citizen journalist that Chinese authorities have detained for reporting on the early stages of the pandemic. Others include Chen Qiushi, Li Zehua, and Zhang Zhan. Right now, only Fang Bin and Zhang Zhan remain jailed.

Ann Lau, chair of Los Angeles-based rights group Visual Artists Guild, confirmed in an interview with The Epoch Times on Feb. 10 that Fang is being kept in the Jiangan District Detention House.

The problem with the government of China is that the first reaction is always how to cover up, said Lau. Its just the Chinese governments culture. They are so afraid of making a mistake.

Meanwhile, Lau worries that Chinese authorities will never release the human rights defender just as they dealt with famous dissident Liu Xiaobo who remained imprisoned until his death from liver cancer in July 2017.

Li Xi contributed to this report.

Frank Yue Follow Frank Yue is a Canada-based journalist for The Epoch Times who covers China-related news. He also holds an M.A. in English language and literature from Tianjin Foreign Studies University, China.
A Fairfield man had his financial planning certification temporarily suspended Monday after an incident at a Fairfield smoothie shop late last month went viral.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards imposed an interim suspension against James Iannazzos certification after the board learned of an incident from late January in which Iannazzo, 48, yelled at employees and threw a drink at a Robeks smoothie shop in Fairfield.

A hearing panel of the boards Disciplinary and Ethics Commission determined there was a preponderance of evidence that Mr. Iannazzos conduct significantly impinges upon the reputation of the profession and the CFP certification marks, the board said Tuesday.

The board could issue further disciplinary measures after it completes its investigation.

The decision came the same day that a court ordered Iannazzo to stay away from the business and to not contact the victim.

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.

Iannazzo was also fired from his job at Merrill Lynch after the incident.

On Jan. 22, Iannazzo called 911, requesting emergency medical attention as his son was suffering from an allergic reaction. The child was later taken to the hospital, police said.

Iannazzo returned to the store and confronted the employees, demanding to know who made the smoothie that contained peanuts and triggered his childs allergic reaction. Iannazzo started using expletives and threw a drink at an employee, hitting her right shoulder, according to police.

He also made comments toward an employee referencing their immigration status, police said.

Employees told police Iannazzo had not told them about the peanut allergy; he had only requested the drink not have peanut butter.

An employee recorded the incident and later posted it to TikTok.
RTHK: Russian minister says UK-Russia ties 'close to zero'

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday Moscow's ties with London were at a low point as he met UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for rare talks amid soaring tensions over Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, the level of our cooperation is close to zero and about to cross the zero meridian and go into negative, which is undesirable," Shoigu said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies.

He said he hoped for talks "without any escalation and raising the temperature even higher" in relations between Russia and the Nato bloc.

Shoigu also accused the West of "gorging" Ukraine with weapons. "It is coming from all sides and it is done publicly. It is done demonstrably. Not entirely clear why," he said.

At a news conference following the talks, Wallace described the conversation with the Russian minister as "constructive and frank".

"I heard clearly from the Russian government that they have no intention of invading Ukraine," Wallace told reporters. He added that Britain only supplies Ukraine with "defensive tactical weapons".

"They in no way would pose a threat to an external state as long as that state did not invade the country," Wallace said.

Wallace, who is accompanied by the UK's Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin, also met with the powerful chief of staff of the Russian army Valery Gerasimov.

He is the latest Western official to shuttle to Moscow in a desperate effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.

Russia has around 100,000 troops stationed near its borders with Ukraine, with the West fearing the Kremlin could order an attack.

Wallace's visit comes a day after Britain's Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow for talks that appeared to be fruitless and ended in mutual accusations.

Relations between London and Moscow are at an all-time low, with Russia singling out the UK as particularly hostile of all the Western countries.

The last meeting between a UK and Russian defence minister took place in 2013. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Contributed / Norwalk Police Department

NORWALK  City police said they have charged a Shelton man with a bank robbery that occurred in November.

Michael Tallo, 37, was charged Wednesday with first-degree robbery and fifth-degree larceny after detectives went to state Superior Court in Stamford to serve the arrest warrant where he was being detained, police said.
Death on the Nile is a supposedly ensemble cast, but to me it was all about 5-time Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh who directed, had the best costumes, had the most screen time and lines as Hercule Poirot.

A sequel to Murder on the Orient Express, which was all about Branagh, this too was slow and boring. If you slept through the first two hours and woke up for the last seven minutes, you would understand the whole story. I wasnt that lucky.

Agatha Christies Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer, the S.S. Karnak, is destroyed when a couple's honeymoon is tragically cut short by murder. Poirot is entrusted with the important task of identifying which one of the passengers is the killer before they can strike again.

Set against the gorgeous Egyptian vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, the Christie story centers around passion, greed, revenge and jealousy.

Besides Branagh, Gal Godot is newlywed Linnet married to Simon Doyle played by Armie Hammer. Supposedly this is Hammers last movie based on a sexual scandal that happened last year.

Four-time Academy Award nominee, Annette Benning is Euphemia mother to Poirots best friend Broc played by Tom Bateman. Other actors include Russell Brand, Dawn French, Ali Fazel and Rose Leslie.

The screenplay by Michael Green is based on the 1937 book by Agatha Christie of the same name. I have read everything Christie has written and her words and dialog having you waiting with bated breath with anticipation.

Green did not do Christie justice in either film because he also wrote the script for the 2017 Murder on the Orient Express. For thrilling movies, see both original films.

Paco Delgado designed the costumes, which were a disappointment. Branagh always looked impeccable, but the rest of the cast looked okay but not as spiffy as Branagh. I usually love costumes from the period, but Delgado should have done so much more. All the characters were wealthy and would have dressed with more panache. Also, in Egypt they would have melted in all the heavy clothes they were wearing.

Now showing at the Edwardsville AMC. I give Death on the Nile two stars.
EDITORS NOTE: The Intelligencer requests briefs be submitted at least 10 days prior to the desired publication date. Due to the volume of community-submitted briefs, the content may be published within 10 days of submission. Holidays and weather forecasts may impact some events. The Intelligencer cannot guarantee that submission will be published.

Fish Fry Every Friday

11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774

Fish Fry

4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051

Glo-Bingo

6 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge, 7371 Marine Road (Rt. 143). $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Bring your own snacks. Register online at Glo-Bingo.com.

Art with Greta

11 a.m. at Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Each month different mediums will be explored including acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media and more. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 288-1212, register at the Help Desk or register online at www.glencarbonlibrary.org.

Saturday, Feb. 12

Galentine's Party

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Ink House, 117 North Second St., Edwardsville. Presented by Opal & Lace. Over 25 vendors, cash bar, photo mini shoots, music and makeup and eyebrow tint and waxing. Vendors interested in participating can email kemiller2014@gmail.com

Preschool Valentines Dance Party

10:30 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 3-5. Its time for the Librarys Valentines Dance Party. Share sweet stories, sing along with fun songs and dance til you drop.

Geek Con

1 p.m. at Glen Carbon Library. Save the date for their first-ever Comic-Con. See a performance by the EHS Drama Club, make a geeky craft, scour the library for hidden objects, and much more. Facemasks are required. Registration required. Registration opened Jan. 2. Call 288-1212, register at the Help Desk or register online at www.glencarbonlibrary.org.

Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga

9:30 a.m. at Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Get fit and healthy when you join in for an energizing session of yoga. Space is limited. Requires Registration.

Monday, Feb. 14

Coventry Crafters

6-7:30 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Enjoy crafts, snacks and lively conversation. Adult crafters bring portable crafts including needlework, quilting, scrapbooking, knitting, etc. Newcomers always welcome.

Tuesday, Feb. 15

Cribbage Club

6 p.m. at Camelot Bowling Alley, 801 Beltline Road, Collinsville. Beginners welcome, free to attend. Contact Phil (618) 288-7910 or Susan at (618) 978-1664 for more information.

Toddler Time

10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 0-2. Theyve got the books, bops and bubbles. Bring your babies and toddlers to share stories and songs with Miss Kristen and all the Story Time friends. Registration Required.

Pasta Dinner Every Tuesday

3-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. Edwardsville. Pasta of the week served with salad. 618-656-9774

Teen Game Night

6-7 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Grades 6-12. Game Night is back every week. Go on a quest with fellow players in Dungeons & Dragons or choose from a variety of board games to play with friends.

Take-Home Storytime Bundles

9 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library. Bring Storytime home with you. Grab a Storytime Bundle at the Library or request one for curbside and enjoy books, a craft and songs all in one place. Theyll also include a Hoopla recommendation with a brief Storytime guide for you and your family! Limited quantity available.

Southern Illinois PAL

7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Southern Illinois Parents of Addicted Loved Ones group meets each week to provide hope through education and support. For parents and loved ones over the age of 18 who have someone in their life who is struggling with or recovering from substance use. PAL respects anonymity and is free of charge. Contact Craig at 618-567-6095 to receive the link for the Zoom meeting or for questions. More information can be found at www.palgroup.org.

Wednesday, Feb. 16

An Evening with Jasmine Guillory

7 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Join for an evening with bestselling author Jasmine Guillory as she discusses her newest novel, While We Were Dating and the modern rom-com. Jasmine Guillory is a writer, lawyer and New York Times bestselling author of six romance novels including The Wedding Date, Royal Holiday and Party of Two. Register for this online program at: https://bit.ly/ILP_JasmineGuillory. This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present.

Lego Club

45 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages five-11. Theyll supply the Legos, just bring your imagination. In the Librarys Meeting Room.

Thursday, Feb. 17

Adult Zumba with Aimee

6-7 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Join in for an evening workout with a Zumba Fitness instructor. Come in comfortable exercise clothing and bring a water bottle.Space is limited. Requires Registration.

NAMI Meeting

7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net.

Preschooler Story Time

10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 3-5. If youre ready for a story, clap your hands. Every week Ms. Megan will be sharing fun tales & tunes, and bubbles. Registration Required.

Chicken Dinner Every Thursday

4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774

Friday, Feb. 18

Fish Fry Every Friday

11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774

Fish Fry

4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051

Saturday, Feb. 19

Goshen Winter Market

10-noon in the expansion parking lot on St. Louis Street. Outdoors.

Coloring for Grown-Ups

1-3 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Join in for a relaxing and fun afternoon session of coloring. The library will provide colored pencils, adult coloring books and refreshments.

Tri Township Library Book Sale

9-noon at the Tri Township Library, 209 South Main, Troy. Book donations are accepted during the book sale and on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. The book sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. In case of inclement weather contact Tri Township Library at 618-667-2133 after 9 a.m.

Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga

9:30 a.m. at Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Get fit and healthy when you join in for an energizing session of yoga. Space is limited. Requires Registration.

STEM Activity Kits

2 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library. Explore science, technology, engineering and math in fun and crafty ways. To-go STEM kits provide a project for the whole family. Registration required.

Sunday, Feb. 20

Residential Solar Energy Ideas

1-3 p.m. at Maryville Community Center, 500 East Division St. Part of the Maryville Park & Rec Hybrid Discovery Sunday series. Presented by Elan McMillin from Day & Night Solar. In-person attendees are asked to social distance and wear masks. The Zoom session can be opened with Zoom ID: 850 8666 4733; Pass Code: 236771 or one tape mobile number: +131262667799. Check the Village of Maryville website for any changes.

Monday, Feb. 21

Schools Out Movie Matinee

1 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Watch a feature film with free popcorn at Edwardsville Public Library. Contact the library for movie title.

Woodlawn Cemetery Board

7 p.m. in the Woodlawn Chapel. All are invited to attend, whether you are a lot owner or have considered purchasing a lot.

Take-Home Storytime Bundles

9 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library. Bring Storytime home with you with a Storytime Bundle. Pick up at the library or request one for curbside and enjoy books, a craft and songs all in one place. Theyll also include a Hoopla recommendation with a brief Storytime guide for you and your family. Limited quantity available.

Medicare Q&A with Jon Bergmann

6-7 p.m. at Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Bring your questions about Medicare including how to register and what is covered. Requires Registration.

Tuesday, Feb. 22

True Crime Book Club

6:30 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Join other armchair detectives in discussing "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote.

Toddler Time

10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 0-2. Theyve got the books, bops and bubbles. Bring your babies and toddlers to share stories and songs with Miss Kristen and all the Story Time friends. Registration Required.

Teen Game Night

6-7 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Grades 6-12. Game Night is back every week. Go on a quest with fellow players in Dungeons & Dragons or choose from a variety of board games to play with friends.

Southern Illinois PAL

7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Southern Illinois Parents of Addicted Loved Ones group meets each week to provide hope through education and support. For parents and loved ones over the age of 18 who have someone in their life who is struggling with or recovering from substance use. PAL respects anonymity and is free of charge. Contact Craig at 618-567-6095 to receive the link for the Zoom meeting or for questions. More information can be found at www.palgroup.org.

Wednesday, Feb. 23

Percy Jackson Book Club

4 p.m.5 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Grades 6-12. This month, were reading Book 5, The Last Olympian. Once your register, stop by the Youth Desk to get your free copy of the book. Registration Required.

Roxana HCE Meeting

12 p.m. at Rox-Arena in Roxana Park. HCE (formally Home Bureau) meeting. Light lunch is served. Open to the public. For more info contact Vi at 618-803-2795.

Virtual Evening Flow Yoga with Anne

5:30-6:15 p.m. at Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. A Slow Flow mixed levels practice that will lead you through a series of yoga poses that focus on strengthening, lengthening and stretching. Requires Registration.

Thursday, Feb. 24

Movie Matinees for Adults

12 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Bring a brown bag lunch and they will provide drinks and popcorn. Call (618)692-7556 for details.

Forest Park Owls: Hiding In Plain Sight

6-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Mark H.X. Glenshaw, award-winning naturalist, has documented the lives of Great Horned Owls in Forest Park since 2005. Marks talk will cover basic facts about the species using photos and videos to illustrate their behaviors.

NAMI Meeting

7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net.

Preschooler Story Time

10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 3-5. If youre ready for a story, clap your hands. Every week Ms. Megan will be sharing fun tales & tunes, and bubbles. Registration Required.

Chicken Dinner Every Thursday

4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774

Adult Zumba with Aimee

6-7 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Library via Zoom. Join in for an evening workout with a Zumba Fitness instructor. Come in comfortable exercise clothing and bring a water bottle.Space is limited. Requires Registration.

Friday, Feb. 25

Fish Fry Every Friday

11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774

Fish Fry

4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051

Ongoing Events

Al-Anon

For information call 618-463-2429. For more information, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.

Youth Take Home Crafts

Pick up a take-home craft bag at the Edwardsville Public Library with all the materials to make the project. A new craft will be available each month at the Youth Desk.
Preschool childcare in Chaffee County got a boost from the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners Tuesday as $150,000 of $500,000 in excess funds from the Department of Human Services was earmarked for Chaffee County Early Childhood Council.

The $350,000 balance will go toward the affordable housing project Janes Place, matching funds from Salida City Council.

Commissioners Rusty Granzella and Greg Felt voted for the motion, and Commissioner Keith Baker voted against.

Baker favored allotting the entire $500,000 to Janes Place.

Granzella said that while he wanted to see Janes Place move forward, he wanted to provide resources for preschool childcare.

Preschool childcare has been scarce in recent years in the county.

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a lease between the county and Lisa Scanga and Jennifer Bright for use of Chaffee County Fairgrounds acreage.

A lot line elimination for the Brinkman property in Maysville was unanimously approved.

Commissioners also approved a request for a boundary line adjustment for property owned by Harold Starbuck, Melissa Starbuck and Amy Bennett; Paul and Cheryl Jensen; and Cinda and Kenneth Perse at 7112 CR 125 and 8080 and 8075 W. U.S 50.

They approved a Southern Colorado Economic Development District invoice.

Commissioners continued consideration until March 1 for both the Ogden major subdivision preliminary and final plat and the Tomkiewicz/Fortier heritage water subdivision exemption.
Sevierville, TN (37876)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later at night. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
The recent calls from the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) for the resignation of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari; for telling Nigerians the pure truth is inessential.

It takes boldness, integrity, transparency, and accountability to say nothing but the truth, and this has been done by the CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari to reveal those that imported the "Adulterated fuel" into the country.

The four companies have been in the business of importing Petroleum Motor Spirit, also known as Petrol, for over a decade. Why is it now they are being persecuted, especially Duke Oil?

The regulatory body, that is, the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, is not new to the inspection of standard specifications on all petroleum.

Have we ever considered saboteurs within this case?

From the explanation of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and that of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, it was indicated that all necessary checks were done properly.

Since inspection was done at the port of import and even at the port of arrival in Nigeria, I am considering saboteurs within who must have contaminated the imported fuel.

Responses from the majority of the accused importers have shown grievances with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and their foreign consortium.

I came to this conclusion after reading the 3-page response from Emadebl Hydel/AYMaikifi/Britania-U Consortium.

Emadebl Hydel/AYMaikifi had issues of agreement with Britania-U and the claim that Britania-U should be blamed has lots of meaning.

I'm just thinking aloud that the adulteration might be a plan to exit Britania-U from the consortium.

In line with the directive of President Buhari, who doubles as Minister of Petroleum, the probe should take the case of saboteurs very seriously because the proper checking was done on the imported fuel and these companies are not new to the business.

I will not join the bandwagon of calling for the head of the NNPC and NMDPRA without proper wider investigations.

All responses from the named companies have shown a "bad belle" with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as they seem not happy with their foreign consortium.

On a final note, it is high time the implementation of fuel subsidy removal takes effect in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, as it will go a long way to putting an end to the internal crisis among the major oil companies in the country.

Kelvin Adegbenga is a freelance journalist based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He can be reached via @kelvinadegbenga
Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has backed calls by the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) that any party that does not field a southerner as its presidential candidate in 2023 will lose the election.

The SGF, through its Chairman, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had, on Tuesday, while receiving members of the Power Rotation Movement (PRM), led by the Chairman of the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Pogu Bitrus, in his office in Akure on Tuesday, harped on the need for parties to field southern candidates, insisting that it was the turn of the south to produce the next Nigerian President.

In a response by the NEF through its spokesman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the northern elders said northerners had the right to contest for the presidential seat in 2023, emphasising that the North could take a similar position by canvassing support for a northern candidate against the South.

Baba-Ahmed also warned that the utterances and stance of the Southern governors could see the country suffer because Nigerians may end up selecting leaders not on the basis of their qualities but threats and intimidation.

However, while reacting to the NEF statement on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, said the South was not in anyway afraid of the North as the leadership of the country was not their exclusive birthright.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. The path we are treading is the one that will foster unity, fairness and harmonious relationship.

The South is never, and will never be afraid of the North because the presidency of Nigeria is not their birthright.

As succinctly put by Governor Akeredolu, what we, along with the southern governors, stand for is fair and equitable power rotation.

The only fair thing is that after eight years in the North, the Presidency should come to the south, the Yoruba group said.
Continued industry leadership on the backbone of its commitment to enhancing customer experience.

SINGAPORE and EKALI, Greece  February 11, 2022 - Star Alliance has been named Airline Alliance of the Year at the Air Transport Awards for the fourth consecutive time.

The Air Transport Awards recognise excellence and innovation in various categories of the global aviation sector. A panel of aviation industry experts selected Star Alliance in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the future of air travel.

Winners were announced on February 10 at an award ceremony held in Ekali, Greece.

Accepting the accolade, Jeffrey Goh CEO Star Alliance commented: Star Alliance is truly honoured to be a repeat winner of the prestigious Air Transport Award. Continued recognition of this nature is testament to our innovative spirit and our shared commitment in improving the customer experience. This award encourages us as we collectively emerge from the deepest crisis our industry has ever encountered.

Established in 2012, Air Transport Awards are the only international prizes that award all the main categories of the air transport industry.

Dr Kostas Iatrou, President of the Air Transport Awards said: "This year we award Star Alliance as the Alliance of the Year for its unwavering commitment to make flight travel a truly customer friendly experience on all levels and phases by adopting innovation, sustainability and working to provide constantly improving digital easy-to-use services. Star Alliance members have once more proven their commitment to well-being of their passengers by adopting the highest Diamond Health Safety level in APEX Health Safety.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that no fewer than 10 persons have been died in a road accident involving a trailer in Katsina State.

Abubakakar Usman, the Katsina Command's spokesman, said this in an interview on Channels Television on Friday.

The trailer was reported to have 18 passengers on board with a number of cattle when it lost control and crashed on Thursday night at Gora village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.

Consequently, 10 persons died, others sustained varying degrees of wounds. Likewise, many of the cattle also died.

Abubakar Usman narrated that the investigation carried out by the FRSC revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle while sleeping.

According to him:We are yet to confirm the number of cattle that died but according to eyewitnesses and our men on a rescue mission, they saw 10 people dead and eight injured.

The accident was a lone crash that happened after 12 midnight on Thursday at Gora village in Malumfashi Local Government Area, involving a trailer with Registration Number KTN 495 XA, overloaded with animals and passengers, en route to southern Nigeria when it lost control at a sharp bend and crashed.

Our accident investigation teams were there on a rescue mission already. They have even facilitated the police report.

Meanwhile, the FRSC official made an appeal to drivers to refrain from embarking on night journeys which he said usually lead to fatal accidents.
Ever since the drama involving Reverend Father James Anelu of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos unfolded I have been reflecting on the issue of tribalism and the Nigerian. For those who do not know, the Edo-born clergyman was suspended by the Archbishop for angrily banning Igbo worship songs in his parish during offertory at Mass about a week ago. He went on to berate the Igbo people in his church for trying to dominate the parish and claimed that was how they took over the archbishopric in his native Benin City.

It bothers many Nigerians and perhaps non-Nigerians that the virus of tribal hatred and bigotry is strong in the veins of a clergyman who is supposed to be the father of all in the house of God. Personally, while I am saddened by the priests action, especially since I am a Catholic, I am not in the least surprised. He is a man, after all, and a product of his society and times, though he is supposed to have a higher calling as a man of God. Besides, his outburst is not the only manifestation of ethnic animosity in Nigerian or even African Christendom. The Benin episode that apparently ignited Father Anelus anger show that tribalism took the forefront of other considerations over the appointment of the Catholic Archbishop of Benin in 2011. Quite a number of Bini and non-Igbo Catholics were uncomfortable with the prospect of an Igbo being appointed as Archbishop to fill the vacant position. Benin is in Edo, a non-Igbo state of Southern Nigeria and it has the honour of being one of the earliest centres of Christianity in Nigeria in the fifteenth century. But the Igbo people who migrated there in large numbers in the twentieth century form a sizeable Catholic population there. Although Rome eventually ruled by selecting the Igbo Bishop Augustine Akubueze as the Archbishop, it appears that ten years on, there are Bini Catholics who have not come to terms with Romes decision.

This article is not a critique of tribal antagonism in Nigerian Christendom or any other religion practised in the country. Suffice it to say that tribal bigotry ought not to be present in institutions and systems that proclaim the higher ideals of universal brotherhood, oneness, love and common sonship/daughtership under a God of all. But the followers of these faiths, to paraphrase a famous Biblical verse, are in the world though not of the world. So the concern is: what fuels tribal antagonism in Nigeria? Why do we see anyone from ethnic groups other than ours as the other? In some cases we even see people from other sections of ethnic groups we belong to as the other. Thus it is not out of place for some Igbo people from areas east of the River Niger to see their Igbo brethren from areas west of the River Niger as not being pure Igbo, whatever that means.

Perhaps it is right to understand certain terms before answering the question inherent in the title of this article. Tribalism in itself is not evil. According to Wikipedia, tribalism means the state of being organized by, or advocating for, tribes or tribal lifestyle. People have always been organized in tribes from time immemorial, right from the evolution of human societies from hunter-groups to settled agricultural civilizations. With the quest for resources human groups eventually took on features of commonalty such as culture, language, etc. But tribalism has gained a negative connotation over the years, given political developments and the increasingly fierce competition for all forms of resources as societies became complex and group living grew more complicated. Tribalism is not unique to Africa: both the neutral and negative connotations have afflicted all societies. In the context of Africa tribalism is seen as being opposed to nationalism. i.e. the interest of the tribe comes before and even overrides the interest of the nation-state.

Negative tribalism as we practise it in Nigeria is rooted in many factors. In most cases it does not usually emanate from ordinary people of the many tribes that make up Nigeria. It is a top-down development ignited by elites fiercely competing for resources. These resources can be economic, political, spiritual or even egoistical. And our elite includes religious leaders, hence the likes of Father Anelu can rail against the Igbo. I need not mention political, military and cultural icons.

Tribalism in Nigeria is rooted in

Ignorance;

Fundamentally, fear of the other who you know little or nothing about

A skewered education system which disdains history and civic education.eg. The systems rarely teaches about the Nigerian civil war in our schools, let alone inform Nigerian children that Yoruba and other Nigerians shed their blood for the Igbo republic of Biafra while Igbo soldiers courageously fought for Nigeria against Biafra

Wrong parental upbringing

Poverty and the grinding struggle for survival

Building up of stereotypes due to hate of the other

Ugly and painful experiences at the hands of people of other tribes

Paying little or insincere attention to the tenets of our religions

Historical antagonisms

Government actions and policies that seem to favour a tribe or tribes

Adoption of tribal jingoists as national heroes

Insularity of the average Nigerians mentality which stops him from paying sober attention to how negative tribalism tore apart other countries and societies.eg. The Balkans

Etc

From all I have mentioned here it is obvious that tribalism is not necessarily ingrained in the Nigerians veins, though it appears more rooted in many, probably due to brainwashing by evil-minded elite. While negative tribalism cannot be totally eliminated because of the inevitable conflicts of group living, it is in our interest to manage it to the barest minimum.

Henry Chukwuemeka Onyema is a historian, teacher and author. His e-mail is [email protected]
New York, February 11, 2022  Malian authorities should ensure that bureaucratic obstacles do not prevent international journalists from entering the country and covering it freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

On Monday, February 7, police officers in the capital, Bamako, arrested French national Benjamin Roger, a reporter at the privately owned news outlet Jeune Afrique, who had arrived in the country hours earlier on a flight from France, according to news reports , a statement by Jeune Afrique, and Roger, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.

The officers took him to the Judicial Investigation Brigade, which transferred him to the border police, who revoked his entry visa and forced him to leave the country, according to those sources. Border authorities said he did not have the required accreditation to report from the country.

Harbert Traore, a technical advisor for the Ministry of Communication, told CPJ in phone interviews Thursday and Friday that, at present, accreditation processes for journalists had been suspended, but accredited journalists already inside Mali could continue working. CPJ was referred to Traore for comment by two government officials.

There is no renewal of accreditation and there is no accreditation. All are suspended momentarily, he said, adding that accreditations were stopped while authorities modernize the accreditation system. He declined to say exactly when that suspension went into effect or when it would end.

Authorities in Mali should act swiftly to ensure foreign journalists can work freely and without gratuitous red tape, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. It is unacceptable for a country to simply refuse to grant accreditations to the press in the name of updating their bureaucratic processes.

Traore told CPJ that foreign journalists must have accreditation to work in the country and to obtain visas, but did not respond directly when asked about the penalties for working without an accreditation. He called the current situation a little pause for foreign journalism in Mali. Previously, in late January, authorities announced plans to change the countrys accreditation process, according to reports .

Traore said that authorities were creating a new platform allowing journalists to apply for accreditations online, and expected that the platform could be finalized in the coming days. He added that he was focused on accreditation issues and did not know who was responsible for Rogers expulsion.

Roger told CPJ that officers questioned him at the Judicial Investigation Brigade office for about 10 minutes about his work, and that he told the officers he was covering the political situation in the country. Roger has recently covered politics across West Africa.

Tensions between Mali and France have increased in recent weeks; on Monday, Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga accused France of promoting insecurity and division in the country, according to media reports .

A journalist who previously covered Mali for a foreign news outlet, who requested anonymity for professional reasons, told CPJ on Thursday that gaining permission to work in the country had previously been relatively easy.

The journalist said they were planning another reporting trip to the country, but the current uncertainty was giving them second thoughts. We are trying to get accreditation and not getting it at the moment, the journalist said.
The United Young Professionals has commended the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mal Mele Kyari, for ensuring that Nigerians have a sufficient supply of petrol despite the disruption in some parts of the country due to the discovery of off-spec products in circulation.

According to a press release on Friday, 11th February 2022 signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Group, Maryann Adegbenga, she said that despite distractions from some quarters, Mallam Kele Kyari has been able to restore sanity in the supply and distribution of quality Premium Motor Spirit within a short period.

Despite the uproar which greeted news of the importation and resultant distribution of the adulterated Premium Motor Spirit into the country, the GMD/CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Kele Kyari, was not deterred but remained focused to salvage the situation by ensuring that about 300 million litres of petrol imported to close the supply gap caused by the recall of the off-spec products in circulation, the statement said.

Despite denials and counterclaims by marketers on the importation of the off-spec products, Mallam Mele Kyari was not bothered, he was very decisive and he took an unprecedented step to make sure we have enough fuel and we as Young Professionals must commend him and his management team for this, the statement said.

It would be recalled that both the GMD of NNPC and the CEO of NMDPRA at separate press briefings on Tuesday, confirmed the importation of adulterated PMS by some oil marketers into the country.

The GMD NNPC said its investigation has revealed the presence of Methanol in four petrol cargoes imported by MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando, and Duke Oil.

The NMDPRA boss, on his part, told journalists on Tuesday that, petrol with methanol quantities above Nigerias specification, was discovered in the supply chain, adding that, Methanol is a regular additive in petrol and is usually blended in an acceptable quantity.

On the other hand, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) had said it would ensure that clean petrol is pushed to consumers to avoid scarcity.
COVID surge spooks government

BANGKOK: The government is considering tightening anti-COVID measures on Valentines Day and the Songkran holiday period in response to a rapid increase in new infections.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthsex

By Bangkok Post

Friday 11 February 2022, 08:49AM

Students wait for antigen tests at Sidawittaya School in Sida district, Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: Prasit Tangprasert

Gen Supoj Malaniyom, head of operations at the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), chaired a meeting to discuss the recent spike of new cases yesterday (Feb 10), with the Department of Disease Control providing updates on the situation, reports the Bangkok Post.

A source at the meeting said those present expressed concern about the rise in daily case numbers over the past several days. The country registered 14,822 new coronavirus cases and 20 more COVID-19 fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced yesterday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will chair a CCSA meeting today to consider tougher measures to curb the spread of the virus on Valentines Day and during the Songkran holiday period, the source said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is also handing out 2 million free condoms in a campaign for safe sex ahead of Valentines Day, with sexually transmitted infections on the rise among the young.

Panruedee Manomaiphiboon, director of the BMAs health department, said yesterday the condoms would be available for free in all 50 districts of the capital under City Halls Start Safe Sex, Use Condom campaign. Last year there were 6,450 cases of sexually transmitted diseases recorded in Bangkok, and the number was rising each year, she said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he will provide an update on the COVID-19 situation at the CCSAs meeting today.

The meeting will revise measures to deal with the increasing number of daily infections, he said.

Despite the steep increase in new cases, the number of fatalities and people with severe symptoms remains low, Anutin said.

People who have been fully vaccinated and still test positive are mostly asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, as predicted by medical experts, he said. However, they are still required to follow precautions strictly and get their booster shot as quickly as possible. It may take about a month and a half before case numbers go down. We have to try to co-exist with COVID.

At the CCSAs meeting, he said he will also propose COVID-19 patients be delisted from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (Ucep) scheme. The scheme has listed COVID-19 as an emergency illness enabling patients to seek treatment at their nearest private or state hospitals free of charge in the first 72 hours.

After the delisting, COVID-19 patients will still be eligible to free treatment under other schemes such as the gold card universal health scheme, and social security health benefits.

The change will not affect people. The state will still subsidise the expenses, except those who seek services not covered by those health schemes, Anutin said. For example, if they want to go to a private hospital, they have to pay their own bills.

Anutin also downplayed a suggestion by the Department of Health that those planning to have sex on Valentines Day get tested for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test kit before making love.

Dont worry. Most of them already have close relations, Mr Anutin said.

Bangkok yesterday reported having the most number of new cases at 2,635, followed by 986 in Samut Prakan, 754 in Chon Buri, 504 in Nonthaburi, 434 in Phuket, 379 in Ratchaburi, 372 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, 334 in Nakhon Ratchasima, 317 in Samut Sakhon and 301 in Maha Sarakham.
Legal Matters: The long arm of the Australian taxman

For many, escaping the high tax rate in Australia is another advantage of living in the Land of Smiles.



By The Phuket News

Saturday 12 February 2022, 11:00AM

Image: Silk Legal (Click to enlarge)

However, escaping tax in Australia just got a lot harder. The Australian Government announced late last year that it would "modernise" the individual tax residency provisions in the 2021-22 Federal Budget to refocus on physical presence, Australian connections, and other objective criteria.

Not that the Australian Tax office (ATO) is noted for its leniency. The ATO issued guidance on how it will consider tax residency for the 2020- and 2021-income years considering COVID-19 and closed borders. Any tolerance dissolved once borders opened to travel again, no matter how inconvenient.

With this so-called modernisation, the Australian Government is planning to introduce a "bright line" test as the primary test for residency and tax. This means if an individual spends 183 days or more in Australia, they will automatically be considered a tax resident of Australia and taxed in Australia on your global income. There is no need for any further consideration on where the individuals family members are, where their assets are situated, etc.

Currently, you are not considered a tax resident of Australia if you can show that you "usual[ly]" live outside Australia, even if you spend more than a total of 183 days in Australia in any one tax year.

But this isnt the end to the changes.

Even if you spend less than a total of 183 days in Australia, the taxman can apply a secondary test to see if you should be taxed in Australia based upon:

Whether you can reside permanently in Australia; and/or

Whether you own or rent a house in Australia; and/or

Whether you have family in Australia; and/or

Other Australian economic interests. This includes any form of employment in Australia; actively participating in a business in Australia; significant Australian assets which include property, money in bank accounts or an interest in a family trust.

OOPS - BECOMING A TAX RESIDENT AGAIN

Even if you spend less than a total of 183 days in Australia during the tax year and were a foreign resident during the previous income year, you could be considered a tax resident of Australia again if you spend a total of more than 45 days in Australia during one tax year and satisfy two or more of the factors listed above.

The Governments new proposal makes your tax status change a more gradual process and needs to be proven over a few years.

An example

Barry is Australian and moved to Thailand in 2019. With the COVID pandemic, he didnt return to Australia from 2019 to 2021. In 2022, he plans to spend a few months with his children in Melbourne but has sold all his investments in 2020. Barry still considers himself to be a foreign resident for income since 2019 based on the current tax residency rules. In the 2022 tax year (after the changes to the legislation have been made), he spent 80 days in Australia visiting his family.

Barry will be considered a resident of Australia as he has spent more than 45 days in Australia during the tax year and satisfies two of the following factors:

Barry is an Australian citizen, and has a right to reside in Australia; and

His immediate family members are in Australia.

Barrys investments are all taxable at Australian rates along with the money he is paid consulting to his old company.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Changing tax residency affects your income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) liabilities.

If you become an Australian tax resident, even by mistaking the new rules, you will probably be taxable on your worldwide income. For Capital Gains Tax purposes, you may have acquired assets that are not considered to be taxable Australian property (TAP) at market value. Non-TAP assets include real property situated overseas, foreign shares, etc.

If you bought your dream condo in Phuket, be careful. You may be deemed to have disposed of non-TAP assets at market value when they cease to be Australian residents. This may lead to an Australian CGT liability.

You can elect for this CGT event not to apply, but this means that the asset is "stuck" within the Australian tax net until sold or you regain your Australian tax residency status.

You need to do some tax planning if you sell your non-TAP assets at their market value on leaving Australia. In addition, you might not be entitled to any tax-free threshold, 50% CGT discount and the main residence exemption.

Similarly, if you have ownership of foreign companies, partnership or trusts (e.g., a Thai company holding property), this could impact the residency status of these foreign companies or trusts. For example, if you have set up a family discretionary trust this could be taxed as residents of Australia if any trustee is a resident in Australia at any time during an income year.

LEAVING THE TAXMAN BEHIND

If you convince the taxman you are a foreign resident, then generally you will only be taxed on your Australian income. Some of your Australian income may also be taxed at a concessional rate (e.g., interest earned in Australia is only subject to a 10% final withholding tax).

Generally, if you leave Australia then you need to spend less than 45 days in the current income year in Australia and less than a total of 45 days in Australia in each of the two preceding income years to be considered a foreign tax resident.

If you move offshore for employment, another rule called the employment test applies. To qualify as an offshore resident for taxation, you will need to be employed offshore for several years and prove that you:

Resided in Australia for the 3 prior income years; and

Have been employed overseas for more than 2 years; and

Had a residence in the place of employment for the entire employment period; and

You spent less than 45 days in Australia in each of the two preceding income years.

THE THAI-AUSTRALIA DOUBLE TAX AGREEMENT

Many Australians will now fall into the Australian tax net with the new lower 45-day threshold.

This may lead to situations of dual tax residency - where you are considered a tax resident of two countries. The provisions of the Thai-Australian Double Tax Agreement essentially treat you as a tax resident of only one country based on a tie-breaker test.

Be careful about what you wish for because if the taxman agrees, you are now a foreign resident, and under the new Australian proposals you will lose your entitlement to the tax-free threshold, 50% CGT discount, and main residence exemption. Furthermore, a CGT event and the additional tax may also apply depending on the final rules.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you plan to come to Australia for extended holidays, you may want to think twice if you wish to still be treated as a foreign resident for Australian taxes in the future.

Australian expats should be aware that the proposed changes have not yet been legislated. Although it seems likely they will come into effect from 1 July 2022, you need to plan for this change and not be caught with an expensive tax bill.

By Dr Paul Crosio / Silk Legal

Paul Crosio is a Partner at Silk Legal & founding partner of Silk Advisory. He is a practicing Australian lawyer with over two decades of corporate experience in turn-around management in Thailand and abroad.
Sandhu killers have fled Thailand

PHUKET: The two men wanted for shooting dead known criminal Jimi Slice Sandhu have fled Thailand, national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk revealed during his visit to Phuket late yesterday (Feb 10).

murderhomicideviolencecrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 11 February 2022, 08:30AM

The guns used in the assassination were found at Rawai Beach yesterday. Photo: TNA

The guns used in the assassination were found at Rawai Beach yesterday. Photo: TNA

The guns used in the assassination were found at Rawai Beach yesterday. Photo: TNA

The guns used in the assassination were found at Rawai Beach yesterday. Photo: TNA

The killers have left the country, national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: PR Phuket

The killers have left the country, national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: PR Phuket

The killers have left the country, national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: PR Phuket

The killers have left the country, national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: PR Phuket

Speaking at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town, Gen Suwat alluded to police now knowing the mens identities, but he declined to name the two.

At least one of the men, aged 37, is known to have served in the military.

But we need to gather more information, he said.

The two men did not travel on forged passports, Gen Suwat said.

The two men arrived in Thailand on Dec 18 as tourists, and left the country last Sunday (Feb 6), he explained.

The men arrived on a regular plane, Gen Suwat noted, meaning they entered the country either under the Test & Go or Sandbox entry scheme.

We checked all the areas where they went during this trip, and we know their destination after leaving Thailand by plane, he said

At present, more than two people are believed to be involved, but now we need to find more evidence against these two first, Gen Suwat said.

Of these two perpetrators, one of them had committed a crime in his country, but not a serious crime, he noted.

Regarding arrest warrants, we thought we had enough, but now we need to find more [evidence], he added.

Now that the criminals have left the country, we are communicating with foreign countries, he added.

Police yesterday found two guns that were thrown into the sea while the killers ran along Rawai Beach to make their escape.

One of the guns was a CZ 9mm, the other a Walther PPK, he said.

The guns were found by police using a metal detector at low tide.

Both [guns] were found in the sea about 100 metres from the scene of the incident. Both guns are legally registered. Currently, we are currently investigating those involved as to how they came to be with the perpetrators and used in this incident. The registered owners of the two firearms are being invited to come in for questioning, Gen Suwat said.

Regarding the arrest of a foreigner in Rawai in connection with the GPS unit fitted to the rented car that Jimi Sandhu was driving in Phuket, Gen Suwat said, The details of the investigation in the early stages.

Relatives of Jimi Sandhu will arrive in the coming days to claim his body and repatriate to India, Gen Suwat added.
Volunteers to tackle sewage, litter in Phuket Town canal

PHUKET: A joint campaign by Royal Thai Volunteers and the Rak Bang Yai Club will aim to clear weeds, litter and other debris from the Bang Yai Canal, which runs through the heart of Phuket Town, so that foul smells emanating from sewage in the canal will dissipate.

environmentnatural-resources

By The Phuket News

Friday 11 February 2022, 06:41PM

The joint campaign was announced at the new Phuket Provincial Hall today (Feb 11) during a video teleconference with Admiral Pavit Rujithes, Director of the Royal Thai Initiative Volunteer organisation, operated under the Royal Office.

Also present were Kanungnit Ketkaew, Director of the Phuket branch of the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONIE), and Teerayut Naweekarn, President of Rak Bang Yai Club.

At the meeting today, Mr Teerayut explained that efforts by the Rak Bang Yai Club to clear the canal had been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We used to hold an activity every week, but due to the COVID-19 situation it is now only once per month, he said.

The clubs goal is to sustainably solve problems of flooding and drought, he said.

Mr Teerayut avoided saying that the issues only arose through lack of care and attention given to the maintenance of the canal.

The Rak Bang Yai Club will hold its next canal clearing on Feb 20, he added.

Phase 1 [of the activity] is to eliminate weeds along the dam and canal walls. It will start from the bridge in front of Satree Phuket School and continue to Queen Sirikit Park, he explained.

The second phase will start from Queen Sirikit Park and continue to the tip of Saphan Hin, he added.

A total distance of three kilometres, he noted.

Bang Yai Canal is the main canal that flows through Phuket. The origin of the water is from Kathu and the canal flows through Phuket City and flows into the sea, Mr Teerayut explained.

Bang Yai Canal is useful as a source of fresh water for consumption [further upstream], trapping aquatic animals and helping to drain rainwater into the sea during the rainy season, he said.

Now, Bang Yai Canal has a problem of sewage, littering and waste causing foul odours, Mr Teerayut said.

There are weeds that cover the waterways along both sides of the canal, especially the area that flows through the community in Phuket Town, he said.

Therefore, I will lead volunteers to develop Bang Yai Canal to create cleanliness and beauty, he added.

Adm Pavit praised the efforts.

I would like to see the participation of the people to take action together with [Royal Thai] Volunteer work. With support from the government, this will make the work sustainable, he said.

The development and restoration of Bang Yai Canal initiated by the Rak Bang Yai Club and continuing to operate is considered as a model for other provinces, Adm Pavit said.

The benefits that people will receive by reviving the Bang Yai Canal is tourism and foreigners and local people can learn about the local culture and see the activities of the community, because Bang Yai Canal is rich and diverse in culture, he added.

I think that it is worth supporting. I want Phuket to be a place of sustainable development, a useful place, Adm Pavit noted.

I would like to thank the Phuket Governor for setting up a team of [Royal Thai] Volunteers working together with Phuket people taking part [in the campaign]. I want Phuket people to continue taking care of this place, he said.
Roanoke, AL (36274)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. High near 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 42F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 42F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will give way to occasional showers in the afternoon. High 58F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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.
EDWARDSVILLE  Burglary and multiple auto theft charges were filed Tuesday against a Cottage Hills man by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Samuel L. Durr, 28, of Cottage Hills, was charged Feb. 8 with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and three counts of offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony.

The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department.

According to court documents, on Feb. 6 Durr allegedly entered a home on Rose Avenue in Cottage Hills to commit theft and was found to have three stolen Honda motorbikes.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Other felony cases filed include:

 Diana L. Hansen, 45, listed as homeless out of Wood River, was charged Feb. 8 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 5 Hansen allegedly had a reported stolen 2007 Toyota Corolla. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Willard L Johnson Jr., 30, of the 100 block of Amanda Street, Collinsville, was charged Feb. 8 with two counts of burglary, a Class 3 felony, and retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Feb. 7 Johnson allegedly entered vehicles in Collinsville and also took cigarettes valued at less than $300 from the Motomart gas station. He has a 2019 Madison County conviction for residential burglary. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Berton L. Newton, 30, of Alton, and Amber D. Golliday, 33, of Cottage Hills, were each charged Feb 8 with three counts of forgery, a Class 3 felony. The cases were presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Dec. 1 and 2, the two allegedly tried to pass bad checks at Beasleys Convenience Store in Wood River and the Shell Gas Station on Brown Street, Alton. Bail was set at $50,000 each.

 Deandre C. Jones, 22, of Alton, was charged Feb. 8 with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 30 Jones allegedly tried to pass a bad check for $2,407.33 at Altonized Federal Credit Union. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Jeffrey W. Washington, 61, of Springfield, Illinois, was charged Feb. 8 with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Dec. 16 Washington allegedly took a chainsaw, storm door and wet/dry vacuum valued in excess of $300 from Lowes Home Improvement in Alton. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Curtis R. Eaton, 48, of Troy, was charged Feb. 8 with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On Feb. 7 Eaton allegedly took a bottle of Fireball whiskey valued at less than $300 from Caseys General Store in Troy. He has a 2006 Madison County conviction for theft over $300. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Edward D. Miller, 26, of Alton, was charged Feb. 8 with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Jan. 2 Miller allegedly damaged two televisions and a door frame valued in excess of $500 belonging to another person. Bail was set at $15,000.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Collinsville man faces multiple weapons- and drug-related charges from a November incident.

The charges were originally filed Nov. 16, but the file was sealed until Thursday.

Terry L. King Jr., 37, of Collinsville, was charged with armed violence and unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, both Class X felonies; two counts of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, all Class 2 felonies; and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on Nov. 5 King allegedly had 15-100 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver; alprazolam and huydrocodone with intent to deliver; and a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun. He allegedly was driving a BMW X5 SUV and attempted to flee form a Collinsville police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit.

The armed violence charge stems from King being armed with a dangerous weapon during the commission of a felony. He has a 2019 conviction for possession of a firearm with a revoked Firearm Owners ID out of Madison County.

Bail was set at $250,000.

Other felony charges filed Feb. 9 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Rico L. Toney, 33, with a last known address in Alton, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 5 Toney allegedly strangled a household or family member and had a Taurus 9 mm G2C handgun. He has a 2009 conviction for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance out of Madison County, making him ineligible to possess weapons. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Dakota D. Haas, 19, of Fredrickstown, Missouri, was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. On Feb. 8 Haas allegedly had a reported stolen Ruger .22 caliber single-action handgun. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Ryan D. Ewing, 28, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Dec. 20 Ewing allegedly had Nosler 9 mm ammunition and less than 15 grams of fentanyl. He has a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance and resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony out of Newton County, Missouri, making him ineligible to possess ammunition. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Jenna L. Johnson, 22, of Bethalto, was charged with stalking, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County States Attorneys Office. On Feb. 2 Johnson allegedly followed a woman to her place of employment and home and made statements to (the victim) that placed her in a reasonable apprehension of receiving a sexual assault. Bail was set at $25,000.
GREENVILLE  Authorities have detained a person in connection with a Greenville death Thursday night.

At about 7:24 p.m. Thursday, Illinois State Police responded to a report of a fatal shooting in the 600 block of East South Street in Greenville.

A woman who has not been named by authorities was found deceased and a subject was reportedly barricaded in a residence in the 500 block of East Main Street in Greenville.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, state police detained a person as part of the homicide investigation.

The investigation into the death is ongoing. State police are asking anyone who saw the shooting or knows about events surrounding the incident to contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477.
Job Title: Data Entrants (12 Fresher Job Opportunities)

Organisation: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Duty Station: Uganda

Reports to: Field Assistants

About US:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to address needs across the country.

About DINU Project:

The Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), a Government of Uganda Program with support from European Union was awarded to a Consortium led by CARE Denmark, comprising of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Gulu Agricultural Development Company (GADC), Dynamic Agro-Pastoral Development Organization (DADO) and SORUDA to implement a three-year programme. The programme is being implemented in 11 districts of Abim, Kotido, Karenga, Kaabong, Moroto, Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Napak in the Karamoja Sub-region, and Katakwi District in Teso sub-region and Kitgum in Acholi sub-region. CRS will specifically implement in the five (5) South Karamoja districts of Moroto, Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak.

Job Summary: The purpose of this Scope of work is to seek approval for the hire of the data entrants to aid in entering the pending data at the field offices in Amudat, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit and Napak districts as the field assistants are occupied with program activities and the bulk of the unentered forms has increased.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The data entrants will reinforce the field assistants by entering all the data pending at the district offices

The determination of the quantity of forms and data which have not been entered in the mWater platform by the district field teams

Recruit the data entrants who can enter the data forms to the mWater system within 5 days. Each data entrant will submit a minimum of 20 attendance forms (2  3 pages) to the system per day or a minimum of 8 group profiling forms for farmer groups per day. Therefore, each form will be charged 5000 once entered, and 12500 will be paid per each group profiling form entered.

Key Outcomes:

The data entrants understand that they will commit to enter all the data forms and group profiling forms assigned per district within the specified time allocated.

Contribute to project performance by CRS on reporting of activity implementation.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

A diploma or it`s equivalents in any relevant field.

Previous experience in conducting data collection and data entry using mobile devices is a must.

Highly organized individual, meeting deadlines, and managing time effectively.

Must be available for the entire period scheduled.

Ability to work independently as well as an effective team player.

Willingness to work long hours to achieve set goals.

Working English language proficiency.

Self-motivated and willing to learn.

Knowledge of the local language is an added advantage

Desired:

The ideal candidate to enter the data in mWater is someone who has experience in entering data in other systems like commcare, with minimum education of Uganda certificate of education (UCE) and should be computer literate.

NB  the entrant will be preferred to come from the same district of operation

When and where?

Data entry will take place at respective field offices Amudat, Nabilatuk, Napak, Nakapiripirit and DINU office Moroto where the data entrants will use the mWater application as per each assistants tablet or computer.

NB: CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

How to Apply:

NOTE: To apply, please follow these instructions exactly otherwise your application will NOT be considered:

Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org

Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste  DATAENTRANTSMOROTO only

All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read

Deadline: 24th February 2022 by 5:00pm

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
As Commerce Boulevard in Dickson City was swamped with bumper-to-bumper traffic due to the grand opening of the brand new Chick-fil-A in December, John Lubeck of NEPA Drone took to the sky to capture some breathtaking pictures of the gridlock via his remote-controlled aerial drone.

It was just another evening in the life of the owner and operator of NEPA Drone, one of the only certified and licensed drone operators in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Lubeck, a Blakely police officer and SWAT team drone operator, spends his free time flying and teaching others how to fly and safely operate their own drones. He first got into flying drones after being given one as a gift back in 2016.

From there, Lubeck started flying it around, taking pictures and videos just as a fun hobby. Then, he was approached by a local Realtor to help take pictures of a house for sale. Those pictures and videos that Lubeck took helped sell that house, and he still works with that Realtor to this day.

From there, it sort of just took off, Lubeck said. Ive done work with MTF in Jessup, Ive had contractors call me to help build houses and take construction photos, Ive done real estate for commercial properties, pictures of cemeteries, you name it. What really put me on the map though was the Peckville Christmas House video.

The footage he shot of the famous NEPA-based holiday tourist attraction was so good that his footage was used by Good Housekeeping for a feature on their site in late 2018, giving him and NEPA Drone a shout-out in the process.

The money Ive made already has basically just paid for the costs of the drones themselves, he said. But at the end of the day, Im not doing this for money. Im doing it because I like it. Its not work to me at all.

Lubeck decided to turn his hobby into a side hustle and NEPA Drone was officially born. He got his license to fly and operate his drones commercially through the FAA and has been off and running with NEPA Drone ever since.

One of the things he enjoys most about drones is that theyre simple, easy to operate and learn about and fun to use. Those are some of the key reasons that he thinks more people should get drones of their own.

These things practically fly themselves, they take great pictures if youre into a birds eye view, and theyre fun, Lubeck said. With all the different options and capabilities they have, theyre just unbelievable. Theyll keep you busy for hours.

On top of his personal enjoyment of using and flying his drones, Lubeck started NEPA Drone to share his love of drones with others.

It feels good that people can call me for help, Lubeck said. People call me all the time with questions. How to use them, how to take great pictures and cool videos, just looking to learn. Its cool to just help people and answer their questions.

One of those many people that hes helped as part of NEPA Drone was Bill Clark of Derry in Westmoreland County.

I wasnt good at flying it (the drone) and I didnt understand why my drone kept beeping, Clark said. By mistake, I ended up sideways inside a church bell tower. I heard it flopping around, but it was 200 feet in the air so I couldnt get it out.

As soon as his drone got stuck, Clark knew just who to call for help.

I knew he (Lubeck) flew drones before because he does it for the SWAT team, but Id never really met the guy before he came out and helped me there. He took his time, was there to answer any questions I had, hes a really good guy, Clark said.

Lubeck even invited Clark out on the next gig he went on to better understand and operate his drone.

At the end of the day, Lubeck recommends everyone to get a drone of their own if they can. While the little machines might seem a little pricey, Lubeck feels that theyre well worth the costs.

As long as you follow the big rules  not flying too close to airports, not going above 400 feet, and keep the drone in visual line of sight  you should be fine, he said. As the technology advances, these drones are so advanced they actually sense when there are airplanes around them and drop down when they do.
Primark owner Associated British Foods has launched a 400million public bond offering a 2.5 per cent yield to diversify the group's sources of funding and extend the duration of its borrowings.

The group, which also owns major sugar, grocery, ingredients and agricultural businesses, said the bonds are being issued ahead of the maturity of its remaining private placement notes.

The bonds, which mature in 2035, are expected to be rated 'A' by S&P Global Ratings.

Primark owner Associated British Foods has launched a 400 million 2.5% public bond due in 2034 to diversify the group's sources of funding and extend the duration of its borrowings

Commenting on the launch finance director John Bason said: 'We are delighted to announce ABF's inaugural public bond issue.

'These bonds will diversify the source of funding for the Group. They will enhance our liquidity and support the continued investment for growth in our businesses.'

On the consumer front ABF, which also owns Twinings and Ovaltine, announced in January that it will increase prices amid soaring energy and supply chain costs.

ABF said it would pass the increasing costs onto customers where necessary as it also warned that the soaring costs could eat into profits.

Group sales in the 16 weeks to 8 January were 5.6billion, up 16 per cent from a year earlier.

Primark sales were 2.7billion, 36 per cent higher than a year earlier, but across stores they were still 5 per cent down from pre-Covid levels.

The company said that sales were hit in December as shoppers were turned off by the spread of the Omicron variant.

Primark was hit especially hard by reduced footfall as the retailer does not sell clothes online.

While ABF expects UK production levels to recover this year, it warned that profits would likely be weakened by more extensive gas, carbon, and logistics costs.
British group Vodafone has rejected a preliminary approach from French telecom group Iliad and private equity firm Apax Partners to buy its Italian business, describing the offer as 'not in the best interests of shareholders'.

A source told Reuters on Wednesday that Iliad, founded by billionaire Xavier Nie, had offered more than 9.2 billion (11 billion) to buy Vodafone Italy.

Vodafone did not disclose the size of the bid in its statement.

British group Vodafone has rejected a preliminary approach from French telecom group Iliad and private equity firm Apax Partners to buy its Italian business

It stated: 'Vodafone continues to pragmatically pursue several value accretive in-market consolidation opportunities to deliver sustainable market structures in its major European markets, including Italy.'

Iliad's bid, which was first reported by the Financial Times, comes as Italy's biggest phone group Telecom Italia (TIM) is assessing a 8.4 billion (10.8 billion) takeover approach from US fundhouse KKR.

This month Vodafone confirmed it is on track to meet its full-year guidance following healthy customer and sales growth in the UK and Africa.

The blue-chip listed business recorded a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase in organic revenue for the final three months of 2021 as its customer base expanded and remained more loyal.

Vodafone is also pursuing mergers with rivals in multiple European markets, encouraged by more favourable signals from regulators, its chief executive revealed.

African mobile arm Vodacom saw the biggest growth in service revenues, jumping 11 per cent, thanks to a substantial upsurge in mobile customers and those using its M-Pesa money transfer platform.

Iliad's bid, which was first reported by the Financial Times, comes as Italy's biggest phone group Telecom Italia (TIM) is assessing a 8.4 billion takeover approach from U.S. fund KKR

In South Africa, the group gained 1.7 million prepaid and 82,000 mobile contract customers, posted a strong boost in financial services revenue and had its recently-launched VodaPay' super-app' downloaded more than 1.4 million times.

Its UK division also witnessed a significant leap in the number of mobile contract customers, which it attributed to its new 'Vodafone EVO' flexible contract, healthy sales of iPhones and a positive Black Friday campaign.

Trade was further bolstered by a 1.9 percentage point fall in customer churn rates, greater roaming and visitor revenues, and its broadband customer base surpassing the one million mark.

This helped offset a decline in business revenue after the termination of an unprofitable contract with a major multinational, as well as difficulties getting other multinationals to renew contracts.

By contrast, Vodafone's largest market of Germany achieved record-high loyalty rates in its business segment. On top of that, it revealed a 378,000 increase in Internet of Things connections on the back of hefty demand from the car industry.

Its service revenue in the country grew by 1.1 per cent despite more onerous Covid-19 restrictions causing store footfall to decrease to half its pre-pandemic levels, and drops in DSL broadband and television customers.

The firm has upheld its annual guidance for adjusted underlying earnings of 15.2billion to 15.4billion and a minimum of 5.3billion in free cash flow.

Nick Read, its chief executive, said: 'Our team has delivered another solid quarter, demonstrating the sustainability of our growth strategy and medium-term ambition.'

He added that the group was focused on enhancing its 'commercial momentum' in Germany and utilising EU recovery funds, whilst 'creating value for our shareholders through proactive portfolio actions and continuing to improve returns at pace.'

On the investment front, Vodafone's shares have performed poorly over the last five years as it has suffered from a huge debt pile and poor profitability.
British American Tobacco has hiked dividends and launched a 2billion share buyback amid soaring profits, after it lured in almost 5million new customers to take up its vapers last year.

The maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes and Vuse vapers reported a 42 per cent rise in sales of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and oral nicotine products to 2.05billion in 2021.

It comes after the tobacco giant added some 4.8million new vaping customers, taking the total to 18.3million, and moving it one step closer to hit its 2030 target of 50million customers and 2025 target of 5billion of revenue.

BAT added some 4.8m new vaping customers last year, taking the total to 18.3m

While the bulk of BAT's sales still comes from its traditional cigarettes, new smokeless products are fast growing compared to so-called 'combustibles', which saw sales fall 3.2 per cent to 22billion.

Its Vuse vape brand is now the leading brand by value share globally, the company said, with sales up 59 per cent, while its tobacco heating product, glo, saw sales up 46 per cent.

Its Velo nicotine pouches saw sales up 41 per cent.

BAT invested some 496million in these new products in 2021 as losses in the division shrank by 100million.

Bosses expect the non-combustible division to be profitable by 2025.

'Significant investment into these new categories is beginning to show meaningful results', said Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor.

'The direction of travel [is] clearly becoming established.'

Total sales were 25.7billion, down 0.4 per cent compared to 2020, with pre-tax profits up from 8.6billion to 9.2billion in the year.

The group also made annualised cost savings of 1.3 billion, while it continued to pay down debt, which was reduced by 11 per cent to stand at 35.5billion.

It expects to generate around 40billion of free cash flow over the next five years - which is more than half the businesss current market value, analysts have noted.

The strong results have led BAT to hike its dividend payment by 1 per cent to 217.8p and launch a share buyback of 2billion for this year.

FTSE 100-listed BAT shares climbed 0.7 per cent to 32.91 in early trading on Friday. The stock has risen by around 20 per cent over the last year, with much of the gains since the start of the year.

BAT shares have risen 20% over the last year, with much of the gains since the start of 2022

Steve Clayton, fund manager at HL Select, said: 'The buy-back announcement was well flagged and the numbers are broadly what the market expected to see.

'But the underlying trends are looking very good for BATS. The tobacco trade is a high margin business, after all, the customers really want their nicotine hit.'

He added: 'Buy-backs will push earnings per share ahead faster than underlying profit growth, raising the potential level of dividend per share the group can afford.'

Interactive investor's Hunter said: 'From an investment perspective, the sector has more recently been overlooked by some investors who are simply unable to enter the fray on ethical grounds.

'Of late, however, there may be some winds of change. Recent market volatility and the rotation away from growth stocks into value has refocussed attention on the likes of the oil and tobacco stocks.

'However unfashionable they may be, propelled by strong cash generation, inelastic demand and generous dividend yields, the likes of British American Tobacco are having their own day in the sun at present.'
The planned 5.4billion takeover of Inmarsat has been thrown into doubt as its buyer desperately seeks to overcome Government opposition.

American group Viasat swooped on the British satellite group last year and has put forward a series of proposals to get the deal over the line.

The tie-up is being scrutinised by ministers and both sides have held talks to thrash out an agreement.

Viasat's pledges include creating jobs and keeping Inmarsat's headquarters in the UK.

But the Government believes these promises are too superficial, a Downing Street source told the Mail.

Ministers want firmer commitments  including that Viasat will invest in innovative projects.

Sources close to the company last night said they believe it has made a breakthrough in recent discussions.

One told the Mail that there had been 'endorsement from the Government so far.'

But a Whitehall source suggested no such breakthrough had been made and that laws could still be used to call in the deal and investigate whether it is a threat to national security.

Inmarsat is the largest provider of in-flight Wi-Fi for airlines and the leading provider of internet connections for ships. It has 14 satellites in orbit and plans to launch another seven in future.

Most of its 2,000-strong workforce is based in the UK.

It was taken private in 2019 for 4.7billion by foreign private equity groups including Warburg Pincus, but was put up for sale last year.

The Inmarsat tie-up is one in a line of controversial aerospace and defence takeovers to rock UK industry in recent years.

There are fears Inmarsat could suffer the same fate as aerospace group Cobham, which was carved up 18 months after it was bought by US private equity firm Advent.

The Government has been so worried about the string of selloffs it has brought in laws to protect firms in sensitive industries  including space  which include automatically screening deals.

However, the Inmarsat deal was launched before the National Security and Investment Act came into effect in January.

This means that all talks between the Government and the company are unofficial. But if ministers believe the deal could pose a threat to national security, they could invoke the law to start an official investigation.

Viasat boss Rick Baldridge previously told the Mail his company sees Inmarsat as a long-term investment. He added that Viasat could sell some of Inmarsat's US operations if it does not fit with the company far into the future, but added that the company has been around for 35 years and has not sold anything to date.

Viasat invested 300million in a cyber centre in Aldershot, Hampshire, last year, and does other work in the UK. Baldridge has said: 'We've already been making hundreds of millions of dollars in commitment here.'

But critics have said any promises made by Viasat must be cast-iron, multi-year legal commitments for Inmarsat to avoid the fate of Cobham. A Viasat spokesman said it is 'grateful for the constructive engagement' with the Government.
Kingsport, TN (37660)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 64F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy presents the Citizen Service Medal to Brandon Keller last week for helping a missing elderly couple he spotted on the side of Highway 36 on Jan. 27. In January, Cassidy gave Keller and his father the Citizen Lifesaving Award for their efforts in pulling a man from a burning car on Christmas Day.
The opportunity for poolside memories for kids nowadays may be all in the past as many local pools have closed their doors for good locally and across the state.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave after attending the opening ceremony of the sixth session of the Senedd at The Senedd on Oct. 14, 2021, in Cardiff, Wales. (Jacob King/WPA Pool/Getty Images/TNS)
Burkina Fasos new military strongman, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has been declared president by the countrys top constitutional body after a coup last month, legal sources said Thursday.

They said the Constitutional Council on Wednesday determined that Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, lieutenant-colonel in the national armed forces, president of the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (the official name of the junta), is the president of Burkina Faso.

Damiba is also head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, it added.

The move confirmed an announcement by the junta on January 31 that said Damiba would be appointed to those roles for a transitional period, and would be assisted by two vice presidents.

In a statement issued later Thursday, the Constitutional Council said that Damibas formal swearing-in would take place on February 16 in the capital Ouagadougou.

On January 24, disgruntled officers led by Damiba forced out the countrys elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who had faced a wave of public anger over his handling of a bloody jihadist insurgency.

Facing pressure from Burkina Fasos partners in West Africa, the junta last week reversed its suspension of the constitution and scrapped an overnight curfew.

But the key issue of a date for elections remains unsettled.

On January 24, the junta vowed to re-establish constitutional order within a reasonable time.

On Saturday, it announced that a 15-member commission would be set up with the goal of drawing up a draft charter and agenda, together with a proposal for the duration of the transition period.

The panel will be given two weeks in which to report back.

One of the worlds poorest and most volatile countries, Burkina Faso is struggling with a jihadist campaign that has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced around 1.5 million to flee their homes.

The country has been suspended from the West African bloc ECOWAS, although it escaped sanctions following last weeks restoration of the constitution.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council expressed serious concern over Burkina Fasos unconstitutional change of government, but chose not to describe it as a military coup or even condemn it outright.

SOURCE: AFP
As Russia masses troops on the Ukrainian border in preparation for a potential invasion, tensions between the two countries are also playing out through a conflict in the Orthodox Church.

Two different Orthodox churches claim to be the one true Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the Ukrainian people. The two churches offer strikingly different visions of the relationship between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples.The religious history of Russia and Ukraine has fascinated me since I first visited Kyiv on a scholarly exchange in 1984. In my current research I continue to explore the history of Christianity and the special role of religion in Eurasian societies and politics.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014, relations between the two countries have been especially strained. These tensions are reflected in the very different approaches of the two churches toward Russia.

The older and larger church is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Moscow Patriarchate. According to Ukrainian government statistics, this church had over 12,000 parishes in 2018. A branch of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is under the spiritual authority of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Patriarch Kirill and his predecessor, Patriarch Aleksii II, both have repeatedly emphasized the powerful bonds that link the peoples of Ukraine and Russia.

By contrast, the second, newer church, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, celebrates its independence from Moscow. With the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, a solemn council met in Kyiv in December 2018, created the new church, and elected its leader, Metropolitan Epifaniy. In January 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew formally recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as a separate, independent and equal member of the worldwide communion of Orthodox churches.

Completely self-governing, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was the culmination of decades of efforts by Ukrainian believers who wanted their own national church, free from any foreign religious authority. As an expression of Ukrainian spiritual independence, this new self-governing Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been a challenge to Moscow. In Orthodox terminology, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine claims autocephaly.

Unlike the Catholic Church, which has a single supreme spiritual leader in the pope, the worldwide Orthodox Church is divided into 14 universally recognized, independent, autocephalous or self-headed churches. Each autocephalous church has its own head, or kephale in Greek. Every autocephalous church holds to the same faith as its sister churches. Most autocephalies are national churches, such as the Russian, Romanian and Greek Orthodox churches. Now, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is claiming its place among the other autocephalous churches.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has over 7,000 parishes in 44 dioceses. It regards Russians and Ukrainians as two different peoples, each of whom deserves to have its own separate church.The chief issue separating the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Moscow Patriarchate is their relationship to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Moscow Patriarchate has substantial autonomy in its internal affairs. Ultimately, however, it is subordinate to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who must formally confirm its leader. The church emphasizes the unity that it enjoys with the Russian Orthodox believers.

By contrast, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is independent of any other religious body. For the churchs proponents, this independence allows it to develop a unique Ukrainian expression of Christianity.In both Russia and Ukraine, Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religious tradition. According to a 2015 Pew survey, 71 percent of Russians and 78 percent of Ukrainians identified themselves as Orthodox. Religious identity remains an important cultural factor in both nations.

In the 20th century, a growing nationalist movement demanded Ukrainian independence for both the church and the state. Although Ukraine became an independent country in 1991, its only universally recognized national Orthodox Church remained subject to Moscow.

In April 2018 Petro Poroshenko, then the president of Ukraine, again tried to form an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

No fewer than three different churches claimed to be the true Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Poroshenko hoped to unite these rival bodies.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Moscow Patriarchate was the largest church, and it enjoyed the recognition of the worldwide Orthodox community. However, it was and is subject to the Patriarch of Moscow  an unacceptable status for many Ukrainians.

Two other churches, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, had failed to gain recognition from other Orthodox churches.

In December 2018 a unification council formally dissolved the other branches of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and created the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. In January 2019, Bartholomew signed a formal decree, or tomos, proclaiming the new church autocephalous.

Support and rejection

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

So far, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has received recognition from four other autocephalous Orthodox churches. The churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece and Cyprus have each welcomed the new church.

Three other autocephalous churches have explicitly rejected the new church. The Moscow Patriarchate even broke communion with Constantinople over its role in creating the new church.

Nadieszda Kizenko, a leading historian of Orthodoxy, has said that Bartholomew has shattered Orthodox unity to create a church of dubious legitimacy.

By contrast, the noted theologian Cyril Hovorun greeted the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as a positive demonstration of solidarity with  the Ukrainian people who suffered from the Russian aggression.

Today, the two major rival expressions of Orthodoxy in Ukraine reflect two different historical visions of the relationship between Russians and Ukrainians.

For the Moscow Patriarchate, Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Therefore a single church should unite them.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made this very argument in a recent essay. He characterizes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as an attack on the spiritual unity of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine holds a very different view. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp., Metropolitan Epifaniy firmly rejected Russian imperial traditions. As a separate people with a unique culture, Ukrainians require an independent church.

The future of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is unclear. It enjoys the support of several of its sister churches. At the same time, it faces fierce opposition from Moscow. For now, it remains a source of controversy between Russia and Ukraine.

J. Eugene Clay is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Arizona State University. This comes to the Times Union via The Associated Press partnership with The Conversation.
3 1 of 3 Paul Buckowski/Times Union Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Paul Buckowski/Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 3





ALBANY  The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany no longer requires masks be worn inside its churches and offices.

The diocese issued a statement Thursday explaining the decision was aligned with the expiration of the state's mask mandate.
Long live the dive bar, a neighborhood sanctuary whenever the hankering for cheap beer in colorful places strikes.

Some spots get fancy with live music or food made to order, but all the bars listed here share certain truths codified in dive bar bylaws: be an unpretentious place to hang out with a cold one in hand and memorable bartenders to keep things in line  jukeboxes are a bonus.

Snugs: Pickles behind the bar, live music up front

Tony Adamis

38 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561; 845-255-9800

Snug Harbor Bar and Grill  Snugs for short  isnt the place for New Paltzs tourists seeking a craft cocktail. Instead, bartenders here are known for serving up the best cheap drinks made with bottom shelf booze.

By day, working class residents sip $2.50 Genesee beer or a $7.50 pint of Sloop if theyre feeling special. At night, SUNY New Paltz students roll in, mingling with and around the old timers.

Its a neighborhood bar more than it is a dive bar, said Hick Renadette, who has been the owner of Snugs since 2011. But Im the only one saying that.

Theres no proper food menu, just $3 empanadas and pickles, pickled eggs, and pickled pigs feet (once common for bars and pubs). The hot dog machine is dusted off occasionally and in summer the grill turns out free food for those spending on drinks.

The Snugs surprise, priced at $2.50 a pint, is whatever comes out of the tap of a rotating keg from distributors that would have been otherwise chucked. The catch is customers cant taste it first. The cheap guessing game is practically a rite of passage for college students.

Snugs has been around since 1981  the building was once a rib joint, drugstore and clothing store  and checks off every box for a true dive bar, including offering darts, pool and live music. Posters advertise upcoming shows while a pay phone remains as a relic from a bygone era. The juke box costs a buck, but Renadette has one rule: No Hotel California. I cant stand it anymore.

Like many great dives, cash is king at this late-night haunt, where live music usually requires a cover. Local and touring bands circle in and out, covering all genres from screamo to bluegrass to electronic. Questionable Authorities, an all-professor punk-rock band, often performs, giving SUNY students a chance to rock out at night to the same folks who teach them by day.

The enclosed back patio, with graffiti-filled fencing, is dog-friendly. Snugs operates seven days a week from 12 noon to 4 a.m.

Come in and stay awhile, said Renadette.

 Cloey Callahan

The Half Moon: From full dive bar to half pizzeria

JP Basileo @halfmoonhudson @halfmoonhudson Glass blocks date back to the original Half Moon, which opened in May 1947. (Photos by JP Biselio and Half Moon) Glass blocks date back to the original Half Moon, which opened in May 1947. (Photos by JP Biselio and Half Moon)

48 S Front St, Hudson, NY 12534; 518-828-1562

A stones throw from Hudson arts venue Basilica, and a frequent host over the years for dance parties, concerts and karaoke nights, Half Moon attracts an eclectic crowd of music lovers and locals.

Bartender JP Basileo is in the music-loving camp. He first learned of Half Moon when it hosted an afterparty for Basilicas long-running SoundScape music festival. Its history and relaxed vibe suited him. This is my kind of a bar, he said.

Two years ago, Half Moon turned half of the cavernous space into a pizzeria. This wasnt a pandemic pivot, but a longtime plan of owners John McCulloch and Frances Sultan. Steve Gonzalez of Sfoglini Pasta acted as the food consultant, and a Brooklyn pizza maker provided the dough recipe.

At its heart, though, Basileo said Half Moon is still a dive, even though we do carry some natural wines now. But theres no happy hour, he said, because theres no need. Everythings pretty cheap as is.

Cans of PBR and Tecate run $4, while the craft beer selection, which includes soon-to-open Hudson brewery, Return Brewing, sets regulars back $7. (The natural wine never goes higher than $13.)

COVID has put a damper on the karaoke nights, along with the Honky Tonk and Afrobeat bands. At times, the back patio has served as a pandemic-proof stage. We have heaters, Basileo said, but I dont know if they work.

Some things have not changed. The pool table is still there, albeit now on wheels so it can be moved when the dance floor's in use. The bathroom graffiti is still legendary. And a message above the bar still reads Lonely Hearts Pub.

Always will be, said Basileo.

 Nicole Davis

Silver Spur Saloon: Welcoming everyone who rolls in

Tom Gogola Tom Gogola The Silver Spur Saloon is a roadside biker bar located along NY 32 in Catskill. (Photos by Tom Gogola) The Silver Spur Saloon is a roadside biker bar located along NY 32 in Catskill. (Photos by Tom Gogola)

353 NY-32, Catskill, NY 12414; 518-678-9988

Gerry Finelli recalls the time when a customer arrived at Catskills Silver Spur Saloon on horseback around 15 years ago. The rider had come all the way from Montana on some sort of odyssey of self-discovery. Finelli owns the building and back then she also ran the low-slung bar and grill, too. Finelli called Patti Von Tassell, who now owns the business and is a big horse lover, and asked Patti if she had any hay.

Ive got a horse here, Finelli recalls telling her friend while she sips a Corona during a bustling late afternoon where an array of convivial drinkers fill the bar with laughs and drink orders: Domestic drafts here go for $3 and craft brews are $5 a pint.

Von Tassell didnt believe Finelli about the horse  This is a b***busting, prankster sort of place, says Finelli  but she finally convinced her it wasnt a prank. The horse was tended after, but then the question arose: Where was this crazy guy from Montana and his horse going to stay? Gerry put out a rollaway cot in the bar and told him he could camp out with his horse (who was welcome to stay outside).

I told him to lock the door behind him when he left.

Its the kind of story that characterizes the community spirit that pervades the Silver Spur, where, over the years, Finelli says the bar has raised some $200,000 to help out locals in need with medical bills or other crises.

You wouldnt catch the community vibe from the exterior, says a goateed fellow named Rich whos sitting at the bar and tuned in to Finellis horse story. Rich is a Queens native who recently moved to the region and figured the place for an unwelcoming biker bar  until he stepped in one day and realized it was anything but. I thought it was trouble. But the people here are so nice, he says.

Finelli turned over the keys to Von Tassell about 10 years ago and she put an emphasis on getting a regular kitchen going. Her friend Edie Ryder is helping out in the kitchen and talks up the nightly specials, which include a two-for-$26 dinner on Tuesdays and meatloaf Mondays.

We do get a big local crowd here, Ryder says, but also lots of people who are just kind of taking the back roads and find us, and skiers too. Were off the beaten path, so a lot of people fall upon us by mistake.

And as Finelli notes, theyve also had customers stroll in with their goats.

 Tom Gogola

Snapper Magees: A dark, warm haven amid trendy Stockade District

Tony Adamis Kiera McAuliffe @mcaulifk Snapper Magee's describes itself as a "dirty little rock & roll dive bar." (Photos by Tony Adamis, Kiera McAuliffe @mcaulifk) Snapper Magee's describes itself as a "dirty little rock & roll dive bar." (Photos by Tony Adamis, Kiera McAuliffe @mcaulifk)

9 N. Front St. Kingston, NY 12401; 845-339-3888

Long before Front Street started seeing lines for cardamom buns at Kingston Bread + Bar, or farm-to-table burgers at Buns, there was Snapper Magees, the decidedly unfancy-and-OK-with-that dive bar in the Stockade District.

And what a neighborhood gem its proven to be over the past 20 years. Snappers is a gritty but friendly spot, the kind of place where you can drink alone and no one will care or you can make new friends easily. Artists, auto mechanics, tourists, townies, flannel shirt-wearing hipstery guys and chunky boot-wearing punk girls  theyre all here at the long walnut bar or in the back playing darts or listening to live music.

The crowd skews a little younger when bands hit the stage, from punk and underground rock acts to comedian Kevin Smith, who recently performed.

The classic dive bar trademarks are on parade here: jukebox, walls plastered with band stickers, a bathroom that may or may not have toilet paper and definitely needs a cleaning. But who cares about that? Youre really here for the occasional $1 draft specials, the better-than-it-needs-to-be beer selection  from staples Bud and PBR to Keegans Mothers Milk, Sloop Juice Bomb and beyond  and, when the mood strikes, the working class combo (shot of Fleischmanns Preferred whisky and a can of Piels). Cash only, folks.

Come for the cheap drinks and banter. Stay for the live music and pinball. But maybe skip the bathroom and hold it till you get home.

 Tracy Ziemer

Exchange Hotel: Fixtures at the bar

Tom Gogola Tom Gogola The Exchange Hotel bar has been owned by the Buono family since 1929 and welcomes regulars like "Junkyard." (Photos by Tom Gogola) The Exchange Hotel bar has been owned by the Buono family since 1929 and welcomes regulars like "Junkyard." (Photos by Tom Gogola)

217 Main St, Saugerties, NY 12477; 845-246-8123

The best dive bars are known for their well-worn routines and regulars, and The Exchange Hotel in Saugerties has both in scores, to say nothing of the $2 mugs of Budweiser that eliminate any need for happy hour specials.

Junkyard is an Army veteran from the 70s and a fixture at the bar; and today hes joined by six or so other male patrons. The communal conversation turns to Groundhog Day. Apparently New Jerseys groundhog has died, sadly, and someone notes that given the animals home state, you cant rule out the possibility that it was a mob hit. Guffaws all around, and Nicole Buono behind the taps already knows Junkyard is ready for another one.

The Buono family has owned the bar since 1929 and Buono is a fourth-generation family member whos been working here since she was 14. Its the kind of place where people bring their kids for their first drink, she says. Her mom is working in the kitchen and covers her at the bar; her dad, Tony, is known for his top-secret pizza recipe.

Theres an Olympics curling match on the TV  Curling is really good to watch in the bar, says Buono. Its weird. Theyll turn the channel to the Super Bowl this weekend, of course. An old popcorn machine is tucked in a back corner offering gratis bowls, a really old phone booth has no phone in it, and a truly ancient tubular cooler known as the Bevador houses a selection of rotating beers and condiments (dont let the Michelob wallpaper adorning it fool you, its old!). Upstairs there are a few short-term rentals available for $150 a night.

Buono points out a strip of wallpaper above the bar that dates to the flapper era, a popular point of interest at a local landmark thats been in business since around 1850, but every year a historian will come in and date it back a few more years. As for Junkyard, Hes a Hudson Valley staple, says Buono with fond roll of the eyes.

 Tom Gogola
ALBANY  The Albany County District Attorneys office attempted to arraign the man shot last month by city police officers hours after he was taken off a ventilator earlier this week.

Tuesdays legal proceeding was halted after Jordan Youngs public defender, Rebekah Sokol, protested. Sokol argued to Judge Holly Trexler that Young wasnt physically able to understand what was going on as authorities attempted to formally charge Young more than two weeks after he was shot. Trexler agreed and stopped the arraignment.

It was very clear to me that he was barely conscious, Sokol said. The idea that they would push forward with this when he clearly didnt understand the legal process  is inexcusable.

Court records show that Young was arrested on charges of felony menacing a police officer and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon. He was shot on Jan. 24 as he ran toward a city police officer searching for suspects in a nearby alleged home invasion. Police said Young had a knife in his hand when he ran at the officer during a confrontation on New Scotland Avenue.

Sokol suggested that the cost of guarding Young, 32, may have played a role in the decision to push the arraignment. Young has been under city police guard almost since he arrived at the hospital. If he was arraigned, he would then be under the supervision of the Albany County Sheriffs Office, and they would be responsible for watching him while he is hospitalized.

Sokol said Young has since been put back on a ventilator.

Hes very much fighting for his life, she said.

The district attorneys office did not return requests for comment. Police spokesman Steve Smith said stationing officers in hospitals to watch people in custody is a common practice.

"This is obviously one of those circumstances and it has in no way had a financial impact on the police department," he said in a statement.

Alice Green, who has been serving as a spokesperson for Young's family, said Young's wife remains the only person allowed to see him.

Its very hard. Sometimes he appears to be conscious and other times hes not, Green said. He doesnt know whats going on.

Green  the executive director of the Center for Law and Justice  said she remains disappointed in the city police departments handling of the case and its refusal to let more family members see Young.

Hours after the attempted arraignment, the citys newly empowered civilian police review board voted to open an investigation into the police shooting.

Review board members emphasized during their meeting Tuesday evening that voting to open an investigation was not an indication of whether they believed the shooting was justified or not.

"It's my thought that there are still a lot of questions that are open, that we as a board, it's our responsibility to look further into," said Nairobi Vives, the board's chair.

The investigation will serve as a high-profile test of the board's new powers, which city voters approved in a referendum last year. The board can subpoena information from the department as well as officer testimony. The law also boosted the board's budget to equal 1 percent of the police department's, giving it the ability to hire outside investigators.

It's unclear to what extent the city's police officers will cooperate with any review board investigation. Last June, the city police officers' union filed a lawsuit seeking to have the law that beefed up the CPRB's powers thrown out, calling it invalid and a violation of the union's collective bargaining agreement with the city.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The union is also seeking to have the decision on whether the law is enforceable moved to the state's Public Employee Relations Board. A decision has not been reached in that matter.

Police Chief Eric Hawkins has repeatedly defended his officers' actions and said he welcomes any outside investigation into the department's actions around the shooting.

Board members have already reviewed some of the police department's body camera footage from the early morning shooting, which started as an investigation into a 911 call for a possible home intruder at the Morris Street building where Young and his brother live.

During Tuesday's meeting, board members made it clear they would be seeking much more information, including location data, a digital reconstruction of the events, surveillance footage and other evidence.

The early morning 911 call set in motion a chain of events that culminated in Young being shot on a nearby block by an Albany police officer as patrol cars combed the neighborhood for possible suspects.

Officers spotted Young with his dog in the middle of New Scotland Avenue. Police said Young, armed with a knife, sat in the road before he ran at an officer while holding the knife and was shot.

The department later determined the initial 911 call for an intruder was unfounded, but has not said who they believe made the call.

The police review board's investigation is currently the only outside examination of the shooting.

District Attorney David Soares' office will not investigate the shooting, due a 2020 policy change made a week after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. A special prosecutor would have to be appointed by a judge, which has not happened yet. And the state Attorney General's office only opens an investigation when an officer's action results in a death.

Young's family has questioned why police approached Young, and criticized the departments portrayal of Young and the response to the 911 call.
ALBANY  Two teenagers from Columbia County were arrested  and one charged with attempted murder  after police said they linked them to a drive-by shooting that hospitalized a man Thursday night.

The 31-year-old victim arrived at Albany Memorial Hospital at around 8:45 p.m., minutes before police were dispatched to the area of Ontario and Third streets to investigate reports of gunshots fired.
BETHLEHEM  The car is unassuming.

One might walk by it every morning before getting on the bus at the Elm Avenue/Route 32 CDTA Park and Ride and not think anything about it.

But the small black Mazda, that in the winter is often obscured with a layer of ice and snow, has been a resident in the lot of the CDTA Park and Ride likely for years.

It sits in the middle of the lot. Its two windows are partially open. The interior appears ravaged by the incoming water. And its driver's side door is crumpled, as if another car had crashed into it.

"What is happening with this car??" someone posted on the NextDoor app last month, with a picture attached of the vehicle. "It's been sitting in the CDTA Park and Ride for 2 years!! Can't it be towed away at this point?"

Imaginations run rampant under the post; one person commenting said they were interested in buying it, others questioned why police or CDTA had not dealt with it.

Weve gotten complaints from residents but we have no authority to tow it from private property, Cmdr. James Rexford, Bethlehem police spokesman, told the Times Union on Wednesday. Rexford explained that since the license plate is still on the car, police were able to identify its owner and it is not considered abandoned. But the owner has not moved it.

The inspection sticker on the car expired in November 2019.

When the Times Union called CDTA to ask about the neglected vehicle, Jaime Kazlo, director of corporate communications, said National Grid owns the lot, and that the transportation authority leases it. She said steps are being taken to address the issue.

"We have let our partners at National Grid know what is going on and they are going to look into it. They are the owners of the property," Kazlo said in an email.

The Albany International Airport has had its fair share of cars completely ditched by their owners in the parking lot.

We occasionally find vehicles that the department has noticed have been there for an extraordinary amount of time, said Doug Myers, airport spokesman. Out of my 23 years of working here, there have been several vehicles that were totally abandoned.

When facing a car that has been left and unclaimed for a particularly long amount of time, the staff undergoes a process to determine what to do with them.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

At the airport, three departments patrol the parking lots to check for abandoned cars: airport parking, airport operations, and the Albany County Sheriffs Office. The Sheriff's Office assists by using license plate readers to locate specific vehicles.

The airport runs the vehicle registration to contact the owner and figure out why the vehicle is there. The most common causes are extended stays, while others include health, personal issues, vacations and the owner's death.

Why not just sell the car or get it junked?

Myers simply said, Its easier to just leave it there.

As for the Mazda in Bethlehem, the car also has a bumper sticker that reads "Why does IMPERFECTION trouble you so?"

The imperfection of watching a vehicle deteriorate in a lot is perhaps something the community might have to embrace, at least for a little while longer.
ALBANY  Two more residents of Albany County have died after testing positive for the coronavirus, County Executive Dan McCoy's office said Friday.

The deaths of a woman in her 50s and another in her 60s pushed the county's death toll to 524 since the pandemic arrived here in March 2020. Over the past 30 days, 44 residents who tested positive have died. The number of coronavirus cases have dipped during the same period. Throughout surges in the pandemic, drops in the death rate have usually lagged behind the decline in overall cases.

County officials announced the deaths at the same time that they revealed that 101 more coronavirus cases were detected over the previous 24 hours. The number is significantly lower than the average number of new cases  162.8  reported over the past seven days.

The county executive's office said six more residents were hospitalized with the virus since Thursday and 64 residents are currently hospitalized with the virus. Of those people, 13 are in intensive care. The number of residents hospitalized is a little more than half of what it was a month ago.

So far, 61,130 residents have tested positive for the virus.

The number of new coronavirus cases in the county has dropped dramatically over the past few weeks. A month ago, the county recorded 1,000 new cases a day over several days but Friday's new caseload showed only a fraction of that.

McCoy noted the end of the indoor masking mandate at businesses in New York on Thursday, but urged people to be cautious, especially if they are showing signs of illness.

While the statewide mask or proof of vaccination requirement for businesses has been rescinded, the pandemic isnt over, and I continue to encourage people to take the proper precautions to stay safe, especially if you are at higher risk of serious illness caused by COVID and have not gotten a shot," he 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.

"That means wearing a mask in crowded places, practicing social distancing, and staying home and taking a COVID test if you are feeling sick. And as a reminder, its not too late to get vaccinated if you havent already.

Albany County is hosting another free COVID vaccination clinic from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy, 676 Clinton Ave., Albany.
Blows to the head, broken hands, chemical spray. Batons, flagpoles, fists. Smashed windows and forced entry. Calls for assassination.

Thats what happened during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, which is the subject of an ongoing investigation by a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republican National Committee, however, said in last weeks censure of Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois that the panel they serve on was assailing legitimate political discourse.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel attempted to clean up the mess days later by insisting that the censure language had been referring to the nonviolent insurrectionist behavior the panel was examining  the infrastructure of the riot, if you will. But the language in the document was obviously structured as a wink to extremists.

Nothing about Jan. 6 was legitimate. It was a deadly assault designed to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. The RNCs statement would be absurd if it werent so deeply dangerous. Equally dangerous is its assertion that the principled Republicans who are working to investigate Jan. 6  who recognize it for what it was  are the real traitors.

This is more than a partisan attempt to reframe history. Its not even just a convenient lie. The RNCs words and actions are grooming the American public to accept lies and political violence as normal.

Its mildly heartening that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week spoke out against the RNC resolution to remind Republicans that Jan. 6 was a violent insurrection. (In December, he acknowledged that the House was investigating something the public needs to know.)

But Mr. McConnell is the master of having it both ways when it comes to enabling his partys fealty to former President Donald Trump. Present no direct challenge, but keep critics at bay. Make sure no Republican has a clean reason to break away. Mr. McConnells criticism of the RNC provides political cover and makes it easier for moderate GOP voters to decide to stay in the party.

And what of our local Trump acolyte? U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said earlier this week that the RNC has every right to take any action (really?) and that youre ultimately held accountable to voters in your district. Of course, the RNCs censure is a great big thumb on that scale, telling Ms. Cheneys and Mr. Kinzingers constituents that theyre unworthy of bearing the party name.

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Ms. Stefaniks no-response response attempts to normalize the RNCs action, encouraging voters to accept ever-growing extremes in political speech and actions.

Where will that take us? If striking a police officer in the face with a flagpole is legitimate political discourse, what else will be deemed legitimate? Overturning elections? Jailing political enemies? For the Trump team, these are publicly stated agenda items.

Lets be clear about whats going on here: This is not what a democracy looks like. Republicans who believe in law and order, duty to country, personal responsibility and the Constitution need to speak out now. They must try to take their party back, if its not already too late.

And people of every party  anyone who believes in what this country used to stand for  must refuse to walk down the road GOP leadership is taking. Where it leads, America might not find its way back.
ALBANY  Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo plans to file a complaint with a state Supreme Court attorney grievance committee targeting Attorney General Letitia James and her report last year alleging Cuomo committed extensive sexual harassment.

There must be accountability, and the chief legal officer will never be inclined to examine what happened here, Cuomos personal attorney, Rita Glavin, said in a media briefing on Thursday announcing the planned action.

Glavin reiterated her allegations that the report was biased and omitted key evidence that she said undermined the credibility of some of the women who accused Cuomo of harassment. She repeatedly argued that James did not release witness transcripts that raised those issues until after she dropped out of the race for governor on Dec. 9.

James had entered the race in late October, about two months after Cuomo resigned from office. Cuomo announced he was resigning on Aug. 10, a week after James released the report determining that sexual misconduct accusations made by 11 women against Cuomo were credible. He faced likely impeachment in the Assembly and conviction in the state Senate because of the reports findings.

Glavin charged that James had plotted to get rid of Cuomo so that she could run for governor herself, and said her client was now motivated to ensure such alleged machinations never occurred again. Glavin said that if the complaint with the state Supreme Court grievance committee is successful, it could lead to James' censure or the suspension of her license to practice law.

A subsequent statement from the former governor's spokesman said the complaint would also name Joon Kim and Anne Clark, the outside attorneys chosen by James to conduct the investigation.

Glavin said she was also renewing requests to James office and the Assembly to release all underlying evidence regarding the alleged harassment. And the attorney said she will seek a criminal investigation by at least one district attorney  whom she did not identify  concerning alleged witness tampering and perjury during the attorney general's investigation.

Glavin has especially singled out one of Cuomos accusers, Lindsey Boylan, who last year sent a threatening message to another witness, former Empire State Development President Howard Zemsky. After receiving the message, Zemsky went on to confirm an allegation made by Boylan against Cuomo that Zemsky had initially disputed.

James' office has in the past defended the report as "exhaustive, thorough, and without outside influence," and accused Glavin of attacking survivors of sexual harassment while peddling "lies and conspiracy theories.

Statements released by James' office, however, have typically not addressed specific allegations made by Glavin.

For months, Andrew Cuomo has been hiding behind his campaign lawyer and falsely crying witch hunt despite previously admitting to this misconduct multiple times," James spokeswoman Delaney Kempner said on Thursday. "If he thinks he has a real legal case, he should go ahead and file it. These attacks are disgraceful and yet another desperate charade to mask the truth: Andrew Cuomo is a serial sexual harasser.

Earlier Thursday, a group of former New York legislative staffers who have experienced sexual harassment filed a complaint arguing that it's Cuomo who violated rules of professional conduct for attorneys: The Sexual Harassment Working Group is asking the state Bar Association to immediately begin disciplinary proceedings, arguing that Cuomo's conduct amounts to a form of discrimination, and that attorneys are barred from unlawfully discriminating in the practice of law.

Given the sustained and brazen nature of his offenses, we believe its clear that Mr. Cuomo is not fit to continue serving as an attorney in the state of New York, the group wrote.
TROY  Federal grand jury subpoenas seeking a trove of materials from the Rensselaer County Board of Elections were delivered to that office earlier this week, part of a widening FBI investigation examining the handling of absentee ballots in elections last year and in 2020, according to two people briefed on the matter.

The subpoenas, which seek absentee ballot documents and communications of multiple county officials, arrived five days after FBI agents seized the mobile phones of county Operations Director Richard W. Crist and Jim Gordon, the county's director of purchasing and a political ally of county Executive Steve McLaughlin.

Their phones were seized at their residences on the morning of Feb. 3, according to two people briefed on the matter. The phone seizures took place the same day McLaughlin appeared in Rensselaer County Court for a pre-trial conference in an unrelated criminal case involving the alleged theft and misuse of campaign funds.

The prosecution of McLaughlin, who has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges, is being handled by the state attorney general's office. The State Police also have been conducting a separate investigation of alleged ballot fraud in the city of Rensselaer's mayoral race last November  though that probe also is not being coordinated with the U.S. Justice Department's investigation.

The Times Union reported in November and December that absentee ballots handled by Crist and Gordon were being examined by both State Police and FBI agents in the separate investigations.

Multiple county officials, most of them tied to the Republican Party, have retained legal counsel as FBI agents have been conducting interviews over the past several months.

For Gordon, his role in gathering absentee ballots at a public housing apartment complex in Lansingburgh was apparently a focus in the FBI's investigation. Crist's involvement with absentee ballots in the Rensselaer mayoral race has also been examined by the State Police, who seized incumbent Mayor Michael Stammel's mobile phone in mid-December at City Hall.

Absentee ballots were filed on behalf of 45 residents who live in the Lansingburgh apartments, many listing "permanent illness or physical disability" as the reason for the person not voting in person, according to records on file at the Board of Elections. Several of the ballots were released to Peggy S. Castle, a Republican and manager of the apartment complex; she ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the county legislature in November's election.

Most of the absentee ballots at the complex were returned to Gordon, who in November won a seat on the North Greenbush Town Board. He is a former Troy councilman and ran unsuccessfully for mayor there in 2015.

County Republican leaders previously told the Times Union that they were unaware of any fraudulent activity by the party during the 2021 election, and that they had simply taken advantage of a directive from the state Board of Elections that allowed individuals to use absentee ballots if they did not want to vote in person due to the pandemic.

Crist, a longtime Republican operative and a confidant of McLaughlin who serves as his spokesman, has declined to respond to questions for more than a month. Gordon also previously declined to comment.
ALBANY  Many Democratic leaders in New York remain hesitant to attach themselves to "good cause evictions," an issue that has primarily been supported by progressive, New York City lawmakers, including gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, the New York City public advocate.

The statewide issue, though, was endorsed by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan this week.

Sheehan was asked about the effect of the "good cause eviction" legislation the city passed last year  which made it the first municipality in the state to do so  during a budget public hearing with state lawmakers Wednesday.

"Well, we've been sued," Sheehan said at first.

The issue, she continued, is the city is preempted by the state. If New York passed statewide eviction standards, Sheehan said, then it "would allow us to move forward with something that is really important." Some towns and cities have passed similar measures and others have been hesitant, given the litigation and lack of state action on it.

"When you have security in housing, then you have security in families," the mayor said. "We have such transience that we see and it impacts school performance, it impacts peoples' mental health, it creates anxiety and it takes resources from people who are in the least position to be able to marshal those resources."

The mayor emphasized the importance of it at this moment, following the lift of the statewide eviction moratorium that, when it was in effect, may have prevented potentially thousands of eviction proceedings in Albany County. The Capital Region traditionally has the highest rate of evictions in the state, outside of New York City, according state data.

Will Waldron/Times Union

In 2019, prior to the pandemic, there were 262,400 evictions filings in the state, with nearly 12,000 in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties. Last year, with the eviction moratorium in place, about 2,400 eviction notices were filed.

About $24.5 million of rental assistance among 3,100 applications has been delivered to tenants in the tri-county region, according to state data. In New York, nearly $1.5 billion has been paid out among 117,000 applications.

Williams, the progressive running to the left of Gov. Kathy Hochul, highlighted the issue of tenant rights at the Capitol on Thursday.

"Good cause is the minimum of what tenants needs to be protecting themselves," Williams said on a campaign stop in Albany. He picked up the Working Families Party endorsement earlier in the week.

A goal behind the policy, Williams said, is to make sure people feel comfortable letting their landlords know about any potential issues that need fixing without fear of retribution by way of eviction.

He was joined by Albany County legislators, Samuel I. Fein and Merton D. Simpson, who both support the eviction policy and expressed the need in the county for additional protections for renters.

Williams, who opposed Hochul for lieutenant governor in 2018, said that he thought Democratic leadership have yet to get behind it because of an apparent desire to placate developers and property owners.

Hochul was scheduled to hold a "small, private" dinner for donors Thursday evening in Manhattan. The 20-person event at Hudson Yards, a massive recent development in the city that was developed by Related Companies, cost between $10,000 and $45,200 to attend. The developer has lobbied the governor and contributed maximum campaign contributions.

The governor's office, in a statement Thursday, said that Hochul has "taken decisive action to protect tenants." The office cited her work streamlining the emergency rental assistance program, committing $25 million toward access to free legal services for tenants and additional funds for legal assistance for those facing potential eviction.

"We will continue to work closely with the legislature and members of the advocacy community to protect vulnerable New Yorkers and keep tenants in their homes," the governor's office said in its statement.

The office of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins pointed to her commitment to fair housing policies and the office of Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie did not respond to a request for comment.

The legislative bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela J. Hunter, D-Syracuse, offers a list of reasons why someone can be evicted. It does not apply to landlords who live in their own building and have less than four units. There are other carve outs, as well, that are more nuanced.

One of the primary drivers of the debate is what Hunter deems as "drastic rent increases that are done for no other reason than forcing these tenants out," according to a memo on the bill.

A tenant is protected from eviction, based on the bill, if rent is increased over a calendar year by either more than 3 percent or 1.5 the annual percent change in the Consumer Price Index for the region, whichever is greater. Critics of the bill point to that as the state proposing an essential cap on rent, in some ways similar to what's known as rent stabilization in New York City.

In cases where the tenant is breaking the law, violating the terms of their lease, or failing to pay rent (as long as the rent hasn't been hiked above the outlined threshold per year) or causing a nuisance, then they can be evicted, according to the proposed legislation.

The bill has been referred to a housing committee, but has not made any progress in the early days of the legislative session. The lack of movement on it comes despite it being among the top priorities for progressives and the sole issue Williams focused on when he stopped by the Capitol on Thursday, a space he has rarely visited while on the campaign trail.
ALBANY  Attorneys for dozens of parents of schoolchildren who have filed lawsuits challenging the state's mask mandate in educational settings contend the cases should move forward even if Gov. Kathy Hochul ends the directive in March.

At least three lawsuits have been filed against the state  two in U.S. District Courts and one in state Supreme Court in Nassau County  arguing that Hochul's administration has violated the state constitution by imposing a statewide mandate that carries the force of law but was never authorized by the Legislature.

Last month, U.S. District Senior Judge Lawrence E. Kahn, in the wake of a state Supreme Court justice ruling that the mask mandate was unconstitutional, instructed the state to respond to a new motion seeking to revive a related federal case in Albany. That action was filed on behalf of a group of parents who oppose New York's regulations requiring children to wear masks in schools and on buses.

John E. Sweeney, a former congressman who is one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs in the case pending in U.S. District Court in Albany, said Hochul's announcement on Wednesday that masks would no longer be required in businesses but will remain mandatory in schools "cruelly leaves New Yorks children behind."

"Her decision is being done contrary to the fully developed science and the data, and contrary to what almost all other states are doing now," Sweeney said.

Based on Hochul's announcement this week, which did not set an exact timeframe for when masking in schools will end, Sweeney said they will ask Kahn "to immediately move forward with the case."

Hochul has declined to explain the specific metrics she is relying on to keep the mask mandate in schools. She said that after the February break  which for many school districts will conclude at the end of the month  she would review the "data" and decide whether to extend or end the mandate.

But the continuation of the rule has riled school leaders who want more details on what data points would result in its end, and triggered acrimonious exchanges among school leaders, teachers, students, parents and others on both sides of the issue.

Earlier this week in Buffalo, a similar civil rights lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in New York's Western District on behalf of 24 parents of schoolchildren. The defendants in that case include Hochul, state health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, state education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and 14 school district superintendents.

"These mandates damage (children's) health and well-being and their liberty, autonomy and security and serve no valid medical or scientific purpose," the lawsuit claims. "New York is one of a small minority of states (12) and countries (seven) that mandate that young children wear masks. The clear ideological bias of these 12 states towards one political party shows that these mandates are not based on medical science but on political science."

The state attorney general's office is defending the cases, and also other legal challenges to New York's vaccine mandate for health care workers.

Jorge A. Rodriguez, an assistant attorney general, last month urged the federal judge to dismiss the plaintiffs' request to revive their case on the basis of the state Supreme Court justice's decision that struck down the mandates as unconstitutional. Rodriguez had cast their request as a "rehash (of) the arguments made during their two prior applications for preliminary relief that masking is ineffective at preventing the spread of COVID-19."

The state Supreme Court justice's decision was stayed by a midlevel appeals court pending the outcome of an appeal filed by the attorney general's office.

In the wake of that ruling, Hochul and officials with the Department of Health had publicly asserted that the "guidance" issued to schools last September would remain in place even if the "rule" directed at businesses and other public spaces were to be revoked by an appellate court.

However, the guidance issued to schools last year, which includes a section mandating masks be worn in schools, cites the rule issued by the health commissioner that is the subject of the court challenge. That rule, titled "New York Codes, Rules and Regulations: Section 2.60  Face Coverings for COVID-19 Prevention," also notes the commissioner may determine whether the rule should apply in schools.

The state Supreme Court justice on Long Island ruled that Hochul's administration had improperly circumvented the Legislature, which last March revoked the unbridled authority it had granted during the height of the pandemic to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo  and any future governor  to bypass that coequal branch of government in order to enact laws and implement rules through executive orders.

Legislators in Albany have remained largely silent on the governor's use of that authority.

Chad J. LaVeglia, a Long Island attorney who filed the case challenging the mask mandate in Nassau County that is the subject of the state's appeal, said their case would not become "moot" even if Hochul ended the mandate for businesses, as she did this week.

"It remains unconstitutional, unless the state can convince the Appellate Division it is constitutional," LaVeglia said. "The commissioner could still force masking at any time, irrespective of Hochul's decision to 'allow' children to be unmasked."

Judith Vale, an attorney for the attorney general's office who has represented the Health Department in the case, has argued that Hochul's administration had the authority to issue the mandate because it was emergency in nature and designed to stem the spread of COVID-19 as the omicron variant began to surge late last year.
ALBANY  Eight times next week, Ajani Acloque will wait for a call or text that could upend his plans for the next few hours. But in an ideal world, the notification will come and he'll continue with his normal college life, even if that means never getting to perform for an audience at Capital Repertory Theatre.

Acloque, a senior at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, is understudying all four lead roles roles in The Rep's production of "Fly," a drama about the group of Black U.S. aviators in World War II known as the Tuskegee Airmen, named after where they trained in Alabama. Should any of the four actors playing the roles be unable to perform, because of injury, illness or another reason, Acloque would get the call, perhaps with only an hour's notice  enough time to drive from Saratoga to Albany, get into costume, warm up and be waiting in the wings at curtain time.

"I know my role is not to go on," he said, chatting on the phone from Skidmore earlier this week. "From the director to the props guy, it's a team effort for everyone. I feel so fortunate to be part of this production even if, at the end of the day, my job is to sit tight and study the roles and wait." "Fly" runs through Feb. 20 at The Rep's North Pearl Street home.

A theater professor at Skidmore, Dennis Schebetta, alerted Acloque that The Rep was looking for a young Black actor to understudy roles ranging in age from 18 to mid-20s. Acloque, 22, sent a video audition that impressed the show's director, Clinton Turner Davis, and The Rep's producing artistic director, Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill.

"Ajani didn't 'act' in his audition. He didn't wear the character like a suit," said Mancinelli-Cahill. "He just did it. The hardest thing to do is make the character look like its you. It doesnt have to be you, but it has to 100 percent appear to be you."

To prepare for "Fly," Acloque printed four copies of the script, one for each role he is understudying, and made detailed notes for the characters in their respective scripts. There's W.W., a slick guy from Chicago; Oscar, a self-identified "race man" from Iowa who's hyper-focused on advancing Black causes; J. Allen, hailing from the West Indies; and Chet, the youngest, still a teenager but already a licensed pilot from years of working at a Long Island airfield, who also appears as an elderly version of himself in a frame story set during the 2008 inauguration of President Obama.

For Acloque, who is of Haitian descent, the Caribbean-born character was the easiest to master, in emotional makeup and accent; the hardest was Oscar, the Iowan, an intellectual who attended a historically Black university. Acloque said he intently studied the performance of Trevor McGhie, who plays Oscar.

"From watching Trevor work, I saw that what's important about Oscar is that he has this kind of Black pride and this way of carrying himself that's not necessarily specific to being from Iowa. It's more about what Oscar represents that I had to understand," said Acloque.

He also had to learn a dance number. Dance infuses "Fly," which has as a central presence a character called The Tap Griot. Named after traveling musicians and storytellers who maintain oral-history traditions in West Africa, the griot isn't part of the plot proper, but he functions as the conscience of the show and a reflection of the inner emotions the airmen must stifle if they wish not to give their racist white Army superiors a pretext for kicking them out of the flight program.

Acloque said he relishes being in a play by Black authors, with a Black director and a cast with five of its members eight members who are Black.

"I've really connected with The Tap Griot character," said Acloque. Because he's at Skidmore, with a student population more than 60 percent white and less than 5 percent Black, according to the college's figures, "I don't typically work with actors and a director and a team that looks like me." While he said he hasn't experienced at college the vicious racism espoused by a senior officer in the play, "I've been in rooms and spaces where I had some of the same feelings" as the airmen that get expressed through The Tap Griot's dancing.

"It's one thing to understudy in 'Hedda Gabler,'" Acloque said. "It's a joy to be here, doing this, with everyone coming together to tell a story that really hits us personally."

The griot usually dances alone, but in one scene he leads the airmen in a rousing step-dance number.

"I know the choreography, and I've had a chance to practice it, but it's a little nerve-wracking, because although everybody's basically doing the same thing, it's a little different depending on which character I'm playing," said Acloque.

Further, he said, "I'm not a dancer. But I'm an actor, which I guess means I'm a dancer."

Acloque participated in multiple rehearsals and comes down from Saratoga to attend several performances per week, preferably on nights when he doesn't have an 8 a.m. French class the next day.

Acloque will graduate this spring with majors in psychology and religion. And then, it's the actor's life for him.

"I very much want to be an actor," he said. "I want to pursue work, get representation, do a year in New York and one in L.A."

He thinks the uncertainty of being an understudy for "Fly," with voluminous work going into learning roles he may never play, or may be called on to do so with almost no notice, is good preparation for the often-itinerant career of acting for stage, film and television.

"It's a different life than most, playing make believe and telling stories to feed yourself and pay your taxes," Acloque said. "I find it stressful, but I kind of like the stress, the not knowing."
Tonight another local homicide keeps the KCMO murder count ahead of last year's record breaking pace and, sadly, closer to the tragic 2020 all-time high . . .



Again, unofficially, this is the 17th homicide so far this year compared to 14 at this time last year.

Here's the first report . . .

Homicide 4000 block of Willow

Tonight at 9:15pm, Officers were called to the Willow Wind Apartments in the 4000 block of Willow Avenue on a reported disturbance with a weapon. Upon their arrival, officers located the victim, an adult male, inside an apartment building in the foyer suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.



Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene for evidence and canvassing for any witnesses. There is no suspect information at this time.



Detectives are asking if you have any information to call them at 816-234-5043. Or you can remain anonymous by calling the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

###############



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

1 dead in Thursday night shooting in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person died in a Thursday night shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. Police were sent at 9:15 p.m. to a disturbance with a weapon call at the Willow Wind Apartments in the 4000 block of Willow Avenue. The complex is on the eastern edge of Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD investigating homicide in 4000 block of Willow Ave. KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened on Thursday night. The fatal shooting happened in the 4000 block of Willow Ave. No further details are available at this time. Stay with kctv5.com for updates and tune in to the morning newscasts on KCTV5 for the latest.

Kansas City police investigate homicide near 40th, Willow Police vehicle, lights (file photo) SOURCE: KMBC Kansas City police said they are investigating a homicide Thursday night near 40th Street and Willow Avenue.No other details have been released.Refresh this page for updates. Kansas City police said they are investigating a homicide Thursday night near 40th Street and Willow Avenue.

Developing . . .
Here at TKC we work to keep things simple.

And so here's the most important thing locals should understand about the latest news from KCI:



TKC TOLD YOU SO!!! THE COUNCIL FLIPPING KCI CONTRACTS NOW SPARKS THREATS FROM THE FEDS!!!

We talked about this topic in great detail during 2020.

In fact, our blog community broke the story regarding the effort to mess with the bid.



Now . . .



A surprise letter from the feds has EVERYONE up in arms.

Here's the most important passage via the word salad that the newspaper posted today:

The agency said it found that the KCI project has significant compliance deficiencies when it comes to requirements for the participation of what the government calls disadvantaged business enterprises. Those are businesses owned by women and minorities.



The review comes after two construction companies that were the low bidders for concrete work on the project were subsequently pushed aside. They alleged that the city council steered the $75 million contract to another company, instead, due to lobbying from local trade unions and an influential contractors association.



The FAA letter references those complaints from ESCO Construction Co. of Colorado and G2 Construction, a woman-owned firm that would have allowed ESCO to meet its minority and women participation goals by partnering with G2.



Its not clear what effect the FAA order might have on the airport project, which began in 2019 and is scheduled for completion next year. City officials had not issued a statement as of mid-afternoon Thursday.



Okay, here's what that means . . .

MAYOR & HIS COUNCIL ALLIES ROYALLY SCREWED UP WHEN THEY INTERFERED WITH A NEW KCI BID THANKS TO UNION PRESSURE AND RACIALLY CHARGED ADVOCACY!!!



Heck, they even sentenced a council lady to "implicit bias sensitivity training" for objecting to this sketchy deal.

And now we're getting the first hint at vindication for people who spoke up.



Moreover . . .

Council lady Teresa Loar was absolutely correct to object to how this contract switcheroo was handled by Mayor Q. She lost her Airport Committee Chair for raising red flags.

However . . .

Her questions should now be viewed as 100% legit.



The disgraceful racial mudslinging used to rework the contract might have been the most cynical ploy ever used on a construction project of this magnitude.

Ironically . . .

We described that battle in great detail and the EPIC fight over 80 million bucks betwixt two local power player ladies threatens to pause progress at New KCI . . . Ironically, federal enforcement of WMBE rules could be key to this debate inasmuch as construction leaders leveraging divisive chatter might have worked to hustle a female owned company out of MILLIONS.



Now . . .

The Feds clearly have an understanding of the sketchy politics at play in the construction of New KCI and this likely won't be their last inquiry.

Developing . . .


Third time's a charm . . .



Here's a peek at his pledge after COVID fatigue confronts the globe . . .



Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed to FOX4 on Thursday that he doesn't plan to seek an extension for the mask rule. It expires after Feb. 17.



Kansas City doctors said they're optimistic but not ready to declare victory.



"I do think were in the midst of seeing something really good happen. I just dont think were here yet," Dr. Steven Stites with KU Health System said Wednesday.



Still Fauci said he believes soon, public health decisions on COVID-19 will be focused at the local level, not federal.



Earlier this month, the Kansas City Council voted 10-2 to continue requiring masks in school buildings, stretching the ordinance another two weeks. At the time, Lucas said the Feb. 17 date put Kansas City more in line with a current school mask mandate in Johnson County, Kansas.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thundershowers following a period of rain early. Low near 60F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
BLANFORD [mdash] Eric Todd Vandevender, 60, of Blanford and formerly of Cayuga, passed away at 7:55 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Clinton Gardens in Clinton, Indiana. Eric was born on May 6, 1961 in Danville, Illinois, the son of the late Floyd A. and Irma Jean (Weir) Vandevender. Sur
Tullahoma, TN (37388)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms, especially in the evening. Low 62F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Stop the bias against Muslims. It's the call to action coming from one Imam, as the Muslim c
Two more planes carrying about 130 tonnes of military aid from the United States arrived in Ukraine late on February 10.

According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced this on Facebook.

"Two more birds with military assistance from our U.S. partners [have arrived] in Kyiv! Javelins, grenade launchers and other defensive ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces," he wrote.

According to Reznikov, 15 U.S. aircraft have already delivered more than 1,200 tonnes of military assistance to Ukraine.

On February 9, Ukraine received the tenth plane carrying over 80 tonnes of ammunition from the United States.

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As part of a new strategy for cooperation, Sweden will allocate EUR 22 million to Ukraine annually within the next seven years.

Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden Matilda Ernkrans announced at a briefing following the meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Iryna Vereshchuk in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"We will provide our support under both the cooperation program and humanitarian support. The Swedish government has recently decided on a new seven-year regional reform strategy between Sweden and Ukraine, with increased funding. As part of cooperation, Ukraine will receive about 22 million euros yearly for reforms, she said.

The minister has noted that the assistance will help build Ukraine's sustainable economy and sustainable society.

As reported, at the meeting with the Swedish delegation, Vereshchuk discussed the most important needs of the Ukrainian population affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine and occupation of Crimea.

Earlier, Vereshchuk and representatives of the partner states - Great Britain, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States - signed a memorandum to establish the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine to help communities affected by Russian aggression.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the law "On the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and the Provision of Postal Services of Ukraine," which the Verkhovna Rada approved on December 16, 2021, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine has said.

The document provides for the establishment of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and the Provision of Postal Services.

"The law lays the foundation for the proper functioning from 2022 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Electronic Communications,' the fulfillment of obligations under the Association Agreement in this area and integration into the EU Digital Single Market," the statement said.

The new watchdog will ensure the out-of-court settlement of disputes between consumers and operators/providers, disputes over access to infrastructure, as well as the state supervision of their activities. In particular, it will be able to apply administrative and economic sanctions.

In addition, the commission will impose regulatory obligations on providers of electronic communications services with significant market influence, identify settlements without fixed Internet access, mobile communications and monitor the situation with the provision of such services.

The Ukrainian government earlier adopted a resolution stipulating that the Ministry of Finance will be responsible for Ukraine's electronic communications from July 1, 2022.

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Since the start of 2022, non-resident investors have reduced their portfolio of hryvnia denominated domestic government bonds by UAH 10.8 billion.

Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Yuriy Heletiy said in an interview with ZN.UA, according to Ukrinform.

"Since the beginning of the year, non-residents have reduced their portfolio by about 10.8 billion. They bought foreign currency for almost USD 450 million," Heletiy said.

He added that along with geopolitical support and de-escalation on the Ukrainian borders, the situation is stabilizing, and non-residents will be interested in investing in Ukrainian securities.

But globally, given the situation with raising rates by leading banks, there will be a fierce competition between Emerging Markets countries together with Ukraine for attracting the resource of international investors. We should be prepared for this and continue consistent policy and cooperation with the IMF," he said.

As Ukrinform reported, in early January, non-residents began to reduce their portfolio of hryvnia denominated domestic government bonds, which affected the exchange rate. In January, the official exchange rate of hryvnia against the U.S. dollar devalued by 4.3%

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Poland Andrzej Duda in a phone conversation discussed diplomatic efforts on de-escalation.

The Ukrainian president wrote about this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

During a phone conversation with my friend Andrzej Duda, we discussed current diplomatic efforts on de-escalation. The agreement on transport permits was positively noted. I am grateful to friendly Poland for its stable support to Ukraine on the path of European integration, Zelensky wrote.

According to the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the important role of the Polish chairmanship in the OSCE in terms of ensuring a peaceful settlement in Donbas and regional security in Europe.

The parties discussed further cooperation within the new regional format Ukraine - Poland - Great Britain.

The interlocutors also paid attention to the implementation of the main foreign policy priorities of Ukraine - the course towards Ukraines accession to the European Union and NATO.

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Advisors to the leaders of the Normandy format countries have not adopted a joint document following their meeting in Berlin on February 10.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said this at a briefing early on Friday, February 11, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Today we could not reach a joint document," he said.

At the same time, Yermak did not rule out that the next meeting of advisors could take place "very soon."

On February 10, Berlin hosted a meeting of political advisors to the leaders of the Normandy format countries -- Ukraine, France, Germany, and Russia.

Their previous meeting took place in Paris on January 26.

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Russia has mobilized 85 heavily armed battalion tactical groups on Ukraine's borders, according to Ambassador Michael Carpenter, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE.

He said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, February 10, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Our serious concerns about the large number of Russian troops massed in and around Ukraine have not abated. Just the opposite. Russia's denial that it has any aggressive intentions related to this unrelenting buildup continues to defy the reality we see on the ground. Russia has mobilized 85 heavily armed Battalion Tactical Groups in an unprecedented and unprovoked build-up on Ukraine's borders," Carpenter said.

He added that Russia's forces are also now positioned along the Belarus-Ukraine border, less than two hours north of Kyiv, with plans for more than 30,000 troops to be staged for a potential offensive into Ukraine, along with short-range ballistic missiles, anti-aircraft batteries, attack helicopters, fighter planes, and S-400 air defense systems.

"We see Russia escalating its brinksmanship by conducting provocative exercises along Ukraine's borders and in occupied Crimea, as well as in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, as was mentioned by several of the preceding speakers. This chokes off commercial traffic in both bodies of water," he said.

At the same time, he noted that the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued "to show tremendous restraint in the face of these provocations."

Russia continues to build up its forces in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and around Ukraine's borders. The Kremlin is using these military maneuvers to blackmail the United States and NATO, putting forward an ultimatum demanding guarantees of NATO eastward non-expansion and the reversal of the allies' security policy. Should the West refuse to accept such Russian "offers," the Kremlin publicly threatens to respond with "military and military-technical" measures.

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Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Andriy Yermak assured that advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Format countries reaffirmed their commitment to upholding a ceasefire regime in eastern Ukraine.

He said this at a briefing following a meeting of the Normandy format advisers, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Today, we reaffirmed the commitment of all Normandy format participants to the unconditional compliance with the ceasefire," Yermak said.

Read also: Normandy format advisors approve no document

As reported, the meeting of foreign policy advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format countries  Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia  took place in Berlin on February 10.

The previous meeting of the advisers was held in Paris on January 26.

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The Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom has welcomed the decision by the UK Government to strengthen the sanctions regime against Russia.

The embassy announced this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"We welcome the UK Government's decision to strengthen sanctions regime against Russia. Tougher diplomacy and united action are now essential to ensuring peace," the tweet said.

The embassy is also looking forward to Ukraine's other Western partners following the UK's example.

"Tough economic sanctions is a civilized response to Russian saber-rattling on UA's border. With a united and straightforward position, we will be able to send Putin a message strong enough to discourage him from making a catastrophic decision to invade Ukraine," said Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko.

On February 10, the British Parliament passed a law to toughen and expand the UK's sanctions regime against Russia, which allows the government to impose new tough measures.

The UK can now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a wide range of economic and strategically significant sectors, such as the chemical, defense, extractives.

op
The Estonian Foreign Ministry will provide EUR 351,700 worth of humanitarian aid to Ukraine to support people living near Ukraine's eastern borders and help the country prepare for a possible migration crisis.

That's according to Estonia's public broadcaster ERR, Ukrinform reports.

"The conflict has affected the lives of almost five million people, with more than three million in need of humanitarian assistance. For many residents, the problem is the lack of medical care and utility services such as electricity, water and heating. These problems get more complex in the current difficult security situation, so we decided to support Ukraine with additional humanitarian aid to help alleviate the suffering of people living near the border," said Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets.

Earlier reports said that Sweden would allocate EUR 22 million to Ukraine annually within seven years as part of a new cooperation strategy to support reforms in the country.

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| By Laura Lee

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is one of 99 law schools recently recognized during a virtual White House and Department of Justice event for responding to Attorney General Merrick Garlands call to action to address a looming housing and eviction crisis.

Erick Pacas Guerra (center) received guidance and representation from UMB's Eviction Prevention Program. Law students Jamy Klotzbach (left) and Nia Lesesne (right) went to an in-person hearing at the Hyattsville District Court.

Five months ago, I asked the legal community to answer the call to help Americans facing eviction, Garland said. Law students and lawyers from across the country stepped up to take on cases and assisted their clients and communities at a time when our country needed it the most. Today, our work is far from over, and making real the promise of equal justice under law remains our urgent and unfinished mission.

In fact, Maryland Carey Law students were addressing this very issue before the AGs call to action in August 2021. Kerri Lowrey, JD, MPh, deputy director of the Network for Public Health Law (Eastern Region), spearheaded the Eviction Prevention Project (EPP) during the summer of 2020. The project, a collaboration between four Maryland Carey Law clinics and the University of Maryland School of Social Work, was intended to provide temporary, emergency legal assistance for renters faced with eviction during the pandemic. The attorney general's call to action crystallized the importance of the work and made it clear that ongoing efforts were necessary.

Sara Gold, JD, director of the Medical-Legal Partnership, assumed management of the EPP last summer. Her students, as well as those from Public Health Law, Mediation, and Fair Housing Clinics are providing legal services to families in a low-income, and largely immigrant, Spanish-speaking community in Prince Georges County that was particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through their work, which includes 4,500 hours of service to eviction prevention since September 2021, law students witness first-hand how eviction, the threat of eviction, and housing instability are social determinants that contribute to negative health and educational outcomes for individuals and families. The Eviction Prevention Projects work includes:

Conducting weekly brief advice meetings via Zoom with parents referred to the EPP by their childrens schools. Each Zoom break-out room is staffed by law students and, if needed, a Spanish-speaking interpreter provided by the school system.

Providing individual representation to low-income tenants referred to the EPP by advising and counseling about eviction defenses; negotiating payment plans and/or move-out dates with landlords; and advocating for repairs for tenants living in poor conditions.

Serving approximately 38 clients since September 2021, most of whom were parents of school-aged children.

Seeking to improve tenant outcomes through systemic policy change by preparing and delivering written and oral testimony on three bills in the Maryland General Assembly and one before the Baltimore City Council.

Through their education, advice and counsel, and direct representation of clients, law students have been able to prevent and/or delay eviction for vulnerable individuals and families, reduce clients stress and anxiety, and contribute to stability for families to maintain their physical and mental health, as well as school attendance and performance, said Gold.

Gold also praised the effectiveness of the collaboration with the School of Social Work to provide wraparound services for clinic clients. We partnered with social work students and faculty to provide interprofessional services to clients to meet not only their legal needs, but also their social needs including help with rental assistance applications as well as basic needs for food and clothing, she said.

The EPP has been so successful that it was awarded outside grant funding to hire a dedicated staff attorney to help manage the clinic, supervise students, and increase direct client representation. Matt Smith, JD, joins the EPP this spring and comes to the Law School from the Maryland Judiciarys Access to Justice Department.

Attorney General Garland closed his remarks with heartfelt thanks to Maryland Carey Law and the 98 other law schools who heeded his call to fill in the gaps in our legal system. Thank you for accepting the legal professions obligation in this new period to put your abilities to work, to support equal justice under law, he said.

You are the new generation of Americans to whom the torch of the legal obligation is passed. Your service this past 151 days assures me that the torch remains in good hands.
Internally displaced people receive assistance at the Myaing Gyi Ngu camp in Myanmar's Kayin State, in June 2021.  UNHCR/Sa Nyein Chan

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is stepping up its emergency response to assist hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Myanmar as their number crossed the 800,000 mark  doubling since February 2021.

Security is deteriorating rapidly across the country as fighting and armed conflict intensifies with no sign of abating.

UNHCR forecasts an accelerating trend of displacements in the coming weeks and months.

Some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021, according to UNHCR data, adding to an existing 370,000 who had fled their homes previously.

UNHCR and partners are scaling up operations and deploying additional resources to support as many of the displaced as possible, complementing local community responses.

In the South-East of the country, Kayin, Kayah, Mon and Shan (South) states as well as Bago (East) and Tanintharyi regions collectively account for more than half of the 440,000 newly displaced civilians. Kayin and Kayah states remain the most affected as hostilities between various armed groups have triggered large-scale displacements.

Another conflict-affected area with pressing humanitarian needs is Myanmars North-West, where about 190,000 people remain displaced in Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region.

Humanitarian access in many parts of Myanmar remains restricted due to insecurity, roadblocks and challenges in obtaining access approvals. As a result, host communities and local responders continue to play a leading role in assisting displaced populations  demonstrating solidarity with each other by donating what they can.

UNHCR has been working with UN agencies, local partners and communities to assist those affected wherever possible, including displaced and stateless populations and host communities. In 2021, UNHCRs emergency relief assistance reached some 170,000 individuals in nine states and regions in Myanmar.

In all locations, UNHCR and partners distributed relief items including tarpaulins, ropes, blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, buckets, sleeping mats, sanitary kits, COVID-19 personal protective equipment, solar lamps, and winterization kits for adults and children.

In Shan State, where a growing number of IDPs have arrived from conflict-affected Kayah State since the start of 2022, UNHCR recently established a temporary base in Taunggyi to coordinate distribution of emergency aid with partners.

Provision of relief items to Kayah IDPs in and around Taunggyi started in mid-January and quickly expanded to incorporate neighbouring townships. Within a month, UNHCR and partners were able to reach some 10,000 IDPs in Shan as well as 2,000 in Kayah.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar remains precarious with increased vulnerabilities linked to rising commodity prices, job and income losses, disruptions to basic services and prolonged insecurity. The majority of IDPs are consequently dependent on humanitarian support for survival.

Some 600,000 stateless Rohingya in Rakhine State, including some 148,000 displaced in camps, villages and displacement sites, also remain highly vulnerable and require humanitarian support.

Despite operational challenges, UNHCR continues to stay and deliver in Myanmar. The agency remains committed to providing critical humanitarian assistance to those in need and calls for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across Myanmar, so that no disruption to lifesaving work occurs for local, national, and international aid agencies.

In 2022, UNHCR will respond to the ongoing crisis by expanding its protection and operational presence where new displacements have occurred. A total of US$56.7 million is needed to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance and support vulnerable communities.

Our priority will be on maintaining basic safeguards, advocacy for improved access to fundamental rights, mitigating the risk of negative coping strategies, preventing forced returns and building resilience for over 1.2 million IDPs and stateless people in Myanmar.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
The heads of UNHCR, Filippo Grandi (third left), and IOM, Antonio Vitorino (third right), visit a local school in Ouallam, Niger.  UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

The Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Antonio Vitorino, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, are calling for more international support to address challenges faced by migrants, refugees and internally displaced people in Niger, and vulnerable host communities, following a joint three-day visit to the country.

Niger deserves much more from the international community, said the High Commissioner for Refugees. This must be translated into financial aid, as the country lacks resources to face the humanitarian challenges caused by instability in neighbouring states.

With migration and refugee flows closely intertwined in Niger, Grandi said the joint visit will "strengthen the operational links between the two [UN] agencies, so that we can be more effective in supporting people on the move, and the Government and people of Niger.

Niger lies along complex migration routes and is also impacted by violence spilling over from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, and Nigeria which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In addition, Niger hosts thousands of migrants, while many others, transiting on their way to North African countries, often end up stranded in the desert and exploited by trafficking and smuggling groups, and are also in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Ive seen first-hand the resilience and strength of migrants and host communities in the face of great challenges, said Vitorino.

The complexity of migratory movements in Niger requires a holistic response that puts the well-being and human rights of people at the centre, to reduce vulnerabilities and provide tailored assistance to migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and those displaced.

Focusing on solutions, Vitorino and Grandi stressed that in addition to peace, stronger humanitarian and development support will be crucial to addressing mixed flows  persons on the move having varying needs and profiles including migrants in irregular situations, asylum seekers, refugees, victims of trafficking, and separated children. They pledged to advocate for more funding to the country.

The UN officials also called on development actors to invest more, alongside humanitarian organizations, to help mitigate the impact of climate change on forced migration and displacement. According to a study published recently by IOM and the Nigerien Ministry of Environment, environmental and climate shocks are intensifying, impacting the livelihoods of communities and forcing many people to leave their homes.

Both were encouraged by the generous, open response of host communities, which they saw during visits to the town of Agadez in the Agadez region and Ouallam in the Tillaberi region. They observed how local authorities and civil society have embraced migrants and forcibly displaced people, despite scant resources.

They commended Niger for its exemplary solidarity, demonstrated through its inclusive refugee policy, by providing life-saving support to thousands evacuated from Libya through the Emergency Transit Mechanism, and by hosting stranded migrants awaiting return home.

A high-level roundtable on mixed migration in Niger was organized in Niamey during the joint IOM-UNHCR visit, chaired by Nigers Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, with Government ministers, the UN Resident Coordinator, senior diplomats, and UN agencies. Participants discussed how to better support Niger to manage the challenges of complex movements of refugees and migrants.

Vitorino and Grandi were also received by President Mohamed Bazoum and discussed support to migrants and communities hosting them, and displaced people and refugees returning to their communities of origin once the situation stabilizes, both within the region of Diffa, Niger, and in northeastern Nigeria.

They also thanked President Bazoum for championing both the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees.

IOM Director-General said that at the first International Migration Review Forum in May 2022, Member States, including Niger  a GCM champion country- will have the opportunity to share progress on the implementation of the GCM.

BROLL: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/45a407hugwr0kbnykg18oakm3w12u76o

Additional contacts

UNHCR

In Dakar (regional): Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba [email protected] ; +221 78 526 87 14

; +221 78 526 87 14 In Geneva: Boris Cheshirkov [email protected] ; +41 794 337 682

IOM
Anna Ruth* with her children outside the monastery in Shan State where she sought shelter after being displaced multiple times in Kayah State.  UNHCR/Yin Yin Myint

Anna Ruth* vividly remembers the day her husband was killed as the family tried to escape gunfire for the second time in less than a year.

When fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces and other armed groups reached the village they had sought refuge in near Loikaw, the capital of Myanmars south-eastern Kayah State, she and her family fled with other villagers to the nearby forest to hide. But her husband and some of their neighbours wanted to go back to gather food and other essentials.

I told him not to go because it was too dangerous, but he didnt listen, she recalls. In the evening, the group returned but my husband did not. I later found out that he was shot while collecting some belongings from my mother-in-laws house where we had been sheltering.

In Kayah State, a humanitarian crisis has been building since renewed armed conflict broke out in May 2021. With six of the states seven townships now affected by intense fighting, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. Some have sought safety at places of worship and community centres, while others are hiding in the jungle.

Across Myanmar, similar patterns have been playing out of clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces, ethnic and other local armed groups, followed by waves of fresh displacement. Since the military takeover on 1 February 2021, some 440,000 people have been forced to flee airstrikes, shelling, and burning of villages, more than half of them in the south-east of the country, with Kayah and Kayin States the worst affected.

See also: UNHCR steps up aid for displaced in Myanmar as conflict intensifies

Anna Ruth and her family, like many others in Kayah State, have been displaced several times. We have been running since June 2021, she explains. First from our village in Demoso Township to my mother-in-laws in Loikaw Township, and from there to the forest where we stayed for months.

Left widowed with four young children, she eventually sought safety in another village in Loikaw Township, only to be displaced again a few weeks later when fighting intensified across Kayah State last month. Desperate for safety and unsure where to go next, Anna Ruth followed other displaced families and crossed into neighbouring Shan State.

"I've lost everything except my children."

I never imagined that this would happen to me. Before, my family was living happily in our village. Now, Ive lost everything except my children, she said.

They are now sheltering at a monastery where, in scenes repeated across Myanmar, the local community and local charities are showing solidarity and leading the humanitarian response. Despite their best efforts, resources are increasingly stretched as more displaced people arrive.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been working with local partners and communities to relieve some of this pressure and supplement grassroots aid efforts to assist some 30,000 people who have arrived to Shan State from Kayah State since the beginning of the year. The agency has set up a temporary base in the Shan State capital, Taunggyi, to coordinate distribution of emergency aid in the area and address shortages of basic household materials and clothing.

Over the past few weeks, some 10,000 internally displaced people from Kayah, spread across several townships in Shan State, have received blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, buckets, sleeping mats, tarpaulins, and winterization kits. Local well-wishers have also contributed items such as toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo.

Having arrived with few possessions, Anna Ruth is grateful for the help. At first, we were unsure about taking shelter at the Buddhist monastery as we are Christians, she explained. But the monks warmly welcomed all of us. Now, we live together with other displaced people in harmony. The blankets, buckets, mats and clothing provided are very helpful for us as I was only able to bring some of my childrens clothing with me.

With the ongoing conflict in Kayah State showing no sign of abating, further displacement towards Shan State is expected in the weeks, and even months to come.

While relieved to have found a place of refuge, Anna Ruth yearns to return to her native Kayah State. My children keep asking when they can go back home. We hope we can return soon.

*Names changed for protection reasons.


Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal stands next to a U.S. flag as he waits to speak at a news conference Aug. 18, 2021 at the Capitol in Olympia.
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INSPIRED (Inclusion Needed to Support Positive Impacts Reflecting Educator Diversity) is a group of current and former Nebraska educators, as well as community leaders, who believe in the importance of diversity in K-12 educators. Professor Destynie Sewell, JD, MBA, and Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics with the UNO College of Business Administration (CBA), serves on the board of INSPIRED and is currently promoting the programs three core pillars: pipeline programming, incentives and support, and legislative and public advocacy.

The organization aims to provide opportunities for more diverse educators at the front of K-12 classrooms throughout the state. INSPIRED is in the process of organizing as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to further validate their mission and receive funding towards their goals.

A UNO MBA Capstone class has taken on the project of helping INSPIRED create a strategic plan for non-profit recognition. If youd like to learn more about INSPIRED or how you can get involved, reach out to Professor Destynie Sewell, JD, MBA, at dsewell@unomaha.edu.
With students from many different backgrounds, college is one of the best places to make connections with people you wouldnt have met otherwise. This is especially the case if those connections are created between people from halfway across the world; and even more rare that one such relationship would turn into a lifelong love connection.



UNO is home to many international exchange programs. One of these is the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), where participants from 10 Southeast Asian countries are brought to the United States to receive cross-cultural learning and reinforce thier civic engagement skills. As a host institution, UNO regularly welcomes new participants in the program and fosters connections between Nebraskan and Southeast Asian students.

In 2017, one of these many connections was made between YSEALI participant Huzaifah Baharuddin and then-student Samantha Brown, who is now Samantha Baharuddin. The two met through the program when Huzaifah came to Omaha from Malaysia and Samantha was serving as a peer mentor for the participants in the program.

The pair first met during that year's first YSEALI outing at a bowling alley, days after the participants had arrived.

All the student mentors meet the YSEALI participants at this tiny little bowling alley, Samantha said. That was the first time I met him, and I thought he was way too cool for me.

While the pair didnt grow particularly close while Huzaifah was at UNO, they had opportunities to see each other again. They both attended a YSEALI summit in Vietnam, and after the summit, Samantha decided to study abroad in Malaysia. With the two living only two hours apart in Huzaifahs home country, their relationship blossomed.

After I lived there for about six months, I got to know his family and I really started to fall in love with him and his family, Samantha said. "We got to see each other more often and we really started dating, thats when we became more serious."

After coming to the U.S. with the YSEALI program, Huzaifah was unable to return to Nebraska for two years because of visa restrictions, forcing the couple to date long distance.

At first I didnt think it would work out, Huzaifah said. We both wanted it to work out, but [thought] it will be hard. I mean the most we can see each other is every six months, if at all, and if one of us didnt have money, that means were not going to do anything.

As the couple waited for a time Huzaifah could return to the U.S., the pair visited each other across the globe. They found opportunities to meet in London and Italy with Samantha also taking occasional trips to Malaysia. In early 2020 Huzaifah was able to return to Nebraska and proposed on New Years Day.

Huzaifah returned to Malaysia and Samantha planned to follow in June 2020 to prepare for their wedding, but their plans were postponed because of COVID-19. Instead, Huzaifah was able to return to Nebraska in June 2021. The two got married at UNOs Thompson Alumni Center on June 25th, with Patrick McNamara, project director for YSEALI, serving as the Master of Ceremony.

They continue to live in Omaha with plans to continue the international curiousity that brought them together in the first place.

Our grand scheme is that we live in Omaha but go to Malaysia every summer. Thats our hope for the future, Samantha said.

Photo credit: Meganography
(@FahadShabbir)

Cambodia's Labor Minister Ith Samheng said here on Friday that some 1.3 million Cambodians have been working abroad, sending home roughly 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2021

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 11 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2022 ) :Cambodia's Labor Minister Ith Samheng said here on Friday that some 1.3 million Cambodians have been working abroad, sending home roughly 2.8 billion U.S. Dollars in 2021.

The minister revealed the figures at an annual conference of the National Social Security Fund, and added that 528,799 of the migrant workers are female.

"The remittances have not only improved the livelihoods of their family members, but also contributed to boosting Cambodia's economic growth," Samheng said.

Most of the laborers work in Thailand, and the rest are in South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, China's Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia, he said.

He added that some 1.22 million Cambodian laborers have been working in Thailand, more than 45,000 in South Korea, 23,027 in Malaysia, 11,453 in Japan, 821 in Singapore, 202 in China's Hong Kong, and 43 in Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,788 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,630,637

MANILA, Feb. 11 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2022 ) :The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,788 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,630,637.

The DOH said 72 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country's death toll to 54,854. Of the 72 deaths, 55 died this year, the DOH said.

The number of active patients in the country dropped to 91,147 from Thursday's 93,307. The country's positivity rate also dropped to 14.7 percent from 15.1 percent the previous day.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online briefing that the COVID-19 situation in Metro Manila is at moderate risk.

She said that the number of new COVID-19 cases across the country is steadily declining.

Except for one region in the southern Philippines, she said, all regions are at low to moderate risk while the health system's capacity remains at low risk.

"The steady decline in new cases, low-risk national health systems capacity, and overall low to moderate risk case classification can be attributed to high vaccination rates," Vergeire added.

The country has vaccinated over 60 million people.

Rajendra Prasad Yadav, acting representative of the World Health Organization in the Philippines, urged the government to "do everything in their power" to vaccinate 2.5 million elderly people "as soon as possible." "Vaccinating older people is one of the most impactful ways to save lives during this pandemic," Yadav said at a virtual news conference, adding that senior citizens "are at high risk for developing severe disease, getting hospitalized and dying from COVID-19."The Philippines has seen four COVID-19 waves since the pandemic began. The country reported the highest single-day tally on Jan. 15, with 39,004 new cases.

The Philippines, which has around 110 million people, has tested over 26 million people since the disease emerged.
Around 30 government chiefs committed Friday to protect the world's oceans from harmful human activities at a summit in French port city of Brest, aiming to coordinate through a year packed with international action on the sea

Brest, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2022 ) :Around 30 government chiefs committed Friday to protect the world's oceans from harmful human activities at a summit in French port city of Brest, aiming to coordinate through a year packed with international action on the sea.

The gathering of heads of state and other senior officials as well as companies "has allowed us to firm up many commitments and new coalitions of public and private actors and states," French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Priorities included a hoped-for global treaty on protecting biodiversity in the high seas -- waters lying outside any one country's jurisdiction -- and action to prevent plastic pollution.

The European Union's 27 member states and 16 other countries formed a coalition to reach a high seas agreement this year, Macron's office said after the meeting.

"We are so close, but we need to push" to get the treaty signed in 2022, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told the Brest summit.

After coronavirus delays, the hope is for a fourth and final round of UN negotiations to reach agreement in New York in March.

"This is a timely and important commitment to protect our global commons," Peggy Kalas of the High Seas Alliance said in a statement.

But Francois Chartier of Greenpeace France said that activists "expect concrete measures on conservation mechanisms and governance" of any future treaties.

Although 30 more countries also signed up to the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature" launched in January 2021, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world's land and sea by 2030, "clarifications are also lacking on the level of protection for marine areas covered," Chartier said.

Other attendees in Brest included US climate envoy John Kerry and Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi.

And Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke ahead of a UN oceans summit in Lisbon in June.

The US will support opening talks at the UN for an international deal on plastic pollution, throwing their weight alongside the EU nations and around 10 other countries.

A UN Environment Assembly in February will consider launching those negotiations.

Other issues raised by speakers in Brest included greenhouse-gas emissions by cargo ships and other vessels at sea, which are not covered by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

And Macron called for an end to government subsidies encouraging overfishing, which is already being discussed at the World Trade Organisation.

France also announced that it would enlarge the natural reserve in its Antarctic territory in the southern Indian Ocean.

Nevertheless, around 150 demonstrators gathered in Brest in response to a Greenpeace call to denounce alleged "blue-washing" at the summit.
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European Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Friday offered to deploy the EU's border agency to Senegal to help combat migrant smuggling, following a surge in perilous crossings to Spain's Canary Islands

Dakar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2022 ) :European Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Friday offered to deploy the EU's border agency to Senegal to help combat migrant smuggling, following a surge in perilous crossings to Spain's Canary Islands.

At a news conference in the Senegalese capital Dakar, Johansson said the arrangement would mark the first time that the EU border agency Frontex would operate outside Europe.

Should the Senegalese government agree, the commissioner added, the EU could send surveillance equipment such as drones and vessels, as well as Frontex personnel.

Deployed alongside local forces, the agents would "work together to fight the smugglers," she said.

"This is my offer and I hope that Senegal's government is interested in this unique opportunity," said Johansson, the EU's home affairs commissioner.

The announcement comes amid a sharp jump in attempts to reach the Canary Islands -- a gateway to the EU -- as authorities have clamped down on crossings to Europe from Libya.

The Spanish archipelago lies just over 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the coast of Africa at its closest point.

But the conditions in the open Atlantic are often dangerous, and would-be migrants often brave the trip in rickety wooden canoes known as pirogues.

About 1,200 people died or went missing attempting the crossing in 2021, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras last month put the figure at over 4,400 people.

Johansson also said on Friday that the 1,200-person figure was likely an underestimate.

She added that she had discussed her Frontex proposal with Senegal's armed-forces minister and foreign minister, and was due to continue talks with the interior minister on Friday.

An agreement that would see Frontex agents deployed in Senegal could be finalised by the summer, she said.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was also at the news conference, said a Frontex mission in Senegal could also help tackle illegal fishing.

Several top European Commission officials, including President Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Senegal this week to prepare for a summit between the EU and the African Union on February 17-18.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2022) Moscow cannot accept a joint response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's letter regarding the principle of the indivisibility of security, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

In late January, Lavrov sent the letters to the foreign ministers of 37 countries of Europe and North America. On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sent what they presented as a response to Lavrov's letters, the diplomat said, noting there was no substantive reaction in the EU and NATO responses on the question of indivisible security.

"We cannot accept a 'collective' response, reminiscent of 'mutual responsibility.' We look forward to a detailed response to our question from each addressee. Dodging the answer means that the West does not want to recognize the commitments taken through the OSCE and Russia-NATO (Council) and is trying to take care of its security at our expense," Zakharova said in a statement.

Instead, the EU and NATO propose another round of talks on indivisible security in Europe, she said, noting that such a position is unacceptable.
Germany's lethal weapons supplies to Kiev are unacceptable and would not contribute to the constrictive development of bilateral relations between Russia and Germany, Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergey Nechaev told Sputnik

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2022) Germany's lethal weapons supplies to Kiev are unacceptable and would not contribute to the constrictive development of bilateral relations between Russia and Germany, Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergey Nechaev told Sputnik.

"The country's leading politicians, including Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) and German Foreign Minister (Annalena Baerbock), share the understanding that it is unacceptable to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, given that it would in no way facilitate either the settlement process or the constructive development of Russian-German relations," Nechaev said.

In recent weeks, Kiev has repeatedly criticized Berlin over its refusal to provide direct military assistance to Ukraine as well as hindering arms deliveries by NATO allies.

Scholz dismissed the criticism on Monday, saying that Germany would not allow weapons export to crisis regions, noting that Berlin seeks to support Ukraine economically, rather than militarily.

Russia firmly denies having any intention to escalate the situation in Ukraine and has repeatedly stated that rising fears of Russia's alleged incursion into Ukraine are used as a pretext for advancing NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow does not incite tensions around Ukraine, with the turmoil being deliberately promoted by the West to cover Kiev's line to sabotage the Minsk agreements on Donbas.
Ukraine on Friday played down US President Joe Biden's call on Americans to leave immediately, stressing it was not a sign of an imminent Russian invasion

Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2022 ) :Ukraine on Friday played down US President Joe Biden's call on Americans to leave immediately, stressing it was not a sign of an imminent Russian invasion.

Biden on Thursday urged US citizens to "leave now" because of the threat posed by Russian forces who have surrounded Ukraine, launching massive military drills.

Kyiv has tried to calm the tensions, disagreeing with US intelligence assessments that an all-out war could break out at any moment.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Biden was simply restating earlier guidance from the US State Department.

"There is nothing new in this statement. We know the position of the United States, which has already made such statements," Kuleba told reporters.

"They have already started evacuating some of their embassy staff and family members. This statement is not evidence of some radical change of the situation."
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace expressed readiness to discuss topical issues of international security during a meeting in Moscow with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in order to reduce general tension

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2022) UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace expressed readiness to discuss topical issues of international security during a meeting in Moscow with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in order to reduce general tension.

The parties can solve several issues that Shoigu raised in his speech, Wallace said.

He said that during the meeting in Moscow he was ready to consider the issues raised by the Russian side in the submitted draft documents last December. "

Wallace thanked Shoigu for his willingness to meet at such a volatile time. He expressed hope to discuss with his Russian colleague Ukraine, Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism and other issues of mutual interest.

He said that he had laid a wreath from the UK government at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, emphasizing that he remembered the sacrifices that the Russian people had suffered during the World War II and other previous wars.
Faculty from the College of Engineering, Morsani College of Medicine and College of The Arts are the new honorees from USF.

TAMPA  Six USF faculty members have been named by the National Academy of Inventors to its new class of Senior Members. No university in the country has more faculty named to this years class than USF.

The newly elected faculty members have devoted their careers to inventing high-tech tools for a myriad of applications and blazing a trail for the next generation of innovators. Their work spans a range of research areas, including robotics, molecular microbiology and neuroscience.

With six selections, USF tied Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Houston for the most of any institution in the U.S. Three faculty members from the College of Engineering, two from the Morsani College of Medicine and one member from the College of The Arts are included in this newest class of Senior Members.

The University of South Florida is a national leader in research and innovation, with world-class faculty who are discovering solutions to global problems and changing lives, USF President Rhea Law said. This diverse, distinguished group of faculty named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors have earned this recognition for dedicating their careers to improving our society.

NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI member institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society. They also have proven success in patents, licensing and commercialization.

Truly gifted innovators and inventors see their creations not only as something theyve done, but also as a vision to move forward, said Sylvia Thomas, interim vice president for research and innovation at USF. All six of these outstanding USF faculty members are transforming the world, beyond its capabilities, and are inspiring the next generation of students and innovators into an even brighter future.

The six new USF NAI Senior Members are listed below.







Rajiv Dubey

Rajiv Dubey, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Center for Assistive, Rehabilitation & Robotics Technologies (CARRT) at USF. His research interests include assistive robotics, prosthetics, rehabilitation engineering, and robotics in healthcare, space, undersea, and nuclear waste management. He has published over 275 referred articles and directed over 70 Ph.D. dissertations and MS theses. He has been issued six full U.S. patents. Dr. Dubey has received over $40 million in research funding as a Principal Investigator from various agencies, including NSF, NASA, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Education, and the private sector. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Loree Heller

Loree C. Heller, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Department of Medical Engineering, a joint department between the Morsani College of Medicine and the College of Engineering at USF. Her research has focused on molecular microbiology, the evaluation of antibiotic alternatives and the bio-effects of gene therapies delivered by physical methods. She was the first to discover that complete tumor regression of solid tumors can occur when control backbone pDNA is electroporated into different tumor types. Her research has been funded by the NIH and other US federal agencies. She has patented research in molecular pathogen detection; her patents in gene therapy development have been licensed by two companies and include translation into clinical trials.

Merry Lynn Morris

Merry Lynn Morris, MFA, Ph.D., is the interim chair for the Dance Program. She holds an MFA degree in Dance Performance and Choreography and a Ph.D. in Dance Studies. Her interdisciplinary work intersects with disability studies, design, architecture, engineering, and health sciences. Morris interest in the dance and disability community coalesced in her work, leading her to re-conceptualize the design of assistive technology from a dance perspective. Dr. Morris has been featured/interviewed by MSNBC, PBS, CNN, NPRs Science Friday, the Readers Digest, and the Inventors Digest. She has worked collaboratively across the domains of dance and engineering to invent new mobility devices. Publications include 5 U.S. patents and over 45 scholarly research productsprint and artistic.

Anna Pyayt

Anna Pyayt, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering at USF. She is the head of the Innovative Biomedical Instruments and Systems (IBIS) Lab. She designed and developed many innovative systems and instruments including Telescopic Pixel display technology (a competitor to LCD) that was created in collaboration with Microsoft Research. The original publication was translated into more than 30 languages worldwide. She was also the first scientist to demonstrate a novel optical interconnect between a photonic and multiple plasmonic waveguides enabling fabrication of new biomedical nano-chips (published in Nature Nanotechnology). Dr. Pyayt has filed for several patents and started the company Hemolix LLC.

Juan Sanchez-Ramos

Juan Sanchez-Ramos, Ph.D., M.D., is the Helen Ellis Endowed Professor in the Department of Neurology at USF. His neuroscience research has included studies of drug dependence, toxicant-induced neurodegeneration, stem cell biology, and novel approaches for delivery of gene therapy. He was a member of the team organized by Dr. Nancy Wexler to study the large Venezuela Huntingtons Disease pedigree. That research, to which he contributed as a field neurologist conducting serial neuro exams, led to the discovery of the Huntingtons Disease gene in 1992. He has received numerous awards including an NIH Clinical Investigator Development Award to start his research lab, the Helen E. Ellis Endowed Chair for Parkinson's Disease Research, USF McNair Scholars Faculty Research Mentor Award, and the University of South Florida Outstanding Faculty Research Achievement Award. He has been awarded 8 U.S. patents and has over 300 publications to his credit.

Daniel Yeh

Daniel Yeh, Ph.D., PE, BCEE, LEED AP, is professor of environmental engineering and leader of the Membrane Biotechnology Laboratory at USF, which focuses on research and development of innovative wastewater treatment and resource recovery technologies. One of his most impactful inventions is the NEWgeneratora portable and self-contained solar-powered toilet system that converts the collected waste into renewable energy, fertilizer nutrients, and clean water that can be used for irrigation of crops. The NEWgenerator was selected for a 2011 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant, and has been deployed and commercialized in India and South Africa. In 2014, his team received the Cade Museum Prize for their invention of the NEWgenerator. To date, Dr. Yeh has published over 47 peer-reviewed journal papers and been issued seven U.S. patents.

Senior Members are elected biannually, and nominations are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations are currently being accepted for the next Senior Member class.

Today, these Senior Members, on their path of prolific discovery, join the NAI innovation community, said Paul R. Sanberg FNAI, President of the NAI, With the NAI Senior Member award distinction, we recognize and honor these innovators who are rising stars in their fields.

A full list of NAI Senior Members is available on the NAI website.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Reports national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the states 12 public universities. USF has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

About the National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate, and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI has a close partnership with the USPTO and is one of three honorific organizations, along with the National Medals and National Inventors Hall of Fame, working closely with the USPTO on many discovery and innovation support initiatives. The NAI publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation. Learn more at www.academyofinventors.org.
New Home for The Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at Southern Miss formally Dedicated

Fri, 02/11/2022 - 17:24pm | By: Megan Burkes

On Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) cut the ribbon on its newest facility. Located at 200 N. 35th Avenue, Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is the new home of the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families, a space commensurate with the honor of which our nearly 1,700 military students are so deserving.

Named in honor of lead benefactor and USM alumnus, Joe Quinlan 73, and the Centers founding director, Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond (US Army, Retired) 79, 86, the 5,500-square-foot facility will further allow Southern Miss to holistically care for and meet the needs and interests of the military student community. Quinlan-Hammond Hall features study spaces for small groups or individual work, a student lounge and study, a conference room and other meeting areas and staff office space.

We welcome our military students home, said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. We hope each student will agree Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is the ideal space for them, where the Centers dedicated staff can continue to support and assist them navigate their way through the collegiate experience. As one of the nations top military friendly institutions, it is our honor to do so.

This facility is more than brick and mortar - it has a heartbeat. Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor reflects the tremendous sacrifice our military students and their families have made for our freedoms, said Hammond. It is a significant campus landmark, a safe haven, and a springboard to the future for our students.

This building project was 100 percent privately funded. Cumulatively, Southern Miss alumni and friends contributed more than $3.1 million for construction. Designed by USM alumnus, veteran and owner of Spring Architecture and Engineering, Rich Bekesh, along with architects Derek Ray and Susan Colgan, the space is centered around a vertical ingress angled like a salute.

The space acknowledges and welcomes veterans, service members and their dependents each time they enter. Embedded bricks and other design elements will reveal the stars and stripes of the American flag, the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the seal of each branch of the United States Military, and memorabilia and murals to all who enter.

USM is nationally recognized as third in the nation for providing services and support to military students by Military Times and maintains designations in other prestigious publications. Center staff provide counsel as military students move through the admission process, on to graduation and career placement. Military students can learn and grow in an environment dedicated to their unique perspectives while pursuing their academic and professional development interests at Southern Miss.

Founded in 1959, the USM Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to serving the University community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. The Foundation manages donor dollars to provide the most advanced educational opportunities available to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Southern Miss.

For more information on supporting The University of Southern Mississippi, visit usmfoundation.com.

For more information on the USM Center for Military Veterans and Service Members, visit usm.edu/military-veterans.

To support this building initiative, visit usmfoundation.com/Veterans.
What's up Vol Nation?! Check out @Sami_whamiii on this weeks episode of the Weekly Wrap-Up for news involving @tpusautk and their guest speaker @tomilahren, the largest increase to the HOPE Scholarship since its founding, @josiah.j.james declaring for the draft. As always, a wrap up of our 
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm early. Then partly cloudy. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
HOLLYWOOD, Md.

(Feb. 10, 2022)After a second suicide in as many weeks by a jumper from the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge, local elected leaders are calling upon the state to come up with immediate options to stem the tide of deaths."These tragedies are occurring at a more frequent level and what we can do will remain to be seen," said Commissioner Todd Morgan.Morgan and other commissioners said they would include for discussion the suicide prevention measures at a virtual session with the commissioner boards from both Calvert and Charles counties Feb. 9 to discuss common issues."It's a state bridge so we'll have to look for some state support along the way," Morgan continued.Commissioner John O'Connor said commissioners receive notifications of critical incidents when they occur, such as the bridge jumper on Feb. 5."I had already been looking into what ways we could intervene," O'Connor said. "When somebody has reached that point getting public safety there in time is difficult."O'Connor said he "didn't want to talk about it anymore" in discussions with the Maryland Department of Transportation about possible immediate remedies to the problem."There are safety devices throughout the United Statesin New York, San Franciscothey have special nets they tangle you up."It's something to give first responders time, something to give someone pause."O'Connor said he hoped talking openly about the local suicide problem would spur broader conversation about putting similar measures in at the new Middleton/Nice bridge that spans the Potomac River leading into Virginia."If you prevent something one place, then you displace it somewhere else," O'Connor said. "We have to look at the bigger picture." Commissioner Eric Colvin said the very public nature of the recent suicides necessitated a public discussion."It's good that we're talking about this because it's not easy for anyone," Colvin said. "For anyone out there, if you're experiencing feelings of hopelessness or depression talk to someone who can help."Colvin said the number for the National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255."Call them if you need to, there is no shame in making that call," Colvin said. "It's a good thing."The State Highway Administration, a subset of the transportation department has reported it is currently exploring anti-suicide options for the bridge.A public petition has gained force in recent weeks calling for netting to be installed on the bridge to stop jumpers from committing the act of suicide.
Victoria, TX (77901)

Today

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High near 90F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 74F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Normal, IL (61790)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely in the morning with a shower or two possible during the afternoon. Morning high of 60F with temps falling to near 50. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Low near 40F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
Vietnam persevered through a difficult 2021 as the fourth wave of the pandemic took a significant toll on its economy and people. Nevertheless, despite pandemic measures, lockdowns, and travel restrictions, Vietnam welcomed more than US$19.74 billion of foreign investment in the period ending on December 20, 2021, while adding the RCEP, the CPTPP, and more to its FTA list.

With a solid vision for the future, Vietnam has created a concrete foundation to bounce back stronger in 2022. The government targets GDP growth of 6-6.5 percent, while the World Bank has forecast Vietnams GDP to rebound to 5.5 percent provided the pandemic is brought under control both at home and abroad. Among other measures, the government has amended a variety of important laws, which will help improve its business climate.

Recently, Filippo Bortoletti, Vietnam Country Director at Dezan Shira & Associates provided an overview of the key development in the Vietnamese FDI environment as well as emerging opportunities for businesses in Vietnam in 2022 in a webinar. We have shared a few highlights below, however, the full webinar can be viewed here.

Can you describe Vietnams business environment recently?

Since the end of the social distancing period at the end of September 2021, Vietnam has been slowly reopening its economy. In line with this, the government launched a pilot project tiered into three steps to completely open the country to international tourism by the second half of 2022, when it is expected that Vietnam will reopen its borders completely after almost two years of restrictions.

This will surely generate significant opportunities in the fields that were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tourism, accommodation, and transportation. Meanwhile, Vietnam has trimmed restrictions imposed on the entry of business travelers: now, any business traveler possessing a valid work visa or residency is allowed to enter the country without obtaining several approvals at the local ministries departments, saving in terms of costs and  especially  time.

Such improvements were possible thanks to Vietnams extremely effective vaccination campaign, which started slowly compared to western countries but ramped quickly with over 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated. Therefore, the outlook for 2022 is very positive.

In the last three years, the economy has remained steady. The top five sectors receiving investment were dominated by manufacturing and processing, followed by electricity production and real estate. In general, the economy grew by 2.58 percent, which was lower than what was forecast but expected due to the effects of the fourth wave of the pandemic and stringent lockdowns. Economic growth, however, was driven by exports which contributed 19 percent to the economy.

Vietnams main advantage is the integration of the country in international commerce. Vietnam covers most economic areas and therefore businesses can exploit Vietnams integration with other countries through various free trade agreements. There are several other reasons for investing in Vietnam which include a stable social and political environment, economic growth, competitive costs, an abundant workforce, great tax incentives (including manufacturing and hi-tech), and a strategic geographic location among several others.

What are the steps for establishing a business in Vietnam?

As an investor, you need to understand why you want to invest and how to invest as well as what are the requirements for establishing your business. This involves a feasibility study. You then need to choose a location based on the requirements of your business. Once this is done, you will need to set up and choose the most appropriate corporate structure. And finally, you would need to know the key compliance procedures, which means knowing the types of taxes to be filed as well as following statutory deadlines. It pays to be compliant as to not risk penalties in the future by the authorities.

How should an investor choose the right location?

We have developed a winning strategy tiered into six steps to assist foreign investors in choosing the ideal location for their business. Upon understanding the key variables to consider  which are important and can vary based on industry, business model, as well as budget  we conduct an initial screening of available locations meeting predetermined criteria, followed by preliminary due diligence.

Upon the first due diligence, the available locations are shortlisted, and then the identified potential locations undergo detailed due diligence, prodromal to the development of a comparative model based on the key variables discussed at the beginning. Each location is assigned an appropriateness score accordingly.

The last two steps would be a further shortlist of potential locations and physical visits. Factors that you should consider when evaluating potential locations include government incentives and policies, availability of raw materials, proximity to the market, infrastructure, taxation, and political stability among others.

What are some key market entry options?

Investors have some options to choose from when deciding the most appropriate investment structure. In general, based on our experience, the most popular corporate vehicles are respectively the representative office (RO) in case the investor would like to probe the market, expand its network, promote its products/services, and in general prepare the ground for future operations in the country.

The other option is the limited liability company (LLC) for doing business, in the case of a sole investor. Joint-stock companies are instead used whenever there are multiple investors, as there are stricter requirements for its governance compared to an LLC. In certain cases, it is possible to establish a branch office to do business, but the option is limited to certain business lines (usually with conditions).

What are the requirements for the tax, audit, and accounting for your business?

It is imperative for investors to understand Vietnams Accounting Standards (VAS) and comply. Vietnam has 26 standards based on IFRS, and the main difference is in the presentation of the financial statement and cash flow statement. However, Vietnam is planning to implement IFRS for several companies by 2025, such as listed companies, large public companies that are not listed, and state-owned enterprises. This will help Vietnam align with international best practices and improve transparency and corporate governance.

Apart from complying with VAS, foreign investors have to comply with a mandatory annual audit (necessary also to remit profits overseas) and declare, pay and finalize taxes on time. In general, taxes are declared on a quarterly basis by the 30th day of the following month and paid provisionally. Only if revenues are more than VND 50 billion (US$2.2 million) in a year, declaration and payment of VAT and PIT shall be done monthly by the 20th day of the following month. Apart from taxes, companies in Vietnam shall also contribute social, health, and unemployment insurances for their employees on a monthly basis.

What are the steps to remit profit overseas?

Investors need to undergo several steps to remit profit overseas. Such steps involve an audit on the financial statement prior to the annual tax returns, a CIT finalization, a personal income tax (PIT) finalization, social insurance finalization, and finally, it is possible to remit profit overseas.

Nevertheless, it is important to mention that clearing the aforementioned requirement is not enough to remit profits overseas. In addition, investors need to submit an array of forms and documents for this process as well. Therefore, it is paramount to rely on professional support to avoid dragging the procedure for too long and incur additional costs.

Can you tell us about the taxes and foreign employees in Vietnam are subject to?

All foreigners working in Vietnam and qualifying as tax residents are subject to personal income tax (PIT) on their worldwide taxable income. The applicable PIT rates to wages are progressive from 5 percent to 35 percent depending on the taxable income. Otherwise, if foreigners do not qualify as tax residents, a flat rate of 20 percent will apply to their taxable income from wages. Taxpayers are also eligible for deductions. Personal deductions vary but are at a minimum of VND 11 million (US$485) per month apart from additional deductions for dependents as well as general tax-exempt incomes.

Apart from PIT, employees need to contribute social insurance funds in Vietnam. As of January 1, 2022, foreign employees are also aligned with Vietnamese employees and required to pay social insurance. Foreign employees are subject to an 8 percent social insurance rate, while employers will have to contribute 17.5 percent to the social insurance fund.
U.N aid agencies are stepping up emergency relief for tens of thousands of people in Madagascar whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by Cyclone Batsirai.

Government officials report at least 94 people have died, more than 116,000 have been affected, including nearly 31,000 displaced. The United Nations cautions those figures are likely to increase as more, heretofore, inaccessible areas are reached.

Cyclone Batsirai made landfall on February 5 and the powerful storm demolished or damaged everything in its wake. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, says wind and rain wreaked havoc on more than 18,000 houses and some 70 health centers.

OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke says debris-strewn roads remain closed, making it difficult to access many people in need. Nevertheless, he says a brisk emergency response to the disaster is underway.

U.N. agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are already providing relief to support the government-led response," Laerke said. "And we are delivering food, water and sanitation, health supplies and protection services to people who urgently need this. There also are needs assessments that continue in the most-affected districts in the south-east of the country.

Before the storm hit, the World Food Program had prepared for the devastation that was to come. The agency pre-positioned food ahead of the cyclone. WFP spokesman Tomson Phiri says the food is being distributed to people in affected communities and additional stocks are making their way to worst-hit areas.

He says the WFP so far has distributed 10,000 hot meals in cyclone shelters and will be distributing large quantities of food to thousands of other displaced people over the coming days.

We are conducting aerial surveys by utilizing the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service on a basis of special flights in coordination with OCHA We are already providing logistic support for relief goods such as tents, wooden pallets, and tarpaulins," Phiri said. "

Aid agencies warn the severe damage incurred in agricultural regions on the east coast of the large Indian Ocean island could take hunger to even more alarming levels.

They note the cyclone destroyed the rice crop that was just weeks from harvest and fear the consequences of another bad harvest next year.
Visiting NATO headquarters Thursday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that Europe is facing its biggest security crisis in decades and pledged more military deployments in eastern Europe, in response to Russia's troop buildup on the border with Ukraine.

"The stakes are very high, and this is a very dangerous moment. And at stake are the rules that protect every nation, every nation big and small," Johnson said after talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Britain is strengthening its deployments in Estonia and Poland and is considering further deployments in southeastern Europe in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Several NATO members have sent troop reinforcements to allies on NATO's eastern flank. Many observers say Moscow's actions have brought the alliance closer together.

Stoltenberg welcomed Britain's commitment.

"The U.K. is playing a leading role, delivering both militarily and diplomatically," he said. "Renewed Russian aggression will lead to more NATO presence, not less."

US carrier strike group

Warships and fighter jets from 28 NATO members conducted exercises off the Italian coast earlier this month. It was the first time since the end of the Cold War that a U.S. Navy carrier strike group was placed under NATO command.

The United States has deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Poland and Romania.

"The focus of this particular mission  is to reinforce the NATO alliance, to build that trust and confidence, to reassure our allies and to strengthen the eastern flank of the NATO alliance," Colonel Joe Ewers of the U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment said Wednesday.

France is preparing to send troops to Romania, while Germany  criticized in the past for failing to take a harder line on Russia  is boosting its troop deployment in Lithuania by 350 personnel, in addition to the 500 soldiers already there.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht called Germany's participation an important signal for NATO allies.

"We can be relied on, and we are showing that with this strengthening of the battle group," she told reporters on Monday.

NATO united

In 2017, then-U.S. President Donald Trump described NATO as "obsolete" because, he said, it "wasn't taking care of terror." In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron called the alliance "brain dead," citing a perceived waning commitment by its main guarantor, the United States.

Now, Russia's actions have served to unify NATO, according to analyst Jonathan Eyal, associate director at the Royal United Services Institute.

"The Russians were demanding not merely an acceptance of a division of Europe into new spheres of influence, but a rollback on all the security arrangements put in place on the continent since the early 1990s at the end of the Cold War. And that was simply so outrageous, so extreme in its scope that quite frankly, it left very little opportunity for countries to disagree that a rejection and a flat-out rejection of such demands was the only approach."

Eyal added that the role of the United States has been crucial in recent months.

"It's astounding the amount of meetings, the amount of visits, the amount of effort that the (U.S.) administration put into ensuring that the consensus was kept," he said.

Public support

Opinion polls show an increase in public support for NATO both in existing member states and in non-NATO allies, including Sweden and Finland. While neither is expected to join the alliance any time soon, both countries have voiced alarm at the Russian troop buildup.

"Nobody wants this to escalate any further. We all want Russia to de-escalate the situation. We want to find peaceful ways out of the situation," Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters after meeting European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week.

Putin's miscalculation?

Russia's amassing of more than 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border was a miscalculation, Eyal said.

"If Russia was thinking of dividing Europe, what they've done over the past few months achieved precisely the opposite," he said.

But Russia believes it has achieved the objective of keeping Ukraine and Georgia out of the alliance, said Alex Titov, a Russia analyst at Queen's University Belfast.

"Russia made it very clear, I think abundantly clear, that that is a really big (red) line. As Putin said several times, membership of NATO (for Ukraine and Georgia) would basically mean war with Russia for all NATO countries."

Despite Moscow's denials, many Western leaders still believe Russia is planning to invade Ukraine. Rather than highlighting NATO's divisions, many observers say that threat has galvanized the alliance.
The United Nations in Nigeria said more than $1 billion is needed to help millions of people in the country's troubled northeast. The U.N. said a million of those people are living in areas that are cut off due to insecurity.

Nigeria has been closing northeastern camps for internally displaced people and urging them to return home, despite ongoing threats from Islamist militants.

The launch of the U.N.s 2022 humanitarian response plan for Nigeria was held in Abuja Wednesday.

U.N. Nigeria humanitarian coordinator Matthias Schmale said $1.1 billion is needed to reach some five and a half million people who are in need of aid in the northeast this year.

The U.N. official said over 2.2 million people remain displaced due to recurring attacks in the region and that one million are in areas designated as "hard to reach" or inaccessible to aid workers.

"By definition, we're not close to those people, that's what hard to reach means, so we're ringing the alarm bell," said Matthias Schmale, UN Humanitarian Coordinator. "Out of the million people in hard-to-reach areas, 700,000 are in acute need. And we will try and do our best to expand but it's really linked to security and access."

Those areas are still largely controlled by armed militant groups, including Boko Haram, who have been waging a war in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe for twelve years.

The U.N. says hundreds of thousands of people including women and children have been killed and millions reduced to deplorable living standards.

Officials said the coronavirus pandemic and rising prices for food have further exacerbated conditions for millions of vulnerable people.

Trond Jensen, who heads Nigerian operations for the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says the new response plan will target the most vulnerable people first.

According to Jensen,"The plan is the result of the unwavering commitment by all those involved to ensure that life-saving assistance gets to where it is needed most and also to protect the most vulnerable people."

Since late last year, Nigerian authorities have been urging displaced people to return home and closing camps under the caveat of improved security despite threats of attacks by Boko Haram." Jensen said.

In December, Amnesty International said at least six people were killed and 14 others injured during attacks at resettlement camps.

But authorities also cited the need for residents to return to their farms in order to avert famine and reduce dependence on outside aid.

The United States ambassador to Nigeria, Marybeth Leonard, said plans are underway to evaluate high-risk areas and provide support before resettling displaced people.

We're so eager to partner with the state authorities to make sure that  we have collaborative, consultative, principled decisions about where it is appropriate for people to go, when we can get them there and how we can support them," Leonard said

Last year the United Nations assisted nearly five million people in Nigeria, including 1.3 million who needed nutritional support.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday allowing approximately half of the $7 billion in frozen assets from Afghanistan's central bank to be reserved for victims of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The remaining assets, $3.5 billion, will be set aside in a trust fund slated for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, according to the White House.

The Taliban immediately condemned the move.

Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Talibans political office in Doha, said in a tweet, Stealing the Afghan peoples money that was frozen by the United States is the lowest a country could stoop to morally and humanly. Defeat and victory are part of human history but the greatest and scandalous defeat for a country or its people is when they suffer militarily and morally as well.

Meanwhile, Munir Akram, Pakistans United Nations envoy, said, "This money is critically needed to revive and sustain the Afghan economy, inject much needed liquidity, and to save millions of lives in the middle of a harsh winter. Pakistan is Afghanistans neighbor.

There is something wrong with a financial system where one State can unilaterally block the National assets of another to pay off questionable claims by its own citizens, Akram said.

The $7 billion in funds from Da Afghanistan Bank, the countrys central bank, that were on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, have been frozen since then-President Ashraf Ghanis government collapsed after the Taliban takeover at the end of August 2021. The country has experienced economic collapse and food insecurity since then.

Following the 2001 attacks, the Taliban, who were in control of Afghanistan at that time, refused to give in to U.S. demands to hand over Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of 9/11 and dismantle his terror group, al-Qaida. For years, the families of 9/11 victims have been pursuing financial compensation through U.S. courts and have renewed their efforts to claim it from the Taliban following the group's takeover last year.

A judge has already given a writ in our system in order to freeze those funds in place so that these claimants can have their case heard, a senior Biden administration official told VOA when asked what the moral justification is for keeping funds belonging to the Afghan people  who were not responsible for the 9/11 attacks  for the 9/11 claimants.

The funds will be held while the claims of 9/11 victims move through the U.S. court systems until a decision is made consistent with our country's law and values, the official said.

Some families of 9/11 victims criticized the decision.

We firmly support the distribution of a large portion of these frozen assets to help mitigate the horrific humanitarian crisis and as aid to those suffering in Afghanistan today, said Brett Eagleson, son of 9/11 victim Bruce Eagleson, in a statement on behalf of many in the 9/11 community. However, for those funds intended for the 9/11 families, leaving this matter to a court, as this action by the Administration would do, will force the families of those killed on 9/11 to fight amongst each other. That is wrong, unfair and unjust.

In a background briefing call with reporters, the Biden administration official acknowledged that this is an unprecedented situation where the U.S. is holding $7 billion in assets of a government they do not recognize.

I think we are acting responsibly to ensure that a portion of that money can be used to benefit the people of the country, he said.

It is also still unclear how the Biden administration plans to distribute the $3.5 billion for humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.

We're still working through the modalities of that trust fund and the governance structure of that trust fund, as well as the specific uses of the funds, the official said.

These are the reserves of the Afghan people, they're not the reserves of the Taliban, said Jacob Kurtzer to VOA. Kurtzer is director and senior fellow with the Humanitarian Agenda at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

And so, freezing them and starting to divvy them out based on our own internal calculations, I think sends the wrong message to the people of Afghanistan about what role the United States is playing in terms of responding to the humanitarian, and really to the economic crisis that they're experiencing, he said.

Kurtzer said the moral imperative for the Biden administration now should be to help sustain the Afghan economy to not rely solely on humanitarian aid  a complicated task considering no country has given formal diplomatic recognition to the Taliban as the legitimate government in Kabul.

Dealing with the Taliban

Bidens decision reflects the reality that the Taliban have not changed and are a rogue regime, said Husain Haqqani, director of South & Central Asia at the Hudson Institute.

It is important to understand that the Talibans claim to assets of a government they fought to topple is just not justified, Haqqani told VOA. Taliban and their apologists have only been using the specter of a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan to justify trying to take money that the international community had provided for a very different Afghanistan.

The Biden administration official said that President Bidens move is legally authorized by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that provides the president broad authority to regulate a variety of economic transactions following a declaration of national emergency.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin "during the Olympics."

Sullivan, speaking at a White House briefing Friday, said "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time should (Russian President) Vladimir Putin decide to order it."

Many analysts have said that Russia is unlikely to carry out any invasion before the Winter Olympics in China end February 20.

Russia now has enough forces on Ukraine's border to conduct a major military operation, Sullivan said, and Russia could seize "significant territory" in Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, in an attack.

He urged Americans in Ukraine to leave in the next 24 to 48 hours, saying a Russian invasion could begin with an air assault that would make departures difficult.

"The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now," Sullivan said.

Also Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden took part in a secure video call with world leaders to discuss Ukraine.

"The leaders agreed on the importance of coordinated efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including their readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia should it choose military escalation," according to a White House statement.

In addition to Biden, the call included the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, NATO, the European Union and the European Council.

A senior U.S. defense official told reporters that Biden has ordered 3,000 soldiers to Poland in addition to the 1,700 already headed there. The Pentagon said the troops are being deployed to reassure NATO allies and deter any potential aggression against NATO's eastern flank.

The Pentagon announced last week the deployment of the previous 1,700 troops to Poland along with 300 troops who were to be moved from the United States to Germany. It also announced at that time that 1,000 troops already based in Germany were to be redeployed to Romania.

Speaking Friday with several of his counterparts in NATO countries, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States stands "united with our NATO Allies to deter and defend against any aggression," according to a Pentagon statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday "to reaffirm the United States' robust support for Ukraine."

Blinken "underscored that any and all aggression against Ukraine by Russia will be met with swift, severe and united consequences," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.

The comments by the U.S. led to the biggest drop in Russia's ruble in nearly two years. The ruble was down 2.8% Friday, set for its largest daily percentage drop against the dollar since March 2020.

Earlier Friday, Blinken warned of a possible Russian attack on Ukraine at "any time" and urged U.S. citizens to leave the Eastern European country immediately.

He made his comments after meeting in Australia with leaders of the so-called Quad countries  the United States, Australia, Japan and India.

Blinken's warning also came one day after Biden urged Americans to leave the country immediately and warned in an interview with NBC News of a potential major conflict with Russia should a clash erupt between U.S. and Russian troops.

On Thursday, Biden said, "We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. This is a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly."

The U.S. president said he would not send troops to Ukraine, even to rescue Americans in case of a Russian invasion.

"That's a world war. When Americans and Russians start shooting one another, we're in a very different world," he said.

Russia opened 10 days of massive military drills in Belarus on Thursday and docked six of its ships at a strategic Black Sea port, drawing a sharp rebuke from Ukrainian officials, who characterized Moscow's actions as further escalating tensions in the region.

The Russian maneuvers in Belarus involved thousands of troops and sophisticated weapons systems, such as S-400 surface-to-air missiles, Pantsir air defense systems and Su-35 fighter jets, with some of the training just 210 kilometers north of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Officials in Moscow and Minsk have said Russian troops will withdraw from Belarus sometime after the drills end February 20. But Western officials remain fearful they could be deployed in a Russian invasion of Ukraine, a onetime Soviet republic, along with 100,000 troops Moscow has amassed along Ukraine's eastern flank.

Ukrainian officials, who launched their own drills on Thursday, assailed the impending naval drills, characterizing them as "destructive activity to destabilize the security situation." Kyiv accused Russia of violating international law by restricting wide swaths of open water to conduct missile and artillery fire training.

Russian officials have denied they plan to invade Ukraine, but diplomatic talks with Western officials have led to a standoff. Russia has demanded that the United States and its allies reject Ukraine's bid for membership in NATO.

The West has rejected that as a non-starter but has said it is willing to negotiate with Moscow over missile deployment and troop exercises in Eastern European countries closest to Russia.

Western governments have been calling on Russia to take steps to de-escalate the crisis and have vowed to impose swift and severe economic sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began meeting with his counterparts in the Quad on Friday, beginning with Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne of Australia, who said the two would discuss China, North Korea and Ukraine.

"More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK, China as well, and they will be part of our discussions today. We strongly support U.S. leadership on these challenges," she said, using the abbreviation for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

"We are going to talk today, I'm sure, about the threats to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine as well," she added.

"We do indeed have a lot to cover today," Blinken said, including "challenges posed far away from here but that have an impact on this region as well."

Blinken mentioned a "fair bit of ground to cover" in his next meeting, with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. They will join Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar later Friday for a wider meeting that is also expected to address climate change and pandemic-related issues.

As he did Wednesday, the U.S. secretary of state stressed the importance of alliances for tackling global and regional issues and reinforced the Biden administration's commitment to the region.

"What we know is that the issues that are really having an impact on folks back home, people here in Australia, and around the world  whether it's climate, whether it's COVID, whether it's the impact of emerging technologies  not a single one of these issues can be effectively dealt with by any one of us acting alone," Blinken told U.S. Mission Australia staff Thursday in Melbourne. "More than ever before, we need partnerships, we need alliances, we need coalitions of countries willing to put their efforts, their resources, their minds into tackling these problems."

Blinken earlier participated in a town hall discussion of biomedical issues at the University of Melbourne's law school. Representatives from Moderna and Bristol Myers Squibb, both global pharmaceutical companies, also took part in the roundtable.

Blinken discussed global vaccination targets and the need for a "stronger global health security system" so the world is better prepared the "next time around."

Earlier this week, Australia said it was reopening its borders to vaccinated international travelers on Feb. 21. The move comes almost two years after borders were closed as part of efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.

Australia's pandemic border closures were among the strictest in the world.

Blinken said Australia and the United States have been "leaders together" in fighting COVID-19.

He later tweeted that the University of Melbourne "held deep meaning to my late stepfather, Samuel Pisar, who was a proud alumnus."

Payne, who is hosting the Quad meeting, said Wednesday the gathering sends a message to China that security in the region remains a priority for the United States.

Payne said the Quad ministers were "voting with their feet in terms of the priority that they accord to issues" important to the Indo-Pacific. Payne said the ministers would also focus on regional coronavirus vaccine distribution, cyber and other technology issues, and addressing disinformation, counterterrorism and climate change.

Blinken's visit to Australia is his first trip there since an enhanced trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS  Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States  was announced in September. The agreement includes a deal to build nuclear-propelled submarines for Australia as part of enhanced deterrence against China's military expansion across the Indo-Pacific region.

Part of the discussions during the fourth Quad foreign ministers' meetings in Melbourne "will relate to the challenges that China poses," Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told VOA during a Friday phone briefing.

"The Quad is not a military alliance, but it is not lost on China that you have four democracies, all with a strong maritime presence and advanced military capabilities, concerned by the increasingly aggressive approach China takes with its neighbors," said Charles Edel, the Australia chair of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Blinken is also expected to discuss threats presented by a growing partnership between China and Russia that was on display during Sunday's meeting in Beijing between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the beginning of the Winter Olympics. The meeting occurred amid Russia's military buildup along neighboring Ukraine's borders and China's increasingly assertive efforts to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

In Beijing, Chinese officials have expressed wariness over the Quad and AUKUS.

In response Wednesday to a reporter's question about the Quad members' meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian attacked American democracy while portraying Beijing as a peace seeker.

"With its so-called democracy having collapsed long ago, the U.S. is forcing other countries to accept the standards of the American democracy, drawing lines with democratic values and piecing together cliques. That is a complete betrayal of democracy," Zhao said.

Zhao added that China "seeks peace and development, promotes cooperation, promotes the construction of an equal, open and inclusive security system in the Asia-Pacific region that does not target third countries."

"We oppose forming exclusive cliques and setting up groups within groups, as well as creating confrontation between camps," he said.

The top U.S. diplomat's weeklong trip includes Fiji as well as Honolulu, Hawaii.
As part of the Biden Administrations effort to show its commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Fiji on Saturday, will host a virtual meeting with 18 Pacific nation leaders and announce U.S. plans to reopen an embassy in the Solomon Islands.

During the virtual meeting with the regional leaders, Blinken will also discuss "the climate crisis, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, disaster assistance, and ways to further our shared commitment to democracy, regional solidarity, and prosperity in the Pacific" according to the State Department.

The visit comes at a time when China is also seeking to strengthen its partnerships in the region.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said ahead of Blinkens visit to Asia, which has also taken him to Australia, "The key message that the secretary will take with him on this trip is that our partnerships deliver."

The State Department said in a statement Friday that the Pacific region remains a foreign policy priority for the United States, and we have deep and longstanding ties to Fiji and the other countries of the Pacific.

Blinken was in Australia earlier this week for meetings with leaders of the Quad countries, which includes the United States, Australia, Japan and India.

The Quad ministers vowed in a joint statement Friday to cooperate more closely to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free of "coercion," a veiled reference to China's economic and military expansion.

They also promised to strengthen cooperation on the coronavirus pandemic, cyberthreats and counterterrorism, while condemning North Koreas "destabilizing ballistic missile launches," which are in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who hosted the Quad meeting, said the leaders addressed issues of fishing and climate change, which are a priority for countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

She said the leaders agreed to boost maritime security support for Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen their maritime domain awareness and ability to develop their offshore resources, to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to combat challenges such as illegal fishing."

Payne said Wednesday that the gathering sends a message to China that security in the region remains a priority for the United States.

Blinken is visiting the region as part of a Biden administration effort to show its long-term strategic focus remains on the Asia-Pacific region and that the Ukraine crisis will not distract it from its main priorities.

The crisis in Ukraine was addressed during the Quad meetings with Blinken warning Friday that Russia could attack Ukraine at any time and warning Americans to leave Ukraine immediately.

Blinken cited troubling signs regarding Russia, including adding to the more than 100,000 troops it has amassed at the Ukrainian border.

As weve said before, were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. And to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, Blinken said at a joint news conference in Canberra.

Were continuing to draw down our embassy, Blinken said. We will continue that process. And weve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now.

Russia maintains it has no plans to invade Ukraine but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

Blinken's visit to Australia was his first trip there since an enhanced trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS  Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States  was announced in September. The agreement includes a deal to build nuclear-propelled submarines for Australia as part of enhanced deterrence against China's military expansion across the Indo-Pacific region.

"The Quad is not a military alliance, but it is not lost on China that you have four democracies, all with a strong maritime presence and advanced military capabilities, concerned by the increasingly aggressive approach China takes with its neighbors," said Charles Edel, the Australia chair of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Blinkens visit to the Asia-Pacific region comes amid a growing partnership between China and Russia that was on display during Sunday's meeting in Beijing between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the beginning of the Winter Olympics. The meeting occurred amid Russia's military buildup along neighboring Ukraine's borders and China's increasingly assertive efforts to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

In Beijing, Chinese officials have expressed wariness over the Quad and AUKUS.

China criticized the U.S. Friday for trying to "discredit, suppress and contain" the country's development after Blinken said earlier this week there were concerns "that in recent years, China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the regions."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian rejected the remarks, telling reporters at a daily briefing the U.S. revealed an "ideological bias."

Zhao described the alliance as "a tool to contain China and maintain U.S. hegemony."

After the stop in Fiji the top U.S. diplomat will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, before he returns to Washington.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Six of Cambodias opposition groups, including the quickly growing Candlelight Party, are in talks to form a political alliance to compete with Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party ahead of a general election slated for next year.

Leaders of the six parties  most of whom are former officials with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party  told RFAs Khmer Service that they had hoped to form a bloc with the other opposition groups ahead of commune elections in early June but lacked the resources and time to do so.

Instead, they said they are aligning on overlapping goals for electoral reforms in the near term, while working toward the formation of an alliance in time to challenge the CPP in the July 2023 general ballot.

Cambodia Reform Party Founder and former CNRP senior official Ou Chanrath told RFA that the six parties are working together step by step.

We will have a serious talk for the general election on how to compete with the CPP, he said. If we arent united, I believe it will be tough to compete with the ruling party.

Grassroots Democratic Party spokesperson Loek Sothea said that even though the parties have been busy preparing their individual platforms in the commune election, they have made time to work together. Recently, he said, the parties collaborated on a joint request to the National Election Commission to amend the countrys electoral laws.

We have advocated on a few issues of common interest, he said, adding that the parties will continue to produce joint statements in the future.

Speaking to RFA on Wednesday, government spokesperson Phay Siphan dismissed talk of an alliance between the six parties as a tactic to draw the attention of former CNRP supporters. He said such a bloc would be unable to compete with the CPP for dominance in the political arena.

They arent trying to leverage good policies [to compete with the ruling party]; They are simply seeking numbers [of supporters] so [an alliance] wont affect the ruling party, which is producing for the country, he said.

The popular CNRP was dissolved by Cambodias Supreme Court in November 2017 for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, allowing the CPP to win all 125 seats in Parliament in a July 2018 election. The partys acting President Sam Rainsy has lived in exile in France since 2015 was sentenced in absentia last year to 25 years for what supporters say was a politically motivated charge of attempting to overthrow the government.

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 CNRP in 2012.

Activists told RFA earlier this week that the party has established headquarters in every Cambodian province since it reactivated late last year and can present a challenge to the CPP in upcoming elections. The Candlelight Partys acting President Thach Setha told RFA that almost 90% of the CNRPs members have joined his party, which he said adheres to the banned partys ideals.

Political analyst Kim Sok told RFA on Wednesday that since the Candlelight Party and the other five opposition groups share common goals, an alliance is a natural fit.

Dont simply cooperate and issue joint statements, he said. Establish a joint goal and a joint set of principles.

New party president

Meanwhile, Cambodias Funcinpec Party held its first party congress since the November 2021 death of its leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, electing his son Prince Norodom Chakravuth as its new president on Wednesday.

Funcinpec spokesperson Nhoeun Raden told the congress that Chakravuth had worked hard to bring a mix of royalists, democrats, and other political adherents into the party. He said Funcinpec also hopes to merge with other parties to build a larger support base ahead of upcoming elections.

Those who are royalists and supporters, please return to the Funcinpec Party so it can fulfill its mission to serve the country, he said.

Legal analyst Puth Kolka told RFA that the Funcinpec Party no longer enjoys a good reputation and that democrats are avoiding it. He said that the party is likely to have difficulty restoring its popularity to what it once was in the early 1990s.

When the party doesnt connect to the voters and ignores people difficulties, it wont gain support, he said. The party is working for the sake of the government only.

The Cambodian kings half-brother who served as prime minister before being ousted by Hun Sen, Ranariddh died in France on Nov. 28, aged 77.

Funcinpec won elections in 1993, but Ranariddh was deposed in a bloody 1997 coup by Hun Sen, a coalition partner who remains in power and has eliminated all subsequent rivals and challenges to his 36-year rule.

In 2017, Ranariddh shocked admirers by backing Hun Sens dissolution of the CNRP and jailing leader Kem Sokha on treason charges for which he is still on trial.
The so-called Minsk Accords are being promoted  by French President Emmanuel Macron, among others  as the only viable solution to the crisis created by Russias military buildup along Ukraines borders. But they remain deeply unpopular in Ukraine and are little understood elsewhere.

There were in fact two major agreements negotiated in the Belarus capital, Minsk, the latest coming on February 12, 2015, after Russias occupation of Crimea and during a phase of intense fighting in the separatist-controlled Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

The pact, intended to end the fighting and provide a political framework for the return of the separatist-held areas to Ukrainian sovereignty, was signed by representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia, Ukraine and the Russian-backed leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR).

It did bring a fragile cease-fire, but seven years later, a new leadership in Kyiv argues that the fulfillment of all its terms is unpalatable and politically impossible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, suggested this week that rejection of the accord is not an option. Using a Russian term that carries a degrading and sexist connotation during a press conference with Macron, he addressed Ukraine saying: Like it or not, but youll have to deal with it, beauty.

Appearing a day later alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Macron declared that the Minsk agreements are the only way to prevent a war in Ukraine and halt Russias military buildup.

Terms of the agreement

The 2015 negotiations were facilitated by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then-French President Francois Hollande and came during a period of intense fighting between the Ukrainian forces and rebels supported by the Russian military at Debaltseve. The political document, called Minsk 2, was signed on February 12, 2015, by representatives from the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, the DNR and LNR.

As a result of hasty drafting, Minsk 2 became a list of 13 steps, but Russia and Ukraine have never been able to agree upon the sequence in which they should be executed.

Although the pact was signed by Russias then-ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov, Russia does not see itself as a party to the agreement or obligated by its provisions. Moscow has also refused to amend the agreement and criticized Ukraines Western allies for failing to pressure Ukraine to fulfill its requirements.

The sides agreed to:

 An immediate and comprehensive cease-fire.

 Withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides.

 Monitoring and verification of the cease-fire by the OSCE.

 Initiation of a dialogue on interim self-government for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with Ukrainian law, and acknowledgement of their special status by a resolution of parliament.

 A pardon and amnesty for people involved in the fighting.

 An exchange of hostages and prisoners.

 Provision of humanitarian assistance.

 Resumption of socioeconomic ties, including pensions.

 Restoration of full control of the state border by the government of Ukraine.

 Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries.

 Constitutional reform in Ukraine, including decentralization, with specific mention of Donetsk and Luhansk.

 Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk on terms to be agreed upon with their representatives.

 Intensification of the work of a Trilateral Contact Group, including representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE.

"I think it's fair to say, looking back, that many of those steps Ukraine has either implemented or begun to implement; there are some that haven't yet been tackled, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told VOA during his last visit to Kyiv. I think, unfortunately, it's equally fair to say that Russia has done virtually nothing in terms of the steps required in the Minsk agreement.

Blinken put the onus on Moscow if there is to be progress on the agreement.

Is Russia serious about implementing Minsk? he asked. If it is, we're prepared to facilitate that, we're prepared to support that, we're prepared to engage in that, but in support of this Normandy process that France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are engaged in.

Those four countries first met during D-Day anniversary celebrations in Normandy in 2014 and have remained in contact since then, seeking a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. France and Germany were also instrumental in brokering the Minsk 2 agreement, which followed a string of Ukrainian government defeats in the east.

Ukrainian objections

But while many of Ukraines Western allies look to the Minsk agreements as a way out of the crisis, the deal is widely seen by the Ukrainian public as a betrayal of their national interests. Especially troublesome is the call for constitutional reform, which many believe would give the pro-Russian separatists a veto over foreign policy.

Its hard to call them agreements, said Oleksiy Danilov, head of the National Security Council of Ukraine, in an interview with VOA. When they were signed under the Russian gun barrel  and the Germans and the French watched  it was already clear for all rational people that its impossible to implement those documents.

If the [Ukrainian] society doesnt accept those agreements, it could lead to a very difficult internal situation and Russia counts on that.  If they insist on the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements as they are, it will be very dangerous for our country, he said.

Danilov warned the West against pressuring Ukraine into fulfilling the Minsk deal, saying it would provoke dangerous instability, as happened in August 2015 when then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed a draft law amending the constitution.

As the Ukrainian parliament debated the proposal, which omitted some of the most problematic provisions of the Minsk plan, rioting broke out nearby, leading to the deaths of four law enforcement officers.

Current President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was elected in 2019 after a campaign that called for ending the war in the east and making peace with Russia. As president, he pushed through a nationwide decentralization program that gave new powers to the Donbas but did not provide the rebel-held areas with the constitutional special status that the Minsk Accords had envisioned.

Renegotiations

Today, most Ukrainian experts and former officials believe the Minsk agreements must be renegotiated.

The circumstances changed significantly, so the Minsk agreements are no longer the political decisions that can be used. They need to be totally renegotiated and maybe with a different group of negotiators, said Valeriy Chaly, who was a member of the original Ukrainian delegation to Minsk.

Russia did not fulfill its obligation in terms of security, quite the opposite, he told VOA. It threatens Ukraine with its forces and they release almost a million Russian passports to the citizens of occupied territory.

The Minsk agreements, he continued, are not leading to peace, unfortunately. Its time has passed, the circumstances changed. And Putin and [the] Kremlin changed them.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
A Canadian judge on Friday ordered protesters to end their 5-day-old blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada.

The virtual hearing before Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court lasted 4 hours. Afterward, he said the order would go into effect at 7 p.m. local time to give protesters time to leave.

The protesters, who have blocked the bridge between Windsor, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan, since Monday, mostly with their pickups, say the ruling is counter to their right to peacefully protest vaccine mandates.

It is not clear whether law enforcement will try to remove the protesters, but the Windsor police warned that they could be arrested and their vehicles could be seized.

About one-fourth of all trade between the U.S. and Canada crosses that bridge every year, and the blockade has forced trucks to use other bridges. On the U.S. side, it has also led to a shortage of auto parts that has closed auto manufacturing plants or canceled some work shifts.

Earlier Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency because of the truckers' protests.

Over the past two weeks, hundreds of truckers have snarled the streets around the Parliament building in the national capital of Ottawa. More recently, they blocked Ambassador Bridge.

Ford said he would convene the provincial Cabinet on Saturday to make "crystal clear" the truckers are breaking the law by blocking critical infrastructure.

He said punishments for failing to comply could include fines of up to $10,000 and up to a year in jail.

"We are now two weeks into the siege of Ottawa," Ford said. "It's an illegal occupation. It's no longer a protest."

During a Friday call, U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed that "the actions of the individuals who are obstructing travel and commerce between our two countries are having significant direct impacts on citizens' lives and livelihoods," according to a White House statement about the call.

Trudeau "promised quick action in enforcing the law," the White House said.

The protesters say lifting the mandates is all that needs to be done.

One protester told Fox News he'd been at the Ottawa protest the entire time and was there with his wife and kids.

He said he didn't want his kids to be forced to wear a mask or get vaccinated.

"The pressure we have to get vaccinated, there's something about it that just don't work," he said. "End all the mandates, and it's going to be all right."

Since the protests began, several Canadian provinces have dropped mask and vaccine mandates or signaled that they will soon do so.

Trudeau has called the truckers a "fringe" group.

On Thursday, Ford asked a court to freeze online fundraising for the protesters via a site called GiveSendGo.

In a tweet, the American company said, "Know this! Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo. All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is The Freedom Convoy campaign."

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service in London, Cressida Dick, announced her resignation Thursday following multiple accusations of misogyny, racism and sexism in the capital force's ranks.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said Thursday that he was dissatisfied with Dick's response when he told her last week that the force needed to change to "root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination, and misogyny."

"It's clear that the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the Metropolitan Police" the mayor said, as quoted in The New York Times.

Khan thanked Dick for her 40 years of service.

Dick, 61, was appointed commissioner in 2017, becoming the first woman to lead Scotland Yard, another name for the London police.

"It is with huge sadness that following contact with the mayor of London today, it is clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue," Dick said in a statement on Thursday.

The mayor has requested that Dick stay for a "short period" to "ensure the stability of the Met" and a smooth transition to a new commissioner.

Calls for Dick's resignation started after the rape and murder of 33-year-old London woman Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police officer in March 2021.

Dick's resignation comes after a report released last week by England's official police watchdog described London police officers joking about rape and trading racist messages, according to The New York Times.

Dick acknowledged the case in her statement, saying that "many other awful cases recently have, I know, damaged confidence in this fantastic police service."

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Congress on Thursday gave final approval to legislation guaranteeing that people who experience sexual harassment at work can seek recourse in the courts, a milestone for the #MeToo movement that prompted a national reckoning on the way sexual misconduct claims are handled.

The measure, which is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, bars employment contracts from forcing people to settle sexual assault or harassment cases through arbitration rather than in court, a process that often benefits employers and keeps misconduct allegations from becoming public.

Significantly, the bill is retroactive, nullifying that language in contracts nationwide and opening the door for people who had been bound by it to take legal action.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has spearheaded the effort, called it "one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history."

Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, said the arbitration process is secretive and biased and denies people a basic constitutional right: a day in court.

"No longer will survivors of sexual assault or harassment in the workplace come forward and be told that they are legally forbidden to sue their employer because somewhere in buried their employment contracts was this forced arbitration clause," she said.

Introduced in 2017

Gillibrand, who has focused on combating sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the military, originally introduced the legislation in 2017 with Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina.

The legislation had uncommonly broad, bipartisan support in a divided Congress. That allowed the bill to be passed in the Senate by unanimous consent  a procedure almost never used for significant legislation, especially one affecting tens of millions of Americans. The House passed the bill this week on a robust bipartisan basis in a 335- 97 vote.

Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who accused now-deceased network CEO Roger Ailes of making unwanted advances and harming her career when she rejected him, testified in support of the legislation. Some employee contracts at the network included binding arbitration clauses.

Carlson, who appeared with Gillibrand and other senators at a news conference after Senate passage of the bill, said she could never have imagined, after coming forward with her allegations five years ago, that it would lead to a change in the law that both Democrats and Republicans would get behind.

"Marching in the streets can inspire us. Editorials can open our minds. Hashtags can galvanize, but legislation is the only thing that lasts," Carlson said.

An estimated 60 million American workers have clauses tucked into their employment contracts forcing them to settle any allegations of sexual misconduct in private arbitration proceedings, rather than in court. The widespread practice has come under fire in the wake of the #MeToo movement for forcing employees to seek recourse without a jury, a chance to appeal a decision or the sunlight of a public court process.

'Overdue' legislation

"If you could ever say any legislation was long overdue, this is it," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. He called it "almost medieval" to force victims of harassment and assault "to shut up, not tell anyone about it and not seek justice."

The secretive nature of binding arbitration protects companies and perpetrators, critics contend, and allows corporations to avoid changing any policies or removing serial abusers.

The clauses barring lawsuits are not just limited to employment contracts but have been found in other service agreements, preventing those who were sexually assaulted at nursing homes or massage parlors from taking their claims to court.

Defenders of the arbitration process, including business groups, have contended it is a faster and less costly way to resolve disputes than through lengthy courtroom proceedings.

Graham said on the Senate floor that it does not harm businesses to ensure people who are harassed at work are treated fairly.

"This is not bad for business. This is good for America," he said.

Many workers don't realize they're bound by forced arbitration rules and how the process can disproportionately benefit employers, with companies typically paying out smaller sums to settle claims, Gillibrand said.

In a sign of the power of the #MeToo movement and wide-ranging support behind the change, the legislation's co-sponsors included senators who are ideologically polar opposites, such as New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker and Missouri Republican Josh Hawley.

Graham said at the news conference that things can be "pretty screwed up" in Washington but the legislation signals "that there's some hope, as long as we listen to each other and try to make life better where we can find common ground."

The White House released a statement earlier this month in support of the bill.
President Joe Biden is urging US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately as tensions with Russia over its military buildup on the border continue to intensify. The US Embassy in Kyiv had already been urging citizens to consider leaving. Some American expats heeded the advice, others did not. Oksana Lihostova spoke to some Americans in Kyiv about their plans. Anna Rice narrates her story.
The International Criminal Court will next week hear an appeal by Ugandan former Lord's Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen against his conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ongwen, a former child soldier in the notorious rebel group led by the fugitive Joseph Kony in the early 2000s, was sentenced by the ICC in May last year to 25 years in jail for murder, rape and sexual enslavement.

Ongwen, whose nom de guerre was "White Ant," had protested his innocence and cited his own history of being kidnapped while on his way to school by the LRA, and brutalized.

"The appeal brought against the conviction is the largest ever considered by the chamber, raising complex and novel issues," the ICC said in a statement announcing the appeal hearings, which will run from Monday to Friday.

Ongwen's lawyers have raised 90 grounds of appeal against the verdict and 11 against the sentence, alleging "legal, factual and procedural errors" by the court, the Hague-based ICC said.

The LRA was founded three decades ago by former Catholic altar boy and self-styled prophet Kony, who launched a bloody rebellion in northern Uganda against President Yoweri Museveni.

Its brutal campaign to set up a state based on the Bible's Ten Commandments left more than 100,000 people dead and 60,000 children abducted, eventually spreading to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

Ongwen handed himself in to the ICC in 2015 and was convicted of 61 charges. He was also the first person convicted by the ICC of the crime of forced pregnancy.

Judges said in their verdict that Ongwen personally ordered his soldiers to carry out massacres of more than 130 civilians at the Lukodi, Pajule, Odek and Abok refugee camps between 2002 and 2005.

Civilians were locked in their homes and burned to death or beaten during the massacres, while mothers were made to transport the LRA's loot, forcing them to abandon their infant children by the roadside.

But the court held back from the maximum possible 30-year sentence for his crimes, saying that his traumatic past as a child soldier was a mitigating factor.
As Russia builds up forces along Ukraine's borders and Chinese officials seek to punish Lithuania for opening a door to Taiwan, the heads of the Lithuanian parliament's defense and foreign affairs committees called on their allies in Washington for support.

Their message was clear: Lithuania is holding the line against two of America's most powerful challengers and that U.S. support is critical to its success in defending against aggression from Moscow and Beijing.

"This week in Washington, we're here to address two issues. One is security, and it's about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic region. The other one is China. Those are trade issues, but not only trade issues. It's about our security as well," Laima Liucija Andrikiene, chair of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, told VOA as she and her colleagues wrapped up a weeklong trip to Washington on Feb. 3.

The delegation was made up of four lawmakers in charge of national security, defense and foreign affairs committees in the Lithuanian parliament, known as the Seimas. They met members of both the Senate and House Baltic caucuses, as well as Democratic Senator Bob Menendez and Republican Senator James E. Risch, the chairman and ranking senior minority member of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, among others.

"The biggest thing happening right now is Russian buildup around Ukraine, it creates so-called strategic uncertainty, which means different scenarios are possible," said Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee. Whether through negotiations or the "military scenario," Russia's goals are the same, he said.

He said Moscow wants not only to "have the veto right" to prevent any NATO enlargement to the east, but also to "create a two- or three-tiered NATO, with second-class membership for the Baltic states," meaning Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia would remain in NATO formally but "without military exercises in our region, without NATO deployment in our region."

"We are against that, we reject that, it's very good for the U.S. and NATO to respond and say they reject this as well," he said.

Kasciunas also voiced concern about Belarus, his country's neighbor to the east, which he said has "lost its sovereignty and neutrality" since President Alexander Lukashenko turned to Moscow for help when threatened by mass protests over a disputed 2020 election.

Lithuania has since become a safe haven for activists fleeing Belarus, including exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her children.

Russia's deployment of troops into Belarus as part of a buildup for a potential invasion of Ukraine demonstrates how quickly Lithuania  a NATO member state  could be subjected to similar pressure, Kasciunas said. "If two years ago Lukashenko could have 48 hours neutrality, now he [presents] zero neutrality."

Lithuania this week welcomed decisions made by Germany and the Netherlands to increase the number of troops deployed to Lithuania. U.S. help is also critical, Kasciunas said. He described what this help could look like.

"We have now a rotating military battalion, but we need more combat-ready, more integrated into our national system," he said. Even more importantly, "no gaps" between rotations, he said.

Dovile Sakaliene, another National Security and Defense Committee member who was not part of the delegation, said she agrees. "Deterrence is much cheaper than defense," she said in a phone interview from Lithuania.

"We feel like West Berlin in Cold War times," Kasciunas said. "We have only a small corridor, the Suwalki Gap, which links us Baltic states with the rest of the NATO system via Poland. Just like NATO defended and deterred the Soviets in West Berlin, we're also asking NATO to deter possible attacks in the Baltics."

Kasciunas also recounted some of the decisions made during what he called "a year of anti-communism fight" that angered Beijing, beginning with a strong investment screening mechanism aimed at protecting Lithuania's strategic assets and ending with an agreement to let Taiwan establish a representative office using the name Taiwan.

"They decided to punish us, not only to punish us but also to prevent others from following suit," Kasciunas said.

"They not only banned our exports to China, but also Chinese export to Lithuania, which created a lot of problems for companies that depended on Chinese import for their production. And they also harassed international companies, which in their supply chain had some small Lithuanian element, especially German companies.

"They want to make Lithuania a noncredible financial partner, not attractive to foreign direct investment," he said.

Andrikiene, the Foreign Affairs Committee chair, pointed out that Lithuania became an independent state after 50 years of Soviet occupation 32 years ago. "Without allies, like-minded countries, other democracies from whichever region of the world, we simply wouldn't have survived, let alone become a successful European Union and NATO member state," she said.

The presence and concrete support of worldwide democracies is critical, the Lithuanian lawmakers say, if they are to rally their own population and stand up to China's attempts to isolate the country and harm its image.

One way the U.S. could help is by connecting their northeastern European state with countries providing market access in the Asia-Pacific region, Andrikiene said.

"The United States maintains a dialogue with the Indo-Pacific region, and we were asking for their expertise, their experience and their support for Lithuania. That would be a very concrete assistance and support in addition to political support and resolutions," she said.

Kori Schake, a senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, told VOA in an exchange of emails that China "is draconian in response to small states' bravery, fearing that if they aren't made examples of, others will also gain the courage to resist China's intimidation."

Ensuring Lithuania's success, she said, "is the right response" because it demonstrates solidarity with frontline states that dare to question and spotlight Chinese strategic intentions and practices.

"Same for Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and other countries China is trying to intimidate," she said.

VOA's Mandarin Service assisted with filming and video editing.
Tanzanian media have welcomed the government's decision to lift a ban on four newspapers that was imposed by the late President John Magufuli.

The government of President Samia Hassan issued new publishing licenses this week to newspapers Mwanahalisi, Mawio, Mseto, and Tanzania Daima. The latter is owned by opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, who is behind bars, facing economic charges.

Speaking during a meeting with editors Thursday, Minister of Information Nape Nnauye said the papers' licenses were restored on the orders of Hassan as part of her promise to uphold press freedom.

If the government means to have a fresh start with journalists, he said, it should express that commitment with actions and not mere words.

However, Hassan's government has suspended other papers deemed to have run afoul of Tanzania's media law.

Last year, the weekly paper Raia Mwema was suspended for 30 days for linking a gunman who killed four people to the ruling party CCM.

The Uhuru newspaper was suspended for a week after publishing a story about the president saying she would not seek another term in 2025.

Salome Kitomari of the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Tanzania (MISA), an organization that defends freedom of expression, welcomed the news that the four banned newspapers will again be allowed to publish, but also said she hopes to see the media law amended.

Kitomari added that she was happy the minister talked about removing some restrictions in media law to make sure journalists are allowed freedom of expression and access to information.

The administration of late President Magufuli was criticized for muzzling the press by suspending licenses and imposing heavy fines.

Saed Kubenea, owner of some of the restored newspapers, said that nearly all the newspapers had finished their punishments two or three years ago and won court cases, but still had not been allowed to publish. But, he added, the government's action this week is promising.

For the moment, the government retains the power to shut down publications or broadcasters that it sees as publishing fake news or being too harsh on the president and ruling party.


Mainland Southeast Asia is entering its fourth year of drought, with climate change and unrelenting dam construction taking an unprecedented toll on the Mekong River and the 65 million people who rely on the waterway for their livelihoods.

In Cambodia, the drought has prompted a government call to use water sparingly, particularly in rural areas, saying rainfall from the recent wet season will not be enough to meet the immediate needs, and a separate report adding water capacity for irrigation is operating at just 20%.

The Ministry of Water Resources also said in a recent statement that lower rainfall was predicted for this  after three years of record lows resulted in the worst river conditions for more than 60 years, punishing agricultural output and livelihoods.

In response, the Mekong River Commission has called for a bold action plan from its six members  Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China  to address the major issues confronting Southeast Asias major waterway.

It wants immediate steps to mitigate the crisis. These include establishing a joint notification mechanism on unusual water level fluctuations and, in the future, coordinated operation and management of reservoirs and hydropower dams.

In addition, the countries should examine options to build more storage to manage pressing drought and flood conditions as well as an operational model for the whole Mekong Basin, said An Pich Hatda, chief executive officer of the MRC Secretariat.

However, analysts said the perennial problems of the past two decades continue to plague the river amid a drought made worse by climate change and a failure to coordinate.

Its very difficult at the moment to get an overall picture of just whats happening. So much of whats coming out about the Mekong has just been anecdotal, said Milton Osborne, a historian who has closely monitored the river system for more than 20 years.

Its only 40 years since the river was running free and without any sort of impediment, he said.

Now youve got 11-plus dams in China, youve got the dams being built in Laos and all of the discussion that took place 10 years ago about how this was going to be a negative impact on the Mekong seems to be just not addressed in the material being put out by the MRC.

According to the U.S.-based Stimson Center, 11 dams that block the main stream of the Mekong River in China and Laos have been completed. A further 118 dams have been built along its tributaries.

There are also hundreds of smaller dams used for irrigation, cultivating crops, harvesting fish and water distribution across the lower Mekong countries.

Those dams are also holding back 50% of sediment, which combined with sand dredging and a lack of water levels required to flush the river clean, has raised salinity levels.

Farmers in southern Vietnams Ben Tre province say the lower Mekong Delta is now salty for up to four months instead of the usual one month of the year, and entire fields of trees are are being killed by saltwater intrusion.

It makes one think the Mekong is well past its point of no return. Theres an important need to focus on tributary dams and their impacts since there are so many, said Brian Eyler, director of the Stimson Centers Southeast Asia Program.

In its latest report, Mekong Low Flow and Drought Conditions in 2019-21, the MRC found the hydrological regime had changed significantly since 2015, with more water flowing in the dry season months and less in the wet season due to increased storage.

In particular, the 100-page report highlighted the Tonle Sap Lake, a tributary of the Mekong which fills up each wet season and, once filled, reverses direction back into the Mekong River and then out to the South China Sea.

An important bellwether of the wider basins hydrology, Tonle Sap water levels were close to average in 2019 but levels in 2020 and 2021 were the lowest on record, the report said.

Total reverse flows in 2020 and 2021 were 58% and 51% respectively of the average total reverse flow volume measured from 2008 to 2021, it said. Much of that has been blamed on water hoarding by hydroelectric dams in China and Laos.

They were taking water out of the system during the wet season, theyre putting it back in the dry season and letting it flow downstream right out into the ocean and it has no useful purpose in the dry season because the level of the river is still too low to make a difference, Eyler said.

According to the MRC report, 2020 was the driest year, with rainfall was below normal levels in every month except October, and more action was required not just from China but from all the MRC member countries to jointly address these issues.

The immediate outlook has not improved for the lower Mekong region, where economies have already been crushed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going into this next dry season, the conditions for agricultural production are extremely dismal because of a lack of fresh water throughout the basin, particularly in the floodplain around the Tonle Sap and in the Mekong Delta, Eyler said.

So the coming five months will be a repeat performance of the previous three dry seasons, if not worse, he added.




A Myanmar army officer who defected and fled the country has detailed battlefield losses to rebels in the southern part of Chin state, with at least 50 soldiers killed and 200 badly wounded in 2021 by opposition fighters with homemade weapons.

Kaung Thu Win, a captain who defected in December, offered a rare firsthand account of intensified fighting in Chin, in Myanmar's northwest, where the military junta has faced some of the fiercest armed resistance since it seized power a year ago.

He said he switched sides after hearing reports by colleagues of military abuses during clashes last year.

Speaking in northeastern India where he and his family have fled, the 32-year-old showed Reuters his national and military identity cards and detailed 12 incidents between May and December in which soldiers were killed or wounded by rebels.

He also showed Reuters some 30 classified army documents he said backed up his version of recent events in southern Chin state, where civilians opposed to the coup have taken up arms and are working with an established ethnic insurgent group.

He based his estimate of military casualties on that information.

The documents, stored on his mobile device, add new details of a major clash near the town of Mindat that have not previously been reported. They provide further evidence of a growing popular rebellion against Myanmar's military rulers that has spread across the country.

Four other Myanmar defectors who reviewed some of the documents said they mirrored others they had seen in terms of language, format and descriptions of combat.

Myanmar's military, known as the Tatmadaw, has acknowledged battlefield losses, but it has not provided details.

The Tatmadaw did not respond to requests for comment on events in Chin, the account given by Kaung Thu Win or the documents he produced. The military has previously described armed groups opposed to the junta as "terrorists."

The Indian home ministry did not reply to a request for comment on Myanmar defectors seeking refuge across the border with Chin.

Groups of fighters began forming in Chin state in the weeks after the February 1 coup, but the Tatmadaw felt the full force of the rebellion after a convoy of seven vehicles was ambushed near the town of Mindat on May 14, according to Kaung Thu Win.

In the Mindat attack, one of the biggest clashes reported so far, hundreds of rebel fighters attacked the convoy around dawn, firing at troops from hillside positions, leaving five soldiers dead and 37 personnel unaccounted for, according to one of the documents.

"We were attacked by an estimated 1,000 insurgents," read an internal field report on the fighting. "Six army trucks were burned down, and many weapons were lost."

Casualties mount

In addition to details about the Mindat attack, the documents shown by the former captain include maps of military facilities in southern Chin state, information about army supplies and battlefield reports of skirmishes with rebels.

The fighting in the southern areas of Chin, involving hastily formed Chinland Defence Force (CDF) guerrilla groups, has been fierce.

Kaung Thu Win said at least 20 Myanmar soldiers were killed in the May 14 ambush.

"It was only after the May 14 incident that the Tatmadaw started taking the CDF seriously," he told Reuters in an interview. "It was a meeting of ... hunting guns (used by the CDF) and modern weapons."

The military did not respond when asked whether this ambush represented a turning point.

The captain said his position as liaison officer meant that military documents, including those detailing supplies and convoys, were provided to him by staff at the regional headquarters that oversaw his frontline outpost in Chin.

He said he also had access to accounts of the Mindat ambush because he was part of the military investigation into the incident.

The ex-officer did not know the outcome of the probe, but said Major Yan Naung Htoo, who was involved in the battle, was put under house arrest in Monywa around September.

Reuters has been unable to reach the officer. The military did not comment when asked about his situation or a broader probe.

A January 10 statement from a CDF group in Kalay said Kaung Thu Win had handed them guns and ammunition. The group said they had led the captain and his wife to a safe area and paid him for the arms. His wife had just given birth to their first child.

A spokesman for the Kalay defense force, CDF KKG, said they paid the captain around 6 million kyat ($3,300). That was below the estimated value of 9 million for the weapons and ammunition, but the group could not afford the full amount, the spokesman added.

He said defectors were under no obligation to the defense group, but they asked them about Tatmadaw operations before moving them to safety.

The captain confirmed he had been paid by the CDF KKG in return for the weapons, but declined to say how much.

'Armed insurrection'

The Myanmar military continued to suffer steady casualties throughout 2021, as guerrilla outfits across the state gained strength, according to Kaung Thu Win.

His account of the May clash underlines the scale of resistance to Myanmar's military. Some analysts now call the conflict a civil war.

The military calls the rebellion an "armed insurrection," and military ruler Min Aung Hlaing said there were more than 9,000 "terrorist attacks" last year. The junta said in January it had "largely restored national stability" by the second half of 2021.

Soldiers whose bodies are not immediately found following a battle are often classified as unaccounted for, Kaung Thu Win said, explaining the difference in fatalities listed in the report of the Mindat ambush  five  and his estimate of 20.

A CDF statement on January 26 put the death toll among troops at 1,029 across the whole of Chin between April and December 2021. During that period, CDF groups sustained 58 fatalities, alongside 27 civilian deaths, the statement added.

Opposition groups say more than 1,000 soldiers have swapped sides in recent months.

The Tatmadaw declined to comment when asked about the figures from the captain and resistance groups.

'Loved my job'

The youngest of three children born to civil servants in Myanmar's Yangon region, Kaung Thu Win said he entered the prestigious Defence Services Academy in 2006. Reuters could not reach the academy for comment.

Three years later, he graduated from the military university and joined Light Infantry Battalion 216, which was deployed to Myanmar's Karen and Shan states to fight ethnic armed groups battling for greater autonomy.

During some operations in Shan, he said he saw civilian properties destroyed, but deemed such incidents the inevitable consequence of armed conflict.

"I was proud of my work and I still loved my job," he said.

In 2016, Kaung Thu Win said he was sent to a command post in Chin state's Matupi town. He said he was posted as its liaison officer at a regional command center in Monywa when the military staged the coup last February.

He recalled seeing Tatmadaw helicopters flying in wounded troops from the front for treatment at Monywa base, he added.

In October, the military began sending reinforcements into southern Chin state, taking the total number of troops in the area to some 1,200, up from 800 previously, Kaung Thu Win said. CDF fighters have also said troop numbers have increased.

Around the same time, the captain also began hearing of Tatmadaw troops torching villages along the routes their convoys would take, sending civilian populations fleeing into forested areas for safety.

"I received firsthand information (from colleagues)," he said, "I decided to defect because, after the coup, I've seen so many stories and events where the lives and possessions of citizens were targeted intentionally by the Tatmadaw."

Late last year, the United Nations, human rights groups and foreign governments raised concerns over the Myanmar military's heavy-handed response to uprisings in Chin state.

Some rights groups warned it mirrored the Tatmadaw's brutal clampdown on Rohingya Muslims in neighboring Rakhine state in 2017, which led to the exodus of some 730,000 people.

The military has said it was waging a legitimate campaign in Rakhine against insurgents who attacked police posts.

With Kaung Thu Win's wife still pregnant with their first child, he said the couple decided to wait before trying to leave the country.

On December 22, a day after he abruptly cut communications with his colleagues, Kaung Thu Win, his wife and their infant left Monywa on a bus and traveled to the border of Chin state where they contacted rebels, who guided them to a safe house.

"I am satisfied because I'm not one of those soldiers that people hate," the ex-officer said, cradling his infant. "I am now a normal citizen and I'm proud of it."


New York City is preparing to fire up to 4,000 government workers for failing to comply with the citys vaccine mandate.

Among those impacted are teachers, police officers, sanitation workers and firefighters.

Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio imposed vaccine mandates on municipal and private sector workers last year.

City workers have until the end of business Friday to comply with the mandate or lose their jobs. Most of those impacted have been on unpaid leave.

"We have to be very clear  people must be vaccinated if they are New York City employees," Eric Adams, a Democrat who took over as mayor in January, said at a news conference Thursday.

Labor unions representing city workers have fought against the mandates by suing the city. So far, those efforts have failed.

On Monday, city workers staged a protest by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall.

The firings come as infection rates are falling sharply and many states and countries around the world are lifting many COVID-19-related restrictions, including vaccine mandates in some cases.

An estimated 95% of the citys roughly 370,000 workers are vaccinated, according to news reports.
The United States, Australia, Japan and India on Friday pledged to deepen cooperation to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free from "coercion," a thinly veiled swipe at China's growing economic and military expansion, as their top diplomats convened to also tackle climate change, COVID and other threats.

Foreign ministers of the so-called Quad, the informal grouping of the four countries, vowed to work on humanitarian relief, terrorism, cyber and maritime security and global supply chain challenges.

Despite being outside the group's scope, an escalating crisis between the West and Russia over Ukraine was also a top agenda item, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken casting Moscow's build-up as a challenge to the international rules-based order, which he said Quad would work to preserve.

"That includes championing the rights of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion, and the right to have their sovereignty and territorial integrity respected. Whether that's here in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe, or anywhere else in the world," he said in his opening remarks of the meeting.

Blinken arrived in Australia this week as Washington grapples with a dangerous standoff with Moscow, which has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraines border and stoked Western fears of an invasion.

Russia denies it has such plans.

The Biden administration wants to show the world its long-term strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific and that a major foreign policy crisis in one part of the world does not distract it from key priorities.

Asked by reporters Friday if confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific was inevitable, Blinken replied "nothing is inevitable."

"Having said that, I think we share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region," he said.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Quad's cooperation on the region's COVID response was "most critical," with cyber and maritime security, infrastructure, climate action and disaster relief -- especially after the recent Tonga volcanic eruption -- also in focus.

New pledges are unlikely to be announced before a May summit of Quad leaders in Japan that President Joe Biden plans to attend.

Payne also said Ukraine, China and North Korea would also be discussed.

"More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK (North Korea), China as well and they will be part of our discussions today. We strongly support U.S. leadership on these challenges," she said before a bilateral meeting with Blinken.

Britain said the "most dangerous moment" in the West's standoff with Moscow appeared imminent, as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea following the buildup of its forces near Ukraine.

The Quad nations have begun holding annual naval exercises across the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate interoperability, and the United States itself conducts freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea.

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

Blinken's trip comes after China and Russia declared last week a "no limits" strategic partnership, their most detailed and assertive statement to work together -- and against the United States -- to build a new international order based on their own interpretations of human rights and democracy.

U.S.-Chinese ties are at their lowest point in decades as the world's top two economies disagree on issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea and China's treatment of ethnic Muslims.

Biden told Asian leaders in October the United States would launch talks on a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But few details have emerged and his administration has been reluctant to offer the increased market access Asian countries desire, seeing this as threatening American jobs.

Critics say the lack of U.S. economic engagement is a major weakness in Biden's approach to the region, where China remains to be the top trading partner for many of the Indo-Pacific nations.
The question of whether female students can wear hijabs in educational institutions has become a flashpoint in Indias southern Karnataka state, after a college barred six Muslim students from attending classes while wearing a headscarf, saying it violated the dress code.

The controversy has turned the spotlight on what critics say are policies by the states Hindu nationalist government that discriminate against minorities.

Five students from Udupi district petitioned the states High Court last month, saying that wearing the head scarf was their fundamental right and an essential practice of Islam. They study in a government-run pre-university college that is equivalent to a high school.

After several government-run educational institutions also imposed similar bans, tensions over religious clothing spiraled in the state. While Muslim students protested for their right to wear hijabs at college gates, groups of Hindu activists and students donned saffron shawls, the symbolic color associated with Hindu nationalist groups in counterprotests.

Experts say that the coastal region of Karnataka, where the controversy first erupted, is a stronghold of Hindu right-wing organizations.

A 19-year-old Muslim woman came to be seen as the face of resistance for young Indian Muslim women after a video went viral showing her being heckled by the men wearing saffron scarves as she made her way across her college campus. While the youths, shouting Jai Shri Ram or Victory to God Rama, demand that she take off her face covering, Muskaan Khan, raising her hands, shouts back "Allahu Akbar" or God is great.

Khan later told reporters that Every religion has freedom to follow their culture. We will follow our culture.

Schools in the state were closed this week amid protests and incidents of stone-throwing but will reopen Monday for classes up to grade 10.

The state government, which is controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, has defended the right of educational institutions to enforce a dress code and issued an order in support of the hijab ban.

"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," Karnataka education minister B.C. Nagesh told reporters this week.

The government has also said that if a uniform is not selected by authorities, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn.

A three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court Thursday called on students not to wear any religious garments to school until it delivers a verdict. The hearing will continue Monday.

But the issue is snowballing  protests have been held this week in cities such as Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad supporting a right to wear headscarves.

Muslim womens rights activists have thrown their weight behind the students in Karnataka and questioned the new rule, pointing out that they wore the hijab in classrooms earlier.

Even if the hijab is not an essential practice of Islam, it is the womans right to decide what she wants to wear, said Zakia Soman, founder of a Muslim womens group Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan. Its unfair and discriminatory to single out these girls. It is a clearcut case of double standards. We have a chief minister in Uttar Pradesh and union ministers in parliament who are clad in saffron clothes, so what is the hue and cry over these school girls wearing the hijab? It is singling out and targeting a community.

The ban on students wearing hijabs from entering classes in Karnataka also gained international attention with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai asking Indian leaders in a tweet to stop the marginalization of Muslim women.

"Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists, for wearing less or more, the 24-year-old activist tweeted on Wednesday.

Political analysts warn that such issues could deepen religious fault lines in India, where Muslims make up about 14% of the population and where critics say there has been a rise in hate speech targeting minorities.

I see the hijab ban as a consistent attempt by the Hindu majoritarian forces to invisibilize the Muslims in the country. For example, for the last several months there has been a very concerted campaign in North Indian towns against Muslims holding Friday prayers in open grounds, said independent political analyst Nilanjan Mukopadhyay. This will lead to further stratification in society and will eventually lead to a much deeper alienation.

The Karnataka state government has also banned the sale and slaughter of cows, which Hindus consider sacred and introduced a tough anti-conversion bill, which proposes prison terms for up to 10 years for unlawful conversions and could make it more difficult for interfaith couples to marry or for people to convert to Islam or Christianity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not directly referred to the controversy over hijab wearing, but while holding a rally in Uttar Pradesh state on Thursday he said that people were finding new ways to block the rights and development of Muslim women but we stand with every Muslim woman.

Activists like Soman however express concern at what they call the active politics of religious divide being played by the BJP.

The social harmony and peace of the country is getting threatened and I am afraid that this issue will contribute to further polarization of our society, she said.

Suhasini Sood contributed to this story.
Spanish power company Iberdrola is suing the holding company of business news site El Confidencial over coverage of an industrial espionage case, a move the site's director says threatens its survival.

The multinational energy firm, which is seeking $20 million in damages, said that for more than two years up to November 2021, El Confidencial published 225 stories on the espionage case, including 68 that harmed the company and 12 that were untrue.

The company contends the reports were a "violation of its right to honour," a term that in Spanish law refers to reputational damage.

Such cases are rare in Spanish business, where public companies don't often take legal action against the news media, especially for large sums.

El Confidencial is a respected publisher known for exclusive stories about business. Nacho Cardero, the site's director, told VOA, "This is an attempt to silence El Confidencial and is an attack on the freedom of the press."

"Logically, if this case succeeds, then it will mean the closure of El Confidencial," Cardero said. "But it will not stop us from reporting on this case or this company."

Company, 4 executives investigated

El Confidencial reported on a wide-ranging criminal investigation into Iberdrola's alleged role in an industrial espionage case in which Iberdrola and four of its executives are being investigated. None of the four has been charged with any offenses, and all deny wrongdoing.

At least a dozen Spanish companies are being investigated about allegations that they paid a police officer, who also ran a private company while working for the police, to carry out investigations into rival firms. The National Criminal Court, which handles Spain's biggest fraud and terrorism cases, is conducting the complicated probe.

Cardero said El Confidencial has 200 staff members and in December had 18.8 million unique monthly visitors to its website. Its holding company, Titania Compania Editorial S.L., reported income in 2020 of $22.85 million and a profit of $5.14 million.

"The court case was not good news, but we are not afraid," Cardero said. He noted that in all the Iberdrola coverage, there was only one correction.

A spokesperson for Iberdrola, whose market capitalization exceeds $69 billion and whose annual revenue in 2020 was $37.7 billion, declined to identify the El Confidencial stories at the center of the legal case.

"We have initiated legal action in relation to a significant number of articles published over the last two years that include false information," the spokesperson said. Iberdrola declined to name the spokesperson, citing company policy.

'Exceptional circumstance'

"We fully support the freedom of the press," the spokesperson said. "This is an exceptional circumstance that we never wanted to initiate, but we need to defend ourselves following two years in which multiple articles have been published with materially false information."

Iberdrola argues in its submission to the court that El Confidencial carried out a campaign of "aggressive and biased" coverage of the company, said the Iberdrola spokesperson.

The company's legal submission was accompanied by two legal reports.

One was written by Justo Villafane, a professor of corporate reputation at the Complutense University in Madrid, who evaluated 225 articles up to November 2021.

The second report was by the law firm Alvarez & Marsal, which assessed the damages caused to Iberdrola at $20 million. The claim related to 12 articles that, Iberdrola said, were "flagrant examples of transgression of truthfulness."

Media groups in Spain and elsewhere have condemned the case.

"Faced with Iberdrola's lawsuit against El Confidencial for alleged violation of the right to honour, [we] defend the fundamental right to information based on the assumption that the information in this digital medium is truthful," the Federation of Associations of Spanish Journalists and the Association of Economic Information Journalists said in a statement.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), based in Paris, called the lawsuit an attempt at intimidation.

"We urge the electric company to reconsider and withdraw all legal actions against El Confidencial," Edith Rodriguez Cachera, RSF vice president in Spain, said in a statement.

Iberdrola's lawsuit was filed with a court in Bilbao in northern Spain on January 21. Judges at the court must decide if there is a case to answer before proceeding.

Iberdrola has said that if the defamation case is successful, it will give any awarded damages to nonprofit organizations.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have reportedly detained two foreign journalists and their local colleagues for reasons not immediately known.



The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in a brief statement, confirmed the detentions, saying the journalists were working for the relief agency. It did not identify the journalists and the Afghans or who took them into custody.



Two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul. We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation in coordination with others, the UNHCR said.



We will make no further comment given the nature of the situation, the refugee agency tweeted.



Taliban authorities have yet to comment.



The UNHCR statement came just hours after Afghanistans former vice president, Amrullah Saleh, said on Twitter that Taliban had kidnapped nine Westerners, including former BBC journalist Andrew North. He identified another Westerner in custody as Peter Juvenal.



Due to no media, no reporting by citizens and a suffocating atmosphere, corruption, crime and atrocities aren't well exposed, Saleh wrote. As an example, nine citizens of western countries have been kidnapped, amongst them Andrew North of BBC & Peter [Jouvenal], owner of Gandomak Restaurant, he added.

North, who has reported from Baghdad and Beirut for BBC, has been working as an independent journalist in Afghanistan and meeting with Taliban leaders, according to his personal website.



The Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement denounced the detentions, saying it is a sad reflection of the overall decline of press freedom and increasing attacks on journalists under Taliban rule.



Andrew North and the other unidentified journalist should be freed immediately and allowed to continue their work, and the Taliban must halt its repeated attacks on and harassment of journalists, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator.



The CPJ quoted a U.N. official in Kabul as telling the media rights group on the condition of anonymity that North was detained on Tuesday.



The Taliban have been cracking down on dissent since regaining control of Afghanistan last August, briefly detaining several local journalists and subjecting them to physical violence. But no foreign journalists have been detained until now.



Several women activists have also allegedly been detained by Taliban security forces for taking part in anti-government protests and demanding rights for women. The Islamist rulers have denied they are behind the disappearances and have repeatedly pledged to respect rights of all Afghans.



The U.N. has pressed the Taliban to investigate their disappearance.



I am increasingly concerned about the well-being of missing women activists in Afghanistan. Several have disappeared, some not heard from in weeks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday



I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home, he said.
Afghanistans Taliban said Friday that they had released from custody two foreign journalists and their local colleagues after "verifying their identities."



The announcement came hours after the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had confirmed the detention of the journalists in the capital, Kabul, saying they were working for the relief agency and efforts were under way to secure their release.



We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them, the refugee agency tweeted late Friday.



We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan.

The detention had sparked international outcry, with critics denouncing it as an assault on free media by the countrys Islamist rulers.



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid contended that the foreigners were taken into custody for failing to produce necessary documents to prove their association with the international organization they said they were working for.

They were in good condition and in contact with their families. Their identities have now been established and they have been set free, Mujahid wrote on Twitter in local language. He shared no other details.

Afghanistans former vice president, Amrullah Saleh, was the first to report via his Twitter the detention, saying the Taliban had kidnapped nine Westerners, including former BBC journalist Andrew North. He identified another Westerner in custody as Peter Jouvenal.

Due to no media, no reporting by citizens and a suffocating atmosphere corruption, crime and atrocities aren't well exposed, Saleh wrote. As an example, nine citizens of western countries have been kidnapped, amongst them Andrew North of BBC & Peter Jouvenal, owner of Gandomak Restaurant.

North, who has reported from Baghdad and Beirut for the BBC, has been working as an independent journalist in Afghanistan and meeting with Taliban leaders, according to his personal website.

Natalia Antelava, North's wife and a journalist, asked via Twitter for help in securing the release of her husband.

"Andrew was in Kabul working for the UNHCR & trying to help the people of Afghanistan," she wrote. "We are extremely concerned for his safety & call on anyone with influence to help secure his release."

The Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement denounced the detentions, saying they were a sad reflection of the overall decline of press freedom and increasing attacks on journalists under Taliban rule.

Andrew North and the other unidentified journalist should be freed immediately and allowed to continue their work, and the Taliban must halt its repeated attacks on and harassment of journalists, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator.

The CPJ quoted a U.N. official in Kabul as telling the media rights group on the condition of anonymity that North was detained on Tuesday.

Jouvenal is a British-German dual national, according to a statement from his family. They said he had traveled in Afghanistan for decades as a freelance cameraman but was currently there "to discuss investments in Afghanistan's mining industry as well as conducting family business," the statement said.

"We urgently request that the Afghan authorities release Peter. He suffers from high blood pressure and needs medication. There is a high threat of COVID infection in the Afghan prison system," the statement said, calling on the U.N., ICRC and Red Crescent for help.

The Taliban have been cracking down on dissent since regaining control of Afghanistan last August, briefly arresting dozens of local journalists and allegedly subjecting some of them to physical violence. But no foreign journalists have been detained until now.

On Friday, Taliban authorities reportedly also released several female activists whom they had allegedly arrested days ago for taking part in anti-government protests and demanding rights for women.

Parwana Ibrahimkhel, who was among the missing activists, told the private Afghan TOLO news channel that she was freed by the Taliban on Friday and that she was in good health. Ibrahimkhel said other female activists were also released from Taliban custody, but she gave no details.

The Taliban, who had denied they were behind the disappearances, have not yet commented on Ibrahimkhels assertions.

The United Nations and rights groups had been pressing the Islamist group to investigate and locate the women.

"I am increasingly concerned about the well-being of missing women activists in Afghanistan. Several have disappeared, some not heard from in weeks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday.

I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home, he said.
Facing growing pressure from impatient state governors, the Biden administration acknowledged for the first time that it is developing plans to guide the country away from the pandemics emergency phase toward a more relaxed national response, including ending the federal recommendation for wearing masks in most indoor settings.

We are internally discussing, of course, what it looks like to be in the phase of the fight against the COVID pandemic where it is not disrupting everyones daily lives, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday. We recognize people are tired of the pandemic. Theyre tired of wearing masks.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends universal indoor masking, including in businesses and schools, regardless of vaccination status and regardless of what states require.

While some states follow the CDC guidance, pandemic health protocols have always varied by state with different requirements for masks, vaccines and testing.

Now more states are relaxing coronavirus health protocols, including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island and Washington. The rule changes, implemented by both Republican and Democratic governors, include lifting indoor mask requirements in certain settings, such as schools and businesses, as well as rescinding vaccine mandates.

Psaki insisted that while administration officials understand the need to be flexible, they are following the advice of medical experts who rely on scientific evidence.

That doesnt move at the speed of politics; it moves at the speed of data, she said.

The CDC said it is working on new guidance.

We are working on following the trends for the moment, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday.

Democrats joining Republicans

In the first two years of the pandemic, Democrats were more in favor of strict public health restrictions while Republicans largely rejected them.

But now, with vaccination rates higher than 70% in some states and polls showing public pandemic fatigue, Democratic governors and state officials are also relaxing measures to avoid a backlash.

Public health is made up of two words. The health part we focus on a lot of science and the data, but we need to understand the public part as well, Dr. Anand Parekh, chief medical adviser at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said to VOA.

Over the past week, an average of more than 227,000 new coronavirus cases has been reported each day in the United States, a decrease of 63% from the national pandemic peak of more than 806,000 cases in mid-January, according to data tracked by The New York Times. Hospitalizations are also declining significantly across the country.

For the next few weeks, we should see a decrease in epidemic activity. All of the indicators seem to go down, Alessandro Vespignani said to VOA. Vespignani is the director of the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University and leads a team of infectious-disease modelers who have been developing COVID-19 projections since the pandemic began.

Governors are seeing this trend, recognizing that their citizens are weary, and in the absence of CDC guidance, taking steps to relax restrictions.

The CDC and the administration are trying to play catch-up to that reality, Parekh said, underscoring that the federal response must focus not only on the moment but what it would look like a month from now.

We see time and time again, federal agencies being late. We saw that with respect to omicron and testing just a couple of months ago, he said.

Many public health experts are still advising caution.

The downward trend needs to be sustained over a period of several weeks and reduced even further before the nation can transition from pandemic to endemic response, said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the Infectious Diseases Division at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Endemic is where we kind of have a truce with the virus, Schaffner said, and the strain on the health care system will be substantially diminished.

At the moment I stand with the CDC, Schaffner told VOA. Let's keep wearing our masks. Let's allow the cases to really come down. Let's do this for another month or two, to be absolutely sure, not only that we're heading down but that well stay down.

Vespignani added, We could see bumps in the road due to omicron-2, a mutated version of the omicron variant that has begun to circulate in some places.

He said the easing of mitigations should be done in a way that makes sure we keep facilitating the quick decreasing trends in infections.

It is more and more important to increase the number of vaccinated and boosted individuals, he said. This is the wall that we want to be as high as possible to protect us in case of any future wave of the pandemic."

A recent Monmouth University poll found that 70% of Americans surveyed agree with the sentiment that its time we accept that COVID is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.

Americans worries about COVID havent gone away. It seems more to be a realization that we are not going to get this virus under control in a way that we thought was possible just last year, said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Just 52% supported face mask and distancing guidelines in their home state, down from a peak of 63% last September during the delta variant surge, the Monmouth poll found.

Countries changing restrictions

Some other countries are making similar moves. Spain and Italy  two European countries with high vaccination rates, declining infection numbers and lower hospitalization figures, are loosening measures this week to coexist with the coronavirus.

England, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and several Nordic countries, including Denmark and Sweden, have also taken steps to end or relax their restrictions.

China, meanwhile, is maintaining its most stringent protocols. During the Winter Olympics, Beijing is keeping its zero-COVID policy of testing, mass lockdowns and strict social restrictions as authorities worry about the ability of the Chinese health care system to cope and adapt to new strains.

Besides China, India, Canada, Germany, Angola and Indonesia are some of the countries with the strictest government COVID policies, according to the Government Stringency Index put together by researchers at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

Nine metrics are used to calculate this index  school closures, workplace closures, cancellation of public events, restrictions on public gatherings, closures of public transport, stay-at-home requirements, public information campaigns, restrictions on internal movements and international travel controls.

While some European leaders have said that COVID-19 should be treated as an endemic, like influenza, the World Health Organization says thats premature.

We are now starting to see a very worrying increase in deaths, in most regions of the world, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in remarks to media earlier this month.

Its premature for any country either to surrender, or to declare victory, he said.

American public health experts said the debate in the U.S. to lift restrictions must take into account the steps being taken to prevent new variants.

Only 10% of people in low-income countries around the world have been vaccinated, Parekh said. Until we can vaccinate the rest of the world, the threat of variants and the threat to the United States will still be there.

Vanderbilts Schaffner said helping countries vaccinate their population is necessary not only for humanitarian reasons, but also self-interest.

Those variants can come from abroad and be here in no time, he said.

The U.S. remains the largest donor of vaccines. At least 414 million doses of vaccines have been shipped, about 34% of the 1.3 billion doses pledged by the administration.
Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch.

Ukraine defiant in face of Russian threat

Ukraine's U.N. ambassador in Geneva said Friday that her country will not bow to threats of military action from Russia and is prepared to fight to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine Remains Defiant in Face of Russian Invasion Threat

Hunger spreading in Horn of Africa

UNICEF warned Wednesday that the Horn of Africa is facing a climate-induced emergency. As many as 20 million people in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia could need water and food assistance in the next six months due to severe recurring drought.

Horn of Africa Facing Climate-induced Emergency

Coups on the rise in Africa

Military coups have been on the rise in Africa over the last year-and-a-half, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to declare that there is an "epidemic" of them. Burkina Faso is the latest, and Guinea-Bissau averted one on February 2. VOA takes a deeper look at the factors fueling these power grabs.

By the Numbers: Coups in Africa

In brief

 Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. On the sidelines, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to a readout, they discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and world conflicts. The secretary-general also told the Chinese officials that he expects them to allow for a "credible visit" of his High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to China, including to Xinjiang, the province where the country's oppressed Uyghur Muslim minority lives. China has been promising such a visit for several years, and recently said it is fine as long as Bachelet comes to have an exchange, not an investigation. Beijing denies it violates the rights of Uyghurs and says it is combating terrorism.

 Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed traveled to Addis Ababa for the African Union Summit last weekend. She then visited conflict zones in northern Ethiopia, going to Tigray where she met with the regional president, and to the neighboring provinces of Afar and Amhara, where fighting and its consequences have spilled over, as well as to the Somali region. The U.N. has been seeking a halt to the fighting in the north and expanded access for humanitarian workers.

 Tropical Cyclone Batsirai made landfall on the east coast of Madagascar on Saturday night, local time. The intense storm killed at least 21 people, including several children, and displaced more than 62,000 people. The U.N. said this week that it is working with its humanitarian partners and coordinating with the government. Surge teams have been deployed and a humanitarian air bridge set up. By Friday, the WFP had distributed 10,000 hot meals at shelters and distributed other food aid to displaced persons.

 UNESCO expressed concern on Thursday about journalists working in Myanmar. The U.N.'s cultural organization said that in the past year since the military seized power, at least 146 journalists have been arrested, while some 52 journalists, including 12 women, remain under detention. At least three reporters are known to have died in detention.

Some good news

After a year-long absence, the iconic tapestry of Pablo Picasso's anti-war masterpiece "Guernica," was returned to its place of honor outside the U.N. Security Council on Saturday.

Iconic Tapestry of Picasso's 'Guernica' Back at UN

Quote of note

"What we're appealing for as humanitarian organizations on the ground, is that this military, political strategic chess game, involving Moscow and Minsk and Brussels and Washington and other capitals, that it is concentrating on helping people survive on the ground, protecting them, and avoiding a senseless conflict. Everybody would lose from the conflict, but first and foremost the two million people who live within 20 kilometers from the frontline."

 Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, telling VOA in an interview on Monday about his visit last week to eastern Ukraine.

What we are watching next week

On February 17, the U.N. Security Council will hold its annual meeting on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which lay out the path to a political settlement in eastern Ukraine between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists. In February 2015, the Security Council endorsed Minsk II in a resolution. This year's discussion takes place against the backdrop of the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Did you know?

The U.N. corridors and grounds are full of art, sculptures and unique objects donated by governments, foundations and individual donors, many of which can be seen on public tours of the complex. The Guernica tapestry, mentioned above, is a gift of the American Rockefeller family. (They also donated the land the U.N. complex is built on in New York.) There is also a section of the Berlin Wall on the compound's north lawn and a fountain paid for by U.S. schoolchildren at the southern entrance to the complex. Among the objects on display in the corridors is a model of the ornate Royal Thai Barge "Suphannahong" carved from teak wood, and a black pot from 300 B.C. from Sudan. On the first floor, there is a painting of a white dove of peace by Macedonian painter Vasko Taskovski.


Russia opened 10 days of massive military drills in Belarus on Thursday and docked six of its ships at a strategic Black Sea port, drawing a sharp rebuke from Ukrainian officials who characterized Moscows actions as further escalating tensions in the region.

The Russian maneuvers in Belarus involved thousands of troops and sophisticated weapons systems such as S-400 surface-to-air missiles, Pantsir air defense systems and Su-35 fighter jets, with some of the training just 210 kilometers north of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the six ships arrived at the port of Sevastopol in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. They had been on a 13,000-kilometer journey from the Baltic Sea to begin what officials described as naval exercises. The Russian ships are designed for unloading troops, vehicles and material onto land.

Officials in Moscow and Minsk have said Russian troops will withdraw from Belarus after the drills end February 20. But Western officials remain fearful they could be deployed in a Russian invasion of Ukraine, a onetime Soviet republic, along with 100,000 troops Moscow has amassed along Ukraines eastern flank.

Ukrainian servicemen walk on an armored fighting vehicle during an exercise in a Joint Forces Operation-controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 10, 2022.

Actions 'pose another threat'

Ukrainian officials, who launched their own drills Thursday, assailed the impending naval drills, characterizing them as destructive activity to destabilize the security situation. Kyiv accused Russia of violating international law by restricting wide swaths of open waters to conduct missile and artillery fire training.

These actions pose another threat to Ukraines sovereignty in its territorial sea area and in its sovereign rights in the exclusive maritime economic zone, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a statement. By blocking the recommended sea lanes, the Russian Federation has made it literally impossible to navigate in these areas and allow ships to enter Ukrainian seaports, especially in the Sea of Azov.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in a call with reporters, denied that the drills would affect seagoing commercial operations.

Peskov said Russia was staging the joint exercises with Belarus, its largest ever, to combat unprecedented security threats  the nature and, perhaps, concentration of which are, unfortunately, much larger and much more dangerous than before.

Russian officials have denied they plan to invade Ukraine, but diplomatic talks with Western officials have led to a standoff. Russia has demanded that the U.S. and its allies reject Ukraines bid for membership in NATO, the Western military alliance formed after World War II.

A Ukrainian serviceman carries large-caliber ammunition for armored fighting vehicles' mounted weapons during an exercise in a Joint Forces Operation-controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 10, 2022.

The West has rejected that as a nonstarter but has said it is willing to negotiate with Moscow over missile deployment and troop exercises in Eastern European countries closest to Russia.

Britain on Thursday urged Russia to take a diplomatic route that avoids conflict and bloodshed while warning against any Russian moves that undermine Ukraines sovereignty.

Warning of 'severe costs'

Fundamentally, a war in Ukraine would be disastrous for the Russian and Ukrainian people and for European security. And together, NATO has made it clear that any incursion into Ukraine would have massive consequences and carry severe costs, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said as she met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Western governments have been calling on Russia to take steps to de-escalate the crisis and have vowed to swiftly impose severe economic sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine.

Lavrov said Thursday that only mutually respectful dialogue could lead to normalized relations.

Ideological approaches, ultimatums, threats  this is the road to nowhere, Lavrov said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson traveled Thursday to Brussels to discuss the crisis with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg before heading for more meetings with leaders in Poland.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets a member of the British Marines during a visit with his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, at the Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base near Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 10, 2022.

Johnson called the situation the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades as he urged solidarity with NATO allies. He told reporters he did not think that Russian President Vladimir Putin had yet decided whether to invade Ukraine, but added, Our intelligence remains grim.

Looking for peaceful path

Stoltenberg told reporters he sent a letter to Lavrov inviting Russia for more rounds of meetings to find a diplomatic way forward.

"We are prepared to listen to Russia's concerns and ready to discuss ways to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security that we all have signed up to, Stoltenberg said.

He added, Renewed Russian aggression will lead to more NATO presence, not less.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday that Russia had been taking escalatory steps in recent weeks, and that the United States hoped that would change.

I think as we look at the preparation for these military exercises again, we see this as certainly more of an escalatory and not a de-escalatory action as it relates to those troops and the military exercises, Psaki said.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Friday that Russia could attack Ukraine at any time and warned Americans to leave Ukraine immediately.

Blinken issued the warning in Australia after meeting leaders of the Quad countries, the United States, Australia, Japan and India. Blinken cited troubling signs regarding Russia, including adding to the more than 100,000 troops it has amassed at the Ukrainian border.

As weve said before, were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. And to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, Blinken said at a joint news conference in Canberra.

Were continuing to draw down our embassy, Blinken said. We will continue that process. And weve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now.

Russia maintains it has no plans to invade Ukraine but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

Blinken is visiting Australia as part of a Biden administration effort to show its long-term strategic focus remains on the Asia-Pacific region and that the Ukraine crisis will not distract it from its main priorities.

Blinken began Fridays meetings with his Quad counterparts with Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne of Australia, who said the two would discuss China, North Korea and Ukraine.

After the meetings, the Quad ministers vowed in a joint statement to cooperate more closely to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free of "coercion," a veiled reference to China's economic and military expansion.

They also promised to strengthen cooperation on the coronavirus pandemic, cyberthreats and counterterrorism, while condemning North Koreas "destabilizing ballistic missile launches" in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Payne, who hosted the Quad meeting, said Wednesday the gathering sends a message to China that security in the region remains a priority for the United States.

Payne said the Quad ministers were "voting with their feet in terms of the priority that they accord to issues" important to the Indo-Pacific.

Blinken's visit to Australia is his first trip there since an enhanced trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS  Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States  was announced in September. The agreement includes a deal to build nuclear-propelled submarines for Australia as part of enhanced deterrence against China's military expansion across the Indo-Pacific region.

"The Quad is not a military alliance, but it is not lost on China that you have four democracies, all with a strong maritime presence and advanced military capabilities, concerned by the increasingly aggressive approach China takes with its neighbors," said Charles Edel, the Australia chair of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Blinkens visit to Australia comes amid a growing partnership between China and Russia that was on display during Sunday's meeting in Beijing between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the beginning of the Winter Olympics. The meeting occurred amid Russia's military buildup along neighboring Ukraine's borders and China's increasingly assertive efforts to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

In Beijing, Chinese officials have expressed wariness over the Quad and AUKUS.

China criticized the U.S. Friday for trying to "discredit, suppress and contain" the country's development after Blinken said earlier this week there were concerns "that in recent years, China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the regions."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian rejected the remarks, telling reporters at a daily briefing the U.S. revealed an "ideological bias."

Zhao described the alliance as "a tool to contain China and maintain U.S. hegemony."

The top U.S. diplomat's weeklong trip includes Fiji as well as Honolulu, Hawaii.

Blinken will meet Saturday with Fiji leaders who consider fishing and climate change priority issues.

"We agreed to boost maritime security support for Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen their maritime domain awareness and ability to develop their offshore resources, to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to combat challenges such as illegal fishing," Australian Foreign Minister Payne said after the meeting.
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The past and present start to blur in this episode as Annas fall accelerates and the timelines inch ever closer together. As the episode comes to a close, everything falls into place  in the near past, Rachel walks into the DAs office saying, I want to tell you about my friend Anna. I think shes a con woman, as Anna flees a bench warrant and boards a flight to Los Angeles. In the shows present-day (2018), Vivians article baby and actual baby are born, both in dramatic fashion. The episode takes its time getting to both these points, with lots of stressing, fretting, and tears along the way.

Although Rachel never does get in touch with Vivian for her article  because, it turns out, Rachels writing her own first-person account of the Marrakech trip fallout for Vanity Fair  we do get to see more of her story this week, starting right after Marrakech and then hopping forward three months. To make a long story short, Rachel spends the three months after Marrakech in an increasing state of panic (and also, kinda-sorta starting to date Noah the videographer). Anna isnt paying her back (duh), and shes used up all her money paying the minimum balances on both her personal and corporate cards. Eventually  obviously  someone at Vanity Fair notices the Amex situation, and Rachel is treated to a suspension and investigation since, from the companys POV, she helped her friend defraud them. For the entirety of these three months, Rachel is in deep denial, so caught up was she in Annas web of fakery. Shes insistently hopeful that Anna is still her friend and is going to pay her back. In this way, she and Neff (who pops up toward the end of the episode to remind Vivian and us just how much she dislikes Rachel) are sort of similar, though Rachels faith seems to come from blind optimism, while Neffs loyalty to Anna seems to come from feeling a real bond with her.

Rachels bubble finally bursts, and after a failed Anna intervention with Kacy and (confusingly) one of Kacys clients, Nicole, she starts to stand up for herself at work and goes to report Anna to the district attorneys office. And, of course, at some point, she decides to write her piece for Vanity Fair.

The publication of said piece in the shows present-day sends Vivian and Paul into a tailspin, but with the help of  who else?  Scriberia (who hates Paul and makes it known in no uncertain terms), Vivian manages to finally start writing her article. It started with money, as it so often does in New York, she types, and for much of the rest of the episode, Vivian is wearing noise-canceling headphones and write-write-writing away. Except when shes in the hospital, hearing from her doctor that labor is imminent, or interviewing Kacy about the intervention Kacy forgot to mention during their previous chats. Despite the spiral Rachels piece sets off, the fact that she has to sit on a towel in case her water breaks, and a close call with Kacy deciding she wants out of Annas chaos and Vivians article, Viv does, indeed, finish the damn thing. As she gets Kacy to agree that her quotes will be used, but not her name or identifying details, Vivians water breaks and Jack leads her out of the office while all her colleagues applaud her. She then gives birth, dramatically, achieving her earlier stated goal of having the baby knowing that she kicked ass and won!

Could this possibly be the most dramatic finishing of an article and concurrent giving-birth scene ever depicted in pop culture? We may never know for certain, but it sure seems to be a contender. Im torn between rolling my eyes at the dramatic timing and also feeling kind of proud of Vivian for pulling it off. We get more reminders of whats at stake for her, professionally, throughout the episode. Her Scriberia colleagues discuss the Donovan thing while shes in her writing fugue state, and the episode starts off with the usual textual reminder slightly tweaked: This story is completely true  except for all the parts that are total bullshit! is printed on the front pages of the Post and Daily News, both a fun meta twist and commentary on the media as a whole and Vivians bad journalist moment. Add that to Vivians impassioned defense of her story to Landon and Paul once Rachels piece publishes, in which she says her story matters because its about the swindle that is the American Dream in the 21st century! I am talking about the theft of our ideals, the stealing of a presidency, the fetters on female ambition; its about why scam culture is here to stay!  I mean, I was convinced (so was Landon, FWIW). Once again, the show has hammered home why the whole Anna Delvey story appeals in the first place.

Theres somewhat less Anna in this episode than usual  for the first half, shes just text bubbles and voice-over in Rachels phone  but what we do see of her (in the recent past) shows even more of her house of cards crumbling than we got in episode six. While Rachel is desperately trying to track her down, Anna is hotel hopping, eventually getting arrested when she cant pay the W Hotel. Shes intervened (is this the verb form of being the subject of an intervention?) by Kacy, Rachel, and Nicole, and her insulting, gaslighting manipulation doesnt work its usual magic, especially once Kacy and Rachel break the news to her that 281 Park has been leased to Fotografiska. She rides the subway all night and eats from a Shake Shack bag someones left on a seat. She meets Todd  because of the W arrest  and tries to stay with him, which he shoots down immediately, then skips out on her court appearance and flies to L.A. after pulling off some check-cashing fraud. Thats where the episode leaves before-times Anna; meanwhile, present-day Anna is busy flipping out in her prison cell after a guard gives her a copy of Vanity Fair and she sees Rachels piece.

So Annas fall from social grace has most certainly ramped up, and shes speeding toward the inevitable indictment that lands her at Rikers and kicks off Vivians whole reporting journey. And with Vivians article publishing  the printing press from episode one returns at the very end of episode seven  well, the Anna Delvey story is definitely coming to some kind of conclusion. When will the two timelines meet? Will the case actually be the death of Todd? And will Vivian and Jacks babys first words be scam culture? Only time  and two more episodes  will tell.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

 Anna-ism of the Episode: Vivian channels Anna when fighting with Jack about her impending labor: People have babies every day. People squat in fields! We are not special! And it gets another mention when shes mid-labor later on. Im sure Anna would be crowing to hear herself quoted this way.

 Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge: WeWork Because He Works: Adam Neumanns Unstoppable Rise is an article on the Vanity Fair website when Vivian is anxiously waiting for Rachels story to drop. Another scammer is in the building, yall!

 Fashion Is Life: There is no real fashion commentary in this episode, but doesnt Anna realize how wearing huge sunglasses inside to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash from a bank looks  kinda suspicious?

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Liam Neeson in Blacklight. Photo: Open Road Films (II)

Oddly enough, it might count as something of a triumph that the new Liam Neeson dadsploitation flick Blacklight feels like such a letdown. Partly because Neesons most recent run of roles, while not exactly distinguished, has been at times interesting and moving enough that weve come to expect more from these pictures. Films like Cold Pursuit, The Marksman, and The Ice Road may be of varying quality, but they still offer intriguing variations on the Neeson persona. The actor, as we already know, likes to play sensitive tough guys looking to protect/preserve/save their loved ones, but he often does so with an unusual degree of commitment and psychological authenticity than most other actors who tackle such parts. Blacklight certainly has some of that, but it settles for such generic action, character, and story beats that it makes one long for the glory days of Honest Thief.

Thats not a specious comparison, by the way. Honest Thief (2020) and Blacklight were both directed by Ozark co-creator Mark Williams, and he invested that earlier title with a streamlined melancholy that served both his stars plainspoken sincerity and the storys general mood of simmering dread. Blacklight has a similar stripped-down quality, but here it feels less like an aesthetic choice and more like a lack of effort. No element of the narrative is presented with the modicum of detail required to make us care about whats happening and to whom  which is a shame, because if you squint really hard you could see the beginnings of an intriguing political thriller in there somewhere.

As Travis Block, an FBI veteran who specializes in extracting agitated undercover agents from dangerous situations, Neeson doesnt have to do much ass kicking this time around; he mostly drives and talks. Most of the physical stuff in the film comes courtesy of Dusty Crane (Taylor John Smith), an undercover agent in the midst of an identity crisis over the mysterious death of a young, inspiring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezstyle politician (Mel Jarnson). When Dusty tries to approach a Washington, D.C., reporter, Mira Jones (Emmy Raver-Lampman), with what he knows, Travis springs into action to try and stop him. Of course, Travis himself has no idea about what Dusty has done or what the troubled agent actually knows; our hero merely does the bidding of FBI head Gabriel Robinson (Aidan Quinn), an old Vietnam War buddy who has ruled Traviss entire world and has spent decades using him in highly sensitive missions. And Gabriel, we can already tell, is up to no good. (Thats not a spoiler; the trailer gives all that away, and besides, why would you cast Quinn as the head of the FBI if he wasnt going to get up to some stuff?)

There are all sorts of promising ideas here, not the least of which is the onscreen reunion of Neeson and Quinn, two veteran Irish actors who have worked together several times over the course of their respective careers. (They first teamed up in 1986s The Mission, though their most notable collaboration was probably playing revolutionary partners and romantic rivals in Neil Jordans epic 1996 biopic Michael Collins. Also, in the 2011 amnesiac thriller Unknown, Quinns character mysteriously replaced Neesons.) Here they have a kind of Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster vibe: Travis is the trusting muscle that the ambitious and ruthless Gabriel has manipulated for his whole career. Its fun to watch these two actors, who are good friends in real life, facing off; you can sense the currents of familiarity running between them. If only the script gave them something more beyond the most generic exchanges. Even so, Quinn knows to deliver an uninspired line such as We are in this to the end with a knowing gleam in his eye.

The film does offer one intriguing fold in Neesons characterization. Travis is obsessive-compulsive, which probably comes in handy when youre a guy who always has to make sure he knows how many exits there are in a room. But even this element feels haphazard and half-hearted, more like window dressing than anything anyone has put any thought into. We do get some shots of Travis repeating certain actions and rearranging objects on tables and in closets, but this trait never comes into play in any consequential way. When Traviss daughter, Amanda (Claire van der Boom), complains that she never had a proper childhood and is afraid that her own daughter wont get to have one either, that clearly relates more to our tough-guy heros paranoia than his compulsive behavior; this is not a new complaint in Neeson-land.

These missed opportunities might have been forgivable had the films genre elements not felt so impoverished. Surely, a movie about the FBI killing people in broad daylight on the streets of Washington, D.C., could have done with some atmosphere, some detail, to try and sell us on this intriguing (though not exactly original) idea. Alas, its all basically reduced to a couple of nondescript agents lifelessly trying to kill our heroes in curiously empty and nondescript environments  serviceable but also forgettable. (Its no surprise to discover that Blacklight was shot in Melbourne, Australia.) Meanwhile, scenes of Mira at work as a reporter suggest that neither director Williams nor writer Nick May has been within a mile of any actual newsroom. Part of the fun of movies like this is the opportunity for the audience to immerse themselves in the procedural minutiae of these worlds, but theres precious little of that here. Everything is so empty, so incomplete. Blacklight feels like a synopsis waiting for a story.
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Man reacts with rage after being shown the door for not having a Green Pass.

A man was cited by Italian police in San Severo, a town in the southern Puglia region, for ramming into municipal offices with his car after refusing to show a covid Green Pass.

The 50-year-old local resident had been attempting to obtain a certificate from the town hall but was asked for a Green Pass , as required under Italian law, before entering Palazzo di Citta.

After refusing, the man succeeded in getting past the guard to reach the offices inside before being escorted to the exit by security, reports La Repubblica newspaper.

The enraged individual responded by driving his car at full tilt into the building's entrance, crashing into the municipal Fiat Panda , damaging the vehicle and a parked motorcycle, as well as knocking down scaffolding.

There was nobody injured in the ramming incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, with the man having to answer to police who seized his vehicle.

The Green Pass - a digital certificate proving the holder has been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from covid-19 - is required to enter Italy's public offices , banks, post offices, tobacconists and hairdressers.

Photo Bari-La Repubblica
Mixed reaction to Rome pyramid's use in advertising campaign.

The use of Rome's ancient Pyramid of Cestius to promote the release of Kenneth Branagh's new movie Death on the Nile has sparked debate on social media in Italy.

The pyramid, which dates from the first century BC, was illuminated with video-mapping advertising on Thursday night to mark the film's release in Italian cinemas.

The Eternal City celebrates Death on the Nile - the producers 20th Century Studios Italia wrote on Twitter - with an evocative light show on the Pyramid of Cestius, thanks to the support of the Special Superintendency of Rome. Don't miss Kenneth Branagh's film, now in cinemas.

In a statement published by Italian art website Finestre sull'Arte on Friday, the superintendency said the initiative was "for the launch the film released yesterday in cinemas (a cultural product of a sector, cinema, which is facing a serious crisis)."

The superintendency also clarified that the event took place from 19.00 to 23.00 and that no other illuminations are planned, adding that its role was to "have made the monument available for a fee" whose proceeds will be spent on maintaining the pyramid.

Built as a tomb for the powerful Roman magistrate Caius Cestius, the monument underwent a 2 million restoration project in 2013, sponsored by Japanese entrepreneur Yuzo Yagi.

La citta eterna celebra #AssassinioSulNilo con un suggestivo spettacolo di luci sulla Piramide Cestia, grazie al supporto della Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma. Non perdere il film di Kenneth Branagh, ora al cinema! pic.twitter.com/5UN2O89vdH 20th Century Studios Italia (@20thCenturyIT) February 10, 2022
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The birth of Tunisias democracy 11 years ago was attended by international fanfare, and I was in the horn section. Like many people who had witnessed the Arab Spring, I rejoiced that this long-neglected North African nation was in the limelight for having overthrown its despot and setting off a chain reaction of revolutions that brought down three others, in Egypt, Libya and Yemen.

Among those singing hosannas was the leader of the free world. President Barack Obama declared that the U.S. had an enormous stake in seeing success in Tunisia. His vice president would echo those words four years later, when Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi visited Washington. According to the official readout of the meeting, Joe Biden underscored the importance the U.S. places on ensuring that democracy succeeds in Tunisia.

The death of Tunisias democracy earlier this week, in stark contrast, attracted little international attention, much less mourning. When its new autocrat, Kais Saied, performed the final rites by ending the independence of its judiciary  he had already extinguished the legislature and assumed unchecked executive power  no requiems were performed at the White House.

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Instead, it fell to the State Departments spokesperson to reiterate that the U.S. was deeply concerned by Saieds decision to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council, the countrys top legal watchdog.

The Biden administration seems to have decided that the U.S. does not, after all, have an enormous stake in Tunisias success. Perhaps it reckons that there is no risk of another chain reaction, this time of rolling despotism, since the democratic revolutions inspired by the Tunisian example never put down roots. The only Arab nation invited to Bidens Summit for Democracy in December was Iraq, which was represented by a prime minister who didnt even care to run in that countrys general election.

But in failing to stand up for democracy in Tunisia, Biden is signaling what Brookings Institution scholar Shadi Hamid has termed a return of American hypocrisy, in which presidential sermons about democracy are accompanied by accommodations with autocrats. It confirms the suspicions aroused in the Arab world last month when the Biden administration approved $2.5 billion in arms sales to Egypt, even while withholding $130 million in aid over human rights concerns.

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It isnt too late to change that perception. Biden should have enough leverage with Saied to force the Tunisian president to reverse his authoritarian decisions and restore power to democratic institutions.

Although the U.S. isnt a major trading partner for Tunisia, it is a significant source of aid. Since the 2011 revolution, the U.S. has committed more than $1.4 billion in assistance. In 2019, the U.S. Agency for International Development was authorized to provide Tunisia up to $335 million to help its democratic consolidation and to create private sector employment. The Tunisian military, which has fallen into lockstep behind Saied, is the beneficiary of a 10-year cooperation agreement with the U.S. Tunisia is a designated major non-NATO ally of the U.S., which entitles it to special consideration in security cooperation and defense trade.

The suspension of American aid and removal of benefits represent serious threats. Biden also has the option to exercise the U.S. veto on Tunisias request for assistance from the International Monetary Fund. Saied desperately needs IMF help to keep Tunisia solvent, and only his promises of an economic rebound have prevented his countrymen from reprising the massive protests of 2011.

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Biden also has the sanctions weapon and only this week showed that he is prepared to wield it to further the cause of democracy. The State Department announced Wednesday that it would impose targeted sanctions against individuals who obstruct Somalias long-delayed transition to democracy and disrupt its parliamentary elections. Saied should have that threat hanging over his head, too.

Democracy doesnt happen by accident, Biden intoned at his summit in December. We have to defend it, fight for it, strengthen it, renew it. Tunisians, having won their freedoms the hard way, now need the U.S. president to recognize that his country, too, has a stake in theirs.

More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Biden Needs to Get Off the Fence About Tunisia: Bobby Ghosh



Afghanistans Loss Was Expected. Tunisias Was Not: Noah Feldman

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and Africa.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea peninsula ignited the tensest standoff between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. The region remains deadlocked, following years of conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in the countrys east. Since November, the U.S. has been warning European allies that Russia may be preparing to invade Ukraine, massing almost 130,000 troops near the border and staging the largest joint military drills in years in neighboring Belarus. Russia has repeatedly denied any intention to attack Ukraine, saying troop movements on its territory are an internal matter.

1. Whats sparked the flare up?

The U.S. has been raising the alarm with European Union nations about a buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine, sharing intelligence showing possible plans for a three-pronged invasion from Crimea, Russia and via Belarus. U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in January that there was a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February, according to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne.

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2. Havent we been here before?

Yes. Russia increased troops in Crimea and deployed them close to its border with Ukraine in March and April 2021 amid fighting between the Ukrainian army and the Moscow-backed militants. Tensions subsided after Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and offered a summit that took place in June. That prompted speculation Putin had used the crisis to gain Bidens attention. After the latest buildup, Putin said in November that the U.S. and its allies were failing to take Russias red lines seriously and that Moscow needed long-term security guarantees. He accused NATO of supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine and said the alliance was waging a pressure campaign against him.

3. Why is this still a problem?

A 2015 truce ended the bloodiest fighting of the conflict, which has claimed more than 14,000 lives over about eight years. But the terms have never been fully met and a lasting resolution remains elusive. Protesters demanded a break from the nations Soviet past when they ousted Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Putin justified his subsequent annexation of Crimea and support for the fighters in eastern Ukraine by saying he must defend Russian-speakers, wherever they are. Fearing encroachment, he continues to oppose goals now enshrined in Ukraines constitution -- including EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership.

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4. What has the U.S. response been?

There has been a flurry of diplomacy, sparked by video and phone calls that Biden held with Putin in December. Both sides have exchanged written proposals on how to calm tensions. The U.S. has warned of debilitating economic sanctions if Russia attacks, while the Kremlin says NATO expanding further east or deploying weapons in Ukraine are red lines. The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has ordered families of its diplomats to leave Ukraine and told other citizens they should depart the country immediately. About 1,000 American troops already in Germany were being sent to Romania while a further 2,000 troops were coming from the U.S., mostly destined for Poland, according to the Pentagon. They were in addition to some 8,500 U.S. troops placed on heightened alert for possible transfer to NATO allies in Eastern Europe. Biden has ruled out moving U.S. or NATO armed forces into Ukraine itself.

5. What about Germany and France?

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Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was instrumental in helping to negotiate the truce, known as the Minsk accords, and the situation on Ukraines border is the first major international crisis for her successor, Olaf Scholz. Cast as the Wests weak link in deterring Russia, his administration has rejected sending weapons to Ukraine, citing Germanys long-standing opposition to sending weapons into conflict zones, a legacy of its World War II role. German business has strong ties with Russia and the country relies on Russian gas for energy. Scholz held talks on Ukraine with Biden in Washington on Feb. 7, the same day French President Emmanuel Macron met with Putin for more than five hours in Moscow. Macron said there was a need to create new security and stability mechanisms, while Putin highlighted Russias security demands and said he saw reasons to continue talking. The Kremlin also didnt confirm Macrons claim that Putin agreed not to escalate the situation.

6. Whats been the sticking point?

Despite Zelenskiy pledging to bring lasting peace, he has little room to maneuver. The Kremlin wants its neighbors restive regions to gain autonomy that gives them an effective veto over major shifts in Ukraines orientation -- namely the Western integration backed by a sizable majority of its 41 million population. But granting such powers would be political suicide for Zelenskiy, whos struggling to boost economic growth and curb corruption. He told diplomats that Ukraine needs a very clear perspective about its NATO membership in 2022, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance continues to support Ukraines efforts to become a member. Putin, meanwhile, has made clear he sees Ukraines ambition to join as an existential threat and is demanding security guarantees from the West to prevent it.

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7. What else does Russia want?

Russia demanded that NATO withdraw its forces to positions they occupied in 1997 as it set out sweeping proposals for a massive Western pullback in two draft security treaties presented to the U.S. government. Moscow also wants the U.S. to pledge to bar entry to NATO for ex-Soviet states such as Ukraine and Georgia and refuse to make use of their military infrastructure or develop bilateral defense ties with them. After Russias talks with the U.S. and NATO in January, an American diplomat said the Kremlin must decide if its interested in resolving the standoff over Ukraine or is seeking a pretext to invade. Russia has denied any intention to attack Ukraine.

8. Whats the fear?

If U.S. warnings of an invasion are borne out, it could mark the worst European security crisis since World War II, dwarfing the crisis triggered by Putins takeover of Crimea and the unrestrained fighting that characterized the earlier stages of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russias five-day war with Georgia, another former Soviet republic that turned its gaze to the West, began in a similar fashion in 2008 and ended in effective annexation of rebel areas by Moscow.

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9. What assistance is Ukraine getting?

Ukraine has asked the U.S. for help defending its airspace and coast, and has received ammunition and other military supplies. The U.K. has sent light anti-armor weapon systems to Ukraine, while Latvia and Lithuania have pledged to send Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Estonia will provide Javelin missiles. The three Baltic NATO members received approval from the U.S. to share weapons with Ukraine.

10. What else can the West do about it?

The U.S., EU and U.K. have been finalizing a package of sanctions if Russia invades. The trio have in recent years imposed several rounds of sanctions targeting Russian individuals and companies, hitting the countrys energy and banking sectors. While Russia downplays their impact, its economy has stagnated and officials have pushed to have the punishments revoked. Potential measures include targeting Russian billionaires, additional restrictions on sovereign debt, disrupting lenders ability to use dollars or blocking the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons administration published regulations in early February strengthening the U.K. governments powers to impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, and widening the scope of who can be targeted.

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11. What further sanctions could come?

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Jan. 31 that efforts, being coordinated with U.S. allies, would be aimed at people who are in or near the inner circle of the Kremlin and play a role in government decision making, or, at a minimum, complicit in the Kremlins destabilizing behavior. She said many would be hit hard because they have deep financial ties with the West. U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced the British government was considering sanctioning oligarchs in an acknowledgment of criticism that Russian billionaires can stash their wealth in property and other assets in London.

(Updates with troop numbers in first paragraph and details of diplomacy.)

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After a contentious year, Congress appears to be on the verge of passing bipartisan, commonsense legislation. Even better, the effort in question is popular, prudent and right on the merits. This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered tepid support for legislation that would bar lawmakers from trading individual stocks. Pelosi has long resisted the reform, saying in December that members should be allowed to participate in the free-market economy and that current regulation was enough. With a trading ban getting strong backing from the public, she has evidently seen the light.

Theres little doubt legislation of this kind is needed.

Following several stock-related scandals, Congress passed the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act in 2012. It was supposed to establish clear disclosure guidelines, curtail perceived conflicts of interest, and prevent lawmakers from trading on nonpublic information acquired during their official duties. It hasnt worked out as planned.

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No lawmaker has ever been successfully prosecuted under the act. Over the past year alone, at least 55 House and Senate members (and nearly 200 staffers) have failed to fully comply with its reporting requirements, according to media reports. Meanwhile, distinctive stock-related scandals  such as the time Representative Chris Collins called his son from the White House grounds to divulge confidential information he had learned about a drug trial, and urged him to sell the relevant stock  have seemed all too common in recent years. (The elder Collins was sentenced to prison in 2020; then-president Donald Trump pardoned him later that year.)

Unlike most issues before Congress, this one isnt very complicated: No lawmaker should be able to trade individual stocks while in office. The opportunities for abuse are too plentiful, and disclosure requirements alone will never be enough to prevent serious misconduct.

Precisely what new rules to establish is a matter of debate; several competing proposals have been circulating in Congress. But the basics are clear: At a minimum, lawmakers and their immediate families should be required to place their investment assets into a blind trust for the duration of their terms in office. Even better (and simpler) would be a blanket ban on holding equities, which would be harder to game and easier to enforce.

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Wherever Congress ends up, Pelosis belated support for this idea is welcome. Passing such a bill would remove a constant temptation for lawmakers, prevent obvious conflicts of interest, and eliminate a longstanding source of distrust. It would also help convince the public that their elected officials are more interested in doing good than doing well.

Editorials are written by the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board.

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States across the U.S. have dropped their mask mandates this week, worrying Americans who think theyre still needed and cheering people who are ready to go back to normal. Both groups need to take a deep breath: Dropping mask mandates isnt the same thing as ignoring Covid-19. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Masks have been the most visible part of Americas pandemic response, but one of the least consequential. The fact that 500,000 people died during the omicron surge means its time to change tactics, and focus on what went wrong that led to so many hospitalizations and deaths.

Mask mandates are predicated on the effectiveness of universal masking in which everyone wears a mask to keep case numbers lower. One of the leaders in proposing universal masking, Monica Gandhi of UCSF, has unfairly been accused of being an anti-masker for talking about the limitations of her own strategy and the much greater importance of vaccination campaigns.

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But theres no avoiding it: The benefits of universal masking have been difficult to quantify. One controlled study in Bangladesh showed a small but statistically significant benefit  among people who consistently used masks, 7.6% got symptomatic infections compared to 8.6% in the control group. Other studies have been inconclusive.

It is intuitive that a barrier ought to prevent germs from being emitted into the air. But if thats true, why isnt there more evidence for the benefits of masking two years into the pandemic? Experts associated with The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota have laid out a more complex analysis: Given the current understanding that the virus is transmitted in fine aerosol particles, its likely an infectious dose could easily get through and around loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks.

Many experts say only N95 respirators or similar devices are truly effective at stopping this virus  and some, such as the CIDRAP head Michael Osterholm, have been going public urging people to put less faith in cloth masks and adopt respirators such as N95s. He does not advocate universal N95 use in schools, however, where children are unlikely to be able to wear them consistently or correctly.

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Most of the people who were only wearing masks because of the mandate were donning the less effective masks. Those concerned enough to get an N95 arent going to stop because its not required. Future policies should focus on helping people understand their risks and making sure everyone who wants a supply of N95 masks can get one.

The most visible change will be in stores, and these are not the most dangerous venues. Much riskier are crowded bars or private gatherings where people were already removing their masks to eat and shouting to be heard. Several studies have shown that the louder someone talks, the more particles they expel. Other studies show prolonged exposure to others indoors is much riskier than fleeting exposures.

All those factors may explain why the states with mask mandates havent fared significantly better than the 35 states that didnt impose them during the omicron wave. Rhode Island, where I live, has had a mask mandate since mid-December; nonetheless, we saw our January surge rise far higher than any other state. Theres little evidence that mask mandates are the primary reason the pandemic waves eventually fall  though much of the outrage over lifting mandates is based on that assumption. Many experts acknowledge that the rise and fall of waves is a bit of a mystery, as epidemiologist Sam Scarpino explained to me on my podcast.

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What is clear is that states with high vaccination rates have fewer hospitalizations and deaths, and that booster shots are essential for anyone over the age of 65 or at high risk of severe disease.

Megan Ranney, an emergency medicine physician and a dean at the Brown University School of Public Health, says most of her hospitalized patients were unvaccinated or they live in multi-generational homes and got the disease from younger family members who skipped the shots. She sees no problem with the idea of lifting mask mandates when the stress on hospitals has eased.

Its absolutely appropriate to relax mask mandates as cases drop below a threshold, particularly in areas with high vaccination and particularly once hospitals are not in crisis mode, she says. She would have liked to see some states wait a bit longer, though, and says lifting mandates in schools should depend on both case counts coming down and vaccination rates among students getting above 85%. (Vaccination rates are currently at 23% for kids ages five to 11 and 57% for kids 12 to 17.)

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In other countries, mask mandates have been imposed and lifted with little or no rancor. Last week I talked to Michael Bang Petersen, a political scientist and psychologist who has been directing a research project on pandemic behavior at Aarhus University in Denmark. There, remarkably, all restrictions were lifted this month with little controversy.

Some of that is due to good communication and trust. We can see that a clear majority of the population feel that they actually getting clear information from the authorities, he said.

And Danish authorities have a realistic goal  not minimizing all cases or eliminating the virus but preventing the healthcare system from breaking down. I think if we look at how it is that the Danish public thinks about coronavirus, they dont think of it as an individual threat  they think of it as a societal threat, he said.

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Americans are not selfish  we think about protecting society too  but were deeply divided about what our obligations should be. One way we might ease our tensions is by putting the role of mask mandates in perspective.

More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Can the FDA Get It Right on Covid Vaccines for Younger Kids?: Lisa Jarvis



Americas Long War on Cancer: What Was It Good For?: Stephen Mihm



For Kids, Mask Mandates No Longer Make Sense: The Editors

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and host of the podcast Follow the Science. She has written for the Economist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today, Science and other publications.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Voting has begun in crucial state-level elections in India which will shape Prime Minister Narendra Modis choices for the remainder of his second term in office. Of the five states going to the polls, one clearly matters more than the others: Uttar Pradesh. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight UP, as it is called, has a population larger than Brazils. Many Indians see the sprawling state as the historic and spiritual heartland of the country; an overwhelming majority of the nations prime ministers  including Modi himself  have been elected from constituencies in UP. The state sends 80 representatives to Indias 543-member parliament  more than twice as many as any other, barring Maharashtra. How UP residents vote matters more than any other variable in Indian politics.

For the last five years, the state has been ruled by Modis Bharatiya Janata Party. Indeed, Modis strong appeal in UP is the main reason he has won back-to-back parliamentary majorities, something no prime minister has done since the 1970s. That popularity will be tested in the ongoing polls, which conclude on March 10, even if Modi himself isnt on the ballot. A loss or even an unexpectedly narrow win would dent the aura of invincibility that has until now been the prime ministers most potent political weapon.

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While the run-up to these elections has been marked by a disturbing spike in hate speech targeting religious minorities, which way UP goes will probably come down to one thing: its struggling economy. The BJP hasnt had much luck improving the states prospects in the last five years. Its per capita income in PPP terms remains lower than Zimbabwes and is barely higher than Haitis.

Unemployment and underemployment are rife. In January, Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring state of Bihar suffered what one Indian newspaper called Indias first large-scale unemployment riots after more than 12 million applications came in for 35,000 low-level openings in state-run Indian Railways. Infuriated demonstrators claimed that college graduates were unfairly being hired for jobs that required few skills.

Modis original pitch to Indias populous hinterland when he began his run for prime minister almost a decade ago was that he would turn Indias poorest provinces into Gujarat, the prosperous coastal state he had ruled for three terms. And indeed, the BJP government has put a lot of effort into upgrading UPs highways and other infrastructure, hoping as in Gujarat to attract companies to set up factories in the state. If re-elected, the party promises to intensify that effort, building six new metros, five new express highways, two new international airports and 25 new bus terminals.

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But it is many times harder to create jobs in states such as UP and Bihar than in Gujarat, which has a long coastline and a history at the center of regional trade. As with any other development story anywhere in the world, including China, jobs and factories are most likely to grow along Indias coasts. These are places far better connected to the world than UP but where wages are still low and opportunities for investment exist.

UP has many problems other than a lack of connectivity, of course: Administration, law and order, and governance are all weak. Still, we should recognize that, even if all those problems were miraculously solved, it would be a strange investor indeed who would set up a new factory a thousand kilometers away from the nearest deep-water port.

A government with a grasp of economic reality would focus on creating jobs for the people of Uttar Pradesh, not jobs in Uttar Pradesh. It would emphasize educating the states workers, enhancing their healthcare, providing them a solid social safety net  and then ensuring that they are able to move back and forth for work easily and painlessly. The open migration that laborers from the Indian hinterland take for granted should not be underestimated; its a right their counterparts in China are in many ways still denied.

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Yet politicians in UP, rather than implementing this sensible program, promise instead that they will end out-migration by expanding the public sector or building more airports. Theyre fighting hundreds of years of economic history. I wouldnt bet on their chances of succeeding.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Indias Budget Equation Faces a Jobs Crisis: Andy Mukherjee

 Indias Political Parties Rally On Despite Omicron: Ruth Pollard

 Taiwans Giants Are Being Hit by India Culture Shock: Tim Culpan

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi and head of its Economy and Growth Programme. He is the author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy, and co-editor of What the Economy Needs Now.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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State-owned Life Insurance Corp. of India, with its distinctive blue and yellow logo, is ubiquitous across the country of 1.4 billion people. LIC controls nearly two-thirds of the Indian market, with almost 300 million policies and more than 1.3 million agents, 100,000 employees, 2,000 branches and 1,500 satellite offices. Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration is racing to sell at least 5% of LIC in whats set to be Indias biggest-ever initial public offering and the fourth-biggest IPO of any insurer globally. Its sheer scale presents a unique challenge for the nations under-developed capital markets, and a big test of Modis plan to make the economy more efficient.

1. Why is the government selling a stake?

The LIC sale is the biggest chunk of a $10.4 billion asset-sale program thats aimed at plugging Indias budget deficit for the year through March. The government plans to push borrowing to a record in the next fiscal year as it tries to spend its way out of the pandemic-induced downturn.

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2. When is the IPO?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has set a March deadline for the listing. The IPO was initially slated for the fiscal year from April, 2020, but was delayed as Indias harsh stay-at-home rules during the pandemic interrupted the preparations.

3. Why is valuing the company so difficult?

LICs size and special status make for a unique challenge. It holds $530 billion of assets, more than the total size of the countrys mutual fund industry. Milliman and Ernst & Young, the firms appointed to work on the valuation, have been sifting through millions of policies to account for parameters including mortalities, morbidities, lapses in premium payments and policy cancelations. They also had to weigh the value of LICs fixed property across its 2,000 branches. LIC releases its balance sheet only once a year, and peer-to-peer comparisons are tricky.

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4. What could LICs value be?

It had planned to raise between $5 billion and $13 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. A sharp reduction in the governments asset-sale target for the financial year ending March 31 led to speculation that the state will be seeking less than anticipated. With the government considering selling 5% of the companys stock, its set to surpass the biggest Indian IPO to date -- digital payments provider Paytms $2.5 billion listing last November.

5. Why does this IPO matter?

Sales of stakes in companies so deeply entrenched in the history of their nations arent an everyday occurrence. LIC has exerted a towering presence over Indias financial landscape since Jawaharlal Nehrus government combined the countrys 245 insurance companies and provident fund societies in 1956 with a mandate to offer life insurance to all sections of society. For many Indians, insurance is still synonymous with the company, even after the industry opened up to private firms two decades ago.

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6. Are there parallels in other nations?

Some bankers are describing the sale as Indias Aramco moment. Oil giant Saudi Aramco, which staged the worlds biggest IPO in 2019, was likewise a symbol of Saudi Arabias economic might, generating almost 90% of the Saudi governments income. Japan Post, whose privatization started in 2015, was the countrys biggest holder of bank deposits and its largest insurer while it ran the national postal service. Like LIC, it was highly visible, with the biggest chain of storefronts in Japan and a fleet of 86,000 motorbikes for mail delivery.

7. Will investors go for it?

Some local investors are skeptical that the 65-year-old firm can compete against its privately-owned rivals. LIC is governed by a distinct 1956 parliamentary act rather than the law governing Indias other insurers. It enjoys a sovereign guarantee of its policies, allowing it to operate with a thinner capital base than competitors. Over the years, LIC has been deployed as the investor of last resort by governments of the day to support markets and bail out other state-run companies, as in 2019 with IDBI Bank Ltd. Some bankers say global investors worry LIC could be forced to rescue other floundering state assets even after it becomes a publicly listed company.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Its not just your fluffy winter pajamas being affected by global supply chain snarl-ups. Your summer shorts could be too. Under Armour Inc., the sportswear maker, warned on Friday that the impact of bottlenecks could continue into its spring and summer seasons. Higher shipping costs could last for much of this year too.

The current effects are a continuation of the supply-chain disruptions that struck apparel-makers last year. Amid factory shutdowns in Vietnam from July through to September, Under Armour, like other retailers, was faced with a production backlog. Clogged ports added to the pain. Instead of having goods arrive late and being left with too much stock, the company chose to cancel the orders. This means it wont have as many pairs of sneakers or yoga pants in retailers stores this spring.

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Under Armour shares fell around 10%  the most in more than a year  despite the fact that it upgraded its forecast for sales growth in the three months to March 31. It said it expected a 10 percentage-point drag on revenue in its spring-summer season from the cancelled orders. The gross margin is also expected to be 2 percentage points lower this quarter, reflecting more costly shipping, only offset slightly by price rises.

Still, the share price reaction looks harsh. Many other apparel companies  particularly the sportswear brands  were affected by the staffing problems in Vietnam. (Under Armour makes about 50% of its products in the Asia-Pacific region.)

And while Under Armour will lose sales from canceling orders at a time when demand is strong, the alternative would have left it with too much stock that it would have had to mark down sharply. Victorias Secret & Co. also canceled holiday inventory that was in danger of arriving late. It will be worth watching whether this, rather than hefty markdowns to clear old stock, turns out to be the biggest legacy from the industry-wide supply problems.

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Either way, Under Armours warning is a stark reminder that the supply-chain issues that caused so much consternation in the run up to the holidays last year didnt get thrown out with the Christmas tree trimmings. They will stick around for much of this year too. That means more headaches for shoppers and investors alike.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the consumer and retail industries. She previously worked at the Financial Times.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Two years ago, China was being lauded by the World Health Organization for its success in beating the coronavirus. But its insistence on adhering to a so-called Covid Zero policy is leaving it increasingly isolated as other countries, most of which suffered far worse outbreaks and higher death tolls, wean themselves off harsh countermeasures and return to a semblance of pre-pandemic life. Their populations have built up a large degree of protection through previous infections and more effective vaccines. Chinese officials have said vaccines alone arent enough and stringent curbs aimed at wiping out the virus are needed to avoid a health care calamity.

1. Does Covid Zero mean zero cases?

Yes, ideally anyway. Beijings perception of Covid hasnt changed much since the virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan: its a public health threat that must be eliminated at all costs, whether its spreading via people or animals or lurking on frozen food or mail from abroad. To achieve this, China requires at least two weeks in quarantine for anyone arriving from other countries. Domestically, even the slightest flareup is met with a barrage of targeted testing, contact tracing and quarantines to nip it in the bud, with citywide lockdowns as a last resort. The approach, which has become known as dynamic clearing, acknowledges that infections occur but aims to prevent future cases by stopping the forward transmission of the virus. But the highly infectious delta and omicron variants are making it more difficult for China, which saw successive flareups last year and hasnt reported zero domestic daily cases since October.

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2. Why is China sticking to it?

In its calculus, the benefits of Covid Zero outweigh the costs. The government estimates the strategy has avoided 1 million deaths and 50 million illnesses. Fewer than 5,000 people died from Covid in the country, and most of those occurred during the virus initial spread in Wuhan. That compares to more than 900,000 deaths in the U.S., which has a population less than a quarter the size of Chinas. Beijing has used those figures to portray its system of governance as superior. Covid Zero has also allowed the Chinese economy, the worlds second biggest, to grow while other major economies contracted in 2020. The industrial economy remained largely unscathed from more frequent flareups toward the end of 2021, with record growth in exports from strong demand overseas. The infections and restrictions to contain them did occasionally snarl supply chains and made it harder for companies to hit production numbers in some locations.

3. Whats the domestic downside?

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As the virus has mutated to become more contagious, its led to more frequent outbreaks, some of which have required hardcore lockdowns to contain. A handful have dragged on for weeks and led to shortages of food and medical care, and even cost lives in the western city of Xian. Outbreaks in other major cities including Beijing and Shanghai have been suppressed without city-wide lockdowns. Still, consumers facing travel restrictions and fearing infections have avoided vacations, shopping and dining, dampening retail spending. Sporadic cases and restrictions added to weak investment and a broader downturn in the property market toward the end of 2021. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its forecast for Chinas growth in 2022 by 0.5 percentage points due to the increased difficulty of containing the omicron variant. In an extreme case where a national lockdown is imposed, economic growth could plunge to 1.5%, the lowest in more than four decades, the bank said.

4. What are the hurdles to getting back to normal?

There are several:

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 While nearly 90% of the population has been vaccinated and a growing number received boosters, many analysts point to the lower efficacy of vaccines developed in China. The most widely used are inactivated shots, which offered less protection against infection caused by the original strain of the virus in clinical trials than the novel mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc., BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc. The inactivated vaccines also appear to produce fewer protective antibodies against the latest variant, omicron, than those induced by shots developed in the West after three doses.

 Chinese health officials have made it clear that vaccination alone isnt enough to keep the virus at bay, since breakthrough infections are common even with Western vaccines. Modeling by researchers at Peking University estimated China would face a colossal outbreak, with more than 630,000 infections a day if it were to reopen in a similar manner to the U.S.

 The run on hospitals across the world, both in under-resourced places like India and in the developed world, is a constant reminder about how Chinas patchy hospital network could easily crash under a sudden spike in infections.

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 Switching tactics to let the virus infect a large swath of the population could create bad optics ahead of the national congress of the ruling Communist Party slated for later this year, where Xi Jinping is expected to try to extend his power.

5. Whats the cost to the rest of the world?

Covid Zero has sent ripples through the global supply chain. Outbreaks have led to temporary production halts at the China-based factories of top carmakers in the northern port city of Tianjin for people to undergo mass testing. The month-long lockdown of Xian caused disruption and delays for leading chipmakers Micron Technology Inc and Samsung Electronics Co. But abandoning the policy could cause far greater disruptions, at least temporarily, if workers were too sick to show up at work, given how much the global economy relies on China for everything from raw materials to finished consumer and industrial products.

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6. Whats the endgame for China?

China has given no sign of backing away from its strategy of reacting forcibly to every flareup in the hope that it is quickly contained with few economic and social ramifications. While local lockdowns cause disruptions and spur complaints on social media, the strategy ensures people in the rest of the country can generally carry on with normal life. One of Chinas top Covid advisers signaled in an August interview that the country would consider dropping the strategy when the dividend is gone. He also urged leaders to closely watch reopening trailblazers like the U.K. and Singapore to learn from their experiences. Some experts think Chinas strategy will eventually crumble as the virus becomes too transmissible to control. Another possibility is a new variant may emerge thats mild enough for the government to relent without harming the population.

7. Whats the outlook for Hong Kong?

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The financial hub and gateway to China has prioritized aligning its policy with the Chinese mainland in an effort to reopen the border. Successive outbreaks on both sides have kept that from happening for the past two years. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has vowed to stick with Covid Zero as the city struggles to persuade some of its most vulnerable senior citizens to get vaccinated. Hong Kong lacks the resources to conduct mass testing and impose lockdowns the way China can, raising questions about whether it can tame omicron. The flagship newspaper for the Chinese Communist Party warned in February that any move by Hong Kong away from Covid Zero would severely damage the citys development and health of its residents. A day later, a top Hong Kong government adviser said he thought the city could reopen its borders within a year.

 Bloomberg Opinions Adam Minter asks how popular Covid Zero really is among the Chinese people, Shuli Ren looks at dynamic clearing, and Therese Raphael and Sam Fazeli examine why China cant loosen up yet.

 Eric Zhu from Bloomberg Economics looks at what might happen if omicron wins.

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 Businessweek digs into the mounting economic damage from Covid Zero, and a Big Take looks at the havoc it wreaks.

 More QuickTakes on what we know about omicron and Covid therapies.

 Bloombergs Covid Resilience Ranking charts the best and worst places to be during the pandemic.

 Some of the stranger things that have been in the crosshairs during the push for Covid Zero.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Victims' lawyers back revised settlement Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A group of lawyers who previously rejected a proposed $2.7 billion settlement by the Boy Scouts of America has agreed to recommend that their clients support an amended version of the settlement, court documents filed this week show. The lawyers represent some of more than 84,000 people who allege they were sexually abused as children by Boy Scout leaders. In August, a U.S. bankruptcy judge approved an $850 million settlement proposed by the Boy Scouts to resolve claims from the alleged victims. The Boy Scouts proposal consists of settlements with three insurance companies, the BSAs local councils and organizations that sponsored groups including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the United Methodist Church.

Voting on the proposal began last fall, and the victims had until Dec. 28 to turn in their ballots. In a statement, the Boy Scouts of America said a preliminary voting report showed that about 73 percent of survivors voted in favor of the plan. The proposal required 75 percent to proceed to a confirmation hearing. At the time, lawyers for the victims who voted against the settlement said their clients thought the average payout was too low.

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Jason Amala, a sexual abuse attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala who represents more than 1,125 men who said they were victimized as children by Boy Scout leaders, estimated in early January that under the terms proposed at the time, each claimant would have received an average of $31,000, far less than the amounts that were approved or given out in cases involving USA Gymnastics and Roman Catholic dioceses.

Amala is among the attorneys who, court documents show, are now advising their clients to reverse their votes and approve the settlement.

 Casey Parks

Fighter jet flown by contractor crashes

A fighter jet operated by a military contractor crashed west of Phoenix on Thursday but the pilot ejected safely and no one on the ground was hurt, a spokesman for the contractor and U.S. Air Force officials said.

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The French-made Mirage F1 crashed near Buckeye, a growing community about 30 miles west of Phoenix.

John Rupp, director of foreign military sales for Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., confirmed it was one of his companys jets that went down. The pilot was taken to a hospital for evaluation and is being treated for only minor injuries.

The plane was destroyed. The company said it would investigate the cause and work with authorities to determine the cause.

Officials at Luke Air Force Base in nearby Glendale later confirmed the crash and said it occurred late Thursday morning about 15 miles west of the base in an unpopulated area. The plane had been operating out of Luke, the Air Forces main base for training F-35 fighter pilots.

ATAC is one of a growing number of contractors that fly aircraft to help train military aviators. The company provides aggressor aircraft to help military fighter pilots learn their trade as well as other services to the military.

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Another Mirage F1 operated by a different contractor crashed in Las Vegas in May last year as the pilot came in to land at nearby Nellis Air Force Base. The pilot was killed.

 Associated Press

Fordham names first woman as president

Fordham University, a Jesuit institution in New York, has named its new president, Tania Tetlow. She is the first woman and first layperson to lead the school in its 181-year history.

Tetlow broke the same two barriers in her previous job, serving since 2018 as president of Loyola University New Orleans, a 110-year-old Jesuit university.

Tetlow was unanimously elected Thursday as Fordhams next president and will start July 1, Fordham Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Daleo said in a news release.

Fordhams outgoing president, the Rev. Joseph McShane, is stepping down after about two decades in office.

Tetlow became president of Loyola in August 2018 and was formally inaugurated that November.

 Associated Press

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Global freedoms hit new low, report says Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The state of democracy around the world fell to a record low last year, according to a report released Thursday that placed blame in large part on pandemic curbs as nations struggled to balance a public health emergency with personal freedoms. Less than half the worlds population lives under some form of democracy, the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said. Its annual Democracy Index survey rates 167 countries based on electoral processes, civil liberties and other measures.

The worlds overall score fell to 5.28 out of 10, setting another dismal record, the lowest rating since the EIU started producing the index in 2006. The survey found that 6.4 percent of the world lived in a full democracy last year, while more than a third lived under authoritarian rule.

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The decline did not start with the pandemic, but it has compounded negative trends. From lockdowns to travel bans, the coronavirus led to an unprecedented withdrawal of civil liberties among developed democracies and authoritarian regimes alike, the report said.

The United States, which received a flawed democracy classification, fell one spot to 26.

 Ellen Francis

East-based lawmakers appoint new premier

Libyas east-based parliament on Thursday appointed a new prime minister, a development that counters efforts by the United Nations to reconcile the divided country and is likely to produce two parallel administrations.

The House of Representatives said its decision followed the incumbent premiers failure to hold elections in December, as agreed to under a U.N.-mediated peace process. The delay has been a blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya.

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The lawmakers named former interior minister Fathi Bashagha to replace Abdulhamid Dbeibah and head a new interim government, according to the parliament spokesman.

There was no reaction to the appointment from the interim administration in the capital, Tripoli, but it is expected to deepen divisions in the country. Libya has been racked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and then killed dictator Moammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Dbeibah has said he would relinquish his post only to an elected government.

 Associated Press

Activists urge help after 54 die at orphanage

Sudanese activists have taken to social media to appeal for help for a neglected government-run orphanage in the capital where local authorities said 54 children have died in three months.

The death toll has caused outrage in this African country racked by turmoil since an October military coup upended its transition to democratic rule.

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The Khartoum orphanage had housed more than 320 children  including 80 with disabilities  whom a government statement described as living in tragic conditions.

An official with the Ministry of Social Affairs said sustained funding is urgently needed because donations have drastically declined in recent months and economic conditions are dire. Western governments have halted their aid over the coup, and protests have paralyzed Sudan.

 Associated Press

12 reported injured in attack on Saudi airport near Yemen: The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said 12 people were injured by falling debris from an attempted drone attack on an airport in the southern Saudi region of Abha, near the border with Yemen. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels asserted responsibility. Saudi air defenses destroyed the drone, the coalition said. Saudi Arabia has been involved in Yemen's civil war since 2015, fighting the Houthis in a bid to help restore the internationally recognized government to power.

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Blast targeting Somalia election delegates kills 6: A suicide bomber targeting a minibus full of delegates involved in Somalia's parliamentary elections killed at least six people in Mogadishu, the city's ambulance service said. The militant group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, asserted responsibility. The blast occurred as the vehicle was passing a busy junction on a road heading to the president's office.

 From news services

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A family in Ozera, Ukraine, buries 43-year-old Andriy Voznenko after a month-long search for his whereabouts. (Video: Joyce Koh/The Post; photo: Wojciech Grzedzinski for The Post)

After the exhumation of hundreds of bodies in Ukraine, families are finding their loved ones, some of whom are receiving their first dignified burials.
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Scott Morrison has a great re-election pitch: forget the problems with the pandemic, just look at how well the economys going. The rate of unemployment is already down to 4.2 per cent, and his goal is to get it below 4 per cent, the lowest its been in 50 years. Wow. What fabulous economic managers the Libs must be. But can you believe unemployments that low? Didnt they fiddle with the figures some time back?

Its good to be sceptical about the claims politicians make on the economy. Government politicians tend to tell us about the good bits and fail to mention the not-so-good parts of the story. Opposition politicians tend to do the opposite.

The strength of the economy will be a key part of Scott Morrisons re-election campaign. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But not everything we think we know about the tricks politicians play is true. For instance, many people think they remember that, some years ago, a government changed the definition of unemployment to make the figures look better. They made it so that someone who worked just one hour a week was classed as employed.

This week Ive had people asking me about this. In my experience, when a Labor governments boasting about good unemployment figures, Liberal supporters remember Labor fiddled the figures. When, as now, its a Liberal government doing the boasting, its Labor supporters who remember a Liberal government doing the fiddling.
Cyberattacks are costing Australian companies more than $2 billion a year, according to new research from University of Wollongong economics professor, Alex Frino, who will travel to the US later this year to lead research which will help companies protect themselves in future.

His research paper on the cost of cyberattacks on Australian ASX listed companies found 38 have been exposed to cyberattacks over the past 10 years. The companies include AMP, ANZ Bank, Bluescope Steel, Commonwealth Bank, Fairfax media, Telstra and Wesfarmers.

University of Wollongong Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Strategy) Alex Frino. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Professor Frino measured the drops in stock prices around the time the companies announced a cyberattack. The average stock price fall was around 4.6 per cent.

This equates to around a $2 billion per annum in damage done by cyber criminals, he said. Most of the attacks include hackers gaining access to the personal details of staff, clients or other sensitive data and ransomware attacks in which the companies were blocked from their own systems unless money was paid.
Inventing Anna



Netflix When New York magazine journalist Jessica Pressler wrote about a young woman who conned her way into New Yorks elite social scene by pretending to be a German heiress, the 2018 article quickly went viral. Industry tracker Chartbeat lists Presslers story as the sixth most-read story worldwide for that year  and just 11 months after it was published, Netflix had acquired the rights to the story. Julia Garner as the fake heiress, Anna Delvey. Credit:Nicole Rivelli/Netflix On the scale of financial scams, those of then 25-year-old Anna Sorokin (who went by Anna Delvey) are relatively small  she was convicted of stealing around $275,000  but the story of her audacious grifting, which saw her convince people that she was heir to a $60 million fortune, captivated millions. Caught up in her own delusions, she even came alarmingly close to securing a multimillion-dollar loan for a lavish Soho House-style private members club at one of New Yorks most prestigious addresses. Its not surprising that its Shonda Rhimes who has created and written this semi-fictionalised series, which opens each episode with the disclaimer, This whole story is completely true. Except for the parts that are totally made up. But even in Rhimes hands, the most shocking parts tend to be the true ones.

Anna Chlumsky as journalist Vivian Kent. Credit:Nicole Rivelli / Netflix Rhimes tells the story from the side of Pressler (fictionalised as Vivian Kent, played by Anna Chlumsky) and those who were swindled, most of whom are based on real people. Ozarks Julia Garner is Delvey, unrecognisable and speaking in a confusing accent which she gets away with since Sorokin was Russian but moved to Germany as a teenager; youll forgive Garner, portraying a mix of softly spoken poor-little-rich-girl and demanding sociopath, after a couple of episodes. The series opens after Sorokins arrest, when journalist Vivian began chasing the story. Its through her research and obsession with Sorokin that the story unfolds, after a droll montage of socialites giving their takes on who Delvey was: a Russian heiress, a socialite waiting for the sale of a painting worth $42 million, someone who ordered wine like someone with generational wealth. Loading Inventing Anna jumps between the stories of Sorokins victims, among them the (fictional) boyfriend, Chase (Saamer Usmani), Katie Lowes as Rachel DeLoache Williams, who was left in massive debt after Sorokin was unable to pay for a trip to Morocco, Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) as celebrity fitness trainer Kacy Duke and Alexis Floyd as hotel concierge Neff Davis, who seems to be Sorokins only genuine friend. And there are various socialites, bankers, art world types and tech bros  even failed Fyre Festival promoter Billy McFarland was allegedly scammed by Sorokin.
Fridays Quad meeting is sure to rile China. On Friday morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne hosts her US, Japanese and Indian counterparts in Melbourne. Playing host to the Quad is a boon for Australia  the smallest member in some respects  and follows the historic in-person Quad Leaders Summit in Washington last September.

Quad countries concerns over China are what led to the dialogue framework rising from

the dead in 2017, after almost a decade hiatus. Each Quad member has reason to object to

Chinas hostile tactics in the region  from bloody territorial battles, malicious cyber-

attacks, and economic ransoms. But instead of countering China head on through a military

alliance or defence arrangement, the Quad is pursuing a charm offensive focused on the

broader Indo-Pacific. Its promised COVID-19 vaccines, climate change action, and

infrastructure. So, wheres the beef?

Last years Quad meeting was hosted by US President Joe Biden and attended by Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left), Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (bottom right) and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Photographer: Sarahbeth Many

Its headline commitment in March 2021 was to deliver one billion COVID-19 vaccines to the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022. According to DFAT, around 248 million  about a quarter  have been provided so far. Many countries in the region, particularly hard-hit Southeast Asian nations that previously relied on less-effective Chinese vaccines, are awaiting additional deliveries urgently.

Beyond vaccines, the Quad has also identified 11 other areas for co-operation, including in critical and emerging technology, climate change, infrastructure, cyber, supply chains, counter-terrorism, and more. The temptation of Fridays foreign ministers meeting will be to further expand this list. But that would open the Quad up to criticism that its all promises and no delivery.
Spatial number-density distributions for stars in the final sample in the Y vs. X (left panel) and Z vs. X (right panel) planes; the top color bars indicate the number densities for bin sizes of 0.5 kpc in both axes. The Sun is located at (X, Y, Z) = (8.178, 0.0, 0.0) kpc. The white star and the red dot mark the positions of the Sun and the Galactic center, respectively, in each panel. The spike-like feature (especially visible in the left panel) is dominated by stars from the SMSS main survey fields (which go substantially deeper than the shallow survey fields), observed under good conditions and with low Galactic extinction.

University of Notre Dame researchers, along with collaborators in China and Australia, published a new sample catalog of more than 24 million stars that can be used to decipher the chemical history of elements in the Milky Way Galaxy.

The research, published this month in The Astrophysical Journal, represents about one-hundredth of a percent of the roughly 240 billion stars in the Milky Way. It marks a milestone for Timothy Beers, the Grace-Rupley Professor of Physics at Notre Dame, who has spent most of his career planning and executing ever-larger surveys of stars to decipher the galaxy's formation and chemical evolution -- a field called galactic archaeology. Researchers employed a new approach to measure the light from each star to infer the abundances of heavy metals such as iron. They also measured their distances, motions and ages.

"The elemental abundances of individual stars trace the chemical enrichment of the Milky Way galaxy, from when it first began to form stars shortly after the Big Bang to the present," Beers said.

"Combining this information with the stellar distances and motions allows us to constrain the origin of different components in the galaxy, such as the halo and disk populations," he continued. "Adding age estimates puts a `clock' on the process, so that a much more complete picture of the entire process can be drawn."

Previous spectroscopic work by Beers and collaborators provided the information for the tens of thousands of stars that were used to calibrate the new approach, based on precision photometric measurements. The recent research used large photometric samples obtained with the Australian SkyMapper Southern Survey and the European Gaia satellite mission to calibrate estimates of metallicity.

Until recently, the only means to obtain accurate estimates of the content of heavy metals, such as iron, for large numbers of stars was by taking low- and medium-resolution spectra that could be analyzed to extract this information. The process was long and painstaking.

Beers is most interested in the stars with the lowest metallicities -- very metal-poor stars with iron abundances less than 1 percent that of the sun -- because they were born early in the history of the universe, and therefore reveal the origin of elements in the periodic table. In the early 1980s, when Beers started his work, researchers knew of only about 20 very metal-poor stars. This new catalog brings the total of what Beers refers to as "fossils of the night sky" to more than 500,000.

Containing more than 19 million dwarf and five million giant stars, the new catalog is expected to advance the knowledge of how the Milky Way was formed in a variety of ways, Beers said. These include characterizing the structure of the galactic thin/thick disks -- the structural components of spiral galaxies -- as well as the population of stars and globular clusters that surround most disk galaxies, called the stellar halo. The catalog of stars will also help researchers identify the trails of stars left behind from disrupted dwarf galaxies and globular clusters.

In addition to Beers and graduate student Derek Shank at the University of Notre Dame, other collaborators include lead author Yang Huang of Yunnan University, China; Christian Wolf and Christopher A. Onken, Australian National University; Young Sun Lee, Chungnam National University, Korea; Haibo Yuan, Beijing Normal University, China; Huawei Zhang, Peking University, China; Chun Wang, Tianjin Normal University, China; and Jianrong Shi and Zhou Fan, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Beers and Shank's work on this project received support from grant 14-30152, Physics Frontier Center/JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements (JINA-CEE), awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Beers also received support from a 2019 PIFI Distinguished Scientist award from the Chinese Academy of Science.

Beyond Spectroscopy. I. Metallicities, Distances, and Age Estimates for Over 20 Million Stars from SMSS DR2 and Gaia EDR3, Astrophysical Journal



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Hardly the stuff of pretty serious crimes. His being caged was exacerbated by the brain damage he suffered from his mother drinking and abusing substances when he was growing as a fetus. He acts compulsively without the ability to remember rules due to his FASD and a diagnosed attention deficit disorder. He was scared and lashed out like an animal every time a 180-centimetre male guard hauled him off to a solitary cell  known as the cage  because he also had post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety from a childhood filled with the worst kinds of trauma and abuse. Furthermore, he held little regard over the value of his life, with staff acutely concerned that he was at risk of suicide on 39 occasions.

But to see him in court, and for the female psychologists who spoke with him regularly, he was a polite, quiet kid who beamed from behind his mask when he was told he would not have to return to Banksia Hill. Mr McGowan also went on to say theres no easy answers, but according to those who have met and helped those children inside Banksia Hill  unlike politicians  there are plenty of easy answers. National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project volunteers Gerry Georgatos and Megan Krakouer, and Dr James Fitzpatrick, a paediatrician specialising in FASD and incarcerated youth in WA, agree that improved resourcing for programs addressing causal issues in children caught up in the justice system could dramatically improve outcomes. Theres a gap in support for children who receive a diagnosis for FASD within the justice system because the report is often not made available to the individual, family or external service providers, Dr Fitzpatrick said. This means that while many individuals have been diagnosed with FASD through court-ordered assessments, they may not be case managed through the critical next steps of access to services such as the NDIS, Mental Health services, Alcohol and Other Drug, or employment services, he said.

What is needed is a coordinated approach to preparing incarcerated youth for reintegration in the community, and linking individuals to services. Loading Mr Georgatos and Ms Krakouer, who spent eight weeks with children in Banksia for the COVID-19 lockdown from March 2020, said they halved the number of incarcerated girls by nurturing them to improve behaviours and advocate for them before the courts. These are the most vulnerable children I have ever come across in detention, and I have also worked in international aid, Mr Georgatos said. These vulnerable children need love, one-on-one psychosocial support and salt of the earth approaches  the solution is not more guards keeping the peace by force.

He said one child was a homeless orphan with seven orphaned siblings, five of those also homeless and four of the five ended up in Banksia. One died by suicide. It breaks my heart, he said. Incarceration leads to high rates of suicide. This disproportionately harms the Indigenous population, with 74 per cent of those in Banksia Indigenous, and 70 per cent of juveniles later ending up in adult detention. Mr Georgatos and Ms Krakouer are behind a class action against Banksia Hill that has already accumulated more than 530 accounts from detainees, families, former staff and other groups. They say their case has been strengthened by the Perth Childrens Court presidents comments.

Mr Georgatos said the last thing children in detention needed was another inquiry, as suggested by Greens senator Dorinda Cox. He said it was a politicians way of wasting time, while a class action before a civil court would have to be acted upon. He said the Labor government in 2012, while in opposition, called for improvements at Banksia Hill based on numerous inquiries. Yet, it has not ever acted during its five years of government. Loading Theyre a pack of hypocrites and should hang their heads in shame, Mr Georgatos said. Now perhaps in the spirit of forgiveness, the Premier was asked to comment on a lot of things that Thursday  including death threats to his family and office.

But when children in Banksia Hill get painted as the danger by the Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston, you have to ask yourself if there is a familiar political formula being trotted out. The only kids in Banksia Hill are those who have either been convicted of a crime or a magistrate has remanded them in custody, Mr Johnston said, coupled with one of the reasons that [staff are] under stress, is you have a difficult cohort to manage, who have been attacking the staff. So its the childrens fault? Right. And a FASD child with PTSD being locked down for endless days with no exercise in a human rights abuse akin to torture? I can tell you I know of a number of kids who have struggled with mental health challenges. And Ill tell you, this is a story of an actual child in the centre, Mr Johnston said. He was displaying self-harm ideation and behaviour. So he was referred to the mental health services.
Anthony Albanese looked supremely confident in Parliament on Wednesday when he sparred with Scott Morrison over which of them could win a contest about character when the federal election comes.

The Labor leader had Morrison on the defensive. The Prime Minister had just been asked whether former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian was right to say he was obsessed with petty political point-scoring during the black summer bushfires two years ago. The Defence Minister, Peter Dutton, tried but failed to have the media gossip ruled out of order. Morrison had to defend himself whether the quote was accurate or not.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese at Parliament House on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Morrison was careful about the quote reported in the media last week. She did not confirm any such statement at all, he told Parliament. Everyone in the chamber knew, of course, that Berejiklian had merely said she had no recollection of the text. So the Prime Minister moved on quickly to complain that Labor was being so personal.

Its not about policy, he said of the Labor tactics. The leader of the opposition wants to have a character contest with me. Bring it on.
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Local

2022 Jefferson County Fair changes draw participant opposition

File photo A youth exhibitor shows swine at the Jefferson County Fair in 2019.

Adult volunteers and long-time youth exhibitors expressed anger Thursday about significant last-minute rule changes for participants of the 2022 Jefferson County Fair.

During a 2-hour long meeting of the Fair Park Committee, held at Fair Park in Jefferson and streamed live, speakers shared their opposition to the changes and expressed frustration they were being adopted just five months before the fair, scheduled for July 13-17.

Thats far too late for youth who have already bought their animals, speakers said.

In the end, however, except for eliminating a proposed youth exhibitor volunteer requirement, the committee adopted its plan as presented.

Committee chair Blane Poulson was the sole dissenter in the vote to adopt the 6-page document, 2022 Jefferson County Fair Animal Auction & Youth Celebration Information. Before doing so, they took out the proposed requirement that youth exhibitors put in 3 volunteer hours at Fair Park prior to this years fair. A parent at the meeting called it an unreasonable request, with possible child labor law implications.

File photo Youth exhibitors show animals at the Jefferson County Fair in 2019.

Changes that remained in the plan, that drew fire from speakers, include a new requirement that youth exhibitors choose between selling either a large animal such a steer at the fairs meat animal auction or up to 2 small meat animals such as a chicken or a rabbit. In the past, youth exhibitors have been allowed to sell both large and small meat animals.

The changes in the meat animal auction come as responsibility for organizing it shifts this year from UW-Extension to the Fair Park staff and Fair Park Committee.

Brian Bolan, the fair parks events and operations manager, said UW Extension announced in mid-2021, it was no longer interested in organizing future auctions.

One of the reasons UW-Extension decided to back down is that it took a lot of man hours, Bolan shared. It was felt their time could be put to better use.

Bolan said a hope has emerged since the fair agreed to take over the meat auction, that the event could be streamlined. Going forward, it simply cant require as many volunteer or staff hours to put it on, he said. The hoped is that the plan is a step toward that, he said

Bolan went on to acknowledge that the meat auction details presented to the committee Thursday were too long in coming.

Would it have been awesome to have had this wrapped up in October? Yes, he said.

He characterized it, however, as a fluid document thats open to future changes.

I am not married to this, as the only way to run a sale, Bolan said.

Justin Thom, chair of the countys Meat Animal Project Committee, said in forcing youth to choose between selling either large or small animals you are going to hurt a lot of youth that raise livestock.

Joy Brattlie, of Cambridge, the fairs poultry superintendent, said the changes left her feeling that in my opinion, the Jefferson County Fair is going the wrong direction.

Communication about the changes was horribly executed, and have the potential to deter both youth who have shown animals in the past, and new youth participants, she said.

These youth are the future of agriculture. They need to be nurtured and encouraged in their agriculture endeavors, and this does the opposite of that, Brattlie said. I cant support this document the way it is.

Brattlies daughter, Hanna, also spoke, noting she is in her ninth year of showing poultry and beef cattle at the Jefferson County Fair.

She said the rule change that will force her to choose between taking poultry or beef to the meat auction, left her particularly troubled.

Its upsetting, Brattlie said, saying she bought her steer in October and has already arranged to buy chickens and rabbits for the 2022 fair.

Major changes like these should have been communicated to youth exhibitors months ago, Brattlie said, adding that exhibitors should not be forced between selling their large animals or their small animals.

Lindsay Baneck, sheep superintendent for the fair and whose family owns Jellis Market in Helenville, said she, too, was really disappointed with the lack of communication.

I kind of thought that being a superintendent, my opinions would at least be asked, Baneck said. Our opinions were never asked; It was just heres what we have, go with it. It just kind of caught us off guard.

Jessica Pfeifer, president of the Jefferson County 4-H Leaders Association, similarly said she was very disappointed, with the lack of communication.

We have a bad taste in our mouth, Pfeifer said. You guys are not representing the fair very well.

The changes will result in a loss of exhibitors, who may go elsewhere, Pfeifer predicted.

We can show in any county we want to in the state of Wisconsin, Pfeifer said.

Weigh-in

Another new requirement adopted Thursday, that drew ire from speakers, involves exhibitors of large animals who want to participate in the annual Beef Rate of Gain Competition. To participate, and in the process raise their status in the fairs meat auction, they must weigh their animals in this Saturday, Feb. 12, at Equity Livestock in Johnson Creek.

In the past, the weigh-in has been at Fair Park.

Some speakers said they were concerned about animals contracting disease at Equity Livestock.

Committee members responded that recent Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection changes now require such weigh-ins to use certified scales, and Equity Livestock has those.

Near the end of Thursdays meeting, the committee acknowledged it could have paid $500 to a Sun Prairie company to bring a scale to Fair Park for a 1-day weigh-in, rather than directing exhibitors to Equity Livestock. Committee members defended that decision, saying not spending that $500 helps contain costs.

Wristband cost increase

Speakers also took issue with a change, also shared Thursday, to double to cost of a fair entry wristband for youth exhibitors. Wristbands get youth into the fair for the week. It will rise from $7 to $15 this year.

Open and senior class exhibitors will also see a change to a $15 per-person entry wristband, rather than a $35 family pack of 5 wristbands, as in the past.

Anna Evenson, a longtime youth exhibitor from Cambridge and a member of the 2022 fair royalty, called the entry fee increase completely unnecessary.

Why do kids need to be charged to get into the fair? Evenson questioned. She said their families are already making a significant investment in raising animals that are the main money-making draw for fair visitors.

Without the animals all you have is a giant carnival and a concert, Evenson said.

Evenson also encouraged the committee to wait until 2023 to make the auction and other changes.

This is too late, she said.

Committee member Jeff Smith said he, too, was displeased with the lack of communication.

To me, theres a great deal of room for improvement with this, Smith said. We do need to organize this better, and to have the community involved with more input. I hope in the future we can do a much better job than we have done.

Another recent change also shared Thursday raises to 19 the maximum age to participate as a youth exhibitor. The minimum age to participate will remain 8.

At the meetings start there was confusion about that, with some speakers believing the minimum age had been changed to 9. Fair staff said their information was incorrect, that the age requirements had been set by the committee at a meeting last August.
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Weber State Celebrates 26th Annual Storytelling Festival

February 14, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University's 26th annual Storytelling festival welcomes local and internationally acclaimed storytellers to share their art and create an unforgettable experience for WSU and the northern Utah community, Feb. 28  March 2.

The festival has become a tradition at WSU and the surrounding communities, said David Byrd, festival chair. This is our 26th year, and the festival has grown and developed in so many ways.

This years festival will feature internationally renowned storytellers Paul Strickland, Lyn Ford and Jasmin Cardenas. Strickland, who is new to this years festival, made his New York City stage debut at the SoHo Playhouse with his play "13 Dead Dreams of Eugene," and was a featured teller at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Sept. 2020.

We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of featured tellers this year, Byrd said. They are all so extraordinarily talented.

In addition, over 60 students selected from Davis, Ogden, Weber and Morgan school districts, along with charter and home schools in the area, have been invited to share the stage with the professionals. A schedule of performances is available at this link.

The festival features a variety of storytelling genres, meaning there is something for everyone to enjoy. All members of the community and WSU students, faculty and staff are invited to take part in the activities.

Festival events will be held at multiple locations in Davis and Weber counties, including the WSU Ogden campus, Treehouse Museum and Davis Conference Center. All events are free with the exception of the fundraising dinner at Timbermine Steakhouse on March 1. Reservations are available at this link.

Storytelling is an interactive art, Byrd said. It was wonderful that we were able to have the festival at all last year by means of technology, and we will continue to have a virtual presence for this festival, but both the tellers and the audience are looking forward to being in the same room and having the back-and-forth that makes storytelling so magical.

For a complete schedule of events, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
As lawmakers weigh the fate of a handful of Gov. Ned Lamonts executive orders, including the future of students and teachers wearing masks, COVID cases in schools continued to steadily drop for a fourth week.

The latest weekly numbers released Thursday showed that cases among students dropped to 1,755 from 4,203 the prior week. In a similar fashion, cases among teachers and staff fell to 355 this week, compared to 767 the previous week.

Though cases have dropped substantially since peaking the first week after students returned from Christmas vacation, the numbers remain higher than the fall when student infections peaked at 916 and cases among staff and teachers hit 145.

The future of the executive order that allows for masks remains in question as the legislature reviews the matter amid strong opposition from some parents, nearly 200 of them speaking out against masking children during a legislative forum Tuesday.

The House of Representatives discussed the matter Thursday with some Republican lawmakers arguing against any extension of the mask mandate.

Lamont has recommended the mandate remain in place until Feb. 28, and then empower local school boards to decide whether their students, teachers and staff need to wear masks.

If the legislature does not extend this specific order, one of a dozen Lamont has asked to remain in place, it would expire on Feb. 15.

The House was expected to vote on the matter Thursday and the Senate would then take it up on Monday.

The debate over whether to keep school masking in some form comes as Connecticut continues to see a general decline in infections, hospitalizations and new deaths after a surge in late December and early January.

On Thursday, the state reported 1,026 new COVID cases among 23,078 tests for a positivity rate of 4.45  one of the lowest in weeks. There were 23 fewer hospitalizations for a total of 529  the lowest since Dec. 7.

The number of new deaths declined with 136 in the past week compared to 175 the previous week.

Looking at the decline in COVID-19 metrics, Lamont announced this week his plan to recommend lifting the school mask mandate at the end of the month, noting it was time for local officials to make the best decisions for their community.

This move closely mirrored how Lamont decided to handle general indoor masking requirements. Instead of broadly reinstating such orders, he allowed municipal leaders to decide whether to enact orders in their communities.

If the legislature keeps the order in place, Lamont acknowledged the states education department retains the ability reinstate a broad school masking requirement if deemed necessary.

Considering the pandemic has been unpredictable, Lamont said he was aware another COVID-19 variant could come along and drive up infections.

We would reserve the right to make a change to keep you safe, Lamont said. But, he said, such a move seems unlikely.

Lamont and his administration have defended the timeline for now seeking to end the school mask mandate given there are ample tools available for residents to combat COVID-19, including vaccines, and omicron, the dominant strain of the virus in Connecticut, tends to cause less severe infections.

As of Thursday, the omicron variant was found in about 99 percent of all positive COVID tests that were sent for genomic sequencing, according to the latest weekly report.

Officials said the state Department of Public Health plans to provide local school leaders with guidance on how to approach instituting districtwide mask mandates and how to handle COVID-19 cases in schools where masks are optional.

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.
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Brixton House Theatre is set to open its doors to the general public on 24 February 2022.

Designed by Foster Wilson Size and located on Coldharbour Lane in south London, the new state-of-the-art venue will also include a cafe, bar and hire studios, opening from 5 March.

Artistic director Gbolahan Obisesan released the following statement: "Brixton House will be a vital cultural beacon in Brixton and a home of creativity and expression for everyone. We want to attract, support, and inspire new artistic experiences that will develop our community solidarity and passion for social change in society. With this opening season, we focus on our Family Ties, because ours is a home where we acknowledge we are all connected and bound by our love of art and artists, propelled by our spirit of togetherness, whilst giving space to showcasing our creative bond and appreciation of human experiences."

A few highlights of Obisesan's first season include the following productions:

Tonderai Munyevu's one-man show Mugabe, My Dad and Me (24 February to 5 March and 29 March to 1 April) charts the career of one of the most controversial politicians of the 20th century through the personal lens of Munyevu's relationship with his father. The piece is co-produced by English Touring Theatre and York Theatre Royal in association with Alison Holder.

Tangled Feet and Half Moon present Butterflies (24 to 26 February), exploring how the pandemic has affected the anxiety levels and resilience of young children.

The UK premiere of new works by Ntando Cele, Tran Tran and Alan Alpenfelt  three of Switzerland's most promising artists  will be staged under the banner of Swiss Selection Live (8 to 12 March).

Created and performed by Heather Agyepong, The Body Remembers (16 to 26 March) is a solo show that examines how trauma lives in the body with a focus on the Black British female experience. Presented by Fuel, the piece is co-created by Imogen Knight (as movement director) and Gail Babb (as dramaturg).

Hussina Raja's Station (17 to 31 March) is an interactive live-performance installation, offering a retrospective on migrant experiences since the early 1950s and set in a traditional South-Asian living room.

Presented with HighTide in association with the Mercury Theatre Colchester, Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan (11 to 29 May) is written by Waleed Akhtar and is inspired by a true story of two young friends taking on a complex political landscape  all to a soundtrack of early 00s pop music.




Quincy, IL (62301)

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Education Specialist (Gender), Beirut, Lebanon

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Lebanon

City: Beirut

Office: UNICEF Liban Beirut

Grade: NO-C

Closing date: Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Education Specialist (Gender), NOC, TA, Beirut, Lebanon #119204, 364 days

Job no: 548266

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: Lebanon Division/Equivalent: Amman(MENA)

School/Unit: Lebanon

Department/Office: Beirut, Lebanon

Categories: Education

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

UNICEF started to work in Lebanon in 1948 and established its office in 1950. For more than 70 years weve been working closely with the Government of Lebanon, other UN agencies, international and local NGOs, universities, and more than 100 partners to meet the needs of disadvantaged children in Lebanon. Responding to life-saving needs and ensuring equal access to quality public services, the impact of our work is felt in every aspect and every sphere of society. To learn more about our work, please refer to: https://www.unicef.org/lebanon/what-we-do

How can you make a difference?

The Education Specialist, Gender reports to the Education Specialist (Level 3). In order to increase dedicated gender capacity and expertise in Education Programme, the Specialist will engage with all three ECW grantees (UNICEF, Save the Children and UNESCO) in meaningful programming to ensure that gender is adequately mainstreamed throughout the ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme for Lebanon.

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Education Specialist (Level 3), the Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Education programme with particular attention to issues of access, gender equity and inclusion. The Specialist is also responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of education programmes or projects within the country programme assigned to him/her. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on education programmes/projects to improve learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Support to programme development and planning

Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes to ensure that current and comprehensive data on education issues is available to guide UNICEFs strategic policy, advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programmes.

Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.

Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of education programmes. Formulate, design and prepare programme proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEFs Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the LCRP, the national 5-year plan, and other regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.

Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.

Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programme with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programmes.

Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action to achieve results.

Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management.

Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.

Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on education and related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.

Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.

Participate in education programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.

Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use.

4. Networking and partnership building

Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on education programmes.

Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for education programmes.

Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions on education and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.

Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in education management. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education and related programmes/projects.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Education, Gender Studies, or another relevant field. Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Experience:

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A minimum of five years of professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming, management, and/or research on gender equality and womens rights, including field work experience is required.

Background/familiarity with mainstreaming gender equality in development and in emergency.

Experience working in a country from the MENA region is considered as an asset.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

Core Values

Care

Respect

Integrity

Trust

Accountability

Core competencies

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)

Works Collaboratively with others (2)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)

Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

Some understanding of the overall global development context, including issues such as: poverty, conflict and the impact of these factors on education and vice-versa; and inter-sectoral approaches to address such issues in collaboration with other sectors (including Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Communications within UNICEF).

Some knowledge and experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender in education sector, especially at country/field level, and mainstreaming gender equality in development and in emergency

Some knowledge of global developments in education and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.

Some ability to support policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programme and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.

Some education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g. ECD, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues.

Some education and policy sector analysis capacity, including understanding of the core education data sets and indicators; tools for analysis of equity; determinants of student access and learning; budget, costing, and financial management in education systems; political economy; and education policy and strategic planning.

Some programme management in education, including programme design, costing, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.

Some ability to support engagement with partners e.g. Sector Wide Approaches, Global Partnership for Education, Education in Emergency Clusters, Education Provider Forums, Delivering as One, Inter-sectoral partnerships such as in ECD, as well as networking with other key partners.

Some understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education.

Some understanding of policies and strategies to address issues related to resilience: risk analysis and risk management, education in conflict situations, natural disasters, and recovery.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Advertised: Feb 09 2022 Middle East Standard Time Application close: Feb 22 2022 Middle East Standard Time

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1644441108200
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 37F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Mainly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 74F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers in the evening with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 57F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
They say theres never a right time to have a baby. That probably goes for giving birth to a creative venture too; sometimes you just have to go for it.

They say theres never a right time to have a baby. That probably goes for giving birth to a creative venture too; sometimes you just have to go for it.

However, opening a theatre in the midst of a pandemic must give even the most optimistic entrepreneur pause, especially a venue dedicated to new and/or experimental works.

If opening night of Sonja and Richard is anything to go by, Andrew Davidson, the proud papa of the Gargoyle Theatre on Ellice Avenue, can sleep easy.

The talky two-act two-hander by Winnipeg playwright Steven Ratzlaff and directed by Bill Kerr played to what appeared to be a full house (or technically half-full, according to public health restrictions) on Wednesday.

Some of those in attendance might merely have been curious to see the refurbished venue, and the former Cinema 3 is indeed handsomely renovated, with deep green walls, exposed brick framed in gold, and tiny gargoyles watching over the audience. (The lounge area at the rear is also a nice touch, as is the available bar-style seating.)

But even without the novelty of a new space, Sonja and Richard provides the audience with plenty to talk about.

In it, Ratzlaff explores notions of history and narrative through a personal and political lens.

The play opens in a hotel room in Amsterdam, where Richard (Ratzlaff) and Sonja (Marina Stephenson Kerr) have come to celebrate their 35th anniversary.

As the couple starts to drink, the affectionate pretense starts to unravel, old wounds are exposed and it becomes clear that they are not on the same page of the story they tell themselves about their relationship.

Sonja has an axe to grind and she is the driving force of this discussion; Stephenson Kerr, always wonderful, is positively magnetic here, ferocious and flirtatious.

Its a play of ideas and as such, the language is sometimes highfalutin and unnatural, but Stephenson Kerr sells it with brio, and the pair have a familiarity that suggests long association and the way it breeds contempt.

Ratzlaff is by necessity more reticent, but he could better project whether hes truly indifferent or if hes just incapable of expressing his feelings.

Richard believes that, as Antoine de St. Exupery put it, "Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Sonja, meanwhile, takes issue with his refusal to look at her, saying, "Your absence would be less palpable if you werent here."

Their implosion has a rubbernecking appeal  a "there but for the grace of God" recognition  and Ratzlaff has very effectively leavened the bitterness with cutting wit.

Unfortunately, the plays second half is less engaging and too long (the play also goes considerably longer than its advertised 90-minute run).

Its a few years post-Amsterdam, and the two are back at the girls school where Richard teaches history and Sonja is principal.

The school is implementing a land acknowledgment at assemblies (the audience is recruited to play the part of students, standing up to sing the national anthem) and Richard uses his first class of the year to undermine Sonja, holding up her land acknowledgment as an example of abuse of history.

Ratzlaff is a former teacher and he slips easily into the role of lecturer, a clever expository guise for imparting the notions of Nietzschean monumental and critical history to the audience (the playwright also featured Nietzsche in his Theatre Projects work Dionysus in Stony Mountain).

Richard is on thin ice at the school and this latest insubordination threatens his job; Sonja comes to demand he craft an apology to the students.

Its a bit of struggle to tie together the intellectual ideas connecting the two halves; a more overt parallel would give the second part more dramatic heft: as it is, listening to two smart people trade philosophical barbs is food for thought, but perhaps not theatrical gold.

That said, Sonja and Richard is an invigorating and thought-provoking work that signals a welcome return to live theatre.

jill.wilson@winnipegfreepress.com

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LANDMARK  Valentines Day is practically upon us, so lets kick things off with a yarn sure to warm your pulmonary arteries.

LANDMARK  Valentines Day is practically upon us, so lets kick things off with a yarn sure to warm your pulmonary arteries.

Gimli resident Pat McCallum was attending a craft show in her community a few months back when she happened upon a booth belonging to Gail Penner, an artist whose area of expertise is fashion jewelry made out of upcycled cutlery. McCallum learned that in addition to marketing her own, one-of-a-kind creations, Penner also accepts custom orders from people who want a prized knife or fork transformed into a necklace or pair of earrings.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gail Penner is an artist whose area of expertise is fashion jewelry made out of upcycled cutlery.

Dont go anywhere, she told Penner, before rushing home to fetch what remained of a set of silverware she received as a wedding gift in 1968.

"After discussion with her she made me 10 beautiful bracelets that I am giving to my nieces and other special people in my life," McCallum reports. "Each bracelet has been individually designed for each recipient. For example, one for a family friend who I often refer to as my adopted daughter has blue beads and a special charm (which) she is going to wear when she gets married as something old and something blue."

McCallum is thrilled her old silverware, which had been gathering dust in a basement cupboard, has been given a new lease on life. She adds that she hopes her loved ones think of her when they don theirs, in the years ahead.

Penner, 60, was born and raised in Landmark, located "26 minutes" east of Winnipeg. When she was three years old, her parents were involved in a horrific car crash that killed three of her seven brothers. Twenty-six minutes was how long it took relatives to ferry her to St. Boniface Hospital, where her mother and father spent weeks recovering from the accident, she explains.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS People all over the world have been creating jewelry and whatnot out of cutlery for years.

She and her surviving siblings were raised as Holdeman Mennonites, a conservative sect named for founding leader John Holdeman (1832  1900) that eschews modern conveniences such as television, radio and, according to church literature, "improper use of the internet." Also, attending school past Grade 9 is rare for girls, an edict that didnt sit well with Penner.

"Youre basically expected to get married and start having rugrats, which never would have worked for me. I dont cook, Im not much for cleaning; my poor kids wouldnt have survived," Penner, who never married and lives in a home two doors down from the one she grew up in, says with a chuckle.

She didnt have her parents permission but after getting her drivers licence at age 16, she completed high school in nearby Steinbach, where she became one of two graduating students to receive a scholastic scholarship from the University of Winnipeg.

For someone who wasnt even supposed to attend high school, Penner ended up doing quite well for herself, earning a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, to go along with four masters degrees.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Over time, Penner designed her own set of tools.

OK, heres a question: how does a person go from being a cancer research scientist at the University of Cincinnati, where she helped pen dozens of articles for various medical journals during her 20 years there, to transforming utilitarian objects into all manner of bling?

The answer to that begins when she was in her early 20s, and purchased a used camera from a family friend. (Cameras are also verboten if youre a Holdeman Mennonite, she points out, adding she, along with her parents, now both deceased, and an assortment of cousins were excommunicated from their church years ago.)

Around her university schedule, she enrolled in a beginners photography class that was being taught at a camera shop on Portage Avenue. She dabbled with the hobby on and off and at one point during her time in Ohio, she was invited to display some of her work at a neighbourhood Starbucks. To her amazement, six of her photographs, all winter scenes, sold. That settles it, she told herself; when her postdoctoral position ended in 2006, she would return to Landmark, and devote her full attention to becoming a professional photographer.

"I make 10 different (keychains) and  surprise, surprise  the middlefinger one is always my most requested."  Gail Penner

"Lets just say it came as a bit of a shock that  lo and behold  I wasnt able to make ends meet just by selling photos," she says, taking a sip of her Coke.

One of her brothers has an earth-moving business and for a while she helped him out by driving a grader. ("Why, thank you," she says, when we compliment her on her ultra-varied resume.)

Everything started to change for her in an artistic sense, however, when she was visiting a gift shop in B.C. and spotted a grasshopper fridge magnet that had been made out of what appeared to be an old fork. Now thats interesting, she thought. Faster than you can say Uri Geller, Penner began bending and manipulating pieces of cutlery she had sitting around the house, utilizing what she calls the science part of her brain to problem-solve and, over time, design her own set of tools.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Penner believes what sets her handiwork apart is an acute attention to detail.

Its not like she was re-inventing the wheel, she stresses. People all over the world have been creating jewelry and whatnot out of cutlery for years; in fact, spoon rings, among her bestsellers, reportedly date back to the Middle Ages, when servants short of resources would often pilfer a spoon from their employer, and use it to craft an engagement or wedding ring for their sweet baboo.

What sets her handiwork apart, she believes, is an acute attention to detail combined with a side of snark. Spread out on the table to her left is an assortment of keychains she made by bending individual tines to resemble a peace sign, an I-love-you sign even a Vulcan salutation, with the tines parted between the middle and ring "fingers." Yes, passers-by often have a what-the-fork look on their face, when they realize what her trinkets are made from, she says.

"I make 10 different (keychains) and  surprise, surprise  the middle-finger one is always my most requested."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Penners wares are available year-round at a number of spots around the province, including Lagasses Studio of Fine Arts in Souris, Inspire Studio in Minnedosa and Selkirks Gwen Fox Gallery.

In addition to craft shows and pop-up markets, Penners wares are available year-round at a number of spots around the province, including Lagasses Studio of Fine Arts in Souris, Inspire Studio in Minnedosa and Selkirks Gwen Fox Gallery. When shes not busy preparing for shows or fielding orders from as far away as the United States and Europe through her website, she can be found combing thrift stores and second-hand shops for flatware and sterling silver to add to the hundreds of kilograms of "stuff" currently stored in her two-car garage.

Very little goes to waste, she says, noting if something is nigh-on impossible to bend owing to how thick the plating is, shell gleefully use it to make wind chimes or Christmas tree ornaments instead.

Along with forever thinking of what to render next, Penner is presently tossing around ideas for a fresh moniker.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Penner combs thrift stores and second-hand shops for flatware and sterling silver.

Through Glass Images, the tag shes operated under for a little over 10 years, is a direct reference to her penchant for taking photos of flowers posed behind panes of stained glass. Shes hoping to come up with a more suitable handle, something better related to her jewelry, which has definitely become her bread and butter.

"I have a few things Ive been bouncing around, so well see what I ultimately settle on," she says, admitting she could probably try a little harder when shes naming her output, too.

"Maybe thats me being more a scientist than an artist, but no, I havent been too creative in that regard. This (bracelet), for example, I call, the one with lots of beads. This other one is stones across the wrist. Pretty pathetic, huh?"

For more information go to Through Glass Images on Facebook.

david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca

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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.
COUTTS, Alta. - A woman says her family members couldn't say goodbye to their dying mother because of protesters blocking the main U.S. border crossing in southern Alberta.

A truck convoy protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions blocks the highway at the busy U.S. border crossing near Coutts, Alta., on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. A woman says her family members couldnt say goodbye to their dying mother because of the demonstators. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

COUTTS, Alta. - A woman says her family members couldn't say goodbye to their dying mother because of protesters blocking the main U.S. border crossing in southern Alberta.

Megan Allan of Medicine Hat, Alta., said her aunts tried to come back to the province from Arizona when their 94-year-old mother's health took a turn for the worse.

They booked the soonest flight to Great Falls, Mont., with plans to pick up their vehicle and drive north through the Coutts border crossing, said Allan. On Jan. 31, the blockade forced them to drive to another entry point that opened at 8 a.m. the following day.

Their mother died earlier that morning.

"They would have made it if they could have gone through (Coutts)," said Allan, just before wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I understand that the truckers message is to be about freedom but their protest affected my family's freedom and my aunts will never get the chance to say goodbye."

She shared her story during an NDP press conference on Thursday where Alberta's Opposition called again on the United Conservative Party government to remove the illegal blockade that has been restricting, or outright blocking, access for nearly two weeks.

Demonstrators are protesting against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and broader public health restrictions. The blockade has been ongoing since Jan. 29.

Despite plans announced Tuesday by the Alberta government to phase out all COVID-19 measures, the blockade continued with "renewed resolve," said one of the lawyers representing the participants.

"Protesters are demanding concrete and immediate deadlines for the lifting of all lockdown and vaccine mandates, both provincial and federal," Calgary-based lawyer Chad Williamson said Wednesday.

RCMP Supt. Roberta McKale said vehicles continued to block the border Thursday with large convoys of commercial and personal vehicles at Coutts and further north near Milk River, Alta.

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McKale said Mounties are encouraging protesters to move to a field on the south edge of Milk River to essentially switch the protest from unlawful to lawful.

"We continue with that effort to try to convince people to make their way up there," she said. "There's not one person there right now."

RCMP began issuing tickets late Wednesday for various offences at Milk River, as well as to drivers who were parked illegally whose tickets will be sent by mail.

It's estimated more than 200 passenger and commercial vehicles, camper trailers and tractors are impeding traffic in Milk River. Another 100 vehicles are in Coutts, where the Alberta movement ignited.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2022.

 By Alanna Smith in Calgary
WINNIPEG - RCMP say they have not arrested or ticketed anyone involved in a blockade near the U.S. border crossing in southern Manitoba.

People block Highway 75 with heavy trucks and farm equipment to prevent access to the Manitoba-U.S. border crossing at Emerson, Man., on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Canada's public safety minister was to talk with the Manitoba government about the ongoing blockade. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG - RCMP say they have not arrested or ticketed anyone involved in a blockade near the U.S. border crossing in southern Manitoba.

Officers were at the protest near Emerson and were continuing to work with organizers to reach a peaceful resolution, the Mounties said in a statement Friday.

"The RCMP is on scene and will remain on scene until the situation at the border is resolved. We will continue to use discretion to guide our response to this evolving situation," said Chief Supt. Rob Hill.

"Let me stress that proper use of police discretion should not be confused with lack of enforcement. We always need to assess the situation at ground level and that may require us to wait for a lower-risk opportunity to do enforcement rather than inflame the situation."

Dozens of protesters set up a blockade about two kilometres north of the border on Thursday to show solidarity for similar protests in Ottawa and across the country calling for an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions.

RCMP have estimated there are about 50 semi-trailers, farm equipment and passenger vehicles that have blocked off access to the border, expect for emergency vehicles and livestock trucks.

On Thursday, members from the protest declined to speak with media.

Canada's public safety minister was to talk with the Manitoba government Friday about the blockade. Marco Mendicino said the province reached out to his office for assistance, but he wouldn't elaborate on what's being asked of the federal government.

Mendicino said he was pleased to see an agreement to allow livestock trade to continue, which will help minimize the protest's economic effect.

Ottawa will provide whatever resources it can to assist, but it's up to RCMP to enforce the law, he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that everything was on the table to bring illegal blockades to an end, but he couldn't say when that would happen because of fears of violence.

Also on Friday, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced that the province is speeding up plans to lift COVID-19 public health orders. The decision had nothing to do with an ongoing protest outside the legislature or the one near the border, she said.

Stefanson urged Trudeau to reach out to United States President Joe Biden now that the demonstrations have affected both countries.

"It's nothing that is unique to Manitoba," Stefanson said.

She said she also planned to talk to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

"There needs to be some sort of a plan on the part of the federal government to ensure that we can have the movement of goods across our border and that that's not curtailed in any way."

Trudeau said he spoke with Biden on Friday about the blockades that have affected both countries' economies and the flow of foreign funding to protesters.

The Canada Border Services Agency said it was still processing vehicles entering Canada at Emerson, but was urging travellers to use ports in Boissevain and Sprague, Man., or at North Portal in Saskatchewan.

RCMP said they were aware of multiple planned demonstrations throughout the province over the weekend, including on several highways.

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.

Police in Winnipeg said they were preparing for several demonstrations in the city, including a counter-protest at the legislature.

"Discussions with the organizers of these events continue," police said in a statement. "We strive to balance the right of everyone to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the rights of the general public, local residents and businesses to a safe environment."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2022.

 With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg

___

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship
A Winnipeg lawyer for nearly six decades, Greg Brodsky represented more than 1,000 clients in murder and manslaughter cases.

A Winnipeg lawyer for nearly six decades, Greg Brodsky represented more than 1,000 clients in murder and manslaughter cases.

His list of clients included headline-makers: Thomas Sophonow, Darren Morrissette, Robert Starr, and James Driskell. His work changed laws, including ones which help protect women who killed their spouses after years of suffering domestic abuse.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Veteran lawyer Robert Tapper, who knew Greg Brodsky (pictured above) for more than 50 years, said his death was the end of an era.

And the direction of his legal career came down to a flip of a coin.

Brodsky died Wednesday at 81, after a battle with supranuclear palsy.

Brodskys son Daniel, himself a defence counsel practicing in Toronto, said his dad (called to the bar in 1963) had been working at the Winnipeg Stock Exchange for two months, when his bosses contacted prominent criminal lawyer Harry Walsh.

"They said, we think he has an aptitude for criminal law," Daniel said Thursday. "(Walsh) said hell talk with him.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Dr. Henry Morgentaler, with lawyer Greg Brodsky at his side, being taken away from the Corydon Avenue clinic by city police in 1985.

"Greg and Hersh Wolch were hired at the same time, and (Walsh) said well hire both of you but one of you will be criminal and the other civil  I will flip a coin to decide."

As a result, Brodsky went on to be involved in more than 1,000 homicide cases (Daniel believes it ended up being 1,040). Wolch later went on to become a defence lawyer, too.

"Did he have any regrets?" said Daniel. "Hed say: if I choose the time to go it would be after my address to the jury and before I get the verdict.

Did he (Greg Brodsky) have any regrets? Hed say: if I choose the time to go it would be after my address to the jury and before I get the verdict."  Daniel, Greg Brodsky's son

"For more than 50 years, he had people say: you wont win this case He just loved the opportunity to turn the tide."

Brodsky was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Winnipeg with his family as a child. He later met his wife, Sylvia, and they were married Dec. 29, 1957. They were together for almost 62 years when she died in 2019.

For the defence: Greg Brodsky has represented more than 1,000 accused killers in the past 55 years After 55 years as a lawyer, Greg Brodsky has no plans to retire. "I'm doing what I love doing," he says. Posted: 7:00 PM May. 25, 2018 When someone in Manitoba is accused of murder, more times than not it is Greg Brodskys phone that rings. And it has been ringing constantly for more than five decades. Brodsky, now in his 55th year as a lawyer, recently reached a milestone few, if any, others will; he has now represented 1,000 clients in murder and manslaughter cases. Read Full Story

When Brodsky was called to the bar, he was just 22 and the death penalty was still an option for homicide cases.

Brodsky was the junior lawyer on his first homicide case.

Winnipeg police detective Ron Houston was on a stakeout in June 1970 for a sex assault suspect, when he was fatally stabbed by Thomas Shand.

Shand took the officers gun and shot him, also firing at and missing another officer. Later that year, Shand was found guilty.

"He got to hear his client was going to be hanged," said Daniel. "It was later commuted to life imprisonment."

Daniel said his dad always worked hard on cases and was working on future ones, even when he was waiting for a jury verdict.

"There was always one rule in the house," said Daniel. "You can do what you want to do, but not halfway. Dont do anything halfway. Do what you love."

While Brodsky was synonymous with representing people charged with homicide, for a number of years, Brodsky represented pro-choice advocate Dr. Henry Morgentaler during his push to convince the federal government to legalize abortions in Canada.

JEFF DE BOOY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES While Greg Brodsky was synonymous with representing people charged with homicide, for a number of years, he represented pro-choice advocate Dr. Henry Morgentaler during his push to convince the federal government to legalize abortions in Canada.

He even represented Bertha Rand, known as Winnipegs cat lady, who was charged numerous times in the 1960s and 1970s with having too many felines in her St. James neighbourhood house.

The province recognized Brodskys contributions to law, appointing him a Queens Counsel in 1977.

Outside the courtroom, Brodsky was a president of Skills Unlimited and Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.

Veteran lawyer Robert Tapper, who knew Brodsky for more than 50 years, said his death was "the end of an era."

Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said Brodskys death also marks a time "where these lions of the bar, as they were, are beginning to pass."

Highlights of Greg Brodskys legal career:  Angelique Lyn Lavallee  The Canadian precedent for the battered woman defence would be a career-defining case for any other lawyer, but it was just one of several Brodsky has been involved in that resulted in changes to the law. Lavallee shot her common-law husband, Kevin Rust, in 1986, to escape years of abuse.  Darren Morrissette  He, along with Robert Chaulk, was convicted in the 1985 slaying of 88-year-old George Haywood. The pair believed they were superhumans destined to rule the world and they killed Haywood as proof of their power. The case is cited as the leading decision on mental disorder defence. click to read more  Angelique Lyn Lavallee  The Canadian precedent for the battered woman defence would be a career-defining case for any other lawyer, but it was just one of several Brodsky has been involved in that resulted in changes to the law. Lavallee shot her common-law husband, Kevin Rust, in 1986, to escape years of abuse.  Darren Morrissette  He, along with Robert Chaulk, was convicted in the 1985 slaying of 88-year-old George Haywood. The pair believed they were superhumans destined to rule the world and they killed Haywood as proof of their power. The case is cited as the leading decision on mental disorder defence.  Robert Starr  He was convicted of first-degree murder in the execution-style slayings of Darlene Weselowski and Bernard Cook in 1994. But a new trial was ordered by the Supreme Court  and new instructions were given to trial judges to tell juries  when it was determined the trial judge gave the wrong standard of proof for what reasonable doubt means.  Thomas Sophonow  Brodsky defended him during his first two trials against a charge of killing doughnut shop server Barbara Stoppel just before Christmas in 1981. It was later determined Sophonow was wrongly convicted and he received $2.3 million in compensation from the province of Manitoba.  James Driskell  He was wrongfully convicted for the slaying of Perry Harder in 1991. DNA tests later discredited hair samples used at the trial. Years later, it was learned the Crown hadnt disclosed it paid thousands of dollars to two key witnesses who testified against Driskell. He was later awarded more than $4 million in compensation.  Frank Ostrowski  He has been fighting to clear his name since his 1987 conviction for the drug-related slaying of Robert Nieman in 1986. The former hairstylist and cocaine dealer spent 23 years in prison before being granted bail in 2009, after new information surfaced about a secret deal made with a key Crown witness. The federal government sent the case to the Manitoba Court of Appeal for review in 2014, saying there was a reasonable likelihood of a wrongful conviction. The court has yet to deliver a decision.  Jerry Stolar  Brodsky represented the former Winnipeg police officer who, with patrol partner Barry Nielsen, were convicted of killing Nielsens brother-in-law Paul Clear, and was later successful in getting the Appeal Court to ask for a new trial. Another lawyer took over the case and Stolar was convicted when a new witness came forward.  Edwin Dennis Proctor  Possibly Brodskys longest-term client. He was charged with the strangling death of Catherine Cluney in 1979, but he wasnt convicted until 1995. A judge ruled he was not fit to stand trial in 1980, and he was committed to the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. In 1994, a jury determined he could be tried.  Edward Andronovich  He was charged with killing his wife behind the Grant Park High School in 1990, but forensic evidence later proved he couldnt have committed the crime. Another man was eventually convicted of the slaying.  Vaughan Pollen  The Sturgeon Creek High School student shot and killed 16-year-old Ken Maitland in a classroom in 1978. Pollen, who was later found not guilty of the slaying by reason of insanity, pulled the trigger after weeks of taunting about being a fan of the rock band Kiss.  Andrea Giesbrecht  She was convicted of six counts of concealing a childs body and sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison for leaving decomposed remains of infants inside a rented storage locker. Brodsky convinced the Manitoba Court of Appeal to reduce the sentence to three years, arguing the original one was too long because she had been sentenced as if she had committed a violent crime even though she was never charged with one. Close

"There has seldom been a murder case in the city for a long time where the name Greg Brodsky wasnt in some way associated with it He was dogged, hard, hard working. He could be annoying in his insistence and sometimes ponderous approach to detail, but he didnt distinguish between cases. He would work as hard on a seemingly banal and mundane case as he would, some would consider, a much more exotic and serious case," Joyal said.

"I had great respect for his integrity and ethical approach to his practice. He really was old-school honest."

Defence counsel James Lockyer, a founding director of what is now known as Innocence Canada, said: "Greg was the defence lawyers defence lawyer He lived it, breathed it, loved it, enjoyed it."

"He is one of those who you know would never have prosecuted anyone and would never have wanted to be a judge. He always wanted to be there defending people, ideally in front of a jury if he could. There will never be anyone like him, certainly not in Manitoba and probably not in Canada," Lockyer said.

Lawyer Danny Gunn worked with Brodsky for 2 1/2 years, starting in 2001, after a half-decade with the Crowns office in Ontario.

JOE BRYKSA/WIINIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The province recognized Brodskys (right) contributions to law, appointing him a Queens Counsel in 1977.

"He basically gave me a crash course in what it was like to do defence work," Gunn said Thursday.

"The thing about Greg was he never gave up," he said. "He was such a strong believer in the job that we do and the idea that everybody deserved to be represented with dignity, that it was about the fight, that for the first time, people had someone fighting for them."

Brodsky was "more dedicated to the law than anyone I have ever been exposed to," said criminal defence lawyer Matt Gould, who joined Brodsky and Company in 2009, and is now a partner in the firm (Brodsky, Amy & Gould).

"Even when he was in the hospital the last couple of years he wanted to jump into whatever cases were going on," Gould said.

There was always one rule in the house. You can do what you want to do, but not halfway. Dont do anything halfway. Do what you love.  Daniel, Greg Brodsky's son

"It was always entertaining to be next to him when hed be discussing issues with the prosecutor, because he wasnt in your face about this stuff. He wouldnt say, Thats ridiculous, you dont know what youre talking about. He would just calmly go along but stick to his position, like a pit bull: very clear, but totally respectful, and you could see the Crowns walking into a trap sometimes."

Defence counsel Martin Glazer called Brodsky "the super star of the defence bar."

"He was always there for lawyers to seek advice. He was a trendsetter and a fighter to the finish. He was fearless, formidable and forceful I greatly admired him, and his passing is a great loss to the criminal law bar."

SUPPLIED When Greg Brodsky was called to the bar, he was just 22 and the death penalty was still an option for homicide cases.

Lawyers Scott Newman and Ryan Amy said Brodskys legacy is also throughout the provinces legal system.

"It is hard to understate the impact he had on the criminal bar and the bench  he had close to 50 years of articling students," said Newman.

"At one point, eight judges on the bench had articled with Greg," added Amy.

Brodskys funeral is Sunday at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.

He is survived by sons, Aaron and Daniel, four grandchildren, and other relatives.

 with files from Dean Pritchard

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

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Taxes are complex, and for small-business owners, freelancers and people with side gigs, theyre even more complex  especially now, as filers reckon with the tax effects of small-business relief programs and rule changes.

FILE - This Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 file photo shows part of a 1040 federal tax form printed from the Internal Revenue Service website, in Zelienople, Pa. Small-business owners, freelancers and people with side gigs can reduce their tax bills and their anxiety levels this tax-filing season by knowing the taxability rules for Paycheck Protection Program money, taking advantage of new deductions for business meals and mileage and putting money in tax-advantaged retirement accounts designed for self-employed people. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Taxes are complex, and for small-business owners, freelancers and people with side gigs, theyre even more complex  especially now, as filers reckon with the tax effects of small-business relief programs and rule changes.

But those new twists and turns can create some tax-saving opportunities, according to three tax pros. Here are seven things they say entrepreneurs and independent workers can do to lower their tax bills and their anxiety this filing season and in the year ahead.

1. DONT SWEAT THAT PPP MONEY

If your business received a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, and you qualified for forgiveness, the IRS generally doesnt consider the money part of your gross income. In addition, on your federal tax return, its usually OK to deduct the business expenses that you paid with the loan money.

The IRS has been clear, says Meredith Tucker, who leads the Entrepreneurial Services Group at accounting firm Kaufman Rossin in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

State-level tax rules may have a different stance on PPP taxability, however, so be sure to consult with a qualified tax pro.

2. EAT UP

For 2021 and 2022, the business meals deduction is up from 50% to 100% if the food and beverages are from a restaurant .That can include takeout and delivery. It doesnt have to be eaten on the premises, says Mark Luscombe, who is a federal tax analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.

But make sure youre getting your business meals from a restaurant. You cant get a deli tray from a grocery store and have it qualify, he adds.

3. WATCH THAT ODOMETER

If youre self-employed, you can get a tax deduction for every mile you drive for business purposes. In 2021, the rate was 56 cents per mile, and in 2022, the rate rose to 58.5 cents per mile. That means a 20-mile trip to meet a client might score a deduction of about $12 this tax year.

But dont guess here; the IRS may ask you to substantiate your mileage. The important thing, especially if you dont have an exclusive vehicle used just for businesses, is to keep a log, Luscombe says.

4. CAPITALIZE ON SPECIAL RETIREMENT OPTIONS

There are special tax breaks for retirement savings if you work for yourself. Solo 401(k)s, also called one-participant 401(k)s , are one example of IRS-blessed retirement accounts designed for self-employed people. They mimic many of the features of an employer-sponsored 401(k), including being able to sock money away pretax.

SEP IRAs are another option, and you have more time to contribute  especially if you get a tax extension, Tucker says. You can take the deduction on your 2021 taxes and not actually have to fund the retirement account until the extended due date of the return, which could be in September, October, she says.

5. LOOK AT WHATS SITTING IN YOUR HOME OFFICE

The home office deduction is a popular way to get a tax break on rent, utilities and other house-related expenses , but a home office can produce other tax breaks, too. If you commandeered an old table, computer or chair in 2021 for your home office and you havent already claimed it as a business expense, you may be able to deduct its current market value, says Sean DiMercurio, a certified public accountant at DiMercurio Advisors in Orlando, Florida.

For example, if you bought a laptop for $3,000 two years ago and now its worth $1,250, you may be able to claim a $1,250 deduction if you started using that laptop for your business this year, he says. This is something that is often missed by this group of taxpayers and is completely allowed, DiMercurio says. Be sure you have the receipts or proof of the original purchase, he adds.

6. GET READY NOW FOR NEW PAPERWORK IN 2022

Self-employed people already get a Form 1099-NEC from clients who pay them at least $600 a year, but if those clients are using Venmo, PayPal or similar payment platform to send the money, another tax form may start showing up for 2022.

Theyre going to get a 1099-NEC from the person they did independent contractor work for , and then from the payment processor  if it was paid by credit card or some electronic means  theyre also going to get a 1099-K for the same transaction , Luscombe says.

That means small-business owners will need to be extra organized in 2022. Its going to be a lot more paper and sorting out  making sure youre not double-reporting income, too, he says.

7. BE SERIOUS ABOUT BOOKKEEPING

If youre eating, sleeping, drinking or thinking about your business, chances are what youre doing is tax-deductible, DiMercurio says. Even a few cups of coffee can be tax-deductible under the right circumstances, and it can add up to big money in tax savings, he says.

But be sure to keep receipts and use accounting software so you have good records. Also, dont stretch the truth. Tax evasion is a felony. If you cant make the argument for a deduction or a credit without laughing  chances are its not really a good one, Tucker says.

_____________________________

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This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Tina Orem is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: torem@nerdwallet.com.

RELATED LINKS:

Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-accounting-software

What Is Form 1099-NEC for Non-Employee Compensation? https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-form-1099-nec

What Is a Solo 401(k)? Self-Employed Retirement Plans https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-solo-401k

What Is a SEP IRA? How SEP IRAs Work https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-sep-ira
Changes are on the horizon for Winnipegs largest airport thanks to an injection of funds from the federal government.

Changes are on the horizon for Winnipegs largest airport thanks to an injection of funds from the federal government.

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, which has seen record-low passenger volumes during the pandemic, will receive more than $5.3 million from Ottawa for infrastructure, federal ministers announced Thursday.

"As we look to a brighter future, Canadas airports will be essential to our economic recovery and keeping people connected," Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal said at a virtual news conference.

The money will be split five ways. A portion will go to upgraded security in the terminal, including closed circuit television and high-definition cameras in specific locations.

Some funding will be invested into a room for COVID-19 testing and screening for visitors; currently, a company conducts tests in a temporary site on the terminals top floor.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal

"The hope is to one day be able to do all of the travel shots and vaccinations people require (there)," Barry Rempel, the Winnipeg Airports Authoritys retiring president and CEO, said in an interview with the Free Press.

Additionally, there will be an airport personnel-specific testing facility outside the terminal. The sites wont be ready until late October because of city permitting and other processes, Rempel said.

Builders will erect a permanent structure for security screening on non-passenger vehicles near the terminal buildings exit.

Ottawas funds will also go to a vehicle access lane for processing cargo, and road repairs around the airport.

"The funds will go a long way to helping our community to grow," he said.

The hope is to one day be able to do all of the travel shots and vaccinations people require (there).  Barry Rempel

However, it will still take years for the travel hub to recover from COVID-19 era dropoff in traffic.

To date, the airport has lost around $162 million in revenue over the course of the pandemic, Rempel said.

"If things come back as weve forecast, itll probably be just shy of $170 million by the time we get through this," he said.

Things were accelerating pre-Omicron: visitor traffic was up to 43 per cent of 2019 levels until about mid-December, Rempel said. It dropped to 20 per cent and is now sitting around 30 per cent.

MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS FILES Barry Rempel, the Winnipeg Airports Authoritys retiring president and CEO.

"We dont foresee full recovery until probably late 2025, parts of it into 2026," Rempel said.

The airport has used over $75 million of its cash reserves  money it had saved pre-pandemic  and its had to borrow $100 million through the past two years, Rempel said.

Province funnels $1M to tourism sector The provincial government has funnelled $1 million into Manitobas tourism industry to spark economic recovery from COVID-19. Fifty businesses have received up to $25,000 each to operate new or existing tourism experiences, Travel Manitoba announced. click to read more The provincial government has funnelled $1 million into Manitobas tourism industry to spark economic recovery from COVID-19. Fifty businesses have received up to $25,000 each to operate new or existing tourism experiences, Travel Manitoba announced. Over 120 companies applied for the Tourism Innovation and Recovery Fund. The program, which launched in November, doubled its $500,000 budget because of demand. Discover Churchill, the Manitoba Museum, Oak Hammock Marsh and A Maze in Corn are among those to receive funding. The goal is to grow visitor spending in Manitoba by 50 per cent, to reach $2.5 billion by 2030, according to a news release from Travel Manitoba. The Crown corporation, the provincial government and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce are collaborating on a tourism strategy aimed at making their target a reality. Pre-pandemic, the tourism sector supported over 20,000 full-time jobs and contributed over $300 million to provincial revenue.  Gabrielle Piche Close

Passenger traffic accounts for about 90 per cent of the airports usual revenue. Nearly eighty per cent of its costs, including utilities and taxes, are fixed.

But, things are improving, Rempel noted. Countries across the ocean, including Australia, Switzerland and Sweden, have lifted travel restrictions.

"It will happen (here)," Rempel said. "The question just is, how soon is it going to happen?"

On Thursday, Rempel was flying home to Winnipeg after meeting with American carriers about bringing their planes back to the city. He said theyre hesitant to promise anything until Canadian restrictions lift.

Last summer, the federal government announced $7 million in funding to repave Winnipeg Richardson International Airports airfield and $5.7 million to maintain operations and air services.

New projects construction will begin this summer, Rempel said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com

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WASHINGTON - Escalating blockades at the Canada-U.S. border are weakening one of the most fragile links in the vital North American supply chain  a link that has nothing to do with transport trucks, highways or bridges.

Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin questions witnesses during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Sept. 17, 2020 in Washington. Slotkin complained Wednesday about a General Motors plant outside Lansing thats being starved of parts from Canada by the ongoing closure of the border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/POOL via AP-Chip Somodevilla

WASHINGTON - Escalating blockades at the Canada-U.S. border are weakening one of the most fragile links in the vital North American supply chain  a link that has nothing to do with transport trucks, highways or bridges.

Rather, it's the mood in the United States, particularly when it comes to issues like globalization, international trade and making things in America, that may pose the biggest danger over the long term.

Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin is angry that a General Motors plant outside Lansing is cutting shifts, starved of auto parts from Canada by the ongoing closure of the border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ont.

Her politically charged solution is the sort of thing that keeps Canadians up at night.

"It doesn't matter if it's an adversary or an ally  we can't be this reliant on parts coming from foreign countries," Slotkin tweeted Wednesday.

"The one thing that couldn't be more clear is that we have to bring American manufacturing back home to states like Michigan. If we don't, it's American workers like the folks at Delta Township who are left holding the bag."

She doubled down Friday, urging Canada to end the blockades before vowing "to continue the work that Michiganders have been pushing for over the last 30 years: bringing manufacturing of critical items back to the U.S. so we're not dependent on others for our economic security."

It's hardly a new sentiment. U.S. protectionism has been a fact of life, off and on, for decades. But even a year removed from Donald Trump's turbulent turn as president, it's very much on  thanks in large measure to Trump's successor.

And with Republicans anticipating a romp in November's midterm elections, embattled Democrats will take all the working-class talking points they can get.

"They'll use American parts, American iron, American steel," President Joe Biden gushed earlier this week as he announced Australian manufacturer Tritium's plan to build electric vehicle charging units in Tennessee.

"I made it clear from Day 1: when the federal government spends taxpayers' dollars, we're going to buy American: American products made in America, including American component parts."

Biden and Justin Trudeau spoke by phone Friday about the crisis, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that suggested the prime minister got an earful from the U.S. commander-in-chief.

"The president expressed his concern that United States companies and workers are experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours and plant closures," Psaki told the daily briefing.

"The prime minister promised quick action in enforcing the law."

Canada's not especially fussed about Biden's specific Buy American policies when it comes to federal infrastructure projects; it has negotiated carve-outs to those rules before, most recently under Barack Obama in 2009.

But experts warn that the drumbeat of protectionist rhetoric has an effect over time, particularly at the state and local level, where Canadian suppliers and contractors potentially face a more serious threat.

"The blockades not only strike against the rule of law that protects our rights and freedoms, but also undermine Canada's international reputation," business leaders wrote Friday in an open letter released by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"We are already hearing calls to move investment, contracts and production from Canada because of our inability to guarantee timely delivery to international customers."

Nor is it as simple as finding alternative customers and suppliers, warned Maryscott Greenwood, CEO of the Canadian American Business Council.

"The big risk and danger of the border uncertainty is that the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is one organism  you can't say, 'Well, we don't really need the heart, because we've got the lungs,'" Greenwood said.

"We have to get back to the point where the two countries together are figuring out how to keep the patient healthy."

Whatever the ailment, the symptoms  already familiar to Americans  are about to manifest themselves south of the border once again.

The White House, growing more seized by the day with the magnitude of the crisis, is urging Ottawa to use "federal powers" to end the blockade and bracing for similar protests to materialize at Sunday's Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

On right-wing social media and chat platforms like Gab and Gettr, talk is coalescing around plans for a similar "convoy" protest that would begin in California early next month before making its way to D.C. There is also scattered talk of trying to disrupt Sunday's Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

But in a country like the U.S., which is far more culturally and politically divided than Canada, the two sides are more evenly matched.

"It'd be great," firebrand Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday in an interview with the conservative Daily Signal website as he encouraged protesters to "clog up" U.S. cities.

"It'd be a nice change; we'd actually have some traffic."

White House officials say they have no evidence to suggest anything nefarious or criminal is in the works, and that their principal focus for now is clearing the border blockades.

Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg have been in regular touch with their Canadian counterparts, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

Liz Sherwood Randall, the White House national security adviser, also spoke late Thursday with Jody Thomas, Justin Trudeau's national security and intelligence adviser, officials in the Prime Minister's Office confirmed.

The auto-sector ties between Windsor and the U.S. are too strong, having been forged over more than a century, to be severed by a "singular event," said Flavio Volpe, president of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

But the longer-term effects of a protracted border shutdown could be costly, Volpe told a news conference Thursday as stakeholders in Windsor sought a court injunction to end the protest.

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"I do think If we don't take some action here  to clear the border, I think it may have some effect at least in the short to mid-term on whether new investments would favour Windsor over the other side of the bridge."

A hearing on the injunction was underway Friday in Windsor, the same day Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency and promised "severe" consequences for those who refuse to disperse.

Rakesh Naidu of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce said he's worried that if they continue much longer, the protests will have a chilling effect on U.S. enthusiasm for investing in and working with Canada.

"The concerns that we have are, what will the American customers, the American clients, think of the situation and will this lead to them rethinking the supply chain that extends into Canada," Naidu said.

"The American customers may look the other way and not want to have a concern like this come up in the future."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2022.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is expected to issue an executive order on Friday to move some $7 billion of the Afghan central banks assets frozen in the U.S. banking system to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to a U.S. official familiar with the decision.

President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House after stepping off Marine One, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Washington. Biden is returning from Culpeper, Va., where he promoted his administration's efforts to lower health care costs. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is expected to issue an executive order on Friday to move some $7 billion of the Afghan central banks assets frozen in the U.S. banking system to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to a U.S. official familiar with the decision.

The order will require U.S. financial institutions to facilitate access to $3.5 billion of assets for Afghan relief and basic needs. The other $3.5 billion would remain in the United States and be used to fund ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, the official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision had not been formally announced.

International funding to Afghanistan was suspended and billions of dollars of the countrys assets abroad, mostly in the United States, were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August.

The countrys long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the Taliban takeover. Nearly 80% of Afghanistans previous governments budget came from the international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries. Desperation for such basic necessities has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as health care shortages, drought and malnutrition.

The lack of funding has led to increased poverty, and aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. State employees, from doctors to teachers and administrative civil servants, havent been paid in months. Banks, meanwhile, have restricted how much money account holders can withdraw.

The official noted that U.S. courts where 9/11 victims have filed claims against the Taliban will also have to take action for the victims to be compensated.

The Justice Department had signaled several months ago that the Biden administration was poised to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims and families of victims in New York City by filing what's known as a statement of interest. The deadline for that filing had been pushed back until Friday because the department said the administration needed to resolve many complex and important issues that required consultation with numerous senior officials and executive agencies and components.

The executive order is expected to be signed by Biden later on Friday. The New York Times first reported on the coming order.

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The Taliban have called on the international community to release funds and help stave off a humanitarian disaster.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The rest is largely in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Qatar.

The Taliban are certain to oppose the split.

As of January the Taliban had managed to pay salaries of their ministries but were struggling to keep employees at work. They have promised to open schools for girls after the Afghan new year at the end of March, but humanitarian organizations are saying money is needed to pay teachers. Universities for women have reopened in several provinces with the Taliban saying the staggered opening will be completed by the end of February when all universities for women and men will open, a major concession to international demands.

___

Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed reporting.
CALGARY - Enbridge Inc. expects to settle on a new tolling plan for its Mainline pipeline system this summer, the Calgary-based company said Friday.

The Enbridge logo is shown at the company's annual meeting in Calgary on May 9, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - Enbridge Inc. expects to settle on a new tolling plan for its Mainline pipeline system this summer, the Calgary-based company said Friday.

The pipeline giant said it is consulting with industry about two potential options after its proposal to fill Canada's largest oil pipeline network through long-term contracts was rejected by the Canada Energy Regulator in November.

One scenario being advanced is an incentive rate-making agreement that may be similar to the Competitive Toll Settlement (CTS) agreement that expired on June 30, 2021, Enbridge chief executive Al Monaco said on a conference call with analysts Friday.

The other option is a cost-of-service application. Enbridge will be ready to submit an application for one of the two proposals for regulatory approval in the latter half of the year, the company said.

"The goal is to land on which option works best for our shippers and make sense for us," Monaco said. "As we've seen, shipper consensus is tough to achieve."

Enbridge's Mainline is Canada's largest oil pipeline system, moving over three million barrels per day of petroleum products to market. The pipeline provides about 70 per cent of the total oil pipeline transportation capacity out of Western Canada.

The pipeline's demand has exceeded capacity over the past few years, so Enbridge had applied to enter into long-term contracts for 90 per cent of the Mainline system's capacity.

Enbridge had argued firm contracts would give customers more predictable access to the pipeline, but some Canadian oil producers argued the proposed change would worsen the existing capacity constraints and could lead to lower oil prices.

In rejecting the proposal in November, the Canada Energy Regulator concluded Enbridge's proposal would dramatically change access to the pipeline. It said certain companies would benefit from long-term stability, but others would lose access to the pipeline.

Monaco told analysts Enbridge is "equally comfortable" with either an incentive agreement or a cost-of-service agreement. Right now, the company is collecting tolls consistent with what was in place under the CTS agreement when it expired in June, and will continue doing so until a replacement commercial framework is selected and implemented.

Ultimately, said Monaco, what oil shippers want  given the difficulty building new pipeline capacity in Canada  is certainty and the ability to move barrels at low cost.

"Everybody's been through the wringer on this over the last almost three, four years," Monaco said. "Toll certainty, but just generally certainty commercially for our customers is important, as it is for us. So everybody wants to move forward, I think."

Enbridge Inc. reported its fourth-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago.

The company says its profit attributable to common shareholders totalled $1.84 billion or 91 cents per share for the quarter ended Dec. 31. The result compared with a profit of $1.78 billion or 88 cents per share in the same quarter a year earlier.

On an adjusted basis, Enbridge says it earned 68 cents per share for the quarter compared with an adjusted profit of 56 cents per share in the final three months of 2020.

Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of 76 cents per share, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.

Enbridge says it's going ahead with a US$400-million plan to modernize compressor equipment in Texas that will increase safety and reliability of the system and reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions.

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It will also spend US$100 million to expand its Texas Eastern system to provide additional capacity to meet U.S. northeast demand for natural gas.

On the call, Monaco repeated his view that North America is facing an "energy crisis" due to demand driven by economic recovery as well as a significant shortfall in recent years of investment in both conventional and renewable energy projects.

"Not surprisingly, that brings energy shortages, higher fuel costs and, of course, inflation as you're seeing, which challenges competitiveness and economic growth," Monaco said, adding Enbridge is bullish on the outlook for traditional oil and gas, given current supply and demand conditions.

"Before the crisis, our view was that conventional energy will grow at least through 2035, and what's happening today just reinforces that view."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ENB)
PARIS (AP)  From all across France, protesters angry over pandemic restrictions drove toward Paris Friday in scattered convoys of camper vans, cars and trucks in an effort to defy a police ban and blockade the French capital.

People applaud a convoy departing for Paris, Friday, Feb.11, 2022 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Authorities in France and Belgium have banned road blockades threatened by groups organizing online against COVID-19 restrictions. The events are in part inspired by protesters in Canada. Citing "risks of trouble to public order," the Paris police department banned protests aimed at "blocking the capital" from Friday through Monday. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

PARIS (AP)  From all across France, protesters angry over pandemic restrictions drove toward Paris Friday in scattered convoys of camper vans, cars and trucks in an effort to defy a police ban and blockade the French capital.

Waving French flags and shouting freedom, the protesters organized online, galvanized in part by truckers who have blockaded Canadas capital and blocked border crossings. The French action has no single leader or goal, and comes as months of protests against French government vaccination rules have been waning.

Armored police vehicles, riot police vans and more than 7,000 police officers were deployed at tollbooths around Paris, the glamorous Champs-Elysee avenue and other key sites to try to prevent a blockade. Police stopped and checked select vehicles and threatened heavy fines and other punishments for those who defy the protest ban, which authorities said was necessary to prevent risk to public order.

Railing against the vaccination pass that France requires to enter restaurants and many other venues, protesters weaved toward Paris from north, south, east and west, waving and honking at onlookers from their car windows. Some convoys sought to avoid police detection by traveling local roads instead of the major highways leading into the capital.

Protesters gather for a convoy before heading to Paris, Friday, Feb.11, 2022 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Authorities in France and Belgium have banned road blockades threatened by groups organizing online against COVID-19 restrictions. The events are in part inspired by protesters in Canada. Citing "risks of trouble to public order," the Paris police department banned protests aimed at "blocking the capital" from Friday through Monday. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

By Friday night, it was unclear how many had managed to enter the city. Those who did plan to join protests in Paris on Saturday.

A French far right leader, Florian Philippot, sought to use the global attention to the Canadian trucker protest to reinvigorate his own small movement, which has been holding weekly rallies against vaccination rules and centrist President Emmanuel Macron for months.

You put armored vehicles in front of the people ... Free France isnt armored vehicles, its (freedom) convoys, he told a rally in southern Paris on Friday, where his followers held a freedom party and gathered bananas, chips and beer to provide to convoy drivers who havent yet arrived.

Some of the French protesters are threatening to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up there with drivers from other countries on Monday.

Belgian authorities also banned the threatened blockade, and a similar convoy planned for Friday in Vienna was canceled after authorities banned it.

A protestor holding a placard reading "Freedom convoy" poses in front of a armoured vehicle during a protest, in Paris, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Protesters angry over pandemic restrictions are driving toward Paris in scattered convoys of camper vans, cars and trucks to blockade the French capital despite a police ban. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

In France, dozens of cars left from a parking lot in the eastern city of Strasbourg on Friday, as scores of sympathizers brought them food and water and extra fuel, and cheered them on. A similar-sized group left from Lille, where one protester brandished a Canadian flag alongside the French tricolor. A smaller group gathered in the Loire Valley city of Orleans, among other cities.

Patrick Proisy, mayor of nearby Faches-Thumesnil, from the far-left Defiant France party, told The Associated Press: I have come here in moral solidarity to show them that there are also elected officials who support them.

Members of the convoy were wary of journalists or hesitant to speak on the record, out of fear of arrest. They embody a mix of causes.

Some sported yellow vests, a symbol of a French protest movement against perceived economic injustice which largely fizzled in 2019 after the government responded to some of the participants concerns.

One Lille protester who gave his name only as Cedric said he wasnt that concerned anymore about virus rules, but was joining the convoy for political reasons  notably a wish to see Macron unseated in the April presidential election.

Another, named Ludivine, said shes against the vaccine pass of course, and all QR codes, whatever they are, referring to the digital codes on the virus passes that have become a fixture of daily life in France.

Some chanted anti-capitalist slogans, or demanded more government aid.

At the Paris protest, Pierre-Louis Garnier sported a hat in the red-white-and-blue of the French flag, and shared his frustrations over health tyrants and the European Union, and his belief in some conspiracy theories. Frances vaccine pass and restrictions in other countries are being used to domesticate people, said Garnier, a 64-year-old from the Oise region north of Paris.

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The French protesters have shared images of truckers in Canada who have blockaded border crossings and paralyzed downtown Ottawa while demanding an end to their countrys COVID-19 restrictions, including a rule for all truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.

France has a very high vaccination rate, and the government is gradually easing mask requirements and other virus restrictions. However, after French hospitals and older adults were hit hard by repeated infection surges, Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday that it was too early for people to let down their guard.

___

Oleg Cetinic and Alex Turnbull in Orleans, Jean-Francois Badias in Strasbourg and Michel Spingler in Lille contributed.

___

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BERLIN (AP)  The German government's drugs czar has proposed raising the legal age when people can buy beer and wine from 16 to 18, and cracking down on alcohol and tobacco advertising.

BERLIN (AP)  The German government's drugs czar has proposed raising the legal age when people can buy beer and wine from 16 to 18, and cracking down on alcohol and tobacco advertising.

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Burkhard Blienert told the Welt daily in an interview published Friday that he believes there are many medical reasons to increase the purchase age even for lower-strength alcoholic beverages.

FILE - A young man stands in front of a shelve with hard liquor at a beverage market in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, June 15, 2007. The German government's drugs czar has proposed raising the age when people can buy beer and win from 16 to 18, and cracking down on alcohol and tobacco advertising. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

He was also quoted as saying that the rule allowing teens as young as 14 to drink beer, wine or champagne in the presence of their parents or guardians should be abolished.

Blienert said he favors significant restrictions on alcohol, tobacco and gambling advertising.

Conservatives expressed concern about the proposed change to the drinking age.

When a teenager drinks his first beer with dad that's much better than getting blind drunk at a party, Tino Sorge of the opposition Union bloc told the Rheinische Post daily.

Blienert, who was appointed by the new center-left government recently, has previously suggested allowing the controlled sale of cannabis.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany's Constitutional Court has refused to temporarily block the implementation of a coronavirus vaccine mandate for care and health workers that is due to come into force in mid-March.

FILE - A nurse gets ready before entering an isolation room with an intubated COVID-19 patient at the intensive care unit at the Westerstede Clinical Center in Westerstede, northwest Germany, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Germany's Constitutional Court has refused to temporarily block the implementation of a coronavirus vaccine mandate for care and health workers that's due to come into force in mid-March. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

BERLIN (AP)  Germany's Constitutional Court has refused to temporarily block the implementation of a coronavirus vaccine mandate for care and health workers that is due to come into force in mid-March.

The country's top court said Friday that it had rejected a bid to impose an injunction against the measure until a legal challenge against its constitutionality is formally reviewed. The Karlsruhe-based court received dozens of complaints after Parliament approved the measure late last year.

The German government welcomed the decision.

A vaccinated person has a minimal risk of side effects, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, an epidemiologist, wrote on Twitter. (The vaccination) protects elderly and sick people he cares for from death or serious illness.

Staff in nursing homes, hospitals and doctors' practices, physiotherapists and midwives have to prove by March 15 that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who fail to do so can be banned from working, to prevent vulnerable people from being infected by unvaccinated staff.

Lawmakers from the three governing parties on Friday also presented a first proposal for a universal vaccine mandate. The plan would require all adults in Germany to show upon request from Oct. 1 that they have received three vaccinations or recovered from COVID-19. Medical exemptions would be possible; the law would need to be reviewed every three months and automatically expire at the end of 2023.

Germany's main opposition party, the center-right Union bloc, has backed away from compulsory vaccinations, which were supported by its former leader former Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Christian Bernreiter, a regional official in the southern state of Bavaria, warned Friday that there could be a shortage of staff to care for older and disabled people if authorities enforce the vaccine mandate in the health care sector.

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Merkel's successor, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats, said Friday that he backed both the limited vaccine mandate for care and health workers, and the broader requirement for all to get shots.

Because the next fall and winter will again see a rise in infections the universal vaccinate mandate also makes sense, he said in a speech to the upper house of parliament.

Scholz said Germany had managed to get through the pandemic better than many of its European neighbors and indicated that some of the restrictions could be relaxed in spring. Federal and state officials are due to hold a meeting next week to discuss easing measures that largely locked unvaccinated people out of public life.

Germany's disease control agency reported more than 240,000 newly confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, and 226 deaths.

___

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NEW YORK (AP)  Several conservative media figures in the U.S. have taken up the cause of Canadian truckers who have occupied parts of Ottawa and blocked border crossings to protest COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.

This combination photo shows, from left, Tucker Carlson, host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight," and Sean Hannity, host of "Hannity" on Fox News. Several conservative media figures in the United States, including Carlson and Hannity, have taken up the cause of Canadian truckers who have occupied parts of Ottawa and blocked border crossings to protest COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates. (AP Photo/File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Several conservative media figures in the U.S. have taken up the cause of Canadian truckers who have occupied parts of Ottawa and blocked border crossings to protest COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.

Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity cheered the truckers on while showing four live reports from Ottawa this week. Tucker Carlson's online store is selling I (heart) Tucker T-shirts edited to say I (heart) Truckers.

Send our solidarity, love and support to all of the brave people who are there, Hannity told Fox reporter Sara Carter, who was with the protesters in Ottawa, on his show Thursday. Don't give up.

The Canadian protesters are protesting vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions and are railing against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though many of the countrys infection measures are already rapidly being lifted as the omicron surge levels off. The five-day blockade has disrupted the flow of goods between the U.S. and Canada and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production.

In a bulletin to local and state law enforcement officers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that it has received reports of similar protests being planned in the United States.

The agency said the protests could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend and potentially spread to Washington around the State of the Union address in March.

Between Jan. 18 through Thursday, Fox News Channel had devoted 10 hours and 8 minutes of airtime to the story, according to the liberal watchdog Media Matters for America, which frequently criticizes the network.

A senior Canadian government official said Friday that the Fox coverage has fanned the flames and contributed to misinformation about the protests in Canada.

The right-wing media in America have really gone in for totally inaccurate claims, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Canadian media doesnt repeat that misinformation the way the U.S. media does.

Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire said on his show, sitting in front of a headline that said Canadians were fed up with Trudeau, that mandates had to stop. The protesters are particularly upset about a requirement that all truck drivers entering the country be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. An estimated 90 percent of Canadian truckers already are.

Nobody wants giant bridges shut down, Shapiro said. Obstructing traffic is bad no matter what you are protesting for. However, the cause of this protest happens to be righteous.

The lead story on the Red State website for a time Thursday was headlined, East Bound and Down: US Truck Convoy is Being Planned, Could Be Headed to DC. Reporter Sarah Lee mocked a very silly piece in Politico that included a quote from an analyst who works for a think tank that tracks extremism, who noted worrying parallels to the buildup before the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Hannity's support for what Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford has called an occupation comes after months where he decried violence and destruction of property at some Black Lives Matter protests in the United States.

The difference, Hannity asserted, is the Canadian Freedom Convoy is peaceful. On Monday, Hannity interviewed a reporter from the conservative website Rebel News, who described the Ottawa protest site as a family environment and like a Canada Day festival every day.

The protests have been largely peaceful, although some residents have complained of harassment and there is an arson investigation tied to one incident. Shapiro said critics of the truckers are guilty of nutpacking, or focusing on a crazed person and linking them to the entire protest movement.

It's a familiar tactic in politics: pointing to a more extreme position held by a member of an opposition party and saying it represents everyone.

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Lara Trump, the former U.S. president's daughter-in-law and a Fox News contributor, offered her support for the truckers on Hannity's show Tuesday.

Right here in America, people are cheering them on, because this is about freedom, she said.

In a lengthy monologue on his show this week, Carlson suggested that it was inconsistent for the intellectual elite to largely support protest movements started by workers yet oppose this one. He said that many times trends start in the United States and move to Canada, but this time the opposite could happen.

The trucker convoy in Canada is pretty cool, he said. People getting together to promote human rights. Who's against that?

___

Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
A team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) in Chile have found evidence of another planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System.

This candidate planet is the third detected in the system and the lightest yet discovered orbiting this star. At just a quarter of Earth's mass, the planet is also one of the lightest exoplanets ever found.

"The discovery shows that our closest stellar neighbour seems to be packed with interesting new worlds, within reach of further study and future exploration," explains Joao Faria, a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco, Portugal and lead author of the study published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun, lying just over four light-years away.

The newly discovered planet, named Proxima d, orbits Proxima Centauri at a distance of about four million kilometres, less than a tenth of Mercury's distance from the Sun. It orbits between the star and the habitable zone -- the area around a star where liquid water can exist at the surface of a planet -- and takes just five days to complete one orbit around Proxima Centauri.

The star is already known to host two other planets: Proxima b, a planet with a mass comparable to that of Earth that orbits the star every 11 days and is within the habitable zone, and candidate Proxima c, which is on a longer five-year orbit around the star.

Proxima b was discovered a few years ago using the HARPS instrument on ESO's 3.6-metre telescope. The discovery was confirmed in 2020 when scientists observed the Proxima system with a new instrument on ESO's VLT that had greater precision, the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO). It was during these more recent VLT observations that astronomers spotted the first hints of a signal corresponding to an object with a five-day orbit. As the signal was so weak, the team had to conduct follow-up observations with ESPRESSO to confirm that it was due to a planet, and not simply a result of changes in the star itself.

"After obtaining new observations, we were able to confirm this signal as a new planet candidate," Faria says. "I was excited by the challenge of detecting such a small signal and, by doing so, discovering an exoplanet so close to Earth."

At just a quarter of the mass of Earth, Proxima d is the lightest exoplanet ever measured using the radial velocity technique, surpassing a planet recently discovered in the L 98-59 planetary system. The technique works by picking up tiny wobbles in the motion of a star created by an orbiting planet's gravitational pull. The effect of Proxima d's gravity is so small that it only causes Proxima Centauri to move back and forth at around 40 centimetres per second (1.44 kilometres per hour).

"This achievement is extremely important," says Pedro Figueira, ESPRESSO instrument scientist at ESO in Chile. "It shows that the radial velocity technique has the potential to unveil a population of light planets, like our own, that are expected to be the most abundant in our galaxy and that can potentially host life as we know it."

"This result clearly shows what ESPRESSO is capable of and makes me wonder about what it will be able to find in the future," Faria adds.

ESPRESSO's search for other worlds will be complemented by ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in the Atacama Desert, which will be crucial to discovering and studying many more planets around nearby stars.

More information

This research was presented in the paper "A candidate short-period sub-Earth orbiting Proxima Centauri" (doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202142337) to appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Friday blocked the Biden administrations attempt to put greater emphasis on potential damage from greenhouse gas emissions when creating rules for polluting industries.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. A federal judge in Louisiana on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, blocked the Biden administration's move to increase the government's cost estimate of future damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions, a key component of federal rules for oil and gas drilling, automobiles and other industries. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Friday blocked the Biden administrations attempt to put greater emphasis on potential damage from greenhouse gas emissions when creating rules for polluting industries.

U.S. District Judge James Cain of the Western District of Louisiana sided with Republican attorneys general from energy producing states who said the administration's action to raise the cost estimate of carbon emissions threatened to drive up energy costs while decreasing state revenues from energy production.

The judge issued an injunction that bars the Biden administration from using the higher cost estimate, which puts a dollar value on damages caused by every additional ton of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.

President Joe Biden on his first day in office restored the climate cost estimate to about $51 per ton of carbon dioxide emissions after the Trump administration had reduced the figure to about $7 or less per ton. Former President Donald Trump's estimate included only damages felt in the U.S. versus the global damages captured in higher estimates that were previously used under the Obama administration.

The estimate would be used to shape future rules for oil and gas drilling, automobiles, and other industries. Using a higher cost estimate would help justify reductions in planet-warming emissions, by making the benefits more likely to outweigh the expenses of complying with new rules.

Known as the social cost of carbon, the damage figure uses economic models to capture impacts from rising sea levels, recurring droughts and other consequences of climate change. The $51 estimate was first established in 2016 and used to justify major rules such as the Clean Power Plan  former President Barack Obama's signature effort to address climate change by tightening emissions standards from coal-fired power plants  and separate rules imposing tougher vehicle emission standards.

The Supreme Court blocked the Clean Power Plan before it ever took effect, and a more lenient rule imposed by the Trump administration was later thrown out by a federal appeals court.

FILE - Emissions rise from the smokestacks at the Jeffrey Energy Center coal power plant as the suns sets, near Emmett, Kan., Sept. 18, 2021. A federal judge in Louisiana on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, blocked the Biden administration's move to increase the government's cost estimate of future damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions, a key component of federal rules for oil and gas drilling, automobiles and other industries. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The carbon cost estimate had not yet been used very much under Biden, but is being considered in a pending environmental review of oil and gas lease sales in western states.

In Friday's ruling, Cain wrote that using the climate damage figure in oil and gas lease reviews would artificially increase the cost estimates of lease sales" and cause direct harm to energy producing states.

Economist Michael Greenstone, who helped establish the social cost of carbon while working in the Obama administration, said if the ruling stands, it would signal the U.S. is again unwilling to confront climate change.

The social cost of carbon guides the stringency of climate policy, said the University of Chicago professor. Setting it to near-zero Trump administration levels effectively removes all the teeth from climate regulations.

Republican attorneys general led by Louisiana's Jeff Landry said the Biden administration's revival of the higher estimate was illegal and exceeded its authority by basing the figure on global considerations. The other states whose officials sued are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Landry's office issued a statement calling Cains ruling a major win for nearly every aspect of Louisianas economy and culture.

Bidens executive order was an attempt by the government to take over and tax the people based on winners and losers chosen by the government, the statement said.

The White House referred questions to the Justice Department, which declined to comment.

Federal officials began developing climate damage cost estimates more than a decade ago after environmentalists successfully sued the government for not taking greenhouse gas emissions into account when setting vehicle mileage standards, said Max Sarinsky, a professor at the New York University School of Law.

Not fully accounting for carbon damages would skew any cost-benefit analysis of a proposed rule in favor of industry, he said, adding that the social cost of carbon had been instrumental in allowing agencies to accurately judge how their rules affect the climate.

Without a proper valuation of climate impact, it would complicate agencies good faith efforts to make reasoned conclusions, Sarinsky said.

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A federal judge in Missouri last year had sided with the administration in a similar challenge from another group of Republican states. In that case, the judge said the Republicans lacked standing to bring their lawsuit because they had yet to suffer any harm under Bidens order.

Friday's ruling by Cain, a Trump appointee, follows a ruling by another Louisiana judge last summer that struck down a separate Biden attempt to address greenhouse gas emissions by suspending new oil and gas leases on federal lands and water. The judge in that case, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, is also a Trump appointee.

In a sign of the shifting politics on the issue, a federal judge in Washington rejected a lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico conducted largely in response to Doughty's ruling.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, an Obama appointee, threw out the lease sale, saying the administration did not adequately take into account its effect on greenhouse gas emissions.

____

Brown reported from Billings, Montana, and McGill from New Orleans.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Friday escalated dire warnings of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could happen at any moment, even as emergency diplomatic efforts continued. Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.

Ukrainian servicemen walk on an armored fighting vehicle during an exercise in a Joint Forces Operation controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. A peace agreement for the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine that has never quite ended is back in the spotlight amid a Russian military buildup near the country's borders and rising tensions about whether Moscow will invade.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Friday escalated dire warnings of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could happen at any moment, even as emergency diplomatic efforts continued. Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.

As diplomatic options for averting war in Ukraine appeared to narrow, the White House said President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss the crisis by phone on Saturday.

Biden has said the U.S. military will not enter a war in Ukraine, but he has promised severe economic sanctions against Moscow, in concert with international allies.

US soldiers line up during the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, eastern Romania, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Stoltenberg paid an official visit to Romania on Friday, where he joined the countrys president at a military airbase that will host some of the 1,000 U.S. troops deployed to the country as the alliance bolsters its forces on the eastern flank as tensions soar between Russia and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

U.S. officials said anew they don't know whether Putin has decided to invade but that his buildup of offensive air, land and sea firepower near Ukraine has reached the point where he could start an invasion on short notice. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, urged all Americans in Ukraine to leave within the next 48 hours, emphasizing that they should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.

Several NATO allies including Britain, Norway and Denmark also are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine.

Sullivan said Russian military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.

"Yes, it is an urgent message because we are in an urgent situation, he told reporters at the White House.

Ukrainian servicemen load Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, into a military trucks at the Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday the Ukraine crisis has grown into "the most dangerous moment" for Europe in decades, while his top diplomat held icy talks with her Moscow counterpart who said the Kremlin won't accept lectures from the West. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action, Sullivan said, adding, "Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine. He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.

Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.

The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.

In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine's eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

An Ukrainian serviceman flashes the V for victory sign during unpacking shipment of military aid delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, at the Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday the Ukraine crisis has grown into "the most dangerous moment" for Europe in decades, while his top diplomat held icy talks with her Moscow counterpart who said the Kremlin won't accept lectures from the West. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Sullivan's stark warning accelerated the projected timeframe for a potential invasion, which many analysts have believed was unlikely until after the Winter Olympics in China end on Feb. 20. Sullivan said the combination of a further Russian troop buildup on Ukraine's borders and unspecified intelligence indicators have prompted the administration to warn that war could begin any time.

We cant pinpoint the day at this point, and we cant pinpoint the hour, but that is a very, very distinct possibility, Sullivan said.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conferred by phone with several of his NATO counterparts. Echoing Sullivans public remarks, Austin told them a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time, Kirby said.

Biden has said U.S. troops will not enter Ukraine to contest any Russian invasion, but he has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO's eastern flank. On Friday the Pentagon said Biden ordered a further 3,000 soldiers to Poland, on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. Together they form an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.

A woman holds a child's hand as they cross from Ukrainian government to pro-Russian separatists controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point which is open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. The chill of a Cold War hung over Eastern Europe again Friday, with Russian maneuvers and drills close to Ukraine, and NATO's chief boosting troop morale on the Black Sea.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke by phone Friday with his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov. Milley's office provided no details beyond saying the two men discussed several security-related issues of concern. Milley also had phone calls with several of his counterparts from NATO countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland and Romania.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was traveling in Australia, was the first senior U.S. official to say publicly that an invasion could come before the end of the Olympics.

Sullivan would not discuss the intelligence details behind the U.S. assessment and denied a report that American officials believe Putin has made the decision to invade. But he said U.S. officials believe there is a strong possibility of an invasion.

We believe he very well may give the final go order," Sullivan said. "It may well happen soon.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan gives an update about Ukraine during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Biden spoke to a number of European leaders on Friday to underscore the concerns raised by U.S. intelligence about the potential imminence of a Russian invasion. Sullivan said the Western leaders were completely united and would respond harshly to a Russian invasion with devastating economic and trade sanctions.

Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace, visited Moscow a day after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss held frosty talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and urged him to pull back Russia's troops near Ukraine. Lavrov characterized that meeting as a conversation between deaf and dumb."

Russia opened massive war games in Belarus on Thursday that are due to run through next weekend but says it has no plans to invade Ukraine.

The Russians are insisting that the West keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe  demands flatly rejected by the West.

President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington to travel to Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Speaking at the start of his talks with Britain's Wallace, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the military-political situation in Europe is growing increasingly tense, and it's not our fault.

Shoigu said that shipments of weapons to Ukraine by the U.S., Britain and other allies have contributed to the tensions and pointed to the recent deployment of British soldiers to Ukraine, asking why they were sent and how long they would stay.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Wallace said the anti-tank missiles that Britain sent to Ukraine were defensive tactical weapons that do not pose a threat to any neighbor unless it invades.

He described the talks as constructive and frank and noted his Russian counterpart's assurances that Moscow has no intention to attack Ukraine. But he also emphasized that the concentration of Russian troops near Ukrainian territory is clearly beyond normal exercising."

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Russias troop concentration includes forces deployed on the territory of its ally Belarus for massive joint drills involving firing live ammunition. Those exercises entered a decisive phase Thursday and will run through Feb. 20. The Ukrainian capital is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the Belarus border.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited a military base in Romania, hailing the deployment of additional U.S. troops as a powerful demonstration of trans-Atlantic unity.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraines Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.

___

Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.
OTTAWA - Government officials invoked stronger measures Friday to stop illegal blockades that were paralyzing the national capital and halting traffic at Canada's busiest border crossing with the United States.

Protestors gather along Wellington Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns reaches its 14th day, in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

OTTAWA - Government officials invoked stronger measures Friday to stop illegal blockades that were paralyzing the national capital and halting traffic at Canada's busiest border crossing with the United States.

The City of Ottawa went to court for an injunction to enforce bylaws while Ontario declared a state of emergency that will allow for hefty fines and jail time.

Even so, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would not venture to say when the crisis might end, and antigovernment protesters railing against COVID-19 measures seemed unfazed by the latest efforts to rein them in.

"Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end and it will end," Trudeau said.

"Of course, I can't say too much more now as to exactly when or how this ends because, unfortunately, we are concerned about violence. So we're taking every precaution to keep people safe."

Jurisdictional battles and partisan tensions also appeared to be hindering collaboration on resolving the disruptions dragging into a third weekend in Ottawa and almost a full week at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont.

The Ottawa protest is billed by many involved as a demand to end all COVID-19 restrictions, but various people leading the fight have also said they want to oust the democratically elected Liberal government, suggesting several different but illegal methods for doing so.

City of Ottawa solicitor David White said the city had asked for a court injunction against the "flagrant and repeated violations" of bylaws against noise, idling, fireworks, open air fires, encroachments on city highways and illegal use of parks and facilities.

Protesters, including many with large trucks, have turned the streets around Parliament Hill into a party pit, blasting music, setting up barbecues and mini-kitchens, burning fires in the streets, setting off fireworks into the wee hours, and idling endlessly, spewing diesel fumes into the air.

White said bylaw officers have been unable to enforce the laws because of safety concerns, and even when tickets were issued, it did not stop the behaviour.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency that will allow his cabinet to impose $100,000 fines and up to one year in jail as punishments against people who continue to illegally block roads, bridges, walkways and other critical infrastructure.

Both Ford and Trudeau told protesters if they don't go home the sanctions they face could ruin their lives.

"You now need to understand you're breaking laws," Trudeau said. "The consequences are becoming more and more severe. You don't want to end up losing your licence, end up with a criminal record which will impact your job, your livelihood, even your ability to travel internationally, including to the U.S."

Even as he spoke on Parliament Hill, protesters were outside dancing in the streets, undeterred in the slightest by the threats.

From the cab of a truck on Wellington Street, Tyler Armstrong said he had been in town for two weeks and won't leave "until we get our freedoms back."

I believe in karma, like very heavily ... I stand by my decision, so whatever happens (is) going to happen and Im prepared to face any consequence," he said.

Bethan Nodwell, a nurse from Quebec, mocked Ford for telling protesters to go home and called for more border crossings to be blocked.

She also cheered the fact that Alberta, Saskatchewan and now Manitoba have announced plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Ford said Friday a plan to do so in Ontario is coming based on public health expertise, not the demands of protesters.

By Friday evening, protesters on Parliament Hill had set up a large screen and stage lights on a flat-bed truck. A crowd gathered listening to live music as the screen displayed a Canada flag.

Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly said Friday the biggest limitation on his force's ability to end the crisis is a lack of officers, adding he had no response to his request for 1,800 personnel from the RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police.

Trudeau said the RCMP and OPP had carefully examined the request "to look at what exactly the plan is, what is exactly needed  and what is needed is being provided to be able to move through this in a peaceful responsible way."

Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden about the crisis Friday morning. The Americans have said Canada must fix the problem at the border crossings because it is hampering trade. In addition to the Ambassador Bridge, border crossings at Emerson, Man., and Coutts, Alta., are being blockaded.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in Washington that Biden told Trudeau the blockades are hurting American companies and workers. Trudeau said he talked to Biden about the Americans involved in the crisis, including some demonstrating in person, others helping to fund protests and still others flooding Ottawa with fake 911 calls to distract police.

Trudeau said almost half the funds flowing to the protesters are coming from American sources. Ontario got a court injunction Thursday blocking the distribution of those funds, and the prime minister said Canadian banks were monitoring the situation very closely.

Trudeau did not rule out eventually ordering the military to help but said using soldiers against civilians should be avoided.

"We are a long way from ever having to call in the military," he said. "Although, of course, we have to be ready for any eventuality. But it is not something we are seriously contemplating."

While publicly most politicians say they want the protests to end, tensions between the federal and provincial governments have been mounting. Ottawa tried to hold trilateral meetings with the province and city this week, but the province refused to attend.

A senior provincial government source, who spoke on condition they not be identified, said provincial ministers were already talking to their federal counterparts and the so-called "trilateral table" was not going to add any value.

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Two sources close to the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters not public, told The Canadian Press a phone call Wednesday between federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Ontario Transport Minister Caroline Mulroney was extremely tense.

Alghabra said five days ago he planned to talk to Mulroney about using provincial powers over highways to revoke commercial truck licences and go after their insurance, and raised that in the call, but the sources said Mulroney only wanted to hear what Ottawa would do.

The federal government doesn't have the authority to stop protests on provincial highways, but the province does, said one of the sources who spoke about the call between Alghabra and Mulroney.

On Friday Mulroney tweeted that the province's decision to invoke a state of emergency came because the federal government wouldn't do anything.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2022.

 With files from Allison Jones
The City of Winnipeg will explore a potential court injunction against the anti-mandate protest that has delayed traffic and created excessive noise in downtown Winnipeg.

The City of Winnipeg will explore a potential court injunction against the anti-mandate protest that has delayed traffic and created excessive noise in downtown Winnipeg.

On Thursday, council directed the citys chief administrative officer to explore court proceedings that could restore "common order" in the Broadway and Memorial Boulevard area, where protesters of the so-called "freedom convoy" have been demonstrating since Feb 4.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg chief administrative officer, Michael Jack, was in council to answer questions from members.

"An injunction is the most effective action to achieve order. It gives the power to the police to intensify their approach to whats happening downtown," said Coun. Kevin Klein, who raised the call for the city to investigate its legal options.

The successful motion stressed the key aim would be to tackle the "excessive noise and vehicle disruptions."

Klein believes the protest in front of the Manitoba legislature has led to increased police overtime and local business losses. Officials noted the city also provided extra snow plowing around the protest site to reduce the risk to vehicles and pedestrians.

The Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood councillor said that shows the City of Winnipeg, and not just its residents, have been negatively affected by the demonstration.

Thursdays special council meeting was convened specifically to respond to the protest. Several council members noted downtown residents have complained vehicles honking and other loud noises are disrupting their sleep, while traffic is impeded by barricades and closed lanes.

CAO Michael Jack told council police are leading the response to any bylaw infractions, due to safety concerns about involving civic parking and bylaw enforcement officers.

"In a protest site where there could be up to 1,000 people, it wouldnt be advisable to be sending our officers in there in a way that might antagonize or inflame," said Jack.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg city councillor Kevin Klein, Charleswood.

Winnipeg Police Service declined comment Thursday about its enforcement efforts.

Meanwhile, council also supported Coun. Sherri Rollins motion to ask the public service to recommend "significant fine increases" for "noise nuisance" offences that last for more than 24 hours, as well as any offences that obstruct or impede emergency vehicles.

The motion also calls for the CAO to ask the Manitoba government to consider hiking its fines for similar traffic offences. Council approval would still be required to implement specific changes.

Rollins also moved a successful motion to ask the Winnipeg Police Board to review police protest policies, including on public communication.

Mayor Brian Bowman said hes not immediately sure how long it will take to determine which legal options are available to the city or what fine hikes it could consider.

"I dont think theres an expectation that an injunction will be resulting in the coming days. I think that would be an unrealistic expectation," said Bowman.

In an email, city communications director Felicia Wiltshire said there is no set timeline for a public service response to Thursdays council decisions, though the potential court matter "will receive the highest priority."

The mayor repeatedly urged protesters to end their "occupation" of local streets as soon as possible.

"Hopefully, by the time (the CAO) comes back with (the requested) advice, it will be moot and it wont be necessary," said Bowman.

The protest aims to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers, among other demands to end public health restrictions, with similar demonstrations taking place in other Canadian communities.

Locally, the demonstrators appear to be settling in, with plenty of firewood, food, portable toilets, and equipment gathered at the site.

An earlier motion the mayor had raised would have had council ask the province and police to make every effort to ensure compliance with traffic and noise bylaws. It was replaced, however, after some councillors criticized it for lacking more tangible action.

In a written statement, the "Winnipeg freedom convoy" protesters thanked council for acknowledging the general right to protest, noting they feel compelled to address "the harm caused by the COVID-19 mandates in our province."

The group also promised to move vehicles away from an area crosswalk and ask all participants to limit honking to two minutes per hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

"We have taken a proactive approach to ensure the rally is both peaceful and respectful, and we have been working to comply with all requests made by the Winnipeg Police," the statement said.

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On Thursday afternoon, Premier Heather Stefanson said her government will not order police to take specific enforcement measures.

"As a provincial government, we do not have jurisdiction, nor would it be appropriate, to interfere with civic protests or police operations. However, we remain in regular communication with the mayor and City of Winnipeg officials We have full confidence in the front-line officers of the Winnipeg Police Service to maintain order on Winnipeg streets," Stefanson said in an emailed statement.

In a joint evening release, Stefanson and Bowman said they met virtually Thursday to discuss the ongoing protest in the legislature area.

The premier and mayor "agreed to keep the lines of communication open, as well as keeping all options open going forward," the statement said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
#GOFORTHEGOALS is the call for the 2022 International Development Week (IDW). But with the three Cs being major reasons for increasing hunger  conflict, climate and COVID-19  are we still on track?

Opinion

#GOFORTHEGOALS is the call for the 2022 International Development Week (IDW). But with the three Cs being major reasons for increasing hunger  conflict, climate and COVID-19  are we still on track?

IDW happens annually on the first full week of February, to mark Canadas international development efforts.

When IDW began in 1991, across the world in Lebanon, Alice was 44 years old. She is now a 65-year-old widow helping raise her seven grandchildren  all under nine years old  who live with her in a two-bedroom home.

Before October 2020, she struggled to provide the children with one or two meals a day. One grandchild was suffering from malnutrition. Alice now receives food vouchers with which she buys her grandchildren nutrient-rich foods such as meat, milk and fruit.

As we mark IDW 2022 and the generosity of Canadians helping others around the world, we think of Alice and millions of others who still struggle to meet their basic needs.

#GofortheGoals reminds us that we are not there yet. In 2015, Canada and other UN member states adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals to achieve by 2030. While an ambitious undertaking, these 17 goals are a much-needed commitment to health and prosperity for all of us, and the Earth.

The second goal is Zero Hunger by 2030. Targets for zero hunger include ending all forms of malnutrition and increasing sustainable and resilient agricultural productivity. With eight years to go, how close are we to zero hunger? Not close  in fact, a little bit further back than we were in 2015. The three Cs  conflict, climate and COVID-19  are major reasons for increasing hunger.

In 2020, conflict was the main cause of severe hunger for 99.1 million people in 23 countries or territories. I met Jamima in 2019 in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda. This was the fourth time the conflict in South Sudan had forced her to flee to safety. Against a backdrop of arid land in shimmering heat, she and other refugees reminisced about the vegetables they used to grow and eat back home when there was peace.

The longer the conflict lasts, the worse hunger gets. For example, in 2020, of the 10 countries with the largest number of malnourished children (low weight for height), eight were in long-lasting conflicts. Conflict also prevents the delivery of humanitarian food and health services, and in extreme cases can lead to famine.

Famine was declared in some areas of southern Somalia from August to September 2011, and in parts of South Sudan in January 2017. Conflict not only disrupts food production and destroys the economy; conflict actors can also block humanitarian responses, making bad hunger situations worse.

Climate extremes also contribute to famine. In 2021, thousands in Madagascar were experiencing famine-like conditions caused by persistent drought. Drought contributed to the 2011 famine in areas of southern Somalia. Climate change is expected to result in reduced crop yields in some areas, lower nutrition in some crops, and increased incidence of pests and disease.

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The last C, and the most widely experienced, is COVID-19. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, many lost their sources of income and global food-supply chains broke down. Two years later, many of us are still feeling the repercussions of the pandemic on our health and the economy. But for millions, the pandemic has affected the availability and access to sufficient quantities of nutritious food.

To the already food-insecure, the impacts of COVID-19 have been dire. In Colombias Guajira desert, a local organization providing emergency food assistance to Venezuelan migrants saw an increase in hunger. People in the desert cannot grow their own food, and must depend on groceries delivered from the interior. Pandemic restrictions have led to the loss of jobs and higher food prices that have stayed high.

Achieving Zero Hunger means progress towards other development goals that seek to end protracted conflict, climate change and COVID-19. Canada has consistently given generously toward emergency food assistance and nutrition.

As we heed the call of IDW 2022, to #GofortheGoals we must acknowledge that to stay on track, we must also continue to support peace efforts, equitable and climate-resilient food systems and nutrition-sensitive climate-adaptive agriculture.

Lets strive toward the goals, so Alices seven grandchildren can grow up with better prospects in a sustainably developed world.

Nyambura Githaiga is a senior policy advisor at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
On Jan. 18 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, Our assessment has been that (a Russian invasion of Ukraine) could happen any time between mid-January and mid-February.

Opinion

On Jan. 18 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Our assessment has been that (a Russian invasion of Ukraine) could happen any time between mid-January and mid-February."

On Jan. 28 U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said the United States sees "every indication that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is going to use military force sometime perhaps between now and the middle of February."

On Feb. 6 Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, told ABCs This Week: "We believe there is a distinct possibility that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine.  It could happen as soon as tomorrow, or it could take some weeks yet."

Its like predicting the End of the World. You have to be specific and consistent about the date, but you also have to leave yourself some wiggle room in case the Apocalypse doesnt arrive on time. So "mid-February" has quietly slid downstream, and "some weeks" extends the charade plausibly into early March.

Its not clear whether any of these officials really believes these dire predictions, since there are other plausible reasons why they might utter them: to whip the European NATO allies into line, or simply to restore Bidens reputation as a determined leader standing up for "freedom" after his less-than-stellar performance in the Afghan debacle last August.

But even if the Americans really do believe what they are saying, the prospective victims of the "imminent" Russian invasion, Ukraines own leaders clearly do not.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to a warning by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Jan. 27 that current Russian troop movements could lead to a "fully-fledged Russian invasion," said: "I dont consider the situation now more tense than before. "There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. Thats not the case. I am not saying an escalation is not possible (but) we dont need the panic."

And Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, added on Feb. 2 that the Russian troops near Ukraines border are "insufficient for a large-scale military operation."

But how could all those expensive American (and British) intelligence agencies get things so wrong? Well, they got Iraqs alleged "weapons of mass destruction" wrong in 2003, didnt they? In fact, they cooked the evidence then to justify their masters desire to invade Iraq. Theyre not above going back into the kitchen to serve their current masters needs.

Or maybe theyre just not very bright. Last weeks story of an alleged Russian plot to shoot a "very graphic" fake video of a Ukrainian attack involving corpses, blast damage, Ukrainian military hardware including Turkish-made drones, and actors playing Russian-speaking mourners, all to "justify" a Russian invasion of Ukraine, was beneath contempt.

Even American journalists, not always hyper-critical when presented with official "intelligence" data, challenged this heap of offal, and State Department spokesman Ned Price had to fall back on questioning their patriotism to stop the questions.

Behind all this nonsense, however, there are real strategies at work. Putins goal is to neutralize NATOs military presence near Russias borders as much as possible, and at the least to neutralize Ukraine. Bidens is to rebuff the broader Russian aim at all costs, and protect Ukraine as much as possible without fighting a war.

This gives both men a strong motive for exaggerating the threat of war, but none at all for fighting one.

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It is already stated NATO policy is not to fight for Ukraine, although it threatens sanctions if Russia invades. And while Moscow gains leverage from its unspoken threat to invade Ukraine, actually doing so would cripple Russia economically and might even end Putins rule, because the Ukrainians would fight and the occupation would be a nightmare.

Knowing all this, the Ukrainians are relatively relaxed about the "crisis." Putin never overplays his hand in this sort of situation (consider Georgia 2006, Crimea and Donbas 2014, Syria 2015), so hell eventually take whatever he can get in term of concessions on NATO dispositions in eastern Europe (if anything) and shut the crisis down.

And NATO only loses if it loses its nerve. It is not illegitimate for eastern European countries that spent half a century under what amounted to a Soviet military occupation to seek reassurance by joining the rival alliance once they are free, especially since it does not create any significant military threat to their former overlords.

Russian historical obsessions with invasions from the west (Napoleon and Hitler) do not justify limiting Polish or Estonian sovereignty today. Current NATO military forces would be completely incapable of invading Russia even if nuclear weapons did not exist.

The younger George Bush made a big mistake by inviting Ukraine to join NATO in 2008, but the other members were never really going to let it in: too far east, too close to Moscow. Wait this "crisis" out, and it will eventually go away.

Gwynne Dyers new book is The Shortest History of War.
STEINBACH  Hundreds of students streamed out of Steinbach Regional Secondary School in a Thursday morning protest against COVID-19 pandemic public health restrictions.

STEINBACH  Hundreds of students streamed out of Steinbach Regional Secondary School in a Thursday morning protest against COVID-19 pandemic public health restrictions.

Hanover School Division officials locked the doors of the school behind them, citing safety concerns.

Many vehicles, sporting Canadian flags and signs with calls to end vaccine mandates, circled the school, honking out support to the crowd. Pizza and warm drinks were plentiful for those on hand.

Inside a nearby construction trailer, protesters took turns escaping the snowy conditions, while outside, a sound system blared Bob Marleys Three Little Birds with lyrics that encouraged "Cause every little thing is gonna be all right."

As the rally continued, a Hanover School Division bus rolled past and offered a honk, too. "Thats my bus driver," a young protester shouted in appreciation.

A video circulated on social media Wednesday encouraged students to leave class at 9 a.m. Thursday. The Steinbach high school has about 1,700 students.

The large demonstration forced the school into "hold and secure" mode, officials said.

The doors of the school were locked and monitored, allowing students and staff to enter and exit, but otherwise remained closed. Protesters said students who attended the rally were prevented from returning to the building.

The school wont open for regular classes Friday, instead opting for remote learning.

"This will provide an opportunity for our staff to assess the impact of (Thursday), connect virtually with our students, and plan to ensure everyone is prepared for a safe return," reads a statement from interim Hanover School Division superintendent Shelley Amos.

"Students with special needs are welcome to attend school on Friday for in-person learning, and buses will pick up these students as usual."

In an email to parents shortly before noon, the division said students inside the school were safe, and advised enhanced security would remain in the place until the end of the school day.

In an earlier statement, Amos said the protest created an unsafe environment and disrupted in-class learning. Protesters were on school property and made efforts to enter the school building, she added.

"We respect the right to protest but urge all protesters to be respectful, peaceful, and remain off school property during demonstrations," Amos said.

JORDAN ROSS / THE CARILLON Protesters said students who attended the rally were prevented from returning to the building.

Steinbach RCMP provided assistance to school administration on the scene. A spokeswoman at the police services Winnipeg headquarters had few details to provide, while the Steinbach detachment had closed for the day.

One man, who identified himself as a parent of students at the school but who declined to be named, said he and other parents had discussed the planned protest and decided the student demonstration would benefit from adult supervision.

The man said he met personally with one of the schools two principals the previous evening to discuss the event, and had also discussed plans with the Steinbach RCMP detachment commander Wednesday night.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, who is also the Tory governments justice minister, didnt disavow the protest at a news conference Thursday, but did implore demonstrators to be considerate.

"For those adults that are involved, I think its important to remember that schools, hospitals  there are certain places that really arent the appropriate place for those demonstrations," he said.

Last week, Steinbach city council agreed unanimously to send a letter to Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, calling on the province to begin rolling back pandemic public health restrictions.

Support for the protest by some members of Steinbachs city council was on display Thursday.

A pickup truck, loaded with empty pizza boxes from a local pizzeria owned by a Coun. Damian Penner, sat on a boulevard. Another truck from a building supply company associated with Coun. Susan Penner delivered woolen mitts to protesters, who continued their demonstration as heavy snow fell mid-morning.

A Facebook post attributed to Damian Penner said his business had sold pizzas to a customer and did not donate them to the protest.

"As a business, it is a very slippery slope when you choose who you will and will not do commerce with, regardless of whether you support the cause or not," the post reads in part.

"I understand that there will be comparisons and assumptions made due to our donation of food to the demonstrators at the legislature. Those individuals are directly asking for the lifting of mandates that affect our day-to-day business, and how we are able to operate. Not all demonstrations are the same."

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Penner respectfully deferred to the Facebook post when reached for comment.

Meantime, Stefanson and Education Minister Wayne Ewasko condemned the school protest in a statement late Thursday afternoon.

"We ask the protesters to respect that they are endangering children with their actions today. We hear their concerns, but the method in which they are expressing them is dangerous," the statement reads.

"School children and teens should never feel unsafe going to a place where they are meant to thrive."

A rally to block Main Street in Steinbach is said to be planned for Friday afternoon.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Opposition Leader Wab Kinew accused Premier Heather Stefanson of shirking her responsibility after failing to appear in public on Thursday to address escalating protests against COVID-19 restrictions.

Opposition Leader Wab Kinew accused Premier Heather Stefanson of shirking her responsibility after failing to appear in public on Thursday to address escalating protests against COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of answering questions about the growing protests  trucks and farm equipment blocked the Canada-U.S. border at Emerson, south of Winnipeg  Stefanson sent her justice minister to face the media.

Minister Kelvin Goertzen called for Manitobans to take a bit of a step back and consider why people opposed to public health measures and COVID-19 vaccination requirements have occupied part of downtown Winnipeg for a week and began blocking the border crossing early Thursday.

We have to sometimes understand where other people are coming from and different positions, Goertzen said.

Kinew called the response disappointing and blamed the Tories for failing to de-escalate demonstrations that also hit a secondary school in Steinbach Thursday.

We saw a severe escalation in the crisis in our province today and for the premier not to show up, its a failure of leadership, Kinew said. Instead, to see a minister come out and just make excuses and try to lay blame in other places just shows how the PCs are not responding to this current situation in the way that Manitobans want them to.

Kinew said there is consensus among Canadians that COVID-19 vaccinations work and that public health measures should be respected.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the provincial government seems to have abandoned efforts to enforce the law because it called on Ottawa to take the lead to deal with demonstrators.

Blaming anyone else is shameful, but the Justice Minister and the Stefanson PCs have essentially given them encouragement to keep on blocking highways, hospitals and harassment, Lamont said in a statement.

The justice minister could call for a court injunction to end blockades, he added.

Instead, protesters who have demonstrated contempt for the law, and the lives and livelihoods of their fellow Manitobans have been given a pat on the back. This is moral bankruptcy.

Goertzen said the province will be in a better place soon and pointed out Stefanson and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin are scheduled to announce the next step in rolling back restrictions on Friday.

The government hopes to lift all public health orders by spring, if COVID-19 trends continue to improve.

It has taken a conciliatory tone in responding to protests that have targeted schools, barricaded roadways, disturbed the lives of downtown residents, impacted access to healthcare and disrupted international trade.

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Goertzen said his government is trying to encourage dialogue between protesters and law enforcement while reminding protesters to respect the rights of others.

I know that people dont like to hear that youve got to take some balances to these things, but balance sometimes gets you to a solution, Goertzen said.

Goertzen said he does not agree with the tactics being employed by protesters but stopped short of telling them to go home. He would not say whether he considered the demonstrations to be lawful.

Ultimately, by the letter of the law I think youll find most protests in some form or fashion end up breaking certain bylaws or laws, but in a democratic society we typically see that the right to be able to express concerns about government is an important freedom, he said. Its never black and white.

The province is satisfied with the operations of the Winnipeg Police Service in managing the protest on Broadway and Memorial Boulevard, Goertzen said, adding it is the federal governments responsibility to ensure the border crossing at Emerson is open to traffic.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
PHOENIX (AP)  A man who shot his ex-girlfriend at a Phoenix home early Friday ambushed the first officer on the scene, seriously injuring him, then opened fire on other police as they tried to rescue a baby that was left outside the door.

Shown is the scene near where five Phoenix police officers were shot and wounded after responding to a report of gunfire inside a home early Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, including four who were shot while trying to take a baby to safety, Police Chief Jeri Williams said. The status of the shooter and other details weren't immediately clear, but police later said a barricade situation at the home had been resolved. (AP Photo/Jacques Billed)

PHOENIX (AP)  A man who shot his ex-girlfriend at a Phoenix home early Friday ambushed the first officer on the scene, seriously injuring him, then opened fire on other police as they tried to rescue a baby that was left outside the door.

The woman later died. In all, five officers were shot, including four who were wounded while trying to take the baby to safety. Four more officers were injured by shrapnel or ricocheting bullets, police said.

Of the five shot, four remain hospitalized. All of the officers were expected to survive, and the baby girl was unharmed.

A baby is safe today because of our Phoenix police officers," Mayor Kate Gallego said at a news conference near the scene.

Shown is the scene near where five Phoenix police officers were shot and wounded after responding to a report of gunfire inside a home early Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, including four who were shot while trying to take a baby to safety, Police Chief Jeri Williams said.The status of the shooter and other details weren't immediately clear, but police later said a barricade situation at the home had been resolved. (AP Photo/Jacques Billed)

The most seriously injured officer was the first to arrive at the home, around 2:15 a.m., following a report of a woman shot. He was invited inside, Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Williams said.

As he approached the doorway, the suspect ambushed him with a gun and shot him several times, he said. That officer was able to get back and get away to safety.

Video from the scene shows another man coming outside holding a baby and a satchel. The man put the satchel on the ground and then laid down the infant, wrapped in a blanket, between the satchel and the front door. He raised his hands to surrender while backing away from the house.

After that man was detained, other officers approached the doorway to get the baby girl, and the suspect fired more shots. The police returned fire, which then led the suspect to barricade himself. Eight of the officers were wounded by ricocheting bullets or shrapnel in that exchange, Williams said.

Police were able to get the baby to safety as a SWAT unit took over.

In this image taken from video provided by the Phoenix Police Department, Police Chief Jeri Williams provides an update on several officers that were shot outside a hospital in Phoenix, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Five Phoenix police officers were shot in an ambush after responding to a report of gunfire inside a home early Friday, including four who were wounded while trying to take a baby to safety, police said. Four more officers were injured by shrapnel or ricocheting bullets. (Phoenix Police Department via AP)

The suspect remained barricaded for several hours and was later found dead from a gunshot wound inside the home.

Police also found the suspect's ex-girlfriend in the home. She had been shot and was critically injured, and she died hours later at a hospital, police said. Williams said the baby was believed to be the woman and suspect's child. She is now in state custody.

The man who brought the baby outside suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Williams said he's a family member and is cooperating with police.

No information suggests that hes part of the ambush, but its an ongoing investigation, Williams said.

Police identified the gunman as 36-year-old Morris Richard Jones III and said they were still trying to learn about the circumstances preceding the incident.

Police officers walk in the scene in front of a house where several Phoenix Police Department officers were shot and four others were injured after responding to a shooting inside the home Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Phoenix. The shooting suspect was found dead in the home following a barricade situation, and a woman at the home was critically injured. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

This is just one more example of the dangers that officers face every day keeping us and our community safe, Police Chief Jeri Williams said at an early morning news conference. If I seem upset, I am. This is senseless. It does not need to happen and it continues to happen over and over again.

Federal court records show Jones has a criminal history dating back to at least 2007, when he was sentenced in Oklahoma to seven years in prison for using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possessing a fire arm after a felony conviction.

Records also show Jones pleaded guilty in March 2020 to conspiring to transport, for profit, people who were in the country illegally near the San Simmons area in southeastern Arizona. He was sentenced to three years of probation. Prosecutor sought to revoke his probation because they say Jones used marijuana and cocaine in the spring of 2021 and punched his girlfriend in the face and took her gun.

In September, his probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to federal prison for five months

The middle-class neighborhood in southwest Phoenix where the shooting occurred has newly constructed stucco houses tightly packed together and sits next to large shipping and fulfillment facilities for businesses. The home had its second-story windows shot out.

A large police presence is seen near a house where several Phoenix Police Department officers were shot and four others were injured after responding to a shooting inside the home Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Phoenix. The shooting suspect was found dead in the home following a barricade situation, and a woman at the home was critically injured. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Frank DeAguilar, its owner, said the residence is a rental and he didnt know anything about the people living there. He said a property management firm handles the details. Its just a sad situation, he said.

Chris Grollnek, an active shooter expert, told The Associated Press that its important to know how the incident was initially reported. Was it a 911 call from the woman pleading for help? A neighbor reporting gunfire and screaming?

The immediate information would determine how the first officers respond as they get to the scene, he said.

Traditionally, a barricaded suspect buys the police time to set up a perimeter and call a SWAT team, which could take 20 minutes to arrive. But if someone is injured inside, the human factor takes over, Grollnek said. Im the first one there, Im going in.

Charles Sid Heal, former commanding officer of Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments SWAT unit, said department policies often give the decision-making authority to the responding officer.

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Both Heal and Grollnek described firing on officers who are trying to save a baby as evil. They said police protocols simply cannot cover such a scenario.

Hopefully it doesnt happen often enough that well ever have a protocol for it, Heal said.

He added he cannot imagine a situation where the officers would have left the baby exposed because it was too dangerous for them to rescue the child.

The moral factors far exceed the physical risk, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Jonathan J. Cooper and Paul Davenport in Phoenix and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
The staff and board of Habitat for Humanity serving Winona County signed the mortgage papers for House #52 with the Skappel family in January.

The Skappels are a hard-working family of six who had previously been living in overcrowded rental housing. Stressful in the best of times, it was extremely difficult during the pandemic and school closures.

Melissa Skappel says, We are all enjoying our space in the home. We cant wait to enjoy our backyard.

Habitats vision is a world where everyone has a decent, safe, affordable place to live. This mission is pursued through local home repairs and new home construction. So far, 52 families have been placed in Habitat homes in the Winona area.

Melissa adds, Habitat has been a huge blessing to my family. To all the students and teachers, John and Dylan, and all volunteerswe want to let you know that you all made this happen for my family.

Habitat homes are built by volunteersretired individuals, corporate groups, faith communities, students, and club members. All work is overseen by construction professionals and held to the highest Minnesota energy-efficient standards.

Habitat Executive Director Amanda Hedlund says, Im so grateful to every person and every business who invests in local affordable housing. They have made the dream of homeownership a reality for the Skappel family. Their new home will provide safety, stability, and opportunity for generations.

Habitat homeowners are chosen based on their need for housing, their ability to pay, and their willingness to partner with the organization. Homeowners are required to volunteer at least 325 hours of sweat equity, attend budgeting and home repair classes, and have the ability to make monthly mortgage payments.

All interested individuals and families are encouraged to apply when the next application window opens. Visit habitatwinona.org to stay up to date on news and events.

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The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative awarded Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) its coveted bronze axe Feb. 9 to commemorate his leadership in the fight for firefighter health and wellness.

In July 2021, the state legislature passed the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation. The bipartisan Hometown Heroes Assistance Program dedicates $4 million per year to ensure that every Minnesota firefighter will have access to the education, prevention and care needed to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma or cancer diagnosis.

Sen. Miller played an instrumental role in passing the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program during the 2021 legislative session, said MnFIRE President George Esbensen. We presented him with this commemorative bronze axe as a token of our gratitude, and on behalf of the 20,000 volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time firefighters who will deeply benefit from this program.

In addition to Miller, these legislators have also received commemorative axes:

House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D36B)

House HHAP Author Rep. Cheryl Youakim (D46B)

Senate HHAP Author Sen. Jeff Howe (R13)

Senate Co-Author Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (D48)

Sen. Paul Gazelka (R09)

House Public Safety Chair Rep. Carlos Mariani (D65B) will also receive his axe in the near future.

This major milestone for firefighter health in Minnesota combines three vital elements: an assistance program with expanded emotional trauma resources, an up-to-$20,000 critical illness policy, and ongoing health and wellness training.

All active Minnesota firefighters  volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time  can access the MnFIRE Assistance Program, are automatically enrolled in the Critical Illness insurance policy and can receive training  all at no cost.

Minnesota firefighters can receive help for a crisis, find out more information or file a claim by calling 888-784-6634 or visiting www.mnfireinitiative.com.

Since its inception in 2016, the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) has been dedicated to providing Minnesotas firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health by focusing on the three health problems most commonly experienced by those in the fire service: cancer, cardiac and emotional trauma. In addition to spearheading the legislative initiative, MnFIRE trains Minnesota firefighters to become MnFIRE Aware of their higher risks for cancer, cardiac issues and emotional trauma. The organization launched a 24-hour peer support hotline for firefighters struggling with mental health issues in 2018. For more information, visit MNFireInitiative.com.

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George Borzyskowski, Winona City Council member for the fourth district, recently participated in the Winona Daily News Get to Know series.

His full video  which includes him sharing about the personal and professional parts of his life  is available at winonadailynews.com. Here are just a few of his answers:

Q: Are you originally from Winona? If not, where are you from?

A: I was born in Winona and I have remained in Winona my whole life. Everything that I needed was right here in Winona. I was born down in the east end of Winona, corner of Fourth and Chatfield. And Winona has always been a very, very strong part of me, because I stayed here my whole life. Then I was employed at Peerless Chain Company in the east end of Winona for 45 and a half years as a warehouse worker. And theyre a very, very strong Winona company and Im proud to say they are located in the Fourth Ward of Winona.

And Ive been a lifelong member of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish here in town. And that was a big honor when, I think in 2015, it got raised to the minor status of Basilica. So that was really quite an event for us as well too. ... Of course I went through St. Stanislaus grade school. I graduated Cotter High School back in 1971. And outside of two vacations out of the country  Ive been to Germany twice, Austria twice and Poland twice. And I had the opportunity to attend the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. So that was quite an eye opening event.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?

A: My hobbies include fishing, boating and just simply spending time with my grandkids when theyre around. And, of course, spending time with my constituents that Ive had the opportunity to represent for the last 23 years. And as you hold these elected offices, the people in your ward or the people all over the city, whatever it may be, whatever ward you do or like the mayor where he represents everyone, they become a big part of your life. And I spend a lot of time with constituents and enjoy my time trying to help people.

My whole goal, my whole mission is just trying to help people, help them out with things that perhaps maybe they cannot do, or dont have an avenue to do it.

Q: Who inspires you the most and why?

A: The inspirations that have inspired me the most probably have to say my family and my grandkids for their support. To serve in these elected positions, you have to have support of your family. They have to know and understand sometimes the pressures maybe youre under. Maybe somebody is mad at you, which is not uncommon, and youre trying to decide on an issue and things. You need those people.You need your family support to get through that.

And also, I look at Bob Kierlin, the Fastenal founder. Hes been an inspiration. The Slaggie families and the Miller families in town, they have been inspirations. And Mike Gostomski as well too. And the reason for these people is theyre all Winona men. Theyve worked hard, theyve built businesses, and they contribute to the community, and theyre very, very proud to help promote Winona. They came up from ground zero and reached some pretty good statuses.

Q: What made you want to work in your current position?

A: My father served on the city council for 16 years back in the 70s. I think probably 68. He got in 67. And he was beat out once and he came back in again. My father served on it for for 16 years and he lost a rebid election in 1981. And I always really admired the things that he would do to try to help people and try to work things out and try to get a solution to their problem, whatever that may be.

And he had many nights where hed be up at midnight going over things trying to somehow come up with a resolution to it. That pretty much drived me because I seen him helping people and thats what I wanted to do, was help people.

Government provides five basic things that we need: water, sewer, streets, police and fire. Those are the five basic things. And he always worked on providing those five basic things. That of course, like back in his era, in politics in the 60s and 70s, today, we still focus on those five.

Those five are first because you cant do (anything) without water, or sewer or streets. And police and fire, of course, we do not want to use, but theyre there for our protection. ... We have our library which is doing well. And now the arts culture is really beginning to pick up steam. We really never thought about that back in the 60s or 70s, but its picking up steam now. Outdoor recreation is picking up steam and we have some very, very good people Eric Barnard being one that works in that quite a bit and doing a fantastic job.

If your business or organizations leaders are interested in being involved in the weekly Get to Know series, reach out to rachel.mergen@lee.net for more details.

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Winona, MN (55987)

Today

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 57F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 36F. Winds light and variable.
Business of the Year- Watlow L-R: From left, Watlow leaders Stan Breitlow, Pat Thrune, Jeff Harrington, and Michele Sobotta (far right) received the Business of the Year Award from Winona Area Chamber of Commerce President Christie Ransom (second from right).
After 15 years of aiding the living in saying goodbye to those who have died, a Baraboo funeral home director has brought on some help.

Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home Owner Mandy Ertz said Izzy, a 1-year-old black lab, has been a noticeable comfort to those who enter a place they would rather never have to visit.

You can just see them take a deep breath, their shoulders relax, they sit looser in their chair; theyll sit back maybe rather than being stiff and uncomfortable, Ertz said. People just are a little happier. Its not a great place, people dont want to come here every day, and I get that.

The trained therapy dog isnt the only change at the business. When Ertz took over the well known Redlin Funeral Home in 2016, she didnt want to change much. She didnt even adjust the name to reflect new ownership, citing the respect residents had for the business Gary and Sandy Redlin had provided over more than three decades. Gary took over the funeral home from his parents, Jim and Marie, in 1992 after working there for nearly 10 years.

Ertz also worked at the funeral home for nearly a decade before purchasing it. Five years later, she decided to put her own stamp on the business she continues to run by adding her surname to the longstanding title.

Theres that community recognition that people know and put their trust into that entity, so Im proud to add my last name to it, Ertz said. I was born and raised here so its been nice to get back to the people I was neighbors with and I grew up with.

With that change, she also added Izzy in November, who she said has been a comfort to the staff in addition to helping grieving visitors. Even people who might not initially welcome the idea of a dog sometimes shift their perspective after they meet her, Ertz said. And some who are allergic cant resist gaining comfort by interacting with her, either.

Shes a good fit for a lot of different ages and people, Ertz said. Its interesting to see the families that dont think they need her, because Well its a dog, what can it do? and then when shes here interacting with them the day of the funeral, how much she helps their grieving process and just lightens everything emotionally for them.

The black lab was trained through Ultimate Canine of Westfield, Indiana, before finding a home with Ertz. She and all funeral home staff are trained handlers for Izzy.

While Izzy could have been kept to the interior of the funeral home, Ertz, who has worked to engage with the community through education about death and end of life planning, thought Izzy could also lend a paw to other institutions within the city.

Shes here for my families that I serve, but shes also here for the community, Ertz said. Its not just funeral related. So if theres a case where she could be a benefit, its something Id be open to talking to people about.

Her first volunteer work will be with SSM Health St. Clare Hospital. Volunteer Coordinator Carrie Doro said she is glad to have Izzy start as a therapy dog for any staff or patients who want a visit.

Izzy is an amazing dog, Doro said. (Ertz) had told me she was looking to find other avenues for Izzy to give her service and she had contacted me to see if the hospital would be willing to do that and I jumped at it.

Once Ertz finishes volunteer training with the hospital, they plan to have Izzy visiting people by mid-March. Doro said it would be the first time in more than three years the hospital would have a comfort animal.

Visits would be at the request of a patient. Doro said that workers could also benefit from spending time with a therapy dog after the stress the pandemic has brought in recent years.

Right now Im just thinking it will be, for the staff it will be great, as well as the patients, but I know with everything going on and the COVID fatigue, its just uplifting, Doro said. And then for patients, if some of them are here a little bit longer they miss their animals at home.

Doro said she is excited to reimplement the program and hopes others will bring their therapy dogs to the hospital again.

Ertz also plans to have Izzy help with reading programs at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library in future months.

Doro said she would not have thought of the use of a therapy dog at a funeral home and commended Ertz for providing such a comfort she knew would have helped in the past while she was arranging to put loved ones to rest.

That would have been so comforting, Doro said. It takes your mind away from everything for a little bit. Or you remember memories you had with pets and your spouse or your loved one you just lost. I think thats a great idea. Mandy is great. I just think how fortunate we are to have her to think of that.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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An Iowa man who drove to Plain to meet with a 12-year-old for sex entered into a deferred prosecution agreement recently in Sauk County Circuit Court.

Justus D. Schwietert, 18, of McGregor, had been charged with felony counts of causing mental harm to a child and exposing genitals or intimate parts to a child. As part of the agreement, Schwietert entered a no contest plea to exposing genitals to a child Jan. 21 during a sentencing hearing.

Circuit Court Judge Wendy Klicko sentenced Schwietert to three years of probation for the felony charge. The other count was deferred for three years and will be removed from his criminal record if he meets the requirements of the agreement. Klicko ordered that Schwietert conduct 100 hours of community service and have no contact with girls under 18 and no contact with the 12-year-olds residence, school, family members or workplace.

As part of the probation, Schwietert must also seek or maintain full-time employment or education and submit to random inspection of his cell phone, social media, email or online accounts and disclose any accounts and passwords to his agent.

According to the criminal complaint, Schwietert was found naked in the back of his truck around 2:30 a.m. by a Sauk County Sheriffs deputy in a parking lot near the public Plain swimming pool.

The officer knew the child in the truck was 12 years old. Schwietert said they had planned to have sex, but it hadnt happened yet. He said the 12-year-old had claimed online to be 16, but he also divulged that the childs mother had found out about their correspondence, told him the real age of the child and not to have any contact with the 12-year-old again. He told the deputy he didnt realize that as an 18-year-old a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old would be illegal.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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A change in traffic patterns has the post office in Beaver Dam looking for a new home.

The U.S. Postal Service sent out postcards this week notifying its local customers of a proposed post office relocation.

The postcards state a new facility is needed because a traffic pattern change has negatively impacted access to the post office at 411 N. Spring St.

The USPS proposes moving to roughly a 9,000-square-foot building within the Beaver Dam and Fox Lake ZIPcode areas. Service levels are not expected to change.

Beaver Dam Postmaster Amy Prochnow said relocation decisions arent made at the local level.

Were moving, we just dont know when or where or how right now, she said.

The stretch of road in front of the post office was reconstructed in 2018 and the roadway was widened to add bike lanes and a center turn lane, in addition to new sidewalks, curb and gutter.

Following reconstruction, motorists traveling south on North Spring Street could no longer make a legal left turn into the post office parking lot. Signage along the street indicates left turns are illegal except for post office vehicles. Southbound motorists faced with having to go several blocks to turn around ignore the signage regularly.

State transportation officials called the left turn lane a safety issue because it was too close to the intersection and traffic would back up blocking Mackie Street. Beaver Dam Middle School is across the street further adding to traffic woes in the area at certain times of the day.

The Beaver Dam Common Council approved the installation of a barrier to prevent motorists from making illegal left turns into the post office in August 2020. The barrier was then put on hold as discussions between the city and the USPS took place.

Postal trailer trucks may be too large to make a right-hand turn into the facility.

They (the city) need to put up a barrier and we cant get traffic to flow through here the right way in order to accommodate that type of move, Prochnow said.

She added studies have been done over the past year and a half and the postal service is in the process of finding a better option.

The current building is leased by the USPS and has housed the citys post office since 1964. Beaver Dams first permanent post office was a government-owned building built in 1918 at 200 N. Spring St. Because of size constraints and parking limitations, it was sold to Farmers State Bank in 1964.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the USPS is foregoing a public in-person meeting about the proposed relocation change. Customers are invited to send comments on the proposal to the following address within the next 30 days:

Attn: Beaver Dam, WI MPO Relocation

United States Postal Service

P.O. Box 27497

Greensboro, NC 27498-1103

Follow Kelly Simon on Twitter @KSchmidSimon or contact her at 920-356-6757.

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COLUMBUS  The Columbus Area Historical Society Museum is at the end of its lease at its current downtown location and is looking for a new building.

The museum has been located at 116 W. James St., for the last four years near Four Corners (the intersection of James and Ludington streets). The museum started in a room in the Columbus Public Library, treasurer Pat Boness said.

Dan Wagner was the president of the historical society at the time, Boness said. Wagner used a lot of his own money to start the museum. The first donation was bound copies of the Columbus Journal, which were donated after the newspaper office closed in 2012. The Columbus Journal print editions ended in 2020.

The Columbus Journal composing desk was also donated to the museum. It had a built-in type case as well as drawers full of lead type and tools for letterpress printing which went out of use in the 1970s.

We had a lot of people who started donating things, Boness said. People would go through their parents things and not know what to do with it.

Other items came from businesses and city and school memorabilia.

We added items little by little, Boness said.

The museum was moved to the current location with a lease that allowed the museum to be there for free while just paying utilities. Boness said they also did some improvements including repairing the furnace and adding air conditioning, which was needed to preserve the displays.

The historical society does fundraisers including a popular ornament sale and the tours of the cemetery, which started this last fall.

However with the lease up, Boness said the owner wants to rent out the building. That leaves the museum to search for a new home while putting the items in storage and returning some items to their owners.

Those items date from 1839 to the present. Items that have been donated as permanent acquisitions to the museum will be packed and stored. Boness said she is contacting a company in Sun Prairie that works with preserving the items to protect them while theyre being stored.

Items on temporary loan to the museum must be collected before March 15, Boness said. All the items have to be out by April 15, Boness said.

We do want to find another building, but we have a storage unit where everything will be going, Boness said. They have been looking at a lot of buildings that are up for sale and will continue to do so. There is hope that someone will donate money in order for the museum to have a permanent home.

A secure, environmentally controlled building with appropriate HVAC and utilities is necessary to bring the exhibits to life for visitors to view, Sheila Worthen said in a statement. The Columbus Area Historical Society is seeking help from the Columbus community to provide viable ideas or possible benefactors to our mission to find a new, permanent home.

Boness was sad not only to be leaving the building that has been home to the museum for the last four years, but for the building itself, which contains its own history including. Over the years, the building has housed several businesses and a bank.

The nonprofit Society is supported by membership dues, sponsor donations and fundraising events.

The museum will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27. Items in the current exhibits will be packed away for storage after the open house.

Those wanting to reach out to the museum may do so by email at museumcahs@gmail.com or by visiting the museums website, go.wiscnews.com/cahs.

Board Members may also be contacted by phone. They are: Pete Kaland, president, 920-623-2116; Sheila Worthen, secretary, 920-410-5720; and Pat Boness, treasurer, 920-385-1953).

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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JUNEAU  A 57-year-old Lomira man was sentenced to spend three years in prison followed by three years of an extended sentence for possession of child pornography.

Peter Braun was sentenced today by Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Sciascia. Sciascia also ordered Braun to pay $13,650 in restitution. Braun was found guilty of three counts of possession of child pornography in October during a plea hearing.

According to the criminal complaint, a special agent for the Wisconsin Department of Justice- Division of Criminal Investigation special agent investigated a cyber-tip in January reporting suspicious files on Microsoft and Google.

On Jan. 12, 2021, a DCI Special Agent started an investigation into photos that had been uploaded to various platforms by Braun that contained child pornography. During the investigation, the agent received information from the Lomira Police Department that Braun had been observed chatting with very young girls online. A search warrant was executed where agents found various pornographic images and videos of girls as young as 5.

A search warrant was issued for Brauns apartment and was executed on March 4 when files containing child pornography were found on a device in the home.

According to the complaint, Braun was spoken to and said he was aware of an incident where he had sent an inappropriate photo to a woman he had known online as a joke years ago. He also admitted that he was attracted to the images and videos of underage girls and had made discs containing the pornography that were at his apartment.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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A group of almost 50 residents met in Columbia County town of Courtland Wednesday to discuss their opposition to a proposed solar project planned in the town.

Julie Nieman of the concerned citizens group said the project could be as large as 4,000 acres with the possibility of between 300 and 500 megawatts.

That would be 4,000 acres of farmland that would not be useable agriculture land for potentially 30 to 50 years depending on the contract length, Nieman said.

She said the group is not opposed to solar energy, but is opposed to the size of project and unhappy with the location.

Some of the concerns are the impact on property value, Nieman said. Other concerns are the noise, glare and safety concerns.

Nieman said there also are concerns about the impact on wildlife citing the proximity of the Paradise Marsh State Wildlife Area.

The project is called Langdon Mills Solar and is being developed by Samsung C&T America. Katherine Park of Langdon Mills answered questions via email after a number of phone inquiries.

In order to provide factual information regarding the Langdon Mills Solar project, our team has committed to providing the community with information via our project website, the project Facebook page, and opening a local office in downtown Cambria where our local representative hosts weekly office hours to answer questions from the public, Park wrote. We will continue to share information with the public as details are being finalized throughout the development process. We look forward to building relationships within the community and being a long-term partner in Columbia County.

Park said since the project is in the early planning stages, the company does not know how large it will be, but did say it is expected to exceed 100 megawatts. She said it will go through a state permitting process with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. So far the project has submitted a preliminary engineering plan, but has not yet submitted a proposed plan.

On Wednesday night, 48 citizens attended a meeting led by Dave Paul to discuss their opposition. This group is responsible for Stop Samsung Solar Farms signs in the Courtland, Cambria and Randolph area.

Weve had informational meetings where we learned about the solar panels, Paul said. Its a low-key group that remains civil while discussing this topic. Were looking for information because we havent gotten it from Samsung.

Paul and other members of the group have been attending Courtland town meetings to get more information from the Courtland board.

Weve had to inform ourselves with the company not sharing information with us, Paul said. The group on Wednesday night discussed when the project began and members believe this has been in the works for almost two years.

Courtland Town Chair JoAnn Wingers said she does not know the size of the proposed solar project, therefore she does not know if the town board will need to approve the project or if it will be involved with the permitting process of project.

I understand that this is private property where this is being planned, but if it goes through with 4,000 acres it will affect the entire region, including the environmental impact on the land, Nieman said.

Park confirmed the project would be developed on privately owned, leased land.

The size and scope of the project is yet to be determined as there are a multitude of environmental studies that are ongoing for the project, Park said.

The Langdon Mills website has a timeline stating the permit process will take place in 2022, anticipating approval in 2023 with construction starting the same year. Langdon Mills is hopeful construction of the solar project will be completed and operational in 2024.

The Langdon Mills Solar project chose this location based on numerous factors, Park said. A few of those factors include topography, power grid access, potential available land, and the growing market of solar development in the State of Wisconsin.

Park said Langdon Mills is planning on holding an open house Feb. 28.

More information about the project will be provided at the event and our team looks forward to meeting and talking with everyone about the benefits of solar and the benefits of this project to the local community, Park said.

Nieman stated the groups goal is to get as much information about the project and attempt to contain the size of the project.

Were looking to stop the project and if not completely stop it, wed like to make it smaller, Nieman said. Why does it have to big this big? It could be the biggest in the state. Why not start with 1,000 acres?

The group plans to distribute flyers in the community to residents who do not know about the solar project.

Weve got around fifty people here that know about the project, Paul said. There are just over 500 people in the town and we need to get this information out to them.

Citizens have cited the Courtland 2002 Comprehensive plan as a reason for objecting to the solar project.

At the heart of this plan lies the Towns desire to protect prime agricultural lands and preserve farming as a viable way of life for Courtlands residents, the plan states.

Wingers said the plan has not been updated since 2002 and it is likely to be updated at some point.

I do not know when that would be, but it could be reviewed by the town board, Wingers said.

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Saying she didnt have jurisdiction over the matter, Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson is declining a request by Sheriff Christopher Schmaling to file charges against five of Wisconsins six elections commissioners for advising clerks in 2020 not to send election workers into nursing homes.

But in a letter dated Thursday and released Friday, Hanson agrees with Schmaling that the state Elections Commission likely broke the law in telling clerks they could skip the mandatory step of sending in the elections workers after several nursing homes banned them out of concerns about spreading COVID-19.

According to an investigation led by Racine County Sheriffs Lt. Michael Luell, eight residents of Ridgewood Care Center, a Mount Pleasant nursing home, submitted absentee ballots even though their family members claimed their loved ones no longer had the capacity to vote.

In typical elections, state law requires two sworn Special Voting Deputies (one Republican, one Democrat) to make two attempts to enter long-term care facilities to help residents cast absentee ballots.

Decision early in pandemic

Shortly after the pandemic hit in March 2020, the WEC waived the requirement, because its commissioners believed sending SVDs into the nursing homes would have been a waste of time, since they would likely be denied entry because of COVID-19 protocols. Instead, nursing home staff at Ridgewood filled out ballots on behalf of some residents.

Schmaling asserted this likely occurred throughout the state.

The will of the electors here was disrupted and substituted in its place were the efforts of untrained and unsworn nursing home staff, Hanson wrote. The decisions of the WEC, eliminating the assistance of SVDs to request and return ballots for those in nursing homes and care facilities, gave license to at least two nursing home employees that we know of who improperly requested and returned ballots on behalf of residents.

Initially, the WEC voted unanimously to waive the law, but later votes were 5-1 because Republican appointee Bob Spindell voted against waiving the law.

By advising elections officials throughout the state to ignore the law, Schmaling and Luell asserted that the five commissioners had committed four crimes: misconduct in public office, election fraud as an election official, both felonies; and two misdemeanor counts of being party to the crime of election fraud.

I am disappointed that my hands are tied by this jurisdiction issue, Hanson wrote. I have spent considerable time reviewing this case and what occurred in Racine County. It is appalling to me that an appointed, unelected group of volunteers, has enough authority to change how some of our most vulnerable citizens access voting.

Dispensing with the mandatory process created by the Legislature of using sworn and trained SVDs (special voting deputies) to assist citizens in nursing homes, directly led to what occurred at Ridgewood Care Center in Racine County. Residents who did not request ballots voted because someone else made a request for a ballot on their behalf and then voted on their behalf. If even one persons right to freely choose to vote or not to vote was diminished, then a travesty of justice has occurred.

Kaul: Probe a publicity stunt

Schmaling and supporters of the investigation of Ridgewood have faced criticism from elections officials, in part because the family members of those who voted cannot say whether their loved ones are still able to vote. Former President Donald Trump who has spread and elevated falsehoods regarding the 2020 election, praised the investigation.

Some Republicans, including Spindell, have argued, without offering evidence, that the Elections Commissions decision to not allow deputies into care facilities in 2020 may have contributed to voter fraud. The commissions other five members  three Democratic appointees and two Republican appointees  have defended the commissions actions.

In a statement issued Oct. 28, in the wake of Schmalings call for charges against them, the commissioners stated that it must be stressed that an individuals voting right can be restricted only by an incompetency order from a judge, not a friend, family member or even a doctor.

Rachel Rodriguez, the elections management specialist for Dane County, tweeted that same night: Its not fraud if your family thinks that you arent competent enough to vote and you still vote. Family members dont have that power.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democratic appointee, told WisPolitics.com Friday in reaction to Hansons announcement that This is nothing more than a political stunt that she never had jurisdiction over and is being used to attack the WEC for safety allowing people in nursing homes to cast their votes.

In March 2021, the WEC reversed its 2020 guidance on SVDs, with the deputies again visiting nursing homes, and that guidance is continuing in this years spring primary election, which concludes Tuesday.

In a Facebook post Thursday, the Racine County Sheriffs Office said The Sheriffs Office is pleased to read that the Wisconsin Election Commission is now stating, Clerks are being instructed to FOLLOW THE STATUTE and attempt to serve all qualified facilities in their municipality (capitalization for emphasis added by the Sheriffs Office). The Sheriffs Office reminds people that not following a statute, when there is a criminal penalty associated, is a crime ... The Wisconsin Elections Commission, which is a non-elected governmental agency, does not have the power to suspend any voting laws.

Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat whose jurisdiction would include the commissioners, called the RCSOs investigation a publicity stunt and abuse of authority. Hanson and Schmaling are Republicans.

On Friday when asked by reporters, Schmaling said he plans to reach out to district attorneys in other counties to see if they will prosecute the case.

Im still going to continue to make my call to our attorney general in the State of Wisconsin to do his job and to prosecute this. It is clearly a statewide issue, Schmaling said.

Ridgewood employees wont be prosecuted

Hanson also said that employees of Ridgewood will not be prosecuted.

As for the employees of Ridgewood Care Center that you submitted charges for, I am going to use my discretion to decline prosecution, she wrote. It would be unfair for me to expect that these health care professionals would better understand the election laws in Wisconsin than the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Luell said that he was told by Ridgewood employees that they filled out ballots for people who were only capable of pointing to the ballot, and then the employee inferred who they were voting for. One employee, Luell said, said they were instructed that residents who did not appear they wanted to vote could be placed in a chair pointed at a TV with the news turned on, and then come back in a day or two and try again to see if they want to vote.

According to the investigations reports, Luell was told by Scott Myers, the director of the facility, that staff members would ask the residents who they voted for in the past, and following party lines, that would be their choice.

Luell replied: So if she could only recall JFK as president, Democrat would be the choice?

Myers then replied Yes, according to Luells report.

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Historians are warning that the steps necessary for the creation of an autocracy are obvious right now in the U.S. Theyre reminding us that tyrannical authoritarians throughout history have used the same tactics to gain and maintain power while claiming to support a democracy they intend to destroy.

First, wannabe authoritarians identify people who are angry because they feel left out. Next, they invent tricks to attract those people and make them feel theyre being heard. To do that, they lie, invent catch phrases that sound patriotic like Make America Great Again, and convince their new followers that their enemies are anyone who opposes the wannabe dictator.

To deceive and indoctrinate their new followers, they create distrust of reputable news sources and facts to keep them from seeing the truth. Authoritarians dont give one hoot about their followers, but they need them to gain wealth and power.

The evidence that its happening here is clear. Even several current and former Republican lawmakers and advisors, along with some former Fox News employees who care about the country, are speaking out against the former president as he continues his attempt to regain power through intimidation and lies.

After the former president declared that he may pardon those arrested for their criminal behaviors during the Jan. 6 insurrection, John Dean, former White House counsel to President Richard Nixon tweeted, This is beyond being a demagogue to the stuff of dictators. He is defying the rule of law. Failure to confront a tyrant only encourages bad behavior. If thinking Americans dont understand what Trump is doing and what the criminal justice system must do, we are all in big trouble!

Dean isnt alone. After the news came out last week that the Republican National Committee was censuring Republican lawmakers Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for trying to uncover the truth of what happened on Jan. 6, Michael Steele, the former Republican Party chairman, told the Washington Post they were censuring Cheney for protecting the country from a maniac.

Dean, Steele and other sane Republicans recognize how far-right extremists like white nationalists and Nazi sympathizers have gravitated to the former president and how hes embraced and encouraged them. He called them patriots after they and others violently forced their way into the Capitol, attacked security and police forces, erected a noose and a scaffold and yelled they wanted to hang Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi. Weve seen video footage of police officers being attacked with flagpoles and other objects as those officers tried to protect members of Congress against the fury of the mob. Sane Republicans had the courage and integrity to tell it like it was, an attempt to overthrow the government, ignore the rule of law and discard the will of the majority. Only former Vice President Pences refusal to submit to pressure to break the law stopped that from happening.

But lately, Republican lawmakers with integrity are the minority. Weve recently learned that in December 2020, certain members of the Republican Party in Wisconsin and six other states that Biden won pretended to be legitimate electors and signed falsified documents that proclaimed Trump won. Those fake electors were stupid enough to submit the forged documents to the National Archives. I wonder if the former president will send them the cash theyll need to defend themselves in court.

Even some Fox News hosts have shown integrity by leaving the network and speaking out against other hosts pushing lies and conspiracy theories. One of the rebels, former Fox host Gretchen Carlson, in a Jan. 27 interview with CNNs Jim Acosta, said of her former network, Its gone from an opinion, which was fine, to completely devolving into non-fact-based conspiracy theories and outright dangerous rhetoric, in my mind, and I think its a complete disservice to our country.

Those lies encourage supporters of the would-be authoritarian to threaten anyone who opposes him or gets in the way of his goals. And, when that idol and his enablers incite them further by telling them they have to fight like hell as Trump did, and like his attorney and main enabler, Rudy Giuliani, declared before the Jan. 6 insurrection, Lets have trial by combat, they interpret it as a call to action and violence.

Some prominent Republican lawmakers initially condemned the actions and the former presidents incitement, but soon backed off, afraid of his base. They fell into the trap of fear that all authoritarians instill in those who oppose them.

But, the truth will come out. The House select committee investigating the insurrection has questioned hundreds of people who had knowledge of what led up to the attempts to overthrow the election. Its results will soon be made public and hopefully, Americans will be united in accepting them.

Pat Nash has lived in the Baraboo area, off and on, for more than 35 years. Contact her at patnash5149@gmail.com.
Mug shots show Gregory and Brandon Case, who have now been charged in the case.
The Round Valley Elks hosted the Safford Bulldogs Tuesday April 26th in RV in connection with the Elks celebrating the team Seniors for the final game of their regular season.
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Furniture is the most commonly stored item, followed by clothing

Based on a new report by StorageCafe, self storage has grown in popularity recently in the US, as it assists people during many life changing events.

StorageCafe reports that last year, the real estate market reported about six million homes sold - the highest level in 15 years - and self storage was of great assistance when transitioning between households. Essentially, self storage proved to be relevant for both homeowners and renters, who used it to better manage their belongings without cluttering their living space.

Across America, people are increasingly using 1.5 billion square feet of self storage space. Over 38% of people declared themselves to be self storage users in 2021, up from 2020 when roughly 33% of people said they had turned to self storage. Similar proportions of them are renters (36%) and homeowners (33%).

Traditionally, Gen Xers and baby boomers have turned to self storage in larger numbers than other age groups, and 2021 was no exception. Gen Xers (54%) are the most likely generation to be self storage users, followed closely by baby boomers (51%). Millennials, however, although still in smaller numbers than their older counterparts, are manifesting an increased interest in storing items away from home. A pretty sizable chunk of millennials (40%) now declare themselves to be self storage users.

Interestingly enough, living in a spacious home doesn't necessarily rule out the use of self storage, says StorageCafe. In fact, it's residents of medium-sized homes (1,500-2,499 sq. ft. and 2,500-3,500 sq. ft.) that make up the largest groups of self storage users - roughly 42% of residents in each of those home size categories. Approx. 39% of small home residents (homes averaging less than 1,000 sq. feet) use self storage, with 29% of mansion-like homes also turning to storage for various items.

Additionally, the people most likely to be self storage users are those living in two- and three-bedroom homes (42%). The growing size of the American household can partly explain this penchant for self storage among multi-bedroom home residents. More belongings in the same household often means more crowded spaces, an issue that self storage helps residents address. In fact, three-member households (46%) are the most likely to rent a storage unit, followed by two-member ones (43%). 34% of single-member households declare themselves to be self storage users.

StorageCafe reports 1 in 3 Americans put furniture in self storage, the most common item kept away from home, followed by clothing. Additionally, people also mention storing clothing, sporting items and hobby gear and business items. Cars, RVs and boats are also put into storage.

For both renters and homeowners, furniture is the number one item that's stored away from home, but they differ on the second-most common one. In terms of the types of belongings kept in storage, clothing comes second for renters, while for homeowners, the home appliances category is the runner-up on their list of frequently stored items.

Furniture is the prevalent item put into storage in most states, except for Hawaii and Idaho, where residents prefer storing home appliances and equipment. Additionally, clothing is the number one item kept in a storage unit by Ohio and Utah residents.

There are a lot of contexts when people turn to self storage, but downsizing is the main reason Americans rent it, followed by moving (downsizing excluded) and needing more storage space at home. As for the second reason for using self storage, renters report moving as an instance when they use the service, while homeowners declare lack of space at home as their second-most common reason for turning to storage away from home.

Downsizing remains the number one reason why people of all ages use self storage, but the second reason they seek storage outside of the home varies. For Gen Zers and baby boomers, it's not having enough space at home that's driving them to use self storage, concludes StorageCafe.

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Decisions on covid measures in schools to be made locally after half-term

This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 11th, 2022

Covid decisions for educational settings in Wales will be made on a local level from the end of the month.

National guidance for schools and colleges has been set by the Welsh Government for the last few months due to the increase in cases and uncertainty caused by the omicron variant.

However the start of the new half term on 28 February will see schools return to using the Local Infection Control Decision Framework.

From that date Education Minister, Jeremy Miles, said that all schools should implement the advice on use of face coverings for the High risk level as set out in the Framework as a minimum.

This means that face coverings will no longer be routinely recommended in classrooms. Face coverings should however be worn by secondary aged learners, staff and visitors in all schools when moving around indoor communal areas outside of the classroom, such as corridors, where physical distance cannot be maintained.

Schools who, based on their local context and advice need to operate at the Very High risk level can continue to recommend that face coverings are used in classrooms by staff and secondary aged learners.

The use of regular lateral flow testing for staff in school and childcare settings, as well as secondary-aged learners, is also advised.

Staff working in special schools continue to be strongly advised to undertake a LFD test every day before they go to work.

This level of testing will be kept under review during the next half term with the minister saying reducing it would be on a gradual basis and will take into account the unique circumstances of this sector.

Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language, said: As announced earlier today, the Welsh Governments latest 21-day review has concluded how protections will be gradually relaxed if we continue to see improvements in the public health situation.

As signalled in my statement on 25 January, I am confirming today that schools will return to using the Local Infection Control Decision Framework by the beginning of the new half term on 28 February.

The national framework sets clear guidance to enable schools to tailor interventions to reflect local circumstances. Schools will be supported by public health officials and local authorities to ensure measures are appropriate and based on evidence.

The framework also consists of core measures that should be in place, regardless of risk level.

As part of our cautious, phased and planned approach to easing restrictions so we can prioritise learning, schools should note the following key points when planning for the new half term.

The regulations regarding school sessions times were temporarily disapplied from the start of January to allow schools to make changes to their school session times. This ends on 18 February, and schools must return to their usual arrangements when learners return after the half term break.

The Framework has been updated and published today to reflect these changes. Schools should use the next week to plan and implement changes to operational arrangements and ensure learners and their parents/guardians, as well as staff members, are clear of these changes for the return after the half term break.

We will continue to keep our advice under regular review.
Warning issued to motorists over catalytic converter thefts

This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 11th, 2022

North Wales Police is urging drivers to remain alert to the risk of catalytic converter thefts.

The devices are commonly fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted.

They are often targeted by thieves as they contain valuable metals and can be removed in less than a minute.

Det Chief Insp Alun Oldfield said: As a Force, we are still seeing too many reported thefts of catalytic converters.

Precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium are used in catalytic converters.

The price of these metals has risen sharply in recent years and has led to an increase in the theft of catalytic converters by organised crime networks.

January has already seen a surge in the price of Rhodium, which is likely to fuel certain organised crime networks to commit more offences.

Hybrid cars are often commonly targeted by thieves, as their catalytic converters can contain more precious metals.

Although some vehicle models are more likely to be targeted by thieves, we would emphasise that all vehicles equipped with these devices are at risk.

North Wales Police has released the following advice explaining the signs of a catalytic converter theft, the actions you should take if you witness a theft, and how you can protect your own vehicle from thieves:

Spotting the signs

Thieves slide under the vehicle, often using a car jack, and use cutting tools to remove the catalytic converter.

What to do if you witness a catalytic converter theft

If the crime is in progress, call 999. People are often unsure if what they are witnessing is a catalytic converter theft, but police would rather hear about it and decide if a theft is occurring.

Do not approach suspects but, if it is safe to do so, take note of them or the number plate of their car.

If the crime has already happened then you can report it to us online or at your local police station

How can I protect my vehicle from this type of theft?
Welsh Government determined to increase the number of women working in STEM, says economy minister

This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 11th, 2022

Encouraging more girls to follow careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) will help Wales lead the way in tackling some of the major global challenges facing society, Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething said today.

To mark the annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Minister said Wales needs more young girls to follow careers in STEM if the country is to realise its full economic potential, and to realise its ambition of becoming a truly globally responsible nation.

Careers in science, technology, engineering and maths has never been more important to finding the solutions to major global problems facing society.

Inspirational women across Wales have played key roles in tackling fundamental challenges faced by our society, from recovering from COVID-19 to combatting climate change.

To mark the annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Minister said encouraging far more women and girls to follow paths into careers in STEM is now more crucial than ever.

The Welsh Government has provided funding for programmes specifically focused at girls, with the aim of increasing the numbers from secondary schools engaging with STEM industries.

Technocamps Girls into STEM (GiST) is one of the programmes, which aims to increase the number of inspirational role models with very different careers, showcasing some of the traditional and less known roles that can be undertaken with a background in STEM  and normalising women in STEM.

The Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) programme trialled a virtual Girls into STEM session in collaboration with Viridor, where pupils explored local industry, looking at what happens to the household waste we generate, exploring the concepts of sustainable engineering and future challenges.

They also gave the pupils a careers session, allowing them to explore the five main avenues of engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Software) and investigated just how important engineers will be in tackling the issues of sustainability for future generations.

Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, who has Cabinet-level responsibility for science in the Welsh Government, said: The Welsh Government is determined to increase the number of women working in STEM, because its good for our society and for our economy.

Evidence tells us that a diverse workforce increases profitability, productivity and creativity across industry.

Our Programme for Government looks to celebrate diversity and move to eliminate inequality in all of its forms. This includes increasing diversity in STEM by seeking out participation from underrepresented groups, in order to build and develop a world in which studying and working in science are open to all.

We need to increase the flow of STEM skills from schools into the Welsh economy, and ensure that more girls access STEM related careers and further learning. STEM subjects are an essential area of education, and they continue to form an integral part of the Curriculum for Wales, preparing learners for study, employment and life in the 21st century.

Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt said: As we all know the Covid-19 pandemic has re-emphasised the vitally important role science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) play in the world and I am grateful to the exceptional STEM professionals who have led the fight against Covid-19.

Its vitally important that on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science we increase the visibility, the prestige and appeal of science for all.

By sharing stories of STEM female role models during the pandemic, we can hopefully inspire and motivate more women and girls to study STEM, setting them on a path to an extremely rewarding career.

As Apprenticeship Week comes to a close, an apprenticeship unlocked the door to a career change in engineering for Tiffany Evans from Neath. Wales is leading the way in terms of the enrolments on STEM apprenticeships. Over half of STEM apprenticeships enrolments are women, 52% that compares to 44% in England, 9% in Scotland and 3% in Northern Ireland.

Tiffany was working in a contact centre when she realised she wanted to change career and become an engineer. The 27-year-old wanted to learn new skills to advance her career, however she wasnt sure if she could financially afford to go back to student life.

Tiffany was made aware that she could pursue a career as a telecoms engineer for Openreach through an apprenticeship: meaning she could develop new skills whilst still earning.

Having completed her apprenticeship last year, Tiffany is now working full time as an Openreach telecoms engineer, putting the skills she learned during her apprenticeship in to practice.

Tiffany, said: My day-to-day job now involves me visiting customers and fixing faults or improving their broadband capabilities.

Its like a puzzle, you have to find the fault in miles and miles of cable but thats what keeps it interesting  no day is the same. If I had to give advice to anyone it would be to follow your gut and ask questions.

Id never have had this opportunity if I had ignored that niggling feeling that told me my old job wasnt right for me.
Welsh Government hasnt seen any expert advice underpinning plan to scrap all Covid restrictions in England

This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 11th, 2022

Economy minister Vaughan Gething has said the Welsh government hasnt seen any expert advice that underpins Boris Johnsons plan to ease all Covid restrictions in England

The Prime Minister made a surprise announcement that self-isolation rules and all remaining restrictions in England could end early this month.

Wales will gradually begin to relax some of its remaining coronavirus protections as cases continue to fall, the Welsh government has announced today.

Latest Covid infection survey figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) are showing a fall in Covid infections in Wales.

Following the latest three week review into Covid restrictions in Wales, Ministers have agreed that from 18 February the legal requirement to show a Covid Pass to enter certain venues and events will be lifted and face coverings will no longer need to be worn in all indoor public places from a week after on the 28th.

If the public health conditions continue to improve, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in all remaining settings could be lifted by the end of March.

In a move widely seen as political rather than based on science, Boris Johnson announced that the legal requirement to self-isolate following positive test will be lifted within weeks in England.

Wales has not made any similar announcement around ending self-isolation.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Vaughan Gething said: Weve taken advice from our scientific advisors and our chief medical officer.

They agree this careful and gradual approach to easing restrictions is now the right and proportionate thing to do.

He said, The Covid Pass domestically will go next Friday and face coverings will only remain in place for retail, public transport and health and care settings from the 28th of February.

Well look at the rest of our public protection measures in our next review in early March.

Mr Gething said: Weve always got to be prepared to look at the evidence and then to make choices that accord with the evidence and the expert public health advice that we get.

We took a different path recently to England, for example, having some protective measures of the turn of the year.

And actually we had a lower level of Covid infections as a result, despite our very high case rates.

He said: Well be publishing a summary of our chief medical loss advice so people know that these are properly considered choices.

Were not playing fast and loose with public health or indeed, the future of the economy.

On Tuesday, Boris Johnson said he anticipated the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test will be lifted within weeks in England  a month earlier than initially planned.

The Prime Minister also announced that he will set out his roadmap for living with Covid, including both domestic and travel restrictions, when Parliament returns on February 21.

Mr Johnson told MPs: It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.

Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions  including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive  a full month early.

Mr Gething said he was surprised at both the timing and the nature of what the Prime Minister said.

Earlier points in the pandemic when significant changes have been made, there has been a conversation between health ministers across UK.

A conversation between chief medical officers across the UK and theres been advice from Sage the scientific expert committee

None of those things happened before the Prime Minister made his surprise announcement immediately before Prime Ministers questions.

He said: So if there is expert public health advice that underpins the announcement made by the Prime Minister, I havent seen it and the public hadnt seen it.

Crucially, there hasnt been a conversation between the chief medical officers across the UK to try to come to some form of consensus around why this could be the right thing to do.

The latest figures from the ONS infection survey show that England saw a slight rise in case rates, Covid infections are higher in England and in Wales as we speak. Said Mr Gething.

So it is quite surprising because isolating when youre infectious protects other people. He said.

Mr Gething said that when he was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid, If Id gone out and day three after my first test, I would probably have been infectious and I could have harmed other people by passing on the virus.

Thats why the self isolation measures are important.

Its why we still think its the right thing to have them in law.

Well continue to take advice from the chief medical officer.

Ive got a good deal of optimism about the future. But as ever, if there is a significant change in the position, then we have to be prepared to change our position.

The economy minister will take this lunchtimes press briefing, as we reported yesterday Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.
Indiana State Police said their resolve has never wavered in a Delphi murders update Thursday. It has been nearly 5 years since Abby Williams and Libby German were killed.
In this video health workers speak to the WSWS on the experiences in their workplaces and the intolerable conditions they face. The workers call on their colleagues in the healthcare sector, along with teachers, students and workers in all industries to attend the Socialist Equality Partys (SEP) online public meeting on Saturday. February 12 at 4 p.m. (AEDT). Click here to register.

The meeting is called in support of New South Wales (NSW) nurses who have voted in favour of holding a statewide strike on February 15. The vote was called by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA).

As the SEP has warned: the last thing the union wants is a statewide strike on wages and conditions. The NSWNMA will do everything to call off the strike. Even if it is compelled to allow the stoppage to proceed, the union will isolate and divide it up as much as possible, while directing nurses to make plaintive appeals to the very governments responsible for the crisis.

The health workers speak on the broader role of the unions, which have supported and enforced the governments let it rip policy that has resulted in a massive COVID surge across the country over the past six weeks. The coronavirus explosion has pushed chronically under-resourced and under-staffed hospitals across the country to the breaking point.

The health workers also emphasis the importance of the formation of rank-and-file committees to take the fight outside of the control of the unions. They call for workers to unite, across the country and internationally, in a struggle against the pandemic.

We urge you to attend our meeting and participate in this vital discussion. Click here to register.
Australias national cabinet met yesterday to discuss moving to Phase D, the final stage in the countrys reopening plan, under which any pretence of seeking to contain COVID transmission will be dispensed with.

Traffic marshals direct vehicles at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 8, 2022 [Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker, File]

The Labor-dominated national cabinet agreed that, under the so-called post-vaccination phase, the Commonwealth, states and territories will proceed with further relaxations of international border restrictions and the removal of the few remaining COVID-19 public health measures.

According to the national plan, in this phase, management of COVID-19 will be consistent with influenza or other infectious diseases. In other words, what is being prepared is the complete removal of all testing, monitoring and infection control measures. Any semblance of a society-wide public health response to the continuing global pandemic is to be abandoned, as mass infections, illness and death are treated as the new normal.

This is in line with the drive by capitalist governments around the world, with the eager support of the corporate media, to claim that the virus is becoming endemic. As with the comparison to influenza, the misuse of the term endemic is medical misinformation that has been condemned by principled epidemiologists. While falsely implying a lessening in the severity of the pandemic, what it means in practice is endless waves of mass infection for the foreseeable future.

The new stage in the let it rip campaign is finding its sharpest expression in the countrys schools, where students and teachers have been herded back in order to force parents into their workplaces to ensure the flow of corporate profits.

The World Socialist Web Site has learned that this week, at least 6,888 students and 600 staff in Victorian schools have tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, 4,514 students and 800 staff tested positive.

A Department of Education spokesman trotted out the Orwellian government line that the mass transmission of the virus is somehow a positive. He told the WSWS the detection of almost 13,000 cases among children and education workers shows that our program is working, because the infections were being identified, which would supposedly keep school communities safer.

Despite this, the spokesman reported: No schools have closed due to coronavirus outbreaks or staff shortages. This weeks Victorian figures have not been reported by a single media outlet other than the WSWS, nor made public by the department.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales (NSW) education department said the department did not have figures on the number of students and staff who had tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, referring further inquiries to the health department. A health department representative, in turn, directed the WSWS to the education department.

With the circle of buck-passing and stone-walling complete, no one is the wiser as to how many students and educators have been infected with a potentially-deadly virus over the past week in Australias largest state.

In NSW and Victoria the twice-weekly RAT testing program is only planned to continue for the first four weeks of term. Perrottet said on Tuesday it was unlikely to be extended beyond the end of the month.

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard today announced that 1,149 student infections were recorded in that state in the 24 hours to this morning.

The Labor administrations of Queensland and Victoria, in lockstep with the Liberal-National NSW and federal governments, are now working on plans to restart the cruising industry in the coming months.

Since the earliest days of the pandemic, cruises have functioned as plague ships, spreading the virus everywhere.

From February 21, fully-vaccinated international tourists will be allowed to enter the country without an exemption, and subject only to pre-departure and post-arrival rapid antigen tests (RATs).

Western Australia is the only state or territory that still requires fully-vaccinated international arrivals to self-isolate and the isolation period was halved to seven days on Wednesday.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) yesterday updated its advice to say that a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine was necessary to bring people aged over 16 up to date.

The cautiously-worded statement was deliberately engineered to avoid changing the definition of fully-vaccinated to require a booster dose. This would have major implications for the reopening drive, which is predicated on the lie that removing public health measures is safe once arbitrary vaccination targets are met.

While 93.9 percent of Australias adult population has received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, just 46.3 percent have received a third dose.

The national cabinet decided yesterday that third doses will only be made mandatory in the aged care sector, in which 533 residents died from COVID-19 in the first 35 days of the year.

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) General Secretary Brett Holmes last week endorsed the state governments refusal to mandate third doses for health workers, stating that doing so would place the government in a difficult position.

ATAGIs meek recommendation means that third doses will not be required for international travellers to enter the country without quarantine.

Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: We are very happy with the advice of two jabs. Her NSW Liberal-National counterpart, Dominic Perrottet, declared: We cannot live in a hermit kingdom on the other side of the world.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had previously flagged requiring international travellers to the state to be triple-dosed but backed down yesterday. Andrews said Victoria would implement consistent rules that will probably mean they wont be perfect rules.

Earlier in the week, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan made clear that the removal of all restrictions on international travel was bound up with the economic interests of the $61 billion tourism industry. In order to make travelling in Australia as easy as possible for visitors, he said, governments were removing barriers to travel and cutting red tape.

The reality is these barriers and red tape have been the major factors in allowing Morrison to blithely claim last week that Australias management of the pandemic measures up extremely well to other countries.

Under intense pressure from the working class, Australian governments were, in the first 18 months of the pandemic, forced to implement suppression and lockdown measures that repeatedly succeeded in shutting down outbreaks. Such measures have been almost entirely abandoned since late last year, however, resulting in the massive surge of infection illness and death in recent months.

In January alone, more than 1,500 people died from COVID-19 in Australia. According to the Actuaries Institute, this represents an increase of around 10 percent to the countrys mortality rate.

The consequences of removing travel restrictions have been sharply demonstrated in recent months with the reopening of Australias domestic borders.

Prior to December last year, Queensland and South Australia had recorded a combined total of 11 COVID-19 deaths and 3,061 infections. Now, the two states have recorded 502 deaths and 605,718 infections.

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard claimed yesterday that the state had established a wall of immunity through vaccination, but that it was credible half the population would be infected by the end of the month.

The Northern Territory had not recorded a single death before December 4 and has now reported nine, including five in the past week.

Today, 51 COVID-19 deaths were reported around Australia, including 19 in NSW, 14 in Queensland, 13 in Victoria and 2 each in South Australia and the Northern Territory. The death of a 70-year-old man in Western Australia from COVID-19 was announced today, the first in that state since May 2, 2020. Currently, 3,298 people are hospitalised for COVID-19 and 258 are in intensive care.

With 722 COVID fatalities in February thus far, this month is shaping up to be as deadly, or even more lethal, than January.

The murderous let it rip program embraced by the Australian ruling elite is running into growing opposition among the working class. In an indication of the mounting anger and frustration of health workers, the NSWNMA was forced to call a vote of its members on whether to carry out a statewide strike on February 15.

The union plans to limit the action to a narrow subset of its membership and subordinate them to bankrupt appeals to the very governments responsible for the massive spread of COVID-19.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has called a public meeting this Saturday to build support for the strike, break through the pro-business reopening operations of the unions and begin a fightback of healthcare staff, teachers, students and all sections of the working class, against the let it rip agenda. Register here.
Hundreds of students and teachers have been infected with COVID-19 in the Northern Territory (NT) over the past two weeks as infections surge across the vast area, pushing existing hospitals and local medical services to breaking point.

Children playing at a homeland settlement near Alice Springs [Image credit: John Hulme]

NT has a population of about 247,000, spread across 1.34 million square kilometressix times larger than the UK and double the size of Texas. Three-quarters of its residents live in Darwin and Alice Springs, the remainder in smaller towns and remote communities.

On December 20, the Territorys Michael Gunner Labor government, in response to tourist and mining industry demands, dropped quarantine rules for domestic visitors, declaring that the measures would not work because Omicron was too infectious. Prior to this there were only 363 cases detected in the 21 months since the pandemic began. NTs first COVID death was recorded two months ago, on December 3.

NT urban area public schools returned to face-to-face teaching on January 31, with a resumption in remote areas on February 1. This proceeded with the full backing of the Australian Education Union.

On Tuesday, local media reported that 967 students and 217 teachers and other educators had tested positive since the reopenings with cases at 84 schools. While this represents a third of all NT government schools, not a single school has closed. Instead, emergency teachers have been deployed across the territory to replace infected staff.

Marching in lockstep with the Labor Party administration, Australian Education Union NT secretary Adam Lampe told the media before the new term began that the union anticipated staff shortages and sicknesses. Were just hoping it all doesnt happen at the same time, he glibly declared. We want schools open, kids have suffered from not having that face-to-face learning.

Yesterday, the NT government reported 1,161 new coronavirus cases, 168 people in hospital, 30 of them requiring oxygen and three in ICUs. The 7-day average of new daily cases is about 1,000 and there are 7,411 active infections. Two women in their 60s were reported to have died at the Royal Darwin Hospital, the sixth and seventh fatalities since the pandemic began in early 2020. An Aboriginal man in his 60s died in Kintore, more than 500 km west of Alice Springs.

Vaccination program at Ramingining in Central Arnhem Land, 400 kilometres east of Darwin. [Image: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]

According to Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett, the NT now has Australias highest rate of COVID-related hospitalisations per capita in Australia. During NSWs coronavirus peak last year, the state had roughly 3.5 patients hospitalised with the coronavirus per 10,000 residents. By comparison, the NT now had roughly 6.32 COVID-related hospitalisations per 10,000 people.

About 31 percent of the NTs populationor over 78,000 peopleare Aboriginal, the overwhelming majority struggling to survive in impoverished and overcrowded communities with dangerously limited or non-existent health services.

Health authorities have told the media that 90 percent of those hospitalised with COVID infections and dying from the diseases are Aboriginal. Pre-pandemic, the NT had Australias highest rate of potentially preventable hospitalisations, the largest percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes and the greatest hospitalisation rate for dialysis.

While the first COVID-19 infection in an NT jailat Darwins 1,048-bed prisondid not occur until mid-January this year, the disease is now in all of the Territorys largest and most overcrowded prisons and youth detention facilities.

Last week over 300 prisonersor half the total number in Alice Springs Correctional Centretested positive. The virus is also in the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre and the notorious Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. Calls by the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency for emergency action by the government, including the early or temporary release of inmates to prevent total spread throughout the prison system, fell on deaf ears.

Housing at Alice Springs town camp [Image credit: John Hulme]

Two weeks ago, the Central Land Council, the Congress Aboriginal Health Service and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory issued an open letter attacking Chief Minister Gunner and his government for allowing the coronavirus to spread out of control throughout Central Australia.

Many of the issues we are facing were foreseen, and plans made to address them. But there has been a catastrophic failure by government to discharge its responsibility to all Northern Territory residents by implementing these plans in Central Australia, the letter said. It called for lockdowns in Central Australia and other emergency health measures.

This is our last chance, the letter continued. We have been advocating continuously for firm action to slow the [Omicron] outbreak since it began in the early days of 2022. However, our requests have been ignored, or action taken too late or on too small a scale to make a real difference.

The letter criticised the government for its slow contact tracing, belated introduction of mask mandates and failure to remove positive cases from crowded households. When positive cases were located in crowded households, they were left at home for more than 48 hours, by which time the virus had spread within and between households, and then to other town camps and houses, it said.

Yuendumu, which has a population of 750 and is the largest remote community in Central Australia, has had more than 100 cases in recent weeks. In an ABC News interview, senior community leader Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves denounced the health department, the federal government and the Gunner administration.

They knew this was coming. They knew what was going to happen to us, Hargraves said. He called for the proper quarantine facilities, pointing out that it was all but impossible to self-isolate in seriously overcrowded homes.

Up to 20 people, including children sharing a single home, with one kitchen, bathroom and toilet, is commonplace in Aboriginal communities across the NT. Proper treatment and care for those infected with the virus cannot be undertaken in these conditions. Securing adequate food and other essential provisions is also a major issue.

According to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistic figures the rate of severe overcrowding in the NT is 483.5 per 10,000 people compared to the Australian rate of 21.8 per 10,000 people. The five Australian regions with the highest percentage of homeless people are all located in the NT with Aboriginal people accounting for 88 percent of the Territorys homeless population.

The Gunner government has imposed two-week lock-ins of numerous regional and remote communities and biosecurity zones declared by the federal government around many of these communities. None of this will do anything to overcome the desperate lack of health facilities, trained medical workers, N95 masks, PPE, RATs, vaccines, proper isolation or quarantine facilities and other basic requirements to contain and fight the coronavirus in these areas.

Concerns have also been raised by Aboriginal medical organisations and other health professionals that the Royal Darwin Hospital, the NTs largest facility, will not be able to deal with the rising COVID-19 hospitalisations. In 2021, it was forced to call four code yellows, signalling critical demand for services, despite there not being any outbreaks of COVID at the time.

Last Friday, Chief Minister Gunner rejected warnings that the NTs health system could not cope and lyingly claimed that the authorities had prepared for the widespread transmission of Omicron.

There are some very loud voices, who would like you to think that every case of COVID is a catastrophe, that everybody should be taken out of their home and put into a hospital, he arrogantly declared. A response like that will be the medical equivalent of panic buying.

Gunners vicious attack on those calling for proper treatment of COVID victims, comparing it to panic buying, is yet another expression of the total indifference of Australian governmentsLiberal-National and Labor aliketo the health and lives of workers, young people and the most oppressed layers of the population.

It further demonstrates that the COVID catastrophe cannot be stopped by appealing to these governments and the unions that defend them. Instead, what is required is a unified mass movement of the entire working class against the official profit-driven response to the pandemic. This poses the necessity for a socialist and internationalist perspective, aimed at reorganising society to meet social need, not the profit interests of a tiny corporate elite.
The merger of Michigan-based Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health became official February 1, creating a new, combined organization that is both the largest hospital system and the biggest employer in the state, surpassing auto giants General Motors and Ford.

Beaumont Health corporate headquarters in Southfield, Michigan [WSWS Media]

Beaumont is the fifth-largest hospital system in southeast Michigan, while Spectrum is the largest. The combined organization will temporarily be called BHSH System and will have dual corporate headquarters in Southfield, in southeast Michigan, near Detroit, and Grand Rapids, on the western side of the state.

The merged system will have combined revenue of $12 billion, with 64,000 employees, 22 hospitals, 305 outpatient facilities and a 1.2-million-member health insurance plan, Priority Health, previously run by Spectrum.

The new chief executive is Tina Freese Decker, who has been president and CEO of Spectrum Health since September 2018. The 16-member board of directors is drawn from the boards of the separate chains, and amounts to a whos who of corporate Michigan. Among these are Doug DeVos, co-chair of Amway; Sean Welsh of PNC Bank; Julie Fream, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association; Ronald Hall, CEO of auto supplier Bridgewater Interiors; and a half dozen other representatives of manufacturing and financial interests.

As stipulated in the deal, Beaumont CEO John Fox, widely hated by doctors and health care workers for budget cuts, job cuts and atrocious handling of the COVID crisis, has stepped down. The financial terms of Foxs departure were not disclosed, but as Beaumont CEO he raked in $25 million a year.

The hospital chains are non-profit in name only, but they function in a capitalist market, driven to cut costs, raise prices and enrich their top executives. Hence the drive to merger and consolidation. The larger scale of BHSH will give the merged system greater bargaining power in negotiating higher reimbursement rates with health insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which will increase costs for patients.

Speaking to the press the day before the merger took effect, CEO Freese Decker repeated the usual corporate buzzwords about transforming health in our communities and bringing innovation, creativity, humility and courage to the industry.

Her statement that our aim is to provide greater value should be taken as a warning by hospital workers of future cutbacks, although she also said that there are no plansat this timeto lay off any Beaumont or Spectrum workers or to consolidate or close any facilities. Freese Decker said that the two hospital chains have no geographically overlapping service areas, so there would be no immediate savings at the operational level.

Nonetheless, the combination of two of the largest health care systems in Michigan will inexorably increase pressure for savings, leading to a decline in the quality of health care, an increase in patient costs and the further deepening of the attacks on health care workers that have been underway throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Christina DePasquale, an economics professor at Emory College who has researched the impact of mergers on hospital workers, has written, The number of RNs and LPNs clearly decreases after a true hospital merger. In a study published in 2014, DePasquale reported that RNs decreased by 12 percent and LPNs by 18 percent, and the numbers at their hospitals did not rebound over time.

Bret Jackson, president of the nonprofit Economic Alliance for Michigan, told Bridge Michigan that there are many examples of mergers and acquisitions in the health care industry around the country and it never turns out better for patients in terms of their costs. Meanwhile, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 2020 found that the quality of care at hospitals acquired during the recent wave of consolidation has gotten worse or, at best, stayed the same.

The NEJM findings were backed up by a 2020 survey of 250 hospital mergers conducted by Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School. Analyzing variables such as 30-day readmission and mortality rates among patients discharged from a hospital, and clinical measures such as timely antibiotic treatment of patients with bacterial pneumonia, the research showed, Consolidation did not improve hospital performance, and patient-experience scores deteriorated somewhat after the mergers.

After previous mergers in which Beaumont absorbed smaller systems in southeast Michigan, Fox sought to merge with the much larger Illinois-based Advocate-Aurora, only to have the deal derailed by overwhelming opposition from doctors, nurses and support staff. These sentiments have only been exacerbated by the horrific conditions during the pandemic.

While workers resist, the Biden administration has greenlighted hospital mergers in general, and the Spectrum-Beaumont deal after it was announced last summer. In July, the White House issued a statement acknowledging, hospital mergers can be harmful to patients, and urging the US Justice Department and FTC to revise their merger guidelines. In the end, the FTC raised no objections.

Employees at the new BHSH System and hospital workers throughout the state of Michigan can only defend their rights to jobs, decent wages and working conditions and take forward the fight against the financial consolidation of the health care industry by relying on their own independent organization and strength. The health care unions are aligned with the Democrats, who are in turn tied in with the corporations and the health care executives that are pulling down multimillion dollar salaries.

The health care industry is by far the largest in Michigan, outstripping even the auto industry for which the state has long been known, with hundreds of thousands of nurses, other skilled staff, aides and service workers, and tens of thousands of affiliated doctors. There are numerous world-class institutions with the finest medical technology.

But this vast assemblage of skilled and dedicated professionals is under the direction of a relative handful of money-grubbing parasiteshospital executives earning nine-figure incomes, and boards of directors representing industries that see health care as unnecessary overhead, to be reduced to the smallest amount possible.

The current consolidation of hospital systems into a small number of very large enterprises is driven by the demands of the profit system and the operation of the health care industry in the interests of the tiny financial elite that has increased its wealth enormously throughout the pandemic. This only underscores the necessity for the working class to fight for a system of socialized medicine, in which health care is provided to the population based on their needs, and not for the enrichment of the financial aristocracy.
Jeremy Corbyns speech on the 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, Northern Ireland added his own layer of whitewash to obscure the origins of the most infamous mass killing of the Troubles. 28 people were shot January 30, 1972, and 14 died, when the British Armys Parachute Regiment attacked a demonstration opposing internment without trial.

Jeremy Corbyn giving the keynote speech marking the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday at Derry Guildhall (Credit: Jeremy Corbyn/Twitter)

Corbyn was speaking at the Museum of Free Derry and identified many friends in the nationalist audience including Sinn Fein General Secretary Mitchell McLaughlin, current Westminster Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MP for the Foyle constituency Colum Eastwood and former SDLP leader, now a Fine Gael member, Mark Durkan. Former Unite the Union general secretary, and a close Corbyn ally, Len McCluskey was also present.

Corbyn was at ease and felt able to expound on a number of themes while never once mentioning the role of the Labour Party, in which he has spent almost his entire political career and which he led for nearly five years from 2015.

An honest commentator with Corbyns record would have been obliged to account for the fact that the deployment which led directly to Bloody Sunday was ordered by his own party. Under the Labour government of Harold Wilson, on August 14, 1969, Home Secretary James Callaghan authorised 300 troops being sent to Derry at the request of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and then Prime Minister of Ulster, James Chichester-Clark.

Under the pretext of defending Catholic areas, British forces were inserted to stabilise capitalist rule across Ireland in conditions of escalating opposition to anti-Catholic discrimination in the six counties of Northern Ireland, amid a deepening class struggle in the Republic of Ireland. By 1972, under the Tory government of Edward Heath, there were up to 30,000 troops in Northern Ireland, including the Parachute Regiment.

The occupation, Operation Banner, continued under the Wilson and Callaghan Labour governments of 1974-1979, with Defence and Northern Ireland Secretary Roy Mason maintaining troop levels above 20,000 and escalating the low intensity dirty war of infiltration, state collusion in assassinations and mass repression. Mason, a former trade union official, deployed the British Special Air Service against the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Father Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he escorts a mortally-wounded protester to safety during the events of Bloody Sunday (1972) in Derry, Northern Ireland. (Photo by BBC journalist John Bierman-Creative Commons/fair use)

The Troubles were only ended when, under Tony Blair, Labour negotiated the Good Friday Agreement to incorporate Sinn Fein, the IRAs political wing, into the Northern Ireland government. This served to stabilise the six counties as an investment platform, remove restrictions on the border between the two parts of the partitioned island and release the British Army for new bloodbaths abroad.

Labours new arrangement, negotiated with the Irish and US governments, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party and others, institutionalised the sectarian divisions which the Troubles had monstrously enflamed. Even now, over 100 peace walls carve up working-class areas of Belfast.

Corbyn, however, did not make one single reference to the Labour Partys current or historic attitude to Ireland. He evaded the subject by attempting to associate himself with the years of struggle by relatives and supporters of those killed on Bloody Sunday. A week after Bloody Sunday, Corbyn said, We organised a march from Kilburn to Whitehall, carrying mock coffins to lay at the gates of Downing Street for the then prime minister to see.

Blairs government also set in place mechanisms for partial and carefully managed investigations of the numerous atrocities of the Trouble. The Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday reported in 2010, exonerating the victims from the decades of slander directed against them but attributing the shootings to individual solders losing their self-control... forgetting their instructions and training.

Earlier this year, after a sustained right-wing campaign, the only criminal case emerging from Bloody Sunday, against anonymous Soldier F, including two counts of murder, and five of attempted murder, was dropped. Soldier F admitted firing 13 rounds during Bloody Sunday and was, according to Saville, at the heart of the shooting.

Jeremy Corbyn, Roy Mason and Merlyn Rees

Corbyn noted that had the British governments proposed amnesty for all Troubles civil and criminal cases been in place in 2010, it would have prohibited the Saville Inquiry and the partial exposure it allowed. The amnesty will also close numerous ongoing inquiries. The idea, Corbyn intoned, that we must move on, move on without examining the states own accountability has quite rightly enraged a lot of people in the North as a whole.

Roy Mason, Labour government Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (September 1976-May 4) 1979 (Credit: Creative Commons)

Rather than explore this question more deeply, however, Corbyn himself, moved on.

Had he been minded to, the former Labour leader could have mentioned recent developments in crucial legacy cases. These make clear the proposed amnesty amounts to a charter for the British government's torturers and assassins, many of whom were operating when Labour was in power.

In late 2021, survivors of the 1975 Miami Showband massacre, when three members of the popular band were blown up and shot by a loyalist gang, agreed to accept 1.5 million in damages from the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) in settlement of their legal case seeking to expose collusion by British forces in the attack. Stephen Travers, one of the survivors, said he had expected to win his legal case but the threat of all cases being closed by an amnesty forced their hand. The MoD reached a settlement without legal liability.

The same month, the UK Supreme Court ruled that a 2014 decision by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, successor to the RUC, to drop investigation into the torture of the 14 hooded men was unlawful. The hooded men were among 342 people interned by the British government during Operation Demetriusthe 1971 internment without trial of hundreds suspected of membership of the IRA. The 14 were selected for special treatment. For seven days, the men were hooded, forced to stand in excruciating positions, bombarded with white noise, deprived of sleep, food and water. They were badly beaten, and one attempted suicide. While hooded, they were thrown from low-flying helicopters. No one was ever convicted of anything.



The case was brought after Irish broadcaster RTE in 2014 unearthed a 1977 memo from then British Home Secretary, Labours Merlyn Rees, to Prime Minister Callaghan stating that it was his view that the decision to use methods of torture in Northern Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by ministersin particular Lord Carrington, then secretary of state for defence. Rees continued, endorsing Carringtons actions and defending the torturers, If at any time methods of torture are used in Northern Ireland contrary to the view of the government of the day, I would agree that individual policemen or soldiers should be prosecuted or disciplined; but in the particular circumstances of 1971/72, a political decision was taken [emphasis added].



Despite the 2014 decision being considered unlawful, the Supreme Court rejected claims by the men for a judicial review.

The case was brought after Irish broadcaster RTE in 2014 unearthed a 1977 memo from then British Home Secretary, Labours Merlyn Rees, to Prime Minister Callaghan stating that it was his view that the decision to use methods of torture in Northern Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by ministersin particular Lord Carrington, then secretary of state for defence. Rees continued, endorsing Carringtons actions and defending the torturers, If at any time methods of torture are used in Northern Ireland contrary to the view of the government of the day, I would agree that individual policemen or soldiers should be prosecuted or disciplined; but in the particular circumstances of 1971/72, a political decision was taken [emphasis added]. Despite the 2014 decision being considered unlawful, the Supreme Court rejected claims by the men for a judicial review. Earlier this month, Northern Irelands Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson issued a long-delayed report investigating loyalist murders and attempted murders carried out by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and, the organisations cover name when murdering people, the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) between 1989 and 1993. In it, she raised significant concerns about the role of the RUC. Anderson investigated the activities of the North Antrim UDA/UFF. Anderson described herself as numbed at the extent of police collusion, including in one of the most notorious killings of the Troubleseight people in the Rising Sun bar, Greysteel in 1993.



Corbyn made no mention of these recent cases and avoided the Labour Partys current attitude to the amnesty. The party opposes it, but, in the words of former Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Louise Haigh, everyone accepts that prosecutions are going to be only likely in a handful of cases.

Merlyn Rees appearing on After Dark on 16 July 1988 (Credit: Creative Commons)

Jeremy Corbyn and a Border Poll

Corbyn instead meandered into a potted history of Ireland to introduce comments on the possibility of a new poll on the status of the north. He opined that a Border Poll, vague arrangements for which are included in the Good Friday Agreement should an ill-defined majority in Northern Ireland support it, would be a further expression of justice being achievable through pressure on the good offices of the British state.

The former Labour leader conceded that the agreement did not explain how to determine when a poll should be called or who would be able to vote. Speaking for his nationalist audience, Corbyn called on the British government to explain how the poll can be triggered. And I call on them to begin that process, so we can have that understanding and that discussion. This, Corbyn enthused, would prove that 50 years after Bloody Sunday, Irish people are finally able to reach toward self-determination and social justice.

Days after Corbyns remarks, Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan, of the hard right Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), resigned. Under the Northern Ireland Executives sectarian rules, this forced Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeils simultaneous resignation and the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive. Givan cited the DUPs opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol established as part of Britains departure from the European Union, which created a customs border down the Irish Sea. The DUP leadership are also deeply concerned that, with an election due in May and the party trailing Sinn Fein, the election will result in a Sinn Fein First Minister and heighten the prospect of a Border Poll.

Such an outcome, Jeremy Corbyn notwithstanding, would be completely unacceptable to any wing of Ulster unionism.

Givans decision followed a meeting between DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and representatives of the so-called Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) in east Belfast on January 31. The LCC represent loyalist paramilitary groups the Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando groupall with long records of sectarian and fascistic violence and murder. An LCC statement hailed the DUP stance as reinforcing the seriousness of the situation and it should be made clear that there can be no re-formation of a NI Executive until the breaches of the Belfast Agreement are repaired and normal trading within the United Kingdom is restored.

The DUP/LCC decision appeared timed to coincide with the Johnson governments Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill completing its passage through Westminster. The Bill legislates for the Northern Ireland Assembly to continue to function for at least six months without an Executive and removes the obligation for elections to be immediately called if the Executive falls. The Bill, which serves to buyUunionism time to attempt to engineer a favourable election outcome by its traditional means of flag waving and veiled threats of violence, was fully supported by the Labour Party.

Corbyn aside, some essential points should be made:
Several reports published in the last 72 hours shed further light on former President Donald Trumps criminal efforts to destroy White House documents, in violation of the Presidential Records Act.

According to a series of news articles, Trump frequently tried to destroy records by personally ripping them up and putting the shreds in burn bags. He also withheld records from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by illegally storing them at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort compound.

Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

Reporting by the Washington Post, New York Times, NPR and CNN has confirmed that Trump lawyers handed 15 boxes of White House records, previously kept at Mar-a-Lago, to NARA. Within the boxes were emails, memos, faxes, schedules, appointments and intelligence briefings, some of which were classified.

There is an obvious irony in the fact that Trump illegally stored and deleted sensitive records on a scale unprecedented in modern US political history. Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump incited fascistic violence at campaign rallies against his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over charges that while serving as secretary of state she deleted emails she should have saved. At nearly every campaign rally, Trump encouraged chants of Lock her up!

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that NARA had asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate the fact that Trump had taken, and possibly destroyed, documents classified as top secret. However, neither the Post nor the New York Times could confirm that an actual investigation had been opened by the DoJ.

In an article published Wednesday and updated Thursday, the New York Times cited a source as saying that once NARA received the boxes from Trump and determined that some of the documents were classified, representatives from the Archives reached out to the Department of Justice for guidance.

Citing the same source, the Times reported the DoJ had suggested that the inspector general of NARA examine the matter first. The Times wrote: It is unclear what the inspector general has done since then, in particular, whether the inspector general has referred the matter to the Justice Department.

Hinting at the enormous crisis wracking the Biden administration and the US political system as a whole, the Times observed: Making a referral to the Justice Department would put senior officials in the position of having to decide whether to open an investigation, a scenario that would thrust the department into a highly contentious political matter.

While the Biden administration and Attorney General Merrick Garland quietly go about their business doing absolutely nothing to hold Trump and his accomplices accountable for their numerous criminal actions, virtually the entire Republican Party continues to embrace far-right violence as legitimate political discourse. Even prior to last weeks Republican National Committee resolution backing the coup, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich declared that the Republicans would move to imprison members of the January 6 Committee if they regained control of Congress in the November mid-term elections.

I think when you have a Republican Congress, this is all going to come crashing down and the wolves will find out that they are now sheep, Gingrich threatened on Fox News.

The Democratic response has been predictably feckless. On Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, while saying he thought Trump violated the law when he destroyed documents, concluded its not likely that the ex-president and aspiring dictator would be prosecuted.

Oozing cowardice and complacency, Durbin told CNN: I think its a violation of the law. I dont know if its ever been enforced on the president. I can understand in light of some of the things hes said and done why he wants to destroy the evidence.

In a preview of an upcoming book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, titled Confidence Man, the author told CNN on Thursday that staff at the White House residence would periodically find the toilet clogged, forcing the engineer... to come and fix it, and what the engineer would find would be wads of, you know, clumped up printed wet paper.

This was not toilet paper, Haberman said. This was either notes or some other piece of paper that they believe he had thrown down the toilet.

While Trump, as expected, denied the allegation on Thursday as another fake story simply made up by a reporter in order to get publicity for a mostly fictitious book, Bloomberg White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs in a Twitter post backed up Habermans reporting as 100% accurate.

Staff did find clumped/torn/shredded papers and fished them out from blocked bathroom toilet--and believed it had been the presidents doing, sources told me at the time, Jacobs wrote.

The House Select Committee previously revealed that some of the files turned over to it by the National Archives had been taped back together after being torn up by Trump. These included daily presidential diaries, schedules, appointment information, visitor logs and call logs, some of which, the committee revealed on Thursday, had gaps, including on the day of the failed coup.

It was well known prior to January 6, 2021 that Trump used his personal cell phone and those of White House aides in order to hide his criminal activity. The committee knows, for example, based on a public admission, that top Trump attack dog Jim Jordan, Republican congressman from Ohio, held a phone conversation that lasted at least 10 minutes with Trump on the morning of January 6.

Jordan was one of 147 Republicans who voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden after the attack on the Capitol. None of the records turned over by the National Archives to the January 6 Committee have any record of this call, as well as several others that were reportedly held by Trump at the time.

On Thursday, the House Oversight Committee, chaired by New York Democrat Carolyn Maloney, announced that it would be launching an investigation into potential serious violations of the Presidential Records Act, specifically concerning Trumps attempts to shelter and destroy records.

Maloney said that documents appear to have been removed from the White House in violation of the Presidential Records Act and that Former President Trump and his senior advisers must also be held accountable for any violations of the law.

Meanwhile, Trump coup lawyer Rudy Giuliani failed to appear before the House January 6 Committee for a scheduled deposition on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that Giuliani personally called and demanded that Antrim County, Michigan Prosecutor James Rossiter turn over voting machines to him and other Trump lawyers following the November 2020 election.

Rossiter told the Post that even if he had had probable cause to seize the machines, which he did not, there were no circumstances under which he would have given them to an outside party such as Trumps lawyers.

In Trumps unsigned December 16, 2020 draft executive order, which called for the US military to seize voting machines, the first example of alleged international and foreign interference cited is the forensic report of the Antrim County, Michigan voting machines...
The New South Wales (NSW) ombudsman released a report in November revealing that Revenue NSW has unlawfully used automated systems to forcibly collect debt from disadvantaged and financially vulnerable working-class families and individuals since January 2016.

Workers queuing outside an inner-western Sydney Centrelink office in early 2020 [Credit: WSWS Media]

The report showed that Revenue NSW, the state governments debt collection agency, issues large volumes of garnishee orders to the big four banks in particular. An automated system at Revenue NSW sends out a nightly list of individuals deemed to have defaulted on fines, ordering the banks to identify accounts held by these individuals and transfer funds to satisfy the debts.

The use of automation has dramatically increased the number of these orders issued by Revenue NSW. In the 20102011 financial year, there were 6,905, while in 20182019, more than 1.6 million were issued.

According to the report, many families and individuals were left with zero balance in their accounts. Among those targeted were welfare-recipients, whose bank accounts had held the funds they were receiving from Centrelink as their only source of income.

In one case reported by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) last year, a young pregnant mother had her account frozen while the bank complied with a garnishee order from Revenue NSW. The SMH stated: The woman, who had two young children and lived in a rural area, lost access to her only source of income from Centrelink and was left unable to pay rent, buy food or travel home until her next payment from Centrelink.

The Guardian reported another case in which a woman on a disability support pension, who had only recently secured social housing, had all the money from her account cleared by the automated debt recovery system. The woman had been the victim of a crime and had received a payment from Victims Services, but less than two weeks after the money was deposited into her account, it was automatically withdrawn to pay a fine.

Revenue NSW is not obliged to provide notice to a person subject to a garnishee order before or after it is carried out. In other words, someone will only become aware that they have been subjected to a debt recovery operation when they notice funds missing from their bank account.

In August 2016, following a wave of complaints, Revenue NSW implemented a minimum protected amount, meaning banks could not be ordered to seize funds to service debts of less than $536.90.

These changes did little to prevent the bank accounts of vulnerable people being drained, and complaints continued to flood in.

In September 2018, Revenue NSW implemented a new algorithm aimed at excluding vulnerable persons from the debt recovery orders. This was not motivated by any concern for the wellbeing of these individuals, but by the recognition that collection success rates were lower and the administrative costs of processing refund requests outweighed the revenue collected.

When the ombudsman questioned the legality of the entirely automated process, Revenue NSW added a manual step to the process in order to keep the lucrative operation running. In fact, this additional step amounts to little more than a rubber stamp. Prior to the days orders being sent out to banks, a staff member is presented with a series of green or red traffic lights generated by the system. If all lights are green, the list is transmitted to the banks without question. The only human intervention is to examine files flagged red to consider whether they should be sent to the banks.

Legal advice obtained by the ombudsman found that the lawfulness of the automated system remains questionable despite these minor tweaks, but the system is still in place.

The reality is, the impact of automation is merely to make more ruthless and efficient a process that is endorsed by all the major political parties, and the entire capitalist establishment. In order to transfer an ever-growing share of wealth to the financial elite, increasing amounts must be extracted from the working class.

The Revenue NSW setup has been dubbed Robodebt 2.0 on social media. Through the so-called Robodebt system, an estimated $660 million was taken from former and current Centrelink welfare recipients. The federal governments income compliance measures seized $3.36 billion in 201819.

Robodebt 2.0, the data-matching and averaging debt collection system was imposed in 2011 by the Greens-backed Gillard Labor government. Bill Shorten, then assistant treasurer, declared that it would see more people being referred to the tax garnishee process, to retrieve more outstanding debt.

The debts collected through Revenue NSWs automated process are mostly for unpaid parking, speeding and other traffic fines, but also include fines for drug offences, theft and unpaid taxes.

A University of Wollongong 2018 research paper The Hidden Punitiveness of Fines, noted that courts frequently impose fines on offenders who already have outstanding fines that they cannot pay.

The research paper explained that enforcement has necessarily assumed growing significance, because fines have reached massive levels. In NSW in 201516, the total value of penalty notices issued by agencies amounted to almost half a billion dollars.

In a public statement, Scott Johnson, chief commissioner of state revenue at Revenue NSW claimed the numbers were misleading, because, of the 1.6 million orders issued to around 238,000 individuals in 201819, only 32,000 were successful relating to 28,000 individuals.

Johnson added: On average just $498 was recovered from an average outstanding debt of $2,088.

In other words, the vast majority of people targeted by the automated debt recovery system did not have the capacity to pay. This is a reflection of the immense financial stress confronting growing numbers of workers and young people.

According to Me Banks July 2021 Household Financial Comfort Report, 16 percent of Australian households had less than $500 in savings and 21 percent of households less than $1000.

While the fully automated system applies only to the collection of unpaid fines, other debts can also be recovered by the state agency through garnishee orders issued to banks.

Revenue NSW also collects state debts for unpaid ambulance fees, Victims Services restitution orders and unpaid council rates debts. As of November last year, Revenue NSW had issued more than 134,800 debit notices for unpaid COVID-19 hotel quarantine bills.

A new State Debt Recovery Bill was introduced in 2018 that broadened the range of debts subject to recovery orders.

Liberal Member of Parliament Leslie Williams declared that the new legislation would bring about the reduction of the cost of debt recovery, improvement in debt recovery success rates and an increase in government revenue.

Williams added that the legislation was aimed at securing an additional $85.5 million worth of debt within four years and $45.5 million to $97.5 million each year thereafter.

When the act commenced, Laura Bianchi, a solicitor from the Redfern Legal Centre, said she was particularly concerned with the wide scope of referable debt covered under the legislation, specifically because it appears to extend to social housing debts.

Bianchi said that state agencies were previously required to obtain judgment from a court before they could collect debt, but now Revenue NSW can simply send a notice to a persons last known address, and if the debt remains unpaid after the due date, debt recovery action will commence. This can include taking money from a persons bank account, seizing property and placing a charge on land.

Growing sections of the population confront increasing levels of private debt and financial insecurity, partly as a result of the normalisation of precarious casual employment. For many working people, already struggling to keep up with rent, utility, and food bills, incurring a fine or debt can spell disaster.

The intensification of debt collection reveals the lengths to which the Australian ruling elite and its political representatives are willing to go to claw back as much wealth as possible from the most disadvantaged sections of the population.

This is not an aberration, but a defining characteristic of the capitalist system. The alternative is the fight to establish socialism, under which society will be reorganised to meet the needs of everyone, including the most vulnerable.
Just a week before Christmas, management at Macquarie University in Sydney announced the restructuring of support for research, making up to 24 staff redundant.

This change proposal is part of a broader attack on professional staff, with the universitys Professional Services Transformation (PST) abolishing a further 310 positions, on top of the 350 staff members made redundant since early 2020.

Macquarie University Chancellery building (Source: mq.edu.au)

These job losses are causing a significant worsening of working conditions at the university, which were already increasingly intolerable.

The job cuts have involved spill and fill operations, forcing workers to compete with each other for remaining positions. Such demands by university employers were unheard of in Australia before the corporate-government offensive launched during the COVID-19 disaster.

Every change and redundancy has been implemented within the framework of the enterprise agreement (EA), agreed to and enforced by the National Education Tertiary Union (NTEU). The NTEUs refusal to fight the previous cuts has opened the door for further such moves.

In an email to members about the latest change proposal, the NTEU said the timing of the change, on top of the PST, was a sign that management lacked wisdom. In fact, the Research Services change proposal has been in development since June 2021, and is part of the accelerated restructuring of Macquarie University, with management exploiting the impact of the pandemic.

The NTEUs reaction is similar to its response to the PST proposals, which it said espouse many principles that may be laudable or credible in the right circumstances. That is, the NTEU agrees with the cutting of costs. The unions main request is that management should be transparent in providing detailed workload analysis to justify staff cuts.

In an October 27 response to management on the PST, far from rejecting the entire framework, and insisting on the reinstatement of sacked staff, the NTEU advised management that job losses be pursued via voluntary redundancies to mitigate forced redundancies.

That plea was made in order to stifle opposition by disguising the cuts as voluntary departures. The NTEU emphasised its desire to work with management to achieve the cost-cutting requirements. The union stated that we are nonetheless prepared to work constructively with University management throughout the implementation phases of this restructure.

This epitomises the NTEUs role across the country. Since the pandemic began, at least 40,000 and as many as 90,000 jobs have been destroyed at the universities, counting the axing of casual and fixed-term contract workers, while the university unionsthe NTEU and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)have blocked calls for strikes and opposed any unified national industrial and political campaign.

For decades, the NTEU has facilitated efficiencies and pro-business restructuring through EAs that are negotiated every three years.

The current EA at Macquarie University expired on December 31 and preparations to negotiate a new agreement are underway. The NTEU is again falsely advancing a new EA as the means to achieve better pay and conditions.

In reality, when the unions log of claims was presented to a members meeting in November it included meaningless phrases, such as to limit workload intensification and provide protections against unpaid overtime. It also said an employee should be subject to only one change proposal over the three-year life of the agreement. That would still allow for further ruthless restructuring.

The log of claims would also permit the continued unlimited use of casuals, just calling on management to minimise casual employment.

Socialist Equality Party members spoke at the meeting, opposing the log of claims and putting forward a perspective to fight the PST and reinstate the 350 staff made redundant since March 2020.

They moved a resolution that rejected the PST in its entirety and opposed the management-union enterprise bargaining process as a decades-old vehicle for imposing further pro-business restructuring and cuts to jobs and conditions.

The resolution called for a unified struggle by university staff and students against the offensive by governments and managements to accelerate the transformation of universities into increasingly casualised businesses, servicing the narrow vocational and research requirements of the corporate elite, at the expense of genuine education.

It demanded that, instead of big business being bailed out with billions of dollars, and billions more being handed to the military to prepare for war, resources be poured into healthcare and education funding, to protect the population from COVID-19 and guarantee the basic social right to free, first-class education for all students, including international students, and secure jobs for all university workers.

The motion concluded by calling for the establishment of rank-and-file action committees of tertiary education workers and studentsindependent of the NTEU, governments and employersto link up with workers internationally who are facing similar critical struggles.

Several participants in the meeting agreed with the basic points of the resolution or said they were sympathetic. But the NTEU representatives refused to put the motion to the meeting, on the grounds that it was counterposed to the log of claims.

The perspective outlined in the motion has been vindicated since that meeting, during which time the NTEU has done nothing to oppose the PST, the research change proposal or managements plans to return to face-to-face classes despite the record numbers of infections occurring in the Omicron surge.

To discuss the formation of rank-and-file committees, we urge educators and students to contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), both sponsored by the Socialist Equality Party.

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Twitter: twitter.com/CFPE_Australia
In a campaign initiated by the Biden administration and coordinated by the White House, Democratic state governors are systematically dismantling all measures to save lives from the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed nearly 1 million Americans.

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, left, speaks in front of White House press secretary Jen Psaki and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

This campaign is unfolding amidst thousands of daily COVID deaths in the US: 3,234 Americans died Thursday, the fourth consecutive day in which more than 3,000 people died. At the present rate, the official death toll from the pandemic over the past two years will exceed 1 million within 30 days.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, announced Thursday that the state would immediately end its mask mandate. This is the latest in a series of states ending mask and vaccine mandates and eliminating contact tracing, disease surveillance and reporting systems.

Nevada joined California, New York, Delaware, Illinois, Oregon and Rhode Island in dropping mask mandates. As the WSWS reported late last month, over a dozen states have ended or reduced contact tracing, including Michigan, New York, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana and others.

The starting point for this campaign was the declaration on January 21 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky advocating ending masking and isolation.

She stated, If cases are high, severity will be such that were in an OK spot in our hospitals our masks might be more likely to come off. And then if you get a case of a runny nose, you might say, Okay, well, Im going to stay home, because thats what I do when I have a runny nose. But you dont necessarily have to isolate.

Walenskys interview was in keeping with a White House campaign to embrace mass infection dubbed the new normal, which was launched on January 6 by a series of articles co-authored by Ezekiel Emanuel in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

In line with his leading role in the White Houses efforts to abandon measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, Emanuel is at the center of the present campaign by state governors to end mask mandates.

Politico writes,

The centrist New Democrats Coalition hosted former Biden adviser Zeke Emanuelbrother of another former House Democratic campaign chief, Rahm Emanuelat a meeting on the topic last week. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), a member of that group and a physician, has penned a soon-to-be-published op-ed for his local paper, arguing that its time to declare the end of the pandemic phase of the virus.

As part of this shift, the Democrats, many of whom pledged along with Biden to follow the science, have adopted the anti-mask rhetoric of the fascist movement led by former President Donald Trump.

By the time were at the midterms, well hopefully not be wearing masks, said Rep. Josh Gottheimer. We all want to get back to life, he added.

Supporting the fascists demand to end mask mandates in schools, Michigan Representative Elissa Slotkin said, Were never going to get risk down to zero. But theres also risk by not letting our kids have normal lives.

Democratic Representative Susan Wild added, absurdly, Millions of people havent been affected at all by Omicron... We have to recognize that. We cant live in this state in perpetuity.

As a part of this campaign, the Biden administration is seeking to present its abandonment of masking and isolation as a response to a campaign by the states. Asked over and over again whether he supported the moves by states to end mask mandates, Biden said it was a tough call.

The White House is playing coy in its public statements, even as administration staff like White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients and advisers such as Emanuel coordinate the ending of COVID-19 restrictions behind the scenes.

Politico frames this shift as a response to public sentiment, which it asserts supports mass infection policies. White House surrogate Ashish Jha claimed, Governors across the nation are lifting mask mandates... our leaders reflect where folks are.

This is a deliberate lie, which seeks to present an effort to infect the population with a deadly disease as a response to popular demands. Poll after poll shows continued strong support for saving lives, despite the propaganda barrage by the media and politicians. One poll by Navigator Research found that three-quarters of the public supports mask mandates in some circumstances, and two-thirds support mask mandates in all contexts.

The most recent YouGov poll showed that the American public, by a very substantial margin, favors protecting Americans from the health effects of the coronavirus outbreak over protecting the economy.

Working people are, in fact, tired of perpetual mass death and the disruption of their lives caused by the constant threat of infection by an omnipresent and deadly disease. But the Biden administration is seeking, through a massive propaganda campaign, to turn this frustration into acceptance of mass death by falsely declaring the pandemic will end if the public simply ignores it.

A critical element of this campaign is the systematic effort to bury coverage of ongoing mass death. The best political strategy is not to have it dominate the news every day, Politico wrote. True to form, the US print and broadcast media have stopped reporting the daily death toll, while seeking to slash the reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

On February 2, the US Department of Health and Human Services stopped reporting the daily number of hospital deaths from COVID-19. On Monday, Politico reported that the Biden administration would seek to recalculate the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19. States are, one after another, reducing the frequency with which they report COVID-19 deaths.

In the spring and summer of 2021, the abandonment of measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 led to a major resurgence of the pandemic, driven by the emergence of new variants. Likewise, the current abandonment of all mitigation measures will leave the population disarmed in the face of yet another invariable surge of the pandemic.

Since the emergence of COVID-19 in early 2020, the single-minded preoccupation of both the Democrats and Republicans has been to ensure the continual enrichment of the financial oligarchy, no matter the cost in human lives. The only way to stop the ongoing and perpetual mass death is the building of a movement in the working class, armed with the perspective of eliminating and eradicating COVID-19.
For nearly a week the New Zealand media has provided wall-to-wall coverage of an ongoing protest against the Labour Party-led governments COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures.

A so-called Freedom Convoy of hundreds of vehicles travelled from across the country and arrived in the capital, Wellington, on February 8. About 300 protesters camped on the lawn outside parliament, and about 250 people were there this morning.

Protesters outside parliament on February 11, 2022. (Image credit: Twitter @NzFubar)

The event was named after a convoy in Canada, linked to far-right forces involved in former US President Donald Trumps attempted coup on January 6, 2021. Similar protests have been held in Australia over the past week and more are being planned by right-wing groups across Europe.

Yesterday, New Zealand parliaments speaker Trevor Mallard instructed hundreds of police to clear the protesters out. Officers were filmed seizing numerous people in the crowd, including one woman who was dragged by her hair. They arrested 122 people for trespassing.

The police intervention was no doubt a trial run for aggressive tactics that will be deployed, far more rapidly, against genuine oppositional protests in the future, including by left-wing groups, students and workers opposed to the pro-business COVID policies that are supported by both the right-wing rabble and the official parties.

The protest is a thoroughly reactionary event. While claiming to stand for freedom, it demands the removal of all protections against the spread of COVID-19, which the Economist estimates has killed more than 14 million people worldwide.

Internationally, the ruling elite is using such protests to create a toxic ideological atmosphere justifying the criminal policies of letting COVID-19 rip, and to shift official politics even further to the right. The representatives of big business aim to normalise mass infection and unending deaths from the virus, and to abolish lockdowns and all other public health measures that impinge on its freedom to extract profits from the working class.

The convoy is backed by various organisations, including Voices for Freedom (VOF), an anti-vax group co-founded by a former member of the short-lived Advance NZ party. VOF has published material opposing booster vaccines, inoculation for children and masks.

Those attending the Wellington rally included prominent anti-vaxxer Sue Grey, leader of the Outdoors Party; the Freedom and Rights Coalition, a front for the fundamentalist Destiny Church; and the New Conservative Party. The last two are well-known for their anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-LGBT demagogy.

Others promoting the Freedom Convoy included far-right blogger Cameron Slater, the fascist group Action Zealandia, and Counterspin Media. The latter airs on GTV, the media network of US fascist Steve Bannon, Donald Trumps former advisor.

Counterspins Kelvyn Alp posted a video from outside parliament on Wednesday declaring that the protesters planned to enter parliament and carry out a citizens arrest of politicians.

Participants at the rally waved New Zealand and Maori nationalist flags, and held placards denouncing the government as communist and tyrannical, and glorifying the countrys military history. One prominent banner carried the anti-scientific message: Natural immunity 99.6 percent effective.

There were also violent threats. Someone spray-painted a swastika on a statue. Protesters also wrote the words Hang em high in chalk on parliaments forecourt. A 17-year-old girl passing by a group of protesters was pelted with eggs because she was wearing a mask.

International media coverage falsely presented the New Zealand convoy as evidence of growing opposition to public health measures. An Associated Press report, published in the Washington Post and NPR, declared that some have grown weary of the restrictions. The article made no mention of the convoys far-right organisers.

Similarly, the New Zealand Heralds right-wing pundit Matthew Hooton, while applauding the police intervention and the arrests of protesters, declared that lockdowns had created a seething anger towards the Government from a much larger and more reasonable segment of the population.

In fact, more than 95 percent of NZs eligible population has been double-vaccinated. Lockdowns over the past two years were strongly supported and have kept New Zealands COVID death toll so far at 53. There is growing concern, including among parents, teachers and healthcare workers, over the Labour-led governments abandonment of its previous elimination policy and its decision to allow the highly-infectious Omicron variant to spread.

The Ardern government has already abandoned the use of lockdowns to reduce COVID case numbers to zero, which was the main demand of last years protests organised by Destiny Church. Ardern has declared that schools and businesses must remain open, despite the escalating spread of Omicron across the country.

The Labour government is also moving to dismantle New Zealands border quarantine system, which has kept thousands of COVID cases out of the country.

In response to the Freedom Convoy, Ardern told the media that the vaccine mandates would be lifted when theyre not needed. Opposition National Party leader Christopher Luxon called for a timeframe for the removal of mandates.

While Ardern and Luxon both made statements criticising the Freedom Convoy, it was endorsed by right-wing nationalist NZ First Party leader Winston Peters, who said it represented legitimately frustrated kiwis.

NZ First, an anti-immigrant, especially anti-Chinese party, was part of the 20172020 coalition government with Labour. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave NZ First a major role, making Peters the foreign minister and deputy prime minister, while NZ Firsts deputy leader Ron Mark was made defence minister. NZ First received just 2.6 percent of votes in 2020, not enough to re-enter parliament.

The right-wing event also found support from Redline, a pseudo-left blog founded by former Maoists and former Pabloites. The blogs Don Franks described the protesters as ordinary working people stepping outside of their normal day to day life to make a point about something concerning them deeply. He said nothing about the blatantly right-wing politics of the event.

Redline promotes the Swedish policy of mass infection and herd immunity and has also posted articles defending the Canadian Freedom Convoywhose organisers are openly agitating for a coup. The blog represents middle class ex-radicals who are responding to the pandemic and the crisis of capitalism by galloping to the right.

While practically all corporate media commentators criticised the convoy, the entire political establishment stands united behind the policy of allowing Omicron to spread and infect masses of people.

The small Freedom Convoy, like similar far-right protests internationally, is able to exert an outsized influence on political life due to the absence of a movement of the working class opposing the government from the left. Responsibility for this situation rests with the trade unions, backed by the pseudo-left groups, which are enforcing the Ardern governments dangerous reopening of schools and businesses.

Working people, as well as students and young people, must take matters into their own hands and urgently organise their own independent opposition to the governments let it rip agenda. The Socialist Equality Group, in an open letter to workers in New Zealand, called for the formation of rank-and-file safety committees in schools and workplaces, to organise strikes and protests for a fully-funded, scientific elimination strategy, both in New Zealand and internationally.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a feature article on its website on February 1 confirming that the Biden administration is testing four-legged, potentially lethal robotic dogs at the US-Mexico border.

The lighthearted DHS article concludes by warning readers: [D]ont be surprised if in the future we see robot Fido out in the field, walking side-by-side with CBP [Customs and Border Protection] personnel. The agency explains that the four-legged drones would help boost the presence of Border Patrol in the region.

The memo does not mention that robotic Fido can easily be equipped with automated weapons to be used in a variety of combat applications, according to its creators.

The particular version of robotic dog being tested at the border is produced by the Philadelphia-based company Ghost Robotics. Ghost Robotics has produced dog drones with a number of corporate partners, including Verizon, Amazon Web Services and weapons manufacturer SWORD.

The partnership with SWORD made headlines when the manufacturers displayed a heavily armed robodog at the Association of the United States Armys 2021 annual conference last October.

SWORDs website boasts that the companys Defense Systems Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR) was specifically designed to offer precision fire from unmanned platforms such as the Ghost Robotics Vision-60 quadrupedthe robot currently being tested at the border.

The SWORD website states that SPUR is the future of unmanned weapon systems, and that future is now.

It is necessary to state clearly: If not stopped, such technology will one day be distributed to local police to use against the working class.

Twitter users were outraged when a Ghost Robotics Twitter post showcased one of the heavily armed robodogs under the hashtags #NationalSecurity #drone #robotics, and tagged the US Southern Command.

Fluffyfur3030 commented: So youve done some fancy stepping to avoid saying the quiet part out loud. Let me do it for you. We created a soulless piece of hardware for brutal population suppression when the billionaires finally fear for their ill-gotten gains. The comment received 1600 likes.

Another tweeted: So, how many civilians per second this designed to kill? Because lets face it, this will be rolled out on US citizens sooner than itll be used for legitimate warfare.

Already, similar robot dogs have been tested to assist police in different circumstances in cities across the U.S. In Honolulu, the police department acquired a $150,000 robot dog, purchased with COVID relief money, to harass and take the temperature of homeless people. In New York City, the police department tested a robot dog during various police calls last spring. Such was the backlash from workers in both cities that the departments had to terminate the contracts.

The preparation of robotic attack dogs to patrol the border is only the latest attack by the Democratic Biden administration on immigrants and asylum seekers. Despite campaigning on the basis of opposition to Trumps ruthless and inhumane immigration policies, since coming to office Biden has not diverged from his predecessors anti-immigrant agenda in any significant way.

In fact, Biden has revived and expanded a legal process known as the Rocket Docket, which expedites the deportation process by giving asylum-seeking families less than a year to defend their right to stay in the U.S.

Asylum cases can take years to resolve, even with the most expert and expensive lawyers. The accelerated timeline is designed to reject as many asylum seekers as possible.

The Biden administration has also continued to use Title 42, a little-known provision of U.S. health law exploited by former President Trump to expel people seeking asylum on the grounds that they pose a public health risk. Following Trumps example, Bidens secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas, is cynically using the pandemic to implement a right-wing immigration policy that violates both international and US law. Biden went so far as to defend the use of Title 42 in court in August.

The use of Title 42, under conditions where the Biden administration is moving aggressively to scrap all remaining public health measures that slow the spread of COVID-19, is particularly sinister and hypocritical.

According to official CBP statistics, the overwhelming majority of the nearly 1.5 million people expelled via Title 42 since March 2020, when Trump invoked the provision, have been expelled during President Bidens tenure.

Biden briefly came under attack for his use of Title 42 in September, after video footage and photographic images of US Border Patrol agents herding Haitian migrants as though they were cattle triggered widespread revulsion across the United States and internationally. In the end, the administration expelled nearly 4,000 people to Haiti in only nine days.

Many of these individuals had not lived in Haiti for years, some for over a decade. Most of the children were born or grew up in South America and are more fluent in Spanish or Portuguese than in Haitian Creole or French.

For all its proclaimed differences with Trump, touted during election campaigns, the Democratic Party has done everything in its power to maintain the Trump-era immigration policies, further militarizing the border and persecuting migrants and asylum seekers. Biden is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Barack Obama. The Obama-Biden administration oversaw more deportations than any before it, earning Obama the sobriquet deporter-in-chief.

This latest attack on immigrants from the Biden administration once again demonstrates that there is no constituency in the ruling class for the defense of democratic rights. Only the working class can defend immigrants from the dictatorial policies of the ruling class, Democratic and Republican alike.

All workers, regardless of immigration status, are the ultimate target of the anti-democratic methods used against immigrants. All of the instruments of war used against immigrants will be turned against workers protesting against the homicidal profits-before-human life COVID policies of both capitalist parties, as well as rampant price rises, cuts in real wages and ever-widening social inequality.

Concentration camps for illegal immigrants will be utilized to detain workers engaged in illegal strikes and protests.

The entire working class in the US and internationally must link its demands on wages, benefits and social equality with the defense of immigrant workers, who must be guaranteed the right to live and work in whatever country they choose, with full legal rights.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his partys unswerving commitment to NATO and its warmongering against Russia, and his readiness to lead a crackdown on popular anti-war sentiment.

In an interview with the Times yesterday he said, This is very clearly me reasserting our position on Nato, and intentionally so. It isnt a new position for the Labour Party because we have always been the party of Nato.

Tweet issued by Sir Keir Starmer highlighting the Times article headlined Keir Starmer the Nato hawk goes on the offensive

The message is that we are firm and united in our support for Nato, that we are reasserting Labours history and traditionthe Bevin traditionof the Labour Party, and making it very, very clear that we dont just see that as part of our history and tradition. Its part of our values, as relevant today as its ever been.

Ernest Bevin, the Times points out, was a former Labour foreign secretary and staunch anti-communist whose vision of a transatlantic alliance led to Nato.

The Labour leader continued by explaining that it was very difficult to find a dividing point between the Conservative government and Labour over the US-led war drive centred on Ukraine. Making clear that he was speaking of aggression up to and including military conflict, he explained that he was not hopeful a crisis on Ukraines border can be averted and would reverse the governments plans to axe 9,000 soldiers and 79 tanks from the army after a decade of decline in the armed forces.

Starmer gave the interview ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg yesterday, the first such meeting with a Labour leader in a decade, as part of his audition before British imperialismshowing that Labour can be trusted with carrying out the militarist policies of the ruling class.

He condemned his predecessor Jeremy Corbyns faux opposition to NATO and hesitation in signing up to the anti-Russian campaign over the Skripal poisonings. The Times summarised Starmer as saying Corbyn was wrong on Nato and emphatically wrong on the Salisbury poisonings for refusing to hold Russia responsible.

The Times welcomed the Labour leaders words with an editorial Starmer and Security: A message of strength is a welcome shift in the partys stance. But it claimed Starmer had erred by saying Labour has always been the party of NATO, raising Corbyns leadership and planned attendance that evening at a Stop the War Coalition rally, No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion.

Its editors commanded, Sir Keir says the party has abandoned his predecessors approach. That commitment must stick.

Starmer responded within hours, penning an opinion piece in the Guardian newspaper reported as penned on the way to Brussels where he reaffirmed Labours staunch support for Nato.

Under my leadership, Labours commitment to Nato is unshakable, he wrote, denouncing the likes of the Stop the War coalition as being at best naive; at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies.

To quote former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Starmer is using the STWC as a stalking horse to attack all those opposed to war as the enemy within. He is signalling Labours willingness to play the leading role in a ruthless suppression of any opposition in the working class to NATOs war plans.

This is the most critical element of his pitch to prove himself a safe pair of hands for British imperialist interests. The second element is to advance himself as a more globally and domestically credible alternative to Johnsons shambolic premiership. Im struck by the fact that almost every time he does a press conference abroad among the first questions are about his authority in his own country, his authority on the world stage, Starmer told the Times.

That should never be the first question of a British prime minister of any political party.

His point was underscored yesterday during a joint press conference between Johnson and Stoltenberg in Brussels. The prime minister repeated baseless claims of grim intelligence proving an imminent Russian invasion, following an announcement that an additional 1,000 British troops were being placed on standby for rapid deployment to Eastern Europe.

He continued his lambasting of the European Union powers on behalf of the US government, with a jibe against French President Emmanuel Macron, who the British press have accused of offering Ukraine a poisoned peace plan following his talks with Putin. The UK was not going to treat the nations at the heart of our Continent as pawns on a chessboard, to be haggled over or sacrificed, Johnson fulminated.

But his attempt at statesmanlike authority was swiftly undermined by the question, If youre found to have broken the law, would you resign? This was in reference to the ongoing police investigation into parties held at Downing Street, some attended by the prime minister, during national pandemic lockdowns.

As Johnson squirmed, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was being treated with undisguised contempt by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov at a press conference in Moscow. He bluntly described the conversation as one between the dumb and the deaf and his counterpart as someone off of which bounced all the facts we presented. At one point he told his translators to stop interpreting Truss and walked off as soon as the press conference was over.

In contrast to Johnson, Starmer offers himself up as someone reliable enough to have been trusted by the British state to run the Crown Prosecution Service for five years, including in his own words, working on live operations with the security intelligence services.

Starmers appeal is to the bourgeoisie, through the medium of the most unalloyed representatives of the Conservative Party. His first major statement on Ukraine was delivered as an opinion piece written for the house paper of the Tory right, the Daily Telegraph, Britain must stand firm against Russian aggression. His second public declaration was delivered first to the Times, one of the flagship publications of the Murdoch press.

Starmer again made clear that his was an appeal for national unity and not discord. He singled out Johnsons main competitors for leadership of the Tory Party for praise, describing himself as heartened by the moral courage of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid for criticising Johnson for accusing Starmer of allowing the notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile to escape prosecution.

Sunak, a multi-millionaire, is leading the calls for devastating austerity to be imposed on the working class to repay the bailouts of the corporations and the super-rich during the pandemic. Javid, a lowly millionaire, has spearheaded the governments scrapping of all COVID-19 public health measures.

Starmer is making clear that Labour will continue backing these policies, along with warmongering against Russia, to the hilt, whether as a loyal opposition, a partner in a government of national unity, or by forming its own government.

His actions are a devastating indictment of Corbyn and Labours left rump. What is to show for their five years in charge of the party? His refusal to fight the Blairites has left behind a party even further to the right than it was under Tony Blair, unconditionally united with the Tories on all its major policies, including fomenting a war with nuclear-armed Russia and describing anti-war protestors as agents of foreign despots.

Protesters pack London's Whitehall during a march to Hyde Park, to demonstrate against the imminent invasion of Iraq. February 15, 2003 (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

As the Socialist Equality Party insisted in its statement, The working class must mobilise to bring down the Johnson government: Workers must face up to the political reality that the Tory and Labour Parties represent a single entitythe party of herd-immunity, social reaction, militarism and war.

The urgent task of building an anti-war movement to combat the aggression of British and US imperialism can only be done on the foundation of a new, socialist, internationalist movement in the working class under the leadership of the SEP.
On Tuesday, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten indicated her support for ending mask mandates for K-12 schools in the small minority of states where they still exist. Weingartens only disagreement with the far-right proponents of the immediate removal of all school masking is her call for the fig leaf of a science-based metric by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to justify this unscientific policy.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks during a news conference in front of the Richard R. Green High School of Teaching, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Appearing on MSNBC Tuesday morning, Weingarten repeatedly called for an off-ramp from masking in schools and explained that last November she asked CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to start planning for this. She added, Im just asking the CDC to actually weigh in here so that we have that kind of guidance around the country.

Touting Mondays decision by New Jerseys Democratic Governor Phil Murphy to end mask mandates in schools, Weingarten cited the four or five different factors the governor supposedly relied on to end the mandate there, effective March 7. New Jersey is one of several Democratic-led states to announce the end of mask mandates this week, including Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon.

Weingartens MSNBC appearance was part and parcel of the coordinated ruling class effort to end one of the few public health measures still in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. She appeared Tuesday along with Dr. Lucy McBride, a favored guest and contributor to various bourgeois media outlets due to her call for ending all pandemic restrictions.

In December, Weingarten tried to invite McBride to an AFT-sponsored town hall on the pandemic days before it was scheduled. The event was canceled after many long-scheduled speakers, including Dr. Jorge Caballero, reported being harassed by white supremacists, who were emboldened by Weingartens decision to invite McBride to join the panel.

In Tuesdays segment, McBride responded, I think Randis exactly right, that as conditions evolve, policies should evolve as well and that we need to root our policies in evidence Theres no convincing evidence in the real world that masking children in schools makes a significant difference in transmission in schools.

McBride went on to tout a vaccine-only approach, adding, Its really time to start lifting mitigations whose benefits are unclear at best and whose harms are mounting.

Agreeing with most of McBrides unscientific claims, Weingarten replied, This is the only place I disagree with Lucy: theres a lot of evidence that the masks have helped stop transmission. But I agree with Lucy that  it is impeding learning [and] socialization to have them.

For most of the pandemic, experts like McBride have pushed the narrative that remote learning was the cause of learning loss, a lack of socialization and a mental health crisis in youth. Now that the Democrats and unions have fully reopened schools, McBride and similar well-paid peddlers of pseudoscience have shifted the cause of learning loss, decreased mental health and lack of socialization to masks.

Neither McBride nor Weingarten cited any evidence that masks are an impediment to learning or socialization, because no such evidence exists. They also ignored the reality that 200,000 American children have lost a parent or primary caregiver to COVID-19, causing a mental health crisis orders of magnitude greater than the impacts of school closures.

As for Weingartens reliance on the CDC to issue guidance for when to end the use of masks in schools, the agency has lost significant scientific credibility under the Biden administration and his appointed director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Last February, just weeks into Bidens presidency, the CDC issued guidance stating, At any level of community transmission, all schools have options to provide in-person instruction (either full or hybrid), through strict adherence to mitigation strategies. At the time, Weingarten described the CDCs new guidelines as informed, rigorous and free from political meddling. Thousands of school personnel have lost their lives in the year since these unscientific guidelines were issued, primarily due to in-person instruction.

On May 13, 2021, the CDC announced that vaccinated individuals no longer needed to wear masks indoors or socially distance. Walensky declared at the time, Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing. Within a day, many of the largest retailers dropped mask mandates and over the coming weeks almost every state ended their mask mandates as well.

That CDC guidance was not supported by the vast majority of epidemiologists. In a survey conducted by the New York Times at the time, 80 percent said they thought Americans would need to wear masks in public indoor places for at least another year. Just five percent said people would no longer need to wear masks indoors by this summer.

In July, foreshadowing Weingartens current call for the CDC to issue guidance for ending mask mandates, the CDC issued guidance that vaccinated teachers and students did not need to wear masks inside schools.

Most notoriously, in late December, in response to large labor shortages caused by workers being exposed to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, the CDC reduced their recommended quarantine time for exposed or infected individuals from ten to five days. The unscientific reduction in the quarantine period came in direct response to lobbying by the airline industry, which faced thousands of flight cancellations over the heavily traveled holiday period.

The CDC has applied the same revised quarantine guidelines to schools. Infected and exposed students and staff can return to classrooms after five days as long as they remain asymptomatic. The CDC further advises that schools may consider forgoing quarantine for students ages 1217 years who completed their primary vaccine series but have not yet received all eligible boosters.

Given the CDCs well-documented recent history of ignoring science in service to capitalism, Weingartens call for new CDC guidance on the removal of mask mandates in schools amounts to little more than a plea for the ruling class to provide political cover to the unions as they facilitate the latest betrayal of the health interests of workers.

Weingarten has played a central role in selling the ruling classs pandemic policies to hesitant teachers, parents and students, especially since Biden was elected. Last May, she told the New York Times that she was spending upwards of 15 hours a day on phone calls with the White House, the CDC and local union officials to facilitate school reopenings.

At the end of September, Weingarten and the AFT hosted an online town hall with the far-right parents group Open Schools USA, which not only opposes mask mandates but vaccine recommendations as well. The panel included four scientists, including Jay Bhattacharya, co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD), which calls for herd immunity through the infection of all young people.

Weingartens endorsement of a pseudo-scientific cover for the ending of mask mandates in schools is yet another deadly betrayal by the trade unions which have allowed the pandemic to rip through schools and workplaces.

Teachers who wish to fight against the abandonment of all public health measures in schools should join the Educators Rank and File Safety Committee today. This Committee is organizing parents, students and teachers in the United States and around the world committed to putting an end to the pandemic through a Zero COVID strategy utilizing all public health measures, including the temporary closure of all schools and non-essential businesses with full income protection for affected workers and full funding for remote learning.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

UN Information Center

Feb. 11, 2022



OPINION, Feb. 11, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations:

As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I spend much of my time speaking with 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 humanity's 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.
A group of fourth-graders, led by one of their 9-year-old classmates, has learned first-hand the power of protest in the name of chocolate milk.

Jordan Reed and his classmates at Sierra Vista K-8 School in Vacaville, California, recently staged a protest regarding a 2020 decision to remove chocolate milk from lunch menus at schools across the district. Many students, like Reed, were upset with the decision made by school officials.

"We used to have it," he told NBC affiliate KCRA-TV, "but then they just took it away."

According to another student, it had been very popular. "You'd be lucky to get a spot for chocolate milk, because it would all be gone," sixth-grader Wesson Markowski told the outlet.

So last Friday, the 26 students in Jordan's class joined together in an effort to bring back the beloved beverage  and it worked.

District chef and culinary manager Richie Wilim told The Washington Post that school officials originally pulled the drink from schools due to its high sugar content. Now, Wilim said the school plans to offer chocolate milk once a week.

"I felt good about it," Jordan told the newspaper. "I brought back something that everybody wanted."

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The idea to stage a protest started when Jordan's teacher, Emily Doss, gave her students an assignment that hit close to home, per the Post.

That day, Doss assigned her class a Scholastic News article titled Should Schools Serve Flavored Milk?, which was about a fourth-grader in Missouri who petitioned to reintroduce strawberry milk at his school.

Jordan Reed chocolate milk student protest

KCRA News Jordan Reed leading his classmates in protest

The lesson had a big impact on Jordan who went home and started preparing for a protest, creating chants like "What do we want? Chocolate milk! When do we want it? Now!", per the Post. He also made signs reading "We need it please," "Less regular, more chocolate" and "Justice."

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The next day, after learning that local reporters had caught wind of the protest, Doss told the Post she rallied her students to make more signs  and come up with some solid arguments to help them plead their case.

Afterwards, the students all left class to protest in front of the school, per KCRA.

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Their hard work paid off when the district's director of student nutrition met with the group to hear what they had to say, per the Post.

Jordan argued that providing regular milk as the only option caused his classmates to drink less milk, leading to increased waste, the newspaper reported. He also claimed that students may be getting fewer nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.

Ultimately, they managed to persuade school officials, who agreed to a compromise.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories

In addition to being a win for the students on a surface level, their teacher says the experience ended up being about more than just chocolate milk.

"It started off as not being a big thing, and then it just kind of took off," Doss told the Post. "It went from a review lesson to this huge life lesson for these kids."
Belarusian cross-country skier Darya Dolidovich poses in this picture taken in Kirovsk, Russia, November, 2021 (Sergei Dolidovich via REUTERS)

A Belarusian cross-country skier has fled to Poland with her relatives because they feared reprisals by authorities after she was barred from competition over the familys political views.

Darya Dolidovich said on Wednesday that she hopes to keep training in Poland, where she is now based along with her father and trainer Sergei Dolidovich, a seven-time Olympian cross-country skier.

The 17-year-old skiier had been barred from competing for what father and daughter believe were his participation in street protests against the 2020 re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that opponents said was fraudulent. Mr Lukashenko has denied rigging the vote.

Darya has been stripped of her right to take part in competitions, Mr Dolidovich told Reuters. I dont see the possibility of her continuing her career in Belarus.

We could be accused of staging a demonstration and shouting (opposition) slogans, then just be sent to prison, he said.

Three months ago, I couldnt have imagined, even in a nightmare, that I would end up leaving my country.

The Dolidovich familys departure comes a few days into the Beijing Winter Olympics, where the Belarusian national team is under scrutiny following the defection of sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya at the Tokyo Games last year.

Darya, one of the countrys most promising junior cross-country skiers, said last month that the Belarus Ski Union deactivated her FIS code, an individual identifying number required for athletes to take part in competitions run by the International Ski Federation (FIS).

The Belarus Ski Union told Daryas coaching staff that it deactivated her FIS code in December in response to a decision by the Belarus Cross-Country Skiing Federation, according to a 31 January letter. It did not say why that decision was made.

In response to questions from Reuters, the FIS said it had not heard back from Belarusian ski officials since requesting further information last month on the deactivation of Daryas FIS code.

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The Belarus Cross-Country Skiing Federation and the Belarus Ski Union did not respond to requests for comment.

Darya was supposed to graduate from secondary school this year, but it is unclear how she will pursue her studies in Poland.

I had planned to finish school in Belarus, but my parents said that we were moving, she said. Im upset, of course. It would have been simpler to stay a few months and finish school.

Belarusian cross-country skier Darya Dolidovich poses in this picture taken in Kirovsk, Russia, November 2021 (Sergei Dolidovich via REUTERS)

Darya said she was keen to continue skiing in the hopes of keeping her Olympic dream alive.

Several elite Belarusian athletes have been jailed or kicked off national teams for voicing opposition views and joining protests that erupted in 2020 over Mr Lukashenkos re-election.

The repression of Belarusian athletes, including the attempt to forcibly repatriate Ms Tsimanouskaya during the Tokyo Olympics last year, has drawn international condemnation.

Last week, the United States announced it was imposing visa restrictions on several Belarusian nationals, citing Ms Tsimanouskayas case and other instances of what it called extraterritorial counter-dissident activity.

Another Belarusian cross-country skier, Sviatlana Andryiuk, was also stripped of her FIS code, a decision that prevented her from taking part in a qualifying event that could have earned her a berth at the Beijing Olympics.

Ms Andryiuk, who said last month that she had been accused of being an opposition supporter, described her political views as neutral.

Reuters
Last Wednesday, the OAS disclosed in a statement after an extraordinary meeting its concern over the serious environmental, economic, and social consequences of the spill.

Likewise, it expressed solidarity and support to the people and Government of Peru over this tragic event.

"The Foreign Affairs Ministry focuses not only on foreign policy, but also on domestic events such as the oil spill; therefore, it has promoted the OAS Declaration that has an effect on international collaboration," he told TvPeru on Thursday night.
Lexington's Robert Fuller claimed his $100,000 Powerball win on Thursday in Raleigh.

A Lexington said he never gave up on his dream of winning the lottery, and his faith was rewarded when he won a $100,000 prize in Wednesdays Powerball drawing.

I always thought I would win some day, said Robert Fuller. It feels like I am dreaming.

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His $3 Power Play ticket matched numbers on four white balls and the red Powerball to win $50,000. Due to the Power Play feature, that prize doubled to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier was drawn.

Although Fuller had the winning ticket in his hands, he had a hard time believing what he was seeing.

I kept reading it over and over again to make sure it was real, Fuller said.

Fuller is a 43-year-old assembly technician, He purchased his Quick Pick ticket using the Online Play option on the lotterys website. He claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $71,011.

If you want t keep up with what's happening in Davidson County, please support local journalism by subscribing to The Dispatch.

It couldnt have come at a better time, Fuller said. I want to go on a nice vacation with my family.

His prize was one of four big wins in North Carolina in Wednesdays drawing. An Online Play ticket purchased in Lenoir County won $1 million. Two other tickets, purchased at the Circle K on Wilmington Highway in Jacksonville and the Gold Star E on Lobelia Road in Vass in Moore County, won $50,000.

Saturdays Powerball drawing offers a $172 million jackpot, or $117.3 million in cash. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

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Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: A Davidson County man is $100,000 richer after winning in Powerball drawing
Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill will get another two weeks to provide discovery after an administrative law judge moved back his ethics hearing another month.

Attorneys for the Florida Ethics Commission asked the judge to compel Underhill to comply with a request for discovery and if he didn't, find that he was guilty of the seven ethics charges he faces.

According to their motion, Underhill had not communicated with his own attorney and missed the Jan. 28 deadline to turn over required legal discovery.

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Escambia County District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill speaks April 28, 2020, during a meeting in downtown Pensacola.

During a conference Thursday, Administrative Law Judge Garnett Chisenhall denied the motion by the Ethics Commission's attorney against Underhill, but left the option open that it could be renewed at a later date.

Chisenhall gave Underhill another two weeks to comply with the discovery and moved the hearing on his case that was set for next week to March 22.

In September, the Ethics Commission found probable cause for three allegations that Underhill failed to disclose donations to a legal defense fund made by a vendor or county lobbyist, two allegations that Underhill failed to disclose free legal services he received and two allegations that Underhill misused his position when he released transcripts of a County Commission executive session before the case was legally closed.

Underhill has denied all wrongdoing and said his actions complied with the Florida ethics laws.

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Underhill told the News Journal that there was a miscommunication between his attorney and the Ethics Commission attorneys.

Underhill did not directly answer when asked if it was correct that he had not communicated with his own attorney.

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"I'm not sure exactly what was filed or what was said, but all I know is that the attorneys had some difficulties communicating with each other," Underhill said. "So I am, I am very responsive, very much looking forward to getting some of these things discussed."

If the judge finds Underhill did violate the ethics law during the March hearing, the case would be sent back to the Florida Ethics Commission where they would decide the penalty that can range from a fine of up to $10,000, to a recommendation that the governor remove him from office.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia Commissioner Doug Underhill granted extension in ethics case
To many, Dante Basco is known as Rufio in Steven Spielbergs Hook. Reality TV fans will remember him on Hells Kitchen, but over the years he has turned his hand to producing, directing and writing.

In The Fabulous Filipino Brothers, out now on-demand, he directs and stars, along with his brothers Derek Basco, Dionysio Basco, and Darion Basco, in the film structured as a series of vignettes following four brothers as their Filipino American family prepares for the ultimate Filipino event: a wedding.

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As the narrative intercuts between the wedding celebration in Pittsburg, Calif., and the vignettes that focus individually on the four siblings during the buildup to the big event, Basco worked with fellow Filipino English cinematographer Andrea Walter to deliver his vision.

Says Walter, Dante and I decided we wanted to give a different look for each brother. I also wanted a contrast between life here and life in the Philippines. But at the heart of it, we wanted this nostalgic feeling inspired by the 90s.

Walter and Dante Basco incorporated the warm, nostalgic tones into the frame. For Basco, who spent the last ten years going back and involving himself in the film community there. it was a chance to find out who he was. I got to find out who I was as a Filipino, but I was also a Filipino American being in the Philippines.

There was a nod to like that feeling  the romantic feeling of going home, the cathartic feeling and the warmness of going home, Basco says.

Walter says, I kept the camera distant and cold, but once he gets home [to the Philippines] that color becomes saturated and starts to pop with colors to reflect that shift.

Basco and Walter shot the film in America and the Philippines on a small indie budget. We had to plan everything. We talked about everything right down to shots and color boards, says Basco, who was also editing while filming. It was a very ambitious indie film in two different countries with a super big cast, and we really had to get into our strategies as filmmakers on how were going to be able to do this.

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The film ends, of course, with the highly anticipated wedding feast scene which Walter shot using a Steadicam and added more color and close-ups to in her framing. Walter says, We had this idea to mimic the opening which sees audiences introduced to the film members, as Dante walks through and you get to that final shot of the brothers at the table. I thought we should end it with the same shot with that beautiful image of the family.

Walters biggest challenge was shooting a family scene. While she endeavored to get the details she and Basco had discussed, she was working with extras. It was stressful to shoot that many Filipinos. Everyone who is Filipino knows if you have that many of us in one room together, its insane. I had to make sure people werent looking into the camera or taking out iPhones, she laughs. There was someone who pulled out an iPad twice.

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Phlebotomist Duyen Nguyen COVID-19 swab test during a testing event at Edison High School in south Stockton in November.

With high demands for COVID-19 testing, many scammers have taken advantage of the situation. Whether setting up fake COVID-19 testing sites or promising preventative or curing COVID-19 treatments, scammers do it all.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert warning last month for Californians to beware of fake COVID-19 testing sites and websites.

I urge Californians to do their part to avoid fake testing sites by utilizing state resources," Bonta said in a news release, "including the California Department of Public Healths website, to find a verified COVID-19 testing site.

San Joaquin County Public Health officials urge the community to use SJReady.org to find authorized testing and vaccination sites in the county.

Be wary of any testing site that pops up on a sidewalk, is not affiliated with Public Health Services or a medical provider, and offers a mouth swab for COVID-19," said Cheryl Laughlin, San Joaquin County Public Health Services public information officer. "At this time, only nasal swabs are approved for testing. And sites endorsed by the county listed on SJReady.org will not ask for a payment for the test.

A new COVID-19 testing kiosk opened in January in downtown Stockton on 120 W. Oak St. behind Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium. The kiosk is open 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Tests are free for the insured and uninsured. Residents with insurance must present their insurance ID cards. On-site registration is available, though appointments will be given priority.

Registration and appointments can be made in advance at www.cur.tv/stockton or by calling 1-888-702-9042.

Another free and real option is ordering your free COVID-19 test from the government. The government is offering four free COVID-19 tests for each household.

The website is COVIDTests.gov, which will direct you to a U.S. Postal Service site. Once ordered, tests are expected to be mailed within seven to 12 days.

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Fake COVID-19 testing sites are not the only thing to watch out for. The San Joaquin County District Attorney Office's recently shared a consumer alert warning the public of recent cease and desist demands sent by the Federal Trade Commision to 25 companies, claiming the use of their products could prevent or treat COVID-19.

The companies prompted their unproven products on social media.

Americans are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and scammers are still taking advantage of them by making false claims about cures and treatments, said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection in a news release.

San Joaquin County Public Health officials do not recommend the use of any medication that claims to prevent or cure COVID-19.

Public Health strongly discourages the use of any non-FDA approved medications as treatment for COVID-19," San Joaquin County's Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park said. "Such use can be harmful and potentially fatal. Instead, people should focus more on COVID-19 prevention. And the best prevention against severe illness, hospitalization, or death is vaccination.

USA Today contributed to this story.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers breaking news. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: COVID-19 scams to watch out for: Fake testing sites, virus treatments
The South Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would allow children under 18 certain courtroom modifications when they're testifying against an abuser or sex trafficker.

House Bill 1099 would allow the minor to be moved to a separate room while in court and have their testimony streamed to the courtroom at the same time via closed circuit television (CCTV) if testifying in front of a courtroom would cause the child severe emotional distress.

Representative Tim Reed, R-Brookings, introduced the bill during a House Judiciary hearing Monday. He said the bill has the chance to decrease the traumatization a child goes through when confronting their abuser in court.

More: SD Senate committee kills bill that would've limited transgender students' access to bathrooms

It would also protect the child from seeing their abuser or trafficker, Reed added.

"Sex trafficking abusers have lots of control over their victim," he said.

Originally, HB 1099 had language about certain protections children already have the right to such as a therapy dog or comfort item to be allowed in the courtroom, as well as the right not to endure harassing questions from the defendant's attorney.

Representative Mike Stevens, R-Yankton, amended the bill to only include the age change and sex trafficking change.

A companion bill HB 1100, which would allow children under the age of 18 at the time of a preliminary hearing or deposition to have their victim testimony recorded on video, was also passed by the committee and House.

HB 1099 and HB 1100 now head to the Senate for reading.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Bill for courtroom changes for child witnesses passes SD House
Archer has had a second operation on his elbow (PA Archive)

Jofra Archer was back with England for the first time in nearly a year after linking up with the Twenty20 squad ahead of their five-match series against the West Indies.

Archer is still some way off a return after heading to his native Barbados following a second operation on a longstanding elbow complaint last month.

But the fast bowler, whose most recent international appearance came in March last year, was in an England training top on Tuesday and was seen doing some sprinting drills and catching up with team-mates.

It is understood he will not be bowling in the nets or taking part in fielding drills with England, who are without several regulars in the Caribbean for the white-ball series against the Windies which starts on Saturday.

But this represents a step in the right direction in Archers rehabilitation, with the quick entering Englands bubble on Monday.
The Tennessee Titans will be counting on cornerback Caleb Farley to have a big impact in 2022, general manager Jon Robinson said.

Farley, the 22nd pick in the NFL draft last April, was limited to three games as a rookie after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 against the Bills. The former Virginia Tech star entered the NFL with back concerns, which slowed his start to training camp. He also battled shoulder issues that kept him out of three games.

This will be a big offseason for him, Robinson told The Tennessean at the Senior Bowl last week. Hes working hard, rehabbing. He knows what he needs to do. Its been told to him what he needs to do. And hes a hard worker. Caleb is a great guy. But he needs to do everything that he can  in his power  to make sure that hes healed, stable, in shape.

Were going to be counting on him. We drafted the guy for a reason. Id say he was a pretty highly regarded prospect. He was an easy guy to evaluate off of the film. Just watching the player move around, what he was capable of.

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Farley should be in the mix to start at outside cornerback next season alongside Kristian Fulton, who became a full-time starter in 2021 after an injury-riddled rookie season. But the Titans also have 33-year-old veteran Jackrabbit Jenkins, whos due $6 million in base salary in 2022. Jenkins started 13 of 14 appearances for Tennessee this season. The team could save $6.911 million against the cap by releasing him before June 1, according to the website Over The Cap, which tracks NFL salary information.

While the pass rush was drastically improved this season, cornerback play was inconsistent. The Titans ranked 25th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.

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I think overall, it was a group that improved, Robinson said. I thought Kristian Fulton improved as a whole on the season. Again, everybody wants to micro-evaluate (and) look at everything through the lens of the Bengals game. I dont think we had our best game tackling at that position group. Weve made a lot of plays, though. Elijah Molden has made plays for us in the slot. Certainly, K.B (Kevin Byard). (Amani) Hooker played an outstanding game in the Bengals game. I feel like we have some good youth at that position group with Farley, Fulton, Molden. We have some veteran guys too.

You cant have enough guys that can cover and enough guys that can rush the passer. Those are the two things that are really important, especially on third down.

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans counting on Caleb Farley making big impact in Year 2
Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Nearly 16 years after its initial release, Kanye Wests 2006 live album Late Orchestration is now available on streaming platforms.

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, England in front of an audience of 300 in September 2005, the album was initially released on CD and DVD, before finding its way onto streaming services late Tuesday night. The 13-track project includes a medley of songs from Kanyes first two albums, 2004s The College Dropout and 2005s Late Registration.

Backed by a 17-piece all-female string orchestra, Ye performed four songs from his debut (Through the Wire, Jesus Walks, All Falls Down, and The New Workout Plan), as well as nine songs from his sophomore LP, including the No. 1 hit Gold Digger and the fan-favorite Gone featuring Camron and Consequence.

The release arrives as Kanye is busy putting the finishing touches on Donda 2, which is scheduled to be released on Feb. 22. To ensure the forthcoming album has his complete focus, Ye revealed that hes ditched his phone until the Donda sequel is finished.

I dont have a phone until two, twenty-two, twenty-two, he said in an Instagram video last month. My focus is taking my kids to school and finishing the album.

Stream Late Orchestration below.

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Mdundo, an Africa-focused music streaming service, is banking on more partnerships with telcos across the continent to grow its earnings and user base. Last year, the company signed deals with MTN and Airtel in Nigeria, and Vodacom in Tanzania, which appear to be paying off after its user-base almost doubled as it added paying subscribers as a source of revenue.

MTN and Airtel Nigeria have a combined customer-base of 124.5 million, while Vodacom Tanzania has 15.6 million subscribers, giving Mdundo access to a huge target audience.

This is a new revenue stream for us. When we listed the company in September 2020 we predicted that revenue from this revenue stream will account for 40% of revenue within a few years and this is still our forecast, said founder Martin Nielsen.

Mdundo users access music through USSD services on a bundled program (daily, weekly or monthly). The streaming service is also accessible through its website or app, which has more than 1 million downloads.

By December 2021, Mdundo had 1.7 million international songs on its platform and 367,000 tracks uploaded by 122,000 African musicians, a 46 percentage point growth from December 2020. The company pays more than 50% of its income to music creators.

The Kenya-based business was founded in 2013 and listed in the Nasdaq First North Growth Market -- a Nasdaq Nordic division -- in September 2020 to fast-track its growth across Africa. It has grown from a user base of less than one million in 2016 to 13.8 million by the close of 2021. It is planning to grow its user base past 18 million by mid this year.

Paying subscribers accounted for 14% of Mdundos earnings in 2021, Nielsen said, as advertising revenue, from its free streaming service, grew by 63% after setting up sales teams in Nigeria and Tanzania to rapidly grow its commercial operations beyond Kenya.

We're rapidly growing our commercial operation outside our home-market, Kenya. This allows us to be closer to advertising clients across the continent and, thereby, create awareness and educate around our unique advertising formats and reach, he said.

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Mdundo co-founders Martin Moeller Nielsen (CEO) and Francis Amisi (Frasha), who is also an artist. Image Credits: Mdundo

The company is also doubling down its commercial focus to Ghana and Uganda, and expects greater revenue growth this year following a new advertisement deal that saw it quadruple its monthly revenue from displayed advertisements to DKK225,000 ($34,581).

Its overall income is also growing, doubling in the second half of 2021 to DKK 2.5 million ( $382,900) when compared to a similar period the previous year. Overall, it is projecting a 400% growth in revenue in its next full financial year.

The revenue growth is a result of scaling our sales operation to new markets, said Nielsen.

Across Africa there are more than 20 music streaming services, including Swedens Spotify, which is in 44 African countries after expanding to an additional 38 countries in the continent last year. Nigeria-headquartered Boomplay and Songa by Kenyas telco Safaricom are other popular streaming products.

Nielsen, however, is not worried about competition from new market entrants, noting that he is more disturbed by the prevalence of music piracy in Africa than anything else. In 2020 it partnered with anti-piracy specialists Audiolock to remove infringing links for African music from unlicensed websites.

We still see the biggest competition to our service as illegal consumption of music across the continent. This is still where the vast majority of people across Africa get their music from, unfortunately, and we aim to provide a great alternative to this.
Jeanette and Jim Smith

Jeanette Smith, 72, and Jim Smith, 80, have been married for 50 years. She has been his caregiver for six.

He has Alzheimer's disease and can no longer be left alone or help around the house. He struggles to communicate his feelings.

"It's absolutely a roller coaster, like trying to get hold of a moving target," Jeanette Smith, of Ponte Vedra Beach, said. "One day one way, the next something different."

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But she has persevered with the help of family, friends, neighbors and community resources from the St. Johns County Council on Aging to various national organizations that focus on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

"The most helpful thing first was information," Smith said. "That's probably the most crucial  get yourself educated."

Wednesday the Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference for Florida residents to kick off its 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference will feature health, caregiving and long-term care experts who will take questions from participants.

"Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimers disease," President and CEO Charles Fuschillo Jr. said. "Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about."

Personality changes were the first clue

Alzheimers disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills and the ability to carry out simple tasks, according to the foundation. Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of judgment and other intellectual functions.

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About 5.8 million Americans, including about 580,000 people in Florida, are currently living with Alzheimers disease, according to the foundation.

Jeanette and Jim Smith moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 2012 after he retired from the corporate consultant career that had taken them to multiple locations across the country. Two years later Jeanette began to notice changes in his behavior.

"He wasn't remembering things.  Not like when you lose your car keys, but significant stuff," she said. "He was just a little bit off from what I know of him, his personality."

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They quickly scheduled a visit to their family doctor. Ultimately, neurological tests revealed dementia; they found out later it was Alzheimer's.

After receiving the diagnosis, the couple went to their car, "just sat there, hugged each other and cried. He said, 'I don't want to die, I don't want to die'," Smith said.

There is no cure as yet, but there are medications that can slow down the progress of the disease. Jim Smith takes two such drugs; his wife is unsure if they still work but fears him getting worse if he stops taking them.

Since the diagnosis, he has undergone "tremendous decline," she said. He still knows her and his family  they have two sons and five grandchildren who live out of state but visit as much as they can  and the neighbors. But his language skills have virtually evaporated.

"He doesn't have the proper words," Smith said.

Determining whether he is hungry, in pain or just wants to help her fold the laundry requires "constant ferreting out," she said. Sometimes she can determine his needs or wants when he points or stares at something. Sometimes she cannot figure it out and can only give him a vague answer: "We'll have to see about that."

"I can't ask him," she said. "He gets upset."

He dislikes talking about Alzheimer's, although his wife sometimes sees him reading about it in the AARP magazine.

"He has always been a man of denial," she said. "He doesn't want to focus on it."

'Create a village' of help

In addition to educating herself about the disease, Jeanette Smith has also educated herself about the community-support resources that are available.

Her husband goes to the Council on Aging's day center two days a week. He has also participated in its Integrative Memory Enhancement Program, or IMEP, which minimizes the progression of memory loss or dementia through specific cognitive and physical exercises designed for seniors.

There are helplines to call, support groups that use Zoom so she doesn't have to leave her husband and respite caregivers when she needs a break. Another option is hospice palliative care.

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More: New Alzheimer's vice-chair for Jacksonville area walks for parents' legacy

"One of the most important things is you have to have help.  You have to create a village," she said. "Almost daily, I get overwhelmed  it's such an overwhelming task  but you need to take care or yourself."

Maintaining her own health and keeping her own spirits up can only benefit her husband, she said. If she is cheery, he is more likely to be as well.

"He will reflect my attitude," she said.

Smith focuses on something her granddaughter tells her: "You're not going down."

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

ALZHEIMER'S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA EDUCATING AMERICA TOUR

The free virtual conference will be 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, focusing on healthy aging, a variety of Alzheimers-related topics, caregiver tips and strategies and local resources. For more information or to register, go to alzfdn.org/tour. People who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week by calling the foundation's helpline at (866) 232-8484 or web chatting at alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.

OTHER AREA RESOURCES

 St. Johns County Council on Aging: coasjc.org, (904) 209-3700

 Alzheimer's Association of Central and North Florida: alz.org/cnfl, helpline (800) 2723900

 City of Jacksonville Senior Services: coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/senior-services, (904) 255-5400

 ElderSource: myeldersource.org, helpline (888) 242-4464

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Alzheimer's event kicks off in Florida; Ponte Vedra couple an example
El ano pasado, la inversion minera alcanzo un incremento de mas de 20%, segun el Boletin Estadistico Minero, superando la meta proyectada. Moquegua y Ancash se consolidaron como las regiones que concentraron mayor inversion.https://t.co/XtRRLYn2Uk
Sen. Bernie Sanders gave a speech on the Senate floor Thursday expressing grave concern over the "drumbeats" of war building in Washington, D.C., amid escalating tensions along the Ukrainian border.

Sanders, I-Vt., the de-facto leader of the Democratic Party's progressive wing, which had kept relatively quiet on the issue to this point, pleaded with government officials to not follow a similar path of past military conflicts.

"I'm extremely concerned when I hear the familiar drumbeats in Washington, the bellicose rhetoric that gets amplified before every war, demanding that we must 'show strength,' 'get tough' and not engage in 'appeasement'," said Sanders, who has, in the past, led the charge to defund the war in Iraq and to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

PHOTO: Bernie Sanders leaves the Capitol following a vote on January 31, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE)

The senator focused on the "unintended consequences" that have resulted from previous American military involvements and the way wars have been portrayed in the lead up to those conflicts.

"They [wars] rarely turn out the way the planners and experts tell us they will. Just ask the officials who provided rosy scenarios for the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, only to be proven horribly wrong," Sanders said.

Sanders reaffirmed his support for the pursuit of a diplomatic solution with Russia, the latest attempts of which have been led by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately this week.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint press conference, in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 7, 2022. (Thibault Camus/Reuters)

MORE: Macron: Putin told him Russia won't escalate Ukraine crisis

While condemning Putin over his responsibility for the current crisis, Sanders also called on officials to "consider the perspectives of our adversaries." Putin has demanded the U.S. and Europeans commit to keeping Ukraine out of NATO, something the West has rejected outright.

"One of the precipitating factors of this crisis, at least from Russia's perspective, is the prospect of an enhanced security relationship between Ukraine and the United States and Western Europe," Sanders said.

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In addition to his war critique, Sanders objected to potential sanctions against Russia and the possible impact on civilians. That includes a package the Senate has been discussing that could cause economic devastation in Russia and reverberate across Europe.

The legislation appears to be on hold following disagreement on a variety of issues, including the strength of the sanctions, leading some to suggest President Joe Biden should proceed on his own.

On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated it would be better for Biden to take action as opposed to waiting for the passage of a sanctions package he believes wouldn't deter Putin. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., struck a similar tone.

PHOTO: Chairman Bob Menendez, left, and Senator Jim Risch, during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Alex Brandon/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"We're just a hair's breadth away from an agreement on strong, message-sending sanctions legislation, but I really believe the Biden administration should act now -- in fact yesterday," said Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

PHOTO: A soldier fires during a Russian and Belarusian joint military drills at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, FILE)

MORE: Russia begins huge war games in Belarus amid Ukraine invasion fears

Concerns about a Russian invasion into Ukraine continue to build as the Russian military began a series of exercises in Belarus on Thursday that are expected to continue until Feb. 20.

"[We] must work hard to achieve a realistic and mutually agreeable resolution...that is not weakness," Sanders said. "That is not appeasement. Bringing people together to resolve conflicts nonviolently is strength, and it is the right thing to do."

ABC News' Trish Turner and Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.

Sen. Bernie Sanders warns of 'drumbeats' of war in Washington originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ORANGE CITY  With a turn toward cold weather in the forecast, a record 663 manatees were counted on Tuesday at Blue Spring State Park, according to the parks Facebook page.

And they had plenty of company, as a line of cars to enter the park stretched along French Avenue most of the morning on a path that included a 1/3-mile crowd-control loop on a dirt road leading toward the French Landing boat ramp on the St. Johns River.

Yet not everyone had to endure the traffic.

Bob and Diane Hungerford, snowbirds from Kalamazoo, Michigan, rode their bicycles to the park along the shaded bike trail from Beresford Park in DeLand. The retirees traveled by car from Titusville to DeLand, where they unloaded the bikes for the final 4-mile commute.

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We did this last year and we enjoyed it so much, said Bob Hungerford, 69, a retired banker. Its a nice cool day, so we thought wed come back. We dont see these (manatees) in Michigan.

Tuesday's record tally follows a weekend manatee influx that yielded counts of 548 of the docile mammals on Monday, when long lines of cars filled with eager manatee fans also arrived at the parks gate.

Manatees congregate on Tuesday in the spring run at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. The park logged a record 663 manatees on Tuesday, as the mammals sought out the warm 72-degree spring water during this week's cold snap.

Over the weekend, there were 454 manatees sighted on Sunday and 512 manatees counted on Saturday, after low temperatures dipped into the high 30s overnight.

In a trend that has continued this week, the St. Johns River dropped to a chilly 60.8 degrees on Saturday, prompting the warm-blooded mammals to enter the spring run, where the water temperature hovers at a comfortable 72 degrees year-round.

On Tuesday, the river water temperature dipped to an even colder 59 degrees, said Cora Berchem, director of multi-media and research associate with the non-profit manatee protection organization Save the Manatee Club.

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"That's the coldest we've had so far this winter season," Berchem said. "The colder the the river water gets, the more they need that warm spring water. Thats what drives the manatees into Blue Spring."

The weekend visitor count included at least 16 adoptees of the non-profit manatee protection organization Save the Manatee Club: Lesley, Una, Annie, Rocket, Philip, Paddy Doyle, Lily, Lucille, Gator, Deep Dent, Aqua, Moo Shoo (with her calf, Phyllis), Flash, Nick and Whiskers.

Visitors gather on Tuesday to watch the manatees at one of the lookouts along the boardwalk at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. The park logged a record count of 663 manatees on Tuesday, an influx driven by this week's cold snap that sends the mammals toward the warm 72-degree spring water.

More could have been hiding in some big groups in the lower part of the run that were harder to see, according to Save the Manatee Club.

In the Blue Spring parking lot on Tuesday, license plates represented an array of states including New Jersey, Wyoming, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

At least one of the visiting groups was making a second attempt this week.

We tried to come here yesterday, but we couldnt even get close to the park, said Ken Cote, 69, who was vacationing in Daytona Beach with his wife, Kathy. We decided to come back today when its not a holiday. Weve never seen manatees, except on TV.

Even for Floridians accustomed to seasonal manatee sightings, the hundreds of creatures floating quietly in the spring was impressive.

Ive seen manatees before, but nothing like this, said Cindy Broyles, 65, of St. Pete Beach. This is amazing. This is the most Ive ever seen.

Manatees facing tough times

Manatees have been starving to death in Florida waters in 2021, with a record-breaking 1,075 deaths reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as of mid-December.

A manatee lounges on Tuesday in the spring run at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. This week's cold weather yielded a record count of 663 manatees, in the spring on Tuesday.

The rash of deaths has been so devastating, particularly in the Indian River Lagoon, that wildlife officials announced they would take the unprecedented step to feed manatees in Brevard County this winter. Poor water quality has decimated the seagrasses and vegetation that manatees rely on to survive.

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For now, the St. Johns River around Blue Spring has enough food to support the hundreds of manatees that rely on it, said Mona Russell, a ranger at Blue Spring State Park. A ban on aquatic herbicides in the Blue Spring region has been in place for years.

Theres still plenty of vegetation along the river, so the manatees here are not affected by a shortage of food, Russell said.

Volusia County seeks manatee watchers

As manatees are arriving in big numbers, Volusia County is seeking volunteers to participate in Manatee Watch, a program that identifies the presence of the mammals in local waterways.

Residents who live on the water, spend a lot of time near the water, or are avid boaters are encouraged to become manatee watchers.

Manatee Watch coordinators will host two upcoming training sessions:

The first runs from 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 7 at the Stetson Aquatic Center, 2636 Alhambra Ave., DeLand.

A second session is slated for 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 12, at the Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd., New Smyrna Beach.

The Manatee Watch training is a great opportunity to learn all about Floridas official marine mammal, said Debbie Wright, Volusia Countys manatee protection program manager. With the help of volunteers, we can get a better understanding of how manatees are using Volusia County waterways.

Manatee Watchers are trained to observe manatee behavior, document manatee sightings, photograph manatees and sketch scar patterns. Information gathered from Manatee Watch volunteers provides vital information, including behavior, movement within waterways, habitat use and individual identification. Participants will receive a packet of training materials.

Manatees gather on Tuesday in the spring run at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. This week's cold weather yielded a record count of 663 manatees on Tuesday, as the mammals seek out the warm 72-degree spring water.

The Manatee Watch program is open to individuals, families, businesses and civic organizations. Participants should be at least 16 years old.

The training is free, but advance registration is required. Those interested should contact Chad Murch at ManateeWatch@volusia.org or call 386-736-5927, ext. 12839. Visit volusiamanatees.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Manatee count sets record at Blue Spring State Park
Rep Cori Bush displayed a photo of a lynching on the House floor as she delivered a speech denouncing Republican attempts to censor the United States history of racism.

St Louis and I rise today because if Americas students are not taught the truth in school, we can at least make the House of Representatives their classroom, the Missouri Democrat said in a speech.

Ms Bushs words come as schools across the country attempt to ban books that deal with racism.

Virginia Gov Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to win the commonwealths governorship in a decade largely on the back of opposing schools teaching critical race theory, a term for a niche legal theory taught in law school that has since become a catch-all for any type of discussion of Americas history regarding racism. Similarly, in Alabama, the states Superintendent said he had calls where people said having Black History Month could be considered critical race theory.

Ms Bush related how her last name was not the one that her ancestors originally had but was one forced upon them by the slave trade.

Were going to tell the truth today, Ms Bush said. Black adults and Black children enslaved and forced to endure being tormented, being tortured, being raped by white slave owners on slave ships and on the plantations.

Ms Bush  a member of the Squad of progressive lawmakers that includes other members like Rep Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman of New York  largely cut her teeth during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri after the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer. She also cited a report from The Washington Post that showed that 1,700 members of Congress enslaved Black Americans.

Our presidents owned, our presidents sold, our presidents enslaved Black people, she said. The image behind me, this image is the truth of our countrys history that our students are denied. This is what lynching in America  this is what it looks like.

Story continues

Ms Bush added that dozens of white people gathered around to celebrate for every Black person who was hanged from a tree.

When our students dont learn about these lynchings in school, its not just to deny us our justice, its because racist policymakers dont want white children to know that that may be great-grandpa, smiling in the picture and pointing up at our ancestors dangling as strange fruit, she said, referencing the name of a Billie Holliday song about the lynching of Black Americans.

This is the truth about our country that too many racist lawmakers want to prevent our students from learning. So to young white people, this is your history, she said. The atrocities perpetuated against Black people for generations were committed by your ancestors. Not all of you. But many of you.

In response, she asked white students what they will do to repair the damage.

And if your history books do not teach this history, question the book, she said. Talk to your school district. Tell them we dont want to whitewash history. We want and deserve the truth.
NEWARK  Central Ohio Technical College is launching its first bachelors degree program to meet workforce demand in Central Ohio.

The bachelor of applied science in diagnostic medical sonography will prepare students for careers as registered sonographers. It is an accelerated, three-year program and the first of its kind in Ohio. Students are expected to attend full time for eight consecutive semesters.

Graduates will use ultrasound technology to generate images used for assessing and diagnosing various medical conditions. Though most associated with pregnancy, diagnostic medical sonographers evaluate body organs, the circulatory system and tissues to detect inflammation, tumors and other medical conditions.

The demand for diagnostic medical sonographers in Ohio continues to increase, with employment expected to grow 15% over the next few years, according to Ohio Labor Market Information.

The new degree replaces the colleges associate of applied science in DMS. Suggestions received from clinical partners, advisory committee members, employers and graduates were the building blocks for the revision, said DMS Program Director and Associate Professor Melinda Brillhart.

The curriculum has nearly doubled in 10 years, and the clinical requirements and competencies continue to grow each year, she said. It is necessary to advance our profession by providing an avenue for career advancement and promotion.

Sonography courses are offered during the day at the Newark campus only, whereas general education courses are available day or evening and at the colleges extended campuses or online. Branches are located in Pataskala, Mount Vernon and Coshocton.

This is a selective, competitive program. Applicants must first apply to COTC and then complete the DMS program application by Aug. 15.

In the students second and third year, they will complete five clinical rotations. As students advance through the curriculum, they will be able to sit for their sonographer credentialing exams.

Story continues

The cost per credit hour remains the same for the bachelors degree as other COTC programs. COTC also has more than $1 million in scholarship available annually.

A virtual information meeting will be held at 9 a.m. March 9. Register visit go.cotc.edu/dms or contact COTC admissions at 740-366-9222 or cotcadmissions@mail.cotc.edu.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: COTC offers first bachelor's degree
Nicolas Ghesquiere is California dreaming: Louis Vuittons artistic director of womens collections is heading to the Golden State on May 12 to unveil the French houses cruise 2023 collection.

Its the latest sign of a strong return to destination fashion shows as the coronavirus pandemic wanes, with Chanel, Emilio Pucci, Alexander McQueen and Gucci among the European brands planning to show outside the big fashion capitals in the coming months.

More from WWD

Vuitton said it would reveal the city and venue for its cruise display at a later date, while stressing that it will continue its architectural journey of showcasing cruise collections at exclusive locations of exceptional design and renown around the world.

Ghesquiere typically selects an architectural marvel as a transporting backdrop. Cruise shows have been staged at the groovy Bob Hope Estate in Palm Springs, Calif., by John Lautner; Brazils MAC Niteroi by Oscar Niemeyer; Kyotos Miho Museum by Ieoh Ming Pei; the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence by Josep Lluis Sert, and the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport in New York by Eero Saarinen.

Choosing the state thats home to Hollywood for his latest runway spectacle also will no doubt attract a stellar front row. Vuittons slate of celebrity ambassadors includes actresses Alicia Vikander, HoYeon Jung, Lea Seydoux, Emma Stone and Jennifer Connelly.

Like many brands adapting to restrictions amid waves of COVID-19, Vuitton has had to occasionally substitute digital solutions for live runway spectacles. Its cruise 2021 collection was shot at Ghesquieres studio at LV headquarters in Paris, while the cruise 2022 show was livestreamed from a monumental, bridge-like installation in Paris by the late Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan known as Axe Majeur.

Cruise represents a key delivery for luxury brands as the collections have a long selling window straddling several seasons, and often dedicated campaigns and extra distribution via pop-up stores.

Story continues

SEE ALSO:

Chanel to Unveil Cruise Collection in Monaco in May

Gucci to Stage Coed Fashion Show in May

Emilio Pucci to Unveil Its New Look in Capri

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Ex-White House communications director Alyssa Farah said on Thursday that her former boss is terrified of the potential revelations that could come from an upcoming book on his presidency and campaigns.

The book, Confidence Man, is set to publish in October, authored by The New York Timess Maggie Haberman. Haberman is widely known for having the president himself as a frequent source over the years, and her access to the White House and Donald Trumps inner circle is nearly unmatched among the DC and New York reporting circles.

Ms Farah said on ABC that the revelations published in Axios on Thursday were only the tip of the iceberg. They included the reporting that Mr Trumps aides regularly found wadded-up printed paper in toilets they believed to be the result of Mr Trump trying to flush documents, as well as the revelation that the former president claims to remain in contact with North Koreas Kim Jong-un.

I still talk to some folks in Trumpworld, the ones who have not engaged in criminality," Ms Farah told co-hosts of The View on Thursday "The former president is terrified of Maggie Haberman's book. This is the first big anecdote, but there is quite a bit more to come."

The New York Times reporter has been criticised by some on the left for her reporting of Hillary Clintons email scandals in 2016, but nevertheless is one of the most well-sourced reporters with regard to the former president and last year revealed that he was privately telling allies at Mar-a-Lago that he still believed in the possibility of the 2020 election to be overturned.

Reporting from Axios on Thursday, which published excerpts of Habermans reporting, appeared to confirm Ms Farahs characterisation.

This is the book Trump fears most. Among Trump aides, Haberman's book has been the most discussed of the bookshelf of books from reporters who covered Trump's campaigns and White House, declared the news outlet.

Haberman won a Pulitizer Prize in 2018 for her coverage of the Trump White House; she is also one of if not the most-cited journalistic source in the investigation headed up by Robert Mueller into Russias attempts to influence the 2016 election.
DUBAI  Isabel Marant is in Dubai. That was the message splashed across the invitations for the fete in the United Arab Emirates to celebrate the opening of the first stand-alone boutique in the region.

This is a first step. We believe that the market will expand, said chief executive officer Anouck Duranteau-Loeper. The customer is ready for our brand on a bigger scale. Until very recently we were thought of as the best-kept secret. I think we still are a bit of a secret, but not so narrow now.

More from WWD

The plans for expansion in the Middle East are ambitious. Duranteau-Loeper said they will add one more store in Dubai and are scouting locations in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Riyadh.

Our own retail is the best way to really give the full experience of the maison and create a relationship to understand the brand. Isabel is about a certain style of mixing your pieces together. With our own retail we can have a broader offering and a direct relationship with the customer to do that. For our staff to create that relationship is most important, she said.

The 70s-inspired look of the Dubai boutique has contrasts to create what the company describes as happy tensions and subtle imperfection, which give clients a feeling of intimate luxury  a luxury that is personal. Sculptures and objects of design displayed in the store are reminiscent of Marants travels, like a suitcase spilled open to share its treasure.

Dubai is a good fit for the eclectic brand. I love the energy here in Dubai, said Duranteau-Loeper. The customer here reminds me of the customers in New York. There are a lot of different cultures and stories, a sophistication, but also very cool.

There are now 68 stores globally for Isabel Marant. Twelve are in China, another key market for the company, alongside the U.S.

The brand is getting more and more known and that has to do with the footfall in stores. I personally believe that if you invest in a city, you need to have a few stores, especially in a big city because it makes the brand bigger, the CEO said.

The companys growth has been fueled by Montefiorie Investment, which took a 51 percent stake in Isabel Marant in 2015.

Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger says a new US civil war is a 'possibility' after RNC censures him for investigating the Capitol riot

Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Alex Wong/Getty Images

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger warned of the "possibility" of a US civil war.

"We're separating ourselves and we live in different realities," Kinzinger said.

His remarks follow an RNC statement censuring Kinzinger for taking part in the Jan. 6 commission.

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois warned that the US could enter another civil war while discussing the country's partisan division and his censure by the Republican National Committee for taking part in the House January 6 commission.

Speaking on ABC News' "The View" on Thursday, Kinzinger said "we have to recognize" the prospect of civil war, adding: "I don't think it's too far of a bridge to think that's a possibility."

"We're identifying now by our race, by our ethnic group, we're separating ourselves and we live in different realities," Kinzinger said. "And I think we have to warn and talk about it so that we can recognize that and fight hard against it and put our country over our parties, because our survival actually matters."

"In the past, I've said, oh, we don't want to talk about it, because I don't want to make it likely," Kinzinger said of a civil war. "Well, let's look at where we are."

He said such a conflict would not take the same form as it did in the 1860s, with pitched battles between armies.

Instead, he said: "It's going to be armed groups against armed groups, targeted assassination and violence. That's what a 21st and 20th century civil war is."

Kinzinger was addressing the growing divisions in his own party between Republicans who have taken a stand against former President Donald Trump and his role in inciting the Capitol riot, and those seeking to whitewash the violence and punish Trump critics.

Last week the RNC censured Kinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney, the two Republicans sitting on the House commission investigating Jan 6, and described the riot as "legitimate political discourse."

Story continues

Earlier in the interview, Kinzinger said he was saddened by the current state of the GOP.

"A once great party, a party that stood for something, stood for principles, whether you agree with those principles or not, is now a party that stands for loyalty to one man, that was clear in the RNC censure, and that's what makes me sad more than anything," he said.

The belief that the US could descend into civil war was once regarded as unthinkable, but is now being discussed with increasing concern in some quarters.

In a December Washington post op-ed, three retired US general warned that another attempt to overturn an election  as Trump did after losing to Biden in 2020  "could lead to civil war."

Read the original article on Business Insider
It might be winter, but things always heat up in February. This month Cupid takes flight, because love is in the air. And this year it smells like grease and salt. At least it does in Idaho. The states potato commission is celebrating Valentines Day with an intoxicating new aroma inspired by the regions famous fare. With Frites by Idaho, a french fry perfume.

Idaho Potatoes

Whether you and your valentine are planning to have a quiet dinner at home or will be heading out for a fancy meal on that most romantic of days, you can make sure you crave fast food the entire time with Frites by Idaho. The fragrance (which we first heard about at DesignTAXI) not only smells like french fries. Its really made from Idahos signature fare. This is the official description:

Formulated from essential oils and distilled Idaho Potatoes, this fragrance embodies the irresistible essence of potatoes from Idaho.

Sure this sounds silly, but think of all the words and feelings you associate with both perfume and french fries: desire, alluring, intoxicating, irresistible, tasty. Okay, maybe not that last one, but you you get the idea.

The great state of Idaho isnt taking its novelty fragrance too seriously either. The 1.7 fluid ounce bottle was available for the same price as a side of fries, just $1.89. Unfortunately, thats also why it sold out immediately. But dont give up hope just yet, french fry romantics. You can enter a contest to win one of 10 bottles the state is giving away for free. Just head to the Idaho Potato Instagram page for how to enter.

Even if you dont end up nabbing one we have an idea. Just rub some french fries on your neck before your loved one shows up. Just remember to make sure you let your fries cool down before you do that. Things are heating up this month, but hopefully not because of second degree burns.

The post Spray on French Fry Perfume with This Strange, Alluring Fragrance appeared first on Nerdist.
Britons have been told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an invasion by Russian forces.

The Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to tell UK nationals to leave now while commercial means are still available.

The warning came after Boris Johnson voiced fears for the security of Europe during a call with world leaders including US President Joe Biden.

It comes after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that Russia could still launch an invasion at short notice after holding frank discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

Mr Wallace said the positioning of Russian forces gives them the ability to invade a neighbouring country at any time, but he said he had heard from the Russian government that it has no intention of invading Ukraine.

Russia has already massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, and this week it launched joint military exercises in neighbouring Belarus and naval drills in the Black Sea.

Key Points

UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised for invasion

Defence secretary set for Moscow trip in effort to quell border tensions

Russia continues military buildup on three sides of Ukraine, satellite images show

Blinken warns Russia continuing to mass troops along Ukraine border

Russia accuses EU and Nato of impoliteness and disrespect'

18:56 , Joe Middleton

UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised for invasion

18:48 , Joe Middleton

The UK government is urging Britons in Ukraine to leave and anyone thinking of travelling there not to do so as fears mounted of war in eastern Europe.

The advice was issued by the Foreign Office amid the huge Russian troop build-up.

US Secretary of State Joe Blinken said a Russian invasion could take place at any time.

Jane Dalton has the latest.

UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised to invade

Russia could be planning to attack 'Ukraine prior to end of Olympics

17:31 , Emily Atkinson

Story continues

Scoop: US and allies have new intel that suggests Russia could be planning to attack Ukraine prior to end of Olympics, contrary to previous assessments. New intel comes as officials have dramatically ramped up the urgency of public warnings related to Ukraine in past 24 hours.  Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 11, 2022

No repercussions for Olympic athlete holding No War in Ukraine sign, rules Games committee

17:11 , Emily Atkinson

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have said they will not act on the Ukrainian skeleton athlete who flashed a blue-and-yellow sign that read No War in Ukraine to the cameras as he finished a run at the Beijing Olympics today.

Despite fears the IOC could have ruled Vladyslav Heraskevychs action a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter - that no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas - they have closed the case.

The IOC instead described the event as a general call for peace.

Watch: UK and Russia relations now above zero, says Ben Wallace

16:57 , Emily Atkinson

Russia massing more troops on Ukraine border, warns US

16:50 , Emily Atkinson

Russia has sent more troops onto the border with Ukraine and an invasion could arrive come the end of the Winter Olympics this month, the US government said today.

Satellite images shared by a private US company have shown clusters of Russian military deployments in a number of locations near the border.

Things could go crazy quickly, President Joe Biden told NBC News as part of an announcement in which he said he would not send troops to rescue US citizens from Ukraine should Russia attack.

(Maxar Technologies/ AP)

(Maxar Technologies/ AP)

Athlete shows No War in Ukraine sign at Winter Olympics

15:55 , Tom Batchelor

A Ukrainian skeleton athlete flashed a small sign that read No War in Ukraine to the cameras as he finished a run at the Beijing Olympics on Friday night.

Vladyslav Heraskevychs sign was printed on a blue-and-yellow piece of paper, matching the colors of his countrys flag. He did not display the message after his second run of the night, which was his fourth and final run of the Olympics.

Its my position. Like any normal people, I dont want war, Heraskevych said after he finished competing. I want peace in my country, and I want peace in the world. Its my position, so I fight for that. I fight for peace.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, of Ukraine, holds a sign that reads No War in Ukraine' after finishing a run at the mens skeleton competition (AP)

Absolutely no deafness or blindness, says Wallace

15:47 , Tom Batchelor

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there was absolutely no deafness or blindness in his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, characterising them as constructive and frank discussions which he hopes will create a better atmosphere between the two sides.

Asked about foreign minister Sergei Lavrovs characterisation of his meeting with Liz Truss as a conversation between deaf and dumb, Mr Wallace said: I think minister Lavrov is a master at these types of engagements and making those types of comments.

In our discussion there was absolutely no deafness or blindness, we as defence ministers bear the responsibility of the consequences of what happens in conflict.

We deal with the facts and we deal with the issues we have because it is in both our interests to resolve that.

I think we have had a constructive and frank discussion and I hope it has contributed to a better atmosphere but also to de-escalation, but there is still considerable way to go between the two of us.

Netherlands advises Dutch citizens to leave Ukraine'

14:35 , Tom Batchelor

The Dutch government has advised its citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible due to the security situation, the Dutch radio broadcaster BNR said on Friday, citing the Dutch ambassador in Ukraine.

The Netherlands will move its diplomatic post from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, BNR said.

It follows not long after Japan issued similar advice to its citizens.

UK-Russia relations at zero but diplomacy still possible, says UK defence secretary

14:24 , Tom Batchelor

Ben Wallace has told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu he hoped they could use their meeting in Moscow to resolve a number of issues through diplomacy after admitting relations were currently at 0 per cent.

Speaking following talks in Moscow, the British defence secretary said: I hope that by speaking today and starting that relationship, that was at 0 per cent, we can resolve a number of the issues that youve raised, Wallace said at the start of their meeting.

(That) we can address some of the issues raised in Russias draft treaty ... and we can try and move on to where we can resolve our issues together through diplomacy, through other actions, and through confidence building measures.

Germany calls Russian military exercises an escalation

14:11 , Tom Batchelor

Russias troop build-up and military exercises on the border with Ukraine amount to an escalation, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said.

On the military side we are not seeing any signs of de-escalation but rather the opposite. The Russian military build-up continues and in Belarus some 30,000 soldiers carried out military exercises, partly very close to the Ukrainian border, Ms Baerbock said during a news conference in Amman, Jordan.

This is why are preparing intensively for all scenarios, of course with close coordinations with our allies and with our partners in the European Union, she added. There is a red line and this is the sovereignty of Ukraine. We are preparing with all measures and with rigour but we are also simultaneously working for dialogue.

Japan urges its citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately

13:59 , Tom Batchelor

Japan has called for its citizens to leave Ukraine amid the ongoing tension and fears of an invasion.

The Japanese foreign ministry said on Friday it had issued an advisory urging Japanese nationals to leave right away.

Join our expert panel as they discuss the Ukraine crisis

13:30 , Tom Batchelor

Join our free virtual event expert panel on Wednesday 23 February hosted by The Independents International Editor David Harding.

David will be joined by Deputy International Editor Kieran Guilbert, broadcaster Mary Dejevsky and Defence and Diplomatic Editor Kim Sengupta, who has been on the ground in Ukraine to discuss whats happening and what could happen next.

The event will be hosted on Zoom on 23 February at 6.30pm GMT and will last one hour. It is free to attend.

Russia accuses EU and Nato of impoliteness and disrespect'

13:00 , Tom Batchelor

Russias foreign ministry has claimed the joint Nato-EU response to the crisis has been disrespectful and lacking substance.

The ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had asked all member nations of the two blocs about their understanding of the principle of indivisible security, expecting an individual response from each country.

Instead he had received replies from the head of Nato and the EU foreign policy chief, to whom Mr Lavrov had not addressed the request.

Such a step cannot be seen as anything other than a sign of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect for our request, the ministry said.

Peace talks failed over Russian demands, says Ukraine minister

12:28 , Tom Batchelor

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia failed to reach a breakthrough due to Russias insistence that Ukraine talk directly to the so-called breakaway republics in the eastern Donbass region, Ukraines Foreign Minister has said.

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital on Thursday for talks on ending the conflict. More meetings are expected soon.

Russia insists that Ukraine conduct a direct dialogue with the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

If Ukraine agrees to this, then the status of Russia will change from being a party to the conflict to the status of being a mediator in the conflict. That is why we do not go for it.

Invasion could come at any time, says Blinken

11:59 , Tom Batchelor

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that an invasion could come at any time.

Speaking during a visit to Australia, he told a news conference: Were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics.

The Beijing games end on 20 February.

Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, Mr Blinken said.

Separately, President Joe Biden said he would not send troops to rescue US citizens in the event of a Russian assault.

Things could go crazy quickly, Mr Biden told NBC News.

Ukraine expects regular talks with Russia after Berlin summit

11:47 , Tom Batchelor

Ukraine has said it expects four-way negotiations with Russia, Germany and France to happen more frequently after the latest round of talks took place in Berlin,

Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Ukraines president, said on Friday that all sides agreed on the need to maintain a ceasefire.

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on Thursday on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Finland to sign deal for 64 F35s

10:55 , Tom Batchelor

Finland will sign a multi-billion pound agreement on Friday to buy F-35 fighter jets, bringing 64 radar-evading warplanes to a country bordering Russia.

Finland, which was historically neutral during the Cold War, is a member of the EU but not of the Nato Western military alliance, though it says it aims to cooperate with Nato and retains the right to join.

Its government said the decision to buy the advanced US jets, announced in December, was part of long-term plans to boost the countrys defences and not a response to the ongoing confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

Agreements finalising the purchase of the jets would be signed on Friday with the US government and the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp, the ministry said.

Yes, today it will be signed... It is a binding agreement that Finland will purchase the jets, Lauri Puranen, director in charge of the purchase at Finlands ministry of defence told Reuters. Finland has previously said the planes would begin to be deployed in 2027.

Russia claims Truss gaffe shows Western ignorance of Ukraine matters

10:28 , Tom Batchelor

The Kremlin claimed an apparent geographical gaffe by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was an example of how poorly informed Western leaders were about the Ukraine standoff.

This is the reality in which we have to defend our position, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing, adding that talks involving France and Germany on resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine yielded no results on Thursday.

Russias Kommersant newspaper quoted two diplomatic sources as saying that during their closed-door meeting on Thursday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had asked Ms Truss if she recognised Russian sovereignty over Rostov and Voronezh - two regions in the south of the country where Russia has been building up its forces.

Kommersant said Ms Truss replied that Britain would never recognise them as Russian, and had to be corrected by her ambassador. In a later interview with another Russian paper, Ms Truss said she had mistakenly thought Mr Lavrov was referring to Ukrainian provinces.

Watch live as Ben Wallace takes part in memorial ceremony in Moscow

10:02 , Tom Batchelor

Kremlin reveals why Putin and Macron were kept at distance during talks

09:54 , Tom Batchelor

The Kremlin has said that French President Emmanuel Macron was kept at a distance from Vladimir Putin at talks this week because the French leader declined to take a Russian Covid-19 test before their meeting.

The Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was understanding of the French position and had been guided by the need to protect Mr Putin at the meeting, where the leaders sat at opposite ends of a four-metre-long table.

He said this was not about politics and had not affected the talks.

Blinken warns Russia continuing to mass troops along Ukraine border

08:38 , Tom Batchelor

New Russian forces continue to arrive at the Ukrainian border and an invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time, including during the Beijing Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Melbourne following a meeting of Quad - an informal grouping of United States, Australia, India and Japan - Mr Blinken said Washington was going to keep withdrawing staff from its embassy.

He added there were very troubling signs of Russian escalation in the region.

Ukraine is paying the price for a decade of western weakness and appeasement

07:28 , Arpan Rai

In The Independents Editorial today, the spotlight is on wests non-existent united front that has failed Ukraine.

The sad truth about Ukraine is that the west will not fight for it. Boris Johnson, as if to underline the point, travelled all the way to a Nato meeting in Brussels, and then on to Poland, to show that he will talk tough and deploy troops there  and in any other Nato country or friend in the region  but not in Ukraine. There will be RAF patrols in Romania and out of Cyprus, there will be troops in Estonia and Poland, there will be royal navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea; anywhere but Ukraine.

Morally, the Ukrainians certainly have Britain behind them, as Liz Truss told Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. Then there is the potent threat to send British armaments to Ukraine, and that of fearsome economic sanctions  and, bizarrely, a pledge from the prime minister to overwhelm Russias diplomatic bandwidth with ever more talks. But not a single British squaddie will fire a single bullet at a Russian if that Russian puts a toecap over the frontier, as Mr Johnson puts it. Of that, all  including President Putin  may be sure.

Although the British are on the more honourable and determined end of the divided western response to Russian expansionism, the deterrence of a full military presence or defence-treaty guarantee for Ukraine is of course painfully absent. That is the problem. If the Russians believed that a war with Nato would follow any further aggression, they would not be menacing the country now.

Read the full Editorial on Russia-Ukraine conflict here

Our government is sexing up the threat of a Russia-Ukraine conflict

06:16 , Arpan Rai

Columnist Mary Dejevsky explains that while personally she remains sceptical about any Russian plan to invade, the overheated talk, from wherever it comes, risks bringing about precisely that result.

Fake news, disinformation, misinformation  call it what you will. The study of disinformation has become ubiquitous across the western world and currently draws lavish funding.

Its aficionados tend to proceed from two assumptions. One is that the world is made up of us and them, friend and foe, and disinformation always and only comes from them. The other, which often shines through the painstaking analysis of algorithms, bots and the rest, is the belief that the majority of our fellow human beings are too stupid to tell truth from falsehood, and need to be taught, by the initiated and from an early age, how to spot the rogues.

None of this helps, however, when erroneous, misleading or  perish the thought  actual disinformation comes from your own side. When that information also has the potential to distort or fuel a changing and potentially incendiary situation, it poses a big question for journalists: can you believe what you are being told and, if not, what can and should you do about it?

Read her column on how the threat of Russia-Ukraine conflict is being hyped

Opinion: Our government is sexing up the threat of a Russia-Ukraine conflict

Russia continues military buildup on three sides of Ukraine, satellite images show

05:56 , Arpan Rai

Russia is cornering Ukraine in a military buildup from three sides  Crimea, western Russia and Belarus  satellite images have confirmed.

A large deployment of troops and equipment is visible in Crimea, US-base technology company Maxar said, citing fresh images collected on Thursday.

Military troops and equipment is seen at Oktayabrskoye airfield, a formerly disused base in Simferopol in the north of the Crimean capital, reported CNN.

More than 550 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles have arrived at the Crimean site, according to Maxar, in addition to other sites in Crimea like Novoozernoye which are also witnessing an influx of troops and equipment., said Maxars senior director Stephen Wood.

At Novoozernoye, extensive artillery deployments and training exercises have been observed.

In a first, Maxar has also traced military deployment by Russia in the town of Slavne on the northwest coast of Crimea, including armoured vehicles.

Defence Secretary set for Moscow trip in effort to quell Ukraine border tensions

05:17 , Arpan Rai

Defence secretary Ben Wallace is set to leave for Moscow and meet his Russian counterpart on Friday in the UKs ongoing effort to quell the simmering crisis on the Ukrainian border.

This trip will come shortly after Boris Johnsons visit to Brussels and Warsaw on Thursday as he underlined that the continent faces its biggest security crisis in decades and Russian leader Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to bully eastern Europe.

The administration confirmed preparations to allow the UK to toughen and expand its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

Mr Wallace will make clear to Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, that invading Ukraine would be a lose-lose situation, reported The Times.

In the coming days, the UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

Amy Gibbons has the full report here

Ukrainian general tells Russian troops land will be flooded with blood

04:31 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi has issued a stern message for Russian troops on the other side of the border, stating that a full invasion of Ukraine would not be a simple walk in the park as the situation remains tense in the region.

Commander of all Ukrainian ground forces, the general said that his troops will fight for every metre if Russia invades Ukrainian territory.

The armed forces of Ukraine are ready. We are capable and we will not give up a single metre of Ukrainian land without a fight, general Syrskyi told Sky News.

He added: We are ready, and we warn them: It wont be a simple walk in the park. Each metre of that land will be flooded with the occupants [other sides] blood.

I trust in the Ukrainian servicemembers. I trust in our armed forces and I trust in our victory, he said.

More than 100,000 troops are on guard at Russias border it shares with Ukraine, signalling its preparedness for military action.

Biden tells US citizens to leave Ukraine: Thats a world war when...

04:15 , Arpan Rai

Warning that the US troops will not be able to intervene militarily to help American citizens get out of Ukraine, Joe Biden has urged them to leave the European country immediately.

American citizens should leave now. Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organisation. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world, he said.

The president added: Its a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.

Mr Biden was speaking with NBC News when he said that he still fears Russias leader could order his troops into Ukraine.

On being asked if theres a situation where he will send US troops to Ukraine to help American citizens, Mr Biden said: Theres not. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

More details on Mr Bidens interview can be read here

US asks its citizens in Ukraine to depart immediately

03:30 , Arpan Rai

The US department of state has issued a fresh set of warnings for its citizens asking them to not travel to Ukraine, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, citing potential military action from Russia.

This travel advisory replaces the previous one issued on 23 January.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and Covid-19, those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action, the advisory read, adding that some areas have increased risk.

Ukraine: Do not travel to Ukraine due to increased threats of Russian military action & COVID; those in Ukraine should depart now. If remaining, exercise caution due to crime, civil unrest, & potential combat operations should Russia take military action. https://t.co/X5zkrEIyZ4 pic.twitter.com/QoVHtB0bEd  Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) February 10, 2022

There are continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action against Ukraine, officials said in the advisory.

It added: The security conditions, particularly along Ukraines borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, regularly occur throughout Ukraine, including in Kiev.

Biden tells US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately as fears of invasion persist

03:18 , Arpan Rai

Hello, Arpan Rai here, Im taking over our live coverage on Ukraine now and will be with you for the next few hours.

You can read all about our reportage on Ukraine here

Thursday 10 February 2022 22:10 , Katy Clifton

Thats all for our live updates this evening. Well be back with the latest news on the Ukraine crisis tomorrow morning.

Jeremy Corbyn criticises Starmer and Johnson over Ukraine

Thursday 10 February 2022 21:05 , Laurie Churchman

Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at very unfair remarks made by Keir Starmer.

Earlier, Mr Starmer declared his unshakeable support for Nato while denouncing an anti-war group with strong links to the former leader.

He said the Stop The War coalition was at best naive, and at worst is strengthening those who threaten democracies.

But at a virtual Stop The War rally, Mr Corbyn defended the group, saying it is focused on the British government because it is a British organisation.

He also criticised the prime minister.

Boris Johnson, who probably for his own political reasons to get out of all the other problems he has got, has headed off to the Ukraine.

He has made increasingly bellicose statements about the need for and preparedness for armed conflict in the Ukraine - and keeps on thinking hes in some kind of historic moment.

He does tend to model himself on Winston Churchill, rather too often for comfort.

They are simply backing the idea there is only a military solution to this issue. Well there isnt. There has to be a peaceful solution.

Labour leader declares unshakeable commitment to Nato in contrast with predecessor

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:50 , Liam James

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of Britains Labour party, declared an unshakeable support for Nato as he distanced himself from his predeccesor Jeremy Corbyn with an attack on anti-war group with strong links to the former leader.

The Stop The War coalition says it stands against what it describes as Britains disastrous addiction to war but it has repeatedly come under fire for alleged anti-Western sentiments.

Mr Corbyn, now an independent MP, is a former chairman of the coalition, and was due to speak at a rally staged by the group tonight, titled No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion.

In a stinging rebuke, Sir Keir said the organisation was at best naive, and at worst is strengthening those who threaten democracies.

Sir Keir also said Mr Corbyn was wrong about Nato, and Labours commitment to the alliance is unshakeable.

The Labour leader met with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels today. Afterwards Sir Keir told the BBC that Labours commitment to Nato was unshakeable.

Inside the Pravy Sektor on Ukraines front line

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:38 , Laurie Churchman

The Independents Kim Sengupta has been speaking to members of a controversial armed group on Ukraines front line.

Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) emerged from the fierce street clashes that overthrew the government of Ukraines pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych seven years ago.

Their commander said: We are not extremists, we are not ultras, we are not hard or far right. These are the labels some people use against us, and these labels are wrong.

You can read the full story below.

Nationalists not extremists: Pravy Sektor deny radicalism claims

Watch live as Ukraine receives another shipment of weapons from US

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:20 , Liam James

UK passes law to toughen sanctions against Russia

Thursday 10 February 2022 19:48 , Liam James

A new law to allow the UK to toughen and expand its sanctions against Russia has come into force, the government said.

Foreign office minister James Cleverly signed off the new powers this evening.

The government claims the reform provides the framework for the strongest sanctions regime the UK has had against Russia.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, the ICT investment group and financial services industries.

Labour asked why MPs were not given time to debate the legislation.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said that MPs deserve the opportunity to scrutinise and debate these measures and they need to be in place.

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:57 , Liam James

The Kremlin has mocked Liz Trusss alleged issues with geographical locations before.

The foreign secretary said in a television interview on Ukraine that we are supplying and offering extra support into our Baltic allies across the Black Sea.

The Baltic and Black Seas are around 700 miles apart.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, commented: The Baltic countries are called so because they are located precisely off the coast of this [Baltic] sea. Not the Black [Sea]. If anyone needs to be saved from anything, then it is the world from the stupidity and ignorance of Anglo-Saxon politicians.

Liz Truss fumbles Russian geography after Lavrov meeting  report

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:41 , Liam James

Liz Truss reportedly made an embarassing geographical error at a press conference after her meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Kommersant, a Russian newspaper, reported that when the British foreign secretary demanded that Russia pulls back its force from Ukraines borders, Mr Lavrov asked: You do recognise Russias sovereignty over the Rostov and Voronezh regions?

After a brief pause the British Foreign Secretary replied: Great Britain will never recognise Russias sovereignty over those regions.

The two regions are, of course, parts of Russia as, according to the report, the UKs ambassador to Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, explained to Ms Truss.

Later the British embassy tweeted (in Russian) this response from Ms Truss that appeared to confirm she made the mistake.

It said she told Russian media: During the meeting it seemed to me that Minister Lavrov was talking about a part of Ukraine. I have made clear that these regions [Rostov and Voronezh] are part of sovereign Russia.

A Foreign Office official refused to comment on whether Ms Truss may have confused Rostov and Voronezh with Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine  which became separatist republics with Russian backing after the conflict of 2014.

EU responds to Russias security demands as one

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:15 , Liam James

The European Union said it has delivered a letter on behalf of all 27 of its foreign ministers in response to Russia's proposals to member states on European security.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier today said a collective EU response would lead to a breakdown in talks.

The European Commission said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell decided to reply to letters sent in January by Mr Lavrov to all 27 member states in a single letter to show unity.

EU diplomats told Reuters that Mr Lavrovs letters were seen as a way to divide the bloc, which has differing sympathies towards Moscow, as it considers economic sanctions on Russia in the case of a new Ukraine conflict.

Russia's embassy to the EU said in a statement that it had received the letter.

The contents of the letters were not made public by either side but diplomats said they related to Russia's concerns about security on it western borders and EU efforts to resolve tensions through diplomacy.

Ukraine and Russia: Join our expert panel as they discuss the simmering conflict and what could happen next

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:01 , Liam James

The Russia-Ukraine crisis is not new, but, right now the simmering conflict threatens to turn into Europes worst war in generations if all sides cannot pull back from the brink?

Join our free virtual event expert panel on Wednesday 23 February hosted by The Independents International Editor David Harding.

David will be joined by Deputy International Editor Kieran Guilbert, broadcaster Mary Dejevsky and Defence and Diplomatic Editor Kim Sengupta, who has been on the ground in Ukraine to discuss whats happening and what could happen next.

Ukraine: What is the story behind the crisis with Russia?

Top US general speaks to Belarusian counterpart as Russia launches Black Sea drills

Thursday 10 February 2022 17:30 , Liam James

Americas top general has spoken with his Belarusian counterpart, the Pentagon said.

Russia began holding military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea today following its troop buildup near Ukraine.

General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed security concerns with Major General Viktor Gulevich of Belarus in their call today.

Colonel Dave Butler, a spokesman for Mr Milley, said: The phone call facilitated communication between both leaders to reduce chances of miscalculation and gain perspectives on current European security.

Nato said last week that Russia was expected to have 30,000 troops in Belarus as well as Spetsnaz special operations forces, SU-35 fighter jets, S-400 air defence systems and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles.

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary general, said it was a dangerous moment for European security.

The number of Russian forces is going up. The warning time for a possible attack is going down.

Boris Johnson grateful for behaviour of British troops

Thursday 10 February 2022 16:38 , Liam James

Boris Johnson praised the behaviour of UK troops during a visit to a military base in Warsaw.

Following a photo with Royal Engineers, Royal Marines and Polish troops, the prime minister said he was very proud that UK armed forces were standing side by side with Poland over fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He also told British troops: Im very grateful that you are behaving so well, telling them he had heard positive reports since the Engineers were deployed in December.

Some Marines told Mr Johnson they had arrived on Thursday, with some understood to have landed only hours before he did.

Separately, Mr Johnson praised the reputation of Polish pilots who fought with Britain during the Second World War.

Boris Johnson and Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki pose with British and Polish troops at Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base in Warsaw (Getty)

Boris Johnson: Automatic package of sanctions ready to go if Russia attacks Ukraine

Thursday 10 February 2022 16:02 , Holly Bancroft

Boris Johnson has repeated warnings that a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be a catastrophic mistake.

He said that the UK had an automatic package of sanctions ready to go if Russia resorted to military action, including sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Referring to Germanys dependence on Russian gas, Mr Johnson said: We all know how difficult that is for some of our friends and we all know that, particularly right now with the spike in gas prices, it will be tough to say no to Nord Stream 2.

But I think it is absolutely right that we need to make progress on that. That is a very, very important priority.

Explainer: What are the Minsk agreements?

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:32 , Holly Bancroft

French president Emmanuel Macron has said that a revival of the Minsk peace accord from 2014 and 2015 is the only path on which peace can be built between Ukraine and Russia.

So what are the Minsk agreements?

Read our explainer by Joe Sommerland here:

What are the Minsk agreements?

Liz Truss: If Russia is serious about not invading, they should withdraw troops

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:19 , Holly Bancroft

Liz Truss has repeated her demands to Russia that, if they want to prove they are serious about not invading Ukraine, they need to withdraw troops from the border.

In a statement on social media, Ms Truss wrote: I delivered a clear message to Minister Lavrov that Russia must deescalate, respect Ukraines sovereignty and engage in meaningful talks.

If Russia is serious about not invading, we need to see troops withdraw. The military build-up is an undeniable threat to Ukraine.

I delivered a clear message to Minister Lavrov that Russia must deescalate, respect Ukraines sovereignty and engage in meaningful talks.



If Russia is serious about not invading, we need to see troops withdraw. The military build-up is an undeniable threat to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/YdwdKQRlDz  Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 10, 2022

Boris Johnson warns Ukraine crisis is Europes most dangerous moment for decades

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:07 , Holly Bancroft

In case you missed it...

Boris Johnson has warned that Europe is entering its most dangerous moment amid a standoff with Russia over Ukraine, as both sides stage war games and British and other world leaders embark on a diplomatic push to ease tensions.

Meeting Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the prime minister said it was possible that something absolutely disastrous could happen very soon.

Read the full piece from Tom Batchelor here:

Boris Johnson warns Ukraine crisis is Europes most dangerous moment for decades

Polish prime minister calls on Germany to not be blackmailed over Russian gas

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:35 , Holly Bancroft

Polands prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki has issued an appeal to Germany over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Russia.

Mr Morawiecki said: As regards Nord Stream, I would like to appeal to our German allies: you have to announce, as soon as possible, that this gas pipeline should not be used as blackmail.

He added: When an imperial policy is a guiding principle, anything can become an instrument of aggression - it can be a gas pipeline, a migrant flow or the internet.

Mr Morawiecki also thanked Boris Johnson for the UKs support of Poland and accused Vladimir Putin of trying to dismantle the Nato alliance.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson: We stand shoulder to shoulder with Poland

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:13 , Holly Bancroft

Speaking on a trip to the Polish capital Warsaw, Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Britain would stand shoulder to shoulder with Poland.

At a joint appearance with Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr Johnson said: The lesson of the last 100 years is that when Poland is threatened with instability, war, aggression on the borders of Poland then we are all threatened and we are all affected.

Boris Johnson: Britain and Poland will not accept Russian bullying

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:09 , Holly Bancroft

Boris Johnson has said that Britain and Poland will not accept a world where a powerful neighbour can bully or attack others in issuing a warning to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on a trip to Warsaw, Mr Johnson said: We need to work together now to achieve de-escalation, to persuade Vladimir Putin to de-escalate and to disengage.

We wont accept, Poland and the UK, wont accept a world in which a powerful neighbour can bully or attack their neighbours.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Talks fail as icy Lavrov calls Liz Truss unprepared'

Thursday 10 February 2022 13:51 , Holly Bancroft

In case you missed it...

Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov accused Liz Truss of refusing to listen on Thursday in a testy press conference that ended in Mr Lavrov leaving Ms Truss standing alone at her podium.

Im honestly disappointed that what we have is a conversation between a dumb and a deaf person.. Our most detailed explanations fell on unprepared soil, Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

He added: They say Russia is waiting until the ground freezes like a stone so its tanks can easily cross into Ukrainian territory. I think the ground was like that today with our British colleagues, from which numerous facts that we produced bounced off.

Ms Truss challenged Mr Lavrovs assertions that Russia was not threatening anyone by building up its troops on the Ukrainian border.

She said: I cant see any other reason for having 100,000 troops station on the border, apart from to threaten Ukraine. And if Russia is serious about diplomacy, they need to remove those troops and desist from the threats.

At the end of the conference, Mr Lavrov walked off without waiting for Ms Truss - leaving her standing alone at her podium.
#BuenaNoticia | En el 2024, seremos sede del Foro @APEC. Fortaleceremos un comercio mas inclusivo para mayor beneficio de las micro, pequenas y medianas empresas peruanas; ademas de impulsar nuestras exportaciones y el turismo ????#SiempreConElPueblo pic.twitter.com/Tck7NQ3NFj
With the release of Inventing Anna, fans still have questions about the fake heiress at the center of its story. The Netflix limited series reveals how this Russian-born German fraudster was caught in her crimesbut where is Anna Delvey now?

Anna Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, first made headlines back in 2018 when she was arrested in New York City for scamming countless individuals, banks and hotels out of over $200,000 while posing as a wealthy German heiress under the Delvey name. At the time, Sorokins story was covered by journalist Jessica Pressler in a bombshell article titled How Anna (Sorokin) Delvey Tricked New Yorks Party People in New York Magazine, which went on to serve as the blueprint for Shonda Rhimes Netflix adaptation. Since Sorokins sentencing in 2019, the con artists story has been featured in a forthcoming HBO series by Lena Dunham and in the book My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress, written by her former friend Rachel Williams.

More from StyleCaster

Rhimes series Inventing Anna, which stars the inimitable Julia Garner in the title role, tells the true story of how Sorokin went from a working-class German family to swindling some of New York Citys most prominent socialites all without a real penny to her name. But after watching her journey on the show, the question still remains: Where is Anna Delvey now? For everything we know about where Sorokin is todayincluding whether or not shes still behind barsjust keep on reading below.

What happened to Anna Delvey?

Click here to read the full article.

Image: AP Photo/Richard Drew.

When Anna Sorokin was 19 years old, she left her home country of Germany to pursue a fashion degree in Paris, France. It was here that the future fraudster adopted the surname Delvey, later telling The New York Times that it was her mothers maiden name, despite her parents saying they did not recognize it in the first place. Sorokins studies eventually brought her to New York City to attend New York Fashion Week, and after traveling to the city in 2013, she decided to relocate to the Big Apple permanently.

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During her time in the city, Sorokin began posing as a wealthy German heiress and using her false identity as Anna Delvey to rub shoulders with socialites and other affluent entities. She created an illusion of wealth by using faulty credit cards, bogus bank statements and even launching the Anna Delvey Foundation foundationa fake private club and art organization she used to lure wealthy benefactors and bolster her image.

Sorokin spent the next several years conning countless individuals, banks and hotels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. These scams included falsified loan applications to City National Bank and Fortress Investment Group, along with dozens of unpaid bills at hotels and dining establishments. She often persuaded friends and companies to give her money with the promise of paying them back, convincing them that her net worth was in the millions. In one instance, she reportedly promised to charter an all-expenses-paid vacation to Morocco but ended up sticking her friend with the $62,000 bill. On another occasion, Sorokin convinced a bank to loan her $100,000, which she never paid back.

Image: AP Photo/Richard Drew.

In August 2017, Sorokin was arrested during a sting operation after multiple hotels pressed charges against her for failing to pay for her stays. She was indicted on two counts of attempted grand larceny in the first degree, three counts of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree and one count of misdemeanor theft of services for her fraudulent loan applications. She was also indicted for incidences of check fraud and theft of services related to her failure to pay back her hotel and restaurant bills.

A grand jury later sentenced Sorokin to four to 12 years in state prison for her crimes. As part of her sentencing, the con artist was fined $24,000 and ordered to pay restitution of around $199,000. During her prosecution in 2019, it was estimated that Sorokin stole a total of $275,000.

Is Anna Delvey still in prison?

After serving nearly four years of her prison sentence, Sorokin was released on parole early for good behavior in February 2021 from the Albion Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Following her release, the German national wasted no time in relaunching her social media accounts and sharing photos of herself living what appeared to be a lavish life all over again.

In an interview with Insider following her February prison release, Sorokinwho still goes by Delveyinsisted that she never meant to commit fraud and she doesnt harbor any real regret for what happened. I have to deal with the consequences of my actions, yeah, she told the site at the time. But to just sit around and just think about everything Ive done  its not going to have changed it. I dont know. It would be a huge waste of my time.

I did what I did. And I was, I dont know, 23, 24, 25. Im just trying to fix things and move on, she explained. I never really went, Oh, let me go and defraud City National Bank, that will be the best thing to do ever. Or, Let me go take this random girl, Rachel, on vacation and make her pay. Who thinks like this?

While on parole, Sorokin also decided to appeal her case. Her lawyer, Audrey A. Thomas, alleged to Insider that much of the money she stole was on a civil level, rather than at the level of criminal conductbut Sorokins bid didnt keep her out of custody for long.

Where is Anna Delvey now?

Image: Steven Hirsch/Pool/NYP/MEGA.

After Anna Delvey was released on parole from prison in February 2021, the fake heiress found herself in custody once againthis time, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On March 25, 2021, the German national was detained in New York City for breaking the terms of her visa.

The fake heiress opened up about her ICE arrest in an Insider essay published on February 2, 2022, where she writes that her visa overstay was unintentional following her release. I am here because Immigration and Customs Enforcement decided that my early merit release from prison means nothing to them and, despite being perfectly self-sufficient when left to my own (legal) devices, I, in fact, present a continuous danger to the community.'

My visa overstay was unintentional and largely out of my control. I served my prison sentence, but Im appealing my criminal conviction to clear my name, Sorkin continued in her essay. I did not break a single one of New York states or ICEs parole rules. Despite all that, Ive yet to be given a clear and fair path to compliance.

Sorokin also called out the Daily Mail for a February 2021 report about one of her outings in New York City, writing, Apparently, Daily Mail headlines are admissible evidence that override the decisions of the New York State Board of Parole and can be used to back up the Department of Homeland Securitys arguments that instead of getting a job, I was busy getting my hair doneme and my bad ways. As of February 2022, Sorokin is still being held in an ICE detention center in upstate New York awaiting deportation to Germany.

"My Friend Anna" by Rachel DeLoache Williams

Buy: My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache $24.30

For more about Anna Delvey, read Rachel DeLoache Williams 2019 book My Friend Anna: The True Story of Anna Delvey, the Fake Heiress Who Conned Me and Half of New York City. In the book, which was one of Times 100 Best Books of 2019, Vanity Fair photo editor (and one of Annas ex-best friends) Rachel DeLoache wrote about how she was seduced by Anna and scammed out of more than $62,000. The tell-all also includes never-been-told details from Rachels trip to Marrakech with Anna and how the supposed all-expenses-paid vacation at a $7,500-per-night private village turned into a real-life nightmare. My Friend Anna is a true story of money, power, greed and female friendship.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  The head of an Arab party in Israel who made history last year by joining the governing coalition said Thursday he would not use the word apartheid to describe relations between Jews and Arabs within the country.

Amnesty International last week joined two other well-known human rights groups in saying that Israel's policies toward the Palestinians within its borders and in the occupied territories amounts to apartheid. Israel rejects those allegations as antisemitic, saying that, among other things, they ignore the rights and freedoms enjoyed by its Arab citizens.

I would not call it apartheid, Mansour Abbas said in response to a question at an online event organized by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a D.C-based think tank. He noted that he was in the coalition and could join the government itself if he wanted to.

I prefer to describe the reality in objective ways, he added, according to the English translation of his remarks, which he delivered in Hebrew. "If there is discrimination in a certain field, then we will say that there is discrimination in that specific field.

He did not say whether he thinks the term applies to the occupied West Bank, where more than 2.5 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule alongside nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers with Israeli citizenship. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state.

Abbas heads the United Arab List, known in Hebrew as Ra'am, a small Islamist party that gave crucial support to the coalition now governing Israel, which includes parties from across the political spectrum.

Arabs make up some 20% of Israel's population of nearly 9.5 million. They have citizenship, including the right to vote, and have a major presence in the medical profession and universities, among other fields. But they face widespread discrimination.

They have close familial ties to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and largely identify with their cause. Historically, they refused to join coalitions and were not invited to do so.

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The rights groups say Israel only grants citizenship to a minority of the Palestinians under its control in an overarching system designed to ensure a Jewish majority in as much of the Holy Land as possible.

Israel views such allegations as an assault on its very existence, saying its policies are designed to ensure the survival and well-being of the world's only Jewish state.

Abbas said he's focused on bringing Jews and Arabs together to address social and economic challenges.

I'm usually trying not to be judgmental, I'm not trying to say you're racist or the state is racist, or this is an apartheid state or not an apartheid state, Abbas said. My role as a political leader is to try to bridge the gaps.
President Joe Biden issued a warning Thursday to any Americans who remain in Ukraine as Russia continues to threaten an invasion: Leave.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt.

Its not like were dealing with a terrorist organization. Were dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. Its a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly, he said.

Holt asked Biden what scenario could prompt him to send troops to rescue Americans fleeing the country. Biden replied: Theres not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.

"Were in a very different world than weve ever been," he added.

Separately on Thursday, the State Department issued an advisory warning that the U.S. will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine. It warned that regular consulate service  including aiding citizens trying to leave the country  would be severely impacted.

According to a U.S. military and intelligence assessment, the Russian military could launch a full-scale invasion, with tanks that potentially could reach Kyiv, the capital, within 48 hours.

Biden argued that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is "foolish enough to go in, hes smart enough not to, in fact, do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens."

"Have you ever told him that?" Holt asked.

"Yes," Biden responded.

"Youve told him that, that Americans will be a line that they cant cross?" Holt asked.

"I didnt have to tell him that. Ive spoken about that. He knows that," Biden said.

A senior administration official said Friday that Biden would host a virtual meeting on Ukraine with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, the European Union, NATO, Italy, Romania and Poland in the morning. The White House said the leaders would "discuss our shared concerns about Russias continued buildup of military forces around Ukraine and continued coordination on both diplomacy and deterrence."

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Indoor mask mandates

On the issue of lifting indoor mask mandates, Biden signaled that it may be too soon to end the requirements that apply to federal government offices and public buildings.

California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Oregon  all states led by Democratic governors  announced this week that they were easing or ending mask mandates.

"I've committed that I would follow the science as put forward by the CDC and federal people, and I think its probably premature, but its, you know, its a tough call," Biden said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden during his interview with Lester Holt. (NBC News)

Asked whether children should have to wear masks in schools, another debate raging at the state level, Biden pointed to schools that are being reopened. The CDC suggests wearing masks in places where the new case rate is higher than 50 cases per 100,000 people or the testing positivity rate exceeds 8 percent, a recommendation that still covers most of the country.

"When I got in office, only 46 percent of schools were opened. Now 98 percent of them are open, and they're wearing masks," Biden said. "Whats happening is every day that goes by, children are more protected. Were now on the verge of being able to have shots for children under the age of 7 and young children, and so the more protection they have, probably youre going to see less and less requirement to have the mask."

Supreme Court

Biden said there has been a "deep dive" on four candidates for his pending nomination to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who announced last month that he will step down from the Supreme Court at the end of the current term.

"The shortlist are nominees who are incredibly well-qualified and documented," he said. "They were the honor students. They have come from the best universities. They have experience, some on the bench, some on the practice of law."

Breyer is one of three liberal justices on the court serving alongside six conservatives, and his decision to retire after more than 27 years will not change the political leanings of the court.

Biden has said he will fulfill his campaign promise to select a Black woman, which some Republicans have criticized.

Biden predicted that whoever he picks will find some support among Republicans.

"I'm not looking to make an ideological choice," he said. "I'm looking for someone that replaces Judge Breyer with the same kind of capacity Judge Breyer has, with an open mind, who understands the Constitution, interprets it in a way that is consistent with the mainstream interpretation of the Constitution."

Build Back Better

Biden also addressed the failure of Democrats to advance his social safety net bill and attributed that partly to a messaging problem.

"I think I haven't sold it well," Biden said, adding that he thinks people are now realizing what the proposal would provide.

Negotiations on the legislation collapsed at the end of last year after centrist Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he would not support the bill. Manchin has since said he's open to restarting talks, but that negotiators would be "starting from scratch."

Democrats are discussing sweetening the deal for Manchin by adding deficit-reduction provisions, a source familiar with the talks said.
By Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister accused his British counterpart on Thursday of grandstanding and refusing to listen, at a rancorous encounter that highlighted the gulf between them over the Ukraine crisis.

Sergei Lavrov told a joint news conference with Britain's Liz Truss that their meeting had felt like a conversation between mute and deaf people.

"They say Russia is waiting until the ground freezes like a stone so its tanks can easily cross into Ukrainian territory," he said. "I think the ground was like that today with our British colleagues, from which numerous facts that we produced bounced off."

Truss challenged Lavrov directly over his assertion that Russia is not threatening anyone with its build-up of troops and weaponry near Ukraine's borders.

"I can't see any other reason for having 100,000 troops stationed on the border, apart from to threaten Ukraine. And if Russia is serious about diplomacy, they need to remove those troops and desist from the threats," she said.

Lavrov said it was regrettable that Russia was being asked to withdraw troops from its own territory.

Russia's Kommersant newspaper quoted two diplomatic sources as saying that during their earlier closed-door meeting Lavrov had asked Truss if she recognised Russian sovereignty over Rostov and Voronezh - two regions in the south of the country where Russia has been building up its forces.

Kommersant said Truss replied that Britain would never recognise them as Russian, and had to be corrected by her ambassador.

In a later interview with another Russian paper, RBC, Truss said she had mistakenly thought Lavrov was referring to areas of Ukraine.

Russia has presented the West with a series of demands to guarantee its security, complaining it feels threatened by repeated waves of NATO enlargement and the refusal of the alliance to rule out membership for its neighbour Ukraine, a fellow former Soviet republic.

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"No one is undermining Russia's security - that is simply not true," Truss said, adding that it was "perfectly proper" for Ukraine to defend itself and seek alliances.

Russia and Britain have had dire relations for years, hitting low points with the fatal 2006 poisoning of former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko in London and the attempted killing of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury in 2018.

Lavrov said London had never presented any facts to support its accusations of Russian involvement in both cases, or in the attempted poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in 2020.

He said Truss had not varied her tone throughout their two-hour meeting, and had ignored his explanations while repeating statements and demands that Britain had made before.

(Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth; Writing by Mark Trevelyan)
By Fabian Cambero

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chilean protesters marched against immigration and crime in the Andean country's far north on Sunday, with some violent factions destroying belongings from migrant camps in the streets amid growing tension in the region over border controls.

Photos showed protesters, many carrying Chilean flags, breaking up tent structures and bedding in the northern city of Iquique and putting it into a big pile, an echo of angry protests in September last year when camps were burned.

Despite pandemic restrictions in recent years, many migrants from Venezuela and elsewhere have kept trying to reach Chile, one of the wealthiest countries in the region, which has been rocked in recent years by protests over entrenched inequality.

"This can't go on," read one protest banner from Sunday's march in the coastal city by several thousand people, who were complaining about what they called a spike in illegal immigration and an increase in crime.

Local media reported that a group of protesters had attacked one migrant man. Videos on social networks showed the man lying on the ground surrounded by police officers while protesters, waving Chilean flags and holding saucepans, shouted at him.

The call to protest came after a group of Venezuelan migrants recently attacked police officers at a checkpoint, for which they were detained. Protesters on social media also called for strike action in the city over the situation.

Migration and crime were a big voter concern in presidential elections late last year, which were won by Gabriel Boric, 35, a leftist lawmaker and former student protest leader who comes into office in March.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing Adam Jourdan; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Alec Baldwin said it felt strange to go back to work for the first time since the fatal shooting on the set of Rust.

Baldwin, 63, began production on a new movie this week, and chronicled the experience in an Instagram video.

I havent worked since Oct. 21 of last year when this horrible thing happened on the set of this film, and we had the accidental death of our cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin said. I even still find that hard to say.

Baldwin didnt specify which movie hes working on during the nearly five-minute video, but The Hollywood Reporter says its the action movie 97 Minutes, which centers on a plane in danger of crashing.

Hutchins died at age 42 after being shot by a prop firearm that Baldwin was handling on the New Mexico set of Rust. Baldwin says he was told the prop was cold, indicating it didnt have live ammunition.

Authorities are investigating the incident, including why live rounds were on the movies set that day. Nobody has been charged in the shooting, which also wounded director Joel Souza.

Baldwin was a producer and star of Rust, a Western movie that was being filmed at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe.

Earlier this week, the medic who responded to the scene filed a lawsuit that names the ranch and the films production group, saying the experience caused tremendous shock, trauma and severe emotional distress, according to Variety.

The films producers, including Baldwin, arent specifically named in the lawsuit.


ReportLinker

Major companies in the ambulance services market include American Medical Response, Inc. , Providence Service Corporation, Falck AS, Air Methods Corporation, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc.

New York, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Ambulance Services Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06229151/?utm_source=GNW

and NHS England.



The global ambulance services market is expected to decline from $60.35 billion in 2021 to $66.98 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. The change in growth trend is mainly due to the companies stabilizing their output after catering to the demand that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The market is expected to reach $96.28 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 9.5%.



The ambulance services market consists of sales of ambulance services and related goods by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that provide ambulance services for emergency access to healthcare in response to emergency calls, urgent doctor admissions and emergency hospital transfers.



The main types of ambulance services are ground ambulance services, air ambulance services, and water ambulance services.An air ambulance is a specifically designed helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft that delivers injured or sick persons during a medical emergency or across long distances or difficult terrain.



The various types of ownership include chained and standalone and different types of expenditure are public and private. The services are used by men and women.



Western Europe was the largest region in the ambulance services market in 2021.North America was the second largest region in the ambulance services market.



Africa was the smallest region in the ambulance services market. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



Changes in lifestyles and an increase in sedentary jobs are transforming the disease profile of the world population demanding for ambulance services.For instance, according to the American heart Associations Heart & Stroke Statistics 2020, in the US, there are about 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) per year, with approximately 90% of them being fatal.



Change in lifestyle increase the incidence of cardiac arrests and thereby drive the demand for ambulance services.



Many federal and state governments are either offering subsidized or free healthcare services to their citizens.Since most of the governments are offering quality healthcare services for free or subsidized rates, patients tend to opt for government healthcare services thereby, limiting the scope for private healthcare service providers.



For example, the NHS (National Health Service) of the UK offers free healthcare services to all legal residents and visitors. Going forward, federal and state provisions are expected to be a major restraint on the healthcare services market.



Digitalization of information related to patients including their medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test results is being made possible with Electronic Health Records (EHRs).EHRs increase patient participation, and improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes.



Adoption of EHRs by medical practitioners and healthcare centers improves medical practice management by increasing practice efficiencies. It also aids in cost savings.



The countries covered in the ambulance services market are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06229151/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Kim Kardashian arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Kim Kardashian told Vogue that she will be Ye's biggest cheerleader in front of their children.

She said regardless of her feelings toward her kids' dad, she'll always tell them he's the best.

The star said she is focusing on her well-being now that she's in her 40s.

Just days after Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, lashed out about his 8-year-old North being on TikTok despite his objections, his ex, Kim Kardashian, said she'll always be a supportive coparent to him.

"Make sure you are your co-parent's biggest cheerleader, no matter what you're personally going through," Kardashian said in an interview with Vogue.

That doesn't mean Kardashian doesn't have her own feelings about Ye's behavior, but she's vowed to keep them hidden from her kids.

"You could be so hurt or angry at your ex, but I think in front of the kids, it always has to be 'Your dad's the best,'" she said.

Kardashian is also determined to keep "all matters regarding our children" out of the public eye as much as she can, she said on her Instagram stories.

"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 wrote recently.

Coming into her own in her 40s

In the same interview, Kardashian, 41, said she's determined to make her 40s a decade dedicated to herself.

"For so long, I did what made other people happy," she said. "And I think in the last two years I decided, I'm going to make myself happy. And that feels really good."

That new approach might have led to her divorce, she said, but it was worth it.

"It's important to be honest with yourself about what really makes you happy. I've chosen myself. I think it's okay to choose you," she said. "My 40s are about being Team Me. I'm going to eat well. I'm going to work out. I'm going to have more fun, spend more time with my kids and the people who make me happy. I'm going to put my phone down."

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On a recent trip to the Bahamas, the people she was with tossed their phones into the ocean to force themselves to unplug.

"I was like, 'What? What? What? Am I allowed to do that?' " Kardashian said.

Advocating for other women

In the past few years, Kardashian has become more involved with the legal system, advocating on behalf of women convicted of crimes. She enrolled in the Law Office Study Program, an alternative program in which attendees intern for four years instead of attending law school. She's also visited prisons in California, hearing stories from incarcerated women.

"Literally every crime the women I spoke to had committed was for their significant other," she said. "I heard stories like, 'My boyfriend told me to pick this up. And I didn't know what it was. I didn't question him.' I was like, wow, I probably would've done the same."

Hearing those stories affects the way she raises her own kids, she said.

"This work has taught me so much, especially raising Black boys, who are going to be targeted so much more than their white friends," she said.

Read the original article on Insider
Doug Sombke speaks at a landowners meeting in Redfield on Feb. 2.

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories about a proposed Carbon Dioxide pipeline.

Many landowners have voiced their concerns over Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solution's proposed carbon sequestration pipeline. While safety is a main concern, it's not the only one: some landowners are raising questions over how the company is going about acquiring land, and who would be responsible for the pipeline, should anything go wrong.

Summit Carbon Solutions has applied for a permit with South Dakotas Public Utilities Commission, the company announced earlier this week. The approval process for this permit takes about a year and includes opportunities for public comment.

If approved, Summit Carbon Solutions will be able to move forward with its plan to build a $4.5 billion carbon sequestration pipeline through South Dakota. The pipeline will also run through North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The project has the goal of reducing carbon emissions at ethanol plants throughout the Midwest, allowing them to sell their product to states with low-carbon fuel standards like California and Oregon. Summit Carbon Solutions would split any profit with the ethanol plants and receive a tax credit, which could amount to as much as $600 million per year.

More: A carbon dioxide pipeline could be coming to South Dakota. Here's why landowners are concerned

Who is liable if the carbon dioxide pipeline ruptures?

Brian Jorde is an Omaha-based attorney with Domina Law Group. He represented a group of landowners who were fighting the Keystone XL pipeline. In a telephone interview with the American News, Jorde said, typically, if a landowner were to accidentally rupture the pipeline, they would be held responsible. Jorde said that he has seen his clients get sued for millions of dollars by pipeline companies due to accidental damage of pipelines.

But, after a meeting in McPherson County on Feb. 1, Jake Ketzner, Summit Carbon Solutions vice president of government and public affairs, said the company will always take responsibility for maintenance and liability. Federal regulations require annual inspections of the pipeline, he said, and line markers will help landowners know exactly where the pipeline is in case any work is being done on the property.

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Property owners along the proposed route of the pipeline are currently being approached by Summit to sign easements that give the pipeline authority to cross that land, but company officials are also talking about using eminent domain to gain access as well.

At the McPherson County meeting, Summit Carbon Solutions Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Powell said he is confident that the company will be allowed to use eminent domain, meaning that landowners will have no choice regarding the pipeline being constructed on their property.

Once easements are signed, there's no going back

If property owners sign easements, they will receive a sum of money dependent on how much of their property would be used for the project. But, Jorde cautioned people against signing easements if they don't fully understand the project. Once someone signs an easement, there is little they can do if they change their mind.

More: State legislators voice support for new Lincoln Hall on Northern State University campus

You dont get a redo. You dont get to go to court. You dont get to go through the condemnation process and start over. Its over, said Jorde.

Companies will also likely offer people a low sum of money to start, said Jorde. If people sign easements right away, they wont be able to negotiate for a higher price.

Summit Carbon Solutions just applied for a permit through the Public Utilities Commission, and the process wont likely be over for another year. When asked why people should sign an easement if the company doesnt yet have a permit, Ketzner said the risk falls on the company.

Were confident that were going to get a permit, said Ketzner. But thats because were doing all the steps that are needed to do that.

More: Brown County commissioners discuss $4.5 billion carbon capture pipeline, speed limit change

Ketzner added that landowners will get to keep the money that they are paid for signing the easement. But if Summit Carbon Solutions does not get a permit for the project, it would be able to sell the easement to the next pipeline company that comes along, according to Dakota Rural Action, a nonprofit grassroots organization, which has been working with landowners who oppose the project and is encouraging landowners to not sign easements.

Is eminent domain appropriate?

And while Summit Carbon Solutions is confident that it will get permission to use eminent domain, others arent so sure. The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment allows the government to take private property if property owners receive compensation. Eminent domain has historically been granted for projects that are for public use, with a classic example being the construction of the Interstate Highway System, said Jorde.

While Ketzner said the project will benefit everyone by improving the environment and the economy, Jorde isnt sure thats enough.

Basically, if I sold my pickup truck and bought a Tesla, I should have eminent domain rights? said Jorde.

Jorde is currently working with landowners in all five states that will be affected by the pipeline. He will help clients intervene into the proceeding, meaning his clients will go up against Summit Carbon Solutions applying for a permit. The Public Utilities Commission will essentially serve as a court and ultimately make a decision on the project.

South Dakota landowners hold meetings to educate and voice concerns

Landowners have organized multiple meetings over the last several weeks. Some, like Ed Fischbach and Mark Lapka, are using the opportunity to help educate people on the project and go over their specific concerns. Doug Sombke, who is the president of the South Dakota Farmers Union, said he was invited a meeting in Redfield and decided to attend to learn more about the project.

Sombke is concerned about the easements and eminent domain, and said that South Dakota's eminent domain laws are essentially nonexistent. That means that it almost never works out in the landowner's favor, he said.

Sombke said it might be a stretch to say that the pipeline project is a benefit for all of the public, which in practice would make it difficult for the company to get the right to eminent domain.

In the meantime, Sombke said he's supportive of counties placing moratoriums, as McPherson County did last week, so that the process is slowed down and new zoning ordinances can be put in place.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: SD landowners concerned about carbon dioxide pipeline land acquisition
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 10, 2022) - Author Joey O'Connor continues to fascinate readers with his riveting portrayal of William Sheppard, a little-known Black human rights hero, in Among Kings: The Amazing Adventures of the Congo's African American Livingstone and the Courageous People who Toppled King Leopold II. While Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States to commemorate black heroes of the past, Sheppard is hardly discussed despite his contributions.

Inspired by true events, this meticulously researched novel draws upon the pasts of real-life heroes to deliver a powerful account of how even the most unassuming of men can topple a monarch. In the novel, readers follow the life, loves, journey, and adventures of William Sheppard who overcomes racial prejudice and adversity in a fight for human rights in the Congo. Risking his life, Sheppard's brave actions helped to end King Leopold II's slavery in the Congo, changing the course of history for the world.





Book cover of Among Kings

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Among Kings follows Black missionary William Sheppard from Virginia to the Belgian-controlled Congo, joined only by a white colleague, Samuel Lapsley. Traveling by steamship 1,000 miles up the Congo River, the novice missionaries face dangerous animals, disease, cannibal tribes, and King Leopold II's Force Publique army. Sheppard becomes known across the world for his travels, discoveries, and adventures. When tragedy strikes, Sheppard returns to America to marry his fiancee, only to be horrified by the newly implemented Jim Crow laws.

Upon their return to the Congo, Sheppard is stunned to realize that King Leopold II has enslaved the entire country to work in the rubber trade. Armed with only a camera and the steel of his resolve, Sheppard risks his life to expose the atrocities of the Belgian king to the world. Researchers now state Leopold is responsible for the world's fourth largest genocide, estimated at eight to twelve million people.

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O'Connor's work is perfect for fans of historical fiction and novels that dissect the racism of the Great Scramble for Africa era, as Colson Whitehead explored the Jim Crow period in The Nickel Boys. O'Connor's visual storytelling depicts a rich story world in a clash of historic turn-of-the-century events. The Great Scramble for Africa, Industrial Revolution, and Jim Crow periods display dramatic backdrops for this powerful story. Reviewers and fellow authors praise Among Kings as an incredible contribution to the genre. Thomas Locke, best-selling author of Trial Run, writes, "The clarity of O'Connor's drama, the strength of the plotting, the vivid characters, and above all the excellent writing suggests an author at the very apex of his career."

Among Kings is also an excellent classroom resource that explores the historical intersection of religion, African culture, and the global abuses of Western colonizers. The friendship between Sheppard and Samuel Lapsley highlights the dynamics of interracial friendship during this time. Among Kings includes photos and book club questions to guide discussions and foster engagement about race relations, Black history, colonialism, and racial reconciliation.

As one of the most celebrated missionary-explorers of his time, William Sheppard spoke at both white and Black churches all over America. As a hunter, missionary, explorer, art collector, author, and human rights hero, Sheppard's accomplishments in the Congo earned him the praise of kings, chiefs, queens, and presidents. In modern times, Sheppard is little-known during Black History Month, making Among Kings a necessary work to remind readers of our age that there are many voices in the chorus that calls for a freer, more just world. O'Connor states, "William Sheppard needs to be included in the human rights conversation."

O'Connor first learned of William Sheppard fifteen years ago when Ken Straw (his brother-in-law) shared a book about Sheppard's life. O'Connor and Straw formed the new Congo Reform Association non-profit organization to assist in ending the Congo Conflict.

O'Connor stated, "As we researched the Congo, we learned that in the past twenty years, over six million people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to two Congo wars and mineral rights conflicts. " O'Connor even traveled to the Eastern Congo to work with his friends, Camille & Esther Ntoto, founders of Africa New Day.

When asked about new books, O'Connor said he is writing a modern-day Congo thriller about human rights, cryptocurrency, and a global conspiracy to control the world's mineral resources. "Most of the world does not know that many of the minerals that power our cell phones come straight from the Congo. The Congo is in everyone's pocket."

Among Kings: The Amazing Adventures of the Congo's African American Livingstone and the Courageous People who Toppled King Leopold II is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Joey O'Connor is the award-winning author of twenty-one books and screenplays. He is the co-founder of the Congo Reform Association, whose mission is to inspire social action through story, film, and social media to end the Congo Conflict and create a self-sustaining, thriving Congo. O'Connor lives and writes in San Clemente, California.. Congo Reform Association http://www.congoreformassociation.org or www.joeyoconnor.org.





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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The working visit of Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan to Brussels took place on February 7-10 at the joint initiative and efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.

During the visit the friendship group with Artsakh was re-formed in the European Parliament. The MEPs were thoroughly introduced on the current situation and challenges in Artsakh following the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan which is based on deeply rooted Armenophobia, the EAFJD said in a statement.

The Artsakh FM met with member-senators of the Armenian and Georgian friendship group at the Federal Parliament of Belgium. He also delivered a lecture for several dozen students of one of the leading law universities in Germany, presenting the Artsakh conflict and the current situation.

Babayans visit ended by a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community.

Commenting on the visit, the EAFJD President Gaspar Karapetian said: Like in the past, now as well we are working with our entire potential to make the voice of our compatriots of Artsakh heard among the European political circles and informed them about Azerbaijans aggressive, destructive policy. We attach importance to the visit of the Foreign Minister of Artsakh to Brussels also because this was his first visit to the EU capital after the war.


Feb. 11Maine's top prison official denied that the state's penitentiaries use solitary confinement, contradicting hours of emotional testimony from advocates and people affected by the practice and drawing criticism from lawmakers during a legislative hearing on Wednesday.

Prison officials and the public have disagreed in the past over what kind of treatment constitutes solitary confinement, but during a testimony before the Legislature's criminal justice and public safety committee, Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty denied that his department uses it even by its own definition and criticized a bill seeking to outlaw it as "an answer to a problem that doesn't exist."

"The Maine Department of Corrections does not currently use the practice of solitary confinement," Liberty said.

His testimony presented a starkly different reality than supporters of the bill, who told stories of how they or their loved ones have suffered prolonged isolation inside Maine's jails and prison as recently as this year. It also contradicted what an official told the Bangor Daily News last year in response to questions about the prison's policies.

His comments drew immediate skepticism from committee co-chair Rep. Charlotte Warren, D-Hallowell, and the bill's sponsor, Grayson Lookner, D-Portland.

"How can I just say, 'Nope, not gonna believe all those Maine people," Warren asked Liberty.

The exchange underscores a fundamental disagreement over what's actually happening inside the state's correctional facilities, which will pose a serious obstacle in discussions of the controversial prison tactic. Liberty pointed out that Maine has a reputation as a national leader for its ongoing efforts to reduce the use of solitary confinement and claimed testimony from critics referred to practices the department ended years ago, but some lawmakers seemed mistrustful of the department's characterizing of the practice.

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Warren described her recent visit to the women's prison in Windham, where she witnessed a transgender woman who "spends a lot of time locked up by herself."

"I saw that with my own eyes and that was not over five or six years ago," she said.

Warren also cited a recent Bangor Daily News investigation that documented 25-year-old Zachary Swain's yearslong plight in prolonged isolation at the Maine State Prison. A leading national expert described Swain's treatment as solitary confinement, defining the term as any prolonged isolation that deprives a person of meaningful social contact.

Swain entered the prison in 2015 and is set to be released later this month. In a follow-up article, the Knox County district attorney compared his experience behind bars to torture.

"This is from October," Warren said, after reading from the article.

Liberty did not directly address the discrepancy presented by his testimony, but defended his statements.

"No one's trying to be deceptive, no one's trying to shell-game anything," he said.

When pressed by Lookner, Liberty, who previously served as warden of the Maine State Prison in Warren, said he defines solitary confinement using the industry standard of two hours or less out-of-cell time a day, although the department uses the term "restrictive housing."

However, stories of prisoners leaving their cells for an hour a day to spend time in a "dog kennel outside" are long gone, Liberty said. "That produced anxiety, trauma, it was neglectful. We walked away from that a long time ago."

Today, prisoners too dangerous to be in the general population are housed in the Maine State Prison's Administrative Control Unit, where they have access to education programs, entertainment, mental health services and up to seven hours a day out of their cells, he said.

But lawmakers and other supporters of Lookner's bill appeared frustrated over the changing terms that officials have used to describe forms of isolation over the years, muddying the ability to understand how solitary confinement is playing out in Maine.

For example, Swain has been housed in the administrative control unit since the spring, his mother, Lori Swain, told lawmakers.

"But it's still the same solitary confinement pod where he's served 21-24 hours a day with no human contact for most of six years," she said.
Monroe County expects to soon begin distributing some 500,000 pediatric KN95 masks for school children. The masks, which the county ordered, should be delivered in the coming days, County Executive Adam Bello said, at which point distribution plans will be announced.

Even if mask requirements are lifted in schools, some parents might still want their child masked for health reasons or given low vaccination rates in their school.

Vaccination rates are lagging in children eligible to receive it. Children ages 2 to 5 years old are not yet eligible, but could become eligible next month.

In a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday, Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza cautioned against moving too quickly to lift mask mandates impacting still-vulnerable populations. But also recognized how much has changed, what's been learned, and that "one size doesn't fit all."

Asked specifically about childcare centers, he said once children become eligible, and vaccination rates get established, then those protections can be reassessed.

I dont think it makes sense to do that now given that group is essentially still susceptible, Mendoza said. None of them has been vaccinated. Some have disease-acquired immunity, which is helpful. But masking is inconsistent in the younger age groups .. I think it is premature right now to change the mask requirement in that setting.

Strong Museum of Play and Rochester Museum and Science Center were among the businesses to follow Gov. Kathy Hochul's lead and remove masking requirements this week. Hochul left in place mask mandates for schools and childcare centers, as well as other places like health care centers, airports and public transit.

The step down in masking comes as New York reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 54,466 new cases. That's down 43.4% from the previous week's tally of 96,271 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

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New York ranked 48th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 42.6% from the week before, with 2,043,989 cases reported. With 5.84% of the country's population, New York had 2.66% of the country's cases in the last week.

Monroe County reported 1,827 cases and 31 deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 3,170 cases and 37 deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 146,948 cases and 1,500 deaths.

Ontario County reported 367 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 639 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 18,906 cases and 166 deaths.

Wayne County reported 315 cases and six deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 606 cases and six deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 16,425 cases and 160 deaths.

Livingston County reported 198 cases and four deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 367 cases and two deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 11,192 cases and 106 deaths.

Orleans County reported 112 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 273 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 8,381 cases and 108 deaths.

Genesee County reported 178 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 370 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 13,317 cases and 179 deaths.

Across New York, cases fell in 62 counties, with the biggest declines in Queens County, with 4,309 cases from 9,472 a week earlier; in Kings County, with 7,111 cases from 11,550; and in Orange County, with 1,558 cases from 4,478.

> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

New York ranked 7th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 87.7% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 75.4%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

In the week ending Wednesday, New York reported administering another 372,364 vaccine doses, including 90,255 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 481,682 vaccine doses, including 123,426 first doses. In all, New York reported it has administered 36,801,401 total doses.

Within New York, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Clinton County with 739 cases per 100,000 per week; Franklin County with 534; and Oswego County with 532. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Kings County, with 7,111 cases; Queens County, with 4,309 cases; and New York County, with 4,090.

In New York, 982 people died of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 1,365 people died of COVID.

A total of 4,852,369 people in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 65,760 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 76,505,442 people have tested positive and 902,624 people have died.

> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

New York's COVID-19 hospital admissions falling

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Feb. 6.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Last week: 6,349

The week before that: 7,163

Four weeks ago: 13,464

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Last week: 135,738

The week before that: 164,532

Four weeks ago: 185,941

Hospitals in one state reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in four states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in two states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe County to distribute 500,000 pediatric KN95 masks
Austin-Travis County EMS

Authorities on Friday were warning motorists to be extra cautious on Austin-area roads after three people died in motorcycle crashes within nine hours of one another.

Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded to the latest fatal wreck at 3:17 a.m. Friday at the 2000 block of Interstate 35 North in Round Rock after reports of a crash in the northbound lanes.

Medics did not provide many details, but they did say an adult motorcyclist had died.

Later that morning, Austin-Travis County EMS crews had to take another motorcyclist to St. David's South Austin Medical Center after that person suffered critical injuries in a crash.

Medics say the wreck, which only involved the motorcycle, happened at about 11:33 a.m. in the 6000 block of East Stassney Lane near Teri Road in Southeast Austin.

On Thursday, medics responded to three other motorcycle crashes between 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

More: Cedar Park man sentenced to 2 years for trying to make Molotov cocktail during 2020 police protests

The first of the three was a single-motorcycle crash in the 1000 block of Ed Bluestein Boulevard in East Austin, according to medics.

EMS crews tried to save the motorcyclist, but the person died at the scene of the wreck.

The next fatal crash was in the 9600 block of Research Boulevard in Northwest Austin, where medics responded around 8:30 p.m., according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

That person also died at the scene of the crash, but medics did not specify if any other vehicles were involved.

Medics again were called to a Northwest Austin wreck at 9:32 p.m., but this time to the intersection of Anderson Mill Road and Centennial Trail.

That motorcyclist was taken to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center with potentially serious injuries after crashing with another vehicle.

The first motorcycle fatality of the week occurred Wednesday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

Medics responded at 10:38 a.m. Wednesday to the intersection of South MoPac Boulevard and William Cannon Drive in Southwest Austin.

Story continues

More: 18 Austin police officers could be charged from the George Floyd protests. Here's how we got here.

That motorcyclist also died at the scene of the crash, medics said. Another vehicle was also involved.

Authorities so far have reported at least five fatal motorcycle crashes in Austin this year, compared with a total of 11 during all of last year.

Even during the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally in 2021, an annual event that usually brings tens of thousands of bikers to the area, only one fatal motorcycle crash was reported in Austin. The next rally is scheduled for June, but it is moving to a new location in Bastrop County.

In 2021, Austin recorded its highest number of fatal vehicle wrecks since the city first started keeping count in 1985.

The crashes reported Thursday and Friday make up at least 10 fatal crashes so far this year in Austin, which is the same number of traffic deaths that had been recorded by the end of February in 2021.

Authorities on Friday reminded vehicle drivers and motorcyclists to pay attention to one another, making sure to obey speed limits and traffic lights.

Drivers should also allow motorcyclists just as much room ahead of them as they would a standard vehicle, in addition to checking blind spots for them before switching lanes, according to information provided by Austin-Travis County EMS.

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Friday said it will increase patrols throughout the day on Super Bowl Sunday.

"Troopers will be looking for drivers who violate the law, including those who are speeding, driving under the influence and people who are not wearing their seat belts," the DPS said in a statement.

The DPS urged drivers to:

 Not drink and drive.

 Buckle up everyone in the vehicle.

 Move over or slow down for police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated.

 Slow down, especially in heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.

 Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: After 3 motorcycle deaths in 9 hours on Austin roads, caution urged
Man who fought with deputies after car crash sentenced to more than six months in jail
FILE  In this photo taken Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, a body camera the Yakima Police Department was testing is photographed on Officer Mark Williams in Yakima, Wash.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan chaired the meeting of the management board of the North-South Road Corridor investment project on February 10 to discuss the launch of the tender for the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran section.

Speaking about the importance and expected results of the project, Deputy PM Matevosyan noted that the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran section is among the governments priorities.

The implementation of this project will enable to increase interest for transit through Armenian territory, to ensure the security of Armenias southern regions and to contribute to their economic development and improvement of the populations standard of living, he said.

According to the project, it is planned to build a Technical Class II, 60km long new road section (100km/h), including bridges with a total length of 4,7km and tunnels with a total length of 12,5km, the longest of which is the Bargushat tunnel  8,6km long.

As a result, the road distance between Sisian and Kajaran will be reduced by approximately 58km, and the current average 50km/h speed of travel for vehicles will be increased to around 100km/h, to reduce the driving time by approximately 1,5-2 hours and increase comfort and safety.

The project is included in the EU Economic and Investment Plan Guideline 2 and the Armenian government is effectively cooperating with the EU, the European Investment Bank and EBRD.
 family member became seriously ill last year. After some initial tests, a malignancy was diagnosed. Surgery was scheduled, followed by chemotherapy. Everything proceeded mostly as planned, with no medical hiccups. We are both well-educated, with backgrounds in medicine, health economics and risk analysis, which should have prepared us to maneuver the requirements of our health insurance provider and ensure that copays and pre-authorizations were handled as necessary.

We were gravely mistaken.

We chose the providers, surgeon and facility so that they were all in-network. The problem is that some of these facilities use radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists who choose to be out-of-network.

Why is this done? These specialists receive higher payments when they are out-of-network than if they become in-network, where the reimbursement rates are lower. This means that patients are then liable for any charges for such services, even though they have no choice of such providers.

In Illinois, a law protects patients from such circumstances. Insurance policies must have what is termed a facility-based provider benefit, which means that if a patient is cared for in an in-network hospital and out-of-network radiologists, pathologists or anesthesiologists provide services, these services are considered in-network, and mostly billed at the providers designated rates.

Even with the facility-based provider benefit, insurance companies may add rules and limitations on such coverage that they do not communicate. For example, they may require that the pathology be billed on the same date as the in-network procedures. So if a pathologist bills for their work one day after the care was provided at an in-network facility, the insurance company may deny the charge, effectively moving the pathologist to bill you directly.

Another example occurs when a pathologist must use a specified number of units for the tissue analysis, yet the insurance company places an arbitrary limit on how many units can be billed per day. If this limit is exceeded, the insurance company denies all charges rather than paying up to their arbitrary limit.

The other problem with these unwritten rules is that the patient is responsible for figuring them out and communicating them to physicians billing offices. Otherwise, billing offices assume that the charges are denied, without determining why, and bill the patient directly.

Effective in 2022, the No Surprise Act provides blanket protection against such billing practices nationwide, offering patients financial protections that move beyond facility-based provider benefits.

The lessons learned from my family members illness is that there are a triumvirate of players that are out of sync with each other.

First, there are the in-network medical providers who deliver care and want to be paid for their services. Second, there are the insurance companies who have a vested interest to provide the minimum payments for services and keep a veil of uncertainty around their rules and policies.

Finally, there are the patients who work to stay in-network, yet find themselves liable for legitimate charges that are coverable by their health insurance policy, but require finesse and communication to facilitate their payment.

The best one can say about health insurance is that it is great when you do not need to use it. But once a major medical event demands extensive and complicated care and services, patients become innocent bystanders, stuck between the medical care provided and the insurance company that should be paying for it.

What is the solution?

A system that creates a seamless network of providers covered by all insurance companies. Without such a simple set of transparent rules for insurance companies and providers, patients will continue to fall through the cracks, with uncovered medical expenses dropping to them.

Whether this means a single-payer system or multiple payers abiding by a uniform set of rules, changes are needed.

The current system is unsustainable. COVID-19 has further exposed the problems. Health care providers are overwhelmed by more patients than they have resources to treat.

My family members illness opened our eyes to the state of health care in our nation. Both patients and physicians deserve to be respected and treated fairly by the health insurance industry, so patients can receive the medical care they need and physicians can remain in charge of the medical care that they deliver.
To the editor -- I am a privileged white American woman and retired teacher who grew up in Ellensburg and have lived most of my adult life in Yakima. Looking back at my education in American history I realize how incomplete and inaccurate it was. Now that we are experiencing one of the biggest challenges our country as ever known, the possibility of the collapse of democracy, I am compelled to become as informed as I can through reading, listening to experts in various fields and fact-based commentators.

That brings me to one of the most significant books recently published, which came out in 2021 and evolved from The New York Times Magazines 1619 Project., an idea inspired by Nikole Hannah-Jones. She wrote the preface and first chapter of "The 1619 Project." Many writers contributed thoughtful and illuminating essays and poetry regarding the Black history of America.

While critics of this book challenge some of the statements, one cant deny that the thesis of the book that our country was built on slavery is true. This narrative helps us acknowledge the truth of its founding and move toward equality and justice for all. It is my hope that "The 1619 Project" will initiate a change in the curriculum in schools to include an accurate account of our history. Students should not be deprived of the truth and can handle it and become better informed citizens as a result. A statement by James Baldwin as quoted in "The 1619 Project" reminds us, Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.

BETTY VAN RYDER

Yakima
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. On February 10, 2022, the California State Senate passed ACR 105, a resolution backed by the ANCA-WR, that establishes a sister-state relationship between the State of California and the Province of Syunik of Armenia, the ANCA Western region said.

ACR 105 was first introduced by Assembly member Chris Holden and was passed by the CA Assembly on September 2, 2021. The resolution is jointly authored by Assembly member Adrin Nazarian and lists Assembly members Lisa Calderon, Vince Fong, Laura Friedman, Jesse Gabriel, Christina Garcia, Mike Gipson, Kevin Mullin, Luz M. Rivas, and Senators Bob Archuleta, Andreas Borgeas, Maria Elena Durazo, Robert Hertzberg, and Anthony Portantino as principal co-authors. Additionally, 62 CA legislators have been listed as co-authors.

The resolution declares Californias solidarity with Syunik, the southernmost province in Armenia, and will facilitate mutually beneficial educational, economic, and cultural exchanges. Armenia and the United States are strategic partners, bound by historical kinship and shared values of democracy, freedom, and prosperity, and the passage of this resolution reaffirms this fact.

Today, we are grateful to Assembly member Chris Holden for spearheading the effort in the State Assembly and to Senator Anthony Portantino for seeing it through in the State Senate by establishing a Sister State relationship between California and Syunik province of Armenia. At such a critical time when Syunik's sovereignty is at great risk under the grave threats posed by Azerbaijan and Turkey, this bold move by the State of California is a declaration of solidarity which in turn will strengthen the resolve of the people of Armenia to stand strong against the ongoing threats they face from belligerent and aggressive Azeri and Turkish actors in the region, remarked Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA-WR.

Strengthening the relationship with Syunik comes at a critical time as regional powers like Azerbaijan and Turkey pose a threat to its existence and livelihood. This resolution reaffirms Californias solidarity with Armenia and our 1-million-strong community of California- Armenians, said Assembly member Chris Holden. There is power in our solidarity and there is even more when we acknowledge the wrongs committed and urge for justice. We set precedent for the future with our action or inaction and today, we are creating long-lasting ties to thread forward a better tomorrow, he continued.

I am proud that the State Senate Passed ACR 105 this morning to formalize a sister state relationship with the Syunik region of Armenia, said CA Senator, Anthony Portantino. It is important that given the aggression on the border from the Turks and Azeris that California speaks out against that unprovoked horrendous violent actions against a peaceful people and shows that we stand in solidarity and our love are with the people of Syunik and the Armenian people both here in California and back in Armenia and Artsakh, he continued.
The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below.

You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here:

XpatLoop.com/newsletters/2022/10-february.html
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is evicting park rangers from government-owned houses in 23 state parks because it doesnt want to pay up to $1 million on repairs.

Critics say if park rangers no longer live in the parks they patrol, park users  more than 16 million people in 2020  will have to wait longer for help if theres a boat crash, medical emergency, power outage or a crime.

Its a slippery slope when you start depending on other agencies to cover your bases, said Dave Sunne, who was a ranger and lived in Backbone State Park, near Dundee, for 24 years. What do you do when the electricity goes out in the middle of the night and theres no heat in the cabins? You cant call the sheriffs department for that. It is disheartening.

Theres also the question of why the state does not want to invest in wildly popular state parks when there is a $1.24 billion general fund surplus, said Rep. Chuck Isenhart, D-Dubuque, who introduced House File 2255, which would allocate $20 million from the federal American Rescue Plan toward repairs and renovations of buildings in Iowas 71 state parks, forests and preserves. The bill, which sets aside $4 million for ranger houses, was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee.

Weve been living off the sacrifices of previous generations for a while now, and we havent been making investments in our infrastructure, Isenhart said. Knowing we had these surplus resources, the right thing for the governor to do would be to say its OK to give me recommendations on ways to catch up.

The Iowa DNR did an inventory of the 26 state park houses and determined it would cost $341,000 to get them up to code and another $556,000 for deferred maintenance, such as replacing windows, siding, roofs and heating and air conditioning systems. The agency estimates it would need another $100,000 a year for ongoing maintenance.

Some of the houses were constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, while others were there when the Iowa DNR acquired the parks.

The houses range in style and condition, but some of the maintenance issues noted by the agency include a pool that needs to be removed from the house at Viking Lake State Park, a mice problem at the house in Union Grove State Park, no insulation in the walls at the house at the Lake of Three Fires State Park and mold in the basement of the house at Green Valley State Park.

Lake Macbride State Park, near Solon, has two houses, one built in 1939 that needs $37,500 worth of work and another built in 1957 that needs $48,000 in repairs or updates.

Palisades-Kepler State Park, near Mount Vernon, has a house built in 1940 that needs $18,000 in repairs, the Iowa DNR reported.

A report the agency provided to The Gazette about its plan to ask park staff to move out of the parks says: There is no quantifiable customer service benefit from housing. DNR leadership engaged with staff throughout 2021 to reach this conclusion. Parks with and without housing are equivalently safe, supported, and maintained. Additionally, only one-third of Iowas state parks have housing. Maintenance is very expensive and competes with public amenities for funding. Therefore, DNR has decided to terminate housing.

The Iowa DNR says the change will not impact safety in the parks because staff will continue to work their regular shifts and be available for emergency response.

Whoever is on duty is the point of contact for an emergency, not whoever lives in the park or nearest to the park, the report states.

But Sue Cave, executive director for the State Police Officers Council, the union that represents park rangers and conservation officers, among other law enforcement officers, said forcing rangers to move out will reduce services to park users.

Their (rangers) function there is to be able to provide quick access to emergency response for anything that happens in the park as well as having a deterrent effect of having your house there, Cave said.

Some of these parks are out in the middle of nowhere, so your only other option is calling 911, Cave said. If the closest city is 30 minutes away, that may be where the park ranger lives or where the nearest sheriffs deputy is working.

Some of the states most popular parks, such as Macbride, swell to the size of a small city on summer weekends.

There can be fights, domestic abuse, drunken driving or presumed drownings, Sunne said. Park rangers are trained law enforcement officers who use many of the same tools  including firearms and body cameras  as police officers and sheriffs deputies.

Cave also is concerned some rangers may not be able to find affordable housing near their state park, forcing them to move even farther away.

The Iowa DNR first asked park staff to pay rent, but the union got a tax opinion that they were exempt, Cave said. Agency leaders then notified rangers and other staff they would have to move out. The agency said free and mandatory housing for park staff is no longer the norm.

Wisconsin has housing in some state parks used by rangers and park managers, Brian Hefty, Parks and Recreation deputy bureau director, said Monday. Its parks agency charges rent to staff who live in these houses, which is used to maintain the properties.

In South Dakota, conservation officers, which include park rangers, are required to live within 10 miles of their duty station, said Nick Harrington, communications manager for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Some live in state parks, others do not. The officer for Custer State Park, for example, lives in a privately owned house in the park.

Because there is a shortage of housing in much of South Dakota, the state helps pay for housing for some state park staff, he said.
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India confirmed that it has commenced the export of Volkswagen T-Cross from the country. The export units are destined to go to Mexico from Mumbai.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is the first of the range of vehicles built on the MQB-A0-IN platform which will be exported from India, the company said in a statement. The first batch of 1,232 Volkswagen T-Cross units are being shipped .

"The export of the Volkswagen T-Cross is a momentous event in the Group's endeavor to engineer cars in India to be driven by the world! Developing India as an export hub for the VW Group globally is an integral part of our India strategy," Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL) Chairman Christian Cahn von Seelen noted.

Also read: Kids fulfil 83-year-old father's dream, gifts him brand new Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The cars manufactured at the company's facilities in India embody the same quality standards as the automaker adheres to globally, he added. "The Volkswagen T-Cross built for the world on the MQB A0-IN platform exemplifies the excellence we pursue in all aspects of production, from technology and quality to design and performance," Seelen said.

In addition to scripting growth in the domestic market, the flexible MQB-A0-IN platform will play a crucial role in expanding the company's global export footprint, he added. "With this export milestone, we further strengthen our commitment to offering next-generation vehicles to and from India," Seelen stated.

SAVWIPL started its export program in 2011 with 6,256 units of the India-built Volkswagen Vento for the South African market. Since then, the company's export market has continued to grow incrementally to build the Group's Made in India presence in 61 countries across South America, Central America, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, GCC countries, and the Caribbean region.

The Group has exported over 5,45,653 cars until December 2021. Mexico is the largest export market for SAVWIPL followed by South Africa and Central American countries (Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina) and ASEAN countries.

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The government of the UK have now eased the Covid-19 travel restrictions. Vaccinated travellers will be able to enter the UK without having to take any coronavirus tests after the government lifted one of the last restrictions established in response to COVID-19 over the past two years.

British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved coronavirus vaccine only need to fill out a passenger locator form before travelling to the UK. Unvaccinated people still have to take tests before and after arriving but no longer need to self-isolate until they get a negative result.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, "The UK now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world. Sending a clear message that we are open for business." Airlines and other travel firms hailed the change as a lifeline after two years of severely constricted travel.

Also read: Airfare bands are implemented to protect airlines and passengers interest: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Andrew Flintham, managing director of travel group Tui UK, said " there was huge pent-up demand for international travel, and people were rushing to book getaways for the February school break and April's Easter holiday."

Gatwick, London's second-busiest airport, said that "it plans next month to reopen the second of its two terminals, shuttered since June 2020." British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle urged other countries to follow Britain's pragmatic approach.

But some scientists worry the government is moving too fast. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government lifted most domestic rules last month.

Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor spaces in England, vaccine passports for gaining entry to nightclubs and large-scale events were scrapped, as was the official advice to work from home.

Other parts of the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also lifted most restrictions.

Johnson announced this week that he hopes to lift the final restriction, mandatory self-isolation for people who test positive, by the end of February as part of a plan to live long-term with COVID-19.

Officials have said the government plans to switch from legal restrictions to advisory measures and treat the coronavirus more like the flu as it becomes endemic in the country.

Scientists expressed surprise at Johnson's announcement. Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at Kings College London, said it, "was more a political type of statement rather than a scientific one."

"There is some rationale to this and other countries are doing things similarly, but it's clearly a race for the government to say that Britain is first, Britain is the first to come out of this, Britain has conquered omicron, our booster program is world-beating etc," he told Times Radio.

The re-opening came as statistics showed the UK economy grew by a bigger-than-expected 7.5% in 2021, despite an omicron-driven slowdown at the end of the year.

The re-imposition of some restrictions in response to the highly transmissible variant brought a 0.2% contraction in December.

The Office for National Statistics said the growth follows a 9.4% contraction in 2020 as the pandemic shut down big chunks of the economy. The UK economy is now back to the size it was in February 2020, just before the new coronavirus swept the UK.

Britain has Europe's highest coronavirus toll after Russia, with more than 159,000 officially recorded deaths. The country has seen a drop in both new infections and COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals since the peak of the omicron spike in early January.

Officials have credited the government's booster jab program with preventing the surge in omicron cases from causing serious stress to UK hospitals. In Britain, 84.6% of people 12 and up have had two doses of a vaccine and almost two-thirds have had a third, booster shot.

With inputs from PTI

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Movie: Gehraiyaan

Director: Shakun Batra

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa with Naseeruddin Shah and Rajat Kapoor in supporting roles.

OTT release: Amazon Prime Original

Stars: 3/5

Human relationships are complex, and one film might not be enough to untangle the mystery behind it. However, kudos to director Shakun Batra for attempting to delve deeper and try pulling it offshore.

Gehraiyaan tells the story of 4 individuals - Alisha (Deepika Padukone), Zain (Siddhant Chaturvedi), Tia (Ananya Panday) and Karan (Dhairya Karwa). Al aka Alisha, a yoga instructor is troubled - leads her life with the baggage of her past, start-up plan to launch an app, struggles to meet her ends. Karan, her writer boyfriend of 6 years is trying hard to get his book published.

The high waves of expectations in their relationship often wreak havoc, and that we see as the screenplay moves forward.

Cut to Tia, Al's first cousin and a well-off US-returned suave lucky girl. She has had the best of everything, or so it seems. Tia invites Al and Karan, who basically are childhood friends, to a short trip and introduces them to her fiance Zain - the guy, who is flamboyant, impressive and yes flirtatious too. He has risen to a level and is rearing to go ahead - is ambitious and wants to earn big.

Eyes meet, sparks fly, and eventually, bodies meet too. After a little harmless flirting here and there, texting and little secrets kept from respective partners - it boils down to infidelity.

But director Shakun Batra's Gehraiyaan is more than just a story about infidelity. He has tried to touch upon it and slowly move onto a bigger picture of strained relations and how psychologically the mind works.

The narrative tries to dig deeper, with roaring waves symbolising tumultuous inner thoughts - we get to see a closer picture of how troubled a human being can be without appearing from the surface level.

The background track, cinematography - both play a pivotal part in making Gehraiyaan stand out from the crowd. The story of these 4 individuals goes through many ups and downs - much like the high tides but we are not giving away any spoiler.

We see Gully Boy's Siddhant Chaturvedi in a new light as Zain but there's much more to him. Despite him trying hard, the chemistry between Zain and Alisha didn't look deep enough - maybe it's the screen time of 2 hours 30 mins which kind of cut it short or was it deliberate for that kind of love? We might never know.

Deepika as Al is impressive, strong and shines in this complex web of lies, love and dark secrets. She emotes and we relate. Ananya too is a perfect cast for Tia's character. She looks convincing and does justice to her part.

Full marks to the costume and styling team for making everyone look so classy and trendy.

It's Naseeruddin Shah, who has the least screen time yet with his power acting lifts the film to another level. His scenes with Alisha are electric and deep - that's where you actually feel Gehraiyaan more than anywhere else.

Also, Rajat Kapur as Zain's business partner fits the bill and after a long time, we get to see him in his element.

Dhairya Karwa is like the guy-next-door, someone you probably know of as a friend. He is there and adds some light moments to the screenplay but his character is not backed with strong writing.

Director Shakun Batra is clearly inspired - Hollywood and South Korean style of filming and presentation can be felt but it comes as a breather. However, the pace sometimes distracts and its ungratifying climax makes it a curious case of writing.

Watch Gehraiyaan to explore human relations from a third-person perspective - a window into 'their' lives unravelling secrets, lies and lingering moments of love.
Hyderabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who visited `Statue of Equality` here on Thursday, said that it is his belief that the statue will propagate ideals and values of 11th-century Bhakti Saint Swami Ramanujacharya in future, while addressing a gathering near the temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the statue on February 6 as part of the 12-day Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Samaroham, the ongoing 1,000th birth anniversary celebrations of the saint.

Rajnath Singh said, "I see this grand and colossal statue of Swami Ramanujacharya, the Statue of Equality, as his reincarnation. It is my belief that in future, through this statue, his teachings, ideals and values will be propagated for ages and ages," adding "It is a matter of great pride for me, that in the millennium year celebrations of the incarnation of one of the great personalities of human history, Swami Ramanujacharya ji, I have got the opportunity to be present amongst all of you great personalities."

Addressing a gathering after praying at the temple, the Defence Minister said the culture of our country has been full of diversity from the very beginning due to caste system in our society, adding that Ramanujacharya was the first saint to give the message of equality by removing caste inequality from Hinduism.

He said, "The saint freed religion and Hindu saint tradition from the clutches of caste," and termed Swami Ramanujacharya a great `setupurush`.

He further said that the saint balanced variations in the society then, adding "After Aadi Shankara, the Mahatma who had the greatest impact on Sanatan Dharma was Ramanujacharya. Acharya Shankar, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya were three such personalities who gave a consolidated basis to Hindu spiritual life."

The minister said, "Thousand years ago, Ramanujacharyaji broke the inequality by waving the flag of equality. He opened the Vaishnava sect to all castes. He opened doors of religion, devotion and worship for untouchables and backward castes also," adding "We wish to be free from caste today and take a pledge to break castes and make a harmonious India".

He said, "Imagine a thousand years ago Ramanujacharya proclaimed equality in devotion while living within the periphery of the then social order," adding "that is why Ramanujacharya is relevant even today."Even today there is inequality in the society."

Rajnath Singh further said, "We see the solution related to the challenges being faced by government and society these days in the teachings of Ramanujacharya ji," adding "The principle of equality which we adopted 72 years ago in our constitution, Ramanujacharya started that voice a thousand years ago. He gave a liberal humanistic social base to the Vaishnava community."

Saint Ramanujacharya, who revived the Bhakti Movement and was revered as a Vedic philosopher, was responsible for opening temple doors to all people 1,000 years ago, even to those marginalized and discriminated against in society.

Considered to be one of the timeless icons of equality and social reformists around the world, Ramanujacharya's teachings are known to have inspired ancient poets like Annamacharya, Bhakt Ramdas, Thyagaraja, Kabir, and Meerabai.

Saint Ramanujacharya, who was born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu to mother Kanthimathi and father Asuri Kesava Somayaji, is known for his regard for all human and being against practices that differentiated between people.

(With ANI Inputs)

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to give an urgent hearing on the plea that challenges the interim order of Karnataka High Court where the HC has asked students not to insist on wearing any religious cloth on campuses of educational institutions which can instigate people, till the matter is resolved. The Supreme Court has said it will take up the matter at an appropriate time, reported ANI.

The Supreme Court has said that it is watching what is happening in Karnataka and in the hearing before the High Court. Supreme Court has also asked lawyers to not make it a national-level issue and it will interfere at an appropriate time.

Earlier, an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the direction of the Karnataka High Court in the ongoing Hijab row. The plea filed by a student sought a stay on the direction of the high court, which is hearing the hijab issue, as well as the proceedings going on before the three-judge bench. The appeal contended that the high court has sought to curtail the fundamental right of Muslim student women by not allowing them to wear the hijab. The high court has posted the matter for Monday and also said educational institutions can resume classes for students.

The three-judge full bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J M Khazi, and Justice Krishna S Dixit, which was formed on Wednesday, also said it wants the matter to be resolved at the earliest but till that time peace and tranquillity is to be maintained.

"Till the disposal of the matter, you people should not insist on wearing all these religious things," Awasthi had said. "We will pass an order. Let the schools-colleges start. But till the matter is resolved, no student should insist on wearing a religious dress", he had said.

On Wednesday, Justice Dixit, who was hearing the case, referred the case to Justice Awasthi's consideration with a view that a larger bench may look into the case. The Hijab row started in December end when a few students started coming to a government pre-university college in Udupi wearing Hijab. To protest against it, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves. The row spread to other educational institutions in different parts of the State, and the protests took a violent turn at some places earlier this week, prompting the government on Tuesday to declare three days holiday for the institutions.

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New Delhi: In what marks the second tragic accident of an electric bus over the course of one month, six people were injured in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur when a speeding bus hit several cars and two-wheelers on Friday. No death was reported, PTI reported quoting the police.

The bus was carrying dozens of passengers and was on its way towards the Tatmil crossing from the Baradevi crossing when the accident took place as its driver lost control over the vehicle, the police said.

In a similar accident involving another electric bus on January 30, six people were killed and as many injured in the Rail Bazar area when its driver rammed the vehicle into auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, cars and traffic booth.

Though no life was lost in Friday's accident, six people sustained serious injuries.

The injured were admitted to the nearest hospital, from where one of them was shifted to the Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) hospital in critical condition, the police said.

Bus driver Athar Singh Katheria of Narwhal, Kanpur, and helper Arvind Kumar Kurmi of Rai Bareli has been nabbed, they said.

With tempers running high after yet another electric bus accident, Divisional Commissioner Raj Shekhar, Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena and District Magistrate (DM) Neha Sharma rushed to the spot and persuaded enraged people not to take the law into their hands.

Senior officials announced the suspension of electric bus services for the next three days.

Additional DM Atul Kumar and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Raveena Tyagi have been asked to conduct an inquiry and get a technical inspection of all-electric buses done and submit the findings at the earliest, said a communique issued by the Kanpur Police Commissionerate.

(With PTI inputs)

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Kashmir: One police personnel lost his life while 4 were injured after terrorists hurled grenades on a joint party of police and CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora.

The cop who lost his life was injured critically along while 4 others were injured in the attack. Police said the terrorists attacked joint Police party of police and CRPF near Nishat Park main town Bandipora in this afternoon.

Security forces have laid a cordon and launched a massive hunt for attackers.

(Further details awaited)

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. US President Joe Biden has called on all American citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action, BBC reports.

Mr Biden said he would not send troops to rescue Americans if a military clash happens.

He warned that "things could go crazy quickly" in the region.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Europe faced its biggest security crisis in decades amid the tensions.

The US State Department urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately.

American citizens should leave now, Mr Biden told NBC News.

We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.
New Delhi: India`s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has suggested that the centuries-old tradition of Greek origin, the Hippocratic oath be replaced with `Charak Shapath` during the graduation ceremony of doctors in medical colleges starting from February 14.

There is mixed reaction over this decision by representatives of various medical colleges. According to Dr. MC Misra, Former Director of AIIMS, "I would go for Charak Shapath and should be followed by all. AIIMS also follows Charak Shapath."

The Minutes of NMC discussion with all Medical colleges of India has mentioned, "No Hippocratic Oath, during white coat ceremony (with parents), the oath will be "Maharshi Charak Shapath".

Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) spoke to ANI and said, "IMA will be holding a meeting on February 19-20 on this as it will create a controversy amongst doctors."

Executive Committee Member of Dental Council of India said that Charak Shapath will reflect our old ancient culture.

"Hippocratic oath being replaced by Charak Shapath will reflect our old ancient culture. But Charak was Aurvedacharaya whereas, in terms of modern medicine, we follow allopathy which reflects predominantly English culture. In my view, Hippocratic oath and Charak Shapath both should be practiced....during white coat ceremony," said Dr. Anil Kumar Chandna, Executive member DCI to ANI.

Another senior resident doctor at AIIMS highlighted that Charak Shapath is very similar to the Hippocratic Oath in terms of basic medical ethics.

"Charak Shapath is very similar to Hippocratic oath in terms of basic medical ethics. Both are a way to introduce newly joined medical students to medical ethics. The Hippocratic oath is can be considered as a concise version, while Charak Shapath is a detailed version," said Dr. Amit Malviya, a senior resident doctor at AIIMS.

"Ultimately it`s the work and dedication towards the patients which is going to matter," added Dr. Manish, President, Federation of Resident Doctors` Association (FORDA).

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New Delhi: The Hijab controversy that first began from Karnataka is now spreading like wildfire in many other parts of the country. Many schools in other states - from Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh - are now facing students coming up with similar demands where they are asking adminitration to allow wearing hijab inside the classrooms.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Sachin Arora makes an analysis as to whether these protests are an attempt to impose a Madrassa system in the country.

So far, demands to wear hijabs have been raised in schools in Karnataka, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh, with latest protests being witnessed in Rajasthan.

In India, there are more than 1 lakh functional Madarsas (Islamic schools) - where the students are allowed to study wearing Burqa and hijab and students are allowed to pray between the classes.

However, it seems that people of a particular ideology wish to implement the same system in the schools that were so far free from religious extremism.

In a video, that emerged from Rajasthan's Jaipur, a 21-year-old student was seen trying to enter her school in hijab. The school administration later said that the school has a dress code and no one has ever raised an objection to it. The female students here were witnessing school without a burqa or hijab before the Karnataka controvery broke out.

The Hindu students of the same school have shown their opposition to girls wearing hijab, and the matter has even reached court. It is unfortunate that even in the schools, where the uniform dress code is in place, some student are trying to violate it for their demands to wear hijab.

A similar incident was witnessed in Maharshtra'a Malegaon - where thousands of girl students protested wearing the hijab.

However, the larger question that arises out of the situation is - what will happen to the future of 25 crore students who study in around 15 lakh educational institutions.

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New Delhi: The Executive Council (EC) of the Delhi University (DU) will meet on Friday to discuss the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) formulated in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) for its 2022-23 academic session.

The UGCF was passed at an Academic Council (AC) meeting of the university on Wednesday, with 11 members dissenting against its implementation.

Sources said the UGCF is likely to be passed in the EC as well.

Eleven members gave a dissent note against the framework, saying the UGCF 2022 must be sent for a discussion to all statutory bodies such as the committees of courses, staff councils and faculties, before taking it to the AC.

The university has approved the implementation of the NEP and the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) from 2022-23.

Noting that the fixing of the academic year 2022-23 as the year of implementation of NEP 2020 is "baseless", the dissenting members said the scheme is "so faulty" that in a year's time, this is the fourth model of the FYUP placed by the university for discussions.

They said the UGCF does not follow the framework as stipulated by the draft National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) on which the University Grants Commission (UGC) is seeking feedback.

The note advised the university to compile the concerns raised in the statutory bodies on NEP recommendations, including on the UGCF, and send it to the UGC as feedback on the NHEQF.

"The current batch of Class 12 students had enough of instability in terms of their crucial years getting affected by the (COVID-19) pandemic. It will not be fair to force rushed exercises of CUCET and FYUP on them. For once, the University of Delhi should be spared from these experiments," it said.

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New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar will be on an official visit to Australia and Philippines from February 10 to February 15. The EAM will participate in the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting on February 11 in Melbourne, along with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States.

The EAM would also be on a bilateral visit to the Philippines from 13-15 February. The visit is expected to give further momentum to bilateral relations with our key partners in the Indo-Pacific, Australia, and the Philippines, which is also a leading member of the ASEAN, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

On the invitation of his Australian counterpart Marise Payne, the External Affairs Minister will be visiting Australia on 10-13 February. This will be Jaishankar's first visit as External Affairs Minister to Australia. It would be the first high-level visit to Australia after the opening of its borders which were closed following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, informed the Ministry of External Affairs.

It will be an opportunity for the Ministers to follow up on their virtual meeting held in February 2021 and will exchange views on regional strategic issues given their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The Ministers will review ongoing Quad cooperation and build on the positive and constructive agenda announced by the leaders at the two Summits in 2021, to address contemporary challenges such as the COVID pandemic, supply chains, critical technologies, climate change, infrastructure etc, said the ministry statement.

The EAM and the Australian Foreign Minister will co-chair the 12th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue on February 12. The Ministers will review the progress of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss bilateral, multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

On the same day, EAM will co-chair the inaugural Foreign Ministers' Cyber Framework Dialogue (FMCFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. The Ministers will assess the progress made towards implementation of the India-Australia Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation and the subsidiary Plan of Action which they signed in June 2020 on the sidelines of the Virtual Leaders' Summit held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Jaishankar is also likely to meet with Australian political leaders, academics and businessmen, as well as the Indian diaspora and students.

Jaishankar would also be on a bilateral visit to the Philippines from 13-15 February. He will hold talks with his counterpart, Teodoro L. Locsin Jr, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. This will be his first visit to the Philippines as External Affairs Minister.

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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday (February 10, 2022) attached over Rs 1.77 crore worth bank deposits of journalist Rana Ayyub in connection with a money-laundering probe against her linked to alleged irregularities in charitable funds raised from public donors.

The agency yesterday issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach a Rs 50 lakh worth fixed deposit and the rest amount kept as bank deposits and held in two accounts of a private bank in Navi Mumbai.

The federal investigation agency also revealed that Ayyub is the account holder and deposits totalling Rs 1,77,27,704 have been attached by the ED.

Journalist Rana Ayyub found herself in the center of the money laundering case after cognisance of a September 2021 FIR of Ghaziabad Police (Uttar Pradesh) related to alleged irregularities in donor funds of over Rs 2.69 crore raised by her through an online crowdfunding platform called 'Ketto'.

The police lodged the case on a complaint made by Vikas Sankrityayan, founder of an NGO called "Hindu IT Cell" and a resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad.

Ayyub had then stated that the "entire donation received through Ketto is accounted for and not a single paisa has been misused".

As per the FIR, the funds in question were raised as part of three campaigns: funds for slum dwellers and farmers during April-May 2020; relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra during June-September 2020; and help for Covid-19 impacted people in India during May-June 2021.

"Funds totalling Rs 2,69,44,680 were raised on Ketto by Rana Ayyub. These funds were withdrawn in the bank accounts of her sister and father," the agency said.

Out of this amount, Rs 72,01,786 was withdrawn in her own bank account, Rs 37,15,072 was withdrawn in her sister Iffat Shaikh's account, and Rs 1,60,27,822 was withdrawn in her father Mohd Ayyub Waquif's bank account, it said.

The federal investigation agency found that all these funds were subsequently "transferred" in Ayyub's own account.

Ayyub submitted documents of expense for Rs 31,16,770 to the ED, however, after verification of the claimed expenses, the agency found that the actual expenses were to the tune of Rs 17,66,970, the agency stated.

"Fake bills were found to have been prepared by Rana Ayyub in the name of some entities to claim expenses on relief work. Expenses made for personal travel by air were claimed as expense for relief work," it alleged.

The ED said its probe "makes it abundantly clear that the funds were raised in the name of charity in a completely pre-planned and systematic manner, and the funds were not utilised completely for the purpose of which the funds were raised".

"Instead of utilising the funds for the relief work, Rana Ayyub parked some of the funds by opening a separate current bank account," it said.

Ayyub, it added, created the fixed deposit of Rs 50 lakh from the funds raised on the online platform and subsequently "did not utilise" these for relief work.

The agency found Ayyub "deposited a total of Rs 74.50 lakh in PM Cares fund and CM Relief Fund."

The attachment order of the ED can be challenged before the Adjudicating Authority of PMLA.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The February 10 interim order of Karnataka High Court to restrain students from wearing hijab or any religious attire till the matter is pending with the court has been challenged in the Supreme Court, reported ANI. The petitioner, a student, said the interim order has put the choice of conscience of individuals, particularly that of Muslim women students, into question. The career and fate of Muslim women are in limbo, their fundamental right curtailed, the petitioner claimed, as reported by LiveLaw. The plea has sought a stay on the direction of the high court, which is hearing the hijab issue, as well as the proceedings going on before the three-judge bench.

On Thursday (February 10), a three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court, hearing pleas on the hijab row, directed the state government to reopen schools in the state while insisting that no student should insist on wearing any religious dress till the matter is disposed of.

In its interim order, the Karnataka High Court said, "Students should not wear any cloth, whether Hijab or Saffron scarves, which can instigate people, till the matter is resolved." The High Court said that "peace & tranquillity must be restored" and adjourned the matter for hearing on Monday.

The interim order was given by a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit, and Justice Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin. "We want to make an interim order on the matter of hijab row. We will hear the matter every day," the Chief Justice stated.

As the bench began hearing the matter, the Chief Justice told Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi to open schools in the state. "Closure of schools is not a good development. Take necessary action and conduct classes. See to it that no problem surfaces," he said. Amid tensions and even violence over the matter, the state government had on Tuesday announced a three-day holiday for all schools and colleges in the state from Wednesday.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka that led to the closure of high schools and colleges, the state government announced that schools up to class 10 will resume from February 14 while the 11th to degree colleges classes and colleges will remain closed till February 16.

The decision comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister said that the call on the re-opening of higher classes will be announced later after further deliberations.

Earlier on Tuesday, the CM had ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days in view of the ongoing protests pertaining to the ongoing hijab controversy

Talking to reporters, Bommai also referred to the three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court, which while hearing pleas on the hijab row directed the state government to reopen schools, adding that students should not insist on wearing any religious dress till the matter is resolved.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High court hearing the Hijab issue on Thursday asked students not to insist on wearing any cloth on campuses of educational institutions which can instigate people, till the matter is resolved.

The matter has been postponed by the court till Monday and the court has advised the state to resume classes but keep a check that no incident of violence erupts in the institutes.

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.

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New Delhi: A day after polling for assembly elections in five states began with the first phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (February 11, 2022) addressed a physical election rally in Uttarakhand's Almora.

During the rally, PM Modi said that the public is determined to make BJP win these polls. After 1st phase of polling in UP elections y'day, it's clear that BJP will win with record numbers. More than us, the public is determined make BJP win these polls. Voters never leave the side of those who've good intentions, said PM Modi during the rally in Almora.

This decade belongs to Uttarakhand, don't let this opportunity pass. Recently, projects worth Rs 17,000 crores were inaugurated in the state. The Char Dham all-weather road will benefit Tanakpur-Pithoragarh section, the prime minister said.

This decade belongs to Uttarakhand, don't let this opportunity pass. Recently, projects worth Rs 17,000 crores were inaugurated in the state. The Char Dham all-weather road will benefit Tanakpur-Pithoragarh section: PM Modi addressing a public rally in Almora, Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/W3X0VNphx4  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2022

I recognise the power, good intentions, sincerity of people of Uttarakhand. In this Union Budget, we've proposed 'Parvatmala Scheme' to build ropeways for hilly areas. We'll build modern roadways & transport infrastructure in the state, PM Modi added.

PM Modi promised the people of Uttarakhand that if elected to power Pushkar Singh Dhami-led BJP government will further develop the tourism sector in the state. He further emphasized that development of the state is among the top priorities of double engine government.

After 10th March, Dhami Ji's government will work aggressively to further develop tourism sector in Uttarakhand. You (public) have to decide whether you want in power those who promote 'Paryatan' (tourism) or 'Palayan' (migration), said PM Modi.

After 10th March, Dhami Ji's government will work aggressively to further develop tourism sector in Uttarakhand. You (public) have to decide whether you want in power those who promote 'Paryatan' (tourism) or 'Palayan' (migration): PM Modi in Almora pic.twitter.com/O3KInIO3GT  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2022

The prime minister also stated that the Manaskhand tourism circuit will be developed in Uttarakhand's Kumaon region on priority over the next 5 years.

While addressing the public rally, PM Modi also took a dig at Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He said, "See what has become of Congress...only the brother-sister duo is campaigning. Don't they have any other leaders left in the party? Today, their own leaders do not want to be with the party. Then, how can they give anything to you?."

Uttarakhand is scheduled for polls on February 14. The counting of votes will be announced on March 10.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (February 11, 2022) will address the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit through a video message.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the high-level segment of the summit will also be addressed by several other heads of states and governments including Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Canada.

The prime minister will address the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit at around 2:30 pm on Friday through a video message, the statement said.

The One Ocean summit is being organised by France from 9-11 February in Brest in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank.

The objective of the summit is to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.

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New Delhi: Ahead of the Quad foreign ministers meeting in Melbourne, Australian high commissioner Barry O'Farrell to India has said that the meeting is a "return to normal, pre-pandemic in-person diplomacy."

Speaking exclusively to Zee Medias diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Envoy Barry called the "Incredibly important meeting" a demonstration of "4 countries talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order within our region.

On Friday, the Foreign ministers of India, Australia, the US-Japan met in Melbourne for an in-person meeting coming after a gap of over one year. The last such offline meeting was held in Japan in 2020.

In Delhi, Indian and Australian Trade Ministers announced that an Interim FTA will be finalised in a month's time.

Meanwhile, on the possibility of India, Australia, France Trilateral in Paris, the envoy said that the 3 countries have, "never lost sight" of "our commitment to the Indo pacific".

Ties between Australia, France had nosedived after the Aukus pact between Washington, London and Canberra, a fallout that was seen in other trilateral.

Herer are experts from Zee Medias interaction with Australian high commissioner Barry O'Farrell

How do you see the Quad meet that happened in your country, in terms of its significance?

This incredibly important meeting demonstrated so by the in-person presence of foreign ministers of 4 countries talking about the need to maintain a rules-based order within our region, said O'Farrell.

That fits nicely with what we doing in Delhi. Both Indian and Australian governments are trying to prioritise growth to make counting strong at a time of geopolitical uncertainty

China has hit out at Quad, what do you have to say about that?

The great thing about this thing is Quad countries continue to do what they do, practical things impacting people's lives in the Indo Pacific, from climate change to health to secure supply chains to build the economies. What we doing in Delhi today is in line with what Quad wants, which is a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo Pacific, rules-based system, said O'Farrell.

It has been decided that Interim FTA will come into being in a month's time, how do u see conversations going?

The progress is surely being made however, our PM will issue a statement once he gets a report on this, said Barry O'Farrell adding that his country desire to maximize the opportunity within both countries to assist each other to grow economies, to create jobs, to give people better-living standards and deliver free open secure and prosperous Indo Pacific.

Tourism MoU was also signed, how will it help in increasing tourism?

The MoU will make it incredibly easy for Indians to come to Australia from February 21 when our borders are completely open. Better than that, both countries have no cost visas currently.

But this is just a return to what was happening pre-pandemic when we saw strong tourism between India and Australia, not just Indians coming to Australia but Australians coming to India to see some great sites in this incredible country.

Can we see more high-level visits between the 2 sides?

What we have seen with the Quad meeting today is a return to normal, the normal of in-person meetings. We have seen trade negotiators from Australia this week, our trade minister meeting face to face with your minister. We will see ministers going to Australia in a couple of months. This will be returned to normal, said Barry O'Farrell:

Your FM going to France, an important visit. Will we see India, France and Australia trilateral, given Aukus somewhat might turn the wheel back?

One thing that France, Australia, India have never lost sight of is our commitment to the Indo Pacific, the commitment to secure Indo Pacific, its security and its environmental protection. Fact that my FM is going to Paris later this month is a great thing, but will trilateral happen is up to Indian EAM and French FM as well

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan received today Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Oleg Khramov, who arrived in Yerevan to attend the Armenian-Russian inter-agency consultations on information security, the Office of Armen Grigoryan told Armenpress.

At the beginning of the meeting, Armen Grigoryan highlighted the effectiveness of the ongoing activities of the Armenian-Russian inter-agency consultations. In this context the sides highly valued the level of partnership between the Offices of the Security Councils of Armenia and Russia.

Touching upon the issues of bilateral interest, the officials emphasized the necessity of continuing the cooperation in the field of information security.

The sides also discussed the steps to be taken in the future and the implementation of the inter-agency agreements.
Unnao: Two months after a 22-year-old Dalit woman went missing from here, her decomposed body was recovered from a vacant plot near an ashram constructed by a former minister in the Samajwadi Party government Fateh Bahadur Singh, police said on Friday.

Rajol Singh, the main accused in the case, is the son of Fateh Bahadur. The post-mortem proceedings are underway, they said.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav said his party has got nothing to do with the accused and he is not associated with the organisation. He also questioned the delay in police action.

On the other hand, the ruling BJP assured of leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the victim's family gets justice and the guilty are punished.

"Samajwadi Party has got nothing to do with the person who is the accused in the case. Police and administration should take strictest of action against him. The person who was associated with the Samajwadi party (the father of the accused) had died four years ago and his son is not even a member of the party," Yadav said.

Questioning the delay in police action, Yadav asked, "What was the police waiting for? Was the police sleeping till now?"

The SP tweeted: "Again a heinous crime has been committed against a daughter of Unnao under the BJP rule. CM is responsible for the murder of the Dalit daughter. The killer has nothing to do with the SP. Condolences to the bereaved family."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, however, charged the SP chief of protecting the SP leader's son and assured that the victim's family will get justice.

"Akhilesh Yadav ji, the dead body of a Dalit daughter has been found in the SP leader's field. When the daughter's mother was pleading in front of your car, you did not listen to her. Will you forgive every heinous crime of SP leaders, (we) will not leave any stone unturned to ensure justice and the guilty will be punished after proper investigation," Maurya said in a tweet in Hindi.

According to Unnao's Additional Superintendent of Police Shashi Shekhar Singh,"We interrogated the accused Rajol Singh after taking him on remand following which the SOG team recovered the woman's body on Thursday. The body was buried in the plot near the ashram. We used local intelligence and mobile surveillance to identify the spot where the body was buried."

He said the matter appears to be of an illicit relation gone wrong. The investigation is being done and whoever else is found involved in the incident will also be arrested soon, he added.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati also targeted the SP and demanded that the state government must immediately take strict legal action against the culprits to ensure justice for the victim's family.

"Recovery of the body of a Dalit woman in the SP leader's field in Unnao district is a very sad and serious matter. The family members were already suspecting the SP leader of being involved in the abduction and murder. The state government should immediately take strict legal action against the culprits to get justice for the victim's family," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

Right after the woman went missing on December 8, the mother alleged that her daughter had been kidnapped by former minister's son Rajol Singh and had sought action against him.

On January 24, the victim's mother also attempted self-immolation in front of her vehicle of Yadav in Lucknow alleging laxity by the police to find out the whereabouts of her daughter. Police had arrested Rajol Singh on the same day.

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Noida: Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar were two districts with the lowest voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh that concluded on Thursday, with Noida seat having just 50.1 per cent electors at polls, according to officials. The state's average voter turnout was recorded at 60.17 per cent, while the average in Ghaziabad stood at 54.77 per cent and in Gautam Buddh Nagar at 56.73 per cent, the Election Commission said.

There are five assembly seats in Ghaziabad, which has around 29 lakh registered voters. The district also has the partial assembly seat of Dhaulana, which technically falls in Hapur district. Of them, the voter turnout was highest in Modinagar (67.25 per cent) followed by Loni (60.5 per cent), Muradnagar (60.2 per cent), Ghaziabad (54.2 per cent) and Sahibabad (50.3 per cent), official figures showed.

In 2017, Modinagar had 64.75 per cent voter turnout followed by Loni (60.1 per cent), Muradnagar (60.4 per cent), Ghaziabad (53.2 per cent) and Sahibabad (49.2 per cent).

Gautam Buddh Nagar, which has more than 16 lakh registered voters across the district, has three assembly seats of Noida, Dadri and Jewar.

Jewar, predominantly a rural area, topped the district with 66.6 per cent voter turnout followed by Dadri (59.7 per cent) and Noida (50.1 per cent), the EC figures showed. In 2017, Jewar had recorded 65.4 per cent voter turnout followed by Dadri (60.1 per cent) and Noida (48.5 per cent), according to corresponding official figures.

Overall 91 candidates were in fray from the eight assembly seats in the two districts of Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

The elections were held in 58 assembly constituencies spanning 11 districts in western part of the state on Thursday, with over 2.28 crore registered voters, of which only 60.17 per cent turned up at poll booths, according to the EC.

In percentage of voter turnout, Agra recorded 60.33 per cent polling, Aligarh (60.49), Baghpat (61.35), Bulandshahr (60.52), Hapur (60.50), Mathura (63.28), Meerut (60.91), Muzaffarnagar (65.34) and Shamli (69.42), it showed.

Earlier, Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Suhas L Yathiraj had urged voters to go out and vote "like our lives and the world depend on it, because they do".

The second phase of the seven-phase UP Assembly elections will take place on February 14.

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New Delhi: Sharpening attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (February 11, 2022) said that while the BJP government works with the motto of `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas`, the Opposition parties believe in the principle of `divide everyone, loot together`.

Addressing a Vijay Sankalp Sabha` at "Simkeni Maidan" in Almora, PM Modi asserted that the voters always support parties who have good intentions to carry on the developmental works and welfare of the people.

"After first phase of polling in the Uttar Pradesh elections yesterday, it`s clear that the BJP will win with record mandate. More than us, people in this election are determined to make the BJP win the polls. Voters never leave those who have good intentions," he said.

Prime Minister further slammed the previous government for ignoring border villages, tehsils, districts of Uttarakhand.

ALSO READ | More than us, public is determined make BJP win these polls: PM Narendra Modi in Almora rally

"In the earlier governments, the border villages, tehsils, districts of Uttarakhand were ignored. The BJP government has made a plan for the development of the border area. For these border areas, we have made a `Vibrant Village` scheme," he said.

He said that this decade belongs to Uttarakhand and urged people to not let the opportunity slip by. "This decade belongs to Uttarakhand; don`t let this opportunity pass. Recently, projects worth Rs 17,000 crores were inaugurated in the state," he added.

He said that Uttarakhand now has moved ahead on the path of development. "The state is getting a new identity. The manifesto issued by the BJP is also full of the new energy of development," he added.

PM Modi said that the Char Dham all-weather road will benefit the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh section.

"Our government is working with the motto, `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas`. But the formula of those who oppose us is - `Divide everyone, loot together`! The policy of the Congress in the whole country has been divide and loot together," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister said that the Union Budget the government has proposed `Parvatmala Scheme` to build ropeways for hilly areas.

"I recognise the power, good intentions, sincerity of people of Uttarakhand. In this Union Budget, we have proposed `Parvatmala Scheme` to build ropeways for hilly areas. We`ll build modern roadways and transport infrastructure in the state," he said.

Prime Minister said that Opposition also tried to create a rift between Kumaon and Garhwal but the double engine government tried to do double work for both the places because for the BJP Uttarakhand is a `Devbhoomi`.

PM Modi assured development in the tourism sector if the BJP is voted to power again in Uttarakhand.

"After March 10, Dhami Ji`s government will work aggressively to further develop the tourism sector in Uttarakhand. You (public) have to decide whether you want in power those who promote `Paryatan` (tourism) or `Palayan` (migration)," he added.

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Palakkad (Kerala): Young trekker R Babu, who was trapped in the face of a mountain cleft and was rescued by the Indian Army through a breathtaking operation recently, said on Friday that trekking was his passion and he was sure that someone would come to rescue him from the steep gorge. "I was not afraid. The cleft was like a tiny cave. When it was too cold and too hot outside, I used to crawl into the gorge and came outside whenever I heard anyone calling my name," he told reporters here.

The 23-year-old youth was discharged from the district hospital here this morning as the doctors certified that his health condition was stable. However, they advised him to take rest at least for one week. When asked whether he realised that his rescue was breaking news in channels, the trekker said he was not aware of it but he was sure that someone would come to lift him to safety. "The mobile phone lost its charge by the evening. Before that, I managed to click some selfies and sent them to my friends to inform them that I was stranded there. I also tried to convey the message to the Fire and Rescue personnel," he detailed.

Babu said besides the severe climate, the lack of food and water was also an issue as he developed difficulties with time running out. On the failed mission of airlifting him from the cleft initially, the youth said it was not possible as its rotors would hit the rock. Stating that he would like to continue his passion for travelling and trekking, Babu also said his present priority was to take proper rest and have good food.

After being trapped in a cleft on a mountain face in Malampuzha area of Palakkad district in Kerala for nearly two days, rescue teams of the Army were able to reach Babu, provide him food and water and then haul him to safety on Wednesday morning.

A specialist mountaineering team of the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) rescued him from the cleft. The Army deployed two teams consisting of qualified mountaineers and rock climbing experts from Parachute Regimental Centre, Bangalore and Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington.

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Babu, along with two others, had on Monday decided to climb to the top of Cherad hill in Kerala, but the other two abandoned the effort halfway. However, Babu continued to climb to the hilltop, and after reaching there, slipped and fell and got trapped between rocks on the mountain face.
Kolkata: The BJP has urged the State Election Commission to countermand elections to three municipalities in West Bengal which the ruling Trinamool Congress won without any contest. The TMC was declared winner in Sainthia and Budge Budge municipalities on Wednesday, and in Dinhata on Thursday. Elections to 108 municipalities in the state are scheduled to be held on February 27.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday told reporters after meeting senior SEC officials that the BJP wants the polls to the three civic bodies be countermanded due to "intimidation and threat to BJP candidates, and acts of physically preventing them from filing nomination papers".

"We have told SEC Sourav Das and commission secretary N Shandilya that what happened in the three civic bodies was nothing short of mockery of democracy. If the ruling party can hold up the municipal elections for about two years, why can't elections be deferred in these three civic bodies by another six months?" he said.

Adhikari said the BJP will launch an agitation if the demand was not met. The BJP leader also demanded the deployment of central armed paramilitary forces in elections to four municipal corporations of Bidhannagar, Siliguri, Chandernagore and Asansol on February 12.

"The MHA will despatch consignments of central forces in a 24-hour notice. Let the SEC being an autonomous body take a decision to ensure free and fair polls. Let the central forces be also deployed in the February 27 polls in 108 municipalities," he said.

The TMC won 13 of the 16 wards of Sainthia municipality, 12 of the 20 wards in Budge Budge, and 13 of the 16 wards in Sainthia uncontested.

Reacting to Adhikari's demand, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Who is Suvendu Adhikari to ask for countermanding the municipal polls? Does he expect the SEC to dance to his tunes?"

Dinhata's TMC MLA Udayan Guha denied the BJP allegations. "It is the BJP which had unleashed a reign of terror in Coochbehar during the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections. But now people are turning against them. The BJP is not finding people to contest in Dinhata, and the Congress and CPI(M) have long been decimated," he said.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit through a video message today (February 11, 2022) at around 2:30 pm.

The summit will be addressed by various other Heads of State and Governments from countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Canada among others.

The summit is being organised in France from February 9 to 11. The three-day summit is focused on efforts to improve governance of the high seas and coordination of international scientific research, said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Poivre dArvor, Frances ambassador for the north and south poles and marine issues, while talking to the British daily The Guardian, said This initiative is about raising international ambition and getting concrete, measurable commitments to tangible action.

Here are some of the facts about One Ocean Summit:

- The One Ocean summit is being organised by France from 9-11 February in Brest in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank.

- The objective of the summit is to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.

- The United Nations has declared the decade between 2021 and 2030 as the 'Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development' to raise awareness and restore declining marine life.

- The summit is the first major event taking place in the first year of the decade dedicated to the ocean.

- Over thirty events, organised to engage with the global maritime community, will take place after the high-level segment.

According to a statement issued by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the One Ocean Summit will be held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the United Nations.

The goal of the One Ocean Summit is to raise the collective level of ambition of the international community on marine issues and to translate our shared responsibility to the ocean into tangible commitments, it added.

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NEW DELHI: Bollywood power couple Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar are all set to tie the knot this month. While the couple is yet to formally announce the news of them getting married, fans are curious to get their hands on every update that has been taking place around the event.

A few days back, Farhan's father and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar had confirmed the reports of his marriage to Shibani. In an exclusive interview to Bombay Times, Javed confirmed the reports of their wedding, saying "Yes, the wedding is taking place. The rest of the preparations for the wedding that is being taken care of by the wedding planners. It will be a very simple affair," he told BT. As per reports, Farhan is all set to marry Shibani on February 21, 2022.

And now, the actor-director mother Honey Irani also expressed her excitement for his son tying the knot. Talking to ETimes about Shibani, Honey Irani said, "Shibani is lovely, pleasant and gorgeous; she is madly in love with Farhan. Farhan too is madly in love with her. I just hope they make and keep each other happy." She revealed that the couple disclosed their plans to get married at a dinner outing some time back.

She also said that they as parents are not the interfering types and would have approved of whatever they wanted. The most important thing is that they are both very happy. I just hope they have a wonderful life; it's really nice to see they are tying the knot now. They were very serious about each other. she added.

Farhan is the son of Javed Akhtar and his first wife and screenplay writer Honey Irani. Farhan was earlier married to hairstylist Adhuna Bhabani. Together, they share two daughters - Shakya (21) and Akira (14).

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MUMBAI: Ranbir Kapoor fans have been waiting to see the actor back in action after the 2018 film 'Sanju', and it looks like the wait is finally over as one of his highly-anticipated movies 'Shamshera' is set to release soon.

The upcoming period action-drama stars Ranbir, Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, is slated to hit theatres on July 22, 2022. A teaser of the Yash Raj Films production was released on Friday, announcing the period drama's release date.

Vaani, who was recently seen in the hit film 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', took to her Instagram handle and announced, "The adventure is about to begin. Excited to be a part of this journey! Celebrate #Shamshera with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you on 22nd July.

The shooting of the film wrappd in January 2020. However after COVID pandemic struck the country, the post-production work was stopped. The production resumed in August 2020 and filming was completed. The film will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

The 1.05 minute-long teaser was unveiled on YRF's YouTube channel, features the three actors sitting in the centre of a dimly-lit space surrounded by weapons. Sanjay says in Hindi, "This story is of the one who said slavery of anyone is not good, neither of others nor of the people close to us."

Vaani continues, "This story is of the one who earned a dream about freedom in his father's legacy. "Viewers then get a glimpse of Ranbir, who says, "But nobody gives you freedom. You have to win it. Karam se dakait, dharam se azaad Shamshera."

While there is no official confirmation about the plot details, previous reports have claimed that it's a new take on the dacoits of pre-Independence India. The upcoming film, helmed by Karan Malhotra, is said to be a dacoit drama set in the 19th century. It will chronicle the story of a dacoit tribe fighting for their right and independence from the British.

In September 2021, the look of Ranbir from 'Shamshera' was unveiled. His character appeared grim, intense and he had a mark on his forehead. Sanjay will be seen as an antagonist, while Vaani plays a desirable and sought-after travelling performer, 'Mrignayni' from the Indian heartland.

Apart from 'Shamshera', Ranbir will also be seen in 'Animal', 'Brahmastra' and Luv Ranjan's yet-to-titled movie. Meanwhile, Sanjay will feature in 'KGF: Chapter 2' and 'Prithviraj'.

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MUMBAI: On Friday, actor Sidharth Malhotra treated his fans with his pictures in a scenic field. Alongside the images, he dropped a motivational caption.

"Own your morning, own your day, own your life," Sidharth wrote, adding the hashtags #beawesome, #behumble, and #bekind. In one of the images, Sidharth can be seen flexing his muscles against the backdrop of green fields. However, it's Vicky Kaushal's comment that caught more attention than Sidharth's poses.

Unleashing his Punjabi side, Vicky Kaushal commented, "Baajre da sitta." For the unversed, 'Bajre da sitta' is also the title of a popular Punjabi folk song.

Vicky's comment has garnered several likes and comments.

A section of social media users even expressed their desire to see two 'Punjabi mundes' Vicky and Sidharth together in some film soon.

Meanwhile, Vicky has recently wrapped up Laxman Utekar's film. On the other hand, Sidharth is currently shooting for 'Yodha'.
New Delhi: Airtel internet services are now back after it suffered a brief disruption. The company has said that it deeply regrets the inconvenience it may have caused the users.

Airtel tweeted:

Our internet services had a brief disruption and we deeply regret the inconvenience this may have caused you. Everything is back as normal now, as our teams keep working to deliver a seamless experience to our customers.  airtel India (@airtelindia) February 11, 2022

On Internet outage detector platform Downdetector, the map showed widespread outages across the country, including Metros, that started around 11 a.m.

While 50 per cent users reported facing total blackout, 34 per cent had problems with mobile Internet and 16 per cent had no signal, according to Downdetector.

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel's consolidated net profit fell 2.8 per cent during Q3FY22 to Rs 830 crore on a year-on-year basis, the company announced this week. In the same quarter of the previous fiscal, the consolidated net profit of the company stood at Rs 854 crore. On the other hand, the total revenues during Q3FY22 grew 12.6 per cent to Rs 29,867 crore, as against Rs 26,518 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

According to a monthly telecom subscribers report released by the telecom regulator Trai last month, Bharti Airtel's wired broadband subscriber base has grown by about 70 per cent to 4.08 million in November 2021 from 2.41 million in September 2019 and at a similar growth pace it is expected to overtake BSNL soon.

Jio now leads the fixed-line broadband segment with 4.34 million customers. It has toppled 20 -year-old state-run telecom company BSNL as top service provider in the fixed-line broadband services. BSNL's customer base declined to 4.2 million in November from 4.72 million in October. Bharti Airtel fixed line broadband customer base stood at 4.08 million in November.

The broadband subscribers in the country grew to 801.6 million in November from 798.95 million in October with Reliance Jio maintaining its lead in the segment, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) subscribers report.

Reliance Jio's total broadband subscriber base stood at 432.96 million in November. It was followed by Bharti Airtel with 210.10 million broadband customers, VIL 122.40 million, BSNL 23.62 million and Atria Convergence broadband customer base stood at 1.98 million.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

The total production at Azerbaijan's Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) block of fields amounted to 167 million barrels in 2021, BP Azerbaijan has said.

Last year, the total production on the block of fields amounted to 458,000 barrels per day. Of this, the Chirag field accounted for 27,000 b/d, Central Azeri for 109,000 b/d, West Azeri for 116,000 b/d, East Azeri for 76,000 b/d, Deepwater Gunashli for 86,000 b/d and West Chirag for 44,000 b/d.

On September 18, 2021, the ACG field reached 4 billion barrels of total oil production since the start of its operations.

At the end of 2021, 135 wells were producing oil, while 29 wells were used for water and eight for gas injection. In addition, ACG completed 10 oil producer and four water injector wells.

As part of the ACG annual work programme, two planned maintenance programmes (turnaround - TAR) were successfully implemented on the ACG platforms in 2021  on West Azeri in the second quarter and on Chirag in the third quarter.

During the reported period, ACG delivered 3 billion cubic meters, or an average of 9 million cubic meters per day of ACG-associated gas to SOCAR, primarily at the Sangachal Terminal, and to SOCARs Oil Rocks facility. The remaining associated gas produced was re-injected for reservoir pressure maintenance.

The company spent about $533 million in operating expenditure and about $1.6 billion in capital expenditure on the ACG activities.

Moreover, in 2021, the Shah Deniz field produced around 23 billion cubic meters of gas and more than 4 million tonnes of condensate.

The existing Shah Deniz facilities production capacity is currently about 72 million standard cubic meters of gas per day.

It was noted that during the reported period, the Shah Deniz field continued to provide deliveries of gas to markets in Azerbaijan (to Azerkontrakt), Georgia (to GOGC), Turkey (to BOTAS), and to BTC Company in multiple locations.

More than $2 billion were spent in operating expenditure and around $680 million in capital expenditure, the majority of which was associated with the Shah Deniz 2 project.

The East South flank started up safely in the second quarter of 2021 and later in the year the flank reached its full production rates. As a result, in July 2021, the daily production rates of the Shah Deniz Bravo platform reached the Shah Deniz Alpha rates for the first time.

The Shah Deniz 2 project also started up production from the 5th well on the North flank. This marked the first in-fill well tie-in to a live subsea operating manifold in the Caspian.

It should be noted that last year, Shah Deniz celebrates its 25th anniversary since the signing of the Shah Deniz Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

BP opened its first office in Baku in June 1992 and has since then contributed to Azerbaijans oil and gas sector through operating projects such as Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG), Shah Deniz, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP).

The contract for the development of the ACG oil fields was signed on September 20, 1994, and entered force in December. The contract for the development of the ACG block was extended to 2050 in September 2017.

The shareholders in the ACG project are BP (operator, 30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31 percent).

The contract on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field was signed in 1996. Shareholders of Shah Deniz project are: BP (operator, 28.8 percent), TPAO (19 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), PETRONAS (15.5 percent), LUKOIL (10 percent) and NICO (10 percent).
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Science funding in Armenia grew 83% in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2021, government funding for science was 13,7 billion drams, but in 2022 it reached 25,1 billion.

Today, the science sector in Armenia is more attractive than two years ago, the Deputy Chairman of the Science Committee of Armenia Artur Movsisyan said at a press conference. Along with funding increase, the number of scientific grant tenders also increased, therefore the participation of scientific groups has become more active. The funding for procurement of equipment used for scientific projects also increased, meaning the opportunities have increased and interest for science grew.

Further progress will be ensured, however in the long-term perspective the objective is to ensure the kind of environment and development that would make science have its contribution to economic development.

The Science Committee plans to implement a number of themed projects in several directions. Opportunities will be created for Armenian scientists to travel abroad and train in the best scientific organizations.

The next project envisages support to a scientific group formed in Armenia whose team leader will be from abroad. The team leader must put specific scientific objectives before the group, select specialists through a competition, monitor the work and work in Armenia for several months during the year.

The next project is the repopulation grant, which envisages work with ethnic Armenian or foreign scientists abroad who want to live and work in Armenia, create scientific groups and laboratories.

At this moment I find it difficult to say what specific criteria will be used to select the scientists, but I can confirm that the branch of science will be significant. The projects must be aimed at strengthening the directions of science which are either nonexistent or weak in Armenia, for example jurisprudence, political science, economics and others, he said.

He said the sector has serious staffing problems because over the years the number of scientists dropped. The average age of scientists is high, while the number of young scientists entering the sphere is low. This is why the government is taking measures to involve specialists.
Melbourne: Climate change, COVID and China`s "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific will top the agenda when foreign ministers of the Quad  an informal grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States  convene in Melbourne on Friday, but the discussions will also expand into an escalating crisis between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Australia this week as Washington grapples with a dangerous standoff with Moscow, which has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraines border and stoked Western fears of an invasion. Russia denies it has such plans.

The Biden administration wants to show the world that its long-term strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blinken-with-pacific-trip-aim... and that a major foreign policy crisis in one part of the world does not distract it from key priorities.

Speaking at the start of her bilateral meeting with Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on top of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, climate change and COVID related issues, the two top diplomats will also be discussing China, North Korea and Ukraine.

"More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK, China as well and they will be part of our discussions today. We strongly support U.S. leadership on these challenges," she said. "We are going to talk today, I`m sure, about the threats to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine as well," she added.

Britain said the "most dangerous moment" in the West`s standoff with Moscow appeared imminent, as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea following the buildup of its forces near Ukraine.

On Thursday, Blinken said Washington was working "24/7" on the Ukraine crisis but reaffirmed U.S. focus on the Indo-Pacific  a region he said would be instrumental in shaping much of 21st century. "It`s important that we be present, that we be engaged, that we be leading across this region," he said.

Both Blinken and Payne said a key element of the Quad discussion will focus on establishing a regional environment free from "coercion", a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing`s expansive economic and military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad`s cooperation on the region`s COVID response was "most critical", Payne told parliament, with cyber and maritime security, infrastructure, climate action and disaster relief - especially after the recent Tonga volcanic eruption - also in focus.

Speaking to reporters on the plane en route to Melbourne, Blinken described the Quad as a "powerful mechanism" to deliver vaccines worldwide as well as to push back against "aggression and coercion" in the Indo-Pacific, without naming China.

The ministers will work furthering those goals but are unlikely to announce new pledges, leaving that until a May summit of Quad leaders in Japan that President Joe Biden plans to attend.

Blinken`s trip comes days after China and Russia declared last week a "no limits" strategic partnership, their most detailed and assertive statement to work together - and against the United States - to build a new international order based on their own interpretations of human rights and democracy.

US-Chinese ties are at their lowest point in decades as the world`s top two economies disagree on issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea and China`s treatment of ethnic Muslims.

Biden told Asian leaders in October the United States would launch talks on a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But few details have emerged and his administration has been reluctant to offer the increased market access Asian countries desire, seeing this as threatening American jobs.

Critics say the lack of US economic engagement is a major weakness in Biden`s approach to the region, where China remains to be the top trading partner for many of the Indo-Pacific nations.

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Washington: Amid tensions between Moscow and Kiev, US President Joe Biden on Thursday (February 10, 2022) warned Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, saying that sending US troops for an evacuation would mean "world war".

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said during an interview with NBC News. "It`s not like we`re dealing with a terrorist organization. We`re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It`s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly," Biden said, according to an ANI report.

In an interview, Biden was asked what scenario would require US troops to enter Ukraine to evacuate Americans, to which he responded, "There`s not. That`s a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another."

Meanwhile, a new advisory has been issued by the US State Department urging Americans in Ukraine to leave the country at the earliest possibility, strengthening earlier warnings that urged its citizens to "consider" such action.

"Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and Covid-19; those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action. Some areas have increased risk," the advisory said on Thursday (local time).

On January 23, the State Department authorized the evacuation of US diplomats` family members and of direct-hire employees. The State Department also recommended that US citizens who were present in Ukraine should consider departing right away due to the unpredictable security situation.

Meanwhile, the first group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Poland on February 5 following Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby`s announcement about 1,700 additional troops from the United States to be sent to the country, Polish media reported.

Earlier, Kirby said that the US will temporarily deploy additional forces to Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia. The deployment includes 1,700 soldiers to be sent to Poland and 1,000 US personnel based in Germany will be relocated to Romania and another 8,500 troops will "remain ready to move if called for the NATO response force," Kirby had said.

(With ANI inputs)

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy met with the MPs of Hayastan faction to discuss a number of issues, to hear their concerns about recent judicial and political developments, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Twitter micro blog of the Embassy.

It is noted that Tracy underlined the US support for Armenia's democratic path.
YEREVAN, 11 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan is on a working trip to the Republic of France for the first time. The agenda in Paris began with a visit to the Esplanade of Armenia, where the High Commissioner and the Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France Hasmik Tolmajian laid flowers at the Komitas Monument, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the High Commissioners Office.

The Esplanade of Armenia is located in the heart of Paris between the Pont de lAlma and the Pont des Invalides on a spacious territory adjacent to the Seine River. The space also includes the monument to Vardapet Komitas, opened back in 2004, and Yerevan Park opened in 2009.

Afterwards, the High Commissioner visited the residence of the French Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and toured the church. He met with the head of the diocese, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, and representatives of the deputy assembly of the Armenian Diocese of France. The head of the Diocese noted that they have 27 churches now. "The church is a mission, not a building," the spiritual leader emphasized. He presented the Dioceses activities, active work with youth and the holding of the annual Armenian festival to the High Commissioner.

Armenian schools in France are in high demand, but they also have various problems. During his visit to Arnouvilles Hrant Dink primary school, the High Commissioner learned about issues related to teaching Eastern and Western Armenian and the lack of teachers. Accompanied by Armenian Ambassador to France Hasmik Tolmajian, the High Commissioner toured the school and met with the teaching staff and spoke with students. Now, there are about 85 students in the school. Zareh Sinanyan also had a remote conversation with the head teacher of the school, Garabed Dakessian.

The High Commissioner held meetings with a number of French officials, expressing gratitude for Frances friendship and brotherhood. During the meeting with Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, Chair of the Armenia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group in the French Senate, and members of the group, they discussed France-Armenia relations, the active involvement of Armenians in various spheres of France and the continued deepening of relations between the friendly peoples. The High Commissioner expressed gratitude to Senate members for their pro-Armenian activities and emphasized the importance of adopting a resolution on the need to recognize the independence of Artsakh.

The High Commissioner then met with Arnouville Mayor Pascal Doll. Appreciating the Mayor's concern for local Armenians and their love for Armenia and Artsakh, the High Commissioner invited Pascal Doll to Armenia. Arnouville signed a memorandum of cooperation with Yerevans Nubarashen administrative district. There is also a memorandum signed with the community of Shekher in Artsakh, which is now under the occupation of Azerbaijan.

High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with the Mayor of Raincy, Jean-Michel Genestier, and the two discussed further developing ties with the city. They particularly noted the importance of Dprotsaser School. "The city is doing everything to keep Dprotsaser alive, so that students can fully utilize the citys infrastructure," the Mayor said.

"I am sure that the Armenians living in Raincy are good citizens of France, and this is representative of their character. They are well-integrated, but maintain their love for the homeland. I want to express my gratitude for your work and hope that one day you will visit Armenia," the High Commissioner said.

High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan took part in an economic forum organized by the Armenian Movement organization. He presented on the Offices ongoing activities and the economic opportunities in Armenia, also responding to questions from entrepreneurs.

During the forum, the speakers introduced the main areas of investment in Armenia along with the advantages, as well as other issues related to Armenia-France economic cooperation.

The forum ended on a positive note, where the entrepreneurs agreed to assess the needs of the Armenian market.
On February 7-10, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan was on a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Artsakh MFA stated.

February 11, 2022, 10:45 Artsakh FM pays first working visit to Brussels after 2020 War

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Within the framework of the visit, the Minister met with members of the Artsakh Friendship Group in the European Parliament representing all the political forces of the European Parliament. Meetings were also held with representatives of European structures, Belgian political and public circles, as well as the Armenian community in Belgium and the Armenian Apostolic Church.



Issues related to the situation in the region, possible developments, prospects for the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict, the development process of Artsakh, and various manifestations of anti-Armenian policy by Azerbaijan were discussed during the meetings.



David Babayan stressed that the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh with the participation of Turkey and international terrorist groups was a challenge to the entire civilized world, which is fraught with unpredictable consequences, including for European and other countries. The Minister highly appreciated the role of the peacekeeping mission of the Russian Federation in the region as a key component of maintaining peace and stability.



Minister Babayan noted the important role of pan-Armenian structures in the process of strengthening and deepening relations with the Diaspora, expressing gratitude to the Hay Dat and its structures for many years of consistent work.



The Foreign Minister also had a meeting with students of different universities and delivered a lecture for them. He presented the history of Artsakh, the process of its state-building, the prospects of foreign policy and the chronology of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict, the realities on the ground and possible developments.



On behalf of the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, David Babayan laid a wreath at the khachkar-monument in Brussels commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
At around 5:50am on Friday, shots were fired in the direction of the monitored houses from the Azerbaijani positions located near Karmir Shuka and Taghavard villages of the Martuni region of Artsakh.

February 11, 2022, 11:38 Artsakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijan fired on Karmir Shuka and Taghavard villages

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artsakh Republic Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan wrote about this on Facebook:

Given the distance between the settlements and the Azerbaijani positions, and the fact that the residential part of the village is directly observed from the Azerbaijani positions, it is undeniable that the Azerbaijani side has directly targeted the houses of the residents as a result of which residential houses, mainly walls, roofs, have been damaged.

The window of a house of Karmir Shuka resident was smashed during the same operations which are aimed at threatening civilians, and the bullet penetrated into the living room of the house, he said.

I reaffirm the claim that the criminal acts of Azerbaijan are of regular and systematic nature, aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear in Artsakh.

Azerbaijan will continue its criminal attempts directed against the people of Artsakh until the international community unanimously condemns the blatant Azerbaijani illegalities directed against humanity,"he said.
A confrontation with China is not inevitable, but the United States, together with its allies, must defend a rule-based system that threatens Chinese aggression, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, news.am informs, citing AP.

February 11, 2022, 16:36 Blinken says confrontation with China is not inevitable

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Asked whether a confrontation with China is inevitable in the Pacific region, Blinken noted that nothing is inevitable.

Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border, Blinken said in Canberra, Australia.

Were in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics, Blinken added.

Blinken's visit is intended to support American interests in Asia and to counter China's growing stubbornness in the region. He will also visit Fiji and the Hawaiian Islands to discuss urgent issues related to North Korea with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.
* Quad joint statement alludes to China's regional expansion

* Blinken in Australia to reaffirm US focus on Indo-Pacific

* COVID, climate, cyber, maritime security in Quad's focus

* Quad group includes United States, Australia, Japan, India (Updates with joint statement)

By Humeyra Pamuk and Kirsty Needham

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The United States, Australia, Japan and India pledged on Friday to deepen cooperation to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free from "coercion", a thinly veiled swipe at China's economic and military expansion.

Foreign ministers of the so-called Quad group, meeting in the Australian city of Melbourne, also promised to increase cooperation on COVID-19, cyber threats and counter-terrorism.

In a joint statement, they vowed to work on humanitarian relief, disaster assistance and the delivery of infrastructure to the region, and condemned North Korea's "destabilising ballistic missile launches" in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

They said their informal Quad grouping was determined to deepen engagement with regional partners, and increase their capacity to combat unregulated and illegal fishing.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels onwards to Fiji on Saturday to meet with Pacific island leaders to whom fishing and climate change are likely to be priority issues.

"We agreed to boost maritime security support for Indo Pacific partners to strengthen their maritime domain awareness and ability to develop their offshore resources, to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to combat challenges such as illegal fishing," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said after the meeting.

The Quad partners "oppose coercive economic policies" that run counter to the World Trade Organization system, "and will work collectively to foster global economic resilience against such actions", the statement said, a reference to China's recent trade boycotts of Australia and Lithuania.

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Blinken arrived in Australia this week as Washington grapples with a dangerous standoff with Moscow, which has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraines border and stoked Western fears of an invasion https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-denies-putin-promised-not-hold-manoeuvres-near-ukraine-2022-02-08. Russia denies it has such plans.

The Biden administration wants to show the world its long-term strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blinken-with-pacific-trip-aims-reaffirm-us-focus-asia-2022-02-07 and that a major foreign policy crisis in one part of the world does not distract it from key priorities.

Asked by reporters on Friday whether confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific was inevitable, Blinken replied that "nothing is inevitable".

"Having said that, I think we share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region," he said.

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

Payne said earlier on Friday the Quad's cooperation on the region's COVID response was "most critical", with cyber and maritime security, infrastructure, climate action and disaster relief - especially after the recent Tonga volcanic eruption - also in focus.

The Quad nations have begun holding annual naval exercises across the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate interoperability, and the United States itself conducts freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea.

Blinken's trip comes after China and Russia declared last week a "no limits" strategic partnership https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-china-tell-nato-stop-expansion-moscow-backs-beijing-taiwan-2022-02-04, their most detailed and assertive statement to work together - and against the United States - to build a new international order based on their own interpretations of human rights and democracy.

U.S.-Chinese relations are at their lowest point in decades with the world's top two economies disagreeing on issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea and China's treatment of ethnic Muslims.

Biden told Asian leaders in October that the United States would launch talks on a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But few details have emerged and his administration has been reluctant to offer the increased market access Asian countries desire, seeing this as threatening American jobs.

Critics say the lack of U.S. economic engagement is a major weakness in Biden's approach to the region, where China remains the top trading partner for many of the Indo-Pacific nations. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Kirsty Needham; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Diane Craft and Mark Heinrich)
Hexagon Composites ASA

Hexagon Purus, a world leading manufacturer of zero emission mobility solutions, has signed a long-term binding letter of intent (LOI) with Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S. Inc. Hexagon Purus will provide battery packs for multiple Hino truck platforms with serial production planned from 2024. The total sales value over the life of the agreement is estimated at USD 1 billion (approx. NOK 9 billion).

Already a development partner in Hinos Project Z Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) program ( Hexagon Purus Nov. 6, 2020 ), Hexagon Purus will continue the development phase of the project in 2022, with customer demonstrations in 2023 and serial production scheduled for 2024. Serial production will cover multiple platforms, including Hinos Class 6, 7 and 8 commercial trucks.

This agreement comes in addition to the already announced (31 January 2022) nomination of Hexagon Purus by a major commercial truck OEM for the supply of battery packs. For Hexagon Purus, these two agreements represent an estimated value of between approximately USD 1.8 billion and 2.2 billion (approximately NOK 16 billion and NOK 19 billion).





Driving Energy Transformation

We are committed to a very aggressive road map for achieving CO2 emissions reductions. Project Zs focus is on providing sustainable next generation commercial mobility that delivers a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions in commercial trucks. This includes shifting to electrification with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)," said Glenn Ellis  Senior VP of Customer Experience. In Project Z, Hexagon Purus is a like-minded partner that has worked side-by-side with Team Hino to deliver a sustainable, low-cost product line-up that meets the needs of our customers as our industry moves forward to zero emission vehicles.

Commercial trucks use the most fuel and produce the most emissions in the transport sector, accounting for more than 40% of all road freight emissions. The mass adoption of zero emission battery (BEV) and fuel cell (FCEV) electric trucks among fleets will be key to decarbonizing the sector, says Todd Sloan, EVP Systems, Hexagon Purus. Hinos move to serial production will accelerate the green shift in commercial transportation, and Hexagon Purus is proud to be a part of this transition.

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The agreement includes aftermarket support and service provided by Hexagon Purus.

Initial production will be out of Hexagon Purus new facility in Kelowna, Canada, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in Q3 2022.





Contacts

Mathias Meidell, Investor Relations Director, Hexagon Purus

Telephone: +47 909 82 242 | mathias.meidell@hexagonpurus.com

Karen Romer, SVP Communications, Hexagon Composites

Telephone: +47 950 74 950 | karen.romer@hexagongroup.com

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This stock exchange announcement was published by David Bandele, CFO at Hexagon Composites ASA, on 11 February, 2022 at 07:30 CET.





About Hino

Hino Trucks manufactures, sells, and services a lineup of Class 4-8 commercial trucks in the United States. Hino Trucks is the premier heavy and medium duty nameplate in the United States with a product lineup that offers fully connected vehicles with low total cost of ownership, unmatched reliability and maneuverability and the most comprehensive bundle of standard features in the market. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Hino has a network of over 240 dealers nationwide committed to achieving excellence in the ultimate ownership experience.

Learn more about Hino Trucks at http://www.hino.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.





About Hexagon Purus

Hexagon Purus, a Hexagon Composites company, is a world leading provider of hydrogen Type 4 high-pressure cylinders, battery packs and vehicle systems integration for fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles. Hexagon Purus enables zero emission solutions for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, ground storage, distribution, maritime, rail and aerospace.

Learn more at www.hexagonpurus.com, and follow @HexagonPurus on Twitter and LinkedIn.




Russias foreign minister claimed speaking to British foreign secretary Liz Truss is like the deaf talking to the blind as talks over the Ukraine crisis stalled in Moscow.

Sergei Lavrov said he was disappointed with the lack of progress in the negotiations as Ms Truss urged Russia to de-escalate amid growing fears it could invade Ukraine.

Ms Truss trip to Moscow was the first such visit by a foreign secretary in more than four years. It came as the UK government seeks a path of diplomacy to help defuse tensions on the Ukrainian border.

But Mr Lavrovs insulting remarks are a sign that diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis appear to be proving fruitless.

The latest estimates suggest Moscow has 130,000 troops massed in the border region and in neighbouring Belarus, close to the strength some analysts believe would be needed to mount a full-scale invasion.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Mr Lavrov claimed the UK continued to be dismissive of Russias security concerns.

Im rather disappointed that it was a bit like talking to a deaf person, he said. Its like theyre listening to us but not hearing.

Mr Lavrov claimed that UK-Russia relations had plunged to their lowest point in many years, saying Ms Truss was following the Wests playbook. He denied suggestions that Russia would invade Ukraine.

But Ms Truss responded: I cant see any other reason for 100,000 troops stationed on the Ukrainian border apart from threatening Ukraine, and if Russia is serious about diplomacy, they need to move those troops and desist from the threats.

"Fundamentally a war in Ukraine will be disastrous for the Russian and Ukrainian people for European security."

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, praised Ms Truss for standing up to her Russian counterpart tweeting: While were trying to bring peace and stability, Russia is playing games. Good to see a@trussliza standing up to Lavrov.

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The talks came as Boris Johnson warned that Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to bully eastern Europe.

The prime minister said further military support could be offered to Ukraine if Russia invades as he carried out engagements at Nato headquarters in Brussels and alongside his Polish counterpart in Warsaw.

But Mr Johnson made clear that Britain could not intervene militarily if Ukraine was attacked.

Meanwhile, 350 Royal Marines from 45 Commando are to begin deploying to Poland as part of a further strengthening of UK support to the country announced earlier this week.

In December the UK sent 100 Royal Engineers to the country after Moscows ally, Belarus, engineered a refugee crisis on the border.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov, along with top brass, inaugurated new facilities at the combined and arms training center, the ministry has reported.

Hasanov was informed that steps had been taken to improve commando and other types of troops' combat training and tactical-special skills.

Training points adapted to real combat conditions have been built at the center for the practical application of modern combat methods. Necessary conditions have been created to improve the combat skills of servicemen, as well as to increase their physical and fire training in any weather conditions, the report added.

It was underlined that the servicemen are trained to fight, plan ambushes, and conduct reconnaissance in difficult mountainous terrain, as well as to carry out operations and counter-terrorism operations in civil settlements.

The military leadership then inspected the newly constructed headquarters building.

It was noted that the building was built in line with modern standards. The building has classrooms, administrative and office premises for servicemen.

All rooms are fully equipped with necessary furniture and appliances, including visual aids. The building is supplied with a central heating system, electricity, water, and communications. Landscaping work has been carried out in the area, the report added.

Hasanov later opened a new military barrack for servicemen in the center.

The minister was informed that the new building has been provided with weapons, ideological, amenity and other premises. The barrack has all the conditions for living, recreation, and effective organization of military personnels leisure time.

Hasanov instructed the personnel on the study of modern training techniques based on the 44-day war's experience, their application in combat training, and their application in the current situation.
Biden, Saudi king discuss energy supplies, Iran and Yemen U.S. President Joe Biden hosts roundtable with CEOs of utilities to discuss 'Build Back Better' agenda at the White House in Washington

By Kanishka Singh and Timothy Gardner

(Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden and King Salman of Saudi Arabia discussed energy supplies in the face of soaring fuel prices and developments in the Middle East, including Iran and Yemen, in a telephone call on Wednesday.

"The two leaders committed to ensuring the stability of global energy supplies," the White House said in a statement.

Salman, head of the largest crude exporter in the OPEC oil production group, spoke about maintaining balance and stability in the petroleum markets, Saudi state news agency SPA said.

He emphasized the need to maintain the supply agreement OPEC has with its allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+.

Last week, OPEC+ agreed to stick to moderate rises in its oil output, with the group struggling to meet existing targets and wary of responding to calls on its strained capacity for more crude from top consumers to cap surging prices.

Global crude prices, which have rallied about 20% this year, are likely to surpass $100 a barrel because of a weaker-than- expected hit to demand from the Omicron variant of coronavirus, analysts have said.

International Brent oil settled nearly 1% higher, at $91.55 a barrel, on Wednesday.

High oil prices are a risk to the Biden administration ahead of November's congressional elections in which his fellow Democrats will defend slim majorities in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Last year, the administration attempted to push down oil prices by organizing a drawdown of emergency oil reserves in concert with large consumers in Asia, including China, but prices chilled only temporarily.

A U.S. source familiar with the call said, "Saudi Arabia has historically played a vital role in ensuring global energy markets are well supplied to support strong and resilient economies.

"The president noted that it is especially important now, during this time of geopolitical instability and global recovery," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Oil has also been supported by the tension in Ukraine as Russia has put more than 100,000 troops on its borders.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week the administration has been in coordination with allies and partners 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".

That was an apparent reference to both the potential of oil and natural gas cutoffs in the aftermath of any invasion by Moscow.

The White House said that on the call, Biden also repeated the commitment of the United States to support Saudi Arabia in defending itself against attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, the White House said.

Biden also briefed Salman on international talks to "re-establish constraints on Iran's nuclear program," the White House said.

The conflict in Yemen is largely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis, who ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014, say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

Salman told Biden that Saudi Arabia wanted there to be a "political resolution" in Yemen, SPA said.

Biden's last call with Salman was reported about a year ago around the time of the release of a U.S. assessment that said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son, approved an operation to capture or kill murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Nayera Abdallah and Yomna Ehab, Timothy Gardner and Steve Holland; Editing by Grant McCool)
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark and the United States have begun talks about a new defence agreement that could include U.S. troops on Danish soil, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, adding that the negotiations had not been triggered by the Ukraine crisis.

The talks, which were requested by the United States about a year ago, come as Washington has strengthened military cooperation with other NATO allies such as Norway and the Baltic countries in recent years, Frederiksen said.

"We want a stronger American presence in Europe and in Denmark," she told a news briefing, adding that the standoff between the West and Russia over Ukraine was not the reason.

"But the situation in and around Ukraine is a very clear emphasizing of the fact that we can not take our peace, our freedom or our security for granted and underlines why it is important to work even more closely with the Americans," she said.

Denmark, a close ally of the United States, has a strategic location as a gateway for ships to and from the Baltic Sea where Russia has military bases.

"Such an agreement directly between the United States and Denmark will open up for a new cooperation and activities in a number of selected military areas in Denmark," Frederiksen said. "It might include American soldiers on Danish soil."

The talks come after the Nordic country for decades has not allowed foreign troops a permanent presence.

NATO ally Norway, which for decades has allowed troops from the United States and other NATO countries to exercise on its soil, last year signed an accord with the United States to regulate activities.

The deal, which remains subject to approval by Norway's parliament, will allow the U.S. to construct installations at airfields and bases, and is designed to facilitate rapid allied reinforcement in the event of crisis or war.

Lithuania, which shares a border with giant neighbour Russia, has been hosting 500 American troop on rotation since 2019. This week, the Baltic country asked the United States to permanently station troops in the country to help boost security.

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A possible new defence agreement between Denmark and the United States could include military exercises, increased maritime cooperation and storage of military equipment in Denmark, but was unlikely to include setting up U.S. military bases in the country.

Frederiksen also said the talks do not include cooperation in Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Catherine Evans and Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Moscow court on Monday said it had ordered Alphabet's Google to pay 4 million roubles ($52,526) for not removing access to content banned in Russia, the latest in a string of fines for the U.S. tech giant.

Russia upped the ante late last year in its efforts to increase pressure on Big Tech, handing massive, revenue-based fines to Google and Meta Platforms for repeatedly failing to remove content Moscow deems illegal.

Google declined to comment.

The TASS news agency reported that Google had been fined for providing access to links of banned websites.

($1 = 76.1530 roubles)

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow, Editing by Louise Heavens)
The "winning" anti-scam hotline number. (IMAGE: Singapore Police Force/Facebook)

SINGAPORE  The Singapore Police Force has reminded the public of the anti-scam winning hotline number ahead of the record $16 million Singapore Pools Toto Hong Bao draw on Friday night (11 February).

We may not be able to help you win $16 million, but we may help stop you from losing $16 million, the SPF said in a post on its Facebook page.

In the post, SPF adapted the design of a typical Toto ticket to highlight its message, with the anti-scam toll-free number 1800 722 6688 prominently displayed.

SPF said, Scammers choose their targets like picking numbers during a lottery draw. Don't end up being their winning ticket!

The SPF advises the public to call the anti-scam hotline or go to scamalert.sg to learn more about scams.

Its advisory comes amid a recent rise in scams in Singapore including the OCBC email phishing scams. Following the scams that targeted OCBC customers, banks in Singapore tightened their security measures for online banking including removing clickable links in emails or SMS sent.

On Monday, Parliament will debate on the spate of online scams and discuss ways to fight the scourge.

Related stories

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As a young girl, I remember hearing a male ring-necked pheasant call for a mate, and asking my father who was strangling a cat! He patiently explained it was a ring necked pheasant and we quietly waited in the backyard for the pheasant to appear. When he did, what a sight to behold.

Still today I enjoy seeing these magnificent birds picking grit along the side of a rural road or working their way through a harvested corn field. Both male and female pheasants add character to our open landscape and remind me of the importance of conserving natural habitats.

The male pheasant has an unmistakable dark iridescent green head and deep red color surrounding the eyes, a striking white circular ring along its long neck and a deep maroon coat of feathers on its chest. The remainder of the males body contains orange and brown feathers with a very distinctive tail that, when open, will reveal a dark barring pattern. These feathers, over time, have been prized for womens hats.

The female ring-necked pheasant, like most female birds, has more neutral coloration and is covered with different shades of brown feathers. This brown coloring provides camouflage necessary to help protect her from predators. Young pheasant chicks are also brownish in color for protection.

While it seems like pheasants should be native to the United States, they were introduced to North America from Asia in the late 1800s as a game bird for hunting. Their preferred habitat includes pastures, farmland and hedgerows. Over time, their habit has been declining, resulting in a decreased population of pheasants.

Until 1999, with the adoption of A Ten Year Management Plan for Ring-necked Pheasants in New York by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, pheasants were raised and released with limited success. The 1999 plan allows for annual distribution of day-old pheasant chicks and for improving habitat.

Cayuga County has many sites suitable for releasing pheasants, including northern Montezuma, the Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area, Bear Swamp State Forest and Sterling Nature Center. Ideally, pheasants raised through the DECs day-old chick program should be released on lands that have public access.

Starting in the 1940s, 4-H youth were reimbursed for raising and releasing day-old pheasant chicks. In the late 1960s the reimbursement was stopped, but 4-H and some sportsmens clubs underwrote the cost. Today, applications are made to DEC to raise the chicks for release. Cayuga County Cornell Cooperative Extensions 4-H Youth program is in the process of accepting orders.

The rearing of pheasant chicks has many benefits for youth. The experience helps to promote reasonability and can provide a unique educational opportunity. In addition, participants can gain wildlife management skills by rearing and then releasing pheasants into the correct habitat. Pheasants are not woodland birds; they prefer to nest and roost in grassy areas located near the edges of farm fields. This habitat provides the birds with cover while nearby farms fields provide a source of food.

Currently, the DEC is partnering with Cayuga County CCE to offer youth and landowners the opportunity to raise and release day-old pheasant chicks. Anyone interested this opportunity can call Cayuga County CCE at (315) 255-1183 ext. 2876 to place an order. You can also place an order through Cayuga CCEs website at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/cayugapheasants2022_205, which is also located under the "Upcoming Events" tab by scrolling down to "4-H events."

All orders must be placed by noon March 21; there is a minimum of 15 chicks per order. There is no charge for the chicks, and they are scheduled to arrive mid-May. They need to be picked up the day they arrive, as they need to be feed and watered. Additionally, participants must have an appropriate brooding facility and outdoor rearing pen.

Day-old pheasant chicks need to be raised for release at a minimum of eight weeks or older, but no later than the end of hunting season. The release at eight weeks provides an opportunity to see the birds through the summer. More information can be found in the DECs pheasant rearing guide at dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/dayoldchicks.pdf.

The rearing and release of the day-old pheasant chicks is not only an educational tool for youth, but also provides fall hunting opportunities and increases the chances for everyone to receive the enjoyment of seeing and hearing them.

Judy Wright is the senior agriculture specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County. For more information, visit senecacountycce.org or call (315) 539-9251 ext. 109.

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Onondaga Community College will host the inaugural Maker Faire this spring at the SRC Arena, and it's looking for makers from the area to participate.

Hobbyists, tinkerers, crafters, artists, scientists, cosplayers, robotics experts, DIYers and more are wanted for the event to showcase what they do. The deadline to sign up is March 1.

The event, presented by the college and the Technology Alliance of Central New York, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2. It is estimated to attract more than 1,000 attendees. The Maker Faire originated in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area as a project of the editors of Make magazine, and has since grown into a worldwide network of events.

For more information, to sign up to participate or to purchase tickets, visit syracuse.makerfaire.com.

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A manure transfer line break at a farm in the Owasco Lake watershed this week resulted in some waste reaching an unnamed stream, but not making its way to the lake itself.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation informed the Cayuga County Health Department about the Tuesday, Feb. 8, incident at Twin Birch Farm in the town of Skaneateles. The health department issued a press release about the notification on Thursday, Feb. 10, and the DEC provided The Citizen with additional details after that.

According to the DEC, an estimated 2,600 gallons of liquid manure leaked out of a 6-inch line with some reaching a small stream that feeds into nearby Dutch Hollow Brook, a major lake tributary. The farm identified the leak around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after noticing a drop in a manure transfer line flow, which lead to identifying a break in the line.

"The farm acted quickly to cut off the source of the spill and temporarily dam up the small stream to contain the manure-contaminated water and pump to their manure storage structure," the DEC said in an updated provided to The Citizen Friday afternoon. " The farm pumped a total of 1.2 million gallons of stream water to remove the liquid manure contributing to the stream."

The farm notified DEC "first thing Wednesday morning" and the environmental agency responded to the site. Impacts to the stream could be found at its crossing with Benson Road, but it did not appear to extend further downstream, including the point where Dutch Hollow Brook crosses North Road about a mile from the spill site.

"The farm engaged their engineer to evaluate the transfer line failure and make recommendations to prevent future occurrences," DEC said. "DEC will review these recommendations as part of its ongoing investigation and will continue to oversee a comprehensive cleanup that is protective of public health and the environment."

Twin Birch had earned past recognition for its environmental stewardship, including a U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award at the virtual spring meeting of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance in 2020.

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The Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education was given explanations on key elements of the district's 2022-23 budget.

Lisa Green, Auburn's business official, gave a presentation to the board on the administrative and capital components of the budget for the district's upcoming school year at a meeting Feb. 8. She previously expressed optimism during a presentation on Auburn's early budget outlook in late January. Green is set to talk about the program component of the budget at the board's March 8 meeting.

Employee benefits always take up a "big portion" of the district's budget, Green said Tuesday.

"Not including salaries, just employee benefits account typically for about 25% of our total budget," she said.

The total amount related to such benefits in the current 2021-22 budget is $20,493,345, while benefits come to $21,449,505 for the current proposed 2022-23 budget, according to Green's presentation. Medical insurance takes up the majority of the costs for employee benefits, with $13,100,000 for the current budget and $13,700,000 for the proposed 2022-23 amount.

Green said the Employee Retirement System, for non-instructional employees, is set to be 11.6% of salaries for this upcoming year, down from 16.2% of salaries. That is set to account for a decrease of about $200,000 in ERS costs for next year. However, the Teacher Retirement System, for instructional staff, is poised to see a boost of being 9.8% of salaries to 10.25% for the upcoming school year.

"Overall, we are still seeing about a $200,000 increase in pension costs," Green said.

Under personnel, the district has $662,358 total for the current year and $683,784 overall for the 2022-23 budget. Salaries  for the assistant superintendent for personnel, two personnel clerks and a part-time human resources clerk  are set to come to $267,784 for the upcoming year, with $231,858 for the current year's budget.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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ALBANY  The temporary leader of the 64-campus New York state university system told lawmakers this week that Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposal to extend tuition assistance to convicted felons being held in prisons is the right thing to do.

Were very much in favor of this, said Deborah Stanley, who was appointed interim chancellor in December.

State aid for higher education in the prisons was terminated in 1995 by then-Gov. George Pataki, a Republican.

Progressive Democrats have been leading the push for new approaches to criminal justice policy, by proposing the restoration of allowing inmates to be again eligible for the state Tuition Assistance Program, calling for an Elder Parole program and advancing a bill that would let released felons have criminal records expunged.

Stanley had been employed by SUNY for the past 45 years. Before tuition aid for prisoners was cut off, she said, it was successful to a degree. If funding for the program is resumed, she added, I expect it to be successful again.

Stanley discussed the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other higher education issues at a state budget hearing held Monday. With a national search on for a new chancellor, Stanley said she wont apply for the position.

Over the past decade, the SUNY system has lost nearly 20% of its total enrollment, Stanley said SUNY launched a task force two weeks ago with the goal of addressing the enrollment challenges.

She said strategies for countering the enrollment decline include an effort to lure more students from other states and more international students to SUNY campuses.

As we look out of state, were going to be comparing what do we charge students who come in as out-of-state students; Is this something that is a barrier to students coming in? Well, how does that compare to the in-state tuition in the states they reside in?

Sen. John Liu, D-Queens, voiced concern that SUNY tuition has been supporting more and more of SUNYs ever-expanding operating costs.

Please have your team look at price sensitivity, Liu told Stanley, suggesting tuition increases have been a factor in the enrollment shrinkage at SUNY.

Stanley said there are multiple factors involved in the erosion of enrollment at the campuses, with the decline particularly pronounced at community colleges. She said administrators are pulling together a full spectrum of data and have been using artificial intelligence and software to help us understand where we are.

Sen. Sue Serino, R-Dutchess County, a member of the Senate Higher Education Committee, asked Stanley about SUNYs decision to mandate that SUNY students receive booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccines, though that requirement is not applied to faculty members and vendors on the campuses.

Serino said the inconsistency amounts to a slap in the face for emergency medical technicians enrolled at a community college for continuing education courses because the instructors are exempt from the booster requirement.

Stanley said SUNY has been relying on guidance for its COVID policies from a panel of physicians and researchers.

Hochuls proposed state budget would also expand tuition assistance to the tens of thousands of part-time students attending public and private colleges in New York. Stanley said she believes that proposal could bring more students to the SUNY system.

Tydie Abreu, policy analyst for the Hispanic Federation, an advocacy group, also predicted qualifying part-time students for TAP will boost enrollments.

Part-time TAP will encourage college enrollment for the many students who usually decide to not pursue a higher education in order to work and support their families, Abreu said.

Several lawmakers also registered their support for expanding TAP for part-time students.

According to Hochuls budget presentation, funding for higher education in New York has increased by $2.1 billion since 2012. Hochuls spending plan would increase funds for higher education by $619 million in the coming fiscal year, an increase of 8.3%.

The proposed budget would allow SUNY to hire 340 additional full-time faculty members, while the City University system would be able to hire an additional 540 faculty members.

Leaders of the faculty unions at both systems argued the public colleges need more money than Hochul is offering. The unions are urging lawmakers to provide SUNY with an additional $256 million and CUNY with an additional $253 million.

State and local government funding for public colleges in New York amounted to $12,252 per student in the 2020 fiscal year, according to the Hochul administration. That is more than what is offered by 44 other states and 42% more than the national average.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan plans to build a new line through the Zangazur corridor to Nakhchivan and from there to Turkey and Iran.

He made the remarks during the interview with Azerbaijan State News Agency - Azertac, following the inauguration of the Gobu Energy Junction on February 11.

"As I said, we have energy connections with all four neighboring countries, and we are now working on a new project. We now plan to build a new line through the Zangazur corridor from Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and from there to Turkey and Iran," the president said.

He stressed that the Zangazur corridor is not only about railways, highways, and air transport.

"At the same time, the Zangazur corridor will play a role in energy exports. We will have a new line to supply electricity to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan and from there to foreign markets, to Turkey and Europe, he said.

One line passes through Georgia-Turkey and the second line must pass through there. We are working on it, Aliyev added.

Azerbaijan leader for energy component development

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan is one of the worlds leading countries in terms of the development of energy components.

We all remember that in the first years of our independence we did not have enough energy... There was a shortage of natural gas, there was no gas at all in the region, and oil production had fallen sharply. Today, Azerbaijan is one of the worlds leading countries in terms of the development of all these energy components, he said.

He noted that it is no coincidence that the 8th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council meeting, held this month, reaffirmed these successes.

Almost all participants spoke about Azerbaijans potential and the opportunities available to Azerbaijan. Speaking there, I said that we were a reliable partner, we were fulfilling our obligations, we had the strength, the resolve and the responsibility, he said.

Noting that Azerbaijan has become a very reliable energy supplier within the country, in the region and in the wider continent, the president added that there are major plans to meet the growing demand, both in the country and abroad.

Renewable energy

Speaking about the reasons for identifying renewable energy areas as a priority, the president noted that first of all, it is the cleanest type of energy and second is that there are opportunity and potential for it.

We use natural gas, water, sun and wind. With this in mind, we must create renewable energy sources to protect the environment in the future... The country has such a wonderful investment climate that both us and foreign companies are interested in this, he said.

He recalled that last month, a groundbreaking ceremony was held under a contract signed with ACWA Power, adding that 240 MW wind farm will be commissioned next year.

The president added that negotiations are underway with BP to build a 200 MW solar power plant in Jabrayil region, as well as with Masdar company of the UAE to build a solar power plant. He added that both projects have a capacity of about 400-450 MW.

In addition, as I mentioned, we plan to build a 240 MW power plant with ACWA Power, followed by a 280 MW power plants at the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi reservoirs together with Iran. Half of that capacity will be ours, which will be an additional 140 MW, he said.

Aliyev mentioned that four hydropower plants were reconstructed on the liberated lands, Gulabird, Sugovushan 1, Sugovushan 2 and Kalbajar, and the construction of five hydropower plants there is expected to be completed this year.

There will also be stations with a capacity of about 25-30 MW. It will also be possible to build about 30 hydropower plants destroyed by Armenians in the liberated lands. I would like to take this opportunity to invite local and foreign investors in this field, he said.

He stressed that proven energy potential in the liberated lands is more than 9,000 MW, including solar and wind farms. The president added that the capacity of the Caspian Sea for renewable energy production is more than 150,000 MW.

Economic growth

The president noted that last year, the countrys economy grew by more than 5 percent, and industrial production in the non-oil sector increased by about 20 percent.

Speaking about the results of January this year, Aliyev noted that economic growth was about 6 percent, GDP growth in the non-oil sector was about 9 percent and non-oil industrial production increased by 24 percent.

Of course, a growing industry requires increased generation capacity. This is why we are building such huge facilities. At the same time, as I said, the demand for our energy is growing abroad, he said.

He stated that electricity exports to four neighboring countries are growing, adding that Azerbaijan has exported 1.6 billion KW of electricity.

Today, our oil, gas and electricity exports contribute to the energy security of Azerbaijan, neighboring and even European countries. Azerbaijan is one of a handful of countries that export crude oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, oil products and electricity to all neighboring countries, he said.

New power stations

The president noted that the Gobu Energy Junction is one of the largest energy facilities built in recent years.

He also noted that the commissioning of a large substation in Yashma at the beginning of the week will serve energy sustainability.

The 750 MW substation will, of course, play an important part in our energy system. The opening of the 385 MW Gobu Power Plant today will greatly increase our generation capacity, of course. A 1,000 MW substation was built near this station in just one year, he said.

Aliyev emphasized that the commissioning of these huge facilities built in Azerbaijan at the countrys expenses shows the countrys financial capacity, financial independence and technical capabilities.

He added that Azerbaijan produced 27 billion kWh and exported 1.6 billion kWh of electricity last year.

This is a record figure. In other words, we have already become a very serious exporter of electricity, he said.
Voters in Auburn will no longer be assigned polling places for primary and general elections.

The Cayuga County Board of Elections sought state approval for a proposal that would allow voters to cast their ballots at any of the city's four polling locations. Cherl Heary and Katie Lacey, the county's election commissioners, informed legislators at the Cayuga County Legislature's Government Operations Committee meeting on Wednesday that the state signed off on the plan.

One reason the local elections board needed the state's blessing is a law requiring a certain number of workers to be assigned to polling locations based on the number of voters who could show up at that site.

"Technically, we would've had to staff every one of those polling places as if everybody in the city was going to show up at one of them," Lacey explained to The Citizen on Thursday. "(The state Board of Elections) said it's easier to give us an exemption than to try to get the law changed. We just had to present a letter and ask for an exemption."

Heary and Lacey told lawmakers that the state "was impressed that we were doing it." They also believe that no other municipality in New York has adopted a similar policy allowing voters to cast ballots at any polling place within a city.

Before the change, there were designated polling locations for city voters and they were required to vote at those sites.

Lacey thinks Auburn is better positioned than other localities because beginning last year, the board began using ballot on demand printers for elections in the city. The printers have been used since early voting launched in 2019, but the county decided to use them on election days.

The use of ballot on demand printers not only saves paper, it saves money. The elections board said the savings totaled more than $10,000 in 2021.

The Auburn polling places are being finalized, but one location will be the new public safety building that houses the Auburn Fire Department. Heary and Lacey toured the facility and said it's "beyond perfect" to use as a polling location.

In other news:

 In the fourth year of early voting, Cayuga County will move one polling location and add another in the city.

Moravia Town Hall will be the early voting location in southern Cayuga County, replacing Venice Town Hall. Heary and Lacey praised the new building and believe it could attract more voters because Moravia is more populated than the town of Venice.

In Auburn, Casey Park Recreation Center will be an early voting location. The board planned to add Casey Park as an early voting site in 2020, but abandoned that idea due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cato Town Hall and Clifford Park Clubhouse will remain early voting sites this year.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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The situation involving the Cayuga County district attorney has become an issue in the campaign for New York governor.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin on Wednesday criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, for "attempts to remove" acting Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci, who succeeded Jon Budelmann as the county's top prosecutor after his resignation in December.

Zeldin also slammed Hochul for not using her power to remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who announced after taking office in January that he would not prosecute certain offenses or would downgrade some charges. Bragg has faced bipartisan criticism for his policies.

"Kathy Hochul's priorities are entirely out of whack and entirely out of touch with the priorities of everyday New Yorkers," Zeldin said. "While she's failed to take action to fire Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for refusing to do his job, enforce the law and protect New Yorkers, she's reportedly focused on replacing the acting Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci for absolutely not good reason even though the acting DA is actually doing her job and enforcing the law.

"If Hochul moves forward with jamming a Democrat into this position for her self-serving motives, it will be clearer than ever that Hochul's priorities are all about politics, partisanship, and power rather than public safety."

While the governor has the power to remove a district attorney, they also have the authority to fill vacancies. After Budelmann's resignation, Hochul can appoint a new Cayuga County district attorney.

Grome Antonacci, among others, argue that there is precedent for governors not filling such vacancies. They point to Hochul's predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who declined to make appointments when there were open seats during his tenure.

Unlike Cuomo, Hochul has not ruled out naming a new district attorney. Her office insists that no decision has been made. After Grome Antonacci accused the governor's office of a "backroom deal" with local Democrats to appoint a new district attorney, a spokesperson for Hochul said that she "continues to review her options and will do what is best for all Cayuga County residents."

Even if Hochul names a district attorney, there will be an election this year to fill the open seat. Grome Antonacci has launched her campaign for a full four-year term and is seeking the Republican and Conservative nominations. So far, there is not a Democratic candidate for the seat.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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ALBANY  While the state is today ending its mandate for indoor businesses to have patrons show proof of vaccination or wear a mask, local governments have the option to keep their own COVID-19 rules, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.

Hochul also said there is a "very strong possibility" she might lift the controversial school mask mandate March 7.

That decision will hinge on how the contagion is spreading by March 4 -- about a week after students return to classes from what is for many districts the week-long winter break.

The governor suggested parents should test their children for the contagion after they return from the winter break, which concludes Feb. 27, and once more three days later.

Meanwhile, face mask requirements are being continued in health care facilities and in public transportation vehicles.

The mandate on businesses has been in effect for 58 days. Hochul said it was a necessary move given the surge in omicron infections following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and represented a better option than shutting down businesses.

"So we're proud of that accomplishment," she said at a briefing in Manhattan, recalling the contagion had been "spreading like wildfire."

The New York State Association of Counties supported the decision to lift the mask-or-vaccine mandate on businesses.

"Any step toward normalcy is a good step for our residents and businesses who have struggled so hard to protect one another for nearly two years," said Martha Sauerbrey, president of NYSAC.

State officials have resisted pressure from Republican leaders and some local governments to cancel the school mask mandate. Hochul cited the relatively low vaccination rates among young children. Children ages five through 11 became eligible for the shots in early November.

About 30% of youngsters in that age range are vaccinated for COVID-19. But the percentage is lower in some regions of New York.

Hochul said her administration was concerned about what testing showed was high transmissibility of the virus. The positivity rate stood at 23% Jan. 2. But by Tuesday it had dwindled to 3.7%, she said,

"That is exactly what we have been waiting for,' Hochul said. "That's what we have been talking about and it's finally happening."

After the state's move to take differing approaches to business and school mandates, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro proposed that a state investigation commission be set up to review the state's pandemic response, suggesting it resulted in some businesses closing.

"The establishment of a Moreland-style commission would provide transparency, accountability and go a long way toward respecting those who live on with much loss," Molinaro said.

Several state lawmakers sharply criticized the fact that schools will have to wait for several weeks before Hochul decides on the mask mandate for classrooms.

Branding Hochul's pivot "half a loaf," Sen. Pete Oberacker, R-Otsego County, said, "The mask mandate for schools remains without a clear blueprint on when it will be dropped or what metrics are driving this decision."

Hochul's decision to keep the school mandate in effect is "absolutely outrageous," said Senate GOP Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara County. He insisted the Hochul administration should identify the specific metrics that are being used to justify the continuation of the mask mandate for school children and school employees.

Registering her opposition to mask mandates, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, tweeted they amount to "nothing more than a power grab by the Radical Left."

Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, said the business mandate should have been scrubbed weeks ago, contending it was "more about political science than actual science."

Stec said the school mandate should be withdrawn now, arguing it has had a detrimental impact on the emotional and intellectual development of children.

Hochul said the data she will consider in making a decision on school masks will include hospital admission trends and infection numbers.

"There will not be one number that says 'yes or no,' " Hochul said, noting she hopes to get "the combined picture."

The Capital Region YMCA, which operates 10 branches and a children's camp, responded to Hochul's announcement by reporting those who use its facilities will not be required to wear masks. But those entering its childcare locations will need to wear masks, based on guidance from the state Office of Children and Family Services.

Hochul's announcement came on the heels of similar announcements in a string of states. But some states -- including several with Democratic governors - have announced they are poised to cancel the school mask mandates.

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Reflecting upon the article prepared by Jeremy Boyer and published February 9th titled "Officials push to add Owasco Lake to State's impaired water bodies list," I have decided not to place a resolution on the Feb. 10 agenda for the Town of Owasco Council to endorse a designation for Owasco Lake on the 303(d) list, a change that could manifest a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) cleanup plan for the lake. I believe we need to stay our current course, supporting both the completion of the Nine Element (9E) Watershed Plan and the adoption of Watershed Rules and Regulation for the watershed, both of which are in their final stages towards approval by NYS.

A waterbody designation on NYS' s 303(d) list is a requirement for obtaining a TMDL. As stated, I respectfully disagree with a TMDL process at this point in time, so removal from that list is not concerning. The 303(d) list is a subset of the larger 305(b) list, where Owasco remains listed as impaired. This, combined with the Owasco Lake HABs Action Plan, and soon to be completed 9E Plan, gets Owasco all the "bonus points" available for state and federal funding. Our community is working hard to address Owasco Lake's impairment due to annual HABs that can be dangerously toxic for water consumption and lake recreation. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) experts and I agree that the 9E plan is the best approach for remediation efforts within the Owasco lake watershed to address HABs. Unlike a permit- and technology-driven TMDL approach, the 9E plan approach addresses non-point source pollution which is the overwhelmingly dominant source of nutrient pollution discharging into Owasco Lake.

I am very frustrated at the lack of urgency, support, and communication by the NYS Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation to meet their responsibilities to our community and advance the recommended science-driven and community consensus Watershed Rules and Regulations. Our focus should not be on developing new initiatives and planning exercises that can proof distracting and delay action, but instead, on a proactive approach towards Lake remediation. The City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco approved and submitted the recommended Watershed Rules and Regulation to the State Health Department in the year 2020. To date, no official response has been given to the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, the organization responsible for staffing Watershed Inspectors for implementing those regulations. NYS leadership in Albany required that our local recommendations were built upon a transparent and public process. It is time that those leaders respect our process by doing the same.

Officials push to add Owasco Lake to state's impaired water bodies list Cayuga County-area elected officials and water quality advocates are calling on New York state to add Owasco Lake to an official list of impai

Ed Wagner is supervisor for the town of Owasco and chair of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council.

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas auto player, Chery Holding, started the year 2022 with great momentum, with its January sales volume hitting a record high in all segments, especially in new energy vehicle sales and export volume, the automaker announced on February 11th.

QQ Ice-cream; photo credit: Chery Auto

In the first month of 2022, Chery Holding sold a total of 107,710 vehicles, increasing 20% year on year. In the meantime, its wholesale volume grew 11.8% from a year ago to 87,040 vehicles.

Moreover, Chery Holding scored two other new records in monthly export volume and new energy vehicle sales volume. To be specific, the companys export volume amounted to 26,900 vehicles in January, surging 60.9% compared to the earlier year. With 20,635 vehicles sold, Chery Holdings new energy vehicle department managed a 179.6% year-on-year jump in the month.

In January, Chery Auto sold 67,486 vehicles, representing a 34.3% increase compared to a year ago. Its popular model, the Tiggo 8 series, sold 16,686 vehicles worldwide, up 12.3% year on year.

Driven by the Chery EQ1 (Little Ant) and the QQ Ice-cream models, Chery Holdings new energy passenger vehicle sector sold 19,431 vehicles, soaring 189.8% from a year ago.

Notably, the Chery QQ Ice-cream sold 9,984 vehicles in January, indicating a 19% increase from December 2021, when the model first hit the Chinese market. The automaker has received over 70,000 vehicles orders since the model's sales started.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- As the Capital of China, Beijing is actively promoting automotive industry development in the city. The municipal government plans on nudging the implementation of Tesla, Xiaomi, Li Auto, and other automotive companies projects.

Photo credit: Tesla

According to Beijings 2022 work report, the city listed multiple auto-related key tasks in its annual plan.

Specifically, Beijing aims to push forward the construction of Teslas design center, Xiaomis auto manufacturing plant, Toyotas fuel-cell R&D center, and Li Autos production base. Moreover, the report also mentioned the phase I construction of WeLion New Energys solid-state battery base.

Local Beijing automakers Beijing Mercedes-Benz and BAIC Group are on the list too. The city intends to help Beijing Mercedes-Benz improve its production capacity and enrich its new energy vehicle lineup. As to the citys plan for BAIC Group, helping the traditional automaker in its business transformation is the primary goal.

Notably, early on, Teslas CEO, Elon Musk, disclosed that the EV rock star planned to launch a China-designed model to the global market. The company would invite Chinese designers to submit their work to Tesla for an authentic Chinese style model.

Additionally, it was previously reported that Tesla would build a design center in either Beijing or Shanghai. Beijings latest report indicates that Teslas new design center project is settled in the capital.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas SUV maker, Great Wall Motor, is recently found to launch a secret sedan brand, with code name BC, according to the automakers 2022 bidding project.

TANK 300; photo credit: Great Wall Motor



The bidding report showed that the BC project is currently under the channel image design and store construction phase.

In fact, Great Wall Motor has long been talked about to debut its sixth brand since last year. By the time, sources inside Great Wall Motor disclosed that the company was orchestrating a brand-new sedan brand.

As to the new BC brand, another person close to the automaker told a local media outlet that the brand is positioned as a high-end new energy auto brand, rivaling BMW, Mercedes, or Audi.

Notably, the carmaker known for its rugged SUV models has dabbed into the sedan playfield before. A decade ago, in 2010, Great Wall Motor had introduced two sedan models, namely the Voleex C30 and C50. However, the models did not bring their maker the same performance results as hoped, making Great Wall Motor withdraw the brand and exit the sedan market.

Currently, Great Wall Motor has five lines,HAVAL, TANK, WEY, Ora, and Poer.

In 2021, the company saw a 31.95% year-on-year surge in revenue, at RMB136.317 billion. Each brand's individual sales volume in 2021 is HAVAL at 770,008 vehicles, TANK at 84,588 vehicles, WEY at 58,363 vehicles, Ora at 135,028 vehicles, and its pickup line at 233,006 vehicles.
XPENG (NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading smart electric vehicle company, announced today that it has reached strategic partnerships in the Netherlands and Sweden, and it will open its self-operated experiencing retail stores in Europe.



XPeng, Emil Frey Nederland NV reaching cooperation; photo credit: XPeng



XPENG reached a strategic Agency Retail collaboration agreement with Emil Frey Nederland NV (Emil Frey) for the Netherlands. Emil Frey will develop XPENGs sales and service network throughout the Netherlands.

XPENGs Agency Retail agreement with Emil Frey Netherlands marks a major breakthrough for its European expansion. The tie-up is the first Agency Retail collaboration for XPENG in Europe, and is one of the first within the automotive industry.

The agency retail collaboration with Emil Frey, one of Europe's largest automotive retail organizations, will deliver tremendous potential for XPENGs retail expansion in the Netherlands and beyond. Through the partnership, XPENGs customers will benefit from consistent pricing, online and offline, the access to Emil Freys well-established service and distribution network, and optimal service efficiency and quality standards.

In addition, XPENG plans to open its retail experience store, located in the Westfield Mall of the Netherlands near The Hague, in March 2022.



XPeng Bilia signing agreement; photo credit: XPeng



In Sweden, XPENG has also reached an Agency Retail collaboration agreement with Bilia, the largest automobile dealer and distributor in the country. Bilia's high customer satisfaction track record and comprehensive network, consisting of 58 dealers and 66 service centers in Sweden, fit well with XPENGs ambitions to offer localized products and differentiated services to customers internationally. XPENG products will be available through Bilia stores, and serviced at its service centers, initially at locations in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo.

This week, XPENG will officially open its retail experiencing store in Sweden, marking its first self-operated retail store in the international market.

Our global journey starts from Europe, propelled by our commitment to increase smart EV penetration. We strongly support the EV development strategy in Europe and are forging partnerships with top-tier local players to accelerate energy conservation, emission reduction and electrification in Europe, said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPENG.

XPENG plans to build its European presence with a combination of self-operated retail stores, alongside the comprehensive retail and service network of its local agency partners. This approach will optimize XEPNGs strength in digitalization, fast iteration of product features, quality control, operational efficiency while at the same time maximizing its partners deep local knowledge, well-established networks and customer know-how.

In addition to Norway where XPENG first launched its products in 2020, significant progress has been made in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark in building its marketing, sales, delivery and service framework.

XPENG was founded with a vision to transform future mobility with technology, and has a long-term commitment to leading the global EV transition. The company is dedicated to optimizing customer experience and bringing its most sophisticated designs and technologies to customers globally.
Flagstaff police arrested a Prescott man suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo located off Milton Road and Plaza Way on Friday, officials say.

Authorities identified the man as 68-year-old Robert Rickman of Prescott, according to Flagstaff Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Odis Brockman.

The robbery was first reported around 9:13 a.m. Friday. Full details about the incident weren't immediately available, but Brockman said there was no indication Rickman used or displayed a weapon during the robbery.

A description of the man was issued alongside a warning urging residents to steer clear of the area as police investigated and searched for the robber.

Rickman was initially described as a white man in his 70s with gray hair and white facial scruff measuring about 6 feet tall. Officials also said he was wearing a multi-colored jacket, a baseball cap and a white face mask.

Northern Arizona University issued an alert to students and faculty soon after asking the public to steer clear of the area as the bank borders on the university's North Campus.

Rickman was located in the downtown Flagstaff area around 10:30 a.m. and taken into custody, Brockman said.

He was officially arrested after being positively identified by a bank employee and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on suspicion of robbery Friday afternoon.

The Flagstaff Police Department was not looking for any additional people or leads in this case.

Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani army positions have come under Armenian fire in Kalbajar region near the border with Armenia, the Defence Ministry reported on February 11.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said: On February 11, from 0850 to 0900, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in Yukhari Shorzha settlement of Basarkechar region, with no reason, using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan army positions in Zeylik settlement of Kalbajar region.

The Azerbaijani army units took adequate retaliatory measures to suppress the opposite side. The ministry ruled out any causalities among the Azerbaijani military personnel and equipment.

At the moment the situation in the mentioned direction is stable and the Azerbaijan army units fully control the operational situation, the ministry said.

It was earlier reported that the Armenian armed forces shelled the Azerbaijan's military positions in the same direction on February 10.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.

On December 14, 2021, during the Brussels meeting, organized between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders at the initiative of European Council President Charles Michel, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the conditions agreed in the Sochi meeting.

Both sides agreed to establish a temporary working group on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The issue of demining the liberated territories of Azerbaijan was also brought up on the agenda, and the European Union's readiness to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in this regard was underlined at the meeting.
When living in this land, I aspired to live every day to the fullest with my loved ones, find the energy to recover from the disease, etc., shared Mr. Hylton Lipkin, the first Ambassador of World Wellness Weekend in Vietnam.

Wherever you go in Hue, you may come across happy and loving images

Eat, Pray, and Love

While in social distancing during the pandemic, Ms. Yen Thanh, a tourist from Hanoi, suddenly read the memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" by the American writer Elizabeth Gilbert, and she learned that the book has set a trend of traveling across continents to discover yourself and balance your life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The memoir shares the experiences of Italian cuisine, Indian spirituality, and the peacefulness of Bali (Indonesia). But do you have to go that far to enjoy the delicacy of cuisine, immerse yourself in the spiritual space of the temples, and walk among the most romantic scenery in the world?

As advised by the "trans-nationalists" of Agoda and iVIVU, there is no need to go to Italy, India, or some faraway places in the world. Instead, one just needs to come to Hue, the ancient capital with all the elements available for those seeking peacefulness, tranquility, and an ideal place to "eat, pray and love.

That acts to urge Yen Thanh. Although she had prepared everything for the honeymoon with her husband in Binh Dinh, one evening after finishing reading the memoirs, Yen Thanh asked her husband: "How about going to Hue? I would rather we go there!". And then, with an approving nod from her husband, they changed their plans.

A couple coming to Hue to take wedding photos

In Yen Thanh's "memoir" of one week in Hue (before the 4th outbreak of the pandemic), the young couple traveled to every corner of Hue, wearing Ao Dai and taking photos from "hundreds of angles" in the Citadel, going to Tam Giang Lagoon to watch the sunset, hunting the sun at dawn at Lang CoBeach from Hai Van Pass, etc.

In Hue, you can eat anything you want, and you can nearly travel anywhere. Besides, every cuisine you eat must be called "delicacies". Both of us also had the chance to "eat up" the dishes in Dong Bamarket, which is considered a "food paradise" in Hue.

For a newly married couple like us, the favorite things to do in Hue include taking a walk and eating an ice cream together on Doan Thi Diem Street after visiting the Royal Palace; striding along the Perfume River and feeling the tropical scent spread as the sunset fades behind the Flag Tower; holding hands tightly while walking together on Truong Tien Bridge as the sun sets and the breeze blows over the bridge railings; stopping in the middle of the bridge to take a breath and then feeling as if the time stands still for the two of us at that moment; going to the Western Quarter when the night falls. I liked these things so much that I told my husband "I made the right choice when coming to Hue, didn't I?" excitedly shared Yen Thanh.

Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that each destination would have different strengths. Regarding the ideal place for "eating, praying and loving", Hue is confident to affirm that it is a place where all three factors converge. Hue is the "Capital of gastronomy", the Center of Buddhism, and the place for diverse beliefs and religious sites.

Hue is also a place for those seeking the original and historical values. This city is the most romantic place with peaceful spaces. In addition, Hue has a depth where like-minded souls easily meet, reunite, and interfere in such peaceful and romantic spaces.

Finding the ideal of life

Born and living in Hue for half a person's life, perhaps many people will think that I have a bias for my birthplace. But after a conversation with Mr. Hylton Lipkin - the first Ambassador of World Wellness Weekend in Vietnam, the General Manager of Alba Wellness Resort, a native of South Africa, an expert in health and wellness in many countries in the world who has lived in Hue for a few years, I am more certain that Hue is a city worth living in and "the land of happiness".

Every corner of Hue is beautiful

Although having worked in 10 countries, many continents in the world, and some localities in Vietnam, only when coming to Hue can Hylton Lipkin feel the abundant energy source that helps him aspire to live every day to the fullest with his loved ones. He also had the feeling that this place was ideal for him to recover from the pandemic after coming to this ancient capital. That is also the reason why he considers Hue as his second homeland and brings his wife and two children to this land.

As a health expert, Hylton Lipkin judged that the environment in Hue is fresh with green being the main color. With such a small city, the Perfume River located in the heart of the city helps to create an endless source of energy. Diving into the field of gastronomy, it is special and unique, especially when cuisines are also associated with health protection.

Coming to Hue and "enjoying" Tet holiday here for a few times, Mr. Hylton Lipkin said "eating, praying and loving" is all wrapped up during this occasion. Having participated in many traditional festivals, the most important holidays of the year in many countries, the traditional Tet here is very different, as it is an opportunity for Vietnamese people to express their feelings of love more.

During Tet holiday, people leave the past behind to aim for good things so that they can eat, pray, and love together. The word love here means the affection in sacred moments of family reunion.

It is the moments wrapped up during Tet holiday that makes me love the people and culture of this land. This is the "universal key" of Hue, which can open all the "doors" to harmonize with nature, culture, and gastronomy. Therefore, Hue will win the hearts of health tourists, which will be the trend of traveling in the future," said Mr. Hylton Lipkin.

After that emotional conversation, I recalled the winter 5 years ago when I had the opportunity to talk about meditation with businesswoman Ta Thi Ngoc Thao, the owner of Cat Tuong Quan Zen House.

According to Ms. Thao, it is no coincidence that Hue is the "center" of Buddhism. The highest "realm" when living in the world is always directed to find happiness, ease, and peace. This land always radiates the energy and spirit of harmony between heaven and earth. That is what makes Hue a destination where many people find well-being.

Story and photos: Duc Quang
This spring, relationships between the United States and Japan stand a good chance of growing just a little stronger thanks to the presence of a new member of the Northwest College community.

Last September, the Powell, Wyoming, community college welcomed its first Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant, Chiyomi Sekiguchi. A native of Japan, she taught Japanese 1010 in the fall and is currently teaching both Japanese 1010 and 1020 at Northwest. The Fulbright Program is a United States cultural exchange program intended to improve intercultural relations and cultural diplomacy. It provides grants for foreign and U.S. college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists.

Northwest College students gain a competitive edge

This is a really good way not only to diversify our community but a great way to internationalize our campus and our curriculum, says Amanda Enriquez, intercultural program manager at the college. It is so important for us to be able to give our students the skills to enable them to be competitive in a global society.

The Japanese language has long been popular at Northwest, with students from Japan representing the largest number of international students at the college.

International students on campus

Sekiguchi is joined on campus by 40 international students from 17 different countries  some of who have come to Northwest from countries such as Pakistan, Germany and Russia through a variety of scholarship and exchange programs. Born and raised in Japan, she became interested in languages and linguistics in elementary school. Prior to arriving in Wyoming, Sekiguchi taught English at a high school in Japan.

Since I have been hoping to work and study in the United States for a long time, she says, I am very happy to be a part of Northwest College. I would be glad if my students could build a good relationship between Japan (and the U.S.) through my classes.

Sekiguchi also runs the Japanese Club, participates in community programs and collaborates with the Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant at Montana State University in Billings. She lives in the Intercultural House on the Northwest campus.

Culture and language

I think she gives students the experience to get to know a culture from a native speaker, says Enriquez. A culture is a language and a language is a culture, and to have native speakers teach a language is so valuable because they can incorporate that cultural aspect into the teaching. Her presence gives the students and the community a rare chance to know a different culture as only a native can teach it.

Making the global future bright

Created in 1946 in the wake of World War II, the Fulbright Program was introduced by the late-Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It provides awards to approximately 8,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals each year from the U.S. and 160 countries.

To date, more than 400,000 Fulbright scholars have studied, taught and conducted research in each others countries while promoting international understanding and collaboration. Fulbright alumni include 61 Nobel Prize recipients, 75 MacArthur Foundation Fellows and 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, along with 40 heads of state or government.

For more information about Northwest College, visit nwc.edu.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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Coughing, trouble breathing and fever may sound like familiar symptoms in this age of covid infections, but a Malta paleontologist and his colleagues think theyve identified signs of a respiratory infection in 150-million-year-old dinosaur bones.

Cary Woodruff, director of paleontology at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, is the lead author of the research paper, published in the recent issue of the Scientific Reports journal.

Woodruff and his co-authors, which included veterinarians and anatomists, drew their conclusions after examining fossilized neck bones from a young (15 to 20 years old) Diplodocus nicknamed Dolly. The dinosaurs bones were first excavated from the Paradise Valley in 1990, with later additions following 2013-15 field seasons.

After the fossils were cleaned, Woodruff spotted an abnormality. There were bony protrusions in the normally smooth pockets in the dinosaurs vertebrae.

Imagine you took a broccoli floret and fossilized it, its this weird, abnormal, lumpy bit of bone, Woodruff said.

The abnormalities were similar to those caused by a common fungal affliction in modern birds known as aspergillosis.

If the most common respiratory infection in birds today is fungal derived, and birds are dinosaurs, it evolutionarily had to come from somewhere, Woodruff said. Therefore, a dinosaur in the past was probably susceptible to a very similar type of fungal infection.

Dinos

Diplodocus was a long-necked dinosaur, with an equally long tail, that roamed the Earth during the Late Jurassic period  between 155 million to 145 million years ago. Back then, the Paradise Valley was part of the Sundance Sea, extending from the Arctic Ocean across Canada to the Black Hills. At that time the valleys climate would have been tropical.

When Montanans think dinosaur bones, they're more likely to envision Eastern Montanas prairie badlands which have yielded legendary fossil finds. Yet Woodruff said the Paradise Valley has the bulk of Montanas geologic history represented. Thanks to the mountain building process  that thin layer of Mesozoic rock [was] exposed.

The fossils collected in several layers along an ancient and large river floodplain. One of the sauropod dinosaurs found in the Paradise Valley greeted visitors to the Museum of the Rockies when its Siebel Dinosaur Complex was completed in 2007, Woodruff noted.

The same dig site in southwest Montana also uncovered other largely complete diplodocid specimens, an infant Camarasurus, the states first stegosaur-like Hesperosaurus, beaked Camptosaurus, carnivorous Allosaurus and a smaller iguana-like reptile known as sphenodontid.

When fully grown, the plant-eating Diplodocus dinosaurs like Dolly were huge  adults living 30 years grew to 80 to 100 feet long and weighed an estimated 16 tons. Since Dolly wasnt fully grown, shes estimated to have stretched to only about 60 feet long, almost the length of two school buses parked end to end.

Breathe

Sauropods are ancient ancestors of modern birds. Like birds and some reptiles, dinosaurs had complicated respiratory systems that included air sacs in their neck vertebrae, hips, back and tail. Woodruff said the sacs could have been a way to provide more efficient respiration, or they may have evolved to help the animals lighten their heavy loads.

An infection in these air sacs is believed to have caused the bony growths Woodruff and collaborators describe in their research.

To make their diagnosis, the team looked at it from an evolutionary perspective, Woodruff said.

Even though we dont have any of this preserved respiratory tissue in these groups of dinosaurs with these features, we have these sockets in the bone; so we figure similar respiratory tissue had to connect to them, Woodruff explained.

Narrowing

By looking at similar infections in crocodilians and birds the team narrowed the diagnosis down further. Since crocodilians dont have these air sacs in their bones, they examined only bird-related illnesses. Thats when they concluded that an infection in the air sacs caused a secondary bone infection derived from a fungus that is still common in birds today.

We didnt find a perfect 100% match, and we werent expecting to because, again, were literally comparing cases that are separated by 150 million years, Woodruff said. But we found very similar results  a respiratory infection that caused a secondary bone infection.

If the diagnosis holds up to scrutiny, it will be the first time an avian-style respiratory disorder has been described in a non-avian dinosaur. However, as the authors note throughout the paper, the lack of tissues/structures that elucidate origination means that we cannot pinpoint a causation at this time.

John Scannella, the John R. Horner Curator of Paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies, said, The discovery of an avian-style respiratory infection in this sauropod provides another window into what dinosaurs were like as living, breathing animals. Even the largest animals to ever walk the Earth were not immune to disease; dinosaurs had to face many of the same challenges that life faces today."

Help

The diagnosis was aided by the Phillips County Hospitals radiology department, which scanned the fossils for Woodruff, along with Advanced Medical Imaging at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

Phillips County has had a CT scanner for some time, but until recently not one that was powerful enough to scan dinosaur bones, according to Donny Bagley, who manages the lab and X-ray department.

Its quite different from a person because of the thickness and density of the dinosaur bones," he said. "Theyre much larger. We had to lay them out on a table and scanned them from different angles, and then used reconstruction software to put all the images together, to produce as much information as possible.

Bagley and a second technician, Tammy Hebany, were excited to help the local museum with its 150-million-year-old patient.

The research was personal for Woodruff because his yellow Labrador, Hatcher, contracted respiratory problems and died. Thus, he dedicated the work to his pup who passed far too soon.

The research team included paleopathologist/veterinarian Ewan Wolff, of the University of New Mexico; veterinarian Sophie Dennison, of TeleVet Imaging Solutions in Virginia; and paleontologists and medical anatomists Mathew Wedel, of Western University of Health Sciences in California, and Lawrence Witmer, of Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Woodruff said the human interest angle to the teams dinosaur research makes it more relatable.

We know that birds that have respiratory disease today; they show symptoms that are consistent with flu and pneumonia, he said. So sneezing, coughing, headaches, fever, diarrhea, weight loss, etc., these are all of the exact same symptoms we have all felt when weve had respiratory issues. So the fact is, you can hold that 150-million-year-old dinosaur bone from Dolly and you literally can sympathize with this animal. You know exactly how crummy that animal felt when it was sick, because its the exact same way you felt.

 Chris Jorgensen contributed to this story.

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Another company is eyeing pumped storage hydropower in Wyoming. This one is a household name.

Rocky Mountain Power, the states largest utility, applied in October for preliminary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)  a form of agency approval that can fast-track the licensing process but doesnt authorize construction  to study the feasibility of two pumped storage projects near Glenrock.

The utilitys parent company, PacifiCorp, submitted 11 different applications for pumped storage projects across its six-state service territory. According to its filings, the two Glenrock facilities would have a combined eight-hour storage capacity of approximately 1,000 megawatts.

PacifiCorp has looked into pumped storage before, but hasnt used it in the past, according to company spokesman Dave Eskelsen. The intermittent electricity production from increasingly affordable wind and solar, along with the impending retirements of many of the regions coal plants, have raised the appeal of using water to store power.

Hydroelectricity is the original dispatchable resource, Eskelsen said. Pumped storage, particularly, can be responsive to the daily peak demand in energy.

In each of the two closed-loop systems Rocky Mountain Power hopes to study near Glenrock, water would be pumped from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir using surplus electricity. It would then be allowed to run back down, spinning turbines to generate electricity, as needed. Water for both would be sourced from the North Platte River.

FERC announced on Jan. 18 that it had accepted one of the Glenrock proposals, the Rocky Ridge Pumped Storage Project, and would take public comment, motions to intervene and competing applications through mid-March. It had already issued similar notices for projects in Oregon, Idaho and Washington. The agency has not yet publicly accepted the Box Elder Pumped Storage Project, Rocky Mountain Powers other Glenrock proposal.

The utilitys 2021 Integrated Resource Plan, published in September, focused heavily on boosting storage capacity. It included thousands of megawatts of solar-plus-storage and standalone battery, but just 500 megawatts of pumped storage. The Glenrock projects alone would be double that.

Converse County Commissioner Jim Willox said plenty of people have explored building pumped storage in the area over the last couple of decades, but the community didnt know until very recently that Rocky Mountain Power was interested.

I think the thing thats most surprising to us is it wasnt in the IRP that they just got done with, he said.

According to Eskelsen, the pumped storage  if built  would be installed in addition to the battery storage outlined in the utilitys plan.

A handful of other questions have emerged locally, Willox said, including about the visual impact of the facilities. But there hasnt been much discussion yet.

I dont think theres enough detail yet for anybody to really dive too deep into it, other than we want to stay engaged, he said.

PacifiCorp publishes a new IRP every other year. Details about the pumped storage projects could be several iterations away: Feasibility studies like these, Eskelsen said, can take up to four years to complete.

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The 30-year-old Iowa snowmobiler who was killed in an avalanche on Sunday had taken all of the right precautions.

An expert rider, Bradie Becker was wearing a chest protector and helmet, according to a Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center report on the fatality. He carried an avalanche airbag to keep him atop the snow should a slide occur. Along with his three fellow riders, Becker had attended avalanche education courses, and they all carried rescue gear and beacons. At the time the group was riding west of West Yellowstone on Ski Hill, the avalanche danger was rated low. The group was familiar with the area, having ridden there for a dozen or more winters.

Yet while motoring alone up a slope, Beckers sled triggered a small avalanche that broke 4 to 11 inches deep across 75 feet, sweeping him downhill into a tree where he was buried and died of asphyxiation. His fellow riders didnt witness the accident, so Becker wasnt dug out for an estimated 15 to 25 minutes. Despite CPR, Becker could not be revived.

What was working against him was the fact he was above a terrain trap, said Doug Chabot, director of the GNFAC. Even though it was a small hill, the consequences were high.

A similar situation occurred outside of Cooke City on Sawtooth Mountain on Feb. 2, Chabot noted. A skier triggered an avalanche on a steep, rocky, south-facing slope and was swept almost 600 feet downhill, partially burying him. Luckily, his partner was able to dig him out in less than two minutes.

Thats somewhat similar because the terrain has big consequences, Chabot said. You cant make a mistake.

Similar terrain traps are creek drainages with steep yet small slopes, he noted.

Becker is the third snowmobiler to die in Montana this winter. Two other riders were killed in December near Cooke City. A fourth snowmobiler was killed in Big Sky when he crashed into a tree. Nationally, four snowmobilers have died in avalanches this winter along with five other avalanche fatalities in states across the West. Last winter set a record for 37 avalanche deaths, topping the 36 killed in the 2009-10 season.

The slide in the Lionhead Mountains occurred at an elevation of 8,125 feet in an area known to avalanche. In 2012 a large slide on the slope broke off trees, according to the GNFAC. After 7 to 8 feet of snow piled up in the region in December, snowfall had been minimal for the past month, with only 14 inches falling.

Weve got in this zone of low danger, but sprinkled in the mountains are these little spots of instability, Chabot said. Low danger doesnt mean no danger. There are a few places that can catch you off-guard. Its unfortunate.

More snow would help, Chabot said, although that would bury the top 18 inches of current snow that has several weak layers within it.

Once it starts to snow, we start to load it and will have widespread avalanches, he said.

On the other hand, As we go longer without snow, people go farther and wider to look for untracked snow, Chabot said, leading them to places like the Ski Hill terrain trap.

Last February had record-breaking snowfall, but the 14 day outlook is for normal to below normal precipitation and above average temperatures. On Friday, however, the Beartooth Front between Red Lodge and Nye and the east side of the Bighorn Mountains were under a winter weather advisory with 2 to 4 inches of snow forecast.

Nowhere has a lot of snow, but were still getting some, Chabot said.

That attracts riders and skiers from the region, as well as from across the United States, to popular snowmobiling areas like the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, Cooke City and West Yellowstone regions.

A funeral mass will be held for Becker at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, Becker's family has requested that memorials be directed to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bradie's name.

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I deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. My unit was tasked with training members of the Afghan National Army and National Police. Day and night, we lived together, worked together, and ate together. I quickly learned there were so many Afghan people caught up in turmoil but yearning to be free.

These Afghans were our partners. They fought alongside Americans, gave us valuable information, interpreted language and customs, and provided resources we needed to do our jobs.

The best word I have for these allies is indispensable.

As I watched the chaotic military evacuation from Afghanistan last year, my mind weighed heavy with thoughts of our Afghan allies who were now in grave danger. Three interpreters I know are still stuck in Afghanistan, hiding for fear of retribution. Because they helped U.S. troops, they and other allies face certain death at the hands of the Taliban.

The disturbing images of desperate Afghans clinging to the sides of moving airplanes tells you all you need to know about the fear many were and still are facing on the ground.

As Afghan refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants are resettling here in Montana, it is my duty, and the duty of this state with a love for freedom, to assist in resettlement efforts for those who risked so much to help us.

I know that statement is met with some trepidation. But the fears about vetting and potential danger linked to refugees are overstated.

Refugees, especially SIV applicants, are the most heavily vetted immigrant group to enter this country. They go through rigorous background checks, and their information is run through multiple U.S. agency databases. SIVs must have documented history of working with the U.S. and must have recommendations from service members or embassy officials.

Overall, research finds no relationship between U.S. refugee resettlement and increased crime. The instances where a resettled refugee does commit a crime are the exception, not the rule. Any Afghans who do commit crimes after arriving here should of course be held accountable like anyone else. But they shouldnt dictate how we view Afghan refugees as a whole.

Fellow Afghanistan veterans and I served alongside some of the most incredible Afghan people. They came to our aid, they helped us accomplish our missions, and in some cases, they saved our lives. In return, we promised wed protect them and their families.

Caring for the Afghan refugees here in Montana is how we honor that promise.

My organization, Concerned Veterans for America Foundation, has led donation drives to ensure those being housed on nearby bases had the resources they needed  food, clothing, toiletries, housing, and even toys for their children. Every day we partner up with other nonprofits doing resettlement work to maximize our efforts. I encourage you to connect with CVA Foundation or another nonprofit to get involved in our work.

Helping those who helped us is our responsibility. That is who we are as veterans and who we are as Americans.

I hope you will join me in welcoming our Afghan allies and their families to Montana.

Chris Enget is a grassroots engagement director with Concerned Veterans for America Foundation and a U.S. Army veteran. He lives in Billings.

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Dozens of local government positions in the Burleigh-Morton area are up for election in 2022, along with some area judgeships.

The June 14 election is used to elect city commissioners, park board members and school board members, and it functions as a primary for countywide and judgeship races. The general election is Nov. 8.

City elections

Several municipal seats are up for grabs in Bismarck and Mandan.

In Bismarck, the mayor, two city commissioner positions and three Park Board commissioner spots are up for election this year. Each position is a four-year term.

Candidates must submit a statement of interest and collect 300 signatures from Bismarck residents to get on the ballot, though election administrators suggest collecting 350 in case some signatures are not considered valid. Post office boxes are not considered a valid address. The filing deadline is 4 p.m. on April 11. Signatures must be submitted to the city administration department.

Three Bismarck Public School Board positions are open as well. Board members serve four-year terms. Those interested must file their statements of intent to the Office of Business and Operations by April 11.

Two Mandan City Commission spots, three Mandan Park Board seats and three Mandan School Board positions are up for election. Commission and park board members serve four-year terms, while school board member terms are three years.

Commission and park board candidates must submit a statement of interest and a nomination form with at least 300 signatures by 4 p.m. April 11 to the city administration office, and school board candidates need to submit their statement of interest to Mandan Public Schools Business Manager Ryan Lagasse by the same date.

Countywide races

In Morton County, two County Commission spots and the auditor, recorder, treasurer, sheriff and state's attorney positions all are up for election. Those positions are four-year terms.

Each position requires a different number of signatures on the nomination form, and forms must be submitted to the county auditor by April 11. The minimum signature requirements are:

Auditor, 242

Commissioner, 225

Recorder, 239

Sheriff, 275

State's attorney, 259

Treasurer, 240

In Burleigh County, the offices of auditor/treasurer, recorder, sheriff and states attorney are up for grabs, along with three County Commission seats. The positions are four-year terms.

Candidates for a countywide position must submit a nomination form with at least 300 signatures to the county auditor's office by April 11.

County candidates will run in the primary election in June, and the top two vote-getters will move on to the general election later in the year.

Judges

Four judgeships in the South Central Judicial District are up for election in 2022.

District judges serve six-year terms. Judgeships Nos. 2 and 5 are up for reelection this year.

The terms for judgeships Nos. 6 and 10 do not expire until 2026, but both positions are filled by appointees who have to now be on the ballot.

To run, candidates must submit a petition with at least 300 signatures to the North Dakota Secretary of State's office by 4 p.m. April 11.

The top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election.

More information on how to run for office can be found at vote.nd.gov.

Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com.

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The family of a Mandan man who died after a traffic stop two years ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and several police officers.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday on the second anniversary of John Ernie Prudentes death alleges officers stopped him based on an arrest warrant for an unpaid parking ticket that was in his fathers name, used unreasonable force, werent adequately trained, and were told Prudente had mental health issues but acted with deliberate indifference to his medical needs.

The suit claims the city is at fault for failing to "train, supervise and control employees in the dangers of repeated Taser shocks" and restraint methods on people with pre-existing medical conditions. It further alleges the officers' conduct "constitutes a pattern of constitutional violations" by the police department.

The suit seeks unspecified money damages for emotional distress, burial and related expenses. It also seeks punitive damages, which are awarded to punish a defendant.

The city and police did not immediately file a response to the lawsuit. Deputy Police Chief Lori Flaten on Wednesday told the Tribune she had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

Police said Prudente, 36, drove off after they initiated a traffic stop on Feb. 8, 2020, pulled into the driveway of a home owned by his father, fought with officers and continued to struggle after being handcuffed. He then became limp and unresponsive, police said. Officers administered CPR, used an external defibrillator and gave Prudente a dose of Narcan. He was transported to a Bismarck hospital, and police learned later that he had died.

The lawsuit alleges Prudente drove from the traffic stop to his home and that Officer Mary Hamilton and Sgt. David Raugust followed him inside. Prudente lived with his parents, who told the officers he had mental health issues. Hamilton used her Taser on Prudente for one, five, and three seconds, and Raugust used his once for five seconds, the document states.

The police department has not commented on whether a Taser was used.

Autopsy reports showed Prudente died of excited delirium as a result of methamphetamine use and underlying diagnoses. Raugust and Hamilton were placed on administrative leave after the incident. They returned to duty after an investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation concluded the officers had not committed a crime, Flaten said at the time. The autopsy showed no evidence of the use of excessive force, she said.

Excited or agitated delirium is characterized by agitation, aggression, acute distress and sudden death, often in the pre-hospital care setting, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, part of a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The syndrome is associated with the use of drugs that alter dopamine processing, hypothermia, and most notably, sometimes with death of the affected person in the custody of law enforcement, according to the center. A treatment plan has not been established in part because most patients die before arriving at a hospital.

Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union have questioned the use of "excited delirium" as a medical term.

Grand Forks attorney Amanda Corey said Prudentes family looks forward to finding out the truth about what happened to their son and brother and wants to see that justice is served. Corey represents Prudentes parents, John Prudente Sr. and Sandra Prudente, and his sister, Cody Prudente, who is listed as the representative of his estate.

Raugust, Hamilton, Officers Joshua Scherr and Dominic Hanson, Lt. Peter Czapiewski and the city of Mandan are named as defendants in the suit. Court documents dont list an attorney for them.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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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.

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Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes iconic dissenting opinion in Abrams v. United States (1919) transformed the Clear and Present Danger Test from its status as an apology for the repression of speech to protection of the right, in times of peace and war, to criticize governmental conduct and authority. With his dissent, Holmes changed the horizons of protected speech.

Seldom in the annals of Supreme Court decisions has a dissenting opinion attained landmark status and pointed the way for a commitment to freedom and liberty. In an about-face, just nine months after his trail-blazing opinion in Schenck v. United States setting forth the danger test that all but denied protection for wartime challenges to governmental authority, Justice Holmes declared in Abrams that even during a war, the principle of the right to free speech is always the same. For Holmes, only the present danger of immediate evil, or the intent to bring it about, warrants restriction. Holmes reformulation of the danger test became a fundamental tenet of libertarianism.

The facts in Abrams were very similar to those in Schenck. While the United States was still engaged in World War I against Germany, Abrams and three colleagues distributed leaflets that called for a general strike and made special appeals to workers in munitions factories. Abrams was protesting Americas deployment of troops to White Russia in the context of the Russian revolution. He argued that the expeditionary force violated international law.

The Court upheld the conviction of Abrams for violating the Espionage Act of 1917, for the same reason that it had upheld the Espionage Act conviction of Schenck. The Court concluded that the purpose of Abrams leaflets was to undermine and obstruct the general war effort. Justice John Clarke wrote the Courts opinion, which drew heavily upon Holmess reasoning in Schenck and declared that Abrams assertion of a First Amendment right to distribute the leaflets was negatived by Schenck.

Holmes could have written the majority opinion in Abrams, utilizing the danger test to limit, rather than protect speech, as he had in Schenck, but a summer of reading, reflection and dialogue with his critics, had changed his thinking about the formulation of the standard.

Joined in dissent by Justice Louis Brandeis, Holmes revised test in determining protected from unprotected speech was to identify a specific attempt to produce an unlawful act. The danger of an unlawful act, moreover, could not be remote, but must be immediate. Speech should be protected, Holmes held, unless an immediate check is required to save the country. Abrams leaflets, Holmes concluded, lacked the necessary elements of specificity and immediacy. Any connection between Abrams leaflets and illegal activity was simply too remote to justify conviction under the Espionage Act.

There was another decisive factor in Holmes reasoning, one borrowed from a critic of his opinion in Schenck that would resonate for decades in scholarly critiques. Abrams, Holmes declared, could not possibly have presented a Clear and Present Danger to the United States since he was but a puny anonymity, an unknown man  too inarticulate, uninfluential and unpersuasive  who wrote a silly leaflet that could not possibly rally the masses to obstruct Americas wartime campaign.

Holmes final paragraph accounts for the iconic status of his dissenting opinion. He focused there on the connection between free speech, the search for truth and the value of experimentation in the marketplace of ideas. His language stirred memories of the eloquent defense of freedom of speech supplied by John Milton and John Stuart Mill.

Persecution for the expression of opinions seems to me perfectly logical, Holmes wrote, but when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by the free trade in ideas. The best test of the truth of an idea, he asserted, is ability to get itself accepted in the competition of the market  and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out. That at any rate is the theory of our Constitution. It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment.

Holmes appeal to the tolerance of ideas, even those that we loathe, precisely because time has upset many fighting faiths, has been characterized as a document of liberty. Premature governmental interference with speech will prevent the circulation, consideration and public scrutiny of opinions that power the engine of democracy and the formation of governing majorities.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the best ideas will emerge. It is possible that destructive ideas may gain prominence in the minds of Americans and dominate the marketplace. It is possible that a majority may form that temporarily imposes authoritarianism and censorship and closes the competition of the marketplace. There is no failsafe mechanism that affords protection from dangerous ideas, except for more speech, speech to counteract speech, as Justice Brandeis famously wrote in 1927, in Whitney v. California.

In the end, we place our trust in freedom of speech as a means of guiding and governing our nation. That is the theory of our Constitution, as Holmes wrote. There may be a better alternative, but it has yet to be suggested.

David Adler is president of The Alturas Institute.

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RTHK: 'Everything on the table' to end trucker blockade

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said an occupation of the capital Ottawa and trucker-led blockades of vital trade links to the United States over Covid rules must end.

"Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end and it will end," he told a news conference, refraining from sharing further details for reasons of operational security.

In response to questions, the prime minister said sending in the army to clear trucks from the capital and at three border crossings in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario is not on the table, saying "we're a long way from having to call in the military".

"It is not something we are seriously contemplating at this time," he said, adding: "Using military forces against civilian populations in Canada or any other democracy is something to avoid having to do at all costs."

"The solution right now is police forces enforcing the law and protecting public order."

Speaking directly to the protesters, he said: "It's time to go home," while warning that they are "breaking the law" and that "the consequences are becoming more and more severe".

Ontario province earlier declared a state of emergency and warned protesters they could face jail and hefty fines if they don't disperse.

It also obtained a court order barring funding of the demonstrations and protesters from tapping millions of dollars raised on the fundraising platform GiveSendGo.

"Canadian banks are monitoring financial activity very closely and taking action as necessary," Trudeau said.

He also said he spoke with US President Joe Biden about American callers jamming Ottawa 911 emergency lines with fake calls and illegal funding of the demonstrations.

Canada's self-styled "Freedom Convoy" began last month in the country's west  launched in anger at requirements that truckers either be vaccinated, or test and isolate, when crossing the US-Canada border. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov has inaugurated a new military infrastructure in liberated Kalbajar region, the Defence Ministry has reported.

Hasanov was briefed that all necessary conditions had been created for military personnel in the facility, the report added.

The infrastructure is provided with modern equipment, furniture, and inventory to meet all necessary needs. There is a weapon room, barrack, canteen, kitchen, medical point, food warehouse, amenity premise, bath and sanitary facilities, and generators that provide the area with an uninterrupted power supply. The building is provided with electricity, water pipelines, and communication lines, as well as central heating and fire alarm systems. Taking into account the more severe climatic conditions, modern wood-burning stoves are additionally installed in the barracks, the ministry said.

Hasanov inspected the canteen and was reported that there is a modern kitchen and food warehouse, as well as a day room for workers responsible for serving hot meals to servicemen.

It was also mentioned that the canteen had contemporary baking equipment to provide fresh bread to military troops. In the canteen, all sanitary and hygienic requirements are rigorously enforced.

Hasanov was informed when examining the military vehicle park that the new tracked snowmobiles are used to guarantee that people and freight are carried without interruption in difficult terrain and icy places.

The defence minister questioned about the status of the drills, which are being conducted with personnel in accordance with the combat training plan.

He was briefed that the servicemen had been given special equipment to help them move about.

Hasanov gave relevant instructions on how to enhance military personnel's social and living standards while keeping a high degree of combat readiness.




Three people are in custody after police executed search warrants at two Mandan residences and confiscated more than 5,000 illegal pills and thousands of dollars in cash.

Two people were arrested after police allegedly found 5,000 fentanyl pills, two handguns and more than $40,000 in cash in a Collins Avenue apartment. In a separate case, a man in possession of more than 40 pills in a First Street Northeast residence told police he'd sold 2,000 of them in the past several months.

David Jeffrie, 29, and Hashannah Sawyer, 25, are charged with drug possession with intent to deliver, according to court records. They face the possibility of 20 years in prison if convicted.

Jeffrie and Sawyer were at the Collins Avenue apartment Tuesday when police executed a search warrant, according to an affidavit. Nearly $1,400 cash and about 1,000 of the pills were in a Tupperware container in a shoe rack, another 4,000 pills were found in the framework of a bed, and police also found $38,000 in a safe, the affidavit states.

Officers said they found a single-shot .22-caliber handgun and a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in a dresser drawer. The .22 had a round in the chamber and the hammer was cocked, police said.

Jeffrie was in custody pending $100,000 bail. Sawyers bail was set at $50,000.

Police arrested Maurice Collins, 21, after finding 44 fentanyl pills in his First Street Northeast residence, according to a separate affidavit. Collins told police he made $25 from the sale of each pill, which he sold for profit and to pay off a drug debt, the affidavit states. He's charged with drug possession with intent to deliver and is in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail. A conviction could send him to prison for 20 years.

All three made their initial court appearances Wednesday. Attorneys aren't listed for them in court documents.

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A judge has sentenced an Almont man convicted of assaulting his uncle to six years in prison.

A Morton County jury in October found Eric Johnson, 36, guilty of aggravated assault. He was acquitted on charges of attempted murder and terrorizing, court documents show.

Johnson allegedly attacked his uncle on Feb. 28, 2021, while the man was working cattle. Johnson was carrying a rifle and told his uncle that if he didn't commit suicide Johnson would beat him to death, according to an affidavit filed by the Morton County Sheriff's Office.

South Central District Judge James Hill suspended four years of a 10-year prison sentence. Johnson must also spend four years on probation after his release.

Defense attorney William Thomason did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The omicron wave is waning in North Dakota, but the highly contagious COVID-19 variant still dominates in the state.

Meanwhile, state health officials on Friday reported five more coronavirus-related deaths, making January the state's seventh-deadliest month of the pandemic that's now in its 24th month.

Confirmed cases of omicron increased by 34% from last week, according to data provided by Kirby Kruger, head of the Health Department's disease control division and forensic pathology section.

This past week, we had 498 sequenced samples reported and 475 (95.4%) were omicron, Kruger said in an emailed statement to the Tribune. Overall since omicron was first confirmed in North Dakota on Dec. 19, there have been 2,919 sequenced samples reported and 1,875 (64.2%) have been omicron; the remainder has been delta.

About 5-10% of total positive COVID-19 tests weekly undergo a more complex process at the state lab through which variants are determined -- enough to give state health officials a sufficient sample size.

Omicron has pushed out delta in recent weeks to become the dominant variant. State officials over the past week also confirmed a second case of an omicron descendant known as BA.2, which has recently emerged around the globe. It's widely considered by scientists to be stealthier than the original version of omicron, and some scientists worry it could be more contagious. But Kruger said the proportion of BA.2 to the original omicron is very small in both North Dakota and the U.S.

I am not seeing indications that this particular subvariant is impacting our decline in cases right now, he said. We are early in the emergence of this subvariant in the United States. We also still have much to learn, especially regarding how well this particular subvariant may escape immunity from either vaccination or having a previous infection.

Confirmed delta cases in North Dakota increased only half a percent this week. Delta was first confirmed in the state in late June, and it pushed out other variants before yielding to omicron's dominance. There have been no new cases of the alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon or mu variants since late September.

There have been 515 hospitalizations and 95 deaths tied to variants in North Dakota, with the bulk of them linked to delta. There have been 31 documented omicron hospitalizations. State officials last week reported three omicron deaths but corrected the total this week to one.

Daily data

The Health Department's coronavirus dashboard on Friday showed five more virus-related deaths, pushing the pandemic total to 2,151, with 98 of those deaths in January. Monthly totals lag because state law allows for 10 days for death certificates to be filed.

December had been the seventh-deadliest month, with 96 deaths. A surge that began last fall during the height of the delta wave resulted in an even 500 deaths in the four-month period from October through January -- almost one-fourth of all pandemic deaths in the state. There have been another 25 deaths in February.

There was a five-month surge that began in September 2020 before the availability of vaccines that accounted for more than half of North Dakota's pandemic deaths.

The state no longer publicly reports the county, sex and age range of newly confirmed deaths. The dashboard death totals for Burleigh and Morton counties each rose by one Friday, to 292 and 140, respectively, as did the total for state-leading Cass County, home to Fargo, which now has 319 deaths.

Active cases of COVID-19 statewide remained relatively stable Friday, at 3,563, with 731 in Burleigh-Morton.

The state's reported 14-day rolling test positivity rate fell again, to 13.14%, the lowest total in a month. The state target is less than 5%.

COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped for a fourth straight day, to 123. The most recent state data showed about 9% of staffed inpatient hospital beds available statewide and about 7% of intensive care unit beds open. In Bismarck, neither CHI St. Alexius Health nor Sanford Health had any open general care beds. CHI St. Alexius had two available staffed ICU beds; Sanford had none.

There have been 234,205 confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Dakota since the pandemic began in March 2020, including 660 reported Friday -- the seventh consecutive day of a sub-1,000 daily total. The record daily total of 3,131 was reported just three weeks ago, amid the height of the omicron spike.

There have been 228,491 pandemic recoveries and 7,677 hospitalizations in North Dakota.

More information

North Dakota has one of the worst COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country, according to the CDC. Agency data shows 65% of adults in the state being fully vaccinated. The rate for all vaccine-eligible people in the state -- age 5 and older -- is 58.3%.

The CDC also recommends COVID-19 booster shots for people ages 12 and older; 47.5% of North Dakota adults and 19.5% of adolescents have received one, according to state data.

The coronavirus transmission risk is considered high in all of North Dakota's 53 counties except Slope, according to the CDC's COVID-19 data tracker website. The CDC recommends people in that risk category wear masks in public indoor settings.

People can go to https://www.ndvax.org or call 866-207-2880 to see where COVID-19 vaccine is available near them. A list of free COVID-19 testing offered by local public health units is at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. For more detailed information on coronavirus in North Dakota, go to www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus. For more information on coronavirus variants, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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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.

***

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

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Former state Sen. Tracy Potter is running for the Bismarck-area seat he once held.

Potter announced Thursday he is seeking the Democratic-NPL endorsement for the District 35 Senate seat he held from 2006-10.

Incumbent Sen. Erin Oban, D-Bismarck, is not running again, citing a divisive nature of politics. She was first elected in 2014 and is the only Democrat from Bismarck in the Legislature.

Potter said he is running on his experience as a former lawmaker.

"I've been there before, I understand it, and I think maybe experience is more valuable in the next session than it's been in a long time," he said, referencing the coming departures of three of four legislative leaders. "It seems to me that experience is going to be needed and a certain amount of seriousness in how the Senate conducts its business."

He said he would focus on advancing property tax relief and improving treatment of state employees.

Potter is an author and historian, and is retired from a career in heritage tourism. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of North Dakota.

Potter made unsuccessful bids for U.S. Senate in 2010, state superintendent in 2012, District 35 House in 2014, and Burleigh County auditor/treasurer in 2020.

The District 35 Senate race was the most expensive North Dakota legislative race in 2018, when Oban beat former state Republican Party Chairman Gary Emineth.

Republicans Sean Cleary and Ryan Eckroth are seeking their party's endorsement to run for the seat this year.

District 35 Democrats' endorsing convention is Feb. 26. The Republicans' district convention is Feb. 17.

Ninety-eight seats in the Legislature are on the ballot this year, more than is usual due to redistricting, which is done every 10 years with new census data.

Republicans control the House of Representative 80-14 and the Senate 40-7.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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It is clear to me that part of his philosophy of life was to live with integrity, a commitment to live honestly, to say what he meant, to have his words mean something, to share his vision, and to treat others, even political rivals, with dignity and respect, even when he wasnt always afforded the same consideration."

-- Peggy Stenehjem-Titus, giving the eulogy at the funeral of her brother, late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

q q q

I am deeply humbled by the faith that Gov. Burgum has placed in me, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of North Dakota. During my service, I will always be mindful of the outstanding work of my friend Wayne Stenehjem, and I will keep his memory near as we all navigate the path ahead.

-- Former U.S. Attorney and former Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, after being appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum to fill out the term of the late Wayne Stenehjem, who died unexpectedly on Jan. 28 from cardiac arrest.

q q q

"It will be much more difficult to remove the letters. I do not recommend you attempt to do so."

-- State Facilities Management Director John Boyle, as the state spends $16,530 to replace the letters on the sign outside the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum following vandalism and thefts last year.

q q q

"It's a day that brings out the best in the community."

-- Amber DeKrey, director of Giving Hearts Day, an annual statewide fundraiser for charities.

q q q

"People think Williston is the edge of the world and that there's nothing for anybody here. And in all of these areas, we all need the same services that the bigger communities do."

-- Williston attorney Taylor Olson, who helped champion a bill in the 2021 Legislature that created a recruitment program aimed at addressing a shortage of attorneys in rural North Dakota.

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My decision today upholds decades of existing precedent holding that the Missouri riverbed belongs to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation. Todays action, based on extensive historical and legal review, underscores the Departments commitment to upholding its trust and treaty obligations in accordance with the law.

-- U.S. Interior Department Solicitor Bob Anderson, issuing an opinion that mineral rights under the original Missouri River riverbed belong to the tribe, not to the state.

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"The variant is fairly new, and its real-world impacts are not totally predictable. We will watch what happens in Europe and South Africa and through our surveillance systems in North Dakota."

-- Kirby Kruger, head of the Health Department's disease control division and forensic pathology section, after the confirmation in North Dakota of an omicron coronavirus variant descendant that scientists say is stealthier than the original.

q q q

"Transmission was the weakest link north of Lake Sakakawea prior to this."

-- North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad, after WBI Energy's $260 million North Bakken Expansion natural gas pipeline came online.

q q q

"North Dakota and much of the western United States were hard hit with drought in 2021 -- and those dry conditions linger. We heard in an outlook report yesterday by CattleFax that two-thirds of the nation's cowherd is in dry or drought conditions. Of those, 40% are in drought. We appreciate USDA's announcement this morning to help with the increased feed costs and reduced resources to help sustain our herds, and we look forward to learning more about the details."

-- New Rockford rancher and North Dakota Stockmen's Association President Jeff Schafer, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will begin doling out drought disaster aid to ranchers in March.

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February 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the military coup that has seen widespread chaos and destruction in Burma. Nevertheless, a younger generation continues to fight for democratic ideals against terrible odds. []

A year ago Burmas military staged a coup. The junta has since killed at least 1,500 people and detained another 12,000, of whom nearly 9,000 remain in custody. A couple thousand sought by the regime are in hiding. The United Nations estimates that 2,200 civilian homes and other buildings have been destroyed and some 320,000 people have been displaced by spreading violence. Still the Burmese people have refused to submit.

Two Burmas have emerged: (1) a military regime too strong to be dislodged by civilian protest alone, and (2) a youthful population that has tasted freedom over the past decade and will not submit to a murderous dictatorship. Observed analyst Richard Horsey: With neither side in a position to deliver a decisive blow to the other, a protracted and increasingly violent confrontation appears inevitable. Burma has become essentially ungovernable, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Burma, or Myanmar as designated by an earlier junta, has suffered under military rule for six decades. In 2010 the Tatmadaw, as the Burmese armed forces are known, created a democratic facade for its continued control. Human Rights Watch then assessed the regimes record: The junta continued to systematically deny all basic freedoms to citizens and sharply constrained political participation. The rights of freedom of expression, association, assembly, and media remained severely curtailed. The government took no significant steps during the year to release more than 2,100 political prisoners being held.

The Tatmadaw imposed a constitution that left it in control of the armed forces and three security-oriented ministries, gave a quarter of the legislative seats to the military, required a three-quarters vote to change the constitution, and barred Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency (by prohibiting anyone with a foreign spouse or child from serving as president).

However, Suu Kyi and the Burmese people outmaneuvered the Tatmadaw. Overwhelming popular support allowed her National League for Democracy (NLD) to form a government. She then served above the president in the newly created position of state counselor.

Suu Kyi later lost her global luster by defending the Tatmadaw after its brutal operations against the stateless Muslim Rohingya people. Suu Kyi turned out to be a Bamar-Buddhist nationalist with a political interest in shielding the military from foreign criticism. International disappointment over her actions was profoundand warranted. However, her stance does not diminish the cause of Burmese democracy.

Last February 1, the Tatmadaw imposed a state of emergency, arrested Suu Kyi and other members of the government and NLD, and appointed army commander Gen. Min Aung Hlaing prime minister. Why did he dismantle the system created by the military? His claim that the National League for Democracy committed mass fraud was risible. Most likely, after the NLDs landslide reelection victory in which the Tatmadaws puppet political party received few votes, Hlaing realized he would never be able to form even a coalition government or claim the presidency. Instead, the civilian government would continue to gain legitimacy against the military.

So Hlaing hit reset and hoped to restructure the system to ensure continued military dominance. He apparently consulted the Thai government, similarly a military junta with a democratic veneer. Through a rigged constitution and control of civilian institutions, the Thai military imprisons critics, disbands political parties, and forms governments. Hlaing pledged a future election but filed multiple bogus criminal charges against Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders, intending to bar them from politics. The Tatmadaw also is expected to outlaw the NLD in hopes of fragmenting the opposition, a tactic used by the Thai military.

The Tatmadaw, which before ruled with little opposition, apparently expected continued obedience. However, it underestimated the change in Burmese society over the past decade. The population is younger, used to greater freedom, and familiar with the world beyond.

Mass demonstrations erupted, which the Tatmadaw put down with ruthless violence. Reported the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Security forces escalated violence, relying increasingly on lethal force, even employing military tactics and combat-grade weaponry, including semi-automatic rifles, snipers, and live ammunition, to disperse peaceful assemblies. In March and early April, use of lethal weapons, alongside unnecessary and disproportionate use of less-lethal weapons, led to a dramatic increase in arbitrary killings and wounding of peaceful protesters, including many children.

Arrests soared. According to OHCHR, the Tatmadaw published daily lists of individuals wanted for arrest  primarily Myanmar celebrities, artists, doctors, educators, nurses, and others for their criticism of the coup or other opposition activities. Moreover, military authorities have also taken at least 93 family members into custody in lieu of wanted individuals, presumably to pressure those in hiding to surrender themselves.

So protesters shifted tactics. Flash mobs emerge d and dispersed before the Tatmadaw could respond. Silent strikes emptied streets and closed shops. Widespread civil disobedience stifled bureaucracies and businesses. The economy shrank by a fifth. Reported OHCHR:

Myanmars economy has been crippled, largely resulting from mass worker strikes across sectors, including banking, transport, and logistics. Banking has been virtually brought to a standstill, severely limiting peoples access to cash and rendering businesses unable to make or receive payments. Disruptions in the banking system have also reduced domestic and international remittance inflows, which provided an important source of income for millions of households.

Moreover, democracy activists took up arms. According to OHCHR: Armed elements began to form in many areas of Myanmar, some of which grew out of community-based neighborhood watch movements or local formations that demanded detainee releases or tried to protect demonstrators. Others banded together to launch attacks against security forces to secure control of their local areas.

Some of the urban insurgents have been trained by and cooperate with more traditional rural ethnic forces, many of whom have returned to combat, stretching the Tatmadaws resources. Observed Horsey: Resistance groups are getting more sophisticated at targeting regime forces, and increasingly cooperating with various ethnic armed groups, some of which have significant military capabilities. Hlaings plan to install a puppet civilian regime looks increasingly detached from reality.

The most profound change, according to Janes security analyst Anthony Davis, is that political legitimacy, political credibility has essentially evaporated. Before the Tatmadaw was respected, though disliked. No longer.

As opposition hardened, junta brutality increased. In mid-December, Human Rights Watch reported: In a year where atrocities by Myanmars military have been commonplace, credible reports of a massacre of 11 people, including 5 children, who were bound, shot, and then burned, have sparked revulsion and outrage.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case: The killingsand the burnings of the bodiesbear all the hallmarks of the Myanmar military. Decades of impunity for the worst crimes have created a mindset that soldiers can brazenly commit such atrocities without fear of being held accountable. Human Rights Watch has previously documented the Myanmar militarys scorched earth campaigns in ethnic minority areas in Kachin and Karen States, and in Rakhine State against the ethnic Rohingya and Rakhine populations. Similar tactics are being used elsewhere.

Outside pressure on the Tatmadaw so far has been ineffective. The Burmese people almost certainly face substantially more suffering and hardship. Warned OHCHR: The coup has evolved into a human rights catastrophe that shows no signs of abating. The priority for people of good will around the world should be to assist the Burmese people as they fight for human rights and dignity, as well as democracy and peace in their beleaguered country.
Maria Repnikova is Assistant Professor in Global Communication at Georgia State University and 202021 Wilson Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Her new book, Chinese Soft Power (Cambridge University Press, 2021) analyzes the origins of Chinese soft power, the political motivations and ideologies behind it, the institutions involved in promoting it and the efficacy of its instruments globally as a lens to view Chinese soft power in the 21st century.

When did you first get the idea to write this book?

I first got the idea in the fall of 2019 following a conversation with Professor Ching Kwan Lee, editor of the Global China Element series for Cambridge University Press. She encouraged me to write a book that synthesizes what we know so far about Chinese soft power, including its key mechanisms, like media and education, as well as the conceptual thinking about soft power in Chinese academy and policy community. I have been thinking and studying Chinese soft power since approximately 2017 though, starting with Chinas external communication practices via state media outlets.

What did you glean from the study about the kind of soft power China creates and exercises?

I found that Chinese visions of soft power are influenced by the original concept coined by Joseph Nye, but they also diverge from it in some ways. For instance, Chinese interpretation of soft power is more fluid when it comes to separating between hard and soft power resources, as well as between domestic and external audiences of its diplomatic initiatives. As for how China exercises its soft power, there are some important converging trends, such as the increasing dynamism and localization of Chinese soft power initiatives, their ambiguous global reception and some operational challenges, including limited measurement of audience feedback and in some cases, resource shortages.

Overall, we see some discrepancy between the grand ambitions and resources invested into soft power and the mixed impact on the ground. Though I would argue that some initiatives, such as education exchanges and small-scale diplomatic forums and spectacles, are more likely to be effective than more indirect channels like Chinese state-owned media broadcasting.

You found that the effectiveness of Chinese soft power initiatives varies across regions. What are the key variations in your analysis?

I find that Chinese soft power initiatives are more dynamic in the Global South where we see more active experimentation with localizing production and marketing, as well as more potential in shaping public opinion in the absence of significant competition from the West. For instance, there is a major uptick in scholarships and trainings for students and elites from the African continent, but also from other regions in the Global South, including Latin America and Southeast Asia. These immersive trips to China are impactful in sparking inspiration, though studies show that visitors, especially those partaking in long-term degree programs, also have mixed experiences with the quality of education and in some cases with integration into Chinese society.

Other than in the education realm, there is also vast potential for Chinese soft power via communication infrastructure as part of the Digital Silk Road, including provision of Internet and digital television access, but also in sales of affordable smart phones. The communication infrastructure space is important to observe closely in the study of Chinese soft power in the Global South.

In what way is the book you wrote different from the book you set out to write?

I have initially set out to write more of a synthesis of the existing literature on Chinese soft power, but I ended up writing more about how Chinese soft power is imagined and implemented. For instance, I explore in this book the re-interpretation of Nyes original concept by Chinese intellectuals and how in many ways soft power is seen as critical for Chinas rise, yet it is understood in rather ambiguous terms. Some argue that the key to Chinese soft power is traditional culture, others invoke Chinas development model and economic success, and others emphasize Chinese history and ideology.

I also ended up paying attention to domestic audiences and domestic drivers of Chinese soft power initiatives more than I had anticipated in the beginning. In analyzing the motivations for enhancing its soft power, I found that Chinese academics underscore domestic cultural cohesion and stability. In expanding cultural and media reach, it is also notable how domestic economic motivations can drive or reinforce some of these efforts. Chinese universities, for instance, can get more resources by attracting international students. Chinese state media outlets are looking to capture new markets as part of going out policy. Major diplomatic spectacles also often carry an economic component, including trade fares.

Chinese soft power is often interpreted as a grand political project, but when we unpack it, we find that the external motivations are often fused with domestic ones, such as the desire to shape domestic public opinion about Chinas global prowess, as well as to gain economic resources and practical benefits.

You wrote toward the end of the book that The study of Chinas soft power can also be significantly enriched with more comparative work. Can you expand on that?

Yes, I believe that more comparative work can be instructive in several ways. First, it can help us determine which features of Chinese soft power are distinctive. In what ways does Chinese soft power fit the larger global trend of public diplomacy and image management, and how might it diverge or differentiate itself from these trends? It can also help us reveal how Chinas soft power performance compares to those of other major powers. Here, I particularly emphasize the value of comparing China and the United States. Second, comparative work can help us grasp the varied impacts of Chinese soft power. By looking at how Chinese soft power operates in the Global North versus the Global South, or in contexts that are culturally similar and different, we can better map out and decipher the uneven implications of Chinas soft power expansion.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Nazar Isa Abdulhadi al-Khayrullah has expressed his country's readiness to share the experience with Azerbaijan in rehabilitating the latter's territories destroyed over the 30-year Armenian occupation.

The Iraqi minister made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku on February 9.

He noted the importance of developing bilateral relations. Nazar Isa Abdulhadi al-Khayrullah congratulated Azerbaijan on the efforts to ensure a peaceful future for the region, carrying out restoration work on the liberated lands.

Bayramov briefed the Iraqi minister about the post-war regional situation, the implementation of tripartite statements by Azerbaijan, large-scale reconstruction and construction carried out in the country's liberated territories, and the implementation of the necessary work to return internally displaced persons to their lands.

He also emphasized that bilateral relations are developing and expressed satisfaction with the level of political dialogue between the parties.

He recalled the meetings with his Iraqi counterpart within the framework of various international events over the past year. It was noted that the meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iraq last year, as well as the visit of the Iraqi oil minister, contributed to the expansion of bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Jeyhun Bayramov extended congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq, handed over a letter addressed to the Iraqi counterpart.

The parties exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani and Iraqi foreign ministries held political consultations. Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev led the Azerbaijani and Deputy Foreign Minister Nazar Isa Abdulhadi al-Khayrullah the Iraqi delegation. Within the framework of political consultations, discussions were held on a number of issues of cooperation.

Trade between the two countries amounted to $11 million in the first eight months of 2021.
The CIA long ago stopped trying to hide the fact that it regularly spies on Americans without a warrant. Every once in a while, a few congresspeople will feign concern, and the CIA will issue a bland statement that it obeys the law. Usually, no one will be held to account. In particularly grevious instances of illegal domestic spying, the CIA might find a mid-level official willing to retire, who will get set up in a lucrative career as a lobbyist or influence peddler.

This time, Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico sent a heavily redacted letter to the Director of National Intelligence asking it about secret database of information collected about U.S. citizens, which is outside the CIA's purview.

From AP:

There have long been concerns about what information the intelligence community collects domestically, driven in part by previous violations of Americans' civil liberties. The CIA and National Security Agency have a foreign mission and are generally barred from investigating Americans or U.S. businesses. But the spy agencies' sprawling collection of foreign communications often snares Americans' messages and data incidentally. Intelligence agencies are required to take steps to protect U.S. information, including redacting the names of any Americans from reports unless they are deemed relevant to an investigation. The process of removing redactions is known as "unmasking."

The CIA dusted off some old boilerplate and responded in a statement:

CIA recognizes and takes very seriously our obligation to respect the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons in the conduct of our vital national security mission. CIA is committed to transparency consistent with our obligation to protect intelligence sources and methods.

Doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better?
A self-proclaimed comedian from the largely unfunny state of Texas has been wasting time at civic meetings across the United States with unbelievable stories, frightening elected leaders that he might need mental health care, and trying to self-promote to little avail.

MarinIJ:

"He had me going for a while," said Benita McLarin, director of the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services. "I thought uh-oh. This guy's having a public meltdown. We need to get him some help."

Stein said, "I've called into probably 15 different cities  Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, New York City  Marin County has the best meeting I've ever been to. All these people speaking up. Why do so many people care in Marin? Whatever is in the water there has got the people stirred up, and I Iove it."

Stein loves it so much that he tried commenting again at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. Supervisor Katie Rice, the board president, had him cut off as soon as he began to speak.

"I want to go after Marin legally for shutting me down," Stein said when contacted later.
Troy Burke (45) says he shot his wife in the head three times in the head because his Qanon compatriots told him she was a transgender child of President Biden involved in a CIA child sex trafficking ring.

Burke is one of many Qanoners who kill people who don't share their politics. From Insider:

For some reason the judge declared Burke not guilty by reason of insanity, even though Qanoners pride themselves on being very stable geniuses.
Nobody is threatening gridlock or shutting down the U.S.-Canada border as groups are in Ottawa and at northern crossings over the past few days.

But local and out-of-town protesters are nevertheless heading for Buffalo and the Peace Bridge this weekend to show support for the growing movement against Covid-19 mandates started by Canadian truckers.

CDC warns Americans not to travel to Canada The CDC put Canada in its highest-risk category: Level Four, citing a "very high" risk of Covid-19 infection for travelers heading north.

"This is bigger than masks or vaccinations," said Penny Fay, who is helping to organize a "Convoy to Save America" from Nashville to Buffalo this weekend. "It's about trying to control you and taking away your freedoms."

Organizers hope to form another procession from Penn Station in Manhattan to the Peace Bridge that will combine with local rallies and demonstrations with speakers Saturday and Sunday in Pat Sole Park near the bridge entrance. Those behind the effort have no idea how many will show, but emphasize they have no plans to enter the international span, shut it down or disrupt traffic.

"Our plan is just a peaceful protest by a bunch of mama bears and papa bears," Fay said. "It's an effort to show Canada we support them. If other groups show, we want a peaceful demonstration and no problems."

'Now is not the time to travel': Canada to reimpose border testing requirement Tuesday Canadian officials, at a news briefing Friday, described the move as an attempt to discourage travel as the omicron variant spreads rapidly on both sides of the border.

Fay said her convoy, which is gaining attention on social media, will depart suburban Nashville at 8 a.m. Saturday, make several stops along the way and arrive in Buffalo before midnight. They plan a noontime "Freedom Party" near the Peace Bridge on Sunday.

A similar group leaves midtown Manhattan on Friday and will join Saturday's "slow roll" through downtown Buffalo organized by local opponents of Covid-19 mandates. Marcella Picone, an outspoken Buffalo activist since pandemic restrictions began in 2020, said her group will sponsor a parade of vehicles originating in the former Gander Mountain store parking lot in the City of Tonawanda at 11 a.m. Saturday, with plans to pass by Buffalo City Hall, the Rath County Office Building, the downtown offices of federal representatives, and, finally, at Pat Sole Park, where several speakers are set to address the crowd.

She said local groups such as Families Are Essential, the Constitutional Coalition and Rolling Patriots are involved, adding that her group has no intention to disrupt bridge traffic as protesters have at the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit/Windsor, or cause the gridlock caused by Canadian truckers descending upon Ottawa this week to protest mandates. She said the group simply wants to "stand in solidarity with the truckers and their movement."

"We're tired of the government dictating our lives," she said. "So we will have these groups jumping on the truckers' cause and to say we think we can manage our own affairs."

The truck protest at the Ambassador Bridge entered its fourth day early Thursday, affecting auto production on both sides of the border.

Picone, meanwhile, said organizers have no idea how many people will attend, but that more than 700 showed up at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on Jan. 29 to emphasize the same support for Canadian protesters.

"It's just to bring an awareness that something has got to give," she said.

The effort also appears to have no connection with Wednesday night's significant traffic backups on the Niagara Thruway, though long lines of northbound trucks stretching to Seneca Street may have stemmed from drivers choosing Buffalo to enter Canada rather than Detroit. A similar situation developed Wednesday for trucks waiting to enter Canada at the Lewiston-Queenston bridge. The backup extended the entire length of the bridge and past the duty-free store to the Upper Mountain Road bridge over Interstate 190.

Peace Bridge officials reported a 29% increase in truck traffic on Wednesday over last Wednesday.

"It could have been residual traffic diverting from Windsor," said Thomas A. Boyle, chief operating officer for the Peace Bridge Authority. "Are we 100% sure? No. But that's our presumption."

Peace Bridge officials would not offer any further comment.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Police Department and New York State Police said Thursday they are aware of social media plans for weekend rallies on the Buffalo side of the bridge, but are not sure what  if anything  they will confront.

"We're aware of it, we're looking into it and collaborating with the State Police," said Buffalo Deputy Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia on Thursday afternoon.

State Police issued their own statement earlier in the day, also indicating they were investigating and preparing.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry has dismissed claims about the shelling of the residence of temporarily stationed Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh, Trend has reported quoting the ministry.

"The information spread in the Armenian segment of social networks about the shelling of a residential building in the territory of Azerbaijan by units of the Azerbaijani army, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, is fake," the ministry said.

It is believed that the latest Armenian provocations on Azerbaijani territories under the Russian peacekeepers' control are aimed at setting the country against peacekeepers.

About 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed for five years in Karabakh under the trilateral cease-fire deal signed by Baku, Moscow and Yerevan on November 10, 2020. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw all its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it had occupied since the early 1990s.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

The deal also stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the peace deal, Azerbaijan liberated 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city that had been under Armenian occupation for about 30 years.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.

On December 14, 2021, during the Brussels meeting, organized between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders at the initiative of European Council President Charles Michel, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the conditions agreed in the Sochi meeting.

Both sides agreed to establish a temporary working group on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The issue of demining the liberated territories of Azerbaijan was also brought up on the agenda, and the European Union's readiness to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in this regard was underlined at the meeting.
In his latest opinion piece, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts uses Johnathan Swifts classic satire A Modest Proposal to argue against the censorship of books in schools, specifically Art Spieglemans graphic Holocaust novel Maus. In his article, Pitts states that Swifts 1729 work satirizes societys callousness towards children. This is historically inaccurate. In fact, its genesis satirizes Britains callousness towards its Irish subjects. And callousness is a major understatement. I dont understand how he could have gotten that so wrong.

I hope Pitts is not arguing in favor of just letting any book in any school, without some form of school board or parental review. I personally dont have a problem with Maus being available in High Schools. And of course, I dont have a problem with the teaching of the Holocaust in school. I do have a problem with certain books and topics being pushed in middle and elementary schools. As a middle school teacher for 32 years, I saw certain teachers push books and topics to little kids (10-year-olds) that were not age appropriate or suitable. And I was not alone.
By Kirsty Needham

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Tonga and China held a signing ceremony on Friday for construction equipment that will be used to build infrastructure in the tsunami-hit Pacific island, a day before the top U.S. diplomat arrives in the region to discuss development aid.

Tonga is in lockdown as it experiences it first COVID-19 outbreak, which has grown to 66 cases. Two Chinese navy ships carrying tsunami aid will reach Tonga next week.

A handover ceremony for more than 110 pieces of machinery including bulldozers, trucks and excavators dispatched from China before last month's volcanic eruption and tsunami was held on Friday. The equipment is a gift from by Beijing.

"These machines arrived at the right time and will be critical in the national reconstruction in the wake of the disasters," said Chinese ambassador Cao Xiaolin in a live-streamed ceremony outside Tonga's infrastructure ministry.

"Strong political will and perseverance is the two strong forces that keep us in contact and makes us much stronger," said Tonga's cabinet secretary Edgar Cocker at the ceremony, thanking Beijing.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Fiji on Saturday to reassure Pacific island leaders in a video meeting that Washington and its allies are committed to the region, and priorities including climate change and fisheries, as China steps up its influence.

Beijing's growing police and military links in the Pacific islands has concerned Canberra and Washington, analysts say.

A meeting of ministers from the Quad group of Australia, U.S., Japan and India on Friday is expected to discuss how to provide alternatives to Beijing's Belt and Road infrastructure program in the Indo-Pacific.

In Tonga, China says it has invested in fisheries and will also send police vehicles.

Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said on Friday Tonga was facing formidable challenges, after a volcanic eruption, tsunami and COVID-19 outbreak.

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"We are fortunate to have among our good friends countries like China to support us," he said.

Naval ships and defence planes from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Britain and the U.S. coordinated the delivery of water, food and other humanitarian supplies after the disaster, which destroyed homes and contaminated drinking water.

The ceremony comes a day after the Tongan Prime Minister's office issued a statement of "profound regret" to China over the recall of Chinese food aid that had been distributed to residents.

Local radio broadcast messages this week telling residents not to eat canned pork.

A later statement said there had been a "misunderstanding related to the recall of food items that were part of the Government of the People's Republic of China's emergency relief supplies".

China was one of the first development partners to respond with assistance for Tonga after the tsunami, it noted.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Kim Coghill)
A man enters the Credit Suisse offices in the Manhattan borough of New York

ZURICH (Reuters) -Credit Suisse Vice Chair Severin Schwan will face opposition from some major shareholders if he stands for re-election to the board of the embattled Swiss bank in April, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The FT said the investors were concerned about Schwan leading pharmaceuticals and diagnostics group Roche, where he is chief executive, while at the same time acting as the vice-chair of Switzerland's second largest bank.

Some investors, who were among the 10 biggest shareholders in Credit Suisse, said they will try to block any move to extend the tenure Schwan, who has been vice chair at the bank since April 2017, the FT said, without naming them.

Both Credit Suisse, which is due to report its results on Thursday, and Roche declined to comment on the report.

Over the course of Schwan's time at Credit Suisse its share price has slumped by 64% after the bank became embroiled in a string of scandals and losses.

Schwan, who joined the board of Credit Suisse in 2014, is also the lead independent director and had intended to leave before the bank's annual meeting in April, the newspaper said, citing three people familiar with the matter.

But he has been asked to stay by other board members to maintain stability under new chair, Axel Lehmann, who took charge last month after the abrupt exit of Antonio Horta-Osorio over breaches of coronavirus quarantine rules.

"If he's up for election there will be a fight," one top 10 shareholder was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"His role as Roche CEO does not benefit Credit Suisse . . . he should (leave Credit Suisse) and go on to another board," another top 10 shareholder was quoted by the FT as saying.

Schwan told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger in January that he was undecided whether to stand for re-election at Credit Suisse's annual shareholder meeting on April 29.

"The task now is to stabilise the bank, and I am happy to support the new chairman in this," he added.

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Michael Shields and Alexander Smith)
By Stephanie Nebehay

BELLINZONA, Switzerland (Reuters) - A former Credit Suisse employee testified on Thursday that she kept the bank's management fully informed of outflows from Bulgarian customers' accounts after authorities in Sofia asked Switzerland for judicial assistance.

In the first criminal trial of a major bank in Switzerland, Credit Suisse and the former employee face charges of allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros, some of it stuffed into suitcases.

The former employee, who cannot be named under Swiss privacy laws, denies wrongdoing. Credit Suisse has rejected all the allegations and said it is convinced its former employee is innocent, and that it plans to "defend itself vigorously".

Swiss prosecutors allege that Credit Suisse and the former relationship manager did too little to prevent the alleged drug traffickers hiding and laundering cash between 2004 and 2008, despite indications that the funds could be of criminal origin.

The indictment runs to more than 500 pages, and centres on relationships that Credit Suisse, Switzerland's second-largest bank, and its ex-employee had with former Bulgarian wrestler Evelin Banev and several of his associates.

"I was informing, I was so stressed with the situation, I was so afraid of making a mistake just because I am not experienced, I was not competent. So that I was going on reporting, reporting, maybe even more than necessary," the former employee told the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona on Thursday, speaking in English.

"I KEPT INFORMING"

Prosecutors allege that the defendant, who left Credit Suisse in 2010, helped to launder dirty money by carrying out more than 146 million Swiss francs in transactions.

Documents at the trial showed that she had informed a designated Credit Suisse legal official of transactions after the Swiss attorney general in June 2007 informed the bank about Bulgaria's probe into five people with accounts alleged to hold illicit funds derived from drug trafficking.

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"There was a procedure in place," she said, adding that she had to notify the bank's legal department of any flow of funds.

"I repeat again. I kept informing of every single step, the line managers, kept them informed of everything going on."

Regarding transfers from the accounts of the Bulgarians involved in the case, she said: "I was not in a position to authorise payments above 200,000 (Swiss francs). Never. Even if wanted, I could not."

After the prosecution finished questioning her, she became visibly upset, calling the charges against her a "scandal".

"All this, what has been discussed this morning, have been in front of them for 13 years of my life," she said, before requesting a break to calm herself.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Banev does not face charges in Switzerland but was convicted in Italy of drug trafficking in 2017, and then in Bulgaria in 2018, for money laundering. Two of his associates are charged in the Swiss case.

Banev was arrested in September in Ukraine as countries including Bulgaria and Romania sought his arrest.

In Sofia, his attorney said Banev denied any involvement in money laundering through Credit Suisse.

Credit Suisse disputes the illegal origin of the money, a source familiar with its thinking has told Reuters, saying the alleged traffickers operated legitimate businesses in construction, leasing and hotels, and that it had performed extensive checks.

The presiding judge has ruled that a 15-year statute of limitations for aggravated money laundering means only events that occurred after Feb. 7, 2007, may be considered in the case.

Switzerland had a staunch culture of bank secrecy before a U.S.-led crackdown began eroding its protection of foreign clients' information in 2008.

Swiss private banks have had to change their business models since the introduction of new rules aimed at ensuring that offshore accounts are known to authorities in the country where the account-holder pays tax.

At the time of the alleged offences, however, while there were rules requiring anti-money laundering checks, it was common practice for wealthy clients to bring money into Switzerland that was not declared to authorities, the former employee said - an opinion shared by Credit Suisse, according to a source familiar with its thinking.

(This story was refiled to restore dropped words "statute of limitations" in paragraph 20)

(Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay in Bellinzona; additional reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi in Zurich and by Tsvetelia Tsolova in Sofia; editing by Michael Shields and Kevin Liffey)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 10, 2022) - Silver Sands Resources Corp. (CSE: SAND) (OTCQB: SSRSF) ("Silver Sands" or the "Company") is pleased to release the results from the Santa Rita gold-silver portion of its 2021 Phase III drill program at the Virginia Project in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

The program confirmed the anticipated down dip extensions and increase in gold-silver values of the surface veins outcroppings, setting the stage for deeper drilling into the suspected zone of mineralization, typically found in the Low Sulphidation Epithermal ("LSE") vein deposits of the Argentinian Deseado Massif. Highlights include:

SRE-DDH-001 - 5.65m at 0.68 g/t gold from 35.65m including 1.35m at 1.87 g/t gold

SRE-DDH-003 - 5.20m at 0.63 g/t gold and 7 g/t silver from 35.30m including 1.75m at 1.45 g/t Au

SRC-DDH-001 - 1.80m at 0.25 g/t gold and 28 g/t silver (0.62 g/t AuEq)

"The new drill results confirm the potential of Santa Rita as a second target area for silver and gold at Virginia, complimenting the Virginia Silver Vein Field," commented Silver Sands CEO, Keith Anderson. "We confirmed the veins show both increasing gold and silver values and continuity with depth; the next Phase at Santa Rita will be following the veins down dip to the "boiling horizon" or zone of gold-silver mineralization."

"Combined with the discovery of high-grade silver mineralization at Margarita and the extensions of the Ely Vein mineralized shoots, management is ecstatic with the results of the Phase III Virginia drilling program. The upcoming Phase IV drill program will continue its focus on increasing the resource base at the Virginia Silver Vein Field, as well as following up the Phase III successes at Santa Rita," he concluded.





Figure 1. Santa Rita prospects and their structural setting

https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/gallery/SAND_News_76.jpg



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6972/113362_78174c6054bb8a43_001full.jpg

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Drilling at Santa Rita was focused on a series of gold-silver epithermal veins, located approximately 15 kilometres north of the Virginia Silver Vein Field, and represents the virgin drill program at the Santa Rita Central and Santa Rita East targets.

The Phase III drilling program comprised 20 core holes (2,932m) with 14 holes for 2,437m at Virginia and 6 holes for 495m at Santa Rita, located in the north of the property package. Results reported today are for 6 holes from Santa Rita, 4 in Santa Rita East and two in Santa Rita Central.

Table 1. Santa Rita Phase III Drill Results

Hole ID From To Interval (m)1 Au g/t Ag g/t AuEq g/t2 Cut-off3 SRC-DDH-001 36.35 38.15 1.80 0.25 28 0.62 0.2 g/t AuEq 51.00 52.00 1.00 0.22 2 0.2 g/t AuEq SRE-DDH-001 34.65 40.30 5.65 0.68 2 0.2 g/t AuEq Including 34.65 36 1.35 1.87 4 1 g/t AuEq 47.00 47.35 0.35 0.32 13 0.49 0.2 g/t AuEq SRE-DDH-002 40.05 40.70 0.65 0.29 12 0.45 0.2 g/t AuEq SRE-DDH-003 34.00 34.30 0.30 0.17 5 0.2 g/t AuEq 35.30 40.50 5.20 0.63 7 0.2 g/t AuEq Including 35.6 37.35 1.75 1.45 14 1.64 1 g/t AuEq SRE-DDH-004 4.10 4.50 0.40 0.56 1 0.2 g/t AuEq 17.90 18.20 0.30 0.20 3 0.2 g/t AuEq 20.50 22.00 1.50 0.18 5 0.2 g/t AuEq 26.70 27.00 0.30 0.19 4 0.2 g/t AuEq 28.50 30.05 1.55 0.17 5 0.2 g/t AuEq SRC-DDH-002 No interval above cut-off

Notes:

1 Reported interval length are down hole widths and not true widths.

2 Gold equivalent ("AuEq") is calculated using metal prices of US$ 1800/oz for Au and US$ 24/oz for Ag. Recoveries are assumed to be 100% as no metallurgical test data is available. The equation used is thus: AuEq g/t = Au g/t + (Ag g/t  75). AuEq are only reported if Ag > 10 g/t.

3 Reported intervals are at the stated a cut-off grade of 0.2 g/t AuEq and 1 g/t AuEq. Reported intervals may include up to a maximum of 2m individual section below cut-off grade and Au and Ag grades are uncapped.

The Santa Rita prospects (Main, Central and East) are located at the intersection of a 3 km wide northwest orientated regional structural corridor and east-northeast basin controlling structural zone which also hosts the advanced Lejano Silver project 18 km to the west of Santa Rita Main, and the prospective Sol del Mayo Gold-Silver project 1.5 km to the east of Santa Rita East. These east-northeast structural zones are understood to be an important province-wide control on economic mineralisation, as exemplified by the structural settings for the Cerro Negro and Cerro Vanguardia mines.





Figure 2: Santa Rita Phase III Drilling

https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/gallery/SAND_News_77.jpg



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6972/113362_78174c6054bb8a43_002full.jpg

The 2021 drilling focused on the Santa Rita Central and East zones, located 6.5 to 8.5 km to the east of the Santa Rita Main zone previously explored by Mirasol between 2004 to 2008[1]. Santa Rita Main is an open ended 3,500m long by 500m wide northwest orientated trend containing mapped veins with silver epithermal mineralisation generally less than 10m wide. Noteworthy assay results from drill holes completed at that time returned weighted average intersections of 0.6 to 3.4m with silver values ranging from 21 to 156 g/t. Based on the drill hole and surface exploration data, Santa Rita Main was interpreted to potentially represent the upper levels of a silver-gold epithermal system, with the potential to also host base metal mineralization.

The principal objective of the Santa Rita East and Central 2021 drill program was to test the surface exposures highlighted by 2021 trenching and geophysics to depths of 20 to 30 m to confirm structural orientation data to facilitate subsequent deeper drilling into the "boiling horizon" of suspected zone of precious metal mineralization.

Interpretation of 2021 Results (see Table 1)

At Santa Rita East, four drill holes were completed for a total of 329m. Hole SRE-DDH-001 intercepted a robust 5m wide zone (from 34.95 to 39.95m) of polymictic hydrothermal breccia hosting a 0.40m wide colloform banded quartz adularia vein. This hole returned 5.65m at 0.68 g/t gold from 35.65m, including 1.35m at 1.87 g/t gold. Hole SRE-DDH-003 was targeted 50m further south along the same structure trend and intercepted 5.20m at 0.63 g/t gold and 7 g/t silver from 35.30m This interval included a 3m wide hydrothermal breccia hosting a quartz adularia colloform epithermal vein in the center with a width of 0.6m. Observed epithermal textures represent multi-pulse hydrothermal events within this structure, which are considered essential for the formation of productive epithermal mineralization. Equally importantly, gold and silver values in drill core are slightly stronger than on surface, and are expected to increase at depth. The structures at depth also significantly increase in width (+5m) compared to the narrow centimeter-scale expressions on surface.

The remaining two drill holes SRE-DDH-002 and SRE-DDH-004 at the other targets in Santa Rita East intercepted multiple narrow structures, principally hydrothermal crackle breccias and stockwork zones, including 0.65m at 0.45 g/t AuEq[2] and 0.4m at 0.56 g/t gold.

At Santa Rita Central, two holes were completed along the northwest trending structure for a total of 166m. Hole SRC-DDH-001 was targeted to test the central part of the structure with gold and silver rock chip samples with up to 1.76 g/t and 321 g/t respectively. It intercepted isolated quartz veinlets and zones of sheeted veinlets, displaying bladed textures and local evidence of incipient banding, also considered typical of the upper levels of these epithermal systems, and potentially transitioning into the deeper more productive part of the system. This hole intersected 1.80m at 0.25 g/t gold and 28 g/t silver (0.62 g/t AuEq), which are considered encouraging within this level of the system.

Overall, the drilling campaign at Santa Rita accomplished its objective, confirming the existence of, and tracing the vein outcrop and aligned float surface expressions to depth in the drill holes. Drilling to date has been very shallow with the deepest hole only reaching 32m vertically below surface. Deeper drilling is required along strike and to depth to confirm the potential of these targets. The surface and drill results confirm that Santa Rita, particularly Santa Rita Central and East, represent a more "typical" quartz-adularia LSE mineralization that is distinct from Virginia main with both significant gold and silver values. The Company is very encouraged with the surface and drill core gold values encountered to date at Santa Rita Central and East, believing they clearly warrant further follow up drilling.

About Virginia

Virginia is a low to intermediate sulphidation epithermal silver deposit located in the mineral-rich Deseado Massif, lying within the mining-friendly province of Santa Cruz in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Through initial discovery in 2009 to four drill programs between 2010 and 2012, Mirasol Resources was able to define an initial indicated mineral resource of 11.9 million ounces of silver at 310 g/t Silver and a further inferred 3.1 million ounces of silver at 207 g/t Silver within seven outcropping bodies. This resource is documented in a Mirasol Resources technical report entitled: "Amended Technical Report, Virginia Project, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina -- Initial Silver Mineral Resource Estimate" with an effective date of Oct. 24, 2014, and a report date of Feb. 29, 2016.

Several additional vein structures within the property package remain highly prospective, as Mirasol concentrated the bulk of its exploration effort on the resource area at the expense of continuing exploration on the underexplored additional veins. Several of these structures have highlight values in excess of 1,000 g/t silver and have a high probability of hosting additional silver resources. These veins structures continue to be the primary focus of the Silver Sands 2021/2022 exploration efforts.

Silver Sands is earning a 100-per-cent interest in Virginia by issuing sufficient shares for Mirasol to end up with 19.9 per cent of the issued and outstanding of Silver Sands and completing $6-million (U.S.) in exploration over three years. Mirasol will retain a 3-per-cent net smelter return royalty with Silver Sands having the option of purchasing one-third of the royalty for $2-million (U.S.).

About Silver Sands Resources Corp.

Silver Sands is a well-financed, Canada-based company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit. Its key asset is the Virginia silver project, located in the mining-friendly Santa Cruz state of Argentina.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Director

For further information, please contact:

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Director (604) 786-7774

Qualified Person Statement: Silver Sand's disclosure of technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P.Eng., a director of the Company, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

QAQC: Silver Sands applies industry standard exploration sampling methodologies and techniques. All geochemical rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of the company's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2008 accredited laboratory in Argentina for analysis. Assay results from channel, trench, and drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization.

Forward-Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Silver Sands disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Refer to Section 6.1 in Amended NI 43-101 Technical Report filed February 29, 2016: "Amended Technical Report, Virginia Project, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina - Initial Silver Mineral Resource Estimate" prepared by D. Earnest and M. Lechner

[2] Gold equivalent ("AuEq") is calculated using metal prices of US$ 1800/oz for gold and US$ 24/oz for silver. Recoveries are assumed to be 100% as no metallurgical test data is available. The equation used is thus: AuEq g/t = Au g/t + (Ag g/t  75).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/113362
(Daniel Lynch)

A boy, 14, has suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted outside Canada Water Tube station.

The victim was found by police in the street next to the busy underground station at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service and a 14-year-old boy was found with head injuries and taken to hospital.

We await an update on his condition. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 5011/19Jan. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Gal Gadot. Illustrated | 20th Century Studios, iStock

Death on the Nile, an all-star sequel to Kenneth Branagh's all-star adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, finally opens this week after a number of pandemic-related release-date changes. The nearly 18-month delay has not been kind to its stacked ensemble, which has become impressively embattled in the interim. The cast squirming under the watchful eye of master detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh himself) includes Armie Hammer (accused of sexual assault), Russell Brand (ongoing anti-vaccine campaigning), and Letitia Wright (shared a video including anti-vax and transphobic sentiments).

So how is it that Gal Gadot has become the public face of Death on the Nile mockery?

Granted, Gadot has experienced her own controversies, from serious (issuing a vague call for Israel-Palestine peace that clearly prioritized her home country of Israel) to mild distraction (making a tone-deaf "Imagine" singalong video in the early days of a global pandemic). But while the personal ickiness of Hammer, Brand, and Wright seems to transcend whatever one thinks of their performances, Gadot's PR stumbles seem to be just enough to add a dash of moral superiority to a more old-fashioned criticism: That she simply cannot act. The most recent Death on the Nile trailers sealed her fate by highlighting a line-reading that has become a Twitter meme. Her character, speaking to a group of friends and frenemies aboard a celebratory river cruise, boasts that they have "enough champagne  to fill the Nile!" That ellipsis isn't eliding part of the line; it's a stand-in for an awkward pause.

Of course, there's nothing especially tragic about making fun of a wealthy, powerful, beautiful model-turned-actor who has made some genuine missteps, and whose current life probably features relatively little hardship beyond these tempests in a teapot. Jeering at Gadot is the very definition of punching up. Yet here's the inconvenient truth: Gadot gives a fine performance in Death on the Nile. And throughout her career, she's given fine performances more often than not.

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Gadot is admittedly not in possession of a striking range; her filmography is not eclectic and contains virtually no movies that cost less than $50 million to make. She has not made any serious attempt to court awards bodies or accrue indie cred. Nearly half her movies have her playing either Wonder Woman or Gisele, her character from the Fast & Furious franchise. But within her chosen niche, she has real screen presence  an ability to draw attention to wherever she is on camera and hold onto it.

This is most pronounced in the Wonder Woman movies, where she is able to project both otherworldly poise and an open-hearted naivete as Diana Prince. The much-maligned sequel Wonder Woman 1984 (which seemed to be the point where sentiment on her turned from "a charming and likable Wonder Woman" to "terrible actress") focuses obsessively on the quality of honesty, a perfect fit with how Gadot emphasizes Diana's guileless inability to conceal her true self. Similarly, that was part of her casting in the underseen spy comedy Keeping Up with Joneses, where maintaining her cover as part of a normal suburban couple quickly became an impossibility. She also momentarily lights up the recent Netflix mediocrity Red Notice by simple virtue of being the only major cast member not attempting to do any shtick.

Never disappearing into a character might sound a bit like, well, bad acting. But that's also a big part of movie stardom  which has a strong historical track record of being mistaken for bad acting. Death on the Nile represents a change of pace for Gadot, in that she's playing someone more successful at putting on airs: Linnet, a glamorous newlywed attempting to charm her way through a fabulous party while feeling increased paranoia over the reappearance of a spurned friend. In the midst of her stressed event-planning, Linnet finds time to dress up as Cleopatra, a role Gadot has long been attached to play (though the movie seems no closer to actually going in front of cameras any time soon).

So yes, she says a mildly stilted line about a Nile's worth of champagne, while playing hostess whose heart isn't really in it. No one paying any attention to this melodramatic, old-fashioned, silly-but-very-entertaining mystery should find that line, or much of anything else Gadot does in this movie, wildly distracting or out of character. If anything, roles like this specifically avoid her weak spots as a performer, positioning her as an Old Hollywood beauty with charisma and perhaps light anguish. Fielding haters who once professed to love her, showing off her own glamour, unable to conceal her true emotions, pretending to be Cleopatra  if Gadot had a slightly bigger career, Death on the Nile would qualify as a star text.

The movie is too much of an ensemble whodunit to really commit to fully becoming Waiting for Gadot. But its lineup of disgraced stars does feel weirdly, uncomfortably appropriate to accommodate Gadot's status as shining, glitzy damaged goods. So many of those famous faces  photographed in rich 70mm, far more impressive than the virtual-Egypt scenery  have a touch of moral failing or outright rot. It truly feels plausible that anyone in the movie could be embroiled in a murder, whether as suspect or victim. The delightful, ridiculous scam of Branagh's film is that it briefly makes the frivolous business of movie stardom feel improbably dangerous.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijan and Turkey continue demining operations on territories liberated from Armenia's occupation in late 2020, Trend has reported.

The two countries have jointly cleared 5,236 square meters of mines and explosive ordnance in Karabakh in January 2022, the Turkish National Defence Ministry was quoted as saying.

In total, the joint mission cleared 132 square kilometers in Azerbaijans liberated lands, the report added.

The ministry noted that Turkey continues to support Azerbaijan in clearing the liberated lands of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Some 1,630 Azerbaijanis attended special training within the bilateral cooperation, the message said.

Earlier, Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) Deputy Chairman Samir Poladov stated that the demining activities are being carried out in the liberated lands, where restoration work is underway. Some 20,165 hectares of Azerbaijans liberated territories were cleared of mines and unexploded munitions in 2021 and 41, 503 mines and unexploded ordnance were neutralized in the mentioned period.

He emphasized that the most heavily mined territories in Azerbaijan's liberated lands are located along the former contact line with the Armenian armed forces.

It should be noted that Azerbaijans Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), along with the partner countries, carries out demining activities on its liberated territories.

Armenia deliberately and constantly planted mines on Azerbaijani territories, in violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, thereby being a major threat to regional peace, security and cooperation.

On December 9, the Prosecutor-General's Office has reported that 29 civilians and seven military servicemen were killed, as well as 109 servicemen and 44 civilians received injuries of varying severity as a result of mine explosions in the countrys lands since November 10, 2020.

Previously, on June 12, Azerbaijan handed over 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map detailing the location of 97,000 mines in formerly-occupied Aghdam.

On July 3, Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan maps of about 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines planted during the occupation of Fuzuli and Zangilan regions.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered peace agreement on November 10, 2020, to end 44 days of fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.
PARIS (Reuters) -Four civilians were caught in cross fire after French troops supported with an attack helicopter killed 10 Islamist militants in Burkina Faso, the French military said in a statement on Thursday.

France has thousands of troops operating across the Sahel region as part of a mission to combat violence by Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

But it is considering withdrawing troops from Mali, where relations between Paris and the junta in Bamako have deteriorated.

The death of four civilians in Burkina comes at a bad time with anti-French sentiment especially strong in Mali and it beginning to spillover into Burkina after a coup in January.

"Unfortunately, despite all the measures taken by the Barkhane (French) force and by the unit engaged on the ground, four civilians, present in the terrorist camp, lost their lives during the exchange of fire," the French army said in a statement.

It said 10 Ansarul Islam militants were killed after violent clashes during the night of Feb. 7-8, close to the town of Ouahigouya, near the border with Mali.

The French military said the group had been behind attacks that killed 53 Burkinabe policemen in November and a recent attack that saw two Burkinabe soldiers killed.

(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Sandra Maler and Diane Craft)
Pandemic rules over masks and vaccination disclosures ended a planned Pennsylvania middle school field trip to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, sparking controversy online this week.

Tamanend Middle School 9th graders were originally planned to head to the nations capital on March 31, but the motion failed approval in a 7-1 school board vote Tuesday night.

Director Karen Smith was the lone vote for the trip.

A Twitter post from Diana Leygerman, a former school board candidate and Philadelphia teacher, lambasted the vote, saying one board members stance on vaccinations robbed students of an important opportunity.

Central Bucks School District is the largest in Bucks County.

Our SB just cancelled a field trip to DC where students were supposed to visit the Holocaust Museum because a School Board Member's kid isn't vaccinated. An important educational trip cancelled because she made a choice but isn't willing to accept the consequences of that choice, Leygerman wrote.

The post, which was seen by nearly 90,000 users by 2 p.m. on Wednesday and shared several hundred times, is referring to director Lisa Sciscios objections raised prior to this weeks vote.

Sciscio said she couldnt support a trip to Washington, D.C., in large part because the city requires proof of vaccination to enter some businesses.

Assistant Superintendent Charles Malone said the planned visits, which included the Holocaust Museum, were specifically chosen because they wouldnt require disclosure of vaccination status.

While museums can be included in Washingtons list of businesses affected by the vaccine mandate, there is no requirement that patrons show proof of vaccination if attending a special event at that museum.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museums website says it requires visitors wear a face covering and answer coronavirus symptom screening questions, but there does not appear to be a rule that vaccination status must be disclosed.

The section on screening questions specifically tells visitors not to volunteer any additional medical information, like pre-existing conditions.

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Sciscios problem didnt seem to be with the museum and other potential memorial sites on the trip, but rather that eventually the students may have to use a business that does have those requirements.

I mean, it's six in the morning till eight at night  There's kids who will have to use restrooms. There's kids who may want to get something to eat  I have a ninth-grader at Tamanend. I have a problem with this, Sciscio said.

Although the vote canceled the field trip, other places for an alternative visit, like New York City, were suggested for future consideration.

Leygermans tweet and other social media posts drew comments accusing the change of being anti-Semitic because of the now canceled visit to the Holocaust Museum.

Smith said Wednesday she believed the issues raised by Sciscio this week were purely about vaccines, masks and the pandemic.

Smith didnt comment on the vote Tuesday but reiterated a statement she made on Facebook earlier the following day.

Just to be clear, I voted yes for field trips that require vaccines and/or masks. If families made a choice not to be vaccinated, then that choice has a consequence. I dont think all our student body should (lose) the opportunity to visit valuable learning experiences because of the choice of others, Smith wrote.

Smith said the vote on the Tamanend trip has already caused administrators at Tohickon Middle School to cancel their planned trip to Washington even though the board approved it several months in advance.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania school board canceling trip to DC over COVID restrictions
The average size of ransomware payments hit an all-time high in 2021, according to a new report by blockchain research firm Chainalysis.

Chainalysis data shows the average ransomware payment size last year reached $118,000 in cryptocurrency, up from $88,000 in 2020, according to a report published Thursday. In 2019, the average ransomware payment was only $25,000. Kim Grauer, Chainalysis head of research, attributes this jump to the growing sophistication of ransomware groups.

Over the last two years, ransomware attacks have skyrocketed. Chainalysis has identified $692 million worth of payments to wallet addresses affiliated with ransomware groups in 2020 and, at the time of publication, $602 million in 2021. However, Grauer stressed that the real number is likely to be much higher  setting a new record for ransomware payments in 2021  as Chainalysis continues to identify ransomware-associated wallets.

As ransomware gangs continue to profit and gain experience, they are learning how to adapt to avoid detection and go after bigger targets. Grauer told CoinDesk that data shows many ransomware gangs are reinvesting a larger percentage of stolen funds back into their operations. In 2021,16% of all funds sent from wallets associated with ransomware operators were spent on tools and services, like penetration testing or more secure web hosting, to make their attacks more effective.

They're investing in their business, Grauer said. You know, you have to spend money to make money.

The jump, up from 4% in 2020, is largely driven by the rise of ransomware as a service (RaaS), which enables ransomware gangs to purchase already-developed strains of ransomware, like Conti or DarkSide, from ransomware creators, usually in exchange for a portion of the proceeds.

However, Grauer also pointed out that, while RaaS might be growing, blockchain data shows that at least 140 ransomware developers received payments from victims last year  a new all-time high. The growth signals that ransomware strains are becoming dormant faster, which Grauer said is a tactic used to avoid law enforcement detection, but is also a sign of the rise of home-brewed ransomware tools.

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Were actually starting to see some places where theres a move away from RaaS and back to self-produced ransomware, Grauer said. Were seeing that in Iran, where Iranian bad actors are just building their own ransomware from scratch.

Grauer told CoinDesk that, by creating their own ransomware, ransomware gangs can create a more tailored attack for specific or high-security targets.

One thing we did see in Iran was some geopolitical attacks against targets in Israel, Grauer said.

The geopolitical implications of ransomware are growing. After a Russia-based ransomware group carried out the Colonial Pipeline attack last summer, the Biden administration has made cracking down on ransomware a priority.

President Biden has called out Chinese state actors for ransomware and cryptojacking attacks, and pushed Russia to arrest known members of ransomware gangs. The administration also began adding crypto exchanges to its sanctions blacklist last year.
By Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine criticized Russian naval exercises near its southern coast on Thursday, saying the presence of warships were part of a "hybrid war" that had made navigation in the Black Sea and Azov Sea virtually impossible.

In a statement by the foreign ministry, Ukraine said Russia's actions "show blatant disregard for the rules and principles of international law" and that Kyiv would work together with partner countries to prepare a response.

"Such aggressive actions by the Russian Federation as part of its hybrid war against Ukraine are unacceptable," the statement said. "This is a significant and unjustified complication of international shipping, especially trade, which can cause complex economic and social consequences, especially for the ports of Ukraine."

Moscow is staging naval drills in the Black Sea this month at the same time as it holds ground drills north of Ukraine in Belarus, part of a show of force that the West says could be a precursor to an invasion, which Moscow denies.

Russia said six warships had arrived at Sevastopol in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on Ukraine's statements.

Ukraine has long accused Russia of trying to strangle trade from its southern ports by mounting what it calls de facto blockades. Ukraine, one of the world's leading exporters of steel, grain and sunflower oil, carries exports through ports on the Black and Azov Seas - Odessa, Pivdeny, Chornomorsk, Kherson, Mariupol and Berdyansk.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Matthias Williams and Natalia Zinets)
Dr. Anthony Fauci

Susan Walsh/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Dr. Anthony Fauci

The U.S. is making progress towards the end of the "full-blown" COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday as cases continue to fall.

With the omicron wave now waning, most of the country is either vaccinated or has contracted COVID-19, and that should provide enough protection for the pandemic to shift towards an endemic virus.

"I hope we are looking at a time when we have enough people vaccinated and enough people with protection from previous infection that the COVID restrictions will soon be a thing of the past," Fauci told the Financial Times.

Fauci said that he expects the country to be able to lift more restrictions like mask mandates and distancing "soon."

"As we get out of the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19, which we are certainly heading out of, these decisions will increasingly be made on a local level rather than centrally decided or mandated," he said. "There will also be more people making their own decisions on how they want to deal with the virus."

RELATED: Omicron Could Get Us Out of the COVID Pandemic  Here's How

Fauci's remarks come as multiple Democratic governors announced plans to lift their mask mandates in schools and public places. The governors of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon all said this week that their restrictions will end by March 31, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that she'll let the state's indoor mask-or-vaccine mandate expire on Feb. 28. Hochul said she'll wait until March to reevaluate New York's mask mandate for schools.

RELATED VIDEO: Doctor Says Fully Vaccinated People Are Going to Test Positive with Omicron: 'Our New Normal'

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control still say that masking in schools is an essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. On Tuesday, the Biden administration reiterated their stance in favor of masks in schools, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki saying they support the CDC's position, though that it will be "continuously" reassessed based on "science and data."

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Nationwide, new COVID-19 cases have dropped to an average of around 240,500 a day, a 63% decrease over the last two weeks and a major drop from the record high of 1,433,977, set on Jan. 10, according to data compiled by The New York Times. However, daily deaths and hospitalizations are still high as omicron reaches parts of the country with lower vaccination rates.

RELATED: Multiple States Announce Plans to Drop School Mask Mandates

Fauci said, though, that he does not believe "we are going to eradicate this virus," and that COVID-19 will continue to be a part of Americans' lives. Instead, he said, the country will reach an "equilibrium" and figure out how to manage the virus.
Paris today became the first city in the world to ban a freedom convoy threatening to bring road chaos as it protests against coronavirus restrictions.

Hundreds of motorists inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada are on their way to Frances capital from the southern city of Nice.

But on Thursday the Paris police prefecture issued a statement saying those involved in the undeclared mobilisation risk losing their liberty.

Anybody caught taking part in the freedom convoy risks two years in prison and fines equivalent to some 4,000, the statement says.

The convoy aims to block the capital by hindering road traffic, the statement adds.

Due to the risk of public order disturbances that this gathering could cause, the Prefect of Police issues an order prohibiting such demonstrations, from Friday February 11, 2022 to Monday February 14, 2022 inclusive.

The French convoy left the south of France on Wednesday and is picking up support on its journey to Brussels via Paris.

The French protesters are being supported by the Yellow Vest anti-government movement (REUTERS)

The statement reads: The stated objective of these demonstrators would be to block the capital by obstructing road traffic in the streets of Paris to promote their demands, before continuing their journey towards Brussels on Monday February 14.

Despite the ban, organisers of the convoy have indicated that they will continue their journey so as to force a confrontation with the authorities.

They are being supported by the Yellow Vest anti-government movement, which has brought chaos to cities including the French capital in recent years.

Many of the French vehicles are displaying Canadian flags in a tribute to truckers in Canada who are protesting against their own governments Covid-19 restrictions.

Protesters in Nice confirmed they planned to head first to Paris, then on to Brussels - headquarters of the European Union.

They are calling for the scrapping of rules barring people from public venues if they dont have a Covid-19 vaccination, they said.

Lots of people dont understand why a vaccine pass is in force in France,said a spokesman for the convoy organisers, and who gave his name as Denis.

Story continues

Our work is to communicate to Europe that putting in place a health pass until 2023 is something the majority of our fellow citizens cannot understand.

In Ottawa, Canada, protesters continue to block two border crossings between the United States and Canada, including the key Ambassador Bridge.

A woman is arrested and carried away as protesters refuse to leave parliament grounds during the third day of demonstrations against Covid restrictions in Wellington, New Zealand (AFP via Getty Images)

The so-called Freedom Convoy began in January in western Canada, where it was launched in anger at requirements that truckers either be vaccinated or test and isolate when crossing the US-Canadian border.

But the movement has turned into a broader protest against Covid-related restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government, and put a spotlight on pandemic curbs around the world.

In the US, it was reported on Thursday that a truckers protest could impact this weekends Super Bowl.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is said to have told law enforcement agencies that protests against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations could potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities.

According to CNN, the protests could hit Sundays Super Bowl final in Los Angeles between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams.

In New Zealand, police on Thursday arrested more than 100 protesters taking part in an anti-lockdown convoy demonstration outside parliament in the capital Wellington.
Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) PG - On the basis of (NEET) PG 2022 https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/medi/consortium-of-medical-engineering-and-dental-colleges-of-karnataka-comedk-pget.htm Details of Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) PG - On the basis of (NEET) PG 2022 2021-12-11 2022-3-25 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) PG - On the basis of (NEET) PG 2022 Medical

COMEDK PG Medical/Dental Admissions 2022 - On the basis of NEET PG/MDS 2022

Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) PG - On the basis of (NEET) PG 2022 Category : Medical Admissions 2022 Published : On December 11, 2021 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Start Date for Issue of Online Application 15th January 2022 Last date of receipt of completed application form 25th March 2022 (NEET) PG/MDS 2022 21st May 2022

COMEDK is the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka to determine the merit of students in an effective, fair, transparent and non-exploitative testing procedure, floated by the Associations of Medical, Dental and Engineering private colleges for merit determination of students seeking admissions to the Member Institutions. The policies and program of COMEDK are decided by an Executive council, comprising of two principals each of Medical, Dental and Engineering Colleges and a retired Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police plus two Educationists besides a retired Principal Secretary Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka as Chief Executive and Chairman of the Executive Council.

As per the directions dated: 11th April, 6th May and 9th May 2016 in No.261/2016 of the Honble Supreme Court of India, COMEDK proposes to conduct seat selection counselling process based on National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG/MDS 2022 results.

For the academic year 2022-2024, the College will consider only NEET-PG 2022 qualified candidates for selection to the PG courses, the continuance of which in the subsequent years, will be subject to the outcome of the orders of the Honble Supreme Court in T.P. (C) No.99 of 2012 filed by the Institution challenging the Post Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2012

For the Christian Medical College, more than a century old, unaided, Christian minority, non-capitation fee institution, to ascertain the suitability of NEET-PG 2022 qualified candidates for undergoing the PG course, assessing their interests and clinical/practical skills, is an extremely important facet which has helped the Institution to achieve its objectives to serve the needy even in areas where people have limited access to medical aid.

The assessment of a candidate with regard to the above has been an integral part of the selection process in the Christian Medical College, Vellore for many decades. The Institution wishes to make it clear that such an assessment of the candidate is only to ensure that NEET-PG 2022 qualified candidates seeking consideration for selection to Christian Medical College, Vellore are suited to achieve the objectives of the Institution.

Consequently, all NEET-PG 2022 (Step 1) qualified candidates may, subject to clearance from the Honble Supreme Court, have to undergo an objective assessment of their clinical/practical skills for which purpose a Step-2 process (practical tests and interviews) will be conducted on the date mentioned in the admission time table, at CMC, Vellore.

Details regarding the entire schedule of Counseling , information Brochure etc., will be notified in due course. Prospective candidates are required to check the COMEDK website for regular updates.

Post Graduate Medical & Dental Programs

Post Graduate Medical Degree (3 years)

Post Graduate Medical Diploma (2 years)

Post Graduate Dental Degree (3 years)

Post Graduate Dental Diploma (2 years)

Candidates from all over the country can participate in the PG Medical and Dental counseling 2022. The eligibility criteria for Post Graduate Degree / Diploma programs are as follows:

They should have successfully passed their MBBS / BDS from an Institution recognized as per the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 /Dentists Act, 1948 and possess permanent or provisional registration certificate of MBBS /BDS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India or State Medical/Dental Council and have completed one year of internship or/are likely to complete the internship on or before 31st March 2022. Provisional Degree Certificate will be accepted only for candidates who have passed MBBS/BDS during 2022-24. Candidates found to be ineligible at any stage of NEET-PG /MDS 2022 will not be permitted to appear for counseling The cut off dates for the recognition of the Medical/Dental Colleges, from where the candidates have passed their MBBS /BDS Degree Course and completed compulsory rotatory. Internship for the year 2016 will be as prescribed by MCI/DCI. The Colleges recognized after the cut- off date prescribed by MCI/DCI will not be considered Registration with M.C.I./DCI/State Medical/Dental Council is necessary and its documentary proof should be furnished by the candidates at the time of counseling/admission. The candidature of the following is not acceptable:- (i) Candidates already pursuing PG MEDICAL course anywhere in India.

(ii) Candidates who were caught attempting to impersonate or found following / adopting any of the malpractices earlier including entertaining touts or agents.

Counseling / Selection Procedure

The Counselling/seat selection process is being conducted only in Bangalore and for use by COMEDK Member Institutions for admission during the academic year 2022-2018.

Application Fee

The fee for COMEDK PG Medical and Dental Councseling Application 2022 is Rs. 800/- (Rs. Eight hundred only)

The Fee will not be refunded under any circumstance including statutory and judicial reasons



How To Apply

Registration and Procedure for Making Application

The Candidates have to register themselves at www.comedk.org. The candidates may access the How to Apply Document, general instructions and the explanation for filling the required fields through the link in the website www.comedk.org. The instructions required for Registration are reproduced as under.

i. All the details asked for in Registration /Application form are Mandatory.

ii. E-mail ID and mobile number should remain the same till the Admission process is completed

iii. An Email ID once used for Registration online cannot be used again.

iv. Details given at the time of registration cannot be edited later on in the application form.

Please review all details entered at time of registration before CLICKING ON SUBMIT BUTTON and proceeding to application form.

v. After successful registration, you will receive the User id and Password on your Mobile Number and E mail id which is unique & system generated. Log in with your unique USER ID and PASSWORD to complete the application process. Click on EDIT button (Right hand top corner) to be directed to Application Form

vi. Kindly use Internet Explorer(version 9 to 11) or Mozilla Firefox(14 to 50) or Google Chrome(20 to 54) to fill in the Application Form. Also clear your browsing history and cache and retry in case you are facing any technical issue in viewing the details in application form.

Candidates are required to apply through ONLINE.

Iinstructions for Filling Online Application Form

i. Once the application form is submitted online, request for any change in the data entered in the application form will NOT be entertained; hence the candidates are

cautioned to be careful while filling the Online Application Form

ii. Ensure that Online Application Form is filled properly with all complete details. Click on PREVIEW button and re- verify all the particulars in application form before clicking on SUBMIT button.

iii. Incomplete / incorrect applications are liable to be rejected at any stage without prior information to the candidate.

iv. Multiple application forms from the same candidate will result in confusion leading to disqualification of the candidate.

COMEDK is not responsible for any error that the candidate commits while filling the Online Application Form.

Documents required

Candidates should scan and upload the following documents

i) Recent color photograph with light background. (not more than three months) , should be in jpg or.JPEG image format, should have a full face view looking into the camera directly. The main features of the face must not be covered by hair of the head, any cloth or any shadow. Forehead, Eyes, Nose and Chin should be clearly visible. The Scan image should be less than 80 kb and should be of 30mm*45mm dimension

ii) Signature must be done by the candidate himself/herself in a white paper with a black/Blue pen.The image should be of .jpg or .jpeg format and dimensions should be 80 x 35 mm and Maximum file size should be 80 kb.

iii) Image of Score Card showing All India NEET PG 2022 Rank/All India NEET MDS 2022 Rank. The image should be of PDF format with Maximum file size should be 150 kb.

iv) Image of any ID proof such as (1)Voter ID, (2) Passport, (3) PAN Card, (4) Driving License, (5) Aadhar Card /e-Aadhar.The image should be of .jpg or .jpeg format with Maximum file size should be 150 kb. The candidate has to use the same ID proof that is mentioned in the application form, till the entire admission process is complete.

Note

Candidate should have to produce any of original ID proof that in at the time of exam and admission process.

More details can be available from the website.

Contact Details Address : The Executive Secretary COMEDK,

#132, Second Floor, 11th Main Road,

17th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore-560055 Phone : 080-41132810 Fax : 080-23568309 Mobile : - E-mail : Contact I Website : www.comedk.org

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Comments and Discussions
Cora Kauffman, Chi-Hi senior and daughter of Gordon and Janinne Kauffman, is Ms. Elisabeth Jensens choice for Februarys English Student of the Month. Coras creativity, dedication, and strong work ethic have made her a standout student this year.

Coras imagination was on full display in Writing with Style, a creative writing class. Everything she wrote, from informal quick writes to polished fiction, was thought-provoking, engaging, and a joy to read. Through a series of written pieces, Cora created a detailed fantasy world, with each story focusing on a new character. For her final project, she incorporated her love of drawing and made a graphic novel. One of Coras strengths in writing is her ability to paint pictures with her words. An example of this comes from a short story Cora wrote about a creature terrorizing her fictional world:

This creature began to take a form of its own. It festered and grew in the void outside Forus, becoming a vile monster. On its body grew scales that hardened with the pain of loneliness. Its eyes split into rings revolving through its skull, guaranteeing nothing would leave its sight again.

Coras creativity extends well beyond the classroom. Every day she explores some creative outlet, such as painting, drawing, writing, or 3D modeling. She also enjoys playing video games, which inspired her future plans. Cora will continue to showcase her creativity by attending UW Stout, majoring in game design and development.

Congratulations to Cora for this honor.

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A judge restored federal protections for gray wolves across much of the U.S. on Thursday after they were removed in the waning days of the Trump administration, casting uncertainty on the future of Wisconsins contentious hunt.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Wildlife advocates had argued state-sponsored hunting threatened to reverse the gray wolfs recovery over the past several decades.

Attorneys for the Biden administration defended the Trump rule that removed protections, arguing wolves were resilient enough to bounce back even if their numbers dropped sharply due to intensive hunting.

At stake is the future of a species whose recovery from near-extinction has been heralded as a historic conservation success. That recovery also has brought bitter blowback from hunters and farmers angered over wolf attacks on big game herds and livestock. They contend protections are no longer warranted.

Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz said the agency was reviewing the decision and offered no further comment. A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spokesperson also declined to comment until the agency has had a chance to absorb the ruling.

None of the Great Lakes states with established wolf populations  Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin  had scheduled additional wolf hunts prior to the judges ruling. All three were updating their wolf management programs, and officials said that work would continue.

Wildlife advocacy groups said the judges order would most immediately put a stop to hunting in the region, where Wisconsin officials had come under criticism after state-licensed hunters blew through state and tribal quotas last year.

Wolves in the Great Lakes region have a stay of execution, said John Horning with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Paul Collins, state director of Animal Wellness Action, one of the groups that sued the DNR to stop Wisconsins hunt, applauded Thursdays ruling as a correction to a rushed and political rule implemented to appease anti-wolf factions in states like Wisconsin.

Once again a federal court, and a Republican-appointed judge at that, saw through the unscientific attempts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to wash their hands of gray wolves, Collins said.

Hunter Nation Inc., a Kansas-based group whose lawsuit resulted in a court-ordered hunt in the final days of February 2021, issued a statement labeling White, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, an activist judge and calling on the Biden administration to appeal the ruling.

We prefer to trust local experts and conservation and hunting partners to come up with predator management programs that make sense for them rather than putting our faith in bureaucrats who dont spend time in the woods or never have to deal with the negative consequences of an uncontrolled wolf population, CEO Luke Higemann said.

Contingent season

Wisconsin law requires the DNR to hold a hunting season from November through February whenever the wolf is not listed as endangered.

This winters hunt was put on hold this fall by a Dane County judge who ruled the DNR must first update its 15-year-old management plan and adopt rules for setting quotas and issuing licenses.

Wisconsin is facing a separate federal lawsuit over wolf hunting from six Native American tribes that accuse the DNR of violating treaty rights and endangering an animal they consider sacred.

The DNR is expected to issue a draft plan later this month that will guide management for the next decade.

The ruling does not directly affect wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and portions of several adjacent states that remain under state jurisdiction.

The Fish and Wildlife Service since September has been separately reviewing if protections should be restored for the predators in the northern Rockies, after Republican lawmakers passed laws last year intended to drive down wolf numbers by making it easier to kill them.

Traps, poison

Wolves once ranged most of the U.S. but were wiped out in most places by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns.

A remnant population in the western Great Lakes region has since expanded to some 4,400 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. And more than 2,000 wolves occupy six states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

The DNR estimates there were 1,195 wolves in the state as of April 2020, but the agency has not completed a population survey since hunters killed at least 218 wolves last winter. An updated estimate is expected this summer.

Yet wolves remain absent across most of their historical range. Wildlife advocates argue that continued protections are needed so they can continue to expand in California, Colorado, Oregon and other states.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike, going back to former President George W. Bush, have sought to remove or scale back federal wolf protections first enacted in 1974.

State Journal reporter Chris Hubbuch contributed to this report.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Central Staff of the Combined Arms Army has conducted a surprise inspection at one of the tank battalions, the Defence Ministry has reported.

The examination was conducted under the plan of Sudden inspection of combat readiness in formations and units, the report added.

The inspected tank unit was put on alert and withdrawn to the areas of destination. Defense and offensive operations were planned at the Field battle control point, reports on various activities were carried out and tasks of the division were clarified, the ministry said.

The inspection aimed to evaluate the tank units ability to attack at long distances, as well as its capabilities of supporting the attacking units and destroying the enemy's firing points and the defence system.

During the inspection, the focus was put on improving the units accurate targeting and destruction abilities, as well as demoralization of enemy forces, and defense against fire attacks.

Further sudden inspections will be carried out in other units to evaluate their combat readiness, the ministry said.




A supporter of former President Donald Trump who wanted to root out voter fraud is among five people charged Thursday with election fraud by a Republican district attorney running for Wisconsin attorney general.

All five voters, including a homeless person, improperly listed a post office box number at a UPS store as their address, rather than a residential address as is required under Wisconsin law, said Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney.

Toney said law enforcement conducted an independent investigation after receiving an email from Peter Bernegger, a man convicted in federal court in Mississippi in 2009 for making fraudulent claims to investors in his business.

Toney said officers checked Berneggers claims by talking to the City Clerks Office, obtaining records from that office to see if it could be corroborated as well as talking to the UPS store where the people charged were registered to vote.

He added that Bernegger would most likely be uninvolved in the cases moving forward and likely wouldnt even be a witness at a potential trial.

That brings the number of people charged with election fraud during the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin to 10, including seven in Fond du Lac County. Three of the five people charged cast ballots in the 2020 election.

Toney said he hoped the charges would serve to educate voters about the law requiring them to list a residential address when registering to vote. In response to a question about whether this would fuel false claims of widespread election fraud, Toney said that was not the intent.

It is clear that would have had no impact on any election results about who would have won the race, Toney said. It has nothing to do with that type of argument.

In fact, one of the people charged indicated she had voted for Trump and told investigators to look into cheating because they took it away from Trump, according to the complaint.

Another person charged who did not vote in 2020 appeared very apologetic upon learning that he could not register to vote with a PO Box, the complaint said. Another man who didnt vote said he was living out of his truck when he registered and used the post office box because he could use that on his drivers license.

Voters in Wisconsin do not register by political party, so there is no way of knowing how many of those charged voted for Republicans or Democrats.

President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by just under 21,000 votes out of more than 3.2 million cast. The outcome has withstood recounts, lawsuits and multiple reviews. An Associated Press review in battleground states also found no widespread fraud.

The issue of voters listing post office boxes when registering to vote, rather than where they live, was also raised in La Crosse County following the 2020 election. However, the district attorney there decided not to press charges after determining the voters did not intend to break the law.

But Toney, when explaining why he decided to bring charges, said ignorance of the law is no excuse.

This is an important opportunity for education on this issue, Toney said. He said he hoped filing charges would lead to fewer criminal referrals that take time and resources away from police and district attorneys who should instead be focused on fighting violent crime.

One of the people charged was homeless but should have listed any kind of address, like the location of a park bench, rather than a post office box number, Toney said. A married couple who were charged were traveling around the state in an RV and could have listed the address of a campground where they were staying, he said.

The five people were each charged with a Class I felony, which is punishable by up to 3 years of combined prison and extended supervision and a $10,000 fine.

Toney is running for attorney general and faces former state Rep. Adam Jarchow in the Aug. 9 Republican primary. The winner will advance to face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

State Journal reporter Alexander Shur contributed to this report.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 10) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division on Thursday dismissed the consolidated petitions seeking to disqualify former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos from the upcoming presidential elections.

Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo both voted to deny  for lack of merit  the pleas filed by martial law survivors through Bonifacio Ilagan, party-list group Akbayan, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelen.

The petitioners sought to disqualify Marcos from the presidential race on May 9 for his conviction for failing to file income tax returns from 1982 to 1985, saying this already "perpetually disqualifies" him from running for any public office.

But the First Division, in its ruling, argued that the penalty does not apply in this case.

"To be clear, the penalty of perpetual disqualification came into force only upon the effectivity of P.D. No. 1994 on January 1, 1986. Thus, the penalty cannot be made to apply to [Marcos'] tax violations, which were committed before the effectivity of the said law," the decision read.

The division also found there was no crime of moral turpitude on the part of Marcos.

"Is the failure to file tax returns inherently immoral? We submit that it is not. The failure to file tax returns is not inherently wrong in the absence of a law punishing it," it noted.

It added that the even the 1977 National Internal Revenue Code recognizes that the failure to file income tax is "not a grave offense as the violation thereof may be penalized only by a fine."

Marcos' camp commended the First Division for dismissing the petitions, which it described as nuisance. "Tama na ang away, tama na ang bangayan (Let's not fight anymore)," his spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said.

First Division presiding commissioner Rowena Guanzon previously revealed she voted to disqualify the son and namesake of the late dictator, believing that he committed moral turpitude  a ground for disqualification.

READ: Guanzon on Marcos' DQ cases: Non-filing of ITR constitutes moral turpitude, 'serious defect' in moral fiber

Guanzon retired in early February, thus nullifying her vote on the case.

Petitioners to appeal to Comelec

The petitioners, meanwhile, said they will "exhaust all legal remedies" and vowed to appeal the decision before the en banc.

"We will appeal to the Comelec en banc and pursue this case to the very end. Hindi pa tapos ang laban (The fight is not yet over)," Akbayan said in a statement, stressing that the development is "a major setback for the country's electoral democracy."

The appeal can also be brought to the Supreme Court for the final decision.

There is still one more disqualification case lodged against Marcos at the Second Division  filed by Ilocano group Pudno Nga Ilokano.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) The ongoing "Bayanihan Bakunahan" or national COVID-19 vaccination days will be extended until Feb. 18, the Department of Health announced on Friday.

The third round of the immunization drive was initially set on Feb. 10 and 11. The initial target was to administer 5 million primary doses and booster shots to adults and children aged 12-17.

The DOH reported over 662,300 doses have been administered so far during the Bayanihan Bakunahan's third installment. Of this number, more than 442,300 were of the primary series while above 219,900 were booster shots.

DOH Usec. Myrna Cabotaje, who also chairs the National Vaccination Operations Center, said the agency is looking into factors behind the low turnout in certain areas such as the absence of health workers who are still in the process of returning from isolation or quarantine.

"Pinapatingnan din natin sa iba't ibang lugar baka hindi pumunta 'yung ating mga kailangan magpabakuna sa mga health center. Baka ang mga health center ang ilapit sa mga mamamayan. Tapos may mga iba't iba pang rason, at 'yun ang bibigyan nila ng pansin at kanilang tutugunan," said Cabotaje during the Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: We also have ordered looking into various areas where the supposed vaccinees didn't go to their respective health centers. Perhaps the health centers should be brought closer to the people. There are other reasons they will give attention to and address.]

The Labor Department earlier urged private employers to willingly extend paid time off to workers accompanying their children during the vaccination days.

Nearly 60 million Filipinos have completed their COVID-19 vaccination. However, only 8 million have availed of the booster dose.

World Health Organization Acting Country Representative Dr. Rajendra Prasad Yadav lauded the Philippines' effort to vaccinate around 70% of its eligible population.

However, he said it is worrisome that over 2.5 million senior citizens have not received even a single COVID-19 shot.

"Vaccinating these older people is one of the effective ways in saving lives during this pandemic and avoid overwhelming of health systems," Yadav told CNN Philippines on Friday.

"So we continue to support the government for that and we encourage and appeal to the governors and mayors to do everything in their power to vaccinate our priority groups, especially their people, and also people with comorbidities," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Mask wearing and COVID-19 testing will continue even as the government prepares to transition to a "new normal" after nearly two years of the pandemic, a health official said on Friday.

Health Department spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is not yet ready to copy the move of some nations removing the testing and masking mandate as they shift to an endemic mindset of dealing with the health crisis.

She added that mask wearing will probably be the last mandate to be scrapped in the country.

"Testing, masking, lahat ng kasama sa PDITR (Prevent, Detect, Isolation, Treat, Reintegration) itutuloy-tuloy po natin. Magta-transition lang tayo sa ating ginagawa. Sa ngayon importante pa rin po ang testing, importante pa rin ang pagmamask dito sa ating bansa," she said in a media briefing. "Gusto pa natin i-closely monitor ang sitwasyon. Gusto natin makasiguro."

[Translation: Testing, masking, and other mandates for PDITR will continue. We will only transition. Testing and masking remains important here. We want to monitor the situation closely. We want to be sure first.]

Vergeire said the Philippines cannot yet treat COVID-19 as endemic due to uncertainties in the virus' behavior, warning cases can suddenly spike and new coronavirus variants may emerge out of nowhere. But she said the government is on its way to ensure safeguards if and when the country downgrades to the lowest Alert Level 1.

"Ang ginagawa ng gobyerno ngayon since we cannot yet declare a state of endemicity because of these uncertain factors, nagta-transition po tayo, pinaghahandaan. We are now preparing and transitioning. If and when dumating ang punto na 'yan, handa tayong lahat para diyan," the DOH official said.

[Translation: Since we cannot declare a state of endemicity yet because of uncertain factors, the government is transitioning and preparing. If and when that time comes, we will be ready.]

Under Alert Level 1 or the "new normal," the official said restrictions on operational capacity in establishments and public transport will be removed and only self-regulation such as wearing mask and physical distancing will be retained.

Malacanang earlier said the government will be keeping the alert level system as a "warning system" for future surges.

The Philippines is currently on the fourth phase of the National Action Plan against COVID-19. The government is gearing up for the shift to the fifth phase, which puts more emphasis on full vaccination, administration of booster shots, and inoculation of minors, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  The junked "nuisance" petitions challenging the candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos proved the lies and repeated arguments being thrown against the presidential candidate, Marcos' camp claimed Friday.

"In the decisionthis is not my word, it's in the decisionthe court called on the petitioners' propensity to mislead the court just to fit their own narrative," Marcos' spokesperson Atty Vic Rodriguez told CNN Philippines' The Source. "Nakita sa kasong 'yan na nagsisinungaling na naman ang petitioners (That case showed that the petitioners lied once again)."

In its decision on Thursday, the Comelec First Division dismissed the consolidated pleas filed by martial law survivors through Bonifacio Ilagan, party-list group Akbayan, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelen on the basis of their argument that the candidate failed to file his income tax returns, a basis for his perpetual disqualification from public office.

It also noted that Marcos did not commit any crime of moral turpitude since "the failure to file tax returns is not inherently wrong in the absence of a law punishing it."

READ: Comelec division junks disqualification cases vs Marcos

"In the decision of the Comelec, ang sinabi nila (they said), it's the other way around, that the petitioners were the ones who were found lying, not one, not twice, but thrice," he noted.

In the same interview, Akbayan Partylist nominee and petitioner Perci Cendana said it was the son of the late dictator who lied multiple times for he was well aware of his tax conviction when he repeatedly ran for office.

"Tuwing magfa-file siya ng kanyang certificate of candidacy at tuwing pinipirmahan niya ang provision na iyon, siya ay nagsisinungaling. Ang pagsininungaling, not once, not twice, pero marami pang beses (Everytime he would file his COC and whenever he would sign that provision, he is lying. He lied not once, not twice, but multiple times)," he said.

"Please don't lecture us about lying because Bongbong Marcos has been lying everytime he files his COC," Cendana added.

The petitioners said they will exhaust all legal remedies and vowed to appeal the decision before the en banc.

Comelec is now left with one more disqualification case lodged against Marcos at the Second Division  filed by Ilocano group Pudno Nga Ilokano.
(CNN)  US President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, warning that "things could go crazy quickly" in the region.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said in an upcoming interview that was taped Thursday with NBC News' Lester Holt.

Referring to Russia, which has amassed troops on its border with Ukraine, Biden said, "It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

Biden said during his NBC interview that "there's not" a situation that could prompt him to send US troops to rescue Americans attempting to exit Ukraine, adding, "That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another."

If Russian President Vladimir Putin is "foolish enough to go in, he's smart enough not to ... do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens," Biden added.

The White House has approved a plan for the nearly 2,000 US troops in Poland to help Americans who may try to evacuate Ukraine if Russia invades, according to two US officials familiar with the matter.

The US forces are not currently authorized to enter Ukraine itself if a war breaks out, and there are no plans for them to conduct a noncombatant evacuation operation akin to the US operation in Afghanistan last summer. Instead, the plan as it now stands is that the troops, who are from the 82nd Airborne Division, will begin setting up processing areas and temporary shelters inside Poland near Ukraine's border where Americans fleeing the country could go for help while in transit. The facilities have not yet been stood up, one defense official said, but will start to be as more US troops arrive in Poland.

The US State Department on Thursday repeated its warning saying that Americans should not travel to Ukraine "due to the increased threats of Russian military action" and called on those in the country to depart immediately.

The advisory told American citizens in Ukraine to "be aware that the US government will not be able to evacuate US citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine."

In late January, the State Department authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel from the US Embassy in Kyiv and ordered family members to depart the country.

The US has estimated that Russia has more than 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border, with thousands added just this week, according to an administration official

Biden is expected to speak Friday with European and NATO leaders about Russia's buildup of troops near Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the plans.

The joint call with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and elsewhere comes as Western nations are looking for diplomatic avenues to defuse the crisis.

Biden spoke Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron about Macron's diplomatic efforts in Moscow with Putin. And the top US military general, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, has been in touch with a number of his counterparts abroad on the situation this week as well.

Milley spoke with Lt. Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, his Ukrainian counterpart, on Thursday to discuss the security environment in Europe, according to a readout of the call. It was their second conversation this week.

On Thursday, Milley also spoke with his counterpart in Belarus for the first time, in between the two calls to Ukraine.

Russia and Belarus began 10 days of joint military drills Thursday amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis over fears that Russia is planning an incursion into Ukrainian territory.

Milley tried to "reduce chances of miscalculation" in his call with Belarus Maj. Gen. Viktor Gulevich, according to a readout.

Milley spoke with his British counterpart on Thursday as well.

Biden rejects Army investigation findings into Afghanistan

The President said in his NBC News interview that he rejects the findings of a US Army report, which investigated the final days of the US war in Afghanistan and detailed the administration's unpreparedness for a Taliban takeover.

The investigation's findings were reported this week in the Washington Post after the outlet filed a Freedom of Information Act request.

The paper said the report found senior White House and State Department officials resisted efforts by the military to prepare for the withdrawal. One senior commander said the military would have been "much better prepared to conduct a more orderly" evacuation "if policymakers had paid attention to the indicators of what was happening on the ground."

Biden said he wasn't told about warnings the Army report says his administration ignored about evacuating the embassy in Kabul. He also said he did not accept the report's findings and defended his decision to withdraw.

"I'm rejecting them," he said.

"Look, there is no good time to get out, but if we had not gotten out, they acknowledged we would have had to put a hell of a lot more troops back in," the President said.

"And there is no way we were ever going to unite Ukraine  I mean, Iraq  Afghanistan," Biden added in an apparent mistake. "No way that was going to happen. And so this is a much wiser thing to do."

This story has been updated with additional information.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Biden on Ukraine situation: 'Things could go crazy quickly'"
(CNN)  Elon Musk has repeatedly bragged (or, perhaps, complained) that he'll pay more in federal taxes for 2021 than anyone has ever paid  about $11 billion. But Tesla apparently won't pay a cent.

Tesla may not plan to pay federal taxes any time in the foreseeable future -- even though the company just reported by far its most profitable year ever. In 2021, Tesla recorded net income of $5.5 billion, and adjusted income of $7.6 billion.

But buried in a footnote of its recent annual financial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla reports that its US operations lost $130 million last year on a pre-tax basis. It claims that all of its pre-tax profits  more than $6 billion worth  came from overseas operations, even though 45% of its revenue came from US sales.

Although Tesla indicates its foreign tax bill came to $839 million, its state tax bill was only $9 million. And its federal tax bill was zero.

"That defies common sense, but it does not defy the US tax code," said Martin Sullivan, chief economist for Tax Analysts, a nonprofit tax publisher, and an expert on US corporate tax practices.

Moving profits overseas  on paper

Sullivan said he believes the $130 million loss on its US operations is most likely due to a common practice for US multinational corporations: structuring their operations so that overseas subsidiaries are the ones reporting income, leaving the US operation to have little or no taxable income to report.

For example, a company can assign its intellectual property to one of those foreign entities, and charge its US unit a fee for using that property. And thus, the foreign operation is very profitable, while the US company  burdened with "costs" to the company itself  reports either a loss or very little income.

"It's a US multinational thing. It's very common. It's almost malpractice not to do that," said Sullivan.

A recent report from the US Department of the Treasury found 61% of the international profits of US multinational companies are booked in seven small countries -- Bermuda, the Caymans, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland -- known as tax havens. It's a practice that many elected officials and the Biden administration have vowed to crack down on.

"Tesla and other giant corporations have long used scams and loopholes to help them get out of paying taxes -- that has to stop," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a frequent critic of Musk. "Democrats are working to end Republican tax cuts for corporations shifting profits and jobs overseas."

However, Congress has so far failed to take action to stop it.

The financial filing by Tesla doesn't spell out what it did exactly, though. For example, it doesn't say which country or countries it made its profit in while reporting a US loss. And Tesla declined to respond to a question about its filing.

Tesla doesn't expect to pay US taxes any time soon

Considering the substantial financial help that Tesla has long received from government support for its electric cars, the company doesn't have to use a shell game of offshoring its profits to avoid paying taxes. Instead, it could use past losses to shelter its current income from any tax bill.

Once again, this is a common practice for companies that lose money: losses result in a future tax break.

Tech companies that lose money for years before turning a profit  such as Amazon  have used this technique. So have old line companies that have financial problems, such as all US airlines, which will probably not have to pay taxes for years to come after recording billions of dollars in losses during the pandemic  despite receiving billions in federal help.

Similarly, Tesla's US automaking competitors lost so much money in the first decade of this century that General Motors and Chrysler needed government bailouts. Despite those bailouts, neither company paid taxes for several years once they were again profitable.

Past losses are a huge and very valuable future tax benefit known as "net operating loss carry-forwards."

Tesla was losing money for more than a decade before it finally started reporting net income in 2020. Those were real losses, which occurred when the costs of developing and building its cars in its early years far outstripped the money it could sell them for. It did so with the expectation that it would turn a profit in the future as demand increased and costs declined. That's exactly what happened.

But, in running up billions of dollars in losses, Tesla was able to accumulate net operating loss carry-forwards that it could use in the future.

Still, Tesla disclosed in this week's financial filing that it did not use any of those past losses to shield current income from taxes. And it took a bookkeeping maneuver that suggests it doesn't know if it will ever have to use those past losses to shield its US income.

Tesla is rather bullish about its future, expecting annual sales growth of 50% for the foreseeable future. If it believed that its pre-tax losses in its domestic operations was temporary, it likely would not have not taken that step of reducing the value of those past losses as a way of eliminating future US taxes, according to Sullivan.

Is Tesla losing money at home?

There's another possible reason that Tesla might have reported a pre-tax loss on its US operations: one that isn't as much an accounting maneuver designed to lower taxes as it is a warning sign about the viability of the company. Perhaps it still is losing money on the cars it is selling in the United States, and it can only make money using the lower costs of a relatively new factory in Shanghai, China.

That's what one of Tesla's most fervent critics and doubters believes. Gordon Johnson of GLJ Research, points out that Tesla was losing money overall until after it started producing cars in Shanghai in October 2019. He believes that investors are giving Tesla too much credit for profits in the US that he doesn't believe are real.

"I think it's a massive deal," he said about Tesla's filing this week. "They effectively said they don't plan on utilizing any of the net loss carry forwards. That means their US operations are losing money. It's an argument we've made over and over again. Outside of China, Tesla loses money."

But other analysts who have examined its books insist Tesla's profits, both at home and overseas, are real, no matter what its US tax forms say.

Johnson said if he's wrong, it's up to Tesla to be more transparent.

"The reality is, until they provide disclosure, both explanations could be right," he said.

Musk's rare big tax bill

Musk has a history of using the US tax code to pay little or no personal federal income taxes. A report from ProPublica shows that for 2018 Musk and many other Americans near the top of the world's richest people paid no income tax.

In Musk's case, he receives no salary from Tesla, only very valuable stock options, as a form of compensation. And under US tax code he doesn't have to pay taxes on those options until he exercises them to buy shares of stock at a fraction of their current value.

He also would have to pay taxes if he sells shares he already held because of his earlier investment in the company, which he has rarely done. But he did that last year as well.

Musk has not exercised most of the options that he holds. But he had options to buy 22.9 million shares that were due to expire in August 2022, and started exercising those options to buy additional shares late last year.

In total, he spent $142.6 million to purchase shares worth $23.6 billion, giving him $23.5 billion in in taxable income, taxable for 2021 at a federal rate of about 41%.

Musk also sold a small fraction of the additional shares he already owned, sales that fetched a taxable $5.8 billion at a lower capital gains rate.

Together those stock trades likely resulted in roughly an $11 billion federal tax bill, which he has tweeted about.

But that could well be the last time for years to come that he's paying a substantial federal tax, unless Congress passes one of the various proposals to tax the net worth of the nation's wealthiest individuals, rather than just their income. Several Democratic Senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden have proposed that, but so far it hasn't come close to passing.

Not surprisingly, Musk opposes such efforts, and has mocked all three senators on Twitter.

The options Musk exercised last year that produced the massive tax bill aren't the end of his options. This week's financial filing from Tesla discloses that Musk received another 8.4 million options, bringing his total to 67.5 million.

But none of those options expire until 2028. And thus it'll probably be five years before he starts to exercise those options, unless he leaves the company before then.

If he is once again paying zero federal taxes, chances are good that his tax bill and his primary company's tax bill will be the same during those five years.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Elon Musk's US tax bill: $11 billion. Tesla's: $0."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Foreign nationals accounted for a third of the total international travelers who entered the Philippines on the day it reopened borders for tourism and business travel, the Bureau of Immigration said Friday.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval reported over 8,000 arrivals this Feb. 10, adding about 27 to 30% of these were foreigners.

Tuesday marked the countrys return to international tourism after two years, with the industry forced to go dark starting March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only fully vaccinated tourists from visa-free countries are allowed for now.

RELATED: PH citizens' foreign spouses, kids from visa-free countries among exempted from return ticket requirement

With the latest figure meeting the BIs expectations, Sandoval said they expect more international travelers to enter the Philippines soon.

Siguro [Perhaps] for the next coming weeks tataas po yan ng mga [the numbers will go up by about] 20 to 30%. And hopefully we would be reaching nasa [about] 10,000 to 12,000 by the end of the month, she said.

Starting Feb. 16, the Philippines will also allow the entry of fully vaccinated foreigners from countries that require visas.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Local and foreign tourists on Boracay Island can enjoy free COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Friday.

Tourists can avail of the free doses in a drug store, the secretary added.

"Lahat ng turista na pupunta dito, foreigner o domestic, ay libre ang booster shot dito sa Watsons," she said during the launch of the Resbakuna sa Botika program in Boracay.

[Translation: All tourists coming to Boracay, foreigner or domestic, can get free booster shot here in Watsons.]

The news comes as the local government rolls out COVID-19 vaccines in pharmacies and begins its vaccine drive for children.

"Ang sinasabi ng foreigners, ang gusto nila is that madali raw mag-travel dito and they feel safe kasi they found out about the vaccination rate at nagbu-booster na tayo," Puyat said.

[Translation: Foreigners have said what they like about traveling to the Philippines is that it's easy and that they feel safe because they found out about the vaccination rate and the booster drive.]

Puyat noted that as of Feb. 10, a total of 17,910 or 102.51% of the targeted population of tourism workers on the island have been fully immunized against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 2,671 or 15.29% have received their boosters.

On Wednesday, the country reopened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travelers, requiring them to only present proof of vaccination, negative RT-PCR tests, and outbound tickets.

According to the Bureau of Immigration, foreign nationals made up a third of the international travelers who arrived in the country since Wednesday. The bureau recorded about 8,000 arrivals, of which about "27 to 30%" were foreigners.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Retired Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has criticized the poll body's First Division which junked the three consolidated cases against the candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos.

In her Facebook post on Friday, Guanzon slammed the ruling written by ponente Commissioner Aimee Ferolino which dismissed the cases due to lack of merit.

"Ferolino chose to turn a blind eye to the circumstances surrounding Marcos, Jr.s offense," Guanzon said.

Guanzon argued that Ferolino considered the weight of moral turpitude citing a case that dated as far back as 1979. In its resolution, the Commission said "there are crimes which are mala in se (evil in itself) and yet rarely involve moral turpitude and there are crimes which involve moral turpitude and are mala prohibita (wrong because prohibited) only."

The resolution noted that "failure to file tax returns is not inherently wrong in the absence of a law punishing it."

But Guanzon noted that it is wrong to qualify an offense without moral turpitude just because it is an offense mala prohibita.

"[It] cannot always be ascertained whether moral turpitude does or does not exist by classifying a crime as malum in se (evil in itself) or as malum prohibitum, since there are crimes which are mala in se and yet but rarely involve moral turpitude and there are crimes which involve moral turpitude and are mala prohibita only," Guanzon said, citing the high court's clarification on the 1993 case of International Rice Research Institute vs. NLRC.

Guanzon added: "While crimes involving fraud may likely involve moral turpitude, it does not follow that when fraud is not an element of a crime, the same no longer involves moral turpitude: rape does not require fraud as an element, but surely rape involves moral turpitude."

Guanzon also slammed Ferolino's argument that Marcos did not voluntarily violate the law for not filing his ITR. She noted that Marcos' repeated failure to do so from 1982 to 1985 when he was governor and vice governor of Ilocos Norte "is already an indicia that such failure was voluntary and intentional."

"Is he stupid that he did not know that he should file an ITR? 'Diba Oxford graduate daw siya, bakit hindi niya alam something as basic as that?" she said in her statement.

The feisty former official earlier accused Ferolino of deliberately delaying the decision, which led to the invalidation of her vote favoring the petitioners.

The First Division, with Ferolino and Commissioner Marlon Casquejo as its members, both voted after Guanzon's retirement to dismiss the consolidated pleas filed by martial law survivors through Bonifacio Ilagan, party-list group Akbayan, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelen.

Marcos' camp earlier expressed elation about the Comelec decision, noting that the petitioners deliberately tried to "mislead the court to fit their own narrative." But Akbayan refuted this, noting that it was the son of the late dictator who lied multiple times by disregarding his tax conviction when he filed his bid.

READ: Marcos victory shows repeated arguments, lies in petitions  spox

The petitioners said they will appeal the case before the Comelec en banc and called on the public to fight the "massive electoral swindle" which would allow another Marcos to retake Malacanang.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Baku has said that Yerevan is attempting to misinterpret a recently struck agreement on UNESCO missions to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"The Armenian Foreign Ministry is trying to distort the recently reached agreement on the visits of UNESCO missions to Azerbaijan and Armenia. We condemn the Armenian Foreign Ministry's new attempt to avoid the commitments that this state has accepted," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on February 11.

Despite Azerbaijan's repeated requests to UNESCO and countless letters, the organization's delegation was unable to arrive in the region due to Armenia. UNESCO said this in its 2005 report, the ministry added.

From the first day, Azerbaijan welcomed UNESCO's technical delegation, which is scheduled to visit the country. All preparations for it were agreed upon bilaterally by Azerbaijan and UNESCO, the report added.

Thus, UNESCO emphasized that the Azerbaijani lands were under the occupation of Armenia, and admitted that Armenia prevented the visit.

Concerning UNESCO's mission to Armenia, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Azerbaijani has constantly reminded UNESCO and the world community of the realities of the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia.

We consider it necessary to send a mission to Armenia to investigate the facts presented to UNESCO by the Azerbaijani side. We hope that Armenia, as opposed to its previous policy, will create conditions for the UNESCO mission this time, the statement said.

It underlined that Azerbaijani NGOs had recently given extensive information on the destruction, as well as images and other proof, to UNESCO.

During a virtual conference on February 4, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan achieved an agreement on UNESCO missions to be sent to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Azerbaijani NGO leaders have asked UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to send an expert group to Armenia to assess the current state of Azerbaijan's centuries-old cultural and historical heritage, Azertag has reported.

NGOs said that by pursuing a policy of both ethnic and cultural genocide, Armenia has purposefully erased all traces of Azerbaijanis, the historical and ancient residents of these territories, plundered, destroyed, embezzled and distorted the Azerbaijani people's cultural legacy. At the same time, ancient place names in these areas were changed with Armenian ones.

We provided a number of precise facts in our earlier appeals to UNESCO. For example, along with other facts, we have emphasized that the Blue Mosque, the Gala Mosque, the Shah Abbas Mosque, the Tapabashi Mosque, the Zal Khan Mosque, the Sartib Khan Mosque, the Haji Novruzali Bay Mosque, the Damirbulagh Mosque, the Haji Jafar Bay Mosque, the Rajab Pasha Mosque, the Mohammad Sartib Khan Mosque, the Haji Inam Mosque and more than 300 other mosques located in Armenia were deliberately destroyed, appropriated or used for other purposes in the early 20th century. Only the Damirbulagh Mosque functioned as intended until 1988, but it has now been completely demolished and replaced by a high-rise building, the statement added.

It noted that over 500 Azerbaijani cemeteries in Armenia, such as Aghadada, Ashaghi Shorja, Gullubulagh and Saral have been destroyed. The tomb of great Azerbaijani poet Ashig Alasgar, whose tombstone was erected in his native village in ancient Goycha district, was also destroyed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) The International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged the Philippine government to conduct speedy and thorough investigations into the reported killings and assaults against trade unionists in the country.

In its report on international labor standards, the United Nations agency expressed deep concern over the allegations  which include cases of arrests, red-tagging, and intimidation against parties in the sector.

[G]iven the extreme seriousness of the allegations and their repeated nature, the committee urges the [Philippine] government to take all necessary measures to address the issues of violence and intimidation and, in particular, to conduct prompt and effective investigations into all allegations of extrajudicial killings of and assaults against trade unionists, the ILO said.

It also called on the government to punish perpetrators and give detailed accounts on the matter.

Among the instances specifically cited by ILO were: the killings of ten trade unionists; arrests after police raids in union offices and unionists homes; and incidents of red-tagging and harassment against leaders and members of labor organizations.

Observing with regret that the government simply reiterates that the cases are being handled through the regular course of criminal investigation and prosecution, without providing details as to any progress made, the committee reiterates its previous request and expects the government to be in a position to report substantial progress in this regard, the report further noted.

Philippine authorities have yet to issue a response to ILOs report, but Malacanang has repeatedly denied claims of extrajudicial killings in the country.

The ILO also noted that the government earlier agreed to take part in a high-level mission with the agency to address the issues raised.

The mission has not yet taken place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a virtual exchange among the concerned camps  including representatives of labor groups  took place in September last year.

The ILO, however, said the discussion failed to bring forward evidence of tangible progress with regards to the concerns raised and that the government should adopt a time-bound plan of action.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Vice President Leni Robredo has secured the support of 137 economists, including former economic managers, in her bid to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a list issued Friday, five former directors-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) are among the economists who have expressed support for the candidacy of Robredo, namely Cielito Habito, Emmanuel Esguerra, Dante B. Canlas, Ernesto M. Pernia, and Solita Collas-Monsod.

Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo and economist-lawmaker Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo also signed the statement of support for the opposition leader.

"At this time when our country is struggling to recover from its deepest economic crisis since the 1980s, we believe that governments role has never been more indispensable," the statement read.

"We are convinced that only a competent leadership can restore the peoples trust and confidence in government enabling it to effectively preside over the collective effort of economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic," it also said.

"We share the hope of a majority of our people for an economic recovery that does not merely reproduce the inequities in our pre-pandemic society but eradicates their sources and expands economic and social opportunities for all in a level playing field," it added.

The 137 signatories said Robredo is the "best hope" to regain Filipinos' trust in the government as she is offering "a solid economics and legal background" that could drive the country's recovery from COVID-19.

The economists have also taken into consideration Robredo's decades-long stint as a human rights lawyer at the grassroots level, calling this "a genuine concern for the plight of the poor and marginalized".

"This will be crucial not just in bringing back peoples trust in government, but also in making sure that economic recovery improves the lives of Filipinos from all walks of life," they stated.

They also pointed out Robredo's "proven track record of hands-on leadership and good governance," especially when COVID-19 struck the Philippines, pushing the Office of the Vice President to quickly mobilize and refocus its efforts to boost the government's pandemic response.

Robredo's detailed pandemic recovery plan released in November, where she seeks to beef up the health and education sectors, and fight hunger, has also been lauded.

READ: Strengthen healthcare system, fight hunger, continue learning: Robredo details pandemic recovery plan

"Bad governance is a poison that kills both lives and livelihoods," the economists pointed out. "The pandemic made that clear. Robredos brand of good governance is the antidote this country needs in order to build back better from the twin crises plaguing our health and economy exacting a huge toll on the different sectors of the country."

"Her leadership will also lend our country much-needed credibility on the world stage," they said, believing in Robredo's capacity to "revitalize" partnerships in the global economy and stand up for the national sovereignty.

"We invite our colleagues in other disciplines and groups to join us in supporting VP Robredo, so that we may begin to rebuild our faltering institutions, restore our faith in government, and rebuild the foundations for shared prosperity and dignity," the economists also said.
(CNN)  A college student has become a symbol of resistance in India's Karnataka state, where religious tensions are rising over the right to wear religious clothing to school.

Muskan Khan was attempting to hand in a college assignment in the city of Mandya when she was accosted by a group of Hindu men wearing saffron scarves  the color of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  according to video posted to social media.

"They were not allowing me to go inside, just because I was carrying the burqa," she told local outlet channel NDTV. Khan had covered her head with a hijab, an Islamic headscarf, and was wearing a religious dress.

The men heckle her as she makes her way across the school grounds, demanding she take off her face covering, but instead of complying, Khan shouts back "Allahu Akbar" as she punches her fist in the air.

The confrontation illustrates the religious divide that's been widening in Karnataka since a group of girls began protesting outside their government-run school in January after they were denied entry in the classroom for wearing a hijab.

The girls petitioned the state's top court to lift the ban, prompting rival protests from right-wing Hindu students.

On Wednesday the court referred the petition to a larger panel of judges, but no date has been set for hearings.

Activists say the hijab row is yet another example of a broader trend in India  one that has seen a crackdown on India's minority Muslim population since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP came to power nearly eight years ago.

They say that by denying Muslim women the choice to wear the hijab, the government is denying them their religious freedoms, enshrined in the Indian constitution.

"This is a massive attempt by the BJP to homogenize Indian culture, to make it a Hindu-only state," said 23-year-old Muslim activist Afreen Fatima, who has been protesting in support of the students in her hometown of Allahabad in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.

"Muslim women are isolated in India. And the situation is getting worse every day."

The 'hijab row'

What started as a small protest made national headlines after several other government-run educational institutions in Karnataka denied entry to students wearing hijabs.

The protests have since spread to other cities. Scores of students took to the streets in India's capital Delhi this month holding placards and shouting slogans to express their anger at the ban. And hundreds more have protested in Kolkata and Hyderabad, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, BJP-ruled Karnataka ordered a three-day closure of all high schools and colleges amid the growing tensions. And on Wednesday authorities in the state's capital Bengaluru banned protests outside schools for two weeks.

For many Muslim women, the hijab is an integral part of their faith. While it has been seen as a source of controversy in some western countries, in India it is neither banned, nor restricted from being worn in public places.

Karnataka's education minister B.C. Nagesh said he supported banning the hijab in educational institutions, citing the state's mandate on religious attire.

"Government is very firm that the school is not a platform to practice dharma (religion)," he told CNN affiliate CNN News-18.

But experts say the issue runs deeper than a dress code.

Karnataka  where just 13% of the population is Muslim  is governed by the BJP.

According to lawyer Mohammed Tahir, who is representing one group of petitioners in court, Karnataka is a "hotbed" of the Hindutva ideology supported by many right-wing groups, which seeks to make India the land of the Hindus.

Karnataka has banned the sale and slaughter of cows, an animal considered sacred to Hindus. It has also introduced a controversial anti-conversion bill, which makes it more difficult for interfaith couples to marry or for people to convert to Islam or Christianity.

And according to Tahir, the lawyer, religious tension in the state will likely increase ahead of pivotal state elections next year.

"These issues (like the hijab ban) are very easy to polarize the entire community for votes," he said.

In a statement Tuesday, the Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy said it "strongly condemns the attempt by Hindutva forces and the BJP government of Karnataka to engulf college and school campuses in the already raging communal fire in the state."

"College campuses have thus been transformed into yet another playing field for the BJP and other right-wing Hindu majoritarians," the statement said.

CNN has attempted to contact the state authorities but did not receive a response.

Muslim women further targeted

The hijab row follows a string of online attacks against Muslim women in India.

In early January, the Indian government was investigating a website that purported to offer Muslim women for sale. It was the second time in less than a year that a fake online auction of that kind sparked outrage in the country.

"They came for us online," said Fatima, who was featured on the online app. "Now, they are directly targeting our religious practice. It started in one college, and grew. I have no reason to believe it will end there."

On Tuesday, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, called the hijab row "horrifying."

"Objectification of women persists  for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women," she wrote on Twitter.

The All India President of the Students' Federation of India, V P Sanu, criticized the hijab ban, saying it was used "as a reason to deny Muslim women's right to education."

Modi referred briefly to Muslim women in a speech in Uttar Pradesh Thursday as that state started voting in local elections.

The Prime Minister said his government "stands with every victim Muslim woman."

He didn't refer to the hijab ban but said the government gave Muslim women "freedom" by scrapping the controversial Muslim practice of triple talaq, which allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by simply saying the Arabic word for divorce, "talaq", three times. The Indian government criminalized the practice in 2019.

Khan, the student who yelled at the Hindu men, said she was defending her religious rights.

"Every religion has freedom, India is a unity...every religion has freedom," Khan told reporters Wednesday.

"They are following their culture and I am following my culture. They should let us follow our culture and not raise any obstacle."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Hijab protests spread in India as girls refuse to be told what not to wear"
There are currently three bills in the Nebraska legislature  one favored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau, the other two supported by educational organizations  all of which get at property tax relief, but they come from completely different places.

LB890 is based on the "Columbus plan" spearheaded by Columbus Public Schools Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz and Finance and Human Resources Director Chip Kay. The bill restructures some of the ways state aid is currently allocated to schools, implements a long-promised 20% state income tax contribution to schools and establishes a base school aid fund.

In a Nov. 18 North Platte Telegraph article explaining the Columbus plan, North Platte Public Schools Executive Finance Director Stuart Simpson pointed out that funding the tax contribution and base school aid fund will be the tricky part.

Thats where LB891, introduced by District 18 Sen. Brett Lindstrom, comes in.

LB891 would repurpose the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act tax credit allocation, using it instead for school aid.

Passed in 2020 as LB1107, the Property Tax Incentive Act notably created the Refundable Income Tax Credit (RITC), intended to relieve the burden of school property taxes on all property owners. $125 million was set aside for the RITC in 2020 but the allocation in 2021 ballooned to $548 million, driven by high tax revenues thanks to valuation increases.

Originally, the RITC allocation was supposed to top out at $375 million in 2024, with annual growth adjustments thereafter, but the Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is championing a bill (LB723) that would make sure it never falls below $548 million.

"It puts a floor under there to ensure that (allocation) doesn't go back below that," NEFB President Mark McHargue said. "...It gives consistency."

Meanwhile, LB890/891 is based on the idea that, with increased state support, schools will not need to levy such high property taxes, thereby reducing the burden on farmers who tend to pay a great deal in property taxes levied by schools.

But will the property tax relief proposed as a consequence of LB890/891 offset the loss of the RITC?

"Short term, no," Lindstrom said in a statement emailed to the Telegram by one of his staffers on Feb. 9. "In the first year it would provide a 20% drop in property taxes, compared with 25% relief associated with the LB1107 tax credits."

However, Kay stressed that it's important to look at the total package.

"If the focus is, well, under 1107 my property taxes go down $100 (but) they only go down $95 with LB890/891 -- well, that's $5," Kay said. "What are you getting for that $5, what's the investment in education through 890 and 891, versus just 1107?"

Loeffelholz also argued that the LB1107 relief is not built to last.

"My guess is once residential and commercial (property owners) figure out they can receive 1107 money, I think that's going to water it down pretty quickly and I don't know if it's sustainable, because it'll have to continue to grow," Loeffelholz said.

Growing LB1107 is essentially what LB723 proposes.

Proponents of LB890 present it as a more sustainable tax relief solution that supports all kinds of school districts.

"In the long term this is the first step toward sustainable property tax reform while fully funding our education system in Nebraska," Lindstrom said. "This builds the foundation of property tax reform and ensures that we continue to address the over reliance on property taxes for education funding."

When asked about the impact of LB891/890 on the NEFB approach to LB723, McHargue said he was less familiar with LB890/891.

"There are a lot of bills that are going to try to get at some of these issues. We think the very cleanest bill is 723," McHargue said. "...1107 is performing really well.  Let's not mess with something that seems to be working. Maybe there are better things, but from just the ease of helping people understand, it's a pretty simple way just to continue to lock up relief going to property tax."

During a 60-day session already complicated by the question of how to distribute American Rescue Plan Act dollars, McHargue indicated that the NEFB is trying to keep things simple.

"The reality, probably, on the tax front? I'm not sure we're going to see some big reform happen. That's the reason we're looking at things like 723," McHargue said.

Loeffelholz and Kay said they understand that LB890 may not go anywhere this session.

"The end product is a framework that can be used moving forward -- whether it passes or not, they've got a starting point they didn't have before," Kay said.

Molly Hunter is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at molly.hunter@lee.net.

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As part of her campaign for governor, former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, of Omaha, stopped by Columbus Thursday afternoon.

Thibodeau, who is a Republican candidate, said her background includes serving in the Nebraska Legislature, as chair of the Douglas County Republican Party and on the Omaha Personnel Board, among other things. Notably, shes worked in human resources and previously owned an early childhood development business.

With all of those unique and different experiences I have a different approach because I've had the one-on-one everyday experience with what people are concerned with and what they're seeing in our state, but also what we love about our state and the things that make our state great, Thibodeau said. When I started seeing things being encroached upon little by little, I thought how could I not stand up and get into this race?

The governor hopeful said one of the big focuses of her campaign is property tax relief. If elected, she said, she would present a plan to the Legislature.

What I'm doing on the campaign right now  so that we have a plan  is meeting with all of the local leaders, citizens of Nebraska, county and city in order to find out why it hasn't worked in the past and how we can make it work going forward. That way when I deliver my tax plan to the Legislature, it has broad support of all Nebraskans, Thibodeau said.

She said fixing the current tax issues is an obligation for Nebraskas next governor, adding that high taxes are why people are moving out of the state. She noted that through owning a childhood development center, she has firsthand knowledge of how taxes are impacting Nebraskas communities.

Another concern of Thibodeau is education.

I, as governor, want to focus on the true core education of our children, she said. That is your math, English, science, reading, those four core curriculums that will prepare our children when they graduate that they can go into the workforce, community college or onto a university.

Thibodeau also mentioned housing and getting people to build homes in Nebraska. For example, she said, people want good health care. Thats not an issue in Columbus, she noted, pointing to Columbus Community Hospital. But in other parts of the state, a lack of access to medical care is an issue.

From conversations shes had with parents and grandparents, crime is a concern for them. Thats a matter she focuses on in her campaign, she added.

They want to know that they're going to have somebody strong to stand up, not be soft on criminals and ensure that we give law enforcement the tools that they asked for in order to keep our community safe, Thibodeau said.

Additionally, Thibodeau touched on the issue of COVID-19 mandates interfering with individual freedoms.

The fact that we had our businesses and our churches shuttered during a time that should never happen again under a government mandate, she said. That should be up to those local owners and the personal responsibility of every individual to decide whether or not they feel safe to go out.

Thibodeau is one of several candidates throwing their hats into the ring to become the next governor of Nebraska. Other Republican candidates include Jim Pillen, of Columbus; Charles Herbster, of Falls City; and Sen. Brett Lindstrom, of Omaha, while Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue is a Democratic candidate.

When asked what sets her apart from the other candidates, Thibodeau pointed to her background and the fact that shes sold her business.

As we all know being governor, it's more than a full time job, she said. Its the governor's responsibility to be there for the citizens no matter what. Theres no other outside distractions there that could pull me away.

Thibodeau noted the passion she has to serve Nebraska.

I have that will and desire to support our citizens The governor is there to help lead and help provide the opportunities and then get out of the way and let the citizens and the farmers and the businesses decide what's right for their communities, she said.

Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.

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U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry sat flanked by his attorneys as they squared off with prosecutors Friday in a California courtroom on motions that ranged from being able to call a memory expert to arguing at trial the case was a "political witch hunt."

A grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the Nebraska congressman in October on allegations he lied to federal agents investigating an illegal campaign contribution at a 2016 fundraiser in California.

Fortenberry has pleaded not guilty to two counts of making false statements to federal agents and one count of seeking to conceal the source of $30,000 in conduit political contributions.

His trial had been set to start next Tuesday, but last month, jury trials were suspended because of COVID-19. They now are set to resume Feb. 22.

In court Friday, defense attorney John Littrell made it clear Fortenberry's attorneys "need a trial as soon as possible," and pointed out to the judge it was the first hearing for which the Nebraska congressman had gone to California.

"It's not because he doesn't want to come. It's not because he doesn't want to participate in this case. This is very important to him," he said, arguing for the case to be moved to Nebraska.

Littrell said it's because Fortenberry has important things to do. Two previous hearings occurred the day of House of Representatives votes.

But the proposed move, which the government is fighting, was far from a given.

And Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. seemed unconvinced that it ultimately would result in a quicker trial, given that a new judge would have to get up to speed on all the motions he's already heard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Har called it "forum shopping."

"This case is going to trial and it's going to go to trial fast," she said. "It does not favor moving this entire case to a new location that has not touched it since it's been indicted."

Blumenfeld said he would let the parties know his decision by the end of the day Friday but no decision was posted by 6:30 p.m. (PST).

Blumenfeld already has rejected a number of other defense challenges to the charges, including an effort to get the indictment dismissed because it wasn't filed in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., where the statements were made, and to disqualify one of the prosecuting attorneys.

But he has yet to rule on a flurry that followed.

Among them:

* A defense motion to suppress statements Fortenberry made because he only talked to investigators after a prosecutor told his then-attorney Fortenberry wasn't considered a suspect, but rather was a subject, trending toward being considered a witness.

* A motion by the U.S. Attorney's Office to prevent the defense from calling Dr. Alan Castel, a memory expert, to testify about the fallibility of memory, especially in older adults, calling it commonsense. Defense attorney Ryan Fraser called the testimony essential to the defense. "We're here ... because the government put Congressman Fortenberry through a battery of flawed memory tests."

* And another seeking to exclude any evidence or argument attacking the prosecution or prosecution team as politically motivated.

The government says the case stems from an investigation that started in 2015 and focused on a Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, who financially supported prominent members of both political parties.

"But the defense seeks to argue that the investigators were biased toward defendant (a Nebraska Republican) and used this prosecution to defeat a Republican incumbent," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins argued.

He said Fortenberry "seemingly intends to inject politics into his trial as much as possible," though his own party was in the White House during the investigation.

Chagoury is said to have directed the donations to Fortenberry because of a shared interest in protecting Christians from persecution in the Middle East.

But it is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. political campaigns.

In the end, Blumenfeld asked the attorneys to provide anything useful to enable him to understand "what an appropriate and reasonably limited approach to this trial would be so that the defense has a fair ability to mount a defense without taking this case in a direction that the court is not likely to allow, and that the government is able to present its prosecution but not do so in the way that it wishes, which strikes the court as being unfair."

Attorneys are set to meet with the judge again Thursday.

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A single-engine plane that had been experiencing mechanical troubles in its flight from Indiana to Lincoln made an emergency crash landing in a field northeast of the city Thursday evening.

Richard Phelps, the 44-year-old pilot of the 2019 Cirrus aircraft, told the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that the plane first began showing signs of engine trouble near Plattsmouth, but the problems seemed to smooth out after reducing altitude.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said the engine issues flared up again as Phelps and a 60-year-old passenger, both Indiana men, neared Lincoln around 8:30 p.m.

"He didn't think he could make it to the Lincoln Airport," Wagner said.

The pilot circled away from the city's populated areas and dumped fuel after identifying a field near North 112th Street and Havelock Avenue, where he made the emergency landing, according to the sheriff's office.

No one was injured in the incident, which summoned to the field the sheriff's office, the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Waverly Fire and Rescue, Southeast Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department hazmat team.

Wagner said the plane was equipped with a parachute designed to aid in crash landings. He said the plane was damaged in the incident but remained in one piece.

Phelps originally planned to land in Lincoln before continuing on to Utah, Wagner said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House said Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come within the week, possibly within the next two days, even before the end of the Winter Olympics, and urged Americans to leave the country now.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he said all the pieces were in place for a major military operation that could start rapidly.

"The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now, Sullivan said.

We are not saying that a decision has been taken by President Putin, Sullivan said. What we are saying is that we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we are seeing on the ground, and what our intelligence analysts have picked up, that we are sending this clear message.

Britains defense secretary, meanwhile, is visiting Moscow in another effort to ease tensions over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Russia is holding massive war games in neighboring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault. Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

Read the full story:

More on the situation in Ukraine:

The chill of a Cold War hung over Eastern Europe again Friday, with Russian maneuvers and drills close to Ukraine, and NATO's chief boosting troop morale on the Black Sea.

Diplomats and government leaders, meanwhile, struggled ever more to jumpstart moribund talks to stave off full-out war.

Here's a look at what is happening where and why:

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For Robin Scherer, its been an education serving on the South Middleton School Board.

She learned early on being elected to public office is more than just attending meetings to make decisions.

Until youre doing it, you dont realize everything thats involved, Scherer said. At first, it was overwhelming, but now Im getting into the groove ... taking it one meeting at a time.

The past seven months have been a period of dramatic flux for the board, with a turnover of seven of the nine school directors since July.

Five were elected to office in November to replace incumbents. Two more were appointed in December to replace board members who resigned. Only one of the seven has any prior experience in being a board member. And its not Robin Scherer.

Instead, she is one of 954 Pennsylvanians who have stepped into the role of newly elected school director following the 2021 campaign season. Her run for office successful, she now has to sprint to round a steep learning curve on how to govern effectively.

Every day, youre learning as youre applying what you learn, Scherer said, referring to online courses she took in December through the Pennsylvania School Board Association. What were going through now, whats really helpful is finance, how are budgets put together.

Act 55 of 2017 enacted a training requirement for Pennsylvania directors. Those who are newly elected or appointed have to complete at least five hours of training within the first year of their term.

The school board association meets the state requirement by providing courses in school finance, school law, board policy and board governance. There is also a course on trauma-informed education  an approach to instruction that takes into account how adverse childhood experiences could impact the physiological, social, emotional and academic development of children, according to www.edutopia.com.

Training coursework

One lesson Scherer learned from coursework is that the bulk of school district budgets are set expenditures tied to personnel costs that are fixed by contract.

Unless board members want to cut programs and face a backlash of public opinion, they have only limited flexibility to offset budget deficits like the $1.6 million shortfall projected in the South Middleton School District fiscal plan for 2022-23.

Theres so much to learn, Scherer said. But the clock is ticking. She has four months to get up to speed before the June vote on final budget adoption. What is helping is Jim Estep.

We have a really good superintendent, she said. Hes guiding us and providing his experience. We rely on his expertise to make it fit with what we want to accomplish.

Though new to elected office, board president Brad Group has 35 years of experience working within the South Middleton School District. A retired teacher from the W.G. Rice Elementary School, he served for 25 years as president of the South Middleton Education Association, the local teachers union.

Still, Group had to complete the state-mandated training as a director. He compared the coursework to the annual professional training he received as a veteran educator.

Ive been doing this type of thing for a very long time, Group said. All of this is related to the school district. Im pretty in tune with most of the topics.

The required training includes an overview on the fundamentals of academic testing and requirements, special education, labor relations, local taxation, facilities planning, transportation, governance plans and documents, the Sunshine Act and executive sessions and the Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Act.

There are always new things to learn, Group said.

Learning curve

On average, it takes about a year for a typical board member to go through all the processes involved with understanding what happens within a school district, said John Callahan, the associations chief advocacy officer.

In fact, the learning is continuous. State law requires that re-elected board members complete three hours of training that covers legal and policy updates and coursework in trauma-informed education and school finance.

As a service to school boards, the school board association offers opportunities that go beyond the required training. For example, there are recorded webinars covering such topics as cybersecurity, COVID-19 and mental health, child safety and security in a virtual environment, equity in education, LGBTQ students in K-12 schools, cybersecurity, culturally responsive leadership and tips on evaluating a superintendent.

There is customized training where association staff can meet with a board to present information and facilitate conversations on topics relevant to that school district.

David Miller and Sue Bower are the two newest members of the Carlisle Area School Board. Both were elected in November and took office in December.

Miller was working his way online through required lessons when he came across a school board association notice inviting newly elected board members to participate in a monthly internet forum. He signed up for the opportunity to share insight with people across the state going through the same learning curve.

I want to be the best school director that I can be to represent the folks who elected me, Miller said. Going into it, I worked with teams in the past in the military. I know that being part of a group you work together, you discuss things, you take a vote and the majority rules.

While helpful, the training was too general for her tastes, Bower said. But she understood why the association took that approach.

Every school district is going to be different, Bower said. There needed to be a very broad explanation of the central topics for school boards, she said.

It [the training] has given me the opportunity to succeed at the job by giving me a good foundation, she said. But, for me, my idea of training is building relationships with the people who are the experts.

Her goal is being helped by an orientation process in Carlisle to help new board members get acclimated to public service.

The process started in December when Miller and Bower met with board president Paula Bussard and the outgoing superintendent Christina Spielbauer.

Spielbauer stepped down as the chief executive on Dec. 31. Prior to her departure, the board hired Patricia Sanker to serve as acting superintendent until a permanent replacement could start with the district.

It was about two-and-a-half hours long, Bower said of the December meeting. They have a whole on-boarding checklist that goes over the vision of the district, the mission, the beliefs, job descriptions, the Pennsylvania School Code, board procedures, ethics, Right-to-Know and the Sunshine Act.

It goes through the personnel of the district, she said. Who does what? Who is responsible for what? What is our organizational chart? It touches on financial management and the overall operations of the district  academic programs, our Center for Careers and Technology, special education, the virtual academy.

Two other meetings were held after the first. One involved a sit-down with district solicitor Gareth Pahowka who answered questions on legal issues. The other meeting was a tour of district schools and a meet-and-greet with building administrators conducted by Eric Sands, district director of operations. But the interaction doesnt end there. It continues with every board meeting.

At South Middleton, for example, meetings are generally held the first and third Mondays of each month. On the Thursday or Friday before each meeting, the board secretary sends directors a tentative outline of the agenda along with supporting documents that provide context to discussion and deliberation.

Theres homework to do, said Group, a former second-grade teacher. You have to make sure you understand the material thats coming before the board. You have to make sure that you are grasping the concepts that are presented to you so that when you are in the meeting, you have the ability to ask questions.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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By Trend





A board meeting of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has been held, the ministry told Trend.

The meeting chaired by Minister Jeyhun Bayramov was attended by his deputies, as well as the rector of ADA University, the head of the department of legal support under the ministry, and the head of the ministrys Nakhchivan division.

The participants discussed the current state and directions of the development of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, bilateral relations with foreign states, including the organization of events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

Besides, relations with international organizations, including the chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation, personnel issues, and other topics were discussed.
The turnover on the South Middleton School Board the past seven months was more than three times the statewide average.

Of the 500 school districts across Pennsylvania, 417 reported at least one new board member took office following the 2021 election cycle, said John Callahan, chief advocacy officer for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The average turnover or number of newly elected members was 2.2 directors this cycle.

Since July, South Middleton has seen a turnover of seven board members, including six who have taken office since early December. Of the seven newcomers, only Terry Draper has any prior board experience.

Brad Group would be next in line in terms of service on the school board. He was appointed in early August to replace Edyie Rob who died in a traffic accident on July 2. On Election Day, Group won a two-year seat on the board.

Since then, Group has been named board president to serve until the reorganization meeting in early December. While new to an elected position, Group retired in late June after 35 years as an elementary school teacher during which he held leadership positions with the South Middleton Education Association, the local teachers union.

I have a little bit of an advantage because I worked for the system, Group said in a recent phone interview. Im pretty well versed about the way a school district functions, both at the administration and school board level.

Board newness

His experience will come in handy considering that two-thirds of current board members are in different stages of training as they negotiate the required learning curve for new directors. Group attended an in-person training session in January offered by the school board association.

During the interview, Group was asked about the newness of the South Middleton Board in the context of important decisions looming in the coming months. In June, for example, board members will vote to finalize a budget for 2022-23 that is showing a $1.6 million deficit.

To Group, the boards newness provides fresh ideas and perspectives, especially on the budget. Thats a positive, he said. I think the new board realizes that they need to be guided by the experience of the current superintendent [James Estep] and current business manager.

While Estep is new to South Middleton School District, he has years of experience as a top-level administrator, Group said. He said the same is true of Tina Darchicourt, the current business manager, who had prior experience with the district.

Not alone

The seven new members of the South Middleton board are not alone in trying to get up to speed.

An estimated 2,069 school board seats were up for grabs across Pennsylvania during the 2021 election cycle, Callahan said. Of those, 53.9% or 1,115 seats were retained by incumbents while 46.1% or 954 were filled by newly elected board members.

Every four years, the school board association compiles demographic information on the makeup of Pennsylvania school boards. This information is used by the association to prepare a snapshot of the typical school director along with a statewide profile about the 4,500 school board members serving the 500 school districts.

The latest profile includes data from survey years 2014 and 2018. While 2022 is a survey year, the association has yet to receive and compile all the data from districts.

The typical school director is male, well-educated, 50 to 54 years of age, married with two children attending public schools, and devotes six to 10 hours per month to school board business, the profile states.

In 2018, 47% of school board members had four years or less of service while 31% percent had five to 10 years, according to the profile. Only 5% of board members had 21 years or more.

Survey results

The 2018 survey form was sent out before the shootings at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The results came in almost two years before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate over mitigation efforts and the divisiveness surrounding issues of race and social justice.

In 2018, 78% of respondents identified budget and funding issues as the most important educational concern facing Pennsylvania public schools. This was followed by pensions (51%), unfunded mandates (48%), charter/cyber charter schools (43%) and ensuring that all children reach their full potential (40%).

Back then, 17% of respondents reported school finance and budget as the most difficult area of school board operations to understand. State regulations and controls was the second thorniest topic at 15% while legislative and legal concerns came in third at about 10%.

South Middleton School District and its prior board spent part of 2021 discussing the idea of a diversity and inclusivity initiative that drew questions and concerns from parents.

In the lead-up to the 2021 election, a grassroots movement of parents and residents pooled their support behind four of the newcomers to the school board  Eric Berry, Robin Scherer, Shannon Snyder and Rodney Wagner. They took office on Dec. 6.

Fourteen days later, Draper and newcomer Tony Lucido were appointed to fill seats left vacant when Liz Knouse and Elizabeth Meikrantz resigned.

The 2018 profile asked school directors how important it was for them to incorporate equity into the programs and practices of their school district.

About 58% of respondents that year said it was very important compared to 27% who said it was important and 8% who said it was somewhat important. Only 3% of respondents in 2018 said it was not important for them to incorporate equity into district programs and practices.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Feb. 14 is just around the corner. As you are preparing for Valentines Day, it is a nice time to reflect on another occasion falling on that same date. Feb. 14 is also National Organ Donor Day, to remind you that there is more than one way to give someone your heart.

The Health Resources & Services Administration publishes statistics on organ donation. Here are some of the most recent statistics. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 more people with the donation of a heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, eyes and other organs and tissues throughout the body. About 39,000 transplants were performed in 2020. The transplant waiting list is almost three times that number, though, and it is estimated that another person is added to the waiting list every nine minutes.

There are a variety of ways to designate yourself as an organ donor. Most people make this designation through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation when they renew their drivers license. PennDOT then adds you to the Donate Life Pennsylvania registry of organ donors. You can also sign up directly by going to donatelifepa.org/register. Donate Life Pennsylvania partners with Donate Life America, the Center for Organ Donation & Recovery (CORE) and the Gift of Life Donor Program.

At Keystone Elder Law, we walk clients through organ donation decisions as part of a Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will document, a copy of which should be provided to your health care providers so they have any detailed instructions you may provide about your wishes regarding organ donation.

One comment I hear regularly from clients who are getting older is, Who would want any of my organs? They assume because of their age that none of their organs could be used even if they did become an organ donor. I do not have the medical expertise or information to know whether that is true for any specific person, but the donors age alone does not mean their organs could not help someone in need. The Health Resources & Services Administrations statistics include a notation that the oldest organ donor to give a life-saving gift donated his liver at 95 years of age, and it saved a life.

What if you could give someone a hand  literally? The technology for organ and tissue donation has become advanced enough that doctors can successfully connect all of the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and tissues necessary to attach a real functioning hand, arm or foot to a patient who would otherwise need a prosthetic. This has been available longer than most people realize. The first successful hand transplant in the United States took place in Louisville, Kentucky, in January 1999. Since that time, there have been other limb transplants for patients across the country who lost limbs for various reasons, including injury in military service and accidents.

This type of transplant is called a Vascularized composite allograft (VCA). VCAs are expected to become even more common going forward. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Legislature specifically addressed VCAs, and put in place regulations on what consent is required for a VCA as opposed to the more typical organ donation. Here are some of those provisions:

The organ donation designation on your drivers license or on the Donate Life registry is not enough to authorize a VCA donation. The consent to VCAs must be separate from the authorization of other organ donation.

The statute specifically suggested the consent may be in a will, living will, health care power of attorney, or other document. That document must be in writing, witnessed by two other individuals and specifically state the authorization of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other VCAs separate from the authorization of other organ donation. We recommend doing this in a living will or health care power of attorney. Those documents should be provided to your medical providers, so it is more likely the hospital will be aware of them at the time when an anatomical gift can be made.

It is possible for another person to consent to VCA on an adults behalf if the potential donor has died in a hospital or death is imminent. The authorization for VCA will be accepted from the following persons in this order: spouse, adult child, parent, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, any other relative, or a guardian.

However, no one can override the potential donors wishes if it is known the individual would not have consented to this type of transplant. A person who wants to be sure their limbs and facial tissue cannot be donated can accomplish this by designating in a Health Care Power of Attorney or Living Will that they specifically do not authorize VCA donation.

You should be aware that organ donation and VCA donation might have an impact on your other end-of-life plans. Your family should understand that a medical team may need to keep your body on a ventilator and other apparatus that maintains your organs until a separate team arrives to carry out your organ donation wishes. Families are sometimes alarmed to see what appears to be life support implemented against what they believed to be their loved ones wishes.

Before making your decision, you should consider how any funeral arrangements you or your family would want to have will be affected. Most organ donation will have no impact on funeral arrangements, but the donation of limbs and facial tissue might. Finally, a donors identity may not be completely protected due to the presence of birthmarks or fingerprints with VCA transplants.

As you are celebrating on Feb. 14 and exchanging heart-themed gifts with someone you love, think about National Donor Day as well. The loving gift of a heart or other organ could help others keep their loved ones healthy and close to them for years.

Find additional articles & resources at www.KeystoneElderLaw.com or join their Facebook group Later in Life Planning and Resources. Keystone Elder Law P.C. is located in Mechanicsburg. Call 717-697-3223 for a free telephone consultation with their care coordinator.

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The last day of school is a day most kids eagerly, often impatiently, anticipate. This day signifies freedom, flexibility and fun.

Kids have plenty of possibilities for summer fun: playing outside, swimming, camping, family vacations and so much more. But students in the Parkland can add another exciting option to their summer to-do list: summer camps.

Four excitement-filled camps will be held at the Mineral Area Fine Arts Academy on the Mineral Area College campus with an end-of-the-week showcase on Friday evening for each camp.

Show Choir Camp: June 6-10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Catch A Wave with this summer camp full of high energy, choreography, lights, costumes and solo opportunities for students in eighth grade through college.

Little Surfers Show Choir geared toward students in third to seventh grades will rehearse after the regular show choir camp from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1-3 p.m. on Friday. A combined rehearsal will take place on Friday. Cost for this camp is $40.

Sherry Francis directed the first MAFAA show choir camp last year.

The performers formed a special bond of friendship and it was an overall incredible experience, she said. It was something I will never forget.

Francis said learning a set of music with harmonies and solos, along with challenging choreography and dance formations in only five days is not a simple task.

But these amazing students brought excellence and star qualities like no other, she said, referring to last years camp. Most importantly and amazingly, they felt like a family almost immediately. The magic of music is beyond words.

Francis said this years show choir camp is super cool.

Just imagine, school is out and what better way to kick off the summertime fun then with an enormous beach party, she said. Youre gonna want to hang ten and dive in because Surfs Up!

The show choir camp for eighth graders to college students will include upbeat music from The Beach Boys to Teen Beach Movie and more.

According to Francis, this one-week camp will be the biggest beach party the Mineral Area has ever seen!

Both show choir groups will each perform on that Friday evening and then do a combined song.

Theatre Camp: June 13-17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students are encouraged to act out in theater camp. From improvisation and readers theatre to dance and musicals, there is something for everyone interested in theatre. Seventh graders to college-age students are invited to take part in this camp. Participants will be grouped by age and experience. Theyll not only learn how to express themselves creatively, instill confidence and make new friendships.

Jason Carr, MAFAAs theatre director, said 72 campers participated in last years theatre camp. This year, the goal is to surpass 100 participants.

There is zero experience required to participate in this camp, said Carr, just a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and have fun.

He said with the growth of the academy and the overwhelming support from the community, they are expecting all of the summer camps to have larger numbers than last year.

Big Band Camp: June 27-July 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students in seventh grade to college level who play trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar, bass, vibraphone, drums or piano and have at least one year of instruction or are proficient on their instrument are encouraged to take part in this camp.

Students will be paired together based on experience and will spend the week gaining valuable education in being part of a big band. Theyll also learn about the history of jazz, improvisation, various jazz styles and more.

This camp was a huge success last year, said Amanda Dement, director of MAFAA, and we hope to add many more students to the bands this year.

Members of the Mineral Area Kicks Band, as well as other talented educators will staff the Big Band Camp.

Dement said shes excited to see what this year brings with more students being able to attend. She added that students must not have previous experience in jazz to be part of this camp. As long as they are proficient in their instrument, theyll learn the basics up to the most advanced.

Middle School Band Camp: July 11-15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This summer camp is specifically for students who have completed their first or second year of band and will include small and full band rehearsals, master classes, music theory classes, team-building opportunities, and more. Students will be paired with peers of the same ability and experience to allow them the best opportunity to grow and gain confidence with their instrument.

Dement said MAFAAs summer camps are a great way to provide a sample of what the academy is about: great experiences, inspiring connections and instruction that is tailored to the needs of each student.

We have an exciting, talented and passionate group of teachers for every camp that who are looking forward to providing a memorable educational experience and inspiring young people to find new things to love or refine the talents they are already growing in, she said.

Several local businesses sponsored lunch for one of the 15 days of MAFAA camps last year, including El Tapatio, Bow Tie Catering, BOGO Sandwiches, SugarFire Smoke House Farmington, Coljacs, Pizza 101 South, East Missouri Action Agency, Park Hills Save A Lot, Jimmy Johns, Desloge Little Caesars, Pasta House and Subway.

For businesses who would like to sponsor a lunch for this years camps, contact Dement at mineralareama@gmail.com.

Registration for MAFAAs summer camps for 2022 opens March 14. Cost is $95 per camp and includes an end-of-week performance.

More information can be found on the academys website at mafinearts.org. Call 573-518-2265 for more information.

Pam Clifton is a contributing writer for the Daily Journal

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Fredericktown firefighters spent most of their day Thursday battling a fire at a building that had already burnt and was set to be torn down.

At 12:25 a.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a fire at 129 S. Mine LaMotte.

When crews arrived, Fredericktown Fire Chief John Clark said flames could be seen coming out of the building, along with heavy amounts of smoke billowing out.

The building, known as the "old Highway Video," was severely damaged by a fire in April of last year and was condemned by the City of Fredericktown. The premises was scheduled to be demolished last week but the winter storm delayed the work.

Clark said this fire proved to be more difficult to fight due to cold temperatures that left the roadway and sidewalk frozen plus the already damaged structure caused safety concerns.

"The floors and ceilings had already collapsed," Clark said. "Due to previous fires, we knew we had floors burned out."

Clark said crews mainly worked in "defense mode" to contain the fire as they knew the building was vacant and the structure was already set to be destroyed. There were no utilities running to the building.

No injuries were reported. Clark said the cause of the fire is unknown and will not be investigated.

Firefighters were on scene until 11:45 a.m., working alongside City of Fredericktown crews as the structure was torn down. Flames could be seen up until the last wall fell.

City of Fredericktown crews had the road closed for a little longer in order to pile up the debris but by the afternoon S. Mine LaMotte was reopened.

Authorities may not be investigating Thursday's fire but the fire on April 8, 2021 was not only investigated but Jeremy J. Ishmael, of Fredericktown, confessed and was charged with second-degree arson.

According to a probable cause statement from the Fredericktown Police Department, on April 8, at approximately 3:16 p.m., the Fredericktown Fire Department was dispatched to 129 S. Mine LaMotte Ave. for a multi-residential structure fire.

The report states that Fredericktown Fire Chief John Clark requested for the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office to be contacted because the fire was suspicious in nature. The report noted that the building had its utilities disconnected due to nonpayment.

An officer later responded to the fire scene and spoke with an investigator from the Missouri Department of Public Safety Division of Fire Safety.

The investigator advised the officer that the fire had been intentionally started in the northwest apartment on the lower level. The fire caused damage to that apartment, as well as smoke damage to the other apartments.

On April 9, an officer responded to a business on East Main Street and requested to review their surveillance videos from the day prior. The officer was reportedly able to locate video footage of a white 1981 Toyota Celica parking behind the Democrat News building at 3:06 p.m.

The report states that when the driver exited the Toyota and walked closer to the camera, the officer recognized the man as Ishmael. The man then reportedly proceeded across South Mine LaMotte Avenue and walked between 125 and 129 S. Mine LaMotte Ave. The officer reports seeing Ishmael walk away from 129 S. Mine LaMotte Avenue at 3:10 p.m. and return to his vehicle.

At 3:13 p.m., the officer noticed smoke coming from the front window of the building. The officer stated that he had not seen any other person leave between the time Ishmael was walking away from the building and the first sight of smoke.

Police located Ishmael at his residence April 15, and he was placed under arrest for second-degree arson. He was then transported to the Fredericktown Police Department. After being read his Miranda Rights, Ishmael reportedly agreed to speak to police about the fire.

During questioning, the report states that Ishmael confessed to starting a fire in the lower northwest apartment. He reportedly told police that he placed a lit cigarette onto a blanket by some mattresses inside the apartment and then walked away.

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The judge presiding over Barry Morphew's murder case will not allow prosecutors to introduce testimony from a friend of Suzanne Morphew about alleged domestic violence in the Morphew couple's troubled marriage.

District Judge Ramsey Lama on Thursday also decided that the trial would begin April 29 rather than May 3.

Prosecutors said Suzanne Morphew and Sheila Oliver communicated frequently by text message and in conversation in the months before her disappearance.

During last summer's evidentiary hearing in the high profile case, former Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lindsey asked FBI Special Agent in Charge Ken Harris to explain text messages between the two women from his interviews with Oliver.

"Did anything change between September 2019 and March 2020 regarding the relationship she (Suzanne Morphew) had with Sheila?"

Harris said: "They are talking more about Suzanne getting out of the marriage. This happened around Feb. 4, 2020."

"I wouldn't feel safe (alone) with him," Suzanne Morphew told Oliver in a text message. She also texted Oliver that her husband was unstable and that he would change character like Jekyll and Hyde. None of those text messages will be discussed during the trial, the judge ruled Thursday.

Oliver is expected to be a key witness at trial as well as several of the couple's friends, relatives and a slew of investigators. The Morphews met in Indiana, where they spent most of their lives and raised their two daughters.

Suzanne Morphew disappeared in May 2020. Her body has never been found, and her cellphone has never been recovered. Investigators used Oliver's phone and Suzanne Morphew's iCloud account to retrieve messages between the two.

At one point, Suzanne Morphew texted Oliver that her husband held a gun to his head and asked, "Is this what you want?" That text and others like it show manipulative and aggressive behavior, prosecutors said.

Oliver told investigators that Suzanne Morphew confided to her that her husband hit her in the nose, causing it to bleed. During interviews with investigators, Barry Morphew, 54, said he only clipped her nose and that he said he was sorry.

Some of the comments about possible domestic violence were made verbally, according to prosecutors and Oliver. Prosecutors said these conversations occurred after the couple moved to Colorado in 2018, but they couldn't give exact dates of when the alleged abuse happened, which was partly why Lama ruled that they would be inadmissible.

Legal observers say the judge's decision is a blow to the prosecution.

"This ruling really guts the prosecutions theory on motive and renders inadmissible some alarming context for the relationship. The case is somewhat circumstantial as is, so this development is surely a setback for the DA," said Denver defense attorney Eric Faddis, who has also been a felony deputy DA. "That being said, domestic violence is usually something that happens behind closed doors, so it may be difficult to find a witness with firsthand knowledge of it."

In addition to not providing dates or specific times, prosecutors also did not provide any circumstantial information about what led up to the alleged incidents.

"We don't believe that the allegations are true," one of Barry Morphew's defense attorneys said.

The defense argued that the jury should not hear prejudicial information when "there is no proof that the allegations are true."

"The court has a duty to protect Mr. Morphew's right to a fair trial," one defense attorney said.

Thursday's hearing was the first in the Morphew case to be held in the Fremont County Courthouse in Canon City. Lama granted a change of venue last week, moving the case from the tiny courthouse in Salida because of frenzied media coverage of the investigation, arrest and ensuing court hearings.

Barry Morphew is charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a dangerous weapon and attempting to influence a public servant.

He has suggested that his wife might have been dragged off by a mountain lion. His attorneys said in court that it's possible she was abducted by someone else or ran off to Ecuador to meet with her lover, a former high school friend with whom she had connected in the two years before she went missing.
Philippines operator Smart Communications has announced that it has expanded the 5G roaming, serving customers in forty-five countries worldwide.

According to a press release from the wholly-owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT, customers in Malta, Croatia, Indonesia, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland, Guam, and France can now enjoy live 5G roaming services with their 5G-capable SIMs and devices through Smarts partnerships with global telco operators in these countries.

The PLDT wireless unit further informed that its 5G roaming coverage increased with 68 roaming partners in five continents, striking up additional partnerships in Canada, Turkey, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bulgaria to serve more customers wherever they are in the world. The service is also available in Taiwan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, China, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Thailand, Denmark, Vietnam, Qatar, Ireland, Oman, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria, Romania, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Our goal is to enable our global customers with fast data speeds whenever they access our Smart 5G roaming services through our growing list of international telco partners, said Chet Alviz, Vice President Wireless Core and International Business Group at Smart.

Smart has increased its total number of base stations to 75,400 nationwide since December 20221, this total includes 7,200 5G base stations, which also supports the company's fibre footprint which measures 743,700 kilometres in the same period.
On my way to the airport at four oclock in the morning, I was considering my choice of flight departure time. I did this to myself last weekend when I flew to Dallas. I scheduled myself on super early flights. I was getting up at three oclock in the morning. For me, thats a bedtime, not a
By Trend

Russian companies are among the top five leading investors in the Kazakh economy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports citing Kazinform.

Given the huge potential of mutual cooperation mutual desire to strengthen political, economic, investment, and cultural and humanitarian ties has been confirmed, said Tokayev during a joint statement for media reps following the talks.

According to the Kazakh Head of State, the sides agreed to maintain the positive trend in mutual trade.

It is true that despite the quarantine measures the highest result in trade was reached last year - $21bn. Russian companies are among the top five leading investors in the Kazakh economy. The total amount of investment succeeded $17bn, said the Kazakh President.

Notably, today, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin held high-level talks considering the prospects for the development of multifaceted strategic partnership between the countries in Moscow.
A biography of the late Wayne Mixson that was written by a local man at Mixsons request is hitting the market.

A six-term Florida legislator, the eight-year lieutenant governor of Gov. Bob Graham, and the governor of Florida for three days, Mixson died in July of 2000. But he lived long enough to see the final draft of Sid Rileys The Biography of John Wayne Mixson: Floridas 39th Governor.

The book is available by contacting the Florida Historical Society Press at 321-690-1971 ext. 217 (Dorothy Dickey) or at dorothy.dickey@myfloridahistory.org , or through Amazon Books.com. The cost is about $20.

A local book signing will be conducted in the near future.

The project took Riley three years to write and more than a year to get his publication deal in place.

Riley met Mixson in 1971, when Riley owned and operated Big Bend Industries, a sewing factory in Sneads that made dress pants and employed 100 people.

Mixson was a Florida legislator back then and was in charge of economic development for the state. Bill Stanton, a young local Chamber of Commerce executive at the time, brought Mixson to Rileys factory for a tour.

Riley said he clicked with Mixson right away and that over the years he became a friend of Mixson and his wife, Margie. Their association spanned roughly a half-century.

When Mixson started looking for someone to write his biography more than three years before his death, he called on Riley, who had some newspaper experience and had already written two books and much technical material for the industrial textile industry. Mixson participated in Rileys research for the volume all the way up to his passing in July of 2020 at the age of 98.

He was with me all the way through it, Riley said. Even as his body was weakening, his mind remained sharp and he still cracked jokes. Even when he couldnt talk, he was fully engaged. He got to see the final draft before he died, and he was pleased with it. He bragged on it. That means everything to me. I tried to put it in a format where it was Wayne telling me stories, remembering one day when a bill in legislature was passed or when some other thing important happened, Riley said.

The book covers, among other things, Mixsons childhood and education and his marriage to Margie Grace Mixson. The community of Graceville was named for Margies family, Riley said, as her great-grandfather was its founder.

And of course it spans his political career as a legisalator, lieutenant governor and governor. It has a chapter on his three days as governor. That was a role he took over in 1987 after Graham stepped aside slightly early as he prepared to assume his new role in the U.S. Senate. Florida Governor Bob Martinez subsequently was sworn into office.

He was proud of the fact that he became governor, Riley said of his friend Mixson.

They had an inauguration and did the whole thing. I felt that it was a well-deserved honor, that he got to sit in that chair before he retired. There was a big demand for him to run for governor, but he wanted to retire and travel with Margie. They were married 73 years and they really shared a wonderful life together. I envied the life that he and Margie had.

Riley said he learned things in the process of writing the book that he hadnt known, things that left him even more appreciative of Mixsons life and career.

The more I wrote, the more i learned and the more I appreciated the contributions he made to our state, things that are helping people today. It was a very rewarding experience for me and I was thrilled that he got to see it before he died. I hope this preserves his legacy. Wayne was up there in what was called the golden age of Florida legislation, Riley said.

Because of that, his book contains more than a small share of history about key times in the legislature. Mixson helped write the 1967 version of the states Constitution and Riley said he was almost completely responsible for getting the veterinarian school established at the University of Florida. He also considers Mixson a father of modern agriculture.

Wayne was my friend for almost fifty years, but writing this book deepened my respect for this extraordinary man and his many accomplishments, Riley wrote in a press release about the books release. His work as a legislator continues to help all Florida citizens. He was raised a farm boy in southern Alabama, fought in the Navy Blimp Corps in WWII, Attended Columbia, Denison, Wharton School, and finally finished after the war at the University of Florida. He then became a Jackson County farmer, became a representative for Farm Bureau, served twelve years as a State Congressman, chaired the important Florida House Agriculture Committee, served eight years as Lieutenant Governor,,.. and was Governor of Florida for three days. This book provides personal details of his childhood, education, farm experiences, and accomplishments as a legislator.

In the release, Riley listed some of Mixsons accomplishments.

His legislative activities included participating in the finalization and passage of the 1967 Florida Constitution, the release states. Legislation that he sponsored and/ or helped passage of included, the creation of the $25,000 Homestead Exemption, limiting property values increases to three percent per year, the Baker Act, the Green Belt Laws, valuation of land by usage instead of market value (protects farmers), the funding and creation of the School of Veterinary at the University of Florida, the Save the Manatee laws, and many, many more important bills.
Editors Note: This story has been edited to clarify that the Houston County Commission voted to have legislation drafted that would change the appointment process for the Houston County Health Care Authority but did not actually take a vote for the legislation to be moved forward because there was not enough support from commissioners to put the item on a regular agenda.

Houston County Commissioner Ricky Herring wants to give the county health care authority another chance to consider his preferred appointment to the authority.

Monday, the county commission will consider a request  at Herrings behest  to ask the Houston County Health Care Authority to withdraw the three names it previously submitted for the District 3 appointment and then resubmit three new names, including the individual Herring originally wanted to appoint.

As if the situation hadnt become messy enough, theres still a piece of state legislation that would give commissioners the freedom to appoint whoever they want to the authority.

Herring said he met with Health Care Authority Chairman Chester Sowell and other authority board members on Jan. 28 and hopes this latest effort will address the issue once and for all.

I want us to work together, Herring said during Thursdays administrative meeting. Thats what Im trying to get to, so Im doing everything that I possibly can do to work with them.

The whole public debate over how appointments are made to the Houston County Health Care Authority, which oversees Southeast Health in Dothan, started back in October.

Herring, the District 3 county commissioner, refused to make his appointment because the individual he wanted to appoint was not included on the list of nominees for District 3. Herring wanted to appoint Steve Hicks, the current city manager of Donalsonville, Georgia, and a former city clerk in Enterprise. Instead, the health care authority recommended the incumbent be reappointed.

Herring has argued that the process for making appointments to the health care authority does not give county commissioners the freedom to make their own appointments and that the authority is able to dictate who will serve as a result.

The Houston County Health Care Authority is made up of 13 members who each serve six-year terms. Twelve are appointed by the four district Houston County Commission members. The final member is the president of the hospitals medical staff.

The appointment process includes a nominating committee that is supposed to work with commissioners to develop a list of names to fill vacancies on the board. The health care authority submits three names to the county commission, which is then to vote on an appointment chosen from the three names submitted.

A bill passed the Alabama House of Representatives last week would allow Houston County Commission members the freedom to make appointments to the health care authority regardless of the nominations submitted by the authority. The legislation is pending consideration in the Senate.

Commission Chairman Mark Culver pushed to request local senators hold the legislation, which would require a constitutional amendment, until the commissions latest effort is addressed by the health care authority. That suggestion, however, did not receive support from other commissioners.

In November, the county commission requested legislation to be drafted to change the appointment process for the Houston County Health Care Authority. However, the drafted legislation didnt receive enough support to be put on a regular agenda so it was never actually voted on, although Herring and Commissioner Brandon Shoupe supported the measure. The local legislative delegation put a bill forth anyway even without a formal request from the county commission.

It is the threat of this legislation that has gotten us to this point, Shoupe said on Thursday. Thats the only reason were here; thats the only reason were hopefully going to get this thing worked out.

Peggy Ussery is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at aussery@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7963. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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When it comes to spending $20.6 million in one-time federal money from the American Rescue Plan, the Houston County Commission is trying to get its priorities straight.

Those priorities include $5 million for a water tank and water lines down U.S. 231 South all the way to the countys distribution park and another $1 million to purchase property for future industrial development.

We as a commission want to put this money, invest this money into our community in a manner that it will create long-term growth, enhancement and opportunity for our citizens, Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said during a work session Thursday morning. We dont want to just put it in something that is going to be gone in a month; I think we want to put it in things that are going to be still producing good for Houston County 30 years down the road. This money is a one-time deal that is manna from heaven.

The county commission may eventually vote on a priority list for how to proceed with spending the federal money, which comes with strict guidelines on how the funds can be spent. Each project would still have to receive individual approval.

Other priority projects include $4.5 million for window replacement at the Houston County Administrative Building; $1 million to construct a building to store the sheriff departments Homeland Security equipment; $1 million for a downtown green space project; $1.75 million for sewer projects in Taylor, Kinsey, Rehobeth, and Cowarts; $500,000 for HVAC upgrades at the existing Sheriffs Office building; and $500,000 for a county well and tank in the southeast corner of the county to provide water to volunteer fire departments.

The priority projects add up to $15.25 million, leaving money for additional projects. The county has received requests to fund items for local EMS, service agencies, the county jail, and others.

The American Rescue Plan included $350 billion in COVID-19 recovery funds for states and local communities, including $65.1 billion for every county in the U.S. There is also money set aside for metropolitan cities, tribal governments, and territories.

The countys allocation has to be obligated or spent by the end of 2024.

Because the federal relief funds have strict guidelines for eligibility and will be audited, Houston County plans to contract with the Investing in Alabama Counties (IAC) program to help ensure projects meet the federal stipulations. The IAC is a membership program under the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. Forty-two out of Alabamas 67 counties are members.

Allocations for other local counties include $10.2 million for Coffee County, $9.6 million for Dale County, $5.1 million for Geneva County, and $3.3 million for Henry County.

Houston County has already received $10 million of its allocation and the remaining money is expected in May.

Culver said the towns and other non-county entities that will be sub-recipients under the countys allocation will also have to adhere to federal bid laws and other requirements in spending the money, adding that partnerships with other local governments will help stretch the federal money even more.

For example, the sewer projects in Taylor, Kinsey, Rehobeth, and Cowarts will cost far more than what the county is allocating from recovery funds. Taylor, Kinsey, and Cowarts are set to receive $500,000 each for projects to build sewer plants and lay sewer lines. Rehobeth is set to get $250,000 to lay sewer lines and connect to Dothans sewer system.

Also, the purchase of about 100 acres of land for industrial development is a partnership with the City of Dothan, as is the proposed green space project in downtown Dothan.

We feel like theyre partners in serving our citizens, Culver said. We feel like this is money well spent.

Peggy Ussery is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at aussery@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7963. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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Colombia has been officially at peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, since signing a 2016 peace deal. In the last year, Colombia has taken significant steps to implement the Peace Accord.
Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina finds itself at yet another crossroads. And the durability of its 26 years of peace are being called into question, as the countrys leaders are attempting to sow division, warned U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power on her recent visit.

Administrator Power met all three members of Bosnia and Herzegovinas tripartite presidency, including the secessionist Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, who has threatened to withdraw Serbs from the national army, judiciary, and tax system this year. She stressed the importance of peace and the danger of secessionist rhetoric and actions.

Administrator Power emphasized the need for unity and stability to drive economic growth and opportunity. Talk of war makes it difficult to attract high quality investment or build the strong and enduring economy necessary for young people and others to stay.

A brighter future is possible, stressed Administrator Power. But it requires all politicians to put aside divisive actions and inflammatory rhetoric, to stop their attacks on Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutions. And to commit to ushering in badly needed and long overdue democratic reforms.

The citizens of this country do not want to return to the past, declared Administrator Power, but they also don't want to settle for the status quo. And neither does the United States. You want and deserve a democratic future free from corruption and free from ethnic tensions.

Some 75 percent of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina support the long term goal of joining the European Union. This will not be easy. In addition to the recent political challenges, Bosnia and Herzegovina faces significant economic challenges. The country is losing private investment, with the public sector now representing nearly 70 percent of the economy. And young people are facing the highest unemployment rate on the continent.

The United States has provided $2 billion in aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996. Going forward, the U.S. will continue to support independent anti-corruption efforts, media freedom, and diversification of Bosnia and Herzegovinas economy.

A hope-filled democratic future for Bosnia and Herzegovina can only be realized if the countrys politicians listen to their people, embrace peace and reform, and fight the corruption that chokes off prosperity and drives its youth to emigrate.
An in-person Reverse Expo will be held March 24 at the Winnemucca Convention Center, sponsored by the Nevada Mining Association to provide an opportunity for mine operators to talk one-on-one with suppliers.

Our Reverse Expo is a one-of-a-kind event, said Miranda Hoover, membership services manager for the mining association. Its like speed dating for businesses. We really love this event. So far, from the operators side it has been a huge success.

Registration for suppliers for the March event begins Feb. 14 and ends Feb. 18. The deadline for operators to register is Feb. 11. Participants must be members of the Nevada Mining Association, but Hoover said others can attend the networking event and dinner.

She said that in the past there have been between 14 and 17 operators attending and bringing extra people with them for eight-minute meetings with suppliers. There is no limit on operators, but our goal is to have at least 14.

As of Feb. 9, 11 operators had registered.

The number of vendors is limited, however, so operators and suppliers can talk, unlike at conventions where suppliers have booths and hope the right person walks by, Hoover said.

The Reverse Expo flips the script and gives vendors director access, she said.

More suppliers than slots usually apply because of that opportunity.

For example, at an earlier Reverse Expo, there were 45 slots available, and 60 to 70 companies registered, so we literally drop names in a hat to choose, Hoover said. Those chosen receive registration invoices but those who lose the draw can still attend the networking event and dinner.

She also said operators can state on their registration forms what vendors they hope to meet and even ask for individuals to be there.

There is a limit of 20 booths at the convention center specifically for suppliers, who can also participate in the Reverse Expo if their names are drawn, Hoover said. Only association members can have booths.

The Reverse Expo started in 2016, and the first ones were held in Elko, but the association wants to show the love, if you will, by holding the spring Reverse Expo in Winnemucca and ensuring that the association continues its presence in the major mining hubs across Nevada.

Hoover said the Reverse Expo involves operators from throughout Nevada, including Las Vegas, and is for any mineral-based operation. Association members also include Canadian companies and worldwide members.

The same is true of suppliers.

She said the association prioritizes creating networking opportunities for members and addressing supply chain needs in the mining industry, and the Reverse Expo creates healthy relationships between vendors and operators.

Hoover said at one recent Reverse Expo, a construction contractor met with an operator who had a critical infrastructure project, and following their eight-minute meeting the companies had signed an agreement.

The Reverse Expo was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, however. The association held an online, scaled-down version last fall but already has plans for another Reverse Expo during the Nevada Mining Associations convention that will be Sept. 7-10 in South Lake Tahoe. The 2021 convention had to be canceled because a forest fire threatened the community.

Events on March 24 begin with a 10 a.m. Health and Safety Committee meeting, followed by a grab and go lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m. The Reverse Expo will start at 1 p.m. and go to around 4:30 p.m. The Networking Hour is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a reception.

We have some guest speakers, Hoover said.

Operators dont pay a registration fee, but there is a cost for the networking hour and for the dinner. Suppliers pay $400 per company and one representative, and $100 for each additional participant. That includes the networking and dinner.

Registration and additional cost information is available on the Nevada Mining Association website or by contacting Hoover by email at miranda@nevadamining.org.

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Dear ECSD community:

On the morning of Thursday, February 10, 2022 Governor Steve Sisolak rescinded Nevadas mask mandate in public places. Following this decision, masks are now optional for all staff, students and visitors of Elko County School District schools and buildings effective Friday, February 11, 2022 only if the school in which students attend and staff employ is not deemed to be experiencing an outbreak by the Department of Health and Human Services. Mask requirements remain in effect for school buses.

According to a press release from his office, teachers and schools will no longer be required to wear masks, but school districts will need to work with their local health authorities to have plans in place to manage and respond to outbreaks.

Please be advised Elko County School Districts assigned health authority is the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), who has deemed five schools in our District to be currently experiencing outbreaks. Directive 052 states:

Regardless of a county school district, charter school or private schools policy, if an outbreak of COVID-19 is identified by a local health authority, masks and other mitigation measures may be required for all students and staff and must be immediately implemented at the direction of the local health authority. The mask requirement and any other mitigation measures will be in effect until the local health authority determines the outbreak is closed.

Our administrative office at ECSD expects to receive updated direction very soon from DHHS that we hope reflects our states mask guidelines as they now apply in all public places. Students continue to have the option to wear face coverings inside District buildings if they elect to do so, and will be fully supported in their decision by District staff.

In addition to todays announcement from the Governor, I would also like to share the mandatory testing of NIAA athletes and those leaving the county will end as of February 27, 2022.

We will continue to communicate the guidance as it applies to ECSD as the situation develops. Thank you so much for your support of our schools, students and staff as we continue to adapt to these ongoing changes.

Clayton Anderson

Interim Superintendent

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The City of Elko Stormwater Advisory Committees first quarterly meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, at Elko City Hall. The board will discuss items involving the Nevada Department of Transportation, and review the ongoing enforcement of the citys municipal stormwater permit.

The Elko County Board of Commissioners meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in the Nannini Administration Building. The board may approve submitting a letter of intent to the Nevada Department of Taxation to increase Elko Countys property tax rate for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget process.

The board will also conduct a public hearing to finalize an ordinance repealing the ban on discharging firearms at night in unincorporated areas of the county. The Nevada Department of Transportation will report on a plan for the overnight closure of Interstate 80 near Emigrant Pass in June for demolition of a bridge.

The board will also discuss a zoning change request from Matthew M. and Marissa D. Murphy to allow a boarding kennel for dogs on property between Tonka Lane and Martin Avenue. The board may also act on a letter of concern from Kenneth Jones and Marlo Dahl regarding excess wild horse numbers in the Maverick and Medicine Herd Management Area.

The Elko County Board of Fire Commissioners is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in the Nannini Administration Building. The fire chief will present an annual report on 2021 activities in the Elko County Fire Protection District. The board will also discuss an annual operations plan for 2022 and certification requirements for firefighters.

The Elko County Board of Equalization will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in the Nannini Administration Building. Board members will be sworn in, along with Elko County Assessor staff and entity representatives. The board will hear appeals of property tax valuations filed by Loves Hospitality, Elko Ruby Vista LLC, Edwin Enterprises LLC and Rite Aid Corp. An appeal withdrawal request from Home Depot will also be heard.

The Elko County Planning Commission meets at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in the Nannini Administration Building. The board will consider a zoning change on land off North Fifth Street for a 54-lot subdivision, as request by HQ5 LLC.

A special session of the Elko City Council is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Elko City Hall. The agenda had not been published as of Friday morning.

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By Trend

Turkey and the United Kingdom held the first strategic dialogue meeting in the Turkish capital as part of their common policy of deepening bilateral relationship after the latter left the European Union, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News.

The first of this kind of strategic dialogue was held under the leadership of Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Faruk Kaymakci and permanent Under-Secretary of the British Foreign Office Sir Philip Barton, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. Barton also met Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal.

The two men discussed all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on Turkey-EU relations and regional issues. A statement from the British Embassy in Ankara stressed that the meeting saw the discussion of all aspects of bilateral relations and how to strengthen cooperation, including on a wide range of important regional issues.

Bartons itinerary includes a visit to a Turkish Red Crescent center in Ankara, and meetings with business counterparts in Istanbul to discuss how to strengthen trade relations and a visit to the MEXT technology center to explore opportunities for further collaboration in science and technology.

Turkey and the U.K. have already agreed to further strengthen their bilateral relations in almost all fields including trade and economy. Talks for a comprehensive free trade deal are expected to be launched in the coming period.

As permanent under-secretary, Barton is responsible for advising the U.K. foreign secretary and her team on foreign and development policy and managing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He is the U.K.s most senior diplomat and the head of the U.K. Diplomatic Service.




ELKO  Walking downtown on a Sunday morning in the 400 block of Railroad Street can be a very eye-opening and stomach-turning adventure. Some days the resulting trash, bodily waste and lack of public respect is overwhelming.

The problem has gotten bad enough that the City of Elkos Redevelopment Agency this week discussed what to do about health and safety issues in public spaces.

I requested this item be on the agenda because I feel like it has going on long enough, said architect and downtown business owner Catherine Wines.

Images of safety and cleanliness issues downtown were broadcast on screen at City Hall. These included broken glass, blood and vomit on a building storefront, human excrement, built-up trash, a city light without fixtures, and other images of human-produced filth.

Wines owns the Taber Building and all photos were taken near the building on Railroad Street.

She quoted how Alexander Hamilton laid out the rules of taxes and government responsibility in the Federalist Papers.

There is an agreement between the people who pay taxes and the government for providing the most basic services, Wines said. The most basic of those is safety, and right now I feel like the City of Elko is not living up to that agreement.

I almost stepped in human waste and that was my last straw.

Wines cited The Broken Windows Theory, which states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages other criminal acts, including serious offenses. Policing methods that target minor crimes like vandalism, public drinking, jaywalking and loitering help create an atmosphere of lawfulness.

Its something that has been tried and worked countless times, she said.

Wines also pointed out that she felt embarrassed when leading a mural tour for the mayor of Twin Falls because of built-up trash in the alley between Railroad and Idaho streets where a majority of the murals are located.

If you all went down there and walked around I hope you would be embarrassed.

Wines displayed a suggested agreement between the City and taxpayers, including a plea to ask how private citizens can help.

We dont want to live like this anymore. Something has to be done.

It is unfortunate that your neighbors dont have the same values as you do, said Mayor Reece Keener. You said in your testimony that a lot of the patrons just dont care. Unfortunately, this isnt something that is new down there. It has existed for a very long time.

City Councilman Clair Morris, who is a former police chief, said he thinks the City and police department have done a lot to clean up the area. When he walked that beat it was much worse.

As far as having an officer there every hour, you dont see cops down there until after two oclock because that is when they are there. Nothing good happens after midnight, he said. We have been taught that as kids and its true. We need to hold the businesses that arent compliant to it. Make them clean it up. If they are not doing it, then we need to go in and hammer them and look at their liquor licenses if that is where it is coming from.

Morris said he is a runner and when he runs he sees this problem all over town, not just downtown.

Its just disgusting.

The mayor and council talked about the potential of having Wines submit a formal complaint to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health to see if they can assess the area.

Assistant City Manager Scott Wilkinson discussed the part-time code enforcement officer now employed by the city.

If we dont get formal complaints we dont know to go follow up on it, so we need to do that and the code enforcement officer can generate some evidence that we can forward to City Council in the event of a liquor license consideration and things like that.

Elko City Police Chief Ty Trouten mentioned that the police department averages 34 calls per shift.

We dont sit or patrol a whole lot during the daytime. At nighttime there is a lot of police presence down there because we are waiting for the fights and the mayhem that starts about midnight and goes until about three or four in the morning until the bars shut down.

I will take the opportunity to point out to the Council that one of the considerations we have talked about that could aid this is a last call ordinance, he said. Yes, it creates differential with the casinos, but casinos do typically have their own security staff. And shut the bars down before people are so drunk that people are even less considerate of their community, and send them home early. I know it would create a huge difference for us.

Elko City Planner Cathy Laughlin said she has been working with NV Energy to fix the broken light in the downtown corridor, saying it is a very slow process.

We will continue to put the pressure on them to get those lights fixed.

Keener suggested Wines contact the Downtown Business Association to see if that is another good place to start.

Ask if they have a group of bar owners, Keener said. I am sure the responsible ones that run good establishments  Ogis, Machis  there are many others in that area who would probably be in favor of having some cutoff time, a last call.

Its good that this is on the councils radar and we will be thinking about potential solutions, as well, Keener said.

Can we keep this on the agenda? Wines asked. What has happened in the past is, Yeah, we are going to try to do something, and Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and then it stops and nothing ever really happens. If you want to affect change you go to the problem area that is downtown.

I am in favor of that, Keener said.

Nevada Assemblyman and Elko property owner John Ellison said the problem is not just the downtown area.

Every time I go to lunch, I dont care where I go, I get out of my car and pick up garbage and put it in the dumpster. Every day, broken glass, he said. You wouldnt believe the garbage I pick up. People think Im crazy because I am carrying that stuff, Youre going to get diseases. You know, its called being clean.

I have people go out and sweep our parking lot (Ellison Electric) every morning. The problem is the businesses. If you look these guys, they are over serving them. We get out there in the morning when its cold and frozen, you cant wash them down. All you can do is clean up the mess of vomit. They are allowing people to get in cars drunk and, eventually, they are going to kill a lot of people. You should see how they are driving up and down Fifth Street in the afternoons. Its bad.

I am really upset with the County because every time somebody gets arrested for doing damage to a building and they have to do restitution. Do you know how much they pay the businesses? Zero. I am going to ask the County and the DA and say if you are going to do damage, and whatever you break, destroy or steal, that you have to do community service to clean this town up. ... I can tell you thousands and thousands of dollars in damage in this community, that nobody is being held accountable.

I had a woman destroy a big, plate glass window because she was mad at her boyfriend and they told her restitution was $1,200 for the window, and she is over there buying booze every day at a liquor store, but she cant pay one dime for the damage of the window.

Blohm Jewelers owner Lina Blohn said she agree something needs to be done.

I am here to really endorse what Catherine has to say and possibly I get a little more passionate because I am out there sweeping my walks and checking my garbage that everybody else in town appears to think they can use, as well, she said. ... We need to somehow get the message out there that we take pride in our community.

Blohm said she would like to see more effectiveness from a code enforcement officer.

In two weeks we will have a bridal walk. ... Its our responsibility to make it a pleasant experience.

Its definitely a Tale of Two Cities if you look at the downtown corridor on the 400 block of Railroad Street versus the 400 block of Commercial, for sure Keener said.



Elko Murals: The full collection and where to find them:

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RENO  A Winnemucca man who admitted to organizing a burglary and stealing more than two dozen firearms from a hardware store was sentenced this week to six years in prison.

George W. Elms, 34, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du ordered him to pay $17,187.96 in restitution.

According to court documents, on Feb. 19, 2020, Elms and two others broke into a hardware store in Winnemucca by removing a panel in the roof, dropping down approximately 10 feet onto a nearby staircase, and then breaking through the stores door. Once inside, they broke into a gun case and stole 25 firearms.

Before carrying out the theft, they had intentionally set a fire in a nearby field to divert law enforcement away from the store.

Co-defendant Travis Klyn pleaded guilty in September 2021, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the ATF and Winnemucca Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the Department of Justices violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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Join us at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 for the second of four planned town halls to meet the final candidates being considered as the next dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This event is open only to UMB faculty, staff, and students.

Who: Mark T. Gladwin, MD

Jack D. Myers Distinguished Professor and Chair

Chairman of the Department of Medicine

Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Mentoring

Associate Vice Chancellor for Science Strategy, Health Sciences

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Date: Feb. 14, 2022

Time: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location: MSTF Leadership Hall

Dr. Gladwin is a physician-scientist, clinician, educator, and academic leader who serves as the Jack D. Myers Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. As department chair since 2014, he oversees more than 750 faculty and combined clinical and research revenues of about $300 million. He also serves as associate dean for Physician-Scientist Mentoring and associate vice chancellor for Science Strategy, Health Sciences.

He previously served as a branch chief in the intramural program of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was the founding director in 2008 of the Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute.

Dr. Gladwin also leads active basic and clinical research programs, directs a T32 training grant, and attends clinical services in the medical ICU.

He earned his bachelors and medical degree from the University of Miami. He completed his internship and chief residency in internal medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University, followed by a critical care medicine fellowship at NIH and a pulmonary fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle.

He is the co-author of the textbooks Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple and Critical Care and Hospitalist Medicine Made Ridiculously Simple.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, was given a boost last year as millions of families across the United States saw an increase in their benefits. This increase is expected to be between $12 and $15 per person. SNAP covers funds towards food for low-income families.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages the program, has more than 9.3 million households and over 21 million people who received SNAP benefits in August 2021, 1 in 7 if all families.

Below is a list of every state and territory that receives the benefits. Click the link to see the exact date, if the state has a sending plan based upon something like date of birth, or case number.

How much is offered?

For families of four people living in the 48 contiguous US states, including the District of Columbia, the maximum allocation for the year will be $835.

For families of four people living in Alaska, the maximum is between $1,074 and $1,667 in Alaska, while people in Hawaii can receive a maximum of $1,573.

In two US dependencies, families in Guam can receive a maximum of $1,231, while those in the US Virgin Islands can receive up to $1,074, the same as the minimum in Alaska.
The United States and its allies have received new intelligence suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already decided to invade the neighbouring nation of Ukraine.

The New York Times reports that Putin has "accelerated his timetable" in recent days and Russian forces could initiate an invasion on Ukrainian soil within the next week.

In a White House press conference on Friday, US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that a Russian advance into Ukraine was now a distinct possibility and that Putins forces were "in a position to be able to mount a major military action.

"We obviously cannot predict the future, we don't know exactly what is going to happen, but the risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that [leaving] is prudent," Sullivan remarked, in relation to the administrations advice that all US citizens should leave Ukraine immediately.

CNN report that Russia could launch an invasion before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics currently ongoing in China, which is due to end on 20 February.

Why would Russia want to invade Ukraine?

The complicated history of Russian statehood and the politics of Eastern Europe are central to Russias objectives in Ukraine. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 saw the Ukrainian SSR declare Ukraine an independent nation, forming the most populous area to split from Moscow.

Despite the fact that the two nations share deep cultural ties and a 1,200-mile border, Ukraine has slowly shifted more toward the West in recent years, becoming more integrated with the US and its allies. There is even reports that Ukraine may one day join NATO.

As Putin amassed troops at the Ukrainian border in recent months, Russia released a list of demands to the West which includes a pledge to not admit Ukraine to NATO. Russias ambitions on the Ukrainian border may be an attempt to redress a shifting dynamic in Europe that could see Ukraine move more closely aligned with the West.

Would the United States intervene if Russian invaded Ukraine?

On Friday President Biden called for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately as the threat of hostile Russian actions grows greater. Biden reiterated his stance that the US would not send in troops to rescue any Americans who get caught up in potential conflict.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said in an interview with NBC News. "We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

When asked if there was any circumstances in which the US would be drawn into a military conflict, he replied: "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We're in a very different world than we've ever been."

In January Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Europe in response to the burgeoning conflict on the Russia-Ukraine border. Blinken had meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Secretary Dmytro Kuleba but officials involved were unsure of exactly how far Putin is willing to go to achieve his goals.

Commenting on the situation from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Blinken told reporters: Its not clear what Russias central demand is.

Speaking to the New York Times, Russian foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov reiterated that sentiment: The expert opinion that I can authoritatively declare is: Who the heck knows?
China always welcomes cooperation on space endeavor, as it adheres to the belief that outer space is a common treasure of humanity, and that its exploration, development and peaceful use are common pursuits of all peoples.

This belief was reiterated by a blue book released Wednesday by the country's space industry flagship China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The blue book said China's space industry is always committed to strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and had implemented various projects with international partners in 2021, including cooperative research and development, facility and data sharing, and application service.

Last year saw new progress on space exploration, such as the construction of China's space station, the Tianwen-1 Mars mission, the discoveries of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, and the examination of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe.

China expects to complete the building of its space station this year, and has promised to make it a platform for extensive international cooperation, including astronaut selection and training, as well as joint flights.

The construction of a foothold in outer space that can accommodate astronauts and payloads from all over the world is just part of China's endeavor to promote international cooperation and exchanges on space exploration.

China will also work together with countries including Italy, Brazil and Pakistan on satellite engineering and technology, and will welcome international partners to participate in the research and construction of a lunar research station, according to a white paper published a few days before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Tiger.

The white paper said China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community with a shared future in outer space. The international community should share this idea and work together on it.

All of these achievements and plans are China's new journey into space in cooperation with the international community, and also important steps in mankind's exploration of the universe.

Faced with an unknown universe full of risks, we can only go further by working together.

In Chinese culture, the tiger is a symbol of courage and strength.

In the human race's exploration of the universe, we all need the courage to face the unknown and the strength to overcome challenges. And we can do that much easier if we work together.
Among the key agricultural exports to Russia that posted strong values in January  November last year were coffee with 153 million USD (up 20 percent) (Photo: VNA)

During the period, Vietnam exported 4.5 billion USD worth of goods to Russia, posting a yearly rise of 20.4 percent.

Vietnam's plant-based exports to Russia fetched 282 million USD, up 21.6 percent over the same period last year.

Among the key agricultural exports to Russia that posted strong values in January  November last year were coffee with 153 million USD (up 20 percent); fruit and nuts, 75.5 million USD (up 38 percent).

Dried mango is a noteworthy export as it raked in 9.1 million USD, 10 percent higher than that reported in the same period of 2020, and accounting for over 92 percent of Russias total import value of this commodity./.
They agreed on major cooperation activities in 2022, including the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, the upgrading of the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the organisation of visits and meetings between senior leaders of the two countries, and the implementation of the existing cooperation mechanisms to bring about pragmatic interests to both sides.





Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Republic of Korea (RoK) counterpart Chung Eui-yong. (Photo: VNA)

Chung stressed the significance of Sons official visit to the RoK, which, he said, opens up activities marking the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, and offers an opportunity for the two sides to look into orientations to deepen the relationship.

For his part, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance and wishes to boost cooperation with the RoK intensively and extensively, and suggested the two countries further utilise the existing cooperation mechanisms in diplomacy, national defence and security.

At the same time, the two sides should work to improve the efficiency of collaboration in economy, trade and investment, striving to raise the two-way trade to 100 billion USD by 2023 and 150 billion USD by 2030, he said.

The minister noted his hope that Korean firms will expand their investment in Vietnam, especially in high-tech, renewable energy, digital transformation and future industries, transfer technologies and build research and development (R&D) centres in Vietnam.

He called on the RoK to consider giving more big loans with incentives to major infrastructure and climate change projects in Vietnam.

Son also suggested deepening cooperation in labour, tourism, education and people-to-people exchange.

To facilitate the travelling of citizens and businesses of the two countries and contribute to achieving the dual goals of COVID-19 containment and economic development in each country, Son called for the RoKs early recognition of Vietnams vaccine passport, and the countrys further support in the pandemic fight.

He suggested the RoK create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese in the host country, especially Vietnam-RoK multicultural families.

Reaffirming Vietnam as a leading important partner of the RoK, Chung said achievements recorded after the establishment of the diplomatic ties three decades ago would create a firm foundation for the bilateral relationship to move forward in the time ahead.

He presented specific proposals to deepen cooperation in politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade, health care-science-technology, culture and people-to-people exchange.

The RoKs Foreign Ministry will continue close coordination with its Vietnamese counterpart and other relevant ministries to practically contribute to boosting the strategic cooperative partnership in the coming time.

The two minsters also shared views on regional and international issues.

Minister Bui Thanh Son congratulated the RoK on the successful organisation of the first ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-run Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) on February 9, excellently fulling its role as co-chair of the programme in 2018-2022.

Vietnam will work harder to uphold its role as coordinator of the ASEAN-RoK relations and join hands to foster the relations, towards the 35th anniversary of the relations in 2024, he affirmed.

The two sides consented to step up coordination at multilateral forums and mechanisms, particularly the United Nations.

Vietnam stands ready to coordinate to promote inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation, contributing to the peace process and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, he pledged.

The minister expressed his hope that Vietnam and the RoK would persistently keep their positive stance on maintaining peace, stability and legal order at sea, respecting freedom of navigation and overflight, and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures in line international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He called for support to ASEAN and China in building a substantive, effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, 1982 UNCLOS.

Minister Bui Thanh Son is on an official visit to the RoK from February 9-11 at the invitation of his RoK counterpart Chung Eui-yong.

Also on February 10, he met with the President of the RoK - Vietnam Friendship Association and the President of the Korean cultural development association, and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK./.
Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao at the press conference (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

MITEM this year has the participation of Vietnamese artists for the first time with the bamboo circus play named A O Show, by Tuan Le, Nguyen Nhat Ly, Nguyen Lan Maurice, Nguyen Tan Loc, and Lune Production Joint Stock Company.

Winning the first prize of the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Award in December 2021, A O Show uses rustic, close-to-Vietnamese props made from bamboo, reproducing unique scenes of life from the quiet and poetic Southern countryside to the fun, vibrant city.

Speaking at the press conference, Secretary of State in charge of Culture under the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources Peter Fekete highlighted the significance of culture, affirming that it is both a panacea for the soul, a motivator and a tool to restart life after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Secretary of State Peter Fekete and Ms. Beata Borsos, Director of the Hungarian National Center for Circus Arts, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao expressed that she would work closely with the Organizing Committee of MITEM 8 and the City Circus, to ensure a successful tour of the Vietnamese bamboo circus troupe.

MITEM was first organized by the Hungarian National Theater in 2014; so far there have been 170 special theatrical performances from 38 countries performed in front of 53,500 spectators. Hungary hopes MITEM 8 is an event marking the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, paving the way for the 10th Theater Olympics to be held in the country in 2023./.
By Trend

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that Iran is determined to bolster good and balanced relation relations with Africa, Latin America & Europe, Trend reports citing IRNA.

He made the remarks in a virtual meeting with Iranian envoys in foreign countries.

Amirabdollahian called on the envoys to do their utmost to deepen Iran's mutual ties with other countries within the framework of the new administration's policies and designated missions and pay special attention to the affairs of Iranian nationals.

Although Asia and neighboring states are among the highest priorities in the country's foreign policy, he said, adding that Iran is determined to boost its balanced and good relations with countries in other regions, including Africa, Latin America as well as Europe.

Earlier on January 8, Amirabdollahian underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches significance to the expansion of relations with Latin American countries, Nicaragua in particular.

Amirabdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with Nicaraguas Foreign Minister Denis Moncada on Friday.
Vietnamese cuisine honored on Frances largest TV channel (Photo: congthuong.vn)

The information was provided by the Vietnam Trade Office in France,



During more than half of the 5-minute long report, the image of the Vietnamese flag is hung overhead, in the middle of the "world cuisine" stalls and a series of reportage photos taken from the event honoring Vietnamese New Year during the Lunar New Year Week on the retail distribution system of Carrefour France on January 20.

Over the past 10 years, French consumers have become more and more passionate about cuisine from around the world," said Gilles Bouleau, the senior program presenter of TF1 channel, introduced about the reportage. Mexican, Vietnamese or Indian cuisine has never been so close to consumers.

This reportage has confirmed that French retail distribution systems such as Carrefour Group and E.Leclerc have contributed mainly to the success of "world cuisine" in this country.

Carrefour's director of customer experience said that just a few years ago, the world cuisine area only accounted for about 4 blocks of goods, now it has occupied 2 rows of goods throughout the length of Carrefours retail systems.

Currently, there are about 3,000 products from 24 different countries being sold in retail distribution systems throughout France. In particular, Vietnamese traditional fried meat rolls ranked third in the list of foreign cuisines most loved by French consumers. The US peanut butter, popcorn and Macaroni dish came in second, and the Japanese sushi was the one loved most.

Recently, the Vietnam Trade Office in France has coordinated with Carrefour Group and import partners to carry out activities to build the image and brand of Vietnamese goods, bringing Vietnamese cuisine closer to French and international consumers living in France. On November 4, 2021, the Minister of Industry and Trade authorized the Prime Minister to attend and cut the ribbon to open the first Vietnam Commodities Week held at Carrefour, on the occasion of the Prime Minister's official visit to France.

On January 20, Carrefour continued to honor the Vietnamese Lunar New Year within the framework of the 2022 Lunar New Year Week in its chain of hypermarkets in France. Millions of French consumers know for the first time about Vietnamese Tet and Lunar New Year in some Asian countries. On February 1, the French President also used the "Lunar New Year" when sending New Year greetings to the Asian community in France sharing the same Lunar New Year./.
People participate in a riddle-guessing event in Qianyuan Town of Deqing County in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Ni Lifang/Xinhua)

People enjoy a dragon dance performance in Qianyuan Town of Deqing County in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Ni Lifang/Xinhua)

Volunteers help children to make lanterns in Guangling District of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

Villagers practice bamboo-horse opera in Guanyintang Village of Wudi County, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 9, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Gao Shidong/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 10, 2022 shows an event in celebration of the upcoming Lantern Festival in Zhenhai District of Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua)

Children and their parents guess riddles in Zhenhai District of Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua)

Children and their parents make tiger-shaped headgears in Zhenhai District of Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 10, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua)

Citizens participate in a riddle-guessing event in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 9, 2022. Various events are held across China to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival. (Photo by Yang Dong/Xinhua)

Editor: GSY
The launch of an energy efficiency program will reduce gas consumption in Ukraine by 2.5% or 437 million cubic meters by the end of 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at the opening of a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Kharkiv.

"I have initiated a program aimed at reducing the use of imported energy sources... This year, measures will be taken to launch an energy efficiency program in about 5,000 multi-storey buildings in Ukraine. In terms of the expected effect  by the end of the year, we plan to reduce gas consumption by 2.5% or 437 million cubic meters," Zelensky said on Friday.

According to the president, the program is large and complex, but "it will be a big step forward regarding the implementation of thermal modernization in the state."

"The results will be felt by more than 1.5 million citizens who will be able to pay 60% less for heat already in the next heating season. We are talking about 700,000 families who live in multi-storey buildings," he said.

"I think the effect will be large-scale, saving, by the way, UAH 8 billion for the 2022-2023 heating season," Zelensky said, adding that the savings will go to social and other programs in the country.
The Council of the European Union approved on Friday the decision of the European Commission to provide additional macro-financial assistance worth EUR 1.2 billion to Ukraine.

"The current geopolitical tensions are having a severe economic impact on Ukraine. Member states are ready to provide EUR 1.2 billion macro-financial assistance. We decided to support the Commission's proposal today, so that the financial help can reach Ukraine without delay," President of the EU Council, French Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Recovery Bruno Le Maire said.

The decision will come into force after approval by the European Parliament, which should happen in the near future. The emergency macro-financial assistance is set to have a duration of 12 months and it would consist of two disbursements. The disbursement of the second tranche would be linked to the continuous satisfactory implementation of both an IMF programme and the policy measures agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding.

"Persistent security threats have triggered a substantial outflow of capital. Against the backdrop of the loss of access to international capital markets due to the heightened geopolitical uncertainty and its impact on the economic situation in Ukraine," the EU Council press service said, justifying the urgency of providing additional assistance.

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which entered into force on September 1, 2017, brings the Ukraine and the EU closer together. In addition to promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values, the agreement has provided a framework for pursuing an ambitious reform agenda, focused on the fight against corruption, an independent judicial system, the rule of law, and a better business climate.

Among other support instruments, between 2014 and 2021 the EU supported Ukraine through five consecutive Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) operations that totalled EUR 5 billion of loans.

On February 1, 2022, the Commission submitted a proposal for an additional 1.2 billion macro-financial assistance to Ukraine in the form of loans to strengthen stability.

The same amount of assistance, but from France, was announced by President Emmanuel Macron during a recent visit to Kyiv. He called it "state guarantees for financing Ukrainian projects of French companies" within the agreement reached back in May.
The United States urges its citizens not to travel to Ukraine, and all Americans already in the country are urged to leave Ukraine as soon as possible due to the increased threat of Russian invasion and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to travel advisories posted on the U.S. Embassy website in Ukraine.

"Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19; those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means," the recommendations say.

"If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action," they note.

"There are continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action against Ukraine. The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine's borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice," the recommendations say.

They clarify that the U.S. government will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine.

"Military action may commence at any time and without warning and would also severely impact the U.S. Embassy's ability to provide consular services, including assistance to U.S. citizens in departing Ukraine," the recommendations say.
Estonia will provide Ukraine with additional EUR 351,700 in humanitarian aid, the Estonian Foreign Ministry reports.

"The purpose of the donation is to support people living near the contact line in eastern Ukraine and help Ukraine prepare for the potential threat of migration," the Foreign Ministry's press service told Interfax on Friday.

"The conflict has affected the lives of almost five million people, more than three million of whom are in need of humanitarian assistance, many of whom do not have adequate healthcare and utilities such as electricity, water and heating. People who have been in constant danger for many years also need emotional support. These problems are exacerbated in the current difficult security situation, which is why we have decided to support Ukraine with additional humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering of residents of frontline communities," Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said.

The funds are intended to support households and older people living near the contact line, including for the purchase of firewood, basic equipment, warm blankets or clothing. Individual assistance may also be required: food, hygiene items, medical and psychosocial support for those living in front-line villages.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant-General Valeriy Zaluzhny has said that in the near future it is expected to attract from one and a half to two million motivated citizens to serve in the reserve of the Territorial Defense Forces.

"We have quite ambitious plans in this direction [in recruiting]: by the end of March we would like to have at least 70% of the reservists who will serve in these battalions [of Territorial Defense Forces]. We are interested in one and a half to two million motivated citizens who want to protect their home, family, country, and whom we must prepare," Zaluzhny said during a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Kharkiv on Friday.

He also called on representatives of local authorities to carry out propaganda work at the regional level to attract citizens to military service in the reserve as part of the Territorial Defense Forces, as well as to ensure the preparation of specially equipped places where reservists can improve their combat skills.

"In the near future, we will introduce training systems for reservists using a distance learning platform... However, at the same time, in order to organize the training of this unit [of territorial defense], which is being formed on your territory, there must be a section of the terrain where reservists must improve their skills, in particular, fire training," Zaluzhny said.

He also pointed to the need to prepare infrastructure facilities in cities and enterprises that can be used by military personnel during tactical exercises.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the heads of a number of regional state administrations to complete the territorial defense forces over the next two weeks.

"I would like to appeal to the heads of regional state administrations, as well as to the head of Kyiv State Administration, so that you can do everything in two weeks, without improvisation. Consult with our military in accordance with the legislation on National Resistance... We don't have time to look for something, decide, engage in politics," Zelensky said during a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Kharkiv.

In particular, it concerns Odesa region, Mariupol, Rivne, Kyiv and Kyiv region, where, according to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, there are shortcomings.

As Zelensky stressed, otherwise there will be personnel decisions.

He also addressed Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko regarding his cooperation with the heads of regional state administrations and mayors on aspects of the informational component of territorial defense.

"It is very important for us that the information policy should be the same, so that people understand exactly: what will happen  if something happens, what happens, what is the state of the preparation of this or that area now  so that there are no improvisations on this issue either. Therefore, if possible, prepare this plan and connect it with the leaders of local authorities," Zelensky concluded.
The case of Russian Tatneft recovering $112 million in compensation from Ukraine, and the interest for the loss of a stake in Ukrtatnafta, by the decision of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), is being used as an instrument of hybrid warfare, Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska has said.

"With a high degree of probability, Russia will use this decision as a weapon, that is, Tatneft does not aim to recover a hundred and something millions. They are rather interested in the process of inflicting various losses on us," he said in an interview with Interfax -Ukraine.

The minister said that there are several difficult moments in this case, in particular, that the dispute itself was lost a long time ago  in 2014.

"What happens next is an attempt by the Russians to collect these funds. And then, the attempts are very strange, because they are trying to recognize this arbitration decision and the funds in several jurisdictions, but at the same time they did not apply in Ukraine, they did not try to recognize it here," the minister of justice said.

According to him, Tatneft, which is very seriously tied to the state-owned Rosneft, missed the deadlines for recognizing and implementing the arbitration award on the territory of Ukraine.

"In principle, if they immediately came, recognized and declared for execution, I think that it would have already been executed. We don't even have a procedure now for us to comply with the arbitration award without its recognition on the territory of Ukraine," Maliuska said.

He believes that this story has ceased to be economic for a considerable period of time and has become political, because many of the steps of the Russians in this case cannot be explained by commercial interest.

"This can also be a geopolitical story. If this is a commercial story, then we admit it, we go to Ukraine, we pay and close this issue. And here is a completely different story and requirements," the head of the Ministry of Justice said, without revealing possible risks for Ukraine.

Ukrtatnafta was established in 1994 in accordance with the decrees of the Presidents of Ukraine and Tatarstan on the basis of the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery. Previously, 18.296% of the shares of the refinery belonged to structures close to Tatneft, another 28.7788% to the Ministry of Land Property of Tatarstan.

Tatneft lost operational control over the Kremenchuk refinery in October 2007, when Pavlo Ovcharenko headed Ukrtatnafta in 2003-2004 by the decision of the Ukrainian court on reinstatement, again took over the management of the enterprise, while the removed head Serhiy Hlushko announced the forcible seizure of the refinery. Tatneft, which was the main supplier of crude oil to the enterprise, stopped oil supplies.

Then the enterprise acquired new shareholders close to the Ukrainian Privat group of Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov and Oleksandr Yaroslavsky. As a result of litigation, the share of Tatarstan shareholders in CJSC was practically zeroed out, and a new major shareholder associated with the Privat group, Korsan LLC, appeared.

Tatneft sued Ukraine in May 2008 under the 1998 Russian-Ukrainian investment protection agreement in connection with the takeover of Ukrtatnafta in October 2007 and the expropriation of Tatneft's shares in Ukrtatnafta. The Russian company won the case: in July 2014, international arbitration tribunal ordered Ukraine to pay compensation in the amount of $112 million and the interest.

In 2017, Tatneft applied to the courts of the United States, the U.K. and the Russian Federation to recover $144 million from Ukraine. Later, the Federal District Court in Washington confirmed the decision and added interest: the total amount to be recovered reached $173 million.

The other day, Bloomberg reported that Ukraine is asking the U.S. court to block Tatneft's petition to subpoena representatives of 52 banks as part of the consideration of this case. According to the Ukrainian side, the agendas initiated by Tatneft "are a pretext for demanding confidential information at a time when Russia is gathering troops along the border."

The subpoenas were sent, in particular, to Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, Danske Bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia. According to Ukrainian officials who testified in court, Tatneft's subpoenas contain requests for information that is irrelevant to the case, including "about the assets and financial transactions of Ukraine and third parties that play a key role in strategic industries such as defense, energy, transport and connection."
Ukraine has formally invoked the risk reduction mechanism under the Section III of the Vienna Document, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"We have officially triggered the risk reduction mechanism in accordance with para. III of the Vienna Document, and requested Russia to provide detailed explanations on military activities in the areas adjacent to the territory of Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Crimea," Kuleba said on Twitter on Friday.

"According to the Vienna Document, Russia needs to provide detailed explanation on the objectives, precise location and dates of completion of its military activities, as well as designation, subordination, number of formations, as well as types of equipment involved," Kuleba said on Twitter.

The Minister said Russia has 48 hours to reply.

"In case of absence of reply or its insufficiency/irrelevance, Ukraine will address Russia as well as other participating states of the Vienna Document, in order to convene an extraordinary meeting, where Russia will have to provide explanations. We will keep using all diplomatic means to ensure security of Ukraine," he said.
By Trend

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of F-15ID aircraft and related equipment to Indonesia in a deal valued at up to $13.9 billion, the Pentagon said on Thursday, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Earlier in the day, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said the country was planing on buying 42 Rafale fighter jets in a $8.1 billion deal as part of a series of agreements also including submarine development.

The country has been seeking to overhaul its ageing air fleet for a while, which up until today includes U.S.-made F-16 and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 jets.

Media reports have said Indonesia wanted to buy more than 70 jets from France and the United States.

Boeing is the principal contractor for the F-15 jets, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a release.

The package would include 36 jets, spare engines, radars, night vision goggles training and technical support, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Thursday.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.
On Thursday, February 17, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference titled "Judicial branch as tool for hostile takeover of legal entities in Ukraine." Participants include: attorney-at-law (legal aspects of combating hostile takeover) Yana Khomenko; attorney-at-law, human rights activist (effective involvement of hybrid mechanisms to combat hostile takeover in Ukraine) Hennadiy Borisichev; human rights activist, attorney-at-law, PhD in Law (mechanism for bringing judges who contribute to hostile takeover to legal liability) Natalia Tselovalnychenko; philanthropist, head of the Center for the Protection of the Disabled public organization Arkadiy Chorny (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration by phone: +38 (050) 755 5575.
(List of participants updated; rescheduled from 14:30 to 16:00)

On Thursday, December 17, at 16.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference titled "Is it so bad with public medicine?". Participants include MP, Head of the Subcommittee on Health of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance Maxim Perebyinis; Head of the Medical Directorate of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Oleksandra Mashkevych; Head of the Consultative and Diagnostic Center of Dniprovsky district of Kyiv Daniel Karabayev; Director General of the municipal non-profit enterprise "Polyclinic Association of Kropyvnytsky City Council" Olena Ambarna (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
By Trend

A number of financial violations were revealed in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar district education department, the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the ministry, there were no records in the class register, the salary was paid to teachers for unfulfilled classes and other violations.

Corresponding protocols were drawn up against the officials. For committing administrative offenses under Articles 410.1 and 410.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Azerbaijan, 108 officials were fined 82,000 manat ($48,26). In order to eliminate shortcomings and prevent similar cases in other organizations, as well as to take action against the guilty officials, letters have been sent to the central and relevant local executive offices and financial authorities.

The unreasonably paid amounts were restored to the state budget, part of which recovered during the preliminary investigation with a cash payment. The restoration of the remaining part is still in progress.
Al-Azhar condemned Friday terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistans capital Kabul that left dozens of worshippers dead and injured.
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.
Egypt was elected on Wednesday as a member of the executive council of the UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO).



The Member States of IOC-UNESCO elected Wednesday the new officers (the chairperson and five vice-chairpersons), and the members of the executive council during 2019-2021.



Speaking to MENA, Egypts ambassador to France and permanent representative to UNESCO Ihab Badawi thanked all member states that supported Cairo during the elections.



Egypt pays special interest to the Arab and African presence in international events and bodies, especially in light of its presidency of the African Union and the Arab bloc in the UNESCO, Badawi said.



IOC-UNESCO, established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO, is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.



The purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States.

In addition, IOC is recognized through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the competent international organization in the fields of Marine Scientific Research (Part XIII) and Transfer of Marine Technology (Part XIV).



The Executive Council consists of 40 Member States, including the six Member States represented by the Chairperson and the five Vice-Chairpersons.

The Executive Council meets every year to review issues and items from on-going work plans, and makes preparations for the IOC-UNESCO Assembly.

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In 2021, Egypt exported $45.2 billion worth of goods, marking a 80 per cent increase from their level in 2020, according to the cabinet.

Non-oil exports constituted 71.5 per cent of the total, while oil and gas exports constituted the remaining 28.5 per cent of the total value of exports in 2021.

The most notable hike was in the oil and gas sector, with export revenue from Egypts petroleum sector increasing to $12.9 billion in 2021, representing a 84.3 per cent surge on their level in 2020.

According to Tarek Al-Molla, minister of petroleum and mineral resources, Egypts export revenues from natural and liquefied gas saw more than a fivefold increase, or about 550 per cent, to reach $3.9 billion, up from $600 million in 2020.

The value of crude oil exports jumped by 32 per cent to record $3.3 billion in 2021, while petrochemical products recorded a 42.5 per cent rise in exports in 2021 to $5.7 billion, up from $4 billion in 2020.

A report by Fitch Solutions said that the production of Egypts petrochemicals sector had reached 3.34 million tons during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, noting that it had achieved a growth in revenues by 50 per cent on a yearly basis and enhanced Egypts ambition to become a regional hub for oil and gas.

Fitch said that new projects implemented by the petrochemicals sector in Egypt include the Red Sea Petrochemicals Complex project in Ain Sokhna with investments of $7.5 billion, the Al-Alamein Petrochemicals Complex with investments of $8 billion and a production capacity of 4.7 million tons per year, the methanol derivatives project in Suez with investments of $119 million, and a bio-ethanol project with investments of $112 million that aims to add 3.7 million tons per year to production capacity.

We have good export volumes, and Egypt has many trade agreements with the European Union, the US, and the African countries, said Khaled Abul-Makarem, head of the Export Council for Chemical Industries, adding that fertilisers and plastics were the top exported products last year.

Al-Makarem said that growth in the petrochemicals sector during 2020 had reached six per cent despite the coronavirus pandemic. We are targeting a volume of exports of up to $8 billion this year, he stated.

According to Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad, the African continent is a target for Egyptian exports, and there are plans to expand exports to the continent in order to help realise the dream of reaching $100 billion of Egyptian exports in the near future.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said that what had been achieved in terms of exports in 2021 was the result of great efforts made by the government in exceptional circumstances such as the coronavirus pandemic that had negatively affected economies worldwide.

Madbouli said that the government had focused on encouraging the industrial and export sectors in order to deal with the effects of the pandemic and still achieve remarkable progress.

He pointed to the many initiatives launched to support exports, including the export-support programme that includes disbursing financial arrears to exporters, some of which date back to 2012.

The government has provided manufacturers and exporters with funding that has exceeded LE31 billion, he added.

Changes in the customs system by simplifying procedures and facilitating the movement of international trade, whether through imports or exports, through an integrated one-window system had also helped to raise exports, Madbouli said.

There are many measures the government has taken to realise the dream of Egyptian exports exceeding $100 billion, he said.

According to data from the Ministry of Finance, the governments LE31 billion support for the export sector has been spent on more than 3,000 companies since the launch of the initiative to refund arrears to exporters in cash in October 2019.

One of the key players in boosting exports through paying what is due to exporters is the Egyptian Export Development Bank (EEDB). This finances import-substitution projects, provides financing for Egyptian exports, and facilitates the entry of Egyptian products to various global markets.

The EEDB board has approved an increase in its issued and paid-up capital from LE3.2 billion to LE5.2 billion, an increase of LE2 billion through cash subscriptions from shareholders.

Minister of Trade and Industry Niveen Gamea said that the capital increase aimed to support the banks capital base, increase the volume of its activities, and enhance its expansion plans by increasing the number of branches and creating a competitive advantage in granting loans.

The bank played an important role in paying the financial arrears due to exporters, giving a great boost to Egyptian exports during 2021, Gamea said.

Egypts exports from food industries increased during 2021 by about $644 million, or approximately 19 per cent over 2020, to record $4.1 billion and comparing to about $3.45 billion in 2020.

Hani Barzi, head of the Export Council for Food Industries at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said in a statement that the top importing countries for Egypts food industries in 2021 had included Saudi Arabia with exports worth $304 million, Sudan with a value of $223 million and a growth rate of 222 per cent, and the US with a value of $223 million and a growth rate of 23 per cent in 2020.

Libya ranked fourth in terms of top importing countries of Egyptian food products, with a value of $202 million and a growth rate of 24 per cent, followed by Jordan with a value of $188 million and a growth rate of 11 per cent.

Barzi said the Food Export Council is working with other agencies to increase Egypts exports through marketing and promotional activities including plans to continue positive increases in exports and carry out trade missions to African, Arab, and other fast-growing markets.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 10 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The recent increase in Suez Canal transit tolls will reflect positively on the international navigation route, experts tell Al-Ahram Weekly.

The Suez Canal reported its highest-ever annual revenues in 2021 at $6.3 billion, marking a 12.8 per cent increase on 2020, said Chair of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie this week.

The number of ships passing through the canal also increased by 10 per cent, marking an all-time high.

The unprecedented figures were achieved despite the only partial recovery of global trade recorded since the early months of 2021. From January to April last year, the canal recorded a 2.8 per cent increase in revenues, or $1.96 billion, up from $1.907 billion during the same months of 2020.

The SCA attributed the improved figures to the development strategy it has adopted for the canal, one of the countrys main sources of foreign currency.

Mohamed Hassan, managing director of Blom Egypt Investments, an asset management company, said the rise in Suez Canal revenues was the result of increased transit tolls in tandem with the rise in petroleum prices in 2021.

The year before, the SCA had reduced transit tolls on the back of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global decrease in petroleum prices to attract vessels and cargo ships instead of their taking the route around the Cape of Good Hope, he said.

Radwa Al-Swaify, head of research at Al Ahly Pharos Securities Brokersage, an investment bank, said the hike in Suez Canal revenues in 2021 was caused by the increase in the number of vessels crossing the canal due to the reduction in transit fees the SCA had announced a year earlier.

The SCA offered a 48 per cent reduction in transit tolls for petroleum tankers carrying cargos of more than 250,000 tons. Roll-on/roll-off ships sailing from ports in northwestern Europe to Santander and then heading directly to Singapore and those heading to the eastern ports of Southeast Asia and the Far East were offered a reduction of eight per cent.

The SCA also announced a 50 per cent decrease in transit tolls for passenger ships.

Some 20,694 vessels crossed the canal in 2021, up from 18,830 in 2020, registering an increase of 10 per cent, while net cargo was increased by 8.5 per cent, Rabie said.

Hassan said that the New Suez Canal had contributed to the increase in the number of ships crossing the canal. The new axis has reduced waiting times for ships from 12 to six hours, leading to an increase in traffic, he said.

He expects canal revenues to continue to rise in 2022 with the increase in transit tolls announced this month.

In November, the SCA said it would increase transit tolls for all ships by six per cent in February 2022, exempting tourist ships and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from the increase. LNG carriers have been granted a transit fee reduction for the first six months of 2022.

The SCA said it is keen to implement a balanced and flexible pricing and marketing strategy that achieves the interests of the authority and its clients and takes into account global economic variables.

It added that it wants to offer exemplary services that allow the canal to remain at the forefront of international trade routes and become the best, fastest, and shortest navigation route available.

Al-Swaify believes that the rise in transit tolls, coupled with the full recovery of global trade, will increase the canals revenues by between five and 10 per cent. Rabie foresees a rise of 11.1 per cent in revenues, saying that the canal is expected to collect $7 billion this year.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 10 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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High-stakes diplomacy and military manoeuvring continued Wednesday as Britain launched its own diplomatic effort to help avert a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

No breakthrough in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is in sight so far, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions remain as opaque as ever.

Here's a look at what is happening where and why:

BRITAIN TAKES ITS TURN AT THE TABLE

Britain is preparing to follow France's diplomatic foray into the Ukraine crisis. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was flying to Moscow Wednesday for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to travel to Poland and NATO headquarters on Thursday.

Russia has deployed well over 100,000 troops near Ukraine, fueling fears of a possible invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron reported that Putin told him that Moscow would not further escalate the tensions.

But the Kremlin denied that any agreement on calming things down was reached Tuesday, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that "in the current situation, Moscow and Paris can't be reaching any deals.'' Russian officials also say that Moscow has no intention to invade Ukraine.

Truss, making the first visit to Russia by a U.K. foreign secretary in four years, took a tougher line than Macron as she set out, repeating the numerous Western warnings that a Russian offensive carried the threat of political and economic sanctions.

Any Russian invasion of Ukraine "would bring massive consequences for all involved'' and "Russia should be in no doubt about the strength of our response,'' she said. "Russia has a choice here. We strongly encourage them to engage, de-escalate and choose the path of diplomacy.''

Amid fears of possible military conflict, Pope Francis reminded the world that "war is crazy.'' He said diplomacy is the best option.

"Let us continue praying to the God of peace so that the tensions and threats of war are overcome by a serious dialogue,'' Francis told his weekly general audience.

NATO SENDS IN THE CAVALRY

The United States has begun to deploy the 2nd Cavalry Regiment - the U.S. Army's longest active-serving cavalry regiment in the U.S. Army - from Germany to Romania. The regiment's commander, Col. Joe Ewers, said the first troops arrived in Romania in the past 24 hours.

"The focus of this particular mission, of course, is to reinforce the NATO alliance, to build that trust and confidence, to reassure our allies and to strengthen the eastern flank of the NATO alliance,'' Ewers told reporters at Rose Barracks in the German city of Vilseck on Wednesday.

While NATO does not plan to send troops to Ukraine, the 30-nation military alliance is bolstering its own defences from Estonia in Northern Europe, down around Ukraine's western border and into the Black Sea region in Bulgaria. NATO is also mulling whether to set up a longer-term military presence in Hungary and Slovakia.

Thousands of troops from several nations have been put on heightened readiness should Russia invade. Russia said Tuesday that it had dispatched six large landing craft to the Black Sea region, a development that made U.S. officials particularly wary.

Ukraine has asked for preemptive action in the form of sanctions and other measures, but the United States and its allies remain cautious, although some are sending arms and other supplies.

Asked in Kyiv whether Spain would contribute with weapons or some other kind of help for Ukrainian forces, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reiterated Wednesday that now is "the moment of diplomacy'' and that "dialogue, easing tensions and de-escalation'' must be priorities.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

In Ukraine, where Russia's military buildup already has affected the economy and currency, officials, soldiers and civilians alike mostly are trying to stay resolute. That's no easy task at the "line of contact'' in the east of the country, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for nearly eight years.

"The war has put pressure on me and broken my soul,'' soldier Ivan Skuratovskyi said. His calm verges on numbness. A sniper recently killed one of the few dozen men under his command. "I'm becoming more cold-hearted, some would say dead-hearted,'' he said.

U.S. officials say the threat of a Russian invasion in Ukraine is more serious than at other points in the conflict, in which more than 14,000 people have died. But a sense of calm prevails in the Eastern European nation among relatives of those in the trenches on up to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We are defending our country and are on our own territory. Our patience can have an impact on provocations when we don't respond to provocations but behave with great dignity,'' Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Western threats towards Moscow would do nothing to ease tensions over Ukraine.

"Ideological approaches, ultimatums, threats -- this is the road to nowhere," Lavrov said at the start of talks with his British counterpart Liz Truss in Moscow.

The talks between Lavrov and Truss in Moscow Thursday are the latest round of diplomatic meetings aimed at de-escalating tensions over Ukraine.

Western leaders have accused Russia of massing troops around the borders of their ex-Soviet ally in advance of a possible invasion.

Lavrov accused diplomats in European capitals and Washington of increasingly using threats and ultimatums with Russia and said the approach was undiplomatic.

Lavrov described his meeting with Truss -- the first visit of a British foreign secretary to Russia since 2017 -- as "unprecedented".

He said that if Britain wants to improve ties with Moscow, "we will, of course, reciprocate," adding that bilateral ties were "at their lowest point in recent years".

The meeting in Moscow comes ahead of another between Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday.

In her opening remarks, Truss said Britain "cannot ignore" the buildup of troops on Ukraine's border or "attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty".

"There is an alternative route, a diplomatic route that avoids conflict and bloodshed," she said.

"I am here to urge Russia to take that path," Truss added.

The visit by Truss to Moscow is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic efforts from the West this week to prevent a Russian invasion into Ukraine.

Leaders in Western capitals have been warning that Russia is preparing to escalate the conflict after a build-up of some 100,000 troops around its ex-Soviet neighbour.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday the Ukraine crisis has grown into "the most dangerous moment'' for Europe in decades, while his top diplomat held icy talks with her Moscow counterpart who said the Kremlin won't accept lectures from the West.

As they spoke, Russian forces held sweeping maneuvers north of Ukraine in Belarus, part of a buildup of over 100,000 troops that has stoked Western fears of an invasion.

NATO also has stepped up military deployments to bolster its eastern flank, with the U.S. sending troops to Poland and Romania. A British Royal Air Force jet carrying 350 troops landed Thursday in Poland in a move that followed London sending anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to help boost its defenses.

"This is probably the most dangerous moment, I would say in the course of the next few days, in what is the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades, and we've got to get it right,'' Johnson said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Johnson, who later arrived in Warsaw to meet with Poland's prime minister, said he believes President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided what he might do with Ukraine, but he added that the West must use "sanctions and military resolve plus diplomacy."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeating an invitation to a series of talks on improving European security.

Lavrov set a stern tone for his talks in Moscow with U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who again warned Russia that attacking its neighbor would "have massive consequences and carry severe costs.'' She urged the Kremlin to abide by international agreements that commit it to respecting Ukraine's independence and sovereignty.

Lavrov rejected Western worries about the Russian troop buildup as "sheer propaganda'' and noted that Moscow won't stand for lectures.

"Ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralizing is a road to nowhere,'' he said, noting that his talks with Truss marked the first meeting of the countries' top diplomats in more than four years. Russia-U.K. ties have been badly strained by the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in England and other tensions.

Russia says it has no plans to invade Ukraine but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons there and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe. The U.S. and NATO flatly reject these demands.

Truss reaffirmed a call for Moscow to pull back its troops, while Lavrov rejected the demand as inappropriate and pointed to British and NATO military buildups in Eastern Europe.

"The demands to remove the Russian troops from the Russian territory cause regret,'' he said. "We don't want to threaten anyone. It's us who are facing threats.''

Lavrov alleged that Western politicians were fanning tensions over Ukraine for domestic political gain. Russia has always planned to move back its troops after the maneuvers, Lavrov said, and once it does, "the West will raise an uproar and claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate."

"It's selling hot air,'' he snapped.

Russia's buildup includes deploying troops on the territory of its ally Belarus for sweeping joint drills that entered a decisive phase Thursday. The Ukrainian capital is located about 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the border with Belarus.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry protested Russian naval drills in the Black and Azov seas, saying they have hampered commercial shipping. The Kremlin responded that the exercises are conducted in line with the international maritime law.

Amid the West's invasion warnings, Ukrainian officials have sought to project calm, concerned that fears over war will further destabilize the country's fragile economy.

"We believe that the concentration of troops near the border is part of psychological pressure from our neighbor,'' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a meeting of business leaders. "We have enough resources and weapons to protect our country.''

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when a popular uprising drove Ukraine's Kremlin-friendly leader from office. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped end full-scale hostilities, but frequent skirmishes have continued, and efforts to negotiate a political settlement have stalled. The Kremlin has accused Kyiv of sabotaging the peace agreement, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it would hurt their country.

Foreign policy advisers from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine are holding more talks Thursday in Berlin to try to reach a common interpretation of the 2015 agreement and plan further steps.

The talks are part of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met Lavrov in Geneva, while French President Emmanuel Macron met Putin in Moscow before heading to Kyiv this week.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to visit to Kyiv and Moscow on Feb. 14-15. He met Monday with U.S. President Joe Biden, who vowed that the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked in the event of an invasion. Such a move against the pipeline, which has been completed but isn't yet operating, would hurt Russia economically but also cause energy supply problems for Germany.

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By Trend

Large-scale work is underway in Azerbaijan to restore the territories liberated from the Armenian occupation [in the 2020 second Karabakh war], the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend.

According to the ministry, the work is also aimed at ensuring their sustainable development, and creating the most modern infrastructure and decent living conditions in the liberated territories.

As part of the work carried out in the mentioned directions, since January 24, regular bus trips have been carried out to the cities of Shusha and Aghdam, which are of great historical significance and cultural and spiritual value for the Azerbaijani people.

Taking into account the numerous appeals of citizens, a decision was made to operate Baku-Shusha-Baku bus trips daily during the Novruz holidays in March.

As to date, 27 bus trips to Shusha and Aghdam have been successfully made. All tickets for Baku-Shusha-Baku and Ahmadbayli-Shusha-Ahmadbayli trips envisioned in February have been sold.

From February 16, Baku-Shusha-Baku trips will be operated not two, but three times a week.
Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Friday in his speech to the One Ocean Summit in the French port city of Brest for intensifying international efforts to protect the seas and oceans from negative effects resulting from climate change.

"The international efforts to overcome these effects on the seas and oceans are still not up to the hoped-for level at the present, El-Sisi said in his speech during the high level segment session of the summit, which is taking place in Brest in northwestern France on the Atlantic coast from 9-11 February.

Earlier today, El-Sisi was welcomed by French President Emannuel Macron ahead of attending the summit, which aims to mobilise the world to take action to save the planet's oceans.

El-Sisi's participation in the Brest summit comes in response to the invitation of President Macron in light of Egypts vital regional and international role within the framework of efforts seeking to confront climate change and protect the marine environment, according to the Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady.

El-Sisi told the summit that Egypt would seek during its presidency of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which is slated to take place in November 2022 in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh, to urge the world to preserve the sustainability and the diversity of marine life.

The COP27, El-Sisi stressed, will witness a constructive dialogue on this issue, with the aim of producing ambitious results and developing initiatives that build on the outcomes of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be hosted by Portugal in June.

The Sharm El-Sheikh conference aims to formulate actions to mitigate the consequences of climate change on the seas and oceans, and to mobilise the financing that developing countries, and African countries in particular, need to carry out this effort, the Egyptian president noted.

Egyptian steps

El-Sisi also announced that Egypt has joined the declaration and initiatives coming out of the Brest summit, including the "Protecting the Ocean: A Time for Action" declaration and the "Global Ocean Alliance and the High Ambitious Alliance of For Nature and People initiatives.

Egypt aspires to work within the framework of these crucial initiatives with all parties to ensure that they achieve the desired results, he assured.

The oceans have absorbed more than 90 percent of the heat caused by global warming since 1970s, contributing to raising its acidity, decreasing oxygen percentage and thus deteriorating marine life, he added.

El-Sisi also underlined how climate change ramifications pose a "constant" threat by raising the level of seas and oceans of coastal areas in many countries of the world.

Since seas and oceans constitute 70 percent of the earth, they contribute to the movement of international trade and navigation and play an important role as a major source of food and natural resources and a catalyst for economic activity of entire societies and countries, he noted.

Egypt, due to its location along the Mediterranean and Red Seas, understands the importance of the seas. The country's Suez Canal is one of the most significant waterways in the world, El-Sisi said.

For a long time, Egypt has took part in outlining the legal frameworks and regulating the economic activity related to seas and oceans in order to ensure the sustainability of marine resources and protect them from all kinds of pollution, the president said.

Egypt, he added, is seeking to become a hub for renewable energy, including expanding the production of green hydrogen to reduce the emissions from the maritime shipping sector.

At the international level, Egypt, during its presidency to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, pushed to launch a negotiation track for setting new goals to protecting the environment, especially the seas and oceans, El-Sisi said.

"A sustainable blue economy"

The One Ocean Summit is being held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the United Nations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry and several other African and European leaders attended the event in person. Others were to take part via video messages.

"The goal of the One Ocean Summit is to raise the collective level of ambition of the international community on marine issues and to translate our shared responsibility to the ocean into tangible commitments... and aims to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting a healthy and sustainable ocean," according to the summit description.

The high level segment of the One Ocean Summit brought together heads of state and government, leaders of multilateral institutions, business leaders and civil society representatives to make ambitious commitments.

The summit tackled the relationship of seas and oceans to efforts to confront climate change, as well as supporting and mobilising funding for the concept of a "sustainable blue economy."

Egypt has embarked on a Sustainable Development Startegy  Vision 2030, which places a priority on the transition to a green economy and protecting its marine ecosystem as part of the country's efforts to confront climate change.

The presidents agenda in France also includes holding summit talks with French President Macron on ways of fostering closer bilateral relations, which have seen significant progress over the past years, realising the two countries and their peoples common interests.

El-Sisi and Macron will discuss furthering consultations and coordination on a multitude of regional and international dossiers of mutual concern.

The Egyptian president is set to meet heads of state and government on the sideline of the summit to discuss means of bolstering bilateral cooperation frameworks and exchanging views on various regional and international issues.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed on Friday means to boost strategic bilateral relations as well as a host of regional developments, including in Libya.

The meeting, held in the French port city of Brest on the sideline of the One Ocean Summit, comes in light of the recent development in the relations between the two countries, especially at the economic, commercial, military and security levels, according to a statement by the Egyptian Presidential Spokeman Bassam Rady.

El-Sisi expressed to Macron Egypt's keenness to strengthen cooperation with France in various fields, especially in terms of transferring French expertise and technology in all development fields to Egypt.

The Egyptian president also asserted to his French counterpart that Egypt seeks to increase coordination and consultation with France as the current chair of the European Union on the political, security, military and economic levels in a way that helps maintain security and stability in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa.

Macron, for his part, expressed his country's pride in what he described as "the strong and distinguished" relations with Egypt, which he said gained more momentum during the recent multiple visits of El-Sisi to France.

The French president stressed his country's commitment to continue to bolster the frameworks of cooperation with Egypt in various fields.

He also voiced support to the Egyptian president's efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development and combat terrorism and extremist ideology in the region.

Libya developments

The meeting also tackled the latest developments concerning a host of regional issues of common interest, including Libya, the statement added.

El-Sisi and Macron agreed on exerting concerted efforts to help Libya restore security and stability, particularly through expelling mercenaries and foreign forces, and eliminating terrorism.

Macron lauded Egyptian efforts to preserve Libyan national institutions and promote a political settlement to the crisis, adding that these efforts are appreciated by the international community, Rady added.

On Thursday, Libya's House of Representatives, based in Libya's east, approved Fathi Bashagha to head the Libyan government, in a challenge to interim premier Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah's administration, who vowed to only give up power to an elected government.

UN COP27

The two leaders also reviewed means of cooperation and coordination during the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which is slated to take place in November 2022 in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Macron expressed his well wishes for Egypt to succced in hosting the COP27, noting that "Cairo pays great attention to protect the marine environment."

Earlier today, El-Sisi was welcomed by Macron ahead of attending the One Ocean Summit, which aimed to mobilise the world to take action to save the planet's oceans.

In his speech to the high level segment session at the Brest summit, the Egyptian president called for intensifying international efforts to protect the seas and oceans from negative effects resulting from climate change.

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Pro-Trump flags, angry rhetoric and claims that Canada is turning communist -- strong right-wing views among some at the trucker-led protests could grow into a new populist movement, say experts.

Unlike in Europe and the United States, populist ideas have never managed break through in Canada during elections.

But the trucker demonstration, which has been occupying the streets of the capital Ottawa for two weeks and blocking border crossings, could be a first step.

"It's an opportunist coalition, because they don't have much in common (but) they reject democratic institutions and are targeting (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau," said Daniel Beland, politics professor at McGill University in Montreal.

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has analyzed the movement, originally dubbed "Freedom Convoy," saying "if you look at its organizers and promoters, you'll find Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, and incitements to violence."

Among the organizers, there are members of the nascent fringe Maverick Party, which has called for oil-rich Alberta province to secede from the rest of Canada.

It is led by Tamara Lich, one of the protest organizers who launched an online fundraising campaign that brought in 10 million Canadian dollars before it was shut down by GoFundMe.

Another group behind the protest is Canada Unity, founded by James Bauder, who has publicly endorsed the QAnon movement and called Covid-19 "the biggest political scam in history."

'Wipe (liberals) out completely'

Played down at the start by Trudeau as a "fringe minority," the protest group has mushroomed and drawn significant financial support.

It has also attracted people who are not usually political, but are simply tired of two years of lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions among the strictest in the world.

The movement have been boosted support of US Republicans, from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who called the protesters "heroes" and "patriots," to former president Donald Trump.

"We never expected this to go beyond a couple of hundreds trucks. And now, we've somehow created a worldwide wave," said Lloyd Brubacher, a self-proclaimed "extreme rightist" and Trump admirer.

Determined to "fight to the bitter end, no matter the outcome," he voted for the Conservative Party in the last elections but now finds them too centrist.

Bernhard Rempel, 55, from Manitoba hopes to overthrow Trudeau's Liberal government. "I want to wipe them out completely. That's what I'm standing for," he told AFP.

With a sprinkling of religious references, Rempel, who is unvaccinated, added "we don't need a government to control us and to condemn us. We need a leader that leads us."

In last September's election, he backed the People's Party of Canada (PPC), a right-wing party led by former Tory minister Maxime Bernier, who railed against vaccine passports, immigration and Canada's vaunted multiculturalism.

It got almost five percent of votes cast, but failed to win a seat in Parliament.

Reshaping Canada politics?

"This movement is now well-funded, has executed a successful operation and earned the support of some politicians," said Stephanie Carvin, a Carleton University international relations professor in Ottawa, noting its effective use of social media.

Their impact is already being felt on the Canadian political landscape.

Outside parliament, truckers cheered last week when main opposition Conservative leader Erin O'Toole was ousted for having tracked the party too close to the political centre to try to appeal to mainstream voters, leaving MPs divided.

He was also accused of waffling in his support for the protesters.

"In the future, will they be able to do the same and galvanise people around issues that can command the same attention? It's hard to say," Carvin said of the protesters.

"But there is the potential to change the Canadian political landscape out of this in the years to come if the organizers, who have historically been pretty fractious, can keep themselves together."

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Russia could invade Ukraine during the current Beijing Winter Olympics so Americans should leave the Eastern European country immediately, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday.

Blinken did not detail the reasons behind the State Department's latest security alert that calls on all American citizens to leave Ukraine.

"Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,'' Blinken said in Melbourne, Australia.

"We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time and, to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,'' Blinken added. The Olympic Games are scheduled to end on Feb. 20.

Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine. It says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of NATO.

The threat of war in Ukraine and a strengthened alliance between Russia and China were high on the agenda of a meeting in Canberra on Friday among Blinken and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.

The four nations form the "Quad,'' a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies created to counter China's growing regional influence.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who chaired the meeting, said the alliance between Moscow and Beijing was "concerning because it doesn't ... represent a global order that squares with ... ambitions for freedom and openness and sovereignty and the protection of territorial integrity.''

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne

On the question of the alliance, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, whose government is one of Russia's biggest customers for military hardware, emphasized that the Quad partnership was about shared ambitions and "not against somebody.''

Asked by a reporter if Russia had behaved appropriately toward Ukraine, Jaishankar replied that the Quad meeting was focused on the Indo-Pacific region, not Europe.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

Blinken earlier said a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific was not inevitable.

"We share concerns that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region and indeed potentially beyond,'' Blinken said.

The Quad partners are united by an "affirmative vision for what the future can bring'' and a "commitment to defend the rules-based system that we have spent tremendous time and effort building,'' he added.

Blinken's trip is designed to reinforce America's interests in Asia and its intent to push back against increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. He will also visit Fiji and discuss pressing concerns about North Korea with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian dismissed Quad concerns about Beijing's expanding influence among Pacific island nations.

China's support for Pacific island countries is "open, transparent and inclusive, without targeting any third party,'' Zhao said, in an apparent reference to the U.S. and its allies.

"We hope all countries will take concrete actions to help Pacific island countries deal with their challenges and do more to contribute to regional peace, stability and development,'' he said at a daily briefing.

Australia has suffered trade retaliation in recent years for angering Beijing over actions that include outlawing covert foreign interference in domestic politics, banning Chinese tech giant Huawei from major infrastructure projects and urging an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he felt reassured by the shared commitment against coercion after meetings with Blinken, Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi

Earlier Friday, Blinken and Hayashi held a meeting in which they expressed "deep concern'' about Russia's beefing up of its military at the Ukrainian border, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The leaders also shared "grave concern'' about North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile development, the official said.

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Former chairman of the Egypt Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Agency Hafez Al-Salamawy talks about the future of renewables in Egypt and the countrys potential as an energy hub to Al-Ahram Weekly.

With Egypt having achieved a target of 20 per cent of its peak load of electricity coming from renewable energy, how do you see the future of this in Egypt?

Around 6,000 Megawatts (MW) of Egypts current installed capacity of electricity is from renewable energy (RE) sources, including 2,800 MW from hydroelectric sources, 1,600 MW from solar energy, and 1,660 MW from wind energy. This represents 20 per cent of demand during peak hours.

However, the optimum energy mix is to have renewables as 20 of total generated electricity. Currently, renewable energy represents only 12.5 per cent of this, and so more projects should be added to fulfill this target.

Nonetheless, the future of RE is very promising in Egypt. The country has all the ingredients to have a successful RE programme because of the availability of wind and solar energy, a good legal framework, and the experience in renewable projects development accumulated over the past 20 years. Over and above all this, Egypts energy sector has a good track record in respecting contracts, which has resulted in attracting international investments and confidence in the business environment.

Egypt was off to a good start by successfully establishing the Benban PV Solar Complex and the Zafarana and Gabal Al-Zeit Wind Energy Farms, as well as other renewable energy projects. However, clear short-term five-year plans for renewable energy projects need to be available to investors. Moreover, Egypt needs to enhance its capacity in contracting and reducing the lead and execution time for renewable projects, diversifying the adopted models for project development, and not restricting agreements to Build, Own and Operate (BOO) concessions or Engineering Procurement and Contracting models (EPC + finance), as these have their own limitations.

Private-public ownership should be encouraged through the involvement of the Egyptian Sovereign Fund in the equity financing of projects in addition to issuing more green bonds by the ministry of finance and financial institutions in Egypt and allowing public subscriptions to finance renewable projects.

The government has imposed five per cent customs duties on the importation of photovoltaic cells. How do you see this impacting the industry?

The impact will be marginal. The variation in the prices of photovoltaic (PV) cells that we witnessed recently as a result of supply chain problems exceeded the five per cent customs duty. Furthermore, the cost contribution of the PV panels, including PV cells, amounts to only 40 per cent of the total cost of a solar power plant, which is why the imposed customs duties will have a trivial impact on the industry as a whole. However, the measure will send a negative signal about the governments support of renewable projects, as well as making only a marginal difference to government revenues.

Electric vehicles are considered to be a useful measure in slowing the emissions that lead to climate change. Will they soon replace conventional cars in Egypt?

The major car producers have announced that after 2035 they are going to halt the production of conventional cars using internal combustion engines (ICE). Thus, shifting to electric cars is an international trend, and Egypt will follow this trend.

What we can do is to accelerate the change by offering substantial advantages for the buyers and consumers of electric vehicles. Already the government has waived customs duties on imported EVs, as well as reduced their registration costs, yet this is not enough. Moreover, studies show that at least 16.5 per cent of cars in Egypt will be EVs, given the current government incentives, by 2030.

If sufficiently encouraging policies are introduced, EVs will replace 31 per cent of all cars in our streets by this date, which is equivalent to two million cars. However, the share of EVs among taxis will rise to 47 per cent due to savings on operational expenses including the consumption of fuel, maintenance, and spare parts. Additional government support could include soft financing for new EVs, limiting the licensing of old ICE cars, encouraging cab hailing operators to use EVs, imposing a carbon tax on liquid fuels for transportation, supporting the spread of fast public-charging outlets, and restricting access of ICE cars to specific districts.

These measures will be progressive and gradual and should be applied in a coordinated way. Studies show that savings on petrol as a result of the move to EVs could be equivalent to 4.5 million tons in 2030. This will lead to a reduction in emissions by the equivalent of 10 million tons of CO2. Further savings will be possible in the freight transport, public transportation, and railways sectors.

Egypts energy mix comes under scrutiny every few years. What are your suggestions regarding Egypts intention to produce more green hydrogen and encourage electric mobility?

We have an energy strategy that is drafted by international consultants. It is sound and can be implemented, yet it needs to be updated to take international and national developments into consideration. These include changes in the prices of different energy supply systems, specifically the reduction in the cost of renewable energy, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, advances in technologies such as electric cars, the potential production and use of green hydrogen, new plans by international partners such as the green deal in Europe, and the potential implementation of the carbon adjustment mechanism on EU imports.

There is also the water supply deficit in Egypt and greater reliance on underground water, which needs more energy for pumping and desalination, the confirmation of the role of Egypt as a regional energy hub, and new discoveries of gas resources in Egypt as well as new export opportunities.

Currently, an international consultancy is working on enhancing Egypts energy strategys methodology and extending it from 2035 to 2040. Other strategies are being formulated for transportation, water, industry, urban planning, and other sectors. The energy issues of these will intersect with the overall energy strategy. There needs to be very good coordination and interaction between them to ensure the balanced and integrated development of all sectors.

Concerning green hydrogen, a high-level committee is currently looking into this. Egypts green hydrogen strategy should be discussed publicly and be binding for all. There should be a body helping to update and modify the strategy, especially in case of emergencies, new technologies, or changing circumstances. I believe there should be a single integrated energy strategy and not various energy strategies for each sector or energy resource. Sectorial and resources issues should be treated through polices and plans derived from the integrated strategy.

What can Egypt do to realise its potential as a regional energy hub?

Egypt can benefit from its comparative advantages as one of the largest producers of gas, the largest energy market in the Southern Mediterranean, a crossroads for energy transit with a mature infrastructure for both gas and electricity, and its good track record in project development.

Egypt can be a regional energy hub in the physical sense as it is interconnected with surrounding countries, representing a nodal point for all of them. Moreover, it can act as a regional market for electricity and gas and be the location where the pricing and contracting of these commodities take place.

The future of energy in Egypt is very promising and will bring financial, political, and energy security to the country, in addition to the political leverage and the mutual benefits that can be gained by exchanging energy and ensuring the energy security of other countries.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 10 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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People in a region including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya face the driest conditions recorded since 1981, the agency reported Tuesday, calling for immediate assistance to forestall a major humanitarian crisis.

Drought conditions are affecting pastoral and farming communities across southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, south-eastern and northern Kenya, and south-central Somalia. Malnutrition rates are high in the region.

WFP said it needs $327 million to look after the urgent needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks.

``Three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths,'' it said in a statement. ``Shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and leading to increased conflict between communities.''

More forecasts of below-average rainfall threaten to worsen conditions in the coming months, it said.

Others have raised alarm over a fragile region that also faces sporadic armed violence.

The UN children's agency said earlier in February that more than 6 million people in Ethiopia are expected to need urgent humanitarian aid by mid-March. In neighboring Somalia, more than 7 million people need urgent help, according to the Somali NGO Consortium.
McKenzie, who is currently paying a visit to Egypt as part of his tour to the Middle East, told Ahram Online in an interview that the US is prepared to do whatever it can to help Egypt diplomatically resolve the GERD dispute.

Rounds of African Union-sponsored talks to resolve the decade-long dispute between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan collapsed in April 2021. In September, 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 talks over the $4.8 billion Ethiopian hydropower project, 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.

We [the US] are prepared to help in the future to get people [the three parties] back together. We are prepared to do anything we can to help Egypt to work at this [GERD] problem diplomatically, as I believe that is Egypt's intent to do, McKenzie told Ahram Online.

On Monday, El-Sisi reiterated Egypts will to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the GERD during a meeting with his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh in Cairo.

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.

El-Sisi stressed Egypts willingness 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.

I think Egypt, like Washington, is committed to a diplomatic solution for the GERD crisis. And I believe that President Sisi has actually been very statesman-like in his approach to this problem, seeking to avoid military action, and instead, finding a way to negotiate a settlement that all parties can actually live with, McKenzie said in the interview on Wednesday.

Last June, McKenzie said that the US recognizes the unique importance of the Nile to Egypt, not only culturally but also for water supply and for the general economy.

Egypt, whose 102 million-plus population is expected to increase by 75 million in 2050, is considered one of the most water-scarce countries in the world as it receives around 60 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually  mainly from the River Nile  though its needs are at 114 bcm.
The Defense Ministry wants to slash about 100 generals over the next four years from the top-heavy roster of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, according to a government source on Monday.

About 90 generals will be lost to the Army alone, which has a whopping 313. The ministry plans to put the reduction plan in a report to Cheong Wa Dae next month after gathering opinions in the military this month.

"The Moon Jae-in administration originally sought to cut the number of top brass by about 80 as part of a defense reform plan," the source said. "But Defense Minister Song Young-moo wants to slash another 20 Army generals."

The plan is focused on the Army, which is seen as wielding undue clout and enjoying undue privileges in the military overall.

Little resistance is expected because the ministry has already been carrying out a reform plan that aims to cut troop numbers by 118,000 to around 500,000 and revamp military organizations by 2022, which means many command positions will disappear anyway.

Korea has 6.4 Army generals per 10,000 troops, close to the 6.6 of the U.S., the world's biggest military power.
Britain's Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating, his office said Thursday.

A message on his official Twitter page said Charles tested positive on Thursday morning and was "deeply disappointed" not to be able to attend a scheduled visit in Winchester, England.

Charles, 73, met dozens of people during a large reception at London's British Museum on Wednesday evening. He was accompanied by his wife Camilla, and was in close contact with Britain's Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, among others.

Charles' office, Clarence House, confirmed that he is triple vaccinated. It was not immediately clear what his condition was or whether Charles had recently met with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has sparked Hong Kong's fifth wave of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with new restrictions being implemented Thursday by Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Public gatherings are limited to two people, and private gatherings are limited to two families.

Hong Kong's daily infection rate reached a record 614 cases on Monday. Wednesday saw 1,161 daily infections. Thursday recorded 986 new cases. With the extreme transmissibility of Omicron, experts are predicting that cases will rise in what is one of the world's most densely populated jurisdictions, with more than 6,500 people per square kilometer.

Dr. David Owens, a family physician and honorary assistant clinical professor at Hong Kong University, said the recent record number of cases would only get worse. "It's only the beginning. I think the likeliest thing over the next few weeks is we're going to see an increasing surge in cases. I anticipate a significant epidemic burning through Hong Kong over the next three to four months."

He added, "If we look at the attack rate from other countries -- the total number of infections -- it is likely Omicron is going to affect the majority of the population."

 Vaccination Proof

Lam announced this week that residents of Hong Kong would now need proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter premises in coming weeks.

Beginning Feb. 24, residents will be required to show a "vaccine pass" to enter malls, supermarkets and religious venues. The pass will also be needed to enter gyms, bars, entertainment venues and beauty salons, which have been closed since January. Restaurant diners must also have at least one shot of the vaccine to eat at any premise. Mask-wearing is a requirement in public, while fines for breaking social distancing regulations will be doubled to $1,283.

"Some of the measures will increase vaccination rates, for instance, the things about transport and restaurants. I think the primary focus should be boosting vaccination rates in the elderly and vulnerable," Owens said.

Lam said that getting the elderly and the most vulnerable vaccinated was a top priority, since vaccination rates in January among those groups were "very low." Residents have been forming long lines outside vaccination centers in recent days. As of Wednesday, vaccination rates stand at 64.3 percent for those 70-79 years old, while those age 80 and older are 35.3 percent, according to government data.
Radisson Red Hotel in Dubai Silicon Oasis has taken measures to monitor its indoor air quality, with an air quality assessment from AirZones.

Having AirZones cutting-edge air quality monitoring technology at the DSO property measure the quality of air guests, visitors and staff breathe over the last month, the property is now celebrating being awarded a Four Star indoor air quality rating, a statement said.

Stuart Birkwood, General Manager, Radisson RED Hotel Dubai, said: This rating means we have great quality indoor air at our Silicon Oasis venue. We believe the guest experience should extend to the air we all breathe - and knowing our air has a four-star rating means we have a fantastic competitive differentiator - who would rather stay somewhere without an air rating, or with low quality air?

Dubai-headquartered AirZones offers the worlds first Indoor Air Quality Star Rating standard. The start-up makes it easy to understand which venues have clean, safe air to breathe, said the statement.

According to the World Health Organisation and the United Nations, air pollution is now responsible for 7.2 million deaths per year. Ensuring good quality clean air in venues such as hotels, offices, schools and homes is now imperative.

Birkwood added: Weve always put guest comfort uppermost in our company aims and vision. Having an air quality assessment means we can proudly tell our guests and staff that Radisson is a healthy, comfortable environment. To us, this is a clear and simple differentiator.

He underlined that delivering high air quality is another way to reassure guests the group is doing everything possible to ensure a clean, safe environment for all, on top of its world-class Covid-19 health and safety measures.

For business travellers, holiday makers and family guests alike, air quality makes the difference between having a good stay and a great stay. Air quality affects mood, cognitive ability, productivity and helps ensure a good nights sleep, for example.

After monitoring the air at the DSO site for a month, the raw data was analysed, and an independent four star air quality rating given. AirZones is now offering advice on how to improve air quality even more, by advising Radisson RED how to remove any excess pollutants and further enhance the air quality for all.

AirZones spokesman and company co-founder, Chris Leighton said: Wed like to congratulate Radisson for having the foresight to consider the quality of the air at this venue. And we d like to congratulate them for receiving a four-star rating.

We are already being described as the Trust Pilot of air quality. Were delighted to be working with such a globally-renowned brand as Radisson in ensuring its clientele and staff enjoy high quality air. In doing this, Radisson RED is showing it truly cares about its guest experience and welfare - not to mention its staff health.

Right now, this might be a step thats seen by many as above and beyond the norm, but we are seeing growing public expectation of an air quality rating for everywhere they live, work, dine and stay. Radisson is making a stand as an innovator in the hospitality sector with its air quality assessment. - TradeArabia News Service
KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 16:27 | All, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken on Friday shared "grave concern" over the Russian military buildup near Ukraine's border, with drills by Moscow fueling fears of a possible invasion, according to Japanese officials.

During their talks in Australia, Hayashi and Blinken also agreed to oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas, the officials said, as the two nations seek to bolster their security alliance to counter China's growing military and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific region.

Their second in-person meeting since Hayashi assumed his post in November was held on the sidelines of a gathering of foreign ministers of the Quad group, including Australia and India, in the Australian city of Melbourne the same day.

Blinken said at the outset of the talks that he wanted to "check signals on the multiplicity of challenges the United States and Japan are facing together" through the bilateral meeting, according to the U.S. State Department.

The bilateral talks came after Russia launched military exercises in Belarus on Thursday, heightening tensions over a build-up of its troops along its border with Ukraine.

U.S President Joe Biden said in an interview aired Thursday with U.S. television network NBC that Americans who remain in Ukraine "should leave now," while Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said that now is "the most dangerous moment" for Europe's security.

The Japanese and U.S. ministers reaffirmed their efforts to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Japan, a major liquefied natural gas purchaser, decided on Wednesday to provide a portion of its LNG imports to Europe from March at the request of the Western nations.

Washington and its NATO allies have indicated that they would impose economic and financial sanctions on Russia if it uses military force against Ukraine. Moscow, in retaliation, could cut off natural gas supplies to Europe, which relies on Russia for 40 percent of its imports.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan would take "strong action in response to any attack" on Ukraine when he held a virtual summit with U.S President Joe Biden late last month. Washington has urged Japan to consider imposing economic sanctions if Russia launches an invasion, according to diplomatic sources.

Hayashi and Blinken also vowed close cooperation to address the North Korean missile and nuclear threat, calling it a "serious concern" after Pyongyang's repeated launches of ballistic missiles this year, according to the Japanese officials.

The two confirmed it is essential to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance to ensure regional security, the Japanese ministry said.

Hayashi and Blinken also touched on a high-level bilateral economic dialogue during their talks after their leaders agreed during the online summit to launch the new initiative, an economic version of the "two-plus-two" security talks involving foreign and defense chiefs, the Japanese officials said.

The top diplomats of the two countries last met in December in Liverpool, England, on the sidelines of the two-day Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting.

After meeting with Blinken, Hayashi held his first face-to-face talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar ahead of the Quad gathering. Hayashi and Jaishankar pledged to realize Kishida's first visit to India as prime minister "at an appropriate time that is convenient for both," according to the ministry.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 22:11 | All, Japan, World

The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India vowed Friday to support the protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity under international law, amid mounting fears Russia could invade Ukraine.

"Quad" major Indo-Pacific democracies "champion the free, open, and inclusive rules-based order, rooted in international law, that protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries," they said in a joint statement released after their meeting in Melbourne, Australia.

The gathering was just the third in-person meeting among the four nations' foreign ministers and the first face-to-face meeting since October 2020. It brought together Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

"One of the reasons we're working so intensely to defend the core principles, threatened by Russia's aggression toward Ukraine, is because those very same principles are crucial to enjoying stability" in the Indo-Pacific region, Blinken told a joint press conference after the meeting.

The Quad gathering came a day after Russia began military exercises in Belarus, further intensifying tensions over Moscow's military buildup near the Ukrainian border.

Blinken said a Russian invasion could begin "at any time," including during the ongoing Beijing Winter Olympics, which runs through Feb. 20.

While Payne and Hayashi stood aligned with Blinken by showing their support for Ukraine, Jaishankar seemed to strike a softer tone regarding Russia, saying that the Quad group is "for something, not against somebody."

The foreign ministers also implicitly expressed their concerns over China, which has become increasingly assertive in its territorial claims in the East and South China seas.

The Quad members reaffirmed their commitment to backing the efforts of nations to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, saying that the region is where they can strive to protect the interests of their people "free from coercion."

Earlier at the beginning of the meeting, Hayashi said the four nations can "play a big role" at a time when "the existing international order has been challenged in various fields."

Payne said in her opening remarks that the group aims to act to support an Indo-Pacific region "where sovereign states can exercise their own strategic choices free from coercion so that their people are able to pursue prosperity."

Tokyo and Washington have repeatedly opposed what they call "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo" by force in the East China Sea, where the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands are located, and Beijing has been increasing its military clout.

China, which has been wary of the Quad dialogue, was quick to criticize Friday's meeting, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian blasting it as a "tool to contain China and maintain U.S. hegemony."

The Quad mechanism has been "artificially provoking confrontation and undermining international solidarity," Zhao told reporters in Beijing, adding the four countries should abandon their "Cold War mentality" for peace and stability in the region.

As for North Korea, which has made a barrage of missile firings since the beginning of this year, the ministers condemned its "destabilizing ballistic missile launches." The Quad group confirmed their commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the statement said.

The foreign ministers also aired grave concern about a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, which has been mired in political turmoil since the military seized power in a coup last February. They called for "an end to violence, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including foreigners, and unhindered humanitarian access."

To bolster efforts to counter the coronavirus pandemic, the top diplomats agreed to assist developing nations in training health care workers and enhancing their infrastructure to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to hard-to-reach areas.

The four nations also pledged to promote their cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity and countering disinformation.

The talks will pave the way for a summit meeting of the four nations that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden had agreed to hold in Japan in the first half of 2022. The statement said the ministers "look forward" to Japan hosting the next Quad summit.

The Quad group's last in-person meeting in October 2020 was held in Tokyo. It was followed by virtual talks in February 2021 due to the pandemic.

After the meeting, Hayashi and Blinken are scheduled to head for Hawaii to attend a meeting on Sunday that will also involve South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui Yong.

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S. share concern over Russia military buildup near Ukraine

U.S., Japan, Australia, India begin joint naval drill amid China rise

Quad leaders eye safe chip supply chain, update on vaccine efforts
By Yuka Nakao, KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 19:52 | Sports, Olympics, All

Ayumu Hirano dethroning American Shaun White as the Olympic snowboard halfpipe champion marks the arrival of a new generation, but Japan's latest gold medalist said it was the megastar himself who pushed him to break new ground.

Hirano, who before Friday had two halfpipe Olympic silvers, said he pursued runs that made him stand out from the crowd at the Beijing Games. He did that by pulling off triple cork 1440s in all three trips down the pipe to become the first rider to land one in Olympic competition.

"I always wanted to persist in being unique," the 23-year-old said. "I thought it might be difficult to do this trick since there were no clues how to do it and no correct answers. But with this triple cork, I think it might have started a new era."

Hirano said he learned to take on new challenges from his hero White, who ended his final Olympic competition fourth at Genting Snow Park.

"He has always shown me his own challenges and I was moved by his performance today," he said. "He is the oldest athlete in this sport for this event, so I am sure there are a lot of emotions for things I couldn't even imagine."

"Delivering his best in such a situation, and just riding at this venue itself is much more important than the result itself, and that is a great message for everybody. It pushed me forward and I was empowered," Hirano said.

An emotional White was asked to talk about those snowboarders riding in his wake, saying, "Everybody was asking me what my legacy in this sport has been and, like, you're watching these younger riders."

"They've been on my heels every step of the way and to see (Hirano) finally surpass me is, I think deep down, what I always wanted. You know, to be beaten, to finally walk away." the 35-year-old said.

Before White left the athlete interview area, he hugged Hirano to congratulate him and said, "Let's go skateboard this summer."

Skateboarding is one of the passions White and Hirano share, with Hirano switching to the sport after the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in hopes of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. He achieved that feat before returning to deal with some unfinished business on the snow.

"Doing something completely different from snowboarding had a positive influence, mentally. It was a big challenge and the experience gave me great confidence, it helped make me stronger," Hirano said.

Now that he has achieved all the goals he set over the past four years, Hirano said wants to relax and recuperate.

"After that, I want to think about the journey ahead of me," he said. "I want to keep following that path by finding and believing in new challenges."

Related coverage:

Olympics: Ayumu Hirano wins men's snowboard gold for Japan

Olympics: Ayumu Hirano sets standard in snowboard halfpipe qualifying

Skateboarding: Olympic snowboard silver medalist Hirano set for Tokyo
By Reito Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 14:46 | All, Japan, Feature, World

The Kaga, one of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's two Izumo-class carriers, completed a rare mission last fall -- carrying judo uniforms from Japan to children in the Pacific island nation of Palau.

Placing the brand new judo kits, a total of 75 in all, packed in several cardboard boxes on the 250-meter helicopter carrier, was one way to avoid the high shipping costs required to send the uniforms, with the Japanese Defense Ministry carrying out the operation via the Japanese Embassy in Palau. Months later, the children's judo instructors say they have made a positive impact on the children's approach to the sport.

Jennifer Anson, the vice president of the Palau Judo Federation, said the new uniforms have become a big motivator for the children to train harder as some of them had never owned a judo uniform, or wore ones that were old, did not fit well, or featured the names of judo players who had donated used ones before.

Recently, "the attendance rate (of the class) has been close to 100 percent," Anson, who is one of the judo instructors of the class of 30 children, said. "Their training and their performance improved in the sport because of the uniforms."

The children sent a video message expressing their thanks after the judo kits, including 50 for children and 25 for adults, arrived following Anson's request to Rieko Hayakawa, the head of Japan-based Palau Judo Kids Support Circle.

Hayakawa, who is also an expert on Indo-Pacific maritime security, immediately responded and purchased the judo kits for 453,750 yen ($3,900) through fundraising by asking people to donate via social media, including platforms such as Twitter.

Anson, an American-Palauan who competed in judo for Palau at the 2012 London Olympics, suggested that the sport contributes to youth development in the archipelago of about 18,000 people by keeping children "off the streets" and healthy as child obesity is a problem.

Hayakawa had launched the Micronesian Maritime Security Project in 2008 at the request of the presidents of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Japan's transport ministry, however, started using it as a means to force the governments to accept maritime ships.

"The Palau side was disgusted that they were being forced to accept ships they did not need. I launched this project not for the benefit of government officials but for the security of the people of Palau," she said.

At the time, Anson, who was working for Palau's Justice Ministry, asked Hayakawa to assist in procuring second-hand judo uniforms for her classes. But this time, they were brand new.

The port call by the Kaga was made as the MSDF's fleet, also including two destroyers, a submarine and a patrol aircraft, were being sent to the Indo-Pacific region to conduct joint naval exercises. Dubbed the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021, the mission took about three months from late August last year.

MSDF Flotilla Commander Rear Adm. Izuru Ikeuchi passed the judo kits to Anson during a ceremony in September.

The support for carrying the judo uniforms showcased the importance of relations between Japan and Palau. "I think judo is one of Japan's great cultural, soft powers," said the Maritime Staff Office's Cmdr. Naoki Saito, who was in charge of the deployment plan.

"Judo is a great way to build relationships with people and to contribute to the development of young people," said Saito. "There was something about doing this that just clicked with me," he said, as he himself is a judo practitioner.

"The common denominator of martial arts is etiquette and manners," which can contribute to youth development, said Lt. Cmdr. Kuniaki Ito, a spokesperson of the Maritime Staff Office, a former practitioner of the Japanese martial art of Shorinji Kempo.

Anson, who also serves as the Palau government's National Security Coordinator, was pleased that, "They (MSDF) don't just focus on their exercises, but also participate in helping the community and providing support for something that's not part of training."

The MSDF wanted to highlight this fourth deployment visiting the Pacific island nation to strengthen cooperation.

When asked why the fleet was deployed to the Pacific, Saito said, "Although the mission name is Indo-Pacific Deployment, due to constraints, including because of COVID-19, we did not have previous opportunities to go to the Pacific Ocean, but mostly to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean."

It was the first time that the MSDF conducted joint military drills with Palau and Vanuatu, another Pacific island country. One of the destroyers also made a port call in New Caledonia, a French territory near Vanuatu, after conducting an exercise with the French military based there.

"The exercises are a form, of course, training our officers to improve their skills, but also as a way of deterrence," said Anson, the security coordinator, as the government is concerned about the Chinese activities in the region.

This is the activities of the JS KAGA, JS MURASAME, and JS SHIRANUI, IPD21 units.



The JMSDF continue contributing to the realization of a #FreeandOpenIndoPacific through port calls to

like-minded countries and conducting multiple exercises with other maritime forces. pic.twitter.com/yTwkst15pH  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (@jmsdf_pao_eng) November 19, 2021

The deployment comes amid increased security threats from China as it seeks to shift the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region in its favor through coercive measures and pressuring countries to abandon diplomatic relationships with self-ruled Taiwan.

Chinese research vessels have been entering Palau's exclusive economic zone and pressuring the government to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, according to Anson.

During a meeting with Ikeuchi, Palau President Surangel Whipps said, "We share the values of freedom and democracy and the rule of law" and preserving an open Indo-Pacific is critical for this cooperation.

"The annual deployment is to materialize a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Ito.

The free and open Indo-Pacific is based on values, such as freedom, democracy and human rights, a vision pursued from 2016 by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and carried on to the current administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 11:35 | All, World

With less than one month to go until the March 9 presidential election in South Korea, the two main candidates are locked in a neck-and-neck battle with voters disturbed by scandals hitting both camps and their mutual copying of pledges.

As the ruling Democratic Party's Lee Jae Myung and the main opposition People Power Party's Yoon Suk Yeol have been struggling to outperform their rivals in the race to pick the successor of President Moon Jae In, the outcome of the election is yet hard to predict.

Lee, 57, is a human rights lawyer who served as a governor of Gyeonggi Province, while Yoon, 61, is a former top prosecutor of the country.

"Overall, their pledges are similar and I don't even know if they are eager to realize them," said a 19-year-old Jang Seo Yoon, a male university student in Seoul, lamenting what appear to be empty promises by the two candidates.

Jang, who will join the army in May for mandatory military service, said he was "momentarily swayed" by Lee's proposal unveiled late last year to raise the monthly salary for soldiers to more than 2 million won ($1,670) in 2027, or about triple the current amount.

Yoon, however, announced the same idea two weeks later. Many people cast doubt on the feasibility of their pledges, because the salary increase for the soldiers could affect the pay system for their bosses including noncommissioned officers.

With no difference between the two candidates' policies on the salary issue, Jang said he is "inclined" to vote for Yoon as he thinks the policies that Moon's liberal administration has implemented to reduce discrimination against women have negatively affected men. "I'll have to wait and see," he added.

Another pledge that grabbed attention from young undecided voters, who are predicted to greatly impact election results, was a sharp increase in tax-free proceeds of virtual currency transactions originally pledged by Yoon.

Lee immediately followed Yoon's move and made the same pledge on cryptocurrencies that young people are enthusiastic about.

As measures against surging housing prices, both have also vowed to provide an ample supply of homes without elaborating on the financial resources to that end.

"The reason why (Lee and Yoon) quickly copy each other's policies is because they lack a vision for the nation based on their political experiences," said Kim Hyung Joon, a professor at Myongji University.

Though their policies on North Korea differ, voters are not placing a high priority on them.

According to a survey by polling firm Realmeter released on Monday, Yoon's approval rating was 43.4 percent, while support for Lee stood at 38.1 percent and for Ahn Cheol Soo of the People's Party, a centrist opposition party, at 7.5 percent.

Yoon gained slightly more support than Lee in other surveys too, but it is still difficult to make predictions.

Possible major developments that would hold the key in future election campaigns would be an alliance between Yoon and Ahn, which could deal a blow to the ruling party, and television debates that could expose the candidates' character flaws.

Reflecting high voter interest, the first TV debate held last week yielded a viewing rate of 39 percent.

With the scandals involving the two major candidates' wives still brewing, the future of the "foggy election," as termed by local media, remains highly uncertain.

Yoon's wife allegedly falsified qualifications on her resume, while Lee's spouse reportedly had a public official run her personal errands while her husband was governor.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2022 - 00:07 | All, Japan

Japan's Foreign Ministry on Friday advised Japanese citizens in Ukraine to leave the Eastern European country immediately as Russia amasses troops on the Ukrainian border.

The ministry raised its travel warning for Ukraine to the highest level, which urges all Japanese nationals to evacuate from the country and avoid traveling there "regardless of purposes."

According to the ministry, about 150 Japanese nationals who are based in Ukraine were still in the country as of Friday. The Japanese Embassy in Kiev will continue its work, including efforts to protect Japanese citizens.

The ministry advisory cited the recent start of a Russia-Belarus joint military exercise in Belarus, which borders Ukraine, as well as the appearance of new Russian military vessels in the Black Sea.

"There is an increasing possibility that the situation could rapidly deteriorate," the ministry said in the statement.

The Japanese government also set up a liaison office at the prime minister's office to gather information.

Related coverage:

U.S. urges Japan to consider sanctions on Russia if Ukraine invaded

Japan to move some embassy staff from Ukraine amid tensions

Japan eyes evacuating nationals in Ukraine amid military tensions
By William Hollingworth, KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2022 - 13:34 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Scholars of Japanese in Britain fear for the subject's long-term future due to strict COVID-19 regulations, which prohibit foreign students from coming to Japan.

Academics speaking to Kyodo News say they are worried applications to study Japanese and Japan at British institutions could start to fall in the future.

This could impact the viability of smaller Japanese studies departments and, in turn, Japan losing valuable global influence via graduates who have spent time in the country.

Currently, students in Britain are reduced to having online language lessons with tutors in Japan, frequently at antisocial hours due to the time difference.

Some students have deferred their studies until Japan reopens or transferred to other languages where they can take a year abroad, according to the scholars.

In addition, academic studies of Japan have been put on hold while researchers cannot access the country properly and conduct practical fieldwork.

Due to the pandemic, Japan currently has an entry ban on nonresident foreigners. This will be maintained until the end of February "while all necessary steps will be taken from the perspective of humanitarian concerns and in accordance with Japan's national interest," according to the Japanese Embassy in London.

Christopher Hood, president of the British Association for Japanese Studies, who helped organize an open letter to the Japanese Embassy complaining about the situation, said he feared applications to study Japan will fall this year unless the requirements are eased.

"If this situation continues through 2022, we are likely to see pressure on smaller programs, and possibly even some of the larger ones. It could also deter people from doing an M.A. or Ph.D. relating to Japan," Hood told Kyodo News.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Foreign students wait for Japan to lift entry ban, some give up

"I dare say that there are some academics having to think what their prospects are given how hard it is to get to Japan and do research," he said.

Barak Kushner, a professor of East Asian history at Cambridge University, said, "If things don't change, we are now going to be in our third year of not being able to get into Japan. We have students who have put their lives on hold, and after a certain amount of time, it becomes financially untenable to wait."

"I think that longer-term we are going to see people say 'well, why bother?' (with Japanese)."

"If Japan's primary response (to a new variant) is to shut all the foreigners out, then that is going to create a potential backlash," Kushner said. "Japan is letting its own people out to study...this is going to create discord."

"Japan scholars are growing frustrated and despondent about the future."

He said several of his students had switched from Japanese to study Chinese in Taiwan, which has been very accommodating to foreign students.

Kushner added foreign students are more than happy to pay for quarantine facilities in Japan rather than the government.

He warned continued entry restrictions could diminish Japan's "footprint" of influence in Europe "very quickly."

Despite the pandemic, the academics argue allowing a relatively small number of foreign students and academics to enter Japan would not pose a serious risk.

Lauren Constance, 25, a Ph.D. student in Japanese studies at Cardiff University, expressed the frustration of countless young people trying to gain entry for research trips.

"It feels frustrating because I studied the Japanese language pre-pandemic for four years at undergraduate level and spent time in Japan," she said. "You feel that because you have invested so much in a country, that they would welcome you. I feel a little isolated and stranded."

Constance is unsure if she will be able to visit Japan before completing her Ph.D., which is now solely based on online research.

She said, "I feel really sorry for the undergraduates who are going to miss out on their year in Japan. Even if they provide what they can online, it's nowhere near the same as being able to get out there and having the full experience. It's also not just the opportunity to use the language but developing yourself as a person."

"It's much harder to connect with people via Zoom. It's all about the Japanese friends you make there, which you don't have the opportunity to do when everything is online. And being there, you learn so much more because you are immersing yourself in the culture," she said.

Jason James, director general of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in London, said, "Language courses are far more effective when students are surrounded by the target language and are having to use it, for instance, to navigate the trains or to have everyday conversations about the gas bill."

"A lot of learning happens not just from formal classes, but from informal interactions that happen around these classes, both between students and teachers and between the students themselves," James said.

"And with the formal classes themselves, I suspect 'Zoom fatigue' makes it increasingly difficult to concentrate for hours on end to lecturers speaking from a laptop screen, especially in the middle of the night," he said.
Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)

"This (Vienna nuke) session is the critical one," a senior U.S. government official says. "We are genuinely in the very final stretch."



by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations on reviving the 2015 Iranian nuclear pact resumed on Tuesday in Vienna after a 10-day break, as both Iran and the United States have recently hinted at a possible deal in the Austrian capital.

Judging by the comments of different parties, the Iranian nuclear negotiations seem to have entered the final stage despite remaining differences, pending political decisions from capitals on a potential agreement, analysts said.



"FINAL STRETCH"

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden believes it has until the end of February to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which the United States discarded four years ago under its former President Donald Trump, otherwise Washington will have to "change tack and launch aggressive efforts" to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing three U.S. government officials.

"This session is the critical one," a senior government official was quoted as saying. "We are genuinely in the very final stretch."

In his phone conversation with top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stressed Iran's resolution to "seek a good agreement within the framework of its interests and rights," expressing his country's readiness to reach such an agreement as soon as possible.

Given the "undesirable trends undermining the JCPOA, there is a need to swiftly conclude these negotiations," Enrique Mora, the European Union's coordinator in the negotiations, tweeted on Monday.

"We need spirit of compromise to take us back to full implementation," Mora said.

Liu Lanyu, an Iran expert at the Institute for International and Area Studies of China's Tsinghua University, told Xinhua that the negotiations are approaching a "balanced point," at which it is hard for the United States and Iran to persuade each other to further make major concessions and the room for bargaining is limited.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani arrives at the venue of the new round of Iranian nuclear deal talks in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS

The United States announced last week its intention to waive sanctions on Iran's civilian nuclear program, which allows international nuclear cooperation projects with the country.

The sanctions waiver "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 Iran's return to the performance of its JCPOA commitments," the U.S. State Department said in its report to Congress.

In response, Iran said the U.S. move to restore sanctions waivers was "good but not enough," calling for "realism and tangible and real actions by the West," as said by Amir Abdollahian.

"Real, effective and verifiable economic benefit for Iran is a necessary condition for the formation of an agreement" in the ongoing Vienna talks, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani tweeted recently, noting "a show of lifting sanctions is not considered constructive."

The Republic of Korea confirmed last month that with the U.S. approval, it has paid Iran's delayed membership dues, amounting to 18 million U.S. dollars, to the United Nations from the Iranian funds which have been frozen in the country because of the U.S. sanctions.

These moves can be interpreted as efforts by the United States and Iran to build confidence and show sincerity with concrete actions, Liu said, adding practical measures have been taken to push the negotiations in a sound direction.

The overall prospect of the Vienna talks is "optimistic," as both Iran and the United States have shown a positive attitude toward the negotiations, said Fan Hongda, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University in China.

Iranian students take part in a rally marking the 37th anniversary of taking over the U.S. embassy by a group of Iranian students in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Nov. 3, 2016. (Xinhua File photo)

POLITICAL DECISIONS

The negotiations had "reached a point where political leaders needed to decide whether they would agree to key elements of an accord that would essentially return" to the JCPOA, a senior U.S. State Department official was recently quoted by The New York Times as saying.

A source close to the team of Iranian negotiators in Vienna told Iran's Tasnim News Agency on Monday that unlike Washington, Tehran has made its political decision.

"The main obstacle is the lack of a political decision by the United States," the source said on condition of anonymity.

In a letter to Biden on Monday, a group of 33 Republican senators said any deal with Iran on restoring the JCPOA requires Senate approval, warning the U.S. president that they will do everything in their power to block a possible deal if he moves forward without them.

"Voices from the U.S. show that there is no coherence in the country to make political decisions in the direction of advancement in the Vienna talks," Shamkhani wrote in a tweet on Wednesday.

Still, Tehran-based foreign policy analyst Diako Hosseini told Al Jazeera that "chances of the talks being successful are more than their failure, unless the sides overstep in their final efforts to gain more concessions."

"Under current circumstances, returning to the deal and keeping the window of diplomacy open is the best realistic option," he said. 
Visiting Britain's Prince Charles arrives at the German Chancellery in Berlin, capital of Germany, on May 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

It is the second time that the 73-year-old has contracted the novel coronavirus, after he fell ill with the virus in March 2020.

LONDON, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating, said Clearance House, the official Twitter account of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, on Thursday.

It is the second time that the 73-year-old has contracted the novel coronavirus, after he fell ill with the virus in March 2020. He had been due to unveil a statue in Winchester on Thursday.

Prince Charles received the positive result Thursday morning and had to reschedule his visit to events in Winchester, Clarence House confirmed, adding that Charles was triple vaccinated, but would not give any detail on whether he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

It also said his wife Camilla had tested negative in a routine test on Thursday.

Britain's Prince Charles (R) and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visit an archaeological site in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

On Wednesday, Prince Charles and his wife met people at a reception in the British Museum. High-profile guests with whom he had close contact include Home Secretary Priti Patel and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

It remains unclear if Prince Charles has recently been in physical contact with 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who only days ago marked her Platinum Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

A visitor leaves the British Museum in London, Britain, Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
New Delhi:

In his first press briefing after the announcement of the Delhi Assembly poll date, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the people of Delhi to vote for his party if they feel that the AAP government has worked for them in the last 5 years. "If I have done work, then vote for me. If I have not done work, then don't vote for me," Arvind Kejriwal said. "This time vote for Delhi, not for your political party... We will ask for votes from BJP supporters and Congress supporters," he added.

He also emphasised that his party will fight the upcoming poll on the work done by Delhi government in the last 5 year. Assuring to run a positive campaign, Aam Aadmi Party convenor also said that Delhi dont want to make the city another MCD. "Police, MCD, DDA are controlled by the BJP. Their work will be compared with that of AAP government. People of Delhi dont want to make city another MCD,"Arvind Kejriwal said.

During his press conference, Arvind Kejriwal also took dig at Home Minister Amit Shah and said,"Our campaign will be a positive campaign, we dont know how to do dirty politics. Home Minister only abused me in his rally speech but we wont abuse someone back."

BJP President Amit Shah on Monday criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not granting sanction to prosecute those who raised anti-India slogans. Some students shouted anti-India slogans, said Bharat tere tukde honge. Tell me should not they be sent to jail?, alleged Shah. But Kejriwal is not granting sanction to prosecute them.

Who do you want to save, Kejriwal ji? he said. Shah had on Sunday too accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener of favouring the tukde tukde gang by not giving sanction to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar, the former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), in the JNU sedition case. Shah further said that the AAP government had done nothing to improve the lives of the people of the national capital and had only deceived them by publishing advertisements.

Kejriwal had promised to install 15 lakh CCTV cameras for the safety of residents of Delhi. People are looking all over but cant find any camera, Shah said. The AAP government had also promised free wifi, however, your phones battery will drain while searching for wifi signals as they are nowhere to be found, he said.


An analysis by TwoCircles.net of six leading Hindi newspapers published from several states reveals that not a single editorial or opinion piece on Swami Yati Narsinghanads hate speeches at Haridwar, or online auctioning of Muslim women, was carried by these widely read papers.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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BIHAR  Hindi presss coverage of two recent issues concerning the Muslim communitythe controversial Dharam Sansads and auctioning of women onlinehas been dismal, shows an analysis by TwoCirles.net.

During the Dharam Sansad (religious parliament) held on December 17-19 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Hindu leaders called for genocide of Indias Muslims. In another similar gathering in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on December -26, a Hindu leader Kalicharan from Maharashtra used derogatory language for Mahatma Gandhi.

Around the same time, media reports emerged about an app called Bulli Bai which was conducting online auction of Muslim women.

TwoCircles.net monitored six Hindi newspapers Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan (sister concern of Hindustan Times), Amar Ujala, Nav Bharat Times (of the Times group) and Prabhat Khabar to assess the coverage of these developments in terms of the number of articles and content.

None of the six newspapers carried any opinion piece/editorial on Swami Yati Narsinghanads hate speeches at Haridwar. The papers started to write editorial/opinion pieces on the issue only after the Raipur gathering.

Prabhat Khabar is Ranchi-based and published from Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. While Prabhat Khabars editor-in-chief Ashutosh Chaturvedi wrote about the Haridwar hate assembly in one of his weekly columns, there was no mention of the targeting of Muslims by Yati Narsighanand. His January 10, 2021 column focused on the abuses hurled upon Mahatma Gandhi. His columns during this period are on themes such as raising the age bar for girls marriage and equal rights to the daughters.

Prabhat Khabar carried an editorial titled Ghatak Hai Nafrat (Hate is Fatal) on January 5, 2021 but it was based on what Vice President Venkaiah Naidu had spoken about secularism during a book launch event in New Delhi in November 2021. The President had said that secularism resides in every Indians blood.

Similarly, Hindustans editor-in-chief Shashi Shekhars weekly column Ajkal covered Dalit politics, Mulayam Singh Yadavs daughter-in-law joining BJP, farmers agitation, PMs security in Punjab and New Years hopes. The English translation of Shashi Shekhars column is carried in Hindustan Times every Monday.

On January 8, 2022, Hindustan carried an edit page article written by Kshama Sharma which discusses the Bulli Bai case. The article titled Nafrat Ka Koi Na Bane Karobari (No one should deal in hate) mentions moral reasons for such hate. It discussed the IS and Boko Haram but chose not to refer to the hate speeches delivered in Dharm Sansads while the headline suggested general hate.

Dainik Bhaskar is headquartered at Bhopal and published from all the Hindi speaking states except U.P. and Uttarakhand. It carried an opinion piece on December 12, 2021 titled Apne Bayanon Se Ghrina Aur Hinsa Phailane Se Badhkar Adharm Kya Hai (There is no evil bigger than spreading hate and violence by ones statements) by Ved Pratap Vaidik, chairperson of Council for Indian Foreign Policy. Vaidik wrote that some misguided saints were bringing a bad name to Hindu religion and suggested that RSS should condemn such people. He quoted Vajpayee and referred to the statement of Mohan Bhagwat that DNA of both Hindus and Muslims is same.

Dainink Jagran is published in ten states. It carried an opinion piece on the subject of hate speech titled Mahaul Bigadne Wale Bigde Bol (Objectionable statements vitiating the environment) penned by its associate editor Rajiv Sachan on December 29, 2021. It referred to the speech given at Haridwars Dharm Sansad as bigde bol (Objectionable statement). Sachan wrote that those who wanted to demean the country should not have been given the stage.

Mumbai-based Nav Bharat Times (NBT) is published from New Delhi and Lucknow. The paper carried two edits on hate speech. On December 28, NBT carried an editorial titled Nafrat Nahin, Shanti (Peace, not hatred), condemning the hate speeches delivered at Dharm Sansad in Haridwar, questioning the role of police.

On January 6, 2021 it carried an editorial titled Ladna Tou Soch Se Hai (Need to counter the doctrine) about the online auctioning of Muslim women through Bulli Bai app. It said that a police probe was not required to understand that those involved directly or indirectly in this act were suffering from a hate-filled mentality, adding that more than police action, we need to get our society out of this venomous mentality.

Meerut based Amar Ujala is a major newspaper of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand apart from being published from Delhi and Jammu. There was no opinion/edit on hate speeches and online auction of Muslim women.

After the Raipur episode, the publication carried a news item headlined Bigde Bol Par Har Taraf Gussa (Anger all around over objectionable statements) on December 28, 2021. The news regarding the arrests of accused in the Bulli Bai case was given prominence but this case was ignored initially.

Hindustan in its Haridwar edition headlined the news of Dharam Sansad as Sanataniyon Ki Raksha Ke Liye Aage Aayen (Come forward for the safety of Sanatanis) completely ignoring the hateful part of the speeches delivered there. However, the Patna edition of the paper carried the news of the letter written by 76 advocates to the chief justice of India regarding the hate speeches. News regarding the Bulli Bai case was also covered in its main editions like Patna, Delhi and XYZ.

Dainik Bhaskar ignored the Haridwar hate speech but headlined the Raipur Dharam Sansads news Hey Ram! Dharm Sansad Mein Gandhi Ko Gali, FIR, (Ram! Gandhi was abused in Dharm Sansad).

Jagran and Prabhat Khabar too covered the Raipur hate speeches of Dharm Sansad in detail. News of the Bulli Bai case was also given visible coverage.

Visible difference in English and Hindi media coverage

Former BBC journalist and Asst. Professor Shalini Joshi teaches Media Studies at Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication (HJU), Jaipur. She told TwoCircles.net that there was a visible difference in how English and Hindi media covered hate speech. Newspapers like The Indian Express gave extensive coverage to the hate speeches delivered in Dharm Sansads and on the issue of auctioning of Muslim women. We also saw some opinion pieces on the matter, condemning this kind of bigotry and raising genuine concerns, she said.

Hindi newspapers have increasingly taken the position that seems to remain objective but actually it is not. Sometimes they carry the news in a subjective and coloured manner. Often, they choose to ignore the gravity of such issues and refrain from highlighting it much. Down the line, their interests seem to keep collaborating with the majoritarianism, said Shalini, who has co-authored two books on new media and trends.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar is a well-known media analyst and consulting editor with the news portal Satya Hindi. He also underlined the bias in the Hindi press. Talking to TwoCircles.net he said, Hindi press has become a Hindu press under the present regime. Therefore, it is undermining the hate speeches and the events which spread hate. He explains further, For the same reason you will find very few reports, articles and editorials in the Hindi press on such issues. Another reason is the social and economic structure of the media is upper caste dominated which is tilted towards Hindu nationalism.

Senior journalist and author Herjinder has been in charge of the edit page of Hindustan at Delhi. He told TwoCircles.net that he had a discussion on this matter with a Resident Editor who was of the view that those speaking at the Dharm Sansad were not big names. Herjinder was told, They were attention-seeking low grade religious personalities. They speak in that vitriolic voice to get the headlines, so, if we do give them much coverage, they will be getting what they want.

Herjinder added that hate speeches should have been condemned in editorial or opinion pieces. He said, By writing editorial or op-ed articles on those issues, Hindi press could have spread some awareness for its readers, particularly the young minds, to think for the respect of women and against such hate speeches. I am afraid this responsibility has not been fulfilled.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb
A total of 1.46 crore voters can exercise their franchise in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement )

New Delhi :

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Delhi assembly elections: The Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced the date of the upcoming Delhi Assembly Polls. According to Arora, Delhi will cast the ballot on February 8 and the results will be announced on February 11. A total of 1.46 crore voters can exercise their franchise in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, according to the final electoral list for Delhi published on Monday. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Delhi Ranbir Singh said there are total 1,46,92,136 voters in Delhi including 80.55 lakh males and 66.35 lakh females.

Check Live Updates Here:

15:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable for Delhi with immediate effect: CEC

15:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Delhi Elections will be held on February 8, counting of votes on February 11.

15:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In All arrangements have been made for Delhi Polls: CEC

15:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nearly 90,000 officials will be deployed for the Delhi Assembly elections: Sunil Arora

15:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The media monitoring committee has been formed: CEC

15:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In There will be 13,750 polling stations for Delhi polls.

15:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Election Commission has held a meeting with Delhi chief secy and Delhi Police commissioner, said CEC.

15:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Accretion of 1.87 lakh in Delhi electorate as per electoral roll published with reference to January 1, 2020.

15:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In 2015, the Delhi Legislative Assembly election was held on 7 February

15:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In DEC Sanjeev Saxena has twice done comprehensive review of preparedness with Delhi CEO: Sunil Arora, CEC

15:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In AAP won 67 seats in 2014 and BJP managed to get just 3 seats.

15:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Election Commissioner of India Sunil Arora arrives for the press conference.

15:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The term of the 70-member Delhi Assembly is ending on February 22 and a new House has to be constituted before that.
Tokyo:

Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan is "unjustifiable" and he is thought to have left the country using "illegal methods", the Japanese justice minister said Sunday, in the first official public comments on the case. The 65-year-old former Nissan boss skipped bail and fled Japan where he was awaiting trial over multiple counts of financial misconduct that he denies. It was the latest twist in a saga that has gripped the business world and his escape from Japan has left authorities there red-faced and scrambling to defend their justice system from fierce international criticism.

"Our country's criminal justice system sets out appropriate procedures to clarify the truth of cases and is administered appropriately, while guaranteeing basic individual human rights. The flight by a defendant on bail is unjustifiable," said Masako Mori. "It is clear that we do not have records of the defendant Ghosn departing Japan. It is believed that he used some wrongful methods to illegally leave the country. It is extremely regrettable that we have come to this situation," added the minister.

She confirmed Ghosn's bail has already been cancelled and that an Interpol "red notice" had been issued. In separate comments, the public prosecutors office deemed Ghosn's flight a "crime" and said the tycoon had "knowingly flouted" the country's judicial procedures.

In their first remarks since Ghosn's dramatic flight just before the New Year, prosecutors said the escape vindicated their argument that he should have been kept in custody.

"The defendant Ghosn had abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases. It was easy for him to flee," the statement said. He had "significant influence" inside Japan and globally, and there was a "realistic danger" he would destroy evidence related to the case, they added.

The Ghosn case put the international spotlight on Japan's justice system, which came under heavy fire for authorities' ability to hold suspects almost indefinitely pending trial. Ghosn twice won bail by persuading the court he was not a flight risk -- decisions seen as controversial at the time.

Prosecutors argue that the lengthy detention is required to prove guilt beyond doubt and they are unwilling to charge a suspect if their case is not iron-clad. The court is fair and will only find people guilty beyond reasonable doubt, they said in their statement.

"Therefore it was necessary and unavoidable to detain the defendant Ghosn in order to continue fair and appropriate criminal proceedings," they said. Ghosn himself did appear once in court, under a little-used procedure to ask why he was still being detained.

At this appearance, he said he was eager to defend himself at a court trial and clear his name. However, the prosecutors said that by fleeing Japan, he had "violated that oath" and "refused to obey the judgement of our nation's court." "He wanted to escape punishment for his own crime. There is no way to justify this act," they added.

Ghosn himself has said he left Japan because he was no longer willing to be "held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system." Amid fanciful accounts of a Houdini-like escape from Japan, he appears to have simply walked out of his house, according to security camera footage seen by Japanese public broadcaster NHK -- before boarding a private jet to Beirut via Istanbul. Japan has launched a probe into the humiliating security lapse and prosecutors said they would "coordinate with the relevant agencies to swiftly and appropriately investigate the matter." The 65-year-old former Nissan boss has vowed to give his own account at a hotly awaited press conference in Beirut this week.

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Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged properties on the campus. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday condemned the assault on students and teachers of Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), terming it a heinous act and a shame on democracy. A four-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation will visit JNU to express solidarity with students and teachers, she said.

We strongly condemn brutality unleashed against students/teachers in JNU. No words enough to describe such heinous acts. A shame on our democracy, Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, said in a tweet.

The TMC delegation comprising of senior party leader Dinesh Trivedi and MPs Sajda Ahmed, Manas Bhunia and Vivek Gupta will go to Delhi to express solidarity with the students and teachers, she said.

Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged properties on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

At least 28 people, including JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh, were injured in the violence.

The Left-controlled JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated ABVP blamed each other for the violence.

Later in the day, Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU) of Jadavpur University took out a protest rally against the attack on female students and a teacher in JNU, students body leader Somasree Choudhury said.

Over 300 students participated in the rally.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) on Sunday said it will take out rallies here on Monday against the barbaric attack on JNU students.

The rallies will be organised in Jadavpur University and Presidency University, said leaders of the SFI, the students wing of the CPI(M).

Students will take out a protest rally within the campus against the fascist attack, said Jadavpur University leader of SFI Debraj Debnath said.

We will also decide if protests will be held outside the campus and our future course of action against the ABVP and saffron forces, he said.

An SFI leader of Presidency University said students will gather at the varsitys portico on Monday and take out a protest rally.

We will intensify our movement against the BJP and the ABVP and give a call for their boycott, he said.

The Jadavpur University Teachers Association and the All Bengal University Teachers Association also issued statements condemning the attack on JNU students.

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A woman stands behind the damaged belongings of students of JNU at a hostel room after it was attacked by a mob on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Reuters)

New Delhi:

A day after violence erupted inside the JNU campus in New Delhi, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons on Monday for rioting and damaging property, officials said.

According to the FIR, students were protesting against a hostel fee hike for the last few days. According to instructions issued by the high court, no protest is allowed within a 100-metre radius of the administrative block of the university.

"On Sunday at 3.45 pm, a police team headed by an inspector, which was deployed in the administrative block, got information that a few students had gathered at the Periyar hostel and a fight had broken out between them. They also vandalised the hostel building," the FIR stated.

The inspector, along with other policemen, reached the Periyar hostel and saw 40 to 50 people, some with their faces covered with masks, carrying sticks in their hands and beating up students and vandalising the hostel, it added.

"Later, police entered the campus after the JNU administration requested them to control the violence inside the university. More police personnel were called and a request was made to students to maintain peace. Police received more PCR calls of violence," the FIR said.

"At around 7 pm, information was received that some people had entered the Sabarmati hostel and were beating up students. They also vandalised the hostel. There were around 50 to 60 people carrying sticks in their hands. They were asked to stop the act and leave the premises, but they kept vandalising the building and beating up students. Thereafter, they ran away and the injured students were rushed to hospitals," it added.

A case was registered under sections 145 (joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 151 (knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the FIR said.
For all the latest news updates on Board Results and Education, DOWNLOAD the News Nation App available on Android and iOS

New Delhi:

The candidates who have appeared for Andhra Pradesh Board examinations, we have some important news for you. As per the sources, the board is likely is likely to declare the AP Class 10 and AP Class 12 Board 2020 Results in the month of April. If past trends are to be followed, then one could notice that the Andhra Pradesh board generally announces the AP Board 10th Result and AP Inter Results in the month of April. This year, the results sealed the fate of lakh of students who had appeared for the examination. Soon after the formal declaration of the results, the scorecards will be available on the official website of the board i.e. bse.ap.gov.in. We here at News Nation are in constant touch with the board officials and will be updating all the latest updates here. Therefore, we request the students to bookmark this page and visit it regularly for all the latest updates.

As per the sources, the board officials have started preparing for the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the examination.

AP Board Result 2020  Declaration Date

Keeping in line with the general trend and AP Board Result Declaration Date of last year, experts have hinted that the AP Results for Class 10 and Class 11 as well as 12 students will be declared in the month of April. Last year, AP 1st and 2nd year Inter Results for students were declared on 12th April, 2019, while AP SSC Results for Class 10 students were declared on 14 May. This year as well AP Inter Results 2020 are expected around the second week of April followed by AP Board 10th Result 2020.

State Exam Name Exam Date (2020) Exam Result Date (2020)* AP 10th Board Exam March - April Last Week of April Andhra Pradesh AP Inter 1st Year Board Exam February - March Second Week of April AP Inter 2nd Year Board Exam February  March Second Week of April AP Inter 1st Year Vocational Exam February - March Second Week of April AP Inter 2nd Year Vocational Exam February  March Second Week of April

*tentative dates

The News Nation Result team is in constant touch with the BSEAP and BIEAP Board Officials and will update this page with all the latest news and updates about AP Board Result 2020 news.

Where to check AP Board Result 2020

Soon after the formal declaration of the results, the AP Senior Intermediate Results and AP SSC Results 2020 will be available on the official website of the board. The candidates must note that we would be providing a direct link at the top of this page, from where students will be able to check their AP Inter Result 2020 for both 1st and 2nd year and AP 10th Result 2020 as well. All the AP Board students must note that the results are highly important and is considered to be the foundation of your career.

AP Results  Last Years Analysis

The days prior to the declaration of AP Board Result 2020 can be really stressful and anxious for the students. In order to calm their nerves and help them understand the general trend of the AP Results, they can go through the detailed exam analysis given below:

AP Board 10th Result  Last Years Analysis

AP Board SSC Result was declared last year on 14th May at 11 AM. The key highlights of the AP Board 10th Result are given below:

Total Number of Students: Over 6 lakh approx.

Total Pass Percentage: 94.88%

Total Pass Percentage among Boys: 94.68%

Total Pass Percentage among Girls: 95.09%

Top performing district: East Godavari District with 98.19%

Worst performing district: Nellore with 83.18%

AP Inter 1st Year Result  Last Years Analysis

Last year, AP Inter 1st Year Result was declared last year on 12th April. The key highlights of the AP Board 1st Inter Result are given below:

Total number of Students: 4, 76,419

Total number of Pass Students: 2, 86,899

Total number of Male Students: 2, 41,703

Total number of Pass Male Students: 1,32,776

Total number of Female Students: 2,36,918

Total number of Pass Female Students: 1, 54,123

Overall pass percentage: 60%

AP Board 12th Result  Last Years Analysis

AP Board 12th Result was declared last year on 12th April. The key highlights of the AP Board 2nd Inter Result are given below:

Total number of Students: 4,31,739

Total Students Passed- 3,09,613

Total Pass Percentile: 72%

Total Number of Boys Passed: 1, 45, 809

Pass Percentage of Boys: 68%

Total Number of Girls Appeared: 2, 17, 208

Total Number of Girls Passed: 1, 63, 804

Pass Percentage of Girls: 75%

Steps to check AP Board Results

As mentioned above, the Andhra Pradesh Results will be available on the official website of the board soon after the formal declaration of the results. For the convenience of the students, we have the steps through which the candidates can download the results

Visit results cgg.gov.in, bieap.gov.in and bse.ap.gov.in

Fill up all the information asked on the page

Click on the Submit button

Check your AP Board Result 2020

Download soft copy / take a printout for future use

About the AP Boards

The AP Board Exam Results are declared by two different boards. The BSEAP (Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh) releases the AP SSC Results for Class 10 Students. The BIEAP (Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh) announces the AP Inter Results for 1st and 2nd year students.

BSEAP  Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh

The Directorate of Examination is known as the Andhra Pradesh SSC Board in the state. It is also known as the BSEAP or the Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh. The Board works directly under the guidance of the Ministry Of Secondary Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The BSEAP is responsible for promotion, management and development of secondary level education in Andhra Pradesh.

BIEAP  Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh

The Intermediate Board Exams for Class 12 students are conducted by the Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh (BIEAP). The Intermediate Education Board was set up in 1971 with the goal to regulate and supervise the intermediate level education in the state of Andhra Pradesh. As part of its various responsibilities, the BIEAP prescribes the syllabus and course curriculum for 1st Inter and 2nd Inter students. They also conduct the annual board exams for these classes in the month of February-March, every year. The BIEAP also conducts Board Exam for 1st Inter and 2nd Inter Vocational Students.
At least 12 ballistic missiles slammed into an Iraqi airbase in the country's west early Wednesday where US and coalition forces are based. (Photo Credit: Twitter)

New Delhi:

At least 12 ballistic missiles slammed into an Iraqi airbase in the country's west early Wednesday where US and coalition forces are based. The attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase came after pro-Tehran factions in Iraq had vowed to join forces to "respond" to an American drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi top commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad last week. This came hours after leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened on Tuesday to "set ablaze" places supported by the United States. Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, the hometown of the slain Gen Qassem Soleimani.

Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

At approximately 1730 EST on Jan. 7, Iran launched at least a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military & coalition forces in Iraq, US Department of Defence tweeted.

It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran & targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military & coalition personnel at Al-Assad & Irbil. We are working on initial battle damage assessments, it added.

President Trump has been briefed and is monitoring the situation, officials said. We are working on initial battle damage assessments, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said confirming the Iranian missile strikes. Hoffman said in recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defence has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard its personnel and partners.

Who Was General Qasem Soleimani?

Soleimani was one of the most popular figures in Iran and seen as a deadly adversary by America and its allies. General Soleimani, who headed the external operations Quds Force for the Guards, had wielded his regional clout publicly since 2018 when it was revealed that he had direct involvement in top-level talks over the formation of Iraq's government. It was no surprise at the time for a man who has been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades.

Soleimani has been in and out of Baghdad ever since, most recently last month as parties sought to form a new government. Where once he kept to the shadows, Soleimani has in recent years become an unlikely celebrity in Iran -- replete with a huge following on Instagram.

His profile rose suddenly when he was pushed forward as the public face of Iran's intervention in the Syrian conflict from 2013, appearing in battlefield photos, documentaries -- and even being featured in a music video and animated film. In a rare interview aired on Iranian state television in October, he said he was in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war to oversee the conflict.

To his fans and enemies alike, Soleimani was the key architect of Iran's regional influence, leading the fight against jihadist forces and extending Iran's diplomatic heft in Iraq, Syria and beyond. "To Middle Eastern Shiites, he is James Bond, Erwin Rommel and Lady Gaga rolled into one," wrote former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack in a profile for Time's 100 most influential people in 2017.

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New Delhi:

Irrfan Khan is undoubtedly one of the most talented actors that we have in the Indian Film industry. In a career spanning over three decades, Irrfan has taken up different kinds of roles and given a lot of memorable performances. The list of Irrfan's best performances and films is too long but one cannot forget his fabulous acts in films like Maqbool, Rog, Haasil, Life in a... Metro, The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire, Paan Singh Tomar, Life of Pi, Piku, The Lunchbox, Hindi Medium to name a few.

In 2018, Irrfan Khan shared the unfortunate news that he is diagnosed with high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. The actor was undergoing treatment for the same in London. However, the actor is now back in Mumbai and busy shooting for his next film, Angrezi Medium. As the actor turns 53 today, we have listed a few lesser known facts about him:

1. He was born in the village of Tonk in Jaipur, in a well-off family with royal connections. He has two siblings and his father was a wealthy Zamindar who wanted his son to join the family tyre business.

2. The additional 'r' in Irrfan Khan's name is not because of some numerology. He himself did it because he liked the sound an extra 'R' gives to his name.

3. When Irrfan first arrived in Mumbai, he worked as an air-conditioner repairman. Reportedly, it is even said that one of the first houses he visited for the repairing services was that of legendary actor, Rajesh Khanna.

4. Well, this might come as a surprise for many but Hollywood actress Julia Roberts stopped outside the Kodak Theater (where the Oscars were being staged) to compliment Irrfan for his excellent performance in 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

5. Irrfan has been detained twice at Los Angeles Airport because his name is similar to a terror suspect.

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New Delhi:

The US is prepared for any attack by Iran, President Donald Trump said, amid tensions over the killing of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack last week in Iraq. "We are totally prepared" for any Iranian attack, he told reporters. Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

He (Soleimani) was a terrorist. He was so designated by president Obama, as you know, and he wasnt even supposed to be outside of his own country, he said in response to a question.

Trump said in a recent attack that Soleimani was in charge of, people were horribly wounded. One dead. In fact, the number now as of this morning I believe is two dead. That was his. He was travelling with the head of the Hezbollah, he said.

They werent there to discuss a vacation. They werent there to go to a nice resort in Baghdad. They were there to discuss their business. We saved a lot of lives by terminating his life, a lot of lives were saved, Trump said.

They were planning something and people will hear about it, at least some people in Congress are going to be hearing about it tomorrow, the president said.

Who Was General Qasem Soleimani?

Soleimani was one of the most popular figures in Iran and seen as a deadly adversary by America and its allies. General Soleimani, who headed the external operations Quds Force for the Guards, had wielded his regional clout publicly since 2018 when it was revealed that he had direct involvement in top-level talks over the formation of Iraq's government. It was no surprise at the time for a man who has been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades.

Soleimani has been in and out of Baghdad ever since, most recently last month as parties sought to form a new government. Where once he kept to the shadows, Soleimani has in recent years become an unlikely celebrity in Iran -- replete with a huge following on Instagram.

His profile rose suddenly when he was pushed forward as the public face of Iran's intervention in the Syrian conflict from 2013, appearing in battlefield photos, documentaries -- and even being featured in a music video and animated film. In a rare interview aired on Iranian state television in October, he said he was in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war to oversee the conflict.

To his fans and enemies alike, Soleimani was the key architect of Iran's regional influence, leading the fight against jihadist forces and extending Iran's diplomatic heft in Iraq, Syria and beyond. "To Middle Eastern Shiites, he is James Bond, Erwin Rommel and Lady Gaga rolled into one," wrote former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack in a profile for Time's 100 most influential people in 2017.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed the attack on students and teachers at JNU as a fascist surgical strike by the BJP, evoking sharp reactions from the saffron party, which said she should stop shedding crocodile tears.

Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, said she had begun her political career as a student leader but never before witnessed such brazen attack on educational institutes. Whatever is happening across the country is very disturbing... I, too, was involved in student politics at one point in time, but never have I witnessed this sort of an attack on students and educational institutions...

It was a planned attack on democracy. Yesterdays was a fascist surgical strike on the student community, Banerjee told reporters, before leaving for Gangasagar. Whoever raised voice against the BJP was dubbed anti-national or a Pakistani, she claimed.

India is a democracy and we have our right to protest. Anyone who speaks against them is branded an enemy of the state. In a democracy, how can someone be branded anti-national or Pakistani for protesting against the government, Banerjee questioned.

The Delhi Police is not under the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation, it is under the central government, she said. On one hand, they (BJP) have sent goons, and, on the other, they have asked the police to not to take any action. What could police do if they are asked by their higher ups to stay put? she said.

Later in the day, while talking to reporters at Gangasagar after offering puja at the Kapil Muni Temple, Banerjee said, The countrys democracy is in danger, impartiality of institutions is in danger, freedom of expression is in danger.

Why did outsiders go there (JNU) and beat up students and teachers mercilessly? Though the administration was present at the time, I have seen that nobody rescued them. Hitting out at the central government, the chief minister said it is trying to muzzle the voices of students, farmers, youths, industrialists and civil society members.

If a party comes to power and destroys the countrys institutions, how can the country move ahead. It is a bad message for the country, she said. Meanwhile, the four-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation that went to JNU on Monday to express solidarity with the students and teachers, was not allowed inside the campus, she alleged.

The TMC delegation was not allowed to enter the campus. It is not important whether they were allowed to visit the campus or not. The intension is clear, they dont want the truth to come out, so we were not allowed. We are with the students, Banerjee said.

Reacting to Banerjees comments, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said, Banerjee should stop shedding crocodile tears for the students of JNU.

Where was she when Union minister Babul Supriyo was heckled on Jadavpur University campus on September 19 (last year)? Just to score some political points, she is sending a delegation. Why didnt she send a delegation to those colleges which were ransacked by TMCP activists over the past eight years, he said.

Violence broke out at Delhis Jawarharlal Nehru University on Sunday night, as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers, and damaged properties on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.
New Delhi:

A massive fire broke out in Kamathipura area of central Mumbai on Monday. Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. According to officials, it was a level three fire. Eight persons were injured in the fire. The rescue operation is still underway. No one is trapped in the commercial building, latest reports say. The fire broke out in crowded China building of Nagpada area in Kamathipura. 11 water tankers have been deployed to douse the fire. The first distress call was received at 9:16 am. Those injured have been taken to one Nair Hospital in the vicinity, media reports said. "The fire was confined to electric wiring, electric installations, household articles, a leather godown on first floor and a cloth godown on ground floor of the commercial structure spread in an area about 2,500 sq ft," chief fire officer PS Rahangdale was quoted as saying by PTI.
A bench of justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal". (Photo Credit: File Photo: PTI)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre's plea challenging TDSAT's order directing refund of around Rs 104 crore to Reliance Communication. A bench of justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal".

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had on December 21, 2018 directed the Centre to return around Rs 104 crore after encashing bank guarantee of Rs 908 crore against spectrum charges of Rs 774 crore.

The Department of Telecom has already adjusted Rs 30.33 crore.

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New Delhi:

CP Chandrasekhar, a professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has resigned from a government-appointed committee, which was tasked to review Indias economic data.

In his resignation letter, professor CP Chandrasekhar said, "I regret to inform you that, because of the situation in JNU where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrow's meeting. Further, I feel that, under current conditions, this Committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past.

"I wish to record my appreciation of the sustained efforts of the large number of colleagues within the statistical system whom I have greatly valued working with in the past to build a robust and credible statistical base," he said.

Professor CP Chandrasekhar further said, "It is unfortunate that political pressures have reduced their autonomy now, and efforts to consolidate a well-designed system are being subverted. In these circumstances, I will not be able to serve on this Committee. "The most disturbing part is a narrative is being built to make anti-national elements be perceived as the truth," he added.

Also Read: Hindu Raksha Dal Claims Responsibility Of JNU Violence, Says Such Attacks To Continue In Future

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones, and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

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Crime Branch has found some vital clue, we are working on it: Delhi Police on JNU attack (Photo Credit: Representative image)

New Delhi :

The Delhi Police on Monday said its crime branch has found some vital clue on the JNU violence that took place allegedly between members of the JNUSU and ABVP, and it was working on it.

An FIR has been lodged in the matter. Investigation is underway. Footage is being collected. A total of 34 persons were injured and all of them have been discharged from the AIIMS Trauma Centre, said Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa at a press conference.

Normally, police deployment is only in the administration block, and the scuffle took place away from that area. Around 7:45 pm, we were requested by JNU administration, then we entered the University and carried out a flag march, he said.

The attack on students and teachers at the Jawarharlal Nehru University by unidentified goons triggered protests across India on Monday as the clamour grew for the resignation of the vice chancellor who is being blamed for inaction during the violence that left 34 people injured.

As horrific first-person accounts emerged of the attack on Sunday evening, including on JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh, Delhi Police said no arrests have been made and that they have transferred the case to the Crime Branch, who claimed to have found "vital clues."

Politicians of all parties condemned the violence. The opposition and JNU students blamed the ABVP, the students' wing of the BJP for the violence, and accused the Delhi Police of inaction. The BJP said campuses should not become political battleground.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods, union president Ghosh, her head swathed in bandages, told PTI after being released from hospital earlier Monday.

She received at least 15 stitches on the head, and her arm was in a cast after the attack.

The ABVP has denied being responsible, and in turn, has blamed Ghosh's Left-supported union of stage managing the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but has not presented any to the media.
There were others who also wanted Twitter to take down Kiran Bedias tweet saying that she was spreading fake news. (Photo Credit: Kiran Bedi/Twitter)

New Delhi:

It seems Sun is shining rather too bright on Puducherry Governor Kiran Bedi. The former IPS officer landed in soup after she posted an absurd tweet, which has been one of the popular desi science trivia. On Saturday, Bedi took to Twitter and posted an animated video clip that claimed that NASA recorded the sound of Sun and Sun chants Om. The one minute, fifty second long video is replete with screenshots of Hindu Gods and sketch of Om sign both in English and Hindi. Netizens soon begin trolling Bedi for the post, which has been time now and time again debunked as pure myth created by social media.

Many lamented that Bedi post is a typical WhatsApp forward. Others questioned whether she has joined the BJPs IT cell. Once upon a time this lady was a hero to many. What a disgrace now!, said a Twitter user Sayed Usman. Another user posted a GIF from Hrithik Roshan-starrer Koi Mil Gaya. Old gissa pitta old doctored video neither NASA nor Isro confirmed this. Welcome to WhatsApp university, said another user. A user with Twitter handle @pirate_knightk taunted Bedi saying, She is like my father "whatsapp pe aaya hai to sach hi hoga.

There were others who also wanted Twitter to take down Bedis tweet saying that she was spreading fake news. Why dont you take action against such misinformation? The person circulating the video is a well known one, and this can falsely influence many others, said one Biswa while tagging Twitter India. Mam pls delete this tweet. There is something called 'Science', urged one Amartya Das.

The BJP leader and former IPS officer was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in 2016. Bedi, who joined the BJP just before the 2015 Assembly elections in Delhi, had been the partys chief ministerial candidate.

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Banihal, which houses the Jawahar Tunnel, known as the gateway to Kashmir - is just 110 kilometres from Srinagar and a two-hour journey by train. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

Banihal/Jammu:

Banihal, along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, is agog with activities over the past one month, thanks to the resumption of the train service in Kashmir and the normal functioning of the internet in the highway township. The resumption of the train service between Srinagar and Banihal on November 17 last year after remaining suspended for over three months following the nullification of Article 370 saw residents of Kashmir thronging the highway town, which falls in the Jammu region, to get access to the internet facility and convert prepaid mobile SIM cards to postpaid.

The internet services continue to remain barred in the entire Valley except for some government offices, hospitals and business establishments since August 5 last year, the day the Centre announced abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

While the postpaid mobile phone service was restored in the valley on October 14 last year after remaining suspended for 72 days, the prepaid mobile service is still blocked.

Banihal, which houses the Jawahar Tunnel, known as the gateway to Kashmir - is just 110 kilometres from Srinagar and a two-hour journey by train.

"Over half a dozen internet cafes are functional in the town and many telecom service providers are having good business, mostly because of the heavy rush of students, employment seekers, businessmen and professionals from the valley," Danish Muzaffar, a local, told PTI.

He said since the train arrives from Kashmir at 10.30 am and departs at 3.15 pm daily, majority of the visitors return the same day but many prefer to stay overnight to complete their work, also boosting the business of hotel and restaurant.

"Due to the heavy rush of the customers at the internet cafes, we sometimes are unable to file our reports in time. The rush increased manifold after the resumption of the train service," Muzaffar said.

Bilal Ahmad Bhat, who owns one of the internet cafes in the town, said the internet speed was a problem earlier but now it is normal and the users leave satisfied after finishing their work.

On the complaints of overcharging, Bhat said, "The customers are charged as per normal rates but since there are frequent power cuts, we have to use the generators and in such a case, the customers have to pay extra money."

The internet service in most parts of the Jammu region, where it was suspended, was restored by August end due to overall normal law and order situation.

Hotelier Manzoor Ahmad said winter usually remains a lean period for their business but this time the occupancy is around 100 per cent.

"We are doing good...the guests are staying for a night or two," he said, adding the frequent closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in view of landslides sometimes adds to the pressure.

There is also a heavy rush of customers from the Valley to telecom service providers to convert their prepaid mobile SIM cards to postpaid.

Shoukat Ahmad Wani, a contractor from Srinagar, said he visited the town on Friday and utilized the internet service to upload tenders besides converted the prepaid mobile SIM card to postpaid.

"The government has set up internet touch points at different places but these are inadequate to cater to the heavy rush," he said, requesting for restoration of the internet and prepaid mobile service in Kashmir.

Farooq Ahmad Bhat, another Srinagar resident, accused the hoteliers of "overcharging".

"I used to pay Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 for a room depending on the facilities but this time they are charging between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for different categories of rooms," he said.

A police official said they have stepped up patrolling and are keeping a close vigil in the town to maintain peace.

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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday said China and other countries in Asia offer Zambia and other African countries unique lessons on tackling poverty, suggesting Africa must emulate the efforts made in uplifting the living standards of people.

"We have a lot to learn as Zambia and Africa from this region. And we intend to explore this deeply and broadly," he said during the 2022 presidential greetings, an annual event where the Zambian president meets diplomats accredited to the country.

Zambia will continue to cherish its ties with Asian countries and was looking for more viable cooperation particularly in the area of clean green energy production and education assistance. Zambia will continue to collaborate with Asian countries through various mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), he said.

Africa has for a long time been perceived as a continent of corruption, instability, and poverty which need to be changed, said the Zambian president, suggesting African leaders should work to redefine the continent from the negative perception to one of opportunities, stability and security by tackling the current challenges that were prevalent on the continent.

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CAIRO  Egypt has expressed its support for Libya's House of Representatives, which recently elected a new Prime Minister.

In a statement, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez praised the participation of Libyan institutions and their acceptance of their responsibilities, "particularly the measures adopted by the House of Representatives on Thursday," alluding to the Libyan parliament's election of a new Prime Minister.

Earlier on Thursday, the Libyan parliament unanimously elected Fathi Bashagha to succeed Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah as Prime Minister.

Dbeibah, on the other hand, stated that his government will continue in power until general elections are held, and that he will only hand up authority to an elected government, according to reports

The Libyan parliament, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, has the competence to "enact laws, confer legitimacy to the executive authority, and exercise its oversight role over it." "Egypt continues to communicate with all Libyan groups in order to bring their viewpoints closer together and ensure the country's security and stability," Hafez said, adding that Egypt will continue to support efforts in Libya to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation.

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TRIPOLI, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah's convoy was attacked by unidentified gunmen in the capital Tripoli, according to Libya's Interior Ministry.

"Earlier on Thursday, the Prime Minister's convoy was attacked by individuals in a car with no licence plates in Souk al-Juma district (central Tripoli)," Abdulmenem al-Arabi, the Ministry's Spokesman, said in a statement.

Al-Arabi said that no one was killed in the attack and said it happened following a protest against "political events in the country." "The Interior Ministry condemns this criminal crime," said the spokesman, who added that an investigation was underway "to bring the offenders to justice."

According to reports, the statement was released just hours after the House of Representatives (Parliament) unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha to become the country's next Prime Minister.

Dbeibah, on the other hand, declared on Tuesday that his government would stay in power until elections were held, and that authority would only be handed over to "an elected government." The UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum appointed Dbeibah's Government of National Unity in February 2021, putting an end to years of political turmoil in the North African country.

In September 2021, the Libyan parliament revoked Dbeibah's government's confidence and designated it as a caretaker government.

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Pakistan, which is widely recognised as a terror supporter, is blaming India for the unrest in Balochistan, in a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. The Pakistan Foreign Office stated that there was strong evidence that India was involved in unrest in Balochistan. According to the media reports, Islamabad accused New Delhi for its "sinister attempt" to destroy CPEC and rejected New Delhi's "unwarranted" and "preposterous" statements on the Pakistan-China Joint Statement of February 6.

"Pakistan vehemently condemns the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' inappropriate and preposterous comments on the Pakistan-China Joint Statement of 6 February 2022, as well as India's relentless propaganda against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor." "Through its dossiers issued in 2020 and 2021, Pakistan has given indisputable proof of India's malicious plot to destroy CPEC," said the Foreign Office.

"We expect the parties involved to refrain from interfering in India's domestic affairs," the MEA stated. According to the report, the Pakistan Foreign Office warned India that there is strong evidence of Indian involvement in recent sinister attempts in Balochistan to stir up instability by aiding anti-state forces.

According to the report, "Naval Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav is a living and irrefutable example of how India has sought to promote and patronise subversive actions in Pakistan and the region."

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Guwahati: On Saturday, a conflict between two groups of people belonging to two different religious sects erupted in the western Assam town of Dhubri, which borders Bangladesh.

As a group of people vandalized stores belonging to a specific community in the town, police used lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Tarun Gogoi, the chief minister who also handles the home ministry, claimed the situation had been brought under control. Gogoi expressed concern that communal forces, including Hindu and Islamic fanatics, were active in the state and attempting to create violence.

The communal riot in Dhubri erupted when a Muslim youth was assaulted on Friday evening after some unidentified miscreants threw meat in front of a Hindu temple in the town earlier that day.

"The incident in Dhubri, which erupted today into a communal clash before being brought under control by the police, are the work of fundamentalist forces," Gogoi added. In the state, communal forces are active. There are both Hindu extremists and Islamic organisations in the area. To keep such elements at bay, the authorities maintained a constant surveillance."

Despite the fact that police intervened and immediately brought the situation under control, the situation deteriorated on Saturday morning when hundreds of members of one neighbourhood came to the streets to protest the assault on the two teenagers on Friday. Many protestors were injured as a result of police use of baton charges. To prevent the violence from spreading, the government imposed Section 144, which outlaws gatherings of more than 10 persons in the whole area. So far, 19 people have been detained for inciting violence.

As the situation deteriorated at Kalowal Bazar area inside the police station limits, a curfew was enforced from 1 p.m. today till further instructions, according to District Deputy Commissioner Nazrul Islam. He went on to say that there had been allegations of communal forces attempting to disrupt the state's Eid-uz-Zuha celebrations. "Despite the fact that these forces wanted to cause communal violence during Eid on Frida, the festival went ahead without a problem due to the security forces' efforts and the people's cooperation," he stated.

The CM cited the annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which said that the general security situation in the state had improved, except for a few incidents, and claimed that the overall security situation in the state has improved.

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Ukraine gives Kremlin 48 hours to explain Russian military activity near Ukrainian border 11 February, 17:22 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (Photo:Gleb Garanich/Pool/Reuters)

Kyiv has requested Moscow provide an adequate explanation for Russian military activity near the border between the two countries within 48 hours, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter on Feb. 11.

According to the minister, Ukraine has done so in accordance with the Vienna Mechanism, an agreement within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

We have officially triggered the risk reduction mechanism in accordance with Chapter III of the Vienna Document, and requested Russia to provide detailed explanations on military activities in the areas adjacent to the territory of Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Crimea, said Kuleba.

 

He said that Russia now has to specify the exact areas where it is conducting military maneuvers and when they will conclude, in addition to the names, types, and command chain of the regiments involved.

Russia has 48 hours to reply. In case of an absence of reply or its insufficiency/irrelevance, Ukraine will address Russia, as well as other participating states of the Vienna Document, in order to convene an extraordinary meeting where Russia will have to provide explanations, the message said.

Ukraine will continues taking all diplomatic measures available to ensure its security, the minister added.

Russia has been massing troops at the border since late October.

More than 130,000 Russian troops and offensive weapons have been deployed near Ukraines borders and in the temporarily occupied territories, according to the latest intelligence estimate from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The Kremlin says the troop movements are an internal affair of the Russian Federation.

Read also: Russian proxy forces violate Donbas ceasefire eight times in last 24 hours

Russian troops have also been deployed to Belarus, as part of previously unscheduled military exercises. However, Russian equipment has been spotted along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, far from the zone where the exercises are supposed to be held.

Russia has also announced that it was be blocking off access to large portions of the Black Sea for what it alleges are naval missile and gunnery training exercises from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19.

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On December 17, 2021, Finance Minster Janardan Sharma called a meeting of all ministries involved in development works and told them that the development expenditure had to be 30 per cent by mid-January.

If you will not use the budget, I will send it to where it will be used, he said to all the ministers and secretaries from different ministries.

A few weeks later, on January 3, the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives held a meeting regarding underspent development expenditure. In the meeting, the ministers and secretaries of various ministries told the committee how the Finance Ministry held their files for weeks.

They should either tell us they dont have funds or let us work by releasing the budget, said one minister.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav even went on to say how bureaucracy in Nepal was affecting development in the country. The ministrys secretary Ravindra Man Shrestha added how the Finance Ministry was at fault for delayed development work as it had not insured when it was going to hand over the Rs 20.45 billion budget to the Infrastructure Ministry.

To no ones surprise, the development expenditure didnt even reach close to the 30 per cent mark set by the Finance Minister. In the first six months of the fiscal year, only 13.44 per cent of the development expenditure was spent. This was the lowest net spent in the past three years.

Following this, Minister Sharma called another meeting on February 1 and told secretaries from these ministries how he did not want to be calling them every time to say the same thing over and over again.

This doesnt give a good message, he told them.

This is not the first time that there has been a tussle between the Finance Ministry and other ministries in regards to capital or development expenditure. The state of capital expenditure in the country of the past three decades is dreadful. But, the excuses for not being able to spend the budget get new every year.

When we dont spend the capital expenditure, it affects the income, savings, production and employment thus affecting the entire economy, says a Finance Ministry official.

The faulty financial system

File image: Ministry of Finance

According to the Finance Ministry, the average spending of allocated budget in the last decade is 82.1 per cent. But, when it comes to capital/development expenditure, different ministries have only been spending around 70 per cent of the budget on average. This is taking place even after the budget is released 45 days before the start of the new fiscal year.

Despite this, almost all ministries try to finish the funds allocated to them in the last month of the fiscal year in a haphazard manner. This has started to raise questions about the financial discipline, allocation competence and execution capacity of people in these ministries.

According to data given by the Comptroller Generals office, in the past five years, 40 per cent of development expenditure was done during the last month of the fiscal year.

To clear things out, the Finance Ministry released a white paper in the first month of the current fiscal year, in which it stated why the allocated development budget was not being spent:

Allocating budget without considering the capacity of the concerned ministry

Allocating funds to populist programmes

The lack of financial discipline resulting in ministries spending budget in the last month

Not spending funds based on the work plan

Assuring funds without keeping in mind the total budget

The National Planning Commission also highlighted a few reasons in its 2019/20 report on why the development expenditure was not being spent. The report states how the national pride projects take up almost the entirety of the budget while taking around 30 years to complete. Despite this, these pride projects continue to get the budget it wants, reads the report even though the extension of these projects has no clear legal foundation. These are some factors that have resulted in the budget not being spent properly, says the commission.

Lets take a look a how the pride projects are faring. The government started to reserve a budget for Nijgadh Airport in the fiscal year 2015/2016. But, six years on, preliminary work on the project is still not complete. The commission says this is a result of starting a project before the detailed project report is prepared.

To ensure these projects are on the right path, the government does quarterly, half-yearly and yearly reviews of these projects. But, experts say that these reviews are just a formality. The commission itself did hold a review of these projects in the last fiscal year. These review meetings are chaired by the prime minister. But, these meetings rarely find solutions to why the projects are being delayed.

Another reason for the poor implementation of the development expenditure plan is a lack of coordination between government departments. The commissions report also says that coordination does not take place even between the three tiers of the government.

Before a new project is added to the budget, it needs approval from the National Planning Commission. But, many government bodies do not take the commissions approval and only go there after the project is included in the budget. This means the budget is set aside without detailed research.

Most of these projects are multi-year projects. Bu,t due to a lack of coordination with the planning commission, these projects do not match the periodic plan. This means new projects are started before the old ones are completed, which creates a lot of issues when drafting a budget in the following years.

Take the Kalanki-Thankot road project, for example. The project was implemented before the compensation was decided. Problems during compensation nearly caused the project to be scrapped entirely.

When projects like these cause limbo, the development expenditure allocated to these projects is given to another one in the final month (during the monsoon) resulting in the work being below par.

Incompetent, insufficient people

Another reason for the government not being able to spend the development expenditure is a delay in decision making, problems during land accusation and lack of desired construction material. Gautam Buddha International Airport, a national pride project, had to go through all of the hindrances mentioned above.

Another issue that plagues development work in Nepal is the lack of skilled human resources. Forest secretary Prem Narayan Kandel, a while ago, had said Nepals main problem was the unskilled human resources, which has not been addressed to date.

The planning commissions report had stated things moved slowly in Nepal due to government employees not being motivated enough. To tackle this, the government has also not brought any incentive as these employees do not have the fear of getting the sack.

Another reason for the delay in spending development expenditure is different ministries trying to ensure that the project is given to the people they know.

The planning commission also says that immoral construction companies are also at fault. Normally, when a tender is obtained for a project, the construction company needs to fulfil the criteria. But, due to influence, these criteria are not being fulfilled, resulting in the project not completing on time. With the government not demanding accountability or taking action against those that do not complete projects on time, things have remained the same for years.

Locals obstruction has also halted many projects in Nepal, troubling the development expenditure system. To curb this, few hydropower projects have started to give locals shares in the companies to ensure they do not hinder the project. But, implementing this in projects like transmission lines, roads, railways, airports or other industries has not happened resulting in the projects being in limbo.

Crucial concerns of the current time

In Nepal, various bodies do not spend the allocated development expenditure on a certain project. But, there are also some projects that ask for more than that allocated money. This has created a lot of problems in the Finance Ministry.

This year, the government has to spend more than it thought it would have to purchase Covid-19 vaccines. It will also have to spend in excess of Rs 10 billion on the three levels of elections. The estimation is the cost will go over Rs 25 billion to conduct the polls. This includes administrative and security costs.

The government will also have to spend in excess of Rs 1 billion to repair damages incurred in the Melamchi Drinking Water Project during the monsoon of 2021. There is also demand for around Rs 15 billion for the reconstruction of buildings damaged in the 2015 earthquake. The Agriculture Ministry has also asked for a lot of money to import chemical fertilisers.

To manage everything, Finance Minister Sharma has warned of taking money away from government bodies that do not use development expenditure and giving it to those that will.

This has put the government in a position that it always has been: choosing current needs instead of development.
Description

Nunzis, the hottest new restaurant in Farmingdale, New York will be celebrating the most romantic day of the year all weekend long leading up to that special day. The Italian restaurant will have a special Valentines dining menu as well as amazing cocktail specials to enjoy with the special someone in your life. The menu will be available starting Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14, 2022, starting at 5:00pm. On Monday the 14th, the menu will also be available all day starting at 12:00 noon for lunch through dinner service.

The specially curated menu consists of a choice between Oysters & Pearls or Prociutto wrapped asparagus with a raspberry sauce for appetizers; three salad options, Pistachio crusted goat cheese salad with mixed greens, the Italian wedge, or the Cesar salad. The delicious pasta choices are the Pasta Primavera, Rigatoni alla Vodka, or the Heart shaped lobster ravioli. The savory entree options include the filet mignon, the Brick chicken, or the delectable Pan seared scallops. Finish the evening off with one of Nunzis scrumptious assorted desserts.

Nunzis Valentines Cocktail Menu will warm the heart with creative libations like the Love Potion no.9 made with Stoli vanilla vodka, strawberry Syrup, Baileys Irish Cream, and Godiva Chocolates; or the Coco Chanel made with Blanco rum, Malibu coconut rum, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, and pineapple juice.

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Thousands more soldiers are preparing to deploy to Eastern Europe as Russia-Ukraine tensions continue, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Three thousand members of the 82nd Airborne Division would join 3,000 troops already mobilized to Poland, Germany and Romania.

This second tranche of Airborne soldiers will join in Poland the first tranche of 1,700 soldiers and key enablers that Secretary Austin ordered there on February 2nd, according to a statement from a senior defense official. Nearly two-thirds of this first tranche has already arrived.

Another 300 members of the XVIII Airborne Corps headed to Germany this week, while 1,000 members of the Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment mobilized to Romania.

The additional personnel comprise a highly mobile and flexible force, capable of multiple missions, according to the statement. They are being deployed to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATOs eastern flank, train with host-nation forces, and contribute to a wide range of contingencies.

These troops are in addition to thousands put on heightened alert to deploy last month, who would be joining the 40,000-troop, international NATO Response Force, should it be activated.

These additional deployments are temporary in nature, meant to supplement for a brief time the more than 80,000 U.S. troops already in Europe on rotational and permanent orders, the statement said.

The American public deserves to know what US troops are doing in Europe

The Pentagons announcement came as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan addressed Americans from the White House, urging any Americans still in Ukraine to make arrangements to leave.

There is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion  The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to, he said.

White House officials believe that an invasion could begin any day now, Sullivan said.

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While the U.S. is sounding the alarm, officials in Kyiv say Russia is not yet ready to launch a massive attack, a Ukrainian military official told Military Times.

Besides increasing the number of [battalion tactical groups] around Ukraine and continuing keeping diplomatic and political pressure on, nothing has changed, said the official, speaking anonymously to provide an assessment of the situation.

He cited a combination of weather not conducive to armor vehicle movements, ongoing U.S. and allied diplomacy, regional military movements, internal Russian dissent and fear of a wider conflict as reasons.

Troops in Poland may be tasked with receiving evacuees, however, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday.

I cant rule out the fact that these soldiers could be used to some degree with evacuation assistance on the other side of that border, and certainly theyre going to be prepared to do that, he said.
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A.Global Credit Research - 11 Feb 2022New York, February 11, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A. and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 8 February 2022 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology (ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.Key rating considerations are summarized below.Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A. (AA2000) credit quality incorporates the company's improved liquidity and debt maturity profile, as a result of a recent debt exchange to accommodate capital expenditure needs originated by the amendment to the concession agreement. At the same time, the credit profile reflects the ongoing ambitious investment plan and related incremental debt amid the uncertainties related to traffic recovery.Moody's acknowledges that AA2000 exhibits strong asset fundamentals as the leading airport network in Argentina. While Moody's considers that the company's ability to generate cash flows linked to the US Dollar and produce revenue detached from the local economic conditions help de-link the issuer's credit quality from the credit quality of the Government of Argentina (Ca), Moody's views that the company is still subject to the local operating environment, local regulations and policy shifts.This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.The principal methodology used for this review was Privately Managed Airports and Related Issuers published in September 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Ursula Cassinerio Analyst Project & Infrastructure Finance Moody's Latin America ACR Ing. Butty 240 16th Floor Buenos Aires City C1001AFB Argentina JOURNALISTS: 1 800 666 3506 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Cristiane Spercel Senior Vice President/Manager Project & Infrastructure Finance JOURNALISTS: 0 800 891 2518 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653  2022 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. MOODYS DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANY ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT OR IMPAIRMENT. SEE APPLICABLE MOODYS RATING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS PUBLICATION FOR INFORMATION ON THE TYPES OF CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ADDRESSED BY MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS. 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LOS ANGELES, February 11, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Award-winning artist, grants recipient, and entrepreneur K. Ryan Henisey promises a new experience in fine art with the launch of Artlounge Collective. The California-based company starts its first year with an exhibit in the Magic Box at the Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel, new art and artists listed and Artlounge.co, and looks ahead to opening a retail storefront in the spring of this year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005622/en/

Artlounge Collective is now showing artist Justin Prough's 'Fictional Reality of California Beach Culture' in the Magic Box at the Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel, located along the famed Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, through March 27, 2022. [photo credit: Artlounge Collective]

"As a working artist, gallery-cooperative president, and experienced corporate marketer, I kept seeing a gap between artist expectations and consumer habits," explains Henisey. "Artlounge Collective is about bridging that divide.

"There is a massive consumer audience for original fine arthundreds of billions of dollars worldwide," he continues, "but many artists miss the fact that more than half of all artwork sold for less than one thousand dollars (US) last year. At Artlounge, we work closely with our artists to provide top-quality original and creative works at prices accessible to the widest range of the US public."

Henisey brings years of experience in the arts and retail to fine art management and curation with Artlounge Collective. He previously worked for major cruise lines, overseeing product management and publication for a half-billion dollar segment of the global tour industry, among other notable accolades. An award-winning artist and recipient of a 2021 public arts grant from the City of West Hollywood, Henisey is also the president of TAG Gallery in Los Angeles where he oversees more than fifty annual fine art displays a year.

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"Ryan has built a community of trust with many LA-artists and I knew I wanted to join him on this new venture," says Justin Prough, whose art collection, The Fictional Reality of California Beach Culture produced by Artlounge Collective, displays at the Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel. "As a fellow artist, he has a deep understanding of how to balance an individuals artistic goals with the reality of everyday consumers."

Artlounge Collective partners with living, contemporary artists, to provide unique and creative fine art pieces accessible to everyday Americans. The organization's premieres feature artists and performers in a growing network of welcoming venues and pop-up events.

"Artlounge was created with artists in mind," says Henisey. "Inspired by the talents and skills of friends and colleagues and the lack of opportunities available to most artists, I started to dream of a new way to share fine art experiences with everyday people. Artlounge Collective focuses on artists and creating inviting fine art experiences because as a creative I believe in the transformative power of art. Whether enjoying unique pieces at home or celebrating premieres in our lounges, I know that art invokes power, charging the spaces around it with beauty and meaning."

The companys first exhibition is now showing in the Magic Box at the Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel, located along the famed Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, through March 27, 2022. Each fine art piece within the collection is printed on white-washed wood veneer. Displayed artworks are float-mounted to varnished wood, wired and ready to hang in any space. To celebrate this collection, Mondrian Los Angeles offers a "Fictional Reality" penthouse package, which includes an exclusive piece from the artist when guests book the promotion on the hotels website.

"The places, people and experiences are real, but what interests me are the stories," the artist, Prough, explains the exhibited art. "I photograph various props, dolls and cars in real locations to make a rough photo composite. From the composite, I digitally paint the photographed scene. I enjoy printing on wood veneers to enhance the fictionalized moment and its sunny, beach-day color palette."

Prough is a Los Angeles based artist whose work reflects the struggle between sunny days, good waves and the environmental and political unrest of our times. The top-talent marketer and fine artist enjoys telling visual stories by connecting ideas with materials and processes. Proughs art recently exhibited at University of Redlands and the artist enjoyed a near sell-out show at TAG Gallery, spring 2021.

Artlounge Collective represents artist Miss Art World, Miss Brightside, Joanna Chrysohoidis. Chuck Hohng, Shalla Javid, Ed Lightner, Nelson Munares, Jennette Nearhood, Justin Prough, Joseph Salerno, Skut, and John Waiblinger. Visual, sculptural, and performance artists are encouraged to apply for opportunities online.

Artlounge Collective plans to open a storefront location in Los Angeles, spring 2022. Temporary offices are located at 5458 Wilshire Blvd. Suite A, LA, CA 90036. 323-481-2205. liveuniquely@artlounge.co

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005622/en/

Contacts

Media Contact: Pattern & Matrix, K Ryan Henisey, 424.326.3446, ryan@kryanhenisey.com
Romance scams might be the most heart-breaking, but they're not the only cons as common as candy and cards around the Hallmark holiday, according to the Better Business Bureau.

Consumers should also watch out for fraud when they're buying jewelry or flowers online, the Better Business Bureau advises.

"As you prepare to celebrate, there are few common scams that you need to be aware of," the agency says. "Whether youre hoping to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware ..."

The Better Business Bureau has more information and tips for avoiding Valentine's scams on its website.

How scammers target people around Valentine's Day

Imposter websites are easy to create with photos, logos and other material "lifted" from legitimate sites, according to the Better Business Bureau.

Related: Pandemic isolation and Valentine dreams may make the lonely vulnerable to romance scammers

"With professional graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website that looks eerily similar to the real thing," the agency says.

The Better Business Bureau has "received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering flowers from an online florist ... but either got nothing at all, or a disappointing arrangement," it says.

Red flags to be aware of

Here are some red flags indicating your online florist or jeweler could be a swindler: the deal is 'too good to be true'; the seller requests customers pay with cash transfer apps or cryptocurrency; customer service is unreachable; the business has no reviews or bad reviews; you can't find a return policy or satisfaction guarantee.

Bank embezzler: Joseph Mollicone Jr. owes Rhode Island $12 million; he pays $270 a month

To avoid problems, the Better Business Bureau says it's always good to research ahead of time at BBB.org.

And scams should be reported to the agency's Scam Tracker.

jperry@providencejournal.com

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Better Business Bureau warns against Valentine's Day scams
Biden, Putin to speak as US says Russia could invade Ukraine during Olympics

The U.S. issued a stark new warning Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin during the Olympics.

"We can't pinpoint the day, at this point, and we can't pinpoint the hour, but what we can say is that there is a credible prospect that a Russian military action would take place even before the end of the Olympics," U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House. The Winter Olympics, which are ongoing in Beijing, are scheduled to end on Feb. 20.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Melbourne, Australia, earlier Friday, shared the same message: "As we said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. To be clear, that includes during the Olympics."

Sullivan said the United States still could not say whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had actually made a decision to invade.

But he said the situation had grown so dire that Americans in Ukraine should leave "immediately" -- or at least "in the next 24 to 48 hours."

"We don't know exactly what is going to happen," Sullivan said. "But the risk is now high enough, and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands."

PHOTO: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 11, 2022. - A Russian invasion of Ukraine 'could begin at any time.' (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Sullivan told ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce that he expected President Joe Biden to "engage by telephone with President Putin." The last time the leaders spoke was Dec. 30.

A White House official later said the two men would speak Saturday morning.

Sullivan said Biden did not plan to put American troops' lives at risk to rescue Americans who remained there.

"If you stay," he said, echoing what said in an NBC News interview Thursday, "you are assuming risk with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave, and there is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion."

Sullivan said the U.S. is reducing the size of its "embassy footprint" in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

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BREAKING: White House updates on Ukraine: - Further signs of Russian escalation

- "We are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time"

- Invasion could begin during Olympics, "despite a lot of speculation that it would only happen after"

- "We are ready either way." pic.twitter.com/4ANN9fdc19  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 11, 2022

Sullivan went on to describe in vivid detail what could happen, including a "rapid assault on the city of Kyiv."

"If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality," Sullivan said. "A subsequent ground invasion would involve the onslaught of a massive force with virtually no notice, communications to arrange a departure could be severed and commercial transit halted."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley spoke Friday with Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov by telephone, a Joint Chiefs spokesperson said in a statement.

"The military leaders discussed several security-related issues of concern," the statement said. "In accordance with past practice, both have agreed to keep the specific details of their conversation private."

Earlier Friday, Biden held a call with transatlantic leaders to chart next moves as talks over Russia's military build-up near Ukraine showed no sign of defusing the crisis.

Biden spoke about "coordination on both diplomacy and deterrence" with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, NATO, the European Commission, and the European Council, according to the White House.

The president has remained largely silent on Ukraine over the past few days, instead holding public events focused on the U.S. economy.

The transatlantic call came as NATO warned Europe was facing a "dangerous moment."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House after stepping off Marine One, Feb. 10, 2022. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

"This is a dangerous moment for European security," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday in Brussels.

European leaders have engaged in intense diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine over the past several weeks to avoid war in eastern Europe. But the talks have so far failed to yield much apparent progress.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine tensions threaten Europe's oil supply, reigniting debate over Biden's climate agenda

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following the talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

France's President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin, before meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the next day.

Russia and Ukraine held talks Thursday in Berlin, moderated by Germany and France, but after nine hours of discussion failed to even agree on issuing a joint statement.

Western officials had hoped that the latest round of the so-called "Normandy Format Talks" would push forward the diplomacy by Macron and other officials who have been shuttling between capitals over the past couple weeks.

PHOTO: Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen of the 92nd mechanised brigade use tanks, self-propelled guns and other armoured vehicles to conduct live-fire exercises near the town of Chuguev, Kharkiv region, Feb. 10, 2022. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

The sides remained at an impasse, though, over Russia's insistence that the Ukrainian government speak directly with Russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine.

Biden said Monday that Americans currently in Ukraine should leave, and on Thursday, he repeated that message with more urgency.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden Thursday said in an interview with NBC News. "It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

MORE: Sen. Bernie Sanders warns of 'drumbeats' of war in Washington

Senior U.S. officials say they do not believe Russia's President Vladimir Putin has made a decision whether to invade Ukraine, even as he has amassed over 100,000 troops on Russia's border with Ukraine.

The U.S. and other Western nations have warned of severe economic consequences to Russia if it does invade. Russia denies it plans to do so.

PHOTO: Military vehicles drive during the Union Courage 2022 joint military exercise of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, at the Brestsky training ground in Brest Region, Belarus, in this still image taken from video released, Feb. 11, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry via Reuters)

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Russia and Belarus kicked off 10 days of joint exercises in Belarus, north of Ukraine.

ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Matt Seyler contributed to this report.

Biden, Putin to speak as US says Russia could invade Ukraine during Olympics originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In this article, we discuss the top 6 stock picks of Bill Ackmans Pershing Square portfolio. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of Ackmans history, investment philosophy, and hedge fund performance, go directly to Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Portfolio: Top 3 Stock Picks.

William Albert Bill Ackman is a renowned hedge fund manager and an activist investor. Born in 1966 and raised in Chappaqua, New York, Ackman completed his BA in Social Studies with magna cum laude distinction from Harvard College in 1988. In 1992, he completed his MBA from Harvard Business School. With his fellow Harvard graduate David P. Berkowitz, Ackman launched an investment firm Gotham Partners, in 1992. Initially, the firm posted impressive returns. However, soon after, it found itself embroiled in a legal battle with a number of external shareholders following its investment in an unprofitable golf course operator. The legal disputes resulted in the firm collapsing.

In 2004, Ackman founded Pershing Square Capital Management by making a cumulative investment of $54 million with his ex-business partner, an insurance and real estate firm Leucadia National. His first move was buying a significant stake in Wendys International and pressuring the fast-food chain to spin off its fastest-growing unit Tim Hortons as a separate entity. In 2006, Wendy's spun off Tim Hortons through an IPO and collected $670 million. Following a disagreement over Wendys management succession, Ackman sold his holdings in the company and booked a substantial profit. According to Forbes, Bill Ackman ranks 368 on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of $3.2 billion as of January 2022.

In 2021, Pershing Square Capital Management gained 27% net. Last years success paled in comparison to the funds 58% net gain in 2019 and 70.2% net gain in 2020, which was fueled in part by a $2.6 billion short bet on Covid-19s effect. The hedge fund has a portfolio value of over $9 billion as of Q3 2021. Some of the popular stock picks of Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Capital Management include Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT), Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), and Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW).

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Bill Ackman of Pershing Square

Our Methodology

In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 6 stock picks of Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Portfolio. These stocks are a part of the Q3 portfolio of the hedge fund.

Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Portfolio: Top 6 Stock Picks

Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares Stake Value: $997,897,000

Percentage of Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares 13F Portfolio: 10.54%

Number of Hedge Funds: 36

Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) is the biggest pizza restaurant chain globally, with a presence in over 90 countries through its 18,300 locations. In addition to this, the company sees the possibility of opening over 10,000 new restaurants across its top 15 geographical markets in the coming years. Dominos Pizza, Inc.s (NYSE:DPZ) same-store sales (SSS) have averaged 4.1% and 5.6%, respectively, in the US and the International markets since 2000. The potential for new locations and the stellar SSS growth provides a base for a bright outlook for the company.

The roots of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based corporation lies in convenient pizza delivery through a network of company and franchise-owned stores. It is estimated that Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) sells three million pizzas daily around the globe. The corporation earns revenue through its stores and by selling equipment, food, and supplies to its franchisees.

On January 11, Sara Senatore at Bank of America restarted coverage of Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) with a Buy rating and a price target of $642. The analyst highlighted that the restaurant meal consumption started to shift off-premise even before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the pizza service category was able to outperform the broader restaurant industry in the US. Owing to growth strategies, Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) has been able to increase its market share from 17% in 2011 to 26% in 2020.

Dominos Pizza has been a part of Pershing Squares portfolio since Q1 2021. The stake was initiated with a holding of 2.03 million shares, which has been since increased to 2.09 million shares at the end of Q3 2021. This is equivalent to 5.75% of the 36.36 million shares outstanding as of January 20.

Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) was mentioned in the Q3 2021 investor letter of LRT Capital Management. Heres what the investment management firm said:

Dominos Pizza is the worlds largest franchisor of pizza restaurants with over 13,800 locations in 85 countries. As for any restaurant operator, the key metric to consider for Dominos Pizza is same-store-sales (SSS) growth. Growing same-store-sales are ultimately how a restaurant business increases earnings from its existing assets. The company continues to impress in this criterion with SSS having grown in the U.S. for 40 consecutive quarters, and an astounding 109 straight quarters internationally. Two-thirds of the companys stores are currently abroad, and the international segment remains the companys largest growth opportunity, as the penetration of convenient fast food remains lower abroad than in the United States. Pizza is a product with exceptionally high gross margins, one that translates well across different cultures, and one that literally travels well, not losing much of its appeal when delivered in a cardboard box. The rise of 3rd party delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Doordash and Grubhub is challenging the pizza category as it has expanded the number of choices consumers have for convenient takeout. However, the economics of food delivery remain challenging for most restaurants and platforms alike51, while pizza delivery continues to be highly profitable. Regardless of how the delivery wars currently playing out end, Dominos financial results show little impact of this increased competition, and the company continues to deliver exceptional financial performance. Dominos Pizza stock is not optically cheap based on forward earnings, however, the company has routinely reported earnings growth of over 20% in almost all quarters since 2009. Given the companys high growth rate, international growth opportunities, and capital light business model, which allows for returns on invested capital of over 40%, we are happy to continue to hold the shares.

Besides Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT), and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is also amongst the top 6 stock picks of Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Q3 Portfolio.

5. The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC)

Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares Stake Value: $1,195,987,000

Percentage of Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares 13F Portfolio: 12.63%

Number of Hedge Funds: 25

The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) is a real estate development and management company with five master-planned communities (MPC) under its wings. In these five MPCs, the company has a hotel, multi-family residential, office, and retail properties.

The Dallas, Texas-based corporation was founded in 2010 following its spin-off from General Growth Properties (GGP). Since then, the stock has been a part of Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares portfolio for every quarter except Q2 2012. The hedge funds current holding of 13.62 million shares in the Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) is the highest in terms of the number of shares held in the past decade and is equivalent to 24.8% of 54.9 million shares outstanding.

On December 29, the Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) received the final approval from the state of New York in regards to the construction of the 250 Water Street Project at the Seaport in Lower Manhattan. It will be a mixed-use project, which will comprise community, office, and retail space along with residential units. The $850 million project is expected to start this year and will offer for-rent residential units, given the strong demand for residential units in Lower Manhattan.

During the Q3 2021 call with its investors on November 18, Pershing Square highlighted the stellar Q3 results of Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) and shared how the company has emerged with a strong balance sheet. The hedge fund is very optimistic about the long-term growth prospects of the Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) and considers it a cheap stock in terms of valuation.

Investment management firm Clark Street Value mentioned Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE:HHC) in its Q4 2021 investor letter. Heres what the firm said:

Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) is my perennial value trap, but the pitfall of their diversified real estate model is also a benefit, the company is attempting to reposition the narrative back to a land developer for home builders and building sunbelt apartments. They recently purchased a massive plot of land west of Phoenix that apparently has a 50 year development life and will add potentially logistics/warehouse and single family rentals (theyre also building these in their Bridgeland MPC) to their product mix. In disposition news, this week the Wall Street Journal is reporting that theyve sold 110 N Wacker in Chicago for more than $1B (HHC has JV partners here, the property has debt, but that exceeded my expectations for a covid office sale). Theyre still too heavy on office for my liking (about 50% of NOI) but have essentially stopped new development in that sector in favor of covid beneficiaries.

4. Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR)

Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares Stake Value: $1,464,720,000

Percentage of Bill Ackmans Pershing Squares 13F Portfolio: 15.47%

Number of Hedge Funds: 22

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) is a fast food holding company founded in 2014 following the merger of American fast-food chain Burger King and Canadian coffee shop and restaurant operator Tim Hortons. The multinational holding company increased its footprint in 2017 following the acquisition of an American fast-food chain, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. The Toronto, Ontario-based corporation is the fifth biggest fast-food restaurant operator globally behind Subway, McDonalds, Starbucks, and Yum! Brands.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) stock has been a part of Pershing Squares portfolio since its inception in 2014. The hedge fund initiated a long position of over 38 million shares initially, which was tweaked every quarter, reaching an all-time high of 39.15 million shares in Q1 2016 and an all-time low of 15.08 million in Q4 2020.

In the Q3 2021 investor call, Pershing Square revealed that Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) is making progress in achieving its growth plans. The hedge fund highlighted that the locations in super-urban locations and restaurants without drive-through facilities are struggling the most at this point in time. However, it believes that the issues related to Burger King in the US are fixable, and the companys new president Tom Curtis is expected to turn things around.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) was discussed in the Q2 2021 investor letter of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Heres what the firm said:

QSRs franchised business model is a high-quality, capital-light, growing annuity that generates high-margin brand royalty fees from three leading brands: Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes. The company has nimbly navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to make progress on returning its brands to sustainable long-term growth. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has bolstered its safety procedures and is accelerating its digital investments by expanding its delivery footprint, modernizing its drive-thru experience, increasing mobile ordering adoption, and improving its loyalty programs. As the global recovery continues to be uneven, these initiatives will allow the company and its franchisees to serve customers in a safe and reliable manner. Each of the companys brands are at various stages in recovery, with Burger King and Popeyes having returned to growth, while Tim Hortons is well on its way to recovering. On a two-year basis, same-store-sales grew 2.4% at Burger King and 24.4% at Popeyes during the last quarter. Meanwhile, Tim Hortons in Canada has improved to a mid-single digit decline in July, with each month during the second quarter showing sequential improvement. Tim Hortons slower recovery is largely driven by strict COVID-19 restrictions in Canada, which were only recently lifted in large provinces such as Ontario. In rural and suburban parts of Canada where restrictions were lifted earlier, Tim Hortons has already returned to growth. Given the habitual nature of Tim Hortons customer base, the recovery in sales will be tied to mobility and reopening. The company expects to return to its historical mid-single-digit unit growth this year, and recently announced expansions for both Tim Hortons and Popeyes in large international markets. As underlying sales trends at each of its brands continue to improve, and as the impact from COVID-19 restrictions ease, we believe Restaurant Brands share price will more accurately reflect our view of its improving business fundamentals.

In addition to Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR), Bill Ackmans Pershing Square portfolio includes companies like Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT), Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), and Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) as of Q3 2021.

Click to continue reading and see Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Portfolio: Top 3 Stock Picks.

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Disclosure: None. Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Portfolio: Top 6 Stock Picks is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Boris Johnson broke lockdown laws and has shredded the UKs reputation over the Partygate scandal, John Major has warned  telling The Independent that Tory MPs may have to rise up to oust him.

In a blistering attack, the prime minister was accused of inventing unbelievable excuses to obscure his clear flouting of Covid rules, shattering trust in British democracy at home and abroad.

Sir John insisted deliberate lies to parliament have been fatal to political careers  and must always be so, making clear Mr Johnson must quit or be forced out, if he misled the Commons.

And he put Tory MPs on notice to put country before party, if necessary, even to the extent of joining forces with opposition MPs if the crisis ends in a Commons vote of confidence.

The warning of a shredded reputation dogged Mr Johnson on a trip to Poland to warn of Russias threat to Ukraine  where he called it demonstrably untrue, while ducking questions about the police probe into No 10 parties.

In further evidence of his inability to escape the scandal, a cabinet minister admitted more damaging photos of parties are likely to be leaked in the coming days  as Dominic Cummings has predicted.

Speaking in London, Sir John attacked Mr Johnson over the parties and both weak cabinet ministers and the cabinet secretary for failing to stand up to his rule-breaking.

At No 10, the prime minister and officials broke lockdown laws. Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable, he said.

The lack of trust in the elected portion of our democracy cannot be brushed aside. Parliament has a duty to correct this. If it does not, and trust is lost at home, our politics is broken.

Questioned by The Independent, the former Conservative prime minister said Tory MPs may have to side with opposition parties, if Mr Johnson is found to have lied  but has survived a confidence vote of his own MPs.

I hope Conservative MPs would always put country before party, in all circumstances, he said, when asked about a confidence vote on the Commons floor.

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The intervention came as Tory MPs still await the full Sue Gray report and the conclusion of the Met investigation, before deciding whether to demand a party no-confidence vote.

The prime ministers problems deepened when the police sent out 50 questionnaires to individuals believed to have broken rules at the parties  including to him, it is believed.

A flustered Mr Johnson refused to say whether he had received a letter, or whether he will resign if he is fined by police, in a series of difficult interviews in Brussels and Warsaw.

You are going to hear all in due time on that matter, the prime minister said, on receiving a Met questionnaire, adding: I will have more to say on all that when the process is complete.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, told Times Radio: Yes, there could be a photograph tomorrow, the next day or the day after  thats clearly whats behind some of the peoples motives.

In a wide-ranging attack, speaking to the Institute for Government, Sir John also:

* Appeared to blame Mr Johnson for the hounding of Keir Starmer over the Jimmy Savile smear  saying: Lies can become accepted as fact, as the speaker has pointed out.

* Attacked the Borders Bill for introducing four-year jail terms for asylum seekers reaching the UK by an unsanctioned route  calling it punishment without compassion.

* Attacked moves to allow the police to impose conditions on protest marches likely to be noisy.

* Warned that undermining [the BBC] and starving it of funds is self-defeating for UK interests.

Asked if he had shredded the UKs reputation abroad, Mr Johnson replied: That is demonstrably untrue.

Pointing to the UKs efforts to counter the Russian threat in eastern Europe, he added: You can see that, actually, it is the United Kingdom that has been working for months to warn people about what was happening.
A Goshen man charged with tackling a police officer outside the U.S. Capitol last Jan. 6 has asked a judge to move his trial out of Washington, D.C., arguing that any jury that hears his case there would be biased against him.

In court papers filed Wednesday, the attorney for retired New York City police officer Thomas Webster argued that saturation coverage of the Capitol riots by Washington media, combined with the overwhelmingly Democratic population and huge number of federal workers living there, would impel D.C. jurors to convict his client, regardless of the evidence debated in court.

Thomas Webster of Goshen is shown grabbing the gas mask of a police officer outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in an image prosecutors provided in court papers. The former Marine and retired New York City police officer faces seven charges for his alleged assault during the pro-Trump riot.

"As a result of these intimate connections, District residents see themselves as victims of the events which transpired on January 6th," wrote attorney James Monroe of Goshen.

Local defendants: Status of cases against 13 riot suspects from Hudson Valley

Released: Jailed riot suspect from Goshen gets judge's approval to return home

Transfer request: Jan. 6 defendant seeks move from Virginia jail to Orange County

Webster, a 55-year-old former Marine who has owned a landscaping business since retiring from the NYPD in 2011, is set to stand trial on seven charges in U.S. District Court on April 4 after rejecting a plea offer from prosecutors. The charges include felony counts of civil disorder and assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.

Webster is one of more than 700 people charged with participating in the Jan. 6 riots and the first of 13 defendants from the Hudson Valley who is scheduled to stand trial. Two other local suspects have pleaded guilty.

At least two other pre-emptive attempts by fellow riot suspects to move their trials from Washington before jury selection have been shot down.

A judge in October rejected a request by alleged militia member Guy Reffitt to transfer his trial to his home state of Texas, saying the court's practice has been to wait for jury selection to begin before considering arguments about potential bias. Reffitt's trial is set to start Feb. 28.

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Another judge in December turned down a request by Kyle Fitzsimons of Maine to move his trial on 10 felony counts, also calling the argument premature before attorneys began questioning prospective jurors.

In addition to Webster, an Iowa woman and her son - both charged with participating in the Jan. 6 riots - also filed motions this week to move their trials out of D.C. based on a presumption that jurors will be biased against them. All three defendants cited polls of Washington voters that found majorities believed the defendants had committed crimes.

The poll invoked by Webster's lawyer reportedly found that 84% of 400 surveyed Washington residents held negative views of the riot suspects, and that 52% said they would likely find one guilty if chosen as a juror.

Webster's motion for a venue change also noted that 92% of D.C. voters who cast ballots in the 2020 election supported President Joe Biden. That "lopsided political makeup" made it impossible to find a jury "that is not entirely composed of people preordained to find Webster - a presumed Trump supporter - guilty," his attorney wrote.

The motion didn't specify where other than D.C. the trial should be held.

Webster is charged with assaulting a D.C. police officer who was guarding the U.S. Capitol against an advancing crowd of Donald Trump supporters, wrestling the cop to the ground and pulling so hard on his gas mask that it cut off the officer's breathing. He is not accused of entering the Capitol in the ensuring siege that interrupted the certification of Biden's election victory.

Webster's attorney has indicated he will argue at trial that his client acted in self-defense and that the cop provoked the attack by punching Webster.

Webster has been confined to his home since Judge Amit Mehta released him from a Virginia jail last jail. Webster had spent more than four months behind bars after turning himself in to the FBI in New Windsor last Feb. 22.

cmckenna@th-record.com

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Capitol riots suspect from Goshen asks judge to move trial out of D.C.
Capstone Green (CGRN) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.34 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.22. This compares to loss of $0.30 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -54.55%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of turbine systems for energy generation would post a loss of $0.19 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.40, delivering a surprise of -110.53%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has not been able to surpass consensus EPS estimates.

Capstone Green , which belongs to the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry, posted revenues of $20.61 million for the quarter ended December 2021, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.71%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $20.68 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Capstone Green shares have added about 15.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -3.8%.

What's Next for Capstone Green?

While Capstone Green has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

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Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Capstone Green: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.17 on $22.15 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$1.05 on $75.31 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Alternative Energy - Other is currently in the bottom 43% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Texas Pacific (TPL), has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2021. The results are expected to be released on February 23.

This landowner is expected to post quarterly earnings of $10.97 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +90.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Texas Pacific's revenues are expected to be $128.26 million, up 72.6% from the year-ago quarter.



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Postmates has pledged $1 for each personalized Valentine sent by February 14, committing up to $20,000

LOS ANGELES, February 11, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) will travel to a galaxy far, far away for its annual Valentines Day card drive on CHLAorg.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210006076/en/

To send a Valentine's Day card with a personal message to a patient at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, go to CHLA.org/Valentine. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Individuals may go to chla.org/Valentine and create an outer space-themed Valentine for a patient. Supporters may choose from three animated galactic designs (a unicorn jumping over the moon, a koala riding a rocket ship and an alien orbiting Earth in a UFO) and write a friendly message of cheer for CHLA s pediatric patients. For each Valentine sent from Feb. 1 14, Postmates has pledged to donate $1 to CHLA, committing up to $20,000.

"Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, the hospital has had to limit visitors and scale back this years Valentines Day celebration," says Carol Hamamoto, CHLA Child Life and Expressive Arts Manager. "These Valentines are a wonderful way for the community to send love and joy (safely!) and connect with our patients."

Indeed, these special Valentines with positive, thoughtful and kind words lift CHLA patients spirits and let them know how much people care. This year, Valentines will be printed in color and black and white coloring cards. In past years patients have received Valentines Day cards from the Los Angeles community and supporters across the country, as well as international holiday well-wishes from Australia, Europe, Asia and South America.

About Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Founded in 1901, Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the highest-ranked childrens hospital in California and fifth in the nation on the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of best childrens hospitals. U.S. News ranks Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in all 10 specialty categories. Clinical care at the hospital is led by physicians who are faculty members of the Keck School of Medicine of USC through an affiliation dating from 1932. The hospital also operates the largest pediatric residency training program at a freestanding childrens hospital in the Western United States. The Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is home to all basic, translational, clinical and community research conducted at the hospital, allowing proven discoveries to quickly reach patients. Our mission: to create hope and build healthier futures. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter, and visit our blog at CHLA.org/blog.

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About Postmates

Postmates, an Uber company, is a leader in delivering your favorite restaurants and a whole lot more on demand. The platform gives customers access to a massive selection of merchants in the U.S. with more than 600,000 restaurants and retailers available for delivery and pickup. Customers can get free delivery on all merchants by joining Postmates Unlimited, the first subscription service.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210006076/en/

Contacts

Monica Rizzo

Office: (323) 361-5745

E-mail: mrizzo@chla.usc.edu
China is facing a heightened threat from terrorism, its top envoy to the United Nations said, after a UN report that members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement had called for jihad, or holy war, in Xinjiang.

Speaking at a UN meeting on Wednesday, ambassador Zhang Jun also urged the Taliban government in Afghanistan to take further action to combat terrorism.

"In Afghanistan, the withdrawal of foreign troops has created a vacuum in the security situation, providing an opportunity for terrorist forces to take advantage of the chaos," Zhang said at the meeting on threats to international security from terrorism.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"Any passivity and negligence on counterterrorism, any tolerance of terrorism ... and the use of terrorist forces for geopolitical gains are a betrayal of the victims of terrorism and will have serious consequences," he said, according to the official China News Service.

Beijing is concerned about the Taliban's historic ties to Uygur militants, particularly ETIM, also known as the Turkestan Islamic Party - a Uygur separatist group that Beijing partly blames for ethnic tensions in its far western Xinjiang region.

Weeks after US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in August, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese state tabloid Global Times that many ETIM members had left the country.

But the UN Security Council said in a report last week that 200 to 700 ETIM fighters had remained in Afghanistan. It said they had been relocated from their traditional stronghold in Badakhshan province, on the border with China, to Baghlan, Takhar and other provinces as part of the Taliban's efforts to both protect and restrain the group.

The group remained "active in military training and in planning terrorist attacks against Chinese interests", according to the report. It said members had been encouraged to strengthen their ties to Afghanistan by becoming refugees or Afghan citizens "as a means of more deeply entrenching the group in the country".

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Some members had frequently visited the Wakhan Corridor "calling for a return to Xinjiang for jihad", the report said, adding that the group was now working with other jihadist groups "to plan attacks on Chinese interests" in China's neighouring countries, including Pakistan and Tajikistan.

On Wednesday, Zhang called for more efforts to address the threat posed by ETIM and "to cut off its links with Islamic State, eliminating the space in which it breeds".

The UN estimates that 1,000 to 3,000 Uygur militants are fighting for Isis in Syria, where they have cooperated with local jihadist groups to recruit and train foreign fighters as well as the children of ETIM members, according to the report. It warned that Isis had sought to recruit fighters "under the leadership of a Uygur team, in an attempt to expand the organisation and support the group's cause".

China has long been wary that the Wakhan Corridor - a narrow, inhospitable and barely accessible strip of land between China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan - could become a conduit for Uygur militancy in Xinjiang. Concerns that extremism and terrorism in Afghanistan and Central Asia could spill over into Xinjiang and threaten its investments in the region have grown since the Taliban seized power in August.

Regional security cooperation was among the areas discussed when Chinese President Xi Jinping met Central Asian leaders in Beijing last week. He told Tajik President Emomali Rahmon that China was "willing to work with Central Asian countries to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation to jointly tackle security challenges".

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Members of the SouthernTech Board of Education along with other community and education leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new aviation technology building.

The companies and businesses located at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark are an integral part to the city's current and continued success, and the aviation industry is a crucial component of many of these businesses  businesses already in place and businesses coming in the future.

On Thursday morning the community gathered at SouthernTech for a groundbreaking ceremony of the new aviation technology building to take a step forward in building that future. Once complete, students who will be educated in the facility will learn how to build and repair aircraft.

Dr. Eric Ward, Superintendent of SouthernTech, welcomed everyone to the ceremony and described the mission of the school and the future aviation technology building.

"Our mission at SouthernTech is to provide high quality skills-based technical education opportunities that drive economic success," Ward said. "Economic success impacts all of us today as well as the generations of citizens that are yet to come. I think that's something that we have to remember we're not just doing this for today but for those students who haven't even been born yet."

"The aviation building will provide yet another opportunity to prepare students in southern Oklahoma for successful careers that are currently in aviation and preparing students for aviation careers that don't yet exist," he said "It's exciting to see all the growth that is happening in our area and we're anxious to continue developing the workforce for the quality jobs that everyone is bringing to our region."

More: SouthernTech Announces New Leadership

Bill Murphy, President and CEO of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce and the Ardmore Development Authority, discussed how the new aviation program will help Ardmore and the entire state be more competitive when attracting new business.

"We value the partnership that we have with SouthernTech,and I've see firsthand throughout Oklahoma how the technical school system has made a huge difference in our ability to be competitive in the economic development projects," Murphy said. "That is no more true than with our aerospace and aviation industries. The Ardmore Industrial Airpark is a jewel in the state of Oklahoma. We've got some great partners in King Aerospace and others. Just as importantly, we have a host of prospective companies that are looking at our airpark, and this program will help us to have a leg up on our competition."

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Eddie Compton, Aerospace and Defense Industry Liaison with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, spoke about how the graduates of the aviation program will be in high demand.

More: Minority Chamber of Commerce brings networking, advocacy to area small business and nonprofit organizations

'You're investing in A&P technicians that are so short in the nation today," Compton said. "Between now and 2041, we need to make another 13,000 A&P technicians, and that's not counting those who are retiring. The average age of an A&P technician in Oklahoma today is 55, and we graduate anywhere between 200 to 300 per year in the state."

He said these graduates are not only in demand in the aviation industry, but also in the engineering and leisure industries such as amusement parks because of their ability to do highly reliable maintenance work. He noted the average starting salary for an A&P technician is between $50,000 and $55,000 per year, and salaries "skyrocket" after a few years of experience.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Ardmoreite: SouthernTech has groundbreaking ceremony at new aviation tech building
Thursday night felt like it would be a joyous occasion for DeMarcus Ware and Cowboys fans. However, in a shocking turn of events, the seven-time All-Pro didnt make the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. It was a big night for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and his biggest asset, Micah Parsons, though as they were named Assistant Coach of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year respectively.

Wide receiver Michael Gallup will be one of the most intriguing talking points during the next month with free agency on the horizon and his future in Dallas being a mystery. Multiple injuries could lower his price and lead to his return, which would certainly make offensive coordinator Kellen Moore happy. Also on the menu for Thursday was a look at what the Cowboys need to do to make a Super Bowl run next season, and Lael Collins possibly moving back to guard. Here are the news and notes.

NFL heading to Germany in 2022; could Cowboys make the trip? :: Cowboys Wire

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The Cowboys arent strangers to playing overseas, last doing so in 2014 in London. However, the NFL is expanding its international series beyond London and Mexico City by playing its first game Germany in 2022. With 10 teams set to play outside of the United States next season, it would be wise to think that the Cowboys, with their popularity, will be one of them, and it could be in Munich.

2022 Cowboys Free Agency: 3 soon to be free agents to watch in the Super Bowl :: Blogging The Boys

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NFL free agency is a frustrating time for Cowboys fans as Dallas usually pinches their pennies. Although they arent big players on the open market, the Cowboys have some options if they choose to move on from players like Randy Gregory and Michael Gallup. RJ Ochoa lists edge rusher Von Miller, wide receiver Odell, and safety Jessie Bates as Super Bowl participants to keep an eye on.

Mailbag: Free Agent Priority? Collins To Guard? :: The Mothership

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David Helman and Nick Eatman dive into who should get the most attention among the Cowboys 21 unrestricted free agents. Also, neither would be opposed to seeing Lael Collins switch back to guard, if he wants to that is.

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Snubbed: Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware not elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame :: Cowboys Wire

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Ware is the Cowboys all-time leader in sacks with 117 and accumulated 138.5 for his career. Throw in seven All-Pro selections, nine Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl ring, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he would make the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Well, things didnt go as planned on Thursday night as Ware was not selected to joined football immortality in Canton, Ohio.

Cowboys LB Micah Parsons wins NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year :: Cowboys Wire

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Parsons may need to purchase another home just to hold all of his accolades from an amazing rookie season in 2021. This one was a no-brainer though as Parsons was named the NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year in unanimous fashion, making him the first player in league history to do so.

NFL Honors: Cowboys DC Dan Quinn wins 2021 Assistant Coach of the Year :: Cowboys Wire

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Quinn had quite the task this season by taking over the worst defense in Cowboys history. His hands-on approach paid dividends in 2021 as the defensive unit in Dallas led the NFL in turnovers, and it got Quinn selected as the leagues top assistant coach.

'I'm getting goosebumps': Cowboys great DeMarcus Ware awaits Hall of Fame immortality :: Cowboys Wire

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Ware was one of the best pass rushers of his generation and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. The former first-round pick was on the edge of his seat before the 2022 class was announced as he looked to be a first-ballot inductee.

Dallas Cowboys 2022 free agents: Where WR Michael Gallup should fit in the Cowboys plans :: Blogging The Boys

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Gallup will be one of the most important decisions the Cowboys have to make free agency. He had a rough 2021 campaign injury-wise which could lead to a short-term prove-it deal next season. Also, with the possible departure of Amari Cooper as a cap causality, his return to Dallas could end up being a necessity.

How Dallas Cowboys can make run to 2023 Super Bowl :: FOX Sports

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Dallas fell extremely short of expectations with a first-round exit in the playoffs. Matt Mosley dives into what they can do to make a deep run in the postseason in 2022 which includes fixing Dak Prescott, finding left tackle Tyron Smiths replacement and making their defense even more lethal.

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Death on the Nile

Rob Youngson/Twentieth Century Fox

Gal Gadot's Death on the Nile reportedly won't be hitting theaters in Lebanon or Kuwait.

Neither country will be playing the upcoming Disney movie due to their objections to Gadot's past 2-year service in the Israeli military, according to Deadline.

Gadot, 36, who was born in Israel, served in her native country's military prior to becoming a model and actress  as all citizens are required to do.

Israel and Lebanon are technically at war, and the Arab nation has a law that bans Israeli products.

Neither a rep for Gadot nor Disney responded to PEOPLE's request for comment.

RELATED: Armie Hammer's 'Priority Is to Be Sober' as He and Elizabeth Chambers Focus on Coparenting: Source

This is not the first time a country has banned Gadot's films. Lebanon previously blocked Wonder Woman from release in theaters there in 2017, as well as its sequel Wonder Woman 1984, according to the outlet.

Death on the Nile, which sees Kenneth Branagh reprise his role as the detective Hercule Poirot from Murder on the Orient Express, will open Friday in the U.S.

Death on the Nile Poster

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The film has already faced controversy after costar Armie Hammer was accused of sexual assault in January 2021 (The movie was filmed before the allegations).

Hammer is currently facing rape allegations for a 2017 incident with a former partner. The woman, identified only by her first name Effie, said Hammer "violently raped" her for four hours in Los Angeles in 2017, during which he "slammed [her] head against a wall" and "beat [her] feet with a crop."

RELATED: Lebanon Officially Bans Wonder Woman Screenings Because of Israeli Star Gal Gadot

In a statement previously shared with PEOPLE, Hammer's lawyer denied the rape allegations, stating that the encounter between Hammer and Effie was "completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory."

After Effie's March 2021 press conference, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Hammer was under investigation for sexual assault in a case that was opened that February.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Overcoming the limitations of existing polymer fillers

Successfully completed its pre-IPO funding of KRW 26 billion Set its pre-investment valuation at KRW 250 billion

Participated in the worlds largest beauty fairthe Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress (AMWC)to demonstrate its competitiveness

SEOUL, South Korea, February 11, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Korea is expected to enter the super-aging era at the fastest rate globally, and a wide range of its consumers in the market are expected to be comprised of its elderly population. As the economically competent senior generation is attracting attention due to its buying power, various anti-aging products are being introduced into the beauty market. According to Hebronstar, which specializes in management consulting, the domestic anti-aging market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 13.2%, with cosmetics leading 75% of this growth, followed by the medical sector (18%) and service sector (7%).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210006093/en/

The 1st Fully Liquid type PCL Injectable for Fundamental Skin Anti-Aging care. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Given the transition of the senior generation into a new major consumer class, the skin beauty market is trending toward minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures that can cover aging beyond beauty. Botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid filler are the anti-aging procedures that currently lead the market. However, these products have clear limitations in terms of their lasting effectiveness. In addition, owing to the intensified competition due to the markets low entry barriers, consumers ability to discern the quality of various products remains limited.

DEXLEVO is a venture company that has attracted significant interest due to its development of innovative products, such as the world's first successful liquid polymer fillers. The company emerged with a pre-investment valuation of KRW 250 billion during the pre-IPO funding process in November of last year.

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Goal to enter the global skincare market

Founded in 2013, DEXLEVO develops beauty products based on biodegradable polymer technology. After significant research, the company developed the worlds first liquid polymer fillers. DEXLEVOs liquid polymer filler is in a liquid form when outside the body, unlike existing small particle formulations. However, when injected into the body, it transforms into particles and regenerates collagen in the skin to express anti-aging effects. Jaewon Youthe CEO of DEXLEVOsaid, "While we were looking for an item after setting our business direction in the skincare field, we paid attention to the fact that biodegradable polymer filler products, which were popular in Korea at the time, are in small particle form and are only used in limited areas such as the nasolabial folds." He added, "By liquefying it, we have developed the worlds first liquid polymer filler without restrictions on use and side effects."

DEXLEVOs liquid polymer filler is different from existing fillers in that it promotes collagen regeneration within the skin. Existing fillers also have a collagen regeneration effect. However, since they are in the form of particles, it is impossible to inject them into the skin evenly. Thus, these fillers could only be used for topical areas such as nasolabial folds. However, DEXLEVO solved this limitation. When a high molecular compound is injected into the skin in liquid form, it can be used in various areas by regenerating collagen around the skin while transforming it into small particles within the skin.

Based on differentiated technology, DEXLEVO secured a European CE marking for the liquid polymer filler under the brand name 'GOURI' in the first half of 2021, thereby laying the foundation for its entry into the global market. In addition, upon launching 'GOURI' at AMWC, DEXLEVO signed supply contracts with local companies in Spain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Europe, Southwest Asia, and Latin America. Jaewon You stated, "With GOURI, which has received European CE (a conformity mark of EC directives) certification since 2022, we are entering into local markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. In Korea, the product approval process will be completed by 2022 and the product will be released in 2023, following which clinical trials with the US FDA will proceed."

Secured an investment value of KRW 250 billion

Jaewon You, who gained practical experience at Samyang Corporation and CELLTRION, observed great potential in the skincare market given the rapid restructuring of society into an aging one. Jaewon You stated, "In the pharmaceutical and biofields such as anticancer drugs and drugs for treating rare diseases, it is not easy to compete with global Big Pharma in terms of financial power and research ability, but I believed that we had sufficient competitiveness in the skincare field globally." He added, "Korea has a high interest in cosmetic procedures due to its culture that values extroversion, and I viewed this as an opportunity to utilize our excellent medical personnel and manufacturing base."

With the successful launch of 'GOURI' in 2021, DEXLEVO, which participated as the main sponsor of AMWC and signed a supply contract worth about 30 million dollars, raised KRW 26 billion in pre-IPO funding last November. Existing shareholders, which included MAGNA investment and HANA financial investment (KRW 10 billion), Smilegate Investment (Smilegate Aphrodite Serve One Fund; KRW 10 billion), Hyundai Venture Investment (Hyundai Youth Fund No. 2; KRW 4 billion), and Shinhan Capital (KRW 2 billion), participated in the pre-IPO funding.

Interestingly, the investment value was set at 250 billion won, which is approximately six times higher than the pre-investment standard (series B of KRW 40 billion in 2018). Jaewon You stated, "The original funding was planned to be KRW 20 billion, but it was increased to KRW 26 billion due to active investment requests from existing shareholders who highly evaluated the companys future growth potential." He added, "In addition to existing shareholders, many venture capitalists and private equity (PE) firms also expressed their intention to invest, but the existing shareholders alone exceeded the planned investment, so the external investment was excluded."

Additionally, Jaewon You stated, "The future of DEXLEVO is important, and I believe that an IPO is not the goal, but that the IPO will follow. The ultimate goal is to become the number one company in the global beauty industry."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210006093/en/

Contacts

DEXLEVO

Marketing Department

Chris Jeong

chrisjeong@dexlevo.com
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Dublin, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 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

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For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1c2m8u

CONTACT: CONTACT: 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




* To raise funding target to 4 bln euros by 2025

* Clean Oceans Initiative gives out 1.6 bln euros so far

* Aims to stop plastic waste from reaching the sea

By Simon Jessop

LONDON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - A group of European development banks plan to double its funding for global efforts to stop plastic waste from polluting the world's oceans to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion).

The Clean Oceans Initiative, led by the French and German development banks and the European Investment Bank is the largest such grouping targeting plastic pollution of the sea https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/plastics-clampdown-is-key-climate-change-fight-eu-environment-chief-says-2022-02-01.

Around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the oceans every year, most of it discarded on land or washed into rivers, the group said on Friday, threatening the marine environment and communities that rely on the sea for their livelihood.

The new target for 2025 builds on an initial funding goal of 2 billion euros by 2023, 80% of which has already been allocated to projects in countries including Sri Lanka, China, Egypt that will benefit more than 20 million people, the group said.

"The oceans are under severe pressure: they are polluted, littered, overfished, their species richness is massively compromised," Stefan Wintels, chief executive of German development bank KfW, said.

Earlier this week a review of more than 2,590 studies commissioned by the environmental group WWF https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?4959466/Ocean-plastic-pollution-to-quadruple-by-2050-pushing-more-areas-to-exceed-ecologically-dangerous-threshold-of-microplastic-concentration said that by the end of the century, marine areas more than two and a half times the size of Greenland could exceed ecologically dangerous thresholds of microplastic concentration.

This is based on projections that plastic production is expected to more than double by 2040 resulting in plastic debris in the ocean quadrupling by 2050, the WWF report said.

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The 1.6 billion euros already allocated by the group of European developments to tackle the issue took the form of long-term financing for projects that limit the discharge of plastics, micro-plastics and other litter through better management of waste, wastewater and storm water.

Improving management in developing countries, home to some of the fastest-growing and most densely populated cities, would help stop some of the 1.5 million tonnes of micro-plastics that end up in the sea every year, it said.

Led by France's Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), KfW and the EIB, the group also includes Italy's Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Spain's national promotional bank ICO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. ($1 = 0.8732 euros) (Reporting by Simon Jessop; Editing by Alexander Smith)
DUBLIN, February 11, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Europe MRI Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The European MRI market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 1.01% to grow to US$4.032 billion by 2026, from US$3.759 billion in 2019.

MRI refers to magnetic resonance imaging which is a medical imaging technique in which strong magnetic fields and radio waves are used to generate the images of the organs of the body.

The primary factors supplementing the demand for MRI systems in the European region include the constantly rising burden of a variety of diseases such as CVDS, brain disorders, and others.

According to the European Society of Cardiology, there are more than 6 million new cases of CVD in the European Union and more than 11 million in Europe as a whole, every year. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and levels of mean blood cholesterol are the main CVD risk factors causing CVD.

Moreover, the booming aging population in many countries of the region is further projected to supplement the market growth since old-aged people are more susceptible to chronic conditions such as brain disorders, vascular diseases, and heart conditions among others. According to the Ageing Europe Statistics, 2021, the older people (defined as those aged 65 years or more) will increase significantly, rising from 90.5 million at the start of 2019 to reach 129.8 million by 2050.

Germany is expected to hold a significant share in the market.

Based on country, the Europe MRI market is segmented into Germany, France, UK, Italy, and others. The European MRI market is also projected to show growth during the next five years owing to the fact that the health spending in many parts of the region such as Germany, France, and the UK has increased at a steady pace in the past years.

By country, Germany is projected to hold a significant share in the European market on account of the presence of a well-established healthcare system, the high burden of CVDs in the country, and the increased health spending by the country. In 2019, the health expenditure in Germany amounted to 410.8 billion euros, or 4,944 euros per inhabitant, and is further expected to increase every year.

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The growing prevalence of diseases is expected to drive the market of MRI in the region.

One of the key factors complementing the demand for MRI systems across Europe is the growing prevalence of diseases in many countries. MRI uses powerful magnetic fields, computers, and radio waves for capturing detailed images of the internal functioning of body parts.

MRI is widely used to monitor, detect, and treatment of a variety of diseases related to the chest, brain, and others. Thus, a significantly growing prevalence of a range of diseases in the region is playing a critical role in shaping up the European MRI market growth during the forecast period. For instance, according to reports from the European Commission, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the European Union.

According to the NCBI, around 45% of the total deaths in the European Union are due to CVD. More than 4 million Europeans die every year from CVD, primarily from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Furthermore, the burden of CVDs is anticipated to increase in the coming years due to the growing aging population in many countries of the region coupled with the unhealthy living lifestyle.

Additionally, the prevalence of diseases related to neurological disorders is also high in the region, which is further projected to amplify the demand for MRI scans, thus positively impacting the European MRI market growth during the coming years.

For instance, according to the data from the European Academy of Neurology, more than half of the European population (approximately 60%) suffer from a neurological disease. Also, the death and disease burden due to neurological diseases is high and ranks number three among all disease groups in Europe.

Pandemic Insights

COVID-19 significantly affected the diagnostics and treatment business of major healthcare companies in 2020. Companies like Siemens Healthcare GmbH and Phillips along with others recorded a substantial decline in their revenue on account of changes in industry and market circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Moreover, due to the second covid wave in the second half of the year 2020, the countries in the region had imposed several restrictive measures, which also had harmed the market revenue growth. In the year 2021, the market is expected to register a slight improvement, due to the introduction of vaccines and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Major companies stated that the market is expected to improve in the year 2021 and would also be expected to register significant growth in the years 2022 and 2023.

Companies Mentioned

General Electric

Siemens Healthineers AG

Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Holding AG

Esaote SpA

IMRIS

MR Solutions

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fbaxnw

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220211005217/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
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) ("Oracle") announced today that it has extended its tender offer in connection with the acquisition of Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq: CERN) ("Cerner") until March 16, 2022.

Oracle Logo (PRNewsfoto/Oracle)

In accordance with the terms of its merger agreement with Cerner, Cedar Acquisition Corporation, a subsidiary of OC Acquisition LLC, which is a subsidiary of Oracle, has extended the all-cash tender offer for $95.00 per share for all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Cerner (the "Shares") to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, at the end of the day on March 16, 2022. The tender offer was previously scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, at the end of the day on February 15, 2022.

Consummation of the tender offer remains subject to, among other conditions, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods or the obtaining of the required affirmative approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, applicable foreign competition laws or applicable foreign direct investment laws. The tender offer was extended to allow additional time for the satisfaction of the conditions to the tender offer.

Except for the extension of the tender offer, all other terms and conditions of the tender offer remain unchanged. The tender offer may be extended further in accordance with the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the depositary for the tender offer, has indicated that as of 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, at the end of the day on February 10, 2022, approximately 14,628,854 Shares had been validly tendered into and not validly withdrawn from the tender offer, representing approximately 3.8% of the outstanding Shares.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

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Trademarks

Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain certain forward-looking statements about Oracle and Cerner, including statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Oracle's proposed acquisition of Cerner, anticipated customer benefits and general business outlook. When used in this document, the words "can", "will", "expect", "opportunity", "promises", "goal" and similar expressions and any other statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements. Any such statement may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Oracle or Cerner, that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, described, expressed or implied in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibilities that the transaction will not close or that the closing may be delayed, that the anticipated synergies may not be achieved after closing, and that the combined operations may not be successfully integrated in a timely manner, if at all; general economic conditions in regions in which either company does business; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on how Oracle, Cerner and their respective customers are operating their businesses and the duration and extent to which the pandemic will impact Oracle's or Cerner's future results of operations; and the possibility that Oracle or Cerner may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of Oracle or Cerner.

In addition, please refer to the documents that Oracle and Cerner, respectively, file with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. These filings identify and address other important factors that could cause Oracle's and Cerner's respective operational and other results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements set forth in this document. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by law, neither Oracle nor Cerner is under any duty to update any of the information in this document.

Additional Information about the Acquisition and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell Shares. This communication is for informational purposes only. The tender offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from, or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any jurisdictions in which the making of the tender offer or the acceptance thereof would not comply with the laws of that jurisdiction.

The tender offer is being made pursuant to a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (including an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents) filed by Cedar Acquisition Corporation with the SEC on January 19, 2022, as amended or supplemented from time to time. In addition, on January 19, 2022, Cerner filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC related to the tender offer. Holders of Shares are urged to read these documents carefully (as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time) because they contain important information that holders of Shares should consider before making any decision regarding tendering their Shares. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to all holders of Shares at no expense to them. The tender offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will be made available for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Oracle and Cerner also file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expiration-date-of-tender-offer-for-cerner-corporation-shares-extended-to-march-16-2022-301480996.html

SOURCE Oracle
A Bengal cat seen displayed at the International Cat Show in - Credit: Hugo Amaral/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

The recent arrest of Heather Morgan and her husband Ilya Dutch Lichtenstein had everything: a pair of serial entrepreneurs conspiring to launder $4.5 billion in stolen Bitcoin, Morgans side hustle as a rapper named Razzklekhan, and, of course, the ultimate Status Cat: a Bengal named Clarissa, which is apparently illegal to own in New York City, where the couple lived.

After the duo was arrested Tuesday in what Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco called the departments largest financial seizure ever, the denizens of TikTok have just one question: Whats up with Clarissa?

More from Rolling Stone

In a filing by the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Thursday, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves opined that couple is a flight risk, and no conditions or monitoring will be sufficient to ensure they dont become fugitives. Oddly enough, Clarissa played a key role in this assertion. When law enforcement executed their search of the couples apartment on Jan. 5, Morgan and Lichtenstein apparently attempted to use their cat to distract federal agents. First, they asked if they could leave the apartment while agents were doing their search, and bring their beloved Clarissa with them. Then, Morgan allegedly took the opportunity  under the pretenses of pulling the cat from under their bed  to try to lock her cellphone, which was on the nightstand. Law enforcement had to wrest the phone from her hands, reads the filing.

Agents also found even more phones under the bed, as well as SIM cards and a bag labeled burner phone. That incident helped convince Graves that the couple might be a flight risk. Plus, the document states that in addition to having access to hundreds of millions of virtual currency, the defendants also have access to fake identities and papers purchased on the darknet  and financial accounts in both Russia and Ukraine.

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The pair had their initial appearance in the Southern District of New York on Feb. 8, where Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman ordered both defendants released on bond  $5 million for Lichtenstein, and $3 million for Morgan  subject to conditions including home incarceration, GPS monitoring, and restrictions on the use of Internet-connected devices. The government then filed a Motion for an Emergency Stay and a Review of Detention Order in the District Court for the District of Columbia. A detention hearing is now scheduled for Friday, and Morgan and Lichtenstein remain in custody.

As for Clarissas whereabouts? Neither the DOJ nor lawyers for the couple returned Rolling Stones request for comment.

Clarissa was a fixture on Morgans TikTok account, seen attacking a floppy hat as Lichtenstein looks on approvingly (inexplicably in his undies), battling her greatest foe, the TV, getting a Russian lesson from Morgan, and just generally destroying things, as Bengals are wont to do. In one particularly noteworthy clip, Lichtenstein explains how he samples Clarissas food before buying in bulk (If its palatable to me, it will be palatable to her) and how the picky cat is currently only eating food from New Zealand, as is her right.

The comments of Morgans TikTok are currently flooded with folks worried about the well-being of the cat, whose breed (a hybrid of a domesticated cat and an Asian leopard cat) usually sells for thousands of dollars. Is the cat going to be OK? one user asks, which is pretty much the refrain in the comments section of any video featuring Clarissa. We now add our voice to the masses. Is Clarissa OK? We hope so.

Has access to 3.5b of btc but is eating cat food pic.twitter.com/lFUhMl768J  Man Gogh  (@ManGoghnads) February 8, 2022

Details have slowly been emerging about the couple, including that Morgan, 31, is a fan of making art out of prosthetic eyeballs, has written for Forbes, and decided to take up rapping due to an unnamed professional mishap. Of her alter ego, Razzlekhan, she refers to herself as the infamous Crocodile of Wall Street, whos more fearless and more shameless than ever before and taking on everyone from big software companies to healthcare to finance bros.

Lichtenstein, 34, is a Russian-U.S. national who studied psychology at the University of Wisconsin, co-founded a MixRank, and, apparently, enjoys cat food.

Best of Rolling Stone
D.J. Buthe

Minnehaha County's former highway superintendent pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling money from the county and the South Dakota Association of County Highway Superintendents, Brookings County State's Attorney Dan Nelson announced.

Duane "D.J." Buthe pleaded guilty to grand theft by embezzlement, a class-four felony. As part of the plea, he agreed to pay $99,550.23 in restitution, which he paid Thursday. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17.

My focus in this case was to ensure the victims received compensation for their loss in a timely manner, and we did that today," Nelson said in a statement. "As part of the plea agreement, the state was able to secure the entire restitution amount for the association and Minnehaha County."

Buthe, 41, served as the county's highway superintendent for about seven years through 2020. Prior to that he'd been a project manager for the city of Sioux Falls. Last year, he took the public works director job in Brookings. He is no longer employed there.

More: Former Minnehaha County highway superintendent indicted on embezzlement charge

Shortly after taking that job, the Division of Criminal Investigation launched an investigation in May 2021 into missing funds from the state association of superintendents. Buthe had served as the association's secretary since 2013.

According to the charges, Buthe compiled retail transactions, cash withdrawals and other misappropriations from the association's account and with county funds. Buthe admitted that the funds were used for his personal benefit.

Class-four felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Ex-Minnehaha County Highway Superintendent D.J. Buthe guilty of theft
AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) said today it will participate in a fireside chat hosted by Deutsche Bank on Feb. 14, 2022, at 2 p.m. EST.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, USA. (PRNewsFoto/Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company) (PRNewsFoto/GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY)

Emmanuel Rosner will host Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer, in a post-earnings virtual fireside chat. A live Zoom video webinar of the event will be available on the company's investor relations website: http://investor.goodyear.com.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate. GT-FN

-0-

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-to-participate-in-virtual-fireside-chat-hosted-by-deutsche-bank-301481052.html

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
An $80 million investment that will see 29 organizations give 3 million training opportunities to help youth gain coding and digital skills

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 11, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Canada needs a workforce that is strong in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and capable of taking on challenges to compete in the digital economy. To make sure the next generation of young Canadians can thrive in that digital reality, the Government of Canada is supporting millions of students in improving their digital skills.

Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced the 29 organizations across the country that are receiving $80 million in funding in the third phase of the CanCode program.

This investment will enable these organizations to offer 3 million training opportunities for students, from kindergarten to Grade 12, to learn digital skills, like coding, data analytics and digital content development. Since 2017, CanCode has helped provide over 4.5 million coding and digital skills training opportunities to students and over 220,000 to teachers. With today's announcement, that means 7.5 million training opportunities will help millions of young Canadians be better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. CanCode also helps Canadian teachers acquire the know-how to incorporate new digital skills and technologies into their classrooms. As well, the program has a focus on encouraging under-represented groups, like Indigenous youth, Black youth and girls, to pursue careers in STEM.

CanCode also aligns with Canada's Digital Charter, a principles-based approach to building trust in the digital world. The first principle of the Charter is focused on ensuring that all Canadians have equal opportunity to participate in the digital world and the necessary tools to do so, including access, connectivity, literacy and skills.

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Quote

"To drive our economic success for years to come, we must support young Canadians in the digital world. By investing in resources that teach students things like coding and data analytics, we are helping them gain the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century economy. These are the skills that will help them transition from the classroom to research labs, shop floors and boardrooms."

 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick facts

As announced in Budget 2021, the Government of Canada is investing $80 million in CanCode. This investment is in addition to the $60 million from Budget 2019 and $50 million from Budget 2017.

In its first and second phases, CanCode helped provide over 4.5 million coding and digital skills training opportunities to millions of Canadian students and 220,000 to teachers. This third phase seeks to provide an additional 3 million training opportunities to students and 120,000 to teachers, with a focus on youth from under-represented groups.

CanCode has a student stream and a teacher stream. CanCode funding recipients deliver digital skills learning opportunities for students from kindergarten to Grade 12 and/or training programs and workshops for teachers.

CanCode is designed to complement educational curricula, promote awareness of coding, spark interest in coding and encourage digital skills more broadly. The long-term goal is to make Canada a leading innovation economy with a diverse and inclusive workforce.

In 2019, 27 projects from across Canada received funding from the CanCode program.

Organizations receiving funding today

Actua

Black Boys Code

BGC Canada (Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada)

Brilliant Labs

Canada Learning Code

COlab  Innovation sociale et culture numerique

Cybera

Edmonton Space & Science Foundation

Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach

FIRST Robotics Canada

Grandir Sans Frontieres

Hackergal

Information and Communications Technology Council

Institute for Ocean Research

Kids Code Jeunesse

LAUNCH Waterloo

Let's Talk Science

MindFuel Foundation

Neil Squire Society

Pinnguaq

Saskatchewan Science Centre Inc.

Saskatoon Industry Education Council Inc.

Science East

Science North

Science World BC (ASTC Science World Society)

Taking IT Global Youth Association

The Learning Partnership

University of Winnipeg Foundation

Youth Fusion

Associated links

Stay connected

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/11/c8725.html
Intel has established a blockchain accelerator scheme to contribute towards the development of more sustainable blockchains and mining operations.

Shipping later this year, the blockchain accelerator will focus on energy efficiency and the responsible and sustainable advancement of blockchain via the development of a product capable of handling high-demand, energy-intensive operations.

According to Intel, the new product will offer 1000x better performance than mainstream GPUs  which are today most commonly used for SHA-256 based mining  and will be implemented on a tiny piece of silicon to greater offset its energy output compared to other products on the market.

Intel also announced its first cohort of customers  BLOCK, which was formerly known as Square, and is now led by ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Argo Blockchain and GRIID Infrastructure. Its also possible that Intel has more suitors in the pipeline ahead of the launch.

Expanding on its motivation behind the accelerator, Intel said that its mammoth customer base was asking for more scalable and sustainable solutions in the blockchain space. To fulfil the demand, Intel is now focusing its efforts on realizing the full potential of blockchain via the development of more energy-efficient technologies.

It also noted the pitfalls of the Bitcoin mining industry, which have been plagued by hardware shortages and excessive pricing in previous years according to the tech giant. The Bitcoin mining space has faced fierce competition from regulators amid concerns over energy consumption and environmental fears.

Countries like the US, El Salvador and Kazakhstan have since emerged as safe havens for miners following an exodus from China in late 2021 due to a ban on all mining operations in the country.

To help quell the fears faced by miners under the spotlight of regulation and oversight, Intel formed the Custom Compute Group to develop further silicon-based products optimised for energy-intensive industries like Bitcoin mining that are looking to reduce their energy consumption.
How much a stock's price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.

Another thing that can drive investing is the fear of missing out, or FOMO. This particularly applies to tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.

What if you'd invested in Booking Holdings (BKNG) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to BKNG for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?

Booking Holdings' Business In-Depth

With that in mind, let's take a look at Booking Holdings' main business drivers.

Norwalk, Connecticut-based Booking Holdings Inc. is one of the largest online travel companies in the world. The companys travel-related offerings cover hotel rooms, airline tickets, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, things to do at customer destinations and travel insurance.



The company has agreements with hotels, airlines companies, cruise ships, transport companies and vacation providers, which enable it to accept bookings on their behalf. Information on these offerings and customer reviews are available on the companys owned or operated websites, thus helping customers take informed decisions.



Services in the U.S. are provided through the Booking Holdings.com website. The company employs two marketing strategies in the U.S.price-disclosed and name your own price or opaque.



International revenues are generated through Booking.com and Agoda. Booking.com is older and therefore, has more patrons. Agoda is an Asian company acquired in 2007. Booking Holdingss investment in Chinese travel company Ctrip facilitates the use of each others inventories in China and the U.S.



International results are comprised of revenues from rentalcars.com and Kayak. While rentalcars.com allows it to take rental car reservations, Kayak enables comparative shopping of Booking Holdings inventories. The acquisition of OpenTable that has allowed it to expand into restaurant reservations space, also contributes to the international revenues.



Booking Holdings distributes its services through merchant (31.2% of 2020 total revenues) and agency channels (63.5% of 2020 revenues). It also generates around 5.3% of 2020 revenues through advertisements on its websites, classified as the Advertising & Other category.



The agency model is more lucrative for the company. It generates revenues from travel-related transactions which include travel reservation commissions, GDS reservation booking fees and certain travel insurance fees.



Merchant model revenues are also derived from travel-related transactions which include ancillary fees, credit card processing rebates, customer processing fees along with the ones included in agency model.



Advertising & Other revenues are generated from KAYAK and Open Table.

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Bottom Line

While anyone can invest, building a lucrative investment portfolio takes research, patience, and a little bit of risk. If you had invested in Booking Holdings ten years ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.

According to our calculations, a $1000 investment made in February 2012 would be worth $4,863.61, or a gain of 386.36%, as of February 10, 2022, and this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.

The S&P 500 rose 239.30% and the price of gold increased 1.90% over the same time frame in comparison.

Looking ahead, analysts are expecting more upside for BKNG.

Booking Holdings is benefiting from substantial improvement in its booking trends owing to removal of travel restrictions. Further, the company is experiencing solid momentum in Europe which is a positive. Strong growth in rental car, airline ticket units and booked room nights is another positive. Additionally, solid momentum across the agency, merchant, and advertising and other businesses is contributing well. The ongoing vaccination drive and lifting up of travel restrictions in many parts of the world remain major tailwinds. Further, strengthening alternative accommodation business and flight capabilities are positives. Notably, the stock has outperformed its industry over a year. However, uncertainties related to Omicron variant of coronavirus remain concerns. Further, intensifying online travel competition remains a major negative.

Over the past four weeks, shares have rallied 7.84%, and there have been 2 higher earnings estimate revisions in the past two months for fiscal 2021 compared to none lower. The consensus estimate has moved up as well.

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Jan. 16"You Never Know "

Bruddah Waltah featuring Ryan Hiraoka Rubbah Slippah Productions Big Island resident Bruddah Waltah Aipolani holds an important place in Hawaii music history. Known simply as Bruddah Waltah, he was one of the first big stars of the Jawaiian music boom. His debut album, "Hawaiian Reggae, " credited to Bruddah Waltah & Island Afternoon, won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for best contemporary album in 1991, and was the only album by a Jawaiian or reggae artist to win a Hoku until a separate reggae category was created in 1999.

Waltah had dropped off the charts by the end of the 1990s. He returns now in partnership with another Big Island-based Hoku winner, multifaceted Ryan Hiraoka, with the release of a digital single that Hiraoka wrote in honor of a third Hawaii recording artist important to the evolution of Hawaiian music, the late Don "King Don 1 " Ke 'ala Kawa 'auhau Jr., of Sudden Rush.

"You Never Know " has the good-time feel of a back-porch jam, with lyrics that are timeless and intensely relevant : "Don't be afraid to tell the people you love that you love them. Tomorrow is never promised. There are good times and bad times, and a season for every thing. Only God knows why the good ones go."

"You never know when life is pau."

Waltah recorded the song the day before he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. He has a GoFundMe page, 808ne.ws /waltah.

Bruddah Waltah, we love you !

"You Never Know " is available on all major streaming services.

"E 'Apo Mai Kaua "

Stacie Ku 'ulei Ku 'ulei Productions / Tin Idol Productions Stacie Ku 'ulei describes herself on Facebook as a "Singer Entertainer Lyricist Producer Hawaiian by Blood Kaua 'i Wahine Who WAILs PASSION from her SOUL." Her album proves the point with "Rise Up " / "E Ala E, " a Hawaiian medley that she sings with a passionate intensity transcending the language barrier. A second song, "Malama the Land, " is performed in English as well as Hawaiian. Once again, no translation of the Hawaiian lyrics is provided in the liner notes, but her commitment to the 'aina comes through.

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The album's nine songs display the breadth of her musical interests. Ku 'ulei sings in English and Japanese, and in styles including traditional hapa haole, modern hapa haole and mainstream pop.

Several show her appeal as a hapa haole performer. The instrumental embellishments on "Don't Tell Me, " a triumphant anthem of personal empowerment, is reminiscent of the urban-lite pop of the 1980s.

And then there's her Japanese-language calling card, "Toki No Nagare Ni Mi O Makase, " originally recorded by Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng in 1986, which demonstrates beautifully another facet of her repertoire (the title can be translated as "Leave It to the Flow of Time ").

There is also a Christmas song, "Christmas Joy, " that is likely to become a local holiday favorite in the years to come.

The album is available on iTunes. Complete hard-copy CDs, autographed for the buyer, can be ordered at staciekuulei29 @gmail.com.
Award-winning chocolatier Phillip Ashley is at it again.

Dubbed a real-life Willy Wonka for the designer bonbons, turtles, and other confections he turns out at his Memphis, Tennessee, factory, the preeminent chef recently unveiled a designer chocolate tribute that celebrates the rich history and undying spirit of Black people and their impact on food and American culture.

I wanted to do something unique and special for Black History month, he says. All too often, Black culture is circumvented yet capitalized upon. Soul food is American food and always interwoven throughout my work in general, whether subtle or direct. It was time we had a chocolate that celebrates who we are.

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The Phillip Ashley Chocolates Soul Food Collection box features illustrations by Memphis-based artist Rebecca Phillips of history makers like civil rights icon Rosa Parks, baseball great Jackie Robinson, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama.

There is also an ode to Memphis Stax Records and a nod to contemporary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Individuals who are known for their great work and works of art have always inspired me, says Ashley, , whose signature inscription, Every Chocolate Should Tell a Story,' is also etched inside.

The story of the 12-piece box of bon bons is all about the sweet and savory flavors of the South. They include banana pudding, red Kool Aid and candied yam, as well as the more unexpected flavors of hot sauce, baked mac and cheese, and fried chicken. Rum

Ashley says it all came to him the way most ideas have  in dreams. This collection got me up in the middle of the night, he says . It took about an hour to get the formulas out of my head and down on paper, and another day to refine them.

Phillip Ashley Rix, a noted confection maker, has created a new chocolate collection infused with the sweet and savory flavors of soul food favorites like cornbread, mac and cheese and fried chicken.

Candy featured on Oprah list

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Since founding the company in 2012, Ashley has gained an international following of celebrity clients and top corporations and created tens of thousands of chocolates for high-profile events like the Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars.

Business took off after the company was selected as one of Oprahs Favorite Things" in 2020. Rix went on to win a 2021 Good Food Award for one of his most creative and popular chocolates, The Savoy bon bon.

The Savoy was inspired by George Harrison and Eric Claptons song 'Savoy Truffle,' explains Ashley. Made with St. Agur blue cheese, which comes from a region in France, the cheese blends well with white chocolate. 

"Weve found that blue cheese naysayers seem to always end up loving Savoy the most, Ashley says.

Last summer, Ashley released a limited edition 50-piece "Taste of America" collection that featured a unique flavor for every state. He has also teamed up with Black-owned Uncle Nearest Premium Aged Whiskey on a 24-piece candy set, and created a "Taste of Memphis" collection that tells the story of his birthplace with a dozen unique flavors.

Ashley brings a unique perspective to the culinary world, says KJ Kearney, a community organizer and founder of Black Food Fridays which put a spotlight on Black-owned food and beverage businesses.

Representation matters in all facets of life,'' Kearney says. "As time marches on, it is imperative that the definition of what 'Black people do' is expanded, especially as it relates to food. Phillip Ashley provides both a taste of the culture as well as a glimpse into the future of Black culinary arts with each and every release.

A 'golden ticket' in candy boxes

The Phillip Ashley Chocolates Soul Food Collection is priced at $79 and available at www.phillipashleychocolates.com. Three of the 1,000 boxes in the collection also feature a golden ticket. The winners will receive nonfungible tokens (NFTs) of Ashleys Perfect Turtle candy set which offer access to tastings, exclusive product releases and future discounts. One "rare'' ticket will also offer a monthly chocolate delivery.

Soul Food Collection chocolate menu

Here's how Ashley describes his candy collection's flavors.

Barbecue candy

Our house-made Memphis style BBQ sauce blended with single origin dark chocolate.

Fried chicken

Phillip Ashley has created a soul food collection of chocolates featuring unexpected flavors like fried chicken.

Crackling made from deep frying chicken skins blended with blond chocolate and smoked sea salt.

Candied yams

Phillip Ashley has created candy collections with unique flavors like candied yams.

Sweet potatoes blended to sweet perfection topped with marshmallow. Just like Mama Jean made it.

Baked mac and cheese

Phillip Ashley is renowned for infusing chocolate with unique flavor combinations like mac and cheese.

My own blend of cheeses formulated to pair with white couverture for a silky, cheesy bonbon.

Collard Greens

Phillip Ashley is renowned for infusing chocolate with unique flavors like collard greens, which is one of several candies featured in a special Soul Food collection being released in February. l

Collard greens stewed in-house and blended with 58% dark chocolate.

Cornbread

Phillip Ashley's unique chocolates include a candy infused with the flavor of cornbread.

My dads cornbread recipe blended with white chocolate in a blond chocolate shell for a touch of caramelized sweetness. No Jiffy.

Cranberry sauce

Phillip Ashley has included a chocolate infused with the flavor of cranberry sauce in his special soul food collection that is available in February.

Cranberries cooked down with orange zest and a touch of vanilla, into a bright, tangy sauce blended with dark chocolate.

Banana pudding

A true soul food staple, fancied-up a bit. Bananas cooked with butter, vanilla and Cointreau blended with white chocolate in a blond chocolate shell.

Hot sauce

Louisiana Hot Sauce blended with dark chocolate.

Red Kool Aid

Phillip Ashley is renowned for infusing chocolate with unique flavors. Red Kool-Aid is among the flavors featured in his new, limited Soul Food collection being released in February.

A blend (of) the legendary red flavors infused (with) white chocolate.

V.I.P.

Phillip Ashley infuses chocolate with the flavor combination of sweet tea and lemonade in his new Soul Food candy collection being released in February.

Layer of sweet tea infused caramel and layer of lemonade white chocolate ganache.

Rum cake

Dark rum infused ganache in a white chocolate shell.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black History Month menu: Phillip Ashley Chocolates features soul food
Officer Billy Snyder (front row second from left), Nolan Wicks and Mark Harris pose with certificates and school officials after being honored Tuesday, Feb. 8.

MOORESVILLE  Members of the Mooresville Schools and Mooresville Metropolitan police departments were recently recognized for their quick actions to save a person's life during a vehicle crash along Indiana Street near the high school campus.

Officers Billy Snyder and Mark Harris of the Mooresville Schools Police Department and Nolan Wicks of the Mooresville Metropolitan Police Department arrived first on the scene and were able to pull the individual from the car by breaking a window and performing CPR until emergency medical services arrived.

The Mooresville Consolidated School Corp. Board of Trustees honored the three men at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Valentine's Day: Here's seven things to do on Valentine's Day in Morgan County.

Bond discussion

The school board also held a preliminary determination hearing to discuss an upcoming multimillion-dollar project to update facilities throughout the district.

The project will address preventative maintenance, renovations and upgrades.

"We have been able to maintain and operate our current facilities and construct additional ones without raising taxes for the previous twelve years," MCSC Superintendent Randy Taylor said. "Today, I am here to discuss with you another opportunity to renovate and improve all facilities throughout the district without increasing taxes."

Projects include HVAC, lighting, flooring, exterior envelope, curbing, asphalt, technology resource space and security improvements.

Others are reading: How to report potholes, poor road conditions in Martinsville, Mooresville and Morgan County.

Dan Rawlins, an architect with The Rawlins Group, LLC, noted there were three priorities for improvements: "Must Do," "Want to Do," and "If We Can."

"[Must Do] are going to be things that deal with life safety... air quality within the buildings, security, energy efficiency... just to help the education environment be better," he said.

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Rawlins said the priorities were determined by principals, administrators, and other officials weighing in on what they believed the priorities were within their own buildings.

"Most of this work is dealing with the infrastructure in each of the buildings," added Rawlins. "There are a few things that would be physical changes to the buildings. We're talking about going out to the agro-science building and doing a lot of remodeling... as well as putting the school corporation's server hub in a storm-safe shelter vault."

There are several milestones for the project, which includes a second hearing during the March school board meeting. May through July 2022 will include selecting a design build team and refining the final scope of the project.

"It would be the following spring and up to the fall of 2024 that we would complete the project," Rawlins noted.

The total target budget is currently at just under $25.4 million dollars.

Morgan County Bicentennial: Storytelling project looks to preserve local history through interviews.

"It is basically replacing debt that is retiring with a similar-sized debt," Rawlins said. "Trying to keep the same kind of monthly payment on the car when we get rid of one car and get another car, that same kind of theory."

Jim Elizondo of Stifel, an investment services firm based in Indianapolis, spoke about the financial requirements to make this project work.

"Our goal is to stay within that $.7874 tax rate," Elizondo said. "We have a hard and fast goal right there... anything we're proposing tonight will fit within that."

Elizondo explained in the last quarter of the year, the board will be able to refinance existing bond issues, which will help save money for the project.

"Right now in today's market, that's approximately a million dollars and change in savings," Elizondo told the board. "Again, markets change... There's about seven years left of that bond issue, so we've projected that those savings could be spread evenly over that period of time."

More information and final projections and estimates will be given at future hearings and milestone checkpoints for the project.

Regular business

The board voted in favor of renewing a contract with Kinum Collections, a collection agency the district uses for textbook rental fees and other costs. The cost of the contract will remain the same at $2,875.

The House Enrollment Act 1834 requires students to have taken a civics course prior to their eighth-grade year by the 2023-2024 school year. Assistant Superintendent Holly Frye said the district was prepared to offer the course beginning in the 2022-23 school year at Paul Hadley Middle School.

"This will be a one-semester course paired with our current course in college and career readiness," Frye said.

The board approved the request to add this course to the curriculum.

The board discussed the out-of-district application due date, which is set at May 27, 2022. The application is for students who wish to attend Mooresville schools for the 2022-23 school year.

"We do accept applications throughout the year, but having a deadline is not only required, but helps us to make staffing decisions over the summer," Frye added.

The board unanimously approved the deadline.

County news: County hires outside counsel for buffer zone work.

Finally, the board reviewed and approved the salvage of a non-working cook stove, a slush machine, and thirty chairs from the music room of Newby Elementary School.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Taylor reminded guests there will be a staff appreciation dinner on Feb. 23. More details will follow.

The next meeting of the school board will take place on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Education Center (11 W. Carlisle St. Mooresville).

Contact Reporter-Times reporter Grace Phillips at gphillips@reporter-times.com or at 765-346-4815

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Mooresville Schools recognizes police officers for actions at crash
With the help of four Democrats, the Florida Senate has passed a bill to carve out university and college president searches from the state's open government law.

The bill (SB 520) was OK'd Thursday afternoon by a vote of 28-11, just clearing the two-thirds margin needed for new Sunshine Law exemptions.

It's the first time proponents of the measure got the bill over the legislative goal line after eight previous attempts to pass similar legislation failed. It now has to get through the House before it can be sent along to the governor's desk for his signature.

"This ensures we get the broadest representation," said bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-Pinellas Park, pointing to the current president search at the University of South Florida.

More on the measure: Florida Legislature to again consider shielding university president searches from public

Opinion: Keeping university presidential searches out of the sunshine is still a bad idea

In a recent news report, the university's recruiter said "people aren't applying unless they are guaranteed a finalist spot."

Bill opponents and First Amendment advocates say the state is trading an open, transparent and successful process in the sunshine for a confidential process that would violate the public's right to know.

"This runs counter to the principles that guide us as a state and governing body," said Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Shrouding the process in secrecy would lead to more insider candidates who aren't qualified to be president, added Sen. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach.

They needed at least two more votes to ensure the bill's defeat.

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Story continues

University president searches not getting best candidates, sponsor says

The way president searches are conducted now, search committees don't begin by coming up with a list of qualifications but deciding which headhunter to hire, Brandes said.

And even though the candidates they recruit are public knowledge, they believe they aren't getting the best candidates out of fear of retaliation.

"That's how the process has become," Brandes said. "While we talk about sunshine ... its a tanning bed. We don't have real sunshine. It produces some of the effects of what we want, but not all."

Sen. Jeff Brandes stands at his desk on the first day of the Florida legislature's 2021 special session on gambling at the Capitol Monday, May 17, 2021.

The bill, if it becomes law, would keep the names of applicants and recruits in a university or college president search confidential until the search committee narrows down the list to the top three finalists. At that point, the public would have 21 days to vet the finalists.

Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg, who is Black, got personal: He recounted the harsh feedback his father received when he applied for president of a community college in the 1970s.

He said he voted for the bill to spare other families the kind of pain he and his family went through.

"I wont repeat the vile, hate-filled letters, filled with words we don't use on the floor of the Senate, because of his application," Rouson said. "I saw his pain at being disclosed to try to follow his dream."

Rep. Shevrin Jones speaks in opposition to HB 265, which would require parental consent for abortion, during debate of the bill on the House floor at the Capitol Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said he's "usually with my party on these types of bills," but not this one.

As an academic who has participated in executive searches, he said, it is difficult to choose qualified people under the current process.

Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, said the current process has produced many top provosts looking for a promotion to president, some of them leaving after two to three years because they weren't prepared for the role.

Five of Florida's 12 state universities are going to be searching for a new president in the coming years at a time when several other top institutions also will be competing in the presidential search.

"We should not tie our hands from having the broadest pool of applicants possible because the competition is going to be fierce," Rodrigues said. "Instead of banking on No. 2 looking for a promotion, wouldn't it be nice to find a president of a top-flight institution looking to move up?"

Jeffrey Schweers is a capital bureau reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida. Contact Schweers at jschweers@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.

Subscribe today using the link at the top of the page and never miss a story.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida university president searches may be shut off from public
Research Highlights:

In a Phase 2a clinical trial in China, the clot busting medication tenecteplase was effective in restoring blood flow to the brain without symptomatic brain bleeding.

Blood flow was safely restored to a small group of ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion, at 4.5 to 24 hours from time of last-seen-well using tenecteplase, therefore, larger direct comparison, clinical trials to validate this approach are needed.

Researchers say their findings indicate tenecteplase may someday extend the window for stroke treatment from 4.5 to 24 hours.

Embargoed until 11:28 a.m. CT/12:28 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

(NewMediaWire) - February 10, 2022 - NEW ORLEANS - If patients with clot-caused strokes obtain medical care more than 4 hours after their symptoms are noticed, it is too late to receive the standard clot-busting medication alteplase. However, in this study from China, tenecteplase appears to lengthen the window for additional stroke treatment to up to 24 hours, according to preliminary, late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Associations International Stroke Conference 2022, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health being held in person in New Orleans and virtually, Feb. 9-11, 2022.

A one-hour infusion of alteplase is the standard treatment for a clot-caused (ischemic) stroke, administered within 4.5 hours of first stroke symptoms. Alteplase dissolves blood clots that are blocking arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the lungs or brain and has been FDA-approved for the immediate treatment of ischemic stroke since 1996.

A newer medication, tenecteplase, is also a clot-busting medication and is a bioengineered variant of alteplase, and there are ongoing studies to determine its safety, efficacy and treatment parameters for ischemic stroke. Previous studies of Tenecteplase to treat acute ischemic stroke patients found it may be non-inferior to alteplase and may be superior for treating large-vessel strokes.

Story continues

The stroke burden continues to grow across the world, and particularly in China where stroke is the leading cause of death, said Xin Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of neurology at the Huashan Hospital of Fudan University and the National Center for Neurological Disorders in Shanghai, China. There are two major limitations in thrombolysis [treatment to dissolve dangerous clots and restore blood flow] with alteplase: the restricted time window of 4.5 hours, and a low rate of success in re-opening arteries and restoring blood flow when a large brain vessel is blocked.

To evaluate the potential of using tenecteplase to treat patients with large-vessel strokes, Cheng and colleagues studied 86 patients with ischemic strokes, treated at 13 different hospitals in China. The patients had brain imaging between 4.5 and 24 hours after they were last known to be free of stroke symptoms. On imaging, all study participants were found to have large, affected brain areas that could potentially be salvaged if blood flow was re-established and a few small areas that were unlikely to benefit from treatment (called a penumbral mismatch).

Study participants were randomly assigned to two groups:

43 patients (average age of 68 years; 58.1% male) received a lower (0.25 mg/kg) dose of tenecteplase; and

43 patients (average age of 67 years; 72.1% male) received a higher (0.32 mg/kg) dose of tenecteplase.

The researchers had determined a pre-established, combined, positive outcome of effectiveness and safety if there was major restoration of blood flow without symptomatic brain bleeding 24-48 hours after treatment. If more than 7 of 43 patients met the positive outcome criteria, that intervention dose of tenecteplase would be deemed of sufficient promise to warrant further study. In addition to tenecteplase, some patients underwent endovascular therapy (thrombectomy) to mechanically remove a clot, at the discretion of the treating physician.

The researchers found:

At the lower dose of tenecteplase, 14 of 43 patients (32.6%) achieved the designated positive outcome criteria.

At the higher dose of tenecteplase, 10 of 43 patients (23.3%) achieved the designated positive outcome criteria.

Among all study participants evaluated 3 months after treatment, more than half (53.5%) of the patients were no more than slightly disabled, not able to carry out all previous activities but did not require daily assistance, and 38.4% of the participants either had no significant symptoms of residual neurological deficits or had mild symptoms but were able to return to pre-stroke activities of daily living.

Tenecteplase appears to be safe and potent in reestablishing blood flow through blocked, large brain vessels, thereby preventing damage to brain tissue at risk of dying. Using perfusion imaging [to measure blood flow throughout the blood vessels] to assess patients with larger areas of potentially salvageable brain tissue and smaller areas that have already been lost to the stroke, it seems feasible that with tenecteplase we may be able to extend the time window for treatment to 24 hours after the time the patient was last known to be well. However, we still need more data from randomized controlled trials before practice changes to routinely include tenecteplase, Cheng said.

In the subset of patients who received tenecteplase and underwent endovascular therapy (also known as thrombectomy or mechanical clot removal), fewer patients (3 of 34, or 8.8%) reached the primary outcome measure of restoring blood flow without symptomatic brain bleeding, compared to those who received only tenecteplase (21 of 52, or 40.4%).

In our study, tenecteplase seems to be quite effective and safe in patients who do not need endovascular therapy. More research is needed to understand why tenecteplase was less effective in restoring blood flow and more likely to result in symptomatic brain bleeding among those who had endovascular therapy, Cheng said.

As a Phase 2a trial, the focus of this research was to evaluate whether a treatment is safe and effective enough to proceed to a larger clinical trial with more study participants and to determine the potential medication doses appropriate for further research. Based on the results of this trial, the lower dose of tenecteplase is being evaluated in a larger, nationwide, Phase 2b study in China to compare the effectiveness and safety of tenecteplase versus standard treatment.

The studys limitations include being a phase 2a clinical trial without a control group and these results from China may not be generalizable to other non-Chinese populations.

Strokes involving large arteries in the brain due to plaque build-up are much more common among people of Chinese or Asian ethnicity compared with people of Caucasian descent. These types of strokes usually have more sustained blood flow through collateral vessels than embolic strokes, which are caused by a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain. The optimal strategy to restore blood flow in patients with large-artery plaque build-up is unknown, and there is a question of whether endovascular treatment [thrombectomy] is appropriate and effective in this type of stroke. With a huge stroke burden and limited access to centers capable of endovascular treatment in China, a potent intravenous thrombolytic like tenecteplase may be more meaningful, Cheng said.

The latest ischemic stroke treatment guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend it may be reasonable to consider tenecteplase to treat ischemic stroke among select patients. Several recent clinical trials focused on ischemic stroke have directly compared alteplase and tenecteplase, however, large, Phase 3 trials are still ongoing.

Study co-authors are Lan Hong, M.D.; Leonid Churilov, Ph.D.; Jin Zhang, M.D.; Jianhong Yang, M.D.; Yu Geng, M.D.; Yifeng Ling, M.D.; Lumeng Yang, M.D.; Longting Lin, Ph.D.; Mark Parsons, M.D., Ph.D., and Qiang Dong, M.D., Ph.D. The list of authors disclosures is available in the abstract.

The study authors reported funding from the National Key R&D Program of China.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Stroke Association and American Heart Associations scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Associations policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Associations scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Associations overall financial information are available here.

Additional Resources:

The American Stroke Associations International Stroke Conference (ISC) is the worlds premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease. ISC 2022 will be held in person in New Orleans and virtually, Feb. 9-11, 2022. The three-day conference will feature more than 1,500 compelling presentations in 17 categories that emphasize basic, clinical and translational sciences as research evolves toward a better understanding of stroke pathophysiology with the goal of developing more effective therapies. Engage in the International Stroke Conference on social media via #ISC22.

About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. Connect with us on stroke.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-888-4STROKE.

###

For Media Inquiries and AHA Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: 214-706-1392; karen.astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org
Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill Wednesday to increases provisions for partners in the education tax credit program used to fund in-state K-12 private school scholarships.

Senate Bill 71 increases the amount of money South Dakota Partners in Education can give away as scholarships by 75%, from the current $2 million maximum to $3.5 million for the future.

While proponents of the bill said in hearings that it offers more "school choice" to South Dakota families and makes private school more accessible to families who otherwise couldn't afford it, opponents have said for years that the program diverts money from state coffers for the scholarships and have asked for more transparency on the program.

In hearings, it was revealed that 143 children are on a waiting list to get scholarships because they've been waiting for the amount to increase.

More: SD Senate votes to increase private school scholarships from tax credit program to $3.5M

SDPIE was established in the 2016 legislative session and awards scholarships based on free and reduced lunch status. The program gets its money from insurance companies that donate to SDPIE, which ensures 90% of their donation will make it into students' hands. In return, the company gets a tax credit for what they gave, and the state sees a fraction less revenue as a result of the program.

In the six years since SDPIE has been established, it's grown from giving 295 scholarships in the first year to 1,288 scholarships this school year. $2.2 million was awarded last year alone.

The program has 48 partner schools, including Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools, Sioux Falls Christian, Sioux Falls Lutheran, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Westside Christian School and Bethel Lutheran School.

More: House committee passes bill to increase tax credit program that funds private school scholarships

Noem signed a total of 14 bills on Wednesday, and has signed a total of 21 bills into law and vetoed one during the legislative session.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Gov. Kristi Noem increases South Dakota Partners in Education program
TheStreet.com

From our laptops and video game consoles to medical devices and even our cars, chips power much of what we use regularly, from the ways we work and travel to the ways we enjoy leisure time. The global chip shortage picked up steam in the first year of the pandemic and snowballed when China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) was hit with restrictions from the U.S. Department of Commerce during conflict between China and the U.S. Since then, people have either joined long waiting lists in hopes of eventually buying the items they want, or turned to the secondhand market to buy new cars and electronics, many of them marked up far above their market value.
TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2022 /CNW/ - Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Cathryn Hoy, RN has met with Premier Doug Ford for a second time and has negotiated a good-faith retention bonus for all front-line nurses in publicly funded facilities.

Ontario Nurses' Association Logo (CNW Group/Ontario Nurses' Association)

"While the Premier has not agreed to repeal Bill 124  yet  we have negotiated concrete commitments to implement several measures to fix Ontario's serious nursing shortage," says Hoy. "The government will resurrect the Late-Career Nursing Initiative, the New Graduate program, and will work with the Ontario Hospital Association to ensure exhausted nurses can take vacation. While the Premier has not agreed to repeal Bill 124 at this time, it is not off the table for further discussion and ONA will press the Premier on this issue."

Hoy says, "We will continue to meet with the government and we are pleased with the commitment today to collaborate with ONA on ongoing programs to retain nurses."

Hoy notes that, "The retention bonus negotiated today is for a lump-sum, $5,000 payment and the Premier indicated that this will go to the Treasury Board as early as next week for approval and further details on implementation."

There is further consultation planned, including initial conversations about fast-tracking RPN-to-RN bridging programs and ensuring a speedier process for IENs to enter the workforce. ONA also raised the need for more full-time nursing positions  with a target of 70% full-time  and the Premier did not disagree.

ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/11/c4200.html
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Panama Canal Railway CompanyGlobal Credit Research - 11 Feb 2022New York, February 11, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Panama Canal Railway Company and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 8 February 2022 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology (ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. 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ReportLinker

provides the strategists; marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global search engine optimization services market as it emerges from the COVID 19 shut down.

New York, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Search Engine Optimization Services Global Market Opportunities And Strategies To 2030: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06227766/?utm_source=GNW





Description:

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the search engine optimization services? How does the market relate to the overall economy; demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The search rngine optimization services market global report answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics; size and growth; segmentation; regional and country breakdowns; competitive landscape; market shares; trends and strategies for this market.It traces the markets historic and forecast market growth by geography.



It places the market within the context of the wider search engine optimization services market; and compares it with other markets.



The report covers the following chapters

Executive Summary  The executive summary section of the report gives a brief overview and summary of the report

Report Structure  This section gives the structure of the report and the information covered in the various sections.

Introduction  This section gives the segmentation of the search engine optimization services market segmentation by geography, segmentation by type of entity, segmentation by size of client firm and segmentation by end-use industry covered in this report.

Market Characteristics  The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the search engine optimization services market. This chapter includes different goods and services covered in the report and basic definitions.

Supply Chain  The supply chain section of the report defines and explains the key players in the search engine optimization services industry supply chain.

Service Analysis  The product analysis section of the report describes the leading services in the market along with key features and differentiators for those products.

Customer Information  This chapters covers recent customers trends/preferences in the global search engine optimization services market.

Trends And Strategies  This chapter describes the major trends shaping the global search engine optimization services market. This section highlights likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches companies can take to exploit these opportunities.

Impact of COVID-19  This section describes the impact of COVID-19 on the search engine optimization services market.

Global Market Size And Growth  This section contains the global historic (2015-2020) and forecast (2020-2025), and (2025-2030) market values, and drivers and restraints that support and restrain the growth of the market in the historic and forecast periods.

Regional Analysis  This section contains the historic (2015-2020) and forecast (2020-2025), and (2025-2030) market value and growth and market share comparison by region.

Segmentation  This section contains the market values (2015-2030) and analysis for different segments in the market.

Global Macro Comparison  The global search engine optimization services market comparison with macro-economic factors gives the search engine optimization services market size, percentage of GDP, and average search engine optimization services products market expenditure.

Regional Market Size and Growth  This section contains the regions market size (2020), historic (2015-2020) and forecast (2020-2025), and (2025-2030) market values, and growth and market share comparison of major countries within the region. This report includes information on all the regions (Asia Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa).

Competitive Landscape  This section covers details on the competitive landscape of the global search engine optimization services market, estimated market shares and company profiles of the leading players.

Key Mergers And Acquisitions  This chapter gives the information on recent mergers and acquisitions in the market covered in the report. This section gives key financial details of mergers and acquisitions which have shaped the market in recent years.

Market Background  This section describes the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market of which the search engine optimization services market is a segment. This chapter includes the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market 2015-25 values, and regional analyses for the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market.

Opportunities And Strategies This section includes market opportunities and strategies based on findings of the research.This section also gives information on growth opportunities across countries, segments and strategies to be followed in those markets.



It gives an understanding of where there is significant business to be gained by competitors in the next five years.

Conclusions And Recommendations  This section includes conclusions and recommendations based on findings of the research. This section also gives recommendations for search engine optimization services providers in terms of product offerings, geographic expansion, marketing strategies and target groups.

Appendix  This section includes details on the NAICS codes covered, abbreviations and currencies codes used in this report.



Scope

Markets Covered: 1) By Type Of Entity : Agencies SEO Services; Freelancers SEO Services

2) By Size Of Client Firm: Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes); Large Enterprises

3) By End-User: Professional Services; IT Services; Ecommerce; Hospitality; Recreation; Real Estate; Others



Companies Mentioned: WebFX; The SEO works Limited; Moz Incorporated; Wordstream; SEOimage.com



Metrics Covered: Number of Enterprises; Number of Employees



Countries: Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Thailand; Turkey; UAE; UK; USA; Venezuela; Vietnam



Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa



Time series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.



Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets; GDP proportions; expenditure per capita; search engine optimization services indicators comparison.



Data segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data; market share of competitors; market segments.



Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.



Reasons to Purchase

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Starfleet Innotech, Inc.

Following these latest developments, the global investment holding company intends to support their expansion efforts through proprietary software systems by their technology division

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, global investment holding company Starfleet Innotech, Inc. (OTC: SFIO) announced a series of expansions across new markets for their food and beverage businesses. Through their Malaysia-based team, SFIO has launched Hungry Dudes, a mall kiosk concept for cafe fare in Kuala Lumpur, with additional sites reserved for later this year. SFIO will soon be converting these Hungry Dudes kiosks into locations for their flagship F&B business, Epiphany Cafe.



Over the next two years, the company is targeting to launch at least 100 licensed outlets, establish centralized commissaries to service them, and strike strategic partnerships with convenience stores to boost brand awareness. By the end of 2023, SFIO plans to have flagship sites for Epiphany Cafe in 10 major regions.

To that end, SFIO also just opened their regional headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, following the successful completion of their registration in Dubai. This office will oversee the conglomerates growth in the region, beginning with negotiations with key distributors for the companys Gorgeous Coffee products. SFIOs Dubai team is now conducting market research and feasibility studies, paving the way for Epiphany Cafes entrance into the Middle East. This regional office will also serve as the remote hub for SFIOs technology division, managing the conglomerates subscription-based software and hardware offerings, such as the Neurosky health monitoring wearables that the company recently secured exclusive distribution rights over within the United Arab Emirates.

We kicked off this quarter with the announcement that 2022 will be the year we begin expanding aggressively, said CEO Jeths Lacson. Not even halfway through the quarter, weve already made significant progress entering two new markets with our F&B offerings.

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That said, its important to note that we are taking a measure-twice, cut-once approach to this growthentering markets only after weve done the requisite studies and properly localized our playbooks, Lacson said. Were excited about all the immediate growth were seeing, both in terms of global footprint and shareholder value. But we want to ensure this growth is sustainable in the long-term. So were investing heavily in understanding the markets were entering.

To further facilitate that growth, SFIO is also building out the capacities of its Philippines-based technology division. Richard Prodigalidad, who leads SFIOs technology efforts, describes this division as the scaffolding supporting this period of hyper-growth.

Right now, were expanding in multiple important directions, Prodigalidad said. Were entering new markets, while also striking partnerships to fund and accelerate those expansions. Behind all that is a global team, operating across time zones and various markets. The only way to ensure this is all scalable is through technology.

Prodigalidad leads a stable of developers, designers, project managers, and communications specialists working across blockchain, artificial intelligence, wellness technologies, e-commerce, and learning management systems.

Currently in the technology divisions pipeline is one such learning management system, designed to consolidate and streamline the training resources for businesses like Epiphany Cafe. Catering to the brands franchisees and employees across different markets, this digital learning platform replaces traditional training methods, allowing for more affordable, scalable, and localized onboarding processes. In addition to being a knowledge hub for Epiphany Cafes franchise operations, these platforms will also see use across SFIOs other unitsoffering on-demand access to the entrepreneurship master classes of The Global Academy and training courses for the real estate divisions agents.

According to Statista, the global online e-learning market is forecasted to grow exponentially to reach over $370 billion by 2026 . This growth is led in large part by the use of learning management systems, which in 2019 generated roughly $18 billion in the US alone.

Having a platform like this allows us to grow rapidly while ensuring the quality of our operations and our workforce, keeping us aligned around latest developments and shared values, Prodigalidad said. Eventually, well be developing this proprietary learning management system into a subscription service for other organizations like SMEs that want to scale their knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and training processes. Were planning to roll out this subscription service by the third quarter of this year.

In the meantime, SFIOs learning management system will be servicing new and existing Epiphany Cafe locations across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and the United States as early as Q2 2022.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Craymond Yeong, PR & Marketing Specialist

Epiphany Cafe

Phone: (+64) 21 0833 2966

Email: info@sfio.co.nz

About Starfleet Innotech, Inc.

Starfleet Innotech, Inc. (OTC: SFIO) is a global investment holding company focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. With a strong presence across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the Philippines, SFIO makes strategic investments in high-growth businesses, building synergies across its diverse portfolio to provide maximum shareholder value. Guided by tradition, driven by innovation, and enabled by collaborationSFIO is on a hyper-growth path to build a thriving business ecosystem, with plans to uplist onto a major stock exchange in the next three years.




By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with a pair of competitive qualifiers on opposite coasts of the country.

The Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields have both drawn large fields. Let's dig in and handicap each race:

Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs

A deep group has assembled for the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis, with #3 Classic Causeway (3-1) looming as a logical favorite. What's not to like? The son of Giant's Causeway held his own against tough competition last season, carving out the pace to finish third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) before switching to stalking tactics for a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2).

But is Classic Causeway the fastest horse in the Sam F. Davis? Not necessarily. In terms of Beyer and Brisnet speed figures, #8 Shipsational (6-1) has posted faster figures running long, suggesting a mild upset could be in the offing.

A troubled fourth-place finish in the Funny Cide S. at Saratoga stands as Shipsational's only blemish from four starts. Otherwise, the son of Midshipman has been unstoppable. He was particularly sharp at Belmont Park last fall, winning the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard S. and the one-mile Sleepy Hollow S. in consecutive fashion.

Shipsational has pacesetting speed, but isn't a need-the-lead type, affording him options for working out a clean trip in the Sam F. Davis. Trainer Edward Barker has won with his lone starter at Tampa this year (the maiden claimer Idaka), and jockey Javier Castellano (10-for-25, 40% riding at Tampa since 2017) has been assigned the mount.

Some folks might point out Shipsational is stepping up in class; so far, he's run exclusively against New York-breds. But it's worth noting Bertram F. Bongard runner-up Senbei (winner of the Funny Cide) came back to dominate two other New York-bred stakes, so it's not like Shipsational has beaten unheralded rivals.

The other question facing Shipsational is the layoff; he hasn't run since October. But Idaka was likewise shipping in from Belmont and returning from a layoff, so there's reason to believe Shipsational will be primed for a peak effort off the break. Certainly his work tab looks solid; he even clocked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Tampa last month.

At 6-1, Shipsational looks like a fair bet to upset Classic Causeway in the Sam F. Davis.

El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields

Since the El Camino Real Derby transitioned to Golden Gate's synthetic Tapeta track in 2009, the 1 1/8-mile race has frequently been won by Southern California shippers with promising turf form. Rombauer (2021), Paved (2018), Frank Conversation (2016), Metaboss (2015), Dice Flavor (2013), Daddy Nose Best (2012), and Silver Medallion (2011) all fit this trend quite nicely.

That's why I'm keen to support #2 Mackinnon (8-5) in this year's edition of the El Camino Real Derby. His turf form is impeccable; in five grass runs against quality competition last season, Mackinnon never missed the trifecta. He came to hand nicely during the summer and fall, rallying to dominant victories in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. and Zuma Beach S. before finishing a game third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), beaten only 1 3/4 lengths.

But Mackinnon is arguably more than a turf horse. In the Sham S. (G3) over the Santa Anita main track last month, Mackinnon ran well to finish fourth, beaten less than a length for second place. The top three finishers were Newgrange (subsequent winner of the Grade 3 Southwest S.), Rockefeller (previously victorious in the Grade 3 Nashua S.), and Oviatt Class (third in the Grade 1 American Pharoah S.).

From a pedigree perspective, Mackinnon is bred to thrive over artificial footing. American Pharoah broke his maiden in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on synthetic, while dam sire Scat Daddy sired major winners across all surfaces, including El Camino Real Derby winners Daddy Nose Best, Dice Flavor, and Anothertwistafate.

Throw in the fact trainer Doug O'Neill (2-for-6, 33% at Golden Gate this meet) won the 2016 El Camino Real Derby with the capable Southern California turf runner Frank Conversation, and Mackinnon looks like a standout in the El Camino Real Derby. I expect him to deliver victory at a short price.

Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the weekend Kentucky Derby preps?

*****

Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.)

J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite.
SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TECNO, a premium smartphone brand focused on emerging markets, debuts its first 5G phone, POVA 5G with a special Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) edition, marking its foray into the new era of mobile phone development.

POVA 5G in Aether Black color flaunts the proud logo of world's leading football club Manchester City as a special edition. POVA series is a performance-oriented product line of TECNO that offers powerful smartphone experience. There are many similarities between football and the new POVA 5G, such as long endurance, high accuracy and great talent, in order to achieve the next level of performance as expected of champions. The phone mirrors this ethos in its best-in-class features.

Power packed with futuristic design, super-fast 5G Dimensity 900 processor, ultra-fast LPDDR5 8GB + 3GB Virtual RAM, 6.9-inch FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP triple rear camera unit, TECNO POVA 5G is a first in its category.

Danni Xu, CMO of TECNO shared: "As 5G technology continues to dominate the smart phones segment and has shown to be in great demand by consumers in the emerging markets, the launch of POVA 5G is the milestone that signifies our move into the 5G segment. Our motivation is to bridge the communication gap, make premium experiences reasonably priced and accessible to more consumers in emerging markets."

"We have cherished a long partnership with Manchester City since 2017. This partnership has been successful as we follow similar values of holding consumers and audiences at the highest pedestal. The POVA 5G ManCity special edition synergizes the ethos of speed, power and performance, strongly reflecting our brand spirit of 'stop at nothing'." He added.

Shoot for goal together, immortalize the great moments with superior technology upgrades

TECNO's all-new POVA 5G brings your A-game to the next level. It is packed to the brim with premium applications and functions. Equipped with a 6000mAh battery that translates into 32 days of standby time, 55 hours of call time, and 183 hours of music playback, this massive battery merely takes 33 minutes to top up to 50% battery life.

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The Super-Fast 5G Dimensity 900 processor, 8+3GB RAM, 6.95-inch Full HD+ display and a 120Hz refresh rate also ensures fast, smooth and short loading times. The 50MP quad cameras and 4K time-lapse, 960FPS slow motion, video stabilization and bokeh,with many other fantastic video shoot modes puts professional video and photo quality in consumers' hands.

TECNO is the Official Handset Partner of the current Premier League Champions, Manchester City. Just like the reigning champions, TECNO POVA 5G is set to lead the market with its powerful core, unbeatable refresh rate, fast-charging battery, professional camera system and trendy design. The special Manchester City edition of the POVA 5G carries great expectations as it marks another milestone that signifies TECNO's move into the 5G big league.

SOURCE TECNO
TomaGold Corporation

The Corporation expands the Obalski property by acquiring the outstanding interest in the adjacent property to the west

Figure 1

Obalski property south of Chibougamau, Quebec

MONTREAL, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TOMAGOLD CORPORATION (TSXV: LOT) (OTCQB: TOGOF) (TomaGold or the Corporation) is pleased to report the results for the first three holes of phase 2 of the 11,500-metre drilling program on its wholly-owned Obalski property in Chibougamau, Quebec.



Results of the first three holes of phase 2

Hole Section Core length

(m)* Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) Depth

(m) OBS-21-014A 250+00 E 7.70 0.89 0.32 - 230 OBS-21-015A 250+00 E 10.50 5.06 3.27 - 360 Including 0.65 71.00 31.4 - OBS-21-016A 150+00 E Non-significant values 230 * True width is estimated at 65-70% of core length.

Figure 1: Plan view of the Obalski drilling program

Figure 2: Section 150+00 E, Obalski property

Figure 3: Section 250+00 E, Obalski property

2021 induced polarization survey

In December 2021, Abitibi Geophysics of Val-dOr conducted an induced polarization (IP) survey on behalf of the Corporation over approximately 6 line-km. A preliminary report indicated the presence of large geophysical anomalies to the west and southwest of the Obalski deposit. The Corporation has forwarded its full drilling database for more than 525 holes to Abitibi Geophysics to enable them to correlate the geophysical data with the drilling data. The report also shows that geophysical coverage is insufficient, with a strong anomaly located on the southwestern edge of the grid. Some 9 line-km of additional linecutting will begin in the next few days, to be followed by IP surveying.

Expansion of the Obalski property to the west

On February 10, 2022, the Company signed a property acquisition agreement with Yorbeau Resources Inc. (Yorbeau) to acquire Yorbeaus 51% interest in the 5 claims immediately west of the Obalski property, giving TomaGold a 100% interest in the claims. As a result, the Obalski property will consist of 74 claims covering an area of 2 724 hectares or 27 km2. As consideration, the Company will issue 1,500,000 common shares to Yorbeau, along with a 2% net smelter return royalty, with half (1%) redeemable by TomaGold for $1 million. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

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Figure 1: Obalski property south of Chibougamau, Quebec

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c00d8736-f1b6-405b-8008-9846aa61f881

Hole OBS-21-015A continues to demonstrate that the Obalski property has excellent exploration potential at depth in terms of grade and width, and the results of the IP survey also seem to indicate exploration potential to the west of the deposit, said David Grondin, President and CEO of TomaGold. "Acquiring the claims to the west was therefore a logical choice for us. The prospects for work on Obalski look very promising for TomaGold.

Current drill program under way

Drilling continues on the property, with three holes totalling approximately 2,000 m currently being drilled on section 300+00 E and an additional 500 m planned on section 175+00 E.

Best results for the 2021 drilling program on Obalski

Hole Section Core length

(m)* Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) Depth

(m) OBS-21-005 120+00 E 4.05 3.01 3.35 - 200 OBS-21-006 120+00 E 1.90 0.24 0.68 - 250 OBS-21-007 120+00 E 20.75 0.43 0.29 - 385 OBS-21-008 150+00 E 12.55 0.85 1.40 0.11 185 Including 2.10 3.40 4.73 0.65 OBS-21-009 150+00 E 28.50 1.41 0.81 - 200 Including 1.50 6.84 1.50 - Including 4.50 4.03 2.87 - OBS-21-010 150+00 E 45.95 0.32 0.35 - 425 OBS-21-010A 150+00 E 54.80 0.33 0.20 - 425 Including 3.50 1.44 0.80 - OBS-21-011 200+00 E 0.50 1.60 2.60 - 210 OBS-21-012 200+00 E 27.50 0.39 0.83 - 300 OBS-21-013 200+00 E 1.40 0.76 2.10 0.14 450 OBS-21-014 250+00 E 8.90 0.62 0.12 - 210 OBS-21-014A 250+00 E 7.70 0.89 0.32 - 230 OBS-21-015 250+00 E 3.20 23.78 16.55 1.00 330 Including 0.45 167.50 112.00 6.08 OBS-21-015A 250+00 E 10.50 5.06 3.27 - 360 Including 0.65 71.00 31.4 - * True width is estimated at 65-70% of core length.

Sample preparation and analysis

TomaGold has implemented and is adhering to a strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control program for the current drilling program. The core is sawed in half, with one half kept as a witness sample in Chibougamau and the other half shipped directly by bus to ALS Chemex in Val-dOr, Quebec. ALS grinds the half core to 1/8", split it into two halves and keeps one half as a witness (reject) in Val-dOr. ALS pulverizes the other half to minus 150 mesh, takes a 50 g sample for analysis and keeps the rest, identified as pulp.

The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andre Jean, P.Eng., the Corporations Director of Exploration and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About the Obalski property

The Obalski property covers 345 hectares about 2 km south of Chibougamau, Quebec. Discovered in 1928, the Obalski deposit produced 100,273 tonnes at grades of 1.14% Cu, 2.08 g/t Au and 6.04 g/t Ag from the A zone between 1964 to 1972, and around 9,000 tonnes at a reported grade of 8.5 g/t Au from the D zone in 1984 (Source: SIGEOM and Camchib Exploration internal reports).

About TomaGold

TomaGold Corporation (TSXV: LOT) is a Canadian mineral exploration corporation engaged in the acquisition, assessment, exploration and development of gold mineral properties. TomaGold has interests in five gold properties near the Chibougamau mining camp in northern Quebec: Obalski, Monster Lake East, Monster Lake West, Hazeur and Lac Doda. It also participates in a joint venture with Evolution Mining Ltd. and New Gold Inc., through which it holds a 24.5% interest in the Baird property, near the Red Lake mining camp in Ontario.

Contact:

David Grondin

President and Chief Executive Officer

(514) 583-3490

www.tomagoldcorp.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 news release. Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, intends, is expected, potential, suggests or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Corporations control. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.




- The Official Dealer Network of Toyota Spain will offer LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) service through Toyota Custom, the Toyota Original Accessories program.

- KINTO One and Toyota Insurance Services (TIS) will also offer LoJack SVR services.

- LoJack SVR is capable of tracking vehicles in garages, underground or in an armored container.

MADRID and IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Spain, within its strategy of always placing the customer at the center of its activities and with the aim of offering a service of high added value, has partnered with LoJack Espana , a subsidiary of CalAmp , to offer an innovative service for the recovery of stolen vehicles.

The agreement between Toyota Spain and LoJack Espana will give Toyota customers access to best-in-class stolen vehicle recovery services enabled by direct collaboration with local law enforcement. Through this agreement, the Official Dealer Network of Toyota Spain will market LoJack SVR services directly, through Toyota Custom, the Toyota Original Accessories program.

The LoJack SVR system works with radio frequency technology capable of tracking vehicles in a garage, underground or in an armored container. It offers system tampering alerts designed to cope with the increasing use of GPS signal jammers, and service activation only in case of vehicle theft, ensuring customer privacy.

In addition, the LoJack operations control center will be available to Toyota customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing support and advice in case of theft and providing constant updates to search status for stolen vehicles. LoJack has a security team that works in direct coordination with the state security forces and law enforcement.

The collaboration between Toyota Spain and LoJack Espana, which has its origin in the relationship between Toyota Motor Italy (TMI) and LoJack Italia , established in 2019, will go a step further by also offering LoJack SVR services through KINTO One, leasing and car sharing service, and Toyota Insurance Services (TIS). TIS will offer LoJack as part of the insurance of models such as RAV4, Highlander and Land Cruiser with the aim of lowering the premium and offering an even more competitive insurance offering.

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Beyond Zero by Toyota

Toyota, with its Toyota and Lexus brands, is a world leader in the marketing of electrified models, with more than 17 million electrified cars sold worldwide and 350,000 units in Spain since 1997. Toyota's electrification roadmap, with a view to a CO2-free society, began more than 20 years ago with the birth of hybrid technology, and we have been working towards this goal ever since. This demonstrates the brand's commitment to help achieve sustainable mobility through the reduction of greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions to help positively combat climate change and a reduction of pollutant gas emissions (NOx and particulate matter) that directly affect people's health. In fact, NOx emissions are more than 90% lower than the limit set by current legislation, for example, in Yaris Hybrid nitrogen oxides emissions are only 6 mg / km, compared to the expected limit of 60 mg / km of gasoline cars Euro6 and 80 mg / km of diesel Euro6. Taking action to address climate change is a pressing issue worldwide, and the promotion of sustainable, low-carbon energy has long been a major goal. The company is therefore taking a further step to address environmental challenges, bringing hydrogen technologies to the forefront and aiming to make hydrogen the main energy source of tomorrow's society. A future society in which not only will there be no emissions, but we will also go further, connecting people, buildings and vehicles in a unique ecosystem, leading to a better society, with mobility for all at its core, a mobility that goes beyond automobiles and is about overcoming challenges and making dreams come true. Toyota's support for Olympic and Paralympic sport is also embodied through Start Your Impossible, the global corporate initiative that aims to inspire and seeks to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society.

About LoJack Espana

LoJack Espana, a wholly-owned CalAmp subsidiary, delivers best-in-class stolen vehicle recovery and connected car services to auto dealer, OEM, insurance, and car rental markets and their end-customers that improve vehicle management and protect against theft. Using CalAmp's unified IoT ecosystem of software applications, cloud platform, telematics services and edge computing products, LoJack Espana provides connected intelligence on valuable assets that allow people and businesses across Spain and Portugal to make more informed decisions, reduce costs and maximize productivity. For more information, visit www.lojackiberia.com and LinkedIn .

About CalAmp

CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP ) is a connected intelligence company that helps people and businesses work smarter. We partner with transportation and logistics, industrial equipment, government and automotive industries to deliver insights that enable businesses to make the right decisions. Our applications, platforms and smart devices allow them to track, monitor and recover their vital assets with real-time visibility that reduces costs, maximizes productivity and improves safety. Headquartered in Irvine, California, CalAmp has been publicly traded since 1983. We have nearly one million software and services subscribers and over 20 million products installed worldwide. For more information, visit calamp.com , or LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , YouTube or CalAmp Blog .

CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER , Here Comes The Bus , Bus Guardian , iOn Vision , CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

CalAmp Corp. Logo

Toyota

Cision

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SOURCE CalAmp
When Tennessee lawmakers approved $900 million in state incentives for Ford Motor Company, they knew the car maker could bring 5,800 new jobs to West Tennessee. But they probably didnt know Ford could also bring its neutrality agreement with United Auto Workers.

The innocuous term is misleading. Because of the agreement, the union will be able to organize Fords Haywood County electric truck and battery facility more easily  and, unfortunately, at the expense of employees.

First, the agreement will deny workers the right to a secret ballot union election. United Auto Workers can instead organize the facility by whats known as card check, a petition process that invites worker intimidation and deception. Card check is unpopular, with a recent Engine Insights poll showing that Tennesseans prefer having a secret ballot in union selections by a six-to-one margin.

Yet Fords agreement will deny workers their right to weigh the pros and cons of union representation in private. Theyll be forced to sit through United Auto Worker sales pitches and have union organizers pursue them during work breaks.

Workers will also forfeit their privacy. The neutrality agreement requires Ford to provide workers names and home addresses to the union upon request. Polling shows that handing private information over to third parties is also unpopular, with 64% of Tennesseans disapproving of such a policy.

In short, organizers will target and pester workers until they sign a card saying they want representation. All they may really want is for union representatives to leave them alone. Once enough workers sign cards, United Auto Workers will achieve a monopoly. That means that, with no election whatsoever, workers will find the union representing them. Even those who dont want union representation will be stuck under the United Auto Workers contract.

This isnt just a worry for future Ford employees. It is also a major concern for existing businesses, as well as for businesses looking to relocate to Tennessee. United Auto Workers has been trying to get a foothold in the South for years, and now Ford could be just the beginning.

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Companies looking to protect their employees may soon discover that its not simple. They may even become the target of union attacks.

For example, United Auto Workers uses a tactic called a corporate campaign, where it strongarms companies into signing neutrality agreements. Corporate campaigns try to drive customers away from a company by harming the employers reputation.

To accomplish this, unions may solicit politicians to disparage companies they target. During United Auto Workers campaign to organize Nissan, for instance, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) publicly shamed the company, calling it a greedy corporation that threaten[s] the local community and makes obscene profits.

Around the same time, United Auto Workers staged protests at 75 American Hyundai dealerships. The protests were reportedly in response to a harassment claim, but there was a catch. The person accused of harassment was not a Hyundai employee but a subcontractor, working not in the United States but in South Korea.

Why would the union protest U.S. dealerships for the actions of someone half a world away who was not even a company employee? Likely because they were advancing a corporate campaign, applying pressure in hopes that Hyundai would abandon secret-ballot elections for its employees.

There is a solution, a way for Tennessee to protect future workers and deter corporate campaigns against job creators. The state could enact a secret ballot protection act or, as recent legislation has already suggested, require companies that get state tax incentives to pledge to protect their employees rights.

The challenges hidden in Fords neutrality agreement may be a foregone conclusion. But decisive legislative action can protect other Tennessee workers and job creators  and shield the state from similar entanglements in the future.

F. Vincent Vernuccio is a senior labor policy adviser for Workers for Opportunity and president of the Institute for the American Worker.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Union 'neutrality' agreements arent neutral for Tennessee | Opinion
NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Viveon Health Acquisition Corp. (NYSE American: VHAQ) ("Viveon Health" or "VHAQ"), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced that it is clarifying certain terms regarding the Annual Meeting of stockholders to be held on March 18, 2022.

Viveon Health previously announced that on January 12, 2022 it entered into a definitive merger agreement with Suneva Medical, Inc. ("Suneva"), an innovative medical technology company using regenerative medicine to change the standard of care in aesthetic treatments.

The Annual Meeting will be held to consider and vote upon several proposals including a proposal (the "Extension Proposal") to amend Viveon Health's amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) extend the date by which Viveon Health has to consummate a business combination for three months, from March 28, 2022 (the "Original Termination Date") to June 28, 2022 (the "Extended Date"); and (ii) allow Viveon Health, without another stockholder vote, to extend the date to consummate the business combination on a monthly basis for up to six times by an additional one month each time after the Extended Date, if additional time is needed to close a business combination.

Clarification of Amount of Deposits into the Trust Account.

If the Extension Proposal is approved, Viveon Health will, prior to the Original Termination Date, make a deposit of $720,000 into the trust account established in connection with Viveon Health's initial public offering for the aggregate benefit of public shares that are not redeemed by the public stockholders in connection with the Extension Proposal (collectively, the "Remaining Public Shares")

After June 28, 2022 (the "Extended Date"), for each month or portion thereof that is needed by Viveon Health to complete an initial business combination until December 28, 2022, Viveon Health shall deposit $240,000 into the trust account regardless of the number of Remaining Public Shares after redemptions.

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Correction of Redemption and Deposit Price per Share.

Since Viveon Health cannot estimate the number of Remaining Public Shares after redemptions, there is no way to determine what these deposits represent on a per share basis or what the redemption price per share may be in the future. References to the redemption price per share of $10.34 and additional monthly deposits into the trust account of $0.04 per Remaining Public Share included in the Proxy Statement are not accurate and should not be relied upon, since Viveon Health cannot estimate the number of Remaining Public Shares that will be outstanding after redemptions. Our public stockholders may seek to redeem their public shares into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), subject to the limitations described in Viveon Health's prospectus in connection with the initial public offering, dated December 22, 2020.

About Suneva Medical, Inc.

Suneva Medical, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, is a leader in regenerative aesthetics. It is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded products for providers and their patients. Suneva Medical offers a portfolio of products to address the impact of the aging process to deliver solutions that leverage the body's own restorative capacity. The product portfolio is composed of several "only" and "first to market" solutions with both FDA PMA approval and 510(k) clearance. For more information, visit www.sunevamedical.com.

About Viveon Health Acquisition Corp.

Viveon Health Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Viveon Health intends to pursue prospective targets that have their primary operations located in North America in the healthcare industry.

Important Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination, Viveon Health will file a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus (the "Form S-4") with the SEC. The Form S-4 will include a proxy statement to be distributed to holders of Viveon Health's common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the vote by Viveon Health's stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction and other matters as described in the Form S-4, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of securities to be issued to Suneva's stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. After the Form S-4 has been filed and declared effective, Viveon Health will mail a definitive proxy statement, when available, to its stockholders. Investors, security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the Form S-4, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Viveon Health, Suneva and the proposed business combination. Additionally, Viveon Health will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Security holders of Viveon Health are urged to read the Form S-4 and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the business combination and the parties to the business combination. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

Viveon Health and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Viveon Health's stockholders with respect to the business combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Viveon Health will be included in the Form S-4 for the proposed business combination and be available at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed business combination when available. Information about Viveon Health's directors and executive officers and their ownership of Viveon Health's common stock is set forth in Viveon Health's prospectus, dated December 22, 2020, as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of such filing. Other information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed business combination when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.

Suneva and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Viveon Health in connection with the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination will be included in the Form S-4 for the proposed business combination.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "will," "shall," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "would," "positioned," "future," "forecast," "intend," "plan," "project," "outlook" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements made in this press release regarding: the proposed transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the benefits of the proposed business combination, integration plans, expected synergies and revenue opportunities; anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, the expected management and governance of the combined company, continued expansion of product portfolios and the availability or effectiveness of the technology for such products; the regenerative aesthetics sector's continued growth and the continued demand of physicians and consumers driving such growth; and the expected timing of the proposed business combination. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Viveon Health's and Suneva's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (2) the institution or outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Viveon Health and/or Suneva following the announcement of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability of the parties to complete the proposed business combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Viveon Health or Suneva, certain regulatory approvals, or satisfy other conditions to closing in the merger agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close; (5) the failure to meet the minimum cash requirements of the merger agreement due to Viveon Health stockholder redemptions and the failure to obtain replacement financing; (6) the inability to complete a concurrent PIPE; (7) the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Suneva's business and/or the ability of the parties to complete the proposed business combination; (8) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of Viveon Health's shares of common stock on the NYSE American following the proposed business combination; (9) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business combination; (10) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of Suneva to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (11) costs related to the proposed business combination; (12) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (13) the possibility that Suneva may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (14) the amount of redemption requests made by Viveon Health's stockholders; and (15) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of Viveon Health for its initial public offering dated December 22, 2020 filed with the SEC and the Form S-4 relating to the proposed business combination, including those under "Risk Factors" therein, and in Viveon Health's other filings with the SEC. Viveon Health and Suneva caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Viveon Health and Suneva caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Viveon Health and Suneva do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Neither Viveon Health nor Suneva gives any assurance that the combined company will achieve its expectations.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

Cision

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SOURCE Suneva Medical, Inc.
Stafford County Public Schools will no longer require students and visitors to wear masks while in school buildings starting Feb. 22.

The motion approved Thursday night includes language stating that the division will still recommend the wearing of face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and that no students shall be treated differently because of their status of wearing or not wearing a mask or face covering.

The School Board approved the motion to rescind the mask mandate by a 52 vote at a special called meeting Thursday night, following two hours of comment from the public. Falmouth representative Sarah Chase and Aquia representative Maya Guy voted against rescinding the mandate.

While the majority of speakers on Thursday were in support of ending the mandate, Guy said that the majority opinion in her district is that the mandate should stay in place.

Peoples feelings are valid and their lived experiences matter, Guy said, acknowledging the often strongly-worded and emotional statements made Thursday by the public, both in favor of and opposed to rescinding the mandate. I still have heard more from people in my district telling me, Dont change your vote.

Chase cited her desire to follow the legal opinion given to the board by its attorney, Jennifer Parrish.

Im not a lawyer, so I have to rely on the legal opinion we received, Chase said. Im concerned that the 22nd is a little too soon, and I would be happy to wait for the Virginia General Assembly and the governor to go through the correct process.

Parrishs legal opinion, which the School Board approved releasing to the public as part of the motion rescinding the divisions mask mandate, is that the School Boards policy requiring masking is in compliance with Virginia law and consistent with the Arlington County Circuit Courts Feb. 4 ruling, which found that the governor cannot use emergency powers to override the decision of local school boards.

As a result of that ruling, the court issued a temporary restraining order on enforcement of Youngkins Executive Order 2, which allows parents to opt out of school mask requirements.

Parrish said the Virginia Supreme Courts Feb. 7 dismissal of another lawsuit brought against Youngkin by a group of Chesapeake parents does not provide any guidance to School Boards, as the Petition was dismissed purely on procedural grounds.

The ruling from the Arlington Circuit Court, however, in granting a temporary injunction/restraining order prohibiting enforcement of EO2, is significant, Parrish wrote. This means that, until a final ruling is made in this case (which may ultimately go to the Virginia Supreme Court), Executive Order 2 cannot be enforced, and [Senate Bill 1303] remains in effect as the law of the land.

Hartwood representative Alyssa Halstead, who has been vocal about her opposition to mask mandates from the start of her School Board campaign, said she considers Parrishs legal opinion to be semi-one-sided.

From my perspective, a legal opinion is given from two sides of the coin and I feel has not been done, Halstead said. Its not a single path and I believe from the way Ive been reading [the legal opinion] that Ive been given a single path and thats what has caused me to reach out for more information.

Board Chair Patricia Healy, George Washington representative Susan Randall and GriffisWidewater representative Elizabeth Warner said their support for rescinding the mandate comes from a belief that masking is no longer practicable for Stafford County.

Senate Bill 1303, which is in effect until Aug. 1, requires Virginia school boards to offer in-person instruction that adheres to the maximum extent practicable to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines from the CDC. The CDC currently recommends universal masking in schools.

Since this issue has risen to the top, I feel I have gotten a lot of information, a lot of factsreal factsthat in my opinion show that this is not practicable for our community, Healy said.

Warner said she also questions the practicability of keeping students in masks.

I think there are many students who are struggling, especially early learners, she said. I do agree with releasing the legal position because currently the legislative body has not kept up with the executive orders and the other decisions and until that happens, I think its important that we release that legal opinion.

The Virginia Senate on Wednesday passed a bill allowing parents to ignore local school boards mandates on children wearing masks in school. The legislation will be taken up soon in the House of Delegates, where Republicans, who generally support lifting the mandate, have a 5248 majority.

Stafford students will continue to be required to wear masks while on school buses, per a federal order, as will students and staff of the Head Start program.

Students will also have to wear masks for five days after returning to school following a positive COVID-19 test, according to new guidelines the School Board approved Tuesday.

In a letter to the school community Friday morning, superintendent Thomas Taylor said staff and students will be provided with KN95 or N95 masks and other personal protective equipment upon request.

We know that for some, [removing the mandate] causes concern, Taylor wrote, noting that students will continue to keep three feet of social distance in school to the extent practicable.

Our priority is to keep staff and students safe while schools remain open for in-person learning, he wrote.

The School Boards motion to rescind the mask mandate included staff, but Randall noted in making the motion that staff are currently required by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health administration.

Youngkin has directed VOSH to reconsider these requirements and Taylor said he expects that to happen soon.

Stafford now joins Spotsylvania and King George schools in making face masks optional.

Fredericksburg City and Caroline schools continue to have universal mask mandates in place, for the moment.

CCPS continues to monitor legal action and legislation, Caroline spokesperson Kimberly Young wrote in an email to the Free LanceStar. In the interim, the school division is following SB1303 and CDC recommendations to the maximum extent practicable and reviewing county and school division COVID-19 data. Consultation with [the Rappahannock Area Health Department] is planned for the upcoming week to determine the feasibility of outlining a mitigation transition plan.

Fredericksburg schools deputy superintendent Matt Eberhardt said in an email that masking is an item of discussion.

Throughout the pandemic, we have constantly discussed issues and sought out advice, he wrote. This is no different.

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The Archbishop Bergan Music Department will be hosting its annual spaghetti dinner this weekend.

Curbside pickup will be available from 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday outside Delaney Hall at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Fremont.

A preorder form for pickup orders can be found at: facebook.com/berganknights. Meals will brought out to your vehicle. Those picking up orders are asked to pull up along the curb headed west.

Dine in also will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in Delaney Hall. Preorder is not needed for dine-in meals.

A meal consists of spaghetti with homemade sauce, breadstick, salad and dessert for $9. Quart jars of sauce also will be available for $18.

Proceeds from the spaghetti dinner will support the band and choir members' trip this year.

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An Omaha man hit another man with a bottle and punched him repeatedly after the Omahan's girlfriend told him the other man had brushed up against her, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Douglas County Judge Stephanie Shearer ordered the Omahan, 22-year-old Nolan King, to be held on no bail on charges of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

King is accused of fatally assaulting Rodney Pettit, 41, of Lawton, Oklahoma, on Saturday night at the Parliament Pub, 12th and Harney streets. First responders found Pettit unconscious inside the bar about 11:45 p.m. Saturday. They took him to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he died Monday.

A prosecutor said Wednesday in court that Pettit had gone to the VIP room in the bar, and footage from a surveillance camera showed King waiting outside the room for Pettit to come out. When he did, the prosecutor said, King hit him in the head with a bottle, knocking him down. King then jumped on Pettit and pummeled him with his fists, the prosecutor said.

King's public defender said King had just started working at a bottling company warehouse and lives with his grandparents and girlfriend. The attorney unsuccessfully argued that King should be released on bail, noting that he had turned himself in to police.

King faces up to life in prison on the second-degree murder charge.

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 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.

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Burn bans, scattered brush fires and a record to near-record lack of snow have been the markers of this winters unusually dry but also windy weather.

The dry conditions have firefighters concerned about what could happen next month, when peak fire season occurs.

As a sign of how dry it has been, a routine effort on Thursday to thaw the ground for a burial at a cemetery near 60th and Center Streets led to a grass fire and a call for help from firefighters.

The fire was quickly extinguished, according to the Omaha Fire Department, and while some artificial flowers burned, no gravestones were damaged, a representative of Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park said.

A few hours later, Omaha firefighters were called to another grass fire, this one near an apartment building in midtown.

Winds on Thursday gusted to almost 30 mph.

Omaha has had only three days this winter with at least an inch of snow, and all three were in the first two weeks of January, according to the National Weather Service. Those three days generated 7 inches of snow, accounting for all but 0.8 of an inch of snow the city has received this winter.

Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Norfolk and Lincoln have accumulated their least amount of snow on record, 3.7 inches each.

Through Thursday, snowfall in Omaha has ranked 15th least on record. Ninety percent of Omaha winters have produced more snow than this year, Nicolaisen said.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 97% of Nebraska is in drought or near drought.

The portion of the state officially covered by drought doubled over the last week to about 75%, according to the Drought Monitor. Areas not in drought include north-central Nebraska and portions of east-southeast Nebraska, including the Omaha metro area.

But the metro area is considered to be abnormally dry.

The dry conditions have kept firefighters on their toes.

Red flag warnings, signaling extreme fire danger, have been issued at least once a month for four months in a row, Nicolaisen said, which is unusual for this time of year. And because of unseasonably warm and windy weather, burn bans are again in effect this week in Douglas County. Peak fire season typically occurs in March, before vegetation begins to turn green.

Im a little worried because its happening earlier than normal, and theres no relief in sight, Nicolaisen said. This could be a particularly bad fire season.

Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick said the department urges people to take care.

It has been drier this year than last, and we just encourage everyone to be vigilant of this and practice good fire safety, he said. Hopefully we get some rain or snow soon to help out with the high fire danger.

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Welcome to Gandhara's weekly newsletter. This briefing brings you the best of our reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

If youre new to the newsletter or havent subscribed yet, you can do so here.

Old conflict rekindled in Balochistan

I delve into how the recent uptick in violence in Balochistan has revealed Pakistan's failure to craft a political solution to the 20-year separatist insurrection in the strategically important and resource-rich province.

The lack of a clear political track exposed Islamabad to interference by rival neighbors, who appear to be taking turns supporting shadowy separatist groups that have suffered from internal squabbling and leadership changes.

"The surge in violence is a continuation of politics by other means," said Mohammad Ali Talpur, a writer who fought during a previous Baluch nationalist insurgency in the 1970s.

Anwar Sajidi, editor of the daily Intikhab in Balochistan, argues that Islamabad's strategy of incorporating some of the region's political elites has backfired because of their inability to address the root causes of resentment in the province. "In its absence of a political settlement, violence will continue, and it will end when one side is defeated utterly," he predicted.

In another piece, I look at why Baluch separatists are losing their safe havens in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. They were once the most prominent foreign group seeking shelter in Afghanistan after thousands of militants and activists fled Balochistan amid a Pakistani military crackdown in 2006.

"The [Baluch] refugees I have talked to are in hiding and desperately looking for an escape," said Kiyya Baloch, an exiled journalist covering Balochistan. "Definitely, concerns about the safety of the Baluch are increasing."

Khan gains little from China's Olympics diplomacy

Reid Standish reports on how the autocratic Communist Party of China has used the Winter Olympics in Beijing to boost its global status, with Chinese President Xi Jinping leading a diplomatic flurry.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was one of the leaders who met with Xi, yet he appears to have achieved little to revive the stalled China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. "Khan left Beijing without any new agreements and instead used his visit to discuss his country's longstanding ties with China," Standish wrote.

Picking up the pieces in remote Afghan district

I recap Radio Azadi's reporting from Farah, where residents of the remote Bala Buluk district see little prospect of rebuilding their ruined houses and shattered livelihoods. These civilians are among the more than 3.5 million Afghans displaced by years of fighting between the forces of the fallen Afghan republic and the Taliban.

"The [former Afghan] government destroyed my house because they claimed the Taliban shot at their forces from it," said Mohammad Ismail, a farmer in the Bala Buluk village of Shamalgah.

Thousands in the region now have little hope of rebuilding their lives as Afghanistan reels from increasing poverty and hunger amid an economic collapse. "Rebuilding the house will cost up to 400,000 afghanis ($4,000)," Ismail said. "I am penniless and do not have that kind of money."

Female Afghan activists disappear following protests

In a video report, we take you to meet the relatives and supporters of Afghan women activists reportedly detained or forced into hiding after protesting the Taliban-led government's hard-line policies.

"The Taliban brought terror," said one women activist in Kabul after activist Tamana Paryani disappeared. "The Taliban say they have changed but, unfortunately, that is not true."

I hope you found this weeks newsletter useful, and I encourage you to forward it to your colleagues.

If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. I encourage you to visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Yours,

Abubakar Siddique

Twitter: @sid_abu

P.S.: You can always reach us at gandhara@rferl.org.
U.S. President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that will free up some $7 billion in Afghan reserves that were frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August.

The United States will set up a trust fund in the coming months to place half the $7 billion into a humanitarian aid trust fund for distribution through groups providing relief to Afghans, a White House official said on February 11.

Biden's order addresses "the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan -- including the urgent needs of the people of Afghanistan for food security, livelihoods support, water, sanitation, health, hygiene, shelter and settlement assistance, and COVID-19-related assistance, among other basic human needs -- and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan," Biden said in a letter to House Speaker Nance Pelosi (Democrat-California).

The White House has come under pressure to release the funds to help Afghans, who are in the midst of an economic and financial crisis that has threatened more than half of the country's population with famine.

The White House statement said the order is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Taliban and malicious actors.

Biden's order requires financial institutions to transfer Afghan Central Bank funds to a consolidated account at the New York Federal Reserve. U.S. officials say the overwhelming majority of frozen Afghan assets in the U.S. are proceeds of aid provided over two decades by U.S. and other donors.

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem lashed out at the United States after Biden signed the order.

Naeem referred to the "theft and seizure" of money frozen by the United States, saying it "represents the lowest level of human and moral decay of a country and a nation."

Biden's order aims to resolve competing appeals for the money from a government in Kabul that the U.S. doesn't recognize and from families still scarred by the 2001 attacks. The Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, harbored Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the attacks.

Brett Eagleson, whose father died in the attack on the World Trade Center, said that though victims' families support the distribution of a large portion of the funds to the Afghan people, the remaining funds should be distributed fairly among the families of those who died in the attacks.

Anything short of equitable treatment for and among the 9/11 families as it relates to these frozen assets is outrageous and will be seen as a betrayal" by the government, Eagleson said in a statement quoted in U.S. media reports.

Taliban officials are holding talks this week in Geneva with international organizations on opening access to vital humanitarian aid which is being withheld as the de facto government in Kabul has yet to be recognized by any government around the world over concerns about human rights and freedoms.

Afghanistan has more than $9 billion in reserves, including just over $7 billion in reserves held in the United States. The remainder is mainly held in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Qatar.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
The Taliban says at least one person was killed and eight others wounded in a bomb explosion at a mosque in northern Afghanistan.

Baz Mohammad Sarwari, the Taliban's director of Information and Culture for Badghis Province, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that it was unclear whether the blast on February 11 was caused by a suicide bomber or an explosive device, and that a probe had been launched into the incident.

He said the blast happened after Friday Prayers at the mosque, where earlier dozens of worshippers were said to have gathered inside.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. The local Islamic State affiliate has in the past claimed responsibility for similar attacks.

Local residents told Radio Azadi that the area around the mosque had been cordoned off and roads leading to the area had been blocked by the Taliban after the blast.

With reporting by AP
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says two journalists working for the agency and several of the organization's Afghan staff have been freed hours after being detained in Kabul.

We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them, the Geneva-based organization said on Twitter. We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan.

The Taliban-led government's deputy minister of culture and communications said they were detained because they didn't have documents that properly identified them as UNHCR.

Zabihullah Mujahid later said on Twitter that they were freed after their identities were confirmed, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier on February 11, the UNHCR announced the detention of the two journalists and Afghan nationals working with them without identifying them or providing further details.

The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) had also condemned the detentions and called for the immediate release of the journalists, one of whom it identified as Andrew North, a former BBC journalist.

The Taliban must immediately release Andrew North and all other journalists held for their work, and cease harassing and detaining members of the press, the CPJ said in a statement.

Since the Taliban took over the country last August in the wake of the withdrawal of international forces, the de facto government has been criticized for failing to allow for an independent media.

No country has formally recognized the government, but talks aimed at easing the war-torn country's humanitarian crisis have been taking place this week in Geneva.

Afghanistan's economy has been stalled by sanctions and a halt in development funding since the militants took over the country.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
John Schneider, an actor famous for his role on "The Dukes of Hazzard," among other TV shows, is also a prolific musician. He'll perform from more than 20 albums Saturday at Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts.
The man arrested this week in the disappearance and death of 19-year-old Kara Nichols nearly a decade ago was questioned by law enforcement years ago in the case, an arrest affidavit shows.

Joel Hollendorfer, 46, was booked into the El Paso County jail this week on suspicion of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence after female remains were found in Black Forest. The El Paso County Coroner's Office tentatively identified the remains as Nichols on Tuesday; that has since been confirmed, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Nichols' father reported her missing in 2012 after he last spoke with her Oct. 9 of that year, the affidavit said.

Deputies interviewed Hollendorfer in 2013 about Nichols' whereabouts after call records showed the two had been corresponding, the affidavit showed; investigators believe the two met after Nichols advertised "escort services" and Hollendorfer strangled her to death, the affidavit said.

Deputies investigated the property in 2014 where Hollendorfer lived with his parents on Burgess Road after using "cadaver dogs" to search the property. Hollendorfer's mother, Betty Hollendorfer, walked with deputies and pointed out several locations where the family had buried horses and other animals, the affidavit read.

Deputies also tried "on numerous occasions" to contact Kristina Palmer, Joel Hollendorfer's wife, who refused to cooperate with deputies, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Palmer was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the start of this month and told investigators that Joel Hollendorfer admitted to her that he "accidentally killed an escort he hired." Palmer said Joel Hollendorfer felt responsible for his father's death in 2014 because of the guilt he put on his parents for telling them about killing Nichols. He also told Palmer he buried Nichols' body at one of the horse graves with plastic bags and lime, the affidavit said.

Sheriff Bill Elder had said earlier this week that deputies had found critical, new information upon conducting another interview with a witness as part of a routine cold case review.

Hollendorfer was arrested on Feb. 7 on an unrelated warrant and was then questioned by detectives. He denied meeting with Nichols and killing her. Detectives asked him to identify where the horse graves were located using Google Maps. Detectives asked the same of Betty Hollendorfer, who identified a spot where her favorite horse, Milo, was buried, the affidavit said.

Detectives excavated that site and found black plastic bags and human remains, the affidavit said.
The Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in Montrose. The funeral home was shut down by the state in 2020 after the owners were arrested on suspicion of selling body parts, and sometimes full bodies, of people whose families had brought their remains to be cremated.
Marylands COVID-19 positivity rate fell below 5% Friday for the first time since late November as the state continues to recover from the surge of the contagious omicron variant.

The state health department reported a seven-day average positivity rate  the percent of all coronavirus tests that returned positive  of 4.8%, down from a pandemic high of 30% in early January. Marylands rate has been above 5%, considered the threshold for significant community spread, since Nov. 28, health department data shows.

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Positivity rate is one of several statewide COVID-19 metrics that have declined considerably in recent weeks. The state recorded 731 cases and 10 deaths Friday  also the lowest daily numbers since late November and early December, respectively.

There are currently 913 people hospitalized with COVID-19, of which 171 require intensive care, the health department said. Fridays hospitalization level reflects a 73% decline since Jan. 12, when several hospitals were shifting to crisis-mode standards of care under the weight of nearly 3,500 Marylanders needing care with the respiratory illness.

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Gov. Larry Hogan touted the states improved metrics but stressed that booster shots remain key to driving COVID-19 rates down. The state relaunched a vaccine lottery this week in the hopes of enticing residents to get their extra dose.

While our key health metrics continue to dramatically decline, we are ramping up our efforts to get every Marylander that we can boosted against COVID-19, Hogan said in a statement. The goal of our $2 million VaxCash 2.0 Promotion is to reach those people who didnt realize the importance of getting boosted, who are on the fence, or who just havent gotten around to it yet.

We are ramping up our efforts to get every Marylander that we can boosted against COVID-19. We encourage Marylanders to get their booster shot this weekend to be eligible for the special $500,000 drawing to kick off the states $2 million VaxCash 2.0 Promotion on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/gVMQfMSb9v  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 11, 2022

About 73% of Marylanders are fully vaccinated, while 64% of Americans have been fully vaccinated.

The acceptance of booster shots has not kept pace with Marylands vaccination rate. Approximately 2 million Marylanders, about 34% of the states population, have been boosted. The state health department reported 5,431 people received a booster shot over the last 24 hours.

Although the omicron variant can infect both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, vaccines and booster shots are highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death, according to public health officials.
Gov. Jared Polis gave his State of State address in Colorado Springs at the Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. About 500 people packed the hall. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Dr. Morgan Medlock is the new Behavioral Health Commissioner for the State of Colorado.
A Florida man pleaded guilty to charges related to fraudulent applications for more than $176,000 in unemployment and COVID-19 relief funds from several states, including Maryland.

The U.S. Attorneys Office of Maryland said in a news release Thursday that Christopher Kenneth Guy, 30, of Tampa pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

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He is set to be sentenced May 11 and could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors said, according to his plea agreement, that from May 26, 2020, to Aug. 5, 2020, Guy and others submitted fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act, which was enacted in March 2020 to assist people experiencing financial distress as a result of the pandemic. The applications were submitted in Oklahoma, Maryland, Arizona, Massachusetts, California, Nevada and other states.

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The state agencies issued the pandemic unemployment benefit funds to debit cards in the names of the identity theft victims. The cards were mailed to addresses in Maryland and elsewhere. Guy, and other co-conspirators who were not named, used the debit cards to withdraw money and to conduct retail transactions, prosecutors said.

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Prosecutors said that from July 27 to Aug. 5, 2020, Guy conducted fraudulent transactions using debit cards in the names of at least seven identity theft victims.

On Aug. 5, 2020, Guy used one of the fraudulent cards to buy a laptop for over $2,200 from a retail store in Elkridge.

Howard County Police officers, who had been called for a possible fraudulent purchase, approached Guy in the parking lot. He told officers that he lost the receipt and made the purchase using a card he produced bearing no name, prosecutors said. When officers pointed out the number on the card did not match that listed on the receipt reprinted by the store, Guy told them that he must have lost the card he used to purchase the laptop, according to prosecutors.

Officers then arrested him and found the card he used to buy the laptop in his pocket.

The county police department searched Guys car and found $1,500 in cash, four debit cards issued in names other than Guys, as well as multiple electronic devices and a room key from a hotel in Chevy Chase.

After searching his hotel room, police found an additional 13 debit cards issued in various names, additional electronic devices, receipts from retail purchases, and over $11,600 in cash.

Surveillance photos showed Guy using the debit cards at ATMs within a mile of the hotel, prosecutors said. While searching his electronic devices, prosecutors said, there were also internet searches and browsing history relating to unemployment benefits, notes containing the mailing addresses where the debit cards were sent and a listing of the last four digits of each of the 18 debit cards recovered, each with a monetary balance listed next to it.
A lame-duck Republican governor with high approval ratings who has twice defeated Democratic candidates in an overwhelmingly Democratic state isnt normally high on the list of officeholders to be impeached at the urging of a delegate from his own party. As strange as politics has become in this country, there was a certain havent seen this one before quality to the decision by Del. Dan Cox to file an impeachment resolution against Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday. As political stagecraft goes, this was strictly theater of the absurd.

Or was it?

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Heres the simple explanation: Delegate Cox, a Republican who represents parts of Carroll and Frederick counties and has filed as a candidate for governor, is chiefly known in Annapolis for being a devoted true believer in Donald J. Trump. Not a partial devotee. No, hes all-in, having rallied fellow loyalists to the Jan. 6, 2021 Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., and declared Mike Pence to be a traitor for failing to reject Joe Biden as the legally elected president. Mr. Hogans criticisms of Mr. Trump have clearly tested Mr. Coxs soul and his grievances expressed in the four-page impeachment resolution have a certain Trump-like quality, including a critique of pandemic precautions that he describes as act of tyranny including  horrors  the governors call to limit Thanksgiving gatherings in 2020.

Granted, the resolution also tracks some legitimate not-Hogans-finest moments, including those defective coronavirus test kits from South Korea (as he intentionally misled the legislature and the public about their status) and, more recently, his staffs use of an app that produces untraceable, self-destructing messages (that are detrimental to good government, secretive, and devoid of authority). But none of the offenses rise to an impeachable offense. How do we know this? Because the legislatures Democratic leaders would have taken such action a long time ago if they thought there were even the slightest chance of making that case. Or at least the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland would investigate them.

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But heres a slightly more complicated explanation that Mr. Cox with his QAnon connections can appreciate, call it our conspiracy theory: Perhaps the delegate is actually part of a false flag operation to secretly get Mr. Hogans preferred successor, former Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, elected governor. By throwing himself in front of the train of reason, Delegate Cox has not only reminded Maryland Republicans that the Trump wing of the party is as nutty as ever, hes also signaled to Democrats and unaffiliated voters that its safe to support a GOP candidate this fall. How better to prove Ms. Schulz is not beholden to Donald Trump? Mr. Cox has kindly blown up his own candidacy to make others look respectable.

Sound far-fetched? Well, first, thats how this sort of thing works. But, more importantly, you must ask yourself: Why would any Maryland Republican of sound mind seeking statewide approval align himself with Mr. Trump, who received just 32% of the Maryland vote in 2020? Compared to a governor who received 55.4% in 2018 and recently polled a 74% approval rating? Perhaps to please a certain resident of Palm Beach, Florida? To get a job in the Trump universe? Or because hes not a rational actor as a senior advisor to Ms. Schulzs campaign has pointed out, noting that Delegate Cox thinks Chinese communists have infiltrated Maryland government.

Whats most troubling about this, of course, is that this ridiculous impeachment ploy, while unworthy of the paper used to print it, will be fervently cheered in certain circles in this state. As badly as Mr. Trump polled statewide, there are still places where he was quite popular, including Mr. Coxs Carroll County, which Mr. Trump won by a nearly 2-to-1 margin last year. In all, Mr. Trump was the top presidential vote-getter in 14 Maryland counties, most of them rural, from Garrett to Worcester. That means even a Blue State like Maryland may have to deal with the noxious influence of the former president with its extremist views, authoritarian bent, and pronounced disdain for facts and the rule of law for the foreseeable future. And thats no laughing matter.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
DES MOINES  Concerns about what some consider to be obscene material in school libraries and curriculum clashed with concerns about censorship and for educators who feel under attack by some policymakers during a legislative hearing Thursday at the Iowa Capitol.

The hearing was about Senate File 2198, which would enable parents to start legal proceedings against schools or educators who distribute books or materials the parents deem obscene.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Jake Chapman, from Adel, and supported at Thursdays hearing by Sens. Brad Zaun from Urbandale and Jason Schultz from Schleswig. All are Republicans.

Chapman said the legislation is necessary because parents do not have other recourse when school districts decline to remove books or other materials those parents consider obscene.

Parents are cut totally out of this equation. They have no other redress. Thats why this bill is necessary, Chapman said.

Most districts have a process for parents to raise concerns about materials in libraries or classrooms. Some parents who testified said they raised concerns about some books, but their district decided against removing them. Some of the books contain isolated passages that describe or draw images that show sexual acts, including incest. Typically, the books have larger themes that have little or nothing to do with the passages.

Iowa law says that in order to meet the definition of obscene material, the material, when taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value.

Complaints generally have revolved around books that feature LGBTQ characters or were written by LGBTQ authors, or involve non-white characters or authors. Chapman and some of the individuals who spoke in support of the bill Thursday showed images and read passages from books they deem offensive.

This is pornography in our schools. This is sexually explicit material, Chapman said.

Speakers who opposed the bill pointed to the process already in place in schools, and said teachers, administrators and librarians should be trusted to do their jobs.

Its unfortunate that in some cases folks feel that process has not worked properly, and thats something we can do a better job informing our locally elected officials how to do that, said Emily Piper, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of School Boards. Our school boards are not knowingly or willingly trying to inflict pornographic material on our students. We are trying to do the job to provide a quality education.

Melissa Petersen, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association, the largest statewide public teachers union, said teachers feel under attack by Republican lawmakers who, in addition to this bill, have proposed a requirement that all classrooms feature cameras to livestream instruction so parents can watch their students teacher at work. That bill was pulled from the legislative process earlier this week.

What I find terribly challenging about this conversation is the presumption  that there are public education professionals that are looking to harm students, Petersen said. We seem to be going out of our way to threaten our public education professionals.

Chapman and Zaun said they believe the majority of Iowa teachers are good. Chapman decried media coverage of his speech on the Legislatures opening day, where he said, Some teachers are disguising sexually obscene material as desired subject matter and profess it has artistic and literary value.

I can assure you, 99 percent of teachers in the state of Iowa are great teachers, Zaun said, noting his wife is a former teacher in Des Moines public schools. This is not about the teachers. This is about the parents.

With approval from Zaun and Schultz, the bill is eligible for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Zaun chairs. But its long-term prospects are uncertain.

Jack Whitver, the Senate Republican majority leader from Ankeny, said previously he does not feel increased criminal penalties for educators is the way to address parents concerns. Pat Grassley, the Republican House speaker from New Hartford, said something similar last Friday.

Grassley said House Republicans are focusing on transparency.

We want to make sure there is transparency in our childrens education, and making sure the parents have involvement, he said. But I dont think that the criminal penalty piece is something that the House is going to  thats not going to be part of our conversation.

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Quote:

(A) the proportion of judges and partners at major law firms who are women have not risen to a comparable extent

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(B) the proportion of women judges and partners at major law firms have not risen comparably

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(C) the proportion of judges and partners at major law firms who are women has not risen comparably

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(D) yet the proportion of women judges and partners at major law firms has not risen to a comparable extent

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(E) yet the proportion of judges and partners at major law firms who are women has not risen comparably

This one is a gift from the GMAT gods:  the proportion of (blah blah) HAVE not risenNope, thats a classic subject-verb error. We can get rid of (A). Thank you for giving us something easy for once, GMAT!(B) has exactly the same subject-verb error as (A):  the proportion HAVE not risen So (B) is gone, too.Isnt this exciting?Well, this works just fine: the proportion has not risen comparably. Lets keep (C).Well, there are two things that are different in (D) than in (C). One is that the word comparably is used in (C), but to a comparable extent appears in its place in (D). Honestly, I dont know if this is a big deal. Comparably seems more succinct to me, but Im not sure that to a comparable extent is necessarily WRONG. I certainly wouldnt eliminate (D) based on that alone, even though I mildly prefer the shorter version in (C).The other weird issue is the use of yet at the beginning of the underlined portion. So that gives us Despite the increasing number of women, yet the proportion of women judges Thats wrong: both yet and despite begin dependent clauses, so now the sentence just consists of two dependent clauses in a row. Thats not OK.So (D) is out.And (E) has exactly the same problem as (D): two consecutive dependent clauses does NOT give us a legitimate sentence.So we can eliminate (E), and (C) is our answer._________________
Looks like they have been doing it for 3 years!

in other exams for about three years

Found more here:In a strategic operation spread over ten days across Mumbai, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan the special cell of the Delhi police has arrested six persons including hackers, solvers, trainers and coaching institute owners allegedly involved in hacking into and manipulating the results of reputed online examinations including the GMAT, JEE and so on. Investigation has revealed that the group has been instrumental in getting 18 candidates to clear the GMAT and around 500 candidates. Three of the six persons arrested are from Mumbai and have played a key role in the racket, police said.Those arrested have been identified as A Dhunna, 39, a Mahim resident who runs a training firm engaged in offering training courses related to networking, his brother S Dhunna, 28, who is a BTech, H Shah, 42, a Kandivli resident who managed the payments for GMAT exam deals, K Goel, 39, a New Delhi resident who runs a training institute in networking courses, M Sharma, 35, Haryana resident and mechanical engineer who has been a GMAT prep tutor since 2015 and R Teotia, 33, also a Haryana resident. Sharma met Goel through Facebook and for quick money, agreed to attempt examinations through remote access in lieu of money, In 2017, Teotia set up a lab in partnership in Agra and started illegal activities such as online examination hacking.Speaking about the operation, DCP Special Cell, KPS Malhotra said, information was received by police that there were some syndicates involved in unauthorised access of various competitive exams and were charging hefty amounts for getting candidates their desired scores in these reputed examinations online. These syndicates were advertising or claiming to have access to online examinations of GMAT, JEE, Cisco-Associate, Professional, Specialty, IBM-All Exams Comptia - All exams EC Council-CEH, CHFI and CCISO etc.The information was developed and the alleged persons (hackers) were contacted through a decoy and a deal for cracking the GMAT examination was struck with the syndicate members. They assured they would clear the examination in lieu of money. As a part of the deal, the examination was booked in the name of a decoy police officer and the examination fee was submitted and slot for examination was booked. Token money for the deal was also deposited in the bank account provided by the accused. On the day of the exam on December 26, the accused persons asked the decoy candidate to download software called Ultraviewer and thereby gained remote access to the decoy candidates laptop. They also connected the candidates laptop to the solver, who had attempted the whole examination, evaded detection from the proctor and other security measures. The hacker got access to the laptop and disguised the remote access file as the system file. The decoy candidate got a total score of 780 out of 800, which is 97 percentile and can now get admission to top MBA colleges worldwide, said Malhotra.He added, The technical analysis of the telecom and financial data led to the identification of the syndicate members, who were found to be based in Mumbai. On January 1, the Dhunna brothers and Shah were apprehended from Mahim. The mobile phones used for communicating and striking the deal with the decoy, the laptop used for managing the details of such aspirants and other incriminating evidence were recovered and seized. The same are being subjected to forensic examination. These three people were primarily involved in striking the deal with the decoy customer and then connecting the decoy customer with another module of syndicate, which gains access and solves the exam. Based on their interrogation, other suspects were apprehended. Teotia had revealed that he had been engaged in online examination hacking and solving for the past five years and he had been in touch with Russian hackers also, to hack the exams. He had visited Russia in 2018 and Russian hackers had also stayed at his place during the lockdown. Teotia was also wanted by the CBI and Haryana police._________________
Re: In the year of his death, Augustus Caesar completed an account of his [ #permalink

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WENTWORTH  A budget shortfall of $41,000 means the Rockingham County Board of Elections will operate only one of its usual four early voting sites during the upcoming primary election, board officials announced in a media release this week.

A date for the election is pending, and the only site to operate for early voting will be in Wentworth at 240 Cherokee Camp Road, elections officials said in the release. In previous elections, the county board operated early voting sites in Eden, Reidsville, Madison and Wentworth.

We recognize that many citizens are accustomed to using the one-stop early voting sites. This change in the number of sites will profoundly effect voters from the western side of the county who will now have to drive 15 to 17 miles to get to the Wentworth site, said RCBOE Chairman Ophelia Wright.

But voters in all other parts of the county will also be effected. Particularly those who require additional transportation assistance getting to the polling place, Wright said. We regret this change in routine, and we will work with the county commissioners to ensure that polling places will be properly funded in future elections.

A state law, known as SL 2018-112, was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2018 and requires that one-stop voting sites be open more days and for longer hours than the county has operated in the past. The change creates the need for more funds, elections officials said.

But while elections officials say the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners didnt budget enough in their 2021-2022 Fiscal Year Budget to cover operating costs, county officials contend they did. Elections board members approved a fiscal year 2021/2022 budget for $416,810 during their March 22 meeting, records show.

Wright and Director of Elections Paula Seamster said in the release that they each wrote letters to RCBOCs Chairman Kevin Berger in late January to appeal for more funding but received no response from Berger.

Seamster did receive a memorandum from County Manager Lance Metzler in which he suggested funds for the one-stop sites could be realized by a review of existing budget items, the release said.

Seamster has reviewed the budget but has not found sufficient funds, the release said. Elections officials further offered to provide Seamsters analysis of the budget to the public.

The current budgeted amount available for the one-stop site personnel and Election Day personnel is $49,035.48, the elections board release said. But to operate all four one-stop voting sites during the primary elections, the board would need an additional $41,000, officials said.

The 2018 state law means that the county would need to operate sites for more than three times the hours worked in past elections. And longer hours mean more needed funds for personnel, officials said.

For example, in 2018, the board was required to operate each site for 45 hours during early-voting days. For 2022, though, state law dictates the board must keep each site open for 145 hours.

In past years, the Wentworth site was open during all days of early voting and remote sites in Eden, Madison and Reidsville were open for about one week.

The 2022 mandate, however, would require the county board of elections office to be open during regular business days and hours, as well as on the last Saturday before Election Day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., officials said.

All remote one-stop sites would be required to be open every week day during the early voting period from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and the last Saturday before Election Day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., board officials explained.

But Metzler said in a Thursday media release that the elections boards complaints about a shortfall were misleading, and that the county commissioners had provided adequate funding.

Metzler pointed out in his news release that after the elections board approved its $416,810 budget in March, they returned to commissioners with more requests.

Subsequently, the commissioners added $9,000 to the budget at the request of the elections board to fix a discrepancy between the line item budget requested and the total amount requested, Metzler said in the release.

Another $6,399 was added by the county for FICA, a federal payroll tax, that should have been requested for some elections staff, Metzler said.

And $10,000 more was added by commissioners at its annual budget workshop for the elections board to obtain its own legal counsel as needed.

With these items taken into account, the Board of Elections FY 2021/22 Adopted Budget was $442,209, or $25,399 more than what was originally requested, Metzler said in the release.

In January, almost eight months after the county budget was approved, the board of elections requested an additional $41,000 (notwithstanding $25,399 already added to their initial request) for early voting, Metzler said in the release, referring to Wrights and Seamsters Jan. 27 written requests to Berger.

As with any county department or outside agency requesting additional funding after budget adoption, the county manager informed the director that he believed the board of commissioners would not consider such a request without the agency first showing evidence that it carefully scrutinized its existing budget for the funds, Metzler said.

Metzler said in the release that he further asked Pat Galloway, the county finance director, to review the elections boards expenditures to date to see if she believed money could be found within the original budget to satisfy the elections boards needs.

Following this analysis, the finance director identified at least $41,000 that could be repurposed, primarily from unused salary and benefits expense due to vacant positions for a portion of the fiscal year, Metzler said.

After this recommendation was submitted to (Seamster), the board of elections met in a special-called meeting but failed to take any action, Metzler said in the release.

Wally White, chairman of the Rockingham County Democratic Party, countered Metzlers release in a statement late Thursday.

This is a disappointing response considering all the information thats been left out of it, White said. How about instead of the county and its commissioners continuing to fight with our board of elections, you all take a breath and figure out how to best serve the citizens. There is a lot of blame that can be thrown around. Very little of it will produce anything of value.
North Carolina residents remain split on whether companies should be allowed to mandate employees receive certain vaccines, such as for COVID-19, according to the latest High Point University Poll.

Forty-five percent of respondents surveyed between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 said companies should be legally allowed to require certain vaccines, while 46% said they should not. Another 9% did not offer an opinion on the issue.

Thats a slight change from November, when 41% said yes and 50% said no.

Whether to require that employees be vaccinated against the highly contagious respiratory illness has become a divisive issue across the country. The Supreme Court blocked President Joe Bidens vaccination-or-testing mandate for large companies, although military personnel and health care workers in medical facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid payments must be vaccinated. Some companies, especially health care systems such as Cone Health in Greensboro, have also chosen to require that their workers get vaccinated.

Heading into the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, North Carolina residents worry about its impact on the economy, according to the HPU Poll.

Nearly 70% of those surveyed called the COVID-19 pandemic a major threat to the U.S. and world economies. Fifty-six percent see the pandemic as a major threat to the state economy. It is seen as less of a threat for personal finances, with 38% calling it a minor threat and 23% saying it is not a threat at all.

Meanwhile, about half of those polled said they had received a booster shot against the coronavirus, which has played a role in 21,580 deaths in the state from the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 through Thursday, according to state health data.

State data shows 1,026 have died in Guilford County since the outset of the pandemic.

About 48% of those vaccinated in North Carolina have gotten at least one booster shot, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Guilford County (47%) and Forsyth County (46%) are not far behind, state data shows.

The vaccines remain our best defense against poor outcomes for COVID-19, especially for high-risk individuals, Jordan Smith, assistant professor of clinical sciences at HPUs Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, said in a news release.

The HPU Poll was based on live telephone interviews and an online survey of 884 North Carolina residents conducted by the universitys Survey Research Center between Jan. 21-Feb. 4. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 336-373-7064.
Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series. Part two will run Feb. 20.

For abolitionists and enslaved Americans, the Civil War meant far more than unification, rather it was a desperate struggle for freedom and equality.

It was in fact a revolution.

When Southerners withdrew, Congress immediately abolished slavery in the Western Territories in the spring of 1862. As the war lengthened and casualties mounted, President Abraham Lincoln moved to abolish slavery through a combination of emancipation and constitutional amendment. Facing political reality, his strategy became immediate freedom in the South occupied by Union troops, toleration of slavery in the short term in the border states, and a permanent solution through congressional amendment.

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Within weeks, two Black regiments were formed in Massachusetts, the first Black troops to be raised in the North. Col. Robert Gould Shaw assumed command of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Colored.

Two sons of the great abolition leader Frederick Douglass and a grandson of Sojourner Truth joined the regiment. Despite skeptics who argued negroes wont fight, the new regiment prepared for war.

As portrayed in the 1989 movie Glory, on the impregnable breastworks of Fort Wagner on the approaches to Charleston, South Carolina, Shaw and his 54th Massachusetts were destined to rise to the threshold where death and glory meet. Fort Wagner proved that Black men could and would fight, and fight bravely. Montanans know Shaw, for his namesake Fort Shaw, queen of Montana military posts in the Sun River Valley and the town of Fort Shaw.

Three fighting men from the 54th Massachusetts, who survived the suicidal assault on Fort Wagner, came to Montana Territory after the war: Sgt. Alexander Branson, Pvts. Joseph Meek and Oliver King. Their stories tell us much about the important role of Black Americans in the Civil War and in Montana after the war.

Branson claimed to be the first Black American to enlist in the North during the Civil War, and he likely was. Born a slave in Virginia, Branson was the first in line at the first recruitment for the 54th Massachusetts. He lived through the desperate assault at Fort Wagner, fought through other battles and skirmishes until the end of the war, and came to the Montana frontier to settle in Lewistown in the 1880s. Branson lived over 40 years in the Judith Basin, earning the respect of his fellow veterans in the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and the affection of his community, as Uncle Alex.

When Shaw and his proud new regiment, paraded through Boston Common on their way to war, King and Meek joined Branson in their ranks. After the war, King served in the new 24th Infantry Regiment on reconstruction duty in Texas until his discharge in 1870. Ten years later he was working as a teamster in Helena. In December 1905, King was shot dead by his wife Julia  she was later acquitted of murder. Today, King, born a slave in Maryland, rests in Forestvale Cemetery, Helena.

Meek rests in Mayn Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs, after a life of adventure during the Civil War and later mining the mountains of Montana. Meek was born a slave on a plantation in Tennessee. In the 1850s, Joseph and his younger brother Charles escaped to freedom. In 1863, Joe was a shoemaker in Springfield, Ohio. Like many young Black men, Meek anxiously awaited the opportunity to join the Union Army, and he enlisted in Company E, 54th Massachusetts, serving through the many campaigns of the famed regiment.

In the late 1870s, Meek embarked a steamboat to go up the Missouri River to Fort Benton. He soon began prospecting at the Little Belt mines and discovered a ledge of silver ore high up in a region of perpetual snow. With help from friends, Meek drove off claim jumpers and opened the Meek lode, packing ore down the mountain two miles on a mule for the smelter at Barker.

Like his brother Joseph, Charles M. Meek attained a remarkable record of achievement. He spent his boyhood days as servant in his masters house. When the Civil War began, Meek fell in with Union troops, becoming a personal servant on the staff of Gen. Ulysses Grant. Young Charles Meek was illiterate, but an officer on Grants staff took an interest in the boy and taught him to read and write. Meek learned so quickly that before leaving Grants service, the general offered to send him to college. Meek declined, and at age 15, Charles Meek, lied about his age to join Company D, 5th US Cavalry, Colored at Lebanon, Kentucky.

Despite his youth, Meek proved a natural leader and within months was promoted to corporal and then sergeant. The 5th Cavalry Colored was stationed in Arkansas after the war hunting down rebel renegades, supervising free elections and trying to protect office holders and Freedmen from Counter-Reconstruction violence.

Charles Meek came up the Missouri River to Fort Benton to join his older brother, and after a short stint mining, settled in 1887 in the new town of Great Falls. Within a year, Charles was selected as a juror in District Court, the first known Black juror in Montana. He became active in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, the G.A.R., and Republican Party politics. In the 1894 convention, he gave an eloquent speech that triggered the nomination of William Morgan for Great Falls Townsite Constable, the first Black man to be nominated and elected to public office in Montana.

Sgt. Charles M. Meek is buried in Soldiers Plot at Highland Cemetery, Great Falls.

Navy Landsman (lowest rate) William Morgan played an important role in Montana history when he assumed office as Townsite Constable, breaking new racial ground. Born a free Black in Kentucky, Morgan joined the Union Navy at the beginning of the Civil War. He served as Landsman on the USS Sabine throughout the war. He was one of about 20,000 Black Americans who served in the Union Navy during the Civil War. This constituted 16% of the Navys enlisted force as the Navy featured integrated crews with Blacks working side-by-side with Whites throughout the War.

In 1882, Morgan came up the Missouri River on the steamboat Butte to Fort Benton. He homesteaded in 1886 five miles south of Great Falls along the Missouri River. As the new town began to grow, Morgan built a house on the lower Southside and became active in the Black community, serving as a founding trustee in building an A.M.E. Church in 1891. He helped form Sunset Lodge #14, a Black Masonic Lodge and a Black Odd Fellows Lodge.

Active in Republican Party politics, Morgan was appointed to a plumb political job as janitor of the Cascade County Courthouse. In the election of 1894, he was nominated at the Republican convention with white candidate, Joseph E. Huston, for two Great Falls Townsite Constable positions. On the night of Nov. 6, 1894, Morgan went to bed; in the morning he learned that hed won election as constable, the first known election of a Black American to public office in Montana.

At least 36 Black Civil War soldiers and sailors are known to have come to Montana after the war.

Likely the first to serve in the Army was Pvt. Charles Wright, Company B, 1st Kansas Infantry, Colored. Abolitionist Col. James M. Williams had mustered in the 1st Kansas Infantry, Colored in August 1862, against the wishes of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

Recruiting former slaves across eastern Kansas, the 1st Kansas was the first Black regiment to see combat during the Civil War in October 1862, during a skirmish at Island Mound in Bates County, Missouri. Commander of Union forces at the later Battle of Honey Springs wrote of the performance of the 1st Kansas, "I never saw such fighting as was done by the Negro (sic) regiment. ...The question that negroes (sic) will fight is settled; besides they make better soldiers in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command." Wright died in Billings in 1920 and rests today in Mountain View Cemetery.

Born a slave in Loudoun County, Virginia, Olmstead Turner enlisted in Company K of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, sister regiment to the 54th. While not engaged at Fort Wagner, Color Sgt. Turner and the 55th joined the 54th in many engagements including Honey Hill, South Carolina, where he was wounded in the head and shoulder and sent to the General Hospital, before discharge on disability. Turner rests today in the G.A.R. Plot at Forestvale Cemetery, Helena.

Jerrit/Jared Jack Taylor enlisted in Company K, 43rd US Infantry, Colored, and served as stable man for the captain of the regiment, while learning to be a teamster. Cpl. Taylor mustered out in October 1865, joining Majors & Russell Freighting and arriving at Virginia City the next summer. Hauling freight from steamboats at Fort Benton, and later from the Union Pacific at Corrine, Utah, Taylor remained in Virginia City until his death in 1926, with interment in Hillside Cemetery.

Ken Robison of Great Falls is a historian, author and trustee of the Montana Historical Society. He is author of a trilogy on Civil War Montanans: "Montana Territory and the Civil War: A Frontier Forged on the Battlefield;" "Confederates in Montana Territory: In the Shadow of Prices Army;" and "Yankees & Rebels on the Upper Missouri: Steamboats, Gold and Peace."

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The Broadwater Lions Club's annual Perch Derby on Canyon Ferry Lake returned recently after a several-year hiatus with a slightly smaller number of participants, but just as much enthusiasm, organizers said.

The event was Jan. 29-30 at the Silos Recreation Area north of Townsend. The largest perch/walleye derby for the adult and child divisions was held Jan. 29 and the three-person team event was held Jan. 30.

There were 321 adults and 50 children who went fishing Jan. 29 and 67 teams consisting of 201 people that took to the ice Jan. 30, said Kim Kandelik, co-chair of the event.

She said attendance at the derby has been bigger in the past, but the event was canceled for several years due to concerns about the ice.

Kandelik said the fish seemed larger this year.

We were surprised as to how big the perch were, Kandelik said. There were not as many caught but the size is pretty nice. A lot of them are over a pound.

The first place weight for the team event was 9.57 pounds. That went to Alex Kimmel, Chris Kimmel and Tyler Bunkers. Their city of residence was not immediately known.

The second place team consisted of residents from Helena, Great Falls and Cascade, Kandelik said. That was Mike Niles, Trevor Niles and Eric Mondragon.

The third place team consisted of Jim Traband, Tim Denton and Brandon Henke of Townsend.

The first place winner in the childs category was Mackenzi South, whose perch weighed 1.19 pounds. Luke Flack won second with 1.12 pounds and Patrick Deschene and Grayson Hoppe tied for third with 1.05 pounds.

In the adult category, two women took the top two spots, Kandelik said.

Brandi Mott was first with a 1.35 pound perch; Brenda Poirier was second with 1.30 and Clay Ackerman was third with 1.28.

Kandelik said there were plans to have the event next year and said she was heartened by this years turnout.

This was great to do it again and have this many teams show up, she said. I am telling you, there were a lot of teams on that ice.

There are more competitions at Canyon Ferry this winter. The second annual Montana Ducks Unlimited Ice Fishing Tournament will be held Feb. 19 on Canyon Ferry Reservoir and more than $13,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.

Big-ticket prizes include Charles Daly O/U 20 Gauge Shotguns, Kenetrek boots, Vortex Viper 10X42 Binoculars, an Otter Vortex Lodge Fish House, Sitka Mountain 2700 Backpacks, Aqua View 715C Cameras, Camp Chef Pellet Smokers and $250 Kenyon Noble Gift Cards. The Big Fish prize is $2,500 and the fisherman with the largest walleye and perch will each get $1,000.

The entry fee is $40 per person until Feb. 18 and $50 on the day of the event. There is a Youth Only division (age 17 and under) for $30 per person until Feb. 18 and $40 on the day of the event.

Official tournament rules and registration can be found at www.ducksonice.org . Proceeds will help support Ducks Unlimiteds conservation efforts in Montana.

The Bureau of Reclamation built the 35,181-acre reservoir on the Missouri River in 1953 as a unit of its Pick-Sloan Missouri River.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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Whats being done to defuse tensions?

I wish there was more reporting on efforts to defuse the tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now is the time to work toward a peaceful solution, not to build up forces until a simple mistake could trigger a horrible, violent response from either side (Give Putin what he wants to prevent war: Bar Ukraine from NATO, Feb. 1).

I am not a fan of Vladimir Putin. He is a dictator of the worst kind, but how is his concern about stationing NATO troops in Ukraine different from John Kennedys action to stop the former Soviet Union from stationing missiles in Cuba during what we now know as the Cuban missile crisis?

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We should not bring Ukraine into NATO, but we should sign a pact with Ukraine offering immediate assistance should any nation take aggressive actions against its sovereignty.

I am not a student of foreign affairs, but it seems we are at a point where each side needs to save face to step back from the brink of war. Keeping Ukraine out of NATO would allow Mr. Putin to withdraw his threat of an invasion. A treaty with Ukraine would allow us to express our strong support for an ally. We must act now to prevent a war.

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Kevin D. Cleary, Baltimore

Do we want a World War III?

An open letter to our senators: The only way that I can see Russia pulling back on a conflict with Ukraine is for NATO to do an emergency admitting of Ukraine into NATO. Otherwise, why are we just anticipating Russias advance rather than fighting it at the bud (admittedly, we may be already past the bud). Why only issue words to confront Russia? Why not issue deeds and prevent an all-out war throughout Europe? If Russia invades Ukraine, Ukraine will fall; it is too small. Why is NATO waiting around? Why is the USA just waiting around? And after Ukraine, then what? And since Russia will be successful, why wouldnt China then be empowered to attack Taiwan? And we will just sit around talking big and doing nothing? Do we want a World War III?

Leon Bridges, Baltimore

Putin is emulating Soviet behavior

Back when Russia was the Soviet Union, it would bully, intimidate and sometimes invade members of the Eastern Bloc to maintain pliant regimes. Vladimir Putin, who rues the collapse of the Soviet Union, is trying to emulate Soviet behavior by massing more than 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and threatening invasion, all because Ukraine wants stronger ties with the West (Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know about rising fear of war, Feb. 3).

President Biden has rallied the NATO Alliance to make clear to Mr. Putin that there will be significant consequences if Russia invades Ukraine.

If there ever was a reason to be thankful that Donald Trump is no longer in office, this is it. Mr. Trump excused Mr. Putins brutish behavior and undermined NATO. If Mr. Trump were still president, I have little doubt that Russian troops would be occupying Kyiv and the NATO alliance would be splintered, all to the detriment of U.S. security and democracy in the West.

Dana Stein, Pikesville

The writer is a state delegate for District 11 in Baltimore County.

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Voters didnt put Putin in power

The letter to the editor titled, Ukraine and NATO lets be sensible (Feb. 9) has a glaring error. The letter writer says that both Russia and the United States have leaders who need to show they are tough enough to face off against each other and to please the voters who put them in power. Vladimir Putin was not put in power by the voters of Russia. Mr. Putin has made sure there is no opposition to him in Russia. His opponent Alexie Navalny was poisoned and now hes in prison. The Russian opposition has consistently called Russian elections a sham. Mr. Putin has held power in one form or another in Russia since 1999. He has thwarted and destroyed dissidents to remain in power. He and his cronies control the Duma, the state media, the courts and the economy.

He would have left office in 2024, but he found a way to get around term limits. It was through an eye wash of a referendum, that the clever leader achieved his aim. He first got the Russian parliament to pass a constitutional amendment that would keep him in power until 2036, when he will be 83 years old, and he made sure that the regional governments and the courts were on the same page as the Russian parliament. In July of 2020 he put the amendment to keep him in power, to a vote. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the vote went on for 7 days. As usual the election was beset by irregularities, not that Putin cared. The referendum had many popular measures in it, and Russians who wanted to vote for the popular measures had no choice but to vote to keep Mr. Putin in power until 2036. It was all or nothing and this way Mr. Putin got 70% of Russian voters to agree with his power grab.

So it is not true that Mr. Putin has to do anything to please the voters who put him in power, because in reality they didnt put him in power, he put himself in power. As for Mr. Biden having to face off to Mr. Putin to please the voters who put him in power, that notion is far-fetched and Mr. Biden will not be pleasing the voters who put him in power by starting an unnecessary and costly war with Russia.

Usha Nellore, Bel Air
Matt Flanders was working for actor Brad Pitts Plan B production company when a script came across his desk that had a familiar ring to it.

I read it, the former Helena resident and 1990 Capital High School graduate said. While Plan B passed on the film, Flanders, who had left the company, pursued it.

On Feb. 18, TED K, a two-hour movie about "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski, Lincolns most notorious resident, will make its premiere in select cities and by video on demand.

It will be shown at The Myrna Loy in Helena from March 4-17.

Flanders, who produced the film, had just graduated from college in 1996, when authorities arrested Kaczynski on his property outside of Lincoln.

I completely remembered it, Flanders said. It was just surreal that this person everybody has been looking for is so close to where I grew up.

The $2 million film, directed by Tony Stone, was shot almost entirely in and around Lincoln, where the actual events took place and where Kaczynski had lived since 1971. Flanders said most of the cast are Montana actors, including residents of Lincoln.

The Unabomber sparked terror for nearly 18 years by mailing bombs that killed three people and injured nearly two dozen others. Kaczynski was a destructive recluse who had a genius IQ of 167 and was captured as a result of a search in what was the largest manhunt in FBI history that cost nearly $50 million. An FBI-led task force that included the ATF and U.S. Postal Inspection Service was formed in 1979 to investigate the UNABOM case, code-named for the UNiversity and Airline BOMbing targets involved. The task force would grow to more than 150 full-time investigators and others, the FBI states on a website on the Unabomber.

Kaczynski was arrested April 3, 1996, in his self-made 10-by-12-foot cabin (some say the cabin was 10 by 14 feet) five miles south of town on Humbug Contour Road. The cabin, which had a wood stove but no electricity or plumbing, was filled with explosives and bomb-making books. He had also compiled 40,000 handwritten journal pages that included bomb-making experiments and descriptions of Unabomber crimes -- and one live bomb that was ready for mailing, the FBI states.

He pleaded guilty in 1998 and is serving eight life sentences without the possibility of parole. He was also ordered to pay $15 million in restitution to his victims.

It was reported that the now 79-year-old Kaczynski was transferred on Dec. 14 from the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, to FMC Butner, a federal medical center in North Carolina. Officials did not disclose why.

Flanders said efforts were made to contact Kaczynski for this movie, but he did not respond.

"TED K" features Sharlto Copley as Kaczynski. Copley is a South African actor who was in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated film District 9.

Flanders said the story looks at Kaczynskis life in Lincoln. It recounts some of his acts of terror against neighbors, vandalism and the other things he was doing.

It sort of interested me to explore that, Flanders said.

Viewers will not see his brother, David, or his mother. But there are scenes where he talks on the phone to them.

Flanders said previous films about Kaczynski focus on efforts by the FBI and others to find him. And while there are glimpses of the Unabomber, he remains a mystery.

This is really his story and the story of what happens when you dont have strong human interaction and connection, he said. This about what happens when you isolate yourself and not connect with others.

Flanders, who now lives in New York, also said he wanted to work in Montana and to bring film work here, noting the landscape is so spectacular he knew it would add to production values.

"I am a proud Montanan, and thats why it was so important to me to film and premiere there," he said in an email.

He said they also a received a Big Sky Film Grant from the Montana Film Office, which made production easier.

Flanders said 80% of "TED K" was shot in or around Lincoln. Other scenes were shot in San Francisco and upstate New York.

Casting sessions were held in Helena, Missoula and Lincoln, not just for extras who mill around in the background, but for speaking roles as well, Flanders said. He said there is an FBI sequence which needed 70 agents charging out of the woods. Flanders said four cast members were brought in and 25 Montana actors were hired.

And it wasnt just people that the film crew sought out. Flanders said they needed early 1990s cars, and a lot of people cast in the movie brought their own.

He said when they would see an older vehicle in Lincoln, they would often leave a note asking if they could use it for the movie.

He said the film strove for accuracy. A replica was rebuilt on the exact spot of the cabin where Kaczynski lived, made bombs and wrote his lengthy thesis before he was captured. Kaczynski's cabin was moved to be used as evidence in his trial and is now on display at the FBI Experience museum in Washington, D.C.

He said the cement footings were still there and they could see the outline where the cabins was. He said the root cellar and another sheltered structure are still there.

And, a lot of his trash is still there.

He said the cabin site is somewhat eerie, especially when you are up there by yourself.

"TED K" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2021 and will be released in theaters and by video on demand on Feb. 18. It will have an invitation-only premiere in Missoula on Feb. 15.

Flanders, Stone and Copley produced the film that was written by Stone, Gaddy Davis and John Rosenthal.

Flanders said he hopes Lincoln residents like the film. He said the production company went to restaurants and stayed in homes, and he believes the community appreciated the business they were bringing to the town.

"We employed people and made some good friends," he said.

Brandy Thomas, a waitress at the Pit Stop, moved to Lincoln about the time the movie was being filmed. She said her husband can be seen in the background in a scene.

"We plan to see it," she said. "I have seen the preview already and we liked it.

Thomas was asked how residents felt about Lincoln being associated with the Unabomber and how the film would be received.

"There are some who are eager to see it and there some who dont like the mention of his name, she said.

Laurie Welty, president of the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce, said residents have mixed feelings about anything to do with Kaczynski.

But, she said, the movie could make people aware of Lincoln and prompt them to take a first, second, third and fourth glance, and see all the benefits the community has to offer. She said there could be some good in that.

Flanders said he has moved on to his next project, which will be about the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. It was built from 1946 to 1951 and is seen as a masterpiece of the International Style of architecture and has National Historic Landmark status.

I always have 10 things in the planning stages, he said.

For more on the movie or to order, go to: https://tedkmovie.com/.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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The 30-year-old Iowa snowmobiler who was killed in an avalanche on Sunday had taken all of the right precautions.

An expert rider, Bradie Becker was wearing a chest protector and helmet, according to a Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center report on the fatality. He carried an avalanche airbag to keep him atop the snow should a slide occur. Along with his three fellow riders, Becker had attended avalanche education courses, and they all carried rescue gear and beacons. At the time the group was riding west of West Yellowstone on Ski Hill, the avalanche danger was rated low. The group was familiar with the area, having ridden there for a dozen or more winters.

Yet while motoring alone up a slope, Beckers sled triggered a small avalanche that broke 4 to 11 inches deep across 75 feet, sweeping him downhill into a tree where he was buried and died of asphyxiation. His fellow riders didnt witness the accident, so Becker wasnt dug out for an estimated 15 to 25 minutes. Despite CPR, Becker could not be revived.

What was working against him was the fact he was above a terrain trap, said Doug Chabot, director of the GNFAC. Even though it was a small hill, the consequences were high.

A similar situation occurred outside of Cooke City on Sawtooth Mountain on Feb. 2, Chabot noted. A skier triggered an avalanche on a steep, rocky, south-facing slope and was swept almost 600 feet downhill, partially burying him. Luckily, his partner was able to dig him out in less than two minutes.

Thats somewhat similar because the terrain has big consequences, Chabot said. You cant make a mistake.

Similar terrain traps are creek drainages with steep yet small slopes, he noted.

Becker is the third snowmobiler to die in Montana this winter. Two other riders were killed in December near Cooke City. A fourth snowmobiler was killed in Big Sky when he crashed into a tree. Nationally, four snowmobilers have died in avalanches this winter along with five other avalanche fatalities in states across the West. Last winter set a record for 37 avalanche deaths, topping the 36 killed in the 2009-10 season.

The slide in the Lionhead Mountains occurred at an elevation of 8,125 feet in an area known to avalanche. In 2012 a large slide on the slope broke off trees, according to the GNFAC. After 7 to 8 feet of snow piled up in the region in December, snowfall had been minimal for the past month, with only 14 inches falling.

Weve got in this zone of low danger, but sprinkled in the mountains are these little spots of instability, Chabot said. Low danger doesnt mean no danger. There are a few places that can catch you off-guard. Its unfortunate.

More snow would help, Chabot said, although that would bury the top 18 inches of current snow that has several weak layers within it.

Once it starts to snow, we start to load it and will have widespread avalanches, he said.

On the other hand, As we go longer without snow, people go farther and wider to look for untracked snow, Chabot said, leading them to places like the Ski Hill terrain trap.

Last February had record-breaking snowfall, but the 14 day outlook is for normal to below normal precipitation and above average temperatures. On Friday, however, the Beartooth Front between Red Lodge and Nye and the east side of the Bighorn Mountains were under a winter weather advisory with 2 to 4 inches of snow forecast.

Nowhere has a lot of snow, but were still getting some, Chabot said.

That attracts riders and skiers from the region, as well as from across the United States, to popular snowmobiling areas like the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, Cooke City and West Yellowstone regions.

A funeral mass will be held for Becker at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, Becker's family has requested that memorials be directed to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bradie's name.

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I am a Montanan who is very concerned about the never-ending spread of misinformation throughout our country. I contacted the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), a nonpartisan national education nonprofit that provides programs and resources for educators and the public to teach, learn and share the abilities needed to be smart, active consumers of news and information and equal and engaged participants in a democracy.

We are not doing enough to educate people how to recognize fact from fiction in the flood of information they encounter every day. MIT researchers found that tweets containing falsehoods reach 1,500 people on Twitter six times faster than truthful tweets.

We live in the most complex information landscape in human history, where it is easier than ever to create and spread misinformation online. And weve likely all been fooled at least once by false or manipulated content in our social media feeds. Maybe it was a provocative quote from a celebrity that we later discover the person never said, or an arresting photo that turns out to have been doctored or wildly taken out of context.

Misinformation is often shared unintentionally, by well-meaning friends and family whove been fooled by it. But individuals, organizations, and government entities also create and amplify false content that is intentionally designed to exploit our fears and values and provoke a strong emotional response  all for their own financial, partisan or personal gain. This is disinformation, a particularly viral subset of misinformation.

Such false content can inflict real harm. It can prevent us from taking steps to protect our health, like getting a COVID-19 vaccine because baseless and frightening rumors make us hesitant. Or maybe weve been misled on important issues or how our government addresses them, making us cynical about our civic responsibilities.

Thats why misinformation is everyones problem, and its a big one:

59% of Americans say it is hard to identify false information  intentionally misleading and inaccurate stories portrayed as truth  on social media, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll in 2020.

63% of people worldwide agree that the average person cant tell good journalism from rumors or falsehoods, the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer reported.

96% of young people (digital natives!) didnt consider why ties between a climate change website and the fossil fuel industry might lessen the sites credibility, a 2019 Stanford History Education Group 2019 found.

But all is not lost. We can solve the misinformation crisis through news literacy education. Learning to become more news-literate means being able to determine the credibility of news and other types of information and to use the standards of fact-based journalism to determine what to trust, what to share and what to base your decisions and actions on. It also means recognizing the critical role of the First Amendment and a free press in a democracy.

Its not as hard as it sounds. Here are three simple things you can do right now:

Pause before you post or share information online. If the content triggers a strong emotional response  such as anger, fear or amazement  it might be misinformation.

Verify the information by opening a new tab on your browser and searching multiple sources or Google the claim rephrased as a question.

Correct or question the content in a comment. If you see a post that seems unreliable, ask for the original source or more evidence.

A well-informed public is essential to a robust democracy, and we share a common responsibility to learn how to discern fact-based information from false and misleading content that can put our community, our health and our nation at risk.

To become part of the information solution to the misinformation problem, check out the News Literacy Projects free tools and resources.

Rebecca Johnson advocates for protecting the voting rights of all eligible Montana voters. She is a proud Butte native who is now retired and living in Montana City.

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DECATUR  Claire Parker could hardly believe her eyes when she opened the letter informing her she'd been chosen for the Delta Alpha Pi honor society.

Delta Alpha Pi is an American Honor Society founded in 2004 to recognize high-achieving college and university students with disabilities.

Parker, whose interests lie in science but who hasn't yet decided on a career path, never thought she'd receive such an honor, and credits the support of her family, Richland Community College professors and staff, and her own hard work.

I had an IEP late junior year of high school, said Parker, referring to an Individalized Education Plan for students with disabilities. I didn't really know at first that Richland had an Academic Success Center, but my mom and I just kind of researched it, and I got connected with the staff here.

Students must provide documentation of a disability and have an in-person meeting with Britt Linne Semenow, the accommodations specialist, but once they have done that, and the specific accommodations are determined, those accommodations stay in place throughout their time at Richland unless the student herself requests they be removed.

In the case of Maya Olson, who has Tourette's Syndrome, one of her accommodations is being able to take tests in a quiet room alone rather than in the classroom with her fellow students. If she has tics, Olson said, the quiet room and extra time for a test allows her to wait for the tics to subside so she can continue with the test, without feeling self-conscious. When she realized one of the accommodations offered to her was unnecessary, she had that one removed.

She is studying to be an X-ray technologist.

I struggled all throughout junior high and high school, Olson said. I had a very hard time in high school, and I didn't want to get made fun of and have accommodations in high school, but I said college is different and I definitely wanted to have accommodations in college in order to achieve my academic goals.

She thought people might think she was getting special treatment when the accommodations are meant only to give her an equal opportunity.

Students are their own best advocate, said Leanne Brooks, director of student success. They know what they need and, like Olsen, what they don't, to have a level playing field with their fellow students who do not have a disability.

Everyone was really nice and very accommodating, Parker said. I had to fill out paperwork. I needed official documents to prove that I legitimately need (accommodations).

Students are given a form via email which they can email to all their professors, and they keep a copy of it so they can email it to new professors each semester. Semenow remembers when she was in college, she had to physically carry a letter to each professor and walk up to the desk to hand it over, which she found awkward and embarrassing.

I'd give it to them and run away, she said with a laugh.

The email option safeguards the students' privacy and is a much-preferred alternative, she added.

Brooks said some 30 percent of college students have some type of disability and could qualify for accommodations, but some of those students don't realize it and struggle. The law requires colleges, like K-12 schools, to provide assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the updated version of the Act, which took effect in 2010, includes private institutions as well as public ones.

The wonderful thing, from my perspective, is that all services (in Academic Success Center) are student support services, and it all works together collaboratively, Brooks said. A lot of times, students with accommodations might need extra tutoring, and all the staff is part of the same team, so we can just walk the student over and introduce them to the math center and get them started.

The testing center is part of the center as well, and many of the accommodations students need are in testing, making it convenient to set up a quiet room such as the kind Olson uses for tests.

Online resources, including 24-hour-a-day academic help, also provide convenience for any student, not just the ones who require accommodations.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, Parker said of accommodations for students with disabilities. It just means you learn differently.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A 62-year-old Glade Spring man was arrested Thursday by Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office detectives on multiple sexual assault charges against juveniles.

Terry Frank Compton, the current pastor of Faith Independent Missionary Baptist Church in Damascus, Virginia, has been charged with 30 felony counts all against juveniles.

A press release from the Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office said multiple victims have come forward during the investigation. According to the release, detectives have established the abuse began in 1995 and continued for 26 years.

Compton, originally of Maryland, has been charged with 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with children; 12 counts of aggravated sexual battery; three counts of forcible sodomy and three counts of object sexual penetration.

He is currently being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond.
The third and final person to escape from the Sullivan County jail last week was captured Thursday night in North Carolina.

Johnny Shane Brown, 50, of Rogersville, Tennessee, is in custody, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office reported on social media after 9 p.m. Brown was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and authorities in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Brown was the last remaining escapee to be located after three people fled from the Sullivan County jail through a HVAC vent Friday, Feb. 4, authorities said. Two other inmates, Tobias Carr, 38, of Kingsport, Tennessee, and Timothy Sarver, 45, of Pulaski, Virginia, died Saturday, Feb. 5, following a robbery and pursuit in eastern North Carolina.

It's unknown how Brown was located, or whether he faces any additional charges in North Carolina. He is expected to be extradited and returned to Tennessee to face a felony charge of escape.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate the deaths of Carr and Sarver.

A release from the Onslow County Sheriff's Office revealed more information about an armed robbery involving the two men.

A clerk at a Sneads Ferry, North Carolina convenience store said on Feb. 5 two men entered the store and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. The two men tied the clerk up and left after stealing money from the register and safe, the release states. The two men fled in the clerk's car. The clerk was not injured.

North Topsail Beach Police Department officers responded as well to assist and upon their arrival spoke to the clerk. While speaking with the clerk, the clerk saw his vehicle drive by with the two men inside. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the two escapees refused to stop, and a high-speed pursuit began, the release states.

Multiple agencies assisted as the chase sped through Onslow, Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick counties. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed in Brunswick County. Both men died, but authorities have not said how their deaths occurred.

Several agencies are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led up to the two inmates' deaths, as well as the escape in Sullivan County.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

World Dairy Expo is pleased to introduce Laura Herschleb, DeForest, Wis., as the next WDE General Manager. Herschleb will begin her duties on February 28, 2022, as current General Manager Scott Bentley prepares to retire. In this role, Herschleb will provide leadership, vision and strategic oversight to the organization and lead its dedicated team to produce the worlds largest dairy event.Laura has the experience and perspective to truly know the challenges that are in front of us, and the commitment and vision to lead us into the future, shares WDE Board President Bill Hageman. Even more importantly, Laura has the passion to engage the World Dairy Expo family to seek continuous improvements and capitalize on opportunities.Herschleb has a true zeal for World Dairy Expo and all that it represents along with a rich history with the organization. She is a former member of the Badger Dairy Club, spent five years as the Dairy Cattle Show Manager in the late 2000s, and in 2018 returned to the team as the Marketing Manager. Most recently, she has shared her enthusiasm for Expo while assisting with projects related to education initiatives, attendee services and the trade show. Beyond her time at WDE, Herschleb has held roles with Alltech and Compeer Financial.It is an immense honor to be selected as General Manager for the meeting place of the global dairy industry, remarks Herschleb. I look forward to working with the staff, the Board of Directors, committees, exhibitors and stakeholders to host the event this year and for years to come.Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. The dairy industry will return to Madison, Wisconsin for the 55th event, October 2  7, 2022, when the worlds largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube for more information.
Biden calls on US citizens to leave Ukraine

US President Joe Biden called on all Americans who remain in Ukraine to leave the country.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said in an interview with NBC News.

"It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world," he said.

"It's a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly," Biden said.

However, he noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is smart enough not to, in fact, do anything that would negatively impact on American citizens."

At the same time, Biden said that Washington would not send its troops to Ukraine, as this could become a pretext for unleashing a world war.

Earlier, the Department of State issued a recommendation to its citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately.
On Friday, Kyiv Court of Appeal began considering appeals from the defense of fifth President of Ukraine, leader of European Solidarity Petro Poroshenko, and the prosecution against a ruling of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv to select a measure of restraint for Poroshenko in the form of personal obligations in the "coal case."

At the beginning of the meeting, the prosecution filed a motion to attach a number of documents to the case, the court granted this motion. Poroshenko's defense also filed a petition with the court for the inclusion of additional materials.

Earlier, Kyiv Court of Appeal postponed the consideration of the appeal against the measure of restraint in the form of Poroshenko's personal obligation to February 11 due to the fact that the court did not receive the materials of the criminal case.

As reported, on December 20, 2021, the State Bureau of Investigations notified Poroshenko of suspicion of high treason and assistance to terrorist organizations in the framework of the case of a criminal scheme for supplying coal from the temporarily occupied territories. Earlier, as part of the same criminal proceedings, MP of the Opposition Platform - For Life faction Viktor Medvedchuk and former Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn were notified of suspicion.

On January 19, Pechersky District Court of Kyiv chose a measure of restraint for Poroshenko in the "coal case" in the form of personal obligations with travel restrictions. Thus, the petition of the Prosecutor's Office, in which it asked for the arrest of Poroshenko with an alternative bail of UAH 1 billion, was not granted by the court.
With tensions mounting in Ukraine, the New York Department of Financial Services and the European Central Bank are alerting governments, businesses, and financial institutions to prepare for a possible state-sponsored cyber attack from Russia.

Similarly, the British National Cyber Security Centre is warning large organisations to assess and enhance their security posture, while the Ukrainian state security service says Russian intelligence services was directly behind a coordinated series of attacks on Ukranian websites.

While Emmanual Macron strives to mediate on the scene, advisors and experts around the world are anticipating the toll of conflict on the region will lead to significant financial ramifications and accelerated cyber attacks particularly if the United States issues sanctions against Russia.

The European Central Bank is actively educating and assessing banks about their preparedness for cyber attacks, with banks actively engaging in simulated cyber attacks and performing penetration testing.

Russia denies involvement in state-sponsored cyber attacks, however, the United States Government has previously blamed Russia for the NotPetya cyber attack in 2017 as well as a carefully-constructed supply chain attack on SolarWinds, in which its tooling was breached and malicious code inserted into its products. This breach then provided the perpetrators access to the internal computer networks of significant large businesses and government agencies.

The concerns about Russian-sponsored cyber attacks are echoed by the Department of Homeland Security who state Russia maintains a range of offensive cyber tools that it could employ against US networks.

"We assess that Russia would consider initiating a cyberattack against the Homeland [i.e. against the United States] if it perceived a US or NATO response to a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine threatened its long-term national security, the department said.

Domestically, Foreign Minister Marise Payne states she reaffirmed Australian's committment to Ukraine's sovereignty, with the country appealing to the Australian government to provide expanded technical support in resisting Russian cyberattacks.

Security experts warn such a cyberattack would not only include the takedown, defacement, and breach of websites and computer networks; it would also involve a propaganda campaign. Experts state Russian military doctrine includes a concept of information confrontation whereby doubt arises over what is true. Such manoeuvres are conducted in the press and on social media.

Image credit: Nick Youngson Creative Commons 3 Alpha Stock Images
MATTOON  New Lake Land College students are required to take an online orientation and answer questions at the end of each section which lets administration know they really watched the videos.

That's one way that students who might need accommodations for disabilities find out how to get them.

A lot of the students I work with come to me because they have an (individualized education plan) in high school, and their guidance counselor or teacher is the one that directs them to accommodations when they come to higher ed, said Amber Niebrugge, counselor for accommodations and mental health initiatives at Lake Land. Recent legislation that is clarifying on who should be invited to transition meetings is emphasizing an accommodations representative from a university or community college, and there are more conversations happening for students in high school now.

Some college students, who received accommodations, such as extra time to take tests or a quiet room away from classmates for testing, may not realize those options are also available to them in college. If they don't, and haven't gone to someone like Niebrugge to apply for them, a professor who spots their struggles can let them know, she said.

For adult students, who might have been out of school for years before returning to college, and therefore might not have access to paperwork and documentation of their need, a meeting with an accommodations specialist can get the ball rolling.

Claire Parker could hardly believe her eyes when she opened the letter informing her she'd been chosen for the Delta Alpha Pi honor society.

Delta Alpha Pi is an American Honor Society founded in 2004 to recognize high-achieving college and university students with disabilities.

Parker, whose interests lie in science but who hasn't yet decided on a career path, never thought she'd receive such an honor, and credits the support of her family, Richland Community College professors and staff, and her own hard work.

I had an IEP late junior year of high school, said Parker, referring to an Individualized Education Plan for students with disabilities. I didn't really know at first that Richland had an Academic Success Center, but my mom and I just kind of researched it, and I got connected with the staff here.

Students must provide documentation of a disability and have an in-person meeting with Britt Linne Semenow, the accommodations specialist, but once they have done that, and the specific accommodations are determined, those accommodations stay in place throughout their time at Richland unless the student herself requests they be removed.

In the case of Maya Olson, who has Tourette's Syndrome, one of her accommodations is being able to take tests in a quiet room alone rather than in the classroom with her fellow students. If she has tics, Olson said, the quiet room and extra time for a test allows her to wait for the tics to subside so she can continue with the test, without feeling self-conscious. When she realized one of the accommodations offered to her was unnecessary, she had that one removed.

She is studying to be an X-ray technologist.

I struggled all throughout junior high and high school, Olson said. I had a very hard time in high school, and I didn't want to get made fun of and have accommodations in high school, but I said college is different and I definitely wanted to have accommodations in college in order to achieve my academic goals.

She thought people might think she was getting special treatment when the accommodations are meant only to give her an equal opportunity.

Students are their own best advocate, said Leanne Brooks, director of student success. They know what they need and, like Olsen, what they don't, to have a level playing field with their fellow students who do not have a disability.

Everyone was really nice and very accommodating, Parker said. I had to fill out paperwork. I needed official documents to prove that I legitimately need (accommodations).

Students are given a form via email which they can email to all their professors, and they keep a copy of it so they can email it to new professors each semester. Semenow remembers when she was in college, she had to physically carry a letter to each professor and walk up to the desk to hand it over, which she found awkward and embarrassing.

I'd give it to them and run away, she said with a laugh.

The email option safeguards the students' privacy and is a much-preferred alternative, she added.

Brooks said some 30% of college students have some type of disability and could qualify for accommodations, but some of those students don't realize it and struggle. The law requires colleges, like K-12 schools, to provide assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the updated version of the Act, which took effect in 2010, includes private institutions as well as public ones.

The wonderful thing, from my perspective, is that all services (in Academic Success Center) are student support services, and it all works together collaboratively, Brooks said. A lot of times, students with accommodations might need extra tutoring, and all the staff is part of the same team, so we can just walk the student over and introduce them to the math center and get them started.

The testing center is part of the center as well, and many of the accommodations students need are in testing, making it convenient to set up a quiet room such as the kind Olson uses for tests.

Online resources, including 24-hour-a-day academic help, also provide convenience for any student, not just the ones who require accommodations.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, Parker said of accommodations for students with disabilities. It just means you learn differently.

Examples of accommodations, besides extra time for tests, Niebrugge said, would be a note-taker, or audio books, or someone to read tests aloud to a student. That person is not allowed to change the wording of a test question, answer questions from the student about the test questions, or explain the question in any way, in order for the test to be fair. All they can do is read the question exactly as written.

If a student receives such accommodations, Niebrugge said, it's noted in the class roster given to the professors and the student doesn't have to do anything to inform the professor. That takes a little of the pressure off the student.

Students do still have to self-advocate, she said. I work with students to get them feeling comfortable having those conversations. Maybe they don't want to talk to (instructors) after class, so we talk about office hours and what conversation would look like, to help them navigate that conversation.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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MATTOON  With the weather constantly moving below freezing to above 50 degrees, most snowmen and sculptures made in the snow may very well be melted by end of this week.

That is unless someone decided to build a snowman out of corrugated and plastic tubing.

"I just decided to start doing it to have fun with my kids," said Colt Roderick, owner of Roderick Excavating & Drainage at 315 E. Dewitt Ave. in Mattoon

"The storm that came through a couple months ago in December messed it up a little bit but I'm just trying to be festive."

Roderick said the idea of creating a snowman out of tubing this year came about from making pumpkins out of tubing during the fall for the past four years.

Instead of shelving the tubing for the winter, Roderick said he decided to build the plastic snowman with his Ever, his 5-year-old son, and will continue to have the snowman up for another month or so.

"We've been doing the pumpkin for a few years now so it only seemed natural to make a snowman," Roderick said. "It's also something to do with my kids."

The recent sunshine and temperatures above freezing have gone a long way to ridding the area if the snow, which was measured at 8.5 inches on Feb. 3 by Cameron Douglas Craig, a climatologist at Eastern Illinois University.

The storm that swept through the Midwest beginning Feb. 2, caused schools and businesses to close and made travel dangerous.

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UB to train displaced workers for entrepreneurial success

While the recovery will be multifaceted, its clear that a major driver of growth in our community must be building a more entrepreneurial workforce.

BUFFALO, N.Y.  Hundreds of unemployed, laid-off and underemployed workers in the region will be able to explore entrepreneurial paths and participate in a robust training initiative offered by the University at Buffalos Western New York Incubator Network (WIN) and the UB School of Managements Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL).

As a Reimagine Workforce Center, the CEL will offer entrepreneurship boot camps and master courses in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Olean, Jamestown and Dunkirk, as well as virtually, through a two-year grant of nearly $342,000 from Empire State Developments Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

The proposal is built around the expansion of a longtime partnership between UBs WIN and the CEL. WIN is an established NYSTAR center, while the CEL brings a track record of more than 30 years supporting small businesses through its unique class/cohort model.

At its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about the contraction of at least 110,000 jobs in Western New York.

While the recovery will be multifaceted, its clear that a major driver of growth in our community must be building a more entrepreneurial workforce, says Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management. The Reimagine grant will enable us to leverage our partnerships with UBs Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, Western New York Incubator Network and other organizations to bring this much-needed training to our region.

Over the next two years, UBs WIN and the CEL will work with TReC in Niagara Falls and Jamestown Community College in the southern tier, as well as other area small business development centers, incubators, chambers of commerce and local business associations to deliver 24 entrepreneurship training cohorts.

Twelve of those cohorts will be basic entrepreneurship training cohorts, including one-on-one weekly mentoring, and 12 will be master classes focused on strategic planning and operational tactics, including mastering financial reports, overcoming challenges, creating new opportunities and developing meaningful connections within the business community.

For more information on the Reimagine Workforce Centers, visit management.buffalo.edu/reimagine.
CHARLESTON - The Coles County Health Department reported one death and 34 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

The latest numbers brings the total positive cases to 14,876 since the pandemic began in March 2020. The total number of deaths stands at 159.

The health department also reported that 43.50% of Coles County residents are vaccinated, with 47.13% receiving at least on dose as of Feb. 9.

Currently, there are 29 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and out of those hospitalized, four are in the Critical Care Unit. Four others are being monitored in the COVID @ Home program.

Health officials continue to promote vaccinations as a primary means of preventing the spread of the virus.

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SHELBYVILLE  A Ramsey man with a long criminal record was sent to prison for two years after prosecutors say he shoved a 17-year-old male victim in the chest and threatened to kill him.

Aaron F. Hall, 45, was sentenced Wednesday in Shelby County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.

Shelby States Attorney Nichole Kroncke said in a statement that the charge dates to Oct. 16 when Hall had an altercation with the victim in the parking lot of the Herrick Fast Stop on Broadway Street.

Kroncke said the two year sentence is the sixth prison term Hall has received. His previous convictions include the offenses of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, violation of the Sex Offender Registry, escape, theft and obstructing justice.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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URBANA  Emily Claire Hari could spend the rest of her life behind bars after a series of violent attacks that included trying to sabotage rail lines near Effingham.

Hari, 50, is due to be sentenced June 13 in the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana.

A statement from the office of Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Boyle said Hari, formerly known as Michael B. Hari, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence and attempted arson. She also admitted the unlawful possession of a machine gun and the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Hari and several co-conspirators had formed a terror group called the White Rabbits based out of Clarence and launched their attack on the rail tracks near Effingham in January of 2018.

...They attempted to sabotage railroad tracks owned by the Canadian National Railway through the use of an incendiary device, said the statement.

Following the attempted sabotage, the conspirators sent an extortion demand via anonymous email to the Canadian National Railway threatening that there would be more damage inflicted by the conspirators to railroad tracks if the railroad did not pay the conspirators approximately $190,000 in cryptocurrency.

If convicted on all counts, the maximum prison time for Hari would add up to 50 years. And that would be on top of a 53 year sentence she received after being convicted in December 2020 on charges of firebombing a mosque in Minnesota in August of 2017.

Federal prosecutors say Haris reign of terror included trying to blow up a womens clinic in Champaign in November 2017. And in December 2017, a group of uniformed White Rabbit members smashed their way into the home of a Indiana man they believed was a drug dealer, tied up his family and searched for cash and drugs before fleeing.

They also tried to rob several Walmart stores and planted bomb-making materials, and a pipe bomb, at the Clarence home of a victim Hari was accused of assaulting. The idea, say prosecutors, was to discredit the victim by portraying them as a terrorist after tipping off the FBI.

The White Rabbits are also accused of building their own shotguns and assault rifles, some of which were fully automatic, and obtaining materials like thermite, a pyrotechnic substance, to make incendiary devices.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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Effective Feb. 21, schools no longer have to contact trace or require students and staff to stay at home after a COVID-19 exposure unless they have symptoms or test positive for the virus, according to new state guidelines.

Compiled by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the StrongSchools Toolkit sets guidelines for public K-12 schools in the state. It has been periodically updated over the last 18 months, with the latest update announced on Thursday.

The toolkit continues to recommend masking, vaccines, boosters and testing.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has six contact tracers, according to Brent Campbell, a school district spokesman. The number of missed days because a student or staff member was deemed a close contact was not immediately available.

Our team is going to begin the review (Friday) as the changes dont go into effect until Feb. 21, and there will be some decisions we need consultation with the health department on, he said.

Our teams need to take time to understand the changes and meet with the health department, hopefully (Friday), to begin working together on what this will mean for us.

Keeping asymptomatic and virus-free students in the classroom will be a welcome change. Throughout the year, there were tales of students who came into close contact with an infected student, was sent home to quarantine for several days yet never tested positive or developed symptoms, resulting in lost days of instruction and missed extracurricular activities.

Keeping kids in the classroom remains a top priority, state health secretary Kody H. Kinsley said in a statement. As we have done throughout the pandemic, we evaluate which tools are most effective to protect students and staff. This is the right approach for this point in the pandemic and includes flexibility for local schools and health departments to use data to make informed decisions and respond to local conditions.

Local school districts may opt to continue contact tracing, according to the guidelines.

The local school board voted Tuesday to continue a mask mandate inside its buildings for another month. As required by state law, local school boards are required to hold a monthly vote. Because the countys transmission rate remains high and the city has a mask mandate, school officials continue to recommend the mask mandate stay in place, as it has all year. The next vote will be in March.

Meanwhile, the school district has beefed up its testing program, with 60 schools now offering testing to symptomatic students and staff members. More schools are expected to be added within the next few days.

The number of cases in Forsyth County has dropped 67% over the last 14 days, according to Joshua Swift, the director of the Forsyth County Department of Public Health. As infection rates wane, more states and municipalities are loosening restrictions.

In his weekly briefing, Swift said he needs time to review the changes to the toolkit.

We are seeing improvements with our cases going down. Were in a much different place than a year ago, with our vaccination rates and just in society, we want to get past this whether its in school, workplace or church. I think we just have to do it methodically, and theres no switch were going to switch and COVID is going to go away, he said. I just want to make sure we do it the right way and protect not only our students but people around the students, the faculty, staff and their families.

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The states House speaker pledged Friday to introduce legislation that would give parents the option to opt out of K-12 indoor mask mandate requirements for their children.

Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said his proposed bill is in response to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announcing Thursday plans to end contact tracing for K-12 public-school students on Feb. 21.

DHHS also updated its StrongSchools Toolkit sets guidelines to no longer require students and staff to stay at home after a COVID-19 exposure unless they have symptoms or test positive for the virus.

The guidelines have been updated periodically over the last 18 months, with the toolkit continuing to recommend masking, vaccines, boosters and testing.

Moore said the StrongSchools Toolkit update didnt go far enough for him.

Moore said Thursday he sent a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper that urged him to repeal his mask-wearing guidelines for K-12 schools.

This failure by Gov. Cooper and DHHS to roll back obsolete mask mandates will mean that many schools will leave those mandates in place, Moore said in his statement Friday.

We must do more to protect our children from further learning setbacks and the other consequences of keeping these mandates in place.

Moore acknowledged the legislatures focus is on another round of redistricting maps scheduled for next week.

As soon as redistricting is completed, we will be advancing legislation in the House, Moore said.

It is parents, not politicians, who should decide whether or not to mask their children. The science does not support these onerous restrictions that continue to harm our children.

DHHS said in a statement in response to Moore that currently, the best tools we have to respond to the pandemic are vaccines and boosters, masking during times of widespread viral transmission, and testing.

Masks reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help keep students and teachers in the classroom when transmission rates are high as they are now.

DHHS guidance outlines that schools consider voluntary masking when transmission rates are lower. As it has throughout the pandemic, DHHS guidance will continue to evolve based on emerging science and to focus on the most effective tools for where we are in the pandemic.

Responses

N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, and House majority whip, supports Moores masking bill proposal.

It is time to repeal mask mandates and allow parents and students to make their own decisions regarding personal health, Hardister said.

I hope we have bipartisan support for this measure because it should not be political.

This is about doing what is in the best interest of students and their ability to learn without being distracted by perpetual mask mandates, Hardister said.

Mary Scott Winstead, deputy communications director for Cooper, said in a statement that there is no statewide mask mandate in North Carolina schools, and Tim Moore knows that.

Decisions about masks are left to local school districts under a bill he (Moore) passed.

That state law requires local school boards to vote on masking in schools each month.

Public health officials will continue to evaluate guidance as the pandemic evolves, Winstead said.

Less theatrics from legislative leaders, and more support for public schools, would be helpful.

Virginia legislation

Moore cited a bipartisan bill just like this being considered in the Virginia legislature.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that a bill is advancing that would block local school boards from requiring students to wear masks over their parents objections. There are three Senate Democrats in support of the bill.

The newspaper reported the legislation is poised to become a major victory for Republicans, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin who made parental power a hallmark of his campaign.

Democrats in the Senate and the House of Delegates overwhelmingly opposed the legislation, arguing that masks still provide a layer of safety for students and school staff, and that local school boards should make decisions for their localities.

The Virginia legislation is the closest to an analogous case for this proposed North Carolina legislation, said John Dinan, a Wake Forest political science professor who is a national expert on state legislatures.

The question is whether this proposed North Carolina legislation would attract similar support from Democratic legislators, and to an extent that it would lead the governor to allow the measure to take effect.

Dinan said the trend is pointing in the direction of lifting state school mask mandates in both Democratic and Republican states.

The main question now being the timing of such a move, Dinan said.

Mitch Kokai, senior policy analyst for Libertarian think tank John Locke Foundation, said he is not surprised by Moores bill proposal.

If this legislation hits the House and Senate floor, it will be interesting to see how many Democrats are willing to go along with Republican bill sponsors to support the idea, Kokai said.

If GOP legislative leaders are able to pick up a substantial number of Democratic yes votes, Cooper will face tough decisions.

Will he go on record against parents wishes? Will he strong-arm his legislative allies to support him in an election year? Kokai asked.

Local masking status

On Tuesday, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education voted to approve extending its mask mandate into March.

The mandate has been in place since the start of the school year.

Superintendent Tricia McManus said that in many cases those school districts that lifted their mandates had the support of their health department.

WS/FCS has six contact tracers, according to Brent Campbell, a school district spokesman. The number of missed days because a student or staff member was deemed a close contact was not immediately available.

Our team is going to begin the review (Friday) as the changes dont go into effect until Feb. 21, and there will be some decisions we need consultation with the health department on, he said.

K-12 vaccinations

The mask mandate debate comes as there has been limited adoption of parents getting their 5- to 17-year-old children vaccinated.

At least 9,204 children ages 5 to 11 in Forsyth have received one dose of the kids version of the Pfizer vaccine as of Tuesday. That represents about 26% of the 35,400 children in that age range in the county.

Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said that about 7,434 Forsyth children in that age range, or 21%, are fully vaccinated.

Among ages 12 to 17 in Forsyth, the fully vaccinated rate is at 47%, which mirrors the statewide rate.

Were in a much different place than a year ago, with our vaccination rates and just in society, we want to get past this whether its in school, workplace or church, Swift said.

I think we just have to do it methodically, and theres no switch were going to switch and COVID is going to go away.

I just want to make sure we do it the right way and protect not only our students, but people around the students, the faculty, staff and their families, Swift said.

Journal reporter Lisa ODonnell contributed to this article. 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ

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Read any good books lately?

As the weekend begins and, presumably, no lawns are in need of mowing, this might be a good time to pick up a nice work of literature  maybe a mystery, science fiction, poetry or even a humorous graphic novel to provide a little relief from the stresses of the workweek. No matter your age or your topic, reading is rarely if ever a waste of time.

This will be a bit easier for students at Gibson Elementary School, who are the beneficiaries of a donation of 600 new books from Scholastic, thanks to third-grade teacher Nicole Grove. Grove won a districtwide competition for a classroom library makeover, as the Journals Lisa ODonnell reported earlier this week. The new titles fill about three shelves on a six-shelf bookcase in her class.

Her students were thrilled.

My passion is literacy, Grove told the Journal. Having books in childrens hands is very important to me.

Its very important to her students, too, most of whom are Black and Hispanic.

My original library was very limited, Grove said. I wanted to get books that looked like my class.

That kind of representation  seeing people like themselves as participants, as heroes, with lives worthy of notice, is important to developing young minds.

Kudos to Grove for entering the competition. Kudos to Scholastic. And while were at it, kudos to Bookmarks, the Winston-Salem nonprofit that also donates books to local school libraries  25,000 of them between 2018 and 2020.

Reading is fun and, in todays world, an essential skill to nurture. It teaches us to think deeply, in the abstract, about important issues. It allows us access to minds, lives and times that wed otherwise never know existed.

Books can also provide wisdom and comfort. They can assure a struggling child that he or she is not alone.

Given all their benefits, its downright shameful to see the concerted effort of some to remove books from school libraries so that no children can read them.

And its both shortsighted and harmful to do so in the name of protecting children  to be clear, white children  from possible feelings of discomfort that can result when they realize that people who look like them have at times hurt people who look and act like others.

Last month, parents of sixth-graders in a Union County gifted language-arts class objected to their children being required to read Warriors Dont Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rocks Central High. The book is an autobiographical account of one of the nine Black students who was jeered and attacked by angry mobs of white racists and segregationists when they integrated a previously all-white school in Arkansas in 1957.

The students teacher, Cason Treharn, knew that the book might make her students feel uncomfortable  but was also confident that they were mature enough to handle it.

Some parents, apparently, had less confidence in their children.

In the end, the students reading list was expanded to include options: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Kidnapped Prince and The Secret of Gumbo Grove.

Protests have also arisen in Wake County and Moore County over library books that feature LGBTQ characters.

We live in trying times, in a complex and diverse society, and some themes can be tough for parents and children.

And we know that parents have often legitimate concerns about what their children are learning. Of course they do.

But white supremacy and antisemitic groups are experiencing an aggressive resurgence today, as well as groups that are determined to treat LGBTQ people like second-class citizens. Not knowing about our history leaves children vulnerable to destructive, hateful influences.

In light of those obvious dangers, complaints about critical race theory, currently being entertained by the state legislature, seem trivial.

We would hope that as children learn, they could speak to their parents to gain further insight.

But shielding them from unpleasant topics  shielding them from knowing that they live around people who are different, but still worthy  does them a disservice.

Although this content may be intense or uncomfortable at certain times, I encourage all students to understand these ideas, so that they can better navigate the news and the world around them, Treharn wrote to her students parents. Thats as good a way to put it as any.

February is Black History Month  a good time for all of us to explore some of these themes. Were sure that local bookstores and libraries could supply plenty of suggestions.
Meet in the middle

I appreciate the effort and the spirit of the writer of the Feb. 7 letter No more extremes. We should discuss matters and work them out together.

But hes factually wrong when he says that Republicans arent banning books. In some school systems, they are  theyre withdrawing books, not from school curricula, but from school libraries, so that no children can read them.

And I cant trust politicians who say theyre not trying to suppress information about slavery and racism when they continue to turn a blind eye to the white supremacists who supported former President Trump. No one should.

Yes, lets meet in the middle. Lets reject the extremists, like those who want to allow the withdrawal of any book from a school library based on one parental complaint. Lets de-power the fascists who want to put cameras in classrooms and treat teachers like theyre on probation. Lets reject governors like Floridas Ron DeSantis, who wants to deny that gay people even exist. And lets especially remove the Republicans who are flirting with violence as a means to get what they want.

Once the extremists are removed from positions of power within the Republican Party, Im happy to compromise with whomever is left.

Henry Tubb Winston-Salem

On gerrymandering

Gerrymandering has become so pervasive that it seems people shrug and dont think about its meaning. It means that legislators draw election district maps that permit those in power to select their voters, to guarantee their own reelection and maintain power regardless of the will of the voters. North Carolina, since 2010, has been one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. We are about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, yet because of gerrymandering, Republicans maintain overwhelming control of congressional and state legislative offices, while both Democrats and Republicans are regularly elected in statewide races (that cant be gerrymandered).

Our state Supreme Court has just ruled that Republican-approved maps to be used for the next 10 years violate our state constitution, in part because they violate its equal protection clause by intentionally discriminating on the basis of party affiliation. This is a win for democracy and the people, despite Chief Justice Paul Newbys statement that the decision usurps the prerogative of the legislature. Not so. The court is not redrawing the maps. It has simply instructed the legislature to redraw them in a fair and non-discriminatory fashion.

Kenneth R. Ostberg Winston-Salem

Radon awareness

As a Winston-Salem based Realtor, I am calling upon other real estate brokers to help increase awareness among Black and brown people about how to prevent lung cancer from radon.

Data from The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the nations premier system of health-related telephone surveys, reported in 2019 that approximately 70% of white men and women surveyed in North Carolina know about radon gas. Approximately 29% of Black men and women surveyed in North Carolina reported knowing about radon gas. And, 14% of North Carolina Hispanic men and women reported knowing about radon gas. The data further revealed the gap of knowledge between North Carolinians who own their homes (63% know) and rent (31.5% know).

It should come to no surprise that the data also show that the lower the income of the North Carolinian, the less likely they will be to know about radon.

Radon test kits are inexpensive. There is funding from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to assist with funding mitigation systems. There is an opportunity for real estate brokers to help narrow this gap in knowledge.

Phillip Ray Gibson Winston-Salem
Pat Sangimino Night editor Pat Sangimino is a San Francisco native who has been the Journal Stars night news editor since April 2018. Follow Pat Sangimino 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

Mason Korensky's first job in the food industry was making pizzas at Defy Gravity. The money wasn't great. Nor were the hours.

"But I got unlimited time on the trampolines," he said.

Perks like that aren't given haphazardly. Unlimited trampoline time? Whoa.

A couple of years later, the newly minted graduate of Southeast Community College's culinary program would eventually leave all that free jumping behind when Don Mayhew offered him another job that would change his life.

Well, it eventually changed his life. First, he had to work in the kitchen of a pasta restaurant that failed in less than a year. Then he rode out the pandemic by keeping Mayhew's entrepreneurial interests in the black with a food truck that started off making grilled cheese sandwiches and eventually found sustainable cheddar by serving cheeseburgers.

And then he was offered the opportunity to embark on something new -- barbecue. It's something we've all done in our yards, but few have the gumption to think that entitles them to make a living do it.

Not only was he asked to learn to master the smoker, but also use his young but creative mind to come up with the dry rubs and sauces that would come to make Boxcar BBQ, 6105 Havelock Ave., Mayhew's latest bite of the culinary apple, an instant hit.

"I think Mason is a genius," Mayhew said. "He has an incredible knowledge of food and an incredible passion for it. And he has some amazing ideas."

In about five months, the Havelock Avenue barbecue joint has won over the small blue-collar community and now finds itself looking at the possibility of an additional restaurant and a food truck to cross-market the smoked meats Korensky is creating.

Not bad for a 23-year-old. Then again, he always knew the food industry would be his calling.

When he was in second grade, he told his teacher he wanted to be a baker, imagining the cakes, pastries -- and smiles -- he'd create.

He grew to realize that baking takes precision. It takes discipline. And it takes patience. In other words, baking is for robots. There is no room for human error in baking, where one measurement screw up -- be it the yeast, baking powder or baking soda -- will foul up the entire recipe.

"You cant just adjust the ingredients," he said. "Oftentimes it ruins what youre making."

Cooking, on the other hand, isn't always by the book. The best chefs are artists. The masterpieces they create are often ad-libbed and most times magical.

And so last summer, when Mayhew asked Korensky what he knew about barbecue, he gave an honest response: "Nothing. Yet."

In one short summer, Korensky went to school in the alley behind what is now Boxcar BBQ. He learned the art of smoking meats -- from pork butts, to spareribs and eventually beef briskets, which should never be attempted by an amateur.

"The first one I did was not very good," he remembered, adding how dry that brisket was. "There's a lot of trial and error. The pork butts were pretty forgiving. We did a ton of those, testing the best way to cook them, and even when theyre not perfect, theyre still pretty good."

Not surprisingly, the pulled pork sandwiches are Boxcar's flagship item so far, followed closely by the spareribs.

Still, the things that drew him to cooking -- working the line and delivering as many as 20 orders in a timely manner -- looks downright chaotic when compared to smoking the meats.

He arrives to work before the sun, gets the smoker sparked up and then puts in the meat, which takes up to 12 hours. It's a lesson in patience -- a lesson in life, really.

"With smoking, you put it on (the grill) and you cant really rush it," he said. "It's going to cook on its own time. You turn the temp up and youre going to ruin the whole thing. It takes lots of patience. And the whole time, youre thinking, if this doesnt turn out, its a massive waste of time."

The lesson here -- much like life -- is to trust the process. Stay the course and have faith in the end result.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7391 or psangimino@journalstar.com. On Twitter @psangimino

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A state lawmaker on Thursday called for changes in the process that selected a troubled Kansas-based nonprofit to oversee care of abused and neglected children in the Omaha area and led to other major contract failures.

St. Francis Ministries won a five-year, $197 million contract in July 2019, based on bidding 40% less than the previous contractor. But the agency's tenure was troubled from the start, and in December, state officials announced an early termination of the contract.

The announcement came almost one year after Nebraska had been forced to sign a new, emergency contract with St. Francis to keep the agency operating. The 25-month, $147.3 million contract erased the original 40% cost difference.

Meanwhile, the agency never met caseload standards set by state law and continually fell short on other contract requirements. Child welfare advocates said the situation put children at risk.

At a Thursday public hearing, State Sen. John Arch of La Vista said this was not the first time that Nebraska's procurement process led to the selection of a low-cost bidder that ended up failing to do the job.

He said a legislative investigation into the St. Francis contract found a history of what he called "procurement failures." He said the problems spanned multiple administrations, involved multiple people in key roles and cost the state millions of dollars.

"It became apparent we have a system issue," said Arch, who led the investigative committee. "We did the process and checked all the boxes, and it led to a poor outcome."

In its December report, the investigative committee recommended a thorough evaluation of the state's procurement process and practices to address areas of potential improvement. Legislative Bill 1037, which Arch introduced, was the result.

The bill would require the Department of Administrative Services, which handles procurement for the state, to hire a consultant to do the recommended evaluation. The consultant's report would be due by Nov. 15, giving lawmakers time to craft legislation for the 2023 session.

On Thursday, Arch told members of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee that the evaluation offers an opportunity to improve state government. He said the potential $400,000 cost of the consultant would be a good investment.

"This is an opportunity to correct things," he said. "Yes, we want to save the taxpayer money, but we want to get the outcome we paid for."

Administrative Services Director Jason Jackson testified in favor of the bill, saying it fits within Gov. Pete Ricketts' interest in process improvement in state government. He said that state procurement laws have not been significantly altered in 20 years and that having clear guiding principles for the process would be helpful.

But he also defended the decision to contract with St. Francis, a decision in which his department worked with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The contract "was made in good faith by child welfare experts and procurement professionals, doing what they believed the law and procedure obligated them to do," he said.

HHS case managers are taking back responsibility for child welfare cases in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The transition began in January and is slated to be completed by the end of June. HHS workers already handle cases in the other 91 counties.

Other notable procurement failures predated Jackson and Ricketts. They include the state's 2007 contract to develop a major Medicaid claims processing and information system and a 2014 contract for a new Medicaid eligibility and enrollment system.

In the first case, state officials signed a $45 million contract with FourThought Group, based in Arizona. HHS officials terminated the contract in July 2009, after only 15 months, saying the company "did not have the capacity to deliver the system they proposed."

Kerry Winterer, the former CEO of HHS, told the investigative committee that the company "had never implemented such a contract and that many of their representations as to having products available to apply to the project were simply not true. The company appeared to be poorly capitalized and understaffed."

By then, the state had paid FourThought more than $6.8 million in state and federal money. Later in 2009, the state reached a settlement to pay another $4.75 million.

In the second case, state officials signed an $80 million contract with Wipro, based in India. Four years later, HHS officials ordered a review of the project after Wipro requested a fifth amendment to its contract, which the state said would have delayed completion of the project by two years and added $28 million to the project total.

Officials concluded that there was no evidence that Wipro had completed any part of the project, despite the company reporting it had put 200,000 hours into the project. HHS terminated the contract in December 2018, after having paid Wipro $58.6 million.

The company filed a lawsuit alleging that Nebraska had failed to pay $15.5 million for work completed. The case is still pending.

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U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry sat flanked by his attorneys as they squared off with prosecutors Friday in a California courtroom on motions that ranged from being able to call a memory expert to arguing at trial the case was a "political witch hunt."

A grand jury in Los Angeles indicted the Nebraska congressman in October on allegations he lied to federal agents investigating an illegal campaign contribution at a 2016 fundraiser in California.

Fortenberry has pleaded not guilty to two counts of making false statements to federal agents and one count of seeking to conceal the source of $30,000 in conduit political contributions.

His trial had been set to start next Tuesday, but last month, jury trials were suspended because of COVID-19. They now are set to resume Feb. 22.

In court Friday, defense attorney John Littrell made it clear Fortenberry's attorneys "need a trial as soon as possible," and pointed out to the judge it was the first hearing for which the Nebraska congressman had gone to California.

"It's not because he doesn't want to come. It's not because he doesn't want to participate in this case. This is very important to him," he said, arguing for the case to be moved to Nebraska.

Littrell said it's because Fortenberry has important things to do. Two previous hearings occurred the day of House of Representatives votes.

But the proposed move, which the government is fighting, was far from a given.

And Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. seemed unconvinced that it ultimately would result in a quicker trial, given that a new judge would have to get up to speed on all the motions he's already heard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Har called it "forum shopping."

"This case is going to trial and it's going to go to trial fast," she said. "It does not favor moving this entire case to a new location that has not touched it since it's been indicted."

Blumenfeld said he would let the parties know his decision by the end of the day Friday but no decision was posted by 6:30 p.m. (PST).

Blumenfeld already has rejected a number of other defense challenges to the charges, including an effort to get the indictment dismissed because it wasn't filed in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., where the statements were made, and to disqualify one of the prosecuting attorneys.

But he has yet to rule on a flurry that followed.

Among them:

* A defense motion to suppress statements Fortenberry made because he only talked to investigators after a prosecutor told his then-attorney Fortenberry wasn't considered a suspect, but rather was a subject, trending toward being considered a witness.

* A motion by the U.S. Attorney's Office to prevent the defense from calling Dr. Alan Castel, a memory expert, to testify about the fallibility of memory, especially in older adults, calling it commonsense. Defense attorney Ryan Fraser called the testimony essential to the defense. "We're here ... because the government put Congressman Fortenberry through a battery of flawed memory tests."

* And another seeking to exclude any evidence or argument attacking the prosecution or prosecution team as politically motivated.

The government says the case stems from an investigation that started in 2015 and focused on a Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, who financially supported prominent members of both political parties.

"But the defense seeks to argue that the investigators were biased toward defendant (a Nebraska Republican) and used this prosecution to defeat a Republican incumbent," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins argued.

He said Fortenberry "seemingly intends to inject politics into his trial as much as possible," though his own party was in the White House during the investigation.

Chagoury is said to have directed the donations to Fortenberry because of a shared interest in protecting Christians from persecution in the Middle East.

But it is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. political campaigns.

In the end, Blumenfeld asked the attorneys to provide anything useful to enable him to understand "what an appropriate and reasonably limited approach to this trial would be so that the defense has a fair ability to mount a defense without taking this case in a direction that the court is not likely to allow, and that the government is able to present its prosecution but not do so in the way that it wishes, which strikes the court as being unfair."

Attorneys are set to meet with the judge again Thursday.

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An 81-year-old Lincoln man accused of first-degree murder for shooting his wife who was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease died Thursday at a Lincoln hospital.

John Kotopka had pleaded not guilty and was at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections facility awaiting trial.

"While the cause of death has yet to be determined, Mr. Kotopka was being treated for a chronic medical condition," according to a news release from the jail.

As is the case whenever an inmate dies in custody, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.

In court records, police said Kotopka shot his wife, 78-year-old Janet Kotopka, at about 6:30 a.m. June 20 at their home at 1808 Dakota St.

A single shot woke the couple's son, who called 911.

Rescue workers took Janet Kotopka to an area hospital, where she later died, and police arrested her husband, after he allegedly told investigators he was "exhausted and couldn't take care of her any longer" and was concerned about the financial burden if she were to go to a health care facility.

Janet Kotopka had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's about two years ago, and her health had deteriorated to a point that she had to be monitored constantly.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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A 47-year-old Lincoln man is in jail on child sex assault charges after a father found the man in his home with his 15-year-old daughter, according to court filings.

Devon Whitlow was arrested six days after the father arrived home at around 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and found Whitlow putting on his pants in an upstairs closet at his home, according to the affidavit for Whitlow's arrest.

The father told police he saw Whitlow alongside his half-naked 15-year-old daughter, according to the affidavit.

The girl told Lincoln Police investigators that she had spent time with Whitlow before, but said he came to the house uninvited Feb. 2 and asked to use the bathroom.

After using the bathroom, the girl said Whitlow grabbed her by the arm and took her upstairs before allegedly sexually assaulting her in the closet, according to the affidavit.

Whitlow was arrested near 33rd and Holdrege streets Tuesday and was charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child. He was taken to the Lancaster County jail.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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A single-engine plane that had been experiencing mechanical troubles in its flight from Indiana to Lincoln made a crash landing in a field northeast of Lincoln on Thursday evening.

Richard Phelps, the 44-year-old pilot of the 2019 Cirrus aircraft, told Lancaster County Sheriff's deputies that the plane first began showing signs of engine trouble near Plattsmouth, but the problems seemed to smooth out after reducing altitude.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said the engine issues flared up again as Phelps and a 60-year-old passenger, both Indiana men, neared Lincoln at about 8:30 p.m.

"He didn't think he could make it to the Lincoln Airport," Wagner said.

The pilot circled away from the city's populated areas and dumped fuel after identifying a field near North 112th Street and Havelock Avenue, where he made the emergency landing, according to the sheriff's office.

No one was injured in the incident. The sheriff's office, Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Waverly Fire and Rescue, Southeast Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department hazmat team responded.

Wagner said the plane was equipped with a parachute designed to aid in crash landings. He said the plane was damaged but remained in one piece.

Phelps originally planned to land in Lincoln before continuing on to Utah, Wagner said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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After 2020 brought an uptick of violent crime to Lincoln, 2021 proved to be a milder year for violence in the city  a reversal not seen in most of the country's major cities, where homicides ticked up for the second year in a row.

The Lincoln Police Department fielded reports of 1,093 violent crimes in 2021, marking a 15.3% decrease in homicides, aggravated assaults, rapes and robberies combined from 2020, according to new data released Thursday.

That marks a 1.6% decrease compared to the five-year average from 2016 to 2020 and the lowest violent crime total in Lincoln since 2018, when LPD fielded reports of 1,040 such crimes.

At a press conference alongside Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins on Thursday morning, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird applauded the work of the city's police department and called public safety her administration's "No. 1 priority."

"(This) is good news for our city," the mayor said, "and all the people who call Lincoln home."

In addition to the decrease in violent crime, LPD fielded fewer reports of "Part 1" crimes, which encompass violent crimes as well as auto theft, burglary, larceny and arson.

LPD took reports of 9,297 Part 1 crimes in 2021  a decrease from 9,916 such crimes in 2020 and a 3.3% decrease compared to the five-year average, according to department data.

The decreases came as many of the country's major cities saw increases in violent crimes and some cities set homicide records in the second year of the pandemic.

Homicides increased by 4% in 22 major U.S. cities through the third quarter of 2021, according to a study from the Council on Criminal Justice, a criminal justice policy and research organization. In Lincoln, police investigated seven known homicides last year, a total that matches 2020 and doesn't represent any substantial difference to the city's yearly average over the past decade.

"We're definitely in a city that is reducing crime and creating positive environments for our community," Ewins said. "And so that's really great for when we look to our future."

The decrease in violent crime reports came as the city's dispatch center saw an increase in emergency call volume, though a continued decrease in total calls.

Dispatchers fielded 472,774 calls in 2021, an average of nearly 1,300 calls a day. More than 75% of calls made to police were non-emergency calls, according to department data, prompting Ewins to seek alternate ways to route the calls, which she said can be a strain on the city's dispatch center.

"(The calls for service) is a number I'd like to see reduced and really have those other calls that are not necessarily a police or fire function go into a different direction," Ewins said. "If we, as law enforcement, need to have a call center for taking simple reports  like a lost wallet or something like that  then, we want to lighten that load."

While there were few instances of violent crime in 2021, car thefts and thefts of catalytic converters soared last year.

Lincoln saw 692 car thefts in 2021  a 63% increase over the five-year average from 2016 through 2020. Nearly 1 in 5 stolen vehicles had been left running when they were taken in 2021, according to LPD data, and 24% of stolen cars had the keys inside.

Police have recovered 82% of vehicles reported stolen in 2021  in part because thieves often steal the cars for in-town use, according to LPD.

The department has been less successful in solving and preventing the theft of catalytic converters, which skyrocketed last year and have remained prevalent in the early months of 2022.

After only 107 catalytic converters were reported stolen in Lincoln from 2016-2019, LPD fielded reports of 978 stolen converters last year  a 257% increase from 2020 and a 1,183% increase over the five-year average.

Ewins on Thursday highlighted the decrease in converter thefts in November and December last year after the City Council in September approved an ordinance requiring a permit to possess, buy or sell unattached catalytic converters in effort to curb the rise in thefts. But she said the overall increase in converter thefts last year was unacceptable, vowing to "do some proactive enforcement in the coming year."

"It really is about having the video (of the crime occurring)," Ewins said, elaborating on the department's plan to curb the thefts in 2022. "It is about being proactive in talking and checking on the people that are purchasing the catalytic converters illegally. That's a big focus for us.

"But being proactive is really having my officers going out and focusing specifically on that. Because there are timeframes. People are not just lifting cars in broad daylight, a majority of the time."

It's unclear if the new rule change  which police have acknowledged "isn't a magic ordinance"  has had any impact on the rate of converter thefts in Lincoln.

The ordinance went into effect Oct. 1 and proceeded a record-setting month for converter thefts in the city, with 174 catalytic converters reported stolen in 31 days. Another 173 converters were reported stolen in the last two months of 2021, according to department data.

LPD fielded reports of 28 stolen catalytic converters in the first 11 days of 2022  64% of which targeted Honda and Kia vehicles.

As of Jan. 12, LPD had yet to issue the city's first citation for a violation of the catalytic converter ordinance passed in September.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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Cambodia to host ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting next week

Cambodia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will host the ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) Retreat) from February 15-17 in Phnom Penh in a hybrid format, the countrys foreign ministry said in a press release.













Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn. (Photo: VNA)



Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn will chair the ministerial meeting, the ministry said in a statement on February 10.



"The AMM Retreat will follow-up on the leaders' decisions from the 38th and the 39th ASEAN Summits, exchange views on how to further strengthen external relations with dialogue partners while maintaining and promoting ASEAN centrality, solidarity and unity, and discuss ways and means to collectively endeavour to build a more resilient, dynamic, peaceful and prosperous ASEAN community," it said.



Regional and international issues of common interest and concern will also be discussed at the meeting.



The ASEAN Retreat was scheduled to take place in the in-person format in Siem Reap city, northern Cambodia, on January 18-19. However, Cambodia postponed this plan because it was difficult for many ASEAN ministers to join the meeting at that time.



Earlier, during a talk on Cambodias 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship organised by the ISEASYusof Ishak Institute in January, Sokhonn stated that the retreat is the first important ministerial meeting to talk about the realisation of decisions and plans that the countries have agreed since 2021, and also an opportunity to discuss new initiatives to promote ASEAN community building.
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will no longer require the wearing of face coverings beginning Monday, except at schools in jurisdictions where indoor masking is mandated.

Archdiocesan chancellor James Sellinger and Superintendent Donna Hargens announced the plan to ease masking requirements in a letter Friday that was published by the Catholic Review. Some Catholic schools in Maryland operate independent from the Archdiocese and maintain their own policies on masking.

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This policy change comes at a time when our region is witnessing a significant decline in COVID transmission rates from the Omicron variant that emerged in November and resulted in the highest daily case rate since the beginning of the pandemic, the letter states.

The policy applies to all individuals including students, visitors and employees, regardless of vaccination status. Parents will decide whether their student will wear a mask in school, according to a statement from the Archdiocese.

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Masks are required for all individuals while on transportation, including public and private school buses and vans. School buses are subject to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order requiring masks on public transportation, which was issued in January of 2021, the Archdiocese said.

Archdiocesan leaders said they consulted with governmental and public health advisors, including Robert Redfield, the former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who now serves as a public health advisor to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Redfield is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, according to the Catholic Review.

The movement to parental choice masking is about a parents personal accountability and responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their children, Sellinger and Hargens stated in the letter.

The policy shift comes as Hogan put pressure this week on the State Board of Education to lift its emergency regulation requiring masking in schools.

The State Board of Education approved an emergency regulation in December that creates an off ramp for public school systems to allow students to go without masks. Mandates may be lifted if a countys community spread of COVID-19 is moderate or if vaccination rates are above 80% in the school or the surrounding community.

The board regularly evaluates the need for such a regulation during its monthly meetings, the next of which is scheduled for Feb. 22.

Hogan took to Twitter Friday to commend the Archdiocese for updating its masking guidance.

I commend the Archdiocese for updating its masking guidance to reflect the data and the science. https://t.co/LkrZO9NbXd  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 11, 2022

State Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury on Friday released his own response to the governors stance, calling the regulations necessary in the face of high community spread, the lack of a vaccine for children under the age of 12, limited testing opportunities, and the emergence of the omicron variant, all experienced during the first part of the 21-22 school year.

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The face covering requirement helped keep all of our schools open through the fall  as many schools and entire districts closed around the country  and it helped our school systems weather the omicron surge and preserve in-person learning for the vast majority of our students, Choudhury said. We continue to emerge from the pandemic and transition to an environment that now includes readily available vaccines for school-aged children, ample testing opportunities, and a greater depth of understanding of Covid-19 and its impact.

Choudhury said he looks forward to working with the State Board of Education at its upcoming meeting to reassess the emergency regulations and explore whether there is continual need for a statewide face covering requirement.
The state and county GOP Thursday appealed the election commissioner's ruling that state Sen. Adam Morfeld can run for Lancaster County Attorney.

The lawsuit asks the Lancaster County District Court to overrule Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shivelys decision that Morfeld is qualified to be a candidate and rule that his name should not appear on the May 10 primary ballot.

At issue is whether Morfeld, who is licensed to practice law in Nebraska, has actively practiced law for at least the last two years.

State and local GOP officials contend he has not, and that the examples Morfeld cites  including his work as director of the nonprofit Civic Nebraska, as a state senator and with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana to get the question on the ballot  dont constitute active" law practice.

Morfeld said he will not back down from fighting for the right of voters to choose their next county attorney.

Apparently, the Republican Party does not believe protecting the voting rights of Nebraskans, managing litigation, supervising attorneys, crafting our criminal and civil laws for eight years, and serving as the executive director and in house counsel to a large non-profit (qualifies) as the active practice of law."

On Wednesday, Shively sided with Morfeld, and overruled the GOP objection, finding that Morfeld met the statutory requirements to run for county attorney.

Shively said there appears to be no applicable statutory definitions for actively practicing law. The Nebraska Supreme Court, he said, has long acknowledged in different contexts that the concept eludes a precise, all-encompassing definition.

The lawsuit alleges that Shively did not conduct a sufficient investigation, but based his decision on relevant statutory language based on how it's been interpreted recently.

The time frame for a decision on the matter is short: state law requires a decision reversing the election commissioners finding 55 days before the primary election. Thats March 16.

Attorneys plan to file a separate request asking the case be expedited so that there is time for a review by the state appeals court or Nebraska Supreme Court before that date.

Morfeld filed as a candidate with the election commission on Jan. 11; Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Dan Welch and Lancaster County Republican Chairman Eric Underwood filed an objection on Jan. 19 and on Wednesday Shively made his decision.

Morfeld is challenging incumbent Pat Condon, a Republican and longtime deputy county attorney appointed to replace Joe Kelly when he became U.S. Attorney for Nebraska. Condon ran unopposed in the November 2018 election.

Because of term limits, Morfeld can't run for the Legislature again.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist

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At this point in the coronavirus pandemic, local mask mandates are disappearing as quickly as toilet paper did from grocery stores shelves two years ago. At the national level, the guidance to wear masks is staying put, at least for now.

So, should you mask up or not? Infectious disease experts have some advice for wherever you live.

The mask landscape

Whether you must wear a mask depends on where you live in the United States. Whether you should is an entirely different matter, experts say.

About a fifth of states never had mask mandates. Some states with more conservative governors, such as Florida, punished schools that put mask mandates in place by withholding funds, even when Covid-19 cases were at record levels.

Officials in Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and California -- states that had more strict mask rules -- announced this week that as cases drop significantly in their areas, people can ditch their masks soon if they choose.

Some public health experts think now is the right time to remove mandates, particularly in highly vaccinated communities.

"As the cases are decreasing right now with Omicron, you know, in a couple of weeks, maybe removing masks is actually the right thing to do," said Dr. Carlos del Rio, the executive associate dean of the Emory University School of Medicine.

But the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines haven't changed. The agency still advises anyone 2 and older to wear a mask when indoors in public if they are not up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines.

Many Americans are not. Only 42.4% of eligible people -- about 27% of the total population -- are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to the CDC.

In schools, the CDC still recommends that everyone wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has said it's not yet the right time to lift the mandates, though she acknowledged Wednesday that her agency is starting to consider updating its guidance.

"We are working on that guidance. We are working on following the trends for the moment," Walensky said at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing, adding that even though hospitalizations and death rates are still high, "we are encouraged by the current trends."

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed. He said knows people are sick of masks but urged them to hang in there a little while longer.

"Independent of whether there's mandates or not, I think people should reasonably wear masks when they're indoors for the next few weeks until we're much farther down then where we are right now," Offit said on CNN Newsroom on Tuesday. "We're almost there."

The science behind masks

Masks have proved to be one of the better aspects of the pandemic, Dr. Erica Johnson said.

"Masks were one of our earliest effective tools, and I think it will continue to be an absolutely important tool, particularly when rates are high within a community," said Johnson, chair of the infectious disease board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. "They work."

A December review of multiple studies by the CDC showed as much. Masks control the spread of disease, and they protect the wearer, particularly a well-fitting mask that the CDC recommends, such as an N95 or KN95.

Masks work in schools too, studies show; there have been more Covid-19 cases in areas without school masking policies. The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend that all students wear well-fitting masks at school, with an emphasis on indoor masking.

The odds are significantly lower that someone will catch Covid-19 if they consistently wear a face mask in an indoor public setting, according to a study published Friday by the CDC.

That would be the case even if few others were wearing one, said Johnson, who is also an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"People still derive protection from wearing a mask, particularly an effective mask like the N95," Johnson said. "They will go a long way in terms of keeping an individual safe."

Dr. Patty Manning, chief of staff at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, added that masks also are a good reminder to the wearer.

"When you're wearing a mask, you're more cognizant of safe practices," Manning said. It reminds you that there's still a virus out there that can make you really sick. So you may be more apt to observe prevention measures like keeping physical distance from others and washing your hands regularly.

Masking after mandates

So, should you continue to wear a mask? It depends.

Even when all the mandates are gone, Johnson said, some people should keep wearing them.

"Removing the mask mandate doesn't mean that no one should wear a mask," Johnson said. "There are definitely people who are maybe at higher risk or may just have a different level of acceptance of risk for whom wearing a mask will make sense. And for those people, they should absolutely continue to wear a mask, and in wearing a mask, it will help protect them from the virus."

People without underlying conditions that put them at high risk of severe Covid-19 illness should make decisions based on a few factors, Johnson said. "There's going to be a lot of variability."

People should look at the rate of transmission and hospitalization in their community. If these numbers are high, they may want to wear a mask when indoors in public.

"Different environments have different priorities," Johnson said.

Professor William Haseltine, an infectious disease expert and the president of ACCESS Health International, said people could think of it like how they watch the weather. "We have to watch the infection rates by area. One thing I've always said is that understanding the risk of Covid is very much like understanding the risk of weather. You have to know what's happening in your area," he said.

If you're in a highly public-facing job and interact with a lot of people, for example, you may want to keep masking. In a school, where it's basically the same people every day and many are vaccinated, you won't necessarily need one. It depends on your comfort level for risk.

"I think we just need to assume that the reason to wear a mask is a highly personal one and respect people's choice around it," Johnson said.

She said people won't have to wear masks forever, but there will be times when community transmission and hospitalization rates are high enough that they should.

"I think it's pretty reasonable to expect that, as long as we're dealing with this virus, we are going to see higher rates during certain times of year," Johnson said. "So we probably are going to have to go back to wearing masks multiple times throughout all of this. And I think we should be wearing masks right now, to be frank, but the time will come where we don't need them."

Manning, who is also an attending physician in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, said she thinks the pandemic has put more people at ease with the idea of wearing masks, and that could help with future outbreaks.

"Despite all the politics around masks, Covid has normalized mask wearing in a way that didn't exist in this country," Manning said. "You can wear one and for the most part, you'll be left alone, and it's not anybody's business if you wear a mask or not."

But as the mandates lift, she said, it will be even more important to remind people to respect those who choose to wear masks.

"Somebody who chooses to wear a mask -- they have their personal reasons. They might have somebody in their family that they're trying to protect. It's their personal choice, and it's nice to be respectful of people's choices. Wearing a mask doesn't hurt anybody else. It's their business."

The-CNN-Wire

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A 36-year-old woman died after a two-vehicle crash Tuesday night on U.S. 81 in northeast Nebraska.

Cassandra Lacost of Pierce was killed when the car she was in collided with a semi north of Norfolk.

Investigators from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office determined that 51-year-old Peter Graham of rural Pierce was driving a car north on U.S. 81 at about 6:30 p.m. A semi driven by Kevin Pelc, 33, of Butte drove out of the Prime Stop convenience store onto U.S. 81, pulling in front of Graham's car, the Sheriff's Office said.

Graham's car hit the rear of the semi, left the road and rolled over before coming to a stop in the grass median.

Lacost was taken to Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, where she died.

Both Lacost and Graham were wearing seat belts, and airbags in the car deployed. No injuries to Graham or Pelc were reported.

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Two women were arrested in a Kearney trailer park Wednesday afternoon following a high speed chase in central Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Patrol provided the following account in a statement Wednesday evening.

At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, a State Trooper saw a Chevrolet Malibu speeding on U.S. 30 near Shelton.

The trooper attempted to pull the car over but it sped off and the trooper gave chase. The Malibu left U.S. 30 and sped along rural roads before returning to the highway, where it reached speeds of 100 mph.

At this point, the car was heading east on U.S. 30.

The car entered Gibbon and the trooper backed off. A second trooper on the other side of Gibbon picked up the pursuit and the car continued fleeing, reaching speeds of 120 mph.

As the car approached Kearney, the State Patrol discontinued the pursuit out of concern for public safety.

However, in Kearney, local police officers aided by deputies from the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office located the Malibu. It had been abandoned and the two occupants had fled into Valley View Mobile Home Park, where both were arrested.

The entire incident lasted less than an hour.

The driver was a 22-year-old woman from Omaha and companion was a 28-year-old woman from Kearney. They were taken to Buffalo County Jail and booked on various charges.

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Construction of a proposed new lake between Lincoln and Omaha bumped into questions Thursday about its potential impact on the water supply serving both cities, but Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln assured urban officials that the proposal would not proceed without completion of a study that can successfully eliminate those concerns.

The plan calls for $20 million to provide for lake planning and permitting that is designed, in part, to "answer those questions" before the state would consider construction of the lake, Hilgers said during a hearing before the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee.

The hearing on provisions of LB1023  introduced by Hilgers to lay the groundwork for a potential public-private partnership that would be necessary to complete the water development initiatives proposed by the Legislature's so-called STAR WARS Committee  centered on enthusiastic supporting testimony on behalf of $86.7 million of improvements impacting Niobrara State Park and Lewis and Clark Lake in northeastern Nebraska.

That includes $42.4 million for a lodge and event center and $41.5 million for marina improvements.

The plan also calls for improvements at Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, including $34.3 million for marina investment.

Lincoln and Omaha water supply concerns were raised by officials from both cities in neutral testimony on the bill.

Further study is needed to "assure that Lincoln's water would not be impacted negatively," Elizabeth Elliott, director of the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department, said.

At the same time, she said, the city is aware of the lake's potential to provide "significant opportunities that would benefit our community."

Lincoln acquires its water supply through underground wells near Ashland and needs to be assured that flood conditions or other factors associated with the new lake would not impact Lincoln's current and future wells, Elliott said.

Rick Kubat, speaking for Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha, said Platte River groundwater provides "just short of half of the state population's needs" in serving both Lincoln and metropolitan Omaha and the Legislature needs to "take a deep dive into any consequences (that the proposed lake might have) on water supply and infrastructure."

Hilgers agreed that "we need to answer those questions" before proceeding to construct the proposed 7-mile-long lake, which is viewed as a potential boon to recreation, economic development, tourism and enhanced lifestyle benefits.

The lake would be 4,000 acres in size, larger than Lake Okoboji in Iowa, a popular vacation and recreation destination for Nebraskans.

Once again, Hilgers emphasized that the project would not include any damming of the Platte River and would have no negative impact on Ashland.

The water projects could be "transformative" for Nebraska, he told the committee.

Speaking for the Nebraska Sierra Club, former state Sen. Al Davis testified in opposition to the package, suggesting that the proposed new lake raises "significant environmental issues" that may threaten habitat and wildlife while also posing flooding concerns.

It has the look of "a playground for wealthy Nebraskans," he said.

John Hansen of Lincoln, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, did not formally oppose the proposal, but said the lake could be "used for a lot of commercial development" and may be "environmentally suspect."

The committee is proposing $200 million in water development projects in current legislation.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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I grew up on a farm in Platte County near Jim Pillens parents. During that time, if a young Catholic and Lutheran wanted to marry, they would be disowned and kicked out of their home. Jim Pillens name-calling reminds of those sad times.

Instead of telling the people of Nebraska what policies he would support or which programs he might axe, Jim Pillen tells me  a neighbor  that I hate freedom, dont support police officers and dont love my country. How dare he!

I was a life-long Republican until four years ago when Republicans began calling every one they didnt like a name. Republicans who I thought loved freedom now wanted to take away voting rights from any one not "like them" and wanted to kick out immigrants just like their own grandparents.

Jesus parable in Luke explains a good neighbor isnt the one who walks around someone in need because they arent like them; it is the person who helps no matter the victims race, religion or sex. Mr. Pillen says he is a Christian? He better get his Bible out and read about what Jesus would do if he met Dr. Fauci. I am sure it would not be calling him a name. Pillen is not Nebraska Nice. He is a hypocrite. Or will he get his gun out and shoot me too?

Glenda Wurdeman Clare, Lincoln

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RACINE  An inmate at the Racine County Jail has been accused of breaking another inmates jaw and strangling him.

Allan M. Brown, 34, from Countryside, Illinois, was charged with felony counts of strangulation and suffocation, battery by prisoners and substantial battery and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Brown is in custody in the Racine County Jail on allegations related to him having shot a Kenosha County Sheriffs Department K9, Riggs, in October. He is considered a suspect in a pair of Chicago homicides.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Tuesday, a deputy was sent to Ascension All Saints at 3803 Spring St. for a report of an assault of an inmate by a fellow inmate at the Racine County Jail, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

The man said that Brown opened up his cell bars and approached him. Initially they fist-bumped, but then as he turned around Brown began to punch him repeatedly in the head and face.

Brown also wrapped his arms around the mans neck and began to choke him. He began to lose consciousness and believed Brown would kill him if he passed out.

The man suffered a broken jaw, a broken tooth and pain to his ribs.

Brown was given a $5,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 16 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.

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Barbara P. Katz, a local philanthropist whose interests ranged from culture to education, and was the first woman to serve as president of what was then the Maryland Historical Society, died of congestive heart failure Feb. 1 at her Pikesville home. She was 88.

I got her involved when I was curator in the late 1970s and our families had known each other for two or three generations, and we became fast friends for nearly 50 years, said Stiles T. Colwill, who is now the owner of Stiles T. Colwill Interiors, and was formerly curator at the MHS, which is now the Maryland Center for History and Culture.

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Barbara was a dynamo, energetic and hands on. She became the first female president of the MHS and was the first Jewish president in a century and it was a big deal at the time. In fact, it was seismic.

The former Barbara Pollock, daughter of Julian Gabriel Pollock, a Philadelphia advertising executive, and his then-wife, Doris Shapiro Gillman, was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, before moving to a home on Lake Drive in Baltimore when she was 9 years old.

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She was a graduate of Park School and attended Connecticut College for Women, now Connecticut College. In 1953, she married Joseph J. Jay Katz, who was the owner and president of Martin Gillet & Co. Inc., the nations oldest tea importer.

Mrs. Katz was inspired in her philanthropic endeavors by her grandfather, Morris Shapiro, a Baltimore industrialist, who died in 1969.

In addition to the historical society, she immersed herself as an active board member of the Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore Symphony, Friends School and the Jewish Museum of Maryland, where she had also served as its first female president from 1989 to 1991.

In 1983, she was co-chair with Aristides C. Dee Alevizato of the annual Maryland Antiques Show and Sale, and a year later, Mayor William Donald Schaefer appointed her to the Baltimore City Art Commission.

She held positions with the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Sinai Hospital Womens Auxiliary, and national Council of Jewish Women. She also had served on Har Sinais auxiliary womens board and its Sunday school board.

Ashley Principe is director of development at Friends School and was a close friend of nearly a decade.

I will always have a warm place in my heart for Barbara. When I think of her, I think of her red hair, red fingernails and black glasses, Ms. Principe said.

Mrs. Katz became connected to the school through her husband, who was a graduate and artist, Ms. Principe said. After his death, the Katz Art Gallery in the Forbush Building was named in his memory, she said.

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Her generosity to Friends was quite generous. Shed call and wanted to know if kids needed summer testing and then shed say, Let me know and Ill pay for it, Ms. Principe said. She and Jay gave more than $300,000.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 60 Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born matriarch of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died at the age of 76. Her family announced Judd's death on April 30, 2022. (Josh Anderson/AP)

Mrs. Katz was an active board member who served from 2011 to 2018. She also participated in fundraising work from 2011 to 2020, including serving on the steering committee for The Setting Stage Campaign, which raised $25 million.

She spoke her mind at the board table. She always brought a slightly different view that made people think, she said. She was very much in the Quaker tradition where all voices are to be heard.

It wasnt uncommon to find Mrs. Katz reading childrens books to Lower School students or helping them select a book.

Barbara had an energy, passion and cared and cared and cared and wanted to carry on Jays legacy and in doing so, made it her own, Ms. Principe said.

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In light of her years of devotion to Friends, Mrs. Katz received an Honorary Alumna Award in 2015.

Mrs. Katz, a lifetime collector, filled her Pikesville home with antique dolls, childrens samplers, jewelry, boxes, quilts and scarves, kaleidoscopes, walking sticks and a vast accompanying library explaining their origins and history.

In a 2020 interview with JMORE, she said: These collections make me feel good. Every find is a find.

Its hard to tell what makes a collector a collector, Mrs. Katz explained in a 2002 interview with the Baltimore Jewish Times after she was elected president of the MHS. Its just me  its my autobiography. If you dont know where you came from, you dont know where youre going.

She had served as president of the MHS from 2003 to 2007 and earlier, had been chairman, vice president and first vice president of the societys board.

[Jews] understand the importance of giving and sharing, Mrs. Katz told a Jewish Times reporter in 2002. When you can make a difference, take your background and bring it into the community, it isnt running away from [the Jewish community]. Its a blending in  sharing of experience. I didnt change myself to fit in here. I am just reaching out into the broader world.

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She added: I am very lucky and very honored in this position.

Barbara Katz, left, and Susan Adler Davis at a 100th anniversary gala for the Baltimore Museum of Art. (Photo by Karen Jackson, for The Baltimore Sun)

Barbara was an indomitable person and mentor, said Mark Letzer, current president and CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. She was a force, and as the first female president of the MHS, she broke barriers at the time. She loved this organization, was certainly one of a kind, and were going to miss her terribly.

She was just unbelievable and a force. Nothing would stop her. She certainly had what it took to run an organization that had been run by men for 150 years.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

At the time she became president, the historical society had started a $20 million expansion and renovation of the old Greyhound Terminal on Monument Street that physically linked the bus terminal to the societys original main building.

We are not just displaying. We are educating, Mrs. Katz told The Sun in 2003. This used to be a dark, stodgy place. But it isnt anymore.

Said Mr. Colwill: First off, Barbara was a lot of fun. She loved to entertain and was a fabulous cook. She taught herself how to cook and she liked going out to dinner at Petite Louis or Linwoods, and always enjoyed a Cutty on the rocks before dinner. We had a lot of good times, and like John Lewis, we got into a lot of good trouble, together over the years.

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[ Alice Theresa Manns, a retired mortician in a East Baltimore business, dies ]

Mrs. Katz had been a member of Har Sinai congregation and later joined Oheb Shalom.

Her husband died in 2011.

Mrs. Katz was entombed in the Shapiro mausoleum at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville on Feb. 4.

She is survived by a son, Jeffrey Katz of Sparks; two daughters, Deborah Katz of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Rebecca Katz of San Rafael, California; and two grandchildren.
A criminal complaint issued Thursday by the Kenosha County District Attorneys Office provided details into the third arrest in the murder of a 60-year-old Twin Lakes resident last fall.

Joshua C. Grimaldi, 18, formerly of Twin Lakes but now of McHenry, Ill., was arrested Tuesday for his connection in the Oct. 14 death of Kenneth Thoma, whose body was discovered buried behind an apartment complex where he once lived.

Grimaldi, charged with felony charges of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse, both as a party to a crime, made his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in Kenosha County Circuit Court. He was ordered held in the Kenosha County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 17.

Also charged are Joey L. Miracle, 18, of the 1600 block of Wilmot Avenue, Twin Lakes, and Thomas R. Wilton, 21, of the 11400 block of Antioch Road, Trevor, who each face the same charges as Grimaldi. Both are currently being held on $1 million cash bonds.

Both Miracle and Wilton are scheduled to be back in court March 30, for a judicial pre-trial conference before Judge Jason Rossell.

Going down a bad road

According to the complaint, Grimaldi spoke to Twin Lakes Police on Tuesday and reportedly gave conflicting details about what had happened. He stated he had seen Thoma around the Tan Oak Apartments, 1601 Wilmot Ave., where he once lived, but didnt know him personally.

The defendant then denied knowing if anyone was involved, other than those who were already apprehended. Grimaldi did admit to being very close with both other defendants, but stated they hadnt said anything to him about the case.

Grimaldi then told the detective that both co-defendants seemed to be going down a bad road, and that he did not want to follow otherwise hed be in their shoes. When asked what he meant, he stated that Miracle was getting into gang-related activities, and Wilton used drugs, according to the complaint.

After Grimaldi said he had been working the night Thoma was killed, the detective stated he had seen his timesheet and knew that to be false. After that, the defendant changed his story.

Grimaldi said he had returned from shopping that night when Miracle asked him to go outside, stated he would lure Thoma outside, take him into the woods and shoot him because the deceased touches little girls. He allegedly asked Grimaldi to serve as a lookout.

The criminal complaint against Miracle indicated that Twin Lakes Police had no record of Thoma being reported for a sexual assault, and that during its investigation, no one interviewed had provided specific information that indicated he was a suspect in any assault.

Grimaldi then stated he had no issues with Thoma, but agreed to go along with the plan because he had been friends with Miracle for so long. He said he waited at the location for about five minutes when he heard a single gunshot, and then about 15 minutes later, Miracle exited the woods.

The two then went into the woods, and Miracle called Wilton, and told him to pick them up and that they were going to need that bonfire. After Wilton arrived, Grimaldi stated that Miracle told him he shot Thoma while his back was to him. Miracle then planned to burn their clothes, which they did, before all three returned to the apartment complex.

All three then returned to the woods, where Thomas body was lying near some bike ramps. Miracle allegedly took several items from Thomas pockets, then threw them away in a Dumpster by the complex. Grimaldi said that Miracle then dragged Thomas body into a hole and used a shovel to bury it while Grimaldi held a flashlight.

Thomas body was found Nov. 6 by a man who stated he went behind the complex to work on dirt jumps for bicycles. He said he had been digging a deep hole and had removed about three wheelbarrows full of dirt when he found a piece of plywood buried there.

The man moved the plywood and took out two more wheelbarrows full of dirt when he hit what he thought was a rock. As he dug out more, he saw grey hair, eyes, a nose and ears, then covered it back up because he was scared. The man reported what he had found to police that same day.

An autopsy conducted by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office confirmed that Thoma had been killed by a gunshot to the back of his head. Thoma was identified through dental records.

Police share details

According to a news release issued Wednesday by Twin Lakes Police Capt. Katie Hall, in the days since the murder investigators have conducted numerous interviews, reviewed hundreds of hours of digital evidence and served several search warrants during the investigation into the case.

Police have also worked with other law enforcement agencies in apprehending the suspects. Hall said that the investigation led to the gathering of significant evidence which led police to identify Grimaldi as the third suspect in this horrific tragedy.

Today we are thankful, but there is still work to be done, she said. We hope this news brings a bit of peace to the victims families and those affected by these senseless acts.

Kenosha News reporter Terry Flores contributed to this report

Kenosha News reporter Terry Flores contributed to this report

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KENOSHA COUNTY  A jury needed about 2 hours Thursday to convict a 26-year-old Racine man for his role in the 2018 shooting death of Joseph Riley at a home in rural Wheatland.

Anthony Harris showed no emotion as Circuit Court Judge Jason Rossell read the verdicts. The 12-person jury, chosen from a pool of 14 right before deliberations began, found Harris guilty of all four counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence.

Harris also was convicted of felony attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of Eva Lofton, along with felony conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony burglary.

Just after the verdict, Rossell revoked Harris bond  hes been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail on a $1 million bond since Nov. 21, 2018  ordered a presentence investigation and set his sentencing for April 7.

Harris is the second of four people charged in the home-invasion case to be convicted. Markeith Wilson, 23, of Racine, was convicted by a jury of the same four charges and sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole. Hes currently housed at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun.

Also charged are Augustine Sanchez, 23, and DeMarco Hudson, 22, both of Racine, whose cases are proceeding through the court system. In addition to the same four charges Harris and Wilson have been convicted of, Sanchez and Hudson each face two additional felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

A fifth person, Christina May, of Lake Geneva, pleaded guilty to conspiracy armed robbery and is serving a nine-year prison sentence.

Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley was pleased with the outcome.

Whats really gratifying is the family of Joe Riley and Eva Lofton, they got some justice today, he said. I think were a lot closer to some finality for them, so thats really great.

One key piece of evidence came from Mike Sorenson, an examiner with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, who testified during the four-day trial that each of the bullets recovered from Riley came from Harris gun.

But that wasnt the only factor in the conviction, Graveley said.

The ballistics is huge, and the way the defendant chose to present himself in this case with all the lies before he gave a self-serving statement, I think is very convincing, he said.

Nightmare plays out

In his closing argument Thursday morning, Graveley described what played out that night as a nightmare for Riley, Lofton and two others in the home.

On Nov. 18, 2018, Joseph Riley and the people who were with them, their nightmares were real, he said. Those were four nightmares who had driven from Racine. This case ends up being the results of those nightmares.

Graveley said the fact that Riley, Lofton and the two others there that night were there to smoke marijuana doesnt diminish in any way what happened, and he asked the jury to make sure it sent that message with its verdict.

I say again today Joseph Rileys life mattered, as he lay on the couch bleeding to death in front of his friends, Graveley said.

Lofton, who testified last Tuesday afternoon, suffered nine different bullet wounds, had an 18-hour surgery after she was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, and continues to suffer the effects.

That she didnt die was nothing short of a miracle, Graveley said.

This case is also about the literal miracle that Eva Lofton is alive today, he said. Nine places in her body were bleeding. Its such a miracle that shes alive.

Four bullets were taken from Loftons body by surgeons, and the only one sent back for analysis came back to Harris gun, Graveley told the jury.

Its all consistent with this defendant being the gunman who cause (those wounds) to her body, he said.

Graveley attacked Harris claims to detectives that he shot wildly into the house after Wilson had been shot by Riley.

The facts didnt support that claim, Graveley said, as bullets connected to Harris firearm struck both Riley and Lofton, who were seated next to each other but on two separate couches.

Graveley said there were no bullet strikes in the floor, above the couches, near the kitchen or by the bathroom, but were concentrated where both the victims were.

If he is wildly firing, 10 or 11 times, he hits out of 12 (shots), and he strikes two people in this case who were right next to each other? Graveley said. If he was in a competitive shooter situation, that would be a good score.

Defense attorney counters

In his closing, Harriss defense attorney David Berman told the jury he couldnt in good conscience ask them not to convict his client on the armed robbery and burglary charges because the state had met its burden.

On the most serious charges, though, Berman said theres some gray area.

Berman said the first-degree intentional homicide charge can only be found if intent is proven, which he argued wasnt the case.

Im not going to argue to you that Anthony didnt cause the death of Joseph Riley, Berman said. Its (a fact) that Joseph Riley died of multiple gunshot wounds. ... Anthony firing his gun wasnt planned. It wasnt drawn when he entered (the home).

Berman said Sanchezs testimony that Wilson and Harris entered first, followed by Hudson, wasnt entirely believable because Sanchez stayed back when the incident happened.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is reasonable doubt, he said.

Berman also attempted to cast doubt on whether all of Loftons injuries were caused by Harris alone. He said there could have been a chance she was struck by Riley, who fired his gun first after Wilson and Harris kicked in the door.

I think that Ms. Lofton was (also) injured by Joseph Rileys gun, he said. Is it possible some of her injuries werent from the 12 rounds that Anthony shot but from the 13 that Joseph Riley shot?

Angles dont line up

In her rebuttal, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Krejcarek said where Lofton was and her position on the couch  she testified she had curled up into the fetal position  along with her injuries being concentrated to her left side made that an impossibility.

There is no way that Joseph Riley could fire a bullet, have it (change) in the air and hit her on the left side, Krejcarek said. Joseph Riley fires right-handed. The angles dont make any sense for the injuries she has.
Why so long?

Montreal Greer was arrested five months ago, but he didn't officially plead not guilty in the killing of Rebecca "Becky" Rannow until Thursday.

He made his first appearance in court after being charged for the killing on Wednesday, Sept. 29, but he didn't have a lawyer yet  the result of the ongoing shortage of public defenders in Wisconsin.
We were waiting for the punch line, but it never came.

One of the most bizarre proposals we have ever heard from a Wisconsin congressman came this week when U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents the huge 7th Congressional District stretching across the northern third of the state, suggested the U.S. government enlist protesting Canadian truckers and send them to the Mexican border to curb illegal border crossings.

Tiffany, a far-right conservative, spoke at a House Freedom Caucus forum on immigration issues Tuesday and said, I would submit to you, we should be talking to Canadian truckers in Ottawa, Canada, right now, and asking them to come to the southern border  I think they might be somewhat effective.

We watched the video of the event, fully expecting to find that Tiffany was being facetious, but, no, he was deadpan in his comments.

Stunning. In a simple sentence, Tiffany was conflating two difficult issues  ongoing U.S immigration problems along the Mexican border and the Canadian truckers fighting against vaccine mandates for drivers crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The truckers parked their rigs across U.S.-Canada border crossings this week aiming to shut down commercial traffic and then descended on Ottawa, jamming streets and creating an emergency situation.

Tiffany, clearly thinking out of the box, or maybe in this case out of the loony bin, suggested rolling the two problems together to find a solution.

First of all, Canadian truckers are fighting vaccine mandates  and probably have no reason to care about U.S.-Mexico border struggles. Is he suggesting they be paid to come to the Rio Grande and park their rigs at crossings to disrupt all commercial traffic? Or to park them out in the Sonoran desert where many of the illegal immigrants cross into the U.S. to create a big-rig wall?

This would be laughable if it werent so tragic. The Canadian vaccine feud and the U.S. illegal immigration struggles are both serious problems and they demand critical thinking and work to find resolution.

Tiffanys lightweight solution offers neither. Voters in Wisconsins 7th Congressional District deserve better.

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1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

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Killeen, TX (76540)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
Carroll County school board members voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a resolution calling for an end to the statewide mask mandate in public schools and authorizing legal counsel to file a petition in Carroll County Circuit Court seeking a declaratory judgment that the emergency legislation approved by the state school board in December is contrary to Maryland law.

Before the vote, board member Donna Sivigny called for the state school board to allow districts to set their own mask requirements.

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We cannot, in good conscience, stand by and allow the State of Maryland mask mandate to continue in Carroll County public schools any longer, Sivigny said.

Forcing masks on children, she said, is negatively impacting students mentally, socially and academically.

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What Maryland did with locking down schools last year is a stain that harmed our children and theyre doing it again.  We need parent choice for masking our kids, Sivigny said.

At the conclusion of her statement, Sivigny made a motion to file a lawsuit against the State Board of Education and seek an injunction against the mask mandate for overreach of power.

Board member Tara Battaglia seconded the motion and a discussion ensued about the importance of local control.

Its time for Carroll County Public Schools to once again become a leader in the state and lift the mask mandate  it is time for us to take our county back, school board member Marsha Herbert said.

Battaglia agreed, stating, facial recognition is what our kids need to in order to thrive and grow  that is one of the first things you learn in social psychology. We need to send a message loud and clear  enough is enough.

Edmund OMeally, the school boards legal counsel, explained that state law gives the state school board authority over the countys schools.

Its not about the effectiveness of masks, OMeally said. Im not a scientist, I dont pretend to be a scientist.

He suggested that the board pass a resolution that he wrote stating that many parents in the Carroll County community continue to express serious reservations regarding the mandatory wearing of face coverings in public schools, especially as the prevailing scientific evidence demonstrates that cloth masks offer minimal protection against the spread of COVID-19, and the more effective N95 and KN95 masks are not designed for children.

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[ Gov. Hogan urges State Board of Education to rescind school mask mandate ]

The resolution illustrates a number of scenarios in which the mask mandate could end in Carroll County. Among them, the board calls on the Maryland State Department of Education to rescind its emergency regulation regarding mandatory face coverings in public school buildings. The regulation states that school systems can lift the mask mandate if the community spread of COVID-19 is moderate or if vaccination rates are above 80% in the school or the surrounding community.

If the state board does not rescind the mandate, the resolution next urges Gov. Larry Hogan to issue an executive order providing local boards of education the authority to regulate on a local basis what they deem appropriate in their communities regarding masking.

If the Republican governor refuses to issue an executive order, which OMeally said he believes is within Hogans power, then the resolution states the school board will ask the Carroll County delegation to the General Assembly to introduce legislation to give Carroll County the full authority to make decisions on face coverings in public schools. OMeally advised the school board that the delegation could introduce the legislation, which would only affect Carroll County.

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Sen. Justin Ready, a Republican who represents legislative District 5, which covers Carroll County, sent a statement on behalf of the entire Carroll County delegation Thursday stating their support for the school boards actions.

The delegation wrote that the state board should call an immediate emergency meeting to rescind what the delegation called an unscientific mask mandate.

The facts are clear, cloth masks do not stop COVID-19 transmission, states the letter, signed by Ready and Dels. Susan Krebs, Haven Shoemaker and April Rose, all Republicans who represent District 5 in Carroll County.

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Ready did not respond to a phone call asking for clarity on whether the delegation would introduce the legislation, as suggested by the school boards resolution.

Following the unanimous vote, school board President Kenneth Kiler apologized to the crowd at the school board meeting for the amount of time the board spent discussing the matter.

This is something that affects every student, every staff member and every family and Im sorry, but its important, Kiler said.

This action follows decisions in several states to drop masks in schools. Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon announced in recent days they would end school mask mandates sometime in March. Connecticut plans to end its school mandate by the end of February. All four states will allow local school districts to maintain mandates if they choose.
LINCOLN  Craig S. Marsh of Kearney is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence for distributing meth in the Kearney area.

Marsh, 33, must serve a five-year term of supervised release after serving his sentence. There is no parole in the federal court system. He was sentenced in January in U.S. Federal District Court in Lincoln.

Around 6:10 a.m. Oct. 29, 2020, the Kearney Police Department served a search warrant at a house in the 1200 block of 12th Avenue. Federal court records indicate officers found Marsh, Nicole Beattie, 29, and Jeremy Gerdes, 37, all of Kearney, in a bedroom and saw two lines of suspected meth in the room on a table.

During the search officers found a police radio, security camera, loaded handgun magazine, a meth pipe, bags of suspected meth and $2,850. They also found a 9mm handgun in an air register.

In a bathroom KPD found a case containing two bags of 382 grams (13.47 ounces) of meth, of which 338 grams (11.92 ounces) was pure meth, according to records. In another bedroom KPD found a digital scale, suspected meth residue, a meth pipe and plastic bags.

The substance was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab where it tested positive for meth.

Gerdes was sentenced to four years in federal prison for felony possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture for his role in the case. He must serve a five-year term of supervised release after serving his sentence.

Beattie, also known as Nicole T. Burr, is serving a 12-year federal sentence that is the same charge as Gerdes for her role in the case. She also must serve a five-year term of supervised release after serving her sentence.
KEARNEY  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted in favor of eliminating the philosophy major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The board heard public comment from UNK professors, students and alumni Friday morning, imploring the regents to save the major at UNK.

In a passionate speech to the board, Dr. Thomas Martin, UNK philosophy professor, spoke about humanities requirements at UNK being reduced to only three credit hours with philosophy being one of many choices. He discussed how the major is needed to develop and nurture the intellect of students in Nebraska.

Man does not live to make a living. He wants a life that worth is living. If you take that away from them, they will have no gusto, and the workers you get will not know the virtues and vices that give you the power to be the captain of your own soul and the navigator of your own life. Because that is what an education is for, Martin said.

In the fall, Chancellor Doug Kristensen and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Charlie Bicak sent letters this fall to NU Executive Vice President and Provost Jeffrey Gold recommending the discontinuation of the program because of a low number of students majoring in the field of study. The highest number of graduates from the program was five in 2010. In 2014 and 2021, there were no philosophy graduates. There are currently three students majoring in the field.

In 2019, Nebraskas Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education, who creates a comprehensive statewide plan to guide the states higher education system, gave UNK an opportunity to try to increase the number of students majoring in philosophy.

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter noted that the CCPE requires a bachelors degree program to produce an average of seven degrees over a prior five-year period. A monitoring report approved by the Board of Regents in June 2021 stated there was a five-year mean of 1.6 degrees in philosophy at UNK.

In short, we can either take responsibility for these programs or have program elimination possibly forced upon us by the CCPE, Carter said. He went on to recommend the approval to eliminate the philosophy major at UNK.

Matthew Duffy, a UNK graduate, credited the philosophy department for his career as a high school teacher and asked that the major be preserved and protected.

Im here because an institution that has done me incalculable good is being threatened with destruction. Smother the philosophy department at UNK, and you smother an institution that has brought and continues to bring purpose, direction and illumination to peoples lives. The work carried on in this department is rare and it is precious, Duffy said.

Regent Jack Stark addressed Martin, thanking him for his passion and stating he was also a philosophy major. However, he recognized the board has a system they must follow.

If the students arent there, they arent there, and as much as we care, we have to make these decisions across the board. ... We have to follow, in my opinion, the system we have in place, Stark said.

Before the board acted on the agenda item, Regent Timothy Clare proposed an amendment to send the item back to Academic Affairs to continue to study it further and bring it to the board at a later date. The motion failed.

The board voted to eliminate the major at UNK, while emphasizing that the philosophy program and classes would still continue at the college.

The board emphasized that the philosophy program and classes still would continue at the college. Students can still obtain a minor in philosophy.

Philosophy Program Director Dr. David Rozema is disappointed in the Board of Regents decision but he wasnt surprised.

I was pleased that there were several Regents that voted against the motion. That was encouraging. It shows they understand the importance of having a philosophy major at a university, Rozema said. Our agreement has always, been regardless of the number of students you have, you cant legitimately call yourself a university if you dont have a degree offering in philosophy.

Rozema credited the pandemic and a lack of support from administration as the reasons more students havent majored in philosophy.

There are things we can try, but without broader support from the administration and other faculty, it would be hard for us to see the kind of results we need to see, he said about trying to bring the major back to UNK.

Despite the Regents decision, Rozema remains optimistic for the students who are a part of the program. The fruits of their labors were on display at the meeting when several students gave impassioned speeches, he added.

The ones who are interested in it, they are passionate about it. I was really pleased at the number of people and the quality of speeches. They spoke well, articulately, passionately. That was encouraging to me, Rozema said.
The health department is giving away 65 free CO detectors, available at 315 West Oak St. in Sparta. CO detectors should be placed on each floor of the home, with at least one near bedrooms.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas produced when fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, wood, coal, oil, natural gas and charcoal do not have enough oxygen to burn completely. Exposure can lead to CO poisoning in less than two hours. The symptoms of CO poisoning are often flu-like, including dizziness, headache, weakness, vomiting and confusion. If symptoms are not caught soon enough, poisoning can lead to death. Monroe County has an above-state-rate of CO poisoning, with 11.7 emergency room visits per 100,000 people.
The Vernon County Health Department would like to express its most sincere thank you to the Wisconsin National Guard for assisting with testing event assistance in Vernon County since 2020.

Starting next week, the guard will no longer be deployed to the community to help with testing needs, as their services are needed for other COVID-19 tasks elsewhere in the state of Wisconsin.

The Vernon County Health Department will be partnering eTrueNorth Testing Services and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to provide the following testing dates and times for the remaining month of February:

Feb. 15, 17, 22 and 24, at the old highway shop, 602 N. Main St., Viroqua, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When preregistering, make sure to use the new website link https://www.doineedacovid19test.com/viroqua_wi_16518.html

Future testing options for the month of March and beyond will be shared at a later date and based on community testing needs and community transmission levels.

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Charlotte A. Quackenbush

TOMAHCharlotte A. Quackenbush, age 95, of Tomah, passed away on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Liberty Village in Tomah. She was born July 30, 1926 to Robert and Mayme (Lyons) Burrows in Oakdale, Wisconsin. Charlotte graduated from Tomah High School in 1944. She was united in marriage to Oliver Quackenbush on November 29, 1945 at St. James Catholic Church in Camp Douglas. Briefly after they got married, they moved to Milwaukee where Charlotte would work in retail for many years at JC Pennys. Following the death of her husband in 1989, she moved back to her roots in Tomah where she would work part time at the Clothes Post.

Charlotte had a love for traveling around the United States and going to country bands where she could dance for hours. Her family and friends could always count on her for her yearly anniversary and birthday phone calls. She was a devoted Catholic; in fact, when she wasnt at home, you would more than likely find her at church.

Charlotte is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers: Pat and Ronald Burrows; sisters: Eleanor Clay, Helen Aller, Harriet Butterfuss and Lucile Schultz; and many sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces; and nephews.

The family of Charlotte would like to express their gratitude for the exceptional care-especially to Liberty Village, St. Croix Hospice and Tomah Health.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at the Queen of the Apostles Parish in Tomah. Father Samuel McCarty will officiate. Burial will be held in the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Queen of the Apostles Parish for masses to be said in Charlotte and Olivers memory.

The Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Born on January 20, 1932 in Coon Rapids, IA, Sister Agnes was the child of Anthony and Agnes (Gehling) Wernimont. She entered St. Rose Convent in 1950 and made her first profession of vows as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration on August 12, 1953. Sister Agnes served her community as a homemaker in convent homes in IA, MS, Washington and WI for thirty years. From 1983 to 1988 she was manager of the school lunch program at Holy Child Jesus School, Canton, MS. Then, making a change in her career, Sister Agnes worked with abused children at Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos, Houston, Texas, for five years and one year at Catholic Charities in El Paso, TX, in emergency services. For four years she was housekeeper and hospitality person at the FSPA Central Region Home in Hiawatha, IA. The last seven years, before her retirement to Villa St. Joseph in 2005, were spent in Hiawatha, IA, volunteering at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, where she worked with senior citizens.
At its meeting Thursday night, the La Crosse Common Council took action on a number of items, including appointing a new interim finance director for the city. Brian Nowicki will serve as the interim director of finance for the city of La Crosse. Former director Valerie Fenske resigned at the end of last year. Nowicki started in January and will serve in the role temporarily as the city continues its search for a permanent director. Brian comes to us with a vast array of experience, La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds told the Finance & Personnel Committee last week. Were pleased that he is willing to help us through the transition period.

Previously, Nowicki was the chief financial officer for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. He has also been the controller for Madison Area Technical College. I became an early retiree and got sick of that pretty quickly and have taken on a few interim roles during the year. And Im very happy that the mayor reached out for this opportunity, Nowicki said last week. Additionally, the city council heard a presentation from the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department Thursday that detailed programming for the citys aging population, which has been expanding over the years. Director Jay Odegaard told the council that the new senior center that opened in the former La Crosse Footwear building last year is a good tentative spot, but that something different will be needed down the road. St. Andrew Street is not the end-all and its not the perfect solution by any means, he said. It is the right fit for today.

He stated that the council will soon be asked to make some tough decisions, especially when were dealing with aging facilities, and noted how drastically programs and recreation continues to evolve, including for the aging community. I dont think its such a bad thing that right now were in a position of having a tentative location that works for the time being, but also allows us the opportunity to expand down the road in another location that might be more of that long-term solution, Odegaard said.

The common council went into closed session after the presentation to discuss the topic. They returned to open session about 45 minutes later. The item was informational only, and no action or further discussion occurred. Other items on the city councils plate Thursday included approving the use of $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, for an additional study on the lead contamination in the marsh.

The study, which has been requested by the state, will help stakeholders find a solution to the pollution, city officials have stated. Deed restrictions for certain properties on the citys North Side were also approved. These restrictions will be offered to properties whose garages lie below the floodplain. Some properties will have the opportunity to take the deed restriction, which would limit future building permits and other construction, or bring the garage out of the floodplain. Now that the deed restrictions have been approved by the council, notifications will be sent to those properties.

A consulting team was also adopted by the council to help lead the city in crafting its new comprehensive plan. The last plan, titled Confluence, was created in 2002. The comprehensive plans serves as a vision for the citys next 20 years. The consulting firm GRAEF was chosen and approved to help city staff in drafting the next plan.

At its meeting Thursday night, the La Crosse Common Council took action on a number of items, including appointing a new interim finance director for the city.

Brian Nowicki will serve as the interim director of finance for the city of La Crosse. Former director Valerie Fenske resigned at the end of last year.

Nowicki started in January and will serve in the role temporarily as the city continues its search for a permanent director.

Brian comes to us with a vast array of experience, La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds told the Finance & Personnel Committee last week. Were pleased that he is willing to help us through the transition period.

Previously, Nowicki was the chief financial officer for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. He has also been the controller for Madison Area Technical College.

I became an early retiree and got sick of that pretty quickly and have taken on a few interim roles during the year. And Im very happy that the mayor reached out for this opportunity, Nowicki said last week.

Additionally, the city council heard a presentation from the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department Thursday that detailed programming for the citys aging population, which has been expanding over the years.

Director Jay Odegaard told the council that the new senior center that opened in the former La Crosse Footwear building last year is a good tentative spot, but that something different will be needed down the road.

St. Andrew Street is not the end-all and its not the perfect solution by any means, he said. It is the right fit for today.

He stated that the council will soon be asked to make some tough decisions, especially when were dealing with aging facilities, and noted how drastically programs and recreation continues to evolve, including for the aging community.

I dont think its such a bad thing that right now were in a position of having a tentative location that works for the time being, but also allows us the opportunity to expand down the road in another location that might be more of that long-term solution, Odegaard said.

The common council went into closed session after the presentation to discuss the topic. They returned to open session about 45 minutes later. The item was informational only, and no action or further discussion occurred.

Other items on the city councils plate Thursday included approving the use of $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, for an additional study on the lead contamination in the marsh.

The study, which has been requested by the state, will help stakeholders find a solution to the pollution, city officials have stated.

Deed restrictions for certain properties on the citys North Side were also approved.

These restrictions will be offered to properties whose garages lie below the floodplain. Some properties will have the opportunity to take the deed restriction, which would limit future building permits and other construction, or bring the garage out of the floodplain.

Now that the deed restrictions have been approved by the council, notifications will be sent to those properties.

A consulting team was also adopted by the council to help lead the city in crafting its new comprehensive plan.

The last plan, titled Confluence, was created in 2002. The comprehensive plans serves as a vision for the citys next 20 years.

The consulting firm GRAEF was chosen and approved to help city staff in drafting the next plan.

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After breaking ground in 2020, the Presbyterian Home of Marylands board of directors has canceled the development of Carsins Run at Eva Mar, which would have been the first continuing-care retirement community center in Harford County.

It is with a sense of regret and disappointment that we share with you our decision that the Presbyterian Home of Maryland has ended its plans to develop Carsins Run at Eva Mar, a Life Plan/Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) on North Fountain Green Road in Bel Air, the board posted in a Feb. 2 statement on the developments website.

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Carsins Run at Eva Mar was planned as an independent, not-for-profit $100 million retirement community that would have included 137 living residences in two apartment buildings and two manor homes.

Although planning and development has taken place for more than 15 years, the cost to build the community center significantly increased and COVID-19 slowed sales, the board said.

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This was an extremely difficult decision, the statement read. The challenges were just too great to overcome to move this project forward responsibly.

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The board said it is evaluating options. Prospective residents who placed a deposit on an apartment at the community will be refunded.

When reached for comment Thursday, President and CEO Sue Shea said the statement was sufficient for the public and declined to further comment.

Cindy Mumby, a spokesperson for County Executive Barry Glassman, said he is disappointed the community will not be moving forward.

The county executive has always supported opportunities for Harford County families to stay together and for local seniors to age in place, Mumby said.

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After previously ruling that absentee ballot drop boxes can be used in Tuesdays spring primary, the state Supreme Court ruled in a split decision Friday that those same boxes will not be allowed in the April general election.

In a 4-3 decision, the court denied a request from the Wisconsin Elections Commission and various groups seeking to extend a previous stay that allows the use of drop boxes in the Feb. 15 primary through to the April 5 spring election. The states high court is expected to make a final ruling on the legality of the boxes in the coming weeks.

The Commission and intervenors have not demonstrated that irreparable injury or substantial harm to interested parties or the public interest will result if a stay is not extended through the April 2022 election and beyond, conservative Justices Brian Hagedorn, Rebecca Bradley, Patience Roggensack and Annette Ziegler wrote in court filings. Hagedorn has sided with liberal justices in the past.

The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty challenging that nothing in state law permits the state Elections Commission to issue guidance to clerks allowing them to set up absentee ballot drop boxes. At the same time, state law also doesnt forbid drop boxes and proponents of their use say the boxes provide a safe, secure and accessible alternative to mailing in a ballot or voting in person during a pandemic.

The ongoing battle over the use of the free-standing, mailbox-like drop boxes has persisted since the 2020 election, due in part to baseless claims of election fraud by former President Donald Trump, who lost Wisconsin to President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ruled that the boxes were not allowed under state law, a ruling that was later temporarily stayed by the District 4 Court of Appeals. The court of appeals ruled to allow drop boxes through the Feb. 15 primary to avoid confusion among voters who had already requested ballots.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously agreed to take up the case last month, while also issuing a 4-3 ruling to uphold the court of appeals stay of Borhens decision until after the upcoming primary, with the majority citing similar concerns over voter confusion. Hagedorn joined the courts three liberal justices in the ruling.

Once again, a majority of this court makes it more difficult to vote, liberal Justice Ann Bradley wrote in dissent. With apparent disregard for the confusion it is causing, the majority provides next to no notice to municipal clerks, changing procedures at the eleventh hour and applying different procedures from those that applied to the primary in the very same election cycle.

Municipal clerks will likely feel a sense of whiplash, Bradley added.

Justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky joined Bradley in dissenting.

However, the majority wrote that the elections commission can comply with the circuit courts order so as to ameliorate concerns about voter confusion and election administration before the April 5 vote.

Elections commission spokesman Riley Vetterkind said the agency plans to meet next Wednesday to discuss implementation of the circuit courts original order on drop boxes.

A focal point of the case stems in part from guidance issued by the commission in early 2020 to allow election clerks to use their discretion when determining whether to make use of drop boxes. Hundreds of municipal clerks made use of the boxes that year when there still wasnt a vaccine for COVID-19 and public health officials were warning against large gatherings, like at polling places. At the same time, the large number of absentee ballots requested that year, combined with cutbacks at the U.S. Postal Service, led many to worry their ballots wouldnt make it back in time if they were mailed.

The Supreme Court earlier this month issued a 4-3 decision, with Hagedorn again the deciding vote, to reject former Lt. Gov. and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefischs request to take up a similar lawsuit challenging the use of drop boxes in the state.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted in early December to begin the lengthy administrative rule-making process for drop boxes. Once submitted as rules, the Legislatures rules committee can vote to eliminate the policies. In addition, the commission last month failed to reach a consensus on Republicans demand for emergency rules on ballot drop boxes due in part to the pending case.

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UW-Madisons outgoing chancellor warned that the countrys bitter political polarization is the greatest existential threat to public universities.

In her farewell address to the UW Board of Regents Thursday, Rebecca Blank also took aim at state involvement in campus building projects, criticized some one-size-fits-all University of Wisconsin System policies and again called for raising in-state undergraduate tuition.

After nine years leading UW-Madison, Blank is leaving to become president of Northwestern University. Her last day at UW-Madison will be May 31.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle, not just in Wisconsin but across the country, are using public universities as chips in their partisan wars, Blank said. Some criticisms are warranted, but other times its political posturing to score points with voters. Flagships are particularly vulnerable to attacks, she said.

Two UW-Madison examples Blank highlighted were the forced drawdown of institutional reserves, which she said flies in the face of all financial advice, and criticism of the university enforcing COVID-19 policies.

The lack of control over building projects is another challenge holding UW-Madison back, Blank said.

The recently opened Chemistry Building, for example, faced months of delays due to problems with the elevators and HVAC system. The result: 9,000 students learning last fall in spaces not designed for chemistry, more than 200 graduate students facing delayed graduation timelines and at least $3.2 million in lost research.

The contracts related to construction of the building  negotiated and signed by the state, not UW-Madison  had limited damages clauses and limited penalties for delays, Blank said. This left UW-Madison to absorb many of the costs while lacking any authority to hold those responsible for the problems accountable.

This cannot continue, she said. We must have greater control over these projects. Thats management 101: Align incentives so the people who have to pay for and live in the building are responsible for getting things built and built well, on time, and within budget.

The state Department of Administration receives 4% of a buildings cost to manage the project, Blank said. In the private sector, that percentage is closer to 2.5%.

DOA pushed back against Blanks characterization of the building process, saying it was disingenuous for her to suggest UW-Madison has no authority over projects when the university received multiple opportunities to review and provide input on bidding documents for projects like the Chemistry Building before being finalized and put out for bid.

Agencies are offered the opportunity to add a penalty for delay on projects when it makes sense and there is a quantifiable and demonstrative actual costs implication, the agency said in a statement. Ultimately, while some UW-Madison projects do include penalty for delay, UW-Madison and the state collectively elected not to have the state include penalties for delay on this particular project.

Seeking flexibility

Another obstacle UW-Madison faces, Blank said, is what she described as the Systems one-size-fits-all approach, which she said harms the university because some policies dont take into account the universitys size, funding streams and research mission.

There are times when UW-Madison needs to be treated differently and we need more flexibility, she said.

For example, other Big Ten schools moved in 2010 to the Common App, a college admissions application platform used by many colleges across the country to ease the process for students to apply to multiple institutions. Blank raised the idea of joining the Common App in 2014 but the System shot it down. UW-Madison got approval to join the Common App in 2016 but had to also stay on the Systems application platform even though only about 12% of applications come through that way. That means UW-Madisons admissions office handles applications from two platforms, costing time and money, Blank said.

In another example, Blank pointed to a policy requiring UW-Madison to receive board approval for all contracts over $1 million. This adds at least a month to the process, which has led the university to lose out on industry partnerships, including lifesaving clinical trials sponsored by businesses, she said. Other flagship schools typically have a much higher threshold in bringing contracts to the board.

Tuition freeze

Blank also argued that UW-Madison needs to be able to raise tuition for Wisconsin undergraduates, a rate that has been frozen for her entire time at the university.

We can remain affordable without charging bargain-basement prices, she said, noting scholarships that are available for low-income Wisconsin students.

Reflecting on her near-decade in charge, Blank portrayed UW-Madison as essentially standing still or even moving backwards when she arrived and said she has worked to dig the university out of that position. But her successor will face many of the same challenges that require state and Regent support.

Dont ever take the quality of UW-Madison for granted, she warned. If we arent working every day to maintain and grow this quality, it will start to erode.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The fate of the $120 million Oregon Village project is back in the hands of Manheim Township officials.

The townships board of commissioners, which approved the plan in 2019, will have to consider the proposal again, according to a final ruling in December from the states Commonwealth Court.

If the developers decide to stick with the same plan that was initially approved, the commissioners will need to decide if theyll take a new vote with or without new testimony.

Lancaster County Court Judge Leonard Brown III twice upheld the commissioners approval in 2020 after it was challenged by nearby residents and business owners. The Commonwealth Court action overturned Browns ruling on an appeal from Mary Bolinger, a bed-and-breakfast owner who contended that the developers didnt account for her property in their proposal as a historic site, which zoning rules say cant be negatively affected by the Oregon Village development.

The Commonwealth Court ruling found that the commissioners were wrong when they said the zoning rules werent clear enough to force the developers to treat Bolinger's property as historic. But the judges did not weigh in on whether Bolingers building was ultimately historic or not.

Bolingers attorney, William Cluck, said that if the developers want to keep their plan alive with no changes, the business owner wants the commissioners to open the hearings back up for more testimony.

I think it's an invitation to take a more comprehensive look at the historic resources in the district, Cluck said of the Commonwealth Courts opinion.

In 2020, Brown denied a separate appeal from Reflections restaurant owner James Garland, who claimed the development would hurst his business. Garland did not challenge Browns lower court ruling.

Victor Hurst is one of five brothers who own the property that includes Oregon Dairy and are part of the developer group.

Hurst said Thursday that the group is now waiting for the commissioners to put the application they approved in 2019 on the agenda for a future meeting.

At this point, theres no attempt to change it, Hurst said of the plan they first proposed to Manheim Township in 2016. So, we're sticking with the conditional use plan as was approved three years ago.

That proposal would replace the Oregon Dairy supermarket and restaurant with larger facilities, develop farmland into homes and redevelop the idle Shawnee Resort site diagonal from the dairy into a 120-room hotel and more housing. In total, 554 housing units would be built.

Manheim Township commissioners and their solicitor, J. Dwight Yoder, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
LANCASTER IN STYLE, PART 23: SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL: 1915 -1931

If there was confusion regarding the architectural differences between the styles of English Cottage and French Eclectic, there will be no confusion when it comes to identifying Spanish Revival.

The popularity of this style can be traced back to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. The nearly 4 million attendees enjoyed a grand display of Mediterranean-inspired architecture highlighting its charm and character spread over 640 acres of land. Previous worlds fairs and expositions featured only Beaux Arts and Neoclassical architectural styles. The visitors enthusiasm spread quickly to the East Coast and became an attractive alternative to the more traditional styles of Colonial, English, Dutch and French.

The Exposition introduced America to the simplicity of smooth stuccoed walls, low-pitched barrel-tiled roofs, graceful arches, decorative wrought iron and strategically located pops of color. While completely in character with the regional architecture of the Southwest, West Coast and Florida, Spanish-inspired architecture in southcentral Pennsylvania was an anomaly of huge proportion.

The most recognizable design feature of Spanish Revival architecture is the distinctive low-pitch terra cotta barrel roof tile. This 3,000-year-old method of shedding rainwater was developed by the ancient Greeks and refined by subsequent cultures and continents from around the world. A close visual second to the barrel-tile roof is the use of textured white stucco walls with colored tile accents and motifs.

The use of arches over windows and entryways is also a signature Spanish Revival detail, as are heavy wooden oak doors with oversize iron strap hinges. Exposed rafter tails or decorated roof brackets are common as are wrought-iron balconies, stair railings, window grills and gates.

Interestingly, Lancasters very own architect C. Emlen Urban did very little Spanish Revival architecture in the city, limited mostly to residential designs. However, Milton S. Hershey convinced him to design all his major Hershey commissions in Spanish Revival, including the Convention Center, the Hershey Theatre, Hotel Hershey and many workforce houses.

On the other hand, Urbans protege, Henry Y. Shaub, was quick to embrace the style for both residential and public work  most notably the 1927 George Ross Elementary School.

Lancasters third leading architect, Melvern R. Evans, excelled in Spanish Colonial Revival, as evidenced by his work in the original School Lane Hills development.

Although the velocity of Spanish Revival slowed down in Lancaster County during the 1940s, it never came to a complete halt. It remains a niche style among certain homeowners.

Why was Milton Hershey so enamored with Spanish style architecture?

Hershey did extensive travel to Cuba for the sugar cane purchases and most likely enjoyed what he saw.

Did Urban travel to Cuba with Hershey to see Spanish style architecture?

We have found no evidence that he ever visited Cuba.

What is the difference between Spanish Colonial Revival and Spanish Mission Style?

Spanish Mission Style has very little decorative detailing.

This column is contributed by Gregory J. Scott, FAIA, a local architect with more than four decades of national experience in innovation and design. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Email GScott@rlps.com.
Todd Roy couldnt help but compare, thinking back to the Conestoga River Clubs first volunteer meeting when, he said, only three people gathered to discuss the newly formed kayaking group.

Less than two years later, a similar meeting, held this month in Lancaster city, drew 10 times as many people.

Its just grown exponentially, said Roy, the clubs founder and president, speaking about both its membership and mission. I have struggled to make sure that we don't become just a kayaking club.

Now, the clubs 2022 plan could help Lancaster County meet state and federal waterway cleanup goals, with club members collecting trash and litter from waterways and providing volunteer labor for collecting and analyzing water samples. Thats on top of recreational floats and other excursions, plus a club goal of launching a stewardship program at river access points.

Roy said he hopes all those activities will serve current river users  kayakers, anglers, boaters and others  while also welcoming interested newcomers, including from under-served communities.

The river belongs to all of us, he said. It doesnt have a particular flavor.

The goal, Roy said, is to make sure that remains true for generations, so in 2022 club members aim to host at least seven formal cleanups on the river, which flows for more than 60 miles before joining the Susquehanna River at Safe Harbor.

The first of those cleanups, he said, will be held sometime during Earth Day weekend (April 22-24) at Windolph Landing Park in Lancaster Township, where last year volunteers collected two truckloads of trash. That included more than two dozen tires.

At another cleanup last summer, club members worked with tow truck operators to pull a commercial dumpster from the waterway.

Still, there is much more to be done, Roy said, noting that removal of litter and larger waste from the waterway has become something of a passion project since he first began paddling the river in the spring of 2019.

I started paying more attention, and I said, Man this is terrible. We have to do something about this, Roy said.

Testing the waters

That interest in cleaning the river extends beyond the removal of visible contaminants, with club members planning to establish a volunteer corps of water testers. On a monthly basis, trained volunteers would take samples  from the Conestoga and other county waterways  and report results to the Lancaster County Conservation District.

The data is used to gather baseline water quality data on our streams where we presently do not have a lot or any, said Matthew Kofroth, a district watershed specialist.

In addition to a number of chemical factors, testers record characteristics like flow and temperature, Kofroth said, explaining results may be used to inform later testing by other organizations. Volunteers also are taught to periodically collect macroinvertebrates  small creatures like mayflies  whose presence is an indicator of good water quality.

According to Kofroth, Conestoga River Club members would be among an existing group of 50 to 60 volunteers already enrolled in the program, sampling about 30 different stream segments throughout the county.

At the clubs meeting earlier this month dozens gathered in small groups to hear more about the conservation efforts. Among them was Emily Smedley, a spokesperson from Lancaster Cleanwater Partners, a coalition of agencies and organizations working toward clean, clear local waterways by 2040.

The clubs efforts could help to achieve that goal, she told the crowd.

More than just kayaking

Lancaster County has more miles of impaired streams than any other county in Pennsylvania, according to a draft report by officials at the state Department of Environmental Protection. Of the 1,432 stream miles assessed in Lancaster County, 1,286 miles, or 89.4%, are considered impaired, the report shows.

The clubs attention to conservation is in addition to more than a dozen planned social events  kayaking, camping and even a likely multiday festival  which have tentative dates scheduled from March to October, Roy said.

Those interested in keeping up with the clubs activities should join the nonprofits mailing list through the Conestoga River Club website, conestogariverclub.org, Roy said. Additional information is available on the clubs Facebook page, Roy said.

The club has 42 paying members, he said Tuesday. Roy said he hopes the clubs ambitious 2022 plan will draw even more interest.

For me it was about kayaking, but listening to everybody else its about their individual connection, he said.
A jury convicted a Lancaster City man on Thursday of first-degree homicide and other charges for fatally shooting a man and wounding the man's son on Father's Day 2019.

Shawn Nasim Connelly, 22, was, also convicted of attempted first-degree homicide and two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. The verdicts came following a three-day trial.

Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle dismissed a fifth charge of firearms not to be carried without a license since the length of the gun was needed, but a gun was not recovered.

The mandatory sentence for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania is life in prison.

Connelly killed Anthony Marshall, 44, and injured his 25-year-old son, Tyquane Christian, just after midnight on June 16, 2019.

Connelly opened fire at a birthday party in the 600 block of Lafayette Street near Kunzler Meat Co. Police said Marshall and Christian were at a birthday party and were told to leave after trying to break up a fight between Connelly and another man.

After leaving the party, Marshall and Christian and four other men, including Connelly, crossed paths near Kunzler Meat Co. After the two groups exchanged words, Connelly pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot five times at Marshall and Christian, according to the DA's office.

Marshall and Christian were taken to Lancaster General Hospital, where Marshall was pronounced dead.

Connelly was later identified by police through private surveillance video and photographs. He was charged on June 23.

[The victims] didnt go looking for trouble that night, Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman said during his closing argument. Trouble found them. All Anthony Marshall did was stand up for someone and he got shot down because of it.

Connelly's sentencing will happen at a later date.
On Feb. 9, Northern Lancaster County Regional Police NLCRPD responded to house fire in the 300 Block of Meadow Valley Road around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Body cam footage, below, shows the officer and a member of Rothsville EMS helping to catch the juvenile who was trapped on the second floor of the home, according to police.

The officer and the boy crashed through a first-story glass window and made their way to the ambulance afterward. Both were taken to a local hospital after the incident and were treated for smoke inhalation. The NLCRPD officer was treated and released. No other injuries were reported.

In an interview with LNP | LancasterOnline on Thursday, Officer Alex Wildberger recalled catching the teen.

"I don't know if he fell or if he jumped or if he dropped," he said. "He never hit the ground."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation
A newly formed white nationalist group is claiming responsibility for white supremacist and antisemitic stickers found at Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College in early December.

Millersville University police initially suspected that the stickers originated from an anonymous online movement known as the Hundred-Handers. But shortly after the stickers were discovered, a group called the Keystone Nationalist Active Club took credit on social media

Since then, propaganda spread by the group has been documented in more than two dozen instances in central Pennsylvania, including the posting of stickers claiming Jews control society and white people are under attack from Blacks.

Most of the propaganda was found in the York and Lancaster areas. The Keystone Nationalists are also training for physical violence. Videos show members meeting for martial arts training; the videos include text and images that advocate violence between racial groups.

Experts who monitor hate groups say the Keystone Nationalists are part of the active club movement, which is focused on moving white nationalists toward real-world activities like physical training and spreading propaganda materials.

(White nationalist) are really trying to pull people off of the alt-right meme culture and really trying to have more real-world engagement, Andrea Heymann, associate regional director for the Philadelphia branch of the Anti-Defamation League.

Fascist language and symbols

Some of the groups propaganda, borrowed from other white supermacist groups like the Hundred-Handers, is overtly antisemitic. One sticker reads, America is under occupation over a Star of David.

Other material is less straightforward. Another found at Millersville University reads, never apologise for being white.

When you have statements like this, they dont cause alarm  but their real intention is that its really meant to draw curiosity, Heymann said.

Though the physical propaganda placed by Keystone Nationalists members often omits easily recognizable fascist symbols and slogans, the group makes ready use of neo-Nazi imagery on social media.

(Story continues below graphic)

One recent video posted by the group showed Nazi flags and marches and was captioned, who we are and where we come from, and another shows members giving the Nazi salute. The groups flag is a variation of the Pennsylvania State flag with the horses replaced with fasces  a symbol dating back to the ancient world showing wooden rods bundled together and was used by Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini and is now often used instead of the more recognized swastika.

More recently, the group posted videos showing its members meeting for combat training, interspersed with clips of racial violence. A January 17 video shows group members sparring and includes footage of a white teenager beating a Black teen. Another video posted in early February includes a slide titled when the White warrior has had enough, which is followed by clips showing violence against Black people.

European import

Heymann said the movements founder, Rob Rundo, was inspired to create active clubs through his experience connecting with neo-Nazi groups in Eastern Europe, where he moved after federal rioting charges were brought against him related to assaults at a 2017 California protest involving a different white supremacist group he co-founded.

They've been largely inspired by these European MMA, ultranationalist groups, she said. Essentially Rundo wants to bring elements of these European groups to fill this gap in the United States right now.

Like all active clubs, the Keystone Nationalists group operates as an independent cell, a strategy Rundo said was intended to help avoid law enforcement detection and media scrutiny.

But the group may have ties to other hate groups active in Pennsylvania. Their material has been heavily promoted by the Proud Boys, the violent far-right group which has a chapter in central Pennsylvania. Rundos media outlet, Media2Rise, also has close ties to the National Justice Party, a white nationalist political movement whose members gathered for a rally in Lancaster County in August 2020.

Leaked chats from Patriot Front, another white nationalist group, showed its members were interested in learning more about the Keystone Nationalists and exploring ties with the group.

Both Millersville University Police and Lititz Borough Police investigated incidents of vandalism by the group. Lititz police were unable to obtain video of the suspects, and Millersville University Police declined to release video it had obtained, citing an active investigation. No charges have been filed.

This reporters work is funded by the Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund. For more information, or to make a contribution, please visit lanc.news/supportlocaljournalism.
Lancaster County Republican Committee members will gather in closed-door meetings Saturday to decide who the party should endorse in four contested state House races, decisions that carry enormous weight in legislative districts where GOP voters far outnumber Democrats and independents.

The approximately 350 GOP committee members are scheduled to meet at Centerville Middle School in East Hempfield Township. Dividing into area committees organized along school district boundaries, the members vote in nonbinding straw polls to see which candidates have the most support, with the official endorsement not happening until the county convention, which currently has not been scheduled due to ongoing litigation over the states redistricting plan.

Straw poll winners traditionally get the official endorsement, and those decisions carry significant weight, as the party-endorsed candidate almost always goes on to win the primary election and, in most of the county outside Lancaster city, is elected in November.

The most-watched race on Saturday will be among the five candidates seeking the partys endorsement for the 98th House District (Elizabethtown/Donegal and parts of Dauphin County), where state Rep. Dave Hickernell is not seeking reelection.

The most politically connected Republicans in the 98th District race are Tom Jones, the area chairman for the Donegal GOP and a longtime Republican committeeman, and LuAnn Fahndrich, a committeewoman who works as an administrative assistant in the state House, according to her LinkedIn.

Also seeking the party endorsement are Faith Bucks, a chiropractor and South Londonderry Township supervisor, and Logan Hoover, a student at George Mason University in Northern Virginia who is scheduled to graduate in May.

Hoover, who worked for U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker as an intern and assistant for a year and a half, said he wants to lead a younger generation of conservatives, and he told LNP|LancasterOnline that he is hoping that the party decides against endorsing a candidate in this race.

I think theres something unifying with an open primary and having the candidates shake hands with actual voters, Hoover added.

LNP | LancasterOnline could not verify James Stucks background prior to publication. Stuck also submitted a letter of intent to the county GOP to run for this seat.

Other contested races:

96th House District

The GOP has two candidates looking to run in the new 96th House District, which will cover the northern half of Lancaster city and stretch north into Manheim Township and East Petersburg.

Mikie Patterson, a local DJ and emcee, and April Weaver, a therapist specializing in adolescents, have both submitted their names to represent this new House district.

Democrat Mike Sturla, whose district currently includes Lancaster city, is seeking reelection in the new 96th, though hell face a primary challenge from Dana Hamp Gulick, who ran two unsuccessful campaigns to unseat Rep. Steve Mentzer, R-Lititz.

Neither party has a majority of voters in the district, though the predicted Republican wave nationally in the 2022 election could potentially give the eventual GOP nominee a victory here.

37th House District

A former Manheim Central School Board member is challenging the five-term lawmaker that has represented the Manheim area since 2013.

Rebecca Glass, 40, is seeking to challenge Rep. Mindy Fee to advocate for the very young and the very old and be a part of restoring and conserving constitutional principles and conservative values, she wrote in her letter of intent.

Glass is not a GOP committeewoman, but said she helped organize the grassroots campaign to elect several unendorsed Republican candidates to the Manheim Central school board last year.

Fee, 56, is seeking a sixth term.

41st House District

Brad Witmer, a Landisville truck driver, is once again mounting a primary challenge to Rep. Brett Miller, R-East Hempfield.

Witmer, 65, met his goal of getting on the ballot in May 2020, but received only 15% of the vote.

Miller, 60, is seeking a fifth term; hes represented the Hempfield area since 2015.

36th Senate District

Sen. Ryan Aument, R-West Hempfield Township, is unopposed in seeking the county GOP endorsement. Thats because his declared primary challenger, Mike Miller of Ephrata Township, didnt submit a letter of intent to the party.

Miller draws his support from activists involved in FreePAs Lancaster County chapters and people involved in citizen-led reviews of the 2020 election results.

Importance of endorsements

Candidates that fail to land the Republican Party endorsement usually decline to proceed for fear of burning bridges with the countys dominant political party.

For example, the former Eastern Lancaster County School District president Glenn Yoder tried to get the county GOPs endorsement over state Rep. Dave Zimmerman, R-East Earl, in 2020. Yoder was unsuccessful, and withdrew from the race shortly after not getting the partys endorsement.

Zimmerman went on to win the primary and general elections that year, and is running for reelection again this year.

The Lancaster Democrats have a virtual endorsement convention scheduled for Saturday, though they have not hosted a straw poll for their contested races.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the first name of the Donegal GOP area chairman. His name is Tom Jones.
The Harford County flag flew at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on a windy Thursday in memory of two Harford County sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty on Feb. 10, 2016.

The county held its sixth annual memorial service Thursday in honor of Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon, who were fatally shot after responding to a call from a citizen regarding a suspicious person inside the Panera Bread restaurant in Abindgon. Dailey was shot by the suspect as he spoke with him, while Logsdon died after a shootout with the suspect.

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Members of the community gathered with county employees for a ceremony in front of the county government building in Bel Air. County Executive Barry Glassman asked the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company to sound its siren at noon to initiate a countywide moment of silence.

That was a cold, cold day in Harford County six years ago, Glassman said, adding that it was one of the most tragic days of his administration. Its important to remember Pat and Mark today. We told them wed never forget.

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Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler thanked Glassman for the annual recognition ceremony, saying he had promised that the fallen deputies would never be forgotten. He also thanked Glassman for his continued support of his officers since that horrific day.

This is why were delighted to serve, because we have the support of the wonderful men and women of such a wonderful county, Gahler said.

Glassman said the memorial was an opportunity to remember other public servants whove lost their lives in the past year, as weve seen an increase in violence against public safety officers.

He then called the names of Baltimore Police Lt. Keona Holley, who was gunned down in her patrol car in January; Baltimore firefighters Lt. Paul Butrim, Kenny Lacayo and Lt. Kelsey Sadler, who were memorialized last week at a service attended by thousands, including Glassman; and Darlington Volunteer Fire Company paramedic Wayne Fisher, who died while on duty last Sunday.

The countys administrative office will be illuminated with blue lights in support of all law enforcement.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, left, and County Executive Barry Glassman place a memorial wreath honoring the two sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty on Feb. 10, 2016. The two were part of a brief ceremony at the Harford County Goverment Office Building in Bel Air Thursday. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

A memorial wreath sits in front of a line of flags during the brief ceremony in front of the Harford County Government Office Building in Bel Air on Thursday. The ceremony honored two sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty six years ago. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

A Harford County Sheriff's Office flag flies at half staff Thursday over the memorial at the Boulevard at Box Hill in Abingdon honoring Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon, who gave their lives in the line of duty six years ago. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler bows his head during a moment of silence at a brief ceremony honoring the two sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty six years ago on February 10, 2016. The ceremony was held at the Harford County Government Office building in Bel Air, Maryland, Thursday, February 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

Bel Air High School student Nicholas Habel plays Taps during the brief ceremony honoring the two sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty six years ago on February 10, 2016. The ceremony was held at the Harford County Government Office building in Bel Air, Maryland, Thursday, February 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

Harford County Deputy Director of Emergency Services Rick Ayers bows his head during a moment of silence at a brief ceremony honoring the two sheriffs deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty six years ago on February 10, 2016. The ceremony was held at the Harford County Government Office building in Bel Air, Maryland, Thursday, February 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)
LNP|LancasterOnline publishes submitted obituaries in each of its daily editions and in a searchable format online at lancasteronline.com/obit
THE ISSUE: Gov. Tom Wolfs eighth and final budget proposal unveiled Tuesday would push state spending past $43 billion for the first time, with the Democratic governor asking lawmakers for the largest-ever increase in aid for public schools, plus more money for direct care workers, higher-education institutions and college scholarships, The Associated Press reported. In an op-ed written by Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler of Drumore Township and other state Republican leaders and published by LNP | LancasterOnline on Feb. 4, the GOP, anticipating Wolfs proposals, criticized his total lack of concern over the states limited financial resources in pursuit of a national progressive agenda that would be unnecessarily punitive to Pennsylvania families.

Call us overly optimistic, but we believe theres philosophical wiggle room  even within the hyperpartisan, entrenched stances of the two political parties  for Harrisburg lawmakers to craft a 2022-23 budget that both meets the urgent needs of Pennsylvanians today and protects their interests moving forward.

For sure, there will be much political vitriol and gnashing of teeth in the next few months, before a budget deal hopefully is agreed upon on time. This is Pennsylvania, after all, where cooperation between Republicans and Democrats barely existed even before the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ludicrous fight over the 2020 election and the states election laws dragged civility fully out of the picture.

Yet all hope is not lost. Here are some of the facts that should buoy us entering the budget talks.

 Pennsylvania collected more money than expected this year in tax collections, leading to a $1.8 billion surplus through January, Spotlight PA reported.

 Wolf administration officials say Pennsylvania has access to about $2.2 billion from last years American Rescue Plan Act and will save another $1.1 billion this fiscal year as the federal government continues to pay a higher portion of its medical assistance contribution through June 30, Spotlight PA reported.

 There remains about $2.6 billion in the states rainy day fund, and the governors proposed budget wouldnt spend those funds.

 Finally, Wolf is not proposing any increases in the state income or state sales tax in his $43.7 billion budget proposal, even though the proposal itself represents a 13% hike over last year, the AP noted.

Republicans, predictably, havent had much nice to say about Wolfs proposal. Both parties have their eyes on the gubernatorial and state legislative elections this year, so compliments and kindnesses are rarer than reliable Phillies relief pitchers. A scan of the state House Republican Caucus news releases reacting to Wolfs budget finds phrases like a lot of fluff, set Pennsylvania back substantially, fake budget, out of touch and not based in reality.

State Sen. Scott Martin, R-Martic Township, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, called Wolfs plan a reckless budget (that) leaves a nightmare fiscal scenario not only for the next governor, but for future generations of Pennsylvanians, as well. Martin asserted that it would cripple Pennsylvania.

Again, comity isnt exactly one of Pennsylvanias chief exports these days.

Nevertheless, were optimistic.

Some of the spending thats so incredibly needed to help Pennsylvanians rebound from the devastation wrought by COVID-19 would only have to be a one-time investment. Thats exactly what the American Rescue Plan Act funds that Pennsylvania is sitting on are intended for, and we expressed our concern last year when too much of those funds were left unspent by Harrisburg.

It would be a double blow to the state residents and institutions that have been left most vulnerable by the pandemic if the bulk of that federal aid again remains in state coffers.

But what the Wolf administration and Democrats must make crystal-clear in negotiations with the Republican-controlled Legislature, and in the language of the eventual budget deal, is that expenditures of federal relief dollars are one-time efforts  not ongoing new commitments.

In other words, use one-time windfalls to cover priorities that wont create future shortfalls.

This was also stressed in Cutlers Feb. 4 op-ed, in which he and other GOP leaders wrote: It is also important to point out that spending made in one year then becomes the baseline for the next year and then future years. ... All spending decisions become baked in and can never be rolled back.

So dont bake it in, we say. The parties should be capable of agreeing on that.

The necessary middle ground is to spend now on the needs of citizens, businesses and industries  especially health care  that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, while ensuring that those emergency expenditures dont become legacy ones.

State Sen. Ryan Aument, R-West Hempfield Township, cautioned this about Wolfs proposal: Fiscal responsibility is not a short-term goal, its a long-term policy. We need to protect Pennsylvanians not only from immediate tax increases but also from future tax increases. To be clear, a future tax increase will be necessary if we agree to fund Governor Wolfs reckless budget proposal.

We think Aument has it partly right.

Fiscal responsibility and working as good stewards of Pennsylvanias future are important precepts of traditional conservatism  though not so much of the GOP lawmakers who now seem happy to squander taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary investigation of the 2020 presidential election.

Wolfs proposal has no tax increases and the notion of protecting Pennsylvanians should be expanded to letting residents benefit from the federal relief funds Congress has granted.

And, we would say to Sen. Aument, the degree to which we should worry about the 2026-27 budget right now should be weighed against the importance of what one-time relief spending can do to bolster Pennsylvanias recovery and future prosperity. Budget surpluses will do the state far less good in five years if we dont do enough now.

Wolfs proposed budget would boost public education, higher education, direct care workers, infrastructure and policing. School funding always must be a priority. Equipping students  all students, in all ZIP codes  with the education they need to succeed is imperative not only for their futures, but for the future of our commonwealth.

Many of Wolfs spending priorities are things that Republicans say they care about, too.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg must reach agreements on the specifics and the deployment of one-time relief expenditures as budget talks proceed over the coming months. Both parties must work toward compromises that benefit Pennsylvanians now, strengthen the state for the future and protect taxpayers.

Were hopeful on these counts. Democrats and Republicans arent nearly so far apart as they may believe.
How can any Republican who is God-fearing ever say that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington, D.C., was nothing more than people protesting for their rights as citizens?

I believe that every Republican member of Congress who asserted that it was not a horrible riot should resign, be sentenced to prison and never again be allowed to run for any public office. I believe that you are criminals, like Donald Trump, because you refuse to honor your oath of office and defend the U.S. Constitution and the principles of our democracy.

Gaining absolute power seems to be more important than serving our country and citizens with dignity and honor.

Charles Roehm

Penn Township
Imagine a town clock that shows not the minutes and seconds that control our lives, but time that moves faster or slower based on how fast rivers are running.

The Chattahoochee River and some smaller bodies of water flow through the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Most of the people in the city do not think much about the river. Jonathon Keats wants to change that. The San Francisco-based artist is on an extended stay in Georgia. He has been working there to help people become more involved with their natural environment.

Keats is called a conceptual artist, that is, he works with ideas rather than creating physical works of art. His latest concept, "Atlanta River Time," would have volunteers go down to waterways and take measurements. The information they collect, with help from conservation groups and U.S. Geological Survey data, would tell time in a very different way. The natural flow of Georgias waterways would be shown on a large city clock in downtown Atlanta.

People will get into the water

"Ideally, people will get into the water ... to observe and to consider the effects of the flow of water on the world as well as the causes of that flow," Keats told The Associated Press. He wants people to think not only about time, but about how we live in the world.

Keats has led classes since the fall of 2021 to teach people how to use hand-made materials to record flow rates. To bring his idea into reality he hopes to build a mechanical clock that uses a pendulum. A pendulum is a stick with a weight on one end that moves back and forth regularly to keep time. Every year, people would travel to the source of the Chattahoochee river and measure the water flow. They would change the movement of the pendulum based on the waters movement.

Why use waterways, when we have clocks, smart phones, computers and watches telling us the time already?

Keats says he does not use a mobile phone, but he has thought a lot about such questions while walking along Georgia's red-clay riverbanks.

"All of this is a story that we can tell, and a story  allows us to reflect on ourselves as a result of that  of that path that we take," Keats said.

Art based on ideas

The artist's earlier art projects included selling imaginary lands, and opening a restaurant that serves special sunlight to plants. He put a "millennium camera" in a tall building at Amherst College that he said would record climate change through a 1,000-year photograph of a mountain range. Keats has placed similar cameras at Lake Tahoe and Arizona State University.

Keats was invited to be the Artist in Residence at Serenbe, a planned community just outside Atlanta. Along with teaching classes, he can enjoy the natural surroundings nearby. His participants recently made bowls of clay and made record books using colored paper. Then they all traveled to South Fork Peachtree Creek. There, they watched leaves float along with the water. They timed the movement of the leaves by letting water run out through holes in their bowls.

It is a simple way to measure flow rates, but Keats hopes it will help people look differently at how humans interact with nature.

"I believe that the rivers and streams and creeks in and around Atlanta are a natural resource that helps us to see ourselves in relation to the natural world more broadly," he said.

Im Jill Robbins.

Ron Harris reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

reflect  v. to think of someone or something in a specified way  + on or upon

Artist in Residence  phrase. Artist-in-residence programs give artists the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research, or produce work.

interact  v. to act together : to come together and have an effect on each other  often + with

creek  n. a small stream

How would you measure time using the natural world where you live? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Ukraine crisis could be the "most dangerous moment" for Europe in many years.

Johnson made the comment Thursday in Moscow as the top diplomats from Britain and Russia held talks about the tension along the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russian forces held military exercises north of Ukraine in Belarus and the Black Sea. The exercises are part of Russias deployment of over 100,000 troops that has made the West fear an invasion.

Ukraine also held military exercises at the same time. But leaders on all sides say they hoped diplomacy can still succeed.

In the latest round of diplomacy, Britain's foreign minister debated publicly with Russia's top diplomat at talks in Moscow. Johnson also visited NATO headquarters in Brussels. And officials from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France were set to meet in Berlin to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Russia says it has no plans to invade but wants the West to keep Ukraine out of the NATO alliance. It also wants NATO to stop sending weapons there and remove NATO forces from Eastern Europe. The U.S. and NATO reject the demands.

"I honestly don't think a decision has yet been taken" by Moscow on whether to attack, Johnson said in a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. "But that doesn't mean that it is impossible that something absolutely disastrous could happen very soon."

A conversation between deaf and dumb

Talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss appear to have gone poorly.

Truss restated a call for Russia to pull back its troops. Lavrov rejected the demand and pointed to British and NATO military buildups in Eastern Europe. He rejected the show of concern by the West about the Russian troop buildup as propaganda.

Afterwards, Lavrov described the meeting as a conversation between deaf and dumb. He said Western politicians were using tensions over Ukraine for political gain at home. Russia has always planned to move back the troops, Lavrov said. And once it does, the West will  claim that it has forced Russia to de-escalate."

Russias buildup includes sending troops to its ally Belarus for joint exercises. The Ukrainian capital is about 75 kilometers south of the border with Belarus.

Ukraine on Thursday also criticized Russian naval exercises in the Black and Azov seas, saying they have interfered with private shipping. Russian answered that the exercises do not violate international law.

As the West warns of an invasion, Ukrainian officials have tried to project calm. There are concerns that fear over war will further damage the countrys weak economy.

We believe that the concentration of troops near the border is part of psychological pressure from our neighbor, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Russia and Ukraine have been in a conflict since 2014. At that time a popular uprising ousted Ukraines Russia-friendly leader from office. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and then backing rebel militants in eastern Ukraine. The fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal with help from France and Germany helped end much of the fighting. But smaller disputes have continued, and efforts to negotiate a political settlement have slowed.

Foreign policy advisers from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine are holding more talks Thursday in Berlin. They are trying to reach a common interpretation of the 2015 agreement and plan further steps.

The talks are part of new diplomatic efforts to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met Lavrov in Geneva, while French President Emmanuel Macron met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before heading to Kyiv this week.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to visit to Kyiv and Moscow early next week. He met Monday with American President Joe Biden. Biden promised that the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked in the event of an invasion.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this for VOA Learning English from reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.

______________________________________

Words in This Story

absolutely adv. completely or totally

escalate  v. to become worse or to make worse or more severe

psychological  adj. of or relating to the mind

annex v. to take control of a territory or place

interpret  v. to explain the meaning of
The Great Salt Lake, Americas largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River, has reached its lowest levels in recorded history. Officials and lawmakers in Utah say the state needs to take serious measures to prevent further drops in lake levels.

The current state of the Great Salt Lake follows severe dry conditions affecting Utah and other western states. Water has also been taken from the lake to supply homes and crops in Utah, one of the nations fastest growing states. Utah is also one of the driest American states, but has high water usage rates.

The severe drop in lake levels has raised concerns in the state about harmful dust, environmental damage and economic problems.

Further water loss is expected to present serious risks to millions of migrating birds. It could also hurt a lake-based economy estimated to be worth $1.3 billion. Economic activities include the production of minerals and brine shrimp and recreation. Health experts also fear that a dry lakebed could send poisonous dust into the air that millions of people breathe.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has proposed spending $46 million to help solve the Great Salt Lake problems. Top lawmakers have also supported major spending to improve lake conditions.

One proposal would seek to restrict water use in homes and businesses. Another would pay farmers for sharing their water. A third would direct money from mineral production activities to programs aimed at improving the lake.

"I long took for granted the lake. Its always been there, and Ive assumed it always would be there, House speaker Brad Wilson told a special meeting held to discuss the issue. But learning about the lake's worsening position over the summer left him afraid. The Great Salt Lake is in trouble. ... We have to do something, Wilson said.

Zach Frankel is director of the nonprofit Utah Rivers Council. He told The Associated Press he thinks major action is needed in order to save the Great Salt Lake. Its not going to do it with baby steps. These are tiny baby steps that should have been taken 20 years ago, Frankel said.

The lower lake levels have led to reductions in underwater structures that contain microorganisms that brine shrimp depend on for food.

The shrimp support a multimillion-dollar industry that supplies food for fish farms. It also provides nutrients to millions of migrating birds that can show up on radar. The Great Salt Lake is also the nations biggest source of magnesium and could soon provide lithium, a key mineral for making batteries.

But last year the lake matched a 170-year record low and kept dropping. It hit a new low of 1,277.2 meters in October. As a result, a large amount of the microorganisms necessary for the health of brine shrimp were damaged by air. The die-off will likely take years to repair even if they are fully covered with water again, said Michael Vanden Berg. He is a Utah state geologist.

If the water levels continue to drop, the lake could get too salty for the microorganisms to survive. This has already happened in the bright pink waters of the lake's northern arm.

Still, Vanden Berg is still hopeful about the southern arm, where a part of the microorganisms did survive last year's lake drop. Its bad but not catastrophic yet, he said. There is still time to fix and mitigate the situation.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

recreation  n. activities people do for enjoyment when they are not working

take for granted  phr. to believe that something is true without checking or thinking about it

assume  v. to believe that something might be true, although you have no proof to support the belief

battery  n. a device that provides and stores electricity for things

catastrophic  adj. causing a lot of suffering or destruction

mitigate  v. to reduce the harmful effects of something
LEXINGTON  Over 500 area students took part in the Dawson Area Career and College Fair during the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 8 at the Orthman Community YMCA.

The event was hosted by Dawson Area Development. The fair returned after a hiatus of two years, last being held in 2019 before COVID-19 threw a wrench in things.

DAD Assistant Director Scott Foster said over 500 students from Lexington and Gothenburg got a chance to speak with the 52 different participants, including colleges, employers and one military branch.

The students attending had opportunities for exploring higher education, job shadowing, part-time jobs, internships and fulltime work after college.

As for employers, it gave them a chance to market and fill different positions. Foster said businesses are still expressing a pressing need for workers.

Nebraska continues to record low unemployment rates, yet the state continues to grabble with a shortage of workers to fill positions.

For instance, in August 2021, while about 22,400 Nebraskans were un-employed, there were 66,000 job openings. That made about three job openings for every unemployed Nebraskan, marking the largest labor shortage among all states at the time, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

The change of pace brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic also made many question their career choices, in August 2021, around 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs, around three percent of the entire workforce. At the same time there were 10.4 million job openings in the same month.

Businesses are facing a staggeringly high quit rate, 3.6 million Americans resigned in May (2021) alone and a record-high number of unfilled position, according to Gallup.

Since the start of the pandemic, 20 percent of workers have changed careers, according to a survey from Prudential. 46 percent of employees are considering a career change, per data collected by Microsoft.

The pandemic changed the way people work and how they view work. Many are reflecting on what a quality job feels like, and nearly half are willing to quit to find one. Reversing the tide in an organization requires managers who care, who engage, and who give workers a sense of purpose, inspiration and motivation to perform, according to a Gallup article.
Lapwai, ID (83501)

Today

Cloudy with light rain this evening. Low near 40F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with light rain this evening. Low near 40F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
A COVID-19 outbreak that began in December at The John Carroll School, a private Catholic school for grades 9 through 12 in Bel Air, is now the fourth-largest outbreak at a school in the state and the largest outbreak in Harford County.

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The school only has one active positive COVID-19 case as of Thursday afternoon, according to Kathy Walsh, director of marketing and communications at The John Carrol School, who emphasized that the states ranking of outbreaks is cumulative, beginning when a school first goes on the list. The John Carroll School was listed beginning  the week of Dec. 8.

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The states list of school outbreaks dont always provide the best current snapshot of conditions at a school, Walsh said. Our school nurse is in almost daily contact with the Harford County Health Department, and they indicated to her yesterday that John Carroll should be removed from the list on Feb. 16, if not sooner.

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By the states definition, a classroom outbreak is at least two confirmed cases among students or staff within a 14-day period and who have interacted at school; a schoolwide outbreak happens when three or more classrooms with cases from separate households occur within 14 days or 5 percent or more students or staff have COVID-19 with a 14-day period.

Harford County Public Schools reported nine schools with outbreaks. Homestead Wakefield Elementary School and Prospect Mill Elementary School, both in Bel Air, tied for the second-most cases with 10 each.

C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air followed closely with nine cases tied to an outbreak. Hickory Elementary School rounded out the top five largest outbreaks in Harford County with eight cases.

Other Harford County Public Schools sites on the list included Bakerfield Elementary School in Aberdeen, Harford Technical High School in Bel Air, Churchville Elementary School and Forest Hill Elementary School.

The Maryland Department of Health updates its COVID-19 data for schools weekly on Wednesday mornings.
Two Frederick police officers were released from Shock Trauma Friday night after they were injured in a shooting after responding to a report of a suspicious man, who also was shot, Frederick officials said.

The officers, identified as Bryan Snyder and Kristen Kowalsky, were released around 6:30 p.m. from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after suffering gunshot wounds to their torsos, according to trauma surgeon Dr. Thomas Scalea. Dominique Lamarr Lewis, 25, who police referred to as a suspect, also was shot in the torso and underwent surgery at the Baltimore hospital.

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Lewis is in stable condition Saturday and is expected to be released later in the day, said Allen Etzler, spokesman for the City of Frederick. Frederick County sheriff deputies are guarding Lewis, who is charged with two counts of attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault and a handgun offense.

Maryland State Police are investigating the shooting and offered more details on the moments that led to three people getting shot in the torso.

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Officers Synder and Kowalsky arrived around 12:45 p.m. to the area of Waverly Drive and Key Parkway for a report of a suspicious man with a firearm. The officers saw Lewis sitting on an electrical box with a gun and asked him to show his hands, Maryland State Police said in a statement. Lewis did not respond and ignored the officers request, state police said.

Lewis then walked away from the officers before he abruptly turned around and fired multiple rounds at the two officers using a .45 caliber handgun, state police said. Snyder and Kowalsky then fired their Glock pistols, according to police. State police are continuing to investigate and have not determined a motive for the shooting as of Saturday.

Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando said Friday emergency medical services were called minutes after officers arrived at the intersection.

Frederick Police investigate a scene after two Frederick police officers were shot near Key Parkway and Waverley Drive in Frederick. (Bill Green / Frederick News Post)

Lando said the Independent Investigation Division in the Maryland Attorney Generals Office, which investigates police shootings, is working jointly with Maryland State Police to investigate what led to the shooting.

During a press conference outside Shock Trauma, Lando referred questions about the shooting to those authorities. He said Frederick police are outfitted with body cameras, but wouldnt confirm if Snyder and Kowalsky were wearing them at the time of the shooting.

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Its a tough time right now to be a police officer and Im very proud of the work that they do, Lando said.

Hes thankful, he said, that Snyder and Kowalsky appear to be okay.

Snyder, 43, is in his second year of service with Frederick police, and Kowalsky, 32, is a nine-year veteran with the department. They were flown, along with Lewis, to Shock Trauma by two Maryland State Police helicopters, according to police.

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Speaking outside the hospital Friday evening, Frederick Mayor Michael OConnor said the city experienced the true danger these officers face every day across our country. My thoughts right now are with my police officers, with their families and with our department.

Scalea, the trauma surgeon, expressed exasperation with the level of gun violence in the region, saying the hospital had admitted five shooting victims by the afternoon Wednesday.

Thats nuts  that there is so much violence in the city, in the state  this is out of control, he said. Its so demoralizing to do this day after day.
Lompoc Unified School District Board of Education is down one board member  its president  after William "Bill" Heath abruptly announced his resignation in an email to local media on Monday afternoon.
Santa Maria broke another high temperature record Thursday with the mercury topping out at 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Oxnard.
Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@Gmail.com. Also, visit dennisbeaver.com.
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
WASHINGTON  The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, a senior defense official said Friday.

The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

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President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Washington to travel to Camp David, Md. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Bidens national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.

In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.
Madison police have arrested a second teenager and ordered a third to appear in court for allegedly helping beat a classmate at La Follette High School so badly that he could need dental reconstructive surgery.

Police announced last week that Tayshon J. Ross, 17, had been arrested and charged with substantial battery in the Jan. 13 incident. The additional two suspects were announced Thursday, nearly a month after the attack.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy on Feb. 4 and tentatively charged him with substantial battery, police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said in a statement. He was taken to the Juvenile Reception Center. Since he is a juvenile, his name is not being released.

Its unclear why his arrest is only being reported now, nearly a week after it happened. Fryer said the detective on the case provided an update this week.

The third teenager, a 17-year-old male, was not taken into custody but ordered to show up for court on Feb. 28 on a tentative charge of being party to the crime of substantial battery, Fryer said.

Fryer said the 17-year-olds name is not being released because he has not yet been arrested or charged.

The 15-year-old victim told police last month that a group of students was making fun of him before the fight, police said. The victims mother, Heather Colbert, has said her son, who is on the autism spectrum, had been bullied for months before the attack.

School surveillance video of the incident shows the victim and another teen preparing to fight one another and several teens punching or attempting to punch the victim, police said.

Police said teachers and administrators quickly broke up the fight, but not before Colbert said her sons front teeth had been punched up into his gums.

Colbert said last week that her son will lose a tooth due to the incident and that the bone near the tooth was totally destroyed. She said its not clear yet whether it might heal on its own or will need surgery to reconstruct.

Colbert had said a detective raised the possibility of placing the boys who attacked her son into a restorative justice program that would keep them out of the criminal justice system if they apologized and participated in programming aimed at remediating the harm theyd done. She opposed that approach.

Police on Jan. 14 said two teens were facing charges but later backed off a separate report that they had been arrested. Then on Jan. 19, Fryer said three teens would likely face charges in the case, including a substantial battery charge against a 17-year-old. Two others would likely be charged with being a party to a crime, she said then.

Asked why it took until partway through February to report the tentative charges against the additional two suspects, Fryer said investigations take a while to complete, especially when multiple people are involved.

Fryer said the detective had to talk with several students, staff and the victims family, as well as review video. She noted that the detective is not the responding officer, so detectives also have to go through the initial reports from officers.

State Journal reporter Chris Rickert contributed to this report.

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Two state Department of Justice officers fired their weapons during a police operation last week that resulted in the shooting of a 38-year-old man and involved a total of 21 officers from five different local, state and federal agencies, the Dane County Sheriffs Office said Friday.

Quadren L. Wilson, of Beaver Dam, suffered five gunshot wounds to his back in the Feb. 3 incident just after 8 a.m. on Madisons Far East Side, according to his family, who also contend he was unarmed, wearing an ankle monitor and due to meet with his probation officer the next day.

Wilson is Black; his family says the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation agents who shot him are white.

DOJ and the Sheriffs Office, which is leading the investigation into the shooting, have provided little information about the incident other than to say that Wilson was wanted on a state Department of Corrections warrant. Wilson is a convicted felon, but the only open case against him currently is one filed in August in Dane County for disorderly conduct and making threatening phone calls.

Wilson was granted extended supervision in February 2020 after serving a little more than a year in prison for second-degree reckless endangerment. DOC spokesperson John Beard said the agency issued a warrant for his arrest the morning he was shot after receiving information from DOJ that he had engaged in new criminal behavior that violated the rules of his supervision.

It wasnt clear if the August case drove the Feb. 3 warrant, which Beard declined to describe.

Wilsons vehicle was wedged between a gray Ford F150 and a red Dodge Ram 500 pickup truck, both police vehicles, at the time he was shot on Eastpark Boulevard at American Parkway.

Traffic camera footage of the immediate aftermath of Wilsons arrest shows bullet holes in his vehicle and a swarm of law enforcement officers descending on the scene of the shooting in unmarked vehicles.

At a rally by about 30 to 40 of Wilsons family members and supporters Friday at the Dane County Jail in Downtown Madison, one of Wilsons familys attorneys, Jack Lindberg, asserted that Wilson had been complying with police orders and had his hands in view when police fired on him.

Mr. Wilson thought he was going to die, Lindberg said. This is a terrifying experience for him and he has repeatedly reiterated that to us.

Those at the rally Friday demanded Wilson be returned to the hospital and the officers who shot him be charged. Rally attendees then briefly attempted to get into the Sheriffs Office and jail facility to speak with Sheriff Kalvin Barrett.

No body cameras

Its unclear why so many officers from multiple agencies were involved in the arrest. In the Sheriffs Office statement Friday, Capt. Jan Tetzlaff said Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation agents were working collaboratively with federal agents and local officers to effectuate an arrest when the shooting occurred.

None of the 21 officers involved was wearing a body camera, according to Tetzlaff. Thirteen of them are with DCI, she said, three are with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, three are Madison police officers, one is a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper, and one is a state Department of Natural Resources warden.

Investigators are still processing evidence collected at the scene and over the next several days, detectives will continue to interview those who were involved and potential witnesses, along with reviewing reports to determine the facts of the incident, Tetzlaff said.

Sheriff Kalvin Barrett remains committed to conducting a methodical, objective and transparent investigation, Tetzlaff said. The mission of our investigation is to determine the facts and report the truth. We continue to ask for the communitys patience as we conduct our investigation. We will release additional information when it is appropriate to share and it does not interfere with the integrity of the investigation.

DOJ spokeswoman Gillian Drummond said the agency would have no comment until the probe is completed. The Sheriffs Office has not offered a timeline for the investigation. It asks anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has video recordings to call the Dane County tip line at 608-284-6900.

The Associated Press and State Journal reporter Chris Rickert contributed to this report.

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In a lawsuit filed Thursday, the father of a 5-year-old boy who was abandoned on a school bus last year after the driver finished her route says both he and his son were traumatized by the experience and that his son still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

The lawsuit, filed in Dane County Circuit Court against Badger Bus Transportation Group and the Madison School District, along with the insurers of both entities, alleges that Badger and the district were negligent in their care of the boy. On April 7, he was left alone in the bus by the driver, who had not inspected the bus before leaving it parked at Badgers facility near the Beltline.

The experience left both father and son with severe emotional distress, the lawsuit states. The boys father, Antonio Watson, said he had to quit his job so he could take his son to and from school each day because the boy now refuses to ride a school bus.

According to the lawsuit, an electronic child reminder system on the bus had been disengaged, which allowed the driver to leave the bus without being reminded to look for any children who may have been left behind.

Video from an onboard camera system showed that after the driver exited and locked the bus, the boy remained seated, then became upset and started to cry when he realized he was alone. Eventually, the lawsuit states, the boy figured out how to open the emergency back door and jumped out.

He wandered alone in the area of John Nolen Drive and the Beltline before a passing motorist noticed the boy, alone and upset, and took him into her car and called police, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages for alleged emotional distress caused to the boy and his father, and mental harm caused to the boy.

A Madison School District spokesperson said the district does not comment on pending litigation. Badger Bus had not responded to a request for comment Thursday.

After the incident last year, Badger called the drivers error absolutely unacceptable and said the driver and an onboard bus attendant had been fired.

In light of this very unfortunate and regrettable incident, we will be reinforcing our post-trip inspection training through daily communication, the company said last year.

The school district said last year that its contractually required procedures with Badger are specifically designed to ensure these kinds of incidents do not happen, and those procedures were not followed.

According to the lawsuit:

The district has had a contract with Badger since 2014.

The 2020-21 school year was the boys first, and he was enrolled for kindergarten at Lake View Elementary School. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had only started to attend school in person on March 9. On March 16, he began attending an after-school program at Lake View.

After the program, the boy boarded a bus with other children. As the driver dropped off children she skipped the boys stop, where his father was waiting. Neither the bus attendant nor the driver later inspected the bus, as required by state administrative code and Badgers contract with the district.

The driver dropped off the attendant before heading to the Badger facility on East Rusk Avenue.

The boy was to be dropped off at a bus stop near his home at 5:35 p.m. each day, where his father waited. But Watson became anxious when the bus still hadnt arrived at 5:45 p.m. He continued to wait, and after 6 p.m. he called his sons kindergarten teacher, who did not know where the boy was. There was no answer from Madison School & Community Recreation, which ran the after-school program.

Watson then called Madison police, who tried several times to reach anyone at Badger.

Watson became increasingly panicked.

He had difficulty breathing and felt as if he was dying, the lawsuit states. As time passed, he feared the worst.

Eventually, Watson received a call from police telling him his son was found and had been brought to a hotel on John Nolen Drive.

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The Madison Police Department hosted its first of four outreach events on the possible launch of a controversial body camera program, hosting a community forum Thursday alongside the manufacturer that could be selling the cameras to the department, which raised ethical concerns by one City Council member.

The forum let police and residents discuss how body cameras should be used in the city and what policies should govern their use. Representatives with Axon, a global public safety company that manufacturers body cameras and provides Madison police with Tasers, paid for food and space at the evening forum at UW-Madisons Memorial Union.

In a final Q&A, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes assured the crowd that public input will be used to shape the citys pending use of body cameras.

Thats the purpose, I think, of experimentation, Barnes said. Whats not productive is not communicating.

Madison police leadership and the officers union have long been in support of adopting the cameras, but local police-reform activists have opposed them, citing the desire to reduce funding for law enforcement and research that doesnt show the cameras are associated with reduced use of force by police, which is already low in Madison.

The forum comes after the City Council last month delayed a decision until April on whether to launch a 48-camera pilot program on the North Side, asking police to conduct more public engagement like the event on Thursday.

In table discussions with personnel from Axon and Madison police, participants went through case studies on body worn cameras and transparency. One study included the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald by Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted in the case partially based on dash cam footage.

Participants were then asked to discuss questions like What policies would you recommend for the release of video evidence to the public? and What other entities beyond the public will benefit from the release of video evidence?

Public concerns

During the discussions, residents said they were worried about the cost of a rollout of body cameras, long-term storage of the footage, officers tampering with the cameras and that their the use could lead more people to be charged with crimes.

My conclusion is the cost and harm outweigh the benefits, said Greg Gelembiuk, who has served on the citys body-worn camera feasibility review committee.

Not being able to roll back the use of body cameras once theyre implemented and a lack of ongoing community oversight is another concern for resident Nick Pjevach

What are the ways we can say no to a tool when we realize the tool is not serving the needs? Pjevach said.

Five representatives of Axons community impact team were at Thursdays meeting. Axons staff stressed they were not a part of the companys sales team and were not trying to sell their product.

Axon is not guaranteed the citys contract for the pilot program should it receive City Council approval. Under city policy, the Police Department would have to put the program to a bid. A resolution approving the pilot program is slated for consideration on April 19.

Other community outreach events on the cameras are set for the coming weeks, with an online event on Feb. 17 and a second in-person event Feb. 24 at the police departments training center. A second online event will take place March 3.

Ethics concerns

Axons presence at the meeting caused City Council member to allege that it posed a conflict of interest since the company stands to gain a contract to provide cameras for the pilot program.

I have no issue with a vendor demonstrating their technology at a discussion, but the fact the department thought it was OK to have that vendor pay for space and help collect data with no disclosure to the public is incredibly disturbing, Ald. Keith Furman, 19th District, said in an email to Barnes.

Madison City Attorney Michael Haas said in an email that the meeting did not violate the citys ethics code.

The ethics code applies to public officials receiving something of value personally which is not happening here, Haas wrote.

Furman also said having Axon finance the event doesnt appear to be illegal.

If having vendors pay for events like this isnt illegal, residents are absolutely at the very least entitled to know when it happens, Furman said.

In response to Furman, Barnes wrote in an email that he would disagree that I have made any attempt to hide any details regarding this community meeting.

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Several parents threw their support behind a series of Republican bills aimed at limiting school authority in a letter to legislators ahead of a public hearing Thursday.

One of the four K-12 education bills taken up by the Assembly Committee on Education, described by its backers as a Parental Bill of Rights, would bar school staff from addressing students by their chosen pronouns or names without parental consent and guarantee parents the right to review instructional materials, as well as have their child opt out of a lesson if they disagree with what is being taught.

Too often parents are being sidelined by the school establishment, and that is why the fundamental rights of parents needs to be made clear and protected, Chris Reader, executive vice president of the IRG Action Fund, an offshoot of the conservative Institute for Reforming Government, said in a statement Thursday.

The letter, organized by the IRG Action Fund and addressed to lawmakers, was signed by a group of 120 parents, mostly from the southeastern part of the state, in support of the legislation.

Thursdays hearing came on the heels of Gov. Tony Evers veto of a bill that sought to prohibit teaching concepts related to critical race theory in K-12 schools, and amid a lawsuit by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of a group of anonymous parents against the Madison School District regarding who gets to decide which pronouns to use with a student  as pronouns are often changed to help facilitate a gender transition. The suit has been taken up by the state Supreme Court.

The Republican measure would allow a parent or guardian to sue a school district or school official if they dont allow parents to:

Determine the names and pronouns used for the child while at school.

Review instructional materials and outlines used by the childs school.

Access any education-related information regarding the child.

Receive advance notice of any polls or surveys conducted in the childs classroom.

Request notice of when certain subjects will be taught or discussed.

Opt out of a class or instructional materials for reasons based on either religion or personal conviction.

Bills criticized

State Superintendent Jill Underly lambasted the bills in a statement Thursday, calling them a distraction from current problems faced by public schools in Wisconsin amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our schools  and our kids  need so much right now, she said. They need real solutions to real problems. These bills are decidedly not that, and the fact that the authors of these bills seem to believe that their bills are, in fact, what our schools and students need is yet one more illustration of how out of touch they are with the reality on the ground.

Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the Wisconsin Education Association, the states largest teachers union, said the bills have the potential to cause lasting damage in the states public schools.

Some lawmakers are exploiting the fragile stability we are building and fast-tracking devastating legislation, she said. Teachers and education support professionals in Wisconsin public schools are alarmed by the proposals that are circulating at a time when our lawmakers should be working with us.

Other bills

Another of the five bills would require some districts, including Madison and Milwaukee, to use federal pandemic relief funds to hire armed school resource officers to be stationed inside of schools. Wirtz-Olsen said that decision should be left up to local school boards.

Lawmakers should be focused on supporting families in these districts instead of spending funds intended for learning, meals and safety on armed officers, she said.

The other bills include legislation to rework state school report cards and an increase in the school property tax credit due to online instruction during the 2021-22 school year. Few schools have had to pivot to online-only learning during the current school year aside from those that did so temporarily due to staffing shortages during the omicron variant-fueled surge in COVID-19 cases.

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The UW Board of Regents approved 2% raises for chancellors and the University of Wisconsin System president in a closed-door meeting on Thursday.

The $87,250 in leadership raises range from $12,123 for UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank to $4,669 for UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow. Raises for chancellors do not require legislative approval.

The base salary bumps mirror a compensation plan approved by the Legislature for rank-and-file System employees, who are receiving 2% increases this year and next.

The leaders pay boosts come a few weeks after the board unanimously approved increasing salary ranges for leadership positions by as much as 32%. The raising of ranges did not affect anyones salary but can help attract top talent during leadership searches.

The move drew criticism from Republicans. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, panned the action as tone-deaf. Sen. Roger Roth, of Appleton, who chairs the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, suggested some of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unconfirmed appointees on the board could face a rocky road to Senate confirmation because of their support to raise salary ranges.

The board, including members appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, have defended the move as necessary to bring compensation in line with market demand and ahead of two high-profile searches. The Systems presidential search ended last month, and the UW-Madison chancellor search is expected to conclude in May.

The board has handed out 2% raises to chancellors in 2019 and 2020, mirroring the 2% pay increases System employees received. In 2018, the Regents offered even larger raises ranging from 6% to 14% to most of the chancellors, citing additional responsibilities leaders assumed with the restructuring of UW Colleges and Extension.

Since 2017, Blanks base salary has increased 24%, according to System data. Other chancellors have seen their pay grow between 8% and 30% over the past five years.

New salaries UW System , Tommy Thompson: $499,121 ( $9,787 raise)

, Tommy Thompson: $499,121 ( UW-Madison , Rebecca Blank: $618,278 ( $12,123 raise)

, Rebecca Blank: $618,278 ( UW-Milwaukee , Mark Mone: $420,471 ($8,245 raise)

, Mark Mone: $420,471 ($8,245 raise) UW-Platteville , Dennis Shields: $286,526 ( $5,618 raise)

, Dennis Shields: $286,526 ( UW-Oshkosh , Andrew Leavitt: $275,914 ( $5,410 raise)

, Andrew Leavitt: $275,914 ( UW-Eau Claire , Jim Schmidt: $274,189 ( $5,376 raise)

, Jim Schmidt: $274,189 ( UW-River Falls , Maria Gallo: $273,564 ( $5,364 raise)

, Maria Gallo: $273,564 ( UW-Stout , Katherine Frank: $270,504 ( $5,304 raise)

, Katherine Frank: $270,504 ( UW-Parkside , Deborah Ford: $265,302 ( $5,202 raise)

, Deborah Ford: $265,302 ( UW-Superior , Renee Wachter: $265,302 ( $5,202 raise)

, Renee Wachter: $265,302 ( UW-Green Bay , Michael Alexander: $260,100 ( $5,100 raise)

, Michael Alexander: $260,100 ( UW-Whitewater , Jim Henderson: $249,900 ( $4,900 raise)

, Jim Henderson: $249,900 ( UW-La Crosse, Joe Gow: $238,135 ( $4,669 raise) Note: Raises took effect Jan. 1, 2022. Source: UW System

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UW-Madisons outgoing chancellor warned that the countrys bitter political polarization is the greatest existential threat to public universities.

In her farewell address to the UW Board of Regents Thursday, Rebecca Blank also took aim at state involvement in campus building projects, criticized some one-size-fits-all University of Wisconsin System policies and again called for raising in-state undergraduate tuition.

After nine years leading UW-Madison, Blank is leaving to become president of Northwestern University. Her last day at UW-Madison will be May 31.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle, not just in Wisconsin but across the country, are using public universities as chips in their partisan wars, Blank said. Some criticisms are warranted, but other times its political posturing to score points with voters. Flagships are particularly vulnerable to attacks, she said.

Two UW-Madison examples Blank highlighted were the forced drawdown of institutional reserves, which she said flies in the face of all financial advice, and criticism of the university enforcing COVID-19 policies.

The lack of control over building projects is another challenge holding UW-Madison back, Blank said.

The recently opened Chemistry Building, for example, faced months of delays due to problems with the elevators and HVAC system. The result: 9,000 students learning last fall in spaces not designed for chemistry, more than 200 graduate students facing delayed graduation timelines and at least $3.2 million in lost research.

The contracts related to construction of the building  negotiated and signed by the state, not UW-Madison  had limited damages clauses and limited penalties for delays, Blank said. This left UW-Madison to absorb many of the costs while lacking any authority to hold those responsible for the problems accountable.

This cannot continue, she said. We must have greater control over these projects. Thats management 101: Align incentives so the people who have to pay for and live in the building are responsible for getting things built and built well, on time, and within budget.

The state Department of Administration receives 4% of a buildings cost to manage the project, Blank said. In the private sector, that percentage is closer to 2.5%.

DOA pushed back against Blanks characterization of the building process, saying it was disingenuous for her to suggest UW-Madison has no authority over projects when the university received multiple opportunities to review and provide input on bidding documents for projects like the Chemistry Building before being finalized and put out for bid.

Agencies are offered the opportunity to add a penalty for delay on projects when it makes sense and there is a quantifiable and demonstrative actual costs implication, the agency said in a statement. Ultimately, while some UW-Madison projects do include penalty for delay, UW-Madison and the state collectively elected not to have the state include penalties for delay on this particular project.

Seeking flexibility

Another obstacle UW-Madison faces, Blank said, is what she described as the Systems one-size-fits-all approach, which she said harms the university because some policies dont take into account the universitys size, funding streams and research mission.

There are times when UW-Madison needs to be treated differently and we need more flexibility, she said.

For example, other Big Ten schools moved in 2010 to the Common App, a college admissions application platform used by many colleges across the country to ease the process for students to apply to multiple institutions. Blank raised the idea of joining the Common App in 2014 but the System shot it down. UW-Madison got approval to join the Common App in 2016 but had to also stay on the Systems application platform even though only about 12% of applications come through that way. That means UW-Madisons admissions office handles applications from two platforms, costing time and money, Blank said.

In another example, Blank pointed to a policy requiring UW-Madison to receive board approval for all contracts over $1 million. This adds at least a month to the process, which has led the university to lose out on industry partnerships, including lifesaving clinical trials sponsored by businesses, she said. Other flagship schools typically have a much higher threshold in bringing contracts to the board.

Tuition freeze

Blank also argued that UW-Madison needs to be able to raise tuition for Wisconsin undergraduates, a rate that has been frozen for her entire time at the university.

We can remain affordable without charging bargain-basement prices, she said, noting scholarships that are available for low-income Wisconsin students.

Reflecting on her near-decade in charge, Blank portrayed UW-Madison as essentially standing still or even moving backwards when she arrived and said she has worked to dig the university out of that position. But her successor will face many of the same challenges that require state and Regent support.

Dont ever take the quality of UW-Madison for granted, she warned. If we arent working every day to maintain and grow this quality, it will start to erode.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A judge restored federal protections for gray wolves across much of the U.S. on Thursday after they were removed in the waning days of the Trump administration, casting uncertainty on the future of Wisconsins contentious hunt.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Wildlife advocates had argued state-sponsored hunting threatened to reverse the gray wolfs recovery over the past several decades.

Attorneys for the Biden administration defended the Trump rule that removed protections, arguing wolves were resilient enough to bounce back even if their numbers dropped sharply due to intensive hunting.

At stake is the future of a species whose recovery from near-extinction has been heralded as a historic conservation success. That recovery also has brought bitter blowback from hunters and farmers angered over wolf attacks on big game herds and livestock. They contend protections are no longer warranted.

Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz said the agency was reviewing the decision and offered no further comment. A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spokesperson also declined to comment until the agency has had a chance to absorb the ruling.

None of the Great Lakes states with established wolf populations  Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin  had scheduled additional wolf hunts prior to the judges ruling. All three were updating their wolf management programs, and officials said that work would continue.

Wildlife advocacy groups said the judges order would most immediately put a stop to hunting in the region, where Wisconsin officials had come under criticism after state-licensed hunters blew through state and tribal quotas last year.

Wolves in the Great Lakes region have a stay of execution, said John Horning with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Paul Collins, state director of Animal Wellness Action, one of the groups that sued the DNR to stop Wisconsins hunt, applauded Thursdays ruling as a correction to a rushed and political rule implemented to appease anti-wolf factions in states like Wisconsin.

Once again a federal court, and a Republican-appointed judge at that, saw through the unscientific attempts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to wash their hands of gray wolves, Collins said.

Hunter Nation Inc., a Kansas-based group whose lawsuit resulted in a court-ordered hunt in the final days of February 2021, issued a statement labeling White, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, an activist judge and calling on the Biden administration to appeal the ruling.

We prefer to trust local experts and conservation and hunting partners to come up with predator management programs that make sense for them rather than putting our faith in bureaucrats who dont spend time in the woods or never have to deal with the negative consequences of an uncontrolled wolf population, CEO Luke Higemann said.

Contingent season

Wisconsin law requires the DNR to hold a hunting season from November through February whenever the wolf is not listed as endangered.

This winters hunt was put on hold this fall by a Dane County judge who ruled the DNR must first update its 15-year-old management plan and adopt rules for setting quotas and issuing licenses.

Wisconsin is facing a separate federal lawsuit over wolf hunting from six Native American tribes that accuse the DNR of violating treaty rights and endangering an animal they consider sacred.

The DNR is expected to issue a draft plan later this month that will guide management for the next decade.

The ruling does not directly affect wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and portions of several adjacent states that remain under state jurisdiction.

The Fish and Wildlife Service since September has been separately reviewing if protections should be restored for the predators in the northern Rockies, after Republican lawmakers passed laws last year intended to drive down wolf numbers by making it easier to kill them.

Traps, poison

Wolves once ranged most of the U.S. but were wiped out in most places by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns.

A remnant population in the western Great Lakes region has since expanded to some 4,400 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. And more than 2,000 wolves occupy six states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

The DNR estimates there were 1,195 wolves in the state as of April 2020, but the agency has not completed a population survey since hunters killed at least 218 wolves last winter. An updated estimate is expected this summer.

Yet wolves remain absent across most of their historical range. Wildlife advocates argue that continued protections are needed so they can continue to expand in California, Colorado, Oregon and other states.

Democratic and Republican administrations alike, going back to former President George W. Bush, have sought to remove or scale back federal wolf protections first enacted in 1974.

State Journal reporter Chris Hubbuch contributed to this report.

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Some people were shocked on Tuesday when, during a news conference, Gov. Larry Hogan announced that he would not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

I struggle to understand why anybody was surprised by his decision.

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National Republicans, from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on down, kept trying to convince Hogan to enter the race. Obviously, Hogan would have been a very credible U.S. Senate candidate. While there was no guarantee that Hogan would defeat Democratic incumbent Chris Van Hollen, he certainly would have been the most competitive Republican to run since Marylands last Republican senator, Charles Mathias, was elected to his third and final term in 1980.

But I have said for years that being a senator was not something Hogan ever aspired to. Ive known Larry Hogan for quite a while; he is not a sit back and be part of a crowd guy. He wants to lead on and talk about the issues he wants to talk about. Thats one benefit of owning a business or being the governor of a state and influencing people and policy at every level.

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Compared to that, being a freshman senator in a crowd of 100 was not something that the governor would be all that interested in pursuing.

Would a Hogan defeat of Van Hollen give him an even bigger national profile if he wants to pursue the presidency in 2024? Of course. But a defeat would end any 2024 campaign before it even gets to the starting line. And if one thing is clear, based on his schedule and his rhetoric about national politics, its that Larry Hogan is considering a run for president.

The problem for Republicans, however, is that the rest of the Republican field for U.S. Senate, once you get past Larry Hogan, isnt exactly a murderers row of candidates.

Theres John Berman, who is running for Senate in multiple states.

Theres George Davis, who, among other things, supports the retrocession of the District of Columbia to Maryland.

Theres Nnabu Eze, who ran for Congress in 2020, and the U.S. Senate in 2018, but also ran as a Green Party candidate for Congress in 2016.

Theres Jon McGreevey, who appears heavily influenced by QAnon conspiracy theories.

Theres James Tarantin, who seems to me to be running for influencer instead of the Senate. Tarantin recently released a campaign commercial that was nothing more than a French ice dancer who will record routines for customers on his Instagram page. I wish I was making this up.

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And theres John Thormann, about whom I know nothing other than that he is a contractual consultant.

When you look at that lineup, its no wonder that national Republicans were so keen to get Hogan in the race.

Lets be honest: there is no Republican candidate who has filed for U.S. Senate that can post anything beyond a baseline Republican number of 33% to 35% against Chris Van Hollen.

More than most years, a good Republican can over perform expectations in November due to the negative view that a lot of voters, even Democrats, have of President Joe Bidens performance to date. Plus, it isnt like Chris Van Hollen is some sort of beloved statewide figure. Hes a party apparatchik who happens to be a U.S. senator right now. There are opportunities here.

A competent conservative who can quickly raise money and get some supporters behind them would easily beat this field and would certainly help (or at least not hurt) the statewide Republican ticket in the general election.

Maryland can do better than the motley crew currently in this race.

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Brian Griffiths is the publisher of The Duckpin (TheDuckpin.com). He can be reached via email at brian.griffiths.media@gmail.com, on Twitter @BrianGriffiths, or on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @briangriffithsmd.
A Democratic state lawmaker whose Twitter critique of school choice programs suggested parents of regular public school students dont play a role in shaping their childrens education took down the tweet Thursday after receiving widespread social media attention.

If parents want to have a say in their childs education, wrote Rep. Lee Snodgrass, of Appleton, on Twitter, they should home school or pay for private school tuition out of their family budget.

The post appeared to respond to a parental bill of rights circulating in a Republican bill, AB 963, that was the subject of an Assembly Education Committee hearing Thursday, as well as other Republican education-focused bills.

Among other things, the legislation would give parents the ability to choose their childrens schools, allow them to opt their children out of classes and choose their childrens pronouns.

The measure also appears to take a stand against critical race theory and other sensitive subjects that many parents, especially conservatives, object to being taught in schools.

Snodgrass deleted the post shortly after it gained widespread attention, saying it lacked nuance and was easily misinterpreted. She added that she didnt want anyone to think parents dont play a role in their childs education in public schools.

To clarify, my point is we should be fully funding our public schools and that diverting funds away from our public schools only makes it harder for parents to have the relationships we deserve with our kids teachers and their schools, she said.

Republicans and angry parents quickly found her deleted post, though, and responded.

In a video, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch reminded Snodgrass that public education costs money  taken from local, state and federal taxes. She also called on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to condemn Snodgrass.

Evers in a statement said he disagreed with Snodgrass and that parent involvement in their childrens education is critical.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have to stop using our kids as political pawns, he said. We should trust parents, educators, and schools to keep working together to do whats best for our kids.

Given the falling reading scores in Wisconsin, falling test scores, and the recent Virginia Gubernatorial election which centered around education issues, the issue of Education Reform and Parental Freedom in education has been incredibly newsworthy, Adam Gibbs, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in a statement.

Republicans have long pushed to expand school choice programs, especially as divisive topics such as mask mandates and online learning arose during the pandemic.

Last year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reported the number of public school students dropped, while attendance at independent charter and voucher schools grew for the 2021-22 school year.

The states independent charter schools and private schools participating in voucher programs saw enrollment grow 15.6% and 6.6%, respectively, in the 2021-22 school year.

Independent charters, which are public schools authorized by a government entity other than a local school board, enrolled 10,691 students. Schools in the states four voucher programs had 48,919 students who are provided taxpayer subsidies for income-eligible families to enroll children in participating private schools.

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A supporter of former President Donald Trump who wanted to root out voter fraud is among five people charged Thursday with election fraud by a Republican district attorney running for Wisconsin attorney general.

All five voters, including a homeless person, improperly listed a post office box number at a UPS store as their address, rather than a residential address as is required under Wisconsin law, said Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney.

Toney said law enforcement conducted an independent investigation after receiving an email from Peter Bernegger, a man convicted in federal court in Mississippi in 2009 for making fraudulent claims to investors in his business.

Toney said officers checked Berneggers claims by talking to the City Clerks Office, obtaining records from that office to see if it could be corroborated as well as talking to the UPS store where the people charged were registered to vote.

He added that Bernegger would most likely be uninvolved in the cases moving forward and likely wouldnt even be a witness at a potential trial.

That brings the number of people charged with election fraud during the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin to 10, including seven in Fond du Lac County. Three of the five people charged cast ballots in the 2020 election.

Toney said he hoped the charges would serve to educate voters about the law requiring them to list a residential address when registering to vote. In response to a question about whether this would fuel false claims of widespread election fraud, Toney said that was not the intent.

It is clear that would have had no impact on any election results about who would have won the race, Toney said. It has nothing to do with that type of argument.

In fact, one of the people charged indicated she had voted for Trump and told investigators to look into cheating because they took it away from Trump, according to the complaint.

Another person charged who did not vote in 2020 appeared very apologetic upon learning that he could not register to vote with a PO Box, the complaint said. Another man who didnt vote said he was living out of his truck when he registered and used the post office box because he could use that on his drivers license.

Voters in Wisconsin do not register by political party, so there is no way of knowing how many of those charged voted for Republicans or Democrats.

President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by just under 21,000 votes out of more than 3.2 million cast. The outcome has withstood recounts, lawsuits and multiple reviews. An Associated Press review in battleground states also found no widespread fraud.

The issue of voters listing post office boxes when registering to vote, rather than where they live, was also raised in La Crosse County following the 2020 election. However, the district attorney there decided not to press charges after determining the voters did not intend to break the law.

But Toney, when explaining why he decided to bring charges, said ignorance of the law is no excuse.

This is an important opportunity for education on this issue, Toney said. He said he hoped filing charges would lead to fewer criminal referrals that take time and resources away from police and district attorneys who should instead be focused on fighting violent crime.

One of the people charged was homeless but should have listed any kind of address, like the location of a park bench, rather than a post office box number, Toney said. A married couple who were charged were traveling around the state in an RV and could have listed the address of a campground where they were staying, he said.

The five people were each charged with a Class I felony, which is punishable by up to 3 years of combined prison and extended supervision and a $10,000 fine.

Toney is running for attorney general and faces former state Rep. Adam Jarchow in the Aug. 9 Republican primary. The winner will advance to face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

State Journal reporter Alexander Shur contributed to this report.
The rhinoceros is second only to elephants as the largest land mammal in the world. Rhinos are solitary animals, but there are exceptions. They do form pairs, which can lead to forming larger groups. They can be calm, stubborn and curious.

Rhinos interact with elephants regularly at watering holes but tend to compete for food sources and will thus usually walk away. Rhinos are not a supporter of a change in habitat.

Three of the five species of rhinoceros are critically endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. Conservationists are now trying to save rhinos from extinction.

Rhinos and RINOs have a lot in common.

The term RINO stands for Republicans in Name Only. In recent years, the designation has been used for any Republican who has spoken against the former president. The name-calling attacks have only escalated since the events of Jan. 6, 2021, on Capitol Hill.

On Feb. 4 the Republican National Committee unanimously voted on a resolution to formally censure Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and to no longer support them as members of the Republican Party. The pair were punished for their work on the Jan. 6 House select committee. The Republican National Committee has accused Cheney and Kinzinger of the persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. With that statement, the party has endorsed the desecration of the Capitol and the attempt to interfere with Congress constitutional duties and the peaceful transfer of power.

Cheney and Kinzinger arent the only RINOs out there. Trump has called all of the following senators RINOs: Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Mike Rounds and John Thune of South Dakota, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. Trump also called Karl Rove, Republican strategist and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, a RINO of the highest order.

The giants of the Republican Party would all be considered RINOs by todays Republican standards. President Abraham Lincoln was the standard-bearer of the anti-insurrection sentiment. The current party of Lincoln seemingly has no problem embracing an insurrection and fealty to one man. President Dwight Eisenhower, who served as Allied supreme commander in Europe during World War II, probably could have never imagined the authoritarian movement swelling within his own country. Would Ronald Reagan still consider the United States the shining city on a hill today?

The Republican National Committees decision demonstrates that RINOs, which I will refer to from here forward as rhinos, are no longer welcome at the watering hole. It is time that the pair of rhinos named Cheney and Kinzinger leave their territory, walk away from the elephants, and form a larger group. Even though these conservatives dont want to leave their habitat, they must, or risk being poached. They need to wander out into the wilderness and find new sources of food.

The national committees vote seems to have caused a showdown of sorts. A moment of truth between those on the right who are rational and those who are radical. Rational rhinos are being politically exiled. The solitary rhinos need to start distinguishing themselves from the GOP. They should leave the party and consider running as independents from here forward or until the electoral system changes.

There are plenty of caveats to having candidates run as independents. One such challenge is the fact that voters do not have an understanding of where an independent candidate stands on issues. One advantage that rhino independents would have is that they already have an identity. Their platform is the long-established, traditional Republican platform. Those ideals the Republican Party used to believe in, such as pro-democracy (here and abroad), belief in the rule of law and a strong foreign policy. They are anti-Russia, anti-authoritarianism, and favor free trade and limited government.

There are plenty of successful rhinos out there. In fact, rhinos can be quite popular. According to a recent Morning Consult poll, the top four most popular governors are all rhinos. All four of these governors have backed away from Trumps influence. In order of approval are Govs. Phil Scott of Vermont, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Larry Hogan of Maryland and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. In 2020, Collins won reelection in Maine with 51% of the votes. Trump received 44% of the vote there. Sasse carried his state with 67.4% of the votes, while Trump trailed Sasse in Nebraska with 58.5%.

Rhinos have already been banished. The Republican Party has made it clear they are no longer welcome. They might as well find strength and safety in numbers. It remains to be seen whether independent rhinos will be electorally successful. But they should wear the rhino emblem with honor and pride.

Schmidt is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: @lynnschmidtrn.
RUPERT  A Heyburn man and his brother lured a man to his home and killed him, bludgeoning him in the face with a 6 pound sledgehammer and shooting him in the back of the head, prosecutors say.

Kalob W. Morrison, 33, is charged with first-degree murder, evidence destruction, alteration or concealment and failure to notify authorities of a death. Hes being held in the Mini-Cassia jail on $1 million bond.

The victim, Julio Lopez, 41, of Heyburn, was killed Jan. 2. The suspects put Lopezs body in his own vehicle, then drove it to a remote location bordering Minidoka and Lincoln counties and set it on fire. Prosecutors did not provide more details on Lopezs identity but court records said he had been released from jail on Dec. 29 and was wearing an ankle monitor.

Morrison was arraigned Tuesday in Minidoka County Magistrate Court and Judge Doug Abenroth allowed filing documents to be sealed and witness names redacted.

Court documents say Morrisons brother, Klee Morrison, of Littlefield, Arizona, traveled to Heyburn to help his brother kill the man. Minidoka County Prosecutor Lance Stevenson said Thursday that a warrant for first-degree murder will be issued for Klee Morrison, who is in federal custody in Arizona on a separate matter.

The warrant will be served after hes done with the federal case, Stevenson said.

Police were alerted to the crime Jan. 2 when the Lincoln County sheriff got a call from a farmer about a 2004 Ford Expedition on fire off Idaho Highway 24, court records say.

At the scene of the vehicle fire, police found a GPS ankle monitor on the ground where Lopezs legs would have been prior to the fire. Stevenson said Lopez was wearing the monitor as a condition of pretrial release from jail and had not been convicted of a crime.

Shortly before 7 a.m. Jan. 2, Lopezs ankle monitor showed he went to Morrisons home and his phone showed calls and texts between the two.

Court records say witnesses said Morrison told them hed killed Lopez and Lopezs vehicle had been burned in the desert.

Police executed a search warrant at Kalob Morrisons home Jan. 5 to search for evidence of a homicide. They reported finding firearms and a fresh burn pit at the location where Lopezs ankle monitor had pinged.

Multiple private security cameras showed Lopezs vehicle being driven on back roads to the burn location the morning of Jan. 2 with Klee Morrisons pickup following it, court records said.

Police said Klee Morrison went on Jan. 1 to a Heyburn gas station to purchase 3.8 gallons of regular gas, although his Dodge pickup burns diesel fuel and his other fuel purchases were all diesel.

Court records say various witnesses told police Kalob Morrison said there was a fight and a lot of blood and the evidence was covered up with fire, that they saw him burn a tarp that appeared to have brain matter and other human tissue on it and that he tended the burn pit at his residence all day and into the night on Jan. 2.

A witness said Kalob Morrison was stone-cold when he told them he beat a mans face using a 6 pound sledgehammer, and after seeing him several times it was all Morrison wanted to talk about, court records say. The witness said Kalob Morrison set it up and that the murder was planned and they had Lopez come meet them over tools and that there was $10,000 involved in the deal.

DNA tests were done on Lopez and compared to DNA samples from Lopezs children, who live out of state. He was positively identified Jan. 26, according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Feb. 16 in Minidoka County Magistrate Court.

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BUHL  Police say a male juvenile has been charged with threatening violence on school grounds after a social media post prompted lockdowns and school closures in multiple districts.

The threat was first reported at Buhl High School at about noon Tuesday. All Buhl schools were placed on lockdown that day and were closed Wednesday.

The post was from a Buhl High student who created a Snapchat account in another students name and posted several threatening messages targeting multiple schools, according to a statement released Wednesday morning by the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office.

The first threat was reported by a student to a teacher, who notified administration, which quickly notified police and placed the schools on lockdown.

Multiple agencies responded to search and clear the schools, and ensure the students safety, sheriffs office spokesperson Lori Stewart said in the statement.

The emergency response and investigation included Buhl Police, Twin Falls Sheriffs Office, Filer Police Department, Idaho State Police, Twin Falls Police Department, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the FBI, Buhl Fire Department and Magic Valley Paramedics, Stewart said.

Late Tuesday evening, a similar threat was made to shoot up West Minico Middle School, Minidoka County Sheriff Dave Pinther said.

Minidoka County School District decided to cancel classes throughout the district Wednesday and have students work online.

Pinther said although the threat remains under investigation, there is information that leads them to believe the original threat was hijacked and repeated at the other schools.

But, we dont know that for sure yet, he said Wednesday morning.

The Minidoka County Sheriffs Office is working on the case in conjunction with the Buhl Police Department and Cassia County Sheriffs Office.

A student told a school resource officer about the threat and it was forwarded to the sheriffs office.

Pinther said the sheriffs office has officers at each Minidoka County school while the investigation continues.

Buhl schools will be in session as normal Thursday, the district said.

We know that across the United States threats are becoming more common and they cause fear, anxiety and frustration for educators, our students, and parents, the district posted on its website. While many of these threats are anonymous and turn out to be hoaxes, they must be investigated and taken seriously. Student safety is always a priority; therefore, we take action when there is a possible threat and work with police to investigate and resolve them quickly. Together, with law enforcement, we communicate to the best of our ability with the information we have.

Finally, we ask that you please speak to your child about using social media platforms in a responsible way. It is also important that if any student, parent/guardian, staff member or community member sees/hears something threatening or suspicious to please report it to the school immediately or call police.

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BOISE  Idahos estimated COVID-19 incidence rate shows that infections from the coronavirus likely peaked in late January before falling quickly, matching a pattern that has emerged in other regions of the country.

The Department of Health and Welfare estimates that Idahos case peak during the omicron wave was on Jan. 24, with a seven-day average of around 240 cases per 100,000 residents. The department calculates an estimate because the published data exclude tens of thousands of backlogged positive tests from over the past few weeks, which distort the numbers.

The estimated rate would mean Idahos infection high point was nearly 2.5 times the level at which a community is deemed to be experiencing high transmission by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state estimates that the numbers have fallen by nearly two-thirds since then, to 88.9 cases per 100,000 people as of Feb. 7, according to the data.

We have hit our peak, Dr. Kathryn Turner, deputy state epidemiologist, said at a Tuesday press conference. The estimated case data match the trajectory shown in the states test positivity rate, which began to fall the week of Jan. 23.

Though the causes for infection slowdowns can be elusive, state health officials believe the current trends are likely due to a combination of natural immunity, vaccine immunity, and mask wearing and social distancing by people who are sick.

That will make it so that the virus isnt getting transmitted and those cases start to come down, Turner said.

Its difficult for health officials to measure the true rate of infection, because many people dont get tested and others use rapid antigen tests, which are not processed by a lab and therefore dont get sent to the state. But based on previous estimates of asymptomatic and undetected cases, at least 35% of Idahoans have had COVID-19 during the course of the pandemic.

Dr. Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist, said that the baseline level of immunity, largely the result of vaccinations, is substantially higher than it was a year ago.

It probably has kind of burned out for the moment, Hahn said.

But health officials are quick to emphasize that prior infection does not preclude reinfection and that the current case numbers are still very elevated.

The case numbers are crazy high relative to what theyve been early on in the pandemic, Turner said.

And hospitalizations and deaths tend to lag behind case numbers, meaning that the number of severely ill patients could continue to rise, said Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen.

Turner added that 14% of the cases reported to the state over the past two months have been reinfections and that the vaccines have been found to be not as effective at stopping omicron transmission. Research also has shown that a third  or booster  dose of a vaccine helps revamp the vaccines highly effective protection against hospitalization and death.

With every new variant that we get, the situation changes a little bit, she said.

Health officials have long said that widespread transmission will leave the virus with more opportunities to mutate, increasing the chances that other variants will emerge.

Idaho is one of the least-vaccinated states in the nation, which health officials say could lead to more severe COVID-19 illnesses.

We worry that these low (vaccination) numbers leave Idahoans vulnerable to future outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths, especially compared to other states where we know that (vaccination) rates are higher, Hahn said.

So far, 76 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Idaho in February.

As of Feb. 2, every county in Idaho is facing high transmission, according to the CDC.

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Maryland lawmakers outlined a package of measures Thursday to support child care providers, who have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the past two years, more than 750 providers in Maryland have been forced to close, lawmakers said in a joint videoconference with delegates and senators. The package includes grants to attract and retain providers, as well as loans for capital expansions for facilities.

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We want to expand and stabilize grant programs for our child care providers, said Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat. We want to fund child care providers bonuses, so that we have the best and the brightest who are working with our youngest Marylanders, and we want to enhance our therapeutic child care programs.

House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones said helping providers is critical to addressing the shortage of workers in the state and the nation.

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Severely limited child care options are keeping more workers, particularly women, at home and out of the workforce, said Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat.

One of the measures would expand access to a child care scholarship program to make it easier for people to enroll and for providers to take part.

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A different measure, which is being sponsored by Sen. Nancy King, a Montgomery County Democrat, would provide $16 million to create $1,000 retention bonuses and $1,000 bonuses for new hires.

King also is sponsoring a bill to create a program to provide specialized child care and early childhood education by educators, mental health providers and others to children under 6 who have delays in development, physical disabilities, or delays in social, emotional, or behavioral functioning.

These bills and the total efforts of the members here today will put us on better footing so that Maryland families can have certainty and providers can have predictability as we continue to grow our local economies and support all of our families, King said.

Sen. Katie Fry Hester, a Democrat, is sponsoring a bill with King and Republican Sen. Chris West, to create a grant program to help existing providers.

These grants will provide financial support of up to $50,000 for centers in the state that are in danger of closing within the next 12 months due to financial hardship, Hester said.

Another measure would create zero-interest loans to help with capital expansions and acquisitions for child care facilities that already are experiencing difficulties with capacity.

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This bill will help us maintain and increase child care capacity across the state by making money available to potential and existing LLCs and nonprofits for expansion and establishment of facilities, said Del. Eric Ebersole. He and another Democrat from Montgomery County, Del. Jared Solomon, are sponsoring the legislation.
BOISE  Following up on a pledge from Gov. Brad Littles office to challenge a judges ruling last week that the governor lacks the authority to deny a clemency recommendation, the attorney generals office on Wednesday appealed the decision to the Idaho Supreme Court.

The case centers on the question of whether the Idaho Constitution grants the governor final say on sentence reductions approved or denied by the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole.

Judge Jay Gaskill, of the states Second District Court, asserted in his Feb. 4 decision that the governor does not have that power, citing the language of the Idaho Constitution. The Nez Perce County judge ruled that Little acted illegally when he rejected the parole boards recommendation in December to reduce convicted double-murderer Gerald Pizzutos death sentence to life in prison.

The Idaho Constitution has never directed that one individual has the power to decide matters in any criminal matter, let alone a case with the ultimate penalty of death, Gaskill wrote. Had the founders or the people of the state of Idaho intended to vest the sole power of commutation of death sentences with the governor alone, (the constitution) could have been drafted with this specific language, just as was done in other states.

The states argument, though, instead relies on a constitutional amendment in 1986 and its connection to Idaho statute, which lays out the governors role in the commutation process.

The law states that the parole board, which was first established in 1969, has full and final authority in all convictions, except in cases of treason or impeachment. In cases concerning life in prison or a death sentence, however, the law states that the decision of the parole board, of which the governor makes appointments, shall only constitute a recommendation subject to approval or disapproval by the governor.

That statute conflicts with the Idaho Constitution, Gaskill wrote, which has overriding say on the laws of the state. As a result, the governor has only the ability to temporarily postpone an execution, but nothing more, he concluded.

Gaskills ruling came in response to a legal challenge last month from Pizzutos attorneys with the nonprofit Federal Defender Services of Idaho. The states parole board issued its decision to grant Pizzuto, who is terminally ill with late-stage bladder cancer, the reduced sentence on Dec. 30. Little denied the boards recommendation the same day.

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BOISE  Antisemitic graffiti was once again found in a Boise park, the latest in a string of similar incidents in the city.

The Boise Police Department said on social media that antisemitic graffiti was found in Kristin Armstrong Park, located on South Walnut Street, sometime before 10 a.m. Police spokesperson Haley Williams declined to disclose exact details about what the graffiti portrayed, but said it was an antisemitic symbol spray-painted on the outside of a bathroom wall.

Its the fourth antisemitic incident in Boise in as many months. Twice graffiti was sprayed in other Boise parks, while fliers were distributed in Boises North End with conspiracy theories about Jewish people and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Williams did not respond when asked if anyone had been arrested for Wednesdays incident or the preceding acts of antisemitism.

In a video statement, Mayor Lauren McLean said Wednesdays incident was another example of Boise being tested by hate.

While the graffiti has been removed, a persistent menace remains and it requires swift action across this community, McLean said.

This comes the same day Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, whos running in the Republican primary for governor against incumbent Brad Little, touted an endorsement from right-wing speaker Michelle Malkin, who has come under fire for spreading antisemitic conspiracies.

Rabbi Dan Fink, of the Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, said in a phone interview that he and other Jewish leaders in Boise have been meeting with city officials to discuss how to curb this pattern of antisemitic behavior.

He said, though, that the most meaningful change would have to come from state officials. Idaho state law on hate crimes is much weaker when compared to other states, he said, which makes it difficult to prosecute hate crimes to deter them from happening again.

Fink said its difficult to prosecute someone spray-painting a swastika in a more serious manner than someone who spray-painted any other picture.

Swastikas and hateful graffiti are a different category, he said.

The crimes havent been exclusive to Idaho. Antisemitic acts have been on the rise across the U.S. in recent years, according to anti-extremism groups that track hate crimes. Last month, a suspect took four hostages at a Texas synagogue.

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TWIN FALLS  Gov. Brad Little visited Oregon Trail Elementary on Thursday to hold a teacher appreciation rally and to tout his Leading Idaho initiatives for education.

Addressing a crowd of roughly 600 assembled students, teachers and district employees, Little said his agenda for boosting education has met the first of three goals for this Legislative session through passage of House Bill 443, which he recently signed.

This week I signed this piece of legislation, and what this does is it puts money into the school district, so that your trustees and your superintendent can make sure that all your teachers have the same quality health care as all the other employees of the state of Idaho, Little told the assembled students.

The governors other educational priorities for the session include implementing the teachers pay ladder and increasing funding for early childhood literacy programs. They are in the works, Little said, and he felt confident that those efforts would also meet the Legislatures approval.

I come from the business world, Little said. You cant expect to have good help if you dont appreciate them, you dont compensate them, and you dont give them good benefits.

Little formally signed the teacher health care bill into law on Tuesday at Melba Elementary School. Since then, he has toured the state to hold teacher appreciation rallies at schools in Post Falls, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls.

The law will provide funding for districts to cover the initial cost of transferring staff to the state health insurance plan, or negotiate their own plans with private providers. Idaho Education News reported that while the governors signature puts the works in place, the fund will remain empty until the Legislature decides whether to appropriate funds to cover those upfront costs.

At the rally, Twin Falls School District Superintendent Brady Dickinson thanked the governor.

He has made it a priority to put money and staff and effort towards early literacy, Dickinson said. Hes prioritized the work of public school teachers in Idaho.

In an email to the Times-News, Dickinson said the passage of HB 443 would offer the district new ways to improve their insurance offerings for staff.

TFSD is grateful for any infusion of funds to help enhance the compensation package to our employees, Dickinson said in the email. We know it is paramount our employees be able to take care of themselves and their families and want to continue attracting the very best to Twin Falls.

Smaller districts with fewer employees have also had many challenges with the cost of health coverage.

We are thankful that Gov. Little and others are aware of the issue of rising health insurance premiums that districts face and that the state government is working to help with this issue, Shoshone Superintendent Rob Waite said.

Like Twin Falls, Waite said Shoshone will be analyzing how the new law and associated proposals will affect the school district.

Peggy Hoy is the National Education Association director for the Idaho Education Association, and co-chairs the unions insurance committee that negotiates health coverage each year. Too often, Hoy said, they have to make tough decisions about which benefits to sacrifice to keep the costs down. She said the governors support for teachers is much appreciated.

This has been something that educators have been asking for for years, Hoy said. This is a huge step in trying to retain and recruit teachers. If they can have good benefits then theyre going to want to be here.

Jerome Superintendent Pat Charlton is cautiously optimistic, noting that there is still a lot to be done before the new law will translate into better health insurance for teachers. Charlton said he is concerned that smaller districts may have difficulty affording the state plan. A portion of the new law cuts a popular $20 million Teacher Leadership money, and the funding for the health insurance program still needs to be approved by the Legislature.

Im thinking optimistically about the funding following the school staff health insurance bill, Charlton said in an email. But I also know that the Legislature does not always fund the governors priorities. I would also be very disappointed to see the Leadership money go away to help pay for an insurance plan that some districts may not be able to afford.

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BOISE  The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is the largest government agency in the state  with oversight of everything from laboratory testing, to foster child placements, to Medicaid health insurance, to food assistance, to homes for people with disabilities, and much more.

Now rounding the corner into the third year of a COVID-19 pandemic, the departments director went before the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday to talk about the money it needs to carry out its responsibilities  including funds to aid functions that are critical to pandemic preparedness and response.

Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen showed the committee how the department wants to spend millions of dollars in federally funded COVID-19 emergency grants. The department would use about $46 million to support public health services: $5.7 million to bolster Idahos public health workforce, $16 million for prevention of infectious diseases, $5.4 million for small hospitals and $19 million for efforts to reduce health disparities.

We do not anticipate that they will create ongoing expense, and theyre primarily being used to deal with the current situation and also build infrastructure for the public health system of the future, Jeppesen said.

The department wants to use $30 million in federal funds to increase the states ability to respond to COVID-19 and other public health threats; $2.8 million to increase testing for places like jails and assisted living homes; and $1.1 million to modernize Idahos vital records system.

The vital records system is integral to tracking things such as deaths from COVID-19.

In addition to the one-time funds to help bring Idahos vital-records system up to date, Jeppesen said the department is asking for approval for three additional full-time positions to its vital records team.

The department manages all the vital state records across the state. So, thats birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, all those sorts of things. We actually had a very large increase in volume, and were starting to get behind on things like birth certificates, Jeppesen said. And thats pretty important, because if youre a new parent and youve just had your child, your health insurance is going to ask you for a birth certificate usually within the first two months or you miss your window to get (the child) on the insurance.

That hasnt yet happened, he said, but the department has gotten dangerously close a few times this year, Jeppesen said.

The department also wants to, among other things:

use $135.5 million of federal funds to help Idahoans pay for child care.

use $20.8 million of federal funds to help low-income Idahoans pay for utilities and to weatherize their homes.

use $16.5 million of federal funds to support community-based health care for mental illness and substance abuse.

use about $15 million of state dollars to fund and staff a redesigned Southwest Idaho Treatment Center program. SWITC is a longtime inpatient psychiatric care facility for people with disabilities. Under a new model, SWITC would have a crisis unit, and a step-down unit to help people transition out of the facility.

use $15 million in state funds to help transform three Idaho mental health facilities into places where Idahoans can receive care in a residential setting. Idaho has been forced to send children to other states for that kind of care, which is costly and makes it hard for kids to stay well as they return to their hometowns.

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BOISE  The Senate State Affairs Committee advanced two bills Wednesday morning related to the Idaho Secretary of States office, including a new law that would require post-election audits of a random selection of counties after a general or primary election.

Senate Bill 1274 was introduced to the committee by Deputy Secretary of State Jason Hancock, who said the audits would increase public confidence in election results, and its a practice that many states have already implemented.

We take election integrity very seriously at the Secretary of States office, we take allegations of election insecurity very seriously, and  we have a lot of people right now who think we have problems with our election system, Hancock said.

Following the presidential election in 2020, former President Donald Trump and his supporters have alleged voter fraud and other conspiracies they say led to President Joe Bidens electoral victory. Ten Idaho legislators signed a letter in October calling for a 50-state audit of the election results. Election results have been audited in several states, including Idaho, and no fraud has been found.

Under the new bill, the audits would be open to attendance by media personnel, candidates and representatives from political parties. The exact procedures for the audits would be developed with county clerks, according to the bill text.

Counties would be randomly selected each year according to population, with a certain number from counties with populations between 10,000 and 100,000 people and counties with more than 100,000 people.

Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane spoke in favor of the bill as a representative of the Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks. McGrane said the number of tours he has given of the elections office in Ada County over the past year to answer questions and reassure residents has exploded.

The committee unanimously voted to send the bill to the Senate floor for a vote, but Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, said he thought the reasons behind the legislation were unfortunate. While he said the Secretary of States office has neither underreacted or overreacted to the issues that have cropped up since the 2020 election, he thinks the audits are responsible and appropriate.

Having said that, I regret that we are here. Theres a reason why Idaho was one of those handful of states that didnt have audits. We used to be a state that had a strong statewide community and strong local communities where people knew each other and trusted each other, and we knew we didnt have a problem with elections, Burgoyne said.  This legislation is necessary, its just too bad.

The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect immediately if it is signed into law.

Bill would add credit, debit cards to forms of payment for Idaho candidate filing fees

The committee also heard Senate Bill 1273, which adds credit cards and debit cards to the methods by which candidates for office may pay their filing fees when filing as a candidate for office. Hancock said under existing Idaho law, the office cannot accept credit or debit cards as a form of payment.

If the change is enacted, the cost of the card processing fees would be passed on to the filer, and the Secretary of States office anticipates approximately 300 candidates for various offices statewide, which would bring approximately $27,000 in revenue to the General Fund.

Senators unanimously sent that bill to the floor as well, and it will receive a vote in the coming days of the session. The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect immediately if it is signed into law.

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Hoping to buy the new french fry fragrance all the sexy people are wearing?

Youre cooked.

Launched Monday on the Idaho Potato Commissions website, Frites by Idaho officially sold out Wednesday  after an earlier blowout.

Feeding off Valentines Day lust, the quirky, limited-edition fry fragrance apparently was more a-peeling than anyone had imagined. (Thanks for the pun, Potato Commission.)

Inspired by the irresistible scent of french fries, the entirely real perfume was crafted from a blend of essential oils and distilled Idaho Potatoes. A 1.7-ounce bottle was $1.89  about the same price as a large order of fries.

The New York Daily News wrote about it. KTVB Channel 7 staffers spritzed it on themselves.

@IdahoPotato says its the essence of potatoes, morning co-anchor Doug Petcash tweeted. I dont know about that, but its not bad for $2.

Despite that saucy endorsement, the fry scent still sold like hot potatoes, er, cakes. It took four hours for the initial sellout. After stock was replenished Tuesday, it took under 24 hours to go again  for good. Several hundred bottles in total.

The Potato Commission says a national survey indicates that almost 90% of Americans find the smell of french fries too attractive to be denied. This perfume is a great gift for anyone who cant refuse a french fry, Jamey Higham, president and CEO of the Potato Commission, said in a media release.

Except nobody can freakin buy any, Jamey! And were feelin salty!

OK, more like devastated.

Before you stick your head in the nearest fryer, theres hope. The Potato Commission is giving away 10 individual bottles on its Instagram page.

And, actually, slathering yourself in used restaurant fryer oil? That might be a reasonable substitute. Maybe even more alluring in the Gem State.

Frites and Finger Steaks by Idaho? Now thats hot.

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Right off the bat, Idaho Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, began her presentation of her so-called Secure Election Act, with a dubious assertion: Election integrity is at the forefront of every Americans mind.

Not really. Its only on the forefront of the minds of Americans who still believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election and that the election was stolen from him by illegal voting.

More than 60 lawsuits were filed trying to peddle that false claim, and every single one of them was shot down. There has been no evidence that any of it happened. How are those Arizona election audits coming?

Even in Idaho, after the MyPillow guy alleged voter fraud, the Idaho Secretary of States Office audited the election results and found no evidence of fraud.

And yet, here we are, wasting time in the Idaho Legislature, discussing the possibility of upending and changing Idahos election laws in pursuit of something that even Moon herself conceded there has never been any evidence of in Idaho.

Moons bill would do several harmful things. Moon, who is running for Idaho secretary of state, the office in charge of elections, wants to get rid of same-day voter registration, a feature of Idahos elections laws that is of great convenience and cherished by Idaho voters.

In her presentation to the House State Affairs Committee on Monday, Moon failed to mention getting rid of same-day voter registration.

Afterward, in a video release, she ridiculously claimed that same-day voter registration is a policy crafted by liberal interest groups that has led to increased fraud and ballot manipulation.

According to what? Arent legislators supposed to craft legislation based on facts, not speculation?

Idahos same-day voter registration was passed in 1994, when Idahos House and Senate were majority Republican.

As for benefiting liberals, 21,832 voters in Ada County, alone, registered on Election Day in 2020, likely sweeping Republican Ryan Davidson into office on the county commission over Democrat Diana Lachiondo. Nearly half, 46%, were Republican registrations, while only 12% were Democrats, according to the Ada County Elections Office.

Statewide, 87,330 voters registered on Election Day, or nearly 9% of all ballots cast. Same-day registration is clearly a popular feature among Idahoans.

Moons bill also would create a layer of bureaucracy for provisional ballots, for ballots cast by voters who show up at the polls without identification but sign an affidavit attesting to their identity.

Moon would require provisional ballots be kept in an envelope and counted only when a voter returns with ID within 10 days of the election, which likely would delay elections results.

Signing an affidavit for identification opens up the potential of election integrity issues, Moon said. Again, this legislation is based on speculation and fear, not factual evidence.

What is the existing problem that we are trying to fix in Idaho or maybe another way to ask that is can you give us an example of something that happened in an Idaho election, Rep. Chris Mathias, D-Boise, asked Moon.

I cannot give you any example personally, Moon responded.

Moons bill also requires voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship, with the important caveat that an Idaho drivers license would not be proof of citizenship. But a concealed carry permit would.

In addition, student ID would no longer count as acceptable identification.

We know that in the view of some Idaho Republicans, voting shouldnt be easy, as Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, now infamously said on the House floor last year.

We could understand the need for such legislation if we could see proof of the problems that Moon is speculating about. There is none. There is no proof here upon which to write these laws.

All we see are fears, rumors, speculation, misinformed statements and, in the end, the big lie.

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.

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